The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 3 - Russell Wilson and the Steelers

Episode Date: May 23, 2024

More on the Mavericks game 1 win in the Western Conference Finals over the Timberwolves Jason doubles down on wanting Super Teams Will Russell Wilson be the Steelers starting QB for the entire season?   Guest: Adam ChernoffSee 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,

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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.

What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast point game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season. And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was harmed. You just understood. That's how personal it got.

Wow. Then after that game 7, Marquis keep coming to him. He's like, you know I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The story I've told myself can then shape my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown. If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole, this podcast is for you to hear more. Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown. from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Thanks for listening to The Heard Podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to 3 Eastern, 9 a.m. to noon Pacific.

Find your local station for the herd at Fox SportsRadio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. You're listening to Fox Sports. Radio. Back here on the herd, Jason McIntyre in for Colin Cowherd. Our next guest, oh man, this guy's incredible. I have talked to him on and off for the last few years. Gambling specialist. Adam Chernoff, host to the Simple Handicap Sports Betting podcast, also with right angle sports. Adam, how are you, man? You're a Jets fan. You've got to tell the audience that right off the bat. I am. It's a disclaimer. You have to get out there, but I think there's a lot more reason for what

we're about to talk about to be excited. Yeah, so Adam knows that the Jets are favored in 14 of 17 games this season. That's crazy for a team that hasn't been to the playoffs. I think it's like the Nixon administration. It's been a minute. But Adam, you're bullish, extremely bullish on the Jets this season. Let's hear it. The floor's 11 wins.

And J-MAC, that 14 number for games they might be favoriting could be a little bit low when you look at six of the first eight games and how this schedule could skew very easy. But when you talk about pressure on Aaron Rogers and this team, it couldn't be higher. I mean, everybody's job on the line, offense, defense, coaching staff, it's all out there. It has to happen this season. And I have full belief that it will. I want to look at Aaron Rogers and say there's never been a quarterback in the NFL off an injury with more personal motivation to prove that he can still play well, especially at this age.

It is as driven of an Aaron Rogers that we're going to see ever in his career. and you matched that up with the top five offense and the top five defense. Sealing is very high for the Jets this year. It's a tough thing to say that this team's going to win the division and make some noise. Yeah, you look at the bills. They have a bit of a drop-off coming. The Dolphins lost, I think, five starters on defense. We know the Patriots are a train wreck.

Jets should win the division, but can the tackles hold up and, you know, can Aaron Rogers coming off the Achilles? I don't think there's a lot of evidence of any quarterback at this age coming off in Achilles and thriving, is there? there is and I'm sort of more comfortable that it's a leg injury more so than an arm injury arm strength is not an issue that he's had but i mean you're comparing this to last year with zach wilson and boil i mean that got seven wins out of this team and this core that is still there it's an upgrade on the offensive line especially at the tackles position and so i'm looking for aaron rogers to just distribute the ball get it into space accurately i think it's can he can he's got an offensive player of the year candidate and Brees Hall. He's got another one at Garrett Wilson out wide. You can't overstate how loaded this Jets roster is. All the pieces are there for a big season. Let's pivot to the Falcons who have become like a flashpoint around the league for their process of giving Kirk Cousins 100 million guaranteed and then drafting Michael Penning's in the top 10.

Where do you stand on that and are the Falcons a bet on team for you this season? I think the Panics move was a good decision. I like it. I'm going to get criticized because it was for most people to clear over draft, but I don't agree with this. Look at the Falcons right now. They've got a very good roster full of young talent. They're very much in win now mode. And if you're thinking about the next five years for this team, they're not going to be drafting nearly that high again if things play out the way they want it to with this new coaching staff. So I think going out and getting the quarterback that you wanted and knowing there were teams behind you that were trying to get up and get him sets you up for a very comfortable spot. We still.

don't know if Cousins is 100%. Nobody seems to be questioning his health like they are with Aaron Rogers. And if I want to paint the parallels between the Falcons this year and the Jets last year, New York took all the criticism in the world for not having a backup quarterback in place that could carry the load if Rogers went down, especially so after the Falcons go out and get panics on a discount relative to what they could have found from other backup quarterbacks and what they would have had to pay. I think it was a good moment. move. The criticism to me is unwarranted. I think this is going to be a very good offense under Zach Robinson, a modern play caller the Falcons desperately need with these weapons.

Let's pivot to the Steelers, a team I'm not high on. I see a win total around eight and a half. That feels very inflated. I think this is like a six-win team. The Russell Wilson, Justin Fields, I don't want to call it a poo-poo platter, but it's two very mid players right now at their stage in their career. I don't like it at all. Tomlin, probably leaving after this season. Are the Steelers, the team, you're going to look to fade? They are. I think it's the first losing season for Mike Tomlin. I'm with you on that six-win prediction. I think six to seven looks pretty good. The schedule in the latter part, weeks 11 on, is a disaster.

And if you're banking on the Steelers being competitive again and Tomlin having another winning season, you need this offense to click early. And I see nothing but trouble with that happening. First of all, Arthur Smith, the Steelers going outside the organization to get him is uncharacteristic. They typically promote from within. And bringing in Russell Wilson, it's great for the price, but how is this going to work? I just don't see it because Arthur Smith,

a lot of heavy personnel, a lot of tight ends, a lot of running backs. He attacks the middle of the field. Something Russell Wilson has not done ever in his career is attack the middle of the field. He's dropping back, he's holding on to the ball, he's pushing it out wide. That's something the Steelers don't have,

and I don't think Arthur Smith is going to confidently bring out from these weapons that he has, a lot of youth that you need to get clicking very early. I think the Steelers are in trouble. I think the offense is going to struggle. I think it's going to be a six to seven win season, and you're right.

This might be it from Mike Tomlin. All right, let's stay in the division. Baltimore Ravens, I think losing the defensive coordinator, McDonald, there may not be a bigger loss for any coach in the league other than Tampa. I don't know. They add Derek Henry. I don't, this team, there's no way they're the number one seat again, right?

Like, I just, for some reason, I'm not viving with the, lines, trenches, both sides feel a lot of newness. It's, what, 10 wins maybe for the Ravens? I think that's fair. Mike McDonald really is changing the entire way the league coaches defense. That loss is enormous. They still have great talent at all levels on the defense, but, I mean, they're going to their third option now with defensive coordinator.

It's a big shift, no matter how you look at it. Offensively, a lot of talk about Lamar and the weight and the change and the stature and what he's trying to get from it. Todd Munkin spoke last week. Kind of privately on a very hidden podcast that I was able to dig up on YouTube. He said he wants Lamar to run less. And it's actually something that went back to last year

following the Titans game in London. Remember how ugly that got? Where they were pushing Lamar to run less, especially within the red zone. So I actually look at the Ravens, if there's going to be a defensive drop-off and the offense is going to go more pass-heavy, which they were incredibly efficient at doing,

especially out of play action last year. As we go into year two of this Monken offense, the Ravens might throw the football a lot more than expected. They may turn out to be one of the higher scoring teams in the NFL. I think they finished top five for scoring, score a ton of points, but their games overall look for a lot of overs because if there is that defensive drop-off

and you get a very well-loiled second-year Monkin offense with Lamar throwing a ton, that's going to be a scary offense too. So a lot of high-scoring games for the Ravens in 2015. I think Lamar has his best passing year ever. Oh, wow. Okay. A couple more real quick. So Kansas City, I'm kind of over the Chiefs.

Two Super Bowls, and it's not like fatigue, like with Brady and the Patriots. But we just need some newness in there. I thought the Niners had him in the Super Bowl. However, very tumultuous offseason and Casey between, you know, this kicker mouthing off and Rishie Rice getting arrested multiple times, Andy Reid having to talk to the media about all this nonsense. It feels like a noisy offseason. They lose Sneed, who was an amazing cornerback for the game.

them. I see some drop off, but I don't know that you agree. I don't. And I'll add on to it. Mahomes started a coffee company. Kelsey's throwing parties and music festivals. You have offensive linemen in trouble with the law. I mean, the chiefs can't escape the bad news cycle seemingly for the last two months of the offseason. However, I mean, the culture around this team is so strong. They just overcome it every year. The criticism on them last year. They didn't have receivers. They didn't matter. They figured it out. The criticism on them two seasons ago.

They didn't have a defense. Did it matter? They figure it out. They're just able to overcome everything. And now with the schedule that they have, playing on every single day except one of the week is crazy to think about. I think that they're as well equipped and as well positioned to overcome

that with Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, and just how well they game plan on a weekly basis. I don't think any of this phases them in the regular season. or the postseason, I still think they're far and away the best team in the AFC. Oh, damn it. 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-Hart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Jared Adano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help! Somebody! Please!

But there's so much more to me than that. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian, and recently, I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hippocrat, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant, recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. One ring is too scary.

Oh, cream of chicken suit. Hey, cream. Cream and chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from Hypocrite as part of the Mike Coutura podcast network available on the I-Hart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The story I've told myself about love or relationships can then shake my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast, deeply well with Debbie Brown and explore the journey of healing, self-discovery, and returning to yourself. We explore higher consciousness, emotional well-being, and the practices that help you find clarity, peace, and self-mastery in a world that can feel overwhelming. The world is becoming

lonelier. We're not becoming more social and connected. We're becoming more individualized, but we actually meet people in connection. If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole. This podcast is for you. To hear more, listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, it's Edwin Castro, also known as Castro 1021. And I'm Conky, his best friend and business manager. And we've got a new show called The 1021 Podcast. I'm taking you behind the scenes on how I became one of Twitch's most popular streamers. We also love sports. And with the World Cup right around the corner,

we'll be breaking down the biggest storylines ahead of the big tournament here in the USA. Listen to the 1021 podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. All right, well, we'll end with your hottest take. So obviously you and your group, you guys can move markets. And the Carolina Panthers win total was four and a half earlier this week, shall we say, or last week.

You guys single-handedly moved it to five and a half because you love the Carolina Panthers, Adam. The audience is very curious about it. What is there to love about Bryce Young and company? Yeah, at Red Angle Sports, we're all over the Panthers over. I think they're a fringe NFC wildcard team. This is putting Bryce Young in a much better position with the modern coaching staff that is coming in,

led by Dave Canales. When you look at what Canales has done in his career, He led Russell Wilson to his best ever career passing in Seattle. He led Gino Smith, who everybody wrote off to his best season that was better than anything Wilson had in Seattle. And then last year, he revives Baker Mayfield, another QB that everybody wrote off. Bryce Young, very similar situation. He's now got weapons around him.

He's got competent coaching. And to me, JMAQ, this looks a lot like the Jags in 2021 and 2022. You had Lawrence, the number one pick coming at QB, was in a very very, very good. bad coaching staff situation. Expectations came way down after year one, year two. There's the playoff run. I think the Panthers in a weak division in the South set up very similarly. I think it's a great coaching staff and an organization that's going to compete for that

spot of a wild card in the NFC. So very bullish on the Panthers this season. That's another reason I like you. Nobody is saying the Carolina Panthers are competing for a wildcard spot, except you, Adam. That's Adam Turnoff. Get his podcast, The Simple Handicap. He's on Twitter at Adam Turnoff. Adam, amazing stuff.

Continuous success, buddy. Thanks very much, chat soon. Can you imagine going from two wins last season to I think he just shocked the audience with that. I don't know. I don't know if I can buy into that yet. Let's go to Alex Curry with the news. Turn on the news.

This is the Herdline News. All right, well, let's start in Indy because Anthony Richardson miss most of his rookie year with a season ending shoulder injury in week five, but he's back at Colt's OTAs and hoping to produce on the field the way he wanted to do last season. Now, he was asked this week if he's going to change his playing style in response to his injuries, and here's what he had to say. Changing my game and my play style, I don't feel like there's anything wrong with my play style. People see me, I'm a big quarterback, so they always think, oh, he wants to run the ball all the time.

He wants to be physical, and that's what's going to get him hurt, when that's not the case. you know, the times I did get hurt, you know, it just just happened because we play a dangerous game. And there's nothing I can do about that, but necessarily changing my play, I don't think I want to change it. But, you know, being smart when knowing when to get extra yards and knowing when to get down, I feel like I know how to do that is just, you know, not out of I have to do it and do it at the right term, I guess. Yeah, I like that response because injuries happen, right? I mean, obviously it's a big deal when it's your throwing shoulder as a quarterback, but it's that style of play that got him to this point.

And you can't play scared. You got to get back on the horse, as they say. And, you know, he got injured in week five with his shoulder, but he also missed week three with a concussion. So he's only played four games, really. The good news is that the Colts have a solid O-line. So he has the protection. Last year, they were ranked third according to PFF.

So the only issue is, is, you know, he's in a division with C.J. Stroud, Trevor Lawrence. You're in the AFC. So it's tough. What are your expectations? Yeah, well, what makes him special is the running ability, but it's dangerous. Like he said, like, how much do you want that guy running? Like, when he played yet last year, I know you said four games. He was dynamic as hell.

Oh, yeah. He was fun to watch. There is so much potential there. And again, the good news is is they have solid protection. Third ranked O-line. Yeah. Like, that's kind of all you can ask for in those situations. But, I mean, I think it was last year we heard Patrick Mahomes talk about his run game.

He's like, I'll do it when I need to, but like, I'm trying not to, because I don't want to get hurt. And then his run game, like, it doubles once he's in the postseason because it's just taken into your own hands and you just deal with the consequences and the injuries because you've got to get it done. If you squint in his highlight, you can see a little makings of Cam Newton.

He just can't win from the pocket yet because Richardson's so young. But his frame, that's a big dude. Oh, my gosh. I like his game. I think fantasy football, if you want to pick up, like, a backup quarterback, because he runs a lot, he's going to put up points. Yeah, you like big quarterbacks because you were going off on Lamar, not being big.

You're going off. He's fun to watch for fantasy. Yeah. Because of the running attention. Okay. That's fair. Let's move over to the NBA. The rumors of JJ Reddick as the next Lakers head coach have been running wild since the team fired Darvinham.

Now on Reddick's podcast with LeBron called Mind the Game, the two were talking about how brawny has handled the media attention during the NBA combine. And Reddick made a not-so-settled joke about the attention he's been getting as well. I say that NBA media got a week's worth of content out of, uh, I think they said, you know, well, since your dad's not in the playoffs no more, you know what? We're going to ride your cocktail, Bronny James. We can't get your dad to say anything right now. There's other things happening in the NBA world, non-playoff related,

that I feel like the NBA media is using as well. You can see their friendship. You can see their chemistry in this conversation. And even though LeBron has come out and said he's not getting involved in the Lakers decision for the next head coach. Sure. Yeah. There is no way that they are not going to their star player for a thumbs up, thumbs down on a coaching situation, especially a legend in the league, a guy like LeBron James that you, you know, you want to keep in L.A., even though it will be 80s team moving forward. Now, the question is here, is it the right fit?

You know, he's the same age as LeBron. He played in the league with LeBron. But as we heard Ryan Holland say earlier, you don't really know until you try. something and the thing is is that he has LeBron's respect. He can relate to the players and he's not afraid to call out guys in the locker room. So I don't know. You don't know until he try. I just wonder like LeBron's 39 does he want to be just tinkering at this state? He's got what two, three years left maybe? Yeah. And he wants to just try it with a new guy like Reddick? I mean, it's probably going to happen, right? It feels inevitable. I don't know. I mean, things get leaked for a reason,

but it could also be a distraction for someone else that they're trying to get. I think Reddick's calling the Celtics game tonight, right? Yeah, I think he's actually partnered with Richard Jefferson. And Burke. Yeah. Oh, okay. So he's calling some game.

Yeah. And he's going to be calling the finals, which are on ABC. Yeah. After the finals, I would assume he's named Lakers coach. They're not going to announce it here. Nothing will be announced until after the finals. Especially someone who's working. Unless he decided.

Then it's a distraction for the rest of the finals. Unless he didn't want to announce the finals. In between the conference and the finals, there's usually like five days. Because he said, let me get started now. So you're convinced it's happening. Yeah. No, you're not? I don't know.

I just haven't heard a reliable second option. Yeah, it's a fun rumor. Like, as you saw them, like, laughing about it, like, they were, I don't know. That's why I don't know, because it was like, they were talking about it in a joking matter. I mean, yes, as I mentioned, you can see their chemistry. You can see the respect for each other. No, I know. Yeah.

But the way they were joking about it on the podcast, like, yeah, there's another big news. It's all anybody's talking about this week. I'm sure that's all he's getting asked too while he's working and covering these games. Yeah. I don't know. We'll see. But let's get to the game tonight because the Pacers had game one against the Celtics in their hands, but made some crucial mistakes at the end of regulation that let it slip away.

And after the loss, multiple Indiana players admitted that they should have won the game. But star, Tyrese Hall of Burton said he had more positive take. He said, we know we can play with these guys. We know we belong. Now, I think we were talking about this top of the hour. But before the series started, I think a lot of people had Boston as this being an easy, winnable series. But Pacers could have had game one. Like, they beat themselves.

It was way too many turnovers. But they're young. They're deep. They're well-coached. They have the talent. So if you're the Pacers going into game two, knowing that you have the ability to compete with the Boston Celtics, what are you doing differently tonight? So you played college soccer, right? Yeah.

So there were clearly opponents that you were going up against. Oh, we know these guys. They're okay. Yeah. We're playing down to the competition. Yeah. I think that's what the Celtics did. They would take a 12-point league, 12-0, and we got this, we got this game on lock.

It's over. Pacers come back. Then they go up 13 in the third quarter. Tatum comes out. Pacers come back. And you can't look down on them just because they're the freaking Pacers. You know, they're not amazing. We know that.

So my guess is the Celtics didn't lock in and take them super seriously. Now they know this is no joke. Like, these guys can play with us. Game one, they went into OT. That is no joke. Halliburton's on the Olympic team. This is one of the 15 best players in the league. They got a squad.

They're like eight or nine deep. I think they can hang. Young, talented. I do like Boston tonight. Nine is a big number. but I think they're fine. I think they're fine. Okay.

Not 100% confidence. Not like Adam Turner. We'll revisit that one tomorrow. We'll revisit that one tomorrow. Alex with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lie News.

All right, we saved a really hot take for the end of the show. Could Justin Fields be the starter in Pittsburgh? There's a lot of chatter this week. We'll talk about that next year on The Herd. One more Herd? The Herd streams 24 hours a day. Seven days a week within the IHeart Radio app. Search her to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like.

Pauli Fusco here with Tony Fusco. You know, as the host of the number one rated Polly and Tony Fusco show, we get tons and tons of fan mail every day. Piles of it. In fact, Tony, why don't you open up one of those letters right now and read what's inside? Yeah, listen to this. Dear Pauly and Tony, your sports takes are the dumbest and most terrible...

Wait, not that one. Open this other one. Dear Polly and Tony, you suck more than... than anyone. Not that one. Try this one. Dear Paulie and Tony, you guys are the absolute best.

There you go. At coming up with the stupidest takes possible. You know what? Forget what those clowns say. Just listen to the Paulie and Tony Fuscoe show on the IHot Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Yeah.

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. Hey, I'm Jared Adano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help! Somebody! Please! But there's so much more to me than that. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian. and recently I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives,

helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff rant and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. One Ring is too scary. Oh, cream of chicken suit. Hey, cream. Cream a chicken suit.

This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from Hypocrite as part of the Mike Coutura Podcast Network available on the I-Fart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The story I've told myself about love or relationships can then shake my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the podcast. possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown and explore the journey of healing, self-discovery, and returning to yourself.

We explore higher consciousness, emotional well-being, and the practices that help you find clarity, peace, and self-mastery in a world that can feel overwhelming. The world is becoming lonelier. We're not becoming more social and connected. We're becoming more individualized,

but we actually meet people in connection. If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole, this podcast is for you to hear more. Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Hey, it's Edwin Castro, also known as Castro 1021. And I'm Kunky, his best friend and business manager. And we've got a new show called the 1021 podcast. I'm taking you behind the scenes on how I became one of Twitch's most popular streamers. We also love sports. And with the World Cup right around the corner, we'll be breaking down the biggest storylines ahead of the big tournament here in the USA. Listen to the 1021 podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. Sunday, the United Football League is back in action. we kick things off at 2.30 Eastern as the D.C. Defenders take on the Memphis showboats or Michigan Battles, Houston. Check for the game in your area only on Fox. All right, let's go to the Pittsburgh Steelers who, listen, I know they've had a lot of success under Tomlin. Famously, never had a losing season. Well, if you listen to Adam Turnoff here 30 minutes ago, he's very down on the Steelers, as am I. There is a situation brewing in Pittsburgh that ain't pretty.

And listen, I like Tomlin. bunch of buddies who are from the area and love Pittsburgh. We talk about them all the time. Even they're out on what's happening right now. So they get Russell Wilson to be their next quarterback, right? And then they add Justin Fields, which is puzzling. Because, like, I know Russell Wilson's been kicked to the curb by his last two teams. I mean, it's been a rough few years for Russ.

And now Fields kind of flamed out in Chicago, they got the number one pick. Mike Tomlin tried to beat everybody to this. Russ, he didn't name him the starter, but he's like, Russ has like the inside track or some phrasing like that. Well, Justin Fields last week was named like, oh, hey, he could be like on special teams, which was very strange. Like a quarterback who won a special team doesn't make sense. So Fields was asked this week about coming for the starting quarterback job in Pittsburgh.

Here's what he said. I'm definitely, you know, competing. I think, you know, Russ knows that. We're competing against each other every day, him being out there for me that, you know, helps be getting better, especially in each other. So, I mean, I definitely don't have the mindset of, you know, me just, you know, sitting all year. So, you know, I'm coming in every day, giving it all I got and, you know, pushing him to be his best. And he's, you know, pushing me to be my best each and every day.

Hmm. Competition is good, obviously, right? Rising tide lifts all boats. I just wonder if Russ is looking over his shoulder. Remember, he was in Seattle forever, and they were like, bye, you're cooked. It's over. And they got rid of him. And Sean Payton and Russ was supposed to be this great marriage.

and three-fourths of the way through the season. Yo, can you adjust your contract? Because we're not, this isn't working. And it's like, no. All right, bye. And now, so Russ has been jettisoned by the last two franchises he's had. He always kind of overachieved,

I like to use the phrase, playing above the rim. He was exceeding expectations as a mid-round pick. But you have to wonder what his mindset is bouncing around the league like this. And let's remember, when Denver put up that flag, hey, everybody, anybody want Russ.

It's like crickets. no takers. It was like the New York Giants brought him in for what some people are calling a courtesy, not even interview, just a look-see. Like, hey, come meet with us if you're passing through New York, one of those deals. So there isn't a big market for him. He's got a new OC in Arthur Smith. And oh, by the way, that guy just got kicked to the curb by Atlanta.

Arthur Smith, I feel bad banging on him. You know, his dad founded FedEx. This guy hasn't wanted for much. he's in Atlanta and he was terrible last year. Like there's no defense of him looking at the team and saying, hey, that's my guy, Desmond Ritter, we're good. Desmond Ritter's going to take us to the Promise Land. Ritter was train wreck.

And maybe he's a better lieutenant than he is a general. And as an O.C., it's a good fit in Pittsburgh. But I just wonder, at what point does Justin Fields start? So we're going to pull the schedule up for the Pittsburgh Steelers here. I think we have the schedule. And yes, it's favorable early on. Atlanta, Arthur Smith, revenge game, maybe, we'll see. T.J. Watt going up against Kirk Cousins off the Achilles. That's fun and interesting.

And then Steelers, Broncos, I mean, is the league joking around here? Russell Wilson facing his former team in Denver. But those are two road games. Not going to be easy for Pittsburgh. Okay. Then the Chargers, I'm going to go ahead and count that as a loss. At Indy, I think Indy's a buy-on team with Stuyken and Richardson. There's a world where if Russell, wins the starting job. He's a little wobbly early. And if they get smashed by the Cowboys in Week 5, I know Dallas is not going to be great this year, probably not 11 wins great, but the defense has a lot of the same parts from last year's unit, which was the top five group. Is Justin Fields starting before Halloween? I don't know. I like Justin Fields. I like watching him.

Sorry to bring up fantasy football again, Alex, but he's a fun fantasy football player because he runs and rushing touchdowns are worth more than passing. I don't know if he's a great quarterback, but I'm just telling you. Coach, do you want to call him lame duck? I don't know. He has no years on his contract beyond this year. He was already rumored to go into TV. So you got the coach, you got a new OC.

You got two new quarterbacks. That's a lot of newness. And oh, by the way, they traded away Deontay Johnson, who was arguably their best receiver to Carolina. And now they're receiving room. I called it up here. George Pickens, I like him a lot. But Van Jefferson, Roman Wilson?

I don't know, man. I'm really down on Pittsburgh. I'll pencil them in for six wins. The topic we're going to wrap up the show with is in the NBA, because I saw this, and we were going to do a little meatier topic on it, because there's a lot of layers here to get to, but all NBA was announced yesterday. Obviously, LeBron made All-NBA, I think it was the 20th time.

He became the youngest to make All-N-Bay and the oldest, another feather in the cap of LeBron James. But what's more interesting was Shea Gilges-AlexC was named All-NBA. and based on the contract situation and the free agent bargaining agreement, SGA is going to be eligible on his new deal to make $81 million in the fourth year of his contract. Let that sink in. $81 million. Here it is.

In 2030, and don't scoff that that's far away. You know, one of my kids will graduate high school, I think, by then. 2030, $21, $81 million. The NBA so hated the super team era where you've got LeBron bouncing around and Kevin Duran. And every summer it was more interesting than the entire regular season. Where's Kyrie going? What's Paul George going to do? Where's James Harding going to go?

That was the story in the NBA for like, I don't know, 10, 15 years. I thought it was great. I've joked on this show, give me super teams or give me death. Because I think they're just more interesting. And we talked about it with Aaron Rod. if you're polarizing, you're interesting. Everybody hated LeBron when he went to the Hedels. Remember not one, not two, remember that?

Everybody detested him, except for Miami and a couple people like me. Then LeBron goes back to Cleveland, and now he's a villain in Cleveland, but then they love him again. And Kevin Durant goes to Golden State. Look, the super teams to me were fascinating. I found it interesting. The NBA said, uh-uh, we got to cut that off. We've got to make it so the teams that draft the stars, SGA and OkC, Anthony Edwards in Minnesota.

How do we keep them there and not want them going to New York or the coasts? Well, the answer is let's inflate their salaries. So if you're drafted high, stay with your team and you make all NBA, boom, you're in line for an $81 million a year deal. So which is it, folks? Do we hate the super team era and guys bouncing around the league? Or do we hate, hey, this guy's. making $81 million. That's not right. I don't know, Alex. A lot of NBA haters out there who are going to be like, I don't like the super teams. Well, no, he shouldn't make 81. Which is it? You got to pick one.

which do you not like? It was interesting because I was listening to Dan Patrick on the way in this morning. And they said, we're about six years away from guys making $100 million a year in their contracts. So the amount that guys are getting, these superstars are getting per year, are going up. that's inevitable. That's just going to happen. I don't mind, I don't mind super teams if it isn't the superstars forcing their way out and ruining a franchise because they left. That's where I have an issue with it. If they're completely blowing up a franchise that they're leaving to go join a super team. It feels a little bit of a cop out there. That's the only way I don't like it, but the Warriors and the dynasty that they had for years was just, I mean, that's what it's all about. That's

what you want to see. And they did it and they built it from the ground up. Obviously, KD joined and won a championship there as well. That's a super team I love and respect. Okay. So Kyrie Irving forcing his way out of Brooklyn. A lot of people didn't like it. Now it has worked. I mean, I think he ruined it for KD more than him. He forced, he forced KD over there and just kind of blew up his whole career. So my argument, dating back to LeBron and the super team where he created with Miami. So he was ticked off that the team that drafted him, Cleveland, did nothing to help him. Like, oh, we got you 34-year-old Shaq. Well, what is that? Thirty-four-year-old Shaq ain't doing anything. Hey, we got you, Antoine Damason. Oh, what is he? Like, maybe a one-time

All-Star. Meanwhile, Boston, in the East was getting, oh, let's go grab Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to go with Paul Pierce. That was the first super team. So LeBron sees that as like, why am I staying here? Yeah. I'll go form my own super team. And that's why I've never had a problem with it. No, and he did. Yeah, I thought that was great. Great players have, you don't have a, like, this isn't like a long career. Like every other career in the world. Athletes, you have a very small window. And there's two ways you can go.

You can take the money or you can take a great team. Basketball's really the only league that we've seen star players force their way onto a new team. And it's kind of crazy that they have that power and that ability because that doesn't happen in any other league. Well, it's funny you say they can take the money or force their way out. Yeah. So the Donovan Mitchell situation in Cleveland's interesting.

What if he says, I'm going to sign the extension? Signs it, $200 million extension, and then in a year says, this is not working. I need to get out of here. Send me to Miami or the Lakers. Because that's totally within his right. That's what a lot of these guys have done. I'll take the money now, sure, yeah, let's hang out. And then after a year, I'm ready to leave.

Like, that's what Anthony Davis did in New Orleans. A lot of these guys are doing that. And it's like, I don't know how the NBA can stop it. but I just I want to be clear I'm not looking in the pockets of SGA I'm happy for him making 81 he's probably going to be like the third richest guy in the state of Oklahoma I've never been to Oklahoma

well isn't that the oil that's the oil state you actually probably yeah so definitely not maybe not the third richard that's definitely the billion he will be wealthy you can buy the city five times over okay I just I do worry about the perception and I'm not saying he should take less I'm not a socialist I'm not saying

pay everybody equal no I'm not into that guys are going to get paid more than this He is just the first to enter this next level of extremely high contracts per year. Because it's only going to go up. In every league, we're seeing it. Everybody going up. Yeah. It's going to happen.

The number 81 million is interesting because there are 82 games in a season. So let's say Anthony Edwards decide he's going to load manage in a few years. So that's where it's going to become an issue. It's like if you're making that much money, you can't be load managing. Anthony Edwards is already tired here. Game one, we retired. So, wait, he wants a load manage on a year he's making 81 mill. He's just going to sit out and collect.

That's going to be an issue. That's going to be a big issue. See, here's my, and this is, maybe we can sink our teeth into this tomorrow. Okay. So Isaiah Thomas, Larry Bird, those guys did not load manage. They were out of the league well before their prime. It was like 35 years old. They were like done.

Isaiah was out, I think, at 33. Yeah, a different time, though. That was a harder game. Harder game. Physical, harder game. Sitting out no games. Larry Bird, 35. But you could say that across, like, every sport.

Like, starting pitchers and baseball went 9 plus every single time they were on the mound. Like, again, like, the game has evolved different. But, like, that's why I like the load management era, because Kevin Durant's 36, 37, dominating. Steph Curry, all NBA. LeBron 39, all NBA. Like, I want my guys hanging around. Anyways, we're running out of time. It was an amazing show.

It was. Amazing, spectacular. Awesome. Great. We'll be back tomorrow. Happy birthday weekend. Yeah. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite.

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