The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 & Out - NFL schedule overreaction, Trey Lance, Fugazi Friday

Episode Date: May 17, 2024

John dives into how once the schedule gets released so many people go through the teams wins and losses for the upcoming season however so many different factors will change by week 3 or 4 and the opponent is almost irrelevant. John also talks about how the Panthers and Patriots aren't favored in any games this season and if the 49ers should be favored over KC despite losing most of their recent match-ups. Later, John reacts to the Cowboys going "all-in" on Trey Lance during camp to find out if he will have any value to them, and finally John goes through your Fugazi Friday comments. Later, John answers your questions in this episode's mailbag segment. 5:48 - NFL schedule overreaction 17:13 - Patriots & Panthers aren't favored 22:10 - Trey Lance 25:18 - Other NFL news 29:05 - Fugazi Friday 45:22 - Mailbag Follow John on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for the latest. Check out Gametime - the fastest growing ticketing app in the US, and the official ticketing app of 3 & Out and GoLow -  for tickets to all of your favorite NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA teams. Concert and comedy show tickets, too. Go to Gametime now to create an account, download the app and use code JOHN for $20 off your first purchase. #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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And I had about 24 hours to sleep on the schedule and just some overall thoughts from things I'm guilty of, the overreactions to just fly when the schedule comes out. And then we'll just dive into some other stuff. The Cowboys are going all in on Trey Lance this off season in terms of giving him a bunch of reps. instead of their other quarterbacks to see what they have. The off-season hard knocks will feature the Giants. And we'll just hit some other NFL stories here and there. I went on with Colin yesterday. There's a podcast out.

I did a shorter podcast after we did that and then today. So we had a lot of content this week as well as a golf podcast earlier in the week. Other than that, we ain't slowing down, even though it's quote-unquote the off-season. Of course, it's Fugazi Friday. So fire in those DMs with Fugazi Fridays. We will read them on the show. At John Middlkoff is the Instagram also.

We will answer questions separate from Fugazi Friday. And give a nice little podcast here on a Friday morning if you're listening or whenever you may listen. And if you listen on Collins Feed, subscribe to Three and Out. If you like watching it, everything is up on YouTube. And like I said, podcast out all week. We'll be back again next week and keep rocking and rolling. So with the schedule out, we got a pretty good idea. And it leads us into, do you want to go to a football game?

And luckily enough, for you, I'm partnered with an official ticketing partner of this show. They happen to go by game time. So just download that app promo code, John, save 20 bucks. You go to any game. College pro. I just did an interview today that will play in a couple weeks with my guy from Florida State and you want to go to a big college game. I've always wanted to go to a game either in the SEC, Florida State, or Clems.

I'm going to have to make that happen in the next couple of years. So if you want to go to an event this summer, watch a baseball game, get out in the sun, a concert, I need to go to a concert, get my singing on, have a few bruskeys, take a friend, take your dad, take your mom, take your son, take your daughter, and just have a good time. do it on us because taking the guesswork out of buying tickets is easy with GameTime, download the GameTime app,

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For $20 off, download the GameTime app today, last minute tickets, lowest prices, guaranteed. Well, when the schedule comes out, it's crazy. You're trying to keep an eye,

you know, whoever you're a fan of, obviously you're seeing the schedule. When's our buy week? Wins our Thursday night games. Now because of the emphasis and the relationship that is clearly going really well with Amazon, which is smart by the NFL to get in bed with them because of the amount of money, the amount of power they have,

their Thursday night schedule is a lot better because they no longer just throw random teams and shitty games on there. That's why a lot of teams play twice, which we could argue is. unfair, but the NFL is not consumed with fairness. They really don't care. This is why I disagree with Colin when he says the league is trying to do this or that. They're just trying to get the highest rating.

That's really all they're carrying it. They don't care who wins and loses. Let's face it, 100 plus million people are watching the Super Bowl no matter what. And the reality is these deals are already signed. Like the NBA has been diminishing in viewership for a long time. it doesn't mean they make any less money. The partners do. But we all know a lot of people are going to watch football.

The reason they put the Jets on Monday night against the Niners because it's Aaron Freak and Rogers and a New York team. Last time I checked, New York is the biggest city in America. So all these primetime games, and specifically Thursday, are about getting the big brands, getting the good teams, and the good quarterbacks involved. That's why I think the opening weekend, or week, I guess, because it starts Thursday, Thursday, Friday, Sunday, and Monday are just big brand star

quarterbacks. Like, they're just not messing. And great teams. They're not messing around where they used to kind of throw leagues. And Colin and I talked about this, Monday night football got a bad stretch of games for a while. Thursday night football before they really got aggressive these last two years was very, very hit or miss. And someone who does this for a living, and I can't, like, I don't go out.

out on Thursday night. Like there's no dinners or anything because I'm watching the game because I'm going to record a podcast. I like a lot more. I'm very, very, uh, have a lot of gratitude on this side that they put good games on that slate.

Now, it does suck. It is like, one thing I was thinking about last night is, we talked about schedules, me and Colin, and I did on my own little 25, 30 minute podcast about like, all the meat of, the schedule is really tough.

That is a crazy ending to the schedule. We talked about that with the Steelers. I think it's basically impossible to guess what anything is going to look like after the first several weeks. Injuries, teams that you thought were going to be good are going to be bad. Obviously, there are certain teams. You know if you're going on the road to Baltimore or on the road to Kansas City or on the road to Buffalo. There's just a weather component and they have been consistently good for a while.

but the middle portion of the league, you got no clue if Atlanta's going to be any good or not. Most of us thought Tampa was going to suck last year. They didn't, right? Minnesota. Are they going to win eight games or they're going to win five games? I don't know. I got no clue.

I have no feel for them. If you told me they were competitive this year, I'd believe you. If you told me they end up drafting in the top seven, totally believe you as well. Seattle, I've heard a lot of people like, they're a team to keep an eye on. They have a first-time head coach who's under 40. and Gino Smith's their quarterback.

So just assuming they're going to be what they were the last couple of years, I can't do that. Their offensive coordinator has never coached in the NFL. Before the University of Washington, he never coached at Power 5 as a coordinator. And I like Ryan Grub a lot. I put the most money I've ever put on a game last year, basically because him versus Sarks defense. And I profited. But you never know. Like this stuff is crazy.

We have a pretty good idea. who's going to be good, the high-end teams. But what happens if you're playing the Lions and Jared Goph had got a concussion the week before? So if the Lions are on your schedule, week 10 or week five, who knows? Things change so dramatically, so fast. What if Lamar Jackson were to miss a couple games? All of a sudden, that Ravens game is a tad bit different. The other thing is we're going to have a lot of young quarterbacks playing, right?

Jaden Daniels starter, Caleb Williams starter, Bo Nicks starter. And by the time you play the Patriots or Minnesota, their two rookies could be in. Pennix is the one guy, if Cousins is healthy, probably won't play. But everyone else, like last time I checked, rookies, C.J. Stroud is an outlier. Most guys struggle. Bryce Young's a good example. I think Carolina, like I would say, most people, they're going to suck. What if this year he takes a huge jump and he's a serviceable, solid starter?

You would say they probably would be a little more competitive. So I think we got to be very, and I'm guilty of this as anybody. But to me, the biggest things, which are pretty common sense, are if you're a seaboard team, meaning you're Seattle, you're the Niners, you're the Chargers or the Rams or any of the teams on the East Coast, the long travels, especially on a short week, are challenging. So if you play Monday night football, several time zones away, that next game is difficult. You get home typically at a weird hour. You're thrown off.

Your coaches are thrown off. I don't care how much Adderall and Diet Mountain Dew, they're sucking down. It is difficult. And to me, the Thursday games, early on in the season, I don't view them as some crazy uphill battle. Not saying they're not challenging. but if you have a, if your lone Thursday night game is November on, like, that's pretty hard. I don't care when you're biweek is. You've played a lot of games.

You've been playing for a while. Guys are tired. Coaches are tired. That is a big challenge. It's why to me, if you play a road Thursday night game after Halloween, specifically after Thanksgiving, and you win it, it feels like two wins. I mean, it feels like a remarkable. accomplishment. And the schedule is fun and it's awesome.

And I, like I told Colin, I am not. I have no patience for the fucking losers who cover sports and like, I don't get it. You don't? It's pretty simple. The NFL is king because there's one game a week, meaning the games matter. So even if you know the opponents, when you find out when you're playing who, what day you're playing the team. and if it's a primetime game is a pretty big deal.

We get it. No one cares about Sunday night baseball anymore. No one cares about regular season TNT doubleheaders on Thursday night. People still really care about this. And it does impact the season. It's their last team sport

where the regular season games when you play them, what time you play them really, really matter. And one thing I'll give Colin credit for this. And I think anyone, you know, I don't know how everybody watches games, but my Sunday in the morning, you know, if there's a big slate, you kind of got to pick and choose who you really need to focus on. You know, if the Ravens are playing the Chiefs and the Texans are playing the Colts and there's some other random games, you got to, you could have eight boxes on on my three TVs in my office, but you can't watch everything closely. and you kind of focus on what really matters. And I think one thing's clear with the impact of these primetime games of the league,

I would say even doubling down on their importance. And the Fox and CBS afternoon games, now with Tom Brady, and we know CBS Jim Nance and Tony Romo get sweet games, the morning games are somewhat of an afterthought. They are by far consistently now, for us on the West Coast 10 a.m. Pacific Standard Time, the shittiest games on the slate. in a weird way from an NFL standpoint, kind of the throwaway games,

even though they're not. I'm not saying they don't matter, but from a matchup standpoint, they're usually the worst matchups of the week. And like I said last night, I'm very, very happy that for the most part, the international morning games, I mean, it's much easier for you guys on the East Coast.

I have a lot of respect for anyone that stays up late for the night games because it was difficult. I've lived it. But the morning games are tough. I mean, getting up can't even sleep into like 7.30. It's already in the second quarter. But for the most part, they're just bad matchups and not as important to be super locked in. So the league understands they're trying to go international, but they're not trying to go that difficult.

I mean, by far the best international game is a primetime game, Eagles in Brazil against the Packers, week one, which is easy to consume. So the schedule, we know it. It was fun. And now we just move on to OTAs and kind of get a feel for, you know, luckily the NFL does a good job of making coaches and coordinators and star players talk every week up until summer break. So it kind of keeps them in the loop even though they're just in shorts and t-shirts and

they're lifting weights. But it's a really big time for your younger players and excited to see what happens over this next month with stuff going on on the field. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal. but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential.

Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win.

I don't care which I'll say. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment.

and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs?

Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jett. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it.

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

Thank you finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your You know, the Panthers and Patriots right now are underdogs in every game.

That's pretty crazy. Like, you have to be viewed as pretty shitty to not be favored in one game at home. Not even just to be one point favored at home. Now, like I said, it's impossible to play this game. Lines change dramatically. but it shows you, and I would agree, these would be two teams that most people would circle as like they should be drafting in the top five.

Obviously, both of them have young quarterbacks. If Bryce Young were to make a big step, maybe the Panthers could win five or six games. If Drake May were to come in and play and make some plays, same with the Patriots. But expectations are clearly pretty low. And the one thing I don't understand is the 49ers are the only team favored in every game.

They haven't beat the Chiefs since Kyle Shanahanan has been there. They lost to him in 2018 when Jimmy Garoppolo tore his ACL. They lost to him in the Super Bowl in 2019. They lost to him two years ago when Christian McCaffrey showed up. And they lost to them again this year in the Super Bowl.

Ever since Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid have been together, the Chiefs have owned the Niners. Now, the big games have been close. And I get it since San Francisco. but that would be the one I would circle of like, I'd tell you right now, you should hammer the chiefs until the 49ers prove that they can beat kind of that unit, right? I just think the chiefs clearly have the 49ers number for whatever reason.

I don't care if the 49ers get a lead. I don't care if they're fucking winning in overtime. They just can't beat that team. But glad they play again. And I would imagine, I would even seem probably a CBS game or Fox game afternoon, Tom Brady will be fantastic. That's the other thing. I do think adding Tom Brady,

listen, Greg Olson's clearly a really high level, good guy, and he's good at his job. But this reaction of like, I can't believe, you can't believe that he got replaced for Tom Brady? What are we talking about? It's like it happens all the time with players. They get replaced essentially by draft picks. it's no different than what's happening here,

except he's Tom freaking Brady. Now, if he's terrible, they'll have a problem on their hands. But if any of us ran a network, and Tom Brady wanted to call football games, he's not going to be doing the sea crew with some random play-by-play guy doing Panthers' Falcons.

That's never going to be the case. He was always going to jump to the front of the line. Why? Because his name. because his name, image, and likeness is that powerful. Now, he's got to prove that he's good, he's got to prove that he's loose, and I'm interested. I don't have a great feel. If I was guessing, he'll probably be solid,

but I do think because, you know, he's kind of corporate. I know the version we saw in the roast, if we got that version, just without the swear words, it would be incredible. But most times you see Tom in more of the setting in which he'll be in calling games, he can be a little tighter. If you get the guy in a locker room

with Edelman and Gronk, you have a superstar in your hands. I just, I don't know how he's going to figure it out and obviously he'll get, in theory, get better as time goes on. Many people think Romo's gotten worse. I mean, a big part of Romo getting worse, people don't think he tries anymore.

It's like the knock on him is he got lazy because when you call football games, it takes a lot of work. You've got to watch a lot of film. Not maybe as much as when you, you were a quarterback, but you can't really go through the motions. I remember playing golf with a buddy who does one of the best NBA teams in the league. And we were on a hole and we were having a beer. We were bullshitting about preparation. I said, how early you get to the games? He's like,

my time arriving hasn't changed. But for the most part, half the NBA, I could show up and no one would notice. I know all the players, especially teams in our division. We play multiple times. I know their rotations. They've had the same coach for a while. Not much changes. That is not the case with football. Because personnel injuries happen all the time.

Your rosters are so big. You're constantly getting guys getting injured. And then a practice squad guy starts or a draft pick from a previous year's a starter. He might be impacting the game dramatically. The rotation of players, it's hard. It takes a lot of work. And that's never been a knock on time. you could argue many consider them like the hardest worker in the history of the league.

So I'd be pretty bullish on the situation. What else? Trey Lance, the Cowboys, I think Brian Schottenheimer said on a local radio station, or I might have said this on a podcast, that Trey Lance is going to essentially get more reps than normal this offseason in training camp because we already know what we got with Cooper Rush. Dak Prescott obviously is a well-established veteran. we need to figure this out. And I think this is the hard part about quarterback development. Like, Trey Lance has started, I think, four games in his career, five games in like the last four years, if you count his final year in college where the season got canceled and they just

play the one game. He just has never played. And when he has, at the NFL level, he has not look good. It's why when the Cowboys traded for him last year before the start of the season, he was their third street quarterback the entire year. And right now, to me, if you just have a normal competition. I don't believe he could beat out Cooper Rush. Why? Because he wouldn't get the reps. If Dax's getting the ones, Cooper's getting the twos and he's getting the threes. There aren't many

three reps. You don't have seven-hour practices, especially with no double days. So you almost have to cook the books, which is what the Cowboys are going to try to do. But they can't cut them. If he can't win the backup job, they're basically going to keep three

quarterbacks. But if Trey Lance is not able to be the backup quarterback because they can he's on the books next year for $5.2 million basically guaranteed and that's what they would owe him if they cut him. Cooper Rush they can cut for under $700,000. So if when week one comes or in the final cuts, if all three quarterbacks are on the roster, it tells you that he can't beat him out. And I think he's just an example of the weird draft that was 2021 and a guy that just hasn't got many reps. And I also think it's you got to be very careful when you draft

quarterback super high from smaller levels because it's not very comparable when you're playing Montana State, Weaver State, and Cal Poly. And listen, it's hard evaluating guys at Alabama, LSU, and Ohio State. Imagine evaluating people at the level of, yeah, he played a total of four

NFL level players, his entire college career, and three of them were on offense, so he didn't even play against them. Like, you're just not seeing DBSs or defensive linemen or linebackers that are to play at the next level. So it is a hard projection. It's why this stuff, because a huge thing he hung his hat on was character, really good guy. That's why the 49ers liked him. Super high character guy. I remember when the Colts had a thing go viral. They had like the horseshoe next to his name.

And that's, we get on guys that are low character guys, but sometimes you can over-evaluate guys because they're high character guys and their skill set is not quite what you want. A couple other things. ESPN will have the first Hall of Fame game ever They've never Usually the Hall of Fame game At least in reason memory Has always been on Sunday night football

It's been on ABC A couple times over the last like 50 years But ESPN has never had it So they will have it this year And I've said for years Hard Knox isn't for me anymore And there's nothing wrong with that Some content in the sporting world

Just is not for me It's for other people it just doesn't interest me anymore. And part of it is, I've been watching hard knocks for so long. I remember when it was much more raw, uncut, and authentic. It was much closer and it inspired me. Like, I wanted to be part of that. I wanted to be in those meetings.

And you don't really get to see that anymore. I've been the guy that had to cut people. It sucks, but it's still a part of the business. It's just a reality of the sport. You take 90 people to training camp. You're only taking 53 guys to week one. 10 plus are going to be on the practice squad. Just the nature of the beast.

And we just don't really see that anymore. And I just find it kind of boring. It's more of a PR campaign, but clearly it works enough. Now they're going to add an off-season hard knocks. I would say this. The in-season hard knocks, which still is not totally for me, is much better than the training camp hard knocks. But the off-season hard knocks, hard pass.

The Giants, I just don't care. But they're not just doing this randomly. People are clearly watching. And if you want to watch, I don't blame you. I don't understand people in my profession that talk shit about other people, fans that like doing stuff. I just don't get it. And part of it is, I got news for you. Most people in the media don't like you guys.

You know, they hate the common fan. They don't relate to the common fan. I try to put myself, like, I have a lot of. I like to think a lot of attributes. I mean, I haven't not paid for a ticket and sat in the stands for the last four or five years. And it's been very healthy for my job because I thought I was very insulated when I used to sit in the media room. It just took a little bubble of a lot of angry people. But listen, if you want to watch offseason hard necks, hard knocks have at it.

I got to say it's a hard pass for me. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds.

I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions,

my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes,

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

Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at Tickford. Talk Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast.

I'm Sam Jek. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. Clearly, 84 is big to me not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line.

We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast. or wherever you get your podcasts.

Okay, Fugazi Friday. Wanted to dive into some Fugazi Fridays. Randy Travis just came out with a new song that is AI generated. Do you think we'll see more Fugazi or AI generated songs from dead artists? Pretty sure Randy Travis is still alive. Could be wrong.

I know he's been really sick. I'd be lying if I said I was that deep in the AI world. I mean, I listen to like podcasts, people talk about. I don't necessarily use it yet. Like, I'm sure some of you use it. Like, I don't have an AI personal assistant. I don't really use chat, GPT at all. Maybe I should start using it.

But one thing, I listened to a podcast with one of like the leading guys, the all-in podcast had, forget the guy's name, Sam, Sam something on talking about what they do with artists and how everyone gets compensated when it comes to artists. I think a huge reason that I love music is when you listen to a song and it strikes you in your soul. And that person is singing that song. And the best part about music, that could be something from the 60s. that could be something from 2003, that you're just like,

this hits home. This moves me. And you know that comes from a human being. And then as time goes on, that person talks about how he wrote the song, how whatever he was going through, influence that part of the song. I'm not trying to sound like old man,

get off my lawn, but I just don't see how computers can, obviously they can generate the sound. Obviously, they can create things that sound just like Randy Travis or Nirvana or whoever, that they're going to be able to do it all. Who knows? They'll be able to do a podcast that sounds just like me.

But they can never be me. Just like that person could never be Randy Travis or Kurt Cobain or whoever. Elvitt, you go the history of music. And I'm not going to get on board with that. But you'd be naive to think. Little kids watch other people play video games. on YouTube. That is extremely popular.

If you would have told me, and like most kids in the 90s, I love video games. That was like a huge expansion time as, you know, we went from Nintendo to PlayStation, Nintendo 64, and Sega,

and then to where we are today, where the graphics are incredible. I'm not a video game player anymore. But if you would have told me that people would love to watch other people play video games on television, I never believe you. So things change.

change and some things like I said just aren't for me. And maybe that's one of them because my unborn children, maybe their favorite artists are going to be from the computer. And I'll just have to pretend to like it, I guess, in the car. Unlike my dad, who if he hated a tape, I mean, I'm old enough where you put in tapes and show you are probably many of you listening, he would like throw it out the window. Probably shouldn't have been littering, but I definitely had a couple.

I remember one time I think like it might have been. a CD. One of the first CDs I ever bought was Doggy style, Snoop Dog. In Tower Records, you had to know a guy at the front because if they had the parent advisory on the front, they wouldn't sell it to you if you were like 13 years old. I remember buying it and I left it in my dad's truck and then we got in. And let's just say he wasn't feeling it after Snoop dropped about seven F bombs. Great album. One of the greatest rap albums ever.

What's up, John? My Fugazi Friday. submission is now unnecessary apps have become for elementary transactions. I went to do laundry at my apartment, washer, dryer. The machines used to have

a standard payment pad where you could swipe or tap your card. Or you could insert coins. We've all been there, baby. For years, never had a problem. You just put in some quarters and do a load. One day, they decided to take out the card reader and replace it with

the QR code. Now you have to download the app for the washer and put money onto the app. Then take a picture of the code. And half the time, the Bluetooth doesn't work on the damn machines and I have to restart my phone. Keep in mind, the machines are not new. And they raise the price per load. There are no ads on the app either. What the hell is the point? Yeah, man, one thing I've embraced, I was telling Colin this the other day. The amount of things in my... home connected to the phone is it's borderline uncomfortable and one thing I definitely notice is all my TV's in the house my remote is my phone we have one hard remote but I mainly keep in the

living room and honestly we never use it which like not that big a deal but sometimes you're laying in bed it's like I don't want to touch my phone at all but the only way to turn off the TV is your phone and then you think about like from my garage to my blinds. I just got this pool cleaner. It's all an app. The little Roomba thing I got, the vacuum. So if we all have seven, eight, ten things using that,

think of where we're going to be in five years. So I guess my pushback here is we can complain about it. The reality is the majority of our life, we're only at the beginning of this thing, is going to be on the phone. It's not going away. the hard transaction or just the hard manual

press a button and you have to hold something is a dying thing and if you think it's a pain or a problem now if you view it that way buckle up because it is only the beginning

so I'm at the point I kind of embrace it it just kind of is what it is just the way the world is going it's not we're not going back Fugazi Friday College football coaches salaries ranked in order of what

he basically just goes Harbaugh smart Kyle Whittingham Kelly Dabo, Lane all of their base salaries are pretty low between like 1.2 to 500K but they all are top

in bonuses making them you know $8 to $10 million a year Here are the top Fugazis no bonuses earned. Mel Tucker, buyout, $90 million. Jimbo Fisher, buyout, $77 million. Luke Fickle, buyout $39 million. Venables buyout $30 million.

Narduzi, 28, ETC. The Crown Jewel of Fugazi's Matt Rule, zero bonus paid, $62 million payout. You know the biggest mismatch maybe in America right now? is these academic institutions who are dependent on football because of the money it generates are run by a president who I wouldn't exactly call Jeff Bezos or Steve Jobs when it comes to doing deals. Well, Jimmy Sexton, who represents a lot of these guys, negotiates contracts for a living. That's what he does.

His whole life revolves around that contract and the money involved in that contract. where these presidents, that is not their priority. They're running these massive institutions that revolve around academics. So you can say he negotiates with an athletic director, who most athletic directors Google how they came up are like marketing guys, started in ticket sales. They have no chance against Jimmy. But ultimately, they have to go through either a board

or the president or a combination of both, who are very academically driven. And one thing is very consistent. And Jimmy's not alone. There are more agents that represent these coaches. They get fucking dominated. It is not a fair fight. It's why when Drew Rosenhouse tries to negotiate

against Howie Roseman or Omar Khan or whoever, those guys have been dealing in specific contracts for what they're dealing with for a long period of time. and it's just, it's almost like if you ran Nebraska or ran Ohio State or whatever, you should essentially have a cap guy who is focused on your sports teams. So when Jimmy comes in, you can say, no, not doing that. Or no, we don't believe you. But that's not really what happens.

He simply bends them all over. And it's not a coincidence. It really isn't. It just isn't because he's good at his job. He is. But it'd be like Nicole Yokic going up against, some high school center. It's like, good luck, buddy.

And it's why every one of these contracts all look the same. Very, very one-sided. It's a consistent theme. Because academia negotiating against someone who does these contracts, even if they negotiate contracts for other things, clearly don't have a good feel for this. Because they get worked. Fugazi Friday.

People who don't fucking slow down in construction or school zones. I slow down and most of the time someone tailgates me then angrily pulls around and passes me. WTF. One thing I've done in my older age because like a lot of young people

you get very mad on the road. You just scream and you know, definitely tailgate guys and just do stupid things. I do the opposite now. When someone does that, I just try to justify it in my head. you know, maybe they're rushing home to their sick child.

Maybe they're headed to pick up their wife at the airport. I don't know. I just don't care. Now, the school zone thing, I agree, especially around if you're driving by a school zone in the morning or the afternoon when they're picking up, like slow down. But one thing about Arizona, I feel like everyone on the road feels like they are, Lewis Hamilton or Dale Earnhardt. It is crazy how fast people drive and how aggressive people are.

And for the most part, just let them go. I just, I don't care. And I'm not exactly slow on the roads, but I've gotten to the point, I guess my reaction to your statement, I just don't care. You know, I'm like a football code. Just worrying about me.

We're just focused on my car. We're just trying to get where I'm trying to get. I can only control myself. That's what I tell myself. That was my SEC football coach. Fugazi Friday. Duck sauce packets at Chinese takeouts. This is right up my alley.

When you order Chinese takeout and you get two packets of duck sauce, which is well short of the amount you need. Then when you ask for more packets, I often get a look like I'm trying to steal money from them and they do give me more packets. it's like one or two max nothing bothers me more

as a big sauce guy and a very fat guy at heart is not getting enough sauce now when you pick something up you know if you tip them when you pick it up which is always a hot debate on this show I don't feel bad about saying more

that's not enough I need more one key as a DoorDash guy or Uber Eats or whatever you may use when you order something online and getting it delivered and you want more sauce, whether it's ranch, whether it's duck sauce or whatever you need. Do you know what the move is? Because in special instructions, let's face it, they read it 10% of the time. You call in and say, hey, I'm John. I just ordered chicken chalmane, broccoli beef, rice, pot stickers, and miso soup. I need eight extra sauces.

I will have no hesitation doing that. Key move. Zero shame when asking for extra sauce. Because as anyone knows, sauce can definitely make a meal. I don't think I'm too locked into duck sauce. Recovery shoes slides. Got a Fugazi for you.

They're selling these things for $80 to wear after you work out. There is no such thing. They are just fucking. shoes. Maybe I'm out of the loop. They have post-workout shoes. I didn't know that. Like, if I go to the gym and I'm going to shower there because I'm going to use the steam room in the sauna, I just bring an extra pair of shoes or sandals or whatever. What shoes post-workout do you put on your feet that make it easier on your feet? Maybe I'm just out of the... I've never even heard of that. Does that exist, they sell post-workout shoes for $80?

Why wouldn't you just bring your own shoes? Is that really a thing? Honestly, I don't know. I've never been offered that or even seen that online. Maybe I'm out of the workout loop in terms of the current trends. Because like you said, I thought they're just shoes. Slides are the extra easy on your feet? Is it because like you're doing deadlift?

or squats? I don't know. I can't say I've ever heard of that, but I'm with you. That is a major, major scam. And maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I'll have some workout guys say, well, they're actually these benefits. I just put on a different pair of shoes after I work out in my sweaty ons that are currently falling apart. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast, Superhuman, documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'm saying. Yep, that's me.

Clever Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment,

and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do a little kill? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jett. And I'm Alex English.

Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so you're not. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line.

We also have AIDS on the table right now. They're finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Okay. Back time at John Middilkoff, Instagram, fire in those DMs. Start with Sean. In the beginning, you agreed with the Falcons drafting Michael Penix. Later, you felt it was not a good idea. What made you change your mind? Not sure I ever agreed that it was a good idea. I don't remember that take at all.

I thought it was one of the more outrageous things in the history of the draft. Then, now, today. And I like Michael Penix. but to draft a quarterback who's ready-made when you just pay the guy $100 million, I'm sorry, it still makes no sense to me, even though, like, I always understand the logic of thinking big picture and everything that goes along with it. But to draft Michael Pennix, a 23, 24-year-old plug-in play starter.

Now, I don't know if he's going to be good or not, but he's not some project. While you just gave a guy $45 million a year and gave him, guaranteed him over $100 million is not very logical to me. And it's just kind of represents not everyone's on the same page. I'm sorry, it just doesn't. You know, the coaches fell in love with them because they get in love involved with the draft process later. The owner wanted, it just, not everyone's on the same page. And, yeah, I just, I really don't know what else to say.

Beside, I thought it was stupid. I mean, I really, and I like Michael Pennix. Honestly, if you told me, would you rather have cousins coming off in Achilles for the next four years? Or just take your chances with Michael Penix? I would just take my chance with Michael Pennix, especially on a rookie contract. I really enjoyed watching you and Colin talk about the schedule. I did a little research and noticed the Niners have four games against teams coming off a buy. Kansas City off a buy week seven, Dallas off a buy week eight, Seattle off a buy week 11,

and then the bills off a by week 13. and they get New England coming off a Thursday game, mini-buy week four. I know they suck, but it's still extra rest prep time. Is the league... If the league is always intentional with what they do,

what do you make of that? It's a good question. I don't really have a theory on the league trying to screw the 49ers here. I think when you're trying to mix and match all these schedules, the 49ers are playing the most prime time games with like the Jets and the Chiefs.

Sometimes you just get a little screwed. Now, the problem is with the teams, like you said, it's the Chiefs, the Cowboys, and the Bills. The Chiefs won the Super Bowl and beat the Niners. The Cowboys won 12 games and the Bills won the division again and won a playout. I mean, that's tough. Like you said, the Patriots, whatever. I don't give a shit.

But that's a challenge. I don't think it was intentional. I just think you have some of this stuff. And I thought the Niners schedule opens up pretty easy. You're always, when a first place team, you're going to get first place opponents. And yeah, I mean, their AFC game is the Chiefs. They also play the AFC North, which is good because of the lions and the bears,

or excuse me, the Lions and the Packers. And if the Bears are solid, that's not an easy division to play. But I don't necessarily think, there's any logic or thought behind the league going. You know what? Let's really try to slow down this 49er operation and give them the bills, the chiefs, and the Cowboys offbys. You know what the league likes? They're television partners to be happy. Why? So they can get more money moving forward. And the 49ers, when they're good, draw enormous ratings. So I don't think there's any malicious disin-ten. I just think sometimes it's the way the cookie crumbles. Love the show.

Lifelong cowboy fan living in New York City. I consider myself a realist, unlike 95% of cowboy fans. The Weed and Boys thing drives me insane. Anyway, the Niners have bang, bang, diner gang. I like E-40, but that also drives me nuts. But it is what it is. People like and have some fun. Anyway, I've seen a lot of talk about the Cowboys running back. Situation and I honestly think they're in a better situation now than last year. People forget just how mediocre Tony Pollard was. There were plenty of instances where I thought Rico Duado was the better early down back. Is that your special teams guy from South Carolina?

Also, the Cowboys weren't incapable of running the ball on goal line all season. I believe the Cowboys missed Zeke tremendously last year. Not only for a short yardage running, but his ability to pass protect. honestly a part of his game that does not get talked about. You know why? It's like defense in the NBA. All we talk about is catching passes and running the ball. Yet pass protection is literally protecting the highest paid guy on the team.

And no one gives it any respect beside coaches and GMs. Fans don't give a shit. Hell, I complain about it. I'm like, why is this guy not playing? And then you do a little research text a buddy in the league. They're like, yeah, you can't pass protect. Not only, honestly, a part of his game. Okay, this year with the.

question marks on the offensive line, it's even more important to have Zeeke back there for this reason and also be able to run the ball in short yard situations. Yeah, I mean, I, Tony Pollard got his leg snapped in the playoff game, right? I think by Drake Greenlaw on a, it would have been a hip-drop tackle now. And he clearly was not only not the same guy last year, but I think it brought to light that some players, and this is not a knock on any guy in Tony Pollard's situation, are incredible second options. It's like this in life.

Some guys are meant to be the C-O-O or the number three guy in a company. Not everyone can lead the fucking thing. And he's not a leadback. He's an incredible extra guy. And he was awesome two years ago. I remember last year, I'm not a huge fantasy guy,

but I listen to a fantasy podcast here and there just to get some nuggets, talk about it in the pod. It felt like a lot of people were going to draft him number one overall. I mean, he was a guy in a lot of fantasy leagues that was going very, very high for a lot of money.

And I think the problem with Zeke is, is his speed is greatly diminished. Now, high-end speed for a running back is very overrated. It's not needed. How often are running backs busting 50-yard runs? It's not, it's the least important attribute. The Adrian Peterson's are an outlawful.

But you do need to have explosive characteristics in short areas. And when you watch Zeeke, he looks like a slower back. But from a skill standpoint of reading the hole, catching the ball, he's a very skilled player. But when running back's legs go, it's a problem. So if all you're signing this guy is for short yardage and pass protection, because he can catch the ball out of the backfield, okay, it makes some sense. but who on a given game is going to carry the ball for 16 attempts, 18 attempts.

Like you do need that player on your roster, and I think that is unknown. Because Zeke, if you give him 16, 18 carries, like, what would you guess his yardage would be? 40 yards. You can be a winning player as long as you're in the right role later on in your career, which ideally Zeek will be in. But to me, the running back position, you know, when you get a high-end guy, you know, the elite player, Obviously, they make a huge difference. If you got kind of a random group, that in like guard and center is the easiest to find. You can pluck a guy off a practice squad.

You can find a guy that gets cut. You can find that position. It's not like you're not going to find random edge rushers. You're not going to find random quarterbacks in training camp. You can find running backs. Die Hard 12 here, aka Seattle fan. Any thoughts on Ted Nguyen's piece? in the athletic.

Do you think Mike McDonald can turn the Seahawks around and make them a legitimate contender in the NFC West against the Niners' Rams? If so, how long do you think it would take? In fact, how long does it typically take for players to adjust to the new coaching staff and schemes? It's a good question. Anytime you get a coordinator who,

usually if you get a head job, you are a star coordinator. And Mike McDonald was, as many called him in Baltimore, boy genius. him and Ben Johnson were the two best non-head coach coordinators in the league last year. He was a badass. But being a head coach is dramatically different. And Seattle's defense, the last couple of years, has mainly been putrid. It hasn't been good. Now, they invested a lot in Jamal Adams, and that was a disaster.

Their pass rush has not been nearly what it was. And they've invested a lot of picks on defense over the years, and it hasn't quite worked out. So you go, okay, could the defense be better? And we say that a lot of the time. But just because you were a great coordinator doesn't mean it immediately translates on, sometimes it does. Right. McVeigh did, LaFleur did, Kyle did. It happens a lot with offensive guys.

But I think sometimes defensive guys, because they're spread more thin as a head coach, like I don't, obviously they're not going to look as good as Baltimore did last year. But we go, oh, they're going to be better. Well, maybe It's not like Pete was the village idiot Last time I checked he was a Hall of Famer On defense Like he's a defensive coach

That's his baby So I don't know I like anyone with a brain Like Mike McDonald a lot How could you not? But a lot of people are very bullish On Seattle I got to see it first

And I say this over and over And it sounds like I'm a hater The guy's a great story but Gino fucking semester quarterback I mean the Niners have smoked him for about the last couple years Do you feel good about winning a big game with him against Stafford and McVe

or Purdy and Kyle because I have a hard time seeing it I think one thing they got to figure out big picture is the quarterback position and I mean they trade for Sam Howell I might see what you got in Sam Howell and I'm not acting like Gino deserves

to get benched or whatever. I'm not saying start Sam Howell at week one, but I think we've seen the ceiling on the team. Love the show. Listen every day. My question is, do you think the Packers should extend Jordan Love this year? After seeing golf get $53 million,

I am curious what the market value for a guy that has only played at an elite level for eight games. I think he's one of the most fascinating guys in the NFL. Because if you're, I said this, I think yesterday on my schedule pod, if you're the Packers right now, you would put in front of them

three years, $100 million, guarantee every penny. Basically averaging out $33 million a year. But if you're Jordan Love, and I think it's safe to say at this point, you'd probably have some pretty good self-belief. You go, yeah, let's play this out. Let's see how this goes.

And I've said over and over, if he plays like he continues to look like he did last year, giving him the Jared Gough contract wouldn't be that difficult. But I got to use like the first eight games. If he's not going to sign a very, very team-friendly deal, which is still a lot of money, but relative to quarterbacks, I think if you're Jordan Love,

you go, let's watch these first eight games. And if he does it another eight games, I wrote down their schedule yesterday, obviously Philly, then the Colts, then a couple weeks, the Rams, then the Texans, then the Lions. And if he's looking like he did last year against these teams, then I would just break him off in the middle of the season.

So it doesn't, I don't see why he would be inclined to do anything right now that wasn't for a huge number. And it doesn't make sense for the Packers to do it right now just because like you said, it's only been eight games at a really, really high level. Now, if he's going to play at that level, he's a very, very valuable commodity.

I mean, very, very valuable. But my guess is they play it out a little bit. Huge fan of the pot. I wanted to hear your opinion on a recently article that dropped. I pasted the link below. The article discusses new reports that Bears quarterback room with Fields. Foles and Andy Dalton was effing toxic. As hell.

Apparently Justin wasn't open to being mentored by Foles. And the two couldn't stand one another. I wanted to get your opinion on how to seemingly high character guy could have so many issues in the quarterback room. I don't know how well you knew Nick Foles during your time with the Eagles, but I couldn't imagine Nick being a problem in the situation. Could you speak on how this report should be interpreted?

I haven't read the article. I've heard people talking about it, and I've heard the main points. I would say this. You can be a high character, good person, and view your situation is kind of getting screwed. I don't necessarily blame him as a rookie when he gets drafted 11th overall

and he comes in with Andy Dalton he's trying to beat Andy Dalton out and then the following year they was Foles was Andy Dalton and then Foles the following year maybe Foles did they overlap

was it both those guys I'm kind of confused on the timeline now like that would have been his first year. He's trying to win the job. I don't know. I don't put much stock into it. Also, when you're young as a rookie, you haven't heard any of that stuff the last couple of years. I think we all can be kind of know-it-alls and egotistical is probably the wrong way to put it, but I know Foles won a Super Bowl, but it's not exactly like Peyton Manning or Tom Brady you're telling him. He views himself as better than Nick Fools. We could argue if that's true or not.

But, like, what you do at 21, 22 years old, if you're different at 25, like, welcome to being a guy. We grow, we mature. That definitely wasn't a knock that Poles and Iber Fluse had on him. And one thing's pretty clear with Poles is he values character a lot. So I wouldn't put much into it. It's kind of irrelevant. And who cares? He's not your quarterback anymore. He's a backup for the Steelers. like you got Caleb Williams These jobs are so competitive There are so much on the line Think about your own situation

If you work in an office setting Not everyone likes each other And if you're both going after Similar deals Or competing with other people in your industry Like not everyone is fucking kumbaya Even if they're quote unquote On your team or work for the same company

It's kind of life right now toxic was it toxic because the organization was falling apart or was it toxic just because they wouldn't talk to each other I think we'd be shocked with how often stuff like that happens you don't just unless you're Peyton Manning or Aaron Donald

or Travis Kelsey you're not just guaranteed that I have to listen to what you're saying like I got to listen to my coach but like just because you're another player that did something six years ago sounds like, I mean, I'm basically defending Justin Fields, but if I'm Fields, I show up, like, I'm the guy just got drafted really high, I'm ready to play. I'm not some third round pick. Like, you don't want your third round pick looking like that, but Justin Fields is supposed to be like, oh, yeah, Andy, I'll just sit behind you and soak it all in. Like, I understand competitive.

That doesn't bother me really at all. But at the end of the day, if you're a Bears fan, who cares? As a Texas fan, I'm very excited about your two with Cedray. While I think they're going to be very good this year, I want to avoid getting overhyped about a deep playoff run. How far do you see the Texans making it with a second year quarterback who could have a sophomore slump? I think the biggest key to your offseason was in that Ravens game, there was a major, major discrepancy in talent.

Now, you guys had had some injuries, so the Tankdale had broke his leg or wrong, whatever, but the talent as the second half went on it, it wasn't a fair fight. Where this year, you add Hunter, you add a couple DBs early in the draft, you add Diggs, I think you go into this season hoping we just have more talent. So if the quarterback, if he goes into a sophomore slump, you might not win the division. But if he plays at a high level again, do we have the talent, the young coaching staff, to compete in the playoffs against the Chiefs,

against the Ravens, against the Bills. Because last year you weren't going to win those games. It just wasn't going to happen. Like you wouldn't have beat Josh Allen in the Bills, you wouldn't have beat the Chiefs, you obviously didn't beat the Ravens, you couldn't have beaten those teams. This year I think,

hey, I don't have your, would you go win 10 games last year or 11? I think 10? We might win 10 or 11 games like being the similar win-loss record, but we're going to be a better team. clearly there's some luck involved with health, but that to me is what matters.

It's not as much getting overhyped. It's like, are we just better? Are we more impactful? Do we have more high-end guys? Can DeNeal Hunter add something? And Will Anderson take a step? See, I look at it more young players, second year in the system. Can Hunter and Will, or can Will Anderson and C.J. Stroud be even better?

or C.J. really just needs to about be the same. But if Will Anderson is even more of an impact guy, you're like, okay, you're fucking playing. Let's roll. What time's game time? That's how I'd look at it. Follow up. Do you think NIL money will empower players to try and dictate where they end up in the NFL? I just think no one cares.

Like if I want to draft you, I'm going to draft you. What are you going to do? I just, I guess it could. but unless you're the number one overall pick, no one really cares about your opinion. And let's face it, most players, the higher you get drafted, the more money you get. So to dictate where you go in the NFL, like, yeah,

would I rather play for the Chiefs than the Panthers? Of course. But am I going to be like, I will not play for anybody? But the Chiefs were the Ravens or the Niners. You'd be like, okay, we're going to be. draft you at third overall. And one, why would you pass up that type money? So, no.

It happens a lot in the NBA. Like, we're not giving you our medical information. We just refuse to play for you. And it feels a lot in the NBA. It's like, okay, yeah, we'll totally listen to you and we'll pass on the player. I just don't think anyone in the NFL gives a shit. The other thing is players in the NFL, like, once you're in the NFL, people are like, who the hell is this guy?

Because let's face it half the first round bus. they ain't any good. So you'd be a marked man before you even got. Now, the Eli Mannings and the John Elway's, like that will happen again. But if you're not the number one overall player, if you're like the 10th best player in the draft, and you're trying to dictate going somewhere else, one, you would cost yourself money. And two, like I said, I just don't think front offices care at all. What are you going to do, not show up to OTAs, not be a good guy?

What are you going to do when my three pro bowlers on defense are like, why are you acting like this? So it's just not really tolerated, you know? That's why the NFL has a lot of parallels to life. You couldn't act like that, no matter how talented you are, some up-and-coming engineer out of, you know, USC or the best, highest grades out of Ohio State or Cal Berkeley's business school. You can't just walk into the company day one and be like,

sit in the corner office and tell everyone to shut up. just not the way it works. It is the way it works in basketball. It's not the way it works in the NFL. And one resonates a little bit more with most people than the other. The volume. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite.

Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes.

Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds.

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

And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to, listen to learn the hard way on the IHard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHart podcast. Guaranteed human.