The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Browns-Steelers, Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant, Cardinals, & John Calipari

Episode Date: April 2, 2019

Filling in for Colin, Doug Gottlieb breaks down the new look Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers, where Boston Celtics F Kyrie Irving and Golden State Warriors  F Kevin Durant may end up next season, the Oakland Raiders working out other Quarterbacks, why he feels the Arizona Cardinals have no idea what they are doing, and Kentucky Wildcats HC John Calipari's new contract. Guests include Chris Broussard, Reggie Bush, and Matt Barnes. 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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Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an acapella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter.

Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the Fourth. And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me. He goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her.

What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue with 42. Hey, Wreck, my mama want you to weigh better. What? Hey, Ms. Parker. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 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, Mark keep coming to. He's like, you know, I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast.

Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for The Herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeart Radio app by searching Herd. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Welcome in. Wherever you may be and however you be making it as part of your day. Thanks so much. I'm Doug Gottlie, building in for Colin Cowardt.

Live from Los Angeles. This is the herd alongside Joy Taylor. No glasses. Got the bun up top? Like a different person today. I'm a new look today, yes. Don't worry, everything will be back to normal tomorrow. No, it's not a bad look.

I didn't say it was a bad look. It's just a different look. I looked up and we hadn't seen each other since the meeting this morning where you quietly came in. It's totally okay. Doing about your business, taking notes. I passed our wardrobe stylist, Tracy, in the hallway, and she didn't recognize me either.

It was amazing. Joy Taylor here. Good morning to you, Joy. Good morning. Man, if you're listening on IHeart Radio app on Fox Sports One or Fox Sports Radio, thanks so much for making this part of your day. We think we have a great show for you. Chris Brousard will join us about half past the hour.

We'll talk about the continued buddy-buddy relationship between Kyrie and KD and where the most likely to play next season. I'll tell you upcoming why I think there's one destination to the league wants them to end up in and how it can fix so many problems within the NBA. But there is a major hold up with it. Chris Broussard upcoming. Reggie Bush will join us still, by my estimation, a Heisman trophy winner, one of the all-time grades in college football. Of course, new college football analyst on Fox Sports. He'll join us. We'll discuss John Calipari's lifetime contract.

And maybe the most important discussion of the day, I'm not sure if you're aware, today is National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day. I am a huge proponent of peanut butter and jelly. I don't know if you're a big peanut butter and jelly person. I mean, I don't eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches often, but they are tasty. Right. Would you turn down a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Probably.

You would? Just the bread thing. just the carbs of the bread? Yeah, I mean, I eat carbs often. Yes. But, you know, if I'm trying to eat healthy, then I try to like bread. I understand it. But it is a, it is a, what's it called when you have some, like, you know that it's bad for you or not great for you, but it's still so delicious and it's not that bad for you.

Yeah. Like it's not like eating something deep front. Peanut very jelly sandwiches aren't unhealthy. But they're not healthy. And they're delicious. They are delicious. They are delicious. Anyway, we have some of the best combos, since that's.

That's, I think, in arguably the best combo in the history of meal making. You're going to get some pushback on that. We can have some pushback on it. It can be an open forum. We can embrace debate, if you will,

on peanut butter and jelly, but we have some of the best combos in the world of sports, movie making, music. I think you'll enjoy it. Joy, that's upcoming in the show. That was when you were getting the complete makeover

and taking off the glasses and looking like a different person. That's what you guys were discussing. That's what we were doing. We were breaking down all the world's problems and solving it with peanut butter and jelly. Let's get to what I think is the most interesting kind of experiment in sports, which is, well, maybe two experiments in one. The Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yesterday in Cleveland, the Cleveland Browns

introduced O'Dell Beckham Jr. as their newest team member. He is, by anyone's accounts, a superstar in media, social media, and the National Football League. in terms of talent. He has it. And yet it was kind of an interesting press conference. Like OBJ doesn't seem to have the desire or maybe ability to be up on a stage by himself. And so they brought in Jarvis Landry, of course, this longtime friend, former college teammate. They brought in Baker Mayfield.

But they also brought in Miles Garrett, who might be their best player, who was a defensive player. And they had the four players up there. And it struck me that over the last year, the Cleveland Browns have added three of their four best players, right? Baker Mayfield, Jarvis, Slandry comes over from Miami, and now Odell Beckham Jr. As opposed to their division rival, right? I guess there has to be a rivalry. Although both the games, the games are usually close between these teams. Even when Cleveland didn't win a game two years ago, their games with the Steelers.

I believe one was incredibly close. But their division rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, have done the opposite. I'd make the argument that Pittsburgh Steelers have jettisoned two of their four best players and really have lost their three best players. Ryan Seizier, unfortunately, to injury. Levion Bell, contract holdout, and now as a free agent, signs with the Jets, and they trade away Antonio Brown. I'm not saying that Ben Rothsberger isn't a great player and historically great player

and a Hall of Famer, but he's not in the prime of his career. I would consider him probably the fourth best player for the Pittsburgh Steelers going back to mid-season, last season, before Shazir got hurt. So think about this for a second. The Steelers, who yesterday we shared with you, Vegas put their over under at nine, is the exact same as the Cleveland Browns, over under at nine. the Browns are all talent, all player, all ego, very little about the coach, very little about the culture. The exact opposite in Pittsburgh, where it's about Mike Tomlin regaining control of his locker room, all about regaining control of the culture of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The standard is the standard, which is the, it is what it is of the NFL, right?

That's what the Steelers say. The standard is the standard. It is what it is. It's never what it's not. but the Steelers have decided that they're going to do character and culture above talent. The Browns are going to do talent above character and culture. That doesn't mean that they have bad guys. It's just combustible.

And you have Freddie Kitchens, who was a running back coach this time last year. Like, this is a fascinating experience. Like watching two teams who play each other twice in the same division have complete opposite views of what's going to succeed in the National Football League. And as impressive as the talent is in Cleveland, and it's inarguable. Like, do I think Jarvis Landry is a superstar wide receiver? No. But if he's your second best receiver, that's not bad. You got in Joku's, of course, a super talented in terms of upside potential at tight end. And then you have Odell Beckham Jr. and a litany of quality running backs, including one who led the National Football League in rushing a couple

years ago, granted, suspended for half the season. And he got Baker Mayfield, who has shown the ability to take over room and to lead a football team. But it does on some level come down to leadership. Take a listen to their coach, Freddie Kitchens, yesterday. Right now, we're just a bunch of good individual players. All right. Yeah, our roster looks great on paper. Whopty hell. All right. But at the end of the day, we better be a good team. And you start building that during this time of a year. And then training camp's a big portion of that. He couldn't be more right. Training camp is a big portion. Building a team is important. And can you get all of these incredible pieces to work together? We talked about this yesterday with college basketball, which is it's not always about

the individual pieces. It's about the connection, the cohesion. Heck, relationships are about this. Sometimes you have two really, you know, matched, evenly matched good looking people. In relationships, you can't have one person be a woman be a 10 and a dude be a 5, right? Like it just doesn't, you got to kind of both be good-looking people, both be average-looking people, both, you know, the woman should be slightly above that of the guy. That's generally how it works. But you don't have a dude who's got a nose coming out the side of his face

with acne problems, going out with a 10. We all make judgments about what that, well, it's about, but there is something to a relationship that lasts. It's about a connection. It's about chemistry. The same is true. true in sports. We saw a play out in college basketball, right? Michigan State last year, two lottery picks, but maybe there's some agendas, maybe there's some inexperience, maybe there's a

roster imbalance, and you don't end up having the success that this year's team that starts a former walk-on at Power Forward and is missing their second best player, goes to the final four. Sure, there's luck that factors into it, but there's also the idea that cohesion, that chemistry, that connection. It makes relationships last. It makes teams better. And even an inexperienced coach, Freddie Kitchen, who's only been an interim coach before, understands that. The question is, can he create that? And what happens when they hit adversity? Because adversity really exposes. The Pittsburgh Steelers are an organization that historically overcomes adversity. They stand by their head coaches. They value character and guys taking slightly less money.

and doing things kind of the solid way, the long-term play as opposed to the short-term play. I can think of no more two fascinating teams to compare each to each other throughout the life of the NFL season than the Steelers who have decided to shut off Ben Rathesberger from his radio show, get social media out of their locker room,

get rid of their most talented pieces. Don't get it twisted down. Lavian Bell is a superstar. Antonio Brown is a super. Those guys can play football, but they're valuing character over talent. Doesn't mean that character can be talent if they have no talent. But if there's a continuum, right, and on one side you have character, on one side you have talent, the Steelers have decided to be on the character's side, and the Browns have decided

to be on the talent side and trying to build that cohesion, trying to build that football team. And to do so with the rookie head coach, look, John Dorsey's already done his job. John Dorsey is not a guy that values anything other than can you play the sport because he had Andy Reid to figure that all out in Kansas City. He had a longtime veteran head coach that everybody respects and if you don't respect, you're gone. Andy Reid is a legit first ballot, Hall of Famer whenever he decides to call it quits. Does that same idea work in Cleveland when you don't have a history of success, you don't have a head coach that's a proven commodity, and oh yeah, by the way, look, you're not going to find another Baker Mayfield. And John Dorsey isn't going anywhere.

So if things go bad, the head coach is the first to go, and we get back on that turnstile thing at head coaching with the Cleveland Browns. This one's going to be amazing. Do you want me to call it? If I was to call it, I would say it's less likely to work than it is to work because we've seen the Patriots, and the Patriots have done the opposite of this. get rid of the egos, the guys that want the money and the attention, and stand by the dudes that'll take a little bit less.

It doesn't mean that Brady doesn't have an ego or that Gronk didn't as well, but it means that the right times they were willing to sacrifice those egos. Brady running the football more, Gromk becoming a better blocker, and the guys that weren't were gone. The history of the New England Patriots, when it's properly told, is told about building an entire team, valuing character over talent, which is what Pittsburgh's trying to copy.

Browns are going the opposite. How does it play out? Going to be absolutely fascinating to watch over the next 12 months. All right, coming up next. There's one NBA move this summer that can level the playing field on and off the court. And I think the league wants it to happen.

But there is one massive, massive reason for caution. I'll tell you what that is 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 IHeard Radio app. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind.

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

their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slic Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist,

Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough.

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

I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast. Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the hard way 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 I-Heart Radio app. Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 on. 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. You might not be able to get a new car with your tax refund, but you can make your car feel like it's brand new. All needs a great paint job.

Coming to Make-Go today and get your dream paint job during their tax season sales event. Chris Brousard will join us upcoming after we get to Joy Taylor with the news. I wanted to share with you this story that I've seen, and you've heard discussed earlier on Undisputed and, of course, on our Fox radio shows, which lead up to it. It appears that even during the season, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant's friendship, their bond has not grown less cohesive.

They've grown to be even closer, that they're communicating constantly about the possibility of their future. future. This has been reported across multiple different websites, and I think it's going to be interesting to see what takes place this upcoming off season. There's a couple of teams that, of course, could acquire both of them as free agents. Remember, KD would have to opt out of his deal, which is expected. Many people think he'll leave, although we don't know how the NBA playoffs play out. There's an assumption that they win a title, but when you win a title, your third and three

years, do you go for four? Do you get talked into, hey, come back, let's go for four, even MJ didn't get four in a row. But let's offer up the possibility, maybe even likelihood that they become free agents. Of course, there is the chance of the Clippers. They could acquire two stars. There is the chance of the Lakers. The Lakers could find a way to jettison enough pieces to where they could get KD and Kyrie. But that would seem odd, wouldn't it? Like, it just especially considering Kevin Durant and says that he doesn't love the nonsense that follows around LeBron James

and Kyrie Irving based upon what I've been told just that was the part of the LeBron experience he didn't love it wasn't that he didn't like playing with LeBron it was the LeBron's the GM LeBron picks the coach and when things go wrong it's your fault when things go right it's LeBron's fault so I think that part probably makes it a non-starter

you have Brooklyn who all they would have to do is find a way to get rid of DeAngelo Russell and theoretically they could get both Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving theoretically. But do you want to go to New York and play for Brooklyn instead of going New York and playing for the Knicks, right? The whole idea is to be the guy that solves the Knicks. If you can be the guy that solves the Knicks. And if you're the NBA, that's what you want to have happened. That's what you want to have happen. It's a dream scenario for the league.

If you're Adam Silver, this is what you want. It's the number one, it's the biggest city in the country, the number one media market. And as we've seen the ratings go down, one reason is because you can't watch LeBron play late. Now you don't want to watch the Lakers play because LeBron's not even playing, but it's hard to have East Coast viewers. 66% of sports TV viewers are in the East Coast. stay up to watch LeBron or the Warriors or anything West Coast. You also have something that with inside circles in the NBA is important. You have an all African-American front office and head coach.

And I think Adam Silver wants to champion that because the league has been made up with so many prominent African-Americans. You want more, more diversity, not less. And the only way to truly support black head coaches and black general managers and black presidents is to have the best players want to play for them. And you got David Fisdale, who everybody, everybody likes and respects, has been a part of championship teams with the Miami Heat. Like all of these things checks a bunch of boxes. It levels out the playing field in the West so that the Warriors are not ridiculously dominant.

It makes the Knicks prominent again and gives them at least a likelihood of making the playoffs and a possibility of competing for a championship. It supports the nation's biggest market, the media capital. or by the way, the NBA is located and fills up Madison Square Garden. Sure, the owner no one really likes, but he doesn't have any oversight into the team. He gave that away when he got Phil Jackson, and he just shows up at games and sometimes makes an ass of himself. The only thing really holding it back is the fact that, well, I guess two things. One, New York and the media and Kyrie and KD, they haven't exactly said and done the right.

things. And the pressure of being an upcoming free agent seems to have bothered both of them. They can want to talk just about basketball all they want. That's just not the way it works. And in New York, everything is magnified. The good will be made better than possible. Think of Lynn sanity, right? Two weeks of Lynn sanity made Jeremy Lynn into a household name. Imagine what Katie and Kyrie can do. But the bad can make it into what's seen a national disaster. Oh, and there's the whole idea of who gets credit for being the guy that saves the Knicks.

Is it Kyrie? Is it KD? And we can say it doesn't matter. It shouldn't matter. All that matters is that you win games and you do so with your buddy. But there's a lot of people who are friends or family members who say, you know, the worst thing to do is work with friends, work with family members, because that's a good way to ruin those relationships. KD and Kyrie to New York If you're in the front office of the NBA

If you're in Adam Silver's office Dude you want that to happen so bad You can't You can't make it happen But you can champion it But there is the holdback of How will they handle themselves in New York On the white hot spotlight

The Media Capital of the country We'll find out with Chris Broussard In a second first let's get to Joy Taylor with the news No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. So, LeBron is going to use this offseason to film Space Jam 2, as we know, but he's not going to let it interrupt his usual offseason preparations or rehab in this case.

So according to the athletic, the Space Jam 2 set will have a full-length basketball court for LeBron to use for his summer training. It is a basketball movie, right? Right, but, I mean, to have a full-length. actual court on set is not normal. Like you have a set that you shoot on and then he's going to have a set that he practices and works out on. Yeah, but they had this exact same thing for Michael Jordan. Like this feels like it's another LeBron, like let's plant this in the media.

Don't worry, I'm working on my game. I'm going to be working out. Yeah. This is very, very poor timing for this movie to be shot. I'm healthy enough to, I'm healthy enough to shoot a movie about basketball and work out in basketball but not healthy enough to play for the Lakers? Well, I mean, like shooting the movie, like being healthy enough to shoot the movie,

that part doesn't stick out so much. It's just the whole aura around the Lakers and LeBron right now after this disastrous season and all the different negative storylines and just bad press that LeBron has gotten off of this season. It's just not, for the movie

itself. Like, I'm a big space jam fan. I am too. I wasn't particularly excited about this Space Jam 2 reboot. I really don't know what to expect. I'm going to watch it, obviously, but I don't know what to expect. Not that I'm a crazed space jam purist or something.

Is Kevin Hart going to play Bill Murray's character? Is that going to happen? That feels like it's going to happen. I don't know. I mean, I'm just, I'm hoping that it's, I'm imagining it's going to be fun. LeBron's pretty good at the movie stuff. So I don't think it's going to be disappointing in that regard.

It's just whatever fun buzz you had for it, it kind of feels like a little bit of a dud for this. season. You know what I mean? Like if they had gone to the playoffs. Yeah, but it's not going to come out. It's not going to come out for another year. Not for another year, but I mean,

you kind of hope that you're not in the same situation when it does come out. Because it just doesn't, it doesn't feel. I wish you would have done this. It doesn't come out for two years. That we said really? 2021. Yeah.

Was there to shoot it and then edit it? You need a, you need two years to edit it? Well, I mean, how long on these things take? I guess because you have, you got to draw the Bugs Bunny and the and the monster. I mean, there's, although I thought they do that. on computer. Do kids watch Bugs Bunny?

They watch Spacecham. No, I mean, you know, they go through the list of, you know, from Phineas and Burbs to Spong Yuleytoxia. Looney Tunes is, I mean, still a big, you can still watch it whenever. It's just kids do view things differently. They'll watch LeBron James. Right. Do you have to introduce him to who Bugs Bunny is and why he goes? Isn't that going to be crazy?

What's up, Doc? Right. That's going to be weird, right? Going to be very strange. Lola Bunny is my favorite character. All right. So there's no question. NBA has evolved over the past decade, and one of the most obvious changes is the center position, or what's starting to be the lack thereof.

And Draymond Green told the Athletic that he believes his team has something to do with it. He said the game kind of got to a point where centers were irrelevant for the most part. You look back on it, we probably played a part in it. And the Athletic also had a great point from Steve Kerr. He said, in Kerr's estimation, the modern game never killed off the center spot. It's the traditional power forward who's now extinct. You either guard a wing or a center. the Charles Oakley, the Horace Grants, those kind of guys are gone.

Kerr said it's more that you just play one big, so that big, to me, represents a five. Now, I think what Draymond is really saying is Steph Curry killed off the center spot with the three ball. But I disagree with you. I'm not saying that he did. I'm saying just the evolution of the game itself and the value of, I mean, Seth is not the only person that is. I mean, obviously he is a transformative shooter, one of the best, if not the, best shooter in league history. But I think as a whole, the game has become more finesse,

more skill, and that has played a part in it as well, along with the three-point shooting. This is one of those, how long is this radio show or this segment? It's a great discussion. I would, I side more with Steve Kerr. Yeah, I do too. And, but Draymond's right, but Steve Kerr is more right, right? Because you do start, everybody has a center. Right. a traditional center. The power forward is useless unless he can shoot a three. And LeBron James is a power forward who's now a point guard as well. Right.

LeBron may actually be more a part of it because he's created a positionless. Right. But it's also, I mean, really it started probably with the Phoenix Suns. When they moved Sean Marion to the four, and they played four out and or even five out, and Amari Stonemar became their center. And now of a sudden you had to have a power forward that could guard out there. You still need rim protection. And then Draymond is the kind of elixir to kind of fix that because you can switch all of these screens if you can do it.

It's a, look, honestly, it'd be a fascinating documentary on how this thing is evolved. But there are no. But it's an elaborate discussion. And, like, look, I've made this argument with Nick Wright before. Like, I mean, how much better would Michael Jordan be if you take the power forwards out of the game where there's nobody who can knock you on your ass when you drive to the basket the way that throws? But you also can't do that anymore. So also the hand check being removed. It's probably played a huge goal in as well. Both have played a part to where it's offensive basketball, downhill, spread the court.

The game's taught completely different. I coach my son. We put five guys outside. They're not even three-point shooters. We put them five guys outside three-point line, right? Because you're going to play that way for the rest of your life. Right. You're not playing motion basketball reading screens, even if the warriors do some of that stuff. So it's a really interesting discussion. I just, I agree with actually both of them. I think we bottled it up perfectly. And finally, the New Look Brown's option. Offense appears to be stacked for the upcoming season. We talked about that earlier. Baker Mayfield couldn't be happier to be at the forefront of this turnaround,

and he said he's ready to bring a Super Bowl to Cleveland. Absolutely not satisfied with how last year ended by any means, and then you start to realize what jump you want to make from year one to year two. And for me, it's really important for people to realize that it's not just a fluke season. Like, this is real. I want to improve not satisfied with setting one record. I want to win Super Bowls. I want to do a lot more.

They keep increasing the more talent I have around me. It's going to make my job a lot easier, but that means I have to work that much harder for it. I think that's a good perspective for Baker to have. I don't really like the aim low overachieve mentality. You're there to win Super Bowls, even if it is Cleveland, and that seems impossible. They put an incredible roster together, at least on paper,

and we do this every year. This roster looks Super Bowl-bound, but they have incredible talent on that team. On both sides of the football. I'm not saying they're going to win Super Bowl this year, but if they don't have some level of success this year, make it to the playoffs and win a playoff game, it's kind of a disappointment when you look at that roster.

Yeah, let's see how the season plays out. If they're healthy, yes, I would generally agree. Well, there's a lot that can still happen. We haven't even gotten to the draft yet. But we're talking about how it's constructed right now with the assumption that they will add more talent in the draft. Yes. And we make these proclamations based off of the idea

that every team with the talent healthy as they have it, knowing that that's not going to be the case, of course, you're going to lose people along the way. That's how it goes. But the way that it's constructed right now, on paper, they have expectations. Sure. I mean, offensive line is going to be an issue.

And they basically also, it's like coaching and what happens when they hit adversity. I'll just say this about Baker Mayfield, because I know Colin and I disagree greatly on what type of dude he is. every person I've ever met that knows Baker Mayfield says and if you've ever been around him I don't know what he has the

quarterback thing where when he walks into a room he takes over a room he has a presence he has a presence he makes you believe now look he wasn't good against good teams against the good teams last year 10 touchdowns 10 interceptions he'll even tell you that now he's a rookie so we have to have reasonable understanding of where he was

but he is he has a brilliant football mind he's an incredible leader. He is still small. He's not the greatest athlete on earth. And he's only played quarterback for half of one season. And he's got an unproven head coach. That said, like, that dude's an unbelievable leader. He gets guys to believe.

And I find nothing wrong with saying, yeah, why can't we win it? You know, like, whoever won't. I think you should. Right now, Cleveland is at a crossroads in the history of their franchise. Right. They've been traditionally the punching back. and, you know, they go through quarterbacks and they go through coaches

and they go through front office and we know all that. Now's your opportunity to create a culture of winning in Cleveland. You have Baker, who should have started from the beginning of the season. You have a new coach. You have talent. This is your opportunity. Set the expectations that you're going to win a Super Bowl. You should.

If it's just okay for you to make the playoffs, if that's just okay, then that's all you're ever going to accomplish. I'm with you. That's Joy Taylor with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping. The herd lie news. A KD. Cairi move in free agency could be even bigger than you think.

Chris Broussard joins us next. I'm Doug Gottlieb. This is The Herd. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending. Opinions are flying.

And nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise. breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real.

From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. 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 Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark.

Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so rapidly. up in the chase, that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth. Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way.

Open your free 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 you don't belong. 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 IHart Women's Sports. Doug Gottlieb in for Colin alongside Joy Taylor. This is The Herd, wherever you may be. however you're making us part of your day. Thanks so much for joining us on a Tuesday. Big Boys back tomorrow.

Tanned, toned. I believe he's had himself a little son. I'm sure he'll brag about it and some sort of Colin Cowherd. No, no, no. This is not a humble brag, but here's what I've been doing sort of way. Anyway, great to be alongside you join. Let's welcome in Chris Broussard, who joins us via the Cowherd Global Satellite Network

live from New York City. Chris, I want to start with this new report out that KD and Kyrie have been in constant communication. As friends, that's generally what we do, but most people believe it's in regards to what they will do this upcoming off season. Isn't New York kind of the perfect scenario, not just for the two of them maybe, but more for the league? Doug, it's my dream scenario. And not because I'm a big Knicks fan, but as you said, it would be great for the league. I'm not killing Kevin Durant for going to Golden State and all that. But the fact of the matter is, they just became head and shoulders better than everybody else in the league.

And while the seasons are still exciting, the journey is exciting. The other little storylines, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, the triple double, LeBron in L.A., Boston and all their problems with Kyrie there. That stuff's exciting, but we know how it is. Golden State is going to win the championship. Next year, if KD and Kyrie Irving go to the Knicks, now of a sudden Golden State comes back to the pack with the rest of the elite teams, which would include Houston, you know, maybe OKC, Denver, if the Lakers can get their hands on Anthony Davis,

if Kauai Linder comes to the Clippers. I mean, you got those teams in the West. I didn't even mention a few others. And in the east you would have Philadelphia, Boston still would be pretty good, New York, Milwaukee, I think Toronto still would be good. Like, you would have seven to nine teams that legitimately feel like they could win a championship and that fans feel like have a shot of getting to the final. So I think it would be tremendous for basketball.

Now, one thing I've been told is that both KD and Kyrie are looking at the media in New York and they're taking that into consideration. I'm not saying it's going to stop them from going there, but it is something that they're at least wondering about and considering in whether or not they want to play for the Knicks. Yeah, because they've both handled the media so well. That thing has gone so great for them this year, right? I mean, I got to be honest,

it doesn't look like a match made in heaven from that standpoint. That's why I would definitely not recommend that either one of them went there by himself. But if they go there together, I think they'll be able to, you know, handle it as a team. And so, and I'll say this too, and I was a Knicks beatwriter for the New York Times, and I was at the Times for six years in that New York market, they will get a honeymoon period.

The Knicks have been so bad for so long that they'll get like two years where they won't necessarily expect a championship. So the first year they get them to the playoffs, maybe win around, you know, they'll be fine. Second year, go deeper, conference finals, NBA finals, whatever, they'll be fine. It won't be, I don't think, until that third year that if they haven't delivered a championship, that they'll really start catching heat. So I hope it happens, again, not for the Knicks, in my opinion, but just for the league.

Speaking of the league, what's the reaction around the league to shutting down LeBron James? I understand that they're not playing for anything, but they have home games remaining. They have TNT games remaining, and the league's biggest name and the league's biggest star, he's not going to play because of a groin injury that he suffered, you know, three months ago. I understand the narrative of shut him down as soon as they weren't going to make the playoffs, but the financial realities of it, how is that viewed in the NBA? From what I, people I've talked to, it's not that big of an issue because it's only six games. You know, I mean, we've seen guys on teams.

that are headed to the playoffs, rest for some of the final six games. LeBron's done it, did it in Cleveland in the past. Not the full six, but he'd rest for a few games. So I don't think this is that big of a deal. I mean, look, Kawhi Leonard, as you notice, Doug, he has sat 22 games for load management. Or in other words, rest. Now, I know he's not LeBron James. He's not the big draw.

But think about that. 22 games for rest. So we know that the analytics are telling teams and team doctors and coaches that you got to start resting some of these guys here and there. So I really don't think this is a huge deal. And let's face it, Doug, for the league, they want a healthy LeBron James as well. Luke Walton and the team talked about how this is good, not only for LeBron, but for the Lakers, they forgot to mention it's also good for the league

to have him as healthy as possible next season. No, I understand that, but, you know, all those other guys you're going to have in the playoffs, and none of them are the draw of LeBron James. I just, you know, they play the Warriors upcoming at home. I'd just like to have loaded up, and now a sudden you go out there and there's no LeBron James, there's no Lonzo ball, there's no Braynick. I'm like, I paid how much for good seats at Staples, and I don't get to see them in the playoffs either. I'd be more than a little ticked.

I would have a problem with it if once they were eliminated, how many games were like 15 or, you know, it was pretty obvious, even if they weren't mathematically eliminated. If he had sat down for, like, that type of stretch, 15, 16 final games, I would have a problem with it. But these last six, half their teams injured, the other guys you want to see play with LeBroner injured, I don't think it's a big deal. And I haven't really heard anybody in the league talk about it. Chris Broussard joining us here.

I'm Doug Gottlieb, Ben for calling this to Hurt on Fox Sports Radio, Fox Sports One, the IHeart radio app. My general take on the MVP is, look, James Hardin could have won it, not just last year, but two of the previous years, two of the three previous years as well. He could rightfully win it this year, but I don't actually think it's that hard to vote. I would give it to Janus, and here's the logic. The best defensive team in the league, and he's the reason why. They've won more games than anybody in the league, and he's the biggest reason why. And while he's not the player offensively that James Hardin is. As an all-around player, I don't actually think it's close.

Like, what am I missing here in that James Hardin and Janice and Tenacupo are suddenly neck in terms of who's going to be the MVP? Well, I agree with everything you said. And, you know, I'm an official voter. And I'm definitely leaning toward Janus and pretty much will vote for Janus. I don't know what's going to happen in these next few games to change. that. And I'm with you on Hardin.

I voted for Hardin in 2015. That was the first year, Steph won it. And Dwight Howard missed like half that season, and Hardin kept them right there near the top of the Western Conference. So I voted for him. So he's phenomenal. The only thing I really disagree with you on is how close it is. I do think it's incredibly close.

But I'm going with Janus. You mentioned the defense. He could become the defensive player of the year as well. They're the best defense in the league because of him. But here's another big thing that I don't think people are looking at, Doug. A lot of people are saying, oh, the rockets were dead in the water. They were four and seven. Then they were 11 and 14 and 13 and 14.

And then Hardin goes on this great 30-point scoring stretch and gets them back into the race. And now they're the third seed in the waste. Here's the, in the West. Here's the thing. Why were they in the hole? Hardin was there when they went four and seven and third. and 14. Chris Paul was there.

Clint Capella was there. So he let his team get in a hole over the first month and a half, two months of the season. I'm not going to punish Janice because he didn't let his team get in a hole. Janice has led his team not only with great individual play,

but to team success for the entirety of the season, full five months. Hardin has been great individually the whole season, but he's only led the team to success, for like three of the five months. So I'm not going to punish Janice for being great.

Now, Harden, though, here's the thing, and it sometimes comes into play with the Heisman trophy. Hardin has the wow moments. It's just as simple as that. I mean, Janus just steadily kills you with his 30 points, 12 rebounds, six dimes. He's not always the guy to take the last shot if they need one. But Hardin has the wow moments.

six games of 57 points or more. What, three, I think 50 point triple double. So that's where he's drawing a lot of the attention and the call for him to get it. And that's respectful because he's been fantastic individually, but I'm leaning toward Janus because I think there's been, not that Hardin doesn't have substance, but Hardin's got the style. Janus has a little more substance. No question.

I mean, it should be pointed out that, you know, whether it's Tray Young because they play at such a pace, the volume of three point shots that are taking. Like, we have to, I've even told you, we've argued this before about the triple double with Russell Westbrook. Like, it's different because there's so many more rebounds to be had. There's so many more assists to be had. Because, well, just because of the pace,

Joey and I talked about the elimination of the power forward, you know, crees up rebounding numbers. The, you know, the ball dominance of one guy, whether James Hardin or Russell Westbrook or Tray Young, like those guys, even honest, they're going to put up better. bigger numbers because they have the ball so much more often making the play as the shot clock runs down and there's nobody in the pain. Let me get two quick things real quick.

Boston Celtics, are they fixable before the playoffs? Man, that's a great question. They really look bad. I mean, we know they won last night, but it took them, you know, Miami came back and made a game out of it. And I know the heater playing for the playoff spot. But I think they'll beat Indiana. And I think they'll lose to Milwaukee in the second round. We were talking about Boston on first things first when we talked about Philadelphia, how far they can go. I think Philadelphia is the third best team in the East,

but I wouldn't be shocked if they somehow were able to beat a Toronto or Milwaukee in the playoffs. The one team Philadelphia, I don't think, can beat and doesn't want to see, at least right now, is Boston. And they wouldn't meet Boston until the Eastern Conference finals, but if Boston somehow gets there, it means they figured it out for at least the time being. They've got their chemistry together. Guys are honed in on the playoffs.

They would have beaten Milwaukee in the second round. And I think they would take out Philly in the conference final. Okay, I got 30 seconds for you. Same question, Oklahoma City, a team that we thought had an MVP candidate in Paul George. They've fallen on hard times. Are they fixable? No, well, there's a formula to fix it,

but I don't think it's going to happen. and they're going out early. Look, you know I'm a Westbrook fan with the triple doubles, but the fact of the matter is, for some reason in the last few months, month and a half, he started shooting more. When they were playing well, he was averaging 19 shots a game, four threes. Now he's averaging 22 shots a game and eight threes a game. He's scoring more 27 points a game.

But he's not helping his team. But he's not getting the assist like he was before. So that's when they went 7 and 14. Chris, great stuff. Thanks so much for joining us. on the Cowherd Global Satellite Network. Appreciate it, man. All right, my man.

That's the one only Chris Broussar, contributor on all the shows here on Fox Sports One and Fox Sports Radio. In regards to Josh Rosen, there's a way to handle it and not handle it. And guess what John Gruden's doing? I'll tell you next in 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. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source,

the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations

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

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

Join me, Keir Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free, Our Heart Radio app. Search Learn the 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 podcasts. 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 WNBA 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 Ladecki. 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 IHeartRadio app,

Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of I Heart Women's Sports. What up? Welcome in. This is The Herd, wherever you may be, and however you may be making as part of your day. Thank you so much for joining us. I'm Doug Gottlie, filling in for Colin Coward, who, yes, haters, he'll be back tomorrow. Don't worry. Uncle Colin will be back. I'm sure we'll have what Colin got right, what Colin got wrong.

Joy Taylor alongside. She does in vacation. She just grinds every day. Gives us a new look. No glasses. You know, we got the kind of a 70s sort of look. Is it?

I think so. I think so. It's a bang. Huh? With the bangs? Yeah. Maybe. I'm thinking 70s more than the 60s.

I'm thinking Austin Powers 2 more than Austin Powers 1. I'm thinking Austin Powers 2. Austin Powers. That's a throwback. Dude, I love Austin Powers 2 is one of my favorite movies. Not an Austin Powers fan? Yeah, yeah. Okay, okay.

I just didn't, I didn't know if you didn't like the movie. We had not discussed previously. You know what's interesting about the Gruden thing is people freaked out when they saw John Gruden's contract. Like, 10 years, $100 million, that's crazy. Well, and part of the issue is we don't actually know how much most NFL coaches make. And so when you see $100 million, it sounds. crazy. One, Gruden has said he doesn't make $100 million in this deal. We don't know. We don't know what the back end of it looks like. But even if it is 10 years, $100 million, let's just be

honest about it. They had to overpay to get him. Look, I got a story about John Calipari and an offer that was allegedly made by UCLA to acquire the services of John Calipari. And they did the opposite in Westwood. Remember, John Gruden had a lifetime appointment. When you're on a Monday night football booth and you've been there a couple years and you're pretty good at it. And while Gruden didn't necessarily give biting analysis, dude, he knew every player and had film on every workout. The guy was amazing in terms of level of preparedness for the job. How well liked and respected was he at the other place?

they were going to get rid of his play-by-play host because he didn't like him. They weren't going to change out John Gruden. So when you have kind of a lifetime appointment, you're making $6 or $7 million in order to get you back, you got to overpay, and then you have to give a guy the chance to fix things because it was clearly broken. And that's what the Raiders did. So while you can freak out about the $100 million, understand that you had to overpay, you had to overextend, you had to give him some to steal from the godfather,

all for he couldn't refuse. and that's what the Raiders did. And every move that has been made from the dollars and length of his contract to the Khalil-Mack trade to the Amari Cooper trade has been met with questions from people in our business.

And look, it's okay to question what any coach is doing, any guy who's running the personnel of the football team, as well as coaching the team, and there seems to be, a narrative out of, in terms of words, is one thing and actions of another. But this is what Gruden is doing.

He is, they were tanking. They were shedding themselves of contracts either they didn't want or that they didn't think they could afford to redo in order to get more draft picks in order to sign more players, to get more overall talent. That's what they've done. And John Gruden has used his time in the media. to perfect saying the exact right thing, even if he's doing the complete opposite, which, by the way, is the opposite of what the Arizona Cardinals have done.

The Oakland Raiders continuing to insist that Derek Carr is their franchise quarterback. The Raiders, by the way, have held a private workout with Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray Monday in Dallas, and that's from NFL Inside, NFL Network Insider Ian Rappaport. The workout was first reported by Albert Breer, who added that the staff would then head to work out Ohio State signal caller Dwayne Haskins. Now, wait a second.

Didn't the Raiders say that Derek Carr is their guy? Why are they working out Kyla Murray? Why are they working out Dwayne Haskins? Huh. Now, look, it could be a smokescreen, or it could be them doing their due diligence, or it could be. what they want to do, which is draft Kyla Murray and trade away or cut Derek Carr because there's not a ton of dead cap money remaining on his contract.

And then as other teams have done around the league or as even the Browns have done, right? You have a quarterback on a rookie deal, which even if you take a guy number one overall, you take a guy early in the draft, is a nominal amount of money in comparison to Aaron Rogers money, Matt Stafford money, pick the top quarterback. that are 20 million plus. That's not what the rookies are making. What John Gruden's done is he sat out and viewed the league and said, hey, what works? It works when you have a quarterback on a rookie deal and you get a bunch of draft picks and a bunch of talent.

And then you load up. Which, by the way, is kind of what they've done in Houston with the Astros, kind of what they've done in Philadelphia with the 76ers. Like, look, there's a trend in sports. and if you're blind to tanking and why it absolutely works, you haven't been paying attention. The Celtics did it. It worked.

It didn't work with Rick Petino when they tried to get Tim Duncan, but it's worked for the most part. Now look, do you have to nail the draft picks and get a little lucky and have the right health and have the right coach in order to win a championship? Sure. But the Astros did it in 2013 and they've been to playoffs two of the last three years and they've won a World Series.

The Philadelphia 76ers were abysmal for two or three years and they're one of the favorites to get to the NBA finals and they seem to have a sustainable team and model as they're building around their young core. This is just the football incarnation of it, which by the way is what the Cleveland Browns have done. They won one game over two years and loaded up on draft picks and then found the right quarterback under a rookie scale

and that allowed them to go out and add Odell Beckham Jr. To add a Jarvis Landry. and to add other pieces. But it's more what Gruden is saying that shows he understands the media. Think about it. He's got Mike Mayock who is in the media for his entire professional life and John Gruden.

And when asked about Derek Carr, absolutely our franchise quarterback. When they trade for Antonio Brown and redo his deal, did you know what he did? When visited Derek Carr, you think he did that on his own? Really. You don't think that he said like, listen, go over to Derek Carr's house, hug him.

He's run routes for him, throw the ball with him, he's your quarterback. Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals could not be playing this any worse. Don't you remember Steve Kime, who's their general manager when asked at the combine about Josh Rosen, who they just drafted last year in the first round? He's our quarterback for now. right he's our quarterback imagine saying that about your new bride you've been married for a year she's my wife

for now what would that go over at home instead of heaping praise on Josh Rosen listen Josh Rosen's been amazing remember they changed offensive coordinators and put Byron left which they're midseason how about man we had two offense coordinators he was great with both

coaching change he's been unbelievable As soon as we hired Cliff Kingsbury, he couldn't be more excited. We couldn't be more excited about the partnership. It doesn't matter if that's the reality. The idea that a general manager who hired and fired a head coach within one year is also essentially telling you he wants nothing to do with the quarterback that he drafted within one year. Just shows he has no idea how this job works and how to control the media. Of course, John Gruden wants to explore the possibility of Kyler Murray.

He would be a dynamic quarterback under a rookie contract. And, oh, yeah, by the way, really the heart and toughness of Derek Carr has been called into question several times over by different staffs that have coached him and by different players that have played with him. Not sold on Derek Carr? Nobody is. You're not? I'm not.

Joy's not. No one sold on Derek Car. Great guy. Do I want him be my quarterback? Like, maybe, I don't know. but he's not going to say that publicly. What's the win? Meanwhile, Josh Rosen, they can't give him away.

Because imagine if you're the New York Giants who need a franchise quarterback to ultimately replace Eli Manning. And by the way, the Giants are doing the smart thing. We love Eli. We like him to stay this year. We like him to stay next year. Do they want another quarterback?

Of course they're not idiots. Dave Gettleman is not blind, deaf or dumb. But what's the win in telling the world like, look, we're just throwing Eli out there until we find somebody who's better. It doesn't make any, you win nothing in that. Instead, you go like, look, Eli's a Hall of Famer. He's won two Super Bowls. He's an all-time great.

It's his job until he wants to walk away. That's not the reality of it, but that's not what you do in the media. Because the Giants have two first-round picks, and right now, why would they give away either one of them for Josh Rosen? The Redskins have moved on from going into Josh. Rosen. The Miami Dolphins who need a quarterback moved on from going on Josh Rosen. Like the only hope is that the Chargers who need a replacement to Philip Rivers go like, all right, here, take a second round pick form or a third round pick form.

Because ask yourself this, if you're that general manager, if you're Tom Telesco of the Chargers or Dave Gettleman of the Giants and the phone rings and says, hey, do you like Rosen? You say, yeah, I liked him pretty well in the draft. You know, we had some questions or some things that we really like. got to ask you. You just drafted him last year and you want to trade him now. Why?

This is someone selling a house that they just moved into in less than two years. Like, why would you take the tax hit even if you're going to make money on it and you're likely going to lose money? Why would you move out of that house just to move to a different house?

Makes you think that there's foundation issues, doesn't it? Makes you think there's something about the house that just doesn't... Is it haunted? And people think there's haunted spirits in the house. Is there a foundation issue? Is there some sort of layout issue that you just can't solve? There's something about the location that you're like,

I didn't even realize that there's a gun range in the backyard. That's the Rosen thing. You had some questions. Personality. Is he a leader? Is he durable? Is he coachable? Is he likable?

There's some things you like. but now all of a sudden the Cardinals not only want to get rid of him, but they're not telling everybody who wants to listen. We don't like them. We love them. Which is what the Raiders are doing. Look, it's totally fair to criticize the actions that the Raiders have taken. If you think, they obviously thought Killea Mack was great,

but they got two first round picks for him. Bears thought he was great too. And earlier this week, John Gruden laid out, hey, look at all the dudes we got. because of the money that we saved by not having to pay Khalil Mack, and we have the draft picks. And then listen to the words that they have said about Der Carr. It doesn't mean it's the reality. It's controlling the narrative.

It's not questioning the leadership of their quarterback and not hurting his trade value, which is all the Cardinals are doing. And if you're questioned about it, we question him, question him on it. John Gruden can just say, hey, we're doing our due diligence. We got two first-round traffics. We're always in the market.

Everybody's in the market for a quarterback. They're the most valuable commodity out there. Derek Carr is still under contract with us, still our franchise quarterback. In a stunning development, a guy who's never really run a franchise, combined with Mike Mayock, who's never really worked in a franchise, have used their media background to understand

the words that they say in the media actually matter, as opposed to Steve Kime, who has butchered this thing 10-way sideway, 10 times sideways. They both are interested in Kyla Murray. They both aren't in love with their starting quarterbacks. But the Raiders understand what to say. Cardinals do not.

Do the Browns have too many dudes, too many egos, and too inexperienced to head coach? I'll ask Reggie Bush, one of the all-time greats, joins us upcoming next. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd. Weekdays and noon. Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are

trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered.

Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo SlicLife 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark.

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

or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear 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 hard way 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 went 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. 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 on. 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 IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you

get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Saturday, we've got a double header for you on FS1. First Mike Trout and the Angels face the Rangers at 4 Eastern, followed by Chris Bryant and the Cubs, taking on Kristen Yelich and the Brewers, only on FS1 and the Fox Sports app. Doug Gowley, me in for Colin. You heard the voice of the lovely and talented Joy Taylor. and seated on our couch is a Heisman trophy winner and a college football analyst for Fox Sports.

He's Reggie Bush played 11 season in Nashville League, drafted number two overall. Let me start with the OBJ press conference. That was an interesting one, right? When you got all the players up there. No coach, no GM, no president, nothing. No. What's your reaction? I like it because it came off as this is a player-first organization.

right and so and I like just having the players up there and and really allowing us to see them together right as a team and all handling the press conference I thought they handled it well you know they were even Miles Garrett who didn't say anything literally didn't he was up there for moral support right and so I loved seeing that and I love the things that I heard from Odell talking about legacy because I do believe that this move um is, it has that feeling to it, has a legacy feeling to it. I actually ran into Odell a couple of days ago at a restaurant, and we spoke about that thing. This move to me feels a lot like when I went to New Orleans, the magnitude, the opportunity that he has in front of him, because winning a Super Bowl for the New York Giants is different than winning a Super Bowl for the Cleveland Browns, right?

Like, the Giants have been there, done that before, but you went on in Cleveland? Like, that's your kids' kids will get free meals, right? like, oh, that's Odell's grandkids, come on in here. You know what I mean? And that's the significance that this has for them. With that said, I love what I heard from Freddie Kitchens. He said, we're good on paper right now.

That's it. So they still have a lot of work to do. And he understands that, you know, we have a ways to go. Just because we're good on paper right now, it does not mean that, you know, we're going to win X amount of games. All right, let me ask you then about coaching. Yeah. Obviously, when you want to soup bowl, it's with Sean Payton.

and, you know, for people who've forgotten, Sean Payton's a Parcell's guy, right? Came over from the Dallas Cowboys. You know, can Freddie Kitchens, who is a running back coach and only call plays the second half of the year, can he walk in front of that room and command the respect it's going to take with,

there's a lot of talent, but there's also some egos there. That's a, that is the biggest question, I think, of the season. Because you have the talent, right? You have now the most talented team. The Cleveland Browns, maybe have ever had. And so now to me, does the ownership fall more on the coaching staff? Because you have no excuses now of so why you can't be successful. And it is going to be interesting to say the least to watch Freddie Kitchens as a head coach. Because Freddie Kitchens

as a running back coach, you know, to the players, there's a different level of respect. There's a different level of respect that you, that the players that he has to command when he walks into a room like you just alluded to. And so going from running back coach to play caller to now head coach, you know, that's tough. And to do it that quick, like you've quickly jumped into power, you know, as a CEO of this football team. And the direction of this team is going to be based off of the culture that he creates for them, right? Because like you said, there are a lot of personalities there right now. You're going to have to keep them all happy. And so now, you know, I'm going to be watching the coaching staff.

Does Baker have the goods? And I bring this up because, you know, people went crazy over the yardage that he put up. Yeah. But against the good teams, I think 11 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, right? He's still a smallish quarterback. Yeah. And he still only started half the season or three quarters of the season, whatever. Does Baker have the goods? He has the personality to command the room. Does he have the goods? I think he does. I was at the game, the Thursday night game, where he took over as quarterback, and the electricity in that stadium completely shifted when Baker stepped on that field.

The fans were chanting for him at some point. And when he stepped on that field, it was like the offensive line was blocking better. It was like the – he all of a sudden had time to throw the football. They were marching the football up and down the field. They were playing New York Jets. it was just a different feeling when he stepped on that field. He elevated a play of not only the players around him. He elevated the stadium.

Like he energized the stadium. And I quickly found myself, I became a fan right away, like watching that game and just seeing how just one player can really change the direction and just the feeling about a franchise. It will be interesting with the raised expectations. Let me ask you about the Cardinals and the Raiders. I just talked a little bit about the fact that. they both have quarterbacks that they don't love, right? Josh Rosen's only been there for like, it feels like two minutes. Whereas Derek Carr's been there.

And for whatever reason, neither coaching staff seems to have totally embraced it. But the Raiders are saying all the right thing. We love him. He's our guy, even though they're still working out Kyler and working out, and working out Dwayne Haskins. The Cardinals, they can't say enough nice things about Kyler Murray. and they've said, look, Josh, it's their quarterback for now. What do you think of the two teams and now they're handling similar situations?

Well, the Arizona Cardinals, you know, they obviously got a first time head coach as a NFL head coach. And so their approach is a lot different than, you know, obviously Gruden's is a season veteran. Like he's been in this, he has skin in the game. He's done this before. And so, you know, Derek Carr, you know, I agree with you. They're saying all the right things. They're doing it the right way. And at the same time, they're still entertaining.

right, Dwayne Haskins and Colleen Murray. And so everybody knows that Cliff Kings, Cliff Kingsbury, right? Cliff Kingsbury's offensive system is better suited for Caller Murray than it is Josh Rosen because of his athletic ability and what he brings to the table. You know, with that said, I'm not sure how much of this falls on, you know, the organization or the head coach because just looking at the last two years, you know, this year and last year for the Arizona Cardinals, there's a lot of questions. Like, I'm still scratching my head as to how.

Steve Wilkes got fired so quickly. It wasn't allowed to really even go through a draft, a full draft class. Plus, remember they signed Sam Bradford, paid him $20 million. And he barely, he did nothing. Nothing. Nothing.

Like, it's stunning. And you mentioned Wilkes. Obviously, they didn't. And then he hires Cliff Kingsbury who tells them, I can fix Josh Rosen with Mike, and then he gets the job, and now he wants Kyler Murray. And a lot of it feels like, you know,

this has a little bit of Sean McVeigh to do with it right. Like, you know, the NFL is a Copycat League. Sure. And so this feels like they're trying to find that next Sean McVe, the new young, energetic coach who's going to bring over this, you know, this spread open offensive mentality. And, you know, we've seen that tried before, and it didn't work out. And so I just wonder how much of this is, you know,

going back on the president, the GM, like the people behind the scenes who are calling the shots because again, you know, looking at this year and last year, I can't put a lot of this on the head coach. He just got there. So he's still trying to figure this thing out. And so I just look at the organization. You know, they have to get this one right. Let me ask about the Patriots. Reggie Bush, our guest here in the herd. I'm Doug Gottlieb. Reggie, of course, you can see him this fall. He, Urban Meyer, Matt Leinert, Brady Quinn, and Rob Stone will be the host, a one-hour pregame show on Big Fox every Saturday in the fall. Let me ask you about the Pats. Look, no one wants to call premature death,

right? But even the Spurs eventually father time caught up to them and they've had players retire. They're still a playoff team, but they're not going to compete for a championship. We look at the Pats and Ronk retires, you know, Trent Brown, whatever he signs with the Raiders, you know, you lose flowers as well. And they're going to replace. guys, but at some point, AIDS starts to catch up with Brady, and late in the season it seemed to. And at some point, you lose enough talent

that the leagues, their pick to win, their overrunners, the highest in the NFL, even though they didn't have the best record last year in the NFL. There were some struggles. What do you think the proper expectations for the Patriot should be? The proper expectations, I mean,

you know, I've always said coming off of a Super Bowl, it's tough to get back to Super Bowl and get back to that, you that same form that you showed, you know, the year before, because everybody is, you know, everybody's going to give you their A game. But the thing that the Patriots do have to their advantage is, that division is still trash. Right.

Like, they still aren't good, and it doesn't look like dolphins got better. It doesn't look like Buffalo got better. It's LeBron in the East. Yeah, exactly. It's LeBron East. That's what it feels like. The one thing is, look, look, the Jets are going to be much better. They're going to be better.

They added Levyon Bell. They have a bunch of money. They have defensive players. Right. They've added defensive players. The bills are going to be better. Josh Allen in his second year. Yeah.

He couldn't be worse. I guess he could. And they should be better. Should be, but we've said that before. And like, look, the other teams in the AFC, the chargers are legit. The chiefs are legit. They're going to be as good or better. We mentioned the Browns in their town.

I would think Pittsburgh is still. And then, you know, the Jackson, Jaguars should be better with Nick Foles if those guys play. The Colts are going to be like the AFC is better. It is. I'm not sitting here telling you they're going to win six games. But the expectation they're going to be the best team in the NFL record-wise. I would disagree with that.

Yeah. And you lose a guy like Granc, man. Gronk brought so much to that team, just his size, his stature. You literally can't guard a guy like that. You put a linebacker on him. He's too slow. You put a safety on him. He's too small, right?

Because he just bodies them out and blocks him out. And then not only his past catching ability, but his blocking ability on that offensive line, I thought was very underrated. Because a lot of those runs, big runs, that we've seen over the course of his career, had a lot to do with him and his ability and his want to. Because a lot of Titans don't even want to get down there and do it anymore. And so you have a guy that wants to get down in the trenches, get dirty, get physical, and open it up. And I believe Sonny Michelle really saved this offensive. last year. I mean, a lot of his production in the playoffs, he was a big

reason why they were successful. And Gronk opening up holes. Being a dual threat, tight end is a huge rich why. Welcome to the family. Thank you so much for being with us. Reggie Bush joins. Let's quickly get to Joy Taylor with the news. Turn on the news.

This is the herd line news. So the Lakers have pretty much been a disaster this season and there was speculation last week that LeBron might fill some of his time by joining Team USA for the FIbo World Cup in China. But LeBron shot down that notion this week. He told The Athletic, I love everything about pop, obviously.

But this is not a good summer for me. I'm actually proud of LeBron, LeBron saying no to something this year. He said no. Did he go to the Olympics last time? He said no to other Team USA stuff in the past as well. He's a two-time Olympic gold medalist. He was in 2004, they won bronze.

And then he was in 08.8. 2012 games. Okay, so they didn't play in 16. Yeah. There you go. Yeah, look, I'm with you. Like, if you use the summer to truly rehab, like, here's my

issue with the Lakers. Everyone is saying, all right, let's turn over to LeBron, play LeBron ball, get shooters around him, maybe get Anthony Davis or whatever, and we'll figure it out. Remember, the expectations of that LeBron of old will be this LeBron. And I don't know

one of his body will hold up or two, if he can defend the way he used to. Like, he used to be, you could almost play you at four positions. He really never regard big guys very well, but he could play four or five positions defensively, and now he's a bit of a defensive liability. So I get some of it, but he's not, even if he loses weight, and I think he should drop probably 20 pounds and lean up later in his career

and continues to evolve and develop his game as his jump shots become better and more refined. Like, I just don't know if he's the same player, so if the same blueprint works. But what can you base it on? You really don't have an entire body of work this season because of his injury to see what he really is. And like we said yesterday, they were playing well up until his injury. If those injuries hadn't happened, we would not be sitting here having the same conversation. They would be in the playoffs.

Obviously a low-seat. There was still some weird stuff, right? Like the fight with when he grabbed Chris Paul was weird. The Anthony Davis thing was weird. But you're right. They were a playoff team. They had, look, I have friends in that organization. They're like, we have no idea how quickly this happened.

We had incredible chemistry. We had a good feeling. No, the roster wasn't perfect. It went downhill fast. The roster was not perfect. There's a lot of things in play this year. But I think him being in the situation he is with the injury, obviously you don't want to go play in the Fever World Cup,

but you need to rehab. He's got shooting space jam this summer as well, which obviously not the best timing for that either. but it's not going to come out until 2020 anyway, so you got to shoot it. But to me, I wish the, and, you know, it's all hindsight, but I wish the LeBron had done less projects. Right.

And you can still do some projects. Like, the shop was great, and that was a success, and there was plenty of talking points that we all got from that, just from their conversations. But there was just so much going on that it's almost like L.A., like the Hollywood of L.A. just kind of swallowed LeBron up, which is pretty incredible because it is LeBron. But sometimes you just got to say no to stuff.

And like, obviously this is an on-the-court situation, but it's just too much. And had all that not been going on, I think there would have been a little more sympathy to the Lakers' situation than there is. Because it just feels like there's just so much on this plate with the Lakers. Listen, everyone thinks, you know, the California dream, you come out, you do movies, you produce, you do all that stuff. and he's done it. I would disagree in terms of the quality of a lot of the, some of the quality is okay. But whatever.

Like, I've never made movies and TV shows. I know it's incredibly. There's reason that some guys, it's hard to do. And I think he also spread himself too thin in terms of too many projects, and that's why the projects, most of them, weren't as good as maybe they could have been. Right. And then it takes you away from your primary focus

and opens you up to criticism. That's kind of what it is. It's like, Jack of all trades are a Master of One, right? and that LeBron is obviously has been the greatest basketball player in the world for how many years. And you can argue this year he's not been and it doesn't have a correlation to everything else

that he's been doing. But I don't want to be too critical of doing things off the court like that because when guys get in trouble off the court or off the field were on them. So being involved in positive things and projects, I have no problem with that. It just felt like a big change, a lot of pressure.

And I think all of us, in general, everyone, and kind of underestimated the pressure that would really be on the Lakers and the blonde changes, yes. Yeah, and like, look, there's all kinds of things you don't factor in when you haven't been to Los Angeles. Like, where you live is, you know, like, look, the idea of, like, Brentwood where he lives is right down the street.

But right down the street, at the wrong time, take an hour to get home. Yeah, it's an hour. Take an hour to get home, right? And then, remember, now his kids are older. He has two sons that play basketball, and he is an active father. He goes to those games.

And while, you know, like, look, you're in Cleveland, you go down to wherever they're playing in, you can get in, you can get out, you're LeBron James, it's not that big a deal. Like, you still have to, it's completely different calculation. And then you factor in all the projects, and then you factor in your new house, and your family's older, they're requiring more of your time.

The team facilities, it's not like next door. Like, things are, everything's more difficult. There's only 24 hours in a day. Yes. And in L.A., it seems like there's less than that. Yes, because it's traffic. Yes. So on the court, Janus is dominating,

put together an MVP-worthy season, and off the court. He is not interested in any of the drama that goes on with the MVP race. He told The Athletic, there's no reason for drama. We're winning. Everyone is playing well. There's no time for drama. He was basically asked about, you know, the conversation

surrounding the MVP race and Hardin. I want to hug him. I love him so much. You know, he's just, he's just not that guy. And this is in no way being critical, of Yonis, because he is a genuine person. He is who he is, and he is not bending for anyone. this is why he's not going to transition into being the face of the league because there's nothing bad you can say about him.

I mean, you can't. He's just a nice guy and he's not polarizing. Something bad you can say about Steph Curry? I mean, it's not that it's bad. Bad isn't the right word. You have to be debatable. You have to be polarizing. LeBron is debatable.

You can have conversations on either side. Everyone likes Janus. And that doesn't translate to being the face. of anything. Well, I mean, look, he's in Milwaukee. That's hard. He's not American. That's difficult.

Like, Tom Brady is not controversial. I mean, I guess the deflating of footballs. But what's controversial about Tom Brady? People hate Tom Brady. Again, but do they hate him because of his personality? It doesn't matter why. There's no need a rash now. It's sports fans.

We don't need a reason. Okay, but you just said there's no reason to hate Janus. Tom Brady has been ruining sports fans' lives in the AFCs for 20 years. So if Yonis starts doing that, people will hate him and he'll become polarizing. Yeah, but I don't foresee that happening. Seth Curry threw a mouthpiece once. Like, that's the worst thing he's ever done. People get on step hurry, too.

Because he's one. If you win, then they hate you. That's the way it works. You have to win consistently. Whatever. You have to either be a character and make you're polarizing because of that, which Yonis is not. I mean, he is a personality, obviously, but he's a nice personality. Or you have to be a dominating winner.

And we don't have either of those things with him. And that's not a knock on Janice. It's a good thing, actually. You need every kind of personality. I actually think what's interesting is... I can't believe you think that people like Tom Brady. No, no, no. I didn't say everybody likes Tom Brady.

I'm saying you mentioned his personality. Like, Tom Brady's personality is geeky, kind of milk toast. Like, he never, he doesn't say anything. Yeah, but some people don't like that either. I agree. But that's kind of what, like, Janus is just a different version of that. Says nothing, creates no drama, just plays basketball. They only don't hate him because he hasn't won yet.

Once he wins in the playoffs, don't worry. they'll hate him. That's what we do. We build you up and we get you down. And then we see how you handle us cutting you down. All right. Finally, Baker Mayfield, who's also very polarizing, spends his off-season in L.A., and he started working out with O'Dell Beckham at USC a year ago

and he went to dinner with him this off-season. And Baker says he never thought that they would end up on the same team. I absolutely would hope for that. I wouldn't necessarily say that we talked about it too much. You know, thought about it. You know, throwing to them and just running

routes on air and realizing the potential and all the talent that he has, it's unique. Not many are able to do it. And so then you put together two LSU Tigers next to each other. And it's a dangerous duo. And so it's going to be a lot of fun, but, you know, it's something you can only dream about. I wish they were on hard knocks this year. Oh, my gosh, do I wish they were on hard knocks? I love hard knocks, but I would love it a lot more.

But they were on hard knocks last year. Well, yeah, I mean, obviously they're not going to be a hard- Yes, I know. I just, I'm with you. It would be so good. There's so many storylines around this team And I really actually hope And I can't believe I'm saying this for being from Pittsburgh

But I do hope it is a success Just because First of all, everyone thinks that like I root or Colin Roots With like the media roots against the Browns Like it's not good for the business to have a team that is Unwatchable. Nobody wants that. I don't want that.

Comically unwatchable is pretty good actually. Is it? Yeah, a little bit. A little bit. We do. I would much rather watch a competitive game than a blowout that is. that is so bad that it's comical.

Like, you can't have that every week. And the Browns, not the Browns have had that every week. Last year, to me, was a success for the Browns. They found their franchise quarterback, who is a big personality. They put a lot of guys around him. And we're going to be talking about this team all year. Yes. No matter what happens.

But I actually hope that it is a success. I hope it's a disaster. I usually root for chaos, but Cleveland has been chaos for so long. Because I do think that they have really good pieces. But, you know, I've, I kind of have it ingrained based upon everything I've been taught about sports, which is like it's a little bit about a piece, but it's more about the collective.

The collective. And I just, you know, we've seen it up. We've seen the Patriots. We've seen the Spurs. You know, we've watched, we've watched in sports that cohesion character, the entire group kind of matters. But there's, I mean, like, look, Odell Beckham Jr. is crazy talented. And I think Baker is more talented than we give him credit.

I don't think he's an elite level talent, He has a personality and a brain that is firing on cylinders that other people don't have. I'm fascinated to see it. I just, man, unproven head coach with those personalities and the personality of their general manager, I'm guessing it doesn't more than it does. It's going to be a show no matter what. And that's Joy Taylor with the news. Well, that's the news.

And thanks for stopping by. The herd lie news. How John Calipari and Urban Meyer are more similar than you would think. That's up coming next in The Hurt. Be sure to catch live editions of The HARD Weekdays and noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Last night, a blown call changed a game.

This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise. breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear.

The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. 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 Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests.

I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped. up in the chase, that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth. Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about

on healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free Our Heart Radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. 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 went 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. 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, Leila 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 IHart Women's Sports. The Winnipeg Jets battle the Chicago Blackhawks at 8.30 p.m. Eastern Time, and our Discover card key matchup, gets your free credit scorecard today.

Even if you're not a Discover customer, it includes your FICO. credit score and checking your scorecard won't hurt your credit either. Learn more at Discover.com slash credit scorecard limitations do apply. Along with Joy Taylor, I'm Doug Gottlie. This is the herd on Fox Sports Radio and Fox Sports One. So yesterday it was reported that John Calipari, Kentucky's head coach, had turned down an offer six years, $48 million to be the head coach of the UCLA Bruins. and then later in the day it had been reported that John Caliperi agreed to a lifetime contract, germane head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats. Now, we'll get into the lifetime contract and how interesting that is and how they can,

as they did with Jim Valvano at NC State, declare you dead if they want to. That said, I got to tell you, UCLA offering John Calipari less money per year than he currently makes to leave Kentucky to come to UCLA is the most UCLA thing ever, right? UCLA, even in this particular case where they're not being cheap, but they are being cheap. Like $8 million to coach college basketball would put him as the third or fourth highest paid coach in the game to John Calipari, who's already making more than that at Kentucky. UCLA is historically known as being at best frugal, at worst cheap, not chartering until Russell Westbrook gave a bunch of money, not having a on-campus practice facility. They didn't redo Pavilion until a handful of years ago.

Look, now even they have all those ducks in row and they're willing to offer a huge sum of money. They go after the guy making more money than anybody in college basketball, and they offer him less than he's actually making at UCLA in a nutshell, kids. But it reminds me, reminds me of Urban Meyer. Not Irvin Meyer, Ohio State, Urban Meyer, Florida. Do you guys remember what happened? What was Urban Meyer's dream job?

Where did he previously been an assistant coach? Notre Dame. Notre Dame. And when he was leaving the University of Utah, having Alex Smith and beating Alabama, I believe in the Sugar Bowl, when he was leaving the University of Utah, before he took the job at Florida,

he visited Notre Dame. They flew him in, probably on that plane that has the dome on the side, and they showed him around, they brought him up to the president's office, and they made him an offer to be their head coach with $2 million. So he got on a plane, and he flew to Gainesville, and Jeremy Foley, the athletic director at Florida,

made him an offer to be Florida's head coach. for $4 million. So in addition to the fact that Notre Dame has to recruit more prestigious student athletes than Florida, and they run the risk of being an independent and the uphill climb of all the history of Notre Dame, the ridiculous expectations, the difficulty in getting kids in and keeping kids in school,

in addition to all that, they didn't understand the market rate and they offered him half of what he was able to get at Florida. And look, once he got on the plane to leave, it was over. But the point is, if you're going to make a home run offer to your dream candidate, you got to make it a home run offer. Because now UCLA is left with everyone in basketball knowing they got $8 million to spend if they want to spend it. And meanwhile, they ended up, maybe unwittingly, low-balling John Calipari into getting a lifetime contract with Kentucky.

The most UCLA thing ever. Coming up next, has Freddie Kitchen already been deemed powerless? Before even coaching his first game as the head coach of the Browns. I'll tell you, 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. What up? Welcome in. This is The Herd, wherever you may be in.

However, you may be making this part of your day. I'm Doug Gottlie. filling in for Colin Calhurt, who will be back tomorrow. The world can, in fact, celebrate. The big man returns, getting ready for the Final Four, for the Masters,

for the NFL draft. Not for this weekend in the AAF. That is AAF previews and predictions. Joy Taylor alongside, the breaking news is that the AAF has ceased operations effective immediately. Johnny Mansell's put out a tweet about it.

Look, I'll just say this. I played minor league sports. You're ready for it? Let me see if I can make sure I get them all right. I played in the CBA, although I never played a game. I played in the USBL. It was the first overall pick of the U.S.B.S.B. Which talent-wise was a great league.

I played for the Oklahoma Storm twice, two different seasons. Once for Brian Gates, who's an assistant in the NBA. once for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was my head coach. I played in the USBL, the CBA, the ABA, and the IBA in Salina, Kansas for the Rattlers. So, look, I can tell you this. Minor League sports is hard. It's just, it's hard on the athlete,

it's hard on the coaches, and it's hard on ownership to try and make money. Everyone says, man, I love to go watch minor leagues. I like guys that are grinding that want to get there and whatever. if you don't have the proper funding, if you don't take your time and make sure that all your ducks are kind of in a row, the AAF was popular for a week, and now it's gone.

Johnny Mansell gave up Canada for the A, and he played one game, or two games, actually, he played one series or something, and now it's gone. Iron League sports are really, really difficult. And so while there is kind of the outcry for, I've heard it for the minor league baseball players, to make more money. G-League players are going to be able to make more money.

There is a balancing of the books that it is a business, and people are attracted to brands. And the brand of the NBA, and the brand of the NFL, and the brand of college sports keeps people coming back. It's really hard to make people automatically think that this brand

is equal or better than something else. And the perfect example of that I've given is the talent in the G-League is way better than the talent in college basketball. Nobody watches the G League. Why? Because you know the teams, you know the coaches, you don't know the gyms, you know,

whereas college basketball, you're going to watch because of the coaches and brands, and then you learn about the players. That's honestly the way it works. Anyway, we'll pull out, pour out a little bit for the AAF. Well, also those leagues, minor league baseball and the G League

are an extension of the NBA and MLB. They serve as the farm system and a purpose for the bigger leagues. So they're funded. There's no connection. The G League is partially funded. They've actually many, some of the teams have sold off some of the ownership to it.

But the NBA is not going to allow the G League to collapse, is what I'm saying. And there is a functioning relationship between the NBA and the G League and obviously with the minor league baseball teams and MLB. There is no direct relationship with AAAF and the NFL, which is a big issue. There's way more people to pay in the AFA than in those other leagues also. Correct. So you have to have very, very long money. Yes, you have to have deep, deep pockets. You have to have a well-thought-out, very thorough plan as to, and you have to be willing to lose money. Like, you're going to.

Yes, it's a long play. Yes, it's a long play, and you're hoping that you're hoping that you make money. But, you look, there's a reason that there hasn't been a spring professional football league. Some of it is, there needs to be a tie. Also, like, and this is the hard part. you want to have fringe NFL players play. On the other hand, there's like a limited number of games which players are going to subject themselves to that sort of physical punishment

if they want to make the real money of playing the NFL. There's only so many games you can play. You embody can. So it's an interesting thing. I feel bad for the players because forever football players have been like, hey, there's no Europe for us. There was the European, which was a minor league, funded by the NFL. But then that went away as well.

So, Benny have tried. It's a lot like fixing the Knicks. Everybody's tried, and to this point they failed, the XFL Part 2 is up next, and they do have the funding, they do have the tie in television, and they have planned that thing out. We'll see if they're able to get NFL caliber players

and to capture our attention as enough. Enough. Like, look, the Big Three worked. Big Three has survived. Well, I think there's an incredible demand for sports on television, because it's the last live products that you have. Everything else is on demand.

Award shows? Award shows, but how often are those? The only consistent thing is sports. Yes. And so there is a high demand for it and for rights. So the demand is there. The viewers are there. It just has to be put together in the right way for the longevity of it.

The viewers are there, but how many viewers? You're not going to get football numbers. It will be realistic for what it is. Right. Listen, I don't understand the business calculus. I can only tell you it's crazy. Remember, you got the numbers of guys. It's crazy expensive.

You got insurance. You got the stadium. You got practice. What do you do for practice? Where do you practice that? Like everything costs money. There's an incredible amount of logistics to it. And money.

Like money. Like people just think that, well, it's on TV. They must be making money. Like, do you have any idea the level of investment it takes financially to get a first year? You're not just going to every guy you have on your roster. You're not going to keep, right? So first you have to have to have some sort of training camp. Then you have to, so you've got to pay all those guys or at least pay for them to stay somewhere.

Then you've got to cut them down. You've got to have coaches and trainers and insurance and a place to practice and a place to put them up. And then a place to play. And the stadium costs. I'm like, dude, everything costs. And you're like at some point, guys that are the people investing in this are multi, multi, multi, multi million and billionaires. And eventually they're going to go like, well, this just doesn't make sense to me. I love football.

I want to watch football. I want to own a team and I don't, I can't get in the NFL, but this doesn't make sense to me. So, yeah, it's, it's really interesting. It does, it strikes that there's, there's always been this conversation by some players like, hey, we should just break off and start our own league. And every, every group of front office guys I've ever talked to was like, go ahead, try it. You have no idea, no idea, the logistics, financial, and the fact that the brands have been around long enough where they're stamped in our head.

that's the only thing worth watching. It's really, really hard, really difficult. Speaking of the NFL, there's a commonly used expression which got the late Bob McNair in trouble. Bob McNair was the owner of the Houston Texans. And you remember when they had a meeting, an owners and players meeting going back,

I think two off seasons ago, he said, you know, hey, look, The inmates can't run the prison, which is an offshoot of the actual expression, the inmates can't run the asylum. The fact is the inmates run the prison is actually a more accurate expression. Employees can't run a business. Inmates can't run a prison or an asylum, right? At some point, there has to be a pecking order in leadership. But maybe that's challenged by what the Cleveland Browns did yesterday. They had an introductory press conference for O'Dell Beckham, Jr.

and they had no management up at the dais. We didn't see John Dorsey. Frankly, we didn't see Freddie Kitchens up there with him. They just had the four horsemen. They had their best defensive player, their two wide receivers, and their quarterback. Despite all the hype, here's Freddie Kitchens, on how he wants to temper the expectations.

Right now, we're just a bunch of good individual players. Yeah, our roster looks great on paper. whoopty hell, all right? But at the end of the day, we better be a good team. And you start building that during this time of the year. And then training camp's a big portion of that. He's right, but does he have the right amount of support? Look, the press conferences are usually formulaic anyway, right?

Do you need a coach up there? Do you need John Dorsey up there? Do you need an owner up there? Sometimes it's just to feed those guys' egos so they feel like they can be in the conversation in front of the room. and you don't need it. I understand. And maybe this cuts across the layers and like, look, here's these four guys. They're tremendous talents.

Let's just let them answer questions. They're grown men. They could do it themselves. And Baker kind of took over the thing because that's what Baker does. On the other hand, the lack of a guy up there, Kitchens wasn't up there with him. The lack of John Dorsey wasn't up there with him. It does lead you to think, are they letting the inmates run the prison or the asylum? And how does that work? because it's not what works in New England,

and frankly, it's what Pittsburgh has tried to steer away from. And even with a guy who promotes his players, champions them, and doesn't criticize them like Sean McVe, you don't see the Rams do this, do you? Right? The Saints have a historically great quarterback, but Sean Peyton runs things at their press conferences, doesn't he? Like, it's fascinating to me what the Browns are trying

to do. They're trying to just throw a bunch of talent at it and see if they can be so cohesive, so together, hey, you take ownership, which is really smart, right? That's really good coaching is you guys take ownership of your press conference. You guys take ownership of your practices. You guys take ownership of what you do off the field. But sometimes a little bit too much ownership and the reason we have these cliches, a cliche is the inmates running the asylum, is because you can't have the inmates running the asylum, because crazy creates more crazy. And as talented as O'Bell Beckham Jr. is,

he did get himself run out of New York, right? He did profess that he was a changed man after the video of him in the room with the woman with what appeared to be cocaine. He wasn't that different. He's the same guy who did the boat trip, you know, right before he played a playoff game. Same dude.

So the idea of allowing players to have, ownership of their team is a really, really, really good one. It's what coaches try and create all throughout the country at various levels, high school college pro. But you don't really want them to own it. You don't really want them to drive. You want them to be passengers. You want the guy who's directing things to be, you know, there's a totem pole for

reason and atop it should be Dorsey. Beneath it should be the head coach, Freddie Kitchen. And then beneath that should be the quarterback in Baker Mayfield. It doesn't appear that's what they're doing in Cleveland as of now. There's one massive NBA move this summer that could level the playing field for the entire league. And truth be told, the league should want it to happen. That is upcoming next in The Hurt. Be sure to catch live editions of the HARD weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific.

Men, M Drive is a supplement I use every day. You should consider it too. If you want to feel stronger, have more energy and drive. Now is the time to start taking M Drive to learn. more, visit mDrive for Men.com today. Refind your prime with MDrive. He played 14 years in the NBA after playing at UCLA and being drafted in the league by the Vancouver Grizzlies, right? Wouldn't you drive? Were you drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies? Memphis? Yeah, not that old. Okay. I'm just, I don't, I honestly don't remember when they moved.

I couldn't tell you the exact year either. L.A. to Memphis. That was a, that had to be an interesting transition. It really happened. You, I think, when I played, you know, three for the Lakers, three for the Clippers and got traded to the Grizzlies, I was a culture shock. Like spending a majority of my time. But anyway, yeah. It's different, right? Culture.

Yeah. Totally. Great fan base, but just whole another lifestyle. Yes. Yes. I like Memphis, but I will tell you, like bail bonds capital seemingly of the world downtown. Like you go like, another bail bonds?

Another bail bonds? Great barbecue. Bail bonds. Great fans. And I like FedEx Forum. It's a sick, sick place to watch a game. I want to ask you a question about this Katie, Kyrie bromance, where it feels like they want to partner up together.

First thing is, I've long thought, I don't know if the Anthony Davis-Lebron thing actually works on the basketball floor. They're both great, but great together doesn't always work. Does KD. and Karee, two guys who are unbelievable shot makers, does that work on the basketball floor? I think that would be up to Karee. You know, Kevin's proven he can do it.

You know, playing with Golden State and the sacrifice he made and still able to beat himself. I think Karee has struggled with that, with this team in Boston, you know, although there are no superstars yet, there's young stars in the making, and he struggled at times to find his rhythm and his footing in that situation. So I think the only question what that would be is can Kyrie do it? But I think understanding, you know, his situation with LeBron went south and he admitted he was young and immature about it, having a time to kind of go from young and immature to kind of being the older star on a team,

he kind of understands both feelings now. So I think if they were to team up, I think Kyrie would definitely be able to make that work. I think the league would love it because, like, New York being good. You need to be relevant. Yeah. The historical franchises in professional sports, sports is always better when those franchises are relevant. Plus, it's in New York, too, right?

Like, one, the historic, two, it's New York. Three, and, like, look, I think the front office that they have is one that should be attractive to people, right? Outside of ownership. New York's? Yes. It's one that guys really. respect and and you have David Fisdale who everybody seems to like and says they want to play for

but do KD and Karee do they fit well in New York right like that's it's going to be thick skin I mean I think we I never see thick skin everybody thinks Kyrie we got Kevin Durant no that's in general I think both because I I've never seen you know in my time playing and watching and covering the the the kick him why he's down mentality LeBron has gotten this year so I can imagine two superstars going to New York to save a franchise that's been in the dumps for a long time, but it has an amazing fan base, the media there is going to crucify them daily. And both with guys that kind of have reputations for not being able to really, you know,

or firing back or kind of being in their moods, it's going to be a daily thing with them. You know, so if they're able to block that out and really have thick skin overall, because it's going to be, it's going to get a lot uglier before it gets better. Let me ask you about LeBron. You mentioned people kicking them when it's down. I think it's because, look, expectations were raised. and the injury is not his fault, but the body language stuff was. You know, he didn't handle the Anthony Davis stuff well.

He didn't seem to put out fires that appeared. He was doing a bunch of stuff. How much of the Lakers' failures this season do fall on the show? I'm not saying he's blamed free, and you named a few things where people can, you know, kind of point the finger, but at the same time, you know, the expectations were through the roof for no apparent reason. You know what I mean? Management. He's the Bronjames.

But I'm still, see, you're still coming to the Western Conference. You're still coming to a team full of young, not misguided, but young players looking up for some kind of something. You know what I mean? But just because you bring LeBron here, it doesn't mean that automatically qualifies you for a contender in the West. And I think that's what a lot of Laker fans, and that's what management was trying to sell everyone. That, okay, we have LeBron now and the world is going to change. But there's a difference between being a contender, a legit contender with the Warriors and making the playoffs. And while I will agree with you, you know, you can, expecting them to contend with the Warriors or with the bucks or with the top.

league like, look, when it all fell apart at the end, they were losing to the sons and to the grisly's and to the bottom of the league. Those are teams, though, at the same time, the Lakers weren't a team at the end. I think that they stopped becoming a team once the trade deadline happened. And to take into consideration, you can never count for injuries, you know what I mean? So if LeBron doesn't get hurt and guys don't get hurt, which is a lot of luck, this team is in the playoffs, and they could have scared someone or even beat someone in the first round and messed around and got the right seating and played, you know, Denver or something,

and messed around and got to the Western Conference. It could have been something that crazy if they would have stayed healthy. There's no question they would have been in the mix if they could have stayed healthy this year. The fact is they didn't, and now that it's kind of just been a torrential downfall since then. Are the Warriors as good or better than they've been? I still feel like they're trying to figure out what do we do with Boogie Cousins, you know? Because when they've won, they've won playing small ball. But now you have Boogie Cousins.

Do we play them? Do we not play them? And that changes them defensively because now you have two guys that you're trying to. hide defensively he and Steph. Yeah. I don't think you necessarily have to hide Steph. I think Steph when it matters, you know what I mean? He's not going to be on the best player, but Steph does a, you know, a manageable job. And then just it's being able to boogie getting his lateral quickness. But to me, their biggest change is obviously trying to figure out how he fits going forward in the playoffs now that it's coming that time. But they

don't have a strong bench anymore. They don't have anything outside of, you know, Iguodala and Livingston, who played sparingly. So, you know, obviously expect their minutes to be up in the playoffs. But outside of those guys, who can you really count on and point to that is going to come and really contribute. So that's where I think their depth may get them in trouble and take them to a game seven or two throughout this process. But I still think it's their Western Conference and finals to lose. Okay, so who do you think is the team that is most dynamic in the playoffs out of the East? I'm so excited to see the East play.

Milwaukee and what Yonis has been able to do, but still, they're still young and inexperienced when comes to, you know, game sevens and second rounds and third rounds. Boston can seemingly, they've showed flashes of when they put it together. They're one of the most talented teams in the game. Still kind of unsure about Philly. Great starting five, but I don't know if they really have their chemistry yet. And then Toronto, you know, with Kauai and, you know, you replace Kauai with tomorrow and you feel like, okay, if we made the final Western or Eastern Conference Finals with tomorrow, we should be able to do the same thing in Kauai, if not more. So I think the East is going to be a very fun race to playoffs series

side to watch. I agree and I do think Toronto's a team we're talking least about and because of Kauai and because... Experience and they've been there. They've been there. They've been there. Now you don't have LeBron who was their kryptonite. And people don't understand. I mean, young teams are good during the season. They're fun. They're energetic.

Denver, Milwaukee. But you need experience in the playoffs and guys that have been there because people don't understand game by game the whole game plan changes and your strategy changes game in and game out. And veteran players understand that. it takes out harder time for younger players to understand the importance of strategy. You got to feel the pain before you taste the champagne.

Matt Barnes joining us here in the herd. Forget the MVP. Who's the best player in basketball right now? Kevin Durant. I'm with you. Kevin Durant. There's no question. And I operate under the assumption that part of his outward unhappiness at times with the media is like, hey, I've tried to show you I'm the best player.

I'm really the best player. And no one will give me credit for being the best player. And it's hard because you think no matter what he doesn't go to say, that's Steph's team. Right. That's Steph's team no matter what KD does. Finals, MVP, he can win another finals MVP, three straight. And that's Steph's legacy. So I'm sure there's some frustration there like, I'm the coldest person on the planet.

And you guys still don't give me my due respect. And I take a lot of heat still. And when we say people get mad when you say Kevin Durant is the best player over LaBron. It's not saying KD's body of work is better than LeBron's body of work. LeBron is the top two or three, one all-time greatest players, but we're talking about right now best player in the game. It's Kevin Durant. I want to quickly switch to your school, UCLA,

who reportedly made an offer to John Calipari. And look, I don't think the lifetime contract was really offered yesterday. Like, these things have been handled before, but the news came out yesterday. And what was reported was six years, $48 million. If that's accurate, that's less money per year. than his current Kentucky contract was. I said that's the most UCLA thing ever, right?

Let's go after the biggest name. Let's offer a bunch of money, but actually offer less than he's currently making. As a UCLA alum, what's your reaction? It's crazy. If you're going to go for, and that's what UCLA needs. To me, they didn't need to go grassroots

with Earl Watson and let him do the grassroots thing and come up and bring everyone back, or you need a coach that's larger than the program. Cal is larger than the program. He's not worried about, you know, no wooden critics, shadow, whatever. Cal can turn that program around, but if you're going to, if you're UCLA in the position you are and you have Cal's ear, you have to make a monster like out of like holy, you're going to

be the highest paid coach ever type offer. And when you don't do that, you know, you have a lot of people wondering why. I mean, and here's the other part that I, no one outside of me has kind of mentioned is look, now that you've thrown out the number of $8 million, all these other guys that are waiting for the phone call, they know, like, I don't care what you think you're going to offer me. I'm only really really pick up the phone for $8 million. And a lot of the, Cal is an $8 million, your coach, if not more. Some of these other guys aren't, but like you said, you put the number out there, and now it's the standard.

Right. But a lot of, the job isn't as lucrative, I think, anymore is it used to be. Correct. You know what I mean? It's not, like, people aren't standing in line to coach UCLA. You know what I mean? and I think it's just the track record and the support hasn't been what it's supposed to be. And a lot of people, and the cost of living, people always forget about the cost of living coming to L.A.

is a monster if you're coming from a small city. Well, here's another part to it, which, and this is more in football than basketball, but like assistant coaches. Right. Like assistant coaches make. They need to be paid. You know, like, look, the assistant coaches at Kentucky make $800,000, okay? Now, at UCLA, they weren't going to make $800,000, so you're going to have to get a different staff. additionally, a private school like USC, they will give their assistant coaches interest-free loans.

So that if you're only going to pay you a $350 to live in L.A., that's not great. But you can put a down payment on your house and you pay us back and you make money in your house. When you move away, you show like because they're a public school doesn't do that. So even though they've redone the arena, even though they've given the new practice facility, there's still the chartered flights and the assistant coaches salaries and all the cost of living and all the other issues. And kids have to take calculus. before you even enroll at UCLA.

There's other things there. I mean, I just, to be UCLA and be relevant and get back on top, you have to really go above and beyond. And you have the ability, too, so why not? You know, I think UCLA is stuck in the mindset that the kids really care about the four letters across their chest. The kids don't care about that anymore. They don't care about history.

Kids care about what have you done for me lately. How can I relate? Who's going to prepare me the best for the year or two I'm here and get me ready for the NBA? and I think UCLA has kind of lost sight of what they're not in touch with what today's kids are about, and I think that's why they've struggled. Well, I mean, look, I think there's a way to do both. I do think there's a way to sell them on the history and sell them out.

Like, look, Ben Howlin inherited a thing that felt like a mess, and immediately got Jordan Farmer and Aflalo and the L.A. kids, and they had a role. But when you sell them at the same time, not to cut you off eye parlors, when you sell them on that, they don't even reach back out to the current of the, we had. throughout my time, 20 guys in the NBA, and you never really see us around for anything. Look, I mean, so it's just like, they got to be in touch.

Like, you know, you have to have the right guy. I'll give you example. When Bill Self took the job at Kansas, okay, he hired a guy, Barry Hinson, who just resigned, whatever, at Southern Illinois. And Barry Hinson, he was hired for one purpose.

He was the alumni coordinator. So that, and they sent out emails and texts and calls any player who ever played at Kansas. You come back, you got a seat at the game, you come to practice, you'd come in to see Coach Self. And when he would come into the office, you know, Bill Self had only been there one year before when Larry Brown was there.

You know, Barry Hens would come in, put a sheet of paper on the desk. So we go, oh, Matt Barnes, I remember when you played. Man, you were great. All those seasons in the NBA and the Kobe and the, right? A lie to me. But that's how you have to have the right.

Some guys need that. Right. Well, you have to have the right guy who kind of gets it, who gets the investment in the former players. Because there is an incredible history at UCLA, not just in sports and in basketball, but in media. Come on, man. And locally. Hey, great stuff, man. Thanks so much for joining us.

Let's get to Joy Taylor with the news. No. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. So LeBron is using this offseason to rehab, and he's also shooting Space Jam 2. and he is going to have a full-length basketball court on the set of Space Jam 2. Now, as you mentioned earlier, this isn't that odd, because MJ also had a court on the set of Space Jam 1 or Space Jam,

and had some legendary pickup games on that court. I don't know if it's going to be exactly the same as that, but based off of the fact that he's rehabbing on top of shooting this film, but the buzz for the Space Jam 2 movie, I mean, maybe it's going to drum back up again. It's not coming out until 2021, so a lot can change between now and then. But this just seems like awful timing to have to be shooting a movie. I don't know. I mean, we knew he was going to shoot this movie.

This was last year, last summer. Right. We knew he was going to shoot it. We didn't know everything that happened with the Lakers was going to happen. So I'm not. And I just think it's pretty obvious that they're trying to be. Oh, yeah, he's going to work out like we didn't think he was going to work on his basketball game. We didn't think, like, come on.

This is just trying to make sure that everybody knows. Don't worry. He's still playing basketball. He's not going to become an actor. Full time. This is a big endeavor. I mean, this is a big film.

It's going to take a lot of time and effort to shoot the film. But Kyrie did the same thing with Uncle Drew and he played basketball. I would actually be like Kyrie playing outdoor court New York. Like I'm a little, that's a little more sketch on, you know, playing on the asphalt and playing in what will probably be an air-conditioned gym when he was going to play at UCLA's practice facility anyway.

or at the Lakers facility anyway. I'm not saying it's the end of the world. I'm just saying it feels like the worst timing ever based off of everything that happened with the Lakers and with LeBron this year and everyone complaining about all the projects that he took on and not being fully dedicated to basketball and now all of a sudden you have to shoot a movie

while you're rehabbing in the off season. I think the most interesting thing for LeBron is what does his body look like when he comes back next year? Like later in your career, you got to carry less weight. No, I think it's going to be different. And it's going to be really interesting to see how you mentioned earlier how he plays because he feels mortal now.

So LeBron has always been able to adjust his game. So I have faith that he's going to develop whatever extra skill he needs based off of this new version of his body at this point in his career with all the years that he has on it and all the games that he has on it. But, I mean, this offseason is going to be very crucial for the rest of LeBron's legacy, whatever happens with the Lakers and the moves they make. Do you ever watch NASCAR? You can lie to me and say, yes, I watch it every weekend.

It's fine. I watch it every weekend. Okay. So this happens sometime in NASCAR where they're running low on fuel, right? And they're just trying to save gas. And so they're constantly drafting or whatever just to try and save fuel. And so the question for LeBron is, is he able to save fuel by not playing in the playoffs, right? Does he have a finite amount of playing time left?

And by saving fuel, conservative, not playing basketball, NBA, like, look, the playoffs are such a much greater intensity that 20 games in the playoffs is like 60 games and it takes years off your life. And he's done that the finals the last eight years. So the question is, does he have a finite amount of fuel in the tank? Or is he able to refuel during this time off? And even though he'll technically be a year older, feel like he's a year or two younger. No, I think him not making the playoffs weirdly is a huge blessing in disguise for this point in his career and the major injury that he had this season.

That's for sure. So he needed that. So the NBA's evolved a lot over the last decade, and one of the most obvious changes is the center position or lack thereof. And Jemond Green told the Athletic that he believes his team has something to do with it. He said the game kind of got to the point where centers were irrelevant for the most part. You look back on it, we probably played a part in it. The athletic also had a great point from Steve Kerr. In Kerr's estimation, the modern game never killed off the center spot.

It's a traditional power forward who's now extinct. You either guard a wing or a center, the Charles Oakley's the Horace Grant. those kind of guys are gone. Kerr said it's more that you play one big, so that big to me represents a five. I agree more with Kerr, but I do think that Draymond's right because Drayman's created the small ball five position,

which is what Zion Williamson will be. Right. Be a power forward that you have to be able to face up and play on the floor. Matt Barnes, you played in the league. Played in the league. So you tell me who's more right here. Kerr or Draymond?

They're both right. Yeah. The Warriors have been completely transatlose. the game as far as I think within the next five to seven years that centers will be won't be in the game. I think it's going to be a bunch of light. It's going to be more of a glorified pickup basketball game type where everyone can do everything. That's how I kind of train kids now. I think, you know, the days of throwing the ball down low and getting a bucket are long gone. And it's going to be stretch fives if they're fives or stretched fours. But the game is,

the Warriors took a key, key role in transcending basketball. I do think you need a big guy, but those big guys have to be able to either cover on the floor or rim protect, right? And then you need a small ball four or five who everybody thinks of offense. Can you face up? But it's also, can you switch and guard? Are you tough enough to guard in the low post? Well, and they are, they also are going to have to shoot from the outside to some degree as well. Correct. So there's a myriad of skills. If you're a DeAndre Jordan type where you're rebounding everything, blocking everything and catching lobs, you're a five. If not, you have to be able to switch and step out and shoot the ball. Yeah. So finally, the New Look Brown's offense appears stacked for the upcoming season.

and Baker Mayfield couldn't be happier to be the forefront of this turnaround, and he said he's ready to bring a Super Bowl title to Cleveland. Absolutely not satisfied with how last year ended by any means, and then you start to realize what jump you want to make from year one to year two. And for me, it's really important for people to realize that it's not just a fluke season. This is real. I want to improve. I'm not satisfied with setting one record. I want to win Super Bowls.

I want to do a lot more. They keep increasing the more talent I have around me. going to make my job a lot easier, but that means I have to work that much harder for it. I think he has a good perspective on it. I do think that we're probably piling on way too many expectations based off of the names, the star power that Cleveland has put around him, as he mentions, and the talent. But I don't believe in setting low expectations for yourself. And Super Bowls should absolutely be their goal, as it should be every team's goal. And just getting to the playoffs is not acceptable. That's why I've been so

annoyed with Pittsburgh for the past couple years. They've been an incredible disappointments. The standard is Super Bowls. We're not just trying to make the playoffs and make some noise. You need to win championships. And if you think that it's just okay to make the playoffs or to have a winning season, that's not enough.

So Baker, to me, has the right mentality and they are at ground zero with the rebuild or just establishing a culture in Cleveland. So they have the right pieces there to do it. Now it's just a matter of is Freddie Kitchens going to be able to manage these personalities? Are they actually going to be able to put it together on the field? It's obviously very early.

We're doing all this on paper predictions. They haven't even had the draft yet. But I think they have the right mentality going in it. I do too. I don't think it's ground zero. Ground zero is probably when he got there last year, right? And but I like, and it's every person, every guy in the NFL wants to win a Super Bowl. Like that's, I'm not going to really critical of Baker.

We'll only be critical of like, look, I do think investing in the process of, hey, look, first thing we got to do is win our division, get to the playoffs, then get a home game in the playoffs, then win a game in the playoffs. Then we just kind of stack it up and eventually like that the rest take care of itself. But having a goal of Super Bowl is not wrong, but I do think that there should be a progressive mentality. And all right, first thing we got to do is, or first thing I do is win every home game, you know, beat our rivals, beat the good teams, stack together wins, win our division, win the playoffs, get to Super Bowl. win a Super Bowl. Like there's a progress. You don't, you're trying to go from zero to, what was it, seven wins this year to Super Bowl. Like that's, you're skipping steps. No, no, no. I'm not saying you are. I'm saying it's very important mentally for people to not skip steps. I don't think he is, but I also think we shouldn't lose. I mean, fans are going

to skip steps. Yes. That's what we do is fans. We expect to win a Super Bowl every year, or that we got the capability of winning a Super Bowl every year. That, that I agree with. I don't think that they're getting unrealistic with the expectations for themselves this year. think that the goal should be, we have talents, we believe in ourselves, we're starting to build a culture here, and the culture should be leading to Super Bowls. Do they have any player on that roster that has won a playoff game? I mean, I don't have the roster in front of me. I understand.

I'm sure they do. Like Jarvis Langer never played in the playoff game. Odell Beckinger played one and didn't win a game. Like I'd have to like search through it. It'd have to be pretty deep. I guess, uh, did the chiefs win a playoff game? He's not even eligible yet, right? so your backup running back would be the only guy that's won a playoff game.

But it's fascinating. Like, there's a lot to it. Look, a little bit of what Cleveland is going to get is what the Lakers have gotten, where last year nobody took the Lakers seriously, so there were games where other people mailed in. Where now one of the reasons Memphis beat them and Phoenix beat them because you're everybody's biggest game. Cleveland's people's biggest game now on their schedule

because of the names that you have on the back of those jerseys. No, expectations change everything. That's Joy Taylor with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Heard Lye News. Great news is a quick and easy way. You could save money.

Switch to Geico. It takes only 15 minutes. You could save 15% of more in your car insurance. Go to Geico.com and see how much more you could save. Coming up next. Today is National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day. Peanut Butter and Jelly, arguably or maybe inarguably, the greatest combination in sandwich history.

But is it the greatest combo ever? We discuss next in The Hurt. Be sure to catch live editions of the HARD weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. You might not be able to get a new car with your tax refund, but you can't make your car feel like it's brand new. All it needs is a great paint job.

Coming to MAKO today and get your dream paint job during their tax season sales event. Doug Gottlieb. for Colin. This is the herd. Big fella's back tomorrow. I'm big fella. Sinewy fella back tomorrow. In the meantime,

me and Joy at the reins. And today is two things. Today is the late great Marvin Gay's birthday. Who, I mean, greatest R&B singer of all time, right? And saying the greatest what's the, how can I say this

appropriately? Afferdisiac song? right? Ever. No one I know doesn't like Let's Get It On. If you don't like Let's Get It On, we will never have a conversation where I will respect you, correct? Like no one goes like, I hate that song, correct? Right? Never heard anyone say they hate that song. Okay. Anyway, I know that people have passed long ago don't understand happy birthday, but it should be noted happy birthday to like Great Marvin Gay. It's also National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day. and look peanut butter like basically LeBron

has been peanut butter until this year add him to anything and it's better peanut butter and chocolate amazing peanut butter and celery he can make peanut butter and celery good peanut butter and celery good peanut butter and bananas Elvis's favorite sandwich right

was peanut butter and bananas but peanut butter and jelly is the greatest sandwich ever don't at me and Godleap show by the way is the Twitter handle So we thought What are the best duos of all time? If we put peanut butter and jelly aside

and say that's the greatest ever, what are the 10 best? And we got it in the best for last. It's almost the end of the show, but that doesn't mean we're phoning it in. Nope, we grind to the very last segment. It's time for best for last. They grew up together.

They wrote a great movie together. They go together like Mutton Jeff. Damon and Affleck. okay there's a bromance there Goodwill hunting who hurts you I got a number how do you like them apples

Damon and Affleck number 10 Number nine Snoop and Dre Compton and Long Beach together it has never been as good nor will it ever be as good my senior year in high school

I used to roll around the two greatest albums of my lifetime sorry to East Coast guys sorry to outcast guy, you know, between doggy style and the chronic, doesn't get Snoop and Dre. Come on, Snoop and Dre. Number eight. We'll go Odell in the kicking net, right? Because how can you possibly part with Odell Beckham Jr.

If you're the New York Giants. How can you buy? Odell and the kicking net embodied why you had to get rid of Odell Beckham Jr. And that is a pair that is forever going to be tied together. What an incredible combination the two were. Number seven. Han and Shui. Han and Shui.

Right? I mean, they just got each other. Even in Solo, which I think is going to go down as an underrated movie. It's just too many Star Wars movies. Plus, listen, Bigfellow, we got you. Han and Shui. Number six. Beavis and Butthead.

I'll never forget. My college coach, Eddie Sutton, sitting down in the couch in our locker room going, which one's Beavis and which one's butthead? I spent many a day in a history class my sophomore year. He said history. That's cool. Number five. Jay-Z and Beyonce.

Right? He's not a businessman. He's a businessman. And she is arguably the goat. In all the female performers that there have ever been, there's been a lot of great ones, right? Your share, Madonna. You know, some people are still in the Brittany thing.

No one matches up to Beyonce, the queen, and Jay-Z. Number four. Jordan Pippin, six titles. And Pippin was good without him, but not the same. Jordan made the shots. Pippen made the stops. All right, maybe Pippen's a little overrated. But it's not like he's Robin.

Like, people say, like, where's Batman and Robin? Robin's a sidekick. Scotty Pippen wasn't a sidekick. Scotty Pippin could shut down any position. at any time and just made enough shots. And of course, he's got to go. Number three. Brady and Belichick. Right? Without one, there is no other.

Belichick is great, but he didn't win in Cleveland until he got, and he didn't win in New England until he got Brady. And as great as Brady is, let's be honest, the defense, the running game, the personnel, the evolution of their styles. Brady and Belichick. Number two. Burger and fries. You can't have fries and not think about a burger, and you can't have burger, and somebody goes, do you want fries?

That actually happened at most. We have a diner here on campus at Fox at Fox Studios that has seasoned salt fries. Like, do you want fries? Hell yeah, I want fries. And if you have fries, you got to have a burger. That's a tasty burger. Number one. Shrek and donkey.

Shrek and donkey. Man, has there ever been a better combo than Shrek and Donkey? They're both hideous to look at. They both smell. Neither actually love each other, but they love each other. They just get each other. They just get me. Shrek and don'tke.

And in the morning, I'm making waffles. All right, Joy, you got a better duo out there that I've missed? I mean, grilled cheese and tomato soup is pretty good. I wouldn't put it above. It's really good, especially when it's cold weather outside. Think about PB&J. Now, what's your PBNJ? I know you're not a huge PBNJ.

but if you were going to do PB&J, how would you make it? White bread, wheat bread. What's your ratio? What's, huh? Wheat bread. Okay, that's fine. You can, goulay's sitting up there going, no, you go, wonder bread, the worst white bread for you ever. White bread just, it's just like clumps.

It doesn't taste like anything. Yes, exactly. That's kind of why it works. That's the point. I need a glass of milk. I need at least a one-to-one, if not two-to-one ratio of peanut butter to jelly. Now, are you grape or strawberry jelly? Strawberry.

All you guys are strawberry jelly? jelly. I thought I'm a grape guy. I'm old school Welch's grape jelly. No milk. Almond milk only. You've definitely, you're like LeBron. You have gone Hollywood, right? You live in California. I've been off milk for a while. In Pittsburgh, I guarantee Joy Taylor in Pittsburgh would have had white bread, milk, and Peterborough and jelly. This is the hurt.

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