The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 3 - Marcedes Driving Packers To Possible Playoff Birth

Episode Date: December 27, 2022

In this hour of The Herd, Packer tight end Marcedes Lewis stops by to chat about his surging Green Bay team, having a long career in the NFL, his relationship with quarterback Aaron Rodgers and how he has mentored Green Bay's young players on offense. Finally, a rousing edition of "True or False Tuesday."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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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.

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Here we go. Here we go. hour number three. We are live. We're in Los Angeles. The show is called The Herd. Wherever you may be, however you may be listening, IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, FS1. Jay Mack and I have got an hour left.

Then we're going to go hang out with our families for a couple days. Then Jay Mack and I are back for Friday and our picks. You've already got your picks. I've already got most of my picks. Are you doing Seattle Jets? Will that find your card, Colin? I listen to a lot of smart people, yourself included. I weigh things I've got.

I always tell you, there's always two. to three picks I love, and then I wait for the market to develop. I wait for people I trust to talk me into it. I listen to you. I listen to my buddy Chad Millman. I take advice, but there's always two or three. I called it Blazing Five. I should have called it Blazing Three. Because I've always got three picks every week I love. And then at the end, you're kind of trying to find something, but maybe we'll tweak it someday. But now it's called Blazing Five. I've been doing it 10, 12 years. It is what it is. Hats off, by the way now. Yes. It's off. Happy holidays for all of you out there. I know it's been brutal for many of you, so we hope you're to your destination, heading there, already there, and best of you and your family.

Mercedes-Louis of the Packers in 15 minutes, they are playing really well. They get two home teams at Lambo. I cannot wait to watch the Packers going forward. So Justin Herbert and the Chargers beat the awful Colts last night. L.A. starting to remind me a little of the Dallas Cowboys, a team loaded with individual talent, but I'm not sure they're buttoned up enough to succeed in the playoffs. Chargers, they don't put teams away. Do they have the right coach? I don't want to hear about injuries.

Hell, everybody's injured. Philadelphia is injured. San Francisco, Baltimore. Everybody's injured. Stop whining about injuries. 11 of the 16 Charger games have been decided by a score. That's it. And last night leaves me unsatisfying.

20 to 3. 20 points against that Colts team with three turnovers. That team's awful. That team is awful. And the Chargers aren't. They're really, really good. Well, the injuries. The last three weeks, they've had both of their star receivers,

they've had Austin Echler, who's unbelievable. They have had Justin Herbert slinging it all over the field, and you know what they've averaged offensively last three weeks? 20 points. They're one and four against playoff teams. But they won last night. Yeah, the dumb fan always thinks winning solves everything in losing is the end of the world. The opposite is true.

You have to be a critical thinker at some point in an organization and say, why aren't we scoring more? Yes, Brandon Staley got the Chargers into the playoffs. That's a bare minimum. And the good news is his defense after two years finally playing better, and Joey Bosa may return to practice this week. But they doubled the Colts in first downs. The Colts had three turnovers.

They tripled them in yards per pass. They dominated time of possession. And at the end, it was Chargers 20 Colts 3. Bingles, Chiefs, Bill's, Eagles, wouldn't that have been 30 to 3? I know, I'm nitpicking. That's what you have to do as a good organization. You have to be able to look at wins.

Doesn't Sean Payton always say that on this show? The best time to coach is a win that should have been far greater. I don't doubt the Chargers' ability to beat a Jacksonville or a Tennessee. Miami in the playoffs. They can win a lot of games, right? But here's my thing. Of all the other great young quarterbacks in their prime, are they? Mahomes, I trust Andy Reed in the weapons and the GM.

Burrough, he got great weapons that keep adding to him. Josh Allen, he inherited a great defense. Justin Herbert, first coach, fired, second coach, defensive coach. And it's just now at the end of year two, it does look. like the defense is finally playing. It was awful last year and mostly awful this year. It's finally getting to the level a defensive coach that has great talent should do. So I just always feel like with the Chargers, they leave points on the table, it's unsatisfying. This Colts team is an absolute mess. It's run by the owner now. They got rid of a really good

coach. He'll be the first guy to get a job, I imagine. They just like the Cowboys, don't quite feel buttoned up. I know Dallas is talented. I know the Chargers are talented. And I know they've dealt with a lot of injuries. But the last three weeks, that offense, all the stars are back, right? Except their left tackle. Guess what?

Now the Eagles are without their Hall of Fame right tackle. It's pro football. It's 300-pound guys tackling each other. You've got to fight through the injuries. Now, the good news is Herbert's healthy, Eckler's healthy, Keenan Allen's healthy. Bosa's coming back and they got into the playoffs. So there are positive vibes here.

But the standard for Burrough, Mahomes, Allen is way greater than, hey, they got into the playoffs. I think the Chargers have let Justin Herbert down to this point. Blame who you want. I don't care. Here was the coach after. We've got the makeup. to withstand the type of season that we've had. You know, and I think that we would not be here today

if it weren't for the toughness of our football team, the makeup of our football team. And I think for far too long, people have talked about the talent of this football team and the organization. And that's ultimately not what gets you where you want to go. You have to prove your toughness. And that's what we've proven so far this year.

I know you're saying, Colin, it's the holidays, it's negative. But with all that talent and just, Justin Herbert setting NFL records for two years, do you realize last night, finally, he has a winning record in the league? Finally? I don't think I'm being harsh. I think the standard for Burrow and Allen and Mahalms, and I think Herbert's in that class, maybe I'm overvaluing his talent.

But everybody I trust in the league, I trust my eyes, I trust smart people, I trust executives, he's finally over 500. It just feels like it should have happened a lot earlier, and deep down, I have caution going into these playoffs with these chargers. Okay, so it broke yesterday. I was in an airport that Nathaniel Hackett had been fired. And so here's the obvious stuff. You know, sometimes guys just aren't ready.

He's probably an offensive coordinator or a play caller. He probably didn't have nearly as much experience in Green Bay as we thought. And so now he's out of work. We wish him the best. There are a lot of people insinuating that Sean Payton, the best coach available, would be interested. I know Sean a little. Here are the four things. I don't want to speak for Sean Payton.

But here are the four things to consider for whatever coach is hired. Number one, ownership. You can't overcome a lousy owner. What do we know about the Walmart group? You've got different people standing up and talking. Which one is your boss? That's uncertainty. There's no history here.

That's not a turn on. I can tell you that. Number two is, who's your quarterback? You know I like Russell Wilson. I defend Russell Wilson. Is he washed? Sometimes cringy? Does he get along with teammates?

Nobody really knows. but the Broncos are stuck with his contract. So I don't know what you do with Russell Wilson, but you're stuck with him. It's not ideal. His salary cap hit is egregious. Number three, the general manager. That would be Sean Payton's boss. He doesn't know him.

His best friend in the world is Mickey Loomis, his former Saints GM. Golfing buddies, vacation buddies. He told me they've never had a single argument during a draft or a game. He doesn't know, George Payton. By the way, the Walmart group No. Potentially very capable. Slow horses.

Certainly very rich. We don't know. So I don't know about the ownership group. I don't know about my quarterback. And I don't know about my GM. If he has another bad year, the new owners may just get rid of them. And number four, cap space, draft capital. We can join those two?

Not good. So can you text me the name of it? Not good. So remember. anybody in the world, man or woman, who is really talented, has a great resume, will have options as they sit and wait for things to open. What they will not like, man or woman, is uncertainty. The owners don't really know him. The GM, owners didn't hire him.

Don't really know him. The quarterback, is he washed, or is it the coaching? I'm not really sure. Draft capital. Draft picks. Not great. I don't think this is the job people in that area believe it is. I mean, I'll be honest with you.

The GM thing, you've got to work with them hand in hand. That's really the key in this whole thing. If you're a coach, you may have a little bit of a zany owner, but if you have a great GM and that owner has hired that GM, that feels pretty good. this group didn't hire this GM. Also, not that it's a huge deal, but do you want to play Patrick Mahomes twice a year? Sean Payton, most coaches are competitive, players are competitive, but there's other quarterbacks I'd rather face two times a year.

Mahomes is not one of them and an emerging Justin Herbert. So that's where we stand on a Tuesday. I do believe Frank Reich is the person I would hire. I do not think you can go with a young coach. Sometimes another organization's mistake is your benefit. I think the Colts made a mistake firing Frank Reich. I would hire him, veteran coach, try to figure out Russell Wilson. If it doesn't work, you may have to eat a lot of dead cap money.

But for those speculating that, it seems highly unlikely. Nobody in this era ultra-competitive wants to eat 100 plus million of dead cap money. That just makes no sense. I believe the Broncos have to take some of their defensive pieces. They're loaded. Move those for draft capital or players. the offensive line and try to become the Tennessee Titans. Find a smart coach, have a great defense, dominating O front and a run game so you don't have to be great at quarterback. And you can still

want a bunch of games in this league. There's a lot of bad coaches and a lot of bad quarterbacks and a lot of bad organizations. You got a defense, a smart coach, good online, good run game. Tennessee was the number one seed in the NFL last year in the FC. You can do that. But the Sean Peyton stuff. I'm not speaking for Sean, but uncertainty for talented people on the beach waiting for openings is the killer for a job. And there's just way too much of it with the Broncos. By the way, Broncos owners could be great, but he already knows Gail Benson is great. I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility that Sean Payton would sit back if the Saints could get the right quarterback. He'd go back to the owner he loves, the GM he loves. I don't think

that's crazy. He loves New Orleans. That's not on the table, I don't think, but I do know that ownership in this league, if you look at the organizations, in my adult life that have struggled, Washington, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, what do they have in common? Some have quarterback, some, it's usually upstairs. And that's not saying Walmart group couldn't be great. That's not what I'm saying. But there's uncertainty. You just don't know. You don't really know. And of course, J. Mack broke this story earlier to me is that one of the owners has already said,

the coach, the next coach will report to me, not the GM. If I'm Sean Payton, that is not a deal breaker. I have no interest in that at all. All right, Mercedes-Lewis, Packers, round the corner. It's the herd. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays at 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 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, Unterman.

filtered 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 blow your mind on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Well, he's one of my favorite guys. He was drafted first round of the Jags in 2006. 17 years later, he's still playing.

Jason Witton, Tony Gonzalez, and Mercedes-Lewis. Those are the three longest-lasting tight ends of all time. And Mercedes-in has become the blocking phenom for the... the Packers, I think it's so funny. Every time they do a Packer game, all these announcers are like, look at that block by Mercedes-Lewis. God, I love his commitment to blocking. I did see you make a catch recently, and I thought Mercedes is sitting there thinking, throw me the rock, I can catch too, right? One hundred percent. I mean, as long as you've known me and we've had a relationship, you know, I've always told you it's all about me maximizing my potential, whatever it is that I'm doing

on the field. So, you know, trying to be the best tight-in, best all-around tight-in that I could be is what it's always been about for me. So I could do a little bit of both. There you go, my man. And you look fantastic. You're healthy and you've only missed, let me look this up here. You've missed one game over the last six years. So usually at this time, Green Bay is a playoff team. We know where they're going to be at home. Okay, this year, you know, young receivers, scrapping, injuries, now you've got to play your way in. Is there an argument that is now an underdog that's got to play your way in? It's kind of a different cool feel for this team.

It's kind of a nice little vibe for a change. Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, the last few years, you know, we've kind of gotten spoiled. Obviously, you know, we put the work in the last few years to be in that spot. But I think that, you know, in the position that we've, you know, in a position that we've, are now. I mean, our back is to the wall and, you know, there's no real expectations for us. And so, you know, we're on

the path to just getting better every day. And wherever that lands us, we'll be fine with that. But, you know, just making sure we put our best product out there every time we step on the field is what it's been about and taking it one day at a time. Okay, I'm going to level a criticism at Matt LaFleur

and you can push back. It is so it is hard when you have Aaron Rogers or a Mahomes. It is is very easy to forget about the run game. I get it. I totally get it. You got Joe Burrow slinging stuff out there. It's so easy to get an eight-yard completion.

I do feel at times Matt gets away from Aaron Jones and that I think this team is best served, 55-45-running. You're the best run-blocking tight end, certainly in a class. I think Aaron Jones is unbelievable. Bakhtiari. Is it a fair criticism that sometimes you guys get a little pretty and you're really built to be more physical. Yeah, I think that, I mean, obviously, I'm not the coach nor the coordinator,

so I can't really speak to, you know, as far as percentages. But I know that, you know, when I come to the sideline and I feel like, you know, whether there's a law and what we're doing out there or we just lose that rhythm. Yeah. That running the ball is going to get us back on that rhythm. And what I will say about Matt, he's always pulled me aside and say, hey, look, if you feel like, you know, there's some runs out there that we need to be running or, you know, different things that we need to be doing to kind of establish that dominance in the

run game and let me know. So he's always been open to suggestions when it comes to the run game if we're not running enough. But I've always been an advocate of Aaron Jones and giving him the rock, whether it's in the run game, the screen game, flexing them out, throwing him the ball. I mean, the guy is, he's special. You know, it's interesting. You're really a thinking man's play. Aaron Rogers is one of the smartest guys that's ever played. You are one of the smartest guys I ever have on this show that's played.

You're very unique that a lot of guys, they're in it, they're quick, they make their money to go on, they do stuff. Both you guys, you see the world much differently. I think it's one of the reasons we always bring on the show, is that you have a different perspective. And that Aaron is unique, and I've said this before, Brady's obsessed with football. Manning's obsessed with football. I'm like, I don't think Aaron is. He just loves football and he's great at it. Do you think sometimes the criticism of Aaron,

how unfair is it based on the fact that he's kind of being his true self? His true say, he's a little bit of an explorer. He's a little bit of an independent dude. If he wasn't doing this, he'd be in an alternative band playing, you know, guitar. Do you watch the criticism of him sometimes and think, man, you guys are way off base? Yeah. I mean, I think, you know, when you don't know a person personally really, it's really open to interpretation based on a lot of things that are being said by people that don't

actually know him or are with him on his day to day. He's a guy that is very cerebral. He has his own frame of thinking and how he wants to go about things and how he chooses to operate. And what I can say is that he's just one of those true competitors that, you know, is obsessed with the game and sees it a certain way. And I think he goes about his life, you know, in that same manner. So, you know, obviously over the last five years, I've been able to develop a relationship with him. And we've grown, you know, pretty close here. And, you know, it's definitely something that you have to be here to fill it. You know, it's hard to kind of get a beat on what he's thinking or how he's, you know, what he is thinking about if you're not here with him. So.

we just both laugh at you know what people have to say in the media because it's so far off you know earlier in the season he would bark at his young receivers and I didn't have a problem with that you know the body language stuff I did feel both were from small schools and it's hard to go from Reno to play in the Vikings on the road like that's a big ask during that growth process with Christian Watson Romeo Dobbs did you ever take him aside did you ever say hey young dog

this is just the way the league is he's going to don't bark sometimes because they've obviously grown immensely over the last. Christian Watson's exploded in the last month. But during the process, it got a little chippy. Everybody's taking shots. Did you ever take the guys aside and say, hey, this is just it, man. I've been in this league 17 years. It's a process.

Yeah, for sure. I think naturally, like, if I'm being honest, I can't remember a certain time where I've just pulled both of them together and just gave him this lecture. But I think, you know, when we're out there practicing or playing games or in a meeting room and, you know, A-Rod is kind of getting his, giving his two sense to these guys about how he sees the game and what he expects out of them, you know, obviously it's going to be tougher because you're dealing with a Hall of Fame quarterback, right? So it's not going to be the same as if you got drafted to a team with a quarterback who hasn't really accomplished anything. Right. A ride has accomplished so much and he has sort of, you know, his view and his way. And if you're not about that, then it's probably not going to work out for you here.

Right. So I think as far as that's concerned, the learning curve is different. But once you get it, it's going to make you a greater football player but also a greater person because you're going to go through these situations that are going to make you better through the process. And that's what it's been. Finally, and you're somebody that your background will be interesting here. I am for college players getting paid, transfer portal, name image likeness. I think there needs to be some guardrails guys can't, you know, it got a little wild, wild west.

But what I really worry about is that young people will go to the program that pays them the most. And some of these college coaches, they're car salesmen. They can't coach. They can sell. They can recruit. can't coach. And I think to myself, if I'm a quarterback, I'm going to Lincoln Riley. I'm going to a Chip Kelly. I'm going to, you know, a Ryan Day or a Harbaugh. Like, that's what I'm doing. But they may not offer as much as somebody else. Do you look at the NIL and think to yourself?

I mean, how would you do it if you, I don't know what your background was. Would you go money? Would you, and it's easy for me to say, don't take all the money, right? Here I am on my platform. You tell me what you would have done. I think, you know, for me, obviously, born on the east side of Long Beach, you know, raised in the inner city. We didn't have a lot. Went to Long Beach, probably did my thing. But if it was my time, you know, and NIL was alive back when I was playing, I think that, you know, I would probably chase the coach versus chase the money.

Like, you're still going to get a little money. And obviously, I went to UCLA. So the money and opportunities for collaborations are going to be there. Yeah. But I'm really chasing the coach. especially because I want to play at the next level. I think if the next level is not, you know,

if I don't have any aspirations for playing at the next level, then, okay, let me go try to get this bag and, you know, develop these relationships with people that are going to help me after college if I'm not going to the NFL. But I think if you have aspirations to go to the NFL, chase the coach, the money's going to be there. But yeah, that's how I would have done it.

Yeah. Well, he may be a California guy, but he loves, Lambo when the dome teams come. Here come the Lions and the Vikings. Couple of comfortable dome teams coming to Lambo. Bring it on, baby. That's right.

Bring it on. Congrats on an amazing career. Happy holidays to you and your fam. One of the really good guys in this league. Thanks, man. Thanks, Mercedes. Thank you. Appreciate it. Merry Christmas. Happy holidays, Colin. All right. Mercedes-Ruiz. What a great, great player he's going to be. 17 years playing tight end

and playing blocking. I think he had three catches against the dolphins, didn't he? Nice little they. That Aaron Rogers throw to him when they were showing it here? I mean, that was just a flick going sideways. It was like, oh my gosh, right into the diving Lewis's breadbasket. I'm very happy with that Packers result, Colin.

How about you? That was a great win for the pack. As a Jets fan, we needed that one, too. Jets chasing that seven spot. I have never worked with anybody who loves a team more than you do. Oh, stop it. No, no, it's not a criticism. The last two hosts who had this chair.

teams. Right. They, you are texting me. If a fumble doesn't go the Jets way, I'm getting emojis, I'm getting anger. I have quite enjoyed this path down your tunnel of love for the Jets. I just want to be clear. I'm not, you know, fan, fanatic, weirdo. I'm just like. You love your team.

I would like rooting for the New York Jets. And there is no connection. I was just simply born in New York. Yeah. And like we moved to D.C. when my dad got a job. And I was like, I don't. want to like the Washington Redskins, Redskins at the time. Everybody likes them. I've always been a do my own thing kind of guy. Yeah. Go counter to what everyone else is doing. So I went Jets

over the Giants who at the time were a Super Bowl team in the 80s. Look at you. And Ken O'Brien, Altoon, Wesley Walker. You don't remember those guys. Those were fine. Of course I do. Oh, really? Altoon. Feisty group of jets. Wisconsin. How about Mark Gastino and the New York Sack Exchange? Yes, I remember. I had the poster on my wall. Did you ever have posters of sports teams as a kid? Yeah, I remember being a big fan of Dr. Jay. I don't know if I could have, I don't think I could have afforded the shoes he was promoting Converse.

We didn't have any money. But I remember loving Dr. Jay and anytime there was a newspaper article and he was in a picture, I would cut it out. Oh, I was a cut out the newspaper guy. Yeah. And I had this cork wall next to my bedroom downstairs. Oh my gosh. I had a cork wall. That is wild.

I'm not even kidding. Yeah. Did you collect sports cards as well? Absolutely. I was an NBA guy. I had baseball cards, but I loved, I had NBA cards. I had drawers full of them. You still have them?

You handing them down to the kids? No, they don't. My kids don't like sports. I thought for the longest time, the Ken Griffey Jr. Upper Deck rookie is going to put me through college. I could just make it on one card. And of course, baseball cards have gone in the tank. Now they're having a resurgence down.

Did you sell it? No. Me and my brother, I think I have like total like four versions, four different, you know, the card four times. Yeah. You're very entrepreneurial. J. Mack for the news. No, no, no, no.

Turn on the news. This is the Herdline News. Go to the Detroit Lions. Do you know any Lions fans, by the way? I do, actually. My wife's from Michigan. Oh, okay. I didn't know that.

I'll have to bring that up next time I see you. Have you ever been to Michigan? What a great state. That's the most underage. Yes. It's a great state. There's so many lakes and... I don't know if I can get on board with that.

A great state of Michigan? Oh, I think it... If you've been to Ann Arbor? I have not. I'll go good. It's a good state. Charlevoix. What is that?

Bloomfield Hills. Sounds like a brand of soup or something. It's good. Charlevo. Michigan, hey, I'm from Washington State. Those northern states never get any love. Michigan's a great state. One time I went to a Detroit Pistons game.

I was like, where's 8 Mile? I want to go to 8 Mile because of the movie, you don't want to go to 8 miles. I was like, all right. No wrap-offs for me tonight. Detroit Lions, anyway, they are in the mix for a playoff birth. And Dan Campbell says, hey, we need some help. We're not going to focus. on last week's loss.

Look, I'm just going to say this again. It stinks. It's awful. But, man, it's the best thing can happen to us, you know. Because I think, no matter who you are and whatever you do, some of your best work is when you get your face kicked in.

Man, when your back's against the wall and you get trotted on and it's, and everything's at its worse, you either just stay down there or you get up and you come back motivated and upset with calculated energy and aggression and man, you go, and there's a purpose. And so I think this is the best thing for us.

Well, you know what? It's a heck of a message. I can remember years and years ago, Brady and Belichick were just crushing everybody. They went to Cleveland. I remember, I don't know, mid-season or something. They also had a game in Buffalo where Brady threw like four picks, and Buffalo at the time wasn't very good. The greatest coaching quarterback, you know, they have bad Sundays.

You have terrible. How about the fourth quarter for the Niners at home against Kansas City? That defense got shredded for about 15 minutes real time. Sundays, this is not college football. You have really bad halves in quarters. Kansas City and Cincinnati have had terrible halves this year. Lions bouncing back this week against Chicago? I think they are.

I do. You don't like it? I don't know yet. I'm so focused on Jets Seattle. I haven't had time to look into Detroit, Chicago. All right. Next up, Lamar, Jackson. Listen, this is weird, Colin.

So he's missed three games with this knee injury. They've clinched a playoff berth, and there's still no word. John Harbaugh is saying Lamar will not play until he's fully healthy, and he is not sure if he can return for Sunday's game against the Steelers. I'll just say this. I'm waiting for him to practice. He's not practiced in three weeks. How the hell is he playing?

Is the Baltimore media talking to him? Is this kind of a mystery? A little mysterious. The national media has been off Baltimore. unwatchable with Huntley. It can't score 20 points in a game. So nobody's talking about this. But remember, it's Lamar not locked into the big contract like Kyler Murray. Is he talking to anybody in the Baltimore media? Not that I can tell. Okay. I don't have an answer. I don't see. I don't think he's coming back. Now, here's what's interesting.

If Cincinnati loses to Buffalo, all of a sudden Baltimore can win the division if they win their next two games. Boy, what a... They would host a playoff game. Angles would have to go on the road. So this Lamar thing is mysterious. We should get Brewer to dig into this. He's one of those dogged reporters who will look in anything. Cincinnati Buffalo. How good of a game is that? It's a great game.

It's a really good NFL weekend. It's a great. And I get Michigan TCU and don't I get it this weekend? I get Michigan TCU. How are you going to handle this with their New Year's Eve big plans that you have? No, no, I don't have big. I don't do. New Year's Eve is nothing.

Tonight, my wife's throwing a huge party for our cousins. So I've got to get back to you and I are taking them. tomorrow and the next day off. Joy and Alex are in. And then you and I are back Friday. Yes. You know what? I'm not going to complain about travel. It is what it is. I'm lucky to have the opportunity to travel. I'm crossing my fingers on my trial. Yes, good luck with that.

Final story. JJ Watt. I'm sure you saw this right before the show he announced. This will be his final season in the NFL. He walks away after 12 years in the league, Texans and Cardinals. He broke the news posting photos with his family alongside the caption, COA's first ever NFL game.

My Last Ever NFL. home game. My heart is filled with nothing but love and gratitude. It's been an absolute honor and a pleasure. Which you took this moment to say really nice things about JJ Watt and not talk about the Arizona Cardinals who just continue to take all the hits badly. I mean, this is one of the leaders in the locker room. He's like, I'm out. I have no idea about J.J. Watt, but let's say they had symmetry and it was a wonderful locker room. Don't you think maybe 5% of this is, this is a mess? Larry Fitzgerald a couple years ago, played one year with Kyler. I'm out.

JJ Watt, this is unsalvigable. No, JJ Watt's had a great career. First Ballot Hall of Fame. How about that? The Boses, it's just amazing how good both boas are, both Watts are. You know, you get these families all through professional sports, and it's just like, wow. I mean, to

make pros, I mean, J.J. Watt was like a three, two, three star recruit. In fact, if I recall, he started as a tight end at Wisconsin and just put on weight and they moved him over to the defensive side. The off-season at Wisconsin before, like, his big blowout year, he was delivering pizza, literally. Like, he was a pizza delivery guy.

Wow. In college, and now he ends up being, like, an all-time great player in the NFL. I saw a picture years ago. He, I think it was JJ Watt. He was in Europe. And, you know, in Europe, my mom used to always say this. The houses are smaller. The cars are smaller.

And he posted a photo on, like, Instagram or something. Of him, it was like in Sweden or England. of one of their doors. And it came out to about here on him. I don't think I've ever been in his presence. Maybe I have. But there's just not a lot of people built like JJ. Super nice guy.

He gives back to the community. Yes, very community-oriented. I think that's a word. JJ Watch is a great guy. J-Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Lie News.

Albert Brear, Nick Wright, Mercedes, Lewis, J-Mack. We've had quite the show. Back in a second, live in Los Angeles on a Tuesday, it's the herd. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Hey, this is Jason McIntyre.

Join me every weekday morning on my podcast, Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. This isn't your typical sports pod pushing the same tired narratives down your throat every day. Straight Fire gives you honest opinions on all the biggest. sports headlines, accurate stats to help you win big at the sports book, and all the best guests. Do yourself a favor and listen to Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way,

the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 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 tauntons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. All right, great to be back on a Tuesday. Hope you're having great holidays. You're with your family in route to be with your family. Already with your family has been brutal for, I saw some.

Southwest Airlines, 65% of their flights got canceled, rough out there. So, yeah, I went through a little bit, but not nearly as bad as some of the stories that have been reported so far. So J-Mack and I are going to take tomorrow the next day and kind of chill out, be with family. I got a lot of family to be with. You do as well. They're amazing. I'm sure I know your family's great. And then we're back Friday, ready to go into, as he said, a great college and NFL weekend.

Oh, yeah. Like it is the last amazing, you know, because we get college and pro this weekend. So it is just lockdown. I may open a beer. Trying to be good this holiday season. Okay, we're going to play true or false Tuesday. So you give me an opportunity to predict or guess, guess if this is true or false.

Some will sound outlandish, but they're not. This one's not very outlandish. Gardner Minshu led all NFL quarterbacks in passing yards in week 16. Well, I mean, this can't be right. False. False. Incorrect. True. Gardner-Minchu, 355 in week 16. Well, we said he's capable. Yeah. And the Dallas defense is hemorrhaging yards. It's bad.

Next up, zero NFL quarterbacks average more than 300 passing yards per game this season. I think Mahomes has, and he's the only one. False. Correct. Yeah. Well, wow, well done. Mahomes, 300. 14 passing yards per game. I wonder who's second. That's a good question. I don't have the answer to that. Josh Allen has to be up.

Although his total yards Yeah. He's had some games. I'll be honest with you. For a while, it looked like, didn't two I have some 300-yard games earlier? Yeah, beating up on the dregs of the league. By the way, Josh Allen didn't do well last week against Chicago.

Two awful interceptions. Yeah. And they ran the ball a lot. Next up, Dante Foreman had the most rushing yards in week 16. You know, running backs are so interesting. How about the Falcons have this guy? You know, it's like. Tony Algear.

Yeah, there's about one running back a year that I would consider taken in the first round. Texas has Bijon Robinson. Yeah. You have to consider taking him. But there's so much talent, like third, fourth, fifth. I remember when the Seahawks got Chris Carson from Oklahoma State in round seven for like six years. He was completely formidable. So the Panthers basically fire their coach, trade their best player in McCaffrey,

and they got a chance to make the playoffs this week. with Dante Foreman had the most rush yards. I'm going to say second, false. Incorrect. True. 165 yards on the ground. He had 104 in the first half against Detroit, which, ooh, brutal loss. Next up, Justin Fields has more carries than completions in more than half his starts.

Well, they've played in a couple lousy weather games, so I'm going to say this is true. Struggling, Calhurt. False. has more carries and completions in six of 14 starts, so less than half, obviously. All right. All right, here's one for you. There's a layup. Is it a layup?

There are no layups with me. Zach Wilson has more TD passes in his last four games than Deshawn Watson. Oh, wow. Got to give credit to the staff for finding that one. Indeed. Oh. So I stop watching the Browns. I find them distasteful to begin with, and they're boring.

Yes. So I don't know what This is where your fantasy acumen pays off This has to be false It has to be false Zach Wilson Three touchdowns in his last four games Deshawn Watson two

That is bad I didn't realize it was that bad I mean he got benched in the second half For some guy like the Tebow knockoff version Unbelievable all right next up The Buccaneers Have the fewest points scored in the NFC South.

Well, it says here in the NFC. So in the NFC... Okay, in the NFC. In the NFC. Let me think of the offenses in the NFC. Bears don't have a ton of points. It can't be Carolina because I've seen some... They scored a lot against Detroit.

Is that true? You got Arizona. True? Correct. Yeah, I think I'm trying to think of all the inept offenses. My goodness. Fewest touchdowns and fewest points scored in the NFC. You know what?

It's interesting. watching them. This was my takeaway. Interesting. Well, no, no, as I watched them, because I watched the entire game against Arizona, stuck in an airport. So my takeaway is their offense is fine when it's in the two-minute drill. Yeah. I mean, it was weird. If you watched the first

three quarters, it was just off. And then the last two or three drives in overtime, they go to a hurry-up offense, and their efficiency was significantly better. Did you see Worf's got hurt again? And their other tackle got carded off? They need Donovan Smith back badly this week.

Carolina, Bucks, anyways, moving on. The Minnesota Vikings have given up more points than scored this season. Now, I know that was true a couple of weeks ago. I know it was a couple of weeks ago. I'm going to say true. False. It's got to be close, though. The paper here says the Bucks have, I'm sorry, the Vikings, yes, have the worst point differential

by any team with 12 or more wins through week 16. In like league history? Five, yeah. Plus five, yeah. That's insane. Next up, Baker Mayfield led the NFL in passerating in week 16. That's true.

Has to be. There it is, true. Baker Mayfield, 85% completion. Don't you think, though, that what we're really seeing here with the Rams, we're going to pay attention to Baker Mayfield. What McVeigh is doing with backups everywhere. So he's got a backup quarterback, who he's had a couple weeks.

The offensive lines have, like 15 different starting. Yeah. And Cooper Cup is out. Donald's out. They've got none of their guys here. And somehow they're capable of blowing out another NFL team. Like Sean McVeigh's coaching, I know.

They're not going to make the playoffs. That is coaching because this could easily be man overboard. Carolina was in a similar situation. Their quarterbacks hurt the go. And they were man overboard. Or was this more about Denver and Nathaniel Hackett? The guy's just quitting. But, I mean, they've, they've,

played well in the last three weeks. They had. That's why I was on them. They've shown signs of life and then Russ comes back. Didn't you pick them in this game? I did. They had two interceptions in his first three passes. I was like, oh, brutal.

All right. Next up, Justin Jefferson has more 100-yard games through 16 weeks than Cooper Cup last season. I think that's why. You know, Cooper Cup has probably a lot of 85-yard game. 100-yard games are hard. And Jefferson is an over-the-top receiver. I would say that's true.

Tough. False. Ten games for each Jefferson and Cup. Cup last year was unbelievable, right? Oh, he's super productive. Great season last year. And finally, Colin, we've got to end with your buddy, Aaron Rogers. Aaron Rogers and Mack Jones have the same amount of sub 200-yard passing games.

I'm going to say that's true. There it is, ending on a high note, which is comical to say out loud. So the Mac Jones thing is, so how about? about this. So I did some 15 second rant on quarterbacks that got like five million views on TikTok. I can't for the life of me understand why it's just a, it's just nothing. The algorithm must love you. It's so weird. And my, so I'm mentioning that because I'm bringing it back now. So my takeaway in NFL quarterbacks, there are five guys that I'm a GM, I do not pick up the phone. Mahomes, Burrow, Alan,

Herbert and Trevor Lawrence. I'm not taking a call. They are my future. They're in their prime. Trevor's moving into it for at least eight years. Then there are five other guys. I think maybe I could win the Super Bowl

if everything lined up. Aaron Rogers, Tom Brady. Lamar Jackson? Lamar. I'd like to see him off the injury. He's had a down year. I always thought Kyler Murray was one of these, but that's gone, I know, that's gone sideways.

maybe there's not five. Maybe there's Stafford. Stafford does count when he's healthy. Yeah, I think if it, I think, I think. But it's funny. So five guys, you don't pick up the phone. Another five guys, if everything goes right, they could possibly hoist a trophy.

Everybody else in this league, then think about that, 32 teams. We have five guarantees. I think you'd mostly agree with those. Then five of the really talented dudes. everybody else is, I think, privately looking to make a move. It's funny that if you do this two years ago, Deshawn Watson, you wouldn't pick up a call on him. He was awesome.

He's no longer. No longer. Russell Wilson was on the list. He's now out. The end comes quickly for some of these guys. Like I'm not saying Russell, sorry, Watson's done. Well, in Lamar's case, I've seen so much good. Could I just see him healthy again?

I don't want to bury him. And Kyler, that's the prettiest ball in the league. I know it's hard. There's a lot of other stuff with him, though. I know a lot. Kurt Cousins. Is he in that second five? I don't think so.

He and Dak, I can't picture the trophy hoist. I just can't. And again, both B-plus. Because then you're asking me to put Aaron Rogers and Brady in the same, and Stafford in the same group as Cousins and Dak. And I think they're, like Stafford's an elite armed talent. Aaron's an elite all-timer. Brady's the go.

But you're putting Kyler Murray in there. I know, but Kyler is as elusive as any quarterback and throws the prettiest ball in the league. I think you got to come to the table with more than that to get in that group. Do you think I've, are you done on Kyler Murray? I was all in. I was defending Kyler. I defended him on social media to the point his agent retweeted me a while back. I don't think you could do that anymore.

After what happened this season, Colin? I got to take a deep breath. I can't bail on Kyler Murray yet. I know. I mean, I can't. Kurt cousins. You get him the ball in the fourth quarter? He's going to have a chance to win the game this year.

Seriously, that's all he does. Happy holidays. Great seeing you, J. Mac. Go enjoy your family for a couple of days. We're back Friday. Thank you so much. First things first next. 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 it. 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 which I'm saying.

Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show.

This is a place for raw, unfills of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple 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.