The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Steelers, Cowboys, Rams, and the Herd Hierarchy

Episode Date: October 1, 2019

Colin explains why he believes the Pittsburgh Steelers are doomed, who might get the blame for the Dallas Cowboys problems, a huge mistake the Los Angeles Rams made, and his new Herd Hierarchy. Guests include Snoop Dogg, Peter King, Solomon Wilcots, and LaVar Arrington.  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,

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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.

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 Heard at Fox SportsRadio.com Or stream us live every day on the IHeartRadio app by searching heard.

Fox Sports Radio. Ah, here we go in a Tuesday, absolutely loaded. This is the herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, we're live in Los Angeles on Iheart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1. An hour from now our herd hierarchy and Peter King, about 35 minutes from now, Snoop Dog, who may cancel after, here's what I have to say about the Steelers. Joy Taylor, he loves the Steelers.

Taylor is joining me. Joy, how are you? I'm good. So you're not very high on the Steelers? Now they won by 24 last night and let's start there. Generally in the NFL you win 27 to 3 and my takeaway is wow Monday night football fantastic but it is the Bengals. You were at home

and frankly in a conference that has Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady that's not good enough. I watched them last night. I've never been more unimpressed with a Steeler 24 point win. The box score says, what a nice

night passing. 27 of 31, 8.4 yards of completion, 260 yards. The box score says nice night passing. My eyes say safe night passing. The two running backs had 16 catches combined.

Those are safe passes in almost 150 yards. There's a term that parents should avoid. It's called helicopter parenting. You don't want to do this as a parent. That you hover over your kids. And that you don't let them make mistakes and you don't let them have opinions. And you helicopter your kids.

And what happens is your kids are not self-reliant. They become needy. They can't do things on their own. It hurts kids as they age. Don't helicopter parent. That was helicopter coaching last night. They didn't trust Mason Rudolph. They didn't trust him.

This kid threw 1,400 passes in college. He was a three-year starter. He then comes into the NFL. and sits behind Big Ben. And that's your game plan at home against Cincinnati? No catches for James Washington, a deep threat. Three catches for Juju, Smith-Schuster. Those are very talented wide receivers.

Like, I'm sorry, but the first half, Mason Rudolph threw for 132 yards, 111 were after the catch. So don't credit the quarterback when the slot receiver, the dump off, the running backs, taking the catch and doing all the work. I mean, when you watch Houston with Deshawn Watson, they let him sling it. Mahomes, Andy Reid, first year starter, let him sling it. Carson Wentz in Philadelphia.

Let him sling it. Arizona right now for Kyler Murray. That kid started one year in college. Even Lamar Jackson this year so far. Let him sling it. That was helicopter parenting. That was a generic brand of the Steelers. That was, what was that Safeway Select?

When you go into grocery store? and they have like their generic version. I mean, that's what that was last night. And I don't care if they won 27, 23. You're not getting out of the AFC with Belichick, Brady, Andy Reed, and Patrick Mahomes, and Deshaun Watson with that. I mean, after that first long touchdown he threw, did you see the offensive line for the Steelers come over to and congratulate him?

That looked like a team that was overjoyed. He could throw the ball down the field. That wasn't just congratulations. was, oh my God, he did it. He threw the ball down the field. Mike Tomlin apparently liked it more than I did. Here's what the coach. Always good at the mic said after the game.

It feels really good to handle our business, and we did so tonight. Really just with outstanding effort in all three phases. You know, it needs to be a springboard for us as we move forward. Of everyone, can't say enough about Mason. We gave him a game ball in there for his first start and win. so I thought that was appropriate. All right, the guy that got the game ball,

here's the passing chart for the Steelers last night. There's one ball thrown truly downfield completed. You cannot. You're going to beat Russell Wilson with that? Patrick Mahomes with that. Tom Brady with that. Aaron Rogers with that. Carson Wentz with that.

There's no way. I mean, again, teams tell you what they think about their quarterbacks by the game plan. Remember when Minnesota one week won and Kirk Cousins through 10 times? And I said, they had all off-season. That's what they think of Kirk Cousins. How's the Kirk Cousins thing developed in the last couple of weeks? How's it developed?

Last year when you watched the Bears with Trabisky, a lot of smoke and mirrors and deception, because they just didn't trust him to go back and throw the football. Arizona trusts Kyler Murray. I mean, that's what Cleveland, maybe over-trusted Baker-Mayfield. I watched the Jets with Sam Darnold last night. They trusted him. But I don't think you can win big in the NFL, even winning at home over Cincinnati with that game plan.

That's helicopter parenting. I mean, listen, this kid's a three-year starter, sat behind Ben. I mean, Patrick Mahomes started for two years, sat behind Alex Smith, and the first game with Andy Reid, they're throwing them all over the field. I feel this morning, Pittsburgh, out of playoff contention. No way. You're telling me, that's going to work against the Browns defense. That defensive front for the Browns, that's going to work. No way.

And you think they can go toe-to-toe offensively with Lamar Jackson and all those weapons in Baltimore? Absolutely no way. Congrats to the win, season over. I'm seriously. I know. It's amazing, right? 24-point win. I'm like, no, it's over.

Because the coaching staff telling me what they think. of Mason Rudolph. So, okay, so Dallas lost this weekend. Who are we going to blame? Well, DAC, of course. I'll get to that in a second. But now it's Kellynne Moore, the offensive coordinator. Jerry Jones is on Dallas radio this morning.

He's putting a little pressure on Kellynne Moore, the offensive coordinator. It's his fault. At his seat, the one that is more likely to have the most criticism is the offensive coordinator in the NFL. and when it doesn't work and you don't get to win, then get ready. They're going to be coming for you as a coordinator. So Kellyn knows this.

His head coach knows it. I know it. And you're supposed to make adjustments when you don't get it done. Oh, that's kind of a supposed to make adjustments, Kellan Moore. So we're going to blame Kellyn Moore. And of course, everybody this morning, I heard it all day yesterday on radio when I drove around doing, you know, errands. Oh, it's Dax fault.

By the way, Drew Brees, last four games, last for New Orleans last year, last four games. Three touchdowns, three picks. That's with Michael Thomas. That's with Alvin Kamaro. That's with Mark Ingram. That's with the top 10 offensive line. That's with Sean Payton. You didn't bail on him.

By the way, Aaron Rogers last year averaged a touchdown and a half pass a game. You didn't bail on him. Cam Newton's lost eight straight starts. Nobody bailed on him. But we're bailing on DAC. because he went to the loudest place in the league. Jason Witten and Zique both fumbled, and they never do. They couldn't get any running space.

The Saints got a rush with only four men, didn't even have to blitz. And, oh, by the way, Amari Cooper's excellent, but Marshawn Lattimore is the best corner in the NFL, in my opinion, when he wants to play. And Amari Cooper was not, he couldn't separate from me and the microphone. But go ahead and blame Dak. So here's the classic, and we do this in life, right? We blame the food for our weight problems. We always blame the wrong people.

So we're blaming DAC this morning, and Jerry's taking a shot at Kellanmore, the offensive coordinator. Can I ask you a question? We know what great coaching looks like. Is anybody considered Jason Garrett's the issue? So I want to ask you something, and I wrote this down. I'm going to read this. I wrote this down this morning. You can see great coaching in football.

We see Belichick against young quarterbacks every time he dominates him. We see Doug Peterson's coaching with Nick Foles wins a Super Bowl. We see Andy Reed's brilliance with every quarterback. We see Matt Nagy in all those smoke and mirror plays that got Trubisky to win a division. We saw Sean McVeigh save Jared Goff's career. We've seen Kyle Shanahan elevate Matt Schaubb to a pro bowler and Matt Ryan to an MVP. And we've seen Sean Payton through the years be utterly brilliant with his schemes. Nine years with Jason Garrett.

Tell me the game you felt he made a difference. You want to blame Dak? You won't blame Kellen Moore. Last year, with all of Dallas's weapons, they went to Indianapolis and were shut out 23-0. That's embarrassing. Did you watch the playoff game last year in Los Angeles? Or Todd Gurley and C.J. Anderson

bulldozed the Cowboys defense. Football is the sport where you and I, just as consumers, Joy, John, Greg, me, you can watch football. This is harder in basketball. It's harder in baseball, where pitching seems to dominate. Or in the NBA, stars just take a game over. But in the NFL, you can watch coaching. You can see Andy Reid take Alex Smith up and Patrick Mahomes up and Matt Nagy and Kyle

Shanahan and Belichick's defense. You can see great coaching. Give me the game with Jason Garrett. So Jerry can take a shot at Kellynne Moore and talk show hosts and fans can bail on DAC. Find it. Nine years, Jason Garrett. Do you believe Jason Garrett in the NFC is going to outmaneuver Pete Carroll? I don't.

Sean Payton, Doug Peterson, Kyle Shanahan, I don't. And then if he did get up against Belichick or Andy Reid in that side of the football world, I don't. Like, you can blame all you want on this, but nine years into the league, and if I said, what's Jason Garrett's, what's his brilliance? What define it? I always say this about Hall of Fame baseball players. If you can't explain a guy's career in a sentence, then he's a compiler. Third and doubles, fourth and triples, ninth and stolen bases.

He just played forever, you know. Seventh in saves, you know, he just played forever. You have to be able to describe a Hall of Famer in a sentence. Go ahead and write a paragraph on Jason Garrett. To me, just a coach. But go ahead this morning. Blame Kellyn Moore and take a shot at Dak. Go ahead.

Coming up next, an NFL team that has a Super Bowl roster has to make a decision, and I think they will, and they're not the only team that'll do it. A big decision to make with a Super Bowl roster missing one piece. Unfortunately, it's the quarterback 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 SportsSlyce 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 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 rapid. 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, is we have real conversations about. All 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 Clivert 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 Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast, Point Game is about defining the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before.

And he knows. Without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall.

And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash will get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers

why he got the ball. Like, you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. There's a team in the NFL that is really, really good.

Minnesota's got great everything. I love their defense. I love their head coach. I love their receiver. They may have the best receiving core in the NFL, probably do. Dalvin Cook, Kyle Rudolph. Offensive lines okay, but it's really a Super Bowl roster. They have a problem.

Kirk Cousins is, and he's a nicest guy in the world. I did an event with him. He's great. This is the part of my job I hate. He's just not good enough. You're paying him $28 million large. They rolled the dice. They had Case Keenham in a much better multiple.

They had to pay for Kirk Cousins. Thank God the Jets and Redskins did not. And now Minnesota is sort of trapped. They have at least 16 games next year, 12 this year. That's 28 games, and they're paying him $28 million a year. You don't have to be a math-wiz. Listen, Adam Thielen called him out after the game, the loss to Chicago. Mike Zimmer sounds defeated talking about him yesterday.

Here's the head coach of the Vikings on Kirk Cousins. Well, I think, you know, there's times you just got to pull the trigger, and you just got to believe it, you know, you're going to make the throw. There was some times that he got the ball out really good. You know, the one behind Adam just a little bit behind him, he got that ball out good. You know, there were some other ones that, you know, we just got to keep working on it. First of all, that division now is really good. Detroit's no easy one.

Chicago's defense is amazing. Green Bay's defense. Kirk Cousins is a guy that struggles against the elite defenses. Between Matt Patricia's coaching, Green Bay's acquisition of defenders and Chicago's defense, Kirk Cousins is not one in this division. He's just simply not good in a lot. and I feel bad. I think the Vikings have to reboot.

And by the way, rebooting is not nearly as painful as it was even five to ten years ago. The Giants just rebooted. They're happy in New York. The Cowboys rebooted with Dak. He won 13 games as a rookie. Houston has rebooted. Baltimore rebooted with Joe Flacco and made the playoffs.

I think we're going to have a lot more quarterbacks taken in this first round next year. And I think Minnesota is going to take a quarterback. They have to. They don't have any real needs. They have a Super Bowl roster and they've got to get somebody who's got a big arm can move around. Of the top four teams, if you were drafting today, the draft order, I think three of the first four teams would take a quarterback. Miami's going to take two from Alabama. I think the Bengals will take the opposite of Andy Dalton, highly athletic, big gun Justin Herbert

of Oregon. John Elway right now would have a top four pick. And I think they would take Jacob Esam at Washington, played at Georgia, now at Washington, Washington 6-6, right into Elway's prototypical quarterback with a huge arm. He'll have a top five arm in the NFL day one. I think there's another seven, eight teams that have to consider taking a quarterback in the first round. Carolina, the Colts, Jacksonville, Chargers got to get on that eventually, Minnesota, Tampa, and Tennessee. Here's the good news.

I even have a friend whose son plays high-end high school football. He had a personal coach at 11, 12 years old. seven-on-seven camps. Rebooting is not scary anymore. I'll give you a couple quarterbacks. Watch Saturday football. The quality of quarterback play on Saturdays is remarkable. There is a sophomore at Ohio State. He's a sophomore. Justin Fields. He is so developed. Six-four and a half, six five, two-twenty-five can run and throw. Sophomores in college did not look like that 10 years ago. This kid is ready to play in the NFL very quickly. He can do it all. Size, strength, arm. He transferred out of a school into Ohio State. He's a sophomore.

There's the kid at Clemson, Trevor Lawrence. Cleverstone, a lot of interceptions this year. Don't worry about it. I saw him playing high school live. He has an NFL whip as an arm. These kids are sophomores. Okay. They're ready. You could drag. them today early before they're allowed to be drafted, like Zion, LeBron. We've always known with NBA guys, 17 years old, you can see an NBA body. We always felt in college. You've got to give that guy three years. He's got a red shirt.

Those days are over. These kids are getting, I mean, I've watched college football this year. Justin Herbert at Oregon, two at Alabama. Jacob Eason at Washington. These guys are ready to play. Now, do they need more snaps? Yes, but physically, they're poise, the sophistication at the college level. If you have to reboot it quarterback, go watch Saturday football.

The quality of play is miles better than it used to be. And this is because at 10 and 11 and 12 years old, they have personal coaches. Quarterbacking now is an industry. People make a living on how many guys do I bring on this show, you know, Jordan Palmer. That's what he does. He teaches young people the fundamentals of quarterback play. He's grabbing guys at 14, 15, 16, 17. So I think Minnesota's got a reboot.

I think they got a reboot. It's just not working. I think the Giants just did. The Cowboys did two years, three years ago. I think Houston did. Everybody that's rebooted is happy. Tell me the team that rebooted that's not happy. They're all happy.

The quarterbacks are better. They're younger. They're less beat up. They're more coachable. They don't have bad habits yet. And I think Minnesota is the classic example of it is time to go. It's not as scary and painful as you think. It used to be even five to ten years ago.

Joy with the News. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. So there's six rookie head coaches in the NFL this season. Matt LaFleur and Freddie Kitchens are off to good starts, but the other four have zeros in the win column. Cliff Kingsbury, Zach Taylor,

Vic Fangio, and Vine Flores are all winless through weeks. week four. This is the first time in NFL history that four rookie head coaches are still looking for a win four weeks into the season. Now, when you look at the list, it should be a pretty obvious takeaway that Matt LaFlor and Freddie Kitchens should be doing better based off their rosters. Yeah, they have better players. And experience at the quarterback position, well, other than Zach Taylor, but I mean, I think we can all disagree on Andy Dalton at this point. Yeah, they got a reboot. It's over. It's, yeah. I mean, not that I needed to last night to prove to me that it's over with Andy Dalton.

Well, Tennessee has to do the same thing. Right. Like I'm listening again, Marriota. I don't care what their record is. Tennessee's got a reboot. Let's just do it. Minnesota's got a reboot. Cincinnati's got to...

I mean, like I said, it's not really that scary. What's scarier is thinking about the years ahead of you of... Average. Average. Yes. So the Redskins are also O and 4 and the Jets are O'N3, but they had to buy this week. They had the Eagles this week. So one of these teams, well, I guess they could tie again, but the Bengals and Cardinals,

play each other this week. So some of this will get sorted out in the upcoming weeks. But I mean, the rookie head coach thing to me is not as what's glaringly obvious in these situations when you look at who is O and 4 as you look at the talent and who it is at quarterback. The one team that stands out to me here would be Cliff Kingsbury. Like you would expect the Cardinals to start making some strides. Oh, I'm going to give them a year. Oh, God, I'm going to give Arizona a year. I really am. I think at Arizona. The division's tough. Cliffs never coached in the NFL. Kyler's got 14 starts. I think I'm going to be come. I'm not even going to, if they go 11th, I'm not holding anything against anybody. No, come on, Colin. One in 15. No. I am being, listen, Miami's tanking. So I'm being patient. Miami shouldn't even be in the conversation and neither should the Bengals. If Arizona goes three and 13, I'm bringing everybody back. Three and 13. That division? They're not being. Three and 13 is the floor.

All right. Well, it's my floor. I've walked on a lot of floors worse than 3 and 13. I don't know. You've got to get at least three wins. He's the number one overall pick. I know, but he's a baby. And I, I mean, baby coach, baby quarterback. I mean, I agree, but as like Tom would say, the standard is the standard. This is the NFL. I don't know. I look at Arizona when I'm watching them and I see, I just see all sorts of moments. I'm like, oh, they're getting there. I mean, I don't think that they should be, you know, fighting for a wildcard position. I'm 3 and 13.

Oh, and 16? The Steelers finally got their first one in the season last night, which is awful to say in week four against the Bengals. The AFC North is still wide open, though, and defensive end, Cameron Hayward is excited to get into the conversation for the division. AFC North football is huge. We just want to be in the mix. Right now, we are.

Not saying we're leading the division or anything, but all we did was certify that we can be part of the mix. We've got to get better next week. We've got a monster, you know, Lamar Jackson, but we'll enjoy this one right now. You know, next week worries me for the Steelers. I know that you are very down on the game plan last night with Mason Rudolph, but I actually thought that it was brilliant. I think that he needed a game.

The Bengals are the perfect opponent for that to just get your rhythm, get comfortable, get a nice, confident win under your belt. The defense played amazing. And now you can look towards the rest of the time. of the season and start to stretch it out a little bit. Do they go to Baltimore? They're at home against the Ravens next week. And then they're at the Chargers and then they have a buy.

Now the last couple games of the season are when it starts to get interesting. They get down to the Browns, at the Bengals, and then against the Browns again. So that will probably be around when obviously the division gets decided. I'm making a prediction. What? Baltimore is crushing Pittsburgh on Sunday. It kind of feels that way, especially coming off of that. Snoop's not even going to come on the show.

I mean, look, I love the Steelers, but coming off of that win against the Bengals and the way that the Ravens lost last week. And Ravens were humiliated at home. They're not in a good mood. It smells like that. I hope not, but you could be right with that. Finally, the big story from the Patriots went over Buffalo Sunday was Jonathan Jones hit on Josh Allen that put him into concussion protocol. In his weekly interview with WEEEI, Tom Brady recalled a similar play earlier in his career and the advice that Bill Belichick gave him. I had a play like that up in Buffalo early in my career where I was scrambling up the right side and, you know, tried to hold on to the ball.

And I tried to slide late and I hit me and my helmet flew about 10 yards away. You know, it kind of riled up their whole sideline. And, you know, it just, I remember the next day coach Belichick said to me, I'll never forget this. And you say, hey, Brady, if you want to have a career in this league, when you're running like that, you either throw the ball away or you slide. So I'll never forget Coach Velichick telling me that. I told you, Brady, he has very soft sympathy for Josh Allen in that spot. And I don't think it was a dirty hit on Josh Allen. No.

But, you know, it's this part of the game. I don't think that you can compare the perfect hit to the Josh Allen. Just because Josh Allen got injured. Orlon Marcus Peters hit, for that matter. I don't think that they're all the same. But Jones wasn't ejective of the hit and won't face suspension. A flag was thrown for unnecessary rough. but the holding call and the bills offset the penalty.

And Belichick said the hit on Josh Allen. He said, John did what we've coached him to do. If that's a foul, we have to coach him differently. So obviously Belichick doesn't feel that way. And I think that even though Belichick is very short with things, I think if he really felt like it was not a good hit, he would say it or say something to kind of lessen the impact of it. The irony of this whole thing is that Brady got to play because Drew Bledso got smoked running up the field

and near out of bounds. So Brady got his biggest break as Drew Bledso got smoked. And then Brady got smoked early. And, I mean, let's be honest. Garapolo got hurt in New England. Or would he have replaced Brady? Because there was a lot of momentum that Tom's getting old. But Garoppolo had been hurt a couple times.

Like, you know, you just, there's just no, a quarterback, even a great quarterback, take out Cam and Big Ben, is just a smaller athlete than the people hitting him. And more than that, whether we like it or not to say it, you're just valuable. Like, you can't put yourself in that spot trying to make a hero play that is just not necessary. Like, you have to protect yourself in that spot. Yes, try and make the play. Yes, we love a grit and, you know, effort. But be smart.

Like, we criticize Aaron Rogers for this all the time. Like, you've got to be fair. You have to get down and throw it away. Yep, go out with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Heard Lye News. You know, it's funny in the NFL.

Like, if you're 0 and 4, it feels like season over. If you're 4 and 0, it feels like everything's working. That's why, to me, the truth comes out mid to late October. I mean, you can see some things that are true. Certain bad teams have issues Cincinnati's offensive line and Andy Dalton. They just cannot overcome. Then there's really good. teams like Kansas City that have pretty weak back end of defense that they'll mostly overcome.

But here's an interesting development. The Rams are three and one, and you would feel pretty good about this. But I think they need to come to Jesus moment because there's a real issue with the Rams and now they're writing about it and talking about it in Los Angeles. So general managers don't like to make admit mistakes. So if a general manager hires a coach, he'll generally give him an extra a year, right? I don't want to fire my guy. That means I'm wrong. If they draft a player, general managers will stay with a player longer. They draft. I don't want to look like I don't know what I'm doing. Less needs a very good general manager for the Rams. He rolled the dice and signed Todd Gurley a year early. Todd Gurley as of now can't play. He is not the same running back.

And they're going up to Seattle on Thursday night. And Seattle played a very, very poor home game a couple of weeks ago. They will be stoked. And the Rams have issues. They are not, because they paid girly big money and Brandon Cooks, they had to let go of a couple of offensive linemen. So Jared Goff's under more duress. They don't have a running game.

And Sean McHick, the good news is they have good receivers. Goff is clearly capable of getting a team to a Super Bowl. He did last year. Sean McVeigh is super smart. Aaron Donald's the best defensive tackle in football. Wade Phillips is an excellent defensive coordinator. There's a lot of good news here. But there's an elephant in the room.

They drafted a third round running back. Is it time to just go to him? Now, Todd Gurley's already getting testy. He just blasted Thursday night football the other day. There's a piece of tape when McGoff audibled out of a running back play to him. He's like, whatever, bro. Gurley is getting testy on this. Now, he's got his money, but I don't think.

think you can give him the snaps. And Eric Mangini was on the show today, kind of talking about what he sees the problems with Gurley, the lack of running game. Gurley was a workhorse. He was Levian Bell. It was like 300 touches. He's our second best receiver.

Here's Mangini yesterday. People have seen your system for a couple of years and worked really hard to close that gap. One of the things we learned in New England is not only do you have to do what you did the previous year as good, you've got to do it better. And you've got to stay ahead of the posse because it's a really smart league that's also a copycat league. So if you have a weakness,

you are going to get attacked with that weakness every single week until you prove you can overcome it. So Belichick beats the Rams with a six-man front. Everybody's now copying. They can't get the running game off. They're asking Jared Goff to throw 68 times this weekend. And how do you say,

goodbye to a player when he's still going to be in the room. I think it's really hard. I think there's a real tense situation here where they drafted a running back. Gurley doesn't have the juice. The O line's not as good. You can't ask Goff to throw 50 times. 68's absurd. You can't ask him to throw 50 times a game.

48's too many. So that's a 3-1 football team I think has big questions. The Rams having to play Seattle in Seattle on Thursday. That is a massive game for both teams. All right, Snoop dogs around the corner. I like the Clippers more than the Lakers. He doesn't like that. I think the Steelers season's over despite a win.

My kids could care less about my career or my show. They're going to be proud of dad today. I had Snoop on. My kids could not care a thing about my show. But this, I'll brag about this. I'll get them to do chores off this. Yeah, I got my power back. 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 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 reel. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaders 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 Slicelife 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, 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. 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 hear on earth, or are you a good person because you're free? 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 Hard Way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. What's up, guys? This is Clifford Taylor the Fourth. And on my podcast, The Clifford 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, rep, my mama want you to wave at her.

What? Where's she at? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Cliverts. 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, and our podcast's point game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game.

His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows. Without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night bases on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too.

Steve Nash would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court licking his fingers while he got the ball. Like, you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. My kids absolutely do not care about my show, but my daughter will today, because I got Snoop Dog on. Yes, rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, media personality, absolute pleasure, my friend, to have you on again.

L.A. based, I'm out here now. I want to ask you before we get into different topics, we were just talking during the break. about your really your first song and your first musical break. But when did you know in Southern California, when you walked out of the house, your life was going to change. You were now, had gone from Calvin to Snoop Dog and an American star. When I was staying at my cousin's house in Pekorma, and G-Tang was out.

And I had spent the night at her house because I didn't have nowhere to stay. In the morning time, it was a show called The Box, where you would order videos, and the video just killed. kept playing over and over like about 100 times back to back. So then when it was time for me to leave, I walked outside. And it's like I had to sign autographs. It was the first time I had to sign autographs. Being in an apartment building in Pocorra with a bunch of gang members

walking outside signing autographs and being looked at completely different than just a regular guy. And it was like something I had to adjust to. And it was like, you can't prepare for it. But when it happens, it's like you got to just catch up. And I had to catch up and get on point. But you're still authentic. You still live, I mean, when I think of you, I don't think, I just think of you.

I do think of you as a guy that will go to a Laker game. Probably have to have a bodyguard, but has it changed the way you have to act? No, not the way I act, but I believe that what's expected. You know, when you become a public figure, people expect certain things from, you know, you should act this way, you should be this way, or they think this is what you are. But, you know, I'm up close and personal with my people, so they know who I am and how I get out. So it ain't no secrets or no myths to me. Yeah.

So you have taken chances in your life. You are not what I would call conservative. You have rolled the dice on your career. So I watched the Steelers last night, and they are babysitting Mason Rudolph. Snoop, I know you love the Steelers, but you're not beating Patrick Mahomes with that helicopter parent thing, are you? We know that part, but, you know, we just one step at a time. We had to get a W because we was Owen Wilson, Jesse Owens, Owen, O'N, two, O'N three. We just had to get that O-up out of us.

Now we won and free. Sorry about your dolphins, y'all. I'm still over there in the O-Land, but we're going to be a high. That's going to be that way for a while. By the way, you have known Juju Smith-Schuster since he was a kid. Yes. And you're very close to him. Did you know?

Because at USC, a coach told me as a freshman, they said, I think he's the hardest working player to ever be a Trojan. When did you know? This kid's playing on Sundays? We had a game in Miami. I had an all-star team, and we went to Miami, and he wasn't even like the whole, he wasn't the star. He was one of the guys, but he wasn't the guy.

High school game? No, little league game, like seventh grade. So we fly to Miami, and Dion's team, Dion Sanders team is playing before us, so we play after. So the game is going on, and then a couple of spectacular catches that Juju makes, a couple of defensive plays he makes. And by the end of the game, everybody like, juju, juju, juju, and it's like, he just took that moment.

And he ran with it, and we've seen that he was the type of player that thrives as a spotlight. He didn't shy away from it. He ran to it. He wasn't the guy, but he made himself the guy that day. And then from there on to high school, he started playing offense, defense. He started being more involved than, like, taking control of his career. That's why when he got to USC, he was a hard worker. Oh, he was an unbelievable college player.

The university, he's held in a different regard than most college athletes. Man, let me tell you, me and Todd Haley got a rocky relationship, right? Right, right. Because when he was the OC at the Steelers, I used to bash him every week. So I go to the Cleveland Browns facility to visit one of my friends, and he's there as the OC. And he gives me a little flack when he sees me. But then when he passes that, he says,

Juju Smith was probably the best receiver I ever coached in my life. And this is out of Todd Haley's mom. He liked that was a great kid to coach. Yeah, he's a really good. No, Juju's a great kid. And by the way, most of these college athletes, I deal with these kids. 99% of these guys are great kids.

And now they're going to get paid, California. That's a beautiful thing. Well, you know, it's funny. The schools aren't, I always was concerned about the schools having to pay the kids. They don't. What California is saying is, we're going to move this rock and make the NCAA react to it. So a YouTube channel, a school doesn't have to pay for it, so a kid can make money on a YouTube channel. He can make money on a disc track.

And he can make money on an endorsement deal. That's right. That's the real money. What I was always concerned with Snoop is that the school, Oregon, state would have to pay them. Well, some of these athletic departments, they're not USC. They're not Alabama. They're not rolling in cash. So I think this is good. I think Joy and I agree. Once the school doesn't have to pay, California, you know, people think California's crazy, but California's been for the worker. That's why these big corporate lawyers don't want to come to

California and get sued because California represents the athlete, the worker. Like Lyft. I have been sued before. You have? Yeah, because of the workers' composition or whatever that is. if you don't know the hours and what they're like they really in they really for the athlete they really for the worker they're really for that's what california is for it is all right now we're going to have a disagreement here i know you're a leaker guy yeah but that roster is old that's what you think by snoop by that that what you think i think Kyle kuzma's the only young legs nah cook is young yeah he's he's like he's not a smaller player don't matter he's young you just said you're talking about age we're talking about age he's young and what do when do the age have to

anything with basketball. I think the Clippers have a more complete roster. Is it possible the Clippers take over Los Angeles? Never. Even if they win two championships in the Rodeo, they'll never run L.A. Why? Because they don't have it. What do you mean? They don't have it. What do you mean it? It's called it. Some people have it. Some people

don't. They don't. Don't matter what they do. First of all, they plan in our house. They need to go get their own backyard first. You got to come to work every day and look at them banners up there. You don't have none. Get your own living room. And they got money.

The owner got money. Why don't he go to Englewood, buy the property across street from the football field, and they can have their little thing in Englewood right over there with the Rams and the charges. So as a Laker fan, do you look at the Clippers as a stepbrother? I look at them as an adopted brother that we really didn't want. And my mama wouldn't adopt them when we wasn't looking. Now, we got to share all our food with them. my clothes with them and everything, man.

When they're going to move out? Snoop. You know, Los Angeles is, for the rest of the world, they just see palm trees and, you know, people still out east think we're a bunch of hippies. But I just moved here four years ago. There is so much entertainment here. It is.

It's incredible. Our colleges, our pro. Now, you're an NFL fan. I always identify you with the Steelers. Right. How do the Rams land for you? That's a hard one because being from California, you got to, you know, ride with the system. Right.

Do you like McVeigh? I love McVeigh. I'm not going to lie. I love the team. I love the players. I love the coach. I love his spirit. I just feel like golf need to, like, take the training wheels off.

Like, I heard that the coach being is here for like 15 seconds. Like, get out of my ear, man. Let me run this. Like, come on. This is the NFL. Like, is McVeigh running the offense or is he running the offense? That's fair. Is that true or not?

No, well, I, there's no question that McVeigh is in Goff's ear, whereas Peyton Manning basically ran the offense. That's what I'm, who in Brady's here? Nobody's in Brady. Okay, then. Who in Patrick Mahomes here? Don't look like nobody. He ain't listening.

So, no, I think it's a fair. I think what you're saying is. A lot of people are saying this. Is this Goff or is this McVeigh? No, but I will say this. I think Goff has the tools. I think he's a more talented Matt Ryan. I don't think he's Mahomes.

I don't think he's wins. He's not Deshawn Watson. If I said to you, Juju's probably your favorite player in the NFL right now. Or John Ross. Oh, Cincinnati. Oh, from Long Beach Polly. No, he played for my football league. John Ross did?

Yeah. He's the second fastest guy in the league to Tyreek Hill. No, no, no, no, no, what? Thirst. I think he's second. Who got the record at the combine? Well, those. John Ross, 4.22.

What did Tuteau? What did Tyreek Hill have? Tutu. Bishop Desmond Tutu. Now, I've got to ask you about your new show. NFL The Grind on Epics. We have about a minute and a half. What is it about?

It's me giving an experience with NFL players having conversations on and off the field before the game, preparation. the things that they do to get ready for the game, off-field things that they do, non-profit organizations, just getting a chance to know these athletes away from their helmet and seeing the great things that they do away from football. You really are, you have helped so many people in your life. Like a lot of you see him as a successful entrepreneur,

through agents and people, you have elevated a lot of lives. Like you have changed a lot of lives. So this kind of feels like, to me, a show in, which you can make players human. Yes. Well, you can touch them and know that they are people. Because with a football uniform, they just look like robots like, I don't know, but when

the game is over and you find that this guy has a family, he has initiatives in the community. He loves his grandmother. He loves to cook. He loves video games. He's just like me. He's regular. He just plays football on Sundays. By the way, you're giving drip Bayless all this love. Oh, drip, drip. It wouldn't be terrible

to have a little 15-second thing for our show someday. I'll give you a couple months to work on the herd can you rhyme stuff with the herd with the herd have you heard the word Snoop dog got off the curb and I'm the early bird to get the whiz arm and keep my hair in the piss arm and everything is everything how about that you see what I'm saying quick fast on the that was love right there talk to him joy tell him what it is one of the really good guys it's a pleasure to have you on man it's an honor to be on the show I love you guys I love watching y'all I'm thankful for being on the show thank y'all for having any time you want me

I'm here. Snoop. And baby girl at home, get dad them points. Give them points now. Give them them thousand points. He deserved. 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 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 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 Keer games is we have real conversations about here 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 Clivert Taylor the Fourth. And on my podcast, The Clivert 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, Ms. Parker. Listen to the Clippers show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what.

He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid.

He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash will get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball. Like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah,

you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Oh, here we go on a Tuesday this in Los Angeles. is the herd, wherever you may be, and however you may be listening. Iheart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1. If you just joined us, you missed Snoop Dog for about 10, 12 minutes, who was fantastic.

I haven't laughed that hard in a long, long time. Joy Taylor is joining us. I'm getting all sorts of credibility on the Internet today. I just checked that I wanted to see the reaction to Snoop and people. He was just so funny. Snoop knows his stuff now. No, he loves sports, and he's been helping kids forever. His football leagues are huge, yes.

It was interesting. We talked off the air. I just, I told him I was going to ask him, the moment he knew he wasn't just Calvin Brodus, he was Snoop Dogg, when he talked about in the projects in L.A., walking out of an apartment and signing autographs, and it's like that, you talk about it, and his life's never been the same. I always thought there were two, like, hip-hop stars that sounded different to me, Snoop and M&M. They just, Eminem layered his songs. He would have like six lines.

He talked, and then Snoop's sound is so different than anything I've ever heard. Yeah, and he has transcended generations of music and pop culture. Yeah. He's, he touches every generation. Yeah, he really does. So we do it every Tuesday. We watch Monday Night Football and these, we call this our herd hierarchy. I believe, by the way, some teams lose.

move them up. Some teams win, I move them down. I'm not win-loss generated here. What are my eyes tell me? We do the homework. We look at key stats and here's the herd hierarchy. Heard hierarchy. Time is now. Let's go. The top 10 NFL teams, according to college. Number 10. I am down right now in the L.A. Rams. I think their coaching is too good. their defensive coordinator, Aaron Donald. They have too many good components not to be a top 10 team. But Todd Gurley rushed five times for just 16 yards, and they've got a problem. They have no juice in their backfield.

It's not that they lost to Tampa Bay. That's not the issue. They still scored 40 points. But I think teams have figured out some of the components of the offense, put more guys up front defensively. I do think they overpaid for Gurley a year early and Brandon Cooks. They had to lose a couple of good offensive linemen. It's a very good system with lots of nice parts. I like their GM.

I like their head coach. I think Jared Goff is really talented. But they got no juice in that backfield, and Goff's still a young quarterback. And you look around this league, the young quarterbacks that win have rushing help Rams at 10. Number nine. 49ers will be on Monday night football. They're 3 and O and will host Cleveland. real upgrade here is their defense is now taking the ball away. Their number three in total defense,

and that was a huge liability when Kyle Shanahan took it over. And I also know that Shanahan's going to upgrade the offense. Do you know they run the ball? 57% of the plays, highest in the NFL, and they don't have what you'd consider a star running back. They don't have a road grading offensive line. So I get all the cleverness of Kyle Shanahan. I get some spectacular young perimeter, They run the ball, they take it away. Monday night football will tell me a lot, though, because the Brown's defensive front is all real, and San Francisco is going to have their hands full, but I'll put the Niners at nine.

Number eight. Seahawks, they beat the Cardinals. They were just clobbered at home by the Saints a couple of weeks ago, but it should be noted they outgained them two to one. They're two and oh on the road for the first time since they won a Super Bowl, and is Russell Wilson right now after Patrick Mahomes, the best quarterback in the NFL, seventh consecutive road start with 110 plus passer rating. That is unheard of, folks. That is unheard of. And Doug Baldwin left, and they don't have a great offensive line. And so I think you have a

combination of the best defensive coach after Belichick in the league Pete Carroll. Russell Wilson playing in a completely elevated league. By the way, Russell's one of three quarterbacks without a pick this season. And you consider how he moves around. and the cliff he plays on, really impressive. Seattle hosting the Rams, I have him at 8. Number 7. I don't move the Buffalo Bills down at all. I think they're real.

I think they're, listen, they're second in total defense. Tom Brady had one of his worst games as a pro. The Patriots couldn't throw on them. The Patriots couldn't run on them. Thank God New England got a special team's touchdown. He held the Patriots to 224 yards. and Tom was 18 of 39. Now, Tom's a precision thrower.

Now, I do think there's some limitations offensively with Josh Allen. He can be wild. He can be a little inconsistent. He can be a little erratic. But they did run the football against New England. So the upgraded offensive line, I have the bills at seven. Number six.

Green Bay Packers. Okay, it was a startling loss to Philadelphia. They could not stop the Eagles. And they didn't get a sack, and they led the NFL in sacks before the game. But what I see with them is Aaron Rogers on script in the first half looks comfortable. I think they have an elite receiver in Devante Adams, an elite running back in Aaron Jones. And I like Aaron and I like their offensive line. Philadelphia was more desperate and Philadelphia is really, really good. Don't take too much from the loss. I do think

the concern for me with Green Bay is second half offense, the production has been downed. They're very good on script with a rookie head coach. They've not been great off script, and that may be a problem for the entire year. But I still put him at six. Number five. Dallas Cowboys, and this is where it gets really tight for me. Listen, when Zeke can't run, the offense can be limited. If you're waiting for Dak to be jaw dropping, he's not.

But he keeps you in games, doesn't make dumb throws. He's a great leader. Number two ranked third down offense and defense. So I will say this, even though their offense doesn't blow you away, it's not over the top. When it comes to third down in three, only one team in the NFL gets the first down more than Dallas. And you may think DAC is limited, but it's nice to know that that offensive line, Zeke, Dak, and Amari, get first downs. That keeps other star quarterbacks like Carson Wentz off the field. That's why, by the way, they've had success against Carson Wentz in Philadelphia.

They win the time of possession in those battles, Dallas at five. Number four. Philadelphia at four. Now, they're getting healthier. I always say my final four teams are the teams I think at any given time are the Super Bowl teams. I think Philadelphia is special. I think they've won with all sorts of secondary injuries.

Deshawn Jackson that didn't have a deep threat when on the road in Green Bay and won. There's no getting around their issue. Their secondary right now is a mess. But I think a lot of that is just injuries. I don't think they're secondary. is going to be great at any point this year. But I think it'll be capable. Right now it is not.

And I also think they're pass rush. They don't have enough sacks for my taste right now. Fewest sacks in the NFL. I don't think that's a long-term issue. I do think they create pressure on the quarterbacks. Ask Aaron Rogers. Number three. Why don't I have my number three team right here?

Oh, the New Orleans Saints. Well, here's what I'd say about the Saints. The only NFL team in the league that can go. to a backup quarterback and win convincingly in Seattle and beat the Dallas Cowboys. That sums it up. That tells you you have good line play. You have weapons offensively. Would Seattle win if Russell Wilson didn't play?

Would the Cowboys win without DAC? Would New England win without Brady? It's not, the reason I've got him at three isn't because they beat Dallas. They're winning with a backup and they're beating good teams. Dallas in Seattle. Seattle on the road with a backup. I think it tells you the depth on their line play. I think it tells you that to me they have the best Marshawn Latimore is the best pure corner in the game. Alvin Kamar is one of the top three backs. Michael Thomas may be the best possession receiver. And they have maybe the smartest coach along with Andy Reid

offensively in the NFL. Number two. New England Patriots. I think their defense is ridiculous. They haven't allowed a passing touchdown this year. They're number one in six off defensive categories. Now, the reason I don't have them at number one is because I think right now, they've got a lot of wide receiver issues. I mean, Gronk retired, Chris Hogan left. The rookie Nikiel Harry is on IR. Edelman's bumped around a little bit. He's bruised. Josh Gordon's terrific, but I have questions. I mean, thank God for Philip Dorset, who can play a several different. He can go slot. He can go perimeter. I just don't think offensively they're dynamic enough right now to put it number one.

Number one. I think Kansas City is. Now they have an issue too. I don't love the back end of their defense. And unless they make a trade, I don't think they're going to have a great secondary this year. But they've scored 25 plus points in 25 straight games. Now, you say to yourself when you watch college football, 25 points. The NFL average score is 2320.

So to go 25 points for a year and a half straight is really. remarkable. Remember, they play in Kansas City. They plan bad weather. They plan hail. You know, November on, there's a lot of cold weather cities in the NFL that Kansas City plays in. And, I mean, four and oh, three straight seasons. Now, Andy Reid, it should be noted, is a very good September coach. Could we see them just a little trend down? I think it's possible. They're one or two injuries on defense away from real trouble. So I think when you look at the herd hierarchy. There are there are no

teams without issues. Patriots receiving an offensive line. Kansas City secondary. But there you go. My herd hierarchy. I do not have Baltimore or Cleveland in it because frankly, I don't think Baltimore's as bad as they looked and I don't think Cleveland's

as good as they looked. Sometimes teams play and I just don't think it's a true indication of what we saw. I think Cleveland played with desperation. I think Baltimore came out really flat. I don't know what to make a Baltimore in Cleveland. I just don't know.

I have to watch Cleveland go to San Francisco this week. Let me watch them. Can they put back-to-backs together like that? And let me watch Baltimore. I think they're going to rebound strongly against Pittsburgh. That's where we are. I'm okay. I would swap Buffalo in Seattle.

And I do think Seattle's going to get a big win this week. Yeah, so do I. I like Seattle at home. I do. I like him against the Rams. Rams are the rare good team. team three and one, that's got a problem. And they've got to fix it because that division's, I mean, that division's not easy.

Peter King, around the corner. 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 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 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. 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, as 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 Clivert 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? Quarterback on office blue 42. Hey, rec, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Hey, Ms. Parker. Listen to the Clifford show on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

What's up, fam, Ms. Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about Define. the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves,

I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too.

Steve Nass would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He run up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball. Like, after you go through a training camp with that, IZE, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. How many guys out there using your girlfriend shampoo? Stop, your hair's different.

Get your own dove men plus care available at Walmart's hair of the care. Give your hair the care it needs to stay strong and resilient. Again, available at Walmart. Here's an interesting stat. I said this yesterday. In the 15 best games Odell Beckham's ever had, the Giants and the Browns are 5 and 10. In his 15 worst games, the Giants and the Browns are 9 and 6. Now, again, sometimes statistics they just land.

This is not an indictment on O'Dell Beckham, but it does, I think, to some degree, make him more icing than cake. I think you build around Nick Chubb. I think you build around that defensive front. I think you build around Baker. I think for young quarterbacks, be very careful about being beholden to the star perimeter receiver. DAC, I think, is a better quarterback since Des Bryant left.

With that we start. Peter King, three-time sports writer of the year, NBCSports.com via the Coward Global Satellite Network. Peter, I thought Cleveland had a great game plan. I think it's a repeatable game plan. I think you could pack that defense and running game into luggage and take it to San Francisco. OBJ, they weren't beholden to him. Maybe it's just a coincidence. But when I watch that game, I'm like, okay, that's transferable. 12 times a year. Relying on OBJ to be spectacular is not. So when I watched Cleveland, I thought, okay, they figured it out. They figured out what they are. That was my takeaway.

What about you? Well, here's the thing I would say, Colin. Right now, we're a quarter of the way through the season. And Odell Beckham Jr. is on pace right now for an 84-catch, 1232-yard season. Those are good to very good number. and if O'Dell Beckham Jr. basically handles his business, manages his emotions, and is a co-star receiver along with Jarvis Landry, it's going to go great in Cleveland. There's two things that have happened in the past, though.

Number one, he's gotten hurt quite a bit in the last couple of years. Number two, he's been his own personal distraction, you know, where either he says something, he gets mad at somebody, whatever. if he just continues like this in the in the next three months what he's been in the first month, that is a perfect Odell Beckham Jr. for this team. And Colin, just remember one thing. As soon as Kareem Hunt gets on campus, you know, in early November, I think a month from now, and you have no idea of Jarvis Landry stays healthy, Baker Mayfield, you know, Nick Chubb. But just think of this assortment of offensive weapons that they'll have.

This is going to be a team to be reckoned with. And I think before this weekend, you would have said in the pantheon that Nick Chubb would be the number five guy there. Well, I don't know after watching him the other day if he's number five anymore. He's right in the middle. Ultimately, Cleveland and everybody in the AFC would have to get past New England. I said this yesterday, Peter, that in my life, great defenses have either have a name, a brand, or star players, Ray Lewis, Ed Reed.

Even the team that didn't have that, Miami was called the no-name defense. I don't know what New England is, but they're certainly not dependent on any star. Is this a byproduct of bad offenses, or do you see something here when you talk to your sources that this New England defense really is spectacular? Well, here's what people think about this New England defense, Colin. Number one, the secondary is the best secondary Bill Belichick has ever had in New England. And that includes when he won huge games against Peyton Manning with Tylawn, Rodney Harrison back there. The reason is depth.

They have got some terrific depth back there and not only just depth, but if you consider what they have elsewhere on their defense, the other day you looked at the inactives and you saw Dante Hightower, who, in my opinion, is the best player on the New England front seven. Dante Hightower isn't there, and still they play a fantastic game defensively up in Buffalo. And it's because Bill Belichick recognizes that there are guys who are totally underappreciated, guys like Kyle Van Nuoy, who he steals from Detroit. And now Kyle Van Nuoy is one of the top three or four best players on what is one of the best defenses of the last 20 years.

Yeah. I looked at your top 10 NFL teams, and you and I agree mostly, but have one big disagreement. You have the Rams at three. I've got them at 10. I think there's a problem inside the organization. They paid Todd Gurley a year early, didn't have to. They paid Brandon Cooks more than I would have. They paid Aaron Donald, and they had to get rid of a couple of offensive linemen, and Todd Gurley is not the same player. And Peter, I like Jared Goff, but you cannot ask any young corner. quarterback to throw 68 times. You can't ask him to throw 48 times. Why do you like the Rams? Because I'm bailing here a little bit on them. Well, I understand that. And Colin, I think everybody who looks at the NFL right now, a quarter of the way through the season, would put New England and Kansas City in some order at one and two. Right. I have no idea what team is third. I just, I truly don't know. I should have expressed that more in my rankings. You know, basically, the Rams number three out of almost a process of elimination. You know, do I think right now if the Rams played the teams four through 10, how would they do?

I think they'd be fortunate to go 500. Right. So I don't love anybody after New England and Kansas City, but I think I respect the head coach of this team so much. I respect Sean McVeigh so much to go into his laboratory and basically say, here's how we're going to fix the offense. And I think you're going to see an offense that gets better in the coming three or four weeks. Now, the one thing that does bother me is how in the world the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went into the Coliseum and put a thousand points on the Rams.

That's fairly inexcusable. That really gave me pause. And at about 2.30 in the morning on Monday when I was finalizing the top of my rankings, I threw my hands in the air and I said, this is a vote for trusting Sean McVeigh and Wade Phillips. I might be proven wrong, but that is why I did what I did. By the way, some of these young quarterbacks that run around maybe don't get drafted, if not for Russell Wilson. Russell Wilson has changed the way we look at height as a requirement in the NFL.

Peter, he is, Pete Carroll said it yesterday. Pete's like, this is the best he's ever played. I don't even care about stats. I will say this, in my lifetime, he's absolutely the most underrated quarterback of my lifetime. He's the only one I ever have to argue is elite. I never had to argue, even Steve Young, who I thought was underrated. I never have to argue with people. I think Russell's gotten better.

I think he's getting guys drafted that may not be nearly as good as him. What do you make of Seattle, Russell Wilson's year, lost Doug Baldwin, hasn't heard him at all. where do you put in when you talk about quarterbacks and their importance in league history what is he where is he and where is he now to you I just I marvel at Russell Wilson and I wrote it in my column this week I don't write enough about Russell Wilson

that's my fault and it isn't because he's on the other side of the country and I'm in New York that has nothing to do with it it's just that I think what we get impressed with in covering the NFL is all the fun and shiny objects. Oh my God, look at New England's defense.

That is incredible. Look at the Bears' defense. Oh, my God, who's going to stop them? Look at Patrick Mahomes. He's the best young quarterback ever to enter the league and all this other stuff. And 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. And to me, I always say, ever since, the playoff game against the Packers in Seattle, when they were way down and he brought him back and they won an overtime, I said, that's it. I am now convinced for life that this guy is going to be a Hall of Fame quarterback. At least that's what I said to myself at the time. I still feel that way. And Colin, I'll just say this. 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.

You know, I said this earlier today. Every time the Cowboys lose, it's Dax's fault. And then this morning I hear Jerry Jones taking a jab at Kellynne Moore. And I was saying, I don't know if I've ever seen a conference. I mean, it's always somebody's fault. But I said, coaching is the one sport, or the NFL football is the one sport. I can look at coaching and say, oh, God, I can see good coaching. If you look at the NFC today, Sean Payton, Pete Carroll, Kyle Shanahan, Doug Peterson, McVey,

Matt Nagy, Ron Rivera, Mike Zimmer. I know. I know. I've seen it. Those are elite coaches. I mean, Cam's had a top 10 defense five of eight years with Ron Rivera. I got a question for you. Jason Garrett.

What's his moment? What does he do? And I'm not banging on him. I'm just saying I'm tired of hearing it's Dax. No, I think his moment, you know what I think his moment is, quite honestly? And first of all, I think it's silly to get down after one game on the guys. who has been a big star in the first quarter of the season in Kellynne Moore. And rightfully so, because what he is done with this offense is he has made every game

playing a snowflake. He's like Josh McDaniels. You have no idea whether Brady's going to throw it 43 times or throw it 23 times in any game. You just don't know. And so I like Kellyn Moore because I don't know going into a game right now. Is Dak going to be the guy today who he's going to lean on? Is it going to be the running game?

are they going to run it 42 times? And you ask about Jason Garrett. Dallas is not a very easy place to coach. You've got the owner breathing down your neck all the time. You've got the weight of great expectations of this storied franchise. You've got the most lucrative franchise in the franchise that has the highest valuation of any team in American sports, significantly high. than the New York Yankees.

And you've got to come to work every day, knowing that you've got to feed the monster. And you've also got to coach the team. So I'm not saying that Jason Garrett is going to have a gold jacket one day. I'm not saying that, but I'm saying that he has things in his daily life coaching the Dallas Cowboys that in my opinion, no other head coach has to deal with. Yeah, that's fair.

That's fair. NBCSports.com, Peter King. I just love having him on the show. It's such a pleasure today. And check out his stuff. Read his columns, as you always do. Peter, absolute pleasure talking to you on a Tuesday. Thanks, Colin.

You bet. That is fair. There is a, and also, I think when you coach the most watched team in America, they're the most watched team, how does that not seep into the membrane a little bit? You would be less willing to take big chances, right? Like Aaron Boone manages the Yankees. They have nine reporters in New York.

minimum newspapers that cover him daily. That's not the way it works for the A's. You're begging for the local college station to cover you. Do you manage differently knowing that every move is scrutinized? It's an interesting point. It is something to think about. Real Madrid is different coaching Real Madrid than the seventh best team in the EPL, English Premier League.

There's my soccer drop. It's just different. By the way, I've got to read this. In October, it's now Geico Ween. Don't be scared by high rates. Geico Ween. Fifteen minutes could save you 15 or more on car insurance. So good it could be scary.

I didn't write this. Joy with the news. No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. So stick with the Cowboys. They did suffer their first loss of the season to the Saints on Sunday. New Orleans effectively contained Dak and the Cowboys offense,

holding Dallas to a season low 10 points. But despite the loss, Dak has not lost any confidence in the team. Yeah, we've got a great team. There's no confidence lost with this loss. I can promise you that there's a lot of things that we'll take from this that we'll learn from. We'll become a better team because of it. And that's the most important thing. Well, they shouldn't lose any confidence because the Saints are a good team.

And Teddy Ridgewater is a starting quarterback in the league, despite the fact that he used Drew Breese's backup. Saints did not take a huge step back this year. I didn't expect them to, and they've shown that and shown great resilience after losing Drew Breese. could be a huge emotional blow to the team. But while we're busy talking about Kellynne Moore and Dak, Zeeke had 35 yards on 18 attempts. Yes. That's kind of a problem.

So, and I'm not saying it's Zieg's fault, but, I mean, they contain the running game. So maybe that's just what happens. The other thing is they didn't have, the Saints were getting great pressure with rushing four. Okay, so there's your story. If I can rush four and you have the best offensive line and I'm getting pressure,

that means I got an extra guy in coverage. And by the way, Lattimore, completely took Amari Cooper out of the game. So you just take your most reliable best athlete on the perimeter out. Right. And I'm getting... And I got pressure with four. Everybody's struggling in that dome.

Everybody would struggle. And I mean, Mahomes would struggle in that situation if you took Tyreek Hill or Travis Kelsey out and we have no running game. I mean, nobody thought Dallas was going to go undefeated this year. That's right. Right. So why are we sweating it? They've already beaten the Giants in Washington.

No. Miami is everyone's step. you these days. Everyone just relax. It was a very respectable loss for the Cowboys. Nobody's not to freak out and not pay DAC or say that Kellynne Moore should be out as offensive coordinator. Jason Witt and

Zeke fumbled. They never do. He literally never fumbles. Yes. Everyone just needs to calm down a little bit on the Cowboys. That said, coming up next week for them, is the Packers. And Packers' wide receiver, Devante Adams, suffered a toe injury in Green Bay's lost to the Eagles last Thursday.

Did he play? Well, he is now being reported that he is day to day with the toe injury and he is unlikely to play this week against the Cowboys. He left in the fourth quarter, but he led the team with 10 catches and recorded a career high, 180 receiving yards. So this is a big deal for the Packers. God, I can't wait to watch that game. How that good is that game? Well, this is always a must watch game no matter what state either of these teams are in. But this does make things very interesting.

Oh, my Lord. That is a good game. Is that on Fox? Well, what do you know? All the good games are. Yes. But I mean, this is a huge blow for the Packers if he's unable to play. Oh, God, yes.

Especially with Aaron Rogers trying to get the offensive offense going. So we'll see what happens with that. Finally, the Warriors are looking to make their sixth straight trip to the NBA finals this season. They'll have to do it without some key pieces from last year like Kevin Durant, Andrea Godala, Sean Livingston. They're all no longer with the team. They've all been big pieces over the past couple of years. years. And Jemann Green was asked about his team's chances at Media Day yesterday, and he is still confident.

So you still believe this team can go to the finals this year? Steph Curry on our team? Clay? Yeah. I mean, he kind of has a point. Obviously, the West is a little more competitive than it has been when it comes to them over the past couple years. They have a few other teams they have to get over. I don't, okay, this, I don't get the media.

So the league is largely getting smaller. So Kvon Looney, they have found a really good small big. Okay. I get Steph Clay Drayman and an all-star. And Angela Russell. I don't get it. I mean, to me, this is the Western Conference Finals team. I don't know if they get past the Clippers.

But they're going to have a very good chance. Now, the one thing about it is Clay Thompson is probably going to be out until March or April. I'm okay with that. I mean, he's still rehabbing from his torn ACL. They're not going to rush him back, especially, obviously, after what happened with Kevin Durant. So he's going to be well-rested March 15. I'm good with that. But this year is a very interesting year for the Warriors because they are, despite what Draymond is saying, they're coming in with really no expectations.

Inexplicably so. They should have expectations. If I said to you. He's right. They do have him, Steph, Clay. Let me ask you this. Take Clay Thompson out. Doesn't exist.

Okay. Steph Curry, DeAngelo Russell, Kay von Looney, Steve Kerr the head coach, great GM, Draymond Green, and who's the kid off the bench I like for them? They have one kid off the bench I like. We're NFL season, I forget. They got one guy I have to bench I like. That's a playoff team. Oh, yeah, of course the playoff team.

And then I get Clay Thompson coming back. But he's talking about the NBA finals. Well, I think they're, I don't know. If you give me the full component, if Clay comes back healthy, I think he's going to come back. My guess is he could come back early March if you wanted to. I think they're going to end up in the Western Conference finals again. I got Steve Kirk coaching him. I mean, it sounds like a ridiculous thing to say because we've all moved off of them, but it's not. They're going to be right there. Yeah. Enjoy it with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurdline News.

Solomon Wilcox is a former NFL player. He works for pff.com. He'll dig deep into the numbers. I love this stuff because I think it gives fans a real insight on who can play and who can't, the real issues and crises in the league. Boy, we got some good games this week. Cleveland at San Francisco, Green Bay at Dallas. Man, we got some good Thursday. I got Rams at Seattle. This is a good week of NFL football.

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 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 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, 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 Clivert 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. Hey, rec, my mama wants you to wave at her. What? Hey, Ms. Parker. Listen to the Clifford show on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, fam? This Isaiah Thomas.

And I'm CJ Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about Defendant. the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game.

We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nass would get that thing.

That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball. Like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The WWE moving truck has spent the past two weeks driving across America. Jeff Gordon kicked it off in Charlotte, and it stopped in 16 cities across the country,

including the Vikings game last weekend. Friday it will arrive in L.A. for the huge premiere of Friday Night Smackdown on Fox. Undertaker will be there. Stone Cold, Steve Austin, Roman Raines. You know who else going to be there? Hulk Hogan. Oh, slightly bigger than me.

Yes. I loved Hulk Hogan, girl. up. Oh, everybody who didn't. Who didn't? He's the man. And then, of course, you know, the rocky thunderlips. Of course.

We may have a special guest Friday. Oh. I'm not going to give things away. By the way, a special guest of PFF.com. You and I watch it all the time. Pro FootballFocus.com. Solomon Wilcoxby, the Coward Global Satellite Network, six years playing in the NFL.

Smart dude. Broadcaster as well. All right, we were saying this morning, Minnesota's got a championship roster, Solomon. But I think they have to have kind of a come-to-Jesus meeting here. Listen, Kirk Cousins isn't working. My eyes don't lie to me. Pro football focus.

What are the numbers say on Kirk Cousin struggles? Well, the numbers aren't good, Colin. The overall passing grade for Kurt Cousins, way down by some 30 points from last year to this year. Wow. It doesn't look good. He's on pace for a lower number of touchdown passes, a lower number of big-time throw. and he's also on pace for throwing more interceptions this year than he did last year. He seems uncertain and unsure.

He is not in sync and on timing and in rhythm with his receivers. So everything seems to be out of whack. Outside of the running game for the Vikings, when it comes to the quarterback position, things are out of sorts. The Vikings may have to go back to the drawing board and decide what they're going to do in terms of moving on from Kurt Cousins if it doesn't. get better. Yeah, the good news is five college quarterbacks look to be NFL ready. I wouldn't be shocked if the Vikings make a run at one of those. Of course, I'm being early and speculating, but I do

think at some point this roster's too good to have that quarterback. Now, the Brown's formula, I have said most of my life, receivers are icing. They're not the cake. You can't build around them. I loved Cleveland's offense this past week. Why was Baker so successful? The new formula works, I know what you're pointing at, Colin. You're pointing at Nick Chubb. I think everyone wanted more of Nick Chubb, and they got more of Nick Chubb. There's no doubt about it. He was phenomenal in terms of the 165 rush yards that he gained.

But how about this, Colin? Most of those rushing yards came against a seven-man front. And so I think you don't force it into Nick Chubbs. I think if your Baker Mayfield, you've got to allow yourself to do what the defense gives you. If they give you a seven-man front, you check to the running game and give them more of Nick Chub. If they're going to crowd the box and they're not going to allow you to run the football, you've got to look and see, you've got man-to-man coverage, single coverage outside, single high safety. They're going to crowd the box.

You've got to put the ball in the air and allow your receivers to help you. There is no quarterback that goes to the line of scrimmage with only one plan. You've got to have two plans. And the defense is going to tell you what you're going to do. If you read it accurately, then you'll always be able to check to a better plan. I want to ask you about the Rams because they had to move off two offensive linemen because they paid Donald and they paid Brandon Cooks and they paid Todd Gurley a year early. Now they're paying Jared Goff. The offensive line does not look the same to me.

PFF, what are the grades say, Solomon on the Rams offensive front? Because it looks like it's got leaks to me. You know, many of us, we have hopes for the L.A. Rams. We saw them on Sunday. We say, oh, it's going to get better. But if you take a look at the grades, you take a look at this offensive line, it doesn't give us any hope that things will get better. Their overall passing grade in terms of pass protection is down by nearly 35 points. How about the run blocking from one year ago? It's down by nearly 35 points. They're not getting the runner, whether it's Todd Gurley or someone else, they're not getting the runner to the second level of the defense. They're not able to do. to protect the quarterback Jared Gough as well as they did one year ago. He's being hit, hurried, and harassed at a greater rate than one season ago, and it's having its cumulative effect. He's now filling pressure even when there isn't any pressure.

He's got receivers are open, and he's not hitting them consistently. He's making some big time throws, but he's also making some big time throws for the opposing defense. He's not as consistent as he was because the offensive line in front of him isn't nearly as consistent. And the NFC is just loaded at quarterback. I think there are so many good coaches and so many good quarterbacks on the NFC. PFF.com. Who are getting, what are your top four quarterback grades right now? Well, you have to have a qualifier, and that qualifier is, let's take a look at the NFC quarterbacks with 100 pass attempts or more because they played in four games. And so right now, the numbers tell you the

best passing grade is that of Carson Wentz. Slightly, I head of Dat Prescott. Now, Carson Wentz probably has, what, one fewer interception than that Proscott, two more big time throws in that Prescott. So it's, the margins are razor thin, but creeping up behind them are guys like Aaron Rogers and Russell Wilson. And how about Matthew Stafford is lurking in there right around number five? Now, when you don't have Drew Breeze as part of the mix, a lot of these other guys can ascend up the ladder. I think surprisingly, only Jared Gough and guys like Matt Ryan in the NFC, they're going in the other direction. Finally, New England's defense, is it this good or have they played lousy andept offenses?

What does PFF say? I think they're this good. I think with Bill Belichick calling the plays on the other end, we always say he's playing chess, everyone else is playing checkers. And this defense is probably as good as any defense as he's had since he's been there. Because when it comes to scoring percentage allowed, they're number one. When it comes to possessions that turn into scores for the opposing team, they're number one. When it comes to taking the ball away and creating turnovers and interceptions, they're number one.

They have 10 interceptions through four games. That's twice as many as any other team in the NFL. Last I checked, when you take the ball away and win the turnover battle and you don't allow the other team to score, you're going to win a lot of games. Solomon Wilcock, six seasons in the NFL. By the way, it doesn't matter if you're a fantasy football player. I go to PFF all the time. I just get all sorts of information. Go there and use the promo code QB25 to get 25% off your subscription today.

Solomon, great having you on the show. Good stuff as always. Thank you, sir. All right, thanks, Colin. By the way, fascinating on those Rams offensive line grades. That is not a slight. Yeah, that explains a lot. Yeah, that is not a slight erosion.

Like the Rams pass blocking grades are half of last year. like it matters. And, you know, it's so funny about this. We always blame the wrong people. Everybody is blaming referees for the flags, and everybody's blaming all the running quarterbacks for the injuries. I don't think it's the running quarterback's fault, and I don't think it's the referees fault.

I think it's the offensive line issues. Offensive line deterioration in this league is the gap between a good old lineman and the rest of them is a Rams lose two offensive linemen. It's not even half of the offensive line. line. But we want to blame the refs for all these flags. The problem is the last collective bargaining agreement, fewer practices,

less hitting, and it's hurt the offensive linemen more than any other unit. Did you see Andy Dalton last night? I mean, I'm not an Andy Dalton fan. That's ridiculous. I mean, that was down set, hike. He had no time. No time to throw. So, you know, we're blaming

the wrong. It's like, you know, we want to blame the food if we have a weight issue. We want to blame the refs and running quarterbacks. A lot of these quarterbacks. Nick Fools is not a running quarterback. He got hurt. So O-line play stinks. Hour 3 coming up. 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. Don't use your wife or girlfriend shampoo. Get your own. Your hair deserves your own. Dove men plus care. A range designed to give your hair the resilience and strength that needs of available at Walmart. I had Snoop Dog on earlier. He was very, very funny. And we were just talking

with LaVar Erington about the kind of the hip-hop artist you favor. You're a Snoop Dog fan, a Noz fan. Love Noz. And then Scarface. I love Scarface. All right. So I was, I was, you know, people look at me and say, give me a break. But I was an, I used to work out to Eminem that I like Snoop Dog, because I thought they had a totally different sound than everybody else. Some of it doesn't sound as unique. I thought Eminem sounded like nobody had ever heard. Lyrically, he was off the charge, and Snoop Dog had a kind of a sound or a vibe.

A lot of my friends like Biggie Smalls, a lot of the guys in my age group on the East Coast. Snoop Dogg feels Cali to me. Snoot was Cali, but Snoot was ginormous as a Cali rapper, but Snoot was mainstream as well. I'm from Pittsburgh,

you know, but Snoot was someone that we rocked with. And, you know, Pittsburgh, people thought it was like a little West Coast. Like we handle things like West Coast people. So we were very much in tune with some of the rappers and the artists from here. We big Dre fans. We listen to people like Selly Cell, MC8, you know, you name it.

Like a lot of West Coast culture was blended into Pittsburgh culture. Well, the West Coast for a lot of East Coast people, it's, you know, they don't know much. I mean, everybody I know out West has gone east. Not everybody I knew out east has gone west. That's true. That's fair. There's a dream. There's sort of a end of the rainbow field of the west coast like, oh my God, it's palm trees.

You don't see palm trees anywhere else in America. It's a different mentality. It's a different mentality out here. By the way, so I said this with the Steelers. I don't care they won by 24. They were like helicopter parents. They wouldn't let Mason Rudolph do anything to get himself. You can't win Big Boy Football.

the NFL with Mason Rudolph and that stuff. Now, maybe Mason's better than that. But come on, LeVar, that stuff, that was running back throws and safe throws and don't throw interceptions. You buying that? I'm not buying it. I'm not buying that they have to rebuild this team, Colin. They have no personality now.

It has to come down to the development of where they are going and what that looks like. going to continue on with the head coach. Is he going to be a part of this? I just think the Steelers are in that flux moment in terms of what they represent historically, what their DNA has been. But you got to keep in mind. I was growing up during the Neil O'Donnell days and the Mark Malone days. And sometimes...

We forget between Bradshaw and Big Ben, there was a lot of eight and eight. So sometimes you got to look at what... they're doing historically, this is historically what the Steelers do when they have to play more of a counterpuncher and not the bully that comes right out of the corner. That's a really good way to put it. That's a really good way. 20 years between Bradshaw and Big Ben, they were always viable, but you didn't think they could stack up offensively with the Dan Fouts or the Montana's. So that's what they are right now. They're a little bit of a counterpuncher.

That's a good way to put it. I like that. Yeah, I mean, if you don't have Mike Tyson's left hook, you Larry Holmeson. Well, if you don't have the young Mike Tyson versus the older Mike Tyson, the older Mike Tyson became more of a counterpuncher. He had to have more of a strategy to try to win fights because that power that he was using when he was younger was no longer there at the end. You know, you were a great defensive player in the NFL for eight years, multiple time pro-Boulder. in my life, the great defenses have had nicknames,

purple people eaters, steel curtain, orange crush, Legion of Boom. Or they've had that and they've had great players. I mean, jump off the TV. Lawrence Taylor for the Giants, Ray Lewis for the Ravens, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sapp, Derek Brooks. So New England statistically is breaking every record. and they didn't even play Dante Hightower Sunday.

Do you think it's a little overstated or what do you see? When you look at them, they don't jump off a television set, Lamar. They don't. You know, the interesting thing about Patriots, culture, it's always been that. It has always been that. They just put one in the Hall of Fame this past year. You could say the same exact thing about those defenses with TIE law, with Willie McGuinness, with Teddy Bruske.

They, Mike Vraeval, they, they have built a reputation of being a super, super elite group that doesn't get superstar elite attention. They're not beholden to the guy. Well, there you go. But it doesn't mean that the cornerback they have. Stefan Gilmore is a stud. He's as studly as a stud gets at that position. Like you mentioned, High Tower, they have Collins. They have A-level names.

They have top-tier-level guys. So you see a lot of athleticism. You see it. I mean, you're talking about Richard Seymour. Vince Wilfirk were on those Super Bowl-led defenses, and they never were really looked at as the guy. Right. Right.

And Vince is probably a Hall of Famer. Richard Seymour is possibly arguably a Hall of Famer. So I just think that that's the whole mentality. Their dynasty got started off of them walking out into the Super Bowl together. You know, it wasn't individuals being introduced. Even with all of the fanfare that goes towards the offensive side. So interesting because you can turn a Julian Edelman or Amandola, you can turn these guys into superstars and household names.

Because they're connected to Brady. But you'd have to say maybe the defenses are connected to Brady as well. Right now, I can certainly argue that their defense has far more talent than their offense. New England's defense is way more talented than their offense. They got some talent on that offense. But I wouldn't disagree with that observation. And, you know, the interesting thing about it is that when you're talking about that team that almost went undefeated, their defense was probably better than their,

than their offense. You know, you had, you had Rodney Harrison in the backfield, in the defensive backfield of that defense. You had lawyer Malloy, you know, you have some guys. And so the reality of it is, is when you look at the Patriots, that is the DNA of who they are. It's been built that way. And they're okay with the offensive side of the ball getting that,

or at least it would assume, you would assume, they're okay with the offensive side getting the type of attention that they receive and just going from a workman like a hard hat type of mentality. The McCordy brothers, they're household names. They are now. You know, and you just look at the amount of talent that they have continued. My baby cousin was on one of those Super Bowl teams. Kyle Arrington.

I thought he was, you know, I mean, with that name, I got it going. He finished it off and got a Super Bowl ring with that name. So I feel like they have always had playmakers on their teams. Just the offensive side gets to love. They're just okay. And they're okay with that. Yeah. And it works.

Yeah. LeVar Arrington, Fox Sports NFL analyst, three-time Pro Bowl, or eight years in the NFL. We were talking about J. Peter King was on earlier, and he said, you know, when you're the cowboy coach, every play is discussed Monday. It doesn't work that way as Jacksonville's coach. So it's like being a soccer coach for Real Maduro. or Manchester United or the Yankee manager or the cowboy coach.

And, you know, I was talking about Jason Garrett and I'm like, there's so many good coaches in the NFC. You know, you're Pete Carrolls and you're Sean Patens and you're Sean McVeigh and you're Kyle Shanahan, you're Doug Peterson. I think Ron Rivera is a really good defensive coach. And I look at Jason Garrett and I'm like, what's his thing? Are you a Garrett fan? What do you see that, I hear you're a Jason Garrett fan?

fan could be strong. I think from a, you know, subjective type of standpoint, I think he does a fine job. You know, you look at the self-proclaimed America's team. There has to be a whole lot that goes with managing being the head coach of a team. That's what Peter King said. Because it's more so the organization than it is the playing itself. And if you're a head coach, you know very quickly that your distinct role within. in the organization is to manage the entire team. So there are the levels above you, administratively speaking, but your administration is your coordinators

and your coaches and your players. So in that order. And the reality of it is that I think Jason Garrett is doing as final job for that team as you could have a coach do. And the reason why I say that is is because the one thing about Jerry, Jones that you get, you don't have to know them personally.

You can just look at what he's looking for. He's looking for results. He's driven by results. Discussing those plays on Monday, that's because there's something connected to every single one of those plays that takes place. That's why they're being discussed. They're all very important. And they're very important to Jerry Jones. I don't think it's any more important to anyone else more so than Jerry Jones.

So if Jerry Jones felt as though there was someone that could lead that team, better than what Jason Garrett is doing right now or has done in the past, he would have pulled the trigger on replacing him for the better good of that organization and that team. Yeah, Jerry trusts him. There's no question that Jerry's all into him. Finally, by the way, California is doing something, which is fascinating. They are now going to make it possible for college athletes. They won't be paid by the school, but to make money on YouTube channels,

make money on Facebook, make money on a T-shirt, make money on digital. What do you make of that? I did the calculation of what I would have made. My sophomore and junior year, if I was able to leverage a bill like this, and it came out to somewhere roughly around north of $3.3 million that I would have possibly been able to garner. Merchandizing. Did you see your jersey all over the stadium? I did.

And the way I calculated it was based off of capacity of crowd, the amount of the amount. of tailgators, the amount of apparel that was being sold, whether it be the, see, here's where you get it. The authentic jerseys were like $130-some. The knock-offs and the not-so authentic were like 30, 40 in that range. But then you had a ton of T-shirts. Like there was a T-shirt, 1143, me and Brandon Short, Thou Shall not Run. That was super popular during our time. You didn't get a penny.

You don't get a penny of it. Did it ever bother you when you played? I understand both sides of it. So I was not bothered by not being able to benefit from it, but I was an enterprise. I did understand my brand. And a lot of times that kind of clashed with Penn State culture. Right. Which is they don't put the jersey on the helmet.

Don't put the name. Yeah, the basic blues, no name on the on the back of. the jersey, you know, it says no name all game. It's kind of like our motto, right? But when you think about it, the reality of it is, it's no name we can enterprise off of the jersey. Let me tell you something. If I'm a high school football player and now I can make money in California, I don't know how this is going to land, but I would go to California. There you go. Well, I mean, seriously, YouTube is eight miles from my house. There's an office. Oracle, Apple, they're all based in California. You hit it. I would come and, why would come and why? Why

The SEC's got better football, but the West Coast has Silicon Valley. That's all the social media sites are. It'll catch up. Football, football and sports in general will catch up and think about what that will do to the economy. So for this governor to sign that bill, it's pretty ingenious for him to do it and be the first one to the table in a place in a market as large as California. LeVar Arrington, Fox NFL Sports, all sorts of good stuff. Good seeing you, buddy.

Joy with the news. Back at you. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. So there's six rookie head coaches in the NFL this season. Matt LaFleur and Freddie Kitchens are off to good starts. But the other ones, they still have zeros in the win columns. Cliff Kingsbury, Zach Taylor, Vic Fangio, and Brian Flores are all winless through week four.

Cliff Kingsbury does have a tie, so do with that which you will. But no wins. This is the first time in NFL history that four rookie head coaches are still looking for a win four weeks into the season. You know, Vic Fangio, I feel part of the first of the game. me feels bad for Vic Fangio and Joe Flacco. Basically, Joe Flacco is two field goals with him standing on the sidelines from being two and two and people going, you know, Joe Flacco has really helped things. Denver feels like they've gotten every bad break.

The rest of that list of yours, obviously the better players, the more wins, the worst players, the less wins. Right. Well, so obviously Matt Liflor and Freddie Kitchens should be in better spots than the other four-roo-le-co-head coaches. And the, I'm sorry, the Bengals and the Dolphins are bad. kind of the stories tell themselves. So really Vic Fangio and Cliff Kingsbury are the interesting ones being owned for or without wins because Cliff Kingsbury has the number one overall pick in Kyler Murray. Now, I know he's a baby and he hasn't had a lot of college starts and, you know, there's a lot of factors to that.

But I think that they have a slightly higher table of expectations than Vic Fangio. Now, the Broncos have very high standards of their fan base and, you know, the reputation of their. organization. Denver's the best O and 4 team in the league. I guess my point. Yes. Denver beat Chicago. Bad call. They got hosed on that game. That was a bad call by the officials. Denver should have one win. And this Gardner Minshu drove down at a great play.

Denver does not feel pathetic. No. Actually, if you weren't paying attention to be surprised that they have no wins. Denver's actually okay. Bad, bad O lines. line. There's no lines of men. I don't think there's anything to overreact to yet. Right. In a few more weeks, though. So the Steelers finally got their first one of the season last night against the Bengals.

The AFC North is still wide open, and defensive end Cameron Hayward is excited to get into the conversation for the division. You know, AFC North football is huge. We just want to be in the mix. Right now, we are. Not saying we're leading the division or anything, but all we did was certify that we can be part of the mix. We've got to get better next week. We've got a monster and, you know, Marjia. Jackson, but we'll enjoy this one right now.

We're off night for Andy Dalton, even just watching these sacks. He had no time. I mean, Andy Dalton is what he is, so it's not, I'm not making any excuses whatsoever. The Steelers defense was great. But to Cam Hayward's points, I don't want to overreact to them not opening the offense up for Mason Rudolph, because I get your point. You did not throw the ball down the field at all. That's not debatable.

But get a nice solid win against the Bengals, get some confidence. for next week against the Ravens at home. They're going to get crushed. I do think they're going to lose badly. Crushed. Because the Ravens lost badly and they are a very good team. I'm taking Baltimore, my Blazing Five. I'm announcing it right now.

Oh, okay. I'm taking Baltimore to crush Pittsburgh. That's my Blazing Five pick early. What day is it? Tuesday? Well, this division is going to get decided in the last part of the season because they play the Browns, the Bengals, and the Browns. If that's the offense I get against Baltimore.

No. If that's what you think you can beat Baltimore with, it's over. I'm standing by it. And the city of Pittsburgh hates me this morning. That is not beating anybody but Cincinnati. That was nonsense. I think it's probably good against, you know, the dolphins. Oh, congratulations.

Well, you rocked it against the bingles and dolphins. I can take a tour band in West L.A. today and be competitive against the dolphins. Finally, the big story from the Patriots, went over Buffalo Sunday was Jonathan Jones hit to Josh Allen. that put him in concussion protocol and in his weekly interview with WEEEI, Tom Brady recalled a similar play early in his career and the advice that Bill Belichick gave him. I had a play like that up in Buffalo early in my career where I was scrambling up the right side and, you know, tried to hold onto the ball. And I tried to slide late and the guy hit me and my helmet flew about 10 yards away.

You know, it kind of riled up their whole sideline. And, you know, it just, I remember the next day, Coach Belmont. Velichick said to me, I'll never forget this. He said, hey, Brady, if you want to have a career in this league, when you're running like that, you either throw the ball away or you slide. So I'll never forget Coach Velichick telling me that. That wouldn't be a flag, a possible ejection, and a fine today. And I also want to point out, Tom Brady has been playing so long that the footage of the beginning of his career is grainy. It's not only grainy, it's blurry and grainy.

Right. I've seen video in a submarine that's better. I'm trying to figure out of like my I need a better prescription. It's like, no, it's really just that old. I mean, that's 2001. Yeah, that was a long time ago. Yeah, I mean, he's right. And this is not, you know, to diminish the injury to Josh Allen, but you're a quarterback.

You have to get down. Oh, my God. I don't even remember that yet. Don't fight for that extra yard. Just slide or get rid of it. Do you know Damien, I don't know why this popped into my head? I asked Damien one time, what's the hardest you ever got hit? He goes, I got hit by London.

Fletcher so hard near a sideline that I went and sat down. And it wasn't until two minutes later, I realized I sat down on the other team's bench. And I was just sitting there. And then some guy said, hey, Woody, this is our bench. You got to go to your, that's what that hit reminds me of. Woody said he was knocked out. And Damien Woody's 3.50. So when you see like a Tom Brady get hit like that, I mean, I'm telling you.

If you're on the sideline in an NFL game, you cannot believe how. fast it is. Oh, yeah, you have to pay attention. There's no a texting. There's no being on Twitter on the sideline. You will get run over. Joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by.

The Herd Lye News. Coming up our new LeBron segment called Talk O Tuesday. You know, we're very clever here. We put in a lot of hours for this nonsense. 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 it's great to have you in today snoop dog peter king how good was that

best for last time so um the media day was on friday in the NBA there was picture day and media day and uh that's always fun you get to see all the stars out there often with new teams and the NBA season starts just about three weeks from today we don't cover it a ton you know in October November but the Western Conference this year. There's like this year will be the duo years. Like there's Batman and Robin for like 12 teams in the NBA, which I think is really good for competitive balance. And since signing with the Lakers,

LeBron finally got his co-star, Anthony Davis. And since signing with the Lakers, LeBron has been obsessed about two things, making movies and TV shows and two, Taco Tuesday. So we're putting a little spin on Taco Tuesday. Since he's been in L.A., LeBron has been excited about one day of the week. Y'all know what today is, right?

Which has inspired us for an entirely new segment called... But it's talk. Oh, Tuesday. So there's three LeBron stories I want to get to today. Number one, there's a recent ranking that came out of the best NBA players, and it had Janus number one, Kauai number two, and LeBron number three. I still believe LeBron is the best player in the league. I think Janice was marginalized. The two guys in the NBA that you can't marginalize are Kauai Leonard and LeBron. LeBron's a better ball handler, a significantly better passer,

and I think he's a physically stronger player than Kauai Leonard. So I contend LeBron is still NBA's best player. Now, I don't think LeBron is as good a two-way player on Kauai Leonard's best nights. but if you're giving me eight minutes of either player in game seven of the finals, I'm taking LeBron James to not only score, but because he's one of the great passing big men in my life to set up the score for somebody else. Who follows LeBron on that list doesn't really matter,

because I do think the three best players in the league are Janus, Kauai, and LeBron. I put LeBron number one. All right, the second story, Lakers coach Frank Vogel says LeBron, James, and Anthony Davis are the best duo in the league. Now, this I strongly disagree with. First of all, I think Kauai Leonard and Paul George fit. Two-way players, both really unselfish.

I think LeBron has a history of struggling at times with Biggs. I think he struggled with Chris Bosch. Chris Bosch went from an All-Star to LeBron's valet at various points. I think he struggled with Kevin Love, who again was a 24-10 All-Star, and at times became LeBron's sort of third wheel. I think LeBron and Anthony Davis, I don't think they fit as good as the Joker in Denver and Jamal Murray. I think they're really, really talented.

There's a big difference. But I think there'll be several times during the year. We will be asking the question, okay, we know they're really talented, but are they the best duo in terms of do they work together? together. And I don't think they will. I think they will be spectacular individual players. But I don't even think they'll work well together defensively because LeBron's given up that side of the court. So I think they'll be fantastic. I'm not denying that. But I'll tell you,

an interesting duo, Mike Conley and Donovan Mitchell in Utah, even though they're not big stars, are going to be fantastic together. That will become one of the best backcourts in the the NBA. By the way, Stefan Clay. I mean, Frank Vogel has to say this, but Steph and Clay, I mean, Damon, CJ are still together. We don't know what we're going to see from, I know it's crazy to say it, but Hardin and Westbrook,

like, there's a lot more duos now around the NBA that really actually work together. All right, so the third story that came out, LeBron says, listen, the offense here with the Lakers has to run through AD. We all know how great

Anthony Davis is, and if we're not playing through Anthony Davis while he's on the floor, then it makes no sense to have him on the floor because he's that great. And it doesn't mean like every time down, you know, we throw it to him and throw it to him and throw it to him, but we have the ability to do that. I think this is nonsense. I think every offense LeBron is part of until his last year in the league will run through LeBron because LeBron is the ball handler. You know, the NBA is really not a difficult league to figure out. You've got to be able to shoot now and you've got to be able to handle the ball. So when you tell me it's going to run through Embed or it's going to run through Anthony Davis,

no, it's not. In fact, the one big who I like handling the ball is the Joker in Denver. This is LeBron's offense. And it's always going to be, listen, this is just the alpha, the ego of the NBA. When you got $700 million, when you got rings, when you're the name, LeBron should not be waiting for. By the way, I've seen an offense that ran through Anthony Davis. It was called the Pelicans in a one-one playoff series. I've seen that offense. I don't want to see that offense again. So I don't agree with any of those things. That is our first installment of Talk.

Oh, Tuesday. I like it. I liked it, too. Saturday, Iowa, Michigan, our Discover card key matchup go further than ever with the Discover at Miles Card. They match the Miles first year, $35,000, become 70 new car members only, please. Discover.com slash travel. I saw this story.

Think about this. So Super Bowl odds according to Fox Bet. So let me count this. These are the nine favorites to win the Super Bowl according to Fox Bet. The first two are in the AFC, New England, Kansas City. Right. And I don't disagree with that. The next seven are all NFC.

Ram, Saints, Cowboys, Eagles, Packers, Bears, 49ers. the gap between the NFC and the AFC is so great that the NFL trying to help CBS, because CBS has the AFC, they have given Tony Romo and Jim Nance the last two weeks NFC games because the NFL has stepped in because CBS said, hey, we don't have enough good games. If the Chiefs of the Patriots aren't in these games, we can't get ratings. So the NFL has stepped in and given CBS NFC games. but I'll tell you the team that really defines the gap because Joy, you and I last 20 years,

the Western Conference has been better than the Eastern Conference. I don't have an explanation for it. It just is. Here's the gap between the AFC and the NFC. Here are the NFC quarterbacks that have or could get to a Super Bowl. Russell Wilson, Rogers, Wence, Breeze, Garapolo, Gough, Matt Ryan. either have or I believe can. That's almost half of the NFC.

Russell Wilson today, according to Vegas, is not. Now, he's a Hall of Fame first ballot quarterback. Russell Wilson. Pete Carroll said yesterday, it's the best he's ever played. He is not in the top nine. He's not in the top 10 in Vegas to win a Super Bowl. and Vegas essentially does not put him as one of the seven NFC favorites. Now think about that.

Pete Carroll, Russell Wilson, will be first ballot hall of famers. Yeah, absolutely. They are not in the top seven teams in the NFC. Where would they be in the AFC? You'd put him at worst, too. Pete Carroll said yesterday, I have a clip of it. This is the best Russell Wilson I've ever seen in my life. I mean, in the AFC, I would still put him under the Patriots and the Chiefs.

But third? Right. Well, yeah. They're at best eighth. So Seattle is considered a non-playoff team in the NFC. They're a non-playoff team. And we would put them, I think with Pete and Russell, you'd put them, by the way, they went into Foxborough two years ago and beat New England.

So, by the way, you don't think they can beat Kansas City? With that defense and Russell Wilson? Yeah, I mean, it's not. I would pick Kansas City. So Fox Bet does not consider. Seattle, a playoff team, they don't consider them a top seven team in the NFC. That's the gap NFC to AFC.

We'll see it tomorrow. 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.

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Street or Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your 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. And he goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Come up.

Look. Quarterback on office blue of 42. Hey, rep. My mama want you to wave at her. What? Hey, Ms. Parker. Listen to the Clifford show on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcast, 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 C. 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 come in to you, he's like, you know I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast.

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