The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 1 - The Falcons did the right thing

Episode Date: April 26, 2024

Colin breaks down the first round of the NFL draft by explaining why he likes the Falcons drafting QB Michael Penix Jr. He believes JJ McCarthy and Bo Nix landed in the perfect spots to succeed  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Here we go. It is a Friday. What a night it was. NFL draft. Some quirky turns, odd moves, right? 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. Well, well, well, people are freaking out that an NFL team in a bad division now has two good quarterbacks. Oh, the shame should have drafted another line line. backer, a tight end, a right tackle. It's amazing what people freak out about J-Mack. It's amazing. So you're not freaking out, huh? If I'm a Falcons fan, I'm not feeling great this morning. Okay. Let me start with this. Every great asset in America, mansions, yachts, a Bentley, your life has insurance. But the difference is you pay into that insurance forever and never really

cash it out. You know what else? Needs insurance? NFL teams at quarterback, Michael Penix. But the difference with this insurance policy, you'll pay into it for a year, and then it potentially will pay you for the next 15 and make you rich. And that's a bad investment? It's an insurance policy for a year, and then it's going to pay you potentially year two to year 15. Who cares of Kirk Cousins upset that they drafted Michael Pennix? Aaron Rogers was up. upset when they drafted Jordan Love. Farrv was upset when they drafted Aaron Rogers and they're both better

than Kirk Cousins and they were both in their prime. Kirk's not. Who cares if he's upset? He's made more money seriously than Brady at quarterback. He'll get over it. This is not a catastrophe. When's the last time you heard a team say this? We have the best quarterback in our division and maybe the best backup in the NFL.

That's a problem. For the record, you know who teams didn't move up to get? J.J. McCarthy. Even Minnesota liked him, moved up one spot. Reportedly, Seattle, the Raiders and the Saints all tried to move up into the top 10 to get Pennix. I'm sorry. A disaster is paying DAC, $385 million, which the Cowboys may do in a year. Paying Kirk Cousins off an Achilles surgery at 36 in a bad division, 180 million, getting him to play for a year, win 10, 11 games, and then he gets beat out by Pennock.

That's a disaster. Again, Green Bay a few years ago, with Aaron in his late prime, moved up to a quarterback that two of my GM friends didn't like Jordan Love. Atlanta just stayed put. Kirk Cousins is 36. What if Kirk Cousins coming back, and he's never been mobile? What if he comes back off this Achilles surgery at 36 and he's less mobile? Does Pennix look like a horrible pick then? What if Kirk Cousins gets hurt again?

66 quarterbacks. 66 quarterbacks played last year. It is the only position worth over a point in the worst division in football. Having the best backup in the league is a catastrophe? This is something else nobody's talking about. Kirk Cousins, and we think it was a good pickup, is going to win the division. It's a good roster. Well, this is a great quarterback class, and Atlanta has a top 10 pick.

Next year's not a very good quarterback class, and the chances are Atlanta is going to win too many games to have a top 10 to 15 pick. So would you rather than pick a linebacker who's not worth half a point? Kirk Cousins gets hurt or doesn't look good in camp. You think it's a bad pick then? Atlanta next year is going to be drafting 15 or below. low in a bad quarterback class. And you're going to watch Kirk Cousins win the division, probably lose first

round of the playoffs to Green Bay, Detroit, Chicago, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Dallas, somebody Rams. And you're going to be like, God, I wish we had a young quarterback. Now you do. If you passed on him, you don't. That rises to a catastrophe. It's $180 million. It's a front-loaded contract.

If he gives you a year starting and gets you to the playoffs, hallelujah. A second one, you stole him. You got teams in this league. Joe Burroughs making a fortune. He can't stay healthy. And I love Joe Burrow. Can't stay healthy. Four years in a row hurt.

Dax's going to make almost $400 million. $180 on a front-loaded contract in the best backup on the league, and that's wearing you out? They brought Kirk Cousins in to galvanize the team. But what if he doesn't? He's 36. He's never been athletic. He's off a surgery. We saw last year the Minnesota Vikings had to trade for a backup.

Josh Dobbs in season. They were so desperate. That's where you want to be? If Kirk Cousins get hurt, you're trading for a backup? Or you have Michael Pennix? I'm okay in the NBA over-drafting shooters. I'm okay in the NFL for a year maybe over-drafting a quarterback. Kirk Cousins, you liked the pick.

When they got Kurt Cousins, you liked it. I liked it. And you like Michael Pinnock. They're together. Kind of odd for a year. But this is a great quarterback draft class. Most quarterbacks ever drafted, right? First round.

And next year's a bad quarterback draft class. And Atlanta's going to be too good. Rahim Morris, the coach, explained it after. It was pretty simple for us. When you get Kirk Cousins and you talk about short-term winning, you talk about winning right now, which we know we're going to be a position to do, which we want to be a position to do.

we won't have the ability to be picking this high again with the guy that we got and at some point you've got to find a way to have that succession plan in place and just what happened it poses itself tonight what you don't want to be in the NFL is quarterback light what i'm okay with you being in the NFL is for a year a little quarterback heavy i'm okay with that Patrick Mahomes was drafted with Alex Smith. Jordan Love drafted with Aaron Rogers in his late prime. Aaron drafted.

Farve in his late prime. I'm okay. Greenbase figured out the quarterback thing. Be very careful about having a definitive opinion on quarterbacks. Take it from somebody who's been burned on Sam Darnold. It's amazing. There were people booing the Josh Allen pick. Incredulous about the Lamar Jackson pick and loved the Zach Wilson pick.

I like Kirk Cousins. I like Michael Penix. I'm okay for a year if they're together. In a bad division. In a league where 66 quarterbacks played last year. Every insurance policy, every asset has one. The bigger the asset, the more expensive insurance. This, however, is an insurance policy that within a year will pay you.

You won't pay into it. All right. So, Bonix went to Denver. We sort of called that. I like it. I think he works in Denver with Peyton. And J.J. McCarthy went to Minnesota. Don't love J.J. McCarthy, but I loved any quarterback that went to Minnesota, so I think it'll work.

And here's what's interesting. So Jim Harbaugh came out. Right? Harbaugh came out well before the draft. J.J. McCarthy, that's the best quarterback I've seen. You know who didn't buy it? The League. The Giants need a quarterback. No, Atlanta could have had him.

Nah. New England could have had him. Nah. Washington could have had him. No. Chicago could have had him. J.J. McCarthy wasn't viewed the same way Pennix was. And everybody was selling Yon McCarthy and the league wasn't buying it. But four teams, including Atlanta, wanted Pinnock's. Penix throws a better deep ball. Pinnock had to carry lesser talent.

So I got nothing against J.J. McCarthy. But his comp is Alex Smith. And Alex Smith was as good as where he landed. All right? So J.J. McCarthy is going to succeed because of where he landed. Not because he's an Uber talent. Even Minnesota, who liked him, did you notice? We all predicted they'd move up.

They didn't. They didn't. They sat there and said, All right, New England. Go get him. They didn't. Go ahead, Giants. Go get him.

They didn't. Atlanta, we hear you want a quarterback. They didn't. Finally, they moved up. One slot, gave up middle to late picks to get their guy. I believe Minnesota really wanted Drake May, but New England said, all right, three first, couple seconds, and it was too rich.

I know two different teams last night that tried to move up for Brock Bowers. The Rams, one of the teams, I think Indy is the other. So people were trying to make moves last night. People were moving up for Brock Bowers. The Rams wanted to move into the top 10 for Brock Bowers. Nobody was willing to move into the top 10 for J.J. McCarthy. So I think he's going to succeed. I think it's going to work.

And I think Bo Nix, who reminds me a little bit of Drew Brees at Purdue. coachable, a lot of starts, moves well, I think he's going to be fine. Fit is everything in this league. But be very careful about this pre-draft stuff. It's all manipulation. A lot of people wanted you to believe there was massive urgency with J.J. McCarthy. And there wasn't. Even the team that eventually got him moved up one spot.

One spot. Look at all the teams that could have happened. And again, I think it's going to work. Here's Kevin O'Connell after the pick. JJ was a guy, you know, very, very early in the process. Obviously, coming off of a national championship, guys won at every level he's been at. And then when you really dive into the tape and some of the things that I really look for and really emphasize in my evaluation process, there was a lot to really like about JJ's tape.

And that was before, you know, he absolutely crushed the process. Tacked it every step of the way, you know, a competitor and a lot of. the guy that believes very strongly that, you know, the best football is out in front of him, and he's going to work like crazy to make that happen. The furnished apartment of the draft for quarterbacks was Minnesota. Whoever they drafted, I said, will succeed. Whoever New England drafted Drake May probably doesn't. And I feel that with both this morning, though I like May as a prospect over J.J. McCarthy.

Fit matters in life and sports and business. and I think McCarthy fits. Any of these young quarterbacks fit in Minnesota. So by the way, your Jets show real maturity last night. I think also last night was an awakening by the league. So I've been on this for a long time. I think you have pivoted to this over the last couple of years. It's an offensive league.

Higher offensive coaches. If you have to overdraft quarterback do it, first 14 picks, all offense. And people were moving up to get a tight end. What does that tell you? So it's an offensive league. People finally figured it out. When in doubt, go offense. And when in doubt, get a tackle.

And I thought the Jets, you know, the Jets, you could argue, needed a tied end, needed a receiver. And it showed real maturity. Because as I said yesterday, there's only one thing that guarantees the Jets are viable in week 17, week 18. One thing, and it's not Brock Bowers. It's that Aaron Rogers is upright. And Brock Bowers doesn't ensure that. Getting a Penn State tackle that hasn't allowed a sack as a starter in a good conference does a much better job of ensuring that. That was a mature, well-done pick.

He's not a mauler. There's a lot better run blockers. He is a pass protector. Aaron doesn't need protection on running plays. He needs it on passing plays. So I thought, well done. Don't know how good the kid's going to be. but that's the right pick for the Jets.

Yeah, restraint from the Jets, smart. I mean, basically the opposite of what the Atlanta Falcons did. I was super happy with my New York Jets last night. Ask for the Falcons, Colin. I can't believe you're defending them. I'm stunned. Even though we both like Pennix, that was one of the most insane draft moves I've ever seen

in my time being an NFL fan and working here and have the website. Just crazy. When Kirk Cousins goes down week four, it won't look so terrible. Well, Colin, how long have they known they were drafting 8th? Back in January? So why would you pay Kirk Cousins $100 million guaranteed dollars, only to go draft another quarterback and now pit these guys essentially against each other? Kirk Cousins looking over his back from right now.

Because this staff wants to win now, and Cousins with these weapons ensures you will win now. Pinnick's insurers with experience where quarterbacks that sit tend to do better, he ensures, or at least elevates the percentage he ensures, winning later. Kirk wins now, Michael with watching wins later. So it's a two-tiered plan. Win now with Kirk, year, year-and-a-half, win later with Michael. But for the record, this team does not get into the top 10 in the draft picks next year and a bad quarterback last year. Well, I mean, you got the fourth-best quarterback in the draft, right, at 8?

You don't think you get the fourth-best quarterback at like 22 next year? Yeah, but the problem is, the fourth to fifth best quarterback this year. the sixth best quarterback this year, maybe better than the second next year. That's the way the history of the draft works. We'll see. But one final question on this. So what happens if Kurt Cousins coming off the Achilles? He's not 100%.

He's not ready to go week one. Hey, we're just going to rest. And Michael Pennix starts in week one. And Michael Pennix is great. Oh, what a great problem to have. That's like people that complain, I paid $2 million in taxes. No, no. A hundred million in taxes.

Again, the best problem in the world to have in the NFL. We had to start our rookie quarterback. He was really good. I mean, he's not going to be CJ Stroud. We know that. I mean, it'll be better than Bryce Young. But then you've got a quarterback controversy. And you know what they say?

If you got two quarterbacks, you have zero. If Michael Pennix has to start and is great, you don't have any controversy. Say, Kirk, we're going to play the kid. Deal with it. Enjoy the cash. You don't even have to come to practice. Just enjoy the cash. We found our guy.

I mean, I'm telling you. That is got rich guys that complain about taxes. That's a great problem to have. Michael Pennock start game one and rolls. Wow, what a problem. You want to know what problems look like? Who's throwing the ball to Brock Bowers with the Raiders? That's what a problem is.

In a division with Reed, Justin Herbert, and now Sean's got his quarterback. So who you got Falcons winning the division or Saints? Yes. Falcons are going to win the division, I think, going away. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged.

It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard 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, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media.

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follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm CJ Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defining the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed.

And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows. Without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game.

We get a player's perspective. on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night bases on offense.

And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers while he got the ball. Like, you go through a training camp with that I said, you figure it out real quick.

Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You know, there's an old saying you can look into the past, but don't stare at it. Even if your past was great. The Chicago Bears have been staring at the monsters of the Midway, celebrating it annually forever. And in the process of doing that, the Green Bay Packers have. have lapped them. And now the lions have started to lap them.

And the Vikings are loaded. The bears spent a lot of time staring at the past. And last night, they officially grew up as a franchise. They evolved. Not just with the Caleb William pick. But at number nine, they needed an edge rusher. And there were several good ones available. And yet they took another wide receiver to a deep receiving.

whore. That's something I didn't think they had in them. They've been celebrating the 85 Bears for as long as I can remember. Enough. It was great. Was great. W-A-S. was great. W-A-S. was great. They've already got a good offensive roster. Now it looks stacked. And unless you live in Chicago, the bears are a hard watch. And maybe even if you live in Chicago, they have been for 20 years. Their most explosive offensive player was a punt returner, Devin Hester. he's the guy in between defense and offense.

Yeah, that was the guy. He wasn't an offensive player. You were hoping he hit a big return. But last night was really unique for Chicago because there are certain teams in this league, Green Bay, San Francisco, the Rams, Philadelphia, Kansas City. Those are windshield teams looking to the future. The Bears have been looking through the rear view mirror for 20-some years.

So for them, with other needs on defense, to take another receiver at 9 and a good one, wow. Like that's what Green Bay would maybe do, or the Rams or the Niners, add another offensive piece. A few years ago, Miami did something, and I lauded it. I thought it was great. They were a defensive coach, Brian Flores, and the defense was excellent, but Tua couldn't get along with Brian Flores. and they just decided we're blowing it up, starting over, hiring Mike McDaniel, and we're pivoting to offense. It's worked, and two has been pretty good. That's the new league.

It doesn't matter how great your defense is. The Niners couldn't stop anybody against the good teams last year. Nobody can stop anybody. I mean, you get to these playoff games. Congratulations. You've got to win with offense. And last night, for the first time I can ever remember, 75% of the Bears best players are on offense.

And with our top two picks, especially the second one, they doubled down on offense. Thank you. Finally, here's the GM, Ryan Pulse. History's the history. I'm kind of done talking about it. We go back so much all the time and those days are over. So we're bringing players in here that want to really just change everything. thing up and do things a different way.

Obviously, we love our history here, but it hasn't been smooth recently. And it's time to change. So I just feel like we've got to stop going back all the time. Yes. Let baseball do that. Collect cards. Talk about Mickey Mantle. That's baseball.

I don't want to talk about Red Grange. I don't want to turn on my radio. Here's sports guy breaking down Hugh McElhaney. Let baseball do that. Future. Ahead. Windshield. It was like a graduation ceremony for the Chicago Bears.

They graduated two offensive players to a really good offense. Congratulations. It's a lot more fun to watch. Congratulations to Fox. You can now televise Bears games and 90% of the country won't go click. They won't be watching for the Packers against the Bears or the Lions against the Bears. or the Niners. They'll be watching to watch the Bears.

J-Mack with the News. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the Herdline News. So as a tease in headlines later, I have the Bears as a playoff team next year, not just because of the draft night. Their free agency was excellent.

It's a really, really good team. NFC's, there's a couple openings. They have one need now, edge rusher. Well, I would say head coach is the big question. Well, but I mean, in terms of offense and defensive personnel, They need an edge rusher. Well, they got Montes sweat. But they also have a bunch of picks here left today and tomorrow to upgrade.

And edge rusher, you can find them kind of anywhere. I like the bears a lot. Let's start with, oh, boy, the Los Angeles Lakers. I guess my suggestion they should avoid Denver's not such a hot take. Yeah. A bunch of morons on the internet thought that was stupid. I was 100% with you. They've had to face Denver, and you know what?

They took another double-digit lead in the first half. And then as has been the case for like the last 10 games. They get waxed in the third quarter. Delo, 24 minutes, no points. Let's go to LeBron. We'll take a shot at him in a second. You're supposed to have anxiety and pressure or feel the pressure.

That's what it's about. This is what the postseason is about. Me and this guy been playing together for six years. We've been to the mountain top. We've been close to the mountain top. We've played a lot of games. We know what it takes to win. we know what it takes to win a championship and how, you know,

damn, and near perfect you got to be. That's not like something that's so crazy to obtain. Yeah. Listen, he also later said, hey, it's just basketball, which is... Are people upset with that? Well, here's the thing. Just basketball's made you a billionaire. You take basketball very seriously.

Don't when you lose, again to Denver say it's just basketball. Just basketball, it's not just basketball for LeBron. is your legacy, your career, your net worth. I thought that was a little... That's just basketball. You didn't say that after you beat the Warriors. Well, it's just basketball. Hold on, hold on.

That's part of a quote. It's like the second half. He's like some of us, insinuating some of us, A.D. and LeBron, give everything they've got, blah, blah, blah, but then again, it's just basketball. I think he's soft pedaling to some of these other guys. Remember the Darwin Ham comments last night?

Oh, yeah. There's a lot going on in this world. You know, he was like, listen, man. I'm upset, like our nation's upset. The problem is there's no easy fix here. Sure, you can fire D'Arvinham. Okay, let's admit this. Let's stop.

Austin Reeves is not taking you to the promised land, not in the West. All right. And D.Lo is not, he's going to move out. You see the option thing this morning. So he thinks he can get more on the market. So D. Lowe's gone. Austin Reeves has not taking you to the promise land. You got A.D. and LeBron do the best you can.

And D.A.ham's going nowhere. because the Lakers leaked that story that they're bringing them back for a reason. They wanted to nip it in the bud before it started two days ago. He could probably find a reason to get rid of him. Rui Hachimura, the Japanese Jordan, played like anything but. I mean, he was a non-factor in the series. By the way, DeAngelo Russell hit seven threes, I think, or in the first half of game two.

He was on fire. He scored five points in the next six quarters combined. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It went to his head. He thought he was a man. He thought he was him. He's not. He's been immature and underwhelming in big spots his entire career.

He had a very nice three-month run here with the Lakers, three, three and a half. Once again, I answered Denver. He's awful. Didn't you try to tell me, though, that the Lakers' best chance would be, oh, let's catch the nuggets early. No, that was Nick right. Oh, that was Nick. Yeah, I argued, figure out a way to play OKC. Yeah.

When you get swept by Denver, the fallout is going to be extreme. So be able to see around the corner before you get whacked in the head. And again, it's risky, but you know what? Life is risky. You got to take chances. and ducking Denver, mighty Denver, which, you know, they're going to sweep the Lakers back-to-back years, Colin. Lakers just second half.

And you know, listen, you played a lot of sports, you follow sports. You know at half time you make adjustments. Darwinham basically got his teeth kicked in in the second half every game in this series. He's not making adjustments. Let's go to the next NBA game last night. The Sixers, Joe L. Embed went off, dropped a 50 spot. Yeah. In addition to doing some dirty theatrics.

You know, here he is doing some work on Mitchell Robinson. He also kicked him in the groin. Look at this. Is this a regular leg motion? Boom! Right in the groin. And also ended up tackling Mitchell Roberts. A very questionable game from Embed.

He's getting beat up. He also suffering from Bell's palsy. Yeah. So his vision was like impacted. It didn't look like it on threes. I heard that. I didn't know that before. Yeah, I don't think anyone did.

He just announced it. But Embed had a really good game. Sixers win. I'll just say this. I don't understand why Jalen Brunson ended up playing like 45 minutes. Yeah, I know. What are you doing? Save him for game four.

You can win game four. Sixers are not good. No, I think the Knicks will win game four. My guess is. I'm looking at that. We did like the Sixers and other bet. Two and all in the NBA. We both thought the bet of the playoffs was Sixers minus five last night than it was.

No sweat. But I hope the Knicks win game four because then you go to game five and then things, weird things happen. But I didn't watch a lot of this because the draft was on. I watched the Lakers. I watched the last two and a half quarters of the Lakers. I didn't get to see this game. You only saw the negative stuff. I saw the negative. Well, they've lost 10-11

straight, so I saw reality. All right, let's wrap up with Drake May going to the Patriots. I did an about-face in the middle of this. I all of a sudden like this pick, and I hate it because my New York Jets have to now face Drake May, who I'm just telling I know Bill Belichick took shots at him yesterday.

I don't really care. I absolutely. love this pick for the Patriots. And Drake May said he's not looking to be the next Tom Brady. Tom Brady's the goat. Now it's easy to say that. He's the best that ever played this game. I'm not going to be Tom Brady. So I'm just going to try to be Drake May.

And from there, I'm just trying to learn from him. Hopefully get to know him a little bit. And other than that, just try to soak it up and be a sponge and try to learn all I can from him. And he's the man in that town. Yeah. Good luck. Drake May looks happier than Michael Pennix did, by the way.

Is she Pennix? didn't look thrilled. Oh, I'm going to be a backup for at least two years. Drake May very excited. Here's who he's throwing to. Kendrick Bourne, Demario Douglas, K.J. Osborne, J.J. Osborne, Jujus Smith-Schuster. Do they even have a two on the roster?

Those are all like threes and fours. Yeah. Who's their star back? Ramandre Stevenson. He's pretty good. He gets hurt a lot. He's backup. Who's their star tied in?

Gee, Hunter Henry, he's solid. He's two. They got a lot. This has Carolina Panthers vibes from last year. Yeah. Aaron's healthy. Two is healthy. Josh Allen healthy.

That's a fourth place team. That's a four or five win team. Max. Drake May, yeah, four or five. But Drake May could perform well and level them up a little bit. Assuming he gets out,

Jacoby Brissette and Bailey Zappy, right? Caleb Williams, to me, is the only quarterback with that roster that could win games. And I think he'd win six to seven. I'm not talking nine or ten. Like, Giants, Carolina, New England. Those are weak rosters. Yeah, so rookie head coach, first-time head coach, rookie quarterback.

Defensive. Yeah, they don't have a lot. There's a four or five-win team max. Yeah. Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Lie News.

Yeah, it is two of the best teams in the NFL, Kansas City and San Francisco, like really well-run teams, have both struggled to draft wide receivers. Why? Because drafting wide receivers is hard over the last 20 years. There have been more misses on wide receivers than any other position. 73% of first round receivers miss. So why is the world guaranteeing me that Kansas City just won the Super Bowl because they took a 160-pound track guy at wide receiver? I will confront that argument as well, not just defending the Falcons next.

Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. 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, LaVar Arrington, T.J. Hushmanzada, and Plexico Burris on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, 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 what you're saying. Yep, that's me. Clipper Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skits. the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music.

The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm CJ Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what.

He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid.

He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nass would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers,

why he got the ball. Like, you go through a training camp with that, I said, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. All right, welcome back.

it is amazing to see the definitive opinions. Here's what I almost never have a definitive opinion on. A wide receiver in the first round. Calvin Johnson I did, and I do think Marvin Harrison is spectacular. But by and large, wide receiver, 73% last 20 years don't get a second contract. So the chiefs traded up, Buffalo traded back, their rivals, and they got Xavier Worthy, who I think has bus potential. He's a 165-pound track guy that's not a polished route runner who drops passes. I think he's the second best receiver potentially in this draft from Texas.

But because of Mahomes and Andy Reed, he'll probably work. And at times be spectacular. He's a track guy at 165. So Buffalo traded back out of the first round. As a rule, I don't bag on teams generally that trade down. Jay Mack and I talk about that. That's generally what I would do. unless you can get a Caleb Williams or a Jaden Daniels or a great quarterback trade back to accumulate more picks.

The draft is a math equation. The more picks, the better. The Rams had 11 last year. They hit on 9. It was a great draft. Turned them around in one year. So Buffalo traded back out of the first round, which, by the way, from about the 20th pick to the 32nd pick is known as Death Valley by GMs. You're paying a first round price for a second round talent.

So now they have two second rounders and four fifth rounders, ten total picks. I wouldn't be surprised. They have the first pick today if they move back again today a few spots and still get a wide receiver. Do not be surprised in five years if the second round receivers pick today are better than the first round receivers except for Harrison. This second round is going to have seven to eight receivers pick. They are spectacular. This is a great... Ricky Pearsall for San Francisco is not going to be as good.

most of the receivers in the second round. I didn't love that pick. So basically, the first round, late first round, is Whiff City. Receivers, the biggest whiff position last 20 years. And by the way, Kansas City, and their well-run has missed on several wide receivers, and that's with

Mahomes and Andy Reed. So there's no guarantee Xavier Worthy is going to be a home run. The idea this was a franchise divining move, they're going to go out and get a great receiver in the second round and not pay them as much. I thought when Buffalo paid Vaughn Miller at 33 years old, $120 million, I thought that was nuts. This, a second round wide receiver, Josh Allen's the quarterback, two excellent tight ends, a good running back, I think it's fine.

The idea that, oh my God, they moved down five spots in a wide receiver loaded draft. Again, we're not talking about passing on Marvin Harrison, but I, Ricky Pearsall, who a Florida kid, who I like, goes to San Francisco. I don't like him nearly as much as A.D. Mitchell from Texas, who may be the first pick in the second round. I think Washington still got, the Huskies still have two receivers on the board. I like more than Pearsall. So, I mean, who knows with these wide receivers? But I'm not going to say this morning who they gave Kansas City a student. Super Bowl. Well, hell, Kansas City's winning Super Bowls with no receivers.

They're getting to the AFC Championship every year without great receivers in the last couple. They moved off Tyreek Hill. They won the Super Bowl. So this isn't defining anything. Andy Reed and Mahomes and Travis Kelsey, Chris Jones have defined that organization and Brett Veach and the Hunt family. Xavier Worthy, I'm going to make a guarantee. We'll not define the franchise. He's not going to define the franchise. Here's the Bill's GM after. I could see him taking a receiver, but you know, you don't truly know. But where they were moving from, I don't think it mattered to us who they were picking. And so now we've got a three, you know, we've got the two-twos, a three, a four, and four-fives.

And I think that gives us some chance to fill some rolls or use ammo to move around again, depending on how the board falls. I would not be surprised. I predicted Dallas would move down last night at a live YouTube show. I wouldn't be surprised if Buffalo moves down four or five spots and still gets a receiver and picks up another fourth round pick. But don't, you know, what you have to worry about in life, you and not your neighbor, you and not your business rival, get you right. Buffalo's fine. And Worthy's no guaranteed to be a huge hit. Maybe no guarantee.

So Nick Saban, by the way, was talking last night, kind of criticized Amarius Mims, the Georgia tackle who's played eight games, who took himself out of a game against Alabama. So of all the picks, I thought most teams got it right, and I have defended Atlanta and Buffalo this morning. I didn't love the Niners pick at wide receiver. We'll see. But the draft pick that truly concerned me was Cincinnati at 18. They have a wide receiver squawking T. Higgins, and Brian Thomas was out there. they have an edge rusher squawking and Jared Verse was out there. So there were receivers and edge rushers available and they have an expensive edge rusher that wants more money and an expensive receiver that wants more money. They also need a corner badly and none of the top corners were taken.

And Cincinnati took a developmental tackle who probably doesn't. play, at least for the first year. Aren't the Bengals in win now mode? Baltimore is. Kansas City is. Buffalo is. A developmental tackle? I didn't love it. Eight college starts. That's a developmental player.

Now, you can argue almost everybody's a developmental player when they first entered the NFL, but some guys are ready to develop quickly. This kid's not. And again, with Joe Burrow getting hurt in four straight years, you've got to win now. Now, you're going to take advantage of this. I mean, the Rams knowing that Matt Stafford had gotten beat up in Detroit with bad old lines for years, they loaded up early.

They wanted to get that Super Bowl. They weren't building for a Super Bowl. Even Atlanta right now, what are they doing in the offseason? They got Kirk Cousins. They also added some wide receivers. They know they don't have Kirk Cousins for three or four years. They hope he's good this year, maybe next year. They're moving on to Pennix.

Cincinnati, if Joe Burrow gets one more injury, you have to draft another quarterback. That'd be five straight years he's hurt. You're in win now mode. And they can do a developmental tackle? That I didn't get. I mean, you got a wide receiver and an edge, squawkin, want more money. Brian Thomas, to me, is more talented than T. Higgins. Doesn't mean it'll be a better pro, but Joe Burrow does guarantee some success at wide receiver.

So, you know, and again, I think most teams had needs and address them. And I will defend Buffalo and Atlanta. I'm going to defend moving back to the second round to get more picks and receivers. I'm good with that. And I'll defend having the best backup quarterback in the NFL for a year, Michael Pennex, who probably starts in two years. I'll defend that. Cincinnati, I didn't love that pick.

I didn't love it. Nick Saban was critical of it. Nick would know he faced him. Big guy, not ready to play in a division where, I mean, That's a real, that's a big boy division. The best pass rushers in football, you have T.J. Watt in that division. You start looking at that division. You got Miles Garrett in that division, and you take a guy with eight college starts at tackle, didn't love it.

J. Mack did not love. Is there a pick for you? Now, let's get past the Pennix one, because it is a quarterback. That was the one pick, and I was like, I don't like that. I did that. It was immediately an I don't like pick. Yeah. Can I be positive, Jason?

I'm usually negative. I kind of love the Buffalo Bill's move. To echo a little bit what you're saying, but they're now at 33, right? They have the first pick today. They've had 18 hours dating back to when the trade happened to basically negotiate with people for that 33. Including with Brandon Ayuk. And now there's chatter. Debo Samuel could be on the table as well.

One or two of those two, or maybe both are getting shifted. Not only those two, but T. Higgins is a name to watch. I forget which reporter floated this, but T. Higgins unhappy asking out, maybe Buffalo says we'll take T. Higgins off your hands. I doubt Cincinnati deals with Buffalo. But the Brandon Ayuk one's fascinating. What if you can get Ayuk if you're the Buffalo Bills? That's a huge get.

And San Francisco, hey, sure, we'll part with him. Ricky Pirsall was drafted to move off either Debo or Iy. We think. Because Jennings is also more than serviceable as a three or a four receiver, and Kittle and McCaffrey's a receiver too out of the backfield. So they didn't necessarily need another receiver. You could argue they need another corner, maybe another linebacker to eventually, Fred Warner and save some money on the other linebacker spot.

They did that move. And to your point, the advantage of what Buffalo did, and this matters, they said, you know what, we think all these receivers at this point, you know, maybe they had like neighbors and Harrison top of the board. And then they have eight other guys that are inches away. Our day is, let's let everybody have a cocktail tonight, sleep on it, wake up, and three hours of calling us. We got to get our guy.

So that's one angle. I mean, Colin, the other one is this whole situation with the quarterback Penix. Like one thing I think you're, just hear me out here. Michael Pennix goes in and he realizes I'm going to be the backup for two years. Well, no, he's not going to know that. One year he knows probably his start as a record. Kirk Cousins has a $100 million guaranteed to him over the next two years. Winning is bigger than the salary.

You'll move off a guy fast if he's better. So likely the top three quarterbacks are going to start, right? Caleb, obviously. And then probably Jaden Daniels, Drake May. And you know what? Bo Nix might start. And J.J. McCarthy might start. Michael Pennix was just drafted and told you're sitting behind Kirk Cousins.

Now you've got Kirk Cousins kind of sort of looking over his shoulder. Let's say he has a three interception clunker in prime time. Are you benching your quarterback? Who you have all that guaranteed money? The Patriots moved off Drew Bledsoe after signing a hundred million dollar contract in an era where 100 million was 300 million today. He got hurt. Kirk's coming.

It came back healthy. Bill's like, I'll go with the kid. 100 million in those days, 20 years ago, is 300 million today. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer's Streeter Side 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 game. 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. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy, far away, such as the biology of taun tons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the

iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an iHeart podcast.