The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 & Out - Burrow and the Bengals stay alive, and Lamar and the Ravens cruise by the Browns

Episode Date: January 5, 2025

John reacts to the two Saturday games, first by diving into the Bengals massive win over the Steelers as their playoff hopes stay alive heading into the final day of the regular season. Next John talks about the Ravens 25 point win over the Bengals, but the biggest story from the game, Flowers' injury and how that could impact the Ravens heading into the playoffs. Follow John on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for the latest. Check out Gametime - the fastest growing ticketing app in the US, and the official ticketing app of 3 & Out and GoLow -  for tickets to all of your favorite NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA teams. Concert and comedy show tickets, too. Go to Gametime now to create an account, download the app and use code JOHN for $20 off your first purchase. #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where SportsSlice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

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The Cincinnati Bengals, stay alive. And game was a lot closer, at least at the end, than the game we witnessed for about 85% of it. The Pittsburgh Steelers lose again. you talk about a team leaking serious oil. Russell Wilson, mostly atrocious, but has a good drive in the middle of the fourth quarter, and then who knows what the hell happened there at the end of the game.

We'll dive into everything, because there's a lot going on in that game. Unlike the early game, it meant nothing. There is not one play besides Dave Flowers getting injured in that game that we are going to discuss here, but we will talk some big picture stuff when it comes. to the Ravens and when it comes to the Browns, in terms of this offseason. And then I think there was a story yesterday, I was Rable interviewed with the Jets, so we could hit on that really quick as well.

But obviously the headliner is the Cincinnati Bengals, five straight games to just give their season a chance. Now, two was out, so Miami could easily lose to the Jets, who Rogers could be his last game. And, you know, the Chief's plane was on the tarmac for hours. I just, on social media, probably within the last hour, they landed in Denver. Carson Wentz is playing, big underdog, but who knows? I mean, week 18, she could get weird. So we'll dive into it all. Saturday, watching the little NFL football, enjoying ourselves. But before we dive into some football, you know I've got to tell you about my friends, my partners, and the official ticketing app of this podcast game time. Do you want to go to a game? Are you a Notre Dame fan? Do you want to go to

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Feeling a lot better than Pittsburgh Steelers fans. And Bengal fans, well, I would say you're alive for at least. I'm recording this about 920 Mountain Time. I think you got, I don't know, 25% chance, but at least you could hold your head high, you went 9 and 8. I do think the story of this game, and I really think it was represented today, is like if you're the Browns

and you have this $230 million DeShon Watson problem, and you're the Steelers and you have no quarterback, what are you supposed to do against Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrell? it's not a fair fight. I mean, tonight was honestly kind of a joke. At one point in time, I think before his only good drive of the game, Russell Wilson was like 5 of 12 for 50 yards. At the same time, Burrell was like 30 of 36 for 250 yards,

slinging it all around. And for a large portion of that, T. Higgins was on the sideline. Like, what are we watching? To me, listen, the Steelers, defense, that's what we do. Defense of lines great. T.J. Wok got banged up. Your defensive line's good. Your front is awesome.

You got a ton of guys that every team in the league would want and clearly one of the best when he's on the field. Secondary, leaking serious oil. Linebackers, not quite what they once were. But your offense is a joke. And I tweeted this out, and I've been thinking this, just watching this, that game play out. out like if college football the way the committee works in college football we did that for the

NFL right you give a couple buys and then everyone else is either picked and at large you have to like be picked for a spot the Pittsburgh Steelers would not be in the playoffs this season while once had high hopes and everyone it wasn't that long ago when people were like are they going to give Russell Wilson the Baker Mayfield contract would they even want Russell Wilson back for like $10 million? What was that at the end of the game? Like part of Russell Wilson at this point, you got a guy that's 34, 35 years old,

who's been in the league forever. And you got one time out, you got a chance to drive down the field, you got the best kicker this year in the NFL, and win the game. Even though you look like shit the majority of it, listen, black and white league, you win or you lose.

So if you win that game 20 to 19, No one's going to care how crappy you look. You win 11 games. You knock the Bengals out. At home would have been a big deal. All about results. Right? And he takes off on second down.

Maybe it was first down. And there's not much time left. They only got one timeout. And he just runs right into the defender. And Mike Tomlin's just looking. It's like, Mike, you have to call a timeout here. I know you only got one. But he just got tackled in the defender.

I get it. I'm shocked too. It was one of the craziest plays we've seen in weeks. Like Russell, you just got to throw that ball away, stop the clock. But Russell takes off, games basically nothing, gets tackled, comes right back to the huddle, rushes, and then get sacked. That is a double whammy combination of Russell Wilson, what the hell are you doing? And Mike, bro, you got to stop this madness and call time out. And neither thing happened. And it kind of just imploded. And it was a tough watch. It really was. Like, this is how your season is going to end? It's crazy that you're even in this position.

And part of it was some randomness, right? It took a ball hitting off a dude's foot, and Hayward's brother made a great play. They got a field goal out of it. Obviously, there was some madness at the end of the first half. It was like Austin fumbled, then Burrow throw a pick, and then the Steelers got stuffed on fourth down. That was all in like the span of 20 seconds of game time. It was like, this is.

bananas. This is wild. What is happening? Unless this would happen sometimes in divisional games. But like does anyone, like this Pittsburgh Steeler team is no different than all these other teams that we just keep hearing about on television. Haven't made the, haven't won a playoff game since 2016.

It's like the same thing over and over. And now they're clearly going nowhere. Like they have, they don't have any quarterbacks under contract after this year. They can't resign this player. You cannot resign Russell Wilson to anything of value. If you want to give them like five, seven million to be a bridge quarterback.

I guess you can live with that. I don't really know what your options are. But think how crazy it is that not that long ago that they were talking like, oh yeah, give him like a three-year $110 million contract. You watched him against Joe Burrow would be like going to a high school game where one kid's going to like Texas or Ohio State

and the other guy is just going to college, just study and never going to play organized football again in his life. That's what it looked like tonight. And that's what the offenses look like tonight. Because, and listen, T. Higgins goes out of the game. They're just a one-man band. I mean, he's just slinging it to Jamar Chase over and over, rightfully so. I mean, Jamar Chase is as dominant of a player as you can find in this league right now, non-quarterback.

But this gets back to the big picture. Like, if you're the Steelers or you're the Browns, obviously the Steelers, as long as they have Mike Tomlin, are just going to have winning records because it's just kind of what they do. It's kind of the ethos as a franchise. Like, it's no longer that impressive anymore. Okay, you went 10 and 7. What are you going to be assuming the Chargers win tomorrow? Eight point underdog next week against the Ravens.

Is any human being not associated with the Steelers? And I don't mean Steelers fans because most Steelers fans won't expect them to win that game either. I'm just saying like anyone on television or anyone, you know, that talks about football that's not like a former Steeler going to pick the Steelers? Because in what world would you pick the Steelers against the Ravens? We just saw him play a couple weeks ago and it wasn't even a fair fight. Honestly, tonight, 19 to 7 going into the fourth quarter did not feel like a fair fight. And let's face it, like, for as fun as this Bangle story is, like, they're not that good.

They have an unreal quarterback who honestly is like this, like his generation's version of Andrew Luck, they play very, very similar. They're just elite players who never give up on plays and are just pure badasses, but God, they take a lot of hits. and sometimes, you know, luck's bigger than Burrow. But that one time tonight when Hayward and like two other guys all hit Burrow at the same time and drove him into the ground, you're like, Joe, you just got to try to avoid some of these acts. But that's also what makes him such a brilliant player. But this conversation going, should the Chiefs want to avoid,

Chiefs have a buy next week. The Bengals would have to play the Bills, where they would be, I don't know, a six-point dog. Let's not act. Obviously their quarterback is outstanding. Now Higgins is hurt. They are not some like juggernaut team. Hell, on their five game winning streak,

they should have lost one of those games. We all witnessed it. It was the Dallas Cowboy game where the dude on special teams made a moronic choice and touched the football. So let's not act like this is the Ravens, the Chiefs, the Lions, or the Vikings right here. Excellent quarterback. Coaching can be a little iffy.

Defense definitely can be a little iffy. But they played a bad time. team. They played a team that's going to end up, obviously they won 10 games this season, who feels more like a six or seven win team right now. And this stretch of games that they've just played has not been very fun to watch. Eagles game was not close. Ravens game was not close. Chiefs game was by far to me the ugliest. And tonight was, I mean part of it was the weather. It was freezing cold. You're down 19 to 7 with a quarterback throwing for, sub 65 yards

you can't win like that and there are plays tonight like and I get it the way your defense works I don't pretend to be you know Belichick here but how many times down the stretch of that football game was Joey Porter Jr. Like why isn't he following once Higgins is out of the game like

he would just be on chase the whole time it's like not what we do it's not our scheme what should be what you do figure it the fuck out how do you make that part of what you do because if it's not part of what you do. Every time you get number one on anyone that's not number 24, you're at a huge disadvantage. Like, you haven't covered anyone in a month. I don't get it. I get Tom and looks freezing cold on the sideline. But what is going on? That was, that was a terrible watch. It really, the Steelers are

a terrible watch. They're an awful watch. We watch two games a day. I get it. The famous, you know, the brand, the fans. It's a cool place to watch a game be played. But, I'm glad they're going to be gone next week because they're just not an entertaining team at all. And really their only offense for the most part is just Russell throwing these go balls. It's not a sustainable way to play. And it's been their problem now for a month

as they've played better teams. You watch the Bengals, their passing game is just, I don't know, well-rounded. They can throw every single route in the route tree to their wide receivers and tight ends. And for Russell Wilson, anytime he throws to these wide receivers, it's just outside the numbers. Let it rip. It's like, that's not really going to work.

I don't know how cold it was tonight there, but it clearly was not warm. Like, that's not a sustainable way to play. Back in their heyday, when Tomlin's best teams, it's not how Big Ben, it's not saying you can't push the ball down the field every once in a while. But, like, that's, it's not going to work. You watch Lamar Jackson and you watch Joe Burroughs. like they make all the throws. You need a quick game. You need to go over the middle of the field.

You need a roll out. You want to hit a bomb. We'll do it all. That's like what I said. You watch two guys. If this was high school football, one guy's going to Ohio State, the other guy's going to Georgia,

and other two guys, I mean, clearly the Browns are a joke. But Russell Wilson, one of the most famous players the last decade in the NFL, I mean, just looks like a guy. He just looks like a guy. And it's gotten dramatically worse

or less, I don't know, and I would say functional as the weather is turned and it got a lot colder. And they just run the ball, you know, up the middle. And I think the Bengals, to me, the game that I won't get over if I'm a Bengal fan would be the first time we played the Ravens. And we had multiple double-digit leads in the second half. Actually, I think the fourth quarter. And Burrow and Chase were just men amongst boys and Lamar and that.

Ravens team just pulled play after play out of their ass. But that's got to be the game. And I think it's a long time ago now, but went to overtime. I remember at the time it was like, is this the game of the decade? I mean, it was an incredibly entertaining game. But that's the game if you're a Ravens fan. Like, I don't know how we lost that.

Because I think when we're discussing football tomorrow night, the Bengals won't be in the playoffs. And Burrough just mentioned it. Right before I hopped on, I watched him. I think talked to Lisa and he said, listen, I mean, we put ourselves in this position and they did. Now, Joe didn't put themselves in this position. The defense did. But it hurts.

I mean, anytime you get a guy, like, you can't, like, some people think should he be in the MVP conversation? Like, you're just not going nine and eight and winning the MVP. It's just not happening. Because one, Josh Allen doesn't have one and his team's the number two seed and he's dominated this season. And Lamar has had like one of the great statistical seasons of the, all time. The crazy thing with Lamar is part of the reason he won it last year is one, they had the best team, and two, I mean, he was one of the best players, but statistically, let's just hypothetically say he would have win it this year as well, so he would have three. He'd

have two that look unreal, and then he'd have last years, right? So this year, compared to last year, there is no comparison. He's dramatically better this year. Now, a lot like last year, when he plays on a team, like the Ravens had more pro bowlers than anyone in the NFL. I mean, he plays for the best organization and a loaded team, and he's a dominant player, just like Joe Burrow, a dominant player. But, you know, if you put Burrell on the Ravens, I think they'd be just as good, right? And if you put Lamar on the Bengals, they'd be just like, those guys are elite. They're all-time great players.

Like, they're going to go down. I know one guy already has multiple MVP's. Burrow, he's not going to win the MVP this year, but he's an MVP-level player. and he's already taking a team to a Super Bowl, like they're superstars. And they're just absolute rock stars. And when they play teams that don't have anything close to their equals, it's not going to be a fair fight,

especially in must-win games, as it was tonight for Cincinnati and as it was tonight for Baltimore. But I just, I think, like, if you're a Pittsburgh Steeler fan, and we lose next week to the Ravens, it's like, are we just going to keep doing this over and over? And I said this last year. And there's nothing wrong with this. sometimes it's just time for a change.

Not all divorce has to be like super anger and hatred. Sometimes like, yeah, we're both better off going our separate ways. And like, listen, I understand why Mike Tomlin likes being the coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. It's pretty cool. Pays well. Sweet brand. It's just not really working. I mean, it clearly has run its course because the same thing's happening now, as happened

last year, as the previous year, as a previous year. You're going to be 0 and 5 now. since 2016 when next week, you know, comes to an end. So his value is extremely high because all we hear is all these teams are looking for a leader of men. Mike Vrable is going to interview with everybody and have his pick at a job. He is easily the number one candidate this year, even over Ben Johnson. If Mike Tomlin's like, yeah, him and the Pittsburgh Steelers, like, it would be the same thing. And I just wonder if you're a Pittsburgh Steeler fan, like, what are we doing here?

like what are we doing here because we got two teams in our division that have two hall of fame quarterbacks who are in the peak of their powers i i just i don't know and there's no good answer because if i was a sealer fan and especially if you've been watching this team for a couple decades you got used to watch a rothusperger and what we've had to witness these last four or five years i i couldn't take it we need to change something has to change find a way to get us the quarterback, find a way to change our fucking offense. Because that's just, you got no shot in any of these big games against any of these good teams. You literally lose them all. Jalen Hertz, L. Lamar Jackson, L. Patrick Mahomes, L. Joe Burrell,

L. Lamar Jackson again, L. I mean, one, two, three, Cancun. And, yeah, but what a, what a bananas game. That was I give it like a 7.5 out of 10 just because there was felt like there was a decent amount on the line, I guess. Can't be said for the other game. It just felt completely

one, I turned it on like 10 minutes late and I was already 7-0 Bailey Zappi had thrown a pick. And then you just like watch for a minute. Somehow like DTR came in. You're like, did they bench Zappi? And then you realize they're going on like a rotation, a Zappi. and DTR.

And it got to like 14-3, then it was 21-3. I'm like, this is stupid. I mean, there's a standalone game. There's no one's fault because the Browns were a playoff team last year. So I, listen, you never know how things are going to play out. But they're horrendous football team right now. And that game, I mean, it got to 21 to 10, but there wasn't a soul in America, including Stefansky,

including Miles Garrett, including Browns fans, that ever thought for one second that the game, was going to be close, let alone they could win. And then luckily, as the second half went on, it was complete bloodbath. But there's nothing to say from the game. To me, the only substantial thing to come out of that game was Zay Flowers, getting injured, who has become an excellent player in his second year. And listen, this football, the Ravens had to win to win the division,

at least secure the division, so they didn't have to wait for the Steeler game. and they're playing their guys. I'm not saying anything's wrong with playing Zay Flowers in that spot, but that's exactly why these teams that have nothing to play for, i.e. the Eagles, Seekoine Barkley's not playing. The Rams, why their guys aren't playing. Like when you're guaranteed a home game, seating, whatever, you cannot risk someone getting injured.

Because obviously some injuries are very obvious. When Zay Flowers rolled around, you're like, I didn't even see him get hurt. And now he's got a knee injury and rap sheets reporting that he's probably out for next week. And again, this is not the Ravens' fault. But when I've heard some of the discourse and discussion around Sequin Barclay,

I wanted to fucking throw up because it's so stupid. It's like under no circumstance. He already got the record. You know what the record is? Stealing him from the Giants, ruining their franchise, him going for 2K.

And this team winning the division and hosting a playoff game. That's something that no human being that follows sports, specifically football, we'll ever forget. No one knows any numbers in football. 45 touchdowns, 50 touchdowns, 2,000 yards, 2,300. No, we know the only rushing number you know,

you don't know specific, you know 2,000 yards, he did it. Can't play him. So I have not understood anyone saying, like, you should do it and risk someone hurting their knee or rolling an ankle and not being able to go the following week in the game that actually matters? Come on, guys. There is way too much on the line

to even have these discussions. You see in a game like the Ravens were going to beat the shit out of the Browns, but you still got to try and you're still playing your starters. All of a sudden, one of your best players hurts his knee.

And now, fingers crossed, he can come back in two weeks when one of the best games of the year against the bills on the road where guess what, they kind of need the guy. So I just think the discussion this week about guys resting is laughable.

This isn't the NBA where guys rest every other day, right? There's really one time a year when guys maybe rest in the NFL. When your playoff situation is secure, the Eagles can't change anything, the game literally does not matter at all. It's when you rest, guys.

And I'm not going to, there's nothing else to say on that. It's the most wonderful time of year for getting in on our, all the hoops, football, and hockey action at the Draft King Sportsbook. It's the season of giving, and we're being gifted college football and basketball, pro football and basketball, and pro hockey two, almost 24-7. So many games every day, so many opportunities to place your first bet. Try betting on something simple, like picking a team to win. Go to Draft King Sportsbook app and place your bet.

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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 to Jonas Brothers. And guess what? We have some big news. What's the news?

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 did 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, where 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, S&L'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.

Last night, a blown call changed the game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions,

the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial, calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slices Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged.

It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth.

He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levant this went to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire start? survive. The largest tax investigation in American history.

You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I do think big picture with the Ravens is, you know, it's going to be a lot harder this year. Well, last year, it didn't get any better, right?

their defense was even better. Now, Henry wasn't there. So their offense is better this year. Well, that includes Zay Flowers, who's now gone, which hurts. But Bateman looks excellent. Mark Andrews is stud. Derek Henry, when DeCosta told him that he made the Pro Bowl, like barely even smiled.

It was awesome. But I just think, like, if they are, if you tell me the Ravens are in the Super Bowl, it actually would have been more impressive this year than if they would have made the. Super Bowl last year just in terms with one they have to go on the road. They're going to get the Pittsburgh Steelers. I think more than likely, assuming the Chargers win.

Game one, I would expect them to win that game by 20 plus points. I know it's like the rivalry they know each other. I think they beat the shit out of them. Then they got to go to Buffalo and then obviously they'd probably have to go to Kansas City unless one of the bigger upsets and recent memory happens. So if you were to go to at Buffalo and at Kansas City and win those two games, it would be the feather in the cap of Lamar's greatest season as a pro.

And it's going to be hard. I mean, really that game, I think, in two weeks on the road in Buffalo, now especially with Zay Flowers' physical ability up in the air, it's going to be really, really tough. And, you know, the thing with Lamar is he just looks, I mean, he's just, he's toying with people. I mean, today you had the Steph Curry, moment on the touchdown where he turned around before the ball was even in his hands.

It's like game looks really easy to him. And I get it, the Browns, I mean, are just a god-awful team. But if that guy that has played like he did this regular season translates to the playoffs, they can beat anybody. They can beat anybody. And honestly, they probably should if their defense plays pretty good. Because you could argue that is the best, him and Josh Allen, two best players on the planet.

Bro, too, but Burrow's not going to be around. and unlike Burrell, like his team's really good. You know, their defense looks dramatically better now. Like, that was part of the first half of the seasons. Like, this defense is just, this ain't going to work out. And then ever since they moved Hamilton back, they just look much better. So if their defense plays in an elite level

and he plays like they play, like you could argue they're the most well-rounded team. Now, this Chief's team, whose offense looked pretty shitty most of the year, has clearly gained steam these last couple weeks. But they're taking tomorrow off, and then they get a buy week so that they have a long period where, you know, who knows, they probably, I would guess, you know, get the Chargers or the Texans, and that's a game. Well, they'll probably win by 10 plus points.

But I guess the Charger game could be a little weird. But I'm really interested, though. I mean, it's got to be one of the biggest stories going in the playoffs. Like, can Lamar finally take the way he plays in the regular season just to the play? playoffs. And if he doesn't loses, you tip your hat. Josh Allen's done that a lot. Played a great game and lost, you tip your hat.

And no one says anything. Part of the reason some of these NBA guys, like James Hardin has gotten crushed over the years, like, well, you win the MVP, you're scoring 40 points a game, and then you get to the playoffs and you look like, shit. Like, what's going on? What's happening? Is it, do you feel their pressure? Do you

feel the lights a little brighter? We all know it means more, because it does. It just simply does. And players know that, coaches know that, fans know that. Everyone in the building of a playoff game you're at knows that. And that's what makes the stuff so fun. That's what makes these next month the reason 30, 40, 50 million people watch these games. I'm not even talking to Super Bowl.

I'm talking the big playoff games. I mean, you're talking 30, 35, 40 million people are watching this thing. Why? For all the marbles. It's for everything. And he clearly is just an all-time great talent. And it has become what looks like to be an all-time great talent. what looks like to be an all-time great player.

And now he only has one question left to answer. Like just do it for a couple of games in January. And now mainly three. But next week I think he could play like, tie his arm behind his back and they beat the Steelers. I think what the Browns is, they're in this situation at 3 and 14. I saw basically the Browns,

the Patriots, and maybe it was the Giants, the Titans, and the Patriots. now I'm fucking this up. It's definitely the Titans and the Patriots and one other team are guaranteed a top three pick. So I'm sure the Browns would love for the Patriots to win. They would love for the Titans to win.

But they've had the season from hell. The problem for their season from hell is like part of the reason they're in this scenario is because they have Deshawn Watson on a $230 million contract and now is Achilles ripped. and they're just kind of stuck with them. They can't cut them. They can't trade them.

Obviously, ideally, they wouldn't even want to play him ever again. And they're just stuck in this situation. And that's why the big offseason question mark with the Browns is, are they going to trade Miles Garrett? If I was a Browns fan and we got this all-time great talent, number one overall draft pick, who has just lived up to the billing, Pro Bowl every single year.

All pro every single year. Last year, defensive player of the year. This year, like 14, 15 sacks on just a god-awful team who's down in every game. Just a dominant elite player. And we even have to ask the question. It's like, are we going to trade him? Because, you know, we might as well.

29, sell high at this point in time because we're so screwed because of Deshaun Watson. I would be so mad. I'd be like, you've got to be fucking kidding me. This is all, like this conversation is all because of the Deshawn Watson transaction. All because of them. If they just had a normal quarterback who was fine, they would just extend Miles Garrett and keep rocking and roll it.

But instead, I mean, the prudent move at this point in time, given how screwed the franchise is, probably is to trade him. To someone ideally, I know he's a little older, but I think at minimum you would get a one and two twos. I think you could probably get too. ones for them. And that team would then give him, you know, four-year, $130 million extension or whatever. I don't, numbers, probably more than that, you know, $30 million a year, four times three, yeah, $140 million and guarantee $110 or something. And that you're even having this conversation is because of the Watson situation. And I would expect when he goes on the trading

block around the combine that more than half the league is going to be sniffing around a player of this ability. And given their situation, I would expect him to be traded this offseason. And that sucks, you know, for like as shitty as the Steelers feel right now, it's like, yeah, we're just the same thing over and over. Like, at least we got T.J. Watt, and as long as T.J. Watt's good, we know he's not going anywhere. He's our guy. And you just go, like, Chris Jones, remember a couple years ago? It's like, yeah, we'll figure it out. And they ended up getting rid of Tyree kill Chris Jones is our guy. And they keep winning Super Bowls with that guy.

Now, I understand you're not, you just won three games. But it's like, at least like we have this all-time great pass rusher and we're just going to trade him this offseason. Okay, we don't really have a choice because our team is so financially screwed because we traded for one of the biggest red flags in the history of football. And I feel for Browns fans that had to watch this, you know, I can't even believe that, But did Mike Vrable throughout the season, like, stayed with that job? If I was Vrable after, like, three weeks, I'd be like,

yeah, I'm probably just going to quit. I'm just going to start getting ready somewhere else. But, you know, they have a great fan base. When the team is good, that home field in Ohio is badass. Everyone hitting, you know, the 10 sides. But, man, that felt like the Jimmy Haslam Browns this year. Now, luckily, they got a smart GM, and they got a good head coach,

but it's going to be a long and nasty offseason. A couple of other things before we get out of here. You know, I was adamant that Rex Ryan would be the next head coach of the Jets. I'm not feeling as confident. Like I wouldn't bet like $1,000 on it right now. But he did, or he set to interview next week. I do think he's going to have a decent chance when you just look at the guys who were interviewing.

Now, if Mike Vrable would take the job, they would hire him yesterday. So like Mike Vrable is going to be such a curveball in all these interviews. And he got out of the Browns contract early last week so he could start interviewing and he immediately interviews with the Jets. And a lot of people started saying,

like, do you think that he did this on purpose as like a red flashing bat signal to the Patriots? Like, hey man, I'm ready to do this. You want to do this? You want to dance, let's dance. Like, you got to fire your guy. I, because he, you know, he's put out a list of his demands, and one of them is a quarterback or a path to get a quarterback.

Well, they just drafted a guy number three overall, who you've probably heard this other places, but if Drake May was in this draft, he would easily be the number one overall pick. It wouldn't even be a conversation. So, and obviously, if you've just watched bits and pieces of him, he's clearly a really talented guy the team blows. And I just have to imagine,

that the Patriots would be a fascinating, you know, of interest for Vrable. Because like the Jets, like, okay, they got some talent, but they got no quarterback, and they got no path to a quarterback. And the franchise is just a disaster. Like, why would you want to take on that situation? You know, the Patriots is actually kind of perfect if they do fire Mayo, that it's like, you're not the guy replacing the guy. You're the guy replacing the guy that replaced the guy who was such an embarrassment

that you look even that much better. so like that's something to keep an eye now who knows like obviously the big wild cards are like are vrable or excuse me are mayo and Antonio pierce going to be one and duns we'll find out a lot more about that in the next i don't know 30 plus hours but uh rex ryan's officially interviewing for the jets and mike vrable already has other than that uh hopefully everyone's having a good good night good new year's it's weeks just weird You know, I've been sick as a dog, but you just kind of sit around and try to figure out what day it is. Like, what am I going to do today?

You're like, oh, wait, today's Thursday. Even though every day for the last like two weeks kind of felt like a Saturday. And I'm just, I'm ready, I'm ready for it to be over. Just, I'm like kind of a creature of habit. And anytime during this stretch, and part of it is there's a randomness based on the calendar when holidays fall in the middle of the week. I do think it throws everyone off kilter. I was extremely thrown off. And then I got sick as a dog.

My neighbors are sick. And I was like, you know, if I'm going to be sick, it might as well as be this week because it just feels really, really bizarre. And then you turn on the TV and it's like Buffalo against Texas State at like nine in the morning. Like, yeah, it's just that time of year, man. And then you got to watch Bailey Zappy. So thank God the playoffs are almost here because this is going to be. Sunday, a long, long day of just pure randomness. You're like, this guy's still in the league? Wait,

who's this guy? A lot of Jimmy Garoppolo and Carson Wentz tomorrow, so buckle up. 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. We invented a podcast. Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it out. 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.

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 Smigel 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 acapella band

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This morning, the internet lost its mind. And nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. And every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves,

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Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on. a Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know.

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