The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Rams Chiefs makes MASSIVE trade, Latest with Max Crosby, Lou Holtz passes away

Episode Date: March 5, 2026

John opens the show breaking down a massive shake-up in the NFL as the Rams and Chiefs pull off a blockbuster trade that could shift the balance of power in the AFC and NFC. Who won the deal? Who’s taking the bigger risk? And what does it mean heading into the season? We also dive into the latest drama surrounding Maxx Crosby and the Raiders. Plus, John mentions the news of Stefon Diggs being released by the Patriots. And finally, we take a moment to reflect on the passing of Lou Holtz — honoring the legacy, impact, and unforgettable moments from one of football’s most iconic voices. Follow John on Twitter, and Instagram for the latest.  All lines provided by Hard Rock Bet Check out Gametime - the fastest growing ticketing app in the US, and the official ticketing app of 3 & Out and GoLow -  for tickets to all of your favorite NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA teams. Concert and comedy show tickets, too. Go to Gametime now to create an account, download the app and use code JOHN for $20 off your first purchase. #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hey, guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas.

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick.

Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you. you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast point game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season. And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was harmed. You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis keep coming to. He's like, you know I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the I Heart

Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Your husband is not who you think he is. Your body is not what you thought it was. Your identity is formed by a secret history. I'm Danny Shapiro, and these are just a few of the stunning stories I'll be exploring on the 14th season of Family Secrets. He kind of shoved me out of the way and said, move. And he went out the front door, and he jumped in a car and drove off.

And that was the last time I saw him. Listen to Season 14 of Family Secrets on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Turn someday into right now with Body by Jake Radio. Non-stop workout music and expert tips 24-7. Hey, head over to iHeart.com. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free right now. Awesome health and wellness tips 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Remember, stick to the fight. When your hardest hit, it's when things seem worse that you must not quit. Don't quit. Body by Jake Radio, where hope meets momentum. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for, for Free. Have a great day. I heart radio. The volume.

What is going on? Everybody, how are we doing? John Middlecoff, Three Now podcast. Hopefully everyone is doing well. And we had a massive trade today. The Chiefs traded Trent McDuffie to the Rams for a first round pick. And I said, you know what? Feeling a little under the weather.

But I got to do something. So we fired out a podcast reaction to the trade. Some other stuff going on. Silver wrote a big article about Max Crosby, and Lou Holtz passed away at 89 years old, the legendary Notre Dame football coach. So we will dive into that today. I'll probably do a pretty big mailbag tomorrow. Hopefully there's another trade. At John Middlecough, at John Middlecough is the Instagram fire in those DMs to get involved on the show. And you guys know the drove. If you listen on Collins feed, make sure you subscribe to three and out.

We're on Netflix so you never miss an episode. You can listen to it on your phone, put it in your pocket. I do it all the time. Not to myself, but to other people. So go check that out as well. So let's just dive in. I mentioned this to Howie is that when I first started working with the Eagles, he was kind of on the forefront of thinking much more like a basketball

or a baseball general manager, where major players get traded all the time. And when I was a kid and the NBA, and the Jordan arrow was thriving, and obviously baseball was America's pastime. I know technically, I don't know if it's lost that kind of that label in terms of they still consider themselves that, but clearly football is America's sport. But one thing that happened in those two sports constantly were star players getting traded year round.

The offseason, in season, it just didn't happen as much in football. Obviously in season, football coaches always push back. It's not a plug-in-play league. If I trade for a third baseman right now in spring training or in the middle of the season, I just put him at third base. And if he's a good hitter, I put him at now they bat the guy lead off for second, potentially three or four. And we just roll. In a weird way, it's a team sport that's kind of an individual sport morphed into one.

Basketball has always had this middle ground where you need these great individuals, but it's definitely more of a team concept to win championships and win a lot of games much closer to football where chemistry, cohesion, some of the intangible stuff really, really matters, but they've always been willing to make trades for star players. I mean, some of the biggest names in the history of the sport, at least in my lifetime,

have been traded. In season, off season, it just happened. And in football, it was way less likely up until the last 10 years. And I think we have really benefited, obviously, someone that talks about the sport, but people that consume the sport, is, if I would have told you two days ago, There was going to be a massive trade on Wednesday morning. I would have said universally, people, you know, not necessarily quote unquote casuals, but people that fall football really closely would have said, oh, where did Max Crosby get traded?

I wonder who landed A.J. Brown. And that's not what took place. Trent McDuffie was traded for a first round pick from the Chiefs of the Rams, which this isn't out of nowhere because Trent McDuffie had been rumored. bird, like the chiefs weren't going to give him $100 million contract. They weren't going to pay him $30 million a year. And we'll dive into all the different angles there, but it was

kind of well known he was available. Now, they weren't just going to give him away. You had to pay a lot, i.e. the Rams. But these teams, and listen, Andy's made a lot of trades, obviously less need, have made a lot of trades. You go, yeah, John, these two teams are outliers. I think all

these teams now, especially the good ones, are more than willing to wheel and deal. Like, we have a league full of Howie Roseman, John Schneider types, who are willing to do aggressive things. That historically football, especially, you know, 70s, 80s, 90s, was much more of a conservative league. Let's just see what we got. Let's just play this out. Let's just keep our picks. I think it's much less likely like that now. Obviously, the boom of the cash that is involved, the pressure on a year-to-year basis. It was reported yesterday.

that's Stephen Ross, the Miami Dolphins, who I don't think have won a playoff game, I don't even know if they've won a playoff game in the internet era. It's been a long, long time. Don't quote me, I don't want to piss off Miami Dolphins fans, but it's definitely been over 20 plus years since the Miami Dolphins have won a playoff game, maybe even longer, maybe since the 90s.

And they've sold 1% of the franchise. And he got $125 million. You know why? Because they valued the franchise at 12.5. billion dollars. Now there are some franchises that are worth more than others, but this is why I always push back on the mindset of people like the Cincinnati Bengals, people like the Arizona Cardinals. Yeah, your franchise might be worth, in theory, way less than that, but your franchise is still worth billions of dollars. You have the cash flow from the league. You should be overly aggressive.

Spending money. You're not going to go broke. This isn't the 70s or the 80s. You're not dependent on people showing up to your stadium. That is just extra cash. That is just money to fill your back pockets. And those type guys, unlike some of these franchises, don't have a lot of other businesses that they need to worry about. I do understand some of these teams that go, well, we got a EPL team, we got three other businesses.

We got a lot of hands in different cookie jars, right? Okay. So some years, we're going to be more aggressive than others. That is not the case for some of the poor teams. Now, you're not poor because you have the NFL, you have the NFL valuation of your franchise. And I just appreciate teams that are aggressive. I appreciate all these GMs in the league

making this kind of reality television show much more entertaining. You could tell me right now, there is another massive trade on Thursday or Friday of this week, and it does not include either one of the guys that we think are going to get traded in Max and AJ. And that's what's cool about the offseason now,

because let's face it. You look at the free agent list, it's not great. It's not names. Like, no one's, you know, going to break internet records talking about Tyler Lindembaum's, you know, getting paid $20 million signing with somebody, right? But these trades, these maneuvers, these really good teams being overly aggressive. What does everyone say? Like, Max Crosby, Howie Rosen is going to be in the mix.

Howie Roseman is going to be in the mix. The Bears right now are currently the betting favorite to land Max Crosby. The Tampa Bay Bucks are going to be overly aggressive to get them. The Detroit Lions, I'm sure, are going to have long discussions in regards to Crosby. And I think we all benefit from that. And it makes, you know, an offseason, which I would say used to be a little slower, especially 20, 30 years ago, much more of just fireworks can go off at any moment. And these trades, not just now, but in training camp and in the season,

you got to buckle up because they could come at any moment. And that just wasn't the case in generations past. So props to these young guys, props to these GMs like Les Need and Brett Veach and Howie and John Schneider that are just fucking willing to wheel and deal. We all that follow the sport and love the business of football truly appreciate you. Because you make this whole thing much more entertaining

in the middle of March when it could have been a little slower. So let's talk about the trade. Now, I did some digging, and I've done digging on this guy for a long time. The Chiefs really like Trent McDuffie. I won't go as far as love Trent McDuffie because they traded him, but he was not poorly thought of in the building. He has, from what I've been told, elite football character and just a high-end character guy. So in terms of the intangibles, he's a high-end human being, the type guy that you want in your building.

Good example. Comes to the Chiefs. They immediately go to several Super Bowls, and he's one of the key guys on defense. He is a winning player. I think the issue they had is the business element of this sport is he's a fantastic nickel corner. You could argue he's one of, if not the best,

nickel corners in the NFL. The guy that plays the slot, right? You got your outside guys like Richard Sherman, Dorel Revis, Patrick Chetan. And then you got guys like Trent McDuffie, who thrive inside. And when you put him outside, he's a good player, but no one would, you know, get him confused

for some Hall of Fame or outside. And if you're going to pay a guy, $30 plus million a year, which I would guess whenever the contract comes out that the Rams eventually give him, it's going to be an astronomical number. And I think they were uncomfortable giving the amount of money to a guy who,

thrives doing certain stuff. Again, they love the guy in the intangible stuff, but given that some of their other financial situations, given that they're paying their quarterback a lot, and ideally he comes back healthy, and he will keep getting revisions to his contract and be one of the highest-paid guys in the league for the rest of his career, as long as he's on the Chiefs and Andy's there,

that you've got to make these tough decisions. You know, when they traded Tyreek several years ago, it wasn't football, because Tyreek then was in the peak of his powers and one of the greatest football players we've ever seen. seen. You can't say that about Trent McDuffie. You could say that about Tyree Kill. And then he went to the Dolphins and had like historic seasons. He was an elite, but they were just uncomfortable. Obviously, there's a lot of noise off the field. And they just made as much of a

business decision as like a personal decision. Can we invest in this guy at this number? And we can't. And we punt it. With the McDuffie thing, it was more, is he good enough? Because Tyreek was good enough for whatever you're going to pay him. it's like can you trust the guy? You can trust McDuffie, but can you trust him on the outside against Jamar Chase in the second round? And the answer, I think clearly they said no, not when I'm paying you as what you will become the second highest paid player on the team. So I don't think this was an easy decision for the chiefs, and let's face it. They extended George Karloftus last year and by all accounts he had an underwhelming season.

So there is going to be a lot of emphasis for him, I'm sure from the coach. coaching staff, from Veach, from everyone in that organization of like, listen, we've invested in you. We need to get what we saw early on. We need you to be, you know, an above average player. And I think they just kind of went through that that it was like, whoa, Carl off just was never going to be Max Crosby. It was never going to be some high end, one of the best players in the league. But they felt good about his trajectory. And let's face it, I would imagine a year in, they probably have some regrets of doing that contract.

and they didn't want to be in the same position with McDuffie. And like McDuffey, Carl Office, elite football character. So they have no problem with the guy or the person. It's just the play. And they're in the business. It's all about the play. We're the only team in the league, really, that it's like Super Bowl or bust every single year.

I mean, we went to, you know, whatever, five or six Super Bowls, and it felt underwhelming. Like, we thought we should have been, uh, it had more success. And that's pretty rare in a league built on parody. Here's the other thing. In the Andy era, because Vech hasn't been the GM the whole time, even though he's been with him the whole time.

He came over with him from Philly and then became the GM. I forget the exact year, 17 or 18. Whenever they drafted Mahomes, he wasn't technically the GM yet, even though he was obviously one of his biggest supporters in the building and the guy pushing him from day one. They've won a lot of big trades. I would say there are four pivotal trades in the Andy, Reed era.

We don't have the results of this one. We will find out over the next several years. But the previous three couldn't have gone much better. The first one I'm not going to call it a home run. But when they traded for Alex Smith, Andy Reid's first year, it solidified a position that the Chiefs had been disaster at at quarterback. They were the worst team in the league the previous year. They have the number one overall pick.

And getting Alex Smith, they went to first. five playoff games in six years. So they immediately stabilized their franchise and became a real factor in the NFL. Not a Super Bowl factor, but a real factor on a yearly basis in a league still with Brady, with Manning, Philip Rivers in his prime.

They became a real team. And they gave up a second round pick for them and they clearly did not regret that one at all. Their next massive trade obviously was trading up for Patrick Mahomps. They were coming from the 20s and they got them and it clearly will go down as one of the greatest trades in the history of sports. Right?

It's netted them a bunch of Super Bowls. He's a Hall of Fame quarterback, and he will go down as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. And it all came back to draft night when they knew that the Saints and Sean Peyton liked them, and they maneuvered them and came over them. So those are, you know, Mahomes is a walk off grand slam. Alex Smith, when you factor in the context of what that team was, I mean, is that minimum, like, I mean, a double off the wall,

maybe like a stand-up triple. That was a fantastic trade. The other trade, which was pretty polarizing back to the Tyreek thing, which is ironic because they traded Tyreek to the dolphins and then they used that pick to take Trent McDuffie, who then became a key player for a team that went to three straight Super Bowls. I remember talking to Veach a couple years ago. He's like, they had been back-to-back champs,

and Brett was like, you know what the crazy part is? George Carl Loftus and Trent McDuffey, who were drafted in the same draft right in the first round, all those two guys knew going to the Super Bowl. That's not the league. I mean, obviously they got a little humble pie this year going 6 and 11, but that trade is, listen, I don't know where it goes on the list of all-time great trades, but when you factor in getting rid of the money, changing your defense,

and then winning back-to-back Super Bowls, it's clearly one of the defining moments in the Andy Reid era. Now, this trade is yet to ride itself, but anytime that you could get a first-round pick for a play, that you were not going to pay, who you drafted in the first round, a little higher. Pick 22, you get picked 29.

But over the course of four years, not only has he held his value, and he's not viewed as like, you know, sometimes these guys get traded, like Jalen Ramsey, you know, Khalil Mack got traded. But those guys are viewed as like Hall of Fame players. Trent McDuffie's not viewed as a Hall of Fame player,

but he's a really good player. That you can get a first round pick and then the following year get a third round pick. I know there are other picks involved. really care about those. But the pick 29 for a team that need some younger cheap assets and talented players. Think about this.

The Chiefs got their starting left tackle last year at the end of the first round. Pick 31. So this is technically a better pick. You know? So I this is one of the rare trades and someone with the Chiefs texting with them today said, this is a win-win. Like this is a good trade for the Rams too. This is not one of those trades. Like when the Dolphins

traded for Tyree Kill, it went, does this make that much sense? Like, is this what you want to do? And there was a business element to this, you know, from the Dolphin standpoint, they got to the playoffs, he was great. It's not like it was a disaster for them. But you're going to trade for a wide receiver.

You better be damn sure, right? The Raiders traded for Devante. Devante's a Hall of Fame level guy. It was a disaster. The Eagles, who were much better equipped to handle it, trade for A.J. Brown. And while it might end, this week, it was a really successful marriage making that move.

So Trady McDuffie is much more of a plug-in-play player because of his versatility, and you immediately know he can play in the slot. And then you're in a division where, you know, JSN, the 49ers are going to have reinforcements, I'm sure on offense, obviously the NFC in general with Ben Johnson, the lion's got a bunch of talent, the Eagles got a bunch of talent, the Cowboys have a really good offense. You know, I think the South is kind of under the radar right now. The Giants are definitely on the come.

I mean, Jane Daniel's going to be healthy. The NFC, I don't think we quite talk about sometimes like the AFC because of Mahomes, Josh, Lamar, Burrow, Herbert. But from a team standpoint, it's really good and really deep. So I think when you're looking, the Chiefs,

the key now is to hit on these players. And, you know, the best thing that ever happened to them, they lost those last couple games, they have the ninth overall pick. They should get a impact player that helps reset the franchise. Like, they have a chance, to get the equivalent of, you know, a Travis Kelsey, a Chris Jones,

a guy that you can look back in seven, eight years that have been to five Pro Bowls. And I don't mean the guy like a Shador Sanders Pro Bowl or, you know, Mac Jones Pro Bowl. I mean, you know what I mean? One of the best players in the league at his position. You know, a guy that's whether he's an All-Pro or like a Fringe All-Pro, but a guy that every team would want. And Chris Jones and Travis Kelsey are all-pro-level guys. But you know what I mean?

And whether that's Ruben Bain, whether that's, I don't think they're going to take Jeremiah Love because I don't think you'll be there, but one of these offensive linemen, whoever it may be, I think it'll be a lineman. But you have a chance to get a core guy for this reset. And then with 29, you can do a couple things. Like you could move up into the high 20s, right? You got that extra third next year. You can get aggressive because you're kind of like the Rams.

The Chiefs are all in on this year. They're going to try 100% to be back to be a division champ, to be hosting playoff games. they will be aggressive in this draft. I promise you that. And I think now they are very, very equipped to do that. Today's show is brought to you by our presenting sponsor, Hard Rock Bend, Florida's Sportsbook. March is here.

That means college basketball takes center stage. Stakes are rising and the shots are falling. Get it all your action you need on Hard Rock Bend. Hoops is on every night. That means you can get same game parley's going every night of the week. When you sign up today, and double your winning on your first 10 bets, max 50. That's right.

If you would have won 100 bucks on your same game parlay, make that 200 bucks. The Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook app is the only legal sportsbook for whatever you're in Florida. It's also live in Arizona, Ohio, New Jersey, Indiana, Tennessee, Virginia, Illinois, Colorado, and Michigan. Plus, Hard Rock Bet, they offer new promos every single day. So whenever you're listening,

Just open up the app and check out what you've got on any day of the week. Download the Hard Rock Bet today and make your first deposit. Payable and bonus bets, not a cash offer, offered by Seminole Tribe of Florida in Florida, offered by Seminole Hard Rock Digital LLC in all other states. You must be 21 plus and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia to play. Terms and conditions apply.

concerned about gambling in Florida, call 1-833 Playwise. In Indiana, if you are someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-9 with it. Gambling problem, call 1-800 gambler. Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia. Hey, it's us, the Jonas brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news.

We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys?

I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band. Before Jonas Brothers was... This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast,

where people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Here's something that should not be as complicated as it is,

getting a racist statue removed. And here's something that should be a whole lot easier. than it is. Getting a new one put up in its place. As long as there's a politics of race in America, there's going to be a politics of remembering the Civil War. To get to school, I had to go down Robert Lee Boulevard. Get to the grocery store. I had to go down Jefferson Davis Parkway. If you're an historian and you leave out half of what the history is, you're not doing your job. I'm Akila Hughes. In Rebel Spirit, Season 2 goes deep on both of those things.

The fights, the politics, the people who won, and my personal campaign to add something to the Kentucky State House. to the Kentucky State House that's actually worth the wall space. We are more than our bodies. We contain essence. We contain spirit. How do you represent that? They are just fueling a fire that is really catching. You'll see what I mean.

Listen to Rebel Spirit Season 2 on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 some.

much more to me than that. 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 and 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. Cream of 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 Hypocrite as part of the Mike Coutura Podcast Network available on the I-Fart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Ram side, clearly they have been really close these last couple years.

I mean, they are, was it a J-Loney, Carter pass rush two years ago against the Eagles from upsetting the Eagles, and I think they probably go on to win the Super Bowl that year. This year, it was clear. The Super Bowl was the NFC championship. And I think their downfall this year was pretty clear. Their secondary wasn't that good. And it's been well, I guess it's been put out there by different reporters. Like, they had had a desire to add a high-end secondary player. And they've done it before. and it really worked. Now, Jalen Ramsey at the same age is a better player than Trent McDuffie.

If you could say, hey, you get every GM in the league at whatever old Trent is, 25, 26. You get both players same age, every single GM is taking Jailen Ramsey. And that helped change. They gave up more. Remember, they gave up multiple first round picks. So you didn't have to give up as much. But I think there weren't many Trent McDuffie types available.

Like most teams aren't willing to try. trade high-end corners and high-end D-Bs when they have Super Bowl aspirations. Like, the Jets traded Soss Gardner because they were going nowhere. Hell, they were going backwards. So the Chiefs, because of their financial situation, like, we're willing to talk. Now, there were also rumors that the Giants were involved, but the Giants would never give up their, what, do they have, the fifth pick in the draft? You know, that's not an option.

So I would imagine their offer might have included like, hey, we'll give you like a three and a four this year and a one next year or whatever it may be. But it would, they would have to kind of get creative because the top five pick is not an option. Where the Rams, this trade is probably the easiest one they've ever made. It truly is because I could be wrong. But all the years that they traded their first round picks going way back to the Sammy Watkins to the Brandon Cook. Marcus Peters, obviously Jalen multiple first round picks. I mean, Matt Stafford,

they usually only had one pick, right? This year, because of the trade they made, you know, essentially 10 months ago, this pick was like, listen, we talk about this all the time. There aren't 32 guys that you will have graded in the first round. There is not a player. Now, this might not be the case in five years,

but as we sit here today, Sean McVeigh and less need in their offices wherever in some beautiful area in Los Angeles where you go, we're going to get a guy who's going to be as good as Trent McDuffie for the next couple years. Not only could you not say that, more than likely, it's a 50-50 proposition. This guy is decent.

This guy is a starter. And because we have the 13th pick in the draft, because we made one of the craziest trades in the history of the league, there's no one's disputes that James Pierce can play. Right? He had whatever, double-digit sacks this year. But he might spend the next however many years in jail, right? So not Matt Ryan or Ian Cunningham or any of those guys' fault is a previous regime.

But that will go down of taking a character risk that high and mortgaging a first round pick to pick a guy in the 20s. Why is he there in the 20s? Because he's got the biggest red flag behind him you've ever seen. And obviously he lived up to that this offseason. It's a fucking disaster for the Falcons. And then you go 8 and 9. It's not like, well, you may have. the playoffs, you got to the second round,

you give the Rams the 13th overall pick, which enables them, they could move up a couple spots if they like a guy, they can move back a couple spots and add more picks. So it gives them flexibility. When's the last time the Rams drafted this high? Well, I'll tell you, the last time was, you know, four or five years ago.

The problem was the Lions had their pick and use that to maneuver and get Jamir Gibbs and Sam LaPorta. So I think the Rams, they had to view that pick as just little house money. Listen, we all do this. Anyone that's hit a big bet, you know, online, and you see that number in your account, you go, this is just found money. And that's not always the right way to look at it, but sometimes like, hey, I'll make a bet that I might not make

because I just hit this parlay for a couple grand. And I think the Rams looked at it that way. And I don't think they're wrong to, to be aggressive with that pick, utilize that pick, because they have one goal and one goal only. And that to me is to be playing at home in the Super Bowl. And they have been really, really close the last couple of years. And from their front, their front's good.

Landman's a stud. Their defensive coordinator is good. But their secondary was just not trustworthy. And I would imagine, you know, if Caleb Downs is potentially available at 13, they will add more secondary help. By one issue with this move for them, which it's,

and this is kind of a hypothetical because we don't know how this is all going to play out. one thing Belichick really thrived at over the course of their dynasty was he was always hesitant and free agency or trading back in the draft because he never wanted guys in his locker room who hadn't done anything for the Patriots to be making more money than a lot of his core guys who were winning

and winning Super Bowls and going to Pro Bowls and he was always very cognizant of that fact until the end when he got desperate and obviously a couple years later it cost him his job But Pooka Nakua has been one of the best players in the league for the last several years. And last year, he was an unstoppable force. In those games against Seattle, he looked like Jerry Rice meets Calvin Johnson. I mean, I just don't think I've ever seen anyone quite play like that.

There was like a Terrell Owens element to. It was a monster. And he's contract eligible. And this is a major conversation around the league. Like we see these numbers. Brandon Ayuk was catching 75 balls a year. and got a contract was $75 million guaranteed two years ago. Think about that, two years ago.

So a guy like Puka, you start looking around, well, who you're looking at? You're looking at the CD Lambs. You're looking at the Jamar Chases. You're looking at the Justin Jefferson. So you start talking $120, $130 million. Now, I'm talking guaranteed money. Now, I don't think Trent McDuffie is going to get near that much money. But if you do break Trent McDuffie off,

give them 70, 80, whatever guaranteed. 90, I don't know what the contract is going to eventually be. Puka goes, well, I've been in the trenches with all these guys. These last couple of years, when we've been on the precipice of jumping over that line and getting right there with the Eagles going toe to toe with Seattle and the NFC championship, I was your fucking road dog. I'm a winning player. We can nitpick some of the maturity stuff off the field,

but there is no disputing his just, elite nature on the field, which at the end of the day, this is a production business. And I think that is going to complicate things a little bit if in the next couple days Trent McDuffie gets a huge contract. I think that will only emphasize

what are they going to do with Puka? This is not going to be something they can just kind of go into training camp with. It's going to be probably something in the off season that you're going to have to solidify and kind of put, you know, pen to paper and get a deal done. and if you're not, move on from him

because he would have a ton of value. And I don't think they're going to move on from him. I would expect Pugua to get a big contract, but if you tell me Pooka Nakua doesn't have a contract by OTAs and Trent McDuffie has a big contract when he's never played a snap for the Rams, I would expect Puganakua not to be around. And then that becomes a big thing,

and he's already a polarizing player. So, I mean, it's part of doing business in the NFL. A lot of variables, a lot of moving parts. A lot of people have opinions. A lot of, a lot of egos. A lot of, you know, people get offended quick with money because money's all relative, right? And you know how much everyone else is making.

So that's something just to keep an eye on. The contract situation, how they handled McDuffie. And remember, when they traded for Jalen Ramsey years ago, they didn't immediately sign him to extension. It took a little time. And remember, Jalen was cool with it because Jalen was like, I'm like, Best Player of League. I'm going to get an astronomical amount of money.

And he eventually did. So I appreciate the Rams. they are that trade with the Falcons and the domino effects in which it had in a positive nature for their franchise led right up to today

because without that I think it makes it a little more complicated now they still might do this deal let's just say if they had just taken a player at pick 26 and there was no crazy trade available from the Falcons maybe they do this deal anyway

I think it became way easier to be like yeah take 29 got to pick their team. And props to the ramps. And props to the NFC West, which is going to just, it's going to be fireworks. Because if they can solidify that defensive backfield, Devante, Puka, you know, Stafford, I think they, by the time we get, you know, the training camp would not shock me at all if the Rams are the betting favorite to win the Super Bowl. Now, that isn't, you know, the Ravens and the bills going to. into last season, I think we're both like three or four to one to win the Super Bowl.

They had better odds than the Chiefs. And the Ravens didn't he make the playoffs. Part of it, the guy missed a field goal, but still, they weren't going to win the Super Bowl this year. Coach got fired. Immediately hired, got $100 million, so it's not like his life sucks. But you know what I mean? So just awesome trade, awesome, a lot of moving parts here. And like I said, very, very appreciative to these type guys that just make moves and give us something to talk about.

Okay, a couple other quick stories. Mike Silver, who I was with last week at the Athletic, who is just... One thing I appreciate about a lot of people in the NFL, and I can't speak to the journals in other sports, but I think what makes a great reporter in the NFL are guys that have... And the NFL is probably easier to develop relationships

with the coaches in the personnel department than maybe some other sports. Could be wrong. But Adam Schaefter knows every country. coach in the NFL. Rap sheet knows every coach and GM in the NFL. Diana Rossini knows fucking everybody. Mike Silver has been at this for decades. He goes back with the Walsh and Al Davis and Mike Shanahan days when he knew those guys well. But this guy's ability to get people's phone numbers, talk to people and get information is just a skill he has. Now, the one thing with

Mike that he's really good at is, you know, I don't know what Mike is late 50s. He can booze and hang. So, like, he is a fun hang. He can go out with these guys, you know, whether he's just, he can just relate to people. He's really good at just, he's a fun hang. And when he writes something, like, he gets good information. He was the guy that broke the story about Brandon Ayuk. And Mike Silver was once famously banned from the Raiders facility. I think him and Al Davis used to butt heads.

And he reported today about the Max Crosby situation. And I think at this point in time, it's pretty well established that Max is ready and I think the Raiders are okay and ready too they do just want to drive up the price like they don't just plan

on giving Max away like for a Trent McDuffey package and I think that is Spitex's biggest hang-up here like we're not just going to give him away for a first and a third this is not only one of the best players in the league like a McDuffie he's like the highest character

his off-the-field intangibles are off the charts. And he's not a slot corner. He's a pass-rusher. An every down player who plays as hard, maybe as anyone in the NFL. He might be the hardest player in the NFL in terms of effort. For about seven straight years, that guy, there have been a couple guys, at least over my time, doing this.

And it was J.J. Watt and Aeronald. And what made them Hall of Fame players is they were more talented than everybody and they played harder. I wouldn't say Max has the most talent. I don't think he has like Miles Garrett physical traits. I wouldn't compare him to like Vaughn Miller Bend. But what he lacks, maybe, of like if those guys are a 10

and he's at like an 8, he makes up for of like he never taken a playoff. Someone in the NFL this year sent me a clip. Late in the season, the Raiders were terrible. They're playing the Texans who have won a bunch of kids. game straight and one of the hottest teams in the league. Max played that game, like someone told him, this is a last football game you'll ever play in your life. And I was texting with Andy Reid a couple weeks ago

when I was asking him to come on the podcast at the Combine. And then he told me he had knee surgery, he wasn't going to be there and we started texting. I just said, what do you think about it? He loves Max Crosby. Just like every coach in the league. I think if you went around, especially to offensive coaches, the first guy, and obviously the Raiders would never trade Max to the Chiefs,

But my point of saying that is the reverence these coaches have for Max Crosby couldn't be any higher. The respect in the way he approaches the game. Because think about coaches. They spend 90 to 100 hours a week. They have no lives. Mike McDonald says he sees his kid for 30 minutes on a Thursday. So they're just all football. And you see this guy who just is on a shit team for years.

Disasterous situation. Every single year he's got a new coach, a new coordinator. and he's just playing like his life depends on it. When all any coach wants, back to high school, let alone in the NFL, especially the good ones, guys that really give a shit. And the number one thing you'd say about Max Crosby, I just don't think he could give a shit anymore. Like, his care level is like 100 out of 100.

And obviously his production and his play speak for itself. So I've been saying this for a while. I saw Albert Brewer say today that more than a quarter of the league is going to want or be very interested in Max, if not more. Well, how does a price go from, hey, a first, a third, and a player, to all of a sudden we got multiple ones for Max Crosby? When you have people bidding against themselves.

It's just basic, you know, it's a basic economic transaction. If I throw out a car for 50 grand and one person is willing to pay me 40 grand, if I want to sell the car, I'm going to get 40 grand. but if that same car for 50 grand, if I have seven people standing there and three of them are desperate to get that car, maybe I could end up getting 60 grand for the car. So if you got people lined up to trade for them, you can start playing them off each other. And it's pretty rare that you get in these situations. Like Trent McDuffie on the open market, his market was probably a little unique, right?

There weren't that many teams lined up to give a first and a third round pick for Trent McDuffie and then pay him however much money. These teams, think of the teams that are interested in Max Crosby. The Rams, the Niners, the Bears, the Lions, the Eagles, I'm sure the Ravens, Tampa. Well, you start bidding, hey, they've offered me a one and a three. This happened, I remember when the 49ers mid-season traded for Christian McCaffrey. There were two teams willing to trade for them. Originally, the Rams offered a two and a four, or maybe it was a three and a four. So you know what the 49ers had to do?

they had to offer a two, a three, and a four. And the Rams were like, that's a little rich for our taste. So what happened? The Niners got them. They had to pay more than the Rams. And that was just two teams. So when you have, let's just say it comes down to, let's say 10 teams initially are talking.

And then as the price kind of gets established, half of them drop out. And then when you're really coming down the stretch, you get three teams that are very interested. I just don't see how you don't get multiple ones for Max Cross. trust me, not when there's a bidding process, which there clearly is going to be in this situation. The other part of that story was the Alex Guerrero, Tom Brady's guy, his influence in the building. And I never met Alex. I can't speak to it. Clearly, he enabled Tom to play until he was like 45 and he probably could have kept playing.

So I can't argue that he doesn't know what he's doing. I do think anytime you get into a situation where someone is viewed as like, I don't even want to say a tattletail, but just is this guy, if I say the wrong thing in front of them, will it get back? One time in radio, I'll give you an example.

You know, in radio you have all these different program directors, right? So if you're at a station, or if you're in a conglomerate and they got six stations, When you go to the office, there's the program director for the rock station. There's one for the conservative news station. There's one for the country station. There's one for the sports station. And they're all kind of together and you get to know them all.

And we have this new program director for our station. And he's the biggest bozo idiot I've ever been around in my entire professional life. I mean, I got dumber every day that I was around the guy. I mean, it was an experience that I will never forget. if you remember Howard Stern used to call his program director Pig Vomit we used to have a

we used to call him vegetable lasagna you can Google that in the Seinfeld episode this guy was just a moron I mean I couldn't believe like this is my life and I remember bad mouthing him to another program director but I didn't realize that like that guy immediately went and told him

what I said but I didn't realize the connection it turns out like they were golfing buddies in this situation, like all the players know, that is Tom's guy. And my only issue, like, I don't, I don't, if I was Tom, I'd fucking own this team too.

If I was Tom, I'd live in Florida and play at Baker's Bay and hang out at Grove 23 with MJ and live that life. So I just build a $100 million compound. Don't blame it at all. I would do exactly what he's doing. But if you want to kind of run the football thing, and this is what it makes it hard, like even in that article, like Max likes John Spitech.

How could you not? John Spitech is very impressive. John Spike takes a stud. Tom's a stud. But you can't be in on football and making decisions if you're not around. Because there's just like a bunker mentality. And listen, I've never been in the military, but I've read enough military books. My dad was in it, heard him talk.

You kind of become bonded with the guy next to you. Because you're just fighting the good fight, right? Whether it's basic training, whether it's just when you fly around the world, doing whatever you're doing. And there's an element to that with. football because you're just always together. You spend so much time together. It's like, why is your relationship with your brothers and sisters can change you to get a little older if weird things happen? For the most part, ideally, you have a good relationship with them as you

get older. Why? Because even if one's older by a couple years, you spend a lot of time together in your formative years when you were young, right? And in football's the same thing. It's why these guys are bonded for life. Because even if you only play together for three or four years, the amount of hours you spend is more than you would spend in that same period of time with your significant other. And part of football is John Elway did this. Hey, I'm going to be the GM. And being the GM is different being a minority owner. But John Elway moved to Denver, or I guess he might have been already living there, but he was in the office every day. He was a part of the team. Right. So if you're going to do that, like your presence being around

really matters. And I, listen, I do think if Tom's right now trying to have his cake and eat it too, which I think a lot of us would in his spot. I do think one day he will, if he's truly going to play this role and kind of be what Mark Davis has done, ceded power to him,

I do think it would help to be in the facility more. I really do. Because the Guerrero thing, I think it's understandable to go, yeah, players are a little uncomfortable. Because they know if they say the wrong thing, it just goes back up the chain. And it's one thing, hey, I say something wrong to my GM or my coach

like I'm with them every day. We can discuss it. I've seen it for years like with the 49ers when Debo would ask for trays and Kyle's like I've been around Debo every day for five years. So, or Trent, I've known him for 15 years. Yeah, it's business but our relationship we're going to be okay.

We'll talk like grown men. We know each other really well. How well do the players on the Raiders know Tom Brady? How could they know him that well? He's never around. So I think that It's just a weird dynamic That they're battling

Which I've always commended Mark Davis Like There are meddling owners like Jerry Who's obviously always around the Cowboys But it's always about him He's making the moves He's doing whatever Mark Davis

Like listen I don't pretend to be my dad I'm not Al Davis I don't want to pick the players I don't want to run the draft meetings I want my G he is why he gave John Grun $100 million is why he paid Josh McDaniels a bunch of money. It's why he went to Tom Brady and says,

I want you to own some of this so you can run part of it. I think his heart was in the right place. But I think in a perfect world, even Mark would say, I wish he was around more, right, to really kind of solidify and get the back of my coach and GM and the heart and soul of the facility. It's just difficult when you're gone. You know, it's be no different as a parent.

I see some of these guys, if you've got like six or seven kids, some of these players like six or seven kids with like five different women like you're just you're never going to see these kids how the fuck are you're going to raise these guys it's impossible you know you're just out of sight out of mind show up sometimes and then face time like that ain't got to work you know if my dad would have never been around i i would have gotten so much goddamn trouble when that comment came well your dad's coming home i was like buckle up boy uh and listen i'm not saying that brady has to be like the you know the bellichick

force of being the guy dropping the hammer, but I do think his presence would go a long way of just being around. And it doesn't feel like that's going to happen anytime soon. I don't really have much say on the Stefan Diggs situation. My overall take, I do think there was just too much noise because it does feel like Vrable liked him. And I know the playing time, he had some big games for him. Sometimes he wouldn't play. He obviously made some huge moments for them throughout the course of the season. I just think the off the field stuff throughout the course was just, it ain't worth it. And Mike is much more personable than Bill, but I think they're cut from the same cloth of like, yeah, this is, this is not worth the headache.

Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers. And guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, huge news? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast. Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to our first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we, how do we, how do we actually actually come up with the name Hey Jonas, guys. I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band.

Before Jonas Brothers was... This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say, Hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys.

Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Here's something that should not be as complicated as it is. Getting a racist statue removed. And here's something that should be a whole lot easier than it is. Getting a new one put up in its place. As long as there's a politics of race in America,

there's going to be a politics of remembering the Civil War. To get to school, I had to go down Robert Lee Boulevard, Get to the grocery store, I had to go down Jefferson Davis Parkway. If you're an historian and you leave out half of what the history is, you're not doing your job. I'm Akila Hughes, and Rebel Spirit Season 2 goes deep on both of those things. The fights, the politics, the people who won, and my personal campaign to add something to the Kentucky State House that's actually worth the wall space. We are more than our bodies.

We contain essence. We contain spirit. How do you represent that? They are just fueling a fire. that is really catching. You'll see what I mean. Listen to Rebel Spirit Season 2 on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 Hypocrite as part of the Mike Cultura Podcast Network

available on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And last but not least, Lou Holtz at 89 passed away. And I was born in 1984. He became the head coach, I think, in 86. I don't really remember Lou Holtz, maybe right at the end, being the head coach at Notre Dame.

I remember actually a little Lou Holtz being the head coach of South Carolina, and obviously a media figure who I think he's one of the rare guys you know the John Madden John Gruden you know just guys that are just all-time football guys

that just the love they had for football was just something that you can't fake who was I talking to this about at the Combine you can't someone that had worked with John Gruden it's like you can't fake what he brings to the table you know like his personality the way he is. Derek mentioned it.

I was never around John Madden, but these guys are one of once. Lou Holtz was a one of one. Now, obviously the Lisp, he was a tiny little guy, and he swung a big stick. And football has never been more popular. The sport has never made more money. It's never been more important to the cultural fabric of society, right, down from high school to college to the pros. and there were guys back in the day

and the one thing with football it used to be like this in basketball, it's less important now. I couldn't point the OKC coach out of the lineup. I have no fucking clue who the Spurs coach is now. They used to really matter. You know, Phil Jackson's, Pat Riley types, does feel like that's kind of coming to an end.

Baseball, I mean, managers make like 800K. I mean, the running back coach at Florida makes 800K. So it shows you the financial, you get what you pay for. Like the GM's running the sport. in football the coaches have always mattered and they still really matter and there are certain individuals in that spot that just kind of break through and the amount of money and notoriety and popularity now

that comes with being a football coach in college or the pros has it's never been like this it's never been bigger but the sport was built on the backs of guys like Lou Holtz because one he's just you hear him talk, you know exactly who it is. You close your eyes. I could put an ear phone into your ear, and I could play you a 10-second sound bite,

and I'd say, who said that? And whether you're 25 and you fall football, and definitely older than 30 to 80 years old, you would know exactly that is Lou Holtz. And obviously he'd been sick. He's old, I mean, he's 89 years old. But I think he's one of the most important figures in the history. history of the sport. When you just factor in the personality, he went 130 and 2 at Notre Dame.

And the Notre Dame he took over was not like the Notre Dame Marcus Freeman took over when Brian Kelly left. We can agree Brian Kelly's an asshole and mailed the dinner at LSU. He did a really good job at Notre Dame. He had not only had them relevant, like they were one of the better programs in the country. And Marcus Freeman, it looks like it's taken to the next level. Lou Holtz took over a disaster. And within a couple of years, they won the national championship. Again, he won over 70% of his games. And even he went to South Carolina, who was in shambles at the time, and within a couple years they went nine and three. And I just think that it's a sad day for football. But I also think it's a day for football where you can smile because we wouldn't be here. You know, there are

these clips going around. Some of the legendary games, and the 30 for 30 was Notre Dame against Miami, right? Was Notre Dame playing these teams back in the 80s? Some of these historic players like Rocket Ishmael, Jerome Bettis, some of these guys that he had, and they were just, I can't speak to what they were way back in the day, like Joe Montana, Rudy. They've always been a huge brand, but there's a reason that they have, they don't join a conference as a football program, and just get a massive deal from NBC. Because if Jerry Jones could do the same, he would. And he would get an enormous amount of money, and he would do enormous television ratings. that's exactly what Notre Dame does. And a huge part of Notre Dame's

lore and popularity and passion, even long after Lou Holtz was done coaching Notre Dame, it felt the passion and love he had for that program was like part of him. It was deep in his soul. And I watched him the day that he got the job in Minnesota in like 1984. And within a couple years, he had turned around that program.

And he had a clause in there because it was different times, playoffs didn't exist, that if they made a bull game, because you had to accept a bull offer, he could bolt for one school and one school only. He would only leave the program if one school called, and that was Notre Dame.

And within a couple years, Notre Dame called, and I think he was the coach within two days. They offered him the job. And obviously the rest speaks for itself. And I would imagine he became, you know, definitely in the 90s and 2000s. I mean, he's one of the most famous football guys in America.

and it's just a sad day and I would imagine the respect being played by his former players the football community he's just a unique character and one thing sports is always going to need because this is entertainment are characters

are people to entertain and Lou Holtz was a great football coach and he was also a great entertainer and I guess we'll end on that RIP Lou Holtz The Volume Hey guys it's us, the Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin.

And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it.

What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast, Point Game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season. And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was crying. You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis come to you, he's like, you know I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Your husband is not who you think he is. Your body is not what you thought it was. Your identity is formed by a secret history. I'm Danny Shapiro. And these are just a few of the stunning stories I'll be exploring on the 14th season of Family Secrets. He kind of shoved me out of the way and said, move. And he went out the front door and he jumped in a car and drove off.

And that was the last time I saw him. Listen to Season 14 of Family Secrets on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Turn someday into right now with Buddy by Jake Radio. Nonstop workout music and expert tips 24-7. Hey, head over to iHeart.com. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free right now. Awesome health and wellness tips 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Remember, stick to the fight. When your hardest hit, it's when things seem worse that you must not quit. Don't quit. Body by Jake Radio, where hope meets momentum. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free. Have a great day. This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed human.