The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Herd - Hour 1 - Sense of urgency

Episode Date: August 2, 2023

Why there is a sense of urgency in the NFL that most sports can't match Thoughts on Broncos HC Sean Payton's recent comments about Russell Wilson Colin discusses Justin Verlander going back to Houston Colin has some advice for Baker MayfieldSee 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Look Back at it podcast. For 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was 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. 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. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to 3 Eastern, 9 a.m. to noon Pacific.

Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Now let's get this party started. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. All right, here we go on a Wednesday. It is great to have you in live in Los Angeles. It's the Hurt, wherever you may be. And however, you may be watching or listening, thanks for making us part of your day.

J-Mack, sometimes an abundance of stories. All sorts of abundance today. Yeah, literally walking up to the show, I just saw a video of Trayvon Diggs saying something to Dak Prescott at practice, a Dak throwing the football at him. Like something's happening every single day here with the NFL. I love this. I love this, August. Well, we live in a more distracted time than we ever have. Our phones have a lot to do with it.

Go to a restaurant, look around, go to a park, look around. Go anywhere and look around. People are on their phones driving. Look at that car next day on the freeway. Somebody's on their phone. And because of that, when people are distracted, you have to get their attention. Sports, very popular, but it only works in 2023 when you create urgency. We don't watch college basketball.

We do in March. We don't watch soccer. We do it the World Cup. It's what hurts baseball. Shortening the game helps. It helps 7%. Attendance up, ratings up. But there's too many damn games in the season.

The regular season doesn't matter. The Nationals won the World Series in 2019. They didn't get over 500 until June 30th. The Braves won the World Series in 2021. They didn't get over 500 until early August. You don't have to watch the games. That's way past the trading deadline for the Braves. But in football, the first game matters.

Don't think it does. Listen to this stat. Teams that start 0-1, only 25% make the playoffs. If you start 1-0 over half the league, over 50% make the playoffs. And so go look at week one and how vital because of the league's popularity, stories explode. Narratives are formed by week two. Three games really jump out to me as crucial in week one.

Packers at Chicago, Dallas at the Giants, bills at the jets, let's talk Packers at the Bears. We don't know what Jordan Love is. There's not high pressure. They've dominated this division for most of the last 20 years. The pressure's on Justin Fields. If Chicago at home with veteran playmakers and better overall offensive talent now, I would argue, then Green Bay loses. Justin Fields is 5 and 21 as a starter.

Uh-oh, we got the wrong guy. We don't have a guy. Jordan loved the expectations are low. Justin Fields, there's this silly, nonsensical MVP talk. Year three is the time that front offices make a decision. Chicago has to win that game. We don't know what Jordan Love is. We don't know what Justin Fields is, but there is hype everywhere.

They're at home. They have veteran playmakers like DJ Moore. Cole commits getting older, Robert Tonion. Claypool, Chicago has to win, or it gets a little surly by week two. Take Dallas and the New York Giants. Mike McCarthy's taking over play calling. Uh-oh, 7, 12, and 1 last 20 games he calls plays. There's already heat on him.

He's the number one coach on the hot seat topic in the NFL. DAC coming off a high interception year. They play the Giants. Giants, we kind of feel like we're a little ahead of schedule last year. It's still a rebuilding roster if you look at their offensive personnel tied in wide receiver after Saquan. What are they? What if the Giants upset them? week two, Dallas in Trumbull.

How about Buffalo at the Jets? This is the one game, not just the Bears or Dallas with Heat, both are. Very rocky offseason, Stefan Diggs, Buffalo. Can Sean McDermott figure out that offensive line and run game eventually? They added a tight end so they have better personnel, but the division now is as good as it's ever been. And how about Aaron Rogers and the Jets? start look at that New York Jet schedule if they lost a Buffalo.

Then you're at Dallas, New England, Chiefs, Eagles, uh-oh, really ugly, really fast. Remember, only 25% of the teams, 25% that go 0-1 make the playoffs. Jets Buffalo lose the opener. Do you know what teams make the playoffs when they're 0-2? 12%. The NFL has always had. had more urgency than baseball. Duh. But the nation has never been more distracted. It's different now.

Football had more urgency than baseball in the 70s. We still watch baseball. We weren't as distracted. We're not on our phones. You're driving right now listening on radio in America. Look to your left and right. Somebody's looking at their phones driving. That would have sounded absurd 15, 20 years ago. So week one in the NFL matters, matter. a lot, and I think that's the secret sauce to sports and sports success and why the league is pulled away from others. All right, this is interesting.

So words matter. Sean Payton got in trouble last week, not in trouble, but a lot of pushback, because words matter, and he ripped Nathaniel Hackett. He takes another little shot at him yesterday talking about Russell Wilson's growth, but I want

you to listen carefully. And remember, Sean Payton and Drew breeze. Now he's got Russell Wilson. Here he is talking about Russell Wilson. We're really focused on what he's doing within the offense. Obviously, he's moving around well. His weights down. He's in real good shape. He's working really hard. There are a lot of nuances still we're working through. Each day, you know, you kind of look at the film and you start again with the corrections. But I've been pleased with his progress. Each day you start again with the corrections. Did he ever say that about Drew Breeze? People compare Breeze and Russell because they're

shorter, smaller than sort of your prototypical quarterback. But they're totally different players. Breeze was the great pocket passer, super accurate, get the ball out quickly, always made the right read. Sean Payton viewed him as reliable, predictable, and accurate distributor of his genius. very much Montana to Bill Walsh. Accurate, got it out. Quickly made the right read. Perfect for Sean Payton and Bill Walsh. Russell Wilson's different.

He's an ad libber, often prefers the rainbow deep ball, often better out of pocket. He and Drew Brees are not comps. That is not Breeze. And I think it's interesting. Listen to the quotes by Sean Payton. I do not remember Sean Payton ever saying about Drew Breeze. I'm pleased with his progress. You look at film and you start again with the corrections.

So when Sean Payton fired off last week, Aaron Rogers made a point, and maybe he was right of saying, it sounds like he knows it's going to be rough, it's kind of insecure, it's sort of protecting you in case things go awry. Russell Wilson needs to be molded and shaped by Sean Payton. Drew Brees did not.

We often lump quarterbacks based on size. This guy's small, that guy is small. Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson is a reasonable comp. But I can make an argument. Drew Brees is more Kirk Cousins. Sit in the pocket. Don't ad lib. Get the play.

Make the throw. Get it out quick. Now, Breeze is better than cousins. And Russell is much better than Kyler Murray historically. But it is interesting. if you look now, Tim Patrick's gone, KJ Hamler, the shots at Nathaniel Hackett, is Sean Payton seeing or realizing this is different? We had Sean Payton on the couch about six months ago.

He talked about, I asked him, hey, if you went to Denver, what would you do with Russell Wilson? I'd want to cut up of all Russell's past plays of 30 or more yards. from the field and I'd want to see are there some schemes that he felt very comfortable with? Like I know that they did a great job in Seattle of bringing him off of a naked boot. Then I'd want to look at another film of his Red Zone touchdown passes inside the 20. And so what I'm asking for from assistance is I'm asking for some of his greatest hits and to make sure that we have those song lyrics available.

And if not, let's put them in. Now he's missing two receivers, KJ. Hamler, Tim Patrick, Tor and Achilles. And the comments are, if nothing else, interesting. Watch film, nuances, making corrections. Russell Wilson, clearly, for what Sean Payton knows and does, has to be molded and shaped. Not there yet. All right, Jay Mack.

I've got a, I've got, you know, people think I'm anti-Baker Mayfield. I'm going to be his agent today. Also, you know how everybody was freaking out about nobody likes running backs? Yeah. What a shock. Are you ready to zig with me when everybody's zagging? Jonathan Taylor, many teams interested in Jonathan Taylor this morning. Huh, that's funny.

It's funny how if you're great, even in an eroding position or business, you're going to get paid. Suddenly multiple teams are like, yeah, he's young, he's healthy, he's dynamic, he's productive, we're interested in Jonathan Taylor. You know how many rookie quarterbacks

would love to have a running back like that in the backfield? A multi-tool weapon who can catch passes, break off big runs. Healthy. I know Houston has a running back. They sure as heck could use Jonathan Taylor. Damien Pierce, right? He's the kid they got.

They're not. The Falcons have Algier who had a thousand yards. They went and drafted Bijon Robinson. Good point. You know, point taken. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. On Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeard Radio app. 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. 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 a little kill? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast.

I'm Sam Jett. 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 you 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. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years 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.

Well, the New York Mets proving they can screw up almost anything, and they almost screwed up Justin Verlander. But at the baseball trade deadline, the Mets sent Verlander. back to Houston. He spent forever in Detroit was dominant. Even his rookie year, then he went to Houston. He was dominant. He went to the Mets. Shocker, they couldn't get it right. This is a guy that had Tommy John surgery at 37. Most guys pack it in. He won the Cy Young at 39. He's 6'5, 235, 3-0 hitters, an MVP, 3 Cy Youngs. We've got a LeBron story in basketball, a Brady story in football, and we've got the Justin Verlander story in baseball.

Last year, he led baseball in ERA and led the American League in wins. It's remarkable. He was an ace when he broke in with Detroit, won 17 games as a rookie, one rookie of the year. 17 years later, he is still a power pitcher and overpowering, and everybody in this sport now is chasing the Atlanta Braves. So Houston adds an ace or a 1A. his numbers right now in baseball.

He's got a 3-1-E-R-A, four pitches, big-time 95-plus fastball, curve is still elite, off-speed stuff. But we talk a lot about LeBron and Brady, whether it's their emotional or genetic makeup, psychological, nutrition, whatever it is. Verlander is that in baseball. In 2018 and 2019, he led baseball in starts. This is a guy that has literally, I mean,

We're talking Tommy John surgery, Cy Young's, it doesn't matter. So it's a huge, huge pickup for a guy that is just a workhorse. World Series numbers have been okay. Postseason have been good. But he has 47 more wins than anybody else in baseball. And on the trade deadline, it was a bunch of, you know, kind of average guys, little seven hitter here, little upgrade defensively here, little pitching upgrade here, Verlander is the major story going back to Houston.

It looks like the sport is everybody is looking up to the Atlanta Braves. And Verlander remains an odyssey, a physical odyssey. Tom Verduity joins us next hour, and here's Jay Mack with the news. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. We're calling Dallas Cowboys, man, can't stop talking about them. We love these Cowboys. Jerry Jones is never one to shy away from the spotlight.

He was asked about the team's chances at winning the NFC East this season, and he may have gotten some bulletin board material to his rival Eagles. Here's Jerry Jones. I will say that Philadelphia, and if you will give the Giants in Washington team, they need to be on their game because we are. We're going to be on our game and will be improved over last year. I don't want to dismiss how accomplished Philly is, the year they had last year, and where they're starting this year.

I don't want to dismiss that. Giants definitely have a chance to be better. Washington could be really energized. Just us, we are better. By the way, 45 minutes from now at the top of next hour, I'm going to release my almost sure NFL predictions. I have room to wiggle based on injuries to elite players or elevation of rookies who are really good and impactful. But Dallas, you know what? You start looking around at the NFC? Yeah. Is their roster that much worse than Philly?

Now, Philly has better units. But if you're talking top seven or eight players, Dallas is mostly good at the right spot. Star receiver, star edge rusher, competent quarterback, elite offensive linemen. Now they've got good corners. I always say with Dallas, my take is the same for 25 years. They'll be pretty good. But this is a year in which pretty good can end up in the NFC championship. because it's the weakest the NFC has been.

Russell Wilson's now gone. Aaron Rogers is gone. Tom Brady is gone. It is wide open. 100%. Now, is it a little odd that we had two very successful teams last year? One want to playoff game, the other went to the Super Bowl,

and both are now having new offensive coordinators. I mean, you know, Schottenheimer in, Eagles, lose, Siriani? Well, I think... Not Siriani, the offensive coordinator. Shane Steikin. No, I think most people I talk to, around the league, think Philly will be good, but will absolutely pull back.

Schedule was favorable. Schedule is much tougher. And so what happens with Dallas? Dallas is better. I don't know what the Giants will be. They'll be competent because of Brian Dayball. But I do think, I think Dallas, Philadelphia will not be a runaway. Last year, Philadelphia was blowing people out.

They looked like Alabama seven years ago. They were beating NFL teams by 28 and 30. Philadelphia, Dallas is going to be a real battle. Dallas's biggest question is left tackle Tyron Smith is near the end can't give you if he gives you 12 games that to me feel I don't love their tight ends but I think the offensive line still a tad in flux

What about just the offensive dynamic? What are they going to be? McCarthy's now running the show it's not the Callum Moore show anymore I know and McCarthy's history says I'm going to slow it down or run the football I think they're going to be a team the defense is better than the offense. And Pittsburgh's still, a team defense better than the offense. I don't think you're a Super Bowl team doing that.

But it's, I mean, Buffalo's mostly been outside of Josh Allen. The defense personnel is better than the offensive personnel. It's offensive league. Passing league. Yeah. Look at how the bills operate. Look at the chiefs. We'll see, Dallas.

All right, on to the Jets. Nathaniel Hackett took a lot of heat earlier this week after Sean Payton's comments. Went viral. Hackett responded to the criticism yesterday. This is kind of cagey. Listen up. As a coach, you know, as a coach's kid, you know, we live in a glass house. We know that.

We all live in different rooms. We all got a key for it. And it's one of those things that there's a code, there's a way things are done in that house. And, you know, this past week, it's frustrating and it sucks, but we're all susceptible to it. There are things that you do, mistakes you make, and it costs you time on the field, cost you your job, all those things. And I own all that stuff. I mean, it's that fact. I got no excuses. I don't know. He mentions a code.

Well, you know, there's... Is that like a business code? Like, that's not a cool thing to slam a competitor? Or is it a football code you don't tear other coaches to shreds? Well, because coaches are hired to be fired. So there's sort of a sensibility within the league is don't bang on guys. It's hard enough. We have to deal with crazy owners and GMs under the gun and young quarterbacks.

and it's hard to win in this league. So don't throw guys under the bus. I think that's the code. I don't, you know, I'm not a coach. I hear code, I think, of baseball. Like, don't flip the bat. Well, that is. And that's, by the way,

unwritten rule code of baseball. I think generally among coaches, because they make a lot of money, but they get fired very quickly. There's sort of an unwritten rule of code. Don't throw guys under the bus. Everybody knows who's a hack and everybody knows who's great.

You don't need to go public with it. Well, in the NBA, this stuff happens. Guys take shots at people all the time. Not really. Other coaches? I mean, you don't hear Ty Lou calling out coaches or SPO. Everybody's very supportive of everybody. Listen, it's pro sports.

The employee makes more than the boss. So it's a hard, great job. They always say the NBA is the best bad job in America. It's a great job, but it's brutal because the employees are 23 and they make more than you. And they have more influence. and owner's going to stick with an emerging ascending star, not an old coach. So I think there's just an understanding, don't throw guys under the bus. It's not politics where everybody's, that's how you grow is by throwing everybody under the bus.

Step on other people and use them as a ladder. Final story, Peyton Manning spent some time at Packers Camp recently. He's surely pitching Jordan Love on season two of quarterbacks. But he also has some advice for love as he takes over for Aaron Rogers. Here's what Peyton told, or here's what Love had to say about spending time with Peyton Manning. He had a lot of really good gems just in terms of taking notes, how you watch film, you know, when you're at home by yourself, are you writing down questions, things that you can, you know, come back, ask your coaches later, how are you asking to be coached? Like, are you guys that, you know, wants to be coach really hard? Are you guys that kind of just wants to be able to do your own thing?

And it all matters. He said that when he was a player, that was his biggest thing was he wanted to be coached really hard. he always wanted to be told what he was doing wrong and things like that I'm rooting for him sounds a lot like me I want to be coached hard up here I want you riding me if I'm not delivering unfortunately I'm delivering but

quit quit doing so I think Jordan Love would actually be amazing on the Netflix series would he not that scenario well it could be a spectacular failure if you were picking next year's guys no no I want it now well it's too late now they've already got the they already have the Mahomes Mario to no I mean

for this season. That's right. I would say Jordan Love, Aaron Rogers with a Jess. They're not doing that and hard knocks. No way. Okay. So Jordan Love's interesting. So he's your kind of emerging Marioita story.

I would, what's another one? Well, no, we don't know if he's emerging. He could be, for all we know, he could be benched by week seven. How about Matt Stafford? I don't think Stafford's going to do it. That would be my guess. But tell me Jordan Love, like right now you go into the season. You said yesterday five wins, I agree.

But you look at that schedule and the defense, and maybe this is an 11-win team in a division. We don't know. No, no. I know you gave the guarantee yesterday, and we're now in August. They're not winning 11 games. That's not happening. All right, I'm going to tell Wes, social guy, clip that off because, listen,

Seattle Seahawks last year, okay? Five and a half win-win total? I made an idiot of myself with the shaved head thing. They made the playoffs. They were above 500 when nobody, including you thought 500. Weird things happen in this league, man. I'm not sold on the Packers, but for you to say, there's no chance at 11. There's optimism.

Then there's drunk. 11 wins is drunk. That's not going to happen. Nine, if I told a Packer fan today, nine, I bet you half the fan base, the cheese hat guys would sign up for nine wins. Well, wait a sec. Hold on. Nine wins. Then you're like right in that, what, 15 to 20 range for drafting.

And you don't know if you're keeping Jordan Love. They want to pay him. Eight with Aaron Rogers. They're not winning a lot. 11 with Jordan Love. And they got off Rogers. And so what do you do if you win nine games with Jordan Love? I think you want to be good or you want to be bad. So you know what you've got.

No, you want to be good. You don't want to be bad. You want to win 10.11. You don't want to win nine. If you win nine games and Jordan Love's like, are you keeping him? Because you got to remember his deal. If he wins nine, he's your quarterback. And so, okay, so then you've got to pony up. Five, I'm drafting one. You know, it says that I got Christian Watson.

I've got two young potential stars. tight ends, good offensive line, offensive coach, two very good backs, better than average defense. He can't win five games. I would agree. But if he wins nine, you would have to then pay him. Because remember, he's three, this is your four.

So it's like, who can get off the pot time for Packers in love. You look at that schedule. If he win nine games, if he wins nine, that means he's beating some really good teams on the road, I'm going to probably have to pay him. By the way, they didn't pay Aaron Rogers. He sat for three years. So I

My takeaway is if he wins nine, that schedule is not easy. Even at Chicago game is an opener. If he wins that game, that is a huge moment for Jordan Love. I feel like I'm going to stay away from the Packers betting early. What is the line on that game? I'll look it up, but I think the Bears are small. Three and a half point favorites. I think it's like one.

The Packers lines, you could tell Vegas doesn't know either. A lot of them are one, one and a half pick them. I don't know. I don't know. We don't know what the Packers are going to be. I think we think we have. have an idea, but this is going to be a team. Like, I thought we were done with the Packers.

Rogers is gone, I don't know. Maybe they'll be, maybe they'll surprise us here at Fox this season. We could use it. We could use it. J-Mac with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Heard Lye News.

I had said this over the last two weeks. The NFL media was naive and hyperbolic in saying that the running buck market, it was outrageous. This is unbelievable. not paying the running backs. Oh, boy. Reports today, Jonathan Taylor of the Colt is generating all sorts of interest around the league, according to Ian Rappaport, meaning teams would have to pay him big money.

Eventually, they know it and they want him. Another story today, the Raiders are back talking to Josh Jacobs, star young running back like Taylor Young, healthy, productive. There is always a market. Cable TV is slowly eroding. the top people on it still get paid. It doesn't matter what the industry is. Newspapers, cable TV, or running backs.

The best get paid. If they're healthy, independable, and productive. First of all, if I'm the Colts, I do believe that rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson is going to gobble up a lot of Jonathan Taylor's rushing yards. And I think we're pretty weak in the secondary, not great at tight end or wide receipts.

the media's overreaction, I think you could make a deal with New England tomorrow. New England's moving off their tight ends. Gaseki's a one-year deal. Hunter Henry's up. They're not paying huge money to Devante Parker or Juju Smith. I could see New England going and getting him if they want to take the ball out of Mack Jones's hands and win with running and defense and sending their top running back to the Colts, Stevenson.

Because what New England has a boatload of, is corners and safeties. What the Colts need, another corner or safety. So I could see New England saying, we don't have any real elite playmakers. Let's go get one. It does look like they want to run the football when with defense coaching special teams and a controlled offense. You would not sign Juju Smith-Schuster and Devante Parker for three-year deals. Neither one is a massive playmaker, but they can block. They can be like number two's and threes so the team doesn't have a New England a playmaker. Jonathan Taylor is a playmaker.

The Colts have a playmaker. It's called Anthony Richardson. Shane Steichen's been great with young quarterbacks. Herbert. Hertz. Both can move. So I could see them making a move on this. It makes a ton of sense.

The NFL running back market is tighter. It's smaller. It's less lucrative. But great gets paid in every single industry if you're excellent. Josh Jacobs, excellent. Jonathan Taylor, excellent. Saquan Barkley, as I said, don't hold out. Go be great.

Put up another great season. Somebody's going to give you two or three years of guaranteed money. So Jonathan Taylor is on the market. You could go either way. Many believe J. Max says sign him. You got money. You could do that. They're not spending a lot of money on offense.

But I think they needed another corner. They could use another safety. They could use another receiver. They have a young tight end they like. they could use another tight end. I think they're going to get plenty of rush yards out of their quarterback, somewhere probably between 800 and 1,200 yards. They may not need to double down on the run production.

They could go get the Patriots top back. He's a B-back. Taylor's an A. But again, do they need an A-plus running back? Not sure they do. All right. By the way, I thought it was really interesting last week. It was a really smart comment by Travis A-TM.

The running back for Jacksonville was asked about the running back market, and I thought this was perfect. I feel like the market is what the market is. If I don't produce or be productive, I'm not going to even be in that conversation or anybody looking to pay me. Because you definitely see some bads getting paid like Christian McCaffrey. For instance, he catches the ball at the backfield. So I feel like for running back moving forward, you have to versify your game.

You have to just be more than just a downhill bruiser in order to be able to build that level in order to talk that leverage whenever you're going to there with the conversations. ATN, by the way, is a pretty good receiving running back. So I think that's the point. Years ago, if you were a downhill running back, you get paid. Now you've got to be able to catch. You can't be a reluctant blocker. You've got to be able to make people miss.

You've got to be able to do more. It's like any other business. AI is going to shrink some businesses. You're going to have to go to your boss, all of us, and show them we can do more, diversify our abilities. So I thought Travis ATN nailed it. run, catch, block, God, do more, but the market's always there, even in eroding businesses, shrinking businesses for great people. And Jonathan Taylor and Josh Jacobs and Travis A.D.M., really good players.

Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, gang, this is Jay Glazer, host of Unbreakable, a mental health podcast. And each week, we try to help turn our mental health issues into mental wealth. And we dive in with everyone from the world of sports and entertainment like Sean McVeigh, Lindsay Vaughn, Michael Phelph, David Spade, Guy Fiery, and also those who can help us in between the ears, anyone from a therapist to someone like Ed Milet or John Gordon. So each week, listen to Unbreakable with Jay Glazer, a mental health podcast on iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get 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. 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 fourth. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show.

This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be.

Listen to the 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-tapped 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 Jett.

And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we picket 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, a 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 finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah.

For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your Tomorrow it's a special night of baseball on Fox as Alex Breggman in the Astros battle Giancarlo's Danton and the Yankees or the Pirates take on Christian Yellowton. The Brewers got the action tomorrow at the 70s turn on Fox. So I would never want to be an agent because I wouldn't want to deal with high-maintenance TV people. But if I was an agent, it would be fun to be like a pro football player agent, right? you're helping shape kind of the construct of somebody's career.

I'd like to be Baker Mayfield's agent, and I'm going to tell him at 28 years old, retire, save your brand, and go to college football and be an analyst. You'll be able to make seven figures. I think he would be great. I've said this before. He is built for television, outspoken, brash, smart enough guy, and big name. And so big name guys. I just saw a story this morning where Baker, Mayfield and Kyle Trask,

it's a battle to see who'll start at quarterback. It's time to retire. You lead the NFL and interceptions since you entered it. You lead the NFL and interceptions. Forget the fact you were two and eight last year. You're not a franchise quarterback. You've never grown out of the Hutzpah and the tough guy thing. here he is last week talking about the quarterback battle.

I don't need anybody on the outside to tell me what I can and can't do. I know what I'm capable of. Yeah, I mean, I got hurt in Cleveland. That's why my run ended there. And then last year, it was what it was in Carolina. But everything happens for a reason. So I'm here now and I'm ready to go. He's a TV personality.

He's not a franchise guy. And like Tim Tebow or Cam Newton, he's just too relevant to be a backup. He's too relevant. Also remember, Tampa privately wants to lose games. They're not looking to be run by Baker or Kyle Trask. They want to be run by Drake May or Caleb Williams. This is an organization.

Go look at their schedule right now. Go look at their schedule. It's rough early. At Minnesota, L. Chicago at home, Northern team in that heat is a go-either-way game. but Philadelphia, New Orleans, Detroit, those are losses. You are one and four, at best. They're going to start selling pieces at the trade deadline.

They got pieces, they're going to start selling them. By the way, Buffalo at San Francisco, not a lot of Ws early. And so they could, I think with Baker they could win six games. But if you start moving people in pieces before the trade deadline after a one and four start, it's a three to a four win team. that puts you in that upper tier of really bad NFL teams. Two and eight last year, too big of a star to be a backup quarterback, leads the NFL since he entered the league in interceptions.

He's smart enough. He's outspoken. The chip's not going away. He's one of the great college football quarterbacks in the last 20 years of the sport. His word would carry power and gravitas. He would say things that others are afraid to, college football announcers. generally aren't outspoken and harsh, probably time for one. But I think he's too relevant to be a backup.

That chip is never going to leave. Nobody views him as a franchise guy. The L.A. thing was fun. Cleveland for an hour was pretty interesting. Carolina was a mess. This is a roster that is privately probably hoping. They start slowly and move pieces and get into the Caleb Williams or Michael Pennix or Drake May sweepstakes or Quinn Ewer's sweepstakes.

they're looking to upgrade at quarterback. Baker and Kyle are not the future. Not in the best quarterback draft class potentially in like 10 years. So there's where I stand. See, I would be a very good agent, very good. Okay, I'm going to throw something at you. What team last year had holes, but this is where they were great. Offensive head coach, star quarterback, one great weapon, a dominating defensive lineman and a very good young linebacker. And good enough at tackle, left and right tackle.

That's the Kansas City Chiefs. Innovative offensive coach, star quarterback, really one great weapon, good enough at tackle, star defensive lineman, and a very, very good linebacker, Bolton. You know who I'm explaining that this year? The Rams. Star offensive coach with a Super Bowl, star quarterback who threw for 6,000 yards a year and a half ago, star defensive lineman, one star weapon, Cooper Cup,

and a very good, Ernest Jones, very good young linebacker. How are they a five-win team? This idea that you've got to be good, no, you don't. They're young in the secondary. So are the Chiefs. They've only got one notable linebacker. So are the Rams. Edge rushers, young, unproven.

that's what the Chiefs were last year. Now, now, one has a great center, Creed Humphrey, one has a competent center, better than average, Brian Allen. But I'm just throwing it at you. If you look at what's important, there are three things the Rams have that generally mean you're going to win games. It means you're well-run. Three crucial things.

Number one, great coach, great quarterback. Check. They spend their money on the right pieces. They spend their money, quarterback, Cooper Cup, defensive tackle, offensive tackles. Also, they're still elite at head coach, defensive tackle, quarterback, and one weapon. I don't know how people view them as a five-win team. Well, their defense has arguably the best defensive lineman, a very good, very good linebacker in Ernest Jones. They are young all over the backfield.

So are the chiefs. in this league, if you're great at coach offensive, great at quarterback, great D-Linman, great weapon, you don't need multiple weapons, you don't need multiple weapons. Sky Moore was a rookie. Is he great? Juj-Smiths-Schuster. Is he great? Van Jefferson.

Is he great? I don't understand the five-win stuff for the Rams in a division they should beat Arizona twice in the weaker NFC. I'm not being a homer here. I do not understand this five-win-ram talk. McVeigh, Stafford, Cooper Cup, Aaron Donald. Am I crazy on this? I talk about this Cooper Cup yesterday, MRI hamstring, he'll be back. That would be scary.

He goes out, forget it then. That's like taking Travis Kelsey out of the Chiefs, not the same team. But you don't have to be good everywhere. You can be average at safety, linebacker. You don't have to have a star cornerback. They got rid of a corner, sent him to San Francisco. clearly Brett Veach, one of the sharpest GMs, said, you got to spend money on a quarterback, a coach, a weapon, a defensive tackle,

and try to be rangy and athletic on the back end. They're young, they're athletic on the back end. First 11 games, do you want to guess how many times they're favored? Well, maybe that's just a Vegas problem. Okay, yeah. They're favored against the Colts and against the Arizona Cardinals. Okay. Then they're nine, their underdogs in nine of their first 11th.

So this is the scenario. Think about this. Caleb Williams in your backyard at USC. Okay. Rams start the season. You know, just, you know. You're telling me they can't. Hold on. Six new starters on defense. Six. How many do the Chiefs have? They lost her top cornerback. Listen, the Chiefs have Patrick Mahomes. I love Stafford. Stafford ain't Patrick Mahomes. Okay. Let's say they lose that game to Seattle. Okay. Seattle is a six point home favorite. Okay. So then they play San Francisco and we know San Francisco owns them. They dominate, I think they have one winning against him in like the last eight.

So now you're 0-and-2 heading to Joe Burrow. Hold on, hold on. So now you're like, oh, geez. We're over a touchdown dog to the Bengals. You're starting 0-and-3, and then when do you start thinking, you know what? We finally have our first round pickback. We got Caleb Williams. If this continues, let's shut it down halfway through.

And let's move off Stafford. Okay. And let's go for cable. You're telling me they can't go to Seattle. They have a better defensive lineman than Seattle. They have a more productive star receiver. They have a better quarterback and an offensive coach. and like Seattle, a good rangey linebacker.

There's a chance they win that game. Okay. And then game four is the Colt, your two and two. Get that dub. You get both the Eagles, Arizona, the Steelers, all three at home. The Eagles? Well, again, Shane Steichen pullback. I see a lot of doubles here.

By the way, that at Green Bay game, not really tough. We've talked about the offensive line of the Rams is a weakness. San Francisco's defensive line is filthy. The Bengals defensive line is unbelievable. The Eagles have one of the best defensive lines in the league. T.J. Watt. Michael Parsons. Stafford could be dead by Thanksgiving. Let me give you wins that are reasonable with Stafford and McVeigh.

Okay. Seattle, the Colts, Arizona twice, Green Bay, home against Cleveland, home against Washington, home against the Saints at the Giants. That's seven wins right there. What are you doing with seven wins, Colin?

Where are you going with that? What, like, you're hanging on to Stafford? Are you going to tell me they can't win a single, game like at Dallas or a single game like at Baltimore. Baltimore by week 14, it's Baltimore. They can be falling apart physically. They all. Mark Jackson may not be there. That's true. And someone could counter-wold. I know. That's the Africa. Go look at what the chiefs are great at. Clever offensive

legend coach. Great quarterback. Yeah. One great weapon. Great defensive lineman. Really active linebacker. Young in the secondary. Young and unproven outside of, you know, wide receiver still some question marks. I mean, it's just like it's, by the way, Rams or Havenststom. a great right tackle, top right tackle. They're good enough at left tackle. They were good enough. They have a competent center. Now, the Chiefs have a great center, but were competent at tackle. They weren't great.

The Rams, it could be in the Chief's Galaxy. Is that what we're saying? No, I'm saying the Chiefs won the Super Bowl. The Rams have the same. What are the, the offensive line viewed as a weakness? Both have one great offensive lineman. Chief Center, Rams right tackle. Both have a very good guard.

A rookie for the Rams was the best interior lineman in the draft, Tune. Both are good enough at left tackle. I mean, one dominant weapon, star quarterback coach, great defensive lineman, and an active linebacker. Kids everywhere. My problem is I like Stafford a lot. He just got another place like kind of near me. My buddy's all saw him. He's a nicest guy.

It's like four blocks away. No. Anyways, I like them. I root for them. I like all of their games. Whose house? Rams house! Like, I like them.

Five wins. I don't see it. All the things you have to have in this league to be a playoff team, they've got all of them. You cross your fingers on health. Stafford, Cup, and Aaron have been around. We talk about this, though. Do you want to be in the middle, or do you want to be really bad or mad? I want to win games.

I don't care where I'm at. I got to win games. They're going to win games. Power 2. Coming up next. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman helped make you

funnier. This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and headwriter, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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 it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me. I'm Sam J.

And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick you here, unpack what we're. 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. 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. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.