The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 1 - Defending Mike McCarthy

Episode Date: July 25, 2024

Colin defends Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy from criticisms by comparing his resume to other all-time head coaches in NFL history He shares his Super Bowl bubble for the upcoming NFL season and why the Jets are on the outside of itSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Wherever you may be. However you may be listening. Or watch. Thanks for making us part of your day. Oh, first of all, really good pig 10 football stuff. Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan, Penn State. Lincoln Riley talk very polarizing I'll give you my prediction in one hour from now

of the 12-team playoff I think it's pretty easy in college football to figure out many of the teams that'll be there and we'll kind of give you a breakdown of the playoff Jamack I was thinking about this when you have a great job in any industry you can make a small mistake and it becomes a fire. If you have a mediocre or an irrelevant job, you can make a huge mistake and nobody cares.

You know, Aaron Boone for the Yankees, we pick them apart for an seventh inning decision. Nobody breaks down or discusses the Tampa Bay raise egregiously bad base running error in the ninth inning, right? And so I'm going to start the show with that, is that the NFL is the biggest sport in America. And it's not really close. We watch it. We gamble on it. We talk about it.

Shows like this. Obsess over it. And the two biggest brands in the NFL to me are the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers. I'm sorry, but the Pittsburgh Steelers were in the 70s.

But their standard now is, hey, we brag about never being under 500. I don't think you can deny the Cowboys win a lot, and the Packers win every year. Right? That's just what they do.

And they have controversial quarterbacks. They have massive brands. We would never talk about Green Bay, Wisconsin, if not for the Packers. Massive, massive brand. Same of the Cowboys. And there's one guy that's coached both, Mike McCarthy. And if you make little mistakes with a big brand Cowboys Packers, they get blown out. So whenever, and we don't like to blame the quarterbacks for losses.

We blame Shaw McDermott, John Harbaugh, you know, we blame Andy Reed in Philadelphia, never Donovan McNabb. We tend to blame the coaches, not the quarterback. We wear the quarterback's jerseys. We have them on our fantasy team, so he's good to us. We bet on our quarterback, not on our coach necessarily. So I was thinking about Mike McCarthy of the Cowboys. Is he the best coach in the NFL?

that is considered a mediocre to a bad coach. And so think about this. In Green Bay, he had an eight-year stretch. Won a Super Bowl, five division titles, seven of eight years. This is when the NFC was better than the AFC. Seven of eight years, double-digit wins. In Dallas four seasons, 12 wins, three straight years. He's had a top five scoring offense 10 times with multiple quarterbacks.

the number one offense in the NFL four times, at one of them with Dak. He's never had a home, a Josh Allen, no Lamar. One of them with Dak, Dak Prescott, number one offense in the league. And he's succeeded at a high level with three different quarterbacks. Old, feisty, ad-libber, gunslinger, hard to coach Brett Favre, prickly, young, aloof, at times, arrogant Aaron Rogers, who wants to do things his own way. and the highly coachable but kind of limited Dak Prescott.

Hell, he went like four and one with Cooper Rush. Three different quarterbacks, three different personalities. He's won with all of them. Well, Colley's never won the big game. No, no, he won the big game. Actually, the only time Aaron Rogers has ever won the big game in his career was with Mike McCarthy. He's won the big game.

Well, he just doesn't win enough playoff games. Eleven. That's as many as Bill Parcell. Well, I mean, he's a 500 playoff coach. That's interesting. If you don't have Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes, that's what all the great coaches' playoff records are. Mike McCarthy's 11 and 11.

John Harbaugh, 12 and 10. Mike Holgren, great coach, 1311. Sean Peyton, 9 and 8. Winning his coach ever, Don Shula with Dan Marino, 1917. Pete Carroll, 500. Ditka 500. Tony Dungee, Mike Tomlin, under 500. If you don't have Brady or Mahomes, that is what your playoff record looks like.

If you're a great coach. So McCarthy inherited the old Brett Favre, who as you know was already talking retirement, McCarthy went 13 and 3 with him. He was feisty. He didn't want to make any changes. He was stubborn and gifted. And McCarthy had a great year with him. And then there's Aaron, who can be aloof and arrogant and prickly and difficult,

his best years and a Super Bowl with Mike McCarthy. Dak, we don't consider Dak, great. That's interesting. He's actually, with very few weapons now that he's paid, had a number one offense in the league. So it just is interesting. We're going to blame McCarthy and not Dak. The knock, even the knock on Mike McCarthy. Even the criticism of him, he's in an elite class.

The biggest knock on him is, I don't like him late game situations. Do you realize that was the only real criticism of the best coach in football Andy Reed his entire time in Philadelphia? He's in a very unique elite class. But he's never had Brady and he's never had Mahomes. And when that's the case, Aaron and Fav aren't as good as those guys. I'd argue the more you inspect it, it's not necessarily close. So just get ready. He'll be on the hot seat.

And we're not going to blame Dak because Dak's going to have a new contract. It's going to be almost $60 million a year. You're trapped with Dak, and it's much easier for fans to blame a coach who you can fire than a quarterback you're stuck with. But I would argue Mike McCarthy is the best coach in the league that's considered a mediocre to bad coach. I consider him a B-plus coach. I consider Mike Tomlin a B-plus coach. I think if you inspect Pete Carroll, he's a B-plus coach.

Those are good grades, mostly what I got in college and high school. So Jim Harbaugh, the Chargers of Open Camp. and Jim Harbaugh is a complete breath of fresh air. So the Chargers before Harbaugh never really paid their coach big boy money. But the Chargers didn't just need a coach. If I told you, and I didn't give you the team, but I said in the last 25 years, there's been this one NFL franchise, they're almost always really good at quarterback. I mean, really good.

Yeah, they've had a lot. a Hall of Famers. Like some guys, they don't even draft them and they find them. Antonio Gates. They've had the best running back in the league at any one time. A top five to seven quarterback at any one time. The best receiving group at any one time. The best linebacker at any one time.

A bosa off the edge. But this team, I mean, they blow leads like nobody's business. Nobody loses more games they should win than this team. That team would be the Chargers. They've had the same owner and the Spanos family. Complain all you'll want, but pretty solid ownership. Stay out of the limelight. I mean, it's not like Dan Snyder, the Bidwells.

I mean, the Maras now are getting crossed in New York. It's the Chargers. The Chargers didn't need a coach. They needed this coach. And Jim was at the podium yesterday. Just the way it feels, I mean, it feels like New Year's Day, you know, it feels like being born. It feels like coming out of the womb, you know. It's like you're in there and it's comfortable and it's safe.

And now you're out, you're born. The lights are on. You know, it's bright. Get chaos. People looking at you, people talking at you. And it just feels good to, you know, have it happen. And here's my prediction on what it'll look like. Just like Michigan.

Year one, Harba arrives at Michigan, almost no NFL players, and he wins 10 games, massively overachieves rising expectations, and a couple years later, he actually pulls back and only wins eight games. And there's a divide in the room. Is he too intense for college football? taking recruiting trips to Rome, staying at a kid's house. He will divide people. So the Chargers, he will overachieve this year. Don't be shocked if they win 11 games, maybe 12.

Raiders are two wins. Broncos could be two wins. Chargers always seem to split, don't they or play the Chiefs well? They'll win 11 or 12 games. He'll be intense. And he'll buy year two and three. If he doesn't have a Super Bowl, he'll divide people. But what he will create is exactly what this franchise more than any in the league needs.

Toughness, grit, accountability, a plan. They've had talent forever. Dan Fouts, Winslow, John Jefferson, West Chandler, Philip Rivers, Keenan Allen, Antonio Gates. This team's had talent forever. But toughness, grit, accountability, vision, Marty Schottenheimer a few years, that's it. So to me, the right coach at the right time,

they will massively overachieve in year one, but because they're in a division and a conference with Mahomes and Lamar and Josh Allen and C.J. Stroud and Joe Burrow, they may not win a Super Bowl. And by year two and three, I don't know. You know, he should have stayed at Michigan. He may be too intense for the new NFL. players have more power now.

All of it will be just like at Michigan. Absolute nonsense. And I can't wait for Jim Harbaugh. J. Mac, I think you and I both believe, if you look at their schedule, they did get a little favor from the NFL early in the schedule. Raiders, Panthers, early by going into a Denver game, Arizona, Saints. There's a lot of Ws here. Early, I think the league, and we know the NFL has done this with their schedule,

I think the league wants to see Jim Harbaugh succeed and succeed quickly, and I think he will. It would be nice to have them in the playoffs. We're doing for Hurdline tomorrow, AFC playoff seeds and Chargers, I can't, I don't know what to do with them. Are they a playoff team or not? Because there's a, I mean, listen, the Browns are going to be very good. I know you don't love them. The history of Harbaugh with the Niners. with Michigan.

Year one, he exceeds expectations. And so this team has some really good players. They're good at offensive tackle. They upgraded at running back, actually, if you look at Echler leaving and what they brought in. So they're good at edge rushers, two edge rushers, two good tackles, excellent at quarterback, solid at tied end,

pretty good in the secondary, linebackers that move. Our question is, do they have the weapons? Remember, it's San Francisco with the Niners. It was Crabtree. We didn't love his perimeter weapons. We love the Niners. We didn't love that part. At Michigan, they won a Natty.

Colin Wilson, one elite receiver. Harbaugh with this Chargers team, it looks a little like the Niners and a little like Michigan, which is not an elite team necessarily on the perimeter, but tackles in defense, special teams, game. planning toughness, immediately, it's a whole different look, vibe, and feel. Harbaugh's worth at least, or upgrade over Staley, at least a win and a half, maybe two weeks. Oh, God. That might be low. I don't know. I think he's just that good of a coach. Oh, I think you're going from, not to pick on anybody, the worst staff in the league,

top to bottom, to a top five staff. I don't think it's worth. What was C.J. Stroudworth of the Texans? seven wins. I don't buy that a coach is worth a win or two. I think Harbaugh is worth five wins. He's not replacing a really solid coach, Mike Zimmer. He's replacing a coach that spent most of their money on defense and was the worst third down, fourth down, situational defense in the league. Late game execution, play calls.

It just was all a disaster for Staley. Yeah, I don't think this is a... I've said this for years. the NFL considers a quarterback like worth four and a half points if you're great maybe six and a half. No, Lamar Jackson and Aaron Rogers in their prime are worth 11 and a half points.

They don't play, they score 11 less. A really good football coach isn't worth a touchdown? You don't think Harbaas from the bottom to the near top of the league. You don't think he's worth four to six wins? I do. I mean, do you remember how bad

the Spanos family does not want to fire you during a season. They went interim. A lot of the older owners, and they qualify as that, they don't want to do the interim. The interim is very dangerous because if you put an interim guy in and he wins, which interim coaches often do because they inject energy, you're stuck hiring the interim. Antonio Pearson with the Raiders,

you're stuck hiring him because the locker room falls in love with him. So interim, most of the smart older owners that have been around the block, they don't want to fire in season. Because if you give an interim, so that's how bad Staley was. For a franchise that doesn't get a lot of media attention, the Spanos family felt so much heat. They had to fire Staley in the season.

Well, it's like the team quit on it. Remember that Raiders game? I just had to look it up. 6321, they lost. Remember that was like a Thursday night? And he was a defensive coach. I mean, it was like they quit. You could tell it's over.

We don't want to play for this guy anymore. That's how bad it was. I don't think Harbaugh is worth a win and a half. I think he's... Oh, I look at their schedule. They got an NFL favor. You know they had a good draft because Harbaugh just came out of college football. It's just new head coach, new OC, new skill position players everywhere.

It's a lot of newness. So I'd be careful with five or six. Nunes is great in Houston when you go from bad to good. I'm not anti-new. But there were no expectations in Houston last year, right? It's like, oh, we got a new coach and rookie quarterback. We'll see how it goes. With Harbaugh, it's like spotlight on, you know, their practices.

right now this week are packed. People are very into this hardball thing. There is some pressure. There was none in Houston last year on the new coach. I would say this. In Los Angeles, the Dodgers, the Lakers, the Rams and USC, just in Los Angeles, face more pressure

on a weekly basis than the Chargers. In Los Angeles, I mean, Lincoln Riley's getting heat. He took over a shipwreck won 11 games. Year two, they're all over him. That's pressure. Pressure's not, hey, can you just write the ship? I mean, I think if he wins 10 games,

he will be parades in L.A. And I think if you look at their schedule, 12 is not off the table. I'm not trying to, I'm not. Very positive calling today. Mike McCarthy, what a guy. And the Chargers 12 wins. Just look at the schedule.

Find me games. I mean, they get Baltimore at home. That's their toughest out-of-conference game. Baltimore at home. They get multiple teams with a coach on the hot seat, a rookie coach, a rookie quarterback. This is as easy as schedule as you can get in the AFC. Well, okay, so Browns and Bengals are very, very tough games.

Raven, very tough games. But once again, bengals at home, Ravens at home. Chargers don't have a home field advantage. You know this. No, no, no, no. No, no, no. Their season ticket sales, they do now. Harbaugh sold 7,000 seats.

I'll guarantee you 65-35 Bengals fans. Oh, I think that's. I think the Chargers now. Ravens game's going to be 70-30, Ravens fans. Come on. And I know buddies with season tickets to the Chargers. They laugh about this. I think they're going to be good.

I do. Yeah, 10 wins, I think. 10 wins would be great. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. On Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the I-Hard Radio app. 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 you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clifert 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. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed.

And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. 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 the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball, like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're gonna get the bomb.

So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio 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 Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful salute. Psych! 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 My Cultura. Podcast Network available on the IHartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You're now entering the No Bull Zone sponsored by credible great rates, none of the Bull. So, oh, there's some video out there of Aaron Rogers at practice lighting it up. People getting very excited.

We've said two of the three biggest stories this year are going to be Harbaugh Chargers, Mike McCarthy on the hot seat, Caleb Williams in Chicago, and Aaron, who hasn't taken but four or five snaps here, 600 days or close to it, Aaron Rogers and the Jets. So he said yesterday he thinks they're an elite team in a group of teams that could win it all. It has to be the goal. I mean, the beauty is every single year there's eight to 12 teams maybe, probably less, but eight to 12 teams that could actually do it.

And we're one of those eight to 12. So in my entire life, there's never been 12 teams that can win the Super Bowl. It's usually about seven to eight. Here are the last eight teams that have won a Super Bowl. Now, this spans much longer than eight years, but the last eight teams to win a Super Bowl are Chiefs, Rams, Bucks, Patriots, Eagles, Broncos, Seahawks, Ravens. Two things with those groups.

You don't have impulsive ownership that often feels like the franchise is in chaos. You do with the Jets. And all those teams had at least been to a Super Bowl. many had won a Super Bowl in the previous 20 years. The Jets haven't. The Jets do have, however, things that Super Bowl teams have. They have an elite quarterback. And Denver proved, even if your elite quarterback, Peyton Manning and Denver,

is way past his prime, if you have an elite defense, the Jets think they do and they may, you can win a Super Bowl. So they got a quarterback, though, past his prime. and when you have a quarterback in his prime, you don't need a great defense. If he's past his prime, you do, and the Jets may have had that, although the Manning defense had a nickname No Fly Zone and was number one in total defense. The Jets last year were like 13th. But in fairness, it's a good defense.

They lost Bryce Huff. If Hassan Reddick doesn't sign by the season, it's not an elite defense yet. also generally speaking you have an above average coach and we don't know really what robert saula is right now we're not sure he's average we're not really sure if he's going to finish the season based on how this thing plays but i do believe and i do this every year i have what i call a super bowl bubble and i think there are seven or eight teams that i have in the bubble kansas city baltimore buffalo in the AFC. It's better than the NFC at the top.

But I think the Rams, Niners, Detroit, Green Bay, and Philly are in it in the NFC. I'll give three AFC teams. I'll put them on the periphery of it. Bengals, Texans, Jets. For the Jets, which Aaron Rogers do I get? I will say it again. His last year in Green Bay with Matt LaFleur

and an excellent top three offensive lines. He had a lower passerating that year than Daniel Jones. Cincinnati, which borough do I get? The great healthy one or the one watching from the sidelines? And Houston's still really young, but man, those last two years of acquisitions and drafting, C.J. Stroud, does he have a sophomore pullback? I didn't include Dallas. I've told you I think this is the beginning of their decline.

but I do think there's an argument they've got an elite quarterback albeit past his prime they've got a potentially good defense if they sign Hassan Reddick what I think historically gets in the way of teams like the Jets is they don't have any momentum so the minute they go in a two-game losing streak

here come the knives and the backstabbing and I don't trust their ownership but but I do think they're close. If the offensive line stays healthy, if Aaron is upright, I think they're battling for a postseason

in week 1617. Jay Mack with a news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Nice to see the green and white there in your Super Bowl bubble, just outside the Super Bowl bubble. I mean, the odds are with you. Jets have good odds to win the Super Bowl.

Yeah, if, I think they really are potentially the Denver Bronco. team that won it. Was Gary Kubiak a great coach? Pate and Manning was past his prime. They were overwhelmingly carried by a great defense. If Hassan Reddick signs and Sala gets some early wins, which the schedule dictates he could, then you create momentum. What Denver didn't have, what Denver did have, the Jets hadn't, is when Peyton Manning first got to Denver, they won a bunch of games. And so they had momentum. They were winning games.

So the Jets have to create momentum. Almost none of the eight teams that have won a Super Bowl in the last 20-some years didn't start from zero. They were good the year before. They'd been to a Super Bowl seven years ago. They had cultural momentum. The Jets have none. So it's imperative. And when you don't have momentum, you go to a losing network or a losing law officer or a losing team.

the minute you stumble, everybody has self-doubt. So Baltimore never does. The Rams don't. The Niners don't. New England, Kansas City. So the one thing, nobody discusses this. To win a Super Bowl, it's a long road. And you're going to have losing streaks.

Kansas City, 11 through week 14, was bad. But there was never a loss of self-doubt or finger-pointing. The Jets, because they're a losing culture for the last decade plus. You're going a two, three-game losing streak. Aaron, by the way, doesn't do you any. favors, he tends to be passive-aggressive and a finger-pointer, it's not going to be that they lack the reservoir of talent. What happens when they go through the undoubtable struggle in this season? They will. It's the AFC. It's a good division.

They'll lose three of four. The wheels will be falling off. The sky's falling. Did I say undoubtable? That's not a word. That's not a word. Yeah, it doesn't matter. All right, let's go from the Jets, who haven't won Jack Squat, to the Niners, who are per- petually right there on the cusp of the Super Bowl. But now, Colin, they start training camp without two of their top players. It was expected that Brandon Ayuk would not be practicing because he's demanded a trade. However, he did report on time and is holding in, which is a new thing. However, the other missing piece is Trent Williams, the hulking left tackle,

who Shanahan says is holding out for contract-related issues. Issues, M.K. Listen, this is what happens to old expensive teams. Guys don't want to get... They're not old. They want to kittle. Trent. Trump Williams is aging.

All the rest of their core players are still in their prime. Anyways, is this a nothing burger? What do we got? No, I think this is what happens to highly talented teams. Guys take a beating for years. They can see the end. Trent McCaffrey. They can see the end.

They don't have the trophy yet. They want to make sure they're taken care of. of. They've won a lot of games. That it's not necessary. They have a very good culture. But you don't get this with the Green Bay Packers of the Lions. They're very young ascending teams. This is not a young ascending team.

It is a team like a Philadelphia that's been successful for a lot of years and they want to grab that trophy again. And I think this is the natural preseason pattern of teams like this.

A lot of contract talk. a lot of, I got to get my, it's my last big deal. I want to get that extra year of guaranteed money. How about some extra days off for like a 36 year? Can I extend my summer a week? Well, they don't win, for the record. They don't win when Trent Williams doesn't play. Right.

We know he's, so keep him healthy. Who cares if he misses a week of training? It's Trent Williams. He knows what he's doing over there at left tackle. Yeah. I do wonder if some of this, just a small amount, is related to Brock Purdy maybe getting paid next year, and Iyuk and Williams saying,

yo, I better get paid before because we're going to have to lose some guys if they pay Purdy. Yeah, I mean, you just, there's three or four guys they can't lose. Trent, McCaffrey, and Bosa, you can't lose those guys. Everybody else is negotiable. Even the good guys, Hufunga, Fred Warner, who I love, but he's a linebacker. We can move off linebackers. Yeah, I mean, there's three guys you can't screw with. Shanan keeps his job, Christian, Trent, and Bosa.

Those are the non-starters. I'm not picking up the phone. Not taking a phone call. Everybody else, you're going to have to make tough decisions. Tide ends, linebackers, safeties, age very quickly. All right, we got some breaking news here in story number two is Pittsburgh, where Russell Wilson today woke up with a bit of a calf issue and is sitting out. Now, listen, we don't know how bad it is, but the only calf I know right now is Kevin Durant.

He's missed a ton of time on the basketball court. Mike Tomlin announced earlier this offseason Russ was in position to get starting job but now that campus started Tomlin isn't giving out any more details here we go. Can you rust up whole condition? Nothing has changed. How do you plan on working those reps with them and jump? Very carefully. You guys think I'm actually back myself into a corner so you guys gonna ask me daily about the rep allocations in no way. I've been on the job too long for that. Very interesting.

I'm trying to understand why he isn't just saying Russ is the starter. Well I think I think He likes to encourage competition. Here's the thing. Rush should be the starter, but I'm kind of rooting for Justin Fields to get looks. I mean, Russ probably doesn't go there if he doesn't get the hangy or that. Oh, no, I absolutely believe he has been told he's quarterback won. But he likes just playing games with the game.

But they don't want to end the competition. And I also don't think it's good for the locker room because I think the young guys are going to like Justin Fields. You're going to watch Justin Fields at practice do stuff. Russ can't. He's biggery, stronger. He moves better. So I think Justin Fields is going to buy a lot of credibility in that locker room. That's what he did in Chicago.

People were like, it's amazing. His question is game time. Red Light comes on. Can you make the play? But I don't think you want to end this competition. First of all, Russell can be a bit cringy and not always loved in a locker room. Justin Fields to the very end in Chicago. Everybody loved him in the locker room.

So what you're going to have is a guy starting that's less popular than the backup. And the backup... That's not a recipe for success. No, no, no, it's not. But it's just, I'm not banging on Russ, but Russ has very few close NFL teammates ever. I don't know if he can just change and become very likable. I don't know that he can't. You think back to Seattle, man.

Richard Sherman said for years. It's not likability. It's authenticity. And people question that. But Fields, remember this. To the very end, usually a losing quarterback of Zach Wilson, hit the road, pal. Justin Fields' teammates, his best teammates, Jalen Johnson. DJ Moore.

Didn't DJ Moore say we need to keep with Justin? They love Justin. So Justin's likable. He's talented. He'll shine in practice. He's younger. He's cooler. He's authentic.

Those players are going to like him. But Russell at this point is the better quarterback. So I think Mike Tomlin understands that I can't be all camp Russ. We got to let this thing play out. And I think it's the smart tack by Tomlin. I mean, either way, they're not going to the playoffs. regardless of who the quarterback is. I think it's doubtful. I think it's doubtful.

Probably last place in the division. If that's last place, that is the best last place roster in the history of the national football league. That roster is... Is that good? Oh, I love it. Right. Because they got to spend their money on defense? By the way, two backs I like. A star

receiver, an excellent tight end. Like running backs? They're good. Who's got a better combination than Najee Harrison Warren? Those guys are great. Very good backs. Better roster. Cleveland Browns or Pittsburgh Steelers. Oh, no way.

Not even close. The Browns were a playoff team last year with Joe Flacco coming off the sofa and leading him to the playoffs. I mean, you can argue the Browns at the better head coach right now. The Steelers battle for a playoff spot with Kenny Pickett. Yeah, that's true.

Yeah, that happened. Who's third on somebody's depth chart? Right now. Mike Tomlin or Stefansky. I know Tomlin historically has been better. No, I think Stephansky is, in my opinion, the best coach nobody puts in that class. Okay, and now, how about this one?

Deshawn Watson or Russell Wilson? Deshawn. Okay, so the Browns are better than the Steelers at quarterback and coach, which you love, and you've got the Steelers ahead of them in the division? Because only one of those is massively dysfunctional. I think you need to revisit the Brown's. Final story in a recent survey about the best NFL quarterbacks, one executive said, Josh Allen,

one of the more overrated players in the league. Bill's GM Brandon Bean has an issue with that comment, and here's what he said yesterday. There's idiots everywhere. I don't know where to start. It's frustrating. You try to ignore this stuff, like, but Josh is going into year seven,

and there's still the naysayers. I don't get it. I know people love the rankings of whoever, but when you don't put your name to it and you make comments like that, Like, who is this executive? If you're not going to put your name on it, we really shouldn't validate it. I agree.

I don't think anybody really believes he's overrated. Well, somebody said it. I think you're just saying that to take shots at people. Like, nobody thinks he's that. He's not a great quarterback. He has to be on any list top three in the league, right? Yes. There's no way around it.

So how's he overrated? They're idiots everywhere. Well, that part's true. J-Mack for the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lye News. Going live to Cowboy Camp next.

Fox Sports Radio, Tire Rack, giving away a set of four tires every two weeks this summer. Want to get rules? Go to Fox SportsRadio.com. Fox SportsRadio.com furnished by Tirec, the way tire buying should be. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, we're Kavino and Rich. Fox Sports Radio every day, 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern. But here's the thing.

We never have enough time to get to. everything we want to get to. And that's why we have a brand new podcast called Overpromised. You see, we're having so much fun in our two-hour show. We never get to everything. Honestly, because this guy is over-promising things we never have time for. Yeah, you blubberlips. Blamey.

Well, you know what? It's called Over-Promise. You should be good at it because you've been over-promising women for years. Well, it's a Kavino and Rich after show, and we want you to be a part of it. We're going to be talking sports, of course. But we're also going to talk life and relationships. and if Rich and I are arguing about something or we didn't have enough time,

it will continue on our after show called Overpromised. Well, if you don't get enough, Kavino and Rich, make sure you check out Overpromised, and also uncensored, by the way. So maybe we'll go at it even a little harder. It's going to be the best after show podcast of all time. There you go. Overpromising. Perfect.

And remember, you could see it on YouTube, but definitely join us. Listen to Overpromised with Kavino and Rich 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 I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win.

A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clivert 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 Tickford. Talk Podcast Network on TikTok. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas.

And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. 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 would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying.

He running up the court licking his fingers why he got the bar like, you go through a training camp with that, I say, you figure it out real quick. Oh, yeah. Get your ass up and down the court. You're going to get the bomb. 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 shake 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 meet 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 IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm going to have my kind of preview. Bruce Feldman will stop by as well, Big Ten Media Days this week, SEC Media Days the week before. College football is going to be two conferences now dominating the 12 spots.

Don't be surprised if eight of the 12 spots go to Big Ten or SEC teams. In fact, I think it's possible the SEC. could get almost half of the spots. They won't because the way it works out, you've got to have somebody from the Big 12 and somebody from the ACC and then either a, well, I'll save it for the top of the hour, but the most controversial spot is not going to be the number one spot. It's going to be the number 12 spot, which is eventually going to bounce out a really good two-lossed team.

And I'll give you the two teams in college football that have a chance to get knocked out of the playoff before the season starts. and it's not because they're not top 12 teams in college football. Our buddy Matt Mosley has been covering the Cowboys for a long time. He's got the Dune's Day podcast. Here we go. It is Cowboys Camp very quickly upon us. You know, I made the argument earlier with McCarthy.

He's had three different quarterbacks, the old feisty farve, the young, aloof, prickly Aaron Rogers, and the highly coachable but limited athletically, Dak Prescott. He's won division titles, a Super Bowl. And if you don't have Brady and Mahomes, your playoff record for Parcells, John Harbaugh, Mike Tomlin, Tony Dungey,

Sean Payton is about 500. And that's what his playoff record is. I made the argument, Matt, that because he's coached the Packers and the Cowboys, his situational miscues are blown entirely out of proportion. And that he's a good NFL coach. He's a Tomlin. He's a Pete Carroll.

But those guys didn't coach the Cowboys of the Packers. is that a fair support of Mike McCarthy? It's somewhat fair. I don't like those. I don't think he's anything like those two you mentioned. I think by the force of personality, they bring a different edge. And he simply does not have that edge. And Jerry's put him in a tough spot here,

going to the final year of his contract. And Jerry, by the way, loves this more than any owner in football, this thought of putting somebody and making them sing for their supper. So I assure you the one person that is comfortable in this is Jerry. Mike is not. I mean, Mike shared it yesterday. He's not. He said this is, you know, this presents a challenge to he and his coaching staff.

And Jerry really does not care. Mike is one of the best regular season coaches. Really the Cowboys have had in a long time. It's 12 wins every season. But last year, the Green Bay thing, that's all that's on everybody's mind. And that's a really hard thing to change. So I like where you're going, but the two names you mentioned from a leadership and from how he carries himself far, far different than those two, because he does not have that kind of force of personality. Doomsday podcast, our buddy Matt Mosley.

Four minutes left. I want to get these two questions in. Number one, CD Lam's a holdout. Listen, they need CD Lamb. They are not deep up. They're very DAC reliant. Is he going to get a deal here before he enters camp? No, before he enters the season.

It'll be like the week. It'll be like Zeke. He'll get it done. They'll hold out. He's in Houston today. And they'll just wait and it'll be fine. They have to get it done. They know what the number is.

It's kind of ridiculous since even gotten to the zone. point. He'll wait. Both sides will wait. They'll be comfortable. He'll get fine a whole bunch. And then he'll, he's got him over the barrel, just like everybody does with this organization. Like, who does it have Jerry over the barrel right now? So he'll wait and it'll be fine. And they'll play it down and go, hey, we've been working out together. We'll be fine. And about a week, oh, five, six days before we'll all, oh my gosh, this is crazy? Is he really going to miss a game? And he won't. he'll come in because what are they they're going to fold they have no recourse what are you going to look brandon

cokes jalen tober i mean like what are you what are you going to do with your offense yeah you don't have a running back you don't have any running back so no it won't happen it won't happen that quickly and i don't think he'll get any time in training camp um the nfc was wide open as erin left the nfc russell wilson left the nfc couple of teams missed on quarterback draft picks it is not wide open anymore. Philadelphia has got Sequin, Green Bay, no longer in a rebuild. Either are the Rams,

Detroit, San Francisco, really, really good. And I think if Washington and Chicago hit on their quarterbacks, watch out. Give me in a minute. Realistic expectations, you've always been authentic and honest about Dallas. What are realistic expectations in a much

better NFC this year? Well, I think I think it's a 10-win team. I think 9 or 10-win wins is realistic. They have not gotten better on defense. They do have a new defensive coordinator. I like Mike Zimmer. I like the attitude he brings.

I've known Mike forever. So I think it's some ways that could be helpful. A new voice for Micah. It's not like, I mean, he wasn't doing great with the last voice. But it'll be interesting to see because he's way more old school. And I don't know how Micah is going to respond. to that but I I think realistically the best you can hope for is 10 or 11 if I was going to if I were going to bet and we said the over under was like nine and a half I think I would lean to the

under right now and maybe we'll see something maybe getting digs back you know maybe it'll be helpful but I'm not I'm not feeling that optimistic but when I get out there and that gorgeous weather around Oxnard and Ventura and I get out around with you and your staff, I really probably could have a more positive outlook. California's weather does that to people. Matt Mosley, Cowboy Insider, Doomsday Podcast, one of our faves. Good seeing you, buddy. Great to see you.

Yeah. He feels exactly like I do. I think they're in that 9 to 10 win space, and they are a ankle sprained to see the lamb from being a BB gun offensively. That is arguably the worst running back room in the league. no depth at tight end. You can tell from the draft they're trying to rebuild depth on the offensive line. It's going to be very, very DAC reliant.

The Lions are good, but they're not Goff reliant. The Packers are good. They got talent everywhere. I don't feel like they're Jordan Love reliant. They got playmakers everywhere. They upgraded it running back. I don't even think the Bears are Caleb reliant. They brought in receivers in tight end.

Dallas is DAC reliant. and they have not been good when they are previously. All right, Bruce Feldman around the corner. I'll lay out the 12 teams I think make the college football playoff. We know who's going to be good. We know who the star coaches and quarterbacks are next. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite.

Unhumor me with Robert Smigel 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 headwriter Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter.

Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'll say it. Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeard 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. 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 IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it.

With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. Before it was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.