The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Saturday Special - Colin talks with Tony Grossi

Episode Date: August 17, 2019

 Colin talks with Browns Writer Tony Grossi about the team and city that people claim he hates so much.  They discuss new head coach Freddie Kitchens, Baker Mayfield and how on paper this might be the most talented team the Browns have had in decades in this exclusive podcast  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 Clivert Taylor the Fourth. 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. If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you already know there's a lot to break down. Orsha accusing Kelly of sleeping with a merry man. They holding Kay Michelle back from fighting Drew. Pinky has financial issues. 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 T, everybody's talking about. To hear this and more, listen to Reality with the King on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hi, everybody, welcome to our Saturday morning podcast. From time to time, we talk to, We talk non-sports.

We talk about movies and politics and all sorts of stuff. And I figured I'd go right into the belly of the beast with the city that hates me the most Cleveland, with very popular Tony Grosey, Fox Sports, Ohio, host of the 100-years podcast. He's been a writer forever, moved into radio, and kind of the voice of sports talk in Cleveland. So earlier this week, he was at a Brown's Colts joint practices in Indiana. Indiana. You have been to several joint practices so far. So let's start with this. I actually think they're a good team. They're young. I don't trust their offensive line. And I don't know how good Freddie Kitchens is. I think those are all realistic things to say. Is it fair to say the

offensive line to me is the liability of the team? Is that the feeling you get? I didn't have that feeling when training camp started. But it is kind of devolved. into a concern specifically at right guard. And I was of the opinion that whoever they put at right guard, the rest of the line would be able to absorb them and lift him up. I think there's a little more concern internally about that position than with me. But, yeah, I mean, the offensive line is going to be the foundation of whether this team is a high-scoring team or if it plods along, like it's usually.

has. But I think one thing they got going for him, Colin, is Baker Mayfield, I know it's early. He's only got 13 starts, but he has a knack for avoiding pressure, getting rid of the ball, making plays, and avoiding injury, too.

So far. Yeah. Baker is going to be very good for your business. He's talkative. He's public. OBJ is sort of an iconic player in the NFL. How is OBJ's Cleveland stay bent? Is he available? Do you

see him? Is he the guy that talks after practice? Give me the OBJ experience, Tony, so far for you. Well, he's said and done all the right things. He's kept a low profile. He hasn't been on the practice field a lot. And right now

he's nursing some kind of hip injury that the team is not being very specific about. He is available to us on the local basis at selected practices, not every day. The way they operate right now in training camps, there's no, you're not allowed in the locker room. So it's requesting players or they present them in a, you know,

a group setting. And the couple times that he has been available to us, he's been good. He's been really good. He's got that disarming smile. And he seems to be very happy with his situation. In your lifetime covering this team, mostly. You know, I'm old enough to remember the Brian Sipe years. You know, Bernie Coase are

obviously. And then it's been largely chaotic for two decades. So that's the reality you've lived in. Now, this year, they come off a seven, eight, and one season. There's a lot of hype. There are people like me that are saying it's young, I don't know Freddie Kitchens. I'm viewed as kind of a hater despite saying they're nine and seven. When you take calls on your show, Tony, It's very easy to go to Twitter where everybody says Super Bowl robust. But what is the average Cleveland fan going into this season? If I had to say, sum up their feelings on the record and perceptions, what would it be? I think people in town are buying the hype.

The ones who aren't buying it are just afraid something's going to happen. Nobody questions that this team has turned a corner and has good years of head. And I think the fans in Cleveland have been anticipating this season. Really, March 12th, I think, is the date they traded for OBJ. But really, when the season ended December 31st with a loss in Baltimore, people were excited about what's to come. So then again, there's a segment that, oh, no, we're in Cleveland. Something is going to screw this up. But realistically, not many people you know, think this is going to be a middle of the road team in Cleveland. Generally, Tony Grossey joining us.

I've always had a theory that you have to be an A minus B plus at worst in owner, GM, coach, and quarterback. If you can be B plus to A, you are a Super Bowl contender. I don't know much other than what I've read about Jim Haslam. He's the Tennessee Volunteers Primary Booster. That program is underachieve for two decades. a lot of movement, GM coach, quarterback in Cleveland, and he owns the Browns. What kind of owner is he? What kind of guy do we know Jim Haslam is?

Yeah, well, hopefully he's one who learns from his mistakes because by his own admission, there's been a lot of mistakes in his, what, seven years his owner. And I think the one thing that's encouraging this year is now that he found John Dorsey, put him in charge of football, put him. above the head coach having the head coach report to Dorsey rather than having the head coach report to the owner I think was a major step in in the Haslam's Jimmy has has backed off it was very instructive that on the introductory press conference at Freddy Kitchens that Haslam did not speak he was there sitting in the front row with his family but he did not go up to the podium it was Dorsey's show and I think that was symbolic of what it is right now Now, I feel if it stays that way, you know, they have a great chance to succeed. 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. 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 Slicelife-Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast. Learn the Heart hard away 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, 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, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. 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 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? Where's she at? Hey, Miss Polack. Listen to the Cliffer Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and IHeart Podcasts presents Soccer Moms.

So I'm Leanne. Yeah. This is my best friend Janet. Hey. And we have been joined at the hips since high school. Absolutely. Now a redacted amount of years later, we're still joined at the hip. Just a little bit bigger hips.

Wider. This is a podcast. We're recording it as we tailgate our youth soccer games in the back of my Honda Odyssey. with all the snacks and drinks. Sidebar. Why did you get hard seltzer instead of beer? They had a bogo. Well, then you got it.

Do you want a white color or something here? Just hit it. Oh, what are y'all doing? Microphones? Are you making a rap album? Oh, I would. Come on. Could you believe?

I would buy it. Cuts through the defense like a hot knife through sponge cake. That sounds delicious. Oh, you're lucky. I'm not a drug addict. You're lucky I'm not an alcoholic. You are. You are.

I'm not a killer. I love this team, and I'm really. trying to be a figure in their lives that they can rely on. Oh. Listen to soccer moms on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Tony Grosey joining us Fox Sports, Ohio. Andy Reid and John Dorsey, and Andy's about as good a guy in the league as you're going to meet. He and John didn't know a C-E-D-E-D-I.

John's very strong-willed. You know, and Andy's a very successful guy. Is there a concern that instead of hiring a Greg Williams or a veteran coach that Freddie Kitchens was hired because he will be amenable to John Dorsey's opinions? Is that a legitimate concern? Well, I would phrase it a little different that when Hazel made the organizational change in this chart, as organization chart, that head coach reports. to the GM, you know, there are some head coach candidates that don't want that set up. But I think it was wise in this case because Freddie is an untested first-time head coach. And I don't think it was done so that Dorsey can control him.

Let's face it, somebody has to be in charge. And I trust Dorsey's experience over Freddie's experience, even though I think he's going to be good. I think it was a case of realigning a flaw. in their organization. Now, Andy Reid is in a very experienced coach who was, you know, who probably wanted to be more in charge. And so this is a better fit for Dorsey. And I think it was the right thing to do.

How do you see top to bottom, the AFC North, sort of turning out? Yeah. Well, I believe in this team, Colin. I mean, I've been around for a long time, and I've seen a lot of. lot of bad teams and I've seen a few good teams. And on paper, this is as good a roster as I've seen in Cleveland in 30-some years. So they have to do it. But I think it's time that they do it.

And I think Baker primarily will be up to the challenge. There are two Cleveland versus Pittsburgh games in the middle of the season this year. Usually they schedule them one and 16. That's Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Robert, it's been so one-sided. But in the span of 17 days, they play two times. It's a Thursday night primetime game in Cleveland, followed by a 4.15 Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh. And I think that will determine the winner of the division.

Now, if they've split those two games, I think the Browns will prevail. I think the only thing that will stop them will be losing both games to Pittsburgh. Tony Grosey joining us. If I said to you, there's something that will happen in the first four to five weeks, and you, Tony Grocey,

would be, uh-oh, that worries me. Will there be a sign early that these young players, these stars, Baker, Freddie, is there a warning sign for you? You're a reporter. You've got a keen eye for, as any reporter would do, try to be ahead of the story, not behind it. What will concern you in the first four to five weeks, a sign that maybe it's unraveling or not achieving peak performance?

Well, other than losing three of their first four games, I think the potential adversity early on is, believe it or not, the kicking situation. If one of these two struggling kickers starts the season and just blows a couple games and they're forced to bring in a kicker on the fly, I mean, we've seen in the past that can be very disruptive to even a good team. Yeah, the jets are going through the, Tony. the jets are going through the same thing. Chargers have dealt with that for years. It can really derail you. Right. And the bears last year. Yeah.

And they're still not out of it. So that has become a concern now. It's a sign of the progress of this organization. The kicking is a, you know, as a concern. But really, I think there's a real concern. One of these two young guys doesn't instill some confidence. They're both shaky right now. There's time.

But that can de-rail a good team. And the Brown's early season schedule is very different. Colts. And it's under the bright light. You know, three of their first five games are primetime games. It's a lot of pressure on one of these young kickers. So if he doesn't come through and they're forced to bring in a retread, that could screw them up along the way. You've been around the Browns and Colts joint practices.

What do you think the word on Andrew Luck's mysterious calf ankle sprain? Even his father, Oliver Luck, I had him on the show the other day, did not want to discuss it. What do you make of that? Yeah, I'm in Indiana, as you mentioned, and you can almost feel the worry, the collective worry of the cold sand. And I've been here about 36 hours, and I've heard three different injuries already assigned to this thing. Either they're not being totally upfront or they're not sure. It's a shame. It's a shame. because that was one of the one they scheduled these joint practices. I said, boy, that's going to be great for the Brown's defense,

particularly their line and secondary, to go up against Andrew Lutz. But he's been shut down and this whole state is holding its breath that he'll be able to play once the season starts. Last night, a blown call changed the 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 SportsLice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slic 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. Trip 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 here 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 Hardway. Open your free, our Heart Radio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the Fourth. 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 of my. Quarterback on office, blue, 42. Hey, ref, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Hey, Ms. Parker. Listen to the Cliverts show on the I-Heart Radio app,

Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. American soccer is about to explode. The World Cup is coming. Ramers sending on. I'm Tab Ramos. I'm Tom Boe. On our podcast, Inside American Soccer, you'll get the real storylines. I'm not worried about Policic.

I'm not worried about Balagan. I'm not worried about McKinney. My only concern is what happens in the back. The biggest decisions. You're going to look at stats and numbers. He has no shot at making this World Cup team. And the truth about the U.S. national team. It wouldn't be a huge surprise if our team ends up

in the quarterfinals or potentially a great run into the semifinals. The World Cup is almost here. Experience it all with us. Listen, Inside American Soccer with Tom Bogart and Tabramos on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcast. Freddie Kitchens, he's got that Southern charm. He's outspoken. He's got kind of a blue-collar mentality that I like. What are you made of him so far?

Any little mistakes? Anything you like? What's your interpretation? of what you've seen? Well, Colin, he won me over on the first preseason game when he won the toss and took the ball instead of deferred. I'm a big advocate of taking the ball and going down the field. It's just like every Brown coach follows the norm now and defers,

and I don't understand why. But anyway, I see in Freddie, he only spent one year with Bill Parcells in Dallas, and actually it was Bill's last year with the Cowboy. but to me he resembles Parcell's greatest attribute I thought which was to be able to connect with every player on his team no matter of their background and especially with their quarterback and I think Freddie has a communication skill on the same level as a player that earns them earns him instant trust and respect and to me it's such a psychological game now to be a head coach I think he's got that in great and going for him. He's done everything right, I think, so far. But he hasn't had adversity. And he keeps saying, I want some adversity to test us to get over it.

And he may get it soon, but so far it's been smooth sailing for him. How much will they play Baker, OBJ in the preseason? Well, OBJ hasn't played. He probably won't play this weekend because he's missed some major team practices. Landry, Jarvis Landry, the other one of that bunch, has played a little bit more. I think Baker and Landry will play in game a little bit in game two and then hopefully a half in game three, and we'll see if Beckham is back on the field by then.

But, you know, he missed, he was an invisible man during OTA season. He showed up for three mini-camp practices, the mandatory ones. I'm speaking of OBJ, and now he's here at training camp, but he's missed. I don't know. They've had 15 practices, and he's been in the team period, six of those 15 practices. So I don't know. Maybe magically they expect it all to happen when the lights go on, but all of Cleveland sure wants to see him and Baker develop something. Well, you know, it's interesting.

When Landry and Obj played at LSU their last two years, Landry had more catches. He's a real volume receiver. And I said it this week on the air. You know, OBJ's last 32 games, 16 he's missed. Most all-time greats, doesn't matter where you went to college, but it does matter that you're on the field. OBJ has had a history, Tony, of just some nagging stuff. I don't think, you know, and that's, Tony, you and I now, this NFL, there's less hitting and less practice than ever, it's got to be a little bit of a concern, the injury, right? I mean,

it's part of his resume now. No, I think so. I think it is a concern. And I think that's why they're probably exercising, you know, more caution than anything because of that history. Because it's not as if he's being treated. We see him on the practice field. He does individual work. And then it's not like he goes off on an exercise bike or something. He's got his helmet on and he's engaged, at least in the practice, most guys who are injured in receiving therapy, some kind of therapy, are not doing that. So he's right there. But that's why what you just said is, well, I think they're being overly cautious so that they don't have that interruption once the season starts. Does OBJ, you know, some young guys, you know, they travel, they got friends, they got PR people.

He is a superstar in American sports. Does he have the entourage, friends around him? or his OBJ, kind of chill, one of the dudes. Well, so far around the Brown's camp, he's been one of the dudes. And it was interesting. Just before camp started, he hosted a youth football clinic, a camp, rather, a one-day camp. And he was very engaged in that. And it was just really a few days before camp started for the Brown.

He had a little bit of an entourage around them then, but they were, I think, with the company that organized the camp. But so far, again, he's been a model citizen off the field. And in interviews, he just hasn't been a regular participant in Team Gerald. Yeah, I think he's a good kid. I think he'd be a little dramatic and I think he's got an injury concern, but I think he's overall, he's a good kid. All right, Tony Grosey, host of the 100 Years podcast, Fox Sports, Ohio, kind enough to be joining us this week on the herd Saturday,

Morning podcast and Tony have a great preseason. I hope to talk soon. Thanks, Colin. Thanks for having me. 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. In 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 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 Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the Fourth. 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, Red. My mama want you to weigh better. What? Hey, Ms. Parker. Listen to the Clifford show on the Iheart radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Joey Dardano. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian.

and friends as we riff, rant, recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to me. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from a Hypocrite Wednesdays on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.