The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 3 - Looking at the NFL draft

Episode Date: March 28, 2024

The reason why QBs rise up the board before the draft Marvin Harrison Jr. is a can't miss prospect Looking at the needs teams are having before the NFL draft   Guest: Mark DominikSee 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. 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 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. 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 put on 10. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman 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 SportsRedio.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. All right, so we've been talking about Caleb Williams and others. I put up my mock draft earlier of my top 12 picks.

I do think Minnesota has two firsts. They move up. The Chargers would like to move down. I think Denver moves down from 12 to about 15, 16. I think Seattle needs a quarterback, and I think since the Seahawks have the offensive coordinator that Michael Pennix had last two years in college, one of the questions I've always had about the draft is you don't want to reach.

But when it comes down to a quarter. And a top quarterback in the league's worth like nine to 11 points. I mean, if you look at Lamar Jackson and the Ravens when he plays, when he doesn't, he's worth like 10 and a half points. Aaron Rogers in his prime worth 11 points. What was Brady worth to Belichick? I mean, look at the franchise since Tom left. So I'm not going to, I don't think I'm going to reach on a running back or a tight end.

But there are certain positions like left tackle, quarterback, a great edge rusher. How do you, you know, how do you reconcile that when you need it? They're very good and very impactful, but your scouting department has them, you know, a little lower. Mark Dominic has dealt with that before as a former GM joining us live. So let's say I'm Seattle. And Gino Smith, you know, in a division with Matt Stafford and Kyler Murray and Brock Purdy. And you're like, listen, we think we may have the fourth best quarterback, maybe third or fourth. And we like Pennix.

Our scouting department has him at 19, but he's not going to be available at 19. you tell me, were you willing to reach on an occasional position, not a round reach, but maybe eight, nine slots? Yeah, I did multiple times, but I think the quarterback won to your point, Colin, is absolutely the one where you have to get yourself comfortable of saying, that's why quarterbacks rise up the board every year at this time of the year, because if you don't have one, you realize you're in a really tough spot, not only just to try to win your division, but even get a conference ticket. And so, you know, even when I was in Tampa Bay, the quarterbacks around me were Cam Newton, Drew Brees, and Matt Ryan. That's a really miserable place to be. So you've got to find yourself a young quarterback. And so I think that's what you're seeing. That's why these quarterbacks are rising up the board. I agree with you. I think Seattle's quietly trying not to let everybody know that they're on the radar that they're going to get a quarterback. But I think Seattle absolutely is the team I have my eye on that's going to go make a move. So I have argued this with a guy like Panics. I know he had injuries at Indiana. I know that, Mark. But sometimes,

I lease a car, I don't buy it. Sometimes I rent. I can't be bad at quarterbacker. We all get fired in a year. And if panics didn't get hurt at Washington, he's a big kid who throws a ball. He's a pocket guy, really. Does everybody have to be Brady? Could you talk yourself into saying, guys, we're not great at quarterback. We don't have anybody in this room. We lost Drew Locke. There's Gino. We think for four years he can stabilize and elevate the position. How much do injuries come into it? Well, it does. Think back this way, right?

Joe Burrow came into college or through high school, into college, and then in the NFL with injury history, right? And it's kind of plagued them a little bit in the National Football League. The difference is Michael Pennix, I think, has a worse physical, like a worse entering injury history than he does coming out of college than I think even Joe Burrow had. And I think that's making teams a little skeptical to say, can I get this guy? Now, I do say this. as you just said, we just recently saw the coaches photo at the owners meeting, right?

And every year there's eight new coaches sitting out there. If you can know that you have a starting quarterback for four or five, six years, that's a longevity time in the national football league. And so I can understand it. The big thing on Michael Pennix, as I've lived through that too, with John Gruden and Chris Sims, is do you want a left-handed quarterback in your system? And how hard does that make everything change, even if you like the talent of the players? So those are two things, I think, that are working against Michael Pennix,

a little bit that may actually have him drop down the board a little bit more than people think. Marvin Harrison's dad was very reluctant to talk, a very unique personality. Would you consider that as his son doesn't do the Combine Pro Days? It's a little contrary into the marketplace. Would you consider that? So I don't worry about that whatsoever. You know, I saw the recent article about Dion Sanders talking about his son and his team trying to pick where they're going to go.

I really do kind of think that maybe what Marvin Harrison seniors doing with his son is how do I get you ready for the first season in the national football league instead of like how high can you jump vertically? What's your 20 shuttle? What's your 10 time? And so I can see that being the new trend that this is the trend. When it's a guy like this, it really is a can't miss prospect. The only way he misses is injury somehow to derail his career.

But everything else about Harrison shows that he's going to be great. I think this is a trend you might see faster than you see the Dionne Sanders saying, I want to pick my team. That's interesting. Yeah, I mean, the reality is the combine is a little bit of a TV show, and so I've never been too harsh on guys who miss it. You know, when you had Rahim Morris in Tampa, so Rahim is one of the new young defensive coordinators. He's not old school, that he's aware of offense. he and McVeigh were very close. So I could see him.

McVeyo was like Kirk Cousin. So did Shanahan. I think there's these new defensive coordinators, Dimeeco Ryans, Raheim Morris. They're not Vic Fangio or maybe a Mike Zimmer. Like they understand, they're not allergic to offense. They understand the sensibility. Give me your thoughts because I think Kirk Cousins,

in Atlanta in that division, has tremendous value. You put him in. the AFC West with Mahomes and Herbert Harbaugh-Ree, not as much. But do you, is that something you'd consider and go, hey, in this division, Kirk Cousins is our, he is our Herbert. He is our Josh Allen. Yeah, I see it that way too. I think that's why I made a lot of sense for Atlanta to go do this, let alone trying to figure out how good is Drake London, how good is really Kyle Pitts, and let's get a quarterback in here that's thrown for 4,000 yards consistently, throws for 30 touchdowns consistently.

And it's just a matter of like them continue with Beyond Robinson, what he can do, as well as having maybe the eighth pick. If they decide, hey, look, we'll take neighbors. And now we're going to just score tons of points. Even though we have Rondell Moore and other players around here, you could see this becoming an offensive juggernaut fast in an NFC South division. That's wide open. I mean, Tampa won at 9 and 8.

Certainly the Saints are meddling around with Carr and having a chance too. But I think this puts it land in the driver's seat. They could also just do a little bit more on defense. but this league is about scoring points, as you know, Colin. We just saw rules coming down from the Rules Committee. How can we let teams score more points? They continue to do it. And so Atlanta's buying into that trend by getting Kirk Cousins

and giving themselves the pole position, I think, in the NFC South. So I said earlier on Caleb Williams, there are things I look for in quarterbacks. For instance, you talk a lot to the media. Right after games, Eli Manning was a master of this. And on the Wednesday presser, lower the heat, defuse the noise, compliment teammates, send a message. Brady used to do radio in New England on Monday. It wasn't for the money. He created the message for the week. Big Ben did this in Pittsburgh.

I think it's very smart. Your fingernails, the color of your phone, who you date, what you wear. I don't care. Everybody, I think Caleb Williams is an artistic quarterback. He's a bit of a playmaker. He can be a little artistic guy. He's got a flare. He's got a flare. he's a little, all this stuff about the color of his phone is nail, Pauli. I don't care. Are those things even considered by a front office? No, I mean, I don't care about those kind of things at all. But what I do care is the character of the kid.

And as you listen, there are things that make me a little bit nervous, not about drafting him as a talent, not about drafting for the Chicago Bears. My concern is he's used words like, I want to be immortal, my gold jacket. I'm just afraid that Caleb Williams may walk in the national football league and think it's easy and it's not. And so as long as he doesn't have that, that's the one thing I'm trying to figure out right now with Caleb Williams. I'm the Bears and I bring into my facility. I spend the nine people there at the pro day. I just want to make sure Caleb Williams understands how hard it's actually going to be to be that successful in the NFL because it is that hard to be that good.

But I could care less what his fingernails are. I want to go out on Sunday and help us win games and score points and be that leader that we need on the football field. He can be who he wants to be off. When you went into a draft, I mean, I think it's pretty obvious the Chargers, we can put my mock draft up, guys, if you want. I think the Chargers want to go down. They have to get a center, a receiver, a tight end, a right tackle, a corner. They have five or six needs, right? Like, it's very obvious they have.

So I do think Minnesota needs a quarterback. Chargers need picks. That makes sense. I think Denver, by the way, wants a quarterback, but could get Bow Nix at 13, 14, 15, 16. they need some players. When you went into a draft, let's say you're the Chargers and you want to move down, what if you just, you get an offer and it is more picks? I mean, do you make up your mind going in?

Guys, we're going to move down if they can get close to what we want. I mean, what do you think the Chargers are thinking with what they want to move down? Because they got two fours. They would love to have two firsts. Have you ever been in a room where the old? owner, stubborn, you're more willing or vice versa. How does it work? Oh, it can work that way. I think there's a couple of things, Colin, that I looked at when I was GM. Number one, you look at your first round talent of your entire board, right, and where the drop-offs are. So you may have,

you've got the four quarterbacks that you're not worried about that are going to go in the top 10. So you take those out of the equation. And you sit there and say, okay, of the other players, how many do I have as elite talent that I think? And if that's six or seven guys, then ideally, you don't move past 11, but you would take less to get down to 11 because you still. know you're going to come away with the person that's going to be what you think is an elite starter, somebody's going to have an instant impact. Then you find the next level down and maybe that's six or seven more players. And now you're trying to get more towards what the draft value actually is because I'm really willing to maybe have to drop back a little bit to understand that

I get the value what I really think of the pick is to move from where I am further back in the draft to 14, 15 or 16. You know, I was fortunate one time, a long time ago back in Tampa where we had the six pick, move back to 12, and then move back up to eight and selected work done. So we were able to pick up extra pick and actually move up from a fourth to a third and still get the guy we wanted at six. You can look at it that way. There's a lot of games you have to play and simulate internally that I think are really important for obviously Joe Hortz and his opportunity to do what you're talking about with the charges right now. 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 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, 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 conversation. 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 Clivert 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. 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 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 it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived 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 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, 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. and years from black people in American history.

Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You know, this one is something I think about. Romo Dunzee is really focused. They say really adult. No distractions. If I'm a Jets or the Giants, that's very attractive. The Jets are a noisy franchise now. I think about that stuff.

Whereas LSU players, historically, it's a big program. They own the town. They come in with personality. I think neighbors is great. But if you told me I get either in New York, I may go with the slightly less dynamic receiver whose rep is quiet, focus. And that's nothing against neighbors. He's going to go top.

He's a remarkable player. But did you think about stuff like that? Somebody told me years ago, if you're in a port city like Miami or New Orleans, character matters more. They're livelier at night. Did you think about that stuff? Yeah, I mean, in Tampa, we had to think about those things as well in terms of, like, can this person handle the community that he's going to be around?

And that's an important thought. Or, you know, I'm sure other clubs, other organizations, I started with Kansas City, with the chiefs, you know, middle of the country kind of thing. You know, that you had a different mindset. But also it's a fundamental across your brain in terms of what kind of team are you building. So you look at those things. But, you know, when you look at neighbors and I agree with you, I think, he's an elite talent. The one thing that scouts are when you watch the tape a little bit on him,

too, you're sitting there going, elite speed, I don't know if I feel that. You know, I feel good speed. That's where Rome, I think, actually has a leg up on him a little bit. So as much as I think neighbors can be that Anquan Bolden catch 100 balls and be a great player. Rome does have, I think, the elite speed that you're really kind of looking for as well as a very quiet and very methodical type of mentality. Yeah. And I love that. And I think that's going to make Rome a really good player at the next level. I don't feel like you're stretching or reaching. You know, I love, you know, Corey Davis, a great kid coming out of college, but I don't feel like you're pulling a Corey Davis if you take Rome.

You're taking a really good player who knows what his business is and gets it done every week. Mark Dominic, questions about the draft. How is it viewed through the prism of a GM? Mark is always a good seeing you again, my man. I appreciate it. Good to see you, Colin. Yeah, that's, you know, this years ago, I had an executive tell me there are certain cities, New York, a port city, New Orleans, Miami, Los Angeles.

You got more nightlife. It's a whole different ballgame. You go to the middle of the country. So some cities, you know, they're for 21-year-old, 22, 23-year-old guys, single out there, got a lot of money. Like, I get it. You got to think about everything. I mean, Odell Beckham in New York, a little bit, you know, like he fed into big personality, sort of the city. So it's not the end of the world, but I think I've said this before.

Everything is something. Nothing is everything. J-Mack with a news. No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right, let's go back to Jaden Daniels for a moment, because something is popped here in the last couple hours.

There are reports that Jaden Daniels is highly coveted by the Las Vegas Raiders. Now, Antonio Pierce has a connection to him dating back to Arizona, date, recruited him there. Devante Adams looked to endorse the young fellow on Instagram. Well, they need a quarterback. And I don't know. That's an interesting one because, again, they have a star receiver. Too good defensive linemen.

Yeah, no, left tackle, Colton Miller. I actually think they need a bit of a playmaker. I don't think that's a terrible move for the Raiders. Well, the problem is it's going to cost you a lot of draft capital to move up to three. Okay, but once you get the quarterback right, it's a, listen, San Francisco whiffed on, you know, on Trey. We've seen quarterbacks with all the time. It's amazing when you get it right,

how it erases a lot of your soft spots. Okay, you're going to have to give up multiple picks to get to three. Okay, all right. It's not like you're graphing. It's not like the Raiders roster's good. They're not adding Jaden Daniels and being a contender for a playoff spot this year or next year. First of all, I think they have the 13th pick, right? Yeah.

So how much do you have to give up to go to three? A lot. You have to give up. You have to flip picks. him a second next year's first and maybe a third. Again, if Jaden Daniels can play in a dome in that environment. I'm okay trading up if you're close. The Niners traded up for Trey Lance when they were close.

It bombed spectacularly, but they found a quarterback, and the roster was close, so they were okay. The Raiders aren't close. I think you can make an argument if you're New England. We're going to trade back to number 13. We can get Bo Nicks there. The bottom line is New England, outside of Carolina. may have the worst offensive roster in the league.

They need dudes, like badly. And so you go down to 13. Again, if I'm New England, I have Jacoby Brissette, you're going to win six games. I'm New England. I go down to 13 and get multiple picks. Then I go down to 15, get another. I can get it all ramped up. And then next year, instead of drafting a quarterback, New England,

because Jared Mayo's first year, he's not under pressure, then I can go get a free agent quarterback. I think that's very attractive. The Raiders have to, they, They've had a bad stretch. They got to win. There's no equity with the fans. You've got to win games.

You can't just say you've got to win games. They don't have the talent. They don't have the personnel. What if Jaden Daniels comes in and is running around? By the way, little spindly, I like him indoors, more than I'd like him on Foxborough. Let me just ask this.

Devante Adams has been chirpy in Vegas, right? He went there. There was a lot of chatter. You know, he wasn't happy and being moved away from his guy. Aaron Rogers. Very productive. Okay. As you and I know,

They're not winning this year next year. Do you just say, listen, man, we don't need this noise from Devante. Let's just flip him, get some more draft picks, and just start over. Let's move up. Not a lot of Devante Adams on the market. I mean, Devonte Adams or Stefan Diggs? Who are you going for? Drew, Devante Adams.

I would agree. So I would move off Adams. I think Justin Jefferson's the only absolute receiver in the league I'd move off one. Jamar Chase and Devonte are both great. I wouldn't. I mean, Devante Adams, to me, is top three in the league. And I'm not even sure I'd move him for getting up there. What is he 30, 31, man.

He's got another, I got two, three big years. You're not winning in the next year or two. So once you move off him, get what you can, and then start the rebuild. Like, I don't know, man. I'm more of the, if you're a bad team and you're not going anywhere, just rebuild instead of like trying to put a Band-Aid on a gaping wound. Next up, Jonathan Gannon enters his second season with the Cardinals. This year, he'll have a healthy Kyler Murray from day one.

And Gannon believes that Kyler's best days are ahead of him, and Colin Calhurt's going to love this. Being in the spring and going through spring, it's really going to help his development within our system with him as a player. I mean, we changed the stance, how he took the snap. You know what I mean? And he took to it. He understands the why behind it, and he likes it now. But, you know, he's going to bank all those reps in spring. So, you know, that's why I say his best football is ahead of him, which is interesting.

to say because he's played at such a high level, but I really think that he's going to keep doing that. Go ahead. This is your opportunity. Speak glowingly about how Kyler-Marie. He throws a great deep ball. That's your line. He throws the prettiest ball in the league. Prettiest ball in the league. Whatever that's worth.

Here's their receiving room. Michael Wilson, who Hushman Zada works with and speaks very highly up. Greg Dorch, Chris Moore, Zach Pascal. This might be the weakest. And Marvin Harrison. Okay. Yeah. And then you go get another one in the fifth round.

Don't they have a bunch of picks? But the left tackle, Paris Johnson had a really good year. Gannon outperformed expectations. They have the quarterback. They have the left tackle. They have the running back and they have a tight end I like. Go get Marvin Harrison. And I think they're, I think Arizona is going to be one of my.

What? You bet they're over? Go ahead. What is the over under? Six and a half? Yeah. I'll take the over. So you start of O and four.

They're not beating the Niners. They're not beating the Rans. So start the moving forward. You're going to upset the Niners, week one. Cowherd, come on. Seriously. I think Arizona's going to be a tough out. Tough to get out of the cellar, you mean?

You'd be the jerk. Final story. Okay. I love this story. The Houston Rockets, Colin, they're on a heater. Ten straight. Now, listen, last night against OKC, they're down five with like two minutes left. Jalen Green and company,

takeover. They win it in overtime. Listen, man, I know we don't talk about the Houston Rockets much on this show, but Jalen Green is just doing ungodly things lately, 37, 10, and 7 last night. He is having just a spectacular month. I told you to buy stock in this team when they hired that coach who was runoff in Boston for the affair or whatever he had. There's a lot of talent on the team. Fred Van Fleet was a really smart move and they are breathing down the necks. Well, they're also, let's be honest, there is an advantage to being a young team. So they start this winning streak. And first of all, the bottom of the NBA is not very talented.

So you beat some bad teams because you have more talent. They're also young, so they play hard every night. Young teams play hard every night. They don't always play great every night. They play hard. And then also, a lot of times when they play a good team, you know, you kind of look at the rockets and you rest a starter or two. That is not to say it's not a captivating group of players. Because we all thought they would start hitting kind of next year.

Yeah. And they've gotten hot. But in the NBA, you've got to be careful about winning streaks. Who have they beaten? Because the bottom third of this league is bad. Well, SGA didn't play last night. Yeah, so the good teams are going to rest starters against Houston. So you can start picking it.

And I think it's great for their team and their city. But you've got to be careful about winning streaks in the NBA. I mean, you have like two great teams, Boston and Denver. Eight teams I like most in the West. Then there's a lot of nonsense. Well, it's weird. The Rockets have the kids Shengoon, the center from Turkey, who when he went down, they were like,

oh, everybody thought they were done. They've played better since he's been out. Listen, they're probably too young to do anything, but in a play-in setting with this young, bouncy, exciting team. If I'm the Lakers, I feel the Rockets more than I do, Steph Curry and the Warriors, honestly. Oh, come on. In the playoffs.

Dylan Brooks running his mouth. Dylan Brooks had a pretty solid game last night. I think rockets are dangerous. You can let scoff at them. They have one more hit-to-head matchup with the Warriors. And if they win that game... When is that? I think it's April 3rd, maybe.

I will be out of the country, so I'll try to pick it up on your Fubo account. But just beware the Houston Rockets. I got to talk nice about Houston. Remember, I laughed at the Texans and they made the playoffs. I'm a Houston guy now. A lot of cities don't like you. I've had to curry favor with those cities to try to repair the damage you've created. Chicago, Houston.

What are the other ones? Seattle. Coast to coast. Coast to coast. You make enemies. The most hated man in sports media. Yes, I can't love it. Jay Mack with the news.

Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd lie news. Back in L.A. in a second. It's the herd. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd. Weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. 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 Phelph, 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 you're saying. Yep, that's me, CliverTaylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need. to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George

Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jek. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick 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 was 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. Then you're finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. 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. All right, J-Mack, baseball opening day. Cross your fingers on Otani. I just hope that thing goes away. Can you give me your World Series picks real quick?

Braves against the Astros. Who's winning? Braves. I'll go Yankees over the Dodgers. Oh, come on. In the series, everybody wants to see. That would be... Dodgers pitching worries me a little bit. Plus this whole thing with Otani's.

I think we're past it. He's going to be fine, right? Well, I mean, I think you and I are past it. Well, we're realists. Well, I think you and I don't view gambling. As long as he didn't bet on baseball, you and I aren't going to get all worked up over it. There's zero evidence he did that.

That's right. There's zero evidence. Okay. I'm not presented with some. Sorry, that's going to be my day. And by the way, people pushing back on this. I guarantee you Otani has business account, not a personal checking account. And this is not like your bank statement or my bank statement.

He has got multiple either S-Corps, LLCs. He's not looking at his bank account. This is not like even a wealthy American who makes a half a million a year, somebody that has a great life. It's well beyond. Otani is a corporation. He's making 10 million a year on endorsements overseas. That's just.

Forget the 500 million he's making from the Dodgers. He's not looking at his checking account. He's probably has eight different checking accounts, a business one. He's not looking at any of them. The only cause for concern, mildly, is the whole Tiger Woods thing that unraveled on him. Tiger Woods gave the projection that I'm a loving husband and father and all this stuff. And meanwhile, he's like juggling all these women coast to coast and like it got really bad for him. I can't imagine that Otani's embroiling something really ugly.

done. Yeah, same here. You know, it's an election year. No. Decision 2024. So we thought today we do Division, Decision, 24, rank after all the free agency with the draft coming up, rank the divisions, coaching hires done, free agency done, rank the divisions in terms of strength. Are you ready to go? Sure. So I would say number one is AFC North. With Russell Wilson coming in, the quarterbacks are Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Russell Wilson, and Deshawn Watson. It had the highest winning percentage by any division last season. Three of the four teams made the playoffs, and that was without Joe Burrow playing down the stretch. So I think that's become the best division in football.

Number two to me, and I really love this division, three offensive coaches, NFC North, Lions, Packers, Vikings, and I don't know if Iber Fluse Lass, I don't know, but Chicago's got a really interesting roster now. Young ascending teams. I would say the best young offensive talent in football is in this division. Jordan Love, over the last eight to ten weeks, was one of the best quarterbacks in football. Go ask the Cowboys defense and Dan Quinn about Jordan Love at the end of the season.

Number three, I still like the NFC West. I think Shanahan and McVeigh are two of the best. coaches, and then you have two very sharp defensive coaches. Now, the Seahawks are still searching for a franchise quarterback, but Gino Smith has been more than capable. He made Pro Bowls. So I think, I think, and again, Kyler Murray, Matt Stafford, and regardless of how much of a game manager he is, Brock Purdy can certainly move the chains. So I would think of the eight, that's the third best division. I think the AFC East, since Josh Allen and Buffalo is a really good football team.

Tuas in a contract year. So even though I think they're defense will step back, if they hit on some draft picks, Miami's going to score if they've got Tua, Jalen Waddle, Tyreek Hill, and Mike McDaniel. And Aaron Rogers comes back with an improved offensive line, and I think they go out and grab a really good receiver with their first pick. So New York, if Aaron can be upright, will be a viable eight-nine win team. I would go to the

AFC South. I don't think the AFC South will have a great team. I think most divisions have a really, really high-end team. But I do think Houston's young. I think Trevor Lawrence coming back off injury. Anthony Richardson, I am so geek to watch

play with Shane Steichen. And I don't know about Will Levis, but they're going to go get a tackle to protect him. I think it's one of the more interesting divisions because I have three super young quarterbacks and Trevor Lawrence, who I think has to take a leap this year. So I think the AFC South, I don't think you have a bad team in the division. Tennessee, if Will Levis, can move the chains a little, maybe, but I think the Colts,

the Jags and the Texans will be fun to watch. I think the AFC West is lower than people would think because the Raiders and the Broncos don't have quarterbacks. So I think it's real top-heavy and at the bottom, I don't know what's happening. Chargers, I think, are going to have immediate success. They're going to have to hit on some draft picks. I suspect with Harbaugh, right out of college they will. I actually am very fascinated to see what both Denver and the Raiders do with their quarterback situation. Number seven, a very popular division at Fox is the NFC East.

I think, once again, the Eagles have to go with two new coordinators. Dallas, I feel, is perilously thin, very, very top-heavy. I don't think they'll be as good this year. The Giants are a bit of a mess. Commanders have a defensive coach and a rookie. quarterback coming in. I think commanders will be tasty and interesting, but certainly not good. And I think eighth, and this happens, it feels like about every other year, is the NFC South. Maybe it's because the SEC is so popular, the lack of passion. It's just not a great division.

I do think Kirk Cousins to Atlanta, you know, you go win some games there. Baker Mayfield, J. Mack thinks he could regress a little. I think he is what he is. Carolina is a mess. Dennis Allen week one on the hot seat there so Derek Carr been a bit disappointing Dennis Allen very disappointing and there you go

those that's my division decision 2024 you know I like how you went on a limb here with the AFC North at the top I think every team finished above 500 last year so and Steelers will be better

gutsy call by you there to well you want me to be right or just interesting I don't know. What are you? I want interesting. So earlier I had Joel Clatt on. So Joel Clatt for the last two, three years, he done Michigan every other week. And I said, what do you make a J.J. McCarthy flying up the draft boards? Just to give you some level of backing on, I saw him a lot. I saw him 16 times the last three seasons.

You know, when you watch first and second down, you get lulled into the Michigan way and the Michigan philosophy and their schematics, Colin. they're going to run the football and they're going to do what Michigan does. And then on third down, a lot of it was like, okay, JJ, now it's in your court. And the reason that they went 15 and 0 and the reason that they won the national championship was that they had a player that could go above the X's and O's in the moments that they needed him to, namely on third down and third and long. And when you watch those cutups, you can you can immediately see and feel why these GMs and decision makers in the NFL are falling in love with J.J. McCarthy. Yeah. I mean, Clatt saw a lot of them. And there is a huge difference between watching an NBA game on TV and watching it live and watching a game on TV.

And Joel's up there. He can see the secondary. It's just, I thought Nick Wright had an interesting point. He said, I watched a lot of Michigan football the last couple of years. And I never thought, I thought they had a great coach, a great run game, a great defense, a great own line. I never thought, wow, they also have a first round quarterback. Is that J.J. McCarthy, when I watch, if you gave me the reasons they're winning games, I mean, the reason they've, be to Ohio State the last two, three years.

Physicality up front. Better old lines, more physical run game. And Harbaugh is brilliant. I never thought it was J.J. McCarthy. So, but the question because Mark Dominic talked about this, and Mark said he did. I think on quarterback, if you don't have one and you got to get one, I'm not asking you to take a second round guy in the first. But if my guys have him at 18th and I got the eighth pick, I'm going to go with it. If he comes across the first round, like Bo Nicks, a lot of people say top of the second. Well, Denver needs a quarterback.

And if they move back a couple of times and go to 16, they need a quarterback. They got to get one. So I think quarterback's a position. The other position is to me like left tackle. If you can find a left tackle and you have him at 24th on your board and your 12th, and he's the only one that grades out as the first round. I'll make up stuff on the other end of the draft, but there are certain positions in this league.

Quarterback left tackle and edge rusher. I think sometimes you have to reach a little. So, you know, I've been bullish on McCarthy for a while. Do you remember the Alabama playoff game? I was hyping the heck out of my bet his props. I think his first pass. Remember on the sideline was intercepted, but the guy's like toe was out of bounds or whatever.

And I was instantly like, oh my gosh, I whiffed on McCarthy. And to watch him rebound from that early awful pick. and fourth quarter drive was clutch, overtime was clutch. McCarthy, I know Nick said he never thought he had a first round quarterback watching Michigan, but the tools and the traits matter more than what he's doing on the field sometimes in college.

And we've seen that bear out. No, we have. A little bit of fake weight at the combine, but... What, water weight? Whatever weight. We will see you tomorrow. Live in L.A., it's the Hurst. 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 I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. 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, 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 Clivert Show on the IHeard 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. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.