The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 & Out - Lessons from 2024, Going cheap for a head coach, Netflix making a run at Sunday Football

Episode Date: February 20, 2025

John dives into the biggest takeaways from the 2024 season and what lessons teams should have learned as they approach the start of free agency. Next, John discusses the importance of owners not being cheap and spending money in the right areas especially when it comes to hiring the right head coach. Lastly, John talks about how Netflix is interested in a full NFL package involving Sunday games. Later, John answers your questions during this episode's mailbag segment. 4:12 - Lessons from 2024 15:30 - Cheap rich people 28:00 - Chargers to play in Brazil 50:03 - Mailbag Follow John on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for the latest. #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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The Volume. What is going on, everybody? How are we doing? Hopefully everyone is having a good day, good life, good 2025, good vibes only. And I thought we do a little football podcast today. Did a golf podcast yesterday. So if you missed that, Go Low, Episode 1 for 2020. 25 out

And today I thought we do a little one thing I didn't want to look back before we move on to this offseason, which is going to be full full speed ahead next week with the Combine and Free Agency that just some lessons that we learned from 2025. I wrote down a couple and I thought we'd go over as well as Netflix looks like it's going to get way more involved here in the upcoming future. probably when the NFL opts out of their current television deal in four years, and Netflix could have a big package as well as a team. We know the NFL is doing another Brazil game also. And of course, Middlecoff Mailback at John Middlecoff. At John Middlecoff is the Instagram.

Fire in those DMs and get your questions answered on the show. If you like the podcast, make sure you subscribe. We got our own feed. So three and out, if you listen on Collins, feed. Make sure you subscribe to that. Spotify, Apple. Spotify's booming. I mean, the stock is like a rocket chip. And a little website called YouTube.com. Make sure you subscribe to our page. We've got all of our content up there as well and look to add some fun stuff here in 2025 besides just podcasts like we currently put up. And other than that, any other news, any other

notes, any other thoughts? No, so let's just talk a little football. A lot going on. Well, actually not really. I mean, slow time in the football world. But it's about to really pick up next week with rumors flying from draft picks to the measurements to the workouts to, you know, potential trades. We've had a lot of trades conducted, executed.

And this is when the conversations really pick up. at the combine next week. So basically this week, these GMs and the coaching staffs and the scouting staffs are really kind of finalizing information they have for the potential rookies, you know, questions, any red flags going into the combine. And then the pro departments are really kind of finalizing their free agency board, who they want, who are must have. Because at the end of the day, for most teams, I mean, it depends how much money you have.

but you're targeting, you know, the good teams target two or three players and maybe one or two big, big quote unquote splashy players. And let's face it, there aren't like super famous guys that often hit true free agency. But guys that you target, guys that you want. And yeah, that's kind of how you attack it and it all kind of funnels up. I guess you work hand in hand with your GM as a department and your coaching staff. So everyone's got to get on the same page. you know, the Eagles, a couple hangovers.

This is probably a busy week for Howie, Siriani, and the boys in Philly. Same with Veach and everybody. So it comes at you fast, furious. Think of all the shitty teams, the advantage they have had being on. It's February 19th, right? I mean, so the bad teams, especially if you didn't need a coach, like the giants who just kept everybody, like they've been working for a month and a half. So if they can't get this right, maybe they never will.

I wanted to start back with just some big lessons and themes that I think we can take away from 2004 and apply it moving forward. And I think the biggest theme of 2024 was the explosion of the running backs. And there's this quote, you know, I try to keep a little quote log in the phone and sometimes I go back and, you know, things to spark the mind. And there's something that's that I wrote down a long time ago that, you know, sticks with me to this day. And it's that fortunes are made in the down markets and they're collected in the up markets. So basically you buy things for cheap when disaster strikes and those appreciate as time's

turn. And I think you saw that with the running backs, right? It was a situation where these wide receivers were making $30 to $35 million. And they were more than doubling high, Superstar running backs value. Despite these guys running for 12 to 1,500 yards, catching and scoring a bunch of touchdowns on the ground, they were clearly very important players. The problem was their risk for injury was dramatically higher than wide receivers. But it's been proven, and it was definitely proven this year,

that you get a really good, impactful running back, they're the best deal in American sports right now because they do not cost any money relative to other impact players. Star tackles cost $25 to $30 million. Pass rushers are going to cost $35 to 40. Wide receivers cost $30 to $35. Yet you can get Sequin Barclay for basically $13 million a year.

You could get Derek Henry, a Hall of Famer for $8 million. You could get Josh Jacobs, who's, I don't know, one of the better all-around players in the NFL. for a $12.5 million signing bonus. Like, that was crazy. And no team benefited as much as the Eagles

from, you know, coming in and getting Sequin Barclay for less than $30 million. Think how many guys on their team make more than $30 million guaranteed. You know, Lane Johnson, Jordan Milada, obviously the wide receivers, the quarterback, the tight end. You know, guys over the course of their careers, I know Fletcher retired, but their defensive lineman, Jalen Carter will surely get that.

Slay back in the day when he was getting big contracts. So, like, you got Sequin Barclay, who pound for pound is whatever the quote-unquote top 100, which, let's face it, is just off-season content and can be kind of stupid. But like, like, Sego-Barbly is going to be pretty high on that list. You know, he's going to be really high on that list. Just like two years ago, Christian McCaffrey was really high on that list. because when you get a guy who can do it all, you can ride them to the promise land.

And when you have a really good offensive line or a good offensive schemer, you can take advantage of it. But to me, why these running backs are so valuable is they don't cost any money. Like, I love all these people, and it's one thing if you don't have the money, but people that did have the resources,

like, God, I should have bought more real estate in 2009, 2010, 2011. Well, some people did. You know, people like me, had no money, not that I was even thinking to, wasn't even an option. But there were people that did have the option and were like, ah, it's too scary if this is not a good decision.

And there were people that did. And then dramatically benefited over the next decade. Just like when stocks crash, a lot of people run. Some people view it as a sale. And I think Howie Roseman, who's widely considered the best channel manager, look at Saquan Barkley,

like a fucking bargain. Same thing with the Packers. Like, wait, you're getting rid of Aaron Jones for Josh Jacobs? Yeah, he's a lot of, an upgrade and he doesn't cost much money. The Henry thing, I mean, he was just older. Anyone could have had him. He got $8 million guaranteed. And listen, this doesn't just go for running backs as well.

Like, part of being a successful operation, I would say anything in life, sometimes you got to get some deals on things that then turn out to be pretty fruitful. You can't always pay a premium and expect a premium. Sometimes like you got a damn, I got that for pretty cheap and it worked out. I would say that's a formula in any industry. You can call it luck, you can call it good timing, whatever it may be. Like the Minnesota Vikings got Sam Darnold this year for $10 million. And while his last couple games were not great,

he had a fantastic season. It was an MVP candidate for $10 million at quarterback. Tuatanga Viloa just got over $200 million. Trevor Lawrence literally got $200 million guaranteed. Last year, Gardner Minchu and Joe Flacco, I don't think made a combined $10 million, and Flacco led the Browns of the playoffs, and Garder Minchu had them a couple of plays away.

So, like, you need to get bargain deals with impact players in the NFL. Obviously, the Eagles, it wasn't even just Seyquan Barkley. They got Zach Vaughn for nothing. He turned into an all-pro. Mackay Beckton, once a top 10 pick, looked like he was just going to be a flame out and just a throwaway player. They move him to guard, and he's a key player on the best offensive line in the NFL.

So it's like, we talk a lot about the high price guys and the guys making all this money. The T.J. Watts, the bosses, the Chris Joneses, the C.D. Lambs, you name it, right? Justin Jefferson's. Like, to be really good, you've got to have some guys and some bargain deals that then not only exceed expectations become like all pro pro-bowl level guys.

And that was on full display this year. Sequin Barclay, Derek Henry, Jacobs, Sam Darnold, teams that were really, really good. Obviously, the Eagles were the best team, but all these other teams, playoff teams, right in the mix, competing for the best records in the NFL, all had impact players on very, very cheap deals. And, you know, listen, I'm guilty of this. We're all guilty of this. We all say it, and we're going to continue to say it, and it's never going to stop. It's a quarterback league.

you can't, you don't have a chance without a quarterback. Well, yeah, you need a quarterback, someone to play that position. True. And I agree. Like you need a really good player at the position. You can't compete with a bottom 10 quarterback in the NFL. But what makes football so special is this is not basketball. I can't just, if I give you Michael Jordan or Shaquille O'Neal in his prime or Nicola

Yokic or whoever, Steph Curry in his prime. Kevin Durant, more than likely your team's going to be pretty good. And more than likely if you just do a decent job building it, your team's going to be really good. In football, there is no guarantee. Because we saw Joe Burrow have an elite season. He was in the MVP mix and his team did not make the playoffs. He threw 43 touchdown passes. To put that into perspective, Patrick Mahomes threw 26. Yet Patrick Mahomes' team was the number one overall seed, and if they didn't throw the last game, could have gone 16 and 1. Yet Joe Burrow had to claw, scratch, and bite his way to just get above 500.

This is a team sport, and it's the ultimate team sport. You cannot do it on your own. And listen, you need Mahomes, you need Joe Burrow, you need Lamar Jackson, you need Josh Allen. I'm not arguing against that. No one would. But you need a good team. You need good defensive players.

You need good coaching on that side of the ball. You need good coaching on the offensive side of the ball. There are so many pieces in this sport that not one man can carry you. We literally saw it with Joe Burrow, who was having an unreal year and they were losing games because they couldn't stop a nosebleed. And I think it was on full display this year with the Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes, you could argue it wasn't even a top five quarterback all season.

Obviously, we all consider him the top quarterback, but just based on this individual season and a vacuum, he was okay. Now, you could argue it wasn't all his fault. The offensive line wasn't great. Running for his life most of the year. But they were a good team. They're a well-run operation.

And that operation carried them all the way to the Super Bowl, where they met a team that was also a well-run operation who just had way more talent and kicked their ass. But I think we talk about the quarterback, the quarterback, the quarterback, the quarterback, is your team any good? Like, do you have good player? Do you have good coaches?

Because if you don't, like, this isn't LeBron James in his prime. I don't give a shit. Like, we can beat you if we got a better team. And that's what makes, I would say, football so unique, so fun to watch because there are so many different variables at play. I've said this forever. Like, I don't relate very well to cheap, rich people. Like, I just, I don't, I can't comprehend their way of thinking.

And I don't mean, like, drawing a line on certain things, like, having certain expenses that we're just we're just not going to pay that for that. Like obviously certain things don't impact whatever your industry is. It's like we don't need to stay in the four seasons. We can just stay at the Marriott, right? Or some executive like, listen, I can stay. I don't need to ride first class. It's like, yeah, that's your prerogative.

Maybe it doesn't impact ultimately your business, right? I saw Dion Sanders. He saved Colorado like over $200,000 because he's, doesn't recruit in the sense of he doesn't go to any high schools and he doesn't go to any living rooms. So he's like he gets a budget that he gets whatever, $200, $250,000 of private aviation if he wants to go recruit. He didn't use any of it. And he said one, like that's not how I run my operation. I don't, the value there for us, I don't need to do that. And two, like, I'm a businessman. Like, I don't just view like these resources is just unlimited. Like, I understand like anytime that I can

save the university money. It benefits us big picture. I look at it that way. But in football, non-player, by far, the most important person you can have in your building is the head coach.

And we see over and over and over again, teams go cheap at that position. And when you do, then everyone complains like, why do we suck? It's because I don't know, that position kind of matters. And the going rate for good ones in college football is now $10 to $12 million. In the NFL, it's $15 to $20.

So when you have a coach making $5, $6, $7 million, more often than not, you have no fucking chance. And listen, these owners have proven some of them with artificial turf at their stadium. They don't even have the nicest version. So they will go cheap. And you can be like, well, rich guys didn't just waste money. I agree. No one's asking them to just buy 50 Lamborghinis for the hell of it.

But if you're not going to invest in the best turf, when you have a payroll of $250 million in terms of players, and the business model of the NFL is literally the games, like, I'm sorry, I read flagged some of your decision making. And when some of these organizations constantly go cheap at coach, when you have the opportunity to pay, I don't know Jim Harbaugh, but what is Jim Harbaugh? He's expensive.

And it's why I give the Chargers credit forever. It was like, how can we get a cheap guy that we kind of like? Brandon Staley, he'll cost $5 million. Anthony Lynn, he'll cost $4 million. Mike McCoy, he'll cost $3 million. It's like, and then you guys wonder why you fire him after every two or three years. And finally, they broke the bank for Jim Harbaugh. And they went from a team drafting number five overall.

That was an absolute joke to being the five seed. and Sean Payton, the Walton family that does have unlimited resources goes, yeah, we're not going to go cheap at coach. Sean Payton, what's it cost to get you? He's like, it's not going to be cheap. $90 million. Okay, here's a check. You're in charge. Two years later, rookie quarterback in the playoffs.

First time for Denver in a decade. And, you know, I thought it was on full display with the L.A. ramps. McVe's team, look at what he's dealing with. He's dealing with a 37-year-old Matt Stafford. Cooper Cup fell off a cliff, so he's got a Pooka Nakua, who they drafted in the third or fourth round. They're dependent on rookies on the defensive line, and they were a player or two away from literally beating the champs on the road in a snowstorm. Coaching really matters, and it's not shocking when you look at, you know, the final four,

the final eight, it's the Andy Reid's making 20 million. It's the John Harbaugh's, making 16, 17 million. It's Sean McDermott, probably making $14, $15 million. You know, it's Sean McVeigh. Nick Siriani's a little bit of an outlier, but guess what, Nick Siriani's going to want this offseason? A raise. It's like, hey, guys, I've been to two Super Bowls in three years.

You can say how he runs the show, but I'm kind of the head coach. So do I get $15 million? And that's going to be an interesting conversation. But don't go cheap with things that matter. And I would use that in any walk of life. And I think, like, I'm not acting like you should just blow money left and right. especially people with money, but things that impact directly your business

and things that impact it the most, when you cut corners on that, you deserve to lose in any industry. And I think football, it is on full display. Pay high-level coaches. And I think last but not least, and we've known this forever,

but we talk about a lot on like the mailbag when this time of year comes around. It's like, oh, how sweet is that wide receiver? How awesome would that dude McMillan from Arizona be? How about this dude from Missouri? Get me that wide receiver from Ohio State. I know it's not as sexy, but shouldn't we just take that right tackle in the first round?

You know, it's picked 24. I would love to have that wide receiver, but couldn't this guy be my starting center for the next decade? And so many teams talk that talk, they act like that's their philosophical belief in football, the trenches. We're going to build the trenches. And then they drafted a wide receiver. It's like, what, what are you doing? And it was on full display last year in the draft with Ryan Poles, who played offensive

line. And when he played offensive line in college, he protected Matt Ryan. So I understand taking Caleb Williams and trying to get him help surrounding him. But it doesn't matter if He's got Jerry Rice, Michael Irvin, and Shannon Sharp running around out there. You can't protect him. You don't have a shot, especially with a guy that kind of holds on to the football. And you can't tell me, and listen, I love Roman Dunezay. I'm pro wide receiver. I like wide receivers.

I enjoy the position. I have a lot of respect for it. But it's going to happen again this year where it's like you take a wide receiver high when you need linemen. You could argue defensive linemen too. you only have yourself to blame when you're when you're pissed off in week six that you can't protect anybody and i think the best teams not only value that position but live by that motto listen i've seen it with the 49ers Kyle shanahan believes that offensive linemen you can scheme around him and you need skill guys it's like yeah i i agree you need skill people to score points but if you can't

protect people you're in you're up shits creek without a paddle and i'm just i i i i i'm just i i I'm just pro drafting those guys over and over again and letting the cream rise. I don't think you can ever draft enough offensive and defensive linemen. So listen, as we move forward, these are things that, you know, when you talk about down markets, what will that position be? I think any time you can get a good linebacker or good safety, they just don't cost that much money. And most of these other positions, like you're paying beachfront real estate prices, right?

That's if you want a top wide receiver, it's like T. Higgins, let's just say, you know, rumors are that he might get franchise. But if he hit the open market, I mean, he would get so much money, your job would hit the floor. So it's like when these guys hit the open market, you do have to pay probably an extra premium because they're a free agent and you've got other guys bidding against him, let alone the position they play. You have no problem doing that for the Micah Parsons, the Miles Garrets, the Blaine Johnsons, the Trent Williams, the Triss and worse. Like, you don't even hesitate with alignment. But sometimes with the wide receiver like, is this the best allocation of assets? Not because the guy's not a good player because, well, can I find a really good player in like the second or third round? And the answer always is yes, you can't. The answer is 100% yes, you can't. So I think the running back market's still moving forward. Anytime you can get these guys for cheap, you got to think long and hard because if you do have a good offensive line, they can change the game. I mean, look at the Lions. Jamir Gibbs has become, you know, the young

version of like Alvin Kamara, Christian McCaffrey. He can't the ball. He can run the ball inside and out. He's so fast. He's such a dynamic playmaker in space. And he's going to count, if he stays healthy for the next couple years, I would say 15 to 18 touchdowns a year. It's kind of important.

Look at some of the top wide receivers. It's like, oh, he caught seven touchdowns. He got nine touchdowns. Well, this guy's getting me 15. Who's scoring big in the NBA this season? You are. with the all-new ways to get in on the action at Drafking Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NBA. From dunks to assists to rebounds,

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21 and over, age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction, void in Ontario. Bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance. For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see dkng.com slash audio. Hey, it's us to Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news? Huge news. We created our own podcast called Hey Jonas.

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to a... 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. The four Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say, hey, Jonas.

And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy,

Not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam?

It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. O'Dano and our podcast point game is about defining the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game.

We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night bases on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too.

Steve Nass would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He run up the court, licking his fingers while he got the ball. After you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball.

So listen to Point Game on the, iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva, actress, mother, lover, and a Gen X woman walking through life, one hot flash and hormonal crying jag at a time. You ladies know what I mean. I'll bet you a perimenopausal chin here you do. So let's talk about it. Join me on my new podcast.

How hard can it be with Deanna Maria Riva, where I call on my Gen X squads from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate midlife's most fantastic BS. All of a sudden, I'd had hanginess happening on my own. I was like, what the hell is that? I was married when I had her, so I didn't even consider how empty that nest was going to be. Mood swings, night sweats, fupas, sex drive. Wait, what sex? Dating at 45. How can it be getting naked at 50 with the new guy?

That one's kind of hard. Well, that's lighting. They say we can't polish a turd, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with laughs, tears, or tears of laughter, and dive into it, unfiltered and unbothered and ask, how hard can it be? I cannot believe I'm about to say this out loud in public. Listen to how hard can it be with Diana Maria Riva as part of my Cultura podcast network available on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Okay, a couple little things. The Chargers, the NFL loves this Brazil game. Never been to Brazil. I mean, looks like a beautiful place, and clearly the NFL enjoys Brazil. Maybe they got a growing fan base down there, but the Chargers, the Eagles did it last year. Or do the Packers do it last year?

I forget whose home game that was. I think it was Green Bayes? Could be wrong. But this will be the Chargers. So clearly they're going to go AFC, NFC every year. Try to keep it equitable. And the Chargers will host that Brazil game, which one thing the NFL is going to do,

the opening game Thursday night's BP fastball, like it doesn't get any easier. You take the Super Bowl champion and then you just pick some sweet team on their schedule. Like this year, it's like, Chiefs, Chiefs Ravens. I was like, yeah, that'll work. This show would be like, Eagles,

you can go Eagles commanders, you could go Eagles, I think they play the Rams. You can pick a million teams. It's an easy one. You pick any sweet team on their schedule. A couple years ago was Chiefs Lions. It's not shit. You could do,

Eagles could play like the local high school and 20 million people will watch we're so football starved. But that second game, I think they kind of gave the blueprint. Eagles Packers. What was that? Matchup of two playoff teams. And I would expect the Chargers, like I would expect another playoff team.

I wouldn't expect like Chargers Jags, you know, or Chargers Bears or something. I don't even know who's on their schedule, but I would be stunned if it's not another team that was in the playoffs last year. Honestly, I think you could go, maybe they're anti-doing division matchups in these games, but because of the Chargers home game, why couldn't you do Chargers Denver? I don't know. I would say most things would be on the table. Charter's Chiefs probably would not happen, but it wouldn't totally shock me if that were to happen.

The chief content officer from Netflix gave a, did an interview, I think, I don't know if it was with the ringers podcast that covers kind of the kind of content industry or variety. A variety was a different, something else I read. But yeah, it was with, I think, the puck. And he mentioned that their interest in NFL games is moving forward is basically, I'm giving the Cliff Notes version of like they would be very interested in the Sunday package. And talking about like Sunday night or Sunday afternoon games.

And essentially that, you know, the NFL has an opt out of their contract in 2009. Well, a couple of years ago, that sounded like it was a long, long way away. but it's 2025. But 2009, I might have like a three-year-old. So Netflix, this was always going to be an issue. Is that these older owners, like the Jerry Jones, the Robert Crafts, I would put Mark Davis, I would put anyone over 60, 65 through their 70s and 80s. Their loyalty to Fox, CBS, and NBC runs fucking deep.

because when they go home to their third mansion in Aspen or some Italian village or get on their hundreds of millions of dollars worth of yachts, it's because of those networks. Well, those networks, I'm sorry, are probably not all going to survive as we move forward. And definitely the power in which they have had most of my life is diminishing by the day. and operations like Netflix aren't just coming on, they're establishing their dominance. I was listening to a podcast, and I guess there was an article in variety, that the number one place that YouTube is consumed in 2025 is not your phone, is not your computer, is not like your device, like an iPad. It's on television. and if you think about it, think of the percentage of younger people that, like, I don't view YouTube as an app in the sense of Amazon Prime or Netflix or even YouTube TV on my television. I don't watch YouTube on my television. I'm clearly, I don't know if I'm necessarily the minority, but there is a large percentage of people that do, and I would imagine they all lean young. So when you look at moving forward, like, this was always going to end for Fox, CBS, and NBC if they got into a bidding war with the Amazon

Primes, with the Netflix, with that world, if the younger generation took over. And I don't mean consumer. I mean Stephen Jones. I mean Jonathan Kraft. Because their loyalty to this, like, this is ultimately a business. And ultimately, they can convince their fathers as well as like, they're offering us double what this operation is offering us. And I always, always thought that was going to be the downfall of Fox and NBC, because they can't get into a bidding war with Netflix or Apple. Those people have more money than them. And those people can write a check that they simply cannot. So when this opt out happened and after seeing the NBA package, their ratings diminished by half within the decade and they more than doubled their package.

And obviously it's the power of live rights. The NBA is a little different. the NFL, there's just a lot more inventory on a nightly basis. But the power of the NFL speaks for itself. It's the number one television show in America. And I just think Netflix, the NFL didn't do that Christmas day deal randomly. Like, it's not only a trial run. It's like, let's start kind of feeling each other out.

How many of you guys listening that are in sales or in some business, you go to some random dinner sometimes with maybe competing brands or maybe people that you're not even in business with? to kind of kick off the relationship. And then it just kind of organically grows over time. And then now you look back five, 10 years later, you're like, God, we're doing a lot of business together. We're making a shitload of money.

That was the best, you know, golf trip I've ever taken in my life. That was the right move. It was a good thing that we offered them Super Bowl ticket, whatever business you're in to take care of someone else. And that's essentially what the NFL did with the Christmas Day games. Now, they had to pay for it, but it's like, hey, what your beak? And what did Netflix do? They're like, God damn, we got 25, 25, 30 million people to watch these games.

And this is why my theory of the NFL going international is not about placing a team anymore in the UK or Germany or Brazil or wherever. It's really about building the audience. So when these games are on Netflix, people over there watch because I see it with my own product. When I was on local radio, no one in. Brazil, no one in England, no one in Japan on an Air Force base, listen to me. People that listened to me lived in the greater Bay Area. And honestly, our signal didn't go that far. So you had to be within, I don't know, whatever the mile radius was, but it wasn't that big relative to the other station. Well, in the world I'm in now, I got fucking people listen to me all over

the place. And you talk about the NFL, it's like, why can't the dude, you know, living in Germany that likes football, watch my game. Well, he can't if it's on Netflix. Do you know where he can't? If it's on Fox. And I just think it's going to be a major, major problem for these traditional legacy brands. This is why I've defended the Peacock situation. It's not ideal that you had to pay for Peacock to watch what was the playoff game.

The Dolphins against was the Chiefs a couple years ago? I think there was one this year, too? I get people being mad. I do. But NBC cannot survive with NBC. So they couldn't just put it on NBC and be like, oh, we're going to be good for the next 10, 20, 30 years.

They will die. So the only chance for their survival, and I'm not like, NBC doesn't pay me any money. I just understood where they were coming from is like Peacock working out. Like if it doesn't work out, NBC will go night night. as in like never waking up. And these streaming platforms for these people

has to operate and has to work. Because if it doesn't, they cannot. And listen, they're never going to compete against Netflix. Netflix is all these people wrapped up into one. One of my great investing regrets was like five years ago when I like love the company and realize, God, everyone is watching this, not doing it.

And everything they've done kind of has turned to gold. And the irony too is, I don't even think their content is that great. It's like I go on there sometimes Like there's a million shows Like we end up not even watching anything Yet I do believe that most people Their first move now is to go to Netflix

The power of the brand It's massive And they've had a long time building it up But now they have a ton Their war chest of cash is so big And they want this Like this is something they're very serious about Because the live events thing

Whether it's the Tyson Jake Paul thing Whether it's the Brady roast Obviously the Christmas game they like the returns on those things because a lot of people like they're a worldwide brand and I think the one thing the NFL showed them on Christmas which is it doesn't get much better everyone's home but they're no dummies they know a ton of people would watch if they had one of the Sunday afternoon packages and I would fully expect I would bet a lot of money right now that Netflix is by whatever the date is you know whether it's 28 29 who knows and the NFL

looks to re-up their packages that we go to Netflix on a Sunday afternoon or Sunday night. But Sunday, and we already know the international game, and Roger has talked about this, that there is going to be

a full slate of international game. So basically, instead of six or seven, there's going to be like 15. Well, that's going to be sold as an individual package as well. So, which I don't love because, and listen, there's a first world problem.

I could be fucking digging ditches. But, like, that's a long football day. You know, if you got a football game starting for us on the West Coast at 6.30 a.m. till basically 9.30 at night. This is a lot of day. This is a lot of time watch ball. Now, luckily, the Sunday morning games have been kind of crappy over the year, so you can kind of pick and choose.

But no one cares about where I stand on that. But that's coming. And that's, guess what that's going to be? It's going to be a standalone package. Well, they've sold Amazon for whatever, a billion dollars a year for Thursday, night games? What do you think they'll sell the standalone morning game international for? A lot of money. What do you think they'll sell the individual game to Netflix once a day?

Maybe Netflix just gets their own game on Sunday. And maybe Fox and CBS can continue with Jim Nance and, you know, Buck and, I guess Buck and Aikman are gone. I guess Brady. So it's just get ready. Like change is inevitable in business because the consumer, back to the YouTube thing, think about five years ago the way we talked about YouTube. It was important. But, But it's nowhere near the power of it is now. Like things, people want to ask me, like, what do you want to do with your career? Like, I don't know. I work in a business that changes every 10 minutes.

I just want to keep having the access or having people have ability to access me or wherever that is. If YouTube were to die tomorrow, it's not going to. And something else started and it was clearly going to work. I'd get on that. I don't really care. I'm not emotional about any of these platforms, but certain platforms are really powerful. And the way that we consume everything has changed dramatically in five years.

If you would have told me five years ago, I was paying $300, $400 for cable. I don't even have a cable box in my television. And I make my living off watching television and talking about it. Think about that. I don't even have a cable box in my house and I make a living off television. So, like, that tells you everything you need to know. And if you have the opportunity and I spent a lot of money on getting this house wired, I would highly recommend YouTube TV.

If you guys want to advertise on the show, out of us, Google. Because I'm a user of the product. It fucking work. It's sweet. It is awesome. And obviously YouTube TV now has, you know, the NFL package. It was a seamless transition for me.

But, yeah, man, I just, it's crazy. And last but not least, I guess they caught the guys that robbed Kelsey and Mahomes, and it was the Chilean gang. Well, the Chilean gang, where my brother lives in Davis, California, which is right next to Sacramento, there were, bunch of homes robbed. And he lives on a golf course. And his house wasn't robbed, but the dude right across the kind of the course was.

And there were like two or three other homes in the area robbed. One guy actually, because they all play golf together, one guy had, I mean, a decent amount of cash. You know, one of those old school, like sock drawers, like, wait, you had $85,000 in cash in your fucking sock drawers? Like, what? Is this 1968? Like, hey, Ray Lioticol. You put it in a bank, buddy. But obviously Rolexes, but it came out that it was the Chilean gangs.

And then where I live kind of right up the street from me, there were some robberies at a super nice kind of country club area. And guys didn't necessarily come up to golf course, but these things in the desert called the wash. So you basically, your home backs up to deserty areas. And a bunch of high-end super rich people got jacked. and they eventually caught them and they were both in Davis and in Scottsdale, both Chilean gangs. And the Chilean gangs are running this operation

of sending people here. And they rob your homes and they typically do it. I don't know the specifics on the Kelsey, Joe Burrow, that kind of crew. But like in Davis and in Scottsdale and I think they hit a super nice area in, was it Minnesota or Michigan as well, is they do it during like the time

when you leave your house to walk your dog from like four to six and they're in and out and they come, they basically case the joint through a wash or through like some area where they can just run away

but they're not like locked and loaded with weapons. Basically the Chileans understood that if we get arrested especially the last like four years you wouldn't get any trouble especially if you're not packing heat you're not going to take anyone down

you just you get released on bond and you're out of the country but they've been getting away with it for a long time and they clearly attacked some of these high end NFL play. and the Chilean gang

are operating a pretty high level operation. Hopefully it comes to an end. But they have been hitting people high-end neighborhoods all over the country. So if you're going to walk your dog, man, you've got to keep an eye and make sure there's not anyone

looking over the fence because these people will rob you and they'll be in and out of your house. I mean, I saw some of the video because my brother knows all these guys that hit his neighbors. I mean, they were in and out in like three or four minutes.

Like they are not casing your entire house. They're going, right to the master bedroom. And typically, you know, hoping to get bags, watches, you know, if you're dumb enough. And listen, I'm not, we're all a little different. But I think in this modern day society, and who knows, maybe I get, you know, this huge banking hack and I lose all my money. But if you have, I'm all for keeping a little cash on you, but the people that have like

$100,000 in cash in their sock door, it's one thing if you have like a legit gun safe and you got cash in there, it's like, okay, you know, I get it. I know a lot of people that. do that. No one could get in and it's bolted to the ground. You can't even get it out. But if you're one of those people with like, yeah, I got 75K in my, uh, in my dress socks. It's like, yeah, I don't know if that's the best idea. Uh, but who knows? Maybe to each his own. Hey, it's us to Jonas brothers. And guess what? We have some big news. What's the news? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast. Well, we didn't invent it.

We just contributed to a, 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.

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 Smigel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeterside help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform?

We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva, actress, mother, lover, and a Gen X woman walking through life one hot flash and hormonal crying jag at a time. You ladies know what I mean. I'll bet you a paramedopausal chin here you do.

So let's talk about it. Join me on my new podcast. How hard can it be with Deanna. where I call on my Gen X squads from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate Midlife's most fantastic BS. All of a sudden, I'd had hanginess happening on my own. I was like, what the hell is that? I was married when I had her, so I didn't even consider how empty that nest was going to be.

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

How Hard Can It Be? I cannot believe I'm about to say this out loud in public. Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Diana Maria Riva as part of My Cultura Podcast Network available on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam, Ms. Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about Define odds.

Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reed.

He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball. Like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball.

So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Okay, let's do a little thing we like to call the mailbag at John Middlecough, at John Middlecough is the Instagram fire in those direct messages to get your questions answered here on the show. Sometimes, you know, it gets winter months, even though it's kind of sunny, it's kind of been dreary around here. You look in when you record your podcast, because we also do a video version, and I'm looking at myself, I'm like, I need to get some sun. I need to go, just go, I'm getting married in a couple weeks. I cannot be pasty and pale. I look terrible.

I just need to get some... I need to get some race. I tried to go on a walk yesterday with no hat and just get my head. But I got a long way to go. So, uh, we'll start with Dan. Given the T. Higgins is likely to be tagged

by the Bengals, how would you attack the Patriots off season? They have by far the most cap space in the league in a high draft position. But it seems like a weak draft in free agency class at wide receiver in O line. What are your thoughts?

I would be careful I mean, maybe it turns out that way, maybe I'm wrong. Maybe by the time you're listening to this, he's been tagged. But let's just let everything play out. I think we'll have a lot of information over the next week

when it comes to tags, when it comes maybe extensions, because you can extend your own player. I would just, I wouldn't get, I wouldn't have my hopes up and then have them shattered because I see a report.

Not saying that he won't, but I think these things are very fluid. I just think you've got to be very careful. And listen, this Vrable and Elliot Wolf, who's a Packer guy, their history is not going crazy in free agency. I mean, think about Mike Vrable's career. For some of you, you guys were a little young. Hell, I mean, I was probably a sophomore in high school when the Patriot signed him,

but he got drafted in the mid to late 90s, and I don't think he ever was a full-time starter with the Steelers. And Belichick just loved his versatility. I don't think he cost very much money when they signed him. in was it 2000 or 2001. So I just think sometimes in free agency, everyone gets so excited about like T. Higgins. Like the best free agent signings last year were like Zach Bonn.

You know, it's not always some guy that costs a lot of money. And sometimes the sexiest guys, I remember when the Niners, they signed Javon Hartgrave, four years, 80 million, 20 a year. It was a disaster. So I think you got to be very careful about the excitement level. level. Offensive linemen, like, you can sign random guys that can be a good guard for you. I would just, this is not baseball where it's like, can we get Juan Soto? Can we get, I saw Vladimir Guerrero Jr. turned down whatever the Blue Jays were offering them. So, like, you know, you get guys

like that, it's like they're going to be sweet, plug and play. Like, you get Kevin Durant and free agency in his prime or shack. That's not really football. it's very rare that like the best players don't hit free agency like Miles Garrett doesn't hit free agency Trent Williams doesn't hit free agency you know those Jamar Chase Justin Jefferson

so now doesn't mean you can't get a good player in free agency but it's it's not fool's gold but I think the hype behind it doesn't always equal the results I got a buddy going to Scottsdale for spring break and I was talking to him about your podcast and stuff to do there.

You brought up a restaurant one time that you said was kind of a hole in the wall, but it had this hangover sandwich or something along those lines. And it sounded awesome. Now he wants to try it. It was actually a hangover burrito. And it's called Tom's Thumb. It is a gas station that also doubles as a barbecue joint. And now the barbecue joint was on television for like Guy Fierry's Triple D.

and I mean it's good barbecue joint but the hangover burrito is just if you're hungover it'd be bummed. I wasn't even hung over and I ate the thing. What do you think teams have to do to compete for a championship? On paper he's talking about Seattle. We have a talented roster

but it feels like we're stuck in quarterback purgatory and continue to be below average in the trenches. How does the front office try to solve problems when consistently drafting in the middle of the first round? You know what John Schneider is kind of turned in Seattle too. And this is a compliment in the Pittsburgh Steelers of like they're never going to suck. They just are not going to suck.

It's not going to happen. But they're not close to competing for a Super Bowl. So it's like they're just drafting from 18 to 22 every year. Maybe as low as like 14, 15, 16, but never sniffing the top 10. and I mean look at the last couple years of Pete they were winning nine games look at this year they went 10 and 7 what would happen if they rolled back

the majority of their team they win 9 to 10 games again I don't know what the answer is I think you know with Schneider he's selected so many high-end players at different positions he he's gonna find talent

I do think a quarterback you're gonna have to get a little lucky you got lucky with Russell Wilson got him in the third round and he was a star for you. Can you find your Jalen Hertz? Like, to me, that's the question. Can you find your version of Purdy?

Just a young player that you can pivot off Gino and he can be a starter that you can build up the team with his cheap contract and win around. Like, you're probably not going to draft a quarterback in the first round, but can you do that with someone a little later in the draft? I don't know the answer to that, honestly.

Would you agree that the only reason Jalen Hertz won the first? Speaking of Jaylen, when the Super Bowl was because of a stacked team. Don't get me wrong. He's a great quarterback. But he is no Mahomes, Lamar, or Al.

Watching Jalen win the Super Bowl is like watching the Ravens win the 2012 Super Bowl. Joe Flacco was a great quarterback, but he was on a very stacked team. Am I crazy for thinking this? I think Jalen is much more impactful than Joe Flacco.

You know, we talked about it. Listen. If you're comparing Jalen to Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, he's not as good as those players. No one would argue that besides Jalen, but like Harry Roseman wouldn't argue that. Where Jalen is valuable, he's a dual threat quarterback. So yeah, he threw 18 touchdowns,

but he also ran for 14. And his tush push play, like, it's him. A lot of people try quarterback sneaks. They don't work. The tush push is because his power. we saw Josh Allen, who is bigger, stronger than Jalen, couldn't gain a yard against the Chiefs. So I pulled up Flacko.

In 2012, Joe Flacko threw 22 touchdowns. And he ran for three, which I imagine were all quarterback sneaks. So he had 25 total touchdowns. Jalen Hertz through 18 this year, 14, I think had 34 touchdowns. So I had nine more touchdowns out of season. Now, where Flacco was pretty special, is in their Super Bowl run, they played four games.

Obviously they went four and oh, they won the Super Bowl. He threw 11 touchdowns and no interceptions. So it was like, it's like a dude who had a random golf career but like won a major.

It's like, remember that time he got really hot at the U.S. Open? That was kind of Joe Flacko. I think Jalen's a better player than Joe Flacko. Right, if you could have 25-year-old Jalen Hertz

or 25-year-old Joe Flacco, you would take Jalen Hertz. part of Jalen Hertz is he's a dual threat player. Now, were there times this season when he was not playing well and they still won games because of the team 100%. But Jalen played well in the Super Bowl. That's the other thing.

Jalen was not shitty in the Super Bowl. Here's my question. Now that the Super Bowl is over, I have been racking my brain on the top five quarterbacks. Top three are no-brainers. Brady, most rings, beat Mahomes, Montana, 4-0 in the Super Bowl, and then Mahomes.

I got a tie I got a tie at 5 with Peyton and Elway Both are elite but both were not as successful as the top three Peyton kept getting beat by the Pats and Brady When he finally got the Super Bowl He faced a vastly inferior Bears team And won the game Elway was getting routed in Super Bowls

It was only when he got a stack team with Mike Shanahan As his coach And I can't think of anyone else I would put it for I got an open slot Guys like Aikman stack team, young, great player, stack team, only one Super Bowl, Marino, probably best pure passer, but only one appearance. Kelly is nice, long question, so thanks for reading.

Yeah, I wouldn't disagree with you. I would mix Rogers and Farm in there as well. Like, I think the top five, you know, I think Brady is pretty, entrenched at one. I think, you know, Mahomes, Manning, Montana are kind of kind of all in that that group. I think once you get like five to nine, I think you can have a lot of arguments.

You know, Elway, Marino, Farrv, Rogers, Steve Young. I think Steve Young's a better player than Troy Aikman. I wouldn't have, I don't think many people would have Troy Akeman as a top 10 quarterback, though he's obviously really good player, Super Bowl champ several times over, Stutt, I mean, legend.

But I think, when I say like Aaron Rogers and Brett Farve, I don't think Troy Aikman. Hi John, love the pod. I never comment or write anything over the years, but I felt like this one, I felt like this one was a disservice if I did not. For the love of God, do not fly to Dubai for your honeymoon. That was, it was a joke, by the way. I was not, one, it's not my call.

Flying over the Mediterranean all the options of the old romantic cities and cobblestone streets that live in women's minds to go to some fishing village in a desert converted to a city more or less the last century due to the oil boom in conservative muzzle of country on a longer flight for not even half the vibe is not viable. Yeah, the Dubai trip will be Johns. She, she, she, she, she ain't going to honeymoon in Dubai. Question for the pod. I like so many people, have been a Nick Siriani hater, but winning the Super Bowl made me

think of him completely different. To win like this, he has consistently won for several years, he has consistently won for several years, must be elite leader of men because I don't know what else he does, but then I see a video on the Eagles YouTube channel of the offensive and defensive captains giving speeches the day before the game. Almost everyone, even the players like C.J. Gardner-Johnson made me want to strap up and run through a fucking wall.

Does it say more about Siriani that he's a leader, or do the Eagles have a better core of leaders than all of the NFL? Follow up. Do you remember a locker room speech that stood out to you? Part of building a team, whether you're Bill Walsh, Andy Reid, Belichick, or your Nick Siriani, is the better players, if your best players are super high character, tough football guys, you're going to have a much higher chance to win.

So it's like when you see those speeches, and they were really good. You know, I saw Lane Johnson's. I saw Jaylins. But I think most times when you get to the Super Bowl, like, pretty high-level dudes on these teams. Like, this isn't a bunch of slapies. Those are on the teams drafted in the top 10.

When you look at the Eagles, like, they got, you know, you watch Landon Dickerson and Lane Johnson and Jordan Milata and Zach Bonn and Sequin and Jalen, like, these are. are high-level cats. You know, this is not, this is not jolly fuck around, strap it up,

let's play a little ball. Like, this is a serious way of life. And, I mean, one that stood out to me is when the Patriots beat the Ravens in 2011, and Ray Lewis kind of gave this one of like,

Joe Flacco, you do not get to hang your head after this loss, because he was a pretty polarizing player at the time. And he actually played well, even in the loss. And it's like, part of the reason the Ravens were good for so long is like look who their best players were.

It's like Holoida, Ray Lewis, Ed Reed. The Eagles are full of like Brayne and Graham. Same thing with the Chiefs. It's like this isn't, you got no chance to be good if you don't watch speeches from players in the playoffs and go, Jesus. This is, this is pretty, I mean, I go back to when I was a kid. Like, think of the best players on the best teams. It's like Troy Aikman, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Reggie White. You know, it's like, Brett Farve, you watch these guys, any NFL films clip,

you're like, I want to run through a wall for these guys. And I just think it's the best teams have the best players who are also the best guys. I want to say best guys, I'm in, like, from a football character standpoint, all in on football, it means everything to them. It's, this isn't like, I love it when people say, like, this is my profession, not my life. Well, it kind of is. You work way more than you around your family and stuff.

Obviously, your work doesn't define you as like a dad or like a family guy, but most people I know that are really successful, their work is a huge part of their life. And I don't want to say defines their life, but is a huge defining part of just the way they live their life. You spend a lot of time doing it. And it's always bothers me and we're not that far. away when the media, most of the media, no one successful would sign up for their life. One, most don't make that much money. Two, most of you follow them on Twitter over the years can be a little miserable. And they can give, they can't take it.

And when the draft comes around, they love doing this because players get asked, like, how big of a priority is football to you? And teams get uncomfortable when you have like a balanced life. Well, yeah, if I'm going to pay a 23-year-old, I don't know, $20 million. I would like for football to be a pretty big priority for them. Like, sorry, call me crazy. Sorry, I'm asking too much.

This is not a $100,000 a year job. Like, you don't just get to clock in and clock out. Like this, especially quarterbacks. And I would even say defensive and offensive lineman, like, you better be all in because I'm going to need so much physical and mental toughness out of you to be a good player. If it's not a big part of your life, you just won't last. It's impossible. The game is just way too hard.

And the media loves like, why is everyone so obsessed with their other interests? Because it's hard to have other interests during the football season. Not saying that you can't do other stuff, but football takes a large percentage of your time. As a player, during from August till ideally the NFL playoffs. Like Patrick Mahomes isn't dicking around that much

for the last six months. Neither's Josh Allen. Maybe around a golf here or there. Maybe, you know, a date night once a week. But it's not, you're not watching Netflix three times, four times a week. It's just, he doesn't have time. He's exhausted. It takes a lot of energy.

It takes a lot of effort. And I just think that that criticism always drives me fucking nuts. Yeah, sorry. I don't want the guy I'm investing in a shitload of money to, you know, have 17 other interests. because it just diminishes and takes away your time. It just does. Let's face it. I would say people tend to be really good at things,

pretty singular focused. As a baseball fan, I feel in recent years there has been a resurgence and viewership and attendance at baseball games. Even if stadium hot dogs and beers are overpriced, there's nothing better than taking the family out to a baseball game on a summer afternoon. NFL will always be king,

but it feels like America's past. time is a comeback is making a comeback what say you well I think the biggest brands in the sport are good so that helps right the two biggest brands the Yankees and the Dodgers we're just in the world series so it's like it's if you could pick an ideal matchup in baseball you would go Yankees Dodgers every single year every single year like in basketball what would the ideal matchup be it would actually be the Warriors like Lakers. That's what Adam Silver would choose to be his NBA finals.

Obviously, it's impossible, but that's what he would choose. Why? Because the two biggest brands are Curry and LeBron. So I think it has to be a I just think that I don't know. It's hard to tell. You know, baseball

is much more of a local sport than a national sport. You know, having moved from the Bay area where, I mean, the Giants have been so bad, but when they're just solid or which is even good. They're a really big deal. Come to Arizona,

like I like baseball and I like have it on my background, but like I don't watch any Diamondbacks games. Where, you know, football, for example, like I'll watch Cardinal games. I'll watch whatever. I won't watch random teams play baseball. And that's, you know, I don't know if that's ever going to change,

but I think the Dodger story is a good one. It really is. People like, it's bad for baseball. Well, what's good for baseball? Because what's been happening is not working. So you might as well have a team that's like, couldn't be any more stacked and have teams try to beat them. Especially, you know, the Mets,

they have this really famous owner who's spending a shitload of money. The Yankees are good. The Phillies try. Yeah, I don't think it can be definitely not a bad thing. It's a question. Have I played Sun City and Union Hills in Scottsdale? Curiously if you had played either course, been an absolute grind. I know I've never, honestly, I've never even heard of those.

Enjoy, I think he's coming for a bachelor party. it seems like you're not a big baseball getting a lot of baseball questions here not a big baseball guy but but that's my favorite sport my question is do you have any colleagues or guys you listen to in the baseball sphere

that have a similar vibe to you do you think there's a lot of people putting out content like you do l-o-l any inside I don't know I can't even know how to answer that question I think let me try to say this in a nice way

I think it's hard to have a business built around baseball podcasts, right? The reason you see a lot more football podcasts or NBA podcasts or cultural podcasts or political podcasts, you can build businesses around those. You know, baseball, the listenership, I think I heard Portnoy talk about this like a couple years back about like when they were building their kind of their podcast, like the baseball podcast, no one listens. So I think it's more that it's hard for guys to, make money on doing that to have a to have an audience.

But no, I don't. I don't listen to any baseball content in terms of podcasts or YouTube channels or anything. So I don't know if there's anyone with quote unquote my vibe out there. Hope there is. I hope he's killing it though. Mailbag, this is the last question. Cam Ward was recently quoted saying he'll remember all the teams that pass on him in the draft. and they'll pay the price for not drafting them.

I'm a firm believer that humility is what wins in sports, but guys continue to puff their chests out all the time without achieving anything. Whenever I see athletes, especially quarterbacks, make comments like this, I immediately fade them as players who will be successful. I feel like I'm usually right. Josh Rosen saying he was going to win more Super Bowls than Brady. As a former scout and someone who's tied to the NFL, what are your thoughts on comments like this?

Uh It's weird Like you do this long enough I'm kind of numb to them They don't mean anything to me They don't like Is it false bravado? Yeah

Like bro You're fucking just playing in the ACC A couple years ago You were at Incarnate Word Like let's not act like You know You're at Ohio State here kicking everyone's ass

Now you had a good season Uh I guess the long I don't really care It doesn't bother me But I think if And I don't know really anything about the guy But I think if you did a deep dive

And people like, yeah, he kind of acts Maybe he's just a little insecure about it To me those comments It's one of those Well, if he becomes a stud player It looks really good Right? But I don't know what you have to be

To gain from it It's one of those if it does not go well Everyone's ripping you for it Not that he's thinking about it like that I mean let's face it Like when Brady went up to Robert Kraft, like during rookie mini camp in the hallway and said, this is the best decision you'll ever make. But once he becomes Tom Brady, it ages pretty well.

I bet there have been comments like that from guys that get cut in training camp. You're like, no one ever talks about that. So anytime you do this, I mean, part of it is he's a big, big store. Honestly, every comment I've seen from Chador just in regards to where he gets drafted, you know, how he doesn't view it as a competition between him. Cam Ward, I actually think, has been pretty high level. I haven't really seen anything from Cam Ward beside the, you know, I'm going to make them pay. It's like, bro, let's just, let's just fucking get drafted first.

I'm with you. That's where I'm inclined to be. But ultimately, it doesn't impact anything. Like, what's going to impact him? Is he good? Can he run an offense? How hard does he work? Does, like, because physically he's pretty gifted.

I mean, there's, like, he's, like, he's, like, he's, much more gifted than Chador. Like physically, he is a legit top 10 prospect. And just in terms of like physical qualities. Now, is he good player? You know, I don't know. I probably have to watch a little more. I didn't watch that much Miami.

Their games were just complete shootouts. I did watch a little of the Cow game when he came starring back. He makes some sweet plays. I mean, he's, uh, overall, though, I think you've got to be very careful about one thing I've learned when I worked in it and even doing this is making, with talented players,

you know, like, I'm out on this guy, right? Because, like, you can't, you can't pigeonhole yourself

to a position that's like, well, like, what if he matures? What if he gets better? If he just has an awful attitude and thinks he's way better than he is,

like he's going to have problems. But what if it's just a young guy? I mean, how old's can't work? 22 years old? some people say dumb stuff he's 22 years old so I guess it's a long-winded way of saying like

yeah I would recommend like hey just try to say the right stupid cliche bullshit before you're drafted and then just you can say whatever you want but I would just chill but that's clearly not the tact he's taken again

if he's good it'll be a legendary comment and whatever teams if he ends up going like fifth or seventh or eighth or eighth and a bunch of teams pass on him, we'll talk about it forever. If he sucks, we actually won't talk about that much because we just won't talk about him that much. You just kind of be irrelevant. The volume.

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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 come in 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.

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