The Herd with Colin Cowherd - 3 & Out - Trent Williams is holding out, What will Dallas do with Dak, the latest with Michael Penix and the Falcons

Episode Date: July 26, 2024

John dives into the latest 49ers hold out news and this time it's with Trent Williams as he waits for a new contract. How will the Trent situation affect Aiyuk's contract situation and the importance of getting them done quickly. Next, John talks about the latest with the Cowboys and Dak Prescott and why they haven't offered him a new deal, is this the beginning of the end for Russell Wilson as he's already missing time with a calf injury, and the reason as to why players ultimately hold out or hold in when waiting for a new contract. Later, John answers your questions in this episode's mailbag segment. 10:04 - Trent Williams is the latest 49ers hold out 24:51 - Russell Wilson is out 27:23 - The latest with Michael Penix 30:30 - Why players hold out 42:10 - 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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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 Clifford 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. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged.

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See terms at draftkings.com slash DFS. What is going on, everybody, John Middlecock, three and out podcast? I don't know why I'm talking like that, but hopefully everyone is doing well. Just fired down from Lake Tahoe to my mom's house. You know what? I said, got some takes. Want to talk a little football, so let's fire up the old computer. So got it out of the bag, and now here I am talking.

And wanted to dive into a lot, because there's a lot going on. We got some holdouts, Trent Williams. We got C.D. Lamb, some hold-ins, which kind of looks like Jamar Chase. Kirk Cousins cleared, Russell Wilson hurt, Fields getting first-team reps. We've got a lot going on. So football is more than kicking off. the videos, if you go to YouTube or Instagram or Twitter or TikTok, just a lot happening on the football field.

I watch a good mic up today with old Jim Harbaugh, and he's just a beauty. So it's good to have Jim Harbaugh back in the National Football League. So we'll talk a little football. It's Fugazi Friday, so I wanted to tell a little story. It's not quite a Fugazi, but it was quite the experience last week. We'll dive into it a little later. So other than that, we'll also do a little mailbag at John Middlecough is the Instagram. And next week I'll be back in Arizona and we'll just be full speed ahead with daily coverage,

giving takes, following what's going on, giving my thoughts on it. So I think me and Colin are doing a podcast on Sunday night. So that'll be for Monday. And then the game plan will just be a full week of podcast basically Tuesday through Friday. and then maybe it's just stuff happens over this month. We'll also have stuff on YouTube as well. So make sure you subscribe to that YouTube channel. Obviously, if you subscribe to, if you haven't, the three and out feed,

if you listen on Collins feed, make sure you subscribe to the three and out feed. So you never miss anything. And let's just enjoy it because football is back in the air. Spirits are high. And we're not too far away from pads popping all around the league. I think the Texans, they were the first team to, they might even be in pads today. They definitely will be by this weekend. But I would imagine every team will be in pads by the 25th, 28, 29th.

Because that's when, like, let's face it, it's fun. It's cool to watch Patrick Mahomes or Justin Herber or one of these guys do one of their, like, 50-yard bombs. But it's not football because you can't run the ball, right? So the linemen, they just get nothing out of it. not nothing out of it, but it's just, it's not the same. And the evaluation from the front office, it can't really start till the pads happen. And then the one thing cool, I guess not for necessarily us, because they're not broadcasts, but in terms of just evaluating your team as all these joint practices and obviously those get rowdy.

So, God, it'd be sweet if the NFL did just a joint practice day, if there was like seven or eight going on and just kind of did like a red zone version of that. That'd be badass. But actually, I would never say never because we know the NFL loves their money and we know the NFL loves their content. So I watched the last episode of the Giants Hard Knocks. I can be critical of Joe Shane and the situation. I think it was fantastic. I don't know if it's over yet, but they just finished the draft and drafted, obviously, Malik neighbors. That's elite content. The NFL has, never, ever done anything like that.

Even the stuff the teams do, right? The Jets do it, the Colts. I mean, most teams do it now. Doesn't sniff the access we got. That was fantastic. So props to the Giants, because clearly they have some editorial control for just kind of letting it hang out there. That's as good of a basically 30 minutes, so we got two hours worth of content of offseason football, just stuff I've ever seen. I mean, it doesn't get any better than that.

If you haven't watched it, because I, if you just saw it, like, offseason giants, hard knocks, probably going to be stupid, would have been my answer or my statement, I don't know, a month before it started. I promise you, it's an inner, if you like football, all four episodes are really good. They all have stuff that you're like, I can't believe they're showing this, especially with the GM. We never, ever get that type access. the emotion, you could feel a stress. It was just, I've been giving takes on it before. I know Michael Lombardi's given a lot of takes on his podcast.

I understand it. And they're more than fair. But the access to even have an opinion on for us is incredible. So go watch that. But first, you know, I got to tell you about my friends, my partners, and most importantly, the official ticketing app of this podcast. Listen, do you want to get outside? Do you want to do something fun?

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Last-minute tickets, lowest prices guarantee. I didn't know a podcast yesterday and news broke that the best left tackle in the NFL is officially holding out. Now, I had to take a couple days ago in regards to another player they have who's holding in that I thought it was the right move. They've had a very contentious offseason. He's been very emotional. Feels like he's requested seven trades, posted 80 million things on social media, and has been all over the map. And John and Kyle are like, yeah, see, you can't, buddy. We got an offer on the table, and that's still materializing.

There was just a video from my guy Matt Barros of like him walking in. into John Lynch's office, I think after practice. So clearly they're trying to get it done. Well, today, probably a little bit of an issue for Brandon Ayup that he's no longer the priority because Trent Williams is one of those rare guys that is objectively agreed upon from the analytical community, from the I-test fan community, from the scouting community, from the coaching community, and most importantly, the other players, his peers. best left tackle in the game, non-quarterback, easily one of the best players in the game.

And it's not like he's in the prime of his career. He's like 35 years old. He wants more money. In my initial take, don't blame him at all. Had the same take earlier this off-season when Christian McCaffrey said the same thing. Under no circumstances, can I play if I'm Trent Williams and on the fifth highest paid left tackle? And honestly, these left tackle numbers per year feel a little off. Because who's more important?

If the 49ers this year had to choose one player, Brandon Ayuk or Trent Williams, and listen, this is not a criticism of Brandon Ayuk, he's an awesome player, he's a winning player, he deserves to be paid a lot of money. I can promise you this. John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan wouldn't even hesitate it would be Trent Williams. Now, ultimately, they don't have to make that decision. They get to keep them both. But what happened with Christian McAfrey? It's like, well, I no longer have guaranteed money. You didn't sign me to this contract.

I'm scheduled to make like $11 million. I'm sorry, that's laughable. And they bumped him up. And it's like $18, $19 million this year. Rightfully so. Good move. If I'm Trent Williams, one, this contract that I'm currently playing on

is what I got. The 49ers gave him this contract because he had hit free agency several years ago. And it actually came down to a bidding between Andy Reid and the Chiefs and the 49ers. And the 49ers, I mean, they had no choice.

they had to give them a large amount of money. I think at the time was $60 million guaranteed, which seems like peanuts now, 20 a year, which again, if I'm Trent Williams, and I get, like, comps work for 90% of players. Like, this guy got this, this is what you get, he's a little better, you're a little worse, you're a little better, he's a little worse,

it's all based on that. There are certain players in this league, a guy like Trent Williams, where I go, I don't really give a shit. If you really want me to play this year, I have no guaranteed money. Like, this is my number. Maybe it's $28 million.

So I'm going to need an $8 million race. Like, that's got to happen. Now, I went to years of practices with Trent Williams involved. Training camp for him isn't exactly the Junction Boys. This isn't exactly 1950, 1960, Roll-tied Alabama, Bear Bryant. Listen, he's one of those guys who probably could play an NFL game 365 days a year. So training camp for him, I'm not saying it's not necessary. Of course, it's necessary for any player.

But he ain't rep in every single practice. He gets a lot of days off. He gets a lot of plays off. They treat him like they should. One of the most valuable assets, who's an older player, who they need. And the only thing when it comes to Trent Williams is like, week one, he's on my left tackle. And we want him healthy. But listen, when you're at his level,

you got leverage because you need me more than I need you. I'm super rich. I've made a boatload of money. Now, I'm a great player. I like playing football, and I plan on playing football. Hopefully for the niner's sake the next couple of years because they have zero answer at that position. And it's not like they're going to be flush with cash because they're paying all these other guys to go sign a left tackle. And let's face it, left tackles never hit the open market who were any good.

It was very rare that Trent Williams was even in that position. But I don't blame him. And if I was him, I'd ask for a massive rate. And they go, what about all these? I don't Christian Derisaw. If I was Trump Williams, I'd be like, who's that? What? I compare myself to Jonathan Ogden, to Walter Jones.

Like, that's the way I'm discussed. Not like the hot young commodity in the NFL. And that's like, this is going to be a complicated. This is part of what makes this job so difficult. why I've said forever. I give John Lynch a lot of credit for doing this. Just like when Steve Kerr signed up, he was already super rich, he was already super successful, he had a bunch of rings, and he's like, you know what?

I want to coach. Now, you can say it was a great situation. It is still a lot of added stress that is not there if you're not doing it. And John Lynch, same thing. Already a champion. Now he's in the Hall of Fame. He had a great job at Fox, was, making seven figures, and he's like, you know what I want to do?

Deal with Brandon Iyuk's agent when I'm on vacation. You know what I want to do? Show up to training camp and have to deal with my star, future Hall of Fame left tackle, who needs a massive raise, and I have to balance all the books, and we already have a high price. Like, I'm sorry, most human beings would not want to do that, but he's just one of those guys that likes his feet in the fire. He likes the action.

You know, the juice is the squeeze, right? I just think that this team, like all these guys, high-level winning players, most people are going to pick this team. If you're not picking them to be in the Super Bowl, to be right there in the mix, you know, in the final four or final two in the NFC.

But this type of stuff you deal with, year after year, you guys that want money, right? It's like, what did Howie have happened this offseason? Like, Hassan Reddick's like, I want a raise. Now, I'm not comparing Asan Reddick to Trent Williams. But he's like, we don't want that headache. See you. Joe Douglas is like,

yeah, I'll take that headache, and I don't even plan to pay him. So it's just training camp, man, I always thought, like the season, you know, I've never been as stressed out. Now, I'm a high anxiety guy to begin with, like just my blood, you know, runs hot, I would say, like most people, or else you'd die. But you know what I mean? I run hot. That stress of training camp, of guys getting injured, of working out guys, of guys not living up to the hype, of people being angry, players, just, it's a stressful time. There is a, you have to monitor the league like crazy because guys are constantly getting cut.

Like, once the season starts, the structure of the season is very mapped out. Obviously, you might play on a Thursday or Sunday night or Monday, but like every week's kind of the same. And if you have one injury, you just work out one position. It's kind of a fire drill during training camp. And let's face it, the 49ers got a lot going on. I mean, the Cowboys got a lot going on, but they always got a lot going on. And in fairness, like, Dallas is choosing not to extend Dak Prescott right now.

The 40-diders want Trent Williams to be happy. They want Brandon Ayuk to be happy. I wonder if the Cowboys are like, yeah, let's just see how Dak responds. Let's see if he could answer the bell, because he has in the last three years. And I think when you look at the Cowboys, C.D. Lamb, you know, let's face it, C. C.D. Lamb does not view himself in Brandon Ayuk's category. right? He just does not. He views himself with Justin Jefferson. Now, whether that's correct or not, we're talking an astronomical amount of money that he, I'm sure, is seeking. And this gets pretty

complicated. And I started thinking today, actually, when I was driving home from Tahoe, maybe the Cowboys' plan is this. We go all in, obviously we're going to have to pay C.D. Lamb and Micah Parsons a ton of cash. And that is a huge part of our core moving forward, and we'll figure out the quarterback. And then I thought, isn't that kind of what the Raiders are doing right now? They got Max Crosby, who's a star. They got Devante Adams, who's like a Hall of Famer, and they have no quarterback. And no one really takes them that seriously, right? They have really good players at a bunch of different positions. But I don't think you'll meet a soul who's not a Raider fan, who would pick them to make the playoffs, because how could you? They don't have a

quarterback. And I just, this is the hard part about the Dallas situation. And this is why when you get the DAC Prescott's, you saw it forever in Minnesota with Kirk Cousins, you just kind of keep riding it out because you are terrified to ever be in a position where it's like, guy, we got some sweet all-pro impact players. It's like, oh, who's your quarterback? You're like, Aiden O'Connell, Gardner, Minchew. You're like, you're not winning shit. That's kind of the way it goes.

And I could see if you were Dallas, because it's easy. And listen, I've said it, like, just move on, let him hit free agency. It's easy to say that. He's got flaws clearly in January, but he's still better than most. And what would they do? It's like, what's their answer going to be? Trey Lance. Kyle Shanahan couldn't get rid of him quick enough.

Kyle Shanahan had bailed on Trey Lance like 18 months ago. So that's not an option. And I know they're going to play him a bunch this preseason, but he's just not that good. It's just a fact of life. So to me, when you look at the Cowboys, you go, feels like they're kind of stuck. and it could be one of those positions like if they just win a playoff game is like oh, Dak threw multiple

interceptions in the second round. It's like, okay, let him hit free agency. And then what are you doing? Because there aren't really any options ever. And this is where CD Lamb kind of has him by the balls. Like he's going to get a ton of money. It's like Michael Parsons, same thing. Going to get a ton of money.

Like a ton of money. It's like, well, Dak Prescott, because of the position he plays, even if we all agree that he's not Josh Allen, he's not Mahomes, obviously, not Lamar, still is going to command, what, $210 million guaranteed. So the three of those guys would have sent, it'd be like an NBA team. It'd be like, yeah, we got three or four guys and a bunch of other minimum players and draft picks.

That's kind of what the Cowboys would have to do because of the positions those guys play. It's one thing I've always said about the Niners. They've gotten very lucky that two of their best players are, you know, over the last four years that are on huge contracts are a middle linebacker in a tight end. And those guys value doesn't exceed $15 million a year. Where if Fred Warner

had been a corner or a wide receiver or the right tackle, their books would look a lot different. And George Kittle, who we'll see, I mean, last year he was clearly banged up. They show in receiver. Like the difference of him playing tight end

and wide receiver is probably the difference. For instance, $7, $8 million a year, minimum. So that's not the case with the Cowboys. Their best players are pass rusher, wide receiver. We get debated, but I mean, obviously, Dak is one of their best players, quarterback. It's like, gee, how do we do this? And it becomes a problem, and it becomes a problem fast financially. Now, no one, you can be like, I always hear media members say this.

Like, I'm not going to cry for owners. It's not even about that. It's like, there's a salary cap. You've got to build your team that can be very complicated. 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. 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. be heard but celebrated. One week I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where

you need to be. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm CJ Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defining the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what.

He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense.

And when I tease friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court licking his fingers while he got the ball. Like, you go through a training camp with that Isaiah, you figure it out. real quick. Oh, yeah. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball.

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slash volume today. Let's hit on a couple other things. Russell Wilson missed practice as of Thursday, recording this. I think they said with a little calf strain, I'm not acting like, I'm no doctor, I don't know, I'm not acting like he's out for the season or anything. But I kind of assume, like, this is going to be a player

that my expectations are little to none. And anyone that argues, they're like, look at his stat line last year. It's like, guys, we all sat on the couch over the course of the first couple months and watched that team play. And we've all seen Russell Wilson in his heyday, and it doesn't even resemble the same player.

Now, I don't, I've said it over and over, totally understand why the Steelers would want them for, I don't know, a million dollars, I would have done that too. But I've said consistently, just because, like many people, I follow the NFL very closely. I've watched this league for a long time. We have seen situations, like most situations in football copy themselves over. and over. Like, the Patriots. I can see that thing coming from a mile away. Jacobi Brissette is our starter. Jacoby Brissette is going to play and he is going to mentor our young quarterback.

What happens week seven when they're two and five and lifeless and the crowd's booing? And Robert Kraft's like just getting shit on in the media. I'll tell you, Drake May will start. We've seen that exact scenario take place in my adult life. I don't know, 20 plus times. So with Russell Wilson, let's face it, he's not the same player. And I don't know if Justin Fields is any good. He definitely hasn't been in terms of a passer. But part of why you pay coaches a lot of money is to see if you can get the best out of a guy. And we know what Russell is, a diminishing asset, a guy that you can't consistently win with.

Because that's been the case now for three straight years. Justin Fields, listen, it's been a rocky road so far early in his career. but if I'm a Steelers fan, I'm not, but I can put myself in people's shoes and go, I would want to see Justin Fields. Like, I want to see what that looks like. We just hired Arthur Smith, who had a ton of success with a guy that everyone laughed at in Ryan Taneyel. Was the guy's backup? Within a couple years, they're winning playoff games.

So if I'm a Steeler fan, I want to see Justin Fields and see what we can do with him. I would say one of the biggest stories in recent memory in the draft. I'm not just talking this year. I'm talking a handful of years was Michael Pennix going to the Atlanta Falcons. And part of it is the organization, which has not been winning, the fact that they have a ton of young players on offense. It was pretty clear to go, this could get weird and this could get weird fast. Who is Bejohn Robinson, Kyle Pitts, who no one knows any good?

and Drake London going to connect more with someone who's their age or a 37-year-old Colskash guy coming off an Achilles injury. Now, I do think the conversation, we can pump the brakes on it, at least for training camp, because he was officially clear today and that'd be Kirk Cousins. And the way I thought it would get weird, which would be like, what if he's not able to go in practice? And Michael Pennix, the first couple weeks of training camp, is taking the reps. and we all know, I guess, I'm assuming we, you guys watched him at Washington at least one or two times. I mean, he was in the national championship, but even the previous game against Texas, his deep ball is beautiful. I mean, it's a thing of beauty. It's like Russell Wilson, circa 2016.

That ball goes up in the air. You're like, God, that is a gorgeous spiral. Now, Kirk Cousins can just take the reps. Now, ultimately, training camp ends and you start playing games and then things could change. but at least for the next month, assuming he stays healthy and assuming he has no setbacks, that he gets to take the starting reps, attempt to build a chemistry, and let's face it, there is a lot of pressure on Kirk Cousins to play well and play well early, because this gets back to the Steeler thing, this gets back to what I said about the Patriots.

Fans in the NFL have a lot of juice because nobody wants to watch a shitty quarterback. No one wants to watch poor quarterback play. And the moment a guy struggles, fair or not, everyone starts chanting for the backup. Everyone does. And a lot of times that does not work out either, but that's the way it goes. So when your backup is an already established, older, whoever, it's one thing. It's another thing when it's go, wait, Kirk Cousin's off to a really slow start. He's struggling.

How about check out the number eighth pick in the draft who just had an incredible two years in college and led his team to the national championship against Michigan? Let's see that guy. That's a pretty easy conversation to get started. Same thing with Drake May. It's like, yeah, we've kind of seen Jacoby before. I think we're cool with that.

Can we test drive the new car? You know, that Drake May guy? I understand it. And owners think a lot like fans. and they definitely listen to them because they're listening to the podcast or listen to the radio, they're watching the television shows.

Players and coaches at least can lie to you and tell you they don't watch it. Owners don't even lie. I mean, they consume the hell out of it. And rightfully so, I would too if I was them. Last little story of the day, it's kind of fascinating. For a long period of time,

now the money was a lot different. I mean, obviously, if you played in the NFL in the 90s and you were a good player, you were still rich relative to society. but Google some of like 94 contracts like what was Emmett Smith making in 94 or what was Troy Aikman's contract extension it doesn't look anything like now

again still a lot of money not the same so when you're an elite player and you know you have a ton of money coming it's I said this about Jordan Love the other day I totally understand mitigating like I can't afford that if some guard trips

and his 300 pound ass falls on my ankle and it shatters and I got a compound fracture and I never walked the same and all of a sudden that contract that my agent told me was probably 48 hours away they just put the shredder

I'd be like I don't know what I'd jump off a bridge I wouldn't be able to live with myself so I get it I really do and if you want to hold in hold out however I prefer with young players holding in I just think it's easier

to like have good vibes and it's always easier if you're an employee to be around the people that are in control and have a positive attitude. Like those people, let's face it, most people want to work with people they like. And then if those people that they like are also good, like, talented people and revenue generators and good salesmen or great receivers, like they want you around. Most people don't, if you could choose, would I rather work with a positive, upbeat person that I like who's good at his job, or a negative, a whole, pessimistic individual who's good at

his job. We'd all pick the same individual. So it's easy, even though they already know you, to be like, hey, listen, this contract talk is not easy, but I'm going to show up. I'm going to be a guy. I'm not going to practice, but I just want you to see my attitude. Like, I'm a team first guy. Like, these are the people making the decision, you know, not NFL live, not me on this

podcast, not any fan on Twitter. it's like the GM and the head coach and the owner. So you want to give them as many good vibes as you want. Now, Trent Williams, all that stuff's irrelevant, right? They like them. Obviously, they love the guy. But like when you're that good, it doesn't matter. You know, when you get Trent Williams, Dion Sanders, the Ed Reed,

I mean, there are a certain level of player, you can do whatever the hell you want. But I think Jamar Chase, who clearly has a very close relationship with his quarterback, who has been an elite player. player since he entered the league, is in a weird spot because Mike Brown, I saw, I don't know if it was earlier this week, what day is it Thursday, maybe it was the end of last week, maybe it was over the weekend, I kind of lost track of time during this month, basically said like, yeah, we're probably not going to negotiate once football season starts meeting training camp, just on to football, I wouldn't get ready for a contract.

If I was Jamar Chase, I'd be like, what? You can't talk to my agent? you don't have to negotiate with me but talk to my agent well two straight days he hasn't practiced and his coach was kind of mum about it but it's pretty easy to figure out

because like Brandon Ayuk like Cidi Lam even though Jamar Chase already rich he was the fifth pick in the draft he signed a $30 million contract he's already made some money I think the media does a poor job of this like that's life changing money

if you invest it correctly that can be generational money. But there is a big difference between $30 million and $120 million. We all acknowledge that. So if I was Jamar Chase, put Mike Brown's feet to the fire a little bit. They've tried to act differently in the Joe Burrow era than they had maybe going back to like Carson Palmer. But what are you going to do?

Now play with Jamar Chase? What are your options? And this is where players do have leverage and can just make it weird because when he does this, it can be weird in the locker room. and you just kind of get some weird juju even though he's not doing anything wrong. It's like, hey guys, it's time for a contract extension. But that's clearly happening all over the league.

And before we get out of here, Fugazi Friday, I don't have a great Fugazi for you because I don't even know if this is technically a Fugazi. It's just a story. Last Thursday, I got invited to play this golf course about 30 minutes away from where I was staying in Lake Tahoe. And it was in a place called Truckee. And elite course.

I mean, it's awesome. Awesome. And family led by Glenn, one of the coolest experiences of my life, then had us over for dinner. They have a incredible pad. I mean, the pads in this place are $8 to $15, $20 million, like, you know, Wayne Gretzky, Chris Bryant. John Elway originally had a pad. I think actually Glenn bought a lot from him. It's just, it's one of the coolest places I've ever been. There's no debating that. So I go, I take an Uber from the house at about, because we're Ting off like, 230. So I Uber from the house. It's about 40, 45 minutes away. Get there, play golf, and they're going to have dinner at their pad after them. So I tell Maria, my fiance, like, come meet us. They're like, oh, bring her over. So she comes and meets us. We have dinner. We're hanging out. We're having a good time. Then we leave. And we're headed home about 40-minute drive. And I wasn't even drunk, but Maria was DD. And it was a long drive in the dark at about 11 o'clock at night in the mountains.

So you don't have like four lane freeways here. It's, I wouldn't say sketchy. It's just not a comfortable drive. But we make it home. And listen, I've had fun all day playing golf. She kind of waited for me to text. So it's like I had a lot more fun in that day. And then she has to be the D.D.

Like I could understand spirits, her spirits being a little lower than mine. All of a sudden, we're probably six, seven minutes. Anyone that's been to North Lake Tahoe knows there's a place called Garwoods, which is awesome restaurant right on the water. It's just always packed in the summer. I mean, they're just, they're doing hundreds of thousands of dollars of revenue every day. So we get to Garwoods and they're just police everywhere. And I think half the cars in front of us thought it was a DUI checkpoint because they were all flipping Uies and going the other way. I'm like, I don't, what, a crash here or something. Let's just see what we get there and we roll down

the window and the sheriff or the police officer goes, there has been, because there's a ton of construction going on up there that one of the construction workers had hit a plumbing line. And there was thousands of gallons of sewage everywhere. And I guess a ton went into the water as well. I'm like, ah, that sucks. Can we just, again, five minutes from home, already drove 40 minutes. Can we just go around it? And the guy's like, actually, you can't.

and this road is going to be closed. I said, well, for how long? Like, hour? He's like, I got no clue, but it's going to be a while. He's like, my recommendation would just be to backtrack and go around. And the problem, like I said, with these mountains is there aren't just like side streets to get around. There's kind of one lane in and out, a lot of places. So we had to go all the way back.

And then from there where we had to go back to probably another 45 minutes. It was a disaster, all because the amount of construction going on in the Lake Tahoe area, which makes sense because in any of these winter mountain places, you can't do construction five, four or five months a year. So they have to double down in the summer and it's bananas because poop. And a lady told us walking the dogs yesterday that she had heard that it was 110,000 gallons, a spillage. and around 80 of that went into the water.

And when we went swimming, probably a couple days after, and like I said, we're five-minute drive, so just down the lake. Even Maria was like, God, the lake looks kind of just dirty today.

And it had been super clear the whole time. It was clear even the last couple days when we went jet skiing the other day. Jet skiing is, I'm not a motorcycle guy. Driven a couple dirt bikes in my day, but I would not. I've never driven a whole.

Harley or any bike like that. There has to be a freedom. Like you're just on the open lake on a jet ski. I started thinking, is this what a guy in a Harley feels like? Because it is very just, I don't know, freeing. There's something just special about that feeling. Just on the open road or the open sea or the open lake, just, you know, the jet ski, you go 60 miles an hour in a jet ski.

You feel like you're going 90. But yeah. And then we went swimming and the water is really dirty. And then we figured out that, yeah, it might have been, poop all over us. So hopefully everyone had a good vacation as well. 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 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 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 Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast,

or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm CJ Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds.

Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows.

Without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective. on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall.

And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers, why he got the ball, like,

you go through a training camp, whatever? Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The NFL seasons right around the corner. We'll be breaking down all the off-season storylines on the Colin Cowherd podcast. My Best Takes, guests like my buddy Nick Wright, check out the Colin Coward Podcast, part of the Volume Network, available on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Let's do a little thing that we like to call the Middlecoff mailbag at John Middlecoff. At John Middlecough is the Instagram fire into those DMs as many people have done. So let's start with a guy. This is pretty crazy, but this is Sean. This is not crazy because I don't even know what it's question yet. It's just long. So let's dive into it. At John Middlecough, Instagram fire in.

Question, comment. for the bag. I'll do my best to summarize. He did a lot of summarizing. As the league transitions away from a running offense, NFL GMs and ownership seem to have mutually concluded that the running back position is not a premium spot, citing that teams can draft productive players later and that second contracts are too risky. I'd agree. Yet as receivers increasingly asked for $28 to $35 million. There seems to be little pushback from ownership in writing these checks. Rarely is the dependent nature of the position discussed, even in midst, mounting evidence

that a great wide receiver won is not needed to win a chip. For example, Jefferson Hill, Chase, Lamb, and Adams, arguably the best five wide receivers in the league, are either on losing teams or did not win a playoff game in 24. Chase, if Burroughs healthy there, they've been pretty successful, but I hear what you're saying. The Packers made it to the divisional round with a bunch of fourth, fifth, and six-round rookies. Chief traded Hill and went back-to-back with a tight-in and five unreliable wide receiver threes. And going back in time, virtually none of the great Patriot teams in the 2000s or 2010s featured an elite receiving corps. Tell you this, your question was,

really long because you just wrote a lot, but you're making good points. In my opinion, the offensive and defensive lines, as well as the quarterback and coach, are significantly more important to winning than an elite wide receiver talent. Yet no one boxed when a wide receiver asked for a monster deal. Plenty of elite wide receivers have rotted away on dysfunctional teams while putting up all pro stats. Do you think there will be a market correction in receiver contracts. It would seem that most dependent position in football should not be getting quarterback level money.

Yeah, I mean, listen, it's why I've said with the 49ers, like, this is my number, buddy. I'm not budging. I'm not budgeting. We're not paying anymore. And I think the 49ers aren't even that comfortable giving him $26 million a year. But they've kind of acquiesced because I think they can get rid of Debo Samuel next year. And who knows what George Kittle.

But C.D. Lamb, this was my thing. thing earlier with the Cowboys. It's like, okay, I pay Micah Parsons, which is a no-brainer, and I pay C.D. Lamb, Justin Jefferson money. Well, if I let Dak walk, like, who's throwing in the ball? Gardner Minchew? I'm going to sign like Jacoby Brissette next year. Like, what am I going to do?

Hope and pray, I strike oil again in like the third or fourth round at quarterback. But I think where it gets tough, the Chiefs paid Tyra Kill once and won a Super Bowl with them. And honestly, he made one of the biggest plays in that game, right? Him and Mahomes. I think they got to the point where they chose other guys. They essentially chose Chris Jones. But I think you would argue the defensive line is more important than the offensive line.

If you have a good offensive coach, Kyle Shanahan told my guy, Tim Kawakami, that he thinks drafting offensive linemen high can be a little overrated. Now, I disagree a little bit. And he's like, well, I drafted Trent Williams with my dad for. So it's not like we don't draft them. I agree guards and centers. I have no problem drafting those guys on the third day of the draft and developing them.

I do think to get good tackle play, you typically have to draft the guys high. Most of the best tackles in the league are high-end drafted players. And I think that philosophy for the 49ers, for example, was they took Javon Kinlaw, essentially over Tristan Wurfs. It's a devastating decision. And I just think that when you have back to my point, like Justin Jefferson on your team, it's hard to not want them on your team. But it's pretty clear.

And part of it is like, well, if we're not going to be really good, we're going to sell some jerseys. Like, this is a business. A lot of people got uncomfortable when John Morrow was like, this is the most popular guy on our team. I thought that was, of course he said that. It's true because he's the best player. I mean, it's not like he's just saying the most popular. player. Like it's some guy that puts up hollow stats and knows he's the best player on the team. He's a high character guy.

So like Devante, the Packers did it right. They really did. But let's face it, they probably would have extended him if he would have played ball. I think it's hard when you have really good players who are good guys that you want to keep them. So I think it's easier said than done. But I'm with you. I would struggle paying wide receivers $35 million a year. It's like, wait, how many games we just win last year? How many games we win last year?

But you're like, this is the best player in my team. I think it's easier to, and I'm guilty of this, to be like, draw a hard line. Trade them. I think it's also hard to trade, right? Because it's like the Packers and the Chiefs pulled it off, right, when they traded those two guys. But if you wanted to trade Justin Jeff,

Is someone going to give you two ones and two- twos and then give him that contract? Because you can't trade him at this point in time for a one and a two. First off, congrats on the engagement. I appreciate it, Logan. Get me out of my own head here. I've been seeing the major fan base NFL teams usually win the Super Bowl. And teams like the Lions, Bills, and Panthers, for example, don't make the NFL as much money as teams like the Packers, Patriots, Chiefs do. I will say the Patriots and the bills have switched spots.

Like the bills are rating very, very highly because of Josh Allen. So I would not put the bills in that scenario. Because the bills are playing in a ton of afternoon window games with Jim Nance, which is the highest rated game of the day, Sunday night football, which is the highest rated television show. They play Monday nights, Thursday night. The bills are a cash cow for the NFL right now in terms of television ratings. Do you think it's possible the NFL wouldn't want the

smaller fan bases in the Super Bowl because of ratings could gatekeep them out of big game by using the refs to do so. I just think the NFL is proven. Like when the Lakers were in bed with the mob, I'm not blaming the Lakers. Tim Donagie was in bed with the mob and made sure the Lakers got to the NBA finals over the Kings. The NBA, I think, is a better example, baseball as well of like LeBron and Seth Curry. are the only players that rate right now in the NBA at a high level.

In Major League Baseball, like having the Dodgers, having the Yankees, having the Phillies or the Mets is a big deal. In football, it's kind of proven that these playoff games, whether it's the Jags and the Chargers or the Niners versus the Cowboys, you are doing massive numbers. And obviously the Super Bowl benefits if Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes is there. But if I tell you right now it's Bill's Lions. in the Super Bowl. It might not be the highest rate of Super Bowl ever, but 100 million people are watching.

The NFL has proven, and this is why their business model is so strong, they're the least dependent on that stuff. The NBA would sell their left leg to get Steph Curry versus LeBron James, even at 40 and 36 years old in the conference finals against each other, seven games. I mean, they would give anything.

But they no longer can do that with the mob and the refs. And baseball, clearly, I mean, the Dodgers, beside the fake 60 game season, can't make it to the World Series to save their life. Hell, they struggle to make it out of the first round. So it, and it hurts them. In football, it just doesn't matter.

It just, it really doesn't because of the consumer. Like, think of how I consume these other sports. Like, if you tell me the World Series, and I love playoff baseball, but it's like Cleveland versus the, Phillies. Like, I don't know if I'm as locked in, but if you tell me it's Yankees Phillies or Yankees Dodgers, probably not missing it.

Hypothetical question. I liked your point on why Tu and Dax shouldn't get the huge contracts and how silly it is that every new contract that assign needs to be the most expensive. What if the league operated with a system that forced contracts to match the position ranking? Example, third best automatically gets third highest salary. What do you think the impact would be on the franchise? team building. Well, who's doing the ranking? That would be the problem that the union would go to war with. Who ranks them? PFF? John Middukoff, Colin Coward, GM survey. I mean, who gets to rank them? I hear what you're saying. And if it was just cut and dry, it'd be easy. But first and foremost,

the union would wage war on you, even with this idea. Number one, and two, in fairness to the their argument, like, how could you properly rate? Who throws the most touchdowns? Who has the most wins? Who's the best player voted on by their peers? Top 100? I don't know. That's what makes it difficult. I actually see exactly what you're saying, and if there was a way that was objectively unarguable, like, this is where they rank, top 15

quarterbacks, I wouldn't be against it, but I think it's impossible to get that. And it's why you get these situations that, let's face it, forever until interest rates went up, your house in your neighborhood, the next house that went on sale in 20 and 21 and then halfway through and mainly through 22, which is more, more, more, more. And then what happened? Interest rates started going up. And we started nitpicking. Yeah, I don't like your rugs. Yeah, you need a new roof.

Yeah, this layout's not as great. and who got a lot of juice? The buyer. Who's had a lot of juice the last year plus? A buyer. I know because I bought a house last May. And I had,

I tried to buy a house the year previously. And I was going to get bent over. This time I did some bending. Now, it was given take. It wasn't like I was in complete control, but it was not 2021 anymore. And you got to fight for a lot of things

and win some of those. and I think that's the problem with these quarterback contracts. It doesn't feel like there's any give or take. It's just one side, like, bend over and take it. It's like, well, we all know you're not like a top seven quarterback, and I'm just going to pay you more. How does this make, in what other industry does that work? I understand Jordan Love, that happens in other industries.

I'm betting on the future. I think this could be, you know, if it was a stock, a 10-bagger. think this guy could be awesome. Same with Trevor Lawrence a little. Like, I'm betting on the future. Kirk Cousins, Dak Prescott, like, you're not betting on it. You're just buying that player.

Like, we know exactly what that player is. We know exactly. The Atlanta Falcons want the player that they've seen the last three or four years with the Minnesota Vikings. They're not betting on some future. They just want that player. Well established. Like, it's, there's no question marks what's going to happen here.

Right? So I don't get it. it. I'm sorry, like, Tua is never going to have great mobility. He's never going to have some howitzer. His game, let's face it, we've seen those type of, never really translates to winter

football, which is a problem when you play in a sunny place and all the good teams playing frigid weather. Dak, I do get, like, Dax's proving every single year, like, Dax's beating the best teams in this conference. Tua cannot do that.

And I feel like I'm not like anti-Tua. Whenever I think he's an impressive guy, I like the person. He works his ass off. Again, he's a solid starting quarterback. But like, why can't a solid starting quarterback be like, yeah, we just signed Tua to $26 million for the next four years? 100 whatever that would be, $5 million contract. Wait, that would never happen. But if it did, it'd be like, God, that seems right.

Seems like a good win-win. This guy gets $100 million. Dolphins get a solid quarterback, but he's not nearly paid like the other elite guys. Never happens that way. It doesn't feel like it ever will. I feel like the business is a little broken. The union would be like, these guys deserve their money. Yeah, Patrick Holmes does, Josh Allen does.

Lamar Jackson does. Elite players. This guy's not as good as that guy. So in what world, this guy is not as good as that guy, yet this next guy, because he's the newest, gets way more money in that guy? How does that make any sense in any business? But it's just like agreed upon in this one. I don't think the owners fight back enough.

Maybe because they're making so much money who even gives a shit. That's probably the reality of that answer. Okay, get you out of here on this. Hey, John, I'm a diehard Charger fan. And watch them every Sunday religiously. I appreciate that. Because, Nick, you've been through some stuff. You really have.

had, I don't know how old you are, let's look at your profile, your block so I can't see you. Looks like you're playing softball or something, but I'll just assume you're 30, 35, 30. You've had a rough 15 plus years. I truly believe that Herbert was placed on the Chiefs, Bill's, Bengals, he would have three Super Bowls by now. The only reason the media doesn't give him his flowers is because of his lack of playoff success, but he is actually some of the worst defenses of all time. Not even Mahomes would win if he were on the Chargers.

If you truly watch him play, he is deadly accurate and makes plays no one else can make. So why doesn't the media judge him honestly and properly? I will say this. One thing I've learned over the last couple years, when it comes to sports, when it comes to politics, who gives a shit what 98% of the media? things. I mean, is there a group that honestly, if they were talking about you, you'd go, that really hurts, right? The overwhelming majority of you, uh, of them, what they say has, who cares? It does not matter. Honestly, in politics, you know, it's like half of it's like fake.

They're just, they just lie. In sports, people give their opinion. Now, some of them on TV feel like they're faking an opinion to try to get a reaction. But, But it just doesn't matter. So when someone says a good player is not good, it's just like, who cares? It doesn't. If you don't think Justin Herbert's a good player, I don't know what to tell you.

Now, he is a tough player to judge for 90% of fans because of his situation. He's played with Brandon Staley. It's like, fuck. Now he's going to get, you know, legitimately judged. In these next couple of years, playing for Jim Harbaugh, like they got to win together as a pairing. I got news for you. I would bet on them to do that.

I'm not saying they're going to win the Super Bowl, but they're going to be good. Jim Harbaugh is always really good. And Justin Herbert, when he's had a good coach or just had a well-run operation like in Oregon, he won. So I would expect them to win. Honestly, this year, I think they win 10 games. And I think Herbert's going to be really good.

So what's people on television, former players, sometimes whenever I see their takes, I can come across social media. It's so funny how often I get forwarded things from like assistant GM or, you know, college scouts. This is the dumbest take I've ever seen. Like no one I know thinks this is real.

Like this, like no one agrees with this. And that's like, let's face it, as a player to judge other players, you just judge them playing against them. but as a GM you can be your scout or just even a fan you can kind of be objective you can watch other players listen we all have biases if you hate a certain team i get it like like the raiders i saw this clip of them having the kermit the frog um doll with mahomes jersey it's like what are you idiots doing just because you beat them on christmas they just won their second

Super Bowl. You just fired like your 10th coach in 20 years. Might even be more than that. Like, in what world does anyone think that's a good idea? In what world? Like how stupid that is. And before, like that, Chargers kind of felt like they would do something like that, no longer.

And this, Chargers get lucky. That's who they play. Who are you taking? Harbaugh and Herbert or Minchu and Antonio Pierce? I'm not trying to take shots at the Raiders at Antonio Pierce. It seems like a good guy, but that doll is a reflection of him. Can you imagine that doll at an Andy Reed practice,

at a Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVeigh practice, at a Bill Belichick? Bill Belichick would cut that in it. If that guy wasn't Tom Brady holding that doll, that guy would be cut immediately. He would have been cut yesterday. And I just think that that's what you have going for you now, is before it just felt like Mickey Maddie. house just, just embarrassing. And let's face it, Brandon Staley was beyond over his head.

And now you get Jim Harbaugh, who's born to coach, be a head coach, and has been doing it for two decades and winning at the highest level. So if people want to say whatever they want about Justin Herbert, I'd say, come talk to me in fucking November, buddy, because you better buckle up because we're coming. 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, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win. A win is a win. I don't care what you'll say. 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 Cliford Show. This is a place for raw, unfills 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 IHeard 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. 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 podcast. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.