The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 & Out - Sam Darnold & Minnesota Vikings take down Indianapolis Colts & Joe Flacco on SNF

Episode Date: November 4, 2024

John returns to react to a loaded NFL Sunday, capped by Sam Darnold, Justin Jefferson and the Minnesota Vikings taking down Joe Flacco’s Indianapolis Colts 21-13. Middlekauff breaks down Sam Darnold’s impressive performance and wonders if there might be a quarterback controversy brewing in the Twin Cities between the former USC QB and first-round pick JJ McCarthy. Middlekauff goes off on how the position of quarterback is in a unique spot compared to the rest of the NFL’s skill players and details how Sam Darnold’s impressive performances could pose problems for former Michigan man JJ McCarthy when he returns from injury next season. Then, John gives Justin Jefferson the title as the NFL’s BEST Wide Receiver and explains why the former LSU national champion is at the peak of his powers leading a potent Vikings offense “built to win right now.” Next, John dives into the Detroit Lions dismantling Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers. Middlekauff GOES OFF on Jordan Love and explains why pundits, himself included, might have anointed the Packers QB a bit too early, and compares him to legendary Green Bay QBs Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers. Next, John blasts Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence and Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams after another disappointing performance from both highly-touted QBs. After, John gives his thoughts on Tom Brady’s broadcast restrictions and how it affects the product when the former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB cannot criticize poor officiating. Then, John eviscerates Matt Eberflus and the Chicago Bears after getting destroyed by the Arizona Cardinals and salutes Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders after another divisional win. Finally, John recaps the rest of the action around the NFL. 3:37 - SNF - Colts at Vikings reaction 15:52 - Lions at Packers reaction 26:17 - Lions' Brian Branch ejected reaction 32:24 - Ohio State at Penn State reaction 33:32 - Bears at Cardinals reaction 37:41 - Saints lose to Panthers reaction 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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What is going on, everybody, John Middlekopf, three and out podcast? How are we doing, my people? We've had a Sunday night game that wasn't great, but we watch it because that's what we do is we watch football and then talk. about it. The Vikings beat the Colts and Joey Flacco doesn't look great. And Minnesota is now

6 and 2 and the Colts I don't want to say all but assured to not win the division but it's going to be pretty tough for them. A couple games back now of the Houston Texans and they've lost both games of them. So the Colts have some serious issues.

And I want to talk about some other teams with some serious issues. The Packers, got to figure out their quarterback not throwing bad picks. Caleb Williams, not great. Trevor Lawrence, also bad when it matters the most. Iber Fluse, Derek Carr. Today was a rough day. I go on with Colin every Sunday.

So we talked about a lot of stuff from the Cowboys to Siriani to the Buffalo Bills, so you can listen to that. I try to separate some stuff that we didn't talk about or stuff I want to go into more in depth that we do today on Sunday night. So if you listen on Collins feed, make sure you subscribe to the three and out. We'll hit on some other stuff.

Yeah, so you guys know the drill and subscribe to the YouTube page as well. But first, I got to tell you about my friends at Game Time, the official ticketing app of this podcast, and here's the thing. Do you want to go to a game? Do you want to go to a concert? Do you want to go enjoy yourself?

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Lowest prices guaranteed. The Minnesota Vikings. win the game. 21 to 13. And as the game was going on in the second half, and Flacco mainly looked like shit, and Sam Darnold was throwing touchdown pass after touchdown pass. Now, he did throw a couple interceptions,

and one of them, you know, was a really good play by the defensive back that, as they said, in the broadcast, kind of turned into like Troy Palomalu, did a little freelancing, went in front of a ball to Justin Jefferson, good play. But, you know, I guess where I want to start with this, is, you know, whenever you just draft a guy high and just make him the quarterback and your team turns out to be really talented, you can have problems because those guys go, well, I had to

earn my job because at most other positions, basically every other position, you have to earn the job, right? When you're drafting the second round, the third round, the fourth round, guys that you sign as free agents, like, everything's kind of competitive. No one is on scholarship. and even if you are a highly paid player, if you do not perform, you will get benched really, really quick. And in a lot of the positions, because you're constantly rotating, wide receiver, running back, tight end, defensive line,

even defensive backs, the guys that start playing well, it's like riding the hot hand, they just end up playing more. And then they eventually become starters very, very quickly. Right? There's some offensive line positions, if I sign you to a big contract as a free agent. I'm going to make you the starter because I paid you a lot of money.

But if you don't perform well, we will rotate other guys in. It happens all the time. I will not just roll with a bad right tackle. But at quarterback, it's like, and I saw this with the 49ers a couple years ago when they just named Trey Lance the starter. It's like, well, Jimmy Garapolo, who ended up coming back to the roster, if they just would have had a quarterback competition, he never would have beat him out, ever.

It's why I give Kevin O'Connell a lot of credit. He signed Sam Darnold to $10 million, and then he drafts a guy in the top 15, who he goes, he's our future. But he didn't even go, hey, we are going to have a quarterback competition. He basically just names Sam Darnold the starting quarterback. And a lot of people were pushing, like, why don't you make this a quarterback competition?

probably essentially was, clearly wanted to take the pressure off of his top draft pick. Now, obviously, JJ ended up getting injured in preseason, so it became a moot point. But it's pretty clear that J.J. McCarthy could never beat out this version of Sam Donald if they had a quarterback competition. And then during the game tonight, as Sam Donald was making a bunch of plays,

they go over and show the camera goes right, to JJ. And Mike Tariko throws it to Chris and he goes, he's the quarterback of the future. They have created their books to make it about him. Well, there is no guarantee that J.J. McCarthy is going to be even close to as good as this version of Sam Darnold in two years, let alone next year. And right now, as you saw tonight, Justin Jefferson is by Ford, in my opinion, the best wide receiver in the NFL. If you gave every general manager and every head coach, you know, a draft pick, and they said you can have one wide receiver in the NFL,

I think it would be borderline unanimous that he would be the pick. And he's in the peak of his powers. Jordan Addison is an excellent number two wide receiver. Obviously now you got Hawkinson back from injury, and Aaron Jones, as Collins Orr said the night, is kind of like a receiver in this running back body, fantastic player. These guys are built to win right now.

And clearly this team, now they got six wins. They're probably not going to win the division. I think we all like the Lions. But they're going to the playoffs. This is a playoff team. And this is one of those teams that you would not feel that comfortable playing as like the Atlanta Falcons. If I'm the three-seed and they're the sixth seed, like good luck in that game.

Like, excellent defensive coordinator, excellent offensive head coach slash play caller, quarterback who has a lot of experience, and is playing at a high level, and obviously a ton of weapons. I'm not saying that they are a lock to win a playoff game, but they are going to be a very, very tough out. But how can you look at any of the players on your team?

Especially their defensive guys, Van Ginkle's a really good player. They have some other young bodies up front and say that Sam Darnold doesn't give us the best chance to win. And this goes to the Colts' current problem of they made a move this week because they had to. None of those guys on the Indianapolis Colts could look at Anthony Richardson after that game

and take them seriously. It couldn't happen. You had to go to it. But I talked about it with Stucky on Thursday when we were recorded for the weekend. It's like, listen, I like Joe Flacco, and he's a fun story. And I understand why if I was in the shoes

of general manager or head coach for the Colts, I would have gone to him too. but I do think we hold him to a higher esteem because it's been such a fun story over the last, whatever. 12 months essentially, he probably started playing early to mid-November last year and in the couple games that he played this year for the Colts, then he actually is as a player.

And you saw tonight against a good defense, can't really move, can't add lib, and showed some signs of his age. Now, is he still better in Anthony Richardson? Clearly, the Colts believe that so. But part of the reason they got into this problem, when you look at Minnesota that was like, listen, this guys are starting quarterback.

Now, if JJ was so unbelievable, I do believe if he was healthy, he could have beaten him out. But that would have meant he would have looked like Jaden Daniels or something. CJ Stroud last year. That wasn't going to be the case, because this was a project to begin with when he watched him in Michigan. But they at least, like, hey, the best guy is going to play,

and it was clearly Sam Darnold. Meanwhile, the Colts just put a guy in on scholarship because he was drafted at number four overall. But it doesn't happen at other positions. Like, I draft lot too, lot too really high. Like, if he's not playing well, other guys are going to rotate. I drafted Donnie Mitchell really high from Texas. Like, if he's not producing, other guys are going to play. Every other position, it's like the fucking hunger games.

Yet at quarterback, it's like, this guy's on scholarship, we draft them the top five. Here's your spot. And then it's like, this guy's not good enough. And Jonathan Taylor and Michael Pittman and DeForest Buckner and Kenny Moore and all these cats are looking around. Like, what the hell, man? Like, this is not how it works. And I give the Minnesota Vikings a ton of credit for just running a high-level operation and not finding themselves in that situation. Now, I do think, like, big picture, they're good.

I mean, you see Jefferson tonight? Like, how dominant of a player is that guy? Their offense, I mean, I know they only scored 21 points. Colts defense actually playing pretty well. It's just hard not to like all the guys on that offense. Devastating blow last week, losing their left tackle. Good move by the front office, you know, trading for the dude from Jacksonville, which an upgrade over the backup they had who was getting smoke last week in the second half.

But I just think that big picture, you got to ask yourself. Like, you're just going to let this guy walk. and go to J.J. McCarthy, who you hope? Like, that's not a great business strategy, keeping your fingers crossed and hoping. That's usually when you find yourself in these situations. And next year, if the kid was struggling, all of a sudden you would get resentment

from your star-wide receivers, from your stud defensive players. Be like, we didn't have to go down this route. And now the Colts find themselves in this really weird situation. What is the right thing to do? What is the wrong thing to do? Where do we go from here? Does this guy really just get indefinite snarts?

Or do we go back to Anthony Richardson? Did our team already turn on the guy? I don't know. But you watch them not, you're like, well, I understand Minnesota is a tough defense to play because you never know what's coming. Every other play, he's got like nine guys in the line of scrimmage. Collinsworth's like, he could bring them all, or he could drop eight. So you just never know what's going to happen.

And Flacco was swimming. Now, is every defense that good? Of course not. But, like, to make a run, to make the playoffs, like you're going to have to beat good teams. And I just don't know, man. I think the Colts now are in this bizarre spot that they got to because of the way it led up in the offseason

when they just put a guy on scholarship because they drafted him there. Where it doesn't really happen in a position. Now, if the guy earns it, like Jaden Daniels earns it, like clearly, one of the best players in the league. Even Caleb, who's having a shitty rookie year, like Tyson Badgett ain't better than him. But when you're room, you better make sure the best player is on the field.

Because if you lose the group of players on your own team, you got a problem. Now, obviously the Colts didn't. They were playing their ass off. Like the effort tonight, the game was bad. The effort was really good. Yeah, I just, you know, Minnesota, now they're six and two, they got at the Jaguars, at the Titans, and at the Bears. I mean, there's a pretty good chance that you're going to look up and they're going to be eight and three.

That's worst case. I mean, they're going to be favored in all three of those games. So it's not inconceivable. They're nine and two. It shows you how good that division is. You know, Green Bay, rough day. We'll dive into them in a little bit, but, you know, they were. a stretch of night where, you know, listen, I'm not acting like Sam Darnold is the second

coming of Joe Montana here, but it's just, I've watched enough football to know just because you draft a guy high. I mean, touchdowns Sam Darnold throw this year. I mean, I think he had 14 coming in a night, so what's he have now? He threw three more tonight. Is that 17 touchdowns on the year? Dude's balling. Dude makes place. Dude's an explosive playmaker, who's also athletic. and Kyle believed in it. Now Kevin O'Connell believed in it. And I do wonder if this offseason, it could get a little weird. Like, if you're a coach, it's still a pretty big risk to take with the unknown.

You saw it with Anthony Richardson. They just kept their fingers crossed. And it was an absolute roller coaster ride. The NFL season is rolling along and contenders are separating from the pack. The one thing that hasn't changed this season? Draft King Sportsbook. An official sports betting partner of the NFL is the not. number one place to bet touchdowns. I love doing it. Touchdown passes, touchdown runs, long runs,

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Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now, I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show.

This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Cliverts Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need. to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan,

so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of ton-tons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the I-Heart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva, actress, mother, lover, and a Gen X woman walking through life one hot flash and hormonal crying jag at a time. You ladies know what I mean. I'll bet you a perimenopausal chin here you do. So let's talk about it. Join me on my new podcast. How

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

How high can it be getting naked at 50 with the new guy? That one's kind of hard. Well, that's lighting. They say we can't polish a turd, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with laughs, tears or tears of laughter, and dive into it, unfiltered and unbothered and ask, How Hard Can It Be? I cannot believe I'm about to say this out loud in public.

Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Diana Maria Riva as part of My Cultura Podcast Network available on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, everyone. It's Ryder Strong and Will Fidel from PodMeets World. And now the Pod Meets Twirled podcast. We're two men who were completely clueless to reality TV, who now have covered Dancing with the Stars, traitors,

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Listen to PodMeets Twirled on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We don't want to go now. Lions Packers. Colin and I talked a lot about it so you can hear us kind of breaking down. parts of the game. Obviously, when Jordan Love, through the interception for the pick six, to make it 17 to 3,

you could essentially say the game ended on that given play. I am guilty of this. So I'm not trying to act like I'm above this or I'm any different than anyone. I get excited. I'm part of the hype machine. I love this stuff. So it's easy when you start talking about something, when you like a player, when you see something, to get over-excited.

I was like that when I worked in the NFL, and I've been like that for a decade-plus podcasting and working on radio. It's just a natural... I think a lot of us, fans, us to talk about it, people in the NFL. It's easy to get excited. But I do think we need to be careful,

and I'm learning a big lesson right now of anointing guys, because Jordan loves a good example, that those final eight games of the season were unreal. I mean, he looked like Aaron Rogers. And then he plays the playoff game against Dallas, and he lights him up like a Christmas tree. And he played, you know, very valiant effort on the road against the Niners.

This year, we have tried to make a million excuses for him. But he throws a bunch of touchdowns. But he lets it rip. Well, he's the best combination and has some of the qualities of Aaron Rogers and Brett Farr. I've said these things. I start thinking today, watching him throw that ball to, I forget his name, 31 on the Lions who walked it right into the end zone.

Like, Aaron Rogers and Brett Favre combined for seven MVP awards. Seven. I think both would be considered top ten quarterbacks of all time. And we throw these names around, and listen, Jordan Love, if he is your third quarterback in the order of those two guys, that's an incredible hit. Like, he's already a hit. But he does some stuff right now

that, like, his greatness does not rise above his disasters. Because that pick today, and listen, I understand he's banged up, which is also a problem. Like, this is his second year playing, and he's already had, like, multiple injuries. Today's a day against the Lions, who had a lot of question marks coming into the game. Can they play outdoors?

Can Jared Goff function in bad weather? And then right when you turn on the game, I guess for me now, Mountain West Time, because Arizona, we don't change the clocks, 225, Mountain West Time. That it's like, oh, this is pretty ugly. Listen, I like 80 degrees. I like 80 degrees about six months a year.

I do like the heat, so I don't mind 100 degrees, three months a year. don't love 1-10, but I like it hot. I do love my football in shitty weather. Like, I love ugly football. Not every game, but give me a game with a game that matters in bad weather. Rainstorm, win, like, that to me is pro football, that game. And historically, I mean, the Packers, they're at home, Lamb up, they're used to it.

Detroit also in a bad weather city, they play in a dome. Jared Goff, historically, bad outdoors. It's like Dan Campbell. He's built like a Harbaugh brother or a Mike Tomlin. Like that's kind of the, you know, under the umbrella that he would fall. But it's like, can his team, like, I know he wants to be able to do it. And then they come in and they're just the more buttoned up outdoor team. And Jared Goff doesn't even come remotely close, even throwing an incompletion.

And you got Jordan Love slinging bombs down the field like, bro. in a driving torrential downpour and also on the floor, we don't need bombs. How about just throw some basic routes and move the chain? But I do think we got to be very careful about, like, he's got a little Rogers and Farth. I'm the number one culprit here. But we do it all over. Trevor Lawrence, greatest prospects since Luckin Elway and Peyton Manning. Bullshit.

I watch Trevor Lawrence and I go, this guy's barely a top 20 quarterback in the NFL. He has been average as the day is long, all year long, with a lot of shitty mixed in. And what happened today? With Nick Siriani dying to give them a chance because he goes forward, he refused to kick field goals when he finally does, kick or misses,

and push is not working, they have a chance to win the game. Trevor Lawrence throws a pick. that wasn't even remotely close to being completed. And all we heard for two years of him in college, this guy's going to change a team. Well, yeah, because that team is going to give him way too much money and they're going to be screwed because he's going to be an anchor on their salary cap.

We're seeing it with Caleb Williams. All I heard. And listen, I bought into it too because I watched him play. I'm like, God, this guy's a freak talent. Look at this guy move. Look at this arm strength. He's carrying Lincoln Riley in USC, who's pulling. program sucks. But when you

watched him play, you're like, God, this guy can really play. You know what turns out two months into the season? He's not even remotely close to Jaden Daniels. Jadenials is in a different stratosphere. Jameson Daniels isn't playing with the talent that he's playing with. He's got Keenan Allen. He's been one of the best receivers

in the league for like a decade. DJ Moore start on every team in the NFL. In Roma Dunesay, it was a top 10 pick. Swift, Komet, like these guys are Good players. And he looks terrible. I mean, looks terrible. Is it all his fault? Of course not. Coaches on that staff are all going to get fired. Maybe even tomorrow. But he does not look good. And you can remove him from his coaching staff and watch him in a vacuum.

Like, obviously, playing for Kevin O'Connell is good for Sam Darnold. But I can also just watch him on a given play and go, he ad lib bad, he broke a tackle, he scrambled out, and he made a great path. like that's just talent and I watch Caleb Williams I'm like, where's, I know you got a big arm and I know you can move but like, where is it? Like this stuff isn't that complicated. We're not creating SpaceX here.

We're just, can you like complete a route when it's not there initially? And the answer's like, no, not really. At all. So like the Jordan Love thing, like LeFour, they got to find some balance there. One, they got to find a way to keep them healthy but the complete reckless play

is not going to work in these big games. And yeah, Fav had his moments. Farr've also won three straight most valuable player of the year awards in a league that had guys like Troy Aikman, Steve Young, Barry Sanders, Emmett Smith, was the best player in the league for three straight years

and went to back-to-back Super Bowls. So, yeah, the guy that threw a bunch of picks and, you know, I think has the most picks in NFL history and obviously had some bad moments. Aaron Rogers never throw a pick. Sometimes drive people nuts, like push the ball. This guy is just making some of the most bonehead plays in a game where you couldn't afford it.

Because in that type weather, the one part about like some people just need 38 to 34 to be entertained, I do not. I do not at all. I can be thoroughly entertained in a game. in the teens. And that was a game you could feel right away. Like, you don't, 17 to 14 might win this game.

Turnovers, obviously there might be a freak fumble if someone doesn't hold on the ball. We can not throw any interceptions. And he just handed the, he might as well just handed the ball to the guy. That's basically what he did. And listen, like this guy went from zero to 60 because, and I'm a fan. It's not like I'm jumping off the bandwagon, but like, that's, just can't happen. The play in the Minnesota game, the play, like, these are the best teams.

We're not playing in a couple weeks like the Iber Fluse fucking bears. Or the skinny, former porn addict Carolina Panthers, Canales, who actually won today. Or Dennis Allen. Fairness to Canales, he won. Dennis Allen lost to Canales. That's pretty bad. But he just, it cannot happen. Not at home. Like, that's part of your advantage. is playing in that weather. That's what I was telling Colin, like, one of the great parts about the Patriots that made him this unstoppable dynasty

was for two months, I mean, how many games did Belichick and Brady play in games that look like that? And they were so comfortable in them, always. And now that, like, their entire team either has a podcast or is on TV, they're like, yeah, Bill would just make us practice outside, make us practice outside.

Hell, he'd take us outside sometimes during rainy weeks. And we'd be like, coach, we're playing the Vikings this week on the road. They play in the dome. He's like, yeah, we just want to practice. So when we do see rain later. And they were always so comfortable in those weather environments. The Packers live, breathe, all their players.

Like, that's, and Detroit comes, and they're, like, extremely comfortable in that. So incredible win by the Lions. Just punked Jordan Love and LaFleur, who obviously was really, who's gimping around out there. But man, the hype train on some of these guys is just not living up to it. Hell, even Tua. Like, I give the guy credit. Like, he plays, he's worked really good the last two weeks.

Concussed, healthy Tua, or not concussed healthy Tua, is just like a very functional player. Now, when the weather turns, you got to be careful. You know, Tua, you would not like them in a Packer environment today. That's, you bet against him. But I give Tua credit. He just plays Wants. most weeks. One thing that happened though today in that game, and this has been something

that just eats at me, is in college football when you get targeting the kid, because that's what they are kids who get tossed out of the game and then have to miss a half of the following game is the most egregious penalty in the history of sports. It is pure insanity. Do you know that most of these guys, like 95% of them. I don't care what school we're talking about, will not play football after college. So you were talking a tiny, tiny percentage of players in college football that will ever play in the NFL.

And most guys in college football are not three or four-year starters. I would say over half start for like two years max. So you're talking, even if you're at a Power 4 conference, like 26 to 28 games max in your playing career. So to kick a guy out of a game and then to remove him from a following game is to me beyond over the top. I've been saying this forever. In college and the pros, no one's trying to hurt anyone anymore. These plays are happening at warp speed. obviously sometimes helmet to helmet collisions happen.

But to me, I don't even remember the last time I saw intent. And here's the other thing. And Tom Brady hit on this a while back when he went on that long, like kind of rant about quarterback play. There are things called hospital balls. Derek Carr threw one today. They got Chris Olavi killed. Jordan Love threw one today. They got Brian Branch thrown out of the game.

why do the defenders pay the price for horrendous quarterback play? Last year, Gardner Minchu did it against the Steelers and the Steelers

player who got tossed out of that game then got suspended. Nothing happens to the quarterback. It's like, oh, free 15 yards for a shitty pass who in 35 years of my life would have got been in incompletion

and got his teammate more than likely stretchered off. No, no one wants anyone stretchered off. So I understand the penalty system. And I even get helmet to helmet. But kicking people out of the game and nothing ever happens to the quarterback to me is like, there's something's off here. The pendulum is swung too far.

To throw branch out of that game, it was fucking insanity. I felt the moment, like a couple series later when Jordan loved through, the pick six, karma worked. He did not deserve to get thrown out of the game. The other thing is, you cannot throw. The NBA, nothing drives me more nuts. When a player says like F you to a referee and he gets tossed, it's like, guys, this isn't high school.

This ain't even college. This is the big leagues with millions of dollars on the line. In normal business situations, people scream at each other all the time. sometimes you know in business someone else fucks you and what usually happens you scream at each other and you either figure it out in court over the phone someone mitigates it something happens in sports like i'm sorry bad words fly around that always drives me just crazy and it's happened to draymond a lot i will never ever agree with like oh he said a bad word you got to go this ain't high school basketball.

And I'm sorry, in the pros, for someone to hit someone really hard. And sometimes it's also based on the result when a guy's lying there dead, you toss them out. That didn't happen here in the Lions Packer game. But for him to get thrown out was, I think one of the most egregious things I've seen this year from the officiated. And then Tom Brady, who is in the booth, is like a scared cat. Because if it was Aikman or if it was Collinsworth, They would have lost their shit.

Because no one could watch that game unless you're a Packer fan and not go. That's one of the worst calls I've ever seen. That can not happen. And Brady's like, heck, kind of disagree with it. And I don't blame him. He just invested into something for probably way cheaper than it should have been, and it's going to make him a ton of money and probably lead him to own the Raiders one day. So I'm not trying to be anti-invested in the Raiders.

If I was him, I would do that too. And I've also thought that not being able to communicate with the teams and the coaches a little overblown. Why? He can get these guys on the phone at a moment's notice. He calls Sean McVeigh or Andy Reid in a game plan meeting and they would pick up his call. There's a small list of human beings in every industry. They get their phone call picked up basically no matter what. 24-7-365.

He happens to be one of those. A lot of other broadcasts, Jonathan Vilma, getting his phone call. called picked up by every coach and every GM in the league. He might get a call back eventually, but Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, their phone calls are being picked up when they call. But not being able to criticize

the officials, part of being an analyst is representing us and understanding what the consumer is watching. And know when something isn't fair and isn't right. And he couldn't say anything. And I do part of the sport now,

the most controversial part of football is the officiating because it is consistently so terrible. Aikman and Collinsworth constantly lose it. It's the most relatable thing on television when it comes to football. And Tom's not going to be able to do it because he can't because he owns a team. I was playing golf on Saturday morning, so I watched the Penn State game. I watched the first quarter at my house and then I watched probably the last three quarters on my phone.

I actually watched some of it this morning because they were replaying on Focke. Sports 1 at the gym. And I know a lot of people from, you know, Philly that went to Penn State, some of my very good buddies. And I can't even imagine how disappointed. I haven't talked to any of them how disappointed they are because that was embarrassing. And I think sometimes, like, once someone establishes who they are, we just, we got to believe them and just acknowledge, like, this is what it is.

And like, Jane Franklin, like, there is no debating it anymore. Like, when he plays a big game, bet against him. bet against him. Your boy right here. Spriggle a little. I just wanted a little sweat. Nothing crazy. Took him plus three.

Regretted it. Not immediately because they were up 10-0-0, but games over. There's nothing even to debate anymore. When he plays a real team, Ohio State, Oregon, Georgia, Texas, you name it. When they get to the playoffs,

bet against him. Last week, Matt Iberfluse showed us who he was. The second to last play, they were clueless. They gave up a free 15 yards. The last play, one of his starting defenders, is screaming at the fans and royally fucks them. I know coaches and players,

but specifically coaches love to say, that one play didn't lose us the game. No one can argue. That play literally lost him the game. Tyreek Stevenson lost him the game last week. I mentioned this to Colin and I thought this flipped on the TV and there he is he's dressed out today. He didn't start the game

and then eventually a couple series in he came in like this is peewees and you're late to practice or don't hustle and you get bents the following game. This is the pros. When you screw up like Zeke Elliott, you get left at home. You get made inactive. I said it last week.

I would have made him inactive. If he's going to dress, he just starts. We don't teach life lessons in the big leagues. All you guys know, in whatever industry you're in, your boss is not trying to help shape you as a human being. You have a job, you either get it done or you don't. Now, if you need to be reprimanded, it's black and white. And I felt like Iber Fluse looked like a high school coach doing this.

And then his team got just curb stomped in Arizona, thoroughly embarrassed. I thought the most, well, saints, but saints suck. Like, the Bears win this game, then they get the Patriots next week. It's like their record's going to be pretty good. And they got killed today. If you're a Bears fan, this is how Penn State fans are now. How could you look at James Franklin the same? Like, you are who you are.

You're going to win us our 9, 10 games. Maybe we'll get the 10-11 seed. We're going to have a bunch of guys drafted and we'll just be won and done. You're not a championship coach. You're just not even a high-level coach. You're a great recruiter, a good program builder, but it is what it is. The Iber Fluse thing, there's nothing even to argue anymore. Your rookie quarterback looks like shit.

Your defense missed a very important player today, Montes Sweat, and it looked like you were missing Reggie White, Montez Sweat, Mike Singletary, I mean, and Brian Erlacher, and Peanut Tillman. I mean, you got shredded. He's, it's D-O-A. It's over. Now, do you want to fire him tomorrow? do you want to let them coach out the season? It's done. And it's just, I didn't think, I didn't know if they would win this weekend,

but I did not think it would look like that. I thought they would have a little something to them. I mean, on the flip side, look at Washington, who gets the great win, then they're playing New York, like classic young team, you could be like, yeah, they'll be feeling themselves. Maybe it wouldn't have been, I mean, it would have been a very consistent theme throughout the history of sports. Washington goes in New York, lays an egg,

or even has to, like, somehow pull a game out of their ass because they were screwing around for a half. No, went in-kicked Aztec names. Looked awesome. The score does not reflect what I witnessed. Now, granted, I had it on a four-box and every time I looked up in like this game. Now, for one snap, did you ever think the Giants had a chance?

And I would say the same thing about the Bears. Now, for one second, the day, did you ever think they had a chance? and now if you're a Bears fan you know life came at you fast you were hoping that this would just kind of play itself out even if you just got a wild card got beaten the first round hey we took a step

is your quarterback any good like that's a fair question not talented we know he's talented is he any good at playing football we don't know and the whole excuse is going to be it's all in the coaching staff which may be fair but now you know you got to fire all those guys

so it's just a disastrous situation for the franchise. And I think, you know, Penn State fans learned at a higher level something very similar. And last but not least, I just don't know how you shake this loss. I got some things wrong this year. I'll be the first to admit. I had the Saints winning the division. I had them making the playoffs.

I had Bo Nix winning the offensive rookie of the year. Like, swing and a miss. Sometimes, you know, Aaron Judge gets up there. Every once in a hit a home run, Chargers, playoffs. No big deal, 4 to 1. Derek Carr and the Saints losing to Bryce Young and the Carolina Panthers. I just pulled up the playoffs, you know, for the NFC, just to see where, you know, who was where. And basically just to see the whole conference.

The Saints and the Carolina Panthers, I mean, we've been talking like Carolina Panthers is one of the worst teams we've seen in recent memory. And rightfully so. I mean, they were, they're just an unwatchable squad. Then they play the Saints. They get the ball late. And they have to get a touchdown to win the game, and they drive and get a touchdown to win the game. Then the Saints lose.

Like, Derrick Carr has now lost to 31 out of the 32 teams in the NFL. The only player in NFL history to have that feat. And they play the Raiders this year. So if he were to lose to the Raiders, obviously he could never have lost the Raiders. There's only a second year on the team. They haven't played him yet. But, and he was on them forever, obviously just, it's easy to figure out. He will have lost to all 32 teams.

Like, that's a pretty insane accomplishment and not some accomplishment that any human would want. And now Dennis Allen, this franchise looks to be in complete shambles. You lose some games, you get some injuries. You cannot, under any circumstances, lose the Carolina Panthers and have anyone take you seriously. And they are a sleeper now. If you can't be Carolina, like, you're going to be an underdog to

every team you play and all I hear is like they're getting a bunch of guys back. They are in shambles. They got one, two, three, Cancun written all over them, especially with a coach who also like Iberflus could be fired by Monday morning or by Monday at lunch. I just don't think you shake that. That is by far the worst loss when you just say, if you're a fan, what? How am I supposed to watch this team play for another two months? we have eight more games.

I just don't think I can do it. And I have known Derek since he was at Fresno State. He has made a lot of money. He will have made when the dust settles more money in the NFL. Listen, I don't fault him for signing these contracts than any other player at quarterback who's never won a playoff game. And clearly, he's never going to win a playoff game. So this signing for the Saints,

which I thought was going to come and be a positive this year, and they were going to be a good team, and they won nine games last year, has turned into an epic disaster. And Dennis Allen now, I mean, his win-loss record is just an abomination. So I feel for your Saints fans, at least you got the LSU Tigers who have a big game this week against Alabama. But what a week. I noticed this during the Sunday night game.

You know, Kevin O'Connell, if he was in, in Hollywood or like an actor. He would either play like the All-American Dad who has like a great job, CEO, beautiful wife, couple young kids, everyone likes him. He just always looks so clean cut, so buttoned up, always looks well rested even though he's a coach. He has looked the same body-wise. Like he never gains like an ounce of fat, like probably not a big dessert guy. He just he just looks the part, you know?

It's like It just That guy was born to look good And he's looked good Every room he's walked into He was 6'4 So the ladies love him He has not had an issue

In many departments Of his life ever And then you got Shane Steichen You know both these guys One guy went to UNLV The other guy went to San Diego State So not exactly like Alabama and Texas Shane Steichen

Always looks like he's coming off three hours of sleep. If he was in the movies or television shows, he would be that strung out cop who can never figure out who killed whoever and who's just sitting in the bar slamming whiskeys on the rock by himself. Hell, his partner could be Flacco

who's kind of a little more energetic, better-looking version of Stuyken. But Shane Stuyken right now looks like shit. I mean, that guy just needs like 10 hours of sleep. I mean, that guy looks like, just this season is driving him into the ground. Meanwhile, O'Connell, I mean, looks like he's still a player or something. He just looks fantastic.

I just couldn't get over the contrast of those two human beings on the opposite sideline. It really is crazy. You know, Shanahan went through this a little bit when they were losing his first couple years. He went from being like 38 to looking like 50. And then he's kind of just had the same grizzled look for like the last five or six years. I thought Stiking, I mean, he's always kind of had a little edge to him, you know, kind of that kind of cop look. But you looked in his eyes today, you're like, Jesus, this guy, this guy's a weathered SOB. This has been a long year and a half in indie.

Anthony Richardson is driving this guy into the ground. So, yeah, hopefully we get a better game next Sunday night than Colts Vikings, though. Hopefully everyone's having a good night. Adios. Talk to you soon. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends.

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

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

I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of taun tons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith ruling. of two.

Listen to Stuff to Blow Your Mind on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Look Back at it podcast. For 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we

survived it with our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black. people. Listen to look back at it on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that

not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.