The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Best of The Herd: 09/07/2020

Episode Date: September 7, 2020

Neither the Lakers or Rockets can win the titleThe Bucs are doing for Brady what the Patriots wouldn'tWhy Watson got paid and Dak didn'tWhere Colin was right, where Colin was wrong 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. 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 podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

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

A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes,

creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok's podcast network on TikTok. On the Look Back at it podcast.

For 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84's big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians,

and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 Hurt with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio.

Ah, here we go. Back for Labor Day. Thanks so much for choosing us live in Los Angeles. Steamy hot Los Angeles. This is The Hurt. Wherever you may be, and however you may be listening, Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and I know I know, Colin's got a beard.

Joyce back tomorrow. John Goulet, the veteran. and Newsman joining us. It is great to have you in. We'll see how long this thing lasts. A couple of interesting stories to start our show today. And again, thanks for choosing us. A lot of choices out there. And I hope you've had a great summer. We took the week off last week. We're ready to go. And football starts in earnest here Thursday night on Fox. But let's start with basketball. The Lakers beat of the Rockets last night to even up the series at one apiece. This is going to be a very long series. and the reason it's going to be a very long series is these are two pretty good teams.

Neither's great. First of all, the Rockets have a lot more shooters than Portland. They can spread the floor out and the old Lakers, who at times struggle to guard the perimeter, can't guard them all, Houston's going to win more games in this series. As for the Rockets, Russell Westbrook's inconsistency means the Rockets will remain inconsistent. They're not good enough to beat LeBron and A.D. and the Lakers three straight games. What last night showed me was,

these are pretty good teams. But if Houston, they're good teams, but neither one of these teams can win the championship. That's what it showed me last night. If Russell Westbrook is your second best player, he has been in the NBA 12 years, he is still the most out-of-control star player in the league. And now it's in his head.

He can't even shoot a free throw. He's 42% from the line from the free throw stripe. So what that tells you now, it's all in his head. He didn't forget how to shoot free throws. I mean, he's never been a good three-shooter. He's been a mediocre jump shooter. He can't hit free throws. 42%.

Now it's in his head. So if that's your number two player, and he is, you're not a championship team. What's it tell me about the Lakers? What I've been saying all year? Who's their third best player? once again, even with the heedles, it's how much can we put on LeBron's shoulders? Last night, every Laker starter, including AD, was negative plus minus except LeBron. What I like about all this, because I said LeBron is the most valuable player.

And, you know, the way it works in sports, like college football, the South is better than the West. And that's, you know, regionalized sports. The Western Conference is better than the Eastern Conference. And so whenever we vote on the most valuable player, I wish they would wait until the playoffs were over. Because then you get to see how everybody stacks up. Stars against stars, right? Stars against stars.

How much better is LeBron James than all the other stars in the league? Anthony Davis is great but disappears in the fourth. Kauai is great when he's healthy. Yonah shrinks. Hardin disappeared. Westbrook's a disaster. Once you put LeBron James, I'm blown away by his stamina.

I'm blown away than year 17. Michael Jordan looked tired by his second team. LeBron's on his fourth team on a different coast, and he is miles better than every NBA player right now except Kauai Leonard. I still contend get a basket, get a stop, minute left in a game. Kauai is the best thing we got in the league. But LeBron James running the floor, LeBron James hitting shots, LeBron James, when you need to stop, it is remarkable.

When you put all these stars and a little pressure on them, look at how they unravel. Look at how they shrink. Look at how they disappear. And there's LeBron dominating another NBA playoff game. I've watched every single playoff team multiple times. You know what we've got of the eight, seven pretty good basketball teams, all with major flaws.

And then we have the clippers. who at times are great, but then kind of apathetic, sometimes seem marginally interested, they revert back also to pretty good. So the rockets now are only tied with the Lakers after winning game one. Here's the good news. It appears that Westbrook is showing signs of self-awareness after last night's mess.

Hey, Russ, when they're trapping James the way they're doing on the wings, Do you prefer to be in the middle of the pain? Or like tonight it seemed like that you were just in the perimeter, more so early in the season where you were attacking off the catch? Yeah, I don't know. I just, right now I'm just running around. So I got to look at film and figure out how to be effective. He was just running around, missing shots,

including those at the free throw line. All right. It's not when you've been together for a long time. it's not that you give somebody a great gift. It's that you're still remembering the anniversary, remembering the wedding date, remembering the birthday. It's not the present. It's the commitment that means more.

Tom Brady got another gift this past week, Leonard Fernette. So Tom Brady for years and years was in Foxborough with this very wealthy family. and every year for Christmas, he'd get like socks or underwear. Then he moved to Tampa. They don't have the fiscal means of New England, the history tradition or the trophies. But he's been there a handful of months, and they've now given him an iPad, a drone, and two playstations.

It's not just the gifts. It's that they're showing a commitment to Brady. We're going for it. We're all in. We'll spend a little money. That's why he ultimately. left New England. It's that they didn't even try. They didn't even make a run at a tight end. The most driven, most clutch, most committed, most financially responsible, most coachable superstar

at the most important position. And the last 10 years wasn't just about the lack of presents, the socks and the underwear for Christmas. They rarely showed an offensive commitment. He never had one deep threat after Randy Moss. How about a work? healthy young tied end. How about a rising young star-wide receiver? Leonard Fernett isn't a superstar running back, but don't downplay what he is. Leonard Fernett had 76 catches last year with Gardner Minchew and over 1,100 yards with an average offensive line.

Leonard Fernett can play. He is young. He's got enough experience. He's been in a handful of big games. And he's a good player. He is a good football player. Sort of like Shady McCoy, who's much older, has big game experience, is a good football player no longer great.

But that's why Tom Brady left. It's not just the size of the gift, but in New England, it's almost as if it was antagonistic. And even now that Brady's left, Bill Belichick has had more nice things things to say about Cam Newton in the last three weeks than he did with Brady in the last 10 years. It almost felt juvenile and antagonistic and they wouldn't listen to him on game plans. So it's not just Leonard Fernett. Don't downplay. He's a real player. But New England is saying, dude, we've had this franchise here since the 70s. We've never had a superstar quarterback.

And we know you're past your prime. And we know you're. you're 43, but we want to show you how committed we are to winning. Like, that matters a lot. And this is why Tom Brady left. I mean, the Patriots didn't even fake it. They draft another safety in another corner and another interior defensive lineman. Yeah, the defense is great. But when you have the most clutch, dependable, coachable, financially responsible,

and I use responsible because if you own or run a football team, it's nice when your superstar quarterback consistently takes a major pay cut. Could you have shown a little commitment? I mean, right now, the Patriots, if Tom would have come back, don't have a functional veteran tied end in an emerging position in the NFL. So, LFG, as Tom would say, our season starts Thursday. Leonard Fernette, now a Tampa Bay Buccaneer with Tommy. 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 app. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds.

I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app. Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions,

my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes,

creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever

you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s.

To be clear, 84 was big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack, so I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now, so... Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes, I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really?

Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years. for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month,

I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing and we're still chasing it and we 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, is 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. This is something that's not forgettable. Deshawn Watson signs a four-year, $160 million extension with the Houston Texans. We now have multiple teams in the NFL, L.A. Rams with Jared

Goff, Kansas City with Mahomes, Philadelphia with Carson Went, and Houston with Deshaun with Deshawn Watson, who have paid their star quarterbacks early. And in two cases, Deshawn Watson and Carson Wentz, we've got major injury history with both. And yet, DAC is franchise tag. This is the deal mostly that DAC wanted. What is really interesting about DAC and Deshawn Watson. Now, obviously, Dak's been in the league longer than Deshawn Watson. Obviously, Deshawn was a higher draft pick than Dak Prescott.

but let's take the last two years. So they've both had some years in the league. What is shocking is how similar they are. Deshawn's won a few more games. They both have 52 touchdowns and around 20 picks. They both complete about 66, 66% of their throws, and one's pass a rating is 100, and another is 98.4. It's the same guy.

There's a big difference, though. DeShon Watson's done that. despite his surroundings. Dak has accomplished that because of his surroundings. This is why I never bought in to all the Dallas reporters

claiming that Dak was going to get big money. He has had a top two offensive line since he entered the league. A top one or two running back. A top three or four receiving corps. His head coach always been an offensive

guy. And as much as we roll our eyes at Jerry Jones and the Cowboys, they generally draft pretty well and have elite players my entire life. Dach and Deshaun's numbers are shockingly similar the last two years. One guy got there despite his surroundings in Houston, another got there because of his surroundings in Dallas. Maybe it says Jerry Jones and the Cowboys are much better run than we think, but this is specifically why, if I give you a Mercedes, I want Mercedes results. If I give you a top two offensive line for three or four years, if I give you top two running back for four years,

if I give you all sorts of candy and fun on the perimeter, you know, if I give you offensive coach after offensive coach, you got to do better than one playoff win. I mean, it's so funny to watch people bang on Jared Goff. Jared Goff got to a Super Bowl and had a chance to win it in the fourth quarter. It's like people that bang on Jimmy Garoppolo. For three quarters, he outplayed Patrick Mahomes. He's pretty good.

Dak still has all these, oh, man. That's why I always say about life. If you told me at 30 years old, you're a millionaire. But you were a trust fund millionaire. Not that impressive. If you're like, yeah, I'm a child of divorce. I went through a lot. I had to pay for my own college.

And you're a millionaire at 30? Now, that's something we're talking about. You may be a uniquely driven individual, good for you. But what you're surrounded by matters. Josh Allen for Buffalo is a nice quarterback talent. But he's wild. If he didn't have a coach as good as Sean McDermott, he'd be a mess. Sam Darnold, I think, has much more talent.

And I'd love to have Darnold over Josh Allen. He was a much better college player. And coming out of the draft, he was higher rated. But look at the dysfunction. The general manager, the first guy that, ran the Jets. I mean, Adam Gase can't get along with any of a star players. And the first general manager was virtually incompetent.

So good for DeShon Watson. I think he deserves every penny of it. And by the way, I think the franchise tag is great for DAC. If he pops this year, boom, Pam. I got no problem with it. But I was a huge advocate of franchise tagging DAC. The stuff around him offensively is unbelievably good. It's very rare.

I mean, look what Joe Burrell has this year to deal with. We've got to be fair with Joe Burrell. He's going to get the, you know what, kicked out of him. Joe Burrell's got one nice receiver and an old, he's got one old veteran, often beat up wide receiver at a good running back. In that division, that is five wins max, probably four. Where you land, the support you get matters. DAC has had unbelievable. You may not like Jason Garrett.

At least he played quarterback in the NFL. He wasn't one of these staggy defensive coaches, John Fox, who's high. hyper conservative. I mean, Jason Garrett was a quarterback in the NFL. There's a lot of worse situations than that. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Well, every Monday at this time, we call it Colin Wright, Colin Wrong, on plenty of both, and here we go. Where Colin was right?

Russell Westbrook. I almost felt guilty doing this because when he won the MVP, I said he's talented. He's not valuable. The rockets yesterday were better when he was not on the floor. He's shooting 39% in the playoffs. He's shooting under 43% at the free throw line. The Lakers were begging him to shoot yesterday. And once again, emotionally, he unravels. Now, I do think he'll play better in game three. And I do think there's at times an element to his kind of frenetic pace that is redeemable.

But good Lord, at this point, if you're still defending him at every turn, I can't help you. This now is what he is. A unraveling playoff disaster about every second or third game. Where Colin was wrong. Mitch Trubisky's been named

the starter for the Chicago Bears. I thought they went out to get Nick Foles to move on, but he was named the starter. It feels like it's the GM trying to save a little face. They name him the starter Friday on a news dump. They didn't even want their bear fans to know about it, which is frankly, fascinating to me. They open up with the Giants, Detroit, Atlanta. So I would imagine Chicago's got

some talent. They could go two and one or three and no in those games. In the end, I just think the teams like Arizona that can admit they made a mistake at quarterback and move on, I think they succeed. This feels like they're just trying to minimize the PR damage when they move off of Mitch Trubisky. They've already declined his 50-year option. But I didn't even think he was going to win the starting job. He did over Nick Foles. where Colin was right? Every great football coach in my life has a hole, has a weakness. Bill Belichick, it's skill positions.

They just released Muhammad Sunu. They gave up a second round pick for him. Listen, Belichick does a lot of things right. But come late January, I've been told by two different sources, he says, I got the draft from here. And a lot of times, he does a remarkable job. This organization, though, and it's on Belichick, can't figure out wide receiver to save their life.

They don't have a deep threat. They have no functional veteran tight end. I think they have, in my opinion, one of the weakest wide receiver tight end cores, if not the weakest in the entire league. Bill just doesn't spend a lot of time watching college football on Saturday, apparently, because they can't get wide receiver right and they butcher this a new deal.

Where Colin was wrong. Belichick and Cam Newton are besties. Who would have thunk? Belichick has praised Cam Newton for three to four weeks straight. Cam Newton said yesterday, it's a match made in heaven, just knowing that I'm a place where everything is pulling in the same direction, kind of a shot at Ron Revere and Carolina. But nonetheless, I thought this was an odd fit.

I thought it was a strange fit. But you know what? Cam Newton's aware. He doesn't have a great team. They're not going to win 12, 11 games. but if he's healthy, he's a playmaker, he's coachable, he's all in, there's going to be a market for Cam Newton. And, you know, tip of the cap for him realizing this matters a lot to his legacy in his career.

It matters a lot. He's taking it seriously. And this relationship so far has been much more seamless than I would have predicted. Where Colin was right? I understood the fascination with Jadavian Clowny. He's just so big and strong. but I never got. I never got the money and the hype.

And by the way, he just signed a one-year deal with Tennessee. That was the market. That was no market for him. One or two teams wanted him. His career is, I mean, the most sacks he's had in a year is nine and a half. In his career, he's got 32 in like six years. Now, he is a staggering physical specimen. And he does have a handful of splash or wow plays every year.

year that just jump through the television set. But I've been saying this for years is I don't get, I just don't feel like consistently game in and game out, I get an all pro performance for Gidevian Clowny and there wasn't much of a market for him. Where Colin was wrong. I've been real tough on Chris Middleton of the Bucks. I think he's played great against Miami and Miami. Eric Spolster was a very good defensive coach. Yesterday, 36 points, bailed out Milwaukee. He's average 26 points in the series again. This is a well-coached defense in Miami. And Janus, he's played more minutes than Janus.

He's been more consistent than Janus. And listen, if I can criticize Chris Middleton, and I've always said he's a B player, paid like an A player, I got to give credit where credits do. I think he's been really, really good in this series. He's been really consistent. And, I mean, yesterday, you know, when you're dropping 36 in an NBA playoff game,

that is a star performance, and Chris Middleton deserves progress. where Colin was right. Janice shrinkage in the playoffs. Listen, I like the kid. And I think he's a really good kid, and I wouldn't have voted him MVP,

but he's a top three candidate. But this hole he's going to replace LeBron as the face of the league nonsense. I didn't buy into that for a second. He doesn't shoot. Okay, so if you trail in an NBA playoff game, he's much better playing with a lead than trailing. He can be marginalized in playoff series and playoff games,

and now I've seen it multiple times. If they don't win this series, in seven, eight years in this league, he's won three playoff series in the incredibly weak Eastern Conference. Again, like him, I think he's a really, really good player and an exceptional kid. But I've just, I mean, the face of the league, you're talking about magic and Michael and LeBron and Shaq. I just, I don't see him as that kind of player. I see him as a perennial all-star and a multiple MVP winner. You know, kind of a Carl Malone, never the face of the league, but a darn good player, a Hall of Famer. But I think we've jumped to multiple levels he won't reach.

Where Colin was wrong. The Yankees are suddenly awful. They're eighth in the American League playoff race. They're third in their own division. And all their young stars, what's happened? Gary Sanchez cannot hit Major League pitching. Araldis Chapman can't, it now throws 94 miles an hour, not 101. John Carlos Stanton's never healthy.

Aaron Judge is not healthy. They may miss the playoffs. Wasn't it going to be a Yankee Dodger year? Dodgers kept their end of the bargain up. They are injured. They're not very good. Sanchez was a flash. Araldis Chapman's done.

It is ugly for the Yankees. Where Colin was right? Well, all summer long, I made one or two predictions with college football and COVID. I said the SEC will put their head down. We will have an SEC. and the PAC 12, I highly doubt it. It's a different conference. They're very academic leaning.

They don't have the stomach for some of this stuff. And what do you know? The PAC 12 is out. They don't appear to have, unlike the Big Ten, any reorganization plan. And the SEC is ready to go, full steam ahead. Whether I agree with a conference or not, this is what separates the SEC.

They're more aggressive. They're more passionate. When you deal with COVID, if you look at the people that have made it work, the UFC, golf, NASCAR, the NBA, you got to be aggressive. You're going to have positive tests. The healthiest people in the world are athletes under 24 in elite physical condition. Those are the safest people during this in the SEC. This is why they've separated from the sport has been the most aggressive dealing with this. Maybe they'll be wrong in a month, and maybe the PAC 12 will be the smart guys, but we were right in the prediction.

Where Colin was wrong. Rookie of the year, John Morant, got 99 out of 100 votes. Zion finished third. Listen, I come down to, I understand John Morant played more games. But does everybody realize that points per minute, Zion had the most in the history of the league for a rookie except wilt? I thought Zion's impact when he was on the floor, around the basket, elevating teammates, the TV scheduling. I thought he had the greatest impact of every rookie. I don't think these awards should be about stats.

That's why I never got Russell Westbrook's MVP. He had a good stat year. It didn't mean he was valuable. And I thought the rookie that was the most discussed, the most impactful was Zion. But let's be honest, he didn't play many games. where Colin was wrong. The Houston Rockets, and I'll just own this, this is I never thought I would see it happen,

have been the number one defense in the playoff bubble. Wow. I mean, they're the smallest team. Hardin considers defense a hobby, not a profession. Westbrook kind of mails it in sometimes on the defensive. And PJ Tucker's, by the way, fantastic at that. But it's shocking. number one defensive team in the bubble held the Lakers under 100 points.

And I'll tell you something. Defense is about do you want to play it? Offense is about talent. Defense is about are you committed? Do you want to play it? Mike Dantonie, again, is a guy that never talks defense. You got to give Mike Dantonian to staff credit. They play their butt off defensively.

I never thought I would see this. They are relentless. They are feisty. They get in your face. They battle for every rebound. It is a lot about effort, and I never thought I would say, Houston Rockets, elite defensive team. Would James Harden? But they are.

Want 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. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast, Superhuman, documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from Bats,

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

It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-taped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs?

Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with a little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jay. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s.

To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed cracks. I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people.

Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness, This month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the middle 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.

here 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, Keir Gaines, as 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. Peter Kigsdowne joining us three-time national sports writer of the year. NBC Sports.com. Football Morning in America. and he is joining us, and I'm looking at Peter's predictions here. Well, let's talk Leonard Fernett. I said this.

It's not what you get your wife. It's not what you get your wife for your anniversary, but you better remember the anniversary. It's not that they have to go get Tom Brady everything, but I think the commitment of Shady McCoy, the commitment of Leonard Fernette. Peter, I think it means something. It's like, listen, Tom.

They're doing this in New Orleans with Drew Brees. Tom, we're all in, we're about you. I think Fernette actually is a real piece, your thoughts. Yeah, I think that was a good get for them. I still think at the end of the day, it'll be running back by committee there, but I think Ronald Jones gets the most touches rushing and receiving in that backfield. Look, pro football focus had a great stat last week about Tom Brady

in talking about why they believe he'll have a kind of a resurgence season. Pro Football Focus has been doing numbers on every NFL player for the last 14 years since 2006. And collectively, the receiving core of the New England Patriots in 2019 was the worst as a team that they've ever graded on any team in 14 years. Wow! So you look at that, you look at that. you just say, hey, you know, because everybody was ready to throw Brady in the dumpster. Now, let's see when this year Tom Brady has the best weapons collectively he's had in his career, or at least since 2007, you know, with Randy Moss.

But I think collectively altogether it's going to be better than 2007. And so we'll see what Brady has left. So I'm looking at your stuff here, Peter. I don't want to give too much away before we get. to your NFL predictions, but you and I have a lot of agreements. You like Miami more than I do. Explain yourself, Mr. King. Why do you like Miami? I still think they're a rebuild. You know, I think that when you look at the Miami Dolphins and you look at what happened last year, they found themselves in the second half of the season. They had a better record after Halloween

than the New England Patriots did. And I think they've made all the right moves this. offseason. I love the acquisition of Kyle Van Noy. I think he's going to be a superb player in that defense. And look, I think they're going to be good enough on offense, Colin. I don't know when two is going to play. I assume it'll be at some point this year, you know, but I think they were good enough on offense last year. And, you know, to get Byron Jones, who's the best cornerback in free agency in the last three or four years, I mean, they've, they've, they've, they've really, really help themselves, in my opinion. If you talk about Van Nuoy and Byron Jones, those two guys. And then, obviously, you draft Tua. And I just think they're an improved

team. And again, one of the reasons I made this pick, I picked Buffalo to make the playoffs, but, you know, I just, I'm unconvinced about Josh Allen. Yeah, fair. I just don't know who he is. Yeah. I don't know who he is. And so I, I know. need to see him play better. It's one of the reasons I picked Seattle over San Francisco because the postseason kind of shook my confidence in Jimmy Garapolo. Yeah. And, you know, I could be wrong. The 49ers could win 14 games and Garoppolo could play as well as he did for most of the regular season. But as for now, I'm just a little bit shaky about Garapolo. Okay, so let's go look at Peter's AFC predictions again. For our radio audience, I'll read those.

are AFC predictions for Peter King NFL season. Ravens Chiefs, Titans, Dolphins win the division. Not outrageous, a little high on the dolphins for me. Your wild cards are the Colts, bills, and the Raiders. So I don't know if the Raiders can stop anybody, and they're moving to a new city, which historically has been tough. Why do you like the Raiders so much? I just think the last two years, Mike Mayock has basically said in the draft,

He said, look, I love big-time players from big-time programs. And what Mike Mayock is doing, I don't know, you've got to be a person of a certain age, really of a certain age, to remember the college all-star game. Yeah. Okay, every year, the first exhibition game used to be the world champions against a team of college all-stars. And to me, Mike Mayock has created, you know, the SEC and, you know, and, you know, and Clems. in and the big ten he's picked the best players out of the biggest programs and he's done that for two years in a row and i think he is gambling that the chemistry experiment they do is going to pay off and also gambling that the base basically of hunter renfro and uh and henry rugs is going to be a

a nucleus for some great offensive weaponry. So I don't know. I like the Raiders. I feel the same way about Carr that everybody else does. You know, he's kind of in proven mode to me, but I like the Raiders. Yeah. Let's go to the NFC where Peter's got Dallas, New Orleans, Seattle, and Minnesota winning a division, San Francisco, Tampa, and Detroit as Wild Card team.

So you have, I look at Dallas as a 8-8, 9, and 7 club. you're high on Dallas. Hmm, why? I don't like the back end of their defense at all, Peter. I don't like the back end of their defense very much either, but here's the way I look at it. I think Dallas and Philadelphia have a big advantage. Philadelphia is the one team I didn't have making the playoffs

that really bothered me to not have them in there. But, you know, Colin, you can't just pick the same teams because you just can't. You know, you've got to throw in a Detroit every now. and the Raiders. But the thing about Dallas, I think they're going to score a heck of a lot of points. I think DAC is going to be an MVP consideration.

And you're absolutely right. I don't trust their secondary either. But I do think that being in the same division with Washington and the Giants, you know, basically gives you almost a New England kind of advantage. Yeah. Traditionally, when you're going for home field. And so it was, you know,

I love the Saints, too. I think the Saints are a better team than the Cowboys, almost without question. But, you know, the Saints, you know, they're going to have, they've got a really, really tough schedule. And to me, I think you need to look at the schedule when you look at how a team is going to end up that season. So your Super Bowl prediction, I haven't really given mine yet. Maybe I have. I forgot. Tampa Bay over the Ravens.

I'm all in on the Ravens. It's so funny about this because I've told me. my team, my staff for months. I'm like, I know I'm going to chicken out. I won't choose Tampa, but something tells me it just is too magical. I look at the schedule and I'm like, God, if they can just play good defense at September until they get hot offensively, let's just say you're right. And the Bucks beat the Ravens.

Your column on Monday. I mean, in the pantheon of sports history, it almost feels LeBron. Cleveland, I mean, it's this, a 43-year-old guy wins a Super Bowl, Peter. It'll be one of the craziest things of our lives. It won't be, it won't be, it won't even be close to LeBron because LeBron was still nearly in his prime, in his absolute prime when he last won a championship. And he did not go to an absolute basement team at, you know, very late in his career, after anybody in his sport had ever played great football.

The Bucks haven't made the playoffs in 13 years. You know, so it's just, to me, it's all comparisons to this would be silly. But again, look, I think everybody, you know, who's obviously calling me an idiot for picking the Bucks, and I totally get it. I knew it would happen. But I think they're forgetting one thing. Last year, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers turned the ball over,

41 times. You know the last team to turn the ball over that many times in a season? The Cleveland Browns, the year they went 0 and 16. And the Bucks turned it over 41 times. And they entered their last two games seven and seven on a four-game win streak. And they should have won both of their last two games against Houston and Atlanta. They lost both. Why?

Because James Winston threw six interceptions. So all I'm saying is that they have a base of talent. And now if they get an efficient quarterback, you know, this is the stat of this season right now. James Winston threw 30 interceptions in 16 games last year. Tom Brady has thrown 30 interceptions in his last 64 games. Yeah. So you're going to have a team that's not going to turn it over. And if their defense is 10.

or 12th in the league. It will be. It could be and should be. Okay? Then I don't think it's that big a leap to say the bucks are going to be really good. Yeah, actually, yeah, the one thing I don't like, I think their division's good, and I don't like their special teams. And I think Super Bowl so often come down to just situational football.

And I just, I, Tampa Bay can't get quarterback right historically and kicker right. They just can't do it. All right. You know, you're right. Let me just say one thing. nobody knows anything about special teams because they haven't been able to practice it all through the season. So who knows what it's going to look like on Sunday? Go ahead.

Finally, there is one team that everybody's telling me to buy, and I think they've got all the things I like. They've got an experienced coach who's won a Super Bowl, a quarterback who's won a Super Bowl, great ownership. Kevin Colbert, good GM. Boy, I don't buy Pittsburgh. I just, I look around right now, and I see these Mahomes and Reed and Harbaugh and Lowe and, and, Lamar, and I got to tell you, I don't, I look at that division right now, Peter, for the first time in my life, I think they're a sub 500 football team this year. Where do you land with the Steelers?

I look at you. You don't have the Steelers in the playoffs either. No, you know what I think it is, Colin? It's, I don't, if you told me that Ben Rothesberger is starting 16 games this year, I would have put him in the playoffs. But I mean, he's missed 22 games due to injury in I think the last five years, whatever that number is. and he's 38 years old.

He missed 14 games last year with the elbow, and, you know, his elbow injury. So again, I think, you know, and look, this Chase Claypool, the receiver, who they drafted in the second round, he's going to be a really, really good player. But again, I don't trust their quarterback depth chart, let's just say.

Yeah. And so to me, that, there are some teams where you're not concerned about who the back quarterback is. I'm very concerned who the backup quarterback is in Pittsburgh. Yeah. Peter King NBCSports.com. Great stuff. Football Morning in America. Peter, thank you so much. Thanks, Colin. 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

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