The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Bucks vs. Lakers, Cowboys Must Win This Weekend and Colin's Blazing 5.

Episode Date: December 20, 2019

Colin explains why the Bucks beating the Lakers is pointless, why the Cowboys must win this weekend, how the Patriots are better than anyone is giving them credit for and his Blazing 5 picks.Guests include Albert Breer, Eric Dickerson, Joel Klatt, and Jason McIntyre. 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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And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes.

Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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, Rhett, my mama want you to weigh better. What? Hey, Miss 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 her. 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 IHeartRadio app by searching heard.

We're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Here we go on an absolutely packed Friday. What a big weekend. It'll be a football. This, live in Los Angeles, is the herd. Wherever you may be and however you

may be listening. I'm on IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1. One hour from now, blazing five, over 500. Games now. A couple of teams may be quitting. Other teams are energized like Kansas City. Blazing five in one hour. We are packed today. Jammed today. Albert Breer, Eric Dickerson, Chris Broussard, Joel Clatt, Jason McIntyre,

Blazing Five, and Joy Taylor joining me. Joy, how are you? I'm great. I'm very excited for this weekend. Very excited. NFL games tomorrow. Let's start the day talking about the NBA. We may have seen the four best teams in the NBA play last night. I'll get to the Cleveland. I'll get to the Clippers and the Rockets after the break. Let's start with Milwaukee at home beats the Laker. Everybody's freaking out, past the torch. Time out, time out, time out, time out, time out. Milwaukee's one of those very young, talented teams that doesn't have a title.

And so these national TV games against the big villain LeBron James means so much to them. This is the Derek Rose Bulls team, the 2015 Hawks, last year's Denver team. regular season games for teams that haven't won a title at home, small market Milwaukee, big villain Los Angeles. You watch the first eight minute to that game. Milwaukee treated that like the prize fight of the year. Folks, all I care about is the playoffs, and the playoffs are different. Number one, in the playoffs, teams are equally rested.

Lakers were playing the last game of a five-game road. trip. Aren't you tired after 12 days on the road? Lakers did not look energized. They didn't bring their passion until later, and by that time, at halftime, it felt like it was about 75% over. Secondly, when the playoffs happened, we all know stars get the calls. They do, so don't whine about it when it happens. Stars elevate and roll guys, supporting cast guys like Chris Middleton shrink. Last year, Chris Middleton's field goal percentage, three point percentage, and points all went down. He was hot and cold. Don't take too much from this. LeBron's played in games that matter that 20 million people are watching. Last night, it was probably two and a half

million people watched in Milwaukee. That's the biggest sporting event not called the Packers in Milwaukee that's happened in years. It felt huge. And Milwaukee came out swinging. And Milwaukee came out swinging and landing punches and they were hot and it won't look anything like a finals where the Lakers would not be on the last game of a road trip. In fact, I was actually impressed with the Lakers two or three times

last night. They made charges and came back. They could have mailed it in. They had a great road trip. They could have mailed it in. They did not. They kept chopping away, chopping the wood. They got closed. In Milwaukee, it was their night. They got to a huge lead. Ask yourself this.

In May, NBA playoff basketball. These games are close, right? Who do you trust to hit a big shot for the Lakers? LeBron can hit him. Anthony Davils will hit him. And I trust Danny Green because I've seen him do it in Toronto and I've seen him do it in San Antonio.

Three guys. Who do you trust for Milwaukee in June? Janus. You don't trust Chris Middleton? I saw Chris Middleton last year. He wasn't a prize recruit. He wasn't a dominant college player. He's a very nice number three or four in a championship.

championship team. I like him. I don't trust him. I trust three different Lakers, LeBron, A.D. and Danny Green, because I've seen two of them do it. And I know Anthony Davis can deliver in the postseason because he's a remarkable player. He's probably the number two or three player in the league right now. Folks, the number one seed in the east in the last, let me look this up, 16 years. Only three times in the last 16 years has the number one seed in the east got to the finals. Two of those are LeBron. It, this is just, it was just

an awesome fun night in Milwaukee. It was a great day in Milwaukee. Didn't the Brewers pick up a first baseman? And the Packers, you know, they're first in their division, right? And Milwaukee beats the vaunted Lakers who stole Lou Al Cinder

years ago. We hate those guys. But in the end, Milwaukee right now in the NBA is nothing more than a cool story. Do you know Milwaukee's never, Yonis has never beaten a healthy, functional roster in the playoffs? He beat Detroit last year for his first playoff series win. That didn't have Blake Griffin. Oh, by the way, they were below 500.

And then he beat Boston, which is highly dysfunctional last year. I don't know if you've noticed they're way better since Kyrie Irving went to Brooklyn. They're a great story. He's a great kid. He's totally relatable. This game meant nothing. Here's Yonis afterwards. I'm supposed to be here.

I wasn't the number of one pick. You know, AD was. you know, like the brand was number. Like I didn't supposed to be here. I didn't supposed to, you know, go against these two bits. So I'm just happy that, you know, I'm here. I'm happy that I'm going through the process and I always want to, you know, be better, do better for my team.

And that's what gives me joy. You should be joyful this morning. But it's just joyful this morning. It doesn't have, it's December. It doesn't, no passing torches. It doesn't mean anything. I'll get to the rockets and the Clippers. Clippers melted down.

last night. Troubling sign. I'll get to that in a second. But I'm going to be incredibly unbearable Monday if Carson Wentz throwing to lawn chairs and deck furniture beats the Cowboys who are totally healthy. I'm going to be unbelievably unbearable. It's just you don't even, it'll be awful for a cow. If cowboy fans, I just put on earmuffs or something because if Carson Wentz can win this weekend, there's this weird anti-Carsan Wins thing in the NFL. For the record, with all these great quarterbacks. And there's a bunch of them right now. New guys, old guys.

He's seventh in the NFL and passing touchdowns. No, I'm not joking. He's seventh. We got Mahomes. We got Lamar. We got Russell Wilson. We got Deshawn. We got Aaron Rogers.

He's seventh. And they have no receivers. He's seventh. He's saving them. And yet Michael Irvin yesterday has to talk about DAC and whence. They're going to meet this weekend. Takes another little shot of. Carson Wentz, listen.

I do like both of those quarterbacks. You know, Cardback has way more wins right now. I was studying that the other day than Carson Winston. And I love that. I love him for what he does on the football field. But even more than that, his leadership, the team loves playing for him. When you can get the quarterback to be the heart and soul of a team, you got a great thing because you have all the guys wanting to play for the leader of the team.

I've heard Rumbly that that's not the situation with Carson Wentz when Nick Foes was there. And I think that hurts the quarterback if that is the perception in the locker room. I'm just a subtle shot at Carson Wentz. I know that DAC has a better record against Carson Wentz when they've played, but it should be noted in those Cowboy Eagle game, Wentz has 11 touchdowns, two picks. Dax got eight touchdowns, seven picks with a better offensive line. It's funny about Carson Wentz.

It's amazing we do this in the NFL. We just pick people we just don't love. For whatever reason, you guys couldn't put your arms around Andrew Luck. You just couldn't. You make a million excuses for Aaron Rogers. You didn't like Andrew Luck and you don't like Carson Wentz. So in 2017, the year the Eagles, they go to the Super Bowl. He's the leading MVP candidate that are 11 and 2 and he gets hurt.

He's a monster. Seriously, he was like Mahomes. He was a monster. He gets hurt. Nick Foles takes over. Nick is then awful against the Cowboys, awful against the Raiders. But he has home field, thanks to Carson Wentz. He is not very good against Atlanta.

Julio Jones doesn't catch a ball. He would 95 out of 100 times. They beat Atlanta. Following week, they get Minnesota off the Minnesota Miracle. The Vikings are emotionally, totally flat. And then they get to a Super Bowl, and Foles plays his butt off and deserves credit. But everybody in the world got credit for that win in Philadelphia. Doug Peterson, the coach, got a book.

Nick Foll's got a statue. Lane Johnson. got famous. The city got a ticker tape parade. Philadelphia fans got more obnoxious. The owner got more net worth. Carson Wentz was hurt. Got no credit. The following year he comes back off the torn ACL. And this is the year I'm told he lost the locker room. Okay. He lost the locker room. That's interesting. His passer rating 1M is completion percentage yards per game, all career highs, 21 TDs, seven picks and 11 games, and he lost the locker room. I would hope my quarterback delivers those kind of numbers as he's losing the locker

room. I don't know what it is. Aaron Rogers, you guys make a dozen excuses for. Deshawn Watson, I like him, but what's his signature win? Frankly, a lot of disappointment in the playoffs. Baker Mayfield. It's Freddie Kitchens' fault. Not to you Jackson's fault.

It's everybody's fault, but Baker. But Andrew Luck and Carson Wentz, you just don't want to put your arms around him, add any context to anything. The closest thing to Patrick Mahomes in this league is a thrower is Carson Wentz. That's the closest thing to Patrick Mahomes. I think Mahomes has a little more wizardry and a little stronger arm. It's not that much stronger. Carson Wentz, this weekend, is down to backup running backs,

a series of tight ends, a guy that played for something called the San Antonio, what was it, Commodores or something? Commanders, my bad on that. Can't believe I whiffed on that. Commodores, commanders, what's it matter? And yet, it's a two-point game according to Vegas. And it's only a two-point game because everybody's beat up for Philly and nobody's beat up for Dallas.

And the only reason, it's a two-point spread as Carson Wentz. And if he wins, I am going to be unbearable on my own. Monday. I'm going to get I'm going to get my highest rating ever in Philadelphia because I am going to, I am going to, I don't know what I'm going to do. I don't even know.

I don't even know Sunday night what I'm going to do if Dallas loses. You better win Dallas. Like Michael Irvin said, yeah, whence guys, no good in the locker room. Everybody got credit for that Super Bowl, except the guy that got him home field. The guy that was 11 and 2 got hurt was the MVP.

Everybody got credit except that guy. Coach got a book. Nick Folles got a statue. Nick Folls got a contract. Lane Johnson got famous. You got a parade. Bagle for Carson Wentz. Can't wait for Sunday. Coming up next. Again, it's just a game. I thought Houston played really well down the stretch. Westbrook was hot. Hardin was good. But I want to talk Clippers for a second. And I saw something and Doc Rivers saw something that is concerning. This is something that could stick in last. We'll talk about. That coming up. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports

Radio, FS1 and the IHeart Radio app. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines.

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. Sportslice 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 Slices 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, Keer 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 hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app. Search learn the hard way and listen now. What's up, guys? This is Clever Taylor the 4th. 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, ref, my mama want you to wave at her.

What? Hey, Ms. Parker. Listen to the Cliverts 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, and our podcast, Point Game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what.

He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows. Without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup,

he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying.

He running up the court, licking his fingers, why he got the ball like, after you go through a training camp with that Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Top of the hour 40 minutes away, the Blazing Five. Joel Klatt's going to join us in 20 minutes to talk about Clemson, Ohio State. I think Clemson wins. I think Clemson has a chance to beat Ohio State comfortably, and I think LSU is going to be in a fight for their life, against Oklahoma. I don't think it's a blowout. We'll talk about that. I want to start with this, though. So the Rockets last night lost to Houston. Again, it's a regular season game. It's not the end of the

world. I don't really care about the result. Westbrook played well. I know all you fanboys out there love that. You'll go crazy. That's fine. What does worry me, though, are things in the regular season that can stick for several months. Like an injury. If Kauai Leonard really actually wink, wink got hurt and was out in May, that sticks. But there is something emotional. about the Clippers. And I think they're a little bit fragile. The Clippers this year, everybody's talking about, you know, this is the year, right? So last night was the classic Clippers big game. Had a lead playing well. Something goes wrong and they completely unravel. And that's my number one concern about the Clippers. It's not their coaching. It's not their talent.

It's not their depth. It's not their effort. That's not the issue. It's not their owner. It's not their GM. It's this. The burden of being the favorite. It's much easier to be Toronto last year. We're up in Canada. We got swept the year before. Nobody thinks for anything. Everybody's rolling their eyes.

We're underdogs in games. And the Warriors fall apart. That's much easier than, yeah, I mean, you got Kauai. You can give them the whole regular season off because it's all about the ring. The Cubs had a lot of all-stars and a lot of good teams for years. And the Red Sox had a lot of teams that were better

than the Yankees for years. And the LA Chargers were 14 and 2 at home with 10 pro bowlers and lost to the Patriots in San Diego. It's a big difference pursuing Raptors last year and being pursued. And outside of Kauai, I mean, they bent the knee for Kauai. They basically said, take as many games off as you want. It's all about the ring. So everybody in the room with the Chargers knows it is all about the ring. I mean, I've never seen a team that has never done anything really notable.

in the regular season, not care about it. It is all about the ring. It is all about the title. Getting our own building, changing the paradigm in Los Angeles. And ask yourself, the Lakers have multiple people who have been in finals games. Quinn Cook, LeBron James,

Rondo, Danny Green, Javelle, McGee, Dwight Howard, and frankly the Lakers themselves. Clippers? Not really. Kauai. That's it. Paul George has struggled in big games. I like him, but he struggled. So last night, little bit goes wrong, and they just find ways to lose and find ways to unravel.

And this is what I've said. There's nothing I doubt with the Clippers. I love them organizationally. I think the world of them. But, you know, it's like they could still win. I mean, Philadelphia, the Philly Special did beat New England. Philadelphia had been known for losing big games, not winning them. And the Cubs didn't win a World Series, and the Red Sox have won a couple.

Chargers still haven't. but there is a difference between, oh, this team is built solely for the championship. For the record, LeBron's always been built for that too. But LeBron's been there before and he's played as a favorite. This is what separated Tiger Woods from every golfer I've ever seen. Tiger Woods would go into Sunday with a lead and he played like he was chasing, not being chased. I think only once he's lost a Sunday lead. Greg Norman's a great golfer.

Dustin Johnson's a great golfer. Rory McElroy is a great golfer. I've seen them go into leads on Sunday and panic because they're not used to being the favorite. Tiger often played better on Sunday with a lead. LeBron, I always think, plays better as the favorite. So I thought last night was a little troubling. Doc Rivers figured it out very quickly sent a message to his team. I thought we had a chance to knock them out and we didn't.

And then I thought in the fourth quarter it was more our commitment. I thought we just lost that composure overall as a team. You know, it happens, but it shouldn't, and it's a good learning lesson for us. Yeah, Rockets were looser, more aggressive. I thought they played smarter, and they played like a franchise that had been in some of these big games, you know, with Golden State. They played like, oh, we've been in this big game before. We've been in these intense games before, and the Clippers unraveled. Joy with the news.

No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Tom Brady and the Patriots have been struggling offensively this year, but they're still succeeding in the most important stat, which is wins. Brady is one win away from his 12th season with at least 12 wins, which would set an NFL record. He's currently tied with Peyton Manning for the most seasons with at least 12 wins in the

Super Bowl era with 11. So it's a lot of 11 and 12s getting thrown around there. But the Patriots remaining schedules, the Bills and the Dolphins, so they likely will get a win in one of those two games. So he will get that NFL record. He's not been selected for the pro ball for the first time since the 2008 season. No offensive players for the Patriots were

selected for the Pro Bowl since the 2003 season. So it's what we know, that the Patriots offense is not what we're used to seeing, and they're struggling a little bit this year. But one stat that I do think is very interesting when it comes to the Patriots is they are 5 and 0 this season when they don't turn the ball over. Five and O.

Pretty good record. It's pretty good. And what that tells me is that they have experience. So if they don't give you another opportunity to score, then they're going to win. And that's why I like them going into the playoffs, despite all of these statistics of Tom Brady having the lowest completion percentage of his career and hasn't had a pass a rating over 100 since week five. All these stats are nice.

And I know everyone is panicking, especially in Boston. Everyone's freaking out. But I'm just not, I'm going to believe it when I see it. No, listen, it's very interesting. I was just laughing the other day. Listen to this. The high-powered Kansas City Chiefs have scored 394 points this year. The pathetic Patriots have scored 372.

So you'll be like, oh, my God, they can't. Listen, I don't know. Sometimes it's trick plays and it's special teams, but the high-powered chiefs have scored 22 points more than the Patriots. And I could argue with the Bill's defense in their division, that's a harder accomplishment, because nobody thinks the Raiders defense is any good, and the Chargers defense hasn't been great this year.

So the perception, and I do think this is an older team. Edelman's beat up. I do think this is the most vulnerable New England's ever been. That part, I think we'd both agree. But I will just tell you this. If the playoffs started today, Kansas City would have to go back to Foxborough. And it could be snowing sideways. And I don't think Brady's lost a home game in Foxborough since 2012.

Well, we know that Patrick Malmes and the Chiefs can play in snow. So we just saw them do that. But again, I just, I don't know. And maybe it's just like I've just seen this movie too many times. I get it. Like, you know, this is Mission Impossible 23. And like, we know Tom Cruise is going to swoop in and save the world at the end of the day. We know how this ends.

That's just kind of how I feel about it. All those statistics are nice and fun. But that one you just said is very telling there. Like, they still win. And they still figure out ways to score almost 400 points going into week 17. Can't argue with it. So things keep getting worse for the Eagles. Y receiver JJ R. Saga White Side popped up on the injury report and was limited in practice yesterday with a foot injury.

His status is uncertain for Sunday's game against the Cowboys. But if he can't play, Philadelphia will be down to two healthy Y receivers, Greg Ward and Robert Davis. NFL teams usually carry, I think, seven. They're down to two. Well, Robert Davis was signed to the Eagles practice squad in October. He was only promoted to the active roster on December 12th. and he had no receptions last weekend against the Redskins. Greg Ward has played in five games this season.

28 targets, 18 receptions, 140 yards, and one touchdown. And by playing against a cowboy team, it's totally healthy. Okay, just... Well, Dak is not totally healthy. He's got a little... He has a shoulder injury and a wrist injury and a finger injury. Dak is banged up. That is not arguable.

I would say the rest of their team is very healthy. But I'm with you. I don't know what excuse the Cowboys can use. This is going to be the most embarrassing cowboy loss ever if they lose. I don't know. John Goulet all week has been like, I've never seen John look forward to a game less than this week. If you're a cowboy fan, you should honestly call in sick to work Monday, except you Goulet if they lose. It is going to be embarrassing.

I don't know. It's like something in my bones. This is just the perfect setup for a cowboy's disaster. Oh, God. Oh, it just can't be. Doesn't you kind of feel that way, though? Because look, I pick the Cowboys to win the Super Bowl. Obviously, this is a little bit out there now.

But, like, I think the Cowboys are a very capable team. But I don't know. Something this week. I'm just, I don't know. Finally, the 2020 nominees from the Basketball Hall of Fame were announced yesterday. This year's class is headlined by first-time nominees Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan, and Kevin Garnett. Some other notable nominees this year, Chauncey Billups, Chris Bosch, Michael Finley, Tim Hardaway, Mark Jackson, Sean Marion, and Chris Weber all first-time nominees.

Well, not all first-time nominees. Chansy Boe, Tim Hardway, Mark Jackson, and Chris Weber are not first-time. Kobe's the best player out of that groups. I love Tim Duncan, but come on, people. Kobe's the best player in that group. Come on. Yes, but Tim Duncan is like 1A. Tim Duncan does not get the credit he deserves.

He is a legendary player. They're both formed the position. They're both part of a dynasty. If you go to the... Find the Spurs' Lever. legacy. If you go to the all-time, if you had to pick the all-time starting five in the NBA, you'd go Magic, MJ, LeBron, I always said, Larry Bird, you'd need shooters, and then you can pick your center. I'd go Kareem. Some people would go Russell Will. By your second team, Kobe would

be the guard with, you know, Isaiah Thomas, John Stockton, Steph Curry, whatever. And you can make an argument that Tim Duncan would also be on that second team, which I would not have a problem with maybe with a keem or shack or whatever. So I think they're very closely aligned. But I think Kobe is more dramatic, was a greater offensive talent. Yeah, sure. Kobe was more dramatic. Kobe was more or everything than Tim Duncan.

But Tim Duncan is Tim Duncan is Tim Duncan. Like he played for the Spurs and he's just a quiet, meek guy. But he was the standard. Like Tim Duncan is legendary. I would argue he's. He's 1A with Kobe, even though they're just completely different personalities. Anyway, fine, this will be announced February 14th during All-Star Weekends. And congrats to Chris Bosch, by the way.

Cool. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herdline news. I want to say something else about because we don't have during the football season, this is a rare Friday where we talk some basketball for the first hour. We got a lot of football coming up, Blazing 5, top of next hour.

Albert Breer, Eric Dickerson. Joel Klaz is going to be joining me in 10 minutes. So it's a rare Friday. we got some basketball. Listen, I understand, I read an article this morning. Was it the passing of the guard from LeBron to Janus? Okay, time out.

It's a young writer he works at ESPN. The ratings are down 20-some percent. You've got to promote it. He was probably given an assignment. You got to write a story on the game. And, you know, whatever. Ratings are down. You've got to promote your product. I get it. I get it. I get it. Okay. But LeBron has nine

finals appearances and three titles. Yonis is a bagel in both. Okay. It's, there's no passing of anything. Okay. The biggest, the biggest. Because until last year, Janus, this is year seven, not year two or three or four, or five or six. This is year seven. Until last year, he didn't have a playoff series win in the awful east. He didn't have a playoff series win. In the east. I get it in the West. Warriors get in your way and Portland get in your way and Houston gets in your way. and Utah and Denver getting your way and he didn't have a playoff series

went until last year. When he beat Detroit without Blake Griffin below 500 and then he beat Boston an incredibly dysfunctional team which has sharply improved once Kyrie Irving left. Then they got up 2-0 on Toronto and were swept in the next four games.

Couldn't win a game. Yannis does not have a single playoff series win over a talented, healthy, functional playoff roster. In the East. Okay, I know you've got to write stories. I get it. I'm not picking on people.

But this is not year one or two. This is year seven for Janus. LeBron by year four had multiple playoff series wins and got to the finals with the worst, the worst finals roster ever assembled. And we all know that LeBron. was the face of the league about two years into it. I like Janice. He's a great kid.

He's shown loyalty, likeability, talent, length. He's fun. Folks, he doesn't have a legitimate playoff series when yet over a healthy, talented, functional roster in the Eastern Conference. He's a bunch of stuff that Slam Magazine writes about. Length and likability and it has a cool nickname. And Milwaukee's a small market and you put your arms around it. but I saw him get completely marginalized last year against Kauai Leonard,

who I think is five inches shorter, maybe six and 50 pounds lighter, and he just took him out of a game. Actually, two. Last night's great. There's no passing of anything. We do this. I don't know what it is. Maybe Joel Embed was going to dominate the league,

and then it was Carl Anthony Towns. We fall in love with Biggs. And I understand that Yonis is a big but kind of a wing. But I tell you, when you get to these playoffs, I like guys who handle the ball like Kauai Leonard and James Hardin and LeBron James, and they've got the ball in their hands and they're controlling the tempo, and they're going to dictate who's going to have the big shot. There is no passing of the torch.

LeBron is playing a new position this year as well as he's played in the last four years. The other thing is, LeBron is used to playing with a ton of pressure and expectations, like I talked about the Clippers. Janus has been everybody's favorite, a little bit of an underdog, and they're now moving into a different situation. Milwaukee now is supposed to win the East, and it's different. It's way different. And so this whole passing of the torch thing, no.

Let's have a new rule on the show. If one guy's been to the finals nine times, this is a new rule on the show. And the other guy's been to the finals no times, then there's no passing of the Torch. From this point forward, you got to be to the finals. I know I'm very demanding. Once. You've got to have one legitimate playoff series win for me to say, you're replacing the best player on the planet for the last 15 years. New rule. I know I'm rigid. I'm old school. I'm crazy that resumes matter a little, but I mean, you got to give me a break here on the passing of the torch stuff. All right. Listen, it's near the hall.

holiday season. I don't want things to get contentious, but I think Clemson has a chance to blow out Ohio State. I think Clemson's underrated. I think they have destroyed Alabama with players who were not all five-star. It's just the last two years that Clemson's landing all these five-star guys. Alabama had all those five-star classes for eight years, and Clemson took them to the shed last year. I think Clemson's undervalued. I think they're going to be. to score mostly at will on Ohio State. I think Ohio State's going to score as well, but I don't

know what has happened in America. We have not given the respect properly to the team that is dethroned Alabama as college football's raining heavyweight champ. And I'll talk about that with Joel Clout coming up next. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd

weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Last night, a blown call changed the game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where SportsSlice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athletes 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

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

Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. 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 walks up to me, he goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Quarterback on office blue 42. Hey, rec, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Where's she at? Hey, Ms. Parker.

Listen to the Clippers show on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, fam? This Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. in our podcast point game is about defining the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what.

He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reed.

He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night bases on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nass would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He run up the court licking his fingers while he got the ball. Like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball.

So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you. you get your podcasts. Joel Clat, who said Utah was in big trouble. Oklahoma would get in. He was right on that one. Once in a while, it lands. Squirrel. Yeah, squirrel, not whatevs.

Joel Clat, voice of college football, joining Joey and I on a Friday, top of the hour, blazing five picks. First of all, let's just start with this. It's an incredible playoff. Yeah. This is, especially the matchup you claim is going to be a blowout. Clemson, Ohio State. I am so excited.

I'm having a second corona. I've already ordered it. I like Clemson. I think we're falling into this nonsense. Well, I mean, who have they played? Five SEC teams in two years and boat race most and never had a trouble scoring against any of them. Ohio State has not seen Clemson speed.

And by the way, the last time they did, it was awful. Yes, to a large extent, everything that you said is true. I wouldn't say, like, I think that you give the entirety of the SEC too much credit, right? A&M is not a great team. You saw what LSU did A&M late in the season. You saw what South Carolina was. South Carolina was not a great team this year at all. And Clemson has not been tested.

They have not been tested at all. And in fact, when you look at Trevor Lawrence as the quarterback, he is a great player. In the last six games, there might not be another quarterback playing better than he is in the last six. I know that's heresy with Joe Burrow out there, but 20 touchdowns, no interceptions. The problem is that if you actually, average out the past defense that he faced for the entirety of the season. Do you know what you get

on average? The 81st past defense in the country. And they're blowing them out by 50, which they should, which they absolutely should. And by the way, Ohio State has been blowing people out as well. Let's not make, let's not make this out to be like Ohio State squeaked by a big 10 and Clemson's been the big bad, you know, wolf on the block. That's not entirely true. In fact, the point differential this year total for Ohio State is 470 plus 470 that's greater than the average margin not average that's greater than the overall margin for Clemson who's plus 467 so Ohio state has been bludgeoning teams just like Clemson has the only difference is Ohio state has been doing it against ranked teams in particular in the last three weeks I would just give you this for food

for thought I wonder why Clemson's a favorite yeah but listen coin flip favorite basically a point two points here or there and I think it's a really tough pick I'm not trying to just sit here and convince people to pick Ohio State because I think it's going to be an incredible game. I would tell you, though, that imagine the sentiments surrounding Clemson or LSU or any SEC team or any ACC team that went through this gauntlet at the end of the year. If you saw an SEC team face three straight top 15 opponents and beat every single one by double digits, they would be the greatest thing since slice bread. They would. They would. That's how college football works. That's why the narrative

is broken is because Ohio State was never given the credit they deserve for their last three games like other teams would be given. I would just tell you this that I think it's going to be an unbelievable game. I really do. Okay, now let's shift to this one. We got some good stuff here. I think Oklahoma

is going to push back on LSU. I've seen this before. Coach wins coach of the year at Orgeron. Heisman. Joe Burrell wins the Heisman. Oklahoma's being told for a month and a half. Big 12.

I saw Oklahoma go up against Alabama. I've seen him go up against Georgia, and they move the ball against both. Jalen Hertz, I don't think he's a great NFL prospect, but he can run and burn you. He's not the great thrower, but in their schemes, they have a receiver that's arguably the best receiver in the country.

I think Oklahoma is going to score a lot. Now, I think LSU's better. But if you sat there for five weeks and heard how bad you were, and Oklahoma's defense last year was awful, it's not awful this year. No, it's not. They're more aggressive. I think that they're better suited, but I do think that they need to be off the field. They can't sit there and face 65, 70 snaps of Joe Burrough.

Joe Burrough is too good for that, right? So I think that Oklahoma's best chance is to be in the mode that they were the entire back half of the season. Since they lost to Kansas State, they were at. averaging 50 rushing attempts per game. Yep. Per game. And a lot of that was hurts himself, and he's going to have to be a huge workhorse in this game as well.

Lincoln Riley's offense this year is running the football. That's right. It is a run first offense. And if they can keep burrow off the field, I think they do have a chance. I would say, though, their suspension, Ronnie Perkins, the defensive line. He's a good player. He's a good player. He provides some speed.

And they've been so hit or miss as far as pressuring the quarterback. Nine sacks against tech. Texas, five against Baylor in the Big 12 championship game. In between then, they would go weeks without a sack, three, four straight weeks without a sack. If they are not in Joe Burroughs face and if they have to see more than 65 snaps, they will lose by two touchdowns in this game. But if they can keep Burrow on the sideline, run the football about 50 to 55 times, and put pressure in Burroughs face at times, then they've got a shot.

And by the way, it's not like LSU's defense didn't have issues. They gave up a lot of big play. That's right. This is not your typical. The SEC is changing. Bama can't stop anybody. LSU's defense. This is not SEC four years ago.

It's like the NFL. The world's changing fast in football. I think LSU is a matchup problem. Here's why. Because if you look at the top two quarterbacks running the ball, Colin, and Power 5, guess who it is? Plumley from Ole Miss, Jalen Hertz, from Oklahoma.

what did Ole Miss do to LSU? Gashed them with the run and specifically the quarterback run. Yeah. I would be a touch worried if I was LSU about that quarterback run element of Oklahoma's offense. Now, I'm picking LSU in this game. And like I said, Joe will not be stopped, but I do, I do, I hate agreeing with you. I really do. There's an element of this that I do think it's going to be a little closer than people think.

And this is another part. When you give Lincoln Riley a month, he will figure you out. And they moved the ball in both of their last playoff losses. I think they'll move the ball again. Hey, NASA doesn't like to agree with Elon Musk. Well, and a genius is a genius. Sometimes they have to. Yeah, we can do.

A lot of stuff's coming out of this mouth. It's brilliant. All right, let's go to, listen, a lot of times all I see you is throw rocks through windows in your Tesla truck. Anyway, cheap shot's fine. It's holiday season. I was going to scale back on that. Well, you compared yourself to Elon.

He's the one throwing the steel ball through the window. Anyway, that's truck didn't sell nothing. Nobody liked that truck. Why'd you compare yourself to him then? It's a bad analogy. Anyway. And then you just ripped on it. You compared yourself to him and then you ripped on them.

I don't understand. Okay. I am the voice of USC nationally. You are? Yeah, without question. Are you taking a lot of arrows? Okay. All I'm saying is I'm the one national guy that when you say USC,

I'm the national guy that talks about him a lot. I've quit talking about it in the last two years because they're now a regional program. they're irrelevant nationally. Okay, they just finished 12th out of 12 Pack 10 teams. Pack 12 teams, yes. Pack 12 teams. How did that land for you?

Shocking. Shocking. There's only three, maybe four schools in the country. Think about it. That can recruit a top 15 class without getting an airplane? Miami? Texas.

And maybe not even Texas because they've got to get to Houston. They've got to get to Dallas. Let's take them off. Miami, USC, and maybe Georgia. Yeah, I think Georgia. Long car drive at Georgia. Everybody else has to get on an airplane and convince kids to come to my place.

And USC finishes 12th? in a conference with Oregon State and Washington State? Washington State is in Pullman. folks like this is this is this is the low point i would make an argument and i think it's a strong argument that this recruiting class is is a bigger disaster for USC than any loss they've ever suffered on the field this is going to have ramifications for years years and and it's not just clay helton's fault he certainly is going to have to accept a lot of responsibility for this because

got to recruit kids himself and he's got to hire a staff that can recruit. And I think that's been a big failure of his. He's got the last year. A pathetic staff was told three years ago by somebody in the recruiting business, they were disorganized, they were behind on kids. It is a staff of apathetic disinterested recruiters. Think about it. Three schools in the country that don't have to get on an airplane and can have a top 15 class,

maybe top 10 class and USC is one of those and they finished 12th out of 12. Another thing that I would also say is, because I don't think. that this sector can go uncriticized in this conversation. The administration and hierarchy at USC has been a total failure for their football program. And I understand that they've got probably 55 issues, or if they had 55 issues at their university, their football program right now is probably number 50 in terms of where to get to on a list. They've got the college admission scandal, which involves their athletic department. They've paid out, by the way, they've paid out half a billion dollars in settlements as a

university based on all the scandals that they were going through outside of the athletic department. But the bottom line is this. If your president wants to commit to having a good football program, you will have a good football program and you will make the moves and choices necessary in order to make that happen. This has been a total disaster from the AD hiring to now rolling out, we're going to stick with Clay. If you're going to stick with Clay, do it in September.

So he can recruit. You do it two weeks a week before the signing day? What are USC? Like, what are you doing? This has been an abject failure of administration and leadership at USC. It's crazy. Joel Clatt, Urban Meyer, Matt Liner, tonight, FS1, college football playoff preview show at 11 Eastern on FS1. All jacked up for that. Happy holidays to my man, Joel Clat. Blazing 5 next.

Appreciate you guys. Thank you. 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. Here we go. Live in Los Angeles, this is the herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, we're live on IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1. this hour we've got Chris Broussard. What did he make of last night's NBA?

Albert Breer stops by. I've got some thoughts on New England, a remarkable stat. Maybe they're not as bad as we think they are. And Joy Taylor is joining us. Joy, how are you? You're going. We're both back Monday and Tuesday. So Monday, Tuesday, we're here.

You're here for Christmas Eve, and then we are out. That's right. For Christmas. I'm going to Pittsburgh. You're going to Pittsburgh, and I'm going to go ski with the fam. So it is great to have you. So I'm 52% on the year with my blazing five picks. usually at this time I'm about 55, 56%.

So we got to hit it the next two weeks. And remember last year, I got sensationally hot in the last two weeks in the playoffs. I hit 10 of 11 picks in the playoffs. So you kind of feel like when you get to this point in the year, certain teams, you know, what's Chicago playing for? I know Kansas City's playing for something. So here we go. Love my picks are Blazing 5.

Let's go. That's a hot one. Let's blaze it up. Fire it up. It's Collins, Blaz and Five, Ravens and Browns. You know, we talk a lot about Baltimore's offense. I'm going to take the Ravens minus 9, 10, whatever the line is. It's now 9.

I'm going to take Baltimore. But their defense has been absolutely sensational since Marcus Peters arrived. They're getting a pass rush during their 10-game winning streak, their first, second, or third, and virtually everything, including quarterback hits per game. They hit the quarterback seven times, and Baker Mayfield has looked very gunwerect. shy in the last six weeks. He's tired of getting hit. Cleveland is a team that allows you to run the football. 135 yards per game is what teams average on the ground. Remember the first time they played, Baltimore didn't have Marcus Peters, still trying to define their offense. In Cleveland, oh my lord, Nick Chubb was unbelievable. The moral of the story, September is not December. I like

Baltimore to win going away, 33 to 20. I think it could potentially be worse than that. Bengals and Dolphins. Really like Miami here. It is close to a pickum or Miami plus one. Miami's at home on a holiday weekend. Cincinnati's coming to town. I don't think Cincinnati's that well-coached.

I think Miami is not great but well-coached. After that disastrous start, Brian Flores comes in, new team. He's trying to figure out his personnel. You know, last seven games, they're three and four. Last seven games, they're three and four. And by the way, in their last 10, they're seven and three against the spread. And Ryan Fitzpatrick, who can move a little, if you go look at him since week nine, he's got twice as many touchdown passes as interceptions.

He's completing about 63% of his throws. Now, he's a great transition quarterback. He's not a franchise guy, but you can use him this year. He's a gamer. He's tough. He can move. Went to Harvard. Harvard.

I think Miami wins this game. I think it's one of the rare times that I love what is considered a bad football team. I'm going to take the Dolphins to win that thing. What did I pick the score at? 2420. There we go. Sorry, a piece of paper in the way. Steelers at Jets.

I like the Jets plus three. Listen, Sam Darnold goes comments against New England. Oh, my God, sell your stock. Sam Darnold's actually, even in losses, playing very, very well. Since week nine, Sam Darnold, 62% completion percentage, 12 TDs, four picks, 95 passer rating, two rushing touchdowns. That's with the worst offensive line in football, in my opinion. It's got to be one of the bottom, too.

He's not the issue. Devlin Hodges for the Steelers. I love their front seven. But folks, in the four games he's played this year, he's got more interceptions than touchdowns. They give you one offensive touchdown a week. That's just what Pittsburgh gives you with Devlin Hodges. The Jets have shown at home.

Remember the Dallas game? They've had games at home where they're pretty impressive. They're fairly healthy. And I think Pittsburgh's been exposed as a totally limited offense. I'm going to take the Jets to win it outright 2623. Cowboys and Eagles. Dallas minus two. I'm going to take them here to number.

If it was three and a half, I'd probably stay away. Okay, listen, Carson Wentz is having a much better year than everybody says. But here's the thing about Philadelphia. They can't beat you over the top. But you can't do it. Last couple of weeks against average teams, their defense can't take the ball away. This is what worries me. If you just let Dak do his little comeback patterns and Zeke run the ball, Dallas could dominate time of possession.

Last couple of weeks, Philadelphia defensively has been awful. Dallas is 5-0 this year when they rush for over 172 yards, and Zeke has owned the Philadelphia Eagles defensive front. I love Fletcher Cox, but he hasn't had a great ear by Fletcher Cox standards. The Cowboys offensive line is healthy. This comes down to me. The Dallas staff gets fired if they don't win. There is unbelievable urgency. I think Dax's injury actually forces Dallas to not get cute and run the football.

I think Dallas wins by a touchdown here. Chiefs at Bears. I'll easily swallow the points here. I'm going to take Kansas City minus six. What's Chicago playing for? A Kansas City has sneakily become the second hottest team in the league after Baltimore. Last four games, four and no, four and oh against the spread. Their defense, too, we talk about offense since the by week.

Their defense has been really good. Their defense is number one in points for game allowed, fifth and yards allowed. Here's the thing about the bears. The bears can win games. But in their last 10 games, they're two and eight against the spread. I mean, when they do win, it's ugly. The game has to be played a certain way for Chicago to win. And I don't think right now Kansas City, I don't think you can marginalize them.

I think this is, I think Andy Reid privately is like, we got healthy at the right time, we got hot at the right time. I mean, this is a team that went into New England and won a football game. And I didn't think Kansas City played flawless football. I thought situationally they weren't great in New England. I thought they were kind of choppy. Now they go into a Chicago team that's not as good, not playing for a ton. I like Kansas City to win and cover 3221. So there's my blazing five picks, all the odds provided by Foxx bet.

I'll take the favored Ravens, I'll take the favored cowboys and the favored chiefs, and I'll take the underdog Miami Dolphins and the New York Jets. So New England plays Buffalo tomorrow, and it's just, it's funny how it's worked. Josh Allen's a very good quarterback for Buffalo. He's an excellent young player. But he and Sam Darnold, if you just took out their New England games against Belichick, would have really impressive numbers. New England's defense has eaten Josh Allen alive, under 50% completion percentage.

Now, we know that New England is struggling, right? We know offensively Brady now. In fact, I saw a stat this morning. He's completed fewer than 60% of his passes in five straight games. That is so not Tom Brady. But going to go to a number again. The high-power chiefs have scored 394 points this year. The Patriots have scored 372.

The Patriots are still bizarrely competent. They've got a better defense than Kansas City. They're point differential. New England is better than Kansas City. You know, New England's got this Donald Trump feel to them. They're on top. They're really annoying. We question their character.

But you look at the challengers and you're like, maybe Biden, maybe Baltimore. If the AFC playoffs started today, if the AFC playoffs started today, so the Patriots and the Ravens would have a buy, then I think Kansas City at home beats sort of a choppy Pittsburgh offense. I think I would take Houston at home over Buffalo,

but with absolutely no confidence. then I would get Kansas City at New England and Houston at Baltimore. Now, I'd like Baltimore and a blowout over Houston or Buffalo. But if you go to that New England Kansas City game, how many of you really, knowing that Kansas City won the first encounter, Belichick, Brady, special teams, edge, defense edge, I mean, experience edge, big game edge. Kansas City's got better weapons.

So, you know, I understand, and I don't think this is a team capable of winning the Super Bowl because I don't think New England matches up with Baltimore. I don't think they match up with San Francisco. I don't think they match up with New Orleans. I'm not sure they match up great with Seattle. They match up pretty well with Kansas City, especially when it's 9 degrees. And if it's windy like it is in Boston, they match up pretty good with Kansas City. The rest of the AFC is Buffalo, Tennessee, Pittsburgh, Houston.

I mean, come on. You trust any of those teams? I still trust New England. If you took out Baltimore, just took Baltimore out, I think I'd have to sing a different tune. But you can't take Baltimore out. So I think Baltimore wins the AFC. But I think they're a little more competent New England than we think. And if the playoffs started today, buy week, Kansas City, home.

How much would you put on Kansas City? Coming up next, Chris Brousard, what to make a last night. Lakers lost to Janus. Clippers unravel against the rockets. It's a Friday. 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 athletes themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions,

the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice. On the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo 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, 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 Hardway.

Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. 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, A, 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 Clippers show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before.

And he knows. Without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense.

And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers while he got the ball. Like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick.

Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Tomorrow, it's the highly anticipated rematch between Tony Harrison and Jermel Charlo for the world's super wellterweight championship. tomorrow at 8 Eastern 5 Pacific only on Fox and the Fox Sports app.

Chris Broussard, our first time really having you in for hoops this year. Last night may have been the four best teams in the NBA. Did you think it meant anything that Milwaukee came out swinging, landing blows? Lakers were playing catch-up all night. Did you make anything of that? I did. I made two things out of it. I think there are three teams on the elite level.

The Lakers, the clippers, and the bucks. I don't put Houston on the same level as those three. Milwaukee was more important for them last night because you're at home, and they haven't proven anything. The Lake LeBron, that loss isn't going to mean anything to him. He's proven it in the playoffs and the finals. Yannis and the Bucks haven't,

so it was important for them to have a statement win. What I also learned, Colin, though, is that the Lakers are, I love their attitude toward this season. Like, they are serious about this regular season and winning this championship. And I say that because they have, so many times last night they could have just folded.

They could have folded at half. Yes. I mean, they're down huge early. Then, I mean, how many times did they rally in the third quarter and early in the fourth? They cut it to 10. They cut it to 12. And the bucks come out and hit a big three, get a big basket. Next thing you know is 17 points.

And they kept fighting. They had so many opportunities to say, you know what, it's not our night. We'll get them in L.A. It's not a big deal. And they didn't. And that shows me, I mean, Anthony Davis on a bad ankle and at one point holding his side plays the entire second half. Now, some people might look at that and say, what are they doing? Why are they taking it so serious?

I look at it and say, oh, they're ready to win this championship and they're going hard. It reminds me of, not that they're going for 73 wins, but it reminds me of Jordan's year when they went for 72 wins as the Bulls and then went on to win the championship. I see that type of attitude and serious and focus in these Lakers. Yeah, I still feel there are one three-point shooter shy. Iggy, by the way, was in L.A. yesterday. Buddy sent me a picture from the gym. Andre Iigwadala was in Los Angeles. Yeah, he was shooting.

Right next to where I work out in the club next door, buddy sent me pictures of Iggy. Steph, by the way, has been there a couple times. So there's a lot of talk on the NBA, Andre Aguadala, which I think the Lakers need about one more guy that could hit a three. because they got, you know, KCP could hit one, Danny can hit one, LeBron can hit one, Kuzma occasionally can hit one, Quinn Cook off the bench, it feels like they need one more guy that could get a bucket.

Well, more than that, they need a perimeter defender. We've raved about the Lakers defense all year, right? Oh, they're tremendous defensively. They're tremendous defensively at the rim. Okay, they're long and they block shots and all that. Perimeter-wise, they're not that great. Now, Avery Bradley's a good defender. Rondo can be, LeBron can be, Danny Green.

But last night, they got torched from three-point range. And they've gotten torched several times this year from distance. So I think that's where he would help him even more so than shooting the threes. Okay, Rockets beat the Clippers again. It's regular season. But I didn't like how I thought the clippers unraveled. And this is what worries the Clippers. There's the burden now ring or nothing.

They've bent a knee basically for Kauai. and they're unraveling here in a regular season game in December. That worried me. Anything jump out to you? Yeah, I'm not worried about their demeanor because, one, you got a great coach who knows how to handle personalities and Doc Rivers who's been there. So I think he can control the roster. And your best player, Kauai, and really Paul George as well, they're cool customers.

You know, Kauai especially. Nothing's going to get him off his game, get him out of his pace. So I think they'll be fine in that regard. a couple things that bother me about them. One, I wonder at times, because they're only seven and seven on the road. I know Kauai's missed some of those games. They're now O and two against, they were O and two against Milwaukee. They're one and two against Houston.

I know George missed one of those games. But I wonder if they're taking the regular season too much for granted. Like too much laissez-fri-old. It's just, you know, like last night, obviously Kauai missing every fourth game or so. that can hurt your chemistry. There's no question. Right? Because guys aren't used to playing with them,

especially when you have another star like George, who when Kauai's not there, he's got one role. When he is there, he's got another. And the second thing, Colin, is there the opposite of the Lakers in many ways, in one in their approach to the regular season, but also in their defense.

The Lakers are great defensively at the rim, but not so much on the perimeter. The clippers are great on the perimeter, but not so much at. the rim. So guys, you saw last night, if you can get past their perimeter defense, you got an easy lane to lay up at the rim. And I think that's the concern. You notice something else. And this is, this tells you how they're viewing the regular season. Kawhi didn't guard James Hardin at all. I don't know if he ever was on Hardin last night. They, they,

they're not going to give you any, they're not going to give you any of their game plan. You know that Kauai would be on James Hardin in the second half of a big game. They just put him on him and take him out. They're hiding him right now. Now, maybe that'll work just like the load management and you win the championship and it will all praise you. But if it doesn't work, I wonder, at some points, you've got to get used to what you're going to do in the postseason in the regular season. Now, we know this in the NBA. There are just certain teams that are fun in the regular season, but you can just see it doesn't translate.

I was talking to an NBA scout two nights ago about Utah, and I like Utah. He goes, they're not athletic enough outside. of Donovan Mitchell. He goes, that's going to be really hard to stop LeBron and Anthony Davis and Kauai and Paul George four times in two weeks. Utah's good, but they're not quite athletic enough. And he goes, that athleticism will win you game or two. You can shut somebody down. So I look at Houston and I look at them and I think they're good defensively when they're in the mood, but I don't think Westbrook's very good, Harden. I don't really buy them. I think they're fun. Even last night. They're fun. They're a good watch.

That's exactly what they're. They're the Foxy model that you like to hang with, but you're not really marrying her. Yeah, you cannot trust her. Right. And that's what, hopefully that wasn't sexes. But this is what the Rockets are. They're sexy, they're fun to watch, their must-see TV and all of that. Here's the only hope, Colin, that they have of being a contender.

The only hope. Health? No. Last night, they need to learn from last. night and see we don't have to be all Harden all the time. God, they can get so. But sometimes I don't blame the team or the coach. That's James's style.

It didn't used to be. Remember, this is a guy that was, I get it, you grow and you become better, but he was coming off the bench in Oklahoma City. And when he came off the bench, he was a distributor. Westbrook would be off the ball and Hardin would handle it and run the offense and distribute. This is what I'm saying. he's averaging 38 points a game

Westbrook's 23. I would like, I think they'd be better off if that was more like 33 for Hardin and 26 for Westbrook. Or even they both come down and Eric Gordon averages 18 or 17 when he gets back. Because Colin, there's never been a team in NBA history that had a during the regular season that won a championship that had a score averaging more than 32 and a half points a game. Ever. That was Michael Joy. Ever. He averaged 32.6 points a game when they won the championship,

and that's the highest scoring average ever for a guy that won a title. When Wilt was averaging 50 and 44 and 38, they never won. When Jordan averaged 37, 35, 33, they never won. If they couldn't do it, I don't think Hardin can do it. And you've got help. Westbrook, he's not going to do what he did last night every night. But he can take over Corbyos. And then you got Capella who can score.

Eric Gordon and PJ Tucker can hit shot. So Austin can do some scoring for you. Austin Rivers. So they need to, Don Nelson once, when he's coaching the Milwaukee. You know, he's over in Hawaii is smoking dope now. Nelly? Yeah, no, that's last time I talked to him. I didn't talk to him.

I saw him. He's just smoking dope in Hawaii. Not surprised. He really is. Nellie, when he coached Milwaukee Bucks, he once had a player average 26 points a game. He told that guy, I need you to bring that down to about 20. He brought it down to 21.

They went from 38 wins, no playoffs to 49 in the playoffs. Next year he brings it down to 20. They win 60 games and go fairly far in the playoffs. So my point is sometimes less is more. Yeah. But look, James Hardenow is dealing with the shoe brand. He's going to be historic. He has to make the decision.

Do I want to average 38? And be historic. And be historic and go out in the second round or average 32 and maybe we win. it. Well, and the air thing is, the air thing is, it's easy to say, well, once he gets to the playoffs, he won't worry about it. But if you play a certain way and teammates get used to this 39 a game, they start sort of looking to you. They don't work as hard to get the ball. You don't work as hard off screens. So you have to create, I mean, Lamar Jackson running is great. But in the end, it's Lamar Jackson's passing, which doesn't allow you to cheat on the running. So they want

to show you all that passing as they go into the playoffs. And so Lamar can get more yards running if Baltimore said we're going to make him historic. But Baltimore's coaches are like, we want to keep elevating the past game, fewer rushing yards. We don't care about that stuff because eventually it includes everybody. It forces teams to defend you differently. Chris Bursar joining us. By the way, Janus, I'm reading all these passing the torch things.

I just want to acknowledge, LeBron's been due eight or nine finals, one three. Yonis, no finals, no titles. We're not passing the torch, right? No, you don't get the torch until the postseason. And especially when our last glimpse of you in the postseason, you were struggling mightily, averaging 22 points a game from 27 in the regular season. Let's go back to last year against Toronto. They were beat four straight games.

Tell America what happened. Well, they closed off the lane and said, Yana, shoot the jumper. And he shot 44% from the floor compared to 58 in the regular season. Now, I will say this, last night was a glimpse into the future. and it's a scary future for everybody outside of the team that has Janus. Hopefully it remains Milwaukee. He shot five of eight from three. And Colin, in December eight games, he has shot 47 threes and hit 21 of them.

That's 44%. If he becomes a 35% three-point shooter, a legitimate three-point shooter, it may be over. Oh, come on. How are you going to stop him? Listen, he's had a nice eight games in December. I'm just saying that's a decent little sample size. In December. I'm not saying he's going to shoot 44% but if he shoots 35%

and he had the nice little turnaround Jay from the mid-range in the fourth quarter last night, this guy is about 80% of what he could be, which is scary. So I'm with you on the torch is not passed because you have to do it in the playoffs. He doesn't have to win it this year. But if he gets to the finals plays hero, heroically and loses to the Lakers. How about we get him to a finals? Look, you're down on Janus.

He's a great kid and a great story. But, God, if I have to hear about another big that's going to own the world, Carl Anthony Towns, Joel M.B. No, the difference. Andrew Bynum was going on. Every guy you mentioned cannot bring the ball up court. That's the difference between Janus and even Anthony Davis. If I have AD, I need a guard to get AD to rock for the most part.

Yannis can take the ball. That's why Luca, Yonis, they win games because they don't need to wait for you to give me the ball. 58% from the floor last year in the regular season. 44% against. It won't be the case this year. Maybe he'll go down to 46%. He's going to trust me. He's coming.

The torch will be passed. It just wasn't last night. All right. Chris Roussard, good seeing you, buddy. Cold and flu season, Vic Synex nasal spray works up to 12 hours. Use only as directed. Just the nose. Joy with the news.

No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Kareem Hunt's called out some of his Brown's teammates for not giving their all in the loss of the Cardinals last week. Yeah. And Baker Mayfield is standing by Hunt's comments and wants everyone on the team to be accountable. Karim's been in a place, you know, in Kansas City that knows how to win. So his level and his standard accountability for everybody to do their job is very high.

That's the type of guys we want to bring in here. So I don't think it was anything personal to anybody, but Kareem bringing him in was a huge part for us raising the standard. So we want that. We want guys to be able to have accountability. It doesn't need to just come from me all the time. I didn't mind that quote from Baker. Yeah, I actually like the Baker said that.

Baker, that's very adult. So you approve of that one? Yeah, you supported a teammate and made a very good point, which is, you know, this Kareem Hunt guy's standard is great, and we need guys like that with high standards. I like that, Baker. And also, like he said, doesn't have to come from me all the time because one of the things we're always getting on Baker about

is that he always has to have the last word and he's, you know, trying to speak for everyone, which is getting him in trouble. You know, other guys on the team can be the mouthpiece and you can be the one that, you know, puts out any fires that come along. The Browns are technically still in the playoff hunt at 6 and 8. Come on. I'm just giving the facts.

They'll be eliminated this weekend with a loss. They play the Ravens. So we're kind of counting on that. But they're eliminated this weekend with the loss, or I win by the Steelers of the Titans. The Steelers are at the Jets, and the Titans play the Saints at home. So they're technically still alive.

Anything can happen. But this weekend could also be the end of what has been a particularly interesting season for the Cleveland rounds. So Mike Zimmer is preparing his Vikings to take on Aaron Rogers on Monday night to have shared the NFC North for the last six seasons. And Zimmer joke that he's just about done going up against. the former MVP. I'm speaking to Green Bay Media about facing Rogers again.

Zimmer said, either me or him have to get out of this division at some point. It's too hard to go against him. He's too damn good. You guys should try to talk him into retiring. Obviously, kind of making a little joke there. When Rogers was told about the comment, he laughed and said, tell him to retire. They have a little relationship there, a little, you know,

respect, mutual respect and competition. I still think the line is crazy. Vegas is begging you to bet on Aaron Rogers. Five and a half points now. Without Delvin Cook. The Vikings are favorite at five and a half without Dalvin Cook. Packers are 5-4-1 against the Vikings under Zimmer.

Vikings have held opponents to 10 points or fewer in the last two games. Their defense is great. Their coaching's great. Their defense is great. But Vegas, Fox bet is basically saying, please bet Green Bay, which tells me I kept it out of Blazing 5. I'm like, trap bet. I'm staying away.

Well, the Packers clinched NFC North with a win and the Vikings clinch a playoff berth with the win. So a lot on the line in this game on Monday night. I'm very much looking forward to it, but I got to tell you, much like I have a feeling like this might just be a random out of nowhere win for the Eagles. I'm higher on Aaron Rogers than the Packers than you are.

Right. Much higher. Finally, the James Weisen era at Memphis is over after just three games. The star freshman announced on Instagram yesterday that he will leave the school, hire an agent, and start preparing for the 2020 NBA draft. He was seven games into a 12-game suspension and was set to return on January 12th. In his three games at Memphis, he averaged 19.7 points per game, 10.7 rebounds per game, and three blocks per game. He was suspended after the school admitted that Penny Hardaway made a $11,500 payment to Wiseman's mother in 2017

before accepting the head coaching job and the NCAA considered Hardaway a booster, since he donated a million dollars to the school in 2008, which made the payment to Wiseman's mother and improper benefits. Why is this important? Well, aside from another top five draft prospect not going to be available for the NCAA tournaments because he is currently ranked at third. La Mello Ball and RJ Hampton are playing in Australia at one and five. This is becoming a trend. And in 2022, it's pretty much set that the one-year-old. and done rule is going to be done away with. So more and more players are going to be going straight into the NBA draft, which everyone's

panicking about. And I'm kind of starting to lean towards you maybe should be a little more concerned about it than you were before if you're the NCAA because players are taking a lot more control over their careers. And the NBA is making a great effort to make the G League not only more profitable to play in, but a better overall developmental league. Because we all know what the G League has been for years. It's way better. Last year it was way better than it was three years ago. G-League's getting better.

And it should be. They should have always had it as a top-notch developmental league. And now more and more of these top prospects are going to be skipping college. It doesn't have the same allure to kids anymore. And listen, we love the NCAA tournament. It's one of the best parts of the year. But this is going to become a problem for the NCAA. I don't think that they handled this very well to begin with. And, you know, James Wiseman just said, listen, I'm just going to train for the next couple months and get ready for the draft. I never blamed a kid going straight to the NBA,

although I do think there is a lure and fun being on a college campus like Duke or Kansas for a year. I do think it's fun. I think Zion was fun. But I don't blame if you're a night, that kid, sometimes you can look at a 19-year-old and go, oh, that's an NBA player. Like, that kid's length and his touch, and he's great.

He's the best basketball player by far in college right now. Enjoy it with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Her Lide News. You know, I take out the yellow notepad for big games. When I'm going to make my bet for Blazing Five in Philadelphia and Dallas, This week I took Dallas to win.

I think it's a very competitive game. I think Carson Wentz is special. I think Carson Wentz is making an offense with now only two healthy receivers viable, but I like Dallas in the game. But if you take out the yellow notepad, Philadelphia and Dallas, and you write down the 10 best players in the game, it's 5 and 5.

I would put Zeke and Zach Martin at the top of the list. I also have Amari Cooper, Tyron Smith, and Travis Frederick, all offensive guy for the Cowboys. Then I would say Brandon Brooks, offensive lineman for Philadelphia, Carson Wentz, Fletcher Cox, Zach Ertz, and Lane Johnson are the five for Philadelphia.

So if you're asking me the 10 best players in the game, there's a lot of similarities here. It's about 5 and 5. I also think Philadelphia's got a really impressive win on the road. Green Bay and the Cowboys have a really impressive win against the Rams blowout. But you also have Philadelphia losing to Miami and Dallas, losing badly to the Jets.

And both of them have been in way too many close games. Both of them have a former NFL backup quarter. back as their head coach. Both have really marginal secondaries. They are very, very similar. That said, Dallas has to win, or Jason Garrett, who is from Pennsylvania originally, should just stay there. Seriously, we got this, Jason. We'll send your stuff. Dallas has to win this game. There are games in an NFL season. You got to win. If Baltimore this year plays New England again, they have to win. They're healthier. They're loaded with pro bowlers. They're faster. They'll be at home. And they got the MVP at quarterback. Like, you've got to win

this time because New England's going to get its act back together on the perimeter eventually. And if you're Dallas, you have got to win this weekend. The pressure is squarely on Dallas, and I think they're going to win. But there are a lot of similarities to this team. You take the 10 best players, it's about 5 and 5. Former backup quarterback's head coach. We question both secondaries. They both have one wide receiver, one go-to wide receiver. And they're kind of built the same. Philly and Dallas are kind of built on these veteran tough offensive lines. That said, I'll take Dallas. They better win.

They've got to win. Albert Breer is coming up next. Monday morning quarterback. Some updates. Buffalo, New England play tomorrow. Edelman's Hurt is he playing all sorts of stuff. Three NFL games tomorrow. That's coming up.

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Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. What's up, guys? This is Cliver Taylor the Fourth. And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker walks up to me, he goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her.

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This Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledon. and our podcast point game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves,

I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too.

Steve Nass would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court licking his fingers why he got the ball. Like, you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah. You figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you. you get your podcasts.

Senior NFL reporter, lead content strategist, Monday morning quarterback. Let's go to Albert Breer via the Coward Global Satellite Network. Don't mean to overreact, but I do think you can see. Most dynasties do not fall off a cliff. They gradually decline, and at some moment you wake up and go, they're not talented enough. It feels like that, to me, on the outside, looking in with New England,

Baltimore, Kansas City, more explosive, same with San Francisco, Seattle, and the Saints. Am I overreacting to that, Albert? I mean, their age certainly tells you that their time's limited. The defense is still excellent, but eight of the 11 stars on that side of the ball are 29 years or old, older. It's sort of unlocked Belichick as a coach, but it also tells you there's a shelf life on what they're doing on that side of the ball. And certainly on offense, it seems like things have really revolved around Brady still this year.

And you can see a subtle shift the last couple of weeks and how they've tried the saddle up behind the running game. Morton to remember last year, Colin, last two weeks of the season, they started running the ball really well. That allowed them to rely on the running game when they got to the playoffs. Last week, Sony Michelle had 19 carries. Rex Burke had broke a big run at the end of the game. I would not be surprised, based on how limited the passing game has been to this point, if we start to see the Patriots try to build that running game back up going into the playoffs, because I just don't think they've got the answers right now in the passing.

Cowboys Eagles is fascinating. From a health standpoint, Dallas is like both. Baltimore, very few issues physically. Eagles are down to two wide receivers. This is probably stating the obvious. Jason Garrett's coaching for his career right here, right? Yeah, I mean, like, look, the bottom line is the contracts where it dictates that. You know, they can't kick the can down the road anymore.

They walk away after this year, no financial repercussions. If they want to re-up with Jason Garrett, you're talking about another four or five years and another $30 or $40 million guaranteed for the coach. So Jason Garrett doesn't just have to get to the playoffs. He has to have his team looking impressive after they get there. And so there's a lot on the line for Jason Garrett this week. But I don't think even winning the division assures him anything at this point going the idea of who would be the next coach. You've heard the names.

Urban Myers won. Lincoln Riley is another. This is a critical week for Jason Garrett. But even winning this week, all that does is buy him time to try and do what he needs to do in the playoffs to save his job. By the way, I'm going to move out of the NFL for a second. A week from tomorrow, we've got LSU, Oklahoma, Ohio State Clemson. There's been a lot of talk that Tua will drop in the draft. We talked about it yesterday.

Gruden isn't in love with Derek Carr. I think a third of the league my entire life has been unhappy or faking happy with their quarterback. So I think a lot of teams are going to move up for Tua. I don't think Joe Burroughs is a better talent, but I think he may go hot. What are you hearing with your NFL sources on the quarterbacks and Burrow and Tua specifically? I mean, Joe Burroughs considered a little safer because you don't have the injury risk. The big question with Joe Burrow, he's only done it for one year. I mean, this time a year ago, he was seen as maybe a third or a fourth round pick.

He's been great this year. But, I mean, some teams are going to look at it and say it's the new offensive coordinator, Joe Burrow, Joe Brady coming over from the New Orleans Saints. Maybe some of this is smoking mirrors. And so there are some questions about Joe Burrow. Again, I think right now he's likely to be the first quarterback off the board. With Tua, it's all about injuries. The talent is there, but he's had two ankle surgeries, and now he's got this hip thing. So much of it's going to depend on what the team doctors find when you get to the combine in February.

And an important thing to note here, Colin, the quarterbacks who come into the draft over the last decade or so that came in with major injury risk have gotten hurt almost invariably when they got to the NFL. Sam Bradford in 2010, Jake Walker. 2011, Robert Griffin in 2012, Deshawn Watson, 2017, Marcus Marriota in 2015, Carson Wentz in 2016. Every single one of these guys who've come into the league with major injury concerns has gotten hurt again when they got to the league. And so the idea that, you know, Tua's injuries are a small deal, don't buy that. Yeah.

Doctors say after they get to get a look at him in February and March. One 90 seconds left. Well, actually, we got a couple minutes here. OBJ, Jay Glazer came out. I trust Jay Glazer. He said, OBJ, Landry, they're saying, come get me. OBJ comes out. I love it here.

I bought a home. It's just, this is the greatest place ever. We know that OBJ wasn't in trouble at LSU, but New York and the chaos, now Cleveland's got chaos. I don't believe he's happy, and I think he wants out. What is your take on the last week? I'm happy. I love it. And Glazer's report. I can tell you that no one in the Giants organization is a prize one iota in what's happened with Odell Beckham Jr. And I think, you know, really the way that they look at it is when things are good, Odell Beckham can be okay. He can be

the sort of guy that can fit into what you're doing. He's not a bad guy. When things go the wrong way, it becomes more of a problem. And I think that's what you've got here in Cleveland. Of course, I trust Jay the same way you do. And I have heard. some of the same stuff that Jay has heard. It's going to be interesting to see where this goes forward because they've actually got Odell Beckham on an affordable contract going forward, and they're not going to be able to get proper value for him if they trade them after this year. And so if you're the Cleveland Browns, the thing that might make the most sense, ride it out. See if he likes a new situation in 2020. Maybe you change a few things and it works better for him.

But there's almost no way you're going to be able to get proper value for Odell Beckham because so many teams are going to look at it and say to themselves, all right, like he got the trade he He went to a quarterback he knew. He's with his best friend, Jarvis Landry, who had a way of governing him when he was at LSU. And it still didn't work here. It's 27 years old. We got to accept him for who he is. And so a lot of teams look at that and say to themselves, we can't trade away a first round pick the way the Cleveland Browns did a year ago. So the Browns would be selling low on him. And he's a guy who's got an affordable contract given where the receiver market's gone. So it may make the most sense for the Browns to ride things out with Odell Beckham for right now. Good stuff. Albert Breer, Monday morning quarterback, former Patriot Cowboy Beat Rider. Thanks, bud. All right, thanks, Colin. Patriots tomorrow against the Buffalo Bills in Foxborough. I like New England to win that game. Fairly close, but Josh Allen will struggle against the Patriots back end.

By the way, guys, get your own shampoo. Don't borrow your wife or your girlfriends. Dove men plus care. Wide range of products available at Walmart. You know, Baltimore, Cleveland is funny because the first time they met, you know, you forget. Baltimore wasn't Baltimore. They were like two and one, we weren't sure. And we thought Cleveland was the team with all the talent. Things, the moral of the story is, don't overvalue September. But there's been three games in the NFL that have shocked us this year. The Dallas Cowboys go into Sam Darnel in the Jet. Sam was in a hospital, wore a flack jacket, and blew them out. Atlanta was on a six-game losing streak, went to New Orleans, Saints were even off a by, and crushed them. and then there was Cleveland going to Baltimore and what the hell was that?

Remember that game though? Nick Chub at about 160 yards. They had better time of possession. Lamar fell behind. Lamar threw a couple of picks. Baker had one of his guest games as a pro for 340 yards. I don't think we'll see it this weekend.

Cleveland, after that win, imploded and lost four straight and Baltimore hasn't lost since. In fact, the Orioles in Baltimore have lost more recently. I'm not joking than the Ravens. Moral to the story again, settle down, don't go crazy on September. All right, we are packed our three Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson stops by and Jason McIntyre. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart radio app. Search Hurd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like.

Sunday, it's a huge doubleheader on Fox highlighted by America's Game of the Week, is Zach Scott leads the Cowboys against Carson-Wenson and the Eagles for control of the NFC East and a playoff berth. Check your local listings or catch it all on the Fox Sports app. It's time to talk Super 6 NFL Sunday. Cowboys Eagles is one of the matchups this week. Colin, help us win some money this weekend. Give us a winner and a final score. Well, Cowboys have not lost in division this year.

So I'll take them by a touchdown 3023. Philadelphia's defense doesn't have a takeaway in the last couple of weeks. So I like Dallas to win that game. By the way, there's video out on the interweb today that Dak Prescott was doing jumping jacks and throwing the ball today and he looked loose and the shoulder was fine. Jumping jacks, huh? Yeah. That's what, you know, during games, you've got to be able to do those jumping jacks right in the middle of a big nine-play drive. Let's bring on the Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson, 11 years in the NFL.

He's probably not in a great move after the Rams hammered the Cowboys hammered the Rams last week. That didn't sit particularly well with you. It was kind of an ugly end of the season. Regardless of mathematical equations, it's over for the Rams. Wrap the season in a bow with Los Angeles. Ender real up front, offensive line. Our quarterback did not play well. We didn't run the football nearly enough.

I've been saying that over and over. But, you know, in hindsight, you know, it's football. I mean, you have great years and you have bad years. And we had a great year last year. and this year, you know, not so great. But I'm still a ambassador, and I still love my football team. And you're right.

I was really disappointed in Dallas. I went to that game. And I'm telling you, I thought we were going to win that game. I really did. I was talking noise like, I was playing. Oh, we're going to kill y'all. We're going to kick y'all's butt. I'm telling you.

And the fans are like, you're probably right. You know, you're probably right. And then after the game, oh, I knew we were going to win. I'm like, y'all cowboy fans are just the worst. You know, but. They're a very physical team when they feel like running. Dallas can be a handful. Zeeke. You know, Zeeke doesn't remind me in any way of you. He is smaller, head down. I don't remember you as a pass blocker. You may have been a great pass blocker. You were faster than Zique. You were more of a straight-up runner. But what do you like about the way he runs? What do you see?

I think between the tackles, I don't think you'll find a better back in the National Football League, I mean, including our tired girly. I mean, I say that no back. To me, when you need those yards between the tackles, say it's going to be one of those games where you're going to have, look, you may have to run the ball third. 30 times, but 20 of them might be right between the tackles. Zeke's your guy. I mean, he's your guy, and I feel like if you give it to him enough and you block for him enough, he will deliver. Did you like that kind of running? Some backs don't. No, I like that kind of running, because it was certain games.

Well, we knew. I mean, it was like, hey, today is going to be one of those days where the yards are going to be tough. They'll get later. I mean, it may get easier later, but just letting you know. You played the bears. I mean, you couldn't use your speed all the time. Back in those days, even the Cleveland Browns,

they were really good. I mean, you couldn't. I won't forget, we played them at home. And I year I went for 2,000 yards. I had negative 2 yards at halftime. When the game ended, I had 102. It was a tough, I think, 36 carriers. It was a tough 36 carvers for 102.

Yeah, Zeke's the best tackle to tackle inside the tackle runner in the NFL, you believe. I believe that, yes. When you, you know, we talk about, so here the Cowboys were in a situation where if Philadelphia loses, they've got some outs. They're all beat up. Doug Peterson's got a Super Bowl. Wentz his fine, big contract. but DAC doesn't have a contract.

Jason Garrett's contract runs out. My feeling is Dallas wins or the coaching staff gets blown out. Have you ever been in a team where you felt Eric Dickerson? There was a game that you had to win or there would be organizational changes throughout because I feel that for Dallas as weekend.

No, not really at that point. I mean, I felt, you know, we always with the coach, we won in 15, but everything was going wrong. you know, you just kind of knew. And they fired my friend, Coach Meyer, during the season. But no, I feel like with Dallas, when I look at Dallas, and I think people that say, well, you know, if they win the rest of their games

and they go to playoffs, you know, will they keep Jason Garrett? Is this that moment? I think the moment was four or five years ago for him, really. I think they should have fired him. Even I like Jason. I said I like Jason Garrett. But, you know, when you have that much talent on a football team, and you seem to never, ever live up to it,

I think it's a problem. And I think the only way, and I say the only way that Jason Garrett keeps his job is they win the Super Bowl, not just go there. I think it to go and win. I believe that. Yeah.

I want to shift. I hope I answered their question. To answer your question? No, that's okay. I think I went around the question, but anyway. I want to talk about a couple of individual players. So the NFL, you were a guy, you had a little Dorell Revis where you were outspoken.

You knew your career was short, and if you had to hold out, you would. I think OBJ, according to various reports, Albert Breer confirmed Jay Glazer this morning. He's told people, get me out of here. You know, I said this week is I think he should go to John Dorsey and say, it's not working. This is not the quarterback I thought, or the coach I thought. Do it privately, but if not, go public if you can't. Because I think he's been mostly a good soldier this year. Take me to a player's perspective.

you push back a couple of times on the organization. Is it hard? Were you worried about being blackballed? Were you worried about... I mean, what is OBJ emotionally going through if he wanted to do that? I've been that guy. I mean, I was that guy with the Rams. You know, I didn't want to...

I wanted to be paid properly. I was making $200,000. You know, when other guys that played my position were making $6,000 and $700,000. I just thought it was unfair. So I was very outspoken about it, you know, and they made me out to be this village. and I'm a bad guy. I'm a cancer. I mean, I was a guy. I just played football.

And if you asked me a question, if you don't like, look, if you don't like the truth, don't ask me, that was just how I was. If you don't ask me, you don't want to know, the truth, don't ask me. So when I got to end it, when I got traded to Indianapolis, did I want to go to Indianapolis? No, I didn't want to go to Indianapolis. I really wanted to go to the Redskins where my cousin, Dexter Manley played. And they had a good line. Oh, they had a good line.

He called me, he called me like a couple of weeks, they kept that couple of weeks, like a week or two before I got traded. He said, man, I heard we're trying to get you. I said, I know. He said, man, they ain't going to let that happen. That's too much like, right. So you're right. And they wouldn't let it happen.

So they sent me to indie. And, you know, it was cool at first. Did I want to go to indie? No. But it was all right. I put like, it was okay. At the end, when Ron Meyer was, when they fired Ron Meyer, and after some stuff that went on that I only wanted to get into,

it was like, oh, I got to get to hell out of here. I mean, I've got to get out of here. I said, I'm going to lose my mind here. And it came to the point where, you know, Marsha Broder came in as the head coached from the bills. Ted Marcia Broder.

Ted Brasherbrook from the bills. And he wanted to talk to me. I said, I'm not talking to nobody. I said, nope. I'm not talking to him. I don't care who. I said, I want out. And I took a million.

I took a $1.5 million dollar pay cut. Now, do I wish like hell I could get that 1.5 back? Yes, I do. But was I glad to get out of there? Yes. I just think sometimes for your mental estate you need to, you need to.

No, I think that's a real thing, Eric. I think for your mental state. You do. And I look at OBJ. And I said this year when I went to watch them play. I said, this is not going to fit. They have Jarvis Landry. They have OBJ.

And they have two great running backs. I said, it's one ball and you got four guys. I said, it's not enough ball. And you're right. I think he's been a good teammate. By and large. He's not going to be perfect. He said at the microphone, he's been very good.

Very good. And I'm sure behind you like, man, look, I need to get out of here. Like you said, this situation is not working. I mean, they like to run the football. not the quarterback. I thought he's not having that a year that I thought. I mean, you know, it would be a perfect situation for him. Perfect. I think the Patriots. Well, let's segue to that because, you know, I said this. Generally, Golden State's rare where Golden State was a dynasty. Everybody got hurt and left and they're terrible. But that generally doesn't work that way.

You have dynasties. Then they lose a coordinator, a couple free agents leave. And, you know, they're just not quite as good. That's how the Cowboys dynasty ends. That's how, you know, the 49ers dynasty. It's a gradual decline. I do. think with New England, they haven't drafted particularly well. They haven't. Seattle does, the Saints do, Baltimore does, San Francisco, there are certain teams that draft well. They don't. And I look at New England, and I'm split on it. They don't look athletically like the team they have. Defensively, they do pretty much conduct. But here's the thing. They win tomorrow. They get a, you know, buy. and then they're going to get like Kansas City at home having just lost to them.

Are you selling all your stock? Where do you land on New England today? You know, there are the Patriots, and you have to go high on them because of that guy right there, Bill Belichick, and Tom Brady. I mean, you know, I said, you know, he's an old man. We call him what you want, but he's still playing at a relatively good level. I mean, I think he's not playing great because he doesn't have the weapons. I mean, it just goes to show.

You have to have the weapons. I mean, you can get creative as you want. But if you don't have the guys out there, you just, it can't be done. When I look at this game and then playing the bills, I mean, I like the bills. And I'm surprised I'm saying this because, I mean, the bills have been the bills for so long.

You know, the last three or four or five years, they jump out five and oh. And now of a sudden, they wind up five and 11, you know. But this bill's team, I think, is a different team. I mean, they run the ball well, very well, with the young running back, what's your name, Devin, Singertary, Iowa State Kid.

Devin, Singleton. I remember about Devin Singletary. The young quarterback, Josh Allen. I mean, the defense, pretty much a kind of no-name defense. Let me tell you something. That's secondary. They got a Pro Bowl corner and two safeties that are long and can run. They get, and they get after you. And with the Patriots, they just don't have the weapons on offense.

They can't spread the field. I mean, they don't have no one to take it, take it deep. And Ellumann, you know, every week, you know, he's like, he's hurt. Is he coming in? Is he in or is he out? Saw video yesterday. He's limping. Yeah, limped over there.

You'll probably limp until he gets on the line of scrimmage and run full speed. That's how it works. Okay, I'll just give you a game and you tell me who you like. So Buffalo, New England. Buffalo. Green Bay, Minnesota. Green Bay. Baltimore, Cleveland.

Baltimore. Kansas City, Chicago. Kansas City. Dallas, Philadelphia. Dallas. Thank you. I just cannot. So would you go?

What were your team? I'm mostly aligned with you. I like New England over Buffalo. Josh Allen has struggled against Belichick. He throws too many different coverages at him. It just happens. Donald and Josh Allen are awful against Belichick. I think that in the last game,

they only won that game 1610 by block punt. So that goes to show that the Patriots are struggling against that defense also. By the way, we are a week, five days away from Christmas. As we watch the games this weekend, you know, there's always the old cliche. Nobody's healthy after, you know, week three in the NFL. Nobody. By December, what did you feel like getting out of bed on Monday?

Beat up, beat up. I mean, you're really, really sore. But you just push through it. I mean, let me tell you something. There's been times when I'm going to feel, and you know what I'll say in my mind, man, I do not feel like getting hit today. And I'm playing running back. I mean, that's just how it is.

I mean, and you could be fighting for the playoffs. It's just certain days like, man, I don't feel like doing this today. day. But you went after that first couple of hits, you're back at it. Yeah. Good seeing you, Hall of Famer, Eric Dickerson. By the way, guys, don't borrow a girlfriend shampoo. Get your own Devman Plus Care available at Walmart. Joy Taylor with the news. No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Jack Prescott was limited in practice for the first time in his career on Wednesday with a shoulder injury, but he said he is not worried that he'll have to miss the very important

game against the Eagles on Sunday. I mean, I'm getting better. Similar is that mobility, the function, and it is all improving. That's the kid, it's the goal. I'll be good to go Sunday. Yeah, it's frustrating. I'm a guy that likes to be in the action. I don't like to sit back.

Don't like to take any reps off, but it's good mentally. It's always fun, just challenging yourself, and right now it's just a middle challenge. So same preparation in the game plan, if not doubling down since I don't get those physical reps. But I'll be ready to go. By the way, seven and seven again, seven and seven. It's just crazy. It's funny because, you know, doesn't it feel like, Joy?

Dallas's Seven and Seven feels hopeful and they're very close. And Philadelphia's Seven, Seven, Seven feels like it's kind of been a lost year. And then here we go. 45-degree weather in Philadelphia. Carson Wentz, healthy, ready to go. And it just comes down to this. But with the Philadelphia Eagles, you feel like it's not as hopeful because of the injuries that they've had. Right.

Now, Doug Peterson said this morning that JJ Arsega-Whiteside's foot injury is not serious, and he is expected to play on Sunday. You know, they have to put him on the injury report, you know. So he will play. But that's what Doug Peterson said. He's expected to play on Sunday. It's not a serious injury. Dak said he has nagging pain in his shoulder, but he's played through a similar injury in college.

Oh, we talked about that yesterday. See, I saw him playing college a lot. He had a terrible O line and got the, you know what, kicked out of him. I have always thought Dak plays hurt more than we think. Now, Cam gets hurt. He's such a star, we hear about when Cam's hurt. Dack's been hurt a lot, and he keeps playing. He's a tough player. He's a tough guy.

I just, I don't know. I don't know what it is. It just feels too predictable this season that the Cowboys would lose to the Eagles and their season would end up being an utter and complete disaster. I think this is going to be, this game has to get a huge rating. I can't wait for it. Goulet, you are so negative on the Cowboys, so discouraging in our morning meetings. You are Mr. Dallas. Grow up in Connecticut.

Don't ask me how. So what do you, just give me just your little bubble over your head. What's going to happen this weekend? I am oddly confident in the game because I think the DAC injury will force the Cowboys to just be simple and run the ball. And they have had a ton

of success running against the Eagles specifically. Zeeke has his best games against the Eagles. He does. So I think they'll be okay. I'm with you. If the Eagles win, you're going to be just I'm not going to be able to handle you on Monday and I might not show up. That was like the most optimistic I think

I've ever heard you like me about the Cowboys. It's a holiday season. I'm, you know, I'm trying to be upbeat. Yeah. Check back with me Sunday night. It's very positive. So Tom Brady and the Patriots have been struggling offensively this year, as we know, but they're still succeeding in the most important stat, which is wins. Brady is one win away from his 12th season with at least 12 wins, which would set an NFL

record. He's currently tied with Payton Manning for most seasons with at least 12 wins in the Super Bowl era, with 11. Their remaining schedule is obviously the bills this weekend, and then they play the Dolphins. So he will probably get. that and set an NFL record for his 12th season with at least 12 wins. I don't even remember the last, we should do a game someday. The last year in the NFL that Tom Brady didn't play a game, what happened.

I don't remember Tom Brady not being in the league. I mean, it's so long ago. It's really, I was in my 30s. It's incredible. I was in, let's see where I was at. So hold on. Boom, boom. I may have been working in Tampa.

That's like four jobs ago. It's very impressive. He hasn't been selected for a Pro Bowl since the 2008 season. Not selected for a Pro Bowl since the 2008 season. Obviously, no Patriots, offensive players were selected for the Pro Bowl for the first time since 2003. There's a lot of other stats that are very negative about the Patriots this year on the offensive side. There are. Lowest completion percentage of his career.

Easily, yeah. Again, I'm just not buying into any of this. I think they beat the bills close this weekend. Okay. Let's think about it. So what were you? Now, I want to go to you. What were you doing 20 years ago? Where were you 20 years ago?

You were a sophomore. I was 12 years old. Okay. So you were 12 years old the last time Brady wasn't playing in the NFL. Yeah. It's insane. So I was in Pittsburgh. They've had two dynasties.

They had the first one. Then they went 10 years, didn't do anything. And then they started the second one. And now this one looks like it's dying. Yeah, that's what I say. He's been torturing me my entire life, pretty much. Finally, the Mar Jackson has gained a lot of new fans this season. Yeah.

A surprising one is Academy Award-winning actor Al Pacino. Really? He said actors should look to Lamar for inspiration and even made a character comparison to Willie Beeman from his film Any Given Sunday. He said watching Lamar Jackson is an inspiration to actors. With Willie Beeman, he was put in the background. Lamar was waiting behind Flacco. And I don't see how he got overlooked. What Lamar's doing was always there.

You can clearly see it. Then you watch how he throws with such accuracy. He seems so comfortable throwing a football like he's been doing it all his life. You remember any given Sunday? Of course I do. The third string quarterback. And played by Jamie Fox, great all-time movie.

He basically is saying that the way Lamar plays is kind of in this unconscious space, you know, where you're floating. Suspend reality, you're floating, you just do, you know, whatever it is that comes instinctually to you. And that's what makes Lamar Jackson so great. That's where actors should get their inspiration from. Fun fact, I actually dressed up as Al Pacino,

Tony Diomado from Any Given Sunday last year for Halloween. This year I caught Colin in the hallway dressed as Jake Shuttlesworth from he got game and kind of freaks calling out. Yeah, that's me as Al Pacino. I got the cigar and everything. I think I did a pretty good job. You do Halloween big.

That's like your big thing. Look at that wig. The wig might have been a little too high for Tony DiMod. I love Al Pacino. He's very good. I love Al Pacino too. Have you seen the Irishman?

Again, I don't have seven hours of my day to watch the movie yet, but... It'd be faster to play two rounds of golf than watch that movie. It's three and a half hours? It's three hours, ten minutes. I thought it was very good. It would be hard to sneak it in this weekend.

And it's not the kind of movie you can watch in the midday or the morning. Maybe I'll get it on a plane. Oh, it's a great plane movie. It's a great plane movie. I'll check it out. All right, Joy with the News. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by.

The Herd Line News. It's funny. You spent time in Miami. I remember last time I was in Miami, I flew from Miami to Los Angeles, and American Airlines, and I watched The Founder. And there are movies. movies made for a plane. Like they're not good enough for me to go to a theater. And I don't know if I could find time during the football season to do it. But you're like, oh, I want to see the Ray Crock story. And I love Michael Keaton. And I watch the founder. And I'm like, this is a perfect

airline movie. Yeah. And so you don't, you don't feel like you're going to be uncomfortable with the passengers around you at any point. Right. And it's not, it's not something I'd go to the theater for. Right. But Irishman is a good plane movie because it is so long, it is hard to, around the holiday season to find, you know, maybe you just, your kids aren't going to watch that movie. Yeah, and those flights are like just long enough. Yeah. Get on, you know, take a little nap, then watch the movie. Boom. Yeah.

It's a good plan. Joy Taylor, that's her voice. Jason McIntyre is coming up next. You know I love this segment. It's called Tomorrow's Headlines Today with Jason McIntyre. We predict the headlines Monday morning or Sunday night throughout America. It's bizarrely accurate and that is coming up. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd, Weekdays and New York.

New 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,

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real conversations about healing growth fatherhood pressure and purpose on my new podcast learn the hard way open your free iHeart radio app search learn the hard way and listen now what's up guys this is cliver Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, the Clivert 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 42. Hey, my mama want you to wave at her. What?

Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clifert Show on I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast, Point Game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game.

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on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball, like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah,

you figure it out. real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Jason McIntyre, former newspaper guy bailed on that industry and got into digital and TV and radio for Fox Sports Radio and FS1. It's great to have you.

He is bizarrely accurate. Well, not last week. Last week it was a bit of a speed bump for me, let's just say. Okay. I had a rough one. That's okay. I'm 52% for the year on my NFL pick. It's not bad.

It's been a weird year last week. I don't buy into this bad beat thing. I got hosed on Seattle. Fairly bitter about it. I got hosed on Seattle. It was a push. They were so much. They were up 30 to 10 with like seven minutes left.

I got hosed on it. I would have called the commissioner if he cared about me. All right, here we go. All right. Tomorrow's headlines today. What's the headline going to be for Rams Niners? It's a rematch from a game the Rams got destroyed in earlier this season. I believe the headline.

will be jingle all McVeigh. I love the Rams. Maybe third favorite pick this week is the Rams in a revenge spot. And here's why. The 49ers season, Colin, comes down to next week against Seattle. That essentially will be for the number

one seat. If you can lose a game and they did lose last week to the Falcons, this game doesn't mean that much to them. I mean, again, I'm not saying they're going to throw the game, but the focus is on the Seattle game next week. And Gurley did not play in the earlier meeting. He had a rough against Dallas. And as we've talked about almost every week here, no NFL team is as good or as bad as

they were last week. And the Rams were awful. So I expect a max effort from McVeigh. I stayed away from this game. The team that gets humiliated in the NFL last week, Rams, always plays great. By the way, that was the Houston Texans got destroyed. Beaked out. Yes, by Drew Locke and the Broncos. And then the bet of the week last week was Houston going to Tennessee and winning. Okay. What's the headline going to be? Tomorrow's headline. today for Cardinals Seahawks. Yeah, well, if you sense the theme, I just talked about 49er Seahawks.

I kind of like the Cardinals here, Colin. The headline will be a Murray Christmas to all. Kyler Murray. Yeah, you can see. I like this kid a lot. He's got to be the rookie of the year. Now, Jacobs has been very good for Oakland. But Kyler Murray, I think he's exceeded expectations.

22-year-old quarterback coming in. People are like, this guy's a baseball player. I've liked what I've seen. He really crushed the Browns last week. good. He's fun, right? He's dynamic. I told Joy the other day, Baltimore and Arizona are so fun to watch. They look different than anything else you see in the league. And you know, we're big on different, right? Both of us kind of came up, not being typical guys, me with the website, you, going your radio route. And like, I think I like what Murray is doing. And I think

the Cardinals pull an upset here. If there's an overrated team in the NFC, it's got to be Seattle. Well, Green Bay, too, but Seattle's 11 and 3, and their point differentials, 26. 26, that's like a 500 team. They got a lot of breaks. I like the Cardinals to go into Seattle and pull an upset this week. Tomorrow's headlines today, what will the headline be for? Chiefs Bears. Now, I heard this was in Blazing 5, and I'm not on the same side as you.

The headline will be, my homes alone. By the way, a great Christmas movie. I know you sit around the campfire with the wife and kids. It's my favorite Christmas movie of all time. You have to. I mean, these people who say die hard as a Christmas movie? No. You can't watch that.

Home alone. Home alone one and Exorcist 2. Anyway. Exorcist 2. Listen, Pat Mahomes has looked good and there's all this excitement about the Kansas City Chief's defense. Oh, they shut down Tom Brady. Colin, I don't want to go off on Brady here.

If you look at the stats since week 9, bottom three quarterback in the league in quarterback completion percentage, quarterback rating, yards per attempt. Tom Brady struggled. That KC. defense, shutting down Oakland and Phillip Rivers, I'm not buying it. I like Mitch Trubisky fighting for his job, right? In Chicago, big, big show up here by the Bears. Give me the Bears over the Chiefs. Tomorrow's headlines today, what will it be for Monday Night Football Packers, Vikings. Fascinating game, No Delvin Cook. I'm trying to lobby Colin to come to this game with me. Are you going to watch it at a bar? Not, I'm not going at Minnesota. But we will go out, watch the game should be fun. And the headline will be

Rudolph guides the slate tonight. Kyle Rudolph, come on. How good are these? Right. Kyle Rudolph and the Vikings. So the line on this is kind of fishy, Colin. They're begging you to take green bears. And it's almost like, the guys in Vegas setting the lines who built casinos in the desert may or may not know the Packers are fraudulent, right? Five and a half. And guess what, Joe Public, who's going to the game, I'm going to put 20 bucks on this. Give me the Packers. Aaron Rogers.

I'm going to put 50 bucks. The Vikings are definitely the side here. Mike Zimmer at home. I know there's no Dalvin Cook, but I don't think it matters. I love the Vikings here. By the way, Green Bay, the trend I've seen with Green Bay, and it doesn't mean you can't win games, but I think it really hurts you against better teams,

and I think Zimmer's a terrific coach. Oh, yeah. Green Bay is great on the script. They are tremendous in their first two drives. Yes. They're a bad adjustment team. They've done nothing in the third quarter. order. And again, you can get away with that. McVeigh found that out, except against Belichick.

This is an adjustment league. Tomlin's a good adjuster. Pete Carroll, John Harbaugh, Andy Reed, Mike Zimmer's a good adjuster. Matt LaFleur does some things I like. If I told you, I think the Minnesota Vikings could be a sneaky underdog to get to the Super Bowl, you would say, Jason, you're a smart man or not feeling? Again, Kurt Cousins, Colin, the narrative out there is, oh, he stinks. He's 0 and 8 on Monday. football. I like this Vikings team. They're kind of under the radar in the NFC. I like them a lot. I think there are years. I would have believed that. I just think the Saints are really good. I think San Francisco is really good. I think Seattle is exceptional. So I just don't like this year's

not the year. All right. Finally, tomorrow's headlines today. What will it be for Cowboys Eagles? So we save the best for last, the biggest game of the week, everything on the line. And the headline will be Dax throws balls to men from Philly. Fala la la la. La la. Give me the Eagles, Colin. Tell me you didn't take the Cowboys here. I did, but wise guys, Vegas is leaning Philadelphia.

So the line hit three. Dallas was favored by three. And all of a sudden a tsunami of money comes in on the Eagles. It comes back down. Again, all signs point to, wow, Dallas just beat the Rams last week. Of course they're going to beat Philly. They killed them last time. But you know how these things work.

Do you trust Jason Garrett in a big spot with everything on the line? I just don't know how Philadelphia scores points. Well, with this Dallas defense is that good? I mean, Josh Allen moved the ball on them. Tribisky moved the ball on them. You know, I think Dallas is criminally overrated. I love the Eagles here. This would be my favorite pick of the week.

Wow. Philadelphia Eagles to show up. I think the Cowboys were Joy's Super Bowl team. Yes. Maybe someone else's. A lot of people like the Cowboys this year. and they have shown out sometimes. I'm also with the Eagles.

I'm with you on this game. You got Eagles. Okay. All right. So Colin, you're on an island here. That's where you like to be, right? Oh, it looks like he's changing his mind. By the way, I made my biggest bet in the history of my life.

My biggest college bet, Whitlock, I put my money where my mouth is. I took Clemson. I'm not going to say the dollar amount. Clemson's offense, I'll say it again. Clemson faces SEC teams regularly. They're used to that NFL level speed. Ohio State has faced no offense with this skill position speed. If they don't get to Trevor Lawrence,

because I do think Ohio State's D-line, the game comes down to Ohio State. They have to get pressure on Lawrence. If they do, they can win the game. If they don't, I don't think Ohio State can stop them for three and a half hours. After you told me about this, I pulled out my kids' college tuition and put it on Clemson. My wife gave me the okay because we feel good about Clemson.

Dabo Sweeney's going to come through. I got Clemson, yeah. I think Clemson wins the title. I think Clemson takes down Ohio State than LSU. By the way, it should be noted that Clemson crushed Alabama and the five previous classes for that team were not top five classes. Now Clemson is winning the recruiting battles. Have you looked at the quarterbacks Ohio State has faced?

None of them are NFL quarterbacks. Now they've got to face Trevor Lawrence, who's a machine. I mean, Jack Cohn moved the ball on them, the Wisconsin kid. He's not an NFL guy. No. What is Trevor Lawrence going to do? I think Clemson wins double digits, yeah, I like them a lot. Wow.

Hey, yeah, it's your big bet. Mine as well, but don't tell my parents, you know, they'll be upset. All right, Monday, where Colin was right, where Colin was wrong. I do like Oklahoma to cover but not beat LSU. How do you feel about that? You see the suspensions for Oklahoma? Yeah, there's two of the guys that don't care about. Well, they're leading sack guy on the defensive end and you've got to get pressure.

But he's got like nine. What is that? Okay. They're down like their fourth string running back. Be careful. If it hits 14 and a half, I'll back you. It's at 14. We'll have a great holiday season.

Joy and I are back on Monday. So there is no time off. We have no interest in that. We'll be here. Monday. See you. One more herd. The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week, within the IHeart radio app.

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