The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 2 - More Cowboys drama

Episode Date: July 1, 2024

What makes sense for Klay Thompson if he leaves the Warriors  CeeDee Lamb was a no-show at Cowboys camp    Guest: Mark Medina   #douggottliebshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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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, 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 IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

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live every day on the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. What up? Welcome in. This is the herd, wherever you may be, and however you may make this part of your day. Thanks so much. I'm Doug Gottlie. In for Colin Cowherd. And for the next two hours, you are stuck with me.

Sequested audience. That's right. Broadcasting from the beautiful city of Green Bay, Man, boys. I know SoCal's been hot, but I am looking outside at, I know whether winter is going to be different, but, ooh, 72 and sunny. 72 and sunny. Great day here in Great Bay, Wisconsin. Welcome in.

Hope you're doing well. Obviously, free agencies here in the NBA. And all signs point, point to Clay Thompson, one of the Splash brothers, leaving the Brotherhood and becoming a player for I don't know what other team. And look, maybe he comes back. Maybe he comes back at a discounted rate.

But it's really hard. That's hard to do in the same locker room. Just is. You know, it's one of those things I remember talking to an NFL GM and I was asking him about a player who he, who they'd had previously.

And one of the things when these players ask for, especially like running backs, they ask for these big contracts, they find out they're not getting it. It's like, can you just sign him to what his actual market rate is? And the GM was like, eh, not really. It's like, it's one of those things like, if you make, you know, if you're asking for $10 million and you settle on four or five,

you feel like everyone in the locker room knows you swung for the fences and you know, you basically hit a ground ball through the legs of the first basement. You know, and you're very happy, you should be happy to be on first or second base. That's good. But the problem is that you swung for a home run.

And, you know, you look at Clay Thompson, and he was once Warrior royalty. And while it's totally true, any of us can understand that when you have sweat equity with the Warriors, that instead of making $50 million, you're still making $20 million, like that's a lot of money.

It's a lot of money. But when you used to be one guy and now you've got to take on a different role, not everybody's ego can handle that. Not everybody's ego can handle that. As opposed to you go to a new place and they just fall all over themselves to have you there. True, you may not be killing it that much more financially, but still in a little bit better place. I bring that up because I do think the Warriors are going to lose clay. And if they lose clay, I think it's a little bit more.

the best sign that they got a shot to win again. And you're like, what? Don't get me wrong. I'm not convinced that Jonathan Kaminga is the answer. But we're never going to know the answer if you got to play Clay Thompson. And maybe more importantly, even than that, is the, you know, if you look at the Bulls dynasty, yes, Pippin and Jordan were the constants for both. for both of the three beats.

But everything else changed. Everything else changed. I mean, go and look at the roster. And from Horace Grant to John Paxson to Bill Cartwright, you know, to the bench players to whomever. It changed. And I think we all believed that Clay was Pippin. Maybe it's Draymond.

Maybe there is no Pippin. I mean, look, there's part of me that says last year or even before last year, that's when you get rid of having one champion. That's when you get rid of Draymond Green because Draymond torpedoed last season with the punch. And, you know, he's aging as well. But the point is that if you're going to try, that's the issue with the Lakers. And I love the idea that they. want to add another player. But the fact is that as of now, the Lakers are running it back as they

were last year. You know, like Don Connect's a nice player. Don Connect's not going to be a starter. He might be in the rotation. He might not. Brony James helps them not at all. If anything, kind of hurts them because it comes a little bit like a side show, like the walk on

in college that people cheer for him or the scrubby who is your buddy in high school who you and your friends chanted we want Steve, Anytime you're up 20 points. We want Steve. We want Steve.

We want Steve. Is that we want for Bonnie James? That's what we've suggested for him, essentially. He's become that icing on top of the cake. But otherwise, they're just running it back. And it's like, how many times you have to see the Lakers not really be terribly competitive with the Denver Nuggets to think, hey, you know, the Nuggets are still in their conference. They're not going anywhere with this group. And, oh, yeah, by the way, the Lakers are getting older by the Lakers are getting older by the,

the day when your superstar is 40 and your other superstar finally had a season they kept together and you still couldn't really do anything in the playoffs or in the regular season so you had to be in the playing what are we actually fighting for here the point is that the only way the warriors can get better is if they immediately get worse and the lakers simply aren't willing to do that the warriors are you know It doesn't mean they'll stay worse. Doesn't mean there's not a move that can be made. Doesn't mean there's not, you know, some diamonds in the rough.

But I think the only way to get good is to at least, at least on paper, you're like, man, Clay Thompson. But Clay Thompson couldn't make a shot in the playoffs. And it doesn't mean that he can't be a viable NBA starter. He just can't be your second best score. And based upon the construction of the Warriors and the first. fact that he had so much time and sweat equity with the Warriors, he assumed that he had to be that guy. And he's just not.

He's still a good defender. He still makes shots. He can still be a starter on a playoff team. But he's got to be your fifth best starter. And ego will keep you from doing that. And for the Warriors, it's nearly impossible with the same coach and the same players for him to step down a couple of roles with the same team. so this divorce of a divine marriage

may actually be what triggers them into one more run with steph curry it may not it may not the league was catching up to them and that's when they went out and got Kevin Durant and they did win a championship without Kevin Durant and it was incredible it's incredible but Andrew Wiggins played far above his level some of the other competitors were hurt and they made the plays when they needed to and won yet another championship. But let's be honest that people have started to figure them out.

They have started to age, and they do need some more pieces. And I think that saying no to Clay Thompson, like how many times have we seen, whether it's a dynasty or championship teams get derailed by the fact that one of their star players wants more money than he's actually worth. It happens all the time. And we just talked about Bruce Brown. Now, Bruce Brown, the Nuggets didn't match, but Bruce Brown wanted more money. And obviously, I know that Clay Thompson is a better player historically than Bruce Bound,

but it's just the point to be made that, you know, you run the risk, very strong risk, when you re-sign a player who wanted more money, that he's whatever, he feels like he's unhappy, or he feels like the, he lets him. his feelings come out that that ends up rubbing off on other players? By the way, here's Rick Buecker last hour on why he doesn't think Clay Thompson leaving for L.A.

is the right move. It sounds good, but it really doesn't make a whole lot of sense in my mind for Clay. Because I'm not sure that he's dramatically improving

his situation. I would also say that if you look at what's transpired, Clay's not looked in the same way around the league. They're not looking at, we're going to take a piece of the big three, or we're going to break up the Splash Brothers.

If he was still held in the same regard, Orlando wouldn't be going out and signing KCP for 22 million per. Like, that would, that would have been something that they would have used to get Clay. Now, maybe Clay wasn't interested in going all the way across the country, but again, that would have been a better situation for him potentially, certainly financially and potentially competitively than what he would have if he joined the Lakers. It's fascinating. Right. Fascinating.

I understand you have the sweat equity. I get it. You have the sweat equity. but I also understand that that there's another dynamic here at play and that's that a new job and a new life and a new beginning might be just the refresh he needs to get a little bit more juice out of the orange

and while there would be from the fans a reasonable sense of hey Clay came back and even though he took less he's been an all-time great that's really hard on anybody's ego to be sitting there making so much dramatically less than you could be making maybe on the open market, even if it was with a bad team. With PG going to Philly,

does that mean the Sixers are closer to Boston and New York? And who's the next big domino to fall? Mark Medino will join us next. One 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. 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 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-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out

on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jek. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we 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's big things, to me not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now.

Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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 losses.

Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? 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, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app, Search learn the hard way and listen now. 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 tauntons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith Rule of Two. Listen to Stuff to Blow Your Mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. In for Colin, this is The Hurd on Fox Sports Radio, the IHeart Radio app.

By the way, this just in from Wodge, the Boston Celtics Majority Ownership Group, led by Wick Grossbeck, is planning to make the franchise available for sale, sources to ESPN. The investment group purchased the team in 2002, a massive development for one of the sports most valuable franchises. Think about this. he bought it they bought it for 360 million dollars in oh two granted it was 22 years ago couple championships ago

but but think about this now I mean what's the what's the value five billion dollars six billion dollars it's the Boston Celtics whatever their actual value is you know it's like four or five because it's the Celtics and they just won a title like you'd think six

and remember you're gonna have to probably build an arena that arena was never It's never been great since they replaced the old Boston Garden, but even then it becomes dated. You have to build a new arena. And you'll get probably a little bit of help from the city, but you're talking about somewhere in the neighborhood of a $10 billion investment. Like, that's real money. But good for Wick, Rousbick. Like, they can't bury you with it.

And I don't care how much you love it. If somebody says, do you love it? Yeah, do you want to hold every, ever? Sure. What if we gave you $5 billion for something you spent $300? 60 million. And grant, it's not all his money. You'd say, um, yeah, that's, that's like Zillow on the, the make me move price. Am I make me move price to $6 billion? Somebody gives you that? You're like, here, here's the house. Here's the cars. Here's the furniture. Heck, you can, here's my wife,

like whatever. We're good. All right. Let's welcome in Mark Medina. He's our Fox Sports Radio, NBA insider. And Mark, the news of the day is Paul George is going to be a Philadelphia 76ers. What's your reaction to that? Well, there's a few things. One, the Clippers

became the latest casualty of the second apron concerns because they did not want to add that fourth year because of that. The other thing is I've been told that the Warriors traded different or offered different variations of some of their

older veterans like Chris Paul and Andrew Wiggins and even some of their younger players. And they declined that as well because of the concerns with the second Aper. Now on the Sixers end, there's just some irony to this that they had the cap space to do this because everything with James Harden fell apart last summer. And so that's the only reason that they were able to do that. And I still put Boston as the top of the mix because they won the title. They're bringing everyone back. When you add Paul George and Jelle Ambide and Tyrese-Maxe in the mix,

on paper, I would put them at second in the east, but we also have to distinguish what's different between on paper and in reality, because they're still going to be concerns about the team's durability because of Paul George and Jolabed and their injury history. So it should be at least a fun one in the East, but Boston still. Yeah, it is. And then, of course, you have the Knicks. Are the Knicks done?

with major moves. I don't think they're done. You know, they lost a pretty big center in Isaiah Hardinstein, but I think that, you know, they have a good foundation with retaining Ogiotinobe and adding McElbriges even at the cost of some draft picks. So I think, you know, are they done? No, it's mostly going to be on the margins,

but I think that that's fine. They have a really good core in place. And I think that, you know, the improving from within with their health, just leaning on chemistry is her best calling card. And that is a really good calling card because I think, you know, all the injury concerns and people trying to place this on Tom Thibodeau, that's old hat, that's old conversation.

I don't think it has anything to do with it. And so I think that there really is a pathway for this core to be healthier next season and build off of the chemistry with that in McElbell Bridges, who obviously is very familiar with all his former Villanova teammates. Mark Medina joining us here in the herd and Doug Gottlie filling in for Colin. Okay, let's look at the Lakers. So the story goes that LeBron James would take less money for the right edition. I guess which of these potential additions, Clay Thompson, James Harden, etc., is more likely to happen.

And how much less money is the other question? Yeah, I think the only way LeBron James has taken less money is if it allows the Lakers to get close. Lay Thompson or DeMarg Rosen. To your point, several of these other names are already off the board, and I think those are the only two remaining that are great. I mean, if the Lakers do a deal where they get

Jeremy Grant, I don't think that qualifies for LeBron to take a pay cut. I mean, ironically, the Jeremy Grant acquisition at Portland May last summer with signing him, that led to David Lillard one and out and getting that trade demand very clear, because that was

their best move from a cap perspective. So, yeah, LeBron's put it out there he's willing to do it. And in fairness to LeBron, he has had a history backing that up. When he joined Khrush and Wayne Way to Miami, he did take a relative pay cut to make it all work. So he's willing to do it, but it's got to be for basketball reasons not to enrich Lakers ownership. What's the NBA saying about them drafting Bronny James?

Very expected. you know, LeBron's put down the universe for the last few years, even though he walked back some. It was the expectation. The Lakers would draft Brony, I think, for a few reasons. One, I don't think, you know, teams were actually going to draft Brony in the first place, even if there was some intrigue. And I think that a lot of it was just by convenience.

I don't think that even though the Lakers were clearly doing goodbye, LeBron, it also helped that they had a 55th pick available. and, you know, there is a difference between 50th pick and picking him up on drafted and put him on a two-way contract, but the difference isn't as drastic as it would be with, you know, train up even higher in the second round or heaven forbid using Bronny James to get him in the first round. So I think moving forward, you know, it's a nice story, obviously,

but I think as far as basketball is concerned, while he is actually going to be on the regular season roster, I would be surprised he gets significant minutes. Yeah, I bought. If they want to win, he can't get significant minutes. I don't know how he develops if he's on the regular season roster. He's not playing and they don't practice much, but that part of the plan is relatively flawed.

Clay Thompson, where does he end up? I think it's going to be between the Lakers and Dallas. I think from a basketball standpoint, both are great fits. We obviously know Clay's affection for the Lakers. because, you know, his dad, Michael Thompson, former Laker, he's been putting it out for a while now that he would love Clay to be in a Laker uniform. When the Warriors played the Lakers in the playoffs,

you know, he acknowledged how a special moment it was for him to play in the same arena that he grew up going to games and seeing Kobe Bryant play. But I think when it comes to sign-in-trade scenarios, it seems more likely the Warriors would do that with Dallas because they have still some of that trade exception left with the Tim Hardaway deal. and when you're looking at the Lakers assets, they don't have much to offer. Even when you're looking at DeAngel Russell from a basketball fit,

the Warriors already went down that path, ironically, partly to mitigate Clay Thompson's absence when he had the ACL injury in 2019. And they walked away with the same conclusions that we basically have the same conclusions about him five years later, that great shooter but streaky, great playmaker, but isn't a great defender and he's inconsistent. So I don't think the Warriors would entertain that possibility. So if he were to go to the Lakers, it would most likely have to be about accepting that mid-level exception. And while LeBron taking a pay cut, and if the Lakers are able to stay below the second apron, they would have more room to work with.

Ironically, it would be at a much lesser price and what the Warriors even offered, Clay last summer, which he rejected. So a lot of fascinating things regarding Clay with what his future is and what it all means. Okay, so what do the clippers look like? Now they don't have Paul George in the mix. They don't want to go to the second apron, but they do have Kauai Leonard back. Yeah. Yeah, what it looks like is they have Kauai Lennard back.

They got James Harden back, you know, on a relatively better deal. It's two years. So the fact that they got him on two years very much addresses that second apron concern and then seeing what they can do and maybe a sign and trade with Russell Westbro. He exercised his player option to opt in, but now it's about seeing where can they find him in a potential deal. So, yeah, the Clippers, their best case scenario is trying to stay competitive going into the Intuit Dome. And I think the expectations aren't the same as it was with Paul George and Quiet Lerner, which contending for a championship. But then again, they never reached full expectations because that core were never able to stay healthy.

and even when the Clippers prioritized having rostered up around them, it clearly wasn't enough to mitigate it. No, it was not. Denver loses KCP. Last year they lose Bruce Brown, what can be done now they're not, look, they still have their core big three intact, but the surrounding roster doesn't feel like it's good enough. Yeah. I mean, I think really the best case scenario is getting, you know, someone like Russ, but we know Russ is, showing better flashes of what he was with the Lakers as opposed to the Clippers.

But, you know, we know his flaws. We know his strengths. I don't think that fundamentally changes the reality that they lost a lot of key core depth pieces. And you've made this point, I agree with that. That when you look at Denver's early Playoffel, that a lot of it has to do what they didn't have that same depth. And, you know, I think while in the past I wouldn't extend sympathy to MBA ownership groups of other, you know, feeling financial constraints that are needed to cut costs.

I share the understanding and the frustrated feelings now because it's all coming from NBA rules where it's not about an owner's appetite to spend money. Now it's about, okay, can they actually have full tools to have a good roster? And so when we're looking at the clippers, we're looking at the Warriors, we're looking at the nuggets and all the players they lost, it all points to one thing, the second apron and application. So I think it's very clear that this move that the board of governors and the

players you agree upon has not been a good thing. I look at Oklahoma City and obviously the model from building from within and you know you have an MVP candidate. They went on a playoff run. I think Chet Holmgren's going to get better and better and better.

Obviously, Shea is amazing. But there's been a lot of more internet and social media talk about, oh, you had Paul George, or you bring back a Kevin and you use all those picks and now you really go for it. What about the Thunder internally? Do they really consider those things? Would they ever pull off one of those moves?

I doubt it. I think now it's about, you know, really riding Shade Gilgist, Alexander's greatness and that young core. And that Isaiah Hardinstein move was big. But I don't think it's the same thing as going big game free agency hunting. I think right now, because of all the things that we're talking about, Really, it's about improving from within player development and making moves on the margins. And look, when we're talking about second apron, at some point, these costs will catch up to a team like the Thunder.

But right now they don't have to worry about that because they all have young players and their extensions are cap-friendly. So right now, it's about just that and trying to make sure that they have enough with this young court to reach that next level. and I think they very much do. I think right now, when we're looking at the NBA landscape, I would put them as the favorites out of the West. And then, you know, with the East, I think it's a lot more competitive with Boston, and I presume Milwaukee will improve with Damien Lillard's second year

and now Philadelphia. But I think OKC is right at the top of the West. No, I actually really agree with you. I mean, do I wish they had one more? I mean, I guess, I mean, you know, Jail Williams can be that second. second score and I think they think that Chet will continue to really

expand his game, especially offensively and Hartinstein allows them to gives them some toughness inside as well so I love it. But I love that like it's again it's a different way than everybody else doing. Everybody else is trying to, how can we add a dude when there's this and they're

thinking like look we have a great ensemble cast we think we have dudes and we just bring in just a piece here and a piece there. It's a fascinating look at building a franchise. There was some talk at Durant to the Rockets. Is that dead? I don't think anything's ever done in the NBA because it's so fluid,

but I would be surprised he goes to the Rockets. I mean, one, for what it's worth, teams lie during this time of year, but the Suns made very strong statements that they're not trading Kevin Durant or looking to trade Kevin Durant. I think the second thing, when you're looking at the Rockets, in particular, they have leaned against going down that big game move. You know, they turned down the idea of re-in-lawed James Harden last year, even though Kevin Durant's a huge talent, and to his credit, even post-Aquillies,

I wouldn't say he's the same player, but he has such a unique skill set that he can still be really efficient and really good at scoring. The cost of what that comes to with a diminished supporting cast, I think just is not worth it. And all you need to see is what happened with the Phoenix Suns last season. So I would be surprised that that happens. But in today's NBA, as far as things that may or may not happen, nothing is ever definitively dead because there's just so many moving parts.

Mark, you're the best, man. I love your work. I love your work. Ethic. Thanks so much for being our guest on The Hurt. Right back out to all three things, Doug. Appreciate it. All right.

That's Mark Medina. ours are Fox Sports Radio NBA insider. Let's get to Ryan Music with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right, Doug, we'll turn our attention to the NFL for a bit.

We'll start off with this. Christian McCaffrey, the NFL's offensive player of the year in 2023. Over 2,000 total yards from scrimmage, 21 touchdowns, but also a league high, 339 touches. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan tells the athletic well that might need to change quote we have the guys that can run the ball we have to protect Christian from himself he doesn't like to ever come out no matter what the situation is and I do think that's something we could do to protect him more so maybe dialing back the workload a little bit for Christian McCaffrey coming up for the 49ers that's smart I mean they've you know they've dodged some bullets but I mean you look what happened He was completely healthy his first three years, then he signs the big deal in Carolina, and then, you know, disaster drugs.

So, yeah, I mean, there is no sense in overworking him in the regular season when he's already gotten his money if they don't have him healthy for the postseason. And then he can use him as much as you want. So, yes, I completely agree with him. By the way, at Christian McAfree's wedding over the weekend, did you see Kyle Shanahan with the mustache?

Kyle Shanahan with the mustache is a good look. I thought it was a strong look. Like, a lot of guys can't pull out the mustache. No. I thought Shanning could pull off the mustache. Yeah, no, it was. It was a sophisticated mustache. Correct, yeah.

It almost looked a little sort of cop Tom Selleck-like. Not that they necessarily look the same, but it gave off that type of look. Like a, oh, that looks good. You look sophisticated. It fits you right. Not like a, oh, man, you look a little creepy there. It was a very good-looking mustache. I'm not sure.

I'm not sure if it fits the NFL side lines, though, because the mustache look with the tucks went well. Does it still look the same with his signature sort of flat-billed hat and headset on? That part I don't know. That part I don't know. But I don't know if you remember. You were probably working with me at the time, or maybe this was back at ESPN.

I think it was ESPN calling. You know, he once got a breakdown of the number of mustaches that college coaches had as opposed to pro coaches. And his, it was more of a hypothesis than the theory, but it was a pretty good one. I think it's one of the best Colin rants of all time, which was like mustaches to the average person can be sort of creepy,

could be like hiding something, you know, and, you know, in college football, it's all about trust, right? Like, you got to go somewhere, you represent not just your program, but to parents, the boosters, whatever. NFL coaches, it's just about coaching. It's just about.

football, right? And by the way, Andy Reid's rocked a mustache. That's right. It doesn't hurt them from winning a soup pole. So anyways, it's a really interesting rant, and it's one of those, Colin was like, that was good. That made me think about it. I don't know if that's what's behind it, and I don't know what it looks like with a hat, but it definitely, with a suit, I might have been a tux.

It looked, he rocked the mustache. I've tried to do the Movember thing. It just does not work for me. And I would love to do it, because any sort of thing there hides my nose, but I like the the scruff look works better for me than the mustache look. Okay. So the mustache will not be on the Doug Gottlieb coaching sidelines. Perhaps for Kyle Shanahan

will have to stay tuned to see what comes of that. We'll stick with the NFL here. You can add Amari Cooper to that list of disgruntled wide receivers in the NFL who won a new contract. And a six-time pro bowler agrees he deserves it. So Eagles Corner, Darius Slay was on the Greenlight podcast with Chris Long, and here's what he had to say about Cooper. Guy that's kind of like been a consistent 1,000-yard receiver and they've been doing his thing,

and people still don't give him credit, it's really a mark. And I'm seeing right now that Cleveland doesn't want to pay him. They need to pay that man. Pay that man. Play that man. Slay's looking out. So there you have it. Saying that he's maybe the most underrated receiver in the league that Cleveland needs to step up and pay him the money that he's earned.

Yeah. I mean, everybody wants to pay somebody with somebody else's money. And what we've seen in the NFL is there are always new guys. There's always other guys to throw the football too, always ways to save money. I mean, look, in Amari Cooper's defense, he hasn't been boisterous. We haven't seen him do the Brandon Ayyuk. but we've also seen him you know the Cowboys

he was drafted by the Raiders they trade him because they didn't want to pay him and then the Cowboys let him because they didn't want to pay him so what is it that two and maybe three NFL teams know that an NFL defense player

doesn't know? Sure and to be clear about your point about what he hasn't done with Brandon Ayuk is you know sort of publicly and interviews and media appearances discuss it. Amarie Cooper has

withheld from any sort of optional or mandatory activities thus far. Right. He's doing the silent holdout, which is fine. You're allowed to do that. You'll get fine.

You get fine, whatever. But he hasn't done the, he hasn't done taking the pictures with Jane Daniels the way that Brandon and I have you did. Amari Cooper is the weird one where it's like statistically you look at his numbers over the years and you're like,

this guy's productive. He's a really good player. But at the same time, I'm not sure there's ever really been a point where anyone's ever gone, you know, Amari Cooper's got to be one of the best receivers in the league. No, that cut is one of the first times I've ever heard

anybody say anything about Amari Cooper. Like, he's a good player, you know? Good player, productive player. I'm not sure if he's a great player, especially as a wide receiver who's now he's just turned 30. so I don't know how many more years you can really expect someone

No question this is his last Yeah big payday is what he wants certainly All right and we'll wrap up with this we'll turn back to the NBA The Clippers might have lost Paul George But it looks like they will be keeping James Hardin Who is expected to stay in LA on a two-year $70 million contract And speaking of similar to what we were just saying with Amari Cooper

Is you know what do you make of Hardin at this point in his career. Obviously, incredibly productive years ago when he had like a three, four year stretch where he was a scoring champion, also won an MVP, incredibly productive during the regular season. People have had questions about then what that translates to in his postseason career. But it's tough with Hardin. I'm not sure what else the Clippers could have done, especially now that they have certainly lost on Paul George. So you need someone to team up with Kauai Leonard. But I mean, is he anything more than just sort of a slightly above-average point card?

You know, here's the thing. It's kind of interesting. He's a little bit better than a slightly above average. Maybe not. He still has games where he can take over. It's just a percentage of those games are few and five between. This was the second straight season in his career that he had not made the All-Star team. Yeah, which is about right.

He's not an All-Star anymore. Correct. So look, I do think, though, there is a certain thing about Hardin, which is there is a likeability to the fact that I do think he's kind of figured out who he is. He's much more facilitator now. Yes. And, yeah, I kind of think he's sort of in a good place with being above average, you know, and still just hanging out in the league and hooping. And I think he likes what he does and how he does it. Yeah, I mean, to your point, there's real value.

and him being, having that self-awareness. Self-awareness is a great trait for someone who used to be one of the biggest stars in the league. It's the hardest thing for a star. It's like, it's kind of like the Clay Thompson thing. Like, can anybody tell Clay Thompson? Like, hey, look, dude, you're not a bench player, but you're not like the second or third best player on the floor. So there's a different way in which you look at things. I mean, it's the reason that Iverson could not survive later on his career.

couldn't survive. You know, kind of like Hardin didn't take care of himself off the court, so it's short an amount of time. It was never really bought in defensively. Iverson was not really efficient, you know. He did have one year where he really tried to pass and have more assist. But the fact is that Alan Iverson could have gone from the MVP of the league to the sixth man of the year.

But guys like that, you know, remember, I don't know any MVP to come off the bench. Well, okay, if you get to come out to bench, you get to play against bench players and you can still eat and it just maybe shortens your minutes but your role is you just come in and score. Point is that James Harden in a kind of sort of diminished capacity from being a former MVP has accepted this lot life and kind of flourished in it. So I kind of like it more now than when I always respected how good he was, but I couldn't stand watching him play even at the peak of James Hardin's career.

And that's right, music with news. Well, that's the news And thanks for stopping by The Herd Lye News All right, coming up next We're now into July Can you believe it's July already? I just said that for Jason Stewart

Who's my producer on the Doug Gottliebue hates when people say that Anyway, but not with the Cowboys Guess what? I know, I know This is a surprise There's drama in Big D

I know, I suppose Never happens Kidding, that's next Be sure to catch live editions Of The Herd weekdays Innoon 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Hey, it's Ben, host to the fifth hour with Ben Mallor,

and would mean a lot to have you join us on our weekly auditory journey. You're asking what in God's name is the fifth hour? I'll tell you, it's a spinoff of the Ben Mallor show, a cult hit overnights on FSR. Why should you listen? Picture, if you will, a world where we chat with captains of industry, in media, sports and more every week, explore some amazing facts about human nature and more.

Listen to the fifth hour with Ben, Ben Mather on the Iheart Radio app, Apple podcast, 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 I Heart 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, 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 Cliverts show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or we're

you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do a little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode, with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack.

I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really?

Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Keer 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 losses. 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, Keer 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. 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 Tontons and Wampas on the Ice Planet Hot, or the practicality and corporal.

business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Doug Allie. Ben for Colin. This is The Hurd on Fox Sports Radio on the IHeart Radio app. Welcome in. Hope you're getting ready for a great week.

It's just a Monday and a holiday week Monday at that. Fourth July is upon us. We've got to do a little Fourth July something this week, right? Fort July something. Don't we, Ryan? Like, I don't know. just interesting to be in different parts of the country, me be in the Midwest now back when.

Fireworks aren't illegal, but they're on every corner, and you start to kind of get like, I'd kind of like to blow some stuff up, just not myself. Just not myself. We'll get to, we'll get to Philly signing Paul George, Derek White, re-signing an extension with the Celtics, and of course,

Of course, also a note, the Celtics appear to be for sale as well. It's like, hey, we just want a championship. You know, we're for sale if you want to pay top dollar, right? I mean, just, I'm not sure I blame anybody for selling. If you can get $5 or $6 billion for something you paid $360 million for, God bless you. Don't you think? Meanwhile, you've got the Dallas Cowboys. and what would an off-season be

without a little bit a little bit of Cowboys drama, right? If you didn't have Cowboys drama, how would we know that Cowboys exist? So Malik Hooker took to a podcast to question Micah Parsons' proclivity for podcasting. This is from the NFL Network's own page. I always love that, right?

Yeah, he went on all facts, no breaks with Kishon Johnson. So Malik Hooker goes on a podcast to question another cowboy about being on a podcast. But wait, there's more. My advice for Mika would be just to make sure we're all right and being able to be where your feet are. Because if we're at work, you know, the run game's terrible, but you're doing a podcast every week. And you know the run game is terrible, then what do you really? caring about. Are you caring about the crowd that was watching the podcast? Are you caring about the success of our team and the Super Bowl we're trying to reach?

And then, of course, I thought, honestly, this is the proper response from Michael Parsons. Just wish you would have said this to me instead of some podcast. And you got my number, family, Malik Hooker, and you're my locker mate. I guess they're literally This is I hate to be the guy who says this But I had a college basketball coach tell me this before I got a head coach and shop Doug Gottliebind for Colin

Here in the herd That you're better off leaving five cell phones on the players chair during a timeout Then actually having them speak to one another They just don't know how to communicate And nothing could be Could be close to that than this one right or you have a, Malik Hooker is a free safety.

So he's in the defensive meeting rooms. I don't know if Locker mate means their lockers are right next to each other or in the same vicinity. But like, did you have to go on Kishan's podcast to say that? Oh, yeah, by the way, Michael Parsons said, like, I tape the podcast or my off day. Like, what you do during an off day? You're allowed to do.

I don't, this reminds me. honestly of a discussion that we had had guys and I want to wait a talk to you toie and to you Ryan about the 76ers draft pick right so the 76ers um drafted the kid who's uh honestly from southern california and i think he's a he's a real talent in terms of an offense as an offensive player. And it's fascinating to me that Jared McCain, who of course is also known as a TikTok or he does all the TikTok dances. He's done a couple since he's been a member of the Sixers.

And there's this whole thing of like, well, is this going to ruin his career or like, again, I think it's, you have to embrace that guys are different now. Look, do you still have to have the virtues of, being a hard worker, of being about team, of being competitive and being tough? Absolutely. But what you do during your own time, like if you're podcasting, all right, I mean, Micah Parsons is basically a defender

of all things, athletes on his podcast. Let's not act like he's calling out the run game. And then, to me, it's always the, or to Jared McCain, it's always, well, what else could he be doing with this time? Right. Would you rather him be TikTok? or rather than be bar hopping. I don't know.

Pretty easy for me. Speaking of Philly, Paul George is head to Philly. What's this mean for the 76ers? Are they real contenders in the East? We'll discuss next in the herd. 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 I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'm saying.

Yep, that's me, 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 Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. On the Look Back at it podcast.

From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84's 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. It was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games.

Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast, Superhuman, documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host Care Games.

This speech is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that is. 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 are armored. It signals to the world that you're 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.