The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 1 - Why Josh Allen won the MVP

Episode Date: February 7, 2025

Colin has no problem with QB Josh Allen winning the MVP LeBron James seems to be playing on a different level since the Luka Doncic trade Why the NFL should make changes when it comes to the "Tush Push"   Guest: Dianna RussiniSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every family has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life? That is not the look of an innocent man. Is everyone lying to me about who they are? I felt such desperation. I felt it was what I had to do. Listen to Deep Cover the Family Man on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast.

or wherever you get your podcasts. Here's something that should not be as complicated as it is, getting a racist statue removed. And here's something that should be a whole lot easier than it is, getting a new one put up in its place. I'm Akela Hughes, and Rebel Spirit Season 2 is about both of those things. As I was watching these statues come down, I was thinking about what it meant that I grew up in a majority black city

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by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Here we are. It is Super Bowl Week Friday from the Crescent City, New Orleans, Louisiana. We are live as we were yesterday, as we are ready for Philadelphia and Kansas City, which I think is going to be an all-timer in Epic Super Bowl.

Michael Urban will join us today, among others. J. Mack, here we are on the Friday before, and so, you know, we have a couple of weeks to talk about this game. This is our last preamble before it gets underway. I think most people think Philadelphia, The California's got the best team roster. Kansas City's got the legendary quarterback and coach. But I do want to start my show talking about a player that can't beat Kansas City, at least when it matters, Josh Allen.

So Josh Allen won the MVP last night, even though Lamar Jackson beat him head-to-head in the regular season. Lamar outplayed him on that game. Lamar had better stats. Lamar had a better passer rating. And Josh Allen won. and I have absolutely no problem with it because I don't think 20 years from now we'll be saying, man, do you remember the year

they gifted Josh Allen the MVP? Listen, there's two reasons why I would have given it to Josh Allen narrowly. Number one is, when Derek Henry arrived in Baltimore, defenses playing the Ravens had to make choices and concessions. And many times it felt like the key to that team was not Lamar Jackson. It was Derek Henry.

And defensive coordinators had to make choices with the number two rushing running back in the NFL. In most years, Derek Henry would have led the NFL in rushing, if not for Sequin Barclay's all-time year. As much as Josh Allen got support from James Cook, he was the 16th leading Russia in the league. Receiving Corps, they lost upon Diggs. Yet he won 10 of his last 12,

one pick after December 1st, I think. And again, when you play the bills, there is one and one mission only, and that is to stop Josh Allen. When you play the Ravens this year, some teams made the choice to concentrate on Derek Henry. That, of course, opened things up a bit for Lamar Jackson. And the second thing is, not all MVP's look the same, and we all know that awards are subjective. I mean, Aaron Rogers has four of these puppies. Tom Brady's got three.

There was a year that Joe L.M.B. to Philadelphia was gifted an MVP over Yokic because people felt Yokic had won two. He shouldn't win three straight before the Nuggett even have a title. They did later that year. And Westbrook got an MVP because it was a good story. He had a bunch of triple doubles. That doesn't mean you win a lot of games, but it does mean something. And KD had dumped him. And it felt like, man, this poor guy's, he's stranded on the OKC Island. So they gave him one. And I think we get to a point. Seven years of Josh Allen, since he entered the league, this has mostly been the powerhouse offense. And he has been so great for so long it was time.

I think back to one of my favorite movies of all time is Goodfellas. Martin Scorsese was the director. He did not win an Oscar for it. I think it's his best piece of art, his best piece of work. He didn't get it. And he'd been doing great movies forever. And so he came out with The Departed, very good. very good movie. I don't think it's an all-timer. I like it. Top 30. Goodfellas top three.

And they gave him the Oscar for it. It was just too good for too long. And if you really boil it down, and I know you don't want awards to be like that, and Lamar's got better stats. They all look different. They come in different shapes and sizes. Sometimes it's the story plus the stats. But if you look at some numbers, he's the first player ever. Five straight seasons of 40 plus touchdowns. And it's just recently that he actually got a really elite weapon. James Cook, that's their elite weapon. And for the record, he was 16th in the NFL in rushing. So in seven years, he's got the most wins, he's got the most total touchdowns, he's got the most total yards through any NFL player, including Patrick Mahomes' first seven years. It was just time.

Time for Josh Allen to win the MVP his first, and here he was. I know this is an individual award, and it says most valuable player on it, but I think it's derived from team success, and I love my team. Died off, thank you for presenting. I really appreciate it. We got such a great locker room in Buffalo, and it takes everybody from the equipment staff to the training room, to the strength staff, to slick Rick in the mail room, to the cafeteria upstairs.

It truly takes everybody to have team success, and I'm so fortunate to be a part of a great organization. Nobody is going to feel 20, 30 years from now this was gifted. Like Scorsese, it's time. So I know it's Super Bowl Week, but the NBA does have its trade deadline during Super Bowl Week. I don't think it's the best time to have it. I would have it next week. I'd move it, just like the NFL has moved free agency. Teams all the time alter their calendar.

If I was the NBA and wanted more publicity, I'd do it next week. But this week there have been big trades, and nobody's benefited more than LeBron James. Last night he had 42 points. It's the most points ever for an old guy at 40 in the NBA. I don't know what it is. I think I do, but he is 40, and LeBron, like Bill Belichick, has a new relationship. and let's just say he's got a bounce in his step. He is 3-0 since the Luca trade, and I think we forget this about the greats.

When you're great, things can come easier. Now, I'm not insinuating, it's not hard work. But for a Mahomes and an MJ and a LeBron and a messy, there's boredom, there's monotony, there's tedium. LeBron's played in over 1,500 regular season games. LeBron has played three and a half seasons of just playoff games. This season, even with AD and Austin Reeves, and J.J. Reddick, it kind of honestly felt like a train to nowhere. They weren't athletic enough.

They weren't dynamic enough. Anthony Davis didn't really want to play the five. He'd rather play the four. Dalton Connect's fun but can't defend. They didn't have enough shooters. They didn't have enough defenders. And then Luca and Mark Williams happened and the Lakers are younger. They're born dynamic

and they feel like they could win an NBA championship. All still favor Boston, but I think they match up pretty well with OKC. And I think LeBron's ride into the sunset in the last three to four days has taken a sharp U-turn and I think he's more engaged. He's always been committed. more inspired. And I think when you're an all-time great, there's this work ethic to become legendary and iconic. But I mean, when Michael Jordan's playing the, you know, the new Raptors

who just got a new franchise, you think he's as inspired as he is playing the Celtics or the Pistons? The answer is no. And I felt like LeBron, not that he was coasting, not that he's not committed, but it shows you when inspired what LeBron looks like. And I think a lot of times for LeBron, and Brady was like this too, but in football, you get one game a week. In basketball, you're in a road trip to Memphis, you go to Orlando. On the way back, we face Houston. They just all mush together. But LeBron is playing, I mean, this is the best basketball LeBron has played in the last couple of weeks. It's year 22. it feels like you're 12.

He's not going to do it back to back. He's not going to be as good defensively. He's not going to chase you down and block those shots off the backboard like he did in the first six years in the league. But dude, last night, he was not only inspired. That was the best Steph has played all year. He's averaging 28 and 9 and shooting the lights out in January and February. And the last three games capped by last night have been absolutely special. and here was LeBron after.

We're joining MJ. As the only two guys, 40 plus play. You know, the biggest thing is that we got to win, obviously. You know, but like throughout my journey anytime I've been named or in the category or whatever the case, cross paths with any of the grace is always humbling to know where I come from.

I love the game so much, so it's pretty cool. Again, like Belichick, new relationship. Got a little bounce. One guy's wearing the red jacket. one guy Laker gold, but it's different. It feels absolutely different. And J-MAC knows that I appreciated Lucas Talent, but I was always a little bit of a pushback on the conditioning and the defense, which Dallas eventually was as well. But I will say it again, this idea, it's almost like LeBron is showing off for Luca. He's like, hey, bro, you can

say you're the best player and you may be the best player, but this is what I'm I can do. This is LeBron. It's Lakers' extreme makeover edition. That's what it feels like. And I do think, even with AD, there was a little bit of a train to nowhere feel this year, and you have to admit, it does feel different. By the way, Belichick wore all of his eight Super Bowl rings, or however many he's got. War him last night when he was with his lady friend. Maybe LeBron needs to flex those trophies that he's got for Luca. Remind him. But it does feel like last night's a little bit of a flex. A little bit of a flex. Michael Irvin's joining us, Diana Rucini as well. I've got my Super Bowl pick. Top of next hour. Feel strongly about it. J. Max

got his as well. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the IHeart Radio app. Hey, it's us to Jonas Brothers. And guess what? We have some big news. What's the news? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast. Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there.

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I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

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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. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost

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Speaking of the NFC, there is a team in the NFC that has a play called the Tush Push. It's highly effective. Boring, they've been rewarded by it. But according to Mike Pereira, he thinks the NFL. and the competition committee may get rid of it. Now, people in Philadelphia don't want to hear that, but after that Washington commanders, Philadelphia Eagles moment in the Super Bowl,

were at one point they considered, because the commanders were jumping off sides, they were going to just award a team a touchdown, which I didn't know it was a rule until Mike Pereira on the air said it was a rule. So here's the way I look at it. The NFL, to its core, is always understood. It's a television show.

Baseball sometimes has to be reminded of it. the NBA similarly, not the NFL. They changed rules for catches in that Eagles Patriot Super Bowl. And they don't like automatic plays. They changed the kickoff this year. People thought it looked weird. We got over it. They changed the PAT.

People thought it was odd. We got used to it. In the end, especially if it's aesthetically boring. This is a television show. They're going to get rid of it. Listen, if the tush push was great TV, then rugby in America would be much more popular, because that's what it is. And I hear this, Colin, you have got to give Philadelphia credit. They invented it.

Now, they didn't invent it. They perfected it. So what? Even the IRS gets rid of loopholes that have been used for 30, 40, and 50 years. At some point, if something feels like a cheat code, IRS swoops in. The NBA did it with Hackashack. I can remember covering a Laker series against the Portland Trailblazers, and they employed the Hackashack series.

It so bothered the Lakers and their fans that Mike Dunley, the coach of Portland had to have security around it. People were enraged by it, but it was the right thing to do. Baseball did it with a defensive shift, a bit of a cheat code. A lot of guys like Bryce Harper lining out instead of getting on base. Baseball said, yeah, it works, but it makes our game more boring. We want Bryce Harper on second base, not in the dugout. That's why they did it.

Networks came to him and said, you know what, your game's getting slow, the stars aren't on base, change it. They did. Legal for a long time. So was Hackashack. And in the end, Philadelphia has been rewarded by it and has won with it,

and it's been to a couple of Super Bowls with it. They didn't stop it immediately. They didn't put their foot down. They allowed them to use it for years, But it's become very automatic and bad TV. And 90% of NFL fans watch on television not in the stands. And for industries that don't adjust like taxis, newspapers, and the Democratic Party recently, you get into trouble, right?

You got to adjust. Mark Murphy, smart guy for the Green Bay Packers, says he doesn't like it because there's really no skill involved. And that's where I think it does feel a little bit like the P.A.T. the PAT now, you get to December and January, and it's a little windy. The better kickers, Harrison Butker's fine. A lot of average kickers are not. There is skill in kicking. There wasn't a ton of skill in a professional football kicker with the old PAT. It was kind of a three-foot put for Tiger Woods. Like it just isn't challenging. PAT now, bad weather on, late October,

early November, is challenging, even for good kickers. So I like it. And remember, the NBA is seriously considering something right now that people really like within reason. The three-point shot. The NBA is considering Adam Silver. They're considering implementing new limitations and rules on something now that dominates the game. That would be like saying in the NFL, we've got too much passing. We've got a curb passing. And I agree with the NBA.

There's too many repetitive, monotonous, cookie cutter. too many threes. But this is bad TV. So was the defensive shift. So was the hack of shack. I have no problem with the lead allowing maybe two of them a game. Max. Two a game. Three pointers. Fifty in a game. 18 a game. Max. The TV product above everything else. J. Mack with the news. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right, let's start with the big game Sunday on Fox. Jalen Hertz is one of five quarterbacks to make two Super Bowls before turning 27 years old, and he'll face the last quarterback to do it in that guy named Patrick Mahomes.

The two teams met a couple years ago in the Super Bowl, and after the game Mahomes said there shouldn't be any doubters following Hertz impressive performance, and Patrick Mahomes doubled down yesterday, Colin, on the Hertz doubters. I honestly have no idea. It doesn't make any sense to me. I mean, he goes out there and has success every single year, it seems like. If he's throwing, running, whatever it is. And so I honestly don't know.

If you look at his career, it's all he does is win. And that's what the most important job in the NFL is, is to win football games. And if he's asked to make big plays happen, he makes the big plays happen. So I do not understand it. Well, as a quasi-doubter of Hertz, I'd like you to explain yourself, factor poems on the other side. Well, I don't doubt that he's gifted. Like, he's won everywhere, high school, college, and pros.

I don't doubt that he's gifted. Do I doubt that he's Lamar, Josh, Burrow, Stafford, Mahomes in the pocket? Yeah. The film doesn't lie. When you pressure him, when you pressure Brady and Mahomes, it's a nightmare. You can't blitz those two. You put pressure on Jalen Hurts. He's a bottom six quarterback in the league.

Stylistically, he's more fun to watch than a lot of the pocket guys. But I think there's a clear way to disrupt Jalen Hurts. Now, it's really hard because Philadelphia's O-Line is so good, and their running game is so substantive that the way to disrupt him is almost impossible, but he is clearly not great from the pocket under pressure. And so I think we think he's a really good player. But you're talking Mahomes' top two to three of all time. That's a different discussion.

Okay, so let's say he's not top five. He's certainly top ten. these numbers last 13 games he started and finished, including the playoffs. 13 and 0 with 33 touchdowns and one interception. Now remember. That's incredible. I'm not doubting that. But remember this.

Look at the year Sam Darnold had when everything worked. Brock Purdy put up MVP level or close numbers when Christian McCaffrey and everybody was healthy. So I think with quarterbacks, if you're a general manager, you have to make these tough decisions all the time. Joe Burroughs getting to a Super Bowl with a horrific offensive line. there. Jared Goff with a great offensive line gets like a number one or a number two seed, but in the end gets ousted. So our question is, it's not that Jalen's not talented, but this has been a DAC discussion for 10 years. Better than DAC. Well, yes, I think so too, but how much is DAC? How much

is the components? And I think Jalen's a very good player with an unbelievable supporting cast, which is what I argued about Brock Purdy two years ago. I think he's better than Purdy, but I argued it. All Hertz has to do is win the game. Just beat Patrick Mahomes, Spagnolo, Reed. And that's quite a lot of people. Yeah, yeah. All right. Next up, Colin, is the 49ers.

Well, what a disappointing season. A couple people here sitting on his desk called that, by the way. They only went 6 and 11, missed the playoffs. They did have a lot of injuries. George Kittle is saying, listen, the 49ers Super Bowl window, it is not closing. I just feel like at any moment you could kick a window wide open. Like, that's how I feel. Sure, you need good players on your team.

Yeah, but, like, you can find good players. is anywhere. And when you still have Nick Bost under contract, Fred Warner under contract, Chris McCaffrey under contract, Trent Williams, like there's still plenty of talent on this roster. I mean, Brandon I, you can't, yeah, he tore his ACL, but he'll be back. You see guys bounce back from ACLs all the time.

Like, it's not that. Yeah. Just a long injury. It's not a serious injury anymore, though. So it's just like, the talent's still there. Our coaching staff is still there. Like, we still have all the pieces. It's just, hey, let's stay on the field, run the ball and don't turn the ball over. A little easier said than done, Colin. I looked at their free

agents. Are you ready for this? Three starters on defense. Funga, Ward, and Greenlaw, all free agents. And you've got to pay Brock Ferdie. I don't think it's automatic that they bounce back. Well, when Kansas City let Tyreek Hill go to remain dynamic, they had to hit on draft picks, right? Right. 2020. And I think San Francisco's in a spot where they've got to have a really good draft, and then I think they'll be fine. I do not think it's a year that you need to be great in the draft because I don't think there's a surplus of elite talent. But if like, like Ricky Pierce, the, Pierce all the first young kid at running back, Iyuk comes back,

they should be more dynamic offensively. Christian McCaffrey's back. But I do think they're going to have to reinvent their defense. I think they should attack this draft, attack defense. Yeah. So CMAQ turns 29 in June. Okay. You think he's bouncing back and having like an amazing year? I think, I think he bounced. I know, but I think he bounced. I know. But I think he bounces back. What about the Trent Williams factor? I mean, he's collecting Social Security this summer, I think so. Trent Williams is old. Well, I think, I think

in order for this team to bounce back, outside of Bosa and Fred Warner in the box, I think you're going to move a lot of people. I think you're going to move people. I think you've got to hit on draft picks. I think it has to be a defensive-leaning draft class. I'd love to keep Huffunga, but safety is a hard guy to pay a lot of money to

when you're already paying two linebackers. One of the most interesting teams this summer. Final story, Colin, is a big story that pop thanks to Fox Sports NFL insider Jay Glazer. So the Steelers have been saying all the right things about keeping Russell Wilson. Russell Wilson has come out and said, oh yeah, I can't wait to stay here. Well, according to Jay Glazer, he believes the Steelers will move on from Russ this offseason. And before you mention a Pete Carroll reunion, Glazer said that's not going to happen.

So all of a sudden, Jay Glazer is saying Russell Wilson is a man without a team. Colin, your thoughts. Well, that makes Pete Carroll, Sean Peyton, and Mike Tomlin, three very respected veteran coaches, and his college coach at NC State. So that you can make an argument, four of his last five coaches have moved off him. So I think we both think he's a good player, but he is a fascinating player. If you just look at raw numbers, you would think he would very easily find a home and find a place to play. But there is something about veteran coaches. Is it disruptive in the locker room?

Does he connect with players? I don't have an answer. But it is strange because his numbers tell you there's still something there. And again, like a Jalen Hertz, not a great pocket quarterback. But if you don't have to pay him, I think what it comes down to with Russell is, they liked him when he was free. But they don't want to build around him. They'll go with Justin Fields, who was going into his prime, not coming out of it.

So let me give you two teams for Russell Wilson. All right. So let's start with Indy as a mentor to Anthony Richardson. He's not like a real threat. But listen, Russell Wilson is a hard worker, right? We believe that. Yeah. And he could mentor Anthony Richardson and Indy.

You like that at all or not? I don't think it's terrible. I think Donald's a better fit, but that's probably their second best fit. So this next one is a little bit of a hot take, but there's a world where Matt Stafford is not on the Rams next year. I would say the juiciest rumor I heard last night was Matt Stafford and the New York Giants could happen. Now, Malik Neighbors has come out and said, hey, we could use Matt Stafford and Cooper Cup. And there is, I think the story will come out later today. There's some connections between Stafford and Gable.

We'll see what happens. But Russell Wilson to the Rams play action quarterback for Sean McVeigh? It would, I think, if the Rams could move down in the draft in the first round and get a second and a couple extra third, that would allow them because they have about four needs. They need an extra draft pick to get a young Riley Leonard or the kid at Syracuse, Kyle McCorm. If they can manipulate and get an extra pick, I can see them saying, Russ, for a year. I mean, it may just be a camp in six games until a Riley Leonard or a McCord plays. But I don't think you can go into a season and have Russell, for the foreseeable future, replace Stafford. I don't think the fits good.

Yeah, and clearly there was a locker room. room issues, his last couple stops. We're hoping for the best for Russ. I believe he's a Hall of Famer. I don't know if you do, but a tough end to his career. Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by.

The Heard Lye News. You know, I was thinking about this. We were sitting around, throwing ideas around this morning, and I've been watching the NBA since the early 70s. I've said this before. I remember the Lakers when they had number three, Elmore Smith at center. How's that for All Time Laker trivia? I watched him in early 70s.

I remember the Jerry West, Gail Goodrich, Wilt wearing a headband. It's one of the first memories. I grew up on 70s NBA. And Wilt was a great player. But I never felt Wilt changed the NBA. I think there's only been in my lifetime. Moses Malone was a great player. George Gervin was a great player.

Kevin Durant's a great player. I don't think they changed the NBA. I think there's been six or seven guys that have changed the league. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic and Bird, Shaq, LeBron, Steph Curry,

feels like it. I thought as great as Kobe was, he was M.J. Light. I didn't think he changed the league. And I was thinking about that in football what the chiefs have become. Now, it's weird. In football, if you talk about

who's changed the league, it is always, in my opinion, it always feels like a quarterback with a certain coach. I thought Bradshaw and Chuck Knoll changed the league. Bradshaw, super talented quarterback, and a defensive-minded conservative coach. I thought Bill Walsh and Joe Montana changed the league, the West Coast offense. I think you could say, you could argue the way Jimmy Johnson aggressively made trades like nobody done before, that Jimmy Johnson and Aikman the Cowboy

team changed the league. I think Belichick and Brady did. I think Andy Reed and Patrick Wilms are changing the league. And again, just think how remarkably well-built and gifted Buffalo and Baltimore are. And it's shrinking their careers. They've been marginalized. They don't feel special, though we know in any other era, they may be the ones holding the trophies. So if you go back to that 2021 Kansas City loss to Joe Burrow at Arrowhead, since that time, Kansas City essentially wins every big game they play.

And they win many the same way, really close. And it feels like they've been on a little bit of a Tom Hanks run. I'm sure you guys all remember this. Tom Hanks had like a 10-year run, and it started with like sleepless in Seattle. It was a league of their own, Philadelphia, Forrest Gump. He went on a 10-year run that ended with about Catch Me if you can. There were no misses. Like, I mean, they were just no misses.

Every year. I mean, you almost felt guilty if you're voting for the Oscars. It's like, we've given Tom enough. And that's where I think Kansas City is. And the NFL, and you can really tell, because the NFL fans are so tribal and so passionate, basically, if you can't beat them, blame the league. That was a real Shaq Kobe thing. That was a Warriors Michael Jordan thing.

Well, the league's changing rules. It's the league. That's when you know you're at a different thing. place. And I, by the way, I felt Stephen Spielberg's a little bit like this. E.T., Jaws, Indiana, Jones. And then the breadth of his work expands with Schindler's List. And Nick Wright and I were talking about this yesterday, is that it's one thing for Mahomes when he had Tyreek Hill. And he's playing a little bit of Big 12 football with Andy Reed. They're scoring a lot of points. It's 24-point quarters. That's not what Mahomes is now. And Nick Wright talked about the growth and the breadth of what

Mahomes now creates. What is remarkable about Patrick singularly is his ability this early in his career to identify the exact type of quarterback that team needs that season or that game and be that quarterback. When he got there, it was, well, we have the 29th defense in football, so it better be bombs away at all times. They trade Tyree Kills. And it's like, okay, we still have prime Kelsey, we have good weapons, but we can't stretch the field. I'm going to dink and dunk my way to the most yards any players ever had in the season. Broke Drew Breeze's record that year, win the MVP. The last couple years, our wide receiver court last year was not good.

This year banged up. We were going to have to be a possession-based offense, lean on the defense. He can do that. I've never, it was not the only other quarterback who I saw. could do that was late stage Tom. Tom in that 14 to 18 run, and then, well, I guess further than that, you know, with Tampa, whatever version that team needed he could be, but Tom was 35 years old when that started. Patrick's 29 and already doing it. Yeah, there's no question. His self-awareness and his ability to play different ways.

Never quite seen anything like it. Diana Rossini's around the corner. Michael Urban 2. Super Bowl pick live from the Cliffsie City. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, it's Steve Kavino. And I'm Rich Davis. And together we're Kavino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, and of course the IHeart Radio app.

Why should you listen to Kavino and Rich? We talk about everything, life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world? We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture. Stories that, well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We like to get you involved, too.

Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio. Maybe the most interactive show on Planet Earth. Be sure to check out Kavino and Rich live on Fox Sports Radio on the IHeart Radio app from 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcast and, of course, on social media. That's Covino and Rich. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name?

Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name Hey Jonas, guys?

I honestly don't remember I think it was on a call about what we should call it And we were thinking I'm originally calling it One of the early names of our band Before Jonas Brothers This is how you guys remember it going down Yes I have a very different memory of this

We were talking about a thing A bit for the podcast For people could call in and say hey Jonas And then I wrote down on my little notepad Hey Jonas and offered it up as a potential title For the podcast But thanks for remembering that guys listen to hey jonas on the iheart radio app apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcast just listen

we don't care where you hear it another podcast from some s nl 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 guess s nl's mikey day and head writer streeter sidel help an acapella band with their between songs banter where does your group perform we do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen, kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets,

meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met LeVon, this went to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history.

You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told LeVan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Back to Crescent City, Diana Rusini, the Athletic Senior NFL Insider.

She's been here since Sunday. I don't even know what this, what happens after about the fourth day in New Orleans. It's much like Vegas. 24 hours. Get in, get out. Someone needs to get me out of the city because I'm having way too. much fun. It has been a spectacular week. What a host city, the food, the people, the logistics.

I hate to bring logistics up that's boring. But when they're smooth and the travel's easy and you can get around, it just makes a whole experience fantastic. And it puts everybody in a good mood, all the interviews over at Radio Row where all the stars are. Everyone's talking and happy. So things are great here in New Orleans. Pull that mic up just a little closer. Sure. Control that. Look at your podcast. Rising Star here. Learning. Learning the ways. Okay, so I want to talk about this because Philadelphia Eagle fans are saying, we invented it, no, you didn't, you're punishing us, no, we're not. The NBA with Hackashack and baseball with a defensive shift said, listen, it's bad television, it's repetitive. This is a league that moved off the kickoff.

And so I really do think that there was a tipping point for everything. And that Washington moment, Diana, where it looked like dangerous and the league almost rewarded. Philly with an automatic touchdown, I think that was a tipping point. What are you hearing by the committee? Will they change it? Well, I think there's definitely momentum. I just have a hard time believing they will actually ban it. Last year, there were a lot of conversations happening on the competition committee.

And I was told that Roger Goodell, actually, is the one who, he doesn't love it. It's not one of his favorite plays. And, you know, he never outwardly said anything to the competition committee, like, I want this ban. But the people in the room were reading it. And they're like, when the commissioner doesn't like something, usually everyone likes to abide. They decided last year, though, we're going to stick with this. Let's give it another year. And they'll go back to the drawing table here in the competition committee.

We'll discuss it again. I just don't think there's a good enough argument right now that they can make for them to ban it. The fact that the Philadelphia Eagles have been able to master it and the Buffalo Bills weren't able to do it isn't the reason for them to get rid of it. So he may not be Lawrence Taylor or Reggie White or Aaron Donald. But I do think Miles Garrett is a once-in-a-franchised player, that the Cleveland Browns will never have a defensive player that good. He is now available to the market. And I said this yesterday, Diana, Buffalo and Green Bay are very well run,

but they do not attract free agents. So Buffalo clearly is not beating. They can't stop Patrick Mahomes. With McDermott, they can't stop him. It's 35 point. Green Bay doesn't have Philadelphia's roster or the ability to attract free agents. To me, the Packers and Buffalo feel like, it's a go-for-it moment. Am I nuts?

No, you're not nuts at all. Is Cleveland going to do it? They do not want to move him. Look, I was told that this thing could get messy, right? And the reason why I can get messy, because you've got two sides on very opposite sides of what they want to do. I just spoke with an NFL agent, a high-powered one, and he said to me, while I was walking over here, he said, this is about guaranteed money, right? this is all contract. This is just the play for Miles to get more money. I said absolutely not.

This is the one case where the player truly wants to go to a team where he can go win a Super Bowl. So at some point here, both sides, they're going to have to come to a decision because Miles Gary is not going to step on that field unless he's going to get shipped out of Cleveland. So I don't know how this thing ends. I can just tell you that teams around the league are calling, they're trying, they're discussing, and they want to get their business in order before the start of the new league year in March. So they can make decisions on how they're going to spend their money in free agency, how they're going to dress.

So I think this thing is going to actually pick up over the next few weeks as we know that teams are going to want some answers here. Yeah, I mean, when you go back to the Reggie Y to the Charles Woodson moments, like free agency can be a bit of a sucker's bet, so can trades. No, this is a guy that can change a really good team like Buffalo into a team that can beat Mahomes. To me, this is a, you get this about every fourth year in the league, every fifth year. like, okay, let's talk Sequin. You were the first person to interview Sequin

when he went to the Eagles. And I remember when it happened, I said, this guy's good with the Giants O-line. This is a crazy move. Do you remember the first interview with him, and you had it, do you think he's surprised by how well it's gone? No, I don't, because the first thing he said to me about joining Philadelphia, he said when he was sitting in that room for the first time and he was looking around at the talent, he had never been around a team with that much talent. He's like, everywhere I look, there were just studs, all pros.

Penn State had a bad O-line. He'd never had a great O-line. This to him is something he has never experienced. So look at the roster, and this is a roster Howie Roseman built to win championships, okay? That is exactly the mindset that this Eagles team when they were constructing it in the off-season. And that's the way Howie has looked at it this entire time,

which is why all season I knew there was going to be pressure on Nick Siriani, no matter what they were saying, because they knew that they needed to be playing here in New Orleans this Sunday. And look, they're here. And Sequin is the reason for that. And, you know, one of my other takeaways when I was sitting with him, at this point, Harnox had already aired. So he got to see the behind the scenes on how Joe Shane dealt him and how they came to that decision and how much owner John Mayer did not want that to happen. We've seen it over and over.

It's almost torturous at this point. And, you know, I still felt in that moment, and this was right before training camp, he was still hurt by the Giants. Even though he knew he was playing on a better team, I think he was still stunned that they didn't think he was good enough for him to stay there. And while we know that's not the true reason, they believed in his talent,

they just didn't believe his worth financially. And they knew they didn't have the offensive line for him. That's the Joe Shane side to this whole thing. But to him, I think it took a minute for him to adjust from going, look, this team didn't want me, but this new team is going to take me to an experience. that I've dreamt of. And now here he is just one year later. So, you know, we're very sensitive.

When our high school girlfriends dump us, we don't forget it. He was dumped. Nobody wants to be dumped. He was dumped. And for the Giants, the new girlfriend is smoking high. Like, that's the hardest part about this, as they have to watch this. Okay, so you were at the NFL Honors last night. It's not a great college quarterback draft class.

No. Sam Darnold, until the end had a remarkable year. Kevin O'Connell gets coach of the year. Don't have a problem with that. He was terrific. Little bumpy at the end, that's life. I didn't think he had a great roster. I thought he really overachieved all year.

It is weird. Daniel Jones, J.J. McCarthy, Sam Darnold. What are they going to do? Well, the one detail you forgot is he got a new contract, right? They just extended Kevin O'Connell as well, which is always part of it, right? Because now he's got the security. He always had the belief from ownership. Right, right.

But there was definitely some whisper. about teams poking around, possibly wanting to bring Kevin O'Connell to their program. Minnesota was never going to entertain any of that. But that being said, the quarterback position that he's got so much confidence in what JJ can do. And this was even going back to training camp before he was injured. I think if JJ stayed healthy, he was going to have a shot to start, right? So now here he's going to come off this injury. Kevin shared that, you know, he's doing well.

He's ahead of schedule a bit. I think they have enough confidence in their coaching ability, in their staff, and even their defensive staff, that they can pretty much make this work with who they've got on this roster. Do I think they want Sam? Absolutely. They are not going to spend a lot of money, though, keeping Sam there. They could always tag him and trade him. But that's like 40-something million years. It's 40-something million, but you're also taking a risk, right? Because then if you can't trade him, if they want to tag and trade, then they're stuck and they're on the hook for 42 million a year. They don't want to do that. So, look, if you were to ask me if I had a guess what happens, I think Sam Darnold hits free agency. and makes good money and they move on and they try to find a way to make this work with Daniel Jones and J.J. McCarthy.

Yeah, I think Darnel will get a Baker-Mayfield contract. He deserves it. Same draft class. So, I mean, I said this. We're not going to look 20 years from now and say, you know, do you remember the year they gifted Josh Allen the MVP? But Lamar beat him in the regular season head-to-head and played much better. Lamar had a better pass-her rating. Lamar had better stats. But I do think, like I used Martin Scorsese, Goodfellas is the better movie. They gave him the Oscars for the Departed because it was like body. of work. It's a good movie. Josh had a good year. He'd had more profound years, but I do think there was a feeling like it was time. Any animosity from the Lamar fans? I mean, what was the vibe? Well, I'm a voter, so I had an opportunity to place my vote, and I went back and forth

on this for weeks, for weeks, and called GMs, head coaches. I called players. A lot of players' answers, which surprised me, was Sequot. I got a lot of lot of Sequey answers. I get it. I get it. But I just, I was laying out all the reasons why I was going to go with who I went with, which was Lamar Jackson. I went with Lamar. And the way I viewed it, it was essentially, I looked at the pieces around him, right? And you could make an argument that Buffalo had less on offense. But what

Buffalo had better than Baltimore was a defense, right? And the times that the defense let Lamar down in Baltimore, he's the one who raised the level and got them wins. And to me, that deserved my MVP vote. On top of the fact, I voted for him last year, and he was even better this last season. So I definitely think there was a feeling of it's time. We've seen Lamar do this before. It's time for Lamar to get, excuse me, for Josh Allen to get his opportunity. But I don't think that there was any animosity. I just think people were very divisive about it. I think some people were just set that it's going to be Josh Allen. Some people were going to be set on Lamar.

And you saw in the voting. It was so close. But in the end, I feel really good that I voted for Lamar. I think it was right one. Okay. Russell will say. Pete Carroll moved on, Sean Peyton moved on, Jay Glazer came out and said, Mike Tomlin's going to move on. What are you hearing? Yeah, I'm hearing the same thing. Those conversations had, they started to happen at the end of their season. They decided, all right, we're going to probably most likely stick with Justin Fields here moving forward.

Just knowing that for Russell, I don't think it was the perfect fit. I think it was a great move by Mike Tomlin and the Steelers organization to take a chance on him, see what we got. It was free. And then we saw so much success out of it. And there were blips of it. But I think in the end with who they want to be and the identity, all the reasons that we thought it was strange almost came to light now. Like the reasons why we were giving them a hard time initially of why would they bring Russ on?

Or, you know, they're going to start Russell Wilson. Remember we were all confused by that? It was Justin Fields has got this talent. They can do so much more with him. He's so much more mobile. In the end, though, I think that all came back. And now this is going to be a clean slate for them. as they make a decision moving forward.

But I think Justin Fields is going to be one that they keep on this roster. I also think keep your eye on Pittsburgh in the second third round. Riley Leonard, a little like Justin Fields, athletic, big, nice arm, young. I think Pittsburgh's in the market to draft a quarterback. It's not a great quarterback year. But in the second third round, you may get a little value in Riley Leonard. I think we're going to see some really interesting decisions knowing that it's a quarterback week draft. Diana Rusini, always fun, the Athletics.

From the Crescent City, we are live. Michael Irvin's around the corner. My Super Bowl pick as well. Thanks, Diana. It's great. Hey, guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe.

I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts.

We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL, late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert 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. Here's something that should not be as complicated as it is, getting a racist statue removed. And here's something that should be a whole lot easier than it is.

Getting a new one put up in its place. I'm Akila Hughes, and Rebel Spirit Season 2 is about both of those things. As I was watching these statues come down, I was thinking about what it meant that I grew up in a majority black city in which there were more homage. to enslavers than there were to enslave people. Listen to Rebel Spirit season two on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Turn someday into right now with Buddy by Jake Radio, nonstop workout music and expert tips 24-7.

Hey, head over to iHeart.com. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free right now. Awesome health and wellness tips 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Remember, stick to the fight. When your heart is hit, it's when things seem worse that you must not quit. Don't quit. Body by Jake Radio, where hope meets momentum. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free.

Have a great day. IHeart Radio. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.