The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 2 - Thoughts on JJ McCarthy

Episode Date: March 29, 2024

Senior NFL Insider for The Athletic Dianna Russini explains why she isn't buying in to the JJ McCarthy hype Looking at the best players and teams to never win a championshipSee 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. On The Look Back at it podcast.

From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year.

It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're 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, unfiltered 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 iHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio. or FSR. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. All right, here we go. Friday hour two live in L.A. It's the herd, wherever you may be, and however you may be listening. Thanks for Meganas' part of your day.

Jay Mack, you ready to watch Gonzaga Purdue tonight? Zach Eady against the Zags? Could have some points in that one. It should be a good one. I do like Purdue on the money line. Yes, so do I. In a par light. I'm interested in Marquette and Houston winning.

I got Marquette. What do you like? Well, no, no. 2008 at timeout. I didn't bet that one. No, I have Duke plus the points, Creighton plus the points. I have Purdue. I got another one I forgot. I'd like to thank my family for letting me melt down yesterday with them not giving me grief as Iowa State chucked up brick after brick. Tonight it's Zags. Purdue Pete, Purdue, whatever it is. I am watching that game. Per don't. So we'll see. So Brian Kelly, LSU coach, had Jaden Daniels as his quarterback. He played an airs Arizona State LSU.

And there's some comps to Lamar Jackson, probably more ready to be a pocket quarterback now than Lamar was as a rookie. But they move around really well. And there's a lot of guesses where he's going. Kelly kind of hit in yesterday. He may go number two to Washington. I think he's a better fit elsewhere. Because they're old lines bad.

And he's not a very big guy could get beat up by that bad commander's O line. But here's Brian Kelly talking about Jaden Daniels. He is going to be so committed to taking care of himself. that you're going to have to worry about size or he doesn't weigh enough. Lamar's done a pretty good job with his size. I think Mahomes I wouldn't consider him a giant because he's going to get the ball out to the playmakers and make plays for Washington.

So Jaden Daniels had one great year. Now there's two recent college quarterbacks, Burrow and Kenny Pickett, that had one great final year in college. Good years, but nothing great until the last one. So Pickett didn't work. Burrell has worked when he's healthy. So who knows what happens. But there's only one quarterback of the top six who's never been bad, almost for an entire game.

That's Caleb Williams, with back-to-back, bad offensive lines and one legit NFL receiver. There's only one quarterback. So I'll say it again. To me, Chicago's getting that guy. He's going to succeed regardless. Andrew Luck. He's going to win games and be productive. Not saying he's going to win Super Bowls or conference championships, but Caleb Williams is

going to work, he's going to work really quickly, and he's going to work regardless. Everybody else is as good as where they land to me in this draft. Bo Nix with Sean Payton, that's interesting. Bo Nix later with Mike McDaniels, that works. Bo Nix, if he went to a defensive coach, first-time play caller, bad on line, no receivers, that doesn't work. I think J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota sits for a year, works. I think J.J. McCarthy going number three, Foxborough, no receivers, bombs.

That's my take on this. never forget. Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, landed in really good spots. Herbert may be as talented as most, but he has struggled to win because of lack of continuity, O-lines, and coaches. And so, Bo Nicks to me, one of the kids that's really fascinating to me is Bo Nix. And I think about this, wouldn't he be better off falling to the Lions at 29? with that offensive line, Amaran St. Brown, he would succeed if they can't get a deal for Jared Goff. Bo Nix would work in Detroit. Ben Johnson doesn't appear to want a head coaching job for the time being.

That old line, best in the league. I mean, Dak was a fourth round pick. When he walked into the league with Zeke and that offensive line, they went 13 and 3. And Bo Nix is a better prospect than Dak was out of college. Miami at 21st, they haven't given Tua an extension. McDaniel, Tyreek Hill, I got a feeling that would work. Good weather. He's from the South anywhere.

Bownecks. Dallas at 24. Dak. Jerry Jones has said I'm not going to extend him. Do you want to pay Bo Nix late first round money and load up on free agents or pay DAC $59 million and once again in free agency be tapped out? So I think one of the interesting players here, if I was going to be the number one pick, I would take it. but if you're asking me the guys that have worked

Josh Allen not a number one pick he went to Sean McDermott they had been to the playoffs previously with Tyrod Taylor Andy Reed John Harbaugh I don't think you know again Andrew Luck's an outlier

by and large the quarterbacks that work end up with the right coach Jared Goff was a disaster with Jeff Fisher he got McVeigh he got good like where you land the coach the coordinator overwhelmingly you know it's almost like being a kid i mean i'm sure there's some kids that can play the violin by the time they're six years old but by

and large the family you inherit when you're born goes a long way in determining how much success you have so again i'm not saying he's the best quarterback but bow knicks ends up with sean peyton mike mcdainald dan campbell and ben johnson he's got going to succeed. At some level, he'll succeed. You put him in New England. Whoever goes to New England, they don't have any receivers that can break away. I mean, Kyler Marie's got a back and a

tight end. You give him Marvin Harrison. Arizona next year could be interesting. Like, New England, that is a slow build. There are two drafts and two free agent periods minimum from being close to a Detroit Green Bay, Kansas City talent.

They have a long way to go. And with that, our friend, Diane, Rusini, Athletic, Senior NFL Insider, covering the NFL for almost a decade. You know, speaking of the Patriots, I said this this week, Diana, there are two ways to attack this. I could make an argument. No young quarterback will succeed with their lack of speed. Trade down, get picks, fix the roster, and then go into free agency next year and do

like go get a Kirk Cousins kind of player. Somebody will be out. Could be DAC, an adult with a young roster. Or get the quarterback. take his lumps. What are you hearing about New England? Are they a lock to take a quarterback? Yeah, I don't believe them to be a lock to take a quarterback.

And you're right. You can go both ways with this. Are they going to go the avenue of that slow rebuild? Use another free agency to continue to build, maybe trade out of that spot to collect more picks. Basically, mirror what the Houston Texans have been doing the last few seasons, obviously with their GM there and having that New England mindset as well. it wouldn't be very far-fetched for them to use that same blueprint.

But we also know how owners work and owners don't have a lot of patience. And Robert Kraft has had to sit through a lot of bad losing seasons of the last few years. And the idea of them wanting to go get a quarterback and believing that that's going to turn them around is certainly there. And Colin, even just going back to free agency, Mike Evans, great example. Quarterback that talked to New England didn't feel that they were. built well enough for him to go there if he were to the hit the free agency market he obviously went back to Tampa Bay but that was some of the philosophy there they're just not ready now and that's why they had a hard time really pulling in top receivers during free agency free agency

so here they are now where they've got to make a decision what route do they go and I think patience would probably be the better choice for them but I'm not really certain that's that's going to be the end game for them. You know, the J.J. McCarthy stuff, you always hear rumors in pro days. You owe them here, always hear them in the combine. But this does feel a little more grabable, palpable. Like it does feel like, I mean, Minnesota goes and gets the second number one. They get darnled for a year.

What is smoke? What is fire? I feel like there's something to the J.J. McCarthy talk to you. I don't. I don't. Okay. So this is how it works, right? So at the combine a couple weeks ago, it was all about Jalen Daniels, right?

Everyone was talking about him. It was, I couldn't have a conversation with the team without walking away with them, not even in the quarterback market being blown away by him. He just won the combine. The owner's meeting was won by McCarthy. And I'm not really sure why. I mean, this is actually very predictable. It happens every year, right?

One quarterback wins one week, another quarterback wins another. I'm just not buying that teams are truly in on him as a walk on the field. starter day one type quarterback. I see him as a type of quarterback, as you mentioned, with the Minnesota Vikings, for example, where they bring in Sam Donald on one year, $10 million contract knowing that they're going to need some time. Do I think JJ McCarthy is on their board as their top quarterback, though, right now?

I don't. You know, we know that the Raiders, we know the Giants, we know the Vikings, we know the Broncos are all flirting with trying to move up and trying to get a quarterback. I don't think JJ McCarthy is that guy, for these teams. They obviously want to get the top to, which, you know, we can debate here probably who they're going to be.

We know it's Caleb to Chicago, most like it, right? And then you have Drake May to Washington maybe. You have Daniels maybe to Washington, possibly. We heard over the owner's meetings that a lot of teams are discussing that Washington, and we just heard that perhaps he could wind up there with the commanders. But teams are open for business. And I reported a few months ago that there are a lot of teams around the league who believe four quarterbacks can go at the top of this draft.

many people thought that that was insane that that could happen. But I predict that that's most likely going to be the outcome here in this draft, knowing how absolutely hungry teams are for a quarterback. That doesn't mean there are four amazing quarterbacks, though, in this draft. Yeah. The, um, Marvin Harrison skips his pro day. Anybody, any alarms on that, but your sources, any? No, no. So the way this works with pro. days, they're really case by case. You know, whenever you talk to GMs and head coaches and even scouts around the league about the importance of these workouts and pro days, if you're playing at this level,

teams know what you can do at this point. They've watched the film. All of this is so orchestrated for them to have success. If you're walking away from a workout going that player wasn't that good, that's really bad. Most GMs and head coaches, scouts walk away from these workouts going, that guy is great, because it's designed that way. It's formated. It's all practiced and rehearsed. Everything's controlled.

And as we know, football is not controlled, which is why so many more teams have put the value in those visits when they come to the facility where they get to meet the teams and they get to be put in the classroom, so to speak, and sort of show off and share what it is that they know between the ears. That, to me, from talking to people around the league, that's always more important than these pro days. So there's no big red flag that Harrison has.

hasn't done this. Teams know what he can do. He does not need to prove a thing. So there was the Woody Johnson situation and Robert Sala. There's a lot of discussion. Somebody at the NFL network backed off and said I didn't hear anything. But I do think it's pretty noteworthy in New York that the first year with Aaron, they got friends of Aaron, people that made Aaron comfortable. And this offseason, it was more about we just got to get better players. We're going to get Tyron Smith. They can't be. friends of Aaron. We just got to protect him and protect our investment. Do you think that means Aaron has less power in New York and that, listen, it didn't work. It was embarrassing for everybody

involved. Like, where are they? Aaron has said, I'll play three or four years. Then he's a vice presidential nominee, which I didn't really buy, but whatever, it's a story. Where are we with the jets? You know, when there's rumors about stuff, there's usually a shred of truth to the solid Woody Johnson and think what did you make of the whole story yeah i'm just going to go with i think reporters that report deserve the benefit of the doubt um i think where it came from with the nfl network it wasn't really coming from somebody who who kind of hangs out in that space of reporting they host shows so um look maybe the information was accurate maybe it wasn't um i was around them i saw them at the owner's meeting i didn't see any heated arguments and and really the tone out

coming out in New York is really them trying to stay off the grid. The headlines, including the piece we did at the athletic, it came with a lot of stress and a lot of drama and pressure that is put on everyone starting with Woody Johnson, the owner, GM Joe Douglas, Robert Sala. They want to clean up the way the world is sort of viewing them. But in terms of your question about Aaron Rogers losing power, and Rogers hasn't lost any power at all.

He 100% is involved. in everything the New York Jets has done. Because here's the problem, Collin. You can't give the keys over to him when he joins the Jets and then go, oh wait, you tore your Achilles and recommended some really crappy players to us that we signed for you. So now we're going to take them back. No, that's not part of the deal.

He's still Aaron Rogers. And if he's going to return from this injury healthy and he's going to be able to play at a high level, the power is naturally just going to be there. He still had a lot of really good effect on that locker room and that, building when things were going well. Remember training camp? I jumped on the show with you talking about it was almost overwhelming how pumped up this Jets team was in terms of the excitement. And I don't I don't think that's going to be the case this year. I think this team really learned from a lot of their mistakes this past season and how to try to manage the PR because it was obviously a very

dysfunctional organization this past year, but they're doing everything to correct it from from all the conversations I've had. They're really trying to cut off communication with the media. and really try to stick to their business. And look, you mentioned some of these signings. Look, they made some decent signings on paper. But it's got to be about health. These are guys that have had injuries that are coming off. We don't know.

If they can say healthy, though, they can protect Aaron Rogers. This team can be successful. But I know if I was a Jets fan, I would certainly be a little conservative with that excitement and hold back a bit. We kind of have a sense who needs a quarterback. The Bears are going to take one. The commander's going to take one.

Patriots probably take one. one. I think Denver needs to take one. Seattle, I thought, would, but Sam Hal, Gino, I'm not sure. I think Miami hasn't given two an extension. That's an interesting place for a Pennix or a Bow Nix later. The one team, Raiders

probably have to make a move. The Giants are in a unique situation is that they don't need a left tackle. They've got one, and this draft is loaded with left tackles. They don't need an edge rusher, and this draft has them up top. They do need a quarterback,

but they have a big cap hit. And there was a comment by John Mara that, hey, if my guys fall in love with a quarterback, they can take one. And my take was they're taking one. But they also have no weapons. So whoever's in there, like, I mean, losing Sequin, Darren Waller, if he retired, they don't have anything. They're like Carolina. So this morning, if I said, oh, okay, Diana, Giants, star receiver, I think they're going to go receiver, because I think there is some, they don't want.

the fourth best quarterback, and I think people are going to jump over them. What do you think the Giants do? Do they move up maybe and go get the third best quarterback? I think these are the situations where you have to look at people's job status. Brian Dable and Joe Shane have a lot to prove this year. I wouldn't call them completely on the hot seat, right? We can't do that just yet. But there were definitely a lot of question marks about whether or not they're the best fit for this Giants team based on the last two seasons. And, you know, it quickly changed, right? Brian Table was coach of the year just two years ago.

And then we saw last year. And it just didn't seem to be working. Injuries, obviously, a big issue for this team. I think when you have an offensive-minded head coach like Brian Dable, who believes in Daniel Jones, he does. That is, I know there's a lot of gossip and rumors about, they don't really like them, but they're stuck with this deal. I think they're going to try to build around them.

I think while they're going to be tempted, I'm sure, and I'm sure they're seeing some of these workouts with these quarterbacks. They have a big crew. all over the country right now looking at these different pro days of all these different quarterbacks that they can possibly get to me I think they're going to just continue to double down that look we signed this up we signed up for daniel jones and we're going to try to make this work here um either way they are in a really tough position because i do think that they have a lot to prove this year yeah yeah they're really in a tough position next to carolina it's probably

the weakest offensive roster diana russini it's great to see you as always enjoy your spring you're going to get a little break here before the draft very little, but it's good seeing you get. Breaks. There's no breaks in football. He's got two games on Christmas. Not much of a break. Diana Rusini at the Athletic. What do you think the Giants do?

In your mock draft, you have them taking a receiver. I do. Yeah, we both do. I think they're kind of... I think you roll the dice with Daniel Jones one more year. I doubt Daibol gets fired if they win five games. He's too good of a coach. He'd be snapped up instantly, right?

Yeah, yeah. Daibol would get a job at a minute, yeah. And then he gets to pick a dice with a job. his guy. You say, hey, I let the owner, you guys gave Daniel Jones a contract. I didn't want to do that, right? He could play that card. Yeah. I mean, there are three coaches in the NFL.

I think Iber Fluse cannot have a bad September. I think Mike McCarthy cannot have a bad September. And yeah, that that one's interesting. Robert Sala's certainly on the hot seat. I just don't know how good of a job

that is. Like, the giant, man, is it? Anybody wants to work with Aaron Rogers? You think any coach out there wants to work with him? Well, come on. He has total power in the organization. He's old. Yeah.

Aaron is, you know, older, single, rich, going to do his own thing. He talks about, let's keep it to football, and then he goes on a podcast. Yeah, I know. And he's like, Aaron's a lot. There's a lot of people. Kirk Cousins is not, Kurt Cousins is not a lot. And Kirk Cousins' career stats are pretty good. B-plus, he's not a lot.

There are guys, Brady for most of his. limited upside with Kirk Cousins. I mean, with Aaron Rogers, you can win a Super Bowl. He's won a Super Bowl. I think the one thing about Aaron that we have to be honest about. His upside, the upside is over. Didn't he win an MVP or two in the last like four years? Five?

When you get old, those are dog years. They go fast. Aaron is not. Jordan Love looks significantly better late this year than Aaron did the previous year, late in the year. Jordan looked more athletic. move better. I don't think Aaron, I don't think Aaron is, I've said before,

40-year-old quarterbacks behind average offensive line, defensive coaches on the hot seat, impulsive owner, none of that says, AFC power. And I don't think, I think Aaron, it's the same way I feel about Dak. You watch Dak and Jordan Love, you're like, Jordan Love's a better player. You watch Jordan Love right now in Aaron Rogers.

Jordan loves the better player. I don't think there's any question. Jordan. You haven't seen Rogers throw. a pass since in like almost what, like 18 months. I watched his last year in Green Bay. This is not a cheap shot. I saw the numbers. I saw him get outplayed his last

couple of years at Lambo by Jared Goff and Jimmy Garapolo in fourth quarters. Before that, they were like the number one seed. He was like the MVP of the league, right? That was like three years ago. No, I mean, it's, again, the NFL you get tackled. You age very quickly.

You see some guys in the NBA and they can still get a bucket. Joe Johnson could get a bucket until the last game you played. That's a good reference. There's a lot of guys that can, you know, it's a different sport. James Harden can still get a bucket. I feel like he's been playing forever. In the NFL, like you age, I mean, Aaron Donald, best defensive lineman in the league. Two years later, it's like, I'm out.

Like, I mean, Jason Kelsey, best center in the league. Within a year, he's like, I've had, I'm beat up. So I think, same with quarterbacks. Aaron's had a couple of collarbone issues. Now he's got an ACL. These are big, these are big injuries. and I don't, I, you know, say what you want about, you know, Eli Manning was never a great regular season quarterback, but he sort of aged kind of the way

you should age. You know, baseball players, especially in the steroid era, you'd be like, why are these guys got all this power now at 37 years old? But if you watch football players, generally speaking, we watch a, for a lot of players, some guys drop off a cliff. That can be the interior linemen, wide receivers lose their speed or corners. But generally with quarterbacks, we watch a very slow methodical regression. I mean, we've watched it with Matt Ryan.

He gets a really great coordinator, and all of a sudden, you see it happen. I think because Aaron was so fun to watch, Dan Marino at the end was hobbling around the field. Joe Namath at the end, and I remember very little of it, but he just had bad knees. You watch Aaron now, he does not move like he used to move. He just doesn't. It's not the same. Mahalms moves, Lamar moves, Herbert moves, Josh moves, Jalen moves, Jordan Love moves. Those guys are all like 34 and under.

They move. That's who Aaron's facing in games. You know who doesn't move? Aaron. So, I mean, I'm not going to defend him. No, I'm just saying this idea. It's revisionist history. This is not baseball.

How good are you today? It's not baseball. We don't collect cards and romanticize about the past. How good are you in January after 17 games in front of a battle line? That matters. Aaron's not going to be September, the weather's good. September, that old old linemen that you inherited or traded for. They're in pretty good shape.

What do the Jets look like with those old offensive linemen and old Aaron in week 18? That's why Kansas City, very young. Kansas City was choppy at the beginning. But at the end of the year, Kansas City's youth was a huge, huge benefit. Young, Green Bay at the end of the year. Detroit at the end of the year. Those young players all got better. Tyron Smith and Aaron Rogers are not getting better in week 19.

How's this? Final week of the season, Jets are resting guys because they've sewn up the division and they're resting guys because they got a playoff game the next week. How about week eight? They go into the trade deadline seeking a right tackle. 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 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. 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 Jette.

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

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. By the way, save big in your water and energy bills.

Tankless water heaters from Navian. 15-year limited warranty. J-Mac with a news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. You know, I think I like it when, well, not just me, but I think America likes it when we humble ourselves. And Draymond Green, your buddy, has talked about his ejection this week from the game against the Orlando Magic.

First quarter ejection, four minutes in arguing with refs. Not a great look. But he saw how emotional and frustrated Steph was, and Draymond Green kind of was humble about it. He was like, listen, man, I screwed up big time. It just can't happen. I said what I said, I deserve to get kicked out at that point. And what I said, if I'm all the way honest with y'all, I kind of was trying to turn my body and angle and go to the bench.

And I said what I said, like, a little too soon before angling my body, not going to overreact. Like, oh, man, like, stuff is never as good as it seems. It's never as bad as it seems. Like, I know where I am. I understand what I'm doing moving for. And in my position, just make sure that, that's the exception and not the room.

Spoken like someone who things go sideways for the Warriors this postseason. You think they look to move on from him? Well, I think the bucks in the east and the Warriors in the West, I want them both, well, Milwaukee will get into the playoffs. I think they're both fascinating teams. One is a regressing dynasty, appears to be over. The other one needs to win

minimum two playoff series, or I think they're going to make moves. The best team isn't always the most interesting in the playoffs. I think Golden State's fascinating. What if they get one and done? What if they get whacked? In the play-in? Yeah, they go play. I mean, Denver, they'd get swept.

They don't match up. They got to get by the Lakers first, and that's not a good matchup for them. No, that's a bad matchup. Hold on. They have Charlotte and San Antonio this weekend. Should be two wins, but they are at the tail end of a mini road trip. Next week, Colin. Dallas, Houston, Dallas.

Where'd they at? Versus Dallas at Houston at Dallas, the latter two back to back. If they go 0 and 3 in those, and Houston continues this torrid pace, we could be looking at the Warriors miss the playoffs. Bad. Then you just got to make moves. Well, I think everybody thinks Clay Thompson is, it's over for him there. He's going to be elsewhere next year, right?

And he has enough value because he's had some big nights. He's had a dozen big nights. So he's got enough value he could maybe get to. What's the market like for Dremont? Who wants to take him on? Remember, he just got an extension. Yeah, I don't think they'd move him. I think Steph and Dremont are and Kaminga they'd like to keep. He's starting to pop a little bit. But I don't know.

So at this point, do the problems of Dremont, the antics, the side show, the objections, do they outweigh the talent? No. You sure? Yes. I think he's the second best player on most nights on the team. What is that saying much for the temp seat? Well, again, and they also, they're now playing on Draymond and Steph's timeline.

Like they've got a couple young guys they like. Moody, the kid off the big kid from Indiana, second rounder. Oh, get TJD, he's a nice player. Yeah, TJD, and they like Cominga. They don't need more youth. They got three young guys. What they need is to make a deal and upgrade Wiggins. If you can go and move pieces, draft capital and move Wiggins

and get like a better version of Wiggins, Then it changes. What does Carl Lifting Towns do for you? Now, that's very interesting. Very interesting move. Because, again, he's better than Wiggins. He can be more dominant, and he gives them size, which they've always needed. Now, Wiggins obviously not going to want to go back to Minnesota,

but there's a lot happening with the Timberwolves we can get to in another segment. But I just, I don't think there's a quick fix for your warriors here, and that's what pains me, because I don't want to see Curry go out like this. I don't want him, like, missing the playoffs. They went and got Kevin Durant. and it shocked the world. I think they are quietly rooting for a quick exit by the Bucks and Yannis in the playoffs, and they're going to give up everything to get him.

Does that include Draymond Green? They would give, I think they'd give up everything but Steph, including Draymond. That's my guess to get Yon. But I think what they would want is TJD, they'd want Kaminga, they'd want PODs, they'd want all those young guys. I think you want picks over those guys. Because remember, well, some of them are all right, but. No, Kaminga, no, those are good players. Good players, yeah, they're not all-stars.

Yeah, but the draft is a 40% misrate. Those guys are players. So what you want, if you could, because remember, Milwaukee's old. They got to get younger. So if you're giving me, if I'm giving up Janus, I want five number one picks and three young guys, and I'm just going to switch my organization, we're going to say, hey, we got a title with Janus. We're going to get, I'd probably move Dame. I'd move everybody, start over.

and you'd have to give me, you'd probably have to have a third team involved, but I think Janice and Steph, and then you just figure the rest out. That's fun. What you do is Janice and Steph, and anybody want to plan a discount. Anybody want to...

Any ring chasers out there want to play with two top of 12 players. There's a dozen ring chasers around the league. That's kind of spicy. But now if I'm Milwaukee, my take is, I want... You got to bring a third team on and get like five number ones. Janus in his prime? Well, Janus is at the tail.

He's got like three more prime years and then it's just being really, really, really good. Wait a minute. Hold on. Maybe I forgot how old Janus is. Well, he's having a great year. I said. He's 29 to 30 in December. That's how I saying he's got three to four, three to four more prime years.

And then at 34 to 38. Man, wow. Not everybody's LeBron. You do get LeBron and Kareemar the outliers all time. Everybody else ages. Okay, let's go move on. Let's go back to the Jets. So Woody Johnson, you remember there was the report of him and Robert Sala having a very heated conversation during league meetings. It was according to NFL networks Colleen Wolfe.

Well, Woody Johnson came out yesterday. Interesting timing. It was right after our segment, as if he watched it. And he tweeted out all this nonsense about a heated argument between Coach Sala and me at the league meetings is absolutely false. Are you ready for this? It is yet another irresponsible report from NFL Network. That's one of the reasons I would never work at the NFL Network. My bosses are 32 owners. Billionaires.

I got enough trouble with these guys. How about if I had 32 owners? So Woody Johnson puts that out. And afterward, Colleen Wolf, who, you know, the report was hers, apologized to the Jets for the unnecessary distraction. You can go on social media and read her apology. She admitted she was not at the league meetings. Oh, that's bad.

Someone at the meetings heard it and texted her. So she then goes on a podcast and tells the story she heard. Now the hardcore journalists will say, oh, that was just one source. You shouldn't do that. I'm not going to kill her for it. I mean, like, we hear stuff. We say it. Get to pick up.

People want to come after us. Whatever. I don't care. Well, I think generally speaking, if I'm not there, I call, I tend to have adults in organization. Most of my contacts are not players. They're people that work in NBA and NFL teams. Scouts, that kind of stuff, executives.

That's my sources. So I generally trust. I got seven GMs on my phone and four scouting directs. So I got to have them tell me something. A lot of the information I get is from other people. That's why I have strong opinions because I know it's, you know, I can remember years ago having two sources inside the Broncos when Tebow was playing. And people were like, he can't make like half the throws we need him to make.

And so Colleen Wolf here may have had a colleague or something. She wasn't there and say, I don't want to beat up on her, but she's a ho. She's not there. To me, sometimes you do rely on sources and they don't, I've had people make big mistakes. So I don't want to beat up. I'm not even ready to go to say she was a mistake. I think this is a power play by a billionaire bullying, you know, the host of a show who went on a podcast and told a story shared.

What's a big deal? Like, did it happen or not? I don't know. Robert Tala hasn't come out and deny anything. This is just a billionaire trying to make it look like he's not yelling at his coach. and we know that they've had some issues. Because Aaron Rogers runs the damn franchise. And Woody Johnson's an absentee owner,

and I should probably stop saying stuff because we're partners with the NFL. Anyways, let's go on on the final story. The UFL season kicks off tomorrow on Fox. Big matchup, USFL champ Birmingham Stallions and the XFL champ Arlington Renegades. You know, there is some excitement. The stallions announced today that former NFL QB

and Ole Miss alum Matt Corral. He was great in the SEC. His last year with Lane Kiff and he had 31 touchdowns five picks. He was an NFL pro. Like a legit prospect. For a guy that's not big, he's got a big arm. He had an injury that kind of messed him up there. But he's going to be starting this weekend.

And listen, he'll be the best quarterback in that league. This is a little audition for the NFL. Well, there's no question. We saw there was 50 guys out of it. I contend. I don't know how you would do this. But I believe the NFL should embrace. I think you're always best to have a strong farm system.

That's why the NBA's reluctance to embrace college basketball and have this goofy G-League and G-ignite. It hasn't worked. I think it's hurt college basketball in the NBA. The NFL has always embraced college football. I wish there was a way that NFL teams instead of would pay for every U.F. quarterback would be paid for by an NFL team. Wouldn't pay them a lot, $100 grand, whatever it is.

But that you could get your reps. And once a year, what I'm saying is, wouldn't it be better for the U.S. and the NFL, if instead of carrying a third quarterback, your third quarterback is on a UFL team, you pay for it to save the UFL money. It helps the league, and it gives you, not college, but professional practice, game footage. Right.

I think, because I think the U.S. should be carrying, one of the things that's going to make this thing work, is you're going to have quarterbacks you watch in the U.S., and they're going to end up being a backup in the NFL, and backups play in the NFL. So, okay, I would agree with you. Where I think you miss is essentially the G League is that for the NBA. There have been players in the G League who like to play on the Toronto G League team,

and then they come up to the Raptors. So they're in the system. College football is different, man. We've seen a lot of these quarterbacks whiff because all the college coaches care about. They don't care about the development. They just want to win games and keep their job. So that's my take, is if the quarterback matters a lot and you want fewer whiffs, that kid that played, the Packers had that Magoo, the kid that played,

didn't he go to the Packers that played the USFL? Problem. Yeah. I mean, so, like, to me, use it as a farm system. Don't resent it. Don't battle them. I would like the U.S.L. to carry three quarterbacks, every team, and the NFL pay for one or two of them to give them a financial break, and I can get practice footage and game footage.

I love this idea, but here's the thing. If you're a 19-year-old quarterback, do you want to go to college and battle on the depth chart, or do you want to go right to a farm system to the NFL? The NFL's got a rule. You've got to play three years of college football. Okay. Well, that apply. to the UFL. No, you've got to pay three years of college football.

Now, if you want to skip a year, go play in the UFL. Yeah, I'd rather sit on the UFL ball bench, learn, say, the Kansas City Chief System, gear in it for three or four years. No, wait, time out. Would you rather play at Ohio State with four NFL offensive linemen and two NFL first-round receivers or for the renegades where you're the best player on the team?

See, I would rather, now, no, no, if I play at Tulane, if I play at Boston College, if I play it, then I would consider the UFL, but if I'm playing at Bama, Ohio State, Michigan. Okay, fine. A handful of quarterbacks. But in all honesty, you go to Ohio State. How many Ohio State NFL quarterbacks? How many have been great other than C.J. Strout?

A lot of them have. Well, a lot. And most of these quarterbacks don't work. But the point being is there's no way as a college quarterback, I'm going to leave a huge NFL factory like LSU, Bama. I'm not leaving those for the UFL. But a lot of these quarterbacks come from. NC State, Cal. Then, Josh Allen came from where?

Wyoming. Okay. So, you're going to Wyoming? Are you going to go to the U.S.L? Now, Josh Allen, though, was a projected first-round pick. First-round picks aren't going to go to that league. But the third, fourth, fifth-round guys, and all of a sudden you're at a program that can't protect you. And I can go make $70,000 and we're not winning in college.

I don't have great protection. I want to go get some reps in the NFL guys to see me. That's where it's interesting. That's where it's interesting I like this idea JNC consulting He's giving out free advice to I'm just spitball in here

So I couldn't be out Listen I like it I mean Speak it into existence man Manifest this thing JMAQ with the news Well that's the news And thanks for stopping by

The Herd Lye News We're just getting started Live in L.A. It's The Herd Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd Weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeard Radio app. Hey, gang, this is Jay Glazer, host of Unbreakable, a mental wealth podcast, and every week we will have on leaders from sports entertainment,

like Sean McVeigh, Lindsay Vaughn, Michael Phelph, David Spade, Guy Fieri, and also those who can help us in between the ears, anyone from a therapist to someone like Ed Milet or John Gord. We've all been through some sort of adversity. To get to the top, we've all used different tools. Listen to Unbreakable with Jay Glazer and Mental Wealth Podcast on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get 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 I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show.

This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream,

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

What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back 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. We hold championships to be so valuable. So Dan Marino is the best football player. I think I've ever seen without a Super Bowl. Aaron Donald, L.T., Reggie White, defensive players, got him. Dan Marino's the best football player without a trophy I've probably ever seen.

Charles Barclays, one of the great basketball players without a trophy I've ever seen. What are the best sports franchises? Because almost every single great college program, every good women's college basketball program, they've all got titles. For men, UCLA, Arizona, Villanova, Duke, Kansas, Syracuse, Connecticut, can you make an argument that Gonzaga basketball is the best college program in any sport without a title? Nine straight sweet 16s. And they beat the big dogs. They beat the pants off of Kansas here, a Michigan state there. Go to all college sports.

The college baseball powers. like an LSU, an Oregon State. You know, you go through the years. They all have titles. And for the record, Gonzaga's gotten real close. But I'm trying to think of, if you go the 10 best college basketball programs in the last 25 years, Gonzaga's got to be one of them. I think they're the only one without a title. College football, everybody, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Clemson, LSU, Georgia, USC, Oklahoma, Texas.

They've all got them. Okay, I might have one for you in college football. Oregon Ducks? They've been to the net. They have been to the national championship. They got beat by Ohio State in the national championship. Oregon Ducks and Gonzaga Bulldogs. They lost to Cam Newton in 2012.

Yes. Or 2010, sorry. And then they got smashed by Ohio State. Yeah. So Oregon might be the best in college football without a title. I don't know. We're not considering like Baylor. Bailer was one of the bones that popped up.

In football, I would say Oregon's considered... Like a Johnny come lately? They weren't a beast in like a 70s. Well, they've been good now for 25 years. Achilles. Achilles Smith go to Oregon? Oh, I covered that team. They were really good.

So I would say Oregon number one in college football. But Gonzaga, Gonzaga's been... They're sweet 16 every year. And beating big dogs. Wisconsin Badgers? They've never... ever been great, they've always been good. There's been some Gonzaga teams

that have been really, really good. Offensively, there's been three or four tournaments that I think they're the first or second best offensive team in college basketball. That Chet Holmgren team, Jalen Sugg's team, those are good. Those are good teams, like clever offensively could shoot, could score inside.

But I mean, it's that's why Gonzaga's fascinating to me, because this year, Yukon's better. But if they can beat Purdue, Carolina's out. By the way, watching Yukon last night, did you get a whiff of that juggernaut that UNLV had back in the

day? You might have been in Vegas. Larry Johnson, Stacey Ogwin. I mean, they were intimidating teams when they walk on the court. So that's a good call on that. Gonsagga basketball is the best college program any sport without a title. I don't follow curling. No hold me to it.

I do think Oregon football and then Baylor are good call. I think Oregon football is better than Baylor, but Baylor's good. A lot of that's, you know, Big 12, it's weird. Yeah, somebody saying, um, Wisconsin should be in the, Virginia Tech has been closed a couple times.

Wisconsin's had a lot of, they don't recruit like Oregon. Oregon recruits top six in the country. Wisconsin doesn't. They never have. Yeah. They just don't. All right. Hour three on a Friday.

You have tomorrow's headlines today? Today? I think so, yeah. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. And humor me with Robert Smygel and friends, me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Look Back at a podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 is big to me. I'm Sam Jay. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it.

With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. I mean, it was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win.

I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliford 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 Cliford 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 Cliford 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. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.