The Herd with Colin Cowherd - HOUR 2 - PGA, Steelers, NBA

Episode Date: June 29, 2022

The PGA is afraid of losing power, they need to take better care of their stars. Looking at the next NBA season. Who will be the Steelers starting QB? Guest: Nick WrightSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the 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. On the Look Back at it podcast. 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. It was a wild year.

I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show.

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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 herd at Fox SportsRadio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Hurd. You're listening to Foxxport's. Sports Radio. Welcome back to the herd. Joyce Taylor in for Colin Coward

on FS1 and Fox Sports Radio. He is on vacation, enjoying his time in the Caribbean. Can't wait to hear about it. He's posting reels with music. He's like a travel blogger now.

He's growing up. He's growing up in the social media world. Each year it's a little something more. I love it. It is very It's very endearing to see Explorer call him. So you can check out his Instagram page if you want a nice recap of his beautiful vacation, which is much deserved. And we will be in all week, myself and Alex Curry. So good to be back with the fur babies.

Oh, man. It's like, it was the longest we've ever left them. Oh, really? Obviously, since the pandemic, we were home all the time because we adopted our second one, like, right before. you know, COVID hit. Right. So she's like still acclimating. Like still like she's like a little mad.

Like she's a little sassy. She's my little sassy one penny. So it's getting a little better. But yeah, I've just been holding them. I do not have any pets. But most of my plants are still alive. Good for you.

Most of them. I picked up plants during the pandemic because I wasn't traveling. Yeah. I just don't have a green. Now I live in a forest. My grandmother would just like grow things. My mom can. My mom has plants everywhere.

just grow. They go in the back of the corner of her closet. I'm like, there's no sun in here. She's like, oh, this doesn't need sun. She just plants everywhere. I can't keep any of them alive, but I'm trying. They're holding on. We'll talk to Nick Wright in just a few minutes, get his thoughts on Free Agency and Kyrie and Draymond Green and a bunch of other things going around the NBA. And I want to float my Baker theory by him as well. But Patrick Reed is on the live golf tour, along with a list of other golfers who have left the PGA tour for this new tour. And, you know, there was some reaction. obviously, mostly negative about these golfers leaving for this live golf tour from the PGA.

And Patrick Reed gave his explanation. And he's had his issues with the PGA for quite some time. But he gave his explanation on the PGA tour and why he left. He said, listen to the players for once. You're able to actually now set out a schedule, go out and put all you have in every single event. It was forcing you to have to play. And that's not doing anything for you mentally and physically. that's wearing you down and on top of it, the quality of life for us as players now having less

events being able to spend more time at home with the family. Everyone is trying to make more and work less, as you should. Life is for living. Obviously, you want to enjoy what you do every day. You want to be passionate about your career and your job and that will help you to be more successful. You'll be more willing to put effort and time into it. And if you're someone like a professional golfer, that's a pretty amazing career to have. But you still also have a family. You still also, you know, might want to kick it with your friends sometimes and relax, or, I don't know, do some rehab on part of your body that is exhausted from having to do tournament after tournament after tournament and not having any downtime. This isn't, this is the bigger issue that I have with what's going on with the PGA and live golf. It's not just that everyone is turning this into some political campaign against Saudi Arabia, which, listen, I understand the reaction negatively to Saudi Arabia. The golfers, however, are. are not politicians, they're not the Avengers,

they are taking a check to play golf. You'd be quite surprised if you started digging into where your money comes from or where you're spending your money or where some of the products that you use are coming from, we could go on and on when you start drawing those type of moral lines. My bigger issue, my bigger perspective on what happened with the PGA tour and live golf is similar to something that's happening with the NCAA and NIL, which is time and time again you're seeing now these institutions

or companies that are talent-driven, push the talent away because they're white-knuckling to this power structure that they have subscribed to for decades. Even though their top talent is selling them, we're unhappy, we need breaks, we need flexibility, we need collaboration, we'd like these things, we'd like for our caddies to be taken care of, we'd like more money, we'd like for things to be more balanced. And rather than listening to the talent, because they assume that the talent has no other options, they don't make any changes and they are reactionary.

This is a tale that has happened time and time again as talent continues to grow their platforms and have more options. So this should be a cautionary tale. Stop trying to control everything all the time. It is okay to submit a little bit of power to your top superstars. It is okay to collaborate with your talent and employees.

It's okay to listen to some suggestions. It doesn't make you any less powerful. Does it give up a little bit of control? Sure. But what is the option? Either remain in control over everything for the rest of time and lose all of your top talent, which will happen. Or you can collaborate and continue to stay on top.

This is why I don't have sympathy for these organizations. All of this is reactionary. Oh, well now we have all these things and we have more money and all of a sudden we have a flexible schedule and all of a sudden we have this. No, no, no, no. All that time that those golfers were telling you this is what we want, this is what we need, this is what we'd like, there's nothing changed. Well, now someone has come along with a much bigger check and they can replace it.

And that is why people are leaving. You can turn it into blood money and arms race and all of that. If you want to rule with an iron fist, you're going to have an uprising. Read a history book. This is how it goes. Have a little flexibility. Take a deep breath. It's not all about being.

control and being powerful all the time. You can keep doing that and then you will lose all your power. And then I won't feel sorry for you. Let's go out to Nick Wright, host the first things first and what's right with Nick Wright podcast. What do you think of my rant? Nick Wright? Am I right? Tell me I'm right? Well, we are talking about pro golfers, right? Sure. Like I'm not sure what the schedule is, but I don't think it's that taxing. I know a lot of people are like, hey, I want to retire. What are you going to do even retire? I don't know golf a lot. Oh, come on Nick. So I don't know. When we talk about the athletes, hold on, hold on, wait, you asked me, when you talk about the athletes who I'm like, oh man, I worry about what the schedule is going to do for their body, pro

golfers aren't near the top of the list of guys who I'm like, oh, I really, I don't know if they can handle it. I have a different take on the live tour in this regard. It's easy to throw money at people if you're not trying to be profitable. I don't know that the live golf tour plans on making a profit any time in the next decade. So it's much like Uber when it first started. It's like, my God, Uber's going to put all the cabs out of business. And it's like, well, yeah, because they're operating at a massive loss. And so, they are playing by somewhat unfair rules in the, not unfair, but it's going to be,

it would be hard for the PGA to compete with them financially because they seemingly do have a limitless supply of money. And I'm not sure if their number one goal is making a, profit. I also, I'm not, I'm not going to act like I am in the, in the weeds on what professional golfers would like from the PGA tour, but I don't know, it doesn't seem like that taxing of a schedule. And I do agree with what Richard Jefferson said a few weeks ago about NBA guys, which is part of being a great professional athlete is, you know, exerting yourself and being able to overcome. So I'm a little old school on some of this. And when I get something about athletes who I feel

badly for the golfers who are like man this schedule's hard for me i i don't know i don't feel that badly for him i just think they want to take the money lives offering them and more power to them but i don't think it's because the pga tour is asking them hey and by the way can you also make sure you're raking the trap for us on the weekends when you're not playing like i don't think that's happening i think you're going to get a reaction for professional golfers on that one i don't think the guy who's kicking it around and crushing hot dogs at the turn is at the same level as a professional golfer.

I understand that, but we're going to act like these guys, the reason they're going to live is because it's going to be less strenuous on their body. It's the money. And the rest is excuses. That's fine. I think it's because of the money. But I think when I look at situations

like the PGA tour, when I look at situations like what's happening with the NCAA and NIL, I see the same pattern with these massive institutions, which is, hey, give a little wiggle room. Stop being so rigid about everything. Have some communication with your top talent and maybe it won't become so explosive. Maybe you could convince them that it's really, really bad PR to go play for this live golf tournament because you've collaborated with them.

You've made them feel like partners rather than employees when they're independent contractors. No, your general overall thesis kind of as a general rule of life, I agree with you. value your employees, understand it is in most businesses the employees that make the company, not the other way around. I agree with all of that. When it comes to the tiniest violin in the world, because Patrick Reed's back hurts a little bit, because he wants to play three rounds instead of four, that I'm not that concerned about. All right.

Let's pivot to the NBA. We are in the free agency window now, and things have been pretty spicy. I have a lot of thoughts about what's happened with Kyrie and the Nets. I am not subscribing to the Nets being real contenders next year. They're running it back essentially with a less reliable third player than they had in James Hardin, now in Ben Simmons, who I don't even remember what he looks like when he plays basketball. And what's happened with Kyrie is this never-ending story of everything is about Kyrie. So I don't really know what's changed.

That said, I think this was the best case scenario for the Nets, Kyrie and Kady. Well, listen, they averted the nuclear winter of Kyrie leaving for nothing and then Katie asking out and then being just totally objectively screwed. But I agree with you. Listen, I think Vegas has their odds totally screwed up. And Vegas right now has them with better odds than Milwaukee, which is an outrage. Yeah. The Brooklyn Nets were 16 playoff wins away from a championship last year. And next year it's the exact same team plus Ben Simmons. Ben Simmons ain't worth no 16 playoff wins.

I can tell you that much, no matter what version of Ben Simmons you're getting. And so I understand, yes, it is the best case scenario in that they didn't have to commit to Kyrie long term. But the other parts of this are ominous to me, Joy. The fact that Kyrie told Shams he was picking up his option before he told the Nets wouldn't make me feel overly confident. The fact that the Nets offered him a longer term extension and he didn't take it. Instead, he picked up the player option is ominous. I am not convinced, Joy, I don't know if you are, that Kyrie finishes the season with the next. I think that he is on his final strike with them, and because he picked up his option,

he has no more leverage the rest of the year. They could trade him anywhere. And so I think they're going to try to see if it can work, but I also think one, you know, one paid time, unpaid leave or paid leave, whereas sabbatical, whatever you want to call it, or I think that they will be shopping him if they need to. Yeah, I'm not convinced he's with the Nets for the entire season. I'm just going off the information that we have right now, which is that he's going to be with the Nets.

Where do you stand on Karee right now? Kyrie doesn't outrage me. I save my outrage for like real things, like, you know, losing rights over my body and stuff like that. I don't get outraged over what Karee does. But I also evaluate Karee based off of the information that I have. 11 seasons in the NBA, your reputation precedes you. He's not a reliable player.

However great he is when he's on the court, if you have to say when he's available after you say any player's name, that takes you down a notch in your greatness. I can't rely on you, especially if you are Kyrie, who is the number two to Kevin Durant, who is on any given night, the best player in the world. So I can't build a championship team around someone who I don't know is ever going to be there. No, of course. Like, listen, I think Kyrie is one of the most talented players. players in his position ever. I also think, and this isn't me being a hater, this is me just objectively reading his basketball reference page.

Kyrie Irving in his career has never received a single MVP vote. I'm not saying first place. I'm saying first, second, third, fourth, fifth. Damn, Julius Randall and little Isaiah Thomas have gotten MVP votes in the last few years. Kyrie Irving never had. Has. Kyrie Irving once in his career has been second-team all-MBA. He's never been first team and twice he's been 13.

So in his whole career for a guy that people say is the most talented guy ever at his position, one year, at the end of the year, people were like, yeah, he was one of the 10 best players in the sport. Two years he's been one of the 15 best and every other year not even there. And that's because of availability. it's because that he has been a one-way player, his whole career, and it's because except for when he's been alongside LeBron James, he's never contributed to winning. And so that's a decade of a career that is just an objective telling of it.

Now, there can be different reasons and rationales as to why it's gone, happened that way, but that is how it happened. And the Boston Celtics made the conference finals without Kyrie Irving. they made the conference finals and then the NBA finals without Kyrie Irving and the year he was there, they lost in round two and five. That is another objective telling of it. The Nets had a round two ceiling before Kyrie walked in the door. They've had a round two ceiling and this past year round one ceiling with Kyrie Irving. That is an objective telling of it. It's one of the reasons why I think the nets were okay with the idea that he might leave and that, yeah, hey, go find a

sign and trade. Like your talent is, you're, your talent is. spectacular. But if you are the least reliable great player in the league and you're not even one of the great, great players in the league, then you start to undercut your own value. So there was a lot of conversation and there still is about him possibly going to Los Angeles. Now, I don't know. My brain doesn't work on how that fits or how they make that happen. They take a fifth mortgage out on the building. I don't know. I don't know why anyone wants Russell Westbrook. I don't know how any of that would happen. but assuming that it doesn't happen because it would be very difficult,

what does this Lakers team look like with Russ on it next year? Oh, they're screwed. They're screwed. And it's so frustrating because the Lakers, Jovan Buha of the Athletic reported they are shopping Russ, but they won't include one of those future picks. And to which I would say, why are the Lakers operating as if they expect to be terrible in four years?

Oh, well, Nick, LeBron will be going? But then you'll have a max salary spot available, and you're the Lakers. And Anthony Davis is under contract and in his prime theoretically. The Lakers operating like they must hold on to the 2027 or 2029 first round pick because that's going to be some franchise changer. It shouldn't be. It shouldn't need a franchise changer. You're the Lakers.

And either LeBron is going to continue to be ageless and continue to be excellent, or he's going to be out of the league or on a different team the years leading into those picks. Either way, you should be fine. Because if he's out of the league or on another team, you have $45 million of cap space and you're the most attractive free agent destination historically in NBA history,

and you have prime Anthony Davis. So I don't understand why they're operating the way they are. I do not think that Russell Westbrook is going to become some totally different player. And listen, I obviously root for the Lakers because LeBron's there. The only thing I'm looking forward to this Lakers season is LeBron passing Kareem. There's not going to be anything exciting coming out of that team as long as it's the same roster they had last year with minor tweaks,

and that roster was irrevocably broken. So I am drinking Clippers Kool-Aid over here on the West Coast because of the John Wall move, not because I think that he makes them that much better, but he's not somebody I have to rely on. He's just a bonus added, essentially free bonus piece. And when he does play, he is a big contributor, at least offensively. And I like that. I also love Kauai Leonard and Tailu.

I think their owners, you know, enthusiastic but not overly involved. So I'm drinking the Clippers Kool-Aid. Am I crazy? Am I losing my mind? No, you're not. Listen, I have been Clippers pessimist. I've been short selling the Clippers last few years, and I've made massive profits doing that, literally and figuratively.

The gambling is legal, so now we can tell you we make those profits in real life as well. This year, though, I believe in them. I think a year off for Kauai rehabbing, I would expect him to play the most games he's played in quite some time and to be awesome. Paul George, we know exactly who he is. He's like the 14th best player in the sport.

He's never going to be top eight. He's never going to be outside of the top 18. He's right there. And I agree with you entirely. You're not banking on. John Wall, but he is a nice, low-risk, medium-sized reward potential player, and Tilu's one of the three best coaches in the sport. So I really like the Clippers going into this year, more than I've liked them any year in the past. And I think if John Wall has anything left, and keep in mind,

John Wall didn't play last year, not because he was injured, because the Rockets didn't want to play him. A similar thing happened with Al Horford. Al Horford got put on ice by Oklahoma City, and that actually helped him a ton. He had more in the tank this year for Boston because of it. I think a best case scenario for the Clippers is Wall does have a decent amount left, and then you can move Reggie Jackson to what he should be, which is your point guard off the bench, not your starting point guard. Yeah, I like the Clippers a lot this year.

I know that'll surprise people because I've always been a Clippers pessimist, but right now I think they are poised to be with Dallas losing Jalen Brunson potentially. I don't think Golden State's going to be a juggernaut. The Clippers right now look like they should be at least co-favorants in the West. You don't think Golden State is going to be a juggernaut? No. Come on, Nick. No, no, no.

Come on. They're the dynasty. What do you mean? What? also at this point a far more relevant podcaster than basketball player. Oh, man. And at the, well, no, it's just, we watch the games. Draymond says analyze the games.

We can analyze the games. Listen, Mr. Triple Single is a dynamic media presence. And at times a replacement level player. He has his moments. But no. And by the way, the Warriors era has been dynastic. But they also are a team that prior to winning this championship, missed the playoffs two consecutive seasons.

So do I think the Warriors are the favorites? No, I don't think the Warriors are the favorites. And by the way, for all the chirping from Dremont, nobody would have thought they were the favorites if they didn't just win the title. And what flipped the series was the fourth quarter of game four when they were down to one and they had the big comeback. And it should be noted, that all happened with Dremont on the bench.

When Steve Kerr said, oh boy, when Steve Kerr and Dremont's own mother were like, what is happening to my son and my player? And they sat him down. So, I mean, that all happened. You can say, Nick, that's old media. I don't know what it is. I think it's just an accurate telling of the truth.

I think the Warriors will be good. I don't think they're the favorites. Milwaukee is far and away the favorites. For the record, Milwaukee would have crushed the world if Middleton didn't get hurt. They are the far and away overwhelming favorites. And then we're going to argue about who's the second best teams and third best teams. But I think the clippers going into the year are better than Golden State. and I want to see with Dallas.

Okay. Well, I'm old media, too. I disagree with you that the clippers should be favored over the Warriors. That is completely dependent on health, which is not the conversation with the Warriors. I have the Clippers favorite. I do think Milwaukee should be favored to come out of the east, and then we can discuss everybody else. That was Nick Wright, Draymond, not Joy Taylor. Nick Wright goes the first thing first.

I'm not taking the, I'm not taking the heat for that. I am not taking the heat for that. I also disagree. Don't be afraid of Draymond. I'm not afraid of Draymond. I agree with Tramon. I think you're the top dog. You get to do all the bark, and that's how it goes.

If you win, then you get to stand the top of the mountain and point down at all, everyone else. You just, you're the favorites every year if you're the defending champ. I think if you're a dynasty, I think if you're a dynasty, which they are, you deserve that respect. They are a dynasty. They won four of the last eight. They are a dynasty. They could very well win another one. And I think they deserve that respect.

Nick Wright, co. The first things first. Thank you so much for coming. on, Nick. Check out First things first weekday, 730 Eastern on FS1. And What's Right with Nick right. Great podcasts. Thank you to Nick for joining us. I'm not going that far. I am not going that far. No, I said it yesterday. I think it's a gift. It is a gift that we get players that are the top of their game giving us insight and are wanting to spend their free time podcasting. Yeah, I don't think Nick's not, he's not saying that Jemon shouldn't be podcasting. He's just

we're talking about if they should be favorites or not. When we come back, Joy Taylor and for Colin Cowherd, as he's on vacation this week, Alex Curry, alongside with me. We'll get to Alex Curry with the news when we come back on the herd. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week, within the I-Hard 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 which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball. 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 a little kill? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast.

I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84's big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed cracks. 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. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games.

And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase

that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, 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, Keir Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose. On my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free, our heart radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now.

It's the first ever USFL championship game live from the Pro Football Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. The Birmingham Stallions and Philadelphia stars go head to head in a quest to take home the historic first title Sunday at 730 Eastern on Fox.

Welcome back to The Herd, Joy Taylor, in for calling Cowherd. Thanks for joining us on FS1 and Fox Sports Radio today. Let's get to Alex Curry with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the Herdline News. Well, the Browns are unsure what Deshawn Watson's availability will be this season. And yesterday, Baker Mayfield was asked if there was any chance he might return to the Brown's lineup, given the current situation.

I think it's been pretty obvious. The mutual decision on both sides is to move on. You know, I'm thankful for my four years in Cleveland. There's a lot of ups and downs and a ton of learning experiences that, you know, all forever keep with me. The support staff in Cleveland, the people of Cleveland, it's a great sports town. So I'm thankful for it. And there's no resentment towards the city of Cleveland by any means. But I think a lot of people think if they didn't have a quarterback for the next year,

would there be any chance of reconciliation there? No, I think for that to happen, there would have to be some reaching out. But we're ready to move on, I think, on both sides. So what I hear there, so you're saying there's a chance. He basically gave an outline of what would need to happen if he goes back. And like we were talking about earlier, people want to feel wanted and they want to feel hurt. He said the Browns would need to reach out, probably say they're sorry, and that they need him and want him back. Well, he said there'd need to be some reaching out. So that's very ambiguous. Maybe they need to reach out. Maybe he needs to reach out. But there's clearly not communication. There is no communication. Yeah. So if anything were to happen. And again, we have no idea. DeShon Watson's hearing started yesterday. We'll probably find out in the next couple of days what it's going to be. Until then, we're just coming up with scenarios. Baker doesn't have a,

home right now. And this seems like the best case scenario for him. I said the Browns, the Browns are doing that thing where like they're separated, but you guys are still living in the same house. Oof. So complicated. Like it's you're not you're, you're, emotionally separated. Yeah. But you're still in the same building. Yeah. So that generally leads to some sort of messy reconciliation. Now obviously the, uh, the other person has moved in already. So it's very crowded in here. But he might be, yeah. The other person might not be allowed inside though for a bit.

You know, they have another situation, another relationship they're dealing with. Right. So, I mean, yes, there's a lot going on here in Cleveland, as there always is because they're terrible at doing business. Yeah. That being said, I do think it's the best case scenario for Cleveland and for Baker. If Deshaun serves more than eight games as a suspension, yeah. Baker is better than Jacoby Brissette, who I like, and they've reportedly been comfortable with being the

starter this year if Deshaun is not available. But if it's for more than eight games, you're already going to have to pay Baker likely anyway. Baker doesn't have any real suitors or he would already be gone. It's been Seattle and Carolina. Neither one of them want to pay for him. And when you look at where Baker is right now in his career, I mean, I don't think Baker is a franchise quarterback.

I think he's a bridge guy at this point. We've seen a pretty large sample size. of what he is. He is only good when everything around him is essentially set. They have a Super Bowl-level roster, coach of the year,

pretty functional, everyone is happy, the fans are behind him, there's not a lot of controversy. Boom, great. Playoff win. That's the ceiling that we've seen so far.

Now, the basement is quite bad. So if you're going to go to a situation that isn't the scenario like we saw with the ceiling, then you can expect, what Baker has done for those other three years, which is not be good. So that means he's a bridge guy.

There's categories for quarterbacks, and I think he's a bridge guy. But that being said, this is a bridge situation because you're going to pay Deshawn Watson, $230 million to come and be your quarterback in Cleveland when he's done with his suspension. Hypothetically, of course.

Everything is on the board in that scenario, but assuming things go as we think they're going to go, Deshawn will at least be the quarterback next season. I don't know. I don't see why this isn't a great situation. Not great. Not great. It's a terrible word.

Yeah. A better situation for the Browns and for Baker. I also think it's better to play than to sit, especially how your season ended. Injured, not playing well. Why not have a little bit of redemption? I also think the fans will be a little more forgiving now after the way everything ended, just the dumpster fire situation Cleveland is in right now. The fans are completely split on who they want and what they want in Cleveland, as they should be,

because they don't know what to root for. Do we root for Deshawn Watson? No. Do we feel comfortable rooting for DeShon Watson? No. For this team for making that decision? So the fans are split as well. Yeah.

It's your chance. Do it. All right. Moving on. Kyrie Irving decided to opt in to the final year of his contract with the Nets. And according to ESPN's, Brian Winhorse, the Nets were totally surprised when they heard the news. He also reported that the team found out the same time as everyone else on social media.

And he is set to earn over $36 million next season for becoming a free agent after coming free agent next summer. Now Winhorst said he doesn't know what will become of the relationship between Irving and the Nets. I don't think anyone does at this point, but that was the most on-brand thing for Kyrie. And if you don't see that, then where have you been the last couple of years? Because Kyrie does what he wants. He's made that very clear in his actions, on and off the court. But also, I don't know if I'm personally, we've seen a lot of athletes find out that they're getting traded the same time as everyone else does. Right.

On social media. So I don't know if I'm upset that he announced it that way. I don't know if it's best thing for his relationship with the organization. I don't think he's going to get any favors now. I don't think it bettered the relationship. I don't think he's going to stay there much longer unless they have crazy success this next season. But I also think the way this whole thing panned out and the way he shared to the organization and to the public into the world that he's opting in. Lakers aren't out of the question.

And I'm just going to keep tossing that in there because LeBron is one of the few people that knows how to deal with Kyrie. Well, I mean, there is a report that this is still on the board that he ends up there. Again, I don't see how they make that happen. A third team. Yes.

It would be a crazy situation. Crazier things have happened. Yeah. As far as Kyrie announcing it to the world with some weird quote that would go under an Instagram post and not telling the organization, again, I don't get out of it. outraged about things like this.

It's not bothering me. I'm not upset about it. But if you're going to feel some type of way about teams doing that to players, then a player doing that to a team would be at that same level of energy, which is that's not how you do business. This is not changing my life, but that's not how you do business. And again, with Kyrie, it's the same consistent drumbeat that I can make my own decisions, I can do my own thing, I can handle my career however I want.

to Eddie's point, I can be as mobile and take advantage of the mobility that has been created for players as much as possible and not think there's any consequences or repercussions for this. And that's not reality. I know it's a cute theme that everyone is clinging on to lately that we can say whatever we want, we can do whatever we want. And the other side of that is so can everyone else. And nobody is required to react to your decisions the way that you want them to react.

That's called free will. Some of us still have it. So that's how it goes. And I don't understand the concept of people. if you say something to me that I don't like, I am not required to continue liking you just because you have the freedom to say that. Why is this a complicated concept?

I thought we learned this when we were like two when we started learning how to communicate with people. I don't get it. But this is where it is with Kyrie. I also think this situation and the way it all panned out is not all going to be beneficial for the Nets, but for Kyrie, because now he's playing for his next contract. He is not guaranteed what's happening after.

So you're going to get the best version. He's going to want to, if it's not going to be at the nets. He's got to prove himself. There isn't a market. He saw that, what, like a week ago, maybe a couple days ago when he was trying to decide if he was going to opt in or not, there was not a market for him. Well, in theory, but it's Kyrie. So he left, you know, what, 15, 17 million on the table last year because he chose

only playing 29 games. So if any other player, I would feel very strongly about what you're saying that this is, okay, this is a contract year. He could hit the free agency next year, get a multi-year deal. but like everyone is looking around the league and giving the same energy back to your point. There was no market. Or I don't believe he would be with the Nets. Well, because he barely played last season.

29 games. We did not see. And there's a difference between a season of Kairi. We saw the end and it was great. He played great. But you need to see that for a whole season. So I think being able to not knowing where he's going to be the year after this coming season is going to benefit the Nets because he's going to play and hopefully want to be there.

I don't know. That's where my mind's going. I'm hopeful. If he plays. If he plays. Yeah. That's always the question. Yeah.

If he plays. All right. Let's move to the champs. Because after the Warriors won the title this season, some people started to talk about the other titles. The team has won particularly. The one when Kevin Durant was part of the team in Draymond Green was on the old man and the three podcasts and talked about what an important role Katie played in those championship wins.

The reality is, is I don't think. that team wins another championship if Kevin doesn't come. We would not have beat the Cavs coming back around without Kevin. We got to a point where we needed to be able to give someone the ball that can just go get a bucket. And Kevin was already there. I don't think Steph was there yet. So it gets us through those two years.

We get those two championships. You're not going to win without your MVP. And bottom line, during that time, Katie was their MVP. He was their best player on the team. He was also the best matchup for LeBron. He was the only one that could neutralize him to win that championship. But what's important what I see here, and we're seeing it with a couple other players, is these championship teams and these star players are looking back.

And where there might have been some turmoil and some disagreement, they are now realizing that they had that special spark and the special sauce. Because that's what it takes. You're seeing it now with Draymond talking about Katie. We saw it with Kyrie. talking about it with LeBron. In the moment, you're never going to see that. And that's when you see a lot of the confrontation.

I could have done it without you. Like, I didn't need you here. But when you look back and you mature a little and you take a moment, you go, oh, no, no, no, we couldn't have done that if we weren't all there together because that's what it takes. It takes a little luck. It takes that little special sauce and it takes special people coming together. Well, sometimes when you have a little break, you get some perspective.

And, you know, you let things kind of air out and breathe and the tensions lower. and you start having dinners or conversations and the animosity kind of withers away. And then you can look at the situation from a more objective place. I think it's important that Draymond said this because a big part of KD's legacy is this concept, this idea,

which I do not subscribe to, that they could have won those championships without him. Well, no, you're wrong because they didn't. Drayman would not have called him to come and play with them if they felt like they could. this is Draymond who was in the building who was an essential part of those championships

who's an essential part of this dynasty telling you it wouldn't have happened so you can fantasize about what woulda could or shoulda all you want. The reality is you're wrong because we saw it in real life. There's so much visionist history about those teams and what KD

meant to that organization and what KD did in those playoffs and what KD did in those finals. Those championships were won because of Kevin Durantz. You can say what you want about the core. You can say what you want about what the team was. They lost a lot of pieces. KD filled those roles.

Katie was the best player in the world during those seasons. We know that because we watched it. It wasn't something that we're playing out in a hypothetical. So it really bothers me that people change the narrative on KD's career like that. You don't have to like that he went to Golden State. That's your feelings. And you're entitled to your feelings. The facts, however, run alongside the same highway in the fast lane.

Yeah. Right. And in the fast lane, we watched it. We had the statistics. We have the results. We have the rings. We have the trophies. And all of those happens because of Kevin Durant. So you can argue that it wouldn't have happened. But in reality, in real life, here, where this pen exists, in this multiverse timeline, that's what happens. So I'm glad that Jermont said this. Yeah. That's Alex Curry with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd lie news. So Kenny Pickett is with the Steelers, and he talked about the organization, and there's a big conversation about who should be the start of this year for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and we will discuss that next on the herd. Joy Taylor, in for Colin Cowherd. 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, this is Jason McIntyre. Join me every weekday morning on my podcast, Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your typical sports pod pushing the same tired narratives down your throat every day. Straightfire gives you honest opinions on all the biggest sports headlines, accurate stats to help you win big at the sports book, and all the best guests. Do yourself a favor and listen to Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged.

It's the enhanced games. call it grotesque, others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds.

I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'm saying. Yep, that's me. 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. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment. And the next, we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast.

It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with a little camp? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast.

I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so you all right.

Yeah, yeah, literally. But just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, this is the second episode where we've discussed, correct. So I'm starting to see there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now.

Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history.

Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast. Learn the hard way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month,

I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it,

and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes a ball. wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth, or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different

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app. Search, learn the hard way, and listen now. Welcome back to the herd. Joy Taylor in for Colin Cowherd. He is enjoying his Caribbean vacation, making reels. He's like a travel vlogger now. Part of them. Well, it's because he has his kids with him. Definitely. I think he's inspired by the Caribbean water. Okay. And then he solicited some help from kids on how to put the reel together. But Colin will be back next week. Joy Taylor and Alex Curry in all week for him. Thank you to Eddie House for joining us earlier. And Nick Wright will talk to Pat Garrity. stadium front office analyst and bucky brooks will be in studio with us later in the show and i do want to ask him about this conversation which is kenny pickets and whether he should be the starter for the pitts zealers this year this is a very light draft for quarterbacks this year in the nflts next year will not be the same case keny picket to the steelers was kind of a surprise to me they did

a great job of smoke screening us because i i thought for sure malekwels was going to pitts they selected Kenny Pickett out of the University of Pittsburgh, which I love for Kenny Pickett and for the Pittsburgh Steelers, because no team in the league knows Kenny Pickett more than the Pittsburgh Steelers. Not just because they're in the same city, but they're in the same building. They both play in Heinz Field. They know everything about Kenny Pickett. Now, they don't know how he's going to translate to the NFL.

He's a bit of an older player. So there are some questions about how great of a prospect he is, which is why this quarterback draft was so light. But the conversation about whether he should be the starter or not is now happening, and that's going to happen throughout the whole offseason. And he talks, Kenny Pickett did on the Pat McAfee show. He said we have high expectations in that building. They have been an unbelievable franchise since this really started,

so I want to continue that greatness. He is right about that, although I will say as a Pittsburgh resident for 18 years, I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, so I know Steelers in this organization very well. very comfortable just being competitive. There's a lot of concessions that have been made that I think have certainly closed the Super Bowl window when Ben Rathesberger was there. And I do think that, well, I love Mike Tomlin

and he is a Hall of Fame coach. They need to be more aggressive on the offensive side of the ball as well. That said, that's why I like this pick. Go take a swing for your future franchise guy. And I also like them bringing in Mitchell Trubisky. So I've been very pro-starting young quarterbacks that are taken high in the drafts right away. I think you get better at doing something by doing it. Yes, I think there's value in sitting behind a veteran like a Brett Farrv or an Alex Smith.

And this is no disrespect to Mitch Chibisky, but there's only so much you're going to learn from sitting behind Mitch Chibisky. Will you learn how to be a professional? Will you learn certain nuances of the game? Yes, can he help you with learning the playbook? Yes, he can help Kenny Pickett become a pro, but he's not going to guide him any more than that. So what is the replacement value of Kenny Pickett over Mitch Trubisky? We'll find out in training camp, but this is why I advocate for young players to play. You can learn a lot from interning.

You can learn a lot from observing people. You don't learn how to do it. You don't get better at doing it by practicing. You get better in the game when it's live, when the speed is real. You're just doing the repetition. You're just getting ready. You're just preparing. how you execute comes in games.

And if you're not starting, not playing, you're not getting better at that. And where the Steelers are as an organization right now with a great defense with weapons, with a Hall of Fame coach that's never had a losing season, with a very patient front office and ownership group, fans that are going nowhere, you can take some risks with Kenny Pickett. So my argument is if they're equal at the end of training camp, Mitchell Chubesky and Kenny Pickett,

why would you not go with Kenny Pickett? If there's a massive gap at the end of training camp, then of course you would go with Mitchell Trabisky, who despite all of the fantasies about Mitchell Trabisky's career, he is not as bad as you imagine. He really is not. If you look at the statistics that he has put up throughout his career in not the most functional situation either,

he has had some success. He's 29, 21, 64 completion percentage, 64 to 37 touchdown interception ratio, and it passed a rating of 87. He's not a disaster. but if it's close you go with the rookie you've got to get

Kenny Pickett the reps. If nothing else just to see what you have in him to see if you take another swing in the draft next year or the year after that. Don't sit tight and go with the safe choice which is Mitchell Trubisky just to stay competitive. Take the risk

if they're close. Now if they're not close then we're maybe having another conversation about Kenny Pickett entirely but that's what I would do because I am pro starting young quarterbacks and getting them real game experience as soon as you can. Joy Taylor in for Colin Cowherd all week here on The Herd. Thanks for joining us on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Pat Garrity of Stadium Front Office coming up next on the Herd.

Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes.

Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the 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 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, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that. excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled 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 IHeard 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. On the Look Back at a podcast. For 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84's big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English.

Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. It was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast.

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