The Herd with Colin Cowherd - HOUR 1 - Lakers, Bengals, Harden

Episode Date: February 10, 2022

The Lakers peaked 2 years agoBengals had a lot of things go their way this seasonThe problem with players like James HardenGuest: Aaron Jones Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

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

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Look Back at it podcast. For 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. 84 was a wild year. 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. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. 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 Clifers Show.

This is a place for raw, unfilled 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. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeart radio app by searching Heard.

You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Oh, it is Thursday. Things happening live in Los Angeles. It is the herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening. IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, FS1. A lot of interesting people today. George Kittle, who could double as a pro wrestler.

We'll be joining us. Aaron Jones, Mike Evans, Emmanuel Sanders. Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun. Joy Taylor is joining me. Joy is the busiest person in Los Angeles. Far busier than the players actually in the game. She has no days off. Her practice is all day long.

And it's great to see you. We have the Laker thing trading deadline today, right? So NBA. I think a trade actually just happens. What happened? I just got an alert. Let me look this up real quick. Alert.

Alert. Serge. Yeah. Surge. To the bucks. Well, it's more size. So they just got bigger. The trade deadline is at,

3 p.m. Eastern to 12 p.m. Pacific. So whatever happens, we will know during our show. Okay, so we'll find out during our show. I want to start with this. Lakers had their worst loss of the season. I mean, they didn't get blown out, but they got beat by a junior varsity team in Portland that doesn't have dame, C.J. McCollum, Norman Powell, Robert Covington, embarrassing loss. Bad, bad, bad, bad, bad, bad. There is a story this morning from Eric Pinkis. He's a respected NBA journalist that says the Lakers have considered moving Westbrook for John Wall. My opinion, I would not do that. I would not do that.

Westbrook did not play last night. Mysterious, perhaps. Bad back, maybe, I'm not sure. But I'd take Westbrook every day twice on Sunday over John Wall. I do think Westbrook has value and maybe better off playing some road games to get that confidence back. Trade deadline, they're considering it. Last night was embarrassing. Now, a couple of things.

A, LeBron needs to admit he's a lousy general manager. He wanted Westbrook. But let me talk about this. The concept of what LeBron wanted to do in Los Angeles. There were two missions when he got here. One, get rid of these young guys. I don't love playing with young guys. It was Lonzo Ball.

It was Kyle Kuzma. Josh Hart. Kind of move off these young guys, right? Some you could get rid of immediately. Some took some time. The second thing was, through clutch sports, let's get AD. Let's get Anthony Davis. Then LeBron got a huge break.

the Lakers got a huge break. The pandemic hit. Anthony Davis can't stay healthy and got four months off in the regular season. Came back strong as a bull. LeBron injuries were starting to creep up. Got four months off. Do you remember when he came back in the bubble? Joy and I talked about it regularly.

He looked like year four LeBron. He was chasing people all over the floor. That unique rest, that pandemic, Help them when a title. No pandemic, no title. Oh, I know what you're saying. You're very skeptical. How can you say that?

How can I say that? Because what has happened since? They've fallen off a cliff. It was absolutely lightning in a bottle, and we've seen that happen in all sports. No pandemic, no title. You know what it reminds me of? Hear me out on this. Peloton, the exercise bicycle.

A new product comes out. We've had exercise bicycles before. Peloton comes out. The pandemic hits and all the gyms close. Oh, some places wouldn't even let you outside. Suddenly it becomes cool culturally. Then the gyms opened and Peloton's lousy management couldn't adapt. The stock has plummeted, the company in deep distress.

Did you really think the exercise bike company was worth more? more than broadcast networks. It literally was for six months. That was its stock price. An exercise bicycle worth more than CBS. It was doomed to eventually cool off and perhaps fail. Cool stuff never stays cool forever. The management wasn't great.

They were lousy. It had no real long-term viability to be the next Facebook or Google. And that was the Lakers. They peaked two years ago. both Peloton and the Lakers got this weird benefit from a pandemic. The Lakers were old, their two stars were getting increasingly brittle, and they got a four-month break. You remember that bubble, don't you?

Young teams excelled. Old teams struggled. They were away from their wives and kids. It was the only NBA playoff run I've ever seen, where young teams got better, veteran teams got worse, except the Lakers. Miami Heat fell apart. the young team in the finals. Lakers,

their old guys were healthy. No pandemic, no title. And this is what Peloton really is, and this is what the Lakers are. LeBron James sounded as exasperated as I've ever heard him last night. You know, I was just something that's weighing on this group. They were trying to all, you know, get through.

You know, almost feels like it's, you know, like fall. You know, just fog and air, and we're all trying to see what's on the other side of it. I'm literally just, I'm tired as hell right now. I just want to get some wine and get into bed and wake up tomorrow. I feel good about what tomorrow has the story. And we'll see what happens. We'll see what happens as far as the deadline. But other than that, I'm kind of just focused on what we can do to be better.

LeBron's plan with a unique pandemic benefit, it really did matter. We sat here and said, this is a huge benefit peaked two years ago. But it was doomed to fail. AD can't get through a season. The Lakers management is suboptimal. And LeBron, he's not a great GM.

He's just an all-time great player. Same with Peloton. An exercise bike will never be worth more than the Fox Network. Long term. Let me shift to this. Carson Palmer's a great quarterback, all-timer. Bengals, Rams. Interesting, not a huge buzz for the Super Bowl.

Cincinnati's not a big brand. And the Rams in L.A. are probably, despite all their stars, one of the lower profile NFL teams in a market. We're distracted. We've got a lot of sports here. And the Rams players are kind of classy. Stay behind the scenes. Don't talk much.

I mean, Aaron Donald's the greatest football player in the league. And couldn't tell you the last time he was quoted. But Carson Palmer was talking about. talking about Joe Burrell. And, of course, Palmer used to play for the Cincinnati Bengals, and he said, he said, I think he has many titles in him. This is the first of many titles for him. In September, nobody would sit there and look at that roster and say, that team's going

to the Super Bowl. A lot of that magic's Joe, it's rubbing off on guys around him. Got the Bengals here, got the roster, this roster here. I think he has multiple Super Bowls in his future. It is interesting, is it not? It feels that way. But let me caution you that Dan Marino got to a Super Bowl in year two. Fifteen years after that, never got back.

Aaron Rogers got to a Super Bowl in year three. He's played 13 total years. He's never been back. Drew Breeze with a Hall of Fame coach, a great GM, unbelievable fan support in a mostly wobbly division. One Super Bowl. Brett Farve, last 13 years of his career. He never got back. A lot of times when these quarterback,

are young and inexpensive and the roster's better, it's a lot easier to get there. Joe Burrow at some point is going to be a $500 million quarterback. Cross your fingers, the Bengals have a good capologist. But could I also argue this year was lightning in a bottle? Let's look at their own division. Baker Mayfield got hurt. Oh, you don't think it matters? Joe Burroughs never beaten the Browns when Baker's healthy.

Ever, he's 0.3. The Baltimore Ravens fell apart. and the Steelers, you and I know the story, clinging to band last year, not a viable Super Bowl team. Also, the Bengals got a bit of a break instead of having to face Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. They played each other, one got knocked out. And then I'm not saying Ryan Tannahill and Derek Carr aren't capable, but it's nice facing Mahomes and no Josh Allen. And Mahomes also had his worst half in a playoff game of his life. Also, the Bengals caught people off guard.

Also, they had a last place schedule. They won't get the Jets or the Jags or the Lions every year. This is not to say the Bengals don't deserve to be here, but just like the Lakers in the bubble, we do see teams catch fire. The Bengals, to me, feel like a six seed in March Madness. They're good and well-coached. They have a star player. They get a couple of breaks.

the teams they didn't match up with gets knocked out the weekend before they play them. They win a couple of buzzer beaters. And all of a sudden, it's magical. They're beating teams they shouldn't. They're beating teams that have a bigger fan support. They're winning games. You can't believe they're winning. They're starting to believe in themselves.

And momentum has an odd power that is hard to describe. Who can really describe momentum? It's just real. Now, those teams eventually don't win a title. They'll face a Duke or a Kansas or a Villanova or a Carolina, and they'll just not have the peeps. But occasionally, they do win. That's what Cincinnati feels like.

But before we crown them, never forget that when Patrick Mahomes beat the Niners, the sports media world, their hair caught on fire. one of ten and I kept saying well they got to pay him and when they pay him you better pray people don't get hurt because when you pay the quarterback four or five hundred million you don't have any depth we've seen this in the NBA Kyrie Hardin you know Kevin Durant you don't have much of a bench so Kansas City right this guy's got to go cross your fingers on a rookie working so I think they're a great story I think there's a bit of They feel a little bit like a six seed in the tournament.

And for the record, to be a sixth seed in college basketball, there are 379 Division I programs. You got to be good. You got to be well coached. You got to be more than one great player. But it kind of feels like that to me. All sorts of stuff. It is just great to be here.

It is an interesting Super Bowl week because the Bengals just don't have a huge brand. I mean, let's be in Ohio, much smaller brand than the Browns. In their division, the fourth biggest brand. most of the Ravens Steelers. So, and, you know, the Rams are an interesting team. They're growing in the market, but they played in Orange County. And for those watching, that's not L.A. County. L.A. County is Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles and Venice and Santa Monica and Manhattan Beach.

And then Orange County is down there in, you know, Irvine, California and Laguna, California. That's where the Rams play. The Raiders were L.A. County's team. And so it's kind of a slow, quiet, buzz right now in Super Bowl Week, and we're hoping, well, we got lucky. It's the NBA trade deadline, plus some more football, too. 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 game. 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 which I'm 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, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where

you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tauntons

and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. 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 a little kill? Well, you can find out on The Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jay. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it 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 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. Thank you for finishing that sentence. 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. You're now entering the no bull zone sponsored by credible great rates with none of the bull. I saw this headline today and this made me laugh. James Hardin wants a trade to the Philadelphia 76ers, but he won't formally request the deal due to concern over public backlash. Go ahead, James.

We know what you are. You don't have a good rep, really, to start with it. So go ahead and just do it. Hardin's a bailer. When the going gets tough, he quits. That's absolutely his M.O. It is no longer disputable. In Houston, he wanted out and stopped working out and got very heavy.

cartoonishly so and then in Philadelphia suddenly he has a fake hamstring issue James Harden has become the poster child for what NBA critics hate about the league I do not I love the league well I like it

it's like conservatives I'm not one but they do make some interesting points on COVID maybe it's time to stop using masks and oh by the way the critics of the NBA say spoiled entitled me first about the player not the team. They're not wrong here. Aaron Rogers can be temperamental, but he is always in shape,

gives you everything he has. I never in my wildest dreams think, Aaron's half-assing it. Nope, not once. Has good games, has less good games. James Hardin cares about one thing, seems to me, about himself. And he's going to potentially get traded for Ben Simmons, who was given money, love, and support from the city of Philadelphia and the Sixers from day one. And decided this year to bail on the city, his teammates in the organization, because of mild criticism by Doc Rivers after a embarrassing playoff performance. So congratulations, NBA. A quitter who can't shoot is being traded for a quitter who's a good defender.

And, oh, I should say, a quitter who can shoot is being traded for a quitter. Twitter who can't shoot but a good defender. Congrats. That's the image. That's exactly what this is. Now, I do think Harden with the Sixers is a better fit. No question. They need a Hardin.

And I do think Ben Simmons and his weird personality in game. I think it fits Brooklyn. I really do. I think they're a better team. But I don't hate the NBA. I like it. I watch it a lot. But the critics have some points.

This nonsense? You don't see it in the NFL, especially from stars. On this show, I talk 70% National Football League. I bring star players on all the time. I have more today. The takeaway from all of them, they're humble, they work hard, they take care of their families, they care about their teammates. I know that's not cool to some.

It matters. It matters to care about people beyond yourself. It matters to care about the city of Philadelphia. It matters to care about Steve Nash. and Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving and the owner and the fans and the executives, because that NBA, it is a grind. 82 regular season games. Unbelievable pressure and expectations.

The NBA coach of the year usually gets fired two years later. It's hard. Pro sports is hard. It'd be nice if some of these stars seem like they cared as much as the fans and the cities and the executives and teammates do. Joy with the news. No, no, no. Turn on the news.

This is the herd line news. Well, no one expected the Bengals to be in the Super Bowl this year. I think if you had honest conversations with some of the Bengals players, they might even tell you they weren't expecting. I don't want to hear from anybody outside of Cincinnati that you saw it coming. Yeah, to be in the Super Bowl. But they did put together an incredible playoff run to get here for the first time in 33 years. And Zach Taylor wants to seem to be confident they belong in this game.

He said my message was simple. We're here for a reason. This is not a fluke. We are not underdogs. This is just the last test of the season we belong here. Well, they are underdogs by four and a half points. Literally, they're underdogs. But, you know, Joe Burroughs said this, I think last week before, or two weeks ago, I guess,

before the AFC championship game that he was tired of the underdog title. Yeah. And look, I get it. Right. And I understand the purpose of the messaging. but I actually would I would actually embrace the underdog mentality. I mean, there's not a real villain in this Super Bowl.

Generally, there's someone that the public is actively rooting against. Right. It's not really fun to root against the Rams. Like, you're rooting against Aaron Donald and Matthew Stafford and Odell. Like, most people are not rooting against the Rams. And, I mean, like, there's not a whole lot of animosity between Chargers and Ramsphere. Yeah. It's here in L.A., so there's not like an inner city rivalry as far as that goes either.

And who doesn't want to see Cincinnati? I think even if you ask, I mean, I'm from Pittsburgh, is that going to bother me if Cincinnati wins a Super Bowl? I think it's great. I love the Joe Burrough story. You and I have said this before. It's hard to watch all the games when the bottom six teams are poorly run and poorly constructed. Like, Cincinnati's been a bottom team and now they're good, potentially for years. Like, this is good for us.

Yeah, and the worst thing you can be is bad, dysfunctional, and boring. You're like the Texans. there's nothing we can do. At the very least, if you're going to be bad, be a dumpster fire, so we can at least be something interesting to talk about. Yeah, I mean, the Raiders have had that kind of feel. Like, they're always newsworthy and for our purposes, even so some of the news is egregious.

Right. It is, they are interesting a lot. Exactly. So I think it's great that the Bengals are competitive. So there's not a villain. No. The Patriots were in. Everyone was rooting against the Patriots or there's always someone that everyone is rooting against.

and we don't have that in this particular Super Bowl, which is kind of probably why the quote-unquote buzz isn't as high. I mean, you're here in L.A., do you feel it? Well, I feel it's because I'm in the industry. Yes. But also, it's unique in that Cincinnati isn't a national powerhouse brands, which is not a knock on Cincinnati. It's just not.

They're the third biggest football brand in Ohio. Right. Ohio State, Cleveland Browns, Bengals. And that's not a shock. That's just what they are. It's just the reality. and the Rams are here in L.A. And we're in L.A.

So there aren't two fan bases coming to the city, which is normally what, you know, it's supposed to happen. Like, it's not supposed to be a home team advantage for the team playing in the Super Bowl. It just happened to go that way the last two years. So normally it's like a very, you know, it's bigger with the amount of people.

So there's something to that. But as far as the Bengals being an underdog, I would just embrace that. They were the favorite in the wild card game against the Raiders, but they were underdogs. I mean, obviously we were talking about gambling. That's not what Zach Taylor's talking about. But against the United States.

Titans and the Chiefs and now the Rams. And if I had to put pressure on any team, if I'm just looking at... I'll be the Rams. Yeah. I mean, they should be. They've been there before. They have the experience.

They have the overall better roster. They are the favorites. And they are at home. So it's not like it's going to be outrage if they lose. If they get blown out, I think it will be. If the Rams got blown out, that would be shocking. Yes. But I don't think that's going to happen.

No, but if Cincinnati lost 3324, you'd be like, yeah, you could see it coming. Aaron Donald, literally unblockable, Burrell's battle line. I could absolutely write that scenario in my head. Then again, I said, before the playoffs, I said, I cannot envision the Niners beating Green Band Lambo. So maybe this is the year. Maybe it's the year of upsets. Well, the Rams haven't been scared of trading away picks in the drafts in order to build their team.

And it's clearly working. They've been in the Super Bowl twice now in the last six years. And GM-Less-Need explained the reasoning behind their aggressive strategy. He said, we have a vision. There's definitely risk. We like to refer it as being bold. There's definitely uncertainty in what you're doing, but if it doesn't work, it's not like we're going to implode. The model's working.

We'll try to use our picks in an innovative and creative way, and sometimes we'll be picking players in the drafts, and sometimes it will be using them to go acquire players. Here's the other thing to think about, and this is why I don't even think it's risky. They're not giving away top five picks. So the Rams with McVeigh will always pick, with rare circumstances, in the bottom seven or eight picks in the NFC. That's a second round pick. NFL GMs I've talked to for years. I've always said the same thing.

The draft always has 15 to 16 elite, no-miss players, or it would be injuries or uncoachable, but like really different looking college players. The left tackle for Alabama this year, the edge rusher for Michigan, the center for Iowa to me. They're usually a receiver or two, and again this year. But that point on, those are second round pick. So the Rams are saying, we're going to take Jalen Ramsey and Matt Stafford. over a safety that starts, but isn't an impact player until year two or three.

So what I'm saying is, once you get to about the 17th, 18th pick of the first round or 16th pick, it's kind of a second round talent. Right. So they're giving up that, not the Giants fifth pick. But they're also, when you look at the stars that they have, they're not in a development stage of their program. Like they are in a win now, compete now place.

Matthew Stafford, Aaron Donald, the additions that they added this year, Cooper Cup, like, they're not a young developing team. They are an established culture, an established coach, and an established team. So while you always want to have an infusion of young players and guys that you're developing, and guys that you don't have to pay a lot,

for your key positions, why wouldn't you trade and get known commodities? I love the way they do business. I've been against this draft hoarding strategy forever. Not that I don't like young players, you absolutely need them. And there's a way to build that way as well. Yeah.

But once you're good, what's the point? Once you're good, what is the point? Like, there's a huge value to the Cincinnati Bengals building young. They are extremely young. Go get young, great players and you can all develop together. And then you're in a different phase. But where you are in the state of your program is what you should do. Like, you shouldn't, everybody doesn't have to follow the straight same strategy.

Well, if you have nine picks for the Rams, how many could start on this team? If they got Iowa Center, he would start. Sure. Not a lot of openings on this roster for starters. No. So their last first round draft pick was in 2016, and they traded two of them to move up and pick Jared Gough.

Their next scheduled first round pick is in the 2024 draft. But like Les Ned, like Les said, they've been in the Super Bowl the last six years. So it's a better thing to say for a lot of these organizations. So the Super Bowl is back in Los Angeles for the first time in 30 years. And Roger Goodell, nearly 30 years. And Roger Goodell thinks that the city will be a regular host

city for the big game regularly. So he said the state of the art stadium has a wow factor that attracts and has the ability to host these kinds of events. Yes. And he expects L.A. to consistently be the top of the list for Super Bowl host sites going forward. We don't move the Orange Bowl. We don't move the Rose Bowl.

We don't move the Cotton Bowl. We don't move the Sugar Bowl. Why do we have to keep moving the Super Bowl other than two or three cities? The idea of putting it in Jacksonville was embarrassing. It's too small. It was a disaster. There's no reason to put it in a cold weather city where you got, yeah, two-star quarterbacks in a 30-mile-an-hour gust.

Like, we don't move the Grammys. We don't move Marty Grail. Why do we have to move the Super Bowl? I've never understood this. I personally, before there was a team in Vegas, felt like the Super Bowl should have been held in Vegas every single year. I would have a three-city rotation. Now there's a team there.

But before there was a team there, build the stadium, have the Super Bowl there every year, host college games throughout the year there, host college bowl games there, so it gets usage. Let the local high schools use it if you need to have people in the building. But to me, the neutral site of Vegas, because it is built to be in an event city. Like, I get it the NFL wants to reward cities that build new stadiums, but it's just not functional. Kansas City is not functional.

And it can't withstand the amount of visitors that you're going to have. Kansas City's airport is not built for the Super Bowl. Kansas City's weather. I mean, I love Kansas City's airport. It's like a private airport. Yeah, I mean, it's that small. But it's like some cities, like, for instance, I'll give you an example. I used to live in Portland. Portland is never, despite all their success and being a very good franchise, never hosted an NBA All-Star game. Now, think about that. Why? They don't have enough hotel rooms. Right. So the NBA is like, yeah, we need like 25,000 hotel rooms or whatever it is because the NBA All-Star weekend has become such a massive event. Like, Kansas City is not big enough for the Super Bowl now. It's just, now you say Indianapolis is. Indianapolis has a world-class airport. They've been hosting these events for years. I don't, I will say this. I went to a Super Bowl.

Bowl in Indy, and it wasn't great because of the weather and the time of the year it is. Well, yeah, I mean, the weather does matter because, you know, for us, like, you know, in the biz and all the parties and all that stuff, like that's a side thing. Like, the NFL's not really concerned about us, but there are fans that come to the Super Bowl, not even to just go to the game. Like, they want to experience the week of Super Bowl. Minnesota is zero degrees. I didn't go to that one.

We didn't, I didn't send the crew there. It was, and again, great. city, just not in January, February. If a city has to be connected by tubes. Yeah, it's not the place. It's probably not the place to have it. A lot of the things in America, the great events, we don't move them around the country. Right. And it's not anything against these cities. It's just at this time of year, it's not functional for fans. And to your point, most of these airports can't sustain it either.

Like, logistically, you need to have things in place in order to support it. So the next three ones are Arizona next year. Fine, like that. Las Vegas. Excellent. And then New Orleans. where it's been many times. All right. And it's obviously a big event city. So also the NFL announced that Munich has been selected to host the first ever regular season game in Germany during this 2020 season. That's fun.

So they're going to host. Just like they do in London. They'll host a regular season game. It'll be Munich's first chance at that. That's interesting. My son wants to go to Munich. I'm sure why. Have you been to Germany?

I haven't. I've had cousins that lived there for years. Absolutely loved it. Absolutely loved it. Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland. I heard they smoke a lot in Austria. They call it the ashtray of Europe. They smoke a lot. They smoke a lot all over Europe.

Yeah, they do. I was in Italy this summer, just like smoking over the pasta. Smoke talk. Smoking, lots of smoking. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd line news.

All right, Joy, what was the trade deadline thing? Is there another one that comes out? More news? What was the? trade. Sirja Baca is going to the Bucks. Surge a buck. My microphone is not on.

Surge Baca is going to the bucks. So it just makes them bigger? You had the Kings trade, Serja Baca into second round picks and cash to go to the bucks. And Marvin Bagley Jr. To the Pistons.

Yeah. So the Clippers are trading Serge Baca to the bucks. That's the latest one. We'll have updates throughout the show. The trade deadline will end at the end of our show. All right. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd.

Weekdays and New Neatheas. Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, what's up, everybody? It's me, three-time Pro Bowl of LeVar Arrington, and I couldn't be more excited to announce a new podcast called Up on Game. What is Up on Game, you ask? Along with my fellow Pro Bowler, T.J. Hushman Zada and Super Bowl champion. Yep, that's right. Plexico Burris. You can only name a show with that type of talent on it.

Up on Game. We're going to be sharing our real-life experiences loaded with teachable moments. Listen to Up On Game with me, LeVar Arington, T.J. Hushmanzada, and Plexico Burris on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast from. 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,

a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the fourth. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you

behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right what you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related

episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics. from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of taun tons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to bowl your mind on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 it 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 yeah, yeah. Literally. But just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, 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. 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 IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. SimplySafe. Collin.com.

20% off, free shipping. Claim a free indoor security camera. They have wireless outdoor camera. Simplysafe, Colin.com. Well, he was the Packers nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award because of his charitable contributions. He's a wonderful guy, a fifth round pick out of U-TEP. Yeah, I didn't watch U-TEP college games either, but Aaron Jones has become one of the best running backs and one of the best people in the NFL. Five years were the Packers, a pro boulder.

He got the bag this off season. He got a little bit of money. And as we said at the time, I'd give Aaron Jones the money he wants to. He's now joining us live. You know, it's interesting, Aaron, this year. I think if I'm, I may be wrong on this, but I think you set a career high for catches and touchdown catches for you. You had like 52 catches and six touchdowns.

So I was thinking about this. When you went to the off season, did you say, I wanted me a more viable receiver? Was that something you really worked on? Yes, sir, something I really worked on. Me and my mom, we have a thing. If it touch your hands, you got to catch it. And so it's something I've been working on for a while. but invested, got a jugs machine, me and my brother out in the backyard, just working on it,

working on the hands, working on a route running, just how can you continue to elevate your game? So you went out and bought a jugs gun or a jugs machine? You went out and personally bought one. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. That is great. Any way you could get better. That's right.

So you guys beat the Bengals. Let's talk about that game. I remembered. It was windy. It was a weird game. It could have gone either way. Tell me about the Bingle's defense. What do they do well?

They're always in the right spot at the right time. You won't see really any bust out there. They have some good pass rushers who are relentless. You think they're not getting back there. They'll keep coming. And like I said, they have veterans all around on the field. They have a veteran DB corps. They play off of each other, and you can tell they have good energy

and they feel each other. And like you said, we played them early in the year, and that's when I knew they were a good team. They should have beat us. Yeah. They missed a field goal. We missed a field goal. Kept going back and forth with Ms. Philgoes, and we were luckily able to hit one at the end. But from right then, I knew they were a really good team.

Yeah. Now, you beat the Rams in week 12 and beat them pretty soundly. It was a game in which you felt like the Packers were better. Now, what do the Rams defense? What does it give you? The Rams constant pressure. You got to be able to run the ball because if not, they're just going to heat your quarterback up. They're fast all around the field.

Yes, fast. Fast all around the field. You know, they have Jalen Ramsey over there on one side. That's kind of an island over there. So they have some really nice pieces, and you could tell, like I said, like the Bengals secondary, their secondary. They trust each other. Yeah. So I saw Aaron Rogers video yesterday at a Phoenix Open.

pro-am and I believe Aaron's coming back. Yeah, that's what he said, his fourth MVP. So I think he's coming back. I think if the Packers did move him, they'd probably push him over to the AFC because I don't want to play him again, but I don't think, I don't see a scenario in which it's good move by the Packers to trade him. I think Aaron in the end of the day is comfortable there. He likes his coach. He's got, you know, star players. Did you, does Aaron say anything to you guys? When the season's over, does he text you? Does he say, hey, man, I'm coming back. Or is it kind of, you're just sitting waiting like the rest of us? Kind of just sitting waiting like the rest of everybody else,

but at the same time, I'm kind of just focused on myself. I know A-Rod's a person, he lives in the now, so he's not, he's worried about what he's doing right now. What's my next move? What's my next step? So I'm kind of the same way, so not too much worried about that, but how can I continue to get better and elevate my game?

Last two years, the Packers have been viewed as the Super Bowl team did not get there. when you lose those home games just take me to erin you lose those home games what is the next 48 72 hours like for you in those moments uh it was for me i was i was sick i couldn't watch any playoff football after that uh i went out i went out came out of my room uh my family was watching the game i went right back in my room and i just i couldn't because you know um it's it's hard at this it's hard to get to where you want to go but when you feel like you of that team, that window is so small, and you've got to take advantage of it. Devonte Adams, it's time to pay him.

The Packers, however, and we know this, they're over the cap by a lot. Gut feeling this morning on what happens with Devante Adams, because you and Devante Adams, along with Aaron, are the stars and the producers on this offense. What is your gut feeling today on Devante Adams? I know he loves Green Bay. I feel like they pay him what he wants. He's there because that's where his heart's at. So I love to say he's number one to me in my book at Receiver,

and let's get back to work. Yeah. So what were you do in the off-season? I had Jonathan Taylor on yesterday. I had Austin Echler on yesterday. And I think it was Jonathan Taylor. I go to Miami or I go to Fort Lauderdale. I go to Arizona.

body's beat up. What do you do? You know, running back's careers aren't as long. What do you do for your body over the next three to four months? Just try to get back as healthy as possible, whether it be some PT, treatments, whatever it may be, but also getting back in the weight room, strengthening, you know, getting back to those college strengthening days and those little small things, those are important to keep you going and keep you healthy. So I go back. I spend a little time with the family and then get back to training. Yeah. So what do you make, when you're in Green Bay, and we said this before, a lot of players say, oh, man, playing in Green Bay. Is there an advantage? It's the smallest professional

sports city in America. It's a town more than a city. What is the advantage of playing in Green Bay? The advantage is there's just football. That's your main focus and your only focus. You know, there's nothing really to do. So you got you and your teammates and football. Yeah, that's really, to me, that's really what it's all about. That's my job. That's the reason I'm here. So let me try to perfect this and get good at it and then lock in and focus on it.

So I think it's a blessing in disguise that I ended up there as a rookie just coming out. Couldn't imagine being in some of those other places, but it just got me mentally in the right space. Yeah. If Aaron did move or retire, how confident are you in Jordan Love? I'm confident Jordan Love. We got to work a lot these past couple years, and this year he's got to take, this past year he got to take more reps, you know, more practice reps, more game reps, everything.

So you can see the development. You can see the confidence coming every snap he takes, every snap he takes. I'm excited for Jordan when his time comes. He has a bright future. Five years with the Packers, their nominee for the Walter Pate, Man of the Year award for his charitable contributions. My friend, it's great to see you again and thanks. Yes, sir.

Great to see you. Go, Pat, go. All right, Aaron Jones. You know, I was thinking about, we have George Kittle on next hour and Kittles, the wildly entertaining Niners' tight end. You know what's interesting about this game? So Nick Wright came on earlier this week, and he said, if Joe Burrow wins, he can say I'm the best quarterback in the league. Tom Brady's retired. I took the Bengals and I won the

Super Bowl. I beat Mahomes twice this year. I am the best quarterback in the league. And it's like, yeah. I mean, you can make that, it's absolutely reasonable. If Matt Stafford wins, this is interesting. You know what it's going to feel like? It's going to feel a lot like Steve Young. Steve Young played behind Joe Montana for four and a half years. And then Steve Young finally got a chance. First year, he won MVP of the league. Second year, runner-up MVP. Third year, MVP and won the Super Bowl.

And you were sitting there, and I remember sitting there thinking, can you imagine if this guy started like eight years ago? He'd been in an argument for like one of the great quarterbacks of all time. That's why I've said he's always, to me, maybe the most underrated quarterback probably is in my lifetime. He just didn't get an opportunity. If Matt Stafford runs the table, I want you to think about this. And this is not a shot at Aaron Rogers, but Aaron's been with a great teammates, great organization, lousy division, a lot of home playoff games. For his whole career, if Matt Stafford win Sunday, he will have a better playoff win percentage than Aaron Rogers.

He will have as many Super Bowl appearances as Aaron Rogers. He will have as many Super Bowls as Aaron Rogers. with one year at a legitimate organization. One. Aaron's been in Green Bay, I think 17 years total. And I said it Monday is, you know, when Brady retires, the best quarterback in the league now is kind of up for grabs. I mean, it's going to come down to results.

I think Josh Allen's the singularly most talented player in the league at his position. he's not getting his Uber Bulls. Joe Burrell's not as talented. Now, he is. Mahomes is good, but he was lousy against Burrow in the second half, and he had like a six, seven week stretch this year where he wasn't very good. The best quarterback in the league, we could say Aaron, 21 playoff games, 11 and 10. We've seen multiple disappointments.

So, like, it's kind of out there who's the best quarterback in the league? This is not a sport like baseball that you rely on tradition and lore. and history. It's not a sport like basketball where you don't even have to win titles. Alan Iverson had so much credibility in the league for his greatness. Football is about winning, and it's about winning in the postseason. And with Brady gone, if Stafford wins, start looking around. You're going to have a higher win percentage than Aaron Rogers in the playoffs. One year without nonsense surrounding him.

Jimmy Johnson, the Hall of Fame coach, was on our show earlier this week. and I asked him if he was surprised. I listened to my buddy Terry Bradshaw. Every time Detroit would be on TV, he said, I love Stafford. I love his throwing motion. I love everything he does. If he was just on a good football team, I heard that for years. And so when Stafford was traded to the Rams, we all just celebrated because, hey, we said,

now he's going to an outstanding organization. He's going to be surrounded by some great players. Yeah. What do you say Monday? What do you say Sunday night? Who's the best quarterback in the league? I was just having this conversation. There's a difference between the most talented. Yeah, I think Josh Allen's ridiculous. Like the most talented actor might not be the best actor. Like we have to define overall what it is. Like what is the best and what is talent? We've seen lots of talent be squandered. I've argued for years. The most talented person in Hollywood is Jamie Fox. He can do

comedy, he can sing. He's a great actor. He can host game shows. Right, but he's also extremely successful because he puts all of those things to get. But isn't the best actor, John Malkovich? I guess that's more objective, I guess. Jeremy Irons.

When it comes to this, you have to set what the parameters are. And to your point, winning in the postseason should matter after it should matter. It does for this sport. Yes. It absolutely does for this sport. All right, hour two. George Kettle, stopping by Mike Evans too. It's the herd. 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. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. 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 Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve

to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clippert Show on the I-Hard 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. 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. 84 was a wild year. 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.