The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 1 - Crazy free agency period, the Raiders are making smart moves, the Dolphins seem to be doing what's right

Episode Date: March 10, 2026

Colin Cowherd breaks down and reacts to a crazy free agency period in the NFL. He begins with the Raiders and for the first time in a long time he believes Las Vegas is headed in the right direction and making smart decisions. He also credits the Dolphins for signing QB Malik Willis and why they made the right decision to move off Tua Tagovailoa.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hey, guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas.

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick.

Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you. you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. 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 ice. Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva, and on my new podcast, How Hard Can It Be? I call on my Gen X squad from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate Midlife's most fantastic BS.

Unfiltered conversations from night sweats to futas to scheduling sex. Wait, what sex? Is it just me, or does every woman my age want to look at Pinterest instead of having sex sometimes? They say we can't polish a turn, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with. laughs, tears, or tears of laughter. Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Diana Maria Riva on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and IHart Podcasts presents soccer moms. So I'm Leanne. Yeah. This is my best friend, Janet. Hey. And we have been joined at the hips since high school. Absolutely. A redacted amount of years later, we're still joined at the hip.

Just a little bit bigger hips. This is a podcast. We're recording it as we tailgate our youth soccer games in the back of my Honda Odyssey. with all the snacks and drinks. Why did you get hard seltzer instead of beer? Oh, they hit a bogo. Well, then you got them. Listen to soccer moms on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast point game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season. And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was harmed. You just understood.

That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Mark keep coming until he's like, you know I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 SportsRadio.com. Or stream us live every day on the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox SportsRourts Radio or FSR. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. It's a Tuesday. We are live in Chicago. Big Domino's fallen yesterday.

A few more dominoes and free agency in the NFL falling today. We are live wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. Well, here's something I haven't said much in the last 20 years. man the Raiders really know what they're doing this is why the NFL is great you don't need tanking you can get better through trades

the draft free agency the NFL gives you so many avenues to get good overnight Tyler Linderbaum great center from Baltimore is now a raider my favorite signing of free agency, A++. Get to that in a second.

I absolutely love that signing. Jalen Naylor, the receiver and number three receiver from Minnesota, not much of a paycheck, way underrated signing. Eric Stokes, re-signing him at Corner, outstanding. Ideally, in the NFL, you'd love to have great ownership at the top. But the Bears and the Raiders don't. but both have really, really ascending general managers. John Spitech for the Raiders,

to get two firsts for Max Crosby in a year in which he was banged up is a haul. And remember, that Ravens pick to the Raiders, that picks 14th. So they have the number one pick, Fernando Mendoza, and the 14th pick. So they're going to get two absolute if they want day one starters.

Not to mention, and it just, this is what's, great. Pathetic to playoffs in the NFL is a regular occurrence. Four of the last seven Super Bowls. Four of the last seven featured a team that didn't even make the playoffs the previous year. Last year, Seattle and New England, two for two. No other league can do that. If you are lousy perpetually in this league, like Cleveland and the Jets, it is all self-inflicted. Like the 230 million guaranteed to Deshawn Watson, and all of you knew the minute the ink was dry, that was a terrible deal.

Have you also noticed what the Raiders are doing? And this is not a coincidence. They are signing players from winning organizations like the Eagles and the Ravens and the Bills and the Packers. They're taking people from winning cultures. Now, there is some dumb money in free agents. agency. You can kind of see it and it's obvious. I think Zion Johnson from Cleveland getting 50 million. Chargers just let him walk. That was the worst guard center guard experience in the entire league. And gosh, what a shock. Cleveland overpaid for it. So or the Jets last season,

given a couple of years and 40 million to Justin Fields, probably wasn't going to work out. But I feel like when I'm watching the Raiders this offseason, I am watching what the Bears did last off season. Go get a sharp, respected young offensive coach for your young quarterback. Get a pro bowl level center to call the audibles, most underrated position in the sport. Go grab a receiver or two if you can find them in the league or draft them. Give your young quarterback a compliment of receivers or tight ends. And I'm telling you, since the Max Crosby deal on Friday, the Raiders have had the most positive, uplifting five days that I can remember in forever, 20 plus years.

I mean, when Fernando Mendoza, a month and a half, two months ago, you're thinking, oh, that poor kid's going to the Raiders. Now I've got Brock Bowers, Best Young Tied End in football, Tyler Lindelbaum, probably the second best center in the league after Creed Humphrey in Kansas City. I've got an offensive coach, and I'm looking at Fernando Mendoza thinking, oh, this could work. I honestly feel the Raiders feel like that buddy you have that's like 37 years old and finally has his act together. He's no longer sleeping on people's couches. He has a job, a girlfriend, and a 401k and can buy his own airline tickets.

His parents don't have to do it for him. He's like, buddy, you finally got it together. It took a while. I mean, I've been waiting for it. I'm not going to let you sleep in my couch for another week. But Albert Breer talked about the Tyler Linderbaum signing. I think it is an A plus. plus gap.

Let's say the value for Tyler Linderbaum is $23 or $24 million. And what you get to me is in that offense, they put a lot mentally on the center, right? The center is a huge part of the pre-snap operation when it comes to setting protections and all of that stuff. So that's going to take stuff off the plate of Fernando Mendoza. So by investing in Linderbom, I think you're investing in Mendoza. Okay, here's something else I don't say very often. Here's something else I don't say very often. I love what the dolphins did.

Raiders and the dolphins. What's happening? Malik Willis at only $22 million. Here's why I love it. Because the new coach of Miami, Jeff Halfley, watched the last two years Malik Willis at practice around teammates in camp, being inserted in the games. And the new GM of the Dolphins also comes from Green Bay.

So this is not buying something off a used car lot where you don't know if they messed around with the odometer. They have watched them in games at practice with teammates, his work ethic, and Halfley the new coach, and the new GM, Green Bay to Miami both said, yeah, yeah, yeah, we got to go get that guy. And at 22 million, it's a bargain. People say, well, I mean, he's only had a handful of starts. Folks, how many starts did you need to know that Zach Wilson wasn't going to work? by the end of his second game in which he had four picks, I'm like, didn't like him coming in, not going to work.

It doesn't take that. How long did it take to watch Justin Herbert? First NFL game. The doctor for the Chargers makes a mistake. Tyrod Taylor can't play. They insert Justin Herbert in the game. Rookie, first game. Over 300 yards, 67% completion percentage against the Chiefs.

Steve Spagnola. big strong mobile you're like yep that works that's a franchise quarterback i needed one justin herbert start so when they signed two to an extension years ago i said it on the air i said the gym doesn't know what he's doing probably the nicest guy in the world that's you got to be kidding me a small marginally athletic concussion prone at the time injury prone absolutely quarterback in the aFC where all the good teams playing windy cold weather in january and you re-sign him to a massive deal, the hell are you doing?

Malik Willis is not this. I've seen enough of Malik Willis. Okay? Really good arm for his size. Very, very athletic. Looks like he's durable. Accurate. And again, the coach and the GM of Miami were in Green Bay,

and they're like, get him. So I think this is a really good signing. And, you know, people can just keep, well, I mean, you haven't seen that. I was first date with my wife. Seven, eight minutes in, I'm like, yeah, that's the one. It just doesn't take that. I've been saying this about those music shows. I don't know anything about music. I can watch the voice or America's got talent. You can tell two lyrics in. You're like, that is a hack. Or, oh, that's somebody that could get a record deal. And I don't know anything about music. So all I know, when I see Malik Willis, arm, athleticism, you know he's got a good

work ethic or Halfley's not bringing him down. Here's Matt Hasselbeck. I remember when he came out. A lot of people liked him. Some people didn't. And, you know, I remember he was the third string quarterback in Tennessee and he was an afterthought. And it was about Will Levis and Mason Rudolph and these guys. And, you know, clearly your environment does matter. And I think Malik is a great example of a guy that plays within the system, has great coaching around him. And clearly is a problem for defenses. Yeah, I got six starts. I think you saw him get inserted into a game,

which means that week he's getting no reps with the number one offense, gets inserted into a game, and you're like, wow, he's good. You saw him get moved from Tennessee to Green Bay in August, and they inserted him immediately into the offense, and he was really good in one games. And you say, well, Green Bay's got good coaching. Are you kidding me? every time I bring up Matt LaFleur, everybody wants him fired in Wisconsin.

You tell me you don't like the coaching in Green Bay, and now you tell me you don't like Malik Willis. Well, why is he so good? He's either good or the coaching's great in Green Bay. So I think both are true. I think Matt LaFleur is a good coach, and I think Malik Willis is really talented, and I do not think you need that much time. They're paying him $22 million.

I mean, here's all you need to know about the dolphins. Look at the dead money for the next two. years, they have to win core moving off Tua. So anybody that says, well, they're both a little undersized. This kid's the opposite of Tua. He's wildly dynamic athletically. He's got a big, big arm. And plays without any fear, as far as I can tell. Sometimes the smaller quarterbacks, they play, they don't want to get hit. I don't see it with this kid. So, I mean, he was the number two quarterback last season, according to PFF, only behind Matt Stafford. So, And when people say, well, I haven't seen a lot of him.

If you only draft and develop or acquire quarterbacks that everybody's seen a lot of, you get into bidding wars. Right? Like, it's like NIL. If you want the best quarterback in college football and everybody else knows he's great, you got to spend $7 million. You do what the Indiana Hoosiers did and you go get Fernando Mendoza from Cal and there's no bidding war and you get them for a reasonable price.

So if you're only going to invest in obvious stuff, like when the Denver Broncos went and got Peyton Manning, you know, John Elway knew I'm replacing Tim Tebow, they're like seven teams wanted Peyton Manning. That's what's going to cost you. But to get a darnold from Minnesota, Baker Mayfield down in Tampa, great success stories.

Malik Willis to Miami? I mean, if you want to get into bidding wars for every quarterback, good luck. But I think the price tag, the player, the fit, Raiders, Dolphins. It is a new day in the NFL. J-MAC, all fight. Now, we're going to have some more sightings. Diana Rusini in 40 minutes from now, 45 minutes. But now that doesn't mean there are teams that overspent.

Alec Pierce is a good receiver. The Colts are going to pay them almost 30 million a year. That is more than I'd want to pay, Alec Pierce, who I like, who I think is a really good player. they moved off Pitman. Pitman goes to the Steelers. You know, Aaron Rogers doesn't like young receivers. So, you know, D.K. Metcalf and Michael Pittman in Pittsburgh feels like to me, Aaron Rogers

looks at that and goes, okay, these are guys that have been around the league. When I look at the Pittman signing, that felt like Mike McCarthy saying, hey, Aaron, we got you two veteran guys. You don't have to teach somebody, you know, from college how to be a wide receiver. that felt like a little inducement of Aaron Rogers back to the Steelers. That's not a bad take. Or they just trust Will Howard. They just need to put good players around him.

Colin, I'll say this. I was surprised yesterday by the amount of movement. It feels like there's some kind of sea change going on in the league. Did you see the teams who, two of the top four teams last year in spending in free agency? Patriots and Seahawks. They were one and four. They ended up in the Super Bowl. I just, I'm not saying the Raiders are going anywhere.

And the dolphins are certainly not. Sorry about Malik Willis, I can't rock with you on that. But it feels like teams are getting smarter and cutting guys sooner, just getting off the money earlier. Also, something's going on. Also, it tells you people don't love the draft. So if Kansas City thought there were four, five good backs, Kansas City doesn't pay for Kenneth Walker. But there's one star back. And then Penn State, Notre Dame have other backs that are solid guys, but maybe like number two backs or low-end ones.

So I think it also tells you at the key business. It's a very good offensive tackle draft. It's a bad quarterback draft. It's a bad running back draft. It's not even a great wide receiver draft. It's a bad tight end draft. It's an edge rusher draft, a corner draft, and an offensive tackle draft. By the way, I've got to ask about the Kenneth Walker thing.

They gave him the most guaranteed money, I believe, in a free agency to a running back ever. You like that move by the chiefs, Kenneth Walker? Well, they have no juice in the back feet. Like none. So now this allows Kansas City. to go out and get their right tackle. Maybe Spencer, for now, the kid from Utah, the right tackle. So, I mean, to me, the reason they did it is because, one, it's a bad running back draft.

And if I think if Kansas City had multiple picks, they don't have a ton of picks. If Kansas City, like the Raiders, had like 11 or 12 picks, I don't think they would have paid Kenneth Walker. I think they would have used fours and fives to move up three or four spots, you know, give up a four and a five and get Jeremiah Love. So right now, Kansas City is at nine. You could probably get Jeremiah Love at six or seven. Give up a couple of fives to do it.

But Kansas just doesn't have the draft capital this year. So I think they're saying, let's just go get Kenneth Walker and solve right tackle, corner, and edge rusher. And they got Kelsey coming back? This is kind of good news. Well, yeah, I mean, I think ideally a 37-year-old tight end, you know, you'd move off him. But they're not in a situation to do that. Yep. 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.

Stegatz here, I have a podcast empire. It continues to grow. And I have brought it here to IHard. I'm also doing a live radio show from 3 to 5 p.m. Eastern because my wife wanted to kick me out of the house. It's called Stugats & Company Live, which is available in podcast form right when the show finishes. every single day. Some of the biggest names in sports. A lot of phone calls. I love you guys' guys, not taking themselves too seriously. Those are just some of the things that you can expect from Stugats and Company and

Live. So listen to Stugats and Company Live and our original podcast. Please subscribe, rate, and review. Stugats and Company and God bless football. Taylor's livelihood depends on it. it today and you can check all of those out on the iHeart radio app apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast hey it's us the jonas brothers and guess what we have some big news what's the news news news news we created our own podcast called hey jonas we invented a podcast well we didn't invent it

we just contributed to our first people to do podcasts pretty yeah pretty wide range of podcasts but this one's extra special so how did we how do we actually come up with the name hey jonas guys I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band. Before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes.

I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey, Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it.

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

on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis, and I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs, and on the Renee Stubbs Tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris. Every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on clay. Jen Chinchin win.

I mean, she went down at three to, Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lena Rubakina is arguably the best player in the world right now. And I actually can win on any surface. Because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court side seat to the French Open.

Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. 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 SportsClice comes in. I'm Timbo.

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

Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slices Life 12 and the 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 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.

Well, Team USA beat Mexico 5, 3 in Houston last night, and they're now 3 in 0. and if you give me a special event, it's got some big stars, and throw in patriotism, I'm in. It felt like playoff baseball in March, and baseball's been on about a two-year renaissance, and they're doing it by creating events.

The home run derby is an event. This is an event. The World Series, the field of dreams, the Mets Phillies in London. You know, NBA added the NBA Cup, and everybody criticized that my take was that's what you got to do when you have like hockey NBA baseball long, long, regular season.

So Paul Skeens had more people watching him last night than he's going to get in any Pirates game going forward. So I thought it was a great night. I mean, when Apple, you know, brings out a new phone, they make it an event. They don't say, hey, you can buy it, got new phones on sale. Like it becomes an event. We are a very distracted nation. I think, I think this thing is tremendous. I watched it during the Olympics, and I'm watching this last night. It feels big. Here's a couple of gems by Bobby Witt, Jr. Check it out.

He cracks one. Diving stuff. It's short by Witt. Across the diamond. That was impossible. Bobby Witt made it happen. Wow. Another diving stop by Bobby Witt is he done again?

You bet he has. Bobby Witt dazzling for USA. Little Patriot. Big Stars, making an event. I mean, spring training wraps up in a couple of weeks. I saw KD was at the crowd as well. So it's just baseball's figured it out. It took them a long time to figure it out.

But it's like create some events, support some events, have connections with networks that want to like Fox, make the events front and center. And here was Aaron Judge on the win against Mexico. It's playoff baseball in March. That's what it's all about. It's a little March Madness here. And I love it. The fans came with it today.

This was a fun atmosphere, exciting atmosphere. The boys were ready to go. You got Paul Skeens on the mound who was doing his thing. And, you know, when Mexico started getting going there, you know, this place got pretty rowdy. But the boys stayed locked in and delivered a win. Fantastic. J-Mack with the news. No, no, no, no.

Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right, Colin, let's start with the Miami Dolphins. Big moves dumping Tua, Tungalawa, the biggest dead cap hit in NFL history. 99.2 mil, but he's out the door. He's not your problem anymore. And now you bring on the new guy, Malik Willis. It's funny, I just looked up Malik Willis.

Colin, unbelievably, he started his college career at Auburn through 14 passes, couldn't beat out Jared Stidham and transferred to Liberty. Liberty. I mean, we just, we have no idea what Malik Willis is going to be as a full season starter. We can say, oh, he looked good in spurts. We shall see. I'm not a believer. They have A-chan.

They have Waddle. Well, this, that's it. This mess in Miami, they're hoping Malik Willis, maybe he's a bit of a Hail Mary, I don't think so. But this all comes down to if you're going to extend the quarterback, I mean, Miami did it completely wrong. They should have never extended to them. Well, wait. He had one or two. playoff trips, I believe. He had concussion issues, and in the AFC, every good team plays outdoors

in brutal weather. Buffalo, Cincinnati, Kansas City, you're going to have to go up north and win. He doesn't have that arm strength. He'd been injured. The second thing was, if you're going to have Tua, the two things you have to have, a good O-line, and a capable backup. They may have had the worst backup situation for years in the league, and their O-line stunk. So they could never figure Tua out. They over-extended him. They didn't protect him. They did nothing right with Tua. I mean, if you give Tua, I mean, the good news about all of this is, at least when you don't give Tua a good old line, it unravels very quickly and you're like, okay, this is not the guy. They could have been fooled for years into this. They did give him Mike McDaniel, that part I liked. But by and large,

they just, there's a certain recipe in this league. Find the, find an offensive coach, get your quarterback, protect your quarterback. And they overpaid the quarterback. They never protected the quarterback. They got it all wrong. And now they go to the discount bin. And I think they did a good job. Yeah, the GM who gave them that deal probably won't ever be a GM again.

I am curious, though. Are they tanking? Are they tanking for a quarterback? Or do they think like, hey, maybe this is our franchise guy? Because the Dolphins fan base seems to think, hey, the Green Bay guys who came to Miami, they love Malik. Malik's our guy. We've got our franchise quarterback. Colin, I don't think that's a serious thing, do you?

Yeah. At $22 million, at $22 million, you can draft a quarterback next year anyway. They're not... But they're not drafting high, right? Malik Willis is going to win them six, seven games, right? He's going to win more than that. Miami's going to be a good seven, eight, nine win team. Their Vegas win total before this was like five and a half, I'm pretty sure. I would take the over.

I don't necessarily think they're... I mean, they're going to beat the Jets twice. So, I mean, that gives you... That's good news for my jets. Yeah, that gives them two wins. But I think Malik Willis, Halfley, Halfley was great in Green Bay for two years. He was tremendous.

But then Michael Parsons went down and they couldn't stop a nosebleed. Come on. I don't know. Maybe I'm being a hater. I don't know. I think the price point is great. You're right. Cheaper than Sam Darnold, cheaper than a bunch.

Baker Mayfield. Significantly cheaper. That was a good deal, for sure. All right, let's move on to the NBA, Colin. SGA, the presumptive MVP, hit a big time shot last night in the clutch. Here he is, getting the ball. Denver switched.

Spencer Jones, you got no chance. SGA game winner, bang. Nuggets, fall to the thunder. And OKC was down a bunch of guys, too. J-dub, Caruso, Chet. It's a good win for OKC. Colin, and afterward, SGA talked about hitting that game winner. I had no good I was going to do.

I have answers to the test, but like I got to see the questions first so once I see he was on my left and I was going right I think it was Christian Brown that was in the gap so I knew I probably was like if I drove to shoot a midi

it's probably going to be a contested with two guys so I tried to separate from the three and get a good comfortable shot and it went down you know you want to say anything nice about OKC I mean people think I'm a hater it was a great shot bike SGA he probably won the MVP last night right

as he played the right right number of games? Yes, he has. He would have to miss several more games. It doesn't look like he's going to. So listen, OKC, probably going to be the number one seed. I'm sure you've watched the Spurs closely. You think Thunder are favorites in the West still or no?

Yeah, I think the Thunder have been winning, missing multiple starters. So, I mean, it's, and I also think, Golden State, San Antonio is still young. Everybody's young. Wembe's a remarkable player. Stefan Castle's remarkable player. but they're really young. We all know that the tarmacs long for the spurs, and because of the draft capital, they have OKC.

But today, if they played in a seven-game series, I don't think it would go seven. I would probably take O'KC in five or six. Yeah, now we didn't show video of it, but Lou Dort did another cheap shot at Yokic. It's like he's targeting the guy. I'm just telling you, this probably should warrant a suspension. It wasn't as bad as the last one.

But when this stuff starts to add up, oh, here we got it on the screen. Watch him just the arm flings back. Drills Yokich in the face. Colin, he's a dirty player. We can say that. The history is there. Yeah, that's pretty obvious.

All right, final story, Colin. Let's go. I'll stick in the NBA, and it's Jason Tatum returned. Man, I could not have been more wrong. I didn't think Tatum would be this much of a factor. Yeah. Colin, two games in, he looks pretty good. He went nuclear against the calves on Sunday.

Really solid game with 20 points in 27 minutes. Boston looks like the team to beat. I'm a Knicks fan, and I think the Knicks look a little rattled, like, damn, he's this good, this quickly. Did you think Tatum would be this effective? Yeah, I mean, every time an athlete in their prime gets hurt, they always come back significantly sooner than everybody estimates. So, you know, the teams play it cautious. You know, it's going to be next. He may not come back and play.

These pro athletes are in such great shape. They have such great nutrition, doctors, rehabbing assignments. These guys all come back sooner than later. And I think Boston's going to win. And I like the way you're doing. Halliburton's out. You know, the Knicks haven't played that great. I mean, the Lakers took them to the woodshed.

I watched that game. And I think Boston's going to win the – and Detroit's not ready. Detroit is a – Detroit's the classic. Hasn't won anything. so they play incredibly hard in the regular season, but they're not going to be a great playoff team if they face Boston because they just can't score in the half court. It's a very average team.

Yeah, so Friday when you were out, we did this, well, I did this a little, the Jalen Brown versus Jason Tatum thing. Whose team is it? I know that can be a goofy conversation, but a couple guys on the staff made a good point. Like, Jalen Brown's an MVP candidate. His usage rate is second highest in the league. He's having career numbers.

And now he has to step back so Tatum can step in. It is an interesting discussion. It's not as dumb as some of the other networks out there making. I mean, it's Shaq and Kobe. Who is better? It was your preference. Like Brown and Tatum are both excellent. Now, the longer athlete, Tatum, probably the more gifted, offensive athlete, is Tatum.

But I don't think the gap is that big. But I think they're both A players. So when you punch above your weight class with Brown for all season and you're like, oh my gosh, this team's amazing. And then you bring back in, Tate. There is a world where down the stretch, Tatum's like, listen, this was my show for five months. And now you're going to come in and take it?

I'm not saying that's going to happen, but the door is ajar for that kind of situation. J-Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd line news. So there's a report that the San Francisco 49ers are willing to move off and trade

38-year-old left tackle, Trent. Williams. They did sign Mike Evans a very good but older wide receiver. So McCaffrey is 30. George Kittle is 32. Mike Evans is 33. Kyle Hughes Check is 35. Trent Williams is 38. The 49ers truly believe age is just the number. With most teams, I mean, you're in a division. Seattle is one of the youngest teams in the league. Last year, when Seattle and San Francisco played for the final time, the Niners were the second oldest team, the Seahawks were the fifth youngest team, and Seattle blew their doors off.

So in a division with the very athletic, young on defense Rams, and the very young Seahawks everywhere, I don't, I'm, I'm an outlier here. I don't necessarily love adding a 30-year-old receiver who was banged up this past year. So I think Mike Evans is a Hall of Famer,

and clearly Kyle Shanahan loves the eye. IQ of the veteran players. He doesn't have to teach him. It doesn't take his long. And he's a smart, reliable, productive veteran. But he missed some games last year. And I just think in a division where the Rams and the Seahawks have two of the deepest, if not the two deepest young, athletic, quick rosters. I mean, it reminds me. The Niners remind me the Warriors. They're trying to keep the band together. You know, and you watch the Warriors, was it last year, play the T-Wolves in the playoffs? And it's like, oh, yeah, Steph Curry gets banged up, series over. And I kind of feel like when I watch the Niners

against the Rams or the Seahawks, I'm like, they don't have enough young athletes. So, you know, and the Warriors kept like, let's acquire Jimmy Butler, let's get some aging stars. Let's keep the, let's keep the window open. And then suddenly it's not only not open, you're unwatchable if Steph Curry doesn't play. And I kind of feel like if you're going to move off Trent Williams, what happens if Christian McCaffrey gets banged up for a month? So I'm, I don't know, I watch Seattle, San Francisco play. Old team, young team, not close.

And I, and I've, you know, I know I'm supposed to love it, but San Francisco's got some players that are older than the trolley cars in the city. It's like, guys, you got to get younger. In your division alone, you got to get younger. So right now the 49ers are currently right now this second, adding Mike Evans, the oldest roster in the NFL. For the record, last year, remember when Washington fell off a cliff? One of the problems was the commanders who had been to the NFC championship year before, the old guys all got hurt.

And when old guys get hurt, it takes them longer to recover. So I know I'm spoiled. I think, I mean, Mike Evans is a good red zone target. But Kittle and Evans and McCaffrey and Trent, I feel like guys, you're getting really old. Not to mention you got that substation next to the practice facility. And I'm reading stories like Mike Evans. Mike should just basically practice in another part of town and just like show up for the game. That substation, I know it's been proven not to be true.

But it's too weird. There's like one sliver of me that thinks Don't don't get anybody with coming off an injury with the 49ers Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, it's us the Jonas brothers and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, huge news? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas.

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to a podcast. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts. We're starting a trend. but this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name Hey Jonas, guys?

I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Oh, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this.

We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast where people could call in and say, hey Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad Hey Jonas and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite.

Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts,

or wherever you get your podcasts. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis. And I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs. And on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris. every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on Clay. Jenchian win. I mean, she went down in three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted.

She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lena Rubakina is arguably the best player in the world right now, and I actually can win on any surface. Because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs Tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts.

or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. 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 Slic Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not a lot. 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 I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Sunday, the NASCAR Cup series is on FS1.

as the best of the best. Go full throttle in Vegas for the Pennzoil 400. The checkered flag flies Sunday at 4-Eastern with pre-race action beginning at 2.30 only on FS1. So, and I don't know why baseball fans understand this, hockey fans understand this, I think football fans understand it. NBA fans struggle with something.

They always think the better the player, just get him on your team. And basketball, there's one ball. It's about fit. So let me give an example. I think LeBron James is better than Jaden McDaniels of Minnesota. But if you just flipped them and you gave the Lakers, Jaden McDaniels, a plus defender on the wing and a great catch-and-shoot three-ball guy, the Lakers would be a much more dangerous

playoff team. I don't think Jaden McDaniels is better than that. LeBron. But the numbers don't lie. I watched the Lakers beat the Knicks on Sunday. And it was one of their best defensive efforts of the season. They're nine and two when LeBron doesn't play. And I was reading this this morning.

The Lakers improved the nine and two this year when Austin Reeves and Donchage played together without LeBron. LeBron is the second slowest player in the league right now. He is not a plus defender. He is not having a great jump shooting year. So Jaden Daniels, McDaniels, just on the ability to catch and shoot and not have the ball in his hands. That's just one player. And the Lakers will have the money to go by two or three players this offseason, give up picks.

So having Lucas a little bit like having the coolest convertible sports car in the neighborhood, it's awesome. But you're going to have to have a second means of transportation unless you live in like Miami. And I think when you have Luca, you have to have other components on your team. Catch and shoot shooters, elite wing defenders. And so it's not a knock on LeBron. It's LeBron is a really, really still high-end player. This doesn't work. And so I'm watching that game against the Knicks, and I'm like between Rui and Luca and Austin Reeves, it's like, oh, that's young guy energy.

and they're not great defenders, but the Lakers really had a nice defensive effort because they had great energy. So, and it goes back to Jaden McDaniels. LeBron's averaging more points, more rebounds and assists, but that doesn't make him a better fit. And I've said this for years. Russell Westbrook was better than 90% of the NBA in his prime, but he didn't necessarily, he would not have fit on the Warriors when you had Steph and Clay and Durant in elite shooters that needed shots. Westbrook was as talented as almost anybody in the league for like eight years. How do you fit with one ball? And so I thought that Laker Nick game was a real eye-opener.

It's like, wow. Oh, oh, that's interesting. Here was Luca on Austin Reeves. Sounds like he's almost talking LeBron. Luca on Austin Reeves after the win over the Knicks. It's just great being his teammate, you know. and obviously he needs to be aggressive like this, but just, you know, playing with him is so easy

because he draws so much attention, you know, helps others too. So just playing with him, it makes my life easier. The other thing I saw, the Chiefs are going to sign Travis Kelsey to about a one-year, $12 million deal. And it feels a little bit, Mahon, and Travis Kelsey, like when Gronk went to Tampa. He was retired, and then Brady called him and said, get down here. I need my security blanket. So number one, Travis Kelsey had over 800 yards. He's still really valuable. No other chief's target had over 600. So secondly, he's durable. He's

going to give you 15 plus games a year. He didn't run like he used to. He's had eight or nine or 10 surgeries. But here's the thing. What signing, and I think it's a smart move, I would have have understood it if they moved off him. But for 12 million, I totally get it because he's productive and he's durable. And he's a team leader. He's kind of the soul of this organization. But the other thing it illustrates is the chiefs have a very good GM. Brett Veach, very good. But it just shows you the number one position in the NFL, the number one most difficult position to draft in the first round is wide receiver. And so, I mean, it's just Xavier Worthy. The chiefs go out and get Xavier worthy.

He's a gadget player. They probably should have taken Ladd McConkey. He was available. Chargers got him. And then there's Rishi Rice who just you can't depend on maturity-wise. There's Hollywood Brown who's smallish and had injuries. And ideally, you're probably saying, I'd rather not have to resign a 37, 38-year-old tight-in.

But he's your cornerstone and you've missed on other, I mean, Sky Mulm. Moore was a miss. Xavier Worthy's not a miss, but he feels like a gadget guy for a first round guy. And it feels a little bit like the Lakers pre-Luca. That's what the Chiefs feel like. Now, the Lakers pre-Luca, you're like, yeah, LeBron's great, but the West is young, and a 39-year-old probably shouldn't be my star. And I kind of feel like you'd hope you could eventually move off Travis Kelsey,

but and people are kind of banging on the move. My take is, well, he's still productive. He's durable. He's a team leader. He's not going to get in trouble off the field. He may get engaged and married off the field to his pop superstar, but I get it. I'd bring him back too.

So I think wide receiver and weapons, they're never been more valuable, but they're hard to find. And I mean, listen, Travis Kelsey not only was the oldest player to catch a touchdown last year, he was the oldest player to get a touchdown the year before. So and scoffing it, it's the catch 22. You'd ideally hope, I mean, the Lakers would ideally hope. We've had a great time with LeBron. We're going to move off, but he's still really, really productive.

And so they've needed him until this year where it feels like LeBron's kind of reached a point where they've got their offense without him, certainly their defense. I think Travis Kelsey is something you have to sign him because they just, and again, it's not a great wide receiver year. That's why they went and got Kenneth Walk. J. Mack thinks they're a bunch of old geysers, and they're done. And my take is they don't have a lot of draft capital.

They have got to help Travis Kelsey, so they've got to get a right tackle. And, you know, again, as well run as they are, they've had enough draft misses. I wouldn't say Xavier Worthy is a boss. Sky Moore was a miss. McCall Hardman was a miss.

Worthy's not a miss, but Ladd McConkey. He's a different level player. He was available. I mean, Xavier Worthy has had one game in his career over 100 scrimmage yards. He's a gadget guy. So I think they're kind of, I think they're a little bit trapped. And, but I mean, there's worse things in the world being trapped with a Hall of Fame tied end who's still durable and productive.

But you don't love it. I mean, listen, it's, I'm sure Mahomes is thrilled and the locker room's thrilled in the stadium and the league. You know, the league loves, hey, look, the newlyweds. We've got them on on Monday night, on Thursday night. On Saturday, they're going to be forced fed to the league. But if you look at the roster, Colin, I mean, they lost two starting cornerbacks to the Rams. Two starters, including their best guy in McDuffie. Go look at that secondary.

They got nobody. The linebackers are weak. I'm just, again, I thought the Raiders had an awesome day. I like what you said at the outset. Did the Chiefs have a good day getting Travis Kelsey back and paying Kenneth Walker the highest guaranteed money for any free agent running back ever? By the way. This is what happens when you. pay Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes. I mean, we just had a Super Bowl with Sam

Darnold on a team-friendly deal and Drake May rookie contract. So, I mean, it's not hard to figure out. Bow Nix should have made the Super Bowl. Drake May did the year before. It was Josh McDaniel in the conference championship. Why? Because he's on the rookie contract. So, you know, when you pay Mahomes or any quarterback, that kind of money, like Dak Prescott, you have to hit. you have to do a John Snyder with a C-Ox. You have to hit on every pick at the top of your board. Not only do they have to be good players, they have to be stars. You have to get Devin Witherspoon.

You have to get elite players. Gray Zabel. You have to hit on star players who can play immediately. And Kansas City is well-run, smartly GMed, but they've missed on just enough wide receiver, the running back at LSU late first round. Miss. Edwards Alair.

Yep. That was a miss. So they've just, it feels a little bit, correct me if I'm wrong, J-Mack. It feels like the Niners. John Lynch has missed on just enough wide receiver talent and Kansas City. And they're both well-run organizations. But what happens is you get old and you have to resign old players because you're trying to keep this Super Bowl window open.

And I don't see it with San Francisco in their division. I don't. And by the way, Niners and Chiefs, arguably the two best. divisions. So I think the Niners and the Chiefs to me feel like they've kind of, they, and it's not a good draft for what the Chiefs need outside a right tackle. It's a good right tackled. I like your Warriors two timelines analogy with the Niners. That's good. Only problem is Brock Purdy. He's my guy. He's no Seth Curry. He's not going to bring him to the Super Bowl. That's a tough one. All right. Diana Rusini is around the corner. Matt Hasselbeck stopped by one hour down

a Tuesday free agency. It's not ending. There's more news coming. Hey guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it.

We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. 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. Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and IHart Podcasts presents Soccer moms. So I'm Leanne. Yeah. This is my best friend, Janet.

Hey. And we have been joined at the hips since high school. Absolutely. A redacted amount of years later, we're still joined at the hip. Just a little bit bigger hips. This is a podcast. We're recording it as we tailgate our youth soccer games in the back of my Honda Odyssey. With all the snacks and drinks.

Why did you get hard seltzer instead of beer? Oh, they hit a bogo. Well, then you got it. Listen to soccer moms on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva, and on my new podcast, How Hard Can It Be? I call on my Gen X squad from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate Midlife's most fantastic BS. Unfiltered conversations from night sweats to futas to scheduling sex. Wait, what sex? Is it just me or does every woman my age want to look at Pinterest instead of having sex sometimes?

They say we can't polish a turn, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with laughs, tears, or tears of laughter. Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Tiana Maria Riva on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast point game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season. And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments.

If we didn't talk ever again, I was hiring you. You just understood. That's how personal it got. Then after that game seven, Marquis come until he's like, you know, I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.