The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 1 - Caitlin Clark, Jordan Love, Jalen Brunson

Episode Date: July 15, 2024

Colin Cowherd explains how the US women's team has a chance to correct a ridiculous mistake, why Cowboys QB Dak Prescott is not in Colin's top 10, and why he believes Jordan Love should be. Plus, explaining how Jalen Brunson did the right thing by taking less money.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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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 moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was harmed. You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis'clock, he's like, you know I love you, dog.

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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. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Here we go. It is a Monday. We are live in Los Angeles. It's the herd wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. Jay Mack is back. Traveling abroad with the family, it is great to have you back.

Thanks for everybody last couple of weeks who was filled in for us. So you and I were talking yesterday on the phone briefly and you said something to me about when you were coming back, You went and thought to yourself, oh, what's on TV today? And the one thing that caught your eye beyond like the Euros or Copa this week was Caitlin Clark. Indeed, yes. Phenomenal. Yeah, I think Caitlin Clark has that pull. And it's interesting.

So yesterday she had another great fourth quarter that came back to win. So here's what's interesting. Diana Tarasi is injured and it may open the door for Caitlin Clark to make the Olympic team. And women's basketball just didn't quite know how to handle Caitlin Clark. It reminds me a little bit when Taylor Swift, the singer, became a billionaire with the ERAs tour. And like the management team and Ticketmaster had to apologize. Like in 10 minutes, they couldn't supply enough tickets. It was just, they were completely overwhelmed.

And I think that's what Women's Basketball was with Caitlin Clark. I mean, they knew a year out she could be the number one pick. They give her the toughest schedule, early schedule in the league over any other team. And remember, the Indiana fever were the worst team. So she comes in, they start one and eight. They put nothing but quality veteran teams that had been in the playoffs. Terrible start. And then the league has to scramble because she's selling jerseys and merch like crazy.

They've got to switch venues in L.A. They went from the pyramid in Long Beach to crypto. And the league just, then the league got, you know, this is what happened sometimes with soccer fans. They feel ignored and W.A. fans feel ignored. So they get very precious, very tribal, very insular. She's not going to make the USA Women's Basketball Olympic team. And you're like, are you crazy? Go look at the men's team.

It's political. Jalen Brown's not on it because Nike doesn't want him on it. Kyrie Irving's not on it because Nike doesn't want him on it. You're not going to put Caitlin Clark, your Taylor Swift on the team. Well, you know, she sells out her All-Star jersey in 17 minutes. I'm still not sure women's basketball quite has their feet under them. You know, they're doing a ticket master, they're bailing water. She's exploding as a player.

She leads the WNBA in assists. She's third in three-pointers made. Indiana's won eight of 12. Yesterday is a prime example where she is in the fourth quarter, best player on the floor, had a choppy first half but had 10 points. But you're not going to hear anybody pick on women's basketball as a unit. There's a lot of sycophants in the media. They feel like the sport's been ignored.

So they're part of the brigade to support it. And that's fine. But let's be honest about it. The sport made a terrible decision on the Olympic team. The scheduling early, even though they knew she was coming out and probably going to be a number one pick a year earlier. About the time they were making schedules was ridiculous. And now Indiana's on fire.

Caitlin Clark's like a 17, 8, and 6 player. She's getting better by the week. She says the right stuff at the podium. She's, there's nothing about her you don't like. And it's like now you made a big mistake the first time, not putting her on the Olympic team. Don't double down on dumb. Get her on the team.

Give us a reason to watch the Olympic. women's team. You guys win gold every year. Your competition's week. You win it every year. Give us a reason quadruple your television ratings with her. Promoting not only the other women on the team that could get endorsements, but promoting your sport. There's a reason that top movie stars and top athletes use the same four or five agents because they can handle it. They don't get overwhelmed. Women's basketball has felt overwhelmed here. You got your Connor McGregor, your baseball, you got your Bryce Harper. You know, you, it's very, you got your messy in the MLS.

You put them on TV. You know, the whole salary cap in the MLS, it's funny, they got messy into the MLS. The guy makes more than some of the teams, they figured out a way to get him into the MLS. They weren't precious and rigid. And so, listen, in basketball terms, this is a layup. In NBA terms, it's a slam dunk. If you can get her on the Olympic team, you miss the first time. Do it the second time.

You're doing yourself a favor. Don't get in the way of yourself. Don't jump over a $20 bill to get to a five, as they say. You screwed up the first time. Don't screw up again. Get her on the Olympic team. Diana Tarasi, by the way, has been a huge ardent supporter of Caitlin Clark. She wouldn't mind it.

All right. So I saw this. NFL executives. NFL coaches, NFL scouts rank the top 10 quarterbacks going into this league. By and large, I not only agree with the list, but I mostly agree with the order. Mahomes 1, Burrow 2, Allen 3, Lamar 4, Matt Stafford 5, Justin Herbert 6, C.J. Stroud 7, cross your fingers on health, Aaron Rogers 8, Jared Goff 9, Dak Prescott, 10. nine of ten I agree with

I would not have Dak Prescott in the top ten this feels like fear people around the NFL they're fearful of the regression you may see with Jordan Love I'd love to see another four or five games Jordan Love is better than Dak

you did watch a 27 to nothing lead in Dallas with a much younger team full of guys one and two years out of college he's more fluid he's got a better whip as an arm he moves better fewer injuries I mean it wasn't close Dak in that game looked anxious

he looked overwhelmed he wasn't very accurate he missed open receivers you can't watch that game and tell me Dak is more talented raw talent than Jordan Love and Jordan Love has better coaching

and he's got better arsenal of weapons at Tide-in and Wide Receiver. Jordan Love's going to be better than Dak Prescott. Folks, how long do you have to see something? How long do you have to watch a movie before you're like, this stinks? I always think that when I watch movies. If you can't get the first 12 to 15 minutes right, I'm out. That's all I give a Netflix or an Amazon Prime show.

I'm going to give you 8 to 12 minutes. That's your shot to get me. If you watch a Narcos, you know, if you watch Mind Hunter. You can tell from the writing, 10 minutes in, this is a good series. If you can't get me in the first eight,

what's the middle of it going to look like? What's the ending going to look like? How many years do you have to see Dak be really great in the regular season against bad teams in his division? He doesn't beat good teams. Because against good teams, you have to be better and more precise and elevate teammates.

If you go look at last year's, Final 10 starts, including the playoffs. Jordan Love was outstanding. Third in the entire league in completion percentage. First in touchdown interception ratio. That's with kids at wide receiver and tied in. Kids and a young old line. First in passer rating.

2,600 yards. I think this is fear about, well, he could go backwards. I trust the Packers on quarterbacks. Here's the other thing. Think about the quarterbacks. You know, you tend to think, well, it takes a while, takes a while. If you look at the star quarterbacks, you can go to the first camp of Mahomes and video was leaking out of some of this sidearm stuff.

The first, remember Week 11, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert's first game, C.J. Stroud's first game, Joe Burroughs' first half, Kyler Murray's first four or five games. You can spot talent early. I say this, on all these music shows, the voice, America's Got Talent, how long does it take you to go, oh, wow, that doesn't sound like everybody else, eight seconds. You don't have to watch that much quarterback play.

Now, Jordan Love Sat for years. I said this forever. I had more footage of Bigfoot, his first three years in Green Bay. You didn't even get practice footage. So I had no idea, and I thought he had a terrible September. But by late October, you're like, there's something there. And by November, you're like, wow. Okay, yeah, that's a first round quarterback.

So if you're watching Jordan Love in Dallas last year and you're watching DAC, it wasn't even particularly close. More awability, more fluid, better whip, better movement, not putting him in a top 10 right now, it's fear-based. And I think if you really are honest with C.J. Stroud and Burrow and Mahalms and Lamar, even Josh Allen was a little choppy early because of the turnovers. His talent was completely unmistakable. You could not watch Lamar or Josh Allen early first couple of starts and not go, wow.

But these people waiting for Daniel Jones to pop. Well, folks, it's over. It's over. It doesn't work. That's why when you're watching hard knocks on HBO Max with the Giants, they wanted to move up and get Drake May. It's over. You don't have to watch a movie for an hour and a half to figure out if it's any good.

All right, Diana, Rusini is joining us next hour. Derek Jeter's on the show today as well. J. Mack was over there in Amsterdam in London with the fam and those are Amsterdam. My wife's been there. I have not. We're going to go there in the next nine, ten months. Supposed to be amazing.

Amsterdam incredible. Just outstanding vibes, energy. We were there when Netherlands played England in the Euro. They were playing in Germany. But every bar, just the streets are mobbed. People excited. It was great. London, there's some herd fans in London. I did not expect that. But I guess the show's big over there, yeah.

Well, you know, why? Was it your mom British or something? Yes, yes. You say that once or twice. Well, I'm glad to have you back. 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. Hey, gang, this is Jay Glazer, host of Unbreakable, a mental wealth podcast.

And every week, we will have on leaders from sports, enter, like Sean McVeigh, Lindsay Vaughn, Michael Phelps, David Spade, Guy Fieri, and also those who can help us in between the ears, anyone from a therapist to someone like Ed Milet or John Gordon. We've all been through some sort of adversity. To get to the top, we've all used different tools. Listen to Unbreakable with Jay Glazer and Mental Wealth Podcast on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get podcasts.

A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you'll say. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show.

This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment. and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok.

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, 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. 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. His 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 series because 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 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 will get that thing.

That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers while he got the ball. Like, you go through a training camp with that Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Oh, yeah. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Jared Adano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet.

Help! Somebody! Please! But there's so much more to me than me. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian. And recently, I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hippocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions.

Sike! I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant, recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. One ring is too scary. Oh, cream a chicken suit.

Hey, cream. Cream a chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from a Hypocrite as part of the Mike Pulitzer Podcast Network available on the IHartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You know, I've thought about this a lot if I was a pro athlete. And, you know, let's say I was playing in the NFL and I was a non-quarterback. I was a linebacker, an interior lineman, you know, your shoulder surgeries, your knees,

in a very physical position. I would understand just saying, listen, I'm going to go play for a bad team. I got a short career. I'm going to take the most money. give me tax benefits. If I was a quarterback, I want to win. That's differently and you don't get hit as much. But if I was in one of these sports, like baseball where you can play forever,

or basketball where almost no careers for non-centers are cut short due to injuries. Like, I want to win games. The seasons are so long. I don't want to get on a team playing 45 times a year and go get my brains beat in because I, you know, I'm on a bad team, but I took a number. another $13 million. No thank you. I want to play on a winning team.

I want to get on that plane having won another game, six of seven. You know how much fun it would be to play for the Boston Celtics right now? How much fun that would be getting on a plane for a six-game roadie? No, you're going to win five and maybe all six. That you don't have to carry your team. You can have better teammates. Do you know what's fun it would be to play for the Dodgers or the Phillies these days? And how awful it would be to play for a bottom-end team in all those sports?

Football's different, especially if you're in the trenches or you're a linebacker or you're a running back. Austin Echler broke, get your money. Play wherever you got to play. You're a smaller athlete. You take a beating. Take your money. But I thought Jalen Brunson's in one of those sports, basketball, where you're better off playing for a winner. And he could have taken $113 million more dollars.

And Jalen Brunson said, I love New York. I love my teammates. I love my coach. I love the city. And I think we have a chance to be great over the next four to five years. And so he put pen to paper this weekend. He gave up more money. Now, he still made $157 million, but he gave up more money over $100 million than any NBA player ever has. It should be noted. Tom Brady gave up tens of millions of dollars to be the goat. Tom's not the goat because of what he made. Kirk Cousins' end of his contract in Atlanta will have made more.

When you go to Canton or Springfield, nobody ever says as you go to the podium, you were the highest paid guy in 2016 for a month. They say you were great. And Jalen Brunson, this is what leadership looks like. Because of the new CBA, it gives the Knicks big advantages going forward. This is what Bosch, Wade, and LeBron did in Miami. It's what Katie did to the Warriors. It's what Brady did, and Mahomes has done a little bit of it in Kansas City.

Jalen Brunson, as I've said from the beginning, he's got self-awareness, intelligence. He gets it. The big picture is the Knicks, because there's two Major League Baseball teams and two NFL teams in New York, but nobody cares about the Nets. It is a Knicks city. Did you see that city explode last year with Jalen Brunson? He is the best quarterback in that city, and these Villanova guys, They're different.

They're in it for the right reason. That's why there's a term, Villanova guy in the NBA. And there's a lot of great programs, but that's a term, and it means more than basketball. It's stayed in school, practice hard,

play defense, great teammates. Jalen Brunson's the ultimate Villanova guy. And then they went and got him, Mikhail Bridges, a really equally talented Villanova guy. And, you know,

the young media is just, it's constantly, Whenever you see people talking about get the bag, whenever I see somebody in my business and their salaries out there or an athlete salaries out there, it's out there because you want it out there. That's all ego. Jalen Brunson, he didn't have a problem showing you,

yeah, I took $113 million less. My agent can release it. I took less. And that's what leadership looks like. How are you going to spend all that money anyway? Jalen Brunson's got another nine years in this league. He could be one of these guys at the end of his career. People just want him in the room.

People just want him in the locker room. He can be one of these backup quarterbacks that makes $50 million in the last eight years of their career being a backup. Jacobi Berset. People want him in the room. Josh McCown, Chase Daniel. You just want him around the team. But I love this move by him. I think it helps the Knicks.

There have been a lot of Knicks pseudo stars in my life. This kid's a star. Nothing illustrates your commitment to winning in salary cap sports by taking a little less. Stop with it. Get the bag nonsense. Get the title. Get the wins. Get the conference championships. Nobody in Springfield or Canton, when you go to the podium, cares what you made.

They care that you were part of something special. The Pistons, MJ's Bulls, Kobe Shack Laker. Who knows what they made? Who cares what they made? The teams were special. And the leaders in sports get it. and Jalen Brunson remains the best quarterback in New York and the best star they've had since Patrick Ewing. J. Mack with the news.

No, no, no, no, turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right, let's start with soccer. Spain and England, a thriller in the Euro final yesterday. It was scoreless at the half. Spain scored first, early second half. England answers, and, you know, we're expecting, okay, finally, England's going to breakthrough column. They're finally going to do it. They haven't won a major title since

1966, but of course Spain scores a great goal in the 86 minute and they win. Crest fallen for my English friends. This was a phenomenal game. First of all, the environment in the Euros. Oh gosh, yeah. It was both the Copa and Euros set records for Fox. The environment in this game, it felt like a World Cup final. It was insane. It is their NFL and the intensity and the passion, and the quality of it was just top shelf. And if you're watching that and just know a lot of the players from both those teams are very young, they're going to be here on U.S. soil in 26 for the World Cup. Spain's got two amazing young guys. The teenager, Yamal, is just unbelievable. He's unbelievable.

I was rooting for England. Connolly, just always the bridesmaid. Well, listen. They can never pull it off. Well, and it, listen, it's like the Buffalo Bills. There is. You think England, you think of high quality. But you don't think of championships. I mean, Argentina felt like until recently, they went forever.

For years and years, a decade, we were talking about Argentina. How can you be that good? Well, now they've won a Copa a couple times. They've won a World Cup. Eventually, you know, eventually if you have a Josh Allen or you have a messy, eventually you do. Sometimes it's at the end of their careers, not at the beginning. But it's like Argentina now is on fire.

England's lost to really good clubs and really good stars. It's not anything more than that. And for everyone who says, hey, well, the U.S. will never be as good as some of these teams. I just want to remind people. England hasn't won anything in forever. Anything. They're making runs. They're going places, but they're coming up short.

Like, the U.S. would obviously kill for a spot to go this far as England did. I thought it was what I really noticed. And again, ratings are truth serum. the WNBA and the Euros and Copa are getting great ratings. So you can say, you know, why are you talking about it? If you turn on a television over the last three weeks

and you watch the Euros or Copa, I mean, the European quality is just, the passion is insane, the quality of skill. I thought it just jumped off. I was gone for 16, 17 days. The only stuff I watched was that. Yeah, when we were in,

in Europe, the only thing we watched was soccer. There was no, like you turn on the TV and it's like BBC News and all this stuff. Like, we didn't watch anything. How big was it over there? It's everything. Everywhere you go, it's England gear. People are all geeked out. It was fun. My kids, it was eye-opening for them. A really, really good time.

Just bummed for England. Happy for Spain, which, you know, was the better team. Next story is Copa America. Colin, this game last night, another phenomenal soccer match on Fox. Messi did leave early with an injury. Yeah. Argentina wins it.

Here's a goal in the 112th minute in extra time. This kid Martinez, who's just a goal-scoring machine, led the tournament in goals. You feel gutted for Columbia. Now, there was a lot of sideshow stuff with this match with people crashing the gates and getting in there. Listen, soccer fans are passionate and Colombia. You generally have fewer games. You know, in every other sport in the world, you have more opportunities to watch. In soccer, I mean, there are times that it feels like the United States fans' national team

disappears for six months. Right now they don't have a coach. So I mean, soccer fans, let me defend them. The games, there's more scarcity. So the games are all big, even the friendlies feel big. So it's how many big football or soccer matches do you have in a year if you're Columbia or Argentina? I mean big. And there are a lot of people that the entire countries, they got one team. So I'll defend soccer fans when you have a scarcity of games. It's a little bit like college football fans. I mean, like, until recently, you played like 12 games and maybe three big ones.

When I worked out in the South, Winnebagoes were showing up to Gainesville on Wednesday. And I was like, wow, well, you only get about three great home games a year if you're a Gator fan or a Seminole fan. Like, Big, Bama's in town, Georgia's in town.

You spend five days getting ready for it. I will say the messy injury was a massive bummer, and, you know, he was crying when he left the ankle injury It was pretty gruesome. It's weird when they showed the fans, Argentina fans, when Messi left, you know, 65th minute, they were crying in the States.

You don't see that in any other sport. Like Patrick Wilms gets hurt. People are concerned and nervous. But nobody's actually reduced to tears. These fans were devastated. Like, oh, my gosh, just the last time I'm going to see Messi. It was special. By the way, Messi's not going to retire.

I don't think so yet. But, man, he's banged up. He is, but don't you think he'd be in the World Cup? Well, Ronaldo seems to think he's going to still play with Portugal. And I mean, Messi in World Cup in two years? I don't think Messi's retiring. I think he's too electric still. Well, he's still awesome, yeah.

Yeah, athletes get injured as they get older. Aaron Rogers could retire today. He wants to play. But, you know, soccer's a young man's game, and he didn't have a great phenomenal copa. His one goal was kind of a deflection that shouldn't have been his. But listen, I hope we see Messi in the World Cup in 26, but I'm not certain.

That would be the great way. They just won the last one. That would be a great way. one more great run in the world. You think Fox in the U.S. would love Rinaldo and not see for one more go? Yeah. Final story is NFL.

We're getting closer to the debut of Caleb Williams. We're what about like eight weeks away. The offense has made a lot of changes this offseason. We'll center around the rookie QB. Tight end Mercedes-Lewis, your guy, thinks Caleb has what it takes to be successful. From a talent standpoint, he has everything it takes to be great.

I think it's the perfect offense for him to come in, away to be successful. What I'm looking for out of him is just to be humble, listen twice as much as he speaks, and then naturally guys are going to gravitate towards him. I have no doubt that he's going to go out there and do his team.

We have to get better and elevate our games up so that it's an easy transition right now. So I'm looking forward to. Unlike Caitlin Clark, the Bears have kind of a layup at home against the Tennessee Titans in the opener September 8th.

They don't play the Packers. See, this is the difference between the WNBA and the NFL. The NFL looks at Caleb Williams and the Bears, major market, rookie sensation. They don't play the Packers until week 11. They make sure, those are tough games, right? You got Love, Lefleur. You don't want to open with Green Bay and go 0-1-1. They give them a weak team first week, go,

up north, they give the bears a great opportunity to win. That's the difference between the NFL and the WNBA. They saw, they knew a year almost, you know, because of the Carolina-Chicago pick swap. They knew Chicago to have the number one pick. They knew Caleb would be the number one guy. So the NFL, you know, nine months out knew who was going to go number one, probably a year out, and they're like, we're going to make sure that bear schedule, they open it home as a favorite, and they don't have to do the onslaught.

of Detroit and Green Bay, especially Packer's stuff, until later in the year when Caleb has grown. Now, the interesting thing is, my guess is Caleb has a good game against Tennessee. Tennessee's got a lot of newness. Yeah. You know, they did pick up Sneed in the offseason, who's obviously very good. But I think the Bears win this. Caleb looks pretty good, I'm guessing. Yes.

Week two, Caleb Williams versus C.J. Stroud in prime time. By the way, do you think that? That's going to get hyped. Do you think that's a coincidence? or that we have last year's great rookie quarterback and this year's great rookie quarterback. So the NFL in week two says, okay, let's put last year's stud quarterback against this year's stud quarterback. The NFL first two weeks for the Bears, that's all orchestrated.

Hey, I've said this. If I'm paying for March Madness, I'm not going to pick the teams, but I get to make up the seating chart at the wedding if I'm picking up the bill. So the NFL gives you a home opener in Chicago in a beautiful day. You should win. And then C.J. Stroud Week 2. So you're taking the Bears, which are a bad team, and you're making their first two games fascinating. And then it's, listen, Colts, Rams, Panthers.

Those are all. You don't want to get too excited if you're a bear team. Those are winnable games. But there is a world where they're three and two, four, and one right out of the gate. And it's like, okay, we got something. But you and I both love this. the NFL really, really understands they're a TV show more than any league.

And they gave that bear schedule incredible thought to start that. Now, they may go 0 and 2 in those games. It's possible. But they set them up to succeed. The WNBA had the fever playing Connecticut, New York. They go 1 in 8. The worst team in the league.

You knew a year out. Caitlin Clark's going to Indiana. What are you doing? J. Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Lie News. Diana Rusini next hour, Derek Jeter stops by.

I'm glad you're into the saw. We talked yesterday briefly. Don't forget, Colin Wright, Colin Wrong, 35 minutes from now. We talked about this soccer. And, you know, I was talking to a friend Danny Parking yesterday in my podcast. And I said, when I got into this business, I didn't want to work at the NFL network. I love college football. But there was about a 10-year window where college football got.

incredibly regional. It felt like it was Clemson, Alabama for about eight years. That's not good. I'm doing syndicated. That's not good. If I was a talk show host in Atlanta, that'd be great, right? But it's like what's really happened over the last year, WNBA's exploded, college football by, you know, ending the PAC 12 and putting their four Western teams in the Big Ten and then putting Texas, Oklahoma, and the SEC, it feels a little bit more like pro football, that you and I, nothing against the NFL network, but that's not where we want to work. The WNBA is a regular topic. College football, our bosses here think ratings will be up 15% for the sport. It's like college football has been reborn with all these moves. Everybody was

reticent to all these moves. Everybody freaked out the Pac-12's dying. I'm a Pac-12 guy. You're going to tell me, go look at the Big Ten schedule this year. There's going to be Saturdays where you're getting like, you're waking up in the morning to Penn State, you know, Iowa, then Oregon, Ohio State, then Washington, Michigan, like three and four games in a row. You're really losing sleep because the Oregon State, Washington State game's not going to happen anymore. Like, wake up. This is great.

But I think what's happened between the emergence of soccer in this country, between Caitlin Clark, and these moves to expand the SEC and the big. 10, it's given us like a reboot to our summer programming, things to talk about. And I just think for you and I, if we wanted to work at the NFL network, it'd be one thing. And I love the NFL.

But, you know, six months of my life, it's NFL talk. So I think it's really been refreshing to watch the Caitlin Clark story. I've said it. She's like Taylor Swift for women's basketball. They don't quite know how to handle her. They're bailing water. It's ticket master with the

era to her. They didn't know what. what to do, but it's so good for our business that I'm genuinely on a weekend like you. I'm like, oh, does Caitlin Clark play? Yeah. And by the way, hey, if the U.S., I know they're in the hunt for a coach right now. So if Southgate, the coach of England gets dumped, they do not like him. The fans over there, oh, Southgate's the worst. He actually did good subbing in the semifinal and final.

If they dump him and the U.S. grabs him, Colin, that is huge for U.S. soccer. We got the coach of England coaching us now? I mean, nobody liked Burrhalter here. I know you were a Burrhalter defender. I won 69% of his games. He did. He won a lot. I think this coaching search is fascinating.

We know they struck out with their number one option, but I don't think soccer's totally done this summer. I'll just say that with the U.S. coaching search goal. It is. Don't you think it's interesting, though? Years ago, you formed a company. That's how we met, is that you tend to be more of a windshield guy than a rear view mirror guy.

We're both the same way. I'm kind of bored by yesterday, fascinated by tomorrow. And it is interesting how often new things freak people out. And so like, you know, the Big Ten expansion, everybody freaks out. Then six months later, you're like, this is amazing. Yeah. The schedule is amazing.

And the Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, when they're fighting early, everybody's freaking out. No, it's created a rivalry. This is amazing. Don't be terrified of new stuff. I don't like that Burrhalter was let go. But if they snagged the coach of England, then it's pretty amazing. By the way, how many 12 team playoff? When does that start?

This year. As opposed to what they used to have? Like, it's just college football is going to be incredibly. We used to decide college football is champion with a pole of sports riders. Not great. I think one year, years ago, Penn State went like 13 and O and didn't win it. Could have been in the 70s or 8. I forget what the year was, but it was, I mean, it just.

Did they split the title one year in the early 90s? Yeah, Washington and Miami. Washington was better. Was it Washington and Miami or Michigan? No, it was Washington. and Miami. Huskies and that was the best Husky team. And it was just like, what are we doing? We're just deciding a title of votes?

Like, I don't know. Yes. Good stuff today. Don't forget Colin Wright, Colin Wrong, top of our number two. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. A win is a win. A win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'm saying.

Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show.

This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music.

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

And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I put on 10 pounds.

I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam, Ms. 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. 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 series because 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 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 Nass would get that thing. That man, hell get to fly.

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. 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.

The story I've told myself about love, or relationships can then shape my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown and explore the journey of healing, self-discovery, and returning to yourself. We explore higher consciousness, emotional well-being, and the practices that help you find clarity, peace, and self-mastery in a world that can feel overwhelming. The world is becoming lonelier.

We're not becoming more social and connected. We're becoming more individualized, but we actually need people in connection. If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole, this podcast is for you to hear more. Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. We were getting into this discussion this morning, J-Mack, about winning's not comfortable. And Bill Belichick for years, you know, it was all about sacrifice, everything's for the team.

And then there were quotes out there that an Urban Meyer had relayed this that he had talked to Belichick. And Belichick said after five or six rings, I only want to coach certain types of players. Well, winning isn't comfortable. Sometimes you have crappy players, sometimes you have a coach on the staff you don't like, and that Bill wanted to be comfortable more than he wanted to win, and the greatest football coach ever got run, got run out of the city.

I mean, think about how great Bill was. Four years later, exit stage right, because Bill wanted, he sought comfort over winning. And that we were talking about this with Aaron Rogers this morning. Aaron, he was always about winning. And then all of a sudden now it's like, Well, I want Randall Cobb on the team and Alan Lazzard and Nathaniel Hackett. No, that's comfort. That's not winning.

Do you want to win? And by the way, it's all, you know, like, do you think Tyreek Hill made Patrick Mahomes job easier? Of course he did. Of course he did. Lollipop throws down the field or touchdowns. Comfortable isn't winning. They had to move off that salary. Got a bunch of draft picks hit on several.

And so Belichick pivoted from all about winning to mostly about comfort. He got fired. Is Aaron doing that in Green Bay? So Aaron wrapped up this weekend. He was playing some celebrity golf stuff. And, you know, he talked about he had a really good offseason. And, you know, part of me really likes Aaron that he pushes back on authority. I don't have to agree with his vaccine take.

I think it can be a little kooky and conspiratorial. you know what I like people that push back I think we should push back on our government I think this weekend we should push back in our secret service what happened to Trump we should push back that's regrettable egregious to have those lapses in in our secret service I think we all should question governments and authority so part of me really likes that part of Aaron though I don't know was agree where he's going um but he talked about going into this season in New York and he's wrapped up his summer feels good. I felt really good at the end of last year. Then there's kind of, you know, there's always that kind of plateau part. It's just about getting back into it. I felt good all spring.

Had a nice OTAs. Had a beautiful trip to Egypt. And this is like the last marker. Summer's over on Sunday. Walking up 18 is like super bittersweet. But it's interesting as Aaron has sought a little more comfort. I want my guy, Nat Hackett, Randall Cobb, Alan Lazart. As he has sought comfort. As he has sought comfort. Remember, he did this at the end in Green Bay, too. He's not winning as much like Belichick. And it's interesting, it's not that long ago, not that long ago, that many people in the media and a lot of fans were saying errands better than Brady.

This was about six years ago. Now, some of those people are not serious. Those are unserious people. And I never bought into it. He's prettier to watch than Tom. He's got a better arm. You know, it's very merino-like. It's a beautiful.

beautiful ball comes flying out of his hand like a seed. There's no question about that. Aesthetically, it's beautiful, prettier than Tom. But it's interesting now. Forget being better than Brady. The way it's ending is he better than Farrve. Farve got to more Super Bowls. Forget the fact that Farr was more beloved.

I mean, Fav was like middle American ethos. People loved Fav. Loved Farr. We've always been, you know, errands a bit more aloof. So Fav has more Super Bowls. Fav has a better playoff win percentage. Fav has more come from behind playoff wins in the fourth quarter. Farve also went to Minnesota.

And if you remember his first year, Favv was insane. 33 touchdown, seven picks, 68% completion percentage. Fav was unbelievable in Minnesota. He was third or fourth in the MVP voting. They were 12 and 4. He got a play from the Super Bowl. Next year he was hurt. But he was unbelievable.

So if this jet thing sputters out, I mean, I always thought Aaron was better than Fav. But with movies and sports, the ending can matter if it's choppy and it's close. It doesn't matter with Michael Jordan. It wasn't close. He was the best player. But if we're talking Fav and Aaron Rogers and Fav's ending is Minnesota and this jet thing sputters, but it is interesting, Belichick at the end sought comfort overwinning.

He wanted to win, but it was comfort. Same guys on the staff. He wouldn't bring in anybody new on the staff. It was a lot of retreads. Let's get Matt Patricia back. In fact, let's put Matt on the offense. I only want to draft certain players. That is not winning.

And so when I look at Aaron, my take is this year really matters to him in his legacy. Because Bart Starr's got two Super Bowl wins. Farve's got more Super Bowls. What is Aaron? Number three? You say to yourself, no, let me ask you. I mean, think about this. He didn't have a great last year in Green Bay.

Jordan Love This Morning is better, appears to be better. The Jets have a makeshipped offensive line in a much tougher conference. He went from the NFC in a week. Remember, most of his career, Detroit and Chicago were nonsense. Now he's in a better division. Clearly Buffalo's the better team. Miami's the more dynamic office. You know, he's got two wins over the Patriots.

But it is interesting. It wasn't that long ago. People were arguing he's better than Brady. He's a regular season hero, but this matters. This season matters for Aaron. I know you're rolling your eyes, but you're rolling your eyes. But you start looking at Belichick. There were certain coaches he wanted to work for.

He wouldn't go on the market. He wanted to go back and get Bill O'Brien, Matt Patricia. There were a lot of young, aggressive, there were a lot of D'Amico Ryan's out there. You could interview. He didn't. That's not what he wanted. So I'm a little late. I'm assuming you talked about the Devante Adams stuff last week, right?

So remember, two weeks ago, all the story. Rare Rogers is no leader? He wasn't there. He was in Egypt. He missed all this time with the Jets. he comes back in full calculating fashion. Oh, I can't wait to play with Devante Adams again. I'm at Big Ben touring, you know, in London.

And I get this text. Do you think we could get Devante Adams? I was like, I have no idea what my buddy's talking about. And I just know Rogers. He's quickly shifted the narrative. Did you notice that? Almost overnight. It's Devante Adams.

And now it's comfort. And I'm feeling good. I'm rounding out my golf. Season starts basically at the end of this tournament. I'm ready to go. Colin? you just said the word Super Bowl in the same sentence as Aaron Rogers. Okay?

Are you ready to put them back in the bubble? No. I don't buy it at all. I don't. Definitely no? Well, I think they have, I think Buffalo is going to win the division again. I think Miami's a more dynamic offense. Did you see, by the way, pro football focus ranked offensive lines in the league?

Did you see where the Jets is this season? I know. Overrated. They haven't like four. over their fifth because they got two dudes at tackles who were incredible last year. They got guys coming back healthy. I think it's time to start warming up to the Jets and Rogers. Listen, I will say this.

They're going to win the division, that's for sure. No, they're not. Lock it up. The two teams in the league, I'm fascinated to watch, and this is a lot of why we love the NFL is quarterback play. I was a baseball fan when I was a kid. Somewhere in the mid-80s, maybe I don't know who it was. Ken O'Brien?

No, that wasn't it. But there was a handful of quarterbacks that, you know, late 70s, early 80s, it was Elmette Way and Marino and, you know, whatever those guys all. And it was Bill Walsh's offense. And I kind of pivoted to an NFL fan over a baseball fan. But there are a lot of really good young offensive minds at head coach. Aaron doesn't have one. There's a lot of good ones. He doesn't have one.

Hour two next. 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 podcast. guests. Will Ferrell's big money players and IHeart podcast presents soccer moms. So I'm Leanne. Yeah. This is my best friend, Janet. Hey. And we have been joined at the hips since high school. Absolutely. A redacted amount of years later, we're still joined at the hip. Just a little bit bigger hips. This is a podcast. We're recording it as we tailgate our youth 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. podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. What'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 moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was calling it. You just understood.

That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Mark keep coming 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 your podcasts. This is Saigon, the story of my family and of the country that shaped us. From IHeart Podcasts, Saigon.

You don't think I'm serious about a free Vietnam? One city, a divided country, and the war that tore America apart. This is for Vietnam. They're pouring patrons all over here. Freedom for Vietnam! There's a fire coming to this country and it's going to burn out everything. Listen to Saigon on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast. or wherever you get your podcasts.

This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.