The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 3 - The Patriot way

Episode Date: January 23, 2025

Former Patriot Julian Edelman joins The Herd to talk about new head coach Mike Vrabel and why the Patriot way worked so wellSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hey guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas.

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you.

you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. 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 ice. Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on, a Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened.

That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves. their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slicelife 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. 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 IHeartRadio, app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Well, we're going to have them on about a week ago, and we're just happy to say Julian Edelman, and his family is safe, and his house is safe. You were in the crosshairs of that thing. For two days, I was basically watching the neighborhood you were in because I've got several friends there, and there was a lot of finger crossing and texting, but anxious

time for you and your fam? Yeah, definitely a little anxious. First off, you got to thank the people that are out there battling it. The first responders. Amazing. The firefighters, the National Guard, and the police for helping with these looters. I mean, this is like a movie. It is like a movie.

Last week when it was Wednesday and the sunset fire came and we're dealing with the Palisades fire, I mean, I'm so lucky that nothing has happened to my house and my family, but there's so many people in this community that can't say that. And it's been really, you know, I was in Boston during the bombings of, you know, that marathon bombing, and you saw the tight group of people come together to, you know, try to put that whole thing down when the guy was still free. I've seen so many people in this community. This is my first time really living here, helping people, people from, you know, out of L.A.

coming here. I've seen firefighters from everywhere in the country, other parts of the world. I mean, it's been really cool to see people helping people. So, you know, everyone out there, go donate to one of the big three. I think there's a cowfire.org. There's the Red Cross, because there's a lot of people that aren't as lucky. And it's sad. I mean, we just went to soccer practice last night. Three kids on my daughter's soccer team lost their home. So it's nuts. But thankfully we got football to distract us. I want to ask about, I mean, you played quarterback. You know the position.

You know the complexities. Jaden Daniels, I don't think I'm reaching saying, yeah, that's the best rookie quarterback I've ever seen. I don't even understand his ability. He is so poised in these late game drives. Is that what impresses you? That's exactly what impresses me. I mean, we were saying last year, C.J. Stroud had probably the best quarterback rookie season we ever seen because of the same thing.

But Jane Daniels has continued this thing into the playoffs. And it's very evident on situational plays, like third down last week, fourth down a few times where they convert, where he's getting blitz, where he still stays within the scheme and doesn't rush. his progression. I mean, he's beaten Blitz Zero a handful of times. I can't put it off my... Blitz Zero's all-out Blitz where you have one guy unblocked and you have to get the ball out. It's the play that sent Lamar Jackson home twice the last two years. That's what Spagnolo's been sending him every time they're in that fourth or third down and they haven't been, they haven't had an answer. Jane Daniels beat that thing like consistently this year. That's what's impressive. That's

like not just rookie quarterback stuff. That's pro quarter, like veteran quarterback execution. He's been doing it at a high level. You know, he's going to have a huge test this week. But that calm, cool, collectness in high, got to have it type situations are what are really impressive. 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.

Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers. And guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it.

We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. And we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers.

This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, for people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it.

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. Last night, a blown

call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies and the stories behind the headlines.

We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. SportsLice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them.

Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slices Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across.

When Jacob met Levant this went to a billion-dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Can Philadelphia run their way?

to the Lombardi trophy. They can run their way to the trophy. I don't think they can get the trophy just running it, though. This week, I think they should be able to beat the Washington commanders. Now, Jane Daniels is a, he's a joker. He's a joker in the deck. He doesn't play defense. So this team, pound for pound, should win this game

and run their way into the Super Bowl. But once you get there and you're either going to play, you know, Spagnolo and the Chiefs, who can stop the run, who have been in this situation where they've played a run-heavy team in the Super Bowl. Like, it's going to be a different thing. You're going to have to come up with some situational throws that you're going to have to be able to execute on. And if you play against the bills, God forbid you, you know, jump out and not have a lead and let these guys go out and put it on you where they have to get into their drop-back pass game,

which we've seen over the last few weeks hasn't been there. So I think they can run their way into the Super Bowl. I don't think you can run your way to win a Super Bowl. Buffalo has matured as a team. You can't sack them. No penalties. Don't turn it over. Baltimore's not there yet.

Buffalo has mature. I look at your career and I think, well, you guys were always mature. But when you were younger or the late Aaron Hernandez or Gronk, there were times where you were, you know, and I can't line up every year and who you exactly played with off the top of my head. But even in New England's ecosystem, there were older. teams. There were younger teams. Take me to your playoff history that did you like some young guys, or were there times that you went into big games and you're like, man, I'm glad we got older dues.

Because I think Buffalo's matured. They're matured at the right spots. Milano's older. You got. And that's what you have. You have cornerstone players and then they have a whole lot of young guys that they've hit on in the draft, Shakir, Coleman, all these other players that have followed that lead. For me individually going into the playoffs with a younger team, I would say in 2013, with the departure of Welker, the whole Aaron Hernandez situation, we didn't have a lot of playmakers. We ended up going to the AFC championship, lost to Denver.

And you almost had this kind of naive group of guys where we didn't really understand how big it was. But you looked at the, you know, you looked at the veteran, you looked at the Tom, You looked at the other guys who were really stressed out, understanding that we didn't have the firepower. We had to really outplay our best match to win that game. You would see that. And then with the older teams, you know, you'd feel that comfort a little more. I mean, by the time it's 2016, I was already in my third, fourth Super Bowl. You know, you kind of understand the regimen.

You understand the routine. You understand the week, the schedule. I think that does give a team an advantage with the Buffalo Bills. I completely forgot what my point was. No, about maturity, but I mean, Josh has been there. Dawkins has been there. Milano has been there. Ed Oliver's been there.

I feel like now, I feel like three years ago, a little like Baltimore, they're kind of young, seedyer pants, and in these big games, you know, just spags and Andy Reed could manipulate them more. I think they have a, I think what's very similar. to this Buffalo team, which is kind of similar to our teams. They have a huge middle class of players. They got Josh Allen, he's a rich guy. And then they have a huge middle class, middle tier kind of contract guy.

And that was similar to our team, where we have these, you know, we'd have Tom who was making his money, and you had a couple of gronk and all. But then you had a big middle class of team where a lot of guys were really good. They weren't the greatest, but they were really good. I think that's what they've done here with this team. You know, you look at how they hit on Shakir and Coleman, you know, guys that we went into the season saying they didn't have weapons, but this could be their best set of weapons that they've had thus for.

Yeah. You know, they got that Beasley type guy that we all know Josh Allen loves in Shakir. You got a red zone target with Coleman, and you don't have the headaches that you had would dig. So the team's just constructed differently. Having Milano back is huge. Yeah. I mean, I think he's a different.

difference maker. This defense, I believe, was designed to beat the Kansas City Chiefs. You know, if you look at how they always play in their nickel personnel, they always have a fast cover linebacker Milano for a tight end type guy, Travis Kelsey. So if they could get past these guys, I mean, I think this is ultimately the Super Bowl. Yeah. Is the AFC championship. I agree. So by the way, there, there's Tom talked about this on the show that quarterbacks now, it's like they're manipulating the playbook. They want scramble yards, and then they also want the late hit penalty.

Again, as somebody who was an active, mobile quarterback in college, what do you make of the way, you know, Mahomes on the sideline, push me, do you think the NFL needs to step in and go, okay, guys, like the flopping now has gotten European soccer level? Yeah, I think the league will step in, but we also got to put in our heads that this isn't, 1992. This isn't 1985. This isn't

19-7. This isn't early 2000s football. The game is completely changed. The rules have changed. So if you know you're playing against the face of the league, Patrick Mahomes, if you have to think about it, let it go.

That's what Bill used to always say. And I remember being on the other side, seeing a late hit on Brady or a roughing the passer on Brady, where I'm like, eh, probably wasn't there. But it's Tom Brady. He was already had five Super Bowls.

You guys got to understand the situation. Now, do I think the league will probably step in and probably put a delay a game penalty or something if you do these kind of things? Possibly. But for everyone out there, like, the game is a different game. This isn't barbaric football anymore. That's right. Like as much as we can all bitch and complain about it, I don't know if you could say that.

here, but that's what it is. So you have to adjust to the rules. I remember Bill always talking about this. If it's close, don't go. Get in the right area. If it's this guy, we know this referee group likes to throw it close here. You got to know the situation. So, yeah, it's a terrible call, but it ain't going anywhere because these guys make too much money. No, it's interesting that Bill said that. Herm Edwards had it, and I discussed this once. He's like, there are certain officiating crews that call holding. Yeah. And you have to know as a coach, he's going to call holding.

They don't call PI. So grab. You do business as business is being done. I mean, we'd have a Saturday night meeting. Bill would have what referees we had that week going forward and tell them what their scouting report is. These guys are top third of the league in holding, defensive holding. These guys are top three in the league in, you know, offensive holding. They let you play, boys, do businesses being done.

We'll feel it out. And you go. All you really want from the crew is consistency. So if they're going to call it tight, call it tight the whole game. So I have made a prediction the last three years, three years ago, Minnesota, two years ago, Rams, this year, Denver, where I take a team that Vegas doesn't think is very good. And I'm like, they're going to be good. They're going to be a playoff team. So last year I took the Rams.

People laughed at me. This year I took Denver and Washington. I picked Washington to make the playoffs. So the Patriots. It's pretty impressive. Pretty pressing. I'm not lying. Let's go.

All right, let's go. Jay Mack, what do you think? He laughs at it, but I picked the Patriots. I said, I'll just give you my early one, because my take is what they need, this draft has a lot of. Offensive tackles, more punch on the perimeter, wide receivers. They could use a run. It's a great running back draft. And I'm like, the division, the Jets don't know what they're doing at quarterback.

Miami's just Miami. I kind of, you know Vrable. What will be, give me the first two things, Vrable's going to tell that locker room, his personality. Rape's an alpha. And it comes from him actually going and experiencing the stuff that he alphas you on. You know, if he's going to tell you something in a meeting, I never got to play with him as a coach,

but I can only imagine, you know, as a friend, I didn't play with him, but his legend was so loud throughout my career. Like what? Just how he was in the locker room, how he was in conditioning, how he would bust your balls all the time because he was giving Max effort. And if you didn't mirror his effort, even in the locker room, in the locker room, drinking water. We were getting that you'd always hear about the old Patriots

and it carried out through our legacies. You know, I'm drinking more water. I'm getting the edge on you. Like him, Willie Mack, Teddy Bruske, these guys were all accountable. We talk about the Patriot Way, which, you know, was the template and the blueprint was from the coaches, but it was being sheriff by guys like Vrable. The coaches really didn't have to say anything. Because Brable and Bruske ran the room.

And Willie Mack. And Willie Mac. You can't forget him. So, you know, you know it's going to be a tough smart football team because that's, kind of player he was. I honestly feel Girag got the short end of the stick of this whole thing. I do think they're in a better situation going forward because

of the experience with Braves. But I do expect them to be a tough team that can win close games. That's what I think. Because it's going to be hard. Practice is going to be hard. They are going to yell at you. They are going to bitch at you.

You know, this whole thing where, you know, it's got to be you know, sunshine and rainbow. and go into, you know, dairy queen after work. Like, that ain't, that ain't going to happen. That's Mike Lombardi. He always talks about that. But, you know, that doesn't happen. This is a business.

This is a, what did he say in his opening day? I heard in his interview. This is a production business. Whatever you have to do to get production is what you're going to have to do. And I guarantee he's going to be tough on him, but he will handle guys that can't take that a different way. But this team will be a tough, smart football team that will perform under pressure with race.

What was the toughest locker room you were ever in? Where I mean, if the league broke out into a fight, you're like, we got dudes everywhere. It'd have to be with Mankins and Light and Seymour and some of the early. So the early days. My early days, my later days too. But like Logan Mankins, I mean, he was, I saw him just manhandle like 340-pound men. consistently and like after practice he would be farming his land in Rhode Island like he was just an absolute beast of a man and light like those guys probably from those earlier patriots that

carried over to mine it was those guys were tough guys and we had a bunch of tough guys you know the Jamie Collins the Dante High towers Brady got soft at the end no I think he got I think he actually got tougher you know because he always had to prove his point that I was, you know, I'm still I'm not that old guys. You know, he'd always try to be hip with the young guys. He would. Try to be. Yeah. Don't we all? We all. Great seeing you

man. Great to see you guys. Once again, everyone go out and help those people in L.A. find one of the organizations. I don't, I forget him. The Red Cross is one. And there is the cowfire dot org, I think. That's a huge one. Help these firefighters

get the resources they need to battle these things because this is wild. We're here for you, man. Yeah. We were crossing our fingers and we're very, very fortunate that you got through that thing. All right, we take a break. Jay Mack, next, Herdy News. Live in Los Angeles, it's The Herd.

Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, on Fox Sports Radio, on Fox Sports Radio. Hey, it's Steve Kavino. And I'm Rich Davis. And together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, and of course the I Heart Radio app. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich?

We talk about everything, life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world? We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture. Stories that, well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We like to get you involved too. Take your phone calls, chop it up as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio.

be the most interactive show on planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino & Rich live on Fox Sports Radio and the IHeart Radio app from 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino and Rich, wherever you get your podcast and, of course, on social media. That's Cabino and Rich. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news.

What's the news, huge news? We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas, we invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special.

So how did we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Oh, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band. Before Jonas Brothers was... This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this.

We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, for people could call in and say, hey Jonas, and then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it.

Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel 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 headwriter, 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. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen, kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness.

So when a swaggering Armenian business, man catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world. He doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across.

When Jacob met Levant this plant to a billion-dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise. breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions,

the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. J-Mack with the news.

No, no, no, no, turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right, this was a bit of a surprise, but, uh, so the Pittsburgh Steelers obviously have a big, big decision to make a quarterback. And yesterday, Russell Wilson said he loved playing at Pittsburgh. It was a special place for him, and the Steelers and Russ's camp have started contract discussions. This kind of caught me off guard because I, look, we, everybody knows they had a great start to the season, but it didn't end particularly well. December and January were ugly.

I'm just curious, where does Russell Wilson land for you contract-wise? Because, you know, he was probably in line for a Baker-Mayfield-type deal. And then the end of the season happened, and you're like, why would we get in this? No, listen, I went in skeptical, then I was impressed, then I was optimistic, and then I sold my stock. I think at this point, he's not Baker Mayfield, who led the NFL in touchdown passes. The last, I think since he started, he's led the NFL in touchdown passes over Mahomes. I think that's right. So Baker and Sam Darnold are closer to their prime.

So I think Russell, do you give Russell a $18 million one-year deal? Or I can make this argument. You just go with Justin Fields for one more year. You sign Justin to a smaller two-year deal, and you go into the draft. Could you give Ross a Gino-Smith-type deal? It's like 25 to 28, and then there's a lot of outs potentially for the team. I just don't know what you're getting from Russ going forward. And let's be real, was he the impetus as to why they were a good team this year?

No. I don't think so. I think against elite teams down the stretch, you felt like the offense was completely limited. I think that's incredibly fair to say. Of course he wants a deal. I'd want a deal too. And I don't think he has much of a market. Moving on to Mike McCarthy, still probably the biggest free agent coach on the market

since he and the Cowboys parted ways. He's had trouble getting to New Orleans because of the snow. I mean, I don't know if you've tracked it, but New Orleans is in a bad shape with a snowstorm. He is set for an in-person interview McCarthy is with New Orleans next week. Dolphins defensive coordinator, Anthony Weaver's meeting with the Saints Friday, and I guess this is correct. New York Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka will meet with them on Saturday.

Mike Kafka? Well, I think he's respected. I think it's probably best that I just don't say anything after that. I mean, Anthony Weaver and Mike Kafka? Again, we just saw Chip Kelly and Ryan Day steamroll the competition. I know they have the best players, but those two working together. Let me ask you. Why don't you just throw a Hail Mary and say, hey, guys, both you come in. O.C. and let me ask you. Why not? Let me ask you.

Are any of these teams considering Marcus Freeman at Notre Dame? I don't think he would consider the Saints, would he? It almost feels like a downgrade from Notre Dame. Where the Saints are now, talent-wise, lack of quarterback. Sorry, Derek Carr. But yeah, I don't understand why. The NFL group that is left outside of Pete Carroll and Mike McCarthy is pretty slim. Liam Cohen, I think he's potential, but it sounds like... I think Liam Cohen is doing a Ben Johnson. He's like, I don't like these jobs.

I'm going to wait a year. Well, he won at Jacksonville, and they had bulky, and then he pulled his name out. I don't know. Liam Cohen and the Raiders might make sense, because they just got a new GM who was in Tampa. But yeah, it is... And listen, obviously, it's tough when the big names are off the board, but I think you've got to get creative if you're an owner or GM. And I don't see creativity in Orleans. Not great.

Finally, to the NBA, Colin. Oh, ho! The 76ers, 15 and 27, they are 11th in the East. This is a team some people thought could be a finalist when they got Paul George. I heard some NBA guys say they had the best trio in the league when they got Paul George. They are underwhelming to the point that Philly is going to sit down with Joelle and Bede at some point and have a conversation about his health. They are growing, concerned, frustrated, annoyed. He's not a winning player.

He is a talented player. He's Carmelo Anthony or a Russell Westbrook. He is a Hall of Famer. He is a tremendously gifted player. There's an argument he doesn't elevate others. I mean, Russell's playing very well with Denver. Russell Westbrook sometimes bench, you know, Russell gives you great energy. Ambide gives you great scoring.

Carmelo gave you great scoring. But when you get expensive and sometimes brittle or rigid and you don't want to do certain things because you've made so much money. This is not a criticism. Embeddead is a Hall of Fame player. We've been on this. When I watched the Olympics, and literally the team was better

when he was off the floor, there was never a time in Shaq's Prime when the Lakers were better when he was off the floor, maybe with the last minute in free throws. Is Embed to me is a hard player to have an offense with because he needs the ball

and too often he has it in his hands in the perimeter. So this is where it's, gets really ugly. So he hasn't played since January 4th, and they're like, oh, his knee is swelling. From what? He's not playing. I don't get it. And they gave him a new contract, Colin. Joel Embed is due in the 28-29 season, $69 million. Yeah, I don't get it. I wouldn't have done it. I don't know if he's going to be playing next year at this rate. He can't be healthy. Colin, this is really ugly. Listen, the Clippers gave Kauai Leonard a new deal. I didn't get that either.

There are contracts in this league. I mean, it's sometimes I watch. Some of the GMs in this league, I just don't get it. I don't understand it. I think Embed Pete two years ago. I thought he got a gift MVP when he really wasn't. Charity. That was the time to move him. I know Philadelphia between the Eagles, Bryce Harper and the Phillies.

It's a competitive sports town. But if I'm Josh Harris and I own that team and I saw how successful the commanders got immediately, the Sixers are at this point tedious and underperforming. And I think they missed their window to move people. Nobody's taken to be. I don't think, listen, Cleveland is for real. The Knicks aren't going backwards. I mean, the three best teams in the East, it's not debatable.

Celtics are loaded. Celtics Cavs Nix. That's it. I don't, everybody else, a little bit of a pretend. Milwaukee's going to be too old in the playoffs. I mean, Paul George, goes to Philly. I almost feel bad for it. They're not a playoff team right now, Colin.

And Tyrese Maxie. The idea that the championship window, which, was brief is done. No shot. Absolutely none. I don't even know if they're a play-in team. Like Detroit's playing well with Kate Cunninghampton. Chicago's. Their 11th, you said, in the east. The bottom of the east

is horrible. The only defense of Embed is, listen, these bigger guys, Shaq even had weight issues every off-season, but these bigger guys as they age, it's never really gracefully. And you just feel bad, because Embed, talent-wise. For big men, hurt early, hurt

often. There's almost no exceptions. Big guys that get hurt early, the Greg Oden, body types. They get, they're hurt. That's just their body's not built to carry that weight. That's a big loss. I mean, again, if you're a casual NBA fan, you look at the East and you see Cleveland Cavaliers?

No, they're for real. Up by seven over the Celtics in the East. And you look at the West and it's like OKC, Houston, Memphis. Where are the stars? We're the great teams and it's like maybe a transition year. Boston come playoff team. Time will be a great team.

But it feels like a transition. transition year in the NBA? A little bit. A little bit. We've had, haven't we had five different champions in five years? Aren't we on that run? Something like that. Like the 70s? When it was, you go back to the 70s, it was... Do we have to? It's six for six different champions.

No, I mean, back in the 70s, you went through, it was like warriors, bullets, Sonics, Blazers, sixers, every year. And by the way, I grew up on that. It was so much fun, but it was, there was no great team in the 70s. And you need that now. You need a great

team with all the distractions, social media, streaming. I agree. You and I agree. It sounds good to say we've got parody. It doesn't move the needle. TV ratings, people like dynasties. Yeah, I like diamonds. People want special, and the Warriors with KD felt special.

Like if they were on, you stopped your remote. You watch them play, even if you're not from the air. Does OKC feels special to you? Not yet. I think Boston, I would say in May and June, when the playoffs start, late April, May and June, if the Celtics are playing, that feels pretty special. How's Jason Tatum doing? Have you looked at his stat line? Woo!

Cooking with gas, my guy, Tatum. What's the date? Nobody crushes in January like Jason Tatum. J-Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Heard Lye News. Ben Johnson knew Bears coach stopped by today,

and that was great to have him. He is now partnered with Caleb Williams. I was thinking about this. So he had Jared Goff. So the three things that he had, in Detroit, he does not have in Chicago. He does not have a great O-line. He doesn't have an elite pocket passer to this point, Jared Goff. And he doesn't have, you know, the culture creator.

That'll have to be him and Dan Campbell. So when you think of the Lions, I think of culture, O-line, and I'd be honest with you, run game, then Goff. So they don't have any of them. They have to draft a running back. good news for them, it is a great running back draft. And I mean like 15 deep. That's good news because they need more running back power. It is a very good O line draft.

They need some offensive line help. So they have top five caps base in the league. To me, they can shore up their O line. I don't know if it's a left, tackle, or right, center or guard. I think Chicago's got to make a move. Go buy a better O line. Go draft a better running back room. room. And then you start, because I, it, Kansas City's done this a couple of times where they

just, by the way, the Rams did this in McVe, they went and bought Interior O-L-Linman. You can fix your O-line. Offensive coaches have a recent history. McVeigh, Andy Reed, Sean Payton in Denver took a mess, top 10 O-Line right now. So Ben's got a chance. He talked about his new partnership with Caleb Williams. He's got an abundance of talent. I can't wait. to get to work with him. But obviously, he is a different player and has a different skill set than Jared did. And I'll be excited to see what direction we go.

It's going to morph. It's not going to look the same as what it did in Detroit. At the end of the day, Caleb's going to really dictate the direction that this offense goes and what we end up looking like. So the AFC, we know who the big dogs are at the top. at the NFC, last 10 Super Bowl teams in the NFC, all 10 different quarterbacks, which is great if you're the Chicago Bears. It's not driven by Mahomes, Josh Allen Lamar, or Joe Burrell.

We put up a graphic earlier. If you look at the last 10 quarterbacks that have gotten to the Super Bowl from the NFC, it's 10 different cats. So that is great news. Jalen Hertz, I think it would be the second time for him. But, you know, it's great. news for Chicago because it's wide open. J-MAC did not like the fact that I did not put Jalen Hertz into my top 10 players in the

NFC championship. I had Hertz around 11, Dallas Goddard number 11, one of those corners. It's hard to argue because Philadelphia has so many elite players. I mean, they've got at least four elite lines. What do I do with Zach Bonn, who's up for defensive player of the year? him five. He's awesome. I think he was maybe the best free agent move in the entire league. He's been phenomenal, but

again, it's just the idea. Landon Dickerson's a terrific player, grades out awesome. He's the best guard in the league. The idea that he's a better player than Jalen Hertz is a little... I don't think Jalen Hertz is close to a top 10 quarterback. As a...

As a pocket passer, he's bottomed 12. I think as a... Not a top 10 quarterback? Jalen Hertz. I mean, literally we had Greg Cosell on today. And I asked him about Hertz to Jaden Daniels. He goes, no, no, no. Jaden's a much better pocket passers.

Yes, I would agree. And we don't put Jaden in the elite four or five classes pocket passers. I don't think Jalen hurts from the pocket. Can you imagine if he gets a second receiver? I mean, he's throwing to Diami Brown and, you know, of McLaurin's locked up. They have the most cap space. Washington's in a great spot. Or is that New England has the most.

Washington's got a ton. But this, it just feels a little negative on Jalen Hertz. I'm not negative. He's the injury. Well, yeah, I mean, you're, I'm telling you. Washington has the third most cap space. I like Jalen Hertz. Bobby Wagner is Washington's tackle machine.

He's 35 years, 34, 35 years old. Come on. I mean, how do you explain the Eagles getting better when they asked Hertz to throw less? Yes, no, that's very fair. Early in the season, he was. Hey, listen, J-Mack, please talk less. ratings doubled, you'd be in trouble. I wouldn't put you, I would put you below Ryan in our top 10 left. I'm sorry.

Hey guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it.

Another podcast from some SNL, late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel 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.

I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on. A Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know. is somebody coming after me. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source,

the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.