The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 & Out - Bears are doing Hard Knocks, Waddle gets an extension, Injury reports

Episode Date: May 31, 2024

John discusses the Bears being named to Hard Knocks for this upcoming season and why it shouldn't be a bad thing and is something that teams should start embracing. Next, John dives into the Jaylen Waddle contract extension and what if anything that contract means for some of the top WR's that have contracts ending in the next couple of seasons. Lastly, John reacts to the news that the SEC is going to start having injury reports during the season and why this is a good thing for college football. Lastly, John gets into his biggest issues during this episode's Fugazi Friday segment. 7:47 - Bears on Hard Knocks 18:08 - Waddle gets a contract extension 29:25 - Chris Foerster on the OL position 32:49 - SEC is doing injury reports 38:15 - Fugazi Friday 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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What is going on, everybody? How are we doing, my people? on this beautiful Fugazi Friday. Yeah, I'm just going to do a podcast right now and talk a little football because the Chicago Bears have been tabbed to do Hard Knocks this fall. And I was thinking about it,

I think Hard Knocks is pretty overrated to be like a detriment on your ability to focus and stuff. And I want to dive into why in 2024? I'm an agreement that once upon a time for sure it was a lot for a team. I'm just not sure if it is anymore. Jalen Waddle, the former Alabama star wide receiver, now Miami Dolphins Young Stud got a big contract extension

and why I think this is now the blueprint for Brandon Ayyuk. Justin Jefferson obviously wants a lot of money. and there were some rumors about could Minnesota have traded them? It's like, how do you trade Justin Jefferson? It's like, part of resetting a franchise is being open to everything. It's part of a GM's job to take these conversations.

Chris Forrester, the 49ers O-Line coach, had some interesting comments yesterday about team building. The SEC is going to do injury reports, which I think is very smart. And the Big Ten started doing them last year and just time to get with the times because I think we all know

we're headed to basically a two-conference AFC-N-FC version of college football one day sooner than later and a Fugazi Friday when it comes to NFL contracts that's just been driving me nuts but other than that I think I'm going to hold off on the mailbag and maybe I'll do a mailbag

for Monday morning or maybe I'll do it for Tuesday we'll see how I'm feeling on Sunday sometimes it's like I get that anxiety and guilt it's like I gotta do a podcast so it might do one Sunday might not we'll see we'll see how the weekend goes but so no mailback day just a pretty

meaty football podcast as well as subscribe to three and out everything's up on YouTube and yeah we'll just have a full podcast next week the US opens only a couple weeks away I made a little parlay from my friends at draft kings all Dallas I went Scotty Sheffler Dallas star Dallas Mavericks.

I think it paid a lot, like 45 to 1 or something. Because I did the same parlay, but instead of the stars, I did the Edmonton Oilers, and then I freaked out yesterday when they were down to nothing. So now I basically got two parlays. So whoever wins that series, I'm rooting for to win the Stanley Cup. I'm rooting for the Mavericks. I'm rooting for Scott Schaeffler at Pinehurst. So that's your gambling minute with Middle Cuff.

But before we dive in to some football, or as they say in Mexico, football Americano, that I plan on getting out of the house Saturday night, having a little fun, letting the hair that I don't have down, having a few bruskees, and singing some songs. Luke Combs is coming to, I'd say Scottsdale, but it's actually Glendale,

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Last minute tickets lowest prices guaranteed I think it's pretty funny that once something gets established, like, this is difficult. It's difficult forever. It's like, yeah, things kind of change. Like, back in the day, 20, 25 years ago, whenever Hard Knocks first started,

it was probably very intrusive to have multiple cameras following you everywhere around. When I was a kid, my mom, to get the pictures, I don't even know the right adjective to describe, published, you would have to go to Long's drugs in the middle of Davis and wait a couple days, and then they would have your photos. Remember those things? If you're my age or older, those three ring binders that you'd all have whenever you go to families, houses, they'd all have all your friends just full of photos. Now that's called the iPhone.

And I had some friends that had personal recorders, some like legit cameras. They were pretty big handheld cameras. Again, all on the iPhone. iPhone. Press conferences and media and all that stuff used to be a really, really big deal. Now I think all these guys are really numb to it. Because one, think how many teams, I'm pretty sure every single one, puts out like in-depth videos leading up through free agency, the draft, and then on draft night. With their own camera crew, camera, boom mic, I watched the Jags in Trent Balke last night, there's a fucking boom mic in the draft room. I haven't been in the draft room for a while, but it wasn't in 1997, in the 2012, 2013, and the

Eagles were on the forefront of this with cameras, with in-house production, none of that existed. Well, I'd say for the last several years, all the teams in the league are all doing it. So the coaches are kind of numb to being miced up and having a camera around them in their own building. Most of you, I would imagine listening, haven't been to like an NFL press conference. But if you go to one with a coach and definitely a player in a locker room, every single person interviewing them basically has their camera up and the light on. And these players are so numb to it, everything they do on record is on camera. So forever this notion was like, oh, the intrusive nature

of hard knocks, the cameras, mics, that probably was true in 2006. It was a lot. Because you weren't used to seeing people walk around with cameras beside on game day. Well, in 2024, I'd go to the local deli

and three people are filming themselves eating a roast beef sandwich. Times have changed. And no one knows that more than players and coaches. So, Hard Knocks probably used to be a major pain in the ass. obviously it's not ideal but I think it's never been less of a hindrance on the operation of training camp

and here's the other thing and I've been saying this for a while heart and listen I Hartnox is not for me it is no longer for me it doesn't mean because of this job definitely last year with Aaron Rogers and the Jets and this year with Caleb Williams

I'm gonna watch because that's kind of what I do for a living though I don't really like it because the hard knocks I grew up on, like most people in the 2000s, was so raw, real, and authentic. You got inside the coaches and front office, the round table of the meetings about personnel,

and them essentially talking shit about guys, who to cut, what was going to go on, because that's really what happens. You no longer get any of that. Watching the Turk go get guys, you barely see that anymore. You get a little taste of it, but I would say relative to what it used to be, it's been cut by like 90%.

So to me, who's also worked in it and seen what really gets said and the way people really talk, it doesn't do much for me. But maybe I'm not the audience anymore, and that's okay. But I understand the power of the NFL, the popularity of the NFL. It used to just be training camp hard knocks, four or five episodes. Now they're literally having an off-season hard knocks with the New York Giants. And then they're going to have an in-season hard knocks with some team. So basically going year-round, while all these teams are doing in-house projection that is kind of similar.

So we are inundated with content, which is cool. I'm not pushing back against that. But hard knocks to me used to be something very different than it is now. Obviously, the power of social media, seeing guys cut. Teams are very sensitive. that. And I understand from their end, like, I don't want you in when the GM and the coach are talking about who's being shitty and who's not going to make the team. But we did used to get that 20 years ago. At least it felt like we got a lot more because we did. Now we don't. And I don't

expect that this fall. But it's also why these players, excuse me, the players, they don't really care. But the coaches and GM, especially Ryan Poles, who's not some big like talking to the media all the time guy, is surely not going to like this. But he has full editorial control. Like they're not going to post anything he doesn't want them to post in the show. So I'm sure the reaction inside Hallis Hall of the day is like, this sucks. Iber flus polls, Ian Cunningham is assistant GM. But at the end of the day, I actually think it could be pretty good in the sense of like you got a lot of buzz on your team. People want to see Caleb Williams.

This franchise has been down what feels like for a long time. And now a lot of people are very interested in your operation. The other thing is like Hard Knocks was always a death sentence. Like if you went on Hard Knocks, you were going to suck.

Well, two years ago, the Lions went on Hard Knocks. It was good, mainly because Dan Campbell. And I usually think the strength of a hard knocks is the head coach. If the head coach is a big personality, it can carry the show. Remember Bill O'Brien, Rex Ryan, obviously Dan Campbell. To me, it was more enjoyable than the Jets last year with the Sala.

He's just not as entertaining that way. And I don't expect Iber Fluse to, you know, be Leo DiCaprio behind the camera. But the thing with Hard Knocks the last couple years, the Lions started, I think, one in five. But by the end of the season, when they beat the Packers and Aaron Roder, last game, they clearly were one of the better teams in the league that second half. And if you take the second half of last season and then this season, you could make the argument that only the Chiefs and Niners have been better during that time.

Obviously last year, the moment Aaron Rogers Achilles rips in half, their season was over. It had nothing to do with the cameras or the microphones. Now, were they going to be as good as people like me thought? Who knows? It could have been a major struggle with their offensive long. line and maybe they wouldn't have been as good. They clearly would not have been as bad as they were with Zach Wilson, right? But would they have been a legitimate playoff contender?

No one will ever know. We'll get to potentially see this year if he can stay healthy. But I don't think Hard Knocks has any impact on your success or failure once the season starts. Because I think looking back, the distraction was probably a big deal. Guys were in his focus, guys were screwing around, guys were trying to be. actors for the camera. Like I said, I think most of these guys, I mean, Caleb Williams has been in the spotlight for probably like five years. He was one of the biggest recruits in the country. He then went to Oklahoma where he was trying to beat out Spencer

Rattler, who's now an NFL player. And then he transferred to USC probably at least so far an unprecedented NIL deal. What Jaden Rashada thought he was getting from Florida. Caleb actually got that in Southern California. So he's used to the camera of being a around. All these guys are numb to it. Hell, Keenan Allen's been on this before. The Chargers when they had the dual hard knocks with the ramps. So I think this is really overblown now. Like I said, I understand being a team you'd rather not have it than have it. But I don't think it's anywhere near what it once was, you know, like when I was in college in 2005. 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, Cliver Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from my journey from. basketball to college football or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music.

The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking.

What the hell does George Bush got to do with 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 you all know.

I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history.

Listen to look back at it on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Contracts are all about comps. They're all about comps. It's why consistently we see the next. next player out of position, you know, get a percent or two more than the previous guy when they've put up similar numbers, right? So when you see Jalen Waddle get a $76 million guaranteed extension, and then you look at his stats, he's been in the low 70s the last couple years and catches over 1,000 yards, both years. Because whenever I hear, you know, Brandon Ayyuk,

it's only going up. Well, Brandon Ayukes has nothing in common with Jamar Chase or or Justin Jefferson. Those guys are in a different universe than him. They are absolute number one wide receivers who can carry your team and produce at the highest level possible. That's well known. Where we've seen two other guys in the same draft class,

Jalen Waddle, Devante Smith, be number two wide receivers on their team. And they're both really good, just like Brandon Ayyuk. And they both get a contract in a ballpark that is right at the same level. So when I see Jalen Waddle get this contract, I go, that's Brandon Ake's contract.

And now the only question is, are the 49ers willing to give him that? Because if Brandon thinks he's getting something in some different stratosphere than that number, then his agent is living on Mars. Because that's the number. Like, that's what we're talking about. Where I think it gets complicated

is for the Minnesota Vikings. Justin Jefferson's like, hey guys, I mean, I got nothing in common with these number two wide receivers. You're looking at arguably the best wide receiver in the league host. So that's $76 million, I'm going to need $100. And to me, that's probably the starting point of the conversation with Justin Jefferson and the number he's looking to get.

I bet Minnesota would like that number probably in the 80s, and maybe they end up at like $96, $95 million. But his numbers in a different world. just like Jamar Chases. But this is Brandon Ayuk's contract. Now the question is, with the 49ers, are they willing to give him this money? Now, what makes it a little more complicated,

and this is no one's fault because draft spots are slotted, is when you are drafted really high, like Jalen Waddle, he was the sixth pick in the draft. When he signed his rookie contract, whether he was good or the worst player in NFL history, four years, 27 million,

million dollars guaranteed. No matter what. Whether he caught one ball or 7,000 balls. It didn't matter. Same thing with Brandon Ayuk, but he was drafted way later, picked 27. He got a four-year $12 million contract. So Jalen Waddle already has made double what Brandon IUC has. So sometimes you get some of these guys that haven't made as much money because they weren't as, you know, drafted as high, they can draw a harder line. And sometimes it works the other way. They haven't made as much money and you just throw a little cash in front of them

and they sign. Like Nico Collins, one of the best deals potentially in the league. Because if he just maintains his level of play, he's every bit the player of Jalen Waddle or Brandon Ayyuk. Yet from a guaranteed dollar's perspective, he's way cheaper. Now his resume is shorter.

He hasn't been doing it at the same length, you know, or the same, you know, year in, year out, but I think he would say, look at the fuck I was playing with a quarterback. I got C.J. Stroud, look at my numbers. So these are complicated conversations. It's why when I see this story break over the last week that Minnesota was open to trading Justin Jefferson.

Well, of course they were. Because they let Kirk Cousins walk. They were going to go all in on a rookie quarterback, who was a redshirt. Isn't that the time to reset everything? when your team might not be good for a couple years, that is not the time to pay $100 million to a wide receiver. We talk about this a lot with Devante.

And I understand Devante is very prideful in the Raiders. It means a lot because it was his family's team. He has some family that couldn't travel to Green Bay that's been able to see him play. I understand all that. And, you know, Devante got to, not he didn't win a Super Bowl, but played in a ton of playoff games. saw the highest level of football when he was in Green Bay.

But you put him on a bad team. I don't care how many numbers he puts up a couple years ago. I mean, he was awesome. Team didn't sniff the playoffs. So you got to be careful how you're allocating your resources. Now, if you also go, well, I'm not paying my quarterback anything. Shouldn't I be investing in these other players? Totally hear that too.

It's all a preference, how you want to team build. But part of being a GM and part of being in a front office is kind of being open to everything. everything. So if they would have gotten two ones and two twos during the draft for Justin Jefferson probably made some sense. Here's the one problem. The teams that might be kind of interested in doing something like that would probably be the good teams. So the teams with established quarterbacks that would trade you a ton and probably going to be drafting in the mid-20s for a couple years. That's not ideal. Now, things can change. Look at the Lions with the L.A. Rams.

and that pick, you never know. But, like, and I'm not Buffalo's cap space, but let's say the Bills or a team like that, the Chiefs, hey, we'll give you two ones and two- twos for this player. And again, obviously I'm not factoring in the cap. I'm just saying if that's on the table or the Baltimore Ravens or whatever, more than likely that pick, worst case, is going to be like 26. So it's like, should we just keep them?

And then the teams that are drafting really high, why wouldn't they just take a wide receiver that might turn into 85, 90% of just. Justin Jefferson for a quarter of the price. It's where these deals can be pretty complicated. It's why a lot of these times guys don't get traded. And we've seen guys get traded, you know, that were already established. You know, Tyree Kiel went for a one and a two.

Same thing with Devante Adams. Or maybe a one and a three. I have to look back up. And those guys were established like Hall of Fame level talents at the time of the trade. And Justin is, you know, definitely trending that way. A couple more years that will be undeniable. But these situations are complicated because this is not baseball or it's an uncap league. And I know there are tax ramifications if you get to a certain level.

But you have to factor in big picture how you're building your team. Now, I'd argue when this guy's on the field, he's worth keeping on your team, especially for a young project quarterback. But I do think it's fair to say. And I know they've pushed back about this, but it's been pretty well. documented now several times that, like, they were open to it. Doesn't mean that they got close to doing it. It doesn't mean there was an offer that got to that point. But most teams are this way.

Most teams are this way. And we've talked about this before. Like, there are certain players that there's no offer that I'm going to trade you for. Like, you can call me about Josh Allen all day long. I'm never trading you Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes. But there are other players. like Trent Williams. The Niners are very beholden to Trent Williams.

They have four average offensive linemen in him, an all-time great Hall of Famer. But if someone called Kyle Shanahan right now and John Lynch and said, hey, we'll give you two ones, two- twos, and a player. You have to have the conversation, even though it's like, hey, who's going to play left tackle for us, be a big loss? He also 35.

He could retire after this year. Like, this is, these are, this is what happens in the NFL. Now, when the dust settles, I expect him to be a Minnesota Viking, but they're also run by an analytically driven GM. And typically guys from a finance background are always balancing ROI. What type of ROI are we going to get out of this player in the near future as we're working through a quarterback? I could just see it being all on the table. Now, it doesn't make sense to trade him now, right?

You would have traded it during the draft, but I bet there are, offers for the draft weren't that great. And I think sometimes with a defensive lineman, Khalil Mack, it's easy to give the form. But you've seen other positions, it's like was that really worth it? Like if the Raiders could do it again.

And this is, Devante is one of my favorite players in the NFL. I'm pro Devante Adams. They would not do that deal. Not because he's not a really good player. Not because he's not a really good leader and just a guy you want your young players to emulate?

Because it doesn't make football sense. It doesn't make football sense. Tyreek, it turns out that team was a little closer. You put him with Jalen Waddle, and you have one of the best duos in the league. And it helps your quarterback that you just drafted number five overall. That deal makes a lot of sense. The DeVante Adams deal, looking back, does not.

And look at the guys that did that deal, both fired. Neither have a job in the NFL. So these situations, when you, the money now, and I know the cap's going up every single year. It's still very complicated. Nico Collins deal, that's easy to do. Casario probably wouldn't admit this. Probably one of the easier deals he's ever done.

It's like, listen, I guess he could get injured or whatever, but we feel pretty good, especially where the market is. We're paying whatever, less 30, 40 percent, less than some of these guys on guaranteed money. We love this player. Now with this young quarterback, no-brainer. Joanne Jennings-type deals are the easiest deals in the league. It's like, wait, this guy's on our team, we guarantee him $10 million.

Once you get above, you know, the old 50 is probably the new 70, 75. If you have a star defensive player, it's $100 plus million. And think about all the guys that have signed for $100 plus million, Bosa, both Bosa brothers, Miles Garrett. You know how good those guys are. Like there's no disputing it, but when you allocate that much money, look at Joey. Joey gets hurt a lot. Now, you could argue he got hurt, you know, a lot before that,

but in general, when he's been on the field, he's been a high-end player. But the moment that guy starts getting banged up and you're allocating that many resources from a financial standpoint on your cap and your true cash, it's a problem. Obviously with the quarterback, when that doesn't work out, holy canoli. Look at Deshawn Watson. It's been a disaster.

Russell Wilson, one of the worst contracts in sports history, really, so far. Less than two years later, later, he was benched and cut. Don't hear that many people crying for him. Wasn't that good. But it'd be interesting to see when this Justin Jefferson, the dust settles. Could be a while. Same thing with Jamar Chase.

Chris Forrester, the 49ers offensive line coach. I think it's fair to say he's one of the better coaches in the league for sure. Most famously known for doing a little booger sugar on his desk in Miami with his stripper girlfriend. That's a long time ago. Going through a rough time, I think rough divorce. I watched some of his press conferences. I've always been pretty impressed, and I've seen him win.

You subtract Trent Williams, who I could coach, but the other four guys over the course the last three or four years would get exposed on other teams. This is where scheme really matters in football. The zone running scheme is something where you can get away with a lot of average players if they have good foot of quickness. And he basically admitted as such. He said, we've won a lot of games with a lot of guys who are right there at the line.

And he basically described the line of, if you can just block someone and just function as an average starter, we can win with you here. Now, if you're below that line and you can't block people, I don't care what plays, what scheme you're running, we're in trouble. But we don't need Trent Williams, I mean, we need Trent Williams, at every position to win. And he essentially said in the draft that if all things are equal, I will promote as the offensive line coach, and as clear as this organization,

we want guys that touch the ball over the guys that block. Because if you can just give me someone that I can work with, he's like, my right tackle could be average. And if he has a great block on a quick screen to a wide receiver, and that guy gets tackled three yards past the line of scrimmage, nobody cares. But if that guy whiffs on that quick screen and the quarterback gets it to Debo and Debo takes it 60 yards, no one ever notices that whiff. And I think the power of having, I saw this in the NFL when I was there, not too often,

because most of the coaches were on the same page for Andy. but I hear stories about it all over since I've been out is how many assistant coaches are given players that they do not want and then let's face it, we're all human beings, you don't give the same effort. And when everyone's not on the same page in these drafts, the assistant coaches, the coordinators,

the head coach, and the front office, you got problems. So typically, if you told me an offensive line coach, who would he want during the draft? I'd say offensive linemen all the time. and he even said like, I got no problem with it. I would have taken a wide receiver too.

Because those guys in this game were playing, given how good I am as an offensive line coach, and this is the power of good position coaches. Because I can give you less of a talent, and I can win with them. The amount of games, the 49ers won with Mike McGlinchie,

is insanity to me. Really? I mean, you can't pass block. And then he leaves for 50, $25 million of Sean Payton, which is still one of the crazier contracts I've ever seen, because you don't get paid to run block in the NFL. You get paid to protect the quarterback. And then they went to Colton McKivitz, and there was no drop-off because of this guy.

Anyone that falls football, you hear about Jeff Stoutlin all the time in Philadelphia, whatever he's making, he's underpaid. I've seen him with the 49ers, defensive line coach, Chris Casaric. He takes random players, Arden Key, Cleland Farrell, Guys who have failed other places, Nick Bosa is going to be successful with whoever he plays for. Anyone in the NFL can coach Nick Bosa. Nick Bosa, Miles Garrett, right, Tyree Kiel,

these guys are going to be stars no matter where they go. But what about all the other players? Because you're investing all your financial resources into that guy. You're going to have less resources than some other guys. And you're going to need them to produce. So when my position coach can get the most out of, hey, I can take a fifth rounder and he can be our starting right guy. guard. I can take a seventh rounder and he can be my starting right tackle.

And it's one thing to be like, yeah, some guys start in the NFL and three win teams. No, we're going to win 12, 13 games and we're going to be competing for the Super Bowl. That's why you pay certain position coaches premiums because they're worth their weight in gold. And it's hard to quantify, but in the NFL and it's clear if you're a fan of a team, like, you know the good position coaches, you know the bad position coach, just watch their unit. That's the thing with football. Like in basketball, I got no clue if you're a good coach or a bad coach.

Like Jason Kidd, I've been following his career since he was a player. Is he a good coach? Is he a bad coach? I know clearly he's probably good communicating basketball and leading men, right, as a point guard. But like, what's he actually doing with Luke and Kier? I don't know. But you know in football. Like, yeah, this works.

This is going to play. Or this is not going to play. Especially at the highest level. And that's always the unsublished. uncertainty for the shitty teams. Like, how many good players do you actually have? How many players do you have that you can win with? Because you might have half your team could be average players.

If it's balanced out with high-end players, those guys, those average players can become winning players. And they become winning players because of the scheme and because of the coaching. And because everyone's on the same page. There's not one guy. It's like, ah, I should have got an extra player in the third round. We were going to draft a wide receiver and we never did. And that's not to say, like, I saw a clip when the Colts drafted, what's his name, the wide receiver from Texas in the second round.

And they went to Reggie Wayne, who's their wide receiver coach, and he was going nuts. Obviously, you get excited when you draft players that you like as a position coach. But are you on the same page with the vision of the operation? and know that, hey, not every guy is going to be Reggie Wayne. You're going to have to coach some John Middokoff's, and you're going to be depending on that guy some games. So he better be able to know what he's doing and produce. The SEC is going to start doing injury reports.

I guess the Big Ten last year two hours before game time did these. Here's a reality. The SEC and the Big Ten, this thing, thing's going to morph into NFL light. Eventually, I don't know if it's in five years, 10 years, 12 years, they're going to be two big conference. And they're all going to play each other.

And I know coward right now is trying to defend the Trojans. The Trojans are an embarrassment right now. Backing out of the LSU game, there is no defending this. This is not year one of Lincoln Riley. This is year three. I'm paying him $120 million to win national championships. We shouldn't be dodging anybody.

As my guy, Pat Hill, used to say, the USC Trojans by this point should want to play anybody anytime, anywhere. Because ultimately, Georgia, Bama, whatever, they would feel good about winning that game. We all don't feel good about USC winning that game. But that's, we talked about that yesterday.

It's an awful look. It really is. But you should have injury reports. Now, do they need to be three days a week like the NFL? If you just did a universal injury report, on Friday, after your Friday practice of basically who's up and who's down and who's questionable, that to me is more than enough. But like, we're talking big business now, we're talking billions of dollars, everyone's getting paid,

players, coaches, networks are all involved. Obviously, we're balls deep with the gambling company. Let's all get on the same page. And let's all do this. It actually makes it easier on the coaches. You don't need to hide from any of this stuff. kind of play that cloak and dagger game. I'm like, yeah, you know, he's kind of practiced.

He's like, you know, no, he's up. We plan on him playing. I don't know how well, but we plan on him playing. No, he's a no-go. That's where we're at today with football. And I think the SEC and the Big Ten, it's inevitable where we're headed, but this is a good first start.

Not that it has a huge impact on gambling from the sense of like, They can still fudge it a little bit, but like, you want to be real. You want to be what this is becoming. Like, this is a smart step. Okay, Fugazi Friday. It's got to be NFL contracts. It's got to be NFL contracts.

All I hear. Christian McCaffrey's contract that he signed years ago, $16 million a year, he's the highest paid running back in NFL history. And no one has eclipsom since. And I looked at his contract, and I go, well, he's not making $16 million. He's got two years left. He's making under $12 million these next two years. So all I see on the internet is he makes $16 million a year.

And agents love to say that. Jalen Waddle, $28.3 million a year. I've always said, nothing is more overrated than average per year. salary in the NFL. In the NBA, it's usually like he makes 30 this year, 31 next year, 32 the next year. All guaranteed.

Send a 93 million dollar contract. That is not the way these NFL contracts work. So currently, voluntary, McCaffrey hasn't been around for a couple weeks. People like, guys, he's getting married to Olivia, former Miss USA. Practice is three days. It's pretty clear.

I've done my digging. I got a few sources on. the places around that have heard some things, I heard some things. Pretty clear the guy wants a race. Don't blame him. He scored 21 touchdowns last year. Carried the Niners at certain times on offense. We all agreed one of the best players in the league.

And if I was him and I thought, well, you make $16 million a year, I say bullshit, I make 1188.8. And for me, for you, for most people, take $11.8 million, 100%. You want to pay me $11.8 million tomorrow I'm there. but if you're Christian McCaffrey, you go, listen, this ain't enough money. And this is where these NFL contracts kind of get, you know, in this weird space of, well, he was paid a signing bonus four years ago. And then that money gets on the books spread out over time. So you can say it's that much money.

But that money was paid a long time ago. He probably bought a house or two cents with that money. That money is gone. Or in savings or in the market or whatever. The money the 49ers owe me, which they didn't pay me that signing bonus. Another team did. So what you're paying me,

the contract you inherited, ain't sniffing the top-pest-paid running back in the NFL, and we all know that I am. So I fully supportive. I'm Christian McCaffrey. Like, listen, Kyle, I'm not going to make a big stink, not going to make a big, you know,

dog and pony show around this. But I'm not playing for this number. I'm not asking for $30 million a year. I get it. I play a running back, even though I catch about 70 balls a year and scored seven touchdowns receiving. And I'm probably right there with like Marshall Falk and Ladanian Tomlinson is one of the great past catching running backs in the history of the league.

But this number ain't working. And this Fugazi of my contract, you guys don't get credit for the signing bonus. You inherited a contract with no guaranteed money left essentially after that first year. so I'm going to need a race and we're going to need to get this from 11.8 if I was McCaffrey I'd want about $20 million.

I don't think I could play for less than 19. It's like wait, you're prepared to pay Brandon Ayukh $28, $29 million a year. I almost caught as many balls as him. Oh, I happen to league the league in rushing and have 14 touchdowns on the ground. So like, listen, I always push back most of these running backs

pretty replaceable. This guy, when he's healthy, he's not. Now, I also understand it from the 49er standpoint. You play running back. This is the market. I know this. Like, Chris McCaffrey is beloved by the head coach. I'm like, hey, listen,

I ain't bleeding again till we update this thing because this ain't working for me. And if I read one more fucking person in the media, say I make a number that I do not make, I'm gonna puke in my mouth. because it's just, and this happens constantly.

This guy makes so-and-so, and then all of a sudden he's cut. And it's like, well, he would have made this, and he had three years left on his contract that were unguaranteed. It's all just these contracts are a giant Fugazi. It's why the quarterback contracts are the one with the giant amount of guaranteed money that you are kind of stuck. The Broncos were shit out of luck. It's like, what are you going to do?

Well, I don't just cut them and eat it. But no one does that with other positions. It's why you've got to be very hesitant about signing these players now, I mean, these guards are signing $60, $70 million contracts. Wide receiver is signing $70, $80 million contracts. Obviously, high-end defensive linemen. You do feel good about signing Miles Garrett or Nick Bosa. You're just terrified if they ever get injured.

You're screwed. But that's part of football. But, man, I just, I see constantly he makes $16 million a year, and he just doesn't. Like the 49ers do not have to pay him $16 million a year these next two years. They're way short of that. It's in the 11th. So I just, that's something that's been driving me wild.

And other than that, I don't really have any other Fugazis besides, like, listen, all I've ever heard is Arizona being the hottest place ever. And don't get me wrong, it's really hot. Last year had 30 straight days over 115 degrees. Even though I was talking today with a guy from Montana, guy named Lenny, and he was telling me, like, cold as he's ever felt, is like minus 45. 50 degrees and he's like, you know, consistently gets well below zero where he's from and it's just freezing cold. And I said, what would you take? He said, I'll take heat every day of the week. I'm like, that's why the snowbirds exist. But I'll be the first to admit. Once you get over 110, it is extremely hot. Like, you're moving to Arizona. It's so hot. It's like it was 106 degrees when I

lived in Walnut Creek. It was 112 degrees when I lived in Fresno. It's hot to California too. But I drove three hours up to the mountains, a place called Pinedop, a little lake, a couple lakes. It was like 75 degrees. It was beautiful. And it is crazy how many places that you would never go to that if you just didn't move there and like I probably never ever, if I had never moved to Arizona, would have ended up there. And then I started driving around. They had three golf courses. A couple of them were sweet. A couple country clubs. I'm like, shit, I'd buy a cab in there and join that club. And don't let people tell you that everywhere in Arizona is scolding hot because this place, Pinetop, as well as Flagstaff,

you go there, it's like 76 degrees. Beautiful. 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 a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes.

Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. within probably 10 days I'd put on 10 pounds.

I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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,

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