The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Cam Newton, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, AFC QBs

Episode Date: June 30, 2020

Colin explains why he feels the media is overreacting to the Patriots signing Cam Newton, why he's defending LeBron James over "The Decision", why he feels Kevin Durant made a huge mistake, and who his top QBs are in the AFC. Guests include Peter Schrager, Lincoln Riley, Brevin Knight, and Rich Ohrnberger. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an 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. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 is big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a hear, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors.

Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild. I mean, it was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host, Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing.

How many men carry a suit or armor? It signals to the world that you not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to, listen to learn the hard way on the IHard radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Thanks for listening to The HARD 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 Hurt at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the IHartRadio app by searching Hurd. Ah, here we go. It is a, what, Tuesday? They're all mixing together live in Los Angeles. This is The Herd, wherever you may be and however you may be listening. We're on IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1. Where does Cam rank right now among all the AFC quarterbacks? That's in one hour. Joy Taylor is joining me. Peter Schroger later this hour. Joy, how are you?

I'm great. It feels like we're inching closer. It does. The cam thing put me in a good mood yesterday. Did you see the video he released last night? Yeah. It was really good. It really got me pumped up to watch him. You know, he's the king of content right now.

No, it's really, really good. His production company. I want to start with that. We have a president that attacks the media, and believe it or not, I've been in the media 25 years. I've never been in the media. Anybody's wanted to make up stories. I'm just telling you, that's the world I've lived in. People work hard.

Now, the media has biases because they're human and you have. biases too. It's amazing how often I hear. Well, you like Russell Wilson. You have a bias. And I'm thinking he has the second highest passer rating in the history of the game. He's really good. You're from New York. You think the jets are relevant. The bottom line is fans have far greater bias than media does. But media does have bias and needs to acknowledge it. And I've said so often the media bias is the stories in which they choose to cover, not how. they cover them. And that's why I do right and wrong. That's why I tell you. Like, I like Sam Darnold. I like him better than Baker because I think he's more of a grown-up, and I'd rather coach Sam Darnold than Baker. I just laid it right out for you. So I can eliminate the

buy it. You know what I'm thinking. So it's funny about Cam Newton. The media's perception of Cam going to New England is a revolution. What Vegas thinks is, he's slightly better than Jared Stidham. I'm not joking. According to Fox Bet, the Patriots over or under, win total, went from nine with Brian Hoyer and Jared Stidham to nine and a half. Schedule didn't change. By the way, they think he's going to throw for 3,200 yards. That was what Gardner Minchew threw for last year in 12 games. They think he's going to have 22 touchdowns.

That's tied for 16th in the NFL with Ryan Tannehill, and Tennessee took the ball away from him. Cam's a great story. The dab, the Heisman, he's good looking. He's on commercials. He's polarizing. I mean, he's just interesting. He's very interesting. Cam's interesting.

And there's nothing wrong with that. I'm not saying he's not talented, but he's more interesting than talented nine years in the NFL. Take out his worst in his best year. And I've always said that about Matt Ryan. Take out Matt Ryan's MVP year. Take out his rookie year. He's B.

That's what he is. That's what Matt Ryan is. It's B. It's a good B, B, not A. A couple years ago you were arguing he was better than Brady and Aaron Rogers. I'm not joking. I had to fight that off. But the betting market and the NFL market sees Cam as not extraordinary. The media is, this is a revolution. This is going to change everything.

Never forget. If Belichick really wanted Cam, he wouldn't have waited until everybody else passed on him. This was really a value acquisition. as much as a talent acquisition. He was free. New England's paying three quarterbacks, $9 million. The Bears are paying Nick Foles the next two years, $21 million guaranteed. That's not that Belichick doesn't think he's good.

Cam's 2-0 against New England. I watched the Carolina New England game last night on the NFL network. It was incredibly entertaining, and Cam was terrific for most of it. Brady came back, tied it, and then Carolina won. But Belichick's seen him. Belichick's lost to him twice. Cam played really well, even in Foxborough. So Bill likes him, but he just waited for the market to do their thing and then said,

let's go for it. But I find it fascinating when it comes to Cam. Think about it. Last year, Tom Brady, same group of players that Cam's going to play with. In fact, Nikiel Harry should be better. Tom Brady, 24 touchdowns, eight interceptions, 4,100 yards, and won 12 games. But the media was bored with the story. We were bored with it.

We never talked about him last year. I mean, Tom was not as a shot. He's a shot fighter. He's done. Those are significantly better numbers than what Vegas and the NFL market predicts on Cam Newton. And by the way, a story came out yesterday. The Browns were the only other team than the Patriots to talk to Cam Newton. And it was one phone call.

That's according to Adam Schaefter, who usually knows his stuff. I would have paid to watch Cam and Baker. I would have paid for that. I'd have paid thousands of dollars to watch that for six weeks. This is not that Cam isn't talented. And it's not that it's not interesting, but the difference between the betting market and the NFL coaching market and the media is so substantial on Cam Newton. Vegas Fox Bet sees him as slightly upgrading not only the football team, but the quarterback position. Speaking of biases, when LeBron James left Cleveland, oh, he got dissoned.

destroyed by the media. Crushed. I remember there was a writer named Scott Rob, R-A-A-B, annihilated him, vicious, mean-spirited. Because the story was, you know, the media loves the underdog. LeBron James, arrogant. How dare he leave beloved Cleveland? Cleveland had a bad owner, a bad GM, a horrible roster. LeBron was literally carrying this piano on his back for seven years.

somehow getting them to the Eastern Conference finals. And LeBron outrageously, while donating seven figures to Boys and Girls Club in Connecticut, had the audacity to call a press conference, sweating and announced, yeah, I'm going to Miami, the outrage of it all. You know, going to Pat Riley, Mickey Erison, Aqua Water, a great franchise, sun during the winter, Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosch, the audacity. of it. LeBron was a villain for a year and the media just stoked it and stoked it and stoked it. It was bad. I mean, I went two years bagging on the media for that. But LeBron was a villain.

We like Kevin Durant. He got hurt. He's a nice kid. He's got a great story at that press conference with his mom when he cried. Very likable guy. One year ago today, Kevin Durant made a decision. It was a horrible decision. He left warm weather, a new arena, Steve Kerr, a great GM, Steph Curry, Clay Thompson. One year today, a one-year anniversary of Kevin Durant leaving Golden State. And what is Brooklyn? Kyrie Irving has gotten the first head coach fired. D'Andre Jordan has COVID.

He decided, I'm not going to Orlando, and he's joining Wilson Chandler. I don't blame guys for not going. The Nets currently also have an interim head coach. And they were 500 when Kyrie didn't play and 8 and 12 when he did. Just put up the leaderboard. He left Steve Kerr for TBD. Steph Curry for a guy Kyrie Irving that wants to start his own league. A winning culture to the opposite of that.

And a national brand, 2-1, by the way, that's second and its own. own market and two years ago was last in the NBA in attendance. Meanwhile, Golden State's going to get the number one pick in the lottery and the T-Wolves pick and they've got a great trading piece in Andrew Wiggins and they have the best scoring back court in the history of the league which took off a ton of pressure from Kevin Durant. And oh, by the way, Clay and Steph are about the easiest stars in my lifetime to play with. Not that Durant's not easy to play with, but Kyrie's not. Again, the media. People were brutal. to LeBron James for the decision.

He left Dan Gilbert for Pat Riley. He left Ohio for Miami. He left the Cavs roster for a top 50 player ever, D Wade, maybe top 25. And Chris Bosch. LeBron's decision was brilliant. LeBron's decision was because he was trapped. LeBron didn't have the teammate.

He didn't have the coach. He didn't have the owner. He didn't have the city. He tried to talk Chris Bosch into going to Cleveland. He wouldn't come. And he went to Miami and won a bunch of titles and was in four straight finals. It was a great move by LeBron. Well, I didn't like the way he'd do it.

Get over it. You've moved for jobs. We all move. We're all mobile. Get over it. But it's funny to start my show today. The media's perception of Cam and the betting market's perception of Cam and the media's vilifying LeBron James for a brilliant move and kind of giving Katie a piece.

and kind of giving Katie a pass on one year ago today he went to the Nets. Don't have a coach. One guy wants to start his own league. Players bowing out in Orlando. This is one year in. And Katie's coming off, I would argue, a really tough injury where more than ever he could have used stability. Steph Curry, Steve Kerr, Traymond Green, that lottery pick, Clay Thompson, more than ever, more pressure on him to carry it when he would have a perfect situation

with less to carry in Golden State. But the media's got their biases. They root for the better story, at least the sports media. Coming up next, it is very obvious. J.R. Smith's now a Laker, right? They're going to sign him. And I was talking to somebody over the weekend. We all get that when LeBron

flushed out that Laker roster the first time. You kind of get he's going to do it again, right? As I said yesterday, the Lakers are not well-run. LeBron just makes it look like they're well-run. But this J.R. Smith signing signals a different Laker roster next year. And I'll explain that coming up. Plus, Peter Schrager, on all the NFL doings, the Cam Newton story, that and more. 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,

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And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with a little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast.

I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we picky here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so you all right. Just so y'all know. I mean, at this point,

this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really?

Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, guys? This is Clifford 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? Quarterback on office blue with 42. Hey, rep, my mama want you to wave at her. What?

Where's she at? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clippers show on the IHeart Radio app. Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, I'm Joe Dono. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help! Somebody!

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During Casper's Fourth of July sale, 10% off your entire order now through July 13th, with the code, keep cool, one offer per customer and order, casper.com slash terms and conditions. Peter Shregers is around the corner with NFL stuff. So Sunday, the decision, Don Van Notte, great journalist did a story on LeBron's decision. And, you know, it got everybody worked up. I never understood it. I really disagree with the late David Stern. I just never understood it.

But I mean, one of the things I say this is, you know, unlike Michael Jordan, when Michael Jordan left the Bulls, the Bulls were still a really good basketball team. They won two games less than the regular season. Now, over time, they missed his strength, his willfulness, his leadership, his IQ, and they started to unravel by the second year he was gone until he came back from baseball. But LeBron leaves teams, they're man overboard. He left Cleveland twice, man overboard. He left Miami and Pat Riley, one of the smartest guys in the history of the league, man overreward. board. If he left the Lakers, you do realize they'd be man overboard. I mean, they really would.

I mean, what did Anthony Davis do with good teammates like Drew Holiday? What did he do in New Orleans? He won a single playoff series. The Lakers are not well run. LeBron's great. And it's a prime example. If you look at the roster this morning, J.R. Smith is now going to be part of the roster. I just roll my eyes out of it. Here we go again with LeBron. The roster is LeBron James, Anthony Davis, who's never hit a huge NBA shot, although he's super talented. So let's take LeBron and Anthony Davis out of it. We know they're really, really good. After that, it's going to be Contavius, Caldwell Pope.

He's been in the league long enough. I'm not going to trust them at a big spot. Kyle Kuzma's talented, but again, there's some immaturity issues wildly inconsistent. I like Danny Green. I actually like Danny Green. 33 years old, knees a little shot. And then it's just a bunch of guys you don't want with a ball in their hands. You know, Rajon Rondo, Howard Caruso, McGee, Morris, Troy Daniels, Quinn Cook.

These are not guys you want latent games with a ball in their hand to win to game or control your outcome. And, you know, it got me thinking, LeBron's always done a really good job to observe what's around him. Like smart people, he kind of watches the NBA, where's it trending? LeBron got into the three-point shot 10 years ago in Cleveland. He started shooting three-point shots at the end of his Cleveland run. Then by the time he got to Miami, it was starting to take over the league, and he was becoming an elite three-point shooter. He's always had an exceptional understanding of the big picture of the NBA. If you look right now, he doesn't even have to look far.

In his own building, if you put the Clippers and Lakers rosters together and said, give me the 10 best players, I have LeBron 1, Kauai 2, Anthony Davis, 3, Paul George, 4, and then five straight clippers. Lou Williams, Montrez, Harold, Landry Shomet, Marcus, Morris, the better Morris brother, Patrick Beverly, and Danny Green. I don't have Kuzma because I've never seen Kuzma hit a shot. I've never seen Kyle Kuzma. I just don't know, and I think Schmetz's a better player.

So, you know, you can argue about Kyle Kuzma. Danny Green, the age, he and Patrick Beverly, 9, 10, you could argue that. So what does it tell you? So LeBron comes to Los Angeles and pretty much bails on the young guys. Don't blame him. LeBron's at a point in his career. He's not going to try to teach you how to play basketball. You've got to meet him.

So now that Avery Bradley has left, one of the two-way guys that LeBron loves, look at this roster. Look at this current roster. what does it tell you? LeBron's going big game hunting this offseason. They're not going to mess around with this nonsense. I'll get out in front of this story and I don't know if it could happen, but the guy I keep telling you, LeBron's going to go after is Bradley Biel. I love Bradley Biel. I think he's wasting his career in Washington.

I've been told LeBron loves Bradley Biel. Bradley Biel is a perfect LeBron guy. He plays both ends, smart, spacing, shooting, works. really hard, totally committed, total adult, wasting his career on the other coast. But when you look at the J.R. Smith here, Avery Bradley gone, I look at this roster and I think, who is LeBron outside of Anthony Davis, going to want to feed the ball to, maybe Danny Green in the corner? This is once again, LeBron put the piano on my back. They're going big game hunting the minute this season ends.

Joy with the news. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. So Ron Rivera coached Cam Newton his entire time in Carolina. And now that Cam is getting another shot in New England, Rivera is confident he'll make a big impact with the new team. He's headed in the right direction. I mean, he's probably about as healthy as it gets from what I've seen on video.

So I think he's ready to bust out. I really do. I mean, I would never bet against the young man. That's for sure. And he's a guy that has always tried to do things, I think, because he's felt the pressure. the pressure of being the number one pick. He felt the pressure of having won the Heisman trophy.

He felt the pressure of being a black quarterback and with all this stuff that's been heaped on him. And he's really had to find his way through it. And he's done a great job with it. Then why didn't you bring him to Washington? I don't know. Well, I mean, Rivera's got a new start. I don't necessarily think that that's a...

Everybody talks, but they don't do it. I love Carmelo Anthony. Why don't you play with him? Well, yeah. But I mean, like, it doesn't mean that necessarily is a good fit there. Also, Rivera had his opportunity. And they had success there. Like, they went to a Super Bowl.

He won an MVP. It's not like they accomplished what they set out to accomplish because obviously they wanted to win a Super Bowl. But I wouldn't call Rivera's time with Cam Newton a failure. No. And also, Rivera, if I remember correctly, was fired from Carolina. So, or, you know, it was a mutual separation. But, like, they're moving in a different direction.

and so should he. I don't think necessarily just because he's saying something nice about Cam Newton that it's like he should bring him in. No, but I do think we live in a world now where people say things and don't meet them. They support causes.

They don't really support. It's the Carmelo Anthony story. If you like him, join him. Like he had nine times LeBron could have played with him. Stop the nonsense. If you love him, they're always like... Carmelo, I think is a different situation. If...

If LeBron really wanted Carmello, LeBron could make that happen. I would not put Ron Rivera in that same category, though. He has Dwayne have. Askins, he's with a different organization. Mind you, Rivera works for the owner. Do we know that Belichick, to me, if Belichick want, when Belichick wants something, he does

something. Right. Like, you know, he just let everybody have Cam. And at the end, it became a, it really became a value acquisition. He's like, for a million. It's really a ridiculous contract. Like, LeBron for, Cam for a million is literally, you're buying a Mercedes with a few miles on it.

But I don't like to look at everything as like, okay, Cam Newton's making a million. million dollars. There was a strategy to this and there were circumstances involved. He's coming off an injury. It's COVID. Right? The market is saturated. And up until this point, Belichick very smartly has

tried to convince all of us. I mean, not me and you, but tried to convince everyone else that Jarrett Sidham was the future of the New England Patriots. So it's a strategy for Unville Belichick's part that certainly paid off. And I don't think it hasn't paid off for Cam Newton either. Cam Newton's made a lot of money in his career and he will get another contract.

This is a great setup situation for Cam Newton. And he was right to be patient and not take a backup role. Yeah, I don't blame him. Because he thought he was still a starter and he is still a starter. Yeah, I mean, I think this is the only opportunity he got to be a starter. But I think he is a starter more than a back. I don't think he's a backup player. No, he's not.

But like, it's the New England Patriots. And they just became the most interesting team in the league. Like, regardless of what everyone else has done, it's now, once again, the New England Patriots and the Tamimay Buccaneers. I guess my pushback is everybody tells me they love Cam. Then why did somebody get him for a million? And by the way, the Darth Vader of the league got him for a million. If you knew Bill was getting him, you'd just keep him away from Bill.

I mean, I think the players love Cam and I think the media loves Cam. Yes. I think what Ron Rivera is saying about Cam is genuine. I don't think it's as a straightforward as well if you love Cam, bring Cam in. Like, he has Wayne Haskins. Ron Rivera still works for an owner who may not want Cam. Like, it's not like Ron Rivera has, we don't know what the, you know, hierarchy of those kind of decision makings are.

We know what Washington has been, so I'd like to imagine that there's a culture change there, but who knows? I don't think it's as straightforward. Carmelo Anthony, I'm with you. LeBron makes those kind of decisions happen. Every day of the week? If he wanted to he got rid of the entire Laker roster, because he didn't like it. He could have made that happen. So LeBron had his choice of teams before taking his talents

to South Beach in 2010, wonderful times. According to Bill Simmons, the Knicks were actually at the top of LeBron's list and had a chance to land him before completely butchering their meeting. He said, from everyone I talked to in the nose since then. It's clearly the Knicks were the first choice. They just couldn't stay out of their own way. Dolan was Dolan. They didn't have anything prepared.

It just couldn't have gone worse by all accounts. It was a disaster. I think at that point, combined with the decade the Nix just had, I think those guys were just like, F it. They had $34 million in cap space to sign two max free agents. You remember they tanked so that they could have the space for LeBron James. This is not surprising news at all. I think even if they had had a great meeting, it's kind of tough. to go up against Pat Riley. I mean, Pat Riley is a closer. Well, New York's so appealing. I mean, all players tell you they love playing there, but I've probably had in my, not analogous to LeBron, but I've probably gone into two or three meetings in my life where I had opportunities,

and it's amazing how often, like, I remember when I chose my agent, like eight years ago, I went into two meetings, one with one company and one with CAA. The other company was so ill-prepared. I literally went out and I called my wife and started laughing. I'm like, they didn't know who I was. You think you'd prepare for the meeting. And the other place had like, CIA had like nine people and they were pitching me on a good set. But it is, I can see LeBron going to the Knicks and they're just not prepared. Of course they wouldn't be because there's no continuity in the organization. Right. So why would they think it's an important meeting to take with the podcast? I got to go listen to that podcast. That's funny. I think the thing with the Knicks and I mean,

what are the Knicks now? Like, we don't know. But they're living off of this aura of New York. And listen, I love New York City. Love New York City. And players love to play in Madison Square Garden. But that's not enough for me to put my

career in your hands. I mean, think about it. You just started talking at the beginning of the show about Kevin Durantz and he wouldn't even go with the Knicks. He went with the Nets, which is like a whole different set of circumstances, but it's still not the NICs. It's just remarkable to me. Like, I I never understand.

It's all Dolan. But I never understands when it is like a consistent review. Like people who get the same consistent review and it is negative, how they are so like, no, it's absolutely not me. Like, no, no, no. Everyone in your life is telling you, it's in fact you. Like, not even from a hurtful place. Just like an honest, caring place.

We would like you to be better. We would like to enjoy the Knicks with you in a positive space. Like, let's all just work together and fix this. Dolan grew up with a ton of money, and he's probably incredible. I mean, he couldn't even, the way he handled Black Lives Matter was just clunky and, you know, inelegant. It's just, I think I could blame a million people. It just comes down to the owner. I mean, just go look at bad NFL franchises.

It's always the owner. We want to blame the quarterback and the coach or the GM. It's always, if you're bad for two decades, Cleveland Brown's necks, it's the owners. What is the consistent factor in the dysfunction? always the owner. It has to start at the top. If it's consistently bad for that long, it's at the top. There's just no question about it.

And the opposite, of course, is true. When teams are consistently solid, you've got somebody smart upstairs. Kansas City went a long time without winning Super Bowls. But they weren't embarrassing much. Like, they had good coaches. They had Hermannweds. They had Andy. They had Vermeal coach there for a while.

I mean, they always had, they hired good coaches. I like to look at it as the opposite. I think of the ownership and the front office as the foundation instead of at the top. Like there's obviously less of them, but they're the ones that build everything that you grow from. And if they're unstable or dysfunctional, like you can't make anything work. Finally, I'm surprised you didn't have this in Collin was right yesterday. The 76ers were very inconsistent before the shutdown this season. They had a league best 29-2 record at home, but only won 10 of 34 on the road.

They're a terrible rogue team. Yes, but an amazing home. team. Now the team's gearing up to restart in Orlando. Tobias Harris admits they have a lot to improve on. I just say, you know, and I keep it real, we haven't had the best chemistry throughout the whole year. It took us a while to kind of get everyone together. We battled injuries from the start to the end. And right now, if we're the sleeper, and we're to sleep. What people got to say about our team, I get it because we haven't met our expectations so far this year. But we're We have a new opportunity in Orlando to go out and just play ball and really, you know, scratch a new surface of what we can accomplish.

They're starting five's fantastic. They think their talent is excellent. Well, you mentioned in one of the hierarchies that we did that you thought that the Sixers were actually a sleeper because they've had so many chemistry issues and all this time off, while might hurt some other teams that had a lot of momentum going would really help the Sixers, which is basically what he's saying. They did not have chemistry. they had a ton of injuries. I love their front six. Their first six guys, they're not terribly deep, but give me about their first six or seven, and I'm like, they're, I just, it's unfortunate.

It just shows you the value of chemistry. It shows you the value. If you don't think chemistry matters, the value of chemistry is Exhibit A in the NBA, the Philadelphia 76ers. Well, there's six in the east. He also said that he's having conversations with all of his teammates, and they're very locked in on what they're going down there to accomplish, which with all the uncertainty surrounding everything right now,

especially Florida and whatever's going to go on in that bubble, the team, I think, that goes in with that kind of mentality of like, we're just going to lock in on basketball for the next couple months. I just think it's really going to be an unpredictable outcome to this season. Good stuff, Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Ly News.

Everybody tells me, you know, now I've been told for years with Cam is he's tough. He plays hurt all the time. That part, you can't deny it. And he does have a lot of fans in the locker room. So what does Schrager say? Brought to you by Mercedes-Benz the best or nothing. Peter Schreger, Fox Sports NFL reporter.

Via the Coward Global Satellite Network. All right, Shraggs, let's start with this. I am a guy that looks at the betting market with presidential campaigns. Joe Biden's now the favorite. I trust the betting market. And they say, Cam is half a win more than Jared Stidham. That's what the market says. So is the media overreacting?

to what football people are saying, which is they're better, but maybe they'll be more interesting than significantly better with Cam. Why do I love coming on your show? Because you voice the opinion of a lot of people around the league that is not a popular opinion in the media and on TV. I know everyone says that the Patriots game the system. The Patriots win again. The Patriots did it.

I had an opposing executive at a team that has a quarterback say, did the Patriots game the system that on June 25th, starting quarterback was supposed to be Jared Stidham, a fourth round second year player who no one has ever seen? Or is it the Patriots were the only team that really made sense for Cam Newton, and he makes sense for them to play for them and vice versa for him to have a chance of being a starting quarterback? There was no way that Bill Belichick was going to go in with Jared Stidham and the possibility of a potential four and 12 or six and ten season. He doesn't want a tank. I can tell you that from the Patriots, folks. At no point was Belichick looking to just

consider this season a wash and roll the dice. Cam Newton makes sense. They get them on a one-year deal. But for the 30 teams in the league that have their starting quarterbacks and are solidified at that position and know what they had, it wasn't like they were banging down the door

to sign Cam Newton even for the one-year deal. It didn't make sense for those teams. So, yeah, it's a good fit, and we'll see what happens and he's likely going to be the starter week one. But I don't think a lot of teams are like, oh, man, they stole Cam from us. No, Cam Newton was on the market for four months

and no one picked him up. Yeah, I mean, here's the way I look at it. Chicago, Ryan Pace, rushed into Nick Foles that he's got 21 million he's got to pay him, and Belichick was patient and said, okay. I think New England tends to never be desperate, and I think in this situation, here's what's interesting with Cam, though. And I'll throw you my theory out, is that next year, they're going to go get the future of their franchise at quarterback. Justin Fields, Mobile.

Trevor Lawrence, Mobile. The kid at North Carolina State. Trey Lance, I think his name is, super-mole. mobile, that they're taking Cam and saying, we're going to draft the quarterback next year with so many of Cam's skills, why not figure out what works in this offense we have not run in 20 years? So let's go with Cam for a year and see how this mobile quarterback RPO stuff works. Is that a crazy theory? No, it's not a crazy theory.

Also, Stidham, incredibly mobile. Stidham could be that guy and maybe you just don't want to go in, you know, sight on scene. Let's go week one with Stidham under center. or maybe it's Cam and Stidham. So I think that's a good assessment. Look, Josh McDaniels has had Tom Brady all of these years. When he had Tebow, it was a mobile offense in Denver. When he had other quarterbacks with like Garapolo,

they could show some things that they couldn't do with Tom Brady. I look at that coaching staff. It's not just going to be Belichick and Cam Newton. It's Josh McDaniels, who's very well respected in offensive circles, and a guy that you know from UCLA and Manhattan Beach and the Jaguars and, of course, the last couple years working with the Rams, Jed Fish is going to play a big role in trying to see what they can do with a mobile quarterback, which Jed Fish does have a history of that.

Back to Blake Bortles and maybe Josh Rosen a little bit, what they didn't sort of UCLA, and what Jared Gough did in that Sean McVey offense. It's not just going to be Belichick and Cam Newton sitting in a laboratory. There is a lot of all hands on deck here to show that maybe with a mobile quarterback and some of the QBWBWagle, QB bootleg stuff, that this Patriots offense could look a lot different than it. We did the last few years.

No. That could be a very good, very good offense that we're not ready for. Yeah, no, it's been an interesting market. And I do think Cam's a fascinating guy. And I think his videos yesterday, I actually think Cam putting out videos constantly was really smart and really effective. And it made me want him to get signed. I was like, oh, God, Cam's in shape.

And I watched the Cam against the Patriots game last night in the NFL network. It was on. It was great, by the way. The NFL is the only sport. I can watch a three-year-old game, and I couldn't turn it off. And Cam was spectacular in the third. quarter. A random week two game from 2017. I'm watching it like it's the NFL playoffs last night because I'm so star for football, Colin. Here's one of the things that jumped out to me. You know,

Cam played Belichick twice and they struggled with him. They struggled. So part of me thinks, is it possible? What if Cam is healthy and it kind of works? What do you do then? What if they just say, we'll just franchise tag them after the year and we'll try it again for a year and we'll pay them, you know, whatever. They, this is a masterful stroke of genius for them, like specifically the Patriots, it makes sense. And for Cam Newton, okay, what if you come in

and have a good season with Belichick and you show that, you know, you're not just a Carolina Panther. You can do it under Belichick's guidance. You can do it under Belichick's rules. You can do it. Suddenly, that's the most glowing seal of recommendation, seal of approval around the league. Like, wow, Cam totally took his game

and his persona and everything. everything that he had down there. And he worked out there in New England as well. Randy Moss is the one everyone points to, but there's been a long list of guys, whether it be Corey Dillon, whether it be, you know, you can even go back to when he first got there, there was trying to think who the player was.

Oh, Rodney Harrison. People are like, he's washed. Don't in San Diego. No, no. He rehabilitated his career and had a great finish to his career in New England. It's a place you can go. And people respect Belichick so much that if the player goes there and his success,

there. It's like, okay, well, he's passed the seal of approval. I can now put my name on it. Hey, what is the latest? Listen, COVID number, spike. You know, I'm not an epidemiologist. Young people went to bars. It spikes, blah, blah, blah, whatever. What does that do for football?

What's the current state of starting football back? All right. So, every day I'm on my phone talking to league executives, people at teams. Here's the feeling. July 28th is the day that everyone's expected to go to training camp, but that is still four weeks away. So we're going to see how this thing progresses. There are two major factors, though. The players union still has a say in this. So if a week out, they don't feel like they're

comfortable, this could be an issue. You know, we've got to figure that out. We've seen that with baseball. We, of course, we've seen that with basketball with a lot of players dropping out. The second part is state by state might have different regulations. The NFL might not just say everyone's equal. There's going to be no fans in every stadium. The NFL might still defer to the state. So what might be a stadium with 25 or 50% fans in Las Vegas could not be possible in New York or New Jersey where it would have to be 0%. And I think the feeling amongst the league is let's get some football. Let's put the show on and deal with that as secondary stuff. So what might not seem fair in the history books, and wait a second now, the chiefs had more fans at their home games than the Chargers did might not have to matter just to get football going.

I think everyone's going to have to swallow that and realize it might not be the most 100% equal thing across the board. It might not be egalitarian as far as advantage goes. Some teams might have a serious one based on COVID numbers and based on local legislation. If the governors are saying in Missouri, hey, you can have fans and you can have this many fans, like, who are we to tell Clark Hunt and the chiefs? Well, no, that's not fair because the Buffalo Bills aren't allowed to open their stadium at full capacity. It's going to be really interesting how the local. legislation works in what works stadium to stadium because, of course, a home field with 50% or 25% fans is a great advantage over a home field with 0% fans. By the way, I said yesterday that Brady

gave a certain elegance and polished to the Patriots. He's gone and now it's hoodies, grumpy coach, and another cheating issue where they got tagged over the weekend for a million one and lost a draft pick. I do think Brady offered a certain polish to the Patriots. you know, kind of this aspirational, don't drink a beer. There was a relatability to Tom despite being married to a supermodel. Strangely, you kind of felt like he was a good dude. He's gone and another cheating scandal, this was a bad week for the Patriots, like the brand, right? Like that inside the house, could I argue that part of the Cam acquisition was we don't want the country crushing us for two weeks on this story?

Colin, what scandal? They signed Cam Newton. What are we talking about? Let's get $1.1 million, a third round pick, and I can tell you, Belichick cherishes third round picks, and they had to fire their in-house producer who has been working for them for 20 years, like, and not even a bleep on any of these networks. We're not talking about it NFL now. We don't talk about it on ESPN because they got Kim Newton.

Masterful stroke. That's all I'll say. They know what they're doing. So does Shreger. Good morning football on the NFL network. There's wallpaper back there, and then there's Shreger. These guys pinned up jerseys. Comtax.

That is so funny. I love you, Shrek. Good talking to you, buddy. All right. You're the best comment. All right, thank you. See, listen, everybody, the cam thing is fascinating. Joy and I argue Shreger and I.

That's what makes Cam fun. Sports need arguments. You know, I don't need to argue about my president. But sports, they're way more fun when you argue about stuff. Coming up next. Another reason. I'm going to support LeBron again. I'm very supportive of LeBron.

I got another thing to say in support of LeBron and that decision, which next week's the 10-year anniversary of it, and the ESPN had a special Sunday I'll talk about in a second. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened.

That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, Breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the 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 SportsSlic on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim?

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

I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack, so I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now, so. Thank you finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history.

Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, guys? This is Clever 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? Look, quarterback on office blue with 42. Hey, Brett, my mama want you to weigh better. What? Where's she at? Hey, Miss Parker.

Listen to the Cliverts show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, I'm Jared Adano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help! Somebody! Please! But there's so much more to me than that. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian, and recently I've become quite the helper myself.

And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant, recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. wise. One ring is too scary. Cream of chicken suit. Hey, cream. Cream a chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know.

Listen to Help from Hypocrite as part of the Mike Cultura Podcast Network available on the I-Fart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So 10-year anniversary next week of the decision, at the time, Joy Taylor was in Miami. It never bothered me. It never bothered Joy. I'm mobile, I've moved around the country. So on this show, I've always tried to be terribly consistent with this. I am four players moving. I have always been for mobility.

Now, Kevin Durant, I think, made a bad decision to leave Steph Curry. But I was one of the only media people that totally defended Kevin Durant going to Golden State. I completely overwhelmingly favored it. I favored LeBron going, I've moved a bunch of times for more money and better opportunities. I'd be a total jerk, a total hypocrite if I was banging on players for moving. I am always pro-moving if the opportunity presents itself. You don't like your owner, your GM. My knock with Kevin Durant going to Brooklyn is, dude, you got a better owner, a better

GM, a better coach, a better teammate, a better back court, a better situation. It's Silicon Valley. It's a new arena. What are you doing? But mobility, I'm totally for. So people got worked up over LeBron and the decision. And David Stern, the late great commissioner said he tried to talk ESPN out of airing it. John Skipper, a friend of mine called it Inelegant.

And my takeaway was it wasn't scripted and it was tense. And 13 million people watched. You know how many people watched the draft last year? The NFL draft or excuse me, the NBA draft last year. Three million. 13 million people watched a press conference with no basketball. How many people watched the first round of the NBA playoffs last year? Average rating, average number of people.

Five and a half million. It got almost triple bat. It was tense. kind of awkward and it wasn't scripted like American Idol or the voice and like live news and politics and sports. All the stuff people watch. It wasn't scripted. It was awkward.

It was tense. I couldn't take my eyes off it. And everybody always said people in Cleveland, it wasn't that he left. It was it was what he said. No. When you're a good looking girlfriend who you just stumbled into dumps your arse, it's not how she dumps you. It's that she dumps you for a smarter, more successful guy.

It doesn't matter what she says. She's upgrading. And it ticks you off. Because this is what LeBron said. He actually looks nervous when he said, ooh, this. The answer to the question everybody wants to know. LeBron, what's your decision?

And this fall, man, this is very tough. And this fall, I'm going to take my town to Sava Beach and join the Miami Heat. He looks nervous. Miami Heat. that was the conclusion you woke up with this morning. That was the conclusion I woke up with this morning. Okay, so in Cleveland, you would have been okay.

You wouldn't have burned the jerseys if he would have said, I've decided to play basketball and sign a contract with the Miami Heat. You'd have been okay with that. No jersey burning for that. But, you know, it was the way he said it. When you get dumped, especially for Miami, I think the fact that he chose Miami is a big part of this. If he goes to New York, we're all like, ooh,

LeBron, New York saves the city. If he goes to Chicago, oh, it'll be like MJ. That was so excited. If he stays in Cleveland, we go, oh, he's staying home. But he chose Miami. And Miami's hot, aqua water. And Miami always steals you, right? They drive them, they just, Miami feels like a mazorati in the top down and a little shady.

And it's got aqua water. And they always get the girl. And, you know, Miami, we all vacation there. But deep down, you kind of resented that it was Miami. and Miami didn't have a huge history outside of Pat Riley and it bummed you out. And I think that's a big part of it. But the other thing is he didn't tell Cleveland.

I've left five jobs. Do you think I give the CEO's heads up for months in advance? They don't give me one if they're going to whack me. I mean, that's... 82% of millennials ghost people that break up with them. Or they break up with. His generation is not, I'm going to give you a heads up when I leave. That's not what LeBron's generation does.

They ghost you. They move. And by the way, what did he owe Dan Gilbert? Dan Gilbert couldn't get him a second good player in seven years in Cleveland. What did he owe Dan Gilbert? Dan Gilbert's team was worth 50 million, but the time LeBron left it was worth 800 million. He made the guy, said. Dan Gilbert came back and begged LeBron to come back to Cleveland.

That tells you what LeBron owed Dan Gilbert. Bagel. Nothing. I can't believe it's been 10 years. That's wild. You were in a Benny Honda. I was in a Benny Hannas. What did you tell everybody?

What did you tell everybody? I saw it. heard it and got up out of my seat at the bar started running around saying all of your lives have changed your life will never be the same. You don't even know it. You just ran around random tables? But the bar, you know, whatever. They don't know me. They don't remember me. Their life's changed though. And you were screaming at the bar. I could. I mean, I knew it.

Everyone's life in Miami was different from that point forward. Everybody's life was better, not just different. Yes. It was better. Hour 2 next. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the iHeart radio app search her to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like last night a blown call changed a game this morning the internet lost its mind highlights are trending opinions are flying and nobody's telling you exactly what happened that's where sports slice comes in i'm timbo every episode we're cutting through the noise breaking down the plays the controversies

and the stories behind the headlines we go straight to the source the athlete themselves their locker room stories their reactions the stuff nobody gets to the stories and the stories 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 podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slic Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

tap little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jay. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we picket

here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84's big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day but just so y'all know

I mean at this point Mark this is the second episode where we've discussed crack so I'm starting to see that there's a through line We also have AIDS on the table right now so Thank you finishing that sentence

I don't think there's a more important year for black people Really? Yeah for me It's one of the most important years For black people in American history Listen to look back at it On the IHeart Radio app

Apple Podcasts Or wherever you get your podcast 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 walks up to me, he goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Quarterback on office blue with 42. Hey, rec, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Where's she at?

Hey, Miss. Parker. Listen to the Cliverts show on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, I'm Jared Adano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help! Somebody! Please! But there's so much more to me than me. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian.

And recently, I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hippocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice. thoughtful solutions. Sike! I'm a comedian! I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant, recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man.

If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. One ring is too scary. Cream a chicken suit. Hey, cream. Cream a chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrat, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know.

Listen to help from a hypocrite as part of the Mike Coutura Podcast Network available on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Here we go. It's Tuesday. It's hour two. We're live in L.A. I'm wearing a pink shirt.

This is The Hurt. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, IHart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1. Try to get a haircut yesterday. Could not, not available. Nobody there. Can you get haircuts now or gym is bars and haircuts done? What's done?

Beach is done in L.A.? I think just beaches. And bars? Yeah, beaches and bars are pretty much closed. everywhere, which seems like the right thing to do. I guess. I mean, we could just all wear masks, you know. Yeah, it seems like the right thing to do.

All detail. Yeah. I wear masks. I don't wear them running. When I run, I don't wear them. Yesterday I lifted weights, about $450 minimum. And I wore a mask the whole time. So it's like, it's, I don't like it.

I mean, they make masks you can work out. And it's not. It's fine. It's not the end of the world. It's not. It isn't. I mean, it could be the end of the world. If I see an old person, I put it on.

If I see a young guy without a mask on, we kind of give each other to look like, we're good. I'm the one in danger. If he's 28 and I'm 55, I'm the one in danger. It's true. I'm the guy closer to a nursing home than him. But if it's an old person, I'd like, hey, you know, respectfully. I mean, yeah, just wear a mask.

It's not hard. It's not that hard. So a pro football focus came out with something. And they were talking when Cam Newton signed yesterday. They said, you know, there's this history in the NFL of good quarterbacks having huge years. And they had five different quarterbacks who had literally had what they call the all-time outlier seasons.

One of them was RG3. One of them was Cam Newton in Carolina. One of them was Ryan Tannahill last year in Tennessee. One of them was Carson Palmer in 2015. They just pop and everything lines up and they pop. You should not, they argue, define a quarterback on his pop year. I remember a couple years ago. Matt Ryan was having a great year.

year with Kyle Shanahan and it just all lined up. And literally, the nation went crazy. And I'm like, I like Matt Ryan. But I always had this theory about real estate agents, really any of us. If you're a real estate agent and you've done it 10 years, take away your worst year, probably your first year on the job, take away that year. And then take away your best year where the economy was great and you sold a $6 million home because it was a friend of a family. And the remaining eight years, that's what you, are take out the highs and the lows of my my career i probably had a bad year i've probably had one great year the rest of it is my career that's what on average you get every athlete may have us like

lebron take out his rookie year and take out an MVP year he's still the first or second best basketball player i've ever seen in my life right so i don't get into this you know pop you know that's why i always said cams had one great year then it's been a lot of 500 football all right tannahill what did i tell you i wouldn't assign him in tennessee to that big deal i don't buy it RG3, I never thought was as good as Andrew Luck, but he had a pop year because he had Shanahan coach and him on a good running game. So I don't buy into this.

So it leads to the discussion. Everybody thinks I don't like Cam. Where would I put Cam in the NFL in the AFC quarterbacks? Because that's where he's going to play now. That's going to be 90% of his games are going to be in the AFC. He goes from the NFC in warm weather to the AFC now, New England, cold weather. Where would I put Cam in terms of starting quarterbacks? Now, my only criteria on this, it's not career stats.

I'm not interested in that stuff. What is your current situation? What is your coach? What are your weapons? What is your protection? What is your current situation? All things in, I'm not going to, you know, Philip Rivers is not as good now as he was seven years ago. I'm not going to count his career.

Starting tomorrow, who are the 10 best quarterbacks? Where do I rank them? All things in on your current situation today. Here we go. Number one. This is the easy one, Patrick Mahomes. Not a big argument here. here. A defined pocket passer, he can move. He also has the best play designer, arguably, in the NFL and Andy Reid.

Highest career passer rating in NFL history at 110. He's got a big arm sometimes, takes a little risks, but he's everything you want. I mean, he is. They're going to be a Super Bowl favorite, as long as he has a decent offensive line and Andy Reid is there for, you know, nine of the next 12 years. So he's what everybody's trying to be. He's Aaron Rogers six years ago before the injuries. He's what everybody wants. Number two. Two. Lamar Jackson. I could argue there are defensive coordinators. If you told him, who would they rather face? They know they'd lose him a home, but they could be humiliated by Lamar Jackson. He's just different. There's nobody else like him. He's getting better from

his senior year in college to his rookie year to last year. He's made big, big leaps. He's the youngest quarterback to everyone the MVP at 22 years old, and they're still not paying him anything, and he is now surrounded by nothing but dudes. So he's number two. Number three. Deshawn Watson. Listen, running for his life, 34 touchdowns last year. I'm done talking. 34 touchdowns last year. Some of them rushing with a bad old line.

I mean, this is a guy that had 300 plus yards passing in a football game and a playoff game. Three touchdowns, no giveaways and lost. It's the best line for any quarterback ever that's lost a playoff game. So Deshawn's third. Number four. I'll go with Ben because the last time I saw him play, He led the NFL in passing yards. He had over 5,000 yards.

And he's still big and strong. And they have a great O line, unbelievable front seven defensively, plus Minka Fitzpatrick, good GM. So I like a lot of what he's surrounded by. But I think this morning, the last time I saw him play and what he's surrounded by, I'd put him four, but not necessarily too far ahead of number five. Number five. I'm going to go Josh Allen.

I think he has a great young coach. He's got the Kyle Shanahan. defense, Sean McDermott. They also upgraded their offensive line last year. They have really done a good job. He got him Cole Beasley in the slot, got him John Brown, and then they went and got him Stefan Diggs, who maybe the second best deep threat in the NFL right now. Antonio Brown was, but now I think it's D-Hop in Arizona and him. Now, Josh Allen led him to a 10-win season, first time since the 90s. He's raw, but I saw some breakthrough moments last year. And remember, he is not yet kind of been allowed to show off his arm.

You know, he's the only quarterback in the NFL last year was zero completions where the ball traveled over 35 yards. They didn't have any deep threat. That's not really what they do. So now another offseason, he got a deep threat. That's the best defense, in my opinion, in the AFC with Baltimore. Next.

Number six. An inch behind him, Cam Newton. So I put Cam here. Now, he's never had, Josh Allen's had no injuries. And Josh Allen right now, has a younger defense, a better deep threat than Cam. Cam's got no tight end in New England with any NFL experience. He does not have a deep threat.

I think it's a really limited offensive team that has to score on 11 play drives. And I think that's asking a lot of any quarterback. It's what infuriated Tom Brady last year. Now, in the last couple years, Cam's lost a lot. Some of its injuries. Some of it is, you know, he just, just wasn't good enough, but I would put him six behind Josh out. And I think it's close. With Cam, I get history. With Josh, I get no injuries, and I think a better defense. Well, it was.

But last year, Buffalo's defense was better than New England. It just took about eight weeks to figure it out. Number seven. Okay, Baker Mayfield. Now again, I like Sam Donald more than Baker, but my criteria for this is based on the current situation. Two great receivers, two great backs, two very good tight ends. They solved their tackle issue. I would be shocked if Baker does not rebound. Now, I don't buy into this. He's going to get MVP votes. That's a big narrative night right now.

There's just too many good quarterbacks out there. I would be shocked if they don't have a winning record. I wouldn't be shocked if they didn't make the playoffs. I would be surprised if they don't make the playoffs. But I do think there's going to be more humility with Baker this year. I think Stefansky is going to hold his feet to the fire. And let's be honest, he's just going to have better protection. I mean, Cleveland was a good center.

and nonsense on the offensive line. Now they got a good center and two legitimate tackles. Jedrick Willis from Alabama, I think, was the best tackle in the draft, and they got him. Number eight. That's Sam Darnold. Now, he's got a bunch of new parts. He doesn't have nearly the wide receivers of Baker or the running backs or the tight ends. But I think he's special.

I think he's bigger than Baker, stronger than Baker, more athletic than Baker. I think he's a really special player. Last year, at the end of the year, it's remarkable. He went six and two last eight games, 15 TDs, four picks, and I mean working. with lawn chairs and deck furniture, working with nothing. I don't even think the coaching staff likes each other there.

So I like Darnold more than Baker. I think if you gave Darnold Baker's players and Baker Darnolds, you'd see what I believe to be true. But I think Sam has some limitations this year just based on what he's surrounded by, which is a bunch of new parts on the O-line. Number nine.

Philip Rivers, again, this is perfect for him. He's not athletic and he throws too many picks. That jersey is not going to get dirty this year. He's going to have oodles of time to throw. The Colts have an underrated defensive front and underrated running game. I think this is the best fit for him. I just think he's really limited. He feels like Eli Manning's last two years where he'll have games and moments.

I think he's a fairly limited athlete at this point. But to his credit and to Indy's credit, this is where he should play. I mean, this is like stand back and throw some darts. And I think he'll be fairly productive. They added Michael Pittman in the draft, who I love from USC and Jonathan Taylor, the running back. So he's got some interesting weapons. Number 10. I would say Drew Locke at Denver.

Now, I'm much higher on Drew Locke than anybody else. I think he's got a big arm. I think they have really did a nice job as an organization. He's got two backs, multiple receivers. Their wide receiving corps, if it's as good as I think, could end up being one of the top three or four wide receiving cores in football. They got Judy out of Alabama. Now, you're going to say, what about Ryan Tannehill? that's Ryan Tannahill is recency bias.

He's a 500 quarterback in his career. Well, what about Derek Carr? I think Derek Carr and John Gruden have issues. What about Tyrod Taylor, who I like? I don't know if he's starting by December. So those guys were my 10. I'm going to, I think Drew Locke is going to be, and I've said this, I think he's my pop quarterback this year.

Every year, the last four years, there's been a second year guy that's popped. It was Wentz, it was Lamar, it was Mahomes. I think Drew Locke is the pop guy this year. So what do you think there, Joy, where would you put Cam? How low do I have it? I think based off the fact that we haven't seen him healthy in a while. And the Patriot have no weapons. Yeah, that's a reasonable.

I mean, Ben still kind of makes me a little hesitant. I mean, because we haven't, I need to see him healthy again, too. But I wouldn't move anybody. I don't think that's outrageous. I don't, no. Cam's got no. Cam loved Greg Olson. Cam, I always felt, was better with a good running game and a trustable tied-in.

and I don't think they don't have a tight end with any NFL experience. I could move Josh Allen up one and swap Ben and Cam. I went both of them. But none of it outrages me. The difference is I know more about Josh Allen in that offense today than I know about Cam and New England's offense. Yes. And we know what Ben is when he's healthy, obviously.

So, yeah. Look at that. I mean, that is. Drew is going to make everybody crazy. I am America's honesty broker. Seriously. I mean, you can watch these other ridiculous. channels, but you're just getting nonsense.

I'm with you on Ryan Tannhill, though. Listen, it's just, it's recency bias. Tannale's a 500 quarterback. I don't, I don't, I could argue the Drew Locke one is recency bias as well. No, that's wisdom. It's a strong prediction. Listen, I have to have, I have to have takes here. And my take is this league gives us a pop guy every year.

Yeah. And he's my guy. I liked everything I saw from him last year. I mean, you just don't get this in other networks. No. Other networks have, you know, Baker number one in Mahomes 8. They have like armed talent. Coming up.

Lincoln Riley, best young football coach, maybe in America. He's joining us the Sooners head coach. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHard Radio app. Last night, a blown call changed the game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly. what happened. That's where SportsSlice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines.

We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, 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 Slic Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs?

Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex Ingram. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s.

To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Then you're finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people.

Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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, Rhett, my mama want you to weigh better. What?

Where's she at? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Cliverts show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you already know there's a lot to break down. Orsha accusing Kelly of sleeping with a merry man. They hold and Kay Michelle back from fighting Drew.

Pinky has financial issues. I like the bougie style of Housewives show. I think it looks like it's going to be interesting. On the podcast, Reality with the King, I, Carlos King, recap the biggest moments from your favorite reality shows, including the Real Housewives franchise, the drama, the alliances, and the team everybody's talking about.

As an executive producer in reality television, I'm not just watching it. I understand the game. As somebody who creates shows, I'll even say this. At the end of the day, when people are at home, they want entertainment. To hear this and more, listen to Reality with the King on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Major League Baseball is announced the 2020 season will begin on Friday, July 24th, with MLB on Fox, returning on July 25th with Fox Saturday Baseball, and we could not be more excited about this great news for baseball fans across the country.

baseball is back. And of course, America's home for baseball this summer. As always, will be Fox and FS1. And speaking of home runs, Lincoln Riley has won 36 games in three years at Oklahoma. You know, it's interesting. I was saying this the other day. And in my opinion, the four greatest college football programs of all time, if you really consider them, are Oklahoma, Ohio, State, Alabama, USC. And what I mean by that, it's nothing against Texas or Michigan. But if Oklahoma has the right, coach. It doesn't matter what Texas does. Oklahoma usually, I mean, Mack Brown only won two Big 12 titles. It doesn't matter who Michigan has a head coach. If Urban Meyer or Tressel or Woody Hayes is at Ohio State, they just win. And there's not many, it's the same thing. It doesn't matter who Georgia has a football coach or LSU or Auburn. If Alabama's got the right

coach, they win the conference. Doesn't matter how good Oregon, Washington, UCLA. If USC's got Pete Carroll, John McKay, John Robinson, they win the conference. conference. So Oklahoma hands this unbelievable program to this guy that we knew he was this snazzy offensive guy, Lincoln Riley, and he's just hit it out of the park with on-field stuff, recruiting off-field stuff, and he joins us now via the Coward Global Satellite Network. So let's start with the uncomfortable topic, which is unprecedented times. We've got a virus. It's now spiking. Where are we at today, coach? Where are we at on returning and what comfort level do you have right now with what we're dealing with and your players?

Well, we're learning, like everybody is, we're learning more and more each day. You know, I think a comfort level that we've got a good plan for our players when they're back here with us, when they're in our facilities, you know, our concern from the beginning has been, you know, this isn't a high school player that when they're done with your facility can go back to their home. This isn't a professional player that when they're done with your facility can go back to their own home. You know, we house these players. A lot of them live with other players, friends, this or that. And so I think the bigger concern right now is what you do with them, the other hours of the day.

And so obviously the spike in cases over the last several weeks has been a concern for everybody. It certainly is for us as well. You know, I think we're going to have to keep all options open and keep the safety, health of these guys the main thing. You have, you know, coaches sometimes get labels and you're a little bit of the quarterback whisper thing, whereas you get. get guys and it doesn't take long and they're really good. It doesn't matter

if it's a walk-on, Baker, it doesn't matter if it's a baseball guy, Kyler. They go into your system. They're good really quickly. So when Cliff Kingsbury, you know, they were talking about drafting Kyler Murray, they obviously called you. I thought Kyler was terrific

last year. I find him fascinating as a player. I think I watched, I joke to Joy, I watched 14 Arizona Cardinal games. Nobody that doesn't live in Phoenix watched that many games. But when Cliff called you, what did you tell him to expect? What were the strengths? What were the weaknesses?

How did that conversation go if you could? We had good conversations. Cliff knew quite a bit about Kyler because he had recruited him a little bit, and then he had got to compete against him. And so I think on the field, it's pretty obvious. I think, you know, you see the athletic ability. I think a lot of people that never saw him live did not understand the kind of thrower that this guy was.

you know, but he's an elite thrower. Our conversations were more based on, you know, what he, what he processes well, you know, what he's like in the meeting room, what he's, you know, demeanor and practices, some of the things that you can't always see on game day. And, yeah, just as Cliff described what he was looking for, the organization was looking for, and I was able to describe, you know, what I thought he could expect from Kyler. You could tell it was going to be a great match. By the way, I'm watching some of those throws.

God, he has just got, he throws. the tightest spiral I've ever seen in my life. It's incredible. It doesn't even look like other quarterbacks. Now, Baker comes in. I've had my issues with Baker, but I do think he has talent. So last year he got humble a little bit. He found out the NFL if you don't have protection.

There's not a lot you can do in this league, right? Have you reached out to Baker in the last six months to a year? Because I think he's going to rebound this year. They figured out the tackle spots. I like their center, J.C. Treterterer. I did not like tackle. I think he's going to pop a little bit this year. Have you talked to him in the last six months?

Yeah, definitely. Definitely. No, we stay in constant contact and always will. I'm with this. You know, if you look at this guy's history, any time he's had a down game, any downstretch, any type of adversity, he's always bounced back in a positive way. That's just his nature. He's a fighter. He's a competitor. And I believe he will. I do believe there's a lot of parts around him, just the overall setup in Cleveland that they're improving, which, you know, listen, I don't care where you're at. If you don't have, you know, the right scheme, the right players around you the right setup. You can do all you want as a quarterback and it's not going to matter.

Now, you know, Baker be the first to admit. He knows there's a lot of things that he himself has to do better things under his control. And in my talks with him, I think he's, you know, mentally in a great place. He's had a tremendous offseason. I think he's going to come play well. Yeah, I really like the Austin Hooper pickup. So he's got now two big volume catching tight ends. If David and Joku can stay healthy, those are, that's probably the best tight end tanam in the NFL along with Brady's guys in Tampa. So I want to talk about CD Lamb. So, you know, sooner fans think I hate the program, which I don't,

because last week I said it's one of the four best programs ever. But I said C.D. Lamb was a guy that I did see him play TCU, TCU at a very good corner. And C.D. didn't, now he may have been dealing with an injury, but I didn't think in that game he popped. And that's kind of the matchup I watched him in because that was two NFL guys. What are the Cowboys getting with C.D. Lamb? What should I expect?

Well, first off, every program's fan base thinks that you hate him. They do. Second, yeah, that game in particular, you know, we didn't end up throwing the ball much that night. Ended up being kind of a run-dominated night. So, you know, CD was dominant all year. You know, I did really feel like there was a corner that we played that, you know, really did much against him, honestly. If there was ever any limitations, it was just where the ball fell that night.

But he, now they're getting. an explosive playmaker, a guy that can be a dynamic route runner. You know, you obviously see some of the clips right now how good he is after the catch, a guy that continues to improve, even though, you know, he's had some success hard in his career. He let us, you know, continue to coach him very, very hard. And so he's a dynamic player, man. He's, he's one of those guys that any scheme you draw up, you don't really have to take him off the field. And that versatility, that explosion, you just don't find that combination very often. It's amazing how many tackles he breaks. He's just constantly, it's amazing to watch him play. So when you look, when you develop quarterback certain ways, and you've taken a walk-on, you've taken the baseball guy, now you probably have the most acclaimed high school to Oklahoma, a kid who Spencer Rattler is the classic five-star. Everybody in the country wanted him.

This is your guy. This could be the guy for three years, four years, plays, highly acclaimed guy. Actually, some pressure on you, Lincoln, because he's so highly acclaimed. People expect greatness day one. Talk about him because he's a remarkable talent with potential. I think one of the keys to our situation in a quarterback over there has always been competition. A lot of people forget that Baker's first year here. He had to beat out Trevor Knight and a couple others.

It was a really heck of a battle that went down to the wire. Baker, even after having a great first couple of years, had to beat Kyler out because Kyler came in and really did some nice things. And that was always a fun competition to watch those two go at it. Jalen Hertz had to come in here and beat a couple of guys out. And so we've always had competition, regardless of where these guys have come from, whether they've been highly recruited, a prime time player at another school, whatever it is. They've always had to come in here and win the job.

And so no different for Spencer Rattler or Tanner Mordecai right now. We'll let those guys go at it. They're both very talented. Didn't feel the need to bring in any other additions to that room. Felt like those two guys, along with Chandler Morris, give us all the talent and all we need to be a championship level team. So it'll be fun to do it with some new young guys. We actually have a chance to have a starter for more than one year in a row.

This will be a fourth year in a row of a different guy. So I'm looking forward to having some continuity finally. You're like John Calipari at Kentucky. He didn't even have a senior night anymore. Who's the new guy I'm dealing with this week? Lincoln, Riley, you're a credit to coaching. Just all you do is win at Oklahoma. We see your gorgeous facilities behind you.

I don't hate the Sooners. That's why I keep bringing their coach on and talking about their players. Lincoln, thank you so much. And good luck to you. All right, thanks, Cole. You bet. People always think, oh, what is Oklahoma? Why do you think I bring him on three, four times a year?

He is right, though. Every fan base thinks that you hate that. Oh, yeah, yeah. It's amazing. He's had four quarterbacks in four. years. You know how hard that is? Yeah, that's... Like in the NFL, that would be called complete dysfunction. Yeah. And he just gets a new guy every year. And all they do is just walk in there and boom, boom, boom, boom. And by the way,

Jalen Hertz, remember that story, got benched in Alabama. He got drafted, what, in the second round? It's really, it's incredible. He's had a walk-on, a transfer, a baseball guy, and now he finally gets the five-star guy. Now he finally gets the guy everybody wants. Oh, Spencer's going to be incredible. Yeah. Good stuff. Joy Taylor with the news. No. No. No. No. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news.

Well, this season with the Patriots could be a great one from Cam Newton. According to Fox Bet, Cam's odds to win the MVP this season went up from plus 10,000 to plus 3,000, which are the 11th best in the league. His odds to win comeback player of the year went from plus 2200 to plus 400, which puts him second behind Big Ben. And now he's the favorite to start for the Patriots. week one at minus 400 with Jared Sidham falling to second at plus 300. Yeah, he's going to start. That's not a big. Well, yeah, we know that.

The patient's odds improved as well, still the favorite to win the AFCE, which prior to this, I don't make it make sense. And then the third best odds to win the AFCE went up from 2,200 to plus 400. So they have the third best odds to win the AFCE, which is, I mean, I don't know what to make of that. Again, like, I am in a. a really tough situation because I really want Cam to be really successful this year. But that comes at a personal cost to me. Right.

Because of the Dolphins and the Steelers. I will say this. If I said to you, most interesting watch this year. It's tough. There's really three teams to me that's... I think New England's in that group. Yeah. I mean, obviously the Buccaneers.

They're number one. Tom with all those weapons. The Buccaneers, the Browns. and the Patriots. I'm trying to think of who else I'm excited. Well, if you told me Tua started week one, they'd be in my top three. Yeah, I mean, we don't know what's going to go on with Brady Bucks. And, of course, the Chargers too.

Like, we don't know when Justin Herbert's going to start as well. Tua and the dolphins will be interesting, but I don't, I really don't feel like Tua is going to start week one. I mean, there's obviously a chance because of pressure and all that. If Tua is as good as I think, Miami could be a playoff team. It doesn't matter how good. Joe Burrough is. They're going to be a fourth place team. Well, yeah, obviously the Bengals, too. But that's a bad football team.

If two is as good as I think, with Flores and that defense, watch out. What's the over under on Miami? What is the over under on that? They may be a good over bet. They have CEs just, I don't know. It just went from, to me, again, we're not even talking about the bills. Like, to me, this is the Bill's division. The bills have the most good players.

They should win the division. They have. The pressures on them. No, they have more good players. They have like, bills have eight elite players. The bills should win the division. And their coaching staff knows what they're doing. Yeah.

So, O'Dell worked out with Cam Newton earlier this off season. So could O'Dell be looking to join his friend in New England? He quickly shut down those rumors before they even got off the ground. Comedian Bob Menry tweeted OBJ to New England's, hmm. Welcome to New England, Cam. Hashtag, do your job. And O'Dell responded, L.L. No, sir boss.

but y'all got my brother wishing nothing with the best and love. Then Dodgers pitcher Alex Wood tweeted OBJ to the Patriots before the season is done. Bank it. And O'Don respond, you can find me in the land, homie. We got unfinished business. For the record, just say it right now. OBJ to New England totally works. Does everybody get that?

It totally is what they need on the roster. So Nikiel Harry and Mohamed Sadu can be two and threes with Edelman. He's an perfect fit there. I'll just let me mention it. He is a perfect in there. It would be amazing, but I think we all probably need to submit that they're not going to trade O'Dell this year. But that's the best fit in the league for him. In the league.

I think the way Josh McDaniels, because they wouldn't ask O'Dell to do anything other than what he does. They don't need him to be a possession guy. That is true. Hashtag do your job. Bill Belichick is going to bring out the best of whatever it is that you do. Odell totally works with Cam and New England. I got to think that one over a little bit. You might be right.

But I just don't think we're going to see him in a different uniform this year. And to O'Dell's credit, O'Dell has completely bought into Cleveland. He calls it the land now. When did that happen? When did it go? I don't explain things from Cleveland. I'm from Pittsburgh. You have to ask him from Cleveland.

Did LeBron make it the land? I don't know if he made it the land. It's not even really a great nickname. I'm hating right now. Sorry, but it's just. Like a couple years ago, it was the land. And I'm like, now San Bernard is like, Cleveland. Cleveland versus everybody.

I always laugh when I see that shirt. Like, what? Okay. Cleveland loses to everybody? Everybody's winning. So the NFL is still planning on having training camps start a month from now. And Lane Johnson is ready to get started playing again, despite the risks that come with getting back on the field with his team.

He said, with the circumstances, it's unlike any that we have been a part of, really just need to tackle it head on and do the best we can. We got to do it together. It's going to be weird, but as far as moving forward, I think we will get it all figured out. Ultimately, it's a risk that we are willing to take if you go outside of your house or whatever you're doing. Yeah, no, I think that's – I know that some people are offended by that, but I think for pro athletes, you're playing football. Well, again, we were talking about this yesterday, I think it was yesterday with Tom Brady and, you know, the NFLPA, not wanting guys to work out together leading up into the season.

And while I understand they kind of have to say that with everything that's going on. And my opinion on it is if as long as you're not doing anything illegal, like while I think it was very smart to close bars, nobody was doing anything illegal at bars. Like the bars were open. They were allowed to go to bars and they were going. It just wasn't a good idea, right? They're not doing anything illegal.

But with professional athletes, there's another layer of this that you have to consider. You have to be in a certain type of shape to go into camp. Otherwise, you might not get, you might not come into camp with Corona, but you could give a devastating injury very early into camp. not even a devastating injury. You can have a soft tissue injury that last throughout the season because you didn't come into camp with a level of training that you needed to have. So I'm not really conflicted about it. If it's legal for them to be working out together, like it's not against what the

government is telling us we should do. And they're being responsible outside of that. They have to be in a certain type of shape or they will also get injured aside from, you know, COVID, you know, concerned. So we have we have data that 25 year old professional athletes are not in danger. The data is clear. Nobody from what I am guessing, okay, I'm speaking for myself, but I'm just going to generalize. Nobody wants to get sick, right? Of course. People are being irresponsible. They're not wearing masks or freaking out and being asked to wear a mask. Like, I'm not speaking to those people. Like, if you're not taking the basic precaution to keep yourself safe and protect other people, like, I'm not speaking to you. But as far as the athletes go,

They have to also prepare their bodies in a certain type of way. It's not like you and I who like really just want to go to the gym. Like this is part of their training. They have to do this. If we're going to have a season, which they're trying to do. Good stuff. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by.

The Herd Lye News. Rich Ornberger, one of our smartest guests, San Diego, former Patriot lineman. Thoughts on how Cam will fit. That's 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. 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 Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross

double-tap little Kim's boobs at the VMA? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with a little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jay. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it.

Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but yeah, yeah, yeah. But just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, this is the second episode where we've discussed, correct. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line.

We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, guys? This is Clever Taylor the Fourth. And on my podcast, The Clifford 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, rec, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clivert show on the IHeart Radio. Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcast.

The story I've told myself about love or relationships can then shape my behavior. And that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown and explore the journey of healing, self-discovery, and returning to yourself. We explore higher consciousness, emotional well-being, and the practices that help you find clarity, peace, and self-mastery in a world that can feel overwhelming. The world is becoming lonelier. We're not becoming more social and connected.

We're becoming more individualized, but we actually meet people in connection. If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole, this podcast is for you to hear more. Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever. you get your podcast. Drafted by the New England Patriots, played for the Patriots, Danty Skarnakia, and that culture for years.

So anytime there's a story with New England, I think nobody really understands the culture that we bring on as well as Rich Ormberger, who's now joining us from San Diego via the Coward Global Satellite Network. So let's start. Pat's Cam Newton. I watched the game last night. I watched Cam Newton slice up Belichick's defense on the NFL network. he beat him twice. Belichick struggled with Cam both times. He obviously respects him because he lost to him.

Does it work in New England? Absolutely. And it's really more about the timing of Cam Newton entering New England. So, you know, if Cam was a free agent, like as soon as the Carolina Panthers decided to move on from him and he didn't sort of wait and go stale on the market for 100. days or so. This would be a completely different story. You know, paying him, whatever he was due for being as talented of a quarterback, albeit injured lately, it would be a different story. But I think this, this lag that he experienced probably created some humility and humbleness that's absolutely requisite to play and be successful in New England. And if you don't think that Belichick is going to stoke that flame, when he gets in the doors, nobody wanted you. We did, we find value in you, have a great year, prove everybody wrong. Those are the sort of

messages that are just hammered into our minds in the squad meetings in New England. It's us against the world. And I think this is going to be a great marriage because of the timing of the marriage. It's a limited offense, rookie tight ends, no deep threat. You know, but you were with Belichick. He coaches week to week game to game. His game plans are completely different. Did they tried Tebow for a couple of weeks. Do they have an element in the offense where you think it will start looking a little like Baltimore's offense, perhaps? Absolutely.

I think Josh McDaniels will take advantage of Cam Newton's athleticism. And again, this is all if healthy, if he understands the playbook and how they're looking to attack defenses, what is the greatest cure-all for maybe some underwhelming talent at skill position, a mobile quarterback who's dynamic and Cam Newton is those things. And so I'm sure they're going to build in wrinkles for this offense, you know, run options for the quarterback that they couldn't do for 20 years with Tom Brady at the helm and that they were looking maybe for somebody like a Tim Tebow. And frankly, they already have somebody on their team that they use in certain occasions like Julian Edelman, who has experienced playing quarterback in college, where they can

fold those wrinkles in. But having a quarterback where they can do this routinely to fool defense, this is a game plan team. So like you just said, week to week, they're going to find ways to exploit weaknesses against the defenses they play. Does this, I never bought into the Jarrett Stidham stuff. I just, you know, listen, all I needed to know is they watched him for a year and they still wanted Brady back off his worst year in a long time. So, you know, they, and they were willing to get rid of Tom after he won a Super Bowl, because they like Garrow. so much. So I know when Belichick likes somebody and this

kind of puts a little bit of a wet blanket on the Jarrett Stidham's the next big thing right? Like that was a little hype, right? It certainly feels that way, but if there's one thing we've learned about this culture and I've heard nothing but good things about Jared Stidom the whole way and maybe that is

misinformation being fed to the general public by the war machine that is the Belichick ramp patriots, or maybe it's the truth. But if there's one thing we know it's a closed culture. So we're not going to know what a position competition looks like until the doors open in training camp in earnest. So if he does have the talent to lead this team to win them games and not just be a game manager and a talented offensive system,

we wouldn't know until we got to see him vying for a starting role like we would have this offseason prior to the signing of Cam Newton in free agency because if all goes well, that is going to be your starting quarterback now. Yeah. You know, I said this, Brady always, he added a polish to Grumpy Belichick, hoodie Belichick. Edelman got arrested this offseason. The owner had an incident. And Tom always kind of gave you that don't drink beer during the season. Aw, shucks, overachiever. You know, very relatable, despite being married to a supermodel. Tom added a polish and I think a likability to the Patriots. Now he's gone. they get slapped with another fine and then 17 minutes later they sign Cam I looked at that and I think do they love Cam or did they not want to get crushed

by the media for today, yesterday, tomorrow? My cynical side says you know Cam's a one-year experiment and this is a good time because they were going to get crushed by the media. Tell me I'm too cynical and they love Cam. Well look if it's a barbecue and there's ribs available and there's wings available,

I'm going to have a little bit of both. And so this idea you just proposed to me, is this a little bit of controlling the media narrative right now because the NFL just slapped them with a million point one fine and stripped them of a third rounder so that they could have all of the talk about New England, be about signing of Cam Newton? I think there was a little bit to that.

Because even though he's media averse, Bill Belichick at the podium, he's very sensitive to the media. We get press clippings read to us. regularly in squad meetings. He still does this to this day. I hear that from former teammates and from guys who are new to the experience over there in New England. So it's something that he's very savvy with. He likes to control that narrative. And I think he did exert that control on the narrative by signing Cam Newton in conjunction with a fine being levied from the NFL. It was a very smart play. Now,

go further down that road, though, this was a high value signing. And this was very very, very low risk because if this doesn't work out like we've seen before with other players who maybe have been scrapheaped because they were deemed unruly or they were, you know, at the end of their road as far as injury concerns go with their careers, we have seen the New England Patriots be able to revive careers and sometimes not. I mean, I played with Chad Johnson then Ocho Cinco and I saw what happens when it doesn't work out. You know, I played a training camp with Albert Hainsworth. So I know what happens when it doesn't work out. But I also played with Randy Moss, who had brilliant years when nobody was giving him, when he was running out of

chances in the NFL. So I think this could be, again, a high value signing for the New England Patriots at just the right time. Yeah. All right. A minute left. Give me numbers. Give me the Patriots record. What's Cam look like this year? I've been saying this all offseason. Even before the signing of Cam Newton, that looks like a 10 win. team to me. And it's not because of my biases. It's just because this is a machine. The gears stay in motion. It's so inert. You have enough veteran presence on that team to continue that inertia. With an addition like Cam, especially if this works out, you may be able to add two wins because he can, when he's healthy, can win you football games. And as long as he protects the football,

he won't lose you football games. So this looks like a 10 or 12 win team to me. Lordy. What the heck? All right, he's on the loose cannons with Steve Hartman, talented guy as well. Rich, absolute pleasure talking to you. Yeah, great talking to you, Colin. Thanks for having me on. By the way, Gouley, look this up real quick. Get off the hockey scores for a second. The Khan-Smith division rundown. Can you get me the number of interceptions Cam has had? Because I don't think of Cam as a big interception guy. That's not what I think of him as. I don't think him as a 30 touchdown guy. Philip Rivers to me is interceptions. Eli's interceptions. James's interceptions. Baker last year was intercepted. Okay, give me, read just, but read the annual, what does he get in an annual basis, Joy? So give me the interception year by year. Just just the interceptions. 17. 17, all right. That's a lot. Okay, 12's not a lot.

13. All right. 12. All right. 10. I don't see Cam as a big. Hold on. 14, 16, 13. That, okay, take out. So 17 is rookie year. Okay, take that one out. He averages 13. that doesn't bother me at all. That's less than one a week. That does not bother me. Cam's not an interception guy. I've had problems with Cam's accuracy.

Right. His mechanics are all mess. Sometimes he just bails on him. I mean, even in the good highlights, he throws off his back foot. Wild wins? That's a lot. That's a lot. I needed a year off.

No weapon. They'll have a tight end. All right. Did you know Geico's offering extra 15% credit and car motorcycle and RV policies? Check it out. out, Geico.com. You've got to sign up by October 7th, though. Geico hour three next. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Start your day with MDrive Start. Check it out. Lean muscle. Seven. Seven clinically tested

ingredients leads the industry. Check it out, nbrivestart.com. Brevin Knight. Most assists steals in Stanford basketball history, but went on to play for over a decade in the NBA and now is doing some analyst work for the Memphis Grizzlies. who I think are going to end up being kind of a surprise because they're young. They're playing with a ton of emotion. And I think that's going to matter here. I'm not sure all the teams want to be here as much as other teams. So I think Memphis could be a team to keep your eyes on. And Brevin Knight is now joining us.

Brevin, let me start with this. Would you be okay as a player? Some are pushing back. Would you be okay going to Orlando and playing the bubble with COVID and the virus sweeping the nation? I would be totally fine with it, call. Number one is, you know, we're back. basketball players, and that's what I do. And so it would be second nature for me to want to go and play basketball,

understanding that these are different times. I would take all of the precautions necessary to enable my own safety, which then enables the safety of those that are around me. But I don't think it would have been a second guess to have been all for this long, the abrupt stop to the season, to say that we found another opportunity for you to play basketball and finish the season. I would have raised my hand to play right away. If a teammate bailed on you, and it could be family reasons, but teams are tight.

It's just different, right? You travel in the season more with your teammates than you're without them. If a teammate bailed for whatever reason and said, I'm not going to the bubble, how would you react to that? First and foremost, I would definitely be hurt because you would want all your brothers there to fight with you. and especially if it's a piece to the puzzle is a major one that really affects the outcome of the game. But I would not resent that person in any way because there would be the level of understanding that we are dealing with different times. I don't know if they have someone that is crucial back at home that has some ailments that this could really be detrimental to them. And so I would be hurt.

You probably would be upset because in the moment you're just thinking about winning. but in the grand scheme of it, health and the way that people's psyche controls themselves, I think is a bigger importance. And so I would understand, but rightfully so, still be upset if it affected my ability to win game. You know, it's going to be interesting. I guess if you were playing really well, you wouldn't want a hiatus. If you had injuries like Philadelphia, maybe you'd want a hiatus. Is there one team specifically, though, that you think could come out better than

from the break? I look at the Los Angeles Clippers as being one of those teams because at the beginning of the year, they were sort of the team that could really push the Lakers and the Western Conference and be a championship team. But because of load management, because of injuries that they had, they never really had an opportunity to get their squad together. So they didn't have the practice time. They didn't have the on-court time together that they would have needed, I thought,

to be able to overtake a Lakers. team that has been playing well together. So this hiatus gave them a chance to get healthy, but because the season will be a short one, there is no more load management for those guys. Unless in the eight games, they get such a lead and they're set in their position, I would expect for them to have these days to practice and run together and then have the eight games as sort of a sample for what it would take for them to push in that Western Conference and really get back into the talk of being a true championship

contender. So I look for them to be a team that really can get themselves right for a big push. You know, I really liked Zion in college, and I thought people sort of, you know, we do this with kids, we dissect them, and they're just simply not finished products. In college, you got school, you have, you know, the NCAA limits your hours. So when I watch a kid in college, you know, Jalen Brown at Cal, I watched them, and I'm like, oh, he's an NBA player, but he just needs, he needs hours in the gym. And I watch Zion, and I'm like, oh, this, so I said, I said, I think he's going to be a top 20 player in the NBA really fast, because I just don't think I've seen that body type since like Barclay or Sean Kemp. What do you expect from him in these games? And are you surprised

how effective he has been? I would expect for him to be as effective as effective as he was before the hiatus. but it will be a little bit different because every game will matter now. There will never be a night off. There'll never be a chance for him to just not play against a team that is scheme specifically to stop him in all ways, shapes, and form. So I think we'll get an opportunity to see how he responds to that. But I think the difference between him and no matter what you do is,

he is so much more physically gifted than the majority of the players that play the league and he has a motor that he plays hard that he's still going to make a difference on the floor no matter what you do. Can he will his team to victories? Can he make the plays on both ends of the floor that gets them wins?

I think that is what will come in his maturation process. You think about it, he missed a large part of the season with his own injury. So he, like everyone else, is still just trying to find his footing of what it takes to win. But I think the highlight players will be

there. The physical plays will be there. It'll give you some ooze and odds. At the end of the day, do they translate into wins? That's what fans will be seen. You know, one of our topics on our show today, Brevin Knight, 12 years in the NBA with a variety of teams, is I've been very mobile in my career, so I think I'd be a total hypocrite not to defend players in their mobility. And I've always been kind of like, listen, if you can upgrade bosses and upgrade owners and upgrade teammates, you should always go. Next week. the 10-year anniversary of LeBron's decision, I was shocked by how much he was vilified by the press. Forget fans. I thought the press was incredibly unfair to LeBron.

When you look back on it, did any of it bother you at the time? None of it bothered me, and I still don't know if this happened or didn't happen. The one thing that I would say that I would have liked for him to do in that instance was when he got to the point that he knew where he was going. So just pick up the phone and call the Cleveland Cavaliers, let them know I'm making my decision to go to Miami. I mean, he could do that and then immediately go on camera and say that he's taking the town of South Beach.

That would have been the only thing that I, if he did not do it, as I said, I don't know if he did or did. If that would be the only thing that I say what I would have liked to see him do. But in terms of how he did it, raise a lot of money for check. and he was already a face and a big name in our game. And so there's no other way to do it than to do it on a big stage. And so he took control of his own destiny.

He wanted to go play there. He wanted to do it in this fashion. And so I had zero issues with it as long as he let the Cavs know, the team that drafted him, team that put everything into wanting him to stay there And what he did for that community, just give them a phone call before he would have made the announcement. So Joy and I have asked this question. I don't know what I'm going to get with no fans in a bubble.

Will the game look like Rucker Park? Will it kind of have a one-on-one and one tour, you know, a little hot dog to it? Will it be not as emotional? You know, NBA fans are right on top of players. I don't even know what it's going to look like. What do you suspect basketball will look like with no fans? Did fans elevate Brevin your commitment to defense? Did they elevate your game?

Did they distract you? What is basketball going to look like with no fans in a bubble in Orlando? It's going to look extremely different. And you talk about, yes, the fans mean everything. to our games from when we were a little kid and most of those people there are your family that's yelling at you. And as you move higher and your visibility became more, you play on bigger stages, than those fans, for a home team, it is what gives you that little bit of boost when you may not

beat it at night. And then you look up and you see and everybody's energized and you're into it. For the away team when you're in that, it is how do I silence those people? That's your joy in that night. How do we get people leaving at the end of the third quarter? how do we get them sitting on their hands and all you hear is our side of our side that's screaming on the floor so the fans will be sorely missed it'll be an entirely different environment but what i think you'll get is you'll get more of those one-on-one matches because in some ways they're going to have to create an environment and how do you create an environment that is now you bring out personality so i think we'll see those guys that have a little bit of that street swag and that still have a little bit of the park mentality in them that has the mono-e-monaut matchups. I think we'll see more of that because the way that they'll have to create some excitement in the arena.

So it's interesting. You went to Stanford, and I'm a believer that I don't think college basketball is bad at all. I think it gives a kid a chance to meet students from all over the globe. You can grow up. I mean, college for me wasn't about academics, clearly. It was more about meeting people, right? Yeah, yeah. So for you in Stanford, you probably met a lot of really fascinating people.

And now, the culture has changed. John Morant's just too darn good to be in college forever. But I want to talk about John Morant because he is a spectacular talent. And he played college basketball and nobody watched him. And now I think he and Zoneman. on are going to be potentially the two faces of the league going forward. For those who don't sit and watch grizzly games, tell me about him as the person, as the player, what you saw so far on John Moran?

Well, what I appreciated about him was he didn't come in with an air that I am the number two pick, this is my team. We had some veteran guys that were still around, and he allowed the vet to be the voices of this team. But he still led by example, how he played the game. he soaked up that knowledge from those guys, talked when he needed to talk, listened when he needs to listen, and he has an it factor that guys want to follow him. So the understanding of I didn't have to be brash, I didn't have to force people with my

voice to get done what I want to get done. I could do it by my action, and then they followed his lead, even though these are guys that have been in the lead for a number of years. the next thing that I took away from him was the ability to communicate with his players when he needs to get something accomplished and when they needed a pat on the back. Not very often that you see young guys have that awareness of when I need to say something to you, when I need to pat you on the back, when I need to get a guy to basketball, he had that awareness from the outset.

And a lot of that I think goes to the fact that he was never given anything. He's had to work for everything that he's had. And because of that work ethic, I think it's just continued. But it also is something that becomes infectious to the rest of his teammates. So the basketball side, listen, he is one of the most talented, versatile players that we've ever seen. But there's a lot of good basketball players in his world. It's what can you do with other grown men as a leader of a team and can you get them to win game? He has drastically changed our organization within one year.

We went from a team that was 20 wins, trying to find ourselves going through this change, to a team that is now solidly in the 8th spot in the Western Conference, when we were only supposed to win 25, 26 games. And yes, the other players had a lot to do with it, but a main focus was him and who he is as a person. And the sky's the limit for our organization. I think you hit it on the head. There will be many faces of this.

lead when LeBron James starts to fade away, Morant will be one of. Yeah. Stanford Guy, 12 years. You ever go back to Palo Alto and just kind of walk around and look at your history? That's a pretty nice place to go to college. I still go back. And little said, our oldest daughter just graduated from Stanford this year. And so we didn't have the opportunity to really enjoy going back.

We had to do it virtually. But very proud of her and her accomplishments. But, yeah, I go back. I go back every year still really close with Jared Hoss. We talk about the team. I enjoy and love what the school afforded me, my wife, because she also went to Stanford and now our oldest daughter. And so I love going back, and it will always be a special place in my heart.

Yeah, it's a special place, man. What a pleasure. Brevin, thanks for coming on the show and making time for us. It's wonderful to hear from you. Oh, thanks for having it. me anytime you want to talk. I'm available. And next time we may even get the video thing to work correctly. All right. Thanks, Brevin Knight. Yeah, from Silicon Valley. We'll get one of those Silicon

Valley guys and get the video to work. He was a great, great player, dominant guard years in the pack. Was it Pac 10 or Pac-12 then? I think it was Pac-12. Was it Pac-10? When I was a kid, it was Pac-8, and then they added the Arizona schools, and it was Pack-10. And then they added the Arizona schools, and it was Pac-10. and then they added Utah and Colorado a decade ago or 12 years ago and it was a PAC 12. Yeah.

I just liked adding Boulder, Colorado to the PAC 12. A little more marijuana in the conference, but nonetheless, beautiful vistas. You know, it's got a... That's what it's known for. Both.

The mountains and the pot. Joy with the news. No. Turn on the news. This is the herd line. It's legal. So it's not a shot. It's legal.

Colorado is very legal. I mean, it's not that big video. It's really not. It's not. Not on this show. Cam Newton is in a great situation with the Patriots, but he didn't have many suitors before New England. The Browns were reportedly the only other team to reach out to Cam after he was released

by Carolina. However, nothing came to the talks and an offer was never made. So the Patriots were reportedly the only team to offer Cam Newton. You know what's amazing when you want to do? Watch the video. Just think about this. This is obvious, right? Look how big Cam is.

Now watch these. Now, watch this one video. I think he's playing in Minnesota when they grab him. Like, this is why Cam is so unique is that look at the size of Cam Newton. He is significantly bigger than every defensive player. Aaron Donald comes up to his shoulders. Yeah. He is so, that's the thing about Cam is that I always thought Big Ben and Cam had the,

and I don't blame him for it. It's just kind of biblical. When you have something, you use it. Cam and Ben were so big that in high school and college football, no single person could tackle him. So they get to the NFL for about five years. And they don't, they have this physical confidence that, I don't care. Well, why wouldn't you?

Of course. Did you see the video that Cam dropped yesterday? It's ridiculous. It's ridiculous looking. And so over the course of five or six years, though, Ben and Cam keep getting bang, bang, bang. I mean, that was, we're so far removed from talking about Cam actually on the field because of these injuries.

Right. But you remember, there was a serious conversation about whether referees were even properly officiating him. Because he was so big and strong and athletic. He was taking these insane hits. There was one near the goal line. It was a shot to the head. And the officials were like, well, he's not a quarterback.

They didn't quite know how to officiate camp. No, but there was a lot. I know which one you're talking about, but there were a lot of hits on him in the backfield. that were like so over the top that any other quarterback would get a call on them, especially the way that they protect quarterbacks now. We should put a cam video up tomorrow on the show. Of his first three years in the league, the shots against him,

you would look at him now and be like, oh, that's an ejection, you're out of the game. But nobody quite knew what he, because he was so much bigger than the guys that were hitting him. And I do think he will be officiated differently now because the game has moved more, obviously, obviously to protect the quarterbacks. But there's so many more running quarterbacks

in the game now. And I do think he's going to get down more. Like that's going to have to be a part of his game. One thing I did think it was interesting that Rich Ornberger said, which I didn't think about, and he's right. You know, the Patriots, they've got this mysterious way of turning themselves

into underdogs. Now, this particular year, I actually think it has some legs to it. But in years past, every single year, it's like, oh, like, you know, we're just trying to, you know, to make it back there. Like everyone doubts us. It's us against the world.

Nobody believes in us. Everyone doubted you. Like they create this chip on the shoulder mentality, even though it's like, no, you guys are favorite to win the Super Bowl. Like nobody is doubt. Literally no one is doubting you. You're supposed to win the Super Bowl this year. But he is going to drill that into Cam Newton.

Because Cam already has that. Like he's got that chip on his shoulder with everything that happened in Carolina. And he hears everything that everyone is saying about him. The Patriots are the perfect place to just. Well, that's what Belichick always took from. parcells, the psychology. Parcells was the best at tweaking. Nobody likes you.

And Belichick, I think, stole a little bit of that from Bill. I mean, it's part of his mantra. So one of the main arguments against restart in the NBA season has been the momentum social justice reform has gained recently in the United States. And the league is sending a message of solidarity with their latest decision.

The NBA is reportedly painting, planning to paint Black Lives Matter on both sidelines on all three of the courts they'll be using in Orlando. And players will also reportedly be able to replace the names on the back of their jerseys with a statement on social justice. Not sure if you'll be able to buy those jerseys, but the NBA is also reported, WMBA is also reportedly doing the same. They're considering wearing warm-up shirts with the words, say her name in honor of Brianna Taylor. And Vegas Aces player Angel McAatry proposed the idea

of wearing the names in the jerseys first, and the NBA adopted that as well. So it actually came from the WMBA. But I think this is a good thing to do. Like the NBA has said that they're going to offer the platform to the players and support everything that's going on. So, you know, how much impact it's going to to have will soon find out. But I do think part of, you know, the pushback of that with restarting the league, this does, this does aid that because, in my opinion, having the platform and not being able to escape the message, people who are wanting to watch sports, but like to get away from the message, I think this, you know, adds to that.

This is where I think LeBron and Adam Silver really agree, use the platform. You could, you know, Colin Kampernick's message doesn't get, and I didn't love it when he kneeled at his place of work, but the reason he did, the argument was, if he does it across the street at a park, nobody sees it. So don't ever relinquish as an athlete the greatest platform. It could be Instagram. It could be, you know, LeBron's Twitter account, but you spend so much time building

up platforms, building up followings. When you get them, use them. And they are. So the Nets are already without Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving due to injury. And now they'll be even more shorthanded in Orlando. DeAndre Jordan revealed he tested positive for COVID-19 and has chosen not to return for the rest of the season. Spencer Didwitty also tested positive, but he is still deciding whether he will play. And Wilson Chandler told the Nets he will not join the team in Orlando citing the health and well-being of his family.

So the Nets could be very short at 7th in the East coming back. into the bubble. Also, three unnamed Pelicans tested positive and are self-isolating their undergoing daily tests and they can return to the team after two days of negative tests. And the Nuggets to shut down their facility due to positive tests. That's where we're at is a country. That's where we are. And they're just, they're trying to manage it before everyone goes into the bubble.

I mean, this would actually be the, I mean, if you're going to test positive and you do it now, then, you know, you have the two. weeks before everything starts up if you get the, you know, you get a negative test and then you can go into the bubble. But everyone's going to be tested before the answer to the bubble anyway. Yeah. This is just like this is going to, this is why to me I think it's completely unper, it's impossible to predict really who's going to win the championship this year because there's so many factors going into the situation.

Well, let's say you go into it. You have 13 players. Three, two to three have had it before you get there. Right. Two and three get it immediately. two and three get it as you're going into the season, and one gets it in the playoffs. That's your roster. So, I mean, it's not like football where you have like, you know, 55 guys. If you, three guys have had it going in, and then every, like, six day, another gets it or another.

It doesn't take long before you're heading, you know, into the playoffs. You're short-handed. Yeah. Yeah. It's, that's what I'm saying. It's going to be something. Obviously, they're managing this, but it's just going to be something that's a factor throughout this whole bubble situation.

Yeah, Joy with the News. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Heard Line News. This isn't really pressing. But, you know, I get a lot of crap for my hair because I haven't had a haircut. And, like, I've had one haircut since March. And, you know, I've come to terms with it.

I kind of like this long, sloppy mess. And I'm thinking, you know what? My wife hasn't been around for eight weeks. So, you know, she's not helping me get my act together. And I've had one haircut. I think going forward on this, I kind of like. It's just, it is all over the place. I don't like it.

I mean, it's rugged. You have a full head of hair. Yeah, look at it right there. I think I'm going to do that. You're just going to never get a haircut again. It doesn't look great, but I can't get a haircut. And there's part of me that thinks I'm just not going to cut it for the rest of the year. The rest of the year, huh?

Who cares? I mean, why don't just grow the beard? Get the quarantine beard, too. I can't grow, I can't grow facial hair. I can't. You have like one place in your hair. It just, it just, you know a mustache. I can't grow mustache.

What do you mean? I can't grow mustache. No, I'm not joking. I can't grow a mustache. Like it just doesn't, you don't grow hair there? Yeah, it just looks horrible and it stops growing. Like Goulet, literally at four, had a beard.

I can't grow mustache. I don't, I think I... Where does it grow? Like, it's like here? No, I have no, I have no chest hair. But you shave your face? Yeah, just because it gets... You can't tell if I shave or not.

It doesn't look... I mean, I shaved because it gets a little gray, but my body is. I'm not going to get too into that. But there's not a lot of hair. It is a plane. It is not a forest. Well, then you know what?

I think you should just grow a ponytail. No, that's not me. That's too counterculture for me. Okay, coming up next, another edition of, it's fascinating. Colin Reed Your Schedule. I love this game. It's the best. I just love it.

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. All right, so I call it, Colin Reed's schedule. So I thought, I wanted to do this earlier in the show, but the staff was a bunch of jerks.

So we get the schedule, and I predict, instead of me just picking, so I had the Patriots going six and ten or seven and nine with Stidham. Right. And I know you all think I, you know, don't like Cam, but I'll sit down and I'll tell you, let's look at the schedule, let's pick our schedules up, WL time, let's go.

Week one. All right, week one is Miami. I'm going to give him a win. Dolphins quarterback's undecided, and Fitzpatrick has been vomit against the Patriots. He's three and nine against Belichick. So they'll beat the dolphins. Plus, it's up in New England, and they'll be, by the way, New England's got right now more good players. Week 2 is at Seattle.

Russell Wilson is filthy at home. He's like 48 and 16. Seattle's winning that game. That's an L. Let's go to the Raiders. Belichick has had his way with the Raiders. I don't like the Raiders defense at all. I think it's getting better, but that's a W in Las Vegas, only issues the heat.

Kansas City, yeah, that's not, that could be really the ugly one. It's the best team in the league they're at home. And Andy Reid, by the way, is ridiculous in September. He's just ridiculous. And by the way, Belichick has struggled with one coach in this league. Andy Reid. I'm going to give him a W against the Broncos. Why am I doing this?

Because Belichick is 22 and 1. 22 and 1 in the last 23 games against first or second year quarterbacks. He owns them. Drew Lockell Struggle. It's in Foxborough. Drew Lockell Struggle. Cam's going to win that game. All right.

Then a tough stretch. Niners bills. Niners have more good players. Let's just cut to the chase here. That's a tough matchup. And Buffalo last year, it'll be close. But it's at Buffalo. And I think that game's a low-scoring game.

And, you know, that's a go-either-way game. I'll give it to Buffalo. Okay, Jets, that's a W. Again, we go back to this. Sam Darnold has been awful against New England. O and 2 and 45 and O completion percentage last year with a 29 passer rating. That is a win. Ravens, all right, you know, let's not get into it.

Best, and they're on a short week, so it's the best team in the league on a short week. All right, next up is the Texans. Belichick has struggled against some of his assistants. His assistant has done, remember when Matt Patricia beat him a couple years ago, but he's five and one against Bill O'Brien, and I do believe the last couple years they've drafted their defensive front pretty well. So I think that's a little bit of a mismatch. So I think they go down to Houston.

Houston's not a great home field advantage, and they beat them. At the Cardinals, I've got that a win. Again, Belichick, 22 and 1, 23 games against young quarterbacks. A little bit of a coaching mismatch and experience. that game will be on Fox. You know, that Arizona's in a rebuild still. Now, this is a tough two-game stretch at the Chargers. I think Tyrod Taylor is better than everybody thinks.

And I think Tyrod Taylor plays on a chip on his shoulder. And I think the Chargers win this game. And I've told it this before. I think the Chargers have a top five roster in the league. And remember the last time these two. Will Tyrod be starting that, by the point? Last time these two teams played, Anthony Lynn was humiliated. Yeah.

That was the most embarrassing Charger loss. in two years. They will play with a total chip on their shoulder. They stay out west against the Rams. And again, I think the Rams are a tough matchup because I think Aaron Donald is a tough matchup for New England. Then I think Cam goes to Miami and wins. I think they'll take this game very seriously. And the Dolphins, by the way, they don't know much about Cam. These AFC teams have never faced Cam. And I also think now New England's getting a better sense of what they are offensively. Then they get the bills at home.

I'll give them a W on that. Josh Allen, for the record, like all young quarterbacks, has been brutal against New England. He's 0 and 3 with a 56 passer rating. So you put him up, that could be a night game. You could have playoffs, Cam, Buffalo, Josh Allen and Donald

have been atrocious against New England. And again, Patriots have won 11 straight home games against the Jets. I think they finished strong. so it's real choppy early, but I think they get a W against the Jets. There's a buy week in week six, and I think they're nine and seven.

They're nine and seven football. Am I nuts on that? I gave them a couple ups and I would probably give them one of the West Coast games, though, in that stretch. What do you think, Goulet? I think that, so you still have him beating Joyce Dolphins twice, even without Brady. I got him crushing Darnold twice.

Darnold looks completely lost. Listen, Darnold and Josh Allen, are really nice players. They look lost. The only thing about the second Dolphins game, and it could just be a Brady thing, but the Patriots do tend to struggle in Miami late in the season. Could?

But that could be different now that Brady's not there. So I said, 6 and 10 to 9 and 7. Oh, you hate Cam. That's a dramatic swing. That's still the under, by the way. Huh? That's still the under.

No, I do. There's nine and a half. No, I take the under. But, you know, all this you hate Cam. No, Vegas hates Cam. I am willing to listen. Listen, I am America's honesty broker. Now, I've got a new haircut, and I do not care what anybody thinks about it because I love it.

I love it. It's just an unmade bed up there. Okay, I'm done for the day. And guys are getting ready on the other set. It's the herd. 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.

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