The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Colin Cowherd Podcast Prime Cuts - Joe Burrow on Damar Hamlin Impact, Ravens Wild Card, Nick Wright on Harbaugh NFL Buzz, Rodgers Future + Wild Card Weekend Bets

Episode Date: January 14, 2023

This is Prime Cuts! The best of The Colin Cowherd Podcast. First, Colin’s top takes on why he’s out on OBJ for good after seeing video of Beckham getting kicked off a plane, why things will only get worse for Bill Belichick with the Patriots, and why the Jets latest move ensures they have no shot at landing Derek Carr. Then, Bengals Quarterback Joe Burrow discusses when he felt they turned the season around after a slow start, why it’s so hard facing the Ravens for a 3rd time, if playoff experience is overrated, how witnessing the scary scene surrounding Damar Hamlin on MNF against the Bills impacted him personally. Next, First Things First co-host - and host of the What's Wright? podcast - Nick Wright discusses if Jim Harbaugh should leave Michigan for the NFL, if the Titans are a realistic landing spot for Aaron Rodgers, and if Brock Purdy could be the long-term QB answer for the Niners (54:00). Finally, Action Network's Chad Millman tells Colin if his NFL Wild Card Weekend picks are "sharp" or "square" for Ravens/Bengals, Seahawks/Niners, Cowboys/Bucs, Giants/Vikings, and Dolphins/Bills. Follow Colin and The Volume on Twitter for the latest content and updates, check out FanDuel for the best wagering and daily fantasy action, and visit Cuts for the latest Fall fits! #Herd #VolumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Also, Chad Millman, Action Network, Sharper Square. I swear, the playoffs arrive. And we're bringing our A game, baby. The video is now out of OBJ, former Giants, Browns, Rams receiver on an airplane that he got kicked off of. Well, it's not great. But yet there's plenty of OBJ stands defending him. I've come to terms with something about celebrity in our country. It can be Justin Bieber. It can be Taylor Swift. It can be OBJ. Men are often still little boys. They're fanboys. That's my term for them, fan boys. They worship celebrities. I love having fans. I don't want any of you to worship me, nor should you. I'm

completely flawed. But OBJ all over the interweb, little boys in their 30s and 40s who are physically men, but have no sense of self. They worship, they coddle, they weighed in line, they wear jerseys. You'll never see me wearing a jersey. I thought OBJ moved into Des Bryant territory. Remember when Des Bryant was on hard knocks near the end of his career? And there was a piece of video of Des Bryant calling out a coach and being temperamental and immature and incredibly needy, his market literally dried up. Nobody wanted Des Bryant. Aging receivers who come off as petulant and needy,

OBJ has no market. None. It's over. But OBJ's never had any self-awareness. He's now more known for, you know, the end zone peeing, the model in Paris, on the boat. this video on the plane outside of the one-handed catch, what's his next biggest catch?

If my kids acted like the video of OBJ, I would write them out of the will. And one of my kids is 16. OBJ is like in his 30s, total arrogant, entitled lack of self-awareness. But I can tell you right now, fanboys will be all over this podcast whining and defending OBJ because that's the culture. We have a celebrity culture and some guys, some men are boys, fan boys.

And it doesn't matter what the behavior is. I mean, the first time I really came to terms with this was years ago with Bobby Knight. And Bobby Knight had a horrible reputation and a secret video of practice came out. and I forget the name of the player and you could see him putting his hand on his throat and I worked with a guy in the media who was a co-host for a short period of time who loved Bobby Knight who defended it

and I remember saying what if that was your kid? Would you defend it? Really? It was the first time it really hit home that there are men who are really have the maturity of boys that they worship. I mean I collected baseball cards when I was eight and I admire great artists.

I mean, I was, you know, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Patrick Mahomes. These guys are incredible. I don't worship. And if you're still defending OBJ, he just became Des Bryant. That video, no thanks. Folks, what's the one position college football furnishes the NFL with every year and with 20 new really good players? Wide receiver.

OBJ is temperamental, brittle, expensive, and emotionally needy, hard pass. So I was talking to somebody I met the other day in regards to timing. And they were talking about the podcast industry. And we were actually talking about the subscription service called The Athletic and how it sold to the New York Times for 450, 500 million dollars. And this person was saying because of the erosion of the stock market, Dow Jones is down several thousand. And because, you know, the world's always changing with so many new platforms is that it may not sell for that today, not even close to that. But it did then.

There's a moment in time for everything to sell in the media. That's what this person who has a lot of experience we talked about is that sometimes something that's something that's won't sell in six months. You've got a hit on the time. And I thought, that's what's fascinating about the New England Patriots. This was the year to get into the playoffs. The Jets were a shit show at quarterback, and Tua couldn't stay healthy. Okay, if Miami goes out and gets Derek Carr and the Jets get Garoppolo,

Mac Jones is the fourth best quarterback in your division. You don't get to the playoffs with the fourth best quarterback in your division. I don't see an easy way out for New England. I mean, Tua probably inside the Dolphins executive suite. They've made a decision to move on. He's simply college and pro can't stay healthy. Not his fault, his reality. And the jets are obviously going to the market.

They need a left tackle on a quarterback. They have talent, running back, corner, defensive line, weapons. They got good players. and New England doesn't have a single receiver that separates. Devonte Parker doesn't separate. Jacoby Myers doesn't separate. They're really average O-line, wide receiver, tight end. It's not a highly abundant wide receiver group in the first round, maybe by the second.

But Jordan Addison maybe is a first round wide receiver. Zay Jones maybe is. There's not four or five this year like they're having in pre-year. like they're having in previous years. I don't know the way out. That's what's fascinating. This was the year, and they wasted it by connecting Joe Judge and Matt Patricia to the offense. Go back and look at Mack Jones rookie stats.

They're pretty remarkable. They're really solid. B plus stuff. And he regressed. So the timing, go back to timing, this was the year to get some momentum. If Mac Jones played well, you'd have a greater chance to go into the free agent market and convince a D'Andre Hopkins, who reportedly Arizona is going to move, convince a D'Andre Hopkins, hey, I had a great rookie year, followed by a great second year, come to New England and be the star. Well, he looks at it now. D. Hop would look at New England and go, I wouldn't want to be part of that.

That offense is a mess. So I don't know the easy way out and I thought it was absolutely something that Bill Belichick, when asked about the season, immediately said, I'm returning for 2024. That's not your call. That's the owner's call. The fact that Belichick put it out publicly, I'll be back next year. Andy Reid doesn't say that. It's the owner's call. That's never the coach's call in the NFL.

or the NBA, I'll be back. Steve Kerr's back if Joe Lakeb who owns the Warriors wants him back. And that's Steve Kerr. So I think Belichick knows. He's kind of cornered here. The staff isn't great, doesn't have an offensive coordinator, doesn't have a tied end or a receiver that separates. Didn't you think it was something that Belichick's first opinion was I'll be back,

basically cornering Bob Kraft. Bob Kraft now is on the defensive. Oh, wait, Belichick's coming back. Bill didn't leave it open for a meeting or a discussion or an argument or a tug of war over his future. I thought it was something. I want to talk Derek Carr, so he has a no trade clause. The Raiders are now looking around for trade partners. They want to do it February 15th or earlier.

That helps them out in the salary situation. So you can go to therapy. I've gone to therapy, but when I go to therapy, I am seeking a change. Not everybody is. I've probably had six, seven different therapists in my life. I've moved all over the country, as many of you know, and I have gone for a specific reason to overcome something, fight through something, work through something. But I have friends who have been therapists, and they'll tell you that change is hard even when you want to change. Most people don't. So I watched the New York Jets. They're trying to find a quarterback. So what do they do? They fire their offensive coordinator, Mike LaFleur. Apparently, it came from the owners.

The New York Jets need therapy. They can't help themselves. They've got to break through. So Derek Carr is going to seek continuity. The Jets already had a few things working against them. They have a defensive coach. They don't have a good left tackle. They have a defensive culture.

One of the few things they had going for them. Interesting young wide receiver talent and Matt LaFleur's smart brother as their coordinator, now they just fired him. If you're trying to attract Derek Carr, because you're not going to get Tom Brady. So it's down to Garoppolo, Tanna Hill, Derek Carr. And Derek Carr, to me, is the best one on the market.

He's always healthy, usually solid BB Plus. You just fired your offensive coordinator. Matt Lafleur's brother is respected. It was one of the few things you had working for you. Now, it looks like Miami in your same division is the perfect landing space. Better weather, offensive coach, significantly better veteran weapons, better left tackle. Jets. You're like the person that goes to therapy, but you're really not looking to change.

You're just going because somebody said you needed to go to therapy. Defensive coach. New York taxes. No left tackle. Shaky ownership. Now you fire a respected OC. What are you doing? Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged.

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six seven three six nine in new york tennessee red line one eight eight nine nine seven nine tennessee visit one eight hundred gambler dot net in west virginia all right first of all long time no talk a lot of people bailed on joe burrow not this host i remember that second half against dallas and I said, I saw it, they're going to be fine. I mean, let's take the regular season, take a deep breath. When did you, because you won a lot of games in a row now. Was there a one or a two game or one or two half moment for you, Joe, that you said, okay, boom, we're clicking.

We're all good. This is a good team. Not really. You know, we had moments of that. early in the year and it really just came down to being more consistent as a team and as an offense. I wouldn't say there was one or two games that you point to and be like, that's the turning point. It's just kind of progression of the season. You get better throughout the season. You have more practice time together. You have more reps accumulated and you just get better as

the season goes. I'm not a huge fan of playing a team a third time. It's why I'm not a fan of, you know, Miami Buffalo a third time. Seattle, San Francisco. I don't like it. I think it's hard. I mean, let's be honest. Buffalo is hard to beat once. Yeah.

I mean, do you look at it and think, all right, they know my tendencies. How do you view it? Yeah, that's why division games are always harder because you play each other twice a year. You know how the other unit operates. you know the guys, you know the scheme, they know what you're trying to do, you know what they're trying to do. So you know, it's always harder in those division games and that's why they're always so tight.

Do you feel more responsibility? It's very easy for a team that just beat a team to be flat the next week. That's the history of the league. You beat a team. Then you have to rally the guys and say, yes, we got to play with our hair and fire. We can't beat him.

Do you feel a little bit, Joe, like, this is really where leadership comes in, urgency, go, this is everything. No, because our guys know how hard it was to beat those guys last week, and they're going to be healthier, and we know what happened early in the year. So, you know, like I said, you've got to take all these division games as seriously as possible because we know what Baltimore has on the defensive side of the football, and we know they have on the offensive side of the football.

They're a really, really good football team that wins a lot of football games. So it's going to be a tough challenge for us. Brian Dable, Giants coach, who's got actually a lot of rings as an assistant or a coordinator, said playoff experience is overrated. Now, I look at you last year, you didn't have any, and you went on the road, I think two out of three weekends. Where is it a little overrated? And where is their value in your experience? Yeah, that's tough to say, because really once you get into the game, every game,

is the same. And I think that's how you have to handle it. So obviously, I would say the more reps you have accumulated of something, the better you're going to perform. But also, once you get in, it's just another game. It doesn't feel on the field like a playoff game, do you?

No, you know, the fans are a little more energetic in the crowd and the atmosphere is always better. But, you know, once you're out there on the field, you're blocking all that out anyway. When you look at this season where you're at, I think situationally, you're a better quarterback than a year ago. That's what it feels like to me.

I thought your first two years, they were rare, but you'd have an occasional meltdown. The game's fast. Do you sense like, you can sense, okay, this could be one of these moments. Do you in real time ever feel like, man, a year ago, I could have melted down there?

No, I don't really feel like that. I do feel like I've drastically improved my play this season from last year, just in the totality. And so I'm happy with that, but there's also a lot of room to improve as well. And so, you know, I like where we're at as a team and as an offense and as defense. And honestly, as a locker room as well, we have one of the tightest locker rooms I've ever been part of. And I really think that ends up being the key to winning. How concerned are you with your offensive line injuries? You know, we have guys that we really believe in that have played a lot of football,

guys like Max and Hakeem that, you know, I've stepped in these last couple weeks. You know, Hakeem was our starting right guard for the majority of the season last year, and Max has totally a lot of football in this league. And so we got faith in both of those guys to go on and do their jobs. You know, when you're, I could argue that your college team, LSU is sort of iconic. Louisiana high school football and Ohio State, that your college programs were much more marquee than your NFL team. I think it's funny that you're considered the first or second best quarterback in this league by,

like, people I respect. And yet, Buffalo and Kansas City, I mean, Philadelphia, it's like in a weird way, it's a perfect spot. In college at Ohio State, you're a favorite every week. LSU is a favorite. your team just got to the Super Bowl. And when I pick you number one I have for five straight weeks, people are like, are you crazy?

And I'm like, are you watching the games? You're like 12 and 4. Do you feel sometimes even as good as you guys are? I mean, you're in a division with the Steelers and the Browns and the Ravens. These franchises are like bedrock, blue blood. Do you still feel a little bit like the new kid on the block? You know, maybe sometimes, but I don't really think. in those ways.

You know, we're so focused on the day to day of getting better and interacting with each other and getting the work that we need to get done. It honestly, we don't really talk about it too much. Your thoughts on home field being decided by a coin flip, we know why. But it's, I mean, I guess the NBA lottery is a ping pong balls. I mean, it's kind of odd, right? Yeah, you know, I wasn't, you know, I understood it. I understood why I did it. I just wish that

we would have been offered the same opportunity for a potential second round matchup for the bills that we didn't end up getting to play that game, you know, through no fault of our own. And it should have been canceled. We didn't want to play after that happened either. But, you know, I think that we just weren't afforded some opportunities that other people were. It tick you off. I wouldn't say it tick me off. We'll play, well, whatever with whatever we're dealt, but it is what it is. When I go back to the Damar Hamelin moment, what really sticks out to me is the fear on the player's faces.

I said this on the air. I was skiing a year and a half ago. And apparently there was a crash. In about 40 to 50 yards from me, a helicopter flew in and they performed CPR. I did not know the person. It was 40 yards away. It freaked me out. I'm like, all right, that's a wrap.

I'm done skiing today. And that was somebody I didn't know. As I watched you guys watch that, I, the composure you had. I mean, did Joe, you probably never seen anything like that. Did, was it totally unnerving? Yeah, it was a scary emotional moment. Witnessing somebody that plays the same game that you do, you know, go through a crisis that is, is life-threatening.

And, you know, you really take a step back and look at what, what you do. and who you do it with and makes you appreciate that. And at the same time, reminds you that that's always a possibility every Sunday and every, every Monday and every Saturday that you walk out there. So I think a lot of discussions were had throughout the league privately, you know, with loved ones. I know I had some that, you know, that moment is scary.

It can happen. and, you know, you try to limit it, but there's not a lot you can do. It's a normal football play that happens just about every play of every single game, which is what's so scary about it. One of the things I said the other day is that I think the five best quarterbacks in the league, I use this term, the five guys I wouldn't take a phone call on if I was a general manager. You, Alan, Mahomes, Herbert, and Trevor Lawrence. I love Brady and Aaron Rogers and Matt Stafford, but they're older.

I'd take a phone call if I had to. I'm not going to take a phone call on U5. To watch you and Josh Allen, it was really, it was pretty, you know, I'm in my late 50s, Joe. I love Josh Allen so much. I love everything you young guys are about. There was a real moment between you two. And here he looks like Superman. He's bigger than defensive.

offensive ends. He looks like Superman. He was incredibly vulnerable. Do you remember that moment when you're right next to him? Yeah, that was that was tough. You know, me and Josh are friends and I've known each other for for a couple years now. And, you know, it was just kind of a moment of unity between, you know, not just two teams, but football players. And, you know, And we know what each individual person means to everyone else in a locker room. And to see people going through that was, you know, it was tough. And, you know, everyone in our locker room took a step back and said it could have been any one of us in that exact same situation. And so that's why it really hit everybody so hard.

I thought the Cincinnati crowd was amazing. I thought nobody left, utter silence. I've never seen anything like it. Even the anthem, there's always a guy in the third deck drunk screaming. The whole thing, Joe, from the players to the coaches to the fans, I've been doing this 30 years. I was so blown away by the Cincinnati fans.

Like in an instant, our guy needs help. They're a guy needs help. Did you notice any of that or were you really fixated on Demar? You realize that once you take a, step back, you know, maybe a day or two later and, you know, really reflect on the situation. It made me very proud to live in the community, one, be a part of the organization, two, play for Zach, three, just with, and also very proud of the medical staff, trainers, doctors. You know, we got, unfortunately, got to watch them operate and, you know, they were lights out.

So it just made me proud to be a part of what we have going on here. Yeah. Aren't medical people amazing? Aren't they amazing? Yeah. I mean, you just, those kind of moments, you know, you find out what people are made of. And the people that were out there on that field are badasses. You could probably make an argument, Joe, that you'll never look.

You'll never come into a stadium and see those medical people. the same. Like to you, do you almost view them like before they're part of the ensemble they're like heroes now? Like do you almost look at them differently when you enter a stadium?

Yeah, I do. You know, I walked into the training room the training room the next day and I did look at everybody in that room a little differently. You know, I really appreciate those guys and girls. All right, my buddy, Nick Wright. We haven't talked to Nick in a couple of months.

he's really busy first things first is a smash hit it's crushing you know it's funny nick thank you buddy the um you know the show's so successful i've really nicely decorated my house with all these you know we get ratings bonuses yeah i mean just wealth just hitting me in the face but your producers won't let me show it off they said i have to turn off all the lights they said you're you're shaming Colin coward collins doing this from a closet and you know somewhere in i assume the upper valley in los angeles and i've got this point Palatial estate. I can't show it all. That's fine. Maybe at the end of the pod, I'll get up and turn all the lights on so people can see what a beautiful scene I have behind me. But go ahead. Sorry. All right. I want to talk to you about there's two coaches in football that I think bother the media. But Jesus, they're good. Brian Kelly has won everywhere instantly. He had a terrible incident at Notre Dame. A young man died. He is gruff. he turns purple when he's screaming at players.

Right. And Jim Harba. He does a really, really crummy Cajun accent out of nowhere. Yeah. Those are in the cons column. Go ahead. Yeah. And Jim Harbaugh.

And because Jim Harbaugh, I think, is on the spectrum and he's awkward and he doesn't really need the media. I think I get along with people. I struggle with him. People don't understand. Harbaugh went 44, 19, and 1 in a division with arguably the most talented a team in football in 20 years, the Seahawks. The Seahawks.

And he took over a team that he won six games and went to three straight NFC championship games. With Alex Smith and Cap as the quarterbacks. And Cap had a nice moment, but Cap wasn't a blue chipper. Alex Smith was considered a bust and immediately contended for championships and contended at Stanford and turned Michigan into a contender. So I thought about this. You know, when we do a show, I have opinions, but sometimes I'll sleep on it, is that

in college, the NIL has actually helped coaches because it used to be you were felt guilty for making money because players weren't. Now a quarterback at USC can make $5 million. Nobody talks about coaches' salaries. But a lot of these situations, at Michigan, you do feel like your salaries published. You're the highest paid state employee at $8 million. Or you go to the NFL, make $18 and nobody cares. Now, you get fired sooner, but nobody cares. is that I think to myself, I wouldn't, I wouldn't leave Michigan. But I do wonder now, once the players get paid, the downside, because I'm for the players

getting paid, but the downside is, well, shit, if I'm going to have my players paid and they're going to transfer at any time, I'd rather just be a pro coach and make twice the money and not deal with the NCAA. We're going to lose a lot of these great coaches. And not have to deal with, is he academically eligible? I would, listen, I think. some people love recruiting, I think I would hate it. I think the grind of the travel.

Plus, there has to be an element of, and I don't want to sound like an old man. And again, some coaches love it. And maybe that's why they're coaches, because they love that thing. But of like trying to convince a 17-year-old to, you know, date you essentially, that seems, again, I don't think I'd love it. I don't think he'd be like, what are you doing? I'm like, well, I got to fly to Baton Rouge because this 17-year-old kid that I thought was going to come play for me. Now I think he's going to go play for Texas.

So I have to win over him, his mom, and his dad. So I would far prefer pro coaching where you're dealing with grownups. You only have to worry about the football part. And you don't have to convince 20, 25. new guys every single year to come play for you. What is interesting to me is it does seem like the money in certain instances, college, I mean, you tell me if I'm wrong, Colin, in certain instances seem like the money's bigger in college football.

So like, did Mel Tucker, who's what? Not one of the 15 best coaches, got $90 million? Like, no one, there's very few NFL coaches have that. So I think for certain guys, college is a better deal. Hardball, here's the thing I want to say about Hardball. Because I think Harbaugh is a great coach, a great coach. And I made the point on your show five years ago when I was filling in for you and that I made it again the other day, that he has an argument that if the question is, I need someone to coach my football team,

but I won't tell you if it's college or pro, he should be the number one draft pick. Because you can say, well, I'll take Belichick. Well, what if he's, it's Alabama? Like, well, you know what I mean? Okay, no, no, no, I'll take Sabin. Well, what if it's the Jets? Like Harbaugh has proof of concept at both levels, instantly good. So I think he's a great coach.

The one thing I think the media is getting wrong with the Harbaugh story is this. They're like, oh, the new owners of the Broncos, they're the Walton family. They've got $70 billion. When it comes to coach salaries, the difference between 70 billion net worth and 7 billion net worth is irrelevant. The coach salaries, it's like, oh, they can pay them 20 million a year. So can 80% of the owners. Like, as long as you've got more than a billion, you can pay the coach anything. So the idea that the Broncos have this leg up because their owners are so rich, I think people have it wrong.

I don't think it's the three richest NFL owners have an advantage. I think it's the four NFL owners that don't have real money are at a huge disadvantage. So whether I think those teams are at a real disadvantage. But I think I think every, I think 80% of the teams could hire a $20 million a year coach on a four year deal, fire him and do that five consecutive cycles and have 400 million of dead coach money. and it doesn't affect their bottom line at all because they are multi or deca billionaires. I just think there's a few teams, whether it's the Cardinals, the Raiders, whomever,

where it's like, oh, man, do they have to keep this coach because they can't afford to pay the buyout? Finally, I love these, by the way. I always feel guilty. I tell my staff, call Nick the first sign of no, bail. No, no, no, I love doing it. And I hadn't been on a while, but we'll do it especially. No, we can do this, Colin. I love doing it. You know that.

So I think, I said this years ago when ESPN did the phone, which was a disaster, is that ESPN owed the industry to roll the dice on the phone. Because they had the capital to take big swings. They were making so much money $8 billion annually. They owed the industry. it would have think about the industry today if it now owned the phone industry and cable TV.

And by the way, those big swings I never worked for ESPN like you did, but I gave them credit anyway for things, also created 30 for 30. That was a big expensive swing. And it was awesome. Yeah. And it was, you know what I mean?

It was awesome. And like so, yeah, the phone is like known as kind of a disaster. But yeah, but go ahead. Yeah. So I think the Amazon's of the world and the apples of the world to elevate society, artificial intelligence, have the money, take big swings on things.

Because small companies can't. And to advance society, that's important. So one of the things I believe, you know, I've been doing this a long time. I have very large audience, audio, whatever. I never ever believe I'm the gatekeeper of any industry. I'm not going to tell people how to broadcast. Skip, you, it doesn't matter. Max Kellerman, Stephen A. Smith, we all have different styles. I'm a believer in lean into you. Whatever you is, do more you.

But I like occasionally, and I believe in this strongly, throwing out a theory that could be absurd because I don't want talk show hosts to feel they're trapped. I think I owe it in a weird way. I see myself as, I'm not going to get fired for a crazy take. Who cares if anybody ripped? me. I have a huge army of followers behind me. So I like throwing out occasionally something that seems absurd. Okay. I like. Right. Like it's like, I can do it. Who cares? It's, I have the, you have the

cash, credibility and career that you can, you're not bulletproof, but you at least have a, you know, you're wearing, you got some body armor on. Yeah, got it. Okay. So, Mike Fray, Ball played with Tom Brady. He is absolutely one of the smartest coaches in the league. He knows the importance of the position. And he's now in a conference where Trevor Lawrence looks like a top five quarterback. He's in a conference with Mahomes and Alan and Burrow and Herbert and Trevor Lawrence.

All the good young guys are in his way. Yeah, and Bryce Young's about to be there. That's right. and Vrable is going to get on the phone after this season because there's no dead cap hit for Tannahill and he's going to say, Aaron, get the F down here. Oh, Aaron. I thought you were going to say he's going to try a side in Tom.

No. Because you said he was friends with Tom. Aaron. So he's going to say Aaron. He's going to play to his vanity. Mahomes, Burrow, Herbert, Trevor Lawrence, I need you. He understands quarterback.

Aaron's never had great defenses in Green Bay. One year he did they want it. So Green Bay simultaneously would take a hit, but because they're not paying Jordan love anything. They could afford it. They can't afford to cut it. That's impossible. That's right. But they can trade it.

They can trade him and it doesn't kill him. And they look at their division. Gough's not a superstar. Cousins has limitations. Justin Fields has a defensive coach and a dysfunction. organization and they're like, screw it. Let's give it a run for two years. We found our two receivers, by the way.

The cap hit isn't as punitive. That my hot take is Vrable's going to get on the phone and try really hard to convince Aaron Rogers and Green Bay is going to say, Christ, we're walking on eggshells for 12 years here. Listen, I don't think that's crazy. I thought you were going to say Brady's going to go there and I was only going to say that's crazy because I don't think Tom Brady's moving to Nashville. And again, I'm from Kansas City. I'm not taking a shot.

By the way, I'm not comparing myself to Apple or Amazon in this whole scenario. No, but in that, no, what you are doing is you are saying people that have the ability to take big swings in any industry should do it. So I, you, I, in the, in the ecosystem of sports broadcasting, I don't know. I don't know who if you're not Apple or Amazon, I don't know who is. You know, whatever it is. That's fine. It's fine. Listen, by the way, this is 40 minutes into a Nick Wright, Colin Coward podcast. The people are still listening either really love one of us or really hate one of us.

So it doesn't really matter. But the, so the Rogers thing, I'm going to, I hadn't thought about him with Tennessee. Here's what I do think. And Packer fans are killing me. for this. But I said after they went four and eight and Aaron had the broken thumb that they should start playing Jordan Love.

And now they're like, oh, look at us now. And the answer is really, look at you now. What am I looking at? Like the, it'd be one thing if you were on this four game winning streak because Rogers is lightening up. On the four game winning streak, Colin,

Rogers has four touchdown passes. He has an 87 rating. They are averaging less than 200 passing yards per game. They're on the four-game winning streak, because they have forced 12 turnovers in four games. They have two defensive touchdowns. Tua, we now know, was dealing with a serious injury and melted down. They played the, like, give me a break.

I said you've got to play love. And it's not necessarily punting on the season, but whatever, you've got to play love. And the reason you got to play love is the question I asked was, are you still in the Super Bowl business in Green Bay? Because if you are, you're not winning it this year. And what you need to do is figure out, can the kid play? And if he can play a little bit, but you're like, okay, he's not ready yet. Guess what?

If you're still in the Super Bowl business and you're keeping Aaron Rogers, someone will trade you a draft pick for him. You can use that to help next year's team because this team's not good enough. If you're still in the Super Bowl business and he is good enough, well, guess what? then you have the conversation of do we trade Aaron. But whatever it is, they should have used this time to get information on Jordan Love. Instead, they are going to blindly pick up his fifth year option, blindly. Having seen him play one game against the Chiefs terribly last year and a half a game this year, it's insane. And they're not going to be able to trade him because nobody has seen him play.

Now maybe they trade Aaron like you're saying, but the risk there is that just, Jordan Loves no good. Now, I don't think he's no good, but it's on the board just because he hasn't played. And so I don't think the Packers have handled this right. I also don't think Aaron's made it particularly easy for them, like throughout this process. But I think the idea, you know, Mark Schlerth came on my show and I said, no, it wasn't even my show. It was the day I was filling in for you. He came on your show, but I was talking to him. And I said, made the point that I thought the Packers should have played Love because they have to decide on his fifth-year option. And he said he believes they have already decided that they are picking it up.

And he didn't say he was told this. I don't want to misquote stink. He said he thinks his theory is that they're moving on from Aaron, that they've seen enough from Love, that the reason they didn't play him in this spot is because they knew this was Aaron at the end. They were going to let Aaron get his final run and see what happens. But it's an interesting situation they have. found themselves in. Can I ask you one question before we go? Sure. Everyone is saying the NFC's

wide open. The NFC has no juggernaut. Why are the Niners not a juggerna? They feel like a juggernaut to me, man. How about this? So today a buddy of mine, degenerate gambler, great guy. He's a fireman in Connecticut. Good friend. He sends me shit all the time. He's a basketball scout on the East Coast. He's so great. And he said, for all those questioning Brock Purdy, he goes, Matt Campbell will be one of the finalists for the Michigan job if Harbaugh leaves. He's viewed as a super sharp coach. He said, during Brock Purdy's run, in the four years as a starter at Iowa State, they were 30 and 17, 25 and 10 in the Big 12, and 7 and 10 record against ranked opponents. Now, that's no worthy. This is Iowa State. This year with Matt Campbell, four and eight,

one and eight in the Big 12, wow. Oh, and four against ranked opponents. Do we have Tony Romo, Kurt Warner on our hands? A great player that was undervaluated, if that's a word? Under-evaluated, sure.

Under-evaluated. Yeah, here's the thing. But I guess my point is, even if he's not a great player, the Niners want to get. game this year started by Trey Lames. They won a bunch of games started by Jimmy Garoppolo. They're now undefeated

with games started by Brock Purdy. Sometimes a team is not reliant on the quarterback. And it would seem to be a team that has Nikki Bosa, Eric Armstead, an amazing defensive coordinator, that Huffanga, who looks

like he plays three positions at once, the safety they have, the best left tackle in football, maybe the best running back in football, the second best tight end, two awesome wide receivers. Team kicks ass, man. And now, am I also kind of trying to speak into existence?

Speaking of great friends of yours that have gambling problems, I put, I did this on my podcast. Well, it's right with Nick Wright in the preseason gambling show. I put, I did a whole preseason show where I did my season over under bets. Yeah. And then

you can get on a fan duel before the season. Super, like you could pick an NFC winner and an AFC winner and parlay it. So just pick who's going to be in the Super Bowl. And before the year, Chiefs Niners was 50 to 1. Not even a winner. Chiefs over-Niners, Niners. It's just the Chiefs win the AFC, Niners when the FC was 50 to 1.

I put $1,000 on a column. So I've got, that's a live bet right now. I think the Niners, to me, with what's going on in Philly with the injuries, are the favorites in the NFC. And the Chiefs are certainly at least co-favorants in the AFC. And I think the Niners, I think people are talking about the NFC

like it's wide open purely because and I get it, it's not just a rookie, it's a seventh round rookie, but the kids played great. Shanahan has proven he can win in the playoffs without great quarterback play. And I think this roster is stacked, stacked. So do I.

Yeah. And Debo's coming back. And Debo's coming back. That's the other thing to look at. Which teams this time of year are getting healthier and which teams are getting more injured? Philly is the most injured it's been all year. The Chiefs, nobody cares because it's Mahomes. He hasn't had his number one wide receiver for six weeks.

They haven't had their number one running back who's not very good, but for five weeks. They're both coming back. Like the teams, you got to, that's something you always got to watch. It's one of the things I worry about with your bangles. Lyle Collins, like you have that offensive line continuity all year. Lyle Collins goes down. Like how that is concerning to me. One last thing I'm all the before I go, I don't know if I believe this or not, but it is

I mean, believe it, it's true. But I don't know if I buy into it. The Steelers are seven and two when T.J. Watt plays. Seven and two when T.J. Watt plays. That's crazy. That team's got no one on offense. I know Collinsworth was falling all over and said about Kenny Pickett. Dude's got hands smaller than your daughter and he's got six touchdown passes.

I don't think he's a superstar. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I put on 10. pounds. I was having trouble

stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. All right, Chad Millman's CCO, Action Network, all odds provided by a fan duel. So I ended my regular season hitting 54.5%. I had a winning week last week. I like to get to 56.

This year I was 54.5%. I'm okay with it. If I picked earlier in the week, I think I could go from 54 and a half to 56. I'm not going to make any excuses. That's not who I am anyway. Let me ask you a question. Last week, I said, take these teams and I feel like you'll get there. And I don't think you took those teams.

I think I took one of the teams. I didn't have a problem finishing at 56% this year. Well, you're a professional gambler. Well, I'm trying to get you there. That's why I give you the answers. Yeah, that's what my mechanic says. And then I say, listen, you work at Jiffy Lou, fix my goddamn car. No, listen, you do that.

That's what you do. That's why I bring you on. I am a slightly more refined square than your average square, but I'm a square. That said, I usually take underdogs. Let me tell you my, because I like two of the favorites this week. Let me tell you the underdog I like. I like the Ravens. It's now at minus 10.

They've given Burrow, Joe Burrow, issues. I do not like having to face a team back to back. Cincinnati's better. There's no question. But this series and this Baltimore culture made, made Brady earn every win, made Peyton earn every playoff win. They're built for this stuff. The line's 10.

I have to take the Ravens, sharper square. You have to take the Ravens. I'm sick about this. It's totally sharp. I took the Ravens at six and a half, thinking Lamar Jackson might play. I took the Ravens at seven and a half when I thought that when it became clear, Lamar Jackson probably wasn't going to play. I can't believe this number keeps going up.

And I think you nailed a couple things on the head. Number one, playing the team again is a challenge. Number two, culturally, this is a good spot for the Ravens. They don't get blown out in games. Three, let's talk about the offensive line for the Bengals, which are now down to key players. and even last week, when the Ravens were resting eight starters, they were still getting pressure on Joe Burrow.

And this is an entirely different defense since Halloween. That's when Roquan Smith joined the team. Since that time, they've gone from 20th. I'll use a fancy term, fancy analytics term that betters love, DVOA. Really just a stat that encompasses many different metrics to come up with all-encompassing number, a lot of betters use it. They were 20th in DVOA against the rush.

After Roquan Smith, they were third. 132 points allowed since Smith joined second fuse in the NFL. He's a tackling machine. He started one. Yeah, he's great. Tackling machines. But here's the other key. He joined the team in Patrick Queen, who had been underachieving, which is why they traded

for him, moved over. And now together, they are a much more athletic, pass rushing dynamo. that has this third most pressures of any linebacker duo since Roquant Smith joined the team. So 10 is just a massive number. It's getting out of control. Yeah. Secondly, Seahawks getting nine and a half, some places 10. The weather is going to be windy and cold and wet.

I know I live here. We're getting hit with what they call cyclone bombs, pineapple express. Now, Southern California is just getting wet. No cows getting wind and wet. You're asking a rookie quarterback. First playoff game. Pete Carroll's been around the block. This is not his first rodeo.

Do I think the Seattle Seahawks struggle to move the ball? Yeah, their offensive line, the rookie tackles have, as Greg Kossel pointed out to me this week, have regress post Thanksgiving. Why? Because you go from college. You go down to Phoenix or Miami and train. You go into camp, you go to the season, and you hit a wall post Thanksgiving. All rookies do. So the O-line for Seattle is not what it was in September when Charles Cross was impenetrable.

But lousy weather, a completion machine in Gino Smith. Brock Prudy makes an early mistake. Shanahan gets tight and restrictive. It feels like 2417 to me, ugly, wet, sloppy. one unlucky nineer turnover early Shanahan puts the clamps in wants to get out of town,

ball control. Seattle feels like the side. Sharper Square. Sharp calls winner of the week. I've referenced sharp calls on the podcast multiple times this season. It's a segment we do on the favorites.

Me and Simon Hunter where over the course of the week we get a lot of calls for professional betters who are listening to the podcast and they will give us their feedback on games we are talking about. This was the game they all called about. They liked the Seahawks in this spot. A lot of reasons why, all of which you just mentioned

on the field, I think the weather is certainly something that when you get a number this big, you have to take the weather in a consideration, especially unprecedented weather like this. Tons and tons of trends backing the Seahawks in this situation. So, yeah, you're playing the Shrebs side here. Okay, I'm going to take another favorite. I love them and will not be mocked for it. Dallas off losses has followed all of them this year with multiple wins. It was DAC's worst performance. I have a rule and it's one of my only betting rules. When a B to B plus quarterback, a capable quarterback, a Kirk Cousins, a Dak Prescott, has a stinker, they read the press, they hear the press, they're pissed.

They always bounce back with a solid or better than solid performance. Dallas is the better team. You take out Mike Evans against Carolina's fourth string cornerback. They can't run. They haven't been vertically successful. There are certain realities with teams. Tampa hasn't run the football in two years. They're totally one-dimensional.

Brady's got to throw 48 times. I don't care. I'm swallowing the points. I like the Cowboys Sharper Square. Totally square. The line opened at three. I bet it at three on Sunday night. It's been sitting around at two and a half all week.

And there's a lot of signals here for the box. Number one, again, short home favorite. You're telling me that I can have Tom Brady, who just finished another record-setting year with his best full game of the year in week 17. I don't poo-poo what he did in week 17 against a coach in Mike McCarthy, who, let's face it, has proven to be bad in these tactical situations, high-risk situations where the season is on the line. He just has been. I mean, going back to Green Bay, teams underperformed in the postseason.

Look at how ill-prepared they were last year, just in trying to get a snap off at the end of the game. Look at the Cowboys have done the past several weeks against Sam Howell, Josh Dobbs, Gardner Minchu, giving up 27 points per game the past five weeks. Dak Prescott, leading the league interceptions, missing a third of the season. So he's going up against a top-end defense in total yards passing, yards per attempt, sacks. And by the way, they've got Akeem Hicks and Vita Vaya playing together again. It's only the eighth time that's happened all year. The other seven times, Tampa was six. in one. They gave up less than four yards per rush, less than 15 points per game. Without both

of those guys, five yards per rush, 25 points per game. So you're getting a very healthy defense that will probably play like we expected them to all season long. Okay. Bills are now all odds provided by a fan duel like a 13 and a half point favorite. I honestly, I would take Buffalo. I think it's going to be awful. Bills by a million. This was our are big balls better the week. 40 to 14. Yeah. You know, I bet the bills at 12 and a half.

I didn't have the smarts to bet him when it was at 10. I feel like, and a lot of the wise guys feel like, in these wild card games, they oftentimes play to the script. And they oftentimes play to the script when it's a first-time playoff quarterback, playing against a veteran playoff quarterback or the past 20 years, 14 and 35 against the spread

for first time playoff quarterbacks and very small sample size, but favorites are 10 or more at home in the wild card round, five and one the past six years. So I am not afraid of taking the bills at a big number in this game and the wise guys aren't either. The volume.

Make sure to check out the Dremont Green show. I brought Dremont Green into the volume because one of the more entertaining voices in sports, unique perspective, understands behind the rope, also chops up with guests like Gary Payton, Zach Levine, Tracy McGrady. Make sure download the Draymond Green Show wherever you get your podcast,

only on the volume podcast network. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite, unhumored me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band

with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged.

It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing huge. human potential. Either way, the podcast Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.