The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Brown-Steelers, OBJ, and free agency

Episode Date: March 13, 2019

Colin makes it clear why nobody should bail on the Pittsburgh Steelers next season, what the Cleveland Browns are expected to do with their offense and Odell Beckham Jr., and more on the NFL free agency period. Guests include Jay Glazer, Nick Wright, John Middlekauff, Montrezl Harrell, and Joel Klatt. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise,

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Listen to the Clifford show on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast point game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season, and I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments.

If we didn't talk ever again, I was harmed. You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis come in, he's like, you know I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball.

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This is The Herd. Wherever you may be, however you may be listening, live in Los Angeles. Iheart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, FS1, one hour from now, will examine the new AFC, Antonio Brown Raiders, Lavian Bell Jets, Odell Beckham Browns will rank what I believe are the top 10 teams just in the AFC because it's all the free agent stars are going to that side of the table and Joy Taylor is joining me in a Wednesday. What a wild, crazy, nutty day yesterday. I don't think I've ever experienced an NFL free agency like this before. I haven't. I don't remember it. Everybody's getting paid,

everyone's moving around. It's great. Changing future of franchises. So we start with that. Right. Expectations are everything in life. If you make a hundred thousand dollars, that is double the national average. You are

a success in your family. People will pat you on the back unless your dad is the CEO of a major company and set you to multiple prep schools, then you're kind of underachieving. Expectations are everything. Tell my kids that all the time, my daughter. What are your expectations for your life? Just try to meet them. Don't be unrealistic.

Lofty but not silly. This morning, Super Bowl contenders, Cleveland Browns. Oh, the temperature in the room has changed, my friends. Last year, Baker Mayfield comes in their own 16, three picks, couple of games. Doesn't matter. Fun, loose, energy, juice. Oh, now he's got a Rolls Royce of offensive weapons. A Rolls Royce. New head coach that he picked. Starwide receiver who's going to want 14 targets.

Tougher schedule. No more three interception games. By the way, I have no idea how good Freddie Kitchens is. Nobody in the league would have considered him for a head coaching job. He's been a coordinator one year. Coaching sort of matters in the NFL. Think I'm wrong? Who were the last four coaches left in the playoffs last year?

Belichick, Andy Reed, Sean McVan, Sean Payton. Yeah, they're pretty good. Expectations change everything. The Eagles, before they won a Super Bowl, were fun and loose. And then, after they won a Super Bowl, you heard all these comments in the locker room. We're too fun and loose. Baker came off in 0-16 year.

Three interception game. Antics on the sideline. Man, he's energy. Oh, that's done. No more high-fiving each other because you've finished third in the AFC North. And also, the bar has been set by young quarterbacks. Jared Goff, year two, playoffs. Mitch Trubisky, year two, won his division.

Patrick Mahomes, year two, MVP. Andrew Luck, Deshawn Watson, year two, playoffs. Wilson, year two, won a Super Bowl. Carson Wentz, year two, leading MVP candidate. By year two, no more rookie mistakes, no more nonsense, no more bad picks, and now Cleveland's being elevated to Super Bowl talk. The fun, loose, cocky kid isn't this funny and cute when he wrecks the lane? Lamborghini. And this

morning, I am reading that Baker-Mayfield's odds to win the Super Bowl are greater than Carson Wentz, greater than Russell Wilson, greater than Big Ben, greater than Philip Rivers, greater than Matt Ryan, greater than Cam Newton,

greater than Andrew Locke. Oh, the temperature in the room, my friends, has changed. I mean, he has to win the division. Baltimore has lost four defensive starters. The Pittsburgh Steelers, they don't have a star running back or a star wide receiver. And Cincinnati's pathetic.

Look at the primetime games they play next year. Rams and Seahawks do the Browns. At New England, at the Niners. Oh, this is going to be the most talked about, the most discussed. Baker Mayfield said, I'm dangerous. I feel dangerous. This team's got all sorts of dangerous with it. You got an ego with a GM who's controlling the coach.

O'Dell Beckham reportedly is going to want a new deal to put him in the Antonio Brown stratosphere because AB got a new deal in Oakland. Baker Mayfield, expectations, ramped up. Folks, expectations are what create anxiety. Again, you make $100,000. You are double in the national average. But if your dad put you in prep schools for six years and he's a CEO of a major company, $100,000 just won't do.

the owner in Cleveland, impatient. We've seen him bail on players. He's going to want wins. He's going to want him now. Odell Beckham's going to want targets and he's going to want them now. I think Cleveland's all sorts of fun. And I think Cleveland is going to be offensively a blast to watch. I wish they were on hard knocks this year.

But don't kid yourself. Expectations change everything. Cute and funny is. not as cute and funny when you wreck the Lamborghini. It's all on Baker. Let me shift to this. I'm reading this morning that, I mean, the Steelers might as well be a lost cause. Antonio Brown dusted them off.

Levian Bell refused to play. This team's in big trouble. Pittsburgh is done. Let me ask you, what are the things I've been talking about at this network and the other network? what are the four things in football that matter? Owner, GM, coach, and quarterback. The Steelers have a better owner than Cleveland, a better quarterback than Cleveland,

and a better coach than Cleveland. General manager, both competent. You go ahead and bury the Steelers, but I'm going to remind you of a few things. Number one is, they've already got a number one receiver in place, and in my lifetime, no team in the NFL has drafted skill people

better than Pittsburgh. They got all sorts of draft picks. They've already got Juju Smith-Schuster. They're going to be fine at wide receiver. Second thing is, don't you think it's fair to say that Mike Tomlin and Big Ben specifically will probably be a little motivated this year? Big Ben, like him or not,

will have his greatest off-season, wanting to prove, hey, I'm all good here. It was those guys. Number three is, the Steelers have the best offensive line in football according to pro football focus. I've been saying this for years. It's almost impossible not to make the playoffs with the best offensive line in football last year. Great Loins, Saints, Eagles, Rams, Colts, Cowboys. They still have the best offensive line in their division easily.

Oh, and by the way, the Steelers this morning, morning or something they never are. Underdogs. My knock on the Steelers for years has been their lousy favorites. They play down to competition. They freeze in the headlights. Here's what the Pittsburgh Steelers never are. Doubted, mocked, laughed at, pick for third in their division.

Am I wrong here? But they've got the best owner in the division, the best quarterback in the division, arguably the best coach in the division and a very competent GM. You think Pittsburgh is going to disappear? By the way, the Steelers lost, what, six games last year, six or seven. Five of their losses were one possession. They lost to good teams. They lost to the Saints, and of the Ravens, and of the Chiefs.

This is a really good football team. They have 10 draft picks. They've got a Hall of Fame quarterback and a coach. And arguably the best owner's historic. in the National Football League and they are going to be uniquely motivated

overlooked a lot of eye rolls at the Steelers today. Man did they get used by AB. They're not nearly as talented as Cleveland. My money? Pittsburgh Steelers win the division. You go ahead.

You go ahead and bail on them. Go for it. Bail on the Pittsburgh Steelers. But I know what wins in this league, and it's not headlines. It's offensive lines. It's veteran coaches. It's Hall of Fame quarterbacks. It's good pass rushes.

It's stability. It's not big spending during the free agency period. Go ahead. Bail on the Steelers at your own peril. Coming up next, it is remarkable. You know how much I love Sam Darnold and how much Baker-Mayfield drives me crazy. It is remarkable how their careers are starting to mirror each other. We'll talk about that coming up.

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

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my new podcast learn the hard way with me your host and your favorite therapist care 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 right we get so right wrapped up in the chase, that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch.

Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth. Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Keer Gaines, is we have real conversations.

about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across.

When Jacob met Levant this plant to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer them?

On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going. from the WMBA standout, Kate Martin and rising hockey star Layla Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you,

but don't ever feel like you don't feel like. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs, Gabby Thomas and Katie Ladeke. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. at our level at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything.

I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. All right, the very latest, Earl Thomas has signed for about $14 million a year with the Baltimore Ravens. Glazer is joining us. Jay Glazer would not back down on O'Dell Beckham was going to be traded. Dave Gettleman, the GM of the Giants came out and said we didn't sign him to trade him.

And Jay Glazer said he is still on the trading block. They're taking calls. So yesterday, and that's why I stayed on it. I trusted Jay. I made my calls. I talked to OBJ. And congratulations, first of all. You took a lot of crap and you would never back down. And the reason you wouldn't back down was... Because I knew what I was right. And that's the thing. Look, if I'm going to put something out there. I'm only going to put it out if I know it's going to be accurate. And I keep saying I'd rather have, and I think I said

the other day, I'd rather be last on every story, but right on them all, than first on everything and right on 95% of them. If I say something on Fox NFL Sunday, it better be right. I want people to know that if I say it, as

crazier or as outlandish as it may sound, if I say it, you could take it to the bank. I have a responsibility to our show, to our guys, to the fans out there to make sure I get everything right. So even with this information, this has been going on for a while. I put it out as a prediction, but there was a lot that went on behind the scenes here. Look, during the year, teams called the Giants try to trade for Odell.

They got shut down basically at the top level. The ownership said, now let's not do it. Then they had meetings about a week before, and I could say it here now. A week before I put my prediction out, Giants Press, had a meeting, and they said, okay, we're all on board now. Time to move on from Odell. It's just for them. It was just this marriage.

It just, they went to counseling, you know, thought the counseling would work. End up not working. They said, all right, let's just kind of let's just be friends and write each other postcards. And by the way, this is information that Jay had been very giving to me about why I kept bringing him on the show because you had told me they had decided internally to move Odell Beckham, but they weren't going to say it publicly because he is wildly popular. By the way, you told me you brought me on the show because of my good looks. That was number two, actually. All right, they got a first round pick. That'll be a starter.

They got a starter in Gibreel Peppers at Safety for Lannon Collins. They got a third round pick who should eventually become a starter. This morning, everybody is bailing on the Giants. It was a disaster. But to me, it was almost like they're acknowledging we are now a rebuilding franchise. We messed up. I think what happened last year is they got an eight-solder. They brought in Sequin Barkley and they're like, all right, we're going to be a contender.

And there's a reason why they had their second pick of the draft a year before that. They don't have a ton of players. They don't have a ton of players. They don't have a ton of players. They don't really have the swagger you need in that locker room. I mean, every time there was a pity party last year. Every time O'Dell, Eli missed something, receiver after receiver, throw their arms up.

It was just like, man, they need a culture change inside that locker room. And Pat Shermer is trying to give them that culture change. And I do believe this is a big part in their eyes of changing the culture from what O'Dell had been in that crew to what they wanted to be, which is Sequin, and the new crew coming forward. Let's talk Lavian Bell Jets. Okay, first of all, the Jets had the second worst rated receiving core, the worst rated running back core. They have already upgraded with Crowder from Washington, a clever slot receiver. Lavian Bell is a home run hitter out of the backfield.

They got a pro bowl guard from the Raiders. They've clearly said, and Adam Gase, by the way, as an offensive-minded guy. Lavian Bell rolled the dice, and he sat out of you. do I know that he's happy today? I don't think you won either. I don't either. Because that's $14 million you can never make back. We were always saying the big thing was with Levian is he'd have to make up what he lost.

He didn't. No, he didn't. And people would, I don't know how they're going to try and spin it with, well, you know, he got to rest for a year, his body free. No, it's like this is, when you're outside the locker room, that's what you missed. You miss the guys. You missed that locker. But also that position has the shortest shelf life of any other position in the NFL. You miss out on 14 plus.

You'll never, ever, ever make that back. And by the way, Jay, there were a lot of rumors with Lavian Bell. You never entered that fray. I don't do that, yeah. Could I make the argument? The Jets were the only legit offer? You could make that argument. Most of the teams were sitting waiting for two things to happen.

One, waiting for all the smoke to clear and to find out what numbers they're really talking. And then two, to see if there were really no suitors because the circus was just too much. or what they thought his asking price would be too much, and all of a sudden he came all the way down here to the middle of the pack. So there were a bunch of teams who would have, I think, jumped in if his asking price came down considerably, even from what he got here, which is, you know, much less than what he was aiming for. Yeah, by the way, I heard a lot of teams in on this, like the Colts.

The Ravens were never in on it. The Colts were never in on it. I know the Colts were never in on him, and it was just a bunch of jabber on the Internet. No, reporters agreeing to get used by agents, and it's just that's not okay. Okay, so I'm not trying to be negative today because I do think O'Dell Beckham's a blast in Cleveland, and he and Baker will be fun. And I think Antonio Brown and Derek Carr, it's going to be fun. And I think Levian Bell, absolutely, Sam Darnold's got a running mate now.

But boy, oh, boy, oh boy, has been a lot of bad money spent. And I'm seeing teams like Detroit and the Jets and Cleveland and Washington and, Oakland, the Colts have $100 million in cap space. Maybe the smartest GM in the league. They're not doing anything. What does that tell you? Well, that tells me is Chris Ballard is going to continue to do the way he has started to, which is not throw crazy stuff out there.

He's going to wait. There's a bunch of teams right now who are waiting for this week to end. As one team texted me, we're waiting for this foolishness to stop. And then they'll jump in on the remaining free agents. Mid-level free agent guys. There's high-end free agents, but they're just the money's just, so outlandish, they're waiting for some of those guys to drop. There's always, every year, there's a few guys who find themselves sitting there,

midway through free agency going, hey, what about me? Like, how did I get left out of this? And all of a sudden, you can get great value for those guys. That's what a guy like Chris Ballard does, because he knows I can build through the draft that I'll bring in, you know, players that will complement what we have. They don't have to go and try to hit a home run. They're already on the upswing.

I think all their teams can try and follow that same thing. This is crazy. I love this. The free agency is crazy. Do you believe, you said this about a year ago on the show, that this is just a new NFL? Is it because there's less practice time?

So teams, with veteran quarterbacks, they want veteran players in the room. I think, you know, it's a copycat league. So the Eagles, when they won two years ago, people started doing the same thing. The Rams did it last year, and it worked for them as well. Until this ends.

Once teams start, there'll be another trend. well all of a sudden it's just, you know, when the cults win, and they go, well, we just did it through the draft, and we didn't really go spend big. All of a sudden, there's a lot of teams that go, well, we want to do with their model. You know, that, things are cyclical in the NFL, and it'll come back down around. Okay. But you'll always have those crazy tunes that will always go out there and try spend big. They make these splashes.

They just, they can't, it's like they can't resist. They can't resist the urge. Well, Dan Snyder, Washington. This is what they do, Detroit historically. By the way, Earl Thomas has signed with the Raven. I'll just throw this out, and you're not in the speculation business. I'm not even sure. I don't have a list in front of me of the best available player.

Do you expect anything today to happen? Yeah, there'll be more that's going to go on today. Again, because some teams are going to go, there's that mindset of, oh, my gosh, we're missing out of all the fun. We better jump in here. And there's just the other teams. There are a lot of teams that went into this whole thing saying let's not touch anything until week two. Those teams will still just sit here like that. By the way, let me throw this one out.

I'll tell you a move I loved. D.4 to the Niners. You love that? Well, I think the Col, I'll just tell you what I believe. I think the Colts gave him a look. He got franchised. It was a little costly. But now San Francisco has their pass rusher, the number two pick.

That's a valuable pick in this league, Jay. No doubt. D.4, it's a real player. And I tell you what, you talk about those value guys, a guy like Justin Houston. That's the type of guy who right now, he's not, his name isn't flashy, but you can go sign a Justin Houston, and he could pay off really great dividends for a team in need of a pass pressure and a guy who's

dude, that's a hard dude. That's a guy who comes in there and he immediately kind of changes the nastiness in that locker. By the way, Kansas City played in the AFC championship. They're favored, along with New England to get to the Super Bowl. Everybody's accumulating stars. They let two stars go.

So Kansas City is doing a little New England. They're on the beach. And I keep getting people asking me, what's New England doing? They're not doing anything. They don't have to do anything. They just won the whole thing. They just got to keep doing New England.

That's it. 12 draft picks. That's it. That's all you got to do, yeah. I think it's very interesting. Kansas City let go of players, a winning franchise with a remarkable future with Mahomes and Andy Reid. His name is Jay Glazer,

a guy that I totally trust and regularly bring on this show. Buddy, good seeing you. Thank you, brother. Appreciate it, Matt. You bet. Jay Glazer. Joy Taylor with the news. No, no, no, no.

Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. So on Monday nights The Thunderworn Utah And Russell Westbrook got into a verbal altercation with the fans Everywhere everyone's seen it at this point He was caught on tape You know saying a few choice words

And after the game he responded by saying Westbrook responded by saying that the fan was Saying racial things towards him Well the NBA has now announced they banned the fan The Jazz have banned the fan forever And they did it quickly by the way NBC investigation and they banned the fans And the jazz.

On it. On it. To their credit, they were on it. Well, the NBA has announced that they find Westbrook $25,000 for his actions, citing their reason as directing profanity and threatening language to a fan. Westbrook did not receive a suspension, but like I said, they did impose lifetime ban on the fan from the arena. And it's also out there as being reported that the fan is planning on suing Westbrook.

I don't know what's going to come about that. I don't think you should have suspended Westbrook. I don't think you want to threaten people a woman. I didn't doubt that was a great look. Well, I mean, I think that the NBA, I don't really agree that he should have been fine based off of the fact that the Jazz did do an investigation and found that they needed to ban the fan.

So I'm in Westbrook's corner because obviously, clearly something happened that was egregious enough for the jazz to ban the fan from the arena forever. But the NBA is kind of in a tough spot because he did use profanity and threaten a fan and his. and his wife. So I get where the NBA is in this spot. They want to discourage, you know, profanity-laced interactions with fans.

But it's impossible not to be on Westbrook's side in a situation. Yeah, I mean, my initial reaction when I saw it was, oh, my God, he's unhinged again. And my general thought is always, how dumb do you have to be to yell racial slurs in front of 10,000 people? But there are a lot of bad people out there and a lot of dopes. My initial reaction to this was, Lastbrook, come on. But time and time again, I talk to pro athletes,

and I ask them, have you ever heard racial slurs? It is remarkable to me. They're like, oh, yeah. And I'm like, so somebody in a crowd of people in 2019 does that. Joy, it is shocking to me. Because my initial gut feeling was,

Russell, you're a superstar. He's an idiot. I wish I could say, was shocking to me. It's not shocking to me at all. The 2019 thing just means to me that these people are so entitled that they feel like comfortable doing that in a setting with thousands of people

and camera phones everywhere and security and professional athletes who can clearly hear them earshot away. But I'm glad that the jazz took care of it and I'm assuming this is going to go away over the next couple days. I don't anticipate more of these incidents with Westbrook. I know everyone thinks that fans are going to keep in acting, but I

feel like the jazz's reaction to this kind of put a, at least at a bar for future incidents, that at least fans who are planning on heckling Westbrook will realize that if it goes badly, you can really actually not be allowed in the building ever again. And by the way, I like what the jazz did and the NBA did. You and I agree on this. I am so anti-heckling. Not just because I've never once gone to a performance and wanted to heckle the performance.

I didn't pay to hear the heckler. Secondly, it's disruptive to the, other fans in the area. 99% of us go to athletic events to watch great artists perform. Not to hear hacky stand-up comedian. I mean, I've gone to stand-up shows

and idiot next to me thinks he's funnier than Jerry's Seinfeld. It's the absolute worst. The worst. If you get rid of these fans, hallelujah. And look, no one is saying that you can't go yell and cheer or boo. Or participate in stadium and arena chance. There's a line.

It's very obvious. The guy crossed it's done. All right. So the Chiefs agreed to trade D. Ford, the 49ers. The 49ers making big moves. They sent out 2020 second round pick to Kansas City for the linebackers. The Niners also waits at no time securing forward to a long-term deal. Yeah, I love this. Five-year, $87.5 million extension. Joy, I love this. It made him one of the highest paid linebackers in the league. This is a good move. I think it's a good move for both teams. Yes. Yeah. No, Dee Ford's a real player. And they also have Chris Jones and I mean, Kansas City is doing the opposite of the Jets and the Cleveland. They're like, hey, we're moving out of these stars.

Well, they did sign Tyron Matthew to a pretty big deal. Yeah, no, and he's a very instinctive player. I like Ty Matthew. And they need that. But I also think that they have a lot of people they have to pay. So they were going to have to move off of somebody. And I like this move for the 49ers. And they have a history of drafting well.

Kansas City does a good job finding talent. Yes. And they're going to rebuild. they have a new defensive coordinator. They're going to figure it out. Finally, Earl Thomas has agreed to sign with the Ravens. You mentioned a few minutes ago. The deal is for four years and $55 million,

like Adam Schaefter. A lot for safety. It includes $32 million guaranteed and $22 million in the first nine months. He had 22 tackles and three interceptions last year before the injury where he broke his leg. And the Ravens were first in total defense last season. So this is obviously just an improvement on being great. Yeah, they lost CJ Mos. though and Terrell Suggs. So I think

for them, this isn't desperation. We've got to get some playmakers. I mean, they lost real playmakers on that defense. Yes, well, Suggs is older, but he's a huge piece of that defense. And Moseley's a veteran, obviously. Totally. Oh, they just signed Mark Ingram. So, okay,

so the Ravens' moves make a lot of sense to me. So they lost top defensive players. They go get Earl Thomas. More money that I'd want to pay for a safety, but I get it. And they just signed Mark Ingram. And I told you yesterday, I thought Baltimore and Lavia and Bell made a lot sense. Lamar Jackson...

I like Mark Ingram there too, though. Yeah, no, no. This offense is going to be a ball control offense. If you've got to play Baker and those weapons and Big Ben, you don't want those guys on the field. So Mark Ingram and Earl Thomas to the Ravens don't feel desperate. They feel like really smart moves of not only of not great value, but great need. They need those two. Win your division first, right?

Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd line news. You know, I always say, you know, I like, you know, I like. like my quarterbacks to be boring. You know, I call it my bore for Brady, Breeze, Russell Wilson, Andrew Luck. I like Jared Gough. I like Darnold more than Baker Mayfield. I don't get the nonsense. I don't get the bravado. I don't get the cockiness. I'm a big fan. It is interesting,

though, to watch Baker, Mayfield and Sam Darnold as they enter their second year and see the similarities between the two. It's really fascinating to me. And I think both are going to succeed in this league. It's going to be hard for Baker not to score a lot of points with that offense. But just think about the similarities between Baker-Mayfield with the Browns and Sam Darnold with the Jets. First of all, they both come into the league and finish below 500. Then they both second year have a new coach. And then both sign massive, big personality, big, O'Dell Beckham, Lavian Bell, controversial stars.

They both are franchises, Jets and Browns with a history of chaos. ownership up, down, they make their own problems. They also earn a division with iconic franchises who are very well run, Steelers, Patriots. And one more thing. Both these acquisitions could implode. O'Dell Beckham has an injury history, and the Giants got rid of him because they didn't love what he did to the locker room. And Lavian Bell's been suspended twice, injured once, and I'm not sure he loves football.

I'm not sure he loves football. I think he likes what football provides for him, and he's very, very good. But I don't think Lavian Bell is totally happy today. He lost $15 million. He's getting ripped by everybody today. Also, Cleveland's got Freddie Kitchens, a rookie coach now having to deal with a big ego GM, an ego at quarterback, Odell Beckham, and massive expectations, and Donald's got Adam Gase,

and Greg Williams and Joe Vitt big, strong personalities in that locker room from the coach. And I think Baker and Sam, they won Twitter yesterday. And it's explosive and they'll be better short term. But the NFL has this little dilemma. It's not a dilemma. It's an opportunity. You get a good rookie quarterback and he doesn't make anything for the first three years and you bring stars in. But some stars are more demanding.

Levy and Bell. Some stars are a little tougher to coach because they're so gifted, Odell Beckham. And I'll just remind everybody today, the two best teams in the AFC favored in Vegas are Kansas City, who has a great quarterback, a great coach, and great talent. And New England, great quarterback, great coach, great system. So nothing against Jets. I think they're a better football team today. And nothing against Cleveland.

Their offense is filthy good. They got players everywhere. But, you know, Baker and Sam, they come in below 500, get a new coach, get a superstar. Both superstars are demanding guys. This is not, you know, this is not Larry Fitzgerald or Calvin Johnson or, you know, low maintenance. You got big dogs in your division, Pittsburgh and New England. You both have a history of owners that muck stuff up. And I don't think Labian Bell is actually.

happy with his contract. I think he's fairly bitter about what he got. And by the way, Odell Beckham reportedly is going to want to renegotiate his. So I think they're living very similar lives and it's very exciting. Listen, if you're the NFL this morning, the Jets and the Browns

two years ago may have been the NFL's most boring teams. I mean, the Browns may be the most fascinating football team in the league next year. And the Jets, you've got to watch this. you got to watch Donald and Levian Bell. So if I'm the NFL, I mean, this would be like the Orlando Magic getting Kevin Durant and, you know, the Atlanta Hawks getting Kyrie.

I mean, you just took two unwatchable franchises two years ago. I think if Cleveland will play the Jets this year in New York, that could be the most watched game of the weekend. I'm not joking. You've got to watch that game. That's going to be unbelievable. So a big win for the NFL. Coming up next, Nick Wright is going to join us in LA.

It's the herd. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Vic Synex nasal spray works up to 12 hours. Try it. Cold and flu season. A couple of squirts when congestion strikes. Let's not waste any time. Let's go to New York. First things first co-host, Nick Wright is joining us via the Coward Global Satellite Network. Well, you have a relationship with Odell Beckham. You talk to him often, so your buddy just left town. Do you like the fit in Cleveland for OBJ? My buddy left town, but I am very happy for him.

This is the best team he's ever played on. This is the best quarterback he's ever played with by an enormous margin. Eli Manning, one of the worst quarterbacks in football last year in a lot of categories, but notably throwing the ball downfield. Your buddy Baker-Mayfield, the best quarterback in football on deep passes. Completed 34 of them. Jarvis Landry, an underqualified number one, but an over-qualified number two. to now go alongside Odell.

This is the best team in the AFC North by a decent margin immediately, if they weren't already before Odell. And thanks to the fact that the people running the Giants think it's 1968, they got them on a great bargain. I love this move for the Cleveland Browns, the Giants. Hey, man, anytime you can rebuild around a 38-year-old quarterback, you just got to take that opportunity. I think both you and I believe they're not going to get better

until they get the quarterback right. Lavian Bell to the Jets, though, concerns me, and this is why it concerns me. Young people are absolutely influenced by the Internet. I don't even think that's disputable. Lavian Bell lost $15 million. He's never getting it back. He's getting mocked. People are saying this morning he's got a phone that he lost.

And I don't know if Lavian Bell, I think he's a good kid, but I don't know if he loves football. I am a little, I like it for Sam Darnold, but God, Nick, there's part of me that thinks this thing could unravel. Well, it always could unravel. Here, if Lavian Bell is going to be influenced by people on the internet, I hope he's influenced by me, because I support the decision to sit out last year. People, listen, LeVion Bell took out a very expensive insurance policy. He spent a $14 million premium to make sure he got his 30. million dollar guarantees.

Like, that's what this was. Last year would have been a calculated risk. He decided not to play. By not playing, he guaranteed himself $35 million. Even if he wasn't hurt last year, he might not have gotten a deal anywhere near this. He's on a per game basis, the most used player in the history of pro football,

and that was before he would have been in his rental, for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yes, maybe he could have threaded the needle, got his $14 million and still gotten this contract. But it also might have been that was the only contract he ever got again in the NFL or the only big one

he got. So the Steelers never offered him a deal with more than $17 million guaranteed. I don't think he necessarily made the wrong decision. And he knew that by not playing last year. He was going to be walking away from top, top in money. So listen,

I'm going to tell him what I tell you all the time when you call me and you're so upset because you're checking your mentions and people are bothering you just can't get back. Hey, man, don't worry about those fools on the internet. You're doing the right thing. Okay, the Kansas City Chiefs are your team. They are and should be favored along with the Patriots next year in the AFC. They let D. Ford go, Justin Houston. So the teams that are spending big money in free agency, Cleveland, Jets, Washington, Oakland, historic losers. Kansas City is going the opposite way.

And personal opinion here, I think they know what they're doing. Could I not make an argument that some of this free agency is silly money and the well-run teams, the Colts aren't going crazy, Belichick on the beach, we have pictures, and the Kansas City Chiefs are cutting salary that some of this free agent stuff is just good for the media. It's not necessarily good for locker rooms. Yeah, I think you're absolutely on to something. And listen, I don't have Colin Cowherd money, but I aspire to one day. And so I imagine a man of your stature. You've been to auctions in your life, whether it's classic car or priceless art, whatever it is. And you know how auctions work? Whomever wins an auction by definition, by just calculated definition, has overpaid. Because everyone else in the room said, oh, that's too much for. that item. That's what the beginning of free agency is. You are by definition overpaying. And so, yeah, I think there is something to why don't more teams take the Patriot method, which is you're not going to make Nate sold with the highest paid left tackle ever and then immediately

make Trent Brown the highest paid left tackle ever. You're not going to pay 140 cents on the dollar for talent. However, when it comes to the Chiefs, the D-Fords situation concerns me in this regard. didn't have to commit to him long term. They had him under the franchise tag. They have the best player in the league in Patrick Mahomes. They had already let Justin Houston go. Is D. Ford not worth one year $15 million? Is that not more valuable than a 2020 second round pick? So the chiefs are supposed to be in win right now mode and they seem to be maybe taking a step backwards. But in general, I agree with your sentiment, which is it's hard to be a day one winner in free agency. You're almost always paying top of the market prices for middle of the market players.

Finally, people are going to bury the Steelers, but could I not make this argument? They still have the best offensive line in football, and it's almost impossible not to make the playoffs with that. Mike Tomlin's a Hall of Fame coach, Big Ben's a Hall of Fame quarterback, and the chemistry, although Big Ben may have been largely to blame should be motivated and improved that we shouldn't bury the Steelers this morning and raise the AFC North Flag for the Browns. Listen, I don't think we should bury them yet. It's still a coaching quarterback league and they still have the best coach in that division and for at least the time being the best quarterback in that division. I get that part of it.

But the quarterback is aging. The coach is coming off his worst season. and talent matters. So I won't bury them, but I think they're going to be hard pressed. Juju got doubled on less than 1% of his routes last year. That number is going to be up to 10 plus percent this year as a number one receiver. And I don't know if Big Ben culturally is the guy you want to be the unquestioned, unchecked leader, but the Steelers, that is clearly what they want. We're going to see how much talent really matters. They let walk out the door arguably the best running back and wide receiver in all of football.

And the best thing they got back was a third round pick. That's a tough way to do business. Great stuff. Nick Wright, first things first, watch him. They're all over this stuff. I was listening to morning this morning. By the way, you forgot horse auctions. You know, I go to those things on a weekly basis.

I'm by. Oh, yeah. Oh, with your buddy Romy. Yeah, absolutely. You guys in the thoroughbred business together. I forgot. Good talking to you, buddy. First, Nick Wright.

I have never bought a horse in my life. Have you a road a horse? I have never ridden a horse in my life either. I went to a farm once. I was little. It's not for me. I have bet on a horse, John. Thank you.

I bet dogs more than horses. It used to live next to a horse, dog track in St. Petersburg, Florida, or Tampa, one of those. Car shopping's confusing. Lists at price, dealer price, invoice. Here's what's not. Go to truecar.com. I just used it the other day to say.

save $4,000 off a car. Truecar.com, true price. Top of the hour. The AFC, Antonio Brown, Lavian Bell, Odell Beckham, all in the AFC, three biggest stars of free agency. I'm going to give you my herd hierarchy list one through 10, the best 10 teams just in the AFC. You know, it's funny about all this free agency stuff, and it's just a blast. I mean, I love all this stuff.

It really is, as Nick said, it's a quarterback. League. Okay. The New York Giants got a first round pick. That's a starter from Cleveland. They got Gibreel Pepper Safety. That's a starter. And a third round pick, which usually means develops into a starter. And this morning, everybody's killing the New York Giants. They've got three players for one player. And by the way, Odell's terrific, but he's missed 21 games due to injuries. Okay. So You may, we do this a lot. We fall in love with stars. I get it.

You buy their jerseys. Odell's a remarkable once in a lifetime talent. Okay, I am not denying that. But the New York Giants moved him because they didn't think he was good for chemistry. They got a first round pick. That now gives him two first round picks. That's two starters. They got Gibriel Peppers.

That's a starter. And they got a third round pick. And that should be a developing starter. They're rebuilding. The Giants are rebuilding. Now, again, if they had the right quarterback, I'd like this way more. The Giants issue to me is not this trade.

The giant's issue is they can't come to terms with a very uncomfortable truth. They're wildly popular two-time winnings football quarterback is a shot fighter. What the Giants did yesterday doesn't wear me out. What they did last year with the number two pick wears me out. If they had Donald today, all their problems would be fixed. Hour 2 coming up in L.A. It's the Herd. 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. Ah, hour 2 in L.A., this is The Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, we are live in Los Angeles on IHeartRadio, Fox Sports Radio and FS1. This is as fun a Wednesday show as we could have. In about 10 minutes, I'm going to bring on John Middilcoff, former NFL scout, my buddy in the Bay Area, his thoughts about the Niners, what they've done and things he's hearing from the scouts around the league. He is close to somebody I depend on all the time. Joel Clatt from Pro Day, Kyler Murray. A little bit of a mystery at Pro Day today.

I'll get to that. There's something happening at the Pro Day that I do not understand at all. Joy Taylor is joining me. Joy, how are you? Great. Good morning. Good morning. So we've got a lot of free agent money.

This is looking like the NBA free agency. We got stars moving teams. It's fun. I mean, like it's Earl Thomas just a half hour ago, signed with the Baltimore Ravens. So I thought this morning, because the big three free agents, I mean, you could almost say the big four are all in the AFC. Antonio Brown, Oakland, Odell Beckham, Cleveland,

Lavian Bell, the Jets. I mean, Earl Thomas goes to Baltimore. I mean, so the AFC has got stars everywhere. And I thought this morning, all things considered, where do I rank the team? Because I got my Super Bowl stuff this morning. Lord, you'd think Cleveland wasn't Cleveland. So here we go. One through 10, Heard hierarchy.

I believe just the AFC this morning with all these free agent moves. Number one. Number one. The New England Patriots, folks, 11 and 5. 12 draft picks. They don't have a unit on their team that's below average. They do everything pretty well. By the way, it doesn't matter they lost Trent Brown at left tackle

because their first round pick last year, it was a left tackle. He got hurt. He'll start, and he's more talented than Trent Brown. Again, Trey Flowers, like him. Detroit, want to pay him a fortune? Go for it. This, Belichick has told people, and I've got this sourced, Belichick is telling people

he thinks he's going to have a significantly more athletic and talented team this year than last year. And we're still not sure Gronk's going to retire and he had a very good AFC championship and a very good Super Bowl, New England won.

Number two. Kansas City neck and neck. 12 and 4 last season. Patrick Mahomes now has a full season under his belt. I think they overpaid a little for Tyron Matthew but he's a very instinctive player. They got Carlos ride. Listen, I got a great owner. They draft well. I got Andy Reed. I got Patrick Mahomes. And now I got Patrick Mahomes with a full season behind him. This is a really good football team. Patrick Mahomes is going to end up over the next 10 to 12 years in multiple Super Bowls.

Let's just not go crazy because they lost D. Ford. They got Chris Jones on that defensive line. And this is a great defensive draft. There are a lot. of ways to make up D. Ford in late April in the NFL draft. Number three. Folks, are you paying attention here? The Colts went 10 and 6, finished the year 9 and 1. Andrew Luck now appears to be all in and healthy. They've got a ton of cap space.

Andrew Luck had career highs in passerating yards. What did I say at the end of last season? I said the two teams to me for the next 10 years that are going to run the AFC are Kansas City and Indianapolis. Why would I change my mind? Andrew looks better than Baker Mayfield. The general manager, in my opinion, Chris Ballard, is the best general manager, or at least top two or three in the National Football League.

They got a ton of picks, finish the year 9 and 1, and that division is very, very winnable. Colts 3. Number 4. What, I don't like the Chargers now because they lost to the Patriots in New England after traveling back to back to the East Coast. They have a stacked roster, one of the best GMs, a veteran quarterback, a tremendous pass rush. They had a great draft last year where all their guys hit. Unbelievable wide receiving core.

I mean, they got bit by the injury bug a little bit last year in key spots, but why don't I like the Chargers this morning? I loved them last year. By the way, when I suggested last year, the Patriots would beat them, you crushed me. Chargers, roster's unbelievable. I said, I think they're going to go to Foxborough and kind of get rolled. And you shouted from the rooftops. This is a loaded roster with a veteran quarterback. I like them a lot.

Number five. Pittsburgh Steelers. Coach quarterback matter, I'm just asking. They went nine, six and one last year, folks. And they were disappointed. They have an incredibly high standards. Brown's finished third and they're throwing Mardi Gras. They lost five games by one possession.

They have 10 draft picks. Mike Tomlin's never had a losing season. They have the best offensive line in football. And frankly, I like their young linebackers and defensive front a lot. You go ahead and sell your stock. Mike Tomlin's never had a losing season. Arguably the best owner in the league. Yes.

Antonio Brown's very, very good. They won't be as fun to watch. but you go ahead and sell your stock. I'm not. Number six. I'd put Cleveland. I think Cleveland's offensive personnel is fun. Does anybody know of Freddie Kitchens as a head coach?

They've been a coordinator one year. Kind of a goofball. And he has no power there. John Dorsey's running the show. Well, they got Sheldon Richardson. There's a reason Sheldon Richardson's always available. It's not a great locker room guy. Well, they got Olivier Vernon.

There's a reason Olivier Vernon's available. Now, Odell Beckham and Baker Mayfield and Jarvis Landry are going to be really, really, really. fun. Yes, I love their receiving core, and I love their running back core. But this is a quarterback coach league. Freddie Kitchens, no idea. Baker, fun, interesting, talented. But I don't think he's better than the teams I put him ahead. I don't think he's better yet than Brady, Mahomes, Luck, Rivers, or Big Ben, Cleveland at six. Number seven. Houston Texans. I like Bill O'Brien. I like a lot of their parts. My problem with this franchise is that offensive line's a disaster. And Deshawn Watson, who is a remarkable talent and I think a really good kid.

This kid's had injuries. Could we upgrade the offensive line, please? Could we work on this draft? Just draft all offensive linemen. Do what the Colts did last year. I like a lot of components here. cannot be a great team with an atrocious offensive line. And their offensive line, in my opinion, is awful. It's not even bad. It's the worst in the league. But I do think they were 11 and 5 last year. I think Jashon Watson, thank God, is the kind of quarterback that can move around and mask some of that. But he just took too many hits last year. Number eight. Ravens, I think they're the pullback team this year. Lamar was 6 and 1. Everybody's got footage. I think they're going to be more run dependent than people realize. It's a good organization. with Mark Ingram, two good tight ends.

They have a better than average offensive line. They lost a lot of good defensive players. And I don't believe this is a franchise that's built to win shootouts with Lamar Jackson. Same with the Chicago Bears. This is a team that needs to win 24, 23, 23, 20, and they lost a lot of swag and a lot of talent. CJ Mosley walks out the door. You're not the same defense. So I think they pull back a little Ravens 8.

Number 9. Jets. I think they've done a really good. job. Adam Gase, upgraded coach, Sam Darnold, Year 2, C.J. Mosley, Jamal Adams, Leonard William are all three stars on defense. Crowder of the slot, Labian Bell. They'll be one of the more improved teams in the NFL. They feel a little bit to me, a little bit like the San Francisco 49ers where they're going to be better. I think it's very possible that the Niners and the Jets double their win totals. That doesn't mean they're going far in the playoffs. I still think

they're both in rebuilding mode. But you can't add Labian Bell, a Pro Bowl, guard, a good slot, a better offensive coach, a superstar middle linebacker, and not be better. And they're fourth place, fourth place schedule. So I got the Jets at nine. Number 10. I'd probably put Denver with a very good pass rush. New coach, Vic Fangio, they'll be better defensively. You know, Joe Flacko is what he is.

I don't think this is a great team. I think this team will be around 500. But, you know, if this is the 10th best team in the AFC, it's not a 10th. terrible 10th best team. They're not in turmoil. They do some things well. I mean, they've got two. I mean, Vaughn Miller and Bradley Chub are really, really talented guys. So they create duress. They ran the football very well last year. And so I think they'll be kind of a boring, effective offense. But I'd have Denver at number 10. No Raiders. Coming up next, Kyler Murray didn't do something today at his pro day.

I think it's a little bit of a red flag. And we'll talk about that next. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Last night, a blown call changed the game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending. Opinions are flying. And nobody's telling you exactly. what happened. That's where SportsSlice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions,

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All right, let's talk about this. Odell Beckham is obviously a remarkable talent. He is a freak. Connor Barwin said yesterday is the most talented human in 10 years in the league I've ever seen. But John Dorsey's got quite an ego as a GM. Jarvis Landry wants the ball. Odell Beckham's love him, but a lot of work. Baker Mayfield's got a strong point of view.

This is it not a lot for a rookie head coach? To me, he's the guy that stands out. Baker can handle it. He's been at Oklahoma with a bunch of stars. I mean, countless NFL skilled guys. Jarvis and him got it along great. They work out with, you know, O'Dell when he's in L.A. But a guy that's never been a coordinator, even for a full year. I mean, last year he was only the coordinator for what, half the year once Hugh and Todd Haley got fired, to put Freddie Kitchens in that situation. You said earlier, there was only one team in the NFL that would have even considered Freddie Kitchens for a head coaching job. And that was in Browns. And the pressure now, it's a lot. like it's almost in a year span, whatever, LeBron's gone, the Browns are back. That's what the entire city and the entire state is thinking. Urban retired. All the microscope now is on the

Cleveland Browns. We got Odell Beckham, who like you, he's fantastic. But he's in the league think he's the most talented player in the league. Now he's not, he gets injured, but just his pure talent is immense. Like Jarvis, good player, Odell, different level. And those two, I mean, are perfect for each other. One guy's work in the middle. One guy's going to. Ben McAdoe felt like he couldn't handle Odell. Like Ben McAdo unraveled with Odell. Here's my question, though. Why would the Giants last year, when they had already been around him, sign him to this massive deal?

He was going into his fifth year option. They could have traded him last year. I was texting people in the league to get a pick 17. To me, a third rounder means nothing. And it's not their third rounder. It's the New England third rounder. So it's late in the third round. And Peppers, you know, I guess he fills in for Landon Collins.

But trading players in the NFL. you know, when it's just kind of like a throw-in. The 17th pick? That's one of the craziest trades I've ever. I've heard from multiple people in the league, they had better offers. They did not want to trade them in the NFC. To me, I understand not wanting to trade them in the division.

You wouldn't give them to Howie. You wouldn't give them to Jerry, right? That makes sense. But why do you care to trade them in the N, if you're going to trade them, get the best package. Of course. You and I were talking about it yesterday. If I was the Niners, and I don't know if they did this,

I would have offered two for Odell Beckham. That's a lot. we see it in the NBA. It happens all the time, right? You trade a top five lottery pick for a player. Why wouldn't you do that in the NFL for a guy 26 who everyone that's played with him feels like he's kind of misunderstood? He's not really a bad guy. He's competitive and he's so talented. I thought it was insane. My jaw hit the floor yesterday when I saw the compensation. Not that they traded him there, but they didn't get pick 17 and next year's won. Let me go to this. So Darnold and Baker have some similarities. enter the league with fanfare, under 500, now have a new coach,

historically chaotic franchises, big dogs in the division, Patriot Steelers, both now inherit a star. Darnold gets Levian Bell, O'Dell Beckham joins Baker. Which one to you benefited more? You know, I was thinking a lot about this this morning. Probably, Donald, just from the sense that when you get levy on Bell, you can hand the ball off, you can throw it to them, and you can just, when all else fails, you can just lean on him and just keep handing him the ball.

Like, with receivers, if you're a little off on a given game, if for whatever reason your offensive line gets hurt and the pass rush is coming for you. By the way, you bracket a receiver. You can take receivers out of game plans. Patriots did it with Tyree Kill. Now, I will say this top to bottom, the Brown's offensive lineup is pretty incredible. Yeah. I mean, Nick Chubb is a stud.

The tight end can really play, and the two receivers are absolute ballers. So the Jets have Levyon Bell. Who else do they have? Now they signed the slot receiver Crowder. Robbie Anderson's okay player. A deep threat. They need to draft a guy, and I would imagine they do this year. You know, there's not really any free agents out there.

So overall, the Brown's offense is on a different level. But we've seen, you know, even when Eli's played decent, you can take away a wide receiver. With a running back, he's five yards behind me. I just hand him the ball. Right. And Levyon, say what you want about him. He is a fantastic player. Oh, he's a great receiver.

He's a great back. He can block. All right. So the Kyler-Marie thing's interesting. Listen, he's going to be an NFL player. But I've pushed back on the, he's the same size as Russell Wilson. I showed Russell Wilson video at Wisconsin. Russell Wilson was a 220-pound quarterback.

Built like a little tank. Who cut weight to run faster in his pro days. Kyler Murray plays, in my opinion, at about a buck 90 max who is bulked up to fend off the critics of his size. So there's something happening at the pro day with Kyler Murray today that doesn't sit well with you. Or the NFL community. He's not running. Fast guys run, right? Talkers talk. Why would he not run? I understand when Michael Crabtree several years ago avoided the 40. He's slow. Keenan Allen several years ago, not a fast guy.

You don't want to run. But they could play and it's proven out over time. But you see at the Combine, all the fast guys can't wait to run because they know they're going to light up the scoreboard. Well, this guy, when you watch him, I mean, you don't need to be an NFL scout to know. That guy probably weighs in the 180s. You just see the body type. And then he weighs 207 and then he weighs 205 the day.

And he's not running the 40? If I was him, it'd be the first thing I'd want to do because it would be in the four threes. Is he not running because he has bulked up and he knows it'll slow his time? I don't think 206 is his natural playing. I don't even think that's a question, Colin. Now, you know, at the end of the day, is he going to go one? Is it really going to matter? Probably not.

But there are some questions are, is he naturally a 185 guy when he's been playing? And, you know, moving like that running away from all the Alabama guys. because I saw waiting for to come on some pictures of him with a shirt off. You know, he didn't look flabby, but it didn't look as natural as he did during the season. And it makes sense because the number one question, we knew he was short. So we measured in five, nine and a half, five, ten. People knew that. But the major question was the weight in the hands.

Once the hands came in fine, people are, okay, what does he weigh? 207, everyone was blown away. Because just the eyeball test, when someone says they're six five and they walk through the room and they're 6'1, you know right away someone's line. It just doesn't add up. Now, again, at the end of the day, if the Arizona Cardinals take them one, all this stuff is kind of fluff.

But there are going to be questions when the games actually start. Yeah. Can he hold up? You're in the Bay Area. Antonio Brown to the Raiders is going to get a lot of press. D4 to the Niners got buried yesterday because of Labian Bell and Odell Beckham to Cleveland. what is D. Ford, the Niners have the number two pick, John.

What does D. Ford do the Niners mean with the number two pick? Well, I know this just up there. The hope for O'Dell Beckham was strong. So it was a pretty big letdown with the fan base. They wanted him. Yeah, I mean, the D. Ford's a nice consolation prize, and he's a really good player, but they desperately wanted Odo Beckham. Now, from a football perspective, you win in the NFL up front, right?

And the Niners pass rush has not been very good. DeForce Buckner's been a good player. Solomon Thomas hasn't lived up to the hype. You throw D-4, a guy that had 13 sacks that, you know, John Dorsey, Brett Veach, Andy Reid, all really like. The only reason they're getting rid of this guy is because they got to pay Tyree kill. Kelsey makes a lot of money. Mahomes isn't that far away. Chris Jones.

You just can't keep everyone in the NFL. Right. So the Niners paid them. And I think they're just doubled down. You take Bosa, you take Josh Allen, you take a pass rusher, and you just try to win up front and maybe you take a wide receiver in the second round. But again, Colin, the letdown of O'Don. Beckham Jr. I mean, the buzz was strong up there to pair him with Jimmy to kind of resurrect, you know, the days of Jerry Rice, Terrell Owens. People are struggling a little bit today.

By the way, you're in the Bay Area, Warrior question. There's all these Kevin Durant rumors. There's a lot of strong thing, Warriors Rockets tonight. If I said to you this morning, Kevin Durant next year plays for the Warriors, your initial reaction. I'd be floored. You don't think he's staying. I think he is 100% gone. I don't know exactly where. I mean, is he going to play for Jim Dolan?

It kind of feels that way, but I don't know where he's going to go, but I just, I do not expect him when they win the championship, which it feels like they will. They're just too good. I will not be shocked if he's not at the parade, Colin. It's just, it's gotten really weird. So when you're up in the Bay Area, he doesn't feel like he is a worry. I always say this about Austin, Texas.

in Texas. It's not of Texas. Kevin Durant is a warrior, but he's not of the warriors. I've been feeling it since I've been down here. Kobe and LeBron don't feel the same at all. Now it's a little different because Kevin's won twice, two finals MVP. He's probably going to win another and probably win the finals

MVP again. So people appreciate him. They know how good he is. But Stefan Clay and even Draymond feel like Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott, Barry Bonds. I mean, I guess Barry wasn't drafted. Madison Bumgarner, just homegrown stars that represent the values and the area.

And love the city. Yeah, and I think he does. I just don't think he can't really fall in love with a basketball team. We've seen it in OKC. Now we're seeing it again. If you can't fall in love with this team, Colin, you've been watching basketball your whole life. Is there a more joyful team in NBA history?

Showtime Lakers. Showtime Lakers is about the only team I think of that you're like, oh my God, it's not even work. They're laughing. It's a joyful experience. Yeah, he's leaving. It's crazy. But, you know, I think as long as you got Steph Clay and I'm sure Dremont,

that the Warriors aren't going away. Yeah. John Middilkoff, friend, pro scout, formerly Eagles, good stuff, the athletic. Nice seeing you, bud. Thanks, Colin. Joy with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news.

This is the herd line news. All right, so some of the big news of the day is obviously O'Dell going to Cleveland. Yeah. In exchange for O'Dell, the Brown sent the 17th overall pick, a third round pick, and safety to Brill Puppers to. New York. And since this big trade, many Browns players have gone, and fans have gone to social media to

express their excitement for getting Odell obviously. Yes, yes. Like Jarvis Landry, who posted a picture of himself on FaceTime with Odell. It's a very, very clear picture, actually. I was going to say, that's really well. The captain says it felt, it feel good and tagged Odell. I love you,

brother. They played three years together at LSU in 2011 to 2013. And actually the wide receiver coach for the Browns right now, Adam Henry was their wide receiver coach in 2012 and 2013 at LSU. Yeah, he's got some relationship connections.

There's some strong relationships there. Baker Mayfield also shared an image with Odell and Landry. They were at USC last year working out. He's excited. He should be. If I was... If I was Baker Mayfield...

Not very often that you come into the NFL and by the second year, you have arguably the best pieces around you. Mitch Trubiskyy, I mean, Jared Goff was close. Jared had a couple good pieces. Yeah. This is strong, though, and stars.

I mean, they're just filled with stars now. And LeBron James posted a picture of Odell and Brown's jersey saying, oh, my, bleep just got real. Obviously, this is a little confusing because he claims to be a Cowboys fan. Yeah, I've just say LeBron's a cowboy fan. Here's where I'll defend LeBron on this Cowboys Browns fan. I can't wait to hear this. Because people get a little confused with me because I'm a Dolphins fan, but I also support the Steelers because it's my hometown team and it's not allowed to grow up in Pittsburgh

and not be a Steelers fan. Right. Unless you're my mother who is inexplicably a Cowboys fan, but I think she just does that because she likes being chaotic. But yeah, so people are excited that Odell is in Cleveland. Of course. They should be. Yes.

I mean, what's interesting to me, though, is they're playing with expectations for the first time that I can remember in my lifetime. And that makes things very, very different. It's one thing to be the underdog and surprise everyone. Fun, energy, yeah. Right. And even last year, they didn't have expectations, but people were watching because of Baker Mayfield.

I felt like he should have been starting from the beginning. But I feel like overall, people sort of gave them a pass. It was very chaotic at the beginning of the season. It's hard for any quarterback to do even what Baker did last year in Cleveland. This year, it's going to be a little bit different. And listen, not rooting against them. It's just going to be different. Even though that's in my blood to do.

I'm very excited to watch it, though. So Levy on Bell agreed to a four-year, a $52.5 million deal with the Jets yesterday. The deal includes $35 million guaranteed and could reach up to $61 million in incentives. Yeah. But back in 2018, a fan tweeted that the Jets should give Levy on $60 million to join the team.

Yeah. Here was his now deleted response. A little rolling eyes emoji. That ain't enough to come run with the Jets. I don't care that he said this. It's not a big deal. Obviously, things change. Like, you're reacting at the moment.

I don't either, but I will say, he lost $15 million and never get back and I really, I think he's a good kid. I don't know if he loves football. Like is he going to go into the season feeling like, hey, you got me on a discount and the first time he gets hurt, I'm sitting out week 9-10. Like I just, I know Odell Beckham, if he's healthy, we'll play.

With Lavian Bell, if he walks into the season feeling like he is underpaid, even though he got this deal, do I get 100% all in Lavian Bell? Do you feel like he might be one of those players that is going to be paid for what he did instead of what he's going to do? I just, with Lavian, my question has always been. Football players play football. He sat out a year. You know, he said before he's not defined by football.

He gets a little injury because he carries the ball a lot. He's their best running back by a mile. He'll get 24 carries, gets dinged up. How do I know? Levy and Bell's like, you do realize I'm giving you a deal on this? I don't know. I don't want to misquote Nick Wright's statistic about him being the most used running back in NFL history. I think that's what he said. So it's kind of tough for me to imagine that a guy that has a workload like that doesn't love football. Now, I understand what you're saying. Sometimes guys get paid and they're like, cool, I got my money. I'm good. But every time a player holds out for money, that's the same story. Like, well, you can't really care about football that much because you're not out there playing. Like sometimes you have have to prioritize and plan for the future. And he got the deal he wanted.

So he's not going to get that money back. But sometimes you have to sacrifice for the long term, and I feel like that's what he did. So yesterday, the NBA announced that Russell Westbrook has been fined $25,000 for his altercation with the fan. The fan was also banned from Jazz's arena for life. And Westbrook said after the game that he responded the way he did because the fan's comments were disrespectful and racial.

Well, last night, LeBron James. James was asked his opinion of the incidents, and he's courted Westbrook. That guy just took it too far on the other end. There could have been some words. Russ could have said a little bit differently. But at the end of the day, he was in the right. That guy's in the wrong. Stand up and salute.

I salute the Utah Jazz and with their organization on doing what they did. My heckling the opposing guy, or am I crossing the line? And there's a fine line when you... It's not a fine line. That line is very bold. Everyone knows when you're crossing the line. He's actually right. He immediately corrected himself.

There isn't a fine line. It's actually very clear the line of disrespect and racial comments and heckling. It's not confusing to anyone unless you're like this guy who has no concept of what's appropriate in life. It's so funny. Yesterday I went to the internet and people were defending the fan. And it was like, well, if you don't let us yell stuff, 90% of the fans will never go. And it's like, no, no, no, no. 99% of fans hate hecklers.

Right. Like heckler guy really thinks that he's got the support of the arena. No, he doesn't. You don't. Like, heckler guy is living in his own dimension. Heckler guy is a narcissist. Yes. And believes that everyone has come there to hear him.

Yes. And not see the elite best athletes in the world compete against each other. That's what Heckler guy believes. Also, that's nonsense. So you're telling me if we banned all of the racists who are so emboldened, and entitled that they feel comfortable yelling in front of thousands of people at a professional athlete who could destroy them physically if they wanted to. If we remove all those people, there's not going to be any NBA fans.

I might be being a little optimistic here, but I feel like the NBA will still be okay. They'll find people to go to the games. There's no defense of the fans, and a lot of players have come out. Not only defended Westbrook, but said that they experienced a lot of this too. So I'm glad that the jazz got on it and did not drag out the investigation and got to the bottom of it and got the guy out. But I don't anticipate this happening moving forward the way that people think it will with Westbrook because they banned him. So there's clearly consequences. Yeah.

Agreed. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd lie news. You know, it is going to be funny. I had talked to Odell Beckham about two weeks ago. And a lot of the stuff he said, I'm not going to repeat because there's a certain trust.

And then there's a couple of things I feel comfortable saying. So I'll just update you. When Odell called me a couple of weeks ago, we sat and talked about 20 minutes. And it was a real heartfelt discussion. We talked about things I had said and where his head was at. Odell did mention he was calling me from his home in Hollywood Hills and he's got a cool pad and said the Rams were a team he'd be interested in. He also mentioned the 49ers.

He did not mention Cleveland. That does not mean he's not happy playing in Cleveland. Cleveland. He just didn't mention them. It'll be interesting. He is a huge star. He has 12 million Instagram followers. Next closest in the NFL is Brady was six. He goes to runways, fashion week in Paris. He's lived in New York and Los Angeles. I'm sure, you know, Cleveland is getting a superstar. LeBron's a superstar. He bailed twice on Cleveland. This is not a place generally that's a free agent hub.

it's interesting because here's my question. Connor Barwin played with him last year. Teams are going to take away O'Dell Beckham. They're going to bracket him. And that means Baker Mayfield's got all sorts of talented options to go to. Their young tight ends outstanding. Jarvis Landry's good. Their backs are terrific.

Baker Mayfield, as he develops as a quarterback, is going to be facing a lot of double teams on O'Don's. And my guess is Baker's a smart kid. He's not going to try to force the ball into Odell Beckham. And if Odell Beckham has a couple of weeks when he gets four targets and Jarvis Landry has 13, how will that play? Connor Barwin talked about playing with the Giants and how gifted Odell is. He's so special.

And what teams do to him defensively is unlike any other player. Like I was in the division with Philly and we literally bracketed him every single play every time we played him, which that doesn't happen to anybody else in the league. So you need to get him involved somehow. You have to because he's such a special player. And I think that's hard for coaches to figure out how to do. I think it is. And I think he will be doubled a lot.

And Baker doesn't need to force it to him because this is not the Raiders, where it's Antonio Brown and not much else. The Browns have all sorts of town. I think they have the best young tied-in in football. They have three legit running backs. Kareem Hunt, Duke Johnson, Nick Chebber all legit. Jarvis Landry's a very good, very good number two. So if Odell gets doubled and bracketed, they're just not going to throw to him.

How will that sit? He is an American superstar. It's the biggest star in the NFL that's not a quarterback. Coming up next Pro Day, Kyler Murray, Joel Clatt. We'll check in. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd. Weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Good to have you in.

Cold and flu season. Try Vic Synex nasal spray. last up to 12 hours, be ready when congestion strikes. You know, it's very funny. Just a reminder to everybody that the Lions just paid for a cornerback, they just went big, the Detroit Lions. Here are the five teams that are making the big splashy acquisitions so far in free agency. Browns, Jets, Raiders, Lions, Bills.

Those are losing franchises with often dubious ownership. I want to remind you that Bill Belichick and the, last week. We have a picture. He's on a boat. Mike Tomlin, we have pictures. He was at spring training for the pirates. And Andy Reed got rid of two stars.

And the Colts general manager, Chris Ballard, he just resigned his own cornerback. I talked to Chris Ballard about a month ago about free agency. You know what he told me? He goes, it's going to be crazy town the first 48 hours.

He goes, I'm just going to go hide. He goes, I like my guys. I like my own players. Never forget, the New England Patriots have a motto. We're not just collecting talent. We're building a team. The Jets in Cleveland, I like some of the moves, but it feels like they're collecting talent.

I like free agency. I like what Green Bay has done, mid-level free agents. But when you spend 84 million on Kirk Cousins or 61 last year like Tennessee on Malcolm Butler or 70 million on Nate Solder or the Jets go huge on Trimane Johnson, the stars in free agency, remember, this league this league is a value league. So even with Levian Bell, you're not getting value, you're getting talent. but he'll never be, even if he ran for 1,500 yards, you're paying for every yard. And the Patriots have made a, I mean, let's be honest, they have made an industry, a cottage industry of value.

Even Brady's at value. So it's not that I don't like this stuff. I just a reminder that the team that's not getting any credit is a team I beat up on the Green Bay Packers, but they went out and actually found four starters. Three of them are kind of mid-level. free agents and they're all good and they're all going to start. And Green Bay drafted well defensively last year.

Green Bay actually really did a nice job upgrading their defense and no flash and no big signings and no headlines and no Twitter love. But the Green Bay Packers that are really good job in the last 48 hours of signing upgraded pass rushers and nobody's talking about it, I'm not saying I don't like free agency. Like I love ice cream, not for breakfast. Like the big spenders are the Browns, the Jets, the Raiders, the lines, and the bills. And by the way, the Colts have all the money in the world. They just re-signed a cornerback of their own, which is what they told me they were going to do.

They like their players. They liked going 11 and 5. They like winning 9 in the last 10 games. All right, let's not waste any time. I am your stockbroker. We have a great last hour, by the way. Joel Clatt is going to join us last hour pro date. Kyler Murray is throwing now.

I'm your stockbroker. You're asking questions. I'll give you tips. Buy seller hold. Time to. Colin will decide if he'll buy it. Sell. Roger to sell.

Or hold. Buy seller hold. O'Dell, Beckham, Jr. and Baker Mayfield will win a playoff game next season. Well, the Browns haven't won a playoff game since 1994. And Baker and O'Dell do not have a playoff win in their career collectively. I think something that needs to be discussed is the Brown schedule is going to be tougher.

Anytime you add new players, it takes time to create chemistry. The new CBA, you have fewer practice days. They're going to be exciting and they're going to be better. But in that division, the AFC's not been this strong in years. Colts, Patriots, Chiefs, Chargers, Steelers aren't going away. Ravens have made two signings. John, sell, sell, sell. I think they'll be better and more exciting.

I don't see them hosting multiple home playoff games. I think this is a team that will be better, but not nearly as good as everybody says. By-sellor hold. Levyon Bell will lead the league in rushing. Actually, even behind the great Steeler offensive lines, he never led the league in rushing. And for the record, he's only played 16 games once in his career. He is a very, very good pass-catching running back. Last two years he played 160 catches.

So I think a big chunk of his yards with Sam Darnold will come in receiving, not just carrying the ball. So John... Sell, sell, sell. I don't think Levian's going to lead the NFL in rushing. Buy seller-hold Juju Smith-Schuster will have more receiving yards than Antonio Brown next season. Steelers pass for 67.4% of their plays last year. led the NFL. Big Ben at the line of scrimmage, likes to audible to throws. And by the way, Juju had 129 more receiving yards than Antonio Brown last year. So John,

bye, bye, bye, bye. Yeah, I think Juju is going to have a massive year and a quarterback, Big Ben, that's going to want to elevate Juju Smith-Schuster to prove Big Ben can make anybody great. buy seller hold Aaron Rogers will miss the playoffs for a third consecutive season. There is a trend going on. I know people in Green Bay think I don't like the Packers, but I'm going to list their last five years. They won 12 games in 2014. The next year they won 10, 10, 7, and 6. Anybody spot a trend here?

By the way, their schedule next year, they play the AFC West, Kansas City, Chargers. They play the NFC East, Cowboys, Eagles. John? Bye, bye, bye, bye. I think they'll be better. I think their defense will absolutely be more formidable, but I think the Vikings and the bears have better rosters. Last one, buy-seller hold.

Kyler Murray will get drafted by the New York Giants. Well, the Giants are picking six over. Overall, and the Giants should have picked Sam Darnold last year at number two, and then Oda Beckham would still be a New York giant. Okay? So the problem of the New York Giants is quarterback, and it's very difficult. This is a very conservative fan base. I've often compared the New York Giants to the Michigan Wolverines.

They've been winning for a long time. It's an old fan base. It took them a while to embrace O'Dell Beckham. They get offended very easily. They love their Eli Manning. I think it is asking too much. to draft the opposite of Eli Manning. It's hard enough to replace him, but to get the opposite?

A wildly dynamic, smaller quarterback that plays the position differently. If he was available, I wouldn't have a problem drafting him. This is maybe the most conservative franchise in the NFL. The Mara family, they very much check the temperature of the room. And, I mean, listen, this is a franchise of the Giants that just told us he was not tradable. and then they just traded him. And by the way, they also were so conservative. They wouldn't get the best deal.

They traded him to the AFC. Reportedly, there were better deals in the NFC. And they weren't even comfortable doing that because they didn't want Odell back him to come back in their stadium and beat him. So John, I don't think Kyler Murray is going to get drafted. I don't by the New York football giants. Joel Klatte also Montrez-Harrell of the Clippers, absolutely interesting, fascinating.

Clippers are one of the great stories in the league this year. Nobody's playing harder than the Clippers. I mean, seriously, nobody's playing hard. They're the shock of the league. I mean, in terms of Clippers, playoffs, LeBron, 14th seed, what a story they've been. One of their young stars next, The Herd. 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. Ah, here we go, Hour 3. We're live, baby, in L.A. This is The Hurt. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening. We're on I-Heart Radio.

Fox Sports Radio, FS1. Also on Channel 83, Sirius X-M. Before we get started here, Joey, cold and flu season, try Vixinex nasal spray. A couple of squirts gets rid of congestion. Works up to 12 hours, Vic Sinex nasal spray. Crazy day yesterday. How much fun was it?

This has been the most fun NFL free agency I can remember. Yeah. You get these young quarterbacks on rookie deals, and you got a lot of money. There's been a lot of quarterback movement, too. Yeah. So this is good for everybody. Fifteen minutes. We're going to have Joel Clatt today.

It's a pro day. So he's watching Kyler Murray, a Montrez-Harrell of the L.A. Clippers, probably the shocking team in the NBA. They got rid of their star Tobias Harris. I was talking to a scout the other day. He's like, nobody in the league plays harder than the Clippers. Every night, everybody's all in. Lou Williams, never ages, and Joel Clad as well.

Well, certainly there's no bigger news than Odell Beckham, superstar being traded to the Cleveland Browns. So I'm going to start right there. Expectations are everything in life. If you make $100,000, that is double the national average, you are a success in your family. people will pat you on the back unless your dad is the CEO of a major company

and set you to multiple prep schools then you're kind of underachieving expectations are everything tell my kids that all the time my daughter what are your expectations for your life just try to meet them don't be unrealistic lofty but not silly this morning Super Bowl contenders

Cleveland Browns. Oh, the temperature in the room has changed, my friends. Last year, Baker Mayfield comes in their own 16. Three picks. Couple of game. Doesn't matter. Fun. Loose.

Energy juice. Oh, now he's got a Rolls Royce of offensive weapons. A Rolls Royce. New head coach that he picked. Starwide receiver who's going to want 14 targets. Tougher schedule. No more three interception games. By the way, I have no idea how good friends.

Ready Kitchens is. Nobody in the league would have considered him for a head coaching job. He's been a coordinator one year. Coaching sort of matters in the NFL. Think I'm wrong? Who were the last four coaches left in the playoffs last year? Belichick, Andy Reed, Sean McVan, Sean Payton. Yeah, they're pretty good. Expectations change everything. The Eagles, before they won a Super Bowl, were fun and loose. And then after they won a Super Bowl, you heard all these comments in the locker room. We're too fun and loose.

Baker came off an 0-in-16 year. Three interception games, antics on the sideline. Man, he's energy. Oh, that's done. No more high-fiving each other because you finished third in the AFC North. And also, the bar has been set by young quarterbacks,

Jared Goff, year two, playoffs. Mitch Trubesky, year two, won his division. Patrick Mahomes, year two, MVP. Andrew Luck, Deshawn Watson, year two, playoffs. Russell Wilson, year two, won a Super Bowl. Carson Wentz, year two, leading MVP candidate. By year two, no more rookie mistakes, no more nonsense, no more bad picks, and now Cleveland's being elevated to Super Bowl talk.

The fun, loose, cocky kid isn't this funny and cute when he wrecks the Lamborghini? And this morning, I am reading that Baker-Mayfield's odds to win the Super Bowl are greater than Carson Wentz, greater than Russell Wilson, greater than Big Ben, than Philip Rivers, greater than Matt Ryan, greater than Cam Newton, greater than Andrew Locke. Oh, the temperature in the room, my friends, has changed. I mean, he has to win the division. Baltimore has lost four defensive starters. The Pittsburgh Steelers, they don't have a star running back or a star-wide receiver.

And Cincinnati's pathetic. Look at the primetime games they play next year. Rams and Seahawks do the Browns. at New England, at the Niners. Oh, this is going to be the most talked about, the most discussed. Baker Mayfield said, I'm dangerous. I feel dangerous. This team's got all sorts of dangerous with it.

You got an ego with a GM who's controlling the coach. Odell Beckham reportedly is going to want a new deal to put him in the Antonio Brown stratosphere because AB got a new deal in Oakland. Baker Mayfield, expectations, ramped up. folks, expectations are what create anxiety. Again, you make $100,000. You are double in the national average. But if your dad put you in prep schools for six years and he's a CEO of a major company,

$100,000 just won't do. The owner in Cleveland, impatient, we've seen him bail on players. He's going to want wins. He's going to want him now. Odell Beckham's going to want targets and he's going to want him now. I think Cleveland's all sorts of fun. And I think Cleveland is going to be offensively a blast to watch. I wish they were on hard knocks this year.

But don't kid yourself. Expectations change everything. Cute and funny is not as cute and funny when you wreck the Lamborghini. It's all on Baker. Let me shift to this. I'm reading this morning that, I mean, the Steelers might as well be a lost cause. Antonio Brown dusted them off

Lavian Bell refused to play this team's in big trouble Pittsburgh is done let me ask you what are the things I've been talking about at this network and the other network what are the four things in football that matter owner GM coach and quarterback

the Steelers have a better owner than Cleveland a better quarterback than Cleveland and a better coach than Cleveland general manager both competent You go ahead and bury the Steelers, but I'm going to remind you of a few things. Number one is they've already got a number one receiver in place. And in my lifetime, no team in the NFL has drafted skill people better than Pittsburgh. They got all sorts of draft picks.

They've already got Juju Smith-Schuster. They're going to be fine at wide receiver. Second thing is, don't you think it's fair to say that Mike Tom, Tomlin and Big Ben specifically will probably be a little motivated this year. Big Ben, like him or not, will have his greatest offseason, wanting to prove, hey, I'm all good here. It was those guys. Number three is, the Steelers have the best offensive line in football according to pro football focus. I've been saying this for years.

It's almost impossible not to make the playoffs with the best offensive line in football last year. Great Loins, Saints, Eagles, Rams, Colts, Cowboys, they still have the best offensive line in their division easily. Oh, and by the way, the Steelers this morning are something they never are. Underdogs. My knock on the Steelers for years has been their lousy favorites. They play down to competition. they freeze in the headlights.

Here's what the Pittsburgh Steelers never are. Doubted, mocked, laughed at, pick for third in their division. Am I wrong here, but they've got the best owner in the division, the best quarterback in the division, arguably the best coach in the division, and a very competent GM. You think Pittsburgh is going to disappear? By the way, the Steelers lost about six games last year.

five of their losses were won possession. They lost to good teams. They lost to the Saints, and of the Ravens, and to the Chiefs. This is a really good football team. They have 10 draft picks. They've got a Hall of Fame quarterback and a coach, and arguably the best owners historically

in the National Football League. And they are going to be uniquely motivated, overlooked. A lot of eye rolls at the state. today. Man, did they get used by AB? They're not nearly as talented as Cleveland. My money, Pittsburgh Steelers win the division. You go ahead. You go ahead and bail on them. Go for it. Bail on the Pittsburgh Steelers. But I know what wins in this league, and it's not headlines. It's offensive lines. It's veteran coaches. It's Hall of Fame quarterbacks. It's good pass rush.

it's stability. It's not big spending during the free agency period. Go ahead, bail on the Steelers at your own peril. By the way, my phone got a little buzz here. I don't get this. Seattle just picked up Jason Myers, a kicker from the Jets. Jets had the best special teams in NFL last year. It was the only redeeming quality to the Jets.

Sam Darnold and their special teams in Jamal Adams. And the Jets let him go. I don't know. I don't know why nobody likes kickers. It's like relievers in bullpins. You have to be able to make kicks late in games to win. You can't give up runs in baseball late in games or you lose. So Jets did not pay for Jason Myers.

Seahawks picked him up. He's a really, really good kicker. Jets didn't score a lot last year, but he scored a lot for him. One of the more entertaining guys, Montrez-Harrel of the L.A. Clippers, one of their dynamic young players, they're going to make the playoffs, looks like, no team plays harder. They are the team in Los Angeles

that is overachieving, not underachieving. He'll be joining us. Plus, Joel Clat at Kyler-Marie's Pro Day. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the iHeart Radio app. Last night, a blown call changed the game. This morning, the internet lost its mind.

Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise. Breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves.

Their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants.

answer. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slic Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Trip Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase

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

Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Keer Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast,

learn the hard way. Open your free Our Heart Radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering our meaning,

businessman, catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world. He doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levant this plant to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in America.

in history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer them? On hurdle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going. From the WMBA standout, Kate Martin and rising hockey star Layla Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't.

Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't feel like you don't belong. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ladeki. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me.

And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports.

In three days, two of the best pounds. for pound fighters on the planet put their perfect records on the line at AT&T stadium as Errol Spence Jr. takes on Mikey Garcia for the world welterweight championship. Saturday, 9 p.m. Eastern 6 Pacific Live on pay-per-view. Order now. Those guys have fought 63 times. Neither's ever lost a fight. That's pretty impressive. Blackhawks, Maple Leafs, Discover card key matchup. Get your free credit scorecard today. Learn more, Discover.com, slash credit scorecard. Limitations apply. our next guest is part of NBA history and the history of the NBA.

The greatest scoring duo off a bench is Montres, Harold, and Lou Williams. Lou Williams is just crazy. He doesn't age. He found the basketball fountain of youth. The Clippers are one of the surprises of the NBA season. Our next guest is up for the most improved player. He was in that Chris Paul trade with the rocket. He was a rocket.

the Clippers and has exceeded, I would imagine, all their expectations, a terrific young man, Montrez Harrow, let's bring them on the show from the Clips. Former Louisville Cardinal, you played with James Hardin. You seem joyful. You seem happy to me. The Bob Marley shoes. You're playing for a team that's fun. I have an NBA scouting buddy.

And I said about two weeks ago, I said, tell me about the Clippers. He goes, hardest playing team in the league. Is it Doc Rivers? What is it? I mean, honestly, I think it's a combination of, you know, everything in the front office. You know, the guys that we have in the locker room, you know, we play with the right spirit. And, you know, it definitely starts with the front office with, you know,

Steve Palmer, Doc, Jerry West, the guys that we have in the front office. And then it, you know, comes down to the players. And, you know, me, Pat, Lou, Gallo, you know, veteran guys. and, you know, it goes with just the spirit and the floor how we play it, really. You know, we just wanted to build this kind of mindset and just be these type of, you know, hard-nosed, tough, competing team, even in training camp is what we said. 16.7 rebounds. It's interesting. I've always, I've said this to Joy before. Fans don't understand what it's like to be traded. So if I work for a company and they're like, listen, we're trading you to this other company. And I'd be like, you don't love me? I work hard. When you got traded from the Rock.

to the Clippers. Is there part of you that's like, I thought I was your guy? What is it? Now, by the way, the Rockets were a good team. People thought they could win the championship. You think you're all in on this team. You go from Louisville.

You're all ACC. You go to the Rockets. They tell you they love you. And then one day you wake up, you're out. Did it hurt? Not necessarily saying that it hurt. You know, it definitely kind of came as a shock because, you know, when the first, it's kind of crazy because the trade happened like twice.

When the first came out, you know, I wasn't a part of the, the deal. And then when they actually was finalized, I was. And, you know, it was just kind of one of those things that I didn't really know. But at the same time, I just look at it as another opportunity, because, I mean, at the same time, everybody in the NBA knows that they had the chance to be traded unless you're just one of those top-tier guys who kind of sits their destination, really, you know. But other than that, everybody has the opportunity and the chance to be traded. You just got to understand and know that it comes with the game. It's really interesting. So you've had three high-profile coaches. You have Rick Bettino. Defense,

press intense. And then you go to Mike Dantonie. Offense. Move the ball. Right. Then you go to Doc Rivers. And kind of a veteran guy, players like him, players coach.

What does Doc do differently or that really connects with you? Because you're playing your best basketball, your life. You know, just the teaching, you know, a lot of wisdom, you know, because you have a coach that knows what it takes to get to that. finals and also win that finals, you know. So he definitely knows what he's talking about, but at the same time, he doesn't take anything off one player.

He doesn't, you know, let any one player slide no matter who you are. So he's tough on people. Yeah, he doesn't care to know who you are. He was in the locker room with his own son. At the same time, you never really knew it was a father-son relationship. At the same time, it was a coach player, you know, and that's what the last time he barked at you? Last night.

What he yelled at you? I had to tough enough. I kind of gave up like two, three buckets in a row. And then after that, he yelled at you. Yeah. So, I mean, it comes with the game. It comes with coaching, but that's what I want. I know somebody that's going to be there to coach me.

I mean, I've been around coaches that's been that way my whole career, definitely in Coach Patino because. Oh, he's a barker. 100%. 100, you know. So I know how it goes, you know, but that's what I want because it goes to show you that it's a coach that is not going to steal you wrong. When there's a lot of rumors about, you know, free agents,

and you hear the Kauai Leonard stuff and LeBron Land. with the Lakers. And, you know, it's funny. You played with James Harden, and he was a star. And right now you're a team that people don't perceive as having a star, but a bunch of good players who play their butts off. When you do play with a star like James Hardin, is the locker room different?

I would say it is, definitely, because, you know, when you're going into the game with, you know, that high caliber as a player, you almost kind of know who's going to be doing what on the floor. You know, when you go into our locker room, you don't really know who's going to have a crazy night. Night to night. Yeah, and I think that's the best thing about us. You know, I think we more so look at it as a positive because when you're going into a game like we was with Houston,

nine times, ten times out of ten, you know, James is going to be the focal point. He's going to be the scound report. He's going to be the guy that they're trying to take away. And then, you know, have guys on the team that's got to try to feed off of that. as far as going into the locker room with the Clippers, you don't know who's going to have a big night. Lou Williams had a huge night the other night. You had a 32-point night.

Right. You don't know who you can take away. I mean, that's the best thing about it is because, you know, we are coming in with the right mindset, the right spirit, that we're going to play the right way, and we're just going to play Clippers basketball. So, Joey and I have been talking. There was an ugly incident between Russell Westbrook

and a fan in Utah, and the NBA immediately say, and the jazz, by the way, both said it was racial. He's out of the arena. I was critical of the NBA yesterday. I think they've sold too many seats next to you. In baseball and football, fans are away. In hockey, there's glass. In the NBA, I mean, fans are on top of you.

And I think there should be, and the NBA years ago made a decision to push broadcasters upstairs and sell stuff right on the floor that used to be, when you watch an old NBA game from the 70s and 80s, those seats were not taken. They were for ads. Do you think sometimes fans are due close? You hear heckling all the time. Are you ever uncomfortable with things that are said to you? I definitely, I definitely am.

You know, Russell Westwood is not the only player who has definitely been the incident. I've been in one myself this year. Was somebody, a fan said inappropriate stuff? Yes, and then, you know, to the point where he even went as far as to kind of like try to spit on me. And that's where, you know, I ended up in the stands and that altercation came about, you know, because at the same time, man, you got to understand it's a privilege. I mean, the game is already over. So all the talking and John, like, you know, let it go, man.

We're on the way back to our locker room, but when you physically do something to a player or you go beyond the lines of, you know, bringing a loved one into somebody's family, like you've got to understand. These are privileges for these guys to be sitting in D.C. So at the same time, when you're talking and going, trying to get at guys and say different things

that get under their skin at the same time, you're going to understand, we're grown, man, we're adults at the same time. Our job is the game of basketball, but at the same time we have a life. Well, you're humans. That's what I'm saying. By the way, have you ever gotten into little sparring matches with the fans that are funny? Right.

Have there ever been times where fans go back at you? Yeah. Yeah, yeah. I mean, it's not always things that are negative or, you know, things that are just trying to, you know, just take away from things that don't got anything to do with the game. You know, there's definitely some fans out there that you can laugh and joke with and go back and forth with it. So it's not always bad, but it has been some bad incidents. Okay, so you have a chance to win the most improved player, and you and Lou Williams,

are potentially going to break an NBA record, the best duo off a bench. Now, for a lot of guys, you started in high school, you started in A.U. You started in college. Is it different starting a game on a bench? Does it bother you to some degree that you're a 17-7 guy and you're coming off the bench? Would you rather start? Well, I mean, the craziest thing is I haven't been one of those guys who's always starting. Really?

Yeah, even in high school, it probably was the last time I probably did start. Wow. didn't really start into my Louisville career to late on, probably like mid, my sophomore year, and then I started my junior year. But I wasn't always starting. And you're underappreciated. I mean, hey, you know, it comes with the game, man. I take it as a chip on my shoulder and use it every night I go out here and play, you know.

So I've been in these positions before. I definitely think I definitely learned a lot more how to deal with my teammate and Lou, because he's a guy who definitely been going to a lot of organizations and started. Oh, God, Lou Williams bounced around the league. He was on the Lakers not too long ago. him up. They would die for Lou Williams today. They gave him up on the Lakers. He came to us with Houston for like

two months and then he ended up out here and held with me again. He's crazy good. Yeah, and I definitely think it's a guy like I said who can definitely be on the team in the NBA and definitely be starting. But he's been playing that six-man role coming off the bench and you know he's thrived in it honestly.

So he's definitely giving me a lot of key points on how to basically handle it as a pro and you know it doesn't really matter on what time and point you go in the game. you know, who starts out the game. At the same time, it's about doing anything you can just to put our team in position to win it. Well, you're, you know what? It's a great message that you are an NBA player averaging 16 and a half and seven

and have struggled to start since high school. That's a fantastic. You know, everybody thinks, everybody's a superstar, and I love hearing stories like that. Oh, yeah, yeah. And I even like the doc yelled at you and you're okay with it. Yeah, I mean, it all comes with the game, man. it's all the learning experience. You know, everything you go through, everything that you do in life, you know,

it's always taken as a learning experience. So I've been around a lot of coaches, a lot of players, a lot of learning situations that I can just apply into my life and I've learned from them, you know, and I just try to get better each day as a player, as a man, as a father. Great stuff, man. Yes, sir. Absolutely great meeting you. Thank you. Joy with the news.

No, no, no, no, turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right. Oh, boy. New York Knicks owner over the weekend. He had an exchange with a fan at Madison Square Garden who suggested that he sell the team. Dolan bans the fan from MSG because of the confrontation. And then he went on Yes Network, the Michael Kay Show, and yesterday, and said he was very clear about his intention with the Knicks.

I want to hear this. Just for the record. I am not selling the team. And I am not quitting. and neither is Steve and neither is Scott and neither are any of the players. We're going to keep coming there. We're going to keep playing.

We're going to keep developing and working and doing what we think. And be honest, most of the fans get it. I think most of the fans are unhappy. That statement's a bit out of touch. I think he is... I listened to some of that interview yesterday, Joy. It is remarkable how small and petty he is.

He's a billionaire. He owns the Knicks. He's had money his whole life. life. He just, there's an old saying, don't punch down in life. Like, like, don't. You're a billionaire owner. This fan yells. It's so out of touch.

It's so. Now, he also said, in relation to the fan about, you know, people who were talking about, is he going to relax and, you know, figure it out that you shouldn't just be banning fans for suggesting that he sells a team. He said, what I was thinking was that we'd invite him back to the next game, take him back, have him meet the team and see what was going on. but now it's clear this whole thing was planned and I can't see letting him back in.

Would you like banning power? How do they know it's planned? What does plan mean? I don't know. Like he planned on going to the game and telling Dolan that he should sell the team. God. I still think the worst thing,

one of the worst things I've ever seen in sports is Charles Oakley getting into a fight with the Nick security. It's one of, it hurt my sports soul to watch that. The imagery is terrible. It was terrible. and it was just, I think the lowest point of this whole Nick's saga. Very disappointing. All right, so the Browns pulled off the Black Western Trade yesterday,

sending the 17th overall pick, third round pick, and safety drill peppers to the Giants for Odell Beckham Jr. And one player that is especially happy about it is his new teammate Miles Garrett, defensive end. He went on NFL Network yesterday and talked about how excited he is for the upcoming season. There's going to be an officer of, you know, high-flying, display on the other side of the ball.

We can't wait to get the ball back to them. Are you guys the team to beat in the AFC North this year? Absolutely. And I think, you know, the tide is turned and, you know, we can't wait to get out there and prove it. I'm excited. Yeah, no, so am I. I think it's going to be, you know.

I know Browns fans think that Colin hates Baker-Mayfield and that the two of us are rooting against the Browns. I usually am rooting against the Browns, but I like Baker, and I said he should have been starting from week. one last year. I love the NFL. The Cleveland Browns were the most unwatchable franchise two years ago in the NFL. And now they are absolute must-watch watch every single week. And I, by the way, the Jets two years ago were the most unwatchable team. Now I get Darnold, C.J. Mosley, Lavian Bell. So you're taking like bad franchises and making them fascinating?

It's exactly what we said. Whenever everyone was freaking out about what we were saying about the Browns. Duds are not good for anyone in the business. It's no good to have a team that you just can't talk about because they are so unwatchable and terrible. That's one of the NBA's problems right now. There's about 11 teams. Seven appear to be tanking. Even the Lakers with LeBron James unwatchable. It's like what are we supposed to say? I was last night at a restaurant. You can say they're bad and there's no hope for so long before it's like, what's next? I was at a restaurant last night. In Los Angeles, Lakers Bulls game was on. Nobody was watching. With LeBron James having a very good night.

Like, that's a problem for leagues. Because it's a hopeless season. Yep. And there's nothing, there's nothing developing. It's great for the league. The Raiders, the Browns, the Jets are all must-watch. Now, who knows what's going to happen? Yeah, but I don't do.

Who do I care? It's how successful it's going to be. But, yeah, I don't care. It's entertainment. They won't hurt my eyes. Right. Finally, the NBA announced that Westbrook has been fined $25,000 for his altercation with the fan. The fan was banned by the Jazz for Life from the arena.

Well, Donovan Mitchell, plays for the Jazz. He released this statement supporting Westbrook and the Jazz's decision. He said, I am personally hurt by the incident at the game on March 11th. As a black man living in a community I love and playing on a team that gives me the opportunity to live with my dreams. This incident hits close to home.

Racism and hate speech hurts us all, and so not the first time something like this has happened in our arena. The Utah Jazz and I have come to love is welcoming and inclusive and last night's incident is not indicative of our fan base. I want to thank my team in the NBA for quickly responding to this hateful incident and for helping make our arena a place where all fans and players are welcome.

I joined other players in calling for teams to take a stand. We should not be subject to hate speech or racist acts at any time and definitely not in our arenas. So the good thing or the positive thing that's come out of all this is the NBA is now forced to take notice of the interactions that they're having with fans. The players are being paid attention to when they say, hey, fans are too close to us, fans have too much freedom, fans are spitting, trying to spit on us or throw things out. as are, you know, saying incredibly racial, horrible things to us.

So there needs to be some involvement from the NBA and security and from the arenas in this regard. I think it's better for everyone because it's as uncomfortable and horrible as it is for players. It's uncomfortable for everyone else sitting around them too. Oh, it's awful. And who wants to be the person that gets involved in an altercation with another fan while you're out in a game trying to enjoy yourself? So the positive thing is that people are paying attention to it, realizing if this does actually happen, and it's not just people making it up. And, you know, something can be done about it.

Good stuff. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd line news. I did an event about six weeks ago with Donovan Mitchell and the Utah Jazz. Quinn Snyder and Donovan Mitchell. Donovan's a great kid. I mean, you talk about a joyful person.

He's a really special kid. He's another one that played at Louisville like Montrez and wasn't a score. He's funny. He's like, I got on the floor with Rick Patino because I was willing to play defense. He was like, I didn't become a score until the end of my Louisville career. So for all you kids out there and you dads that think it's all about starting and getting your points and it's like, it's not. Like you want to get on the floor. You develop as an overall player. You develop.

Like a lot of kids are late bloomers. And Donovan was telling me, he goes, I wasn't really a score at the AAU level or at Louisville to begin with. He goes, I'm now in the NBA. You've got to be able to score because that's. the sport. Kiler Murray just finished his pro day. We will check in with Joel Klat. I will ask pointed questions. I don't want any fluff on this show. I want a critical assessment of what we saw with barely 200 pound. Kyler Murray, Joel Klatte, will be joining us from the pro day coming up. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific.

Cold and flu season. Trivixinex nasal spray works up to 12 hours. A couple of squirts. Don't need it did that once the kid regrettable decision i think it was a babysitter that fed it to me or something my dad got all upset joel clatt pro-day kiler murray they told me he's not ready yet that's okay you know it's funny so in our business and i and i mean this i'm in the opinion business joy's in the opinion business uh there's there's terms for people that have outrageous opinions hot takes clickbait and i've said for years i think i'm the opposite of that i'm usually the person that's like, slow down, take a deep breath. So today, Cleveland fans are like, how do you not love Odell Beckham is unbelievable? How do you not love Levian Belt to the Jets?

I don't know. I'm a grown up. I've covered sports for 30 years. The winner of free agency never is the winner of the Super Bowl. Odell Beckham's a great player. But he broke his ankle. He's missed 21 games. Reportedly he's going to want. want a contract renegotiated. Freddie Kitchens is their head coach. Freddie Kitchens, we don't know if he's not the worst coach in the league. He's definitely not as good as Mike Tomlin or John Harbin as division. I'm just saying slow down on it.

I love their offensive personnel, but it's football. Guys get hurt. Odell gets hurt. The Browns will be as good as their offensive line. None of this stuff's going to matter if Baker-Mainfield doesn't have protection. They gave up an offensive line starter earlier, about a week. ago in a trade. So I think Odell Beckham's going to make their offense really fun and really exciting. But I'm not looking for the hot take here. My takeaway is winners in free agency

historically. I mean, last year, the Vikings gave Kirk Cousins a fortune and Tennessee was a big spender and the Jets, Trumane Johnson and all sorts of big spenders last year. And they weren't the winning teams. So I think he's going to make them better and he's going to make them more interesting. And I would, when I've said that about Anthony Davis to the Lakers, I think he'll make the Lakers better and more interesting. Anthony Davis doesn't change the temperature in the Western Conference. Forget the NBA. I still think the Steelers are the best team in the division.

Why? Because I've watched football for 30 years, and the thing that matters is coaches and quarterbacks. That's why New England won the Super Bowl. It wasn't because of their personnel. They didn't have a deep threat. And I also think, I think the AFC right now is loaded at the top. I think the chiefs are going to be at the top of that.

AFC for the next 15 years with Mahomes. New England's not going away for the next few years. The Colts have 10 draft picks and $100 million. The Chargers are a really well-run franchise. I suddenly don't like the Chargers this morning. Why? Because they had the travel back-to-back weeks out east and got beat by a team that's the reigning NFL dynasty.

And I think Pittsburgh, you know, owner better than Cleveland, quarterback better than Cleveland, coach better than Cleveland. So, you know, I've always thought I'm the opposite of the hot take. I think Odell Beckham's going to be fun. I think Levian Bell's going to be fun. But Sam Darnold's not one in that division. That offensive line's not good enough. That coaching staff's not as good as New England.

Levy and Bell's going to help Sam Darnold. And I think they'll move from unwatchable to very watchable, but slow down on this stuff. All right. Pro Day. Norman, Oklahoma, via the coward. Global Satellite Network. All right, Joel Clatt. All right, Clattster.

Pro day, Kyler Murray, the very small Kyler Murray. What's your big takeaway today? Yeah, Kyler's going to be the first pick, Colin. He threw the ball so well today. It was effortless. He threw it as well as Baker did last year or better at times. He showed a quick release, great RPMs on the ball, threw it really well down the field.

And obviously, yeah, this is just against air, and it's just a check box that you need to check off if you're some of these teams. But it is noted I did not see Steve Kime nor Cliff Kingsbury of Arizona, but they are scheduled to work him out privately next week. That's what I talked with Eric Burkart, Kyler's agent. So that workout's going to happen next week. Firmly believe Arizona is going to take Kyler. He was terrific today.

Effortless thrower of the football. Have you ever seen anybody have a bad pro day? I mean, does it? Well, yes. You remember seeing a bad pro day? Yeah, I was in Louisville when Teddy Bridgewater had his pro day, and it was not very good. It was one of the worst that I had ever seen. And there are some that are better than others. That's just the bottom line.

What you want to see, really, is not is he completing the ball, or is it in the perfect spot with the wide receiver? Because, again, without a defender and without those types of windows, I don't really care about ball placement. What I do care about is how is he moving? Can he throw the football effortlessly? Or does he have to have his body in order to create velocity and RPMs? Kyler doesn't need that. Like I said, it's easy for him. It's very easy.

I think he learned that when he was a baseball player and the ability to throw off platform, meaning you don't have your feet, you don't have your hips under you, and you can still deliver the ball accurately down the field. He can certainly do that, and he proved that at times today. So again, when I was walking around, around behind Kyler as he was throwing. I'm just getting like little whispers here and there. I talked with a few of the head coaches that were in town that I know. And to a man, they were like, man, he looks really good. They said they were blown away with the way that the ball

popped out of his hand in person. You know, the New York Giants, first team drafting Arizona, you said he's going to be number one. They're not there. The Giants are at six. You think the Giants move up or are you just telling me you think Arizona's taken Kyla Murray? Well, that's a great point. I think Kyler goes number one. Now, depending on whether the Raiders want to move up with all of their ammunition or whether New York wants to move up with all of their ammunition, I think those are your two best possibilities, Colin, because they do have the wherewithal as far as the number of picks,

including first rounders in order to move up. Then it just becomes, do they like him enough? I don't know if the Giants are going to be in that mold, right? I think Gettelman, the GM of the New York Giants, is such a staunch old timer. You've got to be a certain height. You've got to be a certain type of guy. That's why I don't think Kyler is as good of a fit for the Giants' calling as he would be for the Raiders. I agree.

I've been told, and I know people within the organization, John Gruden loves Kyler Murray. And if he can, he's going to try to get up there to get him. By the way, you know, he's only about, what, five, nine and a half, five, ten. And be honest here, Cloud. He is a little small, don't you think? Well, officially, officially at the combine, he was 5.10 and an 8. I'm watching the video right here, Clat. I don't know.

Are you getting his height off the video? He looks 5.9 and a half from the video, Clat. I don't know. He does. Oh, interesting. Why didn't he run his 40-yard dash? That bothers me. Well, why wouldn't you?

He's a fast guy. It doesn't bother me at all. It doesn't bother me at all. And the reason is because he needs to establish himself as a passer first. because the bottom line is you're not winning the Super Bowl by being able to run it at the quarterback position. I think it's just an added bonus. It's an icing on the cake type of proposition.

The last thing he wanted or his agent wanted was that the talk of this pro day was about his 40 time and not about the way that he threw the football because he's got to establish himself as a passer first, which he is, by the way. When you watch the film, he does not take off after his first read or second read or third read. In fact, there's great examples.

TCU comes to mind. I was going through the game last night. He's on the strong side of Aireti. He's got three over two defensively, so he flips all the way around. Colin, he goes all the way back to the backside, outside of the numbers, and throws a 12-yard out route from the inside slot.

He didn't need his feet with him. He throws it over there. And I'm like, a running quarterback doesn't do that. A great passer does that. And that's what he is, and that's what he established today. How about that? You know, I'm beloved in Oklahoma. I hope he said hi to my friends out there.

Yeah, yeah. To a man, to a person, I should say, everybody out here was like, oh, tell Colin hi, he's our favorite. By the way, you saw Rosen's Pro Day and you saw Kyler Murray. Who's better? Murray. Oh, boy. And I thought Rosen was special. Again, this is part of the reason that this process, the draft process is not my favorite. because when you say like, hey, I like this guy a little bit better, I think he's a little bit better.

It automatically means it like, oh, you hate the other guy. I don't hate the other guy. I love Rosen. I love Rosen, along with Haskins and Murray, would be a clear top three in this year's draft. In fact, if I had to rank the three, if they were all coming out right now, it would be Murray slightly ahead of Rosen who would be slightly ahead of Dwayne Haskins. I think they're all really good players with pluses and minuses in each category. What about Sam Darnold and Kyler Murray?

Are you both those pro days? Sam would be the number one quarterback in this draft. All right. Sam and Baker, I had above what this class is. But again, not by a ton. You know, and I think Kyler has the ability to have a more dynamic impact on his team because of his playmaking ability. Remember now, like I said, let's go back to the icing on the cake.

This guy might be perfect in Arizona because they do have that terrible offensive line. and he's a guy that can avoid that. Yeah. Versus Rosen who needs a clean pocket to operate. Yeah, and it's hard to revamp your O-line from terrible to good in one-off season. By the way, Baker Mayfield, I'm not sure if you heard, we're running out of time. Baker Mayfield got Odell Beckham. I know if you heard that story.

I did hear about that. Yeah. I did hear about that. Not that big of a D. He's kind of a... I love it so much. I love it so much. He's okay.

You know, he's okay. He's got decent hands. No big deal. I hope that they have like double crotch grabs. just for you, Colin. Joel Klatte, good seeing you, buddy. Fox NFL draft guy. You too, bud. Yeah, there's going to be a lot of grabbing in Cleveland now.

It's going to be just a lot of stuff. I wish they were on hard knocks this year. Heck, last year was boring. Hugh Jackson was the most interesting part of last year. This year I get all sorts of fun. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. nobody's telling you exactly what happened.

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