The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 2 - More on Aaron Rodgers' time with the Jets

Episode Date: December 20, 2023

Super Bowl champion James Jones joins the show in studio to give his perspective on Rodgers' time with the Jets thus far    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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It's a Wednesday. Live in Los Angeles, it's the herd. Where to go, art department at Fox. Beautiful set. Wherever you may be in, however, you may be watching or listening, thanks for making that support of your day. The story broke like one hour ago exactly. The jets have activated Aaron Rogers to the practice squad for the rest of the season,

though Aaron acknowledges. he won't play and Robert Sala says he won't play so they are wasting a roster spot and a guy with no chance to play not sure how common that is my argument was a hour ago is if he has been so helpful to the team especially at his position why do the Jets have the worst quarterback production in the league like if he's some sort of guru or Sven Gali at the quarterback position why are they so bad at quarterback because Nat Hackett's a genius I've been told by Aaron and Aaron's a genius, I'm told regularly by Aaron, and the Jets quarterback position is the biggest tire fire in the league.

So if having him around the practice, this is all the grift, is so vital, why aren't they better at quarterback? I mean, right? I mean, one thing like, if Aaron had gone to the Houston Texans and been hurt and C.J. Stroud came in, and we watched C.J. Stroud have this season. We'd have probably given Aaron Rogers a lot of the credit. You'd be like, how is this kid so good so fast? But Zach Wilson's worse this year than last year.

With the brilliant Nat Hackett and the Spengali, the guru, the shaman, Aaron Rogers. So how valuable is he to activate and have around the team? For the record, he's already been around the team. He's got a headset on. He's listening. He's at practice. So, I mean, they're just wasting a roster spot. Now, they're not a good team, whatever.

It's up to them, not me. And I like a lot of parts of the Jets. I like their defense. I like their coach. I actually do. everybody in New York wants Solafired. I was listening to radio clips two days ago. I don't want Robert Solofired.

Everybody in New York wants him out. People want Joe Douglas, the GM out. I do not. He missed on Zach Wilson. Quarterback's hard. It's hard. Finding the right coach and finding the right quarterback is about an 18% 20% success rate. It's hard.

I don't want the GM fired. I don't want the coach fired. I like a lot of their players. I think they have a star back, a star receiver. I think they have a star rush end. I think they have a star corner or two. There's a lot I like. I don't love the ownership.

And I think desperate teams do desperate things. And they've handed the franchise over to Aaron Rogers, who can be very selfish. And you know what? If I didn't have kids and I wasn't married and didn't have a dog and was 38 and had that much money, I'd probably be selfish too. More selfish than I already am, right? We're all a little selfish. But my takeaway is Aaron, it's been very interesting to watch.

So the less chance Aaron has had later in his career to win a Super Bowl. the more it seems he's about winning arguments than winning games. Now, I know that seems, you know, a little out there, but it's like he's really trying to create this public persona and squash media narratives and anything of power, government, media, they don't know what they're talking about, I am the truth. Is it a protective psychological mechanism to protect himself from criticism? That anybody that criticizes him with a large microphone like Fox or ESPN or the American media, do not believe those crazy people. Believe me. Well, at some point, I have to believe my

eyes. And I'm watching a guy that never was going to play and has been trying to grift us into I'm going to play. Well, what do you want me to believe? Am I being a bad guy for saying that? Or is the bad guy the one saying it when it was never true? Or maybe neither one of us is a bad guy. But my point is, Aaron at one point we thought was going to stack chips. And he didn't. And he was never going to catch Tom. And since that time, he's gotten strange, self-absorbed. He's become Joe Rogan with a spiral. And I think Joe's talented.

But Joe's a podcaster. He didn't have a Super Bowl quarterback legacy. Joe Rogan's an actor, a funny comic, UFC guy, a podcaster. That's different than all-time great quarterback. Marino, Elway, Aaron, Brady, Manning. And it's just, he's moved into this sort of more crucial to create a persona to illustrate that these people in power, you can't trust any of them. Why?

Because we're often critical of the truth. We're often critical of your legacy, which is weird today and mixed. Now, in 20 years, what will I think about Aaron? His greatness, like Jordan, I forget the wizard years. Dee Wade, I don't remember him going to Chicago. So I'll look at Aaron like I look at Farrv, despite the fact I don't care much for Fav. I look at Favre the good times. I remember the good times.

They always say this. If women remembered pain, they wouldn't have a second baby. Right? We forget. I forget a lot of the sadness of my childhood. Parents were divorced. They grew up in a rainy spot. I was a goofy kid.

I don't remember any of it. I remember my motorcycle, my buddies playing basketball, my girlfriend. And so I'll remember the good stuff about Aaron. But this last three or four years has been weird. These stable packers, you couldn't get along with them. The weird jets he joined him. It's been odd. It does feel like he was in for about a five, six-year stretch.

We thought Aaron was going to stack chips. And it's okay. He won a Super Bowl, far over only one and one. I get it. You don't have to win five. But the last couple years, it's been this persona. And I just, it feels like Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rogers have the same injury. One guy's just getting better in hiding.

The other one's front and center. And it just, I don't like the way it feels. That's the great point. The Vikings didn't waste the season waiting for Kirk Cousins to come back. Because they knew there was no chance. The Jets sat there waiting. Oh, maybe Aaron will come back. He says he's going to.

We could just tread water. No. Every team that lost their quarterback went out and did something, made moves to be relevant this season and get to the playoffs, except the Jets because of Aaron Rogers. And the Jets aren't going anywhere. So when stuff happens, I call pro athletes. I call sources.

So when the Achilles thing came out, and Aaron talked about coming back, I called a doctor and two players. One of them had had the Achilles injury. And there's like, bro, nobody, Superman, Usain Bolt couldn't come back. There's no way. And they're like, football with a bad offensive line, that's worse.

So it's like maybe there's some sports, you wouldn't have to be as active. Quarterback, behind that old line is a running around position. So the Jets are activating Aaron to the practice squad for the rest of the season. Again, he's not going to play. I don't know. Teams may do this. They may activate people.

They want them around the team. But I do wish Aaron would get out of this space. I don't care if he wants to go on ESPN once a week. That doesn't bother me. He's sitting around. Why not? But I just feel like it's this constant pushback on authority, and it feels like to me kind of desperate,

kind of weird. And he has a remarkable legacy. He's going to go down as a first ballot Hall of Famer. But it's been, as a viewer of it, as a consumer of it, odd. Peyton Manning end of his career was funny like he's funny

I think of Peyton Manning a talented business funny Tom is sort of regal you know what I mean like you want your car Joe Montana class wine business like

you want it to end well Michael Jordan richest athlete ever the MJ line the air movie the documentary you want it to end well you don't want to end like

Favrevin Mississippi with that legal issue you don't want it to end like that that's no good we want it to end well for Big Ben's now doing a podcast and he's very, very interesting. It's like, oh, I like Joe Flacco playing and winning. I want my quarterbacks to end well.

I want it to end well for LeBron and Michael. You know what I mean? That's part of the right. And I know it's turbulent. I know it's bumpy. But I think some of Aaron stuff has been self-induced bumps that he didn't have to do. And I also think something to discuss here is

divorces are hard, whether they're business divorces or real divorces. And I've been through one. You try to make the best of it. You try to be a good dad, a good person, a good human, and be sharing and sacrifice for others. But it's hard. It's emotional, blah, blah, blah. But I think there's a difference between problems and self-induced issues. And I go back to the Green Bay situation.

I know it wasn't perfect. But boy, Green Bay is well-run. They really are. They're really stable. And you look around this league, there's bad owners everywhere. There's instability everywhere. There's chaos everywhere. Green Bay is pretty well run.

It's not cool. It's not hip. It's like Disneyland. Green Bay Packers are like Disneyland. You're never the coolest guy there. They kind of feel better when you leave. That was a good dad. That's fun.

That's a good day for the family. I look at it now and I think, I wish Aaron just would have stayed. I wish they just want to work it out. You know, nothing against Jordan Love because he's played pretty well. But in the end, you know, you get tired of stuff and you're like, you know, maybe they were just better together. It's quite possible. Is James around? There he is.

He's hiding behind the cameras. James Jones, the former Aaron Rogers teammate, is listening to this, consuming it and thinking, oh, what's coward going to ask me on this stuff? But, you know what? It is funny. So you know this because you were in Green Bay for eight years, and you went to the Raiders, and it was a mess. And I think about this all the time.

The one thing about pro athletes that's difficult that I don't have to face, I can do this until I'm 80. Yeah. Pro athletes get a very short time. Yes, sir. And I've always defended all athletes on this. If I was traded, it would crush my self-esteem. If Fox said, we're trading you to Vice for two producers and an editor to be named later. I'd be like, I'm no good.

Even if it's big money? I still wouldn't like it. Okay. So I've always defended athletes on being traded. It's hard. That's why these quarterbacks win and they look at the camera and they drop. It's Drew Locke. People quit on me.

It's Jake Browning. Nobody believed in me. I'll always defend athletes. We, the consumer, do not understand what it's like to be traded as a human. It's kind of awful. The second thing is, you guys have very small windows to make your money. Now, you make enormous money compared to, you know, relative to the rest of society. There is that grass is always greener thing.

And when you go back to Green Bay and you compare it to other players in the league, can you acknowledge it's pretty damn good there? Yeah, and it's totally different. Green Bay is just a totally different vibe. It's a family vibe. You know, when you get there, it's not just the owner wants to see you do good, or the owner's invested in you. Everybody is invested in you all the way to the guy that cuts the grass,

to the coaches, to the fans, like, what can we do to make sure you're good and you can play at a high level? Buffalo is a little like that. Buffalo, I didn't play in Buffalo, but Buffalo is possibly like that. But Green Bay is different from that sense. It's everybody's in this thing to make sure this is a goal. And I'll never forget when I first had got to Green Bay and we were making a run. Coach Mike brought all the wives and all the girlfriends into the team meeting for a meeting.

Like if it ain't good at home, they're not going to be good on the football field. Like we need John too. You know what I'm saying? But it just was like a family-oriented organization that everybody has one cause. And that's to make sure how good can we make Aaron Rogers. And I've said this for years. the Green Bay quarterback syndrome. So quarterbacks are different.

So far of an errand have very little in common. One's west, one's southern. One's the gunslinger. One was meticulous. One was thought of as one of the great talents ever. One was overlooked, had to go to a JC. But yet it ended the same way.

Ironically, they went to the same team initially jets. And I said, is it the reality of being a quarterback in Green Bay? So whereas James Jones and Jordie Nelson can go to the grocery store and sign an autograph. Farvin Rogers arguably were the biggest stars in the league in their prime. It's like no other city. And Damien Stadamy, remember the great basketball player?

When I interviewed him one time in Portland, Oregon, and Damon's a nice guy. He and I, he hated me when he played because I was critical, but he's a good dude. And he said this once, I asked him, where's your favorite place to play? He's from Portland. He said Toronto. I said, why? He said, glasses I can hide. National City. He goes in Portland, Oregon. I can't go out for a stake. And I do think that being

a quarterback for Green Bay, Farr of Rogers, nothing in common. It ended the same way. Thoughts of retirement, worn out, no owner to lean on, couldn't get free agents, that Green Bay is strangely comforting, but difficult to be a superstar quarterback. Yeah, I mean, because Green Bay is small market, you know, So like if Aaron Rogers and Brett Farv did what they did in their careers in Dallas or in New York, you know what I mean? I mean, my goodness, we'd be talking about them even with one ring probably up there with Tom Brady. Right. You know, it's strictly because of where they play. Green Bay is a really, really small town, really, really small market.

So it's not a lot of eyeballs on you, you know what I mean? But unless it's, unless you're Aaron Rogers or Breffarv and you, all the eyes are on you. They can't go to the grocery store. They can't go have a steak. I mean, everything, you got to bring the food to the house. or it has to be, hey, I'm coming through the back door, and this is what's going to happen. But, you know, that's how it's always been in Green Bay.

I mean, we're not even at the quarterback position. We used to talk about that as a receiver spot. That's a lot of great receivers that came out of Green Bay that really do not get a lot of credit because it's small market, it's small town, and it's not a lot of eyes on you. You know, I mean, even when you talk to Donald drivers, the Greg Jennings, the Antonio Freeman,

like, it's a lot of great receivers that if they were elsewhere, you know what I mean, with a different helmet on, I mean, they would still be talked about as probably one of the greats right now. So playing in Green Bay is special, but yes, it's not a lot of eyeballs on you. You don't get a lot of media coverage and all that. So, you know, you kind of slide under the radar. So I know Aaron's your buddy. I get it.

And obviously, he doesn't like me. And I get that. And I'm not bothered by it. You know, like you? Well, I mean, listen, I've been critical in the last. I was very favorable. I was always an Aaron guy over a Fav guy for years. I thought he was a thinking man's player.

I thought he was super. I thought he was detailed. I'll say this. I was always Aaron over Favreve, day one still am. I do not like the last three years because I do think football's unique. Is that in the NBA, if you have two great players, you'll win. In baseball, it comes down to who has the most money. But in the NFL, it is a collective.

Even a quarterback needs a left tackle. No question. You've got to buy gifts for your offensive linemen. Steph doesn't need buy gifts for the backups. So it's a collective. And I do feel Aaron, you know, he is a single guy. He's rich. He's doing his own thing.

He lives a different Gulfstream life than I'd ever live. And maybe I'm jealous or something. Who knows? I like the life I have. But I think the last several years, it's felt more about Aaron than the collective, and I don't love that. Is that fair? But see, I don't think that's true, though, because I think the last couple of years,

Aaron has really been all about team. You know, even when you come over here, like I said, on this show, I strictly believe that the only reason why he is trying to come back is because what those people in the New York Jets office and those players that he's built relationship with has done for him, right? This is an Achilles injury. be sitting here saying, hey, I'll be back next year, you know, but for you to be on the practice squad running around and, you know, trying to let everybody know that you're ready.

Like, I truly believe if this team had a chance to make the playoffs, Aaron was coming back to help his team, strictly because he loves those people in that building and what they have done for him. And for me, just watching him in the turnover that he's made, you know what I mean? As a player and as a teammate, man, I mean, I like this Aaron Rogers. But players all new. nobody's coming back from this in the history

I mean I called two athletes and they're like dude if you rupture in Achilles at 39 it's over yeah I understand what they're saying but to see him moving the way he's moving and yes I know this offense alignment align is bad

but I truly believe deep down in my heart of hearts if this team was in the playoffs right now and Aaron had a chance to come back the way he's moving him being on practice while I think he would have tried it I truly do I think he would have tried to come back because I know Aaron I know what these people

in the Jets organization, the Jets players, and what they mean to him, I think it was a goal for him to, if we were in the playoffs, to come back and help this team, I truly do. Could I argue, Aaron would have been better served to stay in Green Bay. The Jets do not do quarterback well. The Bears do not do quarterback well. They don't know how to do it. Yeah.

Well, you're always going to get the yes for me because I never wanted to see him leave Green Bay. You didn't? No, I always wanted to see him finish. Did you tell him that? Yeah. I always wanted to see him finish his career in Green Bay. You know what I mean?

you know, I never wanted to see him leave. And we all know, I mean, organization, you know, your head butt. I mean, that happens with a lot of different quarterbacks, you know. And sometimes you just need a change of scenery, and only you know that, you know. So, you know, can nobody tell Aaron Rogers how to feel or how to think or, you know, what he thinks is best for him. But I always wanted to him to finish his career in Green Bay, possibly win another Super Bowl there if that was, you know, what was written for him. But, you know, I never wanted to see him getting a jettyle. How do they treat you in Green Bay?

Lovely. They still treat me lovely. It's like family. Every time I go back, you know, Green Bay is like family. I tell people all the time, man. It's one of the best places in the world to play football. All right. So you don't have any animosity? No, no, no. I love everybody over there. Charles Wilson always told me when I was a player, man, you can't, he told me you can't hold any grudges in this business. At one point, it's going to be your time. Period. So, you know, at the end of the day, you can't be sensitive. You can't hold any grudges in this building.

At one point, it's going to be your time, man. Enjoy the ride. Go out there, do what you're going to do however your career may end and play ball. Okay, so Michael Irvin was deeply bothered by Sean Peyton yelling at Russell Wilson. Now, I know Sean pretty well, and he's very authentic and a lot of emotion. That got him into trouble sometimes in New Orleans. He didn't yell at Drew Brees, but he yelled. He yells a lot.

His best friend Mickey Loomis is the GM probably yelled at Mickey. This is who he is. If you were golfing with Sean Peyton, he'd be giving you crap. He's just an authentic guy. A lot of coaches aren't. They're inauthentic. It's all BS. Sean's just bleeding.

He just bleeds on you. He's a storyteller. And so when I saw that, I thought, Sean's pissed. He's got to let you know. But I understand players look at this, and a lot of players don't like this stuff. Yeah. What did you make of it? I grew up like this.

You know what I mean? I grew up with coaches in my face. Coach is hard on me, you know, so I don't mind this at all. And I know a lot of people want to say, but he's a superstar and he's a Hall of Famer. Who cares? We are in a heated moment. We are trying to win a football game. We are losing.

I want everybody on the same page. I mean, my man could have been saying we worked on this all week, right? We could have challenged it, hold the ball, whatever. We don't know what they're talking about. But I grew up like this. I hate when players is like just because of where you're at, where your career status and all that, it's like a coach can't talk to you like that.

No, I used to tell Coach Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rogers. If I'm not doing, get on me. Like that's part of the business. We are trying to win. Get on me. So I don't mind this at all. Wilson, Aaron, Rogers, Tom Brady. I don't care.

If it's you that's messing up and you that needs to be yelled at, then that's what they do. But some guys get sensitive. A lot of guys get sensitive, but not me. I'm good with the coach yelling at me. I'm good with that. This is a competitive sport. We are trying to win. We got an opportunity to get in the playoffs the way this season started off, right?

We're not playing well out here in Detroit. I don't care what your name is. We need to get in the right play. We need to do our job. Point blank period. So I'm cool with that, you know, just like if I'm playing a game of my wife, Say if we play in the spades game. All right.

And I'm like, listen, if I leave spades, I want to see your highest spade. If she don't do that, what are you doing? We're trying to win. It don't mean I don't like you. I love you, but we're trying to win. Come on. So you got a little Sean Peyton in you. Yeah, it's all good, man.

You take the heads out and yell at your life. I'm sure Sean Payton loves for us. It's all good. But come on, we're trying to win. Okay, so you and McCarthy get along. I said this. I've been hard on Mike, but I also think you have to acknowledge,

I've been nice about Aaron, and I crushed him today. I've been critical of McCarthy, but I think he's had a hell of a year, and that kicker now takes away some of the clock management stuff. But when they deliver a dud like that, you didn't see Belichick's teams do it. You don't see Shanahan's teams do it a lot.

We think they're really good. What do I make of that when you're non-competitive, and you're actually bad on the road? What the heck? am I supposed to make of that? Yeah, and this is this is concerning because you're going to have to go on the road

in the playoffs. Now, I mean, now you're going to have to go on the road in the playoffs, and we've seen you on the playoffs against the Cardinals, I mean on the road against the San Francisco 49ers. Lost by 32. And we've just seen you on the road against the Buffalo Bills. But for me, it's just where's the energy? None. None. Like, I mean,

sideline dead. The players look dead. I mean, for you to give, I mean, cook a hundred plus rushing yards in the first half, that's you not coming off the bus ready to play. You know what I mean? I can understand you get out-schemed a couple on some of these plays, but that's coming off the bus not ready to play, or coming off the bus like we just going to beat these boys down and surprise, surprise, we're in playoff mode.

Y'all are not, we're playing with way more energy than you guys right now, and the Buffalo Bills just put it on the Dallas Cowboys. So for me, they've got to get this fixed, because if you're trying to go where you're trying to go, you're going to have to go on the road and bring your own energy and win a football game and play at a high, high level. And they have not done that this season on the road. That was weird.

You know, it's funny. I remember there was a clip of Belichick years ago, and it was maybe a documentary, I don't know if it was Tom versus time or something. There was a moment I love with Belichick. And it was a, it showed it in the film room. And Belichick was showing tape. Is it Monday, tape day or Tuesday, tape day?

Tuesday. And he's showing tape and they lost a game. And Belichick, New England scored a touchdown. And he turned to his players. like there's no energy. Why aren't you going to congratulate your teammate? You just scored a touchdown. You had an 88-yard drive.

And Belichick was like, you should celebrate. It's hard to push other men around 88 yards. And when I watched Dallas, you're right. By the way, one of the things I always love about Pete Carroll's teams, win or lose, they are running through a wall. 100%. You've never seen, by the way, Mike Tomlin teams. Mike Tomlin teams, yep.

Running through a wall. Harball teams. They lose. They are relentless. It ain't energy. That Dallas team was just nothing there. Just flat. And they even look flat against the Niners, and these are big time games.

Like, you're not on the road, man, against the Carolina. Carolina Panthers. Or, you know what I mean? Like, you're on the road against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills or Calshanan and the 49ers. And it just was, they just came out flat. I mean, it wasn't no game playing issues and all that. The Cowboys played the defense. They played all that.

season long. They ran the offense. They ran all season long. But just the energy, man. You've seen Buffalo. I mean, you've seen the- Oh, Buffalo was fired off. Man, you seen the clip of my man driving them all the way to the end zone, like, you know, like it was a movie script or something like that. But they're in playoff mode and they just had way more energy than the Cowboys. James Jones. Man, you're good on this TV stuff. You really are. Today we were a little combative. That's all good. You had to defend there. That's all good. I liked it. All right. Confrontational. Did you know Discover wants everybody to feel special? That's why with your Discover card, you have access 24-7 to customer service as well as a zero-dollar fraud liability.

Means you're never held responsible for unauthorized purchases. Learn more at Discover.com slash credit card. Limitations apply. I have a great parlay for you this weekend, thanks to Draft King Sportsbook. New users use the code heard. That's me, H-E-R-D, when you download the app, and that takes under two minutes. Here's my parlay pick of the week via Draft King Sportsbook, and we had a very good week last week. I'm going to take the Jaguars plus one getting points at the bucks.

Tampa Bay has been a good story. Jacksonville's a better team. I get a quarterback edge off an ugly loss. Cowboys plus one and a half at the Dolphins. Miami struggled with physical teams. Dallas didn't look like it against Buffalo. They'll be ready to be physical. And I'll take the Broncos at home minus six and a half again off an ugly,

disappointing loss. They'll circle the wagons and beat a Patriots team that is Pretty lifeless. If you want to take the herd parlay, check out Draft King's sportsbook. Sign up quick. New users. Use the code herd when you download the app, HERD. 21 plus in most eligible states, but age varies by jurisdiction.

Eligibility restrictions apply. Gambling problem. Call 1-800 gambler. In New York. Call 8778-8 Hope & Y or text Hope N. 467369. See show notes for full details. 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'll say. 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 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 Jett. 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, 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 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 When your business reaches a certain scale, challenges begin to surface. You deserve a tailored solution, and that's NetSuite. Go to NetSuite.com slash herd. H-E-R-D. J-MAC with the news.

No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. I'm convinced the staff just wants to put more Brock Purdy stuff in the shell because we get so worked up what you do. Brock Purdy is the frontrunner to win the MVP. I gave it to him weeks ago. Colin, did you know? 29 TD passes, 119 pass-a-rating, and now Jerry Rice, the goat,

recently appeared on Fred Warner's podcast and made a hefty comparison for one Brock Purdy. Brock reminds me a lot of Montana, his coolness. He doesn't get rattled. You need your quarterback to be that way. What he's doing, the leadership, his composure. Watching him when he first, This took over and the velocity behind his throves. Hey man, tight spiral, catchable ball. You know, I love it, man.

Joe Montana comparison. Interesting. It's almost as if someone on this show said that last week. Yeah. Go ahead. Go ahead. Come on. Let's hear your new bottle.

Listen, I'm going to let you debate this. I'm going to enjoy this rocket ship to the moon of greatness. Because I think the Niners are the best watch in the league. I love watching them. By far, I think they're more creative. more clever, more stars. I love watching Niner football. It's the opposite of the Jets.

It's like in unison. It's not about one guy or ego or desperation. It's just all unity downhill. Listen, I did not commission them to put those stats on. I'm not going to go there. That being said, the Jets is like, I got to go to the dentist and get a crown. It's like, I got to watch the Jets. Brock Purdy.

You would always reference Justin Fields. You remember how he was like, what was the number? Six and 23 or something. You always reference that. Rock Purdy's 16 and 3 in the regular season, 18 and 3 when you include the playoffs. We're not giving him the loss to the Eagles when he got hurt on like... You're not? Okay.

Well, you got hurt on like the 15th play. Not's fair. It's reasonable. Okay. So this is interesting. So I dug into the three-game losing streak. You remember that it? Yeah, yeah.

So against the Browns, he drove them the length of the field in the final minute, and the rookie kicker shanked a 41-yarder. But that loss is on Purdy, obviously. So the next game, they go to Minnesota. He completed 70% of his passes. Then he got concussed. Yeah. And through two interceptions.

It's like, hmm. Okay. The concussion, I don't know if it lingered or what he wasn't going to play against the Bengals. 71% completions, 365 yards against the Bengals. 8.2 yards per attempt for the team. Like they were a machine. They lose to the Bengals because Burrow was unstoppable. Listen, Dak Prescott was awful against the Buffalo Bills.

Right? We could say you looked at the game. He did not show up. In none of these games did Brock Purdy not show up in their losses. Against Cleveland on the road, he wasn't great. But that's the top defense in the league. Yeah, and they missed two field goals. Okay.

Makeable. So, like, under those circumstances, has Brock Purdy, like, struggled against good teams or anything like that? Well, I mean, they, yeah, I mean, San Francisco's bearing the team. The whole unit is. They're destroying people. Yeah. Like, I just, I feel like fundamentally you are a little too dug in. here and you're not willing to come on. I'm not, it's not being dug in. I think the Niners are going to

be a Super Bowl team against Baltimore or Kansas City. I think Purdy's a very good player. I think we're overhyping a smaller quarterback who's semi-mobile because of the situation he's in. He's a product of the environment to some degree, which is not, it's not a knock. It's just, it is what it is. And it also helps. They can go get Hargrave on defense because Purdy's free. There's a lot of things working in Brock's favor, I just think we should acknowledge those. Certainly. I mean, he still has to go out and complete the passes and nail everything. And he's good at it.

He has, yeah. Three weeks left until the playoffs, Colin, Houston Texans fighting for a wild card spot, and it looks like CJ Stroud, that concussion he suffered against the Jets is likely going to miss another game. Remember, we saw that happen against the Jets. This would be one of my favorite bets of the week. If he played, he's not, I'm out. I love the Texans getting two and a half at home with C.J.

but this morning I asked and our staff said he's not going to play. Well, remember, no Tank Dell, who was awesome. And they did not look good without Tank Dell against the Jets. I know it was Rain and other receiver. Nico Collins injured. I don't know his status. But you think Houston's aside here, even if Stroud comes back from him? Oh, I think if Stroud plays, Cleveland is not the same team defensively on the road.

Correct. They are not. I watched them against the Rams. There's something about this team and the energy. They're also, depending on if Denzel Ward's available, they have some guys that get dinged up. I like Cleveland. I think they're a weird team.

Interesting. But I think Houston with a healthy C.J. Stroud at home, it's a really impressive team. So does that mean if it's Case Keatham again, you're... I would go Cleveland. Okay. But if C.J. Stroud, I'd take them. I'm just staying away because we don't... I remember the COVID year in betting where on a Sunday you'd find out seven guys can't play?

Like the other night. Like, oh, Drew Locke. starting. I was lucky to win that bet, but my take was, oh, that's a bad break. Yeah. Well, by the way, the line steamed up to five. Remember it was three, three and a half, five kickoff when it was Drew Lock. I'll say, have you looked deep in-depth at this week's card for gambling? Oh, yeah. I don't think it's a good one. There's a lot of uncertainty, injuries. Now, no, now, that makes it harder. Oh, very hard. But I think, you know, the magic number is four. Whenever I get a minus four, there's a couple of beauties out there. Rams are a minus four.

Well, that was four and a half. It's down to four. It's looking toward three and a half now. I like the Rams. That's tomorrow night. Huge game. Oh, for the... New Orleans is the most disappointing team in the league. By the way, do you want to go to the game?

I think it's so far. Tomorrow night, I have a Christmas event I have to go to. My son. Okay, Grinch. Final story. Matt Jones has not seen the field since Bailey Zappy took over. There's been no indication. Mac will get back on the field.

Bill O'Brien was asked what Matt can do to get another shot. Here's what he had to say. I think everybody's got to be ready to play, especially in the situation that we're in. I really do. I think that everybody has to be ready to go. Anybody that's on the 53-man roster really has to go out on the practice field and practice well and earn a shot to play. And I know that you've heard that from Bill, but that's the truth.

You have to be ready to go because if you practice really well, you're going to have a real shot to play. I think that goes for every position. Yeah, they don't know what they're doing. So they're big underdogs in Denver. Early weather reports, and that's what I do during the commercial breaks. Check weather for NFL games. It looks like a snow game in Denver against Bailey Zappy.

Colin, just worth watching. A lot of sharp betters are on Carolina this week. Okay? If Carolina wins and New England loses, they are now tied for the number one pick in the draft. So the snow should hurt the better offense, Denver, shouldn't it? A snow storm. I don't think the Patriots can do anything. I think Denver's the side.

Home away. Yeah, seven. I don't know. Six and a half, seven, I don't know. I just keep an eye on this Patriots number one pick thing. I just think the Belichick discussion gets unbelievable if they have the number one pick. Do you know how tick Belichick would be if he gets pulled and he's done in New England and they get the number one pick? There may be some news on Caleb Williams coming out in the next week or two that I don't love.

Oh. Okay. Well, I also got to ask you, I know the Chargers job is good for Herbert. If the Patriots boot Belichick and they have the number one pick, that job's better than the Chargers job. I'm sorry. That's just how it is. That's going to be unbelievable. Well, Robert Kraft is a great owner. You get the number one pick, quarterback on a rookie deal. The defense has some dudes, not many, but some. Offense needs some work, but guess what? Go out, spend money.

You're paying the quarterback nothing. He's on the rookie deal. there is huge upside for this Patriots job. Now, I don't know that that's for Harbaugh. I don't totally see it. Keep an eye on the Patriots job, Colin. That becomes real. I think Belichick would try to hold on to that job as much as possible. Because you buy yourself like five more years if you get the rookie quarter.

Well, you can go get some real free agent spending. I mean, they did it a few years ago, and outside of Judon, they wasted their money. Well, the offensive guys they've gotten is, I mean, they overpaid juju. They'd overpaid everybody. Devonte Parker. Like, Belichick. They'd never been big spenders in free agency. The minute they tried it, they whiffed.

Judon was a good. Matt, Judon was a good player. Offensively, Belichick has no feel for who's good. Jay Mackle News. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Ly News. If the playoffs started today, and I do think we mostly have the right teams,

although I think Buffalo will get into the playoffs. The matchups, who would we like? Interesting matchups if the playoffs started today. And I think the NFC teams that are in are in. in. AFC, we're going to get a little movement. Buffalo in, somebody out. Talk about it next. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, I'm Doug Gottlie. The podcast is called All Ball. We usually talk all basketball all the time, but it's more about the stories about what made these people love their sport and all the

interesting interactions along the way. We talk to coaches. We talk to players. We tell you stories. You download it. You listen to it. I think you like it. Listen to All Ball with Doug Ghalib on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win.

A win is a win. I don't care which 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 what you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok.

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 it podcast. I'm Sam Jek. 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's big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Saturday on Fox Primetime Hoops. It's a big East showdown as Rick Petino and his St. John's team.

Take on fifth-ranked Yukon. It all tips off Saturday at 7.30 Eastern on Fox. So we do have currently 14 NFL. playoff teams. In the AFC, Buffalo is not in right now. My guess is they do get in. And Indianapolis probably doesn't. It's a guess. But I think the bills feel like a playoff team. In the NFC, I have my questions about Minnesota. I think they probably get bounced out. I can see Seattle, maybe New Orleans if they could win tomorrow. I don't think they will getting in. But I think most of what we see now is what the playoffs will be. So I thought it would be a fun

exercise to say if the playoffs started this weekend. I think about 90% of what we see is what we're going to get, who would you like and what would the matchups be? So we'll start with the AFC if this was a playoff weekend. And we're close. The Colts as a seventh seed would be at Miami a two seed. Now here's what's interesting. Since week five, Miami leads the NFL in Sacks with Vic Fangio's defense. And like Dallas, they're a great. home team. Two is 17 and 15 and 2 over his last

17 home starts. I would be on Miami here. I would say it spreads probably 7 and a half or higher. I would like Miami. Miami's a very good home team. Like the Cowboys, they can be a different version away from home, but they are getting to the quarterback like

Dallas since week five. The next matchup would be Bengals, Jake Browning, at Mahomes. I think the line be seven, although Kansas City is a poor, heavy favorite team. But in his career, listen to this. Mahomes is 9 and 2 at home as a playoff quarterback with 30 touchdowns and three picks. Again, my guess is backup quarterbacks have been fun stories this year.

Playoffs are a whole different ball game. This spread could be double digits for all we know. By the way, I think the Bengals are the last team to beat the Chiefs in the playoffs two years ago, right? that era. They're a different quarterback. A slightly different quarterback. Yeah, Chiefs, for sure. This one's interesting.

Brown's a five-seated, Jaguars of Four seed. So I'm going to let you have an opinion and then unveil an interesting truth about this game. Who would you take? So the problem here is the recency bias. Jags are struggling. We just saw them on Sunday night.

They do not look good at all. The defense can't stop anybody. The offense can't protect Lawrence. Lawrence hasn't been great. Amazing defense in the Browns. January Joe Flacco. I think I would probably lead to the Browns here. I would take the Browns.

The Browns lead the NFL in giveaways. The Jags lead the NFL in takeaways. I would take the Jags. See, this is a classic. When the playoffs start, I get Trevor Lawrence at home with a defense that takes the ball away. Yeah, but this team's not good at home. Hold up. I think they're like three and five at home.

Or bad record at home this year. They've lost a bunch of games. I'm going Jacks. I'll stick Brown. All right. NFC, Ram seven-seat at the Cowboys, too. Now, Dallas is a great home favorite. Cowboys are 7-0 at home, averaging almost 40 points a game.

The Cowboys, this is a huge one. Major kicking advantage. Rams are struggling. So if it's a close game, you're in big trouble. I take the Cowboys probably about a 10 spot. Wow. I would hope, I would want to bet the Rams there because I think they have advantage of coach. It'd be about a touchdown line.

Who's a better coach? McVeigh. Who's the better quarterback? Stafford. Okay, so, I mean, I think I would probably bet Rams here, but I think I'm with the Cowboys. Six? Five and a half. I mean, they beat them by, I think, 23 in the last meeting in Dallas.

But that was a weird game. Stafford got hurt. Remember left early? I don't know if Cooper Cup played or was a factor. I think the Rams could be plucky in here. I would take the Cowboys in a close one. Viking Six at the Lions three. Now, I get Nick Mullins.

They play this weekend. Jared Goff. For me, the Lions at home, indoor, good weather, right, dome, I think Detroit's going to stomp their first round opponent. This is what, like, the third or fourth backup quarterback in the Wild Card weekend? That's not great. Wild Card weekend's usually awesome. Like, I don't even know if you have to stay home and watch this game.

Nick Mullins, really? I would go Lions. I would bet them here, too. Finally, number five Eagles at the number four bucks. Now, the Eagles beat the bucks earlier in the season pretty soundly. I will say this. Eagles, I kind of feel like I get the same team home or away. They're beatable at home.

They can also beat you. I think I'd take the Eagles here, but I think Tampa would make it interesting because Evans, Tampa and Baker are good enough because this year the Eagles are not getting a pass rush. This could have an upset written on it. Eagles are not getting a pass rush. Baker, with those receivers in time, would move the ball on this team. Yeah, you got watch a backdoor cover. But I think the Eagles win.

Did you see their spread this weekend against the Giants? No. I think it's like 12 or 11 or 12 or some big number. People are like, whoa. Just remember, the Eagles, all these losses are in these close games, a really elite teams. You play Kansas City, 49ers, Dallas. You step down in class against a Tampa, which is like the middle of the pack. I think Eagles are fine.

Now, first round last year, home teams went 4 and 2. The favorites went 4 and 2. The only upset last year was the Giants beating Minnesota. Daniel Jones played well. I mean, it was an upset. It wasn't a major upset. So, um, okay, so you have Cleveland going on the road and being Jacksonville.

Yeah, I mean, listen, not with a ton of conviction, but... I think Tampa would give Philadelphia anxiety. I think it's close. I take Philadelphia, but I think it would be a little bit of... I just can't get over the backup quarterbacks, dude. Minshu, Browning, Flacco, Mullins, four of the six games featuring backup quarterbacks? Well, let's also...

It's just disappointing. You and I do believe, I think, that Buffalo is going to get into the AFC playoffs. And I also think Minnesota's not going to make it, and we're going to get either Derek Carr in New Orleans or Gino Smith and Seattle. Those would be much better watches than Minnesota. Oh, yeah, Gino Smith and Seattle would be interesting. It'd be fun. I mean, I'll say it again on that Monday night game. Seattle's got talent.

Seattle has got energy, speed, twitchy size. Seattle's good if Gino gets protection, they have great games. Certainly. loaded last hour in the hurt another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy not quite

on humor 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 Smiley

Michael and friends on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the 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. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host, Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor it? 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 and learn the hard way on the IHard radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

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