The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Rams-Seahawks, Patriots, and the Cowboys

Episode Date: October 3, 2019

Colin talks about the Rams-Seahawks game tonight, why he feels QB Russell Wilson is underrated, why several players want to play for the Patriots, what's concerning about the Dallas Cowboys loses, and his top three college football picks. Guests include Geoff Schwartz, Greg Cosell, Urban Meyer, and T. J. Houshmandzadeh. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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

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

Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, guys? This is Clever Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me. He goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her.

What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue with 42. Hey, Wreck, my mama want you to weigh better. What? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

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, Mark keep coming to her. 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 IHeartRadio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the Herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the IHeartRadio app by searching heard. We're listening to Fox Sports

Radio. Oh, here we go on a Thursday. I think we're going to have our best show of the week. This is the herd, wherever you may be in, however you may be listening. Live in L.A. and IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio and FS 1, an hour from now, Greg

CoSell, our NFL meat sandwich. He breaks down stuff. If you're a fantasy football player, if you're a gambler, or if you just like football, nobody lays it out like Greg CoSell. Urban Meyer, in a couple of our Jeff Schwartz is live in studio. Former NFL offensive lineman. His brother Mitchell Schwartz, of course, is a great

offensive lineman for Kansas City. And Joy, Taylor, is joining me. Joy, how are you? I'm great. Can't wait for tonight's game. Yes, tonight, the Rams, Seahawks. To me, it's a coin flip. So this summer I sent my daughter to Cape Town, South Africa for about a month and a half.

It was a leadership thing. And her mother and I decided, let her see part of the world, go by herself and a handful of other college kids. And there was a moment that was utterly fascinating to me. She's going to bed and she calls me on FaceTime and I am literally in the back part of my house and she's on FaceTime and my daughter's calling me. She's in South Africa in a tiny room, doors are locked. I'm in Manhattan Beach, California. I was looking for a broom or something. I'm in a little storage area and I am talking

to my daughter in real time less than a one second delay. She's in South Africa. And I'm thinking, that is crazy. We have figured out how to do that. We have figured out as a country

how to send people into spaceships and to be on other planets. Just think about that. But here's what we haven't done in eight years. Figured out how to stop Russell Wilson. Eight years, no losing seasons in now the toughest division, best coach division in football.

So tonight the Seahawks and the Rams play. Rams have more good players. Rams should win the game. And it's funny about the NFC West because it's had star-studded coaches. San Francisco owned it for three years with Jim Harbaugh. And then Seattle owned it for four years with Pete Carroll. And then here came Sean McBay and he's danced on everybody else's grave for a couple of years in Los Angeles. And everybody now, the media just fell in love with Sean McVeigh.

The cheekbones, the charisma, he won, he's very verbal, he's very smart, he's very handsome. He is like the ultimate L.A. millionaire, right? He's got it all, baby, the career, the looks, and everybody fell head over heels. The Rams are going to spend big money and dominate. And you know why I never believed it? Two reasons. Number one, the coaching in this division is the best in football. Pete Carroll is arguably, along with Belichick, the first or second best defensive mind in the last 10 years in the league.

Kyle Shanahan, along with Andy Reed and Sean Payton, is one of the top three offensive coaches. And there's no question Sean McVey is the best young coach overall in the game. I don't know what's happening in Arizona, but those three alone, the coaching is way too good for any one coach to run away with this division. three of the top five, six coaches in football are in the same division. Nobody's dominating it. But the second reason nobody's dominating it is Russell Wilson. I want you to think about this for a second. Russell Wilson lost his best receiver.

He retired. The offensive line is so-so. His top running back was picked in the seventh round. He has a rookie wide receiver who dropped in the draft and a blocking tight end. And right now, he is neck-in-neck-and-neck. Patrick Mahomes as the best quarterback statistically in the NFL. It makes absolutely no sense. Either does somebody on YouTube, who I watch yesterday,

figure out the Rubik's Cube in 28 seconds, men on the moon, or me talking to my daughter in South Africa on a phone. Russell Wilson is unbelievable. The only team that could ever own this division, own it, would be Seattle, and that's because of Russell Wilson. It's really unbelievable what he's done this year. He's having his best season as he lost his best receiver, his best running backs of seventh rounder.

The offensive line is not ranked as a top 10 line. They're kind of rebuilding, to be honest with you, on the O line and defense. And Peter King was on our show this week. I said, Peter, I don't know if he's the best player. He's certainly the best Seahawk ever. I said, but he is absolutely in my lifetime. he's the best running quarterback in 30 years.

He has the best touchdown ratio, meaning the percentage of passes that become touchdowns, he has the best ratio in 50 years. Think about that. The highest percentage of passes that become touchdowns. And the Peter King, I said, Peter, he's the most underrated player of my life. I'm not even sure who's second. Maybe Steve Young. We look at Russell Wilson, who is a quarterback metronome.

He never misses any time. time. He never gets hurt. He's never banged up. Well, I'm sure he is, but he never, ever flinches. It's hard to say if you think a guy is going to the Hall of Fame one day that he's underrated. But if it's possible with any quarterback in football right now, it's Russell Wilson. Tonight, Rams have better players. Rams have far more, they have an elite offensive linemen. Rams have a better receiving corps. Rams have the best defensive linemen. Rams have better special teams. Rams should win if they don't. It's because of Russell Wilson.

Let me shift to this. I have a theory, and I think Joy and I talked about that this week, I would only pay athletes I had to pay, and I would only pay them when I have to pay them. I believe you win and athletes want to win. I've seen it in the NBA for years. Players want to be relevant. Players give up money.

Chris Bosch, LeBron, D. Wade, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry. They all give up money. because players want to be relevant. So this is a fascinating story. Stefan Diggs is a wide receiver for Minnesota. Oh, oh, he's good. He's really, really good.

And he hasn't shown up for practice because his quarterback stinks, Kirk Cousins. Yesterday, the coach said, Mike Zimmer, I don't know where he's at. But it was interesting because he's been sending cryptic messages on Instagram and is now following a bunch of New England Patriots on Instagram.

Isn't that interesting? I hear all the time, you've got to pay this player to get him. Players want money. Got to pay the man. And I'm like, I want you to think about this. Antonio Brown, who did he want to play for? The Patriots. OBJ in the summer.

Who did he want to play for? The Patriots. Stefan Diggs, yesterday on Instagram. who did he want to play for? New England doesn't pay anybody. The weather stinks. Not even Tom Brady's allowed to be a star. They have the hardest practices in the league, the most demanding coach,

and a quarterback that if you don't memorize the playbook will ghost you. OBJ, AB, Stefan Diggs, I want to play with that team. You don't have to play stars. you have to win. Players want to win. NBA players want to win. LeBron, KD, Wade, Bosch, they want to be relevant. They want to be on TV in May and June. Their agents want them to be, their shoe companies want them to be.

Folks, once you got a net worth of $75 million, the money you make on interest is seven figures. You want to be in the game. You want to be invited to the party. You want to get shoe deals in China. You don't get that when you're watching the play. at home in Indiana. And all these so-called diva-wide receivers, got to pay him.

No, you don't. Deshawn Jackson, I'm going to play for Philadelphia. OBJ, A-B., and now Stefan Diggs. They could play anywhere. Oh, Stefan Diggs is absurd. You know where he doesn't want to play? With Kirk Cousins. That's where he don't want to play.

So once again, this is why I said, the Rams took a big risk. We're going to pay everybody. New England's like, we're not going to pay anybody. We're just going to win. By the way, Michael Bennett, very, Mr. Free Expression, Mr. Independent Thinker, Mr. Political Talk guy. Michael Bennett.

I want to be a patriot. Jamie Collins was a linebacker for New England. They wouldn't pay him. Went to Cleveland, made big money. Could have made more money on the market. He's now making a nickel. Went back to New England. You don't have to pay players.

I mean, you have to pay occasional players on the market like Elbron. I get it. James Harden, Steph Curry, you know, guys on the market. But the truth is, athletes want to be relevant. Athletes want to win. Athletes want to, like us, just be the best version of ourselves. Stefan Diggs might as well be a prank phone call. He's anonymous now in Minnesota.

He just wants to catch the ball. be great, have fun. OBJ keeps showing us his watch. You know what OBJ really wants? A ring. That's what he really wants. It's what they all want. Rings, relevance.

Once again, a star-wide receiver. Wants to go to New England in crappy weather. No stars. We're not paying you. Keep quiet. Play football. Be part of an awesome huddle. memorize the playbook and our coach barks at you.

Where can I sign up? And for the record, I got no problem with players getting paid who are stars. But isn't sports better when players care about winning as much as we do? And I think overwhelmingly, 99.9% even the stars do. And that's a cool thing. Coming up next, if you're a cowboy fan, don't watch the next segment.

This is going to freak you out. Seriously, go have a nice weekend. Just don't watch. Cowboy fans do not watch the next five minutes. I know I'm not supposed to do that. This is going to be disheartening. John Goulet threw up in the company bathroom this morning. Goulet has not been the same since we brought up this topic.

He is our resident cowboy fan. Goulet now has a stomach virus caused by the preparation for this segment. And it is frightening if you're a cowboy fan. That's coming up. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the IHeart Radio app. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened.

That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart Radio app, Apple

podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slices Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade

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

done enough because people scoreboard watch life becomes about wins and losses steve burns dustin ross because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth or are you a good person because you're afraid because that's two different intentions bro absolutely and that that's two different levels of trust i want you to just really be a good person join me care gains is we have real conversations about healing growth fatherhood pressure and purpose on my new podcast learn the hard way Open your free iHeartRadio app Search Learn the Hard Way and listen now What's up guys?

This is Clever Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker walks up to me, he goes, A, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her.

What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue 42. A rep. My mama want you to wave at her. What? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clippers show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you already know there's a lot to break down. Gorsha accusing Kelly of sleeping with a merry man. They holding Kay Michelle back from fighting Drew. Pinky has financial issues. I like the bougie style of Housewives show. I think it looks like to be interesting. On the podcast, Reality with the King, I, Carlos King, recap the biggest moments from your favorite reality shows,

including the Real Housewives franchise, the drama, the alliances, and the T, everybody's talking about. As an executive producer in reality television, I'm not just watching it, I understand the game. As somebody who creates shows, I'll even say this. At the end of the day, when people are at home, they want entertainment. To hear this and more, listen to reality. With the King on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Cowboy fans turn away. This could be punitive. This is going to be very difficult. You know I like Dak. You know I like Dak. And I think he's a franchise quarterback. I think there's a real low ceiling, but that's okay. Not everybody is Carson Wentz and Patrick Mahomes. I think a lot of guys who I see is Matt Ryan's a franchise quarterback. I think the ceiling's lower. I'm okay with that. very interesting there was an article in the USA today from a writer see joseph right and that sounds a little doesn't it see joseph right see joseph run see joseph right so it's interesting so he takes his notebooks covering the cowboys and he starts noticing something with dac prescott we we thought Scott Linnehan is too conservative as a play caller.

So they fire him. We think now last week we're like, you know, Kellen Moore is too conservative and predictable. Are they or are they realizing there's things that just can't do? And so they call plays to help him. In the 44 games where this writer had notes on the Cowboys,

he started detecting a trend that they rarely asked DAC when he was under center to drop back and pass. That the Cowboys, when DAC's under center, they almost always run, almost always. And when DAC's out of the shotgun, they almost always pass. We both know predictability is a very bad thing in the NFL. So I went back and I said, let's not count DAC's rookie season. I don't count anybody's rookie season.

Patrick Boholmes didn't play. It just, I don't think you can count. I mean, it was nice for Lamar last year, but he's clearly better this year. So let's just take Dax rookie year out. Let's not judge him on that. Let's go to 2017 to 2018 and this year. Now, this is with the best offensive line in football. This is mostly overwhelmingly with the best running back in football.

You start to see, let's go to 17 the bad games. It's not just that they lose. They lose awfully to good defenses. So they get crushed by Denver, can't move the ball. Denver had the third best defense. Then they face Atlanta, the ninth best defense, can't move the ball. They lose by 20. They lose by 30 to the Eagles who had the fourth best defense.

They lose to the Chargers 28 to 6 and the Seahawks. And again, they can't move the ball. The following year, they open up with Carolina, can't move the ball. The Panthers defense at that time was ranked 15th overall at the end of the year, but they were healthy in week one. They didn't have injuries. They then could not move the ball against Seattle, the Texans, the Titans,

and were shut out 23-0-0 by the Colts. This year, they've played one elite defense in terms of personnel. Forget rankings now. It's early. They couldn't move the ball against the Saints. With the best offensive line, with mostly the best running back, Dallas doesn't just lose.

They lose the same way. way when you ask Dak to score in shootouts he can't. Dack is 31 and 2 when he scores 20 points telling you Dallas's defense is pretty good. Carson Wents has already lost two games this year

when he scored over 20. You see a trend with Dak is that Dak has to win a certain way. If he faces healthy elite defenses it gets ugly fast when he faces

his defense that are in top 10 or top defensive coaches. He can't move the ball consistently. Now, this doesn't mean Dak's not a franchise quarterback. But what it means is there is a formula for DAC. With the best-offensive line and with Zeke, he has more ugly offensive games than any quarterback we consider to be in that $30 million range. Go back to 2017, 2018 in the Saints game.

it's not great. It does give you pause. This is with the best O line. This is with Zeke and a good defense. So what it tells you is Wence and Mahomes, defense doesn't show up, they can win. Aaron Rogers, defense doesn't show up, they can win. Russell Wilson defense, Deshawn Watson.

This is the difference between fantastic quarterback talents and winning quarterbacks, but clearly if you dig deeper, there is a concern when they face top defensive personnel or top coaches. There have been a dozen absolute clunkers, clunkers, almost all against top 10 defenses or healthy top defenses early in seasons. Again, I like Dak, not anti-Dak, but you know, this guy's notebooks got all these little things in it and pretty soon you start digging it.

It's like, by the way, Goulet, have that land for you. I mean, unfortunately, I watched every snap of all of those games. So this is not a total surprise to me. Goulet, as we did this this morning, was moving in his chair. He was restless. You didn't need to bring it up. You know, you could have just left me alone. Yeah.

You don't have to remind me of this. Because in our morning meeting, I have been very pro-Dak for three years. And Goulet just rolls his eyes. He doesn't want to hear it. And this morning, he heard it. And he didn't like what he heard. Joy with the news. No, no, no, no, no, turn on the news.

This is the herd line news. Goulet, it could be a lot worse. You could be the Redskins. In your own division, it can be terrible. So count your blessings. Redskins quarterback situation is a mess, and Jay Gruden is starting to get tired of talking about it. Yesterday, he was asked about Dwayne Haskins' chances of starting Sunday against the Patriots,

and here was his little snarky response. It's not the end of the world. If he doesn't play another snap, if he starts every game and doesn't do very well, it's a good experience for him. So you can argue both sides of the coin right here. No matter what we do with him, we're going to be wrong, so it doesn't really matter. I have to see some things for me to make the decision, and that'll come out here at practice tomorrow, really. Hopefully, after tomorrow's practice, I'll have a good indication who I'm going to play. So, yeah, in my mind, I have a pretty good plan.

I'm going to go out on the limb here. Contrary to belief. I'm going to go on the limb. if he gets fired, I would roll the dice and hire him again. I think he knows how to build the staff. I think he has the, I think his owner's a mess. I don't trust his front office. He's had absurd injuries at the most important position and the offensive line.

I actually think Gruden's the rare coach that looks he's losing, but there's something there with him. Yeah, I'm not going to judge his entire coaching career based up of exactly what's happening this year or what's happened. overall because it is Washington, so you have to take it with the grand assault, like you said. He also took a shot at his offensive lines performance so far, saying if we don't have good protection and we can't get separation, Tom Brady wouldn't have any success here. Well, for the record, he's absolutely right. And I will make this argument in defense of Jay Gruden two years ago, Joy, they came out west. They beat the Rams with McVangoff and they beat the Seahawks.

You guys remember that early in the season? They fell apart physically. I mean, they literally fell. I'd never seen injuries like that. I think they set a record for injured reserve players or players on the can't perform list. This is a poorly run organization with, I think, a really talented coach that is just trying to bail water. And when he gets fired and he will, I'd hire Jay Gruden. I really would.

I do think that when it comes to the quarterback situation, though, I don't have a lot of sympathy for the questions and the chaos. Because this is exactly what happens when you don't pick your guy. And I understand they're in a kind of a weird situation because of the injuries. But if you draft Dwayne Haskins and he's not ready and you feel like he's 100% not ready, do not play him then. Because you throw him in there. You threw him to the wolves last week, knowing you have the Patriots next week, knowing you're going to get a million questions about whether he's going to start or not,

as you should because you put him out there. I said this for his season. I watched a lot of college. I watched he's not ready to play in the NFL. He's just not. And that's fine. But then he's not ready. and make a decision.

But it's when you are flip-floppy on your decision that everyone else is going to ask you what your flip-floppy decision is. So you can't get irritated when people want to know what's happening, especially at that position. If you have more than one quarterback, you have no quarterback. Everyone knows that. So the Ravens head to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers on Sunday.

This will be Lamar Jackson's first start in Pittsburgh, and he and coach John Harbaugh are prepared for hostile environments. I know it's going to be crazy. I know that Steelers Nation going to be, you know, pump for the game. Then we're going to have our flock nation in the building. It's going to be a good rival. Rival game, I'm ready.

It's going to be pretty crazy. No being. Oh, man, a whole new team, new era. So you just got to get ready for it. One of the things that was said in the meeting today is you're not a raven until you beat the Steelers. Well, we've got some guys that still need to beat the Steelers. That's right. You do.

I still think I do think the Ravens win. Look at Lamar Jackson's traps in his neck. Yeah, no, he's completely transformed his body. He is not this spindly RG3 runaround guy. Like that dude is, did you see his neck compared to John Harbaugh? John Harbaugh is not skinny. Sometimes you watch these videos, Lamar, and he looks like this spindly guy like Teddy Bridgewater. Every time I see him at the dais, he's kind of like a long, he's kind of, you know, he's long arms, but he can look thinner.

But he has changed his body life, he's put on a lot of weight and a lot of muscle. Yeah, no, I mean, he, this is a guy that can take a shot. He can take a hit. He's a big kid. But he should try not to. Yes. The Ravens Stevens has allowed more than 500 yards in both of their life. losses allow three plays of more than 50 yards against Cleveland.

So that's not really Pittsburgh's game plan last week. So we'll see if they aired it out a little more this week. I think there's two games in the NFL this week. Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and Rams, Seattle tonight. I cannot wait to watch because I just don't exactly know. You know, again, it's not, it's not mid-October. By the way, Cleveland, San Francisco Monday night. Cleveland, San Francisco is going to be a very telling game also.

I don't think Cleveland's as good as they showed us last week. And Baltimore's not that bad. I don't think San Francisco as good as three and oh. I don't think the Rams are as good as three and one. And Seattle may be better than three and one. It's a lot of mysteries to be unsolved here. Yeah. Solved here.

Finally, Sam Darnold returned to practice this week. He's still not clear for contact and the Jets may hold off for naming their starter until Sunday. Adam Gase and wide receiver Robbie Anderson spoke about Darnold's return. And though his status for this weekend is still uncertain, he is trending in the right direction. I like our odds better than what they've been. You know, like Earl, like last week, I was like, if we would have been playing a game, I would have been saying it was really low.

I like the fact that things have looked and progressed in the right direction, but it's just like I don't know what that 5% is. You know, like there's just some gray there still. I feel like that he feels good. You could tell like he's excited to be back and what you want to do, put a lot of extra work, you know, so that's a good sign. You know, they have talent. C.J. Mosley, Quinnon Williams, Leonard Williams,

Jamal Adams, Robbie Anderson, Jameson, Crowder, Levian, Bell. This is not the Dolphins. This is not Arizona. Now, they'll probably lose this weekend, but the Jets have like six players I love. This is a real team. They just, Donald gets Mono season over.

That's why you can't really take anything away from the Jets at this point in the season because he hasn't been out there. And you're right, they do have a lot of talent. But if you don't have your key piece to make all that work, then it's really tough to evaluate. The issue with Donald, as he said Monday, is his spleen is still swollen. He feels good and wants to play, but an enlarged spleen could rupture if you get hit in the midsection.

Oh, God. Which doesn't seem ideal. Yeah, let's not play him. So he'll get more tests on Friday, but if that's a situation, then he's not going to be out there because obviously you can't rest that. He has a swollen spleen. I almost took yesterday off because I had an ice cream headache. I am not. There is no.

Really when we talk about some of the injuries, that these guys even think about playing through, it puts it in perspective. Yeah. Yeah, I, I mean, you went on a sympathy tour for a little cold. I mean, right now, I have literally, I go into every room and I'm like, do you feel bad for me? You did do that this morning.

I literally, I'm trying to gain sympathy because I have the sniffles. Do you want some tea? Sure, I'll have some tea. Okay, we'll get you some tea called. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd Lie News.

75% of people don't like their underwear. It's true. Go to Tommy John. I love mine. Revolutionary. Over a million lives saved. Tommyjohn.com. Code Herd, 80% off. Saves a little strong. Let's bring him on eight NFL seasons. One of my favorite guys in studio today. How lucky are we? Jeff Schwartz, former NFL offensive lineman.

Brothers are pro bowler, Mitchell Schwartz, for the Kansas City Chiefs. By the way, your brother, I mean, just take us to the whole Patrick Mahomes. your brother every day is at practice with Patrick Mahomes. Give us a little insight. I don't want you to have to give up trade secrets, but between Andy Reid, who may be the best football, offensive teacher of my life,

and Patrick Mahomes, by the way, there was a speech the other day I saw Patrick Mahomes ramping up his team on the sidelines. You see that on YouTube? Oh, yeah. It was so good. You cannot, you cannot, if Kansas City dominates the league for 10 years,

I'm okay with it. I find them incredibly likable. What is it like to play with Patrick Mahomes? I think there's a play last week that symbolizes how aware he is of his surroundings. There was a third down and the lions were in two men, so there was no one guarding Pat Mahomes essentially. He breaks the pocket out the right side, and he turns and looks back at the official to see if the official threw a flag. Because if he threw a flag, he wasn't going to run because he knew it was a holding and he didn't want to waste his energy running down the field and coming back on a third and long. So he legit looked back and then kept running and got about 30 yards afterwards.

And he admitted yesterday on Friday, excuse me, Wednesday, that that's exactly what he did. I mean, he's just a different all-time talent. He just, he's like... Who does that? He broke the pocket, and as running, he turned, look at the ref, and the ref did not throw a flag, he just kept running for 30 yards. And your brother loves him, I imagine.

Oh, it's unbelievable. Yeah, because my brother's very cerebral. He's very bright, and so he loves playing with Andy Reid, who challenges him mentally, and also Pat Mahomes, who pre-snap, it's unbelievable. He knows where he's going with the ball every single time. That's why he's great against pressure. He knows where it's coming from. He knows where his outlets are. Plus, you can throw all the weird angles with his feet and his

arm. And it's a lot of fun. I never played anyone close like that. Yeah, good for your brother. So tonight we have the Rams and we have the Seahawks. And when Sean McVeigh broke into the league, he's verbal, he's smart, he's L.A., he's handsome. The media felt for him. I love him. But there's two reasons he's not going to dominate this division. Pete Carroll, Kyle Shanahan. It's the best coach division in football. Secondly is Russell Wilson. I can talk to my daughter in South Africa on a phone. Yeah. Nobody can figure eight years in Russell Wilson out.

He's incredible. He's having the best year of his life, never had a winning, losing season. He's doing it. Doug Baldwin bolted. Offensive line is meh. He's running back to seventh rounder. A blocking tie-down into Washington's now become dangerous. And a first and a draft picket receiver that dropped and plummeted that everybody else except

the Seahawks bailed on. I don't know how to explain Russell Wilson. I think he, I think this division is every year, it's going to be a different winner for the next seven years. That's probably accurate. And the reason we can't figure him out is because his offensive play calling is so conservative. You have a guy like Russell Wilson.

You expect him to be the feature of the offense and he never really is. And then the fourth quarter, he just makes Russell Wilson plays and ends up winning the game for them when you think, hey, let's do this in the first quarter. But tonight, I think this is actually a game to see really peak care over Sean McVeigh. Because the blueprint is out on how to stop the Rams down. The blueprint is out. It's out. And everyone keeps doing it.

every single week, and they haven't found an answer yet. And part it is their offensive line is not playing very well right now. Then they put them in second and long, third and long. Golf is not very good as a dropback passer. Same thing that happened to the Super Bowl. And they haven't figured out how to get the offense going when they're behind the chain. So I want to see Pete Carroll tonight, who's probably not going to change his defense very much. He's been doing the defense for a long time now against Sean McVe, who knows what teams are doing to him,

and can he find a way to get his offense over that hurdle? All right. Jeff, I want you to stay here. We got a lot of things to address. Stefan Diggs was at practice for the Vikings, but sort of disappeared for two days. The Raiders are the most glorious, noisy, dramatic,

foot-peeling train wreck in league history, and they would be in the playoffs today. If the playoffs were seated, Oakland would be in. They go to London this week, and I want to talk about that. I want to hold you over for my thoughts on Kyle Allen, who is really a winning quarterback for Carolina. Cam's great but can't and the Cowboys.

F Schwartz, don't go anywhere. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies,

and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athletes themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff, Nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them.

Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slices Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase

that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth?

Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose

on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app, Search learn the hard way and listen now. What's up, guys? This is Clever Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee.

We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker walks up to me. He goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue with 42. A rep. My mama want you to wave at her.

What? Hey, Ms. Parker. Listen to the Clippers show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you already know there's a lot to break down. Gorsha accusing Kelly of sleeping with a merry man. They holding Kay Michelle back from fighting Drew.

Pinky has financial issues. I like the bougie style of Housewives' show. I think it looks like it's going to be interesting. On the podcast, Reality with the King, I, Carlos King, recap the biggest moments from your favorite reality shows, including the Real Housewives franchise, the drama, the alliances, and the team everybody's talking about. As an executive producer in reality television,

I'm not just watching it. I understand the game. As somebody who creates shows, I'll even say this. At the end of the day, when people are at home, they want entertainment. To hear this and more, listen to Reality with the King on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Friday Night's Smackdown premieres on Fox tomorrow with a star-studded 20th anniversary event. Join the Rock Hulk Hogan, Roman Raines, The Undertaker, and Stone Cold Steve Austin together on WWE's biggest night.

Don't miss Friday Night Smackdown tomorrow at 7.30 Eastern, 630 Central, only on Fox. Hulk Hogan will be on our show tomorrow. first hour. I don't feel like you're appreciating my wrestling, like my persona coming out here. What is your good? I would be a great wrestler. You think so?

I love to fight. I love to talk trash. I would be about... And I like flashy things and this belt is awesome. So sign me up. Joy Taylor. So Jeff Schwartz joining his former NFL offensive lineman for nearly a decade in the NFL. His brother Mitchell Schwartz, of course, plays for the Kansas City Chiefs with

Patrick Malhomes. So an interesting situation. We talk a lot about, unfortunately in our business, we talk a lot about the money and the money the players make. Stefan Diggs was at Viking practice today, but yesterday started following Patriots. OBJ, OBJ wanted to be a patriot. A.B. wanted to be a patriot. They have the hardest practices.

Nobody's allowed to be a star, and they don't pay anybody. So these, what we see as sort of diva and high-maintenance, needy-wide receivers. my theory in sports has always been. Football is hard. Losing it football is a miserable experience. Jay Glaser told me this years ago. Players want to win. They'll give up money.

They want to win. Go to your experience. Do you think Stefan Diggs is just sitting to himself saying two more years of Kirk Cousins? I'm not going to kill my career. I'm not giving you my career. 100%. Look, players have goals, different goals, right?

Summer to obviously win. Look, the goal is winning. And Jake Leisure is right. The facility, the entire bill, The marketing department, the PR department, the, you know, the, the, the janers, whatever. The building is happier when you win. Everyone's happier because everyone, that's your job is to win. So losing it, to go all week and lose sucks.

So guys want to win, but guys want to get paid, right? Of course. He's been paid now. And now he wants to win. Now it's like, look, I want to win now. Again, I made my money. Now it's time to win. Let me go to New England and get it done.

And by the way, these receivers are the closest NFL player to an NBA player. They're kind of freelancers. Most are 6-4-65, unbelievable athletes. Best athletes in football are the wide receivers. And they're looking at NBA players. And in the end, we've seen KD, LeBron, Chris Bosch, Wade, say, I want to be playing in June. I want to be a relevant athlete.

And I think that's what Stefan Diggs is doing. Again, he is at practice today, though he disappeared for 48 hours. You know, we went digging. USA Today had an article on DAC. And Goulet loves the Cowboys. but he has been selling us in the meeting for three years. Dax's not it. He watches every snap.

I can't watch every cowboy snap, but I watch most, right? Right. Or replays. And we went back to 2017 until last week against the Saints. And Dax got about 15 stinkers. And I mean seven points, six points. You live in a market Carolina where Cam gets criticized, but Cam could take over games. What do you, what you're kind of sense on having played in the NFL for a decade,

Do you think players in Dallas know, DAC is limited? The Cowboys not signing him right now, I think is the best sign of that. Because they could have done something last year, this year. They could have locked him up for the future, right? And you would do that if the guys are Pat Mahomes, right? I mean, you would, Carson Wentz, like, they paid these guys as soon as they can. Yeah. The Cowboys have refused to pay him.

Refused to pay him. They paid the running back when analytics shows us that that is not the smart thing to do. You want to pay the quarterback and the wide receiver first. They didn't do it, right? So I think that shows you from their angle. They don't think he might be the guy. Now, I was high on the offense the first three weeks. Last week, disappointed.

I felt like Scott Linehan was calling that again. I don't know what offense that was. It wasn't what they did the first three weeks. So I want to see them be more aggressive again. Their plaction numbers went way down last week. Their offensive line got Manhattan. First time all year that happened. That will not happen throughout the entire season.

So I want to see more aggressiveness out of this offense like they had the first three weeks of the year. I think there's a handful of games this weekend that are fascinating. I think the Rams Seattle tonight tells me a lot about both teams. Seattle is 3-1 but feels better than that. The Rams are 3-1 but feel worse than that. I think it's a coin flip. I do think the Rams have better personnel at this point. I think San Francisco and Cleveland Monday night. I don't think Cleveland's that good, but I don't think San Francisco is a true 3-0. They're very young on the perimeter and hit and miss defensively depends on the Sunday. Baltimore, Pittsburgh. I think I'm not impressed with Pittsburgh's win on Monday, and I think Baltimore is better than I saw. all. I'm going to throw a team out to you that I'm fascinated with. Kaleel Mack and the Bears face the Raiders in London. The Raiders should be terrible. Hard knocks. First year GM, first draft. Are the Raiders actually good? Officiciency numbers show otherwise, even though they are two and two. They have them at the bottom of third in the NFL right now. We saw last week, they fixed a little

bit of their issues on offense. So the problem was they came out really fast to start a lot of games. the first three games, right? They scored at Denver, they scored to Kansas City, they scored really fast. So they're very good on the script. And off the script, they have not been very good, right? They have no points against Kansas City, and that defense isn't very good in the second half of that game. We saw last week, though, their offense looked different in the second half. And maybe it's injuries on the

Colts, maybe they figured something out. So I want to see now against a real defense. The Bears are a real defense. If they can get off the script and continue to move the ball, Kalee Mack, I can't wait, it's the only reason I'm watching this game. Kahlia, against Trent Brown and Colt Miller. He's going to go after some blood. He's going to get Derek Carson.

He's so much fun to watch. He split a double team last week, like, just like worked his way through. It was awesome to watch. I cannot wait to watch Cleo Mac. I want to talk to you about the script because one of the things we've noticed and is that young coaches, we saw this early with Sean McVeigh. McVeigh was a great first-half coach. But once you got Sean McVeigh off the script and these young coaches off the script,

they can struggle. By the way, that's not a criticism. I think probably my first 10 years in this business. I was more scripted. The last 10, I'm just making crap up. And I think that just comes with experience. I think Belichick now is much better. Pete Carroll and Belichick, to me, are the best adjusters in football.

Brian Kelly for Notre Dame is a great adjuster. These guys are 60-70-year-old guys, right? That's what they do. Sabin's a great adjuster. Green Bay is fascinating because Matt LaFleur, Green Bay now with Aaron Rogers. So Aaron's the great ad libber. Lefleur's second half numbers this year have been a mess. So what do you make of Green Bay going to Dallas?

What do you see that game looking like? To address the script part of this, when you have a young coach in a new offense like this, he doesn't quite know what his offense is good at yet. He has an idea. He knows what he wants to run. But until you get to about the midway point in the season, when you've run all your plays against all the different looks of the defense, you figured out what Aaron's good at, what the offensive line is good at,

what your wide receivers are good at. I think we judge the second half of games in the second half of the season, when we've seen him have a full kind of idea of what his offense is going to be. Because he has an idea of what he wants him to be, but Aaron Rogers might not be good at that. The offensive line might not be able to block this play. The running back can't run this route. So give him a little bit longer.

But this game this weekend is interesting because Dallas, look, I want to see this aggressiveness on offense come back. Green Bay can their defense align who got pushed around? against the Eagles, are they going to be stout against the Cowboys? I have a theory, and I've had this for years. If you get embarrassed on national TV, so Green Bay's defense got embarrassed by Philadelphia on national TV, they'll play great. Baltimore got humiliated by Cleveland at home.

They'll be great. These are professionals. When you're in the big TV game, often it's the only game on and you're humiliated. I think Baltimore is way better than we saw last week. But as a former offensive lineman, would it be easier or tougher to block for Lamar Jackson because he is so gifted with his feet? I like guys to sit in the pocket where they're supposed to be. We know, so we have blocking angles, right?

It's between, you want to keep your body between your defender obviously and the quarterback. And if we know where the quarterback is going to be, it makes our job and our angles easier. We know he's going to sit. He's going to drop to nine, step up to, and we know right where he's going to be. know how to block. We know how to pass off games that way. It's not bad when a quarterback is mobile. Obviously, they can get out of sacks. But I've always preferred to block for someone who was going to be in the spot where they're supposed to be in. That's no knock on Lamar Jackson. It's very athletic, obviously. I think he hangs in the pocket longer than some guys who, quote

unquote, run. So he's good at that. But for the Ravens, we've seen a pattern now where they played five games against good teams in Lamar Jackson's tenure. Two Chiefs games, two Chargers games, one Browns game. And then Browns are good. Yeah. He's played bad in all of them. Yeah. And that's what's happening with this offense now. They're playing better defenses and they're figuring out what they're good at and they're taking that away. Yeah, listen, this is, you know, this league is, it's funny because as I was asking the question about Baltimore is obviously people in Miami and Arizona know, we're not a Super Bowl team, we're rebuilding. I think those kind of locker rooms, it's okay.

Then there's a handful of we could win the Super Bowl. At what point in NFL seasons, we're going into Week 5 as a former player, do you kind of sense what you are? are. Now we go into week five, you're one and three. Pittsburgh's one and three. Tell, take me into the head of an NFL player on right now on that losing record, the one and three team. What do they think they are? You know pretty well. I mean, I was on a two and 14 team in Carolina, the Jimmy Clausen year. We knew we were bad. I mean, I mean, you still play hard, right? You go out and you try to win every game and you try to that, but you just don't have the horses. Miami knows.

Look, the guys, they don't have horses. They can't contend with it. Arizona doesn't have guys to play right now. They're learning a new system. They don't have the dudes. You know that, but you go out and play anyways, obviously, because you want to win. And for players, especially on bad teams,

when scouts are watching your film around the league, they don't care that you're 2 and 14. They don't care your 0-and-4. If you're not playing hard, you're not playing well, you get judged equally the same as a team like you're on the Patriots. So it's important for players to continue to play hard. It's hard to motivate yourself. I get that.

But if you're one and three, you do hold out hope, but you're one or three for a reason most of the time because you're not very good. Yeah. Guys know that. Yeah, Pittsburgh's one and three. They face Baltimore this weekend, and I think I love this game. I find Lamar fascinating because I think there's a roller coaster quality to him, and that's okay. I can live with a turbulence, but we'll find out a lot this weekend because Pittsburgh's defense can be problematic if you don't have offensive line. Help, Jeff Schwartz, co-author of Eat My Schwartz with his brother, Mitchell Schwartz, Kansas City offensive lineman.

Guys, get your own shampoo. Don't use your girlfriends. Dove Men Plus Care. Available at Walmart, strong and resilient, The Herd. One more Herd? The Herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week, within the IHeart Radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like.

Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise. Breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama,

the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kier Games.

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

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

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

Open your free iHeartRadio app, search Learn the Hardway, and listen now. What's up, guys? This is Clever Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations

about all kinds of stuff, like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this linebacker walks up to me, he goes, Hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out.

Quarterback on office blue with 42. Hey, Wreck, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. If you're watching the latest season of the Real House

Wives of Atlanta, you already know there's a lot to break down. Gorsha accusing Kelly of sleeping with a merry man. They hold him Kay Michelle back from fighting Drew. Pinky has financial issues. I like the bougie style of Housewives show. I think it looks like it's going to be interesting.

On the podcast, Reality with the King, I, Carlos King, recap the biggest moments from your favorite reality shows, including the Real House Wise franchise, the drama, the alliances, and the team everybody's talking about. As an executive producer in reality television, I'm not just watching it. I understand the game. As somebody who creates shows, I'll even say this.

At the end of the day, when people are at home, they want entertainment. To hear this and more, listen to Reality with the King on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Ah, here we go, hour two, Greg Co-sell in three minutes. This is The Herd, wherever you may be. And however you may be listening, live in Los Angeles, IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, in FS1. Joy Taylor is joining me. Urban Meyer next hour.

Hulk Hogan tomorrow. We have a couple of guests coming up in the next couple weeks. Gigantic. I mean, huge. Hulk Hogan Friday. Pretty big deal. Would your wrestling name be? Sky Bannister. I would fly in on a trapeze.

And my power would be a silky, smooth voice that put other wrestlers in a trance. I would say, hi, I'm Sky Bannister. And I'd have a commercial read for Geico. We didn't get Sky Bannister from me? Just love it. That's what I told. You used that for so many things.

I wish I told my parents. I wish that was my name. And we have. I didn't not like my name growing up. Joy Taylor? Oh my God, it's a TV name. Joy Taylor.

When you're a kid, like, you want to fit in, you know? Like, you haven't realized that fitting in is the worst thing that you can do. So the only time, like, I got anything with my name on, it was a Christmas time, you know. I was Colin Cowherd in high school. Yeah, you, you know. By the way, they didn't pronounce it Colin. They called it colon It was not great

All my self-esteem issues were In middle school being a little rough for you When you Google Sky Bannister A picture of you shows up I'm not kidding Really? Yes That's excellent

I've always wanted my name to be Sky Bannister I would walk into the office of my bosses And say give me more money Why I'm Sky Bannister If you had a kind of name like that You get anything you wanted in life It does have a good ring to it So we blame the wrong people all the time

I talk about this We always want to blame the wrong people And so Jared Goff is getting crushed. Jared Goff's no good. Nick Wright yesterday. He's a bomb. He's terrible. Pro football focus.

Do you see how bad the Bengals offensive line was against the Steelers on Monday night? It's terrible. Through four games, the Rams have graded worse than Cincinnati. Every game. Offensive line. So now, Jared Goff now has the lowest rated offensive line and no running game. Now, Jacksonville doesn't have a great offensive line, but Leonard Fernett's a star back. And Carolina doesn't have a great offensive line, but Christian McCaffrey's a beast.

And Cleveland doesn't have a good offensive line. But Nick Chubbs a monster. And the Vikings don't have a good offensive line. But Dalvin Cook is fantastic. Jared Goff has a bad offensive line. The guards are among the lowest pass blocking guards in the NFL. And, oh, wait, now Todd Gurley isn't dynamic. So it's not a Jared Goff issue.

You saw him with Patrick Mahomes. Okay? Yes, of course. Just when Kareem Hunt got hurt, Patrick Mahomes went through four or five games and his numbers dipped. If you took Travis Kelsey away from Patrick Mahomes for four to five to six to seven games, his numbers would dip. So we've got this belief now that Jared Goff is no good.

Their line last year was one of the best run blocking line. lines in the NFL. It's now rated last. That's the problem. It's not a Jared Gough issue. And I'm not a Jared Gough apologist. I like Jared Gough. But you got it, these young quarterbacks, Rams Whitworth now is 38 showing his age on the left tackle spot. So we'll get to that with Greg Kosell. 40 years, NFL films. Love bringing them on. We brought him on this summer, by the way. We've had him on every week since August and we'll have them on through February. So Greg, it's a pleasure to have you. Let's talk about Cleveland. I'm a big believer in that to get duplicated success, that means to have something that can work week after week after

week in any business, you have to be able to depend on things. And in Cleveland, Nick Chubb in that defensive front, Jarvis Landre Possession Receiver, I felt like last week Cleveland found a formula that you could duplicate, that you could take on the road. What did you make of their offensive output? Well, I think much of the output, the big output resulted from assignment mistakes by the Ravens. But to get to your larger point, I think every good offense has a sense of an identity and how they want to play, and then you sort of tweak based on your opponent. But I guess what you're saying is, and I think it's fair at this point, should their offense start with Nick Chubb and have him be the foundation as opposed to Baker Mayfield and the gun

and working the past game. And I think at this point that's probably a fair way to go. It gives you more of a stability, more of an identity, and then you can work off that. Yeah, you like Nick Chub, I guess. I mean, I think he's a very good back. I do like Nick Chubb. And I think that his size, his movement, his agility and his speed sets him up well to be a feature back, a foundation, this league. Yeah, boy, I totally agree with you there. Let's move to Baltimore. Listen, you start looking at, I was just talking to Jeff Schwartz, whose brother Mitchell plays for the Chiefs, and Jeff was talking about Lamar Jackson. He said, listen, when they play teams that are good, the Chargers a couple of times, the Brown's defensive front, if you start

looking at six or seven Lamar games when he faces elite defenses, he's now struggling in all of them. What did you make of what you saw with Lamar? I think you're dealing with a quarterback at this point, that's still an erratic, inconsistent thrower. He'll make some very good throws, and he'll miss some routine throws. The question is, can that improve to the point where he becomes a consistent thrower? And that's a hard question to answer. He's never been a truly consistent thrower as far as ball placement and precise accuracy,

but he will make some unbelievable throws. Right. If he's like this, if this is what he is, then what you're working off of is a multi-dimensional offense that presents major problem through all the run game elements, and you hope then you create defined throws for him to deliver the football. Every game, though, will have third and longs, Colin, as you well know, in which all those run-game elements and all those misdirection, deception elements are not a factor, and then you have to make throws.

At this point, we're not exactly sure where he stands there. He makes some, he misses others that are routine. Have you seen in your years of watching tape guys be really average at that and then get much better? Much better, I'd say probably no. I can't think of anyone just offhand that went from being really inconsistent with their accuracy to being precise with their accuracy, but I think you can improve some. Okay. Let's go to Carson Wentz, rank number one by PFF this season. And again, they've got their algorithms or whatever else. I don't know exactly what that means, but okay. Now I will say this. I've always been a fan of Carson Wentz. Of course, confirmation bias, I'm like, darn right, they're right. Exactly.

So I have no problem acknowledging some of this is confirmation bias. But I do like him, and I think you like him too. I do. I think he's very talented. I think that he misses a few throws here and there, but not to the point where I'd call him inaccurate. You know, I think when you speak to general managers, as I have, that they'll tell you that went from a pure talent standpoint and a competitive standpoint is probably in the conversation among the top two or three quarterbacks in the league. I have one GM tell me that Mahomes and Wins are the two most physically gifted

quarterbacks in the league. I agree with that, yeah. So I think that he needs to become a little more consistent. I think if they can develop a run game that will help him, but I think he's the kind of quarterback that can take, but not big-time receivers and probably help make them a little bit better. You know, I just, the Eagles are a team that has so many injury concerns. it's sort of hard to get a read on where they are offensively right now.

Obviously, they ran the ball extremely well against Green Bay, who chose to play nickel pretty much on every snap versus two tight ends and got burned. But, you know, I think that I'm anxious to see if Deshaun Jackson can come back and play and not be injured where this offense can go. Let's shift to the Cowboys. So it seems like every time they face the Saints, they struggle to move the football.

Dallas certainly did. What did the Saints defense do? Is it just personnel that shut down Dallas? It was a good coordinator. A ton of slanting, a ton of stunting, a lot of run stunts. Linebackers hitting the gaps hard and forcing the Dallas offensive lines have to deal with them right as the ball was snapped. They made the Dallas offensive line have to move and think. And they played faster than the Dallas offensive line, and they overmatch the Dallas offensive line.

It was very schematic. Yeah, it really was, wasn't it? I think I was funny. I watched this Rams defense for three weekends now, and I think I made a mistake. I think they're better than I thought. You're talking about the Rams? No, no, the Saints defense is just better. They're just better than I thought.

Yeah, and plus they're a challenging defense. You know, they'll play Tampa Bay this week, and James Winston will face a totally different scenario than he did last week against the Rams, where Wade Phillips essentially, Colin, played soft zone coverage concepts with off-coverage corners, which allowed the receivers to get into their routes freely and easily, and that negated the pass rush, and basically James could hit his back foot and deliver the ball.

And I think this week when the Bucks traveled to New Orleans, they'll get a defense that will challenge you man to man. They'll put Latimore on Evans as they did a year ago, and they'll challenge the receivers to win, and they'll challenge Winston to make precise throws. Let's go to Green Bay at Dallas this weekend. Aaron Rogers probably doesn't have Devante Adams. And I've been saying I don't want to hear about this because, good Lord, you got Brady last year, Edelman's hurt, Grongsmith Super Bowls, Josh Gordon relapsed, Randy Moss traded midseason.

It doesn't matter. I've seen Russell Wilson lose Doug Baldwin. He's having a great year. But I have this feeling that Devonte Adams is really a centerpiece for Aaron Rogers. It could be problematic. What is the tape say, Greg? I would agree with that. And even though we've talked for five years about Aaron Rogers

and the fact that he probably plays too much outside of structure, this may be a game where that's required. Because I think this Dallas defense is really good. That was kind of overlooked in the game this past week because of what the Saints defense did. But the Dallas defense has been very good all year. They have really good players at all three levels. They're very fast.

And I think this might be. be a game where Rogers, and he'll know this going in if Adams can't play, I think this is a game where Rogers will have to make outside of structure plays and improvise and do those kinds of things, which obviously he's more than capable of doing. Speaking of improvising, Russell Wilson is so different and so unique. I think he got Baker drafted number one, Mansell drafted. I mean, I think he is such an outlier that he's having his best year, statistically. you know and he's doing it.

Doug Baldwin left. He's made Will Disley a blocking tight-in in college productive. What do you? It's hard. We're in his eighth year. And Pete Carroll said two days ago, he's like, this is the best I've ever seen him play in year eight. Talk about what you've seen so far from Russell who plays today.

Well, they're fascinated who they line up. They run the ball. And then they have Russell Wilson work off that. And it's a very efficient offense. and Wilson then adds the element of movement and the element of making second reaction improvisational plays. But their past game is not particularly detailed or nuanced. It's fairly basic stuff. They run almost an old school offense, and Wilson executes it very, very well.

Yeah, I'm watching the highlights. He's so much fun to watch. By the way, before I get to our big play with the Rams and Jared Goff, I predicted before the season, I was wrong on this. I said, Kirk Cousins, second year in the offense, it's going to get better. My eyes are telling me he's getting more anxious. He's clenching his teeth more. He won't pull the trigger. Is this getting worse? Or is it a scheme thing? Is Zimmer conservative? What is happening to Kirk Cousins? You know, I'm not sure that it's necessarily getting worse. I think Cousins is a certain kind of

quarterback, and there's not a lot of mystery to what he is. I think he's a complimentary piece that needs a full complement run game. He needs a good defense, and when one or the other of those things does not work, he can struggle. He'll probably end the season with the same kinds of numbers he's always had, but when all said and done, he's probably a mid-range quarterback who needs other things to work for him. And when you go into Chicago, against a really, really good front, even without Roquan Smith, and you cannot run the ball at all, those are the kinds of games in which Kirk Cousins will struggle. And I think Mike Zimmer wants to play a certain kind of game, and those games can get you so far, and then you have to win games with your quarterback making

throws. And Cousins may not be the kind of guy that can step up to that level in which he has to be the one to make the throws. But I don't think there's a mystery to that, Colin. I don't think this is news. Okay. Finally, Rams' offensive lines not playing as well. They let a couple guys go. Todd Gurley doesn't have the juice. The defense fell apart.

You have your big play of the week as the Rams who played the night on Fox on the road against Seattle. So let's talk about this. Even though the Bucks defensive numbers in the past game are probably not very good, skewed certainly by this past week, this is a fun defense to watch under Todd Bowles. They do an awful lot of things, and they challenge an offense with a lot of different tactics. So let's run the play. I'm sure a lot of people remember this play with Levant and David making this interception,

dropping out and making this interception of Jared Goff. And Jared Goff clearly did not see him and did not account for him at all. But there was a reason for that. It was such a nice scheme because what you're going to see is Levanted David up on the line of scrimmage as part of a five-man defensive front. so he looks like a pass rusher. There's Jordan Whitehead. He's going to blitz.

Okay? So what happens now? Here's what Goff wants here on this third and four. He wants to hit Gerald Everett split out to the field on a slant route. That's where he wants to go with the ball. So now what happens? Well, first of all, they're going to send woods in motion across the formation with the corner going with him.

So now you get the blitz. So what does Goff see? That whole area is now open. You can see that clearly. That whole area will be open for, Garrett Goff to throw the slant to Everett. He thinks this is pitch and catch right now. Easy throw.

But now we need to go back to Levant to David. He was on the line of scrimmage. He drops out underneath that. Gough did not account for him at all. This is schemed defense. Now, you don't know 100% that a slant is coming, but it's third and four. So you're going to get a rhythmic throw.

And that's what you get here. Oh, boy, you're right on that. I can't see that linebacker either on that throw. No. That's really good. good design. And Todd Bowles has done a really good job with this. By the way, right now, they lead the NFL in rush defense. And over the last three weeks, they've played Todd Gurley, Saquan, Barclay, and Christian McCaffrey. And they're the number one rushing defense in the league.

Yeah, well, Todd Bowles is the classic great coordinator. Wade Phillips is this. Not sure. He's got the personality to own the room. But as a coordinator, Jets defense was good, Buccaneers defense is now good. How about that? That is a great play. I didn't see him either. Greg Kossel, 40 years NFL films. Thanks for coming on, boss. We appreciate it. Appreciate it, Colin. Thank you.

You bet. When you saw that second angle, I'm like, oh, God, Jared Goff's thrown to, he's thrown to air. Oh, he's not. How about that? That's trickery. That's what good defenses do. Yeah. Coming up next, I'm going to, they should hang the banner.

They should hang a banner in a stadium of a team that has no right being better than 8 and 8. but if they get there, I'll buy season tickets from this franchise. I will. I'll explain that coming up. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the IHeart Radio app. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind.

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From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field

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Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you already know there's a lot to break down. Georgia accusing Kelly of sleeping with a merry man. They holding Kay Michelle back from fighting Drew. Pinky has financial issues. I like the bougie style of Housewives show. I think it looks like it's going to be interesting. On the podcast, Reality with the King, I, Carlos King,

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To hear this and more, listen to Reality with the King on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Tonight we've got a good one for you on Thursday night football. Jared Goff and the Rams take on Russell Wilson and the Seahawks and a huge NFC showdown. It all starts at 730 Eastern, 430 Pacific. on Fox NFL Network and streaming on Prime Video. Now let's talk Thursday night football Super 6. The last question in today's game is, which team will win and by how many points?

Who you got, Colin? Rams 2423. Rams win by a point. Sean McVeigh is 8 and 1 after a loss. They have a better roster. And by the way, Cooper Cup leads the NFC in receiving yards. Isn't that crazy? Do you know what we went to school?

Do you know what I went to school? Hmm. Eastern Washington University Harvard of the Ploos Yeah but by the way You know how great I think Russell Wilson is I think Seattle I said this before the season They're rebuilding in different parts of their team

Rams have better players And McVeigh I am a big believer You'll see this on Blazing Five tomorrow When good coaches are humiliated They're very good the next week That's my theme this week And my bets

Joy with the news No, no, no, no, no, no, turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Kurt Cousins has had a very rough start to the season. Mike Zimmer and Adam Thieland have both taken shots at their quarterback, and rumors have been circulating that Stefan Diggs wants a trade, but despite the criticism, Cousin says he doesn't pay attention to any of it. I'm pretty naive to it, you know, ignorance is bliss.

And so the only time I'm aware of it is when I have, you know, friends or family text me. Oh, great. You know, the text they send me, you would think somebody died. Hey, man, I'm thinking of you. You know, and it's like, boy, it must not be good out there, you know, if that's what they're texting me. But I honestly, I don't, you know, see it. And so I think that helps, you know, sometimes ignorance is bliss.

And you can just put your head down and go to work. I think that's a smart bit of advice. That's a really smart way to go about pretty much anything these days, or any level. Circle the wagons, turn your phone off, believe in yourself. You know, I saw one time, I was in Tampa at a dinner. And Derek Jeter walked. with about six guys. And a buddy of mine

who knew Jeter, because the Yankees have camp down in Tampa, and he said, Jeter only hangs around optimistic guys. Baseball's hard enough. You don't want things

getting into your head. You don't want prolonged slumps. And he likes, Jeter likes hanging around optimistic. Not that they're yes, man. Right. Jeter liked hanging around

optimistic people, Pasada, his buddies that were like, nether at bat. Don't overthink the room. Well, baseball, especially. You have to have a good.

Very short memory. Very, and I think her cousin. That is a balance, though, of having people who are positive around you, and are they positive or are they yes men? Because there's very different, there's two very different kinds of people. I do think it's important to not pay attention to too much criticism because it gets in your head. It gets in your head. It makes you go out of your character. It makes you make decisions based off of what someone else is saying about you who may not be qualified to say those things about you.

But where the criticism is coming from is what's important. Like, Twitter should mostly ignore. Like 99% of it you should ignore, if not all of it. But if your coach is giving you criticism, that might be some criticism you may want to pay a little more attention to. So the Saints held the Cowboys to just 45 rushing yards last week, and Zeke takes his team's poor performance personally. He said going into Sunday's matchup with the Packers, he is looking to bounce back. You definitely take it personally because, I mean, we didn't expect to go out there. I only put up 10 points.

So, I mean, you got to take it personally. But, I mean, you also got to, you know, take what you learn from the game and kind of move on. You know, we're on to a new opponent and a new team this weekend. It's a different obstacle. So we've got to figure out the best way to overcome this one. Some teams have had some good running games against some, I mean, but we just got to come out there play off football. Not really too focused on them, just focused on us and just going out there and get better as a team and get the W. He's got a lot of hair.

He does, yes. He's got, like, incredible just. You know, those helmets are very heavy. I don't know how they wear all of that. All of that equipment are as effective as they are, especially wide receivers. That's kind of why I understood the Antonio Brown helmet thing. Like Tom Brady's saying his helmet weight a pound more. That's a lot.

It's a lot of equipment. I think Zika has the best hair in the league. I've never seen a human with that much hair. He's incredible. He does have a lot of hair. Packers defense, though, has allowed 142 rushing yards per game 26th in the NFL, and they're averaging allowing five yards per carry. That's 29th in the NFL.

Interesting, interesting game. Good game for Zeke to bounce back in. If you look at his yards per game, 53, 111, 125, and then 35, obviously, last week. So that said, they also have two pretty big injuries on the offensive line with Lyle Collins, missing practice, and Tyron Smith being out. Those are, that's not good. Watch the Green Bay defense bounce back. They were humiliated on TV. Finally, Tom Brady is currently fourth in NFL history in passing yards.

By the end of Sunday's game, he could make a big jump on that list. He needs 264 yards to pass Brett Farr for third place and 366 yards to pass Peyton for second. He is quite a ways behind Drew Breeze at 3,271 yards, so he probably won't ever catch Drew. But just another little notch in the all-time list for the goat Tom Brady. God. Look at Drew Breeze's numbers. Yeah, Drew's... This is why Drew and Tom Brady are the more comparable

quarterbacks than to me, Aaron Rogers and Tom Brady, because they both Drew Breeze and Aaron Rodgers each have won Super Bowl. And obviously, like, you can make the arguments about the talent here and there, but I just think that they're more comparable. I think Breeze and Brady also had different obstacles. Breeze's size and the injury, Brady...

Sixth round traffic. Yeah, I mean, whereas Aaron and Big Ben We're both coming out into the draft as super all-time talents, you know? Right. Yeah. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by.

The Hurd-Ly news. So I was looking over the NFL schedule this weekend, and typical the NFL, there's seven or eight games that are really interesting. Ram, Seattle, tonight's fascinating. Monday night football, Baker Mayfield at San Francisco, Jimmy G. I think Green Bay at Dallas on Fox is outstanding. New England's going to Washington. I always watch the Patriots.

Baltimore, Pittsburgh, to me, is must watch. I think Minnesota bounces back against the Giants. Here's an interesting game. Kaleel Mack of the Chicago Bears, the former Raider, will now play the Raiders. This game is in London. Part of the Raiders' goofy schedule that the NFL apologized for it was so difficult. They won't go home again until November 3rd. It's absurd.

They had a preseason game in Winnipeg. So anyway, Khalil Mack said he can not. He circled this game on the schedule. I've been looking forward to. This is one I'm looking forward to. I can't let you go out of you, man. I got to let you go out of you, you know what I'm saying? It's going to be a big one.

I got to give the Raiders credit. I've been very critical of John Gruden, who I know and I like. I think he's a great broadcaster. And I think his departure from Monday Night Football, the absence has been noticeable. This has been a tire fire. You have the cryo feet disaster with AB, the AB disaster. You have a first-time general manager in his first draft. You had the hard knocks distraction.

You had the Vantes-Berfect mess. You've had weird trades. And yet the Raiders today would be a playoff team. It's incredible. The offense is mostly good. Their rookie running back has 300 yards. They stole Darren Waller, the tight end from Baltimore. he has been spectacular. Tyrell Williams, the receiver from the Chargers, has a touchdown in every game.

They've been clever and creative and they come right out of the gate every week. Despite the noise and the press conferences and the silliness and the trades and the controversies, the Raiders are actually a pretty fun watch. They are not a great team. And when you consider they're in a division with Mahomes and Andy Reed and the Chargers and the fact today they'd be a playoff team with this schedule, this noise, by the way, if you think I'm exaggerating about the schedule, starting at Minnesota, September 22nd, they don't play at home until November at Minnesota, at Indy,

now in London, by at Green Bay at Houston. Those are some really good defenses. And yet today they're two and two and a fun watch. You know, what are expectations, you know, in life? What are expectations? This has been a barnyard musical for six months, a total on the side of the freeway tire fire. And, you know, they're just a slight underdog against Chicago, won their division in Chicago last year. Some dysfunctional people can work.

And I said, if the Raiders got to eight and eight, you would be like, oh, this is an incredible success. and I'm dead serious. This would be an incredible success. If the Raiders get to 500, I will buy two season tickets for the Raiders in Vegas, give them to a charity, a kid's charity. That is how impressed I am.

Now, this may go sideways fast. But to be two and two in that division with all the noise, I don't even, I mean, I can't deal with that kind of chaos. I can't deal with it. Their new stadium, you know, Remember Al Davis, the late Al Davis, his whole thing was Just Win Baby.

They should hang a banner inside the new Vegas football stadium that says, just 500, baby, and it will be one of their great accomplishments. If they beat Chicago and London, I don't even know what to make of it. I don't even know what to make of it. The spread on this game, if you had told me watch the Bears in preseason and watch the Raiders just organizationally, This should be an 18-point spread. Now, Chicago is using a backup quarterback,

although Chase Daniels, a very good backup, has played with Matt and Aggie before in Kansas City. So two season tickets, all buy them, go to a charity in Vegas. Because I am, I think, didn't I call this team a 3 and 13 or a 4-12 team? I thought they would be the biggest joke in the league. I thought it would be Miami's tanking, then the Raiders. Just 500, baby.

What an accomplishment. Coming up next, T.J. Hushmanzada. Always a good listen. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Competing today takes energy, stamina. Go to MDrive for Men.com today. Refine your prime. Boost and burn. Burns fat.

Look at you're in great shape. You work out every day, don't you? You're one of those guys. I do not. It's incredible. I just don't eat a lot. Yeah, you know, I don't want to hear about that. You know, him, he and Eric Dickerson, one time I said, what did you have for dinner last night?

He goes, a piece of candy. That's all he ate all day. You're one of those kids. You have a smoothie every third day. Nah. It's ridiculous. I only eat one meal a day. I ate a piece of fruit.

I ate a piece of nectarine, a nectarine this morning. And then I'll eat one meal a day and that's about it. That's not healthy. I'll snack though on candy throughout the day, though. Candy? Yeah. How did NFL wide receiver nonsense? It's really discouraging.

I eat salmon all day. and I looked like a bag of... You're in shape, too. I'll get out of here anyway. Enough about me. Okay, so Minnesota's got an issue. It's easy to blame Kurt Cousins. That's who all blame.

Their offense, the receivers are great. Their tight ends excellent. They're running backs of beast. O-line's okay, better than last year. This thing could unravel. If they go to New York and lose to rookie quarterback, Daniel Jones, T.J., that locker room, we're already hearing guys snipe last week. Whose fault is it?

Who was Adam Thielen talking to? Mike Zimmer. He wasn't talking to Kirk. What if Odell Beckham or Antonio Brown came out and said what Thielen said, y'all'd be killing him. He's talking to Mike Zimmer like, we're not going to win games the way you want to play, Zim. We're not. And Zimmer's looking at it like, I played J'all Way last year and look what happened. So now we're going to do things my way.

But when I saw that, I thought, oh, Thielan is letting Zimmer know we can't win games like this. It's not really Kirk Cousins. It's Zimmer. I'm talking to you through the media. And that's how I took it. Conservative. And what I don't understand about Minnesota, you draft a tight end in the first round from Alabama

and you think, oh, we're going to go run the ball. Like, open it up, you got digs, stealing, Rudolph, I believe it's Irv Smith. Yes. Throw the ball. Why draft them if this is the type of offense you're going to play? Yeah.

I don't get it. Their weapons are fantastic. Let's talk to another struggling offense for one week. the New Orleans Saints. Was that play calling? Was that again the conservative play calling that bothered you? No, I wouldn't say that. I look at it like, did anybody think the Cowboys will go 16 and no?

No. You're going to lose. So when you lose, you just regroup. It happens. You played on the road. You played a good New Orleans team that could be undefeated. And you just lost the game. Nobody thought you would go 16 and no.

You lost New Orleans. Okay, pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and let's go at it again the next week. week. I don't, when you lose the game, the sky isn't falling. You just lost the game. Take me, what was it like when you would lose with the playoff Cincinnati team you played with, Carson Palmer, and you're flying home? That's different because we hadn't had a consistent winning type of team around us. We would do well, then not do well. The Cowboys have done well for years. So when you, for us, it was, oh, man, we got to turn this around. And if you

lost another game, it would be like, uh-oh, here we go again, that type of stuff. That shouldn't be going on in Dallas. They've won consistently for years, albeit they're not winning and getting to the Super Bowl, but they're getting to the playoffs. They're having winning seasons. They're being successful against the best teams consistently. They just lost a game. It's not a big deal. You know, it is funny. I have my blazing five. I pick my pick picks on Friday. And this week, My theme is there was a lot of good coaches and good teams that got humiliated. For instance, Green Bay's defense last Thursday night got pushed around by Philadelphia. I don't know if they'll win.

They'll play very good that defense will against Dallas. Baltimore pushed around by Cleveland. They'll go to Pittsburgh and that defense will be ready to play. So I look at the Rams and they just got gashed by James Winston. And so tonight they go up to Seattle. And my guess is Rams are totally buttoned up tonight. Your thoughts on the defense by the Rams and how they play tonight in Seattle? That's almost crazy because that's exactly what I was telling somebody yesterday.

Wade Phillips defense gave up 55 points. That's not going to happen again. When I tell you they are attention to detail this week, this week has not been a physical type of week of preparation because it's a short week. everything is mental. They're going to be ready to play. Now, whether they win or lose, they won't give up 55 points.

They won't give up 45 points. They're going to make adjustments to whatever Tampa Bay did that they couldn't handle because Seattle was going to implement some of those plays at Tampa Bay. It's a copycat league. Okay, what did they have trouble with? Okay, we're going to implement these plays at this down the distance, at this part of the field

because this is the type of defense that the Rams like they're going to be ready for that. I foresee the Rams playing great on. defense. They're not going to have too bad showings back to back. Not with the type of players they have anyway. Obviously, Russell Wilson will be a showcase player tonight. You played overwhelmingly Kittina Carson Palmer with more statuess quarterbacks. Did you ever play with a runner? At college, you played with a pocket quarterback, Jonathan Smith. Crazy. I've never played with a mobile quarterback ever because I had a hassle back in Seattle and Flacco in Baltimore. When you watch a

Russell Wilson or Lamar Jackson or a Kyler Murray. Do you think to yourself, are you the kind of receiver that would love peeling off routes? I'm not. I'm a receiver that if I need to be at 18 yards, two to four yards inside the numbers, that's where I'm going to be. More of a, I know what the quarterback's looking at. I know what you want me to do and I'm going to do it. I don't like to improvise. You're not an improvised guy. No. So you are you are a detail oriented process guy, a precise route runner. That's how you got paid. Yeah.

All right, that's fair. Like, it is funny with Russell Wilson, though, because Doug Baldwin, I think, is a route runner like you, but made a hell of a career off Russell Wilson having to learn to peel off stuff. Now, if that's all you know, because that's going to get you probably. You look at Antonio Brown and Big Ben, he probably got AB two to 300 yards every year just off improvisation, just, oh, it's not there. take off. And so you would adjust because those are free touchdown, so to speak, because the guys,

they lose coverage on you. They lose sight of you. So you would adjust it. I wouldn't mind it, but I'm a, okay, they're playing cover two men. Okay, I'm a stemming inside. I'm a breakout at 10 yards. And no improvisation. The quarterback knows it. That's what I like to do. That's what I feel I do best. Kaleel Mack of the Bears gets to face the team that traded him the Raiders. Is Kalee Mack going to dominate Oakland? Man, if I'm John Gruden, there's no way I let Kelle. Mal Mc do anything because if he plays well, they're going to say, you should have never let him go. I'm chipping him.

I'm doubling him. If we lose a game, it will not be because Khalil Mack had an impact. If I'm John Groot and our offensive staff, I try to minimize his effect on the game from the initial first play. You're not doing anything. So when you were in NFL locker rooms, this stuff is regular. A player leaves. Did you hear what Kalil Mack said?

I'm looking forward to this. Okay, so are we? So now we're going to chip you every place. We're going to double you every play. We're going to slide to you every play. And so we're going to try to minimize your impact on the game because you are really fired up for this. So if we can minimize that, maybe some frustration might set in and you start to play out of yourself. I got to ask you because T.J. Hushmanzada is joining us Fox Sports NFL analyst.

You are a coach. You mentor many of these young receivers who are signing with Washington and, you know, all over the country. You mentored. And it's fascinating. I got into this conversation the other day. So you've been on the forefront of this. Over the last 15 years, football has changed for young kids. 10, 11-year-old quarterbacks now have quarterback coaches.

Quarterbacking is now an industry. People make a living off teaching 9-year-old boys how to quarterback in college. You're a teacher. I was watching college football the last couple of weeks. The quality of freshman and sophomore quarterbacks in college is astounding. Arizona State's got a true freshman. Ohio State's got a junior. Clemson's got a junior.

Take our audience a little bit into what you're seeing. The game to me, because of seven-on-seven summer camps, 365, especially in California with good weather, high school players look so much better to me now. You have so many former NFL players, former college players that are going back helping kids. And so these kids in high school, they know what a two high, one high shell is, whether it's cover one, cover three, cover two, four, six, two.

They understand when they see these defenses what each guy's responsibility in that defense is at an early age. So that's 16, 17. Did you know what it was at 16? No, I did not. I learned that a little bit in junior college, a lot at Oregon State. Brett Farve, I heard him the other day saying he was 10 years in the league when he started learning defenses. And these kids are learning this in high school, some in middle school that mentally can handle it. They understand what guys are supposed to do.

So when they get to college, if the protection is there, they're going to sling it. This is what we've talked about this. So it used to be first round quarterbacks. Forget second, third, fourth, fifth. First round quarterbacks 10 years ago, 50-50, half were busts, half made it. Of the last 20 first round quarterbacks, one has not worked. Paxton Lynch. Everybody works.

Everybody works. Everybody. The guys we don't like Daniel Jones, the guys we think are complete utter projects, Lamar and Josh Allen. They're getting to the playoffs. They're winning games. And to me, when I watch it, I say,

well, of course they are because I watch Saturday football. These guys are so much better. So you see high school, you're at a high school game every Friday. I see these high school quarterbacks look just as good as some NFL guys. From a pure arm standpoint, mentally, completely different.

But they have an idea of what they're doing. You watch Bryce Young play at Modern Day, and he's small, but he's accurate, and he knows where to go with the ball. He's crazy. He's going to Clemson, right? Alabama. He just decommitted from USC. Everybody's decommitting from there.

All right, T.J. Hushman Zata, speaking of college football, Erman Meyer, will join us in the last hour. 11 NFL seasons, a pro bowl as well. TJ, good seeing you, bud. Thank you, man. Been fun. How many guys out there? Stop using your wife shampoo, your girlfriend shampoo.

Your hair is different. Do it a favor. Go to Dove Men Plus Care, a range, a wide range design to help your hair get strong and be resilient, only available at Walmart. So Urban Meyer, our Fox analyst, the former Buckeye and Gator Coach, will be joining us in just about 15 minutes. The Herd. One more Herd? The Herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week, within the IHeart Radio app. Search her to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like.

Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves.

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Learn the hard way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing,

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I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker walks up to me. He goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue 42.

A rep. My mama want you to wave at her. What? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you already know there's a lot to break down. Gorsha accusing Kelly of sleeping with a merry man. They holding Kay Michelle back from fighting Drew.

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I'm not just watching it, I understand the game. As somebody who creates shows, I'll even say this. At the end of the day, when people are at home, they want entertainment. To hear this and more, listen to Reality with the King on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get, your podcast. Oh, here we go. Hour number three. I got my college picks coming up. 45 minutes. Marquis three winning week last week. This is The Hurd. Live in LA, wherever you may be and however

you may be listening. IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio and FS1, also on XM Series, Channel 83. The show is flying by, great game tonight, by the way. Rams in Seattle. Good stuff. I like shows like today, Thursday, Friday shows just boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. selfishly these Thursday games are great for us. I can talk about a huge game tonight. They're almost all good now. The NFL figured out the Thursday games. Let's put teams that are in division, same time zone mostly.

They can play together. Same time zone, one time zone away. Rivalry games, Rams, Seattle. Actually, Russell Wilson has lost eight times to the Rams. That's been his kryptonite. Yeah, St. Louis or L.A. Really? It's been his kryptonite.

Yeah, he's been sacked on average about four times. That's interesting. Yeah. So, oh, by the way, marquee, three picks. Urban Meyer, will be joined. joining us in 15 minutes, Jim Harbaugh's career at Michigan on the line this week as they host Iowa. I've got, that's one of my picks. I've got strong thoughts.

So tonight, the showdown, Russell Wilson, hosting the L.A. Rams and Jared Goff. It got me thinking, you know, this summer, my daughter took a trip to South Africa, and there was something I found fascinating about it. She calls me on FaceTime, and I am literally in the back. part of my house. And she's on FaceTime, and my daughter's calling me. She's in South Africa, in a tiny room, doors are locked. I'm in Manhattan Beach, California. I was looking for a broom or something.

I'm in a little storage area. And I am talking to my daughter in real time, less than a one second delay. She's in South Africa. And I'm thinking, that is crazy. We have figured out how to do this. that. We have figured out as a country how to send people into spaceships. Just think about that. But here's what we haven't done in eight years, figured out how to stop Russell Wilson. Eight years, no losing seasons in now the toughest division, best coach division in football.

So tonight the Seahawks and the Rams play. Rams have more good players. Ram should win the game. And it's funny about the NFC West because it's had star-studded coaches. San Francisco owned it for three years with Jim Harbaugh. And then Seattle owned it for four years with Pete Carroll. And then here came Sean McVeigh, and he's danced on everybody else's grave for a couple of years in Los Angeles. And everybody now, the media just fell in love with Sean McVe. The cheekbones, the charisma, he won, he's very verbal, he's very smart, he's very handsome. He is like the ultimate L.A. millionaire, right?

He's got it all, baby, the career, the looks, and everybody fell head over heels. The Rams are going to spend big money and dominate. And you know why I never believed it? Two reasons. Number one, the coaching in this division is the best in football. Pete Carroll is arguably, along with Belichick, the first or second best defensive mind in the last 10 years in the league. Kyle Shanahan, along with Andy Reed and Sean Payton, is one of the top three offensive coaches. And there's no question, Sean McVey is the best young coach overall in the game.

I don't know what's happening in Arizona, but those three alone, the coaching is way too good for any one coach to run away with this division. Three of the top five, six coaches in football are in the same division. Nobody's dominating it. But the second reason nobody's dominating it is Russell Wilson. I want you to think about this for a second. Russell Wilson lost his best receiver. He retired. The offensive line is so-so.

His top running back was picked in the seventh round. He has a rookie wide receiver who dropped in the draft and a blocking tight end. And right now, he is neck in neck with Patrick Mahomes as the best quarterback statistically in the NFL. It makes absolutely no sense. Either does somebody on YouTube, who I watch yesterday, figure out the Rubik's Cube in 28 seconds, men on the moon, or me talking to my daughter in South Africa on a phone. Russell Wilson is unbelievable.

The only team that could ever own this division, own it, would be Seattle, and that's because of Russell Wilson. It's really unbelievable what he's done this year. he's having his best season as he lost his best receiver, his best running backs of seventh rounder, the offensive line is not ranked as a top 10 line. They're kind of rebuilding, to be honest with you, on the O line and defense.

And Peter King was on our show this week. I said, Peter, I don't know if he's the best player. He's certainly the best Seahawk ever. I said, but he is absolutely in my lifetime. He's the best running quarterback in 30 years. and Peter King, I said, Peter, he's the most underrated player of my life. I'm not even sure who's second. Maybe Steve Young.

We look at Russell Wilson, who is a quarterback metronome. He never misses any time. He never gets hurt. He's never banged up. Well, I'm sure he is. But he never, ever flinches. It's hard to say if you think a guy is going to the Hall of Fame one day that he's underrated. But if it's possible with any quarterback in football right now, it's Russell Wilson.

Rams tonight on the road. Sean McBay, eight and one after a loss, take on Russell Wilson in the Seahawks on Fox. All right, the other story that it developed over the last 48 hours, the Vikings were horrible against the Chicago Bears. It was a really hard game to watch. And Minnesota's got tons of great players. One of them, Stefan Diggs, he's a remarkable wide receiver. So he disappeared after the game for two days, started favoring on Instagram Patriot players. So he showed up at practice today.

He's a remarkable player. And there was speculation. Mike Zimmer said, I have no idea where he's at. Adam Thielen was frustrated. Stefan Diggs disappeared. Well, he was just talking to Minneapolis media, and here's Stefan Diggs about an hour ago. I feel like there's truth to all rumors, you know.

I mean, no matter how you dress it up, I won't be saying nothing on it. I won't be speaking on it at all. But there's truth to all rumors, I guess. So you do want to be traded? Did I say that? Well, you said there's truth to all rumors. And what I mean by that?

So I can, you know, politely explain. There was a lot of speculation of me being frustrated. Of course, you know, as being a receiver in wanting to have success and wanting to win. If you want to win it, you're not winning. Of course, you'll be frustrated. That's my answer. Yeah. So he's also saying, if you think I want to be traded, rumors generally come from some basis.

in truth. And they've got two good tight ends. Even if he was traded, they have Adam Thielen, they have Dolvin Cook. I think they have a really good defense. It's a Super Bowl roster that is at times absolutely unwatchable in offense. They could literally get

rid of Stefan Dix honestly. It's like if Cleveland got rid of OBJ, they would still, it's a really good offense. I mean, don't even have Kareem Hunt yet. This is a rare NFL team that has a surplus of super talented offensive players. But the problem with Minnesota, I mean, I guess you could trade him for a top offensive lineman.

Their offensive linemen so-so. Minnesota's issue is a very clear one. They have a quarterback now that's very limited. He's a system quarterback, and they are locked in for at least the next 16 games next year, you know, 12 this year. They're locked into Kurt Cousins' contract. I do believe the Minnesota Vikings will draft a quarterback in the first round. They don't have a lot of needs on their roster. They don't so they could go and get a quarterback.

Their biggest need right now is a quarterback that can elevate all the pieces. So, and this is one of these things. I'm not a big fan of players holding out, but I also realize that if I have a bad boss or a bad year or a year left in a contract, I can broadcast for the next, you know, even now at this age, and 15 years. When you're a great wide receiver in the NFL, you're going to have about seven prime years. And I think Stefan Diggs is saying, okay, I'm going to waste this year and next year. Like, I'm not going to do it. And that's where I side with players.

That's why, I mean, that's where I get players saying, you know, I'm just not going to give you my life. I believe I'm a transformational talent. And I do think Diggs with the right quarterback is a plus wide receiver. I mean, he's really, really special. So Minnesota's in a tough division, Green Bay's defense is better, Chicago's defense is better. Detroit with Matt Patricia has a defense that's better. And they have a limited quarterback. And one of their star receivers is saying, I'm not going to play like this.

This is no fun for me. And so, you know, if I'm Minnesota, upgrade the offensive line, although, you know, who's got a good offensive line that could use a star receiver? I mean, maybe Dallas says we'll take another weapon. We'll give you one of our offensive line guys. I don't know. But I do have a little sympathy for Stefan Diggs. And I'm not always pro player.

But I get somebody that thinks are a superstar talent. I mean, Chris Paul was in Los Angeles. DeAndre Jordan was driving him nuts. Blake Griffin was driving him nuts. He just wanted to go to Houston and win, and his body fell apart. But I got why Chris Paul won it out. He's like, man, I got about three prime years left. It ended up he had about one prime year left because his wheels fell apart.

So it's a fascinating situation. Diggs isn't happy. He's remarkable. And I don't know how you solve Minnesota's issue. I think you can solve it by going out and getting a quarterback in the first round next year. And, you know, what you maybe do, honestly? This is an interesting one. Do you give Stefan Diggs up to get a first round?

pick from a bad team that you think is going to be a top five pick. If I'm Minnesota, I would strongly consider this solves, because it's not like you don't have weapons. You got Thielen, Rudolph, Irv Smith, Delvin Cook, and a great defense. You've got an extra weapon here. Do you give up Stefan Diggs to a team to get a first round top five pick and get a quarterback? I think I'd do it if I was Minnesota. I'm dead serious here. I think I would do it if I was Minnesota. I really would. and because who are those teams they're going to be drafting? By the way, Arizona,

Larry Fitzgerald retires, you got a new quarterback? I take Stefan Diggs in Arizona. It's Miami. Listen, Miami's going to have three first round picks. Would I give up one of them? I'll take Tua and then Stefan Diggs? Oh yeah,

my offense will change overnight. I think you have to get, this sounds crazy, but this is a rare situation where you know, if you've got multiple, you know, toys, give one away to solve an issue that right now is unsolvable. You're simply not good enough at quarterback in a division with the Bears' defense, Matt Patricia's defense, that's only getting better, and Green Bay's improved defense. Am I crazy on that? I don't think I'm nuts on that. No, and you know how I feel about hoarding draft picks anyway. If you have a known talent in Stefan Diggs, and it's a position of need, like you just said, the dolphins, that makes sense.

I know you're rebuilding, but that makes sense. Minnesota really outside a quarterback is not desperate anywhere. Didn't they draft a center this year? I think they did. They drafted the best center from NC State. So that was one of their weaknesses. Minnesota's lucky. They've got all sorts of toys, two great receivers.

They're paying both of them. there are an issue as quarterback. You know, here, Stefan Diggs, give us a top. Go find the four teams, five teams that you believe. And by the way, this next year, you're going to have four to five quarterbacks. You may not get Tua, but you can get Justin Herbert at Oregon, who I think is going to be a nice NFL player. I may be nuts on this.

I'd do it. I don't think you are. And if you have some problems in the locker room where people are starting to get resentful, then that might be the best situation. Wow. Okay, Urban Myers around the corner plus my marquee three college football picks this week. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the IHard Radio app.

Weather's getting cold, unpredictable. Michelin Endurance XT silicone wiper blades, two times longer than other blades. Available at Walmart, Michelin Endurance S.T. Silicon Wiper Blades today. Urban Meyer, two national championship, one of two coaches to win them at two different schools. Sabin's the other one. So here we go. I was just talking to T.J. Hushman's autumn.

I watched the Clemson quarterback, and I watched the Ohio State quarterback. And these quarterbacks now look so much better as sophomores than sometimes seniors did 10 years ago. So you've Bowling Green, Utah, Florida, Ohio State, did you notice it in your career that seven-on-seven camp, summer drills, the kids now can read defenses at 17 years old? Did you notice, I mean, Ohio State Justin Fields, I'm sorry, but that's an NFL quarterback, maybe not upstairs yet, but when did you notice they're getting way better, way earlier? Well, just the elite 11s and all these quarterback gurus that are really good. They really could coach at college or really good coaches. And, you know, these people pay a lot of money for this training that goes on. And sometimes it works out.

Sometimes it doesn't. But you're talking about guys that are, you know, 12, 13, 14 years old that are learning. and how to read defenses and studying the game back when I was growing up. That didn't take place until college. Yeah, you too, by the way. You can sit home at night and look at film all day long. It is crazy. And they're very specialized, which I'm not a big fan of.

You know, when you're a quarterback, I'm finding out in the last decade, Iowa has believed in go play more sports. You will play basketball, go play baseball, go play other sports, and learn how to compete. Where Dwayne Haskins never really did that. Dwayne Haskins was a quarterback when he was this big, and that's all he did. You're not a fan of that?

I just, I've seen too many players get burnt out. You know, I see guys, you know, Duane's obviously a very successful story, and there's other ones, but there's others that never get that thrill. When you get to, you know, I think growing up, you should be playing those other sports and experiencing things. And those days are, when you say I'm a young quarterback, that's all you do. Yeah, I just, I read a doctor's report yesterday that said

every young kid under 19 should take two months off a year. just don't just take just eat have fun live because your body's growing and it can't take the repetitive motion well my son did baseball and i remember you know i pushed football basketball and baseball and whatever sports he wanted to play and a lot of his kids that his age were a little better than him because that's all they did 12 months a year and he started to come to me and said i want to do that's we're not going to do that and just you know you'll get fine most of those kids are burnt out their arms are shot they're done playing you know Because I ask back, you know, what are happening? These kids on your team, there with these great players. They're not playing anymore.

And they burn out. They burn out. So it's interesting. It's tough for you. You're the Ohio State coach. Then you leave. And now you're asked to comment on Michigan football. I tend to think what happens in the media as we overreact to everything.

So Michigan plays Wisconsin in Camp Randall. First of all, I think this is the best Wisconsin defense I've ever seen. I think they're fantastic. They're fired up because Michigan and Harbaugh got a lot of bravado. and they beat the living, you know what out of them. Now everybody thinks Michigan stinks. My takeaway is, no, they're going to beat Iowa because they're better than Iowa. And they've got better personnel, and I watch recruiting.

Have we, are we being overly critical because, frankly, a better Wisconsin team crush Michigan? I think it was just the way they played. It was not good. The energy on the sideline, that's where I think people were very critical of it. But I never was. I think they'll rebound. I think the Big Ten is very out. average, you know, maybe the top's very good, but the bottom is very average now.

You see some of these scores like Maryland. I thought Maryland, Nebraska, some of those teams northwestern would be really good teams. And you just watch them, they don't look very good. So I think the Wolverines will get on the roll, win some games, you know, will they be what's expected of them in Ann Arbor? No, I don't think that. But I think they're going to be, there'll be a very good team. Well, I mean, generally, too, if you get humiliated, generally teams bounce back.

You know, I, if they're made of something, they'll bounce back. And that's something to watch. If they're made of something, they'll bounce back. It's not going to be because of talents. If they're made of something, and I think they will. One of the things that's difficult is, and you had to deal with this your last six to seven years of your career, not as much earlier as social media. Kids are on their phones.

They're told how great they are. So Clemson comes into the year, and idiots like me say, I said, offensively, this could be a 48-pointed game juggernaut. This could be all-time stuff here. They have NFL receivers, backs, and they have been clunky on offense. And I want you to go back to maybe your Tebow teams that kids read it, and Dabo has to deal with the reality of these guys all think they're superstars. And did you ever have teams that you return a bunch of players, and you found it difficult to inspire them because of what was in their head

and what they were reading about themselves? Well, we won three championships, one in 06. We lost our whole team, so that was not the situation we're talking about. we had the whole team back. You had Tim Tebow back. You had the entire defense back. It was a much different team, much harder to coach. And so you had won the year before.

We won in 08. And then you brought them back and it was harder. 09, we were preseason number one by a wide margin, had a great team. We went 13 to 1. We lost Alabama in the SEC championship. So it was a great team, but it was not easy to coach. And we didn't repeat. Like you just said, you know, everyone's talking about the NFL and all that.

In 14, we won the national championship. Had a good majority of them back. Had Cardell Jones and J.T. Baird back in 15. I remember that. And we're preseason. I think we're preseason one. And it was just not an easy. Everybody was Zeke Elliott, Mike Thomas, great players.

Oh, my gosh. But there's a lot of conversation about the NFL. And you, Urban, do you hear it in the locker room? Oh, sure. You do. Yeah. And I, and I, you try to, first of all, they helped you win a national title. We went 13 to 1 again.

So, you know, a lot of people in Columbus. I just thought it was an awful season. Went 13 to 1. But once again, they're great people, but you can't help. You start thinking about what's next. Of course. And that's hard to deal with at times. By the way, of all this college stuff, and I do think this year we've got,

the best team I have seen is Alabama. I think Auburn's actually the second best team. Ohio State, third, Oklahoma, LSU. There's about seven teams I like. I think this is the best Wisconsin team I've ever seen. I think Notre Dame's absolutely for real. I don't think there may be Alabama real, but they're darn good and they're well-coached. It's an interesting world, this California rule that won't be enacted until 2023 comes out,

you know, pay the college kids. Well, I've always been reluctant for that if the school has to pay them, because I don't think the Oregon states and the Northwesterns have the surplus of money to pay everybody, because you pay a football player, you've got to pay a tennis player. But now the world, what California is saying, And they're saying to the NCAA, we're going to be about four years to figure this out. What we're saying is YouTube can pay them and Apple can pay them. And if they sell jerseys, a T-shirt company can pay them.

My initial instinct is, oh, this is going to be just, this is all sorts of car dealer trouble. What was your first reaction to it? Well, I've been hearing about this for about three years, and Gene Smith, our athletic director, is on one of the committees. I think he's a chair of it. And he thinks it's going to happen. You know, when? Yeah.

And how do you legislate that? You know, how do you, you know, there's part of me to say that's good, but there's a good part of me that's spent 30 years of my life in college sports. It's going to change the, it will never be the same. Right. College athletics will never be the same. I agree. And how that impacts a person going to class and being a team first

and the whole reason why we got into, why I did get into the purity of college athletics is because you get the mold 17, 18, 19-year-olds into team first mentality. That'll be gone. and I'm concerned about it. You know, what's right, what's wrong? I think there's arguments for both sides that are very legitimate. However, how in the world do you legislate that? I was telling Joy this morning.

You know, I'll give you a fascinating number. In the last 50 years in the NBA, there's only been 3,000 players in 50 years. Ohio State has 2,000 athletes on their campus. So you don't have enough agents to represent the kids. They're going to have to be unionized. You're going to have big bodies helping them. Well, unions are fraught with their own issues, right?

That the superstars are like, I don't want union representation. So I think it's going to be very, very complicated. But I would say this, what's the old saying, horse out of the barn, it's coming. Like, it's over. I mean, you're trying to fight the internet. You would agree as a former coach, it's going to happen. It's going to happen. It's just you brought this up, the percentages of out.

So take an Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Georgia, you know, the most talented teams in the country. out of that there's about 10%. There's a roster full of NFL talent. How many are really going to get those opportunities? You're talking about a small percentage. Could be six. And then you go down below the top five, six, seven programs in America. How many are actually going to get those opportunities?

I think it's a small percentage. I do too. It's weird because in the NFL, everybody feels like they at least get paid. In college, what happens if 98% your roster makes nothing? And then there's six guys that get all the money. Does it change the chemistry in the lot? I can't imagine you're coaching a guy that's making, you know, $600,000 like Zeke Elliott.

You know, how do you convince him that he has to go to class on Tuesday? And, you know, because you're 17, 18, 19 years old. So I just think the dynamics of this thing is going to be very interesting to watch. It will change college sports forever. Yeah. Who's the best team you've seen in the country? Best team, I'd have to say Ohio State, yet they're obviously the competition is going to get a little rugged coming up.

I really like Auburn. I like Auburn, they came out of nowhere, man. I think they're tremendous. I think LSU was tremendous because they went into Texas. I like to look. I think October separates people, especially the people that haven't played anyone yet. You know, some schools haven't played a ranked team yet. So I think October is going to separate them.

That's why I like to look at the teams that have played well. Alabama, Ohio State, just their talent. But I think LSU and Auburn, what they've done, they've earned that right because they've done something so far. All right, Big Noon, kickoff Saturday, 11 o'clock with the coach. Matt Lina, Reggie Bush, Brady, Quinn, Rob Stone. Good seeing, Urban. Good see you.

Joy with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the Hurdline News. So the Redskins quarterback situation is a mess, and Jay Gruden is starting to get tired of talking about it. Yesterday, he was asked about Dwayne Haskins in his chances of starting on Sunday against the Patriots,

and he was a little snarky in his response. It's not the end of the world. If he doesn't play another snap, if he starts every game and doesn't do very well, it's a good experience for him. So you can argue both sides of the coin right here. No matter what we do with him, we're going to be wrong, so it doesn't really matter. I have to see some things for me to make the decision, and that will come out here at practice tomorrow, really.

Hopefully, after tomorrow's practice, I'll have a good indication who I'm going to play. So, yeah, in my mind I have a pretty good plan. contrary to believe. So you need one more practice to see? if Wayne Haskins is capable of starting. I think he just didn't want to tell the press anything. That's what it feels like to me. I have a tough time having a lot of sympathy

for the Redskins in the spot because when you don't make really strong, convicted choices at this position, this is what you deal with all season long. It's why I always say if you have more than one quarterback, you have no quarterback. Because everyone wants to know who's starting at quarterback. It's very impactful.

It's not to be... It affects everybody. It affects everybody. And not to be like, you know, selfish, but, you know, people got fantasy teams out here. We want to know what's going on. People are gambling. People care about the team that you coach. My gambling matters.

It does matter. Like, it affects a lot of stuff. Like, there's more than one reason why people are asking who is starting. And your team also may want to know. Like, there is the certainty to that position that needs to be maintained. I agree. And if you're coming into the season thinking he is incapable of starting a game, then don't throw him to the wolves against the giants.

of course people are going to ask if he's going to be out there or not. Say unequivocally, you will not see Dwayne Haskins this year at the beginning of the season. And then later on in the year, if you decide to change your mind, you're the coach, you can change your mind. But at least you avoid the questions the whole time. The problem is Alex Smith breaks a leg and Colt McCoy gets hurt. Now you're trapped and you have a backup and you're trying to save the locker room. And you're thinking Duane is the pick. And D.C. is a political city anyway.

And you have a meddling owner. I'm not saying there's not a lot of circumstances. I'm just saying that if you are clear and convicted in your choice, and then how you speak about it, then you're not going to get a million questions. So, like, I don't think that it's going to be pretty on Sunday the Patriots and Redskins game, and we already know what Bill Belichick and Tom Brady do

to rookie quarterbacks to begin with. But, you know, you just got to make a choice. So the Ravens Head to Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers on Sunday. This will be the Marge Jackson's first start in Pittsburgh, and he and Harbaugh are prepared for hostile environments for this rivalry game. I know it's going to be crazy. I know that, you know, still this nation going to be, you know, pump for the game, and then we're going to have our flock nation in the building.

It's going to be a good rival, rival game. I'm ready. It's going to be pretty crazy. No bin. Oh, man, a whole new team, new era. So we just got to get ready for it. One of the things that was said in the meeting today is you're not a raven until you beat the Steelers. Well, we've got some of the guys that still need to beat the Steelers. Actually, Baltimore is kind of young. I looked at their roster last night.

Baltimore's got a lot of young players. So a lot of those guys don't know the rivalry. They haven't been in the rivalry. No. And Hinesfield is one of my favorite places to watch a football game. That's great. When it gets going and the terrible towels are getting swung around. It's a very rowdy place. Between their baseball and football stadium, Pittsburgh is a great stadium town. You oversee the city. Yeah, no, it's phenomenal. The way that they've set all that up. The North Shore is great.

And I mean, everyone goes down in tailgates. And everyone takes it up a notch for the Ravens game. Like, we don't like the Browns, obviously, but traditionally it hasn't been a big worrisome. game. This is the rivalry. So what they're saying is totally true. That said, Ravens got embarrassed last week by the Browns. Steelers had kind of a

walk through against Cincinnati. So this will be an interesting game. I think the Ravens win, just because they're going to get up after that disappointing loss, but it'll be fun to watch either way. Finally, Colin loves Gardner Minshu. He's played very well since stepping in for injured Nick Foles.

And Jacksonville's hoping to capitalize on Minshu Mania in an effort to boost a Jacksonville is now offering a Minshew mini pack for their next two home games against the Saints and the Jets. Fans who purchase tickets to both games will get a bandana and a mustache to wear as well as access to the field so they can take a photo in their new gear. What do you think of that? I don't think I think it's cute and I think the Jaguars. It's a college football town need to do this. They're 28th in attendance this year down from 17th last year.

You know, there's a lot of Baker Mayfield here. It's just he didn't have, he didn't play at Oklahoma. He played at Washington State. He kind of looks like him. He kind of plays. He reminds me a lot. He does. He reminds me a lot of Baker Mayfield that he kind of has good feet.

He runs around. He's an accurate thrower. Their style of play reminds me of each other. But their personalities are very different. Yeah. Well, Gardner's way more. He's more lightful, lighthearted. He's kind of like a hipster a little bit. Yeah.

Yeah. And he gets it. Baker's. He gets what's going on. Baker's, Baker is more of a cool, swag, factor. He knows he's cool. You know what? I think it's a really fun story. I like it, and I like it for

Jacksonville, too. It is absolutely huge disappointment. I was rooting for Jacksonville this year just because I wanted to see what Nick Fowles was going to do. So it looked like just a disaster for them. So I'm happy that this has kept them relevant, and he is actually winning, too, which is good. That's good. Joy with the news.

Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Ly news. By the way, the Patriots kicker, I saved this story to the end of the show, because it matters, Stephen Goscowski, out for the year. So the Patriots now have lost maybe the best kicker in football. Their starting center was a Pro Bowl where he's gone for the year. They don't have a tight end.

Their left tackle is now gone. And their rookie-wide receiver, he's on IR2. And they're 4-0 and statistically the best defense in league history, and it doesn't matter. By the way, the Saints beat the Seahawks in Dallas without Drew Breeze. Philadelphia beat Green Bay without their top two corners, their number one deep threat, and two defensive linemen. I don't want to hear that Devante Adams is out for the Packers this week. Steelers won by 24 without Big Ben. If you're a well-run business, if you're a good organization, you can win.

And I do think there's two factors happening today which helps teams with injuries. Number one, the gap between starting quarterback and backup is not as great as it used to be because Gardner Minchu is a great example. Most of these college kids come into the pros, they can play. You don't have like Troy Aikman's hurt, Tony Romo's hurt, decimated season. I mean, Jacoby Berset was a backup. Gardner Minchew is a backup. Nick Foles was a backup.

Ryan Tanyhill now is a backup. Chase Daniel last week is a backup. We got a lot of good backups. The game is now easier because college schemes are being allowed in the NFL and brought over. So I do think the gap between starter and backup, Green Bay may be an exception, Kansas City an exception when you have a superstar, is just not that great. I mean, Eagles won a Super Bowl with a backup. The second thing that's happening is salary caps.

I just don't think this is not the NBA where four stars come together and there's a million exceptions on your salary cap. This is not baseball with no salary cap. There's no great teams. Kansas City's defense is not very good. New England's receiving core an O-liner amass. Who's the third best team in the league? I'm not even sure.

Some of you think it's the Rams. Their offensive line grades as dead last in the league. So I don't want to hear about excuses. I got New Orleans winning with a backup. Pittsburgh winning by 24 with Mason Rudolph. And New England's 4-0, as now they've lost their kicker for, the year. By the way, that's a biggie. I know you're saying it's a kicker. That guy's won.

Every Super Bowl, New England's been in, all nine decided by a field goal. They just lost the best field goal kicker they've had in a long, long time. Coming up next are Markey 3, my favorite college football picks of the week, three of them coming up. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. NHL opening week continues. Pends meet the Sabers, it's our Discover card key matchup. Go further than ever. Discover at Miles card. They match your Miles first year to 35,000 becomes 70. Discover.com slash travel.

Some six or seven really good college football games this weekend. Last week, it was two out of three. And I actually felt Virginia was going to cover for most of the game against Notre Dame that they didn't. So we had a very, very good week. We called our Markey 3. All of our odds are provided, of course, by Fox Bet, which is part. of our company now. So here's my three college football bets of the weekend. Ready to make some sweet cash, Colin's going to give you his three sure bets for the college

football weekend. It's time for the Fox Bet Marquis 3. Iowa and Michigan. I'm going to take Michigan to win and cover the spread at minus three and a half. Listen, Michigan was favored in this game by 14 points in the summer because they lost to Wisconsin. They're 11 points less of a team. No, Wisconsin's fantastic. Wisconsin's defense is the best I've ever seen. Michigan has won 10 straight home games. They're the much better team here. And oh, by the way, Iowa, oh my gosh, Iowa's undefeated.

They've yet to face a team this season that has a current winning record. They have faced the fourth easiest schedule in America among the 18 remaining unbeaten teams. Iowa's also lost three straight games against ranked Big Ten teams. Michigan's the better team. This is an easy number to cover. Michigan wins it 26 to 20 over Iowa. They're the better team here. Auburn at Florida.

I'm going to take Auburn has dominated this series. I'm going to take the Tigers. Auburn Tigers minus two and a half, even though it's at Florida. Auburn has won the last three meetings. Auburn's defensive line, I believe, is one of the best in America and will push Florida's offensive line around. Auburn's the only team in the first. the country with two wins over teams that are currently ranked Oregon and Texas A&M.

And by the way, in the last three games, Auburn's offense has exploded. In fact, Bo Nix had a bad first half against Oregon. Since halftime of the opening game, the freshman quarterback, Bo Nix, nine touchdown, no turnovers. They've not only won, they're 5'0 against the spread. Auburn has faced better competition. over the course of the game, this Auburn defensive line

pushes around the Gators and wins 27 to 20. Texas and West Virginia. Texas is the better team, but I'm going to take West Virginia and the points plus 10 and a half. West Virginia strangely has given Texas all sorts of trouble.

They run the heck out of the football and will keep it away from Texas quarterback Sam Ellinger. By the way, West Virginia had a buy last week. Now, I know Texas did too, but who is Texas playing next week? Oklahoma. Texas has lost the game before the Sooners in three of the last five seasons. So all those Texas players are looking ahead on the horizon to Oklahoma, and here's West Virginia at home getting over 10 points that's had kind of the number on Texas.

They run the football. Sam Ellinger sits on the sidelines and watches too much of this game. I'm going to take Texas to win 30 to 20, but it's just I'm betting a number here. I'm taking double-digit favorite, a double-digit underdog with West Virginia. So there's my picks. You can look at them one more time. I think Michigan is absolutely a better team than Iowa and wins by more than three and a half. I think Auburn's defensive line is the difference.

They've dominated this series. They're actually really playing well after a crappy first half against Oregon. And Texas will beat West Virginia, but I'm going to bet a number here. I'll take 10 and a half with West Virginia at home. They had a buy. They'll play well. For West Virginia, that's as big as a game gets. That is a big game.

For Texas, they all looking at sooner helmets out in the distance. That's really interesting. You know, somebody Lou Holt said this years ago, he goes, you never get the same 19-year-old back-to-back weeks. You never do. He goes, they got midterms, they got girlfriends. They're young, they're emotional. That's why, by the way, you know, Notre Dame plays Georgia. Then they come out against Virginia and they're totally flat in the first half.

You know, NFL guys, you can get the same. I mean, you get New England's the same team every week. College teams, you get wild variations because it's 18 and 19-year-old kids. So Texas plays like crud before Oklahoma, just the way it works, right? So it makes sense. Yeah, it does. So we got Seahawks Rams tonight. My gut feeling tells.

me I would take the Rams. McVeigh is 8 and 1 off losses. I actually think Minnesota is going to play this week really well because they got embarrassed. I think Baltimore got embarrassed. They'll play really well. I think the Rams got embarrassed. They'll play very well tonight. I think the Rams are a better team. I think Seattle, to some degree

is kind of rebuilding the offensive line. It's a very, very young defense, rebuilding that a little bit. But I do think the Cowboys game against the Packers is fascinating because Dallas lost but wasn't embarrassed. Green Bay lost at home, but sort of of was. And the question is

Dak Prescott. What do you do with Dak Prescott? We talked about the USA Today article that points out some troubling numbers that if you take DAC's rookie season out, 2017, 2018 and the game against the Saints, they lay a lot of eggs against elite defenses or elite coaching. In Green Bay's defense,

I do believe, if not elite, is very good. And I asked Jeff Schwartz, former NFL offensive lineman for eight years, what do you make of the numbers that start coming out about DAC against good defenses? The Cowboys not signing him right now, I think is the best sign of that. Because they could have done something last year, this year.

They could have locked him up for the future, right? And you would do that if the guy's a Pat Mahomes, right? I mean, you would, Carson Wentz, like, they paid these guys as soon as they can. The Cowboys have refused to pay him. Refused to pay him. They paid the running back when analytics shows us that that is not the smart thing to do. You want to pay the quarterback and the wide receiver first. By the way.

They didn't do it, right? So I think that shows you from their angle. They don't think he might be the guy. Well, they also paid DeMarcus Lawrence. They paid Jalen Smith. They paid Zeke two years early. And they haven't paid DAC. And I think I said this two weeks ago.

They didn't predict DAC. They just didn't predict DAC. I mean, the Seahawks liked Russell Wilson. They didn't think this was going to be Russell Wilson or they had taken him in the first round. So, you know, I mean, I think the Cowboys look at Zeke and think best player at his position. They look at DeMarcus Lawrence and think top five pass rusher. They look at Jaylon Smith and think, oh, my God, he's a middle linebacker of the future. I think they look at DAC and they're sort of waiting and waiting.

And I think they're playing the game that if we just wait long enough, maybe it can come down, the numbers a little bit, and that's a dangerous game to play. But I said this earlier this week. If you're waiting for jaw dropping with DAC, that's a you problem. No, Mahalms Wentz, that's a whole different, that's jaw dropping stuff. Dak can win a bunch of games. But when you put them against good defenses, even with the Cowboys' Offensive Line and Zeke,

also it should be noted. Amari Cooper's not 100%. Is Michael Gallup playing now? Because Amari, Michael Gallup may not play, may. Amari Cooper's not at 100%. And they got two offensive linemen for the Cowboys out. So, and if Devonte Adams was playing for Green Bay, I would like Green Bay. I still like them.

I don't like them quite as much. I think Green Bay, I feel Green Bay is going to win this game. I really do. Competing today takes all sorts of effort and time. Go to mDrivefermen.com. The code is her refurb. find your prime. Tomorrow on the show, tonight, Ram, Seahawks, tonight, 730 Eastern, 430 Pacific on Fox.

Tomorrow we have our blazing five picks, which has been bizarrely hot. We've hit 72% of our picks. It makes no sense. It will not continue. Is this the week that the Blazing Five bubble bursts it could possibly be? I will not be this hot. It's been absurd. And also tomorrow, Hulk Hogan stops by.

So in Florida, when I lived there near Clearwater, I used to work out at a gym where Hulk Colgan showed up. And he was bigger than life. That'll take you down a couple of notches. He is Hulk Hogan, the Hulkster. You know, just think of how big he would have been with social media. He was all he had to help him was cable television. That's all he had. He's one of the biggest brands of all time. Yeah. Incredible. I mean, there's just those Hulk, Shaq, Ali, Pele. I mean, it just, he was, he was on daytime talk shows. He was everywhere. Speak for yourself next. A blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened.

That's where SportsSlice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Follow Timbo Slic Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an acapella 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 Finder. friends on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, guys? This is Clever Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker, this lineback walks up to me, he goes, Hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out. Quarterback on office blue 42. A rep, my mama want you to wave at her. What?

Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clipper Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. 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 hungry. You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis came to him. 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. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.