The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 1 - NBA parity

Episode Date: May 20, 2025

Brock Purdy is closer to Tua Tagovailoa because the Niners lack depth in their roster Thoughts on the NBA conference finals matchups and the fact that teams can no longer stack rosters  We're going to know very quickly if HC Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams work well together See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Jamek, you know, I was thinking about this. We didn't have a game last night. We have a game tonight. Western Conference Finals. You well-rested Timberwolves take on OKC. OKC Home Court Advantage. I don't think the rest. matters a ton to OKC because they're the deepest roster in the NBA.

I think they'll mitigate that. They'll be fine. And I'm going to get to that in a couple of minutes about Adam Silver's new NBA. But we talked yesterday about Brock Purdy signed a new contract. And I always said, Jay Mack, is that I think Brock Purdy is TWA of the NFC. A little smaller than I like, not as good in bad weather, mobile enough, but like they need a Shanahan or a Mike McDaniels. That's the secret sauce. Left with a defensive coach, Tua was overwhelmed.

If you gave Brock Purdy a defensive coach, Matt Eberflusi, I think he would be overwhelmed. But Tua and McDaniel have the right coach, the right system, and, you know, one guy had Waddle and Tyree Kill, one has Kittle, had Debo, Christian McCaffee, so it works to some level. Don't love either, but I like both. but when you start circumstantially paying too much for Tua, now he's got a weak old line, and he's just not good enough and gets exposed. That's what I think will eventually over time happen to Brock Perti. So I was talking to somebody yesterday about this.

So the Niners signed Fred Warner yesterday to a huge contract. So the Niners are now paying three positions, positions you'd prefer to get value out of. Positions the rival Rams don't pay anything to. They're now paying Christian McCaffrey a running back second most for a running back in the league. George Kittle, first most for a tight end, and Fred Warner, first most for a linebacker. And they're doing this because they have to because they've missed on so many picks. John Lynch, in my opinion, has not been a great drafter, and I think Shanahan has the power in the building.

San Francisco also gave up three first round picks for Trey Lance. So now what you have to do is you get forced to some. positional players where you'd really like value. I mean, right now, the Rams don't pay anything for linebackers. The Rams don't pay anything for corner. They don't pay anything for safety. They don't even pay a ton for a left tackle. And so I've said with Chua and Purdy, it's situational.

I'd like him at $38 million. I'd like him at $42. I don't like him in the 50s. And here's an example, what I'm talking about. If you go look at the Niners, I took their last five drafts. In their last 18 picks in 23 and 22 drafts, the Niners have one hit, Brock Purdy, one. I'll give you Jake Moody, but I don't think anybody loves a kicker in the third round, and he's been disappointing. And I'll count Ricky Pearsall as a semi-hit, but I thought he was overdrafted.

They have back-to-back drafts in 22 and 23. Think anybody. The Dallas Cowboys, like the Niners, overpaid for a quarterback, therefore the offensive line is weaker than you'd like, and the team is top-heavy. One injury, and all the dominoes come tumbling down. Look at the Cowboys. The Cowboys' last two drafts.

I like DeMarvian overshone, but he's never healthy. Tyler Guyton, I'm not sure he's a hit. I'll give it to you. But I would argue in their last two drafts, They don't have one absolute hit. Conversely, the Lions had a three draft stretch, 21, 22, 23, where they had 12 hits in three drafts. So the Jared Goff contract, and Jared's better, in my opinion, is a natural talent than purty or two. It's not as punitive because they can let go of veterans.

They hit on draft picks. Similarly, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Jalen Hertz contract, they can pay Seekuan Bar. because they never miss on their first or second round picks. I mean, they've gone four years where they've hit on all of them. And they got Jalen Hertz for free for years because he was a second round pick. So last season was an example of what I think the Niners are going to face over the next two to three years. Last year, Christian McCaffrey got hurt, Trent Williams got hurt, oh, Brandon and Iyuk got hurt, Bosa got dinged, and they have no depth. So this is not me just simply not liking Brock Purdy.

It's just like Tua. Or DAC, if you don't get the right number, one or two injuries, and it all comes crumbling down. The best thing the Niners have going for him is a really smart head coach with a good system and the NFL's weakest schedule in 10 years. Okay, so tonight is the start of the Western Conference Finals. And people say they want a lot of things. They say they want to work out, and they say they're going to put money away. And they say they want parity in sports. And the NFL does a great job to make you think they've got parity.

But Mahomes and Brady have made 10 of the last 15 Super Bowls from the AFC. And Philadelphia's favorite again in the NFC, we'll see what Jaden Daniels can do to disrupt that. But the truth is, what you're seeing in sports right now, the last seven NBA champions, Raptors, Lakers, Bucks, Warriors, Nuggets, Celtics, that's the last six. The seventh this year will make seven new champs in seven years. So for years you have been telling me this is exactly what you want. But the truth is, I'm watching TV ratings for sporting events, and there's no parody outside the NBA, and the numbers are going up.

and I have said this on occasion that I think parody is unrealistic. People are not even. There are all sorts of gaps in ambition and intelligence and willfulness. I was just reading a Barry Diller book. Some people just stay at work until the job's done right. Some want to go home early. That's the reality. The OKCGM Sam Presti is better than yours.

So is Brad Stevens of Boston or Tim Connerly of Minnesota. They're not even. And historically, in all employment, A's, higher A's, B's, higher C's. So weaker GMs build weaker staffs. And I know you could say to yourself, well, Colin, life's about opportunities. Not really. It's not. It's willfulness.

It's ambition. It's intelligent. You can give two people the same opportunity. Somebody's going to leap ahead. Well, Colin, the American capitalistic system. It must be better in Europe. No, not really. If you go to the English Premier League, last eight years.

years. Liverpool or Man City has won. Their biggest league. Their NFL. Go to France. Those liberal Frenchmen, I bet you they don't have an ugly capitalistic system. Let's go to their sports. PSGs won 10 of the last 12 league titles. Isn't that funny? How about Barcelona and Real Madrid in Spain? No, they've won 10 of 11. Yeah, it doesn't matter. Cross the pond here. People aren't even. Ambitions not even money is not even even in the socialistic countries our sports men's and women's tennis scotty sheffler's pulling away it's the same five or six golfers for the men olympics we know host cities especially the united states do well summer olympics winter olympics it's the same basic countries world cup yeah it bounces a little but go look at the top six or seven teams

right now they've been the top six or seven teams most of the last 15 years it is the reality of where we're at. In fact, the only parody is the NBA. You get Minnesota, you get Oklahoma City, you get Indiana, only one real major market, New York, and their parody

as well, because they've stunk most of the last 25 years. So this is to me the NBA that Adam Silver wanted, and it's taken years to present it, unravel some CBAs, wait for contracts to and this is his NBA.

And Adam Silver has talked about this before publicly. I see my goal as helping the league. I call it for shorthand to become more NFL-like. And if you asked a casual NFL fan, are you going to watch the Super Bowl? They'd hardly ever say only if the Giants are in it. It's a national holiday. And I think a part of, you know, my job is to take people

who are fans of the game back to where we started, in addition to whoever their hometown fan is or wherever their personal interest as players and teams should think, I'm a fan of the game. This is the best basketball being played by definition, because this team has gone to the conference finals. So is he an idealist or a realist? David Stern had no problem.

David Stern loved the Bulls and New York and the Lakers, because David Stern took over an NBA that had all this parody in the 70s. And nobody was watching it. So David Stern's like, let's get in Nike, let's get in Adidas, let's get in Converse, L.A., New York. He didn't have a problem with it. He made the league more richer owners had an advantage. And big cities tend to, at least in the time, have more money and more game day nightly revenue. And bigger local TV deals as well, radio deals.

So David Stern was a pragmatist. He was a realist, but he inherited a league where every. everybody was winning different teams every year. Seattle, Portland, Golden State, Philadelphia, and it wasn't doing well. So Adam Silver inherits a league where it's like three to four teams at the top, five or six teams that are semi-interesting and a massive bottom, way too top-heavy. And Adam Silver is like, I don't like it. So now you can't stack rosters. It's roster construction. and what we're seeing is the four best players in these, you know, conference final teams are all guards. It is guards who elevate B players because you can't stack A players anymore.

So we'll see how it goes. I'm looking forward to it. But it is a new NBA, more physical, more parity, can't stack rosters. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the I Heart Radio app. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name?

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So I saw this story this morning. You know, Bill Belichick goes to Carolina. When Dion Sanders went to Colorado, the first thing that was, inarguable is he sold the stadium out. Colorado was a sputtering program. There wasn't any interest. Boulder's sort of a, you know, it's sort of a wild, fun place. You go to have a good time.

Very infrequently, if they had a lot of interest or a lot of success in football. And even with Dion, they weren't super successful, but they got on TV a lot. They were interesting. I thought he did a pretty good job to get them on television. They don't win a ton of games, even though they are in

the Big 12, which is one of the weaker conferences, not ACC week, but kind of week. But Dion has made them relevant. And in college football, the recruiting at Colorado now is relevant. And that's what matters. Now, I do think Carolina historically is a better football program than Colorado. There's more money in it, especially for football. But this is interesting. Carolina has sold out their season tickets before they have played a game under Bill Belichick. So it's the Dion effect. And I think what is fascinating about Belichick, So I think if you put Belichick in the SEC or the Big Ten, he'd get rolled. Because I've always had this theory, is that the key to NFL coaching is just raw intelligence,

mostly smarter coaches win, because you pick the players and you can practice much longer. College football is different. You need to be able to recruit. You've got to have great energy, intelligence to see. some degree can be muted. Now, we know Nick Saban is really smart, but Nick was also relentless on a recruiting trail, tons of energy, always a smile, great brand, and, you know, again, relentless when it came to getting players. He was pre-NIL, the best recruiter I think I've ever seen. So, and so I always thought John Gruden would be a great college coach.

Smart enough, but great recruiter, great energy. Pete Carroll. is not known as a schematic whiz. Great college coach. Jim Harbaugh, simple themes, repetitive in his themes, great energy and recruiter. Yet Bill Walsh at Stanford, his last two years, he was 7, 14, and 1 combined. Arguably the smartest coach in league history. Bill Walsh was smart players, not that successful at Stanford. Jim Harbaugh, much more successful.

Harbaugh could recruit. Harbaugh had greater energy. Harbaugh had very simple themes. Belichick's smart. I think the one thing that saves Belichick is the ACC is terrible. I looked at Joel Clatt's preseason top 15. There is one ACC team in it, and that is Clemson. Now, Clemson has, I think, the second or third best quarterback in college football,

and they've returned most of their really good players. They didn't transfer, but they're not really an NIL story. I don't think they're a national championship contender, but I think they have a good coach. They have a first round quarterback, and a lot of good players returned and didn't transfer. But there's no other ACC teams there. You've got BYU and Arizona State and South Carolina and Illinois, all above the next ACC team. So my take is Belichick's a little grumpy.

Belichick is energy as meh. Belichick's a so-so recruiter and his messaging, let's be honest, kind of complex. Now, I think Charlie Weiss was another guy who was a really smart guy. He kind of bragged about his schematic advantage. He had a big brand Notre Dame. Energy recruiting, very average. And so I do think what saves Bill is the ACC. If you look at their schedule outside of the Clemson game, they can match up with anybody.

I mean, there's just doubles use everywhere in this thing. But like Dion Sanders, and this is why I've supported Bill Belichick and Jordan Hudson, Carolina is a basketball school. Colorado's a nothing school. Social currency, attention is your stock market. And I think North Carolina and Belichick, I've got them as my third story today. I don't have the Carolina Tarheel's basketball program

as my third story. So for some of these programs like Colorado and Carolina, selling out the stadium, getting on television, raising NIL money, Trump's getting to the playoffs. Jay Mack with the news. This is the herd line news. All right, Colin, we're going to start with the Philadelphia Eagles and Nick Siriani.

I was a bit surprised by this. So Eagles win the Super Bowl, not that, but the fact that they gave Nick Siriani a multi-year extension, terms undisclosed. And it just feels like a bit of irrational. Like, okay, they won the Super Bowl. Remember last year, Siriani went into the season and battled because of all the stuff that happened on the sidelines and some of the reports. obviously Syriani's been very successful as a head coach in the regular season and in the postseason for sure. Are you surprised that he got this big of an extension?

I've never been able to figure out. Philadelphia is run like a chaotic organization, but it all works. They fire coaches who win Super Bowls a couple of years after. They'll move off Super Bowl winning quarterbacks. I mean, Chip Kelly had a winning record gone. Doug Peterson, Super Bowl, out of here. It is an organization run by its owner and its general manager. And there's not a lot of those left in the NFL.

This is a general manager-run franchise, Howie Roseman. And he and Chip had a power struggle. He got demoted. Chip rose. Eventually, Chip got the axe. So I just, I've never, I think Siriani works well with Howie Roseman, and that's why he got the deal. I really. I mean, again, you could go down the list of the reasons the Eagles were successful last.

year. I don't think Siriani's top three, maybe not top four. I mean, it's like Tush Push, Jalen Hertz, Sequin Barkley, obviously that addition, the defense in the Super Bowl, like the offensive line's great. Like, I don't know that Siriani's a great coach. Obviously, he has a Super Bowl. He should be called a great coach. But when you think of great coaches in the NFL, is he like a top five guy that comes to mind? No, he's not. He's unconventional. Sometimes on the sidelines, he's sort of sophomoric, like it doesn't work for me. Yeah. But I also think we have to be fair.

There are people in all industries that grow into jobs. I think he's better today than he was three years ago. I still think sometimes he goes, you know, off the rails. But I think he's grown with the job. I mean, certainly much better at the podium than he was. He was a tire fire three years ago. So I think, you know, I think a lot of this stuff, We tend to look at the NFL and we want a superstar quarterback and a genius GM.

A lot of this stuff, though, less need and McVey are very collaborative. That's why it works. And I think Nick Seriani, Chip Kelly, had his vision and he didn't need Howie Roseman breathing down his neck so it didn't work. Andy Reed and Brett Veach worked very well together. I think Ballard and why am I getting the guy? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think they like each other, respect each other, and work. World DeGar. I think the collaboration is the key. I think when you have Trent

bulky, we couldn't work with any coach. I think Harbaugh works with the Chargers because they've given Jim his pick of the jam and his pick of the staff. So there's a rock star in every organization in this league. It's often the quarterback in Buffalo. It's not the coach. Sean McDermott's not the rock star. It's Josh Allen. In Kansas City, it's Reed and Mahomes. Right. They share it. And I think in Philadelphia, it's the general manager. Unfortunately, in Dallas, it's the owner. It doesn't work. It's almost like Hertz and Siriani have had a rocky relationship. Are maybe Rockies, is it too harsh?

No, it's been published. There's multiple reports out of Philadelphia. And like, they have a new offensive coordinator every year. So, Siriani does deserve credit for galvanizing the troops, right, getting everybody on the same page. But I still think he's got work to do. Now, the terms not being disclosed is interesting. Obviously, we'll see if it's a two-year deal or whatever it is. Next up, Colin, Brock Purdy just got paid. And you know, I don't love this, but people complain. Jason, you're too hard on the guy.

Lamar Jackson all of a sudden is looking for a new contract. Colin, come on. John Harbaugh admitted the team has engaged in internal discussions about a new deal for their quarterback. Adding the front office would manage the salary cap dance. Lamar is now doing the cryptic message thing on IG. Okay? By the way, Brock Purdy did not do any of this nonsense.

Here's what Lamar wrote. Once I show love, they show me why they don't deserve it. Right then soon as I put my guard down, that's when they hurt me. Now, they're saying this is about the contract. I don't know if this is some obscure musical lyric. I don't know what's going on here. None of this makes sense to me. Lamar is sick to make $52 million this season.

Please help me help it make sense. Well, we don't know that he's talking about contracts. Is that supposition here? I don't know. It could be a girlfriend, a friend. Who knows? No, I think he's reasonably paid. A lot of this is just... I think...

Well, I mean, I have no problem paying Lamar in the 50s. I mean, he gives us defensive coordinator's fits. Look at the list on the screen, Colin. This shocked me. I did not realize 52 million. This is how you know. Remember two years ago we called the wide receiver bubble? I'm calling it now.

This is not sustainable. Where Lamar Jackson is your 10th highest paid quarterback. He's two MVPs, right? And now he wants more. I don't know what is interesting is now in hindsight. For our radio audience, we have a list of the highest paid, I think it's 10 quarterbacks in the NFL. What's interesting is I think about five of these, the teams regret it. I don't think, I mean, Dallas can say what they want, but that's too much.

Trevor Lawrence, Tua, Jared Goff's deal right now. So about five of these teams, I think you're comfortable with it. And I think about, I mean, Justin Herbert hasn't on a playoff game. They're comfortable with it. But I would say Jordan Love's an interesting one because I was comfortable initially. If at the end of last year, Jordan Love had a hiccup. If he has another hiccup, then they're going to fall into the not really comfortable with where we're at with Jordan Love. So now, they didn't pay him for years.

He sat on the bench for years. But it's interesting. Highest paid quarterbacks, I would say five of these I'm not comfortable with. And that shows you, and the five I'm comfortable with, like Josh Allen, his team wins a lot. And at Jared God. Wait, wait, time out, time out, time out. Josh Allen wins a lot. So does Lamar Jackson.

Okay. Yeah. I'm comfortable with that. With winning a lot and not getting to the Super Bowl? I'm comfortable winning your division every year and winning 75% of the games and winning playoff games. I'm not asking you to win Super Bowls when Brady and Mahomes are in their prime. If you win your division, if you get home playoff games,

If you can win those games, I'm comfortable with it. I don't need Super Bowls to bet. Jalen Hurts is winning Super Bowls. Do I think he's better than Josh Allen and Lamar? No, I don't. Okay, so what do you do with Lamar here? Lamar comes to you, hey, man, I need more money. Rock Purdy just got more than me.

What do you do? You know, I would restructure his deal, but again, Kansas City restructures Mahomes all the time. They're not letting Lamar go. Of course not. That's silly, but Colin, just wrap your head around it. 52 million hasn't got to a Super Bowl. They don't have the best Super Bowl odds next year. They're not favored to come out of the AFC.

Is this tough, man? I don't want to be in his pockets, but the reality is when the lights are brightest in the postseason, has Lamar delivered? Yes or no? No, he hasn't. Final story, Colin, is to the NBA tonight. Game one, are you fired up?

Anthony Edwards and the T-Wolves head to Oklahoma City. I'm sorry, Oklahoma City to face the thunder in game one. I will have you guessed the spread shortly, no cheating. But we're going to make this about Anthony Edwards, who has been unbelievable five years in. Last week I had the hot take that he's been a better Timberwolf than Kevin Garnett. Of course, people came down my throat. Well, look at this, Colin.

Our staff found out. Anthony Edwards is just 35 points shy of surpassing KG for the most playoff points in team history. These are their comparison through the first five seasons. I want to say game set match and just slap the table and say thank you for your service. But that's not the kind of guy I am. Anthony Edwards, he's going to surpass KG either tonight or in game two. Well, he has two advantages over KG. He's a better three-point shooter, and he has the ball in his hands more.

So I think Ant will become the best player for the T-Wolves. You know, I was thinking about this yesterday taking the train home. I was thinking about this about who does the NBA want. I do think if the NBA could choose, they take the Knicks and Aunt Edwards in the final. Ant playing in New York City will feel huge. That's like Jordan. Kobe was great in the garden. LeBron, Steph.

The garden's not only great for the Knicks, it's where the greatest stars in league history, if you ask them, even Yonis said two days ago, my favorite place to play is New York. It feels different. It is different. Okay, so the wolves have been off for a minute.

The Thunder played game seven on Sunday. OKC is at home. What do you think the line is? OKC minus one and a half. Oh, call it. OKC minus seven. Oh, I take Minnesota. I take Minnesota.

Seven? Seven. I think it was seven and a half initially, and then it dipped down to seven. That number's crazy to me. Well, playoff experience, the wolves have more conference finals experience than these guys. I like Minnesota in the series. I'm on an island. I haven't seen one other person pick Minnesota.

No, there are people that I respect. I was listening to a podcast yesterday. A lot of people, Minnesota. is a bigger, more experienced version. And if you get the same Julius Randall that they got against the Lakers and they got against Denver or against, who did Minnesota just extinguish?

Golden State. I think it's a seven-game series. I would go OKC to win game seven at home, but I think it's a great series. So the other point, Colin, I think, and this is just my read on it, the narrative is, oh, OKC took down mighty Denver and Yokic.

Meanwhile, Minnesota got here by beating the curryless worries. This is going to be a wrap. This is going to be a blowout. And I'm just cautioning people. That's not going to be the case. This will go seven. I think Minnesota is the better overall team. Who's a better superstar here?

Ant or SGA? I think Ant's more vertical and more dynamic. I think Ant feels, to me, I don't think the league needs it. I've told you this before. I think it helps. They don't need it. I think it helps with baseball. They don't need it.

If the Yankees are winning, the Cubs are winning, the Dodgers are winning, baseball is fine. It helps that Judge and Otani are modern-day Babe Ruth. I think Ant is what a face of the league is. Handsome, vertical, dynamic, explosive. I don't think the market size matters as much. I think with all the shoe companies now do the advertising for you, they make you bigger than your market. I'll tell you another guy, he's not face of the league. But I think one of the more relatable players in this league,

the more likable guys, is Jalen Brunson. Yeah. Because the college program Villanova feels like it's totally relatable. He's in New York. Again, he is just such a, when you listen to him, he's a grown-up. You know what he reminds me of Jalen Hertz? Another second round guy. He reminds me of Jalen Hurts.

You're just getting an adult. He's a pro. He understands the value and the gravitas of being like an eagle or a nick. I think Jalen Brunton, you don't think of him as face of the league, and maybe he's not. But if it was Ant's face of the league, take the Euros out. Ant's face of the league. I think Jalen Brunson is a more memorable player than Jason Tatum. I think he's more crucial to his team's success.

I think you take Brunson out of the Knicks. It's not the same franchise. I think you take Tatum out of the Celtics. There's still a playoff team. Maybe in these. Last question on this series, Minnesota, Oklahoma City. So you said the star wattage goes to Minnesota. Who has the coaching advantage?

And I know one of the guys comes on this show, but I think we would agree. Well, I think Chris Finch and his staff have arguably done a better job than any team in the playoffs. You know, the funny thing is, as Tibbs has got nothing but crap for years. But the NBA leaned into Tibbs's coaching style and culture, and Tibbs has had a great playoff. You know, it's funny, we forget about this. They extinguish Boston. Remember how much trouble the Knicks had with the Pistons. Yeah.

Why? The Pistons have one star, but mostly grinders. Everybody touches it, well-coached, physical. You know, you just don't forget about how much. All those Knicks Pistons games were close. All of those games were competitive. Jay Mack with the news well that's the news

and thanks for stopping by the herd line news USC football is listening to me that stories are they may move out of the Notre Dame game and coming up next it's really interesting so it's I'm listening to radio today

this whole Caleb Williams Seth Wickersham our interview this week it's getting a lot of play and I've said I think Ben Johnson and Caleb are going to work. But here is something that we can no longer argue. You're going to know very quickly if it works or if it doesn't.

And I think you'll be surprised when you go back and look at how early young great quarterbacks, give us a tell. Let us know they're going to be great. We'll talk about that next. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd, Weekday. at noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, it's Steve Kavino. And I'm Rich Davis.

And together we're Kavino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, and of course the I Heart Radio app. Why should you listen to Kavino and Rich? We talk about everything, life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world? We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture. Stories that, well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss.

And the fact that we've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We like to get you involved too. Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio. Maybe the most interactive show on Planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino & Rich live on Fox Sports Radio

on the IHeart Radio app from 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino and Rich, wherever you get your podcast and, of course, on social media. That's Coveino and Rich. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news.

We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts. We're starting a trend. But this one's extra special.

So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Oh, we were thinking I'm originally calling it. one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers was... This is how you guys remember it going down?

Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast where people could call in and say, Hey Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad,

Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. 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 I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get. your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source,

the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral, moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context and ask the questions everybody wants answered. SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slicelive 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis, and I know firsthand because I competed there myself.

I'm Renee Stubbs, and on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris. Every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on Clay. Genshin win. I mean, she went down at three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lina Rabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now,

and I actually can win on any surface. Because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court-side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. In just six days, it's the biggest day in motorsports as the greatest spectacle in racing.

The 109th Indie 500 comes to Fox for the first time ever with Joseph New Garden going for a historic creepy. Coverage begins at 10 a.m. Eastern, Sunday on Fox. We are so pumped for this race. We got an authentic Indy 500 driver helmet and an Indy 500 milk junk. Of course, the winner on Sunday will continue the tradition of drinking milk in Victory League. Speaking to Indianapolis, you see that Caitlin Clark fever TV rating, biggest TV rating, 25 years for the WNBA. Nothing against Angel Reese, but they're going to get every single Caitlin Clark game on television, and they should. Magic and Bird, many think, save the NBA. I don't. I love the 70s NBA.

I was a huge Dr. Jay fan. I love those Sonics teams, Elvin Hayes and the Bullets in Weston. So I really like 70s NBA, the Knicks in the early 70s. I don't remember the Knicks team because I didn't really start watching sports until, like, 72, 73. but the Knicks won in like 71, Lakers won, I think, in 72. And it was, you know, it was like now, a bunch of different teams. But, and it's not that Caitlin Clark saved the WNBA, but there is no disputing. It now matters.

I mean, the sport, let's be honest, they were moving into smaller arenas, subsidized by the NBA. You know, very insular. There was a small niche group of WNBA fans. Magic and Bird made the NBA. They didn't save it. They made it relevant, and Michael made it global, and LeBron made it mobile. Everybody can play anywhere.

Caitlin Clark is closer to saving the WNBA. It was getting better, but it still wasn't making any money. And, I mean, that's incredible. 25 years, a season opener. This isn't a Christmas game. It's not a playoff game. It's just Caitlin Clark. on a team that was awful last year, highest rating 25 years.

So one of the things, Caleb Williams, the Bears quarterback, spending a lot of time in Chicago, like you turn on the radio, and they're talking Cubs or Caleb Williams. Like, that's the topic. And he's gotten some pushback. I think a lot of it is unfair. He's young. I thought during the season, he handled himself, you know, like an adult at the podium.

That matters to me. He was a grown-up. but and i i've also said that i'm not going to wait forever you're going to tell pretty quickly how good he is as long as you have a competent coach i mean i you don't need a great one is dan quinn great is zach taylor great well he's competent i think ben johnson bottom the floor is he's certainly competent I took five quarterbacks that none of us would argue they were stars. Andrew Luck, Jaden Daniels, Joe Burrell, Lamar, Jackson, C.J. Stroud.

I won't put a Herbert in. Many of you think he's overrated. I'm not going to put a two in because I don't think he's a star. Those five guys. And I'm not going to use Mahomes because he has Andy Reid, arguably the best coach ever. How long did it take to figure out Andrew Luck was good? Well, he had the worst roster in the NFL. That's why they had the number one pick. and weeks 7 through 10, Andrew Luck had a four-game winning streak and through four in that four-game winning streak, 1,200 yards, and it was less of a passing league then. How about Jaden Daniels of Washington?

In weeks 2, 3, and 4, he went 23 at 29, 21 and 23, 26 of 30. So by September, we have ourselves a superstar quarterback. Joe Burrow. Now, with an atrocious offensive line, good receiver, atrocious O line. Week 2, 61 throws, three touchdowns, over 300 yards. Week 3, duplicated it, 300 plus yards. Again, with an atrocious own line and a coach, nobody liked. Lamar Jackson, six of his first seven starts, he won,

and he was clearly the most electric runner at the position since Michael Vick. and then C.J. Stroud. I mean, come on, the dude set an NFL record. He didn't have an interception in his first five weeks, which is, it's NFL history. So my point being, I think you can argue that Caleb Williams roster, now that he has, at least a competent coach, it's better than Andrew Lux roster, better than Jaden Daniels, I'm not sure it's better than Lamar Jackson's, but it's better than C.J. Strouds, and outside of J. Mar Chase, it's better than Joe Burroughs. So at worst, he would have the second best roster because Baltimore's is always

pretty good. And so I looked this morning, I thought, well, Caleb Williams has to be good in September. And if he's not, then the critics, and I know scouts who don't love his accuracy, don't like his footwork, and feel he plays too much hero ball. I think he's got to go three and one in the first four games because the Raiders and the Cowboys are on that schedule, and he's hosting Minnesota in perfect weather. At Detroit, I'll give you an L. But I think going into the buy in week five, I don't think it's unrealistic,

I don't think it's hyperbolic, I don't think it's a hot take. If we don't see it through those first four games, he's probably not it if he's struggling. And, you know, I think we've talked about this before, that you can, on music shows, you can tell this with music. like remember Simon Cowell American Idol

you can see lousy and great Carrie Underwood you know eight seconds in yeah that works or if somebody butchers it that doesn't

good pretty good may take time great awful you can see it instantly so we'll know and pretty good then Caleb Williams will be disappointing

we'll know very quickly because music and quarterback play, it doesn't take long. Didn't take long with Burrow, Locke, Jaden, C.J. Stroud. It just didn't take long. It took like two weeks. So I said this a year ago, and it got a little pushback. I said, college football is amazing, but it's all about the playoff. Just get into the playoff.

That's what it's all about. It's not about tradition. And even USC fans are like, what are you talking about? when I said, get the Notre Dame game off the schedule. What do you plan Notre Dame for? So the two football Blue Bloods have played 95 times since 1924. But USC, according to a story today, is very reluctant to extend it long term. And I agree with USC.

So people are clinging to tradition. Let me tell you about tradition and college football. It's entered the portal. All right. This is a sport where you can now buy high school players. That was a death penalty four years ago. The highest rated game last year of the season was Georgia and Texas. It wasn't Texas and Oklahoma.

So if you look at USC schedule, and this is what I've argued, as they move into a conference now where they're at a little bit of a weather disadvantage, it's a warm weather program. Prime example is September 27th through November 1st, at Illinois, Michigan, at Notre Dame, at Nebraska. If Notre Dame was a home game, that's a much better schedule. And because their payout now in the Big Ten is minimum $75 million, which is over two and a half times the PAC 12 payment, they don't need the money. Now, it's different.

Remember, Notre Dame used to play Michigan years ago. They don't. The sport is fine. So Notre Dame, realizing there's a nutrition, has entered into a 12-year contract. with Clemson. So I didn't grow up ever pining for Notre Dame and Clemson. USC's like, we don't need you, and we're not interested in playing cold weather games in November. If you want to maintain this, and USC has all the leverage, because of the Big Ten money, they don't need Notre Dame. Notre Dame needs big games. So that's why they signed the Clemson deal.

They need big games. They lost Michigan. They can't lose USC. So it's just, I think it's very interesting is that the Big Ten allows USC to play a week out of conference schedule and still have Oregon, Washington, which is generally ranked when they're in a bit of a rebuild, they'll be better this year. Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, I think with Matt Rule will be pretty good. Illinois this year will be good. So, I mean, listen, when the reason USC was the first out of the Pact 12. Why? Number one

money, number two, stability. So right now for USC, it's about the playoffs. It's not about Notre Dame. It's not about tradition. Traditions enter the portal. Texas, Georgia's going to get your biggest rating. Not Texas, Oklahoma. So I think people are just grabbing on to some... When I was growing up as a kid,

I remember Nebraska, Oklahoma, Barry Switzer, Tom Osborne. It got replaced by Texas, Oklahoma. Okay. Michigan, Notre Dame used to be great. They don't play. I'm okay with it. It's fine. It's all about the playoff. It's all about December. So, very interesting. USC wavering on the Notre Dame. Hey, guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas. We invented a podcast. Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being an Ask questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick.

Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and 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 I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in.

I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source the athletes themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment,

and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slicalife 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. I'm Michelle McPhee,

and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on. A Mormon Polo. And an Armenian businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud.

But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human.