The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Best of The Herd for Sep 25, 2020

Episode Date: September 25, 2020

-The gap between LeBron and the rest of the league is enormous-Why the Cowboys offense is like a political ad-The Patriots are way better than Colin thought-Colin doubles down on why QBs can't wear their hat backwards at the podiumGuests: Eric Mangini, former Jets & Browns Head CoachTJ Houshmandzadeh, 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. 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.

From 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. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeard 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. 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. This is the best of the Heard. with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio.

Ah, here we go on a Friday, and we're packed. Live in Los Angeles, this is the herd. Wherever you may be, and however you may be listening, we're on Fox Sports Radio and right here on FS1. One hour from now, my blazing five, I can honestly say, I think they're my strongest five picks I've had since probably middle of last season. Two weeks in,

I feel like I know the league now, my blazing five picks in one hour. Very excited. Joy Taylor is joining me in a Friday. Joy, we looked like a Miami Heat Laker final is very close. I want to get ahead of myself.

We've got to finish it out. We've seen a lot of upsets, so I'm not going to say any predictions. Let's just close this out tonight, guys. Let's get it done. All right. We're getting very close. Year 17 for LeBron James. That cannot be understated. Remember what Michael Jordan looked like in his final year?

Couldn't really jump. Year 17 for LeBron. LeBron says, let me guard the hottest young guard in the NBA. He's 23. He's in his prime. I'm a power forward. I got this. And shuts him down. A, most stars don't want to do that.

and B, if you give it to them, they can't do it. This is what I would call the gap. And I've seen it twice in the NBA. When Michael Jordan was at his best, the gap between Jordan and everybody else in the sport, the stars was massive. Magic was the only player that was reasonably close and Magic could do one thing better than Michael, elevate others.

Michael didn't always do that. But even scoring in defense, magic wasn't close to Michael. getting a bucket or getting a stop. The gap between LeBron and everybody else is now absurd. Let's take recent MVPs. They should be close to LeBron. Janus, can't shoot three playoff series wins in the east in seven years.

Harden, one-trick pony, all offense. Westbrook, three words, out of control. Anthony Davis, completely irrelevant, and will he join LeBron. Like Magic to Michael, Kevin Durant and Kauai Leonard have things, elements they can do better. Kevin Durant's just a better shooter. And Kauai right now at this point in his athletic prime probably better at getting a stop over the course of eight, nine minutes.

But it's not close. Kevin Durant isn't the leader and can't stay healthy. And Kauai doesn't talk and communicate and frankly doesn't elevate others. He's just great. This is unbelievable what you see last night. LeBron's now done this twice. He did it against Derek Rose, nine, ten years ago.

Remember Derek Rose was the hottest thing in the NBA, the hottest guard, the talk of the league, and LeBron James said nine years ago, I'm six, nine and a half, two-fifty. I got this. And he handcuffed him for the rest of the series in the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter, LeBron would say, I got D. Rose.

What forward in the history of the league does that? Bird, Duncan, Dr. J. He don't do that. Derek Rose was the quickest guy in the league. LeBron's like, I got him. And Derek Rose was awful in the fourth quarter. last night. LeBron can no longer do it for a quarter.

Jamal Murray's on fire. He's exploded. He's the next star guard in the league. Nobody can stop him. And in year 17, LeBron's like, I got him. And creates enough chaos for Jamal Murray that all the scoring stops. I mean, you've got to be kidding me on this. It's just year 17th.

Never forget this. LeBron's son is closer in age to Jamal Murray. than LeBron is. Year 17, year 13, guys quit playing defense in this league. Year 15, they're out of the league. Year 17, LeBron, I got this. I've only seen five athletes like this,

really in my life, where I'm not even sure who the number two is. Tiger Woods. I think in his prime, the number two was Phil Mickelson, I think. But for 10 years, there wasn't a two. Serena Williams, who's been the second best women's tennis player. I don't think they exist. Tom Brady. I think it's Peyton Manning, but for most of Peyton's career against Tom, Tom was the clutch, and Peyton couldn't win the big game.

Michael Jordan, obviously, and now LeBron. The idea, most stars wouldn't want that assignment to guard somebody that's younger in their prime, different position, red hot, and ascending as a star. LeBron takes it and then accomplishes it and talked about it after. I know it was winning time and Jamal had it going. I told my teammates that I had them and everyone else can kind of stay at bay and stay home. And I was able to get a couple stops and we was able to rebound in basketball, which is the most important thing. It's just I'll call it the gap. I've seen it five times.

The gap. Tiger, MJ, Brady, Serena, and LeBron. I'm not sure who number two is. I mean, you're going to tell me Janus is two? AD had a playoff series win in seven years pre-Livoran. The gap. You get it about once a decade, maybe twice. All right, the game in the NFL that a lot of people will be watching,

Dak and the Cowboys go to Seattle, Russell Wilson, and the Seahogs. Now, what a lot of teams in the NFL do to beat Russell Wilson, here's sort of the theory. keep them off the field. Run the football. Keep them off the field. Mike McCarthy says, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. We are not going to do that.

We are going to get in a shootout with Seattle. We think we can match up with Seattle offense. Point for point, touchdown for touchdown. We want to score as fast as we can as many times we can, as far as the start of the game and throughout the game. But, I mean, when you get down in the fourth quarter, that's part of the game management. Oh, you want to get a shootout with Russell Wilson?

You know what the Dallas Cowboys offense is? It's a political ad. It doesn't matter if you're a Republican or you're a Democrat, if you're Joe Biden, Trump, Bernie Sanders. It doesn't matter. All political ads are sort of the same. They're very slick. They put in music and they always make the candidate look the best.

But it's really more marketing than it is, you know, truth. Political ads aren't really truthful. It's just promises and hope and it's slick and it's clever. Dallas's offense is a political ad. Oh, it's slick. It gets a lot of stats. We all think it's good. But let's be honest about it.

They either score too early or never enough late. Let's go to last year. Go look at last year's schedule. And you look at all those points. But let's go to three games in particular to start. Green Bay, Buffalo, and Chicago. Those games weren't close. Green Bay led 31-3, Buffalo led 26-7, Bears led 31-14 in the fourth.

Those games were never competitive. When you needed Dallas's offense, it was nowhere to be found. They got all their points in those games in garbage times when the games were out of reach. Let's go to three other games against very good teams, at the Saints, at the Patriots, at the Eagles. In those games, the defense, the much maligned cowboy defense, was actually. excellent. But they couldn't muster a second touchdown drive against the Saints. They couldn't muster a single touchdown drive at Foxborough, and they couldn't muster a single touchdown drive at Philadelphia. So in three of their games, it was just a bunch of garbage points where they couldn't

get into a shootout. The other team was like, we're going to score on you. They couldn't. And at three other games when the defense played great against good teams, playoff teams, nothing. Six other biggest games last year. This is a hollow political ad on offense. They're an eight and eight football team that beat one playoff team last year. And again, this year, I see the exact same thing. I'll give you an example. So against the Rams, oh, it came down to the final play.

They had six drives in the second half. result against Sean McVey one field goal and then Atlanta they're down by 15 with five minutes left Atlanta's in a pre-vent they get all their points and then they recover the goofiest silliest craziest onside kick of all time or they'd be 0 and 2 again in these games against the Rams who were moving the ball just like last year in those three games against Buffalo Chicago Green Bay when you had to really ramp it up they couldn't match them in the second half And then like those three other games where, you know, you fall behind and you need real stuff and you just couldn't deliver. Rams in Atlanta is the Cowboys last year.

When you really need them, it's either too early or too late and it's just a slick political ad. A lot more marketing than the truth. The way to beat Seattle is not to get in a shootout. The way to beat Seattle is keep Russell Wilson on the sideline. That's what Cam almost did. That's what Cam did last weekend. Where was Russell Wilson at the end of the game last week? Watching on the screen as Cam slowly and methodically kept Russell Wilson off the field.

As a Patriot fan, would you have felt better if Russell had the ball with five minutes left? No. You felt good because Cam had the ball. the ball and Cam was moving and Russell was on the sidelines. That is the way to beat the Seahawks and Russell Wilson. 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. 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. I don't care which I'm 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. became bigger than I ever imagined.

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

So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross

double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you're going to be. You can find out on the Look Back at it 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 on 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. 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 comments.

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

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

different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Keir Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free, our Heart Radio app. Search, learn the hard way, and listen

now. So I'm watching Miami and Jacksonville play last night, and I'm not really thinking about Miami and Jacksonville by the end of it. I'm thinking, oh my God, New England's way better than I thought. I completely whiffed on New England. Eight opt-outs, lost several key free agents, didn't replace them.

Brady leaves. New England's way better than I thought. The Miami Dolphins just destroyed Jacksonville, a competent team through the first two weeks. Destroy them. The Buffalo Bills have the best defense in the league from the beginning of last year until last week. New England and Buffalo have allowed the fewest yards.

Ryan Fitzpatrick against Buffalo and against Jacksonville marched up and down the field. Four touchdowns, no picks, completion percentage, 73%, pass a rating over 113. Against New England, he could not move the chains. No touchdowns, three picks, a passer rating of 44, 85 yards rushing. They got dominated in time of possession, couldn't run, couldn't convert third downs, and had 260 total yards. I watched that Miami New England game. Miami couldn't compete.

It was over at the end of the first quarter. They moved the ball up and down the field against Buffalo's defense. They moved the ball all over the field and dominated Jacksonville. And New England is a touchdown favorite at home this week to a raider team that just backhanded the Saints, who everybody has as a Super Bowl team out of the NFC. I have apparently made an egregious mistake on the New England Patriots. I know I know I'm a homer and stuff. But I'm watching Miami last night and I watched Miami last weekend.

They moved the ball against everybody up and down the field. And we liked Miami at the end of last year. They couldn't even compete against New England. New England goes on the road and comes within two yards in Seattle, cross-country flight, of beating what many believe is the second best team in the league, the Seahawks. This play, that's, you know, two yards and they beat Seattle. They're favored by a touchdown over the Raiders. They annihilate a Miami Dolphins team that gave Buffalo everything and destroyed Jacksonville.

That's what I saw last night. I saw Cam, I saw Belichick, I saw New England, and thought, I'm betting the Patriots this week. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd. weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Speaking to Russell Wilson, there is a picture out there where he has his hat on backwards. It's in his practice uniform and he probably just walked out of the locker room and he's got a hat on backwards. Probably a walk through before a game and everybody's like, oh, calling Russell Wilson's got his hat on backwards. You can wear your hat on backwards.

Yesterday at the very end of my show, I talked about wearing your hat on backwards. And fans ripped me. It was very hurtful. I did not sleep last night. barely closed my eyes. It was very painful. But I'm going to double down on something I've always believed. And when I saw Carson Wentz with his hat on backwards after another bad performance and bad loss, standing in front of the proud Eagles banner, I didn't like it. I didn't like it at all. Let me just ask you something. Because I believe in life, time and place and location and

assignment matter. There are certain things you just wouldn't wear if you were introduced to the pope or the president. Time, place, location, assignment matters. If you want to wear a hat on backwards in your garage, in your yard, if you want to wear it at the beach, at the gym, in your car, I don't care, never really care. In fact, Joy is my witness, I don't care if you ever wear it backwards as a baseball player, as a basketball player. I mean, baseball players wear hats all the time. What do I care? I don't even care if you wear it backwards as a linebacker in football, a cornerback, a receiver, a tight end, an offensive lineman. I don't care. I don't care. But if you are a quarterback and you have your once a week podium discussion and the organization and the

Philadelphia Eagles are brilliantly owned, respectfully built, smartly designed, and you have the Eagles banner behind you with a major corporate sponsor, Toyota, behind you. And you're telling me this for a $5 billion face of the franchise is no different than this. I think you're wrong. I'll totally double down. Let me speak slowly. Time matters. Location matters.

assignment. Let me give you a person. I don't know him. He's very popular on the interweb. His name is Dave Portnoy. He created Barstool Sports. He's very, very funny. He's very talented. Barstool sports attacked me yesterday. Very hurtful. This is, you know, I've got children. You have to be nicer to me. They just ravaged me yesterday. So Dave Portnoy is this very raw, you know, Hawaiian shirts, sometimes no shirts, authentic, in your face. I don't care about anybody. It's very effective. But it is interesting that a month ago he interviewed the president and he wore suit.

And he was a real professional and he was respectful and he didn't swear. It's almost as if kids, assignment matters, location matters, time matters. most of you won't be as successful as Carson Wentz or Dave so maybe you just don't get it but when you stand in front as the face of the franchise don't care if you're Ken Griffith you're a baseball player what do I care don't care if you're a hockey guy I don't care if you're in your yard

your gym a bar on a date I don't care if you wear your hat on backwards I don't care I've worn it in my garage I've worn it in my yard But on that weekly podium, you are standing in front of the logo, a major sponsor. Do you know how much you have to pay as a sponsor to get DAC in front of that logo on Tuesday? They have a casino in Dallas. They pay millions of dollars. Do you know how much Toyota pays to get that logo, that sponsorship? It's not about wearing the hat.

It's about the symbolism and the respect. It's why Dave wore a suit at the White House. Because assignment matters. It's the president. Like him or not, it's the president. Time, location, situation, place. You don't wear a hat on backwards meeting the pope. You don't interviewing the president.

And I believe you don't as a franchise quarterback in that weekly press conference, especially after a loss in which you were awful. Because I'm already questioning your judgment. You want to look like a frat boy? Go for it. Go for it. It's not me. It's not my football team.

Bingles beat you this weekend. O for three wear two hats backwards. What do I care? I'm just thinking. You're not going to pressure me into believing that time, place, assignment location don't matter. Hell yes, they matter. You meet with your boss.

It's different than meeting with the intern. You meet with the president. It's different than meeting with a local lobbyist. And you stand at that podium as a quarterback, O and 2, logo, advertisers. You're trying to send them. message. Remember Tom Brady in New England used to do the Monday radio show in Boston? Do you remember that? He didn't do it for money. Tom Brady never did that for money. Why did Tom Brady do the morning press

conference for years in Boston radio? Probably got paid a thousand bucks a hit, 2000. The guy's worth $700 million. He did it to spread the message for the week. That he and Belichick arrive at a message and he is spreading the message for the week. If they lost optimistic. If they won, we've got a to work on. It was symbolic. It was irrelevant. He didn't need the money. He did it for symbolism as the face of the franchise. This is the message Bill and I want going forward. I'm doubling down on that hat thing. Wear it in your garage. Just not as a franchise quarterback at the podium. 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. Eric Mangini is now joining me. My guy

former NFL coach two times, joining me via the Coward Global Satellite Network. You know, I said earlier, the Cowboys offense reminds me of a political ad, regardless of what, if you're a Democrat or a Republican, is that it's slick and that it's glossy, but it's not really the truth. Right? Like you're showing, Dallas last year in six different games, either threw in garbage points late to make a blowout look close, or in three games, Saints, Patriots, Eagles, where you actually needed one touchdown drive, you know, in the second half. They couldn't provide it.

But I think it's a lot of smoke and mirrors. It's a lot of political ad. It's real glossy and slick and a lot of stats. But I don't trust their offense against Seattle. Your thoughts. Yeah, and like a political ad, they're not that interesting. You watch Dallas play. But for the grace of the football gods, they really should be owing to.

There's no way that they should have won this past game. And it's frustrating to watch. I don't know if it's the function of they're supposed to have a franchise quarterback and a franchise running back and a franchise wide receiver, and they've gotten all this help. And there's continuity with the offensive coordinator, and there's an offensive head coach. So you're expecting a lot.

But as you watch it, you don't feel like they're explosive in the way you think of Kansas City or when you think of New Orleans when they're hitting. it just doesn't it doesn't seem the same way it doesn't feel the same way and for as good as the offensive line is supposed to be there's guys playing in all different spots there's been inconsistent blocking and it's it's been disappointing to this point i i agree with you it's it's not what it seems or what it should be yeah now they face seattle russell wilson i think you've you everybody's always liked him he feels different this year uh what What is it? What do you see?

Well, look, I know everybody wants the let Russ cook and is excited about what he's done. He's had a great start to the year. I think it's 84% completion. But one of the things that they did really well last year was rain things in. And people got frustrated because they didn't let Russell do as much they thought he could. But if you look at the year before, Colin, he was sacked almost 11% of the time. That's like historic sack numbers. and they put him behind the sticks, it created turnovers, self-inflicted wounds.

I caution Seattle not think they get too caught up with either direction. Don't go the extreme they had last year where he didn't get the opportunities, but if you want to keep going down this route, he's going to default to those numbers that he had, which is the high eights, the high nines, the high tens, and sacks. And I don't think you have to do that. You don't have to be this extreme. I don't think it's sustainable either. You live in Cleveland, so you have thoughts on the Cleveland Browns, and you actually hear a lot and know a lot and you used to coach them.

And it's interesting because they play Washington with extra time to prepare. This should be a win for them. This is a quarterback now with some legs. It's a lot of offensive weapons, and it's a Washington team in a rebuild mode with a young quarterback. So two things. There is a big upcoming stretch for Baker Mayfield. The next four weeks, he plays the three best pass rushes in the league statistically. Washington, Colts, and Steelers.

He has not been good under pressure. I believe that organizations make decisions privately long before they make them publicly. In a league where many of the best young quarterbacks are actually very good against pressure, he's awful against it. If he struggles in this four-game stretch against pressure, do you think decisions will be made from a new GM and a new coach who have no loyalty to him? Well, their ability to make the decision on the quarterback is also,

are going to be based off of how well they do in terms of coaching and managing the team over the course of the year. I think the owner has a pretty strong influence on the decisions that are made. But the greatest thing that Cleveland can do is run the ball. If you don't want your quarterback pressured and you've got two running backs like they have and you can run the ball as effectively as they have, it slows everything down. Pass rushers have to deal with the run first. it, you know, even when they want to tee off because there's that threat, they've got to take that into consideration. All the play action is that much more effective.

The way that they can help Baker and the way that Baker has been the most successful is by setting up and relying on the running game, then using the play action. And he's a different guy. If you want to turn him into just a passer, it's not going to work and it's not going to be successful for him or Stefansky. So sometimes I can't explain stuff. I love Carson Wentz.

Why is Carson Wentz so bad right now? What is happening with Carson Wentz, a guy I love? You know, I went back and watched both games, coaches copy, just to look at these plays. And the Washington game

to me was somewhat mismanaged. They're up 17 to nothing. They've got the ball on a two-minute drive and they try to throw it deep out. The throw wasn't that bad. The read was exactly right. The receiver could help them and come back to the ball. So it gets picked up or picked off and Washington goes in with momentum. They start the second half. He gets picked off on almost the identical throw, almost the identical situation. Momentum shifts and then panic sets in and they're going forward on fourth and two and fourth and three, giving Washington short fields. And it's,

there's no way they should have lost that game, and he didn't really play that bad. And when you look at the second game, they're down 21 to 3 quickly. Yeah. And there's a turnover early, and he comes back, and he's got a chance to take the lead at the start of the second half. And he throws another ball that's really not that bad a ball, and it's still a good read, and it's a good defensive play. But when he was really good, and then people forget this, he had a much better supporting cast. He had a much stronger defense. Now it feels like there's all this pressure on him,

and they're putting him in some tough situations, and he's trying to make plays and press plays because he doesn't feel as confident in the rest of the supporting cast. Shift to Cam Newton. He and Edelman had a monster night on the road. I was surprised by that relationship. Nikiel Harry, I did think Cam would probably be a nice new fit for him. Tom, you know, I said this last week,

earlier this week is that Cam looks at Nikiel Harry as a young talented weapon. Tom looked him as a guy that couldn't get to the right spot. But the Edelman Cam relationship, I was surprised by how effective it was. Were you? Look, I've been surprised that the relationship of Cam

with the Patriots in every aspect. I was surprised that they signed him. I was surprised that he, you know, he's acted or taking the approach that he's taken. I've been surprised by every aspect of this, and I was probably the biggest skeptic. But I would imagine his relationship with the receivers, he's going to have a little bit different bond with the younger guys.

I'm sure those guys used to play Cammon in Madden. And with Edelman, he just realizes that it's reliable and it's always going to be there. And usually it's going to be open and usually he's going to catch it. So I think that'll continue to grow. Finally, Ryan Fitzpatrick, the ageless one. one. What do you make of him? Why is he still in the league? I mean, he's hot and cold. What do you make of him? I think the Fitz Magic moniker is perfect because at the end of each game, he's usually going to make somebody's victory disappear. And it's yours or theirs, because

he don't know which guy's going to show up. And this has been the way he was since Buffalo. If you get him when he's hot, he is so hard to deal with. He's exciting. He can make, you know, incredible throws. And then you flip the switch, and the next game, it's, you know, two, three, four interceptions or a fumble, and it's just terrible. And you look at him and he's a smart guy. He's, I'm sure, a great mentor for young players. He's probably great to have on your team.

And he excites you. But then he also realized that, you know, he's going to give away about 40% of the games and win about 60, kind of like his TD to intercept. ratio and that gets frustrating. Yeah. Eric Mangini, good talking to you, coach. Thanks for coming on on a Friday. We appreciate it. All right. We'll talk to you 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 IHeart 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. I don't care which I'll say it. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media.

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

stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple 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-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?

to do a little kill. Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jay. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so you all know.

I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have age. 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. Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing,

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

Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way. Open your free, Our Heart Radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. T.J. Husband Zata, he is having a birthday tomorrow.

I'm not going to tell you his age. He is now joining us live. He's played 11 years in the NFL. So he is deeply concerned because he said he found a gray hair, a single gray hair on his left cheek. And it's really, it's to send him off the deep end. I just want to know if you're okay to do this segment. You're very discouraged right now. Yeah, I'm good.

I was shaving this morning. I looked and I had to pull it to the side to make sure that it was gray and it was. And I'm like, oh, first one, here we go. Yeah. And by the way, this is what happens not long after that, TJ. The whole thing will turn gray, just like that. If I can get the salt and pepper look, I'm cool with that. But one here and there, I don't like that.

Okay. You know, it's interesting. I want to talk about the Buccaneers for a second. So in the first week, Brady struggled with his receivers. Second week, he and Mike Evans connect. Chris Godwin now comes back, but he's not throwing to his tight ends at all in New England. Take my audience to how long it takes. New quarterback comes in.

receivers are in a system in your career. What should we expect from Brady? But when he's really clicking receivers, tight ends, and he feels very comfortable. It's going to take about four games, four to five games, and had he had the preseason, you can practice all you want. But the tempo and the pace, and especially mainly the speed that you practice at and you play at, it's different just because of that adrenaline. It's going to take some time. Brady can watch them run routes and you see a movement in their body. He's going to let the ball go because he know what's come next. And in practice, you see that.

But the game is such a faster temple that you might be a tad early or you might be a tad late. So it's going to take him some time to get used to the speed of Mike Evans and Godwin in the game. When you're in the slot, a lot of the timing is off. And so that's why Humphreys is getting the ball in it. And it's looked like they have that connection because you don't have quote unquote timing. I mean, it's understanding defense, find a soft spot in his own. You know, another star receiver, OBJ, admitted this week, he's like, I'm not going to get big numbers here. Like, this is a running team.

And it's difficult because I'm sure T.J., for you in high school, for you in junior college, for you in college, you know, you get the looks. You're the star. And then you go in the NFL, and OBJ is a star, and now he ends up with a team where Stefanski wants to run it. They got two great running backs. Baker's not a guy you want throwing 45 times a game. Have you ever played with players that are super talented, but they just have to come to terms with, you're going to get six looks max and maybe four catches? No, not at all.

And he's saying all the right things, and he's saying what he's supposed to say. But I'll tell you, if he's not getting the looks and they're winning, he'll be okay, but he's not going to be okay if that makes sense. It's like, I want to contribute to us winning. and they are best when they are running a ball. When you have Chub and hunting, you look at what they did to the Bengals that they, in essence, won the game for him.

And if he can sprinkle in a big play here or there, but I will tell you what, if he's not getting a ball, because he came into the league accustomed to getting looks, to getting targets every game, it's going to be hard now once he's established himself as a star as one of the better receivers in the league to say, oh, I'm okay with taking a back seat.

Now, if they're winning, he's not going to gripe about it, but privately, he's not going to be happy about that. So I thought on Monday Night Football, and I love Drew Brees, but he didn't look great. He didn't face a lot of pressure. Raiders don't have a sack this year, and it was dump off city. And, I mean, we know he's old. We know he doesn't have a big cannon arm to begin with. Do you think, as a receiver, you may not say it publicly, but Michael Thomas may know, Emmanuel Sanders may know, listen, there's just throws my guy can't make anymore. There's throws my guys can't make. Do you confront the quarterback? Do you talk a lot about, listen, listen, I can shorten the route out. I mean, how does that go as a quarterback does decline? Nothing. You just, you deal. You don't

say anything about that. All athletes, you know, when your skills diminish, you don't want to be confronted about it. Sean Payton knows it. Drew Brees knows it. Their offense is, is tailored to his strengths and they try to minimize his weaknesses and they don't go down the field. Mike Thomas is hurt. And so his security blanket, so to speak, was not there. I recall one route in that game Monday night. The tight end was running a deeper over route.

And he stopped. And there was nobody in that zone. And Drew Brees threw it like he was going to keep running. And it looked like it was a bad throw by Breeze. But it was actually the tight end's fault. He should have kept running. and you get probably a 15-yard game. But if Mike Thomas is playing,

Drew Breeze is going to play better because that's his security playing. Emmanuel Sanders and Mike Thomas, they're route runners. They're going to get open. They're not going to really get down the field, not Emmanuel anymore anyway. And so it's just he doesn't have his best receiver. When you don't have your best receiver, you're going to struggle. And so he's struggling right now when Mike Thomas is,

when he does come back to play, he'll be fine. Are you surprised Seattle host Dallas this week? Are you surprised how good Russell Wilson's become? Did you see it early? Or are you, I mean, do you look at him sometimes and think he's the best football player in the world? I mean, right now, statistically, he's completing 85% of his throws. He's got 11 incompletions on the year, and that includes facing Belichick's defense and Belichick's wisdom and Belichick's secondary. Did you see it years ago, or are you surprised by Russell?

I'm going to be honest. You kind of has sold me on Russell, to be honest. You've talked about him so much, and I watch him more intently now, and I kind of try to study him. And the more you've talked about him, the more I've said, like, golly, Russell Wilson is really good. But I remember I played my one year in Seattle when I left. I was still friends with a lot of guys on a team, guys in the front office and coaches. And they straight up told me when they drafted him, bro, golly, you should still be here one more year. This kid can really play.

going to be our starting quarterback. I'm like, do, he's a rookie. He's like, listen, watch, he's going to be our starting quarterback. So when he was a rookie, the guys that were there were already telling me this. Now, the defense carries him to the Super Bowl. And so you kind of overlook Russell Wilson. And then Colin Coward starts talking about Russell Wilson. And all myself and other people can think about is the Legion of Boom and that defense has carries you to a Super Bowl, Russell. So that's in our head, but we're not really paying attention of what he's showing us since the defense is slowed down.

And I'm Russell Wilson, and I'm one of the best quarterbacks in the league. And so it's good that he's showing us that, but I'm not going to lie. Had you not really made it a point, I would have still been giving the credit to the defense. Yeah, no, I mean, Steve Young faced that with the Niners. You had Bill Walsh and Jerry Rice, and, you know, nobody wanted, and here came Steve Young after Joe Montana. And for years, nobody appreciated. great Steve Young was because you had all these iconic figures around him.

Speaking of iconic, Cam Newton in New England. It's one, okay, listen, he's healthy, he's an athlete. I get it. I was shocked at how good he and Edelman were. I was really shocked by it. I mean, the guy was sharing snaps with Jared Stidham a month ago. Are you surprised at Edelman, they host the Raiders this week. Edelman and Cam are so good, so early together.

It's crazy. He plays two games with Cam Newton. He has a career high. receiving yards in the game, right? It makes no sense. It's almost like when I look at it, I just think 1.5, that's his base salary, seven and a half with incentives. Philip River gets $25 million.

Like, are you kidding me? And I'm not knocking Phillip Rivers, but Cam Newton, he said he has a tip on his shoulder and he has something to prove and he was not lying. Cam Newton looks good. You're talking about Russell Wilson as a runaway MVP if New England can make the playoffs, Camp noon is going to be right there in contention for MVP if he can continue to play the way he's playing. No training camp. When I say no training camp, I mean no preseason games. He signs late. He's learning an offense on the fly. And you come in here and you do this with

receivers that everybody says can't play. And I've been part of the guys that say that. And he looks so good running and throwing, I don't mind the last play. Yeah, you could have gone to the well too many times, but it was working. It didn't work that time. Had it worked, they would have said it was a great call. But yeah, Cam Newton is playing this tail off and he said he was going to do it and kudos to him.

Finally, Carson Wentz is very talented, but he's struggling. And, you know, the word is all the people that watch film are just basically saying he's pushing it. He's trying too hard. And it's interesting because he's been successful. We know he's talented. But, you know, the psychology of playing a quarterback, TJ, it can

Get in your head. And Philadelphia is intense and the newspapers and the talk shows and they're beating on you. And again, with Carson Wentz, did you ever play with a quarterback who was talented? But, you know, when you were with Carson Palmer, was there a stretch everywhere? He was pushing. I mean, you take me to that space. What's it like? What I see what Carson Wentz is and we have to take into account.

We got to stop talking about, oh, he almost won the MVP if he doesn't get hurt. You got to remember, they won a Super Bowl without him. they were, I believe, five and six he gets hurt again. And then Nick Foes goes four and one with the same team. And so, yes, Carson Wentz is talented physically. But is he talented mentally, is he stronger? He's lucky there's not fans in it. They would have completely booed him off the field for real and not just the crowd noise.

And so you look, he took eight sacks in the first game against Washington. Eight sacks. And they, oh, the Eagles are offensive line. oh, all these guys are hurt. Through the first two weeks of the season, if you look at it, their top five offensive line in league right now. So this falls on Carson Wins. He has to get it fixed.

But the thing is, who do they go to? They traded Nick Foles. Who are they going to go to? They don't have Nick Foles. Are you going to say, okay, here we go, Jalen Hertz. Here you go, Nate Sudfeld. I don't think so. If he loses this week to the Bengals, it's a wrap.

It's just going to start snowballing. His confidence is already low. It's going to be completely gone. And so, again, he's very talented physically, but something in between the ears mentally isn't clicking for him. Great stuff. I love having you on the show. You have a different perspective on everything you play the game. You know the game.

And despite what you think, I cannot see the gray hair. It is not visible on camera. Mine are, yours aren't. Good seeing you again, buddy. Have a great weekend. I appreciate you guys. You enjoy. You guys keep doing the great work you're doing.

Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite on human. Remember me with Robert Smygel and friends, me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, S&L'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 in curses.

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 a Podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 is 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. 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. A win is a win.

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

So let's get to it. Listen to The Clifford Show on the 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. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.