Ezekiel Elliott, NFL Contracts, Mike Daniels and L.A.’s Ambassador Magic Johnson
00:00This is an I-Heart podcast.Guaranteed Human.Last night, a blown call changed a game.This morning, the internet lost its mind,and nobody's telling you exactly what happened.That's where Sports Slice comes in.I'm Timbo, and every episode,we're cutting through the noise,
00:16breaking down the biggest moments in sportsand giving you the real story behind the headline.And we're going straight to the source,the athletes themselves,their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment,and the stuff nobody gets to hear.Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.
00:39Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite.Unhumor 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 acapella band with their between songs banter.Where does your group perform?We do some retirement homes.Those people are starving for banter.
01:03Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.What's up, guys?This is Clivert Taylor the Fourth.And on my podcast, The Clivert Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff.Like being an internet famous referee.We're in the middle of a game.This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me.He goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her.
01:26What?Time out.Quarterback on office blue with 42.Hey, Wreck, my mama want you to weigh better.What?Hey, Miss Parker.Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app,Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
01:48Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and IHart Podcasts presents soccer moms.So I'm Leanne.Yeah.This is my best friend, Janet.Hey.And we have been joined at the hip since high school.Absolutely.A redacted amount of years later, we're still joined at the hip.
02:02Just a little bit bigger.hips. This is a podcast we're recording it as we tailgate.Are you soccer games in the back of my Honda Odyssey?With all the snacks and drinks.Why did you get hard seltzer instead of beer?Oh, they hit a bogo. Well, then you got it.Listen to soccer moms on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast.
02:22Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox SportsRadio and FS1. Find your local station for the herd at Fox SportsRadio.com or stream us live every day.on the IHeart Radio app by searchingHerd.Now let's get this party started.You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.It's Wednesday.This is the herd.
02:53Wherever you may be and however you may be listening,we are live in Los Angeles on IHeart Radio,Fox Sports Radio, and FS1.Last night I went to a dinner with a bunch of football coaches.Ijoy Taylor, and it was as much fun as I can have.having a steak and talking to football coaches for two hours.That sounds like a good night.I spent some time sitting next to Mario Cristobal, Oregon football coach,
03:17who coached under Sabin, played under Jimmy Johnson, Miami guy, and his beautiful wife.I thought about you.We talked about Miami and how he grew up.I think he grew up near Little Ivana, which is where the baseball stadium is now.Yeah, that's where Marlins Park is.Yep, yep.So it was a fun night for me talking football.It does, it does, it starts to smell different in about.
03:37three weeks, the grass, you can start smelling the grass, the fall's coming.I want to start with this. I've always believed this.You deserve the life you are willing to accept.They always say that about politics.You deserve the candidate that the country elects.In America, you elect them, you deserve them, right?They all campaign. They all make their promises.We have like two years to think about it.
04:03are you in Dallas willing to acceptEzekiel Elliott's immaturity,his off-season maintenance?Because it's now officially it's part of him.It's like moving to Alaska.They've got dark long winters.Okay, moving to Hawaii.They get some storms.
04:22It can be really hot.That's part of Alaska and Hawaii.Part of Zeke is the court dates,the judicial nonsense, the Vegas videos,the meeting with Roger Goodell.and Jerry Seinfeld used to have an old bit about when the bill should arrive at restaurants,and it reminds me of Ezekiel Elliott.Let me play the bit by Jerry Seinfeld on when you should pay at restaurants.
04:48Money, if you think about it, it's a very different thing before and after you eat.Before you eat, money has absolutely no value.Do you know that you think you sit down at the table?You like the ruler of an empire.More drinks, more appetizers.We must have everything immediately.the greatest meal of our lives.Then after you eat, first of all, when you're really full,
05:08you can't remember ever being hungry ever in your life.You know, you got the pants open, napkins destroyed,cigarette butt in the mashed potatoes.You know, it's not really festive.They give you the check, we were like, what is this?I don't understand.People are always mystified by the check, aren't they?They start passing it around the table.
05:27Does this look right to you?We're not hungry now.why are we buying all this fruit?So the premise of Seinfeld's joke is you should really pay before the meal,because that's when you really want the food.When you're stuffed, you're always mystified.You always miss.I got to pay now.
05:49That's how I feel about Zique.In the season, week seven, fourth quarter on the road trailing Philadelphia,four and a half to go, I need Zique.Man, I want to pay for Zique.I want to pay for Zique.The off-season stuff?He has no value to me.In fact, I think he's negative value.
06:07I think he's a distraction.And so when I look at Zeke, it comes down to, and my new name for him is TM Zeke.TM Zeke, are you willing to accept that?Because you deserve what you're willing to accept in life.And these distractions going into a year where the Rams are loaded in the NFC,Green Bay is loaded, Chicago's loaded, Philadelphia is loaded.Are you willing to accept it?Because let's be honest about this.
06:40If DAC was as talented as Deshawn Watson,Andrew Luck, Russell Wilson, Patrick Mahomes,you wouldn't be perhaps having all these discussions.The minute Kareem Hunt became a problem.Kansas said he's like, we don't need you.We got Patrick Mahomes.The minute the Seahawks got noisy, Pete Carroll's like,we don't need you, we got Russell Wilson.
07:03the reason the Patriots can bail on players, Dorel Revis, because they have Tom Brady.If DAC was more talented, you would be much less tolerant of the preseason nonsense of Zeeke,which tells you probably that DAC is limited.If you had Patrick Mahomes with this cowboy team, you would not feel beholden to Zique.By the way, this is one of the things the Rams felt they had to give Gurley a contractbecause Jared Goff is very young.And they felt Jared Goff needed three years of development before he could be the guythey could have B running backs with.
07:46But with Jared Goff, now they feel like they need an A.Now Gurley gets hurt.The question is, is he an A?But they wouldn't pay Gurley a year early on his contract if they had Drew Brees,Patrick LaHolmes, Russell Wilson.They wouldn't have to.This is why quarterback is so crucial in the NFL.If you have an A quarterback and there's about eight, you don't get trapped with nonsense.
08:12You don't become beholden to great players who are a headache.This is why Seattle can move off noise, Russell Wilson.Why Kansas City feels they can move off not only troublesome players, but good players.D4, Justin Houston, Patrick Mahomes.Because owners will always be a mixed bag.Some owners are very tolerant, Jerry Jones, of players who make noise.Other owners, Seattle's group, not as tolerant.Paul Allen, the late Paul Allen.
08:45So it's funny when I look at TM Zeke, and I look at all this stuff.There's more talk today.He may hold out.He's not holding out.Melvin Gordon, by the way, is for sure.But Zeke's got two years on this thing.This is why you've got to get the quarterback right.because in season,
09:01Zeke feels worth paying the bill.Out of season, he absolutely does not,but the Cowboys, to some degree, are trapped.How much do you pay, DAC?They're trapped.Let me shift to this.This is kind of breaking news.The Packers released Mike Daniels,
09:18who two years ago was a pro bowler.He's on the defensive line.Green Bay, this is freak out time.Because the first thing everybody's going to dois, wait a minute. We had to pay Aaron Rogers $35 million. Now we can't keep a Pro Bowl defensivelineman. That is the consequence, right, of having a great quarterback. But let me defend Green Bayhere and let me defend Aaron Rogers. Green Bay, this is a very New England move. Green Bay knewtwo years ago that they were going to have to pay Aaron Rogers 30-some million a year.
09:58And what did Green Bay do?They loaded up on the defensive side of the ball.They now have one of the youngest defenses in the NFL,and I think it's going to prove to be one of the more talented within a year or two,allowing them to move off Mike Daniels.A very good player who last year had a foot injury at 30 years old,appears to have peaked, even though it was a pro bowler two years ago.This is exactly what New England does.
10:26Somebody's recently been a pro bowler.They may show some signs of age and New England cuts bait and they go to Tennessee or they go to the Jets and they get paid a lot and you're like, oh, boy, New England was smart.So the natural reaction today is, oh, Aaron Rogers' contract is why we have to get rid of Mike Daniels.And the truth is, Green Bay has been planning these sort of moves and you're going to see more of them for the last two years.By the way, Kansas City with Patrick Mahomes, they know they're a year out from the Brinks truck.What did they do?D. Ford, let him go.Niners paid for him.
11:08Justin Houston, let him go.Colts paid for him.You got to get comfortable in the NFL, not the NBA, letting go of really, really good players.You just got to get comfortable with it.And the minute you pay your quarterback $35 million, you better not get caught off guard.You better do what Kansas City is doing this past year with D. Ford and Justin Houston.You better do what Green Bay just did.Don't blame Aaron for this.
11:35This has actually been planned for two years.This is a really good sign by the Packers, who I thought for years didn't really have a game plan with Aaron.They never gave him a good running game.The defense was always averaged to below average.This is a well-run franchise.guys. Moving off a 30-year-old, very good player, still serviceable. Somebody will pick him up.Only played 10 games last year, and they got Roshan Gary from Michigan. They've got all these young defensive players.Two years ago, they started drafting defense. Joey and I have talked about this. They went crazy in the draft.
12:13All defensive players for this move. It's very savvy and very smart, and Mike Daniels will be fine.He can still play. Coming up next, you would.think the NFL is the most popular sport, right, by a mile.Like the Pro Bowl gets higher ratings than, you know, everything outside of like the World Series and the NBA finals and the World Cup.It's wildly popular.Do NFL players look at certain contracts and go, what about us?Because 18-year-old Zion Williams said he may be 19 just signed a $75 million shoe deal.How does that play in the rest of the leagues that's coming up?
12:49Plus Nick Wright, LeVar Arrington, Jane Slater covers the Cowboys for the NFL Network.She'll stop by as well.Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app.Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending,opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where sports slice comes in.I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies,and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves. They're lockedRocker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear.
13:28The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real.From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down,give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered.Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them.Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.And for more, follow Timbo Slicelife Life 12 and the TikTok Podcast Network.on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favoritetherapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade
14:04of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests.I'm talking, Tript Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing,we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing.And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people,people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because youfind it important to be a good person while you hear on earth, or are you a good person because you'reafraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels oftrust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations
14:45about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open yourfree Our Heart Radio app. Search Learn the Hardway.and listen now.What's up, guys?This is Clever Taylor the 4th.And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show,I'm bringing you conversationsabout all kinds of stuff.
15:03Like being an internet famous referee.We're in the middle of a game.This linebacker walks up to me,he goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her.What?Time out.Quarterback on office, Blue, 42.Hey, rec, my mama want you to wave at her.
15:21What?Hey, Miss Palm.Listen to the Cliverts show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas.And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds.Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed.And finding ways to win no matter what.He's the smartest player to ever play the game.
15:49His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before.And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game.We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs.I think Joker's going to be exhausted this seriesbecause when they don't have Rudy in the lineup,he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid.He has to guard Julius Randall.And then he has to give us everything he gives us
16:11on the night-to-night bases on offense.And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson,we dive into some playoff history too.Steve Nash would get that thing.That man, hell get the flying.He running up the court, licking his fingers,why he got the ball, like,After you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick.
16:30Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball.So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.Welcome back, Zion Williamson, played for Duke.Now he's a Pelican.You know I love this kid.Played nine minutes of summer league, and that was enough to get him a $75 million shoe deal.I love him.I think he's relatable.
16:51I think he's going to be the face of the NBA.I think LeBron's aging.Hawaiian Anthony Davis don't talk much.Hardin's game is not that likable.Janice is fascinating, but it took us about five years to learn who he was.Now he plays in Milwaukee, more of a team guy.M. Bede's fascinating, but will he win enough and will his body last?Ben Simmons, again, not a real true score the way we like our scores to be.
17:15And Steph, a lot of people, he's just not physically dominant, and we like our athletes,Tiger, Jack Nicholas, Brooks Kepka.We like them to be big and dominating and strong.wrong and Zion is all that and I could not be happier.But I do think NFL players look at this and think 75 million.I get hit all day.My league is the most popular.My league, our Pro Bowl gets double the ratings of even NBA playoff games.
17:45Our Pro Bowl.And NFL guys are like, we make more, we make less money, we don't have the guarantees,we get cut.In fact, when Zion signed the deal, DeAndre Hopkins, arguably the best forreceiver in the NFL said, you all think top NFL players deserve a top NBA player contract?He asked the question. I think we know what he was insinuating. The reality is this.When you choose football, just like a lot of jobs, if you want to be a school teacher, you knowyou'll probably, unless you play powerball, not be rich. But you're joining somebody's life at
18:15eight, nine, ten years old, and you will be part of the fabric of a young person's life.Football is similar. You're joining a brotherhood. You're joining a unit.The NFL is a massive pond, and it's almost impossible to be a big fish.When Tom Brady retires, the NBA ratings will not miss a tick.Favre left, Peyton Manning left, Tebow Cayman left, didn't matter.Michael Jordan left.NBA ratings dropped 50%.Magic saved the league.
18:45Michael made it global.LeBron made it mobile.We don't think of the NFL in those terms.The downside to being part of a giant machine like the NFL is,you become a part, a lug nut,and you generally become incredibly replaceable.So NFL players look at their dominance of their industry as a strength,and it actually becomes a weakness, a liability.
19:08Zion is worth every penny,with LeBron aging,Kauai and Anthony Davis quiet,M. B'd, maybe doesn't physically make it,Hardin's game, not really ever going to be the face of the league,this likable, smiling, flashy, exuberant,relatable to a large degree,giant of a 19-year-old.
19:29Listen, Baker Mayfieldmay change Cleveland.He'll not change the league.Zion can help elevatethe entire league.Now, the downside to that,and the downside to being a young NBA star,there's a lot of pressure.
19:45Adam Silver, the commissioner of the NBA,acknowledges a lot of our stars are unhappy.It's the great duality of life.With the Big Shoe contracts,with the worship among 17-year-old kidsworshipping Zion and worshipping KDand worshiping staff comes enormous pressureand social media criticism and outrage
20:05if you don't deliver on the promises.But there's a reason NFL guysdon't make NBA player moneyand that Zion has played nine minutesand got 75 million.He's worth it.Most NFL players in the big machine are simply not.Enjoy with the news.
20:24No, no, no, no.Turn on the news.This is the herd line news.So the NBA is investigating if teams tampered in order to acquire some of the earliest free agent signings this off season.Spoiler alert, they did.According to ESPN, the investigation began after the NBA's Board of Governors meeting in Las Vegas this month.Quote, after hearing concerns from owners and fielding inquiries from top agents over the past several weeks,the NBA has opened an investigation into Texas.
20:54how a free agency operated this summer.The investigation followed a tenseowners meeting. In the midst of it,Rick Buchanan, the NBA's long-timegeneral counsel, issued aneven-handed but sobering message to theroom. Multiple sources said. Heasked the group if they were comfortable
21:09with the leagueseizing servers and cell phones,which is a line that stuck with many in attendanceaccording to sources who recounted the scenelater. You got to take a playercell phone? Oh, no, no, no.Not just the players.That'd be the owners turning those over to, which is why he said that,
21:27which is why this will not happen and nothing is going to change.Also, just as a note, NBA free agency and the possibility of a player movingand changing the course of the NBA makes the NBA relevant 365 days a year.So complain as you might that you don't like that your player left or you don't likethat someone's bending the rules here or there to try and recruit them.at the end of the day, this makes everyone more money.It makes the NBA more interesting and discussable.It adds to the soap opera, the intrigue.
22:02It's nonsense that this would even be a problem.You know, it's funny is college sports wants parity too.And in college football now, you have no parity.And the players are all going to four schools.In the NBA, when players make millions and have kind of the ability to go anywhere,it's funny how they don't all choose this.same place. They all spread out.There's like 16 duos now in the league.
22:27It's fearmongering. The playerswill all end up. What do you mean?Players chose Mike Conley.Players want to go to Utah.They want to go to Denver. They want to go to Portland and they want to go toLos Angeles and they want to go. Now,they don't always want to go to Canada. I will backyou on that. Well, I mean, yes,
22:43the Bucks owner was very concerned abouthow this all went down. Makes sense.Yon, this is going to be a free agent soon.The bottom line is this is just ownersterrified of the idea that the players have allpower now. And guess what? They do. It's aplayer's league. It's just everyone who's caught upto this notion and players
22:59are now exercising the power that they'vecreated for themselves. Yeah, by the way, theydo. As long as other athletes andother sports don't think, oh,it's a players league too. The NFL isnot a player's league. But it's a differentculture. It's a different sport. It's adifferent culture. It's played differently. There's more
23:15players on the field. You don't have guaranteedcontracts. There's a million things andfactors that go into this that aren't justthe money. It doesn't make sense. It'sbaseball. There's no salary cap in baseball. Of course you can pay a guy 10 years, $550 million.If you have it, it's not the same thing. But this is just owners being angry and freaking outthat they don't have control over players anymore and that they could potentially lose theirsuperstar. That's just what it is. You don't get to control everything. Well, and for the record,
23:43Charles Barkley also left and went to Phoenix in Houston. It's not like the owners have ever hadultimate power. This isn't new. It's just, it's just there's more stars.exercising the power. And like the general counsel said, no one is going to submit to their serversand turning over their servers and their cell phones to the league. We saw how that went with Tom Brady.He smashed his phone immediately. It's not any other business and it's not going to happen.So USA Today has released their 2019 NFL power rankings. The Patriots are on top, but there ismuch to discuss beneath that. The Eagles at number three, I think, is way of,overstated. I don't appreciate the dolphins being at 32 either. They were seven and nine last year and second in
24:27the AFCs. It's not fair. First of all, and I'm not saying this because I live in Los Angeles.To have the Rams at 11? Yeah, they were in the Super Bowl last year. And by the way, they drafted well.They've got now an extra running back. Golf's going to be a year older. Cooper Cup, by the way,Joy, Cooper Cup comes back. They were not the same offense without him. Aaron Donald, like this is a bad list.The Packers, the Cowboys, the Seahawks are way too low. The Steelers are way.too low. I even think the brown should be above the bears. This list is, I don't, there's,and the Texans are extremely low. You went with the Texans above the, the, the Titans and theRavens and the Bills? Yeah, I don't like this list at all. There's, you know, I say today's sports
25:08section's gotten odd over the last two years. I don't know what it is. I don't know. I just,I just disagree with a lot. And finally, we're, we've talked a lot about the Mike Sando, athleticquarterback's tier article. That was fun. And buried all the way down at number 24.in tier three is Eli Manning.Yes. And a questionable note froman anonymous head coach said,I have a feeling, Eli is going to dobetter than people think a head coach
25:33said. We can give him a three until heproves it, but I think he is moreof a two. Getting rid of that receiverbeing Odell is a big thing.I think that guy was a problem, but that ismy own feeling.Again, I would loveto find out who this anonymous head coach is
25:49because it reallywhat head coach in the league would not wantO'Dell on their team? Well, I do thinkthere are teams that he does. I mean, listen, AntonioBrown became an issue in Pittsburgh, and I thinkPittsburgh will be fine. We dohave a history in recent years. Starreceiver that's loud, leaves, and the team's fine.
26:05TLF3 teams, they all got better.So I think O'Dellfits in the right structure.Like, I thought New England, I'm like, oh, I'd rollthe dice on that if I was New England. I think Philadelphia,oh, I'd roll the dice in Philadelphia,because I trust the structureof the organization. Here's the thing in New York.
26:21I no longer trust the structureof the New York football giants.I don't trust it.I mean, I don't trust in Eli either.None of us do.We're all just kind of waiting for the giants to figure that out.And that's no disrespect to Eli.It's kind of, it's really they're doing him a disservice at this point because
26:35Eli has had a great career.He's won two Super Bowls.He beats Tom Brady and both in his, and Brady's prime.Right.He's had an incredible career.It's just, it's now coming down to the point where it's just this like sad, drawn outprocess and this weird power struggle that's really, it's become almost embarrassing forboth the Giants and Eli.
26:53Well, the O-line is better this year, and Barclay is a great player.So you could make the argument.They will be less reliant on Eli, but their defense is weak, so they're going to have towin by shootout, and Odell Beckham was a nice guy to have in shoot-outs.I mean, I just, I go against the idea that you don't want the top or top, one of the topthree receivers in the league on your team.Yes, things can become dysfunctional in a certain place like Antonio Brown.or Odell with the Giants.
27:24But I'm looking over this list of the coaches that would say,yeah, you know what, I don't think we need Odell.I think we could do without Odell.He's an incredible talent.At the end of the day, you do still need talent.Joy with the News.Well, that's the news.And thanks for stopping by.
27:40The Heard Lye News.All right, he is the co-host of First Things First.He's my friend, sometimes my arch nemesis.His name is Nick Wright, and he is joining us via the Coward Global Satellite Network.Let's start with the Giants in Odell Beckham.I know you have a relationship with Odell Beckham,and you have talked not infrequently.I do think he works in structures that are solid.
28:02I thought New England would work.Kansas City, I think he could work if Tyreek Hill left.What do you make of the giant situation,him talking about being disrespected?How did that land for you?Well, I thought it was odd timing,and then you're right.I talked to Odell actually about this yesterday,
28:21and the first thing he brought up was that timing is everything.He did this interview a few months ago shortly after he had been traded when it was still raw.It then posts now when he's looking ahead to what's going on with the Browns.Listen, you can call it a gift or a curse.It's probably a bit of both.Odell Beckham Jr. is going to answer the question he is asked,even if it's better for him to zip it.And he thinks honesty is always a defense when in team sports,
28:51sports, especially the strict, almost militaristic culture of the NFL.Honesty is not always a defense.And so, like, in that interview, he gave some of the most profound and evolved,and I would argue, important answers on athlete sexuality and his own sexuality.I've ever heard an NFL player give, but it's lost in the wash because he also said,I thought about retiring, but also I'm going to break Jerry Rice's record and screw the Giants.And so, like, he can't get out of his own way in some regards.Yeah.
29:24With all that said, he's going to be one of the three most productive receivers in football this year.Baker's the best quarterback he's ever had.This is the best team he's ever been on.And he's going to be awesome.So I don't know how much any of that's actually going to matter in a couple of months.Yeah, I agree with all.I think his production is going to be absurd.I do think he and Landry, it'll be interesting to see how they divvy up the catches.
29:47as they have in Joku at Tide-end, who's also remarkable.So a lot of mouse to feed.But I do agree if you're a fantasy football player,you know, I'd have a lot of Cleveland Brown's offensive players on it.I don't disagree with that.So the athletic came out yesterday with a list of their best quarterbacks.They had eight.And I didn't disagree with any of them.
30:05So I hear you have your seven best guys in the NFL.What is your, give me your galaxy, your top seven.Okay, so this is one, this is for the 2019 season.This is not based on what guys have accomplished in the past, none of that.So number one is, of course, Patrick Mahomes, who's the best quarterback in football right now,and number two is a rejuvenated Aaron Rogers with a new head coach, the most talentedquarterback in football.Number three, Drew Breeze, maybe his last best chance to win a league MVP.
30:35Russell Wilson, your guy and my guy, Russell Wilson, the most underrated and disrespectedplayer in the league.Five Tom Brady, we've seen a little bit of deterioration each the last couple years.but unbelievable in the clutch and still one of the five best quarterbacks in the league.And to his credit, he's age 42.At age 42, no other quarterback would be in the top 500.He's in the top five.Number six, Andrew Luck, who you were right on.
31:00I was wrong on.I don't say that often, but I was wrong about Andrew Luck.He was hurt.He wasn't bad.And number seven, your guy, my beloved Baker Mayfield.Now, Big Ben fans, Philip River fans, Matt Ryan, fans are going to be mad.If it was a top 10, they'd be in there.Top 7s are more precise.
31:16don't like top eight being elite. That's a quarter of the league. Let's have some realexclusivity here. There's your top seven. Aside from Baker, what could you possibly argue withthere? It's a perfect list. I like Matt Ryan more than Baker at this point. I do like Big Ben,although the criticisms of him are absolutely fair. His precision is hit and missed,and there's some leadership issues that cannot be denied. I don't have Baker in my top 10,but I have him in my top 15. So you have him a little.I don't, I am.I'm.
31:49Carson Wentz, you don't have him anywhere, Deshawn Watson?Well, here's the thing.This is, you're like the NBA fans that are like, here's my top five players in the league.Here's 11 guys.Okay, so take Baker out of it.Of those top six guys, if you want Big Ben, Matt Ryan, Carson Wentz, any of those in the top six, who you're taking out?Let me ask you this.Who gets left out?
32:13Let me ask you this.You can start your franchise.tomorrow. Deshawn Watson, Baker, Mayfield.No, no, no.You'd take Baker overto Sean Watson. Baker.I would not. Absolutely.Have you watched? Is your TV working?
32:28No, listen, and I usedto live in Houston. I covered Deshawn.Here's the thing.Just show both remarkable players in college,both winners in college, to show him oneon a slightly higher level, Baker had betterstatistical production. I just,I, every person
32:44I've ever met that has spent time with Baker Mayfield.Well, every person except for maybe one person I've met that spent time with Baker Mayfieldhas come away from it saying, my God, the guy just has this it factor, this, the charismajust, it's effusive.And I think that matters at the quarterback position.Also, we're not in a vacuum.And Bill O'Brien is going to get Deshaun Watson killed.I mean, they haven't been able to build an offensive line there for three years.
33:11They weren't able to this year either.I really do like to.I think the AFC with Mahomes, Baker, Deshawn, and now all of a sudden, elder statesmanAndrew Luck, once Brady, Rivers, and Big Ben finally let go of the reins, the AFC's goingto be in good hands.And hey, that team with the Jets, Darnold, he might go eight and eight one day as well, whichwill make you happy.So there's a bunch of really good young quarterbacks out there.
33:38Let's shift to the Dals Cowboys, Ezekiel Elliott.I'm now calling him now TM Zeke.I find in the off season, I don't want to pay them.I find in week eight against the Eagles trailing in the fourth quarter, I do want to pay him.Could I make the argument that if DAC was as talented as a Patrick Mahomes, a Russell Wilson, that you could let Zeke go.But some of the reasons the Cowboys put up with the nonsense is they still don't know what they have with Dak.A hundred percent agree.This is spot on.
34:11And this is why the Cowboys, I fear for Cowboy fans.are about to make the franchise changing wrong decision,which is paying DAC because of his position rather than Zeke because of his greatness.The reason Zeke's so important is because your quarterback is limited.When the best things you can say about a quarterback is he's always out there,that's the old, oh my gosh, let me tell you about their personality.Important, but maybe not the selling point.And so, DAC is good enough in this league with a great offensive line, a very good wide receiver, a great running back, a good defense.
34:55You're not going to be able to have all those things once you pay him $30 million a year.And it looks like with Wintz getting 32, that's what he believes he's in the running for.That's why I think this year is the golden window of opportunity for the Cowboys.This is the last year they're going to have all this talent because once Zach, I'm sorry, Zach,week, Dak, and Amari all get paid, plus probably Byron Jones, then all of a sudden you'regoing to be pairing away at the defense, maybe one of those offensive linemen gets traded,and then you're like everyone else.Top heavy, not as talented guys 15 through 40, and this year they'll be fine because they can
35:35borrow from Peter to pay Paul, but eventually those cap hits start coming.I think the Cowboys can be awesome this year.I don't want to say despite Dak, but with Dak being a passenger,I don't know that he's ever going to be the driver of the train,but he's about to be, or conductor of the train,he's about to be paid like he is.Yeah.I want to wrap it up with Zion signing with the Jordan brand.
35:57I do see a lot of NFL players.You know, you go to Twitter, you go to social media,and baseball guys get 12-year contracts,and then basketball guys, 18-year-old guys get shoe deals.And the NFL guys are saying, look at our league,look at our popularity, look at our ratings, look at our commerce.But my takeaway is Zion could change.the league. Sam Darnold and Baker could just change New York and Cleveland. I think he's
36:21worth every penny. What say you? Yeah, listen, this is, I NFL guys are smart. I understand in themoment people see numbers and jealousy comes about or a lot of these guys maybe thought they couldhave been NBA players, but this is just simple math. There's five times as few as many playersin the NFL. Like, so the contracts are going to be different, even if the NFL generatesmore money. It doesn't generate five times the revenue. The NBA superstar is the most valuecommodity in sports. The only thing in the NFL or person in the NFL, I should say,that comes close to it, are star quarterbacks and they get paid like NBA superstars.But this is when one league has 50 guys a team and another league has 10, the league with 10 is going
37:14to pay guys way more.And when one league has guys who wear helmets and face masks and get fined for celebrating,and the other league, the guys wear jerseys and are allowed to be charismatic and you encouragetheir personality, well, guess what?They're going to be able to be more marketable.They're going to be able to make more money.One of the only guys in the NFL that makes NBA player money off the court is Odell,and you've got anonymous coaches saying he sucks.
37:42You've got people in New York calling him a cancer because the guy.culture of the NFL wants to strip individuality.If people think that's good or bad, that's for their own discussion.But it's going to always mean that Zion Williamson will be far richer than Jedevion Clowny.That's what it guarantees from day one.And the only thing NFL guys can do is teach their sons to dribble instead of tacklebecause it's not changing.
38:11That's funny.Nick Wright, who just looks fantastic in the New York State.summer. The heat wave I've been told is over. Enjoy the next month until football starts, my friend.Thank you. You as well. Good to see you. Colin, good to see you, Joy. Have a great rest of your day.All right. Coming up next, why being likable and relatable and good in the room can make you rich.Being a nice guy, a nice person, even if you're a star, can make you rich. That's coming up.Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9 a.m.Pacific. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are
38:51trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's whereSports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays,the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source,the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets tohear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viralmoments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down,give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered.Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them.
39:28Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favoritetherapist, Kear Games.And in recognition of mental health awareness month,I'm bringing over a decade of my own experiencein the mental health field and conversationswith so many incredible guests.
39:52I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark.Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing,we get so wrapped up in the chasethat we don't realize that we are in possession of the thingand we're still chasing itand we don't know when we've done enoughbecause people scoreboard watch.Life becomes about wins and losses.
40:11Steve Burns, Dustin Ross,you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth?Are you a good person because you're afraid?Because that's two different intentions, bro.Absolutely.And that's two different levels of trust.I want you to just really be a good person.Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing,
40:29growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway.Open your free iHeartRadio app.Search Learn the Hardway and listen now.What's up, guys?This is Clever Taylor the Fourth.And on my podcast, The Cliver Show, I'm bringing you.conversations about all kinds of stuff.Like being an internet famous referee.
40:48We're in the middle of a game.This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me.He goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her.What?Quarterback on office blue 42.Hey, ref, my mama want you to wave at her.What?Hey, Ms. Parker.
41:12Listen to the Clifford show on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get yourpodcast. What's up fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm CJ Toledano and our podcast point game is aboutdefining the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And findingways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a levelthat we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate thegame. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to beexhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guardguys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he
41:54gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson,we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash would get that thing. That man, hell get theflying. He running up the court, licking his fingers while he got the ball, like, after you go througha training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up. Get your ass up.and down the court, and you're going to get the ball.So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get yourpodcast.Just got the aluminum carry on from away luggage.
42:25Awaytravel.com slash Colin, 20 bucks off.Enter the promo code calling at checkout.Stuff's amazing.Bags are perfectly engineered at away luggage.You ever gone to a party?Some of you college guys, gals, and they have those red solo cups, and you have a red solo cup,and you have a red solo cup, and they put some beer in it, and you've set it down.you come back, you're like, oh, I can't, where'd my red solo cup go? And you don't freak out.
42:48You just go get another red solo cup. You don't really freak out. It's like replaceable, right?Everybody's lost their red solo cup at a party. You got a little wine in it. Is that mine?Well, I think that could be hers. I don't want to drink her. So you just go get another red solo cup, put a little wine, little beer in it.Are running backs becoming that in the NFL? You lose one, you don't freak out. You just get another.Of the 10 best running backs in the NFL last year, the most productive,Eight were on rookie deals.Two were veterans.Todd Gurley, who now has an injury issue and Adrian Peterson at the very end of his career.
43:23Translation, guys don't last at this position.Melvin Gordon wants a new contract with the L.A. Chargers.Before last year, he never averaged four yards per game.Four yards per carry.By the way, they were four and no without him last year.He was considered a semi-bust after his first couple years in the NFL because he was a firstround peck. But Melvin Gordon has very little leverage analytically. If you look at the directionof the league, I would not pay Melvin Gordon. Bucky Brooks, former player and scout, talked about
44:00running backs in general. We've seen a number of running backs go in the first round. And all of thoserunning backs have pretty much hit. So what you do is when you draft a running back high,you get to control the running back for six or seven years throughout his prime.I believe more teams are dribbling out the shot clock on running backs,drafted them early without really thinking we're ever going to commit to giving these guys another deal.It's something that Jimmy Johnson said a long time ago.That's the way you treat the running back position.Draft them high.
44:32Ride them to the wheels fall off.Last year of the deal, draft another one high and move on.That's, I think, what teams are trying to do.Here's the leverage for Melvin Gordon.He's pretty talented, and he's good in the room.And morale is controlled by coaches and GMs.If you let Melvin go, how does it play in the room?Because he is replaceable.
44:55They were four and oh without him, beat the Chiefs and the Steelers without him.I'll give you an example.The first Hulk movie.Remember that?Ed Norton was the Hulk.Ed Norton's really talented.But Ed Norton's difficult and struggles to get along.with people in the room.
45:12And the people said, well, it's kind of part acting, part CGI.There's a lot of makeup here.Let's get somebody, if we're going to make ten of these,that everybody likes in the room.And they got Mark Ruffalo, who, by the way, is also a great actor.Ed Norton, I think, in the acting profession,it's thought of one.Ed's difficult.
45:32And so they said, we're going to make a lot of these movies,and it is somewhat CGI.You know, you can see the actor kind of.Let's get somebody who plays in the room.And by the way, if you remember the first Ironman, Terrence Howard was the sidekick, right?And then Terrence Howard's reputation in Hollywood, talented but difficult.And they're like, we're going to make 10 of these, right?We're going to make a lot of these.
45:58Let's get Don Chito.Who's also talented, but everybody likes Don Chito.He works in the room.I'm not saying Mark Ruffalo and, uh, Hope, Ruffalo, excuse me.He's very good.Wife want Sommet Nobu. Fascinating.And I'm not saying Don Chito aren't great.They're great.
46:16But there isn't a lot of leverage oftentimes for actors in superhero movies.There's a lot of CGI going on.Is that Brolin?I can't tell who exactly that is.So being likable in the room matters.Melvin Gordon's are running back.They're unbelievably replaceable.His leverage is he works hard.
46:40He's a grinder.He's a butt kicker.He plays well in the room.The coaches like him and the players like it.And that has influence.If you know you got a Super Bowl roster and the chemistry is amazingand you don't want to create any disharmony,how would players react in the room if you let Melvin Gordon go?
47:02They like him.He's not the best player on the team.He's one of their top five or six, maybe seven players.He's a very good player and I like him.But likeability matters because most of us do not have massive leverage.Most of us are not NBA stars or NFL quarterbacks.Most of us are replaceable.So the best thing we can do is get really, really good at our jobs and be good in the room.
47:28Because you can go to a locker room and get rid of a talented guy who's a pain in the buttand a lot of guys will back management.But if you go into a room and a guy's pretty talented, but everybody loves him and get rid of him,man, some locker rooms do not recover from that.Players get that T.O.T.O. was becoming a little too dramatic.Three teams let him go and three teams got better.Where management has to be careful is productive, not a superstar, but productive.
48:02And, man, he plays well in the room.Everybody likes playing with him.He plays hurt.And Melvin Gordon has been hurt a couple times, more than once.So I think that's his leverage.I think his likability.He's a grinder.He is talented.
48:16He plays well with others.And you got a Super Bowl roster here.And the harmony in the room in the NFL, we've seen how last year the Steelers got a little noisy.Probably the most talented team in the league didn't make the playoffs.We saw the Seahawk dynasty.Got a little noisy.Jacksonville's dynasty.Jacksonville got really good.
48:33It got a little noisy.So these are tough decisions.Analytically, Melvin Gordon, I wouldn't pay him.But this is why I like analytics, as much as I like analytics.What are the other men in the room think of Melvin Gordon?Is he liked?Is he respected?Is he a grinder?
48:53Is he a good teammate?Does he play hurt?Does he sacrifice?Does he block despite not being a giant guy?That stuff I think makes a huge difference in pro sports.Because almost none of us are going to be Rinaldo and soccer or Messi or LeBron.We're not going to be.Best we can do is be talented and good in the room.
49:14So Melvin Gordon will not show up for training camp today.We'll see how it plays out.Coming up next, Magic Johnson did the Lakers absolutely no favors on the Kauai Leonard move.Jalen Ramsey drove a Brinks truck up to the Jaguars camp.Oh, what fun.So Hour 2 is right around the corner plus LaVar Erington.One more herd?The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week, within the IHeart radio app.
49:43Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like.This is Hour 2, The Herd, live in Los Angeles, wherever you may be, and however, you may be listening.We're on IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1.Joy Taylor is joining me for Hour 2.LeVar Arrington will stop by today.We are all in.All the lists are now being released, and the NFL camps are opening up today and tomorrow.This is a great time.
50:15I am a football guy first.I may love other sports, but I am an NFL guy and a college football guy first, and Joy Taylor is joining us.So I have a basketball story, Joy.Okay.Report.Magic Johnson hurt the Lakers shot at Kauai Leonard during free agency.You talked about this yesterday.Yes.
50:33that Kauai's people told Magic Johnson, according to the athletic,we have a way we handle business and we expect the same.We would appreciate discretion.Does that sound like Magic Johnson?Magic Johnson is a lot like the Queen of England.She's the ambassador of England.Nobody's quite sure what she does, but she waves and everybody's like,oh, she is England.
51:00Magic Johnson's the ambassador of L.A. sports.like Magic Johnson walks into a room and it's like, oh, he represents Los Angeles sports.Now, I don't know, like he was the president of the Lakers.I'm not sure if he did a lot of scouting.And he's a part owner of the Dodgers, but I don't seem as a baseball guy.And he's got a bunch of businesses, but like as a coach and as a president in basketball,he's sort of the ambassador of L.A. sports.It all goes through him.
51:27If you want to be a star in L.A., you got to beat Magic.It's the golden handshake.He's the ambassador of Los Angeles.of sports. And for a while in this country, next to Michael Jordan, American sports.But Kauai and Magic was never going to work as a recruiting pitch.Magic's a walking press conference. Magic ad-lived his way, quitting the Lakers for 45 minutes.Kauai Leonard won a championship, lit a cigar, and said, thanks for flying United. I'm leavingCanada. That's who he is. Now, LeBron and Magic is different.
51:58LeBron and Magic have similar trajectories. That's a very easy conversation. That's a very easy conversation.to have. But Magiccan't relate to Kauai's story.It never worked. Kauaiwas overlooked. Kauai'sbeen disrespected. Kauai'sbeen passed over.Kauai had no big offers.
52:16Kauai was traded to Canada outof spite. He'sgot a withdrawn personality.He's incredibly discreet.All those things are theopposite of magic.Sending Magic to recruit Kauaiwould be like sending Ted Nugent
52:32to recruit a vegan.It would be like sending Dennis Rodman to recruit Tebow.Their personalities, the trajectories aren't the same.Magic's a talker.Magic is verbal.Magic's a waiver.Magic's an ad libber.Magic said, listen, I don't want to be the Laker president.
52:50I want to be able to go to Twitter.He's a talker.He's verbal.He's a communicator.I've said before, Magic Johnson is a human LinkedIn.He just connects people.Kauai is discreet.Overlook, bypassed, little covert.
53:04Now, we found that Kauai is a little more secretive and a little more manipulative.Magic's not that manipulative.When Magic Johnson didn't like Rob Polinka, it was pretty obvious from his press conference.He didn't like Rob Polinka.Then he came out a week later on a TV show and said, I don't really like Rob Polinka.So I don't think Magic, this sales pitch, was never going to work.Last night I went to a dinner, and I sat next to Oregon's football coach, Mario Cristobal,and Mario is a great recruiter.
53:36The Oregon staff is known as one of the better recruiting staffs in the West Coast.And we talked about recruiting.And he's like, listen, I can relate to some of these players.I wasn't a five-star guy.And we talked about what works in recruiting and showing love.And he's like, relatability, connecting to people, having similar interests.You could not pick a more dissimilar personality with Kauai in my life in the NBA.than Magic Johnson.
54:00I mean, Michael Jordan, by and large, you don't see much of him.He hides.I don't see a lot of Larry Bird.I haven't seen LeBron in L.A. much.Magic is on television in the city and in the neighborhoods and at games constantly.So I think this, I just don't think the Kauai Magic Sales pitch was ever going to be perfect.And I think the LeBron Magic Sales pitch was absolutely perfect.Both young stars, both love, both iconic, perfect name.
54:29one name,connectability,the way they played.Magic and LeBron,I've said for years and years,Kobe was Michael Jordan.Magic is LeBron.LeBron's just a better athlete,
54:43bigger, stronger version of magic,but LeBron's more magicthan Michael Jordan than he always has been.All right, so this is kind of funny.People will freak out about this.It's kind of funny.I wouldn't do it.I wouldn't recommend to my player
54:56if I was an agent to do it.But Jalen Ramsey has got two years leftin his contract. He's a very good player, but likeZeke, he can be noisy, andhe's two years out, and he wantsa new contract with Jacksonville,and so this morning, he showed upin a brink's truck. Here it is.
55:11This man covers. They've been to give him his own jailcalled Jalen County.Because these receivers are on 24hour lockdown. If you checkhis pocket, he got eightmaster locks in his pocket.The man.I know what it is.
55:49It's time to get this money, money.Listen, if you put that much effort into it, I got to give you props for the effort.I thought it was subtle.Okay, so here's the thing.You would think at a hospital, everybody went to medical school, everybody's got their degree, everybody gets paid similar.But they don't.The radiologist gets rich.The brain surgeon gets rich.
56:10The anesthesiologist gets rich.The back surgeon can get rich.But the pediatrician and the family doctor, not so much.Now, why do you pay them?They both have medical degrees.and they're both introducing life,they're both saving life, right?Well, the difference is difficulty,
56:28a level of risk,a percentage of your career that's specialization.An anesthesiologist makes a mistake, somebody dies.A brain surgeon makes a mistake, somebody dies.A pediatrician drops a baby, inappropriate, but probably lives.In the end, that hospital has a wide gapon what you pay people based on difficulty,specialization of skill, level of risk.
56:53What do you pay a cornerback?Jacksonville already pays one of their quarterbacks a ton.What do you pay a cornerback?Philadelphia Eagles won a Super Bowl.They didn't have a corner on the roster that made a million dollars.Now, New England does pay Stefan Gilmore but won't pay a second corner.What do you pay a great corner?I'll give you an example.
57:12I've always talked about how I would build my football team.And it's changed a little bit through the years.I would pay my quarterback most, my left tackle second, my edge rusher third, unless I had Aaron Donald,then I would switch defensive tackle four to three.That's just an individual player.If I had Aaron Donald, I'd pay him above an edge rusher.I put defensive tackle four.I put cornerback at five, center at six, wide receiver at seven.
57:40But a lot of people put wide receiver now because of the rule changes above corners.I'm a big fan of offensive lines and quarterback.here's the question.I'm willing to pay one quarterback, one left tackle,one edge rusher, one defensive tackle.I'm not paying two corners.And Jacksonville's already paying one a lot, and he's excellent.And you're two years out, and this is a bunch of noise.
58:06So here's another example like Zichiel Elliott,where you may have the first or second best player at his position in the league.But I'm not paying two corners.The NFL's not the NBA.you have to get very comfortable moving off really great players.John Gruden was very comfortable moving off Khalil Mack.His takeaway was, I can get two first rounders, a second rounder.I want to rebuild the culture and the franchise in the locker room.
58:34So Jalen Ramsey is another player.I'd move off him if I was Jacksonville.A lot of noise, two years out.I've already got an elite corner.I can't pay him.This is not the NBA.If he's the NBA, I want to pay Steph and Clay.in Durant. I'm not letting any of them go if I have a choice.
58:52Here, I'd let your best corner go because my second best corner is going to be much less and he's still really, really good.And now, I will say Jacksonville historically is what I would call a low self-esteem franchise.And sometimes, you know, Cleveland, Buffalo, Jacksonville, when you have a history of losing,you often feel that you have to pay the rare star you have.But since Jacksonville drafted Jalen Ramsey, they're 18 and 30.That's what they are.So you've got to be careful who you pay.This is another example with Jalen Ramsey.
59:28I would move him.There's a very good team or two out there willing to pay, get picks.You've got corners.You're now paying Nick Foles.The way I look at sports, quarterback left tackle, edge rusher, DT, corner center receiver.I can't pay two at any of those positions.Big money.Now, Cleveland has decided to pay Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham, so they could prove me wrong.
59:52They could absolutely prove me wrong.Cleveland said, we're going to pay two receiver star money.I mean, New England doesn't pay anybody star money at that position.Now, Cleveland argument is we're not paying our quarterback anything.Where Jacksonville now has to pay Nick Foles, so I can't pay two corners.So once again, the theme on this over the last week has been, be careful who you pay for in the NFL.get comfortable letting great players go.Never let him go in the NBA if you have a choice.
01:00:21Football, sometimes you let them walk.There's always a taker.Nick Foles, Philadelphia is like, thanks for winning it's a Super Bowl.Thanks for flying United.Jacksonville's like, we don't like our quarterback, we'll pay you.There's always a taker on the market.And Jalen's a lot better than Nick Foles at his position.Not really close.
01:00:39Coming up next, Baker Mayfield has an opportunity to show great maturity.Will he do it?LeBar Erington next.Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific.On Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the IHeard Radio app.Last night, a blown call changed a game.This morning, the internet lost its mind.Highlights are trending, opinions are flying,
01:01:06and nobody's telling you exactly what happened.That's where Sports Slice comes in.I'm Timbo.Every episode, we're cutting through the noise.breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines.We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions,the stuff nobody gets to hear.The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real.
01:01:28From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down,give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered.Sports slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them.Listen to SportsSlic on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games.And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests.I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark.
01:02:07Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped.up in the chase, that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing, and we're stillchasing it, and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomesabout wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good personwhile you hear on earth, or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two differentintentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a goodperson. Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations aboutAll healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway.
01:02:47Open your free iHeartRadio app.Search Learn the Hardway and listen now.What's up, guys?This is Clever Taylor the 4th.And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff.Like being an internet famous referee.We're in the middle of a game.This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me.
01:03:06He goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her.What?Time out.Quarterback on office blue with 42.Hey, Wreck, my mama want you to weigh better.What?Where's she at?Hey, Miss Parker.
01:03:25Listen to the Clippers show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.What's up, fam?It's Isaiah Thomas.And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defining the odds.Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed.And finding ways to win.no matter what.He's the smartest player to ever play the game.
01:03:45His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before.And he knows.Without Luca and Austin Reeves,I got to manipulate the game.We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs.I think Joker's going to be exhausted this seriesbecause when they don't have Rudy in the lineup,he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid.
01:04:03He has to guard Julius Randall.And then he has to give us everything he gives uson the night-to-night basis on offense.And when IT's friends stop by,like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too.Steve Nash will get that thing.That man, hell get the flying.He running up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball.
01:04:20Like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick.Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball.So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.Saturday, we've got a great MLB double header for you.First, baseball's fiercest rivalry rages on as Aaron Judge.is the first place Yankees, Yankees against Moogie Betts and the Red Sox.Then Jose Altuve and the Astros take on the Cardinals.It all starts at 4 Eastern, 1 Pacific on FS1 and the Fox Sports app.
01:04:54To be honest, outside of the Patriots, kind of tired of Boston winning so much.Kind of like to see the Yankees reborn a little bit.They have quite a few championships in that city.Houston, Dodgers, Cubs back in it.By the way, I've been critical of Baker Mayfield, and I've said he can play.I'm not doubting that.I don't think he'll be Drew Breeze.I think he's somewhere between Case Keenham and Drew Breeze,
01:05:14but his maturity sometimes bother me.He has an opportunity today to do something I would really like,and that is keep quiet.Hugh Jackson and him have gone back and forth.And Hugh Jackson came out again and talked about Baker Mayfield yesterday on a radio show.And on making up with Baker Mayfield,Hugh Jackson said, I think it would be for him to clear the air.I've been coaching in this league a long time, coached a lot of players.
01:05:39I've never had anybody say that about me,There's nothing that I know that I did to him that would have made him feel the way I did,so it's on Baker to talk.Baker, move on, let it slide, don't fire back.This is my knock on Baker.He always feels like 22-year-old man.I got to win the argument.I got to win the debate.
01:06:00I got to call the show.I got to talk to media.Baker, let it go.Okay, this is why, Baker, you have some doubters because we don't think you can let it go.I bet you today inside the Cleveland facility,John Dorsey, Freddie Kitchens are telling him,don't, don't, don't go there.Don't get distracted.
01:06:17Don't get into sparring matches with Hugh Jackson.Hugh Jackson right now is not a head coach.He can say whatever he wants.Baker, you are a franchise quarterback.You right now have a greater burden of responsibility.I know it's unfair in life,but as the young guy, you've got to be the grown-up here.You got to just let it slide.
01:06:34Sam Darnold would, Brady would, Breeze would,Russell Wilson would, Mahomeswood, Andrew Luckwood.And I don't think you're as good as any of those guys.But I think you have talent.Don't fire back.This is a test today.You know, you heard the test of the emergency broadcast system.This is the emergency baker system.
01:06:54It's a test today.Don't fire back.And with that, let's bring on LeVar Arrington,eight NFL seasons, a three-time pro bowler.By the way, you like personality.You do like personality.So I would imagine you like the O'Dell stuff.I think the NFL's historically not been a fan of that,
01:07:16although they are allowing more celebrations.So, LeVar, do you like O'Dell Beckham?I love O'Dell Beckham.And the reason why I love O'Dell Beckham is because he represents the evolutionof specifically the football player, all right?You tend to look at historically basketball players,I'll keep it out basketball because not so much baseball, but soccer,stars and basketball players.
01:07:42Soccer, soccer, right.The stardom is much different than it is for that of a football player,and it's because it's geared towards the shield and the logo of the team,meaning more to the fan presented by the league than the person themselves.Right.And by the time you turned and looked and have figured out,I'm a football player that has made this football team's brand.The Shield, the NFL Shield, means so much more.
01:08:14My career is over, but I didn't really do anything to leverage my brand.And it's so many times, you know what's interesting is so many times we fail to be relevantunless we've done something wrong as players.Right.Right.You're not relevant unless I've gotten a domestic situation.Or blow the locker room up.something. I bumped somebody in Las Vegas and knocked them over. And now I have all of these questions being
01:08:42stated about me. I respond back to a coach saying something about me, right? That's when we becomerelevant to the media or to the fans. It's almost like you have to become a villain to first,before you can become a grade A superstar. Outside a quarterback, by and large, you get famous in the NFL,either a play, a one-hand catch, or being a villain.There you go.I mean, by and large, outside of quarterback.So I like Odell Beckham.He's a positive guy.
01:09:15If you've ever met him, very cordial, very personable person.He embraces the millennial spirit of what has really developed in pop culture.And he transcends the game of football.He really does.And I like that.I like it because it now.creates a different narrative.You know, for so many years, the narrative has always been drawn and written by the media.
01:09:43If you ever notice, the media dictates, you know, I was painted as a dumb football playerwhen my contract situation was messed up in Washington, Colin.I'm not dumb.I'm by far, far from being screwed it up, I thought.Well, see, and it's a whole deep conversation about it, right?We'll do it another time.Okay.All right.
01:10:03But the reality of it is.is that if you're listening to the media, my agent screwed it up.If you're listening to the media as something that LeVar did, screwed it up.Then now all of a sudden, coming off of three Pro Bowls, now all of a sudden,I can't learn a defensive playbook.I'm not good enough to play on the football field.I'm this.I'm disgruntled.
01:10:21I'm a malcontent.I love the game of football.I've always tried to be the best teammate that I could always be to my teammates in thelocker room.Provided leadership was probably a captain and didn't even need to be nominated as one, right?But the narrative that came out based upon the embarrassment of doing your star player,the way that it panned out and it happened in Washington,it was more important to paint a picture that justified what happened versus,
01:10:51let's just fix it and move on from it.Right.You can't do that with an Odell Beckham.They control it more.You can't, you cannot control an Odell Beckham because his brand is just as relevant as theNFL shield or the Cleveland logo, Cleveland Brown's logo, or the New York Giants logo.It's just as relevant.I want to talk about paying players.
01:11:15In the NBA, there are certain guys you have to pay, and multiple teams.You've got to pay two or three stars in a team.In the NFL, it's interesting.New England will pay one cornerback, Stefan Gilmore.They won't pay two.They generally will pay one offensive linemen, but last year their offensive linemen togethermake less or close to less, as Trent Brown will.make for the Raiders. They're very frugal. So the Jaguars have not been a winner since Jalen Ramsey
01:11:40showed up. They already pay one of their corners. He's got two years left. My takeaway on JalenRamsey is I could get a haul for Jalen Ramsey. I'd probably move him two years out. He's noisy. He'sgifted and we pay a corner. Would you pay him? Who do you have to beat in the AFC South?Andrew Luck. Okay. What does Andrew Luck do very well? Pass. Okay.Pay that man is money.Okay, so you think Andrew Luck determines it.Well, okay, when you look at, and we had this discussion in the back,if you look at it from the perspective of each division presents its own different challenges, right?
01:12:19No question.If you're in the AFC North, you've got to prepare for a lot because you have quarterbacks that can throw,you have receivers, but it's a smash-mouth type of division, right?So you've got to be able to stop to run.So you may wait who you're going to use, who you're going to pay differently,and the NFC or AFC North.Hey, listen, when even Peyton Manning was on the Colts,Bill Polion told me, once we got Peyton Manning,
01:12:45we knew we had to draft pass rushers because we would lead games in the second half.You would have to throw to beat us.So he goes, we got Peyton, and then we had to go find edge rushers like Dwight Freeney.So even on your own team, based on your strengths, I mean, like the Rams, by the way,same way.With their offense, McVeigh feels, we're going to lead games.games. So I need good corners and I need Aaron Donald because teams will pass against us.So you're saying Andrew Luckin to Sean Watson force you to go heavy on corners.
01:13:14It's supply and demand, right? If the other schools or if the other schools or other teams arepresenting the most, the most danger by throwing the ball, then you have to load up to beable to defend that. And not to mention, here's another point that may have not come up yet,But we were talking about Fred Taylor the last time I was on the show.Most underrated a player in your life.He's still not in the Hall of Fame.Why you think that is?How many?
01:13:44I think he played for the Patriots outside of the Jacksonville.Because he played in Jacksonville.So maybe Jalen Ramsey is posturing.Pay me.It's not about you moving me.It's about me leaving.I get to choose in free agency, right?That's pretty interesting.
01:14:03Pay me to be the quarterback that you.you need me to be in Jacksonville.I asked you privately last time, maybe it was public or private.I said, who was the best quarterback that got no credit?You said, Mark Brunel.Ironically enough.Jacksonville.And I said, who was the best player?
01:14:16You're like Fred Taylor.Two great players.And the same marking.But Jacksonville is like an old golfing community.It is what, oh, Duval, right?But it's not, it's not, it has not been a.Great place for stars.There you go.
01:14:33So if I'm Jalen Ramsey,pull up in a brink's truckand which by the wayTom CoughlinI said you'll enjoy thisI play for Coach CoughlinTom Coughlin when hesaw this when somebody showed
01:14:48this to him in his officeall righthe probably had to send everybodyout of his officebecause his skin and his muscleleft his boneshe was standing in hisoffice looking at that video
01:15:04screen bare bones like in the literal sense and figurative sense of bare bonecoach copla was sitting in that office and needed at least 10 to 15 minutes alone so that hecould get his muscle back on his bones and get his skin back over top of the muscleand get his clothes back on top of the body and be able to continue with business as usual afterthat. There's going to be repercussions to that.Yeah. All right, Zeke, two years out, they got to pay Amari, DAC. I think they've got to payByron Jones the corner. They already paid to Marcus Lawrence. They got to pay one of those linebackersin a year. Where's his leverage? It's hard, it's hard to say he has strong leverage for
01:15:53two very major reasons. One being running backs does not hold the weight of being able to leveragea max contract these days.You can take the money that you would have to pay to himand get two running backs and have running backs back committee.And I'd say get one that can run the ball,get one that can catch the ball out of the backfield, right?Get one that can return kickoffs.Look at what Coach Reed does.
01:16:20And he's done it forever with his running backs,multipurpose guys, Sprouls, you know, Westbrook.Andy Reid and Bill Belichick are multi-back guys.There you go.Philadelphia is in that.So you take that.That's number one.And then number two is if you get into any trouble, the trouble is always addressed.
01:16:39It's always supported when it's convenient for the franchise to support you and work with you and work through it.But oh, by the way, hey, Zeek, we're supporting you.We want to make sure you have all the opportunities that you need to be successful in life as a human being.but we're not going to take a risk on giving you all this cash because while we support you and we really believe in you as a person,we do believe that there are growth issues that need to take place before we can make that type of investment in you.If you look at Emmett Smith, Emmett Smith has had contract deals situations, right?But Emmett Smith handled things this way, Zeke.He handled it this way.
01:17:23He talked about it this way, Zeke.And that's why he was here for so long.right those things will ultimately come up in your face all right and he's done himself a disservice bygetting into those situations because now in a moment where you may have some leverage you may havesome leverage because this team is not as prolific it's not as dynamic when he's not in the gamewe've seen it play out we've seen it play out right so the reality of it is is outside ofthose two things the the obvious we don't value the back as much as we used toAnd if we did, even if we did, we just can't feel comfortable and confident giving you this scratch because you get in the trouble.
01:18:09Yeah, no, I was saying this earlier to Joy is that running backs don't have leverage.Zeke is better than Melvin Gordon.But they both have interesting.Melvin may have more leverage because Melvin is respected in the room.It's a Super Bowl roster.And if you don't pay Melvin, how does it play?Let's debate that one, Colin.That's an interesting one.
01:18:31Are they a Super Bowl roster?Oh, I like their roster.I spoke to Sean Merriman on Speak for Yourself last week.You don't think the Chargers rosters?Okay, think about this.Would you take the roster today of the San Diego charges versus that roster in, say, what year was that?Like 2004, maybe five maybe?that 2005 roster with
01:19:01Sean Merrimanand Sean PhillipsThat had 10 pro bowlersYou had LT in the backfieldAre you comparing Melvin Gorton to LT?No, no he's not nearly as goodHow many Super Bowls did they get?Well, again
01:19:15How many Super Bowl appearances?Stan Humphreys got their oneI think their rosterI said this beforeWhat year was Stan Humphreys?A long time agoWe're going back to Dan Fouts.Dan Fouts and those guys did.
01:19:32I think there's about eight rosters in this league that are caliber.I think Chargers roster is really good.It's good.It's really good.But I can't trust that their team.Okay, that's different.You don't, you don't, because Philip makes some big mistakes.Anthony Lent is young.
01:19:48Has it won the big game.They struggle with Kansas City.Mahomes in the division.I get the arguments.It may be bigger than that, Colin.It really may be bigger.than that.It's like comparing, you talked about New England
01:20:02and what Belichick brings to the table and what he does, right?They're not winning Super Bowls at this point based upon anything else other thanit's a franchise.Name how many franchises have won the Super Bowl versus non-franchise football teams.You mean you're talking about the well-run...Right, the Giants, the Steelers, the Steelers, the New England Patriots.No, it is.It's fundamental.
01:20:36I mean, there's no question.There is, it generally starts owner, GM coach, quarterback.There's a hierarchy, and if you're not an A to an A-minus, in the owner-G-M-I-You're not going to win.I know, I get it.And I don't care how good your team is.I played on a team my rookie year.We had Bruce Smith.Marco Coleman, Dana Stubblefield, Big Daddy Wilkinson.
01:21:01That was our front line with Karnart Lang and Indy Kalu as backups to the front.But you didn't have good stuff upstairs.Well, you know, I could have gone to the other side of the ball.We had Irvin Fryer.We had Michael Westbrook.We had Stephen Davis.We had Skip Hicks.We had Brad Johnson and Jeff George.
01:21:21Jeff George and Brad Johnson.You could put it with whatever order you want.And we still could not win games.We had Eric Metcab, Adrian Morrow, Morrell.We had so much talent.We had Champ Bailey, LeVar Arrington, Daryl Green, and Dion Sanders all on the same team at the same time.And we did not win.We did not win a playoff game.
01:21:50I know.No, this is why the NFL.There are football teams and there are franchises.and the reason why San Diego will not winis because they are not a franchise.They're a football team.Good stuff.Levar Arrington.
01:22:02They are the L.A. Chargers now.You call them.Yes, yes, that's true.Well, the weather's the same.The L.A. Superchargers.Excuse me.Thank you for the correction.Good seeing you, bud.
01:22:10That's always a pleasure.You have a good memory right there.I mean, I'm like a geek, man.Man, I get it.So I'm a couple geeks.Especially about Western PA football.You know, I get it.We won't do that, though, today, right?
01:22:21I mean, I'm not sure.I'm not sure.I'm not sure.I'm not sure.No, never.Joy with the news.Never.No, no, no, no, no.
01:22:28Turn on the news.This is the herd line news.So Derek Carr is entering a very interesting season with the Raiders,kind of make a break.Based on what some coaches told the athletic,there is a perception that Carr may not have the mental makeup to make it under John Gruden.Quote, he is sensitive and needs encouragement,and that's not the style he's going to get.
01:22:49An offensive coach said when someone shows disappointment in him,he shrinks.the head coach not coming out and completely endorsing himhas to be eating him alive.He is very sensitive.You know what's funny, Joy?He's very sensitive on Twitter.He'll follow, unfollow, follow, follow.
01:23:04He gets very sensitive on Twitter.He does.You know, it's unfortunate what's happened with Derek Carrbecause he was looking like an MVP candidate.I know he was really good.He was a guy.He's still got a whip.I mean, he can make throws.
01:23:16He is talented.It just feels like nothing's ever really come together.And it could just be, you know,the Raiders are a football team,but not a franchise, as LeVar is just saying.But the Antonio Brown thing makes us very interestingbecause we know that Antonio Brown is very demandingand he's going to want the ball.
01:23:33And you have John Gruden and all these personalities.The Raiders are going to be, if nothing else,incredibly interesting this year.I just don't know what to make of Derek Carr.I think it's an incredibly fair question.You know what?You know what's funny?He has become to a large degree that's forgotten quarterback.
01:23:48We name all these top top quarterbacks all the time.And I like Derek Carr.You ever notice?I think he's very similar to Tony Romo as a player.He can move.Good arm, not a super arm, makes throws, can be pretty clutch.Occasional mistakes I don't love.But his brand right now, like you said, what is he?
01:24:09I don't think he has that signature win, that signature.I think we're still developing an opinion on him.That's why I think this year is so important.But it's also, I think it was that injury because he was right there.It was right there on the edge of making that breakthrough.Oh, he was.And the injury just halted all of that.Three years ago, two years ago, I was bringing him on the show.
01:24:29And I kind of felt like he was the next thing.Right.I mean, we were comparing him to Romo and Aaron Rogers.Yeah, it was the worst timing for that injury to happen.So the latest NFLPA merchandise sales rankings were released this morning.And for the first time ever, two Browns are in the top five.Oh, boy.Tom Brady's number one, which I still don't understand.
01:24:49I just can't have enough Tom Brady jersey.I don't get it.It's not a knock on Tom Brady.I'm just saying, like, if you're a Tom Brady fan,don't you get a New Jersey every year?There's been like 18 Tom Brady years.Right.They're very expensive.
01:25:00You just don't use the same one you had three years ago.But at least LeBron's changing teams.Yes.It makes no sense to me.Like Derek Jeter.After 18 years, everybody in New Yorkhad a Jeter jersey.You just get a new one?
01:25:12You spilled soda on it?Like, what happened?Odell is number two, which is not surprising.Sam Darnold's 4?That, well, it's New York.So I guess.that must be it.Tip of the cap to America.
01:25:26He's a head of Baker.Well, okay, so yes, he is ahead of Baker.But two Cleveland Browns in the top five.You know what this shows to me, though,with the Browns being the top five?They're the youngest team in the league,and they're two huge personalities.So this doesn't surprise me at all.
01:25:41Does anybody, Sam Donald surprises me on that?Sam Donald is surprising, yes.Four? He's the only guy in that list.And by the way, I love Sam.And I think last year he had to overcome battle line,Bad receivers, bad backs than a defensive coach.I'm surprised he's full because he doesn't have a huge personality.He doesn't talk.
01:25:57DAC is very low.Dak is 19.Nick Foles is higher than Dak.No.Yes.Nick Foles is 18.That makes no sense.No, it doesn't.
01:26:09Nick Foles is higher than DAC.That is.Yes.Okay, that doesn't make any sense.It doesn't make any sense.I mean, it's kind of, it's, these are the rankings.This is what people are buying.So it's accurate.
01:26:21but it's just there's just a couple outliers in there that are strange.Sam Donald makes sense to me just because it's New York.Yeah, I guess you're right.But it is, it's, the Browns are going to be something this year.I feel like we're going to be talking about them a lot.They're a good TV show if nothing else.Yes.So finally, Floyd Mayweather Jr. was in Vegas for Annie Packyell's split decision
01:26:38victory over Keith Thurman.He was at the fight.But that doesn't mean they're suddenly friends.Mayweather lashed out at Pacchio, Pacquiao boxing fans and analysts and a lengthy message onInstagram.He said, I find it real ironic how every.Every time Paciel's name is brought up in the media, my name is always attached to it.This man's entire legacy and career has been built off its association with my name.
01:26:58And it's about time you all stop using my brand for clout chasing and clickbait and let that man's name hold weight of its own.When we finally thought, I won so easily that everyone had to eat their words in the so-called boxing experts, critics, and jealous American fan base.Either went mute and ran for cover or made every excuse in the world as to why I should give him a rematch.It's actually, you know, it's pretty interesting take.Not far off on the attachment.Their careers are kind of linked.But I would argue that Floyd Mayweather, wow, obviously his record speaks for itself, hassome attachment to Pacquiao as well.
01:27:30It's not like you look at their fight and say it was all Pacquiao's fight or false thatthey didn't fight.Packow responded and said, Floyd, you come to my fight and then use my name in a post,but I'm the one that's trying to stay relevant.If you want to be relevant, relevant again, hashtag May Pack 2.So he is interested in a rematch.The one thing I would push back on is that the jealous American fan base,Floyd Mayweather has done very little to keep his reputation in a positive space with fans.
01:28:01So even just with the whole McGregor fight,like they felt like there were more people rooting for McGregor.Maybe because many wanted to see Floyd have a loss.But I'm not a Floyd Mayweather fan.I don't like it.You know, I don't like him personally.I don't like the things that he's done.I don't find his style consumable.
01:28:21I find him to be just a very, listen, I, I, I'm a, I'm a, I'm not a boxing purist.I love, like, I love watching Thurman Pacquio because I thought it was massive action.We had a knockdown.It was, uh, there was a lot of theater with that fight.There was a dynamic.It was a dynamic hour watch.I thought Floyd Manning was a yawn fest.I thought it was boring.
01:28:46That's a fair criticism.And most fans feel that way about Mayweather fights is that they're boring kind of runs.But a boxing purist loves it because he's the greatest defensive fighter of all time.And you can't argue with his record.He's never lost.Like, he's, it's perfection for a reason.The Bulls were the greatest defensive defensive basketball team ever.But they also could have flare offense.
01:29:04I mean, everyone watches Mayweather fights at the end of the day.He's a great salesman.So I'm not being critical of any of that.I just think there is, there's kind of a brand association on both sides.And I still think that everyone will watch the rematch.Of course they would.I'm a sucker for paper.Joy with the news.
01:29:19Well, that's the news.And thanks for stopping by.The herd lie news.Uh, okay, Jane Slater last hour covers the Dallas Cowboys back in a second in L.A., it's theherd.Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific.Last night, a blown call changed a game.This morning, the internet lost its mind.
01:29:39Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened.That's where Sports Slice comes in.I'm Timbo.we're cutting through the noise. Breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the storiesbehind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their lockerroom stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, thetriumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games,from buzzer beaters, to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context and ask the questions
01:30:10everybody wants answered. Sports slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by thepeople who live them. Listen to SportsSlic.On the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favoritetherapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringingover a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with somany incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the
01:30:43pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are inpossession of the thing and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough.Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross,because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth or are you a good personbecause you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two differentlevels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person.Me, Keir Gaines is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway.Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now.
01:31:27What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the Fourth. And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff.Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me, he goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her.What?Time out.Quarterback on office blue with 42.Hey, Wreck, my mama want you to weigh better.What?Hey, Miss Parker.
01:32:00Listen to the Clippers show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.What's up, fam?It's Isaiah Thomas.And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds.Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed.And finding ways to win no matter what.He's the smartest player to ever play the game.His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before.
01:32:22And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves,I got to manipulate the game.We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs.I think Joker's going to be exhausted this seriesbecause when they don't have Rudy in the lineup,he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid.He has to guard Julius Randall.And then he has to give us everything he gives us
01:32:42on the night-to-night basis on offense.And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson,we dive into some playoff history too.Steve Nash will get that thing.That man, hell get the flying.He running up the court, licking his fingerswhile he got the ball.Like, after you go through a training camp with that, I said,
01:32:59you figure it out real quick.Get your ass up and down the court,and you're going to get the ball.So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app,Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.All right, Joy, I don't understand this.Explain this to me, America.So Joy just unveiled.
01:33:17from March until June.So in the throes of the NBA playoffs,there's no camp.You'd had a little NFL draft in there.The top 10 NFL player jersey sales,Tom Brady leads.How is that possible?I don't understand it.
01:33:33The Patriots haven't even made a uniform change in that time.How is that possible?So you got Flashy O'Dell,young dominating Khalil,rookie Sam Darnold, or second year Sam Donald.Second year, you got a bunch of flashy,guys.Antonio Brown,
01:33:49Odell Beckham.You've got star running backs.You've got controversy on the list.And then you've got a 41-year-old quarterback playing forever.Isn't that?Now you could say, oh, he won the Super Bowl.Yeah, but he's won so many.You wouldn't buy another Tom Brady jersey.
01:34:04I don't have a logical.Maybe kids are getting bigger.It counts for kids' jerseys too.Okay, there you go.I don't know.I don't understand it.I just don't know.Do you need a new Tom Brady jersey every year?
01:34:17If somebody had, is it, like I understand Jeter being at the top because New York City has so many people.New York City is so big that I think Brooklyn would classify as the fourth biggest city in the country if it was its own city, like Brooklyn.Like it's bigger than everything except L.A. and it may be bigger than Chicago.Like there's just an endless supply of, and the Yankees are a global brand.The Patriots, the NFL is not a global league. It's a domestic league.So Jeter could sell jerseys all over Southeast Asia.he could sell them in Latin America.I understand that, right?
01:34:48Like, NFL is, it's an American domestic league.It's not even huge in Canada.And Tom Brady leads in Jersey sales.I don't.I don't get it.I don't get it.I do not.And that's, I mean, it's no disrespect to Tom Brady.
01:35:00It's just how many jerseys do you need?The other thing is, it's not just quarterback because Big Ben's not on here.Andrew Luck's not on here.Russell Wilson's not on here.So it's not just that it's a quarterback position because there's a lot of good quarterback.I mean, it's basically split.So you've got the,The number two guy is controversial.
01:35:17Number three guys, the best pass rusher.Four and five guy are young.Four, five, six guys are just young quarterbacks.Aaron's an old quarterback, and he's like a Hollywood star.He's like a model-looking guy.Antonio Brown controversy, Zeeke controversy, Seek controversy, Seekon Barclay, New York City.And he's also a great player.And young.
01:35:33That is weird.Because most of the guys on there are young or, you know, Kaleo Mack has changed teams.I would have guessed Odell Beckham was like, I would have guessed Beckham, number one.And I would have guessed Patrick Mahomes.number two and Rogers number three.Aaron Rogers is out there.He's a golf tournament.And people hate the Patriots too.
01:35:55So who's like who is buyingJersey?How is DAC?Yeah, Doc is low.Dax 8 or 19.Nick Foles is it. Can you give me that?And Kyler Murray is 21.So give me 11 through 20.
01:36:08So you gave me that.So the top 10 is Brady.So 11 through 20 is Mitch Trubesky,Deshawn Watson, Carson Wentz.What time out?Mitch Tribisky is 11.Ahead of Dak and Russell Wilson.Chicago?
01:36:21Young, I guess.DeShawn Watson, Carson Wentz, J.J. Watt, Julian Edelman.It's 15.Jamal Adams, the Jets, Gronk, Nick Foles,Dak Prescott, Drew Brieze.Gronk, I get because he retired,and so you're getting a jersey before they've stopped selling them.Right. And then Kyler Murray, number one overall pick, is 21.
01:36:42but I would say that's...He's a flashy player.Arizona.But that's, I mean, most people would think he'd be higher.He's the number one overall pick.So Jamal Adams, a safety.When you watch a game on television, Joy,the safety's not even in the picture when the play starts.
01:36:57He's sold more jerseys than the cowboy quarterback.Mitch Trubisky.I mean, I think Nick Foles is...I understand he switched teams, but it's Jacksonville.I...Unless all of Jacksonville went on in.I've got most of America figured out.Trump and this jersey sell thing, I can't figure out.
01:37:16Those are those are the two things.I don't have an answer for Trump's popularity.Either of those things.Or Tom Brady.I can't quite figure it out.All right.There you go.I don't know.
01:37:27Discover at Miles card.Match the miles you earn at the end of your first year.35,000 become 70.Limitations apply.Discover match for new card members only.Learn more at Discover.com slash travel hour three coming up.We'll check in on the Cowboys.One more herd.
01:37:44The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart radio app.Search herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like.Jane Slater has been covering the Dallas Cowboys for the NFL network for a long time.Based in Dallas, Texas, which is where you are when you cover the Cowboys.Jane, follow her on Twitter at at Slater NFL.She's part of the NFL networks inside the training camp live coverage.Starts tomorrow through August 7th.Every day at 10 a.m. Easter, it's an absolute pleasure to meet you.
01:38:12Thank you.Let's start with the obvious stuff.Do you think Zeeke shows up to camp?I do.And here's why.I know that there's been these media reports out therethat he's anticipating a holdout.But in talking to my sources inside the building,
01:38:26they don't anticipate that he's going to do that.I think this is his management,making sure that he's part of the conversationbecause we're talking about a Mori Cooperand Dak Prescott's contract.But here's what I know about Zique.This is my fourth season with the NFL network.We came in at the same time together.
01:38:40I saw him go through all of that with the commissioner and the six-game suspension.He would still show up to practice, put his head down, and get to work.And I think he respects his teammates.His teammates respected him the way that he stepped up in that leadership role last year.I don't think that this comes down to him holding out and staying away from his team.That's just not what I've seen from him and not what I'm being told from inside the building.So you got into the Cowboys pre-Dak Prescott.There's been a lot of questions about what they pay him.
01:39:09but let's get down to the human part.Do you believe in that locker roomthat Dallas Cowboy players believe in DAC?Absolutely.And I think that's the main reason.You know, when Tony Romo came back from the injury,he wasn't even allowed to compete for his job.A lot of people didn't realize that or remember that.
01:39:25Because his retirement speech, wasn't it impromptu?It was an impromptu speech that I was toldnot a lot of people were privy to.So they were as equally shocked that he was passing the torch onthat some felt that wasn't his torch to pass necessarily.And so the fact that they, this was a guy that a lot of people also don't remember it was Tony Romo,Kellyn Moore, Jamil showers, who now plays on defense, and then Dak Prescott.So the fact that they saw something in him so early and weren't willing to bring back a guy like Tony Romo,
01:39:55who had such an emotional attachment to that front office as well as that locker room,to me said a lot about who Dak Prescott is as a guy.And if you see him, they do these captain retreats where they go fishing.He hangs out with these guys.It's all about dominoes.he is the one thing I will say about DAC is none of this has faced him.He is completely unchanged.I have not seen a difference in him from forstering Dak to franchise guy with the star in his helmet.
01:40:20Yeah, DAC is one of the, you can tell a lot about a person.You become your personality.Aaron can be a little condescending, Aaron Rogers.And sometimes he led the NFL in throwaways, which can be a little dismissive of the coaching staff.Brady is willful and focused, and that's how he plays.Dax's a grown-up.He walked into this league,I would say like Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson,
01:40:44and you put him in front of a mic,and he takes all the arrows,and he's a grown-up.I mean, Dallas had this anthem controversy,and Dak stood up and said,I'm with my owner on this,and that's a hard thing to do in today's social media.Lost in all the cowboy talks and contract is Jason Garrett.
01:41:04Jane, do you feel,Dallas, Jerry doesn't like to fire coaches.He usually gives him a year more than the public or media would.Is there pressure on Garrett this year?He used to like to fire coaches, if you remember early on.Yes.But what works for him with Jason Garrett, and I say this to everyone who doesn't cover this teamand who isn't really on the inside, players talk to me pretty freely.
01:41:29And not one of them has ever lost faith in Jason Garrett.Say what you will about him.he is consistent in the way he delivers his message and the way that he expects players to respond.And so until he loses that locker room, I still feel like the seat is lukewarm.You know, we keep talking about it's the hot seat. It's the hot seat.I do think that this year it's a little bit warmer than before.But I also think he can also point to the fact he's got Kellynmore and John Kittna now in that offensive position.Now, I will tell you there's a lot of optimism about this new offense.
01:42:02There's a lot of optimism about John Kittna.There's a lot of optimism about Kellen Moore.They're dressing things up differently pre-snap.That's what we've been seeing.And then what we love about John Kittna so far isDak Prescott's looking like a different quarterback.Where he struggled was his mechanics in the pocket.It wasn't so much when he was making the loose place.
01:42:19Yeah, by the way, that's why his accuracy concerns meis that as mechanics go, Matt Stafford has this problem.Mechanics go, accuracy goes.Right.Well, John Kittna was all about preaching the footwork.This is where your elbow goes.this is where your foot goes.And I was told as recently as yesterday,
01:42:35Dak Prescott was up there working out with guys like Michael Gallupand Jason Witten.And so there is this excitement.It seems like his confidence has grown a little bit more.I will just point out that Scott Linehan,there was a lot of frustration with him for the last couple of years.Des Bryant was the first one to sound the alarm.Then it was Bryce Butler, Terrence Williams, Cole Beasley,
01:42:54all who are no longer in Dallas.But everyone that I've talked to has told methat Kellyn Moore is incredibly inclusiveand John Kittness sort of theKellan schemes it upKellyn that then John Kittnesssort of essentially make sure that it's implemented.So it's an interesting dynamic, but again
01:43:10to answer your question, if there's a bettercoach out there that Jerry thinks he can go get,I think he makes the move.But until you present that coach to me,I don't see them moving on from Jason Garrett.Jason Witton, why bring him back?What's the MO there?And I was told inside the building
01:43:27they were a little split on this because they like seeingthe development of a guy like Blake Jarwin.Blake Jarwin was a guy that was on the practice squad.The Eagles wanted.They kept him around.And if you watch that regular season finale against the Giants, he had the three touchdowns.They love seeing where that was going.And their concern is Jason Witton never came off the field.
01:43:44Jason, what I respect about him is he knows his role coming back.He doesn't have the same locker.That's Zach Martins now.He says he doesn't have his parking space.But he said he still felt like there was gas left in the tank.And I was back there and I think it was March.Scott Hanson from NFL Network was visiting Dallas and said,I know you don't want to go up to the facility on your day off,
01:44:04but I want a tour of the star in Frisco.So I took him up there and at the training table in March was Jason Wittenwith his iPad, his book, just ready to go.And so I think bringing him back is going to be good in the sense that he's going to help coach up the young guys.He's going to be your Y option threat.He's a blocking threat while we still have some of these questions about the offensive line.But I think you're going to see him nurture and help develop some of those tight ends.and that's a good thing.
01:44:29You were the first to report, if I recall,DAC was not willing to take a pay cut.That was you, right?James Slater joining us for our radio audience.A reporter NFL network lives in Dallas.Dallas Gerbil, Dallas Young Lady, by the way.That's where you're born and raised.Good for what a job for you.
01:44:44Way to go.Seahawks were never interested in me despite my Seattle heritage.Good for you.So you reported that.When you talked, did you talk directly to DAC on that?Sources on it.Okay, sources.Do you sense there's any growing animosity?
01:45:01Money changes people.Money conversations.You ever talk to money with your parents, your dad, your boss?There's a respect thing, 100%.You didn't feel that.I'm not getting that sense.And again, that goes back to, I think Todd France's agent and his team are trying to gethim what he deserves.
01:45:17I mean, if you look at Carson Wentz and what he got paid,you could argue DAC has done more and been more durable in his time in Dallas.There's no question about that.So we start with Carson Witt's contract.I don't think he's asking for anything outside of 36 million,but I think he's looking in the $30 to $32 million range.And when you look again at Carson Wentz, this is on the Cowboys.They should have gotten this deal done earlier if they wanted the hometown discount.
01:45:40But I was told that they are optimistic and hopeful that this contract gets done at training camp.Do Romo and Datt get along?It's my understanding they get along.I wouldn't say that they're best friends or go out in Dallas,but they're also at different points in their lives.I mean, Tony's got, what, three kids now?He's married.Dak's still young.
01:46:00I think that's why it was so easy for him to gel with this locker room.Things change as you get older.You have different responsibilities.There's a different dynamic.I don't know there to be any animosity there,but I don't know them to be the best of friends, if that makes sense.No, I think it totally does.It's very abrupt.
01:46:15I don't think Brady would be best friends with anybody that replaced him,regardless of it was an injury or non-injury.Well, look at Aaron Rogers and Brett Favre.It's difficult.Took a little bit.Absolutely.Even Nick Foles and Carson Wend.It's kind of an uncomfortable conversation.
01:46:27Jane Slater is here.Cowboys training camp begins July 26 in Oxnard, California.By the way, you've got tons of information.You're incredibly well connected, and it's great to have you on the show.When you go to camp with the Cowboys,so I've never been to their camp,but I hear about Jerry holding court at No Boo in Malibu.Jerry is the ultimate storyteller.
01:46:47Of all your work at the NFL Network and covering,what's a cowboy camp would Jerry like to cover?Is it intense?Is it chill?What's it like?Jerry is probably one of the most dynamic people I've ever been around.I always tell people who reminds me of Walt Disney.You were an ESPN employee.
01:47:02So remember we go through rookie boot camp and I remember studying about Walt Disney when we were there.And he is in inmatic that way in the sense that he is sort of the Imagineer.And it's when he wants something or believe something, he speaks it into existence.And he does have this way of spreading optimism when you're around him.So as a reporter, you're always, you try to be careful with that, right?Like, what is optimism?What's the truth.What I think I've always respected about him is the way that he treats the players
01:47:32and the way the players revere him moving forward.They do.They do because he looks at them as sort of family.And I appreciate them.You saw that with, I mean, even Des and Jerry, when all of that went south,it was Des felt that he could just call up Jerry and talk to him.And I thought that was neat because you don't always see that in a lot of organizations.but probably the best part of training camp as a reporter is this private party he puts on at Nobu.
01:47:57All the reporters get to come.He serves you appetizers and drinks.And sometimes you get the celebrities that show up.There's always celebrities at camp.So it's just, it's different.When you go to other training camps, there's just nothing like it.I appreciate the fact that it's going to be that I'll be a part of this footnote of history with Jerry.You know, the offensive line has been the centerpiece of this organization for years.
01:48:18It is now getting older.It's very expensive.and there's more injuries.My sense is outside the organization.We're talking about young pieces,but the concern in the building is that offensive line going forward.Do you sense that?I think there's obvious question marks.
01:48:35Travis Frederick with Guillaume Barre last yearcame out of absolutely nowhere.Nowhere.You know, he had started with the Stinger at camp.Then we're hearing he doesn't have feeling in his hands and feet,which of course is important when you're the center of an offensive line.And then he told me that,he felt that he could have played at the very, very tail end of the season.
01:48:56Oh, so he did.He did, but he said that they wanted to obviously be careful with it.And then what he did was he never actually walked away from the team.He was on the sidelines all of last year.He took on sort of a coach hybrid role.He was always in the classroom.He was intimately involved in Joe Looney's development,who I would submit that Joe Looney did a pretty good job at center last year.
01:49:16But at least now you've got a lot of depth.They're at that position.Connor Williams, they're sort of moving him guard.tackle. I've been told he's been putting on some weight. I don't know if that translates into makinghim a better player. Tyrant Smith, we saw that he was breaking down a little bit last year.The way that they're addressing that is these veteran days off at camp and OTAs.The Rams have done that. The Rams have taken a much less daunting camp. So Dallas is doing thatto their older old. They've done that for a while. I mean, Sean Lee, Jason Whitten, Tyrant Smith,
01:49:47Zach Martin, Travis Frederick have always sort of fallen in that category.Sure. Well, what?What a pleasure to meet you.By the way, one of my producersfound this picture from usfrom the Super Bowl in New Orleans a few years ago.The discouraging part is I look so dynamic at that pointand I have just fallen apart.
01:50:02Look at me.Well, there's a story behind that, Colin.I was a big fan of you and Michelle Beatle on your show.And so I had a sports talk show in Dallas,Elfin Slater, and, of course, that's morning.So morning shows are always rough at Super Bowl.As you know, I believe this was after the media party.Was I nice?
01:50:18You were incredibly nice, but I'm pretty sureI just grabbed you and said, I want a picture and can you join my show?And of course, you were busy that day.So I appreciate the fact that I'm here today.But yeah, I pulled that picture up from six years ago.And here we are.Here we are.Follow her at Slater NFL.
01:50:36Jane's going to be on the NFL Networks inside the training camp coverage live.Starting tomorrow, this is just great stuff through August 7th, each day at 10 a.m.We'd love to have you on again before camp closes.Come on down here.It's great seeing you.Great meeting you.Thanks so much for having me on.You bet.
01:50:50Joy with the news.No, no, no, no, no.Turn on the news.This is the herd line news.I have basically the exact same picture with you from a year later at the New York Super Bowl forlike the kind of the exact same reason.Do you grab me and told me to come on your show?Well, you came on me and the morning show I had in Miami's, Zaslo and Joy Show.
01:51:10You came on our show.Was I nice?Yes, of course you were nice.What do you mean?See, you're taking all these pictures, Colin.I just want to make sure.We've got receipts.He's very famous and he doesn't remember taking pictures with the show.
01:51:21us. But yes, I've showed you that picture like six months ago. I'll show it to you again. It's not agreat picture of me. But it's, you know, it's morning radio. So it happens. So USA Today released their2019 NFL power rankings and the Patriots are on top. The rest of the rankings, much debatable.Actually, the Chargers being at number two now that I'm looking at this once again is kind of,it's kind of crazy also. Why would the Chargers be above the Chiefs? I would put the Saints abovethem.Okay, people think I'm an L.A.Homer.
01:51:52The Rams are not the 11th best team in the league.That's stupid.They're below the rounds.They're below the bears.By the way, you think I hate Green Bay?Green Bay is not the 14th best team in the league.There's no way Green Bay is only 14th.I know you're very high in the 49ers, but I'm not picking the 49ers to
01:52:10go with the Packers, Cowboys, or Seahawks at this point.I am high on the Niners, but you can make an argument.They haven't shown the ability to stop anybody, and Garoppolo's only six and two.You cannot look at the Green Bay Packers and the L.A. Rams and have them out of the top 10.You can't do it.I mean, the Steelers, too.How much do you think that the Steelers are going to fall off?I will tell you this, though.
01:52:31It's not an egregious top 10.I will say this, though.There's a lot of even teams in this league.Now, you know, we talk about the NBA.There are about 15 teams in this league.They're a field goal away from each other.There's not a lot.There's not a huge gap.
01:52:45I don't know.I just, I think some of these teams are really, I think, I mean, I think the Falcons are really high.That's what I do too.They haven't shown the consistency I want.Right.So we talk a lot about the Mike SandoAthletic Quarterback Tier articleand all the way down at number 24
01:53:00is Eli Manning in Tier 3.And here's a quote from an anonymous head coach.I have a feeling Eli is going to do betterthan what people think.A head coach said we could give him a threeuntil he proves it but I think he is more of a two.Getting rid of that receiver is a big thing.I think that guy was a problem,
01:53:17but that is my own feeling.this is this quote is problematic to me first of all anonymous anonymous coaches criticizinghigh level talent i always find to be amusing like i'm truly interested in finding out whothis like coaches that would feel like their team would not benefit from having odel to meif your organization is not stable enough to sustain a talent level like odel or ntonio brownthat's not on odel or ntonio brown it's on your organization that's it's abecause no one would question that O'Dell would be a good fit in New England.The other thing here is I'm hearing a lot of this.
01:53:56You know, Eli's numbers last year.First of all, you've got to be careful about all this dad on quarterbacks.There's a lot of guys getting up to 66% completion rate with that receiving core.I mean, is Eli making plays with his feet?No.Is he making average plays in a great place with his arm?No.So I'm hearing a lot of this.
01:54:16Eli's better than we...No, he's not.At this point, Eli has dropped to a B-minus C-plus quarterback.You can't, with or without O'Dell, I don't want to hear about...I'm hearing a lot of this.Now that O'Dell's gone, Eli will ride...No, no.Eli got saved a lot by O'Dell's juice the last three years.
01:54:35100%.Yes.The juice factor is 100%.Not debatable.According to this quote, I'm supposed to believe that Eli Manning is actually a tier-twoquarterback that's being held back by O'Dell Beckham.Yeah.Okay.
01:54:48So finally, the NBA is investigating if teams tampered in order to acquire some of the earliest free agent signings in the off season.I think we all know the answer to that is yes.But according to ESPN, the investigation began after the NBA's board of governors meeting in Las Vegas this month.The quote was, after hearing concern from owners and fielding inquiries from top agents over the past several weeks,the NBA has opened an investigation into how free agency operated this summer.The investigation followed a tense owner's meeting in the midst of it.Rick Buchanan, the NBA's longtime General Counsel,issued an even-handed but sobering message to the room.
01:55:22Multiple sources said he asked the group if they were comfortablewith the league seizing servers and cell phones,a line that stuck with many in attendance,according to sources who recounted the scene later.That general counsel is absolutely right.It is preposterous to imagine a scenariowhere the NBA would be seizing the cell phones and recordsof owners and players and agents
01:55:45in order to prosecute some sort of investigation into tampering rules.I mean, give me a break.First of all, the NBA Free Agency is awesome.We talk about it all the time.We talk about it almost every day throughout the entire year.And this particular free agency was like the golden goose egg of contents you could ever ask for.The NBA was relevant 365 days a year, and it will continue to do so because players have the option of being mobile.And not all players take advantage of it.
01:56:15thing is, let's just look at the resultsof all this crazy tampering.Right. We've got 16 teams with two stars.Right. You have absolute parityfor the first time in so long.Yeah, listen, asowners, you are already engineeringlimitations. It's called a salary cap.
01:56:32So why are you scared with tampering?The salary cap limitshow many stars can play together. I mean,Golden State made it work,and it ended much faster than we thought.Because, you know, it's more important thanfame and money.Money.
01:56:46Control.Power.And they are seeing that they don't have the power anymore.The power lies with the free agents.And now they don't even have to be free agents.You can be Paul Georgian request to trade and teams will give it to you.And you don't have to trade players either.But it doesn't matter.
01:57:04The superstar, like Nick Wright said earlier, the NBA superstar is an incredibly valuable commodity.We've seen the Bron James change entire cities.No, change the league.He left the Eastern Congress.conference the ratings tank.Right.So it's very importantand the power should be in their hands.
01:57:21By the way, I love power.Goulet, never talk back to me or you'll bein great peril.Joy with the news.Well, that's the news.And thanks for stopping by.The Heard Lye News.Boy, James Slater had a lot of information.
01:57:35That young lady does her stuff.Everything I asked for. Bang, bang, bang, bang,sources. Greg Toey, you can learn a thingor two about journalism.I have a real journalist on the show.for a change. Coming up next, our strongest, best for last ever, we'll explain.One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart radio app.Search herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like.
01:58:02Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights aretrending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's whereSports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting thethrough the noise. Breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines.We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions,the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never makethe highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls,we break it down, give you context and ask the questions everybody wants answered.
01:58:40Sports slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them.Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist,Kear Games.And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health fieldand conversations with so many incredible guests.I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark.
01:59:10Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so rapidly.up in the chase, that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing, and we're stillchasing it, and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomesabout wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good personwhile you hear on earth, or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two differentintentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a goodperson. Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations aboutHow healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway.
01:59:50Open your free iHeartRadio app.Search Learn the Hardway and listen now.What's up, guys?This is Clivert Taylor the 4th.And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff.Like being an internet famous referee.We're in the middle of a game.This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me.
02:00:09He goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her.What?Time out.Quarterback on office blue with 42.Hey, Wreck, my mama want you to weigh better.What?Hey, Miss Parker.Listen to the Cliverts show on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.
02:00:34What's up, fam?It's Isaiah Thomas.And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast, Point Game is about defining the odds.Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed.And finding ways to win no matter what.He's the smartest player to ever play the game.His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before.And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves,
02:00:53I got to manipulate the game.We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs.I think Joker's going to be exhausted this seriesbecause when they don't have Rudy in the lineup,he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid.He has to guard Julius Randall.And then he has to give us everything he gives uson the night-to-night basis on offense.
02:01:12And when IT's friends stop by like Quentin Richardson,we dive into some playoff history too.Steve Nash will get that thing.That man, hell get the flying.He running up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball.Like, you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah.You figure it out real quick.Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball.
02:01:33So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.We were thinking about it best for last today.Zion Williamson has signed a massive new contract with the Jordan.brand. And a lot of people are critical of Zion's game. He can't shoot a jumper. He's not veryrefined. And I've said this for years. There are certain athletes where I like analytics. I respectthem, but I like analytics. I like the ability to trust my eyes. There are times in sports whencertain athletes are just more physically empowering. And I think over time, their bodies lastlonger. They intimidate other, you know, athletes. And I thought about Zion's deal. And I'm hearing
02:02:18all these questions about him. And he wasn't even the number one high school player, but I said there'sa certain magnetism to him, his size, his power, that I just can't take my eyes off. And I thinkit's going to make him a massive star as long as his body and his torques can survive. But a bigpart of his appeal to me is his power and its strength. And we thought about today,the 10 athletes in sports that I think of first and that I kind of think of first where they'reeven among pro athletes, they're just bigger and stronger and intimidating and more powerful.And I'll start with number 10.Number 10.
02:02:57Will Chamberlain.Now, you got to remember this.In America in 1959, okay, the average NBA player was 6'5 and a little under 200 pounds.Okay, Will came in at 7-1.he average 50 points a game.He often went against 6-6 centers.And what was scary about Wilt, Wilt could run the floor like a guard.Wilt ran track.
02:03:23Wilt could be a professional volleyball player.Wilt didn't look like the rest of the league.He was as athletic as a 6-2 guard.Look at these photos.They're just unbelievable.I only saw Wilt.I started watching sports in 1972.So I got the old heavier headband wilt.
02:03:42Even then, though, he was significantly bigger than the rest of his league.I mean, look at these photos.They're just fascinating.Number nine.Babe Ruth, 6'2-215.Now, today he would be considered a bigger than average man.In America, when he played, the average man was 5'7 and close to 150 pounds.His first year with the Yankees, he had 50.
02:04:09four home runs. He was hittingmore home runs than a division was.Look at these photos, Joy.It's amazing.Look at how, comparativelyto the other players,Babe Bruce so powerfulthat he was leading, he was hitting
02:04:25more home runs than other teamswere hitting.Number eight. Randy Johnson, when he debuted,he was the tallest Major League Baseball playerever. First of all, you're already standingon a mound. He was6'10.standing on a mount.
02:04:41Baseball left-handed hittersacknowledged they were often,he could be wild.He could be conveniently wild.He won four straight National League'sI Youngs. He led baseball instrikeouts nine years. In my lifetime,at his best,
02:04:58he was the most physicallyoverpowering baseball playerI've ever seen. And he was a mariner.We didn't keep him forever,but he was a mariner. And he wasabsolutely physically dominant.Number seven. Zadano Charahockey. Now you don't think I talk hockey.
02:05:16Six foot nine, tallestplayer in NHL history. Here'sthe amazing thing. And this is whatsize can do. You last longer.He's 42.He was drafted in the NHLin 97.He was just the captain of the Boston Bruins
02:05:31who lost in the Stanley Cup.If you watch Stanley Cupplayoffs this year with Boston. Now,if you live in Boston, you're used to seeing him,If you see him comparatively to other hockey players,uh,yes,he is,
02:05:47as with that check,he is a force to be reckoned with.Number six.Well,Serena Williams may have the most dominating serve any woman's ever have,the most dominating backhand,and the most dominating forehand.She just made the Wimbledon final at 37.
02:06:01She's won matches,uh,while she was pregnant and most grand slam titles.Listen,I grew up watching Steffie Graff,and Martina Napertilova and Billy Jean King.These were dominant players.But Serena is probably the first women's tennis player
02:06:18where I felt going into matches.They were won before they started.Now, her and Venus were both great initially,but Serena's ability to withstand over a decade of dominance,the power and the strength,she's just now, I think, for the first time in the last 15 years,I do feel that there are younger players that give her trouble,but her test of time is 23 Grand Slam titles in the open era.
02:06:47That is unbelievable.Number five.Hussein Bolt owns the world record in the 100 meter, the 200 meter, and the 4x100 relay.It's the only person never do that.And the interesting thing is when you think about sprinters,you don't think of tall, lanky men, right?you'd think of more compact runners, like 5-11, 190 pounds.He's like 6'5.
02:07:11And if you ever watch him in a race, he does look like an NFL football player.He really does.And what's interesting about him, he not only wins.What I love watching with his race is these are the fastest humans in the world.And it often looks like in the 100 meters, he's playing with them for about 80 yards.I mean, he is just, even his last name's intimidation.He's a sprinter and his name is bold.It's perfect, yes.
02:07:37Number four.Shack. Do you remember Shaq in Orlando?Oh, Lord. Oh, Lord.Now, he entered the league at 7-1-294.At one point, Joey, he got to 370 pounds.And that was bad on his feet and that hurt him.He was struggling more and more.But if you did not see Shaq, I covered him early.
02:07:55It was hard to explain those Orlando Shack.I remember sitting with Jerry Tarkhanian, the late Jerry Tarkanian,at a restaurant in Las Vegas.and he told me there's this kid at LSU who's a freshman who will be the most physicallydominating player since Wilts Chamberlain.I'm like, who?His name is Shaq.He's a good kid.
02:08:16Dale Brown's got him.And you remember the late Shaq days.The Orlando days he was breaking backboards.Number three.Andre the Giant.Now, you may say it's wrestling.Andre the Giant debuted in 1973 for the WWF.He did not lose a sanction match for 15 years.
02:08:36Hulk Hogan tore a muscle trying to lift him and slam him.He was so strong that promoters and wrestlers were often concerned that he would hurt other pro wrestlers.Now, again, older Andre the Giant did not move well.You go back to the early 70s, mid-70s, he would take 280-pound men and three.them out of the ring.Number two.Tiger Woods.He was the first golfer in my life that consistently hit the ball 325 off the tee.
02:09:16Now there's probably 40 or 50 guys that can do it.When Tiger Woods was in his prime, I can remember a U.S. open at Pebble Beach when his ball gotlodged in the rough and he hit it out of the rough 175 yards.He was the first professional golfer that I used to say this.he reminded me of an NFL free safety.He was so strong.In fact, you could make the argument that Tiger's strength and his torque actually ruined his back,that he swang with the club with so much intensity and so much torque and so much force.
02:09:51Now, everybody looks at Dustin Johnson and Brooks Kepka,but when he broke into golf, he was intimidating.Tiger Woods golfers crumbled.when you could hear his gallery, two holes away, here came Tiger, and there went your lead.Number one.I don't think we've ever seen anything like Bo Jackson.He won the Heisman.He made the Major League Baseball All-Star team.
02:10:17He made the NFL Pro Bowl.He was drafted by the Yankees in 1982.He went to Auburn to play football.He climbed walls.He ran over linebackers.He was the fastest player.he was the strongest player.6-1-2-30, a superstar in baseball, football, and track.
02:10:38He qualified for the NCAA Nationals in the 100 meters.Was never, do you remember?Yeah, NFL football was his hobby.That was his version of whittling.That was his hobby.And I think Bo Jackson, he was the first guy to break a bat over hisbreak a bat over his knee.Now, it's customary now for frustrated hitters.
02:11:04But in my lifetime, I think Bo Jackson's the most.So that's our list of the most physically imposing athletes of all time.I would do honorable mention Michael Vick, because he was the first kind of running quarterback.He was the second fastest guy in his team.He could run.And L.T.Lawrence Taylor.Yeah, I mean, LT was terrifying.
02:11:21He changed football forever.We thought about Michael Phelps, the swimmer.Yeah, very dominating.You had that weird torso percentage?He is a human fish.probably should have had Michael Phelps on the list.All right, great stuff. We'll see you tomorrow.This is The Herd.
02:11:35Last night, a blown call changed a game.This morning, the internet lost its mind,and nobody's telling you exactly what happened.That's where Sports Slice comes in.I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise,breaking down the biggest moments in sportsand giving you the real story behind the headline.And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves.
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02:12:14Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends.Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Lettermanhelp make you funnier.This week, my guest,SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidelhelp an a cappella band with their between songsbanter. Where does your group perform?We do some retirement homes.
02:12:32Those people are starving for banter.Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IheartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the 4th.And on my podcast, The Clivert Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kindsof stuff. Like being an internet famous referee.We're in the middle of a game.This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me, he goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you
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02:13:19What's up, fam?It's Isaiah Thomas.And I'm C.J. Toledano.It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast point game, the playoffs.We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season.And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff.If we didn't talk ever again, I was planning.You just understood.
02:13:35That's how personal it got.Wow.Then after that game seven, Marquis come in to you, he's like, you know, I love you, dog.You know, it's all love.This was just playoffs.This was just basketball.So listen to Point Game on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get yourpodcasts.
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