The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Colin Cowherd Podcast Prime Cuts - Nick Wright On LeBron & Brady Being Ageless, No New Weapons For Dak, Giants Win The Draft?

Episode Date: May 4, 2024

Colin’s top takes of the week!   First, he’s joined by John Middlekauff, host of “3 and Out”   They break down why the Chicago Bears won the offseason (3:30) and give an outlook on the suddenly stacked NFC North (7:00) They are puzzled by the Cowboys lack of effort to provide Dak with weapons, but have a theory on why that is (9:00). They rate the Chargers draft as “substance over style” (12:30) and make their picks for the first and last place finishers for every NFL divisions (21:00) Then, Colin is joined by Nick Wright, host of “First Things First” on FS1! They start by talking about why the NBA is still fantastic, just not in January (26:30)  Nick explains why the GIANTS won the draft because of a trade they weren’t able to make (32:30) and why Tom Brady and LeBron James are unique in being the only star athletes who have been able to CHOOSE to leave the game rather than be forced out (37:00). They also dive into Brady’s competitive nature will make him a great broadcaster (40:00). Finally, they draw the distinction between athletes that are athletes, and athletes that are “artists” (45:00) and explain why Shedeur Sanders could tank his draft stock with his social media posts (55:00) (Timestamps may vary based on advertisements.) Follow Colin and The Volume on Twitter for the latest content and updates!  #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. 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 year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors.

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So it's 2024. And let's talk about something. really, really important. If you're ever injured, check out Morgan and Morgan to America's largest injury law firm. And they are there for you. Over 100 offices nationwide. Think about that. More than 1,000 lawyers with over $20 billion, that's a B, $20 billion recovered for over 500,000 clients. Things happen in life unexpectedly. Submitting an injury claim with Morgan and Morgan is really, really easy. Like winning in the NFL is hard. We know that quarterbacking in the NFL. is hard. Submitting a claim is easy. You're ever injured? Check out Morgan and Morgan. Their fee is free

unless they win. For more information, go to for the people.com slash colon or dial pound law from your cell phone. Pretty easy. That's for the people.com slash Colin or pound law, pound 529 from your cell. Morgan and Morgan has a proven track record of fighting for you to get a full and fair compensation if there's unexpected accident in your life. This is a paid advertisement. John Middlecock, former NFL scout, three and out, is his podcast. Everybody always wants to know who wins the draft. I've had the same formula as long as I can remember, and I usually do it on the Monday after the draft. I'm not going to project how great your fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh round picks are, but I will judge your offseason based on your free agent signings and your first two or three picks where I get

more certainty. I think the Chicago Bears are a completely different football team with Keenan Allen, DeAndre Swift, Gerald Everett, Caleb Williams, and Roma Dunzee. That's a completely different offense. So if you're asking me who won the offseason in terms of personnel, my take is Chicago won't even look the same. I thought Green Bay got better, but I don't think Chicago will even look the same. What do you think? Yeah, I mean, I, listen, it's hard not to like Chicago. I mean, what they've done in the last 12 months. I think that trade that Ryan Poles made, it's got to go down as one of the great trades of all time. I mean, it really does. To get D.J. Moore. Yeah. And to get rid of basically, they traded all that for Bryce Young.

That if you could do a redo, they would laugh in your face. And Carolina would throw in picks to swap it back. So, yeah, I think, I think the hype on Caleb, which is the nature of this beast, the same thing happened to Trevor Lawrence. He does not need to be immediately a superstar. just needs to be solid, right? And they should be good because last year, they could have been a playoff team if their quarterback could have just functioned from the pocket. Right, right. Couldn't function from the pocket. Now you had Keenan Allen and Roma Dunesay. You know the best part about Roma Dunesay? He doesn't have to do that much. Like, he was the lead dog at Washington, which had about 15 guys drafted it felt like, and he was a fantastic player, but he gets to ease in. A lot of

people like Marvin Harrison, we talked about this last on Thursday, has no choice. Anything less than 80-90 catches, they're not getting enough out of them, given what, in his group. So, Rome, if he just has 45-50 catches, maybe six touchdowns, you're awesome. Even though it's the ninth pick, you'd like a little more. But given this team this year, Keenan probably be only there one year. So next year he takes a bigger jump. But they're not as dependent on their young wide receiver as a lot of teams are when they draft a guy high. They're also going to have a fourth-place schedule.

That helps. Yeah. And- Division's hard. The division's hard. It might be the best division in football. I think offensively, I've said this. I think last time we were on, you could make a Pro Bowl offense out of that division

that could compete with the NFL. I mean, there's just stars everywhere. And I also thought, I'll say this about the NFC North, I thought Green Bay, if you count Josh Jacobs, Xavier McKinney in free agency, upgrade it back, really good safety, along with Morgan, Jordan Morgan, the tackle from Arizona. Edron Cooper, the linebacker, Ann Am, who I heard the Rams like, Bullard the safety from Georgia. Like, that's five really good players. So, Green Bay, you know, it's interesting.

If you told me two teams that draft well the last decade, I would actually say Green Bay in Tampa, but they're so divergent in terms of success because one gets the quarterback right and one hasn't. I always feel with Jason Light, if you go look at Tampa's first four picks, I loved him. I think he's one of the best drafters in the league. They can't get quarterback right. The difference is, and by the way, classic Michael Pratt, who fell to the seventh, Green Bay gets him, he won't see the field for three years.

And you'll look up. He's a big kid, six, three, two, twenty, not a huge jar. But you'll look up in three years and be like, well, it's a functional starter in the NFL. But that division, you know, it's really interesting about Chicago, Green Bay, Detroit, Minnesota. Minnesota may be the most talented potential fourth place team that I can remember. I was doing this over the course of the weekend. I was writing down everybody's 10 best players in that division. There is not much that separates Detroit and Minnesota.

Like it's inches. If Darnold plays well, you could see Minnesota to the last weekend competing. Well, isn't it a good example? You used Jason Light. They had no quarterback. They insert Brady at 42 years old and just start. dominating. Right?

So if they would have had the same roster, you would have put Aaron Rogers. Same thing would have happened. Look at last year. Baker had, what, 75% of his season was pretty solid. And they were a playoff team and they kicked the Eagles ass. And they were right there in the second playoff game with the lion. So the quarterback position, which I'm sure we'll talk about, is so important. But I'm with you.

Like, I think Green Bay is going to be very, very dependent on this, Jeff Halfley, the guy that they hired from Boston College, who was very well thought of. Kyle Shanahan really liked him. The Ohio State, when Ryan Day first got the job, made him a co-defensive coordinator. But he's got to be good because that's really been the downfall of their operation, right? And really goes back to McCarthy with some of their great teams. No question. With Aaron Rogers.

And listen, Mick They, what do they do? Defense right away. Kyle Shanahan, what's he always doing? Defense. They're all the top teams. Even Dan Campbell, their first two picks, corners. And they've invested heavily in the defensive line. So you're playing a lot of teams in your conference,

Howie Roseman over the last couple of years. Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, Cooper DeGine, Mitchell, the Toledo. It's just defense. They just invest in that side of the ball. We know Green Bay, and now the floor is well established. They're going to score a lot of points, and they have explosive players. Jacobs, I think Josh Jacobs is a better player to Seguan-Barkley. I mean, that guy is when he's healthy, he's a top two or three running back in the NFL.

But it's going to come down to defense. And like you said, in that division, listen, I don't know how. how good Sam Donald's going to be, but if you catch them on the right day with those offensive weapons, they can score 35 points. So it's just, you better, a lot of pressures on that higher. You know, you got rid of Joe Barry, who was his buddy. It wasn't going as well. It's not all his fault. Sometimes it's the players, too, but they have invested a, they have invested a lot of picks, right? The Packers have on that side of the ball over the last half decade, a ton of high round picks on defense. What Jerry doesn't want to do is get trapped with Dak Prescott.

And I thought it was strategic. I thought that was Jerry Jones saying, listen, we're going to rely on you, Dack, this year. We're not giving you all this ammo. We're going to rebuild the offensive line. You'll get protection. But in a contract year, the last thing I'm going to do is load you up with weapons. Dax production's absolutely going to come down. I mean, they just don't have a running back of note on the roster.

And people could say, well, you're tanking the year. They're not tanking the year. They'll be a good football team. But it felt strategic to me to not address running back, and really, frankly, not address receiver until in the sixth round. That didn't feel like just a bad stroke of luck to me. I'm torn because it's hard for me to be critical whenever you go offensive and defensive line early in the draft, which they have, and they're a good drafting team.

Bad running back draft. But let's face it, Colin, until they give him that contract extension, which they should not. To me, this is him and McCarthy are playing for their jobs. Yeah. I mean, this guy, let's face it, they paid him a lot of money a couple years ago off the broken ankle, and he's been really good in the regular season. In the playoffs, two out of three years, he was atrocious.

I mean, he was really bad three years ago against the Niners in this year in that first half and the game was over. It wasn't all his fault, but he did not play winning football. The price has gone up dramatically since they gave him $40 million a year just because the market, right? So can you give Dak Prescott $55 million a year? I can't. I under know, and he's better than Tua, but I say the same thing about Tua. If you're in that business long term, you're signing up at best to be a one and done playoff team. And the other thing is, let's face it, the Eagles have a lot more talent on their roster. Yeah. Dramatically more top to bottom.

Well, think of John. You look at a team. Look at this. I mean, A.J. Brown, Devonte Smith, Saquan, Barclay, better at tight end, and an athlete, in their prime at quarterback. I mean, I don't, and Lane Johnson at right tackle. I don't think it's necessarily close. I mean, I think you're being kind saying they have more talent. I think it's lobsided in favor of Philly. Well, and if Michael Parsons is the best defensive player of the group,

it's not like the Eagles haven't invested in that side the last couple of years in the draft with Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis. They just draft, they get the top corner in this draft with Cooper DeGine as their second round pick, who a lot of people had, and Howie even said, we had a first round grade on him as well. Darius Slay is an older person. player, but he's still a solid starter. They'll get rid of Bradbury. The Eagles, and now you add Fangio and Kellyn Moore to the mix, because last year their coaches really let him down.

Like, to me, this is anything less, like one takeaway after the draft for the NFC East, I don't think the Giants are very good. Washington's in this rebuild mode. The Eagles have no excuse not to win this. That's right. I mean, last year they imploded, Dallas kind of lucked into it at the end, remember, but this should not, like, there should be a two or three game difference. Now, I think Dallas is going to be good. I'm talking, you know, nine, ten wins. But the eagle, there should be a gap between the two teams. I don't think there's any question.

And listen, there's a line with Dak Prescott. If he does not get 100 yards run support, Dax wins about 35% of his games. So it did feel like, to me, they got the cap issue. So you had to address running back in the draft. You're not going to find running back. Well, they don't really exist. You just got to get lucky with an undrafted free agent,

basically, you're keeping your fingers crossed? You know, I thought Hardball was going to have, there were going to be more fireworks with the Chargers. I did think they got a couple of really interesting pieces, a couple small school guys. But I think by and large, the Joe Alt pick was interesting because they have a left tackle, though Slater had an injury.

And Alt's kind of an, he's an athlete. He was a high school basketball player. He's moved around. He's been a, he's a very good athlete. You see pictures after we got off of him sitting with his family, how massive that human being is? So it's one of those things where I never bought into them taking a wide receiver. I just didn't buy an everybody's mock draft had them at receiver.

And I'm thinking, that's just not what they're not going to get some skinny kid from LSU. So, I mean, to me, the pick made sense. But I didn't think the Chargers had that many fireworks. I thought they did just basic stuff, played it into gym. You know, I think they got a linebacker, if I recall, from, Michigan. But I didn't think there was a ton of fireworks with the Chargers. You know, what's funny is most people up until the last couple weeks when I think a lot of people around the NFL, like Jim's not taking a white receiver guys.

So we can stop talking about that. But even the second pick in Ladd McConkey, you know, a lot of people have been like, go get Herbert, go trade up and get Xavier Worthy or, you know, get Keon Coleman, the guy the bills took. And he took Ladd McConkey, you know, who's going to end up to me. and more Edelman, West Welker can play right in the slot receiver. Jim's not into this sexy football. He's not trying to be, you know, Lane Kiffin or Lincoln Riley. That's not the way he coaches. He coaches like he's prepared to play Mike Ditka and Joe Gibbs back in 1988.

And that's the way that's been successful up into him three months ago when he won the national championship. Fundamentally that's, and I think when he said, we view offensive linemen as weapons. He's not making a joke. He's being serious as a heart attack because he truly believes that. So Justin Herbert, like they are, I'm actually a little shocked that they didn't get Blake Corum. I'm pissed the Rams and I love that pick. But it's just he's going to, the football is going to look no different than if you pull up Stanford year one in 08. It's going to look the exact same.

And it looked the same into the 49ers early on in Michigan. He changed for a minute. Remember when he hired Gaddis, the spread guy from Alabama? And he hated it. Yeah. And he hated it. And then who became his right-hand man? Sharon Moore, what's he, an O-line coach?

And that guy became the head. Those are the people he likes. You see these videos coming out of him at the trailer park. It was not the trailer park, but you know, where he lived right with Greg Roman. What do they talk about? Running game, offensive linemen. They're all that hybrid of the Ravens of him.

They're all interconnected. And I've just, honestly, if you would have told me he would have drafted all offensive and defensive linemen, those were the only, picks, no wide receivers two weeks ago, I would have believed you. I mean, it's not how it played out, but he thinks he can win. If he's winning at that group, he can figure the rest out through, I would say, psychological and physical warfare because he wants to shove you around. And let's face it, most teams in the NFL, you know, when you look at like, once we get to the final four, the final eight, it's a lot of physical teams. Yeah. And the soft teams, some teams that can score,

they got no shot. They got no shot. And you look at the final four, who wasn't? It was the Niners. It was the Ravens. It was the Chiefs. What have the Lions become under Dan Campbell? Dan Campbell's got a little Jim Harbaugh. Yeah. Right?

And I would say they throw it a little more than Jim, but that's part of it. It's their weapons. St. Brown's a fantastic player. But it starts with the offensive and defensive lines with them. And that's where they've invested the last couple. Well, even St. Brown. Jim would love St. Brown. So would Kyle Shanahan.

He's their type breaks tackles. He's not some sexy outside wide receiver despite his stats. The NBA playoffs are heating up. Man, they have been so good. I know it's over, but Lakers Nuggets may have been a five-game series. It was great. Nix, Sixers, amazing. Why don't you sign up for the Draft King Sportsbook app?

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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-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'm saying. Yep, that's me.

Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits. the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment.

And the next, we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be.

Listen to The Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fans we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tantons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two.

Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So I went, and it was interesting, I went, and I went and looked at all my divisions. So we're basically, through it. Now, we have new coaches. We have free agency. Staffs are all filled up. We have the draft. And I'll just do the first and last place teams. And stop me. I'm going to go through. This is what you think coming up? Or this was this last year. This season, I have Buffalo first, New England last, Baltimore first, Cleveland last. Cleveland had a weird draft. Kansas since he could be a wild card there if Burroughs healthy.

Yeah, I put them second. Kansas City first, Raiders last, tough division, Houston first, Tennessee's an easy last. Philly first. I have Giants last.

I'm with it. Detroit first, Minnesota last, though it's close. Atlanta first, New Orleans last, or Carolina, kind of question mark.

I have the Rams first. and I have Seattle last. I think the Rams are, I thought they really nailed their first four picks. I thought they really, yeah. Is anything, so we can argue about the second and third teams, but any of those first and last you would push back on? Yeah, let's talk about McVeigh, because I thought he's a good example, what Kyle and Andy and these offensive coaches have invested in physical players because they know that they can scheme guys open. Yeah. And he invests his first pick and verse, who's been a feud as a first rounder this whole year.

I sure heard a month ago they loved him. This second round pick, one of the guy, when I started at Fresno State, we had a student assistant who has worked his way up and he's been with Oregon State. He's been the GM for Florida State for like the last three years. And he's Derek Ray, he's, you know, if we talked about college GMs like we do NFL GMC, I mean, look at his draft. I mean, look how many guys at Florida State were just picked. He's done a great job working hand in hand with Norville. I said, what? This Brandon Fisk guy, Braden Fisk, tell me about him. He said, think Max Crosby, but inside. So their first two picks. You know, we know that's how Verst kind of plays power. That's what this guy plays. So you're never going to replace Aaron Donald. But they go back to back picks basically in what, 15, 20 pick because they traded up. They got Fisk in the top 40. So they invest immediately. And they get Blake Corum, who if he's healthy, we've seen how this guy was the heartbeat of one of the better college football programs. We've seen.

over the last 20 years. Yeah. I mean, it's like Jim Harbaugh's favorite player since Frank Gore. So I think the gap shrunk a little bit. And I think Kyle Shanahan

showed you something drafting that wide receiver in the first round. Debo Samuel could not get open in the Super Bowl. He can't run wraps. And I'm not trying to talk shit about Debo.

I love him. He's a lot of stuff he does in football. I admire a lot, the physicality, the ability to make plays. But he is limited as a wide receiver.

He can't get open. Right. And I think Kyle was tired of it. And it's not, at this point in time, it's not going to change. He kind of is what it is. So maybe Debo moving forward,

you're going to be on this new kickoff return guy and you'll kind of come in with McCaffrey in the backfield. But we need to have wide receivers like Iyuk who can run routes. Right. And because like look at the ramps. They got a bunch of guys that can run routes. I can't scheme up every single play. We got guys on defense.

We got guys on offense. But they drafted Pearsall. Like that clearly was something that rattled Chanhand, just like McVeigh. Like we need to be even more physical if we're going to get over that hump against all these great offenses and they double down. So I think I think those two teams right there with the Lions, right there with the Packers, right there with the Eagles. Like it's pretty clear with the NFC who's the cream of the crop is. Yeah.

And I think I also think you have to take this into consideration is Debo. McCaffrey's had injuries in his career. Trent, Kittle. You can't have your four top guys all feel like they're older than their age. Like if you have, Ayyuk is a kid, right? He's just moving into his prime. If you're going to move off, if you're going to move off, and next year, they have to address left tackle because Trent is a wall. But I'm with you.

I look at the NFC, and I think it's, I mean, the Rams were so much better than everybody thought. I knew going into the weekend, they felt Brock Bowers could start for him. Two of the defensive ends, they thought were really good. The UCLA kid and Jared Verst, they love those two. And then I knew they loved a couple different defensive linemen. and the Florida State guy Fisk is one of them. And then I felt Blake, I mean, I knew they loved Corum. But I mean, they, when people got on them for giving up a second round pick and a fifth to move up,

they really felt like they needed two starters in the defensive line, a great backup, running back for Karen Williams, and a playmaking guy in the back, the Miami kid. Like, they didn't have a lot of needs. A lot of their stuff after those picks, interior linemen, kicker. The Texas receiver is really a special teams guy. otherwise they would have taken Taj Washington from USC, who they liked a lot, but they needed a special teams guy. So, I mean, I think a lot of these teams come into the weekend,

the NFC teams and the Rams are one of them, I think people forget this. For the elite teams, and I consider the Rams in a group of about seven or eight, they come in kind of thinking, we need two starters and like two really crucial productive backups. But I've never had a problem, John, with giving away picks to go get up and get a guy.

Nick Wright stops five. We'll chop it up. The playoffs have been absolutely riveting, can't turn it off amazing. The playoffs have been electric. Electric.

And by the way, this is the first round. This is the round you can look past. So my take on, I never mind people who are pushback, contrarian. But I do feel

you and I are pretty honest about, yeah, I was either wrong, or I can literally think two things. Load management, It pisses me off. And the NBA's great.

It's just not great in January. Well, and things the, there are the, everything has become it feels so tribal. Yes. That you, it is everything is the way, the way a diehard fan of a specific sports team, the way a die hard fan of Alabama football, roots for Alabama football. is basically how a huge percentage of people deal with every aspect of their life.

I fucking love it. So everything about it is correct and anyone criticizing it is wrong as opposed to any type of, I love this, didn't like this, this is good, this is bad. Anyone that acts as if the NBA folks who've been like,

NBA is dying, you know, that is, you know, it's obviously not true. Anybody, though, acting as if that there aren't aspects to the overwhelming and what is about to be under the new TV deal, $100 million a year contracts that complicate a lot of the day-to-day factors of the league. They're being intellectually dishonest, in my opinion. I also, I do think, and I maybe have mentioned this to you, I know.

I know I mentioned it on my pod, but I do think the NBA made a strategic error this season. So I'm going to tell a, I'm going to do a Colin Coward in a bit. I'm going to give an anecdote or a story. It'll get there. So a guy who you know, I'm sure, Conor Shell. Yeah. So, you know, he used to be run, it was a big executive at ESPN, helped start 30 for 30s. now he runs a company of his own.

Oddly, his father and my mom worked together when I was a little kid. So I knew Connor as a little kid. And I never really knew exactly what his dad did. And maybe I'm wrong. But as a little kid, what it was described to me as, he was in charge of long-term strategy. Meaning like when Sprint came out with a new phone, his job would be like, okay, when this phone is bordering on obsolete, how are we going to sell

the last hundred of them? You know what I mean? Like long, long term thinking. And I think the NBA needed someone in that role 18 months ago to say, guys, here is all of NBA history and ages of guys on their last playoff run. Is it on the board? Is it on the board? that we just had the final LeBron deep playoffs, Steph deep playoffs, Durant deep playoffs. These guys, is it possible, in fact, overwhelmingly likely that one, two, or all of them aren't going to be around when the calendar turns to May? If so, is it worthwhile for us to take a short-term regular season ratings hit by

featuring the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Minnesota Timberwolves, these teams to prime the audience that this is where our league's going. And they didn't do that. Instead, it was Warriors, Lakers, sons, these guys. So I do wonder if this second round of the playoffs,

when you have Nuggets, Timberwolves, and when you have Thunder, maybe Mavs, if people are going to see a ratings dip, it won't affect the new TV contract, all of that, but because the audience doesn't know, this is their league now. Colin, if the Bucks lose this series, they're down three, two, and if the Clippers lose this series, the oldest star player left in the playoffs. Lucas.

No, not Luca. Kyrie, is Kyrie, who's 30, just turned 32. That everyone, everyone will be gone. Like, Joker, who's 28 or 29, will be like the third oldest star left. The Clippers are all old guys. They're on the, I think, going to lose. The Lakers are already out. The Warriors didn't make it.

The sons are out. The bucks are on the brink. Like, this is a massive storming of the gates of the 20-somethings, but everyone should have expected it when Kobe Bryant's last playoff game ever, he was 32. Michael Jordan was 35. Like, you guys don't play. People saw what LeBron did, so they thought Stefan Durant and Kauai and Paul George are going to do it.

Nobody else is going to do it. Steph and KD already exceeded age expectations. So I think the NBA made a mistake there. I also think my favorite two months of the year are the NBA playoffs. My favorite 20 days of the year are my 20 NFL Sundays and my favorite two months of the year of the NBA playoffs. Yeah, I don't disagree. Last weekend, the NBA playoffs is the best non-NFL weekend of the year by far.

I just didn't leave my place the whole damn weekend. I thought it was just draft playoffs, draft playoffs. Draft 12. It's so good. I think you can make an argument. The Giants won the draft because New England didn't take their trade. It's reported yesterday that the Giants offered six and next year's number one for the third pick.

And I'm like, oh, so they're, they hoped to draft Drake May at three, not add any weapons in the first round. to trade the pick and have Drake May, a 21-year-old with high upside, but who was erratic at North Carolina, put him behind that offensive line with those weapons, guess what? I think that they'd done that. They'd be drafting number one next year, and they'd be sending it to New England like Carolina just did. Like the fact that the giants now have next year's number one this year, you know, maybe Drew Locke plays, maybe Deano Jones plays, but at least he has a weapon. and then next year you try to go find your quarterback.

That, I think New England turning that trade down was a mistake they'll regret. I think that you could have gone to six, gotten Giants number one next year, and at six, we know Minnesota is willing to give you 11 and 23, so you could have had 11 and 23 to add players, your first rounder and the Giants first rounder next year, start Jacoby for a season and then that's what I would have done if I were New England,

but New England's GM was auditioning for his job. He doesn't even have it yet. And the owner said, I want a quarterback. So I guess he's going to draft a quarterback. I had an executive in the league said, if you're the Giants, you are rooting for Bryce Young and Will Levis. Because then the only other team

that's guaranteed to take a quarterback is the Raiders. So somebody said, he said to me, you are rooting for Will Levis to hit and Bryce Young to hit. If you're the giants because then it's like us and the Raiders need quarterbacks and they'll be two good prospects you know, Chador Sanders, the kid Cam Ward at Miami who's pretty interesting.

There's a kid's a Notre Dame got a transfer who's pretty interesting. No, and I, the Quinn yours, people like him. And then there's one more that we're forgetting. That's the guy who's most likely to go number one. I talked to on on the show today. So I see if I can remember it. But the, I was just about to look like, hold on a second, who are the teams that could So, yeah, Raiders, Titans, Giants.

Oh, Carson Beck is the other one, the kid from Georgia. I don't think he's a top five pick. I think he's Georgia good. I think you're probably right. But if you look at, I was going to look through the NFL, like teams that, you know, Buffalo, no, Miami, no, the Jets are a maybe if Aaron gets hurt. If Aaron gets hurt, you know what I mean? The Jets are a maybe.

New England? No, Baltimore. Cleveland is a maybe. I don't know what the, I mean, they're in, I mean, that's a rough spot, man. But Pittsburgh, and Pittsburgh's a maybe. So there's a bunch of maybes, but there's not a lot of definites to your point. Like the, and because everybody, when six quarterbacks going around one, everybody thinks they have a quarterback. You know what I mean?

Like there's just, you mentioned, go ahead, sorry. And they'll at least give those quarterbacks till Thanksgiving of the second year. And so his, this executive said, The bottom line, if you're the Giants, he said, I don't think Will Levis is going to work. He said, I think Bryce will. He liked Bryce. He said, listen, Bryce is talented. He's not as big as you'd like, but they got him weapons.

They got him a really good wide receiver. He's like, Bryce will move the chains. They'll stick with him. But he said, the Giants and the Raiders, that's it, that you're absolutely, and neither one's going to be any good. He said, so those are your top two potential picks. Yeah, and for one of those teams, Tom Brady, you probably play for him. So they won't need... Why not?

I mean, he wants to play football so badly. Like, I get it. I mean, I don't blame him. Did you see LeBron's quote? LeBron had a quote after the game that I thought was so fascinating. It was also almost a little sad. And it made me think of Brady to a degree, where LeBron said, I think, to Dave McMinneman,

along the lines of, I'm never going to be bad. but at some point I'm going to have to stop. And he basically said, like, you know, I'm not chasing anything anymore. I've accomplished everything I wanted to accomplish. And but at some point, I've got to stop playing. And it was such a unique thing because I watched it. I'm like, yeah, he's never going to be. I mean, never's a long time, obviously.

But I think five years from now, LeBron would be good. I do. I like, you know what I mean? Right now, what is he? at best, the sixth best player in the league and at worst, the 12th best player in the league. He's somewhere in there. He, you know what I mean? He lives, he's better, in my opinion, clearly than Devin Booker.

And Devin Booker's an all-N-Bee-A guy. He led the NBA in fourth quarter buckets and playoff buckets. Right. And so he played 71 games. So it's such a unique spot for LeBron, which is like most guys get forced out. most guys, you know what I mean? They have their fair, they're averaging five points a game. So he's not going to be that.

So at some point he's just going to have to be like, I guess I'm done. I'm stopping. And that's kind of what happened with Tom. Like, I understand the bucks were not good Tom's last year, but the year before he almost won MVP, he's still through for a million yards. He's better than half the quarterbacks today easily. No question.

No question. And he just stopped. And there's, understand there was family sub-usuelan with i get it but i think every time someone puts a microphone in front of him he clearly's like god damn it i want to play football i miss playing football and you know he's going to be with fox and calling games and maybe that'll scratch the itch uh but it also might make him watch these guys and be like god dog and i'm better than that guy you know and so like it's a weird spot we're seeing two guys lebron nearing the end and brady

who just ended, who played longer than anybody ever in the history of their field and at a higher level than anyone ever thought who both, you know, Brady already had to and LeBron's going to have to, we're going to have to oddly make the decision of like, I guess I just should stop because I'm old, but I'm not bad. And it's such a weird thing. Like people are like, oh, John Elway went out on top. John Elway went out winning Super Bowls, but he was not. not good anymore. Like, you know what I mean? I'm not disrespecting John, but like

he was the same. He was a shell of the player that he was. Peyton Manning went out winning a Super Bowl, was nine touchdowns 17 picks that year. Was a shell, even the guys who go out on top are usually not good anymore. So I don't know.

You know what I mean? Brady seems to still miss it. I don't know what LeBron's going to do. I'll tell you Brady is I can, I'll probably get in trouble saying this, but Brady his preparation for broadcasting at Fox, dude, he's in the building.

He was in the building today. You're not going to get in trouble for saying that. He was in the building today. The next three days, he's in the building practicing. Like Brady is as obsessed about this. People understand. The people are obsessed. Oh, I think he's going to be great.

I think he's going to be great because he's competitive. Yes. I think that is, I think the key to so much of this is competitive. Yes. And I think that there is the Tom had, and I don't know Tom at all, but he had recently, in the last year he did an interview and he was talking about during the game and was basically about how like he hated who he was playing against. Like he would build up an anger and like the real like froth because he's competitive. and now I think he's going to look around and be like, I need to be better.

And it helps that most of the other people in his spot are quarterbacks too. I need to be better than Troy. I need to be better than Tony. I know Collinsworth's not a quarterback, but I need to, I think he's going to want to be considered the best. And there was always, you remember, God, it feels like a lifetime ago,

but during when Deflategate happened and Tom, unfairly at his text messages leaked. And the text message to his, I think it was his dad, maybe he was his friend about Peyton. And they were talking about back and forth. And Tom said he's like, yeah, but I'm going to play five more years and Peyton's done.

And then it's not even going to be a debate. And by the way, he was right about that. That's exactly what happened. But I also think there's like a competitiveness with Peyton, which is Peyton's a broadcaster. You know what I mean? And everybody,

unlike some of the other broadcasters, None of the blooms. Everybody, I think that broadcast is great. People love it. I think he's going to be like, I'm going to crush these guys. Yeah. I'm going to, I really do. So I bet he's going to be awesome.

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'd put it. on 10 pounds.

I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win.

I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media.

Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brother. brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics

from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of taun tons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I think about this a lot because I do criticize athletes at times about how remarkable athletes are. So if you look at the history of comedy,

you get to be the funniest guy in the world for about three to five years. Ben Stiller, Jim Carrey. There was Drew Carey 25 years ago. Mike Myers. By the way, you're very charitable to include Ben Stiller on the funniest guy in the world list. He's pretty good. Pretty good. Go ahead.

Maybe he's a friend. I don't know who you're having drinks with. But go ahead. So if you go look at Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David, where you're sort of Chappelle. Yeah, those guys. Yeah. So, and then.

it's very hard to be as funny because your life experience changes dramatically because there's so much money in movies and production when you get big. That's right. Yeah, of course. Hip hop stars similarly. First couple albums can be fantastic. And then the material changes. It's hard. Yeah.

Athletes, what's really amazing is athletes are almost the opposite. Mahomes is better since he's been paid. LeBron was better when he was paid is that athletes, unlike other entertainers, often feel a guilt or a pressure to elevate their greatness when they're paid. It's very rare when you look at athletes, they get paid, and I'm sure it happens.

Well, it happens not to the great ones. That's the difference between the great ones and everyone else. Because I think that when you talk about getting paid, But I think that at every step of your athletic journey, there has been a getting paid, but the not actually money moment where you could relax. You know what I mean? The kid who, when he makes varsity as a freshman, takes his foot off the gas, doesn't get the college scholarship. And the kid who, when he goes to college, is a starter early on and takes foot off the gas,

doesn't make the league. So it almost wheat, you know what I mean? It slowly but surely weeds it. weeds those people out because it's such a finite number and there's always a new crop of people coming for those jobs. Also, is that in hip-hop, when you win, you're worshipped by everybody. In comedy, when you're the king of laughs, you are worshipped by everybody. In sports, when you win, most of the league hates you. Hate you. So in sports, greatness does not equal worship. I outside of your town, it equals kind of a villain, kind of a target. And that's why music critics

tend to be too soft. And, and, you know, movie critics are, you know, they're too in bed with them. Music and movie critics and Hollywood. When's the last really tough reporter that Hollywood had? They don't. So it goes to your head in music. It doesn't work that way. But the media in sports kicks the shit out of you. Once you're great, it's like, well, you weren't good last week against Cleveland. And there's a healthy, there's a healthy accountability that doesn't exist in comedy, movies, music, this accountability, standings, criticism that I think actually it's like being tough on your kids. It builds character. So I think you might have just solved might not be.

the right word. But you just said something that really crystallized something for me. Okay. We might have just like, I feel like this is a real thing that just happened. Because you're talking about the between athletes and artists. Yeah. And I'm not taking, I'm really not trying to be unfair or take a shot. But there are two specific NBA players that I think as great as the, they are have markedly underachieved their talent and ability, even though they are one of them's, one of the 20 greatest players ever, and one of them is one of the 10 most skilled players ever. And I think both of them view themselves more artist than athlete.

And those two guys are Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irvin. And I think a lot of what has worked against them and a lot of what they have pushed against is that they are covered like their athletes and not like their artists that it is a lot of criticism and a lot of why did you do this and a lot of but you didn't do that

and comparative stuff that athletes are used to but they're like we're fucking artists man I am out here painting a picture and you're asking me these questions It's like just appreciate the art. Meanwhile, other folks who look at themselves as, I don't want to say hired guns,

but we are in competition and we are here to win and to get, you know, to do what we have to do, haven't been as bothered by the media criticism. but it does Katie and Kyrie who and again Kyrie to his credit has been

unbelievable this year and Katie post Achilles is the best Achilles recovery in sports history so I'm not trying to be unfair it really is I'm not trying to be unfair

and I'm not trying to take a shot but they really seem to both struggle with the way they are covered by the media and what you just described about how artists, musicians, or actors or comedians are covered by the media is different than how we do

efforts. We don't do when a movie six, when there is a huge movie release weekend, when Barbie and Oppenheimer come out, the same weekend, there were no articles written like, well, fucking Oppenheimer, how'd you not win that? People are just like, this was awesome. This was even more awesome. These are both great. And so that I do, I think there is something there. And maybe I didn't describe it exactly right, but about the difference between how athletes and artists are discussed and whether or not you consider yourself an athlete or an artist and how you want to then be discussed and how you feel you should be discussed.

I also think basketball more than any sport. And soccer has some of this as well. I've always compared basketball to international soccer. Messy is an artist. Renaldo is an artist. Kevin Durant's an artist. Tom Brady's a football player. Right?

Like Mike Trout's a baseball player. That's different. But basketball... Yeah, I don't think LeBron's an artist. No. No, he's more compartmentalized and strategic. Artists aren't. They kind of hear...

I mean, very much, LeBron's a stacker, compartmentalize, work on this part of the game, solve this part. Kevin Durant's not looking to solve. Kiree Irving's not looking to solve parts of it. of their game. They're looking to paint their most beautiful picture. Kyrie had it the other night with that layup over three clippers. Yes. Yes. Exactly right. Like that kind, even though they, that kind of was. And there is something beautiful about this and honorable about it where it's like that

Kyrie has worked for he's 32. So call it 25 years on every little bit of of his ability in order to pull off that one moment. I know he's obviously done way more than that, but I'm saying like that that was of physics and basketball impossibility. It was incredible. It was his Mona Lisa. It was his. Yes, exactly right.

It was and it was like, oh, you are probably literally the only human being who's ever lived who could do that. Like, I believe that. I really believe that. Yeah. And I think there's for Kyrie, he's like, and God damn it, you guys still credit. Like, do you not see it? Like, do you not understand? But because it's sports, we're like, yeah, but you lost and you haven't been in the finals in eight years.

Because it's sports. And so, yeah, I do think there is, I want to think about this more because you said it in real time. But I do think there is something really to that. And I think there is, I'm going to start like looking at, because you know another guy who I think was as much as you can be in football closer to artists than athlete is my pal O'Dell. Yeah. I think there was a lot of like, look at this show I am putting on. Of course. Look at what I can do that I have worked on and honed and the beauty of it.

Yeah. And then, but he's also a guy who never felt he was given a fair shake by the media. Right. You know what I mean? Who never felt it was that it was that he was covered fairly. I called an NFL head coach on Will Levis's combine when he was wearing a shirtless. Yes. Ripped. It was very Brady Quinn. And I said, I'm out on him. And he goes, this is an NFL head coach, successful coach. He said, Colin, it was the top. of a road trip, me and the GM went on recently. That was the talk of the road. He cares deeply about his girlfriend was beautiful.

He's a good-looking guy, big man on campus in Kentucky, a basketball school. He's the football star. Will Levis's, I'm going to show you my build. Literally a successful GM and coach said they went on a drive, and it was the topic of conversation. Like, he's got the wrong priorities. On that note, and we can,

leave it at this. I am shocked. So I don't know if you saw this reporting. But Spencer Rattler, evidently, was on a Netflix doc six years ago when he was in high school. Did you see any of this column? No. Okay. So there was a LeBron's company produced a Netflix documentary called QB1.

Yeah. And it was basically they followed around. I didn't see it. some top high school quarterback prospects on their journey. You know what I mean? Like what's it like to be one of the top prospects in America is a 16-year-old. 16. And evidently, Spencer Rattler was a real dick as a kid.

Yeah. Was mean to his backup quarterback, was a bit of a bully, was kind of like your stereotypical mean popular jock. And Ian Rappaport reported that multiple teams brought it up to him before the draft. Yeah. Like, yeah, we just, and it's like, dude, this guy was literally 16 years old. Like, I don't know, man.

Like, please don't use against me at a job interview how I treated people. Like, come on. And so here's why I bring that up. I don't even care about Spencer Rattler in that regard. I am shocked no one has talked about what Shador Sanders, and, to be fair, Dion, have been doing these last couple days, just punching down. and guys that left the school.

And if you're Dion, and I have massive respect for Dion in general, but if you're Dion, it's like, man, this guy was one of your players. And you're like, where your stats at? Like, you are one of the most famous athlete coaches in America. And this is a 20-year-old. Like, that doesn't seem right.

But then Shador, like, buddy, people are talking about you was the number one pick of the draft. And you're on Twitter just shit-talking guys. Like, I can't imagine that's not going to be a problem in a year. Oh, oh, no. It's already being discussed. It's absolutely being discussed in the league. It's not a good look at all.

That's what I think. I just, I think, like, listen, any position other than quarterback, I don't think people would care. Same. Travis Hunter, who's going to be a top 10 pick on Colorado. I almost like it from an edge rusher. I want you to be obnoxious. I mean, there's certainly a corner.

Like, there are a certain spot, you know what I mean? like Travis Hunter, you can play corner or wide receiver. It's like, oh, okay, the guy's a little out of his mind. You know what I mean? Maybe, you know, talks in the third person, great. Love it. I've actually seen that archetype go to the Hall of Fame. Fair or not.

And again, I'm not even saying it's right. What I am saying is if Spencer Rattler can fall a full round, as Rappaport was talking about, because of how he acted as a junior in high school. Yeah. then what are these same teams going to be saying about someone who knows there are a potential top 10 pick in 12 months? It just seems wild. Nick, it's a glaring lack of self-awareness. It's really bad.

It's being discussed. And I think it's the difference between going one and 15. Thanks so much for listening. If you've enjoyed the podcast, take a moment, rate and review. view. Another podcast from some SNL, late night comedy guy, not quite on Humor 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 I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clivert Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Cliford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it.

Listen to The Cliford Show on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever. you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast podcast on TikTok. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. Eighty-four was big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, 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 year. 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. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.