The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 3 - New Year's Sports Resolutions

Episode Date: January 2, 2023

In this hour of The Herd, Colin welcomes in former longtime offensive tackle Joe Thomas to the show to chat about how the New York Giants hide their flaws up front, how the Green Bay Packers have found an identity in running the ball and who he likes in the hotly anticipated Bills-Bengals game. Last, Colin and news anchor Jason McIntyre close out the show with their 2023 New Year's sports resolutions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Look Back at it podcast.

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.

84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Heard. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.

Here we go. live hour number three in Los Angeles. It's the herd wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Iheart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, FS1. How great is Sean Payton? We had him for 45 minutes. You just get spread. A lot of things he tells me off the air.

I'm not going to talk about on the air. You are here for some of those. We should pay-per-view the off-air. In-air. Commercial stuff. I always thought, I seriously thought that for years and years, is that when you go to a commercial, if there was a channel, that you could pay-per-view and that people could buy the off-air discussions.

But then they would stop saying the interesting stuff that they're saying. No, no, no. Our guests, we just tell our guests, you know, be careful what you say if you want to. But the off-air stuff, you and I get lots of gems. You just, we just got a few. I'm a sponge up here, man. This is what I've been in my whole career. Just listen to people, learn, talk to them.

It's been fun so far. Six years now, six and a half at Fox FS1. Been great. Yeah. So we'll give out our New Year's Resolution. Do you have in New Year's right? I have one every year. I already have mine.

I didn't do one this year. Yeah, I have one. I do one every year so I can focus on it. I'll come up with one here in the next 45 minutes. All right. How about the Packers? They absolutely hammered the Vikings yesterday, kept Green Bay's playoff hopes alive.

And after watching this one, I think the Packers showed me they finally, finally have an identity. Five and O this year when they run it, at least 50% of the time, did yesterday and won. Matt LaFleur came to Green Bay. known as a guy that could craft a run game.

So why the heck it takes so long? Packer fans have been pounding the table for five months on this. It took them until late November. But when they run 50% of the time, and when they focus on running, they're almost always good at it. Aaron Jones is fantastic. A.J. Dillon, very capable.

O-line, top 6-7 minimum in the NFL. Aaron Rogers can manipulate. Audible in, audible out, super smart. Do you know Matt LaFleure is 12 and O as the Packers coach? 12 and 0 when he just runs 50% of the time. 12 and 0. Why did it take so long? You know what?

In the end, he's won a bunch of games, and it looks like I think they'll beat Detroit at Lambo, and they'll get into the playoffs, which is good for everybody because Aaron Rogers and the Packers are a big brand and fascinating. This team has always been from day one this season, too young and too limited on the perimeter, to be a shootout team. That's not what they are. Slowly, Christian Watson has developed into a real threat downtown, and that's great.

But they're not a great team. They're a team that has to play a certain way to win. It just took them forever to figure out what it was. But who cares? They're going to beat Detroit. They're going to get in, and this is going to be a Packer team like a Dallas team. We tend to think Dallas is great. Now, Dallas

has to play a certain way. Dallas has to run the football. deck can be complimentary. Green Bay is very similar. The difference is Aaron, of course, is one of the 10, 12 best quarterbacks that's ever played the game. But what's fascinating is, the more they run the ball, how it affects the rest of their team. Their defense isn't on the field. Have you looked at Green Bay's defense during this four-game winning streak? What do you know? Their time of possession goes up running, second in the league, and their second half points allowed are third best in the NFL. So what were we complaining about all early in the year?

What's wrong with their defense? It's on the field too much. Green Bay is running. Defense is rested. Has much more energy in the second half. Plays great. This is a real identity. Early in the year, they were just calling plays.

They were trying to figure out the rookie receivers. And some of this is Aaron Rogers is so great and very smart. Here comes Matt LaFleur. You know, you want to make sure. He spends his offseason doing his thing. He comes into camp. The media's banging on Aaron with the rookie receivers. There's a lot to balance here in Green Bay.

But watching them the last couple of weeks, it's like, yeah, that's it. That's what fans in Green Bay have been hammering the table. They should look a lot like Wisconsin football. If Wisconsin football had Aaron Rogers. Wisconsin football, big O line, run the ball, one or two deep threats, occasionally make a play. But Aaron said after, it's feeling good, like the focus. I think they get in. It's been an interesting year.

It hasn't been my best football at times. But I've been asked to step up my leadership, I think, and be someone that guys can count on to keep it together. Even when it doesn't seem like there's anything to play for, we don't have a chance to make a run. There were a lot of different things that could happen. And we stuck together. And we put ourselves in position to do something special.

So, again, at home against Detroit. I can't trust Detroit in that spot. I trust Aaron Rogers at Lambeau a lot more in this spot than I do Detroit. But, you know, Detroit is, they always play hard. Golf's having a good year. But this is what it is. Calling plays in an identity are two different things.

And often in the NFL, defensive coaches, Ron Rivera, I think sometimes, Sean McDermott. They don't, I mean, they can't. figure out in Buffalo the offensive line. It's been like five years. Pittsburgh, Tomlin, can't figure out the offensive line. It's been four or five years. Finally, you watch Green Bay, and you're like, that's exactly what they should be doing since September. Maybe though it wasn't possible. All right, so San Francisco didn't play very well and won. And right now in the NFL, the Niners and the Chiefs are the only two teams in this league that can play poorly and win. So the question with Brock Purdy was always, can he play from behind

can he play well when they really need him to deliver? And yesterday was a great example. The Niners' defense? Not very good. Didn't show up. Robbie Gould, good kicker, missed in regulation. So Brock Purdy was relied on, like Mahomes often is, to clean up the mess. And he's pretty good.

Now you saw some arm limitations. He's not a big kid and a big arm guy, but he plays with some tempo. He's pretty good. He's a four-year college starter. He's accurate. leadership stuff here, pretty good. Yesterday was a great example, and this is how football works. Everybody's great with a lead in a run game. Yesterday, they fell behind. He had to get in a shootout. He had sometimes good protection. Sometimes he didn't. And you saw the things that they're raving about

in San Francisco. He's more accurate than Trey Lance. He's more athletic than Jimmy Garapolo. And they've surrounded him with a ton of good players. And this is again, you say, well, he's a seventh round pick. Never forget this. Kurt Warner, all-time great, undrafted. Tony Romo, all-time, very good, undrafted. Seventh round, six-round Brady. There's a lot of talent. There's more good quarterbacks than ever before because of the seven-on-seven camp. So generationally, the guys coming into the league now, more starts, more experience, more refined quarterback coaches in high school. Brock Purdy is good. They needed him yesterday. Now, Mahomes has to bail out the chiefs all the time. Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, we get that. We were kind of sitting around going, what if Brock

Purdy has to bail him out? He did. And he did. Here's Kyle after. What Brock's doing is real. I mean, he's a talented guy who's very tough. And when he does make mistakes, he understands why. And then he tries to learn for him. So every time he goes out, he's a real. So every time he goes out, there, whether it is good or bad, I feel like when you got the skill set and you play the game the right way, and he's only going to get better from it. There are so many interesting facets to not only the playoffs, but all the quarterbacks out there. What are the Raiders now going to do with quarterback?

Derek Carr could absolutely fetch you probably a second round pick. If a team's desperate, a first rounder, you think it's crazy. Eight teams, nine teams desperate for a quarterback. Coaches don't want to get fired. GMs don't want to get fired. you're getting something for Derek Carr. Is Jared Stid him the answer? J-Mack talking about Tom Brady.

Here's what's interesting. Just a side note on the Raiders. So the Raiders have like three fifth round picks, a couple of six. If you trade Derek Carr and get a couple of twos, the Raiders could have a first, a couple of twos, a couple of twos, a couple of fifths, a couple of six. They could have 10, 11 picks. Tom Brady looks at that and goes, Devante Adams, Darren Waller, Hunter Renfro, decent left tackle, know the offensive coach.

The Raiders lost and the season's mostly done for them. Raiders could be one of the most intriguing landing spots for Tom Brady. Miami, I think, has to be in there. Raiders, Josh McDaniel has to be in there. The story now this morning, though, of course, is the 49ers. And did you notice something yesterday? Is that if you're from the Midwest or the East, this isn't as obvious. But when you live out west, Denver West, how popular the Niners are out west.

They're the most popular team in the Bay Area. They're the most popular team in Nevada by a mile. And when the Rams play the Niners, it's 70-30-Niner fans. On the East Coast, you know, you got the Giants are popular, the Patriots, the Eagles, there's certain territories. The Niners are the West. I think one of the things I really like that's happened, these young general managers and these new owners in the NFL,

you know, it's what happens, there's a lot of stories out there. What happens if the new owners have done, Denver want to pay 20 million bucks. Belichick's making $15 million. What if they pay $25 million? It's Walmart. They make that in profit today. So it's fascinating.

You've got some new owners, and there's owners now coming. Everybody's a billionaire. What happens if you're in a business that's growing like tech? And you just say, I want to be a disruptor. I'm going to pay a coach. I'm going to pay Belichick $25 million if I was the owner of Carolina. That's not out of the realm of possibility. The Walmart owners for Denver, this thing.

This could be a gigantic, what if they just say, Harbaugh? Here's 20 million. He's making 8. By the way, I would stay at Michigan because I think that's between the cap space and Russell Wilson, I'd stay there. But it's same with these GMs. You think it's crazy. All these GMs now are willing to make huge trades.

We got Stafford moving and Brady moving and Philadelphia, Howie Roseman. This is going to be the offseason used to be. The NBA, first of all, when I started in a. this business. Baseball had the hot stove league. That was big. And then the NBA took it over with their offseason. The NFL now blows the NBA season to Smithorines because you can cut players, you can move players, have more mobility. They don't get locked into NBA or baseball contracts. So it's fascinating. We've got new GMs, very aggressive. We've got new ownership groups. Keep your eye on the Denver owners. It may not be a great job. But what if they just write an

unbelievable show? What if they call Belichick? Here's 25. million. You don't think Belichick right now with his situation in New England wouldn't bail? I'd have, I mean, it could be anybody. 20 million a year. That's a lot of money to turn down if you're Jim Harbaugh. He's making what, 9, 10 at Michigan? I would stay at Michigan. But if it got to 26 million. I mean, no, I mean, seriously, you don't have to answer to the GM. That's right. You got the owner. You have the owner's ear. Hey, I need this guy. Yeah, we got to get this guy out of here. The owner already said in Denver. I'm talking to the coach directly, not the GM. The Denver one is crazy. When you get a new owner,

you don't know what they're going to do. They want to be a disruptor. Disruptors, how do you disrupt? And not to go overboard. Denver had the most players or the most amount of salary cap money on IR this year. They've got a lot of guys coming back from injury. The running back, Javante Williams, very good player. I saw a story this weekend where Vic Fangio built that defense. that the new owners said bring him back as a coordinator. They didn't care. So, I mean, you'd bring back the coordinator?

And would Russell Wilson be the best quarterback Jim Harbaugh has ever had? Capernick was good for a couple years, but Russell Wilson had like a nine-year body of work of excellence. I would bring in an offensive proven head coach. But the point being is these new GMs, all these things I throw out there or sportscasters throw out there that appear to be hot takes, These new GMs will trade anybody. They will trade. It's not like the old day. The new GMs in their 30s and less need,

you know, you'll give first round picks forever if I can go get Matt Stafford. That's why I say, Rams will trade Jalen Ramsey tomorrow. If they need picks, you think he's the best corner in the league. They don't care. And you're not winning Super Bowls because you have good corners. Just keep your eye in the Denver Broncos situation. What if they just say, we want Belichick? We don't care what the check is.

30 million a year. Belichick's not taking that call. What if it's Nick Saban? I mean, I'm just... You're not to... 70-year-olds out of the game. I'm just saying, well, what? Offensively, it could be anybody.

The point being is disruptors are happening. This is too big of a business, not to have a disruptor. The Walmart people are going to be fascinating. Yeah, they just sold... What do the Broncos sell for $4, $5 million, something like that? What, you're telling me, $20 million a year for coach? That's nothing to these guys. Coach is 30 to 40% of the whole ball game.

All right, back in a second. Live in LA, The Herd. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the 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, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined.

And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life,

mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be.

Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking.

What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam 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. 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. 11 years and a pro bowler for 10 of them, though he never appeared in a playoff game. That's foreign territory. But one of the all-time greats now at the NFL network, Joe Thomas stopping by today. So Bill's Bengals tonight sounds like the world loves Buffalo. I like Cincinnati. better protection. They can run it. They can throw it. I think the bills are too Josh Allen centric. But as a former left tackle all-time great, what worries me about Buffalo is the weakest

part of their team is the part that protects Josh Allen. He is so important to that team. And when you look at the bills, they, to me, I just see somebody that is running sometimes because he has to, not because he wants to. But Buffalo is awe-inspiring. They're Tyson. knockout punch, big plays. What do you make of the bills? Can you win a Super Bowl, in your opinion, with an offensive line that sometimes feels like a liability? I think it's going to be really tough for the bills,

and that's why I like the Bengals tonight, because the Bengals, the reason they made the playoffs and they made the Super Bowl last season was their defense. It was one of the stories people didn't really talk a whole lot about, but their multiplicity that they can bring on defense. They can play three down, they can play four down, they can play five down, and they find your weakness up front, and then they just attack it over and over and over again.

And when you're going into these playoff matchups, I think it's less about who's the better team in general or who has the better record and more about in this specific matchup of what they do well and what we don't do well, who's going to win out and some of the more important things. And I think with the bills, not being able to block for Josh Allen is a huge weakness going into the playoffs. So when you watch that Niners defense, Joe, maybe you face the Ravens a couple times where they had like pro bowlers in every single unit.

Talk about the pressure that a great defense because the Niners have pro bowlers just everywhere. The pressure it puts on an offensive line, I think, Sean Payton just said he thinks they're best in class, best team in the league. I think they have the best roster in the league. I'm not sure if they're the best team. But go back to your career, the best defenses you faced and the challenges they present. Well, the challenge is now you have your weakest of your five offensive linemen, probably in a one-on-one matchup against a pro-border. Usually if you go against a team, like if you look at the Browns, they have Miles Garrett, and that's kind of it on the defensive line.

And it's pretty amazing the amount of pressure and sacks that Miles gets without really any extra help. But on almost every play, Miles is getting double-teamed with the guard and the tackle. And he's usually getting a chip from a tight end or a running back. But that's not the case when you've got three or four guys that can rush the passer because you can't leave guys, especially in the middle of the pocket on an island when it's a huge mismatch. So if you're struggling on the inside, your guards or your center, the last thing you can do is leave him to try to go help somebody on the edge because that exposes the fastest way to the quarterback, which is right up the middle. So the buccaneers have struggled offensively all year. If you go look at the numbers, it's anemic. Mike Evans disappeared for a month.

then yesterday they explode. My question is, is that the real bucks, or was it a great matchup? Because Carolina was all dinged up at corner. Yeah, I think it was a good matchup. So when you're banged up at corner, you don't have the time to get your rush there. And for me, the big weakness for the Buccaneers, most of the season has been their offensive line. They can't block a little bit like the bills, but even worse. And so Brady, as fast as he gets rid of the football, he was still getting hit.

Yeah. trying to deliver the football in two seconds. But when you have injuries at cornerback, now that even speeds up Tom's timing in the pocket. And so you have no chance of being able to get there, even with a weak offensive line. So I know people are probably jumping right on the Bucks bandwagon right now going into the playoffs.

But I don't really believe in them because there's a lot of teams in the NFC that can rush the passer. If you look at the Eagles that have been doing, you look at some of these other teams in the NFC, they can get after the quarterback up front. The 49ers, we were just, talking about. That is going to be a problem from a matchup standpoint that I don't know what the Buccaneers

would be able to do in the playoffs. So outside of left tackle, I think the New York Giants, who will be a playoff team, you could argue they could rebuild the entire offensive line. Are you surprised that they've run the ball effectively, elevated Daniel Jones effectively, when outside of left tackle, there's not a lot of greatness there. How do you hide flaws up front? Because the Giants, I don't think. Daniel Jones is a spectacular

talent, but his numbers are going up with Dayball with an O line that in some spots is not very redeemable. Well, they got a good running back, and I'm a little bit surprised to answer your question, but I'm not overly surprised because I played for Brian Dayball in Cleveland, and I've

been a huge believer of his for a long time. Every time the Brown's coaching staff was looking for a head coach, I was saying, hey, don't forget about Brian Daiball. He's in Buffalo. He's doing great things. Because when you look at his resume, he's been an offensive coordinator at a bunch of big time places under a lot of really good head coaches. Obviously his time in New England, but then he was with Nick Saban and

Alabama. He was in Kansas City. He was in Miami. He has a very diverse background in offensive football to be able to pull from. And so every week when he goes into the game planning, he's going to be able to pull what his team will do the best against the weakness of the defense because he's been doing it in his career as an offensive coordinator for a really long time. So he's really good at finding the disadvantage for the defense that he can call an offensive game plan to put his offensive line in advantageous positions. Now, it doesn't always work, obviously, because those guys on defense still get paid. But he's one of the best head coach offensive coordinators in the NFL at finding what his guys can do well and trying to utilize that to take advantage of a defense's weakness. Joe, I said there's a difference, and you know this well, between calling plays offensively and having an identity.

I thought the Packers earlier in the season were calling plays. And then about a month ago, they found an identity, which is we're 5 and O when we run it half the time. We don't have enough weaponry in the perimeter. We have an excellent O line to excellent backs. And I watched them the last couple of weeks, and I'm like, oh, it's not just calling plays. go back to your career. I feel like Green Bay now, even though they may have limitations, they know what they are.

They know what to lean into. And it just feels so much different than just calling. I see a lot of teams. I don't even know. I don't know what they're trying to accomplish. They just have playmakers. Did you ever have a team that you thought really had a great identity? I never made the playoffs.

So I'm not sure we ever had great identity. But I'll tell you one thing. You're on to something with the calling plays thing. because I look at two types of offensive coordinators in the NFL and both are bad. One is the guy that just looks at his play sheet and is like, oh, third and six, I think we'll go with this, right? And the other guy is the guy that gets so locked into what he thinks their identity should be that he's like, all right, it's third and two. We have to go with the inside zone. And then they become predictable.

So one is unpredictable without an identity. One is predictable and the defense can call a game plan to be able to shut him down. So finding that happy medium, I think, is where the Kyle Shanahan's, the Brian Dayballs of the world, that's where they are and that's why they're so good and that's why their teams have these identities. And I think the challenge of finding different creative ways to run the same concepts in the same situations. So if it is third and short, and you are a really good inside zone team, finding different formations, different shifts, different personnel groupings to make it easy on your offensive line and your blockers. So they're doing the same blocking concepts.

You're running back. He's still reading the same keys. But from a defensive standpoint, it looks totally different to start. So you're not getting a jump on those tendencies. And I think that's where the wizardry of offensive football is. And I see the Green Bay Packers doing those things where they're doing a better job of disguising what they're trying to get to, even though they know that their identity is to be able to run the football and set things up from the run first. At Joe Thomas 73, going to be a Hall of Famer NFL network full of insight. He likes the Bengals tonight.

So do I. I feel like I'm on an island. It's a very close game. I'll take the team at home. Less mistakes, fewer mistakes, very good situational, and a wildly underrated defense because they don't have a ton of pro bowlers, just really good players. Joe, it's great seeing you. Thanks again. Thanks for having me on, Colin.

Happy New Year. Happy New Year to Joe Thomas. And here is Jay Mack with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Don't tell anyone, but I kind of like the Bengals with you. Oh, you do like the Bengals with you.

Oh, you do? Yeah, I do. I had liked the bills last week, and that. I was reading some stuff over the weekend. I think Cincinnati's aside here. Getting points at home. Josh Allen has not been particularly sharp in recent weeks, Colin. We'll see.

All right. Let's go with the first story. The New York Jets. That was a tough one. We had a couple executives in here who are Jets fans. You know, we're shooting the poop emoji about this team, which laid a massive egg. I mean, these highlights. I can't even watch it.

Can we just stop rolling them? And it was bad early. That was like first way. 17 3, like 10 minutes into the game. And I'm like, goodness gracious. All right. So they lost five straight, big disappointment. After the game, Robert Salihuluia spoke about what happened at the end of the year.

We have a tremendous young war. I do believe that. And, you know, I look at the first half of our season. And, you know, we're fully healthy going into the biweek. We're six and three. And everything was looking up. And, you know, one thing leads to another. and you lose a couple of really tight games.

And I know we're close. And I know it stinks right now. It stinks. But I know we've made a lot of headway over the last two years and we'll continue to do so. So the good news is they've installed basically the 49ers style of defense. Tough on the outside, can't throw on them. What they're missing is that coverage linebacker in the middle of that Dre green law.

Maybe a left tackle, a quarterback. I give him. And a linebacker. Yeah, they need a coverage linebacker. C.J. Mosley's a good tackler, but he can't cover anybody. They're just attacking him. They're not far. I don't want to be too pessimistic.

Listen, would I rather be the Jets or the Patriots right now? Where are they picking in the draft? I need some time. I need some time to process this. They're about 14th right now, but a loss to the dolphins who have something to play for. Maybe they're end up like 12th. 14, 15, 16. There's a couple good linebackers in that first round.

I don't want to go line. That's not a premium position. I want to go left tackle first. Although, did you see Paris Johnson of Ohio State had a lot of trouble with the true freshman from Georgia? I know. Out. What's the USC score? I see you peeking at the screen down there.

2114, Lincoln Riley's a genius. He's 14 nothing and too late sort of coming back. I didn't see the pick by your guy. Next up, hey, this is a fun one. Jair Alexander. Talk trash and then backed it up. Okay? He called Justin Jefferson's amazing week one performance a flu.

during the week, and then backed it up on the field. Look at this breakup, and then he hit the gritty right in his eye. That's a statement right there. Now, Jaira Alexander, he's had a tough year. He called out a couple of our colleagues here at FS1 in the post game. But the facts are he hasn't been great this year. He was great yesterday. The big difference, Colin, this is what changes a lot of trajectory of Green Bay.

They usually play a soft zone defense. Justin Jefferson just tucked into the zones. Kirk Cousins hit him. Yesterday they changed it up. Jair Alexander was manned up against Jefferson. Kirk Cousins could not beat the coverage. He looked shook. Kirk Cousins was not ready for the Green Bay adjustments.

It was very sharp stuff. If you look at the X's the O's Green Bay, they were excellent yesterday defensively. They threw a curve ball at Kirk Cousins and a veteran quarterback completely utterly unraveled. So what's going to happen if they get to the playoffs? They throw a curve ball at Brock Purdy and Kyle Shanahan. Well, your defense will keep you in the game and you hand it off to Christian McCaffrey. bunch. Shanahan LaFlor has been a mismatch lately, but I'm not ruling the Packers out of that one. I just, if you've got Brock Purdy and you're going against Aaron Rogers. Well, Aaron's

playoff games, he has not been a good second half quarterback in his last couple playoff games. He's played it safe. That's one thing about Aaron that I think, I think that's a fair criticism. Sometimes he can play a little safe. And I think Shanahan had the game where he had like, he threw eight passes with Jimmy G. Remember? And they crushed the Packers like 37 to eight or something bizarre a few years back. It's, that's going to be a great game. game. All right, final story, Colin, we got tonight's matchup, Bills and the Bengals. A lot at stake, obviously, both in play for the number one seed. Bengals could actually snag it. They'll need to win out. We don't know if they're going to win next week against Lamar Jackson. But for tonight,

Fox Bet has it at Bills to two and a half. So it looks like the spread has moved from, it was like one last night to two and a half now. Late money on Buffalo. You're taking the points, obviously, with the Bengals. Well, they're at. Excuse me Cincinnati is at home Cincinnati's offense has been great at home They make fewer mistakes And frankly situationally

I think this game will be a situation game Where it's going to come down to a handful of plays I think Cincinnati's even better than Kansas City I think they're the best team in a league situationally Well one concern I went deep on my podcast about it Is Lyle Collins, that injury on the right side Greg Rousseau Who's been very good for Buffalo

Matched up against him That could be a big advantage for Buffalo So I'm definitely taking Joe Burrow and the points. I mean, all he does is cover the spread, I think 19 and 3 in his last 22 against the spread. It is interesting because Herbert and Allen and Mahomes are so spectacular that we don't often give Burrow credit for just being so damn accurate and situationally good. But he's the closest to Brady. Pre-snap, post-nap, accurate, two-minute drill.

like Burrow just doesn't make, he's early in his career, he'd make mistakes. He's gotten rid of those. So you get all the upside without the downside. And the protection has been fantastic over the last six to eight weeks. I got people asking why isn't Zach Taylor getting Coach of the Year potential? I mean, I think they're like 12 and 4 could get the number one seed, then nobody is considering Zach Taylor. Do you think he deserves some?

Well, I think Day Bowl, what Dayball's done is remarkable. I think it's just crazy. But Zach Taylor's top three. I think Shanahan on a third quarter. I'd go, Davele, Shanahan, Zach Taylor. Mike McCarthy had Cooper Rush for like five games. I know, but a couple of those. They had some layup wins.

Oof. Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd Lie News. Sean Payton, Joe Thomas, Colin Wright, Colin Wrong. New Year's resolutions are around the corner as we wrap it up live in L.A., it's The Herd. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific.

Hey, it's Ben. Host of The Fifth Hour with Ben Mallor. It would mean a lot to have you join us on our weekly auditory journey. You're asking what in God's name is the fifth hour? I'll tell you, it's a spinoff of the Ben Mallor show, a cold. hit overnights on FSR. Why should you listen? Picture if you will a world when we chat with captains of industry in media, sports and more

every week, explore some amazing facts about human nature and more. Listen to the fifth hour with Ben Mather on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcast, 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 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 which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement

to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life,

mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space. for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. 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. They're 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. Stay into it, folks. I don't want to add a bunch because then I'll get to, you know, distracted. I have one. You're not, you're not new. I'm going to work out this year. No, I like doing that, so. But I have, I've had

like 10 years ago stop biting my nails. I got sick too much and figured it. I was a nervous finger biter for it. And I've done travel more. One year it was ski more. Is that really a resolution? I'm going to travel more? Well, it wasn't, I mean, it was get out

more. My resolution three years ago was say yes more when people offer me things like, hey, you want to go up to blankety blank and go golf and blankety blank, just say yes more. Because a lot of times I talk myself out of things. I'm a homebody. So a couple years ago, I can say it now. Say yes, but I want to go to the Dodger game. Just say yes. Go have a good time. It's an experience. I tend to be a, no, I'm busy. I want to read. Usually you give me the stiff arm when I'm like, hey, let's meet for a drink. You're like, eh, no can't do. Even though we have

our birthdays, like right next to each other, you know. So now, now you said you're going to go find a New Year's resolution. Yeah. I'm one of the it's like I got to eat a little healthier because, you know, I'm active. I do sports and workout, but I don't eat well just because I love just dessert and sugar. So I'm going to try, try

to go no candy as long as I can for 20, 23. I mean, like, listen, I got a lot of, like I asked for gummy bears and my stocking from Santa. And I've devoured a couple, you know, this horrible gumming bear. Don't send me any horrible.

I'll just send her to my brother. But, yeah, like, cutting out sugar is kind of, it would be a good one. Okay, so here are New Year's resolutions in the NFL. In the NFL, okay, let's hear it. So most people want to lose weight. I think the Jets should lose 214 pounds, the exact weight of Zach Wilson. So he has the worst passer rating in the NFL back-to-back years.

There's already been reports by Jay Glazer that are moving off. They have not made the playoffs in 12 seasons. We're not here to pick on Zach, but I think it's time to... We're not here to pick on Zach. They just got to cut the dead weight just to drop it. Come on. How about many of us want to get organized? The Colts, it's time to bring in a professional.

They got to get organized. So since Andrew Luck left, it's been a disaster. It's time to clean up the locker room, clean up the coaching staff, seven different starting quarterback since Andrew Luck retired early. Worst fourth quarter point differential. Absolutely a disaster. The worst fourth quarter team in the league that's get organized. Now, it's also, how about this?

It's good for anybody to invest their money wisely. Ravens pay Lamar Jackson. Ooh. Yeah, because since Lamar Jackson has not played, you've been held to 17 points or less every game this month, and you're unwatchable. Tyler Huntley's just not an NFL game. Lamar Jackson is 45 and 16.

I'm sorry he's not perfect in the playoffs, but he's won a playoff game. But if the Ravens don't have Lamar Jackson in that division with Joe Burrow, Kenny Pickett looks good. I don't like Deshawn Watson, but he's capable. You can't have the fourth best quarterback in the division. Just go pay Lamar Jackson. I can relate to this one.

You know, a few years ago, travel more. Tom Brady, you need to travel more. Like go to Vegas. Or maybe drive down to Miami. Listen, you're 45 years old. You make the playoffs every year. this Tampa Bay team has a lot of free agents, doesn't have the right coaches. You've always been somebody willing to take chances.

Tom, that's a Greyhound bus right there. By the way, you know who Tom's first call is when he accepts to go to Vegas? Devante Adams. Hey, Tay Adams, why don't you stick around? How about that guy yesterday? He's unbelievable. He's the best receiver in the league. You've got to recruit him to stay because he's Derek Carr's guy. He's the best receiver in the league.

Cooper Cup may have something to say about that. Well, Jamar Chase. Jamar Chase, Justin. All right. You know, a lot of people, my wife does this. I want to read more this year. So for Arizona and Kyler-Marie, read more. They had to put a study closet as contract.

Career lows in touchdown passes, rushing yards. Let's get the study contract out. Let's get off the video games. Read that playbook. Get it memorized. You're way too talented to screw up your career. Don't. How about this?

A lot of people, self-care, spa, relieving stress. Yes. Mack Jones, do more yoga. Reduce the stress of Matt Patricia. And this, because you can tell Mack is screaming at people, yelling at people. He's not happy. Seven of the Patriots, 36 touchdowns are defensive.

He's regressed badly. I don't want to see this guy in the playoffs, by the way. They're not a fun watch, you know? Oh, God, no. So Mac relieves stress. How about this? Some people are like, I want to find love.

Derek Carr, find an organization that loves you. Be like a bachelor. Going a few dates. Because he loves the Raiders, but the Raiders don't love him back. He unfollowed them on social media. I know. That's a trend now, isn't it? Yes.

Listen, he had the lowest passer rating since the beginning of his career. They've had six coaches. They can't get the O-line right. I just looked at PFF yesterday. It's like bottom seven in the league. This organization, he has only ever wanted to be and it feels uneven. They don't love him as much as he loves them.

Going a few dates. It's a tough breakup for Derrickard. Last but not least, I know Americans work hard. Some of you people, you've got to get more sleep. Jeff Saturday, sleep in more, especially on Sundays. Jeff is a great guy. He is a wonderful guy. If you say so, I'll take your work for.

He's a great guy. You see him trash cave on Tibado today? Going after him, call him classless. I know. Here's the thing. I wouldn't mind having Jeff Saturday on my staff, but being a head coach is hard. He's never done it before. By the way, in the middle of a season?

He didn't even get a camp, didn't get an OTA. You just injected him into the middle of the season. He could have said no. Well, Jim Ursay made him a millionaire. He played in the NFL for a decade or whatever. Come on. He's got money. This is an ego thing.

I could just step in and coach in the NFL. You got that one win the first week, remember? Since then, just an embarrassment. I mean, why do he put Nick Foles out there, by the way? Nick Foles did not want to be playing football. You guys minded his own business, collecting a paycheck on the bench, on the practice squad. And Nick Foles goes in, I hope he didn't break his collarbone. He got destroyed.

And the guys, you know, feel bad for Nick Foles. So those are our New Year's resolutions for 2020. So Sean Payton was on for about 45 minutes earlier today. And, you know, we talked a lot about a bunch of different things. And it is hard when you, I've learned so much from Sean, much of it off the air. And, you know, you go to dinner off the air, people can be incredibly honest. Not that he's not on the air, but he did say, put it out there. He calls it the tournament.

He thinks he knows who the best team in the tournament is. I think San Francisco is the team to beat in this tournament. If you use the analytics of defense, scoring, run game, and you factored in some of these things, and I think, look, Debo has been kind of quiet, and I just feel like they're a team that's won, what, nine in a row now? Yeah, yeah. What's interesting is how the Chargers and the Niners were banged up early.

Both are healthy now. and there's an argument to be made. The scariest team in the AFC is the Chargers because they'll go in as underdogs. They're really healthy. They've got weapons of star quarterback. Their centers back. They got pass rushers.

And similarly, San Francisco banged up early. Now they're getting healthier. You know, the Niners are a great story because it's very rare. A lot of times great teams pay a lot of their money to two or three positions. But they got Kiddled in the fifth round. I know he's well paid now. But they have a lot of Jennings. Debo, it's amazing how well they've drafted.

So they don't pay their quarterback anything right now. So, you know, San Francisco is in a unique spot in the off season. What do you do? They're going to let Garoppolo go. So it's going to be Tray Lance and Brock Purdy are going to battle for it. And I can tell you in this offensive system, accuracy. That's why Matt Ryan was an MVP in this system. Matt Schaub worked in this system.

Garopolo worked in the system. Brock Purdy works in this system. If you're inaccurate, that's Traylon. Lance's current liability, it doesn't work in this system. Now, Trey could be bigger, stronger, a better athlete. But this offense, go look at its history. By the way, this offense is in Miami, Tua. It's not big, not mobile.

He's accurate. So it'll be interesting. My takeaway is Brock Purdy is going to win this job. They're going to feel pressured to play Trey because of the capital they gave up, the draft capital. But this offense, we have a system. By the way, Kyle Shanahan worked with Kirk Cousins in D.C. with his dad, and he wanted to bring Kirk Cousins to San Francisco because he's accurate.

So you can talk about who's better. Tray Lance's number one weakness is Brock Purdy's number one strength, delivering it a 67 to 68 percent clip. That's why Shanahan's going to say, that's why if Brock Purdy gets this team to the Super Bowl, you're going to go into that locker room? and tell him I'm making a change? Since week 14, Brock Purdy is the highest passer rating in the NFL.

Did you see the confidence he had yesterday? First few games, Brock Purdy's happy to be there. He's locked in yesterday. He's doing the ice in my veins and flexing at the camera. That's new stuff from Brock Purdy. He's feeling himself right now in the system. This is scary. If you're Tray Lance watching this and you just had another surgery,

did you see that report? Yeah, I saw that. It's like, oof. Listen, every coach has, you know, certain things they want and certain things they don't. defensive coaches hate turnovers. They don't like turnovers. Pete Carroll just no interceptions. You know, run downhill.

Offensive coaches tend to be a little more flexible. You can make some mistakes, but I'm looking for certain things. This offensive system in Miami and San Francisco, they don't want playmakers running out of their design play. Go back. We'll get your weapons, throw strike. Drew Breeze in this system was Sean Payton. You went a lot of games.

Drew Breeze, last three years in the league, did not throw. the ball down the field. I mean, it was 15, 18 yards and under. It was wildly successful. By the way, GM of the year, 49ers GM drafted Brock Purdy with the last pick, and that Christian McCaffrey trade is looking real nice the way McCaffrey's playing. I do worry that Christian McCaffrey, they got to get more Debo. I don't want Christian McCaffer. I don't know how many touches he had yesterday, but a lot. A lot. And the kid Mason looks like a thumper behind, number 24, I believe. He looks tough. This 49ers team, I'm with Peyton. I think there's, Super Bowl bound out of the United States.

I am fascinated. So now the Chargers job is off the market because Brandon Staley is going to retain the job. Spanos's don't like to pay a fortune for their coaches. So they'll keep Staley now that he got into the playoffs. Where's Harbaugh going to go? Where's Sean Payton going to go? It's going to be fascinating. There's a report, Denver's owners, Walmart, already after Harbaugh.

And the numbers being banning around in the agent world is 20. million. That's just for Harbaugh. Could Peyton be offered more? He's got a Super Bowl. Win. And you get Russell Wilson. I know he had a rough year, but it's not like your quarterback. Oh, big question of quarterback. I don't know that it's that big of a question. You and I agree, but boy, we're on an island. 90% of sports. It's much better to be on an island than with the 90% of unwashed masses. Oh, Russell Wilson's washed. He's not washed. Come on, dude. I don't think so either, but it does not be crying at the podium yesterday? I love my quarterback. Be emotional. Vulnerable. Let's ride.

I just need more winning. Okay, great job. Sean Payton, Joe Thomas. We're back tomorrow. First things first. Next, 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. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an

a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games.

Some call it grotes. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex Eagle. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s.

84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.