The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 & Out - Bengals franchise Higgins, Jets and Adams looking to split, Deebo lands on DC

Episode Date: March 4, 2025

John dives into the news of the day that the Bengals are placing the franchise tag on Tee Higgins and why this is the right decision if the Bengals want to get back to another Super Bowl. Next, John talks about the Jets and how they are looking to cut or trade Adams after an awful season in NY. After, he dives into how Deebo landing in Washington and leaving the 49ers could ultimately be a win-win for both sides. Later, John answers your questions for this episode's mailbag segment. 5:19 - Bengals tag Higgins 10:14 - Jets looking to trade Adams 12:17 - Deebo lands in DC 15:12 - Eagles to release Slay 19:57 - Microsoft 30:31 - Mailbag Follow John on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for the latest.  #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hey guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas.

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick.

Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you. you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. 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.

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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. The Volume. What is going on, everybody, John Middilcock, Three and our podcast.

Hopefully everyone is doing well out there in society, in the real world. And we're going to talk a little football because I went on with Coward a couple hours ago. And we talked a lot about football. And then I thought, you know, I'm not going to do a podcast. I'm leaving to Nashville tomorrow afternoon. I got a million things to do. I haven't really done any of them. I haven't even eaten dinner.

I'm looking at the clock right now. It says 7.30 at night. Feel overwhelmed. I feel stressed out. But what type lesson would I be teaching my child? Then I realize I don't have a child. But you're getting married. You're starting to feel a little more mature.

You're like, I've got to set the tone. So I decided, I'm going to do a podcast. So I looked around the internet. I saw some things earlier today I want to talk about from franchise tags to Debo Samuel, tweeted out some comments to Philadelphia, made a transaction a day that I want to dive into. And we also do a mailback at John Middlakov is the Instagram firing those DMs, and that'll be the show. So I was, I refused to be lazy as I'm getting married and changing my life and setting lessons to human beings

that don't even exist in this house yet, but we got to set the tone, we got to set the tone early. So make sure you subscribe to the podcast. If you listen on Collins' feed, three and out, wherever you may listen. Apple, Spotify. Spotify's booming right now.

And YouTube. All of our content is up there as well, so make sure you subscribe to that. And the game plan, we will have a golf podcast tomorrow. We will look ahead for the Arnold Palmer and make some bets, talk a little golf,

and we'll kind of go from there. So like I said, recorded with Colin earlier. We did about an hour podcast. We got a podcast here, a lot of content out. Did podcasts. Debo Samuel reaction Saturday night. Did a podcast yesterday reacting to Matt Stafford.

So we got you covered. I can nitpick and be critical or give my opinion on my beliefs on how to build a football team and what to value and what not to value. Start with the trenches. Don't worry about the wide receivers, right? Pick and choose your spots on the outside. win and lose on the line of scrimmage. And then you get really good players at wide receiver, and you get a quarterback.

It's not that long ago that Carson Palmer told the Bengals, no, I refuse to play for you. I would rather retire than play for you. And he has spoken about it over the years. A big reason was he didn't believe that the things they said they were going to do, they would do. And historically, the franchise has been viewed as very, very, very, cheap. Now, Andrew Whitworth, I heard him talk about this probably, I forget where, but over the last

month, he's like, if Carson Palmer had been a part of those teams that Andy Dalton led, we could have won a Super Bowl. I mean, those teams were stacked. Now, a big reason they had a bunch of draft picks because of the Carson Palmer trade, but still, he's not wrong. The Bengals have actually been a pretty well-run operation when it comes to acquiring players. Just because you're frugal doesn't mean you don't know who can play and who. can't in a draft. I mean, and they have drafted a lot of good players, I would say, over the last 20 plus years. But they are operating completely different because of one man and one man only.

And he's got a chance to be the best player in the history of the franchise. And that's Joe Burrow. And Joe Burrow has held their feet to the fire. And I think he's doing it not because he views himself like an NBA player, right? And that's what LeBron James would do. Or this is what any powerful NBA player would do. I think he's doing it because he knows you can't trust this operation. And at any moment, they could pull back the reins and get cheap.

And I think if this was Andy Dalton or Carson Palmer and not Joe Burrow, T. Higgins just would have hit free agency. They would not have franchised him a second time. I can't imagine they would have done this five, ten, twenty years ago. But because of one man, they're doing it. and if I was a Bengal fan, like, I don't care if you got to pay him $26 million. Let's do it. Let's keep him around. And I have been saying, like, oh, Trey Hendrickson, how are you going to keep him all?

Hendrickson technically is under contract. Now, it's for a lot less money than he, I'm sure, reviews himself. He's under contract for $16 million. He's easily worth probably 30 plus. But, like, he's not a free agent, so he can't just walk out the door. Now, he could demand a trade or they technically could trade him. or they can just extend them. And to me, if I was going to give a long-term contract to one of the two guys,

because they've already gone on record and said, Jamar Chase is going nowhere. Now, Diana Rusini reported that the sides are pretty far apart. Probably because Jamar Chase wants like $150 million guaranteed. And based on last year, I would not blame them. But I would imagine the two numbers the parties are coming in at are at different ends of the spectrum. Probably one's at 100, the other is at 150,

and maybe end up meeting at $120, $130 million. But Jamar Chase is going nowhere. If I had to pick one of the two guys between the pass rusher, and I know he's 30 years old and T. Higgins, it's not even a question. And ultimately, the T. Higgins situation, if you do, if, you know, they have said and reports have been they will work on a long-term extension with T. Higgins, I would have no problem paying them year to year. Now, it's not an ideal way to do business because when you give a guy a franchise tag,

especially the second, which last year was like 21, now it's almost a 27, that all hit your cap and you own that much in cash. But like, you're basically giving them a two-year, $48 million contract. Instead of giving them a four-year, $120 million contract and guaranteeing them $70 or $80 million, especially when you have to factor in other positions that are of need, i.e. the line of scrimmage. And you keep your quarterback happy in the short term because really, you know, Joe's just worried about 2025. and if he's got T. Higgins, if you got Jamar Chase, draft her running back, all of a sudden your offense

is extremely dynamic again. And you hope with Al Golden, listen, I think Anna Rumo got a little bit of a raw deal just a couple years ago. He's viewed as one of the best defensive coordinators in the NFL, and now he's like the village idiot, but Al Gold is really good. He's been there before.

He's comfortable with the organization. We just saw him in college, kicking ass and taking names for Notre Dame. I mean, he was easily one of the best assistant coaches in all of Saturday. So if I'm a Bengal fan, as long as T. Hendrickson is on this team and we keep T. Higgins, like, our defense can't be as bad in the way we play down the stretch. Like, we should be a factor. And, you know, today, listen, we can nitpick how they're doing it, but having T. Higgins on the team for 2025 is better than having them not on the team.

Speaking of bad decisions when it comes to wide receivers, I couldn't even imagine. And there were some people, not many. Most people were probably, I know where I felt, is thinking like, this Aaron Rogers deal? Listen, I don't know if he's going to lead the team to a Super Bowl. But if he plays a couple years, they're going to be a playoff team and it will resurrect a franchise that was dead. And it turns out he destroyed it even worse. His Achilles tour, then he came back and their team sucked. And all while during that time, he mandated, after he hurt his Achilles, essentially they trade for his buddy.

And I'm a Devante Adams guy. State Bulldog, pro Devante Adams. That was a disaster trade because it did absolutely nothing for their team and they gave up a third round pick to win, what, five games. And they cut Aaron Rogers. They are going to cut Devante Adams because of his cap number. Nobody is trading for him. And all of a sudden you look, you go, in our two years of Aaron Rogers, what do we have to show for it? And the answer is picks given to other teams. And sometimes I'm all for taking risks. I'm a pretty big risk taker in life. But it can be a humbling experience when, especially not that you get cocky, but when some of your wrists pay off and they bear fruit. And you're like, ah, this life thing, this business thing, this whatever thing, I know what I'm doing.

And then all of a sudden you make a move that was like, yeah, I would have traded for Rogers too. And it blows up in your face. but it was pretty crazy during the season as they're firing everybody that they kept doubling down on that experience and it led them to just give away a pick for Devante Adams that, yeah, something they would clearly like back. Debo Samuel has tweeted

it's not often that you get a guy who wants a trade but he, like him and Kyle have a really good relationship. I think Debo really liked being a part of the 49ers and I was with him on that plane flight when we got deplane on our way to New Orleans hearing him talk about the 49ers. It was very positive. But also demanding a trade.

I don't want to be here anymore. And when you trade me, I will retweet and repost every single picture of me in a commander's jersey. It's one of those like clean splits. It's like Devo tweets. I love John. I love Kyle.

Those are my homies. But I'm out. and listen, I've seen every single opinion under the sun of Debo's fat, he's over the hill, the commander's got to steal. Like I said the other day, I think this is a win-win for everyone involved. The 49ers were not going to pay him $17.5 million. The commanders can't like what they see on the open market when you have to, you know, basically lock in several years of contract to buy a player who's decent on the open market.

You're not getting the guy for one year $15 million. You know, if you like the player and he has a market, you have to give him a multi-year contract. And because free agency, there are multiple people bidding supply demand. It drives up the price. It's why you see every year, like, that guard got $45 million guaranteed and $21 million a year. The Denver Broncos gave Mike McGlinchie $50 million guaranteed.

What happens? Because, yeah, the Bears were also offering him a contract. And it drives the price up. So you go, wait, I can get Debo Samuel under a cost-controlled contract for a fifth-round pick. If it works out, great. We're in good shape. If it doesn't, cost me a fifth-round pick. And some money that I'm going to spend anyway, but I don't have that many options to spend it.

And I have a general manager that knows him. So I'm probably on the... It doesn't feel like there are that many people in 49er land that believe Debo has anything left. I do believe he could have a productive season. And a productive season for Debo isn't 95 catches. Like, look at his best years, like 77 catches. Now, he had almost 1,500 yards from the line of scrimmage, and he had a ton of rushing touchdowns.

Those days are over, but can he give you some big plays? You know, weight has been a big concern. I think sometimes, and I've been fired a couple times. Do you know what it did for me? It motivated me. And I know Debo wasn't technically fired, but this has to be a pretty motivating experience. Like, Debo, you didn't just get traded.

You got traded for a fifth round pick. You know, that's what the league thinking. of you. That's the only way that you could keep your salary was to get traded for a fifth round pick. So I do believe if not now, then it never will happen, but I do think that Debo will be motivated.

And I think the 49ers were able to maintain. We're still like a pro player operation, but we're doing what we probably should have done in the last couple years, be a little more cut throat. Philadelphia. You know, speaking of Devante Adams, they trade the conditional

third round pick for him, and it just blows up their face. It's a disaster. He's on the team for half the season. You have to cut him at the end of the season. You know, whenever he retires, no one will ever speak about his jet's tenure. And what Philadelphia got with Darius Slay is a complete opposite. They traded a third round pick for a guy who became their full-time starter for five years and made several Pro Bowls and was a starter on a team that went to multiple Super Bowls and won one. Like, when you make a trade for a guy, Now, obviously the big first round picks when you trade for the Jalen Ramsey's, the Tyree kills, the Khalil Max. All your chips are in the middle of the table.

But when you make a move, like, we're trading a third round pick for a disgruntled player who makes decent money, but we still believe can be a really good, high-end starter. This is the best case scenario. You trade, you get a starting corner, who makes Pro Bowls, who's on your team for four or five years, who you like, then you cut for basically no dead money. like that's a seamless transaction. And Howie Roseman, look at the Jets. This is why good teams stay good and shitty teams stay shitty.

Right? When you trade a mid-round or a late, second day, early, third-day pick, and you get a starter for multiple years at a premium position on a winning team, that's gold. That's a big-time transaction. So, listen, Darius Slay's Philadelphia Eagle career comes to an end. And maybe his career, I know there were some people in Philadelphia land that I know thought that he might retire. I think Darius had said after he plans on playing another year. I still think he could probably get one year, I don't know, $10, $12, $14 million contract somewhere.

Maybe not 14, but I would say $8 to $10. I don't know who pays on the open market out there in society $8 to $10 million. So I would guess that Darius Lay plays another season. But what a fantastic little run he had in Philadelphia. you. And last but not least, Sean McVeigh love Jimmy Garoppolo. I mean, there were people talking about

reporters who are clearly in deep with the Rams. Like, Sean McVeigh could, if they did trade Matt Stafford, start Jimmy Garoplo. And I thought, what? I think Diana Rossini said that. And I had the same reaction that her co-host

Chase Daniel had. I think that's fucking insanity. And it is. Like, you couldn't go into the season after making the playoffs twice with this version of Jimmy. But you feel pretty good if Jimmy Garoppolo is your backup quarterback. And Stafford gets injured.

He has to start a game. Hell, he has to start a month. You could win a couple games. You can keep your season afloat. And I think Jimmy Garaplo has done your classic transition into, you know, I've made $100, $150 million. And now I'm just going to be a backup

for the next, I don't know, five, six years ideally, and make anywhere from three to seven million dollars a year and rack up another, I don't know, $15 to $30 million. And as long as I don't have to play much, I can maintain that price point. The time when I do have to play a lot, that would be a problem because I'd probably get exposed. But Jimmy Garoppel is in that sweet spot. Andy Dalton's in it currently. Long time starter, transition to backup, start racking up those.

five, $8 million paychecks. Boom, boom, boom. And the difference of the Jimmy Garoppelos and the Andy Dalton's relative to Chase Daniels and those type players is those guys have started for a long period of time. So you know, you feel much more comfortable with a backup quarterback who's not just a lifetime backup, a guy who has been a starter in the NFL. You know, I view Marcus Marietta.

And I think I would rather have Jimmy Garoppolo and definitely Andy Dalton than Marriota, but the one thing you feel good about having Marriota on your roster is like, if we get into a pinch and this guy has to start two games, three games, a month straight, he knows exactly how to operate as a starter. He knows how to run the huddle, he knows how to prepare, he knows what a given week what entails. He knows how to lead young guys. He knows how to deal with the veterans. He can just make a seamless transition. Obviously, there's a drop-off from your starter to him as a player, but like I can just put him in. Sometimes with these lifetime backups, you never know what you're going to get.

And oftentimes, you're like, oh my God, this is a disaster. So I think Jimmy Garoppel is in that sweet spot. Maybe Stafford rolls an ankle and misses a game. You can win it with Jimmy. So I get where Sean McVeigh is coming from. Let's dive into my friends at Microsoft. So welcome to chasing challenges brought to you by Microsoft. And in the NFL, just like in the business world, overcoming obstacles is the key to success.

Microsoft empowers business decision makers with AI solutions, simplified cloud and data management with trustworthy responsible technology to turn challenges into opportunities. In this segment, we will explore some of the biggest challenges being faced in the NFL in how they can be overcome.

Whatever challenges you're facing, Microsoft empowers you with the expertise to say, bring it on. This week, we're discussing the challenges faced by every general manager. You know, when you leave the combine, you have not only talked with agents of your own players, so you get a gauge of what my free agent that I want to keep is going to cost

or what they are realistically going to ask for and probably the floor of their contract. But while you are talking to them, they represent other guys on other teams who are free agents or who might be a guy like represent a guy like Darius Lay who's not a free agent, but pretty clear he's going to be cut, then he gets cut,

now he's a free agent. And you start gauging the market. This is what, we need these three positions, we want these group of six, seven players to fill those three holes. This is what it's going to cost. Then you have to go, well, we got this much cap space, or maybe we will have to make some cap space,

which the cap in the NFL I would say is one of the most fluid numbers in the history of American business. You can create and make it look like anything you want it to. It's like this team is $50 million over the cap. They cut three guys, then all of a sudden they're signing a guy. But you do need to work with your owner and go, listen, we can be aggressive and we can sign these three guys, even though we don't have that much cap space, because we can give a much bigger signing bonus

and then push that down and kick the can down the road and manipulate our books. But the way you can manipulate the salary gap, and all GMs at this point know this, is by giving huge cash up front. And that is not a general manager or a head coach's decision to make. You need to convince the owner, who some owners are very much behind you.

The 49ers and the Eagles spent an ungodly amount to cash these last couple years. And if you look, teams like the Patriots and the Cowboys have not. So you can manipulate anything you are willing to fit under a number if you want to give more cash up front. And I think conversations after the combine turn into, we can get these two guys if we're willing to do this. And while the conversations have started between the coach and the agent, the GM and the

coach and the agent, the front office, and the agent, it now turns into the general manager and the head coach dealing with the owner. And can we convince him to pay this much of actual cash in the next couple weeks to sign this guy? Because any coach or any owner has no problem, yeah, we'll give them three years, $50 million and just pay them over the course of the deal. That's easy to do. But the way some of these contracts work, especially in a competitive market, is who is willing to give the biggest signing bonus. You learn this in basic finance classes.

Money up front is more valuable than money down the line. It's why last year, Jordan Love signed the big contract over the offseason. He got $75 million, I think, before, like the middle of December. So how you structure contracts can be the difference of landing a player or not landing a player. But it's not the general manager's money. It ultimately falls on the owner.

And as we've seen some teams have more available cash than others. And more importantly, some owners are more willing to part with that cash than others. I think this is a time, if you're a general manager where you have to turn into a salesman, you have to convince the people with the money, which is the owner. He usually leans on the president. He probably has an accountant you have to deal with separate from your own cap guy. and you have to convince them, this is worth it. This guy is going to be the difference of us winning eight games or 10 or 11,

and we're going to be in the playoffs and have a chance to make a run. Now, those conversations, and if you can convince your owner to part with his money, can come back to haunt you if it blows up in your face. But that is what's going on right now. As a bunch of general managers who will spend the rest of this week, I don't want to say begging their owner, but attempting to convince them that spending this extra $10 million, $20 million, $30, 40, 50, 50, you know, you pick these numbers are getting huge now in this modern day NFL spending sprees

come the middle of March to cut those checks. And the guys who can will land the players. And the guys who can't will come out empty-handed. So that's it for this week's chasing challenges. Remember, Microsoft's AI Solutions empower you to take. bold steps and make informed decisions, sparking new ideas to help drive your business forward. With Microsoft as your trusted partner, you can navigate your journey with confidence, finding innovative solutions and reaching new possibilities.

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Please play responsibly. On behalf of Boot Hill Casinoin Resort in Kansas. 21 and over, age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction, Void in Ontario. Bonus, bets expire 168 hours after issuance. Four additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see dkng.com slash audio. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what?

We have some big news. What's the news, nice? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it.

people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts. We're starting a trend. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it.

Oh, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, for people could call in and say, hey Jonas, and then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas,

and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. 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. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis. And I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs. And on the Renee Stubbs' tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris. Every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on Clay.

Jen, she won. I mean, she went down at three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lena Rubakina is arguably the best player in the world right now, and I actually can win on any surface. Because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court side seat to the French Open.

Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes

for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth Listen to Superhuman on the I Heart Radio app Apple Podcasts Or wherever you get your podcasts

Okay let's bang out a couple Middlecoff mailbags At John Middlecoff At John Middlecoff is the Instagram firing those DMs Get your questions answered here On the show This is a bit of a spicy take

So it might make the show Was quote I changed the culture Over and over again When your father That coached the team and ran the program recruited about a million guys

through the transfer portal at every opportunity the worst take of the combine? Was it the quote Gucci luggage quote the real culture changer? I think he means Travis Hunter.

Been a big supporter of the Sanders family and the combine shenanigans kind of left me disappointed your thoughts. I actually right before I recording this part of the mailbag

I saw Todd McKean Shay's post that he talked to people at the combine that interviewed Shador and Shadur, I guess, acted in the interview like he didn't give a shit, how into it, you know, like what they thought of him, basically. He was just acting how he normally acts and didn't care what their reaction was, even though obviously it's a job interview. I could understand the tough transition of he's played for his dad for so long. And Dion is one of the biggest personalities in the history of sports. And I would say in a good way, probably, at least of my lifetime, top two or three cockiest athletes of all time, but he's also one of the best. I mean, you could argue pound for pound. He's one of the best pure athletes in the history of civilization.

And Dion is an all-time great football player. Shador is not an all-time great prospect. So when you go into these situations, and again, I haven't heard any of this. Most of my friends work for teams that, you know, in the playoffs. But, and I'm not saying, I just mean, I haven't even text anyone at the Combine about interviews with guys in general,

but most people that I know in the league would not have interviewed Shadur Sanders. I would say this. You do want to go into these meetings, having been someone who sat in one of, those cars when a kid was getting meeting, getting, you know, meeting the front office and the coaches, it should be a pretty humble experience, right? Whether you are Caleb Williams, whether you are Miles Garrett, whether you are Kyler Murray. I'm just picking some recent,

in recent memory, just some high, high level prospects. I would imagine when they go in there, they're just kind of on their best behavior. They're trying to impress like you or I would in an interview setting. So part of, you know, Shador, if it is true, I mean, again, I'm just basing this off Todd McShay and I've seen some other people tweet about this, they're going to entrust you if I'm going to draft you to be a quarterback really, really high with the entire keys of the franchise. More than likely, unless I get a complete bailout of like hitting on Brock Purdy in the seventh round, my career is going to sink or swim with how you.

you play and operate. And part of being a quarterback is leadership, leading everybody. Not just the coaching staff, the other players. The whole organization follows you. And that type of stuff, imagine being in a situation. You've never, none of these people have ever met Shador, right? Most of these people, if I'm Pete Carroll or if I'm Brian Daibald, I probably haven't even watched them play that much.

Now, if you're dayball, I would imagine you've done some work over the last couple months on them. But relative to the work you will continue to do, it's probably a small, small percentage. So the first reaction, and I say this all the time, and I'm a Shador fan. I think he's a good player. But like the personality stuff, like that matters a lot. And I think the league is full. I mean, think of the best players in the NFL at that. position. Patrick Mahomes is like the heartbeat of their city. Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson

resurrected those franchises. And think of what they mean to their coaching staff, their teammates, just how good of guys they are 24-7, 365 all the time. And the amount of pressure that's on them. And those guys, these are talking fucking MVPs and champions. Like the way of the world is on their shoulders. You're just trying to get drafted. You're not even considered the number one quarterback. So I think you go in there really cocky. Like Dion could do that. And listen, as someone who looked up to my dad and operates a lot like my father,

who definitely was not Dion Sanders, he's just emulating his father. But his father can operate and act differently than him. So I do think you've got to be very careful in these meetings. I would say this for any player, especially a guy that's going to get drafted in the first round, any position. You should be on your best behavior. And I'm sorry, like, you got to kind of kiss the ass of these guys.

Why wouldn't you want to? You want the team drafting the highest to draft. You get the most money. So if that stuff, man, you got to be very careful about the way you interact with these coaches of just coming off like, you're kind of too cool for school. Because you know what they'll, what they say is like, this fucking league will humble everybody. I don't care who you. you are. I saw Andy Reid go

4 and 12 and get fired. I just saw Kyle Shanahan go 6 and 11 get his teeth kicked in on a weekly basis. I just saw Mike McCarthy who had three straight 12 win seasons not even sniffed the playoffs, get run out of town. This league will kick

your ass no matter how good a player you are. Look at Aaron Rogers. A couple years ago Aaron Rogers won the MVP's. By this year, he can't win a game to save his life. I just think it's a very very, very humbling sport. And I think that's what most coaches and GMs

just, I can take some cockiness like with Justin Jefferson, right? Or with Miles Garrett. I'm not even saying Miles is, but I'm just being like, if my star player, a little cocky, it's like, okay, it's four-time pro bowler, two-time all pro.

It's like, okay, back it up. But like when you haven't done anything, most of these people, fair or not, look at you, like, who are you? Like I said, you're not even the top quarterback in the draft. And I'm a fan. Like, I'm pro the player. But part of being a quarterback is all the other stuff.

Right? It's how you act, how you conduct yourself. Everyone's, and the reality, your dad's not there anymore. He's going to be a fascinating, just, I don't even know. It's going to get weird. I mean, clearly, I already is getting weird. Listen, who do you think? think saying that. Who are the teams?

Shadour ain't interviewing with the Eagles and the Chiefs. He's not talking to the Bills, right? He's not sitting there with the Packers. It's pretty clear of the teams he's talking to. Titans, the Browns, the Giants, the Raiders. Why wouldn't you

want those teams to like you? If anyone could do it, it would be Travis. The Panthers just had the worst defense in the league and have the worst defense. The worst defense the league has ever seen, but there's also a clear hole at wide receiver. Would you spend the money in free agency on defense in draft T-Mack or go big for T. Higgins

in draft Jalen Walker and Williams? Let me look. Do you know what I haven't looked at in a minute? The draft order. Where is the Panthers rounds? So the Panthers are drafting 8th. I'd have a hard time taking a wide receiver at 8. I really would.

You just took a wide receiver high in the draft in what's his name from South Carolina. Legate. To me, the trenches. I would take multiple defensive linemen. I would 1,000% you list of the two guys from Georgia. Two guys from Georgia, the defensive tackle

from Michigan. Like, I'm going defense. I do not, like, obviously you need skill guys, but like, I can find a wide receiver. in the third round. I am taking physical players. And to me, it's a no-brainer. Dan Morgan's my GM.

Linebacker. Tough guy. I would not take the wide receiver. Honestly, the wide receiver is really good. And there's going to be a lot of hype on McMillan coming into this draft. I mean, he's a beast. He's 6'5. I haven't even seen what is combined measurements.

And did he work out? I've been preoccupied with this wedding stuff, so I'm not super locked in on all the measurements and times. I did see some of the offensive linemen, their times were the Texas A&M pass rusher, his workout was just incredible. I mean, it really was. The problem is it's like,

one of the greatest workouts we've ever seen, but he has a career four and a half sacks. You're like, ah, that's kind of a problem. And then Campbell and the Missouri offensive linemen both worked out really, really well. Now, luckily for those guys, they've been high-level players. I think the problem with the A&M pass rusher,

and Jim Washburn taught me this, he's a big believer is like, you either get home or you don't. It's a skill. It's like guys with bad hands usually don't improve it. They always have bad hands. Now, if you're a physical freak,

like Terrell Owens or D.K. Metcalf, you can get away with not having Justin Jefferson or Marvin Harrison hands. Right? But if you are not a physical freak and you have questionable hands, a lot of teams won't even mess with you. And I would say the same for pass rushers.

It's not often like, yeah, I was a multi-year starter, and I had less than five career sacks, and I came to the NFL, and I started averaging 12 sacks a season. Usually doesn't, maybe they're outlier situations. But I would just go the line of scrimmage. We just saw the blueprint. We just saw the blueprint. And it's not even the Eagles.

I would just say successful teams. We saw the Bears do the opposite, and they regretted it immediately. A big fan, been listening to you for almost two years. I'm an executive MBA student at Oxford with a background in hedge funds in real estate. Good, smart dude. We'd love to have you speak to our class about the NFL and business. If you're ever in London, let's make it happen.

You know, I've never been to London. I've always wanted to go, and I think I will try to get over there in the next couple years. I've always heard great things. I'm sure many people listening have been. It's obviously just feels like one of the more popular cities in the world and everyone that goes has a good time. But I've never been.

But I would like to go. And if I did, I'd speak to your class. Did you just say the Chargers have the best bookend tackles in the NFL? Milata just got rated as the third best player by PFF and Lane is his bookend they're top five, but the Eagles are best by far. Also, if you're ever in Philly,

let me know, I'm at Trump Philly. I think he means a golf course. I didn't know Trump had a golf course in Philly. Also, why don't other owners give their GMs the money up front like Jeffrey does for Howie where he makes his job so much easier? They don't want to spend it. Now, I will say this. You know, Jeffrey, part of spending a lot of money,

the expectations are, to win and win big. Like last year, think about last year, when they started whatever, 10 and 1, and then lost all the games and got bounced in the first round, it felt like they just were drafting in the top 5. It was a disaster. Why?

Because they're spending so much money. So you spend that much money, I would say at minimum, it's like NFC championship game. The 49ers were doing the same. They were spending a little less, but like one of the highest spenders in the league with cash. One six and 11 season,

John Lynch of the Combines, like, yeah, we got to pull back. We don't have as much cash. We're not going to be as active. You know why? Because Jed came in and like, fuck this. If we're going to cut huge checks, we better win.

I think a lot of owners just, they like keeping that money for themselves. Longtime listener, love the pod. From Tampa area, live in North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and have two daughters that recently graduated from UNC. So one buck's question and one regarding the tar heels. First, with the team Jason Light has assembled,

And with Baker playing well, if the Bucks add a pass rusher like Khalil Mack and draft a couple good defensive players, are they a legitimate Super Bowl contender next year? Second, I'm optimistic in Belichick having early success and also really liking him being at Carolina long term. More than a couple of years. Would love to hear your takes. Also heading to Scottsdale with a wife in Third Donald 13. Really excited about it. Any suggestions of what to do? would be sure places eat much appreciated,

laid back, enjoying tennis, and trying new restaurants. The global ambassador seems to be a very, very popular place right now. I've never been. Maria's eating there. She said it's just a cool vibe. So I would check that out. If you're in Old Town, I would say the mission is always a tough place to beat Kierland, Etta, cool little restaurant.

Super high-end steakhouse, if you're in that mood for that. that. Dominix is my favorite. I would say, uh, on your first question, Tampa had, I mean, a top, a championship level offense. The way they were playing, the way they were scoring points,

how well, I mean, Baker was playing like a top six, seven quarterback in the NFL. Offense did not let them down. I mean, they're secondary. They were just getting gashed. I felt like down the end of the season. So yeah, I would say you got to feel pretty good about Vita Vaya. Uh, Is it Clancy, the guy they drafted, was that last year or two years ago?

Feels like he's coming on. I would say they still have some older linebackers who are solid, but I would say they're a little longer in the tooth. I felt like their defensive backfield. What's his name? Winfield was banged up a lot. So that didn't help. Their corner play, and I think Jason Light talked about this is like,

we had some injuries in our depth got exposed. So part of the way you improve your depth is moving. guys that you were forced, you know, who are starting for you and turn them into backups by improving your starters. So, Super Bowl champion, I don't know, but it feels like they play the Eagles pretty well. I would say that if their defense, I mean, part of the reason the Eagles won, I mean, they had like the best defense in the league. So it's hard to compete with a team who has such a prolific offense and the best defense in the league. So if you can have a top 10 defense and elite offense, you're very, very competitive in the NFC for sure.

First off, congrats on the wedding. Appreciate it. Secondly, do you foresee quarterback contracts mimicking what we've seen in Major League Baseball? Ten plus years and 500 million? Why don't more teams copy what the Chiefs gave Mahomes? Sure, when his contract news broke, it was insane, but now he's the 13th highest paid per over the cap. You know why? Because most quarterback would not sign that contract. They're not doing that deal. Why would you want to lock yourself up for 10 years

when you can get a new contract in three or four? It was talked about at the time. Mahomes gave them one of the, I would say, more team-friendly deals in the history of the league. So most of these quarterbacks won't sign those deals. I'd rather sign up for-year contract. Four-year contract, $50 million a year,

$200 million. Guarantee 180. And then in three or four years, when I'm 31, I'll sign a new contract for $300 million. So I think that's part of the problem. To entice a player to sign a 10-year contract, the number would have to be massive. Just want to ask you,

what should the Bengals do moving forward? Is it worth keeping T, even though we have so many problems in the offense and on defense? What should the plan be in the draft because the last couple years we kind of missed on our first round picks, Murphy and Mims. Should they do like the Eagles did this year by taking two DBs back to back, or should they focus more on offense?

That's a good question. I think the key is just getting good players. You know, it's when you take Mims or you take T. Higgins or you take whoever high, if they become a high-impact player, no one ever complains. part of the reason Rome Adunze was such a polarizing player it's like well some of these other offensive linemen we passed on are really good and Rome looks okay but if Rome had been I don't know a pro bowl level guy it's not all his fault I mean the quarterback situation they were just but I'm just saying let's just say he would have had a great rookie season he would have 90 catches no one would have complained so whoever you draft right like let's say the Eagles, let's say Mitchell turned out to not be good. So it's all of a sudden the corner sucked.

And then it was like their defensive line wasn't as good. It's like, Howie, why did you take a corner instead of a defensive lineman? This guy's getting smoked. I promise you this. And I do believe the trenches, the trenches, the trenches, the trenches. But there are other positions. And if you do take a player, a corner, a tide end, whoever, if he becomes an impact player, nobody ever complains.

No one ever goes, and I'm guilty of this. too, you should have taken this guy instead of that guy. Because you're like, fuck, I'm just glad this guy's on my team. Like, no one has ever said, you know, instead of T. Higgins, we could have taken player X, Y, and Z. Like, no, that's a great pick. Hell yeah. What a pick, Duke Tobin?

So, got to get these picks right. Especially this year, you miss the playoffs. You're drafting in, I think, the late teens. Let me pull up. The Cincinnati Bengals are drafting 17th. You get a good player at 17. What up, John? With the offseason being here, I've had a bunch of vids of Mel Kuiper popping up on my feed.

Is he as big of a joke to front office people as I guess he'd be? Are these draft experts respected, or is it all just for show? There will be no Mel Kuiper slander on the show. I love Mel Kuiper. Like I would say most people in my age range, late 30s, early 40s, even older, 50s. I grew up watching Mel Kiper. There was never, I never heard any bad words about Mel Kiper when I was around football people and still to this day people making fun.

Now they might not always agree. Like he has, I would say, he has a strong opinion, but that's no different if you go into a draft room. If you could see every draft room in the league, and that goes for good and bad teams, there are going to be people in that room with just absurd takes. It'd be the equivalent of like putting them on a television show. They would go viral.

So I think when you look at Mel Kuiper, just like you look at, you know, what makes Daniel Jeremiah pretty unique is he worked in the NFL for a long time before he started doing this. Mayock was the opposite, worked in media for a long time, and then transitioned to become a GM. I think DJ probably has the most friends in the NFL in terms of Jesus. He worked with so many guys. Mel's just a lifetime TV guy. I mean, Mel's an entertainer. but when I was at Cal Poly I was a senior in college

and I was helping the football program working the athletic program this is I mean obviously the internet existed in like 2007 but it was not the internet what it is today he used to call the SID

at Cal Poly to get a bunch of information because we were going to have a guy Ramsey's Barton who ended up getting drafted I think second or third round so like Mel Kiper he did not fake his way into this.

He grinded for a long time and he has some opinions that aren't always right. I'm no different. I thought the Saints were going to make the playoffs. I probably do the equivalent of betting on teams and picking teams and betting for or against coaches as he does with draft players. The thing that Mel Kuiper

when makes his job impossible is he is just basing things in him probably more than DJ. I don't think he really, really factors in character. So to me, if you're not factoring in character, it's hard to totally judge a prospect.

And I think DJ clearly does that a little bit. But I mean, Harry Roseman and DJ are very close. So, I mean, in my experience, like how he offered DJ the job that Joe Douglas took like five or six years ago. Maybe that was when Joe left. When Joe left to become the Jess GM,

I think he offered the job to DJ. So, I mean, DJ is very, very, very, well respected in the league. And Mel Khyper, I don't know. I think you guys are a fucking legend. You're going to win some, you're going to lose some. You have some bad opinions. Cousins for Devante.

Win, win, win. I think you mean Kirk Cousins. I would say, can Atlanta just not mess with any more wide receivers? You got Drake London, you got Kyle Pitts, you got Bejohn-Robinson. Can we just focus on the defensive side of the ball? I would not do that deal if I was the Atlanta Falcons. But I hear you. It'd be fun.

My guy Pettick slinging it around in Devante to Drake London. Mooney? Is Mooney there? I kind of like Mooney. Always like Mooney, actually. Thanks for all the content. Can you do a segment on the Ben Johnson media since leaving Detroit? I haven't ran up on it, but it sounds like good content. The Ben Johnson on Ben Johnson media?

You mean like him talking to the media? I don't really know what you're asking. I watched a couple clips with with pardon my take. I will say this for Ben Johnson. It doesn't feel like where he's most comfortable. Like that's not really, like Ben Johnson's forte as a coach.

Like Dan Campbell is very comfortable in front of a podium now. I would say like Sean McVeigh, born to be in front of the camera. You watch Ben Johnson. I saw some of the part of my take clips. Whenever I've just seen him, I saw the combine his press conference.

I don't want to say he's awkward. He's just, he's not exactly like Rico Suave up there. It's not something that feels completely natural to him. Now granted, he's never been a head coach and he's never even really have a team meeting yet. So I'm not going to make any huge judgments or declarations that just because he's not, you know, Mike Tomlin in front of a Mike that he can't coach. if that's what you're asking, I don't know. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what?

We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts.

Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. And, well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes.

I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. 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 eye heart. radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis, and I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs, and on the Renee Stubbs Tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris, every match, every upset, and what it really takes

to win on clay. Jenshin win. I mean, she went down in three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lena Rubakina is arguably the best player in the world right now. And I actually can win on any surface. Because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs Tennis Podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. call it grotesque, others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Adam from here in Australia. The NFL sneaky has a big following in Australia. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on rivalries between teams and keeping teams relevant. I follow the Niners and always hear about the infamous Raider rivalry, but it's completely dead and I don't know if it would come back. I've always thought the Raider and Niner rivalry was not like an NFL rivalry. It was something that existed in Northern California

between people in Oakland and I would say the Oakland Raider fan, versus the Niners fan. It wasn't, to me, it was not considered a rivalry outside of the Bay Area. A rivalry is the Packers and the Bears. A rivalry is the Steelers and the Ravens, the Eagles and the Cowboys. With Sean McVeigh and Kyle going to their teams, Kyle Shanahan versus Sean McVeigh. The Raiders' rivals are Denver and Kansas City.

So I think rivalries, you know, like the Jets and the Giants. Are they rivals? Well, locally for coverage and people talk. Yeah, for sure. Outside, like me and Scottsdale, do I view the Jets and the Giants as rivals? No.

The Jets rival, and again, rival would be strong, but like, it's like the dolphins and the bills and the Patriots, teams in their division. Same for the Giants, like the Eagles and the Cowboys. So I think the NFL does a good job of the rivalries feel big. I mean, I think the

Bills and the Chiefs feel like a real thing. The Bengals and the Chiefs feel like a real thing. The Ravens now against the Chiefs. And I would even say the Bengals, or I mean the Ravens against the Bills. A lot of good rivals. Rivalries. I mean, the 49ers and the Packers, I mean, I can't even count how many times

they played in the playoffs in my adult life. They played, I think, four straight years in the 90s when I was a kid. They played multiple times with Harbaugh. They played several times with Kyle Shanahan. Like, that's a rivalry. They play in a ton of big games. So I would say, yeah, to me, the teams, it would be the Raiders and the Niners and the Jets and the Giants, teams that are just, the Raiders are gone now. So like now they're in Vegas.

It's like it doesn't even exist. But I hear what you're saying. But I don't think the NFL even thinks twice about those type things at all because it doesn't really matter. Appreciate everyone listening. Have a great day. See you. The volume. Hey guys, it's us.

The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. Nice. We invented a podcast?

Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen.

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

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Winning on Clay is an art. The rallies are relentless. And at the French Open, only the toughest survive.

I'd know. I competed there for decades. Join me, Renee Stubbs, on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast for no-nonsense breakdowns of the biggest matches, the toughest players, and the moments that define Roland Garris. She can win. She's an outsider to win the French fame. And she likes Clay.

Listen, Lina Rubakina is arguably the best player in the world right now. And I actually can win on any surface. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. 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. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.