The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Middlekauff - Offensive coaching, Kirk Cousins, Clemson and Middlekauff Mailbag

Episode Date: September 29, 2018

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. 3 and Out with John Middlekauff is part of the Colin Cowherd Podcast Network. 3 and Out is an unfiltered podcast covering the biggest stories in the NFL and college football. John brings his unique perspective as a former NFL scout, NFL analyst and radio host. In this week's episode John talks about how offensive coaches are taking over the league, whether Kirk Cousins is living up to the hype, Clemson and the QB situation and go around the NFL. Each week John also answers listener questions from the Middlekauff Mailbag. Follow John on twitter @JohnMiddlekauff and go to theherdnow.com to find the latest content. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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We changed it a little bit. Now we're going Tuesday and we're going Friday. Just too much going on. Too much football. Too many takes I got to get for you. We got a lot coming up. Just finished watching this Thursday night game. I want to talk about Jared Goff,

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Tonight's Thursday night game made me think of my dad actually, who I'm not trying to get morbid here on the podcast or anything, but he passed away earlier this year. He grew up at Berkeley, his dad taught a cow and was a big, big cow guy. Would have loved watching Jared Gough just ball the night. But my dad was, he was older. It's not like he died young or anything. He was over 70, and he was from the baby boomer generation. And that generation that was born into a generation growing up off the Depression, you know, it was just old school. and they believed and the number one thing he taught me

and like anyone that was born into parents that were baby boomers was work ethic, work hard, get up early, stay late and it's all they cared about, you know. And they always struggled a little bit with my generation that like, Dad, I can be on my couch and I can shoot an email. You know, you can't, just because I'm not at an office doesn't mean I'm not working. You know, just because I go on vacation

doesn't mean I can't still communicate with people. And they kind of struggle with that. They came from the generation of just overachieving You could become, I had multiple friends growing up whose grandparents, whose parents became millionaires, didn't even have a college education. You never went to college. None of that stuff mattered. You could just overcome in the 60s, 70s, and 80s in business with just toughness, just mental toughness. Not that that still doesn't matter, but education didn't mean anything.

You could just intimidate in business. You could just handshake deals and get loans. Like that is all done now. Business doesn't operate like that anymore. You can't even get hired in most companies without a college degree. Back of the day, it didn't matter. You just could overcome it with just pure work ethic. And forever and ever and ever, full.

football coaches like Woody Hayes, Bo Schembeckler, you know, and I was thinking a night because of the Rams, Jeff Fisher, just old school tough defensive guy. Well, kind of like my dad's mindset of the working man. The millennial, like I have a lot of millennial friends that make a lot of money. And if you just judge them on their daily routine,

you'd be like, God, what the hell does this guy do? I don't know, he gets things done. You can send emails from, you know, your iPad. Just like the old school, you know, tough guy football coach, their days are over. Jeff Fisher, the meathead football coach, which for many, many years, was a predominant figure in the sport of football, is done. It's not a dying breed. It's dead. It's like newspapers.

Newspapers aren't dying. They're dead. It's over. I mean, we're never coming back. They're done. Dunzo. The meathead, tough defensive football coach, it's over. the game has completely change.

There's always been, you know, an element and a place for the really smart offensive guy. I mean, hell, it took Bill Walsh to his 60s to get hired, but clearly this was in the 80s. In a defensive league, and he flourished. He was awesome in a league full of tough guy meatheads. Now, Parcells, I'm not going to consider him like he's clearly really bright, but he was the upper upper echelon, the elite of the elite. of the meathead mindset. Like Mike Didka. Now, he was an offensive guy,

but he was a meathead. You know, that just, what is that tough for you? Like, in this day and age, in 2018, did you watch John D. Filippo and Sean McVeigh downing up plays?

This is a thinking man's game. This is an offensive chess piece game. The rules have completely changed. The just, we're just going to tackle and beat everyone up. Those days are over forever. And don't get me wrong.

I like that element of football. I enjoyed some of Jeff Fisher's Titans teams. Like, I did. Do not get me wrong. I'm not anti the meathead guy and what they stand for. I just would never, in a million years, ever hire a defensive coach ever moving forward. I wouldn't let him touch my head coaching office if I was an owner. You watch John McVeigh tonight?

He's the modern day John Gruden, Bill Walsh. You see how dynamic he is? and what he's doing with Jared Goff? You see John D. Philippo, who's 40 years old, what he's doing with Kirk Cousins, the plays there dialing up? Think about this. The Arizona Cardinals last year interviewed Steve Wilkes.

I don't know much about him. I don't even want to pigeonhole him as a meathead because he may be a smart guy, but he is a defensive guy. And there's a defensive mentality. Last week, with five minutes, under five minutes ago, he put Josh Rosen in the game.

Josh Rosen is the guy that the Arizona Cardinals invested their entire future. and he threw him in the game in a disadvantageous situation against arguably a top two or three defense in the league that has the best pass rusher in the league could have got him killed do you think john d philippo sean mcvay kyle shanahan would ever have done that to josh rosin no chance they think like a wreck ryan remember how he treated mark sancho and listen i'm no mark sanchise truther but rex ryan is the last guy on this planet that i'd entrust to Watch after a young quarterback.

This is an offensive league, and it's only getting more and more that way, given the rules, given the officiating, given the way the game is called. Like Andy Reid is the top of the mountain for offensive innovators. He's been doing it for every offensive mind. You have to hire offense. That's what this entire league is now. Defense, Mike Zimmer, who while he's a defensive guy, he is not a meathead. He is a thinking man's coach. He is a dynamic schemer.

Not just your rah-rah, tough guy, you know, Jeff Fisher. He's useless. I mean, he can't, the rules, there's nothing he can do. He's at such a disadvantage in tonight's game against Sean McVeigh. He is arguably the best defensive mind in the NFL, and he's helpless. So I'm telling you this, going into this off this year and just watching football, every coach, I wouldn't even interview a defensive coach, would not even waste my time. The league we are watching, there's a chance in five years that 90% of the head coaches around football are offensive.

Why would you even think about entertaining hire a defensive coach in this environment with these rules? I mean, John D. Philippo had Kirk Cousins looking like Tom Brady or Peyton Manning. The plays he's dialing up with these wide receivers. Sean McVeigh, holy hell. How do you stop this? Football has completely changed. Don't get me again, I love defense. I like the violence of football.

I really do. And like my day, like I still value working hard, getting up early, staying late. Like that stuff always matters. But in 2018, more than a lot. in the job market, in football, you have to be intellectually dynamic. And in football, in modern day football, that tends to be offensively. You have to be able to dial up and coach the quarterback. Just like in business, you have to be dynamic to make it now.

Typically, you've got to have college education, you've got to have a couple degrees. I mean, you've got to have a resume. You can't just out tough and out work and out to intimidate people. Like the game has changed. Football has changed. You know, the Woody Hayes days of just being super tough are over. The days of Sean McVeigh and John D. Filippo and Kyle Shanahan and all these offensive minds, all these young offensive minds all around the league, we're never

turning back. The game has, like, it was kind of unofficial forever. I mean, this last year with the rules, we've officially adapted in football, in the NFL. I mean, the NFL is becoming Big 12 football. Good or bad thing, that's you judge on your own. I didn't mind the Thursday night game at all. But if you do not change as an organization or whatever team you root for and you watch the way they operate and they're living in the, you know,

like Seattle Seahawks, you know, living like it's 2007, like guys, it's time to move on. It's 2018. Let's get with the times and let's get with the offense. I was thinking watching Kirk Cudson. Cousins tonight, he got $86 million this offseason, the most guaranteed money in the history of the NFL for a free agent. Now, Aaron Rogers has got something he extended his contract. Cahleel Mack was not a free agent.

He was obviously traded and then signed. Aaron Donald got 87 million, but again, was extended. Kirk Cousins was a true free agent and got basically a three-year, fully guaranteed $86 million. Crazy contract. I thought it was actually, you know, pretty bold, but I got it. And through four games, Kirk Cousins has thrown 10 touchdowns and two interceptions. And you watch him on a game like Thursday Night against the Rams. He looks freaking awesome.

Throwing for over 70%, just dynamic up and down the field. He's mobile. He's accurate. He looks like a franchise quarterback. And you go, if I just gave you a snapshot of a couple drives, you go, Yeah, this Vikings teams, the Vikings and the Rams, that's going to be the NFC championship. Then you go, well, the problem is, and this is a thing in football,

like basketball, you can get off to an 8-and-eight start. Like, whatever, you get 82 games. Baseball, you can be like 50 and 50 in the middle of the summer. You know, I'm good. In football, you get like 1 and 3. It's hard to overcome that. Remember last year, the Chargers started 0-and-4? It's hard to dig yourself out of holes.

It really is. Like, you can lose a couple games in a row, but you kind of got to snap that quick. I think the Minnesota Vikings, obviously after the week one, they played the Niners. I'm like, that is one of the best teams in the NFL. I'm watching them. I still think that.

Now, they got some flaws. Their offensive line is flawed. Most teams are. But right now they are one, two, and one. And they play the Eagles next week. Now, they're going to be playing the Eagles off 10 days rest. But that's a pretty big game. because you cannot start one, three, and one

and expect to have a good chance to make the playoffs in the NFC. That would be very, very difficult. They're already kind of sneaky in must-win mode. And the crazy thing is, if I would have told you, you know, the Minnesota Vikings make one of the biggest investments in NFL history for a free agent, the biggest financially. I mean, if I would have said they're struggling after, you know, going into October, you would have been like,

God, Kirk Cousin screwed up their money. mojo. But he hasn't not only not screwed up their mojo, he's been awesome. You know, he's been incredible. Now, one of their downfalls so far early in the season is in pro sports, when you're a good team, you have to beat up on the shitty teams. Like that is a must. You have to take advantage of bad teams, right? You just, you have to. Like, there is zero excuse. You cannot. And As a 17-point favorite, at home, loses the Buffalo Bills. And not just lose, get your ass kicked. Like, that's on, I'm not putting that on Kirk Cousers,

that's just on the organization, that's on the head coach, that's on everyone. But in the other three games against the Niners, against the Packers, especially in the second half, and tonight against the Rams, Couss has been worth every penny. And you're not winning games. Like, that is a major problem. Again, you don't get 40 games in the NFL.

you don't get that many opportunities. They've already played a quarter of their season, and they're way behind the eight ball. I can't imagine. I would expect that the Vikings to be a 12-13 win team, clearly they're going to have to battle to get to 10. And if I would have told myself at the beginning of the year, you know, it's going to be a struggle for them to get to 10.

Again, like I said earlier, and I think if I would ask every casual football fan, and I would have gave you that scenario, you'd have been like, man, they should have stayed with Case Keenham. But that hasn't been the case. If anything, it's like, damn, they upgraded a quarterback. And then they lost Pat Shermer.

And that hasn't been the problem either. John D. Philippo's been awesome. They've been scoring points like Matt. They can't stop anyone on defense. They haven't taken advantage when they play the bills at home. This Viking team has a weird feel to me. I'm not betting against them to not make the playoffs yet. But I got them red flagged.

You can't give up on them because the quarterback and the offense is playing too well, but I don't know, something's weird. I just, I wouldn't have seen it. You got to feel good about your investment, but you can't feel good about what the team is. I don't want to spend too much time on this next topic just because I want to dive into a couple of the games, but this came up earlier in the week, and it's just, I don't want to say driving me mad, but everything now in the media, and just a day, general. I mean, definitely the sports media is borderline socialist. It's very pro player.

It's all the player can do no wrong. Pay all the players. Which, again, I'm anti-paying a lot of players, pro-pan some players. College football. The moment the media thinks that a kid is even getting screwed a little bit, it's a freak out. The coach and the program were in the wrong. Kelly Bryant at Clemson got screwed And Kelly Bryant Dabble Sweeney went with the true freshman He looks like a future star Kelly Bryant fifth year senior

He told him like you're not going to be the star girl anymore You're not even going to rotate This guy, it's his job We ain't looking back Kelly Bryant thought about it A couple days later said I'm transferring And it's the new rule

I guess it's not that new I mean it's been around for a while But you know if you're a fifth year senior You can transfer without losing a year eligibility and he could start next year somewhere else. And I asked this question on Twitter earlier in the week. Would you rather, and I just threw out a couple programs, like start at Kentucky or Mississippi State or, you know, a program like that and go eight and four as the starter?

Or would you rather be the backup and win two national championships at the University of Clemson in three years? And I started thinking, and a lot of my replies were, well, if you're an NFL prospect, you're you'd want to transfer. But if you weren't, you'd think about staying. He's not an NFL quarterback. The new director of the Senior Bowl, Jim Nagy, said he went to Clemson and reached out to him

about potentially playing in the Senior Bowl about trying out different positions. I would imagine at slot receiver, maybe, you know, third down running back or something like that. Like, he is not an NFL quarterback. So, and I think Doug Gottlieb tweeted this out, So basically Kelly Bryant admitted It was cool being at the program

Until I wasn't the star And then I didn't want to be with them At the program anymore Because you can look at a couple ways He is a high character guy From talking to scouts that have gone through Clemson Did he quit on the team? I mean I think you could make the argument he did

Like he's gone to battle with all these guys For four or five years He wasn't the quarterback for his first three years Why? Because the guy was better He's not the quarterback anymore. Why? Because the guy was better. Welcome to life.

There's someone better than me out there. There's someone better than you out there. Someone better than all of us. You always eventually get replaced. Even if you're the greatest at whatever you do, you don't stay on top forever. And I'd argue the quicker you fail in life at a younger age, the healthier it is. So Kelly, you're transferring in the media's like,

he's doing the right thing. Is he? He's not an NFL quarterback. What programs are going to go to? He's playing at a football fact. I mean, scouts line up at the University of Clemson to evaluate guys. They got four defensive linemen. They're going to go on the top 50 picks.

So wouldn't he get a ton of credit if he just stuck it out? Who's to say, again, this freshman can stay healthy? Then all of a sudden he starts playing again. Or maybe he never plays another down. He works the pro day at multiple positions. And maybe he gets drafted late as an athlete and can do a couple different things. I just think that it's 100% in confidence. concrete, he's doing the right thing for his future, it's just wrong. Now, if it strictly

he just wants to play quarterback, he doesn't care about the NFL, okay, I get it. I doubt that's the case, though. I bet 100% he views himself as an NFL quarterback. And while I don't totally blame him because he's been the quarterback of one of the best teams in the country for the last year and, you know, three games, I guess split this year, but like I would love to give this guy a reality check. And I would imagine a lot of NFL people tried to give him a reality check. You're going to go to Mississippi State next year, maybe win seven, eight games? You go to Clemson or stay at Clemson, win another Natty until your kids in 30 years. You won two national championships in three years. You'll get your cup of coffee in the NFL and

maybe transition a wide receiver and hell, maybe you have a six or seven year career. But to just think that 100% he's doing the right thing, I just can't agree. I'm just not a palm palm waiver for every guy that transfers. That's just, maybe not, that's just not the way I think about things. I think there are two sides of the story. And I think there may be a chance of this guy's making a mistake. Before we dive into this weekend's games, let me tell you about my friends at Audible. Discover the easiest way to juggle,

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Or text three-and-out, three, the number three. number, A-N-D-O-U-T to 500-500 and get started today. Let's go around the NFL really quick. There's actually a couple good college games, too. The Ohio State-Pen State game, I can't wait to watch, Stanford, Notre Dame. That's a big-time game. Really exciting weekend of football. But I want to peek at, and we're just going to hit a couple games, give a couple

thoughts, and we'll just go rapid fire here. Start with Miami at New England. I said earlier, I think the podcast that came out on Tuesday, I'm not going to overreact to New England. But this weekend is huge. You're playing the Dolphins at home, they're 3-0. If you were to lose this game, you would be three games behind the Dolphins going into October. Like that's pretty crazy. I'm not saying the Dolphins would be some lock to keep rattling off wins,

but that's a pretty big deficit for a team that's not that great in New England, roster-wise. Now, again, Belichick, Brady, I wouldn't bet against them. but you got to win this game at home. Like this is, I don't want to say it's must win, but you can't lose it. Texas Colts. I saw Steve Young on television, and he was saying he was a season ticket holder at Stanford. I think he still is. And when Andrew Luck played there, he never missed a game, never missed a home game.

Love watching Luck play. And he's like, when you watch him this year, he's just not driving the ball. And it kind of makes sense. I mean, he screwed up his shoulder so many times. You just watching some of the highlights. I haven't watched a full Colts game. but he's right. Like he still looks really good.

He's probably 85% of himself, but is it ever going to? And Steve Young, like, I don't know. I hope it gets back, but who's to say it ever quite gets back? His arm strength is not what it once was. He never had a great arm, but it was definitely good enough. Right now it looks kind of iffy. That being said, they're playing the Texans right now. The Texans have not won a game.

Are the Texans going to start 0 and 4? They have way too much talent. Sean Watson looks off. The offensive line looks terrible. I don't know. Something's up with that team. I wouldn't bet on that game. But, man, that's not a great game to watch.

The Bengals, Atlanta, not many thoughts there. It kind of sucks that Joe Mixing got hurt because I thought the Bengals were playing really well. I saw Coward say earlier this week, and I agree. The Falcons have just had way too many injuries. You can only overcome so many injuries. They've lost like four starters in the first two and a half games. I'm sorry. I'm with Colin.

I'm out on the Falcons. Again, if Joe Mixon come back healthy, to me, the Bengals are a sleeper playoff team. Bill's Packers, I think Aaron Rogers, you know, is a shell of himself moving around. I mean, clearly, I mean, I'm not preaching the choir here. But how long can they play with him not being mobile? Like, his greatest attribute, now obviously, his greatest attribute is his arm. He's just an elite arm, elite accuracy.

But it's also mixed in with moving around behind the pocket and throwing dimes. He can't really do that right now. I would just blitz him until the cows came home. Now, the Buffalo Bills, I know they beat the Vikings last week, but they're not very good. But how is Rogers ever going to get healthy? Because it's not like if they could win a couple games and get to like four and two, could he take a week off? I don't know. But I don't know if he can continue at the rate of just limping around.

Like, is he going to be gimpy like this all season long? Because if he is, they have zero shot to win the Super Bowl. None. If he's 100% healthy, they have a shot. If he's this, I mean, they might be able to make the playoffs. just because he's that remarkable, but they have zero upside. I don't even think they could win a playoff game. You can't win a playoff game with your quarterback gimping around.

I don't care if he's Aaron Rogers, who you could argue he's the greatest talent to ever play in the NFL. This might be the biggest game on the docket because I think for the first time, and I don't know if Jason Garrett is naked pictures of Jerry Jones or what the deal is there. I know a lot of Cowboys fans think something weird's going on. I know he's like Jerry's long-lost son that he thinks. he had, but, you know, he wished Stephen was Jason Garrett. I don't know. Whatever the deal is, he loves Jason Garrett. But you can't lose it home to the Detroit Lions.

You can't. Start 1 and 3. How was Jason Garrett going to keep his job? I mean, the Cowboy fans might just lose it. You got to win this game. And I don't think Cowboys are very good. The receivers stink. DAC is, I think, pretty average.

The defense actually isn't terrible, but you got to find a way to win this game. I don't think that necessarily changes anything about Dallas. still a six or seven win team, but you start one and three. Like, are we talking about Jason Garrett getting fired in the next couple weeks? Like, the talk would never, ever be stronger if he loses this game. And it is a loseable game because the lion's offense is explosive. Those three receivers can really play.

When Stafford's on, they can light you up. The running backs can all catch the ball out of the backfield. John Lee's hurt. Jason Garrett has to find a way to win this game. Jets, Jaguars, zero thoughts. I don't care. You know what's weird is the Jaguars. is this great team.

You know, they made to the AFC championship last year. They're viewed as one of the better teams roster-wise in the league. I just, I don't know, maybe it's their jerseys. They feel like an expansion team. I don't know. I struggle with the Jaguars. They don't necessarily feel like an NFL team to me. Bears Tampa, this is a sneaky, you know, kind of looks bad on paper,

but then you're like, ah, you know, I love watching Khalil. I like the Bears defense. Ryan Fitzpatrick slinging it around. Mike Evans is Sean Jackson, O.J. Howard. This is a pretty intriguing matchup. I watched a little bit just because I follow the bears on Twitter of Vic Fangio today just saying it's hard. I mean, they got multiple tight ends. It's not just O.J. Howard.

Brate is really good. They got tons of receivers. The quarterback's playing well. Like this is a, this is the first real, real test. I know Rogers was, but once Rogers couldn't move, he just, he had some big plays. You know, this is an offense that legitimately can just work you down the field. I'm interested to watch the Bears at home against his explosive offense. Eagles, Titans,

Titans kind of like the Jaguars. They're a tough watch for me. It'd be interesting to watch Carson Wentz and second game back. The Eagles are just kind of decimated right now with injuries. They don't really, all their wide receivers are out. This might not be that great of a game to watch. I mean, it could end up like 17 to 10. That's probably what I'd say.

The Eagles win this game 17 to 10. Seattle, Arizona. If it wasn't for Josh Rosen starting, I would not care one iota about this game. but I'm a big Josh Rosen guy. I loved him coming out. I look forward to just watching Rosen play in a position where the coach doesn't just throw you out there

in the fourth quarter when you're down against a great defense. You can actually prepare and play a Seattle team. Let's call it what it is. It's not very good. Brown's Raiders, I heard Colin say it earlier this week, and I agree. Got to be one of the more intriguing games of the week just because of Baker Mayfield. Baker Mayfield versus Gruden.

That's what I think. Baker Mayfield versus Gruden. A couple of rock stars going. at it. Is Gruden going to start 0 and 4? Like, would they boo him at the Coliseum if he starts 0.4? Is Baker Mayfield going to go on the road and get his first win? I'll say this. I watch a lot of Raider football. I don't know how I do it. I hope you feel for me. But this Raider team is not as talented top to bottom as this Brown's team. Now, if you don't have a quarterback, talent in your team typically doesn't matter. But if Baker Mayfield plays well, the Cleveland

Browns could compete for a playoff spot. They have that much talent. Their defense is that good. They have that many weapons, you know, on the offensive side of the ball. This would be a win. They'd be two one and one, and we'd all be talking like, damn, could the Browns win nine or ten games? Now, if you lose this game, you just start thinking they're probably six or seven a win team. You win this game, though?

You think two things. The Browns are not going away, and are the Raiders destined for like a three and 13 season? Niners, Chargers. Hard to watch the Niners. You know, no Jimmy Garoppolo, they should get their ass kicked by the Chargers. This really should not be a match. It's not a fair fight. But when Anthony lends your head coach, you're always going to be in tight games.

But the 49ers with C.J. Bethard, all their injuries, Richard Sherman's out, have zero business. The line is, depending on where you look, 10, 10 and a half, the Chargers should win by multiple touchdowns. Again, this should, this is a mismatch on paper. There's a mismatch on the field. the only place that it's not a mismatch are the two head coaches. Kyle is so much better than Anthony Lynn. Anthony Lynn's one of your classic. You know, my opening rant was a little bit about the meatheads.

And they can also be offensive meatheads. They do, like I said, Mike Dicko was an offensive meathead. To me, Anthony Lynn is an offensive meathead. I would not let him coach my football team. Zero chance. Saints Giants, it's a pretty interesting game. I mean, the Saints offensive. or just special.

Why they ever go forward on fourth down is beyond, or I mean, pun on fourth down is beyond me. I would, I would go for it every fourth down if I were that, for anything under like fourth and five. Their offense, you just watch them,

like when they come up on the red zone, it's like, bam, bam, they score. You know, they're the team that's on the red zone the quickest because they show up

once they're in the red zone and then like two plays later, they score. You know, a lot of teams like, slowly, they go from like first and 10 at the 15

then they get the first down and then it takes them like three downs and end up kicking the field goal the Saints are like bam bam boom touchdown and then you're on to the next team Scott Hanson's like let's go to the to the Rams Charger game

and you're just off and you don't see the Saints back again until they get the ball back Saints Giants I actually think the Giants look pretty good against the Texans. They clearly have a lot of talent Sequant's special Odell's playing well

Sterling Shepard looks good I think Ingram the tight ends out, but their offensive weapons look really good. The Giants should be able to compete in this game, but the Saints' offense is stupid. Ravens Steelers, it's a big game. I think the Ravens can definitely win. To me, the Ravens, they don't play as well on the road as they do at home, but something's weird with the Steelers. They were kind of weird. They're just not disciplined, as you saw on Monday Night Football.

But that's a pretty good Sunday Night Football game. You give me Raven Stealers on Sunday night football. I'm in. I don't have many takes besides. I'm just excited to watch that game. Okay, the way I'm doing these three and out, the Middlethoff mailbag, obviously this is three and out. It's just going to be, I used to do it iTunes and Instagram.

Now I'm just doing Instagram. Just slide up in my DMs at John Middilkoff and ask me a question. I got like 20. I got an answer, so it's going to take me a little while. Luckily, I'm doing two shows. I'll get caught up. But I'm going to bang out like three or four a podcast, and I'll try to be fair.

ass, but again, go to my Instagram, at John Middilkoff, slide up in my DMs, and I'll get to you. John, love the pod. Listen from UK, tell me, Ravens lost a close one of the Bengals, could have gone either way. They obliterated the bills. With the paths looking so-so, Steelers look awful. This was before Monday night, now decent. Could they be the AFC rep in the Super Bowl? For sure.

I don't think the AFC has ever been this open, ever. The AFC was bad coming into the end of the season. Now it's clearly worse because the Texans stink. Titans got some issues. Jaguars are meh. Patriots, even for the Patriots, if they win 10 or 11 games, have a meh team. And the Steelers got some weird stuff going on with Levion. And then you look at the AFC West.

The chargers are always underachieving. The Raiders are done. The Broncos are a solid average team. And the chiefs are great offensively, but they have no defense. So, yeah, I don't think that's crazy. at all, that the Ravens end up representing the AFC and the Super Bowl, or at least competing. Like if you tell me they're, you know, an 11 and 5 team and playing in the second round of the playoffs, because if you get to the second round of the playoffs, you got a shot.

You got a shot, unless you're the Titans last year. They didn't really have a shot. Where would you rank Dak Prescott among the current quarterbacks in the league and what kind of contract extension would you be comfortable offering if you were the Cowboys? I'd say Dak Prescott right now is probably not a top 20 quarterback in the NFL. You know, maybe somewhere between like 18 and 22. I think he looks extremely average. He's just not a very dynamic passer.

And in fairness to him, their receivers stink. But you, you know, I'm recording this on Thursday night. Like, you watch the game in the night. Like, you put him on the Vikings. Now, maybe they'd be okay, but Cousin's just a better passer of the football. Jared Gough is on a completely different level. level, the Carson Wences of the world, all the older star veterans. I don't know.

I'm not a big Dak Prescott guy. The contract I'd be comfortable offering him wouldn't offer him a contract. He's playing in year three right now. I'd have him play year four. He's got to prove it to me. We're always so quick to jump to pay guys. Let's just let it play out. What's the huge rush?

So if he has a good season next year, you know, and somehow the Cowboys, bounce back and they were to make the playoffs, worst case you could franchise them. You know, Jerry's in good with them. You can figure out an extension. I would not pay him after this year. I would play out next year, you know, on whatever it is. I think that second, or I guess he's a fourth rounder.

That number would be like six, you know, I'd have to look it up, like 800 grand max. You know, it's not that much money. So I would 100% unless he comes back and he plays like the MVP the rest of the season. I am not paying Dak Prescott this offseason. More explosive player. Anthony Brown or Tyree Kill. That's a pretty good question. Tyra Kill.

To me, he's like Deshawn Jackson meets Antonio Brown because he's becoming this great route runner, and he's so fast. I mean, he might be one of the biggest freaks we've ever seen in the NFL. We've never seen a guy this fast. I don't ever remember seeing a Tyree Kill. Like, we have seen Antonio Brown type players, and Antonio's great.

I think he's a Hall of Fame level wide receiver. But Tyree Kill is arguably one of the most unique players, just from a speed, small guy, but it is a good receiver and can return that I ever remember. Hey, John, Cowboys fan. A lot of Cowboys fans. After three average to below outing from DAC this season, do you think the Cowboys should look at spending Thursday or Friday draft pick

at quarterback? on a quarterback if DAC play doesn't elevate the rest of the season. More importantly, do you think they would? To me, the bigger question I talked about a little earlier, like if they were to lose this weekend in Detroit, how many games are they going to have to lose? Like, do they have to start like one and six for Garrett to get fired? And if Garrett get fired, that obviously means they're going to need a new coach.

Well, what kind of coach does Jerry hire? You'd think he'd hire an offensive coach because he does have DAC. Well, is that offensive coach the guy that does, Jerry likes going to like DAC. I think there is so much to be played out. To me, the DAC contract extension, we're so far out ahead of ourselves. To me, about drafting a quarterback, we're so, to me, that's more realistic than the DAC contract extension about them drafting a quarterback.

I think 100% that would be in play. But I got to learn a little more about the Cowboys. Are they just going to be 3 and 13 season and Jason Garrett's going to be gone? They're going to have a new coach. because if that happens, everyone, besides like Tyron Smith and a couple of the offensive linemen and a couple defensive players, job would be in trouble. And that includes DAC because if they were drafting in the top five, could they take quarterback? Hell yes.

Because they didn't invests any money in DAC. Just kind of helped him transition from Tony, who let's face it, I love Tony Romo. I'd consider myself like a Tony Romo truther, but you couldn't trust him. He just got hurt so often. I think big picture he did the right thing for himself. he's clearly a dynamic special broadcaster, but his body was going to give out. So retiring wasn't even that crazy,

even if Dak ended up being overhyped, which it kind of looks like he did. But I think that there's so much to learn about the Cowboys in the next three or four games because they were to just keep losing. I mean, we got a major, you can feel the tire fire and the train wreck kind of happening right now in Dallas.

They kind of blamed everything on Des, got rid of them. Well, it's like, yeah, feel better about yourself that Des is gone, but you got all these issues and your receiver stink. You are so bland on offense. I mean, watching the Cowboys play, I got to say, I like watching football, but there are certain teams in the NFL, and the Cowboys are 100% one of them that just aren't a fun watch.

I don't need the Rams. You know, you don't have to score 40 points or the Mahomes and throw for 400 yards to keep me entertained. But you can't play like the Dallas Cowboys. And, you know, I'm not a Cowboys. fan but I'm a football fan. I'll watch anyone play if you're, if you're good.

The Cowboys just aren't good. They're just not entertaining. I know their fan base is big and I know they're important in the league and I want them to be good because when they're good, the league's better. But they're just not good.

And I like Jason Garrett. Talk to him at the Columbine one time. He's super nice to me. I just personal. I don't think he's a great scheme coach, clearly. But I've always thought like he kind of gets a bad rap as a coach.

but this year man I don't know I mean they're just not dynamic you'd see nothing creative it's just blah and they are boring Jerry doesn't have

that many years left on this earth I can't see him standing for it that many more games Middokoff mailbag well I'd love to see him spend his whole career as a cardinal what are the odds we see Larry Fitzgerald on the move to give him a shot into the ring

that's a hell of a question I think about Larry Fitzgerald sometimes. I think that Larry Fitzgerald, and you saw this year, like the importance of that community, that team. John McCain passed. He spoke at his funeral. I have a hard time, and you can't ever get overly emotional with players, just even if they love a city.

Like, they may take a shot somewhere else, but I would guess he plays his entire career as a Cardinal, even if their team has got awful, let's say they go four and 12, but Rosen chose a little promise. And he goes, you know, I'm not really into rebuilding. I could, I would be, I'd be a little surprised if he picked another,

like went to the Patriots his offseason or the Packers or whoever. I think he'd retire. Just a guess, I don't know him personally, just from following his career from afar, the way he operates, how important that team is to him, that community. New England and Belichick and Brady called would he give it a listen?

Yeah, but he's really just a slot receiver, and they have slot receivers. He's not an outside guy anymore. He's not quite the same guy anywhere even close that he was a couple years ago when he made those plays in the playoff game. It's going to be a sad day when he retired because he's one of the all-time greats. I love Larry Fitzgerald. I mean, most people do.

It's just a high-level, high-quality, human, elite player, just an all-time great. I mean, a top-10, all-time great wide receiver. And arguably a top-time great wide receiver. And arguably a top-old-old-old-old-old-old-old-old-old-resterer. top five playoff player any position ever.

If I was building a team and I was just playing playoff games, you go Jerry Rice and Larry Fitzgerald would be my wide receivers. But Larry Fitzgerald will definitely be my second pick after Jerry Rice. He's that damn good in the playoffs. But I think my guess is he retires after this year and he just retires a Cardinal.

Appreciate everyone. Listen again, we're going Tuesday. We're going Friday. Middle Coff mailback. slide up into my DMs at John Middlecough on Twitter. I will get to them and we'll just keep banging up these podcasts. Enjoy the weekend of football. If you're listening over the weekend, have a good weekend. And I'll talk to you soon.

Talk to you next week. John Middlecough 3 and out, Colin Coward Podcast Network. 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,

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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 walks up to me, he goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What?

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