The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 1 - Lakers Streak Snapped

Episode Date: March 24, 2026

Colin Cowherd explains why people need to give presumptive first overall pick Fernando Mendoza more respect as we enter smokescreen season in the NFL Draft, his thoughts on what the Lakers loss to the Pistons last night means as the NBA season enters it's final stretch, why there are probably many good reasons why George Pickens won't get the same money as Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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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 crying. You just understood.

That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis'clock, he's like, you know, I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the, iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Every family has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life? That is not the look of an innocent man. Is everyone lying to me about who they are? I felt such desperation. I felt it was what I had to do. Listen to deep cover the family man on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts. or wherever you get your podcasts.

Here's something that should not be as complicated as it is, getting a racist statue removed. And here's something that should be a whole lot easier than it is, getting a new one put up in its place. I'm Akela Hughes, and Rebel Spirit Season 2 is about both of those things. As I was watching these statues come down, I was thinking about what it meant that I grew up in a majority black city

in which there were more homages to enslavers than there were to enslave people. Listen to Rebel Spirit Season 2 on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to The Herd Podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio and noon to 3 Eastern, 9 a.m. to noon Pacific.

Find your local station for the herd at foxportsredio.com or stream us live every day on the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Here we go. It is a Tuesday. We're live in Chicago. It's the Herd. wherever you may be.

And however, you may be watching or listening, thanks for making us part of your day. Nick Wright stops by as is customary on Tuesday. Good to have you in. So we have officially entered the silly season. We're about a month out from the NFL draft. And one of the more popular personalities at the other place came out yesterday.

and a lot of the media just, you can just reel them right in. Ty Simpson is better than Fernando Mendoza. He should be going number one to the Raiders. Oh, boy. All right. Ty Simpson had 15 college starts, and the more film defensive coordinators got on him, the worse he got.

Fernando Mendo Mendoza had 35 college starts. And the more film people got on him, the better he got. So we're one month away. There's been no football since the end of the season. It's time to nitpick the number one pick. At no time during the season, late in the season when they were both playing, good teams, nobody thought Ty Simpson is better than Fernando Mendoza. What we thought is, what the hell happened to this guy?

He was pretty good early. If you go to their last six starts between the two teams, Mendoza completed almost 75% of his throws. And that includes that Ohio State defense, that Miami defense, Ty Simpson's last six games with Kailin DeBore, an excellent offensive coach, with the elite wide receivers, he barely completed 60% of his throw, 7 TDs 4 picks.

So I don't even think Mendoza is a hard evaluation. Think combine Matt Ryan if he was bigger, stronger, and a little bit more mobility. So like Matt Ryan and some Daniel Jones. Now, he's bigger, stronger with a better arm than Matt Ryan, bigger, thicker, stronger. And he's much more accurate than Daniel Jones. Think of Andrew Luck in terms of aggressiveness, loves to throw the ball down the field and accurate. it. So I don't think it's that difficult to comp. I think there are quarterbacks coming out of college that are really difficult evaluations. Dak Prescott. There's a reason he went in the fourth round. His mechanics weren't good. He didn't have a great arm. He was kind of athletic, not super athletic.

You know, his accuracy ball placement was very streaky. That was a hard evaluation. Russell Wilson, even his college coach at North Carolina State benched him. I'm going to go with Mike Glennon. He was shrimpy. I didn't know if he could see over the line. You had to roll him out. He was small. And Wisconsin had a huge offensive line. You're like, hey, you run around a lot. I don't know if this really works. Well, he ended up being really, really good. Okay. And Dak Prescott came into the league where the Cowboys had the best offensive line in football easily at the time and Zeeke. So that helped. And by the way, Russell Wilson came into the league and he had the Seattle defense and Marshawn Lynch. So both got some help. Those were hard quarterback evaluations, really hard.

Dak Prescott, Russell Wilson. I never thought Dak would be this good. I didn't think Russell Wilson would be that good in his prime. I don't think Fernando Mendoza is that tough of an evaluation. I think he's a thicker, better arm, stronger Matt Ryan. He's got that deceptive mobility of Daniel Jones, but he's a much better accurate ball placement quarterback. And he's aggressive like Andrew Locke, but not as talented.

He's not as talented as Andrew Locke. and like Justin Herbert, he can be a little stiff at times. But I, this is a, Matt Ryan was a B plus prospect, A minus. Daniel Jones was a C, C plus. I mean, DAC was like C minus D. So there are surprises. But Ty Simpson, better than Fernando Mendoza. We had Todd McShay on a month ago.

I'm not saying he won't go in the first round. I have predicted he will. Somebody will reach. And he's better than like, can he pick it? He's got a good arm. He moves pretty well. Well, here's Tog McShay on him. What's the physical trait that's excellent, that's different?

And he doesn't have the physical trait. The other part is the 15 starts, man. It is, it's real. We've talked about it before on this show. Like, there are a couple guys who are superhuman that have 25 starts that are great in the league, Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. He's not that. I put him at 13 in this mock draft.

As of right now, I don't think that that's going to happen, but wait for it. like too many i've been doing this two and a half decades as we get closer without other quarterback someone's going to rise i could see tie winning over a lot of coaches in those meetings yeah i think he'll go in the first round you know good arm moves better than mendoza but 15 starts got worse the more film people got on him i don't even think he's ready to start in the nfl i think he should sit for a year or two mendoza's ready to play okay well um i mean i can go back on vacation if you want Laker fans. I mean, I left.

You were awful defensively. You couldn't beat any good teams. And I leave and you go five and oh against good teams. And your defense, you look like the bad boy Pistons. I come back on vacation and a G-leager. Danis Jenkins had a career high 30 on you last night. The Pistons without Cade Cunningham. And by the way, speaking of G-League,

the Pistons without Cade Cunningham, that's a G-League offense. and the G-Lean, they couldn't stop him. So what does it mean? They lose to Detroit without Cade Cunningham. What does it mean? Not that much, but what does the eight-game regular season, late-season winning streak mean?

Nine games. Not that much. And that's the truth, somewhere in between. It doesn't mean that much. be very careful about regular season late NBA winning streaks. Milwaukee had an eight-game winning streak end of last year. Bounced first round. Lakers had an eight-game winning streak late in the regular season last year.

Bounced. Rolled by Minnesota. It's one of these, I've talked about this for 30-some years. at the end of an NBA season, all of them, you're going to have five teams tanking this year, it may be eight, and you're also, teams kind of know their seeds, they know what they are, a lot of veteran players rest. You know, I've got an ice cream headache.

I'm taking the night off. You know, it's one of those things. So you've got tanking, the good teams are spanking the tankers, and then you've got some stars just taking some time off, getting ready for the playoffs, getting healthy. So you've got to be very careful. Bucks and Lakers on fire. last year late in the regular season meant nothing.

I will say this, though, that Detroit gave you a little bit of blueprint, a little bit of a blueprint on what gives the Lakers trouble. Pistons the last two years are four and O against the Lakers. Why? Because the Pistons are physical and play ugly basketball, and the Lakers are pretty. The Lakers play a beautiful half court. The Lakers and Pistons. I could argue are the opposites.

The Lakers are brilliant in the half-court offense. Aesthetically, optically, beautiful, the passing, the layering. Everybody's an offensive wizard. Detroit's the opposite. Outside of Cade Cunningham, and he didn't play last night, they're tough and rugged and physical, and they're a nightmare in the half-court. They're bad. They can't shoot.

Last night, they shot 43% from threes. They're terrible three-point shooting team. These are the opposite. asked, God, what could the Pistons really need? You'd say a little bit more like the Lakers. And if you asked, what could the Lakers use, it'd be a little bit more of the Pistons. But they gave them a blueprint on how to beat the Lakers. Why? What did they do last night? They hunted down Luca. Piston players, and I'm not talking great offensive players. Pistons players shot 60% if Luca guarded them. And Jenkins, the G-leager, shot a hundred

100% when Luca guarded him four for four. So this was a little bit of a blueprint, we've said. Losing of the Pistons doesn't mean much. The nine game winning streak doesn't really mean that much. Late regular season NBA winning streaks. The spurs of won 22 or 24. That's not late season winning streak. That is great.

That is a great basketball. basketball team that this morning I would take San Antonio to win the finals. That's a great team. 22 or 24. That was like the heatles. You know, like year two. It was like, okay,

we're just, we're blowing people out. That's not what a seven or an eight or a nine game NBA late season, regular winning streak is. That's not. So losing didn't mean much last night. The nine gamer, take a deep breath.

Here's JJ Reddick after. I believe that we're a good basketball team. I thought we could be a good basketball team the entire season. We saw flashes of it. We saw short stretches of it, but we're a good basketball team. And I think we have to continue to play together and all that stuff. It is remarkable to me, and again, not an excuse, but our winning streak is also coincided with us being healthy.

We need to finish the season strong, but we also need to finish the season healthy. Yes, and, you know, LeBron's older and Austin Reeves feels like he's been banged up, and Marcus Smart didn't play, and Rui didn't play last night. But either in Cade Cunningham, and the Lakers could not stop a G-leager. So take a deep breath. You know, some teams are just built more ruggedly, just like some people can move to Chicago, and it doesn't bother them. Other people have to live near a warm beach.

So my take is everything's going to be okay, but what the pinnesty. What the Pistons do is not what the Lakers like to face. Four and O against them. They just ugly up the game. They push you around. They hang on you. Detroit is inartistic. But by the way, also the Knicks are a very pretty offensive team with Jalen Brunson and Kat.

The Pistons have had success this year against the Knicks, another team that can play a little bit of finesse basketball. So Detroit gives you a little bit of blueprint of the ugly it up. The Lakers don't like that style of basketball. That's why when the Hedels were great and the Warriors were great, they could play ugly basketball too when you had Draymond Green and Andre Iguodala. The Warriors were beautiful, but they could get ugly really fast. That's the great Michael Jordan's Bulls, Pippen, beautiful offensively.

But Phil Jackson could turn the governor up and they could get choppy and ugly too. Those are the truly great teams. The Lakers have a style they have to play. The Pistons have a style. They have to play. That's why neither one's going to win the championship, but they're both very good at what they do. Really good.

Lakers definitely not winning the championship. You're sure about that? Interesting. I feel like that's a bit of a hot take for an early Tuesday. While you're taking jabs at me, like I'm soft because I can't handle Chicago. The reality is, you're right. Lakers take Detroit not seriously. No Cade Cunningham.

No Marcus Smart. They give up 65 in the first half, but I almost bet them at halftime, Colin. And I almost did. Hey, long road trip. I'll give you this. I'll agree with your take that the winning streak was meaningless if they lose to the tanking Pacers on Wednesday night. Indianapolis had lost 16 in a row before a win last night. They are definitely tanking.

They want the number one pick, AJ DeBonson. I don't know what the line is, but the Lakers will blow out. They should. The Pacers, absolutely. Coming up next, just because JSN got paid, don't tell me that I have to pay George Pickin to the Cowboys. That's next. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Hi, this is Jay. I'm the producer of the Pauli and Tony Fusco show. Usually in these promos, they ask you to listen to the show.

I'm here to ask you, please don't listen to this show. The host are two absolute morons who have the dumbest takes on sports imaginable. Don't listen to this show so it can get canceled. Whoa, what the hell are you doing in our studio? Get him, Paul. Ignore that fool. Napoleon Tony Fusco show on the IHot radio app or wherever you get your podcast. He's still moving. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers. And guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news. 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. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. 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 a call about what we should call it. 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 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. 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,

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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 Rabakina 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. 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. So, just because you pay something for real estate, doesn't mean I have to pay something for real estate. And that's how I feel about the new JSN contract, the star receiver for the Seattle Seahawks.

So I saw a story this morning because he just signed a contract yesterday, $42 million annually for JSN. And it's a lot, right? That's a lot for a wide receiver. And now people are saying, well, George Pickens, you know, George Pickens is going a long-term deal. They're not the same player. Productivity with JSN, Rout Tree, commitment, EQ, reliability, A plus, plus, plus. George Pickens in all of those categories is,

eh, it depends. JSN is what I would call a what is proposition. I would call George Pickens a what if proposition. What if George Pickens doesn't get eight targets? Will he get moody? Will he quit? Will he pout? I like what is.

in the NFL draft, Mendoza, what is an elite quarterback size arm aggressiveness? David Bailey, rush end, what is a plug-and-play defensive end? Carnel Tate, what is a number one receiver? Jeremiah Love, Fano, the tackle from Utah. What is an excellent number one in this class tackle? Arvel Reese is a what-if. What if he goes to the Jets? he's projected to be a pass rusher,

but the coaching staff can't figure it out. Whenever I see teams like Arizona, the Jets, and Cleveland draft, what if employees? Yeah, like, well, what if Cleveland does a Cleveland and can't figure it out?

I want what is. JSN has the potential to be an all-time guy, and it's not just, you know, he's not a huge guy. And add this about JSN, Seattle leads latent games usually, and is running, the ball and he's still more productive

than Pickens. Seattle doesn't even throw the ball that much. 29th in pass attempts. And JSN is still more productive. So he plays on a run first team that often leads games late and is playing conservatively and he's still

much more consistently productive. I like what is employees, not what if employees. And that's what Pickens is. They're not the same guy, Hasselbeck yesterday on JSN's deal. If you're going to pay a guy, if you're going to pay him, you know, making him the highest paid player at his position, 100%, you're talking about the elite

talent on the field, but 100%, you're also talking about, is this guy going to change? What's he going to be like once he gets paid? To me, he's top five ever in terms of what he's done at his age in the first three years of his career and I think they're going to get him for the prime of his career. Yeah, to me, I don't care what JSN makes. Pickens is not in the same ballpark. I can't rely on him emotionally. He's moody. He pouts. You know, what if, you know, he's not getting the ball. They roll over coverage. They shut him down in the first half. He goes in at the break. He comes out and he's just not in the mood to play. I've seen that in Pittsburgh

and I've seen that in Dallas. And he's talented. A lot of talented guys. All you need to know, Seattle moved off D.K. Metcalf. And D.K. Metcalfe is really talented. They moved off him, knowing in the building, your JSNs better. And he is. J. Mack with the news.

No, no, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Well, let's start with the NBA. Yesterday we talked about the Celtics losing a one to the Timberwolves. The Lakers lost a bad one last night. Colin, the Houston Rockets lost a really bad one last night. They got an unbelievable game from KV who had 40. Shen Goon had a triple double and the rockets lose to the Bulls, the tanking Bulls. Ima Udocha got two technical fouls was tossed and he was heated afterward. Take a listen. We respect the game and or the opponent and

the only way they score 41 is if we're playing the way we did on both sides. And so Turn the ball over. They've shot seven for nine threes, and the closeouts were aggressive into the bodies. Just made them too comfortable. Flavorant soft as hell is nothing. And then the techs were soft too. I'm not about to complain about a soft crew. So it is what it is.

They'll get fine for that. Listen, that's a frustrated coach, Colin. The rockets are going through it. They're down bad right now, as the kids like to say. They can't do anything right. Kevin Durant is scoring, but they're not winning. Shengoon had an amazing game and they give up a buck 32 to your Chicago Bulls. I'm surprised you were not in the building last night, big guy.

Yeah, I can watch it on TV. You know, I don't think we think right now San Antonio and Oklahoma City are notches above everybody else in the West. So how it ends, how it plays out. I mean, Durant is remarkable and he's on a little bit of a heater, but I think Houston has limitations. I think everybody knows it. limitations. Yeah, the kid, Boozellis for the Bulls last night, the young kid, you got to go watch him in person, dude. That guy looks like an awesome player. He had 23 points, basically going head to head with everybody huge to good throw at him. That's a tough one for the

Rockets. Lakers need to face the Rockets in the first round. That's their best matchup for sure. They'll roll him. All right, let's move to the NFL where the Niners and Trent Williams are attempting to progress on a contract. Not looking great. Not looking awful, though. Williams has a cap number of 47 million after the team declined to exercise his $10 million roster bonus last week. I'd be pretty ticked if I didn't get a $10 million bonus. Kyle Shanahan remains confident, though, a deal will get done. Any updates on the Trent Williams situation at all? No updates for me.

I actually stay pretty much out of that. I know John and everyone's working hard to do that. I believe they'll get that done. We love Trent too much. and, you know, eventually that'll work out. Yeah, that's basically a no comment. Get me out of here. I don't want to talk about that.

I mean, listen, Trent Williams is a veteran. He's late 30. He's still great. They're not going to, they're not going to screw this up. Without him, look at how bad they are, Colin. Especially when you have a smaller quarterback who gets dinged up a lot. You love to get that. Nobody throws in adjectives of Brock Purdy like you do.

Every single time, a smaller quarterback. No quarterback can survive without their left tackle. Yeah. The Niners will get this done. I don't think this is a huge deal, but I would be ticked if I didn't get that $10 million roster bonus. Well, he was the, you know, I mean, Trent was the top three tackle last year. Also, position matters. The Seahawks let a lot of guys go.

You know who they didn't? JSN and Charles Cross their left tackle. I mean, you've got to sign your left tackles in this sport. There's about six great ones, six other really good ones. Denver Bowls, really, really elite. Trent Williams Elite. I don't know if Charles Cross is in that class, but he's really good. So he'll get signed.

Final story is, we've done a good job avoiding this guy, Aaron Rogers, Colin. But when Mike McCarthy of the Steelers actually talks about him, I guess we got to chime in. So McCarthy was talking over the weekend and was asked about a potential reunion with Aaron Rogers. It'd be a great story. I don't know. and I would love to tell everybody right here. This is breaking news. But, you know, it's really, it's really cool to see Aaron at 42.

You see, you know, a young man at 22 and, you know, all that he's been, you know, all of what he's been able to accomplish and, you know, where he's at in his personal life and, you know, and trying to make this decision. So he's in a really good place, but I think he's in a really good place. Yeah, March, April and May is over the last three to four years, March, April, and may have become, what's Aaron Rogers going to do? And so I'm kind of done playing it. Good. I think he was very good last year, much better than the critics want to say.

He didn't throw a lot downfield because he had a very weak receiving core, especially last couple of games when D.K. Matcalf couldn't play. But I think this is one of those things where, you know, Brady and his prime would go down to Costa Rica and take his receivers and footballs and work on it. and Aaron disappears. So I think at this point, if Pittsburgh had their next quarterback, they'd move on. They don't. They'd put themselves in this position. So, you know, you've got to play this dance with Aaron. And for the record, Aaron does this every year.

So I have no sympathy for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Aaron's been doing this for four years. And this is what he does. It doesn't bother me because everybody knows it's what he does. It'd be one thing if he'd been totally committed forever and then he just like, no-show. Garoppolo did that, I was told one year in San Francisco where Jimmy just left. Nobody could get a hold of Garapolo. That would disappoint me, right?

Like if I'm used to seeing you in the off season, but Aaron does this. It's in right of passage. It's what he does. So let me ask, why do you think he does this? For the attention? No, I think I've got all. You think he's actually thinking, look, I don't know. Let me take three months and figure it out.

Aaron's, you know, we talked about Kevin Durant yesterday that I kind of appreciate that he's a different cat. There's more than one way to be a great player. There's more than one personality to be a quarterback. And Aaron's not, he doesn't have the off-season intensity, obsessiveness of Brady. He doesn't have the in-season intensity, kind of rigidity of Peyton Manning, where he's just like Saturdays I want to practice. Aaron's kind of his own guy, super talented, does his own thing. I'm comfortable with it because everybody in the world, at this point,

if you're struggling with Aaron's sort of M.O., that's your problem. He's totally up front about it. I'll see you guys in June. Interesting. So maybe in August I'm going to pull a stunt like this. I'm just going to start ghosting you. And you know, you're cool with it. You're cool with Rogers.

I'll just keep you like, who's going to be your wingman this fall? Give that a try. See how it works out. You got a Will Howard waiting in the wings? J-Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. Thanks for stopping by. The herd line news.

So I think this is, this is interesting. So, you know, everybody knows I was tough on Baker Mayfield. But I've said he's a very nice guy. There was the incident in Manhattan Beach. He was with his wife. And there was a really strange incident. And he was a really nice guy. I think he's a really nice guy.

I thought he was too cocky coming out of college. I told you I thought Sam Darnall was better. I think we all know today. Sam Darnold's really good. So was Baker. But we forget this. Even at quarterback, it's a value proposition. Okay, the last four highest paid quarterbacks in the NFL, four straight years have missed the playoffs.

Okay. So I saw a story today as Baker is due a new contract. Okay. What makes Baker so appealing now is not his size. He's 6'1. Or is athleticism? or is resume one playoff win. What makes Baker Mayfield appealing is $33 million for a above average NFL quarterback.

That's appealing. Baker Mayfield at 48 is not appealing to me. Give me a six-pack of Diet Coke for five bucks. That's appealing. You charge me 28. I'm buying a bottle of Prosecco. Okay, 33 million for Baker. That is, I think that is one of the better deals in the league.

Sam Darnold for 35, maybe the best deal in the league, because I think he's a bigger, stronger, more athletic Baker. But you start talking new contract. I mean, it's, you know, $5 footlong at Subway, I had a lot of those. $13, I'll pass. Right? So we think you've got to get value on everybody except the quarterback. No, Josh Allen at 60 million has no pro bowlers on defense.

And Mahomes near 60 million has no run game. And they're getting really old. And they had to get rid of Trent McDuffie. So, you know, Baker Mayfield last year was, it was not bad. But he's a little coordinator dependent. Josh Allen's good regardless of coordinator. Mahomes is good, regardless of coordinator. I think Justin Herbert is good.

Joe Burrow is good, regardless of coordinator. Baker Mayfield was much better with Liam Cohen and Dave Canales than last year. He's a little quarter coordinator reliant. Now, we've said this about Nick Seriani. And I don't like this at all. When a head coach is coordinator dependent, get a little. new head coach. I'm not going to, you don't have to get rid of your quarterback. I think Jalen Hertz is another guy. Jalen Hertz is very reliant on who's the coordinator. He's not an all-time

talent. Either is Baker. Baker with Liam Cohen is a baller. Baker last year, 10th and passing yards, you know, a handful of game winning drives. I like that. He's got a good chip on his shoulder. He's good late in games. But, you know, the whole Baker, Robert, Mays from the Athletic was on our show recently talking about a new Baker deal. Let's go back like two or three years to when Baker Mayfield was just out there on the street. Baker Mayfield signed a one year four million dollar deal to be the buck starting quarterback. And then when he succeeds, you see it start to creep up. All right, Dernold's 10 million.

Daniel Jones is 15 million. Justin Fields is now 20 million. And so the idea that you could have gotten Baker for four million bucks three years ago. And now Malik Willis is going to make 30 million. a year in free agency. It just shows you how fast things change. Yeah, and I say this, and I love Sam Darnold. I'm comfortable with Sam Darnold at $45 million.

I'm not comfortable at 55. I think Sam, I'm 43, 44, I'm comfortable with Sam. Baker, 36, 37, I'm comfortable. But it's a value proposition with all these guys that aren't named Josh Allen, Herbert, or Patrick Mahomes. The appealing part of Baker, is not the size and the mobility or the resume. That's not it.

It's that he's a good player. And when you get him for 33, I can have two good corners and two good tight ends. And the interior line, I can pay for that too. That's the difference. 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... We're the first people to do podcasts.

Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how did 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. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band. Before Jonas Brothers was... 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 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. 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 SportsLice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slic Life 12

and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. 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. Jenchen 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, Lerna 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. 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.

Saturday night, it's baseball night on Fox. Catch reigning MVP Aaron Judge as he leads the Yankees against the Giants. Or Bobby Witt Jr. and the Royals, take on Ronald Acuna Jr. and the Braves. Baseball Night in America returns Saturday at 7 Eastern on Fox. Check local listings for the game in your area. Yeah, the Athletic came out with their pre-season power rankings, and yes, The Dodgers are one and the Yankees are two, but the Mariners are third. A team from Canada is seventh.

The Brewers are 10th. Orioles small market, Baltimore is 12. Kansas City 13. So yes, big brands and payroll matter. Money matters, of course. But it also illustrates that front offices do as well. The Mariners have half the payroll of the Mets and they were a much better team. last year, and my guess is the Mariners will be a much better team this year.

So it's a little like Silicon Valley. Yes, Navidia and Meta and Apple and Google eat up a lot of the competition, but there's a lot of small companies eaten in the Bay Area as well. Here is the truth about baseball. You've got to spend enough. You can't do a Pirates. I looked this morning. Pirates spend $108 million.

Marlins 86. White Sox 91, A's 118. You got to spend enough in that line. Baseball used to have something called the Mendoza line. I grew up a Mariners fan. Mario Mendoza hit under 200. He had a great glove, the Mendoza line. Well, there's sort of a reasonable commitment line with payroll.

And if you get to about 150, 150, I mean, the Braves won the World Series, years ago, five years ago, 10th biggest payroll. But the small market brewers spent 143 million. The Guardians, 130 million. Tigers, 188, Seattle 194. You got to spend, and they're all billionaires who own this team. All these teams are owned by billionaires. So, you know, people talk about, well, the payroll, nobody questions if payroll matters. But front offices, like the Mariners have an excellent front office. The Tigers finally have their act together upstairs, and you've got to just spend enough. You got to get into $165 million thereabouts. And all these teams, the A's now with a new stadium, will be able to spend that. So it's, you know, I know you're all freaking out.

Yes, the Dodgers are the best. For the record, nobody complained about dynasties. When the Yankees Ted Jeter and Pasada. Well, those guys came from their system. Well, they went and paid for A-Rod. They paid for a lot of big guns. They can go back to the catfish hunter, Reggie Jackson days. The Yankees have always stepped up and paid for the big guns. Here's A.J. Persinski on some of the contenders to go up against the Dodgers this year.

If they're pitching, they figure out pitching the Mets could be good. The Cubs could be good. Again, they're pitching. They get steel back and they run steel. Imanaga, Ty on, that group out there. The Phillies are always going to be the Phillies. The National League is just better to me than the American League is. The Blue Jays game a run for their money, they could do it.

I think the Red Sox with their pitching would be tough. They find enough offense. The Yankees, you know, everyone's down on the Yankees. They were pretty good last year. They won 94 games. So there's challengers for the Dodgers. It just comes down to health. If they're healthy, no one's going to beat them.

Same thing we used to say about the late 90s Yankees. If they're healthy, nobody's probably. going to beat them. So Wemby last night, Spurs are the hottest team in the league. They're the best team in the league right now. And, you know, Wemby last night put up 26, 15, and five blocks, and they blew out the Miami Heat. And, but what I, you know, one of the things I like about Wembe, and we've said this before, if you're, if you're going to be the face of the league, you've got to want to be the face of the league. You've got to have the game and the aura and the commitment to Aunt Edwards has the game.

the look, he doesn't want to be the face of the league. Jason Tatum's got a game, but he didn't have the aura. He's not aggressive. Wemby's got everything. And after the game last night, he talked about being MVP. He's going after it. I have thought about it. I think right now there is a debate, you know, that should be.

Even though I think I should leave the race. And I'm trying to make sure that until the end of the season, there's no debate. So what's, you got to watch the games. You can't just look at stats. Like years ago, Dorel Revis and Dion Sanders were great corners. But they didn't always lead the NFL and interceptions because a lot of quarterbacks would just not throw their way.

So it's like, it's almost like if you ever, you ever go to a club and the bouncer's like 6-6, former NFL guy 280? He doesn't get in a lot of fights. Nobody challenges him. That's Wemby. he leads the NBA in blocks by 39. He would lead by 139 if people challenged him. But Wembe literally, you can't measure his greatness in stats

because he changes the geometry of your offense. Players won't even challenge him inside. And I know it's an offensive league. He's good offensively. Luke is great. But Wemby's, there's an argument, and I'm not sure how long they'll be an argument. argument. He's not only the best defensive player by a long shot now. He may be the best ever.

He may be moving into greatest defensive player ever. And again, like a Dion Sanders, an Ed Reed or a Daryl Revis, a lot of quarterbacks are like not interested. I'm just not throwing to that side of the ball. The big bouncer, like, no thanks. That guy never gets in a lot of fights. A bouncer is five, six, 130, probably gets in a lot of fights. A lot of people are going to challenge him, right? If JMAX's a bouncer, he's going to get a lot of challengers. Okay. But my point with Wembe is he is so great defensively and very, very good offensively. He's not Luca or SGA offensively consistently. He is so great that I think it trumps everything. And the comp I would use is Magic Johnson. Magic was a mediocre defender and couldn't,

he wouldn't have a great jump shot. He had like a set shot. He was so brilliant in transition. I've never to this day, every player NBA history, I've never seen a player in transition that was more magical than Irvin Johnson. Again, he changed the pace. He changed his team. Everybody was great with Irvin. He would take a C player, make him a B player. And I think Wemby just changes the way you have to attack them. I mean, the only thing that he that is even remotely close in terms of a comp is Chet Holmgren. He's not close. He's good, but he's not Wemby.

So, I mean, I was looking at this. Since February 1st, you know, you get to that second half of the NBA season trade deadline, the spurs are first in virtually everything. Wins, point differential, rebounds, points, assists, blocks, net rating. So Wemby, they say, is the greatest prospect since L. but there are things LeBron could do because of his physical genetic makeup that other players just can't do. That's Wembe. There are things Wemby does. LeBron can't do. And like a lot of it's hard work and nobody disputes that. There's a lot of tall people on the earth. But I mean,

I've said this before. When the media comes out and then you hear this, this is the greatest prospect ever. That was Bryce Harper. Well, he's lived up to it. That was Tiger Woods. In his prime, he lived up to it. That was LeBron James. He lived up to it. Peyton Manning was one of the great quarterback football prospects of all time. He lived up to it. Wembe lives up to it. And we're seeing the beginning.

I mean, Wembe leaves the NBA in blocks by 39. He's missed games. And most teams just avoid him. They just, the calculus changes. Like, now, we're just not going to attack the rim. His offensive game can be a, you know, it can be a little inconsistent. If he's not hitting his three sometimes, he's a little off offensively. He's not there yet.

but and and i want to ask nick right at the top of next hour is people are saying well well lucas should be MVP and magic wasn't magic wasn't a great defender either and won the MVP three times but i think when you literally change how an aspect of a sport is viewed i think wemby is so much better than everybody defensively is that he if he's a b plus offensive player to an A-minus, there is no other, he is the standard historically for how to play defense. He's that great. You know, I saw Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in his prime had some of this, absolutely had a lot of this, but he didn't move this well. You know, Wemby's a whole different, a whole different ballgame. So my MVP is Wemby probably do SGA-2, Luka. I'm sorry,

he's a defensive liability. I'm sorry. And I all. the technicals drive me crazy. I'd put Luca third. Wemby SGA Luka. I'll go Luca Wembe SGA. Similar. All right. By the way, speaking of I have never been a bouncer, but I did see this amazing movie

with Patrick Swayze called Roadhouse. And he was a bouncer my size that just wrecked everyone. That's Hollywood. No, I think he's based on a true story. Al Pacino's five, six and a half. He's a tough guy in movies. Okay, let's be honest about

But no, your point about Wemby is a good one because, Colin, I ask you right now, who's the most dominant? Oh, it's Wemby. He's the most dominant. So, okay. So if he's the most dominant and the Spurs, by the way, an untold story, the Spurs tanking for him was absolute genius. Yeah. Why do you see 10 teams tanking now? There's no Wembe in this draft, but seeing in three years, you could go from the bottom of the league to 50-some-odd wins and maybe win the championship, tanking works. Well, I love the tank for Wembe. I think he's dominant.

Yeah, and the other thing is we're in an NBA era. This is, I've said this repeatedly, and I think you have two. You can't Adam Silver's paralyzed by dynasties. Sometimes they happen. Yeah. They're not happening now because as good as Yokic is, he's not, I mean, he's a mediocre defensively. Wembe is not as good as Yokic offensively, but he's so unique, runs the court so well,

he's so dominant defensively. There is a, I would say, a better than 50% bet that if we're going to have a dynasty, it's going to be San Antonio, which for the record has owned Oklahoma City when they've played. They are a matchup nightmare for OKC. So when OKC really struggles to match up, that's all you need to know. So because OKC last year historically, OKC put up some numbers as the greatest defensive team of all time and they can't solve the Wemby riddle. they just can't solve him.

So, you know, that's why I did. Don't waste too much time worrying about dynasties. The NFL doesn't want dynasties. The Patriots had one for 20 years and the chiefs had one for six. Dynasties happen. Hour two next. 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 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. 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 part of you.

You just understand. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis coming to, 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.

Here's something that should not be as complicated as it is, getting a racist statue removed. And here's something that should be a whole lot easier than it is, getting a new one put up in its place. I'm Akila Hughes, and Rebel Spirit Season 2 is about both of those things. As I was watching these statues come down, I was thinking about what it meant that I grew up in a majority black city in which there were more homages to enslavers than there were to enslave people. Listen to Rebel Spirit Season 2 on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every family has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life? That is not the look of an innocent man.

Is everyone lying to me about who they are? I felt such desperation. I felt it was what I had to do. Listen to Deep Cover the Family Man on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.