The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 2 - Sizing Up The Cowboys

Episode Date: December 29, 2022

In this hour of The Herd, Joy Taylor (in for Colin) dissects a handful of NFL playoff scenarios. Also, David Helman of FoxSports.com and FS1's Speak joins Joy to size up the Dallas Cowboys as they prepare for the postseason. Finally, with the end of 2022 approaching, Joy and Alex Curry look back at some of the biggest sports moments of the year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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We're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Welcome to The Herd. Joy Taylor, in for Colin Cowan. heard Alex Curry, Jason McIntyre. They will both be back tomorrow just in time for the new year. It's crazy that it's already the new year. This year went very fast, I feel. Very fast. I know you always have words, right?

We talked about this last year. You have a new word that you have going into the new. What is your word? I do have a new word. I did not do well with my word this year. My word this year was discipline. Oh, okay. I had some moments, but I overall do not feel that I held myself very accountable in the discipline space.

Yes, you did. Yes, you did. You're kind, sis. I don't think I did. Everything. I don't know if I want to name them all on air, but. I mean, overall, I'm a somewhat disciplined person. Yeah.

I'm not completely off the rails. I wanted to do better about, I have too much stuff, you know. But we got you the closet clean or outer. We did it. I say, I know I need her to come back. It's back again. It's not as bad. It's not as bad.

We got to bring her back. You know, so I got to fix that. I don't like cluttered spaces. I don't either. It gives my mind up. So I got to work on that. So my word for this year, every year at the beginning of the year, I pick a word that I'm going to apply to myself for the year.

I don't like New Year's resolutions because no one keeps them. So what's the point? I do pay attention to my word, though. It pops up throughout the year. And I'm like, you know what? I did say I was going to do that. So I tried to keep it macro, you know. And this year it's intentional.

Ooh. I want to be more intentional. I like that. Intentional with my words, with my time, where I put my energy, what I apply myself as. Yeah. You know, so it's probably going to be a lot less time on Twitter. Good. I've already done that, actually.

Okay, good for you. That's big. My Twitter cut, like, cut down this year, has throughout the year has gone to, like, 80%. Good for you. Like, I'm not on that happen anymore. Baby steps. I enjoy Twitter, but it's just not, it's, you know, Twitter's gone through its own renaissance this year.

Yes. Regardless. Intentional will be my word for 2023. And do you have any resolutions? Colin tried some resolutions a few years ago. No, I have a word, too. You started with the word last year, and so you got me started on that. Last year was present.

Okay. That's very good. Present every single day and in the moment. And this year, it's create. Create professionally, personally. I just want to create. I like that. Yeah.

I like that. Let's get wild. I like that. Let's get wild with the playoffs now. Dave Hellman is going to join us from Speak in just a few minutes. But we're going to take a quick look at the playoff picture as we're going into week 17. So let's start with the AFC playoffs. So just to paint the picture here, and I'm going to get a little complicated because I'm basically just giving my predictions for how this is going to play out for the next few weeks.

So you can see, I'm sorry, to our radio audience, you can see if you're on television where everyone is. Obviously, it's the Bills, Chiefs, Bengals, Jags, Ravens, Chargers, Dolphins in the playoffs at the moments. The Patriots, Jets, Titans, and then you get into the Steelers and Raiders who basically have no chance, but are obviously still technically alive. So the scenarios are what I think is going to happen is essentially what you're looking at right now for the AFC playoff picture, which will mean I'm wrong, because this year has been. been insane. But that's going to be my prediction. I'm speaking a little bit with my heart here, so you can judge me if you want. But the dolphins, I believe, will still make the playoffs. Now, they still need a lot. They need to beat the Patriots next week, this week, beat the Jets in 18. If they lose one of those, depending on which games they lose, they need either the Seahawks

to beat the Jets or the Bills to beat the Patriots in week 18. I feel good about that week 18 one. The Jets, they got to beat the Seahawks, beat the Dolphins, and then the Patriots to lose to either the dolphins or the Bills. The Patriots need a lot. Now, Tennessee Jacksonville is a bonus playoff game. So that's kind of fun for us. Whoever wins this game is in, and whoever loses is out. So I love this game for us in week 18 because whoever wins us will win the AFC South. So we get a bonus playoff game, which is fun.

And then you have the rest of the AFC, which basically need miracles to happen. Miracles do happen. Miracles happen. but I don't think it's going to happen for any of these teams. So I'm going to pick the dolphins, and I think the AFC playoff picture will stay as it is. I'm also picking Jacksonville, which is why I think the AFC playoff picture will stay that way. Now, let's get to the NFC, and then we will talk to Dave Hellman about some of this as we get into the Cowboys. So the Lions have been a really fun story.

They need a whole lot to happen. I love that Dan Campbell has gotten the team to where they are. They obviously had a terrible loss last week, which did not help. But the playoff picture right now is Eagles, Vikings, Niners, Cowboys, Giants, Commanders, and then you have the Seahawks and the Lions in the Hunts. Then you have the Packers, Panthers, and Saints who need a whole lot. Aaron Rogers, as you mentioned earlier, Alex is a little banged up. They need to beat the Vikings and the Lions, and then they need the Giants to lose out or the commands or the commanders to lose one.

So they need a whole lot to happen outside of beating two really good teams in the Lions and the Vikings. The Lions need to do a lot. The Giants don't lose to Jeff Saturday and the Eagles backups, so they're going to be in if they win this weekend against the Colts, which I think will happen. So it's basically going to come down to the commanders and the Seahawks, and I'm going to go with the commanders. So I know I'm not not being very edgy here, but looking at how the season has gone for these teams that are on the edge of the playoffs at this point, the commanders need to beat the Browns next week, which I think they'll do, and then beat the Cowboys in Week 18. If Washington goes one-on-one, the Lions, Packers, and Seahawks

all have to lose at least one game, which I think they will do. So that's why I think Washington has an easier path and we'll get in. That said, they did decide to go with Carson Wentz. So anything's on the board. So we'll see how it all plays out. With that being said, here's Dave Hellman, my co-hosts on Speak on FS1 for 30 Eastern. Weekdays also covered the Cowboys for 10 years and writes for Fox Sports. A writer. We have a writer. We've had multiple writers because we had a writer and Emmanuel Ocho on yesterday. That's a good point. I'm happy to be one of them. Thank you for having me on. Thanks for joining me, even though I'm going to hurt your reputation because Cowboys fans are mad of me.

You could never stop. Maybe he will help your reputation. I don't know. I genuinely like, I genuinely don't know. I can help give you some cred. I can make things work with Cowboys Nation. We'll see. Maybe that will happen.

Maybe that will smooth things over with Cowboys Nation. I don't, I'm sorry to disappoint everyone, but I don't actually watch any of the videos and read all of your complaints. I'm aware they're out there, but I don't, I have stuff to do. I apologize. But I do appreciate that you guys are watching the show. And even if you're upset, I like the discourse. Like I said yesterday, maybe tone it down on the death threats. But everything else is fine. Yeah, that's not cool. For the most part. Don't do that. But the Cowboys fans are interesting. I have a lot of Cowboys fans in my life, actually. My mother is a Cowboys fan. And I respect the resilience of Cowboys fans.

I do. Because if we're being honest, factual, which I like to stay in that space, it's been almost three decades of pure disappointment for the Cowboys. Yes. Yes. And yet still, every year I am berated into admitting that the Cowboys are somehow Super Bowl contenders. Now, this year I will admit, feels a little bit different, and that is because of the defense. But the way that the Cowboys are playing right now, particularly the Cowboys defense. Is that,

am I riding on their reputation from earlier this season? I mean, I think that's, that's the central focal point of where the Cowboys are. And I think that's, I think Cowboy fans are a little bit on edge. And you're not,

you're not the first person that has told me, this team feels different. And I just, I laugh and I think back to last year when I thought that team felt different. And a big part of that

was their defense. They led the league in takeaways. Trayvon Diggs had 11 interceptions. They reliably. got the ball back to their offense. And they lost in the first game of the playoffs to the San Francisco 49ers at home. So I laugh because it's like, and look, I've covered this team for 10 years. And at some point there's like a hamster wheel effect where you're just like, man, we are running a lot and not going anywhere.

Like we're not, the Cowboys are not achieving milestones beyond the divisional round of the playoffs if they even get that far. And so I think that is where the anxiety comes in. I think that's why Cowboy fans are a little defensive right now, is that this is a really good team. What, they've won 11 games. They've already locked, they locked up their playoff spot weeks ahead of the end of the season for the second year in a row,

which was never really a thing for them in the Jason Garrett era. And so they want, Cowboy fans want to believe, of course they do. They want to believe this team is different. There's a lot of evidence that suggests that it is. They're a little bit banged up. They haven't gotten after the quarterback as successfully as they had,

as they had earlier in the season, the last month or so, the sacks haven't been coming at quite the same rate. A lot of that is injuries. The secondary is injured. And then obviously, regardless of whose fault it is, the offense consistently has a turnover problem. That's just facts. We can blame DAC.

We don't have to blame DAC. You know how I feel. You do a show with me every day. But the point is, is like, this is a good team. But there's a lot of evidence that suggests that they play the type of football that might bite them in the playoffs. And so I think Cowboy fans are just very, very. anxious right now thinking like, are we going to do this again? Are we going to have a team that's

capable of winning 11 and 12 games and not make any noise in the playoffs? Because that's what it's all about. Well, you and I joke about the Cowboys Juice because I was with you on the Cowboys last year. I'm, despite what Twitter will tell you, I am a huge DAC defender and DAC fan. As Alex brought up when we were in the break, I advocated for DAC to get paid the entire time. mostly because I thought it was outrageous this idea that Dack shouldn't be paid when he did all that he did for the Cowboys. Like, oh, well, if we pay Dac, we're not going to have players around. What? Why is that my problem? I'm a fourth round draft pick. Look what I've done for on that salary. If you couldn't put players around me then, what do I care that if I get paid, you can't put players

around me? Then you can't figure it out. Like, that's, that's how that works. I'm glad Dack got paid. I thought he should have been paid before Zieg. And I think that you can win a Super Bowl with deck. My question what the Cowboys is, and this is where I got last year when I was with you, thinking that they were able to make a run and it was a disappointing exit in the most disastrous way possible from the playoffs is what do they actually need to make a run? Because it feels like they have everything. They have a quarterback capable of winning a Super Bowl. I know everyone bangs on their skill positions. I don't think that their receivers are that bad. I think C.D. Lam is fully They clearly have a running game that is top in the league.

They have a defense. They have a Super Bowl winning coach. What is this mysterious amoeba that keeps the Cowboys from winning? That's a really good question. And I think you make a good point. I mean, I could sit here. I don't think the Cowboys skill players are as good as they could be, specifically in the passing game.

I think. Sure, they should have kept Amari Cooper. Yeah. I mean, I could do a whole show on that. I think I've been banging that drums. since they traded him. And so, I mean, there are things you can identify, right? Like, especially with the injuries they're suffering right now,

the cornerback position outside of Trayvon Diggs really doesn't look inspiring. The flip side of that is everybody in the league feels that way. Like, every playoff team is like, damn, like, we're just catching some bad luck right now. We got the wrong injuries. We don't have the right guys. So to your point, I think there are ways the Cowboys could improve their roster. But at some point, you've got to make something happen, right? I mean, that's why you have a quarterback like Dak.

That's why you have one of the best three pass rushes in the league. I mean, how often do we talk about what the Bengals were able to do last year? That is not an inspiring roster. Right. I was thinking of the Bengals when you were saying that. We're talking to Dave Hellman, my co-host on Speak on FS1. I was thinking of the Bengals. I'm like, I don't, everyone always wants an excuse, right, for why it doesn't work for them.

But the Bengals, to me, reset the clock on everybody. Like, honey, you don't need a perfect team. You don't need a perfect quarterback. There's plenty of people that don't think that Joe Burrow is the best quarterback or even in that category in the league. Now, they're wrong. But they think that. They think Mahomes, Herbert, Josh Allen, the Mar Jackson,

like they go on and on and on with the quarterbacks that are better than Joe Burrow. He had a terrible offensive line. He was running for his life. He took a 2 and 14 Bengals team to the Super Bowl. So you're telling me that was all Jamar Chase? And we see this, you see it pretty reliable. Like, of course, the one and two seeds in any playoffs are, they have a leg up, right? Especially the team with home field advantage.

But you see, I don't want to call them lesser teams, but wildcard teams, teams that are down the seedings. I mean, I know the bucks were loaded, but they were wild card the year they won the Super Bowl. They got swept by a Saints team that still had Drew Breeze, not maybe not Drew Breeze at his peak, but still. And they went on the road in the playoffs and won a game against them and then won at Lambo in January. year after year, it's mathematically certain somebody has to string a run of wins together, right? And not all of those teams are the best team in the league. And you're right. I mean, I could sit here and give you half a dozen reasons like, oh, the Cowboys pass protection.

If it could just be a little better, if they just had a better number three receiver. But at the end of the day, like, this is a good enough team to make noise in the playoffs. And again, I think to go back to my original point, I think that gives Cowboys fans anxiety. because they know this is a good team. They know they can run the ball, they can rush the passer, and they have a pretty damn good quarterback. Those are three really important things toward making noise in the playoffs. And if they can't do it this year,

and I mean, I'm not even saying Super Bowl, but like at least make some noise, win a game, maybe get to the NFC championship game for the first time since 1996, the 95 season. Look, obviously, every team wants to win a Super Bowl, and I don't like saying it's a good season if you don't, because no one wants to hear that. And I'm about winning, so I get that.

But you also have to assess where you are and what you've been. So making it to an NFC championship game if you're the Dallas Cowboys is an unbelievable season, regardless of how it goes. Cowboys fans don't want to hear that. Well, I think to some degree they do. I think a lot of Cowboy fans would be happy with that. That is a sign of progress that they have not seen. But again, it's such a special fan base because of all the weird circumstances.

It's a huge fan base. It's a national fan base. It's a polarizing team. If you don't love them, you hate them. And so anything short of winning the Super Bowl is going to get you clowned on. That's just what it is. It doesn't matter. Let's say they get to the NFC title game and they lose a classic at the gun.

You think anybody's going to give cowboy fans any grace? I don't know. Not very many. People who hate Cowboys fans and the Cowboys won't. but I think that would be unreasonable. It would be. Like a great, I wouldn't do that. It would be unreasonable, unreasonable, but it won't stop it from happening.

No, correct, because we are an unreasonable people, sports fans. We don't make any sense. But I would give the Cowboys a lot of credit if they had a great game in the NFC championship game and lost to a better opponent. Sure. Like, okay, that's a great season. I actually even think that Jerry would be happy with that. I think so too.

Who do you feel most confident in, Dave, in the NFC? because obviously you have to put together those wins to get to the Super Bowl. We won't predict the Super Bowl because whatever, we'll get there when we get there. There's no fun in that. Right now, everyone's a little injured. There's a lot of stuff going on. I hate that question. Well, because everybody, like you look at.

I really do. I know, but I'm asking it anyway. You look at each team in the NFC playoffs right now, just assuming we go chalk and nothing weird happens. Everybody has a question mark. like Philadelphia Jalen Hertz is banged up Lane Johnson is banked up they have other injuries as well Minnesota is just just weird they're the weirdest team in the league

great record but weird San Francisco has a seventh round rookie playing quarterback albeit doing an amazing job but we aren't in the postseason yet I mean Tampa sure okay Dallas we just discussed the Giants in Washington let's say it's any

version of the Giants Washington Seattle or Detroit. I mean, what are we making of that? Don't even, don't forget the slim possibility that the two-time MVP backs his way into the playoffs. Yeah, there's a, that's, that's going to take quite a bit of a miracle, but still could happen. It's out there. It's out there. Like, who do you got, right now, you got to pick. Yeah. Who do you feel most confident in? Because you talked about the top teams in the league. Like, to me, I agree with you. Like, it's weird. These, these playoff teams, they go on runs. You've got to string together these wins. But that's why I still lean on.

Philadelphia. Yeah. I'm, Philadelphia is a logical answer and I think it's easy to talk yourself into like, you know, Jalen Hertz is going to have some time to get right before they have to play a meaningful game. And Lane Johnson, and he's the best right tackle in football. He's tough as nails.

If anybody can play through that injury, he can. And barring a complete collapse, the Eagles will have home field advantage throughout. I mean, all they got to do is win one of these last two and they have it. So I think that's the right answer. but like I hate to sound like a manual atcho, but like the Niners, man. Yeah. I mean, like, and like I, it's funny.

Like, I always, I joke with people. Like, I don't believe in superstitions. I'm like, wash your shirt. That's not why your team's winning. Please, this is so stupid. Everything matters. No, it doesn't. Everything does matter.

But I still like around, like, after what we saw last year and just knowing like the dogs that the Niners have on that team, it's hard not to be like, you just trust them. You trust them because you've seen them do it. For as talented as the Eagles are, We haven't seen them do it. Not this iteration of the team. Like sure, there are some guys left over from 2017,

but the core of this team outside of like Lane Johnson and Jason Kelsey, not so much. Obviously, we've never seen the Cowboys do it. The Bucks, we know they have Brady, but they haven't strung together two good performances all season. The Vikings are the Vikings. I mean, if you want to get on that roller coaster, you're more than welcome to, but like, I'm okay sitting that one out. And then you're like, yeah, we know the Niners can do this.

We know they've got like six all pro caliber players on their roster. So Philly's the safe answer, but like in my heart of hearts, I'm like, I don't know. I don't want any part of the Niners right now. I think the Niners, even with the questions about how Brock Purdy is going to perform in the postseason, I think it's a perfectly reasonable answer. I mean, you're right. Most of that roster has done this before. They're a quarterback proof team.

I think I believe that. Like as long as Purdy doesn't melt down to an absurd degree, like a four turnover day, I think they're a quarterback proof team. team, which is a tough thing to be in the NFL. Well, you know the deep, barring the defensive collapse, which we've really only seen against the chiefs. Yeah. So then Super Bowl.

Right. You know, there's nobody on the NFC. There's nobody on the NFC side of the bracket that should scare you. And then it's, you get a one-off game against whoever comes out of the AFC. I can't wait for these playoffs. They're going to be so good. It's just been so much parody in the league. And I love when we have questions about everyone because that, like, that makes it exciting.

It makes fan bases out of their minds that they can, they believe that their team has a chance. And why not? Because they really all do, because everyone has a question mark at this point in the season. I've been thinking about this a lot, too. It's exciting as well because, and I'm not trying to, like, usher Tom Brady and Aaron Rogers into retirement, play as long as you want to. But we're, like, turning over a new generation. Like, outside of Patrick Mahomes, nobody in these playoffs has, and Tom Brady, but we'll leave him out. But outside of those two, like, nobody has really climbed the mountain top.

Like everybody. Everyone has something to prove. Everybody. I mean, Jalen Hertz has to prove that he's that dude. Josh Allen has to get over the hump. Joe Burrow didn't win the Super Bowl. Justin Herbert, we know all about that. If Lamar Jackson can get healthy, that's a fascinating storyline.

Dak Prescott, obviously, like, there might not be a bigger magnifying glass on a quarterback. And, like, really, outside of those two guys. So there's 14 teams in the playoffs. And two of them, we've kind of seen them do it. Everybody else has something to prove. and that is a ton of fun. It is because this is a season where it's going to be a postseason where people can really start to write chapters of their legacies

because we have almost all of the young ascending stars in the postseason, and that's really exciting. One more Cowboys question before I send you to get lunch, I suppose. Yes, right away. Yeah, I'm sorry. I don't know what we have today. I'll be getting it later. Dave Hellman, my co-host and Speak on FS1,

covered the Cowboys for 10 seasons. Is Michael Parsons the defensive player of the year? I think he is. Now, that's no disrespect to Bosa, who's obviously had an unbelievable season. But here's my argument for Michael Parsons, before I ask you this. And maybe you agree with me.

I feel like Micah is the quarterback of that defense. When I think of the San Francisco defense, I think of everyone. Is that wrong? No. I mean, Micah and J. Ron Curse. I mean, J. Ron Curse doesn't get the spotlight. But yeah, yeah, and I guess you have to throw to Marcus Lawrence in there,

But I mean, Micah Parsons... No, no, no. They have a great defense, but I'm saying when I think of how the Dallas events goes. He is like the pacemaker. He's the most talented player on the defense. They look to him. Yeah, I think that's fair.

So is he defensive play with you? You know, it's... I mean, I love Micah. And I think you can easily put a case together. And I think the case that you put together is all of the different things he does. Like, he rushes the passer like a madman. He makes impact plays. Like, he's one of those guys who seems to be attracted to the ball.

Like, he's always around the ball. if it's on the turf. He scored a touchdown against the bears. He's made plays in coverage as a true offball linebacker. He's better as a pass rusher. But he's just the most versatile defender in the NFL. The problem I think is we know these words are narrative driven. And I think Bosa's been more consistently making plays. And Micah's very banged up. Like you can tell watching him that he's fighting through a lot of stuff. But, you know, he had two sacks against the Giants on Thanksgiving. and I believe he had one sack. He had one sack against the Jags.

Another play. If the Cowboys beat the Jags in that crazy game, we're talking about how Micah fell on the ball to ice the game and keep Trevor Lawrence from winning. So yeah, like he always has a knack for making these plays. But Bose has just been more consistently getting sacks. And I won't be surprised if that wins out, but I would vote for Micah, absolutely.

I think the versatility, the penchant for being around the ball in big moments, I think that matters. I think he would do himself a world of help if he could make a couple more plays like that in these last two games, though. Yeah, and both is certainly deserving. I do think that Micah has a case. Dave Hellman covered the Dallas Cowboys for 10 years. Still writes for Fox Sports.com. And is my co-host on Speak on FS1.

I will see you in like right over there in a couple hours. Two hours. Yeah, something like that. Come and join us on Speak at 430 Eastern. Thanks for joining us, Dave. When we come back on the herd, Joy Taylor in for Colin Cowherberg, it's Alex Curry with the 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. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games.

Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying.

Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be.

Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart radio app, Apple 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-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking.

What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam 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 y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. 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. Sunday, it's a New Year's Day edition of NFL on Fox as the Eagles tried to clinch a division title when they take on the Saints or the Jets battle the Seahawks with both teams looking to keep their playoff hopes alive. Check local listings for the game in your area only on Fox and the Fox Sports app. Welcome back to the herd. Joy Taylor in for Colin Cowherd with Alex Curry and for Jason McIntyre. Yesterday and today they will be back tomorrow in time for New Year's.

I'll be on speak later today on FS1 for 30 p.m. Eastern. Thanks to Dave Hellman for just joining us in studio talking Cowboys. Hopefully we made the Cowboys fans feel good. There you go. You're turning your cowboy fans. I don't know. You're personally. I'm saying the same thing I always say.

Maybe I'm saying in a different tone. I know my tone can offend people sometimes. You just got to get used to it. I don't have like the most cheery disposition. So sometimes it's like. We are. We're like complete opposites. That's what we get along.

We're like Alex is perma happy. Yep. Which I love and I am Darya. So I don't know. That's probably why. I'm saying the same things I always say. It's just I don't say it the way that they want to hear it. I don't know.

It's fine. It's you. It is. Alex Curry with the news. That's all I can be. Now, turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Well, the Raiders made the decision to bench Derek Carr yesterday and signals a potential move off the long time Raiders quarterback.

And Devante Adams was definitely not happy about the decision taking to Instagram with a heartfelt post for his friend saying this man gave everything he had. The reason I'm a Raider. One of the most disciplined and loving people I know got my brothers back through whatever. and you know, can't respect it. Excuse my language. F you. Love you, bro. Now, he also went on to say in a couple interviews yesterday that no one in the locker room,

Devante Adams said no one in the locker room was excited about this decision. Well, obviously, obviously. And Devon was excited about this decision. There you go, except one. Now, Devante, obviously, because it's his good friend, and he is the reason that he came to the Raiders. So that's another key point here, because we're going to, With this move and this decision, it's feeling like Derek Carr is not going to be with the Raiders moving forward.

Yeah, he's gone. He's gone. Devante Adams, the reason he came to the Raiders is he wanted to be with a quarterback who was going to be long term with a team. He couldn't depend on Aaron Rogers, wanting to be more than maybe a year or two with the Packers. And now he's in this situation again. So I have a feeling Carr's gone. Adams is going to want to get out of there pending if there's a Brady situation. And Tom Brady.

That goes there. That's a different situation. But if not, not only, I mean, the front office made it very clear. They are taking the coaches side over the quarterback and the player side. And the players are not happy with it. And they are siding, obviously, with Derek Hart and the player's side. They're taking the coaches side because they're not going to pay Josh McDaniels to go away. Yeah.

Because that's not what the Raiders do. That's not what they do. They're not trying to spend more money on a coach that's not coaching there. Josh McDaniels has no reputation of being able to turn anything. around. They can draft a quarterback. Okay, well, the last quarterback he drafted was Tim Tebow. Good luck with that.

I'm with you. I mean, depending on how this goes, DeBonte Adams could make a fuss. And he would be fully within his right to do so. People may not like that, but look, you left a two-time MVP to come here and you changed it up. I came here for Derek Carr. For him. He's his good friend.

If you kind of, you trot out some nonsense next year, you're not tricking off my career. this is not what was promised. Now, I didn't think it was a bad move for him to leave Aaron Rogers because we don't know how long Aaron Rogers is going to be there. But again, he came here for some sort of civility. Longheity. You could argue that's risky considering it's the Raiders. But Derek Carr's not there anymore.

That's his guy. So there's a lot up in the air with the Raiders. They have to make some real decisions. I don't know what would point what decision they've made in the last 10 years would point to them being capable of making the right decision, certainly not in the draft. I would be very concerned if I was to Monta Adams. I would be concerned if you were a player on the Raiders right now

because Derek Carr was the heart and soul and the anchor of this team as long as he's been a part of this franchise. Now, if he's gone and you're trying to recruit other players now to come to this team next season, season after that, they're going to look at how you just treated the heart and soul of this team and just let him I mean like Derek Carr had a terrible season so it's

not that outrageous when you look at his play in the last two games of the season not even be on the field not be at practice it's like okay done you're by you're healthy but bye I don't know how much that matters to players coming in as much as it matters to players that are already there

this is a cutthroat business this happens all the time so I think it matters more to the guys who are in the building I think it matters more to a guy like Devante Adams, how they move forward. But if they, like I said, if they trot out some nonsense next year, that's not going to help their case with anything. And if I'm a Raiders fan, I'm personally outraged.

I know that people are, Raiders fans are a little bit split on Derek Carr, but there's no arguing that he has been the anchor for this team. He's had six different coaches, nonsense after nonsense, after incident after incident after draft pick being cut, not renewed. It's been terrible defense. They're last in sacks. I really don't know who could succeed in this type of situation. And I guess we're probably going to find out.

Yeah. It's frustrating for fans, players, and the organization. But moving on to an organization that was frustrating the last couple of years, but now they're really turning things around. The Jaguars. They have won four of their last five games, setting up a big week 18 showdown with the Titans that will decide the AFC South.

Now that makes this weekend's matchup with the Texans far less important, but Doug Peterson is not planning on resting any starters. Here's what he had to say. It's never a meaningless game. Never, ever, ever, ever. You play to win every game. And, you know, the only way I rest players is if they're hurt and can't go. I think that's important, especially that they've won four of their last five games.

They are on a role. You do not want to break what is good. going on with this team right now, especially with a young team that is fighting, fighting to get into the playoffs. This is when you see special things happen with young teams. When you get on a run towards the end of the regular season, you're fighting every last moment, especially the very last game of the regular season, which is going to determine how your playoffs pan out.

It's the right move. What? Like, what is this resting players? That's for a team that's already proven. and has experience and is not ascending and has players who are genuinely hurt and need Jalen hurts, Lane Johnson, who need rest.

Yeah. What are we talking about resting players? For what? No. It's football. Shady has a great line. We play football. They give us money, we play football.

But it's your job. You give you money, I come talk on air. That's how this works. It is your job. Yeah. You get breaks in the off season. Yeah. This is what this is for.

Fans pay money to go see you play. That's why they buy the jerseys and the popcorn. Like, this is what it is. If you are hurt, yeah, rest him. If somebody needs another week to recover because they're genuinely hurt and you don't need this game, then that person doesn't play. Yeah, injury makes sense. Injury. Injury.

Not resting players. This is nonsense. No. Nothing has been proven with Jacksonville. This isn't a team that is perennially in the AFC championship game or Super Bowl. No. And this is a full of veterans and this is just another postseason run. Absolutely not.

I don't even know where this, who else did this come up with? We talked about this recently. We talked about this yesterday. I forgot who else asked. But yeah, stop asking this. Nobody's resting players. No. If you're injured, you don't play.

Yeah. Oh, the bears. Yeah. What? No. Like, what have the bears proven that they need to be resting just in fields? No. Draft picks.

People were talking about getting the draft. Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah. But no, no, guys, come on. You play till the very end when you have young players. You need to build that confidence. You need to, you need the experience. Stop being silly. Yeah, okay.

Well, switching gears to someone who is proving themselves this year is Zion Williamson had a statement game last night. In a 119 to 118 win over the Timberwolves, Zion put up a career high 43 points, including scoring the final 14 points for the Pelicans. He also received some MVP praise from his teammates, following the win, here's Zion on his motivation for last night's performance. You know, I watch a lot of old school players, and I like to try to figure out their mindsets, and all their mindsets was the same.

People remember winners. So, you know, whenever that time comes from me to be done at the game of basketball, I want to be able to, I want people to say that he was a winner. And CJ looked at me and said, you want to be great, this is time to step up. And that was all the motivation I needed. This is a big prove-it season for Zion. He is proving everybody wrong. Last season, the narrative was he's done.

He's washed up. He was too big for his own body. He's really grown into his body now. And he's using that muscle and that size properly here. And the game plan was at the end of the game, get the ball to see and get the F out of the way. And he proved why he had all the hype coming out of college. I mean, obviously, he's missed 58.

percent of his games in his Pelican career. Yeah. Which is crazy when you put that in perspective. There's been issues with him being on the court. Yes. There's no doubt about that. Availability is his biggest issue in outset. And listen, availability is a skill.

Whatever you say, it doesn't matter how good you are if you're not on the court. Look at the Lakers with Anthony Davis this year. And for four years. Yes. You're on the court, then it matters. It's great. You've got to be on the court. Yeah.

It doesn't matter how great, how much greatness you have on the bench. So Zion being on the court and performing, I guess, is, is, you're, you're Incredible. It's great for Zion and his development and his ascension in the NBA. We know what Zion is capable of on the high ends and having a career high in that game last night was incredible to watch. I mean, he's an unbelievable player. We have a really great core of young, great players. Exciting. Exciting players. Jha, Zion, Luca. I mean, the future of the NBA is very bright and it's great to see that Zion is out there and being consistent with it. That's Alex Curry with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd lie news. All right, we have two days left in the year.

Friday. Friday, Saturday. Oh, Saturday is New Year's Eve. Saturday night is New Year's Eve. Gosh. It's almost the end of 2022. What day is it? Who are we?

Where are we? It's upside down. The in between. We're going to take a look back at some of the biggest sports moments, some memories from 2022 when we come back on the herd. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, this is Jason McIntyre. Join me every weekday morning on my podcast, Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your typical sports pod pushing the same tired narratives down your throat every day.

Straight Fire gives you honest opinions on all the biggest sports headlines, accurate stats to help you win big at the sports book and all the best guests. Do yourself a favor and listen to Straight Fire with Jason. Mason McIntyre on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds, I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're 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, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be.

Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking.

What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jek. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know.

I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you 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 back to The Herd, Joy Taylor and for Colin Cowherd, Alex Curry, and for Jason McIntyre. They will be back tomorrow. There's a few days left of 2022. I hope you had a great 2022. That a decent 2022. You had a great 2022.

I did have a great 22. I traveled a lot. You did. You went everywhere. I was on the road. Yeah, I love it. Went to Paris and Morocco. Morocco and Spain.

Yeah. We went to New York. We did go to New York. I'm going back. I'm going to do one of those obnoxious social media things where I go through all the moments. Yeah. It's like your yearly scrapbook. Yeah.

I love that. And I was just looking at our New York pictures. It's a good time. That was a really fun time. We went and watched boxing. I had my first Celsius and was like bouncing out of my seat. I love Celsius. I love Celsius.

All right. Well, being that this year is ending and it's going to be 2023, let's take a look back at some of the best moments. These aren't in any particular order, just a little journey down memory lane. Most recently, messy, winning the World Cup. Yes. In the greatest World Cup final, the world has ever seen.

Epic. Over France and Mbapé, who had the game of his life, he was unbelievable. So Argentina won four two on penalties. First World Cup win for Messi, obviously. Argentina's first World Cup win since 1986. I feel like we should be playing... There we go.

That was fine. Yeah. It was like, odd-leng sign. He played his record-setting 26th World Cup match in the finals, and it's potentially his last World Cup appearance. But it was an unbelievable match. Incredible to watch. Just a delight.

That was one of the best soccer games. I've ever seen. Yes. Football. We call it soccer. Okay. The Rams win a Super Bowl. Sean McVeigh, youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl in NFL history at 36 years old,

representing for the young bucks. Stafford, who had zero career playoff wins before joining the Rams, led three straight game winning drives in the playoffs. Aaron Donald, also obviously and OBJ getting Super Bowls in that Super Bowl. Here in Los Angeles, I was there. It was a great sports moment. and I was very happy for Stafford, who suffered in a bad organization at the Lions. This is called what it is.

And the Lions were so aware of it. They let him go very gracefully. And I think everyone was really happy for him to see them get a Rams Super Bowl win. Steph Curry and the Warriors, the NBA title, their fourth championship in the last eight season reached the finals in six of the last eight years. The first seemed to win over four titles in an eight season span since Michael Jordan. in the Chicago Bulls of 91 to 98. Steph Curry, finals MVP,

unanimously for the first time in his career, four-time NBA champion. It was an unbelievable finals, and it was great for them to cement themselves as a dynasty. I don't care what you say. They're a dynasty. Federer and Serena retire from tennis. Serena stepping away at age 40,

23 grand slam titles most by any player in the open era. 73 career grand-gram single title. Roger Federer retiring at 41, 20 Grand Slam titles. That's the third most all-time and eight Wimbledon titles, the most all-time. So two of the goats stepping away from the sports. Aaron Judges, home-run record. Passed Roger Maris for the most home-run, 62 in a single season in American League history, which was three days after the 61st anniversary of the day that Maris passed Babe Ruth with his 61st run.

Names AL MVP. Only Barry Bonds, Mark McGuire, and Sammy Sosa have hit more home runs in a single season. One of the games greats. Coach K, retiring. We have a lot of retireers in this list. But Coach K retired, winning his coach in Division I men's basketball history. 42 seasons as a college basketball coach. That's incredible.

Five national championships, 13, final four appearances, three-time gold medal winner. one of the greatest is not the greatest basketball coaches of all time and obviously in the Hall of Fame and the College Basketball Hall of Fame. Becky Hammond and the Aces won in the WMBA title, first major professional sports title for the city of Las Vegas, which is emerging as a professional sports city, the Las Vegas Aces first WMBA title and Becky Hammond. Coach of the Year, first WMBA coach to win a title in their first season

and first former player to win a title as a head coach. obviously she was with Greg Popovich and the Spurs for eight seasons before joining the Aces. Great win and championship for Becky Hammond and the Aces in the WMBA. Georgia, winning the national championship game. Georgia is different. George is different, boy. They are fast and big, and they are up for a chance for back-to-back national titles like Alabama did in 2011 and 2012. They had an unbelievable national championship game beating Alabama 3318.

Peeley Ringo game ending pick six, really fun national championship game. Dusty Baker wins the World Series. The Astros beat the Phillies in six games. You were there. I was there. That was one thing I was excited and happy for was Dusty Baker. As a Dodger and Angel fans, it's hard to be happy for the Astros. It is.

It's hard for most fans to be happy for the Astros. But Dusty Baker was a great silver lining in all of it. It's his first World Series, 55 years, in Major League Baseball, and previously had the most wins by any manager without a World Series title, but he has one now. And finally, the goat, Sue Bird retired at 41 years old. Her entire 21-year career spent with the Seattle Storm, five Olympic gold medals, two-time national champion, 13-time All-Star,

four-time WMBA champion, the goat walks away. So a lot of retirees. So it's kind of, it's the changing of the guards right now. It is for a lot of... For a lot of sports. A lot of spaces in sports. But it was a great year. A great sports year.

Uh, tweet us to your moments. We didn't, we didn't intentionally miss any of them. We just wanted to highlight some great moments. It's not necessarily the list. The countdown, if you will, to 2023. Joy Taylor and Alex Curry, in for Colin Coward and Jason McIntyre. When we come back, we'll have Mark Sanchez in studio. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy.

Not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes.

Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast, Superhuman, documented it all,

embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week.

of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of taun-tons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human.