The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Open Mike - Colts' DeForest Buckner reacts to largest blown lead in NFL history vs. Vikings

Episode Date: December 24, 2022

Indianapolis Colts defensive lineman DeForest Buckner talks to Mike Silver about the Colts' historic loss to the Minnesota Vikings, who came back from a 33-point deficit in their Week 15 matchup. Buckner also talks about the departure of former head coach Frank Reich, Jeff Saturday coming in, being traded to Indy by the San Francisco 49ers, DeFo's near-perfect beer pong run at George Kittle's party, and the Colts' upcoming Monday Night Football matchup against fellow Oregon alum and Los Angeles Chargers QB Justin Herbert. #volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me.

Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfills of conversations with athletes,

creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Cliford show on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast, And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. I'm Joey Dardano.

And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff rant and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to me. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from Hippocrite Wednesdays on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

The volume. Well, I want to go back to the locker room after Super Bowl 54. I was standing in the San Francisco 49ers locker room and talking to one of the best players and one of the best dudes in football to Forrest Buckner. And I vividly remember that conversation because we were talking about, how good the 40-nighters were and how we expected them to come right back. I remember the quote. You said, we're going to make another run. We've got to go back to the drawing board, have a strong off season and put in a lot of work.

But we've got it in us. And as you and I both know, especially you, life comes at you fast in the NFL. So I'm here now with DeForest Buckner, who is a star defensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts. You ended up getting traded there that next March. We'll talk about all that. But first of all, let's jump right in. I booked this before we knew what was going to happen last Saturday. But thank you for coming on because you've got to be in a lovely mood after that game against the Vikings.

Yeah, man. I mean, it's tough. You know, largest league. I mean, lonely in NFL history, biggest comeback, I guess, you would say. But, yeah, it's tough, man. We've been preaching about finishing for a while. And that's just been the way the season's been going for us. You know what I mean?

It's been the tail of two halves. And we just haven't been finishing in the fourth. When did you find out it was actually the largest comeback in NFL history? Did you know that at the time? I think they put it up on the screen at the end of the game, you know, while walking off the field. And, you know, it's just sick as a player, competitor. You know, it's tough being on that side, on that side of the win-loss column.

Did you feel any better at all when you saw the end of the Patriots Raiders game the next day? No, definitely not. I mean, it's a bad way to go out as well. But, I mean, we have 33 to zero at half. I mean, there's no, you know, excuse to losing the game like that. And I know you, I know you never stop playing hard. That's part of your DNA. Was, you know, as it was happening, and I want to get off this because I'm sure it's not your favorite subject.

But as it was that, as it was at, as. it was happening, did, you know, could you feel anything changing or could you explain it or how did it kind of, how'd you know, I mean, you know, you know, the game, it's all about momentum and, uh, they were building some momentum and everything. Uh, but, you know, as a competitor, you don't want to do everything you can to to stop it. And I mean, even on the sideline, just, you know, just still getting guys, you know, telling you know, you know, keeping guys in, in the game and, um, just letting them know, like, hey, we still got opportunities. And even in the, in the, in OT or, you know, we were talking about, we just need one stop. We just need one stop. One more stop. And, you know, we got those

key stops and those moments, but, you know, they got the opportunity to get the ball back. And, you know, we just, we didn't come up big when we really needed it most. And that's what really hurt. So you got to Indy in March of 2020. You've had three big-name quarterbacks, you know, since you've been there with Philip Rivers, Carson Wentz, Matt Ryan. Do you feel like quarterback instability has been part of what has kept you guys from from realizing expectations. The quarterback position obviously is a big role in this league and the inconsistency at quarterback over the years. Yeah, I mean, it could be a problem if you let it be. And, you know, it's just been, it's been hard, you know, just shuffling through. I mean, before I got here,

when I was in San Francisco, before we had Jimmy, I mean, I was, I went through a quarterback shuffle. I was kind of naming off some of the starters that I've had since, you know, since I've been in the league. It's my seventh year. I think I've had on the teams I've been on 10 different quarterbacks start, you know, starting games that I played in. And so, I mean, it's hard, you know what I mean? To have that chemistry, that consistency year in and year out when you're when you're shuffling through quarterbacks and trying to find a rhythm as a team. I mean, yeah, that is hard. But, you know, there's a lot of other position groups that played in a role, especially this season, you know, the way the season's been going.

Had you played against Philip before you were his teammate? I have, yeah. I played him once. How annoying was he as an opponent with his talking? Yeah, no, it was definitely annoying, you know what I mean? Especially because he doesn't curse. But, you know, having him on all my team, you know, my first year here in Indy is, it was great, man. He's one of the greatest teammates I've ever had, especially I grew up.

I grew up watching him. I was a Chargers fan growing up. And, you know, so to have that experience, being able to, you know, play with a guy that I've watched for many years. That was a great opportunity. Yeah, it always blew me away because he's such a good dude. And I love, you know, love talking to him. But that every defensive player I would talk to would be like,

oh, that guy driving crazy. So at least you got to be his teammates. So you grew up on the great island of Oahu. And you chose the Chargers. Yeah, yeah, yeah. As your team. That's awesome. By the way, how is your surf game?

Because we have to ask, you know, every Hawaii. No, I'm terrible. I'm terrible at surfing. I did a little fishing and spear fishing, but that was about it. That's pretty cool. The spear fishing. I do not think I'd be good at that. How are you in the ocean?

Are your ocean skills good in general? I'm decent, yeah. I mean, growing up across the street from the ocean, you got to be pretty good. All right. Well, I was going to get to this later, but we're talking. talking about beach and beach skills. There's a game associated with beach communities and other communities. I had a conversation with your former teammate, George Kettle, back in August,

and he told me that you may be as great as you are in football, you may be just as great in a sport called beer pong. No, yeah, definitely. You know, it might be a hidden talent of mine. No, yeah, we were out in Nashville, a while back, you know, before the season, started and everything back in the summer. And, you know, the kittles, they like to put on the kittal fest and, you know, being able to see a bunch of my old buddies, link him up back with them. We played some beer pong. And, yeah, it was great.

It was fun time. Yeah, shoot, George and I, I think we had one loss all night and it came at the end of the night. Well, I would think at the end of the night after you've had, you know, beers in conjunction with the game, maybe the skills start to waver a little. Yeah, just a little bit. Your throwing ability obviously must be top notch. Yeah, it's definitely, you know, people complain just because I'm tall, so I got that, you know, I can kind of get that little arc over the, over the cup, but it is what it is.

I mean, I would complain about that, and I would also complain, and I've had this experience way too many times trying to drink with big people, but you could probably have more beers than someone who is not than the average human being for sure do you even like you know normal beers say you have six are do you even feel that oh yeah yeah yeah yeah come on just just checking i want to i want to see if you're superhuman or not um so going back to the way we set this up which was coming off that super bowl and you had such an incredible 2019 season and 2018 really um you I talked recently to your good friend Eric Armstead, who was your longtime teammate in Oregon. And I asked him kind of about how all that went down.

And his perception was that he said, look, I thought they were just going to find a way to sign both of us. And so he was negotiating his deal. And he said that all of a sudden, bam, it just hit him like, wow, they're trading my guy. Yeah. How did it play out for you? You know, it was it was tough. I mean, shoot, they, you know, they kind of told my agent Joel to seek out, you know, kind of my value, you know, to shop around and see, you know, my value is. And they're offering me a certain amount.

And my agent, you know, I'm sure Joe's the best in the game. So, you know, he kind of had me valued at a certain number. And, you know, I mean, so we, he shopped around a little bit. and we had the deal with Indy and that was kind of our only offer. And so, you know, he kind of put that forward with them and, you know,

they wanted to move forward with, you know, with taking the draft pick and trading me. I mean, it's part of the game. You know what I mean? I don't have any heart feeling sort of San Francisco. I mean, I love, you know, the staff, you know, everybody from top to bottom of that organization. I mean, they gave me a great opportunity to play

at a game that I love for a living. And, you know, they, I made a lot of great relationships when I was there. I got a still got a lot of great relationships and friends there. So, I mean, there's no hard feelings. It's just part of the game, it's the business. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, no doubt.

And I believe I read that you were willing to take less at the time to stay. Well, I mean, compared to, you know, what my agent was saying, I was worth, you know, trying to find a common denominator. But, I mean, it's just the way it didn't shake out. So, you know, just looking at a perspective, I mean, you know, I'm coming. I came to a place where, you know, they wanted me and needed me at the time. And so I was just grateful for the opportunity. Yeah, I know the Hawaiian football community sticks together.

You guys are an incredible fraternity. One of your guys this year, Tua, Tunga Vailoa, has had just an awesome breakout season. Yeah. Have you been checking that out? Are you proud of him? No, yeah, I'm definitely proud of him. You know what I mean? Especially coming from the islands, you know, just watching them play.

you know, him emerging as a quarterback, you know, a lot of people had doubts about them and, you know, a bunch of naysayers and things like that. You know, just the way he's handled it with grace and being able to go in there and having a coach come in there. Mike McDaniel, I mean, he's, I mean, Mike's a great dude. I was with him in San Francisco, you know, to have a coach, a head coach like him. And for him to, you know, breathe that confidence into him, you know what I mean, showing him that he believes in him. and, you know, which, you know, obviously would help elevate to his game. I mean, it's been phenomenal to watch and play this year. And, you know, just for the Hawaii community, I mean, he's been, he's been representing the community well.

I was a little worried that Mike McDaniel's jokes wouldn't land early on. Like, people wouldn't get it. But I think it's working. You know, yeah, definitely. He has a special type of humor. Yeah, it's very dry. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encourage. It's the enhanced games.

Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way,

this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment,

and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, I'm Jared Adano.

You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help! Somebody! Please! But there's so much more to me than me. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian. And recently, I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Sike! I'm a comedian! I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff rant

recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. One ring is too scary. Oh, cream a chicken suit. Hey, cream. Cream a chicken suit.

This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from Hypocrat as part of the Mike Coutura podcast network available on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, it's Edwin Castro, also known as Castro 1021. And I'm Kunky, his best friend and business manager. And we've got a new show called The 1021 podcast.

I'm taking you behind the scenes on how I became one of Twitch's most popular streamers. We also love sports. And with the World Cup right around the corner, we'll be breaking down the biggest storylines ahead of the big tournament here in the USA. Listen to the 1021 podcast on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. There are a lot of great things about your game. One, I've always thought one of the most underrated parts of your game is your durability. I think you've missed two games in seven seasons.

Is that something you pride yourself on? Is that luck, or is there something that goes into that? Yeah, I mean, I try to do everything I can to make sure my body lasts throughout the season. I obviously like, yeah, I have, you know, some injuries, you know, each and every year, you know, some more than others. Some years, you know, they pile up more than others. But, you know, just like any other, a lot of guys in the league, you know, you play through them. Yeah, I try to invest a lot of my body. You know, when I was a, when I was a rookie, I had some really good vets.

And, you know, one of one of my, one of my vets, Glenn Dorsey, he, he was telling me about investing in my body. You know what I mean? That's the greatest investment I can make. And so I, you know, I really took that to heart. And I found ways to recover and help my body recover, you know, over, over, you know, the weeks of the seasons and everything. And even in the off season, and it's been helping me so far. So everything that I've been doing has been helping me and, you know, just kind of keep going. Yeah, no doubt.

You've been nominated for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award two years running now. So I'm trying to, like, is there a juxtaposition between, how you play and how sportsmen like you are, because you can't be that nice when you're dealing with two blockers per play and throwing guys around. No, I mean, I definitely get heated on the field, you know, in times, but I'm a big guy. I mean, I'm a big guy.

I don't like to waste energy. So, you know, you know, trash talking and all that. That's not my game. You know what I mean? Obviously, if somebody's trash talking to me, I'll, you know, I'll talk back and little things like that. But, you know, I don't go out of my way just to trash. talk, you know, and I just respect the game.

Win or loss, you know, I'm going to go shake the, you know, the opponent's hand. You know what I mean? Especially being out there, you know, battling the way we battle, you know, each and every week, you know, I'm going to, you know, I'm a big, I respect the game, man. So I'm going to give people props and give them respect, the respect they deserve. So, because that's the way I, you know, that's the way I have grazed. And that's just, that's the way I am, man. When you get trash tucked, you must be like, huh? Like, who's the last person who was brave enough to trash talk?

I can't even remember, man. There's a lot of guys who just talk just to talk. Like, I'm trying to even think what they would say. It's good. I love it. You know, you guys have been through a lot this season. Coach Wright got fired. You know, Jeff Saturday got hired, which was a polarizing event.

You know, you're one of the locker room leaders. How has, you know, how has that gone? and has it been a little surreal just having a coach come from, you know, off the radar to be the head coach? No, yeah. I mean, obviously seeing Frank getting fired. I mean, it was tough, you know what I'm saying? It was my first time, you know, mids, you know, in the middle of the season, a coach of mine getting fired and having an interim head coach, you know, because, you know, Frank's a hell of a football coach, a great person. So, yeah, it was, it was tough to see that.

But, you know, and nobody expected, obviously, Jeff to come in and be the interim head coach. But, I mean, so far, he's been doing a great job. I mean, he's, you know, like I've been telling everybody in the media, since day one, the energy that he's brought, you know, in team meetings and, you know, meetings or even practice throughout the week. You can just feel the different type of energy, you know, each and every week to practice, you know, the way practice has been going. And approaching the games, you know what I mean?

Obviously, we're still not getting the results we want, but he's, you know, the amount of. of accountability that he's brought to the table, you know, just with calling, you know, certain, you know, certain position groups or whatever it is out on, you know, we need to be better in this, this, this, this, or whatever it is, you know, he's really been trying to help elevate each and every player's game up. And he's been, he's been doing it. And, you know, just, we still need to finish and get the results that we've, you know, we've been searching for. Last year, you had the highest rate of double teams in the league behind Aaron Donald.

for players at your position. It's already a dirty work position, but with two dudes, it's got to be, you know, even harder to deal with. Is that just something, like, are you surprised when you're not doubled at this point? Yeah, I am, actually. You know what I mean?

When I get more one-on-one opportunities than usual in the game, you know, I love it. But I'm definitely surprised, you know, when I do, when guys do leave me on block or just one-on-one. So I definitely love those opportunities. But, yeah, it's been, It's definitely hard. It makes it a lot harder going in the games, knowing that, you know, you got to beat two majority of the game and finding ways to try and be, you know, make plays with, you know, being obviously that the main, you know, the main guy on the front line. The teams are scheming up. So just each and every week, just trying to, and that's what I, you know, I try to try to find ways to try and find a beat two guys majority of the time. And also that comes in account, you know, just taking care of my body, you know, taking the, you know, taking the,

taking on two, you know, two offensive players, you know, down in and down out. I mean, it's definitely a toll on the body sometimes. Do you try to, like, deal with one and then get to the other? Or are you, like, one hand for each? No, yeah, try to deal with one, then deal with the other. Or try to find ways to kind of split it or little things like that. It's, yeah, it's tough. Does not sound fun.

You know, last year, you guys were in position to make the playoffs. and then, you know, we all know what happened. You went down to Jacksonville, did not have a great game. You know, what do you remember about that and what was so frustrating? Yeah, just, you know, we had the ball on our court. I mean, really the last two games of the season, the Raider game and the Jacksonville game. You know, if we just handled one of them,

we would have been, you know, playoffbound. And, you know, that was our last opportunity in going down to Jacksonville. And we all know, you know, the way we play down in Jacksonville, I mean, isn't the way we like playing at all. You know, it's far from the type of team that we are. And, you know, having that opportunity and then going down there and just, you know, finishing the season off the way we finished. I mean, I mean, it was, oh, that was definitely heartbreaking for sure.

You know, just because the way we started that season and then, you know, the way we picked it up and turned it around and gave us the opportunity to make it into playoffs. And we beat some really good teams along the way. That was tough. It was a lot of, you know, some silence going on in that lockdown for sure. It is one of the weird streaks in the NFL, like the Colts have not won in Jacksonville since 2014 or something crazy like that. And it's weird.

I actually was talking to your owner about it, you know, leading into that game. And he was like, hey, man, we take nothing for granted down there. And, you know, he's definitely spooked by it. Have you had some fun conversations with Jim Ursay? because he is one of a kind. He is not your typical NFL owner. No, yeah, I mean, Jim, I mean, every time I get to talk to Jim, man, it's awesome. You know what I mean?

He has stories for days, that's for sure. And, you know, he's a great, he's a great owner. You know what I mean? What I love about him, he loves to speak his mind. And, you know what I mean? And that's what makes him so special. And, you know, just, I mean, just, yeah, he's a, he's all about the players. You know what I mean?

He cares about the players, you know, even when you're, when you're done, and seeing the way he takes care of, you know, former players and all of that. I mean, he goes out his way to take care of the guys that's come through and worn the horseshoe. And, you know, that's what I really appreciate about him. Yeah, one of the all-time great moves was when Edgwin James left as a free agent. And then that year they finally won the Super Bowl, the Colts. And he got, he gave you J.R.A., which is pretty nice. You know, we hear so much about the Colts talent.

There's so much talent in that locker room. That's just kind of a thing that people on the outside like to say. Does that get old hearing that? Is it accurate? How do you kind of process that? Yeah, I mean, shoot. I mean, it definitely gets old for sure. You know what I mean?

Because at the end of the day, it's all about the wins. You know what I mean? It's all about winning in this league. And it doesn't matter how good you look on paper. You got to go out there and do it. And, you know, we definitely have the talent here. And the guys should do it. It's just, you know, we got to go out there.

execute. And, you know, weekend and week out, you know, the losses that we've had, I mean, shoot, it's guys making more plays than we are in the second half or in the fourth quarter and or out executing us. You know what I'm saying? So it looks all good on paper, but until you go out there and do it, it doesn't mean anything. Well, before I let you go, you grew up a Charger fan. You have the Chargers coming up on Monday Day football. There's a quarterback on the Chargers who you are somewhat familiar with with your Oregon heritage. He's big, he's athletic.

Do you go any easier on Justin Herbert if you have a chance to hit him because he's a duck? Definitely not. I mean, you know, he plays for the charges. I play for the coach. I mean, as long as we're on the opposite team, I'm not going to take a light on anybody.

But, I mean, shoot, he's one hell of a player. You know, one of the best players that come out at Oregon for sure and, you know, getting the opportunity to play him for the first time in the league. He's going to be fun. You know what I mean? I mean, I met him a couple of times.

I met him at the Pro Bowl last year, or this past year. And met him down in Oregon once. And, you know, he's a great kid. You know, he plays hard. He, you know, he's one hell of a leader. So it's going to be fun being able to get the opportunity to play against him. Well, we'll be watching. And I know you'll be out there taking on your double teams, doing what you do very well.

We appreciate the time, Matt. Thank you so much. Appreciate you, Mike. Good to see you. You too. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends.

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

Apple Podcast. or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever. you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying.

Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw,

unfills of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrating. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clivert Show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. I'm Joey Dardano. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice.

Join me and my comedian friends as we riff rant and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to me. This is Help From a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the best advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to help from Hippocrite Wednesdays on the IHeart radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.