The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 & Out - NIL is changing college football, Sports are the greatest reality show, Prospects are done running

Episode Date: April 15, 2025

John dives into the latest with the former Tennessee QB, Nico Iamaleava and how what he's doing by "holding out" is a very bad look for college football and how if this were the NFL he would likely not be on a team next season. Next, John talks about how sports are the greatest reality show on TV and we find ourselves rooting for players that have struggled to win a championship. Lastly, John answers your questions during this episode's mailbag segment. 5:55 - NIL changing college football 22:18 - Sports are the greatest reality show 33:46 - Guys not running before the draft 41:19 - 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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to some football. And obviously the hot topic out there on the streets is this Tennessee quarterback situation. So we'll dive into it today. I've had a couple days. I think we read a bunch of actually multiple articles today on just what really happened in the situation in regards to the negotiation and the father.

So I think I got a pretty good idea of where I want to come from when talking about Nico and the NIL deal that went sour. I do think there are four guys in the NFL that fall under the Rory McElroy category that have been at it for a while that are really good at their job, really famous, and we go, are they ever going to win it? Slash, can they win it? Couple players, couple coaches want to dive into that as well.

And a trend in the draft process when it comes to the 40-yard dash that seems like it's only gaining steam. that I don't even know if the 40's going to exist in five, six years the way we're going. So we will talk about that as well as a mailbag at John Middlecough. At John Middlough is my Instagram. Fire in those DMs. Get your questions answered here on the show. I did a podcast yesterday with Coward. We talked football.

We talked the Masters. I also did my own podcast right after the Masters end and did reacting to Rory somehow winning that thing. and the roller coaster that was Sunday, which turns out I think it was the highest rated masters in a long time. So a lot of people were interested in watching him try to get the green jacket. So we got content from Sunday out yesterday, so go check that out if you missed it. And obviously today we're going to talk some football.

But make sure you subscribe to the podcast if you listen on Collins' feed. Make sure you check out the YouTube page. A lot of content up on the YouTube page. And other than that, I think we got you covered. But first, before we dive in to some football and the NIL situation that everyone's talking about, I do need to tell you all my friends, my partners, and the official ticketing app of this podcast. Listen, I got a lot of friends, a lot of homies in Sacramento and the Bay Area. They got a couple playing basketball games coming up right around the corner.

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It was awesome. Took on the Mavericks and Young Dirk and Mark Cuban-led Mavs. And then from there, you know, Warriors games. Playoff basketball, home team environments are just, it's pretty incredible. I would say the same thing for the NHL. I've never been to an NHL playoff game, but they sure look incredible on television. So if you get the opportunity to do this,

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It's funny to see some of these thoughts when it comes to NIL. And we got a DM, I think last week that said, like, everyone's perspective on NIL is different. Someone like me that went to Cal Poly, that when I moved to Philadelphia, I'd have to tell people just, I went to Cal because no one would understand what Cal Poly was. It's essentially like San Diego State, but in the middle of, you know, kind of of the California. And it's not a big football school. We're D1AA.

So if you go to a school like USC, like Texas, like Alabama, like Ohio State, like Michigan, you treat them like you would if you're a 49er fan or an Eagle fan or a Patriot fan. Like, that's your squad. So you don't really care about NIL unless a guy leaves you because you're not paying them enough. And then you're like double middle fingers. And people like me that are kind of like a nomadic college football fan, I gravitated toward the SEC during the Sabin era because I thought it was really enjoyable football.

Not going to lie, like Ohio State, Michigan is just an incredible game. I'm dialed for that bad boy. But I don't really have, you know, horse in the race with most of these teams when they're playing unless I'm gambling on it. So my take has been pretty like, I don't care. Pay them what you want to pay him. If you don't want to pay them, it's up to him to find if he can get more.

And this is just a general take when it comes to NIL. But I think, and Colin talked about this, and he's right. It's really easy, and I would say the media always tends to be pro player, pro and definitely now college, which was understandable forever when it came to college because they weren't getting paid above the table. They were definitely getting paid below the table. And, you know, in college basketball, Jay Billis would go on these rants. It's like, Jay, Coach Kay has been paying people for 20 years.

I didn't care, but we can't be naive and act like these guys aren't getting broken off. Now, in football, because of the amount of guys, it was never like paying a top basketball recruit because that individual had a much bigger impact. And if you did nail it, like, you could win a national championship. In football, it is so hit or miss. You've got so many players in a recruiting class. So the NIL landscape, a lot of coaches got out of paying big-time recruits. Why?

Because it's a complete crapshoot. If you go the last 20 years and just type in, 2016, top 50 recruits in the country, any year. You're going to see some big-time names, some guys that go on to be NFL stars, get drafted really high, and you're going to see a lot of guys like, who's that? What was that guy's deal? This guy even playing the NFL? This guy even playing college?

So it is a complete crapshoot. And a couple years ago, Tennessee gave Nico a four-year contract worth $8 million. Now, he was a prize recruit, a big-time dude out of Los Angeles. but I think we all have to agree. Like, that's pretty ballsy. There is no guarantee that that guy's going to be a star. In his first year, he didn't even play. He redshirted.

So they paid him $2 million to ride the pine and be the backup. And then in his second year, he started, Tennessee had a good year. They were a running team and a good defense. He threw one touchdown against Arkansas, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Ohio State. One total touchdown versus those opponents. I would say given the hype, he had a pretty underwhelming year, which historically in college football, he's a red cheer freshman.

He's like, yeah, he threw 20 touchdowns, nine picks, did not play that well against top competition. Is a work in progress. No shit. It's called college football. He's 19, 20 years old. Most guys aren't just hitting the ground running and just Johnny football day one.

It is difficult. So, like, as a player, totally understandable. In the SEC, the speed, a little different than playing high school ball at LA. But like, I think everyone is so quick, the takes of everyone's always getting screwed. And that is something that I think social media, a lot of people have always had those takes. But when you get on social media, I would say the victimhood mentality, everyone's getting fucked financially in terms of like college sports is a universal theme. And in certain situations, like, no, this guy's actually not getting screwed.

He got an incredible deal Because even if he had failed If he hadn't been a good player He was going to get eight plus million dollars In a state where there's no state income tax It's like that's a pretty good place to do business And here's the thing that I feel bad for about this kid Based on the information and all the articles that I've read

Is his dad's leading the charge And I think sometimes when you're too I say it all the time like when a wife A father a sister a brother a brother says something really stupid, whether it's at a game or on social media regarding the person in their life that they're close with, that their family to that's playing in the game, like, yeah, they're emotional. They are a little closer to this than me or you.

I give them a break. I don't hold them to the same standards as like the general manager or just like some random media member. It's like, that's their brother. I hope that they are a little over the top. and their support of the guy. But the father negotiating this deal, credit to whoever originally negotiated this deal. Fantastic deal.

And it looked like it had a chance to be a win-win. Hell, I was really bullish on this guy early in the season. You see the physical attributes. You see the big arm. But as the season went, like there's no way to dispute it. He wasn't that good. And I've seen a lot of people in college football talk about, this happens in the NFL all the time.

It was bound to happen in college football. average players in the NFL do not hold out. You know why? They would fucking get cut. They would be told to pack your locker and leave. You know who holds out in the NFL? Nick Bosa. Jamar Chase.

Trent Williams. Elite players. Coming off elite years. Hell, we argue when a guy like Brandon Ayyuk who had 75 catches and 1,500 yards and was the number one wide receiver for a Super Bowl team, is like, is he good enough? to hold and they're technically holding in.

But like you never see. It's like, yeah, this guy's a marginal right guard. Not happy with his $3 million contract looking for six. He's holding out because his ass would be sent packing immediately. And yet when this Nico thing happened, everyone brought all these takes. It's pretty simple. They got really greedy. And I think sometimes, and we all fall under this category of like, listen, I love business.

I love doing deals. I love everything on this podcast and doing business with different partners and generating revenue, but not everything all the time can be about money. I surely, like many of you, have to do some things professionally where it's like, yeah, I'm probably not going to get paid doing this. Or, you know, I could probably make more money doing this, but there are other benefits. And I think when you look at the Nico situation, it'd be one thing if he was getting 100 grand. Starting quarterback in the SEC, it's like, yeah, his contract is way out of whack.

It's like, bro, you signed for over $2 million. It's like, what are you comparing yourself against Carson Beck? Well, two years ago, Carson Beck was really, really good. You have yet to have a really, really good season. And clearly, you know, part of, you know, Lamar took a lot of shit for this when his mother was his agent. It's like, does she know what he's doing? Is this the right thing to do? Like, are you too close to all this?

Now, it's all worked out. You know why? Lamar's an all-time great talent. He's a multiple time MVP. Like when you're that good, it doesn't matter if I'm your agent, his mom's his agent, or Drew Rosenhouse the agent. It's going to work itself out. But in a situation like this, when you go, yeah, we're going to need a little more money. It's like, yeah, I'm going to need some more touchdowns then.

I'm going to need a little more production because I got no problem paying you if you produce. And I think you look at this guy and his team, they are living in La La Land. They really are. and this notion of, I just, it just kind of wears on you that everyone is constantly getting screwed. That, oh, this guy's, this guy's really getting effed. No, actually he's not. Looks like a pretty good deal to me. And I think most people at the highest levels of whatever their profession is when there's a lot of money on the line,

there is a balance of like, okay, you're doing a good job negotiating, you're making a good amount of money. It's like, well, now are you going to get greedy? and you could argue what is the line for greed. And that's a fair question. It depends on the individual situation. I do think it's fair to say after the year that this guy had that like asking for double arrays based on his level of play was kind of comical.

And my favorite part about this story is when his dad's shopping him around, Dan Lannning gets on the horn and calls Josh Hypo in the program and says, just to let you know, your quarterback is shopping himself around. And I give Josh Hypo credit. Now, I don't know if it's as simple as this is BS. We're cutting you.

There are probably some other variables. Maybe they tried to talk it out. But regardless how it went down the last 48, 6, 7 days of this process last week, they said kick rocks. See ya. Adios. And I do wonder, like, this is the second transfer portal. A lot of teams have quarter.

A lot of really good teams have quarterbacks. And this is what I'm talking about being greedy. He was in a spot where this team is going to compete for the playoffs every single year he chooses to stay in college football. Unless he improved a lot like he wasn't coming out in the draft. So he was going to be in college football for several more years. And he was in an incredible spot with a coach who is a quarterback and an offensive mind with a team that pretty clearly is really good on defense

and is going to continue to be in a place that is unreal to play college football and you could argue the biggest spot, the SEC. And now he's not allowed to transfer into the SEC without having to sit out a rule because the SEC took some initiative, I don't know whether they did this last year or a couple years ago, that the second transfer portal window, you're not allowed to transfer within conference and play immediately. So that's not on the table. And you look at Oregon like they clearly don't want them.

Ohio State, like, are they going to be interested in this? Michigan just paid a guy $12 million. Like, where, Texas, they got Arch Manning. I'm just not quite sure where this guy is going to end up. I'm not going to lie. I'm rooting for them to make a lot less money in their spot. Not because I care about like the kid learning a lesson. I really don't.

I don't even blame them. If I was 19 and 20 years old and clearly my dad is like, quote unquote, my boss slash manager, you're just kind of, of doing what he's telling you to do. But this is going to be a good lesson for his father potentially. Like you completely fucked your cash cow. Because let's face it, I'm sure his dad had his hand in the cookie jar. And the cookie jar was full of cookies at over $2 million a year at Tennessee.

And now they're looking around. And let's face it, here's the other thing. Some of these coaches at all the good programs, again, you're leaving Tennessee to go to the good programs. Kind of want to draw a line in the same. sand. I read an athletic article where guys like Mario Cristobal were quoted and it was like, damn,

these guys were kind of taking some shots of like, you hold out on the team, you better get out. These coaches are tired of this. They have no problem with the collective paying their star players. They're all about it. They're getting filthy, rich as well. But when it comes to football,

you're holding out and it's like, yeah, I don't think this is going to work. And I do wonder if we see, some of these guys. Now, all it takes is one, but like if your best option is UCLA football, you left the University of Tennessee to go to UCLA? Like, I'm sorry, that's laughable. The NBA 82 game grind is done. And now the real fun begins. The NBA playoffs. Are here and it's time for the high stakes drama. Clutch moments and jaw dropping plays. Can't wait. If you're looking to make the playoffs, even more exciting,

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

So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. And, well, we were thinking I'm originally. calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers was... This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this.

We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it.

Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter.

Listen to humor me with Robert Smygle and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments, to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them.

Listen to SportsClace on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slic Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis, and I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs, and on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris. Every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on Clay.

Jenchian win. I mean, she went down in three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lina Rabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now, and I actually can win on any surface. Because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court side scene. to the French Open.

Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Yesterday with it being the Masters, and I think part of this is what makes sports so great. I mean, part of the reason the SEC we talk about so much is the history behind the conference. Hell, just in the last 20-plus years,

the great Florida teams, obviously the great Sabin teams, now the Kirby teams and all these different situations post-N-I-L, it's added to the drama that is reality television, and that is sports, right? And you're only as strong in reality television show as your star celebrities, which in football's case are your star quarterbacks and your star position players

and obviously your coaches. They play huge roles in the drama that is football. It's why so many of the people, people watch because we're really, really invested. Obviously, we root for, you know, most people root for a team. I would say it's a pretty high percentage in the general vicinity where you grew up. Like, why did I root for the 49ers growing up? Well, I grew up 50 an hour depending on traffic away from candlestick, right?

If I had grown up in Wisconsin, I'd probably been a Packer fan. If I had grown up in Texas, probably been a cowboy fan. Right. We're all typically based where we are born and, grow up or at least early on if we move what team is in the vicinity and then from there these individuals that are part of that team like Steve Young and Jerry Rice

hell Steve Young when I was a kid all I can remember when I was really really young a lot of people saying like this guy's a failure this guy cannot live up to Joe Montana and you could be like well who can and obviously he couldn't Joe Montana won MVPs won multiple Super Bowls but when Steve Young finally won the Super Bowl in 1994 it was a really big deal for people in my life.

Help, my dad till his dying days, not in a million years would have ever said Steve Young was even remotely as good as Joe Montana. There was some bitterness, totally understandable. But that is men's soap opera, right? These situations in regards to the coach, the decisions, the trades, the whole thing. And I think part of it is the longer you're around, right,

in a sport, part of what made John Elway story so special is it took him forever to win the Super Bowl. And then his last two years, he rattles them both off. But if you followed football and you're older than me, him losing added to the drama of his career. Hell, I loved Peyton Manning when I was young. Part of what made Peyton Manning so interesting is that he couldn't beat Belichick and Tom.

He couldn't do it until he did. And then everything changed. Rory McElroy couldn't win the Masters for years. year in, year out, year in, year out. And then he finally did. And everything changed. But when I see that the tournament peaked at 19 million people and averaged almost 13 million people,

well, of course it did. This guy has been in our life for 15 years. He's the biggest star in the sport. And the story of, can this guy do it, is the number one story in golf kind of by a mile. And I think when you look at football, we have a lot of those individuals going right now. When it comes to quarterbacks and coaches,

can this guy ever do it? And until they actually do it, the answer is simply no. And I think a lot of people go, I don't know. It was like that, hell, when I got to Andy Reid, he had already built up a decade worth of, yeah, this guy can't get it done in the biggest games. And then hell, he got fired and had to go to Kansas City. And for the first five or six years,

like, you know, Andy Reid, really good coach, but never can be a Super Bowl champion. And then Patrick Mahomes comes up. Now looking back, he's been to five Super Bowls in six years and won three of them. So it's like, could this guy not, get it done or just like, well, he had quarterbacks that weren't quite as good.

You could argue there were a lot of variables, but once you win, it's crazy how different the narrative changed. And sometimes, when you're an individual, like Aaron Rogers, the way we talk about him, no one can ever say he's not a champion. You can't discuss him like he's James Harden.

Even though he's had a lot of seasons where he's been remarkable, put up incredible stats, won MVP's, and then felt like he left you wanting a little more in the playoffs. especially the second act when LaFleur got there. It's like, I wanted a little more there. I thought this was the year.

But at the end of the day, he won the Super Bowl in 2010, so you can't really say anything. Tom Brady, year two, you know, in the league, year one starting, boom, Super Bowl champion. Like, just check that box. Mahomes, second year starting. Boom, win Super Bowl. Like, he's just a champion.

And you look at the other two quarterbacks. I think there are four guys that fall under the category of what Rory just accomplished and shut everyone up. Because there were a lot of people like he's never going to do it. You're crazy if you bet on him. That's all I heard. You're crazy if you bet on Roy McElroy.

I really wanted to. And I didn't because I got cold feet. Luckily, I've been in the stock market long enough that I don't hold on to things that I wanted to do that I didn't do. Just let it go. Sometimes, in hell, if I would have bet on it, he probably would have lost. But I think there are four individuals, two quarterbacks and two coaches,

that until they do it, it's actually going to add to the, interest. And I think when you look at the two quarterbacks, it's pretty clear who they are. Right. And I would rank them to Lamar Jackson one Josh Allen. And the reason I have Lamar Jackson number two is like, he just hasn't played that well in the playoffs. I mean, and he, I would say, got to go to an organization that over the last two and a half decades, 25 plus years, has been considered not just one of the better organizations in, football, but in all of professional sports in North America. The Ravens are a high-level operation.

Now, they were in trouble. He got there. He saved him. But they've been the number one seed multiple times in Ben C-O'd. One year, Derek Henry ran for like 400 yards on him. A couple years ago, the Chiefs just embarrassed him. I mean, 17 to 10, absolute joke. They had no business not winning it.

But, like, until he does it, he's won these MVP's, he puts up these incredible stats. Like, he's kind of falling under that category. of like something happens in the playoffs. It's like what is going on? This is not the same guy. Now last year for the first time, in the second half of that game against the bills, started to look more like the Lamar Jackson,

we get used to seeing the regular season. And it was like, that was, the Ravens had no business losing that game. They were the more talented team. And if Lamar Jackson doesn't play like he did in the first half with two awful turnovers, they probably win the game. Now, you can say, well, it's Mark Andrews's fault.

It's like, well, they are a defense and quarterback dependent team. And when he plays bad, they got problems. Where, you know, the bills, that's why I'd have Josh Allen won, is because he actually plays well in the playoffs. If Lamar Jackson plays the chiefs in the playoffs, I will bet against Lamar Jackson. Doesn't mean he won't do it. Doesn't mean that it won't eventually happen.

But I don't think you'd be really hard pressed to go, this is the year, this is the time. Just like most people with Roy Mcorach. your stupid stay away from this one. Where Josh Allen has been the opposite. If you look at his number specifically against the Chiefs, played pretty well. I mean, a couple years ago,

you could say he outplayed Patrick Mahomes in the 13 second game. And he, you know, unlike the Ravens, they've won a couple Super Bowls over the last 25, 30 years. The bills have this thing hanging over their head like kind of a tragic operation, right? Went to four straight Super Bowls, didn't win one.

And what's the likelihood if I took a team four straight, whether it was World Series, NBA finals, Stanley Cups, Super Bowls, you just, if I was like, you're going to get there four straight years. The likelihood that you're going to win one of them,

especially a Super Bowl situation, which is a one game, 60 minutes, I feel like it's like 80 plus percent that you're just bound to win one and they never did. And then up until Josh and Sean McDermott got there, the bills were terrible. terrible this century. They were a joke.

And then they have literally played the Chiefs really well. They beat them during the regular season consistently. They've played them well in the playoffs. And what makes it cool about these two guys is it's clear. They're all-time great talents. Lamar's got two MVPs. Josh just won his first MVP. If you tell me when their careers end

they combine for six MVP's, maybe Lamar gets, maybe they both get three. I can see Lamar win another one. I can see Josh win in a couple more. I personally think Josh is the best player in the NFL currently, but like until they do it, it's going to be kind of tragic. Like, if you're a betting man,

you'd say, yeah, there's a decent chance. At least one of them never even gets his Super Bowl. Think about that. That's the thing with Harbaugh and Kyle, who to me, and that's Jim Harbaugh, not John, who obviously won the Super Bowl, is I would have Kyle

Shanahan is by far the most, like, tragic figure as a coach, because he's the only assistant coach, in my life, I would say any sport who gets blamed for a Super Bowl loss, when you think about the 283 game, no one talks about Dan Quinn, who was the head football coach. No one ever mentions him. It's Kyle Shanahan's fault. It's Kyle Shanahan's fault. It's Kyle Shanahan's fault. Which, fair or not, he gets blamed for it. And then he's had multiple Super Bowls against the current dynasty, the Chiefs, and Patrick Mahomes, where he's had a lead in the fourth quarter.

help two years ago, he took him to overtime. For some reason, kicked a field goal, which probably not a great idea. But regardless, it's like, the difference of Jim Harbaugh and Kyle is even if Jim Harbaugh never wins a Super Bowl, you can never not call him a champion

because he built up a championship team at Michigan, which I would say over the last couple decades, clearly was one of the best college football teams of his era. Loaded with NFL guys at every single position didn't lose a game, beat Ohio State, beat Nick Saban in his last final game, and then absolutely destroyed

a team loaded with NFL players in Washington and the future Alabama coach in the championship. But like, up until that game, you know, I would say Harbaugh fell under that of like, is he ever going to get it done? Is he ever going to win?

Hell, he lost to his fucking brother in the Super Bowl. That's something that like is an extra additive of like, it's one thing, it's like, ah, I lost a Belichick, I lost to Andy Reid. It's like, I lost to my brother in the Super Bowl. And let's face it, they were kind of getting their ass kick until the lights went off.

But the thing with Kyle, it goes, he doesn't have college football. He can't ever say, well, you know, I won a championship when I was 38 at Texas or when I led Florida to a championship. It's like, no, it's like, are you going to win with the 49ers? And who knows? Maybe he never gets back with the 49ers.

Maybe he had his opportunity. He never comes. But you look at these figures, and this is what the business is built on. Obviously the championships and the Brady's, the Mannings, the Mahomes, guys that win them. But you also need these other characters

that are almost tragic. And I think Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Kyle Shanahan, and Jim Harbaugh are kind of filling that void. Last but not least, I didn't want to mention this before we get out of here is that there's clearly a trend that agents are telling their clients,

you don't need to run. when I was in the NFL, it would have been unheard of for a healthy player to not run the 40, especially a guy who was fast. I totally understand when you, I remember Keenan Allen, had like knee injury, it's clear he wasn't going to run that fast, wanted no part of it. He eventually ran at like some private workout. It didn't go well and it cost him, went in the third round. But still, guys, it felt like, I don't know if it was peer pressure,

league pressure, you just did it. And there has been a clear shift to these agents going, we're not running the 40. And your guy's fast. Like, your guy can run. Like, we're not going to do it. Ashen Gentie at his pro day. No 40.

I watched Asheny run. It looks pretty fast to me. But as someone in the league told me, yeah, it's just not worth it. If he runs a 452, it could cost them 10 spots and a lot of money. What I think Will Johnson at Michigan, who just had, I don't know if it was a pro day or like his personal workout.

He's doing the short shuttle. He jumped 37 inches. He is an excellent athlete. Will Johnson is a really, really good player. When I think of Will Johnson, I think someone did his fast. Now, I don't know if he's like Dion Sanders running a 4-240, but I definitely don't view a guy that's like scared to run. And I think these agents realize now, like, what are you going to do?

Not draft my client because he doesn't run a 40. I don't think we're that far away from getting to a point where it's one thing like if you tell me a guard doesn't want to run the 40, I'd be like yeah, who cares? Whatever. It's like you can see his explosion. You can see him on tape. Like do I need him to run a 40? It's not the end all be all.

But when it comes to a wide receiver, when it comes to a running back, when it comes to a corner, I kind of want to know the 40. It's like, well, you got the data for, you know, the programs. Like, yeah, I want to see him run a 40. What his number is.

Part of it is so I can compare him to previous guys drafted, where he ranks to other guys that were drafted really high. Soss Gardner isn't exactly the fastest guy on the planet. Went in the top five. So if you're a really good player, even if you run a 452, it's not going to kill you. Now, if you run a 4-40, maybe it's going to help you. That's the other thing. When you don't run the 40, things can go well.

If you're going to just approach it glass half empty, yeah, don't tell you. touch it. Well, part of it is there have been a ton of guys over the history of this draft. If you just look at the last 10, 15, 20 years that have run good times that couldn't play, that have made themselves a lot of money. Will Johnson can play. Honestly, at one point in time early in the season, he got banged up throughout the year. I think a lot of people thought, like, could this guy go like top five? Could this guy definitely go top 10? Now, depending on who you talk to, he's probably going to up going somewhere like 8 to 20. Who knows? There's a lot of variables in this draft.

Bords are all over the place. But if you told me that he ran well, he ain't going to plummet like a rock in the ocean. Hey, it's us to Jonas Brothers. And guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, new? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to a first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts. We're starting a trend. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name,

Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this.

We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad. Hey Jonas and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it.

Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, 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. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened.

That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise. breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down,

give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlic on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slicelife 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis. And I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs. And on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris.

Every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on clay. Jen should win. I mean, she went down at three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lena Rubakina is arguably the best player in the world right now. And I actually can win on any surface. Because if she's serving, well, good luck.

Consider this your court side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Okay, let's dive into the mailbag At John Middlecoff At John Middilcoff Is the Instagram DMs wide open

Fire in them It's just my Instagram DM me And get your question answered here on the show I see this video from Belichick Is going viral Everyone is just

Let the man live He's 73, 74 years old He's got a 25-year-old Who wears hooker boots And just let him have a good time You know, Bill's on campus. Everyone's just trying to cut the dude's wings. Let my man live.

Okay, let's dive into the mailbag. Got a question for the bag. Some of my local radio guys brought this up the other day in regards to Travis Hunter. He's considered a consensus top five pick, and I'm not sure why. Hear me out. Most are saying it's going to be impossible

for him to play both sides of the ball. If that's the case, they are drafting him to be a DB or a wide receiver exclusively and not both. Well, if you're drafting solely for those positions, I'm not sure he's the best of either one. For DBs, I'd argue it's Will Johnson out of Michigan, and for wide receivers, I'd argue it's McMillan out of Arizona. He's a higher prospect score, both because he's an awesome player,

but it's mostly because of his versatility and ability to do both. I don't think he's better than either of them at those positions exclusively. It's almost everyone is saying he can't do both. I think I would rather have Travis Hunter on my team than the Arizona wide receiver. I think part of it, you're not going into this draft

when you take him of like he has to do this. Now maybe this team leans like I want him to play corner, I want him to play wide receiver, but he can end up doing either. He is just a. better player. If you gave 10 college football teams, would you rather have Travis Hunter or would you rather have either of the other two guys, they would take Travis Hunter? And then you just figure it out. I think that's part of it. Like, I think we're so set on having a

decision what he's going to do. Let it just play out. Let it just play out. He is an, I think he's a pretty special talent. And I think part of like what makes him so intriguing as a DB is like he'll tackle. So I would take Travis Hunter over either one of those players. Now you are right that if you go, the risk would be you're in a couple years

he can't quite find his footing at either one but he's dabbling in both and you kind of get past right? Because it's like I don't care what you do in life. If you are spread thin it's harder to improve

right? So like how does let's use an example. Derek Stingley get a lot better at corner. Well, every single day, since he's been in the league, everything he does revolves around playing defensive back. The meetings, the training, practice, the games, it's 100% playing cornerback, right? How has Jamar Chase gotten better over the last five years? Every single day is about playing wide out, running routes, catching the ball. You spread yourself thin. Like if I try to do seven other things besides podcasting, podcasting would get shudier. This show would get worse, right?

So it's like that is a concern. Though, I think you just kind of let the cream rise and then focus. If he's able to play both, it'd be one of the greatest stories of all time. I mean, it really would. I'm skeptical, but I would have been skeptical that he could have pulled off what he pulled off. Now, could he have done it in the SEC? I don't know. It would have been more difficult.

I mean, he could have, but would he have had the same success? Maybe. Do you think the saga with Nico and Tennessee will have a ripple effect on college football in the current state of the NIL? I was talking to someone who had interviewed for GM jobs. I think when would it have been? I think it would have been a couple months ago. I almost said last year, but I actually think it was like in December.

And he said by far, the worst time to be a college GM has been the previous six months in the next six months because there are no rules and eventually they think, I don't know the exact date, but over the course of the next calendar year, the revenue sharing will be set. So right now you're dealing with everyone

that was going to try to be double dipping and having these situations. It has reached a boiling point of like, there are no rules, there are no regulations, everyone's cheating, no one's getting any trouble. So this is a very, very difficult time to be in that position. So I do believe once the revenue sharing gets figured out,

that things will stabilize a little. I still think it's going to be pretty complicated that if like, okay, you got a salary cap, is it like the NFL? Do the quarterbacks get more? Do the left tackles get more? Because in college football, like, why should my left tackle get more if he's not an NFL left tackle?

My middle linebacker is going to be the 13th, you know, 17th overall. I have Roquon Smith. Right, because college, unlike the NFL, it's like, okay, this guy's a really good player at right guard, I'm going to pay him. Right, but like, what if, you know, in college football, the best player in your team is like Quentin Nelson? It's like, that guy makes less than the quarterback. That's where it's going to be complicated. I would imagine they're working on that right now, but it'd be interesting to see how that plays out. Question for the mailback.

Which group of five school since 2000 do you believe would have had the best chance to win a national championship with the current, playoff bracket. I.e. Kellynmore era at Boise or 2021 Cincinnati Wildcats. I would say the Kellynne Moore team at Boise would have destroyed the Cincinnati team. You can't, I mean, Desmond Ritter, I think Boise's a 10-point favor

in that game. And I do think it would be difficult. Unless you got the buy, I don't think a non-power-4 team could, win four games, do what Ohio State just did, or Notre Dame attempted to do. I think it'd be really, really difficult. I don't think either one could.

I think we saw, I forget, who does Cincinnati play? I watched them in a bowl game and they got destroyed. So definitely not them. South Carolina Gamecock fan. And Spencer Rattler was really good when he played for us, and I want to see the Gamecocks do good. With all of Derek Carr talk about being hurt this season, I think that's complete BS.

I think Albert Breer put out something today. I saw it on pro football talk that some of it is in regards to he wants a trade. He's not happy with Kellynne Moore. Derek Carr is not going to get a shoulder surgery in Bia for the year. I do not believe that for a second. I'm not quite sure what's going on with him and the Saints. I mean, they're paying him $40 million. But I think that my guess is Derek Carson are starting quarterback.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I would be a little shoo. shocked if he's not. I don't think Spencer Rattler's that good. I know he had a good year for you guys, but I'm not sure he's an NFL starting quarterback, which transition to become a backup and be a good player. But I don't know. I don't see that one. Question for the pod. If you and your future kids were lucky enough to be great athletes, if your future kids were lucky enough to be great athletes, what would you prefer to be a dad of? Super Bowl winning quarterback, Hall of Fame, hard-hitting

dominant linebacker or defensive player, major masters winning golfer, Olympic winning spritter, world champion UFC fighter, Hall of Fame NBA player. That's a good question. Is, if I'm just rooting for their financial success,

if you're a Hall of Fame NBA player, you are basically a lock to be worth minimum. $400 plus million. If you have just a, you know, even if you got hurt, like you're 10 or 11. Like, you are going to make so much money. So in terms of setting up my child financially for his all children, financially that is number one choice. You could be a Super Bowl winning quarterback and, you know, Nick Foles ended up making a lot

of money, but it doesn't guarantee that you're like, you know, the top quarterback. It could just be the circumstance. Though you become a pretty legendary figure there. Winning sprinter, no chance. World champion, UFC fighter, no chance. Because really, like, there's a small, small few of, like, even the champions that have made huge money and become stars. To me, Conner is a little bit of an outlier.

For me, selfishly, golfer. Because if you're a master's winning golfer, you're just going to be rich, and you're going to have access to all these courses, which gives you want to play with your dad. Now you could argue as a quarterback or an NBA Hall of Famer, you probably would get similar opportunities.

So it would be one of those three. If I was just rooting for his financial success, Hall of Fame NBA player would have to be number one. I think in terms of to win the Masters or the Super Bowl would be cooler than being a Hall of Fame NBA player, though you might not be as rich. But maybe I don't care about my son's financial outlook. Obviously, he's not hurting if he accomplishes that.

So it would be one of those three. My kid's never playing in the NBA. And more than likely is not only never playing in the NFL, definitely not a quarterback. So I would say the thing that has the best opportunity, UFC fighter, no chance, sprint or absolutely none. We run flat-footed in my family. Bad foot athlete, not very fast. Golfs are only opportunity. What are the Chief's biggest glaring draft needs?

Well, offensive line. You know, you lose Joe Thuny, though I think the guy you drafted from BYU that you started at left tackle, they're going to put a guard. You sign the dude from the Niners, but he's a backup, though he can be a starter, I think.

But how good can he be? I don't know. Now, can he end up playing left and right tackle? I think it's just offensive line. To me, that, offensive line. I also think, you know, this is a pretty good tight-end draft. Could you take a tight end to fill in Kelsey's shoes? Because that is a position that is very conducive for good quarterbacks.

I mean, Lamar Jackson has good tight-ins, right? Josh Allen, what did they do a couple years ago? They drafted a tight-in in the first round. Now, we'll see if Kincaid how good he turns out and they got Dawson Knox. I mean, Patrick Mahomes, you know, with Tyreek leaving, I mean, the guy that he's going to be most anonymous with when his career, at least the first half of his career is Travis Kelsey. So, tight end is a quarterback's best friend. You think about great quarterbacks too.

You know, Tom Brady, Gruncowski, Peyton Manning, Dallas Clark. And then when he went to the who is his tight end with the Denver Broncos, former basketball player? Julius Thomas. You have Elway, Shannon Sharp, Steve Young, Brent Jones. Fav Chamura Rogers always had good guys So it's like it's kind of an important position I would say tight end

In theory You know Rishi Rice healthy You have a What's his name? The wide receiver from Texas Got some skill guys Draft another running back To me it's offense

A big fan of the show As a painful as it is I'm a lifelong Browns fan To me it's painfully obvious They should draft Carter And take a flyer on a guy Like Dart or McCord later But I think there's still a chance

they take Shador. Since the shit show that was the Watson trade, there seems to be a massive cloud of negativity surrounding them, understandably so. And taking Shador seems like it would get the vibes going in the right direction, but I don't think that's the right approach. If they do take him, do you think it's legit football reasons, or do you think they do it to help turn the page? I think I saw a headline today that some anonymous scout said that if Shador ends up going in the first round it's because an owner wants them.

I do think if your head coach, who is also your play caller in the Brown situation, I think he's the play caller. They give it up. I can't keep track as Tavansky in the play calling. But offensive mind, head coach, he should more than the GM

get the say on the quarterback. If I was a GM in the NFL, in my coach, it's one thing if he's a defensive guy or a CEO head coach. But if it's, my coach is one of these offensive guys. And obviously, Stefansky falls under that category. It's like, you need to have full conviction on the quarterback. So if he does not, I would not. If he wants him and thinks he'd be good in the offense, 100%. That's why I think, like, do I think Stafansky wanted Deshaun Watson?

I don't. I know that Jimmy has them. Not that he didn't want him for like $150 million. but once it got out of control, I don't think the Stefansky and the GM one. I think it was all the owner. So if they drafted them,

I just have a hard time seeing, you know, a weaker arm quarterback, though, like, they, not that they have high expectations, but traded for Kenny Pickett, who doesn't have a great arm. So I don't know. I would be,

I doubt it happens. I don't know why. That's just a gut from the outside. I mean, it's hard to, you never know. We get shocked. No one in a million years of Michael Pennix go to the Falcons, but that makes some sense.

Pennix doesn't have, he actually has a strong arm in terms of he can throw a deep ball, but he doesn't have like Josh Allen, Herbert, just absolute howitzer, but he plays an adult. It's actually a really good spot for him. I don't know if the AFC North, the weather, you know, Shador's arm is, you know, on the scale of like really strong and shitty is somewhere kind of in the middle. to me, if you're Sador, you would much rather go to like a dome team. You'd much rather go to the Saints.

What are the odds? Cam Ward is a lesser version of Kyler Murray. I think part of the Kyler package is that he's really short, right? If Kyler was Cam Ward's size, I think he would be a Pro Bowl level guy. Part of what gives Kyler limitations is hard for him to say. I truly believe that. He is, I mean, Kyler's a remarkable talent. But if you gave him four or five inches,

now, I'm not acting like he'd be Lamar Jackson, because who knows, maybe he doesn't quite have the feel, but I think he would be dramatically better. So, Kyler is an elite runner and athlete. I don't know if Cam Ward is that. Now, Cam's got a big arm. I think he's a different type player. I think he's much closer to, like,

I'm not comparing him to the Mahomes, but Watson in Houston like kind of a move around make plays he's a lot different, Kyle. I think.

Was wondering what your thoughts are on moving the draft too early to mid-April? It feels like it's been dragging on now for too long. A lot of coverage is becoming very boring and stale. Do you think it would be a good idea to move it earlier? I've never really thought about it,

but if you move it earlier, then what are we talking about right now? Let's say it was a week ago. Like, what are we talking about now? So it's like, I think you can play that game until you're blue in the face. Should we move this?

We can talk about it. It's like, the draft talk always gets stale if there aren't a loaded quarterback class. You're only as strong as your quarterbacks, and this doesn't have a strong quarterback class. Plus, I just think in general, draft talk always gets kind of boring,

by April. We've been talking about these guys now with the explosion of college football for six months. What else are we going to say? They haven't played a game in almost half a year.

Some of these guys haven't played a game since like early December. So you're thinking January, February, March, April, and all of December. Some of these guys are four and a half,

five months away from actually putting on pads. Think about that. I guess some of them played in the senior bowl, but a question for the pod. I know you aren't a huge fan of spring leagues.

But do you see any value in a developmental league for the NFL? I was watching the UFL this weekend to scratch my football age and can't help but notice a number of NFL guys, Kellyn Monde, Damon Arnett, and a bunch of random dudes that had stints. It makes me wonder if Trey Lance's career would have went different if he got valuable reps early in his tenure to be a better equipped for the NFL. Coaching wouldn't be an issue either, since Ken Wisenhunt, Mike Nolan, Wade Phillips.

I think the problem is, I hear you, But like, let's say I draft a project in like the third or fourth round. I'm not giving them to that league in the spring. What if someone shatters his leg? I'm going to try to develop them. The problem is with the CBA, it's hard to develop guys. But if I was the team, if I own the team or I was the coach or the GM, I would never allow that player to go play in this league.

Because what if he tears ACL? What if he gets injured? Like the ROI is like, yeah, he can and, prove. Well, what offense are they running? Plus, the owners are never going to pay for the league. Why would they? They don't have to. College football does that for them. So, like you listed some of these guys, they're trying to keep their career going. I just, I hear what you're saying about Trey Lance, and I think a lot of guys would benefit from being able to do that, but it's never going to be available. This isn't, you know, in basketball, it's easy. It's like I can draft a guy 10th overall,

and I just send him to the G league. I think he's just playing basketball. The likelihood of, or the minors in baseball, football's not like that. And I just can't take the risk of you shattering your shoulder because my second round pick, but you're not ready, I need you to get more reps, and then all of a sudden you have a major injury,

and then it doesn't even, there is no development. You get, it ends up being a step back. So I hear what you're saying. Okay. And also just because Mike Nolan and Wade Phillips, I think what you do is you scout that league and maybe some of those teams are running some similar concepts and you see a guy that you kind of like and you sign them.

But I don't think you'd ever give your guide to them. 49er for life. Question. What do we got to do to get Trevor Lawrence? Feels like Kyle compared to his dad never truly had his quarterback. Trevor kind of been on life support, playing hero ball for the perennial shitty jaguars.

And paying Purdy will be a mistake. We're in transition, having paid for a quarterback, and it's before the draft. Honestly, blow this bleep up. I think a quarterback like Trevor can elevate a mediocre supporting cast. I'm out. I'm out, dog. Not that he can't be a solid player,

but he's under a contract that pays him $200 million guaranteed. I would not trade for the player. if I ever acquired the player it'd have to be for really, really cheap and given how much he makes, that's not possible. I also think, like, the difference of him and Purdy, I know Purdy, there is no one has ever questioned, ever how much football is his life.

Obviously, you know, Brock is newly married and faith are a big part of his life. But when you think Brock Purdy, you think God family football. when I think Trevor Lawrence, like, is he all in? I don't know. He came out before the draft. Like, football's not everything.

I'm sorry, that's a red flag to me. I'm out. I just am. And listen, it's not all his fault. The organization is chaotic. But he has been extremely underwhelming, given the hype. Where Purdy has, you know, I think Kobe Bryant said this one time. Like, what would you want to be remembered as?

Like, a talented overachiever. Like, I want more. Some of the best players in the league are also overachievers. Like T.J. Watt. Fred Warner. Travis Kelsey. Like, I like my talent to be overachievers. It feels like Trevor's an underachiever.

Now, if I can acquire him in a couple years for nothing, then yeah, I'm interested. But one, they wouldn't trade them. And if they did, you'd have to blow them away. And it's not worth to risk, given how much money he makes. I'd rather have Purdy. Which is a problem because Purdy would go, I've been better than him and look how much money he got. So I want that, which, in fairness to him and his agent, like they're not wrong.

A Panthers fan. During a rebuild with the young quarterback, how heavy do you weigh the draft decisions on offense-first defense? If you go offense, you give Bryce more weapons to see full potential. If you go defense, you're trying to not put as much pressure on him. I guess the question is, should you surround a young quarterback with as much offensive talent as possible, or build the overall team and see if the young quarterback has what it takes? I don't think there's a right answer on this because a great defense helps out your offense.

But as a young quarterback, if you don't have pieces around you, you remember a couple years ago, your talent on the team was awful, but an offense was really bad. Well, last year you made some moves for the offensive line. The offensive line, especially up the middle, is good. You add Xavier Leggett. He's a talented player.

What pick are you guys drafting, like 9th or 10th? I don't think there's a right or wrong answer. You've drafted a left tackle pretty recently in that, what's the guy's name from NC State. I'd be honest, I can't really tell you how he's played or you know better than me. But I'm trying to see what pick that you guys have. Eight. I think you do whatever you want. If you take a defensive lineman, won't blame you.

Right? And that would be my guess. It's really, really hard to function. If you do go offense, your offense is going to. I mean, your defensive roster is not good. So there is a lot of pressure on the defense to just be serviceable. Now you could also say, we'll see on the Atlanta Falcons. I mean, I'm a panic's guy, but that organization always lets you down.

The bucks are clearly good on offense, and the Saints, who knows? I don't have a great answer for you. I would just, I would lean probably defensive linemen. I think you're better off taking a defensive lineman there and taking a skill guy in the second round. That would be what I would be. inclined to do. I would take the best defensive lineman at pick eight and then I would take

the best running back, the best tight end, the best wide receiver, whatever in the second round. That's probably, that's how I'd be thinking, potentially a defense too. I don't know. But I would this is where GMs tell you, you can't draft for need.

So whatever your board says, who's the best player that's on the board at pick eight? Whoever goes one through seven, whoever is your top graded player, take that. And then if all things are equal, you know, lean line over, I would say, a wide receiver. Because there's not a wide receiver at eight that's good enough in this draft, in my opinion. What's your take or assessment on the late great Steve McNair? He doesn't get talked about much, but in his prime, he was a top five quarterback, Hall of Fame. This is a hard

one because I would say in his prime of his career, I was in like junior high in high school. So I didn't quite watch, especially him specifically, relative to how I would now if he had played over the last 15, 20 years. I would say this, I do remember him against the Raiders, him against the Ravens. When I think Steve McNair, the first thing I think about is toughness. Like, he had to be pound for pound one of the tougher players in the league. I do not think it's random that when he left the Titans, the Raven signed him. and when you think about the type guys

the Raven sign, like typically tough guys. Like when I, Ozzie Newsom's thing always was like we like guys that in our world play like a Raven outside of the building and when they become available we try to acquire him. Ann Kwan Bolden, Steve Smith, Sr.,

Callais Campbell. Clay's Campbell play for the Ravens? No, he's just back with, uh, I think he did. Now I'm questioning myself. How good is my NFL knowledge? Yeah, he played for Ravens, a couple years. Part of it is like, in Steve McNair's time,

he played against, you know, Payton Manning, Tom Brady, two of the best quarterbacks of all time. Farve was still around. I don't know if he's quite a Hall of Famer, but my standards for Hall of Fame, but he was a badass. I mean, he was, Steve McNair was sweet.

And like I said, got to be one of the pound for pound tougher players in his generation, any position. linebackers, linemen, you name it. That is a tough, you know what. Ben, listen to and enjoy the show. I need to accept the NIL. I know we need to accept the NAL and I agree.

There needs to be some sort of compensation with how much revenue the athletes generate, but one thing I never hear is how it affects the fans. Not knowing from year to year who will be on the team is frustrating and makes me wane a bit. Also, why do most media personalities always blame the system when a player gets greedy, Nico. The player is never held accountable.

A lot of former players, I would say, are on quote unquote, these shows, and a lot of media is just anti-establishment. So they all are very predictable. It's why I don't consume most of them, because you can give me every topic, and I already know their opinion before I even press play. I would say no one gets more disrespected in the grand scheme of things in the business of sports than the fans.

The media are constantly talking shit to you. You know, the former players always act like pay everybody, pay everybody, pay everybody. And this is, I'm not necessarily talking about college. But I hear you. The most important people of this entire business are the fans. All this money, all of it is because of them. And sometimes if I remember saying that on Twitter one time like five years ago and a bunch of people like, no, it's because of the TV networks.

Well, no shit. Why do you think they're willing to? pay because people watch but i i think the faster you realize that you know the media one that there are i would say understanding of business and i'm generalizing here some understand but for the most part and i've been around some of these guys and a lot of them actually they have no comprehension of how the world works feels they can feel a little out of touch when it comes to business for a group that covers a business and i think there's a difference of like Yeah, the NCAA sucks.

Everyone's been saying that forever. And like, these players are getting scammed. And listen, I like Jay Billis. But he said the same thing for 20 years when all the top players in college basketball in the internet era were getting hundreds of thousands of dollars. Yeah, instead of getting 400 grand under the table,

could they have been worth millions? Yeah, but he acted like no one got any money. It was just completely, it was just bullshit. It was just not true. And he knew it. Fuck, his program was paying him. Which again, I don't care.

Pay whoever you want. But we can't pretend these guys weren't getting broken off. Even Colin mentioned it the other day. Why did we act forever like these kids weren't getting taken care of? Nicos make $2.5 million. He threw one touchdown

against Florida, Bama, Georgia, Arkansas, and Ohio State. One total touchdown. One. It's fucking embarrassing. The reason you go to Tennessee, the reason you go to Bama, the reason you go to LSU,

the reason you go to Georgia, you're going to play Chattanooga State and McNeese State and some random program in September. But how about when the lights get bright and Kirby and his squad rolls through? Or Ryan Day and his squad rolls through. Or Alabama shows up. And I know they beat Alabama. It was just one touchdown he threw. But it's like, bro, I'm going to need a little bit more.

Can we get some fucking touchdown throws? I mean, it's part of your negotiating ploy. I'd argue he was overpaid based on his performance. They expected more. The reason they were in the playoffs was not Nico. I don't think anyone would debate that. I don't care what was the team that they beat like 70 to 10. No one gives a shit about that game.

Nobody. It doesn't matter. What'd you look like against Georgia, Florida, Ohio State? You lost to Arkansas. So I just think that All four paying these guys But not everyone is always getting Screwed

I just think that's their first reaction You turn on some of these shows Everyone's constantly getting fucked BS What about the guy that's screwing you Like Tennessee might have been like Can we get a rebate?

You notice that you never get your money back The sons don't get their money back From Bradley Beale Who tried Less hard than I've ever seen any professional athlete of any game I've ever been to. It was eye-opening experience.

This is what you get for $50 million. There has never been a business deal with anyone else where you've got less in return than the people that have paid Bradley Beale over the last several years. I mean, but no one will ever talk about

like, yeah, should he give like half his money back? Like, because in most of our industries, if you have a decision, dispute like you go to court and you start arguing over like yeah this is not worth that i got screwed here never happens that way no one goes hey nico that that four million dollars we've paid you for the last two years can we get two of those back now that you're leaving because we didn't think you lived up to the hype you couldn't pay anyone on television to say that yet that's how the fans think i think the faster you when you realize as a fan that most especially the traditional media they kind of hate you

they really do they don't really like you they look down upon you. The faster you realize it, the easier it is to turn off their shit. Why so many of them are holding on for dear life. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk and have a great day. See it. The Volume. Hey guys, it's us and the Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast. Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. You know, tired and sick, tired and sick.

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