The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Herd - Hour 1 - Are the Lakers making a mistake?

Episode Date: June 28, 2023

Colin believes the Lakers would be making a major mistake if they overpay for this one player He points to a clear trend in the NFL separating the good teams from the bad teams and it's never been more obvious Colin defends his ranking of Sean Payton and Russell WilsonSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that

excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I put on 10, I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to The Heard Podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to 3 Eastern, 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd at Fox SportsRedio.com

or stream us live every day on the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Now let's get this party started. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. At a Wednesday, we are rolling, ready to go. We'll try to top yesterday. It'll be very, very hard. It's the herd, wherever you may be. However, you may be listening.

Thanks for Megadast, part of your day. Are you still battling with KD? J-Mack, are you still fighting and throwing elbows? I don't do that. I don't operate like that. Listen, somebody tried to tell me you can't just climb in the ring with Ali because I'm really good at sparring and opinions. I can't just let KD in here.

But it's been an interesting week. Let's just say that. A very interesting week. Jay Mack and KD sparring. What happens when I like both? I don't want to pick sides. I like them both. So we're all more excited and more loyal to things that we find.

right like you go to a garage sale and you get there kind of early and you find like an old chair and you're like four dollars this thing's like 30 40 50 60 years like you talk yourself into i bet you queen elizabeth sat in this chair no it was an old lady named elizabeth but she wasn't a queen she lives right down the street she got tired of the chair uh but you're loyal to it because you found it got a deal on it you're like oh love that It's my fine. We're all like that. Here's a story this morning.

The Lakers are a lock to keep Austin Reeves, and it could create major camp issues. Mark Stein reports, they'll pay whatever it takes to keep the player they found. Undrafted, last two years, but a nice player for the Lakers. Are the Lakers getting delusional because they found him? And because he plays well with LeBron.

So did Matthew Delavadova. So let's play a game we often play in the NFL with quarterbacks. So let's put up Austin Reeves numbers for you. Last two years were the Lakers. He averages 10 a game, 2.6 assists. It's not necessarily a dead eye shooter, 36% from three. The guy will put up a blind resume. The other guy averages more and shoots better, not quite as many assists.

would you create major camp issues for that guy? Who is that guy? Grayson Allen. Yeah, I'm not creating major cap issues for Grace. Now, let's do it again. Let's play the game, the blind resume game again. Austin Reeves. His plus minus is like 72nd in the NBA.

That's with LeBron and Anthony Davis. 10 points, 2.5 assists, 36% shooting. Now, this guy is clearly not as good an offensive player. Who is he? Patrick Beverly. Better defensive player. player. Most of you can't stand Patrick Beverly. I like him. I think he's annoying. So let's do it again. The Lakers reportedly get a great potential camp issues for Austin Reeves. This guy averages less,

but basically is the same player. One bucket less per game. And this player is MacKeeleong, who can jump really high. Let's do one more. Again, this is what the story is. Mark Stein reporting the Lakers are going to outbid everybody for Austin. This guy is clearly a better shooter, slightly better score. This guy's Austin Reeves, but a bit more refined offensively. Would you create major cap space issues for Kelly O'Lennick? Guys, everybody's more loyal to what they find. You ever go out with a friend, you see like a garage band or an indie band?

And you're like, dude, these guys are the next doors. You're like, maybe screen doors. They're okay. 82 people were at the concert? Are the Lakers falling in love with a kid because they found him? Garage sale prices. I mean, if you're going to be a max player, you've got to give me some max qualities. Is his size unique?

No. Is his shooting unique? No. Is his athleticism the kind of player you'd create max issues for? No. He plays well with LeBron. Again, so did Matthew Delavidova, who got paid and where is he? Also, Austin Reeves is 25 because he stayed in college forever.

So as a young player, you're like, you know, he's really pretty heady for a young player. That's because he's four years older than a lot of these 19, 20, 21 year olds who are making mistakes. He stayed at Oklahoma forever. I like Austin Reeves. But people are always more loyal to the things they find. It feels special. You had the eye of a baseball scout. I I'm the same way. I remember a couple, it was about 10 years ago, 12 years ago. I was so proud of myself because I called it. I said, I'm going to tell you a player in the draft that nobody's ever seen play.

I just fell upon him named T.Y. Hilton. He was a wide receiver for like a directional school in Florida or something. And they played Alabama. And I got some highlights. And I'm like, damn, he's beaten Alabama corners. I must have talked about that thing a hundred times. There's going to be a guy in the draft named T.Y. Hilton had a good career.

I think he's still playing. But I, obviously, I felt really empowered because, like nobody talked about him before the draft. And that's my point. I like Austin Reeves. Ten points a game, not a dead eye shooter. Lakers clearly do not trust him as a point guard. That's why there was Chris Paul rumors. LeBron most of the time has the ball.

LeBron had a bad shooting year. So you've got to give LeBron the ball because he beats everybody off the drivel, meaning Austin Rivers often on the floor with LeBron will play off ball. He's not a great shooter. Didn't have great size. didn't have great twitchiness. His ability is for a young guy, plays well with LeBron,

creates contact, gets to the free throw line. I like him. But I got to love guys. You've got to give me something max ability, max size, max shooting to create cap

discomfort. All right, solve this. So Bill Barnwell, ESPN guy, really, really good. He created a list.

He's been doing this for years. That he rates, as the league has pivoted to offense, he rates NFL teams based on wide receiver, tied-in, and running backs. And what's really interesting, I'll give you the top 12 and see if you notice anything in the top 12. Okay, for our radio audience, I'll name them. San Francisco, Cincinnati, Philly, Seattle, Chargers, Vikings, Cowboys, Dolphins, Jags, Falcons, Raiders, Browns. Do you notice anything?

10 of 12 have an offensive coach. Offensive coaches convince GMs to draft more elite offensive guys in free agency, sign more offensive guys, and they also have an ability to develop at a higher level offensive guys. I believe, as I've said several times, this is the number one cultural change happening in pro football. In basketball, it was small ball, it was three ball, it was analytics. Baseball, same thing. Home run strikeouts. Don't worry about strikeouts, fly ball out, just swing for the fences.

And the sport that's changed rules due to that gigantic check they had to write years ago, CTE made the game much safer, no hitting upstairs, less violent, it's good for the league, good for betting, good for fantasy, good for TV ratings. Also for the five top defensive payrolls in the NFL, defensive coaches. And what has happened in the NFL, I think you'd be surprised. Most coaching contracts, you have no idea how much Belichick makes. In college, it's different. We all know what Saban makes, Harbaugh makes, Lincoln Riley makes.

NFL head coaches make a fortune. But you don't know how much Andy Reid makes. You don't know how much Belichick makes. But let me tell you, the contracts for the top NFL coaches, now, the McVeys, the Shanahan's, the Reeds, the Bealechacks, It's somewhere between $9 and $16 million. And the GM still make a million and a half. So who do you think the owner writing the check is going to listen to? He's going to listen to the coach on Draft Day.

McVay has the power in the room, not less need. Shanahan, huge power. Zach Taylor, increasing power. So as coaches make more, it's like any corporate synergy, two guys in a room, two women in a room, one making seven times more. the guy writing the check, who does he see more valuable? So increasingly, if you do not have the ability to draft and develop offense, you're like a cash business in 2023. You're like an all cash business. First, I can't take you seriously. Second, there's limitations how great you'll be. That's nothing against Pete Carroll. That's nothing against Mike Tomlin or Sean McDermott. Ten of the top 12, running backs, wide ends, wide receivers, offensive coaches. By the way, at the bottom of the rankings, three of the bottom four, defensive coaches. The middle of it, 13 to 22, is littered with defensive

coaches. And so as coaches have made more, have more power, they are able to lean in the owner, lean in the war room, lean pre-draft, free agency, and get their guys. And they're winning their divisions and winning playoff games and getting to the Super Bowl. It is the cultural change in the sport. Bill Barnwell, check it out today. Ten of the top 12, offensive coaches. Belichick Brady, all those years, never had dinner. The reality is it's a different language to go different ways in the locker room. Defensive guys, often are best friends with defensive guys.

Offensive guys' friends, the quarterback with receivers. Offensive linemen. Look at Brady's career. Gronk close to. Offensive lineman. Edelman, guys he was taken to the derby. wasn't mostly defensive guys. All right.

Yesterday I was it was sad, it was hurtful, I was mocked on the show. I didn't love it. But I will fire back. Usually if somebody is great, we understand he's great. But there is a person in professional football in America who is great. I'm not sure we get how great

he is. We'll talk about that coming up. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the IHard Radio app. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app. Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win.

A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined.

And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations,

stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Cliverts Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J.

And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack, so I'm starting to see that there's a through line.

We also have AIDS on the table right now, so... Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes, I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years. from black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I ate really late last night, really late, J-Mack. Like 9 o'clock at night. Never do that. You ate at 9 o'clock? A salad again? No. Oh. Is this how you stumbled onto that Austin Reeves' take?

Goodness gracious. I got buddies. Lakers fans like, is coward losing his mind? Has he looked at Reeves' playoff stats? Did he watch the Nugget series? The playoff stats. He's got a lot of those. He had a great playoff run.

You know what he shot? He shot 56% on threes against the Nuggets. Only four games, but. Maybe that's because the Nuggets concentrated on stopping the two really elite players, AD and LeBron, and left Austin Reeves open to shoot. Yeah. 16 points per game in the playoffs. Like, by the way, way, way above his average.

For a 24-year-old, pretty damn good if I don't say so myself. Okay. Did I get that right? Yesterday, it was very hurtful day for me. I came out with my top 10 quarterback coaching combos, and after Reed and Mahomes, I thought it was reasonable. I didn't think it was nuts. Sean McVeigh, Stafford got crushed.

But Sean Payton, Russell Wilson, really set the fellows off, J. Mack and Nick Wright. Here was Nick yesterday bashing my top 10. No, you can't put that out there and then just, You just gave your 10 best American cities And you had Fairbanks, Alaska, Bittenville, Arkansas, two, and three. Like, huh?

Like, wait a second here. First of all, did Brandon Staley defraud a family member of yours or something? His quarterback is Justin Herbert, A guy who I think you picked to win the division last year And you don't even have it in the top 10. Russell Wilson and Sean Payton are number three on your list. Give me a come on, man. Okay, so let me ask you a question.

Have you ever had a peanut butter and tuna fish sandwich? No, you haven't. But yet you probably love peanut butter. And you may very well like tuna. It's a bad fit. So let's look at Russell Wilson's entire career takeaway last year with a defensive coach, mind you. But a good coach, Pete Carroll, very good coach. Holy moly.

65% completion percentage, 102 passer rating. I mean, that literally is one of the highest in the history of the league. Touchdowns, the interceptions like 387. Holy moly. And then let's look at one year with Nathaniel Hackett. Oh, it was terrible. You think maybe that was part of it and that Sean Payton could correct it? Bad fits can take really talented people and pull this.

down. So now let's look. I'm going to give you Sean Payton's history. And I'm not going to give you Drew Breez, Hall of Fame quarterback. I'm going to get you two people, one turnover machine, James Winston, not a bust. I argued that once with you. Not a bust. Productive, but just you can't build a franchise around him. How did he do with Sean Payton in 2021? And then Teddy Bridgewater, who's kind of chronically hurt, small. So James Winston, turnover machine. in 2021 under Sean Payton, 14 touchdowns, three picks, and one of the higher passer ratings, 102.8, in the league. That's James Winston, a guy you can't build around.

Let's go to Teddy Bridgewater, who I like, but a passer rating of 99, 5 and 0, 68% completion percentage? I'm not giving you Drew Breeze. I'm giving you Teddy and James. You think he and Russell Wilson are going to be pretty good together? I want you to think about this. So Andy Reed has young, healthy, mobile, huge arm, arm angle, Patrick Mahomes. So every offseason, what does Andy Reid do?

Adds to the playbook. The last five years with Drew Breeze, smaller, undersized, injured, not mobile, and couldn't throw the deep ball. Every year, his last five years with Breeze, he took plays out. Yeah, we can't run that. We can't run that. Despite that, the New Orleans Saints, Sean Payton's last five years with Breeze, number one scoring offense in the league, number one total offense in the league. He didn't have Mahomes' arm, Mahomes' escapeability, Justin Herbert's size,

Josh Allen's enormity, Lamar Jackson's twitchiness. He didn't have any of those. He had an old undersized guy that couldn't throw deep anymore. Now, Breeze was never hyper-mobile, but he was super athletic, more athletic than you'd think early in his career. Guy could play tennis, golf, basketball. Drew Breeze was like Tony Romo was good at everything. But at the end, he was old, beat up, undersized, no deep ball. And the Saints led the NFL, half a decade. Like Andy Reid's adding stuff because Mahomes can do anything. Josh Allen can do anything. Herbert can do almost anything. Burrell can do a lot. With Breezy, they were taking stuff out

every year. They still had the NFL in offense, scoring. So this idea is you can love peanut butter in don't put them together. Nathaniel Hackett is a position coach. I don't even think he's an elite coordinator. It's hard to reconcile the Aaron Rogers stuff with him because Aaron kind of does what Aaron wants to. We knew that with McCarthy. Robert Sala will find that out. Aaron's going to do what Aaron wants to do. I mean, yesterday we had Logan Ryan on the show. And he said facing Aaron Rogers, Aaron ad-libs a lot. Tom doesn't. Gets to the line, sees the problems, gets rid of it quickly, hyper-efficient. You kind of know where the ball is going with Tom.

You just can't get to it. With Aaron, Aaron leaves openings. Aaron ad-libs. He did with McCarthy. He'll do it with Sala. He did it with Hackett. So I think Hackett could be, nice guy. He could be just a position coach, elevated O.C.

Then given a head coaching spot, and it was a disaster. So we'll see how it goes in New York. Again, Aaron's going to do what Aaron's going to do. And that's fine. I mean, a lot of guy. John Elway battled with coaches, too. John was going to do mostly what John wanted to do. That's okay.

But if you don't understand how good Sean Payton is, and what he was dealing with at the end, you're missing something. This thing's going to work. To the level it works, I don't know. It's going to work quickly. Jay McLaughlin News. Turn on the news.

This is the herd line news. We bagged on the New York Giants a lot this offseason with their contract. to the quarterback Daniel Jones and Sequin Barclay hasn't been paid. Well, Barclay and the Giants have until July 17th. So we got about, what, three weeks to get a long-term deal done. He skipped the team's off-season program, but that doesn't mean he hasn't been keeping up with teammates.

Daniel Jones, aka Danny Dimes, said the two have been in contact as much as possible. Seekwon is always working hard. He's always going to be in good shape. He's always going to look good. Anyone who has been around him is going to expect that from him. We're talking all the time, we're talking all the time, staying in touch, getting together when we can. I know he's got a lot going on, and I really hope the two sides can come together. I'm sure you saw the Instagram video of Saquan Barclay, like jumping and exploding with the speed.

Like, he looks, he looks ready to contribute. Oh, he's a great player. He's ready to get a contract. Logan Ryan was so good on our show yesterday. He said the giant stuff doesn't work without Seekwon because Seekwan sucks you in. So it allows Daniel Jones these holes, these gaps in coverage. And, you know, he said it on the air. He's like, this thing's not going to work without Saekwon.

You're going to ask Daniel Jones to have to make harder throws with Saquan. He's been okay. So I still fall back on Take the Two Viking Games out. That was a hideous defense. That's even with Dayball, what you're kind of stuck with. The Giants, by the way, don't have great weapons. They have a great running back. They have a great left tackle.

And receiving core is not very good. Tight end, no. Let everything in them go. So some of it is they don't have. have a ton of great skill people, but don't kid yourself. They have a top five left tackle and a top three to four running back. It's not like they're bereft of town. Well, the wide receivers are suspect. Yes. But Darren Waller was the big pickup they got. Now he knows he's had some injuries. If he can stay healthy. But you're right. Like these receivers, Isaiah Hodgkins,

D.Slaetan, Paris Campbell? It's a bottom six, seven. That's why when people bag on Justin Fields, I'm like, he's got Mooney. I mean, he's got DJ Moore. No, no, Fields has better weapons for By far. But we'll see, you know, Wondale Robinson look good in spurts. Like, they've got some decent twos and threes. Yeah. But without Sequin, you're right. This looks bleak.

I think it'll get done. Next up, let's stay in the NFC East. Jalen Hertz has quickly risen as one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL. Offensive tackle, Lane Johnson has played with a handful of quarterbacks during his time in Philly and spoke about what he thinks makes Hertz so special. You know, he's a unique player. Yeah, just having that guy, it really gets a lot. to the mind of the defense, you know, gets in the linebacker's head, it affects coverages.

It really changes a lot of the things for the game. And so I feel like for almost the alignment, it does make it easier. It makes it really tough for defenders to be right. I just think his maturity for his age is exceptional. But, man, he does a good job with getting our guys fired up. And, you know, really when he speaks, a lot of substances in it. So, yeah, man, I just continue to see him climbing and climbing. He's rocky.

I mean, he really is so perfect for Philadelphia. He is the overlooked, smaller, you know, the classic, he's the classic Rocky athlete for them. Like stars in Philadelphia mixed bag. But when you get this kind of athlete, Lane Johnson, by the way, was DM and me yesterday because I threw some smoke at. Is he coming on the show or no? Yeah, he comes on the show every year.

He's great. He's the best right tackle last 10 years. I think coming up soon. He's coming on the show. Yeah. No, Lane's great. I mean, there's only two or three right tackles in football that we even discussed. Tristan Wharfs is great. Lane Johnson's great.

Hoverstein, the guy with the Rams, pretty damn good. But I mean, to be a name at right tackle, you have to be substantial. And I think one of the things he points out with Jalen Hertz is, what did he say? Smart, substantive, substance, not a lot of flash. By the way, I think they upgraded it running back if that's possible. D'Andre Swift and Rashad Penny? They're better than the previous guys. They're explosive as hell.

Rushad Penny. massive. It's never available. He's not. When he's good, he's good. He has breakaway speed. He really is. He was a San Diego State.

I remember watching him at college. Yeah. And I'm like, how did nobody in the Pack 12 recruit this kid? He's really good. And I mean, he'll make you miss. They drafted him in the first round, bit of a reach. But Pete Carroll wanted him first round. And I think they liked him, but they got now two young running backs.

He was just never available. So Philadelphia rolled the dice on availability. By the way, Swift, similarly brilliant. but sometimes not available. What about the fact that Hertz was playing for a contract last year against an easy schedule? Now they play first-place schedule. He's got his contract.

I'm not saying he's going to get complacent. No, no, I don't worry about him. You think there will be a little pullback in the stats, right? Not by him, but there's two things you can't deny. Shane Steichen was the secret sauce to the offense beyond Hertz. Nick Sariani first seven, eight games, before they gave Stikin the play calling. They were a bit of a mess. He just left.

So they went a year and a half where they were invincible outside of the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. They were blowing teams out. Well, the guy that called those is gone. The second thing is, look at Philadelphia's schedule. Week 4 to Week 10, toughest in the league. It's just a parade of Hall of Fame-level quarterbacks. You're going to win half of those, 60% of those. All right.

Final story is in the NBA. LeBron has been open about his desire to play with his son, Brony, who is headed to USC and going to be eligible for the NBA draft. next June, ESPN did an early mock draft for 2024, and Brony is going 17th to the Edel. But there's been so much, can I just throw this out there? There's been a lot of negativity because LeBron's polarizing. I've heard so many people say this guy's no good, this guy's no good.

So he's 17th now. Well, don't you think, I'm going to go with he's going to be a pretty good player. Yes, I would agree. He's going to be, by the way, remember Evan Mobley, U.S. So Mowbly went from second round to first round to lottery pick in about six months. And I, the coach of USC. Andy? Yeah, Andy, Edville, had told me he said, I've never been around a player who got better faster.

He's like, man, this guy, like every month, we're like, he's better than last month. Don't you think Brony, the IQ, being around dad, I mean, you know, don't you think he's going to rise from 17 to probably 9, 10, 11? USC is going to be very good next year. Very good. They got a strong roster. There's not going to be pressure on him other than, oh, I got to go see Brani play. Because he's not like their number one option, not going to be number two. I don't even know if he's going to be the number three options.

So he could be fit in as a role player and with no pressure be very, very good. I mean, the guy's, he's a nice player, man. It looks smooth. I mean, again, what do I know? But when I watch him, I can see elements of his dad. He can use his left hand. he's really good. He's a sniper.

Yeah, no, if you watch him, you can tell Dad played, and Dad was a smart player. Like, there's elements to his game that aren't as dynamic. I mean, he's not a wildly dynamic. I mean, he's obviously athletic, but his game is, there's a lot of little details and minutiaa and basketball stuff.

He's a cerebral high-eye-key player. Yes, you watch his game, it's like you hang around LeBron. You know what the toughest part is, being LeBron's son. Remember Michael Jordan, one of his kids, I think, went to you. UCF back in the day. And all the pressure was, oh, it's Michael Jordan's son. And you're never going to be as good as Michael Jordan, obviously. And there's a big burden for Brondie to deal

with, but I'll definitely be rooting for him. And the story of LeBron and his son playing together next season is just awesome. Like the potential for that is exciting. I will go to a USC basketball game. What dad would not want that to happen? I just think I've heard so many can't play, can't play. My gut feeling is, first of all, a lot of people are late developers. Second of all, if LeBron's your dad and the way he plays, I mean, I'm sorry, he's going to get better. My gut feeling is Brony will never get in the way of Brony and half these young guys get in the way of themselves. They don't have good groups around him, good people, good advice, John Morant. Like this kid's never going to get in the way of himself. That alone, smart,

cerebral, ascending, no issues, coachable. I bet he ends up being a top 10, 12 pick. I would not rule out a deep run in the NCAA tournament next year for USC and Brani. And that'll be a fun spay. You know the NCAA, I'm telling you, they're going to be good next year. Well, they also got a kid, Isaiah. They landed one of the top recruits in the nation. They have a big kid, Kejani Wright, who was like an Olympian level player in the youth teams. He's like a six-night.

Works out at my gym. Played some five-on-five with him on the court. He's good. Drop-step dunks and stuff on small guys like me. But I like USC next year. Leaper, Final 14. Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news.

And thanks for stopping by. The Heard Lye News. So, you know, because the NBA draft is a bunch of 18, 19, 20-year-olds, much more than the NFL draft or a baseball draft, so much of it is about who are you surrounded with. Like, I'm not just drafting you. I'm drafting dad. I'm drafting your people.

That's why the NBA's tried to do a really good job of getting groups, the Nikes, the Adidas, the right agent, they're kind of funneling you to people that can help elevate you, protect you, shield you. I mean, Brony grew up with that. So you don't have to worry about any of that nonsense that gets young guys in trouble. Every draft, there's three or four guys you're like,

I really like them, but man, they just make bad decisions. You're never going to get any of that with Brony. I think it'll be good. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Paulie Fusco here with Tony Fusco. Yo. Of course you know us as the host of the number one rated show in all the sports talk, the Polly and Tony Fusco show. Yeah.

Now the suits at Fox Sports Radio gave us this air time because they wanted us to tell you how great our show is. Why? Yeah, instead of us doing that, let us just let our millions of fans do the talking. Yeah, play the tape. You don't know crap about sports. I mean, why am I even on this crap? Whoa, whoa, whoa. That's the wrong tape. Wrong tape.

Just forget that. Look, listen to the Paulian Tony's... Fusco show on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes

for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversation. with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music.

The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs?

Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jette. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here. unpack what went down and try to make sense of how we survived it.

Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 was big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack, so I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now, so... Then you're finishing that sentence.

Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black. black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Tonight on FS1, the Conca Calfe Gold Cup continues as the defending champion U.S. men's national team takes on St. Kitts and Nevis. It all kicks off tonight at 10 p.m. Eastern 7 Pacific on FS1 and the Fox Sports app. So I'll pull the curtain back a little.

I, like a lot of kids who are a child of divorce, and I was one of those, right? And so, you know, mom and dad yelling, screaming all that stuff. So, you know, after years and years and years, you go to therapy, blah, blah, blah. I'm fine. But I know that one of the things I had to get through as a child of divorce is I just, I avoided chaos and yelling and screaming at all times. Sometimes it benefited me. Sometimes it didn't. It took me a long time to get comfortable.

with discomfort, right? When you're a kid, you're 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, yell, parents are yelling, screaming. It's just every night you're in your bunk bed or something or wherever you're at. You just can't deal with chaos. So I'd go to a lot of therapy, get through it, blah, blah, blah. But I still think there's part of me that seeks boring and repetition. I like to know, I'm not a wild adventure. You know, I'm a bungee jumped here, there, but by and large, I'm boring. And I'm a fan of boring. because I like repetition, I'm a creature of habit. So when Devante Adams left Green Bay, we view Green Bay as like Farr of Rogers and

boring. It was draft defensive players. They don't go big in free agency. Devante Adams left boring and efficient and predictable. Creatures of habit. They always draft a defensive player in the first round. Then they go offense. He left that for the Raiders.

So the Raiders, since they lost in a Super Bowl, like 20, 21 years, been to the playoffs twice, lost both times, boom, out. They're basically a volcano with a logo. They're always bubbling under the surface. So a story today is Josh Jacobs, their star running back, could hold out. This after Jimmy Garoppolo failed a physical. This after the head coach in his first year had to meet with the owner behind closed doors. Mess.

But he wanted to go home again, Devonte Adams. A third of the NFL. A third of it is an annual perpetual chaos. I mean, Aaron Rogers could be prickly and at times a little passive aggressive. Not a lot of drama. There was no chaos in Green Bay. Be careful about leaving boring and predictable because Cleveland, the Jets, Washington, Raiders, Houston, Arizona, Chicago, there's drama always bubbling right below the surface.

So it looked like when Devante went there, you're like, ooh, they got some weapons, they got Josh Jacobs, they got a new offensive coach, they moved. do a new city. There's a lot happening here. Look at their offseason. Just a mess. And now Josh Jacobs may not show up. So again, since 2002 when they lost in a Super Bowl, what is that? We got 21 years. Playoffs twice. One and done. That's what they are. So I was thinking about this. Speaking of NFL, I was thinking about this. So we go back to that Bill Barnwell list, ESPN, smart guy. he rated one through 32 teams receivers, tight ends and running backs going into this season.

And again, this wasn't that big of a deal 15 years ago, 25 years ago. It was a different league. But it is now an offensive league for the aforementioned reasons. And so he has, the interesting team to me is the New England Patriots. So they are 26 on his list. They were also 26 last year. year and 27th the year before. Now, some of this, I'm going to try to be positive here. Some of it is explainable. They lost the best offensive line coach ever to retirement.

Tom Brady left and the best or top two or three offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniel. Whether you like him as a head coach, he was a great coordinator. They all left. That's what they call the brain drain in corporations where six or seven really good executives leave. You've heard about it in states where Midwestern kids go to the coast. States have what they call a brain drain. So they've had a brain drain overwhelmingly on one side of the ball. Not to mention the coaching staff and the executive suite has been rated by other NFL teams. So a lot of smart people have left. And a lot of them on the offensive side of the ball. So they've struggled to draft offense in terms of speed and perimeter, and that's what this list tells you.

But it is interesting. Let me take the positive approach. I'm going to give you legendary coaches who bottomed out. They all rebounded. So Greg Popovich, post-Dunken, bottoms out. He just got Wemby and more cap space than anybody. Jim Harbaugh was forced to take a pay cut, told he had to make staff changes. Since then, he owns Ohio State.

Phil Jackson, Poe Shack, remember that? Barely above 500 lost in the first round. Then he got Pal Gasol. Three years, two titles. Legends go backwards. If you go look at Nick Sabin, what do they call that, the kick six against Auburn? First time he ever got heat. boosters pulled back he went and looked at the texas job wife went house shopping since then six title

appearances harbaugh saban popovitch phil jackson even legends go backwards here's the thing about new england which is why i think they're a bit undervalued third most sacks in the nfl they do that well they get pressure that's a big thing in the league allowed the fewest russian touchdowns in the NFL. They're very good situationally in the red zone. They're a top ten scoring defense. They created the second most turnovers, fourth and turnover differential. There's a lot of stuff they do well. Here's what they don't. Playmakers. And that's what Bill Barnwell's list is telling you. They just lack playmakers. It's why when DeAndre Hopkins came out, my takeaway was, I got a coach with six rings. They're always at least adequate to

above average on special teams. They get to the quarterback. They create turnovers. They don't turn it over. They're great situationally on defense in the red zone. And now they have a legitimate offensive coordinator familiar with a system running their offense. They do a lot well. They just have no playmakers.

They don't draft it. They don't develop it. They have a brain drain offensively. So when I look at this, the list is telling you, how are they even competent when you look at the teams bottom of that list. How are they competent? They're competent because they do so many things well. You start looking at teams that rank as lowly as they do in the skill position with Colts, Panthers, Texans, Cardinals. And by the way, giants snuck their way in, but one of the reasons both J-Mack and I think they'll pull back, they don't have enough

playmakers. I mean, Seyquan Barclay's not available. They got none. Tight-end receiver back. They got none. So there is my positive spin on the New England Patriots. They do a lot well. They had a brain drain. Scarnikia, McDaniels, Brady, executives. But Popovich went backwards. Harp. Everybody was, I'm telling you, outside of Joel Clat and I, the world was bailing on Jim Harbaugh

three years ago. Forced him to take a pay cut. Had to make staff changes. He now has. the most defined football program, arguably, along with George in the country. You know exactly what Michigan does. They pound the ball, they play defense, it's ball control. Ohio State's got more talent.

I'm not sure what they are. I know exactly what Michigan is. Legends go backwards. All these coaching legends go backwards. And one of the things that happens in pro sports, and you see it in college sports, is when you are really, really good, people just start rating your coaching, I can remember when USC dominated college football. They had Sarks.

Somebody pulled him. They had Kiffin. Somebody pulled him. Like, you just can't keep your assistance. I saw it with Mack Brown. I saw it Urban Meyer in Florida. People just start cherry picking. Nick Saban has somehow been able to stay atop the pile,

despite the fact he's gone through like nine offensive coordinators. Kirby's smart. One of his coordinators finally is a great coach. A lot of them weren't. So Lane Kiffin now is stealing recruits. Kirby's smart, stealing recruits. It's hard. You just lose really good people because your stature and your status is so great in the sport.

So my takeaway is smart coaching. They got a good guy back in the building. They do a lot well. If they were in a lot of other divisions, I'd see them as a playoff team. I just think Miami is so dynamic offensively. If Tua is healthy, Miami just has, Miami's literally could give half of their playmakers to New England and still be a playoff team. So Miami's kind of figured it out with an offensive coach. Speed, playmakers, much less pressure on Tua.

O-line's not great, but they get rid of the ball in that system, that offense fast. So I think we both agree this, though. Whoever you like in this division is the best division in football now. AFC East is the best division in football. That little rant, Colin, it got me thinking, what politician said lipstick on a pig? because that's what that was about the New England Patriots. I did look up their defense.

So they were third overall in DVOA, the most important defensive metric. Third, right? That sounds great. Okay, let's dig a little deeper. So I'm looking at their wins last year. Okay, I don't remember all these quarterbacks. But they can help you with it. But they do count as wins.

Yeah, yeah. Here's who they beat. So they beat Mitch Trebisky in week two. He ended up getting benched for picket. Then they beat Jared Gough at home, Jared Gough, outdoors. They beat the Browns in Cleveland. I don't remember. Was that Deshawn Watson?

They smoked him, but it doesn't matter. No, I don't think he played. Then they beat the Jets in a Zach Wilson game or a Mike White. It doesn't matter that quarterback stunk. Then they beat the Colts. I think that was Sam Ellinger. So you're detecting a pattern here, right? The defense was great in all these wins.

They beat the Jets again. That was the game where it was 3-3, 5 seconds left punt return touchdown. Okay? Then they beat the Arizona Cardinals. I don't even think that was Kyler Murray late in the season, was it? Very viable. But in Colt McCoy. Then they beat the Dolphins in Week 16, and that was not Chua.

I think it was Skyler Thompson? Right? Wasn't it, Scholar Thompson? So bottom line, they beat a lot of bad quarterbacks last year. A ton. And then you look at their losses, and they're getting smoked,

and they're giving up 30 points to anybody who's good. This defense is overrated big time. That whole ramble, lipstick on a pig. That's what it was for the New England Patriots. Just for fun. Go to the Eagles schedule. Just for fun. Just for fun.

This is a think exercise. I don't know what it's going to say. But tell me the quarterbacks they beat. All right. Let's just go through it. Again, I don't remember every quarterback that started. I mean, they got 13 wins. We got a lot of quarterbacks to go through.

So they beat the Lions in week one, Gough. 38, 35. Where was that game out? Or was that game out? That was in Detroit. So they basically survived and beating Detroit. They were up big and then held on. Okay, all right.

Then they beat the Vikings at Kirk Cousins. Cousins vomited all over himself, member primetime game. Washington commanders would have been Carson Wentz, maybe. Might as well have been Sonny Jenkins. Jacksonville. They beat Trevor Lawrence, a playoff quarterback. Arizona. I think that was Kyler early in the season. They beat Dak Prescott. They whipped up on the Steelers, Texans, Colts.

Aaron Rogers. They smoked him. Oh, no, wait. That might have been the game that Jordan Love came in. Aaron's worst year. Go ahead. Well, yeah. Okay. Tennessee Titans doesn't matter. New York Giants. They beat twice and they beat the Bears. So something of a pattern but, but 13 wins. And, you know, Trevor Lawrence is in there, Dak Prescott. They beat Dak. And I'm just saying, you know, I'm just saying, you. is if you win a lot of games in the league, it's shocking how often you beat crappy quarterbacks. Fair. Baseball.

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

Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show.

This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with athletes, creators, and voices. that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok's podcast network on TikTok. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged.

It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHart podcast. Guaranteed human.