The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Herd - Hour 1 - Sixers Look to Trade James Harden, Cowboys Overrated

Episode Date: June 30, 2023

Thoughts on the Sixers looking to trade James Harden.Colin is excited to see what's next for Bradley Beal.The Rams need to rebuild their roster.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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We are live in Los Angeles, and it's the hurt. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. A lot of choices out there. So today, 6 Eastern 3 Pacific, the free agency period starts. Now, people are already negotiating, J. Mack, they're already getting things done. We found out yesterday. Sixers are going to re-sign Hardin and trade James Hardin.

We'll see how that works out for the Sixers. Yeah, it's, um, Hardin's a fascinating guy. What's the market for that guy? Well, let's start our show with it. So the Sixers basically said, James Hardens used the league for years. Sixers kind of used him for a year and a half until Maxi, elevated to a number two behind M.B.

now they can move off James Harden. Knicks doesn't fit. Heat. Clippers, interesting. We're this morning Clippers Harden. They can move off Westbrook. They need a point guard. He's from L.A.

He's a good facilitator. Won't plan any defense, but Paul George and Kauai do. That's probably your best fit. You could argue that's the best fit. But all these years later, to me, James Hardin is known for three things. The beard, drawing cheap file. and trade requests. That's the James Hardin, triple double.

Beard, drawing cheap fouls, trade requests. He's still productive, 2010 guy, but no defense, no leadership, getting old fast because he never took care of his body. Doesn't really fit in many places. Clippers tends to work, but it has a Brooklyn feel. Katie, Kyrie, Hardin field to it. The difference, of course, is that Hardin, Kauai, and Paul George are a better basketball fit,

and he doesn't play a lick of D, but Hardin and Kauai are great defenders, so it works. But James Hardin is an example. Right. We're always worried about sending our kids to the good schools, and that matters some. But James Hardin is a great example. You will be as successful as your effort level and your personality allows. Hardin is strictly an offensive player, quirky personality. You can't build around him. Defense, awful, conditioning, below average. that's what his effort level, that's what his personality allowed him to be. You get these occasional athletes who are just all-time greats.

I never bought into the Kobe and MJ comp. Darrell Morey said years ago, I mean, he's a better score. Analytics prove it that MJ. The difference, of course, is that when you hold yourself accountable, it's much easier to hold others accountable. But Hardin could never hold other teammates accountable. He wasn't even in good shape. He didn't play any defense.

So how are you going to hold other guys accountable? When you don't come into camp in shape, when you play your way into shape. Kobe, MJ, relentless. But the key to both is they were so intense and so committed, they could tell guys. This is how hard I work. Work this hard or you're done. James Hardin's game to me always felt a little like a tax loophole.

No, seriously. He caught the IRS slash NBA off guard. Right? Nobody saw it coming, the stepback move. Nobody was quite sure it was legal. And then the NBA slash IRS mostly eliminated the loophole. And he was never the same. Semi-effective, never the same.

He was the tax loophole of the lead. But in your life, you can go to this school, you can have those parents, your effort level slash commitment, and your personality will define how far you're going to go. Some people can't get out of their own way, regardless if they went to Harvard and prep school. They can't get out of their own way. They don't play well with others. They don't lubricate. they constantly agitate, they're no-it-alls, they're not committed, they're not really leaders.

I mean, Steph Curry is older than James Harden. But because of his personality, plays well with others, his commitment and effort level. He is a fully charged battery. James Harden, a little stockier, maybe a little better athlete, maybe. I mean, he didn't go to Davidson. better athlete, but he's a battery you're hoping makes it to the end of the road trip. So James Harden being moved out of Philly as he should be, Clippers is probably the best fit, but he doesn't really fit perfectly anywhere.

Steph Curry Older fits everywhere. So for years and years, I've had this player that I really like. And I think I felt sorry for him. I think there's just lots of people in America who are super talented and work really hard, but they have bad bosses. They're in a company with a bad corrosive culture. They're not appreciated. There's a lot of second and third rounders in life who, you know, they're really good at what they do.

Whatever it is they do. But, you know, they just, they work for bad people, bad culture. Bradley Beale is one of those. I mean, the Washington Wizards for 11. years he was there 11 years three coaches different general managers the immature john wall multiple teammates can't keep track he was always committed always classy always productive he's now a phoenix sun press conference yesterday here he was i don't look at the NBA like that i don't look at it is oh it's my team oh it's your team like it's everybody like

We all got to compete. We all got to do this thing together and make it happen. But I understand that this is Book Nation. Like, I understand that this is his stomping grounds. This is his arena. And I'm excited for that. I'm excited to be able to play with two Hall of Famers. You know, like I've never done that.

You know, so I'm excited about it. I'm excited what they brings. And they'll push me in ways I've never been pushed. You know, so I'm excited about that. And hopefully I can do the same. I don't know how you don't love this fit and love that guy. Never complained, loyal team guy in a corrosive clown car in the Washington Wizards. Never complained.

He'll be so appreciative and so energized by Phoenix, which, by the way, has had their issues. They got rid of a bad owner. They've moved through some coaches. But a good guy and a good player finally gets to a good team. Let me give you an example of where I've seen this before. Matt Stafford, 12 years, the chaos of Detroit. finally got a legitimate owner, a legitimate coach, some really good players and won a Super Bowl. Kevin Garnett, 12 years of nonsense in Minnesota, finally got a legitimate organization

surrounded by good players, a winning organization, got the Celtics a ring. Matt Stafford, Kevin Garnett. Well, Bradley Beale's not. Bradley Beale was a number three pick. Bradley Beale is one of two NBA players in the last four years, one of the first four years, of two to average more than 30 points a game multiple times. He's actually doing the opposite of Aaron Rogers. Aaron's going to a young team with an unproven coach.

Aaron's going to be a little bit of the savior, front and center, front and center in New York. Bradley Beale is going to a team full of guys that have been around, a championship winning, coach. They've had some success. In fact, we always wonder why they don't have a little more in recent years. He won't ask to be the savior. He won't be asked to be the leading score. His quote was perfect. Part of a collective, part of a team, all learn from others. I don't know how anybody doubts this. But he is the story you see a lot all over this great country. talented people, corrosive environments, somebody goes, you know, if you just gave them a better coach, a better environment, less chaos, better teammates, this is a guy in four years, only two

players, average 30 multiple times, can't wait to watch Bradley Beale. Finally, finally, in a great spot for a really good player. All right, J-Mack, it is Friday. very fired up. Last day of the week, like Steph Curry, energized, battery charge. We went out last night,

talked a lot of industry. Can't get into it today. Definitely not the day to get into industry chatter. It is. But I did see something that the cowboy hype trains already starting. Come on. And Philadelphia did to James Harden,

or will do to James Hardin, what James Hardin has done to the league for years. I thought they actually, you know, didn't Joe's feel with Hardin? He kind of used the league and he used teams to kind of get what he wanted. He's made a ton of money. There's nothing wrong with that. Well, I mean, purposely getting out of shape in Houston, going to Brooklyn. He's always sort of used.

I do think there's something wrong with it because I think after a while you get a label in an industry. He's a user. But does he care? Well, now this is how it ends. Philadelphia used him. Philadelphia said, let's just bring him on for about a year and a half until Maxi elevates. max he three years ago, average date points, now 2021. Yeah, remember last year he could have gotten more money from them?

And he said, I'll take less. We'll bring on PJ Tucker. And now a year later, he doesn't get the offer that he wants from Philly. He says, get me the heck out of here. I think this is the third straight year. James Harden has demanded a trade. Yeah, it is. Yeah.

But this is what happens when you're not fully committed, when you don't give a great effort, when you have a quirky personality and nobody ever really feels you can hold them accountable because you don't hold yourself accountable. Did you Kevin Durant say last week that James Hardin was right there with Russell Westbrook and Kyrie Irving as like inspirational players that young kids should, you know, aspire to and look up to? Didn't Kevin Durant? Yeah, I think he did.

Not one of my favorite. Very prescient from Kevin Durant. Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to 3 Eastern, 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd at Fox SportsRedio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. 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-Hart Radio app.

podcast 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, Clivert Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media.

Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment,

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

Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at It podcast. I'm Sam Jett. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode, with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all 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. Andrew Wiggins could score 24 in Minnesota. I didn't remember a basket. He could score 16 in Golden State, and they're crucial in the finals against the Celtics. Not all points are equal. So as the Sixers get ready to launch James Harden out of town wherever he lands, this is all about Tyrese Maxi. Somebody, like J-Max feeling on Jamal Murray, I believe, is going to be a star. Is he going to be a one or just a great two?

I'm not sure yet. But if you look at this kid, this move to get Hardin out of town is really all about getting Tyrese Maxie on the floor and having him be the two. With Hardin on the floor, he averages 19. Without him, he averages 25 and his assist double. He is a star. Now, is he a franchise guy you can build around because M.B's often hurt? I think there's a chance for it.

He's a sensational player. He's only 22 years old. if you watch basketball with a sound down and a guy pops, jumps off the screen, that's like a Steph Curry, you know, that's a guy that literally pops. I think this kid's it. Great energy, getting better. He is small, but his effort level is through the roof. And the bottom line is Hardin just gets in the way.

They want him to have the ball in his hands all the time. He is an energizer, a great player, probably eventually going to be a 26, 27 point a game guy in this league. He averaged 25. By the way, there's another stat about him. He was the best three-point shooter in the NBA last year who took at least 15 shots a game. I think Tyrese Maxie's a star. At this point, it's Embeded. Maxie, Tobias Harris.

I'd love to get Paul George over in a trade with the Clippers. If I can't, I can't. But I think this moves really, we'll talk about Hardin. It's about Maxie. Tremendous young player. And I don't know why it is, maybe because he's a slow growth guy. If you look at the NBA stars, Jay Mack, we talked about this other. other day. Steph was a slow growth guy. Yokic a slow growth guy. Yonis, a slow growth guy.

Luca's a great star early. Can't get it right with teammates. Max, he's a classic. Three years ago, he's averaging eight points. And then he goes up. And then he goes up. And even now last year, when he's averaging, what he's averaging, it's really deceptive. Because when Hardens off the floor, he's 25 a game. Great shooter, great energy, always available or usually available. Little small. but I think we're looking at another one of these slow growth guys that it takes three or four years and you look up and you're like, by the way, SGA at Oklahoma City. Shea, he's another slow growth guy. Those guys aren't handed anything.

Takes them three or four years to find their game. They come in raw. They come in young. I mean, eight points, 17 points, 20 points. And that really, without Hardin next year, probably 26, 27 a game. I mean, he's that kind of player. So exciting times, moving off hardens the right move to me. J-Mac with a move.

No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Let's go to the NFL where the New England Patriots, we can't stop talking about them, Colin. And now Tom Brady is talking about Bill Belichick and the dynasty they built together. They won six Super Bowls during their 20-year partnership. Brady got emotional discussing what Belichick did for him in his career. I think it's more what did he not do to bring out the best in me.

He, you know, everyone always says, I was just very lucky. I mean, I think part of it, you know, I came into my career and got drafted by the Patriots. You know, it was Coach Belichick's first year there. And, you know, we came in together. And I always think for so many young players, you know, who's going to be there? Anybody could get drafted to a place. Who's going to turn you into something? Who's going to develop you?

Who's going to take you under their wing? And sometimes it's a player that does it. and I definitely had a lot of players do that. And obviously, I had someone that really saw something in me. I love when people are grateful for their mentors. It's very nice. He's grateful for the guy that gave him an opportunity, six round. Although Bill passed on him five, six times two.

Don't you love that story? Don't you love he appreciates it so great? What is the eye rolling? I know. He's crying? Talking about his... That's very emotional. You didn't have a moment

an epiphany in your life when somebody gave you an opportunity? Well, yes, but it ended so poorly for them that he left. I mean... Well, yeah, but that's 20 years. 20 years of greatness. And by the way, in the end...

What ends well? The best divorce is choppy. Like, nothing ends well. I mean, honestly, I always say, we're great at getting into wars. We can't get out of them. People are great at getting into relationships. You can't get out of them.

What relationship ends perfectly. Okay. I'll give you that. And it wasn't like it was Katz and Abe. It's like they got to the playoffs. And in the end, maybe this is why Belichick's now just buying wide receivers. They couldn't draft them.

And by the way, there's a story of today. They're going to buy DeAndre Hopkins too with Devonte Parker and Judey Schuster. It's a bad team. We'll talk about them during headlines, I think. All right. Next up, the Dallas Cowboys. Big expectations for that team this year. Now they have a.

surging Eagles team in their division hoping to make another run at the Super Bowl. Micah Parsons, though, says Dallas has what it takes to jump ahead of Philly. The work is going to be, is going to put in. You still got to show up on Sundays. You could have the best lineup in the world. Their team came up short. It's our turn this year. You've got to capitalize on your opportunities and this is our year.

All right. Michael Parsons very optimistic. Well, he's their best player. If you had seven more of him, then it would be possible. He's the best player. He would start for every team in the league. He's the only guy in the Cowboys. I may I should say,

Zach Martin's probably the other one. Zach Martin would start for every team in the league. It's one of the guard positions. And Micah Parsons would start for every team in the league. They have two players. If you're McCarthy, Quinn, Jerry Jones, how do you feel about Michael Parsons putting all these expectations? You like it?

You like the trash talk or no. I don't think it does any. I don't think it matters. But I mean, he's a great player. And Zach Martin's a great player. They have two great players. If they're two and two at the end of September, nobody's going to remember this. None of this stuff, all that pregame hype and crap, it doesn't matter.

I mean, I always think that it's in preparation, like boxing matches, like the Buster Douglas Tyson fight. That fight was decided in the three months of training. Buster Douglas's mother had passed away. He kind of got this rare moment in Buster Douglas's weird career, this moment of aspiration and inspiration that he'd never had. He was always talented, a big guy. The next fight, when he fought somebody else, he was a bum, right? And Tyson did not have, Tyson was a 45-to-one favorite or something close to that, and so he didn't train for it. That fight was all about the training, had nothing to do with it.

The fight is what is the result of somebody who didn't train against a bigger fighter who had talent that, for the only time in his life, trained brilliantly. So I think all this stuff, none of it matters. I mean, in the end, the Cowboys are as good as their roster coaching and quarterback play allows. Micah just happens to be their best player. Yeah. Final story, the running back position has been under the microscope this offseason. Many running backs not getting paid, some talented ones. Kareem Hunt's on the market, Dalvin Cook, Zeke Elliott.

So the position's kind of devalued right now. Panthers running back, Miles Sanders, went on the Rich Eisen Show to add his thoughts on the running back position. It's nothing that we're doing wrong. everything that we have to do as far as on the field and stuff like that. I think GMs or whatever owners to think that running backs are not as valued as much as is a lot. You got to see how everything plays out. You want to franchise to create a certain guest market for running back just because you have this, you know, way of thinking that they only last three to four years. I think it's BS, honestly, almost every running back in the league is underpaid right now. I don't know what's going

to take. That's a topic that needs to be, you know, brought up a little bit more because it's just sucks to be a runnerback right now, honestly. Let me, I was, this is a game I have played through the years. Right. If I said to you, you are a general manager of an NFL team. And you can have seven great players. What positions do you put them at?

You can have seven great players. And by the way, Super Bowl teams usually have about six to seven really elite players. Okay. So quarterback is one. Right? You'd want a great quarterback. Now you start arguing. I would say edge rusher. Sure.

Okay. Then, and this has changed for me over the years, then I would say, you've got to give me one great weapon. Cooper Cup, Jamar Chase, one really high volume great weapon. Four generally is most Super Bowl teams have a good left tackle. Like you've got to protect the star. Five, and again, I go back and forth. I want a second weapon on the perimeter. Over a cornerback?

It's back and forth. But great corners last year. Top three didn't make the playoffs. I don't know. Who were the Chiefs? Oh, well, I guess Kelsey qualifies. No, they gave up their best corner. No, I was meaning weapon-wise.

Okay. So I would go quarterback edge, weapon left tackle, second weapon into corner. So I'm one, two, three, four, five. I'm six in. I mean, you could say center. That's exactly what I have right here on the script, because I think the center is the most underrated position. And then after that, you could go.

running back, I would argue a great Mike linebacker to call defensive signals, like a Bobby Wagner in his prime, a Ray Lewis. Now, there's not many of them out there, but I really do think Fred Warner, like a sideline to sideline linebacker is really valuable. I know I'm at now, I'm at now eight and that's not to say running backs don't matter. But the better you are at quarterback, the less dynamic you have to be. So running back becomes very important when Daniel Jones or Ryan Tanniel, your quarterback, then it becomes like the third most important thing.

So my beef is, he says almost every running back is underpaid right now. And what a good interviewer would do is push back instantly. Well, wait, what do you mean underpaid relative to the pounding you take or in relation to the salary cap? Because again, like, you only have a certain amount you can spend under the cap. And if your running back's taking like 9 to 10% of your cap, your team's going to stink because of what you just laid out. So like the running backs are underpaid. Yeah.

You guys take a pounding. The running backs, there's not a, there's a short shelf life for that position. But the reality is you can't pay them a lot or then you can't have a good center, left tackle, cornerback, wide receivers. So look at this list. Christian McCaffrey is very valuable because they have Brock Purdy. Yeah, they're not paying their quarterback Jack. Joe Mixon at 12 million may be moved because they have. Joe Burrow.

Right. So look at the running backs on this list. Aaron Jones' quarterback makes nothing. Peanuts. So Aaron Jones, by the way, just this year becomes much more valuable to the Packers than he was with Aaron. He was always good.

But I mean, to me, Christian McCaffrey's highest paid, why? Great coach, great defense. He is the centerpiece of their offense. If you look at Nick Chubbs, Browns, go look at their depth chart. They do not have any depth anywhere

because so much money is into Watson, Chub. I mean, they got a good team. They can make the playoffs. Derek Henry, I don't buy that running backs are undervalued. I think they're valued appropriately. And the teams that pay their running backs,

by the way, Sequin Barclay will move to the top of that list. Sequan Barclay, Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara. How many teams did not make the playoffs? Packers did not make the playoffs. Browns did not make the playoffs. Titans miss the playoffs. And they're paying the running backs a lot.

There you go. Chains didn't make the playoffs. The only ones it did are Burrow on the rookie. Burrow on the rookie quarterback scale and then McCaffrey when they pay the seventh round quarterback. It's not that hard. I mean, I'm not hammering Miles Sanders here. Eight of the last 10 Super Bowl champs did not have a thousand-yard rush. I mean, it doesn't matter.

All right, Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd line news. So I saw this. Speaking of the Cowboys, I saw this. So ESPN ranked NFL rosters, one to 32.

One was the Chiefs, 32 was the Cardinals. By the way, they have the Rams at 31 under the Colts. I do not believe that. But be that as it may. Dallas was sixth. Ahead of the Niners at eight. And I don't know how many Cowboys would start for the Niners. Dakwood, C.D. Lamb would.

Michael Wood, Zach Martin would, probably Trayvon Diggs. Five. Okay. How many defensive players? because they have the Steelers only at 14th most talented team. That is way low. Way low. How many Cowboys would start on defense for the Steelers?

They're not very good at corner. Trayvon Degg, Stefan Gilmore, and Micah Parsons. That's about it. So this is an annual event where we overhyped the Cowboys, and they end up in a ranking by. some company, top four, top five, top six roster in the NFL. As I've said before, they have two great players that would start for every team, Zach Martin, Micah Parsons. Then they have four or five guys I like. Dak, Trayvon Diggs, Tony Pollard, C.D. Lamb, DeMarcos Lawrence,

good players, wouldn't start for every team. I mean, Dak would not start for 10, 11 teams. So, 27 post seasons in a row since the Cowboys won two playoff games. That's it. So I think if you put them in the AFC, they're not a playoff team. So I said this morning, I'm going to be realistic with the Cowboys. I took their schedule because I always feel, Jay Mack, you've been here. I always say that I feel like the Cowboys, I've said this for the last 20 years. That'll be pretty good.

There'll be nine or ten games. So I'm going to go through the schedule. I think this is as realistic as you can be. I'm going to basically give them a win in every game they'll be absolutely favored in, which you know doesn't happen because the Chiefs last year lost to the Colts and almost lost to the Texans. But I'm going to give them all those. So the Giants game at New York, by the way, no gimmie. My guess is Barclay gets signed to a big deal.

They'll have Sequin. It's close. It's a rivalry. I'll give a W to the Cowboys there. That's a W. I don't think they're going to beat Aaron Rogers in that defense. They could, but I think they'll split with New York. That's a loss.

Do you want to guess the line on that game? I just looked it up. I would guess. In Dallas. Cowboys minus two and a half. Wow. Nailed it. I was a little surprised, but they are at home, so you're right.

But I don't think they're going to beat both New York teams. We'll do a split. Okay. Okay. I'll give them a win over Arizona and New England. Although it's a coaching mismatch, Belichick to Mike McCarthy. I'll give you two doubles there. So win-win there.

I do not think you match out with San Francisco, coaching mismatch, roster disadvantage. It's on the road. That's a loss. J-Mack likes the Chargers even more than I do, and I like them a lot. I've said this before. If their three top draft picks are as good as I think they are, they don't have a hole. They literally don't have a hole.

So I'd say it's a loss at the Chargers. Real quick, look at what it says. Week 5 at San Fran, week six, at Chargers. So they probably stay on the West Coast for two weeks heading into the buy. That's a tough back-to-back on the West Coast. Probably stay out here. Yeah, these are the two best teams. Those are the two best rosters on the West Coast.

Are you giving them a split there? No. Or 2? Oh, and 2? Yeah, well, I know. So now again, buy. They'll beat the Rams. I think they'll beat the Rams. They'll lose at Philadelphia.

That's realistic. Again, I'll have them sweeping the New York Giants. They did last year. That's right. I'll have them sweep. So now I have them beating the Giants. I'm going to have them beat Carolina, Washington, and Seattle. I'm going to have the Cowboys going a four game

winning streak, then I think it's reasonable to assume they're going to lose. I have them being swept by Philly because I think Philly is a much better team, and they'll lose at Buffalo and at Miami. I'll give them a win over a team that's arguably just as talented or more so Detroit, because they're at home, win there, win at Washington. So I have them winning every game that they'll be favored in, or it's like the Detroit game. That's a go-either-way game.

I'm having them with all of them. Now, I do have them losing a game they'll be favored to the Jets, but I think the Jets are very much in their class. And I think Aaron Rogers, TV game, Cowboys have, you know, in the last several years, kind of been unimpressive in those big spots. And then I have them losing games they should lose. So the truth is they probably won't win every game they're favored in. They probably won't lose every game they're an underdog in, but that's 10 and 7.

And that's exactly where I feel the Cowboys are at. I don't think it's unrealistic. Now, you're a fan. You have him starting the year 4-0. Do I believe that Dak Prescott and Mike McCarthy without their top O.C. Kellen Moore is going to start the season 4-0? I do not believe that. As I've said, if C.D. Lamb turned an ankle, Dolton Schultz is gone, Zeeke's gone, Tyron Smith is older,

and Tony Pollard's off a major. surgery, that offense is not going to look the same. So I have him starting the year 3 and 1, ending with two wins, having a four-game winning streak, and going 10 and 7. So I have them a good start, a good finish, losing where they're tough stretch, Philly at Buffalo at Miami. Maybe they pull out a win, but then maybe they lose to Detroit. I think that's incredibly reasonable.

Here's a scheduling quirk I just noticed. So they play Washington. That's the Thanksgiving Day game. Yeah. The next week against Seattle at home is also on a Thursday. And then the Detroit game is on a Saturday, so short week after going to Miami, you come home and host Detroit on a short week Saturday, December 30th. By the way, you say, Colin, how do you have them losing to the Jets?

Do you know what the Cowboys? Nobody says that. Well, do you know what they were his favorites last year? The Cowboys were nine and three. They beat the teams they should have. Mostly. but you generally don't win every game. Again, the Colts beat the Chiefs and the Texans could have.

So I have them winning every game except the Jets game in which they'll be a favorite. Well, you also have them sweeping Washington. Didn't they lose to Washington last year late in the season? Oh, I think Washington matches up very well with them. I think Washington matches up well with the Cowboys. Giants don't necessarily match up well. But it's, I mean, you know, because the Cowboys O lines usually, again, this year it'll be redeemable. It's a good O line.

Philadelphia's D-line kind of controls that football game. So at 10 and 7, that's still a wild car team. And at 10 and 7, I have them going basically 10 and 1 as a favorite. They were 9 and 3 last year as a favorite. I have them winning every game they'd be favored in. That's not the way it works in the NFL, except the Jets game, which I'm not going to have them go undefeated. You know, I think the Jets is a game they'd lose.

And this is not a show. I think that's with no injuries. I still contend if just one player, C.D. Lamb went down. that receiving core and tight end group is suboptimal. I forgot the Jets, they host them on a short week because the Jets open on Monday against Buffalo. You know, body bag game in the division, first game, and then they travel to Dallas. So short week for the Jets going into week two, not ideal. It's a veteran quarterback, I think.

But then again, Dallas plays the Giants in the opener. That's a rivalry game. Yeah, and I think also what you do, especially when the short week is in week one or two, the team prepares for it. They'll have that cowboy game plan done in August because you're not going to play many of your starters. So in the preseason, you're literally installing a lot of the cowboy game plan. Short week can matter like week 10, 11, 12 when you're all beat up. Short week doesn't matter to me much at all in September.

Thanks for listening to The Herd 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 in the IHart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Pauly Fusco here with Tony Fusco. Yo.

Of course you know us as the host of the number one rated show in all the sports talk, the Pauley and Tony Fusco show. Yeah. Now the suits at Fox Sports Radio gave us this air time because they wanted us to tell you how great our show is. Why? Yeah, instead of us doing that, Let's just let our millions of fans do the talker.

Yeah, play the tape. You don't know crap about sports. I mean, why am I even on this crap? Whoa, whoa, whoa. That's the wrong tape. Wrong tape. Just forget that. Look, listen to the Pauli and Tony Fusco show

on the iHart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast. 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 where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do a little kill? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J.

And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 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 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. The Rams got a reputation, F.M. Picks.

That was the slogan. They don't need first round picks. We're going to go pay for stars. Jalen Ramsey. you know, Matt Stafford, don't need picks. I think it works quickly. But eventually you have to pay the bills. You can't kick that thing down.

You got to eventually pay. So the Rams right now need talent. And they've moved off a lot of the expensive guys. Now, they did get a championship. And so San Francisco's got the better roster and the better near future. They got no rings. Eagles, great last year. They didn't win.

Rams got a ring last two years. So it paid off. Now they have to rebuild the roster because it was wildly top-heavy with five great players. And then, again, at some point, you can't kick it down the road. So it does show you, though, there was this sense that, you know, number one picks. And I don't have a problem giving up a number one pick if I get Jalen Ramsey. And it can get me a Super Bowl, but the bill will come do. So the NFL.com just announced their NFL under 25 team.

I'm going to show you the first team offense. And you're going to notice something. Trevor Lawrence, Jonathan Taylor, Bruce Hall, Justin Jefferson, Jamar Chase, Friermouth, Friermouth, C.D. Lamb, Tristan Worf's, Andrew Thomas, Trey Smith, Elijah Veritukka, Crete Humphrey. I have no disagreements. That is exactly the team I would pick.

All of them are first or second round picks. The only exception is Trey Smith. who was an all-American lineman that had a blood clot issue, was seen as a second round pick and plummeted in the draft. And he's been fantastic. That's it. No sleepers. Trey Smith is not a sleeper.

He was a great talent. You know, like great talents tend to do. There's an issue. Something happens before the draft. And they dropped. We just saw it in the NBA draft. Somebody guy from Villanova dropped. Really good player.

Trey Smith was not a sleeper. everybody else is a first or second round pick. Let's go to the defense. What do you know? Same basic feel. Adrian Hedgeson, Jalen Phillips, Jordan Davis, Christian Barmore, Michael Parsons, Nick Bolton, Soss Gardner, Patrick Sertan, Hufunga from USC, Kyle Hamilton, Tariq Ulland. Everybody's a first or second round pick except for Hufunga the safety from USC, who would have gone higher,

who was the Trojan's best player as last year, but he was hurt all the time. So unlike a blood clot issue, it was a health issue. Trey Smith, Funga, actually health issues. Great player in college when he was healthy. The only sleeper, the only sleeper is Tariq Wollin, a true sleeper. From a small school, nobody watched him in college. He was wildly talented, crazy combine, but he played at a small school, and he was inconsistent. He was just incredibly raw, and he got a great mentor and a great defensive mind, Pete Carroll,

and they made him into a star. First second team. One sleeper. And here's the thing about Jay Mack, it's like with first round picks. They're like casting a movie. You got to get the star right. You can argue back, my wife was just watching a movie the other day with Christian

bail in it. And she's like, God, he was sensational. I'm like, you got to get the star right. You'll never overcome it if you miss on the star. A bunch of average actor, you could have the best ensemble ever. If you don't have a good lead, it's not a great movie. You got to get the lead right. And then usually when the lead is right, others follow.

People want to be in a Christian Bale movie. They want to be in a Michael Keaton movie, a Hank's, a Denzel movie, a Tom Cruise, right? Like, they'll follow. But you got to get it. And you know, American Idol was 21 years on the air, right? And they sold the dream of stardom comes from anywhere. Two people won that thing and became superstars. Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson, 21 years, too.

That won it and became like superstars. That's it. that's it you can identify talent very quickly very early scouts know what they they're doing scouting's never been better a lot of p they don't make a lot of money but the scouts i talk to are so thorough know what they're doing get it right now there was the seattle team remember that hit on all the late round players why would that be because pete carroll had just coached in college he had a huge advantage on the rest of the league by the way four years later, Pete was no longer hitting on those fifth, sixth, seventh round players.

He became like every other NFL coach. He knew NFL personnel and had to rely on other people for college players. That's not to say Pete doesn't know talent, but he had a huge advantage for three or four years in the draft, and he hit on all these four, five, and six round players, and they weren't playing Russell Wilson, so they stacked the roster and built like what would appear to be a mini dynasty for a few years. So it definitely, you have to hit on your first. run pick. Colin, this leaves one question. Why is it so difficult to find out who's going to be a good

quarterback when you draft in the first round? Just going back to 2018. Baker Mayfield flop. Sam Darnal flop. Josh Allen hit. Josh Rosen's, I don't even know if he's in the league, Lamar Jackson. You go to 21, Zach Wilson, Tray Lance, Justin Fields, Mack Jones. Why are we continually missing on quarterback? And it's very simple. It's the only position that demands leadership, which is not quantifiable. I had Jimmy Johnson here on the set once, and I said, what made Aikman special, Army? He said, just a great leader. I said, define it. He goes, I can't. Because you, you don't need a leader at Corner or a pass rusher. It's the only position that demands you be a great leader. And you can't define it. What is a great leader? Who the hell can, what is that? What is

that? You read a book. Sales people read these, how to be a great manager in eight steps. Most never become managers. You have it or you don't. You either people are attracted to you. You lubricate a room. You can feel the temperature of it. People either follow you or you don't. I think it's very hard to teach yourself to Aikman had it. He probably was a great leader when he played football in ninth grade. Peyton Manning had it.

Brady had it. Like some guys have it. Some guys don't. Jay Cutler had great talent. Never really a leader. You know what I mean? So I think that's the one position that it demands. Like another thing it demands is,

mental resilience. And that's stuff you can't put on a spreadsheet. You're going to be criticized more than any position. Some guys just fold. Like, can you handle being ripped every day? Talk radio. Nobody's ripping the Mike Linebacker. Nobody's ripping the right guard.

You're getting ripped. How do you handle it? What is leadership? So it should be about a 50-50 split. That stuff's hard. Some people like Johnny Mansell. I couldn't stand him. Hour to next.

Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, S&L'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 Smig. and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

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

I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard,

but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. This is an IHart podcast. Guaranteed human.