The Herd with Colin Cowherd - HOUR 2 - NIL, AFC, offense

Episode Date: August 10, 2022

College teams that have a chance to be special because of NIL Looking at the AFC NFL teams that have offensive minded head coaches   Guest: Nick WrightSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...ion.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest,
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Starting point is 00:00:36 From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was 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.
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Starting point is 00:01:40 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.
Starting point is 00:02:10 Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the Heard at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Herd. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Here we go. It's our number two on a Wednesday. We are live in Los Angeles, and the show is called The Herd, wherever you may be, and however you may be listening.
Starting point is 00:02:46 IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1. Joy Taylor is joining me today. Joy, I am so fired up for the first time in probably a decade. I am so energized for the college football season. We have so many interesting stories. The rebirth of Miami. I think Texas has a chance to be special. USC does.
Starting point is 00:03:10 So the West Coast, a little more shine on the West Coast, which I think has hurt the college football brand as a whole. West Coast outside of Oregon's been irrelevant. So I'm very excited. I think we're both. I can speak for you here. We're both very excited about the college football season. I'm thrilled.
Starting point is 00:03:25 Obviously, I am a. Miami Hurricanes fan. So we could finally say the U is back. It makes sense. But I really feel like those three, Texas might be a little bit closer. Yeah. But I really feel like in the next two to three years, oh yeah, I think it's two. Everything is going to come into full bloom with NIL, with those three programs and the rest of the college football landscape. And it's going to be a really different world. The reason professional sports leagues have like, the NFL has got an NFC, or an AFC, and the NBA's got a Western conference and an Eastern conference, because you want some geographic symmetry.
Starting point is 00:04:05 So all corners of the country are involved. That's why they add playoff teams. You want more people in the game. Baseball right now, the Dodgers and Padres got a lot of money. And in the middle of the country, St. Louis is viable. And then Atlanta is always viable. Texas. You got the Astros crush it.
Starting point is 00:04:23 You got the Mets and the Yankees doing well. Baseball right now has got some really nice symmetry going on where every part of the country, even Seattle's had a good year, the Pacific Northwest. Everybody's getting a little love. You're sprinkling around love. And I think baseball is having a very good year for it. Now, it's a little top heavy, but I think it's been really good for baseball. The arms race, the Padres Dodgers feel like the Yankees Red Sox a few years ago.
Starting point is 00:04:49 And I thought for a while, the sport felt very northeast dominated. It was like the Hot Stove League was the Red Sox and Yankees outbidding people. That's not good for the sport. I think baseball is in a really good spot now. College football is not in a good spot. But I saw a story today. I think the transfer portal is really going to help USC Miami in Texas. You can get good much faster than you could years ago.
Starting point is 00:05:12 That of the top 50 newcomers, according to ESPN, of the top 50 newcomers, that means freshman or transfer portal additions. USC had seven of them. and my argument, the two best, Caleb Williams and Jordan Addison. This is currently the problem with college football. Here's what the map of the United States. Here's where your top national title contenders are based. A&M, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Bama, LSU, Georgia, Clemson.
Starting point is 00:05:42 LSU is in a rebuild. They'll be fine by next year. Nobody in the Pacific Northwest, nobody in the West, nobody in the Northeast, at least nobody near close enough really to me to get to a Minneapolis or a Detroit. Ideally, if I could pick seven teams to be really viable and the sport, I think, would flourish, I would pick these seven or eight programs. You'd have a flashy program in the Pacific Northwest. So you cover Idaho, Washington, Montana, Oregon, Oregon.
Starting point is 00:06:15 Then I would have the biggest brand out west. And you're in Los Angeles, the biggest city out west. USC. I would have Texas covered, the State School of Texas, UT. I would have Michigan, which is right next to Detroit, and, you know, a 30-minute flight over to Chicago represented. Notre Dame's the biggest independent brand. I would want Penn State to be big because there's a ton of Penn State graduates all over Philadelphia, New York, and Boston. I would then take Georgia because it's closest to Atlanta. It's a growing state. It's a big brand. And Athens, where Georgia's located. I think it's about 90 minutes outside of Atlanta. And then I would have
Starting point is 00:06:53 the state of Florida represented by Miami because I think it's the most glamorous brand and it's the biggest media market. Ideally, and I'm not saying Ohio State and other schools, Oklahoma wouldn't be viable. But in a perfect world to get more discussion, major market and smaller market, you'd have L.A. touched, Texas, Georgia, Miami, Penn State covers the Northeast, big independent, and then Michigan. That would be perfect college football. And guess what? I'd talk about it more.
Starting point is 00:07:24 Talk shows would talk about it more. Networks would dedicate more time to it. So if you love college football, the current map outside of the South is not good for the sport. This is why the NFL and the NBA has got a Western and an Eastern conference. So I think it's I love the sport, but it's got a massive hole. That's why I am for conference realignment, because what we have is not working. working and it's getting worse. And so I want Texas, Oklahoma to go to the SEC to make it better.
Starting point is 00:07:57 So Georgia's got another tough game and Alabama's got another tough game. And I love that Texas A&M is growing. It gives Alabama another tough game because I get that's not anti-Alabama. It's pro competitive balance. And I don't look at necessary. Like baseball people say, well, it's the haves and the have not. I look at it and I think you got West Coast representation, Pacific Coast Northwest representation, Northeast, Cardinals are still good, Braves are always good.
Starting point is 00:08:23 You've got a team in Texas crushing. That to me is when the sports are good. We're all involved. Speaking of involved, I involve them as often as I can. Nick Wright, co-hosts First Things First. So it's interesting. Can we talk about that? Hold on. Can we stay on the college football thing just for a second?
Starting point is 00:08:40 I know that's not what you brought me on. I just want to, can we show your map again? Can I ask a question about it? Okay, go ahead. The one, your, the Collins ideal college football map. Yeah. Okay. So one request and then one question.
Starting point is 00:08:54 The request is you were like, hey, Penn State can represent, you know, the Northeast. Why don't we put a team that's actually in the Northeast representing the Northeast? Why not replace Penn State with Syracuse? Donovan McNabb, Marvin Harrison, great legacy. Let's just consider it, Colin. But more importantly, more importantly is this. Okay, that's fine. Why does Notre Dame have to be on there?
Starting point is 00:09:16 Why don't we kick Notre Dame? out and put Ohio State on there? Because Notre Dame is an independent brand of the biggest independent brand ever. And I think there's value. You already have the Big Ten represented. So in my map with Penn State and Michigan, this is not a slight Ohio state. But Notre Dame has the greatest sidewalk alumni. So I like that. Yeah. Okay. You know what was another great independent brand, Sears and Roebuck. But it's also something of the past. No young people care about Notre Dame. Like, let's get Ohio State or something else. But otherwise, the reason I wanted to bring it up was, I actually think this is great. I think this is, with those minor
Starting point is 00:09:57 tweaks, I think you're exactly right that what works against college football is its regionalness, if that's a word. And if this could happen, it would be great for the sport. I actually think you're right. Now go ahead. I'll stop hijacking your show. Okay. Well, I thought about something the other day. I talked about it on our podcast before I brought you on. I said, I think you could make an argument that Kevin Durant is the first sports victim of social media. Is that I believe if there's no Twitter, no Instagram, Kevin Durant doesn't hear, and he loves, you know, he's a single guy with a lot of money going home and he's on that device. He does not hear, you're a sellout, you join the team you couldn't beat.
Starting point is 00:10:36 Like when he left Westbrook, I got it. He and Westbrook didn't work together, in my opinion, Westbrook's two ball-centric. But there was no reason to leave, the Warriors. It was the constant chirping that he was in. sell out. And if social media was not here, he would have stayed. But be that as it may, now he's in Brooklyn. Now he has said, according to Sharm Shereña, that I want Nash gone, Sean Mark's gone, or I'm gone. What did you make of that? I don't think Kevin Durant actually wants those guys fired. I think he just wants to be traded.
Starting point is 00:11:13 I think if he wanted Sean Marks and Steve Nash fired he would have gone to Joe Si a month ago when he did the original trade demand and he would have quietly and privately said listen if you don't fire these guys
Starting point is 00:11:28 I'm going to demand a trade I read this very differently than most I read this as Kevin Durant asking for something he knew he would not get in order to make it untenable for them to bring him back because he was starting
Starting point is 00:11:43 to get concerned that they might actually bring him back. And so this was him upping the ante to a level that is pretty unprecedented. Like Colin, it is still mentioned to this day that Magic Johnson got his coach fired. Remember Magic went to Jerry Boss and said, I'm going to, you know, I want you to fire the coach or trade me and they fired the coach the next day. We still remember the Dwight Howard Stan Van Gundy moment when Stan's like, yeah, Dwight asked for me to be fired. players flatly demanding a coach getting fired is not unprecedented, but it's extreme.
Starting point is 00:12:16 A player demanding a coach and general manager get fired, I have no precedent for it, at least not in modern NBA history. And it's why I think Durant, I think Durant understood Joe Sy's not going to do it. And they also, I don't believe, can ask Steve Nash to now coach Kevin Durant. I think it was actually a really smart move if his single goal is to get traded. And I think that is his single goal is to make sure the net's trade him. Obviously, Westbrook doesn't work with AD and LeBron or anybody at this point in his career. So Chris Haynes wrote a story with multiple sourcing.
Starting point is 00:12:55 And the four things, the four primary things that Rich Paul LeBron, Rob Polinkin, Darvinham agreed with. The four things we put him down. they all appear to be shots at Westbrook, which is be less selfish, get along with others, be willing to play a new role, and the offensive will run through AD. So AD wasn't at the meeting either, but none of these appear to be a shot at AD who actually plays very well with others and has played the five and the four. This felt like to me, hey, Westbrook, you and your agent better figure out what we're going to ask of day one of practice.
Starting point is 00:13:37 That's how it landed for me. What say you? Yeah, I think that's right, but I also think the Lakers are not planning to have Russell Westbrook on the roster. I think that we get very, I think the Lakers are planning for Brooklyn to blow up and for them to get Kyrie Irving
Starting point is 00:13:56 and for Russell Westbrook to be gone. And that if that doesn't happen before the season, that that will happen during the season. I, listen, the Lakers obviously cannot compete for a championship with the roster as it is presently constituted. And there is a chance they are going to have to go into the season with the roster as presently constituted. I would be personally, Colin, absolutely shocked if the Los Angeles Lakers, after the trade
Starting point is 00:14:23 deadline, still have Russell Westbrook on the team. So I think they are going to try to create an offense and a system that could work despite Russ. But listen, I had Russ on my 50-gross players the last 50 years. He is an all-timer. He also, however, as Colin Cowherd predicted, has not aged well. And this last act of his career is even by the biggest skeptics, I don't know that they could have imagined it going this poorly. And there is no working around it. And I saw in the article that they believe Russ is going to become a more reliable corner three point shooter. You don't have a $47 million a year defensive liability who you hope can become an adequate
Starting point is 00:15:12 corner three point shooter. With that said, on the right team whose goal is not to win a championship but is to put bucks in seats and get from 30 wins to 40 wins, Russ still might have some value. So I think the Lakers, all of their Russell Westbrook plans, Colin, are actually plan C and D because plan A is Kyrie and plan B is that trade with the Pacers we've been hearing about for years, or for the last year and a half. I think they only are doing this in case they are forced to start the season with Russ. Well, as a lot of the better quarterbacks in the league are very focused. I saw some video on Mahomes screwing around behind the back stuff, lefty throws, very difficult. disturbing. I don't have them winning their division. I do have him making the playoffs. You know, this kind of goofing around stuff. You don't see Brady doing a lot of that. But it'll be that as
Starting point is 00:16:05 Mayor Russell Wilson. I always feel like you do believe that Mahomes doesn't get the respect he deserves. I think he does. I think we love everything about him. But not on this show. Well, I have not on this show. I mean, I had to listen. I had to listen for a year. They has to win a big game. You're now, you have the Denver Broncos winning the division. Is that correct? I do. Is that, is that correct? Okay, Colin, I have known you personally for over six years. Yeah. I feel like I've known you my entire life, but you and I met in person. Yeah. In the fall of 2016, since we've known each other. Yeah. Do you know how many times the Broncos have beaten the Chiefs? How many times? Zero. They haven't beaten them since 2015. They play twice a year.
Starting point is 00:16:53 here, buddy, and now you're giving them the division. So, yeah, I don't think he gets the full respect he deserves. He had a bad three weeks of football, and folks were anointing Josh Allen and they're anointing Justin Herbert, and you have the audacity to say, you don't see Russell Wilson doing that type of stuff. You see Russell Wilson doing everything else on his YouTube channel and his TikTok feed, and my God, he's more active on social media than Jake Paul these days, yet somehow Mahomes, who, by the way, let's be fair. What did we see Mahomes working on there? A left-handed pass and a behind-the-back pass.
Starting point is 00:17:28 Oh, he would never use that in a game. Except for he beat the Denver Broncos on national television with what on fourth down? A left-handed pass to save the game. And the behind-the-back pass, I've been saying this on first things first, you know, a little birdie in my ear has told me, the behind-the-back pass, not for 30 yards, but more likely at the goal line, is going to make an appearance in a football game this year.
Starting point is 00:17:58 No? And you think that's crazy, but you've seen Andy Reid, who Collins is in a weird place because he's got Mahomes is like the seventh best quarterback in football, but Andy Reid's going to become the greatest coach of all time, thanks to Patrick Mahomes. It's like a weird, he's just locked in a glass case of emotion there. But Andy Reid has had Travis Kelsey throw goal line passes.
Starting point is 00:18:17 You remember Don Tari Poe, who's 350 pounds. He threw goal line passes. They do a lot of tricky stuff at the goal line. a little Mahomes rollout with behind the back pass to Isaiah Pacheco, the seventh round pick they love or Clyde Edwards-Alaher, that's coming. And so, yeah, but I love it. Underdog Chiefs, nobody believed in us Chiefs. All they've done is host four straight AFC championship games.
Starting point is 00:18:37 You're giving the Broncos the division. Okay, yeah, the Russell Wilson-C-Sutton combo is going to take over the AFC West. Sure, buddy. Finally, you know, for years and years, people thought, you know, I was a Patriots. Homer and what I just, I appreciated Brady's discipline and he wasn't flashy. He, he, I mean, I think I'm disciplined. I mean, the guy doesn't drink a beer during the NFL season. I'm not that discipline.
Starting point is 00:19:04 But he has left and the Patriots now are, appear to me to be veering off the interstate. Like, it's a mess. Yesterday I saw Mack Jones at the podium. He looked dejected. They got three defensive coaches coaching offense. They have the most expensive receiving core in the league and nobody that can separate. What do you make? I have said, I think Miami's going to take a leap.
Starting point is 00:19:27 I don't think New England's a playoff team. What do you make of what they're doing to Mack Jones? Of course not. Well, listen, I think the whole thing is barreling towards a wildly disappointing season. And I agree with you. They're not a playoff team. They have, you said the most expensive receiving court, they have also by a factor of almost 50% the most expensive,
Starting point is 00:19:54 in football. No other team in the league is spending 20 million on their tight ends. The Patriot are spending 30 million on theirs. No, there is one other team in football spending 50 million on their receivers and tight ends combined. The Patriots are spending 70 million on theirs. And you might say it's the most by a mile. The league averages 35 million. And in one school of thought is, well, that's what you do. You have a rookie or quarterback on a rookie contract. You spend all this money to surround them with what. weapons. It sounds great, but they got the expensive part right. They got the weapons part wrong. Is it possible the Patriots have not only the most expensive group of pass catchers in the league,
Starting point is 00:20:36 but the least impressive? Yes. Like what team in the AFC has a less impressive group of pass catchers? The Jaguars overpaid their guys, but Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, and Marvin Jones all have one thing in common. All of them would be the Patriots number one. receiving threat by a mile. So you have all that. You lost not only Josh McDaniels, but he took the whole offensive staff with him. So you have an uncertainty at coaching staff.
Starting point is 00:21:06 I think a quarterback who, again, I will remind people, everyone acknowledged Mack Jones was going to be the most pro-ready of the young quarterbacks. So why was he the last one taken in the first round? Because everyone also acknowledged that a guy who was the 160th ranked recruit coming out of high school doesn't have. as high of a ceiling as the others. And so could we see that Mack Jones, as opposed to the other young quarterbacks,
Starting point is 00:21:30 taking a leap, that he stays about static, but now with a tougher schedule, without Josh McDaniels, where teams are not just selling out to stop the run, that he struggles? Absolutely. Here's a, I threw this bet out at Patriots Homer Kevin Wiles on the TV show this morning, Colin. I think the Jacksonville Jaguars will win as many or more games than New England Patriots this year. I believe in the Trevor Lawrence jump. I believe in the coaching of Doug Peterson in that regard. And I think the Patriots have a rude awakening in for him.
Starting point is 00:22:03 Their first four weeks of the season, they're going to be underdogs in every game except for against Pittsburgh. Their last six weeks of the season, they're underdogs in every game, except for a home against Miami. I think seven and ten is absolutely the likely outcome for the Patriots. Well, and also the Jags play in a terribly wonky division where I don't think Tennessee's is good. And, I mean, let's be honest about it. Buffalo is so far and away ahead.
Starting point is 00:22:28 That's two losses. They can't literally force Belichick, the greatest defensive coach ever, has not forced a punt in the last two games against Josh Allen. And Miami's made massive offensive strides. I don't think that's crazy. I think they're both going to be about seven, eight win teams. I think that's right on. How about that?
Starting point is 00:22:49 Yeah, Buffalo, by the way, another team who's, you know, No, quarterback, you've anointed ahead of Mahomes, even though he's never beaten Mahomes in a big spot. Either way, why is it? How did it work, Colin? That because Josh Allen doesn't get to get the football, they've changed the rules. But four years ago, when your beloved Tom Brady
Starting point is 00:23:09 wins a coin flip against Patrick Mahomes and Mahomes never gets to touch the football, nobody says a mumbling word. Mahomes should have started his career off with the Super Bowl. Never touched football. Nobody cares. Oh, Josh Allen doesn't get touched football. Here's an idea, Buffalo.
Starting point is 00:23:21 You had the lead with 13 seconds left. Keep it. Instead of making them change the rules for you. It's outrageous. Had to get that in. I'm still mad about it. Nick Wright. Well appointed as always.
Starting point is 00:23:32 He looks fantastic. The summer and the suits are doing him well. Nick Wright. 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.
Starting point is 00:23:46 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.
Starting point is 00:24:09 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. Clipper Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media.
Starting point is 00:24:28 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,
Starting point is 00:25:05 this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast.
Starting point is 00:25:32 I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because. of crack.
Starting point is 00:25:49 I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really?
Starting point is 00:26:07 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 Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Keer Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tript Fontaine, Ryan Clark.
Starting point is 00:26:34 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,
Starting point is 00:26:56 or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way.
Starting point is 00:27:14 Open your free, our heart radio app. Search learn the hard way and listen now. After one of the greatest games in recent memory, the MLB returns to the place where dreams come true. Relive the magic when the Reds take on the Cubs. For one game in heaven, one game at the field of dreams. Coverage begins tomorrow at 6 p.m. Eastern on Fox and the Fox Sports app. Last year's game had eight home runs and a walk-off. It was amazing.
Starting point is 00:27:38 It was unbelievable. Dyersville, Iowa. First Major League Baseball game ever played in Iowa. I think it's really great. I really enjoyed it last year. Kevin Costner in the stands. It was fantastic. It was.
Starting point is 00:27:50 It really felt, I don't know, it felt like something. You know, like, it was like. It was an event. It was an event. Yes, but also just like instantly emotional. Because like you were talking about yesterday, like, when you fly over the country and you're like, see these baseball fields and places when you're landing, like, there's something like brings you back to like being a kid and getting all excited to go out
Starting point is 00:28:11 and like play a sport. Yeah. It's so much a part of summer. It's really cool. When I was back in my hometown of West. Port Grayland, Washington about 10 years ago. It was bizarre. And I hadn't been there in years.
Starting point is 00:28:23 And I thought, I'm going to go back and drive around. And I think my wife was with me. She'd been there once. And I turned a corner on this back road. And there was a baseball field. And I'm like, I grew up here. Where did that baseball field come from? And I was fascinated by it.
Starting point is 00:28:38 There was this little baseball field tucked back in a neighborhood. I had no idea by our lighthouse. And it was just a weird moment. It really took me back to childhood. because I will say this and I'll always say this. Baseball practice was always the most fun. You got a hit, you got a field, you can chew gum, you could spit. Football practice, you're getting tackled, and it's often in cold weather,
Starting point is 00:28:59 and basketball practice is cardio. It's hard. Baseball practice, of all the pro sports that are enjoyable, spring training is fun. The players have fun. So I look forward to this stuff. Joy with the news. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news.
Starting point is 00:29:20 Well, last week, the NFL appealed the ruling of Judge Sue Robinson, which handed Deshaun Watson a six-game suspension for his violation of the personal conduct policy. The league had wanted Deshaun to be suspended for the year based on the evidence in the situation, but we hadn't heard from the commissioner yet on the matter. Here's Roger Goodell yesterday when he was asked about the reasoning behind his appeal. We've seen the evidence. She was very clear about the evidence. She reinforced the evidence that there was multiple violations here, and they were egregious, and it was predatory behavior. Those are things that we felt, always felt, were really important for us to address in a way that's responsible. Well, this was going to be the fallout of them appealing the suspension, that this conversation was going to continue on longer.
Starting point is 00:30:14 And I know there's a lot of confusion out there for fans. You are always going to have the people who didn't feel like he should have been suspended at all. I don't have time for those people I've been to do today. Neither do I. But I do understand the fans who are confused about the process of the suspensions and how all this is going to play out. And no way do I blame Brown's fans for this. They didn't have any say in bringing Deshaun Watson in. This is on the ownership.
Starting point is 00:30:42 and anyone who else who approved it in the building. And for that matter, it wasn't just on the Browns. There were other teams who were interested in bringing Deshaun in as well. The Browns just did the most to get him there. I think how this plays out now is, I imagine that it's going to be at least a 12-game suspension. That seemed to be what the NFL was trying to negotiate with Deshaun Watson in his camp when the former judge was going over the ruling
Starting point is 00:31:06 and they were allowed to negotiate with the suspension would be. if it ends up being a year on the NFLPA sues, this is going to go on much, much longer. What makes the NFLPA part interesting to me is how much of that is going to be backed by the owners because a big part of the NFLPA strategy was, well, we want the owners to be punished at the same rate that the players are punished.
Starting point is 00:31:29 It held the same standard when it comes to conduct, which I think is fair. You both are representations and front-facing. Owners are extremely front-facing, in this front-facing leak and business. But when you get into conversations and situations like this involving Deshawn Watson, there is no justice. Everything is subjective.
Starting point is 00:31:52 Everything is depending on the situation. And at the end of the day, people are screaming and hollering about how public opinion shouldn't matter. It absolutely should matter. This is not court. Public opinion should not matter inside the court of law. There's a reason why judges won't allow cameras or are very specific with what jurors can do
Starting point is 00:32:09 during those type of proceedings because you have to keep as much as you can the public opinion out of the law. But this isn't the law. That's not what's happening here. Right. So we got the report yesterday from Peter King who had reported that the other owners are not on the side of the Browns, which is not surprising at all when you consider what the Browns did to get to Sean Watson there, obviously all legal. But they went above and beyond to make sure that he was protected this year. Yeah. I just think it's a conversation is going to go on for a lot longer.
Starting point is 00:32:38 Yep. And sorry if it's ruining your day, but there are people to blame here, and it's not the NFL. That's right. The NFL didn't do this. The NFL didn't put the Browns in the situation. The NFL didn't put DeShan Watson in the situation. There were decisions that were made. And I know everyone tells you, you can do whatever you want, and there are no consequences,
Starting point is 00:32:57 but that's not real life. There are consequences to actions. So Aaron Rogers had a headline filled off season. I feel like Aaron Rogers has had. Back to back to back. Yeah. The last three years, his. off seasons have led the league in, whether you like the quotes or not, he's become kind of a thing
Starting point is 00:33:16 in the off season. He hasn't. It's interesting because he really never felt that way. Well, but remember, he's unmarried. A lot of the star quarterbacks, they leave with their families in the summer because you can't remember, football dominates. Yeah, but he's always been unmarried. So like, I'm saying for years of his career, he didn't, he wasn't like big headline guy. Oh, now he's the headline guy. Biggest headline guy. I have the problem with it. You want to be out there and talk. This is what we do for a living.
Starting point is 00:33:45 It's share your opinion. Share your thoughts. It's fine. Everyone's not going to enjoy your thoughts. Everyone's not going to like your thoughts. They don't like what we have to say pretty much every other day. Them's the breaks. That's how it goes.
Starting point is 00:33:56 But he has talked about wanting to win another Super Bowl to go along with his four MVP's. And that's what he wants to do before he calls it a career. Say this as a cliche. I say it as hard-filled as that. I want to win the championship. I've had all those individual success I could possibly ever have dreamed of accomplishing. I've got four MVP's. I'm an honorary black belt. I'd like to win another Super Bowl. Honorary Black Belt came out of nowhere. All right. I like hearing this from him. Well, yeah, I want my
Starting point is 00:34:28 quarterback to win Super Bowls. I think that's like saying I want a house that doesn't have a leaky roof. Do I give him credit for saying the obvious? No, but yeah, I think you do. I mean, I think he's well, I'm not saying you have to. I'm just saying he is acknowledging he's had more than enough of his own personal success. The purpose of playing the game is not personal accolades. It's to win championships. But my favorite, Aaron, moment of the week was when he went on a podcast with a popular guy, Big Cat. And Big Cat.
Starting point is 00:34:57 And Big Cat. Locked him. And Aaron laughed at the whole thing. I've been told, by the way, somewhat of a revelation, I had said that Big Cat was a stand-up comedian. I was told yesterday he wasn't, which I thought he was. So he's funny. He could be a stand-up, but I thought he was a stand-up. I don't follow everybody's career. I'm very self-absorbed. So apparently I apologize. He is not a stand-up comedian. He's just a funny guy, and he's a big guy. So he plays to it. He plays into his strengths. They're very funny.
Starting point is 00:35:34 And I thought Aaron did an amazing job during that interview as well. He was extremely. likable. Watching Aaron laugh at somebody rip on him was really likable. That's what you, that's what you imagine he's like with his friends in private. That's right. At practice. Like that's a part of sports is in some ways is like kind of teasing each other.
Starting point is 00:35:55 Right. Like you're, that's the camaraderie. That's what any time you ask a former athlete where they miss the most, they miss the locker room. They miss being around the guys. Yeah. And being able to, you know,
Starting point is 00:36:04 make fun of each other and have those conversations and like that those intimate moments with what is your family essentially in the team. And I like this from him because even in that interview, he talks about how his failures in the postseason. And that's really what the criticism to me of Aaron Rogers becomes so strange is that he is, and rightfully so, on this incredible pedestal as an individual player. But in the postseason, they haven't had the success that should match that. Here's what's really interesting to me about Aaron. You kind of juxtapose these two things. He's a little bit of a risk taker. in his private life.
Starting point is 00:36:39 I'm not going to get vaccinated. I'm going to take psychedelic herbal supplements. I'm going to date somebody named Blue of Earth. He's a little bit of a risk taker. My concern is in games, I think he plays it safe in big moments. So his personality off the field is throw stuff out there, take some risk, say things that piss people off. And then in the games, I'm like, Aaron, stop playing safe.
Starting point is 00:37:04 Like usually your personality, I mean, big. Off the field matches it on in a lot of ways. Tom is disciplined off the field and disciplined on. Peyton Manning is smart off the field and smart on. I mean, Kyler Murray is a little aloof off the field and kind of aloof on. Aaron's this big comment, take a risk, psychedelic, puke all weekend, kind of take some risks. Personally, I would tell him this if he sat here. There are times I feel he won't let it rip in games.
Starting point is 00:37:39 He's holding onto the ball. It's weird to me. Maybe he's an overthinker. Well, he's got a little Alex Rodriguez where, you know, instead of just C ball, hit ball, Aaron's got a lot of stuff. He's a, a rod's a very smart guy. A. Rod tends to be an overthinker. It's the burden of being smart as you overthinks of sometimes. Well, he has a seven and nine playoff records since the Super Bowl season.
Starting point is 00:38:01 And a lot of those are at home favored against wildcard. He lost to the Niners, obviously, last year. Bad fourth. Which I think was the worst loss of the postseason. Yeah, and it was a bad fourth quarter at home. He was... Then lost to the Bucks in the NFC Championship game and lost to the Niners in the NFC championship game.
Starting point is 00:38:18 It's weird. It's not a criticism. It's just usually your personal... I mean, I know people who do this for a living. That big cat guy who's not a stand-up, I bet you in his personal life, he has a good sense of humor because on his podcast he has a good sense of humor. Usually what you are, you are. You can't fake it.
Starting point is 00:38:35 it. It's very hard when you do something frequently to play a full-on character. So Aaron is risk guy. I mean, not psychedelic brew. I mean, I wouldn't do it. He's a kind of risky guy. Big comments. Put it out there, guy. And then in games, it gets tight. I have some thoughts, but you do. Yeah. We'll move on. Let's talk during the break on that. Yeah. So the book, The Leadership Secrets of Nick Saban was released yesterday. Oh, I want to read that. by AL.com senior sports writer John Salty. And one of the key moments in the books was Alabama's loss to Auburn after the kick six in 2013. You remember this.
Starting point is 00:39:14 Oh, it's the worst. Oh, God. It was just. I remember where I was. It was. It was like manned lander on the moon. It was. You know where you were sitting.
Starting point is 00:39:22 I can literally close my eyes. It's the craziest ending I've ever seen. Yes. Okay. So the iron ball was tied at 28 with one second left. a second that Sabin had lobbied for and received reviewed and reviewed confirmed that running back T.J. Yeldon stepped out of bounds before time ran out.
Starting point is 00:39:41 So obviously Auburn returned the missed field goal for the game winning touchdown. You have the famous meme of the kid with the hands on his head. I don't know if we're going to show that. But yeah, I mean, Nick Sabin is obviously distraught. So the moment obviously had everyone emotional. Former Alabama running back said you walk in, everyone is crying, 50% are crying, 50% are team.
Starting point is 00:40:01 cheering up. Coach Saban was in tears. He could barely talk. His face was red. This was according to Christian Jones. Everyone was emotional. It was a funeral moment. So Saban would eventually replace Gus Malzahn with Lane Kiffin and adjusted everything. But it's a, it was a really like big moment of Nick Saban accepting failure and then adjusting to a new era. And obviously Alabama has been what Alabama is over the past. Well, Alabama's broken a lot of hearts. They had theirs broken for about an hour. I mean, you know, they had, it's the worst play of his Alabama run.
Starting point is 00:40:41 By the way, Pete Carroll had won at USC against Texas. If they pick up a first down, they win it. Every great coach has had an awful loss. Bill Parcells, Tony Romo fumbles the snap in Seattle. He had the playoff win in his hands. Yeah, it's, I mean, it's, you are going to have these moments. Of course, no one is perfect. And you ask Pete Carroll's worst loss, I bet you in his whole career he says Texas.
Starting point is 00:41:06 Oh, they had that game. I'm not going to get into it. Don't want to be a homer. I can't. Could you imagine that locker room? It was, listen, I know his agent. And Nick after wins is grinding on you. So after that, and it's on the road.
Starting point is 00:41:24 So you've got to get on a plane and fly home where you got to drive. It's one thing if you could just go home to your wife. and have a scotch and go to bed. I wish I had a camera on me so that I could see what my face looked like watching this happen. It's unbelievable. Unbelievable. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news.
Starting point is 00:41:43 And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lye News. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. On Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Hey, I'm Doug Gottlie. The podcast is called All Ball. We usually talk all basketball all the time, but it's more about the stories about what made these people love their sport and all the interesting interactions along the way. We talk to coaches.
Starting point is 00:42:11 We talk to players. We tell you stories. You download it. You listen to it. I think you like it. Listen to All Ball with Doug Ghalib on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games.
Starting point is 00:42:31 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.
Starting point is 00:42:55 A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators,
Starting point is 00:43:21 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.
Starting point is 00:43:47 Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast.
Starting point is 00:44:11 I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because. of crack.
Starting point is 00:44:28 I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really?
Starting point is 00:44:47 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,
Starting point is 00:45:02 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.
Starting point is 00:45:11 I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession
Starting point is 00:45:21 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,
Starting point is 00:45:35 or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose
Starting point is 00:45:50 on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app, Search learn the hard way and listen now. You know, something we talk about all the time is you've got to get ahead of stuff because there's just all sorts of cultural changes and analytic changes in sports. The Dodgers were some of the first executives in the, and baseball, Friedman, for the Dodgers, who runs their franchise, was in Tampa. They were very early adapters to baseball analytics.
Starting point is 00:46:22 And so the Dodgers and our rules. really, really analytically driven, and they've won their division like eight or nine years in a row. The Warriors were first in on this three ball stuff. They are the best culture, the best basketball franchise in the NBA. You've got to be quick on stuff. And I think they're really smart NFL organizations. I don't think it's an analytic sport as much. But what's happening in the NFL, and you're all seeing it, the league is really pivoting to
Starting point is 00:46:49 offense to protect the quarterbacks, good for fantasy, good for gambling. It's just good for the league to keep your guys protected, not as a lot. much hitting. When I was a kid, and most of my life, the middle of the field was defense. Receivers had no interest going over the middle. Now, offense owns the middle of the field. You can't hit anybody. It's a huge difference. Most of my life when I was younger, up until like, you know, 10 years ago, you know, the way, maybe, yeah, 10 years ago, the way to score quickly in the NFL was go up the sidelines with a deep ball. You know, most teams had one receiver who would be willing to go over the middle and get clocked. You can't do that anymore.
Starting point is 00:47:25 So the middle of the field now, everybody, it's all offense. But I was thinking just to show you last year, every NFC team that made the playoffs, 7 of 7 had offensive coaches. I think at the end of this year, it's going to get worse. I thought about this this morning. I think Seattle, Pete Carroll, will finish last defensive coach. I think Lovie Smith and Houston will finish last defensive coach. I think Robert Solid Jets will finish last defensive coach.
Starting point is 00:47:55 I think Matt Eberflew, Chicago, will finish last defensive coach. I think Mike Tomlin, if Deshawn Watson plays at least six games, they don't have their offense right. I don't like their offensive coordinator. Their O-line's a mess, and they've got a bridge quarterback. I think Pittsburgh finishes last, certainly third, but probably last, if Deshaun plays at all. And right now it's going to go to courts.
Starting point is 00:48:19 I think Washington, because the Giants owners won't acknowledge the L.O. in the room that Daniel Jones is a bust, Washington will finish third. That the only defensive coach who will win his division will be Buffalo, and that is Josh Allen, and they've yet to win as much as we think they should win. But I think you're going to have Pete, Tomlin, Lovie, Sala, Iber Fluse, five of the eight. Last place teams will be a defensive coach. And the offensive coaches, because I do think this. year the Colts will win that division.
Starting point is 00:48:59 That's another offensive coach. Last year, that division was Mike Vrable, more of a defensive guy, right? But I mean, I think there, in other sports, it's analytics. What's happening due to regulations and rules. The analytics in the NFL are more about you've got to just pivot to offense. The Steelers are last in offensive spending, have an offensive coordinator that's bounced around, have a bridge quarterback. They did not a lot of urgency with quarterback.
Starting point is 00:49:29 And the offensive line is the weakest unit on the team. So there's a lot of things I like about the Steelers, but they feel like a last place team to me if Deshaun plays. Hour two is done. Hour three in L.A. next. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends.
Starting point is 00:49:49 Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and headwriter, 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.
Starting point is 00:50:13 A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'm saying. Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast,
Starting point is 00:50:28 The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford
Starting point is 00:50:45 and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. On the Look Back at a 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.
Starting point is 00:51:03 Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. It was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced game. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential.
Starting point is 00:51:28 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.

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