The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 3 - NBA news and NFL headlines

Episode Date: February 16, 2024

Why it's clear this Warriors dynasty is coming to an end and needs revamping Tomorrow's headlines today   Guest: Ric BucherSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to 3 Eastern 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day in the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. We were talking about that warrior transition to youth, Joe Lake of acknowledging major overhaul in the offseason.

Not sure what they're going to do with Andrew Wiggins, but Rick Buecker probably has a better feel. He joins us live. So yesterday afternoon, I'm at the gym, and a buddy of mine is a warrior fan, and he goes, have you heard, Clay's not starting, and he's not hurt. And I'm like, uh-oh, here we go. and then there's a couple games ago. Clay was a little salty with Steph Curry.

So I would imagine you know the organization. Well, this is predictably hard, right? Clay's a good guy, but it's hard. Sure. Yeah. Well, it's hard because, and let's face it, where the Warriors are, they're 10th right now in the Western Conference. And Steve Kerr is trying to find a way to get the most out of this team

just to make the playoffs, not seating. simply to qualify. And so egos, reputations, feelings, all that is out the window at this point. Don't forget, like, Andrew Wiggins was benched earlier in the season as well. We don't expect that from Clay, and because historically it's the first time that he's come off the bench since he was a rookie, that's what makes it stand out. But the reality is, if Steve's going to get the most out of everybody on this team, and Clay's able to score 35 going up against other team's second unit and they're able to eke out a win. And keep in mind, they were still eking out a win against Utah,

then that's ultimately what they are going to do. And I would say that this is also a little bit of a primer for what they are going to offer him contractually this summer. Yeah. I know that Joe Lakev is not wed to keeping Clay Thompson. He tried to trade him once before. But from the organization standpoint, from Dremont and Steph's position, they'd like to keep the big three together. So the Warriors went after LeBron.

It kind of felt Draymond created. It felt like a little bit of a video game trade. If I'm LeBron, listen, we're hot. We won the in-season tournament. We're hot now. We have NBA championship length. We actually match up very well with Boston and Denver. Milwaukee's falling apart.

if I was the Lakers I'd be like I don't think we don't think we're going to win the title but I don't want a bunch of 19 year old draft picks and bad expiring contracts like I wouldn't have made it if I was the late I got the Warriors wanting it I get that I don't get the Lakers going to move off LeBron that was my take what's yours

This was LeBron didn't want to go anywhere I don't know where the Lakers were but we never got there because LeBron is not leaving L.A. Well regardless they're going to to draft Brony James or they're going to pick him up undrafted and that's how this show is going to continue. The mistake made here by the Warriors is the fact that they should have

known that LeBron isn't going anywhere. And this wasn't the Lakers exploring it. It wasn't even the Warriors exploring it. It was owner Joe Lakab exploring it because he's got this idea that he's the smartest guy in the room and he's always going to show you. I'm thinking out of the box and I will do anything to win. The problem is that there are ways to back channel this. There's ways to find out where LeBron stands. Would he ever even consider it? And when you get the answer, which everybody in the league knew was no. He doesn't want to go to help Steph. He don't want to go to Steph's house and help him win another championship. If he wants to do anything, he wants to do it in LA and he wants to ultimately retire a Laker. And so the problem that I have with this being explored

and then doing it in a way that it publicly gets out is that you knew it wasn't going to happen for the Warriors. And now you have guys in that locker room looking around going, okay, Joe is willing to trade for LeBron, which one of us was, or which ones of us were going in exchange for it and you create a potential problem in your locker room that you didn't need to have. And one of the things that there's been a hallmark of these warriors and the reason that they've kept the big three together and been so successful is their chemistry. And you're sort of messing with that. And should have said this when you asked me the earlier question about rebuilding.

If the warriors were truly smart, they would have started the rebuilding process right after the 2022 championship. Because that's when Jordan Poole and Andrew. Wiggins and Clay Thompson coming back from those injuries. All those guys were at the high watermark of their value. And you had to know that it wasn't going to stay that way based on the history of those players. That's ultimately where they missed. So now they're playing from behind. They're going to rebuild. They're going to start over, but it's not going to be nearly as successful as it might have been if they had started it after 2022. We said this.

I have been, I think, kind of tough on the Lakers and a bit of a cynic, but I've got a year straight of Anthony Davis being really healthy and a dominant defensive player, a little inconsistent offensive side, but on any night he can drop 28. LeBron's still a top 10 offensive player if you count distribution, leadership, IQ, and scoring. Austin Reeves a three.

I made the argument yesterday they have championship length. What they miss is if Dilo wasn't so squirrely, if he gave you 18 a night, but one night he's got 17 assists, two turnovers, the next night, three assists, three turnovers, that if he was consistent with Austin, AD, LeBron,

and their length, I'm like, you know, if Jamal Murray got banged up or Gordon, they could give Denver problems. I think they're a good team, not great.

Is that fair going into the All-Star break? No, that's very fair. and you, D. Lowe is at the heart of this. And this is what troubles me. If Dilo plays this way, the way he's playing, I look at them and I think, you know what, if they allow physicality in the postseason, because that's how they essentially won the NBA cup, they just beat the stuffings out of the Pacers. If they allow the Lakers to be physical, then their experience can win out. in a lot of these teams that simply are good and talented and at the top of the charts,

Oklahoma City being first and foremost there, then I can see the Lakers winning out against them. This is the problem that I have with counting on DeAngelo Russell. And he just said it in explaining why he's suddenly become what he has been since the trade deadline or when the trade rumor started with him. He goes, I'm best when I don't think. And I'm like, you know what? That's a regular season player. Because if you're just in the flow during the regular season, you can have great games.

You get to the postseason, you have to think. You have to be calculated. You have to make really good decisions. Otherwise, they kill you in the postseason. So that's where I'm like, what are the chances that I'm going to see this DeAngelo Russell, when it comes to the playoffs, the chances are not very high, and if I don't, then I don't see the Lakers going as far as their recent performances might suggest. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports

Radio, FS1, and the IHeart 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 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. Yep, that's me, Clipper Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from my journey from. basketball to college football or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and 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 taun tons 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. So yesterday, Doc River said, yeah, some of our guys were in Cabo. So when Ty Lou had to kind of move the deck chairs with James Harden, get Westbrook to the bench, a real adult move by Westbrook, it was awful for about five, six games. I watched them on about six straight games. In fact, I talked to Lawrence Frank about this. I saw him one night, and I said, man, did I miss on this?

And he said, you know, Ty convinced these guys. Guys, y'all got money. Y'all got, let's go win games. This is a good team. The Clippers to me are, I give Ty Lou coach of the year. I think they're a handful. They even have some bench scoring, some size. The bucks, I thought the Dame Yannis thing would work.

It's a mess with Doc Rivers. Should I be patient? Or do you think there's real trouble here? I felt that there was trouble from the minute that they traded Drew Holiday. This is a team that came into the season, the oldest team in the league, and having issues being able to defend on the perimeter. And what did they do? They traded away their best perimeter player and second best defensive player overall.

So getting Doc was not going to be the solution. I don't even believe that the Bucks felt that that was the solution. They just felt that Adrian Griffin wasn't going to be able to get them there. And let's roll the dice and bring in a veteran coach who has a championship ring. When you looked around what the options were, Doc presented himself to them as the best option. But let's not get this twisted. The Milwaukee Bucks did not trade for Damian Lillard because they thought that it would get them closer to winning a championship. They traded for Damian Lillard because Janus Anta Ticompo made it known that I will sign an extension if you trade for Damian Lillard.

So that's why they made the deal and they were hoping that it would work out and that they could still be competitive. And depending on what happened in the East, the East being wide open, that they still might be able to take a run at a championship. But the mindset of the Bucks organization was not, oh, Dame is the missing piece. Dame is going to carry us there. And this is nothing against Damien Lillard. But moving off of Drew Holiday, that was a step back. for them as far as their championship hopes. And I believe that the Milwaukee Bucks knew that as well as anybody else.

Wow. Rick Buk, a great scene. You have a great weekend, buddy. I appreciate your updates and all this stuff. You got it. Yeah. That's interesting. They kind of did it to take care of their star.

But deep down, they're like, we're going to get smaller. We're going to be worse defensively. And we've built a lot of our culture on playing hard, playing defense, wall at the rim. Interesting. J-MAC also a man who knows the value of playing defense. He doesn't play it himself, but he knows the value of it. J-Mack, right, Ryan? J-Mack with the news.

No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the heard-line news. This is the value of working out, but they can't get to the gym. It's okay. Taking shots at the bucks, and I'm catching strays over here. On a Friday, goodness gracious. All right, let's get started with Anthony Richardson.

You just crowned him. I mean, you got them going to the playoffs, the Colts. Winning the division. There you go. He only played four games early last season. He showed some promise that he had season ending shoulder surgery in October. This week, Richardson took a major step in his recovery for the first time, making some throws. Kind of bodes well for him in the offseason program.

There's something that this kid is really, you know what? I talked to Chris Ballard. I'm not going to get into too much, but he did say, he said we were really happy in the pocket. Like he grasped things very quickly, very, very, very cold. They really like him a lot. Really coachable kid, really good person, really good locker room kid. I mean, dude, when he scored and did that 360, you're like, whoa. All right, like this guy's got a little juice.

Problem is he's taking a lot of hits. He does. Now, again, Lamar took a lot of hit. A lot of these guys take hits early. And all of a sudden they come back, they watch the film, and they're like year two, fewer, year three. They're out of the hit department. I think he took one at like inside the five-yard line and then had to leave the game and it prevented you from getting a cover.

Do you remember that game? Yeah, I do. I remember all the loss. He took one in the end zone on a touchdown. Well, he's also, he's not small. No, he's like... So, look, the small guys get hit twice. They're like, done.

Cam Newton ran over guys. Big Ben, stiff arm, Josh Allen. So those guys are like, yeah, I'm impenetrable. And all of a sudden, about year five... Yeah, when did Cam Newton? He's out of the league at like 32. Yeah. No, I mean, so Cam...

And by the way, Cam was bigger than linebackers. I mean, Justin Herbert, two years ago, literally squared up a linebacker on the size. line and I'm like, okay, you're just not going to last. I mean, it was, it was a pop on television. They're going to have to keep Pittman too. I like him. I love Pittman a lot. I love hard worker, good for the culture. I like their team. They got some promise next year. Next up, Kyle Shanahan and a Niners are on the lookout for a new defensive coordinator after firing Steve Wilkes earlier this week. Some around the league believe that San Francisco

will look to hire former Chargers head coach Brandon Staley. Well, come on. That doesn't not take a shot. He was a very good as, the way you said it, Brandon Staley was going to Miami, remember? I thought Staley had offers that I guess nobody landed. This is the same with Cliff Kingsbury. I talked to Steve Kime is a friend of mine, his former boss. He said, Cliff's a great college coach and a great brain to have in the room. He goes, being a head coach is hard, and sometimes you've got to call guys out. And not, Mike Dan Tony, the NBA coach.

It's like, Mike's really smart. not real confrontational. Cliff was a player. So sometimes with Cliff, some of the stuff that Dan Quinn can be rough, Dan Quinn can be loud, Dan Quinn can be really alpha. Cliff can just go and be brilliant with coaching.

So I think Staley may be very good on the whiteboard, but can he literally, Pied Piper, guys will follow him over the hill. Maybe not. Maybe he's a great coordinator. He was good in L.A. So how has he not been snapped up? He was a great defensive coordinator.

It did not go well with the charges. Well, how do you know he's not picky? He made a lot of money as a head coach. How do you know he didn't say? So do you think he's maybe, I'll take a gap here and come back for a head coaching job next to? No, I just don't think just because Ben, Ben, just because a guy doesn't take a job. I mean, Mike Vrabel. Mike Vrable, I have talked to Mike about this via phone, you know, texting.

He was a successful head coach. He was not. But they kind of. let him go. Mike, let go. A lot of these guys, like Ben Johnson, I'll stay a coordinator. I mean, you fire eight guys a year. Some of these guys, like Staler, like, I got $20 million in the bank.

I'm not going to do it. What's your guest for Brandon Staley? Do you think he takes a point in a job? Shanahan will call McVeigh. McVeigh will give him a great recommendation. Also, Shanahan knows a lot of McVeigh's tendencies. So I think Shanahan would say, hey, he knows L.A.'s culture. He knows Sean tendencies.

he faced him every day in practice. A young, sharp guy. Just because Brandon didn't work as a head coach, doesn't mean he's not smart. I know two people that know him well, and they're both, like, super smart. It could just be one that, like, listen, this is what I like to do defensively.

It does not match up with the talent in San Francisco. It does it where they're more of suited for zone. They can't play at a time. Whatever Staley wants. It just doesn't make sense why he's unemployed, given how good of a defensive coordinator he is. There's a lot of, I think there's more factors than you think. And I think a lot of these young coaches, they can consult, they can find ways.

You know, the NFL is such a burnout league. Brandon may have a young wife and kids. That's awesome. And he just wants to, you know, he kind of feels guilty when you're a head coach. You work 70 hours a week. Brandon Staley may be saying, hey, babe, I'm going to give you more time for a year. Yeah. I'm going to tell you something.

I, in my conversations with all these executives in the league, burnout is the unspoken, biggest problem in the league. They don't see their families. And Mike McCarthy famously won a Super Bowl in Green Bay, pushed out with the Aaron Rogers stuff, lands in Dallas and has had some success. Now McCarthy had won a Super Bowl. Staley, I don't think, has won a playoff game as head coach. These NFL guys, also you have to remember, they get big pensions. These coaching pensions are very good, and they make, coordinators make big seven figures.

So it's not like a guy can't say, listen, I'll take a $200,000 a year consulting job. Staley, you know, hey, McVeigh, hire. hears him and says, hey, could you do some pre-draft scout? Pre-scouting for us, we'll give you a couple. He can live in the house, doesn't have to sell his L.A. home. He's with his family. So there's a lot of stuff going on here that it's not just football. There's a lot of family stuff and, you know, real estate stuff.

Where do you live? By the way, pretty expensive to live in Sanfran on a defensive coordinator of south. It's expensive to live anywhere on a coast, yeah. All right. Final story. The NBA, first half of the regular season is over. The All-Star Break is here. Celtics' best record in the league, just running away with the east.

They've hid six games up. West is a little more muddled. Timberwolves have the second best record in the league. I don't know what to make of them. I like their coach, obviously. Timberwolves are giant. So we got the standings on the screen.

That play in. Look at those teams. Mabs, Kings. Remember, kings last year were like the three seed or something? What happened to them? Warriors? What about the old light to beam? Look at, well, what happened to the old beam?

Is it getting lit? They decided to run it back? Not as lit this year. Look at the Star Wattage in the Western Conference playing. Why aren't the Hawks better? Versus the East. I mean the Hawks, goodness. Did you see this report on Trey Young?

No, what? I like Trey. What happened? Lakers have interest in Trey Young. What's wrong with that? Who said that? I think the athletic had it. Well, then it's valid.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that. You don't like that? So you think Anthony Davis and LeBrona going to want Trey Young, who doesn't play any defense and is a bit of a check? By the way. Anthony Davis is a wall at the rim. By the way, what do you get? Are you get, okay, this is, let's do it. I would take Trey Young in two seconds.

Are you giving up Austin Reeves? Yep. Austin Reeves for Trey Young. I like Trey Young a lot. Well, first of all, that wouldn't be straight up because of the salaries. You'd have to toss in more. All right, Rui. I'll give you Dilo.

I'll give you Austin Reeves. Sure, take it. But they're not doing that for Trey. Yeah, Trey Young's good. He's not easy. I like him. I like Trey Young a lot. He's not easy.

The Hawks have let me down, and I should have. at this moment. I have an over ticket on the Hawks win total. Not going my way. Only thing I bet in the South is the SEC. Atlanta sports teams. Braves are okay. I don't bet baseball. Hawks have let me down now two years in a row. I would take if Trey Young I'd give up whatever I can do besides LeBron and AD I'd give up everything including draft picks absolutely to get Trey young. Three ones in Austin Reeves and listen Trey Young can deal. He's really good. Lakers fans hit him up. Let Cowherd know. No, I'm not saying he's a

I'm not saying he's a perfect player, but I've got my defensive wall. I've got lane. I've got my distributor. Trey goes to LeBron. LeBron says, hey, I'll bring it up. Don't worry. We can split that stuff. I'll bring it up and then I'll get my shot out.

Everybody plays their best with LeBron. Should be noted. You start looking at LeBron's history. Kyrie Irving, very best. Yeah, listen, I like Trey Young a lot. I just don't know that that fit work. I thought, I think you couldn't win with a small point card, huh? You know what fits?

buckets. You change your opinion like the wind. Oh, my gosh. Now you love Trey Young, a certified chucker. Yeah, they go in, though. A lot of them go in. I like Trey Young. He's good.

I don't know. Hey, you know what? L.A. likes it stars. Zach Levine or Trey Young? Come on. I had to. Come on.

I mean, deaf leopard or a boy band. I mean, what do we talk in here? Whits boy band. Some of them are pretty solid. Jay McClough News. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lye News.

I'm too hard on Zach Levy. He's got handles. He can jump. He can hit him. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Two NBA insiders podcasting twice a week to plug you right into the NBA great fight. All happening in only one place. This league uncut.

The new NBA podcast with me. Chris Haines and me, Mark Stein. Join us as we team up to expound on everything we're covering, hearing, and chasing. Listen to this league uncut with Chris Haines and Mark Stein. On the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documentation. at 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 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. The biggest day in racing just got bigger as Grand Marshal Dwayne the Rock Johnson will kick off the Daytona 500. The Great American Race returned Sunday at 2.30 Eastern only on Fox.

All right, Jason. It's your turn. So we decided you challenged me, and I was up for it. You said you were going to make your big predictions. And this is just the beginning, right? We're going to go back and forth on this. But this is the seasons over coaching staff set, sort of our initial feeling. There'll be a free agent period.

Now, free agency, there's no question of a star. receiver goes to a team with a good quarterback, that changes things a game or a great pass rusher. Free agency generally, New England spent a fortune. Jacksonville spent a fortune on it last two years. Didn't do squat, right? So it depends, but you can get better in free agency. And clearly, free agency plus draft, you can get much better. So it's called tomorrow's headlines today.

Here we go with Jason McIntyre. headline for the NFC team to take the biggest leap. You know, I said I was going to get upset with you earlier. The headline will be Quinn and Tonic commanders cocktail too strong for NFC. I've got a shocker in the NFC East like you. I like the commanders. Colin, I dug into some of these numbers. Four and six in one score games.

We know that historically flips. You get a new offensive coordinator. You get a veteran head coach who's won something. and has a lot to prove. Colin, I also looked at their draft picks. You know, Washington has the two at the top of the second round, 36 and 40. And they have two in the third round as well. So a lot of opportunities to improve this team.

They got a good quarterback. A couple pieces in defense, they need to move. Offensive line tweaking, I'm high on Drake May. I think he's their guy, assuming they don't trade up for Caleb Williams. I like Washington. I'm kind of like you. Giants, I think they're going to stink. Some of the stuff going on in Philadelphia is not pretty.

and I think Dallas probably after three straight, 12-win seasons, takes a step back. Tomorrow's headlines today. What's the AFC team take the biggest league? Yeah, well, it's tough not to love this team. They got a new head coach. We love him. The headline will be.

The Love Bolt. New coach has Chargers cruising. There it is, the Love Boat. One of my favorite shows of the 80s. Listen, there's going to be a lot of changes. We've talked about this ad nauseum. I like one of their corner. They've got to find a second cornerback.

They were picking on Davies all season long. I don't know what happens with Echler. We've heard the Sequin Barclay stuff. We know Michigan has a couple good running backs coming into the draft. I would not be surprised if Harbaugh drafted like three Michigan players in the draft. I wouldn't be surprised at all. You should. You start to look around.

Chargers only have one pick in every round. Do they move off five if they don't want Roma Duna Zay, the receiver? They don't want Brock Bowers. They slide down and pick up a couple more picks. Someone wants to move up for a quarterback. I think that makes sense for a Chargers roster that isn't as great as we thought it was. Tomorrow's headlines today. What's the headline for the MVP of the league next year?

So we picked these on Wednesday. They're asking me for my thoughts and try to go off the board, get a little interesting. The headline will be happily Trevor After, Lawrence Giddell. after MVP Gritty. There I am doing the Gritty. And Trevor Lawrence as well. Listen, maybe we were just a year early. And the Chargers, sorry, the Jaguars had all the pieces in place last year, right?

They had Calvin Ridley. Yeah. And you expected. Hey, weren't they like eight and two? And then they were on fire. They were the number one scene in the AFC and cratered. I don't know if there's some locker room stuff. I think it's Trevor Lawrence injury a lot.

Remember he was like game time decision six weeks in a row, it felt like. Yeah. You know, the ankle was, was bothersome. I just, I think this offense can hum. I'm still a believer in the division is a little down. That win over Pittsburgh cost me money. And I, I just like Trevor Lawrence. I like E.T.N. a lot.

I think this Jaguar's team is almost undervalued based on how bad they ended the season. Yeah, I agree. And they got a D.C. from Atlanta they like. Tomorrow's headlines today. Can the Chiefs be the first three-P team in history? What's the headline for the Chiefs? The Chiefs? The Chiefs. The Chiefs.

Nation, who you love, Nick loves. They don't like me very much. Sorry, guys. the headline will be swift exit. St. Patrick gets Irish goodbye from the playoffs. Apologies to Mr. Mahomes. I just learned what an Irish goodbye was about a month ago. It's really funny.

I did that at your... I did that at your birthday party, by the way. Yeah, you did. Or Jason go. Gone, bounced. Listen, they're not winning three straight Super Bowls in a row. I'm sorry. Reed is back. They're not doing it.

It's not happening. A lot of defensive stuff going on. Let's see Sneed. You played the clip earlier. Yeah. I want to show me the money. Chris Jones, we know, had like a tumult. to a season with the front office there.

I don't see it happening, Colin. The NFL is built for parity. The league wants it, okay? They invite parity, so everybody's got a chance. I'll eat my, I'll eat it. I will gladly eat it if the Chiefs pull it off. I don't see it happen.

AFC is absolutely loaded. And let's be real. You know, a couple quarterbacks went down who were stars this past season. Rogers, Burrow. It's going to be tough to run through that AFC gauntlet. I don't think the Chiefs get there. All right.

So this is the fun one. Yes, it is. Tomorrow's headlines today. What? If the Chiefs aren't hoisting the Lombardi, who is? So I would never pick a team from the AFC because it's so stacked. It's like a crapshoot, so many good teams. So I'm going to the NFC.

The headline will be red and golden retriever. Purdy fetches Lombardi for Niners. I have a golden retriever owner. I know the history says the Super Bowl loser pulls back. Not all the time, but a lot. Very often there is regression. There's just too much talent on this team, column. They are so stacked everywhere.

Remember, the funga goes down. The great safety comes back. I know though, Ms. Dre Greenlaw, obviously, but this team has drafted fairly well. Last couple years haven't been great, but that's because the roster is so stacked. We haven't seen a lot of them. Debo, Samuel, Christian McCaffrey,

there isn't, as you love to say, a better team with weapons than the Niners. and Brock Purdy, this is kind of undervalued. So I was telling someone last night, why did Kyle Shanahan take the toss in overtime? Do you think he would have said, yeah, you know what, let's give it to Mahomes. Mahomes scores a touchdown.

Brock Purdy's second-year quarterback goes on the Super Bowl stage. No pressure, Brock. You just need to go the length of the field for a touchdown against this elite defense. Like, Purdy is a second-year guy. Yeah, also, they had significantly better skill people than the Chiefs. they had confidence. Also, both defenses at the end of the game were gassed.

I just think it did work, by the way. They had a 13 play drive in overtime. Yeah. Kansas City's defense, which is excellent, was running out of gas. Now listen, there's a world where Purdy has maxed out, and he has hit his ceiling, which was a low ceiling. He's pretty close to what I think. Pretty close. You think so? I think pretty close. But by the way, if that's his ceiling. That's hell of a silver ball ceiling.

I mean, it's not like a 50 million a year ceiling. No, but it's a $31 million a year ceiling. And that works in the current. an NFL, right, as opposed to given some of these other guys, Daniel Jones, 40 mil. That's a disaster. So I like Purdy and the Niners to come back and win the Super Bowl next year. Not a ballsy

pick, because they're the favorites in every draft board. I think there's going to be, you know, I think you and I agree. The AFC North is probably the best division. So I'm not a Deshawn Watson fan, but he's capable.

Burroughs great when healthy. Lamar's great when healthy. Pittsburgh has got to go solve their quarterback issue, but their roster's fantastic. Without a quarterback, Tomlin will have them fighting tooth and nail. I'll tell you. You know, you, I, location is so important, you know, from real estate quarterback. Russell will, if Denver eats the contract, which they'd have to do, Russell Wilson and Russell Wilson in Atlanta, those are playoff teams. If Baker Mayfield's off the board, you cannot, we're not discussing him. Is Russell Wilson the number one out? Like, would you take him over?

Kurt Cousins, who's coming off in a kill us. Yes, because Russell, I mean, again, if you go to his November, he and, he and Sean Payton, you're learning team, because remember starters don't play in the preseason much anymore. Russell played a little, if I recall, but not much. So you're really, September is an extension of the preseason for veteran players. So you get, you kind of choppy, and he was okay in September. But in November, when he got rolling, he started putting up numbers, no picks, completed 74% of his throws, 108 pass-er rating, 3-0. he's not going to have that.

So my takeaway is Russell, if somebody else eats most of the contract, then he gets cut and whatever, however it works, you put, if you're Pittsburgh, and I have to face Lamar twice, Burrow, twice, and Nishon Watson twice, I got to go get a guy, and Russell Wilson

can win games. It doesn't appear as if Kenny Pickett is the guy. And they also have enough draft capital and defensive talent. You know, I mean, you can move the pieces. They can move off some of their money defensively, and go give Russell some of it. They actually need to spend more money on offense.

All right, we're off next week. Well-earned vacation for the staff. We're changing one of our big rooms here, a lot of new equipment coming in, and so we're going out. Crasman Truck Series qualifying it. Daytona is coming up. You can see it right there on TV. It's coming up next.

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