The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 1 - Bill Belichick and Mike Tomlin

Episode Date: December 8, 2023

Colin gives the honest truth about both Bill Belichick and Mike Tomlin after the ugly matchup between the Patriots and Steelers LeBron James is continuing to try and add to his legacy to surpass Michael Jordan as the greatest player in league history Bills HC Sean McDermott is in some hot waterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another 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 a cappella band with their between songs banter.

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

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes.

Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tauntons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith ruling. of two. Listen to Stuff to Bole Your Mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to 3 Eastern 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.

Oh, here we go on a Friday, a lot of energy, and a lot to talk about. Live in Los Angeles, it's the herd, wherever you may be, and however you may be listening. Thanks for Megan us. Part of your day, it is sweater, weather today. Blazing 5, love my picks. We've had back-to-back winning Blazing 5s. Last week 3 and 2, week before Thanksgiving 4 and 1, love our picks today. We got a 5-0 staring at us.

Now 4-1. We take 4-1. Jay Mack, I said yesterday on the show, I'm not going to watch that stupid NFL game. I don't care if it's Mac Jones or Bailey Zappy or Kenny Pickett or Mitch Trubisky. You can't make me watch that game. And then I go have a little dinner at my friend's restaurant. I turn it on.

The first half is fantastic. That was fantastic. really? Pittsburgh Steelers at home lay another egg? I don't know, Colin. It was a rough watch. It was. Okay, so two defensive head coaches, Bill Belichick, Mike Tomlin, met last night with backup quarterbacks.

Oh, Lord. So Tomlin had the better roster. Mike Tomlin was at home. Mike Tomlin has the better quarterback. Mitch Trubisky made the playoffs twice, and he lost, and they had about 250 yards. Tomlin is now 3 and 10 all time against Belichick. and Mike Tomlin has lost six of his last seven to rookie coaches. Hey, but he's never been under 500.

I still contend Pittsburgh has a lot of talent. It's a top five or six roster. But what I was watching last night were two old defensive head coaches, nice resumes, two longest tenured coaches in the league that both Tomlin Belichick need to look in the mirror and take a long, hard look at themselves and the cultures they've created. It is outdated.

I mean, the Steelers offensively think the jet sweep is revolutionary. It's used in high school. The Patriots can't draft or develop wide receiver talent or tight-end talent in the last decade to save their life. And do you really think if you gave Kyle Shanahan, Andy Reid, Sean McVey, Sean Payton, Pittsburgh's offense, it would look like this? I mean, I know it's Trubisky and Kenny Pickett, But would it look like this?

This is embarrassing. I mean, Pittsburgh's got a really good young tied-in. Two excellent wide receivers. I don't love both their backs. And the O-line, come on. They've put draft picks and money into it. It's still okay, and it still looks like this. But, hey, they've never had a losing season.

Boy, is that the standard for the Steelers? But of these two franchises really feel like two middle-aged guys who want to brag about their college or high school days? It's ugly. And it shouldn't be. At least New England has an excuse. They let Belichick draft, and he can't. But Pittsburgh's front office has a history of finding gems everywhere.

I don't think there's a franchise in the NFL that drafts better a wide receiver in tight end town over the last 20 years than Pittsburgh. Tomlin can't do anything with it. It doesn't matter if it's Bailey Zappy or Mack Jones or Kenny Pickett or Mitch Trubisky. These teams are a mile from relevance. The world has changed. and they're sitting bragging about tough football and special teams. And once again, I would like to point out that all through this league with quarterback injuries, when an offensive coach loses a starting quarterback, Shane Steichen is a playoff team today with Gardner-Menschu.

It's not man overboard. Arthur Smith, Taylor Heinecke. He's leading his division over the favored defensive coach with a team. better quarterback Dennis Allen. Mike McCarthy last year. Criticize him all you want. Went five and one with Cooper Rush. Zach Taylor, 32 and 37 this last weekend, Jake Browning a backup at Jacksonville.

Zach Taylor, offensive coach. Kevin Stefansky. I watched Joe Flacco last weekend. My jaw about hit the floor. I could not believe how good Joe Flacco was. He was outstanding. I watched Baker, Mayfield, and Sean McVeigh last year. They had one practice together.

I watched Kevin O'Donnell and Josh Dobbs, Minnesota this year. They had no practice together. None. Trabisky's been in the building now for a while. Bailey Zappy, second half. Didn't have a drive longer than 20 yards? I mean, I know they're respected and they'll get statues outside the stadium. These teams feel like a mile away from relevance.

Here was Mike Tomlin after. What went into the fourth and two called Mike? And was that the primary call? It was. We were down there. We played a win. We wanted to be aggressive. And we just didn't get it done. Where do you guys go from here?

What is the direction? We get ready for our next opportunity next week. That's what we always do. Obviously, this stings, but we'll be back. Listen, you never want to lose your starting quarterback. But if you have a defensive head coach, even a multiple Super Bowl winning defensive head coach, and you lose your starting quarterback, season's over. If you have an offensive coach and you lose your quarterback, you can lead your division, you can be viable.

I've got multiple, multiple examples. I have Joe Flacco in Cleveland. I mean, if you didn't watch that game last week, it was, what am I watching? watching. Joe Flacko was on a couch. Walks into Cleveland making throws all over the yard. It wasn't just Flacco. It was the coach. All right. So the Lakers last night hammered the Pelicans. It's this in-season tournament.

And the thing I take away from it, first of all, it's a swing by the NBA. I'm all for taking swings. We talk about that all the time. It's fun. The court's different. The players are into it. They get $500,000 to the winning team. Now, to LeBron James, that means nothing. but he is totally focused, insanely intense, absolutely inarguably committed to the in-season tournament. He is having an unbelievable season.

He would be first-team all-NBA right now. Why does he care so much about this? He'll probably give that money and tip the ball boys. Why? I believe there's only one thing he's never surpassed. Oh, he's surpassed it, MJ. but in the minds of the MJ fans, that's the last hurdle. And winning the first in-season tournament is something else you can put on the Wikipedia page.

And LeBron is keeping score because he's surpassed Kareem in points. He's surpassed Kareem in minutes. He's won the first in-season tournament. He's now fourth all time. He just passed Steve Nash and says he's climbing up that list. He has nothing, no other. hurdle. Well, he'll never win six. Well, Bill Russell won 11 titles, almost double Michael Jordan. He knows, he knows, he's not going to be perfect. He's probably not going to win six titles.

But what he's doing is he is looking at opportunities that go into the resume and historians go 20 years from now. Yeah, I know Mike went six for six, but he surpassed Kareem in points. He finished first or second in assists. He got to more finals. He won the first in-season tournament. And here's another thing. I think LeBron came in with a mindset this season. And why this season? I mean, it was good last season. It was good at season before. But what is it about this season that LeBron has been this focused? I mean, it's really incredible. He would be first team all NBA. He currently leads the NBA in fourth quarter baskets over Luca, Tatum, Yonis, Yonkich. It's insane. Why? He's 39.

39 was Michael's last year. First year, only year. He averaged under 20 points. So when historians look back at Michael's last year, yeah, average like 18, 19 a game. They're going to look at LeBron James at 39 and go, bruh, he was first team all NBA. I think the in-season.

tournament. LeBron has taken it completely seriously to add to his Wikipedia NBA resume, and I think he went into this season at 39, knowing that's when Michael hung it up, and Michael was not washed, but Michael was done. He wasn't vertical, only season

under 20, and you'll look at LeBron and go, he hadn't been this good in six years. This is a testament to something we all now have to acknowledge. LeBron is on a short list and may lead it as the greatest athlete in American sports history.

Let that bake in. 39 years old. Basketball, you play the offensive end, the defense event. This is not football. Brady watched defense special teams. LeBron's on the floor for all of it. And I have watched parts of every Laker game this year, I think, almost every Laker game. He's been the best player on the floor in virtually every game. The best player on the floor.

and he's played KD. They got some games here against Young Stars, best player on the floor. So I think when you get to be LeBron James, he went into this season knowing this was the time Michael hung it up. He was going to make a point, a historical comp. Not only am I not hanging it up, I'm one of the five best players in the league.

Because what he did last night, 133.889, they're now in the playing tournament championship against the Pacers. and I'm going to tell you something. LeBron is going to play one of his best games of the year. He don't want to hear about Halliburton, that kid, the Pacers.

He doesn't got any interest in that. He is going to look at that game tomorrow in Vegas as resume stuff, all-time stuff, 20 years from now stuff. Here was LeBron on advancing to the finals on TNT. It's still December, so I'm not getting too crazy

about the whole thing. I understand. This thing has been great, season tournament, but it's still December. We're a team that wants to get better every single game. We go out there, every quarter, every possession, so we had another opportunity to do that. Yeah, no big deal. Really?

You watch LeBron this year? I mean, if you're watching on LeBron this year, it doesn't, he was great last year. It looks completely different. First team all-NBA today leads the fourth quarter in baskets made. It's insane what he's doing right now. All historical comps, and he's keeping score.

You know, I've had to, for years and years, J-MAC, I don't think I've been negative with the Cowboys, but I've kind of rolled my eyes at Super Bowl stuff. I always use the argument with the Cowboys. It'll be pretty good. And that's what they've been for 20 years. And so for 20 years, I've been pretty right in the Cowboys. They're pretty good. They're not just pretty good this year.

And there's a couple of things where we have to take them seriously. They have now wedged into my Super Bowl bubble, and there's only about six teams. but this weekend, this Philadelphia game, a lot of people are already handing it to Dallas. This is the game of the season for them, for a lot of different reasons. Blazing 5, 45 minutes from now, are you excited? For the Blazzing 5 or Eagles Cowboys?

I can't wait for Eagles Cowboys. Philadelphia off a humiliating loss, teams that are good off humiliating losses, bring their A game. I'll say this about the Dallas Eagles game. if the Cowboys managed to lose this game, I don't want to hear another word about Dak Prescott and the MVP. No more. No more. It's over.

If Dak Prescott cannot come through in this game. And I think that will. I bet Dallas. Can I go back to LeBron for one second? Yeah. You mentioned KD and LeBron in like the same sentence. And I decided, let me look it up. Do you know what Kevin Durant's record against LeBron is without Steph Curry? When he was with the Warriors, obviously they annihilated everyone. Kevin Durant's record.

against LeBron without Steph Curry is 4 and 20. He cannot touch LeBron when he doesn't have Steph Curry and a stack deck. LeBron has annihilated maybe a top 15 player in the history of the game head to head almost every time. That to me is crazy because we know Jordan struggles against the pistons, against Bird, against Magic back in the day. That's a crazy number. So you were at a Laker game.

I haven't gone in person to a Laker game this year. What was your interpretation of LeBron what you saw? Best player on the court. It wasn't even close. And Devin Booker's real good. No, no. I mean, think how good Booker is. Yeah.

Booker last year in the playoffs went on an M.J. Kobe run. Kevin Durant's one of the best get a basket guys in the last 15 years. All on the floor together. Not close. Not close. And I'm a, you know I have been a Durant guy. We've had our online beefs. I get that.

But it's not. LeBron is so superior to Durant historically. Like, and Durant's very, very good. Oh, yeah. Yeah, I liked your LeBron rate. That was a good start to the day. Yeah. So, all right, blazing 5, 45 minutes from now, thoughts on the Cowboys Eagles, which is going to be a great,

great. We got some really interesting matchups this weekend. All right, I've got a great parlay for you this weekend, thanks to Draft King Sportsbook. New users use the code heard H-E-R-D when you download the app. Now for the parlay pick of the week via Draft King Sportsbook. I like the Ravens at home minus seven against the Rams. NFC teams this year, Detroit, Seattle that have gone east. base Lamar Jackson and that speed offense have been clobbered. I'll take the Ravens to win by over a

touchdown. The Browns have Joe Flacco, but their defense at home should shut down the Jags who won't have Trevor Lawrence or Christian Kirk. He's having surgery. I like the Browns by a touchdown. Chiefs minus two and a half at home over the bills. They're better. They're bouncing off a loss, which they normally do. And I just don't trust the bills in a big spot. Ravens, Browns, chiefs, home favorites, like them all. If you want to take the herd parlay, check out Draft King's book, new users, please use the code heard. H-E-R-D when you download the app. Takes a minute, that's all. 21 plus in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction.

Eligibility restrictions apply. Gambling problem. Call 1-800 gambler. In New York. Call 8778-8-Hope-N-Y or text Hope-N-Y 467-369. See show notes for full details. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games.

Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human. potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clipper Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey, from basketball to college football or my career in sports media.

Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations,

stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right what you need to be. Listen to The Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes,

follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tauntons and wampas on the ice planet hot,

or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith Rule of Two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. All right, it's the game of the season for the Dallas Cowboys. as they host the Philadelphia Eagles, a team they outplayed, but true to form last couple of years, lost to a very good team, situationally didn't make the plays late. The Cowboys do not have a win this year over a team that currently has a winning record.

Again, it's a multi-season trend. Destroy, especially at home, bad teams and mediocre teams, and then fold late against the good ones. So Philadelphia is ready to go off a humiliating loss. really, really good teams off humiliating losses, tend to crystallize, play very well. Everybody's burying the Eagles, everybody. Philadelphia still wants the number one seed and a buy. They're an older team.

Older teams like buys. I can't find anybody that doesn't like the Cowboys. Vegas likes Dallas, the media likes Dallas, the fans like Dallas. The difference this time, though, instead of cynicism, the Cowboys are doing several things that super, Bowl teams do. At least teams that get to the Super Bowl. Dak, a very good quarterback, is having his best year.

That's very Matt Ryan, very Cam Newton in their Super Bowl appearance years. They have seven blowout wins. Super Bowl champs in the last decade, average seven blowout wins. They have a top five defense in virtually

every metric. That's a Super Bowl defensive metric. They have an offensive coach. The last four Super Bowl champs, five of six, have had an offensive coach. They have an emerging O-line mixed with youth and veterans. That feels like a Super Bowl O line. And this Dallas team, to me, feels different. I do Super Bowl bubbles about once a month on this show, and right now I have Dallas in my Super Bowl bubble.

Kansas City, Baltimore, Philly, Dallas, and San Francisco, three NFC teams, two AFC teams. I think Miami and Detroit, there are things I like, especially Miami, but I've got questions against Miami and big games. Detroit's defense has gone into the tank. Joe Burroughs out, Cincinnati can't be there. That's where I am today. Kansas City, Baltimore, Philly, Dallas, San Francisco, and stuff to like, offensively explosive, Detroit, Miami,

question them against good offenses, tough physical teams in big games. So I do think it's different. not a blazing five pick. I would take Philadelphia and the hook, but I think this Dallas team feels like a team that can get to the Super Bowl. Greg CoSell yesterday, this has as much praise as I ever remember him heaping on Dak Prescott. In the last five or six weeks where he's played exceptionally well, we have seen him make far more outside of structure off-schedual plays than I think we saw all in the last couple of years. He's been very comfortable moving.

He's been seeing the field extremely well on the run, and he's made really good throws moving. Yep, it's a different DAC. It's a different cowboy team. And one, after all these years, I finally buy. I really do. J-Mack with the news. No, no, no, no.

Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. A little sad to see the Super Bowl bubble shrinking, as you know that like the season coming to an end. The one team I would ask you to maybe put in pencil there. Buffalo Bills. If they beat the Chiefs, they're back. They're in the mix. At 7 and 6 with all the backup quarterbacks, can I sell you on the bills and pencil on the outside? Maybe you can put half the logo on there. All right, let's get started with the Chicago Bears, who currently hold the

first and fifth picks in the draft, first via Carolina. There have been rumblings that Chicago could potentially move off Justin Fields and draft Caleb Williams first overall, but Fields isn't letting the rumors get to him. Life isn't fair. So, you know, me personally, I'm just focused on what I can control and, you know, the rest is in God's hands

and, you know, wherever, if I'm here, next year, if I'm not, you know, football doesn't define who I am as a person. I'm very blessed in the position I am in. And, you know, I think a million people would love to be in the position I am right now. So really just, you know, not taking that for granted. And just taking each and every moment I have every day up here, you know, to the fully.

So, yeah. That's a good answer. Solid. I like Chicago this weekend. It's a big one. It's tough to say it's a big one for him. I don't know that he can do anything to change the coach's staff opinion of him. I don't, but I do think he has viable market two, three teams.

I think he's too talented. If Sam Darnold got a second chance in Carolina, Justin Fields will get a second. chance. He's got too much athletic ability for an offensive coach to not say, give me a chance at that. Defensive coach, they don't like turnovers. He fumbles like once a game. But an offensive coach looks at that and says, you know, I watch Anthony Richardson with Shane Steichen. You can make plays in this league. I think offensive coaches look at Justin Fields. The thing that's hurting Justin now is it's a defensive culture. That actually does him a solid on the market? Because I think

offensive coaches look at the Bears front office, their weak ownership, their roster, and they're like, well, who could succeed there? Right? It's almost like when Darnold failed with the Jets, everybody's like, well, it's the Jets. So, you know, an offensive coach, Matt Ruhl goes, I think I can win some games with this.

Baker Mayfield has gotten another chance, right? Because it's Cleveland, they're dysfunctional. So the dysfunctional of the Bears actually helps Justin on the market. And now, if I was Arthur Smith, and they're going to win their and they're not going to get a top four quarterback, I would have absolutely no problem bringing Justin Fields in.

Do you remember a couple weeks ago I came out here and said the market for Justin Fields is going to be robust and massive, 10 teams, and you scoffed, and you mocked me. I still am. It's three. Okay. We watched a game last night. Philadelphia is another place where an offensive coach would go, I'll put him behind Jalen Hurds.

We watched the game last night. Pittsburgh would kill for Justin Fields to be the backup right now. He might beat out pick it for the starter. But if I'm an agent, I'm his agent, I have no interest going to New England. I would send him to Arthur Smith or Philadelphia tomorrow. But wait a minute. What if Justin Fields says, hey, Mr. Agent Guy, I don't want to be a backup. I want to start the way Sam Darnel got the chance in Carolina.

There's got to be a team out there that would consider me a starter. Well, no, I think Atlanta's the spot. First of all, he's from there. That's something. Arthur Smith appears to be more than capable. He shouldn't be leading this division. secondly, Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Bejohn Robinson, their O-lines underrated.

He is a playmaker. I mean, I always say, one of the safest bets will be if Justin Fields goes to Atlanta, his numbers are all go up. Just because it's an offensive leaning culture, no question. So I think what's really hurting him now

actually helps him on the market that you look at the Bears dysfunction and go, nobody could win there. It helps him on the market. But does he want to be a starter? Or, you know what? Maybe I'd just be a back. I would take, I would go to Atlanta to start over Philadelphia as a backup.

Seattle calls. Hey, Gino Smith. It was terrible against Sanfrey. No, thanks. No, thanks. Defensive culture. Okay, you see the wide receivers at group, Scott? D.K. Metcalfe, JSN, and Lockett?

Well, I'm Cole Komet. DJ Moore. Mooney. Stop. Chicago. Come on. Seattle's way more. I mean, I've floated New York Giants your way.

I think you kind of like, there's options. He could start or be a backup. I'm telling you 10 teams at least for Justin Fields. All right, next let's move on to, oh, we're sticking to the NFC North. The Packers are rolling. Your guy, Jordan Love, 1-4-5, 7th C in the NFC. Jordan Love says the team views the remaining games as must-wins. We don't doubt anybody or take a game off or anything like that.

We give everybody respect and just take it that one game at a time. And our mindset is just to focus and go win. every week. We don't need a reminder at all. We know exactly what position we're in. You know, every game is like a playoff game for us. We just got to, we know that mentality. We've got to win out. So this team doesn't need a reminder of that.

Green Bay should win. My feeling, though, this game's really close. You look at that game on paper and you think it's an awful game. Watch that game be entertaining. I think the Giants should have a chance to win that game. I don't think they will because I think Green Bay is going to run the table. I think they're going to win every game going forward. I think Green Bay goes, I think Green Bay ends.

up 11 and 6. So imagine getting to the playoffs facing Tommy DeVito, Baker-Mayfield, Bryce Young, Josh Dobbs, and Justin Fields. That is a poo-poo platter if I've ever seen. Okay, but Tom Brady, when he came out of the week 12 by, he got to face a lousy Detroit team in Atlanta twice. That's the breaks. Yeah.

It's the breaks. I think Green Bay is going to go on a run. Hey, how many games can they, over under, one and a half playoff wins for that? Under. But they're going to make the playoffs. Sure. I'm going to tell you something.

If you start looking at that receiving group, they've acquired, they've drafted. I don't know if Watson's going to go this. But they've got four guys I like, five guys and two tight ends. They're really talented. But the guys are hurt every week. Aaron Jones, hurt again. He's killed my fantasy team. I'll stop.

Watson hurt all the time. Dobbs, he's in and out of lineup. Like, they've drafted well, but nobody can stay healthy there. But I said over under one and a half, I think. they're going to win their wild card game. And then depending on who they face, I'm just telling you, nobody is afraid to face the Detroit Lions the way they're playing right now.

Like nobody. They're just not a good football team right now. Well, they have a problem they can't solve personnel-wise. They just, they're bad on the back end. They can't solve it. And I don't know, Cowboys, we'll see. I'm not sold on them. Final story, Colin, let's go to baseball,

where the hot stove is cooking and John Morosi reports that Shohei Otani's free agency decision is imminent and could happen today. Morosi adds, the Toronto Blue Jays have improved their standing and the Otani sweepstakes interviewed as a finalist alongside the Dodgers. Some have even speculated Toronto is the front runner.

Now, gambling odds are not really showing us anything crazy. Otani's camp is doing a good job keeping this under wraps. But come on. He's not going to Toronto. Well, first of all, Toronto, it would not be good for baseball, but Toronto's an international city and he's an international star. I heard for months he wanted to stay on the west coast.

West coast. If you've already, remember, he played for the Angels. Their rival is the Dodgers. So leaving from the Angels to the Dodgers, there'll be a little dust up there. People don't like it. So instead of immediately saying

I'm going to be a Dodger, that would give you the impression that he made his mind up in the middle of the season. You're very conspiracy theory. Okay, I'm not. Not a conspiracy theory. It's two days in a row on Otati with you. But what he's doing is, I gave this deep thought.

I literally, I was an angel till the last inning. I almost went to Toronto. I almost went to Toronto. And then at the last second, somebody spoke to me, voices said, go to the Dodgers, young man. But he's wanted to be a Dodger since the All-Star break. But this is the way to cover sort of the tracks here for you and the agent. bring in a dark horse team,

still give the angels a shot, which he's doing, and then kind of, yeah, maybe Dodgers. And then he chooses Dodgers, and he's made his mind. Now, I'm a casual with baseball, but I don't buy, he's staying with the Angels, or why go through this? He knows, exactly, yeah. I don't buy Toronto, although, you know,

he's a global athlete. It's probably the most global city in North America, New York, in Toronto. But if you didn't want people to think you made your mind up and it was a decision edged in stone because remember the agent for Otani has to deal, he's got other players probably, he's got to deal with teams. The last thing the agent wants to think is you had this thing done months ago. So I think they're trying to create this fog of indecision. He could go either way to Canada. And then he goes, I'll be a Dodger.

Now, now, in an hour, he could choose the Blue Jays, and this is just a conspiracy theory. I don't have it sourced. Nobody has a clue. You know, by the way, when Jeff Passon doesn't know, and Buster Only doesn't know, and Verducci and Ken Rosenthal don't know, nobody knows. But it does feel, it

feels a little trying too hard to make me believe O'Tani is literally restless sleep at night has Blue Jays in his mind. Colin, if he goes to the Blue Jays, is this online with LeBron picking the heat back in the day? Now I know LeBron did like a TV special, which really ticked off everybody, but at the time,

the heat were like, there was a cup, a pocket of people who were like, yeah, he's going to go to Miami, but mostly people thought he'd stay in Cleveland. Well, I don't think anybody right now really thinks that he's going to Toronto. If he does that, that is. Canada doesn't even, for the top free agents and high, hockey. I mean, Steve Nash didn't choose them, right? At one point, he didn't choose. Right. The Canadian Steve Nash, they don't always get the best hockey guide who often wants to come down to the States. So to get Otani, the only reason I think it's considered is because he views himself

as kind of maybe his agent and the marketing people think it's a global city and he's a global star. We want to be Ronaldo level. We want to be able to bounce around and go all over, not just be a West Coast baseball player. Right, Ronaldo goes to, where's he playing soccer right now? Other side of the world, I think is Saudi Arabian League or something? Yes, yes. Yeah, like nobody had that, but that was a money play. Right, right, right.

But it also extended his brand to another part of the world. And so Otani now is seen as like a West Coast guy, Pacific Rim West Coast. If he goes to Canada, it's another country, to the East Coast, it broadens his marketing ability. And so, like I would have thought he would be a Yankee, but they don't want to get into that sweepstakes. The other thing about Otani, he's not going to pitch anymore, right? I don't think he's going to pitch next year. I don't think he's going to pitch next year. Next year, he's not going to pitch.

Have you seen the numbers for what he's going to get paid to not pitch, just hit? I mean, he's great, but I thought the whole... He's box office. Oh, no, we talked about him all season. We're not a baseball show, but he was a topic seven, eight times. J. Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by.

The Hurd-Lie News. I really do think the Toronto part of it may be a ruse, but it does feel like right now he's viewed as largely this great baseball player, but kind of a California guy and his agent marketing people may want to broaden that out. I see soccer guys do it all the time. We all do. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHard Radio app.

Hey, it's Ben. Host of the fifth hour with Ben Mallor. It would mean a lot to have you join us on our weekly auditory journey. asking what in God's name is the fifth hour? I'll tell you, it's a spinoff of the Ben Mather show, a cult hit overnights on FSR. Why should you listen? Picture, if you will, a world where we chat with captains of industry in media,

sports and more every week, explore some amazing facts about human nature and more. Listen to the fifth hour with Ben Mather on the Iheart radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all,

embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. Yep, that's me.

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

The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app,

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

Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tontons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. Sunday, we got a huge day of football, Coming your way on Fox. The Rams take on Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, or The Seahawks Battle, Christian McCaffrey and the Niners. Check for the game in your area, only on Fox and the Fox Sports app. Lamar Jackson may not play. He's sick.

We think he's going to play, but there's a story out today. He's sick. Illness practice yesterday. I think he's going to be fine. Okay. I stayed away from that game. I love Baltimore. That's a mistake by you.

It may be. By the way, I think I couldn't tell you how many times the game I pass on wins. So that's the game I. I'm passing on. Baltimore is the side I like. There you go. So Marvin Harrison, Jr., the best college wide receiver prospect probably in my life, says he is undecided and considering returning to Ohio State. I do not think he should, nor do I think he will. But it does show you the difference in why college football has completely pulled away from college basketball. College football stars like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Caleb Williams are now enticed to stay.

and consider it, college basketball stars are enticed to leave if they even go to college. College basketball now is a two to three week sport. College football will explode next year with a 12-team playoff and two mega conferences, the big 10 of the SEC. I don't understand why college football doesn't privatize and pull away from athletic departments. I don't understand why venture capital firms don't buy college football programs. It's where all the money is. I'd separate from the rest of the athletic departments and make them pay their own

bills, but we have a 12-team playoff. The sport's about to explode. And there's only two things anybody watches in college. College football and three weeks of college basketball, and that's it. But this is noteworthy because both Caleb Williams and Marvin Harrison, Jr., these are transcendent prospects, have at least considered or are considering staying in college football. I've said this ad nauseum for the last two, three weeks that I believe, as a stock the best buy in sports is college football. It will explode

over the next two to three to four to five years. It will cement itself as easily as the NBA continues to be mostly irrelevant ratings-wise in the regular season. It will cement itself as the number two sport in this country. But it is really

something. College basketball players, if they go to college, are enticed constantly to leave. Caleb Williams, Marvin Harrison, considering staying means that many borderline guys that can go to the pros and get drafted in the third, fourth, fifth, sixth round, real players are going to stay, making the product better. What's happened to college basketball is the product's not very good. It's like an apartment complex.

Nobody that lives there actually wants to live there. Everybody's looking to leave eventually to a house, a condo, or a better spot. But college football now more and more really good players, Shador Sanders for Colorado, would be a first round quarterback. He's staying. that is a huge benefit. It's the opposite. What has happened to college basketball in a decade?

Elite players. Elite top of the board guys. I'm going to come back. I like college. Just great for any network that's got college football and great for fans because the quality, unlike college basketball, will remain high and may even get better. So Sean McDermott has a star quarterback and he's not winning enough.

And, you know, he fired. his offensive coordinator. Can't blame him now for this season. Leslie Frazier, the defensive coordinator quit. That's rare. Can't blame him for this season. Josh Allen's still great. Can't blame him for this season. So there's all sorts of leaks coming out now from players and coaches because he got an extension last year from the owner. So the owner likes him and the GM defends him. But now there's some really ugly stories leaking. One being that back in 2019, four years ago, Sean McDermott, as he was making an inspirational speech, brought up 9-11, it was clunky,

it just didn't work, and he apologized for it. As I mentioned to the team then, that I regretted and apologized for me not doing a good job of clearly communicating my point. And I'm going to do the same with the team today about when they're done meetings so that if there's anyone new, that they understand

how important that is to me and my family because it's a, it's an important event, a horrific event in our history. So stuff gets out when people want it out and there is a website go long.

Tyler Dunn will be on our show in a couple of hours. We've used him for years on the Packers and the bills. The bills don't like him. They don't give him press passes to attend their game. because he's critical of McDermott in the organization. So obviously he interviewed like 25, 30 people.

McDermott's a very rigid guy. I think he's a classic clean-up-the-mess football coach but doesn't have any great vision. I've used Chuck Knox as an example for that. Certainly capable, very detailed, very organized, and very, very rigid. So he can get you the first part, which is cleaning up a mess, which will ensure that Sean McDermott gets another job if he ever gets run out of Buffalo. But I don't see him as a guy that really has very much. vision for the next level. For the record, I don't see any of these defensive coaches other than

maybe D'emico Ryan's looks like he's got it. But he's a very rigid defensive coach. And the thing that would bother me in this article, obviously the 9-11 stuff is a whiff, it's a gaff, we all know that. That's the headline, no question. But Tyler Dunn also points out that he didn't have, doesn't have much of a relationship with Josh Allen. What are you doing? There's one player you have to have a relationship with in that building. That is Josh Allen. And this, this is Belichick and Mac Jones and Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson and you think Sean Peyton hangs out and parties with Russell Wilson they're not they're not guys but you got to make sure you get along you communicate you're in close contact you know his

weaknesses his strengths what he likes what he doesn't so the article's got a lot of different sourcing that clearly players and assistant coaches are done of the finger pointing and that's really what the article states is that he won't take accountability for some of the issues I don't think he's a bad coach. I think he's a defensive coach, and I think defensive coaches are rigid, and you just have to have a relationship with Josh Allen. So I'm seeing defensive coaches. Mike Tomlin last night, Belichick, Sean McDermott, Ron Rivera. I like Mike Vrable, but they've gone to a backup quarterback, and it gets worse, whereas offensive coaches will take a backup after an injury,

and it's pretty good early, and it tends to get better. A defensive coach, it's bad, and it spirals out of control. So Josh Allen, to me, deserves. a reboot deserves an offensive coach and an offensive culture. Leslie Frazier quit. Can't blame him. Ken Dorsey got fired. Can't blame him. Josh is having a great year. Can't blame him. Still don't have a running game. Dependable running game. It's a little better this year, but not great. So now, it can all change if they beat Kansas City. And the heat is off if they beat Kansas City. And a lot of people this weekend think they can. In a weird way, I'm almost rooting for him because, I mean, it's gotten pretty ugly for Sean McDermott. But this is

something we've talked about, discussed, seen. I would be bothered that another defensive head coach does not have a tight relationship with the quarterback. I mean, Brock Purdy and Kyle Shanahan sound like roommates. Stafford and McVeigh, inseparable. I mean, they can read each other's minds.

That's what you need. You don't have to go out every night. But, I mean, Belichick and Brady didn't have dinner in 20 years, not once. There's no excuse for that. Do better. So that's your situation in Buffalo. Again, they can turn it all around with a win this week. weekend. That's why the NFL's great. One game a week.

Win it. A lot of the critics go away. But it's gotten ugly. You can tell Sean McDermott's personality at the podium is a lot more of, a little less intense. I think he knows he's under the microscope. I think he knows he's in trouble. But they gave him an extension, and they said two weeks ago, the GM, we're not firing Sean McDermott. So there's just a lot of tension. And when an owner gives an extension and a GM says we're not firing him, what a players think? Our only out is the media. Our only outlet now to get somebody run is the media.

So that's why when players feel like they have no leverage or power, because the owner likes the coach and the GM says we're not firing the coach, what do you do? You go to the media. And the media's job is to get sources, and Tyler Dunn's doing a great job on that. But clearly what it's telling you is a lot of those players in that room, they want accountability from the coach.

Because Josh Allen keeps in these big games against Cincinnati and Kansas City, Josh Allen keeps scoring late, and the defense can't stop him, and McDermott's a defensive guy. All right, Jemak. Blazing 5, top of next hour. You know, I'm just thinking here, can I add Baltimore and have a Blazing 6? I do believe your name is still on the show, so you can do whatever the hell you want. So if I do a Blazing 5 and then just say, we don't have the graphics for it, but I'm taking Baltimore. Well, just be careful, check the weather.

It looks like it's going to be a monsoon in Baltimore. I know. That's why I stayed a teaser where I tease Baltimore down to just have to win the game. All right. Well, I can't do that on Blazing. Well, you've got to add teaser to the Bladen 5. Tease Buffalo up. Chiefs aren't beating them by more than 8.

And you tease the Ravens down. They just win the game. That's a lot of information. It's a lot of stuff. This is what we do, man. Come on. Blazing 5 next hour to in L.A. Another 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 a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced.

enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both Lifelong Star Wars. fans, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of taun tons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business

sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.