The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Best of The Herd: 10/29/2019

Episode Date: October 29, 2019

Colin explains why he is not surprised that James Harden is struggling adapting to his new teammate Russell Westbrook. He serves up slices of the "blame pie" for the Browns and most of it is on one person. He reveals his top ten NFL teams in the Herd Hierarchy including a new team at #1. Plus, FOX NFL Insider Jay Glazer comes in studio on the day of the NFL trade deadline to give Colin the latest. 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, Rhett, my mama want you to weigh better. What? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

American soccer is about to explode. The World Cup is coming. Ramos sending on the only score at the chip. Score! I'm Tab Ramos. I'm Tom Boke. On our podcast, Inside American Soccer, you'll get the real storylines, the biggest decisions, and the truth about the U.S. national team. It wouldn't be a huge surprise if our team ends up in the quarterfinals or potentially a great run into the semifinals.

Listen, Inside American Soccer with Tom Bogart and Tab Ramos on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 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 Cowherd on Fox Sports Radio. On a Tuesday, can't wait for today's show.

Great night, sleep, ready to roll. Don't even need a Red Bull. This is the herd, wherever you may be and however you may be listening live in L.A. Yes, our set. FS1 is amazing. Nice job, everybody on that. The Halloween look, it is Thursday. I am dressing up again as a respected newsman.

Iheart Radio, Fox Sports Radio at FS1. Joy Taylor is joining me as always. One hour from now, our herd hierarchy. Our herd hierarchy, top ten teams, it's getting very, very interesting in the NFL. Cowboys are better than you think, getting very interesting. Joy, how are you? I'm good. I'm actually very interested to see who you have at the top of your hierarchy.

because it's a point of contention around the NFL right now. It's very close. It is very close, and there are skeletons all over our set. So if you're listening to us, turn to FS1. Our crew just did a remarkable job here on Halloween week. Also today, we got Jay Glazer and Peter Schrager. We got NFL trade deadline, so we'll be all over that stuff. There's rumors flying this morning.

Nothing can be substantiated. But we'll just start with this, though, is that the NBA seasons, you know, it's about a week old. And one of my contentions is the web. Westbrook Hardin thing is going to be incredibly rocky. And because, and for obvious reasons, two guards, profoundly gifted, great scores, ball-centric guys. Now, through three games, we're already seeing a pattern. Westbrook 24 points, not shooting threes, 50% from the field has been terrific.

Hardin is struggling. Off ball more. Three-point shooting, 15%. From the field, 28%. So you go ahead and say, Colin, Westbrook is the man. It doesn't matter. For this to work, they both have to work in unison. So last night, Westbrook played very, very well.

It was 29-9-9 played very well. Houston wins, struggled ugly, early, but won. And Westbrook, again, was very good. Of course he did, because he is good. But there is a reason when Steph Curry and Clay Thompson emerged as a great back court. You had to go back to 1972 to find a comparable back court, Jerry West and Gail Goodrich,

where two scores work together. Because in the history of the NBA, that's not how you build a franchise. If you go look at how the Lakers great teams, Kobe was the man at Guard, Derek Fisher was a clear two. Okay, Derek Fisher was smart. I'm going to make Kobe my best friend. When Magic was running the show, Byron Scott, Norm Nixon early, clear number twos, Michael Jordan's great teams, Paxson, Kerr, Ron Harper, Michael gets the ball always. Magic gets the

ball always. Kobe gets the ball always. That's why if you look at the history of the NBA, a great point guard in a center, Magic and Kareem get your titles, Tony Parker and Tim Duncan get you titles, or Kobe a two guard, Michael a two guard. I mean, even Scotty Pippen. Scotty Pippen wasn't a guard. He was a wing guy. He was the robin to Batman. The issue here is you're going to go back to the 70s to find guards that work.

And people say, Stefan Clay, Stefan Clay, time out. It's different. Clay Thompson is what they call a catch and shoot guard. Clay Thompson scored 60 points, his best NBA game. He had 11 dribble. that night. I'm not joking. Look it up. Eleven dribbles. That's called half a possession for Westbrook and Harden. Okay. They're different players. Not all guards are the same. So Steph and Clay work because one is a catch and shoot guard. But you had to go back to the 70s to find a prototype

back court where you're like, oh, two guards score because people don't build teams this way. So what you're seeing already in Houston is Westbrook, who's not a catch, and shoot guard. The weakness to his game is shooting. The strength to his game is ball handling, energy. He's a remarkable Tasmanian devil of an athlete. I mean, just like he's an uncontrollable talent, sometimes an out-of-control talent. And Hardin now, if you watch him play, is better served off the ball, because James can really shoot. But can you convince James? Okay. You know all those MVP's and stuff. Yeah, you change your style.

That's going to, we'll win more, but that, you know, now you're going to have to go over and it kind of be Westbrook running the show and you'll be the slot receiver. You know, he'll throw it to you occasionally, but he'll, good luck making that work. Now, it looks like that's the way it should work. Westbrook, no threes. Westbrook, huge energy, draws people to him, hardened outside shoot would be better. But you can tell from James shooting, he's struggling with this combo meal. It's not quite working for him.

Now, I had a friend last night that was at the game, and he said, he said it's just an interesting watch. It's incredibly clunky. Of course, it's very, very early. But something is emerging that Westbrook, no threes with the ball, feeding hardened, would be ideal early. The question is, and it sounds simple because you could win that way. would James be okay with it?

I think that's tough. And there's a reason Stefan Clay were the first great back court scoring duo we all thought of since 1972 and 73. It's just not an ideal way to win titles in the league.

All right, let's go to this. It's trading deadline stuff. We'll be all over this. Peter Schreger, Jay Glazer, both here. So trouble in Cleveland. So Odell Beckham, after they lost to New England, didn't like his targets, didn't like his production. Odell Beckham talked about it in the locker room after losing to New England. We didn't challenge as much as we could have.

I think we kind of shot away from it. I was expecting and looking forward to it, but that wasn't the case today. We had a couple plays, but for whatever reason we didn't do, you know, as much challenging as the matchups that we all talked about. Oh, that's not great. That's not what a Patriot would do after a loss. Blame the coach. Freddie Kitchens had no time for it and no patience for it

and addressed it yesterday. Odell had seven balls thrown to him. He caught five of them. I'm not responding to that. We need to win a football game. That's what I'm worried about. Oh, that was a little clunky. USA Today came out today and gave percentages on who to blame.

And so it's time for another edition of the Herds Blame Pie. We love bakery. We love pastries on this show. We do. We have pastries all over our office every morning. Joy's laughing. We enjoy pastries on this show. We've got scones and we've got...

It is a daily self-battle with you whether you're going to have a scone. I like pastries are bad for you, and we have them all over the office. So I am going to do another edition of the cowherd blame pie. And I think there's three people to blame here. And let's divvy up the pieces. 75% front office, 12.5% Baker Mayfield and 12.5% Freddie Kitchens. I could crush Baker Mayfield this season. And by the way, you Brownie fans, if Baker had as many touchdowns as picks and it was all reversed,

you would be all over my Twitter account, but you're all hiding now. I could drop the anvil on your organization. I could hammer Baker Mayfield. He's been atrocious, but I'm not going to. This organization, this general manager who Kansas City ran out of town, has quite an ego. He hired a head coach who had never even been a full-time coordinator, who nobody would have offered a head coaching job to. he did it so he could control him.

So Freddie Kitchens, who was a position coach, emergency elevated briefly to the coordinator, was given an NFL franchise, would not even have interviewed for that job. Then they add OBJ, to say the least, an incredibly challenging personality for a rookie head coach. In the process of that, they traded away the first. or second best offensive lineman to protect a young quarterback. Isn't that the opposite of what Chris Ballard, the GM for the Colts, believes in? Howie Roseman, the GM of the Eagle, smart guy, believes in. Yes, Freddie Kitchens gets 12.5% of the heat.

He's learning on the job. Situationally, he appears to be sometimes a little lost, a little over his skis. but do you blame the guy who for the first time in his life is given a seven-figure opportunity? Should he have said no? Good luck with that. 99% of the world never gets a seven-figure offer. You just take it. You just take it and you figure it out as you go.

Now, I do think situationally, he's been in the NFL for 15 years, he's not great situationally. And I do think Baker Mayfield deserves 12.5% of the blame. way too cocky, way too much noise, put unbelievable targets on all these players' backs. And I thought, honestly, he wasn't bad against New England. I think in a couple of games, you know, Seattle, he was atrocious. He lost the Seattle game. So he gets 12.5%. But this morning, I could clobber Baker Mayfield.

This is not on him. This is not on Baker Mayfield. And it's not on Freddie Kitchens. And I don't know, John Dorsey, and I bet I'd like him. but he hired a coach he could control. I've worked at companies that have done that. It's always a disaster. You hire somebody who challenges you, who may be smarter than you,

who you can trust, and you can't control. If you're hiring a head coach you can control, you're hiring a head coach who needs the job. You can't fully control Bill Belichick. He'll bark back at you at a meeting. Andy Reid will have an opinion in the meeting. Sean Peyton's got an opinion in a meeting. You don't want to cope.

Pete Carroll's got an opinion in the meeting. Freddie Kitchens is not going to talk back. This, again, is about the structure, which is below average, on a day I could hammer Baker, the Browns. This is on the front office. And from day one, I said, Baker is not talented enough to overcome dysfunction. DeShon Watson is. They've had plenty of it. Baker's not, Deshawn Watson.

Who, for the record, the Browns could have picked the previous year? Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. 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 Fantine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing.

And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on Earth. Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely.

And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now.

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 the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me. He goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What?

Time out. quarterback on office blue with 42. Hey, Wreck, my mama want you to weigh better. What? Where's she at? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Cliverts show on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcast, 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 defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game.

His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas 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 will get that thing. That man, hell get to fly. He running up the court, licking his fingers, why he got the ball.

Like, after 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. So Steelers played last night, beat Miami a wildly competitive football game for three quarters.

Mason Rudolph, heard booze, got his act together, made a couple of throws. I think it's really important. This has happened in my life before. And I think if I ran a company, this is something I would constantly, every six months, every year, be asking all my lieutenants, all the people running my company. What are we? And where are we going? What are we today?

And what are we going to be tomorrow? And I watched the Pittsburgh Steelers. And I don't love either answer. What are they? They got talented players, but they're not special at quarterback. Mason Rudolph's not special. He's a guy and Big Ben is old. What are you?

The AFC has a new standard at quarterback and stop using Brady. Big Ben's not Brady. The new standard is Deshawn Watson, Patrick Mahomes, and to a lesser degree, Lamar Jackson. Unique talent. Playmaking talent. Save bad play talent. Stuff you can't teach talent and excellent leadership abilities. That's the new standard.

The Chargers have been in their building last couple of years, very reluctant. Walking on eggshells, what do we do with the Phillip Rivers thing? We're moving to L.A. Philip doesn't want to move his family to L.A. He's old. He's unathletic. What do we do? They don't feel special, the Chargers at quarterback.

and with an average O line and almost all NFL offensive lines are average, the Chargers don't feel special at the most important position. The New York Giants for years, walking on eggshells, wouldn't go out and get a unique special athlete at quarterback. And behind an average offensive line, the Giants felt at a deficit at quarterback. The league is changing. The world is changing. Mason Rudolph's not a special player. He's a player.

And at quarterback, if you look at the AFC standard and it's not going away, it's Patrick Mahomes, it's Deshaun Watson. And I think to a lesser degree, I don't put him near this category, but it's Lamar Jackson. Oh, my Lord, he's faster than our linebackers. Oh, wow, he made something out of nothing. So what are the Steelers today? Not special at the most important position. And where are they going? bringing old Big Ben back.

It feels very New York Giants. It feels very L.A. Chargers. It feels very, do we roll the dice? Do we, do we hit the reset button? I mean, listen, Big Ben is not Brady, so stop it. He's not aging like Brady. He's banged up again. And by the way, Miami and Cincinnati, both in the AFC,

are going to get new mobile fresh quarterback. So this is not a trend that's it's ending. I just watched the Steelers last night. And I kept going back of, who are they and where are they going? I don't really like the answer to either. Remember, the NFL does not reward nostalgia. Ever. It does not reward nostalgia.

You got to be ahead, not behind. Hey, Kansas City was getting to the playoffs with Alex Smith. And he reads like, we got to get better. Alex Smith is not beating Tom Brady. We got to get special. Baltimore was winning a bunch of games with Joe Flacco. We got to get different. We got to get special.

I mean, again, Houston was winning their division before to Sean Watson. We got to get special. What are the Steelers? Where are they going? What are they going to be? I just felt like a big mad burger to me last night. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week,

within the I-Heart radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. When Kevin Durant chose Brooklyn over Golden State, I said, I think it's a colossal mistake. It's not about the cities and it's not about the laundry and it's not about anything other than Golden State is an A plus structure. And remember, Kevin Durant is a wanderer. It's his personality.

He admits that. Those close to him admit it. He's a wander. And sometimes with the wanderers, it's your name. natural inclination to move, even when you get incredible support, which he had in Golden State. So this story comes out yesterday. Kyrie Irving's mood swings are, quote, unspoken concern and making the nets queasy. We're three games in.

When Kevin Durant left Golden State, San Francisco area, Oakland area, for Brooklyn, New York, you think big city to big city. What always bothered me wasn't the laundry is that he really chose Kyrie Irving over Steph Curry as your co-star. So Steph is mature, an adult, kind of a low drama, kind of an underwhelming personality, a stable, family man, doesn't need validation, grew up with a very, very strong support system, incredibly adaptable and easy to coach. the best co-star in the NBA.

Kyrie is moody, needs the ball, the world is flat, more than a handful of stories about kind of a bizarre personality. You know, can be a little more difficult to coach, certainly than Steph. And there is some drama in his life, drama with LeBron, drama with Brad Stevens. So Kevin Durant's not about the laundry. He chose, as a co-star, Kyrie, much more dramatic, seeking validation, tougher to coach. Now, they both have injuries, and they're both better with the ball. And they're both great shooters. There are some similarities. But I think Kyrie is more difficult to play with. He's got a different personality. I don't think he's as stable. I don't think he's as adult as Steph Curry. And I think Kevin Durant made a massive mistake, and I think a lot of it is based on his personality. I don't know Kevin Durant, but he's a wander. We've heard that over and over. And, you know, some of you are watching and some of you are listening on the radio.

Some of you have personalities where, you know, you're never satisfied. You know, maybe it's from your family structure as a kid, whatever. I'm not a sociologist. But you just, you're a wander. And even when people put their arms around you like Steve Kerr and Draymond Green and Clay Thompson and Bob Myers, even when they put their arms around you, we always kept saying, why isn't he happy? What?

I don't understand it. And maybe it's in his personality. He's just a natural mover. He's never going to, you know, put his feet down here. You know, he grew up in D.C. He went to Texas. In Texas, he went to Seattle. Then he went to Oklahoma.

Then he went to Golden State. Now he's out in Brooklyn. And I think in a couple of different areas, he's gotten great support. And he's never felt loved. I mean, Oklahoma, he just didn't feel like he was getting the love. And over in Golden State, I think deep down, he didn't feel like it was his team, even though, God, if you're an NBA guy and you're a score, you drive to the arena every night with Golden State,

and you know you don't have to drop 30. You can because you're the best player on the team, but you don't have to. And I think this Kyrie thing, I think this is a mess. And I think if you look in the history of the NBA, you can make a lot of moves, and I always support player mobility. Find me.

Find me the star that left a dynasty with four years left in it. It just doesn't happen. just didn't happen. I mean, you know, when LeBron left Miami, he felt like Wade and Bosch were getting old. I got it. When he left Cleveland, he was over Dan Snyder and J.R. Smith.

I got it. I get when Stars leave. But Magic Johnson didn't leave the Lakers with four years left in it. Scotty Pippen came back to the Bulls because they had three more rings. I think Katie made a mistake. And now we're starting to hear three games in. Kyrie's difficult. Of course he is.

He left Brad Stevens and LeBron. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Heard hierarchy. Time is now. Let's go. The top 10 NFL teams, according to college, number 10. Kansas City, I actually thought their loss to Aaron Rogers was really competitive without Patrick Mahomes. Structurally, I love them. GM's an A, coach in a, playmakers are an A. even defensively where they've got their issues.

They're fifth in sacks, so they make plays defensively. So this is an organization that's going to be fine. They had a bizarre number of injuries. Early in the season, it happened. But they're not a man overboard. They're losing some home games. They're fine in their division where Denver's a mess. The chargers are uneven, and I don't trust the Raiders.

So Kansas City to me, get my homes back, probably back soon. going to go on a streak. When you've got a great coach, great playmakers, good GM, and you get to the quarterback, fifth and sacks, you're fine. Number nine. L.A. Rams are quietly very interesting now. Offensive line, getting healthier, hasn't surrendered a sack in two weeks. By the way, they're fourth in the NFL in passing.

Sean McVeigh knows how to build a passing game. Deepest receiving core in the league. Robert Woods, Cooper Cup, Brandon Cooks, and Josh Reynolds, is easily the best four receiver in the league, and Robert Woods or Cooks are easily the best number three receiver in the league. The offensive line is healthier. McVeigh may get beat within his own division by Pete Carroll and Shanahan, but he's 10 and 0 in his career against the AFC.

They're getting healthy. Gerald Everett at tight ends, another nice piece. This is a passing offense now more than a running offense. It looks pretty good right now, Rams at 9. Number 8. Minnesota Vikings. Listen, are they good enough to get to a conference championship? Yes, I think there's some fools gold here.

Even against Washington, when you put them in a prime time game, they shrink. They struggled beating the Redskins with a backup quarterback and a backup coach 19 to 9. But their third in total offense, their third in rushing, they've got playmakers on the perimeter. Their defense goes three, their safeties are great, their corners are good, their linebackers can run, and they get after the quarterback. That is hard to do in the NFL with salary cap. When you have great players on all three levels of their defense, they do. And two-star receivers and a star back.

But I do think the offensive line is shaky. I wouldn't be shocked if they made a trading deadline move on their old line. And I don't trust Kirk Cousins in a big spot. Number seven. Baltimore Ravens, hard to prepare for. In the new collective bargaining, you don't plan pads and hit much in practice. And the first time you face Baltimore, that is a physical offense. very difficult to prepare for.

First in the NFL and rushing, second and total offense. And Lamar Jackson may have limitations, but can I remind you, he is quarterbacked in 14 games. He's 11 and 3. He wins a lot. Now, Tebow won games, but when I watch Lamar Jackson, as long as his receivers can catch, he had a lot of drop so far this year. He's not going to be great trailing by two touchdowns late. But don't tell me he can't throw.

He can make specific throws with those big tight ends and speedy receivers, Baltimore at 7. Number 6. Houston, I always worry about their offensive line. JJ Watts out for the year. But here's an interesting number. We tend to bail on the Texans because, you know, historically in the playoffs, they disappoint us. But Deshaun Watson has gotten off to slow starts in his career. He's only 4 and 7 in September.

But he is 15 and 5. all the other months. So there's this thing with Houston, like they start slow and they don't end the way we like. But if you start looking at what they do, 20 games they've won 15, and this is the time for the next seven weeks, they're an incredibly tough out. I don't love them situationally at head coach. They don't have a GM. But when they're healthy on the offensive line with Deshaun, they have a real running game. I think they're tough to stop. Number five. Dallas Cowboys.

Okay, first of all, all you critics, you do get their situationally better than you think. They lead the NFL, not just in offense, but in third down offense. What does that mean? They're pretty well coached. On third down, it's not man overboard. They're smart situationally.

They also, here's another one for all the people that bang on Jason Garrett, and I know he can be a little flat. They lead the NFC in four. fourth quarter point differential. This is a team that's very good on third down, very good late in games, very good situationally. They added Michael Bennett. That's a sack or two, right? When their offensive line is healthy and Amari Cooper is healthy, this is a top five, six team in the NFL.

I've got them at five. Number four. Green Bay. Now, their defense is good, but it's not dynamic. They're middle of the pack and sacks. they're very turnover dependent and when teams like Philly

don't give them a turnover, they can sit and get pushed around. I don't think it's a great defense. I think it's an improved defense and an opportunistic one. They have not given up more than 24 points once. But again, sacks, they don't scare you. I mean, seem to me Matt Moore looked really comfortable

for Kansas City for three quarters. But Aaron Rogers is on fire, 75% completion rate. ATDs, picks last two games. Aaron's hot, Aaron's happy, the Packers are good, number four. Number three.

Next three teams have defenses, New England. Now you're saying, Colin, New England, they should be number one. Here's what I saw against Cleveland. Their offensive line lost a lot of individual battles to the Brown's defensive line, and the Patriots defensive line lost a lot of individual battles to the Brown's offensive line. I thought Cleveland's O line had a very, very good day outside of the butt-funker. play when they just, you know, blew up kind of a clever play.

Now, they are the first team in the Super Bowl era halfway through a year to be averaging 30 and giving up only 10. Some of that is they've just played young quarterbacks, Donald Baker, just kids. But I didn't love their line play this weekend. I still think they don't have a tight end that can be dynamic and they have no vertical passing game. And I think Brady has looked flat. Number two.

Saints. fourth and third down defense, second in rush defense. The story on this is not Drew Breeze. We saw Drew left. They went 5 and 0. The story on this is a really good defense. They stop you on third down. They get you off the field.

They get the ball back to their running game. I mean, they've won without Drew Breeze. They've won a game without Alvin Kamara. That's not what you, this Saints team is not what you think they're billed as. You know, it's all offense. They don't throw the ball vertically. This is a really good defense. that in spots gets after the quarterback.

You can't run on them. They get you off the field and third down. And oh, by the way, they have a Hall of Fame first ballot quarterback and a brilliant offensive coach with an elite receiver and an elite back. But I think their defense is really the leader of this team, not Drew Brees. Number one. My eyes tell me San Francisco is the most dynamic team up front defensively and the most dynamic team offensively.

And what's interesting, they're a little contrarian to what you believe. Now, we think it's Kyle Shanahan. Never forget his dad was a pound the football dad. So they lead the NFL in rushing. They are 57.5% of the time they run the ball. That's the highest percentage in the NFL. So this has been without both of their offensive tackles, they have not been healthy. You can't lose both tackles, right?

It submerges the offense. Not here. First in defense, first and past defense. they're also the least penalized team in the league. So I get a smart team, which is remarkable because their defense average is 25 years old. Cleveland's young. It's penalties everywhere. This team young, there's penalties nowhere.

San Francisco Herd Hierarchy number one team. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. 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. Trip 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, Keer Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose

on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app. Search, learn the hard way, and listen now. 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 the people who live them.

Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. What's up guys? This is Clivert Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations

about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me, He goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue of 42.

Hey, rep, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Hey, Ms. Parker. Listen to the Cliverts show on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, fam? This Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs.

without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows. Without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs.

I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on all. offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into

some playoff history too. Steve Nass would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He run up the court licking his fingers why he got the ball. Like, after you go through a training camp with that, I said, 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. Jay Glazer doesn't have to use shampoo. Where do I get some of this? You don't have to. It's what a great life. You shower and just leave and you don't have to do any of the nonsense.

Well, I don't really shower. Well, that's that part of that. But I never need, you know, whenever I travel, yeah, it's not like I need carry on. I don't need hair care products. I'm good. When I do my 40-day training camp tour, I just have carry-on. I don't know.

40 days. You bald guys have all the right. All right. And I'm short. So my clothes are small than everybody else. So you broke the story on Leonard Williams. Congratulations on Fox Sunday. Leonard Williams.

By the way, the Jets now, there's another story that you were praying that didn't come out before you hit the show because you had it. Yeah, just in Leonard Williams. Jamal Adams. He's on the trade block. And I know it's been reported about there that they're talking to the Cowboys. They're talking to several teams for Jamal Adams right now. And the draft, the competition is a one plus and a one plus a pretty good pick. A one and a third maybe.

Yeah, something like, you know, one four. But it's probably going up. It's guys like this. I mean, he's a baller. He's a player. And I think that, you know, you and I were just talking about off the air. These teams in the 20s, why not make a run for a guy that you know what you're getting? Right.

You know where you're getting. First round picks these days are such a crap shoot as it is. You know where you're getting. That's why the Cowboys, when they did a Maury Cooper, like, all right, for the most part, you guys are going to pick in the 20s. And you know that you're, even like the Rams with Jalen Ramsey, pick will end up being the 20s. They're hoping in the 30s.

And it's, you know, we know the guy we're getting. Yes. in the first round. You just draft pitch. It's such a crap shoot. So Jamal Adams, look, he's on the trade block or they're listening. And there's heavy talks right now with the Cowboys and other teams as well. Robbie Anderson, receiver, speedy receiver.

Teams are talking about that. Levy on Bell, I know they were talking about like Philadelphia. That's not going to happen. You know, I know the chiefs have been kind of linked to it. Let's see. I know they're in heavier talks right now for Jamal than anything else. But, you know, why not load up on picks? And this is, you know, let's stay with the Cowboys for a second because you and I were talking about this.

Jay Glazer is joining us, owner Unbreakable Performance Center, the athletic, obviously, on Fox. And days like today, you are so invaluable that the Cowboys are getting to a point that they're so talented at key positions. Jay, not a lot of these draft picks can make the Cowboys. So if they did get Jamal Adams, would they, because the Jets, none of this stuff works in New York without an offensive line. The Jets offensive line is a sieve. Eight sacks for Darnold. What's that look in your face? Yeah, no, no, no.

I agree with you. So that was it. So Dallas, if Dallas could give the Jets what they want, a first and a third, can you mention another team that's in on Jamal Adams or is that a no-no? Not yet. Not yet because I don't want to ruin it for them. Oh, is it a big team? It's a big team, yeah.

So I don't want to ruin. I don't want to ruin for them. I don't want to read it for them or something like that. He's going to go through the alphabet. I just want to say. screw it up for them. Jamal Adams is from the Dallas area, by the way. I know, and he's saying he wants to go there and I get it and yeah.

But that's yeah, there's other teams that are involved. Okay, okay. So you broke the- We were here on the show. Was it last year? Yeah, you broke it last year. When we had the Honeybadger got released. That's right. Two years ago, right at the end here. Okay, so let me throw another one out.

Trent Williams is a seven-time Pro Bowl in nine years. Got all sorts of dogging him. Washington wants to move him. Washington should have tried to move him before this, well before this. Because now all these other teams like Houston, who was looking for a tackle, you know, it's harder to get these deals done, believe it or not, at the trade deadline because, you know, you've got a gun to your head. You got to move fast on this.

They really had a much bigger market earlier, and they dug their heels in on Trent Williams, and I don't get why. Now, I think in their mind, they're like, okay, if we don't trade them now, then we'll get something in the offseason for him. but, man, look, listen, it's the Redskins. I don't understand why they do the business they do, and I think most of us in the league kind of will back me up on that. Okay.

Let me talk about two teams that are interesting. The Philadelphia Eagles do some things well. They, I think they're a run downhill, throw to the tide end on play action team. They could use some speed outside to Sean Jackson's older and injuries. Robbie Anderson of the Jets. Do you think Philadelphia makes a move in the next several hours? Philadelphia was trying. They were swinging away.

They're GM, Howie Roseman. He tries to swing away, and he called everywhere and was trying. They don't have a lot of money. I just talked to some people in Philly. They're like, we're trying. It's going to take a lot right now. Don't see it happening. But they were trying.

They were really trying to bring in a playmaker for that team on at corner, at receiver. I mean, everything. They were trying. Okay. New England, offensive line issues. Would they at all be. in the Trent Williams sweepstakes? I don't know if they'd be in the Trent Williams sweepstakes,

but I know that even though they got a manual, Mahmah Tanoo, they were still looking for help at receiver. Wow. Yeah. They're, look, it's interesting how much they have been in it for receivers the last couple years. I'm they tried to trade for Randall Cobb last year, two years ago. I forget what it was.

And obviously, we've seen how much the Josh Gordon, the ABs. Is Nikiel Harry a bust? No, no. I don't think he's a bust at all. I think he's just, look, that place is different. That place you've got to, it's like, week the week the way they game plan. You've got to know you've got to be smarter

than every team in the league because they make you learn new stuff every single week. So, no, he's not a bust at all. He just, he hadn't played much at all. He's been hurt. The new GMs in this league are movers and shakers. I'm going to throw a couple things out to you. Is that...

The new GMs or the... Well, I mean, the less needs, the Howie Rosemans. They're not so new. Oh, yeah, the John Sniders will do it? Is there a... Do you believe take out Trent Williams Right Take out Jamal Adams

Do you think there's another player going to get moved today? A big move? You know, it's actually quieter than I thought. I think because these guys have already been moved, right? The Jalen Rams of the world and Minka Fitzpaccar tricks. Mohamed Sunnoos and the Sanders

and the Marcus Peters, guys like that, you know, they did it already. So I think this whole this trade month has been big, but it didn't, it's already been done. Okay. So is there another guy? I mean, Jamal's a big name.

There is, look, I said on Sunday that teams were calling about DeAndre Hopkins. And then immediately when everybody went crazy, like, oh, my gosh, she's on the trade block. No, no, no, no, no. Teams are calling them about DeAndre Hopkins. And then somehow, some way it started really kind of percolating and more and more teams started calling about DeAndre Hopkins. I haven't got a call from Hopkins. Am I to trade block? I'm like, no, no, no, no.

No, you're not on the trade block. It's the other way. Teams are calling them trying to see if they could pry away. And it's just, it's, he would have been a big name, but that's, he's not, they're basically shutting, shutting guys down. Okay. They need to get blown out of the water. Okay. Gut feeling on Jamal Adams Cowboys.

Gut feeling. Gut feeling he'll be traded here, not, I don't know about the Cowboys. Because again, there's teams in it. There's teams in it right now. It could, but because they have more than one trade partner, they're just playing everybody against each other right now. Is the team not? Stop asking me until I'll get you. I'll let you.

I will text it. I will direct. I will DM you. I will slide into your DMs and tell you. Okay. I want to ask you two macro topics on the NFL because you're good at this stuff. Yeah.

I think you have to give Freddie Kitchens support. You've got to give him 30 games in this league. How do you got him get him support? They got him this entire roster. They give them autonomy over there. Do you think he's in trouble after the year if they don't make the playoffs? I think he needs to make some. changes. Look, here's the thing. I think

Freddie Kitchens over there. A, they needed to stop even in camp, but you guys got to stop buying into your hype, because it's going to go sideways fast, and all of a sudden, you're not playing well, and teams are going to put a target down, but he also talks about too many other teams. Don't worry about other teams. Worry about yourself, worry about your own house. And he doesn't do that

enough, right? So, yeah, and I think you need, you've got to develop this quarterback. You've got to develop the quarterback. He's not the guy that's developed the quarterback, so it's... Is he in trouble? I don't know if he's in trouble. Let's see what happens the rest of the season. I don't know if he's in trouble.

But he needs to stop being such a tough guy out there. And, you know, he's always talking about other teams and they played like stop. He was always like a jolly fun dude when he was a runabout coach. Great. You kind of need to be that guy. You could still, you know, you could still have presence by being that guy. Well, that's fair. Has there been, when you look at this league, I feel like where there's,

we kind of feel like San Francisco, New Orleans, New England, you know, Green Bay. I want to throw something out to you. Now, it's not going to happen, but I said, Teddy Bridgewater's contract runs out at the end of the year. Right. This is Drew's team again. It's over.

Teddy's time is done. The Chicago Bears, stop fooling yourself. Mitch is the fourth best quarterback in that division. Yeah, I think they need to... Chicago. I think Chicago, people say, There's time to move on from Chubisky? You can't.

They put too much into them right now. You really got a ride and I and see. Is this a slump? Is it a son? Can we build them up? Like, that entire organization hits themselves to that wagon. You can't bail out until every wheel is falling off. Like, you've got to really exhaust at all.

You have to. You've put too much into them. So you're basically telling me I'm going to have the fourth best quarterback in this division rest of the way. And you've got to make him. Look, last year, he showed a lot of promise. The offseason? supposedly he took huge steps forward and then the season started and he didn't. They got to figure out why.

They got to figure out, is it him? Is it us? Are we not putting him in the best position? Is he just not as talented as we thought we were? Something. You could cover up a lot for quarterbacks and, but they, they can't bail on them now, man. They can't. They've done too much to make it his team.

All right. Go to your phone really quickly for our radio audience. What time is a trading deadline? 2.5 p.m. Pacific, so in like an hour and a half. You're not going to give me any specifics, such Jamal Adams. Right. But if I said to you, the other team. Teams, that's the thing.

Other teams. Does one of them rhyme with Wansa City meets? That's not the team I'm talking about. Because I tell you, boy, Kansas City would be fun with him. Oh! And the Chiefs, I think, they'll be in it for certain things here also. And that's the thing. Are your chiefs are active?

You're telling me that? No, no, no. I'm not saying yes or no. But these are the teams that you want to see active are these teams like the Rams, they swung away. I want to see it. Close, right? These teams that are close.

Like you saw the 49ers did it. They think we're close. So we're going to swing away. New England went up to Mhammed Sunnu. Right. New England did it. So you're going to see these teams. Just look in that upper rationale of those teams in there saying, okay, can we?

Yeah, it would make sense for that. Let me throw this out. Cincinnati, AJ Green. You're rebuilding. I don't understand why they were telling everybody, no. I don't get that. They are rebuilding, and they could have gotten an awful lot for them. I don't get why they kind of slammed the door shut to everybody the last week.

And I don't get that. Same reason I don't get why Washington realized the dude just wasn't ever going to show. They were ripping him. He was ripping them. He was ripping them. Sometimes it's just time to move on. Yeah, and it should have happened already. It's very exciting.

Very exciting. Okay. Does the coach is name? rhyme with Mandy Zeed that's working to get can you imagine how good Kansas City would be with Jamal Adams? It's 4 p.m. Eastern, 1 p.m. Pacific, by the way.

I'm sorry about that. You realize this is what you do what you're doing to Jays, what you do at least he does this once a week on the show, Jay. He'll pick up his phone and he'll just, I'll be talking or something happening, he'll just stop and just look at his phone. There's a pause like that. And I'm like, what's happening?

And I say, whoa. I can't go on the air with that. Whoa. Can't say anything. So now you're getting a dose of your own medicine. No, it's not. But I mean, look at it, I'm not trying to put him in a compromising position. I've said nice things about his baldness. Yes, yeah. I've said nice things about Leonard Williams who broke the story.

All I'm saying is rhyme. Give me a rhyme. My sexiness overall, yes. Today's been good. Today's been really good. That's exciting for me. All right. Let's let him go and do his job. Follow his Twitter account. I will text you, though. Well, can I break it? That's you Twitter. Well, no, you can't break it. I'm going to text you, though.

I will let you come on first. Be like, oh, Jay Glers are about to break this. There's no value in it. You giving me can't. Here, here's a piece of candy, Halloween. That would be like, exactly what I just described. Yeah.

I'm trying to be a team player here and help you out. What I'm being a real friend is what's about to happen. I'm being a real friend and you're not being grateful. No, what you're doing is standing on the porch on Halloween. You want a piece of candy? Yeah. Nope. Just joking.

There's a kick cap bar. Nope. I'm the parents who give you the pennies. 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 Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more, follow Timbo Slic 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 podcasts. What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, The Clivert 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 guy, this linebacker walks up to me. He goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Look, quarterback on office blue 42.

Hey, rec, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Where's he at? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clippers show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. American Soccer is about to explode. The World Cup is coming.

Ramos sending on the Army Stewart of the chip. I'm Tad Ramos. I'm Tom Boca. On our podcast, Inside American Soccer, you'll get the real storylines, the biggest decisions, and the truth about the U.S. national team. It wouldn't be a huge surprise if our team ends up in the quarterfinals

or potentially a great run into the semifinals. Listen, Inside American Soccer with Tom Bogart and Tabramos on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.