The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 and Out - Russell Wilson's future, NFL Draft talk, Topic Tuesday

Episode Date: February 20, 2024

John dives into Russell Wilson and the disaster that is his relationship with the Broncos, should anyone be surprised that hasn't worked in Denver. John also discusses the NFL Draft, and introduces a ...new segment called "Topic Tuesday." Later, John answers your questions in this episode's mailbag segment. 5:39 - Russell Wilson's future 15:46 - Free Agency talk 24:05 - NFL Draft Talk 32:33 - Topic Tuesday 39:59 - Mailbag 40:15 - Thoughts on the Eagles coaching hires 42:01 - Brandon Aiyuks's future 49:30 - Where should Fields get traded to 51:48 - Bucs and the Baker Follow John on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for the latest. Check out Gametime - the fastest growing ticketing app in the US, and the official ticketing app of 3 & Out and GoLow -  for tickets to all of your favorite NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA teams. Concert and comedy show tickets, too. Go to Gametime now to create an account, download the app and use code JOHN for $20 off your first purchase. #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Starting point is 00:03:11 Hopefully everyone's having a good day, a good week so far. Life's good. You know, it's a struggle without football, but that's what happens in the middle and the end of February. So we just got to figure out a way to get till August. And that's where I come in to talk about football. So the plan is today we're going to talk. Little Russell Wilson, salary cap.
Starting point is 00:03:29 Looks like it's set at $250 million, give or take. I'm going to institute something we call Draft Daily. It's where I just talk about something from that. the draft on a daily basis, which it's a fun time of year. So it's an easy thing to do. And I'm scouring the internet on a daily basis, seeing things about the draft. So I was like, we might as well talk about it. We did a podcast yesterday, podcast today. I think tomorrow, so for Wednesday, I'll probably have a little golf podcast. Kind of slows down this weekend. It's like the Mexico open. But just some overall
Starting point is 00:04:04 thoughts so far of this golf season. And then we'll probably have another football podcast. on Thursday and then the combine next week. So we'll just, we'll keep swinging our pick here because that's what we do. We podcast. And you guys know the drill three and out. If you listen on Collins' feed, subscribe to the feed. We're up on YouTube rocking away. About two months, we got about 25K.
Starting point is 00:04:23 So if you watch that way, you know, if you like consuming, we got everything up on the old YouTube. And thevolume.com, thevolume.com. We have merch. Hats, shirts, sweatshirts, have you covered. but first, I want to tell you about my friends and the way you talk to my friends is you download a little app
Starting point is 00:04:46 and it happens to be the official ticketing app of this podcast. Game time. Go to your smartphone, download that app. You want to go get out of the house. Isn't that what we all want to do? Get some sunshine. I don't know about you. It's 70 degrees where I'm at. Beautiful day outside.
Starting point is 00:05:03 Want to start incorporating some vitamin. You want to go to an outdoor concert. Do you want to go spring training? Hell, I'm going to go to spring training in a couple weeks Cannot wait I love it in baseball They show up they take grounders for like two days and they just start playing They approach it like I do golf go to the range couple balls hit the first team And if you want to go Florida or Arizona either one a lot of you guys come out here to Scottsdale
Starting point is 00:05:28 Highly recommend my friends at game time download the app search wherever you're looking And uh promo code John promo code joe h n promo code joe h n J-O-H-N, save yourself $20. Cannot recommend it enough. I saw a headline today on Roto World. Roto World is a fantasy website that when I was in the NFL, I used to look at to get injury information to put into our system. I still use it today.
Starting point is 00:05:57 It's a lot like pro football talk meets Twitter to just kind of keep tabs on what's going on. It's funny. Whenever I play golf with someone random at TBC Scottsdale, they always ask me like, how do you know what to talk about. I'm like, I don't know. I just follow the league. Kind of know what's big. Know what's important. It's just kind of a gut feeling. You just kind of know. You've been doing this long enough. I've been listening to sports talk, either podcast or radio, my entire life. You got a pretty good, you know, pulse of what's happening and what needs to be discussed. And while this doesn't necessarily need to be discussed in the sense of it's inevitable what's going
Starting point is 00:06:34 happen when Sean Payton went to Super Bowl week and said, you know, we haven't decided anything. Like, let's face it, this time of the year, there's a lot of posturing going on. And anytime the entire league knows something, you still tell them, hey, listen, you think the sky is blue? It looks red to me. It's like, I'm looking at the sky right now. It's blue. Like, it's raining.
Starting point is 00:06:57 No, it's not raining. It's literally dropping on my feet. And an NFL coach or GM would be like, clear skies. what are you talking about? But that is the business they're in. Is never, ever showing your cards. I was just in Vegas for the Super Bowl, and the tables I was on,
Starting point is 00:07:14 they flip your cards open. You're not hiding them for a minute. It's not Texas hold them. When you're playing blackjack, everyone knows what everyone has. And when you look at the Russell Wilson situation, I thought it was over before it even began. If you would have said over under years,
Starting point is 00:07:29 Russell Wilson plays for Sean Payton, you would have hammered under two. Now, it ended quicker than any of us thought. He was benched in year one, but let's face it. He was never going to last long early on in season one. It was like, this is a disaster. And there are going to be a lot of moves in the NFL over the next month that are going to be moves that are not going to work out.
Starting point is 00:07:53 And some are going to work out better than anyone could have expected. To me, the number one thing, any GM in any front office and any team going forward in free agency into the draft is lean aggressive. Lean really aggressive. Take big swings. The best part about this modern day NFL is if it doesn't work out
Starting point is 00:08:14 who gives a shit in a couple years pivot. And the number one thing you've got to be able to do is wave the white flag and pivot. And I would say, I've been saying this forever. One of Belichick's best qualities, it was easy because he had Tom Brady, but he never held on to like a second
Starting point is 00:08:32 round pick that couldn't play very long. He would get rid of the guy. By like year three, he would be gone. Where most general managers, now they don't have the equity of Belichick, but let's face it, it's ego. We never want to admit when we screw up. It's like, guys, my mother can see this guy can't play. And they're like, well, let's give him another year.
Starting point is 00:08:52 We'll move him to defensive tackle from defensive end. Like, guys, just move on from the player. And the faster you can move on from mistakes, and it's never been easier, we talked about this yesterday. you have unlimited amount of money. Not necessarily on your salary cap, but in terms of actual cash, what you have to pay these guys.
Starting point is 00:09:10 You don't need to be like, well, we've already given this guy $75 million. Let's see if we can work it out. It's not going to work out. And luckily, there are so many teams, especially with the quarterback, that are going to be willing to take them on. Now, it's not going to cost them that much.
Starting point is 00:09:24 You're eating a lot of the salary. And obviously, you're not going to get much back in draft compensation. But the best thing any organization can do is just wave the white flag when a player does not fit for them or is over the hill or it's just not, doesn't fit the scheme
Starting point is 00:09:40 or whatever. And Russell Wilson, listen, I think he's one of the most unique test, you know, case studies we've ever seen. It wasn't that long ago, I thought he was really good. And now, I know his numbers actually weren't that bad when you watched him play this year, he's a shell of what he was.
Starting point is 00:09:55 And unlike Rogers, who's 39, 40 years old, even Peyton Manning at the end, 39, 40 years old, This guy, I don't think he's 35 years old yet. So, let's face it. The Broncos, when they made that trade and Adam Schaefter tweeted it out, you know, two years ago now, it was insane. And I thought at the time there was no way that this is not going to be a solid move for Denver and a disaster for Seattle. It was the opposite. It really was.
Starting point is 00:10:23 I mean, Seattle went on to win 18 games in two years. The Broncos were awful. They have no quarterback situation once they move off Russell. They gave up a ton of draft picks. They gave up solid players. But listen, sometimes you get up to the plate, you're not looking to bunt. And that's what I love about this modern day NFL.
Starting point is 00:10:42 Is all these GMs, like the amount of secret meetings that are going to go on in Indianapolis of people discussing massive, massive trades and potential deals is freaking awesome. Like forever it was probably being discussed, but it was rarely executed. Now we see it executed constantly. So, listen, the Broncos fucked up, but a year later, they landed Sean Payton.
Starting point is 00:11:08 And within less than a year of Sean Payton, they're able to probably get rid of Russell Wilson. Now it's going to impact their salary cap greatly. And this season is going to be difficult on the books. But removing him kind of can start this process of getting that shadow. Negativity is the wrong way to put it because he's not a negative guy. but just this albatross of a contract who the ROI just isn't there. And that's really talking about the salary cap being $250 million. That's the key.
Starting point is 00:11:39 When you sign a guy to $15, $20, $25 million a year, does he equal that his ROI in his play? Because if he doesn't, then you have a problem. If I pay a guy $15 million and he's an above-average starter, I feel pretty good about it. If I pay a wide receiver $20 million, and he gets to be eight, nine touchdowns, and he's really productive, and defensive coordinators have to game plan him against him,
Starting point is 00:12:05 and take him very, very seriously in terms of their week of preparation, then we're okay. But the moment I give a guy huge money, and I go, God, would I like to have that back? God, I thought he'd be a little better. The NFL is not a plug-in-play league, right? This is not baseball, where I sign the top third baseman on the market, I plug him in at third base, and I put him third in the order. If he's a good player, nothing changes.
Starting point is 00:12:31 Right? It's chemistry, while it matters somewhat in the sport, ultimately, like, if you can hit, you can hit. If you can play defense, you can play defense. In football, the scheme matters. The amount of money you give someone matters. Like, is this just their Twilight contract? That's why Mike Evans is a pretty fascinating guy. He's already made over $110 million.
Starting point is 00:12:49 And he's won a Super Bowl. So at this point in time in his career, and he's coming off a very, very productive season. is he a guy that's looking to break the bank and get one more massive contract or is he a guy looking like I really want to win I'm willing to take a little bit less I've lived in Tampa I banked a lot of cash over my life
Starting point is 00:13:09 I feel very good about where I am financially I obviously don't want to work for free but like I would go play somewhere that gives me the opportunity to win for 20% less for the big picture of it coming back my way and being known one day as a two-time Super Bowl champion or is it like I'm going to take the most money possible.
Starting point is 00:13:29 And only like, listen, these teams don't know that right now. They're going to find this out at the combine when they deal with these agents. Like one thing was pretty clear with Russell Wilson. Money always, money and like respect and all these variables really mattered to him. Remember back in the day he wanted that fully guaranteed contract? And then when he said like, you know, I'm not asking for a trade, but if I did get a trade, these would be the four teams. He was always so big on control.
Starting point is 00:13:54 You know, I was like, bro, let's just dial in on our play. It was always like, Pete Carroll's fault. Pete Carroll's an idiot. That age pretty well. And then you get to the point where you just get an older guy, they're going into the third contract. I also think you have to be very, very careful about third contracts with NFL players.
Starting point is 00:14:12 Look at Vaughn Miller, who had a Hall of Fame level career before he ever got traded to the Rams. Then he gets traded to the Rams, he helps them get over the hump and he wins Super Bowl. Then he breaks the bank with Buffalo. Terzacel and he's never been the same and I was reading this article that like
Starting point is 00:14:28 they're kind of stuck with his contract but signing any player in the NFL is a risky proposition because of the sport right at any moment you can get injured you can have a career altering injury any position any moment training camp to games to the preseason it could happen training
Starting point is 00:14:47 doing heavy squats but you can't think like that if you did no guy would be signed. I do think history would tell us when you sign third contract players to large money, the risk goes up exponentially. And I'm pro Mike Evans, but are we talking like three years $70 million? Or are we getting the guy for like two years, $30 million? You know, he's fast. He's only 30 years old. He's probably going to be very, very expensive. And some team is going to give him a lot of money. High character guy, team leader, winner.
Starting point is 00:15:26 Like, I mean, he brings a lot to the table. I'm not trying to count his pennies, but I'd just be very hesitant when it comes to third contract guys breaking the bank. That's why I think a guy like Brandon Ayuk is a fascinating case study. When you look at Iyuk, you go, I thought last year, given his previous production and his upside, you know, we're talking $17, $18 million to extend. And the 49ers, we talked about this. Like, listen, we extended Bost after his fourth year. You're going to have to wait. Then Iyuk has one of his best seasons. Clearly, if you just watch him on a weekly basis, he's a fantastic player. Because of the team he plays on, his numbers are probably not appropriate to where his value and talent is. You put Brandon Ayuk on the chiefs or the
Starting point is 00:16:13 bills. I mean, you're looking at 110 catch guy. That's why I think these negotiations can get pretty complicated, right? Is he a guy that's looking for five years, $125 million and $7080 million guaranteed? I really like him. Is he ever going to be a top three or four wide receiver in the league? Probably not. So when I got to pay premiums, like when Tyreek and Devante broke the bank a couple years ago, it was pretty clear. Probably the best and second best wide receivers in the league. I mean, who have dominated at the highest level for a long period of time. Now, part of this is projecting. It's why the 49ers, he has a lot of value to them.
Starting point is 00:16:53 They know him really well. He's a complete player. He blocks. But there are rumors about people think he might get traded. And Kyle Shanahan talked about this at his season-ending press conference. Like, this whole business is about valuing what the guy's value is to my team and what could I get for the guy. So if you could get a first and a third round pick for Brandon I, you know, pick in the
Starting point is 00:17:17 early to mid-20s. And a team is then willing to be. to break him off, right? So a contract that you are not willing to do, whether it's not because you don't think he's worth it, but factoring in his value on your salary cap, the amount of money the cap hit, cash is not necessarily an issue for the 49ers. But then it puts a lot of pressure on you making the right draft picks. Ultimately why the Kansas Chiefs are back-to-back Super Bowl champs? Because when they traded Tyree Kill, they nailed their draft. They immediately got impact players for those picks.
Starting point is 00:17:48 The problem with the 49ers when they traded to Forrest Buckner, they drafted Javon Kinlaw, who is a guy that's not going to be on their team next year. They didn't pick up his fifth year option. If instead of Javon Kinlaw, they'd use that pick on Tristan Worf's,
Starting point is 00:18:02 be like, God, that was a no-brainer trade. Because at the time when they traded Bukter, who I thought was a good player, not a great player, who you were going to have to pay a lot of money. Like, he was not Aaron Donald. He's not a lot of the high-high-high Fletcher Cox in his prime.
Starting point is 00:18:16 He's not that. and that's where I think they're having the conversation with Brandon A. He's really good and they really like him. But what is the cost? And the problem is once you make that trade, because I go, hey, you got a first and a third round pick for him. Then you actually have to draft players in those spots. And that's where it gets complicated. And that's the whole point of the exercises going on right now in all these NFL teams.
Starting point is 00:18:39 What is it worth for us to sign our guys long term? And what is it worth if we did trade them like the value of the players, that we can potentially get with those draft picks. And there comes a lot of pressure on that. But when you do make the right draft, when you do trade a player for a high pick, right, the Chiefs, Tyree Kill, and then you get Trent McDuffie
Starting point is 00:19:00 and you hit a home run on the pick, you get an all-pro caliber player on a very, very cheap salary. I was texting with Daniel Jeremiah. I'm like, Brock Bowers, makes a lot of sense for the hardball and the Chargers. He's like, the problem is, when you draft a guy at five or six
Starting point is 00:19:18 at that position, he immediately makes $8,9 million. Well, the franchise tag for a tight end is like $12 million. So he's already immediately one of the highest paid players at his position. So if he is not an all-star level
Starting point is 00:19:34 player immediately, it's not good value. Where if I get a tackle or a defensive lineman or even a corner who is an impact player immediately, that's $7,8,9 million salary is actually a cheap deal at his position. So you have to, like, this is ultimately a business.
Starting point is 00:19:52 And it's a big, you know, you got to put the pie chart together of the player, the salary, and it's very, very complicated. And it's easy for all of us. And listen, I make a living off it, you know, giving praise and being critical of different decisions. But all these decisions are calculated risks. And that's the hard part about the sport of football. that I saw this headline today on ESPN.com
Starting point is 00:20:17 is that Anthony Rendon, the former champion from the Washington Nationals, he said that baseball is not his number one priority. I'm like, listen, it's, you know, the media always defends athletes when they say that. It's like, well, the Angels gave him $245 million. Imagine any business buying something, buying an asset,
Starting point is 00:20:41 and especially if it's a person and that person going, yeah, this isn't my top priority. This isn't something, I just view this like a job. Probably not going to be a good business proposition. Now, obviously he got injured, he's never been the same,
Starting point is 00:20:54 but kind of speaks to his mindset. I would imagine if he would have said that before free agency, I don't know if that $250 million is sitting there on the table. And that's a huge part of investing in guys in free agency. Like, I say this over and over. The contract the Denver Broncos gave Mike McGlinchie is pretty insane. because he's not a good enough player. But I think Sean Payton go,
Starting point is 00:21:15 well, he's a five-year starter for a team that was in a bunch of big games. He's played in a Super Bowl. He's played in playoff games. Kyle Shanahan loved him. I am getting a guy that has a lot of check marks off the field. It's why when you buy guys that have some question marks off the field
Starting point is 00:21:30 and then it doesn't work out, you only have yourself to blame. You know, I would say one of the most famous flops in NFL history is that Albert Haynesworth contract. Well, you get this guy, who's just going to you for money, your organization's disaster. Remember when Shanahan got the job and he made Hainsworth run like 100 yards sprints? And Hainsworth couldn't make it and he like plopped there on the ground and was exhausted.
Starting point is 00:21:53 You got to be very, very careful with that. It's why character really matters because money just exposes you. And in NFL, if you can hit free agency and you're, you know, one of the higher end free agents, not necessarily relative to the league, but just of your free agent class, like you're going to get life-altering money. Right. Now you're talking 50, 60, 70 million dollars in guarantee. Like that can change your mindset if you're not all in on football.
Starting point is 00:22:20 And let's face it, football is a very unique sport where you don't play very often. The majority of your year is working, is practice, is training. You only get 17 spots or shots. And that's assuming that you don't miss any games. So I would imagine the average NFL player does not play 17 games a season. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.
Starting point is 00:22:50 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.
Starting point is 00:23:13 A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media.
Starting point is 00:23:25 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,
Starting point is 00:23:41 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,
Starting point is 00:23:55 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,
Starting point is 00:24:10 Follow at Clifford and a TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jett. And I'm Alex English.
Starting point is 00:24:31 Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 was big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so you 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.
Starting point is 00:24:54 We also have AIDS on the table right now. Then you're 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 IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Starting point is 00:25:18 One thing I wanted to institute moving forward, because, I mean, it's one of the most fun times of the year. And it's one of my favorite events of the year, not unlike game, would be the NFL draft. I love the NFL draft. I think that's a big reason growing up following, you know, college football, the NFL draft, is why I aspired to get involved in football. And the first time, you know, you kind of get to go into the draft room. It's a very, very cool thing. And I've always said this, like, us as fans or me as a podcaster,
Starting point is 00:25:52 we have very similar conversations as those do in an NFL room, right? Scouts with the NFL talk about football players, know differently than us. Like, is this guy any good? Is this guy overrated? God, I don't really like this guy. Now, they have more information. They study the guy closer. They have much more of like a microscope over the guy's entire body of work.
Starting point is 00:26:16 But they have just flatline takes and opinions. They're very similar to ours. It's what makes it fun. You think this guy's good. I don't think this guy's good. And then we argue over it. I think this guy is better than the other guy. In an NFL draft team, you literally just rank players.
Starting point is 00:26:33 One through 10, one through 32, one through 200. No differently than you and your buddy. Like, I'd rather have this guy, this guy and this guy over that guy, that guy and that guy. And I think what makes the draft very fascinating is there are a million opinions. In college football as a whole, maybe there have been times when it was quote unquote more popular, but it's pretty damn popular.
Starting point is 00:26:54 It's the number two sport in America by a wide, wide margin. So a lot of people have opinions on the top college players. Why? Because we've watched them. I've seen the television ratings. 10, 15, 20 million people are watching some of these. big college games. And Ohio State happens to play in the biggest game.
Starting point is 00:27:10 They play Michigan, 20 million people watch. Rightfully so. It's an incredible television product. And one thing I learned when I was in the NFL, and now I do this for a living, is like, the hype machine is real. And when the hype machine takes off, there is no slowing it down. On Netflix, there's a show called Buried, Buried, and it's about the avalanche in Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows back in the early 80s. and listen, I grew up going to Lake Tahoe as a kid.
Starting point is 00:27:40 I haven't skied in probably 15, 20 years, but I used to ski a lot from probably ages 10 to 18. And one thing you're always, you know, a little nervous about when you hear the, you know, dynamite going off. They're checking for avalanches, there's certain areas, especially as you get a little bit better skiing, you go back country skiing. Like, you got to be careful.
Starting point is 00:27:57 And when an avalanche starts rolling down the hill, there is no stopping it. It only gains momentum. Well, it's no different when it comes to the hype around a place. And one thing I've learned in being around it very closely and now doing this is there's a big gap between people that study the NFL 24-7-365 and those that do that with college. And I've always said this, listen, I'm not a Kirk Herb Street hater. I actually really like him. I just don't like him on my NFL game.
Starting point is 00:28:26 And in fairness to him, that's a very, very difficult spot to just fly into. It's hard. He's excellent at college. No different than Joel Klapp. right those guys know the college game they know the college coaches they know the college players at the big programs very very well and when you're around something very very closely you can just you know biases might be even the wrong word but you can just get a little jaded to stuff and you can have an agenda of like you really like the person so he's an easy person to
Starting point is 00:28:56 root for and the way that if you just listen to college people talk about Marvin harrison you think the guy was fucking Jerry Rice. You think the guy was better than his dad. And honestly, like, the chances that he's better than his dad are slim than nut. His dad's in the Hall of Fame. His dad's one of the great players of my life. And that's not a slight at Marvin Harrison. So everyone's saying Marvin Harrison is this can't miss player.
Starting point is 00:29:21 He's the number one wide receiver on the board. And I heard Michael Lombardi today on his podcast saying, I've talked to some teams that don't even have him as the number one wide receiver on their board. And when you say something like that, anyone that is pro-Marvin Harrison thinks that that's like an enormous criticism. Like being number two on a draft board
Starting point is 00:29:42 is a crazy thing to be. And I was thinking about it today, like the best part about the NFL on draft day is wherever you're drafted, it's an enormous moment for your life. But it does not determine your success. We've seen a lot of top 10 players not even be in the league fighting.
Starting point is 00:29:59 years later and we've seen a lot of fifth, sixth, seventh round picks become stalwarts on Pro Bowls, all pros, and in playoff game. And I looked at the AP All Pro, first and second team, this year, of the guys on that team and where they were drafted. Tyree Kill. Now, he got kicked out of Oklahoma State, had some issues. He was a third day pick. CD Lamb, while a first round pick, multiple wide receivers were drafted ahead of him. Brandon Ayuk, pick 27, countless wide receivers draft that had him. Puka Nakua, definitely not a first round pick. Then you get to the second team, guys like A.J. Brown, a mona-rah Saint-Brown, fourth round pick. You get a lot of guys. I always hate this notion like this guy fell in the draft. He went pick 41. Like he's a wide receiver.
Starting point is 00:30:51 There's countless other positions that pushed him down. Just because you go in the second round does not mean you're some scrub. Ask the Eagles and AJ Brown, or or the 49ers in Debo Samuel, or Seattle and D.K. Metcalf. I hate this notion just because, because if it gets out that Marvin Harrison is not the universal, number one player on every team's board, people be like, that's fucking insane. Is it?
Starting point is 00:31:15 Like, Marvin Harrison's still probably going in the top 10. But if he goes 9th instead of 6, and the dude from LSU or the dude from Washington go ahead of him, is it that crazy? Because I would say it's probably a 50-50 proposition, that's what's going to happen. And I asked, I remember earlier in the season, a scouting buddy that goes through the University of Michigan.
Starting point is 00:31:36 And I said, sometimes you watch Ohio State and, you know, it's like he doesn't jump off the screen like Julio Jones or Jamar Chase did at LSU. And he's like, well, listen, he's not those guys physically. He's just really good at everything. I wouldn't say he's a superstar at one thing. He's just viewed as almost like a can't miss
Starting point is 00:31:59 player, who again, high-end guy, really, really good player. No doubt about it, first-round pick. But when I think the fifth overall pick or the six overall pick at wide receiver, you fucking better be Julio Jones. You better be Jamar Chase, right? I mean, look, Jalen Waddle is an excellent player. Google his stats. He's dominated the NFL when he's played. He was not the first wide receiver off the board. There's a decent chance Devante Smith gets a contract extension this offseason. He lasted out of the top ten. So this notion that not being the number one player on a draft board at your position
Starting point is 00:32:36 is some indictment of you as a player is just moronic. Last I checked, Patrick Mahomes was the first quarterback taken in his draft. Now, granted, that was a major mistake and Mitcher Misky was. But that's the way it works. And listen, the chances that whether it's a Dunezay, the LSU guy, Harrison, Coleman at Florida State, there's a chance to do it in the third round is going to be better than I'm all.
Starting point is 00:33:02 That's what makes the draft so cool. Just because you're drafted out, that means you get a lot of money. It doesn't necessarily guarantee anything for your success. Who in their right mind saw Puka Nakua coming? Nobody. Not even the Rams.
Starting point is 00:33:20 Because if they did, they would have traded up. They would have found a way to draft him higher. But then it happens. And everyone's like, oh, this dude's going to catch 100 balls every year for a while. So I think sometimes when we talk about the draft, everything becomes so negative when it's not even a negative. If the guy gets drafted 10th or 11th,
Starting point is 00:33:42 is he falling in the draft or do you just get drafted really high? One thing I wanted to do, and I was trying to think of a topic, or think of a way to name this kind of segment. I couldn't figure out a good one, so I'm going to need some help. Right now I just have topic Tuesday. This is a very, very fluid segment.
Starting point is 00:34:04 I just want something on a weekly basis to kind of screw around a little bit that isn't necessarily football related. Just something, just a topic that's going around that we can just bullshit about. And it's one I'm going to pick like today. My topic Tuesday is just, what the hell do we do without football? Because I was thinking about it this weekend. Fliping the channels, obviously college football has been gone for a little while. but then you get Sunday, it's a weird feeling.
Starting point is 00:34:30 It really is. And Maria was back in California for a baby shower, had the house by myself. Wasn't much to do. I just kind of lounged around. And I would have died. Like, when you watch as much football as I watch, and as I'm sure a lot of you listening watch,
Starting point is 00:34:47 it's a pretty big jolt to the system without it. And I just wrote down some things that you can attempt to do now that football is gone. Because I did it. I flipped the channels, and I just looked around, and I watched the Ferrari movie, it was all kind of okay. I would give it, you know, a five out of ten. I watched some of the true detective show.
Starting point is 00:35:10 I don't really like ghosts. I don't really like imagining things. It's not really my style as a show. I'd rather just have, like, things that are actually realistic, not seeing something that's not actually there. Kind of turn me off. Though the show is not bad. that element kind of turns me off
Starting point is 00:35:28 but there is nothing on TV you would have had to pay me to watch the NBA All-Star game which is easily now everyone's admitted it an all-time disaster at least in football
Starting point is 00:35:41 they acknowledged a couple years ago no one's trying let's go to flag football now at least when you turn it on not that I did I didn't watch that either you know they're playing flag football like in basketball you should be able to play relatively hard the injury risk is relatively low
Starting point is 00:35:55 when you're scoring 211 points in a game of all-stars, like that's a major problem. Especially when the commissioner was like, we're going to play hard this year. And then Larry Bird, but I think he was speaking, oh, because it was in Indiana, was like, guys,
Starting point is 00:36:09 I really look forward to these guys trying hard. And then the game broke out. And clearly, I saw some highlights today at the gym. Like, holy shit, this thing's a joke. One thing I need to work on is being more social. Now I have no excuse. Like, well, I can't really do it. I got to watch Penn State, Michigan.
Starting point is 00:36:24 I just, you know, I got to go with Colin tonight. I got to watch all these football games. Now I have no excuse. A couple people texted me, hey, you want to come watch the fights? And I was like, eh, kind of, but I don't want to relax. I think this is a time post-football
Starting point is 00:36:36 when you actively try to get more social. And listen, some of you guys are social butterflies. It's something I need to put more effort into, for sure. The other thing is chores. You realize how little you do when you watch Thursday night football. You watch football on Friday. You watch football day, Saturday, Sunday.
Starting point is 00:36:55 And then you talk about football leading up to Monday night football, and then you talk about more football after Monday night football. You don't do much chore-wise. And, you know, I put some things together, hung some stuff, the garage. Like, it's chore time. So I think moving forward, chores and just doing stuff around the house, my garage right now looks like a war zone. There is shit.
Starting point is 00:37:17 I don't even know where to start. I got to get some, like, cabinets in there. That's not going to be cheap. but I think chores and just trying to be productive around the house, you feel good about yourself. Getting outside is a big vitamin D. Because especially for you guys that live in colder weather cities, it's an easy excuse.
Starting point is 00:37:37 Just going to stay inside, watch some ball, have some beers. But that's it. That's a huge part of life. As the springtime comes in the summer, it's just getting outside. Obviously, if you like golf, time to play some golf. But in quality time with your life, level ones. Something I saw, I don't have children yet, but I was picking up a sandwich yesterday at this place called Sourdose, I think it's called. It's got incredible turkey sandwiches and,
Starting point is 00:38:04 you know, trying to be healthy, so I got a little chicken salad. And this guy was there with his daughter who was probably, I'm bad with ages, somewhere between like four and six. And she was eating her sandwich, talking to her dad, and he had his phone out. And listen, I am in no position to phone shame a soul. I'm not allowed to phone shame anybody. But it made me think, like, if I had a young daughter and she was talking with me and I was just on my phone scrolling, it was a pretty jolting visual. Now, again, I'm not trying to judge the guy. Maybe he's had a long day, maybe he's checking some emails. It's not like I looked at his phone to see what he might not even have been on Instagram. Maybe he was texting back his wife. But I was like, God, and he's not
Starting point is 00:38:48 alone. Everywhere you look, everyone is just constantly on their phone. Constantly. We're all addicted. I mean, if the iPhone was crack, America would all be crack addicts. It's not even debatable at this point in time. And I think one thing that I'm going to really try moving forward is just try to get a little more quality time. Just with people in my life. If you're with someone, it's always say, like, be present. And then you're like 10 minutes in, you're like checking Instagram. You're like, God, that video's pretty funny. How about that dog? Hey, check. Check out this dog. But, listen, no more excuses to just sit on your couch, watch football, scroll on your phone or iPad.
Starting point is 00:39:26 Time to just share some quality time with our loved ones. Get outside and enjoy life. 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.
Starting point is 00:39:52 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, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football,
Starting point is 00:40:16 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.
Starting point is 00:40:35 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.
Starting point is 00:40:51 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
Starting point is 00:41:09 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're going to be. You can find out on The Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jett. And I'm Alex English.
Starting point is 00:41:24 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 for finishing that sentence.
Starting point is 00:41:53 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 IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Okay, mailbag time. Very, very easy to get in the mailbag. You guys know the drill.
Starting point is 00:42:14 Add John Middlecough. Add John Middlecough is the Instagram firing those DMs. and holler at your boy. Start with Mike. Eagles fan here. What do you think of Philly's new coordinator hires? I think Moore and Fangio are definitely an upgrade from last year, but I'm not super confident we can turn back the clock to 22.
Starting point is 00:42:33 Would like to know your thoughts. I mean, a 100% upgrade. Kellyn Moore is better than Brian Johnson, and Vic Fangio is the best defensive coordinator they've had since Jim Johnson. Jim Schwartz pretty good, too. But Vic Fangio is an elite defensive coordinator. So, yeah, I mean, I think the two hires are no-brainers, right?
Starting point is 00:43:00 I said this, though, back when they made the hires, there's more than just, like, in a vacuum, it's like a player, good player. But there's a lot goes on in an organization. How will he mesh with the head coach? How will he mesh with the players? The scheme fits of the different players. Will it be a seamless transition?
Starting point is 00:43:19 A lot of unknowns. And it takes time to figure stuff out. One thing's pretty clear. I read this athletic article on Shane Steichen. Shane Steichen was, might be a pretty special coach. So replacing that, like Kellan Moore, not that.
Starting point is 00:43:35 So when you say get back to the magic of 2020, defensively they're going to be better. And offensively, they're not going to be as bad as last year either. But sometimes you get a coach and you just never replace them. It happened with Dan Quinn with Kyle Shanahan. Like, Sark was good for Dan Quinn.
Starting point is 00:43:52 It wasn't Kyle. And I think that might be the case with Changed Steichen. And I think if you look back, it's hard to do this at the time, but if they had a do over, I think what they would do is they just would have hired Changes. They would have fired Siriani and hired Stuyken, even after the Super Bowl. It's obviously hindsight's 20-20, Monday morning quarterback, but it's pretty clear who the coaching star is. My question is, it seems like Iyuk is on his way out.
Starting point is 00:44:24 I wouldn't go that far yet. I think the only way he's on his way out is if they got, like, the reason they traded to Forrest Buckner was because they got the 13th pick. Now, they made the wrong decision. If they had a do-over, they just would have taken Tris and Worf's instead of Javon Kinlaw.
Starting point is 00:44:43 But if you got the 13th pick for Brandon Ayuk, you'd have to trade the guy. but if I'm getting the chief's 30 second pick not that they could even financially afford to give them 80 million bucks or whatever I'm just not doing it so if someone knocked on my door right now and said hey I'll give you $4 million for your house
Starting point is 00:45:04 and say when do you want to move in right but if the same guy said hey I'll give you $2 million for your house it's like eh I've already put a lot into this am I really making that much money I got to pack up the rates are high where am I going to move to. So I think it's, well, what, yeah, they trade Brandon Ayyuk, but for what? For an offer that they can't turn down? Yeah, of course. Is that offer available? Would you trade him for pick 26?
Starting point is 00:45:35 Aren't you better off just keeping them? Maybe you wait till the draft. Maybe you see on draft day. Maybe you'd be willing, I mean, we're a long way away from that, but like, we trade him on draft day if a certain player's there. Eagles fan. I don't think Siriani should have been fired, but I would really like a head coach that calls plays due to coordinators moving around all the time.
Starting point is 00:45:54 Do you think the CEO head coaches will be a thing of the past soon enough? Well, let's think about the head coach is hired this year. Dave Conallis in Carolina. We'll call the place. Jim Harbaugh,
Starting point is 00:46:11 CEO head coach. New England. Is Mayo calling the plays? I would hope so, right? Dan Quinn, will he call the defense? I hope. Last year, Sean Payton hired Denver. Like, he's calling the place.
Starting point is 00:46:27 I just think if you're hiring a guy and paying him a lot of money, a huge part of the hire is based on his expertise, which is typically offense or defense. Now, there are certain guys that transcend that. Harbaugh, I would say, is an outlier. The Harbaugh brothers. They're really good at hiring coaches. They're really good at mentoring young.
Starting point is 00:46:47 coaches and turning them into stars. And they're just elite leaders. But for the most part, I don't know. I would always lean Sean McVey, Kyle Shanahan, Matt LaFleuror. Like, give me, even... I understand Seattle hiring Mike McDonald,
Starting point is 00:47:05 have him call the place. I understood why everyone wanted Ben Johnson. Because even if he's not a great leader, it's like, well, can you fucking dial up the place? Which is not the end-all-be-all, but who's the best coach? currently in the NFL. The big guy in Kansas City.
Starting point is 00:47:20 What's he do? Calls the offense. Just wanted to give you a shout out for helping me save $20 on game time. I'm a South Florida sports fan living in Denver, going to heat nuggets in a couple weeks. Enjoy my friend. It's usually when the Miami Heat kind of turn it up. Hey John, I don't have an Insta,
Starting point is 00:47:40 so I'm messaging you off to my fiance's Instagram. Can you hear some thoughts on Trent Balke? His drafts in Jacksonville have been horrible. I know your thoughts about T-Law, but he lucked into Trevor, and the rumor is that Urban was in charge of the draft that year anyway. Yeah, and my mom would have picked Trevor Lawrence that year. Now he's fumbling around trying to build somewhat competitive roster for two years, and all he wants to do is draft linebackers.
Starting point is 00:48:07 What can you speak of in his weird endings in San Francisco? And is there light at the end of the tunnel for a long time, Jacks fan? I always thought he was pretty good, but there were always rumors his first couple of drafts. He benefited a lot from having Scott McLuhan, who was battling some alcohol issues and kind of quit slash got fired. He took over, he used his draft board to draft guys like Navarro Bowman, Anthony Davis, Mike U Potty, and it was a draft that kind of changed everything. And then his next draft, they were drafting really high. It was like Alden Smith, Kaepernick, Chris Culliver, Bruce Miller. had a couple drafts that kind of helped with already guys there, Frank Gore, Willis,
Starting point is 00:48:54 Vernon Davis, Crabtree, he didn't draft any of those guys. Joe Staley. They had a lot of good players already on the roster. But he had Jim Harbaugh, which, you know, he kind of got credit for. There were rumors that he was, like, jogging around. But then he started having pretty bad drafts. Even though a couple of his draft picks that everyone hated at the time, Jimmy Ward, I turned out to be a really good pick.
Starting point is 00:49:16 Eric Armstead, really good pick. So he's probably not as bad as the hype. To me, the negative on Trent has always been. Is he always backstabbing somebody? Because he kind of, and listen, his relationship, he's always been pretty cool to me. Even though the first time I met him was a little weird when I was a GA at Fresno State, he was kind of a dick.
Starting point is 00:49:38 But then when he was with the Niners, he was cool to me. So a lot of people don't like him. I never really had an issue with him. Anytime you're a general manager that's not, known as like scout guy. I just sit in my office and watch a bunch of tape. I'm not the most social guy. I just want to watch football players, which is fine. Are you also the guy that like, oh, he's kind of like this gruff old school scout? But it'll also take a machete and cut off your head when you're not looking. For a guy that kind of has this old school football guy,
Starting point is 00:50:12 kind of vibe to him, he's a sneaky politician. He's always kind of angling for stuff. Remember when he hired in Jacksonville and then he kind of worked his way and now he's in charge and now there's some rumors like him and Doug. I just think guys like Trent in life you got to be careful with because they'll do whatever it takes to get that position. That's the thing like I have no problem in the private sector when you're a business owner. Your business becomes your identity and the health of that business is everything you put something into. But ultimately Trent is an employee. So it's like he's kind of always working the owners against the coach, maybe, against the play. It's just a bizarre situation with guys like that. That's what it feels like a little bit
Starting point is 00:51:00 from the outside. Pleasure as always. What do you think about NFL's.com lists for teams with the biggest Super Bowl window? Do you agree with it, or is there a different team you think has a better shot this upcoming season? I just think Super Bowl windows, let's just see who's on everybody's team at the end of the draft. A lot's going to change in the next two months. The NFL is so fluid. Obviously, if you have Mahomes, if you have Lamar, if you have Josh Allen, you're going to be good. Right? The Chargers now have Herbert and Harbaugh. They're going to be good. But like some of these teams, like do the Broncos or the Raiders or the Falcons, do one of these teams like get a sweet quarterback in the draft and the guy changes their future?
Starting point is 00:51:43 Or do they not? Shouldn't the front office of the Bears trade fields to the AFC West or East because he would likely find it difficult to win or even spectacularly failed next year having to play against Mahomes, Harbaugh, Peyton, Lamar, Borough, and Provee Stinks. I don't want fields to fail from a personal standpoint, but from a front office job security standpoint, doesn't this make sense?
Starting point is 00:52:10 Why would you send him to Atlanta, shitty division, and weak NFC? When you pivot off a guy because you don't believe in him, you have to have the conviction that the reason you're getting rid of the guy, trading the guy, acquiring someone else is because you know you're right.
Starting point is 00:52:30 Andy Reid traded Donovan McNabb to the Washington commanders because he knew Donovan wasn't any good anymore. It happens a lot, I think, in relationships when you break up with somebody or you get dumped because that person doesn't believe that you're their person, right?
Starting point is 00:52:48 and when you break up when you dump somebody and you start seeing her on Instagram like dating other people it's easy when you're like oh that guy's probably a scrub not making much money but she gets with a guy you're like god damn she's on a private jet right now are they in Cabo San Lucas
Starting point is 00:53:05 what is going on here so the reason though is you got to trust your gut and you did it for a reason so no matter what you see on Instagram you got to keep telling yourself I didn't like her that much it was never going to work. So trading him to Atlanta, who gives a shit?
Starting point is 00:53:23 If you don't think he can play, I don't care if Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, and Walter Payton are walking through that door. You've got to trade him to who offers you the best return. That's the key. Because you no longer believe in the guy. So, like, am I taking a third round pick instead of a second round pick
Starting point is 00:53:44 because I think this is going to be a harder destination? Hell no. If I'm out on him, I'm out on him. It's easier said than done, but you've got to have conviction when you make the move. Belichick did it all the time. Bledsoe to Buffalo, cut loyal Malloy, he went to Buffalo. He didn't even care. Because he knew deep down he was right. If you're the Bucks, what should they do with Baker going forward? I'm leaning for an extension, but my problem with that is there is no middle ground in quarterback money anymore.
Starting point is 00:54:17 It's complicated, man. you look at that Jimmy Garoppolo contract last year, you know, I think that's the highest end you do. But I would have a really, really hard time given Baker. I mean, it sounds crazy, but it's like three years, $60 million. I'll guarantee $40, $20 a year. That's what I would like to do. And I acknowledge, like he's a solid player. But I'm not giving $40 million a year I'm out.
Starting point is 00:54:51 $30 million a year, I'd be out. I watched some games this year where he wasn't that good. Again, he's matured a lot. He's a guy to root for now. I'm a pro-baker guy. I've liked him since college. There's also a business. I like Jared Goff a lot too.
Starting point is 00:55:08 I'm pro-Jarred Goff at $25, $28 million. I do not like Jared Goff at $42 million. If you were the commissioner of the NBA or Major League Baseball, what changes would you make to try to catch up the popularity of football? There is no changes. that can be made. The consumer is telling you, we have, like, the amount of people listening to me right now that are somewhat, you know, in my age group, that have young children, that have a busy life, that have a job, that need to work out, that are just doing things,
Starting point is 00:55:39 do not have time to watch baseball games every night. Do not have time to watch a basketball game when the players aren't even trying. The thing football really benefits from, one, it's easy to gamble on. It's easy to play fantasy football. So, all, the auxiliary stuff around it make it very, very easy to participate. And it doesn't take that much of my time. I'm home anyway, the majority of America on Sunday, and it's on television. And then the other games, when my team is playing either on Thursday night, Sunday night, or, I mean, Thursday or Monday night, it's at night.
Starting point is 00:56:14 Which obviously those two sports are too, but I don't think there's anything they can do. There's no subtle changes you can make. Unless Michael Jordan or Babe Ruth walk back through that door, it's only going to go the other way. And it has a lot to do with the fragmentation of our entertainment. We have a million fucking options. The crazy part is I have every streaming service known to man and it's hard to find things to watch.
Starting point is 00:56:45 I don't know if it's a writer's strike or what. Love the pod in your content. One of the best out there. Golf question. If you were the commissioner of the PGA tour, what change would you do to enhance the product currently? TV coverage is average at best. I talked about this on Go Low this week. You just got to get the guys back. The coverage has always been the hard part about golf is football, basketball, or baseball, when the action's going on, the TV's on that action. And when commercials happen, nothing's happening. Well, in golf, there's a, you know, there's countless guys all over the course. So you never know what's that. live, what's not. You know when they cut back to a big putt, they're like, oh, Jim, this looks like a pretty straight putt from 75 feet, and then you know what's going in, because it happened 15 minutes ago. But I just think that, if I'm the commissioner of golf, there's only one priority. How do we get John Rom, Brooks Kepka, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed, Cam Smith, the group of their younger, famous guys,
Starting point is 00:57:51 back playing with our guys. That's the only thing that matters right now. Really is. As a UK-based, new to the NFL fan, it's been great to listen to the pod and learn more about the game. One thing that really surprises me in American sports is why the home fans and the away road fans aren't separated, like they are in over here, specifically soccer.
Starting point is 00:58:16 If this was adopted in the NFL would lead to better atmospheres and less trouble. I understand a large number of fans at times are tourists and maybe not home road fans but interested to hear if you think this would work well it's a good question
Starting point is 00:58:37 interesting insight I guess if I let's just use an example if I'm going to an Eagles game or a Niner game or a New England Patriot game the overwhelming majority of people at that stadium are going to be a fan of that team.
Starting point is 00:58:57 So the contingent of away fans is going to be relatively small. Now, because of the way our businesses work and I'm in business with ticketing companies, the secondary ticketing market, getting tickets has never been easier. So a lot of, you know, there are certain teams in this country
Starting point is 00:59:18 that travel very well. The Packers, the Steelers, the Cowboys, they have fans nationally. So how could I dictate, like, I can't sell you this seat if you're a cowboy fan? It's just, it's hard over here. It happens more in college football. Like, if you watch Ohio State play Wisconsin,
Starting point is 00:59:40 and they're playing at Wisconsin, there is a specific Ohio State section. I don't, I'd have to talk to someone in the business. Like, I don't think it's really plodagh. in football, in pro football to have that happen. But that's a unique way to look at it. Would it, yeah, I mean, I think part of the fights, and I'm sure you've seen the viral videos, it's a lot of guys fighting themselves rooting for the same team.
Starting point is 01:00:12 It's not always, you know, Raider fan versus Chiefs fan, Rams fan versus Charger fan. Sometimes you watch these videos go viral. they're both wearing the same color jersey and they're fighting each other. A Bucks fan here again. We need an upgrade at the running back position. I don't think we can get one of the top free agent running backs, but what is your opinion on using a second round pick on someone like Blake Corm?
Starting point is 01:00:39 If Baker can duplicate this past season, I believe we are a running back away from being taken seriously. Yeah, to me, Blake Cormum is probably somewhere between pick 50 and 75. That's where I would guess. I mean, depending on what he runs at that. the combine, but he's a really, really solid player. To me, he has the, like I can see, the charter's being all over him.
Starting point is 01:01:05 I've liked Blake Horn, his entire college career, though. Good question. Best show on the biz. Thanks for providing young people like myself with wisdom, not just in football, but in general. It's very apparent that you're a very talented communicator. Is there any which way you practice this? You know what's funny?
Starting point is 01:01:27 I would call myself a pretty introverted individual. And sometimes when I'm not podcasting, I don't want to talk to anybody. I can be at the dinner table with my family, my girlfriend. It's like I just not really in the mood to talk. Sometimes I have to fake it. No, there's no, I've just been talking my entire life. It's a good question though. How would you even improve communication?
Starting point is 01:02:01 Practice talking to other people. people? The phone rings. There's zero chance I'm picking up. I don't care who's calling. Unless it's coward. Been listening since COVID. I'm 16. I've got a young buck here. Too early Super Bowl prediction. I saw one of the guys I follow with the 49ers, Cam Inman, who covers the Niners he has for decades. His way too early Super Bowl prediction in New Orleans is 49ers Chargers, which would be sweet. I think the key is to look at the main teams involved, right? I think the 49ers and Lions, those two teams are going to be right back in the mix.
Starting point is 01:02:48 I think the Eagles and Cowboys, if they can just figure out some of their shit, should be right there as well. And then the Rams and the Packers are definitely teams to be taken seriously. And in the AFC, the Chiefs are the cream of the crop. And if they're in a playoff game, no one's betting against them. And then it's kind of the next crew of teams. The Ravens, they lost a coordinator. Who are they going to lose in free agency?
Starting point is 01:03:09 The sweet defensive linens a free agent. How much better are the Chargers going to be? Buffalo, their cap situation. What are they going to do? Burrow, is he back? Is he cool? Is like everything look good? Miami. Like, what the fuck are they?
Starting point is 01:03:24 Are they just some, like, sexy team that can score some points, or can they build up a defense? So, I would say the Chiefs first, whoever comes out of the NFC. Can you please tell Colin to tell his buddy Nick Wright that if the 49ers rookie kicker can get his foot under the football on a PAT, Brock Purdy outplays Mahomes, doesn't go to overtime,
Starting point is 01:03:47 and the Kansas Chiefs missed the playoffs for the next three seasons? I actually don't think that's true. Because you can't play the way a game is playing out in the final six, seven minutes, based on a point, one individual point that happened, that didn't happen in the third quarter because you approach the game differently when you're down a field goal
Starting point is 01:04:12 or when you're down four points. So I don't think that's fair. And here's the thing. Can we stop comparing Purdy to fucking the top guy? He's not Patrick Mahomes. He's just not. Why do we ever put them in the same sentences?
Starting point is 01:04:32 Mahomes is one of the great players we've ever seen. Pretty's okay Pretty solid Pretty's better and okay He's good He's got some flaws He's got him improve Second year guy
Starting point is 01:04:43 Seventh round pick I think One problem with Niner fans They're like too worried and obsessed With defending Purdy Like he's fucking Steve Young He's good I like him
Starting point is 01:04:55 I'm interested to see if he can improve But we need to stop acting like the guy's Josh Allen He's like we would never trade him For anybody else besides my homes bullshit Let's just see how this works out. He's making less than a million dollars. I'm all for defending him when everyone's kind of talking shit
Starting point is 01:05:17 because he deserves it. But I'm also not for like anointing him as like this can't miss next 10 years. He might be, but he might not be. How you doing, man? I enjoy the show in your authentic takes. I know it's unlikely, but would Kyle and the Niners bring in Belichick
Starting point is 01:05:37 be a terrible idea? Come on. I would be on the phone begging Bill Belichick. Big Bill will buy you a house. We'll give you private jet use. I'd treat them like Sark. What are your wants? We want you to be a defensive coordinator.
Starting point is 01:05:53 What will it take us to get you? You want a membership at Monterey Peninsula Country Club? You want a membership at San Francisco Country Club. Would you like a house on the ocean in Carmel? Would you like private jet use so you can fly back to your house in Jupiter when you have downtime? Would you like $20 million? What would you like? He is so far and away the best...
Starting point is 01:06:19 Again, I feel like you're almost discrediting like even have the opportunity. Like if McVeigh or Shanahan got fired, no one would be like, we should hire him to be their offensive coordinator. He'd be like,
Starting point is 01:06:35 what are you talking about? They're going to be a head coach. Belichick's a head coach. But because of ageism and no one wanted to mess with the ego of wanting to pick the players, he's not. So if he wants to coach, would he be willing to get a lot of things
Starting point is 01:06:50 from the 49ers, money, you name it. They'll jump through hoops to get him for one year to be a defensive coordinator and kind of go double middle fingers of the league. Because if he did, that'd be incredible. Do I think he's going to do it? I don't. Do I think Kyle has broached that subject? One million percent.
Starting point is 01:07:07 Do I think he's tried to talk Jed into what would we be willing to give him? What can we use to entice him? He'd be crazy if he didn't. Is a part of me praying that one day I get the notification to Adam Schaefter? Shocker, Bill Belichick? Yes.
Starting point is 01:07:23 Is there any expectation? No. But without knowing, because I don't know, Kyle, I know they've talked. I mean, he even admitted. He said Bill called him to, you know, talk to him after they lost Super Bowl to, like, support him. How could he not have?
Starting point is 01:07:41 He'd be crazy. The only way you get a yes is turn a no into a maybe. So you just got to keep hammering home. Like Bill, we need you, man. I need you. I need you. Bill Belichick. The volume. 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
Starting point is 01:08:18 Acapella 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.
Starting point is 01:08:40 Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds, I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you you get your podcasts. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tontons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the
Starting point is 01:09:22 practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to Stuff to Bole Your Mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.

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