The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Best of The Herd for Jun 02, 2020

Episode Date: June 2, 2020

Dak Prescott is the exact player that the franchise tag was designed forThe Cowboys get overrated because of how popular they areHealth is not why Cam newton isn't on an NFL teamThree NFL teams Colin likes more than most and three he likes a lot less in 2020Guests:Nick Wright, FS1's First Things FirstStephen Jackson, former NBA player and long time friend of George Floyd Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Heard. This is the best of the herd with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio. Ah, here we go. It is a Tuesday. We are live in Los Angeles, and my hair is a mess. This is The Herd, wherever you may be, and however you may be listening, IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1, listen, folks, between the lack of haircuts, the lack of hairspray in our building, and the lack of makeup people, this is what you get from me.

No more apologies. This is what it looks like when I get up. Joy Taylor's joining me. You're going natural, Colin. Yeah, this is, you know, I'm not going to apologize anymore. Well, there's a guy in Cal, L.A., he's a big, he's Ron Howard's friend, Brian Glazer, who's got to spiked up hair. It's kind of his trademark. To get into spike now?

I'm considering it. This is what my hair does when. It's like a little Jersey Shore. That's right. You know, summer's almost here. Laundry tanning workout hair. Okay, this is what I got, folks. This is all I got.

And if you're listening on radio, go ahead. Watch TV, make fun of me on FS1. It's good to have you in today. Emotional a couple days. I do. We are 100 days away from the NFL today. For the record, baseball is going to figure it out. It's all optics and cosmetics here.

You know, the players and the owners, it's all in the owner's hands now. They'll figure it out. We're 100 days away from football. And, you know, I was thinking about Dak Prescott. I'm just worn out on Dak. Prescott. I'm just worn out. I think he's good and not great.

I'd franchise tag him. I think the franchise tag is built for Dak Prescott. But it's funny because I saw a story yesterday. I just didn't think yesterday. We just couldn't get to it. And there was a story about Dak Prescott. And they talked about the history of the franchise tag. And every time a quarterback gets franchise tagged, they don't stay with the team.

Because it's a different thing with quarterback. You can franchise tag a receiver, a tight end, a center, a running back, a safety. And they can be like Pro Bowl. And it's okay. It's like, okay, okay. I get it. love it. But quarterbacks do not like to be franchised. In fact, Howie Long always jokes, you can't have two-star quarterbacks in the same room. There's not enough oxygen.

Because quarterback's the only position in football. There's really one guy per team. I mean, there's a backup and stuff, but there's one guy. You can have six receivers, three tight ends, five corners, eight linebackers, and every offensive lineman's got somebody ready to go once you've got to ice your knee as a starter. But at quarterback, it's your team. Tom Brady wouldn't allow his backups after winning Super Bowls snaps in practice. That's how competitive they are. I mean, NBA stars, they need each other.

In baseball, everybody welcomes in this new star pitcher. But in football, one quarterback per roster that's really the guy, or it's all sorts of cats and dogs living together. And so I looked this morning at all the quarterbacks who had been tagged, then it's funny. The Steve Young here, Kirk Cousins, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning. And look at the teams that franchised him and Peyton Manning Colts and a few years later. He's in Denver and Drew Bree's Chargers and a few years later.

And then Michael Vic with the Eagles. And a few years later, they all leave. And it's the engagement ring. The franchise tag is the engagement ring of sports when you don't give a date. You know, here's the ring. When are we getting married? Oh, soon, I promise. Is there a date?

Not yet. I'm working on it. Can I date other people? No, no, no, no. A little resentment. I mean, you like the idea. Now, San Francisco with Jimmy Garoppolo, he had only five starts. They gave him $137 million.

So they gave him a ring and a date and set a wedding in the same day. Garoppolo loves San Francisco. They love San Francisco. Dak Prescott's like, when's the date? I've been here a long time. You can't just give me the ring. When's the wedding? Dax won a lot of games.

Two times Dax won the division. And quarterbacks get very sensitive. Remember Kirk Cousins in Washington? Remember that reaction to Kirk Cousins because he got franchise tag? Folks, he's like a fourth rounder. They had RG3. And here was his reaction. You like that!

You know, I've always said this. What happens? The players, you know, they agree to the franchise tag. And generally, owners beat players in all. sports with negotiations because 32 billionaires are all coming for the same worldview and they all want the same thing more money and a bigger chunk of it players there are 1700 NFL players they're all kind of arguing over different stuff for a veteran player i just don't want to get hit as much for a veteran offensive lineman i don't want practice the owners will always oblige the players on less

practice less hitting give us more money so owners always always have an advantage over players. Older players just want less practice. They got $30 million in the bank. That's enough. They like to hunt, fish, golf a little. They don't need zillions of dollars to be happy. They got their kids.

They got their wife. They teach their kids football. They're with their kids. They're happy. Football players are happy. I don't need a billion dollars. Hey, give me $20 million in the bank. I'm good.

I'll go back to my hometown, buy a nice house. Next to a lake. I'm good. That's a lot of NFL guys. And that's why owners generally beat players. players after they play want to disappear and play golf, hang out with their families, do their stuff in their local community, maybe teach football. Billionaires want more money. I think DAC is actually the perfect franchise player.

A, I like him. I don't want anybody else to have him. B, he kind of regressed last year. And C, I just want one year with a Super Bowl winning coach. It may have been the coach, not the quarterback. But he deserves. No, you watch him last year? his salary wasn't his contract wasn't up last year it's going to be up you know at the end of this year

and that's why he didn't look good and that's why i'd franchise tagging there are nine quarterbacks in the nfc alone you can argue are more talent than dack Aaron rogers Russell Wilson Carson wince Drew breeze Tom Brady Jared Goff Matt ryan Jimmy Garoppolo Matt stafford you can argue are better than deck not saying they are you can make the argument and here's the other thing to think think about in the NFC. Half, half of the starting quarterbacks in the NFC have started a Super Bowl. Dak has a single playoff win. If Nick Foles wins the Chicago job, my guess is he will. Brady, Breeze, Aaron Rogers, Russell, Matt Ryan, Foles, Jared Goff, Jimmy G. Many of them young

have started in a Super Bowl. Players agree to it. Players don't like it. And quarterbacks are deeply, deeply offended by it. The engagement ring of professional sports. You give the ring, you don't give a date, and quarterbacks don't like it. But I do think for DAC, it's fitting. Speaking of the Cowboys, Troy Aitman talked yesterday. Now, I've always had this thing about the Cowboys. Because their games are on television, and I did this as a kid.

The Cowboys were popular when I was a kid. Now, there were other teams in the NFL that felt almost as popular. The Steelers were great in the 70s, the Niners in the 80s. but the Dallas Cowboys, they didn't get the label America's team like last year. They've had it my entire life. They've been called America's team forever, the star in the helmet, when I was a kid. And cowboy players, because they're on television every week, you know what they make, you see them on commercials. We always elevate how good they are, just a little bit.

We give them about 15, 20 percent of love that we wouldn't give a great player with the Jaguars or the Titans or the Chargers. So Troy Aitman yesterday was talking about how good Dallas's talent is. Here's Troy Aikman. This is a team that really needs to go prove it out there on the field. And they're talented enough. As I said earlier, comparing the Cowboys with the other teams that we cover across the league. And I saw virtually all of them doing the Thursday night package as well as the Sunday package for Fox. The Cowboys are as talented as any team in the NFL.

There's very few coaches, I believe, that wouldn't have swapped teams with the Cowboys. because of how talented they are. So now they've got to live up to that, and it's hard. And that's my question. Are they? Are we sure? So I thought this morning, I'm going to list the 10 best Dallas Cowboy players. Two of them are really unbelievable.

Could be the best player in the NFL at their position. Zeke, the running back, Zach Martin Wright Guard. Those guys are arguably the best players in the league. Then there's four guys I like a lot. Jalen Smith, Tyron Smith. though he's getting old. Amari Cooper DeMarcus Lawrence. I like Amari Cooper better than most. I get to

seven. It's Leighton Van der Leyen Vendresch. Mega talent, but hurt a lot. I'm not sure who eight is. Michael Gallup? Maybe. So I got seven guys, and the seventh, I worry about

health. Let's just take the team nobody talks about in Los Angeles, the Chargers, and list there. 10 best players. Joey Bosa, Derwin James, Keenan Allen, Melvin Ingram,

Trey Turner, Mike Williams, Casey Hayward, Hunter Henry, Chris Harris, Austin Echler. Austin Echler is 10. He had 92 catches, 11 touchdowns, and almost 1,600 yards. As a running back, he was the best receiving running back in the league. Desmond King

doesn't make my top 10. He was a pro bowl corner, all pro, excuse me, which is actually better. He was all pro corner last year. Year before, 2.18. Desmond King doesn't make the top 10. He would be Dallas's best corner. In fact, to show you the gap between the Chargers and the Cowboys,

and I have the Chargers finishing third in their own division this year, Casey Denver Chargers. Derwin James, Casey Hayward, Chris Harris, and Desmond King would all start for Dallas and their own. secondary. Desmond King's their fourth most talented defensive back. He would be Dallas's most talented defensive back in a passing league. It sort of matters. And Dallas doesn't have a pass rusher like Joey Bosa and not nearly the receiving debt. They don't have the receiving depth at all. And the Chargers also have an elite, an elite, tight end. And that's

just the second team in Los Angeles. Nothing against Troy, but I tend to think. we do this a lot with the Cowboys, is if you see something, Bob Gibson's a legendary former Major League Baseball pitcher, top 10 pitcher of all time. He used to say, you know, pretty girls and great baseball catches. The last you see is always the greatest.

You covet what you see. You see more of the Cowboys than anybody else. They're on television every week. I mean, networks fight over them. Fox, NFL Network, Monday Night Football, CBS, every time the Cowboys are wrong, on. So when you see something over and over, you tend to be, oh, that's great. No, it's just the last

great thing you've seen or the last good thing you've seen. I'm not saying Dallas doesn't have talent. I don't even think they're close to the Chargers. I'm not sure they're the Rams. I definitely don't think they're as talented as the Eagles. Do you? Am I wrong? When you see something all the time and you know what they make and they're elevated by media, there's this misconception, Dallas is super talented. I don't think they're a top five team in the NFL. I don't think they have as much elite talent as Cleveland. I don't think they're close to Kansas City, San Francisco, New Orleans, or Baltimore. I don't even think they're close. Maybe I'm wrong. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9 a.m.

Pacific. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, 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. SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsClyce 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. 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,

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Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. 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 a little camp? 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 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 y'all I mean, at this point, this is the second episode where we've discussed, correct. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line.

We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you 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.

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

What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue 42. Hey, rep, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Hey, Ms. Parker. Listen to the Clifford show on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your,

podcast. Cam Newton remains unsigned. As coach said, it's all health. Let me just say this about the health thing. A lot of times people just don't want to be honest about stuff, and so they make excuses. It's like back to the engagement thing. Well, we'll get married over time. If somebody's into you, here's the ring, let's get married. The whole thing about Cam Newton's health, don't forget, Joel M. Bede was defined by getting hurt. He got a max deal. Joe L. M. Bid played 31 games because he couldn't stay healthy. Got a max deal. Why?

There's nothing else like him on the market. Aaron Rogers got a max deal off his second collarbone surgery. Carson Wentz got a deal after back-to-back years in Philadelphia. He couldn't finish the season physically. There's bidding wars for Kauai Leonard.

We came up with a term for him. Load management. There's bidding wars. Anthony Davis, they'll be bidding wars. He can't stay healthy. you think if Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Russell Wilson was on the market, we'd talk about health. Ron Rivera saying,

you know, the only reason Cam can't get a job, it's health. No, it's not. That's just not true. We're giving people athletes, 130, 140, $150 million contracts. Anthony Davis struggles with health. Kauai Leonard, Aaron Rogers, Carson Wentz, Joe Al-M-Beed was defined by injuries.

Sixers are like, we'll pay for him. there are so few transformative athletes when you get them you just pay you worry about the injuries later you figure you know medical staff new stuff coming down the pike we'll just keep people healthy here's the reality about cam he's not as talented as everybody thinks if you go look at cam newton since the super bowl season he's got an 82 passer rating he's completed 59% of his throws. He's a 500 quarterback with 65 TVDs and 44 picks. That's what he is. And Ron Rivera's not a bad coach. Some of those years were Christian McCaffrey, DJ Moore, Curtis Samuel, Greg Olson, people who are on the market, they would get multiple bidders. Trey Turner, pro bowl

guard. There's players everywhere. That's why Matt Ruhl took the job. He's like, oh, we got players here. Just give me a quarterback. We're making excuses on this. The health thing is a bunch of nonsense. The coach of Washington used to coach Cam. He went and got his backup. Who has not half the talent of Cam. Why is this? Cam's not as good as we think. Early in his career when he can run, wasn't as banged up, there was something there.

A lot of people in the league were still like, yeah, can you win long term? Okay. But since the Super Bowl, he's average. He's average. That's what he is. I don't buy the health stuff. It's like saying you see it all the time in Hollywood. I mean, Robert Downey's career, there was drugs.

drug use, bad behavior. He's talented. You just pay Robert Downey. We've seen this throughout the history of Hollywood. There's all sorts of actors who have had problems. They're difficult. I mean, the Russell Crow stories, he's difficult, he's throwing phones. He gets jobs.

Because there's so little, rare, top of the market talent that you just roll the dice on it. He's got a temper. I know, but he's talented. Well, he's hurt a lot. Well, he's got talent. She's difficult. Well, she's talented. That's every industry I've ever worked in.

Every industry, everybody I've ever worked in. If they're talented, you find a way. Cam's just not as talented as everybody thinks. You think Lamar Jackson rips up his knee. Nobody's bidding. Patrick Holmes has already been banged up. You think nobody's bidding? You just find a way to get him.

One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week, within the I-Hard radio app. Search her to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Co-hosts the first things first. My friend Nick Wright is joining us via the Coward Global Satellite Network, brought to you by Mercedes-Benz, the best or nothing. By the way, I do think the NBA is going to get going.

There's a bunch of different formats going on. I joked yesterday. It was one of my calling right, Colin wrongs. When I first saw Zion play, I said, that's what a star looks like. The smile, the power, the dunking, the personality, the size, the force, the shoe controversy. Do you think the NBA looks at these playoff formats and considers getting Zion in? That's why they go to 20 or 22 games? Oh, I think he certainly plays a big factor.

And thanks as always for having me on, Colin and Joy. I think he's a factor here. But the NBA's got to be careful because if they just left it as is, either one through 16 or the top eight in each conference, it's the same 16 teams. And that last team in the West is Memphis. And while Memphis doesn't have star appeal or sex appeal, it has John Morant, who's the, I think, the second best rookie and going to win rookie of the year and be a guy who's going

to be one of the faces of the league. And if you try to arrange it, so he's out and Zion's in, that sounds great if the Pelicans make it. And it's probably not terrible if Portland makes it, because they have Dame and CJ. But the other two teams that have the same record essentially as Portland and New Orleans are San Antonio and Sacramento. And if you end up rejiggering the playoffs and you remove Jha, who will be a star,

and you end up with the spurs in the playoffs, and by the way, I expect the spurs to be as prepared as any team post-pandemic because they have pop, that's not exactly going to create the buzz you were hoping for. So if you have to wait a year on Zion, so be it. Remember, the NBA had to wait two years for LeBron to make the playoffs,

they ended up being just fine. And by his second year in the playoffs, he was in the finals. So I don't think you need to try to manufacture a star because Zion will be a star whether he's in the playoffs or not. You know, there's a couple of cowboy topics. Troy Aitman said something yesterday. And Troy knows a lot about the sport, but he said, I think you could trade Dallas's roster for anybody's.

And my argument is we covet what we see. And you just see more of the cowboys. I mean, nobody knows Calleus Campbell. Calais Campbell's a great football player. Nobody watched him. Nobody watched Jalen Ramsey. Great. Gardner Minshu actually has better numbers than Baker Mayfield.

Nobody watches them play. My argument is the second team in Los Angeles, the Chargers. Their 11th best player is Desmond King. He was an all-pro corner in 2018. I think Dallas has a really good roster, but holes at center, cornerback, safety, tight end. I don't think it's an elite roster. Do you?

Well, I do think it's an elite roster. Your point on the Chargers as well. taken. It's why the Chargers had it all set up for them, just draft Isaiah Simmons at six, sign Cam Newton, who I know you're already sending to a retirement home, and you can really maybe even challenge the Chiefs. But I, listen, I don't think Dallas has the roster, one through 53 that Baltimore does, that potentially San Francisco does, that New Orleans does. But aside from those handful of teams, I think certainly two through 53, they do. I love the addition of Gerald McCoy, everybody likes C.D. Lamb, you listed the other star guys they have. To me, Dallas's

question, what will determine do they win nine games or do they win 12 games? Are these two things? Can DAC take a full step forward this year from a guy who's somewhere from the ninth to the 13th best quarterback in football to where he's firmly entrenched in that upper tier? And how big of an upgrade are you getting from Jason Garrett to Mike McCarthy? If both of those questions are answered positively, then I think they can be a 12-win football team. I heard you mention that you like Philly's talent more. I couldn't disagree with you more on that. We've been talking about Philly's talent for three years now, I feel like ever since they won the Super Bowl, I'd like to see it show up, but I do trust wins more than DAC. It's up to DAC to prove me wrong on that

this year. By the way, I'm looking at Peter King's top 32 teams. He'd listed every team in order. Kansas City won. The good teams you'd get, the bad teams you'd get. He loves the Raiders way more than I do, but then I like Denver more than anybody. Do you have a team that people think is average that you really like in the Nick Wright 1 through 32 if you listed it? So, yeah, so I got a few. I agree with you. He's a little too high on Oakland. I totally disagree with you on Denver. I think Denver's going to be a three or four win team this year. But the two teams that I think when I did my playoff picks surprise people is I have Miami being the last team in the

playoffs in the AFC, Joy Taylor, good for your hometown team or your team. I feel like they're going to, two is going to start and they're going to win nine games. But the team that I think can be excellent this year and be double digit, compete for the division in a very tough division is Chicago. They won eight games last year and we're alive for the playoffs late with Mitch Trubisky at quarterback. Now, I'm not a big Nick Foles fan, but at least Matt Nagy isn't going to have to call plays with one eye closed, terrified of what his quarterback's going to do.

And I feel like we've seen when you have certain teams get the spirit sucked out of them by quarterback play. I think that's what happened to Jacksonville a couple years ago. It's just if the other team gets to 15, we're finished. And so I think the defense, which actually had some bad turnover luck last year, I think they were last in the league in fumble recoveries or interceptions. One of the two, my apologies for not remembering, I think it bounces back. So I think Chicago could actually be a very good team this year. And by the way, you know I think this.

He has Cleveland way too low. He has Pittsburgh way too high. I would flip-flop those two. By the way, last year on this show, you predicted Buffalo as your surprise team, and you were right and you make compelling arguments. Finally, you were very outspoken. I think we all were. But LeBron James actually followed you and retweeted you on social media. You know, about the situation with George Floyd and Minneapolis and about what we're seeing in America. I had said yesterday, I'm seeing 99% of protesters are doing it right. They're loud, they're angry, they're pained, and they're peaceful.

I think there are groups small, separate doing some looting. But it resonated with you on many levels. And I can almost see when I look at you today, you're a little drained. This has been a rough week for you. Yeah, well, I mean, listen, I'm all right. It's been a rough week for America. You know, 2020 has been a long decade. And we're five months, six months into it. And so there's a million things I could say on this.

You're right, I had an impassioned plea to white America yesterday about our responsibility in this moment. I don't need to reiterate that here. People can see it on Twitter if they'd like to. But I do, I will say one thing I didn't say on the show yesterday, which is the focus and what I would consider the almost the slight of hand that is going on by, I think the media putting a disproportionate focus on what is being called rioting or looting. When you are correct, the vast majority of these protesters are incredibly peaceful. and many, many of the dust-ups have been instigated,

and we've seen it on camera by the police, not by the protesters. But if I may use a Colin Coward-style analogy, if we want to focus on the looting for a moment, if you invite me over to your house and I bleed all over your carpet, and in fact I intentionally spray blood in a few places, and I'm sure it's a very nice $10,000 carpet, that seems outrageous by me.

but if it's because you shot me, it's pretty offensive that you're mad about the damage I did to your carpet. And if the next day we're still, we're like, well, Nick got shot, but Collins carpet got ruined, I'm going to be a little angry because it's like, yo, why are we talking at all about the carpet? I feel very badly for the small business owners, and I'm not minimizing that,

but that is not the subject at hand here. And every minute that is spent concerned about that is a minute that is not spent trying to get to the root cause and the root issue here, which is state sanctioned police violence, particularly against minority communities. And as long, until we are comfortable having that very uncomfortable conversation and actually trying to make proactive changes to address it, unfortunately, a lot more car. are going to get bled on, and we're not going to actually move forward in that regard. And so that's what I would say. And if I get on a lighter note, can I say one other thing real quick on before we go? You had a great tweet a few months ago in the midst of the pandemic saying, once everything opens back up, you're going to tip like a casino gangster because of your friends in the food service industry.

Can we add an addendum to that, which you and I are going to start appreciating our hairstylists more than we ever have and advocate for a higher pay for them because my God, you and me are in rough shape, buddy. I'm worse than you. When I said you're fatigued, by the way, don't take it personally. You get up at three in the morning. I couldn't do what you do. So I would be, my middle name would be fatigued.

But it has been emotional for all of us. A dear friend, Nick Wright. I love having you on the show, buddy. You too. Talk to you later. 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.

Peter King came out, and it's a simple thing, but it's fun. He ranked all 32 NFL teams. Now, obviously, we all kind of agree on the top four, three or four. We all agree in the bottom four or five. Right. But it's interesting to look at Peters. He likes Tennessee is his number seven. The Raiders are number eight and the Steelers are 10.

So I was going to say, this is his power rankings. So I don't like the Titans nearly as much, the Raiders nearly as much, and the Steelers nearly as much. So let me just discuss those teams. Why don't I like them? The Raiders. They're a bad defense. They have, I think, easily the worst defense in their division. Vic Fangio, I think will make Denver's defense even better this year.

I think the Chargers get Derwin James back, have remarkable secondary pieces and two pass rushers. I don't like the Raiders pass rush. I don't like their defense. I don't like the karma and the relationship. GM coach and quarterback I think is tenuous. And frankly, no team to relocate has won more than nine games in that season in its new location since the Super Bowl era. As far as the Pittsburgh Steelers, I think the division is significantly better. I think Big Ben is 38 years old.

Has never been known as a great offseason workout guy. I don't think they elevated their team. in the offseason. Eric Ebron's a nice player at tight end. I don't think he makes them significantly better. I still have concerns about the details from Mike Tomlin to Big Ben and Big Spots. I'm selling some Steeler stock for the first time in my life.

And I don't buy Tennessee. I thought it was sort of lightning in a bottle, a magic season. They lost one of their best offensive tackles. They lost one of their best defensive tackles in Gerald Casey. They were hiding Ryan Tannihill last year, and their two playoff wins. he threw for 160 yards combined. I think they were hiding him. And if you look at that roster outside of Derek Henry,

if I say, name their elite players, I just don't think they have many. I like the coach. I like the GM. I like the system. But I just don't buy them as an elite team. Now, Peter also has three teams lower than I do. He's got the Eagles 15,

the Broncos 20, and the Browns 24. I like all those teams more. And here's why. The Philadelphia Eagles, I think their owner, their GM, their coach, and their quarterback are all A to A-M-Nus. They've made the playoffs for three straight seasons. And what I like is they attacked their two weaknesses. Cornerback was a struggle.

Darius Slays a top five corner. They went and got him. Still surprised Detroit gave him up. And Deshawn Jackson comes back at wide receiver. Al-Shon Jeffrey comes back and they addressed it with Marquis Goodwin in a trade and Jalen Rieger from TCU in the draft. They addressed their perimeter spots, which were both weaknesses. I love their line play, their GM, their coach, their quarterback, and their owner.

And I believe leadership wins in this league as much as talent. The Denver Broncos, they're my shock team in the league. Vic Van Gio never has bad defenses for very long, and they started playing really good in spots last year. They won four of their last five games. They lost many of their games. Five of their losses were one possession. They've upgraded with Pat Shermer, not ahead. coach, but a great coordinator, and I

by Drew Locke. I thought he had some gunslinger. I think there's something there. I think they have the most underrated, tight-end, wide-receiving running back core in the NFL. I like Denver a lot. And finally, the Browns. They were 6 and 10 last year, and I thought they were the worst coach team in the NFL.

They had the worst tackles in the NFL. I think Cleveland has made major upgrades at both tackle positions and at coach. And coaching in this league, feels like it's over 50% of the sport. And I think Freddie Kitchens is a nice guy and he's a good dude and he can coach.

But not a head coach in the NFL in the AFC North. I thought he was over his skis. I said it when he was hired. And again, I think he can coach, just not be a head coach in the NFL. Maybe a college coordinator. Before last year, he was an NFL position coach. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Last night, a blown call changed a game.

This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, 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. SportsSlice 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 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience

in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough

because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, 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 Hardway. Open your free, Our Heart Radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. 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 a 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 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 right. Yeah, yeah. Literally. But just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode

where we've discussed correct. So I'm starting to see there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Now you're finishing that sentence. 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. What's up, guys? This is Clever Taylor the Fourth. And on my podcast, The Clifford 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, rec, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Where's she at?

Hey, Miss Park. Listen to the Cliverts show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. You know, in this business, sometimes I know the athletes I'm going to bring on my show, but most often I do not. We have a handful of people at this network that we employ and they're regulars, they're part of the team. But Stephen Jackson was one of those athletes. I had watched them. He was a tough guy. He was a rough guy.

And the first time I invited him on the show, I had no. idea what I was up against or in for. And I just connected with him. I thought he was incredibly authentic. I thought he was so real. I thought he was outspoken. He didn't really care what I thought about him or what others did. And in my business, I think it's rare when you find people that are loyal to themselves and honesty and be damn with everything else. And it's one of the reasons we keep inviting Stephen Jackson back on the show. But we invite him back today for another reasons. He was a childhood friend of George Floyd. And he's been front and center nationally on this story. And I want to bring him in via the Coward Global Satellite Network.

So first of all, I appreciate it. It's been an emotional time for you. Let's start from that point. you and George were childhood friends. The age, were you athletic friends? Explain to our audience your history with George, who was murdered last week by a police officer in Minneapolis. Thanks for having me, Colin. Good to see y'all again. About a 20-23-year relationship,

I was playing basketball in my teenage years, and he came down to Port Arthur, Texas, which is 45 minutes from where he lives in Houston, with a friend of mine named Tully. And Tully had already told me he had a homeboy in Houston that looked just like me, and we might have the same daddy. And Tilly brought him down, and our first two words when we seen each other was,

who are your daddy? Who are your daddy? Because we looked that much alike. And I think the fact that we looked that much alike, we had some of the same common goals. We kind of live really the same lives. at the time. I was in the streets a lot at the time. And we just bonded. You know, we protected each other. He supported me and everything I was doing. And he was just a great friend,

somebody that always had my back. When you say he's just like you, what, what, I mean, you meet a lot of people. Why did you remain close? What, what was it about him? Well, one thing about one thing I loved about him was, well, the only difference between me and him, we come from the same areas, but I had more opportunity than him. He was a, he was a top tight end in the state of Texas. They lost in the state championship. He was also good in basketball. So he had opportunities in sports too.

He had a chance to go, he just didn't get the opportunities I had. And Floyd was just the guy who wanted to protect and provide everybody for everybody. He was one of those guys, especially playing basketball, you meet a lot of people that abuse your friendship. At times when he needed things, he didn't even call me because he probably called me month before and he wanted to call him again. When he did call, he called me for clothes for a job interview or something that his mother needed. Most people call you just to try to abuse your friendship because they know you're going to give it to him. He was one of those guys that

genuinely supported me and only called when he really needed something. The video is outrageous and it's disturbing for me. After you saw the video for the next several days, I know it's a personal question. Did you sleep? How difficult? How pain? How difficult was it for you? It's still kind of crazy.

Just for the whole world to see my friend go like that. And still not have justice all this time after. But it's, I don't know. I mean, I've gotten a little sleep the first couple of days I didn't sleep. But I'm not, I don't even know how I feel when people ask me. I can't give them an answer because I'm not even concerned about how I feel. This position just fell in my lap with what this happening to my brother, when my brother getting murdered, and I'm embracing it.

So I haven't really thought about myself since it happened. I put myself out here on the front line and standing up on my brother. And every time I think about it, I get emotional. But I don't think that feeling never go away because everybody's seen it. what's your reaction to America's reaction to Georgia's death? I love it. And I love the fact that, Colin, you know this. I've told somebody from every race that I love them and I mean it.

So I love the fact that everybody's standing with me because they know that I'm standing for them. I'm not the type of, I'm not the black man that says black people and I hate it. And I hate everybody else. No. I love being black and I love being black first, but I love everybody as well. And what they're afraid of is every race standing together for the. right cause. What they're scared of is us standing together side by side and loving each other and show we can stand together to get things done. But right now they want us to divide and that's what they

scared of. You know, I've said I've overwhelmingly seen peaceful protests overwhelmingly 99%. And then there are separate groups and they feel separate from protesters that they take this opportunity and, you know, they do what they do. And there's stores and there's fires. Does that bother you or do do you think it's part of the process? Do you think it's disrespecting George's legacy? What do you make of the occasional burning car and the store situations? Yeah, that wasn't him. I always say, you know, I'm a realist.

I'm going to be like, Minnesota had to respond that way. Minnesota had to respond that way. It's a line of cases that still have, a lot of families and mothers that still have no answers for their sons being killed. It's not just my brother. Since I've been here, I've learned about at least three other mothers who, been killed by police and they still haven't gotten answers. So it's Minnesota had to respond that way. Everywhere else, I think they went a little bit too far. Yeah, yeah, you should have went down

to your police stations. Yeah, you should have went down and, uh, and protested, but it should have been peacefully, especially in Atlanta. Black people basically built Atlanta. So we don't need to tear it down. I live in Atlanta. So that, that didn't really make no sense. And Floyd wouldn't want people tear stuff down. He would want love, he won't unity, and we want everybody to support each other. And that's what I'm going to do. I would imagine you've had a lot of people, because you've never sought attention since I've known you, and now you're at the center of this, and you're clearly comfortable with this. LeBron reached out, I know that.

Have you had a lot of people, different people, politicians, athletes reach out to you? I have more people reach out to me than my whole life, a lot of people. But it's good because they're listening, and they all won't change. but it's time for not to just call me and say you won't change. So you got to stand with me. You got to stand on the side of me. Anybody can send me a text. Anybody can send me a DM and say, I support you.

And that's all cool. And I'm even talking to my athletes and my friends around the world entertainment. You know, it's easy to send a text. But guys like Jamie Fox showed up. Guys like Carr Anthony Town showed up. Guys like Bunby and Trade the Truth showed up. You know, so guys like Royce White showed up. So certain people showing up.

Tamika Mallory, a lot of people showed up. And it's not all about texting and it's saying you with me. You have to be able to side of me and stand with me. In your life, and I ask this, Joy and I have talked about this, and I ask every athlete this. This is a personal question, and you don't have to answer it. But in my lifetime, when I have asked executives, athletes who are black in America,

about driving and seeing and being dealt with differently than I have been. I mean, I get tense when I'm pulled over. But I am overwhelmingly, I can't even begin to talk about this. I'm irrelevant on this topic about police treatment. In your life, do you be as honest as you can, if you would, about you've been pulled over, how you've been treated? You're a big athlete. You're a big, strong athlete. And when you have been pulled over, Do you think it's fair? It's just cause. Do you get anxious?

How do you feel? I think the reason why I've never dealt with it because in my hometown, the most of the police that's in my hometown grew up in that area. So they know us all. And I think that's what keeps us from having these situations with police. If more states would have police that grew up in this area and police in the areas they grew up in, they won't have actions like this because they know everybody.

A lot of times you get these ex-military guys. guys are ex-skinned head guys. They come in and be police and you put them in the area. They know nothing about. And these are the things that happen. So no, no, I've never done with it, dealt with it because a lot of, like I said, most of the police, they came watch my basketball games. They knew my family or they went to school with my family.

So it was no need to handle me like that. If I was doing something wrong, they could just reach out to my uncle or somebody they went to school with. So I never dealt with it. So you have mostly in your personal life a positive relationship with law enforcement. No question. Yeah. Anybody in your family in law enforcement?

No. Actually, I'm lying. My uncle, my uncle was a CEO for a while. I think he still is. I'm not mistaken. Michael Michelle. You have been thrust into the forefront of this, and it's interesting because I think you're one of the more real people I interview. And you feel very comfortable in this space.

Are you surprised a little bit your comfort being out there. with this, I don't consider it political. It's a humanity issue. But you've embraced it. You've been comfortable. You've been, and are you surprised for you at how you've handled it? Obviously, you're in deep pain, clearly. But are you surprised that you want to speak to people?

You get up in the morning and you want to address this? Well, two reasons why people shouldn't be surprised. the bra in Detroit and the strip club incident with Jamar Tizel in Indiana. I've always been there for my brothers and I'm not surprised because this is my heart. I actually care.

You know, I've always actually cared about people. That's why I say I stand for everybody. So I didn't ask for this role, Colin. I didn't ask to be here. If I could rewind back and have my brother back and not be here, I would take it. But this is what it is. This is reality. And I think a lot of people follow with me

because I'm representing what the world has lost, and that's common sense. You know, the world has definitely lost common sense, and people know I stand for everybody, man. So I love everybody. My heart has always been in the right place, and I'm embracing it. I'm not running from it. Stephen, I appreciate you doing this. You know, at first I didn't know if it was appropriate to bring you on.

I think it is, and I appreciate you spreading the message, and you know how much I I'm fond I am of you coming on our show and next time I hope it's in better circumstances but I appreciate it. Man, you're my guy calling me. 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. locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to SportsSlic.

On the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo 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 occupier Pella 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. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84's big to me. I'm Sam Jay. 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. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. It 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. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hardway with your favorite therapist and host Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor.

It signals to the world that you not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to. Listen and learn the hard way on the IHard radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHart podcast. Guaranteed human.