The Herd with Colin Cowherd - HOUR 1 - Mayfield, Cowboys, Watson

Episode Date: March 16, 2022

Baker Mayfield is showing a lot of maturityThe Cowboys should go after Von MillerPossible destinations for Deshaun WatsonGuest: Nick Wright 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 IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way 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 to 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. 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 blow your mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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 SportsRadio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Herd. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Here we go on a wild Wednesday, live in Los Angeles. It's the herd.

Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio FS1. The free agent frenzy is supposed to start at 4-Eastern 1 Pacific today. Of course, it's already started. You know, this is all just silly nonsense where there's a here, okay, here's the starting line. People have been running this race for the last four or five, six days, last two weeks before the race started. So Nick Wright this hour, I love this week. This is one of the best weeks of the year to be in our business.

Major moves all over. I mean, just Cleveland alone. Just brought a receiver in, got. rid of a tight end. Who knows what Baker's doing. Joy Taylor is joining me this morning. Joy, how are you? I'm great. This is why teams are different year to year. Start doing predictions. You got to wait and see how this all plays out first. Yeah. And by the way, at the top of next hour, every year, half the teams that made the playoffs don't. And there's six, seven new teams. I'll tell you, I'm going to give you the teams that make the playoffs. I'm not going to put them in

order, but there's some obvious things happening right now in the NFL. teams rising, team sinking. Let's start with this. So yesterday, last night, very interesting. Baker Mayfield came out with a very heartfelt letter to the city of Cleveland. He said there's no secret meaning in this. You change my life. My wife and I, Emily, we love you.

We're all in. Whatever happens, I want you to know you mean everything to us. So why would he do that? There is a lot of gamesmanship in what is happening in Cleveland. and let me take you behind the rope. So first of all, stories only leak when people want them leaked. I've had a million broadcasting secrets in my life. If I don't want them out, they don't get out.

I've known things this company's doing down the road, down the tarmac. If they don't want them out, they don't get out. You can have a million newspaper people. Stuff gets out when somebody wants it out. The Cleveland front office wants this out. We want to get out of the Baker business. There's multiple stories today. Cleveland.com, Mary Kay Cabot,

if they don't get Deshawn Watson, they're going to go look for somebody else. That stuff is out because they want it out. Meeting Deshawn Watson, it's out because they want it out. Now, why would that be? Because GM Andrew Barry knows. Number six, Baker Mayfield,

is viewed as a savior in that city. And though he's not as popular today as he was a year ago, you can't just cut him. He's got a lot of fans there. the standards in Cleveland are pretty low. You get him to the playoffs. You're there, Tom Brady. You're there, Peyton Manning.

You're there Russell Wilson. Number six, still has some media and many fans that have his back. So they can't just cut him. They know he's popular, right? Polarizing, popular. So they're hoping that stuff gets out there. It's a message the Baker and his agent. We're out of the Baker business.

Maybe he gets pissed, demands a trade, calls his agent, get me out. out of here. But Baker Mayfield, in the smartest move he has ever made in his career, says no. I'm not going to do that. I'm emotional. I can be snarky. I'm not going to do that. Baker Mayfield last night releases a very heartfelt, was it Instagram, Twitter, wherever it was. Very heartfelt. I love Cleveland. My wife and I feel gratitude for the city. I've given you everything I have. Now, why would he do that? Very, very smart.

Why would he do that? Well, number one, if he stays and they can't get to Sean Watson or a Derek car, he's going to get the loudest cheer of his life because it looks like they're toying with him. Instead of battling back at the front office, he's like, I've given you everything I have. I'm a beaten down dog. I gave you my life. How the hell do you not root for him? He's got, right now he's got a severed relationship with the Cleveland media,

a severed relationship with the fans. He just poured his heart out. Come on. He's always been a little small, had to walk on twice. How the hell can you not root for him? So if he stays, and a lot of people, by the way, are not into this to Sean Watson stuff because of his legal stuff. So there are a lot of people pushing back on Desaun Watson,

although, you know, if he's there and they're winning games, they'll cheer. So Baker is basically saying, you win. I love you. If you don't love me, I love you. I mean, come on. The second thing, if he doesn't stay, it's a great message to the league and the other teams. I'm all in. I'll sacrifice my life.

I'm all in. A hundred percent. I am committed. It hasn't been easy. I've made mistakes. But my wife and I and our family, you changed our life. we're forever indebted. We love you.

I'm the cult Chris Battered. I'm like, he's growing up. He's matured right in front of our eyes. The smartest thing Baker's ever done. A lot of you guys out there, you got your big egos and the chip on your shoulders. When you're vulnerable is when you have your power. When you say, I gave you everything, that's when you get the loudest cheer. This is the single smartest thing Baker Mayfield has ever.

ever done. If they don't land Watson, he returns. Loudest sheer of his career will be when he runs onto the field in the opener. And if he doesn't, he has sent a message to the league. I'm a good guy. I'm all in. I'm totally committed. You get me. You'll get every ounce of my talent. Every ounce, every shred of my emotional and physical talent. I'll give you all of it. I'll make myself vulnerable. I'll put it out there.

I am all in. It hasn't been easy. And you know what GMs are going to say? Well, hell, it's Cleveland. He's had four coaches. I mean, we're going to give him a lot more functional environment than that. Chris Ballard's probably saying this morning. We make the playoffs.

That's Cleveland. I mean, he got Cleveland to the playoffs. He's turned the corner. Smartest thing he's done. All you guys out there flexing, big chest out. When you're vulnerable is when you're beloved. Somebody told me years ago in TV. When you yell,

back off. When you whisper, the consumer comes in. Basically, Baker's whispering. I love you. I gave you everything. And everybody's leaning in. Oh, man, I love you, man. That's in a gamesmanship going on all over here. The GM wants out of the Baker business. Baker didn't fall for it. He didn't get snarky. He didn't get cocky. He didn't get juvenile. He went the other way. It's real gamesmanship. I'm here for for you if you need me, and if you don't, all you other teams, in a position of scarcity in the world, I'm here for you. I think he ends up with the Colts. I do. I think this morning, he ends up with the Colts. Now, it's a guest. I have no inside source, but that's how you play the game. It's not taking big swing, sometimes just wave the white flag. I gave you everything I got. I love it.

I was just like, wow, that's smart. That's smart. All right. So this is fascinating. There's a reason the Rams keep winning their division. They've changed quarterbacks. They've changed players. I mean, everything but Sean McVehan, Aaron Donald has been moving around for years. They've got a GM, a coach, and a good defensive lineman. But there's a lot of good GMs and coaches and defensive linemen. But the reason that the Cowboys continue to underachieve, and the Rams keep getting

to Super Bowls is because sometimes you have to work other teams. And I think the Rams are in a position to work the Cowboys. So the NFL has become a quarterback weapons pass rush league. We know that, right? The Cowboys, Randy Gregory, spurned them. He was going to be a cowboy. Last second said, I'm going to be a Bronco. So the Cowboys now are worse at two of those three.

Weapons, they've lost two receivers, pass rush, Randy Gregory. So Dallas, my hunch is going to overpay for Von Miller. I like Von Miller, but he's 33 soon. He's had multiple injuries, and he wasn't great in the regular season. But he's from Texas. Jerry Jones got humiliated. And nothing could make yesterday's horrible events better than signing Von Miller today. Von Miller for the Rams was cheap and very good for about a four-game stretch.

And that's what they needed. They needed him in big spots with a lead. Rams led a lot with Stafford and McVeigh. We lead late. Go get the quarterback. The Rams problem is they don't want to sign him to a long-term contract, and they're kind of trapped because all the players love Von Miller. Aeronald loves him.

everybody's saying you got to sign Bonn, you got to sign OBJ. They'll re-sign OBJ because weapons are so valuable in this league and OBJ was really good for them. But Vaughn Miller wants big money and the Rams are already paying

Jalen Ramsey and they're already paying Aaron Donald and Matt Stafford's getting a raise. I mean, they got some expensive guys on this team. And so the Rams deep down would love to have Vaughn Miller back, but they don't want to pay a fortune, and they don't want to give him a long-term contract. Here come the Cowboys.

Jerry Jones got humiliated, burned, and Dallas, my hunches, Jerry's going to say, okay, let's overpay for Vaughn. So you're doing the Rams a huge solid. They would love Vaughn Miller. They can't afford him.

And in the locker room, they can't go cheap on him. Because that's when you lose a locker room. Come on, man. He was great for us. athletes want to see all the athletes get paid. GMs have to deal with a salary cap. So the Rams can say, well, I mean, come on.

I mean, look what they paid him. He's from Dallas. You can't, I mean, we just, hey, we wanted him. Cowboys overspend for him. And the Cowboys can go to their fans and say, hey, we lost Randy Gregory. We always had our eye on Von Miller. Super Bowl MVP, Von Miller. Randy Gregory, sometimes he's good.

He can be a little volatile. Well, my feeling is the Rams can then gracefully move out of the Vaughn Miller business, who got them a Super Bowl, was very important, but they don't want a long-term deal. They don't want it. They got to pay Donald and Jalen Ramsey. Matt Stafford's getting a big old fat raise here really soon. And they got some young players who were about a year away from getting big money. So this is going to be a really interesting situation.

Jerry Jones has rarely been humiliated. I mean, he loses games, but humiliated? When's the last time? Yesterday was bad. Like Randy Gregory had a deal. Spurnum went to Denver. Like that was bad. Like Dallas media crushed Jerry Jones yesterday.

Jerry Jones was getting crushed on sports talk radio. The Cowboys were getting crushed. You're not paying attention. You don't have the focus. The front office is lost. Too much vanity. Jerry sits and listens to that stuff all day. So does Stephen.

So does the organization. He got hammered in Dallas yesterday. How do you turn that around in 24 hours? Signed Vaughn Miller. And allow the Rams to gracefully move out of the Vaughn Miller business. They like him. But he's old, got some injuries. And right now, they got mouse to feed there.

They got star corner, star linemen, star quarterback. They got people to feed. All right. Good stuff today. See, I can be nice to Baker. You all out there, all I heard on social media this morning, get him, get him, get him. I got to be honest with you. I'm not going to just get him.

I've been supportive of him. I've ripped him early. You guys overvalued him. I was totally right. And I protected Baker at the end of last year. He was falling apart. Like everything, labrum, knee, toe, shoulder. This morning, he deserves credit.

Very smart. Sent a lot of messages to Cleveland, the media, the league GMs, very, very, very. very smart. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games.

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

A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way,

this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, 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 ton-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-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 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 y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack.

So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. 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.

Carsield.com. Deductible may apply. CarShield.com slash herd. Make it easy and affordable to protect your car. So a big story today. Cleveland's put it out there looking for another quarterback moving off Baker Mayfield. That doesn't mean they'll be able to move off Baker Mayfield. They're trying to move off Baker and it's out there for the world to see.

We tend to think in these trade situations that there's winners and losers. But the downside to winning a trade is you can burn people in the league. It's a very small industry. You'd like the other team to get value as well. I think three different people could win in a Baker-Mayfield trade. and it's very likely if Dishon Watson chooses the Browns. I wouldn't make him a favorite, but there are reports they're offering the most to Houston. So number one, Dishon Watson would win.

He gets the best offensive line of his career. I mean, the guy's been running for his life for several years. So Dishon Watson goes to Cleveland. He gets a legitimate offensive line. And he gets, you know, let's be honest, there's some stability now in the front office. Andrew Barry, Kevin Stifantz, it's a fresh start in a city. He's been in Houston.

He's got legal issues. It's a fresh start in a city that is desperate for wins. So it's a win for Deshaun Watson. It's also, let's talk about Cleveland. It's a win for Cleveland. He's better than Baker. He's a wildly dynamic athlete and quarterback. He doesn't throw the best ball.

He doesn't throw a Patrick Mahomes ball or a Justin Herbert ball. But he's an athlete. He was great at Clemson. He got Houston multiple times to the playoffs, not with a very good supporting cast in many instances. instances, and it, you know, Cleveland will get a top 10 quarterback. Hard to win playoff games year after year after year. If you don't have a top 10 quarterback.

The third winner is Baker. I said this during the season. The media has turned on him. Half the fans have turned on him. Probably best to start over. I do believe he's a franchise quarterback when healthy. I think he's got to grow up. But the Colts would be perfect.

You get a head coach that's been a quarterback in the NFL. He played your position. You get a stable front office. You get an impulsive owner, but Cleveland's got an impulsive owner. The cults have one. Welcome to the NFL. Most billionaires are. Also, you'd follow Carson Wince.

You're not following Howard Stern on radio. You're not following Brady in New England. Carson Wence is, you know, a lot of people in Indianapolis, I think they're wrong. Happy to see him go. You're not following a legend. You'd go to the Colts, and that's the people are saying, I mean, I'm looking at what's on the market right now. I'd take Baker Mayfield over Gardner Minshu. You tell me what's on the market.

Jimmy Garoppolo, I like Jimmy a little bit more than Baker, but he's not going to be able to throw a football, a football for three and a half months. I'd rather get my guy in to camp and learn the offense. And it's also for Baker, it's an easier division. I mean, you look right now, the Steelers this morning are better than last year. Baltimore's not going to fall apart. Cincinnati just got to a Super Bowl. That division's hard.

Cleveland's got a good roster. that division this morning, considering how bad now Seattle is, the best division in football. There's an argument to be made after the AFC West, which is Kansas City, Denver now, Chargers, Raiders. Second best division is the AFC North. Cincinnati got to a Super Bowl. I love, love what Pittsburgh has done with not only Tribisky, but their offensive line. Baltimore is really good.

I think Baltimore is going to be a playoff team next year. They weren't this past year. And Cleveland's roster remains top 10. are top three, but it's top 10. So I think Baker could win with a fresh start. Deshaun finally gets a legitimate grown-up offensive line for the first time in his career in the NFL. He's been running for his life. And Cleveland wins. He is better than Baker. So not everybody, it doesn't always have to be winner and loser in a trade. You can have multiple parties win. I think the city and both quarterbacks win here. Joy with the News.

We are having some tremendous scoring nights in the NBA this past few weeks. Well, I think, you know what I think. I was thinking about this this morning, driving in. You're getting close to the end of the season. There are a lot of teams playing backups that wouldn't mind being higher in the draft. You also have a couple of guys that are saying to themselves, hey, I wouldn't mind winning a scoring title. LeBron James. LeBron's never been selfish.

It wouldn't be the worst thing on his resume. Well, LeBron was interested in what was happening last night. he tweeted to Kyrie, who put on a show against the magic. 150-108 win, the Nets God. He scored 41 points in the first half, shooting 14 of 19 from the field and 6 of 7 from the 3 point line. Also 7 of 7 from the line. He finished the game with 60 points total, which was a career high and franchise high. 20 of 31 from the field, 8 of 12 from the 3 and 12 of 13 from the free throw line is how he finished the game.

Even magic fans gave him innovation after the game. Yeah. It was really, really impressive. The first teammates in NBA history to score 50 or more in back-to-back games are KD with 53, and now Kyrie against the Magic with 60. He will be able to play in only three of the final 13 games. And that is kind of my takeaway. Like, Kyrie is an incredible player.

He is, forgive the pun, magical to watch. You and I were not surprised that he had a game like this. No, no, no. If you had told me, somebody scored 60, he'd been one of five or six players, the guest. I mean, look at that. He's the best small finisher in league history. Best finisher under 6-3 in league history. He's a tremendous player. He's healthy and available. He is tremendous. Totally gifted. What bothers me about this situation. Get vaccinated. Three of the last 13 games he can play in. And when they get to the postseason,

what do you do then? We can fall in love with a Tuesday night in Orlando. None of this is surprising. He is the best under 6-3 finisher in league history. Nobody doubts that. He's not available. What if Mahomes? Not available, not reliable. What if Mahomes was available for two weeks, September, October? Yeah, all those great, it doesn't matter. You're not available to me. Be available. Eli Manning for all his faults every Sunday. Stood up in the pocket at one o'clock. and listen, we can disagree with the protocols and we can think it looks ridiculous that he can be on the sideline with no mask on

but not playing the game and not go into the locker room. I can agree with all that and still think it's a very simple solve. It's very simple solve. And he's not available. So this is why, like, how do you put them in real contention if he can't play home games in the postseason?

The other thing is there's comments yesterday by the people about Ben Simmons. I don't know if he's, what's the story on Ben Simmons? So I got. Yeah, he might be back before the end of the regular season. You got to be kidding me. What did you do? This is putting this. I mean, I got a guy that's not emotionally ready. I have a guy that's not available. This is why I said Philadelphia won the trade. I get hardened who will play the next week. Just give me players. I need guys. It's just so frustrating as a fan that you can't get that consistently.

It's ridiculous. So now that the Packers have Aaron Rogers contract nailed down, they are focusing on Devonce Adams. He has notified the team he will not play under the franchise tag this season. According to Tom Pellero, the Packers have already made an offer to Adams that would make him the highest paid receiver ever on a traditional extension. They are at odds apparently regarding the structure of the contract and the length. Okay, but the money they're mostly good with. Yes. Well, if you're the highest paid. All right.

You can work the rest of it. If you give me the money I like, we can work out the years. It was reported that the contract was for five years. Now, it just depends on what he wants. does he want a shorter contract so that he can hit the market again? Probably. And get another big payday. Yeah, because Aaron.

Green Bay would probably like to lock him in for longer with some of the final years, you know, either being voidable or less guaranteed money. I would side in this instance with the team. If I'm going to make you the highest paid, then you can't leave when Aaron leaves. Because if Aaron leaves in three years, we got to have you for at least one more year to go get a quarterback and say, hey, because if Aaron leaves, you're going to have to go in the market to get a quarterback, right? Probably.

More than likely because you're not going to be drafting another quarterback while Iron Rogers is there. I tried that. Be really nice to say, we have a Hall of Fame player. I mean, Devante takes great care of his body. He's a Larry Fitzgerald. Barring an injury, Devonday Adams has six more prime years. Right. So I know when Aaron leaves, I can say, we've got a Larry Fitzgerald star, a grown-up in the locker

room, totally respected. We have our leader on offense, still one of them in the room. And I think a four-year deal is probably fair, especially if you're in that money range. And maybe the fifth year is something that, you know, is more flexible as far as the contract goes. But that way, to your point, if Aaron leaves, you have one more year with him there. Two years beyond that might be a little bit much. Yeah.

But they're still working it out. So according to multiple reports, the Giants plan to sign Tariad Taylor to back up Daniel Jones. The deal is for two years, $17 million with $8.8.5 million guaranteed. He started six games for the Texans last season. He also started games for the Chargers and the Browns since leaving the bills. the end of the 2017 season. This is an interesting move by the Giants. I thought it was an interesting move.

Basically, they're telling you, we're going to pull the plug on Daniel Jones. If he can't by Thanksgiving get it done, we're just going to go with Tyrod and draft another quarterback. Tyrod is a completely reliable guy. He's a great team guy, great locker room guy. I believe he should have had another opportunity to really be the starter somewhere, but you know, this is where he is right now, and he probably might end up getting the opportunity to be the starter in New York.

He's a very, very, very high-end backup, but I'm with you. This feels like if Daniel starts falling apart, you got the new coach. He was able to do some developments. You're giving it one last go. If it doesn't work, you have someone who's reliable who can win you some games. There are still a few guys left on the market, James Winston. Everyone's a little confused about James Winston. He is coming off of an injury.

So that is probably part of it as well. We know James is very talented. None of the stuff interests me. He's also coming off of an injury. Marcus Marriota, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Andy Dalton, Cam Newton, Jacoby Bressett, Gino Smith, Trevor Simeon, and Joe Flacco. By the way, Baker Mayfield, in a day could be available. He's better than all those guys. I would go with Baker over all those guys.

And I've pushed back a lot on Baker, but I'd go with Baker over that group. I mean, I think that we should, well, he's not a free agent, but I think Baker is available. If they're talking to Deshawn Watson, Baker is absolutely available. I would take Baker over every one of those. I normally thinks I've done. soft on this. But we've got to be honest about all this stuff. That list, I'm not interested. Baker is a completely average starting quarterback. Those guys are below average. Which is better than the situation. Now listen, I think James is actually a lot better than we're remembering.

he was five and two before he got injured, but the injury is significant. And we do know it takes James to be in the right situation to be productive while also not being productive for the defense. Like for as many points and touchdowns as he scores, he turns the ball over at an alarming rate. So he has to be in the right situation. Good stuff. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping. The Hurd-Ly News.

So I'm just going to make my predictions top of the hour of the playoff teams. I got six new ones. Almost half. 14 get in. I got six new ones. Six out, six in. And I have my reasons for all of them. So this is really an exciting time.

You're going to see over the next 36 to 48 hours, stay on your phone. You know, I tell my kids all the time, get off your phone. you know, go out and, you know, walk something, do something. You want to be on your phone for the next two days. It's going to be absolutely fantastic. So the Denver Broncos have had the best noisy free agency, Randy Gregory, Russell Wilson. These are big splash names. The Steelers, to me, have had the best quiet free agency.

Mitch Trubisky makes them a much more athletic team at the most important position. And they have also, because Trubisky is so. so cheap. They're paying $7 million a year. That's a backup number that they have been able to rebuild their offensive line. First, they went and got James Daniels. So James Daniels is a four-year starter, probably arguably the Bears' first or second best offensive line. Probably second. They went and got a starting guard. They went and got Mason Cole, veteran guy. I don't know if he's a top five or six center. Grown-up upgrade. That does allow Kendrick Green, who they just drafted in Pittsburgh, I think last year or the year before, he can go now play his

normal, his real position, which is guard, not center. So they get a center, they can move green, they move James Daniel over, they have upgraded at interior offensive line. Guard, center, guard, they're better. Big deal. Go ask the Bengals. They've worked on their interior line all offseason. So the Steelers, who have been okay at tackle, they just re-sign one of their own kids, just got better guard. center guard. Big deal. That what the weakness for the Pittsburgh Steelers, they had two weaknesses. Interior O line was bad. They just solved it. And they weren't athletic at quarterback in their own division. Burrough can run around. Lamar Jackson's dynamic just in their own division. Forget the

AFC. Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Herbert. These guys are all moving around. Trevor Lawrence can move around. Ryan Tannehill can move around. You had the old man winter in Big Ben. You were unathletic at quarterback. Now, Trubisky, Trubisky's a mover. He's a better runner than a thrower, in my opinion. So now you are the most important position, far more athletic. You can move the pocket. You can roll it right, roll it left, do some RPO stuff. Big, big weakness last year. Now, Trubisky can really move. He's an athlete. Secondly, interior O line. Huge issue last year. No longer.

So now you start looking at this division. The Steelers have the best pass rush in the division. and the best pass, well, I won't say best pass rusher because Miles Garrett and T.J. Water both great. Steelers have the best pass rush. I would say Bengals probably the best quarterback and receivers. Cleveland's got the best offensive line. And Baltimore has the most dynamic player offensively in Lamar Jackson. That's a good division. I think Pittsburgh is, you know, and we said this about Trevisky, because you're not paying him, what happens when you pay your quarterback a lot is you don't have any flexibility. So the Steelers the last couple of years, now the good news for the Steelers, they always draft well, but they haven't had a ton of flexibility.

Tribisky, you've seen it in the last 48 hours. They have huge flexibility. Went and got a good guard, went and got a center. Now they moved their center to guard his natural position. And they went out and also got a safety, re-signed one of the tackles they like. Very good off-season for Pittsburgh. Pragmatic, not overpaying, flexible salary cap, Guard, Center Guard, really good off-season, really good for the Steelers. And they're just more athletic at the most important position. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, I'm Doug Gottlie. The podcast is called All Ball. We usually talk all basketball all the time,

but it's more about the stories about what made these people love their sport and all the interesting interactions along the way. We talk to coaches. We talk to players. We tell you stories. You download it, you listen to it, I think you like it. Listen to All Ball with Doug Ghalib 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 human potential.

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

Yep, that's me, 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 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 blow 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 a little kill. 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's big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but yeah, yeah, yeah. But just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS. on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence.

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. Co-hosts First Things First, got a new podcast. It's called What's Right with Nick Wright launch yesterday. Family's part of it, which is great.

All right. I did a... I know people are probably don't know what in the heck is going on. I said I thought Baker did the smartest thing he's ever done, which he made himself vulnerable. And he sent a message to the league, hey, man, you sign me.

I go all in, even if my surrounding situation's bad. He didn't go snarky. He didn't have to win the press conference. For the first time in his life, he was vulnerable. And I thought it was brilliant. Your takeaway, what did you make of his post last night? Well, I think it might be, listen, You've swayed me on how smart it was.

I would rank it the second smartest thing he's ever done. I think the smartest was sitting on your couch and telling you to stick it. I thought that was the smartest, but this is definitely tough too. I didn't have that immediate read initially. I thought this was him kind of breaking up with the Browns before they could break up with him, but you might have swayed me on it. My takeaway was a little different in this regard, Colin. I think Baker is a good cautionary tale that's something.

of the old adages are flatly wrong. And we've talked about this before, but I want to hammer it. How many times have you heard people talk about the glory associated with betting on yourself? Well, yeah, sometimes. And sometimes you bet on yourself and you don't take whatever contract offered you after you delivered them to the playoffs and a playoff win, and you crap out when you bet on yourself. And another old adage, rub some dirt on it.

playing through pain is part of professional sports. Colin, when Baker got his shoulder fully separated Labrum the whole nine, it was week six. Up to that point in the season, he had a passer rating in the 90s. He had a two to one touchdown interception ratio. Yes, the Browns were three and three, but those three losses were, a high-scoring game to Mahomes, a 47-42 game to Justin Herbert, and a loss to the Cardinals.

They were on track. They were fine. he then the rest of the way was terrible. His numbers were awful, the team was awful, and he was hurt. I just, let me, I'm curious your opinion on this. If he had after that week six game gotten the shoulder surgery that he got this offseason and didn't play the rest of the way, do you think the Browns are shopping him? Nope.

Because I don't. Nope. It's like, oh, he took us a playoffs, he had a winning record, and then he got hurt. So like a lot of those things that we give guys a lot of credit for doing, Colin, sometimes it blows up on you. And I think Baker was trying to do the right thing, and it blew up on him. And now, you know, he's somewhat of a man without a country at the moment, except for you somehow. Somehow he's lost everyone but gained Colin Coward.

I don't know what's going on. Well, I had him overvalued initially. I was right on that. Maybe I'm one for one or one for two. We'll see. So Deshawn Watson to Cleveland, I contend if I was Deshaun Watson, I would choose Atlanta. I think it's the Hollywood of the South. It's the most dynamic economy.

Coca-Cola, Delta Airlines, good owner, offensive coach, superstar potentially at Tide-end. I would choose, I would choose Atlanta. But Cleveland's the best offensive line of all these teams that want him, and Deshaun's been running for his life, his entire NFL career. He would inherit a top five offensive line. As a quarterback, that's got a tremendous value to me. I want to play longer. So what do you make of Deshawn Watson Cleveland just from that aspect?

Do you think it works? The fit? Yeah, from that aspect, from the pure football aspect with Deshaun, if we're talking about where he should want to go, as opposed to whether or not teams should want to be in the Deshaun Watson business, I think Atlanta is a far better choice than Cleveland. I think there's the simplicity of the NFC is wide open. Yes.

And does not have great young quarterbacks. Like the great young quarterback in the NFC, I guess is Kyler. I'm not sure he's great. Dax not quite so young anymore. Stafford's, you know, into his. mid-30s. Rogers is obviously late 30s and Brady's in his mid-40s. So I think the NFC there, I think that specific division,

the NFC South, the Panthers don't seem to have a real plan. The Saints are going to be in the salary cap hell. They built themselves trying to win another one in Breeze for the next couple years. And we'll see about Brady and the Bucks, because maybe I'm the last one and maybe we'll get to this. I'm still not convinced he's playing for the Bucks this year.

I know he's going to play. Yeah. But the NFC South feels wide open. The AFC North feels impossible. It does. Like if the worst team is Pittsburgh, well, they never have a losing record. Since A's went to the Super Bowl, Baltimore, everyone forgets, was eight and three last. They were the one seed after week 11 last year.

And then it all fell apart. Like, I would want, and even if you get through the division, it's like, oh, hey, who do we have left? Oh, that's Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen, and maybe Russell Wilson and Justin Herbert. Like, if you can get out of the AFC, if you're to Sean Watson, I would get out of the AFC. And Atlanta is a great city. And so, set the city stuff aside, for all those reasons, I totally agree. Tom Brady returned to the Bucks or does he? You have skepticism here.

Well, hold on. Before I even get to my skepticism, I want to pull back the curtain for a moment. Yeah. A few things. You might get mad at me, but I'll, relationship is solid enough I can deal with it. So I feel like you you duped me, my friend. Why? Because there was a few years ago, this clip exists on the internet. It's a very, it makes you stroke your chin and say, hmm, it's during Colin Cowher,

or during Tom Brady's last year with the Patriots, midseason, Colin's doing one of his famous rants, and he says, Buck's quarterback Tom Brady, and then he goes and corrects it. And it's like, at the time, it's like, oh, that's a weird slip up. And it's like, hmm, did Colin Cowher know something ahead of anybody else? and on Sunday, you and I were doing a podcast together. Yeah. And I said to you, I'm like, I don't think you're convinced Brady's actually retired. And you got that little sheshire cat grin on your face.

You're like, no, 95%. I, you know, maybe it's some. So I'm asking you and then I'll answer your question. Did you know he was coming back? Did you have a little someone whisper in your ear, Brady's coming back? Well, I mentioned on our podcast. cast the Niners, which is why it's interesting. Well, Kyle Shanahan did not go to the Combine.

And Tom was in the Bay Area that week. And they've already made a run at Tom. So I think they talked. I didn't. I'm not saying I knew. Okay. It's out there. Right. Yeah.

You're not saying you're the guy who went to Vegas and made the giant buck Super Bowl futures bets that's now being investigated. I get that. I understand that that wasn't you. I know. Okay. So there's that. All right, now to my point, here's when I'll believe Tom Brady is going to play for the bucks this year.

Listen, he's clearly going to play. But can we all agree this retirement made no sense? Can we all agree that there is something amiss here? Yeah, a little bit. That he walked away via Instagram. Go ahead. No, I mean, literally, he walked away from a guaranteed division title. I mean, literally, it's the worst division in football.

That part I was like, I would just come back win the division. title pile up. I mean, it's like he had, he was almost an MVP. None of it made sense. None of it made sense. And the idea of, well, it's because my wife wanted me to do it. Colin, we're both married. We both do things at times I know that annoy our wives. You know what annoys our wives more than us doing those things? Us telling her, I'm done doing that thing. And two weeks later, we're back doing it. That's the worst. So this idea of, oh, Jiselle wants me to quit playing football. So I'll stop for five and a half weeks of the off season,

then go back, that'll make her happy. That never made sense. Here's what did make sense. That he wanted to check off the one box he hasn't checked off. Play for my hometown team. Oh, and I get to replace Jimmy Garoppolo, the guy who replaced was going to replace me in New England, all the better.

And I think San Francisco is a better team than Tampa. All that makes sense. Yet he comes back after 40 days and says he's in with the bucks. So to finish the point, I will believe Tom Brady is playing for the Bucks next season, if and when Rob Grunkowski re-signed with them. Because Granc hasn't retired and Grank hasn't played anywhere. And I find it very interesting that Granc is just floating out there,

that Gronk's just a free agent. Because here's what I know. Gronk ain't playing for Tampa without Tom. So I just, I think there is, it will all usual suspect style snap into focus about what the retirement was about if Tom goes somewhere else. If he just plays week one for Tampa next year, then someone's going to have to explain to me what the whole I'm retired via Instagram and days after retirement when Jim Gray's talking to me about it. I'm like, well, never say never.

It's like what you retired yesterday, buddy? Like none of it made sense. So I don't get it, my friend. No, it's interesting. You know, there's, you know, I will say this. your point on I'm retired five weeks later it's it's almost like

he and Giselle have a plan there's a plan here in place she knows it yeah no I that I that's a it's a very good point right like it's the only thing that frustrated or more than not retiring is doing what he just did

that's what I'm saying my wife for our whole relationship has been on my head about smoking those terrible one dollar cigars you see me smoke the black and mild awful you know know what annoys her way more than me doing it? The half dozen times I've come to her, honey, New Year's Resolution,

honey, anniversary present, honey, I'm quitting smoking black and miles. And three weeks later, she sees me shivering outside, hiding smoking black and malcolm. You said you quit. Like that, that annoys people more than just doing the thing they don't like. So I don't buy it. I just don't buy it. Nick Wright, what a pleasure. He's got a new podcast.

What's right, Nick Wright. It's great. It's Nick. It's his fam. It's funny FS1 mornings as well. Good seeing you, my friend. See you, my friend. All right, buddy.

Good stuff. Oh, I just love this time of the year. Joy is working the phones. Hour two next. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman

help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds.

I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that's really not safe to have anywhere,

but you're having them with a license, who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor. It signals to the world that you not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to, listen to learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcasts, 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. 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 podcasts. This is an iHeart podcast, guaranteed human.