The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Best of The Herd for Sep 21, 2020

Episode Date: September 21, 2020

-Cam Newton within the Patriots structure is really special-Forget the result, the Cowboys don't do anything well-Russell Wilson is the best football player on the planet-Brady and the Bucs are slowly figuring things out-Where Colin was right, where Colin was wrongGuest: Tony Gonzalez, FOX Sports NFL Analyst & Hall of Fame TE Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

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

For 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s.

84 was a wild year. 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?

It signals to the world that you not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that doesn't. 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 IHeart Radio app by searching Heard. This is the Best of the Herd with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio. Oh, what a Monday we have today live in Los Angeles. This is The HARD, wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Fox Sports Radio right here, FS1, quite a crowded weekend, tons of NFL capped off by a wildly entertaining Russell Wilson, Cam Newton battle late into the night. Joy Taylor is joining me one hour from now, Colin Wright, Colin Wrong, every Monday. I thought that was one of the best football games I've seen this year.

It was amazing down to the last second. And I actually don't have a problem with how it ended. No, either do I. Either do I. Because if Cam would have thrown it and something bad would have happened, all the internet would have talked about was how I should have run it. You know, let me start with this. Structure matters in life.

A lot of you get it from your family. If you don't get it from your family, maybe you get it from your family. maybe you get it from religion. Maybe you get it from coworkers, somebody you meet. But structure is really important. Habits. It's good on your body. It's good on your stress level.

Things you can count on. Structure. I know, but you're talented. I know, but you're flamboyant and independent. You want to do what you want to do. That's great. But talent without structure is what happened to Antonio Brown's career. Cam Newton has real structure and I'm all in on it.

Cam Newton, who's got all sorts of flair, just join the best system and the best structure in the NFL. Mechanics, no more sloppy throws, won't be tolerated. His mechanics are the best I've seen since he was a rookie. Ad living, you're still allowed to do that. New England allows you to do Superman, have fun at practice, wear the big hats, have some personality, but no more series just mailing it in, no more taking it off. Every single series has a point of view. Talent with structure is Russell Wilson.

It's LeBron James. Talent without structure that doesn't want to be coached, that can be difficult is what Kyrie Irving's careers look like post-Lebron. OBJ, post-Tom Coughlin. OBJ wants to be coached. He wants to be coached. Most great players want to be coached. Kevin Durant does, LeBron does, Anthony Davis does.

Sometimes the coaching stinks. And sometimes the athletes like don't want to deal with it. Cam is embracing it because nobody coaches are like New England. This is the first time I watched Cam. And he's not a rental player for New England. Well, this works. If you gave him one vertical threat, if you gave him a Tyree kill, you know, if New England could actually draft a receiver,

if you gave him a Travis Kelsey, this team would be a handful. You wouldn't want to play this team if you're Andy Reid. You wouldn't want to play this team. Now, this team does not have a vertical dimension, and it limits them. So there's kind of one way they could win. Last night's a shootout, and that's not best served for New England. But here's what's interesting. I could make an argument.

This is the least talented offense in terms of personnel. Rex Burkhead, Julian Edelman, Nikiel Harry, no great tight end. this is the least talented offense. No Christian McCaffrey here. No Curtis Samuel, DJ Moore here. No, well, there's Greg Olson, but he's the older Greg Olson here. And yet, what did Cam Newton do? Oh, wait, he completed 68% of his throws, way above his career average,

and his passer rating was in the mid-90s against Pete Carroll and Bobby Wagner and Jamal Adams. Structure matters and Cam's embracing it. Too many people push back. Oh, I don't want to eat this. same thing every month. I don't want to be coached. Cam's like, I'm in it. I need it. I want it. And I'll tell you the thing that jumped out to me, his mechanics have always been kind of hot and cold. I think his mechanics now are excellent. And I've always been a critic of Cam Newton.

But if that's the cam I get, I'm good. You can win that. Belichick, that defense and that cam, they are basically a vertical dimension away from being a handful. Maybe they get it in the draft. Maybe they get it in free agency. Maybe they go ahead and get OBJ. But what I'm watching right there looks like Cam has put his arms around the system. The system.

Bill Belichick's put his arms around Cam. What a pleasure to watch. That's football. The player's getting the most out of the team and the team's getting the most out of the player. And that's why I love football. It is structure. It gave me structure.

My Sundays are structured. I've got everything written out, and everybody needs structure. Michael Jordan, the two times he had the best coaches, Carolina, Dean Smith, and Phil Jackson, with the great structures, he won championships. When he didn't have the coach, he didn't have the triangle offense, or he didn't have the college, he didn't win. LeBron James was at his best, the best team he ever played on. Pat Riley, Eric Spolstra, D. Way.

people that thrive in the structure. So as far as giving Cam the ball in the last play of the game, listen, what is my rule? I said this last week with joy. When you get down to a play of the game and you give it to your best player, I'm all good. I mean, that was Cam Newton against, I don't know, the entire city of Seattle. If he goes outside, maybe he scores.

I'm not going to blame him. He had 400 yards, two touchdowns, played great. I thought he was tremendous. But I'll never bang on a football coaching staff, went on the biggest play of the game. You give it to your best player. Cam was on fire, playing with a ton of confidence, making great decisions, playing smart football.

Oh, God, he couldn't beat 11 guys. Here's Cam after. Yeah, it was a great play by them. That's a play. We had a favorite in the game playing. We ran it a couple times. I figured, you know, I just think we probably went to the world too many times,

but at the end of the day, said, felt confident about it. I would just have to exercise. execute and I could have bounced it, you know, looking at the cliff. I just got to be better. I'm good with it. If that's the Cam Newton I get, he's a patriot. He's not a rental player.

That's a real NFL quarterback. You know, it's funny in this league. You know, you get drafted by a team and if it doesn't go well, like Sam Darnold, you may not get a second chance. Like for Cam, great Cam, hurt Cam. Cam Act 2. I mean, I'm all in on this. I thought he was great.

Including the MVP year. I like this cam more. Structured cam, dependable cam, good mechanics cam. And yes, he can still do a Superman. I'm okay with that. It's okay. You can have a little flare. You can have a little flare.

But I'll tell you, flare needs structure more than structure needs flare. All right, let's shift to this. I'll give the Dallas Cowboys credit. First of all, that first quarter, it was a mess. You got to give Dallas credit for this. They just kept fighting. And this is one of the things I like about DAC. He's got, Dax formidable.

You talk about leadership, leaders don't quit. They just kept playing hard. But let me ask you about this. Sometimes you need to ignore the result in life. If my kids run into traffic and don't get hit by a car, I'm not going. Excellent job. Excellent job. I'm chewing him out.

sometimes you got to ignore the result. There are lessons to be learned. And I would ask this about Dallas. What do they do well? I mean, compete to the end, but I mean multiple fumbles, two fake punts, lousy execution, weird late game strategy. It's not just schemes. They're not close defensively in the secondary.

I mean, they have talented individuals. would not deny that. But what collectively does Dallas do well? What can you put your arms around? Okay, they competed until the end. Well, you're paid to do that. But when I look at Dallas, I see Amari Cooper and Zeke and Dak, but you know what's happening to Dallas? They're starting to look a lot like last year by week two. Zeke's going to get a lot of yards. Dax's going to get a lot yards, they're going to have three 1,000 yard receivers, and they're not going to be able to beat good teams. They're going to beat Atlanta.

They're starting to look like last year, which is, you're going to get some individual performances. Dak's going to have a bunch of yards. Amari Cooper is fantastic. Zeke, I love Zinc. Nothing about him I don't like. Not quite as good as two years ago love him. But collectively, what do you rely on?

Ah. If you look at Dak's final numbers, if you look at those and you look at the final score if you look at the results you're like who party but this this is a good fantasy team this is a good highlights team do you believe this morning if you're a cowboy fan it's a good football team i don't and by the way mike mccarthy we've said this in the last couple weeks he's trying too hard in week one he wanted to show that he wasn't conservative against sean mcvay so he went for it in an obvious kick-of-field goal situation. Yesterday, he reverted back to the old conservative Mike McCarthy facing a defensive

coach. And at the end of the game, after the onside kick, they get a nice reception to C.D. Lamb, and then they run, run, kneel. It's like, 46-yard field goal. I mean, I know you have a great kicker. Atlanta was gassed. Atlanta was tired. Atlanta couldn't stop anybody. Come on. This is the time to be aggressive. 36-yard field goals, even for a great kicker. are easier than 46-yard field goals. I don't think Dallas knows what they are. And I think self-identity is a real thing in the NFL. Like already New England knows what they are.

They knew what they were first series. We're going to run the football, control the clock, put it in Cam's hands, give him a lot of time to throw, play great defense, hit our field goals. New England's identified. They always do this exactly what they are. Lamar Jackson to Baltimore, very early in his career. They identified what they were. What is Dallas?

They fight. I don't know what they are. I don't know what collectively they do very well. I mean, Mike McCarthy saw it as a strident. This win is, it means something. And I just don't know what it means other than they're not beating good teams with that performance. You know, you look past experiences. You look at any great season that you're able to put together.

you have big moments that you're able to build off of. This is a big moment to build off of it. The fact of the matter is we're one and one. We find out a lot about ourselves today. And that was really the message at halftime. And once again, I can't say how proud I am of our players. I didn't see that. I don't know.

I mean, listen, the virtual fans were booing. I don't know what they are. I don't think they have an identity. I think they are what we thought they were, is individually talented, but collectively a big bowl of, I don't think you can beat good teams with that performance. And I don't think Atlanta's very good. And they may have a new coach soon.

Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. On Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeard Radio app. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skisks.

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

So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-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're just so you're not.

But just so y'all know. 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 for 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. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host.

and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing,

we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on Earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid?

Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, 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.

Bill Belichick has a history. Let's add some context here. He humiliates young quarterbacks. I mean, Josh Allen and Sam Darnold are pitiful against him. He's done this his whole career. I think he's like 18 and 1 against rookie quarterbacks. And then as you get better and more experienced, it's not like you flourish against him, but at least you're not humiliated by Belichick, the greatest defensive coach and greatest coach in NFL history. And then there's Russell Wilson, who is now 3-1 against New England, should be 4-0, 66% completion percentage, 13 TDs, 2 picks, and 131 pass-er rating,

and he's getting better each time he plays him. Like, he's won the war against Bill. He's better than Bill's coaching. Russell Wilson's the best football player in the world. Lamar's more dynamic athletically. Patrick Mahomes is maybe a flash year with a better arm. Russell Wilson went after the best coach in the game and the best corner last night, Stefan Gilmore,

and he went right at him. He went right after their best corner. Everybody passes away from Stefan Gilmore. Everybody moves to the other side. Russell goes, I'm going right at you. And I love listening to announcers. Oh, these Seattle receivers. Oh, you mean Freddie Swain in the sixth round?

Or David Moore in the seventh round? Or Will Disley, who Washington uses a blocking tight end in college? Or Doug Baldwin, who was undrafted? Or Tyler Lockett, who was a. gadget guy in college or D.K. Metcalfe who dropped in the draft. Those receivers? What do you talk? I mean, I'm not knocking the announcers, but I always say, oh, this receiver is thrown open. Everybody works with Russell Wilson. That's why I never understand. Seattle should just draft offensive guys. There'll be no busts. They all work with Russell Wilson. He has right now

11 incompletions and nine touchdown passes. I mean, and he's doing it. I mean, and he's doing it. against two defensive coaches to start the year. Dan Quinn was a Pete Carroll protégé. So Dan Quinn was at practice for years watching Russell Wilson. Dan Quinn should know all the tricks with Russell Wilson. Ateam alive. And then Bill Belichick's now faced him four times. He's only better.

This is the best football player in the world. I mean, I just watched this kid and we've been pleading with Pete Carroll for years. Just now they call it let Russ cook. Just let him go. This is his team. Five different touchdown targets last night. And what's interesting, Seattle could become Dallas. A lot of talented individuals, but nobody can cinch it up.

That's what Russell does. He just pulls it all together. And Seattle's now throwing the football early. More Russell-Wilson dependent. I mean, he is, he's a humble guy, but he's admitting. now like this thing I'm hot here's Russell I think that definitely in the zone locked in focused dialed in my teammates are too every day it's my mindset you know just my performance team everything else just everything that we put into is just getting ready

you know trying to be great you know I think that you know I have an obsession with with this thought process of of always trying to find more for the record 2020's been rough on all of us. And it's gotten a lot of us out of our habits, which make us comfortable. But you are really seeing who is thriving in all this chaos. LeBron James in the NBA, I mean, this Laker team is a bunch of new coach, new staff, new players, new teammates in a bubble. The Lakers are playing their best basketball of the year this morning. and Russell Wilson, this thing could unravel everybody.

This is the best he's ever played. It's, to me, if you count line of scrimmage, coachability, leadership, elevating others, accuracy, that's the best football player in the world. In the world. Others can be flashier, faster, bigger arm, throw left-handed. That's a, I don't know what Russell Wilson at this point. What's his flaw? You can't tell me the short thing because Kyler Murray shorter and he's all over.

over the league. That doesn't matter anymore. The way the spacing and the moving the pocket, that's the best football player in the league and the best one I think I've seen in years. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Some people have a job and they have it forever, but most of us have two or three or four or five jobs in our life. And whenever I have a new job, there's certain boxes you have to check. Okay, can I find my way around the building and find my way to work without thinking too much? Check. You move to a new city. Second thing. You know, what are the places, you know, the managers that are easy to get along with, the managers that aren't, that'll take a while, check.

Where do I fit really well in a company? Where should I avoid? Check. This stuff takes a lot of time. There's an old saying, old dog, new tricks, doesn't work, right? Like Tom Brady's an old dog. You're asking him to learn new stuff. And it's really a work in progress.

Yesterday, he had another bad pick. He's not using the tight ends at all. he left a lot on the field, his passer ratings in the mid-80s. You know, when Tom was in New England, there was always like two things to do. Okay, get it to Randy Moss and Wes Welker or Gronk and Julian Edelman. And Tom would just go back and back and back. This is, they got three tight ends. They got two, three good running backs.

They have multiple wide receivers. This is a lot. Old dog, new tricks and just a bevy of weapons. And that's not been Tom's new thing. So Tom's going to get a lot of publicity because he's Brady. Now, the defense is rolling. Tampa's defense, as we predicted, we said in September, the defense will lead the team. Tampa's defense is great.

It's young, it's fast, it's athletic, it strips the ball, the guys in the back can catch. It's like really a defense. They shut down Camara, Drew Brees through for 162 yards, Bridgewater struggled. McCaffrey didn't have many yards. They shut Christian McCaffrey down last year as well. So it's the defense is right where you want to be. But in terms of the offense, I think Bruce Ariens summed it up. This is a, this is going to be a long, slow work in progress.

This game should have never gotten to as close as it did. But we let them back in. It's going to take time. And, you know, with having no preseason and all those practices we missed, we're just growing day by day with Tom and the receiver. than the entire offense. I think we'll just get better and better. We're nowhere near.

I think what we are in September, what I think will be in November. Now, the good news is running back, talent, tight end, talent, receiver, talent, linebacker, talent. There's all sorts of talent here. Defensive line, talent. Even the secondary is better than I thought it would be. But I would say this.

Here's the two areas, maybe one and a half where you can check a box. First week, Mike Evans and Tom, one catch didn't look good. yesterday, maybe we can check that box off. Seven catches, touchdown. That timing pass that he threw behind the defensive back. That's a timing pass. That's what Aaron Rogers and Devante Adams took a year or two to get. So the Mike Evans box, it looks like they're building something.

Check. The Leonard Fournet box, it looks like he's going to be the starting running back. Maybe we can half check that box off. So those two feel good. Brady talked about the Mike Evans situation. Yeah, it was better. It could be. It certainly, we left some out.

out there. I think he and I both know that. So, you know, we just got to practice and work hard at it. And it's not an easy game. We've got to work at it. There's no, no easy way about it. You got to get to work and, you know, find our rhythm and keep it for the rest of the year. So far in the NFL, the good teams look pretty good. The bad teams are really bad. I do think the really encouraging thing for Tampa Bay is I think they're a team right now that's not playing particularly well, but could be great. Like I kind of feel like I know Baltimore's really good. Kansas City's really good. Seattle's really good.

Green Bay looks really good. We all knew they would be good. Maybe they're a little better, a little not. But they're good. We knew Cincinnati would struggle. Okay, we knew Cleveland. Well, I'd say Cincinnati would struggle. You know, Miami's still in a rebuild mode.

We knew the Jets and the Giants would be kind of a mess. And then you get into that middle and you're like, boy, this team's not as good, Minnesota. This team, New England appears to be better, but maybe not a Super Bowl team. And then there's Tampa. And Tampa's the one team I've seen so far. I'm like, they're not great.

They're not functioning at a high level. But I think they have a ton of runway. I think their defense is good. I'll always question their special teams. But the offense yesterday, there were two series early and you're like, oh, that's a real offense. Like that's, that's moving. That's perimeter guys, Leonard Fernett. And that's a good space to be.

It is, but this is an old dog and new tricks. It's going to take a long time. They're not even throwing to the tight ends. They're not even acknowledging. I think the tight ends yesterday, they have three good tight ends for Tampa. I think they had a catch for like 11 yards. They're not even throwing to the tight ends. So this is going to be, you know, it's funny about the no preseason.

The quality of football has been to me shockingly good for no preseason. The downside is we're getting a lot of injuries. More it feels like than usual. And I could make the argument in terms of old dog, new tricks, new system. Tampa needed the preseason more than any team. Baltimore and Kansas City were going to be fine. Russell Wilson was going to be fine. There's a lot, Green Bay, Aaron Jones, Aaron Rogers, Devonthe Adams.

They were going to be fine. Tampa really needed reps, really badly. And, I mean, just think about this. Fournette just got there. Gronk was retired. Chris Godwin now has had concussion protocol. Mike Evans' mispractices due to hamstring. Whole new system.

the left tackle opted out. They went and drafted a right tackle to solve right tackle. Then the left tackle opted out. So this is an organization Tampa right now. Big, big runway. They need work. And the interesting part is we're spending so much time on Brady. We're forgetting the defense is great.

Tampa's defense looked great in the first two weeks most of the time. 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 the day. demand whenever you'd like. Colin right, Colin wrong on the Monday. Here we go. Where Colin was right.

We told you, Russell Wilson's now carrying Seattle, and let's be honest about it. Seattle's defense isn't very good. They can't get to the quarterback. Cam Newton up and down the field. Matt Ryan up and down the field. They are lasting yards per game allowed. Passing yards allowed. They've given up 1,000 passing yards in two weeks. And one of those is to New England, which doesn't have a deep threat or a functioning veteran tight end. Pro football focus ranks their defensive line 30th. They have three sacks all year. Two of them are by Jamal Adams as safety.

As we predicted, it's going to be Russell Wilson. You've got to let him go because this defense can't stop anybody. Where Colin was wrong. Blazing five was two and three. If Cam scores, I have a winning week, he doesn't. I have a losing week. We are four and six on the year. Really rough weekend for betters yesterday.

We did have Miami. We thought would keep it close against. Buffalo, and we thought the dominating win of the weekend would be Tampa Bay. It got a little hairy at the end, but they held on. Where Colin was right? When Leonard Furnett got picked up by the Buccaneers, we said, why is everybody bailed on Leonard Furnett? He came out the same year as Christian McCaffrey, and McCaffrey was great and got the publicity.

Leonard Furnett's excellent. Thousand yards, 75 catches last year. He was, he sealed a game yesterday. I think by week two, he's established himself as the Rourke Horse running back for Tampa. But I never understood why everybody bailed on Leonard Fernette. He was the best high school running back. He was the best college running back. He runs with violence.

He's a great guy if you get a lead and have to eat the clock. He can catch the football. He had four receptions yesterday. I just thought the media and fans downplayed it. Like he was, you know, I understood Shady McCoy end of his career. You can downplay that. Leonard Fernette is a top tier running back in the NFL. He's a clock eater, a yard getter, a ball catcher.

He's everything I want for Tom Brady. What a great, you know, what a great comfort running back. Turn, hand it off, and he'll pick up five yards when there's about three available. Where Colin was wrong. Cam and Belichick, it's not only working, it's fascinating. Through two weeks of his career, this is the highest completion percentage of Cam Newton's career, 71.5%. Through two weeks of Cam's career, this is the fewest times he's been sacked.

His accuracy is excellent. His mechanics are superb. Clearly, Cam is taking to coaching because his mechanics have been a hot mess for a lot of his career. I thought they were excellent last night. I think he's patient. I think he's picking his spots. I mean, he feels like the leader of this franchise, and he's been there an hour. Like if this is Cam, this works. Where Colin was right? I've always defended Jared Goff. It's not sexy. But he and McVey work.

He throws a beautiful ball. You just got to keep him moving. He has been a machine this year. 69%. 109 passer rating. The Rams have figured him out. You got to give him a little bit of a running game. Move the pocket with him.

He's not hyper athletic. I think he's Matt Ryan with a better arm. I think he's Matt Ryan with a stronger arm. And I think he's been great. This offense does not have a lot of over-the-top performers. got a lot of Tyler Higbee and Robert Woods and Cooper Cup. They're very good players. They don't have a Tyreek Hill.

They don't have a Travis Kelsey. That's not what this offense is. It's death by 11 yards. And Goff and McVeigh perform it wonderfully. Everybody complained about his contract. Folks, you need a quarterback. He's absolutely a top 12 to 15 quarterback in the league, and I'd say he's closer to 10 than he is to 15.

Where Colin was wrong. I've always thought Anthony Davis was talented and gifted but soft. with no dog. He hit the game winner yesterday. He's played through injuries this year. He has been fantastic in the bubble. He's averaging 29, 11 and shooting 56% on the floor.

The knock on Anthony has always been. Where's the it? Where's the dog? Where's the alpha? Take the game over. Charles Barkley said it yesterday. He should be the best player in the league. 6-11 can shoot a jumper, put it in the floor. A great

defensive player. Doesn't want to be a center, but he's a great four. He's in a Tim Duncan mold. You could put him at center. He's a four. This is what I keep waiting for. Seven years, I'm like, could you give me? Damien Lillard's half the size, but would literally, is fearless. Anthony Davis has always played with some anxiety to me. Not anymore. He's looked great. Where Colin was right? I like Justin Herbert out of Oregon. A lot of credit. A lot of people just thought he was a good, there's a lot of mess here. He's big, mobile, strong, and with a big arm and lets her rip and take shots and he, again, the word fearless. He plays kind of fearless. He and Joey Burrow are both

better than I thought. I thought they would both struggle. They both have one thing I like. Big guys who just play with confidence. To learn you're going to start against the Super Bowl champs and five minutes later, you're out there slinging it. I mean, if he would have unraveled, you would have totally understood it. I thought Burrow was unbelievable Thursday. I thought Justin was great. That's a great throw right there. I mean, these are, you got under duress. You're looking to second and third wide receivers. And this kid takes up.

I got popped. One time he got popped and the linebacker got hurt. So I didn't think, I mean, this is the guy I liked at Oregon. I thought Oregon's coaching staff was way too conservative, wouldn't let him run until the Rose Bowl. Let him run, please. The kid's an athlete. He's Josh Allen. Let him run.

Where Colin was wrong. Ryan Tannehill, he's a total enigma. He was a wide receiver in college. I've never put my arm around him. He started as a wide receiver at Texas A&M. They move into quarterback. He's been fantastic since week seven of last year. You know, he's completing 70% of his throws and his passer ratings 120.

He works in their system. Yesterday they didn't have their number one wide receiver. They got into a shootout. He delivered. I can't get my arms around him. He's not a natural sometimes. You know what he is? Like Herbert, he's a big, strong athletic guy.

and Tennessee, boy, if you don't think coaching matters, watch Tannahill and Cam. Like all of a sudden it's like, I mean, and Cam's got obviously more talent, but if you don't think coaching matters, Tannahill leaves Adam Gase. This appears to be what he is. A winning quarterback. Where Colin was right?

Where you land matters, we are very high on Sean McDermott, the coach of the Buffalo Bills. Josh Allen's first two years in this league was a little bit of a wreck. He was wildly erratic. Not anymore. He is great. His completion percentage. Remember in college?

He was like in the 50s. He's completing 70% of his throws in the NFL. This is coaching. We think Sean McDermott and the Buffalo staff may be a top three or four staff in the NFL. The bad news is Belichick's in the same division. But where you land matters and Josh Allen's development is a major tip of the cap to Sean McDermott and that staff.

Instead of being this wild pony who's irons, radical and all over the place. He has settled down, fewer bad throws, higher completion percentage. That's what it's all about coaching. Where Colin was wrong. I had the Celtics and the Clippers in the NBA finals. One won't

make it and one's in trouble. My guess is now Miami feels like the better team despite what we saw in the last game. Listen, the Clippers played entitled. Load management doesn't work. You got to build chemistry. It's not only bad for fans. When you've got

a bunch of new parts. You've got to build chemistry. And if nothing else, this bubble has been about chemistry. The Lakers have always had it, by the way. That's the one thing, Joy and I said week one. They got chemistry. There's other stuff the Lakers don't have. Well, the clippers were the opposite. They had everything else, but they had no chemistry. And the bubble's been about

chemistry. Miami, Denver, Dallas, even Phoenix, Boston, the teams with chemistry that can deal with all this bubble, not seeing your family, friends, getting out of your habits. But I had the Clippers and the Celtics, and I was dead wrong on that.

Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. On Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeard Radio app. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days I'd put on 10 pounds, I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators,

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

this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeard radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people.

I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick 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 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. I don't think there's a more important year for black people.

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

Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross. Because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth?

Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions. bro absolutely and that 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 hard way open your free iHeart radio app search learn the hard way and listen now 17 years in the NFL you know we're talking about joy and i were talking about all the injuries in the NFL San Francisco is just falling apart uh Tony Gonzalez and 17 years missed two stars, which is maybe it's that Modelo beer.

Now, that wasn't, that wasn't around when he was playing. He didn't drink beer. The picture of hell Tony Gonzalez is now joining us via the Coward Global Satellite Network. Yeah, by the way, I see a lot of guys hurt. Does that mean you played hurt a lot that you were hurt, you just played through it? Or were you not hurt? I was hurt. I was hurt, especially my heart, because we lost a lot.

I think Here's a stat for most people I think I mentioned this to you before but 100% injury rate in the NFL If you step on the field You're going to be You're going to have some type of ailment By the time you come off the field

Now you have to play through Some injuries are more serious than others Fortunately for myself I never had that serious serious injury That put me on IR or anything So I got lucky Yeah So Kansas City

won but got pushed around. I got to be honest. They were outplayed for most of that game. You tell me what's wrong with Kansas City's offense because it didn't look very tight. Well, I don't know. I think maybe this is one of those, first of all, give credit to the San Diego defense. They have some studs, Bosa, Ingram. They got guys that can play. But that offense

definitely looked a little out of safe. But the thing about the Chiefs that everybody knows, they're a fast break offense. They will put points up in chunks. If you think they are down and out, you are mistaken, because they will just explode quickly, just like they did it. When I was watching that fourth quarter, I was like, all right, here they come. They're about the heat up. You knew something big is going to happen. Tyree Kill hits them deep over the top. And you just knew that was coming. And I would anticipate that happening for the rest of the year. They never count this team out. Yeah.

You know, so it's weird. When you play in the NFL, you just take the Ws. You don't get picky. You play like crap and win, you're good with it. Atlanta's becoming a football team that even when they play well, they lose. You're a former Falcon. Nothing against Dan Quinn, but I do feel like it's not working. I feel like Matt Patricia in Detroit. It's not working. Dan Quinn's not working.

You've been on teams where I imagine at some point as a player, you start wondering, do we have the right management or coach? Do you think Atlanta's there? You know, I believe, and I really, I think Dan Quinn is a great coach, took them to the Super Bowl. I don't know if they're snake-bitten because, like, that loss yesterday is one of the worst losses I've ever seen next to the loss that they had in the Super Bowl, which is the ultimate worst loss in the NFL history. Looking at what Dan has done, though, he's switched out to coaches. He's fired the offensive quarter, fired the defensive quarter fired, special team coaches. since his tenure since he's been there.

And they still keep having losses like this. The defense hasn't looked great since that season that they went to the Super Bowl. So, and I'm sure coach would say that himself. I mean, any head coach in the league work of salt is going to take up some responsibility. And like, hey, I got to coach it a little bit better. At the end of the game, them not recovering that onside kick. I don't know if that was the thing of, okay, we don't know the rules or the players froze up or whatever it is. but the buck always stops on the head coach

and he certainly had his chances. But they're running out. I think for sure Mr. Blank's got to be thinking, hey, the same thing that you're thinking that you have all this talent. Thomas Demetroft's done a great job bringing in all these players, but for whatever reason,

still not clicking. But it's only two games into it. I still think they are a quality, quality football team, upper echelon team. I hope that they can turn this thing around because it's still early. I know the Owen's, two thing that when they're not going to go that far, they're not going to go to the playoffs now,

but not with that offense. They got too much time. I think they still can be a pretty good football team. By the way, you and I have both been critical at Cam Newton, bad mechanics. Is he all in? You know, a little more flair than I'd love, but whatever. Are you surprised it's worked as well as it has so far in New England? 100%. I'm flipping the script here. I was wrong about this. I did not think it was going to go this well, he has absolutely surprised me. My hat's off the camp. And I'm not going to say, oh, I'm an apology.

I just, because I think we had, we, we were given that sample size of the last two years. Yeah, it looked like that guy in that MVP year. But these first two games, him being healthy with Josh McDaniels and coach Belichick, he looks like that elite quarterback again. You can't tell me. I think right now he's, he's got to put him up there with like Lamar and Kyler. and Patrick Mahomes, or at least right below that, because he's back.

This man is back. And right now, the New England Patriots, we thought they weren't going to be that good this year. I think they're going to win a lot of football games. Yeah, I think there's two teams I was wrong on. Minnesota's bad and New England's good, and I think I missed on those. I'll hold my reservation on the Steelers.

I can't believe they struggled as much as they did yesterday at home against Denver. So when a quarterback runs, it can be disruptive to a receiver or it can be great to a receiver. So Russell Wilson, five different targets caught a touchdown, four games against Belichick. He's won three, should have won four, and he's getting better. So when Russell runs around and create stuff, because most of the guys you played with were pocket quarterbacks. Do you ever wish you could have played with a Russell? What would have done to your game? I would have.

I think we talked about that yesterday on the show. I'd love playing with a guy like that because, you know, when the pocket does break down, which is inevitable, when he gets out, he's looking to make plays with his legs. He's looking to go deep. That's why I think Kyla Mary and D'Odrey Hopkins are such a good match because when he gets around,

starts making plays with the legs with an elite receiver, a guy can catch the ball. He's going to get open for you. And at the very least, you're stowed up in the air. And right now, Russell Wilson is playing the best, he's the best quarterback in the NFL right now. No doubt about it. He is on fire.

He's playing at a different level. They say let him cook. Well, he's cooking and he's become a chef. He's chef Wilson right now. And right now he's clear favorite. This team is going to be really, really good. Yeah. So here we are week two of the NFL.

Do you feel that you know what you are in week two of the NFL? Go back to your career, 17 years. are you wheat your K two in two film sessions two games 150 snaps do people know who they are by week two or at least have a strong sense of it I think you have a strong sense absolutely I think you're about 70% 75% of the way there of knowing how your season is going to go you know as long as everybody stays healthy which is which is obviously any team in the NFL but I remember when I first came to the league I think it was my second year in the league There was a guy named Ryan Leif. This is where I learned my lesson early in my career. Ryan Leap was playing for the San Diego Chargers, and they started out.

I think it was 2-0, and everybody was crowned them. They're going to beat everybody, and then the wheels fell off. So I think for most teams, you get a sense of who you are, but at the same time, just like a team like Atlanta or a team out there who's 2-0, you still never know what's going to happen by the time the season rolls around,

but you do have a sense of what direction you're going. good stuff Justin Herbert didn't know he was starting until five minutes before the game for the Chargers and he was very good now you obviously knew you were starting did you have butterflies in your first NFL start

absolutely I got butterflies every time I stepped out on that field there it's the NFL I couldn't imagine what this kid maybe that's the reason he played so well because he didn't know that he was he was going to play. And as soon as you get thrown in there, it's like, all right, well,

here we go. I like, I like what he did yesterday, man. I don't, I think too bad for Tyrod Taylor, because I don't think he'll be taking any more snaps for the rest of the season as long as Herbert St. Augusta's healthy because the San Diego charges found themselves a star. Now, we'll see, actually. But next week, this is one of those things. I guess it goes back to Ryan Lee, speaking of the San Diego Chargers, that, you know, you can have that great success early. But we'll see how it goes, but all things point very, very positively for the San Diego charges. This kid played outstanding yesterday. Yeah, Tyrod Taylor, they say, is going to start.

That's what the coaching staff says. Yeah, I know. That was our reaction, too. Like, really? It seems so obvious. Like, in the NFL, I think you should be able to lose, and I hate to say this, but lose your job to an injury. Like, if you get hurt, the guy comes in and he's better, like, that's professional sports, right?

or do players think that's Bush League that you can't lose your job to an injury? How did you view that? Yeah, you can. Especially as, and I would say that for myself, if I got hurt and the guy came in and played better than me, it's all for the sake of winning. And I think right now you drafted this kid. He's the six picked overall in the draft. And he came out and played the way he did.

I don't know if I really trust Anthony Lynn to, not start him. I would be scratching my head come next Sunday if Herbert isn't starting. And absolutely answer your question. That's just the nature of the beat. That's why I love sports. It's the ultimate equalizer. There's no politics. It's just about who's the best guy for the position. Who's going to give us the best chance of winning? No hard feelings. It's just how it goes. Yeah. Well, I mean, Tyrod Taylor, week one against bad Cincinnati defense struggled. They couldn't move the ball much. And Herbert walked in against the Super Bowl champs and moved it up and down the field. So I don't know.

To me, I want to win games. Who can help me win games? Tony Gonzalez. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert. It's Michael and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Look Back at it podcast. In 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me.

I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. 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 Keer 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're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that doesn't. 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. This is an IHart podcast. Guaranteed human.