The Herd with Colin Cowherd - HOUR 1 - Lakers, LeBron, NFL, Zion

Episode Date: February 23, 2022

The Lakers aren't giving LeBron James all the powerNFL coaches need to evolve when it comes to offenseZion Williamson simply wants out of New OrleansGuest: Nick Wright Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Ah, a Wednesday it is live in Los Angeles. It is the herd wherever you may be, however you may be listening. IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, FS1, Peter King next hour, Nick Wright, this hour. It is great to have you in today as a lot of things percolating out there. Joy Taylor is joining me today. Joy, I've got some ideas today. they are going to be met with skepticism, but part of doing this show is exploring. Well, Lewis and Clark DNA here, we can explore.

We don't always find our landing spot or our destination. We have to go to, you know, mountain ranges, and sometimes we lose people. But I am on a little bit of this morning, on a journey this morning, to find the truth. Well, you know, you're America's honesty broker. That's right. Sometimes to find the truth, you got to do a little digging.

Exactly. So I've got my backpack and my tools, and here we go. So we all know this. I mean, things move fast. I was talking to a friend a couple years ago about this, and we were just talking about digital and podcasting and cord cutting and all the vagaries and things going on in our business. And I said, like year to year, stuff changes so fast now.

Stuff that did platforms that didn't exist. Now TikTok. It didn't exist five years ago, not that I knew of. And I'm like, it's just crazy. Where is it all going to land? I have no idea, but it's just a lot of stuff is moving. And a lot of this is just all technology-based, right? There's a new platform for you to watch stuff on feels like every year.

And we know this. Like, if I would have told you 10 years ago, I'm going out to dinner tonight. Got any cash? No. Don't even have a nickel. What do you mean? I don't carry cash. 10 years ago, that sounded ridiculous.

Folks, I couldn't tell you the last time I had a $10 bill in my wallet. I never have cash. 15 years ago, I'm going to put my daughter in a stranger's car. She'll go to the airport. Are you crazy? Today, it's Uber. Like, why park your car? It's $30 a day at LAX.

Just take Uber. It doesn't make any sense to park your car at an airport. You know, 15 years ago, you know, the idea of going to a game without a ticket, going to an airport without a ticket. Now you look at people with a ticket, you're like, what are you? A dinosaur? Is this Spielberg movie? What are we doing here?

What's a ticket to the airport? Things change and they change fast. Ten years ago, maybe five, if I said to you, a team's going to trade LeBron. They're over him. Whoa. Really? He's missed 75 games in the last four years. He's missed a season in the last four season and getting older.

He doesn't give you 44 minutes a night. It's not nearly as dominant on the defensive end. I would prefer the Lakers keep LeBron, trade A-D, blow it up this offseason. So what if you had to trade him? L.A. has a history. We just get the next guy. Kareem, Wilt, Shack, LeBron. That's what the city does.

Matt Stafford said, I want to go to L.A. OBJ, get me to L.A. Paul George, I want to go to L.A. Lincoln Riley left Oklahoma, top five job, get me to L.A. This isn't Cleveland. Lakers shouldn't be desperate. The greatest leverage you can have in negotiation, no fear. All right.

I mean, the bottom line, LeBron is somebody I'd rather keep. LeBron wants to stay here. But there's an argument to be made. LeBron needs L.A. Right now, as badly as L.A. needs LeBron. His business, his net worth has doubled in four years. He is crushing it out here in business. When he got to Los Angeles, I was told he met with six billionaires in the first month.

They lined up in Los Angeles. I know people that are in his business, LeBron's business, they were literally being handed checks for new projects. They were saying they had to say no. They could have said yes, 30 times a day. LA is good for LeBron. L.A. is attractive to pro athletes. I know conservative news outlets tell you nobody wants to live here. Yeah, they do.

Pro athletes do. It's sunny. It's beautiful people. There's great business. You put Janus in L.A. tomorrow. He would make so much more money than he makes now in Milwaukee. There would be so many opportunities for him.

Shack in Orlando was a good basketball player. Shack in L.A. was an industry. If Magic Johnson only played in Portland, he wouldn't be the iconic figure today. So the reality is with LeBron, Brian Windhorst has a column today that's fascinating. He said LeBron is ticked off at the Lakers for two reasons and spent the All-Star weekend making sure he got it out, talking to reporters he knew that would send his message, that LeBron wanted Westbrook traded and was furious that the Lakers put it out there that LeBron was okay with it. He didn't want Westbrook anymore, and he didn't want it out there that he was okay with Westbrook anymore. So he's upset with the Lakers. Ten years ago, put your daughter in a car to the airport, outrageous.

Five years ago, trade LeBron. Ridiculous. I'd prefer to keep him, but it's not off the table. Listen, the Lakers are not winning a championship with this group. It's over. You got one. I said this earlier this week. Kevin Durant and Steph, we thought it was a dynasty.

They won two. That's good enough. Absolutely good enough. I mean, Michael Jordan won three left. Played baseball. Came back one three. That's the greatest dynasty of all time. Shack and Kobe, you only got three.

And those are considered dynasties, all-time stuff. folks you got one with old LeBron and brittle AD and you're not going to get another pandemic so they get three and a half four months off in the middle of the season. So the Lakers right now basically, this is what you do as a Laker fan. Cross your fingers every night that LeBron or A.D. don't go down. That's what that's literally what Laker fans do.

That's not what you want to be as a pro sports fan. This is not a desperate city. This is not a desperate organization. I would rather not trade LeBron. I would rather build around LeBron and Malik Monk and the Reeves kid, maybe Avery Bradley. That's maybe Carmelo off the bench. That's what I'd like to do.

But folks, things change fast. You can't be fear-based. This is not a city that struggles to attract talent. And right now, LeBron's business is better than it's basketball in L.A. He needs L.A. too. Kobe Altman runs the Cavaliers. He's a VP of operations there. And he was on Woz's podcast this week.

If you follow basketball, you know who Woj is. And he was talking about the effect of losing LeBron when he left Cleveland. When you have a player, the caliber of LeBron James, the best player in the sport, you wake up every day thinking you're going to go to the finals. And that's not reality. It was an incredible run. We brought a championship to Northeast Ohio. But that wasn't reality. I think the last three years of rebuilding and rolling up your sleeves, repunishing assets, draft picks, that's more of a reality of a –

NBA general manager. And to be quite honest with you, after that four-year run, we didn't have a foundation of really anything. We had immense talent during that four-year run. But when LeBron left, we fell flat on our face as a franchise. That's because you gave everything away because you were desperate to win. And that's what places like Cleveland do. What the Lakers are saying with LeBron is, we're not doing that. We're not giving everything you want. We're not blowing it up. We're not making every trade for you. We're not Cleveland, and they're right. And LeBron likes it here. And he's doubled his net worth. You had to trade him. Wouldn't be ideal, but you could rebuild your franchise in a weekend. This is the first time LeBron's going to have to come to terms

with he doesn't have all the power anymore. He's not the same player. He's missed a season in the last four years. His best was when he got four months off in a season. This is not anti-Lebron. I'm pro-lebron. But the world changes really fast. Ryan Clark used to play for the Steelers. Now he's often critical of them, which I like. J.J. Reddick this week, by the way, was critical of Zion. I like that, too. That's why you hire analysts.

They have access and are willing to say things that sometimes are harsh and fans don't like. J.J. Reddick and Ryan Clark have hit home runs this week. Good for them. Ryan Clark came out and said it will be a failure as an organization if the Steelers stick with Mason Rudolph. Of course, Joy is a Steeler fan, so I kind of tap dance around my criticism of Pittsburgh. but Ryan Clark is absolutely positively 100% right. And this goes with something that is becoming a very disturbing trend for fans in the National Football League with defensive head coaches.

Vic Fangio thought his defense and Teddy Bridgewater could win. He just got fired. Mike Zimmer thought Dalvin Cook running and my defense can win. He just got fired. Ron Rivera thought Taylor Heinecke and Ryan Fitzpatrick were good enough. Pete Carroll, fourth place. Run the football. play defense. Don't worry about offensive coordinators or continuing to evolve the offensive line.

Brian Flores, excellent head coach. Defensive coach, though, couldn't get along, make it work with three offensive coordinators. Fired. This is a disturbing trend. Mike Tomlin can't possibly think Mason Rudolph is good enough where Joe Burrow emerged as arguably the best young quarterback in the league. And this is a problem. Sean McVeigh had a quarterback that got to a Super Bowl offensive coach. What did he say? I got an upgrade. Andy Reed had a quarterback Alex Smith that got him to the playoffs.

Andy said, not good enough. Upgrade. Kyle Shanahan, Jimmy Garapolo could get us to the Super Bowl. Not good enough. Trade up, get a college kid. Time and time again, the offensive coaches in this league. Bruce Ariens. James Winston, by the way, through for 5,000 yards.

He was wildly productive. They were in a playoff hunt to the last weekend. with James Winston. Not good enough. The offensive coaches have an understanding how important the quarterback is. And these defensive coaches, even the good ones, Zimmer, Fangio, Tomlin, Rivera, Pete Carroll,

run the ball. Quarterback is important, but it's not. No, it's everything. It is everything. Every division was won by the best quarterback this year. Every single one. Every NFC team that won their division had an offensive coach.

Six of eight divisions, offensive coach. AFC East doesn't have one. Take that out. Six of seven available conferences, offensive coach. And Vrable won his because the rest of the conference is cuckoo for cocoa pops. If you don't get it in 2022 as an NFL coach that Mason Rudolph is not good enough, you are a CEO in America today that doesn't understand that the work from home culture is not going

away. You don't get it. You want to force workers to go back to work. I own a little company now, podcast company. I get calls every day. Get me out of this big corporation. Come to my company. You can work at home. If you don't get it, you got to be replaced as a CEO. People are going to work from home. Work four days a week. Have coffee, hang out with the dogs in the morning. They don't want to drive to work. And if you don't get it, you got to get fired. You've got to get a new CEO. I was reading a story this morning at the Atlantic about work at home culture. Like, people are going back to movie theaters.

They are not going back to work. They have no interest. They'll change jobs. And as our economy grows, especially in tech, these young people who are amazing at tech, they'll just find other places. They're not going to work. So you better get it. And Mike Tomlin's a great coach.

He'll be a Hall of Famer, I imagine. But you've got to get it. That ain't good enough. Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrell, Baker Mayfield is significantly better than Mason Rudolph, significantly better armed than Mason, Rudolph. So here's how you know Mason Rudolph's not the answer. Because if you asked Zach Taylor co to the bingo, if you ask Kevin Stefansky coach of the Browns, if you asked John Harbaugh coach of the Ravens, who they would want the Steelers to play at quarterback,

they'd all go, Mason Rudolph, they'd want him over Carson Wentz or Jimmy Garoppolo or Deshaun Watson. They would all say, yeah, go with Mason Rudolph. That's the guy we, I mean, even the defensive coaches, I like Tomlin, Zimmer, Pete Carroll. I think they're really good coaches. Even the guys I like, Brian Flores. Guys, the world's changing. People are going to work from home. They want to work four days a week, not five.

You've got to be better at quarterback. The old play good defense and run, it's over. And that division now? If Baker Mayfield's your third best quarterback, I mean, he's talented. Got an arm. Not my cup of tea all the time, but got an arm. Joe Burrell, Lamar Jackson, and you're going to bring that BB gut in? Come on now. Got to do better.

Fascinating things going on. I have a, I'm not even going to call it a theory. I think something is happening. And I don't want to be a psychologist. But I was told years ago, companies will decide to get rid of you a year before. They tell you they want to get rid of you. and this is how all relationships work. Look, if you're in a relationship right now and she wants to leave you

or you want to leave her or whatever, it's not like you're happy and then you walk in one day and like, it's over. Like that decision is planted, is considered, is thought about months and months and months in advance. People just don't walk in from happy to let's never see each other again. And I think Zion Williamson has made a decision and he's showing you his hand, and now it's time to react to it.

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

about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right 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 with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the look

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So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. 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. Trip Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase

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Open your free, our Heart Radio app. Search, learn the hard way, and listen now. Great to have you in today. So you ever been in a relationship and somebody's personality changes? like she's really joyful and fun to be around, and then she starts picking fights. She doesn't want to be around you anymore, right? Like you've been around somebody that are really nice,

they're really great, and they're picking fights, and you're like, why are they doing that? Because they're planting the seeds. They're starting to create a fight, disruption, they want out. Maybe you're too nice of a person that just break up with. She doesn't want to hurt your feelings. But in the end, you're like, man, she's really complaining a lot about me. Now, she just wants out.

Instead of just walking in and saying, get out of here, she's trying to kind of create something or he's trying to create something. This is what Zion Williamson's doing. So we always talk about the NBA team's tanking. I think what Zion is doing is he's tanking.

He's putting on weight. He's rehabbing in Portland. He's totally detached from the team. That's not who he is. He's a joyful, fun kid that everybody loved at Duke. We all loved it. He's doing that for a reason. because when they get forced to trade him, you don't have to give up as much.

If you had to trade John Morant now to get John Morant, do you know what you'd have to give up half your team? Zion, though, the pelicans can say, you know, or a team that's trading for Zion can say, oh, the guy can't even stay in shape. Nobody talks to him. That's not who Zion is. I think Zion's really shrewd here. Zion does not want to be here. he has no interest.

He's literally rehabbing out in Nike and Portland. He has no interest being there. Chris Paul didn't want to be there. AD didn't want to be there. This is an organization, the Pelicans, the NBA had to buy and then sold it because Louisiana is not a super rich state. They just sold it to the NFL owners who don't really care about basketball nearly as much as football and everybody knows it.

Agents know it, players know it. He doesn't want to play there. I said this. We've got the tape. before he got drafted, that I thought this kid from a marketing standpoint and a game standpoint and a merchandising standpoint was killing his potential brand. This is what I said before he got drafted. If I'm Zion Williamson, I do not go to New Orleans. I would call the Pelicans and say, I'm taking my name out of the draft.

So trade me. If they do not elect to do that, takes his name out of the draft. he's the number one pick next year. This happened in hockey. Eric Lindross was Zion. They were calling him the greatest young hockey prospect ever. He was a Canadian. And he said, no, I'm not playing for Quebec.

I don't like their management. I'm not playing. This is what John Elway and Eli Manning did. The NFL has never been the individual star league. The NFL's about the flag in America, the military and patriotism and the shield. And it's all about us. yet Elway and Eli Manning said, no, we're individuals.

We're not going to our teams. Four Super Bowls. And everybody got over it. All the concerns have come true. I'm not blaming anybody in New Orleans. There's just sometimes we have certain organizations in sports. Remember the Raiders when Al Davis was living? You just didn't want to be there.

You just did not want to be there. Carson Palmer with the Bengals 15 years ago. Like, I'm not going to be here. I'd rather quit. Like the Pelicans are not a great organization. I'm not blaming anybody individually, but what he is doing, I think, is actually savvy. I believe he and his family have decided we're not going to come. In fact, the Pelicans sent out an email for next year's season tickets.

Zion's name is not on it. They say, come and watch Brandon Ingram and C.J. McCollum and head coach Willie Green. Zion's name's not on it. So this is ending. It's ending soon. And if I was an NBA GM out there, I would call the Pelicans tomorrow and say, we'll make the deal. Because you are buying a beaten down stock at a value price.

I think Zion's got a lot left. And I know you all think I'm crazy on this. But he was a completely good dude and a joyful dude. And JJ Reddick's right on the money. He's totally detached in the last year. When joyful people suddenly detach, when nice people become surly, you've lost them. You have lost him.

he's not coming back. And NBA history tells you, trade the star early. You'll get more than trading him late. I think it's a business decision by Zion. This is just my theory on it. But this was the most joyful, fun-loving. He literally said,

Mike Shosheski told me to go pro. I wanted to come back and play with my teammates. And now I'm supposed to believe he's not into basketball. He's rehabbing out of the city. He's a joyless player. He doesn't care about it's a business decision. Not saying it's the wrong one. I mean, Anthony Davis got a title with the Lakers.

He wasn't getting one with the Pelicans. I'm not blaming the Pelicans. It's the reality of what they are. This happens in all pro sports. I've always argued you could take five franchises, including out of the NFL in every league. Jacksonville would be nothing against Jacksonville. He left tomorrow. We're going to be okay.

We're going to be okay. Sacramento Kings left tomorrow. We'd be okay. I think Zion, I think he's made a decision and I think he should move him. And I think it's good for him, his brand, and frankly, the league. Joy with the News.

No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Well, Aaron Rogers stirred up a lot of speculation about his future on Monday with a very lengthy Instagram post. Generally when you're, you're waxing poetic on your social media.

You tend to be an emotional place. He explains on the Pat McAfee show that the message did not have any hidden meaning. He had just completed a 12-day cleanse and only wanted to express gratitude for the people in his life. He also added that he saw some things to think about and it won't be long before he makes his decision on the 2022 season. Can I throw this at you, Joey? Yes. If you went on a 12-day cleanse to create clarity. Yes.

Don't you think you'd figure out during the 12 days what you were going to be? going to do? Like, do you think you'd be 12 days of purposefully vomiting and taking nasal drips? Right. And then you'd be driving home and you're like, yeah, I never figured out what I wanted to do. It doesn't seem like a solid use of that that time. Yeah, like, I mean, again,

Aaron's made his mind up. I think he has as well. Look, the whole, like, I don't know why everyone's constantly reacting to everything I do thing is I'm personally over it. I'm over the whole you know,

puppeteering of all of us. Yeah. I get it. I'm here for it. I enjoy the contents, but I also get it. So I can't continue to get... Once I'm on like the roller coaster a couple times,

I'm like, does this thing just keep going in a loop forever? Like, this is the same thing. I don't need to ride it again. I'll watch everyone else ride it. Enjoy the reactions as they get off. Yay! But like for me,

I've already ridden the ride. I get it. Yeah. So I get what's happening with Aaron Rogers. Yeah. Aaron Rogers knows what he's doing. Absolutely. You don't go to a 12-day cleanse and vomit on purpose

for the inability to find that clarity you were seeking. He knows what he's doing. He's just going to string it out a little bit. So, you know, he likes this stuff. I get it. But I don't like when you're like, I don't understand why everyone is so. I can't.

I still haven't made my mind on. Yeah, you know. And I get it. We're here. I see you. I get it. Keep doing it for everyone else. Not for me,

but for everyone else. But I also think that he may be, in some ways testing the waters to see what the reaction to him possibly leaving because it did feel like a goodbye type of post. It did to you. You did say that. Yes. Yeah. So maybe it's just him kind of testing to see what the reaction will be from it. At this point, we've seen enough movement with stars. I think all of us collectively, there's always, you know, small pocket. I don't like to speak in absolutes. But most of us have come around to the idea that you don't have to finish your career with one team in order to have a complete legacy. I don't know why we ever thought that because some of the greats have all moved on to other teams and it hasn't affected their legacy. But particularly now in the NFL, especially with the quarterback position, there is a lot more mobility, which is better for the sport overall. We've seen that.

Hello, Matthew Stafford with L.A. Rams just won a Super Bowl. Tom Brady last year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won a Super Bowl. So it is good for the league and it's good for the players. I'm here for it. No one's going to be mad at Aaron Rogers if he leaves. Brett Farve did the same thing. And now if you drag it out the way that Brett Farve did. Fans usually want to be optimistic.

If he leaves tomorrow in Green Bay, they'd all be like, okay, what do we get for him? It's a bad, by the way, I'll all contend that it's such a bad division. It's still winnable without him. I think it is too, depending on who you get. That's right. And Packers fans probably just want the answer, as does everyone. But there also is, you know, a transactional league that's waiting for this first domino to fall as well. The Packers are projected to be $42.7 million over the cap.

That's the second least amount of cap space in the NFL, to over the cap. The restructuring Kenny Clark's contract, so that number is going to drop a little bit, but they have to get under the salary cap before March 16th, which is not that long from now. That's the official start of the new league year, and he's entering the last year of his contract. So that's something else for another team to consider, because it is Aaron Rogers, and we don't really know what his motivations are and what his plan is. If he does get traded, what kind of contract is that going to lead to with a new team? Trading that Aaron Rogers will save the Packers 20 million next season. Now, I don't think the Packers want to move on.

from Aaron Rogers at all. Why would they? He just won back-to-back MVP. So there's no better option on the market than Aaron Rogers. But if he does want to move on, I think they will figure it out. But the problem is, Jimmy Garoppolo can't be moved. They're not going to make a move on Carson Wentz. Nothing's going to happen with Deshawn Watson.

Everything has to wait until Aaron Rogers announces his decision because he's the biggest, most powerful, and talented player at that position in the market. It's a salary cap league. So draft decisions can't be made. Other positions can't be decided until that happens. So Brian Flores revealed that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross

presented him with a separation agreement when he was let go. In an interview with HBO Real Sports, he said he did not sign it because it would have prevented him from speaking out about what he experienced with the team. Flores also left millions of dollars on the table by not signing the document. His attorney added that it wasn't about the money. What was more important to Flores was to be able to file the lawsuit and speak out in order to help other coaches in the future. Now, the Dolphins responded saying that Flores has claimed that, that Stephen Ross offered him in NDA was categorically false. I totally believe Brian Flores.

Corporations like to keep you quiet when you leave. That is a strategy by corporations. Well, right. Now, I think there's a little bit of a legal jargon miscommunication here with how this is presented. We know that coaches sign these type of documents when they leave. As a part of their separation, they get paid out their contract and then they can't speak about the team and why they separated in fullness. Anyone who's around the business knows that this exists.

That's why when teams part ways with coaches, you don't have these disgruntled interviews everywhere because you get paid out the rest of your contracts. And in exchange for that, you don't speak about what went wrong in the building. And then, you know, years later, you might put it in a book or do interviews once you're paid out your contract.

Well, that's why all this is happening. The thing with the dolphins and Flores at this point is, and I get that the dolphins are going to defend themselves. When you're accused of something, you defend yourself, that's how all this works. Your reputation precede you for the Miami Dolphins. Like, we've seen this. It's every three years. It's the same thing. It's the same story. You're not well-owned. This is so I'm not going to. If you're trying to win the PR battle here, going with a softer route might actually be smarter in this. It's like trusting the Washington football team at this point. I don't.

Why? Why? Based off of what? We've seen enough at this point. Should be able to decide for yourself. So Tom Brady's retirement is leaving a hole in Tampa Bay's offense, obviously. Kyle Trask is the only quarterback under contract right now for 2022. But they could bring back Blaine Gabbert, who's been there backup for the last two seasons. And Bruce Ariens talked up Gabbard as a solid option. He said people may not like the overall record, but Blaine had eight head coaches and eight coordinators in his first eight years. He beat Jacksonville their best year and beat Tennessee, their big year for us in Arizona.

And he's been in the system now. I don't have a problem there. Gabbard has never played with a team this good. He's got all the respect in the locker room that he can have. No, come on. he's a 13 and 35 career record and most of his starts were with the Jags when he was 5 and 22

so. I'm just not, I'm not, what are you trying to do with me? I can't. When these teams do this stuff. I mean, it's similar to the Mason Rudolph. What are we doing here? Oh, we're all dopes? I mean, come on, stop this nonsense.

It's really frustrating. When people, I don't mind you giving me bad news, but don't try to sell me. Don't convince me that it's good news. Yeah, I don't mind if you came out and say, Colin, I don't like you. But don't be like, I love you.

Guys, a jerk, can't stand him. Just be honest with me. That's not the future. Mason Rudolph and Blaine Gabbardard are the future. They're probably great guys. Stop and I've seen it. But there's a difference between being the future and being a bridge quarterback. They're not even bridges.

But don't sell me as a bridge quarterback when you're really a backup quarterback. Exactly. This is not. Teddy Bridgewater is a bridge. Correct. These are backups. Yes. Nobody can't drive a car over these.

These are backups. There's no bridge here. This is the, this is the tire that takes you straight to the ship. where you get the real tire put on. All right. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Heard Line News.

You know, it was really interesting. I saw people love Michael Jordan. It's amazing. He was a villain in Cleveland forever. He broke their hearts. He goes to Cleveland. And he got a louder ovation than LeBron. Like, it wasn't close.

That is unbelievable. Guys, been out of the league forever. He broke your hearts multiple times. Can you imagine that? Can you imagine that? Nick Wright is joining us live, and this had to just... What did you make of Michael Jordan's enduring popularity? I mean, that, that stings a little.

Yeah. What do you make of it? No, it doesn't sting a little. Listen, when you're, without question, one of the three greatest people to ever do something, you should be, you know, especially when, you know, people don't get to see them a lot. And people laugh when I say one of the three greatest. Colin, the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar erasure must end, and we're going to start at the end of it right now.

Give me a break. And Kareem can't be considered. Oh, six rings, six rings. Kareem's got six rings. I also went to 10 finals, scored more points, too. At the most unstoppable shot ever, greatest high school and college player ever. But I digress. Listen, he's popular, yeah, because a lot of people from your generation

have turned him into Paul Bunyan. You know, someone sent me a clip yesterday of my dear friend, a man who when I was a child was my mentor before you took over that role, Bob Costas calling game six of the 98 finals. And there's a moment in there late in the fourth quarter where Scotty Pippen hits a three to tie the game. Yeah. And Jordan walks over to him after Utah calls time out and screams at him

because Jordan wanted the ball. And Costas says, what a competitor. angry at a teammate for making a shot. That's really the broadcast. That happened. Someone sent it to me yesterday. And I'm like, yeah. So of course everyone thinks this guy was eight feet tall

and never missed a shot and only played six seasons. Because how are you six for six if you had played more than six seasons? Did you ever lose? Did you lose? I'm so confused. And so, yeah, he got a bigger pop. But now here's the thing, Colin. Because did you notice the most important thing that happened?

The most important thing that happened was Michael embraced LeBron, hugged him, talked to him. And Michael has been famously very cold towards LeBron. Do you know why he did that? Because Michael sees the train that's coming down the tracks. And just like Michael, the day after LeBron beat the Warriors called in, start filming the last dance, I give you authorization, he knew that this was the last major NBA event where he is going to be recognized as the goat, that the top 100 of 100,

it's going to be all LeBron and the top 80 of 80. It's all coming. And that's Michael hoping that, you know, the transition of powers, LeBron is gentle. That LeBron is kind. That LeBron, you know what I mean, doesn't make him clear out his office, the goat office too quickly.

So, I mean, that's what we saw there. But I get it. Jordan fans at this point, Colin, they're like Seattle Seahawk football fans. They're like, what's the Geiger counter on our cheer? It's loudest in the world. Stop it. Everybody stop it.

You're making me drink. This is actually a water. I'm going to take a break and come back with you. I just had to set you up for five minutes on that. It was very good. By the way, your Kareem argument, your Kareem argument's actually completely valid. It is amazing. But he was so stoic.

He wasn't glamorous. He didn't talk. If you just got the blind resume numbers, Kareem's always been the most underrated athlete in American history by a mile. He was the best high school or ever. There's no question. But he was just stoic. He wasn't like he wasn't built for all-star games.

He was just unstoppable. Okay, Nick Wright more after this. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. I'm George Reister, host of the Reister or Wrong podcast. This is the intersection where sports, business, society, and pop culture meet the truth. Absolute fire on Monday's. Wednesdays and Fridays. Facts only. Make sure you check your feelings at the door because no BS is allowed. We keep it 100. This is where real conversations happen. Listen to the Rights or Wrong

podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing huge. Others say it's unleashing huge. potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clipper Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my

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

So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right 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 with a 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 just so you're just so you.

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, oh. Thank you finishing that sentence. And 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 IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast. Learn the Hardway 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 real 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. All right. Back when Nick Wright co-host, first things first, I made my argument for LeBron.

I'd rather keep him moving forward. I'd keep, you know, I'd keep Malik Monk. I'd keep probably Reeves, Avery Bradley, but I'd flush some stuff out, trade everybody else as much as I could. There's a story, Brian Winhorse today. LeBron's man at the Lakers for a variety of reasons. So let me just ask you, Inspector Nick Wright, what do you do to solve this enigmatic dilemma right now in L.A.? Well, listen, I think for this year there's no solving it. For this year, you just hope and pray that they hang on to not only in the play-in,

but what you really got to be hoping for, if we're being honest, is that they can get move up somehow to the eight line. And that way, if you win the first play-in game, instead of getting Phoenix, you get Golden State in round one. And Golden State does have a big question mark, particularly with Dremont's back being an issue. But you need Anthony Davis to get back. You need LeBron to keep playing at this level.

This season probably is lost. This offseason, though, doesn't have to be. And the reason why is, if I'm the Lakers, I remind myself that I am the Lakers, that I understand the Bust family isn't super rich by team owner standards, but they do own the Lakers. And you can afford to, you know,

you can afford to pay the luxury tax. afford for some bad contracts, and what you do is you dangle Russell Westbrook, not the player, but Russell Westbrook, the expiring contract. Because Russell Westbrook this offseason will be an attractive piece for a team looking to get off money, for a team that has signed a guy to a bad deal that you then want to be able to get off of quicker. So I think Russell Westbrook, plus those future picks you didn't want to trade at the deadline, you can get a better haul for. So I understand them wanting to wait to do that rather than trade for John Wall.

What I don't understand, and this is the root of a lot of the anger, is why Rob Polinka went out there and said, yeah, LeBron signed off on us doing nothing at the deadline when LeBron didn't. I don't know why you would publicly lie about something LeBron said that seems like a very, very odd move for Rob Polinka to make. I am interested. Yesterday, Mark Schlarath and Joy Taylor commented on the Aaron Rogers' Instagram post. And their takeaway is he's leaving.

My takeaway is Aaron's already made his decision. He's probably staying. Nobody takes a 12-day cleanse and then says, I still haven't made my mind up. If you're purposely vomiting, you need to come with an answer in that 12-day period. You can't come out of going to Ohio, California, at a resort for nine days and, you know, smoking whatever you smoke up there. and then tell me, I never got anything solved. You got to have an answer, right? Like, we know he's got an answer.

We just don't know what it is. But what did you make of the post? What did you make of all the hearts? What did you make? Well, my immediate, yeah, so my immediate reaction was, I thought it was a guy who was heartbroken. I thought maybe he'd had a couple scotches as he'd want to do. And that seemed to me to be directed more at Shailene Woodley than anyone else

because it was reported that they had broken up. He was very public about wanting to have kids with her. They were engaged. And in that post, there's a picture of them together. He says, I love you. Like, I'm so grateful for you. So I thought it was more about that than about football. Okay.

But then he said, you know, he did this cleanse and was feeling this great gratitude. What I think the audience needs to remember is this. Aaron Rogers, Colin, is not a free agent. So he can come back to the Packers, that's easy. He can retire if he wants to. That's relatively easy. And he can demand a trade. And I think they would trade him if he demanded it.

But Colin, do you think they would let him pick his own destination? Like what if you guys are talking about Miami earlier? What if Aaron says, I want to go to Pittsburgh? Me and Mike Tomlin winked at each other, great defense, all these things. And Pittsburgh offers two first round picks. Yeah. And Miami, who's had the offseason from hell, says we got to change the narrative. We'll offer you three first round picks and a second.

Do you think Green Bay is simply going to send Aaron to wherever he wants, or that they would send him to whomever makes the best offer? Like Brady was a free agent, so that was different, and Stafford, as you've talked about, had built up so much equity with Detroit for dealing with all of that for so long. They did him a solid. I'm not certain Green Bay is going to

let Aaron just pick his destination, which is one of the reasons why I think he comes back as a Packer. I think he and your guy, Russell Wilson, you know, they don't get the attention you get by playing in Super Bowl, so they find other ways to get the attention. I know we're not allowed. I know this is a

rough Russell Wilson safe space, but a lot of the Aaron Rogers stuff you don't like, Russell is starting to trend down that path my friend. But we can discuss that another time. But there's a lot of, hey, don't forget about me, everybody. So I think that's potentially going. I only got a minute and a half left. Okay, but I want to ask you about this. So this Ben Simmons thing. So I saw the other day. I'm going to be back very soon. And my take was your take. So explain. When I read that, I thought, back soon. What your thoughts? Why is he not back now? Thanks. I don't understand what's happening.

I agree. Listen. I was told, and everyone reporting this story that was talking to people close to Ben were told, the mental health issues, whatever you want to call it, are real, but they are tied specifically to playing for the Sixers. So if he's traded, the new team doesn't have to worry about that. That's what they were telling everybody. Well, he's been traded. And now Ramona Shelburne is reporting, oh, it'll be weeks, not months, until he's back.

Why is it not ours? Oh, he's not in basketball shape? okay, you know how you're getting back and play him eight minutes tomorrow? I don't understand why Ben Simmons is not expected to play immediately. Even if it's just in small bursts to ramp up. And if the answer is, Colin, because he's trying to avoid the March 10th game against the Sixers, I would argue that is a foolish decision. Because if the Nets are going to do anything this year in the playoffs,

they're going to have to go through Philly. So wouldn't you rather get it over with in the regular season, you know, get back on the horse there. Is it to prepare yourself? Like, listen, I've supported Ben as much as I can, but you've got to play. You've been out five months already. And now we're like, only a few more weeks. He's not hurt.

He should probably play basketball. Yeah. That's my take. Probably play. Also, as a competitor, there's no way in the world I would skip the game against Hardin. That would be the game I couldn't wait to play and prove that we won the trade. Nick Wright, first things first. Good stuff today, my friend.

Great seeing you. See you, buddy. All right, buddy. You too. You too. It's very, very good. Yeah,

I saw that. I saw. She'll be back in, not months, just, just weeks. What are we waiting for here? Your guys are professional athletes.

The in shape thing when you're, you know, if you're not rehabbing, it's one thing, but if you're, you got to be ready to play. Like, I mean,

if I was, if I was Ben Simmons, I would have been in shape. I would have been working out every day. I'm a professional athlete. I'm not doing anything. I mean, right?

That's obvious, right? All right. Two Peter King around the corner, alive in L.A. That was a fast hour. The Herb. 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 progress. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard 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 Kear 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 and learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your 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.

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