The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Best of The Herd: 04/17/2019

Episode Date: April 17, 2019

Colin explains how basketball culture has evolved beyond Russell Westbrook's style. The Lakers have found their leading prospects for President & Head Coach but the catch is...they’re both still working, and the Arizona Cardinals should stick with Josh Rosen. And NFL Champion Chris Canty stops by the show.  Presented by Perky Jerky. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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This is the best of the herd. with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio. Ah, here we go on a loaded Wednesday. This is The Herd, wherever you may be and however you may be listening. We are live in beautiful Los Angeles on IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1. Joy Taylor is joining me. She doesn't carry a wallet if she did. Hers would have more money in it than mine.

Yeah. I'm officially, after betting the most money I've ever bet on a pro-backer. basketball game on the Thunder. My children will no longer go to college. All right. Let's let's not be too dramatic. You did lose big last night. I did big. I told you it's going to be some reverse karma there or just regular karma. I felt so good five minutes into the second half and then I felt terrible and then it was over. So no pizza for us, huh?

I know. Bummer. You guys were kind of rooting for me in a weird sort of way. Kind of. pizza or the satisfaction of Westbrook. Your shame tastes better than pizza. Let me start with this. I could crush Westbrook today. You know, they always say on the internet, on the internet, Facebook won. Okay, they won.

I could crush Westbrook all day today. He's been awful in the series. Damien Lillard is significantly better than him now as a basketball player. He is. I'm sorry about the triple doubles he is. But I have a little sympathy for Westbrook because I've seen this happen my entire life in sports and out of sports. The current basketball culture has moved away from Russell Westbrook. I mean, last night, Lillard was plus 27.

Westbrook was minus 27. Lillard is unstoppable. Westbrook is awful again in the playoffs. I could bring out the hammer all day. But this is what happens in a lot of businesses. Russell Westbrook now starting to remind me of Derek Rose and a much better John Wall. The game he practice as a kid, high school, AAU, college, early NBA. It no longer exists.

Nobody wants a slasher, a guy that drives to the basket, a guy that shoots mid-range jumpers. John Wall, Derek Rose, and Westbrook are not three-point shooters. They did not build their games to be that. They're mid-range guys. They're beat you off the dribble guys. They're relentlessly athletic guys. They're energy slash juice guys. They're not three-point shooters.

Basketball has moved toward Kyrie Irving and toward Steph Curry. It has moved toward them. Damian Lillard, Clay Thompson. Shooters first. Everything else second. Westbrook is not built to win in the playoffs today. Either is Derek Rose. You saw at the end of his career.

Either is John Wall. You see this in football all the time. Where running backs, it used to be for 60 years. Here's ball, grab ball, run forward. And that was enough. You were the centerpiece of the team. Now it's, we pass a lot. Can you block?

Oh, you can't. You can't catch. We can't give you big money. You're a part-time running back. Now, it's easier for a running back who's 16 years old today to develop those catching skills and develop Ezekiel. Elliott, those blocking skills. But what if you're 10 years into your career and they say, you got to catch 45 balls a year?

Well, I don't work on that in high school and college. And that's what's happened to Russell Westbrook. It's very difficult. I saw this at a company I used to work at. Once you're great and you're awarded and you're paid and you're told you're great. And then the culture changes in your business, it's very hard to pivot. I work at a company now Fox that just made a major pivot. We got out of the movie business.

We do now live news, live sports, live politics. That's what we do. We have pivoted with the emergence of Netflix out of certain businesses and into live. That's good management. But it's hard. When you've been successful like a Belichick and a Brady and people say, let's change the things you do, it takes a lot of work. coaches I've seen do it.

General managers can do it. It's hard for players. Part of me feels bad for Westbrook. It's easier now because if you go into a gym in America today, a college gym and AAU gym or a high school gym, all those kids are shooting threes. So that is the game they're learning to play. Westbrook has another game.

And right at the ninth hole on this 18-hole course, maybe in the 10th, 11th hole, the course changed, and he's struggling with the pivot. He is completely deteriorated as a player. I feel bad for him. He's like a running back who was the best in the league, and now we're a passing league, and he can't catch. Westbrook can't shoot. I saw this happen with John Wall. I've seen it happen with Derek Rose, and I'm watching it with Westbrook.

And he's so darn athletic and so absolutely relentlessly hyper-athletic, he'll probably go back to OKC. and have a good game. But there's a reason now he's unraveling for the third straight year in the playoffs. Sometimes business moves toward you. I got lucky. I'm an opinionist. That's the thing now. And sometimes business moves away from you.

If you're 55 years old and suddenly you have to know tech and you didn't grow up when you were 8, 18, 28 on devices, You feel like a complete outsider. That Stanford degree, that Harvard degree, doesn't feel as important. We're seeing this all over America. The country due to technology, analytics is changing rapidly. And there's a part of me that feels bad for Westbrook. The sports moved away from him. Russell, we're not into the, we don't watch it, the free throw line, you're not a great show.

Just shoot threes. Kyrie's like, moving toward me. Steph's like, moving toward me. Lillard's like, that's my game. Thompson's like, this is perfect. Russell Westbrook's like, that's not what I do. This has not only happened to Westbrook, by the way. It's

happened to centers who were told their entire life. Do not shoot threes. Carl Anthony Town. Now it's Carl, what are you doing? Back to the basket. Get out there and hoist him up. I can hammer Westbrook all day. And I will criticize him a little later, but there is a part of me.

I should be furious after I lost all that money. But there's a part of me that feels bad for the guy. Because he's deteriorating right in front of our eyes. By the way, when Westbrook came into this league, two teams, two, shot 25 threes a game. Last year, everybody did. The team that shoots the fewest shot 25 a game. Time to pivot.

I just don't think he ever will. Or frankly, I don't think he can. It's too late. Let's shift to this. As you know, join us. perform Big J journalism regularly on this show. Sometimes it's little J one source. We try to do Big J journalism a couple sources.

This is some pretty good Big J journalism. I was told last night from a great source, the Lakers interviewed Monty Williams last night on the East Coast, and he is their number one choice to be their head coach. Monty Williams, the current assistant for the Philadelphia 76ers. That's the Lakers number one choice. They interviewed him and they want him. but they don't know if they're going to get him.

Because Philadelphia wants him, and if Philadelphia loses to Brooklyn in this series, I don't think they will, I think they'll beat him. Or if Philadelphia loses in the next series to Toronto, and I think they may, they struggled with him regular season, then the Sixers are going to get rid of Brett Brown and they're going to hire Monty Williams. And that will leave the Lakers with their second choice, Tailu. Their third, I'm told, is Joanne Howard. That's not news.

So my gut feeling this morning is Ty Lou is the next Laker coach. He is not their first choice. Of course, they will say he's their first choice if they have to hire him. But they're going to wait for the Monty Williams situation to work out. Monty Williams is going to have two offers. Philadelphia is if the Sixers get bagged here in the first round or the second round. If Philadelphia goes to the Eastern Conference finals, then maybe Brett Brown keeps his gig. Philadelphia is not an easy team to coach.

It's got weird chemistry, some immaturity. I'm not sure Jimmy Butler gets along with anybody. I am also told, I'm also told this, that the Lakers already have somebody to replace Magic Johnson. And they are communicating with him, and he is okaying all these moves. He is not currently in the Laker building because he is currently running another team in the NBA

that's in the playoffs. Now, that could be a handful of people. It could be a Michael Winger with the Clippers. It could be Bob Myers with Golden State. Young smart guy in Toronto. There's a couple other guys out there. But that's what I'm told this morning. So the Lakers want Monty Williams.

Ty Lewis second. Monty Williams probably gets the Sixers job, though. Monty Williams, I told, if given the option, would take the Sixers job. He thinks they have more players. He likes the organization. He likes the front office. He likes the ownership. Monty Williams, you know, nobody's going to talk about this publicly.

You're not going to talk as an assistant about the coaching job. But the Lakers want Monty. Tie is second, but my gut is Ty'll get the job. And it should be noted that the Lakers are concerned, and perhaps the reason Ty Lou is not the number one candidate is, because they could hire him today. The Lakers could hire Tyloo today. They could hire him today.

And I'm not sure exactly how the dinner went. last night. I know the Lakers showed very keen interest. Monty Williams may wake up in a couple of days and say, I can't do this. Stories are leaking and they may just go to Tailu. They may not sit around and wait. That's very possible because you're going to see a lot of rumors coming out now about Monty Williams. Monty Williams may not like that it's disrupting the Sixers and Monty Williams may back himself out of this thing and Tailu may get it. My gut is Tailu is going to get this job. But the Lakers, I'm told, are very concerned about the optics that now Tailu LeBron, it's just, it's clutch sports, it's LeBron's team.

They are concerned about that. They do not ideally want that to happen, but they may not have a choice. My gut feeling this morning, Monty Williams is who they want. Tileu is who they will get. And I think the Lakers would wait for Monty Williams, but this story is going to start surfacing with multiple reports. And Monty Williams may not like the distraction. it creates for Brett Brown and the team and may just pull himself out of it.

That's what I was told last night. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where sports slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies,

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And for more, follow Timbo Slices Life 12 in the TikTok podcast. network on TikTok. 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

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Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I'm ever come across. When Jacob met Levin this plant to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax

investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer them? On hurdle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going.

From the WNBA standout Kate Martin and rising hockey star Layla Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't feel on. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ladeke.

The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Because resilience is.

isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. It's very interesting. This Arizona situation, the number one pick in the NFL draft is Arizona. Starts next Thursday.

I love the draft. Total nerd. I admit it. I'm totally into it. This is a weird year. It's mostly great defensive players. The quarterbacks to me are all over. The most electric is Kyler Murray.

And Arizona has a bad old line, and boy, could Kyler Murray fix the offensive line? Totally get it. But I feel like here comes the draft. Here's a new story. And I'm just going to put my opinion down on this so everybody, myself included, I can keep myself accountable on this. I would not trade Josh Rosen. As we get closer to the draft, I get why Cliff Kingsbury and that offensive line. I get people say Kingsbury loves him.

I would not trade Josh Rosen. Story came out yesterday. Car's general manager came out and said, we have not made a decision on number one. That tells you they've got questions about Kyler Murray. If Kyler Murray was as great as everybody keeps telling me, why aren't there multiple teams bidding moving up in the draft to get Kyler Murray? We haven't had a single rumor of that, not one. Arizona's not sure on Kyler Murray. If Sam Darnold was number one, there'd be teams bidding to get him. if Andrew Luck was number one coming out, this kid next year from Oregon, Bobby Herbert, there's a couple kids in college, Justin Herbert from Oregon.

There'd be teams bidding, trading to get up. Nobody's doing that with Kyler Murray so far. The only rumor there's been about Kyler Murray, New York Giants in February, we think he's a little small. So I don't think is the prospect everybody thinks. And the other thing is Arizona said yesterday, Kingsbury said about Josh Rose and his current quarterback. He's been unbelievably phenomenal.

he couldn't have been better through all of this honestly. First one to show up at camp. Engaging, sharp, everybody knows. Can't say enough good things about my interactions with Josh Rosen. Good communication. Pros, pro. I appreciate the most since we've drafted him. The kid is unbelievable amount of mental toughness.

Okay. If you said that about any quarterback, why are you getting rid of him? Okay, I'm not getting rid of Josh Rosen. I'm taking that number one pick. I'm trying to trade down to get more people. Bottom line this year is that we don't have a dominating quarterback. If we did everybody move up to get Kyler Murray and they're not, Arizona's not even decided.

And they have the perfect coach for Kyler Murray. And they're like, eh. The other thing is Kingsbury works with all quarterbacks. This idea that Cliff Kingsbury only works with guys that run around. Do some homework. He works with all his quarterbacks. He's like Kyle Shanahan. They all get better.

He's like Sean McVeigh, Washington, L.A. They all get better. Kingsbury works with all quarterbacks. He elevates all of them, not just guys that run around. So I don't buy that. Patrick Mahomes can move, but he's a pocket guy. So I'll ask the question. A few years ago, I came on the air, and I said, I don't get it.

Jimmy Garoppolo was a number two to Brady, and I kept saying, Joy wasn't on the show yet. I kept saying, this was like a pattern for a year. I'm like, there's eight teams that need a quarterback. Garopolo's better than all the college guys. Why won't anybody trade for him? And finally, San Francisco stole him, and the smart offensive guy in the league, Kyle Shannon, is like, yeah, we're going to give him 27 million.

we've already seen him play. Let me ask a question. I don't understand teams not making bids on Josh Rosen, like big bids. Giants, Miami, Washington, Cincinnati. You don't think Denver this morning wishes they would have made that move on Jimmy Garoppolo? You don't think Miami this morning wishes two years ago that have made that move on Jimmy Garoppolo? The Saints are going to need to quarterback, the Patriots, the Chargers. I got a news for you. If Cam Newton doesn't kick it up this year, they may be looking. Tampa Bay and James Winston. Marcus Moriota and Tennessee. See, Josh Rosen 6-4, high IQ, throws a, they say an Aikman ball. It's perfect.

And oh, by the way, he's free for three years. These teams that passed on Garoppolo, isn't this the same thing? Rosen's been a little banged up and hurt before. People are concerned. Garoppolo in New England had been hurt. There were concerns. Hurt again. But Garopolo can play.

It doesn't take a scientist to figure this. I doesn't take an NFL GM to figure it out. Rosen can play. By the way, the stats last year in Arizona. This was with a coach that got fired mid-season, a coordinator who was over his head and got fired. They were significantly better with Josh Rosen, more than doubled the points, 30% upgrade in total yards, 25% upgrade in passing yards, and they didn't win without him. They won three with him. With a terrible O line, this team's not built for him right now. He needs really good tackles. So I'm putting it now. I'm putting it now. I'm a Josh Rosen guy.

If he endured last year a mess, he had the worst pass blocking line, no running game, a coach fired midseason, a coordinator fired midseason. And his numbers were not terrible. If Kyler Murray is such a great prospect, why aren't teams? Because this is a year in the NFL draft where there's a lot of duplication.

There's a lot of good receivers, but they're all kind of similar. There's no superstar Calvin Johnson, Randy Moss. There's a lot of good defensive linemen. A lot are real close. There's four or five really good edge rushers. There's a lot of duplication in this draft. So if a quarterback was really great, there'd be, there's five teams in the league that need one. I could make an argument nine do if you talk about teams that need somebody in the next two or three years.

I'm sticking with Josh Rosen. And I think ideally, I'll tell you this is interesting. You know, New England's got, well, they're not going to. I'm just, I'm sticking with Josh Rosen. He reminds me a lot of Garoppolo. You've got a guy sitting there and everybody is trying to find the next gem and the kid is right in front of you. And Garoppolo is right in front of you. And don't tell me Kingsbury only works with mobile quarterbacks. Just do your homework. That's not true. He works with all quarterback. What's going on, everybody? John Middell-Koth, three-and-out podcast, brought to you by the Colin

Coward Podcast Network. The draft's right around the corner. You know we're talking. talking all football. Coming up on this show, we're talking Tiger Woods and Tom Brady. What do they have in common besides championships? Russell Wilson, he didn't have as much leverage as you think, but the deal was inevitable. John Middlecock, three and out podcast, let's do it wherever you find your podcast. What makes a great basketball player? I think I disagree. What I think makes a great basketball player is what I think a lot of executives think makes a great basketball player. What I think a lot of fans think is a great basketball player is different. Fans are into stats. The media, I think, I see it differently than the media. The media gave Russell Westbrook

an MVP because of a triple double. Well, he had a triple double last year and didn't get many votes. And this year he averaged the triple double. He didn't get any votes. If the triple doubles that big, why why is he not getting at least a vote? The triple doubles is a stat. I do not think. I do not think it makes you anything other than statistically, statistically captivating and interesting. But I'll give you an example. Was Scotty Pippin a great player? Scottie Pippin's career averages 16 points. He was not a great passer. Six rebounds. But to me, what makes a great player, are you great at something? Scotty Pippen was a great defender. He had great length. He was a great number two. He was a great

finisher. He was incredibly greatly versatile. Scotty Pippin was not a stat monster. Scotty Pippin was a great player in the NBA. His stats offensively will never be close to Westbrook. He is a much better player than Russell Westbrook.

Does stats make the player? I don't think they do. I'll give you another guy. Manu Genoobli is a Hall of Famer. His stats are average. He came off the bench. He won in Argentina. he won in San Antonio. Manu Genoblee is a great player. Scotty Pippen and Manu Genoblee were not great statistically.

By the way, you know who was great statistically? Dominique Wilkins! I take Scottie Pippen over Dominique Wilkins. Dominic Wilkins average 25 a game. Great dunker. Didn't pass. I mean, you think Kauai Leonard doesn't pass? Doesn't elevate others.

Didn't play defense. Didn't have a lot of shooting range. He could dunk and he could score. I think Pippin's better than Neek. And they're both all-timers. I mean, they're both great players. But what makes a great player? I don't buy into the triple double.

It's a fascinating offensive statistic. But I think it can be manipulated. You can goose your stats. And I don't give a rip if my point guard rebounds. I don't care. In fact, I don't want him rebounding. I don't want him around the bigs. I don't want them around the basket.

I want a big to rebound. Get it out to my point guard. who's 18 feet up the floor and let's get moving on the break. I don't want my rebounding point guard. I don't want that. So what makes last year I did a top 10 players in the NBA and I did not include Westbrook. He was like 13th. And I got a ton of pushback.

And so I thought, okay, this year I'll go top 12 players in the NBA. And Westbrook still doesn't make it. And yet he's Mr. Triple Double. I think Kevin Durant's the best player. LeBron will rebound next year and be the second best player. Janice, third, Steph Curry-Harden, Embed, Kauai, Anthony, Davis, Paul, George, Kyrie, Damien, Lillard, and Clay Thompson. By the way, Russell didn't make the 10. He didn't make the 12.

And I also don't include Jimmy Butler because he can't get along with anybody. I'm sorry, it matters. Scotty Pippin and Manu Genoobli were willing to take role. Scottie was willing. He could have been the number one guy in 25 teams. Scotty was like, I'll be the number two. That makes you a great player. Coachability, fit.

Manu could have started for every team, including San Antonio. And he came off the bench. So I ask you, what makes a great player? My stamp is never into the triple double. It can be manipulated. Certain stats, it's almost like when I hear quarterbacks. Oh, Cam Newton. leads the NFL and rushing for quarterbacks.

Great. I'd rather he actually throws strikes from the pocket. There are certain stats I don't want to have. I don't love that Russell Wilson, last several years, has often been the Seahawks leading rusher. But in his defense, they've had no running game. He's had to run for his life. Russell Wilson, when Marshawn Lynch was there, was handing the ball to Marshawn Lynch.

Marchon left, the offensive line deteriorated. Russell was trapped. He was running for his life. Cam's had decent old lines. Cam's had running backs. I don't care if your quarterback leads blank in rushing. We never talk about that with Russell Wilson. I talk about his mobility.

I don't talk about his rushing yards. I don't want Cam leading the NFL in rushing. I don't want my guard getting 11 rebounds a game because he's juicing his numbers. I want him up the floor, letting Stephen Adams grab it, West Sondeld it down the floor, and we got ourselves a two-second fast break, not a five-second fast break. And by the way, Russell, Westbrook's not a great shooter. I would love for him to be up the floor, allowing him more advantages, more number advantages. Big rebound up. Instead, Russell gets the rebound and has to go 94 feet and everybody can catch up,

forcing Russell to shoot perimeter shots. I'd rather Russell get the ball at half court, boom, fly up the court and have number advantages and get more layups and dunks. That's his strength. So, you know, my 12 players in the NBA, it's not a shot at Westbrook. It's just I didn't have him in the 10, to don't have them in the 12. And yes, I have eliminated Ben Simmons from my top 10 and 12. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like.

The NFL schedule is coming out. It's coming out tonight. A bunch of it's leaking. I'm just going to give you, here's some of the things that are currently leaking on the NFL schedule. The Packers at the Bears. That's a rough spot for Green Bay to open the season with a new coach. coach. That is the opening Thursday night game, Packers at the Bears. That's confirmed. This is also

confirmed. Steelers at the Patriots, Sunday night football week one. Those are good TV games. New England always gets those big games in the regular season at home. Doesn't it feel like that? This also confirmed Giants against the Cowboys week one. Sam Darnold and the Jets take on Baker, Mayfield, and the Browns. Monday night football week two. And Chiefs Chargers, Week 11 in Mexico City. be fun those are good teams so we got some we got some games lined up i'll say this the nfl the schedule comes out tonight i don't know how many of you know this one of the reasons the nfl's the number one sport in this country and it's not really that close right like it's not close is we gamble on it a lot okay and it's also perfect for our tv but the one thing the nfl does so brilliantly well is their

schedule. So I have a little insight on this because I know our president here at the company and I knew the other president at the other company. And one of the things they talked about was the NFL is manic about their schedule. They completely lined it up. Do you know baseball's schedule until two years ago? Was done on cards? They didn't use a computer. I'm not joking. Baseball didn't know how to do a base. Sophisticated baseball. They're so smart. They were doing it on cards. Two guys at a Cape Cod. I'm not joking. They weren't using computers.

So you'd have like Cubs Cardinals Tuesday. What? Finally, executives, some at this company, went to baseball and said, you know, we work with the NFL. Like they spend nine months on their schedule. They take it really seriously. You guys ever thought about taking your schedule a little more seriously? Baseball this year's kind of finally figured it out where they're putting these big series always on the weekend.

Yankees Red Soxies Red Sox should be Cubs Cardinals, Dodgers. So the schedule tonight, when it comes out, the NFL more than any league is totally into their schedule. They've got you in mind. They want rivalries on TV games. They manipulate the one o'clock window, the late window. And I think it's a big deal. A lot of people say the NFL schedule doesn't matter. John, you've been working with me long enough.

My theory on the schedule is this. If you don't have what I would call a top 10 quarterback and you face seven, or more pro-bowl quarterbacks, you're not a playoff team. What I look like, what I look at the schedule tonight is how many pro-bowl-level quarterbacks you will face as a team. If you go look at New England over the last decade, the biggest advantage New England has had is quarterback dysfunction in Buffalo, New York, and Miami. There have been good coaches and good players.

New England's had, they've had a quarterback advantage six times a year. here in their own division. That's very difficult to lose. So tonight, that's what I look at. If you have Patrick Mahomes and you only face four to five Pro Bowl quarterbacks, you're a playoff team. I've been pretty good through the years picking playoff teams. If you have Russell Wilson, now Russell Wilson, we know he's going to face golf twice,

and he's going to face Garoppolo twice, and those guys both have great offensive coaches. He's not going four in those games. So I'm looking at quarterbacks and coordinators tonight. How many Pro Bowl quarterbacks do you face? And that tells you generally how things are going to end up. By the way, I can tell you right now, Philadelphia. So Washington doesn't have a Pro Bowl quarterback. Dallas didn't have a Pro Bowl quarterback.

And the New York Giants don't have a Pro Bowl quarterback. So I can tell you right now, Philadelphia gets a break. In division, they don't face a Pro Bowl quarterback. That's a huge break. By the way, New England and Division doesn't face a Pro Bowl quarterback. Huge break. So I'll tell you right now, New England, Philadelphia are winning their divisions. because they both have elite quarterbacks and they don't face any in their division.

Meanwhile, it'll be interesting with Patrick Mahomes. He's got to face Derek Carr twice. He's got to face Philip Rivers twice. So that division is tougher to call. You know, by the way, I would take Andrew Luck to win his division for the next 15 years, but Deshawn Watson, if he's healthy, can play at a pro bowl level. But the big advantage Peyton Manning had and Andrew Luck have had, you know, you got this elevated player and you don't face an equal.

at the quarterback position. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened.

That's where sports slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves. their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real.

From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slices Life 12 in the TikTok podcast. network on TikTok. 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 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, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose

on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app. Search, learn the hard way, and listen now. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back.

Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I'm ever come across. When Jacob met Levan this plant to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast. Life throws hurdles big and small.

The question is, how do you conquer them? On hurdle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going. From the WNBA standout, Kate Martin and rising hockey star, Layla Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain.

It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't feel on. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ladeki. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything.

I can do anything. because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Super Bowl champ with the New York Giants over the New England Patriot seven years ago, drafted by the Dallas Cowboys,

wearing the orange tie to celebrate his Virginia Cavaliers. I acknowledge that Chris Kemp. Kanti. How are you, Chris Kanti? How are you doing? Good to see you. Have been a couple of years. We got a couple of things in here. Russell Wilson's contract, to me, makes me think of Dak, Prescott, and the Cowboys, because this happens a lot in our business and every business. There are kind of market setters. So the market's been set $33 million for a Russell Wilson or an Aaron Rogers. That, I would think, pulls DAC into the $26 million a year range,

and that's a lot of money for Dak, right? That's a whole lot of money for Dak Prescott. Okay, I don't think he's that far removed as a quarterback from Kirk Cousins and 28 for Kirk feels heavy now. Dallas, did the Russell Wilson deal

make life uncomfortable for the Cowboys? Well, I don't think it made it uncomfortable. I think this creates some more gymnastics in terms of being able to work out a long-term deal with Dak Prescott because Dak is looking at it in his first three years as the starting quarterback. They've won the division twice and he's at an opportunity to win a playoff game.

So we've seen that. And looking at what he's been able to do, I think Dak Prescott is one of those quarterbacks that can utilize the talent that's around him, but he's not a quarterback that can elevate the play of everybody around him. That's why Jerry Jones had to make the decision to trade a first-round draft pick to bring in Amari Cooper, somebody else

that could help Dak Prescott along, help that offense. I think we've seen what Dak Prescott is without different smakers on the offensive side of the ball. Six-game suspension for Ezekiel Elliott back in 2017, how the Dallas Cowboys look. They were a three and three ball club, and it was a situation where Dak Prescott had seven total touchdowns to 10 total turnovers.

To me, that's an average quarterback. So I look at Dak Prescott and I say, it's a quarterback that the Dallas Cowboys need because they're in win-now mode, but I don't think it's a quarterback that the Dallas Cowboys can justify paying north of $30 million a year. I don't think that Prescott can take up 15% of your salary cap or more. I think he has to fit in that 10 to 15% range

for Jerry Jones to make sure that he can, can work out some of those other contracts that he has to get on the hook for. You know, Chris, nobody's brought this up, but Dallas has six draft picks. I actually think Jerry needs leverage and doesn't have a ton now because DAC has won the division twice. I think Jerry drafts a quarterback. First of all, I think they need a legit backup. Secondly, I think it gives you a little leverage.

Dallas has an elite number one receiver, an elite back, a top five offensive line, excellent defensive personnel, a number one corner, and the best linebacking duo in the sport. I would not be shocked in the draft. A, they need it and B, it's a little leverage. Their second or third pick, they go pick a quarterback. Just to let, hey, Dak, you're a fourth rounder. Because I think Dallas right now in this negotiation, they don't have a ton of leverage. This is not a good quarterback year.

No, they don't have a ton of leverage, Colin. You're absolutely right with that. But I think that the Dallas Cowboys can't afford to deal with a quarterback that's getting on-the-job training. They're trying to win a championship now. That's what Jerry Jones said at the scouting combine. I don't think they have enough time to be able to break another young quarterback in. I think they've got to ride with Dak Prescott. They've got to dance with the girl that's brought them to this point if they plan on competing for a championship.

If they're going to take that next step, the only problem is with the going rate for the quarterback market, Dak Prescott is looking at it and saying, you know what? I have maximum leverage in this situation just based on the composition of the roster. Because you mentioned it. You got a top five offensive line, not only in performance, but in pay scale. Defensive line, same thing. You're going to have to pay Amarie Cooper his money. You traded a first round drafting for him, so you know that extension is coming.

The bill is going to be due on Jalen Smith and Ezekiel Elliott. At some point, you've got to pay those guys. Byron Jones is another guy you've got to pay. So there are a lot of core guys, key contributors that you've got to take care of, but none of them are going to impact winning to the level that Dack Prescott can just because of the nature of the position. Let's go to the Giants team you played for and won a Super Bowl with. I thought they should have taken Darnold last year, didn't.

So that story moves on. They need a quarterback. I think they'll take one. I don't know if they love Dwayne Haskins. What is your gut feeling on what they do with their two first round picks? I think they have the six in the 17th. Six in the 17th. What do you think the Giants do?

Well, I think they should take Dwayne Haskins. But I actually talk to somebody in the organization. And currently the Giants are leaning on taking a position player at six. and then coming back and getting the quarterback with the latter of the two first-round draft picks. To me, the quarterback position is not one of those positions where I want to settle for second best. And clearly, if you wait until 17, you're getting what's left over. There are going to be teams that are trying to position themselves to get to the top of this draft to be able to take one of those quarterbacks in the top 10.

And that's typically where we see franchise quarterbacks drafted, right, Colin? Yeah. You're talking about first-round draft picks at the quarterback position. There are 21 of them. 21 starters out of the 32 starting quarterbacks are first round draft picks, and the majority of those quarterbacks are in the top 10. That's where you see franchise quarterbacks drafted. So to me, it makes sense if you have that type of draft capital to go ahead and make the move

to get the very best quarterback prospect available. Yeah, I like Haskins too, although I don't think he's much of an athlete. I don't like it when he moves. I think he needs a clean pocket. And I think with the offensive line play deteriorating over the last five years with a new CBA, I don't think you get clean pockets. And that's what worries me. I think Dwayne Haskins was built for about 15 years ago

when you got longer practice, better offensive lines. There's so many battle lines in this league now, Chris. I worry about Haskins being forced to move. You know, I was talking about this, how Russell Westbrook, the games moved away from him. Now, shoot three, shoot threes. It's great for Kyrie. It's great for Damien Lillard.

The NFL now is can you move as a quarterback? Can you reset? There's no good old lines. There's like four in the league. And I think Haskins is a guy. that if you ask him to reset, move around, and throw, I think he's a limited guy. Well, here's the thing. I don't necessarily need Kyler Murray to be my quarterback. What I'm looking for is functional mobility, the ability to manipulate the pocket and buy that extra second of time

so your receiver can uncover downfield. From what I've seen in Duane Haskins, granted a small sample size, he's capable of being able to do those things, and he can make off-platform throws. He doesn't have to necessarily have the clean pocket in order to deliver the football down the field with accuracy. That's one of the things that I saw as the season progresses, he got better at doing. And then, of course, him in the pre-draft process, some of the things that we've seen throwing to other NFL caliber receivers. But, yeah, if I'm the New York Giants, I want to give myself the very best chance to be able to hit on the potential successor for Eli Manning.

And to me, that doesn't mean waiting until the 17th overall pick. Chris Canty, former New York Giants Super Bowl seven years ago against New England, drafted by the Cowboys and a Virginia Cavalier, wearing the orange, the pride of the calves, Tony Bennett, won the national championship. Aaron Rogers is very interesting. I actually think he'll rebound. I think the Packers have done a really smart job.

About two years ago, they realized they were going to have to pay Aaron a lot of money, and they got ahead of it. And they went heavy drafting corners. This year, they went mid-level free agents. I think they have two first-rounders this year. I think they may go defense with both, allowing cheap labor on the defensive side as we're paying Aaron a ton. I think Green Bay got ahead of this.

Not sure Seattle did with Russell Wilson. He kind of put a deadline on him. The question becomes, Aaron's a very strong personality. How does 35-year-old never been a head coach, been a coordinator, Matt LaFleur, work with maybe the strongest personality at quarterback in this league? Well, I think you might have to look at it the other way around. I think there's a lot of pressure on Aaron Rogers to make this work because the organization has gotten rid of all the excuses

as to why Aaron Rogers can't have success at the highest level. I think it comes down to, okay, you had friction with your head coach Mike McCarthy. We moved on from him. Okay, you didn't like that the organization, Ted Thompson, their general manager, wasn't aggressive in pro-free agency, moved on from him. Brian Gutakuntz, what did we see from him? He was aggressive in going out and getting Zadaria Smith and Preston Smith to add to that defense.

And you mentioned the trend and what they're doing draft-wise the last several years. They've been investing on that side of the ball. The knock on the Green Bay Packers was they're asking Aaron Rogers to do too much. Now they're trying to fortify that defense. They're trying to improve that side of the ball so Aaron Rogers doesn't have to win a 35-31 shootout every single week. And so for me, I look at this and say the pressure has to be shifted to Aaron Rogers in order to deliver because they've made the decision to side with him and invest in everything around him so he can

have success. And oh, by the way, we gave you a contract extension paying your $34 million a year last summer. so now you have to produce. Finally, Arizona. I said earlier today, I'd stick with Rosen. I think Kingsbury works with any quarterback. I don't think he just works with a runaround guys. I think he's a really, I think he's McVeigh.

I think he's Shanahan. I think there's certain offensive guys. They just elevate the position. They just make guy, Shanahan worked with Matt Schaub, Matt Ryan, Garoppolo moves a little. What would you do if you're Arizona? Well, I think you'd do everything to empower you new head coach. Steve Kime swung and missed on Steve Wilkes last year. I think it wasn't a fair shake for Steve Wilkes,

but you made the decision to move on. You wanted to get a young offensive mind in there to work with what we thought was your young franchise quarterback and Josh Rosen. But now that Cliff Kingsbury is in there, you have to talk to him and give him the autonomy to make this type of evaluation and ultimately the decision on who the quarterback for his system is going to be. Now, on the surface, it feels like Kyler Murray

is a better fit for Cliffs Kingsbury offense than Josh Rosen. But ultimately, you have to do what your head coach wants to do if you're Steve Kahn because you've made some mistakes in terms of constructing this organization and this roster. It's probably the least talented roster in the NFC West, and it's been that way for several years now. So if you're Steve Kime, you've got to do everything that you can to get your head coach in a position where you can have as much success as possible. Great seeing you again. Chris Kanti, Giant Cowboy, Raven, and Virginia Cavalier. Hope we see more of you, man. I appreciate you having me on. I've been seeing you on first things first. Great

guys. Chris, Nick, Jenna, those guys are great. On more herd, the herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart radio app. Search herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where sports slice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headlines.

and we're going straight to the source the athletes themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more,

follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman

help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and 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. Life is full of hurdles. So how do you keep going? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we're talking with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, from professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions, about the challenges that shape them and the mindset that keeps them moving forward. At our level, at this scale,

being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports.

I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on, a Mormon polygamist, and an army. Armenian businessman. Multi-million dollar house,

Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud

on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.