The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 1 - Teams that can turn it around

Episode Date: April 15, 2024

Colin examines the upcoming NFL draft and why teams can quickly turn their franchises around unlike the other pro leagues where rebuilds can take years The Patriots may take an interesting pick at quarterback  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Colin Wright, Colin Wrong, one hour from now. It is going to get very, very interesting over the next couple of weeks. We're going to have a couple of major changes in sports in America. Are you ready for those changes, Jay Mackett? Depend what they are, but possibly, yeah. So, one week from today is NFL Draft Week. All right, so let's talk about that. So draft is not this Thursday, next Thursday,

but next Monday is NFL draft week. It's very intense. And your average to maybe way below average NFL franchise, starting next Monday, it gets very, very close to changing things forever. Maybe you've been a laughing stock. Washington, poorly owned, Chicago, poorly, quarterly. The Raiders batted everything. Arizona, don't trust the ownership.

Draft in the NFL is different. In baseball, your great draft pick goes to the minors. In the NBA, even if you get the best pick in years, Wemby, he's going to win 22 games. And they're not going to win double or triple that for years to come potentially. But in football, it's different. one year ago from today the Houston Texans were a laughing stock and this is the key to the NFL and politicians do you bring hope something new something fresh do you deliver hope nobody delivers hope like the NFL the Houston Texans bad ownership bad roster bad quarterback bad team

bad stink no inertia what did they do C.J Stroud with the number two pick moved up to the number three pick got Will Anderson, both are rookie of the year. The Houston Texans win their division, win a playoff game, and now they're tied for the third best odds to get to the Super Bowl and the AFC. They were a laughing stock a year ago, two Super Bowl contender, two picks, one coach, got them all right, and that's the league. That is not available. That ascension is not available in other sports. In baseball, you have to buy relevance in about six teams, maybe four, can afford it. In the NBA, you trade for or buy relevance. But the stars mostly want to plan about five places. Miami, L.A., you get it. In the NFL, you draft relevance. And because the kids don't

come out as like true kids, they're 21, 22, 23. They've been coached hard. They can deliver and change your franchise if you hit on just one or two like Houston. Who is Houston this year? Well, Chicago and the commanders look like if they get the quarterback right, things could get interesting. I think if the Chargers move down, pick up a couple of picks. Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers could be sensational. So Bears, Commanders, Chargers are my guesses as the three teams that could change everything based on a weekend. And in a very distracted world, nothing delivers sports urgency like NFL draft weekend. I mean, the Bears have never had a great quarterback.

That could change. Washington has had absolute instability because of previous ownership. That should change. And the NFL's finally leaning into this. So I've been to draft Nick forever. And the NFL finally figured it out. People really like this. Last year, round one got 11.3 million viewers.

That beats everything in the world not called the NFL and Caitlin Clark. Now they're putting it on site. They're putting it in cities. It's a party. Three of the last four drafts have gotten their highest ratings. I don't think the NFL ever quite understood. They never really truly got it how big the draft was. And the reason the draft is big is because it's tied to hope.

The NHL, Major League Baseball, MLS, NBA drafts do not deliver the ability to change a laughing stock to a Super Bowl contender in one year. My guess is Chargers, commanders, bears have the best shot. I could be wrong on all three. But we are one week from NFL Draft Week. I love it. You do the NFL finally leaning into it, and I can't wait.

So here's another big pivot that is happening, thinking about it this weekend. I went to the UFC fight, which was great. I was flying back, and I thought about this. Are you all ready for the big pivot? and according to ratings, you're not. But the Warriors have to go 2-0 in the playing games for the right to play number one seat O KC.

And they probably won't beat them. They don't have the depth. LeBron James, well, he was great yesterday. I had 17 assists. They need to win just one of two games in the plan for the right to play the world champion nuggets. And they're not beaten Denver four times. I think what it's signaling,

starting tomorrow in the playing games, the Steph-Lebron NBA, it's over. The big pivot is here officially last year when the Nuggets won. But do we realize how much LeBron and Steph dominated the league?

11 finals between LeBron and Steph in 13 years, and they won a lot of them. The Warriors today, though, are incredibly Steph Curry-reliant. The number two score on the Warriors, 18 a game is Clay Thompson, he often came off the bench. The Lakers are good and long, not a lot of great shooters and playmakers, no chance they beat Denver four times. So for the next, for the next two months, are you ready for the new NBA?

Oklahoma City, young, deep with a ton of draft capital. They're going to be great for a decade. Are you ready for Denver? Best starting five in the league? championship moxie with a player in yokic who's the best sometimes easily in the league the Celtics without question the deepest roster in the NBA offense everywhere blowouts everywhere and they've got all their guys except tatum locked up for the future and that'll happen soon the t-wolves well coached prepared aunt edwards a dynamic star and it looks like they may move

Carl Anthony Towns, but they got Rudy Gobert figured out. Dallas, got to be honest, Luca's the best pure score at his age in league history, and maybe just ever. He's a walking 33 points if he wants to. Meanwhile, Steph and LeBron are limping into the play in tournament, one on a completely reliant Warriors offense to Steph, and the other, you're crossing your fingers.

AD is healthy. This is the new NBA. It's going to start Tuesday. The play-in tournament counts as the playoffs. The old weird Clippers, Kauai Hardin, no shot to win a title. Warriors, interesting. No real shot to win a title. Lakers long match up with Denver well, but they'll face them in round one.

Probably no chance to win a title. It is now more international, younger stars, and the stars are not just winning games they're the top seeds. Denver just won a title. Favor to win another. The LeBron-Stef era, 11 finals appearances in 13 years, is officially over, and you're going to see it starting tomorrow night. Here's LeBron on being the guy that even at his age has to carry the Lakers still. I just want to win.

So whatever the game presents itself for me to be, If it needs to me be more attack there in the scoring range or if it needs to be more of a set-up guy that needs to me be more of a defender. I got to do it all. I am a Swiss Army knife, so I got to do it all on the floor, but none of it is predetermined. You're ready, J-Mack, for the more international,

younger NBA starting tomorrow night. Are you ready for it? I've come to terms with Stefan LeBron, 13 years, 11 finals appearances, winning many, are not on legitimate title teams, though I do think the Lakers match up really well with a lot of teams, including Denver, but I do not think you can rely on a 39-year-old player

to be the primary playmaker and win seven-game series after seven-game series, after seven-game series, after seven-game series. Am I too harsh? I just think you're way, way wrong. I mean, Colin, you're writing off LeBron James? How many times have we done that over the last decade? It's over for LeBron.

Can't make the finals. Can't pull it off. Can't do this. Did you see his averages in his 21st season? 25, 7, and 8? Oh, no, this is not an indictment on LeBron. I'm not blaming LeBron. For all the haters on LeBron, you look silly.

You're embarrassing yourselves again. I mean, yesterday had 17 assists. A double in a must-win game. I watched the first half, and I was like, oh, yeah. Well, first of all, they're better than the Pelicans. And they should beat the Pelicans again. I mean, it's just, I mean, LeBron against Zion, not a fair fight.

Like, the Lakers are better. But now you go and do, we've got to beat really good teams that are younger, deeper, quicker, better shooters four times in 12 days. It's a whole different proposition. O'KC Thunder, youngest number one seat ever. I admit it.

They'll have their moment in maybe the opening. Green Bay was the youngest playoff team since the 70 Bills went to Dallas. How'd that work out? I know this is the year of the chalk, right? Kansas City Chiefs. UConn's basketball, South Carolina undefeated, and everybody thinks it's going to be Denver.

I'm not picking the Nuggets to come out of the West. I think it's a massive overreaction. This team went from being the Hunter. Now they're the hunted. And if you think LeBron and AD don't remember last year getting swept, I think I would not be shocked if this series went seven, Lakers Nuggets opening up. 7 p.m. or seven games?

I would not be shocked if the Nuggets lost in the Lakers. I'm just telling you the Nuggets are vulnerable. this season. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the IHeart Radio app. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games.

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

A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clipper Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined.

And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told,

and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. 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 blow your mind on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. Being the biggest city in America, New York Sports mostly stinks and mostly has for a decade. All that capital, all that fame, historic venues, awful, across the board bad. But there is one star in basketball, Jalen Brunson, and he has earned it and he's getting better and he's had an unbelievable April. And it's not in the NBA just about getting a star as the Knicks get ready for the playoffs. It's about getting the right star. For years, and I was right, Carmelo Anthony wasn't the right star. He wasn't committed to defense, being in great shape, or strangely, the three-party.

point shot. Take a step back, please. He wouldn't. Stefan Marbury, Starberry, more interested than being a star than a winning player. Amari Stodemeyer, not his fault, came in broken down, made one all-star team. Jalen Brown is a star. He's ascending. He's the right kind of star because it's off his game, not due to a cool nickname or a fancy shoe. It's based on production, which just keeps getting better. If you look at New York Sports, stars like real stars brunson now's a real star eli manning aaron judge derrick jeter they didn't come to the town as pampered rich stars with a nickname and a bag they grew within the city and jalen was cast off by the mabs and has slowly when randall got hurt this year julius randall and they didn't have to

give him touches to appeal to him he's completely taken over 30 plus per night assists defense. There's two things true about New York sports stars like the Jeter's and the Eli's and the Aaron Judge and Jalen Brunson. Again, they don't come in with massive expectations. I mean, Jeter did, but he was a minor league player. They grow with the city. And the second thing is they don't seem desperate to be a star. They seem desperate to win and be productive. And that's what I love about Jalen Brunson. He's like a working man. star. He lets it come to him. He's not out there trying to do it on social media networks. Stars that come to New York as stars. For some reason, the miss rates about 80%. Now, that's more the L.A. model,

and I'm not sure why it works more in L.A. It work with Mookiee. It's work with LeBron. It work with Matt Stafford. I don't know why it works in L.A. and does not seem to work a lot in New York. Maybe there's this intensity and pressure and the media and the microscope is greater in New York. But Jalen Brunson's not just a star as the Knicks get ready for the playoffs. He's the right kind of star. He can handle the pressure, years in college, second round guy, into production, loves leading, constantly doubted by outsiders, and maybe that's what you need. Here's Tom Thibodeau on Jalen.

As soon as we signed Jalen, it was immediately into the gym. And like, you can come in any day in the summer. and he's in at the same time and he's, you know, full speed, great concentration, and there's no, you know, you know, fakeagram or Instagram, whatever they call it.

Fakeagram or Instagram. I just love Jalen Brunson. I got lucky enough to watch him live a couple of weeks ago. He's better and quicker in person that he is on TV, and he is eating it up on TV as well. Jay Mack with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news.

This is the Herd Line News. It's so funny to watch people just get in arguments about the Mello versus Brunson thing that we've talked about. Mello was not a winning player. The fans loved him because he was cool and could score. People loved Jail and Brunzzo because of his heart and he's undersized and just a bulldog. And by the way, when you can't commit, that's the difference between LeBron and a Mello. LeBron's committed to everything. Move back.

LeBron's not even known as a great shooter. He committed to the three-point shot about his same. third to fourth year in the league. Mello would never just take a step back analytically for the team and the three. He always wanted to be comfortable. He didn't want to get in great shape. He didn't want to commit the defense. LeBron committed to everything. Brunson commits to everything. Steph, though not a great defender, has committed to everything. Cardio, weight room, scoring, leadership, dealing with the media. And it's just Jalen Brunce, it's not, I think New New York's so desperate for a star, they want to make people who aren't star stars. I mean, Aaron,

Rogers may be a star in name, but over the last two years, not in game. Brunson's a star. Brunson's an absolute star. And part of what makes great stars like a Brady is you're, even though you're a star, you're sort of doubted. And like Jalen Brunson, he's never going to forget Villanova. Yeah. Big dogs avoided him. Dallas moved off him. That is jet fuel for so many of our stars, that constant chirping of, you didn't believe in me. He's the mid-range version of Steph Curry, basically what he is. size, people doubted him. Now, Steph Curry was a top 10. But completely takes over games.

Now, if he beats the Sixers, I'm just, I will be insufferable on the show because I have been not anti-M-B, but against the Sixers. If he beats them without Randall, Colin, and assuming the Sixers get by the Heat. First of all. Joel Embed's going to be like, get me to New York. I want to play with Brunson. I'm done. Well, first of all, if you're a star, you should want to

play with Brunson because he does it the right way. I had a GM told me that 25, 30 years ago. He goes, it's not just about getting a star. Because the locker room is so small, you have so much influence as a star in the NBA. In baseball, if you're a great player, you could be down on the bullpen. Football, you're an offensive guy. You don't hang with defensive guys. But in the NBA is about eight guys that play, maybe seven in the playoffs, that really, really play. If you're great and you're a hard worker, a Duncan, a Kobe, and MJ LeBron, you have massive

influence. And sometimes because of the league, cultural influence as well in what matters, what doesn't. Brunson's perfect. All right, let's get to the NFL and Joe Burrow and the Bengals. They three and one, Burrow is against Mahomes in his career, which is nice. So Burrow appeared on the New Heights podcast during a live tour appearance in Cincinnati and said he believes the Bengals not only match up well with the Chiefs, but they are built to beat Kansas City. I don't think this is the hottest take in the world, Colin. No, they've had great success against them.

Yeah, they just got to keep Glass Joe healthy. I don't know if they're built to beat them, but Burrow is great. And the way you can't get into track meets with Kansas City, what you have to do is is do what Kansas City now does. Death by a thousand cuts, six-yard completion, eight-yard completion, utter efficiency, no turnovers, and so that's what Burroughs. Yeah, I mean, I don't know if they're better to beat them

than, say, the Jets next year with the Jets' great defense, but the Bengals certainly will be up there looking to dethrone. Patrick Mahomes. Next up, big news in Philadelphia, NFL news, that is. According to Ian Rappaport of NFL Network, the Eagles have exercised Devontas Smith's fifth-year option. He got a new three-year-season. $75 million extension.

He will be in Philly through 2008. 51 million guaranteed. That's a lot for a number two receiver. I know AJ Brown. Listen, AJ Brown's their number one. Okay. Okay, but let's be honest here.

Devante Smith, there's no drama. There's no scrubbing Instagram. A.J. Brown, two years. There's been dissatisfaction. We called it out two years ago. Fanboy in Philly didn't want to hear it. We were right. Devante Smith, this is a sign.

to AJ Brown who appears to on occasion be unhappy. This is a signal. Are you in or you not? You're going to complain on Instagram or not? Devante doesn't. We're going to pay the guy that doesn't. So you can send all your signals on social media. The Eagles are sending a signal here.

Are you in or not? You want to whine about it publicly? You want to complain at a press conference? That's fine. We're going to pay the other guy. So to me, AJ Brown, say what you want. But this was Philadelphia. sending a message, signing him right now. This is our guy going forward because he's one of us.

He's all in. He's an eagle. Good or bad. And that has value. Let's be real. Eagles offseason has been good at the skill positions. They're good at tight end. They're good at receiver. They're not good at running back. They're good a quarterback. They're spending money on the right side. The problem is, and you and I value this more than the average football fan is the offensive line. And that Kelsey loss is probably bigger than any game they've had come. They're good at tight end. Or they're good at tackle. So their tackles are fine.

You can be okay at center. You can't be okay at tackle. Wait a minute. Okay isn't going to cut it for the brotherly shove. Is that coming out of the playbook now? Let's get that thing out of here. Let's get that thing out of here. That's fine, but that was an automatic first down.

They would script their third down place to set up fourth and short so they could easily get it. We're out of that space. It's just like you did things at 24, you don't do at 34. Brotherly Shub was adorable, but now I've paid Jalen Hertz a fortune. I'm not interested in him being at the bottom of a pile. It worked. It was terrific. But it's like Aaron Rogers doesn't run around anymore, does he?

Like it's sometimes for young quarterback, when Justin Herbert would run down the sideline and give a linebacker her shoulder, Harbaugh's going to say, you know what? We don't do that anymore. That's young Justin. I want long career, Justin. Wasn't there a team last year that tried that and their quarterback got hurt? Yeah. I forgot which team it was.

I think that happened. It's dangerous, but it's also, I think it was like 97% effective or something crazy. But it's not going to be effective without Kelsey, not to that level. So now I get the injury potential, plus it's not as effective. Like, no thank you. Yeah. New York Giants, that was the team. All right, let's wrap up with the NBA.

The Lakers have the eighth spot in the West after an epic beatdown of the Pelicans. They were great in the first half. Let's be real. They've dominated the Pelicans. Well, they're a better team than the Pelicans. They have better players. We're talking all three wins by double digits. Now, the only concern is you see here on the video, Anthony Davis kind of back tweaked midway through the fourth kid return because they were up by a billy. To his credit, he's played hurt more this year. He played 75 games for the first time in his career.

And he said he will be available. Anthony Davis deserves credit. He's been hurt this year. Occasionally, he's played through almost all of them. In fact, I think the last time he missed a game that I remember, he played 52 minutes the previous night. Remember that night? LeBron wasn't around. That's right. He was dumb. He had one of the best games. Overtime game.

He was insane. He took the next night off. That I will absolutely grant you. But he's going to play, and he's played hurt, banged up a lot of the year. So I guess here's my question about this Pelicans game. Colin, I saw the line yesterday. You know, you start to look at NBA playoff lines. This opened Pelicans favor by one.

And I'm like, no. Is this like tough to beat it? team twice in a week? It's just a bad matchup for the Pell. So I bet Lakers, instantly the Lakers are now favored by one. Listen, NBA, it's not a huge swing. But I would say the Lakers are a very good matchup against this team. There are a matchup advantage.

Indiana is going to match up very well with Milwaukee. The Lakers match up very well with New Orleans. I'm going to ask this once. I'm sure people are not going to want me to ask it, but I'm doing it anyway. Do the Lakers consider let's rest LeBron and AD. We don't care about this game.

We will play for the eighth seed we'll beat the Kings or the Warriors. Kings are beat up Nomalink Monk. And then we'll play OKC in the first round instead of Denver. Do they even consider this? I think absolutely you consider it. Denver or OKC? It's not even close.

So I did a rant on this on my podcast. People started crushing me for it. Jason, you can't risk facing the kings or warriors and then lose that game and not make the playoffs. Yes, you can't. Because you're out of the playoffs if you play Denver. You match up. very well with OKC, and you've beaten them this year, I think, more than once.

Okay, see, their average age is like 23 years old. Yeah, they're like Carolina Tar Heels. End of the Ben, Gordon Hayward and End of the Benchard. There's absolutely. First of all, you have to be strategic when you have an older star or an older team. So we're aligned on this. Okay. Yeah, I would have no problem resting LeBron and AD. And if we beat him fine, we get blown out, and then we go toe to toe.

At home. strength. Absolutely. By the way, the advantage of playing the Warriors again is they housed you in your building a week and a half ago, you'll remember it. That was no AD. So I have no problem. So is this a tough sell, though? Is this a tough sell to the Lakers locker room and the fans? Hey, guys, we're punting on this playing games. So we play. Well, I don't think you announce you're punting. I think some things you can do, you don't have to announce you're doing it. If you do not play AD and LeBron in the game, you're sending a message. Reserves, this one's on you.

By the way, LeBron and AD didn't play against the Celtics this year in Boston and won. Sometimes teams, well, sometimes, you know, D.L.O. was going to get his touches. Austin Reeves going to get more touches. Rui's going to get more touches. So it's weird in the NBA when you don't play stars. Backup guys wanting to show the coaching staff. Gabe Vincent. Gave me more touches.

So I don't think it's a bad idea at all. But for the record, if they do this and they lose that plan, playing in game. Darvahenham can just, you know, it's over. You're not coming back. I think what you sit your guys. If you're Darvinham, you and Rob Polinka make this decision. You go to your Gen. M. and just say, I think our backups are more than, or you go into LeBron and say, I'm playing you 20 minutes. That is it. Do the best you can. That is it. I think you have to consider it. You know, fans are weird. I can remember when the Colts were losing games and didn't play Peyton Manning to get Andrew luck.

It was called Suck for Luck. And people would be like, I would never do that. Oh, you're dumb. Because sports is strategy and you do things all the time to give your organization advantages in more important games. Nobody would argue that not all 82 regular season games are equal. Right. The NBA really wants stars to play on those Saturday night national TV games.

Is every Caitlin Clark game equal? or did March Madness mean more than the games in November? Of course, yeah. You know, in the NFL now, if they go to 18 games, you can start one in three in September. Remember, Belichick would regularly punt on September, use it as like an incubation period to figure out what's going on with his team. Well, they say week one of the NFL season now is essentially your final preseason game,

because it's really the first game in which your starters are playing significant snaps. I am very curious what Lakers fans think about this. I'm sure the rest of the country is just like that's insanity. Works is all about strategy. When you go to a baseball series, at the end of a season, a regular season, and you manipulate your starting staff so you can set up your playoff rotation. That's a little different because, again, if they, so LeBron and AD they are sitting and they lose, and then they lose to the Kings or Warriors, no playoffs.

Well, it wasn't meant to beat. If you can't meet the Warriors at home after they gassed you, I mean, they beat you badly. That was an embarrassing loss. Well, then you're not going anywhere anyway. By the way, do you think Warriors beat Kings? Yes. Yeah. I do. I haven't been on the light the beam thing. Well, I'm the pushback guy on Sacramento.

Number Kings went to seven last year. Curry dropped 50, but I saw a stat. There are three games this year, all determined by one point. So it is, that's kind of a coin toss. And then Lakers, LeBron, Steph Curry, you know the league would love that matchup as a play in. Well, the league needs to get used to OKC, Minnesota, and Denver. No, they don't. They don't necessarily need to, Colin. If I had one wish in the NBA, my one wish in the NBA, it would be that Jalen Brunson gets a star. I mean, seriously, I don't care, but to Janice,

Carl Anthony Towns, like on B-plus, but he's a, to me, the league is better, and we haven't seen this in forever, the league is better when we haven't. L.A. is won a bunch of titles. Boston's been really good. When's the last time the Knicks were the centerpiece of the league? If you got Jalen Brunson, a legitimate star, by the way, Paul George.

I mean, if they go down, if the clippers go down in flames. They will. Mavs are winning that series. I agree with you. But you said, league needs to get used to the Timberwolves. Are you sure they're beating the Suns in the first round? A lot of people don't think so. I'm on the Suns. I've already bet it. Bad matchup.

Timberwolves have been destroyed by the Suns. And again, regular season is different. I watch Minnesota play enough this year. I feel like I know what I'm getting. When I watch the Suns play, depends on the night. Nobody mails in nights like Phoenix And then nobody rises two nights later Like Phoenix

By the way, do you see Bradley Beale's numbers The last like two weeks? He's starting to percolate. It's Phoenix is dangerous. All right. That's a good series. That's a really good series. You may have to take a night off the old...

Sauce? No. Your little junior league to go watch these games. No, the league hasn't started. It's not junior at all. J-Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping back.

The Herd Lye News. Boy, that UFC was fun. That was crazy. I've gone to four UFC cards in the last 10, 11 months. All have been great. And that Holloway fight, oh, man, was that nuts? Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Two NBA insiders podcasting twice a week to plug you right into the NBA great fight.

All happening. in only one place. This League Uncut. The new NBA podcast with me, Chris Haines. And me, Mark Stein. Join us as we team up to expound on everything we're covering, hearing, and chasing. Listen to This League Uncut with Chris Haines and Mark Stein. 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. say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits. 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 fans.

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 Bo Your Mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. There is a report out there that the new English. England Patriots with the third pick are hosting J.J. McCarthy and are very interested. And I feel this about pro sports.

And I know everybody always says, well, I make a lot of money. Well, there's a lot of money in a lot of professions. But usually in every other profession, mine included, probably yours, we can choose where we want to go. You do PR, you do HR, you're a sportscaster. you can choose what coast you want to live on, what area, what the weather is like. Now, some of those jobs pay well, but a pro athlete, the better you are, generally the worst team you go to. And J.J. McCarthy is a prime example of where you land matters, especially at quarterback. So if New England takes him at three, instead of Minnesota moving up, you tell me,

How many players for the Patriots offensively even start for the Vikings? Vikings have the better running back, the better tight end, better top two receivers, better left tackle, and an offensive coach, and a weaker conference. The best receiver, in my opinion, New England has. K.J. Osborne, they just got from the Vikings because he really couldn't get the looks because they're too good at receiver. He was their number three. So Minnesota gets to play indoors.

J.J. McCarthy could play indoors, New England outdoors. He would play in an offensive conference and an offensive division against few great defensive players. You go to New England? Got more defensive players. The Jets defense, the Bill's defense. Now the Patriots have a defensive coach. Their better players are on defense. So you got to play indoors, offensive coach, weaker conference, an offensive division, great weapons. So if I was JJ McCarthy's parents, I probably wouldn't say it publicly, but I've never wanted my son to drop more in the draft.

And this is the reality. It's different if you're an edge rusher. Max Crosby plays for the Raiders. He got paid. He's going to eat. He's Max Crosby. T.J. Watt. Mike Tomlin's defensive nature doesn't help or hurt.

He's going to get paid. He's great. It's different with quarterback. You don't get second chances. You get judged very quickly as a quarterback. Prime example, Justin Fields just went for a sixth round pick. He's now a backup. Mac Jones, Pro Bowl, he is now a backup.

It's over. They are not viewed the same way. A running back who got a lot of yards in lost games could be viewed as a value proposition on the market. He didn't have the right old line. People can't unsee things at quarterback. Justin Fields and Mac Jones, it's over. They're not viewed the same. They're not getting the bag.

Just not the way it is. And so J.J. McCarthy, and by the way, both Justin Fields and Mac Jones went to a defensive coach, played outdoors in cold weather, did not have very good weapons. Well, that's what J.J. McCarthy would be going to. And he's not transcendent enough, gifted enough, skilled enough, great enough to overcome a lousy rock. planet Michigan is like being a deckhand on a yacht being quarterback for this Patriot roster is like being the captain of a sinking ship in a nor'easter it's a totally different responsibility in Minnesota he gets to sit he can sit behind Sam Arnold again that division Packers are all about offense lions are all about offense bears very soon are going to be all about offense so it is J.J. McCarthy is a fascinating prospect Who, if he goes to Minnesota and they move up to four, five, six to get him, I think he's going to be successful. It's going to be like Harbon, Michigan.

That's going to work. If he doesn't, New England, forget about it. Forget about it. And you don't get second chances. Justin Fields, Mack Jones now are seen as backups. It's amazing how it works. Edge rusher, wide receiver. It doesn't matter how many games you win.

It doesn't matter what your record is. People can unsee things. At every other position, coaches talk about he needs the right fit. He needs the right coach. A quarterback, Justin Fields now, six-round pick, that's it. Mack Jones, Mac Jones, done. Jacksonville, back up, never going to play. All right, so this is something Jay Mack and I have been on.

Colin right, calling wrong top of next hour. A lot of rumors around the Dolphins that Tua is not going to get the bag. He's not getting the borough contract, and he's not getting the Herbert contract. Now, first of all, I think Tua, like Ryan Tannahill, a former dolphin quarterback, has good self-awareness. He knows that his first coach didn't like him. He knows that he's not going to throw the ball terribly well, downfield in bad weather. Tua's got self-awareness. And this whole give him the bag stuff is moronic.

There's about six quarterbacks in the planet. I'm going to give the bag to. It's not DAC. Sorry, it's not. Is Jordan Love, if he has a good set, September. All right. We'll talk about it. Herbert, yeah. Burrow. Yeah. Alan. Lamar. Mahomes. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But you can win with Tua. He's coachable. He's an adult, good at the podium, smart, effective, accurate. But you've got to contextualize like you did with Tannahill. You got to contextualize Tua.

He has a losing record on the road. He is good at home, warm weather. against pretty good to average teams. He has a losing record on the road and against winning teams. That's who he is. And right now he's got the perfect coach, the perfect wide receiver, a great number two. And he has value. Two has got value. Adult, like Dak.

He's a grown up. He's an adult. He's effective. You win games, mostly at home against average teams. But that's okay. You're just trying to avoid chaos in the NFL. That's okay. I'd pay to a something, but the rumors are out. Now, I will also say this.

Bow Nix and Michael Pennix, if you notice this, Oregon, Washington quarterbacks were not invited to the draft. They're only inviting now about 15 players to the draft, and the NFL is guessing with their network of sourcing, Bo Nix and Michael Pennix will not be top 15 picks. Raiders and Denver are in the top 15. So what does that tell you? Keep your eye in Dallas. Keep your eye in Miami. Good teams with good quarterbacks.

Both want to be paid. Neither, in my opinion, is worth the bag. So there you go, Jay Mack. You've been on it. It is very clear when stories get out, somebody wants them out, and maybe the dolphins will. want Tua to know, we like you, we don't love you, and we are looking in this draft,

which I think Dallas should do as well to draft the next quarterback. I'm with you on the Tua issue in Miami. I think Pennick makes a lot of sense. I just, I think Dallas is closer than you think to coming out of the NSC. And if you do, if you draft a quarterback for Dax replacement, again, Cooper Rush. Okay, I'll give you an example. Cooper Rush, not bad. Use this as sort of your barometer and if it's true.

Take one player off the Chiefs. I can't count the quarterback. Tyreek Hill left didn't matter. They've lost corners, safeties. Doesn't matter. If you just took CD Lamb injury off the Cowboys, that's an anemic offense. So I say, it's San Francisco.

They lost Hufunga. You could lose Kittle. You could lose Debo. You don't win games. Detroit could lose Amarong St. Brown. With that O line and that run game, they would still win games. Green Bay has like six receivers I like. They could lose Christian Watson.

Green Bay would still win games. You could lose Jordan Addison or the running back Jones for Minnesota. That's still a good roster. Dallas is wildly, and this is a little bit what's happening to Buffalo, where you kind of feel like it's, if Kincaid that new tight end goes down, Stefan's gone. Who are you throwing? to. Like, by the way, Jamar Chase left. T. Higgins stepped up. So Cincinnati is not dependent on

Jamar Chase. Now, everybody's dependent on their quarterback's health. But I think Baltimore for the first time ever with Lamar Jackson is not overly reliant on a running back. They now have a star young receiver, a star tied end, a star left tackle, a star quarterback, and now a star running back. So take the best player off a team. If you do and you don't, think they're viable, that's not a Super Bowl team, because 50 plus quarterbacks play. Receivers get hurt. Backs get hurt. Tight ends get hurt.

That's why when Philadelphia gets A.J. Brown, Devante Smith, Seekwan Barclay, now you look at Philadelphia and I'm like, God, if Barclay went down, they're still viable. You can still win games with this team. All right. That's fair. I mean, Dallas is like an injury to C.D. Lam or Micah. They're not the same football team. Probably.

Can I go back to something you said on the NFL draft? we forgot that what's his name got drafted second overall to the Niners a couple years ago. They traded up for him. Who's the quarterback? Trey Lance. Trey Lance was second to an offensive coach became nothing out of. Forget about it. He's a forgotten.

Who's going to be that guy in this draft at the top four? Third overall, sorry. Trey Lance went third. One of those four guys at the top is going to be a massive bust. Who is it? Who have a coach to the Patriots? If Drake May goes to the wrong fit. First of all, I'll switch it.

Whoever goes to New England is a bust. Whoever goes to the Patriots. It doesn't matter who it is. Whoever goes to New England, you cannot overcome that. There's no way. Defensive coach, bad roster, that's a bust. 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, S&L's Mikey Day and headwriter, 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. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 Bo Your Mind on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.