The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 & Out - Salary Cap goes up, Darnold could move on from Vikes, Fugazi Friday

Episode Date: February 21, 2025

John dives into the news of the day that the salary cap is going to be going up and because of the rise in cap money each year the NFL has made so many millionaires because of the "money-maker" that it is. Next, he dives into the plan for the Vikings to let Sam Darnold test our free agency. Lastly, the return of "Fugazi Friday". Later, John answers your questions during this episode's mailbag segment. 4:27 - Business of the NFL 21:59 - Sam Darnold will hit free agency 29:31 - How to fix college football 33:01 - Fugazi Friday 40:19 - Mailbag Follow John on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for the latest. #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you. you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy. Not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier.

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Hey, it's Edwin Castro, also known as Castro 1021. And I'm Conky, his best friend and business manager. And we've got a new show called The 1021 Podcast. I'm taking you behind the scenes on how I became one of Twitch's most popular streamers. We also love sports. And with the World Cup right around the corner, we'll be breaking down the biggest storylines ahead of the big tournament here in the USA. Listen to the 1021 podcast on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The volume. What is going on, everybody? How are we doing? It is a couple hours before the United States, America takes on Canada in a little rematch from last week, which is one of the great sporting events I've ever watched. So very, very, I've just been sitting at my desk, so many things to do. Getting ready for this wedding. Bills up the wazoo.

H-O-A fees, late fees. I'm like, let's just gamble on American hockey and talk a little football. So that is what I have decided to do. So I started looking around the internet. I'm like, let's talk some football. I want to get excited. And I sent myself an article that I saw last night when I was eating dinner about something that I wanted to talk about today, and I think it ties into just the booming business of football right now.

A couple stories that came out over the last, I don't know, 24 hours in regards to the NFL business. And then we will just rapid fire through some other football stories on this Fugazi, as the Italians like to say. Fugazi Friday, I like to say Fugazi, but Fugazi, Fugazi, beautiful Friday. And I actually thought about this, listen, it was a Fugazi. Gaze when I was young and it might be becoming one again because of the time. So we will dive into that one of my favorite shows of the week. But other than that, next week we'll be exciting the Combine, which I've been the last couple years, but because my wedding is the following week, I just got too much stuff to do, couldn't go. So we will not be at the Combine next week,

though I am excited. A lot of stories come out. So it's a fun week to record podcasts, whether you're there or not. So we will look forward to that and kind of kicks off. I've been saying it all week. Free agency, maybe get some buzz on some trades. I'm ready because I already miss the games, but there's nothing you can do about that. So we will just enjoy what we got when we got it. Let's start with this. I've thought about this for a while. And listen, it could be factually incorrect, but I can't imagine a business has made more millionaires than the NFL over the last 30, 40 years. Now, maybe there are companies that are invested in, you know, like Apple, you know, some of the major companies in America that a bunch of pensions are involved with, but just in terms

of people actually working for that company, W-2s, the 32 NFL teams, and I'd probably include the league office. The NFL business is pretty insane right now. Obviously, the players have never been richer and they've never made more money. Same thing goes for coaches. You know, Jerry Jones, when he stole the show at the Brian Schottenheimer press conference, he said that the reason he didn't get into coaching, because remember, you know, a lot of especially younger listeners and viewers don't realize. Jerry Jones once upon a time was on the Arkansas team. that won the national championship in college. Like, Jerry Jones has a national championship ring as a player in college.

So he wasn't just some Joe Schmo businessman. Like, this guy played college football at a really, really high level. Granted, times were a little different. Offensive linemen might have weighed 240 pounds. But still, at the time, it's all relative. He was on an Arkansas team that won the Natty. And Jerry said that, like a lot of my friends went into coaching, but I always aspired to live in bigger houses and drive nice.

are cars. And essentially, if I would have known what these guys are making now, I might have gotten into coaching because I see what we're paying them. And it's not just head coaches making $8, $10, $15, $20 million. I would imagine it changes per team, but two to four coaches a staff,

non-head coach, are making seven fix. Obviously general managers make a lot of money and the amount of people making millions of dollars associated with the NFL. It's pretty nuts. Listen, indirectly, I didn't make very much when I worked in the NFL, but I've made a lot of money, a lot more money,

you know, being in this business, just talking about football. And, you know, the biggest sports podcast, I mean, the biggest sports podcast right now, pardon my take, is an NFL football show. Pat McAfee, it's a football-driven show. Like, football is the cash cow, and nothing speaks more of that than the news that came out yesterday that the NFL's salary cap will be somewhere between 275 and $282 million. And that number

one just sounds massive, but when you put it into context, 10 years ago, 2015, so not that long ago, NFL was doing well then, the salary cap was $140 million. Hell, three years ago, the salary cap was barely over

$200 million. It has risen over $70 million in the last years. And honestly, if you look at the last five years, it would have gone a lot higher if it wouldn't have been for 2020 and 2021, where the salary cap actually went the wrong way for a year in 2021 because of the diminished revenues because of the Rona. So football right now, like, you know, these players, it is not just the super high-end guys, the Justin Jeffersons, the Micah Parsons, the Miles Garrett's. Obviously, relatively speaking, Reggie White, Troy Aikman, Steve Young, Brett Farr, Peyton, whoever at the time, was always making a lot of money. Right. But it's

the mid-tier guy. I remember last year when guards, when good starting guards, we're getting $18 million. It's like, holy shit. You know, the NBA, the average salary is $12 million. And clearly there are a lot of guys making $30, $40, $50 million. There's only 12 guys on a team. right there are only seven, eight guys that actually play. So given the size of the roster of 53 guys, I mean, the veteran minimum when you're like a seventh round pick, even Brock Purdy, who was the last pick in the draft, by his third year, he was making a million dollars. And everyone's like laughing, he makes nothing. And relative to his position, he does not. But relative to being the last pick in the draft, even if you hadn't become a starting quarterback, if you had just made the team, you'd be making a million dollars.

You know, so it's, it is a great time to be involved in football. And the good thing, and this is why the other story I saw is that Jed York, and he's not alone, but we'll just use Hibb as an example. The NFL passed the rule recently that you could sell pieces of your team to private investors, right? Private equity, venture capitalism, right? You could get, hey, you don't actually get anything. You don't get to decide when I hire a fire a coach.

you have no say in free agency or the NFL draft, but you get to say, like, you're a part owner. Brady somewhat unique is that Mark Davis actively wants him to be involved, but most of these guys that are just money dudes, cutting checks, have no juice. I mean, none. When I was at the Super Bowl, it was with some buddies from the Eagles. Like, I remember we had minority owners, and they're still involved. And the same guys are still around, and it has been very lucrative for them.

to be involved with the Philadelphia Eagles for the last 20, 25 years as minority owners for Jeffrey Lurie. But they have absolutely no say. They get a little seat in the draft room. They show up to some games. But in terms of like Nick Siriani status, no one cares what they think. And that goes for all these teams. And Jed York, think about this. Eddie DeBartolo, who got the money from his father, might have had some mob times in Youngstown, Ohio.

bought the 49ers in 1977 for $13 million which I wasn't alive in 1977 I would imagine $13 million was a lot of money and obviously the power of TV the revenue

like it wasn't it's so easy to look back and go no brainer at the time it's I can't imagine the NFL was some full proof business that was like recession proof and like a great viewed as a great investment but

$13 million dollars $13 million and that's what he paid for it. And on the current valuation, it has a potential to be almost $9 billion. So Jed York, who is thinking about selling 10% of the team is in play to get between, you know, we'll see where the valuation falls, but between $8 and $900 million of a cash infusion to his business. And he can obviously do whatever he wants with that money. And I think Jeffrey Lurie's going to do the same.

John Marr's going to do the same. The advantage of being able to do that is. And we had Jake Rosenberg on the podcast, who was Howie Roseman's right-hand man and salary-cap negotiator for a long, long time, is you can get around salary-cap situations when you're willing to sign enormous signing bonuses. And what do you need to sign, you know, a signing bonus? Cash. So some teams and Jerry Jones and even Robert Kraft have taken a lot of shit of like, they actually don't spend as much cash. as the wealth of their franchise. Where Jeffrey Lurie's running circles around them,

he puts a lot of cash into his contracts, and that's how they're able to sign all these good players, because you can manipulate it. And I would imagine Jed York is going to do the same. Now, it doesn't mean you can't buy a $100 million yacht or whatever, but where you can really take advantage of the value of your franchise is reinvest it into the business and sign players to contracts

because of signing bonuses that gets them on your team, even though you might not have quote-unquote the salary cap space. But think about where we're at in the business of the NFL, that you can sell a percentage, 5, 10%, and get an infusion of $500, $600,000, $800 million and give up absolutely nothing. I've never been the biggest Shark Tank watcher, but it's just on so often.

and I just found myself over the years watching some episodes. And as I got older, I appreciated partnerships and business and who owns the revenue a lot more from 35 to 40 than I did when I was 28. So, you know, I could relate a little bit more, at least to the conversations. And usually when it's like, hey, my business is worth a million dollars. If you want 20%, it's going to cost you 200 grand and then they would negotiate back. And usually it's like, yeah, I'll give you $250,000. but I want, you know, say, I want board seats and I want a lot of juice.

You get none of that with this NFL investment. You basically just get to say, I own a piece of Team X. It's why the league made such a big deal of the Raiders and Tom Brady when they felt like Mark Davis was giving Tom Brady a deal just because he wanted him as part of his operation. It's like, Mark, you can't sell him a lower percentage, of the actual valuation and give him a higher percentage of the buy. And the league pushed back on it and they had to like redo the deal. And I think part of it is Tom Brady, listen, I don't know how much actual tangible cash he gave through,

but he clearly came in with other investors that have a lot more money than him. Because the price of admission to get five or 10 percent, you're talking half a billion dollars minimum a lot of these franchise. Even the shitty ones, right? the 49ers are obviously one of the more valuable franchises in the NFL, given the market size, given the fan base, given just the financial backing that they have in the region with Silicon Valley literally right in their, I mean, that's where they are. I don't love the location of the stadium, but that's because I'm, you know, born and raised way farther up north, right?

There's a big difference, even if it's only 45, 50 miles from where I live for a decade. I fucking hate it driving down there. But that is where most of the money is. And Jed York was no dummy when he moved it down. And I think it's led to a franchise being worth $8, $9 billion. But a lot of these franchises are giants, probably similar. 7-8. You know, the Cowboys, obviously we're worth 9-10.

Hell, the Raiders who haven't won a playoff game in multiple decades, given Vegas, given the stadium, given the no-state income tax. If Mark Davis put the Vegas Raiders up for sale, I think at minimum he would get $8 billion. So, then listen, can this maintain forever? I've often thought, like, I've lived long enough to know, the NFL probably the next 40 years of my life, knock on woods I go that for.

Like when I'm 80 years old, are they still the dominant property? You'd be crazy just to feel confident saying that. But right now, they feel pretty untouchable. and listen, we can go back and forth and we will during free agency. This guy's getting screwed. This guy's getting screwed. Like T. Higgins, he's really getting screwed.

Well, even if they franchise him again, which, listen, I think franchising a guy back-to-back years is moronic business. Like, you're bad at the business of the NFL if you franchise a guy back-to-back years, mainly because you clearly want them on your team. And if you franchise T. Higgins back-to-back years, you're basically paying him $48 million,

and both the lump sums of $21 and now $26 million hits all of your cap. Meanwhile, you got like the AJ Browns and these other guys making big money and their cap hit is way lower. T. Higgins total, like if you would have signed them last year, you probably could have got him for $75 million guaranteed. Instead, you're paying him on a yearly basis that's impacting your, like, it's just stupid. To me, it's just low-level business. But, like, listen, like T. Higgins won't,

love getting franchise and I'm sure go back and forth in publicly like oh this bullshit we're getting screwed. He will have just made almost $50 million in guaranteed cold hard cash in his bank account well after taxes, whatever that comes out to but still he will have made a boatload

of money. I bet there are great wide receivers in the 2000s and definitely in the 90s that never sniffed making $50 million. Like let's just look up Jerry Rice career earnings. My guess would be

I'll go $48 million. I was high. It was $43.5 million. And Jerry Rice obviously was drafted in 84, but he played at a Pro Bowl level up till the early 2000s.

Now, $45 million back in the 90s was a lot of money, but relative to what these guys are making, it's a completely different world. And like I said, franchise tagging a guy back-to-back years to me is just poor management. It's poor ownership, poor GMing. Like I don't put that on T. Higgins. And I don't know, even if they had an offer, you never know quite know what to believe.

But if you're willing to franchise them a second time, and I would say this for any player, wide receiver, tackle, quarterback, you name it, you might as well have just signed them to the long-term deal. Because you pay a little bit more total in the guarantee, but you're able to manipulate. the cap and have a better football team. And look back in the day with Dan Snyder and the Redskins with Kirk Cousins. Like that was stupid to franchise them twice. You should have just extended them. And clearly that would have been the right move at the time.

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What's the news, new? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts.

A pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of things. 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. Oh, 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 Smigel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and Headwere

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

Hey, I'm Joe Dono. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help! Somebody! But there's so much more to me than me. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian. And recently, I've become quite the helper myself.

And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice.

Join me and my comedian friends as we riff rant and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice.

One ring is too scary. Oh, cream of chick. A cream A cream and chicken soup This is help from a hypocrite The worst advice From the dumbest people you know

Listen to help from a hypocrite As part of the Mike Pulura podcast network Available on the IHartRadio app Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts The story I've told myself About love or relationships Can then shape my behavior And that can lead me to sabotage

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

This podcast is for you to hear more. Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. A couple other stories. A story out of Minnesota I saw, a beat writer. And I think this is pretty clear that this is going to happen. They're going to let, it shows you like, it's my favorite part. art about sports.

But specifically, like, in basketball, it doesn't matter. Like, I've seen guys play bad and still get max contracts. It's like, wait, you're paying him how much? I'm paying badly. Like, Zion Williamson, he's been injured constantly and can't stop eating. You're going to give him $200 million. Is this good business? And the answer is always typically no, but they still do it.

In football, like, you got to produce. And even then, we argue about business. But the moment you show signs of like, uh, something off here, something a little weird. and Sam Darnold, no disputing the Lions game, he was atrocious. I do think the playoff game, him and the coach could have been better. I think the coach called the poor game, but regardless, Sam did not play like he had played most of the season, and now all signs like, we're going to let you have free agency and see what you can get.

And I would imagine that some team, even if it's just a couple years, would give them, I don't know, two years, $65, $70 million, and by then Minnesota probably just lets him walk. and that's why they signed Daniel Jones, but it shows you how fast that changes. Because I remember doing the podcast with Colin 10 minutes after he made that unreal throw to beat Seattle at Seattle

on that Sunday afternoon game. You're like, Sam Donald's gonna win the fucking MVP and everyone was watching those last two games. Two primetime games. Remember, they played Sunday night against the Lions. And he was atrocious. And then the playoff game, Now, granted, the Rams defense was bringing it, but, you know, listen, I think Vikings need to figure out their offensive line.

But listen, even if you, I understand, like, regardless, Minnesota can do whatever. Like, I think it's pretty easy to justify. Listen, we drafted this guy high going at it. You're going to depend on a player who was on a dominant college football team. So his two years starting, I bet, when it's all said and done, you will have 20 plus guys that he played with over those two years as the full-time starter that will be starting in the NFL, a team that did not lose many games. The only games that I can remember them losing now are TCU, which was an awful loss, and that

was it. I mean, they didn't lose a game in the second year. And he was not tasked with like, hey, bro, this is going to be one of those games. Our defense is playing like shit, and we're going to need 35 points. And I know we got Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, but you're going to have to carry us. You're going to have to make throws, blitzes, third and longs. Like, buckle up, Buttercup. He's never had to do that. And not saying that he can't because he can learn two, but, like, they're going to come in

next season with goals of, they just, we're competing to be the number one overall seat. And now it's like, oh, we're just cool with what? Winning nine games? And hell no. Like, you have a team that is ready made to just be competitive. And that's a lot of pressure. to put on a young player who's never started an NFL game. And even in college, like the one thing with Mahomes,

playing on such a shitty team, it was like, bro, you got to carry us, right? For us to have a shot, you got to be elite. Lamar Jackson, same thing, like Louisville team. Like, he had to be awesome. Right? Josh Allen just got to do whatever he wanted in college. Just learned. Like, that's not how J.J. McCarthy played.

It was like Jim Harba. Another run. Outside, outside 36 power. Power again. Power again. Let's run 37 power this time. There's a lot of risk involved, and I'm fascinated to watch it play out, because I love interesting stories in the NFL, and you tell me JJ McCarthy starting week one coming off the knee injury where he looked like he weighed 150 pounds in that game against the Lions when he was on the sideline.

I'll be tuning in. Eagles and the Saints, the Saints have hired Doug Nussmeier, who I love Doug Nussmeier. I've known him my first year at Fresno State. he was our offensive coordinator and I saw him last year at the combine and he's always been a big supporter of me and listens to my stuff and he's the man.

So it's cool to watch his son who was, I mean, couldn't have been, I don't know, three or four, five max when he was the offensive coordinator of Fresno State and he was running around so he's obviously the quarterback now at LSU. Doug was actually drafted. He was a star-party.

player in Idaho, and at the time in the 90s, they were like D1A, like what Montana and North Dakota State is. He was a fourth round pick, and him and Callan obviously have a really, really close relationship and leaves the Eagles. I mean, he went to Philly because of Kellan Moore. He went to the charges because of Callan Moore. Now he's the offensive coordinator and kind of getting the band back together there. And Kevin Petulow, I think I'm saying that name right, has, who's worked with, you know, Seriani over the year. has been elevated. This is a tough job.

The thing with Kellyn Moore, I got a buddy on the staff separate from Nuss, who actually thinks, and I thought this last year, if they were healthy, they are much better than people think. Now, they got cap issues,

and we'll have to see, you know, Kellan, what they end up doing with Derek Carr. Crazy connections. You know, Kellan Moore played against Derek in college at Boise and Fresno.

Nuss Meyer was like recruiting Derek, who was a senior in high school when Doug was at Fresno State. But the thing is, like, if you keep Derek on the team, you pay him $40 million. And like, listen, I'm not some Derek Carr hater, even though I think he thinks, even though I've known him for 15 years, thinks I am, blocked me on Twitter. It was more like I was negative toward the Raiders than him.

But paying Derek Carr $40 million, based on the way he's played recently, seems kind of crazy. So we'll up to see, but who else, what are they going to do? Go with Spencer Rattler. That seems pretty bold. If I was a betting man, I guess you just roll with Derek one more year, but who knows? The NFL's crazy. I think the Eagles, it's a tough job, man. You know, I know they've won obviously the Super Bowl a couple weeks ago,

but it's just one of those gigs where everyone's paying attention. And it's just a polarizing spot. And it's an intense spot, not just because of the owner of the GM, but because of the firepower you have. because of Jalen, like he's just a polarizing player. You got star wide receiver, star tight-in, Saquan Barkley. It's just not an easy spot to be,

especially when your head coach is an offensive guy, but he does not call the plays. It just, it can be good and bad, right? We saw in three years, two guys became head coaches, and the other got fired, and no one knows where he's at. I would imagine Brian Johnson's coaching somewhere,

but it just shows you how fast like two guys head coaches one guy fired and like no one's making him the offensive coordinator shows you how like this job goes there's no middle ground it's like he's doing pretty good he's like just solid he's type guy we'd want it's like no this guy fucking blows and he might not even be that bad but everyone thinks that or you're just like you're just going to become a head coach so i don't obviously blame him for taking it wasn't even a choice like you want the head coach you want the offensive coordinator job hell yeah Last story on football, you know, there was a meeting. They had like a conference kind of get-together convention of all the heavy hitters in college football.

I think this last couple days in New Orleans and clearly trying to figure out like how do we do better with the college football playoff. And the NIL contract situation, like, let's face it, two things can be true. no one cares if these kids get paid. Like no one that matters. Like just pay the kids, whatever. But NIL, and I've seen Dion say this. Like NIL's bullshit. We need to stop calling it NIL.

He's like, I see like three total kids on commercials. Right. This is just a salary. Like I'm just giving you 400 grand to be a wide receiver. You're not on commercials. I'm not using your name image and likeness. I'm just paying you to play. But like, for example, you, me, most people,

in a lot of industries, I guess some of you listening aren't on quote unquote contracts. You might be an at-will employee, so you technically get fired whenever. But for example, I sign a contract and we have parameters to the deal. And for whatever reason, all the industries I've worked in post-college have been like that, right? A one-year deal, a two-year deal, a three-year deal, five-year, whatever. And you can't just leave after you. I couldn't just go to the competition. I couldn't just, hey, they're offering me five-x.

I could, but I have to go to court if they wanted to fight it. And that's clearly not the way that's happening in college football. Like I can just be like, yeah, I'll take your $600 grand. And then, I mean, I've heard of stories from people around college football that a guy will take the NIL early enroll. And, you know, so for the spring, this would be a high school kid and then be in the transfer portal at the end of spring ball. Like this, we got to fix somewhat. Like, you don't need to just stay forever. And if your coach ever leaves to a better job or gets fired,

no problem with you being allowed to leave. But if I give you $800,000, I can't sign you to a multi-year contract, it's the way it works in the NFL. So clearly they got a lot of work to do. In spring ball, which is important, you know, in college football because you wear pads

and especially for your younger players that have not played that might become starters, like, or even guys that are just backups that are going to be starters in the fall. Arch Manning. This is an enormous spring. But Texas, USC, and I'm probably missing a bunch of other programs, are not having a spring game. Not because they don't want to have a practice or a simulated scrimmage, because they don't want

it to be on television for you to watch and scout their players. Not because we're going to play you in the fall, and I want to know the strengths and weaknesses of the new right guard, or what's the outside linebacker, what's he look like coming off the edge? No, because I will poach that guy and try to get him to go in the transfer portal before the summer starts. So when that starts happening, it's like we got fucking problems. And college football for his awesome and the explosion and its importance and obviously it's the second biggest sport in America. It's just in a weird spot. And it just doesn't feel healthy even though financially it would say otherwise.

Okay, let's end with my first. Fugazi Friday. I was thinking about this because when I was a kid, and I've talked about this for a long time, like it was right in between the time of the internet. You know, computers were kind of hitting the scene, but the internet wasn't really strong. And then the internet really took off kind of right my senior year in college or senior year in high school and then when I went to college. But even when I was in college, like online classes and stuff like that didn't really exist like

they would 10 years later indefinitely now. but I remember like in high school writing papers and stuff that were like in cursive, right? Instead of like, I'm not a great typeer. Luckily, my business, like I don't have to type a lot. And most of my notes that I do for this business I use on hand or just like a note app on my phone. But looking back, if you could have been forward thinking, everyone in my high school class, and the majority of high school classes should have been very singular focus toward technology. But it was honestly kind of the opposite.

And I was listening to a podcast the other day, the All-in podcast. And they're like, can you imagine how outdated? And listen, some of you that have like junior high kids and definitely high school kids, the just regular curriculum is in school for what these kids are going to do. And normal people have been saying forever, like, shouldn't we teach like financial literacy in starting in like junior high in high school? Like why should we wait till college? And the answer is always, well, they kind of want little worker bees.

They actually don't want you to know that. And I think there's some truth to that. But like with the explosion of artificial intelligence, which I like most people in one way or another, use all the time, do we need to know what we used to need to know when I can just type in a question and immediately get the answer? And listen, there are some professions like becoming an architect, building a bridge, where levels of math are geometry, calculus, calculus one, calculus two are going to be very important, right? No different than being a doctor, there is a level of focus school that you are going to need to go on to, you know, repair my meniscus. Or if I, you know, break a clavicle or have a heart attack, you'd be able to work on me. But most of us are not going to do that.

I remember my senior year in high school, there was a class called AP art history. The class was a fucking joke. Every single person got an A. But in AP classes, you would get like an extra point. So it would be worth like, instead of a four, it would be worth a five. So it would, you know, boost your GPA.

So my GPA, when I was applying to college, instead of being like a three, four with the extra AP class, I remember boosted up to like a three eight. I was really probably more like a two, five student. And I just looked back like, Why, one, this class was stupid. I don't need to know any of the stuff. And if I did, I could just look it up.

So one thing we're going to have to figure out is, and listen, I probably have kids here pretty soon, or at least attempt to. We'll see if little swimmers can swim. But we got to rethink all this. And technology and the thing they were saying on the all-in podcast is like, and listen, these really smart people, way smarter than me and clearly are in different worlds and use this AI. way more than me. Like it is going to wipe out and make a lot of the stuff you learn in school pretty irrelevant.

And I think we got to embrace it and embrace it pretty fast. So I've often thought, and listen, education for me, you're talking with a guy with multiple degrees, pretty irrelevant to my life. And besides like going to college

and socializing with people I do not know and trying to date girls that I have no background with and didn't grow up around, I learned little to nothing that I apply to in my adult life. So I, and that's college, let alone high school where I learn nothing. Besides, again, I'm not anti-learning to read, right?

There are a lot of studies coming out that almost like half of eighth graders can't read at a basic level. Obviously, that's a problem, right? I mean, there are some basic fundamentals that you need to learn in your youth and we need to teach kids. but there is a lot of complete waste. And I was on this early because I remember sitting in class like 14, 16, like this is so stupid. But I couldn't get bad grades

because my dad probably would kick my ass so I had to attempt to try in high school or hustle and find a way to get with good groups and group projects. But I remember thinking it was BS 20 years ago. I can't even imagine now technology. If you are, if everything isn't technologically based for most of these people,

I think we're wasting her time. So you talk about a Fugazi. If they ain't changing, and let's face it, a lot of these people, they don't like to change, we're going to have problems coming down the pike. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, huge news? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas, we invented a podcast?

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

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

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

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

Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The story I've told myself about love or relationships can then shape my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown and explore the journey of healing, self-discussed, and returning to yourself. We explore higher consciousness, emotional well-being, and the practices that help you find clarity, peace, and self-mastery in a world that can feel overwhelming. The world is becoming lonelier. We're not becoming more social and connected. We're becoming more individualized, but we actually meet people in connection. If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole, this podcast is for you to hear more.

Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, I'm Jared Adano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help! Somebody! Please! But there's so much more to me than me. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian. And recently, I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hippocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people. in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant,

and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. One ring is too scary. Oh, cream of chicken suit. Hey, cream, cream a chicken suit. This is help from a hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumb some as people you know. Listen to help from a hypocrite as part of the Mike Coulthura podcast network available on the IHartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Okay, let's dive into a little thing we like to call the Middlecough Mailbag. At John Middlecough is the Instagram firing those DMs. Get on the show. Again, mailbag, just my name at John Middlecough, fire in those DMs. Get your questions answered here. Let's start with Garrett. Question for the bag. I'm a cowboy fan that understands how much of a disaster our team is right now.

But I have a lot of confidence in Dakota Prescott. It just seems to me that even though we have problems, people forget how good we can be when he's healthy. His last full season, he was the runner-up MVP to Lamar. He had much better stats and we had 12 wins. So my question is, where do you rank DAC out of all the quarterbacks in the NFL? He's the highest-paid quarterback, and even though he shouldn't be, he's paid large for a reason. Yeah, I mean, I think the problem for Dak Prescott is he had the three-year stretch with McCarthy where he was really good.

And I'm pulling up his stats right now. And then he shit the bed in the playoffs. I mean, those two-niner games were pretty bad, and the Packer game wasn't great either. So basically, from 21 to 23, he was 37 and 10. 22, actually, he wasn't great, 23 and 5, but he got injured that year. And then he was 36 and 9. So like two of those three years, 21, 37 and 10 and 36 and 9, that's a really high-level season.

It really is. Like, that's really good. And then they lose in the playoffs. So I think the problem is he can have stretches. Remember, was it two years ago when, did he beat Philly? at Philly the year that they won the division I think it's the playoffs

just really leads leaves a bad taste in people's mouths and so it's like when we talk about DAC it's hard to talk about 37 and 9 or 36 and 10 or whatever his great seasons under McCarthy and it's more like

what happens in these big games when he does he looks like a shell of himself and he turns the ball over a lot. I mean, to go in 2023, 36 and 9, and then it wasn't all his fault in the Packer game. But the 37 and 10 year, I think he threw two picks.

So he threw, he's thrown five interceptions in that three-year stretch with McCarthy making the playoffs. It's pretty bad. It really is. I think when he's right, yeah, he's somewhere between six to ten-ish, he's good. And then he just turns into a different player in the playoffs. Like that's not really debatable at this point.

Griffin. What up? Die Hard Trojan fan. Fight on. Got in your podcast, listening to You on the Hurd. I hear a lot of people asking the question about Sam Darnold. And as someone who has always supported him and the program, enough so where I get Tommy Trojan tattooed.

on me. Wow. Where do you see the trajectory of the program going up compared to other powers in the sport? Oregon, Ohio State, and other contenders. One thing living in Arizona, your lips just get destroyed here. Very dry. You know, very, very dry. I would say you guys are in a bad spot. No way around it. When you bring up Ohio State and Oregon, they feel like they're in a different universe than you guys. Like a different universe. I think the Trojan situation is not good and not good at all. So I have little faith, to be honest with you. I think one main issue is in this new world that the Trojans find themselves in. I mean, your last two years, eight and five and seven and six. You were six and six this year before the bowl game. I would not be very exciting.

And Colin and I have talked about this. There is an energy and an effort that Ryan Day, that Sark, that Dan Lannning, that Kirby bring to recruiting. Saban brought this. He was very serious about recruiting. I feel like Lincoln was pretty serious about it at Oklahoma. But Oklahoma, like when he took it over, it was kind of like a, you know, it's like a Tesla that drives itself. and he put some effort in, but they were just recruiting elite guys no matter what.

And then he goes to USC, like, this program's in disarray. You kind of got, you got a fucking grind. You got to get in the mud. Like when Pete Carroll took over USC, like,

it was bad. You got to take it to the next level. No, you got to just get it rolling again. And I just don't know if he knows how to do that. So I'm not very confident. I'm really not. And that conference,

Oregon's rolling. Ohio State's a juggernaut. Michigan, that's going to be their worst team in years moving forward. Penn State is loaded. So at the high end of the conference, it's just so good. Let me look up USC 2025 schedule. The hard part is even if I give you like win, win, win, win, you guys lost a lot of games that most people would have said that. This is such a joke.

I'm not blaming USC, but to open up against Missouri State, their first two games, Missouri State and Georgia Southern, I mean, give me a break. That is, this is where college football needs someone to step in. Purdue, Michigan State, at Illinois, Michigan, at Notre Dame, at Nebraska, Iowa, Oregon, UCLA. I would say 9 and 3 feels like a pretty good year. A disgruntled cowboy fan.

My question is, should the Cowboys move off Parsons and stock up on draft capital to strengthen their weakness levels of personnel? Would think you could get at least one first round pick and some later round pick? No, you would get multiple first round picks. If you trade Micah Parsons, the minimum you would get would be two ones and a two. anyone that doesn't want that, you hang up. Micah Parsons netts you two ones and a two. How old is Michael Parsons?

25 years old? Michael Parsons is 25 years old. He is 100%, I would say, I mean, 13 sacks, 13 sacks, 14 sacks, 12 sacks. I mean, he's just an elite pass rusher. He's just a really good player. I mean, I think he's two ones and a two.

I think that's what you're getting. So, you know, I wouldn't be in the business of trading Micah Parsons like players. I mean, the whole reason you draft is to land guys like him. And looking back, you got pretty lucky that a guy like him, because, you know, the COVID year, he sat out and fell out of the top 10. What was he? 11th pick, I think. Micah Parsons was the 12th pick in the draft. And now it's like, who's his comp?

you know, Abdul Carter. Like his comp is Micah Parsons. A lot of similarities. Penn State, 11, bend the edge. It's like, where's Abdul Carter going to go? One. It's like number one overall.

Like, I think clearly if you redid the Micah, Micah Parsons is a top two or three draft pick if he's playing. And I know he was like off the ball a little bit, but still. I would say, if you trade Micah Parsons, like it's, I wouldn't even entertain it.

If two ones, a two and a player would be like, my minimum. I think Zach Martin I just saw retired, so two-ones, a two, and maybe a guard. Absolutely love the pod. I have a question for the mailback. Do you think we'll ever see more crossovers between GMs of different sports? Am I thinking back to last year when the commanders hired Warriors GM Bob Myers to help lead their head coaching search? And even back a few years ago, Mickey Loomis ran the Saints and the Hornets. Going off of that question, how long do you think it would take a good NBA GM to become a good NFL GM? Well, Bob just helped, you know,

one thing, a good NBA, a good GM in general, they can evaluate people, whether that's a player, whether that's a coach, whether that's an executive, whether that's a scouting director. Like, they're just around those people all the time. So like Bob Myers, he's a people guy. Bob Myers was an agent, right? Bob Myers represented like, André Guadala. I mean, he was representing players. So he knows how to negotiate

and he knows people. Now, you do have to have some idea of football players and football value, so it would take a long time. Like, there's not a player in the NFL. I would say every single starter, like

Howie Roseman or John Lynch or Les Need or John Spytech or Jason Light could tell you something about, like a lot about. So it's like you develop this war chest of information, that that would be really hard to accumulate. The relationships with agents you could develop

relatively quickly, but the contracts are a lot different, dealing with players are a lot different. I actually don't think there are that many similarities. My buddy Ethan Strauss, who runs one of the best substacks and all the sports, sometimes I'll just call and pick his brain he's got good ideas and he's tied into the NBA world

and he knows a bunch of GMs including Bob he's like all these GMs are miserable it's not a fun job because basically the role is just completely different what like how much roster tweaking do you really do

in the NFL like you have massive turnover year to year massive so it's I would imagine baseball and basketball GMs would have an easier time than it would like if Bob Myers just became the GM like if let's say Washington has just hired Bob Myers

like I don't think he could do the job I think he could attempt to to build around but like a huge part of the job is like setting boards now you could argue he could just hire the best quote unquote like scout and make him as pro personnel department but then that guy would essentially be picking the players. You know, the one thing with Howie is like,

Howie not only watches tape, he just knows players pretty well. Like how could Bob? Not that Bob would even want to, but I think it would be difficult. Lifelong Steeler fan. At this point, I know better than to expect Pittsburgh to do anything exciting in the offseason.

I've suggested blowing the whole thing up and seeing what we get for Watt, Micah, and Pickens. It's been a full three years, since Rothesburg retired, and we still have done nothing to find a long-term answer at quarterback. With possibly both Wilson and Fields gone, and some recent reports linking the Steelers as a potential landing spot to Kirk Cousins, Daniel Jones, or 41-year-old Aaron fucking Rogers, I added the F word in there, sorry, kids. It's just more of the same patchwork roster building year after year.

Am I too extreme? I don't think you are, man. It just, I guess you could. It's lightning in a bottle on Rogers. Like, to me, Cousins makes no sense. He can't move. Cousins can't move. I would not mess with Kirk Cousins.

Rogers, in theory, makes some sense. But, like, he does not want to get hit. He wants no part of contact. I don't blame him. Tom Brady, the last couple years, didn't want to get sacked. They're in their 40s. They're super rich. They still feel and look good.

Like, you don't want to take these huge hits from Micah Parsons. I mean, you don't want Jalen Carter slamming you into the ground. Totally get it. Well, when I think the AFC North, like, you get hit and you get hit pretty hard. So, like, the younger version of Rogers, no doubt about it. This version, I don't know. So I think you're screwed, but I'm done saying, like, you know, I think Tomlin and the Steelers should just get a healthy divorce and start dating other people. You get a new coach.

Tomlin, you coach someone else. I'm done saying that because it's never going to happen. So it's like pointless exercise And like you said Should they do it? Yeah Are they going to? No chance They're going to keep doing the same thing And like see

Nine games Well yeah we get it You're a well run business You are never going to suck No one thinks You were ever going to win Be the Jags You're never going to draft third overall

We understand that Though like you said It'd be healthy if you did one year I feel like I'm like many other people I love playing golf maybe go once a week during the summer. I'm 23. Got to work. I feel you, dog. But hate watching it on television.

I'd love a weekly segment on good bets bets you're making to get me interested. Maybe a season-long record on how you've done predicting things. Try to include that into the golfing. We try to include golf gambling. I dabble a little bit on the Mexico Open this week. Based on your personal experience and what you've heard through your connections in the league,

Can you give us a bit more inside of what we'd normally hear that happens behind the scenes in the offseason, particularly the draft, the combine, free agency, etc.? Second part, do you think there's any reason why it seems somewhat often players leave their team to join someone in the division? I'm sure every signing has layers and reasonings, but just curious if you had any thoughts. On the first part, I think we'll dive into that at each stop along, try to kind of look inside the comments. The Combine, the draft, the free agency. Try to give, like, you know, the inner workings of how these things work. I mean, there are a lot of layers.

If you want me to, like, break down, like, how teams meet and go over the board, set the board, free agency. We'll discuss a little bit of that next week, probably. And your second question, money. I mean, it's just the almighty dollar. It has always and probably will always. always, unless we just go to digital currency and just become Bitcoin, which essentially be the same thing. You know, people do things for more money. That's why people leave jobs. It's why people move. It's why people, uh, you know, I, I remember thinking when I was looking to

buy a house and everyone's like, well, it's just the interest rates are too high. You can't buy. It's like, and I remember how to buddy that has been in business a long time. He's like, John, things always change. People die. People have kids. They need to upgrade. people change jobs. There are circumstances in humans' lives that change no matter what. Just because you have a 4% interest loan, I'm never leaving. Well, all of a sudden you have one kid and then your next kid is twins and you're like, we don't have a big enough house.

You don't have a choice, right? Or maybe you or your wife get a job offer for triple the money and you leave. So all of a sudden, we're never moving. All of a sudden that house is on the market. So I think things change really quickly when. more money is involved. Now, sometimes you make a decision not based on money, and sometimes you make a decision based on your family or you're comfortable,

but in NFL free agency, the only reason to leave a team if you like your spot is because that other team is offering you way more money. And in football, where your career can end literally any moment, it's really, really hard to not take the most money possible. So I think that's why it happens. Question for the mailbag. You mentioned recently you were somewhat neighbors with Don Trell Willis.

Was an existing connection through the sports business or did you one day see him around? Definitely a cool story. He liked something one time on Instagram probably like a year ago. Maybe something me and Colin did. Then I followed him. He followed me. We DM back and forth and a mutual buddy that is a member at the country club where Don Trell is that works out at the gym that I go to, Jeff, who's listened to the podcast.

Actually, I haven't talked to Jeff in a little while. He's good buddies with him. And I told him like, hey, I want to play golf with him. He gave him his number and I hit him up. I haven't talked to him. I haven't texted him in a while. I need to do that. I think Don Trell's daughter plays soccer at Colorado.

Shocker, he's got good genetics. Athlete. So, yeah, I got to try to make that happen here. maybe after the wedding, play some golf on camera with him. I think he's a pretty good player. It's crazy. I mean, there are just a lot of athletes that live in my general area. I mean, Scottsdale in general, but a lot of them, you know, baseball players and hockey players, a lot of them here.

A lot of them here. Baseball players, because so many come for spring training, right? If you play, I mean, half the league comes here for spring training, and a lot of them buy houses here. And when they retire, they just live here. And obviously golfers as well. It's kind of a hub. You know, one of the reasons, you know, that inspired me to move here is there was like, from the business I'm in, there was like this energy. I remember coming here like five years ago.

And I mean, I didn't know anybody, but you could just kind of feel it. And then you start kind of doing the research and following different people on Instagram. He's like, there's a lot of shit going on. It's like Silicon Valley for athletes and sports and obviously golf. Big reason I packed up my shit and I came here Loved every minute It's not a couple summer days when it's a little hot What are your expectations for the New England Patriots

I have a lot of respect for Brable as a coach And I thought May showed a lot of potential in his first year I think they could be a playoff Playoff competitors right away Because of the coach and quarterback Do you agree or you think 910 wins is too ambitious Well whatever, what they win this year?

Were they drafted? Third or fourth? Fifth? I mean, fourth maybe? Obviously, your season last year was a joke. I mean, it was probably most unwatchable team in the NFL. You had moments when Drake May was playing pretty well, but I would say the Jacoby Brissette time when he was playing unwatchable,

and there were games with Drake May. It was like, this is bad. So, if I just, I just, if I just go, I believe in Vrable, I think you can be really competitive next year. Eight to ten wins, not unrealistic. Now, who is on the team? Right? Like, what's your offensive line?

Who are your skill guys? Does the defense dramatically improve? Who do you draft? I mean, let's face it, these next couple months are pretty big for the Patriots. You are going to have, I don't know, six, seven, I would imagine, like, impact guys. And definitely guys, you pay some money, guys, you draft high. Who are they? Then I think we can have a better idea of like, okay, this team could get to nine wins.

But right now we're just going nine wins. We've got no-who clues on the team. We're just betting on Vrable and Josh McDaniels. I recently had an argument with my friends about Jalen. They don't understand what makes them a good quarterback, and they'll point to other quarterbacks who have better stats and so forth. After being in scouting for a bit, do you think that the average fan doesn't really know what quote-unquote talent is at quarterback?

What would you define as talent? That's a good question. You know, I think a lot of times talent is not like how many touchdown passes do you throw. It's more like, well, how big are you? How strong are you? How fast are you? How strong is your arm? Right?

Like Josh Allen has a insane amount of talent. Right? Lamar Jackson has an insane amount of talent. RG3 before his leg snapped or whatever crazy amount of talent Michael Vic insane amount of talent I think Jalen is talented because he's a really good athlete

he throws a good deep ball but he doesn't have a great arm you know it's weird he's a good runner but he's not like you know like a twitchy fast you know Lamar and Kyler are much more explosive there's like

they're changing to, you know, Jaylon's just a smooth runner. I would say he's, he's a talented player. Obviously, you're in the NFL, but like he was a second round player for a reason, right?

I mean, I wouldn't say he has elite, immense talent, relative to the elite guys. Right? Mahomes, very crazy arm. Excellent thrower on the run. Right? Can make crazy throws

at every level over the middle, outside. Like, Jaylen's a great deep ball thrower. But he's not great over the middle. He's accurate. One talent that he has that is like, I don't know if it's all God-given, but he clearly works at it in the weight room. Like, that strength that he possesses is pretty special. A long-time listener, cannot stress how big of a fan I am of you. I usually agree with 90% of the things you say. However, Aaron Rogers to Amazon as a play-by-play. guy is your worst take by

far. Herb Street is the best play-by-play guy in the world at the moment. He does the biggest college game every week and he does an NFL game that does 20 million viewers each week. He's smart, he's professional, he's likable, and advertisers love him.

Economically speaking, it would be suicide to hire Rogers. He attacked Big Pharma, who's let's be real, runs the world. I don't think we have to be real. I mean, they got a lot of fucking juice. One of the only countries that let him advertise on television and they make a shitload of money. Advertisers would not run to

do Amazon to back a product run by Rogers. He's extremely controversial. Nobody knows what is going to come out of his mouth. Aaron Rogers, while not great, is still a top 20 quarterback in the world. He would be an upgrade for a bunch of teams. Blah, blah.

Okay, let's hit each one. Herb Street is not the best play-by-play guy in the world. He is the best college guy. Totally agree. With you. Professionalable, likable, great for advertisers. But, like, he's not great on the NFL. And 20 million people, like, you or I could call the Amazon game.

This notion that, like, Tom Brady, obviously, he's really famous. It's, you know, he's the most famous guy probably do ever call football games. When you factor in, like, Michael Jordan ever call games. Tiger Woods does a new broadcast. I think they tried Joe Montana back in the day, and it failed. But if Tom Brady did not exist, even if it wasn't Greg Olson, Let's just say they threw Mark Sanchez on Eagles Cowboys. It wouldn't change the viewership at all.

I feel pretty strongly about that. Maybe it helps on some random games, but all the playoff games doesn't change it one iota. I think now Tom's impact for business, advertisers totally agree. But like from an NFL standpoint, I think Collinsworth is better. Troy Aitman's definitely better.

They're just better. the NFL. And that's no, I like Kirk Herb Street, calling college. I don't really love him calling the NFL. Aaron Rogers just played for Woody Johnson. Johnson & Johnson. Now I get it, it's different. Woody Johnson's not an advertiser. He's trying to get him to win games. I honestly don't think it really matters.

Amazon's in the business. You're looking at it like from a broadcast television standpoint. Amazon's in the business of getting you to sign up for Amazon Prime. And you to spend money on what I would say is the most impressive website in the history of America. I can press a button and have everything from a fucking razor to a vacuum cleaner to,

you name it, deliver to my house within potentially five hours to 24 hours. It is incredible how dominant they are. One, I haven't liked going to the store in a decade. Now, why would you go to the store besides getting a couple things? You do not need to. They have dominated because of their efficiency. That is the business they're in. And I would say this about Aaron, like he does, he's just, he's an easy listen.

Now, I'm with you. He could say some off the wall shit, but like, this is entertainment. And Amazon is not dependent on Pfizer advertising on a streaming service. They are dependent on John Middilkoff and you and Bill and James and Craig and Julie buying things on that thing constantly. So I think it's less, I would agree on Fox. Yeah, it could be a problem. If he said something and an advertiser left, it would not be good. That's not really the business Amazon's in.

Are you going to stop using Amazon? What are you going to do? You want to walk your ass to Target and go sit in the fucking line with 7 million people in that thing on a Tuesday afternoon? Well, I'm going to press a button to have it delivered to my, the front of my house as I eat a sandwich. But I hear you. Maybe he wouldn't be good. I mean, there's...

But like I said, I don't think it necessarily matters because I don't think Tom Brady's any good and the same amount of people watch. Okay. A couple more question. Diehard Green Bay Packer fan. And I wanted to know your thoughts. Honestly, I want more controversial people

on television. I want more people. Like, sometimes you watch these games and this is why, like, Aikman, like, you know, Gruden was like this madden. They'll just say some Romo. I just appreciate,

every once in a while saying some off-the-wall shit. Like, I'm trying to be entertained. Some of these guys say nothing. It's like, I can't tell you how many texts I get from buddies in the NFL, scouting buddies that are around, like, watching the games. Like, this guy doesn't even know what he's talking about. It's awful. It's just bad.

And I don't mean just controversial to say something off the wall to say something off the wall, but have some balls. Like, have some fucking stones to say, like, that was awful. And Aikman's one of the rare guys who will be critical of things that happened that we're all watching and thing. Everyone else is like a love fest. I mean, let's face it, you couldn't pay Tom Brady to be really critical.

And I know he's not really allowed to, but even if he was, I don't think he would be. That's kind of what the consumer wants. And at least Rogers, potentially, might say some crazy things about like, yeah, that was stupid. He might rip some coaches. That's all I want.

You don't even need to rip the players. Like, guys fumble. Guys throw a pick. Can you rip some coaches? Because we're all doing it. Man, it's a business we're in. All the fans. None of these guys do it.

It's like, oh, I love the offensive coordinator. I've known him for decades. Great guy. Yeah, he's a terrible play caller. Again, probably not going to happen, so moot point. Packer fan, honestly, done, wide receivers. Packer fans, you guys, you guys are living pretty good.

Your team's good. Your wide receiver room, yeah, it drives you little nuts. Still really talented. I know we got an ACL injury and a concussion problem. You guys will be fun. like your problems compared to the Steeler problems like two historic franchises

both consistently win you guys feel like you are much closer to competing for Super Bowls than they are so you guys are gonna be okay I promise Packer fans you're gonna be okay if the Packers were a stock I think technically they are the way they're invested in

with the fans but you know what I mean if I could buy them on the NASDAQ or the S&P I would purchase Packer stock they would actually have been one of the more lucrative stocks that lasts like 30 years. Every year it kind of works. Okay, last question. The earliest I can remember listening to show

was when I was a sophomore at UGA in 2018. I appreciate it. I'm a huge Falcons fan. You're obviously from Georgia. Go dogs. It drives me absolutely crazy that they seem to refuse to build the defensive line even though that's been a glaring problem

for my entire life. I was wondering why you think teams refuse to build from the lines out. And what do you think their main issue is? It doesn't seem like blank is some crazy meddling owner or an idiot. And I can't figure out why they can't figure it out. Also, I understand they're a dog shit franchise in general, but recently they've been pretty close to making the playoffs, but they keep putting themselves in Cap Hell,

hiring mediocre coaches and old players. They went through that stretch. I think last year with the Pennix Cousin's thing, is one of the more head-scratching moves in recent memory. And to me, it just shows how, from an organizational standpoint, no one's on the same page. Like, one of the big advantages the Super Bowl teams, the Eagles, and the Chiefs have, is like, and listen, and even Howie defended Siriani, I work really close to this guy for the last four years. Like, there is a pretty strategic, Jeffrey Lurie, Howie, whoever the coach is, like, philosophical belief.

Andy Reed Veitch Hand in hand The Ravens Harbaugh, DeCosta, Ozzie, whoever, like Big time, like one vision. The Buffalo. Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch

worked really close. Less Need Sean McVeigh. Feels like, is there any cohesion? The cousin's Michael Pennick's thing was laughable. Now, thank God they drafted. Like, I was never against drafting penics, but they never should have signed cousins.

They should have used that money to sign a couple defensive alignment. Christian Wilkins, I know he got hurt, but like, that would have been a guy to sign. So I think it just gets back to, listen, you can't convince me, and I understand guys can still be sharp as attack, like in their 80s and 90s, you know, the Charlie Mungers, Warren Buffett's, most human beings, like, you're just not going to be the same. name. And you can't convince me that the owner's age, the amount of money they've made, that it just doesn't feel like their standard is quite as high. I mean, the guy put himself in the Falcons Hall of Fame last year. Honestly, I thought that was a pretty embarrassing moment,

especially in a season where you just pay a quarterback off an Achilles, $100 million, you've got to bench them by the end of the season. I would just, I would sell stock in the Atlanta Falcons. I bet against it from the jump last year. Now, I picked the Saints instead of the bucks, but my whole point was everyone is picking this team. How, in what world the other thing is like being a good

defensive coordinator when Sean McVease your head coach does not mean that you're going to be a good head coach. Brandon Staley, Rahim Morris, it does not mean that you're going to be a good head coach. Now, Rahim seems infinitely more likable down to earth than a normal human than Brandon Staley. So if I had to pick one of the two, I would take Raheem Morris.

But like, when you work for Sean McVeigh, they draft well, they have good players, and they're just a well-run operation. So it's like, that doesn't just equate to you kicking ass and taking names when you leave them. It's really difficult. So I guess it's a long-winded way of saying, I'm not trying to be Debbie Downer here,

but I would not be very bullish on your guys' operation. Have a great weekend, and enjoy yourself. Just have a smile, have a few guys. cocktails. Maybe you're not drinking. Get a good workout in. Go for a walk. Enjoy your loved ones. Talk to you soon. Peace. The volume. Hey guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast.

Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL, late night comedy guy, not quite.

Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, it's Edwin Castro, also known as Castro 1021.

And I'm Kunky, his best friend and business manager. And we've got a new show called The 1021 Podcast. I'm taking you behind the scenes on how I became one of Twitch's most popular streamers. We also love sports. And with the World Cup right around the corner, we'll be breaking down the biggest storylines ahead of the big tournament here in the USA. Listen to the 1021 podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The story I told myself can then shape my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown. If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole. This podcast is for you to hear more. Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.