The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 2 - NFL standings

Episode Date: May 1, 2024

Colin gives his first set of NFL standings for the upcoming season after the draft and free agency. NFL reporter Rachel Nichols joins the show in studio to discuss LeBron James' and Kevin Durant's future following their early playoff exitsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. All right, here we go, live in Los Angeles. It's the hurt. Wherever you may be. However you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. Are we going to go out tonight, chop it up a little bit? Let's do it.

I would say likely. I'm probable. I'm a better shape than Dave and Giannis. So you're probable tonight. Yeah. How about you? Do you have a non-contact cap sprain to worry about? I do have a foot injury suffering.

the soccer tournament over the weekend. I know. You've been limping around the building. I am limping. I'll be fine. We've got a championship game in another basketball league Monday. Yeah, I'm in multiple leagues. That's what I do. So, all the coaching hires are done. All the free agent moves are done.

All the draft is done. We all know if you hit all three of those or even two or three, you can be a better team. That doesn't necessarily mean it will dramatically change where you feel. finish in the standings. We know Harbaugh is a perfect fit for the Chargers, but they still play in a division with the Chiefs. We know the Bears are going to be a much better offensive team,

but the Packers and Lions are stacked. So, a lot of teams, I think Chicago is going to be the most improved team. They just happen to play in a division, which offensively is the most loaded division in the league by a long shot offensively, with three offensive coaches.

So I'm going to lay out this morning, and it's pretty easy when you really start thinking about it in terms of best quarterback, worst quarterback, and that's kind of how this stuff mostly works. So here we go. Let's start AFC. I'm just going to predict the standings. In the AFC East, I have Josh Allen, just like Mahomes or Brady.

I'm going to win the division for as long as he's in his prime. Number two is Miami. I love their roster. I think it's the best roster. They don't have real holes here. They don't have a great O line. It's not bad. Number two with a great offensive coach.

Jets, Aaron Rogers, who by the way is not in his prime. He's not as good as Jordan loved today. Jets finished third. And I think it's pretty obvious. New England's got a rookie quarterback and a rookie coach. I did like the pick, and I do like what they did in the draft, finally going heavy offense. But I feel pretty good about that division.

Let's go to the AFC North. Baltimore was the best regular season team last year. Argument the best run team in football. I think they're going to be great again in the regular season. Cincinnati gets Joe Burrow back. When Joe Burrow's healthy, he either wins this. division or gets to the playoffs and they've been noisy a lot of noise i don't like with t higgins but i like joe burrow a lot uh three pittsburgh i think russell wilson will succeed at what level he

succeeds i don't know and i didn't buy cleveland last year i don't buy him this year i think kevin stefansky and uh andrew barry are excellent but there's things upstairs they have to deal with and i think it's a really good division a fc south this is now a good division we've rolled our eyes at it for years. Get out of that. Tennessee stinks. Everybody else is good. I'm going to go Houston. I love what they've done with personnel, the last two drafts and free agency.

I think they've just hit it out of the park. I mean, they've done like Green Bay level stuff in the draft last two years. Excellent. Jags, and it will be a fight to the finish. I love getting Brian Thomas. Their weapons with Trevor Lawrence and an offensive coach are substantial. So I'm going to have the Colts three. I like the Colts.

I worry greatly. about Anthony Richardson's playing style. Trevor Lawrence and C.J. Strouds sit in the pocket. I don't worry about that. Anthony Richardson is so dynamic, and I like this Colts team. Is he going to miss three or four starts? That could be the difference. Easiest picking the league Titans for fourth.

I don't know if Will Levis is going to work or not. I just roster, personnel. I like the new coach they have. There you go. And finally, AFC West. Kansas City's young defense, by the end of last year, was a monster. They went and got Xavier Worthy. I don't know if it's going to work in the draft, but if anybody can make it work, it's Andy Reid and Malmes.

I think the Chargers become a really solid two. I do worry about losing Keenan Allen, Austin Echler, Mike Williams, lost a lot of offensive pieces, but they went out and got a Hayden Hurst. They went out and drafted a receiver. Number three is going to be Denver, and I think if Bowenicks hits and I think he will, they'll be, and I also love the end they got in the draft. I think they're going to be a really good team. Good could be 9 to 10.

I don't think it's 12 to 13. And the Raiders just don't have the quarterback yet. Like the Raiders, like the Raiders roster. Outside a quarterback. Really like the Raiders roster. All right, let's go to the NFC. I think Philadelphia's offensive pieces with an offensive coach and Jalen Hurd are substantial. This is a well-run organization that takes big swings.

I'm going to take Philadelphia to win their division. They replace their coordinators. My guess is they're an upgrade over last year. I'm going to pick a little bit of a surprise. I think Washington, Jaden Daniels, all those college starts. I think they're going to be pretty feisty next year. Dan Quinn, more than competent, Cliff Kingsbury. Offensive lines okay.

But, I mean, even the Philadelphia Eagles' great old line lost the Hall of Fame center. So I'm going to have a little bit of an upset here. Washington feels like a 9-to-a-10 win team. Dallas will be right behind them. But they are going to be incredibly reliant on Dak Prescott. They're weak in the running back spot. They have one tight end. C.D. Lamb, Gallops now.

gone. I think they're very dependent on DAC and the numbers tell you when Dallas gets dependent on DAC, they're not as good. Giants just don't have enough pieces. Rumors today are looking at Drew Lockett quarterback. Yeah, forget it. Let's go NFC North, which I think now is probably the most talented in the division in football. I'm going to take Detroit. I like everything about Detroit. Even Dan Campbell. The front office is great. Jared Goff, best online in football, good pieces. I like everything about Detroit. I think they end up at the NMSC champion. championship, who they face will see, but I love Detroit. I'm a huge buyer on Green Bay.

Jordan Love shocked me, his improvement last year. Now, J. Mack still wants to see him eight, ten games. I was blown away by how good he was. He's just a little wild, and I think he's more far than Aaron Rogers, but boy, have they drafted well, this draft, like all their drafts, excellent. Green Bay is the best drafting team in the league. We just got to own that. A number three, and I think they'll be, you know, they've got a rookie quarterback,

and there's going to be some bad Sundays, but Chicago 3. And again, they're going to be a better team. If this division was wonky, I could see him making the playoffs. But, God, this talented division. And I think they're going to be a really, really fun offense to watch. And I think Minnesota will be the best fourth place team in football. I think Minnesota could win eight or nine games. I love their offensive pieces.

But, again, it's just sometimes the fifth best team in the SEC could win the Big 12. I just feel like Minnesota picked the wrong division. Let's go to the NFC South. I think it's a slam dunk. I think Atlanta's going to win this division. Tampa's going to be feisty. But we're going to forget about the Kirk Cousins' Michael Pennock's drama. This is a really good football team offensively.

Raheem Morris Shark Cat. Tampa's two. And again, I think it'll be a feisty battle. Tampa also had a great draft. Their first four picks, all really nice players. I'm going to do Carolina 3rd. I'm with JMAX. I think they finally got Bryce Young some weapons.

I think they're going to make a surge next year. I don't like right now New Orleans situation. I just don't feel good about it. I'm going to have the Saints fourth. Maybe they're third, but I just don't like the way it feels right now. I'm not sure that coach is going to be there next year by Thanksgiving. Finally, another really, really good division. I think the Rams had a great draft.

I think they played at the end of last year. They got that old line right. I'm going to take the Rams to edge out San Francisco in that division. And Matt Stafford is the difference. Pooka to Kua now going in. Cooper Cup is held. The O-line is fantastic. The Niners Offensive line is very much in question.

And we don't know their receiver situation. They'll be good. I don't think they'll be quite as good as last year. Their second. Arizona, third. I got me honest with you. I think Arizona has a chance to make the playoffs. I watched them at the end of last year.

That new coach, they play hard. They play hard. And Seattle, a talented fourth place team. I'm from the Pacific Northwest. I don't get any joy out of saying Seattle's fourth. But that's what I see. J. Mack, beyond the AFC East, where you're not reasonable. You basically have the way the standings ended last year, don't you, in almost every division, except for Dallas and then the Rams.

And Atlanta. Yeah, but the foul. Everybody's going to have the falcons. Yeah, yeah, I picked the best quarterbacks again. Little chalky, C.C. By the way, I went real chalky in the most. March Madness. I said UConn's going to win. And the Super Bowl. Yeah, I mean, chalk. There's a reason it's chalk. There's a reason teams are favored.

And with that, NBA tonight, Mavs clips, huge game. Rachel Nichols covered the NBA since 1993. It is good to have Rachel on again on the show today. These NBA playoff games, you know, it's funny. Remember a few, it was like a week ago, Nick Nurse was yelling on the sidelines, the rest couldn't hear him. And last night, Tibbs is yelling. What, you can't hear anybody. Yeah. So everybody's always like, well, the coach was saying this. The officials couldn't hear Nick Nurse.

The Nick players couldn't hear Tibbs. And so you have to remember, basketball in New York and Philadelphia is a wonderful television product. You're not going to be able to hear the coach if he's 12 feet away. And last night you got into that situation. I still like the Knicks in the series. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, look, the odds are the odds for reason.

They've got Game 7 at home. That being said, if the Sixers really come out strong in game six and just thump the Knicks, I'd be a little bit more worried about the Knicks in a game seven because they will have had multiple opportunities to close it out. And we've seen it so many times once that happens and it gets into a team's brain. But I think the Knicks are favored. I do think, though, that Joelle and B.

may have finally found his guy in Tyrese maxi and that no matter what happens to the Sixers, if they lose this series, they have to feel good going into the offseason. Because you remember last off season? We were at the point where the James Hardin drama was going on and Darry is a liar being held up all the way in China, all of these kinds of things.

Joelle's getting a little frustrated. He actually liked James. They got along really well. So then it was like, hey, come on, why can't you work this out with him, that kind of thing? He'd gone through all the Ben Simmons drama and been so patient with the franchise of that. And there were a lot of rumors swirling around of if things don't go well this season, Joel Embed is going to ask to be in New York Nick. And guess who was at Joel Embed's wedding this past summer as well?

New York Knicks president, Leon Rose, who was, of course, Mbead's former agent. the two are still close and the rumors had just got even more swirling after that and Tyrese steps into that void after Hardin is traded all season becomes a guy that Joelle knows he can rely on and then in that game last night not only went full Reggie Miller with the shot making but carried Embed when Embedde was clearly too hurt to do a lot of things he normally does

now I think the KD rumors make a lot of sense first of all because Phoenix needs to reboot. It's not working. All the perimeter stuff. And the feeling is they could get more for Booker, but he's kind of the central piece. He's kind of

the Phoenix kid. And the B.O. contract, there's not much you can do with it. The Durant piece, you could move. Also, Julius Randall, if the son's got him, actually provides a little bit of what Phoenix isn't, which is physical and tough. You're not going to go get DeAndre Aiton back

because Booker could, he didn't fit the lock So Julius Randall, who's a really nice player, if he's your three, probably, not a two, he could fit. But I do think there's something to be said about New York, is that for years and years, you know this organization better than I do, for years and years they reached. They gave up the farm for Carmelo. Then he was a big chandelier in an empty mansion. And then, you know, Amari Stodemeyer had bad knees. And it's just like, oh, they reach. They've actually, because they made a nice move at the trade deadline.

They've become a really smart, patient franchise. But now I think Embed, or my preference is Katie, I think the time is now. Katie's 36 starting next year. Do you think that Katie stuff is realistic? Yeah. I mean, look, first, the Embed. Embed was definitely who they had their sights on.

And I do think Tyrese Maxie has changed that equation in terms of Enbe being happy in Philadelphia. So then it becomes who else do you get. Fortunately, OG Aninobe looks like he wants to be in New York. and so when they are able to resign him, I think that is going to be a win for them long term. And then they still have room to get someone else. Katie makes so much sense to me

because you and I talked about this last time I was on the show. I think that's where he should have gone all along. If you're going to leave Golden State and we can debate whether he should have or not, the Nix are where he should have gone after that. It was the natural fit for him. And the fact that he sort of missed that opportunity, if he could go back and get it now,

I think that that fan base would embrace him. And once that fan base embraces you, and they are the largest fan base in the NBA, that it quiets some of the other noise around the league of other fan bases griping about, oh, KDS for another trade, or KD's moving again, or this guy can't find a home, or his legacy, this or that. I think that it would be a smart move for Kevin,

and I think it would be a smart move for the next. But, you know, look, we'll see if they want to disrupt the chemistry that they have by bringing in as big a star as Durant, or if they want to go a different route and just keep adding these pieces of good, good players. I mean, DeMard de Rosen is a name that's come up for New York. He's a guy who is an excellent basketball player can bolster a lot of areas that they need. Doesn't take the ball to Brunson's hands.

He's clear two, three, yeah. And also is not going to change sort of the geometry of the locker room, the way bringing in a Kevin Durant would. So it just kind of depends on what they want. But if the sons are looking to get off of KD's contract and KD is looking for a place he can go where he won't just get hit with a mountain of criticism all over again, I think New York could be that place. You know, it is interesting.

The Bucks, the Sixers, and the Lakers have each had three coaches in six years. So how seasons end, you know, you can get swept. It's landing different than a six-game series. So you have Dallas where Kyrie and Luca have really gotten along. And if they lost this series in seven or they win this series, I think they bring the band back and it's good. But if Dallas gets beat tonight and we'll be. without Kauai for the Clippers again.

And you got kind of old heads hardened in Westbrook and Paul playoff P. And Kauai's not there. And they're knocking you out, right? And they win this series. Dallas is fascinating because it took Dirk Novitsky forever to get the pieces. He never really got a second star. He got a good chemistry. Well, and Steve Nash just didn't keep him.

Yeah, at a different time. And then he moves to Phoenix. But it's like, what does Dallas do? Cuban sells the team. What does Dallas do if they don't get out of this series? Are they just going to bring it back? They kind of have to. They made decisions at the trade deadline that lock them into a path for the next couple years.

I think if Dallas loses the series, one of the big reasons would be because of Luca Donchard's knee. It certainly was a big factor in why they lost the last game. You could just see it. He wasn't his mobile out on the court, and he's still able to be Luca, and he still scored points and he still did things. But that difference between being a very, very good player and being the best player on the floor, which is what we always say is the deciding factor in NBA playoff series, is that knee. So I'm curious to see what happens tonight when he comes out. Does he look like he looked in game four, which was not his mobile, a little stiff?

He'd made so many great strides on defense over this last season or two, and those are really gone in that game because he just couldn't move around and defend the way he wanted to. So if we get that Luca Donchich, and that's the reason that they end up losing this series, I don't think you have to blow anything up or do anything, because that's just, hey, it's bad luck that he had this knee injury at that time. And I think Luca will have patience knowing that that might be the reason. If things go wrong in a very different way, then we can have that conversation. But the way things are looking right now, they're super competitive.

They're still favored to win, even though, you know, you look at the games the Clippers have still on their floor. They've got two of the next three. But the Mavs are favored to win, and they certainly have players who can get the job done. I'm surprised by people that I respect kind of buying into the LeBron could be out of of LA. I just don't see it at all. Jeannie Bus is a wonderful person, and she does a great job at her job, but she's not a rich owner.

And to get those local cable deals, this is why Kobe at the end, was way past this prime. They paid him a fortune. Yep. You get whatever spectrum. Worth every dollar to that franchise. LeBron sells tickets. They sell out all their games. I know what they charge for court side.

They're not doing that in a rebuild. Nope. So why all the LeBron leaving LA talk. You know, because if he did, it would be such a big story that it's a little too tempting for people not to talk about, Lakers fans, people even within the organization. And the fact is that he is, you know, little mccurial. He holds things at arm's length. He certainly is going to make them sweat it, in my opinion. If I had to guess the way this is going to play out, I would say that he opts out of his contract. I would say that he then makes them wait a few weeks to decide that he's going to come back. And it's not about the money. They've already leaked

that they'll offer him as much money as he wants. They've already leaked that they'll draft Ronnie if that ends up being what he wants. It is about the roster. And I think it is going to be very interesting to watch LeBron through that first week of free agency because, hey, maybe he just resigns with the Lakers and done with it.

But the more likely scenario given his history is that he waits a little while. And he shows up at Team USA training camp, which starts July 6th. And he's got Steve Kerr talking in his ear on a piece of video that runs all over TV and then people say, oh, what about, weren't the Warriors interested in getting him? Oh, Joe, he's sitting next paling around with Joe Allen Beat.

I know that the Sixers would love to have LeBron. So I think he's going to let some of that talk fester to make sure that they make the moves in free agency and at the draft that he wants them to make because that didn't happen at the trade deadline this year. And we haven't really seen LeBron have the influence he had over that front office, maybe since the rest of Westbrook trade, since he sort of promoted that and that didn't work out. We just haven't seen Clutch have the same voice. We haven't seen LeBron have the same voice in the Lakers roster moves. He is the opportunity this summer if he takes it to have that voice because he can hold, withhold from them.

Am I going to resign or not? So we got into this discussion yesterday, and it's kind of a 30,000 feet discussion. It's not urgent, but I think it's fascinating, is that, you know, the NFL, it's the shield. That's the star of the league. Baseball, it's history and it's past. But international soccer and the NBA, your leagues as good as your star and your team. And Jordan left and the NBA embraced Marbury and Steve Francis and Iverson, remarkable players, but the audience didn't like them.

And so 50% of the people. I mean, Tiger Woods left golf. They'll often have tournaments folded. Yes. So the face of the league question. And I said this, you have to want to be the face of the league. Jordan did, Magic did. Kareem didn't.

Yep. So you have to want it. I think Aunt Edwards would embrace it. Yes. But it's Minnesota. People forget this, Rachel, outside of LeBron and Cleveland. The stars in my life, Jerry West and L.A., Dr. Jay and Philly, magic, bird, jerk. They're all big markets.

Yeah. So Minnesota, my guess is Wembe, Aunt, and not whether they work or not. I mean, if you had to guess, Face, Yolkitz doesn't want to be the face of them. Yeah. I'm not sure Luca wants to be the face of the league. Your guess, next eight years, 10 years. Look, I mean, Luca's already 25,

so I think he's, we've already talked about how big a star he is. I think he's going to finish second in MVP voting. So he is poised to become, you know, when LeBron and Steph and KD all retire. He'll be the score. I think Luca will be the face that we see. But when you look at the generation behind him

and the young guys coming up, I have to say, Victor Webenyama is being sold short in these discussions. in a way I don't quite get. I think Anthony Edwards is a superstar. He is so magnetic, obviously has the game, but also, as you said, has the drive, has the killer instinct.

Commercials are fantastic. But Victor Webanyama, to me, if he has good health, could end up as a top five player of all time. I think we've already seen the indications of that. And I know it's very early, and I will be happy to stand up and say I'm wrong if I'm wrong, but that is what I am seeing right now.

And I think that he is going to become eventually the face of the NBA because he is just going to keep waiting. I think whether it's a defensive player of the year, whether it's eventually MVP, whether it's eventually titles, I think we will be saying his name over and over and over again. You know, it's interesting. Take Shaq out. Centers usually haven't been the face of the league. They break down. They don't sell shoes. And people don't see themselves as being Shaq.

Yeah. But it's interesting because the new wave of European bigs, they have. handle the ball. They're flashy. They pass. It's a more fun game. It's just not power. Yeah. Power usually isn't the face of the league. People want, like Moses Malone. They want... They want... They want moves, baby. They want moves.

Show me your moves. Yeah, and Wembe and Chet Holmgren, both. They got all sorts of juice. So, it's great seeing you. So tonight, Dallas Lakers, you're at that game tonight, right? I am. Excuse me, Mavs, Clippers. You like the Mavs? I think Westbrook's going to hit

tonight. Oh. I have a feeling Westbrook's going to deliver. Hardin's been so good in this series. I feel like Dallas

has the last two days has worked on. We've got to get the ball out of his hands. He ate them alive. You have a lean tonight how you feel? I'm going to,

this is a toss-up because honestly, I really think it depends on the health of Lucas knee, which they won't know until after he participates in warm-ups. If I had to say,

say, Clippers tonight, Mavs for the series? Is that enough of the hedge? That's a real hedge. That last game was such good. television. So Rachel, when does James Harden turn into a pumpkin game six or seven? Because I know it's coming. It's coming at some point. But he was so good last year. He was so good.

And you know what I like about the situation he's in right now is that in Paul George, he has someone next to him who can be just as explosive, more explosive in some cases, but James still has a green light to shoot in this scenario without Kauai. When he was playing the role in Philadelphia, where he had someone explosive in Joelle and Bede, he didn't have the green light to be the James Harden of old. He had had to be more of a compliment. With Kauai out, he can be a little bit more of that James Hardin, but it's not ISO James Hardin because he has Paul George next to him.

So hopefully it doesn't run out of gas for Clippers fans. But I do think that Luca has the potential to be the best player in the series, the best player in the series usually wins the playoff series. It just depends on his physical health. I feel like a supporter of Paul George, no good player in the league gets more crap than Paul George. I think he is the most underrated player in the NBA. It's incredible. I watched his, you know, what's funny.

Years ago, people kind of bagged on his playoffs when he was losing to LeBron, Bosch, and Wade, and he had Roy Hibbert and basically, you know, like a shooting guards. It was a good roster. It was a good team. Roy Hibber was the right guy for that moment, but it was not the big three. I think Paul George is an unbelievable player. Absolutely. And all the unbelievable players get love, and he doesn't get, even when you look at his regular season

playoff numbers. They're very even. It's not like you get one guy and the other guy. Now, you could look a little bit at Hardens playoff numbers, and you see a small decrease in performance. I don't know. I think Paul George is great. Rachel Azores.

Wonderful to see you. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHard Radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

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

A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, 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,

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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. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah.

For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your Podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games.

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And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid?

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Open your free, our heart radio app, Search, learn the hard way, and listen now. Navian, tankless maidsimple.com, tankless water heater, saving your energy bills, 15-year limited warranty. J-Mack with the news. No, no, no, no, turn on the news. This is the herd line news.

Let's go with some optimism for the Milwaukee Bucks. They had a big win last night over the Indiana facers, and now, according to Doc Rivers, Janice and Dame are very, very close. to returning and they are scheduled to work out on the court during today's off day. They have to head back to Indiana. Now, if they add Damon Janus. Well, I liked Milwaukee.

I said if Janus could play four games, I liked Milwaukee. So I don't know. Can you come back, get the chemistry perfect. Indiana, a tough place to play. I don't know. Pacers are big favorites for this game. I know. If it goes seven, I would take the bucks.

I'm not sure they can win games six. I'm like to tell you, I mean, we told the audience yesterday, listen, Middleton and these vets, they're not laying down. You know, these guys aren't dogs, and the Pacers, they're a young team, so we kind of saw that coming. Bobby Portis dropping 29 last night. He's a solid player. Very solid.

I kind of like the Pacers at home. That's a big number, though, to cover. Now, they could go nuclear from three again. Miles Turner, seven for ten from three. Pacers are kind of plucky, and I'll just say this. The Knicks and Sixers are going to be so exhausted after this series that either the Pacers or Bucks are going to have a chance early to steal one, right? Because the Knickser, I mean...

Well, I mean, look at M. B'd played 48 minutes. He gets one day's rest, and he plays the Nix again. Knicks are winning games. But Nix had three guys play over 50 minutes. But they're not beat up. I mean, Ambide is limping around. Yeah. And he has a history of those late series games.

How much can Jalen Brunson handle? Like, again, he's going to have to go against Halliburton. I think he can handle the rest of this series, but at some point. It's like Jimmy Butler. When he goes on these in previous years, these long runs, it's like you do get to a point where they're human beings. They run out of gas. Next up, go to the NFL, the Buffalo Bills.

They lost two of their top receivers this offseason and digs in Gabe Davis. So the team went out and drafted Florida State's Keon Coleman, who's turning into a bit of a character, really talented kid. Josh Allen was pretty pumped about it, adding he talked to Coleman before the draft. Here's Coleman on getting drafted by the bills. He texted me, you know, the day of. Like, you know, you're the guy I won it. I watched a lot of receivers and, you know, I won't play with you.

And I'm like, I've been saying the same thing. I want to go play with the guy that were number 17. And, you know, he's a great quarterback. I think he's one of the best in the league right now. And, you know, I would love to be catching passes for him. I'm ready for that. Do not be surprised if he and Harrison are the best receivers in this draft. he's an insane talent.

Everybody's selling their Buffalo Bill stock. You watch college football I do. Go look at their draft. They've been drafting very well for a year. Coleman's a stud. The teams that draft well, Green Bay, Tampa, they draft well every year. Buffalo drafts well. I love their draft.

This kid's an insane talent. He's ridiculous. Hey, good luck against Sauce Gardner, by the way. Two times against Sauce Gardner. He will lock him up. Listen, I'm just telling you, the Jets are in great shape against this Buffalo team. The Jets defensive front? I wish.

Top five. I will say this. I was thinking about this the other day. I'm not jealous of much. I'm not like an envy guy. But I wish. I do sometimes look at fans and wish that I love the team so much that it veered into delusion. The kind of love, it's the kind of love you have for your children.

No, it's nuts. Like you think they're going to be president of the United States and are going to around. you know, doing dumb stuff. Like, there are guys out there. I mean, Laker fans really thought they were going to roll the nuggets. And I look at it and I think, God, I wish, this is a business for us. I wish sometimes I had a team that I had no ability to, I mean, I love Washington, and I grew up with the Huskies. And I said, they're going to beat Texas.

And then I said, they're going to get trounce by Michigan. I mean, literally the games went exactly, there's no way that we're going to beat Michigan. Texas had bad corners. Washington had great receivers. I said they're going to beat Texas. And all my friends were like, Natty, I'm like, no, we're going to get run by Michigan. And all everybody was mad at me, and I'm like, guys, I'm a grown-up.

So that's my thing. I'm a realist. No, you're not. I am a thousand percent. I'm a major realist. You are a delusional jet fan. I'm in the off-season excited about the jets. I'm fired up, but I'm not delusional.

You have literally, you have literally, in the last month and a half, turned Josh Allen into a, Gardner Minshu. I mean, he's just like a guy in the league. A Gardner Mitzchu. He is the most physically, including Mahomes. He's the most physically gifted player in the NFL at his position. Yes, including Mahomes.

I even wrote on social media, the Jets have the worst quarterback in the division. And I got major pushback from Jets fans. You don't know if Drake May. I'm a Drake May guy. That being said, I do believe I'm a realist. And guess what? Go look at the Gambling odds. And the market likes the Jets.

I'm telling you, this defensive front is going to bottle up some folks. Sauce Gardner, elite receiver. I'm sorry, cornerback. You can't even get the positions right. Well, I'm so excited. He's going to lock up every receiver in the division. Eight-man fronts. Buffalo is going to be really good again.

May not beat the Chiefs, but this organization in the last eight, ever since they got this front office, they haven't had a bad draft. They overpaid for Von Miller, but they haven't had a bad draft. Their draft picks hit. A new segment idea. Wednesday wager. Every week on Wednesday, you float.

a bet that we have to go, and the next one I'll do a bet. My Wednesday wager will be Bill's under win total. That team is going to struggle this year. Go look at their defensive depth term. I'm not just making this up. They lost like five guys. They had a nice draft. They lost safeties, centers.

They didn't lose quarterback. They've got a quarterback. Period. What else? What else do you got? They didn't lose edge rushers. They didn't lose a quarterback. Vaughn Miller. He was great, yeah. They lost a safety. Come on. Then they went and drafted one from, I think, Utah.

Okay, Wednesday wager. We're going to make it a thing. Final story is the Eagles. They signed A.J. Brown to a three-year, $96 million extension, made him the NFL's best-paid receiver. Yesterday, Brown spoke to the media for the first time since the deal and was asked about his extension. What's the significance of being the highest-paid receivers in the league creator?

Nothing. I want to prove it. You know, again, that is... A blessing, you know, I can say, but, you know, we don't play on paper, you know, and nobody cares what's in the bank account when you're seven between them lines. He'll be fine. Remember when I bet him to win the MVP of the Super Bowl against the Chiefs? And he had a touchdown catch, and I was like, oh, ho! And then he kind of didn't do much after that.

Look at what we pay receivers. I don't have a problem with any of these, though. I mean, he's T. Where's T. Higgins on that list? T. Higgins should not be on that list. He's not in that space. He's a very good player. I like T. Higgins.

You don't want the bank. angles to pay two receivers. Do you see a team with two receivers on there? Oh, look at that. Philadelphia Eagles. And you just picked them to win the division. Well, I think Devonte and A.J. Brown have higher ceilings. I think T. Higgins is very good. Very, very good. Chase and Higgins? No, I think Chase is great. And I think Joe Burrow is great. And I think their edge rusher is great. I think T. Higgins is very good. Now, A.J. Brown's a total game changer. I mean, listen, Tennessee's franchise fell apart when he left. The old franchise went into the tank when he left the GM got fired he's not getting there's no way

rable's gone a j bray bray i mean when a j brayne had to let him go remember that mike brable press conference he was ticked he was just dejected there was a pall over the franchise jemak with the news well that's the news and thanks for stopping by the herd line news owning a mercedes ben's eve v isn't just extraordinary it's extra easy full remote access to your v Vehicle from your phone via the Mercedes-Me-Connect app. Vehicles all-electric, choice all yours. Learn more at MBUSA.com slash EQ. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific.

Hey, this is Tom Verducci from Fox Sports, MLB Network and Sports Illustrated. And I'm Joe Madden, and we're going to be around to talk a little bit about managerial decisions and what may have occurred in the dugout, maybe in the 1980s. It's the Book of Joe podcast. I can't wait for this, Joe. to dive into what goes on in the dugout and behind the scenes in Major League Baseball. Cars, whined, whatever else we want to talk about. Yeah, well, there are no boundaries, right?

Listen to the Booker Joe podcast on the IHeart Radio app, on 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 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 where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. 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. I'm Sam Jett. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but yeah, yeah, literally. But just so y'all know.

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

For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Trip Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin

Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth. Are you a good person because you're afraid. Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Keer Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing,

growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app. Search, learn the hard way, and listen now. Pete Alonzo powers the Mets against the Rays or Julio Rodriguez and the Mariners. Take on the Astros.

It all begins at, 70s turn on Fox. Check for the game in your area. All right, Jay Mack. So I saw this story. According to the NFL network, Drew Locke has a chance to compete with Daniel Jones for the starting quarterback job.

The Jets are so lucky the Giants are in their town. They're really lucky. So remember the Giants years ago. It was the 2018 draft, about five years ago. The Giants had the number two pick. And they said, no, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, no,

no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. We just need to give old Eli another weapon. And they got Sequin Barclay. Things haven't been good at quarterback since. Remember? Instead, and it was a strong quarterback class. Lamar Jackson, I was a great quarterback

class. The Giants are like, nope, we're not going to move in the most important position. Let's just get our old quarterback another weapon. quarterback that wasn't really working at that point. So this year, it is a strong quarterback class for the Giants. They have the number six pick. Nobody thinks Daniel Jones is the guy.

Panics, Knicks, J.J. McCarthy, Drake May. No, let's just get Daniel Jones another weapon. That will be the answer. It's a second time now that they've had a strong quarterback. class, a great draft pick, clearly it's time, and they go get replaceable weapons over the quarterback. This is another reason why I'm defending Atlanta. If butchering the draft is picking one of the best quarterbacks in its class, if that's

butchering the draft, I'll butcher everyone. butchering the draft is saying let's cling to what's not working at quarterback and get another weapon that sets the franchise back what Atlanta's doing may be turbulent for a year I've never been on a flight that wasn't turbulent does it take off and land okay I'm good the bottom line is the giants that's a catastrophic move what Atlanta's doing is going to work is going to be choppy initially and it may be but I'll go

two capable quarterbacks over none and that's where the giants are they're now bringing Drew Locke in what team is this I mean come on that's why I'm defending Atlanta you can all bang on Atlanta

here's what you never hear in the NFL I got two guys I may have the two best quarterbacks in the division that's a problem that is rich guy going I paid 7 million taxes. You know, my house on the beach needs new shutters. I'm really up against it. That's not a problem. This goes back to process and results. And if the Giants front office and Dable said, we're going to talk to all the quarterbacks in this draft and then not take one. To me,

that's a message sent to the owner. You put your money on Daniel Jones. We will give him one more chance. And then after that's when it doesn't work out, we are going to go draft our own guys. I think they just bought themselves a year by not taking a quarterback with the sixth pick. You're a big process guy. I like process, yes. Yeah, Sixers tried that. How's it working out? The process is still ongoing.

Sixers, they tried that process. The Lakers didn't. But does this not feel like a war between the owner and the front office? That Sixers slogan ruled the league. Nobody had a better slogan than the process. Didn't work, of course. the process. Okay, so let's say they draft pennix at six.

Okay? They get Pennix at six. He's got no weapons at all. He's not going to succeed. Then the owner looked at him and says, you wanted this guy over the guy I paid, you're out of here. And then you recycle. So I think Dayball and the GM together crafted this narrative. We want McCarthy. Hey, Drew Locke, he could get in there.

And they're manufacturing. Hey, the owner wanted Daniel. That's the next story you're going to hear. So your worst case scenario is I have a really talented quarterback who in year one doesn't have enough weapons. That's a bad scenario. A bad scenario is we got a receiver who's good if we think and nobody to throw to him.

That's my scenario. Isn't that the Raiders? We got a bunch of guys. And the Raiders, by the way, tried to move up for panics, but they wanted too much. The Raiders knew it was an issue. The Giants were sitting there

and could have figured it out. The Raiders did make, I have this. The Raiders were absolutely interested moving up. But Atlanta and all these teams were driving a hard bargain. And they're like, we're not, we need players too. So they went and got probably the most guaranteed guy to succeed maybe in the whole league, is that Brock Bowers.

Raiders have players. Don't, don't kid yourself. But when you have these great picks and everybody in the room knows, you're not hoisting a trophy with this guy. Penix? You don't know. Now, maybe he's not a hoist the trophy guy. But when four teams, including the one that drafted him, wanted him, that's not the way Daniel Jones drafted it. When Daniel Jones got picked, it was like, the hell's going on.

Where's that guy who drafted Daniel Jones? He's probably not in the league. Right. He's working at a bagel shop in Brooklyn. And the owner paid Daniel Jones, so Daibol's trying to make lemonade out of lemons. And he squeezed everything he could out of Jones two years ago. I got a playoff win. I'm a huge day bowl fan.

This is not a day ball issue. I don't think they're particularly well run. I'm not even a front office GM guy. I think he's been good mostly so far. If they win five games, Colin. is it a Brian Dable problem? Because that could be on the horizon. What the Giants need to happen could really help them is that Will Levis and Bryce Young hit.

Then there's only one team in the league next year that is absolutely taking a quarterback first pick Giants. The problem-Rators. My bad. Raiders Giants need quarterbacks. I mean, this year you had like seven teams were buying for it. But next year, only two. Raiders Giants have to have a quarterback if Will Levis hit. So if you're the Giants, you have to have a quarterback.

are rooting for Bryce Young to hit and will you that's what you're I mean that's how these guys talk I had this conversation with a general manager Monday night this exact conversation and he's like I've never been a bigger Bryce Young fan I've never wanted Bryce Young it was a general manager that made me in the line for a that's the way it works but to have the pick and not have to move up and and and I can if my big problem is listen I found the guy Josh Allen for a couple years didn't have a weapon It's worked. I won a lot of games. Lamar Jackson didn't have a legitimate receiving group until last year. They won a lot of games.

I can live with having the quarterback and were a little light on weapons. I can't have the Giants situation. The Giants did add no offensive line last year. Every quarterback they had was getting killed. Pennix behind that line might not have survived to Halloween. Well, you do have other picks besides the first pick. You have a second, third, fourth. You can get other.

It was the richest tackle draft I ever remember. and it was flush with second and third round receivers. And they went wide receiver. Oh. Hey, but the process. It's a catchy slogan. Our process beats everybody. Make the Jets look good, right?

That process is in the work still. All right, hour three next. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman helped make you funny. This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel,

help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games.

Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, 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 signals to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to.

Listen to learn the hard way on the AHA radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away,

such as the biology of taun tons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast.

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