The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 2 - Bad news for the Vikings

Episode Date: August 13, 2024

Vikings rookie QB J.J. McCarthy needs knee surgery The latest on the contract stalemate between Brandon Aiyuk, the 49ers and a potential landing spot emerging in the AFC   Guest: Nick WrightSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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

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I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfills of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the I Heart 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.

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Here we go. Hour number two, live in Los Angeles. It is The Hurt. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, thanks for making it up part of your day. Nick Wright in about five minutes. We're also going to have Mark Few, the assistant coach for the gold medal winning Team USA.

Michael Rubin, the fanatics founder and CEO, stops by, a real player in the media space, and obviously the retail space. J. Mack, this is interesting. So a few years ago, the NFL, in a very short period of time, moved the Rams from St. Louis to L.A., the Raiders from Oakland to Las Vegas, and the Chargers, San Diego, to L.A. And it was in a very short time. And I remember thinking, that's a lot of movement, and I'm not sure how it's going to work out. Well, now we have the answer how it's worked out.

The 10 most valuable NFL franchises list just came out from Sportico. Cowboys won at 10 billion. Number two, the Los Angeles Rams. If you want to know why they moved them from St. Louis, this is it. Ten years ago, when Forbes did a list, the St. Louis Rams were dead last in value. NFL upgraded. Sorry, St. Louis. Oakland, they upgraded to Vegas.

It's been a big hit. and the other teams here for the radio audience, Rams 2, Giants 3, Patriots, are the Patriots really worth $7 billion? San Francisco, Jets, Miami, Philly, Raiders, Washington. So, you've got, you know, they've got now, I will say the Chargers move has kind of felt like parallel, much better stadium, but the first couple of years were pretty clunky.

But now with Harbaugh and Herbert in tow, that will hit as, well. And so, you know, the last 10 years as baseball's had less social currency, as the NBA, despite the fact that women's basketball, men's college basketball, Olympic ratings are through the roof. The NBA got their money, but they don't have their relevance. The ratings keep going down. And what's amazing about the NFL, these valuations keep going through the roof. And both New York teams stink. Chicago, big market, Washington big market, Atlanta, big market. are forgettable. Houston until last year, a mess. And the teams winning all the games are small market, Kansas City, Baltimore, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Green Bay.

So it's amazing. Whereas the NBA really needed the New York Knicks or the Celtics to hit. NFL, the Kaepernick controversy, no impact. The CTE lawsuit, no big impact. It's the sport we watch. It's the sport we bet. And I'll go back to saying this. One of the reasons the NFL is king, and there are a lot of reasons,

they are constantly proactively changing. Baseball changes because it has to because it's losing audience and relevance. So they put in the pitch clock, which I love. But they did that because attendance and TV ratings had gone down for a decade, and network said speed the game up or else. The NFL in a power position, I've compared it to Tiger Woods, number one in the world, change these golf clubs. That's power.

The NFL makes changes annually at the kickoff, and people will complain about it, and it'll take a while in the preseason in September to get it right. But in the end, always willing to, like St. Louis Rams, won a lot of games. They had great players. The league's not going to wait for local municipalities to get it right. I defended Dean Spanos.

San Diego, they were all in for baseball. The NFL team couldn't get the right. stadium. Well, I'm sorry. It's like Cleveland. You better figure out what America likes. It's football. If you're paying homage to the local baseball team or your NBA team over an NFL team, guess what? The NFL, they'll make, they'll put the heat on you. And they'll move teams. I mean, Jacksonville, get it together. They'll move teams. Nick right now joining us live. First things first. So when you watch the Olympics, and I don't know exactly. how you felt about Steph Curry, but I've said there's no player, including Jordan or LeBron,

who has changed the game more, just shots that were audacious years ago are, you know, even now if Ant took some of those shots, you'd be like, oh, yikes. If Steph doesn't, you're surprised. I don't feel like the Olympics took him to a different place. I think I'm in the minority. I didn't think he had to beat the Celtics and win the MVP. I think he. I think he had to beat the Celtics and win the MVP. I think he's the second best point guard I've seen the magic. But do you think the Olympic and the way he closed games takes him somewhere? Well, I think it's the final piece. It's the only thing he was missing.

He had never played in an Olympic, so he obviously never had a gold medal. And, you know, Aunt had a very funny quote to Steph that Steph put on social media after the gold medal game, which is Steph showed up to Paris three days ago, making fun of the fact that he had played poorly, honestly, up until the semifinal. And then in the semifinal, he and LeBron both combined for unprecedented performances. LeBron has the second triple double in U.S. men's Olympic history.

The only other one was LeBron 12 years ago, and Steph scores the second most points in U.S. men's Olympic history, 36 to Mello's 37. And then in the gold medal game, obviously, he has as brilliant of a three-minute stretch as he's ever had in any game in his entire career. And that's on hyperbole. It is only the second time in his career. He's hit four threes in the final three minutes of a game. And the one other time he did it was in a finals loss in 2015.

They ended up coming back, obviously, and winning that series. So I don't think he had to have it. but I do think now it is a totally start to finish full resume. And where I disagree is I do think he needed that title in 2022. Or else it was kind of, step was the league MVP in 2015, best player on a champion, unanimous MVP in 26 comes back from 3-1 down on KD and the Thunder. And then the next few years are weird for him. He obviously they lose the 3-1 lead to LeBron.

Durant joins him. Steff's great, but Durant wins those finals MVPs. He misses a whole year with a hand injury, and it's like, oh, this trajectory we saw him on, is he on a different path? But that title in 2022, and then the fact that he and LeBron clearly were separated themselves from everyone else on this, the most talented team ever put together, to me, cements. It's the final piece of his legacy. Now the only thing left is for him and LeBron to get together again on a team and see how far these old guys can take it. But unfortunately, that's

unlikely, even though I think the numbers would tell us that will move the needle. America cares. You're talking about leagues being willing to change. Listen, I feel like David Stern would check a room for wiretaps and bugs and then get everyone involved and said, figure it out. Lakers, Warriors, and a third team figure it out because we need these two guys together because we can't have Steph Curry and LeBron James,

who clearly win healthy are still two of the five best players alive, have them going out in round one or missing the playoffs entirely as stepped in. It's bad for business. You know, it's funny. I think both of us fashion ourselves, if we

didn't do this, you'd play poker be in politics, but I also think you'd love to be an NBA GM. And I don't play poker. I don't play poker. I would want to be an NFL GM. I like building stuff. And I know you do as well. You just have a math brain and can do poker and I can't.

But when I watch LeBron be MVP, and what's great about LeBron now, he's the all-time leading score. He's like, you guys score. I'll just lead, furnish, I'll elevate everybody. It's such a great place for a star to be, which is, I don't need the ego of points. You guys finish. set the tempo, I'll elevate all of you, I'll lead, and if you need

me to score, I will. But as I watched it, I thought, the two things LeBron's always great with, get him shooters, and as he's aged, get him rest. If the Lakers four years ago would have said, let's get him an elite

playmaker off the bench, so we can play 60 games and 29 minutes and be great for the playoffs and three minutes to go, and just get him shooters. And it's the exact thing the Lakers don't have. It's unbelievable. If he sits, you're crossing your fingers, Austin Reeves is having one of the good nights. They have no other playmakers, and they have

no shooters. And as I watched this, I thought, if you just said, hey, LeBron, you're going to go to L.A. You're going to get a title, and another Western Conference finals appearance. You just said, okay. But I look at this and I think, it really is amazing how little help he has. Well, listen, and Anthony Davis is what's amazing is that you could have LeBron and Anthony Davis, who were, LeBron, I think, was start to finish the best player on the Olympic team, the most consistent in a leader. He was. Anthony Davis was the most consistent, big on the Olympic team.

You have those two guys. You only play five at a time, and the team's no good. And Rob Polinka sits on his hands because in Los Angeles, the best way to keep your job is to do. do nothing so you don't get blamed for a mistake. They're all so scarred by the Westbrook move, which I understand LeBron's fingerprints were on, but it's amazing how, you know, the LeBron wanted Ty Lou as his coach, couldn't get that done, wanted Kyrie as a teammate, couldn't get that done, wanted Russell Westbrook as a teammate, got it done, and now they act like he held him hostage, but regardless, they do nothing. And everyone, I think, prematurely

downgraded LeBron in the hierarchy because we're like, well, he's in year 19. He's in year 20. He's in year 21. Now he's coming to year 22. He's almost 40 years old. But I again would ask this question. If you guarantee, and I'm going to talk about over 82 games because he is at this point more of an injury risk and does fatigue.

But if I am to tell you, you can have any player in the league for a playoff run, and they enter the playoffs fully healthy. Joker has earned the right to be the number one pick. But if you say the number two pick of that is LeBron, it's a reasonable opinion to tab even as he approaches year 40. And the fact that the Lakers are more worried about a seventh grader to be named later via their 2031 first round pick than improving this roster is an abomination. it. And I feel similarly with the Warriors. When the owner of the Warriors says midway through last

year, our number one goal of this offseason is to get under the tax. What you are taking for granted is you have one of the greatest players ever and he's still great. Teams go, the Milwaukee Bucks went 50 years between all-time legendary players. The New York Knicks, it has been 50 years since they've had a legendary player. Ewing was a great player, but not a legendary player. The Chicago Bulls might go, who knows, but it looks like another at least 30 years it's been since they had a legendary player.

When you have one, you must go all in at all times. And for the Lakers and Warriors to just be like, we're fine standing pat. I think it's embarrassing. I think it's bad for the league. and I think it's an indictment on how those teams are run. The Lakers in particular, the Warriors at least have spent so much over the last few years. You get it to a degree.

But Steph's still great. And there is still, let me ask you this, Colin, because you obviously watched Magic, you know, his whole career. Meanwhile, I watched most of, you know, young Magic, you know, via YouTube, because I was not born yet. I feel like that if LeBron James said right now, I'm not. going to play four more years, and I am going to just be older Magic Johnson. I'm sorry, young Magic Johnson, not older, meaning he's not going to be the number one scorer. I'm going to run the show, make the right decision, and pass. I think he could do it. I think 40-year-old LeBron James is like rookie Magic Johnson, as far as the ability to just

kind of run things and make the right decision. And it's remarkable that if he's, you know, He wanted to have the role he had for the Olympic team for a well-run team. He'd be the best point guard in the NBA by a mile. Just like run the show, score when needed, and make all the right decisions. But he doesn't have that luxury on the Lakers. If he doesn't score 30, they don't win. Yeah. Yeah, no, I mean, we could talk about that for hours,

but I think it's, I think my takeaway on the Olympics is how can AD and LeBron be two of the top, arguable three players there and they're struggling to make the playoffs. It's hard to get your brain around. I want to talk about this. So I talked about the Aaron Rogers book. We'll all pass on that. Maybe that's down the road. But I said, if you look at the NFL, it's like I tell my kids, life's about 50% action

and then 50% reaction because we all have bad days. People get divorced. People go bankrupt. People have health issues. If you look at the NFL, it's not the action. it's that the chiefs have rebuilt their receiving core twice, their offensive line, and their defense. Their dips are like eight games. The Rams were in a total rebuild.

They're a playaway from the NFC championship. The Ravens have whiffed on draft picks. Lamar is hurt. Philadelphia. Carson Wentz contract. Awful. Doug Peterson leaves. They win a Super Bowl with Nick Foles.

If you look at the top teams in the NFL, their dips are small. They figure stuff. It's like somebody my dad used to say, recessions are garage sales for the prepared. The economy goes down. Your 401K will go down. Don't let it go to the floor. How do you react at bad times?

Good God, the Chiefs lost both tackles for a Super Bowl, right? Like, I look at the Jets, and I say to myself, it's not just that they missed on a quarterback or a left tackle. It's that because they have no identity, they brought Aaron in, and Aaron got to pick the odds. offensive coordinator. And now it's like, oh boy, now Hassan Reddick. And you're still not sure if Elijah Vera Tucker can be healthy.

And I look at the Jets, it's not that they have more problems than everybody else, but they have no identity so they can't fix it. And I look at the Hassan Redick thing, and I'm like, I almost this morning thought, okay, I'm not going to say season over because everybody has holdouts. But do you wake up with this situation and think, Oh my god, it's happening again. They're going to be a five-win team. Yeah, well, I mean, I don't know if I think they're going to be a five-win team,

but they're not a championship contender. I'm trying to be kinder with my language, because sometimes I think I get out ahead of myself. So I'm not going to say the people running the jets don't know what they're doing. What I am going to say is the people running the jets make a lot of decisions that people who didn't know what they were doing would make. They act a lot like the people who don't know what they're doing. And the idea that you are going to, in an off-season,

try to, in the shadows, you know, replace your offensive coordinator, but keep him in place, not be able to actually get that done and have it leak. I'm not saying you don't know what you're doing, but that is exactly what someone who didn't know what they were doing would do. The fact that there would be a player who is on a prestige franchise in Philadelphia, has played in a Super Bowl with Philadelphia, and has soured on Philadelphia because he wants more money.

And you would think, well, you might want more money to play for the Eagles, but you'll be happy on that salary playing for the Jets. Let's trade for him. Again, I'm not saying you don't know what you're doing, but that is exactly what someone who didn't know what they were doing would do. And so the excuses coming out of some corners of the media like Hassan Reddick misled them. What are you thinking? In what world does Hassan Reddick say $14 million on an expiring,

unguaranteed contract is not enough money. to compete for championships with Philadelphia. But it is enough money to go play for the Jets. And even if he told you, sure I'll do it, to not put any protections on the trade. Like, hey, it goes up to a second if he plays 67% of the snaps, which is in there. But it goes down to a seventh if he plays no snaps for us. They didn't even put that in.

It's like, okay, no, we'd never be misled by a player. I just, I don't get it. And I don't, I don't understand not being on the same page with Rogers on the mini-camp stuff. I don't understand not being on the same page with Rogers as the, are you or are you not playing preseason game stuff? I don't understand it. And so, yeah, I am not in a brutal AFC. I am not buying the jet stock at all. Yeah.

Nick Wright. By the way, it's a fetching outfit today. It really, honestly, it really, honestly, it. really looks like. You know, this is it, I took a chance. Oh, what does it look like? Go ahead. Well, you look like, um, somebody who owns a chain of haberdashery, uh, New York, haberdasary, uh, outlets, like, you know, and you stop by each one with a cappuccino in your hand, you walk up the street, you may even have a top hat in the cane and check it out. Top hat might be strong, but yeah, maybe a bowler. I, I like it. Yeah. So this is anytime you go three

piece and they're not all the same color. It's a chance. It doesn't always work. But at times it's like, did that guy just step out of Steve Busemi's role on Boardwalk Empire? That looks outstanding. So yeah, thank you. I appreciate that. And then juxtapose with me,

I look like I'm selling you pool equipment. I'm some slop here. I mean, that's your look, though. I mean, your look, the only thing I would say since you've been hitting the gym more lately, you almost, when it's like, when you have a real strong take, you almost should roll your sleeves up.

Like, just show the forearms and be like, we are in it today. That's just, that's the only thing I would say. Good seeing you, buddy. As always, first thing. You too. Talk to you later. Nick Wright. By the way, an update, I just got a text from two NFL players.

J.J. McCarthy, meniscus tear. Just cross your fingers on it. I'll just say that. Cross your fingers on it. You know, most young athletes, it's pretty remarkable. I think they usually rebound much faster. this may not would this cancel out his rookie season

I'm just texting and getting texts and I'm crossing my fingers because I did think I wasn't surprised by any of the rookie quarterbacks this weekend except J.J. McCarthy, I thought he moved better than he moved at Michigan. I was like, wow, he's quick. Like usually you come to the NFL and you move around, you're like, yeah, dude, that defensive end can outrun you. I thought J.J.

was really clever and really nimble. Even his interception, that happens. That's not a bad interception. Not every interception. It wasn't a bad read. It was like, you know, Jack Jones, Raiders been a great play. It's a very athletic corner. So cross your fingers.

I thought Darnold was going to start anyway. But the last thing I want to see is young quarterbacks get hurt. So that, just cross your fingers. And it's not career ending, but is it season ending? We'll keep you posted. Crossing my fingers. on J.J. McCarthy, who had a really, really pretty dynamic. I know it's preseason. I know it's vanilla coverages, but you can see it, and there was some it there,

that was pretty special. I just discovered JLab headphones. I am hooked. I've been wearing them on the last couple of flights. Look for the blue box at your airports. If you're short on headphones, go to Walmart Best Buy Target. I was in Target yesterday. A noise canceling headphones are great. Go to jlab.com. Want more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart Radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like.

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

Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. 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 C.J. 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 basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. nass, but get that thing. That man, hell get the flying, he running up the court, licking his fingers, why he got the ball, like,

after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, 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. Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva, actress, mother, lover, and a

Gen X woman walking through life one hot flash and hormonal crying jag at a time. You ladies know what I mean. I'll bet you a Paramedipausal chin here you do. So let's talk about it. Join me on my new podcast. How Hard Can It Be with the Adamaniarriva, where I call on my Gen X squads from Ohio to Hollywood

as we navigate Midlife's most fantastic BS. All of a sudden, I'd had hanginess happening on my own. I was like, what the hell is that? I was married when I had her, so I didn't even consider how empty that nest was going to be. Mood swings, night sweats, fupas, sex drive. Wait, what sex? Dating at first.

45. How hard can it be getting naked at 50 with the new guy? That one's kind of hard. Well, that's lighting. They say we can't polish a turd, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with laughs, tears or tears of laughter, and dive into it, unfiltered and unbothered and ask, how hard can it be? I cannot believe I'm about to say this out loud in public. Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Diana Maria Riva as part of my Cultura Podcast Network available on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey everyone, it's Ryder Strong and Will Ferdell from PodMeets World. And now the Pod Meets Twirled podcast. We're two men who were completely clueless to reality TV,

who now have covered Dancing with the Stars, traitors, and we're gearing up for the season finale of Survivor. So yeah, now we're experts. I know we annoyed a lot of our listeners by our severe lack of survivor knowledge. That is the point of this show. I'm just going to remind you. I have watched some Survivor. I obviously haven't watched enough.

Did people not like it? Like what was... Yeah. Just because we... Yeah. We'll be recapping the big conclusion at the 50th season from the final attempts at gameplay

to the desperate pleas of finalists to a bunch of... Ha, hoo. Ha ha, ooh. Again, we are experts. So make sure to tune into PodMeets Twirled for all our Survivor 50 takes. Listen to Pod Meets Twirled

on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Mark Few, talking about Steph Curry, LeBron James and the like in our last hour, Coach of Gonzaga, who's been part of that Olympic experience multiple times. Michael Rubin, fanatics founder and CEO. It kind of feels like the Amazon of sports to me.

They're dabbling in all sorts of things. J-MAC with the news. No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. You know, our audience wants you to tee up a Jason Tatum question for a few about not playing against Serbia. I'm not saying you have to. I'm saying the audience.

He was, for the record, I said this yesterday. Jason Tatum was 0 for 16 on jumpers. When is Jason Tatum responsible for Jason Tatum? So was he benched for missing shots or just because he was the I think Brad Stevens, this is where Celtic fan, you want to blame

Steve Kerr. What is Jason Tatum the best at on that team? Nothing. He's not the best shooter, the best defender, the best ball handler, the best leader, the best shot blocker, the best defender, the best size, and when you're playing with the world's best, and you're looking for the best shooter and the best leader, and the best most dynamic athlete, and the best,

the best guy, Durant, what's Tatum the best at? You've been on this top five Tatum thing. I'm a bump that wasn't here yesterday hearing his take now. Wow. I've been on this for years. He's much closer to the 10th best player than the fifth. And that's still amazing. But there's also something with his personality. is that a lot of times you'll put a guy who's considered an alpha or his job's an alpha, and you'll put him around other alphas and he shrinks, and he's just quiet, and he doesn't. And, you know, Larry Bird's legend for going into the shooting contest, walking into the room and saying, hey, which one of you guys is planned for second place?

I mean, Aaron Rogers in the book, Ian O'Connor, it's just pokey called Farr. Hey, Grandpa, good to see you. Like, there's guys that are just, they put it out there, and they're content. and they're alpha. Dana White, like you push on Dana, he's pushing back a thousand times harder. Jim Harbaugh.

And then there's guys that you get him in that space, and it doesn't mean they're less of a human being, but they don't gravitate to it. I think Jason tends to be very collaborative, and Olympic teams are looking for the best blank, and that team had a lot of people. The most athletic was Ant. Catch and shoot Durant,

three-point shooter, step, leader, LeBron, Defender AD. And there's a lot of bests. And then it was like Tatum's really good at everything. Oh, okay. All right. Sounds like yesterday's show was good. I'll have to listen to the pod online.

Please do. And I disagree greatly with all of that. Anyways, all right, let's get started with this bummer of an injury for J.J. McCarthy. The knee soreness, and now they're saying surgery for a torn meniscus. Listen, all the internet doctors out there are all over the place with the meniscus. Could be anywhere from four weeks to 12. We don't know yet is the bottom line. No timetable, according to the Vikings.

McCarthy tweeted out, Love you Viking Nation. I'll be back in no time. And I got to brush up on my Latin. Amor Fati, which apparently translates to love of fate or love of one's fate. Who knew McCarthy was such a Renaissance man?

I'm just curious. I don't think there's the worst thing in the world for the Vikings. McCarthy was not going to start. I think this elevates Sam Darnold. I know you're a big fantasy football player. Fantasy football, Sam Darnel. He's going to put up numbers this show. I'm just telling you guys.

Well, my take is this is not the way I want J.J. McCarthy to sit. Carson Palmer sat. Mahom sat. A lot of guys, a lot of great player. Brady sat. Roger sat. Jordan Love sat. I have no problem.

You start looking at that first seven weeks of that schedule. I'd rather Sam Darnold face it than J.J. McCarthy anyway. So if he comes back, I mean, that. That early schedule is daunting. I don't know. Where? Giants? Niners, Texans, Packers, Jets, Lions, Rams, Shane Stuyken.

Yeah, dude, you don't, you get a break very early with the Giants. You don't get another break until Week 11 with Tennessee. I don't want to face Shane Stuyken and Anthony Richardson, no thanks. I'll take the points at home against the Texans. I'm sure Houston will be favored. Give me Minnesota in that one. I'm already looking at the card week three. I'm past week one and two.

I've done the whole word. Well, I've told you. I'm not doing. You are doing. We discussed this. No. Remember the West put it online and the fans voted like 80%. Yeah, that's what they want.

I just wanted to know what they're... I want to know. I don't care what you think. I just want to know. What I'm just saying is the fans deserve a chance to win money in a blazing five, and week one will be a stink. We'll call it the Blase Five, right? Isn't that what the new nickname is for week one? I'm still on the fence.

I've told management, management pushback. People love it. said, well, they love me, period. So let's get over that whole Blazing Five runs the show. Cowhert, boy, all right. I'm trying to remain calm over here. Some of these takes. Anyways, Justin Herbert, listen, this news sucks, and nobody's really talking about it.

This, he's still in a walking boot, man. This is not great. The expectation is he'll be ready for the week one opener, but this is not an ideal start to Jim Harbaugh's tenure. He stressed that there's been very significant work done off the field by Herbert, and he's doing anything and everything to get himself ready. Remember, his scrambling ability is one huge aspect to his game. Because he is fast.

I mean, there's a big, strong, strapping dude. I'm not going to try to guess what Herbert's availability is for the opener. But, yeah. Easton Stick has been around a while. You win a game with Easton Stick. You win a game with him. You know, he's sitting in the studio right now. You don't even recognize him.

Easton Sticks right now. Come on, you wouldn't even know that guy if you showed up at your house today. I would because I know the Chargers roster. Easton Stick? Yeah. I would. They're getting smoked without Justin Herbert in week one. If Easton Stick is the guy.

I hope that's not the case. But this is one of the underplayed stories, I think, right now in the preseason. You can get all excited about guys against vanilla defenses. I'm going to tell you something. Easton Stick could beat the Panthers or the Raiders. I don't. My take. You're not just going to go into Carolina and get Ws this year.

That team is going to be feisty. Why? Because that's what people have. been doing for seven years. Yeah, that's also true. Yeah, I don't even know if they're beating the Raiders. No home field of it. Raiders 60% of fans of SOFi in the open.

And now you got Justin Herbert out, Easton Stick in? Oh, boy. This is not good. Come on, Chargers. Finally, Jamar Chase and the Bengals. Look at this. Where's the headlines here? They remain at an impasse.

The star receiver holding in at training camp, not practicing. Zach Taylor gave an update saying, we'll just keep taking it day by day. Adding the two have had good conversations, but it doesn't sound like Chase will return to the field any time soon. Huh, CD Lamb, all these wide receivers,

all the drama. I'm telling you right now, it's the same positions, it's a lot of wide receiver drama. Not great. I might have to back up my Bengals Super Bowl. bowl take. This is not the NBA where the players, the teams always cave.

Like they don't, and they shouldn't. Well, they will. Fine, you want a friendly wager? Jamar Chas is on the field week one. Caving on Brandon Ayuk. They've set a number and we're not giving you more. IuK. Chase, though. He's not. No, but he's good.

If you take Jamar Chase off the Bengals, are you even watching? Like, they're not like a top five game any week. I mean, Jamar Chase is a superstar. He was a really good player. They might struggle against a If Joe Burrow is upright with T. Higgins, you're going to beat the Patriots, Washington, Carolina, the Giants, Cleveland. You're going a lot of games.

I thought you had Washington in the playoffs there. I still think Cincinnati is with Burroughs better. But let's be real. A lot of doubles on that schedule with or without Jamar Chase. There's more with him. But remember, in Vegas, Draft Kings would say he's worth a point. Joe Burroughs worth like nine. Well, I don't know.

What was it? Jake Browning, the Washington? He was very good last. They were competitive down to the end. Very good. Very good. Look at that. Does that look like a franchise quarterback?

Yes, he does. Okay. He looks, he did a little Paris this offseason. He's got a little bougie thing going on there. New drip, as the young kids say? Yeah. So I like Jamar Chase, but you can win a lot of games in this league with Joe Burrell, smart coach, good defense, T. Higgins.

Zach Taylor, is smart? I think he's pretty good coach. I've interviewed him. I think he's smart. Dan Campbell or Zach Taylor, who you want is your head coach? They're totally different people. Exactly why I asked. I would say situationally, Zach Taylor, culture building, Dan Campbell.

It's just like you're asking me, you're asking me, do I like, you know, opinionist or play-by-play guy? What if they're both excellent at what they do? So I like Zach Taylor, I think situationally is very smart. Culture building, Dan Campbell's really good. He's very Mike Tomlin. The guys run through a wall for him. Remember last year when I said Campbell was like a bottom 10 coach and you bit my head off? Who?

I was wrong, yeah. Cambell. I'm all in on. Well, situationally, he's not my favorite. He gets very into, he gets very emotional. I don't love that. Don't make emotional decisions. Well, sometimes you have to.

I'm not anti-emotion. Good luck with that. I just think in football games, final drive of the game, want to scale back on throwing chairs at people and be level-headed. Yeah. Uh, Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. Thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lie News.

You know, this isn't pay-per-view. Our last hour is so good. We could charge you for it. Mark Few and Michael Rubin and me. I mean, honestly, we should put this behind a paywall and just say, you know what? At this point, we're just giving this stuff away for free. I'm not sure we should be doing it. That's how I see it.

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. What's up, everybody. It's me, three-time Pro Bowl of LeVar 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. TJ Hushmanzada and Plexicoe Burrits on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast from. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds.

I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions,

my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all 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. nass. But get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running the court licking his fingers why he got the ball. Like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, 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. Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva, actress, mother, lover, and a Gen X woman walking through life one hot flash and hormonal crying jag at a time.

You ladies know what I mean. I'll bet you a Paramedapausal chin here you do. So let's talk about it. Join me on my new podcast. How hard can it be with the Adamaniariva, where I call on my Gen X squads from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate midlife's most fantastic BS. All of a sudden, I'd had hanginess happening on my own.

I was like, what the hell is that? I was married when I had her, so I didn't even consider how empty that nest was going to be. Mood swings, night sweats, fupas, sex drive. Wait, what sex? Dating at first. 45. How hard can it be getting naked at 50 with the new guy? That one's kind of hard.

That's what? Well, that's lighting. They say we can't polish a turd, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with laughs, tears, or tears of laughter, and dive into it, unfiltered and unbothered and ask, how hard can it be? I cannot believe I'm about to say this out loud in public. Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Diana Maria Riva as part of My Cultura Podcast Network available on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey everyone, it's Ryder Strong and Will Ferdell from PodMeets World.

And now the Pod Meets Twirled podcast. We're two men who were completely clueless to reality TV, who now have covered Dancing with the Stars, traitors, and we're gearing up for the season finale of Survivor. So yeah, now we're experts. I know we annoyed a lot of our listeners by our severe lack of survivor knowledge. That is the point of this show. I'm just going to remind you. I have watched some Survivor. I obviously haven't watched.

enough. Did people not like it? Like what was just because we? Yeah. We'll be recapping the big conclusion in the 50th season from the final attempts at gameplay to the desperate pleas of finalists to a bunch of again. Again, we are experts. So make sure to tune in to PodMeets Twirled

for all our Survivor 50 takes. Listen to PodMeets Twirled on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Sunday, the NFL preseason kicks off on Fox. as the Saints take on Brock Purdy and the Niners. It all begins Sunday at 8 p.m. Eastern on Fox, the home of Super Bowl 59.

Okay, here's a story for me in Rappaport. Brandon Ayuk, talented receiver for the 49ers. The Steelers and Niners have a deal in place. Sources say if San Francisco gives the final sign-off, it's done. But San Francisco has an offer out to Brandon Ayuk as well. I'm sure it's just not as much. and so what would I do if I was Brandon Iuke? And I'm not telling players on a regular basis to take less,

you're going to get more open, more often, and win more games in San Francisco. You could probably make more money in Pittsburgh. Either choice is fine. I mean, do you want to be playing in games in January and February or watching them on TV? It may not matter. Brandon Iukes like, hey, I can make, you know, if I can make $17 million more over the course of four years, I'll take the money. I'm not against it.

But what's happening, and people are confusing, the value of wide receivers, which has been enhanced over the last decade because of rule changes with, you've got to have a number one. And you don't. If one of these two, San Francisco draft picks, the fourth of the first round receiver hit, then you'll have them, Jennings, Debo, McCaffrey, Kittle, Trent Williams, Purdy, you can win a Super Bowl. I think having a number one receiver totally overvalued, having weapons undervalued. And I'd say this, I like, I, you know, if I was Brandon Nyuk, I watch, when you watch the Rams play, why is Cooper Cup wide open? Everybody knows he's great. Why is Pooka Nakuwa wide open?

Schemes. Why is George Kittle wide open? Schemes. Why is Pittsburgh struggle sometimes to get pickings the ball, lack of schemes. So when you play with these, it's, it's like having a good boss at work. Or you're a salesperson. What are you selling? If you have a good product, you're selling.

selling Viagra or heart medication, you're going to make a lot of money as a pharmaceutical sales person. You got the right products. If you're a wide receiver in this league, it just, who your coach is matters. You see a lot of wide receivers get frustrated. They're not getting the ball. Stefan Diggs, defensive coach. Pickens, upset.

Defensive coach. Defensive culture. Buffalo, even with Josh Allen, is a defensive culture. Right? You look at these wide receipt. Justin Jefferson, they can't get their quarterback right. He likes Minnesota, offensive coach. Everybody in L.A., offensive coach.

I mean, they've taken draft picks for the Rams, Tutu Atwell, that looked like a bust, and they've made him functional. So do you want to win games? Do you want to be open more? You know, it's also, if you go to Pittsburgh, Pickens is more talented, I would argue, than Brandon Ayuk, in terms of raw talent. And so now you've got two guys that want the ball. Debo is not taking snaps or completions from you.

On San Francisco, you're the deep threat. You're the over-the-top guy. And that's a good place to be. Pickens and Iyuk share some of the same abilities deep. So, you know, it's, it is what it is. I'm not, you do what you got to do. But I'm telling you, you look at wide receivers, the really good offensive coaches, scheme them open.

But for a lot of guys, and I get this, not everybody loves football. They like what football gives you. And it can give you a lot of money and fame. And I'm not judging you. Do whatever you want. A lot of people get into local news. I work with 20 weathermen. Some loved weather.

Some wanted to be on television. Both work. So I think leaving Kyle Shanahan is an offensive player. Like Christian McCaffrey was good in Carolina. Now we say he's the second best running back behind Peyton. Kyle's part of that. I mean, Cam Newton never had back-to-back winning seasons. Do you think that would have been the case with Sean McVeigh as his coach or Shanahan?

So that stuff matters. I've said before in our business, don't chase money. I mean, once you get older, take everything you can get. But there's a lot of money. Find good management. That's rare. Finding a great offensive coach, Andy Reid, Shanahan, McVeigh, who can elevate everybody on the office.

offensive roster. There's just not many of those guys, man. Sean Payton, there's like six in the league. Shane Steichen. Every quarterback's his best with Shane Steichen. He leaves. Now we're not even sure if Jalen Hertz is the guy. Are you surprised we're not hearing about compensation from Pittsburgh? Because I'll tell you right now, Steelers

fans will, I mean, they'll go to the facility with pitchfork if they're giving up two first round picks for Brandon Ayuk and paying him $35 million. There's no, I think there's, we're not hearing about the compensation for a reason. I don't think the Niners are getting that much. There's no way

they're getting two first, Colin. No, I think you give up a first and you cross your fingers, the Debo stays healthy, and one of these draft picks is productive. Receivers a position, you can be pretty productive. Pukinaku is Tank Dell, pretty productive, right out of college. So,

again, I like Brandon Ayuk, I think more than most people, and he's going to get rich either way. But I just, when I look at this stuff, and my take is, we have in the NFL, if you're the highest paid quarterback, you don't win Super Bowls. Right.

So some guy, I've always said, if you're a big strong guy that doesn't get hurt, Josh Allen, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, take a little team-friendly deal, play the long game, you'll make your money in endorsements. If you're Jalen hurts, Lamar Jackson gets dinged up a lot, Tua, Kyler Murray, take the money. Burrow, Joe Burrow, Joe, take the money. You've got so many injuries. It's different for everybody. And so for Brandon Ayuk, I'm like, bro.

So, okay, the last player that I can think of, Colin, who did one of these holdouts, so you're not giving me my money, I'm sitting, was Lovian Bell. And it ended so spectacularly badly for him that why don't the 49ers just call Ayuk's bluff and say, listen, man, sorry, you got to play for us. You're under contract, come and play. And if he sits out the whole season, that's a lot of fines. That never goes well for the player. Why would you trade him now?

It just doesn't make any sense to me. That first round pick is still going to be there after. coaches don't want a disruptions or noise in the locker room and that's that's you things go sideways you have a two game losing streak and all of a sudden he's disruptive and now you've got to move him and player the locker room takes sides the young players are on his side the old you know a george kittlin and trent williams christia mcalfrey they want to ring those guys want to ring young guys are like pay the guy so you can have a divided locker room you know billy martin the late great baseball manager used to say uh you know like half the people in the locker room love you and half hate you

just keep the undecideds away from the ones that hate you. Like it was something thereabouts is that your locker rooms get divided very quickly. You go in a losing streak. The young guys want to see him get paid. The old guys are like, I've been in this league 12 years. I got $300 million in the bank. I want a trophy. Can we just win a championship?

We want a trophy. So even in locker rooms and the Niners have been noisy this offseason. So it's not easy. Well, Brandon Ayuk has been noisy. Trent Williams is less noisy. Yeah. And again, there's a lot of different ways to get your money in fame. I think it's very hard as a wide receiver.

I would struggle leaving some of these offensive coaches. There's about five in the league, and they just make everybody better. And I think Kyle's one of them. But again, if the numbers come out, and IUC makes $22 million more as a stealer with less taxes in Pennsylvania than a nineer, it's hard to not justify the move. Like I would get it then. Ayuk is the first known man to ever wanted to play for Arthur Smith, the new offensive coordinator. Now, come on.

That's a fact. Nobody ever wants to play for this. I don't think he's had some pushback some pushback wait let me just check is he the one who was champion of that quarterback who was the quarterback who was the quarterback? Well it didn't work out

yeah yeah he was like that's my guy that's my quarterback well you gotta say stuff publicly sometimes you have to say certain things born on third base Arthur Smith well come on now let's not go there he very respected hour three we're going to put it behind a paywall next

Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, 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 podcast. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast'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. podcasts. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me.

I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it, with our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people.

Listen to Look Back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me. Clivert Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits,

my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfills of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

So let's get to it. Listen to The Clivert Show on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hardway with your favorite therapist and host Kear Games.

This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor? It signals to the world that you not to be played with. And just because you have the capability, that does not mean that you need to.

Listen to learn the hard way on the IHard radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHart podcast. Guaranteed human.