The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Best of The Herd: 08/05/2019

Episode Date: August 5, 2019

After watching Baker Mayfield's beer drinking skills, Colin says the Browns are the best frat house in the NFL which is always great in September but falls apart by the end of the semester.  He thinks Dak needs Amari Cooper more than he needs Zeke to succeed.  Plus, FOX NFL Insider Peter Schrager tells Colin which young QB will be this year's Patrick Mahomes.  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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Thanks for listening to The Best of Heard Podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday. From 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for The Herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the IHeartRadio app by searching Herd. This is the best of the herd with Colin Cowherd on Fox Sports Radio. Ah, here we go on a Monday. This is The Herd, wherever you may be and however you may be listening. We are live in Los Angeles on IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1, one hour from now.

Absolutely packed. Collins right, Collins wrong. We have a ton of both. And Joy Taylor is joining me on a Monday. We are officially now. In the middle of the first week of August, there's football games being played. We're rolling now, right? We are.

It's here. It's back. It's back. And, well, you know what I got a lead with today? Let me guess. So Baker Mayfield yesterday or this weekend in a Cleveland Indians game. And the camera goes on him, and Baker's a quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. He's there with his lovely watch.

and his new mustache. And they take a picture of him with a beer, and he takes a beer, and then he realizes the camera's on. He goes, throw me a beer, and he bites into it, and he rips it open. And it's very funny. And, you know, he points to his jersey. And, of course, Cleveland loves him because it's Cleveland. This is a franchise that hasn't had any fun at quarterback for 30 years.

And Baker Mayfield's a lot of fun. And he's a showman. And he was waiting for that moment because he knew they'd put him on camera, just like the underwear ads before. the season started and the Cleveland Indians had fun with it and they went to Twitter and social media because they haven't won a World Series since like ever and they're making fun of me and they knew I would overreact to it but I'm not going to overreact to it because Colin what's your reaction to this? Baker Mayfield is perfect for

Cleveland. This is an organization where Peyton Hillis of fullback was a really big deal. They don't celebrate championships. They don't celebrate division titles. Right now they just want to celebrate. We got a new quarterback and he wants to be one of us and we would shotgun beers because it's Cleveland and he's perfect for Cleveland because everybody that's famous in Cleveland, he gets really good leaves. LeBron twice, the Rockefellers, Drew Carey, Joe Walsh of the Eagles, hell the Browns left, Mani Ramirez, C.C. Samathia. Of course Cleveland's putting their arms around him. Yes. Now, if I was Baker Mayfield, one in five against winning teams with a rookie head coach who's never even been hired as a coordinator.

If you take two games out of Baker last year against the atrocious Bengals where he had seven touchdowns and no picks, his numbers were really, really average. Even for a rookie quarterback, they were pretty average. But be that as it may. This morning, Cleveland and Baker feel like the NFL's best frat house. best parties, best beer chuggers, a lot of alpha, the funniest guys. Of course, like the Browns, the plumbing hasn't worked at that frat house in 28 years. And I'd never ever want to live in a frat house. But the best time for a frat house, you guys know what it is.

Now, I'm not going to speak for women and sororities, but the best time for a frat house is rush week. September! No big midterms yet. No big finals net. The front door is still on its hinges. They're throwing the best parties. The weather is perfect. Everybody still qualified for school.

Nobody's been thrown out yet. It's rush week at the NFL's best frat house. Of course, the frat house is not where you want to be during finals week, otherwise known as January in the NFL. That's when the Steelers flourish and the Patriots flourish and the Eagles flourish. And guys like Belichick and Andy Reed and Sean McVeigh flourish. No, no, no, no, no, no. You don't want to be the best frat house during finals week.

And that's what matters in the NFL, not September. But I will say, O Delta Baker is a hell of a frat house here in Rush Week. But if you ever watch those movies with frat houses, think about all the great frat house movies you've watched. You ever notice what they're always about? the frat guys due to bad behavior trying to keep the house. The school wants to take it back. The local municipalities want to take it back.

So congratulations. I thought Baker looked like he was a little too good at that beer chugging, a little too good for my franchise quarterback, one in five against winning teams, but it's Cleveland. Stars leave. He's showing he loves you. He's part of you. I'm one of you.

I'm wearing your jersey. I drink beer like you. I chug like you. You're mine. I'm yours. And of course, it's Cleveland. Of course, that has massive impact and feels so wonderful. And right now, they are the coolest frat on campus, which is the best place to be during rush week.

September. Nobody's flunked out yet. I'll take the Steelers. Patriots. chiefs, Colts, Eagles, and Rams during finals week. Let me shift to this. So Dallas Cowboys, Zeke is still holding out. Zeke is running back Ezekiel Oliott.

He's a very, very good player. And I will say this about Zeke. He's been a headache off the field, a circus since he arrived, day one. But Jerry Jones has a high level of tolerance for dysfunction. And there are certain jobs where that's really important. If you were managing a rock band in the 70s and 80s and 90s specifically, a high level of tolerance for dysfunction would be a very valuable asset. Ever watch those shows, VH1 behind the music?

And you'd watch that and think, oh, my God, somebody had to manage this train wreck? But there's a guy out there or a woman out there that managed rock bands. and they had a high level of tolerance for dysfunction. I would say camp counselors, people who run daycare centers, no explanation needed, high level of tolerance for dysfunction. Jerry Jones, an owner of a football team, has a high level of tolerance. He talked about the holdouts. He's been through dozens of them and listened to his calm demeanor.

You just know that like so many things, it'll happen. It'll happen. There literally is no concern on my part at all about any time frame. That'll happen. The results are too good for them and too good for the cowboys. Think about it a minute. The results are too good for them and too good for the cowboy. That always happens when it's good, that good for both of them.

Take a deep breath. We're going to be okay. He's good. I've got tolerance. I've been through a lot. It's good for our business, good for his business. We'll get it done. But I want to add some context here. It is of my opinion, and perhaps my opinion only, that Dak Prescott, like a lot of young people, men and women in life, was a bit of a late bloomer and improved a lot at the end of last year, seven and one in his last eight games. It is also of my opinion that his numbers improved more with Amari Cooper than Zeke. It is of my opinion that there is a belief in America that DAC needs Zeke. And my opinion is, DAC actually matches better with Amari Cooper.

In fact, I've been putting up this graph, sorry radio audience, for about two weeks. This is DAC before and after the Amari Cooper trade. So before they landed Amari Cooper, DAC was 3 and 4 after 7 and 2. He completed 62 before Amari Cooper, 71 after. Eight touchdowns, four interceptions before Amari Cooper. 14 touchdowns, four interceptions after Amari Cooper. But you know what's funny about that graph, Joy?

You know what's really, really funny about that graph? The before column, Zeke was with DAC, and he was just okay. You believe you keep lecturing me on DAC needs Zeke. Well, I've got the numbers last year when he had Zeke and didn't have Amari. And they were at below 500 team. So why would that be? Why do we believe this? There's an old saying, and I've used it a couple of times,

you're looking through the wrong end of the telescope here. because really horrible things leave an imprint. You can remember the fight you got in with your sister, dad, mom as a kid. Eight years old, you're 35, you still remember it. I'm 55. I can remember crying getting off a school bus. Kids making fun of me. I was like seven.

I'm now mid-50s. The bad moments in your life, breaking an arm, falling off a stool, a fight, getting cut from a high school team, getting an F in high school. Those bad memories resonate last forever. They never go away. I was just hiking this weekend with a buddy. We're talking about, isn't it random, the things that stick in your mind as a child? It's like, yeah, it's always like the scariest moment, the saddest moment, the most hurtful moment, the most terrifying moment. The good stuff, you don't remember all that, but the bad stuff you remember.

So a couple of years ago, Zeke was suspended. And Dak, the first three games without Zeke, oh my Lord, they were terrible. DAC was terrible. But you're not remembering it quite right. Like those baseball players who looked at Congress and said, you're misremembering it. You're misremembering those games. Dak then stabilized and went 3-0 in the next 3 without Zeke.

They scored 38, 30, 20. Yes, they average 30 points a game for three straight games without Zeke and just Dak and no Amari either. By the way, Zeke came back. They lost. And for the record, Dak is way better today

than two years ago. Amari is who he needs. I've got the numbers. You've got them. I love that Jerry Jones has tolerance. I love it for all this dysfunction. But this idea that

Dak can't flourish, Dak can't win, It should be noted that when Zeke was gone for a suspension, they were also missing a left tackle, Tyron Smith, who at the time was perceived, and probably rightly so was the best left tackle in football. I'll say it again. It is of my opinion. Dak is getting better. Dak needs Amory more than Zeke.

It is of my opinion you could get a haul for Zeke. It is of my opinion. He's crazy now without money. Like Antonio Brown, there are certain guys that get money and kind of change, and it does worry me. with Zeke and not DAC and not Amari. Again, start looking at the personality, start looking at the data, start looking through the right end of the telescope.

I'll say it again, congrats on having an owner in Dallas who is tolerant of dysfunction. But I think Dak's better and Dak needs Amari more than the narrative that he is completely beholden to Ezekiel Elliott. 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.

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on the IHeart Radio app, podcast wherever you get your podcast. So last year at this time, Peter Schrager, Fox Sports, NFL Insider, said Patrick Mahomes is the next great star in this league. And we all knew he was talented,

but he had gone to Chief's camp and he's like, trust me on this, Patrick Mahomes is going to blow up the league. And we were all like Peter, Peter's been drinking a little bit in the summer. Well, Peter was right. And he joins us now via the Coward Global Satellite Network. Okay, Shregs, last year you're 1 and O and you're feeling good.

You got that summer tan. So let's make it 2-0. Who is the young breakout star this year in the NFL? I love it, Colin. Thank you for those props. Let me now ruin all that with a prediction that I will be held accountable to all season. Same thing. Been around, been talking to everybody.

and my phone does not stop lighting up about Kyler Murray. I think Kyler Murray is going to be a sensation in this league from day one. And it's not just me. It's everyone out of Arizona, whether it be the general manager, the head coach, or the skill position players who have seen quite a few of quarterbacks come through that building. Kyler apparently is light years ahead of where they thought he was going to be. And right now the NFL is talking about Baker and talking about my homes. And obviously Sam Darnold has a great bright future.

and everyone likes Josh Allen. But I think we come right out of the gates, Kingsbury's offense, five wide, you know, the spread offense, and Kyler is already a master and a maestro with what it is. And we haven't gotten hurt yet. We haven't been through the full season. Everything that I'm hearing is that from September to at least mid-October, Kyler Murray's going to like this league on fire. And I just, I feel like he was drafted.

And because they're in the 30th market or 31st media market, we haven't really talked much about Kyler. he is the rare rookie starting from day one with no competition and a head coach building an entire offense from scratch around him. I think we're about to enjoy quite a rocket here. And I just want you to get on early here in August. The Kyler Murray Lightning Rod is about to start. Well, they need it. I mean, Arizona's in the NFC.

Fox has the NFC. We've said they're one of the few teams that hasn't even been interesting to watch in the NFC last couple of years, so I'm excited for it. Now, is there a team to you? And I was thinking about this. I was literally flying back home last night, and I was thinking, the NFC is so good that I picked Atlanta to get to the Super Bowl last year. And nobody's talking about Atlanta.

And I'm thinking, Lord, the NFC is so loaded. We have just literally the Falcons are like on nobody's radar. And this team has got a stacked roster and a very good coach and quarterback. Is there a team to you, Shraggs, that you're like, you're not paying attention to these guys. Who's going to shock us? Okay, so I don't know if it's a Super Bowl prediction or anything. At the very least, intrigue-wise, I'm fascinated by what the Baltimore Ravens did this offseason.

They put all their eggs in this Lamar Jackson basket. And, Colin, I know you like people who think outside the box. You would love to see a good TED talk or whatever's going on in Silicon Valley. How about John Harbaugh winding the clock back 50 years in bringing out a wingtie or a wishbone formation? They're all in on the run in a league that is all. about passing right now. The entire league is going one way. They're zinging. The Ravens decided to completely

zag another. I don't know if it works. I do know that they have four tight ends on their roster that are going to play. I do know that they got rid of Crabtree and John Brown, who were their top two-wide receivers last year. And I do know that they added Mark Ingram to a backfield that was already really good.

This is a team that is going in a direction that no other team in the league is going on offense. And I'm just interested. I'm not saying they are going to work. I'm not going to say they're going to be better than the Steelers or the Browns. I'm just fascinated because in 2019 in the year of everyone throwing for 5,000 yards

and airing it out and big, tall, wide receivers winning the day for you, they're going with a running quarterback who really struggled in the playoffs against the Chargers once a team saw him for the second time that time around. I'm fascinated. John Harbaugh's all in. He's got the extension, and they're

putting all their eggs in a running offense with very little passing danger to it. It's very, very, very, very, very, very Silicon Valley, but it's almost like they're going backwards in time. I just want to see if it works. Well, New England, Bill Belichick told a friend of mine who's close to the Patriots. I used to live out there and made enough contacts. He said Belichick has told people, we're going to be better than last year.

We're going to be deeper. We're going to be younger. He goes, there's some individual players and pieces we lost. But Belichick has told people, this will be my perhaps most athletic team I have had in a long time. What do you make of the Brady deal? How it's constructed. I guess they didn't save some cap space I was just reading in the contract. What did you make of the whole deal?

Yeah, Colin, he's going to be the sixth highest paid quarterback this year. And what I think is so interesting is, you know, we could talk about Belichick's mastery of defense and offense and managing personnel. And that's fine. We could talk about Brady. The real advantage that New England has is the relationship between Brady and Kraft, where that Brady will not break the bank every time around. I was at the Combine in February, and his contract's looming. opposing official from a different team tell me, just wait till Brady comes and says,

hey, I finally deserve mine because they won't be able to say no. And guess what? He didn't do that. This is a long-term relationship that's going to go well beyond football. When Kraft bought the Patriots, he bought them for $175 million. They were recently valued by Forbes at $4.3 billion. And Tom Brady is one of the main reasons why. They live in a very similar neighborhood in Brookline, Massachusetts.

They talk all the time. the Kraft family is as tight with Brady as any owner is to a player, maybe in the history of the sport. So I say all that because if Brady doesn't take it all up front, and you could say, well, Giselle makes all this money, it's fine. Just know that when Brady eventually does want to call it a career, that relationship is going to exist long beyond football. Brady will be a part of the craft circuit, and that's what they know. And it's almost an understanding. I don't think anything happened here that's nefarious.

I think that exactly what he's making is what he's making. I am just saying Tom Brady may be with the craft family and business in some way for the next 40 years of his life. Yep. So if he makes $25 million this year as opposed to $35 million, there's nothing lost. It is the greatest advantage that they have as a team to anybody. They don't have to pay Brady what Rogers has to be paid by Green Bay or what the Seahawks have to pay Russell Wilson. Now they could pay that $10 million elsewhere. What an advantage to have as a team building a roster.

By the way, Shreg's a couple of minutes left. Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, there's been a lot of news. Karim Hunt, Tyreek Hill. It's been a little rocky. I think their Super Bowl window, though, is open for 10 to 12 years. You called it last year. Some are suggesting a little step back. And by the way, the AFC, you can make an argument.

The Colts will be better. The Steelers more focused. Cleveland's a real team. New England's younger. What do you predict for the Chiefs this year? Here's the thing with the Chiefs, Colin. Everyone's predicting regression for Mahomes. Well, he threw 50 touchdowns in 5,000 yards last year.

but now there's a book on them. Here's the issue. If you look at the plays that Mahomes made, there's no way a book could have stopped a no-look pass or a throw that goes 80 yards off one leg. That doesn't get solved by watching film. Furthermore, usually when these teams are good, let's take the Eagles two years ago.

The offensive coordinator, Frank Wright, gets plucked by the Colts. The quarterbacks coach, John D. Philippo, gets plucked by the Vikings. They have what they call a brain drain, meaning all of the coaches go and take bigger jobs. Guess what? Andy Reid's still there.

Eric B. Enamee, the offensive coordinator is still there. Mike Kafka, the former Northwestern quarterback, he's the quarterback's coach in Kansas City. He's still there. If anything, they added talent on offense and they bring back all the same coaches. And you can't really solve Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid by watching a lot of film. This isn't some fluke offense. This isn't Chip Kelly with the spread. This is a freak of nature who's got a bunch of stallions at wide receiver and a really good coach calling the plays.

I don't think it's crazy to say Mahomes throws 50 touchdowns and 5,000 yards again. and I don't think it's crazy to say that they're even better than the one seed they were last year that they go a step further. So I'm all in on the Chiefs. I'm pushing all my chips in. That was with Tyree Kill or without Tyree Kill. And oh, yeah, he's on the field. Chiefs are going to be awesome this year.

There's no way you can tell me that with bringing everybody back, all the coaches and players and having Mahomes at quarterback, they're suddenly going to regress because, well, that's just what's supposed to happen. Yeah, Shregger's, I actually agree. I think that division, by the way, is all sorts of crazy at the top with the Chargers and the Chiefs. Peter Schreger also does a show called Good Morning Football in the NFL Network, co-author of the New York Times bestseller out of the blue. Good talking to you, buddy.

You're the best. Can't wait to get back on Fox NFL kickoff with you, Colin. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. All right, Colin Wright, Colin wrong on a Monday. Fire away. Where Colin was right? Tom Brady signs a new deal. Six highest paid quarterback. This is what Drew Breeze does. When you stop seeking validation, having to be once you have $200 million in the bank, the highest paid blank,

you help your team. It's a league with a hard cap. I've said this about Brady. The two things that need to be written about Brady that have always been underreported. Number one is he's incredibly coachable. He's willing to be coached. Number two is he is willing to not be the highest paid

second, third, fourth, fifth. But his wife is rich. Yes. Guess what? Every star in every major league in this country has a net worth of over $100 some million. It's not about that. Once you stop worrying about the ego,

if I've got to be, Tom's well compensated, but Tom knows it's a hard cap. Tom knows I want another defensive end, linebacker, kicker, corner. That's his greatness, and it's always been underreported. Willingness to be coach,

willingness to get over himself. Where Colin was wrong. Warriors wrapped up Draymond Green over the weekend. That was a wow for me. I thought it was going to be a disruption. I thought they were going to have a tough decision to make. I mean, the guy averaged seven and seven last year in the regular season. But now you wake up this morning and they've got Steph, Clay, Dray, Draymon, Kvon-Luny,

and a very good player-slash-asset in DeAngelo Russell, Steve Kerr and Bob Myers. That's good. I'm good with that. I'm good with that. I do think they'll eventually move off DeAngelo Russell. But to lock down Draymond Green, let's be honest, this is nothing against KD, but Draymond, Steph and Clay are the soul of the organization. They have been They're the guys. This is their organization. I still think they have to be a strong favorite to get to the Western conference finals. I don't know where they go from beyond there, but I have him third best in the West,

second, depending on how fast the Lakers can get their act together. Where Colin was right? First college football coaches poll came out. Clemson 1, Bama 2. They got all 65 coaching votes. a shock. Whenever I hear people, a lot of times in the South go, the NBA's too predictable. Really, college football's not? What do you bet Bama wins the SEC and Clemson wins the ACC? By the way, Clemson and Bama are the only teams in their respective conferences in the last three years that have

a winning record against top 25 teams. College football is more interesting when it's not completely regional. There's nothing against Abbeau-Sweeney. It's nothing against Nick Sabin. But I would love to see a Michigan, a Washington, a Texas. Somebody, somebody out of that, maybe a Penn State, maybe a Notre Dame. College football, last year ratings were down. It's not because the quality of the play is diminished. It's become incredibly regional. Where Colin was wrong.

I've never been a big believer in paying wide receivers, but I am a big believer in watching cultural changes and rule changes, and Michael Thomas sign a $100 million deal. My takeaway is, yeah, he's worth it. 20 million a year in that system, that quarterback, that coach, that O line, he's worth it. The reality is, the game has changed. Analytics have made life worse for centers in the NBA and worse for running backs. But analytics have been great for wide receivers. The rule changes have been great for wide receivers. And Michael Thomas is a

hundred plus catch guy. And you're guaranteed, this is why I would pay him, you're guaranteed production because of the quarterback Drew Brees, the offensive line which is top three in the league, and also because you have one of the great play designers in the NFL and Sean Peyton. So this is one of these receivers now are often worth the big money. I didn't feel that two years ago. I would have paid Michael Thomas. Where Colin was right? Antonio Brown is really talented, but man, he is a lot of noise.

The hot air balloon. Now he's not showing up to camp. He took a couple of shots at teammates, ex-teammates a couple of months ago. Listen, if you look at the history of the NFL, Superstar wide receivers almost never work with their second team. The team that drafts them knows the odometer. There's a relationship, a paternal family relationship. If that erodes and they go elsewhere for big money, it generally doesn't work.

The expectations are unrealistic. And the player often goes to unfamiliar territory, gets a lot of money, and doesn't maybe have as good a quarterback. So John Gruden, over the weekend, A.B.'s not in camp. He's got a foot issue. Here we go again. I think we're all disappointed. We think he's disappointed. We like to get the party started. We like to get him out here. He's a big part of this team. Here's another thing. Sometimes you pay a guy and they change. I think A.B.'s changed. He's had teammates say that. Where Colin was wrong. Man, the praise is constant and effusive for Kyler Murray.

I said, I hope it works. I don't know if I would have done it. Larry Fitzgerald, the staff, the team, the media. People say Kyler Murray has been a seamless transition at quarterback. You know, it'd be easy for me to say, you know, I'll believe it when I see it. But generally, when you start hearing stories in camp about, remember Dak Prescott, people were like, oh, he's pretty good. Patrick Malhombs, he is pretty good. Aaron Rogers.

We've seen him at practice. He's pretty good. Generally, people aren't making it up. Here was Larry Fitzgerald talking about the rookie, Tyler Murray. Well, I've never seen a quarterback coming in so quickly and be able to command an offense. I mean, from day one, he's out there checking the different plays, sliding in line, different protections, getting us in screens where Blitz is coming.

I mean, so his understanding of the offense is crazy, I mean, from day one. And I think that's going to give us a great advantage. It'll play fast from the first preseason game all the way to the start of the regular season. And giving him the keys to the car and letting them go is great for us. By the way, the underreported part of this is Lincoln Riley, the coach of Oklahoma. I had a scout tell me that when Baker Mefield sat down for the first time, went on the whiteboard, it was like he could teach a master's class. And they said, Sam Darnold could not.

He said, look at USC's coaching. They fired their coordinator. Look at Oklahoma's coaching. Let's be honest. Lincoln Riley, if you're a high school quarterback and you want to learn an offense, Baker and Kiner now walk into this league and can go to a whiteboard and teach class. That college coach in Oklahoma deserves some credit. Where Colin was right.

I've always said ownership in the NFL or NBA, pay attention to it. Todd Haley, the former Browns coach, admitted that Jimmy Haslam, the owner for the Browns, didn't see anything wrong doing hard knocks as they brought in Hugh Jackson and Haley drafted a quarterback to turn around the organization. The quote from Todd Haley was, I went to the owner Jimmy Haslam. When John Dorsey told me they were doing the show, I was like, you've got to be kidding me. We're trying to make a drastic change, turn it around. This is a wrong thing to happen.

I told the Brown's owner, Jimmy, this is a mistake. Don't do it. This has been my concern with Cleveland. It's not the roster. Did they hire Freddie Kitchens because he won't push back on John Dorsey? The owner's a billionaire. He couldn't figure out this was an awful idea. The Raiders, I know why they're doing hard knocks.

We all know why. They're trying to sell tickets in Vegas. It's not about football. But what Todd Haley told you is my concern about Cleveland. The guys that own the team and run the team can't figure out basic stuff, which is hard knocks, rookie quarterback, new coaches, Owen 16, this is how you want to turn things around. Where Colin was wrong.

David Griffin unloaded on LeBron Friday. Gotta be honest. I was always told they were boys, tight, friends, guys. Now, David Griffin has come out and said, hey, I'm sorry about that. Let me clarify it. But, I mean, I was actually shocked. I'm not shocked a lot in my business. But when David Griffin came out and kind of dropped the anvil on LeBron saying he was miserable in Cleveland,

LeBron didn't feel the same way about winning. My takeaway is, oh, I missed on that one. I never saw that coming. That's a total surprise. Now, he's clarified his comments since, but not that this story was a surprise, that it was miserable in Cleveland, but that David Griffin would deliver it totally shocked me.

Where Colin was right? Baker Mayfield chugging beers. It's not the end of the world. But I've always said, the thing I worry about Baker Mayfield, He's got to win the moment. So here was another. You're on television.

Ah, let me grab the beer can and win the moment. It's not the end of the world. Cleveland loves it. Of course they love it. What I worry about Baker Mayfield is this. The funny quote, respond on Twitter. Chug the beer. I got to win the moment.

I just don't see Russell Wilson doing that. I don't see Andrew Luck doing that. I don't think Sam Darnold does it. But I wasn't shocked at all that Baker Mayfield did it, because I think he's a win-the-moment guy. Where Colin was right? Finally, Zion Williamson, as predicted, is already a star. So the NBA schedule is leaking out bit by bit. The Christmas Day game, which is the biggest game to start the season, Zion's on national TV.

Oh, by the way, the opening game, Zion takes on the defending champs, the Toronto Raptors. I said from day one, the magnetism, this kid's Magic Johnson with power around the basketball. He's different. He's handsome. He's fun. He's optimistic. He's likable. And for a kid that's all that athletic, he's kind of relatable. He said, I want to stay at Duke for another year. I would, except it's time to go pro. The magnetism he brings in. Give the NBA credit. They're not waiting around on this thing. Opening night, boom. He faces the defending champs. Christmas Day, let's put him on against who ebbs. He's a star. The NBA is always doing a great job to embrace. their stars? I mean, can you imagine baseball? You know, a 17-18-year-old comes into baseball, and the sport says, hey, he's our newest rock star. Let's put him on the opening game. Are you kidding me? Lord, this is what baseball could learn from basketball. When you get something new and fresh, don't fight it, don't push back, celebrate it, embrace it, put your arms around it, and mark it the you-know-what out of it, forcing guys like me to talk about your newest stars.

Mike calling wrong. 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. 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 beaders 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 Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slic Life 12 and 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? 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 iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the hard way and listen now.

What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, The Cliverts show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me. He goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her.

What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue with 42. A rep, mom, I'm a one. I want you to wave at her. What? Where's he at? Hey, Miss Parker.

Listen to the Clippers show on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. American soccer is about to explode. The World Cup is coming. Ramos sending on to Ernie Stewart the Chip. I'm Tad Ramos. I'm Tom Boe. On our podcast, Inside American Soccer,

you'll get the real storylines. I'm not worried about policing. I'm not worried about Balligan. I'm not worried about McKinney. My only concern is what happens in the back. The biggest decisions. If you're going to look at stats and numbers, he has no shot at making this World Cup team.

And the truth about the U.S. national team. It wouldn't be a huge surprise if our team ends up in the quarterfinals or potentially a great run into the semifinals. The World Cup is almost here. Experience it all with us. Listen, inside American soccer with Tom Bogart and Tab Ramos on the iHeart Radio app.

Apple Podcasts wherever you get your podcast. Call it the three-word game and best for last that I believe you can describe sports teams in three words. It forces you to narrow in on what really matters for every team. I don't think most teams are that complex. They have strengths. They have liabilities. And so we do the three-word game. You guys ready for it for the AFC?

We'll do NFC tomorrow. But we'll start with AFC, every team, every division. Here we go. AFC East, Patriots, somehow getting younger. Yes, Brady turns 42. But Gronk retired, not only were their first five draft picks this year play. They drafted not only talent but neat. But three of their top four draft picks last year, very good players got hurt.

They will have an infusion of eight years. young players joining what was a Super Bowl winning team. I really think, and Belichick has told friends this, this will be his youngest, most talented and athletic team in the last several years. Yeah, Brady's old, but he'll be surrounded by some really talented youth. Dolphins. Fits of Delusion, as in Ryan Fitzpatrick, who is leading in the quarterback battle over Josh Rosen. Listen, Ryan Fitzpatrick has started for seven other franchises. He is hot and cold. He's the

definition of a backup quarterback. He's not consistently great, but if your starter goes down for two weeks, he'll give you one great performance. The question begs, though, what's the point? This is a rebuilding franchise that needs to figure out if Josh Rosen, like all the other quarterbacks drafted a year ago, is ready. I say throw Rosen in. How about, Jets double their wins. Adam Gase, Lavian Bell, C.J. Maudley, Jameson Crowder. I don't think any team in the NFL from general manager, coach, offensive line, star running back star linebacker, has improved themselves more than the Jets. Now, the giants are so loud in New York, they're stealing all the thunder, and Baker Mayfield is such a showman that Baker is getting a lot more press than Sam Darnold.

But this is a real football team now that has solved their primary weakness. O-line, offensive ingenuity, and running back. Also added C.J. Mosley, one of the most dependable tacklers in the NFL, along with Jamal Adams, Leonard Williams, and their top draft pick. I think it's a team that goes to eight wins, doubling last year's total. Bills! All on Allen. It's about Josh Allen. He wasn't very good last year. He's the wild pony we predicted.

He's got a little big Ben. He can run around, throw it down field, but last year completed less than 53% of his throws. I actually like the coaching staff in Buffalo, and I think their defense has some talent, but you've got to be all on Allen. How about AFC South? Texans.

Deshawn, DeAndre, defense. Listen, they lost their first three games, and then went and finished 11 and 5. Okay, that's fairly remarkable. They've got a great young quarterback and a great ride receiver, and I like their defensive personnel. They need help after that. Titans, Mariotta or DiVorciota.

Okay, it's cheesy, but the guy can't stay healthy. And Tennessee now has been nine and seven, three straight years, and they do a lot of things well. O-line, running game, pass rush. They've got talent. Marcus Mariotta had seven different injuries last year. It's time to clean it up, keep him healthy, or they're moving on. Colts. Best of luck.

Won nine of their last 10. Hotest team in the league until they went to Arrowhead and got silenced. But Andrew Luck has a calf injury, and maybe it's just a matter of luck. Love their own line. Love, love some of their young defensive players like Darius Leonard. But that calf is a problem, the Colts are in trouble. Jaguars, don't be Folzed. Outside of Philly, Nick Foles is 5 and 7.

a starter. Stop telling me he's better than Carson Wentz. He's not close. He's a nice backup. Backups can be great, occasionally and briefly. How about the AFC West? Chiefs, window wide open. Listen, Patrick Mahomes just turned 24. Third year, he's an MVP. Andy Reed has the highest winning percentage in Chief's history and is one of the great play designers. Offensively, talent everywhere. They are going to have some questions at pass rusher. D4, Justin Houston, gone. GM owner, coach, quarterback skill people, Patrick Mahomes. Their Super Bowl window is wide open for the next decade.

I would be shocked if they don't win at least one. Chargers! Good without Gordon. Listen, he missed four games last year. They were 4-0, including wins over playoff teams. And they have depth at running back. Austin Echler. Here's the thing about the Chargers. I joke that the Noah's Ark of the NFL, two good backs, two good receivers, two pass rushers,

two good linebackers, two good corners. They're really good, and they're not beholden to a running back. They offered him 9, 10. That's about what I'd pay him. But this is a loaded roster. Again, there are teams out there like Houston that could die for Melvin Gordon. I just don't think the Chargers are a roster that is desperate. How about Broncos? Your average Joe, Flacco. He got benchful Lamar. He completed 61% of his throws. You know, Flacco's always been that guy. There are moments.

He's actually kind of an interesting player on the road in big games. A couple times he outduled Tom Brady. But in the end, the league is changing. He's not mobile. He's not as precise as I like. He's your average Joe. Raiders. Silver and Yap.

Could they stop talking? Hard Knock starts tomorrow. The GM was a TV star. The coach is a TV star, Antonio Brown. Talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk, talk. I want less talk, more Ws. Hard Knock starts tomorrow. I guarantee it it's going to be absolutely fascinating, but I'm done with the talking.

AFC North, Ravens. Passing on passing. All right. They're going to go old school. They're going to do everything that nobody else wants to do in 2019. I'm not sure it's going to work, but I'm not sure it won't. They're very contrary, and they'll be hard to prepare for. Last year, Lamar Jackson completed 58% of his throws,

but I will say they have upgraded at tight end. They've upgraded it running back. I think they drafted a wide receiver. So my guess is if he can get into the low 60%, they're okay. Bengals. Disaster Taylor made. As in first year head coach, Zach Taylor. Listen, the minute this organization paid Andy Dalton,

they had to make decisions on personnel, and Andy's not good enough to carry him. So this is what happens when you get a young quarterback and you have to pay him. They did and they've never been the same team. Steelers. Edition by attraction. James Connor, 12 touchdowns. Juju Smith had 1,400 plus yards receiving.

Big Ben led the NFL in passing yards and it's the best offensive line in my opinion in the AFC. Antonio Brown's great, but this organization has done a remarkable job in my lifetime to recruit and draft wide receivers. I think they're fine. It's less noisy. A week ago, Big Ben came out and said, you know what? I'm having a lot of fun this year. I think they'll be fine.

They won't be as explosive on the perimeter, but they'll be fine. And finally, Brown's potential Kitchens' nightmare. That's a Gordon-Ramsey show. Freddie Kitchens is the coach. A couple years ago, 18 months ago, he was a running-back coach in Arizona. He was hired by Cleveland to be a running back coach.

I don't know anything about him. He quarterbacked at Alabama. He's a nice guy. He's pretty good in front of a microphone. Baker, OBJ. meddling GM, owner issues, got no idea what I get with the Browns. 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 headline. 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 and 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 acapella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up guys? This is Clivert Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, The Cliverts show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me. He goes, A, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out.

Quarterback on office blue with 42. Hey, Brett. My mama want you to weigh better. What? Where's she at? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Cliverts show on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva, and on my new podcast, How Hard Can It Be? I call on my Gen X squad from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate Midlife's most fantastic it BS. Unfiltered conversations from night sweats to futas to scheduling sex. Wait, what sex? Is it just me or does every woman my age want to look at Pinterest instead of having sex sometimes? They say we can't polish a turn, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with laughs, tears, or tears of laughter. Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Diana Maria Riva on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Thank you.