The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Super Bowl week, Patriots, Pelicans, Lakers, and dynasties

Episode Date: January 31, 2019

Colin explains why this year was the time to beat the New England Patriots, what the Los Angeles Lakers are offering the New Orleans Pelicans for F Anthony Davis, and how dynasties come to an end. Guests include Greg Olsen, Russell Wilson, Chris Broussard, Darius Leonard, and Shannon Sharpe.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Find your local station for The Heard at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the IHeart Radio app by searching Herd. Now let's get this party started. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Ah, here we go on a Thursday. Super Bowl getting close. This is The Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening,

we are live in Los Angeles. IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and right here in FS1, games getting close. Got my pick tomorrow. we'll unveil the pick today. I got Greg Olson. I got Russell Wilson. I got Darius Leonard on the show today. Joy Taylor is joining me in the Thursday. We're getting very, very, very, very, very close. Very close.

Oh, so close. Very close. Very good morning. Good morning to you. Greg Olson later this hour, Russell Wilson, top of next hour. Even industry leaders have off years. Now, let's say Apple, you're battling Apple in the tech sector. and Apple comes out with an iPhone and it's got a bunch of glitches. Apple is vulnerable. This is time for Apple's rivals to take advantage. Let's say you're an automaker and you're battling a Ford or a Chevy or a GM,

one of these great companies and they have a major recall. They have a brake pad issue. They are vulnerable. You're the number two sales guy in your workforce. And the number one sales guy is going through a divorce. He got a DUI, he's vulnerable, he's wobbling. This is your year. Even industry leaders are vulnerable, have off years, have controversies.

In every business, even football. I know you hate the Patriots. I don't, but I know most of you do. I just want you to realize this was the year to knock them off. They finally had a controversy. Okay? They haven't had a controversy like this in 18 years. They finally had one.

Belichick, Brady. First big argument. He slept on the couch. Their number one draft pick at the number one need on the team left tackle got hurt. The guy protecting Tom Brady, the rookie from Georgia, got hurt never played. Major issue. They had to scramble, make a trade with the 49ers. The veterans, many of them, important veterans, Danny M. Andola, Dionne Lewis, Malcolm Butler, they all left at once in free agency.

Whoa, these were good players. And they all left. Julian Edelman was suspended for four games. He was out for all of September and coming off an ACL. We just didn't know how good he was going to be. You had the Josh Gordon distraction. That was just a mess that really the people. Pittsburgh game, you were like, what's wrong with New England? I mean, it literally disrupted a game for them. And then a week ago, you had to play a road playoff game. Talk about an obstacle. I mean, this was the year to beat them. Tom Brady talked about this the other day. This has been roadblock after roadblock. It's never linear. I mean, I guess you have a few years in there, and I can think of a few in our team history that just kind of went like obviously the 07 team and in 2010 I thought we had a great team we lost the jets

in the playoffs and there's some other years that are just you got a you got a fight and clawed 2001 was like that this year has been like that but here's the problem for the rest of the NFL none of those problems the controversy the number one draft pick that didn't play the veterans that all left in free agency edelman being suspended for september the josh gordon mess having to play a road game in the playoffs against the MVP quarterback. They probably don't face any of those next year. My guess is they're not going to have their second big distraction, their second big Brady-Belichick beef.

They've got 12 draft picks, really 14, if he count the two picks last year that won starting jobs and got heard. There's no big free agent losses looming other than maybe Trey Flowers, and I think they pay for him. Gronk is leaving, said as much yesterday, it'll free up cap space. And the Jets of the Dolphins have new head coaches, translation, new systems. That takes a little bit.

So it probably takes those teams to October, early November, new coach, new system, new offense, new defense to kind of be upright and formidable. Folks, this was the year. And they're in the Super Bowl, and they're favored by a field goal, and even the Sharps in Vegas, all nine of the biggest bets are on New England. If Apple comes out with a glitch in their iPhone or a major automaker has a brake pad issue

and has to do a recall or the number one salesperson is going through a divorce, industry leaders are all at some point vulnerable. You better take advantage. And this year, the Rams are the last chance to take advantage of a vulnerable dynasty, the longest in NFL history. All right, let me shift to this. Anthony Davis, Lakers, LeBron, it's going to happen, right?

We're just not sure when. Well, according to reports, the Pelicans general manager, Del Demps, is not picking up the phone. He is so mad, he is not picking up the phone. In fact, according to Mark Stein, New York Times, if no trade materializes between now and the February 7th deadline, they may just shelve Anthony Davis and not plan for the rest of the year. Oh, boy. There are several stages of divorce. There's the yelling and screaming stage.

There's the bitterness stage. There's the simmering stage. And then there's the acceptance stage. They are clearly in the bitterness stage. The general manager will not pick up the phone. they're thinking if a trade doesn't get done, they're not even going to play Anthony Davis. They're not even to the simmering stage yet.

They're in the bitter stage. Maybe no yelling and screaming, but they're in the bitterness stage. Pelican fans never forget this. NBA already bailed you out once, Chris Paul deal. Okay. Remember that. And you have to remember this for people in New Orleans. in every league college or pro,

there are destinations with historic advantages. LSU football will forever be more attractive place than Missouri football or Kentucky football or Vanderville football. Forever. 100 years from now, LSU will be a cooler place to play college football than Missouri, then Mississippi State. I'm not saying those programs aren't good, but it'll always be cooler. by the way in the NFL, Green Bay and Buffalo will never be top free agent markets.

One's been to four Super Bowls, lost all of them, but got to four, and Green Bay won it with Farr, they won it with Bart Starr, and they went it with Aaron Rogers. They've had to overcome that. New Orleans is never going to be a free agent destination. Either was Cleveland until a kid named LeBron was born in Akron. Either was Orlando, and they got to two finals. There are certain absolute truths. In college sports, Kentucky basketball is always going to matter more than Oregon State basketball forever.

Alabama football is always going to mean more than Kentucky football forever. And there are certain markets in the NBA. Sacramento is never going to be a glamour market. New Orleans, Orlando are never going to be a glamour market. But look on the bright side. Anthony Davis gave you a heads up. He's like, yeah, I'm not going to stay here. By the way, the next guy you draft if he's as good as Anthony Davis, you'll get about six years with him.

And then he'll also decide, yeah, I'm not going to stay here. You got six years with him. Now he's giving you heads up. So go get three or four players, two or three draft picks, reboot. Just because a star leaves, what did you lose in this whole deal? You had him for six years. You were one and eight against the warriors in the playoffs. You weren't doing anything with him.

By the way, the Washington Wizard Star got hurt, John Wall. They're better without him. You've seen the record last two years when he gets hurt? The Boston Celtics got to the Eastern Conference Finals game seven. This year they got their stars back. Gordon Haywards clogged everything up. They were better last year. By the way, the Indiana Pacers, Paul George says, I'm out of here.

He gave me a heads up. The Pacer's front office, Kevin Pritcher did a great job. They're better without Paul George. You just have to come to the realization. There are certain truths in sports. The Oakland days have won a lot of games. It's not where free agents go. The San Antonio Spurs.

It's not where free agents go. go. Doesn't mean he can't win. Green Bay Packers in Buffalo. They've been to between the two of them, what, 10 Super Bowls? Free agents don't want to go there. There's different ways to win in sports. Anthony Davis is never going to be built for 14 years in New Orleans.

If you get a guy like Anthony Davis, you're going to get him for his first contract. The way the NBA contracts work, you'll get him for a second. but he's not signing a third there. And you got in Cleveland, you got LeBron for a contract, and then a second contract, and then he went to Miami. You didn't get a third straight contract out. And when he came back, he did one-year deals. You can get stars in those markets.

You're not getting a third contract out of them. You get their rookie deal. Then they re-signed to make the first big money of their life. And then they're generally gone. Okay, so you have your six years if you're Cleveland with LeBron. You couldn't do anything. You had your six years with Anthony Davis. Drew Holliday is your next best player.

Couldn't do anything. But this is not even. The Yankees are a glamour market. The Red Sox are a glamour market. Okay. LSU football is a glamour program. Texas football is a glamour program. But right now, in the divorce stage,

the Pelicans are in the bitterness stage. And I would strongly recommend you get to the simmering stage and you get to the acceptance stage because you better pick up the phone, get three players, maybe four, get several draft picks, reboot. It's been proven time and time again. The way you're going to get stars is draft them.

You'll get them for six years, but you're not getting them for a third contract. Lakers will keep theirs. Yankees can keep theirs. Red Sox can keep theirs. LSU football will keep the best high school players in their state. just the way the game works. No reason to pout about it.

Good show today. Coming up next, Jerry Jones is actually hovering over this Super Bowl and deserves a ton of credit. Yes, Jerry Jones, owner of the Cowboys. That's coming up. Hi, it's the herd. One of the things I love about Dollar Shave Club, they've got everything I need.

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How about butcher box? Sign up today at butcherbox. dot com slash her two free cuts of flameniaon free bacon 20 bucks off your first box i eat it butcherbox dot com slash h erd so uh it's very important um that for a radio show for a football team if i say new england patriots their brand is system over player really really smart you know that that that's important that's their brand uh golden state warriors analytics very comfortable with stars they shoot the three. That's their brand. You know what you're getting when you're going in? So everybody in the building knows this is what we are. New England, we draft smart players.

We don't draft egos. It helps the scouts. It helps the coach. It helps the staff. It helps the owner. It helps everybody. Golden State. If you can't shoot threes, we don't have a lot of need for you. If you can't deal with other people and handle stars, we don't have much need for you. establishing a brand is very important from the owner to the GM to the coach in sports out of sports. Deshawn Jackson yesterday, and we predicted this, we said if the Rams get to the Super Bowl and win it, win it or not get there, they are establishing a brand in this league. And remember that, Lavian Bell tweeted a week ago.

He tweeted about the Rams. He said, hey, look what they're doing. It's working for them. Lavian Bell is saying. saying as a star player on the market, that's a team. I like that team. I like what they do. Well, Deshawn Jackson, not even a free agent yet, talked about where he'd love to end up.

Worst case in there, if anything, I would like to kind of end up in L.A. Oh, yeah. Sean, in Bay, you know, we got some connections for when I was in D.C., but, you know, we'll see how it plays out. There you go. Think about this. The L.A. Rams have not. been in this city for a full three years yet.

And they've already established their brand. They are officially the glamour franchise in the NFL. Not saying the best, they're the glamour franchise. They're fun. Stars are welcome. We'll take divas. Lots of offense. We don't make you play in the preseason.

Our practices aren't burdensome. They've already got now play. It's a very NBA feel to it. Stars are absolutely welcome here. And you know who deserves credit on this? Jerry Jones of the Cowboys. This organization was in the NFL forever in St. Louis, and they didn't have any brand. They were Tampa.

They were Detroit. They were Jacksonville. They were the Jets. They were Arizona. What's their brand? What's their point of view? What are they? Okay.

Jerry Jones went to the owner, Stan Cronkey. They're very close, have been for years, done business for years, and said, get this thing to LA. Los Angeles. You got a bunch of land in Los Angeles. Build a stadium. Okay, I'll go to the owners, get to Los Angeles,

help our league, even though they're rivals, even though they're in the NFC, Jerry Jones told Stan Cronkey, Jerry Jones also got Oakland to Las Vegas. Jerry has been on the forefront of convincing other owners for years and years.

NFL was anti-Vegas. Jerry got into a room and convinced them. days are over. Wasn't much long after gambling, sports gambling legalized in America. Jerry very much. People don't like to move teams. Said, let's get to Los Angeles. Stan Cronkey's like, I'm not sure how this is going to play.

Jerry said, you've got a bunch of land out there. Go build a stadium. Less than three years in the league, the Rams already have a brand established. And by the way, this is what every league is looking for. The Celtics have a historic brand. The Lakers have a brand. Golden State now has a brand. The problem with the Knicks is they don't have a brand.

That's why it's an underperforming franchise. NFL loves brands. Green Bay's got a brand. Great quarterbacks. You know, the wholesome city in a small town. Green Bay is a brand. The Cowboys, the Steelers, the Patriots. I mean, this is, give Jerry Jones credit.

He got Stan Cronky in this league. They didn't want to do it. They didn't move teams in a while. He got them to move to L.A. And three years in, we have a. another established brand, and it's the glitz glamour brand in the NFL. I'm not saying it's going to win about Super Bowls, but brands are important, and Jerry deserves a lot of credit. Joy Taylor with the news.

No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. So in the least surprising development of Super Bowl Week, Patriots owner Robert Kraft would like to work out a contract extension with Tom Brady. That's a shocker. Kraft was asked yesterday about Brady's contract, which is set to expire after the 2019 season, and this was his response. Well, think about it. The last three years, we've been privileged to go to the Super Bowl where the quarterback in place,

I would be quite surprised if he didn't continue for quite a while, as I'm going. Well, you know, Brady has been taking pay cuts for years, so it's generally not a hard contract to do. It's basically... It's almost a non-story at this point of what Brady's contract to. because they get it done so easily. He costs New England just $15 million this season, which makes him the league's 22nd highest paid quarterback. In fact, there are 43 players that have an higher average salary than Brady.

I think you could argue, Joy, the underrated component to this dynasty has been the fact that Brady never lets money be an issue. Now, you could say he has a supermodel wife, blah, blah, blah. But it's very much like Tim Duncan. The Spurs dynasty lasted for like 18 years. And the reason was Tim Duncan, like Brady, never let money and ego and vanity get in the way of it. It's like, I'll take less. I'd rather win more games.

Well, I mean, look, it's kind of tough to talk about other people's money, you know, because quite frankly, however you want to manage your career and the money that you make, I don't really hold that against people because it's not my dollar. And I don't know what I would do if I was in that position. But it does make it easier. But there are other factors. Like he does make millions of dollars off the field, which helps to offset what he is sacrificing for that. And you can't argue that the money that he frees up helps them win. Oh, it absolutely does. But then in the same token, I don't like to look at other guys like, oh, well, Aaron Rogers is making $33 million.

So he's keeping his team from winning. It's up to Aaron Rogers today. It is. But it's a choice. Aaron and his ego, he wanted the respect to the money. Aaron makes over $10 million a year in endorsements. he could easily take $23 million. He makes, by the way, LeBron...

I mean, you get into the argument of how much money do you need? You know, like once you reach a certain amount of money, it's like your lifestyle isn't going to change $3 million this way or $5 million this way. Yeah, I'm not, but I'm saying in salary cap leagues, if you let money become an ego thing, like I'm going to stack it higher. I want to be the highest player, yeah. Like Kobe Bryant at the end of his Laker thing. I got to be paid more than Garnett.

Tim Duncan and Tom Brady, because I don't think they have that like that money. doesn't represent who they are. I mean, Duncan wore jeans and t-shirts to games for like 20 years. Right. Is that money never drove Duncan and money doesn't drive Tom. And that is why their dynasty is extended. It's an underrated. No, Pop was a great coach.

Tony Parker was a, their international scouting was great. A big part of that wasn't a salary cap league. Duncan made about 60% what he could have. Well, I mean, the salary caps do make it difficult. You have to manage it. And we talked about how the highest paid quarterbacks, the six highest, them were in the playoffs. So it's, I mean, there's factors to it. But again, everybody comes from

different places in the world, too, is different upbringings. Money means different things to different people. You have different amount of people you have to take care of. So I don't like to count people's pockets, but it is interesting. It's pretty remarkable what type of cuts Tom Brady takes. So we talked yesterday about the reports of an NFC head coach saying that C.J. Anderson is a better fit for the Rams than Todd Gurley. And Anderson apparently doesn't care if he carries the ball once or 20 times in the Super Bowl after insisting this is Todd's team. He added this. Our job is the same. Any first downs as we can get whoever getting the most first downs? I guess that's how it goes. But at the end of the day, Todd want to play 98% of the snaps.

That's what he going to do. We're going to be okay with that. This is still the biggest factor in the Super Bowl to me as far as the big question mark. What to expect from the Rams? Because I don't know what to do with Todd Gurley and C.J. Anderson. Is he healthy? I have no idea. It was almost like a phenomenon What was happening in the NFC championship game No one had any idea what was going on And he just said he had a bad game

And it's like, were you even out there to have a bad game? I don't know what to expect from CJ Anderson and Todd Gurley But that's the biggest X factor in the game to me And finally, it doesn't matter who you ask Every basketball fan player or coach has an opinion on the Jordan LeBron goat debate But Shaq doesn't agree with that And is standing up for his former teammate

He told Bleacher Report I find it quite disrespectful that they don't bring up Kobe's name. It kind of pisses me off how they just skip over him and say LeBron. I don't understand that because I was there with him, and he was a bad mother bleeper too. Chuck ultimately said he would rank Jordan as the goat. But I do think Kobe is disrespected in that conversation.

Yeah, I do too. He's very much overlooked. And I think what always hurt Kobe is his game really looked a lot like Jordan's. I mean, when he broke into the league, he even talked a little bit like Jordan. He sounded like him. And so anytime you're like something light, like Pepsi and Pepsi light, you don't get credit. Kobe was, I mean, LeBron's game doesn't even look like. Jordan at all.

Yeah, Karim's game doesn't look like. Shack's game. Kobe's game looked a lot like Michael. And so there is this natural. Well, I've seen Kobe's game and somebody did it better. So that's always, they've always dinged Kobe from that. I've always argued the one thing, the two things Kobe did better than Michael Jordan. He had better range on his jumper.

everybody knows that. And Kobe didn't have stock moves. Kobe was the great painter, the great artist. He'd come down the court. He was the best tough shot maker I've ever seen in basketball. Jordan had about three stock moves that he relied on in big spots, and he mastered him. Kobe is the Phil Mickelson of golf, Michael's Tiger. Phil's still an all-timer.

Phil won a bunch of tournaments. Phil is great. Phil's a better tough shot maker than Tiger. But he, in their primes, it's Tiger and it's MJ. It's really interesting. I think it might have to do with a little bit of Lakers hate, too, that Kobe doesn't get put into that conversation because, you know, the Lakers are a traditional franchise

and have championships before Kobe. But I don't like the idea that they bring in the people that were there playing. Like, oh, we want them with Shaq and he won them with Gasol. Like, everyone wants to bring up that Jordan didn't win anything until he got Pippen. LeBron needed help. So it is very interesting how Kobe just gets overlooked in that conversation, especially when you start going down the stats. Kobe put up. And it's remarkable because he's a Laker.

You'd get if he was like a Charlotte Hornet, you'd be like, well, you know, very rarely is a Dallas cowboy, a Pittsburgh Steeler, or a Los Angeles Laker, or a New York Yankee overlooked in a greatest debate. Yeah, but I weirdly think that that plays a factor into it because most of the country hates him Lakers. So like we're not going to even give Kobe that nod. Yeah, joy with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Hurd-Lie News. So Sean Payton, it's been a bad week for New Orleans.

Sean Payton yesterday apparently wore some shirt that was kind of mocking the NFL commissioner. Sean Peyton publicly talked yesterday. First time I've heard him talk in regards to the call against the Rams. You know, little pity party for the Saints here. It was a bad call. And so Sean Payton talked here. Sean Payton yesterday. I'm back to the ice cream and the Netflix.

And there's a point where you just, you know that things aren't changing. and then, you know, you get wrapped up in a new series, a new episode, and it comes back again, and then you get wrapped up in a new series, a new episode. By the way, find me a sport that hasn't had a major officiating controversy. Golden State Cavs a couple of years ago. You know, the reason the Cavs won is Draymond Green got suspended. Anybody watch the Red Sox and the Astros, a home run, no home run, American League Championship Series?

Dustin Johnson lost a golf major. You may have recalled that with a controversial officiating decision. In the NHL, there's Brett Hull in the crease in college football. Ohio State, Miami, pass interference, no pass interference. Look it up, Google the World Cup, hand of God. You do get officiating controversy is part of sports. 85 World Series. Sacramento Kings Lakers series, New Orleans,

let me remind you, you're not alone. You're just now officially on the list with the Miami Hurricanes, with Dustin Johnson, the Hand of God, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Golden State Warriors, Draymond Green, Brett Hull in the Creece. You're just on the list now. You're not special. and frankly, Saints, you had a unique situation to win the game where you got hosed.

You couldn't stop the Rams when they got the ball, and then you got the ball first in overtime and couldn't do anything with it. In a lot of these instances, the final call is fatal. The final call here was that was not a fatal call. That did not lose the game. It just made it harder to win the game. But in many instances, Dustin Johnson, it's. over.

I had no makeup time. Hand of God. Goal. Look it up. So in the pity party for New Orleans now, you're not even in the main room. You're not even on the VIP list. A lot of people, in a lot

of sports, have been host far more than you, and it was often a fatal blow. You didn't lose because of this. Just made it harder. But you couldn't stop the Rams when they got the ball, and you got the ball first in overtime. I mean, that doesn't mean it was a good call.

I'm not arguing that. I'm in no way arguing that it was a good call. But just look up Brett Hull in the crease. Go Google, Hand of God. Google, Dustin Johnson loses major slash controversy. Draymon's suspended calves win the title.

Miami Hurricanes, Ohio State. Controversial national championship call. You're just on the list. I mean, and in the big pity party, in that party, you're not even in the VIP room. That wasn't a fatal blow. Just made it harder. Red Sox. Al Tuvei.

Astros. Let's go to Greg Olson. Via the Coward Global Satellite Network. 12 NFL seasons, three-time Pro Bowl. My guess is he's going to end up in the Hall of Fame. And he's also, if he wants to quit, he's going to have multiple networks bidding for his rights. As a broadcaster, Greg, it's good to see you again. I want to throw something out and you tell me it's an advantage.

So the New England Patriots, Stefan Gilmore, played for four years in a row with Robert Woods of the Rams, knows every move. The Patriots faced Robert Woods for years. The Patriots, by the way, had Brandon Cook for a year. They know restraints and weaknesses. The Patriots had a key to leave for two years. Is it an advantage for the Patriots that they know key members of the Rams personnel? Yeah, I think to a degree, I think especially a team like New England, who is so interesting in turning over every stone,

gaining every advantage possible. They think of every single scenario. Yeah, they know if Robert Woods struggles with press versus off. They know what routes he struggles getting in and out of breaks. They know the intricacies. They saw him every day in practice. Their coaches knew what he struggled with, what he couldn't do. Brandon Cook's, I'm saying.

So, like, they understand what these guys can and can do better than almost anyone. Playing against Robert Woods up in Buffalo, they can see what he does. You know, I think there is something to that. Now, again, it's a different scheme. You know, Shaw McVeigh is going to have his counter to that, right? They're going to have their counter to Belichick taking away, you know, what L.A. is going to do. So I think that chess match is interesting, but I don't think there's anyone better at isolating your weaknesses and exploiting them more than Belichick and just generally the Patriots. You know, you were at a Super Bowl, and the Super Bowl, the first one, I have Russell Wilson on next hour.

He went to two his first one. Is the week of practice and the extra week and the relative? and the tickets. Was it hard? Was it a different week? It's definitely a different week. It's really a different two weeks. You do a whole week of practice on the front end

back of your facility back home. Then we traveled on Sunday, had a practice Monday, and then went through another entire prep week. It almost was too much practice, too much downtime, too much meetings. You know, you kind of overthinking. We're so routine-oriented, Colin, in the NFL, where every Wednesday's a Wednesday,

every Thursday's a Thursday, and we just clip off week after week after week. And when you're rolling, you don't want the buy. Well, we were rolling off the NFC championship. We just put up 45 plus points against the Cardinals, one of the top teams in the league that year, and got a buy that we didn't, you know, in essence, had an extra week. And, you know, it hurt us.

We really peaked two weeks too early, and offensively we just really played poorly. And I think we didn't do a great job handling the changes that that Super Bowl buildup led to. And as a result, we squandered a really a really promising opportunity. Are you or how surprised are you that the Rams got to leave and Marcus Peters and Indomacin Su and Dante Fowler, guys who had either underachieved, guys who had at times had,

you know, a little baggage here and there. And yet it's worked, Greg. As you watched the Rams from afar, were you kind of surprised they were able to take a young quarterback, a young coach, superstar running back, free agent trade. guy with a little baggage, and it all kind of worked. It surprised you. You know, I didn't know a lot about Sean McVeigh, you know, coming from his background with Washington and got that job. I think everyone had the same reaction. I just don't think anyone who watches closely, someone who follows the game, I don't think it took long to realize there was something

unique about him. There was something, and I'm not talking about his play design and scheme. I think when you hear him talk, I interacted with him a little bit last year when I ran into him at NFL honors, and you can be around him for a couple minutes, and he just has a very unique kind of charisma that comes across. And again, let's not forget, here's a young guy that's being questioned. It'd be very easy for him, getting in this job, be very insecure, surround himself with his people, and who does he hire? He hires Wade Phillips. He hires a guy that if he gets off to a really bad start out there coming off a terrible couple years with Jeff Fisher, if he gets off to a similar start, that's the coach interim coach and waiting on your staff. He was

confident in himself saying, listen, I don't have all the answers. I can deliver a message. I can run an offense. But I'm going to get an associate head coach, in essence, to run the defense and someone that I can lean on. I think that move sums up what is very, in a very selfish and a very, you know, uncomfortable NFL world that we create. Sean McVeigh was so confident in himself, he was not threatened by anybody. By the way, how do players look at Brady, not just as longevity, but the fact that he's done something, which is generally not cool, he's taking pay cuts. He's done it like Tim Duncan.

I mean, he's going to sign another extension. He's going to probably make about $15 million a year, which makes him the 28th highest paid quarterback. Are there a few guys in the league that look at Brady and think, okay, enough is enough. You're killing us here in the free agent market. I'm sure there are. And I think he's learned a long time ago that striking while it's hot and maximizing your pay, is not always in your best interest. Sustained success, both individually and as a team,

that's the true ticket, right? That's the true path towards making a lot of money, being the best player of all time. There's a lot that goes into it. In today's world, with the quarterbacks around the league, taking up as big a percentage of the cap that they are, you've got guys making $30-plus million a year on $150 million cap. There's only so much now to go around you,

and I think he's understood that for a long time. He has a unique situation, obviously, with his ability to generate income in other areas. But, you know, winning has been the – that's the backbone of his career. He's not the yards, not the touchdowns. Winning is what he's known as. And I think he would take that over every other recognition, every other record that you could throw out there. Okay, you've played 12 years. You've had some injuries.

How shocked are you? And I know tight ends a much more physically imposing position, more daunting than a quarterback. But are you kind of shocked that we've had some injuries? Brady against the Chargers, that's as good as I've ever seen him play. Like you ever just go, is it the kale pajamas? I mean, are you kind of amazed by it? It is. I mean, listen, he has really devoted his entire lifestyle to playing quarterback for a long

time and at a high level in a very late stage of his life. And, you know, to be talking about playing to his mid-40s, late 40s is almost unheard of. And it's not even so much that he's able to play. It's that he's able to lead his team to the Super Bowl and not just, just be a member, right? So we played Peyton Manning that year in the Super Bowl. He's Peyton Manning. He's an all-time great player. That defense and that circumstance is what, at least in the Super Bowl, beat us. Brady is still the number one factor preparing to play. And at his stage of

his career, that's unheard of. It's truly remarkable. A lot of it's his preparation, his mindset, his training routine. It's a little different, but it works. It works with what he's asked to do. It works within the scheme of what he's asked to do. He's not going to run around. He's not looking to be a hero and get hit. He's going to just stand there and throw the ball. And as long as his arm works and his brain works, he's in good shape. Greg Olson, by the way, on behalf of Coca-Cola Consolidated, giving back to people, it's the Big Hearts Mini Cans program. Greg, you have always been great in the community. What's it about? You know, it's our way of coming down, we're down in Atlanta. Coke's, you know, background. Coca-Cola consolidated back up in Charlie. He's been a great partner

in mine for the past two years. And we do a lot of work both locally and across the country with my foundation and other charity efforts and the Big Hearts, mini-cans, is just another way to recognize those people in the community who take a minute to give back to others who need it. And it's been a special relationship and we've had a good time here in Atlanta

kind of sharing that message. Greg, continued success. You're one of the good guys. Thanks, bud. Thank you. Always enjoy it. Thanks, buddy. All right, Greg Olson. Russell Wilson, top of the hour, the Seahawk quarterback, speaking of a guy that's going to get up, end up in the Hall of Fame. Coming up next, an update. Lakers-Lebron situation with Anthony Davis. Tuesday's the deadline. We'll give you the very latest.

Bruce Ard next hour on this next. 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. Peloton's game-changing indoor cycling bike brings the energy of live studio classes up to your house, condo, apartment, 14 live rides a day. learn more about the Peloton bike, Onepelleton.com or visit their local showrooms. By the way, I've said this for years and years and years and years, is that there's only really been eight players. I've been watching the NBA since the 70s. I remember the first game I ever watched.

It was the Portland Trailblazers and the Lakers and Wilts Chamberlain had a headband, was in the Rose Garden. It was called something else, the Memorial Coliseum. Seated 12,000, 666. I always remember that. Sold out every game. And that was the first game I watched in the NBA. I watched the 70s, the 80s, the 90s.

Now, you know, turn of the century. Been watching this league for about 47 years. There's been about eight players who have changed it. Eight. Michael obviously changed it. Magic Bird. You know, I think Shack and Kobe, Tim Duncan, and LeBron James. Steph?

Yeah, Steph Curry. There's about eight that have really changed. change the league. Yannis, great player, will never change the league. Anthony Davis, great player, will never change the league. I saw this story yesterday. Dave McMinimum covers the NBA, says the Laker trade package will include all or a series, a combination of Ingram Hart, Kuzma Ball, Zubotch, as well as future first round picks. Basically, all the guys you drafted, all the guys you groomed, all the guys you mentored, all the guys you taught, you're going to get them all away to get Anthony Davis. And this is the business you're in when you get into the LeBron business.

You get into the win now urgency business. You're no longer in the developmental business. This team will be an older team once this trade is realized from this point forward. It's going to be LeBron. It's going to be Anthony Davis because they're going to get him. Next Thursday's the deadline. May not get him by then, but they're going to get him. and then they're going to get rid of all these like one-year contracts, these rondos, these Lance Stevenson's, these Javail McGee's, and they're going to sign veterans because that's what this league is all about. Go look at the Warriors. Go look at the last two dynasties. I'll name the top ten players.

Steph veteran, Draymond, veteran, Durant veteran, Claynow veteran, LeBron veteran, LeBron veteran, Boch veteran, love veteran, D. Wade, veteran. That's what wins. It's another illustration that what Phoenix is doing is adorable. And, you know, what Sacramento is doing is cool. But this is about men, not kids. And what the Lakers want to do, I'm told, they want to get this deal done. They'll give up everybody to get him. I wouldn't.

I would really try to keep Lonzo. I'd really try to keep Lonzo or Coosma and use them as another trade part. I think they both, I think Coosma's got real trade value. And I still think Lonzo is a very unique player. I thought before he got hurt, he was playing his best basketball as a Laker. He's still a kid. He should be a senior and junior in college. I think Lanzo and Kuzma have real talent and will go somewhere and be real players.

If they go to the Pelicans, they're going to get a starting point guard. You could move a Drew holiday. You got Lonzo, you got Kuzma, you'll have picks. You're not going to be terrible. These guys can play a little bit. So Doug Gottlieb told us recently the impact LeBron has when he comes to your team. Look at the record for the calves when he left. Look at the record for the heat when he left.

Part of it is that's who LeBron is. Like you try and create everything to be perfect for him. And when he leaves, it's like the kid that comes over to your house. And every time he comes over to your house, right, somebody ends up being sick or the playroom's messed up. And somebody, you know, there's slime. I don't know, your kids are too old to make slime. There's slime in the carpet, right?

And you're like, what happened? They're like, well, LeBron was here. This is what happens. LeBron's a lot of fun. And everybody has a good time. and then when he leaves, you know, everything is a mess. That's LeBron James. When he leaves, he leaves it a mess.

Other players, when they leave, they leave the situation better than it had been. This is very true. When you get into the LeBron business, it is about now. You're going to give up all your draft picks. You're going to give up all those hours of mentoring and coaching and developing and scouting and drafting. And when LeBron leaves, it's going to be a very old team. It's going to be a very old to Anthony Davis. By the time LeBron leaves, if he stays in L.E., he'll be 32 years old.

LeBron will be like 37, 39 years old, and they'll have a bunch of veterans and maybe one young guy who's coming off the bench. But to Doug's point, I mean, this is the LeBron business. When you make a decision to go with LeBron, he's not into kids, he's not into development. He's on winning now, urgency, get me guys who can hit shots and make baskets and beat the Warriors. So to Doug's point, it's a real thing. It is a real thing. They're going to, according to the stories, they're going to give everybody up, all the draft picks, all the players, Kuzma, Ingram, Hart, It doesn't matter.

You're getting into the LeBron business, the old business, and in about seven years, the really ugly business. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd, weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Ah, here we go. Hour 2. This is The Herd, wherever you may be, and however you may be listening,

live in Los Angeles, Iheart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, FS1, sponsored by Draft Kings. Play free fantasy football for the big game for your shot at the 1 million dollar top prize. It's been a bad week for New Orleans. Bad couple of weeks.

They're all freaking out about that whole Anthony Davis thing. Had him for six years. Trade him, get a bunch of picks and players reboot. It's not like he came to the team and said, in the NFL, John Elway's like, I'm not playing for them. Eli Manning's like, Chargers, I'm not playing for them. You had Anthony Davis for six years. You won one playoff series.

All right. I mean, how long do you want a guy? You're not going to get him forever. Cleveland had LeBron for seven. He's like, I want to go win. You can't get many good players. He came back and said, here's a one-year deal. Cleveland handled that departure very well. Yeah. I mean, these organizations like the Cavs and, you know, New Orleans, you had the guy for six years. It's not like in the NFL where John Elway and Eli Manning are like, I'm not even going to play for this city. Well, look, the organization reacting the way that they do in these situations is a bit over the top.

but I don't blame fans for being upset. That's what fans are supposed to do. They're supposed to care. All right. My buddy, my guy, he's going to be a first ballot guy, Hall of Fame guy, via the Coward Global Satellite Network. Russell Wilson, Super Bowl champ, been to a couple of these things. Great to see you, Russ.

You're ready to go. I know you'd rather actually be in the game, but I want you to take my audience back to your first Super Bowl. A lot of media. You were becoming a star, a military, requests. Did you find it like the Rams this week a little disruptive and out of your usual habits? No, I think that you prepared for it. I actually prepared for it the year before. You go back to 2012, you know, I think about my rookie year. I actually went to the Super Bowl to experience all that to

understand what it would be like just in case I went the next year or whenever it would be. And so I prepared for that. I prepare for what the halftime would be like. I'll be prepared before what the media could be like, And so that helped me going into 2013 being prepared for, hey, you know what? Embrace it. Don't fear it. And so, you know, listen, you either love the big moments that you don't. And I think that you look forward to them. I definitely look forward to them, that's for sure.

You know, it's interesting. I've heard players say this before that as a quarterback, you can be excited, Ross, but you can't get too excited because it'll hurt your accuracy. You know, you'll be too amped up. The first series of the game, do you remember it? Do you remember trying to kind of control your energy? Can you take us back there? Yeah, I felt cold as ice.

I felt ready to go. I felt like I was meant to be there. You know, there's a saying that I always tell myself, I'm here. I'm here. I'm here. I'm here. And that kind of just gets my mind right. You know, funny thing is about the coin toss.

One of my favorite things about the Super Bowl going back. And even watching all the Super Bowls in the past, you know, 20 plus years of my life, you know, it was one of my favorite things is the coin toss. And why? It's because you realize that you're actually at the Super Bowl because of the flashing lights, right? You know, people kick up the ball off and everything else. And I'll never forget this funny story.

I'd go out for the coin toss and Peyton Manning's coming across the way, you know, chant Bailey. And next thing I know, I go out for the coin toss, and it's, you know, it's Joe Namath out there ready to do the coin toss. And we flip the coin, and he flips it too early, right? He flips the coin toss too early. And the ref catches it in the mid air. said, hey, we got to let him call heads or tails.

And he goes, he goes to me, he goes, you know, Russell, I always had a quick release. You know, so that kind of broke the ice for me pretty early. Yeah, it did. You know, you faced the Rams twice this year now, Russ, and they were really, really good games. In fact, the first game, they may have been undefeated, they were on a role, and you guys, it came down to the last play. Take my audience, Russell, into what that defensive front is. is like. They have a very aggressive, talented secondary.

What do the Rams do that you found, you know, disruptive or difficult defensively? Well, I think, you know, going back to those games, you know, we were right there. At the first game, we played at home. I think they were 8 and 0, 7 and 0 at the time. Yep. We had an unbelievable game. We scored 31 points in that game. We had the ball in the 31 yard line going in with less than two minutes to go, I believe, and we get two penalties in a row, unfortunately. Yeah. It kicks us out of field goal range. We don't get to win the game to kick a field goal or store a touchdown. You know, and then they end up winning the game.

The second time we go to a tough environment in L.A. All the Malibu Fliers were happening is very emotional game. Yeah. We go back and forth. We score 31 again, maybe even more. And they end up scoring a couple more points than us again. So, you know, I think the thing about their defensive line, it starts with Aaron Donnell. You've got a double team this guy all game all day.

But the problem is you got to Domic and Sioux sitting next to him. And the biggest thing they did was they got Fowler, which was the biggest acquisition they had really throughout the season. Yeah. Who makes plays. and now to Leaves back. So they're going to be ready to play some football. They're a very, very good football team. Now, let's talk now about facing Belichick.

You had success. You moved the ball. In fact, I remember in the second half, you have a lead on them. And most teams in the second half, you know, the offense dries up against New England. It did not with you and the Seahawks. So let's go back to that. What did Bill throw at you, Belichick, that was a little wrinkle, Russ? Yeah, well, you know, what they did,

to us, you know, first of all, they just rushed, you know, they would only rush two guys at a time. So I'll be sitting there just kind of hanging out. They drop everybody else out. And we were able to make a lot of big plays down the field and make some key crucial plays throughout that game in the Super Bowl. And obviously, the last one didn't work the way we wanted to. But, you know, we had the lead. They ended up coming back, unfortunately, with, I don't know, six minutes to go. And we end up getting the ball two minutes.

And I look forward to those moments. We go all the way down the field and unfortunately doesn't work out for us. But the other two times we play them too. In my rookie year, we played them at home. And then the year after that, I believe, after the Super Bowl, we played them at New England. And it was a back and forth game. We end up scoring a bunch of points. They end up scoring some points too as well.

And it comes down to the fourth down and one. Tom has the ball in the one-yard line, and they don't get it. So, you know, listen, this is going to be a tremendous game. I think that the thing about Bill Belichick is he's going to have a note card of a defensive calls. He's not going to try to do too much. He's going to do it right. And you've got to execute better than they do. do. And finally, Russ, when you look at you face Jared Goff. And I remember, I think you said this once

to me that you came into the league and it was about year three when everything kind of clicked. The game slows down. It's hard for young guys. Now, Goff now is in year three. And you were successful before that, but it is hard to go from the Big Ten, the Pack 12, to NFL schemes and defenses. So Jared Goff now, you've seen a lot of him the last couple of years. What do you like about it? him? Well, he's poised. He's calm. He's got a great coach. They've got great players around them. You know, I think the thing about this game is he's just got to do what he does best, you know, and facilitate the ball, make his big throws. You know, I really like his demeanor a lot. So he's, he's going to be a great player for a long time. Okay, Russ has been on Team Bose for forever. By the way,

I got one of those radios since 2014. You're also teaming with a free app called Talley. What is it? Well, you know, first of all, with Bose, it's, super exciting. I got these new frames, by the way. They're pretty sick. Okay, there's these glasses, you know. I'm walking around the streets of Atlanta, you know, hot Atlanta with these glasses on, listen to my music, you know.

Sierra's performer nights, I'm getting my mind right. And then, and then with, obviously you mentioned the tally app. Talley's pretty cool. It's a fun predictions game where it's free to play and people get to play it. It's basically 12. I think HQ, but for live events, live moments like the Super Bowl, live moments like NBA finals, NBA games,

The Bachelor even, you know, the Oscars, the Grammys, those moments are always great. So we've, you know, there's this new app called, you know, it's called Talley. Go download it, play tally.com. It's a lot of fun. And, you know, for this game, you can win up to $250,000 if you get it all the answers right. So everybody should go play. It's super exciting. It's a lot of fun.

So go play Talley. It's really cool. And I'm going to do it while I'm wearing these glasses while I do it, Colin, if you don't mind. No, I don't mind. My sister never like sports until Russell Wilson. became the Seahawk quarterback, and you're my sister's favorite player, and the only reason my sister never liked sports, and I was a sports junkie. So you've made the family closer.

I'm a huge fan. I love having you on Russ. Good luck to you. Well, it's always a pleasure, man. Go Hawks. I'll see you soon. All right, Russell Wilson. Good breakdown of this stuff.

Good breakdown is that I remember when they played the Seahawks and Belichick rushed two, and Russell was just sitting back there. And there's like nine guys, and that's what Belichick. does. He faces these young quarterbacks and he always throws a wrinkle. The quarterbacks that have given, I would say, Belichick trouble have generally been, you know, the Peyton Mannings. Payton gets, can go toe to toe, seven, eight, nine. You start playing him over and over. But he can be, that's why Patrick Mahom's pretty impressive. Patrick Mahomes had some success in the six quarters and the overtime, you know, that Mahomes played

Belichick. In the eight, he was pretty good in six of them. Didn't do much in the first half of the playoff game. Coming up next, Rob Ryan, not Rex, Rob Ryan says Belichick is different than everybody. And I'll let you hear that. Why he's different. That's coming up next. 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,

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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.

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And on my podcast, The Cliverts Show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff, like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker walks up to me, he goes, Hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her. What? Time out.

Quarterback on office blue 42. Hey, ref, my mama wants you to wave at her. What? Where's she at? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clippers show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, fam? This Isaiah Thomas.

And I'm C.J. Toledano. 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. 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 Nasree. 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, 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 Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Cold and flu season. Try Vic Synex nasal spray works up to 12 hours. Use only as directed. Don't eat half the jar like I did once as a kid. You know, this was a rough childhood. Mean streets of rural Washington. A lot of great coaches in the NFL. Vince Lombardi, Bill Walsh, Joe Gibbs, Mike Shanahan, Parcell's Jimmy Johnson. This is the longest dynasty, though. 18 years, one.

team, one guy, Bill Parcells. Rob Ryan said yesterday at Super Bowl in Atlanta, it's just Parcells sees the world differently, or Belichick, excuse me. Remember the first Super Bowl year. See if this end up paying off. I don't know. He's like, look, these guys can't tackle. Get over there and work tackling every day. We're working tackling during the playoffs. After practice, they're putting their stuff on to tackle. Well, let's think about that. How'd that tackling payoff. Let's see. Didn't Antoine Harris force a fumble with a form tackle on Ricky Prohl right

before half? When we kicked him, he scored that touchdown. That worked out pretty good. I think so. He can't watch a TV and just see the actual movie. He sees the dials. Hey, we're watching an RCA today. He's got dials. He's got the whole console. You know, I don't see that. I don't have that vision. I don't think anybody does.

You know, I think a big component to this. Bill Parcells and Jimmy Johnson, to me are the closest thing I think I've probably seen Bill Walsh to this. But Parcells battled sometimes with owners and got restless. It was kind of a control thing. And Jimmy Johnson. Similarly, Jerry Jones was a meddler. Joe Gibbs got burned out.

Bill Walsh burned out. I think the big component to the dynasty in New England that's not talked about, It's three-pronged. Robert Kraft is a non-meddler, therefore allowing the coach that wants control free reign, and you have a quarterback who is uniquely coachable. This is very much the San Antonio Spursway, a non-meddling ownership group,

Greg Popovich, a guy that likes control, was allowed to have it, and a very coachable, non-confrontational-driven star. I think the Rams have this. Stain Cronky is not a meddler. Sean McVeigh, therefore, allowed to run his system unopposed, and a non-confrontational, very coachable star. If you look at what blows up dynasties, there's no reason Shaq and Kobe had five more years of prime years.

What blew it up? The battle for control. What blew up the heedles? Pat Riley and LeBron. The battle for control. control. There's no reason we don't have more of these. I mean, Shaq and Kobe could have won six straight. It was all ego. It was all getting control. I'm not blaming any one guy. It was Phil Jackson. It was Shaq. It was Kobe. It was West. It was in Miami. It was Riley. It was

LeBron. It was, I'm not blaming anybody. But what New England's doing is they've got the three components that really matter in professional sports. A smart non-meddling owner. a coach who's smart, who generally is kind of a control freak, control maven. And he's allowed because of the non-meddling owner to do what he wants to do. And then you get a driven, very coachable, again, somebody amenable to coaching, Tim Duncan, Tom Brady. And that's how it works. And it just guys mess this stuff up.

Guys create dynasties and guys blow them up. And it's always, always over. Dallas Cowboys with Troy Aikman. They could have won six straight. Barry Switzer won a Super Bowl there, a college guy. But it was, we had a smart meddling owner. Jimmy, therefore, who likes to control the football, wasn't allowed to completely control the football. He said, I'm out of here.

And then Troy Eichmann got caught in the middle of it. And it is, this should happen, I guess what I'm saying is this should happen more. But you get, you get, these billionaires, these sports teams are often toys for them. The owner doesn't get credit in dynasties. But the family, I forget the name, the whole family down in San Antonio. I think it could be the wrong name. But if you go look at dynasties, generally the owner isn't a meddler. The owner is.

Isn't the fact that you're not sure about who the owner is? Yeah, there you go. R.C. Bufors, the GM, I think I don't, the Spurs ownership group. We should have way more dynasties. I don't think it's so much that the owner doesn't have to be visible. You can have a visible owner. that's fine. Who is visibly not involved in the football side of things.

Yeah, Kraft's very visible. Right. But he's not, he doesn't have his hand in the personnel. No, he makes it very clear outside of probably what we all said. Yeah, it was Peter. Spurs owner Peter Holt. Right. What happened with the Jimmy Garoppolo situation is a outlier.

Total out. Yeah, the whole family. So non-meddling owner, a control freak is a coach. And that's not necessarily bad. Sabin's a control freak. Belichick, Parcells. They like their control. They're allowed to do their thing.

And then the star player is a coachable, amenable, driven kid, non-confrontational who wants to get better. I think the Rams are set up for it. Between Cronky, McVeigh and Goff, they've got that three-prong thing that generally, you can win a long time in this league if you get your egos out of it. Joy Taylor with the news. No, no, no, no.

Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Oh, those pesky egos. Men are just nothing but, I have so, glad you guys don't have it. Not at all. All right, so Bill Belichick was asked earlier this week to list the reasons why Aaron Donald is so unblockable for opposing teams. After typical three to five seconds of awkward silence, he basically narrowed his answer to everything.

Well, Patriot Center, David Andrew elaborated on that. He said he knows exactly what he's looking for. You make a mistake against a guy like that. There's no recovery. You've got to be on your game at all times. You've got to be close to perfect. He's got such a great motor. You think you've blocked him, but he's really not.

you've got to stay on him. Aaron Donald had 20.5 sacks this year and 41 quarterback hits. By the way, it should be noted that the two highest ranking offensive linemen for the Patriots, according to pro football focus, are the center David Andrews and the guard shack Mason. So the good news for the Patriots, their two best offensive linemen are interior linemen. It's not their tackles. So that's a break for New England. Yeah, this high motor thing is often how Aaron Donald is described.

With the Rams, it's going to be, as I said, you have to get hands on Tom Brady. So Aaron Donald and Dominance, Sue, having a big game and sorting out whatever is going to happen with Todd Gurley and C.J. Anderson are the biggest factors to me. I don't expect anything. Or I guess I should say I'm not concerned about how Jared Gough is going to perform because I think he's a consistent performer. So I'm not worried about him having a dead in this game. He's 14 and 3 on either neutral fields or the road. Jared Gough will be fine. I think you'll probably throw for more yards than Brady.

Goff's not the issue here. In fact, I'm going to give you my top 10 players in the Super Bowl later today. I think Goff's wildly underrated. I think he's a very good football player. Yeah, I agree. So yesterday, the Oklahoma Board of Regents approved a contract extension and a salary increase for Lincoln Riley. He's now extended to the 20-23 season.

It makes $6 million per year, which makes him the ninth highest-paid coach in college football. Boy, he's underpaid. Here's the list of the highest-paid coaches. Oh, let me look at this. Let me look at this. Nick Saban at 8.3 million Urban Myers, 7.6, Jim Harbaugh, 7.5, Jimbo Fisher, 7.5. Dabo Sweeney's a tad underpaid. Although 6.5 million goes a long way where Dabo Sweeney lives. Yeah, I mean, I don't know that underpaid is, you know, it's kind of all relative in college football when you think about, you know, I mean, like you said, what's the cost of living there?

By the way, people will say Harbaugh is overpaid, and I would say this. Remember the money that Michigan generates. stadium was half empty with Brady Hoke at the end. So Brady, anybody that coached Michigan would make $5 million a year. So Harbaugh's making $2.5 million more than any coach they'd have. So the bottom line is, is he worth $2.5 million a year in attendance and merchandising? Of course he is. And bold games. And of course, we know that the players don't get paid.

So we know this is all relative in, you know, comparison to that as well. But I don't think he's done to pay. The bigger point of that story to me is that he's not going anywhere anytime soon. Finally, Luke Wallen has reportedly been in the hot seat since his team has gone 6 and 11 without LeBron. They've slipped from fourth place to a tie for ninth in the West and are currently out of the playoff picture. But according to Rick Bueger of Bleacher Report, Jason Kidd is among the potential replacements and even the favorite to succeed Wallen if the Lakers make a change. So, well, Jason Kidd's been fired. Here's the sound.

What meant that I'm hearing is gaining momentum. Jason Kidd returning to the coaching ranks by succeeding Luke Walt. with the Lakers. I know the kid wants to coach again. In the case of Jason and the Lakers, now sources are saying this has gone to the next level and that if the Lakers do make a move on Luke, which

based on all of the rumblings could happen sooner rather than later, Kid appears to be very much in the mix and possibly is even the favorite. If Jason Kidd ends up being the head coach of the Lakers, before the end of the season, I would not be surprised. Wow.

Now, I have a question. Do we definitively know? Because everybody loves to fire coaches, right? Do you, can you absolutely swear to me that Jason Kidd is better than Luke Walton? Are you at winning percentage? I don't care about that. This is my thing. If you're going to fire Luke, then you would make an obvious upgrade.

Brad Stevens, people would say, is it better coach than Luke? Greg Popovich, Rick Carlisle, Eric Spolstrub. None of those guys fit with Bron. Well, who does? Look at the guys who, well, look at the guys who LeBron is. tried to fire or gotten fired and look at their replacements. I mean, did you think that Tailu was an absolute upgrade from David Blatt? Why?

What about, what about, I mean, Tailu was good for them in that situation, but I don't think anyone looked at that situation. Like, of course, Tailu, he was the obvious choice that I thought they were going to bring in. No, people weren't saying that. I get when Notre Dame made a coaching move from, you know, Charlie Wise to Brian Kelly like Brian Kelly had a history of winning everywhere. He won at Grandview State.

He won at Cincinnati. Like there was absolutely a clear track record resume. This guy's been a very successful college coach. I'm four. If you can get a better coach that I can't even argue with, Notre Dame said, this guy's won everywhere. Then I'm like, okay, by the way, you know, the guy at Vanderbilt went to Penn State, Franklin.

James Franklin won at Vanderbilt. Okay, like going to Penn State, you're like, Okay, that's a real coach. You can't tell me Jason Kidd's better than Luke Walton. I don't think that Jason Kidd is an upgrade from Luke, an obvious upgrade from Luke Walton. And I don't even think that this is a fit. I don't think that the person, if Luke Walton is to be replaced,

which I do not think that they should replace Luke Walton, to be clear. But if they were to replace him, it's going to be somebody that is a fit with LeBron. It's all about LeBron. We talked about this earlier. You sell out for LeBron. So whatever it is that's going to make LeBron comfortable is who's going to be in that position, Not necessarily an obvious upgrade on the X's nose side. All right.

Joy Taylor with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Heard Lye News. You know, it's funny about the word committed. And, you know, Brady's taken commitment to a new level. He won't drink a beer during the season, you know? Like, that's true.

I, you know, and we talk about on this show, the audience doesn't see it, but we come in and for two and a half hours every day. we sit and just bang on a table trying to get topics. You know, we've all had the more or less successful person in our family where they think 45 hours a week is really committed and you're like, I work 65 hours a week. That's why I'm more successful. Commitments are really interesting word. What is truly committed?

One of the things where like Brady and Tim Duncan are more committed than I think of LeBron James. LeBron James is physically committed. he's mentally committed, but LeBron James doesn't have to take the salary he takes. Duncan and Brady, their commitment isn't just a body, isn't just a practice, isn't just to lifestyle. It's to the commitment I'm going to take less. Now, I know Tom's married to a supermodel. He has all that ancillary income. Well, so does LeBron.

It's called a billion dollar lifetime Nike. contract. LeBron makes more money with Nike. Aaron Rogers. Makes over $10 million a year with commercials. Like commitment's a funny word. What Brady and

Tim Duncan have done is I'm not just committed at practice to schemes, to being amenable to coaching. I'm so committed in a salary cap league, I'm going to take less money. That's a different level that LeBron doesn't do. Kobe would not do.

Aaron's not willing to do. For a long time, Drew Brees would not do it. And I just don't think we ever think about that. And I know what you say. Well, Brady's got a supermodel wife. Aaron Rogers makes over $10 million a year, I've been told, on commercials. He doesn't have to take $33 million. He could take $27 and they could have two more players.

And I'm not, you know, I'm just saying, what is commitment mean? You think prepping for a radio show 40 minutes is commitment. I see two and a half hours. Rush Limbaugh may do four and a half hours. I think one of the great, because I just saw a story here where Robert Kraft is open to extending Tom Brady. And Brady right now is the 27th highest paid quarterback in the NFL. And you could say, well, he's got money, but it's all about respect and ego. I mean, Tom obviously doesn't need money.

He'll never spend it. Well, either is LeBron. I mean, Tim Duncan, when you're able to be still at the top of your game, and I keep saying Brady and Duncan, because I don't think they're the best they've ever been. I do think there is some erosion. But, you know, Duncan won a title over Miami late in his career. But it's a commitment. If you want to go really deep on commitment,

some of it is in a salary cap league, I'll take less. And by the way, before you say, well, that's, by the way, NBA players take less all the time. Kevin Durant took less to go to Golden State. Anthony Davis is going to take less to go to the Lakers. Chris Bosch and Wade took less.

Took less. So don't tell me players, won't take less. NBA players take less all the time. LeBron could easily more than any player get paid significantly less and not demanded if he could, you know, the union obviously wants him to take the most. But I would say this with all players. We don't consider Brady's willingness to constantly restructure his deal as a thing. And we never talked about it with Tim Duncan, but there's no question the Patriots dynasty has been extended due to it. And the Spurs dynasty was extended to Duncan's selflessness.

Didn't have to just didn't take the money. So I don't just buy it always, you know, Tom Brady's wife's a billionaire. Well, these NBA guys make so much money on shoes and merchandise that NFL guys don't. Tom Brady doesn't make any money on his cleats. These NBA guys make, Derek Rose made $100 million on shoes and he barely wore him because he was never healthy. NBA guys make a fortune. on gear. They're like golfers. So what's your commitment? How deep does it go?

By the way, Nick Wright earlier this morning on what Brady should look for in his next deal. I would try to exert a little bit of leverage and say, hey, I have taken below market deals every year. I will continue to do that for you. But I've said I want to play till I'm 45. I want this contract to take me till I'm 45. That's a three-year deal, and I'd like it to be guaranteed. So if you want me to play for 15 to 18 million a year the way I have been over the last four years when other guys are getting 28, Rogers and Stafford getting 30 plus, I will play for half of my market value. But I want three years, 45 million, call it that, tacked on to the end of it, and go ahead and make that a fully guaranteed contract. I think, now that's a very interesting proposition.

I'll ask you, Joy, if Brady told you, I'll take 15 million a year. year. That is in the Tarad Taylor class. I'll take it. But you got to give me three years. You own the Patriots. Would you do it? Yes, of course you do it. Well, I would too. I'm just, yeah. I mean, because let's say you get two more years at this kind of level. Who cares if he, at that point. Well, if he said he's going to play till 45. Yeah. If he's asking for a deal, it takes him to 45 and it's guaranteed. Then before his last year, if you see,

any erosion, you draft a quarterback. Or you make provisions. He's told you he's going to play that long. We know that he's not going to play till he's 50 or I don't know. Actually, you can't really say that. We're going to assume he's not going to play that long at this level. So he's giving you the opportunity to make those plans if he sticks to that. By the way, I've been told this year by somebody I trust, New England has 12 picks.

They will draft a quarterback. Now, it'll probably be, it will not, I don't think it'll be their first two picks. But remember, New England's got six picks in the first three rounds. That is a lot of picks. So I think New England's going to draft a quarterback with one of their first six picks. Now, they're going to go to find an edge rusher. They want another corner. Their tight end is a huge need for them. And by the way, that means nothing that they're going to take a quarterback. No, they should. I always said if I ran an NFL franchise, I would draft a quarterback every year. Now, some years, it would be like John Elway got the kid from

Northwestern in the seventh round. But it doesn't even matter. If I have Jared Goff and I'm the Rams, have my full complement of picks. Draft picks are like 40, 50% once you get past the second round and making a leak. I take a quarterback. Either every year or two out of three years. You just don't know when you're going to find a gym. And by the way, if they do become Garapolo and a gem, you've got either a great backup or you got trade value.

Yeah. So Chris Broussard is going to tell us while LeBron-Kyrie reunion is, and I'm not joking, a real possibility you don't want to miss this. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd, Weekday. in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the I-Hard Radio app. A college basketball double-heder

tips off tonight on FS1. First, its Big Ten action is number 17. Purdue faces off with Penn State. Then Oregon takes on Utah in a Pack 12 showdown. It all starts tonight at 7 Eastern on FS1 and the Fox Sports app. I watched Purdue the other night. They're pretty good. Big Ten's got about five, six teams

pretty good. Michigan State's going to be a one-seat. Michigan could be a one-seat, probably a two-seat. All right, via the Coward Global Satellite Network. voice of the NBA and this network, Chris Broussard at the Super Bowl in Atlanta's first Super Bowl. And good for you. It's fun, but you're still tired of the NBA, and I know you are working those phones. Let's start with Anthony Davis and the Pelicans. Would you make the deal now?

No. I'm telling you, Colin, the Pelicans would be idiotic to trade Anthony Davis before February 7th. There's only under one scenario that they should do the deal. If the Lakers put together a three or four team trade and some superstar or borderline superstar is going to New Orleans from another team, that's the only way they consider it. It would be ridiculous otherwise. I can get whatever package the Lakers want to put together, Kyle Kuzma, Ingram, Ball. I can get all that in the summer. Why would I do a trade before the two teams that can offer me more the Knicks with potentially the top or second pick?

and before Boston can get involved. Like, I have to wait until May to find out where that Knicks pick will be. I have to wait until May to find out where some of these Boston picks could be. So there's no reason to do it right now. They're doing, I don't blame Del Demps for not answering the phone. I wouldn't answer the calls from the Lakers if I were him. Why? I can get your deal in the summer.

They would be stupid to do it right now. By the way, would you give up everybody, Lanzo Kuzma, Ingram, if you had to flush them all out, all the time, all the scouting, all the coaching, all the mentoring, all the, you know, development. Would you give them all up? I would give up them, our assistant coaches. Everybody except LeBron. I don't care who it is.

If they want Jeannie Bus, Rob Polinka, we'll give you the new front of the office. Even magic, I hate to say. But look, LeBron James is the one that I would keep. And here's the deal. keep what you have and be a good team, a contender. But LeBron James, we know, is all about championships. So LeBron and Anthony Davis are the foundation of a championship type team. You'd have to go out and get some three-point shooters, go out and get some defenders, some role players, like LeBron's always had to do with his super teams. But yes, trade what you have to. In an ideal world, yeah, I'd love

to keep Kuzma and Josh Hart. But if I have to, I'll give it. up whatever it takes outside of LeBron to get Anthony Davis. All right. Let's talk about two rumors. Clay Thompson rumor came out this week about the Lakers. Do you buy it? Well, I think that's probably a strategic leak from Clay's

camp that he wants to max. Everything I've always heard is that he's so content. He loves being in Golden State. His dad, Michael has even said in the past, he's going to retire in Golden State. Now, I know Michael would love to see him with the Lakers, and I think it's smart on Clay's,

part. Look, I get that Golden State's going to put out there while it's hard to pay, you know, staff and KD and Clay all the max, but they can do it. They're building this new facility. They need their stars in the new facility. Their owners have money to burn. Clay should get the max. And so he's smart to put this out there. But I think ultimately, if push comes to shove, and they win it this year and Clay stays healthy, they'll give him the max and he'll stay in Golden State. Second rumor, Kyrie Irving, I said months ago he's going to be a Celtic. What do you make of the discussions he now is willing to go to Los Angeles or team up with LeBron? What about that rumor? Look, I think the Kyrie LeBron stuff, and I've talked about this on the show, this is what it really

boils down to. Three weeks ago, a reunion was not even in the, it was not even a remote possibility. Now it's within the realm of possibility. I'd give it maybe a 5, 10% chance of happening. But Kyrie over these next few months, two things have to happen. Number one, let's see how far the Celtics go. If they get to the NBA finals and they have a really good chance of doing that, I would think Kyrie would stay in Boston. That's number one.

If they go out in the second round, then maybe he wants to leave or if they go out in the conference finals and it doesn't go well. Maybe he'll want to leave. But the second thing is over these next few months, Kyrie has to do some soul searching. Does he want to be the leader of a ball club and take on all the responsibilities in the locker room off the court, dealing with egos, so on and so forth, that go with that?

Or does he just want to play ball? If he wants to just play ball and not worry about that stuff, maybe he reunites with LeBron James. I will say this, though, Colin, over the last few weeks, Kyrie looks like he has decided, I want to lead a team. He's not leading with his mouth as he tried earlier. He's leading with his play. He looks like he wants that responsibility.

I think for the all season, the Celtics have been in this tug-of-war internally of, are we this egalitarian-type team where the ball always moves to the open man and whoever gets it gets it? or are we Kyrie's team and he's the star and the rest of us get in where we fit in? I think over the last two weeks, Kyrie has shown it's my team. The rest of you guys are really good, but I'm the leader.

I'm going to get you the ball, but we go as I go. And that looks like he wants to have his own team. So if I had to bet, Colin, gun to my head, I would bet this. Kyrie Irving re-signs with Boston and Anthony Davis is traded. to the Celtics this summer. I'm not saying that's definitely going to happen, but if you force me to make a prediction with all that there is that still has to come,

I would say that's what happens. Couple minutes left. If Anthony Davis comes to the Lakers, would LeBron take a back seat? Because he is younger, more great years left. First of all, I don't think LeBron knows how to take a back seat. I mean, look, LeBron talked about playing off the ball, right? But at the end of the day, he's got the ball

in his hands. This is how he plays. And secondly, right now, LeBron is still the better player. And we know it because when LeBron's on the court, his team wins more often than not. When Anthony Davis is on the court, his team loses more often than not. Anthony Davis is not blameless in this situation. I get it. You know, they have a lot of injuries in New Orleans. The organization isn't the greatest run in the league. But if you're a top five player, you should be a 500 team, at least because you got some other talent, Julius, Randall, Drew Holiday, some good players there. And so Anthony Davis has yet to show he can be a number one guy on a contending team.

I think the perfect scenario, he goes to the Lakers, he learns under LeBron. Maybe they can win a championship with LeBron is number one, AD is number two. And then as time goes on a few years from now, LeBron will become a lesser player and AD will take over the number one role. But that's of little ways away before LeBron, you know, sees that role to Anthony Davis. All right, good stuff. Chris Broussard at his first Super Bowl. How you like the Super Bowl thing? How is it fitting for you?

You like it? Man, I'm enjoying it, Colin. It's great. It is a lot different from the NBA events. But I'm having a great time. And I got the Patriots. I think number six for Tom Brady. Yeah.

I think a lot of people think like you do the whole country. Except my partner, Rob Parker. Oh, he likes a row. Rams, does he? He's trying to hold on to it. He's trying to hold on. He's drowning, Colin. You see it.

He doesn't want to go to Mexico. Yeah, I know. That's right. Good talking to you, Chris. I'm trying to get him to live up to his bat and go. Yeah, aren't we all? Yeah. Thanks, Chris.

You check things all the time like your email, social media. Discover asks, what about checking your credit score? They make it easy, even if you're free, by the way, even if you're not a Discover customer, check it out. Discover.com slash credit score. limitations apply it will not affect your credit score your FICA score just check your credit I've recently checked my credit it's not bad at all you know you bounce a couple of checks here and there it doesn't help but you know it didn't bounce very far as bounced around the

corner one bouncing all over town or anything like that you know it's when you know when I look at the whole situation with Anthony Davis and you know the Lakers is I do think there's a little bit. There's just a little, little bit of desperation by the Lakers. Lanzo ball got hurt. You know, he's now injury prone. LeBron's had, they've been off now like 37, 38 days, 20-19 games, something like that. Boston's going to be a real player in this. I think the Lakers will probably give up everything. I'm not a believer in these trades of giving up everything because I still think Kyle Kuzma has got 10 good years in this league. Could he become All-Star, it's certainly possible. I think Lonzo Ball is a very unique player. Again, he's

injury prone, but he's a 6-5 guard with unique vision, can hit an occasional three. And I thought his last month when he started attacking the rim is the best I've ever seen him. So, you know, this idea just, just tilt the franchise and just everybody flushed out. I would keep as much as I could. And I'll just throw another name out, Bradley Beal. I'm just going to throw that out. Darius Leonard, Shannon Sharp, last hour. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd, weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Ah, here we go. Hour number three live.

This is The Herd, wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Iheart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and right here on FS-1, it's Los Angeles. Lightning all over the city today. Told people, get off the beach. Crazy weather all over America. We're also on Channel 83, Sirius XM. Joy Taylor is joining me. It's been crazy.

I saw a picture today. Chicago, Lake frozen all the way. It's really crazy. I keep seeing the videos of people throwing boiling water in the air. It evaporates. It's turning into snow. Yeah, it's crazy. It is crazy.

Stay safe out there. Coming up in five minutes, probably the shocking player in the NFL this year. Darius Leonard, who none of us watched play in college, came into the league, and within about a month and a half, do we have the best linebacker in football? Darius Leonard of the Colts, who is a shockingly, remarkably surprisingly great player right out of the gate will be joining us with Mike Colts when they win their my Colts. Shannon Sharpen 30 minutes.

Best for last today. I'll give you my top 10 players in the Super Bowl, and I think it's different than a lot of other people's. But it seems almost impossible. It really does. Brady and Belichick going to their ninth Super Bowl together, nine. So let me start there. Even industry leaders have off years. Now, let's say Apple, you're battling Apple in the tech sector. And Apple comes out with an iPhone and it's got a bunch of glitches. Apple is vulnerable. This is time for Apple's rivals to take advantage. Let's say you're an automaker and you're battling a Ford or a Chevy or a GM, one of these great companies, and they have a major recall. They have a brake pad issue.

They are vulnerable. Even industry leaders are vulnerable. Have off years. Have controversies. In every business, even football. I know you hate the Patriots. I don't, but I know most of you do. I just want you to realize this was the year to knock them off.

Okay, they finally had a controversy. Okay? They haven't had a controversy like this in 18 years. They finally had one. Belichick, Brady, the first big argument. He slept on the couch. Their number one draft pick at the number one need on the team left tackle got hurt. The guy protecting Tom Burdard.

Brady, the rookie from Georgia, got hurt, never played. Major issue. They had to scramble, make a trade with the 49ers. The veterans, many of them, important veterans, Danny M. Andola, Dionne Lewis, Malcolm Butler, they all left at once in free agency. Whoa, these were good players. And they all left. Julian Edelman was suspended for four games.

He was out for all of September and coming off an ACL. We just didn't know how good he was going to be. You had the Josh Gordon distraction. That was just a mess that really the Pittsburgh game, you were like, what's wrong with New England? I mean, it literally disrupted a game for them. And then a week ago, you had to play a road playoff game. Talk about an obstacle.

I mean, this was the year to beat them. Tom Brady talked about this the other day. This has been roadblock after roadblock. It's never linear. I mean, I guess you have a few years in there, and I can think of a few in our team history that just kind of went like obviously the 07 team. And in 2010, I thought we had a great team. We lost the Jets in the playoffs.

And there are some other years that are just, you got a fight and claw. 2001 was like that. This year has been like that. But here's the problem for the rest of the NFL. None of those problems, the controversy, the number one draft pick that didn't play. play, the veterans that all left in free agency, Edelman being suspended for September, the Josh Gordon mess, having to play a road game in the playoffs against the MVP quarterback. They probably don't face any of those next year.

My guess is they're not going to have their second big distraction, their second big Brady Belichick beef. They've got 12 draft picks, really 14 if he count the two picks last year that won starting jobs and got heard. there's no big free agent losses looming other than maybe Trey Flowers and I think they pay for him. Gronk is leaving, said as much yesterday, that'll free up cap space. And the Jets of the Dolphins have new head coaches, translation, new systems. That takes a little bit.

So it probably takes those teams to October, early November, new coach, new system, new offense, new defense to kind of be upright and formidable. Folks, this was the year. And they're in the Super Bowl, and they're favored by a field goal, and even the Sharps in Vegas, all nine of the biggest bets are on New England. If Apple comes out with a glitch in their iPhone or a major automaker has a brake pad issue

and has to do a recall, industry leaders are all at some point vulnerable. You better take advantage. And this year, the Rams are the last chance to take advantage of a vulnerable dynasty, the longest in NFL history. By the way, I was talking to a scout in the NFL last night. And he said it's a real thing. He said, don't kid yourself. He goes, a really big advantage for the Patriots.

And he goes, I don't think it's just a small advantage. Belichick is really good. Once guys get into the league, Bill's made some mistakes. stakes in the draft. Okay. But he said once guys get into the league, Bill's a great town evaluator, once guys get into the league on what fits, how to stop players. And the Rams two biggest offensive threats on the perimeter, Brandon Cooks, played for the Patriots last year. Bill knows all of his strengths, all of his weaknesses, what routes he runs well, what routes he doesn't. And so the Patriots have intimate knowledge of Brandon Cook's, what he can do, what he

can't. All those corners for New England, they've all covered him at practice for a year. That is a big advantage for New England. And Robert Woods, Robert Woods played for four years in Buffalo. Belichick has faced Robert Woods many, many times. And to add to that, Stefan Gilmore, the best corner for the Patriots, played with Robert Woods for four years. You don't think Stephen Gilmore knows every single move of Robert Woods. The other thing is, so those two, big offensive weapons. This is what worries me for the Rams. I don't know if Todd Gurley's healthy. So if Todd Gurley, and I'm not sure he's been healthy since late October, if Todd Gurley's not 100% and he wasn't last week, he lost confidence. He couldn't catch. He couldn't block.

There is a big advantage for New England here on the perimeter. Belichick knows NFL players. Now again, he's not always been the best drafter. He's made plenty of mistakes. Once guys get in the League. Bill knows weaknesses, strengths. He's really an NFL guy. He leans on Sabin, Urban Meyer, some of his guys for college stuff and people in his staff for college stuff. Bill's not sitting on Saturday night watching hours and hours of college football. Some coaches do. But he knows Brandon Cooks and he knows Robert Woods. Keeb Talib was with him for two years in the Patriot system. So he knows his vulnerabilities and his strengths. Those are three really important players in this game. Robert Woods, Brandi,

And then Cook's and the keep to leave. All Rams are very, very important players, and they know them really, really well. And I haven't heard anybody talk about that. You know, it's not maybe a, you know, a sexy, glamorous topic. But, you know, it's something. Well, we've been talking about it a lot with the Todd Gurley, C.J. Anderson situation. It's a huge advantage for Bill Belichick to not know what's going on there because he always takes away your biggest weapon. So if your biggest weapon in Todd Gurley eliminates himself, I mean, you assume that

they're going to do whatever they can to take Robert Woods out of the game, if that's their number one receiver and the most reliable target. It's interesting, Joy, because I don't know, if I have Stefan Gilmore, I can put him on Robert Woods. I'm not sure I have to double. I think that's a good matchup. I advantage nobody. I think that's a really good matchup. We asked it this week is the number one weapon for the Rams was Cooper Cup. It was Gurley and Cooper Cup. Well, Cooper Cup's gone, and Jared Goff's numbers have come down. I think if Cooper Cup was in this game and Todd Gurley, I knew 100% healthy, I think I'd take the Rams.

I mean, I would have no problem with it. My reluctance to take the Rams is all statistical. Cooper Cup left, ACL, Goff's never quite been the same. That's factual to the point where Sean McVay went and got a, another running back because he knew they had to become more run-centric. And for the record, should also be noted that you and I don't know how healthy girl he is. Everybody on the Internet last week was trying to figure out, you know, how healthy is he. I don't know.

I just know he wasn't completely healthy. Right. Well, there was something off. Yeah. Well, this next young man joining us, I don't think in all my years of watching the NFL, 40 years of it, there's ever been a guy, maybe Walter Payton, maybe Jerry Rice, that came into the league, I didn't see a single one of their plays in college. He played for South Carolina State.

I'll admit, I didn't watch him in college. And he walks into the league like a Walter Payton, like a Jerry Rice, like our next guest, Darius Leonard. And I'm watching him thinking, how come he didn't play at Alabama? He may be the best linebacker in the league. A great young player, the Colts will build their defense around Darius Leonard via the cowherd. Satellite Network. You know, it's funny, Darius. we always talk, I love Tom Brady, and one of the things I love about him, he plays with a chip on his shoulder because he dropped in the draft.

And you ended up at South Carolina State, and, you know, a lot of the big boys overlook you. Are you driven a little bit by that little chip on the shoulder like, I want to prove you guys, Alabama, LSU, all you teams that didn't draft me. Is that part of you? Oh, yeah, without a doubt, man. Every time, man, I go out there, I have a chip on my shoulder, just want to just prove all the things. my daughter's wrong and just want to just go out there and compete these play. Did you know immediately? Did you know in college you'd be this good of an NFL player?

When did you figure it out? Was it camp that you're like, I can play here? It was the second week. After the Washington Racing Games, I think I had like maybe 18 tackles that game. And that's when I was like, okay, maybe I have a shot of being pretty good in this league. So I just kept working on my craft and just got better each week. I'm watching your college video. Lord, you're just throwing guys around.

throwing guys around the field. When you did not play against the Patriots, you had an ankle injury that week, but you were, I imagine, in the preparation for it, in the meeting rooms. So even though you didn't play, take me back to that week. What do you remember when you watched the Patriots on film? What were you preparing for? We always talk about stopping the run first, so we wanted to stop. They had two great running backs there, and we wanted to kind of stop the run and make Tom Brady beat us with his arm, and, you know, that's very hard to stop Tom Brady with Grong, Elder Man. So we knew that we would have to try to make him dump it off, try to take away the deep shots, and make them just dump a little short pass and just rally up and tackle from there.

You know, Kansas City gave you guys a rough week in the playoffs, and then the following week, New England goes there and beats them. Were you surprised having played Kansas City and know how good they were? were you surprised how New England beat him? Oh, man, I was very surprised, man. I just knew Kansas City had a lot of firepower, and I didn't think their offense could be stopped. So I actually thought Kansas City was going to come out and get the win.

And watching the game, I saw that New England had a great game plan, and they came out with the victory. Andrew Luck has been one of my favorite players in the NFL since he came out of Stanford. And it's, you know, then he was very good, and then he got hurt, and I love him so much that my audience is always telling me how overrated he is and I'm always like no no no no no no he hasn't had a lot of help until this year tell my audience take my audience into you face Andrew Luck a lot at practice what makes him special I'm his knowledge of the game man he's so smart

he's called out every blitz he he even in a walkthrough he looks at every receiver in a walk through to make sure they're running their routes and he's got make sure everybody on the scout team knowing exactly what the opposing team's doing. Like, he's so smart in every critical situation. He knows exactly where he's going. He know exactly who's getting the ball. So, I mean, he's just so smart and very knowledgeable

about the game. You led the NFL in total tackles. Just shy of an all-time record by Patrick Willis, who played for the Niners, went to Ole Miss, great player. Did you surprise even you a little bit? I mean, your production is

outrageous. Were you even a little surprised? Yeah, most definitely. I'm most definitely surprised having, I mean, leading the league and tackles. I didn't think that would come my rookie season. I thought I would have to work, maybe maybe my second or third year to it, and just happened. So I'm leading the league, and it's just a great accomplishment, and just very shocked.

By the way, take Andrew Luck out. I could make an argument that you and another rookie Quentin Nelson are the best rookie tandem. You're both pro bowlers. You're arguably in the history of the NFL. We've never had a team that brings in maybe the best offensive lineman and maybe the best linebacker in the same class. What is Quentin Nelson like to go up against? Because I see him pancake guys on video. What is he like to face? Man, he's a complete monster, man. He's huge. And he's very powerful. So, I mean, if he put his claws on you, you know you're completely done from there. So you just got to be smart the way you go at them and try to use your speed

against because like I said, if he get his hands on you, it's over with. By the way, I think you guys have nine draft picks and $100 million in cap space. I believe starting next year, you've got a couple small deficiencies. I think the dynasty's going to start. I really do. I think you're going to have an amazing 10-year run. I don't know if you'd been to Indiana, Indianapolis before you became a cult. Can you see your see your stuff? playing there for a decade? Yeah, without a doubt, man. It's a great place to be, man.

Love the fans there. Love the coach. Love the organization. I can see that making my home for the next 10 to 15 years. Darius, congrats. Your remarkable talent, one of the shocks all time in the draft.

And good luck to you going forward. Yes, sir. Thank you. Yeah. I mean, that kid is just, I mean, it was like, I can remember because I kind of like the Colts because luck and I know they're GM. and I'm watching like their second game and I'm texting people and I'm like,

who is Darius Leonard? You kind of like the Colts? I mean, I knew Quentin Nelson was good and I knew T.Y. Hilton was good and I, Malik Hooker was good and I'm watching the game and I'm like, this kid's like, I'm going to make 17 tackles. He's all over the field. His college video was ridiculous. Remember Randy Moss's college video?

He's just jumping, hopping over guys. Darius Leonard is something special. Shannon Sharps around the corner and my 10 best players in the football, NFL, This year between the Patriots and Rams. I think my top 10 is much different than everybody else. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the IHeard Radio app. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting

through the noise. Breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slica Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. thing and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you

hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast. Learn the hard way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the hard way and listen now. What's up, guys?

This is Clivert Taylor the 4th. 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 42. A rep, mom. I 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 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.

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 flanks. 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. Perred, sponsored by Draft Kings, play free fantasy football for the big game for your shot at the one million dollar top prize. For the record, I think many of you who have watched or listened to the show through the years know that John Goulet is a huge cowboy fan. We try to be above being fans here. We're professionals, but Goulet can't help himself. And Goulet, about two minutes ago, looked disgruntled, looked very unhappy. And John has something to report that he's not happy about John. Go ahead.

Kellyn Moore is now the offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys. And why are you not happy with that move? He was a player about 20 minutes ago. And he was the quarterback for the coach, or quarterback coach for the team this year. Was their quarterback play great? No. Okay, so they promoted him? You did such a mediocre job. We want to elevate you.

Does that make sense? So you're, what, you control the board over there? What would be the sound that would reflect your current personality? John's not in a good move. Well, listen, here's what's happening everywhere. Young offensive guys are in. It's just the current climate. It's like, it's almost.

like about five years ago when the three-point shot became really big. People pushed back on it. Like, come on, we can't shoot. And it's like, okay, now there are games. Houston's dropping 53-pointers is in the NFL right now. Cowboys have a new offensive coordinator. It used to be a quarterback an hour ago, Kellan Moore. And I don't know if it's good or bad move.

I just saw USC just hired an offensive coordinator. And I think I'm not sure if he's old enough to babysit my kids. I mean, that's kind of the world we live in right now, right? There's a bunch of young offensive coordinator types. Darn young kids taking over everything. Yeah, I mean, I don't know if it's bad. I mean, I don't know if it's good or bad. I mean, the Bears went the, who was it that hired, Denver hired a 70-year-old

defensive guy or a 60-year-old guy. Kellen Moore here is 29 years old. I got to be honest with you on this stuff. 29 years old, my son's a lot smarter at 12 than I was at 12. So, I mean, 29 to me is, in terms of knowledge is like 35 to me. I'm okay with it. 29 isn't the problem. It's the one year as a coach that I have an issue with.

I don't care how old he is, but he spent one year as a coach. His positional group was not very good. And now he got elevated to offensive coordinator. Yeah, I don't think the age, I think the age is just like another thing getting thrown into the pot of this not being a good movie. It's more about the experience. Because we talk about Sean McVeigh all the time. You can't compare him at 33 to the average 33-year-old walking down the street when you look at how he grew up. and the football that he's spent time around and what is actually on his resume at 33.

That's true. Cowboys got a new OC. Here's Joy Taylor with the news. No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. In other huge news, Colin, Patience owner Robert Kraft would like to work out a contract extension with Tom Brady. We're all waiting for this to come down the pipeline and we're shocked that this is happening.

He was asked yesterday about Brady's contract, which is set to expire after the 2019 season and had this response. Well, think about it. The last three years, we've been furthest to go to the Super Bowl where the quarterback in place, I would be quite surprised if he didn't continue for quite a while as our quarterback. Remember we're all freaking out the idea that Jimmy Garoppolo might be replacing Tom Brady? Yeah, they got moved out to the Bay Area, yeah. That's funny to think about.

Well, Tom Brady cost New England just $15 million this season, making him the league's 22nd highest paid quarterback for a little perspective. Tyrod Taylor makes $15.2 million. Yeah. And Aaron Rogers makes $33.5 million, so more than half. You and I know what happens when you pay quarterbacks that much money. Right. And look, I'm, I don't know how I feel about people saving owners money, especially in the NBA. I get it.

Tom Brady's wife makes a lot of money, and I'm not going to pretend like that doesn't play a factor in like their family does have a lot of money at one point another, how much money do you need? And I don't like counting other people's pockets, but whatever Tom Brady has done has provided the Patriots with flexibility to put other pieces around him.

That we can't argue. And that you can't argue. And his contract is never a point of discussion really ever. Like, I can't even remember discussing it because this just gets done. Now, Nick Wright did have a good suggestion, of saying that Tom Brady has said he wants to play till 45. He should go in and say, I've constantly taken cuts.

I'll continue to take cuts. Lock me in at this number and make it fully guaranteed until I'm 45. And I think that that's fair for Tom Brady to ask for. And it gives the organization actually the flexibility, if you know that this is the mark that we're trying to get to, of when you need to drafts and start developing another quarterback. You pretty much know Tom Brady is not going to be the Alex Smith groomer type. So prepare yourself accordingly.

I think that that's fair. Yeah, I did too. Anyway, there's 43 players that make more money than Tom Brady just for some perspective on that. So it's time now for the fantasy headline sponsored by Drap Kings. We talked yesterday about the report of an NFC head coach saying C.J. Anderson is a better fit for the Rams than Todd Gurley, which maybe either one of us really agree with. But Anderson doesn't care about that. He said if he carries a ball once or 20 times in the Super Bowl, he doesn't matter. After insisting that this is Todd's team, he added this.

Our job is the same. Any first downs as we can get, whoever get the most first downs, I guess that's how it knows. But at the end of the day, if Tom want to play 98% of the snaps, that's what he's going to do. We're going to be okay with that.

Yep. It's the biggest concern for me going into this game with the Rams. Totally agree. I don't have it. I mean, I have some doubts just based up with the way that their offensive line, the Patriots' offensive line, has been playing about whether they'll actually get to Tom Brady, but the X factor in this game for the Rams to me

what's going to happen with their running game. I wish I just knew. I don't have any idea. Well, we just don't know what to expect from Todd Gurley based off the last game. And C.J. Anderson has been playing great, but is that what you're going to ride on in the Super Bowl? And finally, Kobe Bryant did spend 20 years with the Lakers, a record that was recently broke by Dirk. But the days of player loyalty are pretty much gone. In fact, Kobe himself shared his thoughts on the Anthony Davis situation.

Players should have freedom to be able to speak their peace. You know, listen, management certainly does that. I've been very lucky to play with the Lakers. The class owner organization takes care of the players. But a lot of players aren't that fortunate, man. And at the first sign that they can improve themselves, they'll cash you aside. Right? And so you can't just have it one way and say, okay, you know, players need to be loyal to organizations

but not demand the same thing the other way around. So until that day happens, players should definitely have the opportunity to speak up and control their own fate. It's just the way it should be. Thank you. Thank you, Kobe Bryant. By the way, billionaires move all the time in this league. Seattle used to have a team. I think it's just time that the old idea that the teams are going to control the fate of players.

It's over. It's all about the team and the name on the front and the name on the back. It's done. I think it just let that wash over you. And by the way, Anthony Davis was in New Orleans for six years. Let's stop making this like John Elway who said, I'm not playing for this team. Or Eli Manning said, I'm not playing for the Chargers. You had LeBron in Cleveland the first time for seven years, and you had Anthony Davis for six years, so stop bellyache and you had him.

Well, I've been saying this forever. The idea of loyalty and professional sports is just a dream. It's an idea that is sold to fans because you want to sell season tickets and you want to have a good strong support system within the community and you want to have sponsors. And that makes sense. But the reality of it is it's a profession and people move around their profession all the time. Joy with the News. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by.

Our next guest is a Hall of Famer, probably the greatest tight end to ever play in the NFL, who's got three rings, one with the Ravens, two with the Broncos, and he's our friend Shannon Sharp via the Coward Global Satellite Network. Shannon, let me start with this. We talked about Todd Gurley. From what you saw last week with Todd Gurley, do you believe he's healthy for this game? No. And Todd Gurley hadn't been healthy for the better part of six weeks. There's a reason why C.J. Anderson is on this roster.

If Todd Gurley was 100% healthy, C.J. Anderson would not be on this roster. If Todd Gurley was 100% healthy, C.J. Anderson doesn't get 23 carries in the divisional. He's not the leading ball carrier in the NFC championship game. So that lets me know that Todd Gurley is not 100%. Now, the thing is, Colin, having been a professional athlete, the thing you can do that when you are hurt, you can flash.

You look at that long touchdown run that Todd Gurley had against the Cowboys. He flashed. You look at that TD run. he had against the Saints. He flashed. But when you're injured, those two drops, if I didn't know anything else, I say something's wrong with Todd Gurley. Because when you're injured, you are focusing on the injury and not concentrating on the football. So that told me everything that I needed to know about Todd Gurley. Yep, and he missed a block. Listen, anytime I've been hurt in my life, you get a toothache, it's the only thing in the world you can think about

is the toothache. I got to ask. Exactly. I got to ask you. Stefan Gilmore, the Patriots, guarded Robert Woods at practice for four years. Brandon Cooks was a patriot. Akeeb Talib was a patriot. How big an advantage that three key Rams, the Patriots know all their weaknesses and all their strengths? Well, sometimes that's a blessing and a curse because you can fall and says, I know, I know, I know. And then they come out and give you something different that you haven't seen. For me, Colin, even when I played against guys that was on my rock, that was on my rock,

my team and went elsewhere. I just kind of, you know, played it by my field and kind of what I've seen on tape because you know they're going to guard you different. The thing is, and what you saw from Coach Belichick, Coach Belichick has changed over the years. Coach Belichick is

okay now with taking the safety out of the middle of the field. He will vacate the middle of the field and go zero coverage because I would have never thought if someone would have asked me in the AFC championship game, do you think Coach Belichick will go zero blitz? Do you think he'll just leave a single high safety in the middle of the field? I was like, no chance.

And have Tyreek he'll run by him? But you saw what he did, and he caught Kansas City off guard in the first half. The thing that we know about Coach Belichick, and he's always been this way, he refuses to let your best player beat him. So whomever the Rams deemed their best player, that guy's not going to beat Coach Belichick on Sunday. Is there anything about this game? Because there's a lot of things I can look to and say,

Edge New England. is there something you like about the Rams that you think to yourself this could be problematic for New England? Well, really, I think the Rams special teams are better and you better watch out because Sean McVeigh, he's looking to steal an extra possession. He has no problem going for it backed up. He'll fake, field goal you. He doesn't matter. He's looking to steal a possession, especially if he feels the game is starting to get away from him.

And you saw that in the NFC championship game, Colin, is that he went for that fake punt because he knows I cannot fall behind 16-0-0-0-0-0-and-he-fake-punned to-nought. And he fake-punned to end up getting a field goal out of it, and I think it turned the momentum of that ball game. I think special teams, the Rams, have a decided advantage. The question is, can the Rams make the Patriots one-dimensional? And when I mean one-dimensional, Colin, you know what that dimension is?

You want Tom Brady to throw the ball 45 to 50 times because if you let them run it like the charges did, if you let them run it like the Chiefs did, you have no chance of beating Tom Brady and this Patriots team on Sunday if they run it and throw it. Okay, three Super Bowls, I want to go to your first 1997. You were a great player, but it was your first Super Bowl, and these babies are different.

Were you a little nervous? No, I wasn't because, you know, John had been the three. Mike Shanahan had been the offensive coordinator, in two or three Super Bowls. I think the thing was, Colin, I was young enough. I didn't know what I didn't know. Yeah. And for all week, and everybody kept saying,

it was a regular game, it's a regular game, it's a regular game, it's a regular game. It really dawned on me when I came out there for pre-games, and the stadium is half full. That never happens in a regular season game. And then you see 2,000, 3,000 media members huddle on the field, and you see cameras everywhere. And then it really dawns on you that this is not a regular game. But, Colin, I promise you, once they kick the ball off, you really forget that it's the Super Bowl.

You think it's just a regular season game. You just know the stakes are a lot higher. By the way, you've got Trunogen in your hand, and I should be noted after I do my show every day. I am always a little tired, and I'm looking for a little kick. And you have more energy than any human I've ever met. What is that thing? What is that? You know what, Colin?

I've been taking Trudonigin for about five months. A buddy introduced it to me at the gym. And contrary to what anybody tells you, Colin, as we start to age, energy starts to dissipate. And I'm always baffled by people tell me, I feel better at 55 and 60 than I did at 25 or 30. And my question to them, what the hell were you doing at 25 and 30 that you didn't feel

that you didn't have a whole lot of energy? But that's besides the point. Colin, I'm with you, is because you and I both, we have to get up early in the morning, five days a week, and we have to put on our best face, our best foot forward every single day, me for two and a half hours, you for three hours. And for me, once I get to the gym, Colin, or once I get to the CrossFit studio, I'm fine.

Sometimes it's finding the energy to get dressed and get there is where I was starting to lack. And once I started taking this, man, Colin, my energy, I promise you, Colin, you will notice a difference. I give you my word. All right. By the way, the Cowboys just hired 29-year-old Kellan Moore as their offensive coordinator. John Goulet, the Cowboy fan here, is beside himself. I don't know if it's a good move or a bad move. What do you make of it?

Did you see that offense? With some of the best athletes in the world at the Pro Bowl, that offense scored seven points when they don't want to hit or tackle anybody. They got seven. At the end of the day, look, we can criticize Jason Garrett and says he's not a good motivator. he doesn't do this yada yada yada but calling you and i both know the coach of that team is jerry jones he gets all the success he gets all the credit when they win and he gets none of the culpability when they lose and this is why they're in the position they're in they could have a sean mcbay they could

have a sean payton but when you go coach the dallas cowboys you already know who's running the team who's going to have final sale the final 53 you're not going to have a whole lot of input on the draft You're going to have a nice, cush job at one of the preeminent sports franchises in all the world, the most popular, the most recognizable in all the world. But you're not going to have a whole lot of say. And I don't know anybody that's worth a grain of salt or worth anything that wants that situation. I want to feel like I'm doing something besides clapping and co-signing whatever you put your stamp on. Good stuff.

That's why he's got a show. Shannon Sharp, undisputed. Good talking to you, bud. Collin, thanks for having me on, bro. You bet. Three times Super Bowl champ, Hall of Fame tied in. Yeah, that John, I can just sense with John Goulet

that it has not been a good Thursday. Yeah. You know, it's just, it's funny because you grew up in Connecticut. Why don't you just jump aboard the Patriot train? There's a lot less pain. At the end of the ride? Yeah. No, not it's, I should have done, I should have done that 18 years ago,

but I missed my window. Goulet is the only guy ever from Connecticut who chose the Cowboys. Then he would be a bandwagon fan, Colin. He can't do that. What's wrong with being a bandwagon fan? I didn't like the Eagles until they had a bunch of hits. Do I have to like a band in the garage first? I mean, music is a little different.

Is it? I mean, I don't like jump on a band until I'm like, I hear them, and they got something like, oh. No one's like, if you like, oh, I like this band and I like this group, they're not like, oh, you can pick one group to be a fan of. Otherwise, you're not a good music fan. Maybe I could be a fan like you of one team that's your childhood team and then just add the Patriots. They're in their dynasty, but you're also an Andrew Luck fan, so you kind of root for the Colts. You can just kind of pick everybody. I bailed on the Seahawks.

I mean, I had two teams. Who? Yeah, Steelers, Dolphins. Yeah. I bailed on the Seahawks after like they were just crappy for years. Cowboys fans just refused to accept the reality. Then Russell Wilson arrived. The misery of being a Cowboys fan.

It really keeps me going, Colin. You're from Connecticut. You got a team five minutes from your house and you choose to be a cowboy fan. I'm not even bandwagon. You should have like a you get a bandwagon pass free. If you're from a state and then all of a sudden your team and your state becomes good, you should just be able to say, okay, that's my team. You should get like a free bandwagon card for fans who grow up in a state

and it becomes the greatest, a bandwagon pass. Coming up next, 10 best players in the Super Bowl, and I think my list is different than everybody else's, and it leaves off a lot of great players. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd. Weekdays at noon Eastern 9-A. Pacific. Special occasions like Valentine's, go to 1-800

Flowers.com, a dozen assorted roses. 1999 or upgraded two dozen assorted roses. 10 bucks more, 1-800flowers.com. End of the code, H-E-R-D. All right, we call it every day at this time. Best for Last. After almost three hours, Colin apparently hasn't gotten to the point yet.

Quit holding out on us, Cowherd. It's the best for last. These are who I believe the top 10 players in the Super Bowl. Everybody has their lists, and I'll give you my top 10. I'll start with Tom Brady. Number one. Yeah, his passer rating in the last seven playoff games is 104. He has not been sacked. He gets rid of the ball too fast. His ability to make adjustments pre-snap, I think, is the greatest along with Peyton Manning in the history of the league. He's a four-time Super Bowl MVP and will overwhelmingly control win or lose this football game.

Number two. Aaron Donald led the NFL in sacks with 20 and a half, and he's an interior defensive lineman. That's never happened before. It's the most sacks ever for an interior defensive lineman. Now where he's a notch below Brady, zero sacks in two playoff games so far this season. Number three.

Todd Gurley's a remarkable generational talent. Rams are 9 and 0 this year, including the playoffs, when he has 75 plus yards rushing. The downside is he's had fewer than 20 carries in seven of his last eight games. But he's had a two-week stretch to get healthy. He is an excellent pass catcher. He's a blocker and a runner. He is a remarkable talent.

The question, of course, is he healthy? I'm just going to put him at three as one of the ten best players. Number four. Stefan Gilmore, highest rated quarterback in the entire NFL by Pete. BFF, pro football focus, used to be a Buffalo Bill, and they were able to spend big and go get him. Belichick has always been a great defensive back coach. He's the reason they got into last year, Super Bowl, that great play end of the game against Jacksonville, and I think he has had his best year as an NFL player.

Number five. Shaq Mason, he's the best guard right now in the NFL. Mason's one of those guys that because of New England, Brady's behind him. him because of Gronk. He's just never going to get credit. I played at Auburn. He's been an absolute number one rated guard in the NFL by pro football focus this season, a really good player who had his best year as a New England Patriot.

Number six. I think Trey Flowers is another classic overlooked New England Patriot. He's had a sack in three straight games. Again, Aaron Donald is not getting to the quarterback in the playoffs. Trey Flowers has been unbelievable in key. He spots against the Chargers in key spots against Kansas City. Trey Flowers is their most dependable pass rusher. And for a big, he is really lightning quick.

Number seven. Another former Bill, Robert Woods, has had more than 70 receiving yards in 11 of 18 games this year, including the playoffs. He's also an excellent blocker, a willing blocker, incredibly coachable, good after the catch. He's a really special player. a couple weeks ago, Troy Aitman said he's as good as any receiver out there. I don't know if he is or not, but I'll tell you this. He's got a little Heinz Ward. He'll block, catch underneath.

You can have him go deep. He's a great player. Number eight. Julian Edelman. I know, I know. You look at him and you think, really? I'm sorry, but Marcus Peters, I can't trust. You know who I can trust?

Julian Edelman. He is incredibly productive. He leads the NFL in receiving yards this postseason with 250. second most playoff catches, 105 in NFL history. Listen, man, quick matters just as much as fast. It's a three-stop. It's three-step drop league. So it used to be fast-mattered, but in the NFL now,

quick is as important as fast, and Edelman's a monster. Number nine. Andrew Whitworth, one of the top four or five offensive linemen in the NFL. I think it's the most overlooked, less need move as GM of the Rams. He had Jared Goff, not an overly mobile guy, and they went and got Whitworth from Cincinnati. He was a pro bowler there. He has been an absolute rock for them since he's arrived. A world-class locker room guy left tackle for the Rams.

Number 10. Jared Goff. I don't want to hear Jared Goff can't play. He just became the youngest quarterback in NFL history to lead a game-winning drive to go to the Super Bowl. Second half in the NFC championship. He had 183 passing yards, touchdown, and 111 passer rating in the toughest place in the NFL to play. Jared Goff can play. He can spin it.

Got a great arm. That out route, his best throw is throwing to the sidelines. Beautiful touch on deep balls. Now, some of the stars didn't make it. Gromk didn't make it. I don't think he's a great player. I think he can make a great play. Endomac and Sue, Marcus Peters, are hot and cold to me.

Brandon Cooks, again, not as dependable as a Robert Woods or Julian Edelman. James White, Akib Talib, I would put at number 11. By the way, according to the L.A. Times reporter Brad Turner, Lakers got a hold of Del Demps, the GM of the Pelicans. And they have included, Lakers have offered Kyle Kuzma, Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram, Zubotch, and a number one pick. So the Lakers have essentially offered everybody. The Lakers, according to Brad Turner, have offered everybody, and they're waiting from a callback from the Pelicans.

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