The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Middlekauff – 3 & Out – NFL vs. NBA free agency; Zions in the NFL; AFC South O/U's' Middlekauff Mailbag

Episode Date: June 28, 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 looks at the similarities and differences between NFL and NBA free agency, why QB's are the only position that can have a Zion Williamson-like impact on NFL franchises, AFC South 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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Back again, it is June 27th as I recorded it. Fourth of July, right around the corner. Hopefully your summer's going well. in the in the slow time of the NFL calendar for sure but don't worry that's why I get paid the big bucks I actually got to think I got a lot going on today with NBA free agency starting I think there are some parallels and some interesting things I've just it got me thinking about the NFL and just one thing they really have going for them because I thought forever free agency in the NFL wasn't that interesting because big players did not ever hit the market like the equivalent

of LeBron, Kauai, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Clay Thompson. Like that level player in his prime never hits free agency. But the NFL has had a drastic change I think has really helped that period out. Drew Brees gave Zion a signed jersey and basically said like he's passing the torch. And it got me thinking like Zion, if he becomes LeBron James or a player of that magnitude, which hopefully does. I don't know if you saw when he got drafted. He started crying.

It was awesome. But I think there are several quarterbacks right now that can have a Zion-type impact on their team. And we'll dive into that. And then I did the AFC East. I did the NFC East. Today I will do the AFC South. And then I'll do the NFC South next week. I may only have one podcast next week.

Fourth of July falls on Thursday. But we'll see. Maybe I'll do too. We'll take it a day. by day. And then we'll get into the Middlecoff mailbag as I do on every show. Fire up in my DMs at John Middlecough on Instagram and I'll answer your questions here upon the podcast. But let's start with this.

You know, not everything in sports is black and white. Like, I do think there's a point in time like the NBA, for example, has basically become like the Us Weekly of sports. Their offseason is way more captivating and interesting than their actual product. and is that a good or bad thing? I think they've kind of hit the slippery slope now where it's almost a bad thing. Like you need your games to matter in sports. And I say this all the time.

The greatest thing football has going for is the sport is there just urgency to every game. Because every game matters. You just can't really fake it, right? You only play 16 of them. The inventory of the amount of games are dramatically smaller than baseball or basketball, clearly than baseball.

basketball. I mean, you do the math. 82 divided by 16. I'm not a mathematician, but what's that? Seven? Six? Five times 15. Four times 15 is 60, 75. Yeah, so it'd be like five. I mean, every game is like a fifth of the season. That's a big deal. And I think the NFL forever, like NBA free agency this last like 10 years with LeBron changing the sport has become a really big deal because big time players hit free agency and these guys have gotten so rich that they're in such a different world than even like

NFL players. They're making CEO level money they can turn down millions upon millions of dollars. People slide up in my DMs and when they're asking questions for middle cuff mailbag often go like, you know do you think this guy would take less money and in the NFL the simple answer whenever you're talking about

an NFL free agent they don't worry about as much about fit about coaching staff about all all that stuff is secondary. The money is always first. Because if you get dramatically more guaranteed money, you can't turn that down, especially in a sport where your career might not be long.

Think about this, like LeBron James going into year 17, year 17. Most NFL player's career lasts like 10 years, like good players, 12 years. It's crazy to see a non-quarterback go 15 plus years. But the NBA, they do have, like this next week, is a big week for them.

You're going to have a lot of, potentially, lot of player movement forever and I found this out when I went to the NFL I was like all NFL free agency and I remember I vividly remember putting up the board in the Eagles office with the magnets of all these names I remember the time it was like Ray Rice the Helodinata nom de assimoa that was swinging a miss but just a lot Logan Mankins and all these guys names who would always get franchised they would always and they never hit the market which I always, I'm adamant and I believe this to my core, that's another thing the NFL has going for it. It can keep players if you want to keep them. And the number one thing for the consumer

who literally pays for every penny of pro sports, you can't just screw them over all the time. And I think sometimes in the NBA, they're kind of getting toyed with a little, the fan. Because the fan starts out, and I, you guys all reach out to me, I'm a so-and-so fan. You're a fan of the team first. But the NFL, for a long, long time, just didn't have as much movement, impactful movement in free agency. Really, the big off-season moment

was always much more tailored to the draft. Their draft was really the most important draft, even unlike the NBA, because every round is producing guys that are going to have big impacts on Sunday. Immediately, like second round picks in the NBA are going to suck. In the NFL, like seventh rounders

are going to be starters. but free agency always left something to be desired. And then this kind of new wave of aggressive GMs, younger GMs, have made trading such a big deal. Look at the amount of players, like this list of players, they actually didn't sign his free agents, but they basically were used like they were in free agency. O'Dell Beckham Jr. a year after he signed his big deal with the Giants,

traded. Frank Clark, who they weren't got a franchise, traded. D. Ford, traded. Amari Cooper last year traded Kalil Mack traded I mean obviously John Gruden added to this list Brandon Cooks traded twice

oh I thought it was a Peterson Marcus Peters the corner from Kansas City traded now Andy Reid has his hand in a couple of these he's always been a very progressive mind and very aggressive but I think a lot of people now

have kind of come to that level and it's added a lot more intrigue so the NFL free agency market now the most interesting part, unlike the NBA, where players literally are just unrestricted free agents, you can't franchise tag me, and I just leave. Because if there was a franchise tag, what would happen right now?

Kauai Leonard would get franchise tagged. Kevin Durant would get franchise tagged. Kemba Walker would get franchise tagged. Clay Thompson, they would just max out, but they would franchise Kevin Durant and they would max out Clay Thompson. Like, that's what would happen. But instead, in the NFL,

forever. It's like, God, these guys are never going to lead. Well, now they just get traded. Like, Jadavion Clowny. What's going to happen to him? I don't know. He might. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending. Opinions are flying.

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It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano and our podcast Point Game is about defining the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs.

I think Joker's going to be exhausted. this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He run up the court licking his fingers while he got the ball like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court and you're going to get the bomb.

So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up guys? This is Clever Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, the Cleverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game.

This linebacker walks up to me, he goes, A, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Come on. Quarterback on office Blue 42. Hey, Wreck, my mama want you to weigh better. What? Hey, Ms. Parker.

Listen to the Clippers show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. If he gets traded in the next month, would I be shocked? No. I actually kind of expect it. So I do think the NFL's adapt that way. And their free agency now is basically just the trademark. It's no longer just these unrestricted. I'm excited for next week.

because it's always cool when there's movement. And the NBA is like at the apex right now of movement because you have a superstar studded free agency class, and it feels like a lot of them are going to move teams. We're in the NFL, you're like, oh, this guy's not going anywhere, it's going to get franchised. But now we see because of the turnover and head coaches, there's been a crazy amount of turnover with GMs these last several years,

these players getting traded. And they've been, like the Odell Beckham trade was one of the crazier moments of the year, right? Frank Clark D. Ford kind of swap was nuts. The Cleo-Mac trade is still one of the crazier trades ever given how much they gave up, how much they ended up paying him,

how that trade. The great part about trades, and that's what's kind of cool about the Anthony Davis trade, is there's always so much to it. Like, the Raiders got the two first-round picks, but they didn't think the Bears were going to be any good. And then the Bears won the division. And the pick was,

23. I think they thought the pick was going to be 22. So when you just see a guy leaving under restrictive free agency, he just leaves. Part of like when you get a big trade is usually have to throw in some sweet draft picks. Well, then there's that whole elephant in the room. Well, what if the team is actually good? Is that draft pick going to be good? Is that draft pick going to be bad? That's the big thing with Anthony Davis, right? They have all these trades coming up in like 10 years, or maybe not that long, like 7, 8 years.

What's it going to look like? It could be ugly or it might not phase them. There's so much unknown with these trades. I actually am more of a I'm more of a sucker for a sweet trade than I am just an unrestricted free agency signing in any sport. They're always got a little more juice to it. And the NFL now is kind of making a killing off the trade market. These days, it can be hard to find and hire the right candidates for your small business.

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That's why they have options, like insuring your car and your home, getting you great rates on both. It's a good idea to consider State Farm. For surprisingly great rates, like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Call or go to StateFarm.com for a quote today. If you could talk to me a little bit about the process you went through, and I think it's good to not pat yourself on the back, but to put it out there so other people can kind of hear what it takes. Like, I don't know. I always look at like this.

Like, what do I want? I wanted to be a WWE superstar. All right, what does it take to be a WW superstar? What are the tools I will need to give me every possible opportunity I can get? And so I took the tools of acting classes, improv classes, wrestling school, everything I possibly can to knock on the door of WWW. The people of the, everyone on that real world show would wear my t-shirts would always ask me to do the MIS.

Like, they were so supportive. Like, you don't get it that very often. You really don't. Listen to the My Cultura Podcast Network, available on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. I saw a pretty cool video the other day. It was, I saw it on like,

it might have been during Colin Show or maybe on Twitter, I don't even remember. It was Drew Brees, had gifted Zion a signed jersey, and I think he wrote on the jersey or left a note, basically saying, I'm passing the torch. Like this is going to be your city now.

And Zion, who is just as likable of a young pro athlete as I think we've ever seen. I mean, maybe since like 92 Shaq, maybe like a super young Brett Farr. There is a select few of just guys that are vibrant, elite talents, always smile.

Every kid wants to know or have a piece of apparel with that guy's name on. And the parents are proud to get it. I think he's one of those guys. Obviously, Drew Bree is kind of one of those guys too. But he became a little older in life. But it got me thinking. Like, in the NFL, to have a Zion, a true, true franchise changer,

he has to be a quarterback. Like last year, I've become a pseudo-Chicago Bears fan. I've kind of helicoptered in. If Matt and Aggie ever left, I don't know if I'd be as big a fan, but I got some buddies, no people that work in the organization, and then they got Khalil Mack, who might have been my favorite player in the league. It was awesome. But just him by himself, and he helped them become a solid team,

because they were going to be good last year. He took them to a new level, won the division. But like, in the playoffs, it was kind of up to Mitch. Like, if the Bears are going to take a huge step, it's going to become, Mitch's team. Like he's going to, even if their defense stays elite, like he's going to have to make plays in big games. We all know that.

I'm preaching the choir here. There's probably not a business like this in all of America that at that level, billion dollar business that is dependent more on one human, even more than the coach, more than the CEO, more than the owner, just the quarterback. If you have a badass quarterback, you can overcome everything. Now, eventually you may hit some rough spots, but you will win if your quarterback's a badass. And I started looking around the league, and I just wrote down a couple guys like, if your quarterback hits, like, boom, the Colstraft Peyton Manning, franchise change.

Boom, the Patriots hit on Tom Brady, franchise change. When Ron Wolfe traded for Brett Farv, it's basically like having an NBA superstar land in your lap. It changes your franchise forever. And clearly we have a couple guys kind of in their prime that are great examples of that right now. Obviously the older guys, the Ruffisburgers, Brady, Breeze, you know, know, even Rogers. But I think we got two guys in the sweet spot, right? Russell Wilson and Andrew Luck.

Now, Luck was a little unique because he was replacing Manning. So their franchise was already pretty elite, but it was basically just because of Peyton. We saw Peyton removed. They were terrible. Peyton missed the season. They were one of the worst teams we've ever seen. And then they got Andrew Luck, boom.

Didn't skip a beat. Seattle's probably a better example because the majority of my life, I guess there was a little period with Holmgren when they got good. But for the most part, Seattle sucked. And then when Pete Carroll went there, they were in major trouble, and Russell Wilson changed your franchise. Now, he wasn't Russell Wilson at first, right? Their defense kind of did. But they've been able to maintain, sustain, and do everything because of him.

I looked around the league, like, who is likely to kind of be the next Zion? In theory. Now, again, I'm not saying these guys are Zion-level talents. We haven't seen Zion play a game. but I'm assuming he's going to be a great NBA player. Health, as long as he stays healthy, I think he's going to be elite. Well, there are several quarterbacks right now that have a chance to change the franchise. We just saw one last year, became, and again, he was drafted to a team that was already good,

but it's pretty clear that Patrick Boholmes is an absolute franchise changer. Coach Reese's never won a Super Bowl, the Chiefs have never won a Super Bowl, I'm pretty sure. I might have to check my NFL here. history. Maybe they won one way back in the day. Was that the AFL? I got to check my NFL history on that one. But they hadn't won a playoff game in forever. Again, born in 84,

so don't shoot the messenger here. But clearly, Patrick Mahomes, for as good as that team's been, and a large majority of my adult life, the Chiefs have been good. They were good in the 90s with Marty Schottenheimer. Then they were good when Vermil went there. Now, their defense wasn't good, but they scored a lot

of points. Remember a couple years ago, even Scott Piole is bad as it got. They made the playoffs. Coach Reed has made the playoffs. before Mahomes, four out of five years. But it's pretty clear, like, this guy, it's like going from a good NBA player to, like, landing Kevin Durant. Like, the Warriors were good with Harrison Barnes,

and then they got Kevin Durant. It was, like, game over. Like, I promise you, if Mahom stays healthy, he's going to win a Super Bowl in his career. Like, that's going to happen. So that, I wouldn't even put him quite in this kind of group because he's already established. He is elite, right?

I know that. Here's the group, though, that I think can get very interesting. the three guys from last year. Darnold, Alan, and Baker. I would even put Rosen on the side just because he's already been traded. I just, and I like Josh Rosen, but I'm going to put, I'm going to red flag him.

Not necessarily in a bad way. I just don't even know what to do with him yet. I know this. The New York Jets have been an absolute dumpster fire the majority of the last 25 years. Sam Donald can change this all. And now he's got an offensive head coach. I'm a big Sam Darnold,

leaveer based on his college stuff. I'll be honest, I didn't watch that much of him last year. I'm not putting that much stock in the last year. They had a dead man walking as the coach. Their wide receivers sucked. They had no offensive weapons. Their offensive line wasn't good. I think we can start evaluating them now.

But he definitely is that type guy, in theory, him and Josh Allen. Because Josh Allen, the bills now, they just broke the longest streak of not making the playoffs in the NFL, right? It was since 99. I'm not a math major, but pretty sure that's 19 years, maybe 20. Depends if you count that 99 year. That's a long time. Now, I'm not the biggest Josh Allen believer from a talent standpoint. Love the human.

Follow him on Instagram. Big fan of the person. He's the type person you want to bet on. I just not a huge... Like, I have a philosophy. If you're really inaccurate in college, you're probably going to be really inaccurate in the pros. It usually doesn't change overnight. And that's his biggest issue.

They added a bunch of midget-wide. receivers so I don't expect him to just hit a bunch of these guys when they're catching radius as small. Now maybe he'll prove me wrong. I'm rooting for him. But if Josh Allen becomes a superstar, I mean, he would change the course of the Bill's franchise. Baker, who I think has already been anointed this level, he's the Zion of Cleveland. Like, let's pump our brakes a little bit, but I will not dispute. It does feel like Baker is a chance to be pretty special. And unlike Darnold and Allen, you go, well, his team's pretty equipped. That's the one thing about Zion. Zion up to the Pelicans, they got Brandon Ingram now, they got Lonzo Ball, they also have Drew

Holiday, they got a max lot, they can go sign like Al Horford, like their team could be pretty good. The thing with Baker Mayfield's like, okay, I wasn't, I didn't start the first three or four games last year because of Tyrod, then I came in, I was pretty solid, have a little blemish because I didn't play that well against winning teams, but we had no wide receivers, you know, we had some weird stuff going on, coach got fired, whatever. Now we can go, okay, you got a loaded, I mean, you got a bit, you got a lot. lot to work with here, right? You got Odell Beckham Jr., who's one of the most talented players in the league. You got Jarvis Landry, who's one of the most consistent players in the league. You have

Nick Chubb, who I think most people around the league would say he's one of the better young running backs in the league. You have this super talented, you know, offensive weapon of a tight end that can just fly, make plays. Like, you're ready to roll. And you've got a division that's kind of in flux, though I wouldn't count out the Steelers. But like, Baker Mayfield, I saw his his odds to win the MVP were 25 to 1. To me, he's got a chance. If the Cleveland Browns win the AFC North, and I don't necessarily think they will,

but if they do, that means he's going to have a big year. And that means 35, 40 touchdowns for Baker Mayfield, and they win the North. The Cleveland Browns win the North, he'll win the MVP. Mitch in Chicago, and I don't think you'll necessarily see it this year, because, and I'm not saying I wouldn't put Mitch in these guys category, but if Mitch does become a really good player,

and him and Matt Nagy's able to take him the next level. Like, he'll have been a big reason to save the Chicago Bears. They drafted him number two overall. They traded up to get him one spot. That was kind of crazy. And let's face it, the Bears have never really had a quarterback. So if Mr. Miskie can get this team, where it doesn't just look like the defense is carrying

him, because that's what it kind of was last year. Now, he had a couple moments. I forget who it was against. Was against like the Jaguars? He threw six touchdowns in one game. I remember watching it. It was like one of the morning games. I think he had five in the first half.

It might have been against the bills. I mean, you Bears fans, no. But it was just, I'm like, God, Mitch Rubisky looks like Patrick Mahomes right now. But, so we've seen flashes, but if he ever becomes it and changes the course of the Chicago Bears, I mean, he will be a Zion. Now, again, I'm not saying that any of these guys

are Zion-level talents because they're not. To me, the only Zion-level talent of the last, like, 10 years, Andrew Luck. But, as we've seen over and over, like if you become a superstar quarterback, you become a rock star in this league. You become Russell Wilson. Like Russell Wilson was a third-round pick. Deshawn Watson, who left a pretty bad taste in my mouth on that playoff game just because

you saw some of his deficiencies. Now, maybe he was just off, but his arm strength, he's had a pretty damn good special year and a half as the Texans starting quarterback. And the Texans who have never won dick, I mean, let's just call it what it is. I mean, they've won a handful of playoff games. They've never been to the AFC championship game. Now, they haven't been around that long. But the facts are the facts.

This is a team that has really nothing in their trophy case. If he ever can get this team to a Super Bowl or win a Super Bowl, I mean, this guy would go down as one of the most accomplished quarterbacks ever. National champion in college. Super Bowl winner in the pros. You would think if they're like a one or two seed, he's going to win an MVP one day. Their offense is pretty loaded. They have an offensive quarterback or offensive coach.

I kind of like Deshawn Watson to become the rock star out of this group. And then the last guy, he's a little older, but because, like, Jimmy Garoppel didn't play in New, you know, in New England. And rightfully so, Tom Brady was starting quarterback. But if you can be the guy to save the San Francisco 49ers, by far the biggest brand on the West Coast, you become an immediate rock star. Plus, he already kind of resonates. Like Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, I mean, to their fan bases they do, but I don't think the cash. guy like Jimmy Garoppolo is much more famous than all these guys probably beside Baker like you say Jimmy Garoppolo and part of that is just the Patriots but Patriots is part

of his resume and then I think he's trying to think I guess Deshaun tore his ACL but Deshawn was also a rookie when he tore his ACL and he tore in practice when Jimmy when you tear your ACL in a game and everyone's watching it has a little more like magnitude and staying power with the fans now it's the same ultimate result like you're out but when I watch you tear your ACL or you tear your ACL in a practice or an OTA, I think it kind of hits us a little differently. So I think Jimmy has a big chance to become, you know, just a superstar. Like, and let's call it what it is. I got Darnold, Allen, Baker, Deshawn, Mitch, Jimmy.

Like, Mahomes already a star. That group of guys, probably out of the seven, one, two, three, four, five, out of the six, four of them are going to, we're going to, in five, eight years ago, that didn't live up to the hype. and probably one of them is going to become a Hall of Famer. And the other one's going to become probably like a Tony Romo. Now, I'm still a big believer in Jimmy. I think Jimmy, I'd almost have them as the most talented of this group. I'd put Baker right up there too because Baker's so accurate.

But Jimmy can't stay healthy. Donald, I mean, you've got the Jets working against him. The bills, they just don't have the offensive piece. You can see how it goes the other way fast. Like, Deshawn Watson clearly is just not going to suck because they already have good players around them. Mitch is getting the big wild guard. Like, you probably bet against him.

But some of these guys are not just going to hit, but they're going to be stars. Because if you become a consistent winner in the NFL and you're the quarterback and you're young, we anoint you. We put you on a pedestal. I mean, hell, we've done that with Mahomes. And, I mean, Mahomes just got to the AFC championship game,

but it's not like he's won anything yet. But I think we all, including myself, have him as a star. I can't wait to watch this group of guys next season. Okay, let's dive into another division. Earlier this week, I did the NFC East. Today I will do the AFC South. We'll just work our way across the country. We're starting east, and we're moving west.

I could have just jumped south or north. I just chose the South. So I'll do the AFC South today, and I'll do the NFC South next week. But the AFC South, just as a whole, I think it's fair to say this is one of the better divisions in football. You could argue it's as deep as. as any division in football. It might be the best division in football. Last year, you had two teams make the playoffs.

With a third, basically there was a playing game week 17. I think just looking at it from someone that has no dog in the fight here, I don't necessarily root for any of these guys. You know, people that I know, John Robinson, the general manager of the Titans, been on the show before, root for him. John D. Philippo, known him forever. He's with the Jags.

Root for him. Colts. I don't know Chris Ballard, but he seems like a cool guy to know. I know Collins buddies with him. I just like him, and I like Luck. The Texans, I feel like because everyone hates Bill O'Brien, I just kind of like Bill O'Brien. But I don't necessarily, I don't have that many dogs in the fights here.

Like, I don't really care. But I think any normal, unemotional football fan would go, God, this division is pretty damn good because it is. And what's the main reason it's good? Well, you got Andrew Luck. You have Deshaun Walsh. Watson. He gets hurt, but he's still pretty good when he's healthy. And when I mean pretty good, I mean like an Alex Smith-like player, Marcus Marriota,

and then you get Nick Foll. So it's a good quarterback division. But let's start with the over-unders, and I'll start at the top. The Indianapolis Colts. When you look at the Indianapolis Colts, made the playoffs last year, won a playoff game on the road against the Houston Texans. They were the wild card. Remember last year they started like, was it 0-1-5, and they just rattled off a bunch of wins. You look at their offseason. They're, again, they're over and under his nine and a half.

First glance, I like the over. I think they're an 11-12 win team. They added Devin Funches. They drafted Paris Campbell, the dude that can fly from Ohio State. They also, their pass rushes kind of hit or miss. I know D'Amico Atchri had a good year last year. But Justin Houston, who is he a little over the hill? Is he a great pass rusher anymore?

Probably not, but he's still good against the run. He's a good player. To me, that's the biggest question mark. their DBs, you know, hit or miss, but their offensive line is much improved. Their wide receivers, as long as you've got luck, are going to produce. They hit a home run last year with Eric Ebron. I mean, Quentin Nelson looks like a Hall of Famer. The middle linebacker they drafted last year in the second round, Darius Leonard was a star.

Their coach is solid. You got to like their team. I mean, I just, you say the Indianapolis Colts, nine and a half, it feels like I will be shell-shocked if they don't win double-digit games. And I, at the end of the day, like them to win 11 or 12. they win the division. You can get them plus 120 to win the division. The Texans. They had a, you know, interesting offseason, just fired their general manager. It took a first round offensive lineman who not the casual football fan has never heard of because he was a small school guy. They were jumped, you know, by Howie Roseman, the Philadelphia Eagles

before their pick for what many viewed as the best, probably highest upside offensive linemen in the draft, definitely the best past protecting offensive linemen. in the draft, Andre Dillard, and that's the big problem with the Texans. They can't pass for tech. I don't love Lamar Miller, but Hopkins is a star, Will Fuller's coming back, Deshawn Watson's a good player, defensively. I mean, JJ Watt, who I did not think was going to be anywhere near as good as he was last year.

It looks fantastic. Merciless is good. Their DBs, I mean, their defense is always solid. Clowny has become a good player. He's kind of the wild card in this whole deal because he's franchised. Rumors are Bill O'Brien's not that high on him. They're definitely not going to pay them. Is someone going to trade for him?

I don't see anyone breaking the bank for him. Kind of a complicated situation. I would imagine he misses all the training camp shows up week one. Even that being said, I still think they're just roster's too talented. They have way too many blue chip guys. They got Clowny. They got Watt. They would have Deshawn.

They have Hopkins. I mean, they have a coach that's proven he can win. I like them to win 10 games, so I like the over there. The Titans. To me, they're kind of the sleeper. Again, if Marioo can just stay healthy, they- 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

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It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano and our podcast Point Game is about defining the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows. Without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game.

We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted. this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court licking his fingers while he got the ball like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the

court and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, guys? This is Clever Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, the Cliverts show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. 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 42.

Hey, Wreck, my mama want you to weigh better. What? Where's he at? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clifford Show on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. They've proven they're a playoff team. When he plays, they win games. Because defensively, their front seven is really good.

Derek Henry has started to show signs like he's a good player. Dionne Lewis is a good running back. Corey Davis had some flashes last year. They drafted A.J. Brown, who many viewed, was the best wide receiver at Ole Miss, not D.K. Metcalf. And I would agree with that. They drafted the kid in the first round from Mississippi State, I think Simmons is his last name, who tore his ACL that many had viewed people that I know in the league, thought he was a locked top five, top seven player.

They got him what, like pick 18 or 19 or wherever it was late in the teens. Now, he's coming off an ACL, I would assume he's not going to play. so that has no impact this season. But big picture, I remember going to practice last year, their team is talented. They have a lot of good players. That's why every year they win eight, nine, ten games. This eight number, my first reaction, I just wouldn't bet it.

I wouldn't feel comfortable taking the under because I just think they have too much talent. Vrabel is a good coach. They're coaching staff solid. Their offense was shitty last year. Well, they had a first-time coordinator. Where's he now? He's the head coach of the Green Bay Packers.

So their offense, could it be better? Maybe. I don't see why not. Again, to me, the biggest, I guess, question mark with this team, if you like the over, which would mean you'd probably think they're a playoff team because if they're going to win, you know, nine, ten games, you're probably getting a wild card. That would mean you'd probably take the Texan spot and they'd be an eight or seven win team. You're betting on Marcus Marriota playing.

Now, you got to give John Robinson some credit. He made a pretty interesting, I'd say you made one of the more interesting, moves with the offseason. He traded for Ryan Taneyhill, a guy that's been a full-time starter since he's coming in the NFL. Now, he's often hurt too.

But that is easily right now, now that Nick Foles is with the Jaguars, who will get to next? That's easily the best backup in the NFL right now is Ryan Taneyhill. The other thing, it's hard to get hurt when you're the backup because you're not really playing.

You're not taking all the reps. So I actually, and we'll get to the divisional odds, obviously, like I said, the culture plus 120, the 10%. Texans are plus 220. The Titans actually have the worst odds at plus $6.50. If you like the Titans, I actually like them as a sleeper to win this division. Because, again, they are pretty close. You know, all these teams, the separation is not that far because all these rosters are pretty good.

To me, it comes down to Marriota and just the execution of the offense. And then the Jaguars. Got a new offensive coordinator and John D. Philippo. They got a new quarterback. Let's call it what it is. They had to shake Bortles. Bortals was absolutely killing them. had some moments, but for the most, last year he killed him.

He was, when I say had some moments, the year that they made it to the playoffs. I guess the playoffs, I mean, they made the EFC championship game. They beat the Steelers. They won two playoff games. Just two years ago, you know what's crazy about Blake Mortals? Two playoff victories. Now, granted, one was the Bills. I think the final score of that game was like 10 to 3.

But the second one, it wasn't all him, but he played pretty well in that game. They beat the Steelers on the road. Blake Mortals, if he never plays another game in the NFL, in his life, he can go, you know what? I beat the Steelers in the road, on the road in the second round. That's pretty impressive accomplishment. So the Jags, to me, they lost Malik Jackson, who's, you know, I mean a very good defensive lineman.

They still have a stack defensive roster, even though Jalen Ramsey's acting a little weird. Obviously, adding Nick Falls offensively you can have Marquis Lee coming back. Leonard Fournett was basically a disaster last year. Cofflin's in his ass. They're raising the standard on him. I never liked drafting Leonard Fournet.

in the top five, but he is a good player. He definitely should be much better than he showed last year. I mean, honestly, it wouldn't shock me if you've got a couple 11 win teams with the Colts and the Texans, the Titans, you know, around 8 or 9 wins and the Jags around 7 or 8. Just looking

at it, maybe as I go through all these, I'll find a better division. But I don't think there's a division with less of a drop-off from the best team based on last year, the Colts, to the worst team the Jags. Like, when we just talked about the NFC East last week, The difference between the Eagles and the Cowboys and the Giants are like the Grand Canyon.

When I'm just talking the roster. Like the Jaguars roster, if I said, Bill Belichick, if I said tomorrow, Bill Belichick is coaching the Jags. You'd be like, oh, yeah, they can make the playoffs. I mean, if I told you Bill Belichick was a coach of the Jags, you would bet $1,000 on plus, you know, basically four to one on them to win the division. I'd like them to win the division, you know? So their talent is there. but again, I think the sleeper of this division, to me, if you like a sleeper, is the Titans to win the division at plus 650.

But at the end of the day, if I take any emotion out and not going with sleepers, I say Colts win it, they win 11, 12 games. Texans come in at a solid 10, both over. Titans right at that 8. To me, that's kind of that sweet spot. I'd probably go push, meaning I would not bet it. And then the Jags at 8, I'd take the under, but that would be an under that I wouldn't want to touch. My recommendation would be I would not bet it. It's kind of crazy. Just a couple

years ago, this was viewed as the worst division in football. And now I think when you look at it, if it's not the best, it's easily right up there. Imagine the biggest secret of your life. Now, imagine trusting that big secret with the entire world. That is exactly what Tony Morrison did when he made the brave decision to share his HIV positive status in an open essay on Good Morning America's website. Hi, I'm Zach Stafford, host of In The Deep Stories That Shape Us. In this episode, we sit down with Tony to talk about his identity as a Filipino American, his work as a producer, and the role trust plays in our own journeys. Because sometimes, the road to healing can feel like a retrograde, forcing us to take a pause and reflect about what comes next. Listen to In the Deep, Stories

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Hey John, love the pod. Me too. You've mentioned often that when it comes to NFL contracts, the guaranteed money is what matters most, at least in my view. True. However, doesn't the per year average have a hit on the salary cap regardless of guarantees or are teams able to adjust that once guarantees are paid? Thanks in advance. I've spent a lot of time talking to a couple salary cap guys over the years. I am not a salary cap expert. But, and this is kind of off the cuss, so I'd probably have to write it all down

exactly how it works. But when you give someone a signing bonus, so I'll just use basic math. say we do a two-year deal, $10 million per, so a total of $20 million, average per year of $10 million a year, and I give you $8 million guaranteed. Well, that $8 million guaranteed is money that you're getting paid no matter what. I can amortize that money, little Cal Poly accounting phrase, people like listening, like way to go out on a limb there with the amortization. So you can use that $8 million, you can cut it by half.

So the $4 million to both years. So that number gets spread out over the life of the contract, which in this case would be $2 million. And then there are two separate numbers that matter for the salary cap. That's the actual cash you're getting paid that year and what it hits on the salary cap. And again, I think that's a combination of the guaranteed money of your average per year.

I'd have to get someone that knows they're talking about. I don't feel confident exactly how that number gets set. like the actual cap number, the cash flow being paid, and then there is the dead cap. And the dead cap's important because, like, if I pay you this, if my signing bonus is paid and all the guaranteed money is gone, I can then cut you at any moment

for little than no impact on my salary cap. That's why when you see a new contract, and let's say I give a guy $20 million guaranteed, well, it's going to be difficult to cut that guy in the first couple years and not get a major hit of just emptiness on my salary cap. But by year three, that's done. It's also with a guaranteed money, like the signing bonus.

Matt Ryan got a signing bonus, and I had a dude that runs an NFL, like finances tell me, the craziest part about Matt Ryan's contract is that the point of signing, Arthur Blank had to have $100 million on hand. And that $100 million signing bonus immediately gets put into escrow. And I think it has to get paid, like the actual signing bonus within a year. And that's what was so nuts about Matt Ryan's contract. That's why when you see like Jimmy Garoppolo's contract, Derek Carr's contract, they got $40 million signing bonus.

So it's not as crazy. And then there's like the injury guarantee, which I look at as the normal guarantee, especially for quarterbacks. But again, like I probably need to get someone on this podcast who knows a little bit more of that because it is really complicated. It's not like NBA level complication, but, you know, just in terms of the salary cap, contracts by far are so much more complicated than the NBA or the Major League Baseball because they're not all guaranteed.

There are different bonuses. There are ways you can restructure contracts that I need to get like a Howie Roseman. I tried to get him, but he went to vacation. Hopefully we'll get him in the fall and talk a little bit about that because that's pretty interesting. When you see the Colts making a deep playoff run, making winning the Super Bowl? I mean, I think in the next couple years. I mean, I would, like I just talked about him earlier, I think they have a super Super Bowl caliber team.

Now, ideally, you'd want probably one more dynamic playmaker on offense. I mean, you would love like a Cleo Mac, but hell, you would just take like a, I was trying to think of like a solid pass rusher. You know, just give me like eight or nine sacks. They just need a little bit more of a consistent pass rush, but yeah, I think they will be in the mix this year. If the 49ers finished below 500, let's say 5 and 11, is it safe to say that Lynch and Shanahan both get fired.

Uh, no. They signed six year deals, both of them. And coaches and GM deals are fully guaranteed. So Kyle Shanahan signed for over $7 million. Again, not a math major, but seven times six years. That's $42 million. The Niners are paying him no matter what. John Lynch, because he had another job and had leverage, got about $4 million.

So combined, they make over $60 million. So I think at minimum, these guys are getting four years. And I'd be shocked if they don't make it until five. Now, if they go five and 11, and I live in the Bay, for those that are new to the podcast, people would be pissed off and the heat would be on, and rightfully so. I've said over and over for Kyle, if Jimmy's healthy this year, you can't be as good of a coach as we all consider Kyle to be, myself included, and not make the playoffs once in your first three years.

Like it's time to piss or get off the pot. It's time to get something done. Or I'm just going to start viewing you as a really good offense of mine, but struggles as a head coach. Again, the wild card here is Jimmy's health. If Jimmy is healthy, they should make the playoffs. To me, it's that simple. Or, you know, when I say make the playoffs, if you win nine or ten games and miss the playoffs, I probably could live with that.

But you can't be, you can't, at minimum, you got to win nine games. You got to win. You have to win. Sean McVeigh, two years, two playoffs. You know, it's time to start winning. I'm a big Colts Andrew Luck fan, and my friend is on the Baker-Mayfield bandwagon. We have debates all the time about which quarterback is better. Come on.

It's not a conversation right now. And which has the higher ceiling. So I want to hear your thoughts about who you'd rather have better for the franchise for the next five to ten years. Well, 10 years because Luck's 30, you'd rather take Baker, because Baker's 24, 25 years old, so he'd only be in his mid-30s. But the higher ceiling, I will be shell-shocked if Baker is ever as good as Andrew Luff. Andrew Luck took one of the shittiest teams we've ever seen and took him to the playoffs as a rookie. Then his second year and third year he won a playoff game in a second year and his third year he won two playoff games.

Along that road he beat Peyton Manning. And then look what he did last year. They started 0-1-5, coming back off missing the season. Boom, starts getting a rhythm, takes his team to the playoffs, win a playoff game. The chance that Baker's ever that good, to me, are slim to none. For Baker to be better than Andrew Luck, he basically just has to be a Hall of Famer. you just would assume he's the next Drew Breeze. So I would say that Andrew Luck is just a superior player.

I've seen him win. I've seen him win big games. I've seen him go on the road win big games. I've seen him win divisions. I've seen him. There's nothing I haven't seen him do except win a Super Bowl. Like, Baker's been starting for, I think the Baker hype, again, I'm a Baker fan. But I think it's borderline out of control.

I mean, we talk about him like he's like Brett Farve already. Let's just see him win a game that matters. He hasn't really, he has literally not. won a game that has mattered yet in the pros. Hasn't won one of them? And he plays for the Browns. It's hard to shake dysfunction. Who have a bigger following?

The Niners or the Raiders? I mean, the 49ers, people get so mad about me around here. The 49ers fan base is dramatically larger than the Raiders. And part of building a big fan base is winning. The Niners for 20 plus years, so multiple generations, won in one of the biggest markets in the country. And in like the 80s, football was still kind of a national game. You could suck

people from around the country. The Raiders think they're a lot bigger. The fans think they're a lot bigger than they actually are. There was an article last year, I think in the Mercury News, like a local newspaper around here. And part of it was Al Davis was good of like, you know, basically convincing his fans things were happening that actually weren't happening. Like they were this big global brand. They were this big global band. Like that's great in theory, but we've seen ratings. Like when they're on national television games, the ratings dip. They went to Mexico and all I've ever heard from the Raiders, like we own Mexico, the fans were chanting Tom Brady, you know. So let's just, I think the Raider fans think they're a little

bigger than they are. Now, and I don't blame the fans. I blame the organization. When you suck forever, you do not grow. Right. Businesses grow by having success. Like, how did the Patriots become, the Patriots are a way bigger brand? Why? They've been winning for 20 years. How'd the Niners become such a big deal. They won from 1981 to 2000. They won for 20 straight years in the NFL. The NFL hasn't been around that long. What's Super Bowl we on?

Like, 55? So they won for 40% of it? Think about that. They won for 40% like the Patriots. The NFL is what? Again, I might be off of my Super Bowl, at 52, whatever. The Patriots have been winning now for 20 years.

So that's 40% of the history of the sport they've been winning. Like the Raiders had a stretch where they won for like 12 years. But that was also like the time to win was like post 90. Because the population growth, the internet, if you haven't won in the internet age at all,

that's a huge part of it too. Like the Niners haven't won that much in the internet age, but there are three years of winning in the internet age, it was one of the most impactful winning stretches we've ever seen in the Jim Harbaugh era. Because they went viral every five minutes. They were a big deal. So it's the Niners.

And again, in shade at the Raiders. That's just a fact, every metric. I mean, I see my other podcast, there's no, when I talk about one and I don't talk about the other, like it's clear which draws more people in. In every metric, TV, radio, podcasting, you name it.

Okay. Born in Long Island and I've been a Giants fan since I was in diapers. As most Giants fans, I've been severely disappointed in the overall direction of the team is going. First, passing on Darnold, trading Odell, letting Land and Collins go, and then Daniel Jones. It pays me to say, but I hope Dwayne Haskins puts a hurting on them twice a year for a couple

years to show how incompetent Dave Gettleman truly is. I guess my question is this. I'm kind of ad lib and he's not saying all this. I just like throwing my own words in there. How likely do you think it is that Haskins becomes a star and Daniel Jones continues to be Daniel Jones. And at 27 years old, is okay to jump ship and become a Jets fan. Thanks, homie. You know, I watch a decent amount of Dwayne Haskins and I thought he was really good, but I'd never deep, deep dive studied him. A couple of my buddies that I rely on for all my, like, hardcore,

like if he tells me something, I'm going to have a take on it, and that's, he's going to kind of map out my stance. They didn't like Dwayne Haskins that much. Now, they didn't really like Daniel Jones that much either, but I actually had a buddy that does the SEC that thought Daniel Jones was a solid player. I thought he was like a late first round pick, not the six overall pick, but liked them.

So, yeah, I, I, I would, I think there's a better chance that Daniel Jones is just not that great, and that Dwayne Haskins is also not that great. Like, that to me is how it's probably going to play out. I say this all the time. Now, and I'm not the most loyal of a sports fan. Like, I grew up, part of it was because when I got to the NFL, I stopped giving a shit. Like, I grew up a huge Niners fan.

But then once I started working for the Eagles, like, I'm trying to beat the Niners. And the one year they beat us, like, my second year, it was a bit, it was a, big loss for us. So I didn't want them to win. And you kind of lose, and then you start, like, get, my friends start getting jobs. You know, like Matt Nagy gets a job. Like, I like the Bears. Now, I want the Niners to win because it's good for me financially.

But I don't have any, sports don't resonate with me quite like it once did as a fan just because I'm making money off it. Though, I do root for people. And when I know you or I like you, I go all in. And I say this all the time and I get it. I'm still probably the only team I'm a true fan of as a San Francisco Giants. I think right now they have some joke qualities. Like their president is currently suspended because he tossed his wife on a ground.

He's also been leading to charge to land all these free agents like he's George Seimbraner, even though he actually doesn't own the team and he can't land a free agent to save his life. I've had enough of them. And I've become somewhat of a horror as a sports fan, meaning like, I grew up hating the Dodgers. But I'll be honest with you. I like the Dodgers team. They're very enjoyable to watch.

If you're going to hate, like, if you're going to be a diehard fan of a team, and your team is going to suck for a long period of time, it basically being, like, in a shitty relationship and refusing to get a divorce or break up. Like, it's kind of stupid when you think about it. And if she ever changes, you can always go back to her. Like, you're always welcome back. It's a great thing about fans or about teams.

They'll always allow you back. They'll always take your time back. They'll always take your money back. So, yeah, if you like Sam Darry, root for Sam Darnel. You don't have to be like a diehard Jets fan, but you can just like, you know what, I'm a Sam Darnold guy, or whoever you like.

And that's what I've become as a sports fan. It's become a lot more enjoyable than just when your team sucks, it's miserable to root for them, especially when they're going nowhere fast like the Giants are. So I think a lot of diehard fans will say, like, you're a sellout. Here's a thing. It'd be one thing to like, listen, I hope Daniel Jones does well,

but once you realize he sucks, like he sucks. Odell Beckham is one of the most talented players the Giants have ever had, and they traded him. Like, you're supposed to support that? What I never understand about the people that say you can't turn on your team, so you just supposed to have unconditional support like they're your kid, even though you have zero control over anything they're doing. And a lot of the decisions, especially when a franchise is, you know,

kind of falling apart, is they do the dumbest stuff over and over that drives you nuts. It's just not a healthy relationship to be in. Like, it's been an easy relationship for people, around the Bay Area to root for the Warriors. It's not an easy relationship if you root for the Orlando Magic. It wouldn't even be fun. I would never blame anyone if they were like,

you know what? I was an Orlando Magic fan growing up, but I've been rooting for the Celtics for the last 10 years. I totally understand. So yeah, I give you the green lights. People will disagree with me, but I got no issue if you go become a Jets fan. Or at least, and you can justify it been like, I was a big Sam Donald guy,

I wanted the Giants to draft him, I'm rooting for him. To me, that's what you say. You don't even say, like, I'm a Jets fan. Because at your core, you're not a Jets fan. Your true love is the Giants. But if you had watched Sam Donald and you like Sam Darnold, then you follow Sam Darnal on Instagram,

you're like, God, this is a high-level guy. This guy would have been, how did we not draft this guy? Now, part of it's like, well, we did take Saquo and Barclay. That is the saving grace here. Like, if you are going to pass on like Brett Favre, but you do draft Barry Sanders, it's not the worst thing. Would you rather have Brett Fav than Barry Sanders?

Yeah, I know that actually didn't happen. and I'm just using this as a best-case scenario. And clearly, Sequin's already really good. But we all know, like, you can't just win with the great running back. You need a quarterback. So I feel you. What would surprise you more? If the Raiders had a top-10 defense next year,

or if they win 10 or 11 games and win the division? I mean, I think both are impossible. I guess I would say I don't see any chance on God's Greener if they have a top-10 defense. They have no pass rush. the DBs are okay and they don't really have any linebackers. Like, could they win 10 games? Like, yeah, I could, you know, Derek Carr is an MVP candidate again.

Gruden just gets in a sweet spot. Antonio Brown has a huge year. Tyrell Williams has a huge year. Josh Jacobs, the rookie of the year. They're built a little like they were, you know, the second year, Jackto, Rio, they made the playoffs. Elite offense, crappy defense. Because I, or not, that year, they actually caused a lot of turnovers because of Mac.

But to me, absolutely zero chance they were top 10 defense. I think it's just physically impossible. They don't know the players. What were some of your favorite things you did while scouting for the Eagles and some of your least favorite? Huge Eagles fan. I would say my least favorite things. Let's start with the least favorite. I would say just doing pro scouting over and over.

It gets kind of boring. Just evaluating players. Like the great part about college, like I love college scouting because you're basically evaluating people. You're getting to watch the player and project the player and then learn about the person while interacting with a lot of people. As a pro scout, you kind of just sit in the office

and you just watch tape of players that you never get to meet, talk to, majority of them you never even get to sign. And unlike coaches that do a lot of that too, they actually, for a couple hours a day, every day get to go out in the field. As a pro scouting, you just keep watching tape. It gets kind of monotonous.

And as you can tell, I just got too much personality to be cooped up in a cage like a cat. I need to be unchained, be on the move. So the pro scouting stuff was awesome. I didn't love this, but it was a pretty unreal experience, surreal experience, like being the Turk. Cutting guys.

Again, like I didn't take any joy in cutting guys. But it was just, you know, an experience you can't get anywhere else. things I don't miss, like just the hours you have to put in in terms of, sometimes I just feel like I'm not actually accomplishing anything, but I'm sitting in the office. But I also do appreciate, like, the grind of a football season and having had a front row seat.

And it was, I mean, college was just like this too, the same, similar hours. But, like, when you play a game on Saturday or Sunday, just how much time has gone in from the scouting reports to the practices to the, In the NFL, you're evaluating the officials, keeping track of the weather, keeping track of the injuries. It's just, it's pretty awesome to be on the inside of just the weekly games, especially when you're a good team. Like my first year, we were a playoff team, so every game mattered so much, and that was pretty powerful. The other good thing is a lot of free food, you know, and at the time I was poor, I mean, hell, I'd take free food right now. I don't care how rich you are, you never turn down free food.

You just get a lot of free food. You know, you just eat you around a lot of food. You get, you know, my gym I just found out, raise the price. I pay it, again, it's the Bay Area, but I pay $170 a month for my gym. Now, it also is a hotel and, you know, basketball courts and pools and all sorts of shit. But still, $170. Like, it's absurd. Well, in the NFL, I never paid for a gym.

I had my own gym there at everything you need, sauna, steam rooms, locker rooms. You had it all. So miss those little perks. Something else I hated. One thing I hated as a scout, and I think you definitely feel this as a GM too, is just how powerless you are. Like in my job now, I control everything that's said on this podcast. So if I were to get in trouble, if I were to go viral, if I were to have something positive happen, it's all on me. And not as much on this one.

I don't necessarily sell the ads on this one, but my other one's like, I control my financial destiny. I just have much more control over my life As a GM, definitely as like a road scout or a pro scout, you have no control over everything. You're just a peon who just is part of the craziness, but you don't actually get to control anything. Now, that's probably natural with any job when you're under 30. But it always, you know, if I was 34 still working in the NFL as a road scout,

you don't really have that much power. Where ever since I've been in the media, and the other thing is you find out about this guy John Middilkoff, let's say I was a scout for whatever team. You have no clue if I'm good or bad. None.

Does that guy know what he's looking at? Does he not? And there are a lot of people in the league that suck. Just like there are a lot of people that are good. But us on the outside, unless you actually work with them, and I was lucky. I got to work with, you know,

like Howie Roseman. I was around Howie for my first week, you realize, like, yeah, this guy's pretty unique. I was around Brett Veach. Really quick. You're like, God, this guy's a unique character. Louis Riddick, God, this guy's a unique character. And then I got buddies that you wouldn't even know their names

that are working for various teams that I would go to the mat for. They're as good of a scout as anyone in the league. But you don't know who they are. You know, so there's that element, which I kind of miss. I mean, when you work, and maybe I was lucky in Philly, we just had a lot of high-level guys. So I got to experience, I mean, I could have easily worked for another organization with a lot of slapies.

but I would imagine there are a lot of organizations that get fired and people get blown out that actually were good. And again, maybe it's like this in every profession. I mean, I've been fired multiple times in radio and in the NFL, and I thought I was really good both times. I thought there wasn't anyone as good of a scout or I was equally as good as anyone else. And as radio, there was definitely, I was as unique as anyone on the radio

and forever might show crushed. But both times, you know, both times. management changed and I got blown out. So it's like, people like, Middle Coff, you got fired? What are you showing up late to work? I'm like, yeah, it's kind of not the business I'm working in. You know, it's just, it's a volatile industry.

So, and that used to be something that, just because you got fired, you were a loser. I think most industries kind of think like that. And then if you get into certain businesses, like Bill Belichick's been fired. I'm not saying I was Bill Belichick in the NFL. But I think all over the NFL, you see guys get fired every year that are probably pretty good.

Like, I don't know Brian Gennon. the Houston, Texas, GM. Was he good? Was he not? I don't know. Maybe he really was. Maybe he just got a raw deal. Or maybe he just actually was shitty.

That's the hard part about the NFL. Like coaches, we got a good idea, right? Like Hugh Jackson, Jim Tom Sulla. You're like, what are you doing? You know? But when scouts and front office people get fired, you're like, I guess if he's the GM and he's picked the players, like Mike McAgnon, it was pretty clear.

He didn't know what he was doing. But like Brian Gaine, I got no clue of Brian Gaines good or bad. Hell, I would imagine most Houston, Texas fans would be like, yeah, I don't really know. It was clear to, like, Ryan Grigson, this is over his head. And then Chris Ballard gets in there. Like, God, this Chris Ballard guy is pretty impressive. And even I at first was like, just because the hype was so strong, I was like, who is it? Can we pump the brakes? Now it's like, hey, I'll tip my hat. This Chris Ballard's legit. So, a little overview. Appreciate everyone listening. Enjoy the Fourth of July weekend. I guess I'll talk to you before the Fourth of July. It's only June 27th.

But I fucking love the 4th of July. I got to love America. And enjoy the weekend. Talk to you soon. Peace. See you. Hey, Singles. Do you feel like a tourist in your own town? Too busy to enjoy all your city has to offer?

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I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker... They know these kids. This linebacker walks up to me. He goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What?

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