The Herd with Colin Cowherd - HR 1 - To pay Brock Purdy or not to pay, Lions don't rest starters

Episode Date: December 31, 2024

Colin weighs in on Monday Night Football's biggest storylines - but most of all he wouldn't want to pay 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy $50 million. Colin also defends the Detroit Lions for not resting their starters.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Thanks for listening to The Herd Podcast. Here we go on a loaded Tuesday in Los Angeles. Urban Meyer talking about the Penn State game tonight, Ohio State, Oregon tomorrow. Nick Wright in one hour, our herd hierarchy, probably our final top 10 of the regular season next week. You're playing a bunch of backups live in Los Angeles. It's the herd. wherever you may be, however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day.

Our last show of 2024 as we embark on a new year. New Year's resolutions, I have one a year. I keep it to myself. It's usually a personal thing. I don't know if I can improve, so I'm not sure what I have this year. J-Mack, anything out there? You're going to blurt out about getting better? Well, I don't need to get better since I'm great already.

Yeah, yeah. Started today playing basketball this morning. I may go to Vegas tonight, just got an invite from some friends. Listen, let's get the New Year started right, right? Start the night in Vegas, start the year in Vegas. So I want to start. I'll get to the Detroit Lions. I'll get to them in about 5, 10 minutes.

I want to talk about Brock Purdy, because there's this feeling that now, even though he has a year left on his rookie deal, that you have to pay Brock Purdy now. Oh, you've got to get a discount now on this guy. And I was about two weeks ago, I'm watching all these drone videos on TikTok, all these guys in New Jersey,

and it's clear that men struggle telling the difference between drones and small planes and aliens. It's also clear men have a problem deciphering the difference from like Joe Burrow, who gets whatever he wants with a bad roster, and Brock Purdy, who's really good in the first half with one of the great play designers in NFL history, Kyle Shanahan. I always get left with a feeling.

It's a lot of empty calories and empty yards. It's one thing if you're burrow and your O-line's bad, and we don't love your coach, and you're always playing from behind. Brock Purdy has after Andy Reid and maybe Sean Payton, the best play designer. Forget play caller. Best play designer since, you know, maybe his dad,

Mike Shanahan. and you have the best tight end arguably in football and two good receivers and you're at home and the lions are missing eight defensive starters but this league is about second halves the first half is on script yes he's great often on script but when bow nix and justin herbert met like a week ago remember that game about 10 days ago 14 days ago bo nix was really good on script in the half. Justin Herbert was great off script because Justin Herbert's a lot

better right now than Bo Necks. And in the second half this year, the more important half, Brock Purdy has eight touchdowns and ten picks and 12 total giveaways. He's bad. And trailing in the second half, he's worse.

He has a passer rating below 75. You know, in the non-scripted half with one of the great play designers of my life. You want to know, it's not random, by the way. You want to know the top five quarterbacks right now, second half passer rating? Oh, what a shock. Josh Allen, Joe Burrell, Lamar Jackson, Jared Goff, and number one pick Baker Mayfield. More talented guys. There's a connection between the two. Just a big majority for all these people saying, I have to pay Brock Purdy a year early, if at all. A big chunk of his yards

are after the catch because Kittle is great after the catch. And Debo is great. after the catch. And the other part is how open everybody is. I swear to God, has George Kittle ever been covered on any catch in the last month? He's wide open. So to me, it's always, always empty calories with Brock Purdy. You've got to watch the games. In the second half, in a tight game, two ugly picks,

threw behind Joanne Jennings on a big third down. Yes, they miss field goals of 51 and 58 yards. Why did they have to kick field goals of 51 and 58 yards? Because he missed to Joanne Jennings, or he doesn't quite have the athletic ability that his backup Josh Dobbs had to run into the end zone. I mean, every time he throws a ball over the middle, you're holding your breath.

You're not with Mahomes or Herbert. I don't feel that way with Josh Allen. I do with Brock Purdy. I don't feel that way with Jared Goff. So this idea that he's a $50 million quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo won 69% of his games in San Francisco, and people, Niner fans couldn't get him out of town fast enough. Maybe they were jealous because he was so handsome.

He won 69% of his games. He got to Super Bowls. They couldn't get him out of town fast enough. They blamed him for losing to Mahomes in the Super Bowl because he missed one deep route. Purdy's went in 64% of his games. It seems to me, and by the way, he's also hurt again, and he's been hurt multiple times,

because he's a smaller athlete. I thought it was interesting when Josh Dobbs came in, who's just a remarkable kid. I think he was like a chemical engineer at Tennessee. You can give him a playbook. He can memorize it in 15 minutes. But he ran for a touchdown because he's a super athletic kid. I don't think Brock pretty good to run for a touchdown.

Dobbs a faster, more elegant athlete. So the idea that I've got to pay him $50 million and pay him early, There is a difference, I'm sorry guys, but there is a difference between aliens and a small plane flying over your house. Or maybe your neighbor's drone. And there's a difference between guys who are literally tractors. You know, like they're pulling a franchise to wins. And guys that are trailers, they're mostly being pulled. Second half, game on the line, playing with a lead to really,

ugly picks when he had to throw it over the middle. And again, here's Kyle Shannon after on his injury. I know everyone when they hear about Brock's elbow and stuff, just like me. You think of elbow injury from a couple years ago, but, you know, just talking to doctors, he just got hit in the right spot. And when you get hit there, you're just, your nerves go and you can't feel much. But hopefully it'll be all right. And let's, again, I'm going to get to the Detroit Lions after the break.

Heard hierarchy, top of the hour, Nick Wright, Urban Meyer. So let's talk about this whole thing about what you pay a quarterback, because we've seen with DAC, if you pay A plus money to a B to a B plus quarterback, you can't have a legitimate roster. I mean, look at the Cowboys compared to the Eagles. How many guys would even start for the Cowboys on the Eagles? Right? Because you've been paying DAC overpaying him for years and years and years.

And so this stuff, this is a big topic. This stuff's really important. You can overpay a wide receiver. You know, you pay him 20, he's worth 15. You start overpaying a quarterback 58, and he's worth 33. One of the reasons Tampa's so good is because they're getting a deal on Baker Mayfield. They're paying him $33 million. I take Baker over Brock Purdy in a second.

33 million. They're getting a deal. It's okay for teams to occasionally get deals on quarterbacks too. Not everybody has to be overpaid, but a team that is underpaid Tampa with Baker, they've got a stacked roster. They've got good dudes everywhere. D-line, wide receiver. tied-end, two to good running backs.

Dallas overpays their quarterback, and they're stuck. So to me, there are three groups, three clubs for quarterbacks in terms of $50 million plus. The first club is, I'm going to pay you what I got to pay you. Mahomes, Lamar, Josh Allen, Herbert, Stafford, Burrow, Gough, Love. You're great. I think you can get to a Super Bowl. I'm going to pay you what I'm going to pay you.

And I think a lot of your success is based on you. you being great. Then there's the $50 million club. We can negotiate. I'm not offended if you ask for it, but I'm going to push back a little. Jalen Hertz, Sam, Darnold, Baker, and Jaden Daniels. Jaden, I want a little more time. Baker and Sam, let's be honest, it's the perfect season. Jalen Hertz feels very circumstantial, best O-line, unbelievable receivers, you know, MVP when he had Shane Stuyken. I like him. These guys can ask for $50 million. I'm not offended. We're We can negotiate. And then there's the third club, which is, if you ask for it, I'm hanging up the phone.

Brock Purdy's in that one. Okay? It's nothing personal. But we're not getting to 50. And getting to 50 a year early? What's the market? Go to the market. So, you know, it's like negotiating for a new car.

You can tell me that Civic is worth 100 grand. Well, we got rustproofing. A sunroof, and the salesman can tell me. How about the sports package? Okay, I'll give you 51,000, not 100,000. I'm walking out of the dealership if you think that civic is worth $100,000. And it's not, nobody's picking on Brock Purdy. That's another thing.

Oh, this and that. When you get to a quarterback because they're paid so much now, I mean, like Mahomes, signed a $450 million deal. You can make mistakes overpaying a little bit for a Mike linebacker or overpaying for, you know, a tight end a little. You're paying him 13. He's probably worth eight. You start overpaying a quarterback. you get to the 50, 60 million dollar club, not interested.

There's only one thing that guarantees you can't win Super Bowls. Only one thing, paying a B quarterback A plus money. Even Tom Brady, Drew Breeze in his prime, took big money for a couple years. Sean Peyton and Drew Breeze had two back-to-back mediocre years. Restructured his deal, better deal. They end up in a Super Bowl. Tom Brady was never the highest-paid quarterback. Kirk Cousins was.

and Kirk Cousins because of that didn't have the surrounding elements. So, I keep watching this thing, and I'm going to keep going back. I feel with Brock Purdy and certain quarterbacks, there's a lot of ifs, ands, and butts, if this is healthy, if I have Christian, if I have a great play designer, if it's not wet, if I lead, if it's the first half, I can't pay that kind of money.

I can't, just won't do it. So, and I'm not like old guy yelling at clowns here. I'll pay it. There's like eight guys in the world. whatever I got to pay you. Then there's another half a dozen guys are close to it where we can negotiate. But pay it in 50 large and having to pay them early? I'm not doing it.

J. Mack, I know he's your guy. I know you worship at the altar of the Brockster. Boy, after the positive Monday you had coming off the top rope on Brock Purdy to start New Year's Eve, Colin. Come on, man. Hey, the rest of the show is flowers, rainbows. Just make it sure. birds chirping. But I have to address that. It's a serious topic. We all watch the NFL. It's got the highest ratings by a mile, and it's all centered around one position, but it's not just

centered around the position. It's centered around what you pay the position. Yeah. He had two bad throws last night on our otherwise extraordinary night. No Christian McCaffrey, no Brandon I.U. Alliance had no eight defensive starters. I just... Yeah, I would move off some of those defensive starters who can't plug a hole to save their life. Jemir Gibb. He's running wild. How about... Listen, you got to give Dan Campbell some credit. Everybody wanted to sit as guys.

The game means nothing. He plays everybody. Are people crazy? The game means nothing. First of all, this is the Detroit. I'm going to get into this. The idea that game didn't mean anything for Detroit, I completely push back on that.

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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 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. Well, 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, where 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,

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I'm Renee Stubbs. And on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris. Every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on Clay. Jenchian won. I mean, she went down in three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lina Rabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now.

And I actually can win on any surface. Because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your courtside seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. All right, welcome back. So there was this sense last night that, you know, San Francisco, they got nothing to play for, but either does Detroit. And my takeaway is, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.

Detroit had all sorts of motivation last night. They were the only undefeated team on the road all year. They could go 8 and 0 on the road. They're the Detroit Lions, for God's sakes. Why would they ever mail one in? And the other thing is, they play Minnesota next week. That's red hot. Why would you want to be playing coming off a loss?

It was Monday Night Football. Big stage. Your secondary's got guys who are backups to backups. There was wide open 49ers the entire game. Those guys need reps. They look lost on some of their coverages. So, I mean, this idea that, they didn't have anything to play for.

I thought last night's win was a huge win for Detroit. So, I mean, you've got to be honest about Detroit, too. They have been kind of the team everybody's America's pulling for, right? And they've been the most talked about team arguably in the league this year because of Dan Campbell, the story, the culture. They're going to lose both their coordinators. Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, rock stars. This could be the year.

Go ask Philadelphia and Nick Sariani with that roster. What happens when you hire the wrong coordinators? You almost never get brilliant coordinators, both of them. I mean, look at San Francisco since they've lost D'emico Ryan's. Defense isn't the same. And they've hired guys with nice resumes, but D'Amico was better than both. 5% of this country is great at what they do. Doctors, pilots, defensive coordinators, offensive coordinators, truly great.

How many great quarterbacks do we have? Six, five? 32 teams, each one's got two, maybe some have. three, five. And how many great coaches? Five. So they're going to lose their coordinators. And if they lose to Minnesota next week, who by the way is red hot. So again, I love them coming from behind and winning a game on the road, growing confidence, especially with backups playing on defense that need the reps. If they lose to Minnesota, this team that we've talked about all year, and was the best team in football in September and October and early November, they could go to Tampa

for a playoff game. If they lose next weekend. Tampa, Red Hot Baker-Mayfield, and Mike Evans, who that lion's secondary, can't cover. Or the healthiest team in the league. The Rams, who, by the way, almost beat the Lions early in the year. I think it was like week one. And at that time, Detroit's defense had all its starters. Now it's got about four of them, five of them.

So the idea that it didn't mean much last night, that secondary is going to face Justin Jefferson and either Mike Evans or Pooka Nakua. They needed reps. Ricky Pearsall is not in that class and he was open a lot. George Kittle was open a lot. You needed to play your dudes. You need to win that football game. Windows close very quickly in the NFL.

Niners window was open for about four years. Look at their roster. You take out Christian McCaffrey. That offense is not the same offense. You take out Bosa from the defensive line. that's not the same defense. Here's Dan Campbell after. I thought about it leading up to the game.

I thought about it last night. I told the staff. But I ended up settling on the right thing to do was play these guys. And because we owed it to the team. And it's not fair to ask guys to play that haven't been prepared to play, you know? So yeah, that was tough.

And I think the biggest thing is there were things we wanted to do better than we did last week, and we did. Yeah, come from behind Monday Night win against the San Francisco 49ers and Kyle Shanahan. Just ask yourself as a Lions fan. Weren't you angry at half? And weren't you really happy after the game? So if it meant that to you as a fan, what do you think it meant to the players? You were banging your head against the wall at your house or condo or apartment in the first half

because the game meant something to you. Even though, yeah, it didn't mean anything. And yet in the second half, how happy were you? Well, what if you're a coach or a player? Motivation matters. Momentum, inertia matters. I thought it was a great win for Detroit. J. Mack with the News.

No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the Hurdline News. Let's continue with the Detroit Lions, Colin. Unbelievable, they had their fifth game with at least 40 points and no turnovers, which is the most in NFL. History. We're talking like better than the greatest show on turf and something like that, Colin. Lions are the first team in NFL history to have two running backs and two wide receivers,

gain 1,000 scrimmage yards. We're talking historic stuff here from the Lions. I mean, Ben Johnson calling up hook and ladder, third and 12 plays that result in touchdowns. I mean, James and they rarely use Williams, the fastest receiver in the NFL. He's almost a gadget player for them. He would be a primary for every other team, but they have Armour on St. Brown and Leporta and running backs. They're getting Montgomery back, the running back. Hopefully. Yeah, yeah. I think that because the defense has been weakened, the run game has to be empowered because what you want to do if you're Detroit, you want to shrink games now. Your defense is a liability. It's the same with Baltimore. I don't trust their defense. I don't trust. So what happens? If you can eat the clock, shorten the game,

run the ball, you give a team nine possessions, not a lot. And when you get to the playoffs, I don't want to give Matt Stafford and Baker Mayfield and Jalen Hertz extra possessions. The problem is their offense is so proficient. They go down the field and score in like three minutes. I mean, Colin, listen, you know, comparison is the thief of joy, they like to say. But I'm just being an honest question. Watching this juggernaut all season, this Detroit Lions offense or any offense Patrick Mahomes has had with the Chiefs, which is better? because the numbers say clearly Detroit

is better than any offense Mahomes has ever had. Well, yes, this offense has more talent than any offense Patrick Mahomes has had. Absolutely no question. Any offense that Lamar Jackson's ever had or Josh Allen has ever had. I agree. I mean, we're talking, this is like...

Are we talking personnel? No question. We're talking everything. Play calling personnel. And Jared Gough, nobody thinks he's like a top five quarterback. They have Amar on St. Brown and Pooka Nucco. are the best receivers not taken in the first couple rounds in the last decade, arguably.

I mean, literally Puka's a star, and Amaran St. Brown, and I'm a Trojan fan. I never thought he would be this as a pro. They have two starting backs, and they have two backs who are not only starters, but like high-end starters. They have an elite tight end, the best, the best right tackling football, maybe the best or second-best, third-best center in football. This is an all-star team. This is a pro-bowl. Now, defensively, all sorts of issues this year. but offensively

it's an all-time personnel offense and it doesn't assume they beat the Vikings they won't have to go outdoors for any playoff games they'll be hosting everything at home maybe we ruled them out of the Super Bowl mix too early I don't know now that you said the defense is bad the Niners average like 7.9 yards would play Brock Purdy for despite the interceptions

up and down the field the Niners were induced into a couple of big mistakes so you can say what you want about the Lions but they did make two big interceptions Two, kicker missed two field goals and two extra points. That was a draft pick of John Lynch. An early, that was like Belichekian almost. Do you like to blast Belichick?

Next story, let's go to Lamar Jackson. He's having, I don't know if it's quietly a great year. Everybody's giving the MVP to Josh Allen, Sam Darnold's right there. And talking about Sam Darnold quarterback, he is the only QB to finish with 14 games with a 100-passer rating, the first since Aaron Rogers in 2020, and wouldn't you know it? Aaron Rogers in 2020 won the MVP. So there is a small case for Donald as the MVP.

Lamar has a small case. I don't know. I don't know what to do with Sam Donald. These numbers are staggering, Colin. I know what to do with him. Franchise tagging. That's what you do with it. You don't let him walk out the door.

Again, the Vikings have been a very, very good team for a long time. Most of my life, I go back to the 70s, 80s, when it was like Tarkington, and they were getting to Super Bowls and losing with Bud Grant, but they don't have a ring. Don't mess around. You don't let Great walk out the door.

Is Sam Darnold as good as this year's numbers? Probably not, but he was never as bad as his numbers in Carolina and the Jets. So I, you know, I mean, when he was bombing, I kept saying, I used to say this all the time. Go watch a three-minute YouTube clip of Sam Darnold. You'd think he's a poor man's Josh Allen. There's talent there.

He's probably not as good as his numbers this year because Justin Jefferson isn't traveling. with him and either is Kevin O'Connell. Contextualize it. My thing is I wouldn't give Darnold the MVP, but the fact that he wasn't being mentioned until now is kind of ridiculous. The numbers tell you he's absolutely in the top two or three class. The problem is the last one is the eye test.

Okay, we can look at these numbers all day. Josh Allen has the most games with a 100 passer rating. He and Lamar are tied to 13. Passer rating is one metric. But the eye test says pretty clear to me is Josh Allen. Yes, I agree. And also, Josh Allen's never won an MVP, has he? Yeah, never have.

Well, that's where it becomes like in the NBA. Hey, Joel Embed's never won an MVP. Let's give it to a beat. Well, no, but if Buffalo, since Josh Allen entered the NFL, I think Buffalo has the number one offense. Isn't it kind of time? I mean, seriously, think about that. And he never had a run game to rely on until James Cook.

I mean, and he didn't really have great tight end play until Kincaid. and he only briefly had Stefan Digg. So like when Russell Wilson wasn't winning MVP or getting votes, it was like, yeah, but there's a lot there behind him. Josh Allen has carried this offense for years. The fact that he hasn't won is a little bit of an indictment on the voters. And so to your point on the open market, you think if the Vikings say, Sam, thank you for your service.

He'll have an incredibly healthy market. Give me the top two teams that are bidding on Sam Darry. Raiders. Raiders are winning games. they don't have a top one or two pick, and they're not, Tom Telesco is not giving away the farm for these quarterbacks. These are not move up and give away seven picks for these quarterbacks. So Raiders are coming in with a Baker Mayfield offer?

I think they'll offer Baker and Sam. But that type money that Baker Mayfield got from, you can't do that. Sam's going to get into bigger numbers. I have been told that by an executive in the league that Sam has moved into a different category over the last three or four weeks. And you feel okay about that? Well, I'm not hanging the phone up.

We're going to have to negotiate. I may not get the number I like. You are a pushover as a negotiator. I hear. I don't know that's for sure. Final story. Now, this is really spicy, Colin. I never liked Bill Belichick as a Jets fan rooted against him for years.

I'm starting to love this guy. Listen to what Bill Belichick says about the current structure in NFL front offices. He looked back at great coaches like Tom Landry, who probably never would have had a chance to do what he did. in today's environment. There's a lot of cooks in the kitchen, you know, between the general manager, personnel directors, head coaches, owners, owners families, and so forth. Sometimes from the outside, it's a little blurry as to who's really making the decision where the owner has deferred it to somebody, whether he's making him or herself or, you know, whether it's a committee or how all that

works. Okay. So, okay. Wait, wait, let me, before we go to who's he talking about, I'm just wondering, is any of this at all a veiled shot at the Patriots and what happened at the end and who's being blamed for almost all the ills of New England? So let me say this. Although I don't disagree with his premise, I would argue New England needed more cooks in the kitchen and that's why the roster is so damn awful

because Bill wouldn't let anybody else have real decision-making. Go look at their last seven drafts. And don't tell me, Nick Casario didn't know what he was doing, because the guy went to Houston, Nick Casario went to Houston, and his first two drafts have been very strong. So I think Bill's premise is right, but the truth is, and I understand the Parcells. I have to make the dinner.

I want to select some food. But Parcells, like Jimmy Johnson and Sean Payton, is excellent with personnel. Bill Parcells was excellent with personnel. Sean Payton's good. McVeigh has an opinion is very good. I don't think Kyle Shanahan's as good. I think Shanahan's a schemer and a play designer.

I don't think he's the great culture guy and the personnel guy. Jimmy Johnson's legendary for personnel knowledge. Belichick's not good at it. Everybody's got a hole in life. That's not Bill's thing and he took it over. So I would argue Bill needed a cook in the kitchen on personnel, not coaching. And also, Robert Kraft one time in Bill's entire reign said, hey, you're not trading Tom. Move Garoppolo.

I'm sorry. It seems like he was right. One that we know about. I think part of this goes back to last year's Atlanta Falcons disaster. With the owner like Belichick and the front office kind of got together and was like no. And I think some of this is, I would not be surprised if behind the scenes, Colin, Chicago Bears kicked the tires on Belichick. And he found out that that situation there's a mess. Owners' families, he said that in the quote.

I don't only think that's Bears. By the way, you know. New York Jets as well. You knew who's having a great year this year, the Chargers? A couple of the Charger kids work in the front office. Harbaal likes them, gets along with them. Well, here's the other thing. You don't read stories about them getting in the locker room after the game.

No. They do a good job of that. That's right. Other teams? I'm not against your kids working in the front office as long as they know the boundaries up. They didn't play. They didn't coach. I don't know.

If I owned an NFL team and my son wanted to do something in the front office, I'd be like, yeah, you're not a GM. You're not going to be a coach. You're not going to talk about schemes. but if you can be apart. Bring something to the table. Bring something to the table. Yeah. And in these days, it's not that hard to bring something to the table.

With all the stats that's out there available, some new, new fangled stats, if you will. There's a lot. I mean, people are front offices are hiring guys from pro football focus and some of these statistical websites. It's a new regime now in the NFL. It's not the old school football guy still dominant. JMAQ with the news.

Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hur. Lie News. You know, I was thinking about this. So Tom Brady at 45 years old, he retired, he could have played. He was still one of the top six or seven quarterbacks in the league. And, you know, people retire for different reasons, right?

Could be a family thing, could be a time thing. You don't want to put in the work at practice thing. You love the games. So LeBron James was basically, he just turned 40 on Monday. Happy birthday to LeBron James. who's been the best overall player in my life watching pro basketball. Michael Jordan was a different player, a different mindset. Michael, maybe in a one-game set, I'd take Michael.

Maybe, maybe not. But I think LeBron's making Michael Jordan's career look like a pit stop. It's lasted so long. But here was LeBron on turning 40 on his playing future. It's kind of laughable, really, to know where I am, to see where I am still playing the game at a high level, still being such a young man but old in this scheme of how many years I got in this profession. But just think back to when I came into the league,

obviously that's like the first thing I thought about. You came in as an 18-year-old kid, and now you're seeing here as a 40-year-old, you know, a 23-year-old vet, you know, with a 20-year-old and the NBA as well. He's aged incredibly well. You know, it's very funny because the Internet is very loud and usually often very wrong. Some will lead you to believe LeBron's not a popular player. Once again, the most watched game in the NBA this year,

LeBron James and Steph Curry. Oh, by the way, the most viewed NBA player on social clips, we talked about it last week, LeBron James. The number two selling jersey in the NBA last year with all these young stars, LeBron James. The Lakers Road attendance for a pretty mediocre team, is number two, and no Steph's team isn't number one.

LeBron wasn't in the NBA Cup this year. The ratings absolutely tanked. So like Tom Brady, he's still a top 10 player. No question, and he could play for years. I mean, LeBron right now is averaging 24, 8, and 9. And if he's stuck around for four or five more seasons, I think he'd still be averaging 20. Because his game ages well, because he's a brilliant passer,

an excellent ball handler, and has an basketball IQ that is through the roof. He's aged well. But he is the greatest enduring basketball player of my life. But it's always interesting to me there's so much pushback on LeBron because the Internet's loud and wrong. His jersey, the ratings, the NBA Cup without him, yes, he can be polarizing because he took a stand on politics. And I do admit, I don't watch sports for escapism. I watch it because it's entertainment. I prefer sports over movies.

So I've never watched sports for escapism. I do understand that many of you do, and you don't like any politics with your basketball, but I got news for you. Whether it's the Olympics, whether it's the NBA, we've seen it in the NFL, politics seeps into everything. You have an opinion in your office on politics.

LeBron briefly did as well. So be it. But the idea that he's not popular and couldn't be great for mostly as long as he wanted to is just utter nonsense. You know, the chosen one, the king, it can be off-putting, whatever. The guy's still giving you like 25, 8, and 9 a night. Number two in road attendance.

A lot of stuff today. So this is, I mentioned something last week on the Chicago Bears job, and it is now gaining steam. Heard hierarchy, Nick Wright, top of the hour. It's New Year's Eve. Last day of 2024 in LA, The Hurt. Be sure to catch live editions of the HARD weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. 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 a... 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, John? Jonas, guys. I honestly don't remember.

I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, 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, 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 home.

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. 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. 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 Slicel 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

cross. When Jacob met Levan 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 I-Heart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis, and I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs, and on the Renee Stubbs Tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris. Every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on clay.

Jenchian won? I mean, she went down to three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lina Rabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now. and I actually can win on any surface because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court side seat to the French Open.

Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. This week, Fox College Hoops Friday features 18th-ranked Michigan State taking on an Ohio State at 8 Eastern only on Fox. Urban Meyer last hour

Our big bets next hour Top of the hour The Heard hierarchy This is very interesting Mike Sando Very respected writer We bring him on this show Once twice a year

From the athletic So I had mentioned this last week In one of my commentaries He's doubling down on it He said Why not Pete Carroll in Chicago Let me read this He said

Over the course He studied the 17 quarterback team relationships spanning at least a decade since Peyton Manning entered the league. And here's what he found. You don't need an offensive play-calling head coach for your quarterback to win. There are no magic schemes. And that brings us to Carol and Jim Harbaugh. Both are masters at instilling confidence in their quarterbacks.

Both create run games to take pressure off quarterbacks. So Drew Bledsoe with the Patriots. He had his career best passer rating in 1997 and other top stats in 9899. Pete Carroll was his coach. Young Russell Wilson, Seahawks 2012 to 21. He entered his third round pick, developed a run game, became a superstar. Gino Smith has gotten worse since Pete Carroll left. Pete Carroll gave him a run game.

What's happened to Gino in the last year? He's bad this year. So with young quarterbacks, Gino, I guess, doesn't classify as young, Pete Carroll, and this is what I argued last week, he has a history of developing strong run games and defenses and kind of detailed culture, which are

really beneficial to young quarterbacks. Drew Bledsoe in New England, Russell Wilson in Seattle, and Caleb Williams. And there's nothing against Ben Johnson. He's very smart. But I got to be honest, when you watched Detroit last night, they got like seven Pro Bowl-level players.

They got multiple hall of fame level guys, the best running back room, excellent tight end, two great receivers, the best offensive line in football. There's a lot of coordinators that would look really, really good with Detroit's personnel. And let's be fair about this. They're stacked. I mean, it's amazing. They're paying golf good money, and they're still stacked because they've drafted so well.

They've hit on virtually all of their offensive draft picks. They've missed on a couple defensive picks. They have nailed offensive picks and then made smart moves. So, you know, and I'm a big believer. If you go back and look at culture guys, like Harbaugh's a culture guy, name, Tomlin's a culture guy, Pete Carroll's a culture guy. Culture guys may not win a trophy, but they rarely bomb. Scheme guys bomb all the time.

And I'll give you an example. Even really good scheme guys, Kyle Shanahan, J.M. Listen to this. Kyle Shanan is considered a top scheme guy. In San Francisco, four losing seasons. McVeigh is considered a culture guy. One losing season. Even his rebuild season, he got to the playoffs.

Culture guys, motivational guys, Dan Campbell, Vrable, Pete Carroll, McVeigh. They may not win a trophy. McVeigh finally did. say finally he's still young but scheme guys whiff all the time if they don't have the right personnel so basically what happens is a culture guy squeezes the juice out of every player a scheme guy doesn't a scheme guy can squeeze the juice out of his particular scheme he's a defensive coordinator the edge rusher the corners will have rex ryan was great at squeezing juice out of the defensive side but he hurt the offensive side right so you know this idea of

Oh, there's magic potion, this elixir with Ben Johnson. Go look at Detroit's personnel. Good God, they got All-Stars, Pro Bowlers everywhere. A lot of people would look good with their personnel. So on our show yesterday, we brought in Michael Irvin, who is always enlightening, interesting, and entertaining. So I would bring back Mike McCarthy. I think that you can make an argument, unless I could get Vrable, I'd probably bring back Mike McCarthy. but Michael Irvin wanted no part of bringing back Mike McCarthy.

I just think it's time to go in another direction. You know, and I hear these late, this late search to maybe go in, to stay with Mike McCarthy. I'm not on that bandwagon. I just, what I believe is this team needs more discipline. I don't, I'm not saying Mike McCarthy is not a good coach, X's and O's coach, you know, but I think the team needs more discipline. And sometimes, and it's hard to bring that in when you say, okay, this guy who doesn't have that firm hand and discipline is now going to either bring somebody else in to help him with discipline.

And that doesn't work. You can't come in soft and then try to get tough. It's a rap. You got to come in tough and then and then lighten up because then the guys will feel like they've earned some respect and earn you lighting them. That I agree with. I don't think Mike McCarthy. Now, he may not be the solution, but I don't think he's the problem. Here's what I'd say is your problem.

You know how good the running back room is for Philadelphia and Detroit and Baltimore? The Cowboys have the worst running back room in the league. That's not on Mike McCarthy. Dax contract is not on Mike McCarthy. The NFC, frankly, has just gotten better over the last two years. The defense got worse when Dan Quinn left. The O-line, ranked 25th, rebuild. they've missed on a couple of picks,

and they've been chasing the number two wide receiver in Dallas seemingly forever. So I'll give you an example. We can blame Mike McCarthy, but let's say, I think we would all agree on this. You'd agree, I'd agree. Philadelphia and Detroit have the best, most talented offensive rosters in the NFC. I won't even count AFC, just in the NFC. So I combined the Eagles and the Lions offensive rosters, because it's an offensive league now.

Nobody's winning with defense. By the time you get to the end of the season and guys are banged up, offense win Super Bowls. Here is the Eagles, Lions offense. Tell me the cowboy that starts. And don't give me Zach Martin, because he's hurt. And the two guards, Landon Dickerson and Kevin Zitler are both top 10 in the PFF rankings. Well, what about C.D. Lamb?

You think I'm starting him on the perimeter over A.J. Brown? No shot. A.J. Brown is arguably the second best receiver in the league to Justin Jefferson. I don't think there's a Dallas Cowboy that would start. And for a radio audience, it goes, Jared Gopher hurts at quarterback. Take your pick. Sequin, Barclay, J. Barclay, J. Barclay, J. Brown, Amar on St. Brown at receiver, Sam LaPorte a tied-in.

The tackles are two of the best tackles in the league. Left tackle for the Eagles, right tackle. Penae So it's still probably is the best right tackle. So you tell me a cowboy that starts for that. Zach Martin, but he's old and injured. And so if you told me I had to take one, I wouldn't take the old expensive injured guy. And C.D. Lamb would absolutely be in the rotation,

but I wouldn't start him. Amar on St. Brown's my slot. And A.J. Brown is, again, you take out Justin Jefferson. He's one of the great receivers in the league. So you can blame Mike McCarthy. Andy Reed, if he coached the Dallas Cowboys. is not beating Detroit in Philadelphia. He didn't have the personnel.

I mean, I don't think people realize how well Detroit has drafted over the last four years offensively. God, they just don't miss. And Howie Roseman's probably the best GM in the league. Those teams are all-time stacked. Now, Detroit may have defensive issues because of injuries. And Philadelphia, this year, finally went and drafted a couple great corners. years they were kind of shaky in the back end but i i don't think that's a mike mccarthy issue i i think that's upstairs and ownership what say you yeah no i'm largely with you um i feel like you're

this this this bear's job is clouding your judgment just a little bit so you've been taking some jabs at kyle shanahan oh he's got four losing seasons mcvay mcvay doesn't have that many so i was just doing some research con so uh shanahan gets here in 2017 yeah his quarterbacks Brian Hoyer C.J. Bethard, Jimmy Garapolo. His quarterbacks in 2018. Nick Mullins, Bethard Garapolo. You go down the list. McVeigh had Goff, a number one overall pick, right?

And Stafford, a number one over a pick. Who was seen as a bus when he got there? He got to a Super Bowl. 49ers of Chen have never had any quarterback in the first round pick, except for Tray Lance, who really wasn't good. Yeah, it didn't work. Take it easy on Shanahan. I like him.

I'm just saying. McVeigh's my guy. 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 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. This is Saigon, the story of my family and of the country that shaped us.

From IHeart Podcasts, Saigon. You don't think I'm serious about a free Vietnam? One city, a divided country, and the war that tore America apart. This is for Vietnam. They're pouring patril all over here. Freedom for Vietnam! There's a fire coming to this country and it's going to burn out everything. Listen to Saigon on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast.

or wherever you get your podcasts. If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you already know there's a lot to break down. Gorsha accusing Kelly of sleeping with a merry man. They holding Kay Michelle back from fighting Drew. Pinky has financial issues. On the podcast, Reality with the King,

I, Carlos King, recap the biggest moments from your favorite reality shows, including the Real House Wise franchise, the drama, the alliances, M&T, everybody's talking about. To hear this and more, listen to Reality with the King on the IHard 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. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.