The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 and Out - Rodgers Truth Bomb Presser, Michael Thomas/Saints Problems, Soft Camp Downside, Injury Unknowns

Episode Date: July 30, 2021

In this episode, John reacts to Aaron Rodgers laying his problems with the Packers on the table in his first presser f training camp, Saints WR Michael Thomas, looks at the downside to the era of the soft training camp, and how front offices handle inevitable camp injuries differently. He also answers listener questions in the Middlekauff Mailbag. Follow John on Twitter and SUBSCRIBE now to get all the latest content!! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. 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 1800flowers.com slash tune in. We call this a little football Friday. What is going on? My people.

Back at it again on a football Friday. I can say that with a smile on my face. with a little pep in my step, and football all over the place. Because I open social media, I turn on the television. Actually, I got the television on the Giants. I actually just took two or three from the Dodgers. But football is everywhere. Every team in the league is back.

Hell, some guys are dropping like flies. Dak Prescott practice for a week is already injured. So we are going to dive into a lot of different things that have happened over the last couple days from Michael Thomas, pulling a Shaquille O'Neal. if I'm going to get hurt on company time, I'm going to rehab on company time. And as someone who loves the summer,

you know, I somewhat get it. But obviously Aaron Rogers gave a hell of a press conference. Woke up this morning. It's weird. Historically, I was always a great sleep-in guy. I mean, in my prime, like high school and college, could sleep into like 11. In my 30s, and definitely it's probably been the last three or four years,

I really struggled to sleep in past like 6.15. I mean, I just lay there sometimes in bed, and I'm not bragging. Like, I'm not some early bird gets the worm. It's just naturally, I can't sleep. It's crazy. And I'm just laying there this morning. Open my phone. Brian Gutikins is talking.

So I'm like, I'll check this out. So I'll obviously have some thoughts on the Packers. And we'll just kind of go around what other stuff that's going on. I think I might go to 49er practice on Saturday. I'm definitely going to go to a bunch of practices next week with the pads come on, as Bill Belichick I saw so eloquently put it, you can't get better at football without playing football.

And this is a weird time because you don't practice that much, no double days, like three days. I know the Niners, and I think a lot of teams are like this. I saw the Cowboys somewhat similar schedule, like two days on or three days on, one day off, four straight practices like unheard of. I mean, that's pretty crazy.

Hell, Davis High football back in the day, the teams that I were on in high school, I swear to God, we had three straight weeks of double days. Even when I got to Fresno State, probably in 08, I'm pretty sure we had two straight weeks of double days. Those days are gone. Middle Coff mailback, fire in the DMs. Easy to do. Just fire in those DMs.

Leave a little note. Get your question read on the show. If you listen on Collins feed, I appreciate it. If you like the show, that's awesome. Also subscribe to my feed. That's just where you can listen on it to the show. Helps with the selling of the podcast, three and out with me. And if you could, if you could, leave a review.

If you like the show, five stars, if you don't. We got some people that, you know, talk some shit on there as well. But I'm a positive thinker, so leave something positive. Let's get going. We have some finality. And listen, like many of you, I became exhausted with the Aaron Rogers story conversation. But the reality is, even, you know, I try not to just do clickbaity things. I try to do things that I get excited about, that I think people are excited about.

He was the reigning MVP. And I do think there was a lot of validity between or behind kind of what was being going on, what was being reported. It was hard to tell what was real and what wasn't. But I think it was clear from early on in the story breaking around the draft is something was there. Something was there, right? So I, listen, I got exhausted talking about the story because we didn't truly know, but I don't think it was arguable even before Aaron talked and showed back up and then Goudicans talked that they had a fucking issue. Whether you're a Packer fan,

whether you're a Bengal fan, I think we can all agree to that. And it goes back to Jordan Love. Now, was he ever going to retire, host Jeopardy? Maybe some of it jumped the shark. But there was something there. Now we know. Like, there was no arguing. I got into an argument with a YouTube commenter the other day. Like, middle cop, this is below you. Why do you keep talking about it? Because he's the reigning MVP and he's Aaron Rogers. And he hates the GM.

And now we know, like, shit happened. It's not even arguable anymore. What happened? He felt disrespected. And two things, and I watched the entire Aaron Rogers press conference, stand out to me. Number one, as someone in the league texts me the other day, he's like, Aaron Rogers is one of the smartest players in the league.

He's like a 39 test squad. score. He's a Cal intellect. We all would agree. Me talking, you listening. Aaron Rogers is a very, very intelligent guy. And my buddy in the league, who's spent a lot of time scouting him over the year, said most of the rooms he steps in. He's going to be the smartest guy in the room. And when he steps in a room with Gudecans, he's smarter in Gudecans. And listen, I've said this over and over. When you're a scout, they teach you how to do certain things. And you learn, depending on the organization, right? Evaluate players, rank players,

figure out character stuff with players. It's all based on scouting. Do you know what they do not teach you in scouting school, which is just working for a team? Just like they don't teach you this at Wells Fargo or Google. To have people skills. Because let's face it. You either got people skills or you don't.

You either know how to handle relationships or you don't. Developing, cultivating relationships. are difficult. And listen, we all don't have the same skills. It's why some people are great salespeople. Other people are great coders. Some people can build a bridge. Other people can be an entrepreneur and fucking build a company from scratch. We all do different things well and poorly. It's just a simple fact of life. So I don't know Brian Gutikins at all. Never met the guy. I just know a couple people that have spent some time around him and they're just like, yeah, he's fine. But I don't view Brian Gutikins just from watching him speak and I don't try to take too much of a press conference,

but I don't view him as Mr. Dynamic, like the next Pat Riley, right? That's Billy Bean. I don't know if he's got that in the bag. And here's a simple reality after watching Aaron Rogers talk. Brian Gutikins has one role the rest of this year, not to rank the best practice squad players, not to know the best offensive linemen, which something he probably can pretty consistent do. He's learned at one of the better scouting operations in the league for the past several decades, led by Ron Wolf to Ted Thompson. They produce high-level scouts. They know what a good and a bad football player is. I will not argue that about people that come out of the Packer organization is specifically Brian Gutikins. But what I don't know and what I would probably bet against is the guy a relationship guy? Can the guy cultivate and create something

that clearly is pretty shattered, and he has six months to do it. Because I think it's pretty fair to say, Aaron Rogers is going to be good. Why? Because Aaron Rogers typically is good. One, two, the offense is tailor-made for him. And three, he kind of got his mojo back last year, as he threw 48 touchdowns, was the MVP, and was the best player in the league. As my same buddy that I was texting with about Gutikins told me, I said, you've been

in the league, you've been in the league like, I think, 13 years, 12, 13 years. is of all the players you've ever just scouted and written a report on, how many guys have you written just as an individual season, did you say that's a better player than what you witnessed last year from Aaron Rogers? He's like honestly, like Khalil Mack,

2015, Julio Jones, like 16, would be on like the short list. But yeah, I mean, Aaron Rogers in the past decade last season is about as good as you humanly possibly can play. Now, he's been at that level, maybe not quite that level, because this offense for a guy like him is a cheat code.

We've talked about it all the time. You can go to the Super Bowl with guys like Jared Gough and Jimmy Garoppolo. You can have Matt Ryan win an MVP. You get a guy as talented as Aaron Rogers. Fuck. I mean, it ain't a fair fight. You're going with a bazooka, and the other team might be good.

They got like machetes. Even if you got a machete, if I got a bazooka or a machine gun or an Uzi, you're dying. I'm winning. And that's what happened last year with Aaron Rogers. and now he's clearly up in his feelings, and rightfully so. Because one thing that he said, which is correct, we all should be treated equally.

Like, we love talking about equality, and that should be pushed in society. In the private sector, in business, that ain't the way it works. You know who usually gets the most money? The person that generates the most cash. You know who usually gets paid the most? The best. That's the way sports work. That's the way most businesses work.

So Aaron Rogers should get treated differently. Now, one thing, and listen, Gutikins has one role this fall. Fix that relationship. Can he do it? I would bet against it. But if he can, he's got a good thing going. The best player in the history of the franchise,

wants his ass kiss a little bit, wants to be involved, figure it out. Would Pat Riley figure it out? Bob Myers, when he landed Kevin Durant, he's pretty good at that. Again, these guys have great people skills. You either have people skills or you don't. I would say Gutikins,

really Packer guys in general. Ted, that was something he struggled with a little bit. Like, I don't know if they got that in the bag. I don't know if that's really their thing. When Richard Sherman got arrested a couple weeks ago and got in trouble up in Seattle, he's not even on the 49ers anymore. John Lynch was all over reaching out,

what can I do to help? Now, John Lynch, again, just he's got people skills. Why? Because John Lynch said people skills probably since he was 10 years old. You either got him or you don't. Jerry Jones got people skills. You think Jerry Jones would figure this problem out? Of course he would.

I don't know. I just, I would probably bet against it. And one thing that Aaron said that I'm going to have to red flag, and listen, a GM's role and anyone that builds a team's role, and that includes a coach, you have to take the emotion out of it. It's something Colin Coward has been saying since I've been listening for a decade and a half. Take the emotion out of it. When you're dealing with a child, when you're dealing with a parent,

when you're dealing with a significant other, it's understandable, right? You're going to be very emotional. When you're dealing in business, you've got to be able to take a deep breath. Been looking around for real estate. You know, I'm just taking a deep breath. I am not going to overpay.

I'm going to make a good deal. I'll be patient. I'm okay with it. I tell my mom this all the time. A home, a condo, a car. It means fucking nothing to me. I look at them like widgets. Now, my children, my mother, my brother,

They mean a lot to me. But when it comes to my podcast, take a lot of pride in my podcast, but it's like, it's just, this is a business. Like I just write out my stuff. Then I start talking. Like, it's just a transaction, right?

And you have to be very transactional as a general manager. And in football, more than most of these other sports, that guys, like in basketball, like I saw it with Andre Aguadala. You know, once he hit like 35, 36, he starts slipping. In football, sometimes guys start slipping at like 28, 29 years old. Todd Gurley, as of recording this podcast, doesn't have a team. Todd Gurley is 26 years old.

So you have to be, and listen, I was around Howie Roseman, I was around Andy Reed, both those guys have a Super Bowl. It's a hard balance. And I think both of those guys, and Andy's the master at it. And I think Howie, ever since I haven't been around him, once he got back with Doug, like his relationship, with the players. He's a very good at relationships. And it's a fine line because you're ultimately going to move on from basically every player. You just are because you have to. It's, this is not the New York Yankees. You don't have an unlimited budget. Well, it's easy for a GM or a coach to take some, it's easier for a GM than a coach. It's sometimes it's hard, especially position coaches. They get very, very attached. The head coach, they have to balance it. The general manager really is on the

unemotional side. What was Billy Bean and Moneyball's whole thing? Like he doesn't even come around the team. He watches it from like, uh, you know, the wait room. He doesn't want to get too close. And Aaron's big thing is like, I'm in the trenches with these guys, just like any player would be. And I can tell you this guy's slipping or this guy's not. I would push back. I'd go, Aaron, you look at them less from a business standpoint, more like family. When you talk about Jordy Nelson or Charles Woodson, you experience the highest of highs with these guys, it's going to be hard for you to be objective. That's just human.

I don't even blame you. They just rot back Randall Cobb. Like, let's face it, that's not being objective. That's not an objective move. If we wanted to make the right move, could we find a similar Randall Cobb on another team for a quarter of the price? Like, Tom Brady did not bring the entire gang with him to Tampa. He just brought Rob Grinkowski, who still can block house.

has a specific role and it taken a year off and it didn't cost any money. Tom Brady, like, I just think I get where Aaron's coming from because he goes, we should have kept all these guys. And one of the reporters was like, well, Aaron, if they had listened to all your decisions, you would have missed on a lot. And he came back, well, it's different. If I would have been thrown to Jordy, if I would have been thrown to Randall Cobb, they still have been good. Like, I don't know. I saw Jordy Nelson when he came to the Raiders. Like, it was over. And there's nothing wrong with that. Like, it's a shitty part. about football. Great players. And I watched

Jordy Nelson in his prime. Jordy Nelson was a badass. But when he, you just, every player hits that line. I saw it with Peyton Manning. I was doing the Raiders post game. I saw Peyton Manning every year of those sweet years, live for like four straight years

that he was on the Broncos. That last year I remember going to a game in Oakland. Through multiple picks. Charles Woodson never picked him off. Through two picks of Charles. Because he just threw the ball. It had zero zip on it. It was just, it was done. It was over. That happens in the NFL.

Probably harder and more distinct of a cliff than any of the major team sports. And I think that part would be very difficult. Now, if he sees a practice squad guy like this guy can help us, yeah, you should listen to that. But when it comes to making decisions on older players, it is very much like you would make a decision in Wall Street or in just a private sector. It has to be very unemotional because nobody, you think, Belichick wanted to like, Melker's a bad example we wanted to get, or trade Logan Mankins,

wanted to just get rid of Vince Wilfork. Like, even Belichick, if you were having beers with him, he did it because it's the right football move. I remember when he traded Logan Mankins in Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he came out with the savings and he was the best offensive linemen he ever coached.

He wasn't lying. He would love Logan to stay as a pro bowl guy for 20 years, but that's not the way the world works. Bill Walsh, who's, you know, who created this, right sell sell early instead of like holding on too late he got rid of a more

you think Bill Walsh's like I just want to get rid of Ronnie Lott just get out of here Joe Montana no but that's part of the business and it's a difficult part of the business and it's a reason why on on that element 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, 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. Yep, that's me, Clipper Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball. football 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 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 a 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 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 cracks on. I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah.

For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking.

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. 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. And that angle, you can't really ask the players because, They're always 100% of the time on any good heart and soul of a team, even if it's over the hill, he's not going to want to get rid of them. So I'm going to side with Gutakins and just the Packers overall in that element of the organization. Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in the nation.

Catch all of our shows at Fox SportsRadio.com. And within the IHeart Radio app, search FSR to listen live. On January 19th, 2020 for BBDO and AT&T radio, ad ID AXWR 0975000. Spot title, Fiber Lifestyles Meet the Walker's BAU 60, 60 second radio. Gorgeous gaming, stunning streams, unbelievable bandwidth. Welcome to another lifestyles of gagillionaires. Meet the 18T fiber customers winning at life with hyper gig speeds. Say hello to the Walkers, a family of not one but four giggillionaires,

each living up their gagillionaire life at ludicrous internet speed. First up, Anna Walker, she dominates streaming like the matriarch she is. No show ever goes unwatched under her watch. Next episode. Next up, Peter Walker. There's no stopping this dad bod from showing up to his virtual workout sessions. Let's go leg day. And finally the Walker twins.

They may look alike but couldn't internet more differently. Harry dominates his fellow online gamers while heather group video chats with friends Oh nice background filter Jess Live like a gillianaire Get internet that upgrades everything AT&T fiber Now with speeds up to five gigs

Limited availability in select areas Speed's not guaranteed single device wire and speed max 4.7 gig per second Visit ATT.com slash hypergit for details If I could be you And you could be me for just one hour If you could find a way To get inside

Each other's mind Walk a mile in my shoes Walk a mile in my shoes We've all felt left out And for some, that feeling lasts more than a moment We can change that Learn how at belonging begins with us.org Brought to you by the ad council

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

And they see you. Their fearless guide is this fascinating world. Find a forest near you and start exploring at discovertheforest.org. Brought to you by the United States Forest Service and the ad council. We have some interesting things going on down in the French quarter, or as they call New Orleans. I used to say at New Orleans and a bunch of people DM me within the last maybe two years.

Like, you're saying it wrong. New Orleans. Sean Payton and the Saints are not happy with their star wide receiver. And let's face it. It's been weird now for a couple years. Last year, disaster. I think they suspended them for a game.

Clearly they were not seeing eye to eye. This year, he pulled a Shaquille O'Neal. If I get hurt on company time, I'm rehabbing on company time. Sean Payton, in a heated comment after a practice, talking to the media, said, we are not happy with, I mean, I'm just giving my clip-note version of what he said.

We're not happy. He could have got this surgery, you know, a lot earlier in the off-season. And clearly he waited at the last minute, and now he's going to miss substantial time during the season. And for a several-year period of time, Michael Thomas was 17. I mean, basically for four straight years.

92 catches, 100 catches, 125 catches, 149 catches. An absolute dominant ass kicker. Then in 2020, he had 40 catches and no touchdowns. And this year, it's off to a rocky start. And it got me thinking, listen, drafting is difficult. It is in all the billion-dollar businesses, like ultimately, if you and I run a bank, we can figure out on numbers and precedent and history

probably what we should acquire and what we shouldn't acquire. Who we should give a loan to, who we shouldn't give a loan to. It's all on paper. In the draft, you're acquiring multi-million dollar assets that are human beings. That change, that are young, that mature, that aren't mature. You are factoring in talented individuals who are all over the map.

Some work harder than others. Some don't need to work hard because they have so much God-given talent. Some guys mature late. Some guys are overachievers. We all know. Think about every human you know. Most humans are completely wired different. Hell, you buy two dogs.

Both dogs usually are opposites. There's no different on people. And the draft, while drafting good players is a skill, there's also an element of luck. Because if it was purely a skill, then certain GMs would never miss. and even the best GMs miss on players consistently. So the New Orleans Saints, when they drafted this guy in the second round, it was impressive. But also, let's face it, an element of luck. One, when I'm drafting a guy in the second round, and I'm a good team like the Saints,

happened to, you know, Devante Adams too, there's an element of luck. The guy falls to me. Falls in the round, right? If you are not drafting first, every pick, you know, separate from that backwards, you need things to fall to you because if that guy that you want goes, then you got to pick someone else. So listen, if we acknowledge that drafting

is skill combined with luck, a combination of the two. And I would think that Belichick to Ozzie Newsom to Jerry Jones, to John Schneider, to every freaking GM in the league would admit that. Maybe not publicly, but probably publicly. Signing a player to a big contract is not luck.

You know what you're doing, right? Especially a free agent, there's an element of luck when you're plugging and playing him, even though there shouldn't be. Because in pro sports, when I sign a free agent, he has given me four years,

five years, eight years, depending on his age, a body of work. He has shown me his skill. So if I can't use that skill that I'm paying for correctly, that's on me, not the player. And that consistently happens in free agency.

if you overpay for a home if you pay $5 million in this crazy market for a $2 million home and the economy goes sideways you can't be pissed off when that home's back to being worth $1.8 That's on you. Right now if you're super rich

to buy a $5 million home it might not matter but if you purchase and sign a free agent and he's a defensive end and then you ask him to play defensive tackle and he sucks, that's on you. But when you extend your own players no one knows those guys.

better than you. Think about growing up. Think about you guys that are married and that have children. You know your wife, your parents, your brothers and sisters, your children pretty freaking well. Why? Because you spend a lot of time around them. Well, you spend, there is not a person as a football coach, then you spend more time around than a guy you draft and then goes on to play for you. And Sean Payton, who is the offensive coordinator, spent four solid year, I guess it was three years, around Michael Thomas. So they knew the guy, they felt they were comfortable with the guy. So unless he completely hoodwinked them and now is just kind of giving up on them, they signed the wrong guy. They should not have extended him. And you

could say, John, they had no choice. He was a star player. Sometimes he's got to write it out. Do you have a franchise mechanism? What is he going to do? Sit out? Because right now, they have a disaster on their hands. They signed him to a $100 million, They gave him $61 million guaranteed. Listen, the pace that he was on, was he going to go from 149 catches to 180 catches, that was unsustainable. But they were banking on a guy that was consistently going to be around 100 plus

catches, 7, 8 plus, you know, 7 to 10 touchdowns. And now it feels like his career's trending in the wrong way. And then his trade value, if I was a team that needed a wide receiver, two, three years ago he's one of the best players in league. Now it's like, well, Sean, you hated him last year. you spending them. You guys were at odds. Now he's screwing you over with his rehab,

which doesn't just reflect your team. It reflects like his overall mindset as a player. Honestly, he's kind of toxic. Now, and given how much money he makes, like, he has no value. And he's hers, obviously. He's not even tradable. Unless you're not going to give him away

for like a six or seventh round pick. You have to, when you sign your own guys, you better know. Because the moment, now listen, guys start declining physically, that happens. But when guys mindset are like, yeah, I'm going to get a surgery right before camp. So basically I won't be available at minimum

the first half of the year. Where if I would have got this surgery right after OTAs, I might have been healthy at least for week two or three. Do you think, would Devante Adams have done that? Would Keenan Allen have done that? Would Julio Jones have done that? No.

The answer is no. So I can no longer, I don't take this guy seriously. And listen, I was someone, I didn't know that much about him coming out of Ohio State. Because once he hit the scene, his Twitter handle was Can't Guard Mike. Like, God, this guy is sweet. And he was only running like slants and outs. And he was unstoppable.

And now it's like, ugh, I wouldn't want that guy. What a pain in the ass. Can't get along with Sean Payton? In an offense tailor made for you to dominate, you're pulling this crap? Like, Shaq pulled that like a decade into his career. Had, you know, a couple Super Bowl ranks. or I mean, not Super Bowl rings, but finals MVP's and NBA and championship rings. They give rings too in the NBA.

But like, damn, I think the Saints learned a hard lesson. You sign the wrong guy to that type money. Problemo. You know, it's funny with practice starting and all the teams going back up. I was like, you know, I'm going to go to some 49er practices. But I don't go to the practices. I'm not a beat reporter or anything. I just go really to bullshit, watch a little, gives me some content, you know,

maybe talk to some important people, try to get them on the podcast, that type thing. But I don't go till the pads come on. So usually if practice starts, you know, on Wednesday, pads run by like Friday. And I text a couple people that, you know, like beat writers for the Niners and a couple people that work for the Niners. I'm like, when do pads come on? And I got a bunch of texts back. They don't come on until Monday.

And I started thinking, we live. in a completely different world than football has always been when it comes to the NFL. And it's funny as I was texting with someone who's a high-up executive for a team and he worked for Belichick

on several Super Bowl years. And I said, do you know what's crazy about just 2021? You guys really don't and every team's the same have that many practices in paths before week one.

You get these couple weeks, and if you're not in the Hall of Fame game, once you get to preseason games, if a preseason game's on a Saturday, well, I'm not practicing in pads on Friday or Sunday. So basically that week is like Monday, Tuesday,

ease into Wednesday, and by Thursday we're walking through. Friday's nothing. Saturday we're playing. Sunday's a recovery day. And he's like, do you know what's funny? Mike Vrable, because I was like, God, Belichick, this has to drive him nuts.

Now, he adapts, but his quote, the only way to get better at football is playing football is true. And we've never played less football. Now, we play more actual games, right? 17 games. But a huge part of the sport is practice. And in the history of the sport in the 70s, the 80s, the 80s, even the 2000s, we have way more injuries now than ever. And he's like, you know what's funny?

I'm like, Belichick practices in like, 2004 probably looked a little different. He's like, yeah, Mike Vrable used to call them the Junction Boys. You're talking about Bear Bryant in Alabama, back when he wouldn't give him water, a month of double days. But practice used to be really, really hard. Practice now is kind of a joke, which, again, it doesn't matter to me one way or the other, and it's clearly better, easier on the player in August. But at the rate of the injuries, there has to be something.

I'm not a doctor. But there is a reason these fighters, when you get ready for a fight, they spar constantly to harden their body. to be able to take the shots. Forever in the 80s and the 90s, obviously the game was really violent, and we've changed for hopefully the better to keep quarterback healthy.

But in terms of guys, we get ACL and Achilles injuries happening non-stop. Because back then, you would have full team scrimmages during the season. So you were used to, I don't know,

tackling, breaking a tackle, blocking, hitting people. Nowadays, especially for a star player you know practice hit or miss right they limit my reps

and then I don't really play in the preseason at all in week one starts and if I'm a wide receiver I just got Jalen Ramsey across from me or I'm a star center or a guard and we're playing the Rams I got Aaron Donald or Fletcher Cox in front of me it's fucking full go

90 miles an hour pedal to the metal I do think if we look back when there were less injuries and the game was quote unquote more violent, guys were much more prepared for games. I think intellectually now guys are prepared, right? More meetings than ever.

The game more offensively driven. Schematically, it's much more diverse probably than it's ever been. But you can't tell me physically, I'd argue guys are physically bigger, stronger, faster now. It's just the evolution of humans and training. That's not debatable. So they're actually faster and strong.

probably than they've ever been, but they're less prepared to just do what you have to do to play football. Like Bill said, you get better playing football by playing football. And I,

there's not really, I don't really have like an end game to this. There's no solution because I've said it all along. The NFL owners have consistently won the arguments with the players because they have always given them, okay, you guys want a day off?

Yeah, two days off a week. No padded practices. back-to-back days, cool, no double days, no more, no guaranteed money though for us. And they have always 100% fought for the money. And it's why the owners have never made more money. I was talking to a guy in the mortgage business today. He was giving me his take on the upcoming just the housing market and why we might be in for a little slowdown. That little forbearance period where you couldn't kick out, you know, the renter. And he was covered. in states like California and Arizona

by the federal government, that ends August 1. And a lot of owners that are going to sell their homes have not put their homes in the market. So there have been a limited number of supplies of homes that drives up the market. And obviously the rates are down,

so it's been this convolence, perfect storm. It's different than 0809, but it does make some sense. It just, I don't think, what we're going to see what happened 12 years ago, but there is a curveball. and it's called the Corona forbearance. And just Corona in general.

We just got a lot of things happening right now that are a little out of whack. I noticed, like, I went to my CVS. Have you noticed the supply chain in America? I'm not trying to get off on a tangent here. Supply chain's all messed up. Some stores, they just have empty shelves. I know someone that needs a new oven for their house.

They tried to get a fix. They couldn't get a fixed with the parts. They looked to get a new oven. One, it was like two grand more than it was a year ago. And they're like six months behind. So you couldn't even get it. get one for six months. That's not normal. So it's just, I don't, weird things are going on. Keep an eye. Keep your head on a swivel right now. Cars, you want to get a new, like,

escalade that used to be 75 grand. It's 100 grand right now. My mom has a Mercedes. They call her all the time, try to buy that bad boy back from her. It's like two years old. But back to training camp, that, uh, I just, you know, I don't think we can be shocked. Why are they all these guys getting injured because we don't really practice football anymore. And the only way to practice football is literally in pads. That's how you improve. We know that in shorts and a t-shirt, it's just not the same thing. Hell, even in pads, if you can't sack the quarterback, is not, or even hit a guy to the ground,

is not true football. But at least it's close. We just don't do that anymore. I saw a clip today of C.D. Lamb, who by the way, no player since training campus started has more holy mulberry. tweets than C.D. Lamb highlights. It looks awesome. I think in like 10 years C.D. Lamb might be one of the best players from that draft. But like the practice, like they're like tapping it on his ass. That's the tackle. That's not when you play, you know, whoever they open up with, you play the Giants. Like,

you got a tackle Seguan in Galladay. So you can be like, you know, the Cowboys, Mike Nolan. And trust me, I was someone pounding the table. You cannot hire Mike Nolan. He doesn't know what he's doing. but part of it is like your middle linebacker or starting safety he's not really making an open field tackle in training camp because you're not tackling anyone to the ground you're just touching them well in real football you actually got to bring them to the ground and then because you're scared of injuries

you don't even play your starters in the preseason games so maybe part of the reason these injuries have happened and some of the poor defensive plays have happened we don't really practice defense anymore one job you get when you first get hired in the NFL in a scouting department is training camp is just an eye-opening experience because you are covering the entire league and keeping tabs on the entire NFL. So you go to training camp, you take your four or five pro scouts and your GM or your assistant

GM's kind of doing other stuff and you basically divvy up the entire league of one, you're like your main pro scouts or your couple high-end guys. they cover the teams you're going to play. So like your divisional opponents, your teams early in the season, and then some of your younger guys just cover the rest of the league. And when I say cover,

you get a printout of every story written on that team every day. You also, I mean, we use Rotoworld, and I still use it to this day. You are in charge of following Rotor World and inputting injuries for every team that you're supposed to follow. And actually, when you're the young guy,

They highlight all that information and give it to you. Now, with technology, you know, seven, eight years later, maybe they email it to you, maybe they input it. I don't know. But basically, your entire scouting department, every single team in the league does this, monitors the entire league. So every day, and once practices start,

guys start getting hurt. And every team has several guys getting hurt, as well as now with COVID protocols, guys getting Corona, and guys coming into the season on Pup. You have to keep tracks of it all. My first year in the NFL was, I thought training camp was overwhelming. It was intense.

There was a lot of stuff going on, a lot of information flying, and you got to take care of your own team. Usually got to pick guys up at the airport. I had to like chart special teams at practice. It was wild. There was a lot of moving parts at training camp. And one thing you see is injuries, you just kind of keep track injuries. And I've done it ever since. You can just feel injuries, right?

You see something. just remember it. And there is nothing like, and I've been lucky, and maybe some people listening, if you're a season ticket holder for whatever your team is, maybe you've gone to a training camp practice. And obviously, if you've gone to a game, it can happen. But in a game, like, you know a guy can have a serious injury.

And the cart comes out, it sucks. But it's part of the sport. And at least it's the game. Like, the guy made it to the game. I think the worst thing in all of football is when a cart has to come out for a player in practice. and it's obviously you never want it to be a star player but I think it doesn't matter

even if it's a guy that's not going to make the team it stops practice when there's a major injury and that's the worst you know right away a blown out knee a blown out arm whatever right guy carted off you're like that's probably pretty bad but I and listen so of you like I kind of take every injury serious and I know every team loves to kind of leak out

or put out this injury is minor this is not a big deal. I don't know. Because little injuries, especially with older players, but same with younger players, can linger. Like JJ Watt

pulls a hamstring or tweaks a hamstring running gasserers to check his conditioning when he got there. You'd be like, ah, what's the big deal, John?

Well, I don't know. The guy's always hurt. And now he tweaks a hammy in conditioning drills? Like, he's just going to stay healthy? I don't know. Dak Prescott. While he gets, you know,

throwing, shoulder, tightness, whatever, going to miss a couple weeks. Like, you can tell me that's minor. I'm sorry, I can't take that as minor. He had a major injury last year, so he probably didn't throw for a long period of time. Then the Cowboys get to training camp

before everyone else gets a training camp. He's probably throwing a ton. In fairness, he's trying to show everyone, like, I'm worth $40 million a year. And now his shoulder hurts. Now, it might be nothing. But is that something that could linger all season long, or at least early in the season?

Potentially. You know, all these guys on Pup, like what is the injury? And I know like luckily knowing people in the league, sometimes you'd be like, what's up with so-and-so on your team? They're like, yeah, it ain't good. You know, but they'll be telling the media,

no big deal, he should be back for week one. He ain't coming back for week one. So listen, I take the strategy when it comes to injuries as someone who started making his living in the NFL as typing them into the system, knowing that these things linger. And obviously in ACL and Achilles, you know, a torn pack, like there are certain injuries we know are game changers.

But I take hamstrings seriously. Because you know what happens with hamstrings? It's like, okay, the guy's full go. And then he has a couple weeks. And then week four, he pulls it again. Or the soreness or the tendonitis or the knee swelling comes back. I saw Javon Kidlaw, the dude the Niners drafted 14th last year, got knee swelling flying.

I'm like, that ain't nothing. So to me, any guy that has any lingering injury, Now, some of them do go away, and some of them are fully healthy. But with older players, it's just something, whenever you see your coach, because of course, it's a minor deal. No big issue. We're just being precautionary. How often does that turn into, yeah, we know it's been a week, but he's going to be okay? These are Ferraris, right?

All these guys in the league, the high-end guys are Ferraris. I've never owned a Ferrari. But from what I've read, I actually don't even. know anyone that's owned a Ferrari. But I would imagine if you ding the Ferrari on the way into the garage and you need to take that bad boy into the body shop, it ain't cost you to $300.

Right? If you have like a shitty car, you don't even care. But that Ferrari, a little thing, is costing you a lot. That's why high-end cars like your oil change costs you a couple grand. So these guys like, it's someone, maybe I'll get to the

DM, had asked me a question. about like, you know, with mental stuff coming up and Simone Biles, did I ever experience that in the NFL? And I didn't, but I wasn't really paying attention to that stuff. I bet a lot of coaches have guys that... Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

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

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

This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right what you need to be.

Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-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 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 all day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line.

We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade. of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. 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, is 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.

You know, can just handle stuff, compartmentalize stuff better than others. I do think one thing, though, that mental. some guys can clearly handle better than others, and we're all different, right? I stub my toe. I'm probably saying three F-F words. You know, Fletcher Cox stubs his toe. He might not even notice.

We all have different pain tolerances. And one thing that separates guys in the league is some guys are just better at playing through injuries and pain. And some guys can't play through pain, right? It's definitely hard historically for like speed wide receivers or speed corners. You know, they can play through that. I remember a couple years ago, it was actually probably five or six when I lived in my other place before I moved where I'm talking right now.

One day after a radio show, I was like, maybe just going to work out and I was walking barefoot and I stubbed my toe. But it was more than a stub toe. I felt like I shattered it. And it was in so much pain. And for like a week, I limped around. And I eventually went to my doctor, who was the doctor. for all the professional teams around here, at least in the East Bay at the time,

the Raiders, the Warriors, and the Ace. And I was in so much pain. And I'm like, Doc, and we took an X-ray, and it was broken. I had broken a bone. I'm like, what do I got to do? How do we fix this? He's like, you know, he just takes time.

It'll heal on its own. And then we were bullshitting. I was like, Doc, if I was the right guard for the Raiders, I don't know if I could play this week. And he laughed at me. play this week. He's like, those guys play all season

with like broken toes. You know, that's not even a major injury. And you just realize like, man, now, I mean, you know, probably get a shot up. But still,

you can just tape that bad boy up and start rocking and rolling. You ever played pickup basketball and caught a ball on a pass where it doesn't hit your hand, it hits the top of your finger and it jams your finger

and it feels like you break, you shatter your finger. Well, it happens all the time in the NBA and they just retape it up and they keep going. and that's why I'm when I see all these injuries, all these guys on pop, you just,

you have to be cautiously nervous. Cautiously, I don't even, I wouldn't even say optimistic. I'd say there's just an unknown. You have no clue. Because we see year in and year out a guy that's like, oh, this guy's going to be, should be back by middle of training camp.

Then all of a sudden it's middle of September. It's like, you know, we're just going to put them on pop after six games. Little things can turn into big things really fast. And older players with injury history, That's another thing that I really perk up with. So anytime an older player, you can be a little injury. It's something I'm keeping an eye on.

Now, I'm not trying to act like Dak Prescott. Season's over. But we can't act like it's nothing. I'm not saying it's something, but it's definitely not nothing. 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 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. 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. 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 and Human Services Administration for Children and Families and the Ad Council. Okay. Let's get to the Middilkoff mailbag. At John Middilkoff is the Instagram handle.

Let's rock and roll, baby. I love the pod from Nick. Nicky. What do you hear around the league about Gutikins? Seems crazy that he would not at least talk to Rogers about some personnel decisions. I can see wanting to keep some degree of separation. Is it possible a floor talks to Rogers and knows what he wants and then reiterates to the GM? Or have they literally taken zero input from the quarterback on these things?

Hope the golf game is going well. Let's get around next time you're in Maui. Shit, I'd come to Maui tomorrow. I love Maui. I think it's pretty sad. I don't think they ask them anything. I think Goudicans came up under Ted Thompson, and they, like most organizations,

you don't ask your players anything. This is not the National Basketball Association. You don't ask players anything. Do you think Belichick asked Tom Brady anything? No. So Aaron Rogers, who literally they shorted. Let's face it. They shorted like a stock.

And in fairness to the organization, 18 he looked off, right? That was McCarthy's last year when he wasn't playing well. then in 19 in the new offense. Now granted, it was the first year of the offense. He wasn't great. And they drafted Jordan Love and it backfired. Aaron Rogers shot to the moon, won the MVP. And then it was too late. Like Gutikins, what I don't understand, and I text someone in this in the NFL yesterday. And I said, because he texted me, he's like, did you watch the Aaron Rogers press conference? Because he thought it was incredible. I'm like, yeah, I did. He was pretty impressive.

And Aaron's smart. So you're going to watch the press conference. Again, anyone who gets to speak, if I get to speak, if you get to speak, if you get in a huge fight with your wife, right, over whatever. And let's say you're half wrong and she's half wrong. If I brought you into my office and I gave you a microphone and I said, tell me everything that happened.

I'm going to get your perspective. And your perspective is going to be your side. And the moment, if I can go grab her after and I say, give me your perspective, it's going to be different. So Aaron's very, you know, well-spoken, articulate, Really? He's smart.

So he sounds really, really good when, one, he doesn't give a shit, which is, I appreciate. He was very candid. But he can just say whatever he wants. From his side. So you watch that press conference, you go, God, Aaron's kind of getting screwed. And you watch Goudicens. I mean, he's okay. I mean, he's just like a normal GM talking.

So you watch Aaron, and then you watch Goudicons, you go, God, I believe Aaron. Well, of course you are. Any time you get to watch someone that's. smart and they speak and then someone that's not as smart and they speak i'm not saying guttickens is dumb but erin's just smarter you're going to take his side but is there a chance aaron is leaving some parts out and making you know it sound a little different than it actually is for sure what i don't understand though is the moment erin starts killing it in 2020 how do you start not figuring it out you know by like october last year like that to me's on

Gudecans. Like, once he started dominating and it was clear he was at an elite level anymore, like, I'm sorry, it's on you to figure it out. It's on you to get back into his good graces. It's called business one-on-one. Be a relationship guy. Figure it out. That's your cash cow.

Again, the Green Bay Packers, one of the biggest brands in the history of sports, I think it's fair to say, Aaron Rogers is the best player in the history of their franchise. And he's having the best season of his career. You're the general manager and a young one. it's on you to kind of figure it out, kiss his ass. When I say kiss his ass, like,

just make him feel wanted, make him feel good, which Gutikins did not do. What do you think Andy Reid would have done? If a player was mad at him, and then the player starts killing it again, you think he would have left the season pissed off, especially if you're an NFC championship team?

No. Like, I'm sorry. Like, I put it on Gutikins. I really do. What do you think of the Jets this year? I know it's first year head coach, OCDC, but I think they're headed in the right direction and could surprise some people. I think the Zach Wilson is going to be that guy. And the receiving core isn't as bad as people think.

What Davis, Mims, Crowder, Cole, and more. Let me know what you think. Any thoughts? Yeah, I mean, I think, obviously they, Zach Wilson missed a day, no big deal for the contract. I just think the division is really hard. So, like, they could be much improved. Like you watched last year, they were a joke. They were an embarrassment.

they were, you know, at one point in time, it felt like the worst team we'd ever seen. Now, once Sam Donald came back at the end of the year, they won a couple games. But I would say they could be a four or five win team and exponentially, dramatically, improved from last year,

like a completely different level. I think that's on the table. But I don't see many wins. I mean, think of your division. The bills are a powerhouse. The dolphins are freaking good. And the Patriots are going to be way better. So you could easily go all in six.

I mean, I would say five and, what would the record be? Five and twelve, 17, yeah, five and twelve. And, you know, get a top five pick. That'd be a step in the right direction. But like look a lot better, lose a lot of tight games. I think that's the best case. A Washington fan from Virginia, your takes are gold. Appreciate that.

Got two-parter for you. Fitzmajcich said a few days ago about going to Washington football team. It's the best situation I've ever gone into. Do you agree with this quote? Realistically, how do you see him or the team performing this year? Well, I saw a headline on a Rotow World. Rotow World, I'm telling you, if you're just an NFL fan and you just, you know, Twitter gives you like, you know, from politics to Corona,

you just want to get football. Go to Rotor World. No politics. Just, it's basically like a website. but it's based on Twitter, like a Twitter formula setup, and you just get to see everything that's going on in the NFL. And I saw that Fitzmagic on my Rotoworld timeline was competing with Heineke to be the starting quarterback.

Now, his best situation, I have to bring up his... Where he's been. But I would say, when he got with the bills, they weren't as good. When he showed up in Miami, they clearly weren't as good. Okay, I'm bringing it up, I didn't know he was from Gilbert, Arizona. When he showed up with the Rams, yeah, Bengals sucked, bills weren't very good, Titans stunk, Houston Texans,

Bill O'Brien's, like I think his first year, they stunk. The Jets, that Jets team actually wasn't bad. Bucks, they were bad. Dolphins, yeah, you're probably right. But that, I mean, let's not that. Fitzpatrick hasn't exactly played for the Packers, Steelers, and Seahawks here. So, yeah, I mean, he's, I think he's telling the truth. They have an excellent defense.

they have some good offensive pieces. Ron Rivera is a playoff level coach. I think Fitzpatrick should beat him out. But I think the NFC is pretty wide open. If Siriani is just a decent coach, maybe the Eagles won't be as terrible as we think. Dak's already hurt. Every CD Lamb video I've seen,

the defense looks terrible. The Giants, I mean, their quarterback might not be any good. I think the division is pretty interesting. I think there are a lot of things on the table. My question is this. The Daily Sports Podcasts and shows like this podcast, Coward Show and Podcasts, The Ringer podcast, ETC, always seem to have great guests and quality information. How much do you, your show, pay for guests?

How much do guests on Coward Show get paid? Or do they get paid? I understand some will come on to promote something and so some maybe don't need to get paid, but I've always wondered about the money that guests get. I don't need specifics or anything, but would you just, but would really just love to get a ballpark figure about guests? Yeah, I mean, I think when Colin Coward

asked you to come on a show or Dan Patrick, right, or, you know, some of the barstool shows, they have enormous audiences. Howard Stern, you know, Joe Rogan, you go on for free because you get to talk in front of, you know, whatever, million people, two million people, five million people. I have never paid for a guest.

Now, when I was in radio, you would pay like we had Joe Panic, who was the second basement of the Dodgers. You know, some like radio shows, like the local radio show in the Bay Area that has the 49ers. Kyle Shanahan in his contract has that he has to go on once a week. So the Niners pay that

and then through the contract, through the radio station, it's like all kind of feeds in. But any guess that you see on, I mean, again, I can't speak for Colin, but I've got a pretty good idea. I don't think they're paid. Now, I think repeat guests, like if Greg Kosell comes on once a week on certain shows, maybe he gets a couple hundred dollars, $500. Peter King, you know, Adam Schaefter, local radio stations pay for that.

But big national broadcast don't need to because their audience is so big. So if that answers your question, I hope it does. listen to your show and I was thinking about what it would be like if the Houston Texans Green Bay just swap A Rod into Sean Watson.

I mean they have Jordan Love until Watson resolves the issue and could give you a chance to see what you have in Jordan. I don't know, just want to hear your thoughts. Yeah, I mean, Aaron Rodge,

for as great as Watson is strong. Watson's a really good player. Like a top six, seven quarterback in the league. He's a really good player. Aaron Rogers is in a different fucking universe than Deshawn Watson. And again,

Deshawn Watson is a pro bowler. Aaron Rogers is one of the greatest players to ever touch a football. Like in a short list of like three or four players. He is the greatest player in the history of the Packers. And they have had Brett Farve, Reggie White,

like they've had some good players. And Rogers is their best player. If I just had a list my top five quarterbacks that I've watched play, you know, I didn't really watch Montana, but I know he's too. So I'd go Brady, Montana,

honestly Elway, like you could, I mean, I think Rogers is right there with Elway. You're talking about

one of the greatest players at the most important position of all time. So I think the Packer is under no certain and here's the other thing. Like,

I'm sorry, Deshawn, like I've said, like whether he did it or not, I don't know. But he's got to deal with this. Like Rogers

gets up in his feelings and he gets mad, he doesn't get in any trouble. You never have to worry about Aaron like dealing with massage therapist. He's, dates beeless actors. Actresses.

I know you have some inside information. How interested are the Eagles and Deshawn Watson and what would a trade look like for him with the player's picks? Ertz, Hertz, two firsts and a second. I know nothing going to happen until things clear up, but even if they were by week three or four, would you take this chance? Yeah, I don't think they'll take the chance until things clear up. Now, I've been around Howie for years.

When I worked in an office, well, I didn't really have a true office. I guess my second year I did, but my office was right next to his. He had a huge office. I just had like a little cubicle. He's aggressive. And they're keeping an eye on it. Of course they are. I mean, it's his job too.

I just, until this stuff goes away, like he ain't getting traded. At least I'll be shell-shocked if he does. I don't see it happening. Now, if he does all get cleared And he's just like, listen, he was just having sex with masseuses. He didn't do anything wrong. I would say a fair trade.

Urt's going to be a free agent. I don't know why the Texans would want Ertz Because Ertz would not stay there. Jalen Hertz, they just drafted Davis Mill, so I don't even know if they'd want Jalen Hertz. I think Howie would do two ones and two- twos right now for Deshaun Watson. Does he want to give three ones? I don't know.

For a guy that just had some trouble, even if he's innocent, it's like, is he just do stupid stuff? Again, you could never get, I've never been arrested. I've done some stupid things in my life. Would I have invested $50 million into my maturity at 25?

No, I would not have. So it's like, and I've been around lucky enough to be in the NFL, like there's some really mature guys. You know who you don't have to worry about? It's like Zach Hertz. You know, certain guys, you just don't worry about it all.

If I got to worry about my quarterback, that's a problem. And I think this stuff truly needs to go away for teams to feel really, really confident. Like, this was a hit job. If it doesn't come out like that, I'm just speaking for myself. Maybe I'm overly cautious. I feel like, I don't know, man.

Given what I have to trade for, it'd be one thing if, like, you're trading a second round pick. They're asking for multiple first round picks and second round picks. Like, they're asking for a lot. A ton. I mean, the Niners traded two first-round picks and swapped this year's first for a rookie quarterback.

You're trading potentially three first-round picks in like a second for a guy making $35 million? That's a lot. Now, he's a good player, but holy moly. So again, I'm pro Deshawn Watson as a player, but the massage thing makes me a little nervous. not because I you know

again I got a little inside information about what teams think and this you know they're probably more open minded to it than me but I like my quarterback

to be like fucking Mahomes or Rogers or Brady like I don't even want to think every night I go to bed I think about other players like is this guy going to get in trouble

my quarterback is the last human being I ever want to think about in my life if I'm a general manager The last. Because I'm paying the most. He's going to be the highest character

and the least of my worries. That's how every team that, you know, I think ideally wants to build their squad. Have a great weekend. Football's back. Enjoy the Olympics. Adios. Get right to the romance and find the way to wow this Valentine's

with 1-800 flowers.com. From classic roses and bouquets to decadent chocolate-covered berries, gourmet treats, Surprise your Valentine with 1800flowers.com. Right now, get the 18-stem enchanted rose medley for $39.99. Or upgrade to 24 red roses for $10 more. Go to 1,800flowers.com slash tune in.

That's 1,800flowers.com slash tune in. 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 huge. 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 Fourth. 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 Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled 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 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.

On the Look Back at a podcast. For 1979, that was a big moment for me. It 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. 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 IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Thank you.