The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 & Out - Bo Nix, Denver Broncos topple Jameis Winston’s Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football

Episode Date: December 3, 2024

John Middlekauff returns after a thrilling Monday Night Football matchup between Bo Nix and the surging Denver Broncos taking on James Winston’s 3-8 Cleveland Browns, with Sean Payton’s squad in Denver coming out on top 41-32. Middlekauff reacts to rookie sensation Bo Nix defeating Jameis Winston, who threw for nearly 500 yds and 4 TDs, in a shootout and tips his cap to an enjoyable Monday Night Football matchup featuring the BEST 3-9 team in the NFL. John gives the Denver Broncos their flowers for backing up the Brinks truck for Sean Payton, then drafting former Oregon and Auburn QB Bo Nix, en route to turning around one of the NFL’s most storied franchises. Then, another electric edition of outhouse/penthouse where John salutes the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions and more. After, John dives into the Chicago Bears head coaching vacancy and debates whether it is one of the NFLs premiere jobs, or if the Monsters of the Midway era is officially over. John wonders if former No. 1 overall draft pick and Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams can turn around the fortunes of the struggling NFC North franchise before turning his attention to the AFC with Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs and MVP-frontrunner Josh Allen’s Buffalo Bills. Finally, John sounds off on a big hit that sent Trevor Lawrence to the locker room in the Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars game and what it means for the future of the NFL’s rules surrounding quarterback protection. Lastly, John answers your questions in this episode's mailbag segment. 5:12 - MNF Reaction 37:30 - Will the Bears job be a good one 44:42 - Big hits in the NFL 51:31 - Ryan Day and Sark 1:00:28 - Mailbag 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.

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. 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 ice. Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I'm Joey Dardano, and on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff rant and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to me. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from a Hypocrite Wednesdays on the IHard.

Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, it's Edwin Castro, also known as Castro 1021. And I'm Conky, his best friend and business manager. And we've got a new show called The 1021 Podcast. I'm taking you behind the scenes on how I became one of Twitch's most popular streamers. We also love sports. And with the World Cup right around the corner, we'll be breaking down the biggest storylines ahead of the big tournament here in the USA.

Listen to the 1021 podcast on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The story I've told myself can then shape my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown if you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole. This podcast is for you to hear more. Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. The volume. What is going on, everybody?

How are we doing on this beautiful Tuesday? Morning, lunchtime, afternoon, whenever you may be listening to the show, it is Monday night. And I just watched pretty good Monday night football game. James Winston throws for four. 500 yards, six touchdowns. Two of them just happened to go to Denver. Two pick sixes. Bo Nix and Sean Payton.

We'll dive into this game. The Browns, their situation with Watson and James. Obviously, with James, they look like a different team, a competitive team. That was a really enjoyable Monday Night Football game. A little penthouse and outhouse, as well as some thoughts on Kevin Warren and Brian Pulse. had a press conference today about the coaching search. Trevor Lawrence and the knockout hit. A lot of different takes flying around.

So we will dive into that. We will also talk a little Ryan Day and Steve Sarkozy and as well as a mailbag. At John Middilkoff is the Instagram fire in those DMs. Get your questions answered here on the show. Very easy to do. Other than that, we had, I went on with Colin as I do every Sunday. You can hear that yesterday. We did a reaction pod to the Bill's Niner game and a little Sunday night podcast.

Since then, we've learned that McCaffrey torn PCL out for the year. So that's pretty rough. And the 49ers season's pretty much over. Kind of like the Bears this weekend against the Niners. But we will talk about that as the week goes on. And yeah, so we'll have more podcasts coming. But make sure you subscribe. if you listen on Collins feed

and definitely subscribe to the YouTube channel as well the YouTube channel just type in John 3 and out everything is there you know I got to tell you about my friends my partners the official ticketing app of this podcast I was texting with a buddy who works in radio who was

going to the Warriors game the night or tomorrow night and is in Denver for it and he was at the game the night and he said it was awesome the atmosphere I was like you know I've always wanted to go to mile high I think Troy Aikman mentioned tonight that they have not had a winning season in 11 years.

I mean, it's been a long time, I guess, since Peyton Manning hung them up in 2016. Honestly, does that even add up? Doesn't they win the Super Bowl? Maybe in 2015. Bottom line, it's been a while and they're going to have a winning season this year. They're now 8 and 5.

Looks like they're headed at minimum, 2-10 wins. So if you want to go to a game, if you want to go to a concert, if you want to go to a comedy show, if you want to get out of the house and go have some fun, Christmas is right around the corner. Last year for Christmas, got my brother concert tickets.

He loved it in Sacramento, had a good time. I got him basically front row. He texts me the next day. I don't think I can ever go to a concert again. Sitting in normal people's seats. I said, yeah, well, that's where my friend's game time come in. So take the guest work out of buying tickets with GameTime,

download the GameTime app, create an account. Use the code John for $20 off your first purchase, terms of play. Again, create an account, redeem the code. J-O-H-N for $20 off. Download the game time app today. Last-minute tickets, lowest prices. Guaranteed! You know what's funny about the NFL? Tonight's a good example.

I don't know about you, but around 4.30, so the Monday night game kicks off at 6.20. I'm in Mountain Time in Arizona. And I wasn't feeling it at all. Usually on Monday, especially toward the afternoons. I'm just pretty exhausted. Sundays are

long day. Saturdays. I don't sleep much over the weekend. I'm not even drinking. It's just quick turnarounds. And this game on paper, I was like, listen, I'm kind of excited to watch Bo Nix, but I don't know. I've just not that into it. And then halfway through, you're like, did it to me again. Because just when you least expect it, all of a sudden you get James Winston and Jerry Judy looking like Joe Montana and Jerry Rice. That was really fun. And I have a blast in a game that I'll be honest, we were on a text chain for this podcast where I said, I wish they would just cancel this game. That was before kickoff. And now it's almost 10 o'clock. So we're usually an hour later as of recording this because the game went so long because

they were throwing it all over the yard. That was extremely enjoyable. It really was. I mean, a Bronca, or excuse me, a Brown's team that is three and nine that I got to be honest, might be the best three and nine team I've ever seen. And I would say this, before we dive into the Broncos, if I was a Browns fan and they are a passionate group, they have supported this team. Obviously, that franchise left them once upon a time. And since they come back, it has been tough sledding.

I would be furious because you watch tonight, and listen, James throws for almost 500 yards, he throws six touchdowns, two of them just happen to be to the other team. but I go, there is not a chance we are three and nine if James starts like after week one. And you shove Deshawn Watson down our throats because of the contract when we all know he is the worst starting quarterback in the NFL. He is an unplayable player. And it took him getting a major injury to insert James and giving us a fighting chance on a

weekly basis. Why? We have great players all over the field. Awesome DBs. one of the best pass rushers, awesome skill guys, Nojoku's an incredible tied-in. And James will just sling it.

And early on in the game, they put up the visual of the yardages, the points, the yards per play, compared James to Deshawn, and it looked like an undrafted free agent versus a Pro Bowl player. And you watch tonight, the only reason they have a chance in this game

is because the dude's throwing for 500 yards and sling it all over the yard. Now listen, he's a roller coaster player and he will throw it to the other team. Now, I do believe the first pick six to Benito was more of an incredible play by the defender than it was a terrible pass. The second pick six, which essentially ended the game,

that's got James written all over him. But if I was a Browns fan, I'd be like, what are we doing? We can't, listen, I'm not acting like James is the answer to all your problems. But I would rather see that for the next couple years than ever go back to what we had to experience in that short, whatever, 12, 13 game stretch

of last year and this year of Deshawn Watson because you got these guys, and we always say this about Monday night. You throw out the records because in December for these shitty teams, this is their Super Bowl, you're playing a team that has playoff aspirations on the road.

really big deal. You obviously have a lot of highly paid players, a lot of pride. You got Miles Garrett, who looked like he was battling about eight injuries. Denzel Ward playing his balls off. And that was just, that was fun. That was really an enjoyable experience. James, I mean, how cool is it? This Jerry Judy's drafted, whatever, 15th overall. They ship him out of town. I mean, let's face it, he was a major underachiever. It felt like a bust in Denver. And then he goes out tonight. I mean, feels like he has one of the best Monday night games I've ever seen. He has nine catches for 235 yards.

Now, some of these plays, he's completely uncovered, which was hard to fathom after a while. It's like, you might want to cover that guy that used to be on your team who is eviscerating you tonight. And then they finally put Certain on him that made a couple plays. But him getting into it with the crowd, like them just throwing bombs. I mean, how many times, even with Bo Nix,

Are they running go routes? Are they running post routes? Like tonight was all about just pushing the ball down the field, which was very, very entertaining to watch. And obviously, James is Taylor made for that level of play. And you watch, and we'll get into the Broncos here in one second, but one major difference in these two franchises is clearly Kevin Stefansky is a good coach.

He's not two-time coach of the year for not. no reason. And Andrew Barry, their GM, is a really dynamic personnel man. I think we all blame the Deshawn Watson situation on the owner. And we've been talking so much about dysfunctional organizations and good organizations. And the weird part about Cleveland, a team that now has made the playoff several times over the last three or four years because of their head coach and the front office who are really good. But what stops them in the their tracks, the owner, because he meddled. He said, yes, I'll guarantee the contract. Those guys didn't want to do that. And then once it starts going poorly, they start forcing,

you know, you can't keep Flacco because we got to go back to Deshaun. Or it's like, no, we can't bench Deshaun for Jamis Winston because we're paying them all this money. Like, that's on the ownership. And it's one thing if you're the bears and you're like, our coach sucks, our front office, what the hell is going on or the Jets or some of these situations, if you're a Browns fan, you go, I think our coach's pretty good. Like, our defense is pretty good. Our GM is pretty good. And yet we have this owner who has a long resume now

of just being a disaster for the franchise. And they're three and nine. They clearly are a really talented squad, but I put this season squarely on the owner. And on the flip side, you look at the Broncos got a new owner. They have unlimited wealth because, you know, they're the Walton family for Walmart.

And it's just, They got like six kids that were in the top 10 of wealthiest humans alive. And they're like, we need a real coach. And they go out and get Sean Payton. And listen, last year was up and down. And then the Russell Wilson thing, they cut him, they take all the dead money. And then he goes out and gets Bo Nix. And listen, he rubs a lot of people the wrong way.

Pretty arrogant. A lot of people in the football world think his cockiness takes the cake over everyone in the league. I've never had any personal interaction with him. He always kind of entertains me. I love his intensity on the sideline. but they said, here are the keys. Here are the keys to our franchise. You save us.

Unlike the Browns, whose owner kind of gives them the keys, but then takes them back whenever he wants them, they go, Sean, you run it. And then he takes a quarterback who, let's face it, universally around football, most people thought it was a crazy pick. A complete overdraft, a guy that just was a dink and dunker in college,

and you watch him tonight. One, Sean Payton is doing a fantastic job of calling plays. Tonight, the Ebb and Flay. of running one thing Bo Nix is really good at are those quick screens because he excelled at him throughout college, the quick game, and

also getting him on the move, he's a really good athlete and you saw him multiple times rolling to his right where he can get his body into it. He's got a lot of arm strength. And obviously one thing, and listen, Bronco fans over the last couple weeks, I haven't watched

every one of your snaps, but you watched tonight, they were taking shots down the field. Now, one of them was not an ideal throw. You know, I think he kind of forced it to Mims. And you could argue, you know, it's tough. Mims is backpedaling. He's not able to get any air on it. The ball goes right over and it's an easy interception for Denzo Ward

that then led to a James touchdown, which the Browns took the lead. Now, Bo Nix drives them right down the field and they take the lead on the field goal. But that could have been, that could have cost them the game. But they're 8 and 5 right now. With tonight, the defense was atrocious. But for most of the year, the defense has been fantastic.

And a young quarterback that, let's face it, athletic ability, pretty impressive. Arm strength, much more impressive than any of us thought. And all the haters, they were like, oh, he's got an average arm. I'm watching him tonight. The one throw he made to the tight end in the second half, that was honestly a better catch than a throw because he threw like a hundred mile an hour fastball. Tide end made a great catch. Like, he's got a good arm.

Like, he's a pretty explosive player. And here's the thing. It's like everyone keeps saying about Michigan, Ohio State, why Ryan Day is so screwed. Because if you can't get them now, you're never going to get them. This is probably going to be the worst Michigan team, clearly of the last five years, but of the next five years, it'll never be this bad. And you watch the Broncos like, this is going to be the worst version of the Bo Nix, Sean Peyton Broncos.

They got all their picks next year. they're going to slowly get off this cap situation of Russell Wilson's contract over the next couple years that will free up, let them take a deep breath, and give them more cap space to make some deals. So this is as bad as it gets, and they're 8 and 5. Obviously, they're over under was 5 and a half, but you see, like, and this is the thing. And this is when we talk about the bears with a coach, when you get a head coach, who goes all in on his quarterback, and then he's also the play caller, it's, such a big advantage.

It's not the end-all, be-all. Jim Harbaugh, with the Chargers, is not calling the place. Mike Tomlin hasn't had a losing season in like 75 years. Doesn't call any offensive plays. John Harbaugh, obviously, no offensive plays. But one huge advantage when you watch the Broncos, it's like, that's his baby, the offense, and now that quarterback. And he's a work in progress.

Like you see the good, bad, and the ugly. There are sometimes, it's like, Bo, take a deep breath. There was a quick slant. It would have been an easy first down that he threw it behind him. I think that was when they ended up kicking the field goal to Lutz to take the two-point lead instead of scoring a touchdown. Because they didn't get the first down, then on third down. But I'm pretty impressed. I mean, I think if you're a Bronco fan, like, listen, is the guy Josh Allen or Patrick Holmes?

We got a long, long way to go before we talk about him as like a top, you know, 8, 10 quarterback. but I would be pretty fucking optimistic when you're watching this guy play. Obviously, he's not turning the ball. I guess he had the turnover tonight, first one in a while. But he's an explosive player. And as someone, like part of the Oregon offense, wasn't really to play like that. And maybe as time has gone on this season,

Sean Peyton has just, like the Bronco, or excuse me, the Browns tonight have nothing to lose. Part of James's skill set is pushing the ball down the field, running go routes, running post routes, just letting it rip. That's Ben James' game probably since he was 10 years old. Part of Bo Nix is like,

the knock on him at least was, you know, he just kind of picks and chooses around the line of scrimmage. Well, he's not the guy calling the plays at Oregon. That's kind of an Oregon scheme offense. Then you give him to Sean Peyton, who, you know, for a long time with Drew Breeze, I think that was the knock.

You know, not a knock. Obviously, they were historic offense. But I think most people just talked about Drew Breeze. They weren't throwing bombs. Even though early on in Drew Breeze's career with the Saints, they definitely pushed the ball down the field. You saw it a night, like, and I don't know if these are called shots,

if this Bo Nick's going a little rogue, but he is pushing the ball down the field. So, is this a team that's going to win a playoff game? I don't know. I mean, they will surely be an underdog as I thought they were locked to be the seven seed, and I said it coming into this week.

If they win this game, and especially the way it played out, Miami lost, So they have five wins. And the Colts, who won on going for two on the last, whatever, 30 seconds against the paths have six wins. So the Broncos have two more wins and they're finally going on their buy than the Colts. So even though the Colts who play this week, they would still be a game behind them. And the Broncos still play the Raiders.

I think the Broncos are a lock to get to 10. Are the Colts getting to 10? I have a hard time seeing it. The other thing is the Ravens, injuries. I would be shell-shocked if they missed the playoffs, but I think you're just like, something's missing there. Incredible accomplishment.

I said it at the beginning of the season. It's like, I love the Chargers to make the playoffs. And a lot of you guys talk to me out of it. It's like, no, I had people in the league. It's like, I don't think they have enough talent. They're not enough skill guys. I never thought the Broncos would be good enough. One, this defense.

That Benito guy, who was a second rounder two years ago, from Oklahoma. What a fantastic, just wrecking bowl. The pick he had. Like most DBs, I'd say it's a coin flip 50-50 if they have serviceable hands.

Certain DBs have fantastic hands. For the most part, corner safeties, I would say below average hands relative to NFL players. The pick that Benito made, the pick six, he has better hands

than I would say 50, 60% of the DBs in the NFL. And then as a pass rusher, he showed a 360 move, he showed a speed move, he showed some power, he's obviously long, he's got an instinctive. Jim Washburn, when I was what the Eagles used to always say, you either kind of have an innate feel as a pass rusher, or you're just robotic and it's just all just, you know,

you don't really know what you're doing. You either have like the physical attributes and you get close sometimes, but it's not innate. you watch that guy, you're like, this guy was kind of born to rush the passer here. So we know how good their DBs are. I mean, McMill in the last pick six, it's not even their best DB, which is Certained, which is clearly one of the best DBs in the NFL. So depending on the matchup, like, if you told me that it was Broncos, Steelers,

uh, as the three six, I'd go, yeah, I mean, I, I could see that. Same thing with Chargers. If it's the Chargers Steelers, Texans, that's what happens. both these two organizations who were a joke. I mean, they were so bad Russell Wilson's first year with Nathaniel Hackett. The Chargers won five games last year. What did the two teams do?

Sean Payton got $18 million a year. Jim Harbaugh, you know, rumors are $16, $17 million a year. What do they have combined right now? Chargers have, what do they have, nine wins? Obviously, the Broncos have eight. and you're just looking at two teams that, you know, if we go to the playoff picture right now,

you got the Chargers. I guess Chargers are 8 and 4, and the Broncos are 8 and 5. So amazing what happens when you hire a good coach, because they can make guys that we don't even know that much about. And let's face it, they make controversial moves. Sean Payton's like, I don't want Judy. Who's clearly a good player?

But he's like, this is not going to work here. What does Hardbaugh do? like yeah, Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, you're not going to work here. And a lot of people, and I'm guilty of this too, like, I don't know, man, I don't know if I do that. That seems a little risky. It's like, yeah, these guys kind of know what they're doing. Like, they have a clear vision for what they want. Like, this isn't a guessing game.

We all do it in life. Sometimes you're like, yeah, I think this is going to work and you try things. We try things all the time on this podcast. Sure most people listening, like, you know, as you're coming up in whatever industry you're in, you're like, you're trying shit. Jim Harbaugh is 60 years old. I don't know how, if I had to guess how old Sean Payton is, I'd probably say the same. 56, 57 years old.

Like, there's no guessing. Like, this is what I want at this position. This is what I need out of this position. This guy fits. This guy does not fit. This amount of money for this position, we don't want it. There's no feeling shit out. And you saw at the end of the game when they put out the division and the Raiders are two

and nine, they are winless. It's like, they don't have a shot. They got no shot. They're just spinning their wheels against Andy Reed, Sean Payton, and Jim Harbaugh. And all three of them have a quarterback. I mean, Mahomes and Andy are one of the great combinations we've ever seen. I'll promise you this in five years, the way we talk about Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert, if Justin stays healthy, we'll probably blow your mind how just the power behind what's going to happen.

Because I'll promise you, they're going to win and they're going to win big. And it's hard not to say, you know, yeah, I think Sean. Payton and bow knicks are going to work you know and that's the thing with the browns well run they have good offensive pieces but now they're quarterback situation i was thinking about this today i wrote it down obviously some of these fortune 500 companies make you know billion dollar acquisitions right they buy something and for the most part they have a pretty good idea that it will work i remember when jeff bezos bought whole foods i don't know how many years ago that was five or six or four or whatever. He spent billions of dollars to acquire it.

And that day, the stock went up so much. They're like, actually he made money on the transaction the day that it was announced. There obviously are decisions that anyone makes, whether it's buying a home in 2007, all of a sudden, a year later, you're fucked and you have to foreclose on the thing. And it's gone, right? It happens. Some stuff's out of your control. I would say that Deshawn Watson will go down.

is one of the greatest liabilities in the history of business, especially if you're just factoring in like a non-company, just a human being. And it's clearly one of the worst transactions in the history of sports. And it feels like they're stuck with them because the owner, unlike the Broncos, the Broncos ownership wasn't there when the trade was made. Sean Payton comes in.

They let him do whatever. And it's like, yeah, they kind of had a liability too. And Russell Wilson is clearly light years better than the diversion of Deshawn Watson. we've seen the last couple years, but it just wasn't going to work. And why do you want to force something in football that's not going to work? If you hire a coach, if you hire a GM, if I owned a team, like, I would just let them do whatever they wanted to do.

Now, if it didn't work, they would be accountable for it. But part of being an owner, like, I wouldn't want to play GM or I would just name myself the GM. That's part of hiring them. I would be on a boat. I would be on a golf course. Tell me when Sundays are. I wouldn't go to practice.

Practices were boring when I worked in football. If I was an owner, it's like, just do you, man. And I'll pay you a lot of money, whoever the best of the best, I'll give you the resources, get it done. When you meddle, then it fucks with them. And it doesn't, it's like micromanaging in any business. But, like, part of the reason you hire these guys, and the thing with football is, like,

most people don't know what's going on. It's a foreign language. You can't speak their language. You don't know the playbook. You're not around the team. most of these owners aren't in the office every day. So you come in like as a helicopter parent and all of a sudden it's like,

what are you even talking about? And you throw off the equilibrium of any chance it can work. And this is what you get, right? Russell Wilson would have been a problem for Denver because of the mix with the coach. And it wasn't, I'm sure, popular when he broached the idea of like,

yeah, we should cut this player. Like, what? Like, we're going to cut him. It's like, well, we hired you. Okay. You don't think Stefansky and Andrew Berry have thought like, yeah, we should probably bench this player. But clearly it's not in their control. So I feel for them under that element of their job. Okay, before, I think the penthouse is pretty clear, right? We said forever, the chiefs have a loft. They have a giant, giant penthouse. And they are living well.

even though it's very hard on a weekly basis 11 and 1 is 11 and 1 11 and 1. 11 and 1. And I actually heard Sal with Bill Simmons. I thought he brought up a good point. Gambling culture, which I love, I do think has made us look at the Chiefs a little bit different. If this was when I was a kid,

all you'd be saying is like 11 and 1. It's like one of the great starts in NFL history. How does it get any better? The only thing is the way we talk about the Chiefs in 2020, it's like they can't cover a spread. bet against the Chiefs. If you get a large number, hammer the opponent.

It's all we talk about. It's like, they're 11-1. Yeah, it has been difficult. I've said over and over, I probably don't think they're going to win the Super Bowl this year. I think this is probably the time when they lose a playoff game. It happens. Happen to Brady and Belichick, a lot.

But they're going to be in the playoffs. There's a decent chance. We talked about it yesterday. Still could be the number one overall seed. I do think the best team in the AFC right now, which not really debatable, is the Bills. they look pretty special. And I do think it's really, really important for them.

Obviously, and Sean McDermott talked about this, it's out of their control. Think how funny it was. And this is one that I feel pretty happy, that I thought, this is one of the craziest things I've ever seen. About a week before kickoff, when the New York Jets were favored to win the AFC East. I think in all of the gambling discussion

over the last several years, that has to be one of the crazier, visuals I've seen with futures, over unders, Super Bowl odds, MVP odds. One year, Justin Fields' MVP odds were a little crazy. But the Jets were favored over the Buffalo Bills to win the AFC East. The Buffalo Bills clinched the division on December 1st. There are five games. That's fucking insane.

But props to them and they look awesome. I've been saying this. and a lot of people have, it's crazy how great of a season the Lions have had, and it still feels like they're fighting not just for the number one season, for the division.

And I think this week, like, they're in it, they've deserved it. It's been an incredible one run from last year into this year. I do think there's like tangible pressure on them at home with all these injuries against the Packers.

If they are to lose this game, obviously Minnesota is very much in the mix, so is Green Bay. and I'm telling you with all these injuries for the Lions, I would expect Green Bay to look pretty good. If Dan Campbell can win this game against the Packers with these injuries, it might be his most impressive non-playoff victory achievement so far in his short career as a head coach. And obviously the Eagles, who...

Sequin Barclays has really changed their team because it's taken so much pressure off Jalen Hertz and really Nick Siriani. Someone said like Middokov, you were called Siriani an idiot two months ago. Well yeah, it's not like I think Siriani's Bill Belichick.

But his team's 10 and 2. They just went on the road to Baltimore and beat the shit out of them. The final score does not reflect the game we witnessed. They work the Ravens. Like there's no dispute. They look really good.

So yeah. I mean, I said it over and over. Like, if they fired him tomorrow, I don't think he's getting hired this cycle. I don't believe that he is just safe just because they make the playoffs, or even at the one seat. If he were to lose, like, the second round

is the number one overall seed, I don't think he would be a lock to return. We watched the Eagles, and this is why I believed in them coming into the season. One, I like their coordinators. I mean, Fangio is one of the best defensive coordinators in the league, and I think Kellan Moore is good, and clearly he's emphasized

the run more, whether that's the offensive of line who banged down Siriani's door to tell them to do it, whether it's Kellynne Moore evolving, whether it's just we got Sequin Barclay, we might as well feed him the pill. Regardless, it's working. And they're going to be a problem because they have competitive, like, their guys have been in these big moments. AJ Brown, Seekwan Barclay, Devonte, or not Seqwan, actually

Seekwon's been the playoffs for the Giants, but most of the Eagles core guys have. And a lot of their younger players, guess where they play? University of Georgia. Guess what Georgia did? Played in a lot of big fucking games. Won multiple national titles. So these guys are used to a ton of pressure, which is a huge, huge advantage.

And I think the Eagles, man, if I was Howie, I'd be feeling pretty confident. It's just like, Nick, stay out of the way. When it comes to the worst teams in the league, I think there is one team that is on an island. You watch the Jacks. Every time I looked up against the Texans, It felt like they were kind of in the game, even after Trevor Lawrence got knocked out.

We talked about the Raiders on Thanksgiving. Like, they played a pretty good game. They're still trying really, really hard. The Titans did not look good against Washington, but I just find the Titans completely irrelevant right now. I think outside of Nashville, no one even realizes they're in the NFL this season. I do think the Giants are in their own little bucket, partly because it's the franchise,

it's a huge brand, the market, the off-season hard knocks. I saw a clip today. I don't know if this was after the game or last week during a lead-up to the game, but Kavon, Tibado basically said, if you don't make plays,

you're not allowed to speak in our locker room. And then, like, Lawrence Tynes and some other former giants kind of chimed in, like, that's kind of a loser thing to say, right? If you're on the team, your voice should matter. Obviously, you're not leading pregame speeches if you're the seventh guy on special teams kick coverage.

But like, that's a mindset. It feels like they are just completely off. And it is getting uglier by the week. And that Thanksgiving night game when they insert Drew Locke, who is better than DeVito, and honestly, they could have had Carrie Collins or Eli Manning,

back there. That offensive line right now is going to get someone killed. I think if I had to, if I was a betting man right now, I would say the Giants not only do not win a game the rest of the season, but end up with the number one pick. I don't think there is a team that is worse than the New York Giants right now. Dexter Lawrence out for the season. He's the best player on the team by a mile. So right now when you look at, look at the Panthers. We were making fun of them. They were the Port of Pottie Panthers. All of a sudden, Andy Dalton gets in a car accident. Bryce Young comes back.

You watch them like, they look like a real football team. They look like a real football team. You watch the Giants, you're like, this can't be real right now. Listen, even the Jets. The Jets had a 21-7 lead. Now they blew it, and Aaron Rogers falls apart, and he kind of points a finger at other people, but they still had a 21-7 lead.

If you tell me, from this point forward, the Giants do not have another lead in a game, I'd believe you. So I think the giant stand alone in that porta potty, and it's getting smellier by the week. Getting some holiday shopping done this weekend? Pick up some touchdowns. They're on sale at Draft King's Sportsbook,

an official sportsbook partner of the NFL. What else would you expect from the number one place to bet touchdowns? Draft Kings has a door buster, profit boosts, and bet one, get one. one promotions on all type of touchdown bets. Be sure to check the Draft King Sportsbook app all weekend for flash deals that will have you dancing in the end zone. Grab some TDs with Drafking Sportsbook.

They're on sale from Thanksgiving through Cyber Monday. Download the Draft King Sportsbook app. Use the code John to opt in. That's code J-O-H-N only on draft kings. The crown is yours. Gambleing problem call 1-800 gambler. In New York, call 8778 Hope & Y or text Hope in Y 4667369. In Connecticut, help is available for problem gambling.

Call 888-789-777 or visit ccpg.org. Police play responsibly on behalf of Boot Hill Casino and Resort in Kansas. 21 and over. Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario. One bonus bet per customer based on amount of initial touchdown bet and expires 168 hours after issuance. One single-use boost per customer that only applies to winnings. See sportsbook.draftkings.com slash promos for additional terms and responsible gaming resources.

Hey, it's us, the Jonas brothers. And guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, new? 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. 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 I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva, actress, mother, lover, and a Gen X woman walking through life one hot flash and hormonal crying jag at a time. You ladies know what I mean. I'll bet you a paramedo-in-a-pastal chin here you do.

So let's talk about it. Join me on my new podcast. How hard can it be with Deanna Maria Riva, where I call on my GenX squads from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate midlife's most fantastic beef. Yes. All of a sudden, I'd had hanginess happening on my own. I was like, what the hell is that? I was married when I had her, so I didn't even consider how empty that nest was going to be. Mood swings, night sweats, fupas, sex drive.

Wait, what sex? Dating at 45. How can it be getting naked at 50 with a new guy? That one's kind of hard. Well, that's lighting. They say we can't polish a turd, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with laughs, tears, or tears of laughter. and dive into it unfiltered and unbothered and ask,

How Hard Can It Be? I cannot believe I'm about to say this out loud in public. Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Diana Maria Riva as part of My Cultura Podcast Network available on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed.

And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smart. player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows. Without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense.

And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash will get that thing. That man, hell get to fly. He running up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball. Like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick.

Oh, yeah. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is Saigon, the story of my family and of the country that shaped us. The United States will not stand by

and allow any power, however great, take over another country. From My Heart Podcasts, Saigon. Please allow me to introduce Joseph Sherman. You don't think I'm serious about a free Vietnam? I should stop talking so much. I like hearing you talk. One city, a divided country, and the war that tore America apart. This is for Vietnam.

I've taken a hit from Japanese ground fire. They're pouring petrol all over him. He's holding matches. I'm on a landmark. Or freeze! Let's get out! Freedom, Mom, and Nah! Saigon, starring Kelly Marie Tran and Rob Benedict.

Sting, here's madness. The world should hear about this. There's a fire coming to this country, and it's going to burn out everything. Listen to Saigon on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Okay, let's dive into a couple things around the NFL. I saw today that Kevin Warren said that the Bears job would be the most cut. coveted this offseason. So I realized, oh, Kevin Warren was talking, went and watched the Bears press conference. And the one thing that really jumped out to me is it looked like a boss

and his employee, an owner and his employee were up on the dais. One guy was driving while the other road shotgun. And it turns out that the general manager, the guy that Kevin Warren said was in charge of finding the next head coach was riding shotgun. While Kevin Warren, the president, who's in charge of nothing football-wise, want to get a new stadium, that's why they hired Kevin Warren, sell sponsorship, and make the franchise money, like in a lot of organizations, it's split into two, acted like he was essentially the owner. Because at this point in time, it's not really arguable that Kevin Warren is essentially in charge of the Bears.

I've watched a lot of press conferences over the years when a coach is fired, either in season or, you know, in early January or sometime during the playoffs, you know, Black Monday or whenever it happens. Typically what happens if the general manager is kept, it is either an owner by himself giving the press conference, explaining himself, kind of speaking to the fans, or the owner and the GM up there together. And there have been a lot of articles written. I've even referenced some of them.

And listen, I kind of take them at face value. Why? Because I want to. But I've said before, you've got to be very careful with this stuff. Sources, you never know what is actually true. Because I've heard enough stories about articles that are written, talk to people in those buildings. They're like, yeah, that's not really the case.

But the Kevin Warren thing, every article has been pretty consistent. But I've always said, you know, words, Just did any walk of life, I judge you on actions. And when you click on today's Bears press conference, there is no one who could argue who is in charge. And it sure as hell is not Ryan Poles. Honestly, it was a pretty crazy thing to watch. For the first five or six minutes,

Ryan Poles didn't say a word. It was honestly kind of awkward. And here's what's bullshit about this whole thing. And why all these future head coaches would say, most coveted job, while me and Ryan Poles are in the trenches, when things go well, you're going to be standing right next to us. And when things go shitty, you are going to be nowhere to be found and pointing the finger at us. This is why business people, the ones you don't want to be around in this industry, you know, want to act like we're just in charge of the operation when it comes to the stadium, the sponsorship, all that stuff. But when things go well, I'm a part of football.

because it's so easy when things don't go well, I don't have my hands in it at all. And I will say this. There are clearly a lot of crazy owners, right? We're seeing it with Woody Johnson, right? With the New York Jets. We've seen it over the years with a lot of different franchises. But at least you know if you're the coach or the GM,

like, listen, this guy signs my checks. I work for this guy. It's like when you're a kid and your parents are mad at you, and the older you get and you're getting in trouble, whatever. You know that like, well, they provide me a home. They provide me food. They provide me a life. Right. So at the end of the day, you can be frustrated with your parents. You can be frustrated with your owners. You all know they're in charge. I think it gets difficult. And I've been in this situation. I would imagine many people have as well where you have like middle management. You're like,

wait, you're not really in charge, but you kind of control the budget, but not really. I have to ask you, but you ultimately don't have the final decision-making power. You have to go above yourself. It finds yourself in this no-man's land. And I think when you look around the best teams in the NFL, let's start with the Chiefs. They are run by Andy Reid and Brett Veach. When it comes to all things football, look at the Ravens, Eric DeCosta and John Harbaugh. Look at the Steelers, from the Rooney to the GM to Tomlin.

They're all in it together. It's a football operation. go to the NFC, Dan Campbell, Brad Holmes, Goudicens, LaFleur. Right? The Niners suck this year, but for a long time. John Lynch,

Kyle Shanahan, Les Need Sean McVeigh. Howie Roseman and Nick Siriani or Doug Peterson. The business guy, well, he's a part of it and he's friends with everybody, should not be the guy running point on all this stuff. And I thought it was an insestern. visual of Kevin Warren being the complete alpha in that press conference.

There is no one who could watch that and question or even ask, like, I wonder who's in charge. We all know. So all the articles that have been written, which have all pointed the finger of like, Kevin Warren, this is kind of weird, it is what it is. And I think this is a recipe for disaster. If Kevin Warren did not exist, and it was Ryan Poles in the ownership, and whoever I'm going a hire, we're all in it together. I do agree. It would be a very coveted job. Young quarterback, ton of talent. A lot of talent on the roster. Big city, great fan base, a lot of history, awesome

division to play in. But you can't tell me it will be a highly coveted job, especially with an organization that is notoriously cheap, when the guy in charge is a non-football guy who does not own the team. I actually think that is one of the biggest red flags for any team in recent members. You could argue it's a joke and an embarrassment. And if I was a Bears fan, I'd be fucking pissed. Like, what are we doing? The Trevor Lawrence hit. I've said forever, I will not apologize for enjoying violence in football.

And I think most of society agrees with me. We like violence. There's a reason, you know, depending on what numbers you believe, 70, 80, 100 million people watched Mike Tyson versus Jake Paul. We wanted to watch Mike Tyson be violent. There's a reason that UFC over the course of the last 10, 20 years has turned into a billion dollar operation. Humans like watching other humans be violent to each other.

There is no, it goes back to when you're a kid in junior high and high school. When a fight happens, everyone surrounds it and watches. Now, I mean, I grew up in a time. without camera phones and everyone pulls out their phone, a little different, but still, I mean, we're drawn to it. And for most of my life, football was extremely violent. Anyone that played at any level, whether it's peewees, whether it's JV, whether it's varsity, college or pros, there is a feeling you get inside the first day of pads.

When you put on, you're going through tackling drills. I'll never forget being in ninth grade playing JV football thinking like, God, we're hitting today. It's just it's an undescribable feeling that as you get older and you know, most of the violent warfare you conduct is all mental.

Right? Whether it's some sort of negotiation in business. Physical, like you don't really, most human beings aren't fighting as they get in their 30s, 40s and 50s. The only way we kind of live vicariously through it, whether you like UFC, whether you like boxing or football. I understand

once the NFL went through the situation with concussions and CTE and the lawsuits of hundreds of millions of dollars, they tried to cover their ass. So the rules got extreme when it came to protecting the quarterback specifically, partly because those guys are a huge part of the business model. When you turn on a game and it's Bill's Chiefs, having Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes in that game is a really big deal. having backup quarterbacks being forced into action is a problem for the NFL in how they make their money

because ratings start going down it's not as good even if the game is bad and you have star quarterbacks people can live with it i do think we've kind of got to this blurry area of there was a play on thanksgiving where you know earlier this season patrick mahomes against the 49ers had a run where he went to the sideline, fake like he was going to go out of bounds, all the 49ers stopped, and he cut it back and he got more yards. And it's happened countless times, not just him, but in football the last several years. There was a famous play several years ago of Kenny Pickett when he was in college, breaking a run, pretending to slide, the defender stops, and he keeps going and he scores a touchdown.

Well, Caleb Williams on Thursday was going out of bounds, and the defender was leaping to hit him. Now, he probably would have got out of bounds, might not have touched him. And I don't know if Caleb knew that he was going to jump and thought maybe he might stop and look to cut it back and ended up getting blasted.

And it was 100% on Caleb Williams. And I think when you watch Trevor Lawrence, and this is a bad example because Al Shire, who destroys Trevor Lawrence, knocked him out and then created a huge brawl. And D'Amico got me. mad that's saying that like, you know, the Jags attacked him. Like, it's part of what you do when your quarterback gets destroyed.

I do think it's a very slippery slope with these guys in the open field. And if you watch the hit in slow motion, Alshire basically takes off right as Trevor Lawrence is about to start his slide. These situations are very bang, bang. And he didn't hit him in the head. He didn't get flag for targeting. Why? He didn't target him.

He hit him in the shoulder. Now, the impact he had, and you obviously are not supposed to hit anybody when they're in their slide, forced his body back and it cracked his head on the grass and concussed him, knocked him out. But I just think big picture, the defensive players in the NFL are at such a big disadvantage. And the offensive players are starting to take advantage of it. You know, Brady went on this rant a couple years ago about quarterback play. and everyone freaked out, like he's just a bitter old man. No, back in the day, if you made a bad pass,

your wide receiver was going to the hospital. That's why they called it a hospital ball. Last year, Gardner Minchew got Michael Pittman killed. No one talked about Gardner Minchu, though, and the defender got suspended for the season. And I think that I get it, and if I was in the NFL shoes, I would do everything to protect the paycheck.

But one half of this sport is getting completely railroaded. And I don't know what they're supposed to do. Because their job is to literally tackle people. And when the quarterback runs outside the tackle box, he becomes like a wide receiver or a running back. Yet he's treated completely different. And it'd be one thing if like, well, Tom Brady runs like a 5, 540. It's like just pull up.

Trevor Lawrence is a big-time athlete in the open field. I think he runs like a 4-6. Running in his legs are a big part of his game. He's also not some tiny dude. The guy's 6'225 pounds. So I don't have an answer to this. I just think we go so hard one way. It's like, I don't know.

I've always defended the defensive players on this. I'm not sure what they're supposed to do. It happens whenever you see a quarterback slammed into the ground. It's like he put his weight on him. It's like, well, the guy weighs 320 pounds. Once he starts tackling him, what's he supposed to do? Float away?

He's not Superman. I just think that it's only going to get worse. And here's another big picture problem. These guys, the quarterbacks, get paid exponentially more money than 90% of the guys on the field. There's only a couple guys even remotely close. Trevor Lawrence makes $200 million a year. $200, or not a year, but $200 million plus contract. Who's the highest paid guy in the Texans?

Like the Neil Hunter with a $48 million contract? So it's like these guys are in a different stratosphere. Yet they don't have much risk. I get paid all the money. If I'm Trevor Lawrence, I didn't have to play well. And I really don't risk anything. Because you're not allowed to touch me. And if you do screw up, you're making way less.

I'm going to suspend you. I'm going to suspend you without pay. Hell, I might kick you out of league. I just think it's starting to get a little out of whack and it's been like that for a while. And it's only going to get worse because the league will do everything in their power to protect the product,

which in their mind starts with the quarterback. And listen, you can't disagree and say that's one of the most malicious hits you'll ever see. Obviously, it doesn't look good. But I think before everyone just goes, kick him out of the league. he's we see this a lot man i think these are a little more bang bang than we realize while we're sitting on the couch eating pretzels and drinking a coke zero uh and last but not least sark

and ryan day two guys that i've been uh i've talked a lot about over the years and obviously ryan day is front and center right now he just lost what many would consider the worst game we've ever seen in our entire lives. I think he was, I think depending, you know, draft kings, I didn't see it where it closed, like 22 and a half, 23 points. It wasn't just that he was a three plus touchdown favorite. It's that you couldn't find a soul who watches football. Biggest Michigan fan, you could have found people's parents from Michigan's team that would

have been, yeah, we're going to lose this game. Like, it's whatever. I mean, we'll just, as long as we play him close for a half, it'd be commendable. that would have picked the Wolverines. No one gave them a shot, probably beside the players and the coach. To lose that game is something that you'll never shake. And I was thinking about this today

because it goes back to Harbaugh's comment about being born on third base. Let's use Steve Sarkeesian, who over the years, you know, I thought was pretty overrated. He just never really won. And then last year, took his team to the playoffs.

And honestly, you know, pretty valiant effort against Washington. And then this year, first year in the SEC was the regular season champion and obviously is in the SEC championship game with a chance, you know, probably to be the two seed in the upcoming playoff. Had a fantastic year. Well, Sark, before he got the Texas job,

was the offensive coordinator for one of the most famous teams of my life, the U.S. E. Trojans. then goes to Washington well, you know, we could argue how well it actually went, was winning seven and eight games a lot, but took over a really shitty program,

and then went to USC and flamed out. But at least he was a head coach. Then he had to go resurrect his career with Nick Sabin and the Atlanta Falcons before he became the head coach of the Texas Longhombers. Ryan Day had never called place until he worked for Urban Meyer in like 2017 and 2018.

And then when Urban just taps out, essentially hands him the job. So you look at the Texas and Ohio State, which most people would consider two of the top, three or four jobs in the country. One guy's resume looks completely different than the other guy's resume. But you go, listen, these are both offensive gurus.

Only one of them calls place. And when I was at the Red River game, and I've watched a lot of Texas games the last couple years, like probably many of you because they're playing in big-ass games. When it's Texas on offense, Sark is dialed, no different than if he was Matt LaFleur, Sean McVeigh, Kyle Shanahan, Ben Johnson. He's the offensive coordinator. He is the guy calling the offense.

The offense, the quarterback, the skill guy, that's his baby. And he controls it. And he has way more experience doing this because he's been doing it for 20 plus years than Ryan Day. Yet Ryan Day, at 45 years old, who five years younger than Sark, somehow just became a CEO. It's like, I'm just going to have other people do the jobs and I'm just going to be the boss. In what world did he qualify to be the CEO? We could argue all day long should he be the head coach or should he not. He definitely should be calling the, if you're going to hire Ryan Day to be your head coach,

I don't want him just like, hey, I know your buddy hates being the head coach at UCLA. and wants essentially a golden parachute where he doesn't have to do dick, he doesn't have to recruit, he just wants to call some plays. It's like, is that a good idea? Would Steve Sarkozy have done that? Would Nick Saban have done that?

Like, when you just factor in how Chip Kelly ends up there and the reasoning behind it, a little questionable. And I think we have to go back to the route is like, Ryan, why aren't you calling the place? Part of being a CEO, and we have a lot of them,

whether it being college football or the NFL, kind of tough guys. Dan Campbell, Nick Saban, Kirby Smart, Jim Harbaugh, Mike Tomlin. Like, these fucking guys are leaders. Follow me to freedom,

as Charlie Steiner once said on the ESPN Sports Center commercial. And you're like, show me where to start walking. You lead the way, big guy. Ryan Day does not exactly scream, Leader of Men. Honestly, neither is Sark.

But what Sark? does really well is because they have a huge budget we can hire top coaches all call the offense will buy sweet players and i'll just try to give a consistent message yet ryan day somehow thinks he's jim harbaugh where his teams consistently show extremely soft and it's like well who actually called the plays was a chipper ryan day when you watch texas and they look shitty on offense you know exactly who's in control of same thing with old miss and lane kiffin same thing with lincoln and Riley and USC. Part of the reason I'm hiring you

is because of your offensive mind. Not just to hand some $2 million a year job to your former head coach back at some tiny little school in the Northeast who's just over at all who wants to keep cashing checks. And like I said, like people think I'm some bitter

asshole, I don't give a fuck. Best thing that ever happened to me was actually leaving the football business and doing this. Financially, personally, my whole, there's nothing that I would do over again. but I think we have to acknowledge Chip Kelly has not been good at his job

in close to a decade now and if in any other situation some of these other people would be like how is this happening? Why aren't you calling the place? In what world on your resume does it say

this guy can control it all? The program obviously has regressed and I would say he is he's in major trouble because you don't ever shake that game. You don't ever shake that visual of them planting the flag

and you standing there like a deer in the headlights because you're in shock because you had previously said during the week we can't ever lose to these guys again ever. It can never happen. And then you did. And they ran all over your field.

Try to plant a flag into turf that doesn't actually work and you guys embarrassed yourself. and it starts with you, the CEO, who somehow 45 years old, I don't know where you acquired these skills, but you clearly lack them. 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. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band. Before Jonas Brothers was... 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, where people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, 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 I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva, actress, mother, lover, and a Gen X woman walking through life one hot flash and hormonal crying jag at a time. You ladies know what I mean. I'll bet you a perimenaposal chin here you do. So let's talk about it. Join me on my new podcast.

How hard can it be with Deanna Maria Riva, where I call on my Gen X squads from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate midlife's most fantastic BS. All of a sudden I'd had hanginess happening on my own. I was like, what the hell is that? I was married when I had her, so I didn't even consider how empty that Ness was going to be. Mood swings, night sweats, fupas, sex drive. Wait, what sex? Dating at 45. How can it be getting naked at 50 with the new guy? That one's kind of hard. Well, that's lighting. They say we can't polish a turd, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with Laf's tea. or tears of laughter and dive into it unfiltered and unbothered and ask, how hard can it be?

I cannot believe I'm about to say this out loud in public. Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Diana Maria Riva as part of My Cultura podcast network available on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defining the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what.

He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows. Without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid.

He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash will get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers while he got the ball, like,

after you go through a training camp with that, I said, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is Saigon, the story of my family, and of the country that shaped us.

The United States will not. stand by and allow any power however great take over another country from iHeart podcasts Saigon please allow me to introduce Joseph Sherman you don't think I'm serious about a free Vietnam I should stop talking so much I like hearing you talk one city a divided country and the war that tore America apart this is for Vietnam I've taken a hit from Japanese ground fire do you rate they're pouring petrol all over him he's holding matches I'm on a landmine.

Or three, die. Let's get out. Freedom, Mom, hit. Ah! Run! Saigon, starring Kelly Marie Tran and Rob Benedict. Sting, here's madness. The world should hear about this.

There's a fire coming to this country, and it's going to burn out everything. Listen to Saigon on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Okay, let's dive into a little thing we like to call the Middlecough mailbag at John Middilkoff is the Instagram. fire in those DMs and get your questions answered here on the show. Just my name at John Middlkoff. Fire in those DMs, questions here on the show. Now that McCaffrey has sustained another serious injury, what are your thoughts about transitioning him from running back

to full-time slot receiver? He's had an amazing career, has outperformed all expectations, but his draft day size and durability concerns are coming to a head. I think at best he has two to three solid seasons at running back, but I believe he could be a top-end slot receiver for another five plus years. It's a good question.

I guess I would say this. The reason he missed all of training camp and then missed the majority of the season were these Achilles injuries. And he made some comments getting mad at like Twitter doctors for guessing about his injuries or people on TV. I don't think it's really debatable that it's pretty serious that whether you're a doctor

or not a doctor, you know, that is not normal. To have both Achilles cause problems, not be able to practice, miss all of training camp, miss half the season. When you're a guy who's already been injured a lot, like I think that's pretty concerning. And I think if the Niners knew what they

know now, I'm talking before this knee injury, they would not have given him a big extension, which I thought he had earned. Right? Because this guy had become, had just resurrected his career, was fully healthy, was durable. Then they give him, like, this extension, add a bunch of money because he's, quote, unquote,

underpaid. And then his legs just go out on him. Now, did him and his agent know that before they signed the contract? I don't know. But it's a major problem now for the 49ers. He's obviously on injured reserve. He's out for the season. And that's not even his Achilles.

If I would have told you a month ago that McCaffrey would come back and then he would get injured and he'd be out for the season. I think we'd all say that I bet his Achilles ripped. Now it's a knee injury. It's pretty concerning. So before you can worry about slot receiver, running back, we got to figure out are his legs betraying him?

Which, it's not anyone's fault. It's just wear and tear. I don't know. But is the Achilles thing just gone? He showed some life last night of looking like himself again before he got injured. But was that a byproduct of the snow and everyone on defense basically moving at half speed?

I don't know. And now we won't know the answer. And I think coming this off-season, there are a ton of question marks when it comes to McCaffrey's health. So I think before you can think of a slot receiver move, it's like, well, what about his legs? Or is Achilles just healed now?

Is this an issue that's not going to take place? I hope. But if you move into a wide receiver, it would still be a problem if it's not completely gone. What do you think the Niners should do if they don't pay Purdy? Who's accomplished more than many already? who said that they have to pay him now he still has another year of his contract

yes he's accomplished a lot this year was pretty concerning and I would have no problem giving him like the Daniel Jones Kirk Cousins contract but I cannot give him Trevor Lawrence contract I can't do it as we sit here today that's just bad business there's no way anyone could argue otherwise

that'd be that'd be very very, it'd be extremely risky. And it feels like the risk side would outweigh the potential success side based on the information we have right now. I've always, even last year coming into the season like, wait, this guy's, you're going to pay him the same as Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, and Lamar Jackson. He definitely deserves a race. No one argues that.

But at what? Like, and at the end of the day, this business. So like, can I pay you $30 million? a year? I've said forever, why does everyone just automatically get the max? Because if you have Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson or Patrick Mahomes or Justin Herbert, yeah, you feel pretty good. But if you have the next tier guys and I got to pay them the same as that guy, like it's not ideal. There's a reason different size homes cost different amounts of money. Yet when it comes to quarterbacks, like, every guy just gets $40, $50 million.

Oh, fuck. can we take a deep breath? That's my thing. Can we just take a deep breath? I'm not opposed to paying him money. But I cannot pay him the money that some of these other guys have gotten based on the information that I have right now.

Because it's like, wait, he's going to get the same contract, Josh Allen. I've seen these guys on the same field and it's like one guy's in a different universe. Well, of course he is. Josh Allen's way better. But I got to pay this guy the same just because he plays the same position. Can I pay him to? $28 million a year?

I don't see why that's not an option. After the draft, I claimed that if Howie Roseman had picks number one and two, overall in the draft, that he might have taken Mitchell and Cooper to Jean, you countered that Howie would have probably taken Alt. I don't think

you were necessarily wrong, but I do think it worked out quite well for the Burs. Those two rookies have outpaced my hope so far. And while it would be nice, to have Joe Alt in the trenches, we had desperation need in the secondary.

If this team can figure out how to play offense in the first quarter, I don't see how they can lose the rest of the year. Love the show. I think if he had the number one and number two overall pick, I think you're right, he probably would have used one of the picks.

If he knows what he knows now, he would have taken Mitchell with one of the two because he has a superstar corner for the next decade, ideally. I think it would be between Alt and probably like a Jaredverse. He would take someone in the trenches over Dejean, who's awesome. But you're not going to take a slot corner when I could get Lane Johnson's replacement or Brandon Graham's replacement. But those two guys have helped transition the Eagles big time.

I mean, their off-season is paying dividends right now. Zach Vaughn is, I don't know, one of the best off-season signings. Obviously, Seekwon might win the MVP. Fangio and Kellyn Moore are crushing. The draft picks look awesome. It's going pretty well. It's going pretty well. There's going to be a lot of talk this week about Lawrence.

To me, these quarterbacks have been spoiled, playing touch football their whole lives. They've never faced repercussions for it. They manipulate the sidelines, and defenders are scared to touch them because the quarterback will flop and draw a penalty. We see this with Mahomes every week. I see a lot of people saying Jackson, is a top 10 quarterback all the time. And to me, these guys need to be graded on a curve

because they basically play football on easy mode. It's disrespectful moving these modern guys past all the older quarterbacks that had the rule stacked against them. Many quarterbacks like Montana, Aikman had to retire early because they were so beat down. This same play on Lawrence yesterday would have been celebrated as the hit of the year in 1988.

In my opinion, quarterback should be allowed to be hit on the sideline. It's too close with these calls, and it allows them to pick up extra yards and first downs. I say they should have to be all the way passed outside part of the white line for it to be a penalty. That would fix a lot of these problems. You see, in this old play, the quarterback weaves in and out, indecisive, and wants to get out of bounds, or not, he pays the price, no flag. I hear you. I mean, we talked about it on the podcast. it's just there's a fine line

and the quarterbacks have all the advantages in the world from the amount of money they're making to the rules on their side to no one's allowed to touch them and I think when you manipulate the sideline that's fucking egregious and if you manipulate the sideline you should be penalized 15 yards

and when you run in the open field like I'm sorry you shouldn't get treated special. When you run outside the tackle box, you should be treated like an offensive player. Like a running back would, like a wide receiver would. If you choose to run, that's on you.

Which I'm all for. I want an athletic quarterback, but I would always preach, like, we slide and we slide extra early. We are sliding five yards before you even get close to the defender. And these guys, like, want their cake and eat it too. and they get right up against it. And it's created,

you know, it's just a big problem for the defensive players. I feel bad for them. I really do. Why would Minnesota care about Darnold's Market instead of doing the Kirk Cousins and franchise them once or twice? I mean, they easily could. Why I would extend them, like,

what if you just want to keep him? What if you think he's just good? and you want them to be your starting quarterback. Like, that's what I would entertain. Like, can you just consistently win with this guy for the next three or four years? And I think that would have to be at play. So I would imagine franchising them is on the table. I would imagine, like, how much can we extend this guy for?

What is the number? Would have to be on the table as well. I'm curious. What's the appeal to be a head coach if you're an elite, coordinator. Obviously more money, but if you're a guy like Ben Johnson, why move from where you are now, which could be the next dynasty? As a Ravens fan, we miss Mike McDonald, dearly, and can only imagine what we'd look like with him still as the coordinator. Maybe an actual Super Bowl team. Well, I think you get to a point where you would just like to sit at the head of the table.

You just want to be in charge, right? Any single guy, listen. listening to this if you've been in a relationship where it's just like yeah we're kind of sleeping together nothing serious no titles it there comes to a point where it's like are we going to make this happen or not like are we going to be dating are we going to be exclusive and i think it's like that with a with a coach it's like i want to try it i want to see if i have what it takes like ben jonsonsons proven he's an elite defensive or an offensive coordinator mike mcdonald prove that with defense it's like can i be the head guy Can I be the guy making all the decisions?

Can I be the guy put together a staff and leading the troops? Because it's the easy way out, in a weird way. You know, obviously some guys, like Vic Fangio's proven, like he's more of a defensive coordinator. But I always understand guys wanting to take their shot. Like, can I do this? And then there's the financial aspect of, well, if I'm making $2 million to be an offensive coordinator,

or well, they'll pay me 10 to be the head coach. Or if I'm Ben Johnson, I'm making three or four, they'll pay me 14 to be the head coach. I mean, that's, money's all relative, right? If you're making 100 grand, like, hey, a little more responsibility here, but how about making 900 grand? And you get to be the boss.

Like, we're all human beings. And, you know, in competitive industries like football, like finance, like a lot of these, people, these are alphas, aggressive people, big egos, uh, and they, you know, they're risk takers. They're risk takers. So I think that plays a part in it. And I think they get to a point where they go,

let's put all of our chips in the middle of the table. Uh, lifelong diehard cheesehead who lives in northern Michigan. As the crow flies, I actually live closer to Lambo than I do Detroit. getting pretty tired of Lions fans who act like they've already won the Super Bowl. To me, the season just started. Lions fans are starting to turn into Bengals fans. I've said since the beginning of the year, I think these two teams will play three times when it's all said and done.

I don't put too much stock into the upcoming game this week. Also, I've never been worried about Jordan Love. He reminds me of a version of Josh Allen for last. of a better term. People forget Josh Allen was not polished straight out of college and took the bills a year or two of starting him and refining him. Up until a couple years ago, we were having the same conversations about the I&Ts that we're having with Jordan Love. Needs to clean them up, obviously, but it's just the timing within the game and when he's throwing them. I still feel confident in LaFleur and this time ready to compete with anyone in January.

go pack go well trust me i mean you guys are alive i think you guys are like seven to one to win the division and if you win this week it's it's right there for you it really is and you guys are built like a dome team so that speed you have on offense translates and their defense their front seven is just obliterated so i hear you the lions have not won anything yet now if they were healthy, they would be my clear pick to win the Super Bowl. Definitely the NFC. But the injuries have taken a toll. And yeah, man, I don't know what to tell you, but good luck because I think it's right

there on the table. And I bet Lions fans are a little nervous right now, given that they have no separation. It's not like they got three-game lead heading into December. They got a one-game lead over Minnesota. They got a two-game lead over you, and they got half their teams on the shelf. My name is Alex. Like you, I'm a part of the bald community.

I'm from SoCal and have enjoyed your takes. I'm 29. I've been thinking about getting into podcasting. I've been saying for months that if Ryan Day shit the bed this year against Michigan and or during the playoffs, Vrable would be the next head coach. I'm not sure how locked in you are on college football circuit, but do you think there is a strong chance of that happening? I don't have a dog in the fight,

but I've been watching Michigan for the past five years, hoping the Chargers would sign them. So they've been my second favorite college team. I don't think any coach who has NFL options would take a college job. Now, Ohio State is like a pseudo-NFL job. It pays a shitload of money. It has unlimited resources.

It's a great gig. You get to control everything, but it's still not as good as a job. an NFL head coaching job. So to me, I have a hard time seeing Mike Vrable, who I would imagine is going to get a ton of interviews and have a very, very good chance of being offered NFL jobs taking the Ohio State job.

Now, he's an Ohio State guy, he's an Ohio State legend, he obviously coached the program under Urban Meyer. I would be stunned. I really would. Now, what if he gets $100 million offer? Obviously, they got a lot of money to throw at him. And he probably wouldn't get a $100 million offer in the NFL, right? Sean Payton got five years, $90 million.

He's Super Bowl champ. I don't see Vrable getting that, but would Vrable take $50, $60 million over $100 million from Ohio State? I think he would. Because dealing with NIL, the transfer portal, like in the NFL, like, people are either under contract or they're not. Right? you it's just so much and Brable now has been an NFL guy coach for the Texans

been the head coach of the Titans forever is very comfortable in that environment it's an easier environment the football is more intense because it's harder right at Ohio State he would be favored in every game of the year

probably maybe every year maybe one game he's an underdog but even this year I think Ohio State was favored in every game because they were favored at Oregon. Obviously they were favored in Michigan. So even the two games they lost, they were favored. I have a hard time seeing him going to college.

I'd be stunned, to be honest with you. Long for Lorne Steeler fan, who has slowed down the fire Mike Tomlin rhetoric this season. A year ago, Stucky came on your show ahead of the Eagles' Bills game. The Eagles were 10 and 1 and the Bills were 6 and 6. He said that statistically the Eagles were the luckiest team in the league and the bills were the most unlucky.

The bills beat the Eagles that week and never looked back the rest of the year and the Eagles floundered, reminiscent of the 11-0-2020 Pittsburgh Steelers. Do you put the 24 chiefs in the same boat as the 23 Eagles? Who would be this year's 23 bills, Unlucky but improving. Bengals maybe. No, because, like, I don't think the Chiefs are going to win the Super Bowl this year. I don't even think they're going to represent the AFC.

But they have a championship culture, a championship quarterback, and a championship coach. So part of winning these crazy games, like, they don't have the talent that the Eagles had last year. They have no offensive pieces. Pacheco came back. Kelsey's old. But, like, the Chief just aren't going to win. this year because they're probably not good enough. They've had a bunch of injuries, run out of steam. The Eagles, I'm not quite sure how you would describe what happened last year. I mean, they

fired half their staff. Andy Reid's not going to do that. And they've won a lot of these games because of just culture and just some people would say the refs. I would just say mental fortitude. But yeah, I mean, I kind of expect them, you know, if they get the number one seed, I definitely thing they could lose that second round. If they are not the one seed and have to play in the first and second round, like, probably going to lose one of those games. And there's nothing to be

ashamed of. It's still one of the greatest runs, and they would only retool and restock this offseason. But I view the franchise as different, like under Siriani, the coach who had to get rid of a bunch of coaches.

Andy Reid won't do that. I would say a team that could get hot. I do think the Packers are coming. And if the Packers win Thursday, I think watch out. Yeah, I don't know if there's a, there's not a team that's like 500 that has Josh Allen. And the Ravens have a lot of issues going on. So I don't think there is a team. That Bill's situation was kind of unique. I mean, Josh Allen's probably going to win the MVP this year. So when you have an MVP level guy and you're 6 and 6, they also benefited because the division they played in,

the dolphins fall apart in the cold, but clearly you watch the Bengals against the sealers. I mean, they're not that team. To me, the Rams, who are 6 and 6 as well, a lot of issues. Some are just off with their offense. Cardinals not good enough. Seattle, end of the day, Gino's their quarterback. So, yeah, I guess it's a long-winded way of saying,

I don't know if we have a 6-and-6 bills. currently in the NFL. Appreciate everyone listening. Adios. Talk to you soon. 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 get to ask other 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. 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 I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, it's Edwin Castro, also known as Castro 1021.

And I'm Kunky, his best friend and business manager. And we've got a new show called The 1021 Podcast. I'm taking you behind the scenes on how I became one of Twitch's most popular streamers. We also love sports. And with the World Cup right around the corner, we'll be breaking down the biggest storylines ahead of the big tournament here in the USA. Listen to the 1021 podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The story I've told myself can then shape my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole, this podcast is for you to hear more. Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network

on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you already know there's a lot to break down. Gorsha accusing Kelly of sleeping with a merry man. They holding Kay Michelle back from fighting Drew. Pinky has financial issues.

On the podcast, Reality with the King, I, Carlos King, recap the biggest moments from your favorite reality shows, including the Real House Wise franchise, the drama, the alliances, M&T, everybody's talking about. To hear this and more, listen to Reality with the King on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHart podcast, guaranteed human.