The Herd with Colin Cowherd - HOUR 3 - NBA playoffs, NFL predictions

Episode Date: May 16, 2022

More on the NBA playoff games over the weekend Which NFL teams will make the playoffs? Guest: Antoine WalkerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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So, you know, I'm watching Luca tear apart the suns. And my takeaway is, well, Chris Paul can't defend him. Booker's not going to be able to defend him. Mikhail Bridges can do a little bit. And then I look at the Warriors and Cominga and Draymond and Wiggins. And I'm like, they can kind of throw different guys at him. Now, you're not going to stop Luca. But I do think the Warriors can make him work for his points.

more. And I think that's why I like Golden State in the series. I mean, do you have some thoughts about how to defend Luca, how the Warriors will defend them? What do you make of that series? I do think Golden State has enough bodies that throw at them, and they're not going to play big. I think the mistake that the Phoenix Suns made is they play all three centers. They were stubborn in their defensive coverage, and you left Aidan and McGee and Bismar, all these guys in one-on-one situations with Luca, but not even Luca, even Smithsson did with him. I mean, yesterday he had a field day going at those centers and got going and Jalen Brunson. So I think with Golden State, they got multiple defenders they can throw at them.

They're going to play small, so they'll switch their pick and roll. And it won't be as many open threes as you saw the Phoenix Suns give up to the Dallas Maverick. So I think that's where their advantage comes in with Golden State. And then also, too, with the flip side to that, golden. state can really shoot. Yeah. So this is a different animal compared to some of the teams that they win in, I guess, in Utah and obviously Phoenix.

They can shoot it from a lot of different spots. So it makes it, it's going to be a totally different series. Well, that's a really good point, Antoine, because even Joy and I love the Sons, we said all year, the hole in the Sons is they don't shoot the three at all. I mean, they really struggle with it. Jay Crowder is often their best three-point shooter. and I mean, Poole can shoot a three, Curry can shoot it, Clay can shoot it, Wiggins is okay.

So I think that's a point. If you were Golden State would you speed it up, what would your theory be on the pace of play against Dallas? I would speed it up. They can play that way. One thing about Golden State is that, you know, Steph can go five for 17 from the three and they can still win because you got a Jordan Poole,

because you got a Clay Thompson. You got Andrew Wiggins who's playing really good basketball right now. I do think during this series, though, they're going to miss Gary Payton. Yeah. And it's crazy. I do think they're going to miss him because of his versatility of him being able to guard one, two, and three could hurt them a little bit. But I just think with Golden State having a home court advantage, their experience of knowing how to win in these type of series, I just like Golden State to win the series. Yeah, Golden State's interesting, you know, Antoine.

I mean, if you go back to that championship series against Toronto, when they literally were heavily favored and fell apart physically, they'd have another championship. And I honestly feel like if Peyton was here, and you told me nobody got hurt, they'd win this year. I feel they're a problem for Boston. I want to go over to the east. I kept saying all year,

I understand Miami's got depth. I love their coach, their culture. I don't know how they score against Boston. I think Boston's going to shut him down. I think Boston's going to give him a lot of problems. What do you expect from Miami against this Celtics defense? It's going to be tough, and this is the reason they brought in Kyle Lauer. And obviously, we know he's been hurt with this hamstring.

I wonder how healthy he is. They need him to be another playmaker. Jimmy's playing great offensively right now. But Miami plays off those two guys. This is not a series that Bam, but Bam, our Bayo cannot be active offensively. He has to put some pressure on Al Horford. He has to offer him.

Because the shooters are banking on Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lurie to get them shots. They get a little bit more offense. You know, Tyler Hero obviously could create his own shot. But this is a big series too for a guy who's came on late. Can Victor Lidipo get him some good minutes? Can he be creative on the offensive end? I do agree with you. I am worried about the Miami Heat's offensive ability to create points because Jimmy Butler.

You asked him, Jimmy Bulley's going to have to go for 40 every night to have an opportunity to win. It's going to be tough to do that against Boston. They'll load up on him and force him to be a passer all day long. Are you, you know, Tatum's interesting. Every year he got like 12% better. Are you surprised how good Tatum's become? Because I look at him now and I'm like, oh, he's like a top six, seven guy in the league. Are you surprised?

or did you see it coming? As a former Celtic, did you see it coming? I knew he was the next one up that I think it was going to happen this soon. That game six was unbelievable. I think that was the best game of his career in a situation with an elimination game on the road. He took it upon himself to beat the star. 32 shots. He shot 15, 3s, 46 points, put the team on his back and put them in a game 7 situation.

I think that's when you become superstars in his league, when you can go do it on a road. And that's a difference, Colin, so why you pay a guy $15 million, or you pay them $35, because they can go on the road and get it done. I think he put itself in the league category. Yeah, no, I, you know, I, um,

Yonnis is great. I don't think Milwaukee's athletic enough. I feel like they have to add another athlete. Chris Middleton's loss is so obvious. They just need another guy to get a bucket. I thought they had, they just, Bobby Portis, Grace and Allen felt, like liabilities.

You know, Janus is obvious. I think Janice is the best player in the league. But it was, did Boston, I mean, if his mid-range jumpers not on, he kind of rushed things, what did you take away from Janus in the series? Or maybe just do we say, it was one against five.

He just couldn't do it. Well, I think he had to become a volume shooter. And Janus is not a volume shooter. This is a guy that's going to shoot 55, 60 percent from the field. because he's going to hover around the basket. He's not going to take 20 shots. He's more of a 15-to-18-shot guy. But with military being out, he had to become a 30-shot guy,

and that's not his game. Having him to have to force the offensive end is not what he wants to do. And he did a great job of an unbelievable series. He put that team on his back. And usually when a guy have a series like that, they have an opportunity to win. And he gave his team every opportunity to win. The problem was the others were not good,

and you just alluded to it. Grayson Allen, Bobby Porter's, Wesley Matthews, those guys were not good offensively as well as defensively. Pat Conantton and Grayson Allen got taken advantage of. Yes. Obviously, they really went at them guys. You know, when those guys got on them, the Tatum and Jalen Brown saw them guys on them, their odds got big and they scored just about every time. So you got, and the others for the Celtics were terrific.

I mean, Marcus Smart, Al Horford early in that series played great, you know, Grant Williams. who ever thought he would make seven threes. So everything that you needed from the Celtics hit right on top. And if I'm, if I'm honest, I feel really good, but we got to get us an athletic wing that can defend. Yes. I got to get another shooter. And that's no knock on Wesley Matthews.

I thought he did a great job this year, but you got to get a little bit more athletic at that spot. And you've got to add a little bit more three-point shooting. I know that's hard to say, but you got to get somebody knocked down some shots. they were horrible from the three-point line in that series. Terrible. And, you know, your best player is not a great three-point shooter,

so you've got to put some shooting around them. So they've got to continue to try to find some shooting if they want to continue to try to critique championships. Antoine. So I went and asked the staff this morning. I said championship teams have flaws, even the all-time grades. But one of the things you don't find a lot of or at all

is championship teams have a terrible contract. that limits your flexibility, it limits your bench. It's not good for the culture of the team. If the Sixers sign Hardin, that's a terrible contract. And my takeaway is Tobias Harris, Thibel, Maxi, M-Bed, you don't need another start. You need another player, need another nice player. You win a lot of games, and if you're healthy in the playoffs, Maxi's getting better every week. That's a real team.

I think you sign if you sign Hardin, you've eliminated yourself from championship material. That's the worst contract in the league. And the knock is you promised him a deal. If you don't give it to him, other players will say, don't trust Philly. And here's my takeaway on that. Hardin has quit on multiple teams. I don't think players will look at Hardin and say, well, you can't trust Philadelphia. because I think players look at Hardin and go, he's a lot of work.

I'm not Hardin. I play defense. I think you could walk away from Hardin, have him opt in for a year, get out of the deal, and Philadelphia is going to be fine. People are going to want to play in Philly with this team. That's my takeaway. What do you do with Hardin now? Well, I trade James Hardin.

I know, Colin, you go hard on Westwood. You said the Lakers got to get off him. I think the same things with James Harden. You've got to trade him because he doesn't fit into what you're trying to do. And he obviously showed that you need a guy that's going to be aggressive offensively. You need a guy that's going to get you 20, 25. And obviously his game has changed now. Two shots in the second half of a deciding game.

That's not where his game is at right now. He struggles right now to get by people on a consistent basis on a consistent basis. So I don't know what his value is out here. I don't know what you can get in return for him, but I think you speak volumes when you talk about the chorus in place. Maxi's 21 years old. Yeah. B's 28.

Tobias Harris has a couple years left on this deal. I think you sign back Shake Milton. You bring him back. I think he's a good young piece. You know, you got Thibos. So they got some pieces in play already. And I think you just try to find another. You may not be able to get the caliber superstar back like a James Hardin,

but you can get another player that can play that's going to be aggressive offensive. maybe try to add some three points shooting to go around and beat. But I think you don't want to lock yourself into a contract to a guy that the expectations are super high, and he cannot fulfill him. And James Harden does not want to be that guy that averages 25 and 30 points a game. I don't think he fits in to what Philly's trying to do. All right, my man, Antoine, can't wait for these games to, almost looks like a nice day in Chicago. Is that a painting behind you? You got Sun in Chicago today?

We've been good for the last eight days. It's been great. Eight days. It's almost summertime. We broke records last week for whether it may. Great seeing you, my man. All right. Antoine Walker.

Yeah, I mean, I'm the same way on this. This idea that Philadelphia doesn't have a good core. I have a superstar. I'm an emerging star. I have my Tobias Harris three or four. I've got my defensive stopper. Just give me, I mean, like, I'll just throw a player out.

I'm not saying it's available. If you could get me a Jalen Brunson, a Spencer Dinwiddie, nice players in the NBA. I don't need a star. But one of the things we have with all these teams right now, like Miami and Boston, great cultures, Golden State Dallas. They got Porzengis out.

Remember, he was the head. He was the problem. Oh, Dallas's culture is really good. Like, when you're not great, culture and coaching become really, really valuable. And Philly's not great. So like let's figure the culture thing out. Hardens not good for culture.

Well, really if you look at this entire postseason, the teams that have been moving on and have success have deep benches, which we would never talk about being something of value in the postseason. When people talk about all their deep team, they forget that. Who are the stars? It's always about who are the stars, who are the stars?

Well, this is a year where the stars have not been, that's not what's been in the story. Yeah. And the sixers were the only, team that made a big swing for a star in the middle of the season that were still in the postseason because they went and got hardened. I'm with you. I still think they won the trade because they got a body on the floor. Yeah, he played. Right. But they were kind of that team that was still in that outlier, we're relying on the star's type of situation. If everybody's the same, essentially,

everybody has one star and then a deep, well-coached core, well, if you get an injury or your star gets injured, what are you going to do? You're not deep enough. You're not well-balanced as an organization. Yeah. 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'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, Clipper 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, 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. 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 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 it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill,

waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so 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. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes.

I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark.

Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on Earth. Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro.

Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. person. Join me, Keir Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free Our Heart Radio app, search Learn the Hardway, and listen now. Joy with the news. No, no, no, no, turn on the news. This is the herd line news. So, Gronk has not officially announced his plans for next season, but he may have hinted that he's stepping away.

We're kind of waiting to find out if he's going to be there. He's already retired once, so it wouldn't be that shocking if he didn't play this year. But Leonard Fernette posted on Instagram a screenshot of his tweet. I wonder how many seven jerseys I'm going to see in the stands this year. And Granc replied, I'll represent a seven in the stands for you. There we go. So maybe we're getting a little insight, you know, follow the breadcrumbs. He had 55 catches, 802 yards, and six touchdowns last season.

Obviously, he is Brady's favorite target, old reliable. he has had an unbelievable Hall of Fame first ballot career. I wouldn't be surprised if Gronks stepped away. I don't know that he... I know that he's not going to play with anyone else, obviously. He doesn't want to play with anyone else, which makes sense. Why would he? But Gronks also shown the ability to step away from the sport, have success, and be happy.

So I think he only came back for Tom Brady. It's a lot of wear and tear on Gronks' body, who he's had a lot of injuries. And, I mean, when he retired the first time, he was like, my body just can't take it anymore. Well, he's not, you know, he's lost a few steps. So he doesn't pull away from anybody. When he gets brought down, he gets hit. And you can't. Well, he's still a massive person.

Maybe he's not the same, you know, brute that he was when he was in his younger, healthier years. But he's still a huge guy to get on the ground. So you've got to tackle him hard. He is, he is, I know he's still a young man. He's taken a lot of hits. He has. But he is always in the right place at the right time. He's a very smart football player.

And Tom knows that. That's why he relies on. him and obviously their relationship is a huge core of that offense. And he was a big leader for the team as well. Obviously, Tom Brady had an MVP-level season last year. I don't think he'll be okay without Gronk, but I'm sure that Brady prefers that Gronk be on the field, but we'll find out soon enough.

Quarterback Jair Alexander will be staying in Green Bay, though. He reportedly agreed to a four-year $84 million extension with the Packers, which includes a $30 million signing bonus, which is the largest ever for a defensive back. The deal also makes him the highest paid corner in the league with a 21 million annual average. Now, he had a shoulder injury earlier in the 2021 season, so he only played four games. In 2020, however, he had 51 total tackles, 13 passes defended, one interception, a sack and a forced fumble. And according to pro football focus, he posted the best defensive grade and the best coverage grade among every player at his position in the 2022 season.

Well, if you take Aaron Rogers out, most of their good players are on defense now. And I think he is as good as anybody they have. He's a great player. You've got to pay him. There's just not, he's one of four or five. He's not quite as Jalen Ramsey. I mean, I shouldn't even say that. I think Jalen takes a lot of big chances.

He's as good as any corner in the sport. And this is a premier position that you pay. This is one of those positions that's at the top. When you're building an organization that's going to win and have sustainability, this is one of those positions you have to pay. One of the five. Everyone is looking for this. Edge rusher, corner, receiver.

Yep. Yes. So the Grizzlies had one of the youngest rosters this season with no one over the age of 28. And they'll have some decisions to make during the next few years about who to keep long term. But their GM, Zach Kleinman, wants to make sure the organization does what they have to do to keep their young core in place. He said, we're not going to have any issues paying anyone we want to pay. There's never going to be an issue with retention here. We're not worried about small market notions or any of this or that. We're not going to have any issue whatsoever, keeping together whoever we ultimately decide along the world. Well, smart teams don't have bad contracts, so it's amazing what you're allowed to do. Like Golden State's really well run.

Think about this. They've got Steph and Clay and Dremont and Looney and Wiggins and pool. And I mean, so it's like if you draft well and develop, it's amazing. You can bring Andrew Wiggins in. And it's like, how many mouths can they feed? We say this about the Rams. Well, everybody goes, oh, the Rams have all these stars. You have 14 of their starters.

They draft it and developed. their interior line, they're linebackers, their safeties. So it's like it's Memphis is very well run. You get into problems when you pay James Hardin or Russell Westbrook. A massive deal at the end of their career. Then it's funny, then you suddenly can't afford a bench or anything. I think that we're coming into a new era of the NBA. And you've seen it over the past couple years because people have talked about Golden State being a super team forever.

and it's a nonsense notion. They're not a super team. They drafted and developed those players. The reason they had the ability to bring in a Kevin Durant is because they were so well-run that they could have that core of great players and still have money to pay a Kevin Durant. So you can be mad all you want about these teams

that are able to have all these stars and make all these moves and have flexibility and be there every single year, competitive. They don't have a terrible contract. They're well-run. They don't take these big unnecessary swings in order to stay relevant. Of course you should always be aggressive.

Of course you should always be trying to improve and adjusting things if you don't reach the ultimate level of success of winning a championship and even when you do that you can't just rest you have to see who's moving on. What kind of trades are you going to make? But to be a well-run culture to have a base of how you treat people,

how you are coached, you don't have panic when things don't necessarily go your way. If there's a big injury, you don't freak out, you're not taking these big unnecessary swings, then you're able to regroup every single year. I think Memphis is building something that is very sustainable. They obviously have their leader in John Moran

And you saw that they can still make big pushes And have success even when he's not available So they're gonna do what they have to do to keep this young core in place And as they develop and grow together Each year they're improving and improving Then eventually that's how you get to a championship Is don't have the panic And you're seeing that with the teams that are remaining in the postseason now

Yeah, joy with the news Well, that's the news And thanks for stopping by The Herd Line News Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays at noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Mike check. Do you want exclusive insight from the biggest names in the sports game?

What's good? This is national champion and former pro baller Chris Johnson. Let me tell you a little bit about my new series, KJ Live. KJ Live is the only show featuring me going one-on-one with the brightest basketball minds on the planet to get the real. And when I say real, I mean that real. I got legendary Hall of Famers, elite coaches, and the top basketball insight. bringing you a unique perspective on all things whoops culture

that you will not find anywhere else. To make your next move, your best move. And tap in with me on KJ Live, wherever you get your podcast from. 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 I'm saying.

Yep, that's me, Clever 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. 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 kill? 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 it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s.

To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so 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. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people.

Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games.

And in recognition of mental health awareness, in this month. I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Trip Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you're you hear on earth?

Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose

on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the hard way and listen now. Well, the NFL schedules were released last week. Now, everybody thinks schedules are a little overrated because you do know who you're going to play. You just don't know when the games, like when they get stacked up. How do you end? How do you start?

But I think all that stuff matters. You know, if you have a new coach, I think it's much harder. If you have a new coach and a new quarterback, if you have a tough September schedule, that's no good. Mack Jones last year you had to face, I think Dallas in his rookie year and Brady, you know, you want to have. have you want to move in gently. Trevor Lawrence with Urban Meyer. Neither kind of knew the NFL. Like you could use an easier division or an easier schedule. So here we go. These are, we're going to play playoff or way off.

Okay. Yeah. Start with the Falcons. Playoff or way off. Way off. By the way, in their first seven weeks regarding the schedule, they face both of last year's Super Bowl teams, back-to-back games on the West Coast, play a road game against Tom Brady.

And they have the latest buy in the league, week 14. This is not a great team. This is not an easy schedule. The Browns playoff or way off? Playoff. Now, the division's brutal, but if Deshawn Watson mostly plays early, you know, a couple, two, three game suspension, they have the second easiest schedule in September.

So even if he missed September, they can compete in those games. and I think with an elite quarterback, Pittsburgh doesn't quite know what they have with Trabisky. I think they're a playoff team. Cowboys, playoff or way off? Way off. I know the division's easy. Three of their first five games are against Brady, Burrow, and Matthew Stafford.

Now, the schedule's not brutal, but they'll probably be off to a slow start. And this is a team that lost two of their top three receivers in Amari Cooper and Cedric Wilson. It's a remarkable how many people are ignoring that they lost Cedric Wilson, one of the better threes in the NFL. So I just, I don't think they got, they get a scheduling break in terms of ease of it, but September is tough. The Broncos playoff or way off. First nine weeks of the year. So they have a new coach and a new quarterback.

So how's September, October? They have the easiest schedule in the NFL in the first nine weeks. So it's as if the NFL said, we want this thing in Denver. we're going to put it on TV a lot and we want it to get some momentum like Peyton Manning's first year in Denver let's really ramp this puppy up give them you know you don't have a lot of brutal

games early for Denver so they got a scheduling break Packers Sneaky tough schedule way off I think Minnesota wins the division they have the toughest five game stretch in the league on the road for four of the five games starting in week five They also have five primetime games, so they have to play like sometimes later than scheduled.

They got a really bad break in terms of time. They get fewer days off, less rest, and some of their better players are older. So I don't think it was a great schedule for them. Colts, playoff or way off? A playoff. Division's not great. Middle of their schedule is not easy. But they do open up with the Texans and Jags.

So Matt Ryan's brand new. you're like, okay, let's ease into it. Texans, Jags. Probably start 2-0, new quarterback, new momentum after that disastrous ending. So I'm going to put the Colts in the playoffs. The Chiefs. Playoffs, mostly because of their talent. Listen, they're not going to have an easy schedule because the division's brutal.

Notable opposing quarterbacks, though. They face Kyler, Herbert, Brady, Carr, Allen, Herbert, Stafford, Borough Wilson. So I've said this before. I'm not shocked if they sneak in as a wild card team. They're a playoff team, but they face the most great quarterbacks in the NFL. The Raiders. I don't like the way the season ends. They have the toughest last five game schedule, five straight games against five

playoff teams. So that's brutal. But I think they're a playoff team. And I also think their additions will serve them well at key. spots. And remember, last year, without great depth, they played really well late in the year. Now they get an offensive coach, not an interim coach, appear to have a competent GM. So I think they're a playoff team. The Dolphins. I don't like the way they start. I mean, this is a, so I've got a new coach and a lot of new pieces offensively. And they start with

the Patriots, Ravens, Bills, and Bengals. It's like, yeah. That's brutal. So a lot of moving parts on the offense. They also didn't get a break. They faced Aaron Rogers on Christmas, so they're way off. The Saints. Way off. I don't know if they got the right coach. I don't think they're great at quarterback.

Nine teams on their schedule made the playoffs. Do you know only the Rams have more. And the Rams, the league wanted to make sure the Rams had a tough schedule. So the Saints with a coach we're not sure of and a quarterback, we don't. don't love, nine playoff teams. Steelers. Playoffs barely sneak in

kind of. They have five prime time games, so I don't think that's an advantage. New England played a lot of those during their run. A lot of late night games, a lot of prime time games. You become a target. There's more asked of you on primetime games from networks.

They face division rival Baltimore in two of their final five games. So that's their season. If they can split with Baltimore, they're probably in. The Niners. I don't like their schedule at all. I think they're way off. I think their schedule in the middle. They face in successive weeks, Mahomes, Stafford, Herbert, Kiner Murray. They face nine elite quarterbacks, and they're not sure what they are at quarterback. I thought their schedule was brutal. The Seahawks. Not good. They open way off. They open with Russell Wilson,

who's got a bone to pick with him. So that's brutal. Drew Locke against Russell Wilson. They also, once again, because of their division, faced nine playoff teams. So that's like Seattle. Although I do think Seattle is pivoting to, we're very comfortable in our growth process. I think Seattle wants the number one or number two pick.

I think they're going to get it. I mean, they said. And they've earned it. They've got equity with fans there. They've been very good. So it's like, you know, Jordan left and all the guys left. You get some draft picks. You've earned equity.

Your season ticket holders aren't going to bail for a couple. of Rocky years. If you're going to rebuild, rebuild. Yep. The Bucks. Playoff. The schedule early isn't easy. Dallas Packers, Chiefs, three of their first four. And they do have, this is not great, they have two late West Coast trips. Tampa's a long way from the West. So they play San Francisco and Arizona out west.

But I think their divisions week and the NFC's kind of week. And again, if they were in the AFC West, You'd look at those West Coast trips and you'd be like, ooh, that's punitive. I think they're fine because they're going to beat Carolina twice, Atlanta twice, and New Orleans twice. So they'll be able to overcome the West Coast roadies late in the year. Commanders. Way off and they got a huge scheduling break. It's the easiest schedule in the league.

There's no other way to put it. I just don't love their team. They also have a weird week 14 buy. I don't know why the NFL, I guess the NFL has to give somebody a buy late. Like week 14, what's the point? Yeah, that's rough. You don't want it in the first four and you don't want it in the last four. You want it right in the middle and everybody's getting worn out around Thanksgiving.

But that's a way off, not a playoff team. God, San Francisco's schedule. Baru-Tulke. Can you imagine if Russell Wilson hadn't left the division and you had to play him twice? You'd have 11, 11 like elite quarterbacks. Don't you just love that they're starting with Seattle, though? The NFL knows what they're doing. It's so good.

It's the petty Super Bowl. It is the petty Super Bowl. And the NFL's always really, I think more than any league, really paid attention to the schedule. Like it's a real, it's a chess game. They're trying to put all the, I mean, Aaron Rogers on Christmas. What a shock that that's when Aaron plays.

Boy, between the NBA and the NFL, Christmas is now the best day of the year for sports. Yes. I mean, seriously. See you tomorrow. In L.A., it's the herd. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite.

Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter.

Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to learn the hard weight with your favorite therapist, host care games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who

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