The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Best of The Herd for Jun 08, 2020

Episode Date: June 8, 2020

Roger Goodell is siding with the players instead of TrumpRookie QBs should play immediatelyDrew Brees is getting things right after a bad commentDabo Swinney looks rigid and stubbornWhere Colin was right, where Colin was wrongGuest: TJ Houshmandzadeh, Former NFL WR & FOX Sports NFL Analyst 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. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 is big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down,

and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild. I mean, 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 Hard Way 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 to learn the hard way on the IHard radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Thanks for listening to The Best of Heard Podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1.

Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Heard. is the best of the herd with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio. Live in Los Angeles on a Monday, this is the herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, we are on IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio and FS1. One hour from now, Colin Wright, Colin Wrong on a Monday. Yesterday I was in a place that actually snowed on June 7th, Utah, and Joy Taylor is joining me. It snowed for two hours straight where I was, and I thought, it's time to go back home to Los Angeles.

I don't want to see snow June 7th. I'm over it. Yeah, you love snow, but just not in summer. Not in summer. Good to see you again. You too. So it was a big weekend for the NFL. No games, no practices, but it was a big weekend, and Roger Goodell came out and did the right thing.

and I'll get to that in a second, but here's Roger Goodell. I imagine somewhere in the basement of his house saying, I'm now going to align with the players. Here's the NFL commissioner. We, the National Football League, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of black people. We, the National Football League, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier

and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest. we the national football league believe black lives matter. By the way, many owners did not know Roger Goodell was going to do that. He did and should have, and here's why. For the last several years, three or four, since Colin Kaepernick took a knee, there's been this walking on eggshell thing with the NFL and Trump's Twitter account and players, Eric Reid and Malcolm Jenkins, another player. players talking about protests and it's walking on eggshells and the networks that broadcast

games, this one included, everybody is just hoping this doesn't happen and that doesn't happen. And I just don't think it's a healthy relationship. Finally, Roger Goodell took the power away from Donald Trump's Twitter account and said, these are my partners. I'm splitting revenue with them. I love these players. I have relationships with these players. I'm not going to let anybody divide us.

I'm on the player's side. I'm on their side. We have a president whose brand is division. It's over. He'll be gone in November. He will. And he can divide people on his Twitter account. But Roger Goodell said, no, time out.

I don't want to walk on eggshells. It's the right thing to do for humanity. It's the right thing to do with my business partners. And frankly, it's just the right thing. thing to do. Support the players. I don't know exactly what the NFL player owner split is, but owners make more, but players make like over 40, 45% of the revenues, I believe. Sorry if I'm wrong. Probably should have looked that up. But if you're in a business with people and they're valuable and you like them and this fear-based stuff that, well, if the players protest, they don't want

to blow the league up. It's their industry. It's generational money. The NFL players, they don't want to blow the league up. They just want to be heard. And, you know, here's the thing. It's easy. I mean, Twitter makes a living out of this. Gotcha. You said this six years ago.

You said this nine years ago. You said this nine months ago. I'm over that. If you want growth and Roger Goodell showed growth, it's very hard to demand perfection. Derek Jeter didn't wake up hitting 300. He struck out a lot. And that's just sports.

We're talking race and human beings and social justice. These are delicate topics. And it takes, not everybody learns at the same speed. Bill Maher said this. Bill Maher, HBO, you know, he's one of those crazy old liberals. He actually said during Michael Sam, when Michael Sam got drafted, the gay NFL player and kissed his partner. And everybody freaked out. And Bill Maher said, not everybody learns at the same time.

It's okay if one or two fans were a little shocked. never seen it, had to take a deep breath, and then can respond. Never forget, one of my favorite presidents of all time. I've always told people my favorite presidents are Reagan and Obama. Nobody can figure out why. And for different reasons, I like their leadership abilities. But Obama's first term as president, and I think he's one of the smartest presidents we've ever had. He was opposed to gay marriage. And at the time, I remember thinking, smart guy, bad take. And then he listened and he learned. And that's how growth happens, is that you, you don't hear enough angles, you don't listen well enough.

I thought Roger Goodell, and he's been criticized for years as a commissioner, and I keep saying this, he's not stubborn, he's not rigid. He's always been willing to the rules, the television business. He listens to players. Too much of this stuff that's going on in America is sphere-based. I've been watching CNN. I'm old enough. You've probably been watching it 20 years.

I've been watching it 30 years. We're having a revolution in this country. Other countries, I've watched CNN for 30 years on revolutions. They don't look like ours. 99% of ours are peaceful protests. I mean, I'd be honest with you, 99.9% of protests for our revolution have been peaceful. I watch CNN. It's not always like that.

There's too much fear out here. You know, I was talking to my daughter about this. I mean, really, for the entire weekend with my family. It's not called only Black Lives Matter. It's Black Lives Matter. Your partners in this amazing sport of the NFL are just asking, will you listen to us? Will you hear us?

We're partners. We're not looking to end the league, just improve it. And Roger Goodell, as he's done many times, he gets a lot of criticism, sat down and went, players are right, I was wrong. Just because you're over 50 doesn't mean you can't grow. I mean, Greg Popovich, I think he has a military background in his 70s. He's constantly evolving. It's okay. I don't know when this became a weakness. I don't know when we became so

partisan that stubborn was smarter than evolving. I don't get it. It's not my DNA. It's just not the way I'm built. I have stronger and different opinions today on subjects from just two years ago. I'm talking about a couple subjects today that I just, I see the world differently. Some people are never going to get it. They're not curious. They don't want to read. They put their feet. They burrow in and they're

not going to move. But here, here for Roger Goodell. The only thing I would warn is that you don't get growth without some mistakes. You got to stumble often to get to the right place. The NFL did. And I thought

it was a great weekend, actually, for America with a peaceful protest, kind of blown away by it. And it was a great weekend for the NFL. They took the power out of Trump. I want to work with my players. These are my guys. These are the guys on Sunday I'm going to battle with and I'm supporting. That's the way it should always be. That's now reducing, eliminating the power from somebody in the White House who's trying to be divisive. and has everybody walking on eggshells. This morning to me, I don't feel the eggshells. That's my interpretation of this whole weekend.

I don't feel the eggshells. Let's talk about it. Let's support each other. I want to back my partners. Let me shift to this. A football topic. I am, and this is the way it works usually, I find some of these young quarterbacks,

and I like someone I don't like others. And, you know, I like Sam Donald a lot. Baker Mayfield drove me nuts. I like Tua a lot. Joe Burrow's good. I don't think he's as good as everybody's saying. So Bruce Ariens is known in the NFL sort of as the quarterback whisper. He worked with Andrew Luck, and he's worked with, you know,

Ben Rothlisberger when they were young. So he has this great history of working with young quarterbacks and spotting the talent and elevating the talent. And he said this weekend, it's time, game one, let two a play. I figure out depends on his health. You know, if he's healthy, I'm playing it. I don't think you learn anything on a clipboard. You know, had Peyton Manning history.

first year. Andrew Luck, his first year. Ben was one of those guys that went in by accident because Tommy Maddox got hurt. But, you know, you miss all the practice reps. You miss the game rep. I don't know what you learn holding the clipboard watching. Now, this is one of these things where I believe I see it differently today than I did a couple of years ago. I think it's time to play to them. I was always somebody in the, you know, what's the rush on this stuff? Bring them in, let them watch, let them them play. But four or five things are now happening in the National Football League. And they've happened over the last four or five years. And I've become more of a draft them and let them play guy. Number one, the NFL is now adopting lots and lots of college schemes. They didn't use to do that.

So they're taking your college stuff. Bring it with you to the NFL. Did not use to be like that. Number two is there's a lot of great young coaches offensive in the NFL. A lot of really good coaching out there. Shanahan McVeigh's Cliff Kingsbury could end up being that. That didn't used to be the case. It was like the old, good old boys network. There's just a lot of kids now coaching. Like 30 years old to me as a kid.

Number three is the rules are changing. They're almost all overwhelmingly offensive rules. It makes it much easier to be dynamic early. Number four is all these young quarterback, now have 100,000 reps by the time they're juniors in high school, elite 11 camps, quarterback development camps. This group of quarterbacks last couple years, they grew up with that. The previous generations did not.

But here's the other thing. Number five is, because of the new collective bargaining agreement that was struck 10 years ago, you don't pay first round quarterbacks anything. What does that mean? I can surround them for the next. three years with all sorts of weapons. Back in 2010, Sam Bradford came into the NFL.

Rookie, never played a game, $78 million. NFL said, we can't do it. We can't pay somebody who's never played in the league the most in the locker room. The following year, Cam Newton number one pick. 22 million. The advantage, you can surround Cam with better players. You could not with Bradford.

You're not going to be paying Joe Burrull. anything, Tua anything. They're still not paying in Buffalo, Josh Allen anything. That's why they can go get Stefan Diggs. You're not paying Lamar Jackson anything. That's why the Ravens continue to sign and sign and sign good players.

Is that without the burden of this massive rookie contract, bring them in. You know now within 10 to 12 games, if they've got it or not. These kids have come in with so many reps, with such good training,

With so much development, 10, 11 games in, if you don't see it, you have got the wrong guy. Better to learn that in year one than in year two or year three. Arizona found out quickly, said, wrong guy, boom, next. And it worked. So this is something I've literally changed my mind on. There's new legislation, new rules, new coaches, new CBA, and overtime, let them play. Let them play. you'll find out soon enough if they can or can.

Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the IHeart Radio app. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise. Breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear.

The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. 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. Follow Timbo Slic Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kyr Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field

and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses.

Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person.

Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast. Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs?

Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick 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 all day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence.

Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, guys? This is Cliver 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 walks up to me. He goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue with 42. A rep.

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 Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. So it was, I took, I left after Wednesday's show, Drew Breeze had a statement and he got in a lot of pushback for being insensitive on his statement about the flag and the death in Minneapolis a couple of weeks ago. And I had, I was off. I was gone. So I thought this morning I wanted to talk about it again. The media to me, and I'm part of the media, and I've made this mistake before, I try to do less and less of this as I get older and I learn more, but the media often is into absolutes and extremes.

This person's the greatest, this person's the worst. Maybe those are easier columns to write and easier rants to make. I think context matters. I prefer to be measured. I think over time you look back, it's smarter. And I've made my fair share of mistakes. Drew Brees, before he said what got him in trouble, had given $5 million to Louisiana for COVID, had won the Walter Payton Man of the Year, Sports Illustrated man of the year, sportsman of the year.

That's his resume. And I do think context matters. He had been very supportive of his community in crisis. That doesn't mean he's got it all figured out. But I never consider Drew Brees the world's greatest person. I thought he was a solid guy, a great quarterback, a good human being that cared about others. And then I thought he was tone deaf. And then, and this is how growth works, he came out and apologized.

I know there's not much that I can say that would make things any better right now. But I just want you to see in my eyes how sorry I am for the comments that I made yesterday. I know that it hurt many people, especially friends, teammates, former teammates, loved ones, people that I care and respect deeply. That was never my intention. I wish I would have laid out what was on my heart in regards to the George Floyd murder, Ahmaud Arbery,

the years and years of social injustice, police brutality, and the need for so much reform and change in regards to legislation and so many other things to bring equality. to our black communities. I am sorry, and I will do better, and I will be part of the solution, and I am your ally.

I never thought Drew Breeze was perfect, and I don't think he's Lucifer. I think he's human, and he was tone death, and he learned what side to be on. What Drew did is something I'm a believer in. I tell this to my kids. I tell it to anybody who will listen. I've said it on this show so many times Joy's probably done with it.

This is not a great time for stubborn, rigid people. Let's worry about getting it right, not being right. Drew Brees, within a couple hours of being tone deaf, decided, I got to get it right, not be stubborn and be right. And he moved to the right side on this. As Shannon Sharp on the show before us, talk to Drew Brees this weekend, who I don't consider this morning a hero. I considered him a solid, caring, giving human.

And then suddenly I thought he was tone deaf. And then I listened to his apology. And I thought he was on the right side. We in the media too often are building up people to be something none of us are capable of. Here's Shannon Sharp on Drew Brees. I don't believe one incident should rule. I mean, there are certain things that can. but I don't believe him saying what he said

should be the end of Drew Breeze. I believe he deserves an opportunity for redemption because he's been too good in that community for let this one slip-up undo 15 years of great service. And that's what I told him. I said, Drew, I'll be here. I said, my criticism was harsh. There's no question about that.

And I understand that's probably why you're reaching out. But I wanted you to understand not only the hurt that the community felt that I felt, I said, Drew, we need strong, white men, powerful, influential, like you, to help us get the ball across the finish line. And I say, Drew, I think you understand that. I think the blowback that you got was, I think it was deserving. But I also believe that you have a great heart. And I believe you will make right about the wrong that you spoke.

If somebody says something I don't agree with, one of the first things I look at is, what is their life resume tell me? I mean, you can go to Google. Everybody's an awful person if you go to Google. I mean, you can find anything about anybody and they've ever done. Drew Breeze's life resume, quality guy, who's tone deaf, and then decided smartly to get it right, not be rigid and be right in his worldview. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Dabo Sweeney's probably the most popular football coach in his region or state in the country.

He's made Clemson of Power. He and Nick Saban right now. are probably the highest paid, the most coveted. Football coaches in America, he's a very, very good football coach. He's built a great program. By and large, from what I know, which is very little, he keeps the same assistance year after year after year. There's not a big turnover rate, so he's probably decent to work for.

He also recruits very well, and players don't abandon the program, so I imagine most players like him a lot, most coaches like him. Again, there's not a huge turnover rate. You go, you commit, you play, people say nice stuff about him. But one of the things I've learned about life is when people have power, the more power you have for the longer time, it's much tougher to relinquish it. And nobody has more power in college sports than the popular college football coach. And Dabo Sweeney right now has more power than anybody in college football except maybe, maybe Nick Sabin. So over the weekend, there was a picture taken with Dabo Sweeney wearing a shirt, football matters, not black, black,

Lives Matter. I'm not asking him that he has to wear a Black Lives Matter shirt, but I don't think this is appropriate and here's why. Now, it should be noted, football matters is a slogan that has been used for years by the National Football Foundation, which he's part of. He's used that phrase before in speaking, football matters, and also used it three years ago in a speech at the South Carolina State House about the quality of football and how it changes young men. His quarterback said he's been wearing that shirt for months. Fine. I just don't think this is the week to wear it. It comes off as obstinate. Okay. I'm not asking everybody to protest. But here's a guy who reads the room. He's one of the great recruiters of all time. When you recruit, it's walking

in and reading the room. Reading mom, reading dad, reading the son, reading the daughter. You're reading the room. You're kind of figuring out, okay, what matters to mom, what matters to dad, matters to the recruit. Oh my gosh, he's got two daughters or two sisters. Recruiting is all about reading the room. Dabo is great at it. I don't think in this instance, college coaches, especially the local Southern football coach, they have so much power. I mean, we've heard a lot of these coaches in college sports talk about COVID over the last couple of months. Oh, stop talking. Now, a chef knows food. So I don't ask a chef about. the GDP of Yemen.

I don't generally ask a college football coach about social justice, but a big part of coaching is mentoring young men. You're often almost a surrogate father. And what matters to those players is the lifeblood of your entire program. I don't mind him wearing the shirt. This week feels obstinate. It feels like it's a rigidity bubble. I'm used to it.

I've seen it my entire life with college coaches. But I prefer Tom Herman at Texas coming on my show last week and addressing Black Lives Matter this way. To see the pain and the struggle and the fear, the confusion on my players' faces, we've got to find a way to stop. We've got to find a way. The thing I told our players is this cannot be like it's always been. Two weeks from now, three weeks from now, a month from now, a year from now, this has to have meant something.

We have to have affected change by not just our words, but our actions. Coaching is teaching. This week, there have been a lot of teachable moments. I just don't think it's the week to wear that shirt. One more herd. The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like.

Well, every Monday at this time, we do Colin right, Colin wrong. I have strong opinions. Hold myself accountable when I whiff. So here we go. Where Colin was right? I've been a fan of Roger Goodell. I've met him a couple of times.

And I think one of the things I like about Roger Goodell is that he is not rigid and stubborn. He is not perfect. I thought he whiffed on domestic violence. He is not perfect. But the league is grown by over 50% revenue since he took over, and I thought this weekend, and last week, coming out on the side of the players

and acknowledging the NFL wrong was something that's very hard for a lot of people to do. For the record, he did not tell all the NFL owners. For the record, I would get. at least 50% of the owners voted for Trump. So I think Goodell's taken unfair criticism. Listen, the NFL's powerful. It doesn't really need the media.

Media people like to feel needed. And the NFL doesn't really need the media other than its broadcast partners. There's a lot to me of projecting anti-Gadel this and that. I thought he had a great week. Where Colin was wrong. So the NBA didn't change one damn thing. They had all these formats out there. I liked all of them.

Nope, all smoke, all talk. I whiffed on all of them. In fact, they're not even going straight to the playoffs. So they're not even creating urgency. They're going to do eight regular season games into the playoffs. And I'm sure the Lakers, who were six games up, they just can't wait to play eight regular season games. I mean, it is what it is.

Players want to be healthy. Players want to play a bunch of regular season games, so they're not too tight with the playoffs. But I thought we were going to get. several deviations of what we had and we got none of them. Where Colin was right? Well, I've changed my mind through the years, but I've said I think Tua is special and Tua needs to play early and yes,

Bruce Ariens, the quarterback whisperer said this weekend, I've had Big Ben, I've had Andrew Locke, I had him with their kids, and this kid is ready to play. There's nothing you're going to learn from a clipboard. And I got to tell you, I think he's right. I think the kids got an it factor. I think he was the best high school player. I think he was the best college quarterback when he was healthy.

And Bruce Ariens agrees, what is the point? These days in a passing league, you will know very early if he's right or if he's not and get him out there. So Bruce Ariens is on our side with Tua. Where Colin was wrong. This is exasperating. Pro football focus came out last week with their top 50 NFL players. And Carson Wentz was not lifting. They had six other quarterbacks, not Carson Wentz.

6-4-240, athletic, huge arm. Second only to Mahomes in terms of, like, arm talent, went 4-0 down the stretch with his number one receiver being Greg Ward. 101 passer rating down the stretch. The team had cluster injuries on the offensive line and wide receiver. Spots. Cluster injuries. He had 27 touchdowns and 6.

seven picks last year. Does my television have a camera, a Carson Wentz filter? What am I watching that nobody's seeing here? You could have made an argument. He was easily the MVP of the league in the last month of it. When you have O line issues,

when you have wide receiver issues, and you can go 4 and O down the stretch with a passer rating over 100, I do not get it, but pro football focus looks at their numbers, and they don't like Carson. and wins. Where Colin was right? I have my questions about his talent as a quarterback, but I've always thought DAC is above average off the field. This weekend, he gave a million dollars to police

training in Dallas. It's kind of classic DAC, let's help fix the problem. Now, he's gotten blowback for some of his takes off the field on Kaepernick and such, but I do believe that when you're a quarterback, it is better not to inflame situations. and what he is simply saying is we got a problem in police departments and I want to help fix it. And a million dollar check is a substantial check when you've yet to receive a big one. So I thought it was the Dak Prescott that makes me believe he can be a franchise quarterback. He is willing to lead. He is willing to have opinions.

He is willing to take stands on big issues. He's never shied away. And to me, whether I agree with you on all of them, that's the leadership quotient I think he strives with. Where Colin was right? Oh, that's funny. Zion's now playing basketball. He will be back. Isn't it interesting?

The NBA chose a 22-team format that just happens to include the 10th-seated pelicans. They cut it on 20 teams. That would have been too obvious. So they stretched at the 22. do so guys like me won't say, you just did this to get Zion into the playoffs. And they're right. This is a star-driven league and this kid is just built to be on television. Between the platform in college, the shoe controversy, his smile, his game, his personality.

Listen, he is special. You can't teach stardom. It's not just about your game. It's how you deliver it. on multiple platforms. And the NBA, what do you know, found a way to get Zion in to their remaining season. Where Colin was wrong. I have been almost dismissive of the baseball media for freaking out that we're not going to have a season.

To me, it's just optics and leverage. But I will say, even respected baseball media this weekend looked pessimistic. I thought the owners saying, let's have a 50 game season was just a shot at the player. I mean, you can't go from 162 games to 50. That is just kind of mocking the sport. I am not as optimistic today. We're also looking at a calendar issue. Basketball's played indoors.

You can play it anywhere, anytime, anywhere, right? Baseball's not. You get into November. It's not the same game. It's just not. And now you've got the MLS going, the NFL going, college football going, major golf going. Like, I'm sorry.

baseball you have wasted six weeks on this stuff. Six weeks. And the worst part, it's not been about COVID, which I would get. That's been the NBA's thing. We're worried about COVID and the players. Health. This has just been about money. Bad look.

Where Colin was right? Two more people last week endorsed Jimmy Garoppolo. Trent Williams, their new left tackle, said, I've been in this league a long time. That kid got to a Super Bowl. He's awesome. And Kyle Shanahan said, I think he has a chance to be an all-time great. I want to remind people, can we just talk numbers for a second?

I'm not a big numbers arguer, but I'm going to throw stuff at you. 21 and 5 is a starter. Let his team to a Super Bowl and led in the fourth quarter. But here's what's amazing. Last year, on a team that's really known as a power team, he had 102 quarterback rating, completed 69% of his throws. That is in the toughest division in the NFL. also had major injuries at wide receiver and offensive line last year.

Again, it's like Carson Wentz. And I'm not saying he's Carson Wentz. I don't get the Jimmy Garoppolo stuff. Is it because they could have acquired Brady? Is it because Joe Montana was there? Is it because Kyle Shanahan? Anybody can win with Kyle Shanahan. Folks, 21 and 5 is a starter.

I'm out. I win. I'm over it. Let's stop arguing about it. 26 starts. NFL. That would be impressive for all but like Clemsonsons. quarterback. 21 and 5? That would be good for like Michigan's quarterback. USC's quarterback.

This is the NFL quarterback in the toughest division. And finally, where Colin was right. I used to work at another company and I used to make fun of James Dolan, owner of the Knicks, and he called that company and complained about me because I called him a meatball. I'm not taking it back. He's a bad owner. He seemingly was the last or near the last NBA owners to talk about the protests. He initially came out and said, we're not qualified to discuss it. And then a day later, he said, I condemn racism. Oh, boy. We could have said that a couple days earlier. Listen, I feel bad for New York basketball fans, because I think it's an unbelievable basketball city. I just don't think he is obviously financially qualified to own a

basketball team. I can't argue with that. But I feel sometimes Nick fans are held hostage by somebody that just never really gets the temperature in the room, doesn't understand his fan base, doesn't understand the league. I mean, who's the next coach this week? Who's their GM? Seriously. Seriously. They've gotten, they've gotten rid of good people. I thought not shocking. They didn't handle themselves well publicly on Black Lives Matter. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the iHeart Radio app. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened.

That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise. Breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. 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 SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slic 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. suit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing, and we're still chasing it, and we don't know when

we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth, or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different

levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me. care gains is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at a podcast. I'm Sam Jett.

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 all day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now.

They're 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 Cliver 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, Brett. My mama want you to weigh better. What? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. One of my favorite guys played in the NFL for over a decade. I covered him in college, T.J. Hushman Zada, who is joining us now via the Coward Global Satellite Network.

So let me ask you how, if you were a New Orleans saint and you like Drew Breeze, he'd throw in the ball to you a lot, he'd been a good community guy, then he comes out, says what he says, and then he apologizes. When you woke up this morning, if you were a teammate of Drew Breeze, would you accept the apology? Where would you be emotionally in your relationship with Drew Breeze this morning if you were a wide receiver for the Saints? I'd obviously be disappointed. That's no question. You would. would think, think about this, when Cap Nailed it was 2016, four years ago, Drew Brees actually has nailed himself. So you've, in essence, had four years to come up with an answer to a question if you are never asked. And that's the answer that you come up with. And you, that wasn't even a question that was asked. That's just what you wanted to say. And so that was disappointing.

I feel like his apology, it was a public relation thing. He didn't understand. all the hate that was coming his way. So let me throw an apology out there. We're teammates. We're going to move on if I'm on in New Orleans States. We're going to go past this. I don't know Drew Brees personally. Those guys in the locker room, they know how he is.

So they know his DNA. They know what he's about. And so when he made that comment, they know if the apology is real or not because they know exactly what type of dude he is. But for me, I was taking the back. I was shocked because he didn't come off as being that type of guy.

But I'm a firm believer in your mouth speaks what comes from your heart. Yeah. You know, it's, it is interesting. I said earlier, we demand growth from people, but we can't demand perfection. And because to grow, I mean, I think I'm a better broadcaster today because I made a bunch of mistakes. Does Drew Breeze's resume matter that he's been a good person? I'm not saying it has to, but to you, do you think, listen, his history is good dude. Does that help him at all in this?

100% it helps him. And that's why you're willing to look at his apology and say, is it sincere because of what he has done and the impact he's had on that community? And again, his teammates know the Mike Thomas is in the Kamars and the Kamjoin. They know what type of duty is. And so I know Drew Brees. I do not know him personally. And that's the thing where we can sit here and try to judge. But I don't know him personally.

Again, his teammates, it will be interesting. They're going to have to start the season well. Because if they don't, then in the back of their minds, some of their better players, they're going to have that thought. And so it sucks. But 100% they can move past this. it's how do they move past this and the steps taken along the way. Roger Goodell is not perfect, but I always think he has good intentions in mind, even when he makes mistakes.

It's hard to be a president. It's hard to be a CEO. It's hard to be a commissioner. It's a leadership position. Leadership is imperfect. I thought he had a good weekend. Did you buy into his shift on the supportive players? I did.

and the reason I did is Roger when Roger Goodell became a commissioner I was actually on a committee if you would recall this we're getting in a lot of trouble down in Cincinnati we're kind of the postal boys for it and so he gives me a call he wants me to participate

in this committee that he was forming and I did and we had some calls we met together I got to know Roger and he's sincere he's about the league he's not about a team He isn't about a player. He's about the league, the NFL.

And so he's doing what he thinks is best for the NFL. And he sees the plight of the African-American person in the world. The league is made up predominantly African-Americans of black players. And so he can't, nobody can walk in the shoes of a back player. You don't know when you're driving down the street and the sheriff gets behind you, we lick in a rear of your mirror tons of times. I know I do. And for other people, that's a different experience.

And so for Roger to come out, say what he said, it was refreshing. But Roger is always, for the most part, I wouldn't say always. But for the most part, he's always done the right thing when it comes to issues like this, whether they're popular or not. Well, I don't remember. When you played a TJ, were you vocal about social issues or not? You're the kind of guy that can handle it. Like Malcolm Jenkins clearly cares. he can handle it. He's good in the room with multiple people, an owner, a GM, a coach, a player.

Were you vocal? I wasn't vocal about these issues. These issues weren't a topic of conversation at all. When you say was I vocal, I mean, I was vocal about a lot of things, practice, practice conditions, a lot of things that occurred, you know, that you go through on a team. I was very vocal about it. but these social injustices, they weren't an issue when I was playing. I actually wish they were because I don't know what I would have done, but me being a type of person that I am,

I would like to think I would have been on the front line of this. Do you think players will kneel now? I mean, do you think that'll become a thing now? What's your takeaway on that? If you listen to Adrian Peterson, yes, I'm not 100% certain. I don't know what kneeling is going to do. The word is out. The word is out now about what's going on.

Everybody's on board. And I'm a realist, Colin. You need cooperation in order for there to be progress. Is that cooperation going to come at the local and estate level, local levels to start implementing change? It's going to take some time. It's not going to be an easy road. Nobody in power wants to give power up.

And that's just the reality. of it. And so it will be interesting to see how this plays out, but it's long overdue. We've been discriminated against in so many different ways. I mean, you just, people condemn Kaepernick, and he was well ahead of the curve. And he wasn't the face guy that everybody wanted him to be, oh, why isn't he coming out saying this? That's not what he wants to do. That's not how he's going to lead this. And we wanted him. or people wanted him to lead it, how they wanted him to lead it, and that's not what he wanted to do.

Do you think we're going to see change? I watched this weekend. I'm a 55-year-old white male. I was really captivated by the protests. I thought it was remarkable. I thought the last three or four days, I thought spoke well of America. But that's my view on what I watched. Do you believe there's real change coming?

It's hard. It's hard to say. Again, you brought up Malcolm Jenkins. You got guys like him that's in the league and he's at the forefront of this. He's leading to charge and you got former players like Anne Quambo. If you can get, the key is you have to get the popular white players to be with you because when they're with you, then they want to understand the problems. And again, they're, So there's so many different things that it doesn't matter how much money you have when you're being profiled. It's happened to me numerous, numerous times while I was playing, and especially now that I'm not planning. So I believe there will be change. It's going to be gradual and it's going to be slow. Maybe not as quick as some would like. But as long as people keep this energy and it's peaceful, change will come. It's just going to take some time.

Well, TJ, I love having you on. And TJ, by the way, has been for the last year, you know, he's rebuilding a house. And his marriage is still strong today, which speaks volumes of the quality person, rebuilding a house for a year. And still, he and his wife love each other. That is amazing, my friend. Yeah, we're getting along pretty well, man. I can't complain. Just a long process.

I will say that. Good to seeing you, T.J. Colin, I appreciate it. Take care. 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 Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slica 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 Acapella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor.

me with Robert Smygel 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 was big to me. I'm Sam Jay. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors.

Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. 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 Hard Way 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're not. you need to listen to learn the hard way on the iHard radio app apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast this is an iHeart podcast guaranteed human