The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 1 - The Cowboys are sticking with Mike McCarthy

Episode Date: January 18, 2024

Mike McCarthy will return as head coach, Colin discovers Jerry Jones' soft spot and why this leads to the downfall of the Cowboys in the postseason Josh Allen is under the most pressure this weekendSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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It's been that kind of two, three-week tunnel for us, and we love it. It's the herd wherever you may be, however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day one hour from now. He breaks it down like nobody else. Bet football, fantasy football, want to get smarter. the playoff football Greg CoSell. J-Mack. I think I want our bet for a piece of pizza.

Mike McCarthy was not fired during our show two days ago. He's been retained. He's been retained. What do you want to do? Sparrow? What kind of with your pizza? Pizza Hut? Dominoes?

Blomajon. Let me take it under consideration. It is great to have you here. Listen, let's talk about Jerry Jones for a second. Mike McCarthy's going to keep his job. So Jerry Jones likes to feel necessary. He likes to feel needed. Bill Parcells didn't need him, and Jimmy Johnson didn't need him.

Their legacies are set. Jason Garrett, Mike McCarthy, they need him, and Jerry likes that. It's like Dak Prescott. Jerry's like, I found him in the fourth round. And all cowboy quarterbacks, Danny White, Roger Stoback at one time was the richest NFL player making his money out of football, Troy Aikman, Tony Romo, Dak Prescott, Cowboy quarterback, endorsements and wealth for life. And Jerry likes that.

He feels part of it. He feels necessary. All these NFL owners and billionaires, they all have tendencies, and Jerry likes to feel important. That's why he still does that silly weekly radio hit and post-game presser. I do think Jerry's getting in his own way. now. Now, I don't think you can just blame Mike McCarthy for all of this. Since McCarthy arrived with Dak Prescott, Dak rolls at home and against bad teams. He's 10 and 16 against playoff teams, Homer away. Great quarterbacks beat the good teams. But let's just

take the names out of it this morning. Let's not make it personal, right? Take the names out of the Cowboys. And what if I said, do they sound like a Super Bowl? winning team. Meddling owner who thinks he knows more about football than everybody else. Meddling owner B to B plus quarterback and a head coach that struggles

with clock management. So meddling owner B plus quarterback, head coach struggles late. Does that sound like a Super Bowl team? Take Baltimore. Non-meddling owner. Dynamic

superstar quarterback. And a coach from a legendary football family, John Harbaugh. That sounds like a Super Bowl team. Dallas, to me, lacks the elements needed to be taken seriously in December and January. And again, let's go back to when Dallas was winning Super Bowls.

Let's go to the terms again. Dynamic young owner. He was non-meddling. Remember Jimmy in the first three years, Jerry in the first three years, Jerry in the first three did not meddle. Jimmy Johnson has said it. Jimmy did the football.

Jerry did the business. So let's go back to when Dallas was winning. Let's go to their three elements. Dynamic, risk-taking, maverick owner. Hall of Fame coach, Hall of Fame quarterback. Jimmy Johnson, Troy Aikman. Oh, well, coincidence.

It was winning Super Bowls back then. So there's two things Jerry has done over the last 20th. years avoided disaster. They've only had four sub-500 seasons in 20 years, and three of those four is when Dr. Tony Romo got hurt. So they avoid disaster. And number two is they avoid Super Bowls. Meddling owner.

Average coach, average quarterback. So if you look at the favorites this weekend, Buffalo, non-meddling owner, superstar quarterback, no nonsense coach. San Francisco, great coach, great owner, loaded roster. Say it out loud the elements needed to be taken seriously in December and January. In the middle of this season, there was a game between Miami and Dallas, and I said before the game I loved Dallas, because I was buying into Dallas at that time, and I hadn't bought into Miami all year. All year long, I kept calling the Miami Dolphins, the fake Gucci,

bag, the spray tan, the sports car convertible, not built for January. Fake tan to the NFL. But I bought Dallas, and then they played. And you remember what I said after that game? That's the same team. Neither one is built for December and January. They both got a little fake in them. Baltimore may not win the Super Bowl.

No fake. San Francisco may not win. No fake. Green Bay, young, unproven, no fake. That wasn't a fraud win. fake win, inauthentic one against Dallas. But right now, they're the Miami Dolphins. That's what they are.

And if you don't take them really seriously, why would you take Dallas seriously? Don't need to make it personal, but there are elements to teams that take home the trophy. And when Dallas had those three, a dynamic non-meddling business first owner, Hall of Fame coach, Hall of Fame quarterback, they brought home trophies. Multiple. They even lost the coach for a year and had a non-elite coach. coach and won. Here was Mike McCarthy at his presser this morning. We have established a, you know, a championship program. It's just not the world championship yet.

We know how to win. We know how to train to win. We have the right people. But we have not cross the threshold winning playoff games. And it's extremely disappointing to be sitting here talking about it. But, you know, I know how to win. And we will get over that threshold. I have total confidence and that's why I'm staying here today. Mike's good with twisting words. Listen, we're a championship level, just not world championship. Would you win the city championship in Dallas?

I don't know what that means, but Mike can kind of twist it in his favor. He'll remain the coach. So a Diana Rusini, a very good reporter, comes on this show pretty regularly, said they don't have a decision yet in Philadelphia. Many people are saying Siriani's back. I trust Diana, she says, maybe, maybe not.

Siriani has to meet with the owner and tell him his plan. And the owner of Jeffrey Lurie, he's pretty savvy guy. He's heard a lot of plans on his life. So one of the things I learned this years ago from a news director I had years and years ago. Boy, I was in Vegas, like 40 years ago, 30 years ago. And he said, if you ever let anybody go in the news industry, what's their market? And if they don't get hired by anybody, you made the right decision.

If they get hired in a day like Andy Reid, maybe you made the wrong decision. And so what would the market be for Nick Seriani if he was on it to be a head coach? Not much of one. What would the market be for Philadelphia seeking head coaches? That's pretty good. Mike Vrable may want that job. So I would move off Nick Sariani. Here's the thing, though.

The Mike McCarthy discussion, at least is layered. It is. 12 wins, 12 wins, 12 wins. He lets go with the O.C. The offense actually does better, and the O.C. doesn't crush. It's a little nuanced with Mike, right? Like, he let go of his star O.C. The offense got better.

The O.C. didn't do well. Siriani's the opposite. O.C. leaves, flourishes. Siriani crashes. Now, this season didn't end well for Dallas, but, I mean, you can look at McCarthy and say, Well, the owner in Dallas thinks he's a GM. The quarterback's really highly compensated and he's okay.

But in Philadelphia, it's different. Owner, excellent, GM, beyond excellent, O-line, D-line combination, probably the best in the league. Quarterback, expensive, but in his prime. It kind of falls on Nick Seriani to me. Again, you don't have to love McCarthy, but it's a more layered, nuanced, conversation. He lost his star OC. They got better slightly. Nick Seriani lost his star OC and the roof

cave did. So he's going to try and sell his plan to the owner. But if you look at the last two years with Shane Steichen, now the Colts coach, and without him, it's not hard to figure out. It feels very much Brandon Staley, L.A. Chargers vibe, where a coach can't figure out his side of the ball and his side of the ball is the problem, not the other side of the ball. That's a problem. Fletcher Cox came out yesterday and said, he's a winner. Well, Philadelphia is not bad very often, so that's lip service. Players always love their coach.

To the very end, they defended Brandon Staley with the Chargers. But I will say there is good news for the Cowboys. if Sirianis retained, at least you got a better coach than Philly. Right? Silver lining to everything. I would move off this coach. J-Mack, there's also interesting stories from the Belichick camp. Oh.

Very, very interesting stories from the Belichick camp. This Atlanta-Belichick potential marriage continues to just. just shocked me. It just feels like, you know, you just, the hoodie, the holes in the sweatshirt, the cold weather, and not going into a dome. I am going to explain it to you. Okay. I need help on that one. I don't get it. Got a great parlay for you this weekend. Thanks to Drafking's sportsbook, new users, please use the code heard, H-E-R-D, when you download the app, which takes 90 seconds. So my parley pick of the week via Draft King Sportsbook, I'm going to take the Texans plus nine at the Ravens, a young Texans team playing with confidence.

I don't necessarily think a couple of weeks off helps the Ravens. I think Baltimore wins. I'll take the nine. I'm going to take the Lions minus six against the bucks. They're a better team. That Rams team they beat and controlled in the first half was arguably next to Baltimore, the hottest team in the league. Lions at home win by a touchdown. I'm going to take Bills minus three over the Chiefs. Kansas City this year is not Kansas City previous years, and I think Buffalo at home is going to score some points. If you want to take the herd parlay, check out Draft King's sportsbook. New users, please use the code Hurd when you download the app.

21 plus in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction. Eligibility restrictions apply. Gambling problem. Call 1-800 gambler. In New York. Call 8778-8 Hope-N-Wire or text Hope & Y 467-369. 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'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. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show.

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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 Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jek. And I'm Alex English.

Each episode, we picket 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. You are now entering their old bull zone, sponsored by credible great rates, none of the bull. So we got four games this weekend. I think the one that this league is defined by great quarterbacks, and it's

Bahamas against Josh Allen. I think the pressure this weekend more than any player is on Josh Allen. Any player, any owner, any coach, I think it's on Josh Allen. So just an interesting note to throw at you. Tom Brady's first Super Bowl, he was 24.

Eli's first, he was 26. Big Ben, 23. Aaron Rogers, 27. Russell Wilson's Super Bowl, 25. Joe Montana's first, Super Bowl win, 25. Farr, 27. Terry Bradshaw, 26. Troy Akeman, 26.

Peyton Manning, 24. A lot of the all-time greats were good enough to win, even when they weren't totally refined. Young, often cheaper, moved a little better. get older, you get slower, right? Get more expensive. Josh Allen's 27, so he's got some time. But he takes a lot of hits, and he's got a lot of carries.

You say, but he's big. Big, he's strong. Okay. Well, Big Ben is his physical comp. Big Ben won Super Bowls at 23 and 26. The last one he got to, he was 28. he could never get back he was a little slower, more expensive

and he couldn't get the right offensive coordinator after Bruce Ariens the coordinator thing is hurt Josh Allen hasn't it? Cam Newton another physical specimen in the Josh Allen Big Ben class Super Bowl age 26 made the playoffs once after that

he got older got more expensive a tad less mobile OC never really fit. This is a big one. You get Kansas City. Finally at home. The weakest version of Mahomes. Joe Burrow, injured. Mahomes weakened. You're at home. This is the time. I mean, we talked about the Cowboys. Dak Prescott, he's now less mobile and more expensive. To me, he's out of a Super Bowl window. You start looking at all these great. Someone

multiple Peyton Manning was 30 breeze 30 31 but it gets harder it gets harder you get slower especially Cam Ben Josh Allen lot of carries a lot of hits they all look like Superman all look bulletproof at 24 26 27 then at 29 30 31 also the OC for a quarterback with a unique style. Josh, they just fired another one. Right? They moved off

another offensive. They got a new coordinator. What is that his third? Cam Newton had one he loved. Never quite right, though, Big Ben, after Ariens. Unique players sometimes need unique coaches, and there's not that many Bruce Ariens

out there. J-Mack with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the Herd Line News. Let's start with Brock Purdy, my guy. Brock Purdy, such a big fan of his work this season. Last year they had the tough NFC championship game loss. He was injured early in the game.

Listen, he was nearly the MVP this year, despite your best effort to keep him out of the discussion. Following their first round by, Purdy is looking at the playoffs to a different lens. Oh, okay. I feel like it's a little different. Just last year, you know, still trying to find my way in a sense. You know, I got thrown in towards the end of the year.

And so every single week I was still trying to play good and learn, you know, who I was as a quarterback and obviously get more familiar with playing within the system. So those are all things that were sort of on my plate last year. And then obviously trying to win every single week and get this team to the end. And so now, I guess this year, just being more familiar with the offense, who I am and all that. So it's a little different. It's, you know, huge for me as a quarterback to, you know, go back to those moments and sort of remember what it feels like. Looked a little more professional. You've got the hat forwards, very proper, you know, the correct way to wear your hat,

that wasn't lost on you. You did look a little bit more like an NFL quarterback and not a guy you hired to move your couch. Just saying, I thought he looked like a professional. I like how you pivoted from cleaning the garage to moving a couch with the hat backwards. I just want to remind a lot of people seem to like the Packers this week, including a guy on the set who's sitting across from me. Remember last year, all the show. All the sharps run Seattle.

You've got to fade Brock Purdy. I just looked at the numbers. 505 yards of offense against Seattle last year. No, I'm not a sharp. 7.9 yards per play. I'll just say this. The reason I took the less talented Texans last weekend was simply I liked the quarterback. And if you look at last week, Baker was playing better than Jalen.

And Jordan was better than Dak. And C.J. was better than Flacco. I do not believe what Green Bay did that Dallas was a fluke. I think Jordan Love is playing at a completely elevated level. That's undeniable. I think his receiving targets, though young, potentially get overwhelmed this weekend. I think that's what you've said. I think that's very possible.

It's a whole different ballgame playing the Cowboys and a team that beat the Cowboys by 30. So I do wonder, you know, we've talked to players before. Like regular season, playoffs, wild card round, divisional round, every round is more intense. And I do think coming off a wildly emotional. Cowboy win feeling yourselves. I think it could go sideways for Green Bay, but I think that offense

is a handful in Greenbyte. Yeah, no, and the Niners secondary has had issues this season, but I'll just continue to point out, like, fourth road game in five weeks for the Packers. That's a real, that's a good point. You know, like you said, Jordan Love coming down off, though. Oh my gosh, he's a franchise guy.

Which quarterback is getting talked about more than anyone this week? It's not Lamar Jackson. It's not Brock Purdy. It's Jordan Love. He's leading every radio show, every talk show. He's all over. That stuff seeps into the brain. I'm going to go Niners. Are you doing Blazing Four today, by the way?

Well, I'm not doing a Blazing Four. I'm going to make my picks. I do not right now. There's two games I'm really interested in. I'm going to do more homework. But there's a couple games that I just don't want to bet. And so, like, I know a lot of the Sharps like Kansas City. I do not.

I do. The Sharps love Cleveland. I like Houston last weekend. I don't like Kansas City this weekend. I think they're incredibly vulnerable, and we're overvaluing, beating a Miami team that literally had no chance to move the ball. So I think we're over, like, I think we're overvaluing Tampa's win a little bit, because Philly waved the white flag.

And I think Detroit's are real, I think we're undervaluing how good the Rams were that Detroit dominated in the first half. I think Detroit's win is more impressive than people think, and the Chief's win is less impressive than people think. But Detroit just kind of held on, did they not? Well, I know, but the Rams should have beaten the Ravens in Baltimore. Like, I think the Rams at the end of the year are a top four team in the league. Top four? They beat one playoff team this year, man. Come on.

Really? Oh, I think they were very good post- Thanksgiving. Lions quarterback, CJ Gardner Johnson. I mean, why would you do this? Takes a shot at Baker Mayfield when talking about the Rams receivers saying, if you give that Tampa group a good quarterback, that's a great group. Evans, Godwin, Gage, that's a great group. Well, Russell Gage hasn't played a snap for the bucks this season.

So Baker took note and had this to say in response. I don't think he's really watched film because he mentioned Russell Gage. You know, we love Russell, but Russell hasn't played a snap all year for us. He must be going off the preseason stuff that the media was talking about. But he didn't play our first game, so I'm excited to see him. I think he's a really good player. He has been for a while. And he's been an impactful guy on every team he's been on.

So he's a good player. But, yeah, he's got to do a little bit more film study. Not that. That's cocky Baker. No, no, no. That is playful Baker. I like that Baker. What do you do?

Took a little shot at him. Factually correct. Then complimented his rival. His great player, great player. So as CJ Gardner Johnson's whacking Baker, Baker turns it and goes, no, he's a great player. And then a little playful, maybe you should watch some film. That Baker I like.

Baker didn't start that. Baker finished it. In Cleveland, Baker started all these forest fires. and everybody else had to put him out. This wasn't started by Baker. He put it out. Yeah, that's a good line. I had a buddy who was, you know, not a tough guy in college,

but somebody was talking trash to him. He said, you want to start something, I'll finish it. The guy quickly backed down. When you hear that, like, CJ Gardner Johnson talks a lot of trash. Yeah. Probably too much, given how poor that secondary is in Detroit. This is a game. I don't have a strong commitment here.

Do you have a side? Detroit. I think Detroit is my... I think the number's correct. I think that... By the way, Detroit, if your Packers upset the 49ers and Detroit wins, Detroit's hosting the NFC championship game. You go just lions in the Super Bowl?

I mean, they did split with the Packers this year, but... Yeah. I don't know. Final story is Justin Fields has caught a lot of flack in his time with the Bears this season. He could be elsewhere next season. However, Chicago Corner Jalen Johnson went on the debut episode of Undisputed Presents,

All Facts, No Breaks with Keishon Johnson, and pointed to coaching and a lack of playmakers as the reasons behind Fields Stunted Development. I think just going in and saying, oh, we'll just get rid of him. He's not the answer. I don't think that's it. I think it's kind of taking the easy way out

and making the coaches not take accountability because I think the coaches have a big part in developing the quarterback. And I think that he hasn't had an opportunity to truly be developed yet with now going on his third coordinator during this fourth year. And then I think if you get some dogs around them, some old line that can consistently hold up, I think a good running game, receivers. I mean, we got DJ and we were building

some good things, I think, on offense, but we definitely need more. I feel like as far as play markers and guys to put him in the best position. NFL's in a weird space. This is kind of NBA-ish. Is it not with Justin Fields? Does he stay? Does he go? And now you've got players caping up for him. And there seems to almost be a divide. We're seeing this with the Raiders, you know, Max Crosby. We got to keep peers. NFL players are piping up a lot more. Now they're getting on the podcast.

I just wonder what this does to that locker room if they're like, we're out on fields. It's over. We're shipping it. It seems like guys really like it. Well, players like winning, and he's 10 and 28. I think players talk a lot. I love Brandon Staley.

You know what they're going to love next year if they have Jim Harbaugh and win 12 games. Everybody loves everybody. You know when you love the IRS. when you get a checkback and not audited. And the bottom line is, Justin doesn't win any games. So they're going to like Caleb Williams is not going to be 10 and 28. So a lot of lip service, a lot of talk.

This idea that they didn't have skill position, guys. DJ Moore excellent. You like Cole Commet. I'm not a huge fan, but he's pretty good. And any running back they plugged in did well this season. They had good tackles, capable running backs. Luke Getziel get a job, a number one receiver, a number one tied end.

They added receivers and tied ends. The O-line's good enough. It's middle of the pack. They have a left tackle they like. So, you know, again, you can... You have to be an overcomer. I always say, Justin Herbert, first year in the league, had the 32nd rated O-line with the Chargers.

Broke every rookie quarterback record. C.J. Stroud, first month of the year, they were missing four of their five offensive linemen with a defensive coach and a bunch of young receivers. I don't want to hear any excuses. 10 and 28. There's enough talent there to win games. if you're the Bears, do you look at Roma Doudizze from Washington or neighbors from LSU in the draft?

With the second pick? Yeah, with their second first round pick. Yeah, I think you do. I think you have to. Or, yeah, I think you... That's an offensive will hum in Chicago. I mean, you're adding them. I mean, O'Dunizay is an amazing player.

Obviously, you're not getting Malik, sorry, Marvin Harrison. But... To come in and have Roma Dunesay, Cole Comet, DJ Moore, and a capable of line for Caleb Williams. Pretty good, pretty good group. You got like a nice collection of running back. You don't have a superstar, but doesn't matter. Not many of them in the league. Christian McCaffrey and Aaron Jones and I mean there's just, I mean, there's not a lot of star running backs in this league. This weekend, the Ravens, is it still Gus Edwards? Gus the bus, yeah, yeah, I mean,

so I don't think that's, you know, outside of the 49ers, I don't think these teams are led by quarterbacks. Yeah. Or running backs. Yeah. Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd lie news. So sometimes as JMAX mentor, he needs guidance, and I'd like to provide some here. So he said, Belichick Atlanta make it make sense. So let's start with this.

Former Patriot coach, according to Ian Rappaport, Belichick will have a second interview with the Falcons. and owner Arthur Blank, one-on-one. Things are ramping up. So, Tom Brady, Matt Stafford, very strategic as they left their teams to win a Super Bowl. Aaron Rogers, as we noted yesterday, wasn't as strategic. Jets? Battle line?

Not very strategic, more impulsive. Where did Tom Brady choose to go post-New England? The weakest division? in football, the NFC South. Carolina now, the division's worse than when Brady entered it. Sean Payton and Drew Breeze are gone. Carolina is a bigger mess. Tampa sort of feels like they're in transition.

And New Orleans could have made an argument, time to upgrade the coach. So the NFC South today is weaker than when Tom Brady went there. And what doesn't, let's be strategic. So Brady knew, as he was getting older, he needed better weapons. Tampa had them. Bill knows, here's what I don't do. I'm not good getting, I'm not good draft in running backs, tight ends, wide receivers, skill people. Atlanta's got, according to PFF, the number four O line, a star running back, a star tight end, a star receiver.

Now, Belichick in Atlanta doesn't sound legendary or like it's long-term success. But he's going to have to pay all these young people if he became the coach pretty quickly. Right now, Atlanta is really young and really cheap and has most of their talent on the offensive side. Bill's being strategic. The division, the conference you choose. I said this yesterday with Aaron. Why would you choose the AFC and the Jets when they've got eight star quarterbacks all in their prime or going into their prime? Now, C.J. Stroud's another.

Why would you do that? Brady's like, get me out of the AFC. I want to go face an old Drew Breeze and an old Matt Ryan. Very strategic. So I think, I mean, the NFC South, I think Baker had a good year, but there's no star quarterbacks there.

So it's like anybody. Like any of us, football coaches and football players are no different. If you were going to move your family, wouldn't you be strategic? What's the pay? What's the pension? What are the benefits? What's the state tax? of the state I'm moving in.

You know, people leave California, New York. They go to Florida, Nevada, state tax. It's strategic. Brady and Stafford were highly strategic when they left their places. They wanted good old lines, offensive coaches, formidable owners. Aaron wasn't. He said, all right, Jets is good. I'll go.

How did it go? So I think Bill's looking at this. Bill knows what he is. Bill knows what he's not. Remember, weak division. weaker conference. Arthur Blank is a very, very solid owner. He's non-meddling. Rich McKay, who I've known for 30 years, runs operations, really bright. Football family, not going to meddle. They have a young general manager. People like, again, if they hit on a

quarterback, say it out loud, Drake May in Atlanta, Jaden Daniels in Atlanta with all that talent. Bill may just say, you do the quarterback. I'll help you on the back end defensively. So this one to me, I don't think it's that. This is Albert Breer from Friday. Why Belichick and the Falcons make sense. There's an owner obviously there who's been in place for a long time. And a guy in Arthur Blank who hasn't really hired a sure thing before. He's 81 years old. He's got a roster that's ready to win right now. And he can offer Bill a chance to remake the organization in his own image. And I think Bill, for his part would bring an all-star staff

with him. I think he'd bring a lot of former head coaches, maybe guys like Josh McDaniels, Bill O'Brien, Matt Patricia, Joe Judge, to try to take another swing of a championship and, of course, Don Shula's record. I also think that Bill would rather stay east than go west where

most of his life has been, you know, and so I think everything lines up for him to be the next coach, the Falcons. Yeah, it doesn't sound legendary. It doesn't sound like Shula Dolphins. It doesn't sound like Belichick, New England. You know, it doesn't sound like that. It doesn't sound like, you know,

John Harbaugh and the Ravens or Mike Tomlin and the Steelers. But you know what? Not all jobs do. You know, Bill, on a team that outside of quarterback, has the receiver, O-line, running backs, tight end, got it all figured out,

needs upgrade on defense. Something. Strategy matters for all of us. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd. Weekdays and New Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Hey, what's up, everybody? It's me, three-time Pro Bowl of LaVar Arrington, and I couldn't be more excited to announce a podcast called Up on Game.

What is Up on Game, you ask? Along with my fellow Pro Bowler, T.J. Hushman Zada, and Super Bowl champion. Yep, that's right. Plexico Burris. You can only name a show with that type of talent on it. Up on Game. We're going to be sharing our real-life experiences loaded with teachable moments. Listen to Up On Game with me, LeVar Arrington, T.J. Hushmanzada, and Plexico Burris on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast from.

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 which I'm 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-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 a little kill? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast.

I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84's big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed cracks. 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. After his incredible playoff debut, Jordan Love and the upstart Packers take on Brock Birdie and the top seeded at 49.

in the NFC division round. It all starts at 7.30 Eastern Saturday on Fox. I will have my picks coming up at the top of the hour. I will give you all my picks. I think the numbers are mostly right this weekend, but I'll tell you where I kind of lean on stuff. Blazing 5 last week went 3 and 2. It's our last blazing 5.

Now there's very few games, right? So I do have leans on stuff. Don't feel really strongly. I think the lines this week are pretty good. plus we'll have Greg CoSell. So if you're in a fantasy football, betting on football, smarter on football, he'll break it down objectively like nobody else. So Mike McCarthy, he is returning as the Dallas Cowboys coach.

And I think about this all the time. In any business, you start a business, you have an idea, you hire employees, you've got a point of view. But you also, your success can be expedited if other companies are failing. Or there are, most business ideas that work, there's an opening. there's something missing in an industry. Somebody's not capitalizing on an opportunity. So just think of the last two years for the Dallas Cowboys,

the things that were potential advantages, if you're trying to get to a Super Bowl, and they are. Sean Payton, brilliant head coach, leaves, retires, then goes back in, AFC, out. Kyler Murray. You know about Kyler? Run around? Hard guy for you to defend, gets hurt.

Aaron Rogers. Leaves. The NFC. Tom Brady, retires. San Francisco. Trey Lance draft pick. Misses. Instability at quarterback.

Sean McVeigh is in a rebuild. Got to break that Super Bowl team down. Last two years. All these opportunities, openings. Cowboys 1 and 2 in the playoffs. Now, think about next year. and potentially the next couple of years. The Lions roster is young,

and they have hit on so many draft picks, it is cheap. They got great young players. They pay them nothing, and they could add elements. Lions aren't going anywhere. Oh, Jordan loves now really good. And their offense, all young, they don't have to pay them for three years, four years. Young and cheap.

Go buy things you don't have. Cowboys got to pay CD Lamb Micah. Dak Prescott. They can't go buy great players in the market. Detroit and Green Bay can't. San Francisco? Yeah, Brock Pretty's pretty good. And they don't pay him anything.

Rams? Well, we just watched this year. Rebuilds over. And they got cap space. And Matt Stafford's coming back. Bears. Washington, potential star quarterbacks. And cap space.

brief cowboy window opened, brief cowboy window starting next year, closing. That's why Nick Seriani staying in Philadelphia could be one of those breaks. Siriani may get one more year, and then they go get an elite candidate. So remember, there's very few dynasties in the NFL. Yes, Dallas briefly, San Francisco, Bill Walsh, Montana, the Patriots, Chiefs now. But mostly Super Bowls are won. it's a one-off timing.

You stay healthier. Your rival has a down year. Take the Ravens this year. Great example of taking advantage of their division and getting the number one seed. Burrow gets hurt. Deshawn Watson gets hurt in Cleveland. Steelers can't get the quarterback right.

What do they do? Dominate their division, number one seed. So Baltimore gets a buy home the entire time. Now, I don't know if they'll win the Super Bowl, but Baltimore has this opportunity in their division. Deshawn Watson hurt, Burrow hurt, Steelers a mess at quarterback, and waste it. The number one team at each conference gets to play at home and gets a break. Baltimore seized it.

So you don't get the, I know you all think we're going to build this empirical roster. Once you pay your quarterback what you're paying back and Mahomes and Allen and Lamar, once you start paying a quarterback, that Jalen Hertz, you're not going to have a perfect roster. need breaks. You need crevices. You need openings. You have to take advantage of Peyton retiring. Aaron leaving. Russell Wilson leaving. Had a couple years of Gino Smith, not Russell Wilson. Kyler Murray gets hurt. McVeigh's in a rebuild. Whiff on Trey Lance in San Francisco. A couple nice years to win. And I'll tell you the two teams that you just have to be honest about. Gough's not cheap, but they have hit on so many draft picks. And Jordan Love won't be

cheap in about a year or two. But the people. Packers and the Lions have hit on so many draft picks that you can pay a little bit for your quarterback. Not DAC money, but you can pay for it. They're not paying anybody. I mean, like the eight best players, I could argue, seven or eight of the best players for the Lions and seven or eight of the best Packers, have to pay them for three years. So you can go cherry pick and buy free agents. Cowboys Camp.

Dack's cap hit next year is like 55 mil. And you've got to pay CD Lamb really. soon. And Micah in about a year and a half. So it's, I know you want to build these empirical rosters. That's college football. That's what Georgia does, or Bama or Sark in Texas. You build these, you know, flawless rosters. That stuff doesn't happen in the NFL. Once you pay your quarterback. So you need breaks. Dallas had a two-year window and then take advantage of it. Well, you're seeing the Detroit Lions build quite the roster. You look at the young talent they've drafted the last, say, three years, college? Oh, it's incredible. And to your point,

Jared Gough not on a big, big money deal. Not yet. It'll be interesting to see what happens with Ben Johnson, Jared Goss's future contract. Now, Detroit, you don't want to say they're building a juggernaut. I don't know that I would trust them without Ben Johnson, but there is something there, a foundational piece. But there are a prime example. So Detroit took advantage of what? Instability at quarterback in Chicago. Jordan Love not quite ready to go pre- Thanksgiving.

Kirk Cousins hurt. So Detroit takes advantage of that. Perfect window. Win their division, home playoff game win. They don't win that game at SoFi. So Detroit got a lucky break a little bit. I'm not saying Detroit's not worthy of it or Baltimore. Baltimore got a huge quarterback break in division.

Took advantage of it. Detroit did. Aaron leaves. Jordan loves great. But he wasn't first eight, nine weeks. You had golf, the veteran, the veteran, good old line, you start pulling away from Green Bay. Oh, here's Minnesota. Cousins hurt.

So you don't, this idea that you can build these college rosters, you've got to take, like right now, Mahomes has a number one receiver who's okay, no number two, Travis Kelsey old and he doesn't love his tackles. This is the year for Buffalo to beat Kansas City, and you're at home. Burroughs out. Now, you may not get past Baltimore. You're getting a huge break with Kansas City. This is the weakest Mahomes offense, and it'll be better by next year because they'll go get another receiver.

You know, we haven't really hit this. I was going to hit this tomorrow. This was going to be one of my little surprises. But Colin, take a look at the quarterbacks in the NFC that are left. How many of those guys are getting top dollar are massive cap hits at quarterback? None. The only big money quarterbacks that are paid left in the playoffs, Lamar, Mahomes, and Josh Allen. After that, it's all cheap quarterbacks.

Build the roster around. Now, listen, I know Jared Goff makes, he's like a middle-class quarterback. Baker-Mayfield's a middle-class quarterback. And because of what Mahomes makes, they're not elite at left tackle or receiver. So this is the week. We've hacked the NFL. This is how you do it. You win with your quarterback on the cheap.

That's how you do it in the league. It's extremely difficult if you've got to pay. Dak, Jalen Hertz. Listen, Philly, I know you like them. That money they gave Jailen Hertz, Colin? It's going to be a weird offseason in Philly. They were paying Kelsey and Lane Johnson. They're paying a lot of Fletcher Cox.

That's secondary woof. A.J. Brown. So Philadelphia got, and we saw the Rams do this, guys. Yeah. They got really top heavy. Philadelphia got really top heavy and just not enough depth in the back end. The Rams did that. Won a Super Bowl.

They come back the following year, and they're like, we've got to get rid of Bobby Wagner, Jaylon Ramsey. And you're like, we don't have any depth. So that's the downside to loading up. And then you pay the quarterback. Stafford wins the Super Bowl. Then they give him a contract. And they got to start peeling off and they got no depth.

I know we're ticketing the Bengals to bounce back next year, right? We think they'll be very good. You saw what happened when they couldn't pay all the guys in the secondary. They lose that. Jesse Bates is gone. It's like, ooh, this defense, lose defense. What happened to these guys? What's going to have with Tyler Boyd, T. Higgins?

We'll see. But it's really tough to manage that cap when you're paying a quarterback top dollar. No. I mean, Drew Brees took big money in New Orleans for a couple years, and they went back, and then he restructured his deal, and then he won more. Justin Fields one's going to be interesting. I don't know if Belichick would be into him, but he's not expensive, and you can load up in certain other places.

You've got skill position guys on the cheap. Atlanta could be, could have something with Belichick if he takes the job. But I'm just, that whole quarterback getting paid a lot, look at the NFC quarterbacks. Brock Purdy, rookie deal. You can pay them, but they've got to be superstars. There's not a lot of them. By the way, right now, who are the three that are still left that are great? The three best quarterbacks in the league.

Lamar Josh Mahomes. You can pay them, but those are the three most talented quarterbacks in the league. I don't think there's any doubt. Those are the most talented. Stafford is not in his prime. Those three are most talented and in their prime. It's the only way you can do it. Get this far.

They've got to be great if you're paying them that. Hour to Greg Co. Sell my picks next. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 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 you here, unpack what we're. and 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. It 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. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.