The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 3 - Chiefs-49ers

Episode Date: February 5, 2024

More on the Super Bowl matchup between the Chiefs and 49ers Looking at the top NBA teams and their chances in the playoffs  See 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. 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 Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day in the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Don't mean to brag, but the biggest pull, the best pull in the history of the show, we were talking about Joel Embed.

And I said, if he never wins a title, this injury brings him down about 10%. What is he? And I said, is he Bob Lanier? And J. Mack thought that was a beer in the Midwest, Bob Lanier. It is actually, he was a great player for the Detroit Pistons. So we went and looked it up. Number one pick, Embeded wasn't. Hall of Famer, Embed yet to be one.

Eight-time All-Star, great rebounder, 23 a game, all-time leading Piston score. Now, he played for other things, and the average came down. But he was a dominating player and a bit of a personality. Bob Lanier to me and Patrick Ewing are kind of the two centers that are great but didn't win a title. I think Embed is more naturally gifted them both. But Bob, again. All right, hold, hold on. Did Bob Lanier do a bunch of beer commercials?

Yes. Like Coors Dog Silver. Yeah, he had a personality. Was he better than Die Kempbe Mutombo? Absolutely. You sure? Absolutely. Bob Lanier and Patrick Ewing to me,

unless you can throw another one of the best centers to never win a title. And both were great players. Artists Gilmore. Very good. He played in the ABA. Yeah, I'm not as familiar with his. A lot of his good years were in the ABA. Artists is very talented.

Played at Jacksonville State, I think. Damn. You are. No, no, I didn't collect baseball cards. I collected NBA cards. Oh, no, let me tell you something. I'm a rain man. If you want to go back to the 70s, I was an NBA fan.

Nothing against baseball, but even then I was impatient. Bob Lanier. So Patrick Ewing. Bob Lanier. Joel Embed and then Bob Lanier. I would say Ewing, whatever you want about him, Ewing, Lanier, Embed. M. Bede's probably the most offensively gifted, but everybody scores now. to score 23 a game for the Pistons in the 70s is 30 now.

By the way, I waited in line when I was a young kid to get Patrick Ewing's autograph at Macy's. He came to D.C. And he was like my favorite player. He was great. And he was just so not friendly. And I just remember getting the, it was just like, here you go, kid. It was a little. He was doing a signing at Macy's.

I mean, I'm sure he got paid for it. It was just one of those moments where you're like, oh, that's my favorite player. And then I pivoted at that moment from Ewing. to Magic Johnson as my favorite. Well, Magic's a better. So here was Chris Mannix, NBA guy, earlier, on M.B.D.'s legacy if he doesn't get a ring. It's not like Joelle M.B. has not had the talent around him to get to at least the conference finals. If you look at some of these performances, especially down the stretch in game six last year,

in game seven where the six is laid an egg, he has played a big part in their demise. So, you know, I can't make a list right now, but I wouldn't put him in as a top 30 player, despite all the accolades and all the individual success, because you have to at least get your team into a conference finals when you have a team around you that's capable of getting there. He didn't even get to a conference finals. I think Ewing got to the finals twice. Yeah, when Jordan was out.

Yeah. And by the way, Trey Young took down the 76ers in the semis to get to the five. Now, I know that was the Ben Simmons game. Go look up at B.D. I had like eight turnovers in game seven, okay? I like him, but I'm just saying at some point There's a whiff of Lamar Jackson in the playoffs.

Like, listen, it's easier to scheme against him. That's not a bad. That's not terrible. They're both great, but you kind of want more late in the season. They led the Celtics last year, didn't they, three, two? And then totally melted down. Bad game six and seven. That's a second.

Tatum went off for, I believe, 51 in one of those final games. My TV didn't work that day. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd. Weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential.

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

I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement

to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Cliverts 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 Cliverts show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok.

Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away,

such as the biology of Tontons and Wampas on the Ice Planet Hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to Stuff to Bo Your Mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

J-Mack with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on a news. This is the herd line news. All right, so you know we're a little geeky about the draft around here in Free Agency. Geeky. A little.

Kirk Cousins is set to hit Free Agency this off season, and it seemed like things were headed toward him returning to the Vikings. He's like, you know, a big guy in Minnesota. goes to the baseball playoff games. Well, there's a report

today that the Vikings are looking to move up from the 11th pick in the draft and take a quarterback. This comes from Jerry Fowler, who's credible. Kevin O'Connell is a really, really good coach. We both like him a lot. I got an idea. Who do you think, do you think he has his eye on Pennix?

New England's got the number three pick. What does New England desperately need? A playmaker. Justin Jefferson, switch picks. I'll give you next year's number one and Justin Jefferson to go from 11 to 3.

Because they've already got Jordan Addison, they got the tight end they like, they've got skill players. Next year's one. And Justin Jefferson to move up to the number three spot to get your quarterback. I mean, Justin Jefferson is like electric.

Well, okay. I'm not denying them, but you're not going to move up without giving up something. You know what that feels like? Remember when Randy Moss were into the Raiders and just did nothing and hated it? I'm telling you right now.

He would hate the favorites. can't just, New England needs offense. If I'm Gerard Mayo, I'd have no problem saying I'll go back to 11. I'll have Mac Jones. By the way. You'll have Matt Jones? What? There'll be a quarterback available at 11.

If you don't view, if you think Caleb's the dominant one, and then you don't have a big gap between everybody else, so what do I care if I go 3 to 11 if I get Justin Jefferson? Now, Kevin O'Connell is not Gerard Mayo. He's an offensive guy. probably says that's most offensive coaches like that's my guy defensive coaches are like you win with running in defense I'll just I can win with Mac Jones but I'm thinking if I'm New England I need a listen Devonte Parker jujews miss Schuster those are threes I need a one badly now and then Mac Jones for maybe six six seven weeks plays as a bow knicks or a Michael Panix gets ready to go

I think that's the move. So the problem is you'd have to pay Justin Jefferson. I'm talking top dollars. Who cares? You're not paying your quarterback. It's fair. Who gives a right? So that's why Minnesota would move off of him. Roster.

I mean, they didn't pay Devonte Park for a lot. Are you thinking Jaden Daniels to Minnesota? Yeah. Because Jordan Addison's a one. So they have two ones. He's a one. Well, if not, he's the best two in the league. He's a great young player.

He's very talented. And they got a tight end they like. Listen, I don't hate this. I thought you were struggling on a Monday. You know, a rainy weekend. Coward a little... That's... Justin Jefferson to the Patriots certainly is something.

You're not moving up there just with the number one pair. No, no, no. You got to give me something. And by the way, GMs generally, you don't want to give him up. Now, maybe you offer Jordan Addison. Say, we'll give you Jordan... But you don't have to pay Jordan Addison for three more years. That's what I like.

Yeah. And I think Kevin O'Connell's a... My guy's... I think he's really good. My guys in the league love him. They're like, you have no idea. To win a game without a practice for a quarterback, Josh Dobbs. That was the talk of the month in the NFL.

You lose your quarterback and you're in the playoff mix until like, what, week 16 they were in the mix? Guy can coach. Next up, Ben Johnson. He is sticking in Detroit. There were reports that he was close to Washington, but man, the drama that came out of that. Apparently, Johnson was turned off by commander's ownership. and consider them basketball guys who are too confident in their football opinions. Oh, I like that.

By the way, that is a good way to say no. I remember, I'm not going to get into a personal story, but I've been in a situation where I interviewed with somebody, and I thought they have much greater opinion of their knowledge of blank than they have. That is a good reason to say no. If you walked in and these guys all think they were football experts and you're sitting there thinking to yourself, you're kind of basketball guys,

it's a totally different culture, that's a great reason to get out of there. Or is this Ben Johnson? Remember the reports last week? He didn't interview well and he wanted a lot of money. Is this Ben Johnson firing back? We'll bleep off guys. That's a good point.

He got some bad press. Maybe he leaked that. I mean, but if he leaked that... He's firing back. I think that's a good take. He thought that was a cheap shot. He didn't interview well. Washington leaked.

to make him look bad. So he came out of that meeting and thought, these guys were kind of arrogant. I'm going to leak this. That's the one thing that. So Washington probably does feel he wasn't a great interview. So they leaked that to protect the enterprise. And Ben's like, screw you guys.

I'm going to leak something I thought, which is you're a little cocky considering you have no history in the NFL. I got to see if Detroit plays Washington next year could get spicy. Ben Johnson is trying to run it up? I don't know. He sounds pissed off at these guys. Final story yesterday. FIFA officially announced the sites for the 2026 World Cup

taking place to the U.S. Canada. and Mexico, the U.S. men's national team will kick off group play in Los Angeles, who! Then head to Seattle before returning to L.A. for the final match of the group stage. The World Cup final will take place July 19th at MetLife Stadium. Why did everybody? Everybody got so worked up about that. So Team USA plays L.A., Seattle, L.A.

Are you not going to give New York something? I'm very excited that they're coming out. You've got to give New York something. You can't just have it all on the West Coast. Yeah. You know I'm a huge soccer. guy, by the way, our soccer team. Oh, I can't wait for this. The soccer team we own. Has it

lost yet, having our best season ever. Very excited. Yeah, and the World Cup is the greatest sporting event on the planet. I know we love the Super Bowl. I love March Madness. No, World Cup is bigger than everything. It's number one. Yeah, it's not even close. Seattle, L.A., L.A. I was surprised,

I thought maybe Dallas, Chicago. Dallas is in the mix? Yeah. Emmett Smith and Dirk Novitzki, given him a hard push. Dallas got like nine games. Dallas Fort Worth. Yeah, Dallas got the most games that didn't get the final. They didn't get the final. I can't wait.

Here's the thing about the United States. New Jersey. We have so many, you know, like a lot of these countries that like Brazil goes for the World Cup to build all these new stadiums, you could hold it, literally you could hold it in Los Angeles today and we wouldn't have to build another stadium. Between the Rose Bowl and the Coliseum and then we have enough smaller places around here for smaller countries. Carson, yeah.

Yeah. So it's, I don't know. I was fired up for that yesterday. So it's like two years and like four months away. We'll still probably, I hope to still be here at Fox. Well, we'll see if you act up. We'll move off you real quick here. You get a little crazy on that stuff.

J. Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd line news. The other story I thought was a little crazy. And then Chris Mannix came on to talk about it. So when LeBron came to the Lakers, they were. were really circling the drain.

Kobe's last four or five years here. I think they had the worst record in the league. They were bad. Philadelphia was bad. They were bad at the time. And LeBron comes here and they, he kind of resurrects the franchise. Then they bring KD. They get rid of all these young draft picks.

None of them, you know, Lanzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma, was Josh Hart, maybe one of them, I forget. You know, there's just a bunch of guys. Nothing. Brandon Ingram, who, you know, Brandon can score, but not changing outcomes of the league's trophies. Right? So, like, they moved off all of them. They get AD, and they bring them a bubble trophy. They also got to a Western Conference final. And they've been a very formidable franchise that on any night, anywhere in the league, can beat anybody with LeBron.

And so, to me, I'm not, like, overly loyal, like, executive guy, but I feel like, if I own the Lakers, I'm like, the dude is our leading score, our leading assist guy. The only reason we can go on most nights to New York can win or win a big game or be viable against the Denver, mostly is Libera. James because AD sort of hit and miss offensively, great defensively. So I don't, that's the first part. The second part is the Lakers just, they are what they are. They don't have any shooters. They're like 28th in the NBA and three-pointers made per game. They have length.

AD is a great defensive player. LeBron's a great offensive player. And Austin Reeves is a solid, not spectacular three. The better teams in the league, like Boston's three is poor Zingers or Drew Holiday. They're better than Austin Reeves. my takeaway is you can make a Desjante, a Murray trade, and you can get better. And I think you'd be good enough

to beat everybody but Denver in the West. You'd certainly be in that space that you could play with anybody. I don't think you're going to beat Boston in a seven game, or you're not going to beat them four times in two weeks. You're not going to beat Denver four times. You could go toe-to-to-to-with Milwaukee. I have no doubt you could go to if Milwaukee ended up in the finals and Yokic got hurt and you were in the finals.

I think you could beat everybody but Denver and Boston. Everybody else you could compete with. But I think the reason that's true is LeBron and AD's defense. Chris Mannix on earlier today and why the Lakers should at least consider trading him. LeBron is playing great.

Anthony Davis is playing great. Austin Reeves is on a good stretch right now. And look, the Lakers over the last couple of games have played some of the best basketball that played all season. In spite of that, they are in ninth place in the Western Conference. Look, I don't believe that LeBron is going to be traded. You know, Rich Paul came out and said last week,

LeBron is not asking for a trade and he's not going to be traded. If you're going into this trade deadline and you can't find a deal that makes you significantly better for the final 30-plus games of the regular season and into the playoffs, I think it is important for the Lakers to at least consider these options. options. Well, if you want to start, if you look at it and you're the Lakers and think we have no chance to win a championship, and I don't think that they have a very good chance. But again, Yokic gets hurt, all bets are off. I just watched them go into Boston without LeBron and AD and win a game. So if, you know, I'm not obviously, you don't want to see players get hurt, but we just lost Embeded. Big guys can get banged up, fall to the floor. So my take is if you take out two teams in the league, I think the Lakers look at it and think if we got Dejante Murray, we can compete with everybody. not beat Denver, Gordon, Jamal Murray. I mean, all it takes is a guy get back. So I think the Lakers, in their mind, are not built for the regular season. That's not what they are. They're built for

big games. Go to Boston, win, go to New York. If you watch the New York game, last six minutes, Nicks couldn't get a good shot. In-season tournament, they won, beat Clippers, beat O KC. I think the Lakers say, if we can make a move of the deadline, LeBron A.D. Reeves Deshante Murray, we may not be favored against Boston or Denver. Everybody else, who would be the third best team in the league? Milwaukee. They could certainly match up with Milwaukee, a team that struggles to defend. Phoenix?

Certainly. I think they feel like they could match up with them. Paper clips? Yeah, they're bizarrely good. But again, they've beaten the clippers. So I just, I don't think the Lakers, the reason you wouldn't trade him, you'd trade him if you were as good. Like right now, Golden State to me is Steph Curry, Draymond,

and I'd move everything else. AD is the best defender in the league. I'll make that. He's the best defender in the league. LeBron's a top five, top eight offensive player. Austin Reeves is a very viable. I'd prefer him to be a four, but a three. He's a little hot and cold, but he is a score

and gets to the line. I think Darwin Ham, I think they have length. They need a shooter. But I just don't think the Lakers look at it like, we're done. And also, I don't know, I just, do you really want to trade? Where would you trade LeBron? Yeah, it's nonsense. I just don't think. They're not moving off. The more interesting thing is, hey, do we stand pat at the deadline? We don't trade for DeJanta Marie, keep our powder dry for the off season where we can toss in that extra pick and then maybe go for a disgruntled star.

Maybe Donovan Mitchell becomes available if the Caval moves in the first round. Maybe, but here's like Donovan Mitchell now? What is happening this year that you have to like if you're the Lakers? Austin Reeves. No. AD and LeBron are playing. Well, they're healthy. Yeah, that doesn't happen much.

So, AD has had about three quarters of a year between now and last year. He's been healthy, and he's the best defensive player in the league. He has a history of getting hurt. He's been healthy. LeBron, he's getting older. So, I mean, they're both healthy and playing. Reeves is still there. I, I, I, I, it's one of those things you'd think in the NBA.

I mean, how many guys miss games? If LeBron plays over 65 games, I'll be disappointed. I want LeBron in the playoffs, period. Let me ask you this. Let's just say, we know the Lakers won the in-season tournament. So they, we know in a single elimination tournament, they can play with anybody. We know they can beat Boston, OKC, Clippers. We know that.

The question with the Lakers is, can they, be? a good team like Denver, Boston four times. I don't think so. But again, poor Zingas has a history of getting hurt. Jamal Murray's been banged up before. It just takes an injury and all of a sudden Denver and Boston are like, we can compete with them. So let's say the Lakers get the seven and they face Minnesota or O KC in the first round.

I would take the Lakers. Okay. I think the Lakers, they're in much better shape than all the Laker fans want to know. They're in great shape. This is going to be fine as long as they don't play Denver in the first round. How's that? No, I mean, outside of that. Denver's really good.

My guess is the last 12 games of the year, the Lakers will win like nine, understanding the urgency, and you don't want to play them in the first round. I don't think you want to play Denver. I don't think you want to play the Clippers. And I know you're going to disagree. I don't want to see Luca and the Mavericks in the playoffs. I'm just... I do.

Really? Yeah, I do. Who's guarding Luca and Kyrie if Kyrie's healthy? Who are they guarding? Oh. I see what you do that. A little switcher-reel in your face. That'll switch your route.

That was good. In your face, that quieted you down. Like your game, you have to play the other end, too. I'm a defensive lockdown guy. I put the seatbelt on. When I'm guarding you, it's over. Lock them up. You're 5'5.

Who are you locking you down? I'm 5'10. I can guard up. I guard Biggs, because I'm quick and tough, sturdy. You're like Zach Levine. You may make a block shot occasionally. I don't think you're really guarding. That's fair.

An occasional flashy moment, but I don't see you. as a lockdown defender. You're no AD, if I may. I feel pretty good about saying that. You're no Drew Holiday, is what I'm saying. Also accurate. We want to take this time during a busy and exciting super week to recognize Mercedes-Benz,

longtime sponsor of the show, extremely appreciative. Thanks again for our great friends at Mercedes-Benz. 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 I-Hard 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,

Lindsey Vaughn, Michael Phelps, David Spade, Guy Fiery, 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. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics

from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of Tontons and Wampas on the Ice Planet Hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith Rule of Two. Listen to Stuff to Bo Your Mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We'll have a little treat before the end of the show. Now, you know, J. Mack and I love, love, love, love are mock drafts. So one of my favorite guys, who I really trust, has a mock draft.

give it away yet, but fascinating. I said something earlier to you that I don't believe there's a consensus on Drake May as the second best quarterback. I do not believe there is. So this person is very tied to the scouting community. So do not go anywhere in about five, six minutes. This is really, really fascinating stuff. Now, we had Lincoln Riley, USC coach on earlier today. We wanted to talk about a couple of things, including

Caleb Williams, but I started off asking him about a guy and his staff this year, Cliff Kingsbury, joining the commanders in Dan Quinn and D.C. You know, I think the energy and confidence level that he brings to the staff, that he brings to the players that he's around, he's really got an infectious energy about him, and always has been, and a guy that's just very, very impactful. And I think about, you know, Coach Quinn and those guys going out to Washington to restart that thing. and I think Cliff is the perfect guy to bring along with him

because he's going to bring that and he's going to bring, as you said, a pedigree and a proven track record of success. And I think it's going to be, I agree, I think it's a great fit. I think he and Coach Quinn will work really, really well together, and it's going to be fun to see what those guys do. Dan's a tough guy, and I think Cliff just brings that academic side. He's so clever. You know, what are the criticisms I heard about Caleb Williams

that I kind of rolled my eyes. We forget in our space. these are 21, 22-year-old kids. I was not capable of being a number one pick physically or emotionally. I'd have been a wreck. You wouldn't have wanted to draft me. I'd have flunk the interviews. When I look at Caleb, I'm like, I like that he went into the stands.

I like that it hurts. I like that he cares. And by the way, what I don't want is indifference. That I have no interest in. When you hear the criticisms of him, and he's not a perfect player, are any of them valid, the emotional stuff, he can be moody any of it valid to you i'm like you i would rather a guy you know care too much and not enough and then caleb is a tremendous competitor uh he really wants to win uh he does

wears emotions on his sleeve but he is who he is and he's he's confident in his own skin and i think as a quarterback and as a potential leader of a franchise you want somebody that is that that's not that's not that's not and then i feel like caleb has has always been that way and and And yeah, like you said, listen, this guy's got, there's a lot left in front of him. I mean, in the last four years, he's played two and a half years of football. He's got so much more to learn, so much more room to grow. I think him getting in the right situation with the right coaches, the right kind of development will be key because he's obviously got the ability.

He's got the desire to be great. He's got the competitiveness. So now all he needs is a great situation. I believe he'll truly take off. Did you know he'd be this talented when you went to Solomon High School? I knew athletically he was that talented. The first time I got to go watch him throw the ball, I thought he threw the ball a lot better than what people thought,

and I thought he was really improving on that, and that's just continued throughout his career. And now he's kind of on that next part of the journey, which is he can do most of the things physically. It's running the locker room. It's the different game situations that you're in, being able to find different ways to win or attack how different people are going to play you defensively, learning to play with different skill sets.

I mean, it's kind of that next part of the journey. And I think he's going to, just like he has all these other areas in his career, he's going to continue to climb. Fourth highest winning percentage, only Ryan Day, Kalen DeBorren Kirby Smart Higher in college football with 50 games coach. So you move to the Big Ten, I hear this all the time. Oh, USC's got to go play in the Big Ten. I'm like, you know, it rains out here too.

We're okay. Not every day is 84 degrees. But if you had to make adjustments within your roster, Lincoln, are there some Big Ten adjustments you have to make? I think there's just adjustments that you have to make when you're climbing from where we were two years ago to where we want to be and where we expect to be. And I think that's just the natural evolution

of building a national championship level roster and program. And so a lot of me thinks that whether we were going into the Big Ten or staying in the Pac-12, that we would have been making the same improvements and adjustments regardless. And so we know there's going to be some new challenges, some new opportunities. We just got done playing in what was probably the best league in the country this year. And obviously there's going to be a lot more great challenges ahead. But we're kind of focused on our progression.

We know that as we build this, we're building it with the idea to win national championships. And to do that, you have to be able to compete with and beat anybody. And so for us, it's more about to climb here at USC, and then we'll play whoever they put on the schedule. Minute left. First time you saw Patrick Mahomes in college. What did you make of it? I thought he was remarkable.

We played them a few times. So when I was at Oklahoma, we were way more talented than them, and he just willed them into staying in the games with us that they probably had no business being in. Yeah, I just, I remember that, We had the great game with him versus Mayfield in 2016 and Pat through for 700 plus yards. And I was just, I'd never seen anything like in my life. And so, yeah, it's pretty cool seeing what he's doing right now.

Yeah, seven fields is a good Saturday. So a guy that works in the scouting community, he does mock drafts. I bring him on the show once or twice a year. His dad coach, the league offensive line coach for years. He's also a radio host in Houston. He does a really good job on the draft. Like, it's his, that in the radio show rule his life, his professional life, and I think he's terrific. And he puts it out there, and I just think he's great.

I follow him a lot. So Lance Zerline has a mock draft. And so this is what's interesting. So he has the Bears taking Caleb Williams won. But I've heard this from a couple of guys I trust. There is no absolute, no consensus on the number two quarter. I think Jaden Daniels is really good. He's a little slight physically for my taste,

but he has Jaden Daniels going to Cliff Kingsbury at number two and Dan Quinn. Now, he has New England going with Marvin Harrison, meaning Gerard Mayo gives Mack Jones a year without Bill. Bill stopped talking to him as that was reported last week. So then Arizona gets the second best receiver out of Washington, Roma adunze. Roma Densee, he's really good. Saw him play twice, really good.

Drake May. Now, this is fascinating. Drake May would go to Atlanta. So, Drake May stays in the south, in a dome. Excellent skill, people. Top five O-line. The winner would be Drake May. So Washington has to rebuild their O-line with their cap space.

Falcons have a really good O-line. Probably the most under-talked about, under-discussed in the league. Top five. Giants get a tackle. a right tackle, basically saying Evan Neal was a miss. Titans feel like they've always needed a tackle. They get Joe Alt. The Chargers do need a corner, although I don't think I would draft Terry and Arnold from Bama.

I don't, I'm not a fan of drafting corners high. I'm a believer in quarterbacks, power and size early, speed later. But Arnold is the best corner, and the Chargers have Asante Samuel and need a corner. They also need, if they move off Derwin James's safety. I also think, to me, Harbaugh would go with a big strong player, a defensive tackle. Malik neighbors, interesting, interesting when I talk to the Caleb Camp. They love the idea of that second Bears pick being a weapon to go with DJ Moore. And then Bama tackle, J.C. Latham, Jets have to take a tackle.

So what jumps out to me is Drake May would benefit dropping because that situation in Atlanta is ready to cook. Running back, tight-end receiver, good O line. They're ready to win games in a wonky division. You know, Aaron Rogers fell to the stable Green Bay Packers. Dan Marino fell to Don Shula. Lamar Jackson fell to the Ravens. the guy that falls in that draft is often the winner.

If Drake May goes to Atlanta, that kid, you can't, that's a really good losing team situation. I'll say this is interesting. And one of the things to cut through all the mock drafts, I'm assuming, have quarterbacks going one, two, and three. So how to cut through is putting a non-quarterback in the top three or having someone drop. I don't, there's no way Drake May is falling to five. This is just not happening. Well, not happening. How about this?

Lance has the Patriots after getting Marvin Harrison trading back up in the first round at number 30 with the Ravens and taking Bo Nicks. So they get the quarterback, let him maybe sit behind Gerard Mell first year of a contract. Let's let him sit behind and learn the offense. But, I mean, hey, listen, Marvin Harrison is a pretty good consolation prize.

I'm going to tell you something. He's the best college receiver I've seen. There have been two college receivers I've seen that I thought Calvin Johnson and Randy Moss. Jamar Chase is close. Marvin Harrison is to me better than Calvin Johnson in college, and I thought Calvin was insane. He played for that run first Georgia Tech. So Moss is the craziest thing I've ever seen in college. Calvin was second.

I think Marvin Harrison's better than Calvin Johnson. Yeah, I'm kind of with you. Are the Chargers really trading down for a quarter? Now listen, there's a defensive tackle for Illinois, I think Harbaugh. They need a DT. I know you just said they took a wide receiver last year, but if a Duna Zay is there at five, I don't see them passing off. They need a tight end. They need a defensive tackle.

They need a defensive tackle and a tight end worse than a wide receiver. And there's wide receivers. This drafts got there everywhere. Puka Nakua, fifth round. They're everywhere. One guy. Come on. Not a lot of fifth round receivers utterly dominant like Puka.

I think you'd be, how about Tank Dell? He was very good. All right. Lance Zerlind also has Indy taking Brock Bowers at 15. That's the tight end from Georgia. Oh, I like that. Yeah. You know, it's funny.

Pittman, Taylor, Bowers, with an offensive coach, Shane Steichen, Anthony Richardson. And also young quarterbacks, tight ends are great, simpler targets underneath routes. I think Colts are a buy stock for next year. I think Lance is, uh, his, His mock drafts were as good as anybody. I've had him on my podcast.

He does a great job. Under the radar guy in Houston, terrific. By the way, he's got the Broncos, baby, taking J.J. McCarthy at 12. I think Bo Nix is better than J.J. McCarthy, but that's my opinion. Pennix is the sixth quarterback off the board. So he's got J.J. McCarthy to Sean Peyton. Woo! No Pennix first round.

Wow. Lance knows scouts. No panic's first round. Somebody in the second round. Huge value. Oh, my God. Come on. See you tomorrow.

It's the hurt. 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 home.

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