The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 2 - The top NFL QBs

Episode Date: May 29, 2024

Colin discusses developing quarterbacks in the NFL and the QBs General Managers would never think of trading The Clippers need to do whatever they can to keep Paul George   Guest: Jim PaxsonSee 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 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 tauntons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule. of two. Listen to Stuff to Bole Your Mind 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, Cliver 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 Cliver Show. This is a place for raw, unfills 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. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast.

Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to 3 Eastern 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd at Fox SportsRadio.com or stream us live every day on the IHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. All right, here we go. It's Howard 2, live in Los Angeles.

It's the herd wherever you may be, and however you may be listening. Thanks so much for making us part of your day. Jim Paxson, who, by the way, knows Bill Walton very, the late Bill Walton very well. He's going to join us in a couple of minutes. He was GM for the Cavaliers, worked for pro-personnel for the Chicago Bulls and I am now a season ticket holder. A sweet holder. I'm brilliant.

A esteemed sweet holder. So I saw this before we get to him, Jim Paxon. Elliot Wolfe is now the official sort of GM of the New England Patriots and he said playing rookie quarterback Drake May will be a collaborative decision. They'll all talk about it. And I was thinking about this. It is, considering how much time effort, focus. and revenue, the world, the football world puts in the quarterbacks.

It's very, very interesting right now how few. I always put quarterbacks into sort of two camps. The first camp is if they're your quarterback because of their expertise or something you have seen pretty consistently, you would not pick up the phone if they're, somebody called and was interested. And there's only 10 of these. Mahalms, Allen, Burrow, Stafford, Herbert, Lamar, Trevor,

C.J. Stroud, I think, was so good as a rookie. He entered it. Gough just got paid and Jordan Love. Packers aren't taking a phone call. Texans aren't taking a phone call. Now, Anthony Richardson could be there, but he's not yet. So the first group is you're a general manager. You're not

picking up the phone. The second group is, you're not to make the call, but you would pick up the phone and listen. There may be something that sort of irks you or disappoints you. Dak, Kirk Cousins, Kyler, Jalen Hertz, Brock Purdy, Russell Wilson, Tua, Baker-Mayfield, Deshawn, and yes, Aaron Rogers, if somebody offered you a couple of first-round picks at the trade deadline and your four-and-four, they would take the call. And then everybody else is in the next category where basically you're the GM and you're making

calls for your quarterback. Now, again, there's a lot of young guys. Anthony Richardson's fascinating to me, but I don't know. I don't think he's in either camp right now. So you're not making calls or taking calls. You take calls, but you don't necessarily make them. But it's interesting because it used to be in my life that you got three full seasons. Eli Manning, you know, you can mess up.

You could throw a lot of interceptions. You could have flaws. I believe by your second Thanksgiving, teams privately make a decision. So I think Will Levis and Bryce Young, when Carolina plays December 1st, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, that will be the day people in Carolina make the decision on Bryce Young, his second Thanksgiving. It used to be third or beyond. Will Levis, with all those receivers offensive coach, they'll know by Thanksgiving in Nashville. are we keeping or moving off?

They're not going to go public with it, but they'll know. And with that, Jim Paxson, Bulls, Caves, 11 years, two-time All-Star is now joining us live, many playoff appearances. And I want to get right to it. First of all, Jim, thanks for taking time. I want to ask you about Bill Walton. So I, you know, you played for the Blazers and the Celtics, and I covered the Blazers for years. and I thought Bill was almost perfect for Portland. He was a little bit quirky, a little bit grainy, a little bit ethereal, loved his basketball,

but he fit Portland. If they could have ever had a star, it's Bill Walton in Portland. And when you think of the late Bill Walton, in his prime and the videos and the discussion, at his best, how good was he? He has to be one of the best all-time centers ever. Obviously, his injuries cut him short from having that legacy be even more. But for our paths actually crossed, my rookie year was the year he went to San Diego, and there was compensation, and Kermit Washington came to the Blazers.

But then that, when I was traded to Boston, he was still practicing. And I still remember one time making a backdoor. cut and I didn't even see the ball and it just hit me in my hands and he just had a gift of vision you know yokic before his time you know he just was a great player and then i watched him before getting there because johnny davis was on that championship team who played at dayton and that i played with so bill was a he was just a great player but also a generous kind man you lived with them for a summer after retirement, did you not? It was actually before retirement, because I had gotten to know him.

My kids were living down in San Diego with their mom, and I spent the summer there. And it was just a great experience. I remember one time my kids spent the night. His kids were there, and they all ended up sleeping in the teepee that he had in his backyard. And he just opened his house up to me. how Bill showed himself in the media later on in his career. That's how he was every day.

He was just so open and just a generous man. You know, Jim, it's interesting that Bill was such a unique personality. And because he was great, if a player is great, you can just accept their quirks. But Bill saw the world differently. You know, he was anti-war, very political. and I wonder if it's revisionist history. Did he ever get pushback from players or did everybody always just initially accept Bill? My experience was they accepted him.

I know in Portland, and he actually, when he came back to Portland in 2009, 2010, apologized for how he handled himself back then. But the injuries, and when you're a young player, injuries can impact how you view the world. And I think as he went through his life, he viewed the world differently and from a different perspective and was a lot more grateful. But as far as my relationship and playing against him and being around him, players always accepted Bill and loved having him around. Yeah.

You had so many notable teammates, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Aange. I was talking earlier. I said, Jason Tatum is in year seven, but he's played 108 playoff games. So those are hard minutes. So he's played eight seasons, and he plays every night, and he plays hard on both ends. So this is not a guy that rests on the defensive end or does load management. And Boston's a pressure cooker. And I said it's unfair, but there is a standard with the Yankees, with the Lakers.

I was saying this earlier, Jim, the Lakers' best starting five all time. Shack and Wilt would come off the bench. I mean, that's the Lakers standard. And the Celtic, similarly, Russell, Casey Jones, I mean, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Bob Coosie, I mean, just John Havillichick, people forget. And I don't criticize Tatum, but I have said over and over, the standard's different in Boston. You do have to win rings in Boston. Jeter is the standard in New York.

And do you think, how do you view Tatum as a player, a pressure player, a big stage player, and a player overall? I look at Jason is that he has all the tools he does, he guards. he's able to score with the ball. He helps his teammates. But you said it, Colin, he needs to win some championships to really put his stamp on it. But he's a top five, six player in the league today. And sometimes, like their whole team does, they rely a lot on the three-point shot. Yes.

But when he's aggressive and gets to the foul line, gets to the basket, their team's better for it. So what he's done without winning a championship at his age is incredible. and I think he will win some championships with this current Celtic team that they've put together. So do I. You know, Jim, it's fascinating. So I saw footage, Yokic goes in the second round. I saw European footage of Luca. And I will admit, I'm like, he's kind of plump.

He's not really vertical. I'm like, okay, I guess he'll be great. Most of the great players that I watched growing up, 70s, 80s, 90s. There was a dynamic athleticism. There was a vertical nature. With many of the European, I could argue the two best players in the world now are Yokic and Luca. And they're different. They come in very skilled, almost more mature and focused. So when you scout, you've worked pro personnel for the Bulls for years, have you altered the way you view players as the league has become more European? How has it been challenging for you? Well, what you mentioned was the first tape I saw on Luca, I saw some of the same things. But the first game I watched him in the NBA, he just jumped out with his ability and that he's kind of been able to do it even better now. He kind of controls the game from the beginning to the end.

He knows where he's going to pass the ball. But I heard a story, his rookie year in training camp, he came down the first or second day and took a long three and missed. and Coach Carlisle said to him, you may have been able to do that in EuroLeague, you can't do that now, and he came down the next time, took the same shot and made it.

And that's just his makeup. He just has that it factor. And he sees the play like Yokic two passes ahead, and I do consider them the two best players in the NBA right now. So to your question about how do you evaluate, when you really see players early in their career, players that have great vision,

great feel, and have ability to manage the game with the ball, the way those two do can dominate and give yourself a chance to win championships. Aunt Edwards is really fun to watch. I do think, I said about

two months ago, I said I think Wemby and Ant could be the face of the league after the trade deadline next year. They both need some growth. Wembe needs a better teammate or two, and Ant just has to refine his game. So Ant, like most domestic players, plays like a year of college, comes in, he's raw, you're watching him develop, he's super athletic.

When you watch Ant, what do you like and what does he have to work on, Jim? What I like about is his energy and effort that he brings every night. That's real, and when he has his game going, it rubs off on all his teammates. I think last night where he evolved was when they were coming at him in double teams, he got rid of the ball a little bit quicker. Sometimes he tries to do too much with the ball. And I thought when he did get to the rim, he'll learn to get more fouls. He should be a 10-plus free-throw game player based on his physical tools.

But he's just learning how to play, Colin. He's just scratching the surface, and it'll be a lot of fun to watch. him develop and he's not afraid and that's a key ingredient to reach in that franchise level player the quality of play I believe is the best it's ever been in the NBA are there challenges as a personnel guy on mixing the domestic player who has very you know often needs has athleticism but needs skill and the European player that comes in highly skilled is does it make your job easier more difficult. It feels like you're literally having two basketball worlds, Jim, and the NBA is the meeting place, and they're melting into each other. Is that good? Is it harder? Is it easier? How did it affect personnel for you? I think it's good for the league, but I think in today's game, it's just hard to build championship-type teams. There's so many factors that go into it. So the blend of

American players and foreign players, that's going to continue to happen and how you put teams together. But I think you need a mix. But it's just hard to build championship teams today under the financial constraints. I live in Phoenix. I go to a lot of Suns games. They've got five players under contract for next year. Combined are going to make $209 million. And how do you build and make that team better. So there's challenges every day. So it's not just about the international impact and putting them with current American players,

but it's just how do you build a team that can sustain and go for championships year in and year out. Is it hard sometimes in a market like a Boston or a Chicago, Philadelphia? These are loud markets, talk radio, columns. People want to win now. Like the West Coast, L.A. is a big city, but it's a little chill

compared to Philly, Boston, Chicago, Detroit. When you're building the big market team, so Phoenix is a smaller market, not a lot of Fortune 500 companies, a lot of people are from other parts of the country, so you can kind of slow build if you want. Are there sometimes

Philadelphia's got Cap Space, M-B, loud media, did that ever affect you? Also, there's the shadow of MJ having been there and built the great teams of all time. Is it harder sometimes does market size matter not only for players, but executives?

Do you feel rushed sometimes in these big, loud sports mechas? Definitely. I think you can feel rushed. And, you know, Boston this year, they've made the finals, but if they don't win it this year, there's going to be a lot of talk about that. And in Chicago,

I think, you know, we're at a place right now where everything's on the table to kind of see what we can do to get out of the play-in scenario and move up in the east, but it's going to be challenging. So there's definitely more pressure. I would say, though, in L.A., based on the Lakers' history, is that even though it's more chill, there's pressure, especially with LeBron being a free agent, this summer is, you know,

LeBron's in it now to win, and so there's pressure on the Laker ownership and management to put a team around him that can go win. Jim Paxson, what an absolute pleasure. I love going down Memory Lane with the Bill Walton and your kids staying with his in the teepee in the backyard in San Diego. That is so fitting and so perfect. A pleasure to finally talk to you. And thanks for coming on the herd. Enjoyed it, Colin.

Thank you. Jim Paxson now spends his time in Arizona. His career with the Bulls professionally winding down. So maybe he can latch on to some consulting stuff with the Suns. Phoenix is a fascinating team for me because the beach. because the Beal thing doesn't appear to work. Grace and Allen was but got hurt. You could get a ton for Booker,

maybe not as much for KD, but you probably have to keep those two. So Phoenix is a really interesting team. I don't love doubling down when something doesn't feel like it's right. It's like the Giants and Daniel Jones. What do you doubling down for? I don't know if I'd double down if I was Phoenix,

but in my lifetime, Phoenix has been good a lot, a lot. Now, I grew up with Westball, Alvin Adams, Gar Hurd, then you got the KJ, Barkley, Dan Marley, Phoenix has had, Phoenix more times than I can remember has been this close, but it unravels, it doesn't quite deliver, they end up facing a dynasty, but they have been so close. So you would consider moving one of the big stars,

even after B.O. Booker and Durant just got basically one year together, games-wise. I think I don't think the Beal thing works and I'm surprised. He's more injury prone than I thought. Grayson Allen works. Booker needs help around him. Pre-Cris-Paul, they were bad with Booker.

I don't think Booker's a one. I think he's a great two. And I think Kevin Durant, I think always, now they may look desperate now. That's why all the signals and all the talk publicly is, hey, we're not moving KD. But if somebody called on KD, I'd move. Well, let's go back to Booker. You don't think Booker could be a one on a championship? No, no, no.

I mean, they went to the finals. Chris Paul was like the leader, but Booker was the best player. Yeah, I don't think you can win. Can Tatum? Can you win a final with Tatum is your number one? I do think so if he has the right pieces around him. I think Boston should be favored in the finals. I think Tatum's a better player than Booker. He's a, first of all, he's a longer player.

Yes. He is a better defensive player. Tatum's a better player than Booker. They're both great, but I mean, Tatum is, Tatum's a better player. It's not even disputable. Because remember, like a month ago, we said Anthony Edwards is obviously clearly better than Booker. No. Oh, that's, yes.

But Aunt's ceiling is higher to me than Tatum. But right now, Tatum's more consistently delivering the goods. Well, what I would like to see from Booker is what I saw from Ant's second half. Ant was distributing. He was basically the point card. Conley was off the ball. Anne had, I think, nine assists last night. Yeah.

I want to see more of that from Booker. Everybody's trying to be right on Ant. Folks, he's going to be great. Stop weighing in on Ant after every game. He's going to be fine. He's not a refined player. These guys don't come into the NBA with four years of college. Can you imagine what people said about Jordan when he was getting swept like his first two or three years in the league?

Like swept in the playoffs. Oh, it was really good, but I don't know if he could be the one, you know. I think, you know, what was interesting about that is that when Jordan was getting knocked around, he was still beloved. He had this great Nike campaign. It's the coolest campaign ever. Michael's game was, we'd never seen it. and nobody liked the Pistons.

And not that many people out of Boston like Boston. They were like physical tackling you. People like the Lakers and magic. People of the Bulls all over the country. Not that many people like the Pistons. They were seen as like under-talented, over-aggressive. Rickmore. Nobody liked that.

Nobody liked that too. And the Boston was, they were feisty. They were really good. I did not like Boston. Yeah. I mean, I always said like the Celtics were dunk. Donuts. The further away you get from Boston, the less popular. The Lakers

are like Starbucks. Wait a minute. They're from the West Coast, but you could go to Beijing, you could go to Boise, you could go to Baltimore, everybody kind of likes Starbucks. Wait, so you don't like Dunkin' Donuts? I think when I lived out east, I drank it, but I'm saying it's, if you

prime example, when I lived out east, you see Red Sox hats everywhere. And then you'd go a couple of states away and you'd occasionally see a Red Sok hat. You see a Yankee hat everywhere in the world. You see it in London. I saw one in Italy. I see him in Seattle. You see a Yankee hat everywhere. Duncan Donuts and the Red Sox, the Celtics. Now, the Celtics are the biggest brand, but I do think Boston is really big in like Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut.

The further away you get, whereas the Laker brand feels it's cool. Well, they got no proteins up there. It's all Patriots. Also, the Laker brand's cooler. Of course. It feels bigger and broader. Show time. Show time. Like, they show Celtics, like, who's in the front row. It's like one of the Walberg brothers. And it's not Mark Wahlberg. It's like one of the other guys who nobody really knows.

Whatever. No, but, come on, Lakers games, you've got like real celebrities. Nick's games. Celtic games, a blogger could end up being like, you know. Bill Simmons, right, a blogger. Well, he's not. What is he? Well, he's very popular.

He's a podcast. Sorry, podcast. Let's not, you know. I'm not taking shots at Simmons. It seems like they're shots. I know you guys are boys. I don't see Bill. He doesn't call.

He doesn't text. Well, he listens to the show and then texts you about it. He's very busy running a big empire. Sure is. Success is more than a... Everything's a shot with you. I have to literally get my wet blanket ready to cool down your shots and takes. Success is more than a day.

Bill's a blogger. Really, you've reduced him to that. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day seven days a week within the IHeart radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Imagine an Olympics where doping is a day. 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. Okay, what you're 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. 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 tontons and wampas on the ice planet hot,

or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to Stuff to Blow Your Mind on the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast.

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

Luxury SUVs now come with a luxury of choice. Mercedes-Benz has gas electric plug-in hybrid offerings. Go to MBUSA.com slash special offers. J-MAC with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right, let's go back to that Timberwolves, thrilling 105-100 game for victory.

After the game, check this video out. Anthony Edwards met up with Micah Parsons of the Cowboys. and asked afterward the media asked him hey what was said between you and Michael Parsons you told somebody to all you're seeing for game six

what is that copy what am I supposed to say I'm supposed to say we're going to lose game five no I'm not going to never say that Michael Parsons you know he was rocking the 81s and I told him he wears size 14

I bring back some nice shoes for game 6 that's what I told him there you go it's pretty cool Anthony Edwards just seems like a cool guy. He's funny. He's confident. Relatable. If you go back to that video, Colin,

Michael Parsons is considered one of the biggest, baddest, scariest dudes in the NFL. Anthony Edwards is as big as him. So when Austin Rivers says NBA guys can jump into the NFL, I'm sorry. I think Anthony Edwards could just be plugged into the NFL. I think Lou Dort Anthony Edwards. I do think there are a handful of guys that LeBron and his prime could have. I mean, I know Michael Parsons.

is a monster in the NFL. Anthony Edwards is looking him in the eye. Now, I know Parsons' arms are way bigger because he's, you know, doing the weights and stuff, but Anthony Edwards is a big dude, and he actually played kind of good defense on Luca last night. They switched the matchups. Jaden McDaniels onto Kyrie.

It impacted Kyrie. He was 6 of 18. And Ant forced Luca into 7 or 21. Luca did not have a great game. So a nice move by your guy, Chris Finch, putting superstar Anthony Edwards on Luca. I don't know how long had a lot. Last, Luca only shot five for 15 with Ant defending him.

I'm a little nervous for Dallas. I'm sorry, Colin. Well, I think Ant on Luca. Kyrie's just a tad too quick for everybody in the world. Whereas you don't get that. It's more of a size and physicality against Lucas, so maybe they found their magic. Possibly, but there's also that, you know, like, hey, man,

when you watch them on six, they don't, Carl Anthony Towns, Edwards, they have no fear. They don't care. They're down 03. They're like playing fearless. I don't know about the house money analogy. Hey, you know, we beat Denver. We knocked them off.

Like, they don't seem to be scared or even realize how big this moment is. And I just something tells me that the series is, it's going to have a few more games. I'm not feeling great about Dallas. Next up, some breaking news here. The paper clips have secured Thai loo to a multi-year extension, and they will make him one of the highest. paid coaches in the NBA. So one of the Lakers' targets

officially off the table, Tyloo staying with the clippers. Now, a couple layers here. Number one, what do you think this does for Paul George? Do you think he's more or less likely to go back? This doesn't matter at all. Tai Luz considered a really good coach. I don't know how you could let

Paul George go. Kauai's available half the time. I'm not banking on long-term Westbrook or Harden. I think, give me Terrence Man, give me Paul George, Kauai when he's available, I'd move off everybody else. I mean, I

think they got a little size, that's okay, Ty Lou. I mean, to me, the fundamental key is the owner's good, the front office good. I like Paul George, Terrence Man, one of their bigs, Ty Lou, like that's their core. These older guards, I'd move off of.

I think Kauai, you just hang on for dear life for the rest of his contract, but he's available half the time, and less than that in the playoffs. So the other angle, last week there was a report that LeBron's pie in the sky was Tyloo and Kyrie Irving. That's who he had wanted. Tyloo is now off the table. Kyrie Irving is one win away from the finals. He ain't going to be going anywhere. What does this mean for the Lakers? They're a crosstown rival.

I don't think it means anything. They were never going to get Tyloo. And I don't think they're going to get Paul George. Steve Ballmer is not going to let the rival Lakers steal Paul George. They're not going to give him, they're not going to give him. they're not going to give him Terrence man, Paul George, Ty Lou, those three, Lawrence, Frank, in the front office. You don't get those guys. So you're still pretty confident, J.J. Redick, is the guy for the Lakers?

I don't know, but I think I'm not confident. I think he'd be fine. I think that's the most interesting coach, and you and I are in the interesting business. Whether or not it's the best coach, I don't know. I think J.J. Reddick would be fascinating, and I think it's I don't think he would turn that job down

But longer this goes with no Lakers announcement Reddick announcing the NBA finals it feels like it's a lot kind of waiting Final story Now this one is super spicy Colin The Vikings obviously took J.J. McCarthy

with the 12th overall pick in the draft but according to reports out of Minnesota the Vikings tried to trade up to the fifth pick to select Malik Neighbors The Vikings won in Malik Neighbors the LSU receiver. The Chargers flirted with trading their pick, but they instead of take Joe Alts, the offensive lineman. The report indicates that if the Vikings were able to get neighbors, they would have traded Justin Jefferson. He is angling for a big, fat, new contract.

I'll let you take this one. If I'm Justin Jefferson and I'm reading this, listen, there's clearly smoke to this. We talked about it before the draft. Could you get a massive haul for Justin Jefferson, a Hershal Walker type deal where you get a bunch of picks. Jefferson still does not have his contract. Vikings have a quarterback now on the rookie deal.

Go back to the Vikings draft. Do they pick a receiver anywhere in that draft? I'll look that up. I don't have it in front of me. Listen, I think with Justin, you're going to get some ego, you're going to get expense, you're going to get touchdowns. I think he's really an all-timer. But, you know, it does tell

me. It's just like Brandon I.U. 49ers. Why isn't he signed? Justin Jefferson? Why isn't he signed? It's, it's, there's, I think you're on to some, there's a little bit of a wide receiver bubble. It's a little frothy. They did not take a receiver, by the way, in the draft. They did not draft a receiver. All right. Well, they've got, they've got a couple I like. They got Jordan Addison last year. He was really good. Yeah, he's really good. I know everybody loves Jefferson. He's the top jersey seller

in the Vikings, one of the top in the league. Colin, he's going to want more than a.J. Brown got. And I know. the Vikings have their guy on a rookie deal, and Addison's on a rookie deal, too. I don't know that it's a winning formula to pay a receiver at $32 plus million. Well, I think you and I have talked about this. There's five things you've got to get right to win a Super Bowl to me. You've got to get the coach right. Got to get the quarterback right.

Got to get the left tackle right. Got to get a pass rusher right and got to get one good weapon. That's kind of it to me. I don't think cornerback is as vital as everybody says. I think center could be six, not corner that are underrated. but so there's five things to me you got to have. I mean, you go back to that Ram Super Bowl. They had the coach.

They had the weapon Cooper Cup. They had Stafford, Andrew Whitworth, and Aaron Donald. They had the five things. They didn't have great linebackers, all banged up at safety, weren't spectacular at running back. Like you look at Kansas City, they got the quarterback, they got the weapon, they got Chris Jones the pass rusher. I mean, they moved off Tyreeke Hill because they thought Travis Kelsey was a good enough

weapon. They've got the coach and Andy. read. For them, it's like left tackle is kind of a little bit of an eyesore right now. But I don't think, in the NFL, I have a theory. You can't be terrible anywhere because the coaching's too good. You can be mediocre in multiple

places. Can't be terrible anywhere, but you almost have to be elite at five spots. Coach, quarterback, left tackle, weapon, edge rusher, or pass rusher. And so I think I would pay for Justin Jefferson. I think

if you were the Vikings, you would? I think I would because I'm not paying the quarterbacks. And I think they have a great left tackle. Great left tackle. Jefferson's the weapon. I love their head coach. So you start looking at what, you know, their edge rushers, if not great, they upgraded that. So they're pretty

good there. They may have to, you know, go back and look at their draft. I think there's space on a rookie contract to get your guy. So the Raiders traded for Devante Adams. He was at the time the highest paid receiver. They didn't have a quarterback. It didn't matter. Devante Adams is not taking you anyway. I'm sorry, Vikings.

fans, Justin Jefferson's not taking you anywhere for the next couple years with this massive inflated contract. But that doesn't mean he can't become the player that takes you over the top if J.J. McCarthy develops. Doesn't mean he won't be that. I think I'd pay him, but I, again, you swallow hard on this stuff. Receivers at 35 million. I'd front-load it. I'd do what I could. It would worry me. I have no problem paying a left tackle and a quarterback and an edge rusher that. Wide receiver, I've come to terms. Forever I called wide receivers icing, not the cake. I've come to terms with they're a little icing and part of the cake because of rule changes.

I was never a big believer in receivers won Super Bowls. Just have rotating quality guys. But I have to be honest, if I'm always preaching, look forward, not backward. Look windshield, not rearview mirror. The receiver position has changed due to rules, so they are really, really valuable. Rams don't win that thing without Cooper Cod. That's fair. He also wasn't a first round pick.

I don't think he was... Third round pit. He wasn't ever like the highest paid receiver. I don't believe maybe for like a hot minute. But I'll even... You look back at the Bengals team that got there with Jamar Chase. Like, I don't know. They're paying Chase and now Higgins and Burrow.

Well, I wouldn't... You start to wonder. Let bills move off Diggs. People are moving off these receivers before paying them. Yeah, but Jemar Chase is better than Diggs. He is. Okay. Justin Jefferson is better.

There's like four guys in the league you have to pay. To me, Justin's one of them. And then there's another four or five guys I want to pay if I can get it right. But it's crazy. These are hard decisions. Everybody views it that way. Oh, you've got to have a star receiver.

I'm going to go a little opposite. And I'm going to say, no. I would rather, you know, roll the dice. Give me more draft picks. Give me more. Let me try more tank. Maybe you can just have a good receiver

like Garrett Wilson of the Jeff. Garrett Wilson is in that next tier for you, dude. Come on. Jeez. Take a jab. Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by.

The herd line news. On this day of strong takes, no hot ones. I will discuss a player and how underrated he is. I will go to bat for this player again coming up. 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. Two NBA insiders podcasting twice a week to plug you right into the NBA great fight.

All happening in only one place. This league uncut. The new NBA podcast with me. Chris Haines and me, Mark Stein. Join us as we team up to expound on everything we're covering, hearing, and chasing. Listen to this league uncut with Chris Haines and Mark Stein. On the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged.

It's the enhanced games. 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 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 what 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. 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 tauntons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to Stuff to Boil Your Mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 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 is big to me, not just because of crack.

I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. so I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you 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. The United Football League continues this weekend on Fox in a regular season finale. Saturday in a playoff review the San Antonio Brahma's take on the St. Louis Battlehawks at 4 Eastern. And on Sunday, the Houston Roughnecks battle the Memphis

showboats at 7. It all kicks off on Fox and the Fox Sports app. I was at the beach bar in Rhode Island this past weekend. UFL was on TV. Not the Red Sox. Not the Celtics. U.S.

Rhode Island. You've been there? No. Am I missing out? I'd disparage it like Chicago? No, I did date a girl in college who said that there was a town in Rhode Island that was so cool and everybody wanted to go there and live there. Do you know what the town I'm talking about? I'm spacing on it. Newport?

Newport. That's it. Is it amazing? Bellevue Avenue is one of America's most fascinating streets. It's where the richest people in the world lived 100 and some years ago. The Rockefeller's 150 years ago, whatever. Newport, Rhode Island. Newport, Rhode Island.

beautiful, one of America's most beautiful areas of the country. So you want to gas up the private jet and take me there one time? I don't have a private jet. It's about a 40-minute drive from my place. I love Rhode Island. I love it. I like not. Where I like to go is the Haversham Tavern in Charlestown.

That's good living. West Virginia? No. Charlestown. Rhode Island. Oh, wow. That's party time. Party time.

Put bands in the back of that place? A lot of Boston accents. Oh, God, Red Sox hats, Patriot hats everywhere. Not for me. I tell when I go east, I put my Patriot out. I am one of them. Do I wear the Yankees hat when I'm walking to do? Lobster, Sam Adams.

Gosh. It's so much fun. How to get out of your little bubble. So, you know, for years, I've been saying that I love Paul George. And people bang on Paul George. And I'm like, there's a rumor this morning that if he left the Clippers, I'd never let him go. I mean, you can't depend on Hardin and Kauai's never available. The two things I'm keeping are Tailu, Paul George, and I like Terrence Mann as a player.

But there's a lot of rumors that Demar DeRosen would be a clipper if Paul George left. So Paul George, in his playoff careers averaged 21, seven and a half and four, and a plus defender. So here is averages. Paul George playoff averages. A lot of those games against that excellent defensive team in Miami with LeBron, D. Wade, Bosch, all those guys. So let's play blind resume, J. Mack. We do this in football all the time with quarterbacks. Blind resume.

This and Paul's played in the international era. More skill than ever. Harder to defend players than ever. Can't use the hand check. Bigs can shoot and hit threes. You guys want to play the blind resume game? Here we go. Paul George, 21.7.5 rebounds, four assists.

On the other side is somebody who's just slightly higher in points per game, lower in rebounds. Who is this player? Dr. J. Dr. J didn't have to face bigs that could hit a three or international players. Had some rules where you could grab players, no foul called. Very interesting. Let's go to another iteration of Paul George. Now, this player is a little higher in the assists,

but lower on the points and rebounds, playoff career numbers. Who would that be, blind resume? Clyde Drexler, all-time great. And by the way, Clyde wasn't playing defense like Paul George. You wasn't playing Paul George's defense. All this Paul George Slander stops right here. So let's go to the next player for our rating. audience, this player averages one more point a game, but fewer rebounds, slightly more assists,

very much aligned. Paul George's playoff career, and this is the great John Havlchek. Now, in fairness, Paul gets to hit a three. John didn't. John, I think, is historically viewed as the greater player and should be because he played on those dynasty teams. Havlchek, I think he was an Ohio State Buckeye, if I'm correct. But that's an all-time one.

Here's another player. So the average is the same. Paul's a better rebounder by almost a rebound and a half. The assists are pretty even. Who is this player? Jimmy Butler. Playoff Jimmy Butler. Both excellent defenders.

Both excellent. Kind of funny, isn't it? The last one. So this player, the averages are the same. The rebounds are the same. But Paul's the better pass. here's one more to all the shade throwing Paul George peeps Kawai and Paul actually shows up to play

on a more consistent basis isn't that intro doctor jay Drexler jimmy butler paul george equal or better i got a i got to give you a yellow card in soccer just a caution for the kawai comparison he's been the finals MVP twice Come on. That one is a little out of pocket. You've done a great job in the space on the show. But if you were not available on Thursday and Tuesday, I'd be like, we got to make calls. You've got to be available.

I don't want to hear about Kauai. And also, Paul's a better leader than Kauai. Kauai is like nonverbal. Isn't it kind of interesting, though, when you're blind resume? When I hear about Paul George, if he leaves, I like DeMarrozen. He's not Paul George. Yeah. You're not Paul George.

I need to see a little more than just points. rebounds assist. Oh, what do you need? Well, shooting percentages kind of matter. You want some exit velocity? Now, I'll say this. Paul George, early Pacers, Paul George, he was unbelievable. And I still think he's very, very good.

I think the Clippers drag him down, even though he's been very good for the Clippers. The problem is, do, does he want to take a pay cut? Or does he want to get a max salary from the 76ers? Clippers are not paying him more than Kauai Leonard. They're not. They said, we're giving Kauai less than the max. He's going to take it. are you?

This whole segment was just to illustrate the most underrated player in the league. I have been on this for a decade. I've been on this. I think I was on this just about the time I came to FS1, so about eight years. I don't understand when you, I watch Paul George. I'm like, versatile defender, excellent wing defender. You can put them on different people. Can hit a J, can hit a three, can score at the rims.

Scores in transition, pull up and hit a jumper. I don't know what you guys don't like. And like a nice guy. Like, everybody likes Paul George. Like a nice guy. He is supposed to be. Maybe nice guys finished last, and he needs more dog in him. I don't know.

He's got plenty of dog. If you're the Sixers, would you go after Paul George or Carl Anthony Towns? Paul George. Okay. Yeah. Plus Defender, more consistent. 34. A little less squirley.

And cats good, though. All right. another hour still left. Bringing the heat today. 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. 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 tontons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to Stuff to Bole Your Mind 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. This is a place for raw, unfills of conversations with

athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok's podcast network on TikTok. This is an IHeart podcast, guaranteed human.