The Herd with Colin Cowherd - HOUR 2 - Nets, Jimmy G

Episode Date: June 28, 2022

Why the Nets will be better next season Jimmy Garoppolo is being called out be former teammates    Guest: Mark Medina   #douggottliebshowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Filling in for the great Colin Cowherd. Mark Medino will join us later on this hour. As we continue to react to the NBA news of the day. which yesterday, right? Yesterday was Kyrie Irving had asked for and received permission

to seek a sign and trade, and then last night it was opting in to stay with the Brooklyn Nets. He went on to tell the athletic. I love these quotes. Normal people keep the world going, but those who dare to be different

lead us into tomorrow. I've made my decision to opt in, see you in the fall, a 11 with the number 11 um anyway so look Kyrie who last year obviously you know the story with COVID and him not playing half the year

and they only reached out to him when they were their roster was depleted the roster was depleted he still averaged you know 27 half points six assists for four and a half rebounds and only 29 games of regular season work. Add that to the fact that, you know, he was celebrating Ramadan and where during the playoffs, Ramadan, in case you don't know the Muslim custom, you don't eat or even drink water during daylight hours. Yikes. So I don't know how he expected to have a profound impact in the playoffs.

He did. He looked weaker. He looked tired. There was some struggles there from a normally great player. So here's who they have under contract with the Nets. And look, the Nets, this could go one of two ways. Obviously go very poorly. He doesn't want to be there.

They don't want him. You can get rid of him. It's an expiring contract. Maybe you can get rid of them mid-season. What they have is Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons, who make 44, 36, and 35 million in change against the cap. Ooh, that's a lot. That's a lot.

That's 19, 20, and 23.5% of the cap on three players. Now, remember, they also have Joe Harris, who was injured. They have Seth Curry. they still have Patty Mills, I believe, which is a player option. And that's pretty much it of the guys that you know. The rest, they have to kind of create around those three, those four. Now, the first thing is that not having Joe Harris, and I know Joe Harris didn't shoot the ball well in the playoffs the previous year,

but not having him, that changes the dynamic of everything. The threat of Joe Harris makes you have to get a guy who doesn't leave him. The threat of a guy who's a great shooter. And Joe Harris has positional size. So defensively, he's different. Like Patty Mills and Seth Curry are probably just as good as shooters. Maybe Seth Curry's as good a shooter. Patty Mills is a really good player.

But because they're so small, there's a complete difference to them and Joe Harris. Just is. So simply having those four and then figuring out what you're going to do for, you know, you're probably, you're going to need a small ball five. you're going to need a rim protecting five. You know, you have all the, the guard scoring off the bench you need in a Patty Mills if you get him back or a Seth Curry. You don't need any more. The rest, you just need three and these, rim protector, small ball five.

I could be dead wrong here, but I don't hate it. I don't hate it, you know. Because unlike, and this is a super, you know. assuming Ben Simmons is back for training camp. They've never had a training camp since they had Kyrie and Kevin Durant and James Hardin where they were all together. James Hardin was traded for, you know, early midseason, early to midseason two years ago. And then, of course, last year they didn't have Kyrie until late. They've never all been together.

You can't put in your defensive rotations, your defensive system, your offensive system. You can't put those in on the fly. You can't. you can add in pieces as the season goes on, but your core guys kind of got to be your core guys. And if nothing else, like Steve Nash, it's kind of been a petri dish the last two years where he's gotten to try some stuff out.

Now he's really going to have to coach. But if Ben Simmons is back, and I understand so many of us have bailed on Ben Simmons, because he became a worst version of, He just won't even shoot the basketball. Then he wouldn't shoot layups. He's got to get back to playing basketball, seeing success with the ball going through the bucket. You know, just if they're going to have Kyle Corver,

and he needs to just follow Kyle Corver round all offseason when his back gets right and do what he does and shoot the basketball. It's still going to be a lot to fix that thing at this point in his career. But that ain't a bad team there. Because in order for Ben Simmons to be Ben Simmons, he needs space. You have Joe Harris and Kyrie Irving and Kevin Rand. You got space.

And Ben Simmons helps you the defense event, which is the weakness to Kyrie Irving. It's not the strength of Joe Harris. And Kevin Rand's become a good to, not necessarily a plus defender, but definitely not a minus. That can be a good team. There's obviously they got to figure out,

Nick Claxton, you know, could be the rim protector. They got to figure out the rest of the whole deal. These two things can be true. You can not love Kyrie Irving's, you know, the idea that he thinks he's being different. Like, he's not being different. He's chasing the money. And God bless him.

Like if somebody says, hey, you can make $36 million to stay where you are and play with your friend. Or you can make $6 million to go across the country and play with a guy who you like, you respect, but you guys were on the outs with. You have no idea how good you're going to be. you have no idea what that coach is like. You don't know the new coach, whatever. And they just kind of took you because they could took you because it feels like you're a bargain. Like I would do the same thing.

I wouldn't. And we could be down on Kyrie in terms of all the other space cadet stuff. But he's going to, if he wants to stay in the NBA, he's going to have to change his behavior. He's going to have to show up more often. he's going to have to be more a part of the team. And if anything, this is a great test case for all sports. I want you to think about what the Brooklyn Nets did.

Okay. The Brooklyn Nets did what no one seems to be willing to do in sports and say no. No. Now we're not just going to acquiesce to you. We're not going to fire our coach who we like and we think does a good job. And, you know, people in the media don't even understand. Like, you have people in the media who have zero clue about actual basketball. Like, Blake Griffin comes in in the playoffs.

Like, why did they play Blake Griffin? Because he can't play anymore. Literally, he got into the game. And the first thing that sells is that Blake Griffin's out there, let's go right at him. Can't guard anybody. Can't play. Like, you think Steve Nash doesn't want to play Blake Griffin? Doesn't want to play the Marcus Alder?

they're washed, they're done. That's what happens. Oh, well, you need more space for Kevin Durant. Like, okay. But if you play Seth Curry and Patty Mills at the same time, who's going to guard it? You can't guard. Do you know how big and strong and like, where they're going to guard for the Boston Celtics? You can't hide anybody.

So then you play bigger bodies and everywhere Kevin Durant goes, he's got two guys on him. Not a magician. So the Brooklyn Nets have said, nah, that's our coach. That's our general manager. This is how we're going to do it. It'll work. And Kyrie's like, I don't know. Maybe I'll sign trade.

Okay, I'm fine. I'm saying trade. No one doesn't exist. We don't like the Lakers one. Nah, you're staying here. You won't play basketball under contract. $36 million. That's what you do.

They drew a line in the sand. At the end of the day, Kari back down. This, I'd be different. No, different would have been, I'm an opt out. I'll be a free agent. I'm going to see what's out there in the market for me.

He flinched. And now they, have him. Like, look, that's what the Arizona Cardinals should do. We're going to give, we're going to give Kyler Murray an extension. Why? Did anybody watch the playoff game? Kyler Murray was awful. He was atrocious. And look, I'm a fan of Kyler Murray in comparison to Baker Mayfin. Like, that dude's got, but he's bad at the end of the last three seasons. Well, he's been injured. Okay. Well, DeAndre Hopkins out. Okay. He looked awful.

Can play. So I remember the Arizona Cardinals have Kyla Murray under contract for two more years, and then they could franchise tag him. No negotiation. Two more years. That's four more years. Actually five, you want to transition tag him. With no negotiation, the Arizona Carls don't have, and like, that's not how it's going

to work. They're going to give him a contract extension. Why? I don't know. Because that's what everybody in sports does. You get a little nervous about finding the next player because this player, but you don't have to find the next player. He's not going to walk.

He's not going to go anywhere. You just acquiesce. And the Nets are like, we're not acquiescing. Let's see how Kyrie Irving plays when somebody holds him accountable. And we don't actually have to hold him accountable. He can hold him accountable. Because if he doesn't, he won't be in the league or won't be anywhere he wants to be next year. It's a curious motivator.

Right. And like, well, they didn't talk to Kevin Durant. We don't need to. Kevin Durant has said, I don't want to be a GM. Okay. You don't want to be a GM? Good. You don't need to be a GM.

We'll see when we see you. When things get settled, we'll call you, we'll talk, see what we got. I don't hate it. Because at the end of the day, Kairi would not be an NBA champion, would not be as talented as he if, if he didn't have a competitive gene that fires. We know how much Kevin Durant has a competitive gene,

how much he loves who. I don't know. know about the competitive gene with Ben Simmons. But I do think I do think that he is going to like the environment in Brooklyn and it's a fresh start for him. I have no idea about his mentality and if he can take the fact

that he Philadelphia is going to be hard on him and other places are as well. And who knows if he can shoot. But the talent is definitely there. I wouldn't go out and buy anybody else's net stock. but if I'm sitting there on net stock, let's just hold it. Just hold it. The end of the day, you have Kevin Duran,

who's the best player in the sport. You have Kyrie, who's one of the most talented dudes in the sport. And you have Ben Simmons who has some of the greatest potential in the sport and has been a very good player in the sport. If that's your starting spot, if you are honest with yourself and say, despite an unmitigated disaster this season with KD getting hurt, having to get rid of Harden. You know, Kyrie not playing for more than half the year, and you still got to the playoffs.

And the year before, with everything going on, I mean, you're up to O'O on Milwaukee. It still goes game seven. I don't think they're as far off as other people think. The quote is just wrong. Opting in was the easy thing, the normal thing to do, what you and I would do. Wait, I'm guaranteed to make $36 million and then I can be a free agent next year or I can maybe make $6 million or who knows. Opting out would have been abnormal. Opting out would have been the taking a risk.

Opting out would have been the non-traditional. Hey, you know what? I don't need a sign and trade. I'm just going to do my own thing. Find my own home. Kyrie so badly wants you to think that he's so many things that he's not. he's he's a great basketball player who wants to be a great person and wants to be all of these things that are anti whatever common culture tells you you should be and the truth is he's just a great basketball player who also likes the respect of making a ton of money and playing with his friend and teaming all right with cowrie choosing the nets russell westbrook opting in What now for the Lakers?

What now for Bradley Beale? What now in the league? The guy who knows? Joins 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 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,

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which is, I guess, threefold, all three point guards, right? Kyrie Irving is opting in after what was reported as limited options in terms of if he, one, opted out, and two, there was really only one team in sign and trade, and the Nets didn't want to engage. In return, Russell Westbrook has opted in. That's $47 million. I'm like, you can't really hate on that. And then John Wall takes a buyout. It'll be about $41 million. This is just gigantic numbers. And the reports are he'll sign with the Clippers. Let's get a sense of where we are and what's next. Mark Medina joins us. He covers the NBA for NBA media. Of course, he was our Fox Sports Radio, NBA Playoffs, Insider. and again, outsider, okay, outsider looking in, it's the nets, they didn't acquiesce.

We're not giving you max extension. You want to find a sign and trade. Fine. There wasn't really anything worth trading out there that they wanted to retain. It feels like they drew a line in the sand and actually did what they said they were going to do. And Kyrie chose the $36 million over the sand. six million with the Lakers. Is it, is it really that simple? Yes, and I think, you know, when Kyrie Irving is opting in and kind of reminded me a George Costanza from Seinfeld, or turning

to the office and pretending he didn't quit it, acting like nothing happened. I think you had a really good analogy the other day where it seemed like these two sides are heading for a divorce, and I think that that might still be the end result, but to use this analogy, maybe it's one of these things where both sides are practically thinking, well, we got a time this right, make sure it doesn't hurt the kids as much, maybe wait for them to leave college here. But I think that there is a scenario for this still to be reconciled. I mean, on paper, the Nets can be a contending team next season with Kyrie Irving and Kevin Duran and Ben Simmons is assumed to be healthy. They have some good, you know, depth around

them. But as you know, Doug, on paper with Ben Simmons and Kyrie Irving is always unpredictable. So while I think that Ben Simmons should be healthy next season, it seems inevitable that there is going to be something that's going to make him on available at certain parts of the season. With Kyrie Irving, there's no vaccine mandate that he has to worry about, but I think there's going to be something else that will prevent him from being fully available. So I think this just keeps the flexibility open and the net's being able to have a wait and see approach and make the best of it, but also not being saddled with any sort of. sort of commitment if this continues to go haywire. Okay. I mean, Russell Westbrook opts in, and I know part of this is the timing with you have to decide by Wednesday, but how much of it, how much of the timing of it and the announcement

of it happened to coincide with the fact that whatever the Lakers just said in the signing trade, he was the one offered up. How much of his timing of that announcement is a reaction to what came out? Yeah, I think it's all tied together. On one hand, it is a formality. He was going to exercise his option because there's 47 million reasons to do so. But, yeah, I think that there was an order of, you know, the Lakers, I think it was considered a long shot to begin with for Kyrie to come in because of the salary cap number, but you kind of have to follow the steps here. And while I wouldn't rule out the Lakers still trying to trade Westbrook, but, you know, you and me, Doug, you and me, have discussed this for a while now that the market's been depressed. So it seems like the Lakers are resigning to the fact that, you know, Russ is going to be on their team and they're trying

to sell the idea that they can make the best of that with a new head coach with Darwin Ham and more time than presumably 21 games for LeBron James and Anthony Davis to play with Russ. And look, I like Frank Vogel as a coach, but a lot of times a head coach is only as effective as his voice resonates. So maybe that makes a difference with Darvinham. In defense of Westbrook, the Lakers issues, also had to do with the fact that there was a faulty supporting cast and, you know, injuries most notably with Anthony Davis.

So maybe if Anthony improves his off-season regiment that will put Russ in more of a position to succeed, but I personally put a lot of blame on Russ himself with not being adjustable to many scenarios as the first through third option playing on and off the ball. and also sacrificing the things that Darwin has talked to him about, about, hey, really gained after defensively and willing to adjust his role. That's something that Frank Vogel had also stressed, and the message wasn't received. But I think from an organizational standpoint, the Lakers, you know,

are somewhat optimistic that they can make the best of Russ, but consider me a skeptic. Yeah, I know I'd be a skeptic as well, and I think all of that stuff is, in fact, accurate. What about the Clippers? What would be the plan be for John Wall? Come off the bench? Or it would be the starting point card?

You know, that remains to be seen. I think as much as the clippers have talked about, even after draft night last week, about wanting to have continuity, they have acknowledged in different parts that, look, it would be nice to have a point guard, as much as Kauai Leonard and Paul George were assuming those responsibilities and crediting that for opening up their game. In the last few years, they also want to preserve those guys.

So I think that the silver lining with this is, you know, John Wall has been in purgatory, so to speak, not because he didn't want to play, but because the rockets were trying to invest for the youth and all that, and obviously also increased their lottery odds. And so I think for John Wall's case, I would suspect that he would be amenable for starting or coming off the bench, but I think as loaded as the clippers are, they would love to have a better point guard. And so while there are question marks about how he'll fit in, you know, in fairness, his injuries, how he's going to, you know, replicate what he used to be in the past because of how much depth the clippers have, they can kind of absorb some of those growing pins.

So, yeah, I think it's a perfect fit. And regardless of some of those finer details that you discussed, I think, for the large part, it'll work itself out for the better because of, you know, the personnel. Okay. So if we have, if we are set with, um, if we're, if we're set with for now, the Nets and, uh, I mean, in terms of Kyrie. And I, I agree with you. Like, there still could be a divorce, but as of now, like, let's, let's just, let's just, you know, call off the attorneys and, and go to therapy, right? And, and see if we can, see if we can get through this year. What's next? Who's that, what's the next major domino in the NBA? Is it Brad Beal? What's the next domino?

Yeah, that's the interesting thing. Unlike other past free agency signing seasons where we knew, okay, this person represents the domino, there's all these like parallel possibilities. We thought maybe Kyrie Irving's a domino. We thought maybe Russell Westbrook's a domino. As of now, it doesn't look like they're the next domino. So my hunch is, I think, DeAndre Aden's the next domino for two reasons. One, I wouldn't rule out that Bradley Beal's definitely a wizard for life, but I think that he is going to sign that five-year extension and for different circumstances. It's kind of similar of, hey, the wizards and D.O.

are buying themselves time with DeAndre Aiton because of the fact that the sons didn't want to commit to him an extension before last season started the way the playoffs ended last year. I think that the Sons are going to be entertaining sign-and-trade scenarios. And I think with DeAndre, I want to be surprised of his feeling soured as well about wanting to be in Phoenix. But the Sons have more leverage here because he's a restricted free agent. And while I want it to say it's 100 percent, their partnership is done. I'm leaning toward that being the fact. So I think that there is a market for him as much as it's today's NBA doesn't put as much premium on size.

He's still a young athletic guy that I think that there should be some suitors for him. I just hesitate to know which teams exactly would be in the running for DeAndre, but I think philosophically the Sun should get some assets in return of any combination of some decent, you know, wing players may be a backup point guard to, you know, help Chris Paul knowing where he's at his career and some draft picks. So I think that will be the first domino to take a little. look at here. I would tell you that I don't think it said the NBA

doesn't value size. It's the lack of versatility with that size. Yeah, 100%. Yeah, like the traditional, I just don't, a traditional big guy, I mean, look at the playoffs. It's really hard to win with the traditional big guy. It's also really hard to win with the traditional point guard, especially one that's

you know, 6-2 or 6-2 or below. That's just a that's a hard thing. The cap number and the tax number for the Warriors is obscene, right? Obscene. And I know they made a ton of money this year

because they own the arena. I get it. But rich dudes do not like to pay, you know, they'd be a repeat offender. They don't want to pay more taxes than they have to. Yeah. What do the Warriors look like when they take the floor next year? Well, for sure, obviously, Steph Curry, Clay Thompson,

Dramond Green, they're locked into long-term deals. Expect that the Warriors are going to reach extension deals with Andrew Wiggins, Jordan Poole. I think even because of the luxury taxes you're talking about, they're looking at them as part of the championship core, and don't mess around with that. Now, I would keep in mind the order of things. I don't think that these extensions are going to happen right away in free agency,

but that's just because they have time before next season to do that. But that is the biggest priority, and then when you're looking at free agents that they actually have, this is where the trickiness gets involved here that you outlined with how will this affect Kavanaugh-Luny and Gary Payton the second. I think to a man, both players are handicapping the Warriors because of their championship pedigree, the fact that this organization put faith in them and oversaw their development. But look, all it takes is one team to give a deal to them that is, quote, unquote, too good

to pass up. And so I think while the Warriors are going to be willing to spend on those guys to keep, them because they have their bird rights and because they know their value. They're also vulnerable to the rest of the marketplace. But if I had a handicap, I think that still, Gary Payton and Kavanaugh-Lunee are going to come back. It's not to say they won't get market interest, but I think that they are mindful that they have a special thing going. So look for all those things that happen and where the Warriors will, you know, shave money will be on the fringes of, you know, keeping a roster space open for both for financial flexibility.

and roster flexibility. It's things like that. But when it comes to, hey, will this decision be a major influence on whether we can repeat as a champion or not, Joe Wakeup, the Warriors Majority Owner, is going to go toward that than worrying about his bill at the end of the day. It feels like the Knicks are going all in on Jalen Brunson, right? You hire his dad. You don't draft anybody. You set up assets that you can move, maybe in a sign-in trade.

Is that fair that that's the general feeling they're going to move mountains to try and get Jailen Brunson? Yeah, I think it's totally fair. And I think beyond that, I think the Knicks are also saying themselves up for next summer as well, just so that they're not putting all their eggs in one basket, so to speak. And as far as the Maverick's chances of retaining Brunson, I think that they want to spend on him. And they're hopeful that the fact that Lukash is on their team helps, They try to make some moves earlier already with getting Christian Wood, you know, in a trade with Houston. Belish, be honest, that's not necessarily a game changer.

Maybe it helps with their depth. So, yeah, I think that Brunton very well could go to the next because of his father's relationship because the next have money. But if I look at this from a basketball standpoint, even if the Mavericks, you know, aren't quite there yet as far as being a contending team, I think that they're heading in the right direction incrementally. But, you know, again, all it takes is one team that, you know, offers a really good deal here. All right. Let's circle back to the Lakers. If they're stuck with Westbrook trying to buy in to what they're selling,

if they have LeBron and Anthony Davis, what can they add? Really not much. They just have a $6 million mid-level exception, and then the rest is better at minimums deals. And I know that they like Malik Monk, you know, he showed some good secondary scoring some energy off the bench. I'm intrigued to see would they use that mid-level on him or not. The reality is he's going to get more than a veterans' been on deal like they got him last year.

So that's where I think the tightrope is. And so, look, the Lakers aren't in an ideal situation, but I think when you're looking at it, the best that they're hoping on is that LeBron James and LeBron James, and Anthony Davis maximizes his availability odds by, you know, doing the right things with his recovery work. And it's not so much of, oh, he didn't shoot a basketball this past off season. It's more about, okay, what's he doing from a strength and conditioning standpoint and an injury prevention standpoint so that he's not a guessing game as far as, you know, his injuries are concerned. And then Russ tapping into that. But look, when I'm connecting all these dots, I think it's a heavy ask.

I don't bet against LeBron because when should you do that even if he's in his 20th season. But I'm skeptical that AD can ever stay injury-free, and I'm also skeptical that Russ can change his spots and change his role. So I think there's only that much of a ceiling that LeBron and a new coaching staff can make. As far as the roster decisions, it's very limited because of their spending restrictions. Mark, great stuff as always, man. It's so far been interesting, and we haven't even hit like the bell of free agency. But it's always fun and frankly entertaining. Really appreciate you join us on Fox Sports Radio.

I appreciate you. It's always fun to entertain talking hoops with you. No doubt. Mark Medina, NBA media covering all things in the league, plus our Fox Sports Radio NBA playoffs inside. Let's get to Ryan Music with the news. No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news.

This is the herd line news. Ryan, what he got? Lots of great hoop talk there, Doug. I'll add one more here. As you guys had talked about, we know Kyrie Irving's going to return to Brooklyn. Russell Westbrook's going to return to the Lakers. What about Donovan Mitchell? There have been questions about his status with the jazz for a couple years now. Interest reached its peak this off season after another early departure from the playoffs.

He posted a screenshot on his Instagram of Spotify where he was listening to a song called, quote, Let Me Go. This also admits the fact that the jazz, excuse me, are looking for a new head coach after the mutual split with Quinn Snyder. Well, and Donna Mitchell obviously is a guy who many people think wants to be a Nick. Right. And I guess the massive freakout on TV by Stephen A. and Spike Lee, like not taking the 11th pick in the draft, that doesn't change anything. It changes everything, Doug.

It's just like they're loading up on assets. Okay. And those assets can be used. Maybe to make a pick next year for a league player, but more than likely to trade for somebody else's star player. And Mitchell has been that guy. So, you know, I just, I guess I don't understand the use of social media for these things, the use of social media for these things. It's become, it's become quite the trend across. No, no, it's like, listen, you can ask for a trade or make your, without it being on social media.

It's not like, you know, you can actually work out with your trainer without posting on social media. It actually doesn't, it does not count. You don't get any benefits from that if you don't make it public. Just like no meal has been consumed or enjoyed unless it's also been posted on social media. I will point out that I had a really good meal on Friday night at a place in Long Beach. I took my daughter to see Primus. And yeah, that was, I did it. I posted.

I probably shouldn't have. You're also an honorary millennial, so it's fine. Okay, that's good. Yeah. All right. Now we'll wrap it up here with this NFL story. When the Browns traded for Deshawn Watson, gave him a huge, massive, fully guaranteed contract.

We knew that meant the end of Baker Mayfield's days in Cleveland. But after a few months, here we are. Baker still remains on the Brown's roster. We're also awaiting an official word on what the suspension could be for Deshawn Watson in 2022. Some think it could be as long as a year. It could be indefinite. We know him and the Players Association.

They're going to argue for something much less, if nothing at all. Well, at a camp at Oklahoma, Baker Mayfield was asked about some type of reconciliation with the Browns. A lot of people think if they didn't have a quarterback for the next year, would there be any chance of reconciliation there? No, I think for that to happen, there would have to be some reaching. out, but we're ready to move on, I think, on both sides. So Baker Mayfield, very much trying to stand firm on the fact that he will not play for the

Browns again. I mean, but if you listen there, he did say, well, there had to be some reaching out, like, basically they're going to have to kiss my ass if they want me to come back. That's what he said. And to this point, they haven't. So, look, Baker can talk tough because he's got $19 million guaranteed. coming in. $19 million. But he should also point out to this point, Seattle hasn't been willing to take on much of

that contract. Carolina who was interested. And as T.J. O'Smanada said, like, the further we go, the less likely it is that he's moved to one of those two teams because you got to get up and running with their system. We're not putting you in, even right before training camp, and expecting you to succeed. It's just too hard. And that's right. I'm using with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd line news. Julian Edelman has put Jimmy G on blast. How so?

We'll play for you next in The Hurt. Be sure to catch live editions of the HARD weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Hey, this is Jason McIntyre. Join me every weekday morning on my podcast, Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your typical sports pod pushing the same tired narratives down your throat every day. Straight Fire gives you honest opinions on all the biggest sports headlines, accurate stats to help you win big at the sports book, and all the best guests. Do yourself a favor and listen to Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre

on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast 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.

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This is the Hearn. traded, the IHeart Radio app. So there's a lot of talk of new media and old media and whatever. I think it's, I think it's actually hilarious to be completely candid with you. Like Ryan, how would you characterize what people believe is new media or what athletes believe is new media? I think it's the hot take debate shows that are just outgiving. big opinions on the biggest stories and giving more opinion than proper context to the actual

facts of a story. I don't actually think that's new media. I think that is, that's hot tape. But I think the perception, and you and J. Stu, you guys can tell me if you think I'm wrong. That's considered actually old media because of the guys, you know, the skips, the shannons, the Stephen A's, the whatever's. those guys are considered only new media, by my estimation, is the Draymonds, the J.J. Reddicks,

the Kendrick Perkins, for example, the guys who are either still in the NBA or, for the most part, most of them are just out of the leagues in which they played. And them kind of parachuting into those debate shows and giving what they, perceived to be. And I think it is, it's pretty, it's a very, a much more realistic take on it because they're actually boots on the ground. And they've actually been in those locker rooms. Jay Stu, is that fair? Ryan, is that fair? Like in terms of the new media, old media kind of debate sort of thing? That's, that's where I was going to go with it. It's, uh, it's kind of, I think new media is from the perspective of the athletes. I think they came up with this turn. It's kind of like, uh, what

was it on T&T that players night or players? Yep, players only. They can't, because they think it, since it's coming from their mouth, then it comes with a little bit more credibility. Correct. Correct. Here's the problem with it. It's always existed.

It's always existed. The issue with, and this is a generational thing, and I don't think this is the only generation that's like it, but there's really, not only no, very little studying of history. there's definitely no respect of history. There's been plenty of guys who have had radio shows, TV shows, been parts, you know, had been in the media. You know, there's, you know, when magic would lose in the playoffs,

he would be on the call of the NBA finals. Likewise for Isaiah Thomas, when he had the deal with Larry Bird, where, you know, he said Larry Bird, but he's just another guy if he was, if he was, if he wasn't white, right? But, you know, I'm like, Tony Romo went from being a player to calling games on CB. Like, it just happened. It's, it's, honestly, it's, it's unbelievably disrespectful to past athletes who have made the

transition to media that they act like they're the first guys to ever do it. Like, dude, Shannon Sharp was an unbelievable football player. And then he was on calling games on, he was, you know, he was on, you know, he was on, should be in studio on CBS, and now he's, now he's given takes on Fox. Like, I just, that's how JJ, for example, views Bob Coosy. I, they droble his right hand. That's because the only time JJ Reddick has actually invested in watching

Bob Coosy play is the one highlight of him dribbling out the clock with his right hand. Again, no perspective, no understanding of when Bob Coosie played, he was actually an incredibly flamboyant passer, a flamboyant ball handler. the game and and people go like well they're playing against plumbers like yeah okay well if they were playing now they would have all the weight training and skill training that you have they were in their era they were dominant players just didn't pay enough money for guys to solely dedicate themselves to playing basketball so that that's my take on new media the thing about some of his new media is there are some stars i think j j j's really good um i think jay i think j j j's really good um i think j

Julian Edelman is fantastic because he's funny. And he does give you some insight. Here's Julian Edelman. He was on the I am an athlete podcast. And again, this is the new media element. Like, hey, we don't need a host. We just have former athlete. Here's Julian Edelman telling a story about Jimmy G.

So we go into week four and, you know, I guess, you know, Jimmy was practicing and then, you know, decided not to play. And Jacoby played with, you know, ligaments in his thumb, which you can't do that as a corner about it. You can't grip. And if it's your left, and a lot of guys got mad about it. A lot of guys got mad. I'm not going to lie, I got mad about it. You know, I sacrificed my body all damn long, all day long. I was taking shots for this, numbing up that, ribs, broken ribs, shoulders, you know, grade three, hanging on by limbs just to play, you know? And, you know, I can understand why Hardy thinks like that. Look, and that's, I

love the real insight, the real talk, the real stuff, because at first he wasn't going to, wasn't going to go there. A lot of guys are mad about it. Then all of the saying, it's like, I got mad about it. Let me tell you how it felt. Now, of course, it lacks the perspective of having Jimmy on, like, look, here's what really happened. I wanted, you know, I wanted to play. I just, I couldn't do. I couldn't lift my arm. I can't, I literally could not throw a football. Couldn't do it. Or maybe Jimmy G. Soft. So on one side, there's the new media. This is what we hope for. There's no filter. There's no PR guy going. Do you really want to say that? You could see

Julianneum and kind of working it out as he went. A lot of guys are mad about it. I was mad about it. And then he went there. But man, this does some harm to Jimmy Garapolo. Now it's out there. Now he's soft. Now he's hurt, not injured. Now guys in New England were mad at him. All right. Coming up next. I think we learned two things about the NBA yesterday. And they both revolve around Kyrie Irving, opting in to stay with the Nets. What are they? You'll find out next.

I'm Doug Gottlieb. This is The Hurt. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my 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. 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, documentary.

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. 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. 84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what 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. 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. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.