The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 & Out - John Harbaugh FIRED in Baltimore, Kliff Kingsbury OUT in Washington, Cowboys make a change

Episode Date: January 7, 2026

Former NFL scout John Middlekauff reacts to the news of the day that saw John Harbaugh being fired in Baltimore. John dives into how we knew all season that this was possible, what's next for Baltimore and where should Harbaugh look to next to coach? Next, John talks about Washington moving on from Kliff Kingsbury and why they both decided to part ways, the changes made to the Cowboys defense, and the wild college transfer portal and how it's changing the college football landscape. Finally, John answers your questions in this episode's mailbag segment. 04:22 - John Harbaugh fired in Baltimore 21:01 - Cowboys make a change on defense 29:41 - Carlie Irsay Gordon and the Colts 34:12 - College football transfer portal 41:45 - Dad Diaries 53:11 - Mailbag Follow John on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for the latest.  All lines provided by Hard Rock Bet Use promo code “3ANDOUT20” on https://nicokick.com/zone for 20% off at checkout! 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. #VolumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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

you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the ice. Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast, Point Game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season. And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was crying. You just understood.

That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis'clock, he's like, you know, I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the, IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Your husband is not who you think he is. Your body is not what you thought it was. Your identity is formed by a secret history. I'm Danny Shapiro. And these are just a few of the stunning stories I'll be exploring on the 14th season of Family Secrets. He kind of shoved me out of the way and said, move. And he went out the front door and he jumped in a car and drove off.

And that was the last time I saw him. Listen to Season 14 of Family Secrets on the IHeart Radio, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. The volume. What is going on, everybody, John Middilkoff, Three and Out podcast, brought to you by my friends at Zone Pouches. Well, I recorded a podcast early afternoon, and then as I was headed with my wife to this baby checkup appointment,

I got forwarded a bunch of tweets that John Harbaugh had been fired. So I went to the appointment, came back, re-recorded the open, and reacted to the John Harbaugh situation. Because let's face it, the biggest story of the day. And even though we had been talking about it and alluding to it a little on the podcast, a lot of you guys' DMs, it's still wild when you actually read that he got fired. It was, wow. So we'll dive into just my quick reaction to it as well as some other stuff that happened today. flu fired, Kingsbury fired.

We will talk. Some college football, some I saw on the internet. This place really is insane right now. As well, something I wanted to start doing like once a week as someone who's about to have a child. I'm just going to see a lot of things, observe a lot of things, have a lot of takes. So I thought, you know, let's mix in the dad diaries. And we're going to try to do that.

Who knows? It'll change week to week. but I wanted to dabble today. As well as a little mailbag at John Middilkoff. At John Middlecoff is the Instagram. Fire in those DMs and get your questions answered on the show. So make sure you subscribe to the podcast if you listen on Collins' feed. Make sure you subscribe to our YouTube channel.

I just got a text message. We got a Netflix marketing meeting later this week. So as I get information, I'll give it to you. We'll be live Friday. We'll be live Thursday, Saturday, Sunday. day, obviously college football, the NFL. We got a lot of games coming and we'll be reacting to it, recording podcasts on the YouTube than we obviously do here on the audio. But let's, I guess let's just dive in at John Arbaugh. I mean, my first reaction, even though we had talked about it a little bit

and it was on the table as a possibility, and I think I had said on Sunday night when they lost the game, which, I mean, they're a couple feet away from winning the game. Maybe not a couple feet, couple yards. It was bad kick. Obviously, John Harbaugh would have been coaching this week, been there 18 years. There's no other reaction when you actually see it than wow. Mike Tomlin or John Harbaugh, the two longest tenured coaches in the league, if one of them loses their job. We've been talking about Tomlin for years, but we never believe it's actually going to happen.

Even John Harbaugh. I didn't expect John Harbaugh to get fired. So it's one of those things like Jonathan Ganon got fired. No shit. Stefansky got run out of town. saw that one coming. Pete Carroll won and done. Seriously? They could have done that three months ago. This one is pretty crazy. I mean, it really is. He's a couple years removed. They had the number one overall seed. They were hosting the Chiefs in the AFC Championship. They were statistically easily the best team in the league. The Chiefs ended up beating the Niners. They had played the Niners on Christmas and housed them.

They were favored in that game. I know because I bet on them, which cost me 5Gs, which did suck a lot. But I had so much faith on that team after watching them on that Christmas night against a really good Niners team, and they treated him like a JV team. A couple years later, he's fired. And these are moments that,

you know, firing Stafansky or Jonathan Gannon, like the owners like him, but it's not that big a deal for the organization. Firing Brian Dayball, he'd been there like three and a half years. Firing guy that had been there 18 years, who you've not only obviously won the Super Bowl a long time ago with,

but had been the leader of one of the most consistent operations in the league is a really, really big deal. So I think I speak from most people that I don't know how your first reaction wasn't, wow, they actually did it. And I just took some notes of just my initial thoughts. Obviously, there are a lot of rumors coming out that they wanted him to fire the O.C. And it's one of those, you know, if that's true, prideful guy, like I'm not doing that. So not saying it was Lamar versus Harbaugh, but it was a little like, yeah, we want to

change for Lamar on offense. And John said no, which there's going to be more stories and more inside articles, I would imagine, written over the next week on some of the details with this Lamar situation, John Harbaugh's views on it, the organization's views on the offense. But right now, I don't know. I don't have any inside information. But it's clear. It, in a roundabout way, became Lamar versus the coaching staff's philosophy with offense.

And listen, you watch that game offensively. It's just, it's been a little weird. The Derek Henry thing was weird. When he got benched and the next week he runs for 200 yards. And it's just been bizarre. There's no way around it. And let me say this. I'm not saying, you know, they're not justified in doing this.

18 years a long time. Maybe it's time for a change. Maybe it's time to mix it up. Is it going to be hard to replace John Harbaugh? 100%. Because more than likely, statistics will show you, you're going to downgrade. That's the way it works. Now, unlike his brother, they're probably not going to go to Jim Tom Sula

because the other thing I wrote down, and we'll get into John here in a second, this is twofold. He immediately becomes the best coach on the market by a country mile. I mean, it ain't even close. He is the number one candidate and there's not even a gap between second. He can't even see the Stafanskys and the solace and those fucking guys. Can't even see him with binoculars. The best deer hunting scope, you couldn't even find him.

So he is the number one candidate by a mile. Schefter tweeted out, seven teams in the first 45 minutes called his agent. Well, there aren't seven openings. So there are going to be teams that would be firing their coach to hire John Harbaugh, which I've said it for Mike Tomlin forever. Like those two guys, if they ever became available, run circles around the other candidates. They are immediate hires for all these teams.

Hell, John Harbaugh, like, say some of the franchises out loud. Like, John Harbaugh would never coach the Arizona Cardinals. John Harbaugh would never coach the Tennessee Titans. Like, I can't even see John Harbaugh coached the Atlanta Falcons. Though if I'm Atlanta, I'd be all over him. Like, let's face it, he feels like a New York Giant. And at this point in time, it'd be shocking if he's not the head coach of the New York Giants. And I also think the Baltimore Ravens immediately lap all these clown organizations

are the best option by a mile. they're the number one job on the market and it's not even close. They have an established quarterback, they have an established culture, they have a consistency of drafting well with DeCosta and Ozzie, they have an owner that is stable

and not like a lot of these clowns that have no clue what he's doing, he knows what it looks like, he will stand with you through thick and thin. I mean, 18 years, that's a long freaking time. I saw right now, Andy reads the longest tenure,

or Tomlin technically is, right? 07, assuming that he keeps his job. But who knows? This week, what if they get blown out by the Texans? That Tomlin, and then it goes Andy, and then all of a sudden you're out like Kyle and McVeigh. So this is a league that runs through these guys, like, you know, I run through paper towels.

And guys like John Harbaugh, they don't come often. And he's going to get a job. Listen, I understand the Rooney rule. And, I mean, Mike Tomlin benefited from it, because they just interviewed them and loved them and got the job. You should not have to enter. If I'm the Giants and I want to hire John Harbaugh to be my head coach, I've said this forever.

There has to be some sort of stipulation. Like if you've won a Super Bowl, I don't need to go through and interview people just to interview people. If I want to hire him, I should be able to hire him yesterday. And I would say this, if I'm Joe Shane, that would be a problem because that would not guarantee your employment. If John Harbaugh has, like, the Ravens guys, one thing they're really good at is producing personnel.

people. Google Ozzie's tree is basically like the opposite of, you know, Belichick's coaching tree. So you see Joe Ortiz immediately go with John or Jim Hardball. He's good at his job, right? He's just good at his job. So if John's like, hey, I got a guy like Joe Ortiz, it wouldn't be Joe Ortiz. But someone like that that I want to bring with me, Joe Shane's getting the pink slip and he's done. It happens like that. And like I don't think there should have to be some charade. Like I get it with most of these coaches. You should have to interview like Robert Salas and Matt Nagy's like you have to

follow the rules, right? But John Harbaugh, there should be no... I want to hire John Harbaugh. I'm hiring him tomorrow. That should be allowed. Because if I was the Giants, like I'd want to be hired yesterday. And I think it makes a lot of sense with his personality with that region of the country he's comfortable in. If I was a betting man right now,

John Harbaugh would be the next coach in the New York Giants. and to go from the situation they've been in, if that comes to fruition, you should be, like, think of the guy, Pat Shermer's and McAdues and the table, the situation the way that, Joe Judge. I mean, give me a break.

It would, he's older, though the Harbaas feel a little younger. I mean, I think John's like 63, would be a pretty big game changer for the culture of the organization. It would have a Kaufflin type vibe. So, and the Ravens, I saw Daniel Jeremiah, who obviously works with all these, he works for the Chargers, does their radio play by, or analysts with the play by play by play guy, Matt Money Smith. Like Jesse Minter, you know, Mike McDonald, Jesse Minter were creations of the Raven operation.

And by all accounts, Jesse Minter is a star. Well, if anyone's going to know that, it's the Harbaugh family. Now, is it a little weird to replace John? I also think when you read John's statement, one, you don't get fired in that statement on that like Adobe Canva. Like they've known this was heading that way potentially. But if, you know, so maybe there's not as much bad blood as there would be for most of us humans if we got fired or relieved of our duties. But I do think that Jesse Minter would be a name that I'd be stunned if he's not one of their lead candidates. if he doesn't end up as the Ravens job.

But if I were all these guys that are sniffing around on jobs, that would be the number one job and it wouldn't even be close. Right? That's what's crazy about this situation. Is the guy you fired immediately the best candidate and your job is immediately the best job? And I think now it kind of puts a lot of pressure on this Lamar situation for, you know, because they're judged, the Ravens are judged on the playoffs at this point in time.

And that is a difficult job, right? You get hired, you're expected to not only make the playoffs, but like, can we win a Super Bowl now? Can we get back to the Super Bowl? And that's not, like, you go to the Titans, you win six games. Shit, they gave you an extension. You went to the Giants, you went 9 and 8 back-to-back years. John Mara, buy you a beach house, right? You go to the Cardinals.

If you just beat McVeigh or Kyle once in a while, Jonathan, you know, Michael Bidwell buying you a golf membership here, Silverleaf. So that's not the case with the Ravens. You get hired, you're expected to win, you're expected to win big. And John Harbaugh went to the playoffs a lot. Right? And he had some devastating losses. That comes with the territory. I would say none was a bigger, pivotal

moment in his career than that Chiefs lost at home a couple years ago. You know, I think, listen, we can make fun. The butterfly effect of the kid missing the kick on Sunday night, which obviously was big. Now, if he refused to fire

and that was not going to change, then he was probably getting fired no matter what, unless he, like, won the Super Bowl. But that moment a couple years ago, he beats the Chiefs in that game. I just think they're winning the Super Bowl, and you're looking at a two-time, like, he's just, he's kind of untouchable. And the back-and-forth or the add-ods a little bit with the quarterback and the scheme, and the coaches would have as much juice as him. and he doesn't right now.

He simply doesn't, right? So, crazy moment. I mean, one of those stories that it's just wild when you see it. And Tomlin would be the same thing. It's just, wow, seismic earthquake that just erupts through the NFL. And I think it gets back to the Schaefter thing of him tweeting out that you have teams with coaches talking to them. Like teams with coaches aren't like, can I interview Robert Sala? You know, and listen, I'm not trying to shit on Robert Sala.

I like Robert Sala a lot. But he's clearly going to be one of the top candidates this cycle. There are certain coaches. Mike Tomlin is one of those guys too. If they were available, teams with coaches go, I want to get rid of my guy to hire that guy. And I don't even, I would imagine. That could be the bucks.

If I'm Jason Light, like I, would you rather have John Harbaugh or Todd Bulls? I'm just trying to think it off the cuff. Jerry, probably not. John's too famous. Who else would be? The Bengals never would. Who are teams that missed the playoffs? Commanders.

Where does Josh Harris come from? The NBA. What do you always chasing? Stars. Big names of coaches. Look who he's hired at coaches. Doc Rivers. Nick Nurse.

You know, champion type guys. He's looking at Dan Quinn. Would you rather have Dan Quinn or John Harbaugh? would not shock me at all if the commanders and Tampa Bay Bucks were two teams with teams that reached out. And I'm not talking about their GMs. I'm talking with the owners. What did the Glazers once upon an end do?

Trade for Gruden. Look at Josh Harris, who he's hired as coaches of his NBA team. Look at what they've chased with their NBA team with players. Look at today. They got rid of their two coordinators. Just see you. Get the fuck out of here. Guys were the coordinators last year when they were in the NFC.

championship game with the least talented roster we've ever seen make it that far. So this league's crazy and today was truly one of those moments that we don't get enough of that makes you go wow. Today's show is brought to you by our presenting sponsor Hard Rock Bet, the official sportsbook partner of the AFC South champion Jacksonville Jaguars. Duvall is going to be jacked up this weekend. You know what I love doing with these standalone playoff games? game parlayes, baby. Lock in one matchup at a time and stack your picks. Maybe a quarterback

throws for 250 yards. Maybe a running back hits 100. Tight end punches in a touchdown. Got you covered. And if you miss kickoff, do not worry. Hard Rock Bet has live in-game betting so you're never too late to the action. Find a winner or grab a player prop you meant to play. And live bet between snaps, it's just that easy, baby. So if you haven't tried your first bet yet at Hard Rock Bet, there's still time for you to get 150 in bonus bets if you win. Just place a $5 bet and if it hits, you get not only your winnings, but also an extra $150 in bonus bets. That's Hard Rock Bet. Download it now and make your first deposit today.

Payable and bonus bets, not a cash offer, offered by Seminole Tribe of Florida in Florida, offered by Seminole Hard Rock Digital LLC in all other states. You must be 21 plus and physically present in Arizona. Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia to play. Terms and conditions apply. Concerned about gambling in Florida, call 1-833 play-wise. In Indiana, if you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-9 with it.

Gambling problem, call 1-800 gambler, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers. And guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, new? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast?

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

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

and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends.

Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel. Help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

The story I've told myself about love or relationships can then shake my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown and explore the journey of healing, self-discovery, and returning to yourself. We explore higher consciousness, emotional well-being, and the practices that help you find clarity, peace, and self-master. in a world that can feel overwhelming. The world is becoming lonelier. We're not becoming more social and connected. We're becoming more individualized, but we actually meet people in connection.

If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole, this podcast is for you to hear more. Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you already know there's a lot to break down.

Orsha accusing Kelly of sleeping with a merry man. They holding Kay Michelle back from fighting Drew. Pinky has financial issues. I like the bougie style of Housewives show. I think it looks like it's going to be interesting. On the podcast, Reality with the King, I, Carlos King, recap the biggest moments from your favorite reality shows, including the Real House Wise franchise. the drama, the alliances, and the T, everybody's talking about. As an executive producer in reality television, I'm not just watching it.

I understand the game. As somebody who creates shows, I'll even say this. At the end of the day, when people are at home, they want entertainment. To hear this and more, listen to Reality with the King on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Let's dive into the previous recorded part of the podcast. But I did want to start with the Dallas Cowboys. And they fired Matt Eber Fluse, sent out a press release that said,

we released Matt Eber Fluse like he's a player. No, no, Jerry, you fired Matt Eber Fluse. And I think this happens a lot in football when coaches don't have much juice. Probably happens in a lot of industries. When you have more pull, whoever you're working for or with let you do what you want to do. When you don't have much pull and you don't have much pull, and you don't have much leverage. We just saw it with Pete Carroll.

You think Pete Carroll wanted to hire Chip Kelly? No. But Pete Carroll didn't have any leverage, you know, in 2025. So he had to work with him. And Brian Schottenheimer probably had the least amount of leverage in like the history of the NFL. So think about this. Matt Eberfluse had worked for the Dallas Cowboys

before he went to the Colts and then the Bears. Remember Josh McDaniels when he turned down the job in Indy, hired Eber Fluse before he even. even got there. So Iberfluse was waiting in his office and he never showed. But I think the thing with Iber flus is one, he's not very good. I've never seen it. You know, you watch the hard knocks. He comes across as no Jews. I don't know. Something's just off. You know, there's something and you can overrate hard knocks all you want. There is a judgment on like, oh, I feel this guy's presence. I see this, right? You know, knew it right away like Bill O'Brien's presence, Dan Campbell's presence.

watch Matt Eberflush. Like, what is this? And the irony is he's a Sabin guy. Played for Sabin at Ken State. Like, they're pretty close. And he just stinks. But here's the thing about Brian Schaed and armor. While their record isn't great, kind of proved to Jerry like, I can be a head coach and I definitely can run the offense. Because the offense was awesome. I don't know. I didn't even see the final stats. Sunday was such a joke. I mean, Dak Prescott, I guess he probably didn't because Stafford probably bypassed him, but had led the league in yards. Their offense for most of the year was really good. The defense was atrocious. There is no way of Brian Schadenheimer had his choice, he would have hired Iberflus. That is your classic, we're telling you who to hire. Happens all

across the league. When GMs have a lot of juice, when owners don't trust the coach, they force guys on their coaching staff. You know, it's something that it's rarely reported when guys are hired because you don't want to know. I'm like, well, the owner forced me to hire this offensive or defensive coordinator. Definitely wouldn't have been my first hire, but you feel it when a guy's fired. And to me, that shows that, like, Brian Schottenheimer kind of gained a little bit of juice. It's crazy to say because the Cowboys weren't that good. But I do think his offensive prowess, and let's face it, handles himself, I thought, pretty well in kind of a weird circumstance to be like, this guy's got to go. And you could tell the way Jerry was talking like two or three weeks ago

when one of his post-game press conference was like, yeah, Iber Flues came really high recommend it. It's like Jerry, he worked for you. Like, you knew him. So I just think sometimes these guys, the NFL, you know, has turned, there's a scam element to it. There always has been. But now with the money on the line, you know, I just saw we'll get into Cliff Kingsbury, who is now being paid by three different organizations. Three different organizations. In the real world, like outside of football, you would get to the point where people start suing you. You know, and these coaches, like Cliff

Kingsbury, all-time scam artist. I mean, I've never seen it with Cliff, and this is nothing personal. Seems like a great guy, hard worker, everyone likes him personally. I think his offense, I mean, makes me want to puke in my mouth. He's had a slight moment of brilliance for the Cardinals, and two years ago, it's like they were touched by the gods. They were like 95% on fourth downs, which is never sustainable. And obviously they had a bunch of injuries, but he got ran out of town real quick.

And no one has a better PR campaign than Cliff. Like a month ago, people were like, oh, Cliff Kingsbury is going to be interviewing for head coaching jobs. You know why that came out? Because it was pretty clear. Washington was going to fire him. You can tell me you mutually departed, give me a break. That means fired.

We've seen that for years. Jim Harbaugh once famously, mutually departed with the 49ers. A month later, is like, yeah, they fired me. Of course they did. Cliff Kingsbury was just fired. Now, I'd also say, like, kind of chaotic. And this, we just talked about Brian Schadenheimer. The one thing you get with Brian Schadenheimer, and these two teams are in the same division,

more than likely you're going to be competing for second place next year behind the Eagles, is one thing you get with Brian is like, I know he's calling the offense. I know him and Dak and whoever you bring in. It's his scheme. It's his baby. That's his thing. Well, Dan Quinn's like this defensive guy, didn't even call defense until he took it over mid-season. what's kind of why he got back in the good graces of everybody.

In Dallas, he was kicking ass to the defensive coordinator. And I think that also undid Iberfluse, because Jerry a couple years ago saw what a great defensive coordinator looks like, making kind of random guys become really good players. Kingsbury, I mean, to me, he's got a Chip Kelly thing to him. The name is way bigger than the ROI you get. The name's really famous, and obviously Cliff's a good-looking dude. But when it comes to offensive prowess, good defenses,

are licking their lips to play that guy. And you can tell me Jaden was banged up this year, and that is true. But if you want Cliff Kingsbury to be your offensive coordinator and call your plays, I will short your organization in the National Football League. I would say the same thing for Chip Kelly. And, you know, clearly, if you are going, and here's the thing with Cliff, like, when you get a guy like Jaden who the question mark is now, it's like, we got to keep him healthy.

We got to be careful with him. He can be a little reckless. What's the easiest way to keep him healthy? Run the football. Have a run-oriented operation. And I would imagine Dan Quinn and this, listen, Adam Peters had a front row seat for a long time for Kyle Shanahan. And, you know, that offense, and you just have to wonder, like, you know,

LaFleurs, not the Packer one, but the brother who's now Mike, who is with the Jets and who is now with the Rams. under McVeigh. I wonder if he will want to institute something like that. Some version of that for Jay and Y. Because it's not only quarterback friendly, it's keep your quarterback, you know, away from chaos. A lot of play action stuff.

And obviously running the ball is paramount. But Washington, like, I think Dan Quinn is immediately on the hot seat. Because this team was the oldest team in the NFL. Some of the guys, like Debo Samuel's a free agent. You know, Bobby Wagner, who had to play all season long. all-time great player, legendary player. I mean, he had no business to be on the field this year. Couldn't move.

And it's a space leak. So you're playing in the open field. And he just couldn't cover a soul. He couldn't change direction. It was tough to watch. If it was just a run play downhill, he could make it. But most of the plays in the NFL get you going laterally. And you kind of felt bad watching it.

But that's on the organization. And now you fire the defensive coordinator as well. Here's what head coaches always do. They start pointing the finger. And what's crazy to me is last year, everything was great. And then this year, did these guys just forget how to coach football? Or were you kind of admitting like, yeah, we never really believed in these guys from the job? But listen, Washington, we thought had turned the corner.

When they hired Adam, when they hired Dan Quinn, they got this new ownership. This year was pretty chaotic. And now they're blowing out people left and right. So the owner comes from the NBA in a sport that gets very used to firing coaches. The 76ers, they will not have. hesitates you can of people. So he ain't afraid to pay people to go away. And the one thing in the NFL, especially when you have a young quarterback, stability.

Well, Jane Daniels on his second offensive coordinator now in three years. And he's coming off an injury-riddled year. So whoever they hire, whatever system that they implement is going to be extremely important for the long-term health of Jane Daniels's career, which is crazy because last year he looked like a superstar. And this year just fell apart. every, you know, which way from the jump. It felt like he was injured from the jump and never looked right when he played.

And last on the ownership front, I watched some of Carly Ursay's press conference. Pretty clear. And listen, not everyone's a good public speaker. I totally get it. My brother who can do so many things that I can't dream of doing could barely speak at my wedding to give a speech. He was so nerdy. He couldn't even eat his dinner.

And so it's like, there are certain things I can't relate to. Carly Ursae, not a great public speaker. But, like, I've seen it. I don't judge you on that. Not everyone's comfortable speaking in front of people. That doesn't make or break you as a quote-unquote leader to be not comfortable in front of the press. And in 2025, owners rarely talk anyway.

But I just tried to take away her words. And she didn't really have any. Like, she couldn't really justify beside she likes Chris Ballard and she thinks Shane Seikin's good at his job. And obviously Chris Ballard's gone nine plus years. Has it won a division. Hasn't been in the playoffs. I think I saw someone say it's seven years.

That was like Lux's last healthy year playing. And I got an interesting text from a buddy in the NFL about the Colts. And I think their bigger issue is the team has a lot of question marks. You know, obviously the quarterback situation is a disaster. the guy that was going to resurrect their franchise just because he was competent has a torn Achilles and he has a broken leg

but so obviously Anthony Richardson is not going to be on this team next year there is you even saw it with Kurt Cousins who now granted he was older but not mobile Cousins looked way better this year than he did last year so to think that Daniel Jones these guys if they don't make the playoffs next year they're just both getting fired

no matter how much he likes him or not because there's too much fan pressure. And you can tell they're putting out statements. She's trying to say all the right things. But people are pissed because this team just always sucks. And not suck enough where it's like, okay, we bottomed out. We can get Fernando Mendoza. Like always kind of in the middle, like 7, 8, 9 wins, just going nowhere fast.

And a buddy sent me this. He's like, they're in a tough spot. This is a guy that works in the league. Pitman has regressed. Taylor will want a contract. Latu decent, but not huge impact. Buck and Grover getting older. And I look, Jonathan Taylor's contract, it was built so if it had gone wrong,

they could have got out this year. So the guaranteed money starts changing. So when you're a great player like him, it's like, well, I want my more guaranteed money now. And it's not, well, we haven't been winning. They don't care. And I don't blame them for not care. You got to take advantage.

That's the business you're at. But I think the Colts now, the other thing that's scary is the Texans are solid, right? Casario, D'Amico, their infrastructure, their young play. players, like, they're going nowhere. But to me, the Jags, it's like, well, they don't feel like they're going anywhere either. So it's like, are we sure Daniel Jones going to be ready to play? What if Jonathan Taylor wants, you know, $25 million a year? We don't have a first round pick.

I forgot to mention that. We do not have a first round pick for the next two years because of the Soss Gardner trade. And listen, if sauce is healthy, it obviously gives us a really good corner. But ideally, that was going to go with Charverius Worse. who's also a good corner would give us one of the best defensive backfields in the league when it comes to two starting corners. Tervarius's dad, and I don't even blame him, wants him to retire. I think he got three concussions this year.

And he had a bunch when he was with the 49ers. Like, it's a problem. So you have the situation where you're all in on sauce. You need him to be a star because you just traded the first round picks. And the guy you were going to pair him with has a serious concussion issue. And there's, I mean, who knows? It's his decision, but wouldn't shock anybody if he just calls her, quits. So I think if you're a Colts fan, you go, listen, Jim Ursay was losing his marbles

toward the end. It was impulsive. But you have this, you know, his daughter now in this situation where she has a really close relationship with Chris Ballard. And Chris even said, I guess he told her, like, last year, I don't ever want our relationship to impact your view on my performance, which is easy for him to say out loud, makes him seem like good guy. And listen, I've never heard a bad word about Chris. But most people get fired in his situation. And I think it's safe to say if Pops was still around, you know, before the last couple of years really fell off a cliff,

I think Chris would have been done. And he survived because I think it's fair to say she likes them personally. The transfer portal, I think this is fascinating. 25% of Division 1A football players are in the portal. I heard a stat there are enough players in the portal to fill every SEC roster. I'm not a huge, like, it's broken, it needs to change. I'm kind of entertained by it all. I just talked to a buddy who I'm trying to help a guy's son land somewhere,

former big recruit who, you know, got four, you know, part of the transfer portal now is, like, when I worked at Fresno State, I remember Pat Hill, there would have been 12, 15 guys a year. He just would have cut, right? that were just shitheads, that wouldn't listen, that I'm not even talking because they were bad players and some of that as well. Like you miss on recruits. You couldn't, you weren't allowed to do that, really. Right? If they were in good academic standing, you kind of just had to stick with them. And you couldn't just get rid of the scholarship, so you ended up keeping them around anyway. Now, what happens? I just saw Arch Manning's roommate, a wide receiver. It happens all over

the country. And I know someone personally that happened to, the coach comes to you. And it's typically a younger player and says, you're never going to play here, you are not welcome on the team anymore. Now, legally, they have to honor your scholarship so they say, you can stay on campus and we, you know, at Texas, at Arizona, at wherever, and you can stay on scholarship and just go to school, but you are no longer on the football team. That is something over the last couple years that did not exist in college football. Maybe like Sabin could push a guy out, you know, a big time coach could because a big recruit, like you're never going to play here and kind of force his hand. But not like now or just, you can just legitimately tell a guy, you need to leave.

It happens in the NFL all the time. You're just, you're cut, right? We're cutting or releasing you. Kind of like Iberfluse. We're releasing you. And it happens, now it happens in college football left and right. So a lot of these guys in the portal, some of them are going in to try to get more money. A lot of them, especially younger ones, are told you're not good enough.

You're not welcome here. Also, we want to go into the portal and get an older guy. Rick Petino said this a couple years ago. High school kids are in major trouble, and it's no different in college football. Because if you're a college football coach trying to win in 2026, it's my thing with Lincoln Riley. It's like he's getting a lot of credit and he's got this new stud GM that has the number one recruiting class in the country. Historically, that's a massive deal. I'd say in 2006, it's never meant less. ideally you hit on a couple of those guys

but in like two years if a guy is not playing or he might just leave hell in a year he can leave so I think this situation is pretty crazy but I will also say this forever it's been like my child just is not going to play college football

just be realistic before he even pops out but a lot of people that thought their child had a chance at college athletics it was because they got free college right I want to get my son a scholarship get my daughter a scholarship, so they go to school for free. Big deal. I mean, it saves you a lot of money.

I don't blame anyone for thinking that, even though a tiny, tiny percent of kids actually go to college to get a full ride. And then a tiny, tiny percent of those guys go on to play professional sports. Well, Chris Vanini, who covers college football for the athletic, I saw he posted this tweet because he wrote an article, that quarterbacks now, starting quarterbacks in the power four, on the low end are making a million and on the high end are making up four to five million dollars.

I just talked to a college coach today, actually. And he was laughing. He says, it's crazy that if you are, if someone tells you like, hey, you're going to be a fourth round pick, historically a lot of guys make, I'm leaving. I'm going pro. Now it's like, I'm not taking a pay cut. And they stay.

He's like, I bet, I said Diego Pavia would play college football if he could until he was like 38 years old. He'd be like Aaron Rogers of Vanderbilt on the S&E. SEC. I don't blame him. I mean, you start making seven figures. Like, I don't want to give this. I don't want to take a pay cut going to the real world. And quarterbacks, I mean, I just saw that Sam Levitt, I don't think he's officially signed, but there were rumors that he was going to Kentucky for $5 million.

I saw a great tweet. Like, there's never been greater proof that we printed too much money. I agree. And I'm not anti-any-one making money. It seems like, I remember Jackson Arnold last year, went to Auburn for like $3, $4 million. It's like, what are we? doing. You know, edge rushers on the low end are going for half a mill, on the high end are going for two million. Offensive tackles, which obviously should, you know, go for a lot. Same thing,

going up for $2 million. And on the low end, $600,000 to $700,000, there has never, ever been a better time to be a college athlete. And it's not even close. Obviously, popularity for college football is at an all-time high. Ratings are through the roof, the college football playoff. But forever, it was a really big deal. Like, I played, we all know these people. I'm 40 years old. Like, got a buddy, he played it. USC with Pete Carroll.

Got a buddy. He played it, you know, in Iowa for Kirk Ferrence. Now he runs a bank or now he's the number one sales guy for this medical device company. We all know these people. But nowadays, if you just, even if you don't sniff going pro, you're going to make hundreds of

thousands of dollars if you're playing division. one football. And let's face it, a lot of these guys, for every, you know, Bain or Caleb Downs or all the sweet players, even the good starters on the good teams, there are a lot of below average guys who are cashing in. And, you know, for these parents that used to force their kid like lift weights, eat right, all that stuff, I think this stuff's only going to get crazier. It's only going to get crazy because it's like, yeah, we don't even, who cares if we even go pro? If we could make a lot of, we could make a lot of it. several million dollars in our late teens and early 20s.

I'm still kind of at a loss. What are these guys doing with all this money? You spend so much time in the fall playing football, meetings, practice, lifting, sleeping. I mean, you don't have that much time in the day. And a lot of these towns are small. There wouldn't even be anything to spend a lot of money on. It's not like you're going to buy some, you know,

million dollar house there. You're only there for a couple years. I hope a lot of these guys, which I wouldn't have, I don't even know what I would have blown it on. But it would have been the dumbest shit possible. I mean, I can't even like, run out a movie theater to play Call of Duty for the week with all my buddies. You can go unlimited food. I mean, you would just think of the stupidest stuff ever.

Obviously, on top of any time you went out, you would pay for everything. But these cats are living well, man. Most of us, we were in college, drinking daddy lights and, you know, pop off vodka out of a plastic bottle. Not anymore. They are drinking top shelf, good stuff, eating well. I mean, the amount of college kids historically that eat just Chipotle and McDonald's and just whatever's cheap, these dudes are going to the steakhouse five nights a week. So props to them.

in the cash and props to some of these coaches that can, you know, I guess just get rid of guys. I did want to start something new as someone, I'm recording this on Tuesday, kind of a little after lunch. We have a doctor's appointment to find out if the baby is flipped.

Right now, obviously the heads up. And for those of you non-parents or non-future parents are in the mix, I wouldn't even have known this either. The head's got to be down for the baby to come out naturally. If the head is up, you got to open up. the belly and take the baby out turns out my baby uh or future son has a 90% dome big head i got a big

head too so i i don't know you know she you know she's only she's like five five so it's not like she's super long for the baby to move around so pretty good chance next thursday we will be having this baby and i said you know as we transition to netflix got to mix it up and have a little fun so i'm gonna notice so much stuff with being a father doing stuff funny serious things that pissed me off. Everything around the kid too. I'm not even specifically talking about the human being. I'm just talking about everything that surrounds the baby.

We went to this pediatrician the other day. It was like another couple and he was telling us all this stuff. It's just so much stuff that is not even out of your comfort zone, but you couldn't even fathom what you're getting involved in, which is also fun. But I thought let's just write down things that I think or things that I want to rant on and call it the dad diaries because a lot of you guys are fathers out there. Some of you have older kids that can relate to this.

I want to start with this because I was born in 1984. And most people in my life up until about high school were all like similar, like I guess middle class, just normal. And middle class back then, people making 30, 40 grand a year. Like most people all kind of on the same level. So whether you made 30 grand or 6.000. $60 grand. Like, everyone was kind of the same. I didn't know people that were

multi-millionaires, but the thing was that every kid looked the same. If you just went around, most of us had a couple pair of shorts, a couple shirts, maybe a pair of shoes. Honestly, up until I was, like in high school, I feel like it didn't have that many clothes. I would wear a lot

of, like, my high school football teams, T-shirts that we got, or I was on the golf team, like colored shirts they'd give us. I had a couple pair of shorts, a pair of Nike shoes, maybe. I mean, a couple hats. I feel like most kids in my generation, like the 80s and the 90s,

we all kind of look the same. Unless you were like, I don't know, like a Trump or some really rich person dressed up, I felt like I wore the same clothes as everyone else I was around. Like, I went to high school,

you look back to some pictures, we were all wearing the same stuff. My unborn child, he has not even come out yet, easily has more clothes in his room, and I would say, 80% we have purchased.

My mother-in-law came down with two suitcases because, like, her cousins and some of our family members gave us a bunch of clothes. But obviously, it's a little more difficult when you live in a different state and a lot of people you know to travel. It's not like I can just drive over and get the stuff. So it's like, we're just purchasing it. And I think a big thing is this changed the game. And I would say this for myself as well, even though I basically have a closet full of clothes. I wear probably 10% of them 365 days a year. I think I read a stat, most human beings, unless you're in a certain industry,

wear like less than 20% of their clothes, which to me is very true. But this baby who is going to grow at a rapid rate probably has more clothes before he's even arrived than I had the first 10 years of my life. And she's not alone. Like, I'm not putting this on her for doing this. I think this is a big thing with the internet. And the clothing industry, you could argue no industry has benefited more. And I'm not even counting babies.

I'm just out in clothing industry in general. Because the social media marketing, like, it works. Like, that wasn't even an option. We just went over to places when I was like seven or eight or ten. And people just had the three ring binders of polaroids in a laminate. And you're like, oh, cool picture, cool picture. And that's, that was our Facebook. That was our Instagram.

And I just think the simpler times made it. I don't even know if. it was good or bad, I just think we all looked the same. And every single person kind of wore the same shit, that clearly is not the kid. My son, from jackets to corduroys to cool onesies,

like I don't think I had any of that when I was a kid. And here's the other thing. We have more contraptions of bottle washers, three different strollers, a trash can that has a special contraption to like get rid of the odor.

on the shits to changing tables to all sorts of stuff that again i'm not trying to be a debby downer here because i'm excited and it's fun but i told a buddy the other day people have been having kids since the caveman days and even if you just go back to like when my parents were born you know if your parents in the 50s the 60s whatever it's like people didn't even wear seatbelts they just threw their kid in the back of the car they just threw their kid in a crib now it's like kids wear a whoop, there are all these rules. And I just wonder if we've overcomplicated this stuff a little. I just can't imagine that all these contraptions are necessary.

Because I think back to, and again, it's not like I have that many memories from being, you know, obviously being one or two. But I kind of remember when my brother was born when I was like four and a half, five years old. Definitely when we shared a room up until I was probably like 10 or 11. and we only had a two-bedroom house. So by the time I was like, I got to junior high, I'm like, I don't want to live with Jeff anymore. So they put me in the living room before we kind of did this remodel and added a room.

Because we only had two bedrooms. We put me in the living room. My dad got cubicles like you see in an office and just created a cubicle in the corner of the living room. And I lived there, I think, for like a year. It was like, my son is never going to have those type experiences, which I fucking hated at the time. I'm not going to lie. I mean, it sucked.

but it did build a little character and I just think these contraptions I just remember we had a room there was a crib and that was just kind of my room and then eventually Jeff came we got me a single bed in the corner and then he just took the crib I don't remember any contraptions

I don't remember like thousand dollar strollers and we just I don't remember like rules about blankets and whoops and obviously the video monitors, none of that stuff existed. And we're all just fine. We're all just thriving.

Most of my friends, same thing. And we're completely fine. So I think the big baby business, which again, I don't blame her. You get pressure. All your friends are buying this stuff. You just do it, I guess. But I wonder if we took a step back

how much stuff is unnecessary. But he's going to have it all. And, you know, potentially next Thursday, your boy will have a new son on the way. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, new? Huge news.

We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys?

I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. And, well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast.

But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite on Humor 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.

If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you already know there's a lot to break down. Gorsha accusing Kelly of sleeping with a merry man. They holding Kay Michelle back from fighting Drew. Pinky has financial issues. I like the bougie style of Housewives show. I think it looks like to be interesting. On the podcast, Reality with the King, I, Carlos King, recap the biggest moment. from your favorite reality shows, including the Real House Wise franchise, the drama, the alliances, and the T, everybody's talking about. As an executive producer in reality television, I'm not just watching it. I understand the game.

As somebody who creates shows, I'll even say this. At the end of the day, when people are at home, they want entertainment. To hear this and more, listen to Reality with the King on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. The story I've told myself about love or relationships can then shape my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown and explore the journey of healing, self-discovery, and returning to yourself. We explore higher consciousness, emotional well-being, and the practices that help you find clarity, peace, and self-mashers. in a world that can feel overwhelming.

The world is becoming lonelier. We're not becoming more social and connected. We're becoming more individualized, but we actually meet people in connection. If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole, this podcast is for you to hear more. Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown

from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. What is going on, everybody? You know what time it is, mailbag time. But first, subscribe to the channel, share with your friends. Leave a comment down below in the comment section, scream at everybody, argue, do whatever you guys do. I appreciate you guys.

Thanks for coming along to ride. We will be live Thursday night after college football, Friday night after college football, Saturday night after the NFL, and Sunday night after the NFL. And Monday. I mean, we got a lot of football coming on. So buckle up, very, very exciting. These games kind of matter. So it doesn't get much better.

But today, mailbag. At John Middilkoff is my Instagram, fire in the DMs, and get your questions answered on the show. Try to go rapid fire, because I've got a lot of questions. I'm going to be answering a lot. I mean, it's a time of year

where people have got thoughts, got opinions, and fire them my way. So keep them coming. How much stock do you put into hiding play calls and coaches hiding the playbook Week 17 or 18 against inferior opponents. As a Bronco fan, I hope to God, this is the case, but I can't help but worry that our only hope to win a playoff game

is a pick six and three field goals. It probably varies a little team to team. You know, Sean, I saw Ben Johnson say that like we were trying to win this game. This wasn't just hiding our stuff. We tried to win that game. like we coached all week to win that game and people would be like well if they got the two they knew they were playing the packers

they wouldn't want to show anything and in the counter and I think Ben would probably reiterate this we just had two kitchen sink games with them within the last month at this point in time by week 17 18 what are you hiding like what type plays would you have

or schemes that you would have that you like been holding this one for round two That's not really how football works. I mean, you're throwing most of that stuff during the season if you got it. Obviously, you can build off that in a playoff game, but I think that is a little overrated. That's what my gut says.

Now, in a certain situation, like when you're throwing the game, like the Eagles, like they clearly didn't care. The Chargers throwing Trey Lance out there and benching a bunch of starters. Like, yeah, but like, I want to. It looked like to me the Bears, all their starters were out there. I'd be lying if I said I was that dialed in on the Broncos game. I know Bowdo was playing, but were all your starters playing in that game? You kind of cruise.

I wouldn't make that much of that game in particular, but I do think it's fair to be a little nervous going into the playoffs. Do you trust this team? It's weird about being a number one seed and not being that excited. That's what's crazy about the two number one seeds. If you're Seattle, you're on top of the moon. If you're Denver, you're like kind of nervous. I think the best thing you got going for you if you're Denver is the conference is kind of weird.

But what if in that first game, let's say chalk holds? I mean, I think there's a decent chance Denver's playing the Texans or the Bills. So, I mean, those are tough. Either Josh Allen or the Texans defense. Like, that's a tough first round matchup. I think if you could choose any team to play if you're the Broncos, you would want chalk to hold and play the Steelers. Do you think John Gruden will ever coach in the NFL again?

As a Raider fan, Gruden was the last coach that seemed to have a plan. The team improved every year and went to the playoffs in his third year. I think it was his fourth year and they went to the playoffs once they fired him. And that was also winning the last game of the season. So I like John from an entertainment standpoint. He's very entertaining, you know, doing his barstool stuff just on the internet. He entertains me. I'm very entertained by John Gruden.

I do think the coach John Gruden, like the lore, the legend of it all when he was doing Monday night football, probably grew to disproportionate amounts. And I do think he's a little overrated. And he's also a terrible evaluator. He's not very good in the draft. And he's kind of a power-hungry guy.

So I don't think he's ever working in the NFL again. I don't. And I'm not even talking about. about the suing. I just don't, like, who would hire him now? Especially a lot of these GMs, like, they know he'll try to get rid of them. Do you think we'll ever get to the point where a top quarterback prospect refuses to play for some of these teams, like the Jets or the Browns?

Obviously, being drafted high financially changes their lives, but over the last 20 years, these organizations are clearly poorly run. So do you think in any way these guys start to say no to teams? You do have to wonder if, uh, the NIL money, like gives them a little more leverage. If I'm a starting quarterback coming out, and I've made $10 million the last two years, it's a little bit different than just having no money,

going to the first place is going to pay you. I remember the first time I ever got $40,000 working for the Eagles, I was like, I hit the jackpot. So it's, and a lot of college people feel that way, whether you're an athlete or whether you're just a normal kid. The first time you ever get a paycheck is a big deal. Now if you're a college quarterback, these guys are making $4 or $5 million a year.

Carson Beck. I think Carson, he's a bad example because he's not going to go high, but Carson Beck's made a lot of money the last couple years. So I would imagine it's going to happen at one point in time because I would not play for the Jets. How could you? How could you? The Raiders, I was like, who's my coach? The Raiders are a little more enticing because, like, they're just going to be like, we're going to have you talk with Tom Brady constantly. I think that's going to be the draw.

and I don't feel Fernando Mendoza's doing that. Question. Have you gone back and watched Tyler Shucks the last six or seven games? I have a life. The answer is no. I watched a lot of them live, though.

I've watched probably three of his last five games, three of his last four games. Where's the question? What impressed me was a situation, he was playing a young, banged-up offensive line, handing the ball to fourth and string running backs, throwing to a lave, plus replacement-level receiver, I know I'm biased, but did you view that Shuck showed down the stretch given the circumstances?

I got a text from a guy on their staff, I think after his first start that said we got a guy. Obviously, he got a little bumpy after that, but down the stretch, the pick against Atlanta wasn't ideal. But honestly, you would actually rather lose that game at that point for draft status. I think he looks really, really talented. He's got a lot of things going for. He's big. He can run. He has touch.

That's the amazing part about him. You look at him, just as you see his physical stature, you think when people are hyping him up, you think he's going to have this powerful throw 100 miles an hour. He's actually, to me, more of a touch thrower. Not that he has a weak arm, but it feels a little goffy. I don't know.

He just has a lot of touch on his ball. Very impressed. He's definitely the start. quarterback next year. Why is it that coaches fall off so hard when they get old? Obviously, when players get older, their body starts to fall apart, but that's not really a factor for coaches. For instance, what about Pete Carroll changed in the last five years that affected his

coaching ability? Just think about humans in your life. Think about my dad's been dead for a while, but like when they're in their 40s or their 50s, how vibrant they are. And then whether it's your grandpa, whether it's your father, whether it's just people, in your life, that as they get in their 60s, definitely in their 70s, you just slow down. You do not have the same juice. And Pete Carroll is a good example, like E's healthy, energetic.

There is no way your pistons upstairs are firing at the same level combined with your physical energy, the same when you were 58 years old. Like the Pete Carroll that we saw in 2013, how could he match that in 2025? And he probably tried. he probably in his mind thinks he's doing the best possible, but it can't be the same. It just can't. And the other thing I heard,

I think like comedians say this, I forget who it was, what I was listening to. But it was like, that's a really good point. Like, think about Belichick. In like 2005, when Belichick woke up, when that alarm went off at 5.15 in the morning

or 5.30 or 5, whenever the hell he gets up, The first thing that crossed his mind was football. 100% was football, the team, how he's going to do whatever schematically or cut a guy or acquire a guy. And he was excited to get out of bed because he was doing football. There is no way those guys, Pete, Bill, when that alarm goes off, their fire for football is the same. at 75 years old with all that money in the bank. I just don't believe it.

I don't believe, especially when like what are you, I'm not trying to prove something that I already haven't done. So like Jim Harbaugh, for example. Jim Harbaugh's made a ton of money. And as well established now, Jim Harbaugh's a really good coach. But he's in the NFL now. And it's like, can the guy win the Super Bowl?

So every single day when Jim Harbaugh's alarm goes off, like, I want to win the Super Bowl. Kyle Shanhan, too, I want to win the Super Bowl. A lot of these guys, like, I want to be a Super Bowl winner. And I just think that that drive is something that these guys, when they get in their 70s, I'm sorry, they just, I don't believe they have it anymore. I don't.

I've known people that very successful, like, multi-millionaire business owners that know people that work for them, they're like, yeah, some weeks I just don't see him. Or 10 years ago, it's like he was in the office every single day. You get a little older. get a little more perspective, maybe get grandkids, maybe you just don't care as much anymore. It's called life. So I think it's less about like,

does Pete know how to run a team meeting? Does Pete know what defense is good against X, Y, and Z offensive play calls? Same with Bill Belichick, yes. Do I think those guys could talk football or Nick Sabin at 74 years old with anybody right now? Of course. part of the reason Nick Saban retired

and clearly if you look at him he ain't coming back life's too good it's funny like when people go do you ever want to go back to the NFL do I ever want to go back to the NFL? You fucking out of your mind no my life's too great plus I didn't like

the one thing I'll never forget and this is what Coach Reed has at the highest levels his passion for football and people that I know a bunch of people that work for the cheese I'll never forget after he won his first Super Bowl.

Maybe it was the second Super Bowl. It would have been 2022. I was in the Combine. And one of my buddies on the staff, we were BS, and he's like, you know, it's crazy. You just coach Reed's car in the off season Saturday at the office. He just loves it. He's just addicted. One day, maybe it won't be the same.

But as long as you have that pure addiction going, and, you know, I think there's an age limit where I'm sorry, it's hard once you get over 70. I think, I just think it is. When you're going against the Kevin O'Connell's and McPhays and Mike McDonald's and Kyle's, I mean, all these guys are under 50. Frable's 50. They just have more energy than you. They just have more stamina.

If you're the owner of the GM of the Buccaneers, what are you doing with Todd? There's a real argument depending on the Falcons hire that he could be the worst head coach in the worst division in football. He's better than Canales. You can't put Canales. above him. Canals called a flea flicker in the rain. Made the playoffs at 8 and 9. Todd Bowles, like,

Todd Bulls is a big time defensive coach. I know his defense sucks now, but he knows defense. Todd Bull is a good coach. If there was an option for an offensive stud, I think you would fire him and hire that guy. I just don't think that guy exists. I think if they had a good replacement, they would fire Todd Bowles and replace him.

but I just don't think that guy exists. So I think it's easy to say fire him and I get it if you're a Buccaneers fan. But I just don't see who the replacement is. Obviously, if you could have a redo, you would, it's clear what you would do. Liam, you're in the big room, Todd, we love you, but you got to go. But you didn't do that and now look at the options. Hey, it's us, the 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 do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band. Before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes.

I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, Not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an acapella 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. If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you already know there's a lot to break down. Gorsha accusing Kelly of sleeping with a married man. They holding Kay Michelle back from fighting Drew. Pinky has financial issues. I like the bougie style of Housewives show. I think it looks like it's going to be interesting. On the podcast, Reality with the King, I, Carlos King, recap the biggest moments from your favorite reality shows, including the Real House Wise franchise.

the drama, the alliances, and the T, everybody's talking about. As an executive producer in reality television, I'm not just watching it. I understand the game. As somebody who creates shows, I'll even say this. At the end of the day, when people are at home, they want entertainment. To hear this and more, listen to Reality with the King on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. The story I've told myself about love. or relationships can then shape my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown and explore the journey of healing, self-discovery, and returning to yourself. We explore higher consciousness, emotional well-being, and the practices that help you find clarity, peace, and self-mastery in a world that can feel overwhelming. The world is becoming lonelier. We're not becoming more social and connected. We're becoming more individualized, but we actually need people in connection. If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole,

this podcast is for you to hear more. Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Is it a hot take to say the Bears are actually the worst team, the NFC North. They have the fourth play schedule. No, I mean, come on, guys. They won. They won the division. They earned it. This is a bottom line business. I think that division is actually much closer.

I mean, the Bears easily could have lost to the Packers twice. Obviously, the Lions beat them twice. They beat Minnesota. They lost in Minnesota week one. so what was our divisional record, three and three? That division is tough, man. It is. The lions, I mean, let's face it, if the lions play the Panthers tomorrow who are picking. Lions are good.

If the Vikings has had decent quarterback play, they're pretty good too. And obviously, the Packers went healthier, Super Bowl contender. We've seen offenses run more heavy sets this season, and it seems like more good teams have three quality tight ends on their roster. The Rams miss Higby for six weeks and still at three dudes. Knox, Kincaid, and Buffalo, commit in Loveland in Chicago. From a scouting draft perspective, are there just more athletes that have that skill set?

Seems like there are plenty of 6-5 white guys out there that can run and block. With the amount of good players in college in the NFL will be a devaluation of the position in terms of draft capital needed to acquire good tight-end play. I think part of it is tight-ins are a much bigger, mismatch than just your run-of-the-mill wide receiver. Because if I get Cole, Commet, or Loveland, who's covering that guy on the other team? My tight end is 6-4-65 can run. Look at Commets the two-point conversion catch he had.

The body type, the red zone ability, they're like basketball players. So, safeties aren't big enough. Corners, while they're fast enough, they don't weigh enough. It's just a physical mismatch. So you see a lot of these teams Utilizing the tight end way more because Especially if a guy can block It helps the run game

And in the past game They just can't cover those guys So I think I think that's it You just have these athletic tight ends That are 6 3 to 6 5 That you can have a lot of personnel Or formation versatility

I think that's a big key I haven't looked at the draft class this year Of how many good tight ends there are but there are just a lot of good tight ends to come in the league over the course of the last I don't know decade even just random guy

Cole Commets a good example he's just solid you know you know Bowers Loveland Warren I mean like high end

tight ends are coming in the league last night in Lamar's press conference he said I don't know what else we could do to win after putting the season on the line with a young kicker how do you think the Ravens on Lamar can go forward

especially with the other elite quarterbacks like Josh seemingly running past him. I wouldn't say they were running past him. Lamar just needs to stay on the field. He's one of the best players in the league. I would agree with them. They had a 45 or whatever, a 43-yard field goal. They did everything they could to win. I saw DeAndre Hopkins.

He's like, we're three yards away from playing the postseason. That's the thing with sports. You know, what they say in basketball? Make or miss league? That's field goals. Guy makes it. He's a hero. carry him off, he misses it,

people are probably saying mean stuff to him, social media. I think they are because I saw it post. Yeah, that's, if you don't want that, just don't be on social media. You can't get the best of both worlds. It's got gutter rats and it's got normal people that give you compliments. But people complaining about like, oh, the vile things, like, yeah, welcome to the internet. I mean, it sucks. But you can't take the good and not get the bad.

That's not the way it works. that's the least shocking thing you've ever seen that people are saying crazy things to him and his wife. Like it's just the sick thing that we call social media. I mean, it is what it is. It's why so many people are getting away. Like, we're trying to figure out, again, we're a long way from this. But, you know, kids with social media and screen time.

And it's easy to say without it, you know, before you have one. But it's a major conversation for a lot of, you know, parents. because of just how, I mean, I've lived through it, my business is through it. It just can be, it has great benefits, but it can be really, really ugly. And I think social media can create things like the Lamar discussion. Like, is he really, like on the trading block? Was that a real thing? Or is that just conversation that kind of grows on the internet and is not real at all?

And I think there's, John Harbaugh is getting fired before Lamar Jackson is getting traded. I think the Ravens, end of the day, they're one of the best. drafting teams in the league have been for a long time. They're a well-run organization. They're not going anywhere. I'd bet on the Ravens way before I'd bet on the Bengals. This is about Pete Carroll coaching in college again. I had ship's sailed. Pete's done.

Pete needs to just, just be rich, retire, live. Like, bro, it's over. Give it up. Easy for me to say in like the prime of my career. But if I'm holding on and I suck at 75 and I have enough money to do whatever I want, that's on me. Like, I'm a loser. Pete's not a loser, but it's just like,

bro, just let it go. Just go chill. NFL teams, the other thing, Pete's big advantage of USC back in the day is like they could land a player with 20 grand in a car. Those days are done. Even though USC is spending a lot of money right now to buy players. NFL teams need to give Kurt Cousins a big thank you for going five and three and beating the Rams because can we imagine what would happen if

Sean McVeigh got a hold of a top five pick? I saw that today. It's 13th pick. Still pretty good pick. I think the Rams would have done that. They got Ferguson the tight end, who clearly McVeigh likes a lot in the 13th pick. That's a pretty good trade. It looked like it was going to be really good.

Like at one point in time, are they going to have the fourth pick in the draft? Clearly, Bejohn Robinson, their defense are too good. But they still still got. got a pretty good pick. And the other thing with the chiefs at nine and the Rams at 13, if those teams want to put their nuts on the table, they can go, what about next year's one and move up and get someone sweet? Like, do the Rams have Bain to go with verse next year? Listening for a couple years, I'm going to the Phoenician with some buddies in a couple weeks for some golf and relaxation. With high-end restaurants and

steakhouse, would you recommend we check out in the area? What bars would you suggest for your mid to late 20s. Well, as my wife, I've never been there in my life, but it's called the Circle of Death, which is where all the clubs are in Old Town Scottsdale, which for you younger folk can be a lot of fun. So just go to Old Town. The bars there are pretty hard to miss. If you want to go to high-end steakhouses, it's hard to beat Mastros.

I think Mastroos is about as good as it gets. The mission's kind of a cool, nicer restaurant down in the Old Town area. I was a sucker for Houston's. You're probably a little young for that. That won't be as fun. That's probably a little older crowd. That's the place where Biz, the hockey guy that works for TNT and Barstool,

fought off those like 10 Irishmen. I used to live right down the street from there in Paradise Valley. Houston's has elite food. I had never even heard of Houston's until I moved here. And I could have eaten there like, five nights a week. But I'm also one of those eaters. Like this is what my wife likes all these different foods and one night's chicken, one night's salad. Like I could eat

Chipotle five nights a week. Once I find like a good, you know, taco salad or whatever I'm trying to be healthy. I eat that every single night. Over and over. I just go back. It's like I'm like an NFL offense. Like off tackles working. Again. Again. Again. I'm like Her Brooks in Miracle. Again. I, I, I'm like, I, I could eat the same, I could literally eat the same meal in a month, 25 days. You know, like an individual dinner and have, be totally unfaced.

It's like, well, we had chicken last night. Let's go fish and salad. It's like, let's go pasta. I've never done that until, I guess I got domesticated and civilized, and now I eat like seven different meals a week. The other thing for you single guys out there, when you order food or go pick up food, it's a lot cheaper when it's just you. I'll say that much.

For those of you with big families, you know, it's like, I'm starting thinking, like, what if I have a couple kids? And when they're like 10 and 12, especially to their boys, it's like, how many pizzas you got to order? I think back when I was young, things were so much cheaper back then. Okay, a couple more. I think we got confirmation about who the problem is in Philly after yesterday's game. How can the starters and the backup score 17 points? Seems like the OC's the problem.

Not strictly Jalen, AJ, the O-line, or Siriani. If we struggle against the 49ers, do we, will Howie and Jeffrey finally get rid of Petula? I love how Howie, and rightfully so, is like, he's always right there with the owner. You know, like, when you talk about the Cowboys, you're like, Jerry, with the Eagles, like, Howie and Jeffrey, it's like they're a tandem.

If they were to lose to the 49ers, he's 100% fired. He's fired Monday morning. It would be so fast your head will spin. The Eagles, I think of all the teams, teams, I might do this for Friday. I don't think any team has more pressure on them to win the game than Philly. I actually don't even think it's close because of the disadvantage of the 49ers. They don't have players.

And this Eagles team, like, why can't we win the NFC? Why can't we go back to back? That's what they got to be thinking. I think there's a lot of pressure on the Eagles. Their defense is going to be fine. but offensively, if you can't score points, and Washington's probably as shitty as the 49ers on defense, to me the Eagles, especially if it's not raining if it's just cold,

the minimum should be like 25, 26 points. Minimum. I think you should be able to get 30 against the Niners. That's what was crazy about Seattle. That's why the game felt like such a blood. It felt like 30 to 3. Missed a couple field goals. They went forward on a fourth down at the one-yard line.

I mean, it easily could have been 10 more, it could have been 26 to 3. That's what the game felt like. Okay, last question. You said about a month ago that if Mahomes disappeared, that Andy would be fine. After seeing them without Mahomes, do you still believe Josh Allen is the best player in the NFL?

When I say Andy would be fine, I said if he disappeared, they could find another quarterback in an offseason. Obviously, in the middle of the season, if Mahomes disappears, you are fucked. If you are a team like Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, those type teams, and I remove your starting quarterback, you're in major trouble. Herbert, Drake May, the drop-off is Stafford is going to be catastrophic.

If I give you an off-season to find someone capable with a good offensive coach, look at Shane Stuyken. Took Daniel Jones, started winning games, till Daniel Jones' body fell apart, they were fine. Kyle Shanahan, like Mac Jones. I can just win games with Mac Jones. Kevin O'Connell, Sam Darnold, you know? So you don't think Andy Reid would just sign Sam Donald

if he didn't have a quarterback or something like that? Yeah, that was my point. Where other coaches, like that's where the knock on the defensive guys, like can Mike Tomlin say the same? Could Dan Quinn say the same? Could John Harbaugh say the same? John Harbaugh was about to get fired until they bench flackle on one with Lamar. if someone else had drafted Lamar Jackson

because remember they took a guy ahead of Lamar Jackson Hayden Hurst I think and they just drafted some random quarterback John Harbaugh would not be on the Ravens now Lamar Jackson saved John Harbaugh's Raven career now he would have got another job for sure

but my point is that certain coaches if they just had no quarterback in an offseason I think they could figure it out and find just some credibility there. Now, obviously, the guy wouldn't be as good as Mahomes, but, and he's proven it. He's won games with all sorts of quarterbacks over the years. That was my point. And do I believe Josh Allen's the best player in the NFL in 2025? I do. Obviously, Patrick Mahomes, at

time, has been the best player. Lamar Jackson's been the best player. I was thinking, like, who was the best player in the NFL this year? Because there's been a lot of arguments, and I don't really have a strong opinion on the MVP. I don't really care, especially in a year like this. Could you make the argument that Puka Nakua was the MVP of the league? I feel like Puka Nakua was the best player I watched in the NFL started to finish. It feels like Stafford's going to win it. Maybe Drake May wins. I don't know. But I feel like Pooka Nakua is the MVP the league. I feel like he's his best player in the league. I feel like this year he dominated. It wasn't even a fair fight. Jackson Smith, I mean, there were times where he thought, like, is this

the best player in the league? That's the thing with the MVP. It's like the Heisman. We don't even talk about other positions. It's got to be a quarterback. There's got to be a quarterback. Which we all agree quarterback's the most important position. But I don't know. Can any other position win the award?

Can any other position just be in the conversation to win the award? Why does no one even talk about like, could Puka win the award? It doesn't even come up. It's not even a conversation. It's like, oh, it's just one of the quarterbacks. I guess it is what it is. you. Hey guys, it's us

and 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 us. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions.

Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but you know, tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. 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.

What's up, fam, it's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast, Point Game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season. And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was part of it. You just understood. That's how personal it got.

Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis keep coming to you. He's like, you know, I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Your husband is not who you think he is.

Your body is not what you thought it was. Your identity is formed by a secret history. I'm Danny Shapiro, and these are just a few of the stunning stories I'll be exploring on the 14th season of Family Secrets. He kind of shoved me out of the way and said, move. And he went out the front door, and he jumped in a car and drove off,

and that was the last time I saw him. Listen to Season 14 of Family Secrets on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an I-Heart podcast, guaranteed human.