The Herd with Colin Cowherd - HOUR 2 - Herd Hierarchy, NFL

Episode Date: October 25, 2022

Colin's new Herd Hierarchy after week 7 of the NFL What can the Patriots do to help Mac Jones and Bailey Zappe? Thoughts on what the Packers can do to improve   Guest: Thomas DimitroffSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, FS1. It felt like a year ago. Everything was just sunshine in Los Angeles. Rams are struggling. Chargers are struggling. Dodgers out of the playoffs. UCLA got boat race this weekend. Whoa is us.

Well, at least we have the Lakers, Colin, right? Lakers 0-3. Everything looks great for the Lakers. One of the great things about sports, Penn House Outhouse, really quick. You know, I mean, it's like here in Los Angeles, what happened to our teams? USC's back, win, please.

Laker fans are begging to get Kyle Kuzma back, KCP, Danny Green. They would love to have those guys back over that Russell Westbrook character. Yeah, that's, you know, I made up a rule this year. I was not going to blame Russell Westbrook for the Lakers. workers problems. Nor should you. This will be like the eighth straight year. Their bottom 10 and three point percentage. He is a symptom of a bigger problem. And it's, by the way, I've said this about some politicians who I didn't like. They're not the problem. They're not the issue.

They're just a symptom of the polarization of America. You're rewarded now by being polarizing and a lunatic is a liberal or conservative. You're just, you can blame the individual, but we allow it now. It works on cable TV. You get a rating. Everybody talks about it. You get rich. It's what gotten it's a mess. The polarization's a mess. So here we go. Our top 10 teams in the NFL, it's dicey, but here we go. Heard hierarchy.

Time is now, let's go. The top 10 NFL teams, according to college. Number 10. Baltimore Ravens. I'm not going to bet them anymore, but there's only two teams in the league that have led every game by 10 plus points. The Eagles and the Ravens. Second best rushing team in the league.

They lead the NFL with 14 takeaways. They do multiple things that winning teams do. They have not played well late in games. But only the Eagles have led every game by 10 points. I love their coach. I think their quarterback's really good. They have an offensive philosophy. They got to wrap things up better, but I have the Ravens at 10.

Number nine. The Niners, okay, no team has fewer three and outs. They played like crap Sunday. but they've got 24 sacks, only the Cowboys have more, and that's missing Boa for most of the year. Bosa, excuse me. They have the number three total defense. Again, their traits are excellent.

They're a mess physically, and they caught a buzzsaw in Kansas City. But Trent Williams and Nick Bosa both returned. They're getting a couple of starters back. McCaffrey will be inserted into the offense more. Listen, they got humiliated in the second half by Kansas City. Yeah, it happens like seven, eight times a year. Niners number nine. Number eight.

The Cowboys. Listen, they're allowing 4.7 yards of play. That's second best in the NFL. That has always been to me a huge stat. I don't want to hear about DAC. This is all about the defense. They're 29th in total offense with Cooper Rush and Dak. They're 30th and third down offense.

They're not much offensively. We don't love their coach. But you know what? In the end, you can win a lot of games in this league with a ferocious playmaking defense. and that's what the Cowboys have. Best Sack differential in the league. A lot of turnovers. They get you off the field.

Cowboys at number eight. Number seven. But I think the Giants would beat him head to head. They have become the best second half football team in the league. The Giants are a great second half football team. They're the second best rushing team in the league. They're on a four-game winning streak. And Brian Daibble, situationally, has done a remarkable job.

They're not going to blow a lot of teams out. I mean, they're going to win close. That's what they are. That's what they have. Now they're missing one of their tackles. But I like what I see. I cannot wait to see them face the Seahawks this weekend in Seattle. I think that game is fascinating.

Are they a couple of pretenders? Nope. I think the Giants will go on the road and win that game. I do. Giants number seven. Number six. I like the Miami Dolphins when two is healthy. Let me explain this.

They're four and O this year when two is healthy. in the last 12 games with Tua. They're 10 and 2. 10 and 2. Only Buffalo and the Chiefs are better, right? That's what 10 and 2 means. They're number 3 in passing. You know who's ahead of them?

Buffalo and Kansas City. They have a brilliant coach. Great corners. A pass rush. A great left tackle. Capable running backs. Star receivers. When Tua starts, despite his limitations,

they win and win and win. Now, will he see? stay upright, cross your fingers. But if you start 12 times in the NFL and you win 10 of them, that's who you are. That's not luck or magic. Miami at 6. Number 5. You know I love me, the Vikings.

Lower ceiling than Miami because they don't quite have some of the playmakers, but their only loss came on the road to Philadelphia. You know exactly what they are. Take away the loss in their wins. Kirk Cousins got a 98.5 quarterback rating. And that's exactly what he is. He's a pretty darn good B quarterback, sometimes B plus. Their offense, three touchdowns, plus in three of their last four games,

they don't blow people away like the Giants because they can't blow people away. That's not what they are. But they win a lot of football games. They appear to be very well coached with an offensive rookie head coach. I think they're the New York Giants with more speed on the perimeter. That's what I think they are, and I have the Vikings at five. Number four. The Bengals.

You guys all sold your stock. I bought it. You thought those Bitcoin guys were rich. I bought all your stock. Listen, their three losses are by a combined eight points. They have, after the bills in Kansas City, they're the best third down team in the league. And listen to this. This defense is the most underrated in the league by a mile.

They have not allowed a second half touchdown all year. That's insane in this league. Maybe in the 70s, 80s that happened when it was a running league. I think they have a great defense, but they don't have a lot of stars, so nobody talks about it. I have the Bengals at four. Number three. Philadelphia. What do you want me to say?

Top five scoring offense, top five scoring defense. They don't turn it over. They take it away and they have 13 rushing touchdowns. I didn't think Nick Seriani was going to be this good. I didn't think Jalen Hertz was going to be this good, but I'm not going to be stubborn. They had a great offseason. GM Howie Roseman did a remarkable job. They finally got receivers right.

Last couple of years, they just couldn't get wide receiver right. They had a couple of whiffs in the draft. They got the wide receiver position right. I worry about they're a little old sometimes on the O line, but O line, D line, maybe the best combo in the league. I have Philadelphia very well deserved at number three. Number two. I have Kansas City too, and here's why.

Opposing quarterbacks against the Chiefs this year have 104 passer rating. Jimmy Garoppolo had opportunities. Lots of them. that's why Josh Allen and Joe Burrow against the Chiefs concerns me, is I worry about their past defense. I think the people inside the Chiefs have come to this. Hey, we're not going to let people keep the ball away from Mahomes. So they have really in the offseason decided we're not going to let you run on us.

But they had to give up something for that. One of them was a corner to San Francisco and now you can throw on them. And I don't think that's good news with Burrow and John. Josh Allen and the AFC, they're a great team, brilliant people all over it. But they are susceptible with that secondary and a hit and miss pass rush to lose some close games. Number one. I think the bills are the most talented team in the league. Only team averaging 300 plus passing yards a game, the most physically gifted quarterback

in the league, averaging 6.6 yards, a play. A play. They're 65% to a first down by the time they get to second. third down offense, fantastic playmaker. They can play with a lead. They can play from behind. And they do appear to have solved their hole, which was, I didn't trust them in close games. Well, I've seen them in a couple of close games with Kansas City with Baltimore.

And they've won those games. I think it's Baltimore, right? So that was the thing I worried about. I thought Kansas City was better in close games. You don't have to be great, but it can't be bad. Well, it looks like they've solved that issue. Buffalo number one in the NFL. How about that?

You want me to give you a gripe or no? By the way, who's 11? Who's 11? It sure is hell of me the Jets. I have the Jets at 11. All right. So the only quibble is, so Dallas goes to New York,

beats the Giants with their backup quarterback Cooper Rush, and they're still behind the G-Men. But I think the Giants with a young coach, are improving. I feel like the giants are more ascending. I think the cowboys are what they are. That's about their best shot. I think teams over the course of a year.

Remember, this is not standings. The other network does that. Everybody's top tens and all these networks are standings. You can lose and move up. I mean, I still like San Francisco. I think this week with McCaffrey, when they face the Rams, they'll use McCaffrey more. You can win, I can move you down.

These are not standings. I feel good about it. and I love the fact that I was on Minnesota and Cincinnati before everybody else. I love it. I think Minnesota's got a ceiling, but I just love. I love what Cincinnati's doing right now. I'm with you. I like the Vikings.

But football outsiders who look at the advanced metrics, efficiency, they have the jets ahead of the Vikings significantly, I should point out. The Vikings are like the 19th best team in the league. Oh, 19th. 19th. Vikings are the 19th best team in the league. What's that website? Is it called out of business.com?

What is it called? Football outside. Hey, it's great for gambling. They don't pay me. I got nothing against football outside. The Vikings are not the 19th best team in the league. I'm going to say that right. I'm going to go on record saying.

The efficiency stats say they are not very good. Now, the Titans are, I think they're five and two or something, four and two. Unwatchable. They're like 27. I can't watch that whole division. Thomas Dimitra, former GM, NFL, director of scouting, Patriots, Falcons. Okay. So let me ask you this.

this. The Christian McCaffrey trade. I said this. Not everything life is a value proposition. Steve Ballmer bought the clippers and people said you overpaid and he said, I wanted to own a basketball team. It was available. So I bought it cash and I'm not selling it. So it probably wasn't worth what I bought it, but I'm not selling it. It's in my family forever. If you like a Tesla, buy a Tesla. You're not getting it cheaper for sale. If you like something and I think they looked at McCaffrey and thought, listen, we're going to draft at the end of these rounds. We have a stacked roster. How many starters are in this draft for it? He makes us better tomorrow. As a GM, you gave up a lot of picks for Julio Jones.

And my takeaway was, he was a star. If I recall you talking about it was the highest graded receiver in a decade. And you were like, we want him. So what did you make of the Niners move? It didn't bother me. Everybody freaked out. That's a great point. Did not bother me at all. Lynch, Kyle Shanahan, they know their world better than anyone. So we can all have our opinions. They know the direction they want to go. They know what's going on in. They're building injuries at whatever level they know where they're going. And 100 percent, it was a big move. I thought that Carolina Panthers did a heck of a job with it, but I don't mean to play both

sides of the fence. What they're doing in San Francisco with that move is bringing a player in there that Kyle will utilize. And we know Kyle will utilize his talent. And he does a hell of a job with that. You know, Seattle, I've been critical of Seattle, but their draft was insane. They got a star left tackle, a star running back, a star corner, a starter on the edge. The right tackle looks like he's a starter for a long time. And it's amazing. When you hire the right coordinator, have a great draft, you can turn around things fast, is the whole Russell Wilson trade. I didn't like it. And now today Pete looks like a genius, right? Have you ever had a draft?

I mean, I thought the Seattle draft on paper now looks literally like perfect execution. Is some of it luck? I mean, you tell me they hadn't drafted brilliantly for five previous years. When you come out of a draft, did you ever feel sometimes occasionally with a player? God, he's better than we thought. We got a little lucky. He fell to us. Oh, there's no question that happens often, Colin.

And I think when you look back at Seattle, it's interesting because John Lynch and Pete Carroll, work together so well as head coach and GM. They know, again, they've talked a lot about it. And they know their world with, with a guy who was in the Pro Bowl, what? How many years? Nine years, Russell Wilson, they knew it was time. In this league, remember, you're, you love the GM role. You're going to be there one day. We'll keep watching. I'll be interested to see which one of these guys pulls you off, pulls you off the board. But the idea of moving a guy that's so important to your organization, you know it again as the team builders there were probably many layers to that as we know that's not talked about it can't be talked about they did the right thing look i i've been public about saying that denver i liked what george peat did because i think that organization needed what they needed with russell wilson but make no mistake about it seattle did what was necessary it's looking genius like at this point and and kudos to both pete and and john on that move you know um listen i've been critical

of Aaron Rogers, but, you know, generally speaking, what teams do, guys like you do, you get Steph Curry in the NBA, and you realize here's what he does, and here's what he doesn't. We're going to build around him. And so, Steph Curry's not a great defender. So they get Draymond Green, they get Clay Thompson, they get Andrew Wiggins, they surround him with guys who can defend. So you can't expose them and you can keep them on the floor. If you have a quarterback, you know, Tua, by the way, I'm not saying Tua's great, but you

get guys that are good like Bucon. Tyreek Hill. You can get the ball to him fast. Get a left tackle. Get him an offensive coach. A lot of guys, Jalen Waddle, you can get the ball to him quickly. I look around and I don't know. I guess my point here is I look around at New England today. Bailey Zappy, Mack Jones. And I'm not sure what their strength is. I'm not sure what I have to do. They're not overly mobile. They don't have big arms. They're not big physically.

I look at New England and think they're kind of trapped. Do you, do you see a little bit of that? You know, it's interesting. I don't see them necessarily as trapped. I think it's fun to watch that fan base rally around Zappi, of course, how quickly they forget. Can I make a categorical statement here? I don't know where you stand on this. The fact that they lost their coordinator, offensive coordinator, to a head coach,

coaching job. And I think Josh McDaniel is one of the most genius. And I don't throw that word around a lot. Genius like as it pertains to football and play calling, he did a marvelous job with the organization last year. Now they're in a different situation, taking nothing away from the play call. I don't mean that, but I am saying they knew what to do with their talent. To your point about Miami, put the guys in the right spot to capitalize because there are so many shortcomings within the league at certain levels on these rosters that you have to capitalize. Bill Belichick has always been great in utilizing his talent. If a player did two or three things right, he would capitalize on that.

Normally, that's what happens there. Right now, it's been complicated, of course. Yeah. So trade deadlines coming up. Aaron Rogers' history tells us he doesn't love young receivers. For the record, either did Brady. Brady liked his guys. It took him years to make Edelman work.

Years. It took Randy Moss was an outlier for him. It took years for Aaron to make Devonte work. A lot of guys, these veteran quarterbacks, they don't want to make mistakes, they trust older guys. At the trading deadline, I would go get a Chase Claypool. I would overspend for him. Aaron's got probably two years left. He talks retirement every other week.

I think you have to, this isn't working. His psychology is not mentoring and fatherly and I'm going to help you kids grow. Thomas, that's not who he is and that's identifiable. How much would you give up if you're Green Bay to go get a Chase Claypool or a legit, a bad team with a good receiver, a DJ Moore, a Chase Claypool? Historically, I have not been a big fan in making those strong trades during the season. That said, I understand things have changed. I have been a big trader in the draft. There are so many layers again and nuances to trading during the season.

That said, given what you just outlined with Green Bay and where Aaron, Rogers is. And as you just mentioned, that's not his style to be stroking people and be on the good side. He's got some tough love to him. They have to get the right people in there. They have to, they have to bring it up a notch, of course, or more than some notches to get that, that offense operating the way they should. I look at it on the sideline all the time, and I look at their head coach. And of course, he was with us in Atlanta. I think he's done a heck of a job up to this point with Aaron and navigating with Aaron. They need to put Aaron in a spot where he's going to have power around him. I would go out.

in trade time and I would look seriously, as you mentioned. Joe Burrow, to me, has emerged. There's Mahomes. There's Josh Allen. It feels like they've kind of separated. And then I put Burrow in there. But he's not as physically, obviously gifted. He's not huge.

He didn't have a canon. Go back to when he was drafted, what your people were saying, you have contacts over the league. I said I thought he was Tony Romo. I always loved Romo, but I don't consider Romo in all times. I'm great. I obviously whiffed on Burrell. I liked him. I didn't love him. The kid's insane.

There's a there's a juice. There's an energy. Are you surprised? How surprised are you? How good he has become and half of his career he had a battle line. He is one of those guys that we watched closely and we all said, man, this guy's got an upside that that could be off the charts. But where are we and how do we really believe he's going to fare out? Given, you know, he's not the biggest guy, of course, but he's athletic. He's, incredibly competitive and zeroed in, which to me is a massively important thing for a quarterback in this league. We've seen the great ones. I've had an opportunity to be around some really great ones, i.e. Tom Brady, and, you know, I thought Matt Ryan did a hell of a job during

his career. Of course, that's another topic today. But I think with Burrow, this kid's upside is out of this world, quite honestly right now. And he's got this confidence. He does not care. And he will take the hits when he needs to. I think he's smart that way. But the competitiveness to run it, you know, bury the ball and go when he needs to to get the job done, to me is what we're looking for in quarterbacks in this league. Brian Dayball would be my coach of the year. Listen, 70% of coaches hired that have never been a coach fail. It's hard. You sit in an interview.

I mean, I read the story about Denver and the interviews they went through to get Nathaniel Hackett. It's unbelievable how much homework they did. And I don't know if they got it right. there's something about Daibel. As a GM, what do you see Daible doing with this whole situationally? They're very smart, very clever. He's got a real sense of the game in real time. jumps out to me that situationally he's really, and that's hard.

You know, you're in New York. You've got the crowd and the pressure. He is on it in those situational moments in the red zone. What do you see? That's exactly right. He is on it. He was in New England when we were there, of course, had a chance to see him growing. and he had, he's another guy that had this swagger coming out of his ears.

He knew what he knew and he knew how he was going to approach things. You bring him into this head coaching situation. And I'll tell you this time and again, Colin, when you bring a head coach, a first time head coach across that line, everyone thinks that he's the sort of omnipotent, omniscient one in the building. And he truly has crossed that line where he can, he can carry that. Right now, the way that he's approaching this team on the offense, the way that he's bringing the team together, both offensively and defensively,

is massively important. They are not a great team yet. The way that he puts them in the spot to capitalize on what they can do, not only from play calling, putting the right people in the right places, that to me is complete Belichekian, and I think he's got a massive grasp on it. It's fun to watch the Giants do what they're doing.

They are a good team, not great. He will make them be up in the top five, as you put them in your list there, because they will be stout throughout the year. I'm hoping because of his, sound decisions and approach to this game. He made a Super Bowl. He won the three-divisional titles. He made the playoffs six times.

It's Thomas Dimitrov, former NFL GM, looking great as always, watching the game as always. It's nice talking to you. Always good. Thank you. Yeah. You know, there are certain things, and we've seen this with Mike McCarthy who won a Super Bowl. We don't love the way Mike McCarthy uses the clock, and we don't like his situational awareness. Andy Reid for years got so much heat on how he used the clock. So did Herm Edwards.

Daible as a rookie coach, really his situational awareness, I think that's way harder than people think. You're sitting there calling plays. I mean, you've got to do a lot as a head coach. You're in New York. There's pressure. Daniel Jones isn't great. He's not going to do a ton off script.

But boy, you watch the moments. They never feel like Brian Daibble is over his skis. And I've seen veteran coaches I like, sometimes in situational spots. They look like they're lost. He has really got it dialed in. He is living in the present the moment he gets his arms around it. And again, I think Thomas said it, Giants aren't a great team. They're playing some great football in the second half.

There's a big difference between a great team and great situationally. But they're going to win the same way. They beat Baltimore close. They beat Jacksonville close. That's how they have to win at this part in the process. Denver Broncos in the offseason added Nathaniel Hackett as their head coach. The Giants added Brian Daible. Colin, one's looking to get fired by Thanksgiving.

The other has his team on the way to the playoffs. We talked about this. Wink Martindale and Brian Daibble were two of the best coaching ads in the entire market this offseason. Hey, Chargers came down to Daible and Brandon Staley. And many, myself included, I thought they would go Daible. His resume was more impressive. So, you know, this stuff is, it's hard to hire the goal. Ask Oklahoma Sooner football. It's hard. Go ask Notre Dame right now. But then look at LSU or look at USC. This stuff is hard.

The Giants are going to be scary if they get a franchise quarterback, like legitimately one of the best teams. I don't know if they're moving up. I don't know. I'm just saying. All right, Danny Luce change. Danny Dimes. That's your guy. You want me to get you a jersey of Daniel Jones for Christmas? One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart radio app. Search heard 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 IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win.

I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clipper Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for Raw, Untiefer. filtered 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 Cliverts 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 Clivert Show on the the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs?

Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at a podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it.

Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the AIDS. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack, so I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now, so. Thank you finishing that sentence. Yes.

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Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so rapid. up in the chase, that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth.

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The 2022 World Series begins Friday as Bryce Harper and the Phillies look to continue their storybook season run against an Astros team making their fourth trip to the fall classic in the last six seasons. Coverage begins Friday at 7 Eastern 4 Pacific only on Fox and the Fox Sports. What's happening? Let's not waste any time. Jay Mack with the news. No. Turn on the news.

This is the herd line news. Colin, I'm still smarting from the Bears win over the Patriots. Like an idiot, I had the Patriots in my Survivor League. Both of them. I'm eliminated. It's over. I was like nearly in tears. The pool's high five figures.

And I was eliminated last night. But Mack Jones, you know, he got the start. Against the Bears, he was ineffective. Bailey Zappy came in after three series as you opened the show with. But after the loss, this is where it gets interesting. Belichick said it was always the plan to have both players on the field, but not everybody in the locker room knew that. Starting running back, Romandre Stevenson and receiver Jacobi Myers,

both said they were not aware both quarterbacks would be playing. No, so Bill BS us. Well, Belichick then went on the radio today, said he talked to quarterbacks and team leaders about the game plan. He claims there's no lack of communication. How can offensive guys not know who the quarterback is going to be and the shuffle is going to happen before the game? And then Belichick at halftime said second half we're going to play both guys.

And Mac Jones did not get in. Troy Aikman, after the broadcast, said, yeah, Mac Jones will be the starter next week. Like, what? I have no clue what's going on with the Patriots. Shocker, defensive coach is a little clunky handling the offense. Is Belichick losing the city over this? I don't think Belichick is, but I think Robert Kraft is a... Billionaires don't get there being super patient with boring, eroding, no longer ascending businesses.

By the way, I'm writing up games every week for Fox Sports.com. I'm writing up Jets Patriots. I just look, the Patriots have beaten the Jets 12 times in a row. Yeah. How ticked off will Craftby if the Jets win this one? All right. Next up, Colin, we talked about this yesterday. Remember this video of a referee looking like he was asking Mike Evans or the Bucks for like some kind of autograph?

Yeah, what else does it? Could it be? Okay, so here we go. The league released a statement saying he did not ask for an autograph, but they did not elaborate. So then, of course, everybody's like, well, that doesn't mean anything. According to NFL Network, the real story is the referee and Mike Evans both went to Texas A&M. And the ref was getting Mike Evans phone number to pass along to a guy. golf pro so that Mike Evans can get golf lessons.

That sounds ridiculous. Indeed it does. Okay, but I don't know that it's untrue and that wouldn't bother me. That wouldn't bother me. It's kind of weird though. After the game, hey, Mike, you want golf lessons from this guy this summer like six months from now. Well, this referee could have a buddy who's a golf pro.

I don't know how he found out Mike wanted golf lessons, but that wouldn't bother me. But I can't, I can't, I'm not going to project or guess whether that's true or not. That's at least, plausible. It sounds plausible. A little funny. So that fire is out. And from one fire to another, Lakers. Oh, and three, Colin, I'm surprised you're not doing an hour today on the Lakers.

This is a unmitigated disaster. Russell Westbrook, not playing well, obviously. Well, Magic Johnson went on our colleague, Shannon Sharp. Club Shay Shay Podcast and offered some advice to Russell Westbrook. First, take accountability. Okay.

That's number one. Okay. If I don't play well, say I don't play well. When I didn't perform well in 84 against the Celtics, I admitted that. I took accountability. That's what Russell got to do.

Quit trying to fight the media, quit trying to fight the fan and just say, you know what? I didn't play well, but I'm going to play better. Right. And go out there on a course. and perform. That's how you stop all the things that's going on, but you can't do it by trying

to combat them and trying to be mad at the fans or at the media because the media got a job. Correct. And their job is, if you're not playing well, they're going to say it. First of all, Magic's really smart and he's absolutely 100% right. I do not think Westbrook is capable of what he is suggesting. Too proud. Too much pride, too much ego, too proud, incapable of it. But magic's 100% right. You could disarm a lot of people by saying, I'm shooting like crap, it's not what I do, I'm not an ideal fit. I don't think Russell Westbrook is capable of doing what magic is suggesting and magic is a 100% right. And that's a massive problem that a veteran is not capable of saying, hey, man, I can't make a through to save my life now.

I can't make a 12-footer with under 20 seconds left on one point game. I don't think Russell Westbrook's a bad guy. That's not it. But I think he's so proud. He's had so many doubters and critics that he has this wall around him, and it's impossible to penetrate. And, yeah, I mean, he's not the problem for the Lakers, but he came into this season with a lot of trade talk,

and fans are just not having it. They're just not, they don't want to hear excuses. You're calling him a symptom, right? Yeah, he's not the Lakers problem. They can't, they don't upstairs. They don't have that, every time they get a shooter, KCP, they let him go. KCP's not a great show. but he hits a lot of big threes and big spots when they won the title.

But that symptom is eating the Lakers from the inside because nobody's talking about anything except the Russell Westbrook factor. They're not talking about the threes or Anthony Davis floating to the perimeter every time he gets the ball. There's a story today that Lakers may be starting to think about taking calls from Utah. Yes. Utah also Terry Rozier apparently. They're like, at this point, you've got to get the symptom out of the body. Just get it out of the host.

Let's move the hell on. Yep. J-Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd lie news. But you know, there's an old saying in business. You have to be able to see around corners.

The idea the Lakers had basically said privately, we're going to see this thing to the All-Star break. And three games in, now they're making calls. Did you not think if Westbrook struggled, the crowd would just sit quietly and the media would sit quietly. Like the Lakers have to do a better job of seeing problems before they happen. This is Los Angeles. Nobody cares about draft picks.

Nobody cares. Absolutely nobody cares in Dodgerland about picks. Get us players. Nobody cares in the Rams have a good six-round comp pick. Get us players. Los Angeles is distracted. It's the now fourth biggest economy in the world that just surpassed Germany. We got money here. Money's not our issue. Talent's not our issue. Being attractive is not our

issue. We're not interested about the field. We want now solve problems, whether you're a politician, a GM or a coach, or an athletic director or an owner, Jeannie Bus. Solve issues now. This is not Cincinnati. We've got options. We got a beach. We got multiple teams. We got eight pro teams. Solve stuff. Because you sit there and be patient. Well, you got draft picks. People are out. People stop showing up. There are the downside of being in New York or Chicago and L.A., these great American cities, Miami. People have options. Lots of them. And they'll move off you very quickly.

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, this is Jason McIntyre. Join me every weekday morning on my podcast, Straightfire with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your typical sports pod pushing the same tired narratives down your throat every day. Straight Fire gives you honest opinions on all the biggest sports headlines,

accurate stats to help you win big at the sports book and all the best guests. Do yourself a favor and listen to Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged.

It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me. Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media.

Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all 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 Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-taped little Kim boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do a little kill? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast.

I'm Sam Jek. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day,

Yeah, yeah. Literally. But just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see there's a through line.

We also have AIDS on the table right now. Now you're finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history.

Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast. Learn the hard way. with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental

health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing

it, and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and loss. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth, or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust.

I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose. On my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free, iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Buffalo leads their division. You called it, we called it. Philadelphia, we thought they'd win their division.

We said Baltimore, Cincinnati would kind of vie for the NFC North. We were right. I had Minnesota over Green Bay. Colts, Titans, both battling for it. Tampa Bay winning their division, though they're not very good. I had Kansas City and Chargers as playoff teams. Right now they would be. the only surprise to me, like leading a division, is Seattle.

And I was very critical. I'm from the Northwest, as you know. Pete Carroll is feeling his oats a little bit. He is pushing back saying, you guys thought we were dead, we watched practice, we knew we were fast, they won again this weekend, and here's Pete. Nobody told me that before we started. The meetings in there, I would have been going nuts about that because that's fun too. Yeah, that's good.

Seven weeks in, look where we are. Who to thunk it? I really liked this today. I liked the way we played. I thought you could feel us in all three phases. We were humming, and guys were running, hitting the way we want to. It was a really physical game, and it was good to see the offense be able to go down the field and put some points on the board, and the defense has slowed down,

other than the turnovers that screwed us up. Two things can be right at the same time. Pete Carroll's critics were right. I'm one of them. And now he's right. first of all Seattle's defense in the last five years has been bad and he's a defensive coach it's bad again it's 31st that's what we barked at we were right it's still bad and they've put a lot of draft choices on their defense Seattle's drafting this year being the exception had been bad in the last five years mostly there's proof look it up Seattle's O line for most of the last half decade they couldn't get it right those are facts the critics I'm

one justly harped on all three. But then two things happened. Pete hired two years ago a brilliant young offensive mind, Shane Waldron from the Rams. He's terrific. He's the Brian Dable of the West Coast. And Seattle had an insanely good draft. Two-star tackle, star running back, star corner, another corner, an edge rusher. It's early.

They're only four three. But Seattle is proof, and this is why the NFL is very popular. You don't need huge money. In baseball, you buy wins. It's that simple. You buy wins. In the NBA, it takes years to go from bad to good. But Seattle, with one big trade, hitting on a bunch of draft picks from that trade,

and hiring a really sharp coordinator, they're four and three. Now, when you look at their schedule, it gets really hard. Giants, Arizona, I mean, Tampa, a lot of good quarterbacks here. You got Kyler and Brady and Derek Carr and Justin Herbert. Then you got San Francisco, Mahomes. Even the teams that look weak except Carolina, jets aren't very weak. Maybe before the season you thought Jets and Giants were weak.

Well, they're not anymore. So it's early. Pete's feeling it. I get it. But I think two things can be right. I thought the critics of Pete for their drafts, for their battle line, and for the defense,

which is still like 31st, we're right. But that's why this league's great. Jimmy Johnson did this. Make a big trade. Hit on that extra draft picks, hit on them, and then get a great coordinator. You look up and you go from bad to interesting,

really, really fast in this league. Now Seattle, this draft has two first, two seconds, two force. If they do again what they just did in the draft, which may be impossible, I mean, you're looking at like a seven-year run of excellence. If they hit on a quarterback and a couple more draft picks, I mean, those two tackles and that running back, especially those tackles. You don't have to draft a tackle in Seattle for like seven years. I mean, those guys look like they're going to be all pros, left tackle, right tackle.

His contract is up after this season. You assign him to a more reasonable deal, draft a quarterback, and let him play again. What's the more reason? You're offering a three-year contract? No. Does he get a Jimmy G-G-type deal? People aren't bidden on Gino Smith. Gino, here's a two-year deal.

We'll pay a little bit more first year than second. Do you want it? No. All right, we're moving. I mean, Seattle controls this. His career was done. So you just say, here's a two-year deal. We'll pay a little bit of guaranteed money up front.

Nothing near two, because you may not start. Didn't you draft a quarterback like a Mahomes you hope to? And they play behind a quarterback who's a veteran? Gino Smith doesn't have any leverage here? He's playing like a top 10 quarterback for seven weeks. How many teams do you think are going to pay big money to build around Gino Smith? Ninth year was a bust and a backup. Sometimes magic happens.

Right now in Seattle, magic's happening. Not a lot of GMs lining up for this is the new. Dino Smith. Interesting. All right. Here's the other story today. So Aaron Rogers and Brady, I'm reading stuff today about, and they had bad weekends, and they're all washed.

I do think Tampa's issues are somewhat correctable. The middle of their own line's not good. They can't run the ball. There's limitations to them. But I like their personnel when they're healthy, like San Francisco, I think Tampa is going to win their division and be a tough out in the playoffs. Green Bay's issues, to me, go way deeper. I'd make a big move at the trade deadline for a receiver.

I doubt they will. But the reason I think Green Bay's issues go deeper. I think they put on a happy face, but I think there's some resentment in the front office about the Aaron Rogers contract, the constant talk about retirement and his passive aggressive shots through the years at the front office. But they put on a good face.

I think Matt LaFleur is a head coach. You don't know what you have. Everybody said he was great. I said, let me wait and see. I still don't know what he is. I don't think the Packers in any unit are playing particularly well. I think Green Bay, this is sort of what they've become. I think they say we're together a lot.

I don't necessarily think they are. I think there's a lot of simmering resentment upstairs. Aaron's not a guy that's going to let you too close. So this is kind of the relationship where it's superficial. It's a Devonte Adams relationship. You think they're tight. Then Devonte says, well, he talked retirement. and I thought I'd go out west.

All that said, Aaron's got two more years, this year and next year for sure. He's going to play football. He's too good. And Green Bay, the trade deadline could solve some of this stuff by getting him like a Chase Claypool. Here was Trent Dillford yesterday talking about it. He shouldn't have to be babysitting. He shouldn't have to be venturing. He shouldn't have to be in this position.

Like, I'm pro Aaron Rogers on this. Like, go get him some dudes. that are vets that have been there and done it, and know how to make big plays and big moments that are just on the fly that you can draw some stuff up in the dirt on the sideline and then go execute it. That's what Aaron Rogers needs. He doesn't need a developmental squad. It is a huge thing.

And the organization has to recognize this. We have one of the greatest football players that's ever walked the planet. Some problems are solvable. The Niners need to get healthier. Some aren't. Green Bay is simply not good enough on the perimeter. These days, every new potential feels like a high-stakes wage or post your job for free at LinkedIn.com slash her terms and conditions apply.

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 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of taun tons and wampas on the ice planet hot,

or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to bowl your mind 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 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 Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled 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 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. This is an IHeart podcast.

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