The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Middlekauff – 3 & Out – Cam's low ball first class offer; Amari contract leverage; Tyreek Hill suspension odds; NFC East O/U's; Middlekauff Mailbag

Episode Date: June 25, 2019

Subscribe here to the 3 and Out with John Middlekauff Podcast https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/3-and-out-with-john-middlekauff/id1352730623?mt=2.  In this episode, Middlekauff gives his take on the viral video of Cam Newton getting shut down after offering $1,500 to buy a first class seat on a flight from Paris, Amari Cooper's contract expectations, if Tyreek Hill will be suspended despite having child abuse charges dropped, his NFC East Over/Under picks, and answers listener questions in Middlekauff's Mailbag. Follow John on twitter @JohnMiddlekauff and go to www.theherdnow.com to find the latest content. Subscribe now! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Well, well, well, back again, baby. Back again, the three and out podcast with me. That's John Milikoff. And as we headed into summer, happy summer. As I'm recording this, about 5.30 in the afternoon on Monday. It's kind of weird watching Michigan. They're playing the College World Series right now. I mean, their team's actually pretty sweet.

As we're starting here, they're kicking, I wouldn't say they're kicking Vanderbilt's ass, but they're up a couple runs. So who would have thought? Don't sleep on the Wolverines as an athletic program. I guess having all that money doesn't hurt. But there's a football podcast, and we're in the middle of the football summer. But don't worry. I've worked in radio for years.

I know how to make content, baby. And we got some good stuff today, actually. Some thoughts on Cam Newton. I have a couple thoughts on what if you haven't seen, I would imagine a lot of people listen to this because you're consuming it at a podcast. You know, younger, you're more in tune maybe with sort of, social media you've seen, Cam Newton, have some thoughts on that. Amari Cooper was doing something with Gatorade, so he's doing a bunch of interviews.

I watch his interview today with Dan Patrick, have a couple thoughts on his free agency. We've talked a lot about him. And then one of the stories today has come out about Tyree Kill, who has been absolved in terms of the law. They basically have said that he didn't do anything. But now it's in Roger Goodell's hands. and I think the Tyree kills suspension because I do think he's going to get suspended because I think we have precedent

where when you just keep your name in negative headlines whether you're guilty or innocent. Roger Goodell's proven he doesn't care if you're innocent. He will still suspend you and I think that's, I mean he's one of the best players in the league. So depending on how long his suspension gets into, I mean it could have major ramifications on one of the best teams in the league. So we'll talk about that.

and then at the end, like we always do, Middle Coff Mailbag, Instagram DMs wide open. I actually told Instagram today, like I recorded a video to say I needed some help on middle-cop mailbag questions. Then my DMs, I mean, I have so many DMs. I don't even know what to do with. So if you do have a DM question, probably hold off because I'm going to be answering these questions for the next couple weeks.

But I appreciate, you know, everyone interacting. It's the way kind of we interact in 2019. I'm not big on. Actually, when I hosted radio shows, I'll be honest, and this is no shade. I know a lot of you guys interact with your social media and know what you're talking about. But for the most part, the callers we got sucked. I'm not a big fan. If I'm listening to a radio show and you bring in a caller, I change the channel.

And that's a great part. Like, Colin Show, he doesn't take phone calls. And if I'm going to a radio show, I'm not really there for the phone call. That's why I like, you know, now I do like hearing another voice and I need to get some interviews. We're going to try to do them during training camp and have a couple ideas before training camp comes. But this is not really a collar-driven medium just to begin with. And one way I thought that I could interact with you guys was through the Middilcoft mailbag and I've enjoyed doing it. But let's get to Cam Newton, which I think was probably the number

one viral story over the last, I don't know, over the weekend. And I have two main takeaways from the Cam Newton situation. One, on just the most basic level of what? Once we have the information, I'll get into the way society films everything and starting to become a little uncomfortable with it. But like I said, we only move forward as a society we never go backwards. So the filming is not going away. But let's just talk about the deal. I'd say one of the great parts about America is I can just walk up to you in front of your car and let's say you're driving a brand new Mercedes. And I can just say, I'll pay you 80 grand for it right there on the spot.

You can say yes or you can say no. obviously if you own the car. I can walk up to any house in any neighborhood and just knock on the door and say, hey, and I know people this happen to, it's obviously never happened to me. I would love for it to happen to me because if you made a number so high, I would give it to you on the spot. I've had people, especially like family friends that had like, let's say beachfront property. And again, I'm not like beachfront property in like Newport Beach or anything. I'm just talking in places like around San Luis Obispo and this place after. a little north of Santa Cruz, where people have just been offered X number for their house.

And it's a great part about a free market. You can just pay for anything at any moment. Or that person can just say no. Cam Newton attempted to make a deal. He, as it turns out, is very cheap. Right? And I'm not even talking about the deal, which was a bad deal that he even extended, but just the deal that if he's going to go on a 10-hour flight.

Now, I don't know what airport he was in, because I know he's flying to France, but I don't know if Charlotte to France is 10 hours. That doesn't quite seem right. So maybe he's coming from L.A. I don't know. Maybe he's coming from Alabama. I think that's where he's from Alabama. Wherever he was coming from.

But he's on a 10-hour flight. If I'm Cam Newton and I'm 6'4 6'6 and I've stood by him a couple times. I was actually at Radio City Music Hall the night he was drafted. I've seen him, I think like a second year, they played the 49ers at Candlestick. And I remember thinking like, this dude is LeBron James. He is a massive human being. he's also worth $100 plus million. If I was worth that much money and wasn't going to fly private,

because that is an expensive private plane if you are a little tight, I'd still get a first-class seat. So Cam Newton gets just an economy seat, offers this guy $1,500 for his seats. And a lot of people keep asking me, Middlecop, would you have taken the deal? One, when I fly, because of the economic status of my life, I fly just basic seating.

So I'm never in business or economy, unless my parents are paying for it, I'm going on a family trip. If I'm just flying by myself or with a girlfriend or whatever, we're just getting normal seats. Hopefully one day, business keeps going well, I can afford better seats.

So if I could afford those seats, that would mean that a couple grand on a 10-hour flight, let's just say $1,500, doesn't mean that much to me. Because there's a big difference between a nicer, you know, more leg room seat, obviously, and just the basic seating. We all know that. We've all flown, whether it's domestically or internationally,

whatever, there's a massive difference at price point, especially if you do it last minute or whatever. So when Cam Newton walks up to this guy, who clearly is probably in an economic status where $1,500, like to me, I'd probably think about that. Now, I'd probably my first words out of my mouth, hopefully, maybe I wouldn't be starstruck, but it might be like, damn, Cam Newton's making me offer. I might just take his money. Hopefully I would have said, as a good businessman, $2,500, encounter offered them. And maybe we would have met it $2,000 and I move. But for $1,500, it's a low ball offer. To me, have you ever checked a plane ticket day of? Especially, and that's

just like for me, San Francisco to L.A. or San Francisco to Arizona. Imagine L.A. to France day up. To me, that ticket's two grand, right? $2,500. I don't even know. I've never checked, but I, I mean, you don't need to be a, you work for American Airlines to know that's going to be a pricey ticket. To me, at minimum, the number that you'd have to offer to get a guy to think about moving if I'm Cam Newton is probably 3,500, 4 grand, maybe 5 grand total. I mean, 5 grand gets the deal done. It should, unless this guy's a multimillionaire

and money means nothing to him. But $500, his offer was borderline, this whole thing. I mean, it really was. And Cam Newton's a guy, it's not like he just got rich when he got to the pros. We've seen this.

He's been getting paid since college. Tons of money. Obviously, he was paid an astronomical amount of money to go to Auburn. Mississippi State had also paid him because they thought they were getting him. let's call it what it is. When he went to Florida, they probably paid him too.

And again, you're not getting moral high horse pro-clutter here. I am pro-paying players under the table. I would die for the Pac-12 to be more active in that market. Probably why us out here on the West Coast are getting our ass kicked. Because those guys in the SEC, they clearly pay a premium. I just saw a story recently. I think I'm like Barstool. It was like a, you know, in New Orleans, that a dude had a guy that got arrested.

for laundering money, had used the laundered money to pay an offensive lineman's dad, like 150 grand. Like the amount of money, I always think media members are so naive on social media when they act like, the poor players, they're not getting paid. Yeah, they're not getting paid above the table. But below the table, where no one's looking, they're getting cat enormous amounts of cash. Now, again, is it done correctly? No, should these guys be able to profit out their likeness? For sure.

but let's not be naive, especially with all the information we have now in basketball and football, these guys are getting paid. And again, I've been around a lot of these colleges, not in the SEC, but just on the, when I did the Pact 12, living pretty well. Hell, I was at Fresno State, and they were living well. I can't imagine what they're living like at Alabama and Florida. Well, actually, I know because I know people that have coached there.

It's pretty damn good. So Cam Newton, I think he's a little out of touch with money. And then two, in fairness to Cam, we probably shouldn't know about this story. And I'll be the first, I'm guilty as sin. When I'm at a event, I was just at Pebble Beach a couple weeks ago. And the moment I got close to Dennis and Johnson, I was filming. The moment I got close to Phil Mickelson, I was filming.

I filmed everything. Now, granted, I kind of do this for a job, so I try to push the content to people. But still, even if I was working insurance, whatever, I'd probably still be filming. That's part of the culture. We're never changing. Like, the amount of stuff we can do on the phone now is stupid. It's a huge part of our life and anything we do. we feel we have to film or record it

or it didn't happen. But I do feel a little dirty when I'm watching it. Like, Cam, made an offer. The guy said no and he sat back down. He didn't cause a scene. And now he's just getting destroyed. I mean, crushed. I mean, I kind of just made fun of him.

And we probably shouldn't know about this. Like, a famous person anymore, and I'm always hesitant because, remember, I don't know if you've seen the clip, but Odo Beckham was on LeBron's show, and he said he gets treated like a zoo animal because everywhere he goes, people mob him. and my takeaway was like, yeah, welcome to fame.

That's how really, like, how do you think NBA players get treated? How do you think Hollywood actors get it? That's part of fame. That's why you make all the money. I mean, it sucks. That's part of the deal. It can't clearly, you know, Heisman trophy, won an MVP. He's one of the poster childs of the NFL.

Now he hasn't played that well lately, but we all know he's one of the most famous players in the league. One of the most polarizing players in the league. One of the most physically gifted players we've ever seen. And, I mean, he stands out. Like, if Kirk Cousins put a hat on, you might. might not notice him. Like, no one's missing camp, especially he had on his goofy, you know, top hat or whatever. But like, he's just making the guy an offer. He has, hey, he'll give you $1,500 if you change seats. And a guy had to immediately film. Like, can't you just let the guy

live life? Now, again, like, would I have filmed that? Maybe I'd take a picture. So it's like, I can't crush the guy too much because I probably feel it's just guilty, but it's kind of sad that everything we do now, the moment we think, like, we can go viral. It's one thing to go viral off something that naturally happens, but just trying to take advantage of some famous person that we have to film or have to take a picture. Someone's getting wasted. Oh, there's, there's, I'm just using Cam Newton again. Like, there's Cam Newton taking shots of tequila. Like, can't the guy just live life? 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.

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But this was something that was like, it was pretty innocuous. He just wanted bigger legroom. Now kind of exposing this cheap or whatever. But I think this is like, it's kind of crazy that this story is out leading my show. Now, part of it is June 24th, but still, like, every single person that I follow in the NFL was talking about it, people laughing about it, having to laugh at Cam Newton. At the end of the day, White Sea Care, worth $100 million, successful NFL career. But he's got, I mean, he's a human. If I was him, I'd be a little embarrassed.

And it's just, it's kind of crazy. I mean, it's really, that's just my take. Like, it's just, it's kind of sad indictment, but it also is just, it's who we are. And if anything, you've ever go to a concert lately? I mean, hell, like I said, the Pebble Beach, you went to Pebble Beach and you sat at like an area where they were teeing off or hitting second shots. Every single human, again, I raised my hand in guilt, had their phone out. And obviously, if you watch, like, you go to YouTube to listen some music and you're watching a live concert, it's great. We can't live our life anymore with just the phone in the pocket.

We wouldn't dare go anywhere without the phone in our hip pocket and in our hand. But it just never ends. and in that I do feel some compassion with everyone shitting on Cam Newton that you know I mean 15 years ago this this stuff type stuff was happening all the time and no one ever knew he just made an offer a lowball offer a terrible offer and was denied it was pretty normal you know nothing crazy it was just a normal human interaction the guy said no and it exposed Cam as being cheap and it's part of because it's 2019 if it's 2007 never happens this clip is brought to you by State Farm

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and I heard him on Dan Patrick. And basically the way, this was actually kind of funny on Dan Patrick. I mean, he did throw some serious shade at the Raider, see if I can get this for you guys. Listen one more time That's just some shade But that's not really what I was trying to say though

I wasn't trying to throw shade at the Raiders here Though they basically just replaced them with a box safety And I think every team in the league If you said right now You can have Amari Cooper Who's even going to be a free agent Or you can have Jonathan Abram Who's on a rookie contract

But still makes a lot of the first round pick Who would you rather have? I think the majority of teams rather have Amari Cooper But you know it could be wrong Well let's start with this Dan basically asked him at the end like, are you worried about what Michael Thomas gets in the 22 million? Are you watching that and how it impacts you?

And he said no. And I talked about this last week with Amari Cooper. Amari and Michael Thomas aren't in the same category. Michael Thomas has produced at a high level. Amari has been very hit or miss. Now, again, I think why he's kind of throwing shade at the Raiders, like no one produces with the Raiders. And his first two years, he went to the Pro Bowl.

So, like, you know, the Raiders aren't a place where people go to succeed. We've seen that. It's where people go to die. That's what, to me, was so impressive about what Amari Darry. and Khalil Mack were doing, because that's not where people have success. Now I'm already left, had a ton of success with Dallas, helped them make it to the playoffs, and is going into his fifth year option. And my recommendation, unless they make you an offer like $19, $20 million,

which I don't think they would, just play out the season. Because you're going to be productive. I think you'll catch between 80 and 90 balls. And we've seen two things. You kind of got them, they're back against the wall. If they sign DAC right now, they're going to have to franchise you. and if they don't franchise you and let you hit the open market, which seems highly unlikely because they gave up a first round pick for you,

so they're going to have to pay you that if you have a big year and you prove like you're kind of Dax guy, they're going to pay you. Now, right now I do understand where they're coming from despite giving a first round pick. Like the production doesn't equal this massive contract. The production, to me, equals like DeMont-Adams, and he's making $14 million. But I think Amari would immediately counter and go, well Sammy Watkins hit the open market and got 16 and their counter would be well Amari this is not the open market you're still under contract so meet in the middle I think a team friendly deal would be 17 a major win for Amari would probably be 18 and a half and I'd say when you talk about guaranteed money odal Beckham got 65

If Amari got like 58, that'd be pretty impressive. Or I'd say 60, that'd be a huge win for Amari. If Dallas could get him at like 50, that'd be a pretty team-friendly deal. But I think he still has a lot to prove. I've always been an Amari Cooper guy. I saw what he did in Oakland, and that shouldn't have been possible. Like I've seen countless players come through and do nothing, and he was awesome. Now he has his flaws.

He had a lot of concentration drops in Oakland. There were times like, I wouldn't call him the toughest player. you know that's something DeAndre Hopkins is a tough MFer Julio Jones tough dude even Antonio Brown he doesn't miss games and he produces like Amari has been a little hit or miss with that but I saw in Dallas he was like rejuvenated it felt like he was at Alabama again and maybe he's just a bright lights guy

Dallas and Alabama they win everyone watches they're a big deal the Raiders a little under the radar I would just play this if I was his agent and they're a low ball on me right now just play it out because let's call it what it is. Even if he has an average season, we saw what Sammy Watkins got,

so I dare you to let me hit the open market. Players get overpaid in the open market. Dallas is not going to do that because they just traded a first round pick for you. Okay, franchise me. Because I know you don't want to franchise me. You have all these players that you've got to take care of. Dak, until he gets signed,

is going to be going into his last year of his contract. Zeke, next year, will be on a fifth-year contract. They're going to want to get that done. Jalen Smith, I'm pretty sure this Jalen Smith's fourth year, right? So they're going to have to pay him. They got a lot of guys to pay, you know? So they're going to want to get this done,

and they're going to want to meet Amari Cooper somewhere close to what he's asking for just to get the deal done. I think Amari's in a great spot. Again, I've been a big believer in Amari from day one. I loved his body language and his confidence. He's kind of got his swag back in Dallas. I thought, now, it was risky at the time because it looked like their pick might be in the top 10,

but the way it all played out, Trade and pick 27 for Amari Cooper. That's the easiest trade Jerry Jones will ever make. And this is a 25-year-old guy, not a 30-year-old guy, who's only scratched the surface, and I think he's going to be poised for a big year. Okay, let's get into Tyree Kill. And I said two months ago that my take on Tyree Kill was, I mean, black and white.

If he did it, he should go to jail. If he didn't, we shouldn't be so quick to jump on things that we don't have the information to. I don't know. And I've seen it before with Ruben Foster. I'm always uncomfortable in these situations. We've seen it countless times in the NFL. We just don't know.

And I just, yeah, he had a terrible mistake in the past. But do I just assume that he did again? I don't know. I don't know him personally. I know people with the chiefs that think unlike Kareem Hunt, who they couldn't trust, who they just had a lot of issues with. They've had zero issues with Tyree Kill from the moment he's been. there. Not one. Now, this is an issue, but it's pretty clear they believed when he claimed he didn't do it.

And then I always say this. I hate when the NFL, when society, it's mainly the media, I don't think fans do. The media expects them to be like the judge and jury. Like, they're in the private sector, their goals to win. But if the police says the guy's innocent, and that's what Kansas City said, that they did not think that he had anything to do with this guy breaking his arm. or his young child, they don't think he did it. If they thought he did it, if they said he's guilty, Kansas City would cut him.

But they said he did not do it in Kansas City. So the chiefs have just done nothing, and now it's in the league's hand. So again, according to the police, he's innocent here. And this is where I get, like, uncomfortable with just saying, because the media loves like,

throw them in jail! But then they all happen to be extreme liberal, you know, we know how they vote, and they're clearly, you know, in theory should be against mass incarceration. I saw Ruben Foster, so it's like, you just want these guys to go to jail without knowing whether they're guilty or innocent? Isn't that like

a whole societal problem? But again, they, you know, hypocrites. I try not to be. I try to hang my hat. One thing I take a lot of pride in, I try to be very authentic. I'm not hypocritical on anything if I can't avoid it. And this is something that like, I think mass incarceration is a bad thing, right?

I am for innocent people, not. being incarcerated. So if he didn't do it, he shouldn't be incarcerated. I don't like calling for people to be incarcerated or go to jail. No, I wasn't there. And this, he said, she said, thing I'm never comfortable with. And this is where I think a lot of players have had problems with Roger Goodell. Because now it's in Roger Goodell's hands.

And it's pretty clear precedent would say, Tiger Kiel's getting suspended, right? Even if he's innocent. Because Ezekiel Elliott, who the police also absolved, got suspended for six games. Remember, Jerry Jones freaked. Hell, Tom Brady, who, you know, after Belichick's speech a couple years ago, was like, he didn't have played the balls, he got to spend him for four games. Now, domestic violence, is domestic violence considered when you hit your child, whatever that is considered, whatever umbrella that is, it's sick, it's terrible.

So, this is where it gets kind of dicey. Like, what does the NFL do with him? Ruben Foster, who, again, was accused twice by a woman, a female, his ex-girl, friend, whatever, who made it all up. Literally made the whole thing up. She lied twice. Now, he should have got ding for being an idiot and not allowing her when he was on the road and they were flying to Tampa Bay bringing her there, especially what had happened

previously. So even though she made it all up, I deserve, like, I didn't have a problem. 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

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like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me, he goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue of 42. Hey, rep, my mama want you to wave at her.

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Thinking that the NFL believed he deserved some sort of punishment. And until he shattered his leg and screwed up his season, you know, not intentionally, obviously. The NFL didn't suspend him, but they find him two game checks. I was like, you know what? For just your ultimate stupidity, given what you had just gone through, I'm okay with that. Now, I'm also like, I don't see anyone in the media saying lock her up because she's not done this to Ruben Foster twice. She did to another guy. Like, I mean, that's where society has issues.

Like, why are we not making a big deal about these people that make these things up? But again, on this situation with Roger Goodell, what does he do? I don't even know where to guess, and I think guessing suspensions are really difficult. My guess would be four games, but two wouldn't shock me if they believe Tyree Kill that he's innocent. Four, if they're just unsure, they know they need to do something. If they think kind of like Zekiel Elliott that he's lying to them, he's probably getting six or eight. So I went through Kansas City schedule. like Tyree Kill is a top five player in this league non-quarterback

Cleo Mac, Aaron Donald, Tyree Kill I mean he's that good I don't think anyone would argue He is elite He is a dominant force in this league And he's on arguably a top two or three team in the league So his disappearance for whatever amount of time

Is going to be a big deal So I just wrote down their first eight games of the season Let's assume Tyreek gets Let's go through the different scenarios. Let's say he gets two games. At Jacksonville, at Oakland. I think they could win both those two games without Tyree Kill. Now, I don't look at them like locks, though I think they would beat the Raiders without

Tyree Kill. The Jaguars week one, anything's possible. Let's say it goes four games. At Jacksonville, obviously at Oakland, and then you get Baltimore at home and then at Detroit. I think that they could figure out a way, I mean, with Lamar Jackson, that wingtie offense and then Detroit kind of in shambles, you go three and one even without Tyree kill. Where I think it would get difficult if it went six or eight games. If it went eight games, it'd be harder for the Chiefs. Obviously those first four games and then it gets difficult.

You have Indy, Houston, both in Kansas City. The Indy games is a Sunday night game. Indy, you'd imagine would have a little bit of a chip on their shoulder. Kansas City kind of kicked their ass in the playoffs last year. Then you'd get Houston who, on paper, is pretty good team. You've got to go to at Denver short week Thursday night. That's tough. And then off a long week, you get Green Bay at home. So let's say suspended six games You could easily lose that Indy and Houston games Even though it's in Arrowhead Like those two teams are just two playoff teams

And you take away the teams Obviously the quarterbacks are the most important players But if you went number after the quarterback Tyree kills the Chief Best Player In Houston and Indy are pretty loaded Now I do think at Denver Thursday night Who knows how they're going to look And then you do that long week Green Bay

Maybe you could handle it if you win eight games But I'd say five and three best K-K if he misses eight games, if he misses six, I mean, you could be looking at like three and three. If he only misses two, you could have no issues, and they could be two and oh in their first two games. I think the number of games he gets suspended, and I can't even begin to guess,

because I don't even know what Roger Goodell will think because it's pretty clear what the police think that he didn't do it. You know, it's pretty clear what the media and Twitter thinks that he's guilty. Right? So I don't know. And I am just, I am never comfortable saying that young men's career should end things I don't have facts on. And I saw it, and I guess part of this experience

being here in the Bay with Ruben Foster and what some of these extreme media people around here was just wrong. I mean, they literally should send them a note as an apology. I mean, the chick made it up. Now, you can ding them for being dumb and being around her, especially after the first time. That was not healthy.

You should cut her out of your life. But we're all humans. We know if you're in a serious relationship with someone, it's easier said than done. Now, I would imagine many people listening, their significant other has never tried to ruin their career, right, and send them to jail. That's pretty extreme. I think I would be able to emotionally get over someone pretty quickly and cut them out of my life. But, again, easier said than done. With Tyreek, the information I have, the actual court and the police say innocent, Twitter says guilty,

And Roger's probably somewhere in the middle. So I can't even begin to guess. But I will be very shocked, right, if he doesn't get some games, even if the league thinks he's innocent because the precedent has kind of been set by Roger Goodell, that he kind of has to suspend you just from drawing negative headlines. That's kind of what they do in the NFL now. I'm always upgrading my car. Not because I need to, because I want to.

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are left. Find your next job fast at careerbuilder.com. Support for this podcast in the following message comes from American Express. With Amex Platinum, once in a lifetime perks happen all the the time. The high-end airport lounges that make layovers enjoyable. The dining perks that open doors to new restaurants. The 1,200 fine hotels and resorts properties with elevated benefits, like late checkout, because vacations should never end early. With the Platinum card, experience once in a lifetime all the time. Just some of the many reasons you are with Amex Platinum. Visit Americanexpress.com slash with platinum. Terms apply. Okay, I said I was going to do every division, every show, or pick a division, every show until we've done them all.

I did the AFC East on Friday. I'm going to do the NFC East today. And what I'm going to do is I'm going to go over all the overunders and who I like to win the division based on my bookie. Literally my bookie. But one thing I'm going to dive a little deeper because someone hit me up, like go into a little bit about, you know, what you like. you didn't like of the offseason. So, okay, this one's pretty easy one. The NFC East, which I think is pretty clear.

Two of the best teams, not just in the NFC, but probably in all of football, or in the NFC East, from a roster standpoint. You could put Dallas and Philly's roster probably against any in the entire league. They're stacked. I mean, they got dudes at every position. So the betting favorite is Philly

at basically plus one to one. So you bet a hundred bucks, you win a hundred bucks. The Eagles. And they're over under is 10. And I think they're a 11 or 12 win team. Now, to me, the biggest move they made this offseason was something they didn't really have to do. Carson Wentz just came back. And they put all their chips in the middle of the table and they extended them.

But the other big kind of ripple effect to that was they had to make a decision with Foles and they just let him walk. Pretty high-level move. Just let him walk. He ended up making $50 million guaranteed, pretty big win-win. for their situation. But now, the elephant in the room with this team is, if Carson goes down, they no longer can be countered upon. That doesn't mean that Nate Sudfeld or the dude they drafted from Northwestern, whoever

wins the backup job, couldn't win some games because their roster is good enough, but we don't know that. Like, I knew for a fact, we all did, that, like last year when Carson went down, they were equipped to win games. Now, I don't think we all thought that they were going to figure out a way to get in the playoffs, but they did, and then they didn't want a playoff game. Like once they got to the playoffs I wouldn't bet against Nick Foles

And then we didn't And he won the game Even against the Bears Like that margin for error is gone Now they added They had a good draft They drafted their tackle in the first round That's not even going to start

But if Jason Peters gets hurt Boom he's in They drafts a little running back From Penn State that's good J.J Artega Whiteside Which is like a crab tree type player Jumpball guy in the red zone Should really help out

They already have a deep receiving core With Ertz Who's tight end but he's a receiver and Alshan. Their running back group just in theory adding that guy to go with they traded for Jordan Howard should be a lot better.

Defense is pretty stacked. Their corners are a little bit of a question mark. They re-sign Ronald Darby. Sidney Jones needs to start playing better. Get McLeod back from injury. Malcolm Jenkins, you would imagine the contract gets worked out. Linebackers are pretty solid. D-line's pretty stacked.

I mean, they added Malik Jackson. The team's good. I would, I'd probably like Dallas just a little more, but I like Carson a lot more than Dak. I just don't trust Carson to stay healthy. Though I want him to say healthy, is one of my favorite players in league.

So I like Dallas to win this division because I think both these two teams are 11, 12, 12, 13 win teams. Dallas, you can get it plus 130. They're over under as 9. So Philly and Dallas, I like both their overs. Now, 10's a lot, but I think Philly's that good. 11, 12 wins.

Dallas, to me, is a much easier over. I think they win 11 or 12 games. The roster is pretty much the same because they didn't have any cap space, really. They didn't have a first round pick, but they have Amari Cooper. Their team is loaded. I mean, they found a way to get Demarcus Lawrence done. Their linebacking court is awesome.

They have sweet DBs. Their offensive line, which has been a strong point of the team, is a little bit in question because some of the guys are getting older, but I still believe in the group. I like Dak, I like Zeke, I like Amari. Jason Whitney comes back to bring a little guidance. I'm more of a Jason Garrett guy than some. again, I like the over.

I love their team last year the way they were playing at the end of the season. I think they're going to be really good. I think they're right there with Philly. And I think the defining probably factor, I just think that Dallas, just consistently they have an identity. Like at the end of the day, boom, I hand it to Zique. And I think there are some question marks. Like with Carson, there's like some pressure for him that's not really there with Dallas. there's always pressure with the Dallas and with the Eagles.

But in Philly's case, it's going to be like the pressure on Carson Wentz is kind of unique. He's replacing this guy that wasn't even, was his backup, but it won a Super Bowl. Just a weird spot. So again, I don't feel great about my Dallas pick, but I love both these two teams. I love both these two teams. And I hate the other two teams. Washington, who's the third best odds to win the division plus 900, I think they're going to win five or six games. I think Jay Gruden's going to get fired.

I like the under at six and a half. I don't think it's that much under. It's probably five or six games because I think Jay Gruden's a good coach. They just always have so many injuries. You look, the first practice OTAs, Ruben Foster goes down. Who's going to be their quarterback? I mean, sucks for Alex, but his career's probably over. Case will start the season. Then Haskins will eventually come in. That's a huge leap for Haskins. Is Trent Williams ever going to show up? Their front seven actually is pretty good. I mean, it really is. Darius Gice has. coming back, but he's coming back off in ACL.

Yeah, they'll win six games, six or seven. So I wouldn't touch that over under six and a half. That feels right in the sweet spot. But Jay Gruden's already said, like, if I don't make the playoffs, I'm done. It's like, they ain't making the playoffs because they're not even close to his good or Dallas and Philly, and he's done. The Giants are going to be god-awful. I mean, their defense, I was talking with a buddy in the league a while back.

He's like, God, their defense on paper is just horrendous. No pass rush. I mean, their first round pick is a defensive nose tackle. Gibral Pepper is already banged up. Linebackers stink. Their defense is awful. Offensively, they traded away Odell Beckham.

Now they added Golden Tate. Sequin Barclay is a superstar. Their offensive line is not great. Daniel Jones is not a plug-and-play player. So they're over-under six. I think they win like three games. I really do. I think they win three games.

If I was a gambling man, which I am, I don't ever play over-unders just because I don't know the patience. I would hammer that under. I would absolutely hammer the under. Obviously, you can get them 11 to 1 to win the division. I don't think they sniff that. So I like Dallas.

Close. But if you pick Philly, I wouldn't argue with you. I think both those two teams make the playoffs, just like last year. Though I think it's going to be a little easier for them both. Last year Dallas was 10 and 6, Philly was 9 and 7. I think this year is like 1's 13 and 3 and 1st 12 and 4. Like, remind me of the year that the, like 13, when C, Seattle and the 49ers were the two best teams in the NFC.

It wouldn't shock me if that's the NFC championship game. Though the NFC is really good. So I like Chicago. I like New Orleans. San Francisco or Seattle, we'll get to them a little later. I don't think, or even the Rams, I think, kind of come back to Earth. But we'll save that for another day. So the NFC East, I like Dallas slightly, though I think Philly's unreal.

Two playoff teams and then two of the shittier teams. Well, Giants are going to be awful. I actually think the Redskins are going to be awful, awful. You know, they'll probably end up drafting, like, somewhere between 7 and 11 with 6 or 7 wins. But they're just not going to win enough games. I think they both those two teams sweep. I know that it's hard to win divisional games, but it's very top-heavy, you know. It's very top-heavy.

But the Giants are at least watchable. They got Sequin Barclay. And I'm interested to see Darius Geis and if Dwayne Haskins plays. And who knows with Eli? I mean, the Giants are just in a sad state of affairs. Okay, let's get to the Middlecoff mailbag. I put out the bat signal the day on Instagram, and you all came through.

I'm loaded with questions. I got so many questions. I'm only going to be answered probably 25% of them. Who's your early MVP pick this season, and who's your Dark Horse candidate for MVP? Also a potential MVP that is not a quarterback. I think I did this last week. Maybe I did it on my other show with Haberman.

Kaleel Mack would be my Dark Horse, just because I think the Bears have a chance to be like 14 and 2. if they get the number one seed, and let's just say he has his best season ever, where he gets like 18, 19 sacks. They're playing all these primetime games. He would be my sleeper that's not a quarterback. My Dark Horse candidate,

just because I think the team's going to be really good, is Dak? I mean, what if they just, what if he throws 35 touchdowns and runs for 7 or 8, and the Cowboys win 13, 14 games? I think a lot of people, you know, Carson Went, Patrick Mahomes, Andrew Luck, are the easy ones.

To me, I'd put those guys. kind of in a group. I'd say Jimmy Garoppel would be another kind of sleeper. What if he comes back off this ACL and leaves a 49 under the playoffs? But my definitely sleeper one would be DAC. What are your thoughts on Seattle's pass rush? Ziggy Ansah and L.J. Collier. Ansah got injury problems, and I'm super skeptical on Collier.

I'm a little bit worried about my hawks. Greetings from Germany. You did this thing where I got a blitz. the image, skeptical snake. Okay, I got you. Yeah, I mean, one thing I've learned is I don't bet against Seattle. I mean, last year, everyone wrote them off. They thought they were going to be the worst team in the league and what they do.

They made the playoffs. And I guess they didn't win a playoff game. But they played pretty well at Dallas. And really last year, they went toe-to-to-to-twice with the L.A. Rams. As long as you got Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll, you're going to have a chance. I will say, though, they did lose their third best player. if Russell is their best player, Bobby Wagner's their second best player, Frank Clark was a third best player.

And those three guys were awesome last year, right? I mean, pro-bowl-level guys. So you lose that guy. Trust me, I'm a, I have a soft spot for Ziggy. He was my second highest guy on my board, my last year in the NFL behind Dion Jordan. That didn't age well. But obviously, injuries have changed his career,

hopefully to get lightning in a bottle. But, yeah, their pass rush won't be as good. but I would imagine their linebackers and defensive backs would be a little bit better with Pete and they're going to have to just be better on offense. You know, they added what's his name from Ole Miss, the freak, D.K. McCaff. You drafted the running back in the first round last year

and Ashad Penny. Go with Chris Carson. That's a pretty good one-two punch in your back field. You got Russell, make some damn plays. You still got Tyler Lockett. I mean, you got players. And again, Russell's won. I got a soft spot for Russell. And just because whenever people talk shit about him,

maybe it's because I watch so much NFC West football. I've seen him live, I don't know, five times, and he's owned the Niners. But he's just, I mean, he's probably my favorite. Like, if I had to go top five favorite players of all time, you know, like Steve Young, Brett Farr, Peyton, Tom Brady, and probably Russell Wilson. I mean, that would be the group.

I love Russell Wilson. So as long as you got Russell's your quarterback, I give you a chance. But that division's pretty wide open. So I'd also say, yeah, your password's not as good. but the Rams are coming back to Earth. Todd Gurley is screwed. The Niners, I mean, they're number one.

They might be my playoff pick to win that division, but that's still nine or ten wins. Their number one wide receiver is Dante Pettis, you know, and then the Cardinals suck. So, yeah, you could probably, the NFC West might take you nine. If you go nine and seven in the NFC West, you might win the division.

Okay, let's get to the next question. I guess this guy sent me a tweet. So the Packers were six and four beside these six games. Up 29-21 with 144 to go against Minnesota. Up 27-26 with 8-50 to go against the Rams. Tied 7-17-17. Start fourth against the Pats. Up 24-20, 8-23 left against Seattle.

So I get what you're saying. So you're basically just saying, Green Bay should come back to the mean next year and win a few more of these close games, along with additions on defense in the off-season, motivation, their stories, blah, blah, blah. What's your opinion? I agree in theory, the main curveball here is, say what you want about McCarthy, and it had become stale and it was time for a change.

I can't assume that they're going to be in those games with Matt LaFleurre. I just can't. Now, maybe they will, but until he proves he can do it, I cannot do it. I don't know anything about him. I've already have him red flagged. He already has a torn Achilles, obviously. But that to me is a big question mark. I mean, two reasons they were really competitive.

One, I mean, they have Aaron Rogers. And their defense actually is not terrible. but McCarthy got crapped on, and rightfully so for some moments. But they were usually like, I mean, they were in games. They were really competitive. Like you said, I mean, their record, when you really dive into the context of it all, I just don't know. I mean, again, I don't believe much, and it's not because the quarterback is because of the coach.

I'm not a believer in the hire. I don't like the hire. I talked about it last week, some of the issues that Rogers already having with the offense and the way he's, I don't know. You know, I just, we'll see. Hey, you think the A should try to add and swing a deal for some pitching? Or are they better off waiting for their prospects to make a jump, big club in one or two years? A little baseball question.

Yeah, I mean, I don't think the A's can win it this year. I mean, to me, it's basically a two-horse race probably in the A.L. And that's Houston and the Yankees. Everyone else is just, the Red Sox aren't the same. I just think it comes down to those two teams. The twins, I mean, we'll see if they make a big trade at the deadline. But the problem for the A's is they're not going to win their division, and they don't have an ace.

Now their guy just got spent at 80 games, and having been someone that bet on him last year against the Yankees in game one, or in that wild card game, it's just, you know, it's just such a crap shoot. Because if your ace is on on that game, you've got a chance, and if he's off, you're screwed, and the A's Mr. Moneyball, which, you know, in fairness, it works for them. They have to do it because they don't have the money. Literally, they do money ball because they don't have any money.

You can't throw out some opener in a wild card game. You need a blue chipper. You need a Madison Bumgarner. You need a Justin Verlander. You need a 20 to $30 million player and come get this cheddar. Because my guy's blowing cheese. And the A's, again, rolled out an opener last year. It was embarrassing.

I have a relative throwback question. In Super Bowl 49, let's say the Seahawks ran the ball, got stopped, called time out, ran it again, and got stopped, and time expired. How would we judge Pete Carroll? Or if Russ had completed the past, but the narrative is Pete Outsmart Bill? Yeah, isn't that the million-dard question? I mean, really, we separate, like in most things in life. Like, who are geniuses right now?

Jeff Bezos. I mean, he's been building Amazon for how many years? 25, you know, started in the mid-90s. I think he found it in like 92 or whatever. but it's really been humming now for what like 15? 10 years has been at a high level. These last like five just a stupid level. Elon Musk has been going strong for a while. Steve Jobs.

Most business guys that Warren Buffett has been selling stuff since he was like five get their entire life to prove themselves. But coaches, they get like these moments. And if it goes well, it's like, this guy's a genius. And in basketball they always say it's a maker-miss league. And it really comes down to that. the Warriors lost in the NBA finals, but they got a wide open shot to Steph Curry,

the greatest three-point shooter in the history of the NBA in game six, and he clanked it. Now, they were only down two. They didn't need to get a three, but at the end of the day, they got a good look on a great play, and he missed it. So then is Steve Kerr, an idiot? Now, football, I think at the end of the day,

that proved why Bill was a genius because he didn't get flustered. He didn't freak out, and Pete was freaking out. So I think, at two of the best, I mean, the best coach the league against arguably the second best coach in the league, the difference in the biggest spot, to me it wasn't even about the play call. It was more that Bill looked over there and realized he was flustered. And Bill in that same situation was not flustered. So I think it's less about, like, play calls go right and go wrong.

You know, like, is Andy Reid an idiot because D4 jumped off sides? You know? That's the thing about the NFL. Like, players do some stupid-ass things that they've been told. told over and over and over not to do in big spots in the playoffs. And I just can't totally blame the coach always. Like Pete Carroll, I'm not Mr. Genius, X's nose guys, but I've heard enough people talk that that play call wasn't that crazy.

Now, I would have ran the ball. I think most of us run the ball. Let's not reinvent the wheel there. But to me, the bigger issue was just how flustered they were and how unfazed Belichick was. That to me is the craziest part of that whole point. but I'm trying to think of some other moments in recent memory. Think about the Atlanta Falcons.

They were up huge right in that playoffs. And Kyle Shanahan's goal is to keep scoring points, keep scoring points, as the offensive coordinator. I do put the blame on Dan Quinn. Now, should Kyle have thought big picture? Maybe. But he just keeping his foot on the pedal. That's what had been working all game. Just keep grinding.

Dan Quinn's got to get on the headset and go, Kyle. Run the ball. Like, I'm sorry, that's his job as the head coach. That is 100% his job. So I think at the end of the day, it's crazy how that stuff works out, but over time, like Pete Carroll's kind of been validated, right? He had a bad moment in a big game, but he'd won a Super Bowl previously. This year, making the playoffs was incredible.

Like, it proves out over time. You're a really good coach. You know, winning Super Bowls, some freak of shit can kind of happen sometimes, right? Like, I think Doug Peterson is excellent. But in the second round of the year that they won at all with Nick Falls and quarterback against the Atlanta Falcons They were on, I think, like the five-yard line With under a minute with first and goal

And Steve Sarkeesian ran one of the worst four offensive play sets Obviously the final fade that did not work I think he ran a screen if I remember correctly on second down I think I had the Eagles, I had the Falcons in that game So I'm still a little pissed off But I was so mad at myself Because you can never bet on Steve Sarkeesian but, you know, it's just like, what if Julio Jones catches that ball?

Like, is Doug Peterson any better or worse? Like, it's clear Doug's a really good play caller, right? Like, is Matt Nagy not a great coach because Cody Parky missed the field goal? You know, I just, some of this stuff's hard, and I think coaches take a lot of flack, and, again, I'll raise my hand, I'm as guilty as sin when it comes to giving them a lot of criticism. But I also praise the smart stuff, though I probably give them too much unjust criticism. We all do. But that's why they make the big bucks.

Derek Carr have over under 30 and a half touchdowns this year. I would say right around 30. 30, 32, somewhere in there. A, B, over 9.5 touchdowns, I'd take the under. Josh Jacobs over under 1,000 yards. I would take the under. I mean, he ran for 700 last year at Alabama. I'd say 8.50.

Rather have a four-footer downhill putt to win a major or a free throw to win the NBA finals. Whoa. I would probably go with the free throw to win the NBA finals. Four foot or downhill. Is it a, you know, is it a tester? Like, is it moving or is it straight? If it's straight, I'll take my chances.

If it's a slider, I don't know. I'd probably go free throw. Because at the end of the day, I think you could take some deep breaths. It's the same motion. The basket's not moving. People are going nuts. Is it on the road or at home, too? That's a big question.

On the road, like in Toronto would be intense. At home, everyone shuts up. I think I got a chance. If Carson Wentz wouldn't have gotten hurt in 2017 and won the MVP, do you think he would have had as much hype as Mahomes is having? I think it just depends how that year plays out. Do they win the Super Bowl? Do they lose in the first round of the playoffs?

Or I guess their first round would have been, obviously, the second round because they were the number one seat. I just think, I don't know. You know what I mean? they easily, like I just said, they easily could have lost that game to Atlanta, and Atlanta's a really good team. Like, that wouldn't have been a terrible loss. Atlanta had just gone on the road the previous week and beaten the Rams. So I just have to know how it looked. Like Mahomes last year, kicked ass and took names all the regular season, then kicked ass in the first playoff game, and then against the Patriots, now granted it wasn't home,

laid kind of an egg in the first half, and then just came out swinging and was excellent in the second half. so yeah I mean I just maybe the more I think about it I mean you win the MVP under 25 years old you get a lot of hype you know quarterbacks in this country are treated like royalty so yeah you just get you just get more praise thoughts on Deshawn Watson being a top tier if not number one fantasy quarterback next year O line is nowhere to go but up true the Jordan Rivera baptism could be seen as a symbolic gesture for the coming

season. I don't know if I quite follow that one. That might be a little inside Houston, Texan football. I think he's probably a better, he's like a baseball player. He's probably going to be a better regular season player than he is an NFL playoff quarterback. Now, he's obviously been really good in the playoffs in college football. Last year in that first round game against Indy, he was so horrendous. I mean, the ball looked like a dud. I don't know if he was tired. Obviously, he came back that season against injuries. Now, if you're just looking at top tier fantasy quarterback, you know, take the emotion out of it. You go, well, they got, if Antonio Brown's the best receiver, you could argue DeAndre

Hopkins is a second best receiver in the league. Wolf floor is a stud. Like you said, their offensive lines should be improved. Did they draft running back? I mean, I'm not the biggest Lamar Miller guy. Yeah, I could see him having a pretty big year, 35 touchdowns. Yeah, top tier, I can hear that. You watched any CFL, they're getting some ESPN2 time.

I actually watched, uh, A little bit of the game the other night would have been like Friday or Saturday night because a buddy of mine, good buddy of mine who's an assistant coach at UNLV, Eric Brown, his younger brother, Travis Brown. They both of them played at Fresno State. Their dad coach at Fresno is now coaching for the Edmonton Eskimo, so I was kind of locked in on that. Yeah, I mean, it wasn't terrible football. It was actually pretty entertaining.

Wide open. You know, it had like a little Big 12 feel. Guys were hitting hard, offensive guys making plays, running backs and quarter. Overbacks look pretty capable. Not a terrible product at all. That's going to do it for the Middle Coff mailbag. I'm going to save some for next week, or I mean later this week. Some of you guys was going to direct message.

Appreciate everyone getting to me. Hopefully you guys enjoyed the show. Keep it loose. Keep it light over the summer. Godspeed, peace out. See you later. Hey, Singles. Do you feel like a tourist in your own town?

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