The Herd with Colin Cowherd - HOUR 3 - Aaron Rodgers' Future

Episode Date: December 24, 2021

In this hour of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Joy Taylor--in for Colin--welcomes in The NFL Network's MJ Acosta-Ruiz to react to Thursday night's 49ers-Titans game and Jimmy Garoppolo's performance, Aaron Rodgers as an MVP candidate and his future in Green Bay, and other sizzling NFL storylines. Finally, Santa Joy Taylor hands out some Christmas gifts to people in the sports world.   Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee 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 IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Look Back at it podcast.

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

84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled 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 from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Heard. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Christmas Day, Terry Bradshaw is giving away a house on the Fox Bet Super 6 app.

Scan the QR code and enter your picks in the Christmas special contest and opt into the house giveaway sweepstakes. For your chance to win, one lucky winner will be announced tomorrow during the Browns Packers game on Fox. Don't miss out. It's free to play. Enjoy that's a game you're covering. I am. They might see someone win this house. I am very much looking forward to this game. It's a desperate game for the Browns, not so desperate for the Packers, but I do want to see what the Browns feel. first of all, because we're still checking on their COVID situation.

Joy Taylor in for Colin Cowherd on the herd today, Colin with the family for the holidays. Alex Curry here with me as well. Thanks for hanging out with us on a beautiful Christmas Eve. Very excited for Christmas this year. It's been a wild year. Better than 2020. So there's that.

And I'm slightly optimistic about 2022. But let's go out to MJ Acosta of NFL Network, host of NFL Total Access for NFL Network. You can catch her a show later today. MJ, thanks for joining us on a Christmas Eve. A team that you covered very closely, the Niners played last night. Jimmy G., they didn't get the win.

But I'm watching that game last night. I had a very different takeaway from everyone else because I walked away from that game thinking, well, he did throw two interceptions, didn't look great. But he's still going to be the top of the club. class in the quarterbacks that are finding a new home in the off season. And he's head and shoulders above everyone else.

Obviously, just Sean Watson's in that conversation, but you can't ignore his legal situation. So Jimmy G's going to find a new home. And I think he is going to go at a high price. He's going to be highly touted in the off season. But what was your takeaway from last night's performance with Jimmy G? I think so too. I mean, James Richard, listen, I think we need to give him just a little bit more credit, right? because he had been protecting the ball really well up until he wasn't.

You know, he had two picks last night, one right in the end zone. I think everyone collectively did a, oh, why, why, Jimmy, why type of situation. But over the previous six games, he only had three turnovers. So I think when you look at the whole collection of work, the biggest thing for Jimmy has always been, is he available? Is he healthy? And I think this season he really has, and he showed the caliber of QB that he can be close to what we saw in the 2019 season when the Niners went all the way to the Super Bowl. So I think it was a rough game for the Niners.

They dropped way too many balls. I need Brandon Ayuk. Yes, he had that touchdown, but hold on to it, my friend. Debo Samuel got me a lot of points in fantasy last night, but not the type of game that I think most people were expecting from him as well. It was a tough game. It was a tough opponent. But in terms of the playoff picture and them really trying to make a push here,

especially in the NFC West, not what you wanted to see. for San Francisco. Well, the Titans have been a little inconsistent as well and they've been struggling quite a bit without Derek Henry who they might get back in the postseason. But where do they fit into the AFC race? Are they a team that we should be especially concerned about? Well, A.J. Brown certainly told us that they need to be concerned about them, right? I mean, the first game back from IR and the man lit it up. I mean, he was fantastic. And I think he and Tannahill are a really, really good combination, even without Derek Henry there. I mean, that first half of the game was really rough.

But when they got it together and they got rolling, they were unstoppable as we saw. The Niners didn't have an answer for them. So I think we can't ignore them. They're a team who, even though there has been inconsistencies, they've also been able to upset a lot of people. And maybe they shouldn't have been upsets, right? Maybe we should have been giving them a little more credit. And can we give Ryan Tannahill some flowers, even if it's a corsage, a but a butanir, something. But the man has been getting it done.

Yeah, I gave Ryan Tanna Hill some flowers earlier. I said I'm being really nice. It must be it must be because it's noche de Buena. I'm being right flowers. I'm like, oh, Jimmy G's going to do great somewhere else. Ryan Tannahill had a nice run. I'm with you. We're talking to MJ Acosta Ruiz on the herd, host of NFL Total Access on NFL Network.

So Aaron Rogers is is the clear MVP at this point. But I did see you tweet the other day. that Jonathan Taylor should be considered for the MVP. So do you think the Packers have the Browns this weekend, the Vikings and Lions have finished out the season. So they're very likely going to finish 14 and 3. And I don't see Aaron Rogers taking a step back over the next three weeks. But Jonathan Taylor's been unbelievable.

Do you think he deserves the MVP over Aaron Rogers? I mean, Jonathan Taylor, one of my top three JTs, of course, you are above him there in that list there. But I think he can't be denied. it's really tough because the award traditionally goes to a quarterback. But just because that's the way it's been done doesn't mean we can't mix it up. The other day, we were making an argument and hold on with me here for Cooper Cup and what he's been doing this season. It's just hard when you're not the guy in charge of the offense. Although I think in the Colts situation, one can argue that

the entire offensive plan is Jonathan Taylor. I call him Johnny Taylor. I might be the only person on the planet who calls him that. I don't know if he likes it or not. But I think it fits with his personality and with what he's doing out there. I mean, he's unstoppable. He's had a crazy year. Remember, we had him on the show last year as a rookie and he was just fantastic, a guy that you want to root for. And then what he does out on the field and what he's been able to do for this cult's offense, he has to at least be considered and be in the conversation as a very serious contender. So to circle back to the Packers, I was fully convinced that this was going to be Aaron Rogers last season, the last dance in Green Bay at the start of the season.

now they play pretty well the top of the NFL, top of the NFC, he's probably going to win another MVP. I still, a part of me still believes he's leaving after this season. Maybe it's because I am petty. So I can compartmentalize while

still being petty. And I do think that there's a capability in that and Aaron Rogers. But do you think that he is with the Packers next year? No. I mean, and if he is, then what was the point of all of this? Of everything leading up to the to the regular season, the standoff in the off season and in preseason as well.

I think this is it. I think he's making a statement this year, despite everything that's gone down and the toe and COVID and everything else. He's still out there and he's still playing MVP caliber football because that's what he does. You can take everything else away and he as a quarterback is superior. He is excellent. That's his job. That's what he does. But I think when you think about all the exterior noise, there's no way you can ignore that going

into the 2022 season. I can't imagine that there's some time a beautiful resolution. Now, winning games, winning a championship, yeah, it's a pretty good remedy for just about everything, just about everything. Because when we talk about pettiness, there's a lot of it in this relationship between Aaron Rogers and that front office.

And I think ultimately that's going to be the deciding factor. I think he's out the door. I kind of agree with you. We're talking to MJ Acosta Ruiz. So we know this is a must-win game for the Browns tomorrow. I don't think they're going to win. I think they're going to lose convincingly. But the conversation about what to do with Baker Mayfield is going to ratchet up in the offseason

because there is going to be a very bleak quarterback market. That's why I think Jimmy G. is going to have a lot of suitors. There's really a big gap between Jimmy G. And the next group of guys that could be available. You're talking about Gardner Minshu, Andy Dalton, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Cam Newton, so on and so forth. And again, we're not talking about Deshaun Watson in this group because there are some other things going on there. what would you do with Baker Mayfield? Because, you know, I don't think that you should, you know,

meddle in mediocrity, but I do think you should assess the situation properly. And the Browns have been really dysfunctional for a long time. And despite everything that's gone on with Baker Mayfield, he has kind of stabilized them somewhat. Yeah, I don't think the Brown's issues start or end with Baker Mayfield. I think there's been a lack of consistency around him as a QB for several reasons, whether it's fit, whether it's the guys around him or lack thereof.

But I think that they have tried to a certain degree to arm him as best as possible with a winning combination. I think the defense over there has been fantastic as well within the parameters of what they've done so far. But there's definitely something off. And I can't put my finger on it. And I think the Browns can't put their finger on it either. But for some reason, it's not jelling.

It's not meshing. And at the end of the day, if the chemistry is not there, and all parties aren't aligned, it's just not going to work. How are you going to continue this long-term relationship and get a franchise to a Super Bowl, which is what every single team in the NFL is trying to do? If it's not clicking, it just doesn't work. And I wish I had the answer to why it doesn't work,

because I do think that Baker as a quarterback does have talent, obviously. This is why he was a first rounder. This is why he has all of these commercials that we laugh at all the time on television. He's a great personality. And I do think that he can lead a team, but I don't think it's in Cleveland. So the last Bill's Patriots matchup was a very notorious one. Obviously, Mac Jones only threw three passes.

Are you expecting this game to look a little differently than last time? Man, I hope it does. I really hope it does because we deserve a bigger fight. And I'm still upset at Josh Allen because, you know, I'm also petty. Because I've been singing his praises since August. Was it way too early to name anybody an MVP? Sure it was. But that's what we do in sports media.

So I called him out, and then I was begging him pretty much for about 10 weeks to show us. Show me that. I'm well aware that this is not all his fault, obviously, but we tend to blame quarterbacks for everything. So here we are in the middle of this conversation. The thing is that the Patriots are going to kill you slowly. That's what they do. So Bill Belichick is well aware that he could run the ball down their throats, and that Buffalo didn't have an answer last time. So that's what he's going to do.

And even if they do have an answer for it, Bill has a whole bag of tricks. this is a divisional opponent. But I am hoping that we get the shootout that we deserve. And I want to see Mack Jones sling it. And I want to see Josh Allen do what he does. And I want to see him hand the ball off. He can't be the entire running game for this Buffalo team. But I wanted to come down to the wire.

And I wanted to be out of know, like a three-point game. I think we all deserve that. I agree. I also may have invested some money in Josh Allen is the MVP. So it's looking like I'm going to lose that. So I'm with you there. But I stopped trying to. trying to speak it up very early in the season.

Happy Noche Buena, MJ. Looking forward to some Coquito later. Thank you for joining us. Thank you for joining us. Have a great show. Make sure you check out MJ Acosta Ruiz on NFL Total Access on NFL Network weekdays. Thank you, MJ. Bye, y'all.

That's MJ Acosta Ruiz. We went to college together at Barry University in Miami and have come up through every level of the ranks in this. business together, including freelancing, covering youth sports in Miami. What's cook? I don't want to say it wrong. Yes. It's like, um, egg, agnogish.

Oh, okay. Yeah. Um, but with rum, yeah. We have Puerto Rican. It's delicious and very dangerous. Okay. I'm not going to do too much because I got to work tomorrow. Just a little.

But I am going to partake a little bit. Yes. 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. 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. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me. Clivert 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 a TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jek. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down,

and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 was big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all 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 IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Keer Games.

And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch.

Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust.

I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and personal. on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now.

Let's get to Alex Curry with the news. No, no, no, no, turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Well, LeBron has been playing nearly 37 minutes a game this season. That's the most he's average since joining the Lakers. But the team isn't worried about his workload right now interim coach. Head coach, David Fisdale, said LeBron continues to tell him to put him in, So he feels good about how much his star is playing.

I think they should be worried. LeBron's almost 37 years old in his 19th season. And these are hard playoff, deep 19 seasons. I know the team has been dealing with a lot of the COVID protocol and missing players. But you need to manage a guy like LeBron. So he is in tip-top shape at the end of the year. We've seen what happens when you don't. Yeah, the problem is he's, I mean, it goes about saying their best player.

but he's all they've got. I know. If they don't, then they're going to be losing worse than they are now. But to your point, and this is what I try to bring up when we talk about and contextualize LeBron's career, we're not just talking about seasons. They're playing for months after the regular season ends every single year for the most part. So you have to consider all those extra games as well when you're talking about the wear and tear that LeBron has had on his body. So yes, at this point, it's completely unreasonable.

It's also unreasonable what's going on with Brooklyn and KD. That's why they've brought, they're bringing Kyrie back. Yep. So the problem is there is no Kyrie waiting for the Lakers. As Rick Bucher mentioned earlier, this is really supposed to be on AD. AD is the one who is supposed to be stepping up his level of play this year, who they should rely on, who should be the, you know, de facto leader when LeBron does need to take some rest.

But they're just not in that situation right now. I actually like Rick's idea of, you know, it's not going to happen, and that's what Rick said as well. It's not realistic, but to let Frank Vogel do what he does as a coach. What rose Frank up was that he was able to get the most out of a different collective of players. And they played gritty and tough, and you have to have the flexibility as a coach to do that. And look, that might not be the situation with the Lakers. And again, look, they need LeBron.

like you need stars to win in this league. And it's looking like that's what's going to have to happen with this roster. Otherwise, some other major changes. But there's too many minutes for LeBron. Even if he wants to play those minutes, it's just too many minutes. It's too many minutes. So tomorrow, Christmas Day game should still be entertaining. Well, do it tomorrow because it's Christmas.

Yeah. And then after that, we'll make a judgment after Christmas. And then give them some time off after. Right. Okay, I'm with you on that. Let's move to the Patriots. They saw their seven-game win streak come to an end last week against the Colts. Mac Jones had one of the worst performance

of the season in that game, but he says he's using that to continue learning and getting better. Yeah, I think every experience is a learning experience, and everyone's different, and everyone comes from different places, but whether you win or you lose, you can still learn. And, I mean, in college, you'll lose games, and you have to learn from it. And in the NFL, obviously, it's hard to win. So you have to learn from the errors that you make personally, which are the most important, because that's how it affects the team. so I always am very hard of myself

because if I don't play great then it affects the people around me and those guys are playing really well and I can play a lot better so it just goes back to me. So I think because Mack is playing with the goat coach Bill Belichick, you forget that he's a rookie. This is going to happen.

He's going to have games like this. It's important for him to have games like this because you only improve and get better when you actually learn from your experiences and your mistakes. And maybe it's a blessing in disguise that this happened right before, a big game against the bills, a rematch after he didn't do much except kind of hand off the ball. He seems like he's in a good place. He understands it. It's going to happen. He's a rookie.

It is going to happen, but this is what gives me pause about the Patriots making a deep playoff run because I know we can see what Mac does when everything is, you know, when he's following the formula. But when he's got to force it, when he's got to make plays, it's getting a little rocky as it should because he's a rookie that's going to happen. It's not even I mean it happens to experts yeah right to veterans

so why wouldn't it happen to a rookie? He's learning this level of the game still but how does that play out in a high pressure playoff situation when you're playing from behind if you're Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs and their Super Bowl run down you know

double digits in a playoff game like is that what's going to be able to be hold off. Now, who knows? Maybe he is. And that's what we're likely going to be able to see this playoff run, because they are going to make the playoffs. But that's my question when it comes to them making a D playoff run, because he is a rookie and it would be unprecedented because they're still learning the game. Also, what you mentioned is why I am so adamant about rookies playing right away, which is that you want to give them the opportunity to learn the game to make those mistakes, to make the adjustments. And every time that you're out there with some veteran,

who's not the future of the team, just trying to win some games now, you're taking away development time from your young quarterback where you will get grace. You will get this understanding of... Yeah. Okay, well, he's a rookie.

I'll do that again. Right. The good news is he's got Bill Belichick. He's going to be okay. And Bill Belichick owns the bills. Yeah, they're going to be okay. Well, let's move to Joe Burrow because many teams around the league

are dealing with COVID outbreaks, but so far the Bengals are not, one of them. And Joe Burrell has a theory as to why his team has been avoiding losing so many players to the COVID list this season. It's a long season. You know, we're still a healthy team, which, you know, not a lot of people can say at this point of the season. We've been lucky as far as injuries in COVID. And, you know, we're doing a great job with our COVID protocols. Fortunately, there's not a ton of do in Cincinnati. So it's not, you know, nobody's going out to clubs and bars and getting COVID every weekend. He's just speaking his truth. There's no lie there.

I haven't personally been to Cincinnati, but I know it's no L.A., New York, Miami, with a ton to do every weekend. And you know what? It's working in their favor right now. Yeah, I mean, this is, it's similar to Green Bay. Like, there's not a whole lot to do in Green Bay. These smaller markets, there's not a whole lot going on.

I'm not banging on Cincinnati. I've born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which is, of course, superior to Cincinnati. but, you know, it's cold in the winter. And aside from it just being not a huge market and not so much going on, it's also really cold outside. I don't want to go outside when it's cold.

And we don't want to go outside in L.A. when it's raining. Like, it's blizzards and snow and freezing rain. You ever been in freezing rain? It sucks. No. It's not fun. It's not fun to go. I've done it.

I've gone to the bar when there's been freezing rain. It's, you can't be cute. There's no cute way to get to the bar in freezing rain. But yeah, I mean, it's like an effort to go out in this kind of weather. And I don't know what the weather is in Cincinnati. Maybe it's beautiful this weekend. But overall, Cincinnati winners are tough. Pittsburgh winners are tough.

Cleveland winners are tough. Frozen Dundra. So he's right. And he's from Ohio. So everyone is like, oh, like Cincinnati fans aren't going to like that. He's from Ohio. He knows that place. And it's a good thing.

Like, he's actually saying it's a good thing. There's the off season for going out. You're trying to win games right now. It's fine. I will admit there were some times in college where I was that person, though. Where you went out in the freezing rain? Yeah, but like tried to be cute in the freezing rain. Like we have kind of like a...

You wear like the boots and like the skirt. It's a disaster. No. I mean, I would hate my... If I met my 19-year-old self right now, oh my God, I would hate myself. Absolutely not. Thank you.

That's Alex with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lie News. Yeah, not a whole lot of good decisions. I'm just happy, like, social media wasn't as powerful back then as it is right now when we were in college. Thank you. Thank you. Facebook came out the year, my freshman year of college.

I think we're around the same. Yeah, we're old heads, Alex. Yeah. Young at heart. Oh, I don't care. I love being old. Yeah. I'm like, I'm smarter.

Yeah. I can, like, buy things now. This is great. Support my life. I fully support this. It's a blessing. Thank you for joining us today on this amazing Christmas Eve, Alex Curry, alongside myself, Joy Taylor, filling in for Colin Cowherd. It is Christmas Eve, which means Christmas is tomorrow, which means we're giving gifts out.

And I have a list of gifts to give out around the sports world, and we will do that next on best for less. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays at noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, I'm Doug Gottlie. The podcast is called All Ball. We usually talk all basketball all the time, but it's more about the stories. about what made these people love their sport and all the interesting interactions along the way. We talk to coaches, we talk to players, we tell you stories. You download it, you listen to it, I think you like it. Listen to All Ball with Doug Alib on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

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 beings. potential. Either way, the podcast, Superhuman, documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever

you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey for 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 a 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 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 you're just so you're not. But just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, this is the second episode where we've discussed, correct. So I'm starting to see

that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really?

Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast,

Learn the Hardway with me, your host. and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests.

I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses.

Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on Earth, or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way.

Open your free, our heart radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Welcome back. Hurd, Joy Taylor filling in for Colin Cowherd, enjoying the holidays with the family. Alongside Alex Curry, it is Christmas tomorrow. Hope you have all of your Christmas stuff done and you're at home enjoying yourself and the family. Be safe out there on the streets, but tomorrow is Christmas, so I thought it would be nice to hand out some gifts. I'm a very intentional gift giver. I like to really put some thought into it, good stuff people like. And so let's give

some, let's get out some sports gifts to some players and some teams. What do we have, Alex? All right. What gift would you give Mac Jones? Mac Jones from Joy. Yeah. I'm going to give him a new nickname. So his given name is Michael McCorkel Jones. And he goes by Mac, which is a perfectly good nickname. But he was dubbed Mac and Cheese.

So I'm going to give him a new nickname Big Mac. Still food related. Right? Obviously copyrighted, so you're not going to be able to put that on shirts. Mac Jones. But, you know, it's not quite MJD. 10. I don't feel like he's at MJ10 level yet. No. Like, TB12, that took a while.

Like, we had to see Tom versus time and see what all this stuff is about. You're not there yet. MJ.10 is aggressive. I know it's good to get the brands. It's good to have it aside, get the trademark and all that. Mac, Big Mac is good. It's good. He's on pace to have the highest completion percentage by a rookie quarterback in NFL history. It's an unbelievable rookie season. However it ends, impressed all of us. Big Mac. There you go. I like it. What gift would you give? Tom Brady. Oh, the goat. What can you get the go? What can you get the guy that has everything?

That's a problem, right? We all have one of these people in our family. They don't need anything. They can buy anything that they want. They live a life of luxury. They have all the accomplishments. What do you get them? Generally, a book is a good idea. That's what we're going to kind of do. We're going to give him a tablet. He needs a new tablet. He smashed that tablet. It's in pieces. Had a one and four career record against the Saints since joining the Bucks has multiple giveaways in each of those four. losses. Shut out for the first time at home in his career. Last shutout in his career was to the dolphins, by the way. And he also got very testy in this game, yelling, using some bad language. I get some coal in your stocking for that one, Tom. I'm just joking. I use bad language all the time,

just not on television. New tablet for Tom Brady. What gift would you give Big Ben? Big Ben? Oh, sweet Big Ben. Leader of the Steelers for so many years. Unbelievable career. and what do you get someone who is wrapping their career up except for a new pair of golf clubs? Off into retirement, you go, Big Ben. Thank you for everything you've done for the Steelers. But it's over. He has his lowest passer rating since 2011. Seven and six could have a losing record for the first time since 2006.

So they're seven, six, and one. They do have the Chiefs this weekend, which are going to be without Tyree Kill and Travis Kelsey. But I still think the Chiefs win that. then the Browns and then at the Ravens. I would love to see them make the playoffs this year have a nice send-off for him. But either way, we got him a nice, nice set of golf clubs. You can use them all over the world,

wherever you're planning on traveling with all the time that you'll have not playing NFL football. It's time. It's time. It's time. What gift would you give Lincoln Riley? Well, Alex, you are a Los Angeles native. Yes, I am. I've been here almost six years.

I love the ocean. I love the ocean. From the sand. I don't know a big sand person either, actually. about that. But I do like going to the beach. And if you are really, truly going to be a full Californian, which I'm not trying to be, obviously, you need a surfboard. And Lincoln Riley is going to need a surfboard. Plus, I'm sure he's going to be living down in Manhattan Beach, because that's where, probably. That's where everybody goes. It's where everyone lives. It's where everyone lives. He is the new

coach of USC. You want to buy in? You want buy in around here? You got to hop on a wave. I have been in the ocean. I've actually been in the ocean one of the very few times with you. With me. You did a great job. I've been in the ocean out here three times. You did a good job. Thank you. Surfing is off the board for me, not happening. But Lincoln, you got to get on the surfboard. So we got one for you, a really nice one. What gift would you give Baker Mayfield? Oh, Baker, Baker, Baker. Well, six and six record this season. 25th and completion percentage ranks 43rd out of 50 qualified quarterbacks in completion percentage. Dealing with multiple injuries this season. It's been a rough go for the Browns. I'm going to get him a sad card. so he can transition into full-time acting.

Because one thing nobody questions is his ability to act. Those commercials are excellent, and there are so many of them. They're hilarious. There's so many. Every other commercial is Baker Mayfield. Like, realistically, he probably already has one. Probably. Right?

Because he has so many commercials. But if he doesn't, we've got to sign you up, Baker. You got to make sure you get all your benefits. We know about this out here in Los Angeles. Yeah. So there you go. Those commercials are great, though. Like, all jokes aside.

I love this. They're funny. It's Bernie. Like, what's better than this? It's so creative. It's great. Hands down to Baker and his agent. They're doing a good job. He's really good. Like, he is actually, he's going to have a career in acting if he wants one. He's got a post-N-FL post-N-FL NFL.

Okay, what gift would you give LeBron James? LeBron plays tomorrow on Christmas. He's here in Los Angeles. And he needs a teammate under the age of 30. The average age of the Laker is 30 years old, the oldest average in the NBA. We talked about all the minutes that he's playing. There's 16 and 17. currently the sixth seat in the Western Conference.

The trade deadline is February 10th, so we're going to get you one of those, LeBron. Oh, so it's a future gift. Yeah. Well, you got to wait. Yeah, we got to wait. Yeah. Okay.

What gift would you give Trevor Lawrence? Oh, Trevor Lawrence, Sunshine. Sunshine needs another rookie season. Yeah. And he deserves it. He dealt with a ton of dysfunction this year. The entire season, really, the story wasn't even him. I mean, we've been talking about him being a pro since he was a freshman in

college. And every single story surrounding the Jags was everything but Trevor Lawrence. We really didn't even get a chance to evaluate him. And he really struggled this year. He needs a really solid culture builder in Jacksonville. He deserves it. He is a huge potential prospects. And I'm going to give him another rookie season. I'm not holding any of this against him. What gift would you give Aaron Rogers? Oh, A-Rod. Aaron Rogers and his new hair gets a one-way ticket out of Green Bay. Mostly, you know what? Sometimes you get people gifts that's also a gift to you.

You know? Like the fellas, you get her a gift. It's like with extra lace. Like it's a gift for her, but it's really a gift for you. That's what this one is. Because if Aaron Rogers leaves Green Bay, I mean, it was amazing at Tom Brady left New England and went to the box. All the storylines, all of the contents.

I'm here for it. I work in the content business. We love stories. We love interesting. Aaron Rogers staying with. Green Bay is interesting, too, but not as interesting as him leaving. So we're going to get him a one-way ticket out of there. And finally, what gift would you give the New York Giants?

The Giants, well, this isn't a very exciting gift, but the Giants, you know, they're traditionally a very conservative organization. You want to do anything too flashy for the conservative people in your life. You want to disrupt them. And a good broom is what the New York Giants need, because they've got to clean that stuff up. I'm actually, I'm not a Giants fan, but I have deep respect for the brand of the New York Giants.

Yeah. It's in New York City. They are a cornerstone organization in the NFL, and it saddens me that they are in this state. Like, it's better when the New York Giants. The NFL is better when the New York Giants are competitive. And they've been a disaster this year. Fifth straight losing season, straight season losing 10-plus games. Second worst NFL record in the NFL since the 2017 season.

They're 0-10 in primetime games over the last three seasons. It's the worst in the NFL. Joe judges a 10-and-20 record as a Giants head coach. They've already fired their offensive coordinator. Daniel Jones has 49 giveaway since entering the league. Only Jared Goff has more. And he has the most fumbles since entering the league at 36. Since he came in in 2019.

So it's a disaster for the Giants. And they have a great fan base. They deserve to be competitive. So that is the gift for the New York Giants. Not very exciting. But like sometimes you need some functional gifts. I used to hate getting socks when I was younger. Now I'm like I love socks.

Fuzzy socks? Love socks. Done. Who doesn't like socks? I lose all my socks. It's a great gift. Don't get me too many socks, but, you know, if you're asking, I probably need some socks. Alex, this was really fun.

Thank you for hanging out with me today. This was great. Hope Colin is enjoying himself on vacation with the family for the holidays. Merry Christmas, everyone. Hope you're safe. Please be careful out there on the roads. Thank you for hanging with us on this beautiful Christmas Eve. Colin and I will be back on Monday.

Enjoy the holiday. Be safe. Enjoy the family. Enjoy the games. And Merry Christmas. This is The HARD. 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, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I Heart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. 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. 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, unfilled 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 Podcasts, 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.