The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 & Out - Geoff Schwartz joins the podcast

Episode Date: June 26, 2024

John is joined by former NFL offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz. Coming off of Rory choking at the US Open, John and Geoff dive into who is to blame when a team or player in the NFL chokes, what his reaction was to the time that he got yelled the worst at by a coach, how Andy Reid was in the locker room after wins and losses, and does he buy into the Falcons with Cousins running the offense. 7:22 - Geoff Schwartz Interview 15:30 - Who do you blame for choking in the NFL 22:13 - Getting yelled at in the NFL 30:34 - What is Andy like after a win 1:02:28 - NIL for HS quarterbacks heading to big schools 1:06:05 - What is USC doing 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 I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor. It signals to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to.

Listen and learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of Tontons and Wampas on the ice planet, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

On the Look Back at it podcast. 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 is big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s.

84 was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The volume. Get ready for a night full of big fights and big action. It's UFC 303, and it can be even bigger. Jump in on all the action at Drafking Sportsbook, the official sports betting partner of the UFC. Super easy for first timers to get started. Try betting something simple, like picking a fighter to win.

Go to Draft King Sportsbook app, select your fighter, and place your first bet. It's really that simple. The lightweight heavyweight title is on the line in the main event, but there are so many more amazing matchups happening in Vegas. And speaking of amazing, if you're new to Draft Kings, listen up. New customers bet just five bucks to get $150 bucks in bonus bets instantly. Download the Draft King Sportsbook app now and use the code, That's code J-O-H-N for new customers to get $150 in bonus bets.

When you bet just five bucks, get that big night feel. Only on draft king. Draftings. The crown is yours. Gambling problem, call 1-800 gambler. Or in West Virginia, visit 1-800 gambler.net. In New York, call 8778-8-Hope-N-Y or text Hope-N-Y-467-369. In Connecticut, help is available for problem gambling.

Call 888-78-7-7-77. Or visit cccpg. Please play responsibly. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino and Resort in Kansas, 21 and over, age varies by jurisdiction. Bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance. Deposit and eligibility restrictions apply. See Terms and Responsible Gaming Resources at DKNG.combe. What is going on, everybody, John Middlecough, a little three-and-out podcast.

Today, what we're going to be doing is talking to my buddy Jeff Schwartz. He played in the NFL for a while. played at Oregon. His brother Mitchell was, Jeff was a seventh round pick. His brother was a second round pick. Played for the Browns and then played for the Chief for a long time, won a Super Bowl. And we'll just BS about some stuff.

Love Jeff. He's dialed in, does a bunch of radio and some TV stuff, and still dialed in, very dialed in to football, covers it very, very closely. Just a fun dude. Big guy. Don't sleep on, you know, Division 1, NFL. offensive alignment. He can eat. So can I. And I'm definitely not a division one NFL offensive

alignment. So it's a joy for many of us. Other than that, I think that's a game plan. We'll just talk to Jeff for about an hour, hang out, talk some ball. And yeah, go from there. It's a slower time. So we got a few interviews in the pipeline that we recorded before the holiday. And yeah, I wanted to get some content out. But you can find all of our stuff on YouTube. So go subscribe to the channel there. Obviously, this podcast, if you listen to Collins Feed, make sure you subscribe to three and out. Greatly appreciate everyone who has.

And other than that, we'll just keep rocking and rolling. But before we dive into Schwartz, you know, I got to tell you about the official ticketing partner, my close friends, and just the best ticketing app on the internet, game time. Been using them for a while. This is the time. I've been hammering this home. You got it.

We just got out of the house before. to July, you realize get some sun, enjoy the heat, go to a baseball game. You want to get outside? Obviously, this fall, if you want to go to a football game, many of you guys buy tickets early. I'm not a great planner, so I'm usually like day of, but I know I'm somewhat of an outlier that way, especially for you guys that travel to games, whether you travel to see your college team, whether you travel to see your NFL team, my friends at game time can take

care of you. They have great flash deals. They're always up to date with the best and most competitive prices. So take the guesswork out of buying tickets with GameTime. Download the Game Time app, create an account, and use the code, John, for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Again, create an account and redeem the code, J-O-H-N for $20 off. Download the GameTime app today. Last-minute tickets, lowest prices guaranteed. Okay, glad to have back on. We recorded a podcast. last week. We had some issues. So I said, my man, you want to record it again. Jeff Schwartz, Oregon alumni, NFL, long time NFL player. His brother also played in the NFL for a while. Just, I mean, one of the royal families of the NFL, the Mannings, the Watts, the bosses and the Schwartz.

The Kelsey's. And the Kelsey's. And the Kelsey's. I asked Mitch to do a podcast with me. He wouldn't do it. So, you know, he and I basically, well, I retired 2016. It's been a while. You know, when he was basically done playing in 2020, I was like, dude, like, let's start

the podcast. Look, let's do it. Now, we're probably never going to be the Kelsey brothers. We're not as cool. And, you know, obviously, who Travis is dating certainly has helped that podcast skyrocket even more. but we were never going to be those guys. They're very charismatic,

but I thought we could have some sort of successful podcast. You didn't want to do it. I tried, I tried, man. You didn't want to do it. You know what's crazy is your seventh round pick? He was a second round pick.

You were a much bigger recruit coming out of high school. Yes. And he was. Is that fair to say? Well, it depends. Like, I think my, I had, I had probably bigger schools sort of on the West Coast recruit me.

Did Pete Carroll recruit you? Yeah. So USC, so I was a 04, class of 04, and USC at that time was rolling, obviously. And they were actually the most honest. They were the most honest with me, them in Oregon, where I ended up going. USC told me that if I was not getting a scholarship offer and that I had to wait, to see if someone else committed, if that person did not commit, John,

they'd give me the offer. And at that time, look, my parents are used to the alumni. I went to Bruin Games as a kid. I despise USC. I would have gone to USC. They're number one in the country. Like, you just go.

USC couldn't offer players like they do now because they would commit immediately. Like, if they offer me, I'd be like, yes, I'm coming. I'm coming, yes, yes. I'm like, no, no, no. Don't take the offer. I'm coming right now. Just run down there, right?

It's USC, of course. And so they told me they were waiting for another player to commit. That player committed about mid-October and they let me go. And Ed Orrjorn called me every Monday at 720 without fail. And eventually they're like, yeah, I think it was Jeff Byers, who was Gatorade player the year in Colorado that year. He went to NFL for a little bit. And so, yeah, I didn't make it to USC.

But I, look, I probably probably would have gone if they asked me to. I mean, that's how big they were. My brother was being recruited by a lot of the academic schools. Like Virginia was one of them. Cal obviously Stanford. Like he was and took him to be obviously very, very bright. It was a different era back then too, right? I mean, that was the beginning, when my time was the beginning of the camps, right?

Like you just, you didn't go to camp. I went to USC camp, a UCLA camp. There weren't these big, you know, rivals camps. And Elite 11 was kind of slowly starting at that time as well for the quarterbacks and skill, skill guys. You know, it was a different time. But Mitch was, he had more national-based schools after him, a lot for his academics and his play.

I had, you know, a lot of regional schools. I had schools, it's funny. I had schools call me. And they would be like, look, man, I know you're not coming here. But if you want to, just call us back. Like, there were some schools that, like, I think Arizona State was one of them. They were just like, hey, we like you. Like, we take you.

You're probably not coming here. but if you want to, just like call us back and you can commit to Arizona State. When I got to Fresno State, I don't even know if this rule, if this is still allowed, for like three or four days, we would have a high school camp where they would be in full paths. And like, I swear to God, like 15 schools came, Bishop Gorman became a powerhouse in Vegas. And it was pretty incredible. You would like offer guys, sign guys, obviously there were also some highly touted guys,

but it would be full-on jamborees and scrimmages. I'm pretty sure that does not exist anymore. But like when your brother went to Cal, I mean, if you're a young, you know, in your early 20s, Cal's been pretty bad for a while. They were really good when you were in college under Tadford, like loaded with, they had every bit as the NFL talent as your teams in Oregon did.

Oh, absolutely. You know, even now, Cal, I, look, I haven't looked in a couple years, but Cal was like top 10 for just NFL players. Like they've had a lot of, they've had a lot of NFL players. go with it. And it's also too, like, when you, and you know Cal very well, I know Cal, like, it's odd that they had characters like Marciaun Lynch and Deshaun Jackson there. You're like, that doesn't really fit, like, how is, let's just say.

But, dude, Dave had so many talented players. I mean, I played against Brandon Mebain, who was a detackle who played 10 years NFL. I didn't play against Cam Jordan, but he's still in the NFL, you know, who's going to be a Hall of Fame pass rusher, I would imagine. I mentioned Marshaun Lynch and Deshaun Jackson and Aaron Rogers, obviously. Javid Best and Shane Vareen, Alex Mack played offensive line for so many years. Like they've had these guys that. Keenan Allen, your brother. Oh, you're right. Yeah, Keenan Allen was that. Yeah, Keen Allen was

that. I mean, they've had so many players over the years come out of that program. Jared Goff, who's still kicking ass, right? I mean, two Super Bowl appearances. And he was a Tedford, he was a Tedford recruit. And then he got fired. Yeah, the very end, yeah. And it just, they just never won quite that way with all the pro talent they had. Their offensive lines, when I was there, the offense lines were good. I mean, they had multiple guys a year ago in the NFL. You know, by the time this plays, it'll probably be a week plus away from the Rory choke job. But I was thinking about choke jobs in football. And you and I are basically the same age. When we were young, you know, before Peyton won the Super Bowl, I was a big manning fan.

It felt like he got a little tight. And he was basically the offensive coordinator too. Yeah. But like last year, the Ravens. I mean, they choked. that. But to me, it was as much on like Todd Munkin was pretty awful in that game, equally as Lamar. And you go back to when the bills choked at 13 seconds. I think in football, when you choke, I mean, Kyle Shanahan still wears the Atlanta Falcons 283. It's like almost more on the coaches or as much on the coach or the play caller as much it is on the players. We're in the NBA if you choke, it's kind of on the player, right? Or baseball screw up. Like in football, do you think that's fair? Like the coach bears a lot of brunt there?

I was actually thinking about this in different sports the other day after the Rory thing because, you know, it's so, it's such an individual sport, obviously, right, in golf that you can very clearly see the failures in who they're on, right? And in basketball, again, people have the ball in their hand. You go to this Mavs Celtic series like Tyree just didn't play well. He didn't choke, but it's very clear to see like Tyree. No, they don't, I don't think they win the title anyways, but Tyree basically no showing three games in Boston doesn't help you win.

Like it's very clear to see. I think they wouldn't have been in the finals if he had played like that all the playoffs. No, no chance. I mean, he had 60 points him and Luca combined some nights in the Western Carver's finals. And also, too, I think that a lot of us don't exactly know the importance of a basketball coach or a baseball manager. Football coach, it feels very obvious to see the influence they have on a game, whether it's play calling, whether it's, you know, Mike Tomlin, just having his team, he's,

each and every year ready to play every game, right? Like you see the effect the coach has where I think in the NBA, the Boston Celtics coach was mocked, John, for like 18 straight months. And the last three months were like, oh, you sort of figured it out. And the Boston fans are like,

I don't know if this guy's the guy. He would never, in the NFL, if coach made a Super Bowl, you would be like, I don't know, man. You'd be like, hell yeah, good job, coach. He'd get a huge extension. He'd be making $15 million a year. Yes.

And so it's just different. So I think when you look at choke jobs, It certainly feels like it's an NFL. Look, I've been on the side of that in 2013 where Kansas City, we were up 38, 10, the third quarter of a playoff game. And no one blames the players. Everyone just blames Andy Reid. Like, it's Andy Reid's fault.

And so, you know, Andy Reid had that tag for a long time too, right? Couldn't win the big game, choked in those moments. Here's why I think, at least offensively, I think, what happens in a lot of these moments, right? John, coaches get paid on the offensive side of the ball to pass the football. No one gets, the only one I think right now in the NFL who gets paid to like run the ball as Kyle Shanahan. No one else wants to, right, they get paid as an O.C. as a head coach because of their, of their offensive play designs to pass them all down the field. And when things get a little tight in games, what do you do?

What do you do in life when things get difficult? You go back to what you know, right? And so when things get difficult in games, coaches go back to what they know. They throw the football. Like in 2013 in that Chiefs game, we're up 3810. all we had to do, John, was run the football. I think every play the second half, and we win that game. Like, there's no doubt about it.

Who was your running back? Well, so Jamal Charles got hurt in that game, and then our backup got hurt. So on our Thursday running back, we were still averaging a good amount on the ground. We're moving guys off the ball, but we passed the ball too much. There was a strip sack. Like, it just went, it went downhill fast. And I think when the Ravens specifically in that game, you know, they, the Chief scored 14 points really fast. Yeah.

And I think they thought to themselves like, oh, shit. shit. We got to keep up. We don't keep up. And he just got into this mode. We're like, we've got to pass the ball, pass the ball, pass the ball. It's like, no, the Chiefs past the defense is good. Run the football. And I think coaches at times get sort of go back to what they know, which is most often on offense is running, as he means passing the football. And that's what happens to a lot of coaches in those moments.

And again, in the NBA, it's hard to tell. Like, I don't think it was Jason Kitt's fault the Mavs lost. It's not his fault that Kyrie didn't play well. It's not his fault PJ Washington basically. Like, really, anyone outside of Luca, right? Like, it's not, is it kids' fault of Luca didn't play defense? No. So that's why I think it's so hard to pin that on baseball managers and basketball coaches.

Well, you've been around these coaches on game day. In my experience, I'm around them during the week, but on game days, you know, I'm sitting in a box or whatever. And obviously now what I do, the Ravens game's a good example. And I had a buddy that's on the, that was on the Raven staff, who's now somewhere else in the league, said that he's like, He loves Lamar because obviously this year, I mean, he played fucking Lamar in the defense. They were awesome. It was like, we were playing Tiger Woods. He birdies the first couple holes and then Lamar starts pressing.

But he's like all Munkin had to do the previous game, Josh Allen ran wild on the chiefs. Right? It's like, and then remember there was an early like fourth and one where Lamar busted one for 25. It's like, just let him run. But then they just kept calling pass plays. You could tell Lamar got tight. He didn't play well. But like that, to take.

me is on Munkin as much as any, do you feel these coaches, like, could you sense a coach get tight in the way he's calling a game or even his mannerisms on the sideline in the college of pros? I've never felt that as a player. Now, I think there are times when as a player, I've thought to myself, like, that's a bad play call. Which is human nature. Like, there's certainly times I've been in the huddle like that.

Okay, sure. We'll run that play. I ain't going to work. It wasn't when Andy. reader like, you know, with Tom Coughlin, another coach that I play with where I'm like, holy heck, that's just a dumb play. It's not going to work.

But I don't have ever felt that coaches in the moment have sort of called a bad game or, because you look, as a player, you have confidence that everything's going to work outside the few times I mentioned. And so you never think to yourself in that moment, like, man, they screwed up. Plus two is an offense alignment.

You know, you don't, during the game, you're not privy to like, the coverages teams are playing for, the most part. I know like where the safeties are pre-snap, but I'm not paying attention. Oh, is this cover three, cover two? Is this quarters or six or eight or whatever? Like, I'm up. It doesn't matter to you. It, a little bit it matters to me, but not a lot. But then like on Mondays, we're watching film. It's like the offensive line coach would throw a dig, you know, like cover three, man. Like we we have an answer. We just didn't do it, guys. I'm sorry.

You know, like that type of thing. You don't know sort of like in the moment whether or not, coaches, quote, quote, choking it away. And you learned a lot of that on Mondays. What's the loudest you've ever been yelled at? Oh, man. Okay, I'll tell you the story. So,

oh, this is, I only ever told a story before. John Matzko was our offensive line coach one year with the Panthers in 2011. I was, he stayed for a long time. He's actually a really good offensive line coach, which makes sort of the way he is sometimes,

interesting. But he was big into like, he liked a fight. He's an old school coach. He coached in, you know, the Rams, the Super Bowl winning fastest show on turf ran. He's coached a long time in the NFL John. And he's old school guy. He liked to fight in practice. Like that was his thing.

Like he won like one a day, right? And I'm not a big fight guy. I've been in a couple of them. But I wasn't playing well, all right, in camp. And I ended up having a back injury that we found out a couple weeks later. And so I'm like, you know what? I'm going to start a fight today to get on my coach's good side. Okay, so start a fight.

It goes like a fight does, whatever. And like, you know, you can tell like afterwards he was like, out of boy Schwartz, like, good job, okay? And we get to the meeting room and you know this on film. Maybe you have a different film than we get, because you might get a different cut than we get as a scout. But they don't show the fights on film. They just, they don't do that, right?

They practice. Yeah. The play ends and they cut it. Yeah. So all you see on this play is I'm blocking the linebacker as Dan Connor, a good buddy of mine who when I play with the NFL, we drafted the same year. And I take him and I after pilot, I shove them weight, right? Like very clearly like, FU, like, let's get after it.

I turn around to walk away. He shoves me in the back and the film cuts off. Now, everyone knew that we started a huge fight. It happened. Well, Mats go for some reason, man. He cussed me out. I'd never been cussed out of my entire life because he said I didn't fight him.

He didn't see that fight in me. And I was like, I was so angry because he clearly knew I was, I fought him. He saw it happen. He was called me all sorts of names. And I was like in the point of tears. I was so angry, John. Because like, I did what you wanted me to do.

I thought, I don't ever do this. I did it to get on your good side. And then afterwards, he did the thing where he's like, hey, short, stay after the meeting. Yeah. And he pulls me aside. He goes, you know, I know, I know. I know you fought that guy.

I just did that for effect for like the rest of the room. I was like, what the, bro? What are we doing? So I get cussed out for something that I didn't even do wrong. I did. I fought the guy. I did what he asked me to do. Otherwise, I never got like cussed out like that much personally.

I think I played in the NFL for so long. I put eight years. I was hurt a bunch. And a lot of guys. in my seventh round pick, don't play as long as I did with all the injuries, unless you're like a good teammate, right? Unless you're a guy that can be trust in the locker room, a guy that coach can put you in. Look, I wasn't the best player, John, but I didn't make the coach look stupid, right? Like I didn't, I saw the coaches never had a reason to yell at me. Like, yeah, coaches get

angry and you know, but you get up a sack or out of mental error, but like, that wasn't my game. I didn't make mental errors. I might have gotten beat. That happens, right? It's football, but I never gave a coach a reason to really cuss me out. You know, like there was never a point where like they felt they had to say that to me. And I was a, you could talk to me. Like we can have a conversation. You don't have to cuss me out. I get to your point if you just talk.

So I think coach is sort of never got to a point where I ever had to be yelled at that way. And the one time I got yelled at that way, I actually did what I was supposed to do, which is the guy pushed me late and we started a fight in practice. That's what I think is the hard part about the draft season for so many people that talk about it. Like having seen both sides. and listen, I love talking about it as much as the next guy. But unless you know the wiring of the guy, like, that is such a huge factor because most teams, like most players in the NFL aren't doing things like Debo Samuel or Tyreek. Like most of the players are just solid guys like solid starters and intelligence, how coaches,

you know, gravitate towards you, how you act, just like, are you easy? I don't need to worry about you. It's something that never gets talked about on the outside. gets talked about all the time on the inside, you know? Yeah, I mean, it's, I actually asked a college coach to this recently, like, how do you recruit these kids? Because, you know, it's a different time now with, with college kids. He said exactly what you said.

He goes, I try to understand who they are because I need a certain type of guy in my team. And that's the hardest part is figuring out who the player is outside of football. I can watch all these highlights. I know who they are as a player as a player on the field, but how do I figure out if they're going to fit in my locker room? I'm going to figure out they're going to be able to fight and battle and claw and do things I have to do or I have to get them to do to win a championship. And yeah, like you don't know the makeup. But I will say, I mean, all the background stuff now these guys do.

I mean, I feel like they sort of know, right? I mean, they have a pretty good idea. I mean, and there's very, you know, I think you wouldn't have been in Philly when, when Watkins was drafted, right? The offensive lineman. Yeah. We had bad intel on that one. Yeah. But, John, like, it's, I think it's just hard to know.

Like it's really like I think as much as you try to know Gary guys come in the league And it's hard to play professional sports And some guys get they just break it is it is what it is And you might think you know and then you don't And but I certainly think I always tell like young players like my advice is to basically just be light You know like make sure that people in the building like you

Because that does go a long way And people in NFL talk like if you again If you're a fringe player and they like you you, you might stick around a little bit longer or they tell someone else. And if you're an asshole and you can't play football, you're out of there immediately. No one, there are guys, you know this. The players now that when you think to yourself like, why is that a player not signed, they need enough money?

I don't know. That's just personality. They don't like their personality. I think that's like good life advice. I would even add be liked and try hard. Like if people feel like you're giving everything you have and trying hard and you're well-liked, like obviously you have, you know, to get to the NFL. you have to have the talent, but you're going to stick around longer than the guy, yeah, we

kind of like him, and we don't even think he's working very hard because, you know, like this time right now, right? Most teams have, give or take, 40 days off. I would imagine most, especially veteran guys, younger players, who knows, but like Chris McCaffrey's working out today. Right? Patrick Mahomes, like you just, T.J. Watt, you know, I mean, this is very, very serious how you take, how you approach this. Well, John, I find it so funny. I think guys are doing it less and less now, but you see players be like rising grind in the off season.

I'm like, buddy, your job is just to work out. Like, it ain't that hard, ain't that deep. Like, get your two-hour workout in, get your recovery in, eat right today, and do it again tomorrow. Like, I just, I'm like, your job is your body. Like, this is our job, right?

You're supposed to work. work out. You're supposed to eat well. Let's take care of yourself. Yeah, you can party a little bit. You can enjoy the life that you've created for yourself. But it's not that deep. It's not like rising grind and like I'm in the factory at 6 a.m. Like that's your actual job. That's your job. Can you imagine if you were like rising grind got to record a podcast. That's your job. It's to record a podcast. It's not like. So yes, our job is to make sure that that we train to play football. And it does take a couple years to figure out what that path is, right? As a young player, you know, you feel great as a young player.

You don't think you need any help. But as you get older, you figure out your path. You find a trainer you like a workout facility. You find a nutritionist you like or some sort of meal program. You find a rehab person you like. But you have to put in the work, right? I mean, I think a lot of players figure that out as they go. Because I think a lot of us when we're young, like you think you know and then you have a year or you have a game when you just get your butt kicked and you figure out like that doesn't work.

I've got to try something else. And the guys that adapt the best, figure it out. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app. podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clivert Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football,

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

stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or we're you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics

from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tantons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of too. Listen to Stuff to Blow Your Mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jett. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it.

episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack, so I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now, so. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes.

I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American. history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Keer Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests.

I'm talking. Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we don't realize that we, are in possession of the thing and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough because people scoreboard watch life becomes about wins and losses Steve Burns Dustin Ross because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth or are you a good person because you're afraid because that's two different intentions bro absolutely and that that's two different levels of trust I want you to just really be a good person join me Kear games is we have real conversations about healing growth fatherhood pressure

purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free I Heart Radio app, search Learn the Hardway, and listen now. I've heard you tell this story before, but obviously you played for Andy Reid, your brother played for him for a long time, is like after a win or a loss,

you know, all these stories about Belichick, the way he handles his meetings, cussing guys out and just being, Andy is, would you say, pretty consistent normal and not a huge overreactor, win or lose, any game? Dude, it's a one-minute team. It's like the absolute best.

He has a note card. I have a no card. He just picks it up and he goes. Did that in Philly too. That's it. Like he just reads off. He's like, all right,

guys, well, we lost. Got to play better next time. Talk to your coaches about it. Okay, we got practice in an hour. Tomorrow's off.

Make sure you get your body worked on. All right, ready break. Like, that's it. That was it. The longest meeting we ever had was the first one of training camp

which just like the compliance meeting. And then that was it. And that's what I think players appreciate about Andy Reid. There's a lot of things players appreciate. but it's the consistency which the way he handles his business, right? And I think he treats us like, it sounds cliche, but like professionals, right? Like, we know we lost.

Like, we know we lost, John. No one wants to lose. Losing sucks. No one, that's the worst thing can happen in the building, right? Like everyone in the building is affected when you lose. From the lowest person at the entire organization to the general manager, the ownership, when everyone in that building is depressed for days if you lose. It stinks to lose.

We know that. We know that we have played poorly or if someone made a mistake, like there's no point in, and look, there's different ways. Obviously, the Belchuk way worked for so many years. But,

you know, it only works, by the way, if you win. If you lose and you act like that, you lose your locker room immediately. But Andy Reid was just very consistent with, with that message, right?

Like, we're going to work. You know, he's a, I think a misconception about Andy Reid is that he works the players, man. It's a little bit different now

when different rules for training camp and different rules for practice. But you know this, man. When I got signed by the chiefs in 2013, we didn't have double this. I got a call from a couple of eagles I knew. And they're like, be ready, buddy. Be ready for training camp.

I'm like, what do you mean, be ready? He goes, just be ready for training camp. And this is with single practices. And I was like, and I got there, had a couple of them like, I text those guys like, yep, you were right. Like, it's after he hit. He still live tackles and practice in training camp.

Which is like, do you imagine if Hal Shanahan live tackled in practice? Like you would, these guys, no, Penny Reid does goal, he does goal line live tackling drills in training camp. There's a reason why their team starts fast every season. Like they, because they hit the training camp. He plays a starters in the preseason, which some coaches would think is the dumbest thing of all time. But, you know, he just, he's very consistent on who he is. He sticks to his word about what he tells us he's going to do.

And players really appreciate him for that. Yeah, I think the misconception, obviously, people love him. players coach in the sense that he is relationships with guys. But when it comes to practice, the other thing is, if you're on the fence injured or not, like, you better be practicing. Oh, yeah. Well, it's, it's, see, that is kind of where they separate not in the, like Tom Coughlin, who obviously is a very successful coach, his was his meeting after a loss,

a little different vibe. Oh, yeah. He had longer team meetings, though. His were like 30 minutes long. So it was, it was always a little different. He would sort of like to, you know, go through the game and we'd show play. and whatnot of bad things that happened. And, you know, he wasn't, he didn't individually kind of call out players like Belichick.

That's a very Belichick thing, like to individually call out players. And you've heard everyone who turned stories about those locker rooms, excuse me, in those meetings. But Kauffin was, was far. He had long team meetings, like 30 minutes. He did on Wednesdays, you know, his game plan day, he basically was in charge of doing the full scouting report. He got up in there and told us everything about the team we were playing. where again, Andy Reid left a lot of that too's position coach. It was probably why a lot of his coaches are good NFL head coaches, John,

because he gave him a lot of responsibilities to do that other coaches just don't give their coaches. Yeah, Coughlin, Coughlin, dude, he's just so different than he is in the media. Like behind the scenes, man, just like a just, most coaches are, but it's very striking with Cawthlin. You would hear him talk to the media and then he'd talk on the team. Then you'd meet with him individually. it was just so different. I loved it. It was that kind of side you only saw in the locker room. Isn't it funny that leading up to the draft, everyone's like,

Chargers, wide receiver. It's like, guys, have you followed this man's career? Do you understand, like, they had four guys to make decisions on, they figured out a way to keep the 2D lineman and got rid of the two wide receivers? Jim Harbaugh is a quarterback who thinks he's like a hybrid lineback or pass rush or offensive lineman. He doesn't talk or operate like a quarterback. I go back and forth. Obviously they have high-end guys that get injured a lot, even with Matt. Max's been a little more consistent, but Joey Bosa, if they keep those guys, I do wonder if they're going to be, I mean, are they a playoff team?

Because clearly he wants to take a little pressure off just. I don't know if they're running games going to be good enough to do what he wants to do this year. But they are clearly going to be a lot better. They're going to be better because they're going to just be way more strong. You know, like they're going to have structure about the way they play. I felt like Staley at times. I know you're not the biggest fan of Staley either. Like it just felt very unstructured, right?

Like sort of just guessing on those fourth downs. Like there was no rhyme or reason to some of the decisions. And Harbaugh is going to have a structure to what he does. He's going to have a reason for everything. And part of playing for Harbaugh is trusting him because he's won. Like he's won everywhere. He wanted San Diego. He won at Stanford.

He won it with the 49ers. he won in Michigan. And so there's a trust factor there with knowing that whatever he tells you is going to work because it has in the past. The thing about the draft, people have to understand this sometimes, is you sometimes have to look at the first round pick through the lens of the rest of the draft, right? So for the Chargers, it was either like Alt and McConkey, whoever was there sort of top of round two or like neighbors in the next best tackle in the first, in the end of the first,

me, the top of the second round. The next best tackle was not very good at that point. Like the tackles went in the first round and not again to the third round. They're all gone. So like getting Joe Alt and Mokonki is better than neighbors than whoever you might get at the top of the second round. Like you have to look at the draft sometimes the way that teams have the board stacked up.

Right. So into the wide receiver position now, you can find guys all through the draft. Like fifth round, sixth round, fourth round, third round. You don't, offense align for the most part is. a top round guy like Joe Alt you're not finding any Joe Walt in the third round you're not so it makes sense to go off its line there and I think they're going to be just more consistent but you're playing

the AFC is just so tough man like it's it feels tough for them to get maybe a seven seed six seven seed at best probably going to win 11 games they are you think no I'm saying you probably got a oh yeah 11 to feel good about your playoff chances. And I probably don't think they're there in year one. I certainly think in year two and three and four moving forward, they're just going to be, again, a lot more consistent. My thing with Alt and

just tackles in general, and you and I text about this, guys that are that tall, it can be difficult, but I texted with a buddy who was drafted in the top 10 and they worked him out. He's like, I'm telling you, this guy's so athletic and Ben, we don't think it's an issue at all. And to me, if Harbaugh loves him, my maybe just this individual doesn't bother me as much. Yeah, probably falls under more Colton Miller, tall guy, but such a good athlete. And this guy's a better player coming out of college than Colton Miller, clearly. Yeah, the tall thing is sort of interesting. My buddy Duke Mannyweather, who turns off its alignment, best guy in the country to do so in Dallas.

He talks about like hip height rather than just like overall height of the player, right? Like what hip height do they play at, right? So like are they, you know, because that obviously means a lot, you know, we hear like, you know, waist bender, knee bender, right? So like, just hip height. If a guy, and Joe Alt plays when he plays, his hips are at a good height for his body size. He's not too high, not too.

Who cares where his helmet is? Correct. Yeah, it doesn't matter. The thing about big tall players like him, too, that it's really tough for evaluators. And I had this conversation with people as well is like, when you're that big, you're not explosive on film. You're just not. His arms and legs are so long that he's not.

not going to be a violent puncher. He's just, that's not who he is. And even the thing about the tallest player, it's like Cole Miller is not a violent puncher type of guy. Even a guy like John Ogden, like, guy's six, nine. He wasn't a guy when you watch him play and you're like, that guy punches a hole through a guy.

Like Larry Allen or something. Yeah, he just was like, boom. Like when his hands were on you, like, you were done, right? And so, Alta's not going to be a guy when you watch him play and think like, man, that's an explosive puncher because he's too long to be, to be that explosive. But he is, though, right?

He tested well. He's really good of run blocking. Like, he's going to be a good football player for them. And now, and I think for the Chargers, too, like you look at, you're now set at both your tackle spots for 12 years. That's a big benefit to know that you have with Slater and with Alt now. That position is no longer one you have to worry about. That's a big bonus for that. There is some projection, though, when you take a guy, like he's a lifetime and, you know, different footwork on different sides.

Some guys like the dude. Oregon State put him anywhere. Some guys have played multiple positions. This guy's a lifetime left tackle. And I can imagine in so far in OTAs they've moved him at right tackle. I guess Slater's done both. He did both in college, right? Yeah, he played right tackle in college. So you at least in the back of your mind, no. And obviously, like, if you asked Trent Williams to play right tackle, I'm sure he'd be fine. Like obviously there are guys that can do it that haven't done it. But there is just risk involved whenever you do that. I'm not specifically talking about all just in general when you kind of think like that.

with left and right tackles, right? Oh, I think so. And there are guys that just can't do it. Like, I could not play left guard. Right guard, right tackle, not a problem. Like, left guard, the left side just couldn't do it. They're guys that do it much easier. They're able to just figure it out.

The thing that I think you would look toward with Alt is his athleticism is top-notch, right? So you can, you can move over there. But he also has not played a lot of football, right? His dad specifically did not want him to play football. And then he realized, like, at some point, like, I got to let him play. like he's still relatively new to playing football. So he has, not he's played left tackle since he was,

you know, 13 years old. He has, senior in high school. Yeah, he sort of like grew into that position. So I think you can make the case that there's a lot of room for him to go. I would not move Roshan Slater,

by the way, like you have an all pro left tackle. Like leave him as an all pro left tackle and then just sort of figure out, oh, and look, when you have, you got like Slater too, John,

you can put all the right tackle and help help him out. Like you know you left tackle's done with. Help the right tackle up. You give him chip. just give him tied ends, give him formational help, and you don't have to worry about now Slater's playing a new position, now also rookie, and just leave Slater where he is,

he set at left tackle, and then just help out the rookie right tackle. You know, Trent and Lane are older, but who would you say, like, under 30, 28 is the best tackle in the NFL? Oh, Padae Seul. That's not, I don't think it's even a question. He is going to be a, he's my guy, obviously, from Oregon, but he's probably going to be a Hall of Famer, but it's all like it's the way he's going

right now, Johnny. He's, he just turned 23 or he's going to turn 24th during the season, I think, which is what? He won the Allen trophy at 18 years old. Jesus. He's 20, he's 23 right now. That's pretty crazy. He won, he won the Allen trophy at part of that year he was 18 years old because he turned 19, I think, in in 2019.

He came in NFL, his third year is already an all-pro in his third season. He's a two-time pro bowler. He's just going to be good forever because that's what he is as a player. So he's the guy to me that you look up in, you know, it's 2030 and he's made the all-pro team

for seven straight seasons. And I think right tackles have, historically not been Hall of Famers. I think actually with PFF helping to give context and stats to offensive line play, we're going to see Lane Johnson for sure is going to be a Hall of Famer. Willie Anderson should get in. He hasn't been in yet. We're going to now see, I think, more right tackles get a chance to be Hall of Famers

where that really has never been the case before. There's a couple in there, but for most part, it had to be left tackle. Nais Sewell just got $85 million guaranteed in $112 million. Oh, dude, dude, he's, he's, he's a, dude. He's going to be up for a second contract by 27. That's pretty wild. You're a big Oregon guy, and after Bo Nix and everyone had a take, I just went and watched, I mean, obviously, you watch every game,

and I watch a majority Oregon games, but just went back and watched some cutups on YouTube. Actually kind of reminded me a little bit if you went way back to, like, when Jimmy was coming out, or even Derek at Fresno State, like the athleticism, the accuracy, but the offense was, you know, it's not what he's going to run, specifically in the pros, but looking back, those guys, you know, Derek, we could argue about him all day long. But Jimmy, when he was younger, was a really good player.

Like, I think Bo Nix is going to probably be pretty good for Sean Payton. So my comp for Bo Nix was like a more athletic Derek Carr, which might bother people, but that's sort of what I thought about him. The one thing about Nix that I think is a misconception. It's really two things, but tie into one is this idea of like he checks down all the time. There was a stat I saw like he had a thousand yards of passing yards of, you know, balls behind the line of screen was essentially. And I went back and looked in five, five plays total, accounted for 20% of that number. And two of them were like, were actually run plays that were considered past plays

because where the ball was handed off. And one was like a 75-yard screen. Like, that's not his fault, you know? like you can't do anything about if a guy runs for 75 yards. So a lot of those numbers can be misleading. The Oregon passing attack, when it's just a regular passing attack, when it's out of play action, out of sort of at times of RPO stuff, it's actually very pro style.

There's a lot of West Coast concepts to what they do. If you watch kind of intently on sort of, you know, they form that triangle when you throw. So like there's always kind of a three-read triangle for him. A lot of those, there's a lot of empty stuff too, which he'll have to do in the NFL, which he was very comfortable with. But I don't see that like Caleb Williams upside, right?

Like I think that's the hard part about drafting these quarterbacks. You're sort of stuck, right? Like you need a young quarterback. Bow Nix, if he's Derek Carr, you're probably happy about his career until you get tired of sort of not winning, I think, to level you want to win at. And that's hard because, you know, Caleb Williams, I think is going to be incredible. And Bono is just not going to ever be quite that good. and that's just sort of how it goes with the quarterback position. I think Bonoics is going to be good, but he's never going to be a pro bowl or probably not.

I mean, that feels unlikely. To me, the reality, too, is when these guys evaluated, and Andy told me when they did Mahomes and Sean Payton, I watched an interview, he said this, we just, out of our cutups, we just remove those passes. Like, we don't want that pass by the lines. So it's people like, well, he throws, yeah, we don't care. As long as he's hitting those guys, we know accurately, fine. Like, we're not evaluating those players.

So it's like, not like, yeah, we understand he can throw behind the line of scrimmage, which you're going to need to do sometimes in the pros. Maybe not all that play, but wheel routes, checkdowns, like, you do need to be accurate on that play. Why do a lot of players, you know, bust? Obviously, they struggle down the field, not reading stuff, but they also, they get frazzled, and then they fuck up the layup, right? I mean, how many players have we seen with, like, sweet traits that, like, once they get frazzled, they have to dump it down to their running back, are airmen.

mailing it to the trainer. Yeah. And like their foot, it's all footwork, right? Their footwork are on the back foot and they're just not. I'm saying, there were a place Bo Nix made

where there was one against USC at a touchdown where sort of everyone just cleared out. And he's like, cool, I'll throw the running back. No one's in the, that's a smart decision.

And he's not Patrick Mahomes, obviously, but Mahomes has gotten better because he's decided to take those layups. Like he's like, cool, you want to give me four yards, five or six yards? I'll take it.

Great. Now, he can make special plays that Bonnex will never be able to make. But Nix is not, I think Nix is going to be a better pro than Michael Pennix, for example. It doesn't mean he's going to be, again, an all pro, but I think he'll be very serviceable for many years. Well, I think the Atlanta Falcons are like, I think that's got disaster written all over it. A ton of pressure, cousins coming off the injury, the weird Pennix thing, everything, and I told you this last time, we talk. Everyone's picking them to win the vision. I'm just strictly not. Partly out of like everyone's doing it, everyone's hanging a left, I'm going to hang a right,

but also this team has been winning seven games for three straight years. We hype up their talent and they didn't just hire Vrable or, you know, Tomlin got fired and they hired him. Like a guy that, okay, we know he knows what he's doing. Rehne Moore's well-liked, clearly a solid defensive coordinator, awesome to have on your staff. We have no clue what he's going to be as a head coach. None. Division's not great, and I'm not saying they're going to suck, but it will not shock me if all of a sudden we look up and, you know, bucks are 10 and 7 and they are 9 and 8 or 8 and 9,

they've missed the playoffs. Well, I make a rule of to never bet on the Falcons for anything because I just lose every wager anytime I ever want to bet on the Falcons for anything. I think it's John, it's mostly about just division not being great, but Tampa Bay returns a lot. They won the division last year, if I'm correct, right? like they're not about football team. They're not winning a Super Bowl,

but they're not a bad football team. The Panthers should be better just by default of, I think, just different coach and different players. I'm not high on the Saints for the reasons. We don't not high on teams. I don't like love the coach and I don't love the quarterback. But the Falcons, the thing with Michael Pennex is people talk about distractions.

Like what is a distraction in the locker room? A distraction is sort of the simplest point. Like, it's anything that takes away from the preparation of your game every week. And when Cousins has a bad game, which is going to do at some point, Monday morning, going to have open locker room, John, people are going to walk up to Kyle Picks and say, should Michael Pinnock be playing? Should, you know, should, is there a quarterback change? You're going to ask, ask Morris.

Should, is P, can, is Cousins going to keep a job? Like, that's a distraction, John. When you're talking about something that has nothing to do with winning and losing, during that current week. And that's the thing with Pinnix. And it just, the Falcon's reasoning was right. Like, if everything goes, but we just don't want to play it for four or five years.

Then why did you draft them? You have other holes on your team. It doesn't feel like it's going to end up going well for them. See, to me, that's the crazy part about college football. Because, like, now with the transfer portal, at least in the NFL, like, guys aren't in a contract, kind of stuck when things aren't going on. And college is like,

I'm out, you know. Some of these locker room dynamics, it's easy if you're rolling like Ohio State or Georgia or Obama. But the majority of teams, even the good teams, like LSU 9 and 3 teams, you get some rocky times, you know, throughout the year where guys like, fuck it, I'll just, I'm going to Ohio State next year.

It's got to be pretty wild internally. I don't know how these college coaches do it, man. I don't know how they do it. Because I have friends, you know, all over the spectrum, right, from obviously I'm close with Oregon staff but knowing guys at other Power 5 schools knowing a couple coaches on the G5 level you know it's about more anything else right now

like money John right like can you can you have an NAL program that keeps players around because as soon as someone plays well you know they're getting tampered with right they're getting talked to behind the scenes and people are trying to approach these guys and you want to be able to keep them and so do you have the money to keep these players I think the money

is far less than we think it is. I don't really, I know numbers get reported out, and there's certainly a Jada Rashada, you know, number and, and, lawsuit.

That's not, I think, a lot of players are dealing with. Is that the, is that the fakesest number? Like, you should have read flagged that. Someone in his,

his dad, they're like, this can't be real. Yeah, I, the other one that people have mentioned is the one for, uh,

Niko, the quarterback of Tennessee. It was like $8 million dollars. Like, I know what guys of Oregon were sort again last year. It wasn't $8 million. It's, it's a lot.

So these coaches, the difficult part, I think, for coaches is basically designing a practice plan and a reps plan to keep players from transferring. Because you have to basically make sure, John, that players feel like they're going to play. Think about the portal, too, is we talk about the high in talent. Certainly there's high in talent everywhere. And those are going to certain schools. but the portal is not good because for your team, I mean, for the most part, you need depth on your team, right? If your depth pieces are transferring out, then that's a huge problem for you.

And so you have to design a practice plan, any, all the position code, just to make sure that players feel like they have a chance to play when they don't have a chance to play. And it's a different dynamic. You know, when I was going through, when you were with Pat Hill at Fresno State, did it give a shit? Oh, you suck. You're not going to get any reps at practice. Like, who cares?

You're not going anywhere. But now you can't treat players like that. because they're just going to pack them and go to the portal and you need to have a too deep to be competitive. You know, a thriftroom guy leaves like whatever, who cares. So that's the hard part about the portal, the portal for the coaches. And I think that's why a lot of coaches are just like, I'm out of here, right?

Like I don't want to deal with older coaches. I just don't want to deal with having to coddle players that aren't going to play to make sure they don't leave. So if they have to play at some point this season, I have to make sure that I'm, you know, they're ready to, you know, they feel like they're loved in the program. Well, that'd be the thing like forever, you know, Oregon. You guys play Fresno State, Boise State, programs like that.

Obviously, now Oregon State, who's not in the conference, obviously those teams get paid to play Oregon, and it's a big deal for their program. But Boise State and Fresno State are going to have a player or two that Dan Lannis is like, damn, I like that line backer or that slot receiver. That'd be my first call. And what's that kid? How could that kid say no after the season?

Those schools have no chance. They're like a feat. They're like the Tampa Bay raise. for the Yankees. Which is why NAL is important, because the Boise State running back this year is really good. He got a bunch of schools that called him. And he stayed in Boise because he got a big NAL deal to stay. A lot of times it's not about the most money.

It's just about feeling love, right? If you feel like you're Fresno, you're at Boise State and your Oregon State now, Washington State, you just want to feel a little bit of love. I'm not sure you have to go anywhere for the money. But look, there are players that leave those schools that have spent three or four years there that just want to go get a paycheck for one year. Like that's what the transfer portal has become now, which is totally fine. I don't, to be fair, I don't, I never really like the portal.

I get the idea of like why it became a thing, John. But it wasn't intended for this, even though we all knew it was going to happen. I mean, it's intended for just guys to be able to freely transfer that weren't playing. It wasn't intended. I just saw a Twitter report. Or a coach leaves. Yeah, our coach leaves. I saw a report, Caleb Downs.

who was the number one safety, like two years ago, high school recruiting transferred from Alabama to Ohio State. Like, they're putting him at running back in practice, supposedly. Who knows? I mean, I feel like Chip Kelly is probably, he's so happy to Ohio State. He's just like, yeah, play running back, buddy. Sure, I don't have to be head coach. Great.

And, but like that type of player, I know Nick Stabing left. So, but like that guy's not supposed to leave your school, right? A five-star that was playing. It wasn't like he wasn't playing. Dylan Gabriel's not supposed to be in his third school, as Oregon's quarterback. That's not really what the portal is about. But that's what it came very quickly

because there's no regulations, there's nothing, nothing's going to change. And players now are just sort of mercenaries. And it's a really odd dynamic. Like, if you spend four years, like there's a running back that left Oregon, Troy die, no, Travis die, who like Oregon fans love John.

He won a Rose Bowl with Oregon. like he went to USC for a year. Unfortunately got hurt at the end of the season, but like he can't come back to Oregon. He's a USC grad down. Like you got to like, it's kind of, I think it's just sort of stinks for some of those players.

You like not burn your bridges, but you sort of discontinue your time with that team. And all of a sudden that that's gone now. And you spent one year in a program. And I don't know, like do you feel that connection to that program after spending six months there? I, you probably don't.

See, I know coaches bitched moaned but I think Gabriel is a good example because they have, I forget the kid's name, but who's supposed to be their next like Kyler Murray or Baker Mayfield. I think they basically told him like this kid's playing. But then he comes there and Dan Lannning gets the UCLA kid that they also wanted the five star, who was pretty terrible last year, but it was tough circumstances. Like let's use that as an example. I guess more the five star can't transfer anymore.

Like he used up his one bullet gun, right? No, they have, you can transfer unlimited now. Seriously? Yeah. So how do you massage that relationship if he thinks he's better and Dylan Gabriel and training him? NIL. That's why.

He's Pam. Yeah. That's what it is. But also, too, like, so here's the thing about, I think some of these programs like Oregon, Ohio State, Georgia. And this is what goes back to what we talked about, I think at the beginning of the show, right? It's like, if you're coming to those schools, you understand you're not.

you're not guaranteed a spot because the talent is so grand at those places. Now, so Dan Lany has to find players. Ryan Day has to find, Kirby's supposed to find players that know that, right? Like, you're not coming to our school and getting a free starting spot without

earning your starting spot. And they're only taking players, John, that care about that. If you notice, not many players are leaving Georgia. Not a person leaving Ohio State. Not opposed to leaving Oregon. If they are,

it's mostly the coaches called processing, right? They kind of like tell them, like you're not going to play. We respond for someone else. Please leave us. So they're taking Dante Moore and saying like, hey, buddy, look, you can come here. We want you to come. But listen, you're not playing this season.

You might play next year, but guess what? We have a five-star freshman coming in, too. And that's part of coming to school in Oregon. And I think those schools are honest with the players. I mean, it's pretty pretty much like Dante Moore was tough last year, bad situation, rotating quarterbacks. The Bruin offensive line wasn't as good as been the past. It wasn't the best offense to set up.

I think he understands, too, like, too, like, I wasn't ready to play last year. I can benefit from sitting a year. And we're seeing players now go to the NFL with one year starting experience. It was never that way. You needed three years, four years of starting experience to be drafted in the first round. You need anyone. He gets to play one season next year and go 11 and 2 and be a first round draft pick, John. So the dynamic of all that has changed now.

And Georgia did too. They got Jada Moshada from Arizona State who played who was, you know, five-star kid, who now's going to be a backup there, organ did it as well. Makes sense, right? Dylan Gabriel goes down, your team is loaded, you want to have a viable backup,

Carson Beck goes down, Georgia's team is loaded, you want a viable backup, and the NIL stuff really keeps those players at those programs. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged.

It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show.

This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't. always get told and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show

on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of taun tons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to Stuff to Boar Your Mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do? little Kim. Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jay. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s.

To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but yeah, yeah, literally. But just so you y'all know. I mean, at this point, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS. on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah.

For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kier Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking.

Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses.

Steve Burns, Dustin Ross. Because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person.

Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way. Open your free, our Heart Radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. I would be very hesitant. I think we've learned in recent memory of breaking the bank for the Blue Chip quarterback out of high school. and that's one thing that's been hacked. You guys did it with Bo Nix. Washington did it with Pennix.

I mean, it's happened all over college football with the quarterback. Now, once they play a year and they want to transfer, you get a little film on them, like more. So you've seen some things, you know, we need to work on this. You have a much better feel for it. But like Nebraska's getting a lot of credit, right, for Mount Rule. And Riola is supposed to be the greatest things than sliced bread. But we've all been around college football now for 20 plus years, and more than half of them never amount to shit. right or just under underwhelmed given the hype you know and some of them become top 10 picks

but you it's a coin flip well that's why you recruit one every year right yeah why you have to you have another fivester every year i like royola i'm curious actually nebraska's interesting he looks fantastic if he just watches youtubes because matt rule in year two at temple and baler had that those teams to 11-12 wins in year two. And so much tougher in the Big Ten, I think. So we'll see, yeah, look, it's, I think quarterback position feels like really the one that you're striking the most goal in the portal.

Wide receiver, a little bit as well, maybe a little bit of cornerback, but it's really hard in the trenches to find those players. There's only a couple, you know, impact offensive see if it's a lineman a year in the portal because those players just stay put at the school they're at. There's no reason to leave if you're that good. And so teams are, I mean, pivoting back to having to recruit high school players of those

positions. Yeah, I mean, I'll get you out of here on this. Obviously, a story from a couple weeks ago, USC, LSU, try to back out of the game. You know, their roster clearly is nowhere near the heyday that most of us that talk about USC go back to the mid-2000s, and it's a different world. I mean, that team was no different than Sabins, Alabama. I mean, they were had pros at every position that were getting drafted, not like just drafted, like in the top 50 at every position,

and then countless guys in the top 20. So, like, I don't have the breakdown of LSU's roster, but I think we can all acknowledge that that's got a chance to be pretty ugly. And I'm sorry, like, this isn't year one, this is year three. And if you get rolled by Brian Kelly, also in year three, who has the same excuse as you do, new quarterback, new defensive coordinator. You're not playing at Baton Rouge at night either.

This game's in Vegas, which essentially should be a USC home game, right? Oh, it will be. I mean, that place will be full of USC fans. They tend to travel well, and you put Vegas in there. And Vegas, that's such a sports come up, man. Like, it's crazy. Quick. Ten years ago, it was like a barren desert of sports.

Now you have a hockey team there. I don't think actually the Azo ever show up. But you got a football team, a hockey team, all this college action every year. Lincoln Riley and USC is a good example, John, of how the portal can go badly very quickly for you, right? The portal for a school at USC should only be used to enhance your roster at certain positions. It cannot be used as a way to build up your entire roster. And USC went so hard the portal, and again, those positions, offensive line and defense aligned, you don't find those all-stars.

It's really hard to find those guys. A lot of times those all-stars, by the way, John, are in two categories. One, they're injured, right? Like, Leatu-Latu, UCLA's pass rush, or was at Washington. He was medically retired and came back UCLA. Or it's a lower-level school kid, right?

Oregon has a right-tackle, Cornelius, from Rhode Island. Like, those guys that are sort of... Jared Verse from Albany to Florida State. Yeah, so, like, you know, they're under-recruited, or they just have a gross spurt late, and they play really well, and they should be in Division 1, but they're not, and boom, you pop up.

But, like, if you're a second year offense alignment, you're transferring, sorry, you're probably not pretty, you're probably not good, right? Like, you're not. And so USC got way too portal happy. And Lincoln Riley has admitted, like, yeah, we probably shouldn't have done that. It did not work out. But now you're in year three, John,

and you're going back to high school recruiting, which I like, USC's doing a better job in the 2025 cycle. But that's not, now you're like three. years away from that coming to fruition. Like those players, so now you're looking at what, 26 by the time, like those interior players on offensive football are like ready to like contribute at a high level. And so they just are really behind right now with talent. I mean, you look at, I'm looking at the roster right now.

I mean, their center may be NFL player, left tackles a wretcher freshman. I think he can't beat that player. But like wide receiver, this thing about looking around these teams for years of Oklahoma, First round wide receivers every year. Not right now. Maybe defense. We talked about Pete Carroll's teams. Their backups got drafted.

Their backups, John, that did not start got drafted. U.S.C.'s defense, the two best players, really, the three best players are transfers, which is funny. It's Barry Alexander, who's good, I think, and the two kids of Oregon State, the linebacker and the corner are both brothers. Otherwise, again, it's just a lot of like, eh. But at USC, it shouldn't be that way. It's USC. You shouldn't be like, ah, yeah.

And even a quarterback, Miller Moss can be good. He played one in the bowl game. Jada Amiaava. Maybe. Is that San Diego State transfer? I think it's a UNLV transfer. Sorry. It's just the talent at USC is not what people expected to be.

Year one, they won with Caleb Williams, better skilled guys in office than their schedule. No Oregon, no Washington. They didn't have those guys to play last year. And this year they had a much tougher schedule. And they went, they went seven and five. Seven to five, right? So their win total, I think it's seven and a half in Vegas.

And it was an ugly seven. I mean, they easily could have lost Arizona. I mean, they probably should have lost that. Yeah, double overtime. Yeah. You could argue the day and age of what Pete did, even the probably first half of Sabin is so over with the transfer portal in NIL. I mean, look at now.

I mean, how many teams have a legit chance to win the national championship this year? Evan? Yeah, I mean, I think if you're looking at, you're looking at like Ohio State, Georgia, Texas, Oregon. I don't think Michigan's in that category right now. Florida State or Clemson? Yeah, but I don't, Clemson, I didn't have mass question marks at quarterback, right, with Clubneck and DJU. A quarterback. Florida State just lost, Michigan lost too much, in my opinion to be a competitor for a championship. Look, if Kailen is a bore who's won everywhere he's at, I think you're looking at a guy who can, you know, he's going to do well. There's a couple of like teams, I think that old.

LSU would probably be pretty good. Old Miss is going to be good. Yeah, they are. They went all in the portal this year too. Like, they're going to be really good. They just haven't been able to kind of get out of that Georgia, Alabama hump. They haven't been able to beat those teams. So they're one team, I think, you just seriously look at.

No one in the Big 12, you know, it feels like SEC or, or sort of Big Ten championship this year. But yeah, not many teams in most seasons, I think, are championship worthy. Well, I know this. If Lane gets the playoffs, which, you know, if he goes nine and three or ten and two, he'll be there. He's got, you know, he, from what I was told, he wanted the Oregon job. Obviously, he's got some off the field question marks in his past. They made the right decision with Dan Langing.

The lane, I think would have been fine, too. I think he's got Florida written all over him. What is that disaster ends, don't you? That or, yeah, him or Jed Fish. They just, Lane just seems to want out every year, right? He's just like, please get me out of,

please get me out of here. Yeah, Florida, I could see that Florida. And then everyone says, Jed Fish wants that job. So, I mean, I always love when the media says that,

right, John. Like, they want this job. Well, yeah, I mean, yeah, great, but he's got to do well, I think, at Washington,

year one, to have that job. It, yeah, it was, yeah, Lane, Lane's going,

I mean, that team is, I don't, think about their offense too. I don't know if that's an offense that's like a championship winning style of offense that Lane runs Ole Miss. They score a ton of points, but I feel like some of these teams can beat them up in the trenches,

which is sort of not how you win championships, obviously. To me, if he gets to the playoffs and were to win a game, that would be a remarkable achievement for Ole Miss. Oh, yeah. Especially we're sort of, again, what they put in. They put a lot. People under the radar, like they've put a lot of Missouri actually might be pretty good too. It's kind of a sleeper SEC team, I think, that might have a little bit of juice.

Penn State, again, sort of the old missed thing. Like, just can't beat Michigan in Ohio State. And that sort of is important to winning the Big Ten. We're nine, nine Saturdays away now from college football being back, 10 Saturday, nine, nine, ten, something like that. If you gave Lincoln Riley Penn State's roster, USC might be a problem. Oh, yeah, especially on that defense. Yeah. Okay, I'll let you get out of here, Jeff.

Have a good summer. Thanks, buddy. The Charlotte humidity and talk to you soon. It's coming. 100 this weekend, Saturday and Sunday. Enjoy the pool. Yeah, thank you, buddy. Take care.

The volume. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel

help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing huge. human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your

favorite therapist and host Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor. It signals to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to. Listen to learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related

episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tontons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep. That's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media.

Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. This is an I-Heart podcast.

Guaranteed human.