The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Herd-HOUR-1-James Harden, Dak Prescott, Leonard Fournette

Episode Date: September 9, 2020

Last night showed James Harden struggles in the playoffsSome people feel Dak Prescott is a MVP front runnerLeonard Fournette didn't say anything wrong.Guest: Nick Wright Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. 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. 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, 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, 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's podcast network on TikTok. On the Look Back at it podcast.

For 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84's big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians,

and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it 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 from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the IHeartRadio app by searching Heard. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Ah, here we go. It is a Wednesday. We are a day away from the opening of the National Football League season live in Los Angeles. This is The Hurt. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for joining us. A lot of options out there. Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Mark Schlereth today stops by Rick Buecker, Nick Wright, Jonathan Bilma. Former NFL great. Now Fox.

NFL guy. Great to have him in the family. And Joy Taylor is joining me this morning. So it's starting to clear out the teams we thought would winner, starting to kind of win. It's clearing out here, Joy. It's a great day, Colin. It's a great day. It's a wonderful day.

So instead of talking about LeBron James, which I am prone to do, a memo to everybody, he was great. But James Hardin scored 33 in years from now. People will say, what a night for James Hardin. James Hardin in the fourth quarter, in the biggest. game of the year for the Rockets took three meaningful shots. I could spend the next 10 minutes talking LeBron, but he delivers, although he does know his play great, he is always engaged. How many series, how many possessions, how many big playoff spots does James Hardin have to check out before those who cling to him finally acknowledge he's not close to LeBron.

He's not the late Kobe. He's not Kauai. I mean, Yon, Yon, he's not Yon. I mean, Yon, face of the league. I'm over it. Harden, greatest scorer ever, and Westbrook MVP, what-eves. Once again, fourth quarter, 82 all, season on the line, take a lead on the Lakers, three meaningful shots for James Harden. Folks, some guys are built for it. Some guys are not. LeBron was engaged, assist, points, blocks, leading, yelling, chirping. He never stops talking. LeBron's all over the floor. Harden. You can tell. Gets passive. Yeah, Kauai checks out occasionally. On a Tuesday night in Memphis. But you've got to say this for Kauai Leonard. Spurs, Raptors, and Clippers. When you need him late, nobody like him to get a bucket and get a stop other than

LeBron James. The OBA has never been about stats. If it were, Joy and I would talk about Carl Malone all the time. We talk about LeBron and Magic and Bird and Michael Jordan. It's about moments. It's not about points. It's not about points. And James Harden had 33 last night.

Congratulations. But if you watch the games and you watch the fourth quarter and you're waiting for the big star to take over. It's a 50-50 proposition with Hardin. I mean, LeBron James, without calling out James Hardin, because Rondo has a history, and he's kind of a shot fighter. Rondo's got a history, and he's not close to Hardin as a talent anymore, and he's way past his prime, but he's a big game player.

LeBron kind of hinting at what we all know to be true this morning about those big moments and how some guys just not built for him. We don't know how many opportunities we're going to get at this level. Some people are built for this moment and some people are not. And I just think that when you've been in the process and you've been building your mind and your body and your soul for the postseason, no matter the circumstances, no matter the environment,

then you're able to rise. Can you imagine how we would rip LeBron if he only took three meaningful shots in the fourth quarter last night? LeBron is sometimes, and this happens to a lot of people, you become a victim of yourself. His standards are so high that we have, I haven't, but people will rip LeBron for making a brilliant pass to a wide open shooter in a big spot, for not taking a bad shot. But this morning on Hardin, well, he scored 33 points, crickets. Come on, man, the book's written on Westbrook. It's written on Janus.

It's totally written on Harden. He's a great score, and that's kind of it. It's not a great leader. He's not great in big spots consistently. And by the way, I'd vote Hall of Fame. It's not about that. No, he's a Hall of Famer. But, I mean, at some point, are we going to acknowledge now, outside of Kauai,

nobody in this league in year 17 is as dependable as engaged, is the leader, is the force, is the, I mean, LeBron last night is barking and talking and blocking and passing and scorn. Hardin's kind of, you watch him, and you're like, it's Hardin on the floor. You never said that in the regular season. Once again last night, you said it in a big spot on Hardin in the postseason. So, this is funny. I was saying this yesterday. When you love something, I mean, you're really, like your kids, you're not very objective.

I'm not really objective with my kids. Everybody's kids. They're going to be president. Maybe you have a frat house, but they'll be president, right? And it's the same with football. We love football. We bet football. We watch football.

You know, the old saying about the NBA, and even Adam Silver and the late David Stern know this, it's a great story league. People don't already watch the games. We'll get 2 million, 1 million people. But it's a great story league. The NFL is the sport we watch. We watch bad teams. We watched the Cleveland Browns last year.

We watch bad. We don't watch bad NBA basketball. We watch bad NFL football. We bet bad NFL football. And so we're so passionate about it that when you make an obvious comment, people get mad at you. People get all fired up. Nobody is objective about it. So this morning, pro football focus says Dak Prescott is a legitimate MVP candidate.

Fox Bet has Dak Prescott as an MVP candidate. frontrunner over to Sean Watson, Drew Brees, Carson, Carson, Wins, Aaron Rogers, and Tom Brady. Daniel Jeremiah, one of the smartest guys in the country talking football, former scout says, my predictions for the season, Dak Prescott MVP. I'm like, wait. He's got an aging offensive line.

They lost a Hall of Fame center. Zeke's slightly slower every year. New coach, new system, and Dallas has struggled last several years to beat really, really good teams. I said yesterday I had my top 10, and I didn't have Dallas in it. I don't have Dallas 11, 12, or 13, people went nuts. So I thought this morning, I'm just going to offer five. I think these are completely obvious NFL takes for the season starting tomorrow.

These are obvious. These aren't even contrarian. These aren't takes. So number one, the Raiders will be bad again because they were horrible last year. they couldn't score past week 12. They got blown out six times by 18 points or more. And with no pre-season in OTAs, how have they sandpapered what was a mess last year?

Oh, right, their division's great. Number two, the Patriots will have their worst year in two decades. Eight players opted out, lost several key free agents, the greatest quarterback left of all time, the best offensive line coach retired, and the division's better. Isn't this obvious? Number three, Joe Burrell's going to struggle. He's going to get mauled.

He's not going to win five games. The division's better. The defenses in Pittsburgh, Cleveland up front in Baltimore are scary. Burrell didn't have a preseason. He is going to look awful in most weeks. He's going to be completely utterly overwhelmed. Number four, the Ravens can go undefeated. Have you looked at the schedule?

They almost never travel west. They almost don't travel. They return everybody except they've added players. Easiest schedule in the NFL, according to people who make schedules and judge how difficult they are. They don't really have a weak spot. They finally addressed an average pass rush by getting Callais Campbell. And Lamar Jackson, really, that's the question. He won MVP.

And finally, Cowboys will be average. I mean, 9 and 7 in the NFL is kind of average. I didn't say they're going to be bad. It's going to be average. Offensive lines getting old, lost a hall of famer. Zeke a little slower every year. New coach, new system, no preseason. Ooh, they got CD Lamb.

Since when, a great wide receiving corps won the league. Last year, the Rams had a great wide receiving corps. They finished 9 and 7. Cowboys are going to be average. Washington's going to be a better football team. New York should be a better football team. Philadelphia cannot get hurt as much. I went and looked at the Cowboys schedule this morning.

You tell me where it's easy. It starts with three Super Bowl quarterbacks, Jared Goff, Matt Ryan, and Russell Wilson. Then you get one of the most talented rosters, the Browns. By the way, in the middle of it, you have to go to Philadelphia. You play Pittsburgh and Minnesota. Those are loaded rosters. And at the end, oh, it gets real easy. At Baltimore, 49ers and Eagles.

I don't, other than about week five to about week seven, I don't see the let up. I don't see the breathing room. I don't know. Raiders will be bad. Patriots worst year in 20 years. Joe Burrell is going to be completely utterly overwhelmed. I mean, these are not wild takes. Cowboys are going to be average.

I know. Send the hate mail. Oh, I forgot. Baltimore can go undefeated. Not saying they will. They can. I think I may pull back on them a little bit. We'll talk about that later. I do have until the end of tomorrow show to make amendments on my NFL predictions. I will make two amendments.

amendments today. So I'll do that before the end of the hour. That is coming up. Coming up also, we forget sometimes the conditions certain people live in. And if they can even marginally flourish, how impressive that is. Never forget conditions and surroundings matter. And it really matters with an NFL player who I think is getting dogged by fans in the media. That's coming up. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the IHeart Radio app.

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 which I'm 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 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 what 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 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 all 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. Thank you for finishing that sentence. 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 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. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Trip Fontaine,

Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about

wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust.

I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app. Search, learn the hard way, and listen now.

Tommy John's cool cotton underwear. Men and women's secret to staying cool this summer. It's an on-body AC. Go to Tommyjohn.com. 20% off your first order with the code, H-E-R-R-R-E. D. So Leonard Furnett was the number one high school running back in high school, and then he was the number one running back in college. And then suddenly I'm supposed to believe in the NFL he's just no good, despite playing for a franchise that has suboptimal quarterback offensive line ownership issues across the board, right? Like everything we're talking now about them eventually becoming a team in London. Leonard Furnett now has Tom Brady as a teammate. And this is for the record all Tom Brady wanted. Can we just be a little aggressive in New England?

Can we not always go after defensive guys? Can we go after offensive guys? Does everybody have to be a developmental player? Can you get me talent in their prime occasionally? And they would not. So Leonard Furnett, the number one high school running back, the number one college running back goes to Jacksonville. And all of a sudden it's like, you know, well, maybe it's the surroundings.

We do this. We forget it. So yesterday he's talking about being with Tampa and he slips in a shot. And it's matter of fact He's not snarky He's not over the top He's just talking and stating facts And he got some heat for it

Here we go I don't really worry about expectations The football is football I'm playing the same game For 25 years And I mean for the first time I'm life I really have a quarterback So that's an eye opener for me

And not a lot of pressure It's going to come on me You know I guess it's going to be a lot of With me and him And a lot of other guys on offense But as far as like game Playing and change things It's great for me

you know, I'm happy to be back there with one of the greatest, well, the greatest I played this game. And I get the line from him, too. What about that was inaccurate? His last seven quarterbacks, college in the pro. Foles, Minchew, Bortles, Cody Kessler, Danny Etling, Brandon Harris, and Anthony Jennings. Translation, the box is stacked,

and everybody is staring at Leonard Fernette. despite that. He's one of three players in the NFL that had 1,000 yards rushing and 500 yards receiving last year. Maybe you've heard of the other two, Christian McCaffrey and Delvin Cook. And now everybody's convinced he can't play. Are we forgetting where he's played at? I mean, don't get me wrong, McCaffrey has been more spectacular, but McCaffrey's got better teammates. Furnett caught 76 balls last year. Look at his quarterbacks.

Look at the O line. Had over 1,000 yards rushing. This is a tanking operation. In fact, per game, the most scrimmage yards per game in the last three years in the NFL, here's the guys that are better than him. Zeke, Sequin, McCaffrey, Gurley, Labian Bell, Delvin, Cook, all with better teammates. We forget this. The media has whole hummed this.

Oh, yeah, Leonard Fernette is really good. And for the last six years, college and pro has faced stacked boxes where people disregard everybody except him. Average to below average offensive lines. A team that is now last year was trading their best players away during the season. This is not a whole hum thing. Like the dude can play. And I think this is what Brady always wanted. Can we just be occasionally aggressive in New England and go for it?

This is a go-for-it move, and I'm surprised how it's being ho-hummed by the media. Joy Taylor with the news. No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Well, some news we expected, but it is now official. The Rams announced that they have agreed to a five-year extension with Jalen Ramsey. The deal is worth $105 million, which is the largest ever for a cornerback.

It's a lot of money. That's a lot of dough for a corner. A lot of money. A lot of money. But, you know, the Rams, they like to pay people a lot of money. Well, they're a go-forward organization, Joy. This is not St. Louis. LeBron, Kauai, Dodgers, Beach.

I mean, this is a U.S.C. No, I mean, I think it was a successful idea. They mentioned the Super Bowl. For all these teams that are conservative and don't want to pay anybody, the Rams were just in the Super Bowl a few years ago. So it's not the worst plan. You know, you can, I think in Los Angeles, you have to be honest about where you're at. Yeah.

In St. Louis, you don't make this deal. You don't. What's the point? In Los Angeles, you are competing as a franchise against the Lakers, the Dodgers, two very popular MLS teams. In this town, this matters. The beach. Yeah. College, major college universities with alma mater alumni everywhere.

And the Rams are saying, we're going to build the world's best stadium. And we're going to get stars and go for it. And I got to be honest, I do worry about their depth in certain spots. But I think Los Angeles a little bit is forcing the issue here. We're in a crowded market. Consumers have options. They're distracted. We got to go for it.

That's Los Angeles, though. I think you have to be the brand of the city that you're in. All those things that you said are absolutely true. But also, when they acquired Jalen Ramsey, you knew he was going to get a deal. So it's not like a surprise. I mean, he talked about it on hard knocks. The reporters kept asking him. And he's like, a deal is going to get done.

Like, they knew that when I came here. Right. I bet I was going to get paid. I'm going to let my agents and, you know, the front office deal with it as they're supposed to. That's their job. And I'm going to play football. And he got paid as he's supposed to. When he's engaged, he's great.

A couple times last year he seemed, when he's engaged, he's an unbelievable player. I don't really know how much, how much I'm going to hold last year against the Rams. You have them in your herd hierarchy. Yes, I do. I think they're going to be a lot better than people think they are. You know, it's funny that because. because they got so white hot with McVeigh and Boy Wonder and Super Bowl that because they didn't follow it up, we just crushed them.

No, crush Atlanta. They went from the Super Bowl to a mess. Rams in the best division in football were nine and seven, close to 10 and six. And considering the injuries, they were fine. They were in the playoff race late. It's really, really hard to get to the Super Bowl. It's also because it's so hard to get to the Super Bowl, it's hard to get back to the Super Bowl. That's why it's a big deal to win a Super Bowl.

He's 71.2 million at signing is also the largest guarantee ever for a defensive back. So he's happy at the bank today. So, you know, I figured I would wear my gentlemanly outfit. It was a gentleman's sweep. You know, you have to be respectful of the MVP and the number one team in the NBA. Very clever. You know, when you excuse them from the playoffs. That's why you wore.

Yes, I thought I would wear my gentleman's outfit today. The bucks are headed home. They lost a series to the heat, four games to one. admittedly as a heat fan, I was, I was tried to be realistic about the situation. I did not think that the heat were going to beat Janus in the bucks because they weren't supposed to be. Most people didn't. But Janus obviously had a major injury, which is unfortunate. You want to beat a team at their best.

Yeah, but they were going to beat them beyond that. Yonis. No, no. I mean, no. The injury was the better team. Yeah, they were the better team up three O. Like the series was over anyway. But Janus is slated to be a free agent in 2021.

and that could change the face of the league if he decides to leave Milwaukee, but he has insisted he won't force his way out. And he was asked if he would consider requesting a trade with one year left on his contract. Giannis told Chris Haynes, it's not happening. That's not happening. Some see a wall and go in another direction. I plow through it. We just have to get better as a team individually and get right back at it next season.

I like the quote. I think it's a great quote. I don't know if I do that, but I do think it's a, you know. It's a great quote. It's a bit strong. It is. Considering you just lost, what else were you going to? to say. No, of course. He's not going to get out there and be like, I'm leaving. I'm asking for a

trade tomorrow. And we're going to ask those questions after these series. Like Chris has to ask that question. But Janus going that far. Like if you end up leaving, it's like that those are one of those, that's one of those quotes that's like people are going to pull up and who cares, right? If you leave, it doesn't really matter. But it is a bit strong. He's eligible for a Supermax extension this off season. It's the second straight season that the Bucks have entered the postseason with the NBA's best record and failed to advance to the NBA finals. I'm kind of getting over being told, I have to respect Milwaukee. I'm kind of over it.

By the way, Miami and Boston have better young players than Milwaukee. So I'm over hearing about the Bucks. No, the Bucks are the new old Raptors. If that makes sense. The Bucs are the Raptors before Kauai. Or the Sacramento Kings and the Lakers kept beating them. Like I get, you get a couple years to tell me you're going to be the next great thing. Well, then be the next great thing.

I'm over it. No, you have the opportunity to compete and prove everyone that you're the best. And this is, that's, that's an unacceptable end to the season for the Bucks. If they didn't win the finals, it was really unacceptable considering everything that we've been talking about with the Bucks and Yonis this year. But that getting, getting a gentleman sweep in the second rounds, you didn't even make it to the Eastern Conference finals. Thank you. He's, Yonis is getting. he feels similar to me to how KD was in OKC.

He's getting a little bit of a pass because he's great and he's super likable, but eventually he's either going to slip off into a category of a great player with a nice team that we all have respect for. It's a dignified franchise, but we don't talk about you in the actual conversation for a contender.

And congrats, you've had a nice career. Thank you for entertaining us. You're a great player, but we are not putting you in the category of the best in the league. Thank you. And that's your, that's, you can absolutely choose to do that. And I won't hold it against you, but there's just, there's different ways that you're covered.

And there's different ways that fans respect you because if you're competing for a championship, you have to go out there and win it. Like, you have the opportunity like everyone else to do that. He's not winning playoff series in the East. LeBron's winning him in the West and the East. And that's all, that's all anyone could say about LeBron. Oh, what's doing it in the East? West. He's walking to the finals in the East.

Oh, the heat. They're just blowing through the East. It doesn't mean anything. It's the East. Well, He's out west. Yeah. Finally, Billy Donovan and the Thunder have mutually agreed to part ways.

In each of Donovan's five seasons as head coach, the Thunder had a winning record and made it to the playoffs. He won more than 60% of his games as the team's head coach. Yeah. And was voted co-coach of the year this season by all of his fellow MBA coaches. Yeah. When you're fellow, when your people in your industry are like, that's the guy, maybe you're pretty good.

They had an incredible season. Unbelievable. We thought Chris Paul was shot. We thought they were tanking. We thought they were a 15-win team. This feels more like Billy Donovan wanted to. I'm hearing. I'm hearing Billy Donovan and maybe somebody around Billy Donovan was like done with OKC.

It feels like that because what are the Thunder doing letting Bill and Donovan go? I would hire him in one second. So reportedly the Bulls and the 76ers are expected to have interest in him as a head coach. The Pelicans and the Pacers are also looking for head coach. The last great college basketball team. he coached. Remember that Florida team that had four NBA guys,

they all came back. So he's the last great college basketball coach that built a mini dynasty, the last great college basketball team this year in the NBA. The process lasted forever. This was supposed to be

the beginning of a tank job. And they had the second or best record in the NBA in December. I mean, it's one of the great coaching jobs in the last half decade. He's had some questions about him.

Yes, Yeah, sure. But I think this year kind of put that to rest. Yeah, he's going to have his, if he wants to continue coaching, which I'm assuming he does, he's going to have his choice of one of these organizations that I'm sure they're all going to go after him. Good stuff, Joy, a gentleman's sweep jacket with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by.

The herd lie news. Well, you know, it's funny. Nick Wright's going to have, you know, I'm not going to be antagonistic. I grew this beard, not because I wanted to, but because. The beard gods said you have so much wisdom. You need. I look like and feel like Hemingway. It wasn't even my choice.

They just kept coming out of my face because it's wisdom. This is gray as wisdom. And let's go to Nick Wright brought you my Mercedes-Benz the best or nothing. You notice his beard doesn't have gray. Anywho. Because I'm a lot younger than you. I don't know if it's wisdom. All right.

Let's start with this. Something like that. Okay. At some point, people can bang on LeBron, but he is always engaged. People have bad nights. MJ had bad nights. Magic was called Tragic Johnson for a series. But when you're disengaged in big moments regularly, how do you explain Hardin last night? What am I supposed to say about James Harden last night? Fourth quarter, three meaningful shots? Game of the year? Yeah, I mean, to me, the takeaway last night, I was very surprised to see this was your response to last night. The takeaway last night to me wasn't about Hardin what he did or didn't do. I mean, he nearly had another 30-point triple double.

I thought it was just a massive missed opportunity for the Rockets. Russell Westbrook had one of the best playoff games he's had in years. Literally, look it up. It's just the second time since Durant Lass. left that he was over 50% from the field in a playoff game. The Rockets had 40% of the threes and they lost. Like, they have to win either game two when they hit 22 threes or last night. Yep.

When Russ and Hardin, I thought both played well. And I thought this was Lakers in seven. Now it looks like it's going to be quicker than that. But I think what is happening to Harden, listen, bang on Hardin for game seven against OKC. That's totally fair. What's happening to Harden is he's going to lower. look like a lesser player when he's on the court next to the guy who would make every player in the history of the league look like a lesser player. I mean, LeBron set the all-time record

for playoff wins last night, and it's not even a headline over Rondo's 20 and 9 because we've become so spoiled to it. He was, he had the most first half points, Colin. He's had in a playoff game since the biggest game of his career. One Joy remembers very fondly, game six in Boston 2012. And then he responded to that in the second half by responding to the folks who snubbed him from the all defensive team by putting on his own personal block party. Like, I think Hardin looks bad because he's in the shadow of LeBron more so than he wasn't fully engaged last night. I mean, he's one of the six best players alive. He just happens to be going up against the greatest player ever to live.

All right. All right. So I'm a patient, man, but I do get tired of when, you know, it's like, okay, you got to watch Milwaukee. And I'm like, no, I think I have to watch Boston and Miami because I like their coaches and I like their young players more. And Milwaukee's not that young. Like, Nick, I'm over, Janice.

He's a great kid. I'm over Milwaukee. Like, I would leave. Is that nuts? Oh, it's not nuts. Listen, Janice did something, I think, a little dangerous last night, which is, he certainly made it seem as if Milwaukee offers him that supermax this summer, he's signing it. And I'm not encouraging Janus to leave, but I'm also not encouraging him to sign it a year before he has to.

They're going to offer him that next summer as well. And if I'm Janice, I want to see if Bud learns and if Bud's going to be the coach next year, if the team can trade for Chris Paul, what they can do. Because listen, he obviously needs to improve his mid-refer. range and half court game. There's no denying that. But he's also a two-time MVP for a reason, even if obviously LeBron should have won this year's, even though now we're just reminded again in the playoffs. Like, remember the moment, and I'll finish the answer to a second. But there's a great moment in December when the Bucks are playing the Lakers and Janus had a great play, fourth quarter,

and he mimes putting the crown on his head. And he said, I wear this now. They should run that side by side with him receiving his MVP via Zoom from Milwaukee while LeBron's en route to title number four. But that's neither here nor there. If I were Yonis, I would wait to make my decision. I wouldn't demand a trade. I'd play one more year than C because three teams are going to be after him with the cap space to do it a year from now. Miami, Toronto, Dallas. What do all three of those teams have in common? A coach who's won a championship. Spolstra, Nurse Carlisle. And maybe Miami was the better team, but what Bud's lack of adjustments and Bud playing

Janus 35 minutes a game before he got hurt was indefensible. So if I were Janice, I'd be a little frustrated right now. Yeah. Let's go to the NFL. It's very interesting. You have been always not a cynic, but very critical of DAC. You've never wavered on this. It is a quarterback league.

And that's why Kansas City is great. And that's why Baltimore is going to be great. And why Seattle's almost always great. You have to be great at quarterback. And why New England now won't be as good, Brady's gone, right? So you have the Cowboys, despite your criticism of DAC, as the number one seed in the NFC, as the offensive line ages, as Zee gets slower every year, as they still have a Cub Scout as offensive coordinator in his third total year of coaching, and their schedules no day at the beach.

Explain yourself with this Dallas. number one seed stuff. Well, I'll take it a step further. I'm not certain if I have them as the number one seed. I do have them going to the Super Bowl. Oh my God. I think they're going to win the NFC. I don't know.

And so, and here's the rationale for it, Colin. You look at the other, so the NFC is very, very deep. What the Cowboys have going for them is all the other contenders have another contender to deal within their own division except for Dallas. San Francisco has Seattle. The Saints have your beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Packers, a lot of folks believe the Vikings are going to be excellent, particularly with the addition of Yonnik and Gokwe.

The Cowboys have two truly awful teams in Washington and the Giants, and then a team in Philly who's been snake bitten by injuries, and shockingly, season having started, they're snake bitten by injuries again. So that, plus the fact that last year, with competent coaching, I think they're an 11-win team. They have some close game regression back towards the mean after losing almost all their close games last year. I don't think you have to have the top five in the league quarterback play to make the Super Bowl. We just saw Jimmy Garoppolo make it.

And so with Zeke, with that front four, I think they might add Earl Thomas at some point, and that's the biggest weakness on the team. I think the Cowboys win the conference this year. It's very odd because you'd been high on deck. I was low. Now you've left. You've growing a beard. I'm going to have to shave mine. It's a lot of weird stuff's going on here.

You know, it's funny. I was talking yesterday, I think, with joy about this, and I said, I feel like Lamar Jackson could get better. But I do feel I'm seeing this is what Lamar is. Escapeability, work ethic. I've seen the ceiling. And I think that he can make, there can be improvements. But this is why I feel I see. With Mahomes, it's different.

He was 11th in completion percentage. seventh and pass her rating and acknowledge, I just figured out how to read a defense. I do feel like we lump them together. And I know you love Kansas City, but it's funny because I think sometimes we forget. Kansas City was a really interesting story last year. Trailed in all the playoff games. Defense was kind of a mess until about week 11. I actually think Baltimore will be better this year, but I know exactly what Lamar and they are.

I think Kansas City's got another gear. I'm just not sure if they hit it in that tough division. Your thoughts on that basic commentary. Yeah, well, so I disagree. It's a tough division. I know that you filed adoption paperwork for Drew Locke. I'll never totally understand that, but maybe you can explain it to me off the air.

But I think other than that, you nailed it. I mean, here, and I'm going to add another level to it. And I think you see this across sports. guys who win a championship early, what it frees them to be. Like, why was Kobe Bryant so fearless at the end of games? I would argue it was because he was never tarred with can't win a title because he won one at 20 years old with Shaq. Yeah.

I think Tom, why was Tom Brady so much better than Peyton Manning for the bulk of their career in the most critical moments? Because Brady was free-rolling the whole way. There was never actual pressure on him. Manning was the number one pick who all of a sudden faltered in the biggest moments early, and then you could feel that pressure building on him. The fact that Mahomes knows he's a fully minted, made man forever, and Lamar knows the exact opposite, which is no matter how brilliant I am,

if Colin Gower's right and we go 16 and 0, no one is going to care. It's going to come down to 12 passes if I make or don't make. in the playoffs this year. Mahomes can play with none of that pressure. And last year, he was banged up all year. And last year, Tyree Kill missed time. And last year, the left tackle missed time. And so for my money, I know you have a team going undefeated in the AFC. I think you happen to have the wrong team. Now, I wouldn't pick either of them to go undefeated. But yeah, I think the Chiefs have another gear to get to. And I would expect them to be least affected alongside Baltimore by no preseason, no off season, because same coaching staff, same coordinators, same players for the most

part, just run it back. That's probably your best take you've ever been on the show. That's a great take that when you win early, you don't, there's no pressure. It just, you have the confidence. You're just playing. The beard inspired me. Yeah. Well, this is inspiring a lot of stuff too. Not all of it good. It's good, good seeing you, Nick. I'll see you later, man. All right, Nick, right. Coming up next, I'm going to make my, I get two more days to make changes. I got a couple NFL changes with my predictions. You know, and you people will probably go back to the first one I made months ago on Twitter. These count. These changes count, okay? Amendments coming up. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific.

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 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,

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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. Thank you for finishing that sentence. 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 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. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games.

And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking. Trip Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing.

And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different. bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person.

Join me, Keer Gaines, is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast. Learn the hard way. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the hard way and listen now. See you the check engine light come on. Freaks everybody out. Anxiety coverage from Carsield. Though ends that anxiety.carshield.com code heard save 10% deductible may apply. The code is H. ERD. It's great to have you in. So tomorrow night, the NFL starts, Patrick Mahomes, the Super Bowl winning Kansas City Chiefs, take on to Sean Watson and the Houston Texans, two of the top, you know, six or seven quarterbacks in the NFL. It is very strange. We did not have a preseason. It's just got a weird feeling to it. It's just hard to believe that Tom Brady will be playing Drew Brees on Sunday here on Fox. I think, I don't know what the ratings will be like. It won't be about end racism in the end zone. It'll be, we're all out of sorts. here. There have been days. I forget there's NBA playoff games. It's September. So I think all of us, I'm a sportscaster, and there have been literally, I mean, I had like last night's prime example, I'm like, oh, come on. This is not, I got to watch an NBA game tonight. Not gotta, but it's,

it's on. So I don't think that many people are even talking about the NFL right now. So I make NFL predictions. I think I make my first ones after I wait for free, I wait for the season end, coaches get fired, free agency, NFL draft. and then I make a prediction. And then I wait for, you know, injuries, preseason, then I make another prediction. Well, it didn't have preseason. But we have had some players opt out.

We have had injuries. Not many. Cross your fingers. Not many. So I put out my NFL predictions. Now I'm going to make a couple of amendments. So AFC North, I had the Ravens going 50, 16 and 0. Let's make it 15 and 1.

They could rest starters at the end of it. I mean, there's a very good shot that if it's a veteran team, they could rest people in week 17. they also play Kansas City. 16 and no. I still think they'll be the dominant team in the NFL. I still have them winning the Super Bowl. But I don't give myself any wiggle room.

What if they lose to Kansas City early? I got to give myself a little wiggle room. It makes no sense. So 15 and 1. I'm also in the AFC South. I'm going to move the Titans up from 8 and 8 to 9 and 7. I do think Brable's a good coach. I think the Clownie is very good against the run.

And I thought a lot about this. I went and looked at their schedule. It's very beneficial early. Denver now has no Vaughn Miller and no right tackle. That's a winnable game against the young quarterback. They get Jacksonville's tanking and then a bunch of home games. Pittsburgh at home, Buffalo at home, Houston at home, Bears at home, Colts at home. I got to be honest, until mid-November, there's like six home games.

And I'm like, you know what? They could go in a little run here. So I think I had the chargers going into the playoffs at 8 and 8. The Titans are now 9 and 7. I have them as a playoff. team. So I have the Bills, Ravens, Colts, Chiefs, still winning their division. Boy, I don't feel great about the Broncos this morning. I may move off that one. Broncos a wildcard team. Browns I feel good about as a wild card team. I'm going to put the Titans in

as a wildcard team. For the record, they finish 9 and 7 every year. So it's not a big gamble by me. But I do think Clowny. I look at their, just so many home games until mid-November. I'm going to go 9 and 7. All right. Here's my other change today. And let's go with this. I'm going to go, I'm going to take one win away from the Packers and give it to the Lions. So I had the Packers at 11 and 5. I'm going to have Minnesota winning it outright. Now, they were 13 and 3 last year.

Everybody's bailed on Green Bay. I'm just pulling back a game. And here's where it is. Boy, their first two months they face. And you can say what you want about Kirk Cousins. He's certainly capable. Kirk Cousins, Matt Stafford, Drew Brees, Matt Ryan, Tom Brady, Deshaun Warrie, Kurt Cousins, Jimmy Garoppolo, more than half on the road.

That is a rough, rough early schedule. Now, I think they're going to win a lot of those games. It does lighten up later. But saying it lightens up, they still have to go to Indianapolis. They still play Philadelphia. They got to go to Detroit. They play Tennessee. Those are not gimmies for a team that sometimes Green Bay in the last couple years

gets pushed around when they play teams like Philadelphia, when they play physical teams like Tennessee, Indianapolis's offensive line, we've seen Green Bay get pushed around in games like that. So I still think Green Bay now, so the playoffs, it's not changing anything in the playoffs. Eagles, Vikings, Saints, 49ers win their divisions,

Packers, Bucks, Seahawks. You know, it's funny. I think the NFC is so much better than the AFC. I really feel strongly about my NFC picks. Outside of Kansas City, Baltimore, it's a lot of guessing. I, you know, do I trust Cleveland? I'm kind of trusting them.

I don't know what I'm getting from Pittsburgh. I'm kind of down on Houston's nonsense. I kind of like Indianapolis, but Philip Rivers moves like a batting cage. There's a lot of stuff in the AFC. I can't get my arms around. We had no preseason. I want to watch it. NFC, I like my picks.

I don't have any problem with it. I don't see a lot of dark horses. I just think there's too many good coaches. too many good teams, too many good quarterbacks that are going to win a bunch of games in the NFC. I think NFC is better and much more predictable. Boost, healthy testosterone levels, burn fat. Go to MDrive, boost, and burn,

and check it out at MDrive for Men.com. Walgreens has it, too, ride aid, vitamin shop. Mark Schleris stops by, top of next hour. Vaughn Miller out for the year. Bad news for the Broncos. It's the hurt. 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. 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 I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Look Back at a podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 is big to me I'm Sam Jay And I'm Alex English

Each episode We pick a year unpack what went down And try to make sense Of how we survived it With our friends Fellow comedians And favorite authors

Like Mark Lamont Hill On the 80s It was a wild year I don't think There's a more important year for black people Listen to look back at it On the IHeart Radio

app, Apple Podcasts Or wherever you get your podcasts A win is a win A win A win I don't care what you're saying Yep, that's me, Cliford 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, unfills of 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 Tickford. Podcast Network on TikTok.

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