The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Middlekauff – 3 & Out – NFL Schedule thoughts; Russell Wilson's leverage, Goodell vs. Adam Silver coverage, NFL Draft Mailbag

Episode Date: April 19, 2019

In this episode, Middlekauff gives his thoughts on the NFL schedule release, how Russell Wilson had enough leverage to force Seattle into a new deal, the difference in media coverage of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and NBA Commish Adam Silver, and answers listener questions in an NFL Draft heavy 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.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise,

breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headlines. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter.

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

Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Life is full of hurdles. So how do you keep going? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we're talking with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness from professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions about the challenges that shape them and the mindset that keeps them moving forward. At our level, at this scale, being able to fail in front of the entire world. I can do anything.

I can do anything. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHart Women's Sports. Career Builder is made for people who have that thing. You know, those superpowers that make you good at your job, the skills you bring to work. And CareerBuilder knows those skills make you right for other jobs too. Higher paying jobs with benefits. Jobs you never thought of trying.

Are you a people person? work from home as a customer service rep. Are you organized and like driving? Become a delivery driver. You have the skills it takes, and CareerBuilder.com has the jobs to get you hired fast. Visit Carebuilder.com. Hey, Singles, do you feel like a tourist in your own town?

Too busy to enjoy all your city has to offer? Events and Adventures organizes up to 30 unique get-togethers around town each and every month. We do all the work, so you have all the fun. Get started by visiting Events and Adventures.com today. There's a recipe for getting your car. running just right. And eBaymotors.com has all the ingredients you need. They have over 122 million car parts and accessories in stock all at the right prices.

Now that's tasty. eBay motors.com. Let's ride. What is going on, everybody, John Middlecough, three and out podcast. Recording this bad boy on a Thursday night before the Warriors game. Got a lot going on. I got a ton of Middlecough mailbag questions in my Instagram, box. I always do that on every show, Middlecoff mailbag. You just slide up into my DMs on

Instagram. At John Middlecopf is my handle. And then I answer your questions here. You're going to touch on the schedule really quick. I didn't quite know how to go about it. I can't go every team schedule. A couple of things that stood out to me. Russell Wilson, I recorded my podcast on Monday, kind of questioning Russell Wilson and his agent's tactics. But then they were. And he got a deal, and I think he got a pretty team-friendly deal. I know a lot of people freaking out. Like, oh, I can't believe they gave Russell that much money. You can't?

He's Russell Wilson. And then one thing that has really jumped out to me with the way that Roger Goodell is covered and the way that NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is covered. But I'm going to start with this, the schedule. The NFL made a pretty, pretty bold move. They did it two years ago with the Raiders, and it backfired. and the Raiders had just made the playoffs with Derek Carr. They did it last year with the 49ers, and then Jimmy got hurt.

When you take a team, the Raiders had made the playoffs. The Niners hadn't. They had just won five straight games to end the season. The Browns did go 7-8-1. Now, I like Baker. I know a lot more than Colin does. I think Baker can be a top five or six quarterback in the NFL. And their team on paper is excellent.

The problem is they gave them four primetime games. and multiple Monday Night Football games, which you clearly can't flex. I mean, you're stuck. You're all in on the Browns. And I heard, I think, with either Peter King, and I was listening to Mad Dog Russo,

they had on the schedule makers, and they have a lot of good insight. The networks wanted the Browns. You know, ESPN wants the Browns. To me, it's just a risky proposition. They have a first-time head coach who's been a coordinator for eight months. You're like betting on this stock.

Now, anyone that's ever bet on stocks, that you can make some calculated risks, and this would be a stock that pretty clearly should shoot up the charts. The problem, to me, for the Browns, is not the players. It's the head coach. First time head coach that's never done it before. It's just whiskey. There's a chance that's just not a good head coach.

Their first five or six games are really, really difficult. I don't know, man. I understand it. I'm glad it happened. It's going to be fun to watch, but I think it's very risky. then I think you look at the Patriots schedule and they clearly benefit from their division. But I do think the bills and the Jets are somewhat wild cards in that division. Both of them could be, I don't want to say dramatically better, but definitely could be much improved.

They play the NFCE so they get two cake games in the Redskins and the Giants. They get the Chiefs at home. They get the Steelers at home. You just eyeball this Patriots schedule. and the first thought that I had is like, I don't know, 14 and 2, 15 and 1? It's real, I mean, it's, the Patriots are going to be the number one seat again. Rinse, wash, repeat. It was like, when is Belichick and Brady going to walk away?

No time soon. Not if they can keep kicking everyone's ass. And I love this. I get a lot of this on Twitter. The NFL tries to help them out with a schedule. Do you guys know how schedule works? It's just through divisions. So they play the NFC.

and then they play like the AFC South or whatever they're You just, every team in their division plays the same schedule And then you just, to add on two extra games Because they're always in first place They play two other first place teams So their schedule is just, it's kind of set in stone

The only two wild card games are What two first place teams are they going to play? Well, they're playing the Chiefs And I think they're playing the Texans So that's just the way the cookie crumbles. I mean, it's just a reality. It's just the way it broke.

You know, it's just too easy for those guys. And then the other thing that I noticed, and when I, like, especially because my other podcast, I talk a lot about the Niners and the Raiders, there are so many wild card teams. Like, the Niners are a good example. Are they a nine-win team, or they a six-or-seven-win team?

The Buccaneers, who the Niners actually open with, what are the Bucs? Well, I'd say, I'd never feel that great about James, But they got Bruce Ariens. I got news for you. Bruce Harriens is the top five or six head coach in the NFL. The Jets and the Bills. Like one of those teams is going to take a big step.

They have young quarterbacks. They have good coaches. They have some young talent. How good are the Browns going to be? Like are the Browns an all-time letdown team? Are they going to win rattle off 12 games? Are the Chargers going to maintain this? The Ravens.

Like, I'm not a Ravens believer. I don't believe in Lamar Jackson. But they have a culture. They have a culture. coach. They're not going to be terrible. The Broncos. I don't think the Broncos are any good, but I also don't think they're bad. I'm not a big flacco guy, but their defense is still really good. Vic Fangio's been calling games in the box forever. How's he going to do on the sideline? I think the greatest part about the NFL schedule release, besides really like the Patriot,

the Packers, another team. It's like, you know, I just can't give you a win if you're playing the Packers, and I think Matt LaFlears went in way over his head. But they still got, Aaron freaking Rogers. You know, it's like, yeah, the coach's a little over his head, but we still have arguably the second best quarterback in the NFL, you're going to win some games. You know, is Minnesota going to bounce back? I think the part of looking at the schedule that's so fun

is this, there are so many teams that could be competitive and might not be competitive, and we just don't know. And the difference between six wins and nine wins is like four or five plays and like two injuries throughout the season. The margin for error in the NFL is great. That's why the league's kind of. to run circles around the other two major sports. The urgency, the amount of people that if you're a Bengal fan,

maybe not a Bengal fan, a Titan fan, a Charger fan, a Niner fan, hell, a Raider fan, the Raider schedule's crazy hard. If you're just looking at a schedule, 80% of the league thinks, if you're a cowboy fan, you're like, God, we're going to win the division. If you're an Eagle fan, you think the same thing. If you're a Seattle Seahawk fan, you're like, hell yeah. If you're a Viking, you're a Bears fan, you're like, we're going to win this thing. That's what makes the NFL, if you're a Falcons fan, you're like,

we're healthy, we're going to make a run. That's what's so good. great about the NFL is, I would say the majority of fan bases, if you're a Jets fan, you're like, we got Sam Donald's going to be better, we got some good draft picks, we got Levion, we're going to compete this year. The other leagues can't say that. And that's what, for as fun it is to do like the mocks, win, win, loss, win, that's fun. I did it, I did it on Instagram today for the Niders and Raiders and the Patriots.

It's fun. But it always works out every year different than you think because you get teams that you think are going to be good or bad, and then teams that you think are going to be bad or good. It's what makes the NFL so exciting. The Russell Wilson News happened after I'd already recorded my podcast on Tuesday, or for Tuesday I recorded on Monday. It happened, I don't know, the middle of the night. I thought it was kind of crazy that, you know, I think it's clear.

Deals get done on deadlines, right? Deadlines create action. But usually deadlines, there's a purpose to a deadline. you know, either the season's going to start in pro sports, season's going to start, fiscal quarter is going to end, and a new one's going to start, whatever. To me, this arbitrary April 15th date, tax date for Russell Wilson never made that much sense. But actually it turned out to be kind of genius, because it created urgency. It kind of drew a line in the sand.

And we've all been there negotiating for ourselves. It's a hard position to be in, you know, saying you're worth more when you're believe you're worth more. I've been there, been low-balled, you know, had no leverage, taking crappy contracts, made little money, just because you don't have leverage, and then been in a position where you got some leverage, you get some more money. Well, I've never, and most people will never be in the position, we're like Russell Wilson, where he didn't have the leverage necessarily of he couldn't have walked away. And I kept saying, football's not the NBA. He's not a true free agent because they can tag him.

But the leverage he does have is he's a superstar. and he's a superstar quarterback, which is by far, beside like four or five players in the NBA, the most important position in all of sports. And it's the thing that every general manager and every head coach in recent NFL history,

I guess it always hasn't been this way, but in this day and age, that's what you work to get. That's what you aspire to have. That guy. That's why when Howie Roseman traded up for Carson Wentz, they were hoping to get that guy. When the Chiefs traded from 27 to 10 to get Mahomes,

they were hoping for that guy. Now they come in different shapes and sizes and guys, when Andrew Luck, when you're just drafting one, Andrew Luck falls into your lap, okay, that's one thing. But when you draft a guy in the third round, I've never struck oil or found gold in a river, but that's kind of the equivalent of what happened to John Snyder,

the Seattle Seahawks with Russell Wilson. Now, I give them a little more credit. It's not like as random as striking oil. I don't know much about striking oil. There's got to be some rhyme or reason to where you're looking for the oil. Like, John Snyder loves the guy. It's been well documented. It was his favorite player of the draft.

You talked Pete Carroll into it. And I give them credit. They had a good knowledge of where they could get them. Because I remember when I was in Philly, we were going to draft him in the third round. And then he went. So we took Mick Foles. Kind of ironic between the two of them, they won a couple of Super Bowls. But obviously, you'd rather have Russell.

Russell Wilson is going to go down to the top 10 quarterback ever. So his leverage is just simply, I'm an elite quarterback. That's by leverage. And when you are, you get paid $100 plus million. I also thought,

if you just eyeballed last year, Aaron Rogers, whose resume, just as an individual player, is better than Russell Wilson. But Russell's way younger, the same people that are in charge are still in charge

in Seattle that drafted him. He's the best player easily in the history of the franchise. You could argue Aaron Rogers' top five player in the franchise, but Russell Wilson is more impactful to Seattle Seahawks franchise than Aaron Roger has been to Green Bay.

Partly because that franchise, for the most part, is sucked. So the city is all in with them. So you weren't ever going to be able to trade them. And you don't trade a quarterback of that level. Because no matter what you get back from, five first round picks,

you're still getting 75% 75 cents on the dollar. You don't trade Hall of Famers. You see it on a different scale, like with Khalil Mack. They traded him for two first rounders. The Bears won the trade. I don't care what the nerds at the Sloan Conference said. The Bears won the trade.

So if they even crossed their mind, should we trade Russell Wilson? Just know this the moment you trade him. You lose the trade. You lose the transaction. But I thought Aaron Rogers got $100 million last year. I thought Russell Wilson, because of his age, because he wasn't meant to the franchise, was probably worth like 120 guaranteed.

He got less than that. He got $107 million. I think that's a pretty good... To me, that's the ultimate... That deal, that contract extension is a big-time win-win. At the end of the day was probably a no-brainer for them. He's their franchise. And he's the reason that I kind of think Seattle is going to win the division this year in the NFC West.

They're going to be really good. Their team last year was basically Russell and all these young cats. A couple of young running backs. Now, Doug Baldwin's got to be healthy. They probably need to draft a wide receiver. But that young defense is good. I mean, we'll see if they trade Frank Clark and that kind of feels like they might. Frank Clark's been tweeting about it.

But I give them props. And I got to tip my hat to Russell Wilson and his kid. 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 SportsLice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slicelife-Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Trip Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing.

And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross. Because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro.

Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Keer Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way. Open your free Our Heart Radio app.

Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. 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 our meaning, businessman, catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world. He doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey.

I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levant this plant to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life.

Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer them? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness. professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going. From the WNBA standout, Kate Martin, and rising hockey star, Layla Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't.

Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't feel like you don't feel like. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ledecki. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face like, up and smile. That means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals.

At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can, like, I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHart women's sports. They made this random arbitrary deadline out of their ass. I was like, what? April 15th. It's kind of random. And it worked. So again, deadlines, create action, and they get deals done. So next time you want something done, just be like, at your office. Well, if we don't have a deal by next Tuesday, I'm out. Now, the thing is, you probably don't have much leverage as Russell,

so they might just say, see ya, but it's, it worked. So if you do have leverage, just create some random date and say if we don't have something figured out by him by this date i'm gonezo because clearly if you have leverage like russell or many of you probably listening way smarter than me good at your jobs just pick a random date and tell your boss or tell the whoever you work for you better give me a pay raise by this or i'm gone because it works it scares people those deadlines if if they like you people get nervous and they sign you and russell will Wilson's case, they give you $107 million guaranteed. Can I tell you about my friends at LinkedIn?

Listen, it's a new year, 2022. We're all trying to find people that hire, for those of you listening that are in HR, running small businesses, wherever you are. And LinkedIn makes it easier than ever to find people you want to talk to faster and for free. Create a job posted minutes, I've done it, on LinkedIn jobs, to reach your network and beyond

to the world's largest professional network of 770 million people. Focus on candidates with the right skills and experience. Use screening questions to get your role in front of the most qualified. Then use simple tools to quickly filter and prioritize who you would like to interview and hire. It's why small businesses rate LinkedIn Jobs, number one, in delivering quality hires, first competitors. LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to faster. Did you know that every week nearly 40 million job seekers visit LinkedIn?

Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com slash john. That's LinkedIn.com slash J-O-H-N John to post your job for free. Terms and conditions apply. Can I tell you about my friends at Shopify? It's the sound of another sale on Shopify, the all-in-one commerce platform to start run and grow your business. Shopify gives entrepreneurs the resources once reserved for big, business so upstarts, startups, and established businesses alike can sell everywhere,

synchronized, online, in-person sales, and effortlessly stay informed. Scaling your business is a journey in endless possibility. I love how Shopify has the tools and resources that make it easy for any business to succeed from down the street to around the globe. Like mine, Shopify powers millions of businesses from first scale to full scale. reach customers online across social networks and in an ever-growing suite, integrations and apps, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and even more. Gain insights as you grow with detailed reporting of conversion rates, profit margins, and beyond.

More than a store, Shopify grows with you. This possibility powered by Shopify. Go to Shopify.com slash John, that's all lowercase, for a free 14-day trial, and get full access to Shopify's entire suite of features. Grow your business with Shopify today. Go to Shopify.com slash J-O-H-N, Shopify. com slash John. This episode is brought to you by Royal Caribbean,

an award-winning global cruise line. A vacation is what you make it. So are you ready to make the most of it? A Royal Caribbean adventure is the perfect opportunity to not just take a vacation, but to take it for all its worth. We know you're eager to get back out there, and with Royal Caribbean, you can make the most of the moment and rise to the vacation. This is not just a cruise. This is the biggest, boldest vacation on land or at sea.

This is pushing the limits of what could be done at sea and on land, breaking records and earning honors along the way. With over 270-plus destinations from the Caribbean, Alaska to Europe, and the biggest ships in the world to take you there, Each one of our cruises is packed full of onboard features. You won't find anywhere else. Like the tallest slide at sea and the tallest water slide in all North America. Plus dining that takes your taste buds on a world tour, jaw-dropping entertainment, an award-winning service delivered by a crew that comes to us from over 140 countries. So just don't take a vacation.

Rise to the vacation. Come seek the Royal Caribbean. Visit royal Caribbean.com to learn more. One thing has become clear these last couple years that the NFL, and listen, I understand it, the wind blows the fastest at the top of the mountaintop, but the NFL, because it's the most powerful business, is covered like Donald Trump's presidency. I mean, it's a war zone. The moment Roger Goodell screws up, people are coming with bow and arrows.

loaded machine guns, the reporters, the journalists, and they attack. They want blood. Maybe just because the NFL becomes so power. It's nature of journalists. I get it. But I've seen that there was a story the other day that came out and that ratings for the NBA, including the playoffs, are down 30 to 40 percent.

30 to 40% I know many of you guys listening, working sales, working business 30% in the wrong way is devastating blow, right? Do you remember a couple years ago one of the biggest stories in the league was the ratings for the NFL

and I think the ratings are a little antiquated like this podcast, I know exactly how many people listen, television, it's based on certain amount of meters, and homes, it's not a specific number. But still, they have a pretty good idea. That the NBA is in a tank, and the NFL a couple years ago, when they went down like 3 or 4%, people freaked.

People thought the NFL was falling apart. It was the end of football. Football is covered in a healthy way. The press conference is with coaches, with players, with the commissioner, is a war zone. Sometimes it probably is a little over the top. Like, a coach gets blasted when he screws up a fourth down call. Roger Goodell gets blasted when he does anything, even though he's led the greatest growth in the league.

I'm not some Roger Goodell, Truther. I just want, I guess I'm looking for equality here on my coverage. And I don't understand why Adam Silver, who is viewed as like, this is a greatest commissioner we've ever had. Well, he's not as good as David Stern, who David Stern took the league to whole new heights, and who did David Stern remind everyone of? Roger Goodell, and really, Roger Goodell reminds a lot of people of David Stern.

Just a cold-blooded killer and was kind of an asshole and pissed off the press. You want your commissioner pissing off the press. Because if you do everything like the press, just keep being progressive. I don't even know. What does that even mean? I do know this. Adam Silver's League is falling apart. I've been someone that's been very hard on baseball.

I got news for everyone. Baseball might be more important just in terms of eyeballs in this country right now than basketball. because I'm seeing the basketball the ratings. And beside the Warriors, nobody is watching. The league is in shambles. Remember when the Houston Texans owner Bob McNair, RIP, died? But he made the comment running the inmates, run the asylum. He said something of that ilk, and people freaked out.

And it's a saying that's been around forever. But his point was that when you let the players run everything, that's when you get problems. And the NFL is a management league, and it's always excelled. In these last 20 years, it's running circles around the other leagues. The NBA is a players league where the players make an astronomical amount of money. They still talk down to the fans. You had Russell Westbrook point to a female this year

and say he was going to fuck her up after he threatened the guy. He said that. He did not. He got fined like $15,000. Ruben Foster, think about that. He did not get suspended. He threatened to beat up a woman. Can you imagine if an NFL player had done that?

Think about that. If an NFL player had done the equivalent. Just imagine it being an eagle player and they caught him on camera saying he was going to beat up the dude's wife. The guy would have been suspended. He should have been suspended. How Russell Westberg did not get suspended for saying that

is insane. It's jaw dropping. Roger Goodell, is hard on the players. And the fans have appreciated that. Because remember when Roger took over, now the NBA doesn't have like a criminal problem, the NFL did.

Roger cleaned it up. Ruben Foster, who was in a situation twice with a woman that now is 0 for 3 on domestic violence claims. Two different men, Rubin and another guy, three different states, made it up all three times.

The media destroyed the Redskins when they claimed them. even the NFL that is overcautious now with domestic violence was like yeah he didn't do anything but reuben we got to find you two game checks Ruben foster that did nothing wrong besides probably being idiot and even go meet this chick at the team hotel in Tampa got in more trouble than Russell Westbrook threatening to beat up a woman like the Adam silver has no control of his league people say that roger Goodell is too much control of his league but i'd argue that's kind of healthy it's working it has work The NBA is floundering, like taking on water.

People, you got to pay for live rights. I agree, and live rights are always going to be important, but I got news for you. If people don't, just because of live games, like there's a reason you don't have to pay much for match. No one's watching those games on a Tuesday night. If this maintains and sustains, I had a theory. The moment Adam Silver leaked earlier this season that, you know, he told the. NFL know? You think the NFL owners would want to push over like Adam Silver running their league? No chance. I would imagine NBA owners are furious at Adam Silver. The players do whatever they want.

The players constantly talk down to the consumer, which is the fan who's paying for everything. The players aren't even play hard anymore. The regular season and the playoffs look like a completely different sport. Like in the NFL, it's a little more intense in the playoffs, but the sport doesn't look dramatically different. If I turn on a week 10 game, I'm getting full effort. Like, your product's suffering. And that's where Roger Goodell and the owners having high standards in the NFL, we all benefit. There's a reason they quadruple and eightfold, tenfold, the eyeballs of an NBA playoff

game on like a preseason game. It is not a fair fight. So be careful. The media loves to tell you, the NBA is going to catch the NFL. No, it's actually Major League Baseball might re-overtake the NBA. So be careful, because sometimes I do. The NBA is so popular. It's actually not.

People aren't watching. People are not consuming the sport. The NFL's the top dog, and it's been the top dog for a long time. And Roger Goodell's taken a lot of crap. Some of it very deserved. Some of it, probably a little over the top. And I think there are some political overtones with both, because most people in the sports media tend to be extreme liberals.

I think the NBA's view is very progressive, which, again, I don't really know what that means. They don't allow, like, the NBA, players are not allowed to kneel. It is mandated they stand at attention. So that was a David Stern rule. So are they really that progressive? Like the NFL kind of lets you do whatever you want. But I think the NFL's viewed as like this conservative overload private sector business. Yeah, they're all trying to do the same thing. They're trying to get you to watch their product. The NFL just does a much better job than any other

sport by a country mile. Okay, let's get to the thing we like to call the Middlekopf mail You can slide up in my DMs At John Middlecough Is my Twitter My Instagram handle And my Twitter handle And I'll answer your questions I got a ton of questions in here

So I don't know if I don't get to your question I'll just answer it manually Respond on through the DMs Uh John Big Jets fan With Greg Williams system of creating pressure with the blitz Shouldn't the teams focus

Be on the secondary and not an edge rusher If they are able to trade down could they target Greedy Williams or Baker from Georgia? 100%. If you remember last year, one thing that Greg Williams was really pounding the table for in Cleveland was to take Ward out of Ohio State and not take Bradley Chup. Because I think most people, I know I did, thought, God, draft Baker, or at the time, Sam, or whatever quarterback you're going to take at number one.

and then at four, take Bradley Chubb, and then put him with Miles Garrett, no-brainer, especially if he was going to go Sequin, and then a quarterback at three to the Jets, and they took a cover corner because he thinks he likes cover corners. So I don't know. Greedy Williams, to me, he's more of like a Seattle-type corner. Greg Williams size is not something that he has to have.

One thing I think they could do, The problem is the Jets don't have a second round pick, huh? Because they traded it for the Colts. I was thinking maybe they could take a corner in the second round and take a pass rusher in the first. But to me, they just got to try to trade down. One thing I think they're going to do is they're going to take an offensive lineman. Their offensive line was terrible last year.

But, yeah, they need, Tramaine Johnson was a, I mean, didn't work, obviously. I mean, what a disaster. So their DBs, they just don't have good corners. I mean, the days of Rivas. and Carmardi feel like seven decades ago. Okay, with the NFL draft coming up, and after analyzing the rosters of the best two quarterbacks in the NFL, Brady and Rogers, why aren't the Packers and Patriots focusing on getting them more impact playmakers

through a trade for a dominant receiver? Bill Belichick doesn't draft wide receivers well at all, and the Packers have Geronimo Allison as the number two. What's going on here? They're not getting any younger. Well, I would have expected the Packers to use, one of their first round picks. They have picked 12, and then they got the Saints pick 30,

on a skill guy. Whether that's a Noah Fant, whether that's a Nikiel Harry, whether that's someone. They're going to draft one. I think the Patriots are going to be, you know, draft one too. I also think you've heard stories about Rogers and definitely Brady, like, they don't really mess with young guys. What's his name?

I mean, not what's his name? He's one of my favorite guys in the league, DeMonte Adams. Devante Adams didn't become Devante Adams to like year three. It's hard for young players to play with Rogers and Tom Brady. Like, rookies aren't just playing with Michael Jordan. You're not going to put a rookie catcher with Greg Maddox, right? You're not going to put a first-time caddy with Tiger Woods. Their expectations are just stupid.

So I guess to what your question is, why don't they trade for a guy? I think Belichick always thinks big picture. And historically, that's not the way the Packers build. Like, if John Snyder would have been running the Packers, they 100% would have traded a first rounder for a wide receiver. That's just not Bill's M.O. I guess he did it two years ago with Brandon Cooks, and they just get rid of him the next year when he has to pay him.

I guess I wouldn't... Is it crazy that the Patriots could use Pick 32 for a player? Would the Atlanta Falcons trade them Julio Jones for Pick 32? Probably not. I just don't think it's Belichick style, and the Packers, they've definitely never been like that. Hey, John, it's clear that having a GM and head coach on the same page is very important. And there are many ways to do this. One way is Belichick, and the other way Andy Reid, where the head coach is basically the GM and makes a lot of personnel decisions.

And the other way is the way the Eagles have done it by having Howie do the personnel work. So you said Andy and Belichick were the same. Andy used to be like that in Philly. Since Kansas City, he let John Dorsey pick the players, and now he lets Beach pick the players. But I know what you're saying. To me, it would be like Belichick, Gruden. Pete Carroll technically had it,

but he gave all the juice to John Snyder. Because, again, coaches don't really want to do it. The Eagles have done with Doug Peterson, focus on the field and football stuff. Which way do you feel works best? To me, if you're going to have the coach run it, he's got to be elite at doing it. And if you look around the league,

Gruden has it. Pete Carroll technically has it, but John Snyder picks it. Belichick has it. There aren't many coaches that have it because coaches should not have it. They do not think big picture. Even Andy realized he was better off just letting someone else do it. Now you have to take their input and they have a good feel for it. But Kyle Shanahan kind of, he's got a lot. I mean, technically it is Kyle Shanahan's decision. But I do think he trusts, you know, John Lynch to do it. Now, that hasn't worked out perfectly. like Sean McVeigh, he's got no personnel power.

I don't necessarily think there's right or wrong. I think in a perfect world, you have the Eagle situation. You have a strong personnel department, how he is dynamic with agents, with value, with understanding where you can draft a guy. He's brought in Joe Douglas from the Ravens, who these last four or five years is an unreal evaluator. They make a dynamic tandem, and they have a really good coach. to me that's the way to do it.

You look at the way the bears have worked with Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy. I think the way it works like with John Gruden and Mike Mayock, like Bill Belichick, everyone knows who's picking the players. I'll get Pete Carroll a lot of credit. He kind of ceded control. He's like, John, this is your baby, you do it. And it empowered him. Like Gruden's kind of BS.

He's like, you know, this is on Mayock. No, it's not. It's on you, John. Last night, a blown call changed the 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 Slic Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardaway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month,

I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Trip Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing and we're still chasing it

and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro.

Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Keer Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way.

Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the hard way and listen now. 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 our meeting, businessman, catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world.

He doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levant, this plant to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me?

Jacob told, Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer them? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness. professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going. From the WNBA standout Kate Martin and rising hockey star Layla Edwards.

If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't feel on. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs Gabby Thomas and Katie Ledecki. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light. up and smile. That means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals.

At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can, like, I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHart Women's Sports. Again, I'm biased. I would always try to get a GM. I would separate church and state.

You coach the team, I pick the players. Now, you've got to work together. They're not going to pick a player in the first round if Doug Peterson says, I refuse to coach him. But sometimes there's going to be disagreements. That's normal. You know, not everyone, I think, with scouting, I mean, you and I can watch the one player.

In any sport, you might like them, I might not. It's just, it's no different in the actual league. You have draft meetings, a player comes up, I like them, you don't. That's a great, cool part about draft meetings. We can all watch the same game and have a different takeaway. Just started listening a few weeks ago. Welcome, buddy. The Colts made somewhat surprising free agent signings with Devin Funches a few weeks back.

In addition, they brought Clayton Gathers, signed a wide receiver and a safety. Wide receiver and safety are the two needs for the Colts, along with D-Lignment and Corner. For most mock drafts I've seen, the Colts are still taking a wide receiver. What are your thoughts on this? I've heard Colin say multiple times that beyond the top 15 picks, there is so much parity. What are the chances that they load up their picks by giving up the first rounder 26? I would take someone at 26. I would not be against if I'm them.

They kind of struck oil with Eric Ebron, this former first rounder that looks like a star for them. Ty is still a stud. Their offensive line's really good. those couple young running backs they have Mac I forget the other guy's name but they're pretty good I like actually their young running back tandem they could probably take another guy in this draft because they got multiple second round picks

I would draft a receiver in the first round or a pass rusher if I felt comfortable because to me the secondary is a little overrated it feels like Uber Fluse is pretty good dealing with the deep when I say overrated meaning that I'll draft guys in the mid-round if you're drafting late in the first round I'd rather go wide receiver because I think one of

the number one wide receiver might be on the board when they draft. And I think in the second round, you could probably draft a corner and probably, you know, another defensive lineman. That's what I'd probably do. But I'll say this. The Indianapolis Colts have been putting out a series on Twitter on their scouting department. It's pretty cool. I am a big Chris Ballard guy.

I questioned him last year, but he proved me wrong and I'm an idiot and there's a reason he makes millions of dollars, you know, running the Colts. He knows what he's doing. You know, Matt Nagy always told me he loves him. Veach loves him. Andy loves him. I mean, those guys, I'm not kidding. Like, when they used to talk about Ballard, they're like, this dude's such a stud. And I'm kind of naturally just counterculture or counter like, you know, everyone says one thing.

I sometimes go the other way, even when the evidence is not there. But last year, I legitimately was like, I'm not taking a guard number six because I would have taken Roquant. Like I get Quinn and Nelson's really good, but I wouldn't take him Roquant. Where he proved me I'm an idiot because he drafted Quentin Nelson, who's an all-pro, and then he drafted this badass, basically the defensive rookie of the year in Darius Leonard. So it's like, yeah, he knew what he was doing the whole time. So I tip my hat to him.

And I like Andrew Luck. I'm a Colts guy. I was actually always a Manning guy before I rooted for Tom. I started Peyton Manning. I always wanted him to win it. and then when he finally won in 06, and then I worked in the league, and it was impossible not just to, like,

I mean, just be in awe of Brady and Belichick. So I kind of flip. No, I still like Peyton. But in the late 90s, definitely the early 2000s. I love the Colts. I still actually kind of root for him. This question is way too long. Do you think the Niners should trade the second pick

if the Cardinals keep the pick and somehow don't take Murray? Let me reread that. Do you think the Niners should trade the pick? Okay, so if they take Bosa, let's say it number one, and they don't trade Rosen, should the Niners trade the pick? I think 1,000% they should call the Raiders,

who I know for a fact like Kyler Murray, who also think that the Cardinals are going to take Murray. If for whatever reason they take Bosa, which would be stupid because if I was the Cardinals, I would just trade the first pick to the Oakland Raiders for like two or three ones. But the Niners should trade two to four and like 27.

So you basically get four. That means you get boat. That means you're guaranteed a really good player at four, and then you get another first round pick. You might even be able to get like a future third too. Yes, 1,000%. If the Cardinals take a player at number one, the 49ers should trade with the Raiders and get Kyler Murray.

Do you own or rent your home? Sure you do, and I bet it can be hard work. You know, it's easy. Bundling policies with Geico. Geico makes it easy to bundle your homeowners or renters insurance along with your auto policy. It's a good thing, too, because you already have so much to do around your home. Go to geico.com, get a quote, and see how much you could save. It's Geico easy.

Visit geico.com today. That's guyco.com. Hey, singles. Do you feel like a tourist in your own town? Too busy to enjoy all your city has to offer? Events and Adventures organizes up to 30 unique get-togethers around town each and every month. We do all the work, so you do all the work. you have all the fun. On your schedule, visit places you didn't even know were places,

and get to know the fellow singles you didn't know you needed in your life. Fall in love with your hometown all over again by joining events and adventures. Get started by visiting events and adventures.com today. That's events and adventures.com. This is the sound of your single life. This is the sound of your single life with events and adventures. This is the sound of your single life with events and adventures. Our members live a single life they love with exciting events every night.

Events and Adventures provides an easy, relaxed environment to meet new people and find that someone special. Start enjoying the sounds of your new single life. Get started today at events and adventures.com. There's a recipe for getting your car running just right. And whatever you're cooking up in the garage, you'll find what you need at eBaymotors.com. They have over 122 million car parts and accessories in stock, all at the right prices. and that can help you turn your ride into something really tasty.

The parts you need are just to click away at ebaymotors.com. Let's ride. Question. Why don't the Saints trade the number two pick and Bridgewater for Rosen? That would free up $7 million in Catspace, I think, give the Saints a viable future and backup for Breeze at basically no cost.

The cards would get a viable starter if the number one pick is a bust on a cheap salary. Just my thoughts. Well, I see what you're saying, but what if the Saints told you? Yeah, Rosen's cheaper, but I think they like Teddy Bridgewater. Clearly they like him. I mean, they re-signed him. They're comfortable with him.

They think he's really good. Like, why couldn't he be the future? He was a first-round pick. Now, I think Rosen was the more talented guy coming out of college. But there are some question marks with Rosen. There were some Sports Illustrated feature, video feature on him. I mean, he's just He might be too smart

for his own good, but he's a talented passer. I do think he loves football, I think. But I would just keep Redwater. To me, that's kind of outthink in the room. Yeah, I just keep Ridgewater. Question for the Middokhov Mailbag. Who is the safest pick in this draft? Is it Nick Bose or Quinn and Williams?

And who is the riskiest player in this draft to get in the first round? Thank you for viewing this, and I always look forward to listen to the podcast. I'd say the safest pick is Nick Bosa. Now, granted, he's got to stay healthy, so you could argue that's not a safe pick. Maybe the safest pick is just Josh Allen. If you're a 3-4 team and you take Josh Allen,

he's not going to fail. Is he going to be an all-pro? Is he going to be Killelea? I don't know. But he's going to be a solid NFL player. To me, Nick Bosa is risky in the sense that he could get hurt. He's had two major injuries in four years. Quinn and Williams is a risky pick

in the sense that he's been a one-year-old. wonder. Now, I defend him the one year, he redshirted, then his redshirt freshman year, Doron Payne, who was a 13th pick in the draft and was a junior played ahead of him. So it's like, it's not like some undrafted of free agent he couldn't beat out, the 13th pick in the draft. And then the next year he came back and kicked ass. I would say the riskiest player in this draft, that's a pretty good question. Probably Roshan Gary. I was talking to my buddy Louis Riddick last night on the phone and I talked to people in the league

his measurables are freakish he's a top recruit went to Michigan, played right away as flash plays over his first couple years last year was pretty awful but then he stands there, he looks the part you can watch games I would imagine Jim Washburn

who by far was the best defensive line evaluator I was ever around in the NFL I mean he's fantastic he was He was big time. His son still coaches in the league. I bet if I, I don't even have his number, but if I texted him like, you like Rashon Gary, I bet he'd say no.

He's lazy. He's just an underachiever. Now, I don't know enough about the character, like what makes him tick? Like, does he need to get with a coach that's going to be in his ass? And most defensive line coaches are screaming at you a lot. So the NFL, but so is Michigan. Like, Michigan's a tough place to play.

But he was kind of the big dog on campus. As I was talking to Lewis, you watch Michigan play? The two guys that are kicking the shit out of everyone every game are Winnevich, the pass rusher, who is going to go higher than people think. Don't be shocked if he sneaks into the first round, definitely early second round. Winovich can play. And Devin Bush, you could argue that Devin Bush is better than Devin White. Now, Devin White's a little bigger, a little better athlete.

but Devin Bush is a tackling machine. Got a question about the pads. Defense is younger and improving, but Brady isn't getting any younger. It's time to cash in some assets and go for someone. Sorry about that. Hawkinson or get a quarterback of the future. Yeah, I mean, again, if they could get like Julio Jones, I'd get Julio Jones with some of these picks.

I don't know if that's possible. Would the Bengals trade them AJ Green? I would do that if I was Belichick. If I can give you a second round pick for AJ Green, boom. done deal. I think the first round, like, could they take a win-of-itch? Just a badass pass-russer just to get them 10 plus sacks. That wouldn't shock me. They definitely need some wide receivers. They have so many picks. I mean, they got the pick 32, two second rounders, and three third rounders. They'll definitely do something. I mean, but the thing for Belichick is unlike me

and you, they're like, God, the bat's got to do something. Who's going to play wide receiver for them? What are they going to do? Bill doesn't think like that. Bill's not, he's just, like, not worried. Now, granted, why would he be? He's won two Super Bowls in three years. He's won, like, six Super Bowls as a past head coach, he's won two as an assistant.

He's got eight rings. Bill Belichick has eight rings. So I don't think he loses sleep over just like the short-term problems. For your mailbag, I'd love to ask that the Browns traded up into the teens to snack Devin Bush from Michigan, you could name a better roster than Cleveland. Considering kitchens,

as max protection to help Baker only touch nine times. If they were to get, if the Browns get Devin Bush, how would they trade up into the teens, though? So they traded away their first round pick. They traded Ray a third round pick. I guess third round pick was a Patriot's pick. So they would trade like their second round pick and their third round pick and maybe like a player or something.

I think it would, in next year's one, I think it would be hard for them to get in the teens. But if you told me that the Cleveland Browns end up with Devin Bush, yeah, I would say they're going to be freaking good at football. I just, someone told me today, texting with an assistant director of college scouting, he didn't think that Devin Bush or Devin White, I mean, both are probably gone in the top 13 or 14 picks. Like Devin Bush, to me, Devin Bush is going to come off the board way faster than people think.

Remember a couple years ago? Everyone like Christian McCaffrey, people thought Chris McCaffrey was going to go like 12, 13, 14, and then the Carolina Panthers took them eight, and everyone was like, damn! McCaffrey just went eight. It's going to be one of those. Like, oh my God, Devin Bush just went seven?

I'm telling you, get ready for that, because that's happening. What are the Broncos doing with the 10th pick? Are they going quarterback? I'd be a little shocked if they went quarterback. I know one thing LAS got to do something. Well, their defense is pretty good, right? They got two pass rushers.

They got some quarterback. corners. They got a defensive head coach. They need offense. They're running back situation pretty good. They had an undrafted free agent make the Pro Bowl. Now he broke his hand or finger or something. Hopefully that's all right. Shouldn't be a problem. Royce Freeman's a good player. Tight end, Jake Butt, tore his ACL for like the 17th time. He's out.

They still got Emmanuel Sanders, but he got hurt. So who knows? I don't know if there's a receiver you could take at 10. Could you take like Noah Phant? or the Hawkinson kid from Iowa you could take Drew Locke but then you're taking a player that's not going to help you right away I'd be a little shocked if they take quarterback

at number 10 with a defensive head coach I really would I don't see that happening so I'd say maybe they go tight end maybe they take the you know they'll have the first crack at one of the two the best tight ends what was your thought on the format for Master Sunday

given the storm front I thought the threesomes that I like this question I thought the threesomes gave non-stop action all Sunday with minimum one good shot. One interesting shot and a great shot on most T-offs approaches. Felt faster pace and less dead air on the telecast. Given the shrinking attention spans, need to speed up sports. Is this an immediate strategy for golf to employ? I'm going to take this picture because I'm going to tweet this out.

I love this question. I think 100%. I think the number one thing anyone can do right now in television when it comes to sports. is urgency. Urgency and more urgency. It's why playoffs for the NBA in theory and MLB are good. It's why golf majors are big time. There's a lot on the line.

It's why football is so unique. Every game matters. Same with college football. Every game really matters. And then once you get to the playoffs, you lose, you're gone. That's why we love March Madness. You can't have... Sometimes, I've never thought of it that way, but you're right.

When you play in golf majors and they go off twosoms, it can be a little slow, especially if it's just like two or three people in the mix. When you get threesomes, now the one thing I will say about Sunday with the Masters, the majority of television time was Tiger Woods. I mean, there was a couple times, especially on the back nine, you'd be like, oh my God, Tiger's going to win this thing. And then all of a sudden they'd go to some other guy like Patrick Cantlay, and he'd be like putting for Eagle to take the lead.

You're like, oh my, Patrick Can't Lay. I haven't seen him hit one shot all day. So I do think Tiger, when he's in the mix, gets 90% of the coverage, as he should. I mean, as he should. But I'm with you. The T-Officer, it helps the T-Ops for sure, because you get to see wham, bam, bam. You can see three guys hit shots. I like that.

God, you guys think outside the box. Buckeye fan here. A lot of mixed feelings on what type of quarterback Duane Haskins is. Would it be crazy thought for the Patriots to view him as their heir to Tom Brady? They seem like a very similar players in terms of skill set. It would be out of character by the Patriots to move up and draft a quarterback high in round one, but doesn't seem totally crazy to me. I would imagine he'd have to fall past 15, 16, 17, somewhere in that range.

Someone told me that would know that he's not going to make it past the Redskins at 15. Is Dwayne Haskins after that year, and I know one of the knocks on him, he played at Ohio State. They had all these sweet players. Ohio State's always had really good players. I'm pretty sure no one in the history of the program has thrown for 48 touchdowns. This dude's a baller.

I think he's really good. I'm shocked he's kind of falling. And I wonder if he ends up not really falling. Maybe he ends up going to the Giants at 6. Maybe this whole thing was a smoke screen. I don't think he's going to fall far enough for the Patriots to do some craziest move. But if he fell to like 20 or something,

100% I can see the Patriots jumping up there. Some of these questions. are just really long, so I'm going to skip over them. It's kind of, I watched the first half of the Warriors game, came back at halftime. Now I have to record the middle coffee mailback. Okay, last question of the night. Big fan, blah, blah, blah, thanks.

Josh Jacobs from Bamma. Question. Is his ability consistently make people miss in his vision? Jacobs from Bamma. Oh, I questioned his ability to consistently make people miss in his vision. Also, when would you feel comfortable drafting to Keel Harry? I'm not as high on Josh Jacobs as some people, like Daniel Jeremiah, Riddick,

some of these draft guys love Josh Jacobs. I have no problem with Josh Jacobs. I get, he's probably more of a pass catcher and just more of like a bang it physical back than he is, yeah, some like guy that's going to make, he's not Shady McCoy. You know, he's not, he's not Ezekiel Elliott. But he can catch the ball.

He's a high character guy. He's really tough. To me, he's the type guy who taking the second round. I'm sorry. Maybe I'm crazy. Maybe I don't know what the hell I'm talking about. I'm not taking Josh Jacobs in the first round. I'm not doing it.

No way. My philosophy, and I've changed a little bit, used to be, I've never taken a running back in the first round. Okay, I'm going to change it because the last couple of years we've seen Zeke, we've seen Gurley, and we've seen McCaffrey. If I think a guy is going to be a no doubt about it pro bowler, and definitely they thought that with Gurley, Zeke, and the Panthers had to think that with McCaffrey.

Jeffrey to take him at eight. So if you think the guys have no doubt about it, not just a pro bowler, but I mean, if Gurley stays healthy, all three of those guys are like five, six, seven time pro bowlers, then yeah, I'll take him in the first round. Josh Jacobs is not making multiple pro bowls. That is not happening. So I'm taking that guy in the second round. Then maybe he makes one or two and I feel good about it.

A ton of good running backs in the NFL, Shady McCoy, Levion Bell, Alvin Kamara. and when I was bullshit, it was Riddick, he's like, well, if you could redo the draft, you'd take Kamara in the first round. Well, yeah, but when you got, if I could resell my house now, I sell it for 200 grand more than I bought it for. We have more information. At the time Alvin Kamara was drafted, he went in the third round. At the time, Kareem Hunt was drafted, he went in the third round. At the time, Shady McCoy and Levion on Bell were drafted. They were drafted in the second round.

You can get those guys. Like, it was clear Zique was going to go really high, right? It was clear girly was going to go high. And if you do miss on a first round running back and it's Leonard Fournette, you're kicking yourself. I would take Nikiel Harry again. I think Nikiel Harry is like a bigger version of Juju Smith. I think Nikil Harry is going to be. Star might be strong because there are probably only five or six star wide receivers.

But it wouldn't shock me one day if he's like a top five wide receiver for a couple of year period in the NFL. Physicality, contested catches. He's like an Anquan Bolden meets Juju Smith. I think he's going to be a stud in the NFL. Now, given where I think I could get him, the earliest I'd probably draft him would be like, I don't know, 17, 18, 19, somewhere in the late teens. But again, I like him more than most.

I would have taken Juju in the first round. And everyone was telling me, oh, you get them in the mid-second round. I would have taken Devonte Adams. and some receivers, I just don't quite see like the rest of the NFL. I'm more bullish on taking a receiver high than I am a running back high. Like even if everyone's like, oh, you can get Devante in the second round. I don't give a shit.

I would have taken Devante in the first. But I won't take running backs in the first. You know, so it's like I wouldn't have taken Melvin Gordon in the first. Melvin Gordon's a big-time player, but I wouldn't have done it. So, I mean, to each his own. We all have different philosophies. Well, I guess I'm not. talk to you next week. I don't know exactly what the schedule is for next week because I

probably won't do one Thursday night for Thursday morning. Maybe I will. We'll see. We'll figure it out next week. But got some shit going on Thursday night. Maybe I'll do it Friday. Maybe I'll do it on the weekend. I don't know. We'll have to figure that one out. But appreciate everyone listening. Have a great weekend. The draft's almost here, baby. So all your teams are going to have new players and hopefully many of you are going to be excited. A couple of you'll be pissed, but it's the way the cookie crumbles sometimes. Okay, good night. Again, good night for me because it's 9.30 at night.

But good morning, good day, wherever you're listening. I appreciate you listening. Tell all your friends, subscribe, unsubscribe, then probably subscribe again. Three and out podcasts with me. Middle Cough. John, my first name. See you. If you love to be remembered as the person who gives the best birthday gifts,

I'm here to tell you that 1-800 Flowers.com is your ultimate birthday gifting destination. 1-800 Flowers has thoughtful and artfully created options that are guaranteed to deliver the best birthday surprise. Shop thousands of unique gifts at 1-800flowers.com for exclusive offers and great values. To order today, visit 1-800flowers.com slash tune-in. That's 1-800flowers.com slash tune-in.

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

their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to SportsSlic on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends.

Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

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

On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we're talking with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness from professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions about the challenges that shape them and the mindset that keeps them moving forward. At our level, at this scale, being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHart Women's Sports.

This is an IHart podcast. Guaranteed Human.