The Herd with Colin Cowherd - HOUR 1 - Identity, Rodgers, Prescott

Episode Date: December 2, 2021

NFL teams that have lost their identityAaron Rodgers is specialDak Prescott is a player who elevates othersGuest: Steve Beuerlein Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, FS1. One hour from now, if you play fantasy football, if you bet on football or just want to get smarter on football, Greg Kosel, 42 years, NFL films, to break down the biggest game. games of the weekend. Every weekend. Nuggets I never thought about. I'm introduced to. And with that, Joy Taylor is joining me today. Joy, we have had a rambunctious week. Rambunctious. It's been wild. It has been wild. And listen, I like it because I think you can

definitely, after the last two years, and particularly with sports, take the statement that it'll never happen off the table. Anything is possible. And that's what I love. I want to start with this. I have a bunch of friends. They're all different. Some are funny, some are serious, some are conservative, some are liberal, some are East Coast, some are West Coast, some are men, some are women, some are young, some are older. I like it that way. It's the same way I like my sports. I don't want the NFL to become the NBA and I don't want the UFC to become baseball. Like there's a cult, every sport has a different culture. And I would say international soccer and the NBA are very star-driven. I'm good with it. I don't need my sports all to be the same thing.

But football isn't as star-driven. And Troy Aikman talked about the Rams and the direction they're headed. I know Washington tried it back in, I think, 99. And I've just never seen a team that really goes out and tries to put together this all-star team that can win a Super Bowl have much success and usually it unravels. And right now, that's kind of what's happening with the Rams. They just have not been. He's not the only person that is saying that in the league. And I think Troy Aikman may have a point. So this morning, I went up and I looked up the top three winningest NFL franchises in the last decade. New England, number one, they are the opposite of the opposite of the United. of a super team. They let stars go all the time. It's getting value. Even Tom Brady took pay cuts.

It is getting value. Number two is Green Bay, the opposite culture of a super team. Again, wouldn't even go get J.J. Watt. It's about value with Green Bay building through the draft. The two winning his teams. You know who's number three? They've hit hard times. The Seattle Seahawks. Why? What is their identity today? I think New England. I think smart, seeking value, efficient, power, defense. I think Green Bay. Value, development, building through the draft. I think of Seattle this morning. What the hell are they? They've lost their core identity. Why? Oh, it's a very top-heavy roster. Stars. Here's the downside to stars. It's a very strong. strict salary cap in the NFL. So when you pay for a star, you have to validate his existence. Ooh, Matt Stafford's in town. We're going to become a throw-the-football team.

Time out. That's not what the Rams were four years ago, three years ago. When Sean McVeigh came into this league, it was Todd Gurley, run the football, play action pass, a lot of movement. What are the Rams now? They're talented. What's their core identity? When Seattle, Pete Carroll came to the Seahawks, Legion of Boom.

power running Marshawn Lynch, fast defense running everywhere. What is Seattle now? They're terrible defensively. Special teams are hit and miss. They can't run the football. When you spend big money, I would argue this. This is where football's culture is different. Find me an average or a poor football team,

and I will find you a team with a poor and average identity. A great example is college football this year. Jim Harbaugh, for the first time at Michigan, found an identity. They were a power run football team. Number three in college football's Power 5 conferences. They finally beat Ohio State. Brian Kelly was successful from day one at Notre Dame, but last about six years ago, he pivoted,

and he acknowledged he pivoted. He said, we're going to become offensive line first, run the football, power football. They are 54. and nine at Notre Dame since he's done that. That's pretty remarkable, right? What is your core identity? When you play in a strict salary cap league,

OBJ and Cleveland, we've got to get him the ball. That's not your identity. Cleveland's been at its best when his identity is Nick Chubb in the O line. That's their identity. But you get the star receiver and now, L.A. is an Ohio version a little bit. of the Cleveland Browns. Their identity was power football. Aaron Donald, beat you at the point of attack, play action, jet sweeps. It's all passing now. And so even in free agency,

New England's the great example. When you have a strong core identity, your dips are very brief because you know what you are. New England's a great example. They lose the greatest quarterback ever. They have a dip. But they didn't lose their identity because Cam power running quarterback. They got Cam for no money. This year they went into free agency. But it was all value. Kendrick born, his $3 million cap hit. Matthew Judon's a $6 million cap hit. So even in their down year, they didn't get away from what they really were. Smart, efficient, power running, play good defense. New England was that last year. I mean, they came within two plays.

It would be a nine and seven, not seven to nine. And this year, with Mack Jones limitations, if I said five words to describe New England, smart, efficient, value, power run, defense. When you have a core identity, because all companies have dips, you go back and look and read the book about Steve Jobs and Apple. When they plummeted off a cliff, Steve Jobs left the company, and they plummeted.

And he came back and he said, You guys have 8,000 products. Give me four. You're confusing the consumer. What are we? We're smart. We're clever. We're fun.

We're transformational. Four products. Shrink the catalog. Back to being, having an identity. And so what Troy Aikman is basically saying super teams in a strict salary cap, you kind of lose yourself. What have we been talking about,

Joy and I for the last couple months? The Rams have lost themselves. McVeigh's kind of lost themselves. Basketball, I watch the Warriors. The super team worked. I watch Brooklyn now. James Hard and Kevin Durant, they're better than they were three years ago. They had great chemistry years ago.

They didn't have those guys. So sports are best when there's different cultures for each one. And I think Troy's on to something. Well, it's Aaron Rogers' birthday today. He is 38 years old. And this week we had another little Aaron Rogers, uh, COVID story, news story where he said,

maybe some of the coaches at Green Bay or given information to the media. And there's a lot of noise around Aaron Rogers. Um, but he's special. He's sort of like, remember the band Guns and Roses, Axel Rose? Actually, Aaron's starting to look like Axel Rose. Guns and Roses would be two and a half hours late to go on stage. You didn't know if they'd show up, God, when they went on the stage, blow torch, great performers.

To me, Guns and Roses is as good a band live as I've ever seen in my life. And Aaron's about as good a quarterback as we've all seen in our life. And, you know, I was thinking about this this morning, is that when I think of Aaron, I don't think successful. I don't think talented. I don't even think very good. I think special. And special is a different word than very good.

Special's different than excellent. Specials different than successful. I mean, Jimmy Garoppolo and Kirk Cousins are successful. Dak, Prescott, and Derek Carr are very good. Joe Burrow is talented. Specials different. In the NFL, to me, there are special as I can do things, not me specifically, but somebody can do things, man or woman,

that other people can't do. I live in Los Angeles. Talented's on every corner. Excellence on every corner. Successfuls on every corner. Special? Read Hastings, Netflix. That's special.

Total disruptor to television. In my lifetime, there's never been one of those. There's eight quarterbacks in this league to me that do stuff other people can't do. Doesn't mean they're always great. But those eight quarterbacks are Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Tom Brady, Aaron Rogers, Kyler Murray, and Russell Wilson, though he's having a down year.

Yes, Justin Herbert set every rookie quarterback record in the history of the sport behind the second worst offensive line. He was a 4.2 biology major in college. He was a tutor for other students while quarterbacking his college. He's special. And when you're special, just get away with more. It's hard to fire special. It's hard to let go of special. talented people get let go all the time. Good people get let go all the time. Special.

She's high maintenance. He's high maintenance. Oh, he's tough to deal with. There's nobody else out there like her. There's nobody else out there like him. So, Aaron Rogers, happy, special, 38th birthday. You're worth it because there's only eight people in the world that do what you do. All right, Greg Kosell, 45 minutes from now. I got so many things, Joy. You know, I love, we both love college football. I am still pushing for Lane Kiffin to the Miami Hurricanes.

Not going to say I've been texting with Lane Kiffin. I'm not saying he's interested. I am in no way saying that, but it is, there are things in sports that I think would make it more fun. So it's been, it's been Notre Dame's got their coach. Oklahoma does not have their coach, and they're talking about integrity now. Oklahoma's really into this integrity talk. Our coach left, they say he didn't have integrity. You know what I think of Oklahoma football and Barry Switzer,

integrity is the first word I think of. 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. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all,

embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'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.

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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. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim?

Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because,

of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people.

Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Keer Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests.

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because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing,

growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app, Search learn the hard way and listen now. You're now entering the No Bull Zone, sponsored by credible. Great rates with none of the Bulls. The Cowboys tonight are going to play the New Orleans Saints. The Cowboys are going to win because the Saints are falling apart.

Alvin Kamara out. Ryan Ramzick, a great offensive lineman out. The Cowboys are going to have Amari Cooper and Cidieland. So Dallas is going to win tonight. The Saints are actually becoming a little bit like New England last year. Great culture, great team, great legendary, gold jacket coach. But COVID hit for the Patriots. They pull back for a year until they find their quarterback.

Saints this year, you know, they pull back, they've had injuries, they pull back, they've got to find their quarterback next year. So it's just not going to be a year for New Orleans. They're just not good enough at quarterback to overcome the injuries. And New England last year wasn't dynamic enough at quarterback to overcome their opt-outs. So, but the Cowboys will win tonight. But it's interesting. This is what Amari Cooper is a really good play.

He's not a top 10, 12 wide receiver, but he's a really good player. But here's what always concerns me a little about DAC. The great quarterbacks lift others. They don't need to be lifted. Although, you know, if you have a first ballot Hall of Fame left tackle, he's obviously going to help any quarterback, but Aaron Rogers can win when he's on his third left tackle. Is that Dak's career with Amari Cooper,

he is an A quarterback, 68% completion percentage, 102.6 passer rating, 73 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions. That is DAC with. And here's DAC this year without him. 0 and 2, everything goes down, 83 passer rating. Now, you could say, Colin, that's unfair. It's just two games sample. All right, though, okay.

Let's go back to the year Amari Cooper joined Dak Prescott. Remember that year, seven games? DAC had a losing record, 62% completion percentage, passer rating at 87. Dak is an A quarterback with Amari Cooper, and he's a B-minus quarterback without him. Some would say a C. Now, Aaron Rogers is 10 and O without Devante Adams. Patrick Mahomes is 4-1 without Tyree Kill. Tom Brady was 12 and 4 as last year in 19.

New England. And his number one receiver was Julian Edelman, an old Julian Edelman who's since retired and James White are running back. Is that Brady's career and Aaron's career and Mahom's career is so far lifting others. Dak feels too driven by Zeke Early and Amari Cooper lately. Dak needs to make Amari Cooper. I don't give you an example. Here's a stat that a little alarming. This year, Dallas is 5 and 0 this year when Zeke has just 52 yards rushing. 52 yards. Dallas is 2 and 4 when he has less.

What? Zeke is no longer as good, I would argue, is Tony Pollard on some games. So I'm not saying that Amari Cooper isn't good. But Devante Adams is significantly better, I think. Stefan Diggs. Josh Allen has elevated it. He was good with Kirk Cousins. But they won games the year before without Stefan Diggs.

Josh has elevated Stefan Diggs. Josh didn't need Stefan Diggs to be great. And so that's what worries me is that the best records of Dax's career were with a young Zique and the best record of his current career is with a healthy Amar East Admar.

Amari Cooper. He's not that special. Amari Cooper's really good player. They should not be winning or losing tonight based on Amari Cooper. Derek Carr last week on a short week, interim coach on the road, no Henry Ruggs, no Darren Walder. Maybe the second best tied in. Put on a clinic.

That was a big bag quarterback game. Rogue game, short week, interim coach. Superstar tight end, only deep threat? Didn't any of them. Chaos around the organization. Car outplays him. And so tonight, Dallas is going to win. But I really, in a weird way, I would like to see DAC without Amari tonight.

Because Dallas right now is just a healthier, better team. It shouldn't come down to Amari Cooper's health restricting a $40 million year quarterback. And that's always been my concern. I know he's good. Nobody doubts that. He's very, very talented. You start looking around the league. Amari Cooper should not dictate wins and losses.

He is not in Vegas worth a point. He's very good. He can make the Hall of Fame. I mean, he's a good player. He has six, seven more years. It could be a Hall of Famer. I'm not doubting that. Joy with the News.

No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the Herdline News. Marie Stoddemeier. I haven't said that name. I don't know why that even popped into my head. Notre Dame is reportedly set to promote defensive coordinator, Marcus Freeman,

to fill Brian Kelly's spot as the team's head coach. So he is 35 years old. This will be his first head coaching job. He's been the defensive coordinator for the Irish for one season after serving the same position for Cincinnati from 2017 to 2020. He played linebacker at Ohio State from 2004 to 2008 and was a member of Luke Fickle's staff before joining Notre Dame. I actually like this.

I know that we've talked a little bit about this being a rough job to be your first head coaching job, but he's already in the building. So to me, that does eliminate a lot of the obstacles that you would be dealing with if this was your first head coaching job and you were coming to Notre Dame. Also, he keeps his offensive coordinator. It's about a 50-50 split.

If you keep somebody in the building, Jimmy Lake at Washington disaster, Clay Hilton, USC didn't work. Ryan Day, Ohio State did. Lincoln, Riley, Oklahoma did. It's kind of a 50-50 split. If you go get a Brian Kelly, Brian Kelly's worked everywhere. He's going to work at LSU. Like, we know that.

He's worked at a lot less talented places. Ed Orgeron won a title at LSU. Brian Kelly's going to win games. If you hire the kid in the building, it's a 50-50 split. There's no reason to think he wouldn't do it because I will say this. Notre Dame's recruiting, if they can, and I think they will secure who they've already got committed for this year's class and next year's. They've got the ball rolling.

Brian Kelly left him in a really good spot. Brian, you may not like the way he cut the cord, but Notre Dame right now is a top five, six program in the country, and Marcus is known as a high-energy recruiter. So they're not going to, Charlie Weiss was not known. It was his first job, and Charlie wasn't in the building. Charlie wasn't known as a great recruiter. Marcus is known as a guy that can really sell it.

And so now I got an offensive coordinator that works. Yeah, Tommy Reese is also going to stay the offensive coordinator. That's big. That's big, too. Yeah, Kelly tried to get both of them to go to LSU. That's right. So I would say this has a better than 50% chance of working, and a big part of it is what they were left with. It's not a rebuild at all.

Right. In fact, in fact, it's understood in the building. This was a semi-rebuild year. Almost everybody of note, Kyle Hamill's in the Great Safety, you'll leave, but almost everybody of note returns next year. It's a really, really good. If you go to the preseason next year, Notre Dame is going to be really good. Yeah. I mean, neither of these programs were left in a bad situation.

I would say as far as recruiting goes, it's probably worse for Oklahoma than it is for Notre Dame. Because if you were planning on going to Notre Dame, you're probably not switching it up right now. Like you're going to go to Notre Dame. It's a different kind of school. It's a different kind of commitment. It's a different sort of half. It's an academic commitment as well. That's what I'm saying.

So like it's, you're going to Notre Dame. Like not to diminish an education from Oklahoma, but if you're going there to play football at that highest level, you're probably were going there for Lincoln Riley. Well, if I say to you, Oklahoma, I think football school. That's what I think of. Right. That's what I think of LSU. That doesn't mean that your education there isn't valid. It's just, we're not talking about the students. We're talking about the athletes who are going there to play football. There's three programs in America, Stanford, Notre Dame, and Northwestern. My first thought is academics. That's not to say that football is not good. But yeah, you're going there, you're going to play football, but you're also going there to get a degree from Stanford. And you're also no, when you go to those three schools, you're going to have to make an academic commitment.

That is very difficult. I mean, I've known, off the top of my head, I've worked with four different Notre Dame football players. There's no, it's hard. Right. That's what I'm saying. So the commits that were going there likely, like that was already in your mindset that you're going to Notre Dame.

So they're probably in a little bit of a better situation. But again, there are some other obstacles that you deal with at Notre Dame. So if you were going to keep someone in the building as their first time head coaching job, at least they're aware of the politics of the building and, you know, what goes on internally. So you don't have to learn that part of it. Now it's really just the football side of it and, you know, continuing the culture there.

So Baker Mayfield has been struggling this season. He's battling through multiple injuries and the team continues to start him despite everything that he's playing through. And GM Andrew Barry believes Baker's best football is yet to come. We all know that Baker is incredibly, you know, incredibly physically tough. I think he'll, you know, he's told you guys, you know, at moments of the year where he's, he's been frustrated with his, you know, with his own performance. You know, that being said, you know, he has had stretches, you know, this year where, you know, he has played well for us. And look, you know, the reality is like he's worked through

injuries, no different than, you know, other players on our roster. You know, by no, you know, he expects of himself and we expect, you know, him, you know, whenever he's on the field to perform at a capable level, at a winning level. And we expect him to play his best football down stretch here after the bye. Well, I can't talk about that person. I do wish the Cleveland Browns the very best going forward, but I will not, I have made a new

rule on the show, which the America voted on Monday. America has voted on Colin not talking about Baker at the moment. But he needs rest. Like he's dealing with a lot of injuries, which I don't think is an excuse, but there can be reasons.

Everyone is banged up at this point. I just don't think it's done Baker any service to be out there if he is really truly injured. If you're going to be on the field, you're expected to perform. We're seeing this with Aaron Rogers. Everyone knows Aaron Rogers is injured. Look at Tom Brady last year. Played the whole entire season with a knee injury.

And we didn't find out until the end of the season. I'm not saying Baker's talking about it on purpose, but it's going to be interesting to see how they go through the rest of the season when he comes back after this rest, which he clearly needs. So Colin can't talk about that. So Russell has not looked the same. of injuries. You can't talk about Russell Wilson. Since coming back from his finger injury, he missed three games while recovering, and Pete Carroll isn't planning to take Russ out so he can

have more time to rest. He doesn't need it. Do you think the break would, it would be of no use? He doesn't need it, Art, we're not going there. He's fine. He feels great. He does not feel like he's burdened by, you know, by the surgery from the past and all that. He's ready to go. So address the other question. He doesn't need to be rested. He's not tired. He's not worn down or anything. He needs the action. He needs to get back to the activity. He needs to play more and get in the flow of it as much as possible. Well, his last three games

we are showing his numbers now. He has lost all of them. Fifty-five point-seven completion percentage, two touchdowns, two interceptions, and the 73.2 pass a rating. Yeah, the House of Cards has crashed quickly as predicted.

Yes, you were very, very, very ahead of this. Well, although I didn't think it would be this year because I thought they'd come back. but there were warning signs from the offseason with Russell that he sensed. It was, listen, they have no identity offensively. They do not run the football. That's when Pete was at USC, first player I think of is Reggie Bush. Right.

Okay. That USC ran all over the field offensively, and as good as liner it was, they ran the football. In Seattle early, ran the football. Pete Carroll wants to run the football. they have C and D-level backs. None of them are ever healthy. Well, Carson, Penny, they're never healthy. In this division, like we were just talking,

you were just talking about the Rams earlier, losing their identity and not running the ball. You have to run the ball, especially in this division. You can't, it has to be a part of your identity, and they're not able to do it. My question with the C-Ox, because obviously we know, like,

their season is essentially over. Like, they're not going to bounce back at this point. What's going to happen next year? So he, Russell Wilson is a four, four-year, $140 million contract extension that he signed to 2019. It's through the 20-23 season. He's the highest player in the NFL at the time. So he's a $32 million cap hit this season.

It's the highest in the NFL, $37 million next season, which will be the sixth highest in the NFL. So if he does end up asking for a trade or, like, wanting to leave, whatever team is in the quote-unquote market for Russell Wilson is going to have to make room for him financially. Yeah. Like that's not a small contract. So all the stock, like we're always like playing, you know, GM, like moving parts around.

He is a very intense contract. And I don't know how they'll have to rework that or how that will work to be able to move him or if they're going to keep him. How are they going to fit anyone to fix all the problems that they have in Seattle? Could be a rough road ahead. Yeah. Well, Pittsburgh has a rebuilt offensive line. Naji Harris is young.

Couple of the receivers are young. They're going to have to pay some defensive guys. But Pittsburgh tends to draft. Well, that would be an interesting place where you could take. in Pittsburgh. You could take his salary. Is Russ going to for a trader, Pittsburgh? I don't know. I'm just throwing it

out there. You're giving me tough questions and dilemma. She's cornering me, folks. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Ly News. Well, he went to Notre Dame. He was a great quarterback there, and he played in the NFL

for 17 seasons, including the Cowboys. Steve Burline is joining us live. Brought to you on Mercedes-Benz, the best or nothing. So, you know, I was thinking about this, Steve, is that because the NCAA went to this early signing period, which I do not like it all, the coaches have no life, that when the season ends, you got to kind of cut the cord and go, or you lose like two to three weeks of, you can't sit around and wait for Luke Fickle. You can't.

I mean, the bottom line is, I think the bottom line, Notre Dame may have liked Marcus Freeman, and they like Luke Fickle, but they couldn't sit around and wait three or four weeks for Luke Fickle. So when Brian Kelly kind of just cuts the goal. cord, did it bother you or do you come to terms with this is the way it works now? All these guys cut the cord. You know, that's a great question, Colin. You think about the overall situation, how it impacts so many people. I don't like the way that it happened.

I was surprised by it, but then when you think about it, you think about the past kind of actions of Brian Kelly, how over the last few years he's used leverage to try to get the new contracts with the Philadelphia Eagles situation when he's won the national coach of the year. He's always kind of had that leverage, and he's made the play to improve his overall situation. So it didn't surprise me, but I do think it's a major issue in college sports now. You know, obviously you can't do this kind of thing. You can't just drop, get up and leave and have these kind of experiences happen in the NFL at this point. But in college, it changes the landscape very, very quickly.

I don't like the way it worked out in terms of how Brian Kelly did it, but I do think the right decision was Marcus Freeman. For all the different reasons you've been going over, you enjoy them and talking about, you know, the recruiting part of it being number one, the transition being a very smooth and easy transition with Tommy Reese, and all the different things going on. So I think it was the right move for Notre Dame.

Yeah, no, and Marcus is known as a high-energy recruiter. And the bottom line, if you can recruit, and most of the guys that don't work in this sport, they don't work in the recruiting part. If you don't recruit, it's hard to win, and I think Marcus is a big energy guy. Here's the thing, though. Notre Dame's history is this.

When it's your first job, head coaching job, there's a lot of failures. This is tough. Give me an example, because you've been behind the curtain. Brian Kelly said earlier this year, he's like, if you're just a football guy, you're not going to work at Notre Dame. That's just not the way it works.

Give me an example as a quarterback of Notre Dame, where it wasn't all just football. Well, shoot, it's every day of your life. It's not just football there. As you guys have been documenting, there's a different type of focus and different type of emphasis when you choose to go to Notre Dame.

As you said, the reason why a lot of people do choose to go Notre Dame is because they know it's different because they know that degree is something that you're going to get. Notre Dame, there's no, it's not, you know, we hope you graduate it. You will graduate.

in four years. Yeah. And if you can't cut it, if you don't cut it in the classroom, you will not make it at Notre Dame. And you understand that going in. But it also is the primary motivator, I think, of why guys choose Notre Dame over other schools. Steve, when you look at Dak Prescott, I was saying this is a former cowboy, is that I think

he's good. There's no getting around that. I don't think he's special. I don't think he moves around like Lamar, throws like Jeff. Herbert or Aaron Rogers, but I think he's good. Right. Right. It does worry me a little that his numbers with Amari and without him are stark. When you watch Dak, and Joy and I have talked about this for years, he's one of the rare

quarterbacks. I like the intangibles, better than the tangibles, although he has become a better thrower. He's worked on it. Like when you were playing, the guys, your peers, you know, in that era, are you worried a little that he does become dependent on the running game, Anamari? Definitely. And that's always been my argument

from day one. I really like Dak. I believe that he's, you know, one of the upper echelon quarterbacks in the NFL without a doubt. But with that whole contract situation in the last couple years, in my opinion, his body of work has not elevated him to the point where

he deserves to be paid with the top two or three quarterbacks in the NFL. He is dependent. on the running game. He is dependent on all those other pieces, like you said. Now, but who is it? I mean, obviously, to some extent, you have to have the weapons around you. That's what's kind of limited Aaron Rogers over there. It's been very well documented. Their inability to try to provide the right type of, you know, receivers for him over the last few years. Now, obviously this year, they're playing at a very high level, and he's obviously a very unique, very special talent.

But the point of all of it is that I do think that DAC is more dependent on having the other pieces around him. And it's been illustrated time and time again. He's lost three of the last four games. And, you know, that's just one of those things that you can't deny the facts. I'm with you. I think he's improved. He's developed. He's become a very, very good quarterback.

He deserves to be paid as one of the top, you know, 10 quarterbacks in the NFL. I just thought that was a little bit of a leverage play by him as well. And I don't consider him one of the top three or four quarterbacks in the league yet at this point. Hey, you're at a golf tournament. What is that? Explain it. What are you doing? Yes, it's the holiday classic here in Scottsdale.

It's a great tournament. A lot of celebrities here, Marcus Allen, Eric Dickerson, Mark Rippin, Vinie Del Nagle, go down the list of all these guys. We're here for a great cause, sponsored by 21st Century Vitamins. And then, you know, the charities Make a Wish, the local Arizona chapter of Make a Wish. Foundation and also St. Joseph the Worker, which is a local homeless shelter that provides food and shelter for homeless here in the Valley of the Sun. So it's a great first class event at Mountain Shadows Resort, great par three 18-hole golf courts. Every hole, there's a contest going for

hole and ones. Beautiful conditions. It's just an all-around great first-class event. Steve, it's great seeing you again. I like you think Marcus Freeman's going to work and college football's better when Notre Dame wins. I like it as well. I think it's the right call. Like you said, though, it's a little bit earlier than would have been ideal, but I think it's the right move going forward. And I believe Marcus Freeman is going to pump some good positive energy into this program. It's going to be a, it's going to look back on it and feel real good about it. Good stuff, Steve. Good talking to you.

Go Irish. All right, man. You bet. See you Colin. Thanks. You bet. Yeah. Like, you know, I say this about the NFL. NFL coaching is better than college football coaching on average, right? I mean, Nick Saban is the greatest college football coach ever. It just didn't work in the NFL. So much of it is quarterback dependent. But if you can recruit, like a lot of people were talking about Marcus Freeman's age, it's just different. My son is 16. He's so much smarter than I am.

My daughter's 21. They're so much smarter than I was at that age. I didn't have Google. I didn't have the travel. My kids have been able to travel to places. I couldn't imagine going to. I mean, even just having your iPhone and the access to information. So people say, oh, Marcus Freeman, what is he, like 35 years?

That young is 35. Yeah, I mean, like, to me, 35 is the new 45. I really believe that. Like 35 years old, if you've been surrounded by... I'm 34. I graduated in 2009. That was a long time ago. From college.

Yeah. Like, 35 is a completely reasonable time to take on a big job. Sean McVeigh was like 31 or 30 when he got the job. It's like, it's different now. He's only 27. Yeah. I mean, that's the only, I'm not an envious person. The only thing I envy is youth.

That's it. Like to be young and have the world in front of you. I'm falling apart. I'm going to go to the bathroom. There's no win for me now. Okay. You know, I want to say a word that drives me crazy. Oh, just drives me nuts.

And I heard it used yesterday over and over. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. He's by Carmen. I'm Dan Byard. We have a brand new fantasy football podcast. called I Want Your Flex. Twice a week, every Tuesday and Friday, we come up with new episodes to not only look back at what happened, what you need to do at that minute, and also look ahead of what's coming

up in the fantasy football world. That's right, Dan. Every week we're going to scour the waiver wire to find the pickups to turbo boost your fantasy lineup sits, starts, fantasy football players' rankings to get you ready to dominate the competition. Listen to I Want Your Flex with Mike Harmon and me, Dan Bayer. on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, and 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 IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win.

A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for Raw, Untiefer. filtered 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 Clivert 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. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs?

Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do a little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at a podcast. I'm Sam Jette. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick you here, unpack what? went down and tried to make sense of how we survived it.

Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack, so I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now, so. Thank you finishing that sentence. Yes.

I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, We get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing.

And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on Earth. Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely.

And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have really. conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. You know, I was thinking about this joy for our television audience.

I'm going to take a sip of coffee, and I want the camera to take a picture of this. Do you know I could put a big ad right there? I was thinking about that. Isn't that a new advertising opportunity? Just a gigantic ad right there every day. Well, generally they put, you know, like my water bottle has. I know. I have to go to Fox Management and say.

Well, it says Fox Sports. But I would like, I think this is a great opportunity to put an ad right there. Yeah, it's just kind of space without it. I agree. And I can just just, okay, so let me just tell you something. I don't like the word integrity. Okay, when I think of Oklahoma football, I'm sorry it's not the first word that comes out. I love Barry Switzer.

I don't link him to integrity. He did what you do to win games. So Brian Kelly leaves, lacks integrity. Lincoln Riley leaves, lacks integrity. It's interesting. Oklahoma, you do realize everybody else has a coach and you don't. You're losing recruits. You're going to have to steal somebody, right?

Matt Rule. Carolina Panthers would win. If he stayed for 10 years at Oklahoma, he'd probably win four national titles. He would have to lack integrity, bail on the Carolina Panthers midseason. Brett Venables, what if Clemson like they usually are was like 11 and O playing for the national title? He would have to bail on Clemson to take your job, bail on all the players, right before a national championship game. Oh, I thought you were about integrity. Integrity. Your integrity is not mine. My morals aren't yours. Everybody has flexible morality. You ever go to Twitter and watch somebody swear and say rude stuff and you look at their Twitter account? And it's like Christian.

It's like, whoa, time out. That's not terribly Christian of you. It's integrity. Take Luke Fickle. So Luke Fickle is the Cincinnati coach. He's been there for like four years. He's doing a great job. He's a great young coach. Great candidate. He'll be a home run for somebody. He was up for the Notre Dame job. but they couldn't sit around and wait for a month because he's going to be in the playoff. They can't lose these recruits. They're rolling. So they went and got Marcus Freeman, who I was told it was a 50-50 split. Either one of them could be successful.

But you had to take Luke Fickle out. So let me ask you this, because Luke Fickle, the truth is in the last two years, he's 21 and 1. It's a weaker conference. It's not a Power 5. Cincinnati's going to dominate this conference as long as Luke Fickle's there. They're going to become the Boise State of the Midwest. non-power-five team that can beat power fives and Luke Fickle's a great coach he's going to win as long as he's there and they're going to be like in this position every year as long as he's there

is he trapped can he never leave can Luke Fickle never ever take the Ohio State notary date because at some point he will have to cut the cord to leave because you can guarantee Cincinnati's going to win that conference six of the next seven years with Luke Fickle He doesn't have the right taking that team to a totally different level. Brian Kelly took Notre Dame, a billion-dollar brand. It was a dying brand. A dying brand. They're now the best next to Ohio State, northern football brand in America.

You don't think he has the right after 12 years to cut the court. He's doing Notre Dame a favor because Notre Dame is really not national championship viable this year. they'd be a huge underdog to Georgia. They'd be a big underdog to Michigan. They'd be an underdog to Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Cincinnati. They already lost them at home soundly. There's six, seven teams they'd be an underdog to, maybe eight. This is the year Brian should have left.

Because next year, Notre Dame may be a two or a three seed late in the year. Look at their schedule. Look at who they return. Look at their recruiting class. Next year, Brian knows I better leave now. Now, that's why he made this decision. Brian knows last year's team was excellent. Next year's is excellent.

This is a rebuilding team. And because it's a year of parity, they kind of snuck up on people a little bit. Notre Dame's better than everybody thought. So this is the year to leave. But folks, when I hear people talk about integrity, it's always flexible. Morality. It's always flexible based on what you need. The nice guy.

Go read their Twitter avatar. What nice people they are. They go to church every Sunday. swearing it kids. I mean, it's, I don't want to hear about your integrity. Oklahoma football, the first word I think is not integrity. It's winning football games, whatever it takes. These are not volunteers.

They're not married. When you receive a check that makes it your career, you're entitled to make your own decisions in that space. Oklahoma better steal somebody else's coach who will bail on kids that he promised he'd be there for. I roll hour two next. podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends, me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an

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

Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hardway with your favorite therapist and host Keir Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor. It signals to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to. Listen to learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get you. a podcast. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking

Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tauntons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get. It's your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.