The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 1 - The Chargers clean house

Episode Date: December 15, 2023

BREAKING NEWS - The Chargers have fired head coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco after an embarrassing loss to the Raiders Colin discusses the Chargers waiting too long to move on from StaleySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Look Back at it podcast. For 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it.

With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to 3 Eastern 9 a.m. to noon Pacific.

Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day in the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. We're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Oh, here we go. It is a Friday. We got a lot to talk about live in Los Angeles. It's the herd, wherever you may be, and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. One hour from now, I love my picks. Three winning weeks in a row. Focus, laser focus on our blazing five picks. Good, good week for numbers. Jemak, sometimes you can't, when you make. a mistake like the Chargers. Don't double down. Don't stubborn. Move off it. They decided to give Brandon Staley another year. And, you know, when somebody's not right for a job, it gets worse over time. And that franchise last night, this is rock bottom. The players quit on the coach. It was ugly. Yeah, it feels like right now Brandon Staley is probably walking back from Vegas to L.A. There's no way you let him on the team play after that let down. Come on.

It was. Really, really ugly. So Sean Payton, was available and really, really interested. He told me that. Brian Dable was available and really interested. He didn't tell me that, but somebody in the organization did. And the Chargers instead went with a least experienced option on the market, the cheapest option on the market, and you get what you pay for. And then they stubbornly doubled down this year and kept him,

and we knew we wasn't the guy. And for all those wondering, if the issue is Justin Herbert, I give you last night, finally a game without him. It's a shell of a franchise. No culture, no vibe, no toughness that does nothing well. The longer Staley's been there, like a bad CEO, the less they do well. And I've got to tell you, I've been banging this drum for two to three years, and I know you're tired of it.

I do not understand NFL owners and GMs that don't see the obvious truth. The most important thing is to get the quarterback. Chargers got one. Then go give him an offensive coach to get him through the little turbulence and just stack the weapons. Kansas City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Miami, Jags. It's not that hard. It's what you do. The Chargers only have one and a half legitimate,

weapons probably shouldn't have given injury prone Mike Williams an extension. Austin Echler, half a weapon now. Keenan Allen's great. One and a half weapons and a defensive coach. What are we doing here? Look around the league. Look what's working. Eleven of the 14 playoff teams today have offensive coaches.

Last night is what we're seeing in the NFL. Pittsburgh, New England, Seattle, Chargers. You got to use a backup? man overboard. Embarrassing to the owners and the franchise. Now, Baltimore's got a special team slash defensive guy in Harbaugh, but they do it right for Lamar. They keep adding weapons. They completely support him. They go get another running back, another wide receiver. They change offensive coordinators. Justin Herbert was just step one, and you deserve credit for getting that right. But what this franchise needs now after Herbert is a

culture creator because you clearly don't have one and can't create one. Mike McCoy couldn't create it. Anthony Lynn couldn't create it. Norv Turner couldn't create it. Brandon Staley can't create it. I mean, there's a term out there called chargering. That is a term, chargering. That's making fun of your culture.

You know who's not going to change a culture? A guy you hired with four years total pro experience, one as a coordinator. That was your choice. If you're going to make a choice on young and cheap, go offense. Help your quarterback. Don't go defense. Stop spending money on defense. You don't need another rush end.

You don't need another corner. Go get one in the sixth round. That's what the chiefs do. This football team quit. I would go get Jim Harbaugh. Open up the wallet and get a big boy coach. This team quit on Brandon Staley. Jim Harbaugh's teams can be flawed.

they never quit. Never. Jim Harbaugh's teams get better over time. The Niners did. Stanford did. Michigan did. Staley's team got worse over time. Go hire the opposite of him.

A big, strong, forceful, offensive coach, head coaching experience, won on so many levels. Harbaugh's the opposite of Brandon Staley. He's an alpha. He's offensive. He played the game. He's got experience. He's a culture creator.

That's the opposite of Brandon Staley, and that's what you need. And for God's sakes, can you respect the head coaching profession? What are you doing hiring a kid with one year of coordinator experience? What are we doing here? Respect the profession. If you've got to go defense, go to Dan Quinn. Again, elite multiple year coordinator. Good head coach to the Super Bowl.

got fired, but I got years. He's got Alpha. He's got tough. What are the Chargers? So they don't have a culture. Charger rings a term. Go hire a culture creator. I'd prefer offense. I'd take Dan Quinn, but I'd prefer offense. So you got the quarterback right. You already blew the window for a Super Bowl. The chargers, I'm told, within the last two minutes have fired Brandon Staley and their GM, my friend Tom Telesco. They fired them both. I feel bad, but they're spending the money on the wrong side. They don't have enough weapons.

They don't have a culture. What are we doing? Respect the sport. Respect the culture. Respect head coaching. This was an egregious hire. And then you double down on it. So it's official the chargers have fired Staley and their GM.

I think they actually have fired. good players. I would have kept the GM. I think they have good players. They made a mistake on a corner in free agency. Free agents hit about 35% of the time. They also got Khalil Mack. He's played pretty well. But you know, you have to get somebody who changes how we view the Chargers. Because I mean, when you talk about the Chargers, it's like a running joke in the league. This is not just, hey, we're going to solve it with another coach. The right coach. coach, support Herbert, get him more weapons. Watch Philadelphia.

In Philadelphia, by the way, may be struggling. It's not for lack of weapons. Kansas City has had great weapons. They pay their quarterback a fortune. So now they've got to find new weapons, but they keep adding them. It can be a seventh round running back. It can be Rishie Rice. They can go get Lederius Tony, and Tony can drive you crazy.

But it's weapons. And they have an offensive coach to figure it out. so it is official the chargers you know those stand-alone games they can be great to sell your franchise but when you get beat like last night everybody gets flushed out doesn't that very often where the story i'm talking about has breaking news while i'm talking about it and the team now has just confirmed the report that the chargers have fired their head coach and their general manager. So again, this is not a terrible job. You've got a quarterback, you've got the left tackle, you've got one good weapon, a running back you have to make a decision on, you've got a Bosa-Kaleel

Mack edge rushers, you have one corner I like, you've got to move off some of these older non-vital positions like Derwin James at safety. You may have to move off your center. You went and got from the Packers and spent a lot of money on, but he's banged up. But this is not, This is not Carolina Like with a crazy owner who'll just fire yet We wanted Brandon's daily fired last year Everybody in the world's like this isn't working It's getting worse

He's a defensive coach The defense is getting worse Like everybody wanted this thing last year So the Spanos family You could have criticisms and I have them And I know them But they gave him another year Like this is not Carolina bad

This feels to me me a little like New Orleans, where I've got a roster. I've got some things in place I like. I've got a quarterback, though Herbert's better than Derek Carr. I've got some weapons that are okay. I just don't have the right coach, and the coach, either Dennis Allen or Brandon Staley, is on the wrong side of the ball. But the Chargers currently have the fifth overall pick.

So that's another benefit. That's a huge benefit. They don't need a quarterback, and they don't need a left. tackle. And at the top of this draft are quarterbacks and left tackles. Herbert's not playing the rest of the year, so you may end up with a fourth pick. This is a really, really

uniquely good job. This is like, remember when the Packers moved off McCarthy and Matt Lefleur gets that job and you're like, all right, they're not winning now, but I've got Aaron Rogers. He's a little prickly, but I've got a running back I like. I've got a

couple of offensive linemen I like. This is potentially a really good job. Don't screw it up. The Chargers right now of the fifth pick, Herbert's not playing. They probably end up fourth or third. They do not need a quarterback and they do not need a left tackle. You could move this thing and get another one, another two, and this roster's not terrible. It's not as good as we think, but we've seen this before. Go look at Denver. We thought the Denver Bronco roster was really weak at the start of the I did, you did everybody did. You got the right coach, and now you look at the Chargers and you look at the Broncos now

and you go, oh, I like that safety. I like that corner. I like that linebacker. Oh, DJ Jones pretty good. You know, Cortland Sutton's always been excellent. Ooh, I like both their running backs. And their left tackle can play. You go to the Broncos.

Broncos had a similar situation. We thought the Broncos were a mess. Last year, beginning of this year, they got the coach right. Now I look at the Broncos, and they're not a great team. But I'm like, oh, I've got some pieces I like here. I watched Denver the last six weeks. I'm like, it's just not a rebuild. Denver's not a rebuild.

They'll probably move off Jerry Judy, but Mims can play. Cortland Sutton can play. I like their tight end. They like their back. I like their left tackle. Quarterback's good enough, head coach. So this is, to me, this feels very Denver. And you'll probably end up currently the fifth or the fourth pick.

Get the coach right. They sink everything together. Brian Dable is winning with Tommy DeVito. They're on a heater. They got the coach right. Saints have far more talent. Don't have the coach right. So this is not Carolina.

This is not one of the four or five really awful jobs. There's a lot. There's a lot of meat on this bone. There's a lot here. And now they finally made the decision they needed to make. All right. Also, yesterday, as the chargers were reeling, the Dodgers, were adding pieces. So Shohei Otani

had a press conference, which was something live on radio. I really into it. Kind of fascinated by it. I have a great parlay for you this weekend. Thanks to Drafking Sportsbook. New users. Use the code herd. H-E-R-D when you download the app. Here's my parlay

picks. People will sell their Packer stock because they lost to an average Giants team, but they're at home. I'll give up the 3.5. I think they beat the bucks handily. Browns minus 3.5 hosting the Bears. Chicago looked great, but Cleveland's defense at home will be a different matter entirely. Brown's by a touchdown. And the bills minus two at home? Yeah, I like all three favorites. I'll take

them over the Cowboys coming up a highly emotional thrashing of the Eagles. You want to take the Herd Parlay. Check out Draft King's Sportsbook. New users, Code is Herd. H-E-R-D when you download the app, it's easy, it's simple. Draft Kings. 21 plus in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction eligibility restrictions apply gambling problem call one 800 gambler in new y call 8778 hope and wire text hope in y 4667369 see show notes for full details 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 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.

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 that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered

conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

It is not a great year for candidates for coaches. So the Chargers have fired their GM and their head coach, Brandon Staley, a very inexperienced choice. one year as a coordinator, only four years of professional coaching was chosen over Sean Payton, who wanted the job and was interested, and Brian Dable, who wanted the job and was interested, I'm told. So Staley was the wrong fit. Then they doubled down. Dean Spanos just released this statement, the owner, saying, our fans have stood strong

through the ups and downs. They deserve more. Frankly, they've earned more last night. you all watch. This is me talking, not Dean Spanos, really a low point for a franchise that's had some really good teams. I grew up with Dan Fouts, Philip Rivers, Justin Herbert got to the playoffs. This is not a franchise that hasn't had success. They've had star quarterbacks. Fouts, Philip Rivers, Drew Brees, Justin Herbert, they get the quarterback right. This is not the Chicago Bears. They get the quarterback right. That's not, this is not Carolina. They've got weapons

and talent. And now they've got the number fifth pick and what they have as a quarterback and a left tackle. This draft is very good with both in the first round at the top. So they can trade down and get multiple picks. If they got lucky and moved up to four and got Marvin Harrison,

that would be where I would go. I don't think they'll get him. But they don't need a quarterback and they don't need a left tackle. And at the top of this draft, there's a lot of both. So they've got a really good situation. So here to me are the best candidates. my pyramid's a small one.

I would have Harbaught the very top of it, make him say no, and then Dan Quinn, I know I don't love defensive candidates, but he's been a head coach and been to the Super Bowl. If I had to take a coordinator, I would take the best one, in my opinion on the market, Ben Johnson from Detroit. Now, I would also give Brian Daibol and his agent a call and give up picks to get him. again, you have some options here.

This is not a talentless franchise. You got a weapon, a left tackle, an edge rusher, a quarterback, and some decent players. But remember, this is not a great candidate year. Harbaugh probably staying in college. And by firing Telesco, what it's telling you is they are willing to consider a coach that can have a personnel say. Belichick or Harbaugh would both want that. I'm not giving Belichick my personnel, but by letting go of a respected in the league GM, Tolesco, Tom knows what he's doing.

There's been a lot of hits, very few bust picks. He may have missed on free agency at Corner, but most of his draft picks work. Most of this team are draft picks. By doing this, it tells me, it signals to me, they are telling candidates you can have a little say in personnel as well. That would be Belichick. That would be Harbaugh. Dan Quinn, I wouldn't give personnel to. Ben Johnson I wouldn't give personnel to.

Harbaugh Belichick, you'd probably have to. Now, remember, also, it's not a great year for candidates, and there's other jobs that are very attractive. The Jets have Aaron Rogers and an elite defense. That may come open. I wouldn't fire Sala. They may. Never trust the Jets.

Buffalo. I doubt they fire Sean McDermott. But if you get Josh Allen and a decent roster, that's attractive. Washington's got new, very well. wealthy owners. That'll be out there. Buffalo has two of the top five picks and could get Caleb Williams. Bears, excuse me. The Bears. Two top five picks, Caleb Williams, that could be open. So there's not, it's not a year of great candidates, and there's a few jobs. Atlanta, by the way, I wouldn't fire Arthur Smith. I would not. But they've got a young receiver I like, a star back, a tight end, a decent O line, and a great defensive lineman.

So Atlanta could be open. Washington's going to be open. Vegas, I don't know if Antonio Pierce is getting it. They've got some nice offensive pieces. A left tackle, a star receiver, a star back. So I think you've got to go big, lean offense by firing the coach, Brandon Staley, and the GM. It sends a signal to me that they're willing to give a Belichick or a Harbaugh

some, some say in personnel. Harbaugh would demand it. Belichick, though he would demand it, maybe if Harbaugh is the leading candidate, you don't have to give Bill too much power like he has in New England. But interesting. All of it very interesting.

Chargers starting over. I'm telling you, they got the fifth pick. they don't need a quarterback or a left tackle, and this draft at the top is a left tackle quarterback draft. Of the top picks, it's usually, there's one defensive end people like, one. There's not an elite corner in the top ten picks like last year. It's not a big edge rusher a year. It is a quarterback receiver at the top and left tackle draft at the top. That's what it is.

So they've got a Keenan Allen. They could use another. They did a first round receiver last year. I wouldn't do that again unless it's Harrison. But this kind of works out for the Chargers here. Jay Mack with the news. No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news.

This is the Herdline News. You know, Colin, I just saw this is not good. I saw one of these salary cap guys. The Chargers have 58% of their salary cap next year, tied up in Khalil Mack, yeah, Bosa, Mike Williams, and Keenan Allen. I mean, those are four guys who are hurt a lot, who are aging. got to write some Stan Cronkey in the same facility, writes checks to get problems to go away.

You got to move off. I would move off Caliolmack. Mike Williams. I'd move off it. I would not pay Derwin James. I couldn't pay the running back. I would keep Keenan Allen and slowly over the next two years make him less crucial to the offense.

But I'm not giving up on Keenan Allen. Let's be real. This roster is not as good as we thought it was at the beginning of the season. But it does have some key things. Samuel at corner. Later left tackle, Herbert. Those are key positions. And Keenan Allen.

Now, he's aging, but the four positions that we think are crucial, they have. Bosa is struggling with health, but when he's healthy, he's very good. When he's healthy, yeah, yeah. All right, let's start with DEC Prescott. What a year he's having. One of the front runners for league MVP, along with Brock Purdy, even though they're only game managers, according to someone. Dac Prescott says he's not focused on the individual accolade.

He just wants to be the last team standing in February. This team, we're doing the right thing. We're winning games. First and foremost, I mean, as I've talked about, what I play for is at the end of the year, one of the last teams and being the last team standing. But obviously, if my names and those talks, then we're putting ourselves in the right spot. So for me, it's about continue to do whatever I can to put this team in the best position, get that guy the ball and just win games and the rest will take care of itself.

Can't wait. That's the late window on Fox. That's the game of the weekend, and I can't wait. Does this make the herd picks? This blazing five in 35 minutes, this is one of the picks. I love my picks this week. Had to be talked into one, but I love my picks. If you're on Dallas, we're going to have some problems. Next up, speaking of Dak, Cam Newton, hey, how about our friend? Cam Newton. Boy, he's got a lot of criticism for labeling Dak, Purdy, and Tua as game managers instead of game changers. Well, you know, Kim Newton, this is what he does now.

He's in the ecosystem. He had a very long rant about what a game manager is. Game manager is not a negative connotation. Kim, what do you mean by game manager? My definition of that managing player is a player who has the ability to make the right play at the right time protecting the football at all costs. Game changer and game manager is not something where I'm saying this person is, not physically capable of making some great plays.

There's really only three to potentially five game changers in the NFL right now. Aaron Rogers, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Joe Borough, Patrick Mahomes. For the record, for the record, you and I are in opposite sides. Nothing Cam Newton has said has bothered me. I think he makes a great point. Wait, Justin Herbert's not a game changer? Well, what? Well, okay, I'm not going to ding him for that.

he listed most of the guys that are. I absolutely agree with him. Jaylon Hurts, yeah. Well, again, Jaylon's not had a great year. Now that he's lost a top coordinator. He's the best quarterback on the field of the Super Bowl, Cam. Come on, we agree with that. Matt Ryan lost Kyle Shanahan.

You don't think the coordinator was a big part of Jalen Hurts success? I can give you about nine examples of coordinators elevating quarterbacks. Jared Goff got to a Super Bowl. Garoppel got to a Super Bowl. No, wait, sorry. Continue. So I don't have a problem with anything Cam's saying. Now, when you do a podcast and you're riffing, you're not going to be, I don't hold every

podcaster or broadcaster to every word they say. We do three hours of live. Cam's riffing. Micah Parsons has one. I mean, Draymond's got one. People have podcasts. What his basic premise is, there are game managers and game changers, and there's a lot of game managers in the NFL.

There's very few game changers. He's completely right. The only difference Cam and I, and now he clarified it today, the only thing I said yesterday, to be critical of Camas. A, he has a right to an opinion. He played the sport I didn't. Is that he made it sound like game manager is a stiff and game changers what we all want.

Yes, everybody wants a game changer. But game changers are at their best when 75 to 85% of the game they're managing it. When Josh Allen gets out of managing and goes wild, he's a problem. Mahomes every year goes off into the weeds for a game or two. And he's got to reel him back in. Lamar Jackson, when he is,

managing the game with occasional explosion plays is great. The only thing Cam missed on, he classified them as game manager's a stiff. And game changer is unbelievable. But a game changer is only a winning quarterback if they can manage their talents. Like Michael Jordan, Phil Jackson came in and said, you want to score 60 or 34 to win titles? Michael's intelligence to go fewer shots, better teammate, trust others. that was Michael managing his incredible talent. Cam did not manage his talent very well.

He has more than DAC, but he didn't always manage it well. But he was a game changer. There's a lot there. It almost feels pointless. Everybody thinks I'm a Cam Newton hater now because I criticized his opinion. But that's what we do. We give opinions, right? That's fine.

Who cares? And you're open to criticism. That's what Cam did. I think Cam's getting beat up too much for this. And I think he's overwhelming. And I was never a huge cam guy. I think he's overwhelmingly right. And we're punishing him because as a podcast,

he says something and he leans a little too heavy this way or that way. His entire premise is that there are two types of quarterback. And he's totally right. Okay, let me stop you, though. It's okay to have that opinion. What is it bolstered by? Where's the backup? You know, you go to court, you're arguing something.

You got to back it up with facts, numbers. He offers zero how you could put Jared Gough in the same bucket as Dack and Purdy this year. That's insanity. Jared Gough has been okay but a turnover machine. Dak and Purdy are the favorites to win the MVP. Most valuable player in the league. But again, you're living in the micro. His broader premise was that Gough, Purdy, to a DAC are more manager.

They are. His other premise, which he clarified today was, Lamar, Josh, Mahomes are in a different category. They are. So his premise is, basically, Dack is closer to Gough, Better than, but closer to Goff than Lamar Jackson's talent. Oh, I don't know. Josh Allen?

Talent, okay, that's it. In the offseason, the Baltimore Ravens did not want to pay Lamar Jackson. A lot of people, pundits, I don't know if you were in there, they were like, I don't know, what do you do with Lamar Jackson? He's always hurt. Wasn't that the argument? He's always hurt? Like, he doesn't win playoff games. I think bloggers created that narrative.

I think Baltimore always wanted to sign him. I don't think they, and they did. I don't buy, well, you know, people, they, they, they, the Ravens wanted to sign Lamar and they did. They would have been crazy not to sign Lamar Jackson. I agree. Lamar's very talented. But this idea that all of a sudden he's like tremendously a better quarterback. I'm not saying an athlete, but like. He is a better quarterback than all but about five people on the planet.

And even those five people, he can beat him head to head. I think Lamar Jackson's absolutely a game changer. Game changer. He is not a manager. But Lamar's at his best. When he is managing his talent, not getting hit, not being impulsive, using his talent. This game manager thing is just gets such a crap. That's the problem.

You know, do you want a game changer or game manager? I want both. I'm not picking a changer over a manager. Some guys fit right. Some guys don't. It's silly, but it's fun. And anyways, let's move on. The Eagles' two-game losing streak after starting 10 and 1.

A lot of people have questioned their Super Bowl aspirations. Nick Siriani, he's not concerned. We're not hitting a panic button as far as we got to do everything. We didn't play good and we didn't coach good the last two weeks. We didn't play good enough and we didn't coach good enough the last two weeks to win the games. And it wasn't up to our standard. So we're pissed and we're looking for ways to fix that. Wow.

Is it lined down to three? This was three and a half earlier. People doubting the Eagles, Colin. Where are you on that one? Well, when they like home teams that are desperate on Monday? Monday night football, be very, very careful. And also, of Philadelphia, there's no question. They are a fatigued team with a defense that has played heavy snaps three out of the last

four weeks. Now you're asking them the trail, travel all the way west. It's a big ask. Philadelphia is in a fatigued football club. And by the way, you hope when you're fatigued, you play Atlanta or Carolina or Washington. you'd rather not go on Monday night football, face Pete Carroll, and a young, Gino Smith's going to play, a young, healthy, dynamic athletic Seattle roster.

I think it's a tough spot for Philadelphia. Are you, you have any lean there? Yes, I do. Okay. You want to offer it up? Not yet. Half hour blazing five picks around the corner. J. Mack with the news.

Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Lie News. So it's, I can't believe I'm just sitting here defending Cam Newton, but I think he was right. I think he was right yesterday and he clarified it today. I think Cam's right. So yesterday in Los Angeles, Shohay Otani was introduced to the Los Angeles media. It just feels right and it looks right. But, you know, when you hire, whether it's a trade or it's a free agent acquisition, when you go into the big money acquisitions, there is a trend.

There's been a lot of hits and there's been a lot of misses. Now, you think to yourself, Oh, Tani is going to make it. He's going to be a big hit for sure. But remember, some of the misses, Xander Bogart's, did not work for San Diego. Anthony Rendon for the Angels was a great player. That was a miss. You go to the hits. What do you see with the hits? Let's see.

Cardinals, Dodgers, Rangers, Phillies. Really well-run organization, right? Four teams, the hits and the misses, the Padres, Detroit, the Mets, the Angels, the Angels, So the Mets, the Padres and the Angels, let's go buy talent. It's very hard to buy a pennant. It's very hard to buy wins. What you have to do is add a really talented piece to a great infrastructure. That's why the Dodgers, the Freddie Freeman move works.

The Mookie Betts move, works. Otani's going to work. And that's why the Mets moves do not, because they don't have the infrastructure. They don't have the inertia and the momentum of winning. Otani does not have to be the best Dodgers player. He will be, but he doesn't have to be, and there are nights he won't be. He is not the savior of a franchise. They made the playoffs again last year.

If you look at the big, either free agent moves or acquisitions, trades that work, it's generally more about the quality of the franchise than the quality of the player. the Dodgers are not asking him to save the day. They're going to surround him with talent. They made another move today to get a very interesting arm from Tampa Bay. They got to get some arms in there. They don't know what Kershaw, they've got a couple of good arms, young arms, and they've got a very robust farm system.

But when you go look at all these moves, we fall in love with all of them. We think they're all going to work. And what you find is they work with the Phillies and they work with the Dodgers and they work with the Braves, and they work with the Cardinals, and they work with the Astros or the Rangers. And they don't usually work with the Padres. And by the way, the Angels, the Padres, and the Mets try to buy wins. Those three franchises also have a little brother complex. The Padres have always looked up to the Dodgers.

The Angels have always looked up to the Dodgers, and the Mets have always looked up to the Yankees. So they get desperate, they reach, they just try to buy wins. It's very hard in baseball. It's never been about one or two players. It's never even been about just a staff or just a batting order or just an infield. It is a collective. And the Dodgers, they get these things right. And the Braves get them right.

And the Phillies get them right because they add a talented piece. They don't add a savior. They don't need him on every night to win the game or be the best player. So I think it's going to work. Los Angeles is crazy excited. And we can't wait to watch it. All right. 5 top of next hour.

Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. On Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeard Radio app. Pauly Fusco here with Tony Fusco. Yo, of course you know us as the host of the number one rated show in all the sports talk, the Pauley and Tony Fusco show. Yeah. Now, the suits at Fox Sports Radio gave us this air time

because they wanted us to tell you how great our show is. Why? Yeah. Instead of us doing that, let's just let our millions of fans do the talking. Yeah, play the tape. You don't know crap about sports. Why am I even own this crap? Whoa, whoa, whoa.

That's the wrong tape. Wrong tape. Just forget that. Look, listen to the Paul and Tony Fusco show on the IHart 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, 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. basketball to college football or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment. And the next, we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music.

The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with a little Kim?

Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so 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. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history.

Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Sunday, we got a huge double header on Fox. First Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. Stick on the page. or other regional action. Then in America's Game of the Week, Jack Prescott and the Cowboys, take on Josh Allen and the Bills.

Check for the games in your area Sunday on Fox. All right. Breaking news at the top of our show, the Chargers have cleaned house. Brandon Staley, who was over his head very clearly. Early in his coaching tenure has been fired. The roster's pretty good at key spots. quarterback left tackle, a star receiver, an edge rusher in one good corner.

Those are key spots. Tom Telesco built that, but he's been fired as well. The front office has. So the Spanos and the Spanos family is very present in that front office. My guess is Harbaugh and Belichick. They'll make a run at it. This looks so bad that they hired with Sean Payton available and Brian Dable available. and both have elevated quarterbacks significantly this year and previously,

and they passed on both and both were interested. They went with a young defensive coach who just by the end of it, without Justin Herbert holding up the organization, it's a shell of a franchise. Many of you have criticized Herbert for years. I kept saying he is overcoming a mess. First, it was Anthony Lynn, a nice guy and a decent coordinator. and coach.

I didn't think Anthony was over his head. I just didn't think he was a great coach. Herbert put up huge numbers, got him into the playoffs with Staley last year, but I felt, and we saw warning signs two years ago on some of his analytic nonsense, that he just didn't know what he was doing. He's a position coach, probably a good one, a capable coordinator, perhaps. But this defense, and he's a defensive guy, just kept getting worse and worse and worse. And I've said this.

You may not like Matt Eberfluse in Chicago, but the defense over the last month and a half has played very well. He's figured out his side of the football. In college, say what you want to met, Lincoln Riley. The offense has been great at USC. It was a mess when he got there. Do you at least get your side of the ball right? Belichick's not having a good year, but New England's defense is good, right? So that's the issue.

You got to get your side right. This defense is the worst outside of the commanders. It's the worst in the league. And it's an atrocious defense in key spots. Third and, you know, eight yards and up. It's a sieve. So the reality is they made the move. They should have made it last year.

The Spanos family, they're not Carolina. They're just not going to fire left and right. They go cheap on coaches. They should have had Peyton. They should have had dayball. Now they should have hardball. I think they'll probably call Belichick. wouldn't be my choice. Harbaugh number one. Dan Quinn's a defensive coach, but can build culture.

I would make him too. And then if I had to go a coordinator, I'd go Ben Johnson, the clever kid in Detroit. No head coaching experience. But if you're going to go with somebody that's never been a coach, go offense. 11 of 14 playoff teams now are offense. Mike McDaniel didn't have any experience. He's working. He's offense. Right? I can deal with that. And you got your quarterback. Don't go cheap for a third time on coach. You're just wasting years here. The other thing is, be very careful if you're a Raiders fan about anointing Antonio Pierce as the next coach. Don't use a big win over the Chargers as a litmus test for a coach.

Last week, the Raiders were shut out by Minnesota. I saw Jeff Saturday win a game as an interim and then almost beat Philadelphia the next week, 17 to 16. And they just then lost six, seven straight. Romeo Cronnell and Kansas City, interim coach, had a couple of games. Wow, look, this is interesting. It didn't work. Be very careful about interim coaches because they come in. Dan Campbell did this briefly in Miami.

They get everybody jacked up, and everybody, it's like the substitute teacher. Everybody loves the substitute teacher. And after about five days of watching movies, you're like, yeah, I never have any homework. I never get smarter. Interim coaches can be fools gold. I like Antonio. I know him. I think Josh McDaniel was so unpopular that Antonio is a former player.

The guys like him. And if you like your teacher, if you like your coach, if you like your boss, generally you'll work harder for him. Right. So the Raiders energy is fantastic. They were shut out last week, 3-0 by Minnesota. So let's not go crazy here. And do not use beating the chargers as a litmus test. He just replaced a very unpopular coach that none of the players liked, many resented.

But Devante Adams last week called the loss embarrassing, said the Raiders were embarrassing, so it's not perfect. Here he was after the win though last night. Stay with me on this one. Just stay with me on this one. Stay with me on this one. I'm proud of you. You guys have done it. It's coming tomorrow.

But let's do what we do. Let's do what we do. And it's like a slice of Raiders and have fun doing it and talk our shit. Let's get a break. Okay. They have beaten with Antonio Pierce, Easton Stick, Zach Wilson,

and Tommy DeVito. And could not score on the Vikings defense. Also, this is a division where you've got to play Andy Reed twice a year and Sean Payton twice a year. Two of the smartest offensive football coaches in the last 20 years on the planet. Just saying.

And the Chargers, my guess, are going to go with an offensive coach. So you'll be, you'll be the franchise in the division with a defensive coach. Go look at right now

the teams that are in last place in divisions. Let me name a few for you. New England, defensive coach, Tennessee defensive coach, Chargers defensive coach, Arizona defensive coach, Chicago defensive coach,

Washington defensive coach. All in last place. 11 of 14 playoff teams offensive coach the world's changed just be careful is all I'm saying know I'm like him

maybe works but it's Annie Reid twice a year as Sean Peyton twice a year that's a lot right that that's a big ask and my guess is Chargers going clever

clever guy and nobody now JMAX pushing back I thought you don't like coordinators what about Ben Johnson I'm not saying all, like, Demico Ryan's was considered a comet, a rising star as a coordinator. Player, they put him in the Niners building, and like two years in, they're like, oh, my God, defensive coordinator. So there are coordinators that you see as, you know, let's be honest, Shanahan is a coordinator, was a star coordinator.

Dan Quinn is a coordinator, is a star coordinator with head coach experience. Ben Johnson's thought of as hyper clever. Yeah, certainly. I'm going to give you a name in college. This is, I'm sure I'm going to get a lot of pushback. But it's creative. He's offensive. Great offensive pedigree.

And, you know, the charges are a little cheap. Let's say Harbaugh is too expensive. Do you put in a call to Ryan Day, who's a former quarterback, who's done some awesome creative things at Ohio State, who is a Chip Kelly guy? Remember he played under Chip Kelly? Is there any chance that the Chargers could have Ryan Day a call? Because he's been embattled a little bit. I'm sure he's sick of hearing like he's on the hot seat all the time, despite the wins.

So here is my, it's not a criticism, it's my reality of Ryan Day. Good coach. But Michigan and Ohio State, who has the current better culture? Michigan. Michigan has pushed Ohio State around for three years. The Chargers get pushed around a lot. Fair. Dan Quinn's defense does not get pushed around.

Harbaugh's teams do not get pushed around. The Lions lose. That offensive line pushes people around. podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

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

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

From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me. I'm Sam Jay. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year.

I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to Look Back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed human.