The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Best of The Herd: 08/22/2019

Episode Date: August 22, 2019

Colin says the Packers should be drafting Quarterbacks all of the time just like the Patriots because that's how every team should operate. Colin ranks his top Head Coach/QB duos that will have the most success over the next ten years.  Plus, Greg Cosell of NFL Films breaks down the AFC and NFC South and John Elway tells Colin how playing in the NFL for so long helps him as a talent evaluator   Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. 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 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the Fourth. 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. Hey, Wreck, my mama want you to weigh better. What? Hey, Ms. Parker. Listen to the Clifford Show on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

The story I told myself can then shape my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown, If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole, this podcast is for you to hear more. Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

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 IHeart Radio app by searching Herd. This is the best of the herd with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio.

Ah, here we go on a Thursday. 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. Greg CoSell, one hour from now, NFL meat sandwich. Joy Taylor is joining me as we, today we're packed.

tonight is the beginning of a bunch of good week three NFL preseason games. Starters will play tonight. It's a cross your fingers night. Nobody gets hurt night. It really feels like the official start of football tonight. The official start of the NFL season is tonight where starters play. Some guys like Sam Donald, Baker Mayfield may play into the second half over the next three or four days. Veteran players, obviously, in New England, they want to know who's going to be the backup, not Tom Brady.

Aaron Rogers, it looks like will play. I'm going to give you two headlines today. I'll start with the first one. They both sound controversial, and they're both regarding iconic first ballot Hall of Fame talents. Here is the first controversial headline. Packers must make drafting quarterback a high priority. It was in USA today.

Whoa! Clickbait. Fake news. No, not at all. I don't understand, and I've watched the NFL draft my entire adult life. I don't get why teams don't draft a quarterback every year or every other year. It doesn't matter if you have Patrick Mahomes. It doesn't matter if you have James Winston,

or you have somebody in the middle of the pack, Dak Prescott, or Cam Newton. It's the only position in the NFL that you can draft it. And if you've got a great player at quarterback, you don't even have to play him and he can have increased value. You draft somebody behind Aaron Rogers. He learns from Aaron Rogers, just like Aaron learned from Brett Fav. And two years later, you can move the pick for where you draft it. Jimmy Carapolo was more valuable having sat behind Tom Brady and gotten hurt than he was out of college. New England has drafted 10 quarterbacks since they first won a Super Bowl.

Fourth round, third round, third round, second round, third round, fourth round, good draft picks. And they've been able to trade those picks and get equal or higher value for them. This sounds like a controversial headline. Of course, Green Bay should draft quarterbacks every year. They've drafted two since Aaron Rogers started. And every time he twists an ankle, it's man overboard. Green Bay. So if you have a great quarterback, Big Ben, Mahomes, luck, you draft the quarterback, third or fourth round, because your first couple of rounds are where you get your stars

and where you plug your holes. This is a league that has viable free agency. You plug your holes with free agency in the first two rounds of the draft. By round three, 35% of the players are busts. They're whiffs. They can't play. So if you have a great quarterback, you draft, them, let them learn your system, and move them as you get the next guy for equal value. If you have one of those really, really, haven't we seen enough quarterbacks? Andy Dalton, James Winston, Marcus Mariotta, I'd argue Cam Newton, some would argue Kirk Cousins. You obviously draft a quarterback because they're not taking you to a special place. And if you have a bad quarterback situation, of course you draft him.

The NFL draft is fascinating, is that there's all sorts of tricks to it. It has changed. The most important position in football is the quarterback position. Look at what we draft now at quarterback and what we use to draft. Like, I don't get this. The league has become solely overwhelmingly about what position quarterback. I would draft it every year. I don't care if I have Patrick Mahomes.

I'm going to bring in Patrick Mahomes. I'm going to draft a third round pick to a fourth round pick every year in Kansas City. I'm going to take that quarterback. He's going to learn from Andy Reed and Patrick Mahomes. And, A, he's a safeguard in case Patrick gets hurt. And B, if he's not, I can trade that pick in three years and get equal value. So it's not a bust pick. It's just something I don't get about the draft.

By the way, most young quarterbacks I really like. Carson Wentz, injuries. DeShon Watson injuries. I mean, a lot of these guys that I like, Carson Wentz, Andrew Luck, Deshawn Watson, I got injury concerns. I think that sounds like a controversial headline, and it's an obvious headline. Of course Green Bay should draft a quarterback. They don't have a ton of holes to fill in this roster. They needed a center, a safety, and a tight end.

They went and drafted all those positions. They should take a second, third round pick, learn from Aaron, sit behind Aaron. maybe he's the next Aaron. If not, trade him for equal value two, three years later. Here's the second headline, which sounds controversial. Adam Schaefter acknowledges this could be the last season for Tom Brady. Whoa, clickbait, fake news trying to get attention. No, let's listen to Adam Schaefter's thoughts on this.

People forget that people have lives. and they have families, and sometimes, you know, you want to do what's best for your wife or your kids, and Tom is 42 now, and I'm sure that his family has sacrificed plenty for him to do what he's done and to be as dedicated as he is to his job to do it at the level he has. So, again, if it's me just looking at it from the outside, I'm just reading the signs, right? His home is for sale. He's on a contract at Voitz. It's just saying that this has the potential one way,

or another for this to be his last season in New England. Of course it does, and it's really happening soon, and it's going to change the National Football League dramatically. Listen, if you look at the greatest quarterbacks of all time, there are no exceptions here. They all had great coaches. There is no great quarterback who had a stiff as a coach. Bradshaw had Chuck Knoll.

Montana had Walsh. Fouts had Air Correel. Aikman had Jimmy Johnson. Tom Brady has Belichick. Marino had Shula. Elway had Shanahan. You know, it doesn't, there is no, God, he was a great quarterback.

Roger Stobach had Tom Landry. Okay, so Belichick and Brady, I don't give a rip who gets the credit. They are the league's pattern. Brady can play poorly, Ram Super Bowl, and Belichick beats you. He completely works Sean McVeigh. or it's not Belichick's best game plan

Philadelphia, but Brady throws for 500 yards. You have to have both. And to me, what's clear in the NFL, this is not a controversial headline. This is going to happen soon, and it is going to open the door for Andy Reed and Patrick Mahomes. I think there are five quarterback head coaching combos

that have a chance, and I think Reed and Mahomes feels like over the next 10 to 12 years, they'll have the greatest opportunity to be in the Walsh, Montana, Aikman Jimmy, Bradshaw, Noel, Brady Belichick, Elway Shanahan model.

I think, though, for me, Mahomes and Andy Reid is it. I'm going to get a great coach, a great quarterback, a great GM. I'm going to get stability from the franchise. They draft well. They have dysfunction in their division. currently Oakland.

And in two years, I think the Chargers, Denver, and Oakland could all have new quarterbacks. If I had to rate them right now, because the league has no exceptions, you find an all-time great quarterback who wins Super Bowls or gets close. They all have great coaches. I'd go Mahomes read number one. If you told me next 12 years, who's the next quarterback coach dynasty? I'd go read Mahomes 1, Goff McVeigh 2, Wendt Peterson 3, Luck, Right, 4, and Wilson, Pete Carroll 5. Now, Pete's getting up there.

I don't think Pete has probably four years to coach, maybe 5. That's why I put them 5th. I can't put Garoppolo Kyle Shanahan because I have questions about Garoppolo's health. And frankly, how good is he? I think he's good. I don't know. But what Schefter is saying, this is not even, it's close. And when Tom leaves, it is going to open the door wide open.

And we have four or five coach quarterback combos, which, in my opinion, as long as the quarterback can stay healthy, Wentz, luck, we have a chance to see a next dynasty here. And I think Reed and Mahomes feels like 12 years, five Super Bowls. Not saying they'll win all of them, they'll get to half of them. That's what it feels like to me. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. On Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the IHard Radio. 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 Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more,

follow Timbo Sliced 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. Kier 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, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free, our Heart Radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. The story I've told myself about love or bring. relationships can then shape my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown and explore the journey of healing, self-discovery, and returning to yourself. We explore higher consciousness, emotional well-being, and the practices that help you find clarity, peace, and self-mastery in a world that can feel overwhelming. The world is becoming lonely. We're not becoming more social and connected. We're becoming more individualized, but we actually meet people in connection. If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole, this podcast is for you to hear more.

Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva, actress, mother, lover, and a Gen. woman walking through life one hot flash and hormonal crying jag at a time. You ladies know what I mean. I'll bet you a perimenopausal chin here you do. So let's talk about it. Join me on my new podcast. How hard can it be with the Adamania Arriva, where I call on my Gen X squads from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate midlife's most fantastic BS. All of a sudden I'd had hanginess happening on my own. I was like, what the hell is that? I was married when I had her, so I didn't even consider how empty the And that's what's going to be.

Mood swings, night sweats, fupas, sex drive. Wait, what sex? Dating at 45. How hard can it be? Getting naked at 50 with the new guy. That one's kind of hard, you know? Well, that's lighting. They say we can't polish a turd, but we're sure going to try.

So let's get blunt with laughs, tears or tears of laughter, and dive into it, unfiltered and unbothered and ask, how hard can it be? I cannot believe I'm about to say this out loud in public. Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Diana Maria Riva as part of my Cultura Podcast Network, available on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So the ratings are in for HBO's Hard Knocks, and Pittsburgh is watching more than any city in America per capita. The ratings have tripled in Pittsburgh for Hard Knocks. And so they've been fantastic. And A.B. went to Twitter yesterday and said, tweet, my ex still thinks of me.

Well, of course she does. watching your ex implode on Facebook is a hoot. It's absolutely validating. Pittsburgh's a stable organization. They don't have a lot of dumpster fires. So to watch one of their stars go to Oakland and be a tire fire on the side of the road is absolutely captivating. Listen, when LeBron left Cleveland and went to Miami, you know the second highest ratings every year in the NBA for the finals? It was Cleveland.

If Tom Brady left New England, you don't think Boston would watch him if he went and played for the Chargers? or the Miami Dolphins? Of course they would. But I think narcissism's a hell of a drug. I think A.B. thinks they miss me. I think the Steelers are like, oh, my God, what a mess. I think they're laughing at him. Listen, we have a history. Fancy this.

Production leaves teams in trouble. We have a history at this position. Ocho Cinco left. Bengals got better. Marvin Harrison left. Colts won more games. Randy Moss left, Patriots went 14 and 2. Tio left three times.

Three different teams got better. Des Bryant left Cowboys. Cowboys got better. I think the New York Giants, and this is not a shot at OBJ, will win more games this year without OBJ. Star receivers are demanding. Of the 16 interceptions, Big Ben through last year, 10 were targeting Antonio Brown. Star receivers that are verbal and noisy, create an environment offensively

where you do feel like I've got to feed them the ball sometimes to your detriment. I think Pittsburgh, I think fans are underestimating Pittsburgh. I think Vegas is underestimating Pittsburgh. I think the media is underestimating Pittsburgh. They're over-under, that's called a future bet in Vegas, is nine. I think it's one of the best bets on the board in Vegas. Steelers over nine.

And I'm generally a believer, take the under on over-unders. I almost always bet fans tend to feel their teams are better. I am general rule bet the under in Vegas. Pittsburgh's bet the over. I don't think people understand how motivated Big Ben is. I don't think they understand how motivated Juju Smith-Schuster and James Washington are. I think if you look at Pittsburgh, look at their last six-six-year-old. games. They will have the best quarterback and the best offensive line in six of their last six

games at CINC, hosting Cleveland, at Arizona, Buffalo, at the Jets, and at the Ravens. They will have the best quarterback and the best O line and the most experienced coach in every one of those games. That feels like five and one to me. So, you know, yes, of course Pittsburgh is watching hard knocks. Everybody goes to Facebook after the breakup, and it's wildly entertaining when the ex is imploding, and A, B, to some degree, with Oakland until yesterday, felt like he was imploding. But I don't think, I don't think they miss their ex. I think they're laughing at their ex. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Cam Newton's at New England in week three, so that's a real game. Cam's going to be playing.

Cam's in a very interesting spot. You know, this is really funny. He only makes $22 million a year. Now, again, let's put it in context, a lot of money. Patrick Mahomes is going to sign probably a $38 million year contract in the next year. Cam's at 22, and I don't think he gets another contract. First of all, the analytics are in. This has become a very much a precision-throwing league, and he's not a precision-throwing quarterback. I've compared him to Russell Westbrook. The game changed.

Russell Westbrook, you have to be able to shoot threes. John Wall can't and Russell Westbrook can't. Sometimes the game moves away from you. It's moved away from Cam. The big strong-armed guy that's not precise, that's not what the league is anymore. And there's always been this whole thing. Cam doesn't have any support. Five top 10 defenses in eight years.

Three different Pro Bowl offensive linemen. Way better, way better than average running backs. And Greg Olson will get Hall of Fame votes. Makes it in, I'm not sure. It's not that. He's had stability and coaching. Ron Revere is one of the top. defensive coaches in the NFL. Again, he's had five top 10 defenses in eight years.

65% of the time he gets a top 10 defense. So I don't think, so I don't think Cam gets another deal. David Tepper's the new owner. David Tepper A has been with the stable, high standard Steelers. He's not going to Carolina and going to be happy with a guy finishing third. This is a guy whose first press conference, the only thing he cared about. Remember that? Here's the only thing the new owner cares about? If I'm moving someplace and we're doing this in Carolina, the first thing I care about is winning. The second thing I care about is winning. And the third thing I care about is, you guys are smart. So that's on and off the field. That includes the charity aspect, community aspect, and how you make a community better. So you win a lot of

ways and I don't like to lose it anyway. Yeah, Cam doesn't win enough. Well, he was MVP in 2015. This owner wasn't here. This owner was not here. He doesn't care about the rearview mirror crap with Cam. Westbrook was the MVP in 2016. Houston doesn't care now.

That's for Oklahoma City and their fans and their arena and their memories. Houston doesn't care about Westbrook's MVP. This new owner doesn't care about Cam's MVP. That's somebody else's, that's somebody else's plaque. That's not his plaque. So Cam's making 22. That's it. I'm very interested to see if he gets another contract because he's got two years left. And the division, it's full of good teams. Saints, Atlanta, Bruce Ariens now with James Winston, it's full of a lot of good teams. All right, here we go. Greg Cosell joins us. Started three weeks ago. We're going to have him all the way until February.

We bring him on at the top of the 10 o'clock Pacific, 1 o'clock Eastern hour on Thursdays. So we're going to talk about the AFC South today and the NFC South. Let's start. start with the AFC South. We just had Mark Schlerath on. Mark said, I think Deshawn Watson and Bill O'Brien are going to be a very special combination. You know, there is this theory, Greg, that Bill O'Brien's kind of a middling coach, but he did win the division again last year. They've never had what you consider a great GM. When you look at Deshawn Watson, Bill O'Brien, what does the film say? Do you think it's elite coaching, elite playing? Well, the issue for that team, and it's what Bill O'Brien had to try to do last year, was compensate for and camouflage for poor offensive line play.

And there's multiple ways to do that, but one way, and it showed up on the tape, is they used a lot of seven-man pass protection concepts, Colin. And that's great to protect your quarterback, and that's certainly number one. But then you only have three receivers that are going out into routes. So it's just a numbers game. And the more eligible receivers you remove from routes into protection, the less multiple your past game can be. So they're likely to start two rookies on the offensive line this year at the two guard positions.

So that's still a work in progress. I really like Deshaun Watson. I spent a lot of time this summer studying him from last year. And when I watched him, you know, day after day for a number of days, he's a really impressive kid, really loose-limbed athlete, an easy thrower can make every throw, can make plays outside of structure. I really like the player, but their O-line will be a work in progress. Andrew Locke, we don't know what it is.

They talk about a calf injury. Calf injuries heal. And frankly, calf injuries heal pretty quickly. He hasn't had a practice since April, a legitimate practice. Is this roster now good enough to win some games with Jacoby Brousset? What do you make of the old line is clearly headed in the right direction. If luck didn't play for a while, how good is their personnel? I think it's solid.

I think there's a drop off. I like Jacoby Brissette as a player, but I think there's a drop off, clearly. I think they would have to rely more on the run game. And I think then that puts a little more of an onus on Marlon Mack, who I think is a nice back. The question is, how much of a burden can he carry on a weekly basis? their defense is clearly better. I think that has to become a bigger factor for them. I think Justin Houston adding him is a real positive

because they need that pass rush pressure. They've got a player that not many people know about named Kenny Moore, who's a corner, and when he plays in the slot in their nickel, he's really, really good, one of the best in the league. But I think that there would be a meaningful drop-off without luck at quarterback. Okay, Mike, one of the teams in the league, and I just don't quite understand this, in a league where it's hard to have a winning record has gone 97-9-97-97. And that's with Marioita being heard a lot.

Vrable appears to be able to coach. They have a good offensive line. They added Adam Humphreys. Delaney Walker comes back. Corey Davis has talent. I think Tennessee, I think they're pretty good here. It's kind of one of those dark horse teams that if they ended up with 11 wins, I'd be like, all right, good old line, ran for over 2,000 yards,

nice pieces in free agency. What do you make at Tennessee when you watch them on? Phil, they clobbered Dallas last year. They clobbered New England last year. There is a physical component to this team I like. Without question. They're a little bit old school, which I think Mike Rable preaches. They have a very good defense.

Dean Pease is their defensive coordinator. He's outstanding. They're very multiple defensively. They've got a very good secondary. I think they're going to try to be a run-first team that starts with Derek Henry and have Marcus Mario to work off that. I think they've got some weapons. I think Corey Davis is a really good player.

And I'm anxious to see if he can continue to put up numbers in the context of their offense. This is not profound, but I think much will depend on Mario's consistency. He's very good given weeks. You mentioned two big wins they had against quality teams, but there's an inconsistency to his play. His mechanics are the reason for that. So we'll see if he can become a more consistent player. But there's a lot of pieces in place for them to be a very solid, old school kind of team. All right, time for a hot take.

Nick Foles is going to go to Jacksonville and they're going to finish 6 and 10. And he's not better than Carson Wins. That's my takeaway on Nick Foles and Jacksonville. Your thoughts? Well, that's not a real big takeaway there, Colin. I mean, that's pretty, that's like saying two and two is four. Okay. So, you know, I think Nick Foles is a real solid.

a quality NFL quarterback. He's not an elite player. I think he needs the system to help him be a quality player. We'll see what their run game looks like. I think Leonard Fournett is a question mark at this moment in time, but I think they need him to be a factor. They still have very good defensive players, so it's very possible that their defense could still be very, very good, which I think they need to be the case. But I think Nick Foles is a, is a complimentary player in an offense and a team that has a chance to be good. Let's go now to the NFC South. Breeze and the Saints, very quietly, they have put together what I consider to be an excellent

offensive line, which is a little bit of the secret sauce to this organization. Personnel-wise on the defensive side. You know, Breeze has age. When you just look at their, we know their well-schemed with Sean Payton. Do you like their overall personnel? Yeah, I do, and I really like Dennis Allen as a defensive coordinator. I watched a lot of their defense this summer, and I think when you look at that defense, you see a lot of moving parts, a lot of multiple fronts, a lot of pressure packages.

They do a lot of man pressures because they're a very good man-to-man defense, and Dennis Allen likes to play that way, and so that increases your options when it comes to pressure. So I think that it's an overlooked defense because of Sean, Peyton and Drew Breeze, but I think their defense is pretty darn good. We forgot about Atlanta, but they had cluster injuries in the secondary. Matt Ryan put up terrific numbers last year. They have stability at coach. They have an excellent GM.

They did draft and address their offensive line. If there was a dark horse team in the NFC, I think I'd probably go with Atlanta. What say you? Yeah, I think that's fair. You know, obviously they feel that with Chris Lindstrom, Strip, started right guard, They like McGarry to start at right tackle. I think they're basically telling you that we're going to get back a bit to that zone run game and with Devante Freeman, who's a good back.

I think defensively they're interesting because I think Dan Quinn has made a decision based on today's NFL that you need to be more multiple than playing a lot of cover three. And I think you're going to see more pressure concepts from them. I think they're going to be more aggressive defensively. So I think this team's going to look a little different on the defense. defensive side of the ball. But you mentioned Matt Ryan, another guy who's overlooked, even though he's been into Super Bowl, he had

a really, really good year. Some said it was the best year that a quarterback's ever had on a team that, what, they were six and ten, I believe. Yeah. He's just a really solid NFL quarterback. Yeah, I don't think there's any doubt. Now, a quarterback that gets lauded often that I struggle with his

Cam Newton, listen, he's had five of his eight years, he's had a top ten defense. They've had three offensive linemen during his tenure make the Pro Bowl. Above average, running back. Greg Olson will get Hall of Fame votes. He's got two years left in a contract. I think the word is out on Cam. I think in a precision league, he's not a precision thrower. I always tend to like Carolina's defense and personnel. I struggle with their inconsistency with Cam. Your thoughts? Yeah, I mean, I think he's been an inconsistent passer.

I think the thing with Cam, as you well know, is the fact that he's a big, big man with great running ability, and he gives you that element, which makes him at times. difficult to defend. But I don't think anybody would argue with the fact that he's a scattershot thrower who misses throws at times, but is certainly capable of great throws. But there's an absolute inconsistency and erratic nature to his game. The question is defensively, you know, can they be really good? You know, they're counting on Dante Jackson, the second year corner, to become a really good

player. I think McCaffrey is a really good player and will obviously be used in the past game quite a bit. Then they've got young receivers who, in their mind, are ready to become good players. So, you know, I don't think there's a mystery about Cam Newton at this point in his career. We kind of know what he is. Yeah. Finally, Tampa Bay, if I had to say, all right, make a bet. James Winston's going to improve with Bruce Ariens or at the end of the line here, judgment, immaturity, too many picks.

What do you make at Tampa and Winston going forward? Winston's been a very difficult guy to evaluate for me because I think there's talent there. I like the fact that he's aggressive. I like the fact that he's a turn-it-loose thrower. Certainly has had issues with poor decision-making and interceptions. Bruce Ariens is very hard on quarterbacks, but yet he likes quarterbacks to be aggressive. So it seems like a good mix and a good marriage.

Hard to know exactly how we'll play out, but this is a team loaded with offensive weapons. Now, they've got some questions at running back. We know that. But as far as the receiving corps and the tight-end group, This is a team that's absolutely loaded. Good stuff. Greg CoSell, 30-plus-year NFL films on a Thursday. Great talking to you, Greg.

Thanks, Colin. Appreciate it. 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 the 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 people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice 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. 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 Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. The story I've told myself about love or relationships can then shape my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well, with Debbie Brown and explore the journey of healing, self-discovery, and returning to yourself. We explore higher consciousness, emotional well-being, and the practices that help you find clarity, peace, and self-mastery in a world that can feel overwhelming.

The world is becoming lonelier. We're not becoming more social and connected. We're becoming more individualized, but we actually meet people in connection. If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the world, to become whole. This podcast is for you. To hear more, listen to deeply well

with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas.

And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defining the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game.

His IQ is at a level that we've never seen. team before. And he knows. Without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reed. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too.

Steve Nash would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball. Like, you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah. You figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Well, I just had the greatest five-minute conversation of my life.

You know, I don't think I've ever interviewed John Elway, but I grew up. His family is from around my hometown. and his parents, John Elway has a huge, huge connection. The Elway family to the Pacific Northwest and the coast of Washington. And I've said this before. John Elway was the first great professional quarterback I saw live. I was at a Seahawk game in the Kingdom. And John Elway was a phenom.

You didn't get college football on television much. You heard about John Elway. You know, the Yankee contract and him, Marino. But you didn't get all these college football games on. You know, ESPN wasn't running 500 college football games. Fox Sports didn't have 150 football games. And now John's had a remarkable career. In fact, Jason Whitlock has said for years,

John Elway's his favorite player of all time. He was mythical because you didn't get to see all his college games. Like now you watch Trevor Lawrence. You can watch him 10 times a year at Clemson. John is now, of course, the Bronco general manager. And I'll try not to fawn over him via the Coward Global Satellite Network. You know, John, it is, first of all, it's an absolute pleasure. you went and hired Vic Fangio.

Now, everybody, anybody that had a cup of coffee with Sean McVeigh got a job, it's an offensive league, you went with a defensive coach and an older defensive coach. Did you feel like there's risk involved? Why did you go that way? You know, I kind of went into the process with an open mind. I want to try to find the best head coach out there. So I tried to grow in without any pre-drawn conclusions. And obviously, everybody was going young.

going offense and but I just wanted to sit down and meet with them all before I came to any conclusions and I had a you know every candidate I interviewed was was really good and and but Vic was the last one and Vic really struck me in the fact that you know his attention to detail his understanding of the defensive side of the game of football and and his past history and and really thought that he was a perfect fit for us at the time he's a no BS guy he gets right to the point, but players love playing for him because they, he knows, the players know that he puts them in the best situation to be successful. So, you know, I had about a five hour interview with Vic and really figured that he was going to be the guy. I still think football is still all

about blocking and catching and being disciplined and attention to detail. And Vic has all those type things. And really, you know, never had an opportunity to be a head coach. And I thought with what we needed at the time that he was a perfect fit for us. And so, far, it's been tremendous. You know, John, as a general manager, very few great players in any sport have become a great general manager because when you're a great player, maybe it is hard to forget evaluation just to understand what it's like to be a grinder or a mediocre player. And I look at football and I think to myself, I would really struggle to evaluate receivers, but I feel pretty good I can watch a college running back and say, that guy will work at the next level.

Are there positions for you, John, in evaluation that you feel strong with that are harder? Does your quarterbacking help you or hinder you on some evaluation positions? You know, it does. I think because, you know, it's as much tape and you would think that my, you know, that I would think that I'm better on the offensive side, having been a quarterback and played on the offensive side for so long. It does help me with assignments and knowing routes and how, you know, with wide receivers, how ride receivers, what I liked in wide receivers.

But it also helped me, you know, I always look at the defensive side of the ball and really look at corners and safeties, which a lot of times are the toughest ones. But I know what I liked going against, and I like what I did like going against. And I think that that helps me as an evaluator with the secondary, as well as linebackers and pass rushers. And so I think my experience, but from the viewpoint of all the defensive tape that I watched because I never watched offenses other than a review of our game. I spent all my time watching defensive players. And so therefore, you know, I felt like sometimes I'm better to looking at defensive players than I am offensive players, not necessarily running or wide receivers,

but because of what I've watched my whole career. But, you know, then again, you, you know, you have your strengths and you have your weaknesses and you rely on your scouts and you rely on the people around you that have you, that you feel like are good in different areas. And, you know, trust them and what they see. You know, John, you were unique. You had the arm, you had the size, you had the intellectual pedigree, you had, you were an athlete. You were very much, I would say, Patrick Mahomes, kind of a, you know, you watch him

playing, even a guy like me can figure it out. But if you look at the history of the NFL, Tom Brady, Joe Montana, I can go, Peyton Manning wasn't very athletic. Philip Rivers played at NC State. You know, there's a lot of Phil Sims. In fact, I'd argue there's a lot more Phil Sims in the history of this league than there are John Elways. How much to you is arm talent and how much of this quarterback position, John, is guts, chip on the shoulder, toughness being able to get hit, leadership? Do you, because you had a great arm.

Does arm matter to you a ton? You know, I think it helps. I don't think it's an end all. Obviously, you don't need a great arm. You know, I think there's plenty of guys in the league that have proven that you don't need a great arm. great arm. You need the intellect. There's no question. As you said, the players that you just mentioned were all tremendous players that weren't necessarily great athletes, but they're still good, they're still good athletes to play in the NFL. So, you know, and I will go back. And the one thing that

I guess I did learn over my time playing, Colin, is the fact that to win, what I believe is to win a Super Bowl, I believe you have to win it from the pocket. And, you know, you can get outside and make plays, you know, run around and make some, you know, third down, pick a up some third downs and do that, but I don't think you can make that a consistent way to win football games. I think overall you have to be able to win it from the pocket. And that's why the guys that you mentioned are so great and have had so much success because, you know, they're not necessarily getting out running around, but they're able to win it from the pocket. And I think to win championships, that's what you have to do. You know, John, one of the things football is

safer today, John, there's less hitting. There's fewer two a days. But here's what I don't. like about it. I think offensive line play has deteriorated. I think it's harder to know you don't get let you get less practice with offensive lines. I think that position so we have this asset called quarterback and I think it's harder to get people to protect the quarterbacks. I know in Denver you've had some hits and some misses on the offensive line. Football has changed. It's safer for the players. But do you think all the safety measures and less practice are good for the players? I do. I think it is good for the players. And I think that, you know, with the rule changes, they're making the game safety. I think they're taking the unnecessary hits out of the game. And that's what we're trying to do is to prevent the big hits

that are not necessary. Football is always going to be a physical game. And it's always going to be, you know, blocking and tackling. And now, but I think with where the rules are going, going as far as the amount of practices, they don't beat on each other nearly as much than, you know, than we used to, which, you know, helps with the health. I will all say when you're talking about the offensive line, I would also say that, you know, they're not getting trained in college as well either because the offenses are changing in college and with the spread offences and they're in two-point stances, you know, the downhill running game is, is not there anymore in college football. So the offensive linemen are not getting trained coming out.

out of college like they used to either. And so it just takes longer for the offensive linemen develop once they get up to, you know, the NFL level. Finally, John, you obviously, you know, you have aged very well. You're running an NFL team. But you were diagnosed about 10, 12 years ago with Dupitran construction with your hands. And, you know, weather-related DNA, family. I want you to talk about that a second because you've largely been seen as somebody that.

is very healthy post football. But you do, you got diagnosed with something years ago. I did. It was back in 2005 and it's called Dupetron's contraction. And it's really the bending of your fingers in your hands to where it becomes they bend more and more all the time. And at some point in time, you know, they just continued to bend. And so I was diagnosed in 2005. And at that point in time, the only option was surgery. And after playing 16 years and I'd had plenty of surgeries after I retired and decided that, you know, I didn't want to have another surgery. And so it continued to get worse on me. My hands, I have it in both my hands on my ring fingers and they just continued to contract. And then about two years ago, I found out that there

was a non-surgical option to be able to fix the problem of Dupitrin's. And so I'm proud to be a part of this message to be able to get it out to people that get the understanding of what Dupitrance is about. And there are a lot of different options. now, more options than there used to be. And you can go to FaxonHand.com, and that explains a lot of it. But also, if you feel like this is a symptoms that you may have to go see your hand doctor and see if it's something that they can fix. By the way, you're in the AFC as a general manager.

Have you ever texted or called Tom Brady and say, Tom, could you just retire already? It's good God, you've got a trophy room. When you talk to Brady is an all-time great, what makes it click for him? You know, I think that, you know, it had a chance when Tom was young, when we were both younger to play some golf with him and get a chance to know him. But I really tell you that obviously the success that Tom's had has been tremendous. But I think, you know, ultimate we see everything on the outside, the fans see what he's about.

But ultimately, you know, what makes Tom click is, you know, is that heart and what's inside and the desire to win, the competitive nature that he has, the toughness, the mental toughness that he has and to be able to play big and big games. And, you know, that's what he's done so well for so long at 42 years old. He's still clicking along. I can't wait until he's 47. I don't know if he'll still be around, but I'm hoping to be at 47.

Then we'll all have a chance. By the way, John, I remember when you retired. I remember it. It shocked people, John. You had good football left in you. Have you ever for one second thought, you know, I was a super, I probably had two more years left because I remember when you retired. I was a kid. I remember thinking, John Elway retired. Do you ever look back at that and think you could have gotten two more years out of it?

You know, I guess I always look at it, especially the older you get, you know, when you get away from the game, you miss it and you say, you know what, maybe I could have played a couple more years. But I've just looked at the situation that I had in Denver and having coming off two world championships. My last season there, I kind of had some hamstring problems. And I cracked to rib. And so I had some health problems. What I found is I didn't heal. And so the game didn't heal very well. And so the game became harder and harder. And I just thought, yeah, sure, I could have probably played a couple more years, but I really just thought being allowed to write, you know, to leave the game on an all-time high with two championships was the best way to go.

And if I left something on the table, I'd rather leave it on the table with something left to go. And that go a couple more years and have left one year too late. So I want to make sure I up too early rather than too late. John, it's been an absolute pleasure. Thank you so much for coming on the show. I admire your career and you personally and for joining us on the hearth today. I really appreciate it. You don't, you know, you didn't have to do this.

And I thank you so much for stopping by. Boy, thank you for having us on here, Con. I really appreciate it. It was great talking to you about the Grace Harbor up there. And nice to know though. I know someone else from the area. 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 SportsSlice 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 SportsSlic on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slical Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite.

Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, guys? This is Clever 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 walks up to me.

He goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Quarterback on office blue 42. Hey, rec, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Hey, me. Miss Parker. Listen to the Cliverts show on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, it's Edwin Castro, also known as Castro 1021. And I'm Conky, his best friend and business manager. And we've got a new show called The 1021 Podcast. I'm taking you behind the scenes on how I became one of Twitch's most popular streamers. We also love sports. And with the World Cup right around the corner, we'll be breaking down the biggest storylines ahead of the big tournament here in the USA.

Listen to the 1021 podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.