The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 & Out - The 49ers and Aiyuk, Trade destinations for Aiyuk, Joint practice fights

Episode Date: August 7, 2024

John dives into the latest with the Brandon Aiyuk saga by discussing how the 49ers should be handling this situation on both a personal and professional level. Later, John talks about some of the rumored trade destinations for Aiyuk and which teams he thinks would be willing to make a deal to trade for him. Finally, he reacts to the latest fight between the Lions and the Giants during their joint practice and how fun it's been to watch these joint practices. Later, John answers your questions in this episode's mailbag segment. 7:46 - Brandon Aiyuk and the 49ers 13:39 - Trade destinations for Aiyuk 26:53 - Lions-Giants joint practice 35:42 - Mailbag Follow John on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for the latest. Check out Gametime - the fastest growing ticketing app in the US, and the official ticketing app of 3 & Out and GoLow -  for tickets to all of your favorite NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA teams. Concert and comedy show tickets, too. Go to Gametime now to create an account, download the app and use code JOHN for $20 off your first purchase. #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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What is going on, everybody, John Middlecop? That's me. Rocking and rolling, baby. We got some trade talk. The Brandon Ayuk thing went to a different level on Monday night and throughout Tuesday when Matt Mayoko, I consider him a close friend. Close would be strong, but a friend, one of the best in the business, and had a report about trade frameworks.

already being done with teams like the Browns and the New England Patriots, Schefter and Rapsheet reporting throughout Tuesday that the Steelers are getting back involved. So, you know, we got to talk about that because there are a lot of people involved in this thing now. This has gotten a little crazy. I'm not going to lie, because I stand by what I said on Monday. Maybe I have to change the word. I said I would be stunned if he was traded. At this point in time, I can't be stunned.

but I still expect the 49ers to keep him on the team. But the stuff is not just made up clearly. So things are being discussed, and we're going to discuss. I'll give my thoughts on everything. And then the Lions and Giants, they said they were having a joint practice. It looked more like a UFC event. And I think it's pretty easy to figure out why. So, yeah, we'll have a mailbag a little bit later today.

At John Middlecough, Instagram, fire in those DMs. But before we dive into some football, I had someone send me a DM the other day. And they said, you know what? I'll be real with you. I was getting kind of tired of everyone anointing Zach Bryan as this greatest showman of all time. And I couldn't take it. And I started not liking him. This is not verbatim what he said, but essentially like, I was just like, give me a break.

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living with a real estate agent kind of enlightens you on people's egos, on people's willingness to adapt to get a deal done, what people argue over during a real estate deal. But I think it's very enlightening of an individual and just a people in general. Now, obviously buying a home for the overwhelming majority of people is the biggest purchase that they'll ever make. It's the most money you put towards something. It's an emotional. It's a professional. It's a personal. It encompasses everything. But it's pretty eye-opening because I've seen they come a lot of these deals, whether you're dealing with a $500,000 house, whether you're dealing with a $2 million house, comes down to like under $10, but there's ego involved. It's like, I'm not going to give that.

It's like, wait, you're really going to rescind your offer or tell him no. based on $7,000, you're poised to make 200 grand. And it happens. And it happens all the time. And the other thing I've seen forever, and I wasn't able to afford my first house until I was 38 years old, lived in a condo forever, which wasn't cheap because of the Bay Area, but it was really shitty, is you hear all the time that young people, and obviously homes have never been more expensive relative to what people make.

But they're like, people are. never going to sell their home if they have a great interest rate. You hear that all the time. And in theory, that makes a lot of sense, because why would you get rid of a house if you're paying 0% interest? Not zero, but, you know, 2-8, 3-1, whatever. Well, guess what? People get divorced on a daily basis. I know people that are getting divorced currently. They haven't been married very long. People die all the time. People move. for jobs. Things come out of nowhere. Hell, I see Maria deals with a ton of clients that moving to Scottsdale for work. Where are you from? Minnesota, Georgia, Florida. They didn't plan on it.

Things change. You can never underestimate the future, good and bad. And I see it all the time, just because I have a front row seat into this just eye-opening business that she works in that deal with these people that ultimately comes down to a big personal deal, right, for them. And I think when this trade and the discussion over Brandon IU six months ago, the Niners were clearly dead set on keeping them. And then you get to a point where are you really going to not get the deal done over a million dollars a year? Like if you're willing to pay 27 and ultimately 28 will get it done, are you not going to budge? Is it really worth taking it an extra couple weeks? Seems a little crazy to me, but maybe they just have a number and we think the value over that is just not worth it to us.

And listen, when deals go south with that mindset, sometimes that's true. Maybe we go based on the budget, based on who we need to sign, extend, we just can't go above that. Seems crazy to me, but I'm not naive enough to think I know all the idiosyncrasies of a salary. cap of bonus money of what Purdy's going to cost. I get it. What Trent Williams is going to cost. Got a lot of moving parts. But this trade is a good example of things change and things change fast. And Brandon Ayuk and his camp is clearly just not playing ball. And I think the 49ers, by this story coming out from one of the top 49ers reporters, I know reporters get mad when you source guess, but I think it's pretty clear what the 49ers are saying. Like,

We need a resolution. We're not doing this any longer. Like, here's our offer. Here's what other people are willing to offer. If you want to play in these two teams, let's rumble. Takes two to tango, we're ready to dance. And if you don't want our offer, this is what these two teams are offering. We have deals done.

Go play for them. And I think that's what the 49ers did on Monday night. They kind of drew a line in the sand. Because I, listen, Bosa was never going to go anywhere. If he was healthy, he was going to play the majority of his career for the 49ers. When you get to a guy like IUC, listen, we really want him here. He's a winning player. But, like, this is our number. We don't feel like we're royally screwing you here. We get your emotionally think you're at a different level. We disagree. This is what we're willing.

We'll even allow you and your agent, who was also John Lynch's agent, talk with other teams, see if you can get more. But this isn't free agency. So these are the only two teams we'd be willing to accept their offer. And that's where it kind of feels like they're at. Now, when all the, this came out and it just shows you how fast things can change because I never would have thought a week ago that it would come out like four teams are being named and players are being named on other teams with trade offers. I know this. If I was involved in this deal and I was the Browns and Amari Cooper is named, like I wouldn't be happy. I wouldn't want that getting out. The Browns clearly aren't putting that out. So once you drag all these other teams involved, it gets kind of dicey.

that's how the situation is. And let's face it, of all the teams right now that are contending teams in the NFL, the Niners got more crap going on than anyone else. Honestly, it's not close. Today it came out, McCaffrey's hurt. The rookie, Ricky Pearsall hurt his shoulder. Trent Williams is literally at home on the couch. And you got this thing. But I do think the 49ers are ready for resolution. So let's look at the four teams. Let's start with Washington because it was reported. They were in and now they're out. Because part of it is Brandon Ayyuk was like, Like, in the offseason, he acted like he was Kevin Durant. Like, I want to go to Washington or I want to go to the Steelers.

Well, do they want you? And obviously, Washington has a connection with Jaden Daniels, where they played together for a year in college. Washington's out. You know why? It makes zero sense for them to trade for him. If he was a free agent, 100% pay him. But for them, they aren't a player away.

They're about 10. And when you start over as a GM and as a head coach, take a deep breath. Don't rush into anything. The more assets you have, the more flexibility you have, you can figure it out as you go with your young quarterback. Clearly, you're going to need more talent on offense and defense and as a team, but like, let's just see what you got.

No one expects you to win 10 games this year. If you win 5, it might suck for the year, but very understandable. Show the quarterback has made a little progress. They can't trade a first round pick for Brandon, because the probability of them drafting in the top 10 is just too high. But if you're the 49ers, they're not going to give you scary Terry. So do you go, can I get two second round picks? Well, how does that help the 49ers right now?

A first round pick wouldn't, but if that thing turns into seven, you'd have to entertain it, just the possibility of it. But it doesn't make any sense. It doesn't make sense from Washington standpoint. It doesn't make sense for the 49er standpoint. point, that's why it doesn't look like it was never going to happen. Let's go to the Steelers. This gets complicated.

They clearly like him a lot. And I think one thing they're probably hesitant to let happen if they can control it is to let the Browns get them. Here's the problem for the Steelers. Because you go, well, just trade them your first round pick. Ideally, that picks like 24. And then you get Brandon I.U. who's under contract for the next four or five years

and you're in pretty good shape. You got another offensive explosive player, you got a bunch of defensive guys, you got a culture. You don't have a long-term answer to a quarterback. The OC yesterday or two days ago said we view Justin Fields as a weapon. It's not ideally what you want to hear

if you're a Justin Field supporter in Pittsburgh. But if you're Pittsburgh and you go, hey, we'll give you our first round pick. Well, if you're the Niners, having two first round pick, picks, if you're a good team, is an incredible feeling at the combine during free agency and leading up to the draft. You know when it's pretty irrelevant if you have to give up a player to get that extra first round pick? In August, September, October, November, December, the playoffs

does nothing for you. That player literally is wearing a college uniform. Gives you zero value in present time. So to me, there's no match there. It makes no sense. And even if you, if you're the Steelers, you can't afford that if this situation doesn't go well, and for the first time, what if this season, the quarterback position is awful? And you go seven and ten. And all of a sudden, you're drafting 14th. And if you wanted to get aggressive, you'd be able to get up to five and draft a quarterback in this upcoming draft.

You have to leave that flexibility open. You're not a wide receiver away. And not a player. Like, this ain't Devante Adams. And back to Washington, like, we saw a couple years ago. So if you trade for a great wide receiver, and Devante's a better player than Ayyuk, and you give up a lot and it doesn't work out, it's like, what are we doing here? And you lose ammunition to go get the quarterback.

Now, Devante, they thought they had Derek Carr, clearly that fell apart. The Pats. This one, okay. Because like any deal, there's certain, someone could knock on your door and go, hey, offer you $500,000 for your house. Well, depending on how much. what your house is. If your house is 200 grand, you're like, hey, have my shit packed up cash right now? I've been packed up by tomorrow. If your house is worth two million, you say

kick rocks. So if you're the Pats, you're like, we need some action. We got to pay somebody. Yeah, we'd be pretty interested. But if you're Brandon, I you're, the first thing you go, well, I've been on a dominant team for the last four plus years. This is easily, and even Pats fans will agree, one of the worst teams in the league. they're not going to be good. So you are going to suck. So whatever the 49ers are offering you is what the Patriots are offering you that much more.

This ain't Texas or Florida. They tax you a lot there too. So if you'd be willing to go there, you're going to stink and probably go immediately to irrelevancy. That has to give him some hesitation. And this is why I think the 49ers throughout the Pats and the Browns. Do I think a kid from Sacramento that, I guess Nevada, Sacramento, Arizona State, 49ers, wants to move to Cleveland,

even though that's a good team, or definitely the Patriots, I don't. Especially at the, I mean, it's one thing if it's like a $20 million difference, but I don't think that's what we're talking here. But the Pats can make the 49ers think. It's like, hey, you don't Matt Judon? He's clearly willing to play it out this year, because like you said, he doesn't want to get fined. What if we trade him to you?

We'll give you Kendrick Bourne that already knows your system. And depending on how productive IUC is, it can fluctuate on the second day. So a third round pick can turn into a second round pick, depending on how many games we win, how productive he is or whatever. It makes you think, like, you have a meeting over that. John, Kyle, you have your wide receiver coach, you have your D-line coach. Like, you're doing some evaluations, your scouting department. You're having several meetings on that. Like, you're talking that out.

Are we better with Judon with Leonard Floyd and Nick Bosa? maybe our wide receiver room clearly takes a step back, but this guy already knows. Debo looks fantastic in camp, this young rookie who's heard again. These are just conversations you have. And Cleveland, to me, is the most intriguing. Because Amari Cooper, from a statistical standpoint, it's just a plug-in-play swap.

They're very similar players in the sense of great route runners, get open on everybody. Like, you feel close your eyes, you're getting 75 to 80 catches. Amari's been doing it at a much longer level. I think Amari is easily considered one of the better route runners in the entire NFL. I think Devante would be near the top. Keenan's pretty high. Iuke has thrown his hat in the ring in Amari.

So you do that. You're not tied to Amari because he's a free agent. But here's the problem. Because even if IUks say, okay, I'll go there. They're going to sign me to more money. I'll go play there. If you're the 49ers, can you do a swap for one-year rental and also not get a good pick? and that's where it makes it complicated for Cleveland

because I was looking at Cleveland's books today doing a little Jake Rosenberg, Harry Rosenen, like, let's take a look at the money. Obviously Deshawn is on the biggest contract in the history of the NFL. Miles Garrett, while it was trumped last year by Bosa, is still on one of the biggest contracts in the history of the NFL for a non-corterback.

They also signed Denzel Ward to a massive contract. They have a very, very high-priced team. So having draft picks, which this year for the first time and forever, they got a bunch. Well, clearly if I'm giving you Amari, I don't also need to give you my first round pick. That's a joke. True. That's fair.

But I'm giving you a young player who you are going to extend that you're going to have for a while. So I'm going to need something else back because it's pretty clear Amari's going to be a one-year rental for me. So then we start discussing second-day picks. Those are pretty valuable because that is where you get cheap impact starters. Anyone in the NFL will tell you the second and third round, obviously you have a top 10 pick, it's a chance to get a game changer. But a lot of people get uncomfortable in the 20s because you pay first round money for a pick that actually hits at a lower percentage than even 50-50.

Yet in the second and third rounds, historically, a ton of pro bowlers, a ton of long-term starters come out of that, and for three, actually four years, sometimes you give them an extension after three, you get a guy for like a million dollars a year. And that's where I think all these situations are really, really complicated. Now, if the Steelers wanted them and they'd give them the first round pick and the 49ers know they're not going to trade them, maybe they just call Uncle. I don't see, they would get destroyed for that.

Because that first round pick does nothing form week one against the Jets. And in these situations, this is where, and I saw Kyle say this, like every situation is so different. Because they were like, does this remind you of, of course it doesn't remind him of a Nick Bosa because Nick Bosa never was not going to be a nineer they are clearly entertaining this because they're kind of tired of it they don't want to deal with it anymore it's a pain in their ass I like Brandon Ayyuk he's he's been a fun player to watch expand his game over the years and he's tough he blocks like that's a big difference between him and Amari if I say they're very similar on in the passing game where they're not similar as the

run game. Brandon Ayyuk is one of the better run blockers in the league. He's a badass. Like, that's not really Amari's thing. Guess what that is? That's a Kyle thing. Kyle likes to run the ball all the time. And if you're screwing up Christian McCaffrey's box court, you're screwing with Kyle and he's going to get pissed off. Well, Brandon blocks his ass off. And that's where all this stuff gets really, really complicated. And I do understand, like, I wouldn't be that comfortable paying him $28, $30 million a year. I don't think he's worth that. I really don't. You You can say, well, this is the money. When DJ Moore, DJ more, get me 100 catches a year,

and I'm going to throw him the ball that much. Amman Ra, if he's on the field, is going to get me $120, and I'm going to throw it that much. The 49ers aren't going to throw it that much. They never have, they never will, as long as Kyle Shannon's calling the plays. That ain't their style. So when you have a number, and you're like,

I'm not budging on this. Like the Eagles pay their two wide receivers. Do you know what Jeffrey Lurie has loved to do since Andy Reid in 1999? Throw the ball. He wants to throw the ball. that is like an Eagles ethos as an organization. We want to pass the ball. It's an analytic thing.

They're an analytically run operation. Obviously, they like running. They like running backs, but they prefer to pass. So running backs, like why Sequin made some sense. He actually didn't cost that much. And if Iuke is only going to be a 75 to 80 catch guy. People on the internet can argue all day long. He'd go somewhere else and thrive.

Great. He ain't going to do that there. So why are you willing to pay the freight? but you also can't just give them away. This isn't fantasy fucking football. This isn't NFL live with players everywhere just saying, let them go. That's not the way the world works.

I do need a shitload of value back. And that's what complicates all this stuff. And even on the other team standpoint, like, it's easy to say no if you're the Steelers. Obviously if you're Washington, like we're out. It's easy if you're Cleveland.

Like, yeah, we'll give you a Mari and a fifth. Well, if you're the Niners, like, no. We're giving you a younger ascending play. are you giving us a guy that is a one-year rental? And the Cleveland, why do they want to budge? Because they need those draft picks. And the Pats, I think that comes down to. It was like, okay, Brandon, you want to go to Pats?

We'll get you first class ticket tomorrow. If you want to go, go sign the contract. They'll give us back what we want. He's like, yeah, man, I'll just keep, see it to hold in. See you guys, the cafeteria. What time's meeting tomorrow? 8.30? Yeah, I'll be there at 8.15.

Get my typical omelet. That's what it feels like. And that's what this situation, and listen, the Niners deserve, like, how did it get to this point? And I think a big reason, because I go back, why didn't they trade them like if they knew that it was going to be complicated? Because the offers weren't there. Because he's Brandon Ayyuk. He's not Tyree Killer Devante Adams. People were lined up to give him a first round pick after the combine before free agency.

That wasn't the case. They didn't have a first round pick on the table around the draft. He can get mad. People can argue over the analytics all you want. The market's kind of speaking for itself. And now they're hoping maybe a little desperation, training camp. Teams feel pressure. But like I said, I think the situation is going to keep playing it out,

which doesn't help the 49ers, which clearly feels like they're more involved in this and Trent. Like, hey, this is one of the best players in the league. You probably want to get him to camp. He's 35 and you want him working out. And if you're a cowboy fan, you're right now, you're like, what the hell is going on with the 49ers? Eagles, and it's true. And this is, it's crazy.

But all these other teams are involved, and I can't imagine they're happy, especially the teams where you're leaking their players might get traded. If I'm the Browns, I'm like, come on, guys. Don't leak we trade you with Murray Cooper. We need this guy if the trade doesn't happen. Last but not least, the Lions and the Giants, every clip I've seen of those practices, has been really, really enjoyable. It has been an all-out brawl in Jersey. Every other play feels like just 10 guys going at it from each side.

And then I started thinking, it's probably the perfect storm. It really is. Obviously, fights happen in these training campraxes. You're so used to hitting your own teammate. You just get tired of doing the same stuff over and over. So finally, you get to play another team. It's full speed.

Guys are hitting late. You don't know the guy. He might push your head or whatever and you get triggered and you fire. But think about this. The Lions are now viewed as one of the best teams in the NFL. And their coach, remember on Hard Knocks a couple years ago, it's pretty nuts. And he likes edginess and fighting.

And I'm not saying he wants guys swinging, but he wants you right on that line. And it's the way he coaches. I would imagine that's the way he was as a player. that's clearly the way he's run his operation. Like, we're going to hit you right in the teeth. Listen, he went viral for all of his saying. He's like, I'm going to bite your kneecap and have a lion on that,

which is awesome. I find Dan Campbell one of the better characters of the NFL. So they're this team. It's kind of like new money or maybe some newfound muscles that walks around a little cocky and shows up like, we're going to beat your ass. And then you got the Giants who, Everyone is making fun of.

In New York, in other states, on every network, on every podcast, everyone thinks they're going to suck. I don't care who you are. I don't care if you even kind of believe what other people are saying. If you have any ounce of pride, eventually you go, you got to fight for your pride and your ego a little bit. So you get this team that's walking around cocky as shit, rightfully so. I think the line's going to be really good. And then you get this team that everyone's bad-mouthing. Ain't a soul that ain't outside of that building.

And they're like, we're tired of this crap. And that's why I think they're just fighting nonstop. It's like the perfect combination. Right? A lot of people listening right now probably have dogs. And you go on dog walks and depending on where you live, maybe you've got a park or maybe you've got like a grass area. It tends to be a meetup.

And there's nothing worse than a dog walk meetup. If you're just in a bad mood or you're, You got your AirPods in. You're like, I do not want to talk to anybody. And then you run into the chatty Kathy of the neighborhood. And it happened to me yesterday. It's like, oh, my, I can't take it. I'm like, Lully, please just take off and let me chase you.

But she's just sitting there watching us. It's like, oh, this is awful. You got to think of a great excuse on the fly. Or, you know, in Arizona, it's so hot. You got to try to take your dog on a walk really early in the morning. So if you go like 536 or whatever to the grass or the dog park or just wherever you're going. and you just haven't had your coffee yet. I don't mind getting up early,

but I'm not a morning person in the sense of I'm not happy in the morning. So like, just give me, I need a coffee, I need a couple, uh, need a couple nicotine patches. Ideally get a workout,

but like if that's my first, I don't want to talk to the soul and you can't avoid it. And there's just an edginess to it. And I don't even know where I was going with it, but I just think there's just, uh, just an edginess to this. group and to both sides.

And it was just the perfect competent. Oh, I was going to say is, you know, there are certain dogs that I was like, what was the point of this story? It's because if you take your, you know, you get to know, you get to know, that's a little sweet pea. That's brodie. You know, that's, that's a, that's, uh, that's a lily. You know, you get to know

all the dogs. But there are a couple dogs. You're like, you can't put the two together because it's a brawl. And I think this is one of those situations. Because I bet there are practices going on. They just fighting is just not going to happen. And again, there's a difference between a push and just all-out brawl after, all-out brawl after all-out brawl. And I just think it's pretty understandable when you look at the plight of both these teams, what's being said about each one, the way they carry themselves. And the Giants just kind of, it's kind of fight or flight.

Like, are you just going to take it and get embarrassed, or are you going to push back? And ideally in these situations, no one breaks a hand or gets hurt because that, it's kind of pointless. in a weird way. Like obviously you want to see some fight in your guys. You want to see them have an edge. Daniel Jones. I saw Joe Shane run around one. It's very entertaining.

But like big picture, like what are we getting out of this? There's something about like supporting your quarterback or supporting your running back or, you know, being there for your middle lineback or whatever. Totally. But there's also like a fine line of like what productive happens after the first shove. Only bad things can happen. Only an injury can happen. A broken hand to like a DB or something's pretty. devastating. So, I don't know. I just, all I know is I really, really enjoyed all the clips.

I can't get enough of them. I don't think I've ever seen back-to-back practices with more viral clips of fights. It feels like at minimum, Floreo did an article on Monday. He had five clips. He was like, here's a clip, here's a clip. Here's Joe Shane in the clip. Here's Daniel Jones in the clip. It was like, it was in like two sets of drills. And then I, I saw more happen today. So, congrats to those two teams for entertaining us.

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 eye. hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clivert Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football,

or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations,

stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking.

What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jek. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick you here. unpack what went down and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 was big to me not just because of crack.

I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for Blank. Black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American

history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Keer Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing. We get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important

to be a good person while you hear on earth or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Keel. gains as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app, search Learn the Hardway, and listen now. 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 IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Okay, let's do a little thing we call the mailbag at John Middlecough. At John Middlecough is the Instagram. Fire in those DMs. Get your questions answered here on the show. It's my Instagram. DM's wide open. You guys know the drill. Let's start here with JT Sports. Josh Allen is not better than Lamar. You make it seem like Alan always plays well in the playoffs

when he nearly gave the wild card game to the Dolphins with Skyler Thompson, with all those turnovers. Then he played garbage the following week and gotten embarrassed by the Bengals. He also choked the fourth quarter this past season against the Chiefs, divisional round, but it's Sean McDermott's fault. But you put all the Ravens losses in the AFC Championship on Lamar, but never talk about Zay Flowers' fumble inside the five. that took away the game. Lamar is the second best win-loss record in the NFL since he's been

starting right behind Mahomes, and the Ravens have had the one seed twice when he's won the MVP. He's also been a more efficient passer than Josh Allen is a turnover machine. Lamar Jackson takes care of the ball. I mean, let's not act like they both can't beat Mahomes. No matter who plays better, they both come up short in the end. Well, here's my thing. I think Josh Allen is better than Lamar Jackson. If you put Josh Allen last year on the Ravens who have had, like you said, the number one seat, what happened? Once they got worked by the Titans, Lamar was bad, and last year was embarrassing. The Chief scored 17 points.

Here are the playoff stats for the two guys. If you put Josh Allen on the Ravens these last five years, I think they have a Super Bowl. Josh Allen in the playoffs 65% 21 touchdowns 4 interceptions and 5 touchdowns on the ground he's played in 10 playoff games

partly because he's one more playoff games than Lamar Lamar in 6 6 touchdowns 6 picks 57% in 3 rushing touchdowns the gap of these two guys in the playoffs Lamar is a fantastic regular season player

so is James Hardin Who do you want to play in the playoffs? James Hardin. Now, I don't think Lamar is James Hardin. He cares about football. He works hard at football. I would want Lamar Jackson on my team. But this is no longer an argument.

We have objective facts. The Ravens are a much better roster than the Bills, for example, last year. Losing that game, like you just don't shake, losing that Titans game a couple years ago was a fucking embarrassment. And the one quote-unquote embarrassment by the bills was something Josh Allen had no control over when he threw all those touchdowns on the road in Kansas City and his defense blew it. And even Andy Reid was like, yeah, this is unfair. Both teams should touch the ball.

And that's what happens now. So we're nitpicking the elite of the elite here. And I don't think anyone could say with a straight face, if you gave every general manager, who would you want as your quarterback for the next five years? out of the 32 guys, I think the number would be close to 32 with Josh Allen. Now, Lamar would get picked over the majority of other guys, not named Josh Allen and Mahomes, but give me a break. Like, we know what we've seen.

We have the stats. We've had the eye test. It ain't fucking close. It's just not that close. Again, we're nitpicking the best of the best here. The best of the best. We do this a lot in the NBA. It's why Steph Curry and LeBron James.

like they don't have anything in common with Embedde and James Hardin. They both make hundreds of millions of dollars, have all these all-star games. Joel Embed, you know, it's like the gaps wide at the top of the mountain. It really is. And Josh almost lost to Skylar. He didn't. He didn't lose. I mean, he's played more playoff games.

Why? They've won more. And let's face it, you guys have had two of the worst losses. at home in the last five, six years in the playoffs. The Titans game and the heavy favorites. Part of losing as a favorite is way worse. It just is. Now, yeah, that loss of the Bengals was bad.

No arguing that. It was ugly. It really was. Well, what happened? Then the Bengals beat the Chiefs. I'd say age pretty well. They got worked. So did the defense.

Ran it right down their throat. I don't think the notion that is not it's just he's better player he's just a better player I don't know how else to verbalize it and that sounds like a criticism of Lamar like he's fantastic player he's had an incredible start to his career

but a win-loss record the Ravens have been winning for 25 years everyone wins there Joe Flacco won there Trent Dilfer won there like quarterbacks are going to win now Lamar I think is a better player obviously than Joe Flacco.

But Joe Flacco had moments in the playoffs that Lamar simply has not had yet. Now there's a lot of career left, but I don't think, I don't know if this Ravens team's going to be quite as good as last year's team. Definitely not. I mean, they're the best defense in the league. The Raven should have won both games by double digit points. They should have beat the Chiefs and they should have beat the 49ers. But you can say Dave Flowers fumble, Lamar was fucking terrible.

I mean, he was skipping balls on wheel routes, which as we're judging the highest level of competition, go around the sports. When Rory blows it, when high-end basketball players blow it, like they get criticized extra hard. Why? Because the expectations are super high.

No one cares that to his average, beside the dolphins. Like, we kind of know it. I've listened to Coward since the begin my travel sales career right around college. I came across your pod, and I really enjoy it. He said I'm your favorite, but I didn't want to boost my ego here.

I love how you discussed the entire operation. My dream career has always been an NFL front office. Mailbag question. As a scout, who is one mid, late, or underrated player you love for the Eagles? I saw Joe Ortiz, who worked in the, I mean, I only worked in the NFL for three years. But the day and age of, like, finding guys in the 70s and 80s that no one knows about, and all of a sudden, it's like, how did they get this diamond? in the rough. Those don't exist.

And when you're in a draft meeting, I would say and Joe Ortiz was on Rich Eisen and he put this pretty well. Every player on the draft board, obviously the top 100 guys, six, seven people watch them. Your GM, your assistant GM,

your college director, multiple scouts, the position coach, the coordinator, the head coach. So within seven, eight guys, there's not like, I'm banging the table harder. They're going to be three or four, Let's say it's a polarizing player. Half are going to like them half or not.

But there's not a player on a draft board in the internet era. Definitely the last 15 plus years. It's like, how did you find this dude from Texas State Western East South? It just doesn't happen. It really doesn't. So even though this was 2010, 2011, 2012, 13, it wasn't like that. Honestly, when I was at Fresno State, it was the same thing in recruiting. By the time the internet had really blown up and rivals and some of these different sites, it's really, really hard to get a diamond.

And the moment guys come on the radar, other people come sniffing around. And so many people talk. So I think I hear what you're saying, and I think there are legendary stories about like, he was the only guy that saw Mickey Mantle play in high school. Like those days are so over. I mean, so over. If there is a player that comes off the draft board on a given year and every team in the league doesn't have multiple grades on them, obviously, once you get to the 6th round,

maybe your GM isn't super locked in on every player, but your college director, your scouts, a couple coaches, it's an NFL building, maybe they're getting bigger, just in a football building in general, isn't that big? You have whatever, how many coaches you have, some assistant coaches to the position coaches. You have your coordinators. You got multiple scouts in different regions, right? 6, 7, 4 to 6, 7 kind of range. You have several executives, and you're all kind of watching the guys. And the other thing is right around after the combine,

you do these things called cross-checks. So every scout, some do it by region, some do it by position, some do it by somehow they group it. You have so many grades on a player. Now, I might like a player more than the GM, no different than you might like a player on your team more than your brother or your best friend. And you just kind of talk it out, right? Now, when you're talking as a fan or like we are in a podcast, there's not really a resolution.

But eventually, when the board is getting set, that's where there's one decision maker. And he goes, well, I think we should slot this guy here. And that's kind of usually a combination of the GM and the coach. Right, but there's not, there was one guy, and I've told this story, Andrew Sendejo, who played in the league for a long time. But he was playing for the Sacramento Mountain Lions, who was one of those leagues that happened for a year. I bet now with the XFL and the UFL or whatever the hell the league's called, that would be the only area. But in the draft, there's no, like, fourth round pick that only I grade it and I'm screaming for and no one wants.

It just doesn't work like that. lately I've been hearing a lot of talk about stadium atmosphere. I've been a Ravens fan since 2000, when they won the Super Bowl in 2001. I was about 12 years old at the time with no local NFL teams in L.A. I'm going to my first Ravens game in November facing the Chargers at SoFi Stadium. I bought VIP tickets at the 100 level. We've got a guy doing well in life. How can I maximize my first game?

With VIP level access, would it be easier to get players to sign? my jersey. You know, football's a little different than like baseball, for example. I remember being a kid you wanted to get to the yard early. Maybe I get Matt Williams to sign my ball. Maybe Jose Konseko will sign my glove, right? In football, it's not as lax on game day. You have to get there really early when the guys are warming up kind of in shorts and a t-shirt. And you're at 100 level means you can get to the front of kind of the railing. I've never done that, so I can't really speak to that. I would say so-fi is pretty sweet.

And stadium, some people hit me, obviously Philly when they're good, it's a great atmosphere, the Ravens, the Lions now. And I think we all agree for the most part, the atmospheres and the pros relative. Like, it's just impossible to compare to LSU, you know, to compare to Michigan, Ohio State, to compare to some of these collegiate atmospheres. So far, someone hit me up, said, so far as atmosphere is awesome. It's the best stadium I've ever been to. But part of having an awesome atmosphere is it should be, if you go to a Chiefs game, right?

If you go to a Ravens game, if you go to a Packer game, if you go to a Lions game this year, it's going to be the overwhelming majority. I mean, honestly, it should be well over 90%, 95% hometown. You go to an LSU night game, or a Michigan game, it's their home crowd. Not 100%, but much closer to 100 than like 80. And that adds to the atmosphere. When you go to SOFI, it's kind of split. Obviously, if they play the 49ers, but if they play the Cowboys, if they play the Steelers,

if they play the Packers. You're not even talking 50-50. The other team will take over the stadium. The Ravens, I don't know if they'll be 50-50, but there's going to be a ton of Ravens fans there. So, like, you go to a Ravens home game, especially a big home game, be all Ravens fans.

And I would just have a good time. I don't know about you guys, but one thing I always regret in my life is I went to the Warriors game 7 against the calves when LeBron beat them and brought the championship home to Cleveland. And I got too drunk in the sense of, I should have just had at most a beer or two, but I probably had about 15. And I kind of regretted looking back of not just, it was a historic moment.

You didn't, you don't know going to a game what's going to happen. I mean, you do a little bit more like a playoff game or situation like that. but listen, I have no problem if you want to go to a game and get, and get, you know, get housed. But I kind of regret that, and I've always gone to games. I'm not a big, like, boozer if I'm going to a sweet game. I'll have a cocktail maybe, but I would enjoy it. You want to be able to remember everything that happened,

like in a hundred level, you're living well. I have a question for the mailback. Rather than preseason of extending the season, Why do you think of having a knockout cup tournament as a second trophy to win the NFL? You already have the perfect number of teams 32, meaning it would be a five-round knockout. All team enter in a random draw, and the winner stays until the final with the winner getting the trophy. Well, part of that, the problem, it'd probably be incredible year one, but what's the point of the regular season? right? You just had a random draw.

So let's say you had a 15, 17 games, whatever, this season was, why does it matter where you finish? Because you could finish 16 and 1 and play a team with three wins. What if they beat you? Why does that team get rewarded for being terrible? I think there's pushback. Are they letting too many teams in the playoffs? I think that's a pushback in sports in general, right? Baseball expanded their playoffs.

It used to be a really big deal to, we won the Pettit. I mean, I think if you ask the average, like, 26-year-old in America that likes sports, what it means to win the pennant, they'd have absolutely no clue. And they've expanded the playoffs, obviously, by a bunch of wildcard teams. The NBA has a plan. They've added four total teams. Obviously, the NFL added two total teams.

Now, I get the other side. this is a business, you're trying to drive revenue, and the revenue is driven by the games. So I understand it, but I wouldn't be in favor of doing that. Like you thinking outside the box, listen, there are no stupid questions, just stupid people, and you're not one of them. Clearly, you cannot win a Super Bowl without a top six to eight quarterback,

or a stacked roster and a good quarterback on a rookie contract. Why do you think teams who do not have a top, top six or eight quarterback sign their quarterbacks to massive extensions, dolphins, now, cowboys in the recent past, do you think it would be better to stay mediocre but somewhat relevant with a middle tier quarterback, or let go of them and bottom out for the chance at getting a top quarterback, most likely in the draft? If you were an NFL GM faced in a situation like this, would you lose your other star players if bottoming out were to occur? Where is the starting point to build up a Super Bowl contending team?

Coach, owner. I think it's very, very difficult. And one major difference, which has clearly benefited football, is tanking is not really a big thing. No one really tanks. It's happened really one time. I would say it feels like over the last 15 years. I'm not going to start to finish tank.

like the Browns attempted to pull. I have no problem ever tanking in December, if you have a couple wins. I'm all for controlling your own destiny at that point. But I don't think there's a team in the league if you talk to the owner and coach. Clearly, some teams know they're not as good as others that don't plan on, hey, we might not win the Super Bowl, but can we get eight wins? Because winning in football is a really big deal. and when you start losing, you become irrelevant so fast.

And the draft is a pretty big crapshoot. Like for as much hype as there is on all these quarterbacks, Caleb included. I'm recording this before Hard Knocks. I saw, I was like Greg Olson, but it was Zach Hertz. I'd forgotten he was on the commanders. But he said, stop saying Jaden Daniels is going to be good. He's good right now. and the hype on Jaden, on Caleb, on who else,

Drake's, the hype's not very big, and Penn X is on the bench, Bo Nix is third string. But I think on those two guys that we know historically, like, it doesn't work out. It just doesn't. Like, more than likely, Caleb or Jaden Daniels is just not going to be good.

History tells us that. If you just pick those two players, the likelihood that both those guys are like, yeah, both top 10 quarterbacks. very, very rare. So just because you have hype prospects, there's no, you just never know.

So I would do what basically every other GM does, try to win desperately. Now once you're not winning, pivot, sell players at the trade deadline, but I would do everything in my humanly possible to win.

And I think winning, you know, really starts with the owner. Is he willing to pay? Is he willing to cut big checks for your own guys in free agency? Does he give you the green light to be aggressive in the draft? Does he support your staff?

Does he give you the most money to hire assistant coaches? So it starts there with his checkbook. And does he not meddle? I mean, if he's telling you who to draft and who to sign and who to hire, then you're going to have problems. And then obviously, the impact of the coach is there's not a sport like it, right? Especially if you get the right coach who also calls plays, the impact he can have is just second to none

based on basically every other sport. So I think you just try to win. You really do. Now, I think there are situations where you go, can we play this out another year? And that's where I think there's a balance. If I ran the dolphins, I wouldn't cut Tua.

I wouldn't trade them for nothing. But I'd go, can we just play it out another year? Wasn't he on his fifth year option? Wasn't it scheduled to pay? them well over $20 million? Couldn't we just go, let's just see this year. This is a big year. Let's just see how it goes.

I'm never opposed to letting it play out, gain more information. Like, we've been winning, so the owner's kind of happy, right? We've made the playoffs a couple times. But what's the rush to kind of hitch my wagon as an executive, as a coach, to a player that I can't totally trust? I get DAC more than Tua. I just don't get Tua. I don't.

Let me rephrase that. I mean, I get Tua the player. I don't get signing to the extension right now. I don't. His agent can be pissed all he wants. Like, what's Tua going to do? Like, Tua, you play well, you're looking at a $200 million payday. And if some reason the Dolphins don't watch it, three or four teams will be lined up.

Go win a couple of playoff games. We just talked about Lamar. We know he struggles to do that. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all,

embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm 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 Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and

and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jek. And I'm Alex English.

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

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

podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we're We don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch.

Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth. Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person.

Join me, Keer Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free. iHeartRadio app, search learn the hard way, and listen now. 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 rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Using my girlfriend's Instagram. Huge, huge Hawks fan from Tennessee. Cool part about, I guess this is true in all sports, but you meet people all over the country that are fans of teams from other places.

It's always cool. And it always, I just, I have a soft spot for that. Even though I hate them immensely, I also have a lot. huge respect for them. Oh, my question is about the Niners. To do what they've been able to do consistently for the past five years is something that I respect. You think after five long years, battling to get back to the Super Bowl, only to get back

to lose in similar fashion of the same team, will take a toll on them mentally? I know everybody's expecting them to run it back, and rightfully so, but could you see them having a similar season to the Rams the season after their Super Bowl? win a couple years ago. With the constant heartbreaks, this team has gone through, and the amount of noise and chatter coming out of their locker room,

it seems plausible to me this could happen, considering they have a lot of older key players. Well, if you remember the Rams season when they fell apart, one main reason was Matt Stafford got injured. If Brock Purdy were to get injured, and they would have to go to

Joshua Dodd, and Kyle Allen, who's definitely not Josh Allen, they would be in major trouble. If you told me Pardy has a major injury or misses a month or something, they would be screwed. So I would say that they just have too much talent on their roster if Purdy's playing. The other thing is their coach, again, this goes to Purdy and same with Stafford. if McVeigh's there and Kyle's there and they have a good quarterback, they're just going to be good. They're going to be competitive.

Now, you never know with injuries. I think the wear and tear, you know, Kyle's like most teams, the OTAs are a joke. I mean, they really are. And the Niners for training camp, like Bosa, McCaffrey technically is injured right now. But Trent Williams, these guys practice like twice a week. So they get treated pretty well. This is not the Junction Boys Bear Bryant. That's where I think it could wear you down.

I think if you make all these runs and, you know, the rules that used to be hitting, the double days, you just kind of run out of juice. I don't think you do anymore. Especially when you have guys under 30. It's like Tesla. You know, you just recharge it. And you just hope the charger doesn't catch on fire and burn your house down. Last episode, I heard you say you think Jaden Daniels could struggle in Washington, part. due to him having a defensive head coach

and Dan Quinn. But didn't Cliff Kingsbury walk away from a deal with Vegas to come to D.C.? Washington had to have to know Jaden was going to be theirs with a second overall pick. Cliff has coached up many successful quarterbacks, especially mobile ones.

Caleb, I think Jaden is in a better situation. I know Jaden had neighbors in college, but he will have Scary Terry and Zach Ertz. So my question is, Do you think Shane Waldron is a better O.C. than Cliff? Secondly, do you think Malik Neighbors will be a better pro than Terry McClorant? Malik Neighbors is more talented than Terry.

If Malik Neighbors hits, you're looking at like a more physical Odell Beckham in his prime. I mean, you're looking at an elite player if he hits. But you never know. It's football. Daniel Jones, I wouldn't bet on it. but Malik neighbors, the highlights come out of Giants camp. I mean, he's got a, he's got Jamar Chase physicality, but the high-end speed, the ball skills. I mean, he's a pretty special talent.

Terry's a really good player. I mean, Malik has the upside. Terry's an excellent player, but I don't think most people, nobody considers him like a top five or six white out in the league. Malik neighbors, if it works out in like three or four years, could be right up there with the best in the NFL at the position. But that's a big if. I would say Shane Waldron, I like that style of offense. I don't like Cliff's style of offense. It's not for me.

We talked about this the other day. You're just kind of a product of what you know, being around Pat Hill, old school offense, Jim Harbaugh. Andy throws it more, but there's a physical edge to him. Cliff's not my cup of tea when it comes to football. But like you said, like he is tailor-made for guys. like Jaden. I think comparing him to Kyler, who talking with my guy from fantasy pros yesterday, Pat Fitzmorest, Kyle's one of the more talented prospects in recent memory. I don't think Jayden's is talented him. One, he's not as fast. Two, he's not as elusive. Kyler has an elite

arm. He's just, now, obviously, Jaden's taller, but that's the only thing that Jaden Daniels has over Kyle. He's taller. Kyler does everything better. To me, if Jaydon Daniels becomes Kyler Murray, Washington's in really, really good shape. And when I say struggle, I just don't think their teams that good. I think it's going to be a big, big struggle, and the division's good. We nitpick the Cowboys, they're dramatically better than Washington.

Obviously, the Eagles are. And the Giants are pretty good on defense. So Washington's O-line sucks, and what are the Giants good at? defensive line. So I also think I get very concerned with players, and I'm not anti-Jad and Daniels, but when you have a skill, people think I'm sure I hate Lamar.

I do not. I think Lamar is an awesome player. No guys that have been around them. The character stuff, I love everything I've ever heard about the guy. And one thing Lamar does a really good job of is when he runs around avoiding hits, partly because he's so elusive and so fast,

but he doesn't take a lot of huge shots. When I was with the Eagles, Michael Vic was probably the worst in NFL history at avoiding hits. Honestly, he looked like he was looking for him, and he got injured a lot. And we talked about this yesterday on the fantasy podcast. Jaden took shots, shots in college. And the SEC's, you know, the light version of the NFL,

obviously elite defensive players, and they played Florida State and he got crushed there too. You can't do that. But I think that's a hard skill to teach. You either kind of have it or you don't. And I think Kyler's pretty good at this too. And again, part of it, their skill set, they're a little more explosive than Jaden, laterally.

There's just like an innate quality with them to kind of know. I feel like Jaden is a good athlete, clearly. But you watch him run around. Maybe there's a combination of fearlessness and just the instincts of avoiding that just don't exist like they do for Lamar and Kyler. But saying that Cliff made Kyler a great player, Kyler's a better player.

He was a better player coming out of college. I think if Kyler was in this draft, Washington would have taken him too over Jaden Daniels if he was coming out of Oklahoma and he was coming out at LSU. Say what you want about Kyler in the video games? I will never dispute his ability. Because when he gets humming, holy shit, he's fun to watch.

because he's an elite, he's an elite talent. I don't know if Jaden Daniels is an elite talent. He's a really good prospect. I mean, the only knock on Kyler was hype, which is a big knock. I mean, he's really small. But elite arm, he's actually pretty accurate, elite speed, elite elusiveness, elite scramble and throwability. As the quarterbacks are getting paid,

I tend to really project what they can do with the team around them. If you had to guarantee one of these guys, Love, Hertz, Goff, or Lamar will win the Super Bowl in the next five years. Who would it be? It's a good question. I'm sorry Ravens fans, but until Lamar proves me otherwise, you can't bet on him because I've seen him with the best of the best team and can't get it done. Goff, their team is pretty stacked.

This year is kind of wide open for them. I would say they got a pretty good chance this year to get to the Super Bowl. And if you get to the Super Bowl, you can win it. I would say something similar to Jalen Hurts. their team's pretty good on paper right now. I would say the difference who Jalen and Jared is, Jared's had the same coordinator for his whole career in Detroit, really. So advantage Jared Gough there, to me, Jordan Love,

until I see the Packers defense good, they can't win with the way they've been playing defense. Now, clearly they made of change, but until we see it on Sundays, you just never know. because we thought they'd be better on defense some years and it just didn't materialize. So if I had to rank it, I would go, Gough, Jalen, 1A, and 1B.

Both guys have been to a Super Bowl, so they've proven they can get there. They've won playoff games. Lamar 2 and Jordan Love 3. I'm not saying Jordan Love can't do it. We saw him play well, but you can't make these runs if your defense is shitty. and the Packers, to me, the pressure is not on the offense and really Jordan love this year.

I think they're going to be fine. It's like, can you go toe to toe with some of these other physical defenses? Just recently been getting into golf and going out playing with buddies. Any recommendations for someone starting out? Have a good time. Enjoy yourself. Have some beers. You know, play $5 a side. I'd say practice, but you're not a pro.

Practicing sucks. Let's go play. Have fun. And if you really get into it and you suck, I mean, maybe find a guy around where you live and get a lesson. Fan from Australia. I actually just read on the New York Post that this guy was on a camping trip

next to where the biggest crocs in Australia live and fell into the water. And his wife was reaching down to help him out. And she was his only lifeline out. But she started to slip too. so he let go overhand because he didn't want to drag her in and obviously got eaten. And they found and euthanized the crock and the crock was 16 feet long. I was thinking about this.

If you were going to go down, would you rather get eaten by a crocodile or a shark? Now, the thing with a crocodile, they're going to eat you. The shark, you're just going to bleed to death because it bites you and you're not a seal. But that initial bite and the power of the shark and then just being out there in the water? Tough question to ask or answer, I don't know. I think the crocodile would be worse. I really, in a river or some grimy lake with just crocodiles chomping on you,

doing the spin, ripping your bones apart. At least Jaws just takes one bite and then takes off. Listen to your combo with Jake Rosenberg made me think her cousin's contract of $180 million with $50 million signing bonus. Could that mean after this year he might have around three years, 100 million left of Owing? Assuming he is healthy post-Aquilees, would that become an attractive to a trading team? I know Atlanta would have a big dead cap,

but could they expect a decent draft compensation? As a trading team with cousins, three years, $100 million left, Owing sounds a lot more attractive than 200 million's for four years that people are talking with Dak Prescott. Well, there are a couple of variables here. Kirk Cousins is a no trade clause, but if they were going to bench him and go with Pennix, that would get waived.

You'd have to look. One thing Jake talked about is the way cash goes. So if over the next, I don't know, six months, the Falcons have paid, let's just pick a number because I think 90 guaranteed. Let's say they've paid, I'm guessing I don't have the contract in front of me, 70 of it. You're not on the hook for that much as, the trading team.

Now, his value, if you're benching him, the question would be why. So did he get benched because you're just, you're kind of doing a FAR of Rogers or Rogers love? I know Rogers didn't get bench, but you know what I mean? You're just like, we think this guy's going to be better. Mahomes, Alex Smith, let's just pivot. If that's the case and he's played well and you guys won 10 games and we're in a playoff game and won the division, he would have value. If you're going to Pennix because he doesn't.

doesn't look as good as he's looked, then I don't think he has as much value at all. Doesn't mean you can't unload the contract, but I don't think you would get any trade compensation of any importance. Question for the mailbag. What's your take on fantasy football? Do you participate in any leagues? Do you think their popularity will decline due to the vast legalization of sports betting? Full transparency, I've never been a big fantasy guy.

I've never played. Maybe I did play in one league. one time like the radio station, I mean a decade ago. It's never been my thing for whatever reason. Now, I have, when I lived in California and Draft Kings kind of came on the scene, remember the year when Draft Kings and Fanduel, Draft Kings podcast, so pretend I didn't even say that other name, were just every other ad.

It was incredible. I mean, they spent a lot of coin early on. Well, obviously gambling wasn't, it wasn't legal than anywhere besides the, like, Vegas or whatever, but you could play daily fantasy, and I used to play that all the time. And I don't, I'll dabble, like, play some $5, $10 daily fantasy games on a given week just to be entertained. But I don't play leagues, like the fantasy pros guys, like a lot of you guys, you know, Matt Berry, Field G8s, all those guys. I, the thing with gambling, and I do agree that over the next decade, because ultimately what fantasy is,

I think fantasy brings an element that gambling doesn't. I know some guys that play in leagues that are like $1,000 buy-ins. Obviously, there are some legendary leagues with multimillionaires. Some of you guys playing leagues that, I don't know, $100 buy-in, whatever the buy-in is. There is a communal play with your friends aspect. I do think the older you get, you get married, you have kids, it can be more, it's easier to gamble. It's easier to be like, oh shit, I kind of like this. team plus four this week.

Then to set your lineup, follow it, waiver wire. I think it's, it's tailor made for younger dudes with less time, or more time and less things going on. I do think it gets more difficult, which is where gambling comes in, which also the older you get,

ideally you should have a little more money, easier to get involved. So I think fantasy football has played a huge, huge role in the casual popularity of the NFL. But to me, it's like, and this is no disrespect because I respect it because I know it's important to the game that I love

and all of us love to watch and talk about. As gambling gets bigger and bigger, it's going to feel, this is a guess, a little like JV versus varsity. Now that doesn't mean fantasy is going to go away. It doesn't mean that these leagues are going to stop. But I do think that gambling is just, it's always been important to football.

that's the sport that we gamble on first and foremost in this country. But the access has been difficult. I mean, you could have a bookie. Trust me, I've made some payments in the back of a Burger King parking lot. But those days are kind of over. And the ability to do everything on our phone, you just don't have to follow it as much. I think part of fantasy, what makes it difficult is if you have like,

you're an accountant or you're a doctor or whatever and you love football, It can be difficult. And how often do you hear, especially people of my age, like once you get in your late 30s, 40s, like, oh, I didn't even know this guy was injured. I didn't have a quarterback this week. I think that happens more and more. And I think those guys kind of phase out and get more into gambling.

But the element of doing it with your buddies, there's nothing like that. Right. I mean, that's what's the point of living if you can't have some activities with your close friends, your close colleagues? So that's something that gambling, let's face it, when I gamble, I like to watch a game by myself and pace around. It's a very isolated act. Where fantasy, if you're in a league, is much more communal, right?

You can be on a text chain with everybody. So there are elements that gambling can never quite bring to the table. But I do think there are elements of, I mean, you can win, you name the price, depending on what you're willing to bet in four hours. That's not really the way fantasy. works. Daily fantasy works that way, but yeah, we'll end on that one. That was a good question. So, respect

to my fantasy people. I think it's difficult. The hard part for me is the way we talk about football, the importance of football, and then you get to fantasy and the running back is the most important player, and I get it the way it's scored and everything. That always threw me off. I guess it was

a little more normal back in like, if you were playing in 2002. But all we talk about now is the quarterbacks. They're all making the most money. They clearly are the most important player on a given team to have success. That guy has to play well for you to succeed. And it's like, hey, you get this guy, you get like Jared Goff, you know, in the whatever round. I think he's a dude with just a pro bowler. And you're taking his backup running back over him. I don't know if that's the case, but you know what I mean. But it is what it is. It's always been that way.

I know this. It's fantasy for podcasts. The do we add on for fantasy pros. It's a big, business. It is. So you're a big business. You're doing a shitload of downloads. You're a top 10 podcast. You're making, I respect you. I don't do it, but it doesn't mean I don't respect it, right? Like, I'm not, I'm not ordering every UFC fight. I have nothing but admiration for Dana in that business and what they've built. It's fucking incredible. Hell, I loved wrestling growing up, like probably a lot of people, boys my age, because of stone cold and the rock. I do not watch anymore, I have a lot of admiration for the way that business operates. Vince obviously has got some shit going on, but Triple H, and every time I see him,

and Collins' old agent, Nick Kahn, like, that thing's a big boy business for a reason. It's a well-run thing. I don't watch it, but I'm not one of those people that doesn't respect the following, the interest in the revenue capabilities they have, and just the bohemath that has been built and is continuing to roll, you know, keep the train on the tracks, you know, rolling on down. No slowing down. It's impressive. In fantasy, kind of feels kind of similar.

It's big. I mean, it's massive. I'm an outlier. I do all this stuff with football, talk about football, watch football for a living. I just don't play. The volume. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. On Humor Me with Robert Smygel and Friends, me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier.

This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to Humor Me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal. but encouraged. It's the enhanced games.

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

Hey, 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 Rule 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 a podcast. From 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 of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Cliford Show

on the I-Heard 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. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.