The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Herd - Hour 1 - The Jets

Episode Date: August 30, 2023

Ben Maller and Rob Parker in for Colin Cowherd   Jets are the most hated team in the NFL - overkill!  Jerry Jones picked up Trey Lance for the drama MLB needs to quit babysitting pitchersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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FSR. This is the best of the herd with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio. Rob Parker over there. Ben Mallor here. We're hanging out. Colin away. And we're going to have a grand time, Rob Parker. We are. Yes. You know

what? I didn't hear that. What does Colin do? Ah! Just like that. There you go. And what a way to start, Rob, the New York Jets getting the full treatment Yet again, Hard Knocks.

I don't know if you had a chance to watch it. I never miss Hard Knocks. Oh, I'm sorry. They have mastered the formula, as I have pointed out in the past on the overnight show that I do, that the Hard Knocks formula, it's like HGTV. You watch an episode of any of those shows on HGTV, and you know how it's going to go. And Hard Knocks is, NFL films people have mastered it. So the latest episode of Hard Knocks, they did a,

Sopranos spoof where they showed Robert Sala driving on the Jersey turnpike going into the stadium there to get ready for the season for exhibition game. So they had that and the one

thing that we do love about Hard Knox, I love it, the miced-up players behind the scenes and there was one incident, Rob. In fact, we have the audio on this. So the Aaron Rogers and there's a giant player, and I get the name of the guy here.

Jehad Ward. And so Jehad Ward and Aaron Rogers, he only played a few plays in the exhibition game. So Ward comes in. There's a little contact, and then we'll go hear what happened. Take a list. Bro. What's that? Tell some respect, bro.

Come on, what the fuck is that? Five damn six. I don't even know who you are, bro. I don't know. You don't know. I never hurt you. Drops back. Lod's one.

Front left pylon. It is cold. Garrett Wilson. That's a jet touchdown. And I gave him the line that's uncombacked with a bull. I said, I don't even know who you are. But he said, he said, I don't know who you are. I said, bull.

Yeah. So this is the great thing. Now, Rob, I don't know a lot of famous people. You know more famous people than me. Is that right? Who said that? No, no. You know famous people, Rob.

But here's the thing. That is the ultimate chaos. If you go up to somebody who's famous, I don't know who you are. That annoys famous people more than anything. They go nuts. They go ballistic. And so it was good audio. Also, we have Aaron Rogers very upset.

You know, they're building and painting the picture here on Hard Knocks about Aaron Rogers, the great leader, the savior of the New York Jets. And unlike every other stiff that's played quarterback for the Jets, Aaron Rogers is not going to put up with any of the nonsense. Take a listen. Mistakes one drive. The basic at 12 to 14 yards. Mistakes in one damn drive. It's unbelievable. Drop three falls and three wrong routes and a false start.

And then Roger's probably when he talks to the media. I thought we had a great practice today. I thought everything was fine. We did a good job, right? Rob, isn't that how it usually goes when you were covering NFL teams over the years? Yes. Yeah. The nail little definitely flip.

it. I don't know. I mean, obviously, whenever you pull a curtain back, there's some acting there. People know that they're miced. You know, like, I don't know how much of it. It's like reality TV, right? There's a show called Bridezilla. What is that, what are you supposed to do if you're a bride? Are you supposed to act nice to the people helping you with the wedding? Or are you supposed to act like something else? You know what I mean? Like, that's what I always say. Like, once you know you're mic, and I'm walking around with a mic on, I think I've played to the camera and the mic. Yeah, yeah.

In fact, there's a, there's a, I forget the term. I remember reading about this when I was in school. There's a term for it. And it was a science experiment in a factory. And they put cameras in the factory to see how people would react to the cameras. And people do, you change. And these guys know if they have a great line on hard knocks, they're going to get attention. Guys like us are going to talk about it.

But they have marketing opportunities. I remember when I was, years ago when reality TV kind of started, I was driving in Hollywood to work, and they were taping one of those dating reality shows. And I was stopped at a red light, and there's a lot of traffic. And so they walked across the street, and they taped the thing. And I guess they didn't get the right camera angle, so they did it again. I was like, wait. Right, that's scripted.

I mean, well, that's the issue. And then they have writers writing what you need to say and all this kind of stuff. It's all a farce. It is. And the Jets could wind up being a farce. Speaking of farces. And I'm going to say this, Ben. You don't have Jets fever, Rob?

You're a New York guy. You don't have Jets fever? I grew up as a Jets fan. I grew up in Queens. I used to go to games at Shea Stadium. I mean, all of that. Remember. But I'm not one of these guys that every time they add a quarterback,

add water, and stir, I think they're going to the Super Bowl. Okay, because Brett Favre was a Jet too. How'd that work out? That did not work out. Did not work out well? And here's my thing. I get it. I know why people are thinking that this is it. Finally, that this downtrodden organization that hasn't won a Super Bowl

since the Louisiana purchase is all of a sudden going to win now because they got a Hall of Fame quarterback. Whatever you think of Aaron Rogers, the guy's one of the greatest whoever through the football, okay? And he already won a Super Bowl. Long time ago, though. Yeah, but it doesn't matter. Yeah, you say that, but Jim Marino never won a Super Bowl. No, he didn't.

But he was a great quarterback. Would you deny that? But is that, to me, that I'm not one of these guys, right? But you have to win a championship. I think Carl Malone in the NBA is one of the all-time grades. He didn't win a championship, right? People rip him all. He didn't win.

No, I'm not saying that. But I'm saying that the people try to act like, well, Aaron Rogers won a long time. He won. There are guys who never won. But the pack, you think of Farrv and Rogers, basically 30 years of playing quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. They won two. Two. Yeah, but I think what you're not looking at is, and you're not being fair, is...

I'm being fair. No, the bad defenses. And remember, here's two things. And Aaron Rogers' career in Green Bay, they never drafted a skilled position in the first round. Never. Zero. And also, they never fix their defense. And one year, if you could help me out, one year, everybody on their roster, except for one player, was drafted by the pack. So it was, I think if they had an owner, a real owner that things would have been different,

but because they're run by, you know, like this board and nobody really owns the Packers, I think that has hurt the organization, to be honest, in getting the parts and the pieces that they need. But anyway. But they have the ultimate, though, in Green Bay. They're like, hey, well, we're in Green Bay. You know, who wants to come to Green Bay? That's what they always, that's their argument. They did get Reggie White as a free agent to come to Green Bay.

That's because God told them to do that, though. If God had told him to go to Cincinnati, he would have gone to Cincinnati. But he did go to Green Bay. So they need interference from a higher power to get people to go to Green Bay. Either that or to produce a Hebrew National Hot Dog. Well, that would be. That would be the other thing. My brother actually lives in Appleton, Wisconsin.

That's where the mall is in Appleton. I had never been to Green Bay. My brother lived there. I tried to avoid going there. I did. I loved it. I thought it was great. But it is so unlike.

When did you go? You talked about you love Appleton. I did. You went to in February? I didn't go in February and September. I'm not stupid. That's an awful place. Are you kidding?

But I love the whole explanation that Green Bay is so small. And I went to Lambeau Field. There's no game there. I went to Lambeauville. The biggest thing at Lambeau Field is the team store. But I went to the Lambebeck. And it's like there's not even a hotel big enough for the teams to stay in Green Bay. They stay in Appleton.

It's not that big, by the way, either. No, but I know because obviously I covered every Lions Road game for almost 20. So you spent a lot of eating cheese curds. Yeah, so I was in Appleton, and I went to the mall, and I bought sneakers there, and the whole nine yards, and I've lived that life. But it really is nothing there. I mean, let's just be honest. You saw that.

You got people parked their cars in people's driveways across the street from Lambeauville game day. You go to Calvers, though, and get some good fast food. Okay. Is that it? All right. But here's my point on the New York Jetrapolit. I get it. They won seven games.

They didn't make the playoffs, but they won seven game. they didn't have a quarterback a year ago, right? So you say, okay, they have a pretty darn good defense. They got young players, some young studs, right, running back, I get it. You start to look at the roster and go, they got a good roster. You add a Hall of Fame quarterback and add water, stir, and you go, they're going to the Super Bowl, or this is all set up.

But we saw this very same scenario with the New York Mets this past year who won what, 101 games last year, Ben Mallor, and guess what? They went out and got Justin Verlinder, the American League Cy Young Award winner, comeback player of the year, add him to Scherzer and everything that had gone on the year before, and guess what? They're not going to the playoffs. Well, the thing that fascinates is, first of all, the fact that this is a combustible situation. He just talked about Green Bay and Rogers going to New York,

and you know you were a sports writer in New York, you grew up there, how different it is. If things go bad, if this turns out to be rotten, the snowball effect is going to bury the jets. They're 0 and 4 to start. There's no doubt about it. And they open up with Buffalo on, I think, Monday night. I'm not high on Buffalo.

I'll tell you that. Well, I look at the AFCEs. Tell me if I'm wrong on this road. I think the whole division is a Tinderbox because Buffalo, you've got the digs situation. That could turn nasty. my guys that are in Bill's Mafia tell me I'm nuts that Diggs will be fine

but I've seen too many diva wide receivers cause problems you look at Miami Tua's you want to be polite and stuff but the guys had a lot of concussions you don't know if he's going to stay healthy they don't have a Mike White I believe is the backup quarterback there the former jet

the Patriots who I mean they're a mess so that whole division is topsy-turvy but the jets are also also topsy-turvy Aaron Rogers did not look good people don't like to talk about this It's taboo. He did not look good. He showed signs last year that you're like, is he...

Did he have a bad thumb? Well, is that the excuse? Is that to get out of jail free card? It's not an excuse, Ben. Like, you've got to be realistic. Now, that guy threw more interceptions last year than he did the previous three years. I mean, can you at least admit that that looked a little weird that he didn't have his... It was odd, but he didn't have a thumb injury.

But the rule is, Rob, that when you get to a certain age, if you don't play well, then all of it, If you had that same year when you're 25, you're like, ah, you know, it's throwaway. But at, you know, late 30s? Three years ago, Bucky Brooks. The great Bucky Brooks. The great Bucky Brooks. Who I had a big fight with on the air because he said Aaron Wagers was washed up. This was the year before he won the back-to-back MVP's.

All I'm saying is, now you know a thing or two about calling people washed up. Okay. Right, right? I mean, I'm a name Tom Brady here, Buck. But my point is. You got to be careful, and I do believe that there was something. I'm not saying he played well. I'm not getting – for Aaron Rogers, he did not play well.

But the other thing that scares me about the Jets, even more than Aaron Rogers at age 39, is the Jets – it's different when nobody has expectations for you. You know that, Ben. Last year, nobody thought the Jets were any good. They won some games that people were shocked at. Oh, wow, look at what's going on here. Now this year with all the talk and they're going to the Super Bowl and you think that people are going to take the Jets lightly coming in with Aaron Rogers?

Do you believe that? Not one second. Right out of the case. Right. It's so different when all of a sudden you're supposed to be this team. I think the same thing will happen with the Detroit Lions who people are making all this Google eyes with. I am drinking the Honolulu Blue Kool-Aid. Drink it all.

I love Dan Campbell's stick. Everyone ripped him when he got hired. He was a meathead guy. But I think he's figured something out there. Oh, really? Last year, he cost him the game against Minnesota. The defense was terrible. And also, we need to get the sound, Ryan, of the Lions announcers.

And we'll talk about the Lions later in the show. Yeah, we will. Who told Dan Campbell to call time out during the game. They're screaming at him during the game. That's the coach you think. It's going to be coach of the year. and get to the Super Bowl? I didn't say coach of the year.

Okay, we'll talk about it. We'll talk about it later for sure. Anyway, we're hanging out, Colin away, Rob Parker there, Ben Mallor here. Is it true that Jerry Jones is following the rule of drama yet again? We'll get to that. We'll do it next. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific

on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the I-Hard Radio app. And there's a rule in sports-stop. talk radio that you can't go more than what about a couple segments without mention the Dallas Cowboys Rob is that the rule that you have to mention the Dallas Cowboys is it the Cowboys LeBron James Lakers and what's the third what's the third part of that is there like the trifecta is there a third well it used to be Tom Brady oh the Patriots yeah the Patriots and all that right yeah so the Dallas Cowboys here are at the top and the rule of drama you know what the rule of drama is right, Rob, it's a

Hollywood thing, that everything's got to be more messy and convoluted than it needs to be. It's the rule of drama. Because if everyone gets along, it's not good. It's kind of like doing a radio show. If everyone agrees on everything, how boring is that? Right. There are plenty of shows like that, but people don't listen to it.

No, no. It's called background noise and all that. But anyway, so the story this week in Cowboyland, Jerry Jones, he liked the team so much, he bought it, and he's the GM, there's been the GM forever. We all know that. And Jerry has, over the years, he's done things randomly just to get attention, to keep the Cowboys. Not that the Cowboys need extra attention, but I feel like Jerry does a lot of things just because he knows it's going to be good fodder.

That football is not the most important thing. One of those moves involved Trey Lance, the transaction last couple days here, Trey Lance coming over the weekend from the 49ers. for a fourth round pick. And if you didn't hear the audio, Jerry Jones, listen to Jerry and explain. He did not let everyone know what his plan was. He had. What a shocker that was.

He had no plan. Take a listen. We didn't tell anybody until we did it. Period. There was nobody that knew it. We told Mike after we'd done it. But my point is, we just wanted to get it done. Have you talked to back since then?

No, I have not. when you say you told Mike after it did he have any input on the just that he liked him as a quarterback coming out but that that's our decision all right so what are the cowboys thinking what what what are you shocked ben they've been running this thing the cowboys jerry Jones like a mom and pop store okay his kids running a team Jerry thinks he's the GM and and uh you know I get it he owns the team as so he wants to do it he wants to win his way he's already in the pro football Hall of Fame but he still wants to win on his own terms and in the last 28 years they've been to the NFC championship game zero times their playoff record is five and 12 we could go on and on and on there with the NFL reg drags as far as teams that haven't

done anything in the last 30 years with the lions and the and the browns and the cowboys are in that group and all of it coincides with when Jerry Jones decided he had to win his way. And this is why we keep getting the same-old same-o from the cowboys. Why don't you smart people turn over the business to people who do this for a living? And I don't understand it. Why? Well, I'll tell you what, if I bought an NFL team, Rob, I would want to be the GM.

I would want to be Jerry Jones. I would. If I had enough more, if I won the lottery. For what? Why would you? What's it? You don't want to hire other people to run the time. I know more than these other people.

Get football. Yeah, you think you do. What are football people? Go get guys who have done the work. So you're just like, you would love this. You would like 28 years where since Jimmy Johnson left, you haven't done anything really. I mean, let's just be honest. Well, one thing that Jerry has done is the Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable team. That has nothing to do.

The Cowboys were before he bought the team, the Cowboys were the American team. Stop giving them credit. As if he transformed, no. He hasn't destroyed it. No, but they had Tom Landry. They had great players. He got rid of Landry. Stop.

But you're making it like they were the lions and he turned them into the Cowboys. They were popular. But the fact that they've continued though. And as you just pointed out, you just gave the resume of stinkage for the Dallas Cowboys. And yet, still, the Cowboys have endured in terms of revenue and popularity and all that stuff. But that's not what you're there for. Yes, a lot of it is because... If I own a team, I want to increase the value of the team.

So you could do that, but you don't have to make player personnel decisions, Ben. You could be the owner and enjoy all the money and everybody's saying, what a great franchise and look at the stadium you built and all of this. You can enjoy all that and also win. You could be Robert Kraft. You can hang out with rappers. You could get married at 95 years old. You can do all that if you want and still have a winning product.

What are you talking about? Yeah, but if the Cowboys do win, in Jerry's, you know, how many years he's going to do this, year's getting older, but it's somewhat, if the Cowboys win, that's the ultimate. Hey, see, I told you so, we're going to win. Oh, is that 40 years later? Yeah. Jerry Jones. Overnight success.

It took 40 years. Jerry Jones is so old. I think they moved his office to the cemetery. I mean, just stop. He's in the waiting room. I mean, what are we doing here? No, but it's fine. The trail lines.

Listen, I'm not going to defend. I can't defend Jerry Jones record. All I'm saying is if you listening won enough money to buy an NFL team, you would want. The whole point of it is a fan, you want to run the team. He was a fan, and he got, he bought the team. That's not what you want to do. You don't do that. But football, these so many teams hire football.

The Jets, how many football people have Jets hired? And they, there's no better than the Cowboys. Yes, they are. The Jets went to the AFC championship game. Big deal. Twice. What do you mean? I'll tell you why.

No, wait a minute. Wait a minute. They went twice with Rex Ryan. You're acting like the Jets didn't do anything for a hundred years. Let me explain. Because I like the Clippers. And I always point out, on my show, I point out the Clippers made the Final Four. And that doesn't mean anything.

Who cares about the Final Four? They were in the conference finals. But that's the only time in their franchise history. It doesn't matter. Yes, it was a few years ago. They were in the conference finals and one of the best player got hurt and all that. But my point is, you're talking about all. So either that matters.

You go to the Lions. They've all hired football people for the most part over the years. Football people doesn't guarantee you anything. Nobody says it guarantees. But when you look at the Cowboys and how they had a dynasty won three out of four when Jimmy Johnson was buying the groceries and cooking, and then it took it over by Jerry Jones, and you look 28 years down the road,

and you see that this franchise hasn't done what with the talented players and the money that they've spent, Ben, for them not to get to an NFC championship game since 1995 is outrageous. The league is set up so that you can, you know, like, you can. I agree with all that. I agree with all that. You can turn your franchise around. That's why when you look at franchises like the Lions and the Cowboys of Late, and you say to yourself,

how is this even possible that the Lions have won one playoff game since 1957, or the Cowboys haven't been to the NFC Championship game since, 1995. That's more than a generation. People have more than 25 years? Yeah. No, it's been bad. But the whole Trey Lance thing to circle back to Trey Lance, from a football standpoint, it makes no sense. Some people are in the Cowboys media. Like, well, he's an insurance in case Dak Prescott ends up leaving.

And the Cowboys have to make a decision on Dax contract if you're into that kind of thing coming up. But my point, Tray Lance has done nothing. other than some scouts when he was in North Dakota said this guy's going to be great. And because of the whole COVID thing, he hardly played his last year at North Dakota State. And then now in the NFL, he hasn't played much. When he's played, he hasn't been very good. He's played five games, Ben. You're going to evaluate a guy off of that.

Stop it. It's the NFL, right? The old Jerry Glanville line, not for long and all. You got to show something. That's legit, Ben. Enough for the 49ers to throw in the flag. And say that's it. We're done.

We're going to bring in Brock Purdy's going to be the guy. Was it the last pick in the draft? Yeah, okay. And Brock Purdy falls off the cliff this year. They'll be scrambling. It'll just prove to you that they did a terrible job of vetting this guy and scouting him. And Trey Lance should have never been picked. They should have never gave up three first round picks.

To swing and miss that bad on a guy is ridiculous. It tells you about that. that Shanahan never really wanted him, and there had to be a divide in the front office. Why in the world would you draft a guy, give him five games to play, and then get rid of him? I mean, it doesn't make sense. He couldn't stay healthy, though.

That's the problem. He kept getting hurt. Play five games. Because they can't play him if he's in a wheelchair. I mean, what are they going to do? The guy's hurt. Why not? Put him out there?

That wheelchair football? First in ten, what a wheelchair. Well, he'd be mobile. You'd definitely be able to move around there. And it'd be hard to tackle. I mean, you could get injured if you hit the wheelchair the wrong way. That could become problematic for sure. But, listen, Trey Lance, it's just a bizarre situation.

I go back to the drama orama of Jerry's world. But one other point, and Jerry said this somewhat recently in the last year or so. He said, I think it was last year. The Cowboys had a decision to make, the trade deadline where they're going to add, you know, big name player or whatever. And Jerry, like, did the whole rant. and we'll talk more about this later, but his whole rant, Rob, was like, well, you don't want to go all in. Jerry's idea is just, he wants to be competitive every year so the Cowboys have a chance, and then he figures the law of averages will play out, which I don't think is a legitimate law, the law of averages,

that at some point, by mistake the Cowboys, as long as they're in the playoffs every year, they're going to win one. They thought that in Chicago with the Cubs, and then 108 years passed. Stop with the law. They've been saying that in Detroit with the Lions. I worked in that town. There's no such thing. It's about making good decisions. It's about building a team the right way.

It ain't the law of averages. Everybody doesn't win. There are plenty of teams in every league, Ben, that have never won a championship, right, throughout their whole existence. Because it's not a law of average. Oh, well, the stars will align, and the clouds will part open,

and then all of a sudden everything will fall in our lap and will win. No. Yeah. And by the way, before we get off the Cowboys conversation point here, if I'm the Cowboys, I would move on from Dak Prescott. I'm not a Dak Prescott guy. That guy has come up small in so many big games over the years. I don't think he's the guy.

He's not the guy that's going to get it done. I have not seen. He's been there long enough now, Dak. And he's fine during the regular season and against inferior opponents. But I've seen that guy go out there and puke too many times in big games. Well, but Jerry gave him the big contract. I know. I wouldn't have done it.

I know. And then they had no choice but to pay them all the money. They're coming up to another crossroads here, Rob, where it's like, hey, they can make a decision whether or not they want to continue to go down that road. But everyone's so afraid. They're so paranoid about change. They're like, I don't know. We picked the wrong quarterback.

Yeah, okay. Maybe you will pick the wrong. Maybe you'll pick somebody who puts you over the top and gets it done. I mean, the Cowboys have talent. Even though you'd rip Jerry Jones, you'd admit that roster's pretty good. Yeah, but that's the person. is a stud. But that's the problem is that they have a good roster, but they can't win because if they had

somebody and Jerry's not making – he just told you. He just signed a quarterback without talking to the coach. The coach of the team. Come on. Come on, Ben. Like, even if you want to make the move, can you clue when the coach who actually running the team? Some people were upset because he didn't tell Dak.

Now, I don't understand not telling him, Dak. The coach. Yeah, McCarthy. Mike McCarthy's like – But he couldn't tell him. I don't know because he wasn't working the puppet strings on McCarthy. Is that what it was? I guess so.

I'm surprised McCarthy's back after the way they imploded against the Niners last year. They must have put so much stock, the Cowboys, in beating a sub-500 Buccaneer team with Tom Brady, who was on his last legs and all that. And you know what? There were so many people thought that Tampa was going to win. I never bought that. Did you buy that? I did not. I had the Cowboys in that year.

Cowboys are going to beat them. That was like the biggest, to me, easy bet I've ever seen. But you saw with the Cowboys, Dak Prescott against the sub-500 team in the playoffs played well. And then when he went against the 49th defense. That's his M.O. Go look at the record. I know. That's what I'm saying.

Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. The Chicago Bears were the worst team in football because the Houston Texans won a game. They weren't supposed to win last year. That was a great ending. Are you kidding? You enjoyed that? I love that.

It just cost them the top pick. That's fine. So the bears, if you pay attention to the buildup, the lead-in to the NFL season, the Chicago Bears are on the short list of teams that have been puffed up, like a puffer fish, that the Chicago Bears are going to be a lot better, and that that division with Aaron Rogers not there in Green Bay anymore, the Vikings are good but not great. You look at the lions.

You're down on the lions. I think the lions will be okay. But it's a competitive division. So the Bears are going to be a contender, many people think. And the big point here is that Justin Fields, the quarterback in Chicago, is not only going to improve, but he is an MVP candidate. Rob, I am blown away by this. I look at Justin Fields and I say, what are we doing here? Like, I liked him coming out of Ohio State.

And he's been a wonderful highlight sizzle reel guy. It's been really good with the sizzle reel. But the reality is that his throwing of the football has been terrible. He was statistically, if you look at some of the numbers last year, throwing the ball for the bears, he was horrible. And I just don't see a sit there. He's going to be better. But for him to go from where he's. has been last year into MVP

rarefied air I don't get it I think these people are talking out of their behinds with this nonsense well it's just I don't know people are looking for stuff to fill over summertime throwing out names like I want to be as

a cutting edge as possible so that if something happens I'll tell you well I get that you're looking for the next big thing but the thing you did bring up about Justin Fields I'll say this it wasn't that long ago people were questioning whether Jalen Hertz could throw the football consistently enough I remember we had Anthony Gargano from Philadelphia you know

the Pope down there the fellas yes and he came on our show and this was last year yeah not this past season that you know the year before and said that you know while he loved Jalen Hertz and thought he was you know just a great football play He just questioned whether or not he could throw the football consistently to be an NFL quarterback. And then what happened in the year's time when you got him some weapons and some other things happened? He had an unbelievable year, including a tremendous Super Bowl that had they not turned the ball over, Ben, you don't know.

They might have won the Super Bowl. I mean, that's how great he played. So can people improve and take another step if the right weapons and scheme is put around them? Sure. Do I think that Justin Fields is in the conversation for MVP coming into the season? No, I don't believe that. But can he improve and play better? I saw Jalen Hurts do it in one year.

You've got to admit that, Ben. There were questions more. Here's the difference, though. And you're right. I didn't think Hertz was going to be very good. I thought he'd be average. But he started at a better spot than where Fields is in Chicago. I got it.

But there were questions as well. I'm saying. No, there is, but the over-hyping, and this always drives me nuts. I guess we're kind of in the hype business doing what we do here. I'm not a hype man. But you got to earn, to me, you've got to earn it. And I just don't think he's earned it. People are, they're pulling muscles trying to stretch reality.

And I do not see it. The bears have a slightly better roster than they did last year. The other thing for Fields, I see this with a lot of quarterbacks. This is also a thing that drives me nuts. I call it fact-shaming, Rob, where people. rip, when quarterbacks get sacked, they always think it's the offensive lines fault. They never think, it cannot be the quarterback held a ball to. That's what I'm saying.

A lot of these, I look at a lot of the quarterbacks that are sacked at the very top. And, you know, a lot of, many times the sacks are because they held on. They didn't get rid of the ball. And you can, I remember in the old days, Peyton Manning, who I ripped, but Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, the top quarterbacks all time have been able to, if they have an offensive lines, got issues, you adjust. And Justin Fields hasn't gotten to that point. Now, maybe he will get to that point, but

he hasn't gotten there yet, and he's going to get killed when you combine the way he runs the ball and all the sacks. The Bears will be on their third quarterback by week 10. Yeah, I don't know. I mean, do I think he could take a step? Sure, I do. Because

I think you've seen that in the NFL. If you get people weapons and you improve the roster and you figure it out, he has a year he watched what happened. last year. And if you decide that, okay, I need to do these things and I need to figure out how much time I have

with the offensive line and if I'm throwing a football, all kinds of stuff. So it's not inconceivable that he can definitely get improvement. Now, them saying that the what, the Bears are winning the division, is that a part of this story too? Well, that there are a contender. I don't think of the Bears as a contender.

Do you have the Bears as a... To me, it would be a contender. You've got to win round nine games. I don't the Bears are going to nine games. Does that mean that they think the Lions are only going to win six and the Bears are going to... Is that what the thing is? Well, you have the Lions winning about four games. No, I didn't say that.

Come on, you do. I did not say that. You've taken a strong anti-Lions position. Oh, only because I covered them for 20 years. Is that what it is? Listen, I covered the Clippers when they were dreadful, but they're a good team now. Things can change. Things improve.

That's what I remember when you were covering the Cubs for those 108 years. That's what you said every year, right? I might have missed a couple of those years. in Chicago. Okay, I'm just saying, like, just be careful of assuming that things are going to be one way or the other.

MVP, no. Can he make big steps and strides? Yes, that can happen, Ben. I just don't see the MVP talk. There's too many other quality quarterbacks and situation. And it's turned into a quarterback award. It's not a real MVP.

You might as well call the Cy Young of quarterback, because that's really what it is, right? Yeah. No, no, it had. I mean, the last, who's the last, Was it Adrian Peterson? 2012, I think.

I mean, that's a long time ago. Yeah. No, for sure. It absolutely isn't. But as far as the Jalen Hertz thing, here's one of my issues. Like, Jalen Hertz, to me, that's the exception of the rule. What is doable. It is doable.

But it is the exception rule. Oftentimes, like, you start out a certain way, and most of the time, it's not going to deviate from the path you've started on. Yeah, but look at. where he went from people questioning, you know, if this guy could play consistently in the NFL to a Super Bowl and no, and more importantly, he got paid. He got the big contract.

And his numbers in the Super Bowl was suitable for framing. I mean, they weren't like he just was on the ride with the defense. He played great. Yeah, he did not have the tight took his syndrome in the Super Bowl. He was, the moment was not too big for him. And so that one turnover turned everything. change everything. But again, I go back to the point. It's like that's the exception. Is it possible? Sure. It's possible I could go, you know, a second head, but probably not going to happen.

Probably not going to take place there in terms of that. I did want to mention here the Washington football team. I guess they called the commanders now. Ron Rivera said something this week, Rob. And it caught my attention. Talking about the situation there in Washington. and I'm going to paraphrase. I'm not going to give you the exact quote because I'm not Ron Rivera, but I'm going to paraphrase. So they were talking about the quarterback, and Sam Howell has played well in these practice games,

and I hope he does well, but practice. I don't make any opinions on exhibition games. But the gist of the Ron Rivera quote was, if I had known he was this good, we would have played him earlier, was the quote. And to me, I know Ron's had some health problems, he's been away from the team a little bit. But that's, that quote right there, to me is a quote that, I mean, I own the team.

My eyeballs are popping out of my head. No, if I own the team, I'm going down to his office and saying, can I have your key and clicker to the garage? I mean, seriously, like to even say that, if I knew he was that good, I would be playing. Like, that sounds ridiculous. Aren't you watching the film? Aren't you talking to people? Aren't you watching them play? Even if you're not at practice, because Ron had some health problems.

but even if you do have to, you're still the head coach, you've got to keep track of this stuff. And you're the one. I'm not the one. I have strong opinions on everyone, Rob, but they're not paying me to make the actual decisions. They're paying him to make the decisions here. And so you talk about a good soft launch for Sam Howell, though.

The Arizona Cardinals, the worst team that you could possibly have in the NFL, at least talent-wise. And that's the first game Washington plays. So if he does not get off to a good stuff, You're saying, what are we doing here? Dynasty the King. What's good, y'all? It's your main man, Michael Smith,

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Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. The defending of cheapness. So Bill Belichick, people still talking about this. If you didn't hear it, Belichick on his weekly radio spot in Boston on W.E.I. Belichick normally says nothing interesting at all. It is painful to listen to. But every once in a while, every once in a while, Bill will say something that has got some meat to it. and so Belichick this week on his weekly radio spot in Boston there.

He was asked about the money and spending money, and well, he then mentioned certain teams that spend too much money. Take a listen. Can't you create cap space by spending more cash and guarantees? So teams like the bills are... Temporarily, you can. You can't sustain it. No.

I mean, you can't sustain the 20 years of success that we sustain by overspending every year without. having to eventually pay those bills and play with a lesser team. Do you think it is possible? So I think if you look at the teams that, you know, have done that, that's kind of where some of them ended up, you know. Jacksonville back in 14, the Rams are going through it, Tampa's going through it now. So I'm not saying there's any right or wrong with it.

It's just a different way of doing things. And there's, you know, there's the results for doing that. All right. So I totally disagree with Bill Belichick. And it's a good question, Belichick. it's like the Rams and Bucks are the bad guys, but they both won the

championship by going for it. And I look at Belichick, Rob, and I say to myself, this guy for the last 20 years, he's been protecting Robert Kraft, who has never been one of the top spenders as an owner with the Patriots.

And my guys in Boston I talk to, they tell me, he's like, well, nobody really criticizes Robert Kraft. He's the beloved owner and all that and Belichick, there's this perception that Belichick would rather coach guys that are lesser guys. He does not want to pay the big money guys because they're big eos and all that. But that's a terrible way to look at things. I want to work for a business that wants to overpay people. I don't want to work for a business that doesn't want to pay people.

And the NFL salary cap, I'm a salary cap truther, Rob. I've got a tinfoil hat on here. Are you really? Yes, I believe the salary cap is totally malleable and it's easy to. to manipulate and it's the only like any business any business has a budget and I worked in the radio business a long time and if they want you if you're important enough to to the radio station they will pay you

they always have money for people they want and if you suck or they don't think you're very good they will not pay you so that's kind of and it's no different in the NFL so I hear Belichick going that rant and I'm like yeah come on it's ridiculous it's absolutely and the Patriots

at this point they have to spend money and yet they are 31st in the NFL and cash spending heading into the season. 31st. There's only 32 teams. There's only 32 teams. This is a lesson to all these players and fans who get

duped by this whole salary cap thing and not spending money on players. What they're doing to the running backs, Ben, they tell you, oh yeah, let us use you up for five years and then we'll go get another younger player

for no money. Like seriously, who wants to sign up for that. Josh Jacobs led the league in Russia and he couldn't get a deal, right? Like how is that you're asking people to put up their blood, sweat, tears, give up their bodies, right? Get those extra two yards you need for a first down to help you win the game. It's the same thing like Jim Ursay in Indianapolis and what they're doing with Jonathan Taylor, right?

Like, oh yeah, we don't need you. We can take anybody who can play. you put anybody in your spot. Well, if that's the case, why don't you just release them? Well, because he has value, right? That's why you didn't release them. Well, they treat running backs like disposable toothbrushes. You use them and then eventually you get a new toothbrush.

How is that fair? How come you're not paying people? And this whole notion, oh, Tom Brady took less. The narrative around Tom Brady is that he didn't have any players around him, that they didn't spend money other than when they got Randy Moss on the cheap, right, because of what happened in Oakland. they never went out and got anybody. So what am I giving up money for or taking less than my market value?

Patrick Mahomes, oh, we want to keep the chiefs together. What happened? Yeah, the other thing that drives me nuts. They lose players. Ask Kelsey if he got paid in Kansas City. It works both ways. The Patriots have been so great and they have a huge fanbiz, which is ironic because when I started doing the syndicated radio and we were on in Boston,

the early days before the Patriots took off, they were all giants and Jets fans there. They were not Patriots fans because the Patriots had stunk. And of course, now everyone's a Patriot fan, but they make tons of money the Patriots. If you're a fan of that team, why would you spend the entertainment money that you have on a team that doesn't, they do, first of all, they're mediocre. And secondly, they don't reinvest the money. So not only you talk about the players and the gripes the players have about not getting, you know, top dollar and all that. But then you also, from the fans' perspective, like, what are we doing when you're out there and you're essentially reinforcing bad habits?

And that also annoys me, the guys that post on social media call radio shows and they're like, well, you know, we love that our team saved 50 bucks. Why? Who cares? I want to. It's not my money. What fan? That's what I'm saying. They're brainwashed into buying into that.

Oh, I wouldn't give that money. I don't want. What? Did your beer prices go down? No. From the savings, are your tickets cheaper? Why would you ever stand on that defending team for saving money, Ben, when they don't pass the savings on to you? Exactly.

And it reminds me, the great agent Scott Bors, I'm going to name drop here, but he told me one time, he said, the player contracts have no bearing on the price of tickets or the price of concessions. And he was absolutely right. I know he's biased, but he's absolutely right. There's no correlation between how much a player's making and how much the price of nachos are going to cost or a soft. pretzel or any of that stuff, right? They're totally different things. And yet generations of fans have been brainwashed here with this, Rob.

Unbelievable. It's ridiculous is what it is. It's insane. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. On Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the I-Hard Radio app. Labor Day weekend is here. I know. And it's time for the best for last.

It's almost the end of the show. But that doesn't mean we're phoning it in. Nope. We grind to the very last. segment. It's time for best for last. And Rob, I have known you for a number of years now. Yes. I always tell people, they ask me about Rob Parker.

The thing I bring up first, not the great baseball writer, not the amazing pundit and hot take guy. No, I bring up the travel advice, because I am so jealous of you, Rob. You are living the life that I hope to live, and I've been unable to live it because of my wife, and she does not allow me to do this. But you know, Labor Day weekend, a great time to get out. You know every little, I don't know, cheat code's the right way to describe it. You know, every little hack to save money and travel all over, you've traveled all over the world doing this. Yes.

You know what? All seven continents. Ben, unbelievable. Nice. I mean, you know, Antarctica. Can you imagine a kid from Jamaica, Queens, making it to Antarctica? That was probably the most surreal when that boat got close and we got in these little, you know, flops. Loading, what they call a rafts kind of things.

And then got on land and I'm standing there. Penguins and sea lions and all that. Did they look at you like, what are you? You know, like, but you know what's crazy is that they didn't run away? Why are humans here? No, they didn't run away because they've never been hunted. So they're not afraid. You know what I mean?

Like the animals are just there. Nice. But I do travel a lot. I'm always, they got like my schedule coming up. I told you I'm always on the road. I live. I live through you because we follow each other on social media. One day you're in Costa Rica, the next day you're in Connecticut or whatever.

All right, so here we go. I'm going to try to save you some money back. Because this is how I do it. You know, I don't have the big Colin Cowherd money. I got, you know, Rob Parker. You should write a book on this. But you're giving this away for free. This would cost thousands of dollars if you were to pay for this.

No doubt about it. All right, always. Anything you could cut corners, you know, you go to airport, it's expensive to eat out, right? Very expensive. Yeah. So the first key is you always want, make sure you bring your own time. tea bags, okay? Okay.

What if you don't drink tea, though, right? Well, you got to be a tea drinker. I understand. My whole point is, I'm not paying $4 or $5 for a cup of hot water. I hear you. I could get 100 tea bags for $3.99. So will they give you a cup of hot water if you just ask? Most places will give you a free cup of hot water.

Okay. So you got the tea taking care of right there. I just saved you five bucks, four or five bucks, right? All right. Keep track of it. So $5. I'm saving you that. All right.

Okay. What's next? All right. You know, if you got bringing a lot of clothes on your trip, and they're going to charge you to bring your bag on the flight. So it might be like $45, $50, $60. So what you do is you wear some extra things that you might. So I might wear a couple of shirts underneath. I got on three pair underwear. I'm just saying. Rob, you've been on television and radio for like 30-something. than years or longer than that. And imagine somebody's sitting next to Rob Park. I'm sitting next to a big TV guy, radio guy,

and the plane, and you've got like seven layers of clothes. I got clothes on. I got clothes on. The winter in Boston or something. And as soon as I get on, I could take a couple off and put them up or whatever. Make sure you have a trash bag. Sometimes I'll have, like, you know, the bags you get groceries in. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

The usable bags. So once you get on, you can take some stuff off. You don't want to be hot. Okay, that's another way of saving money. So you don't bring a suitcase? There's no, no, no, because I'm not paying. Here's the other thing, too. So that's $50, you said.

So for up to $55 now, you say. And then you don't want to. The other thing is you leave clothes behind. You never want to, like, bring dirty clothes back. Can't you just wash them, though? No, no, no. Because I don't want to, like, you know, you might want to buy some extra stuff or other things.

So I always leave clothes behind. What I'll do, never underwear and underclothes for people. That's gross. But I'll wear, like, if I went on a trip and I have three golf shirts. I'll leave two behind, leave a couple pair of pants, leave some other stuff, I'll write a note for the maid or whoever cleans the room, right? I don't know what they call them today.

I want to be politically correct. I don't know what they call. Leave a note and it'll say, please, keep these things or donate them. Now, is that your tip to the person cleaning the room? Yes, that is your tip. No, I'm not leaving more shirts and pants. They might have a six,

game used by Rob Parker. They might have a six-foot-four kid I need a couple pair of pants and a golf shirt or whatever. You never leave shoes, though, right? You can't leave your shoe guy. You can't leave any Nike's your Jordan's around. I had a pair of Nike's that I left in Miami in a hotel because I had a pair of Jordans as well. When I went to Costa Rica, I left the Jordans in Miami, took the Nikes to Costa Rica.

I would have left them in Costa Rica, but I didn't have any shoes to wear back from Costa Rica. So I had to wear them back, but I left him in Miami. Okay. Okay. All right. So you're up to $55. Plus, no, I've just saved another because I'm not having another bag. Oh, that's right.

So, okay. That's another $50. Okay. So $105 we're up to that. Okay, here we go. The seats. You don't want to pay for extra. You need extra leg room.

I do. That's a big problem I have. I always get the emergency exit row. They charge extra for that, though. But what you do is you wait until the very last minute to check in. You know why? Why is that? Nobody wants to pay extra for the better seats.

So when the other seats fill up, they have. they have to give you the exit road. Those are the only seats that are left. So you wait to the very last second and all the other middle seats fill up. And nobody wants to pay, Ben, so that's left? My wife, she's like so paranoid when we travel, she's like right away when the thing pops up in your phone to check in. She immediately checks in. And I got to tell you, the Rob Parker way, you wait to the very end.

Does that make sense? I like it. Totally makes sense. Yes, it does. Because they have to give me a seat and they have to. and the only thing that's available, exit rolls because most people don't want to pay the extra fee. Yeah.

And they nickel. I was in Boston a couple weeks ago. They nickel and dime you on everything. And when you travel to and you got friends or whatever and you're taking people out, you know how you like to eat out lunch with a lot of people. So you always remember, always go to the restaurants with the two-for-one coupons. You don't have to tell your friend that you have a two-for-one.

You get up, you go away from the table, you wave over the waitress and you slide her. the two-for-one coupon. Okay. And your friend, you know, they don't need to know. They don't need to know. It's the gesture.

It doesn't matter. Do you care if I pay for lunch or not? No. All you know is that you didn't pay for it and you had a free meal. Exactly. Now, you don't want to be the person though when you say, like, you can only order the spaghetti because that's the two-for-one. You don't want to be that guy.

I have been like. Have you been like, just get the spaghetti. You look like a spaghetti guy. Let me tell you. I don't put it like that. I go, it's the best thing on the menu. Trust you. No, that's it.

That's it. They get that New York salesmanship. My man. So there you go. I'm saving you money, Ben. Okay. I love the fact that you show up to a city. Sometimes these cities you've never been to and you're like, oh, go buy a few t-shirts or underwear or whatever.

I love that. Yes. Why would you pay money to bring underwear and t-shirts and then you're going to leave it behind? Leave it behind. Listen, and I don't, you know, we want to say the name of the airline, but you've got, you're in the right spirit when it comes to this kind of stuff. Yes. You're a good spirit about you and you're traveling around and all that stuff. You know, I would go, but I don't like taking time off.

That's the other problem. Like, I feel, I don't know, I feel guilty when I take time off. I shouldn't. I blame the station I worked at in San Diego. Take time off? I should. When you own time. I know.

I work all the time, but I take time off. Yeah. No doubt. I remember I had a boss you said, Ben, you need work-life balance. I said, what is that? Running on the herd. Rob Parker over there. Ben Mallor here.

We're hanging out, calling away. And we're going to have a grand time, Rob Parker. We are. Yes. You know what? I didn't hear that. What does Colin do? Ah.

Just like that. There you go. And what a way to start, Rob. The New York Jets, getting the full treatment, yet again, hard knocks. I don't know if you had a chance to watch it. I never miss hard knocks. Oh, I'm sorry. They have mastered the formula, as I have pointed out in the past on the overnight show that I do,

that the hard knocks formula it's like hg tv you watch an episode of any of those shows on hg tv and you know how it's going to go and the hard knox is the NFL films people have mastered it so the latest episode of hard knocks they did a soprano's spoof where they showed robert salla driving on the jersey turnpike going into the stadium there to get ready for the the season so for exhibition game So they had that. And the one thing that we do love about Hard Knocks, I love it, the miced-up players behind the scenes. And there was one incident, Rob. In fact, we have the audio on this.

So the Aaron Rogers, and there's a giant player, and I get the name of the guy here, Jehad Ward. And so Jehad Ward and Aaron Rogers, there's Rogers, he only played a few plays in the exhibition game. So Ward comes in. There's a little contact, and then we'll go hear what happened. Take a listen. Bro, what the f*** is that? Tell some respect, bro. Come on, what the f***ed that?

Five damn six. I don't even know who you are, bro. I don't know who you. You don't know. I never hurt you. Drops back. Lobb's one. Front left pylon.

It is caught. Garrett Wilson. That's a jet touchdown. Polka bear. Oh, I'm not. I don't hurt you. Then I gave him the line that's uncomeback with a bowl. I said, I don't even know who you are.

But he said, I don't know who you are. I said, bull-shy. Yeah. So this is the great thing. Now, Rob, I don't know a lot of famous people. You know more famous people than me. Is that right? Who said that?

No, no, you know famous people, Rob. But here's the thing. That is the ultimate chaos. If you go up to somebody who's famous, like, I don't know who you are. That annoys famous people more than anything. They go nuts. They go ballistic. And so it was good audio.

Also, we have Aaron Rogers very upset. You know, this is, they're building and painting the picture here on Hard Knocks about Aaron Rogers, the great leader, the savior of the New York Jets. And unlike every other stiff that's played quarterback for the Jets, Aaron Rogers is not going to put up with any of the nonsense. Take a listen. Mistakes of one drive. Basic at 12 to 14 yards. Mistakes of one damn drive. It's unbelievable.

Drop three balls and three wrong routes and a false start. And then Roger's probably when he talks to the media. I thought we had a great practice today. I thought everything was fine.

We did a good job, right? Rob, isn't that how it usually goes when you were covering NFL teams over the years? Yes. Yeah. Then they'll definitely flip it. I don't know. I mean, obviously,

whenever you pull a curtain back, there's some acting there. People know that they're might. You know, like, I don't know how much of it. It's like reality TV, right? There's a show called Bridezilla. What is that, what are you supposed to do if you're a bride? Are you supposed to act nice to the people helping you with the wedding?

Or are you supposed to act like something else? You know what I mean? Like, that's what I always say. Once you know you're mic, and I'm walking around with a mic on, I think I play to the camera and the mic. Yeah, yeah. In fact, there's a, I forget the term. I remember reading about this when I was in school.

There's a term for it. It was a science experiment in a factory, and they put cameras in the factory to see how people would react to the cameras. And people do, you change. And these guys know if they have a great line on hard knocks, they're going to get attention. Guys like us are going to talk about it. They have marketing opportunities. I remember years ago when reality TV kind of started, I was driving in Hollywood to work, and they were taping one of those dating reality shows. and I was stopped at a red light

and there's a lot of traffic and so they walked across the street and they taped the thing and I guess they didn't get the right camera angle so they did it again I was like wait right that's scripted I mean well that's the issue

and then they have writers writing what you need to say and all this kind of stuff it's all a farce it is and the Jets could wind up being a farce speaking of farces and I'm gonna say this Ben you don't have Jets fever Rob

you're a New York guy dude I grew up I grew up as a Jets fan. I grew up in Queens. I used to go to games at Chase Stadium. I mean, all of that. Remember. But I'm not one of these guys that every time they add a quarterback,

add water, and stir, I think they're going to the Super Bowl. Okay? Because Brett Favre was a Jet, too. How'd that work out? That did not work out. Did not work out well? And here's my thing. I get it.

I know why people are thinking that. this is it. Finally, that this downtrodden organization that hasn't won a Super Bowl since the Louisiana purchase is all of a sudden going to win now because they got a Hall of Fame quarterback. Whatever you think of Aaron Rogers,

the guy's one of the greatest whoever through the football, okay? And he already won a Super Bowl. A long time ago, though. Yeah, but it doesn't matter. Yeah, you say that, but Dan Marino never won a Super Bowl. No, he didn't. But he was a great quarterback. Would you deny that? But is that, to me that, I'm not one of these

guys, but you have to win a championship. I think Carl Malone in the NBA is one of the all-time grades. He didn't win a championship, right? People rip him all. He didn't win. Charles Barkley. But I'm not saying that. But I'm saying that the people try to act like, well, Aaron Rogers won a long time. He won. There are guys who never won.

But the pack, you think of Fav and Rogers, basically 30 years of playing quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, they won two. Yeah, but that. Two. Yeah, but that, I think what you're not looking at is and you're not being fair is... I'm being fair.

No, the bad defenses. And remember, here's two things. And Aaron Rogers' career in Green Bay. They never drafted a skilled position in the first round. Never. Zero. And also, they never fix their defense. And one year, if you could

help me out, one year, everybody on their roster except for one player was drafted by the Packers. So, I think if they had an owner, a real owner, that things would have been different, but because they're run by, you know, like this board and nobody really owns the Packers, I think that has hurt the organization, to be honest, in getting the parts and the pieces

that they need. But anyway. But they have the ultimate, though, in Green Bay. They're like, hey, well, we're in Green Bay. You know, who wants to come to Green Bay? That's what they always, that's their argument. They did get Reggie White as a free agent to come to Green Bay. That's because God told him to do that, though.

If God had told him to go to Cincinnati, he would have gone to Cincinnati. But he did go to Green Bay. So they need interference from a higher power to get people to go to Green Bay. Either that or to produce Hebrew National Hot Dog. Well, that would be. My brother actually lives in Appleton, Wisconsin. That's where the mall is in Appleton. I know.

I had never been to Green Bay. My brother lived there. I tried to avoid going there. I did. I loved it. I thought it was great. But it is so unlike. When did you go?

You talked about you loved Appleton. I did. You went to February? I didn't go in February and December. I'm not stupid. That's an awful place. No, are you kidding? But I love the whole explanation that Green Bay is so small.

And I went to Lambeau Field. There's no game there. I went to Lambow Field. The biggest thing at Lambeau Field is the team store. But I went to the Lameboe, and it's like there's not even a hotel big enough for the teams to stay in Green Bay. They stay in Appleton. They stay in Appleton. Which is not that big, by the way, either.

No, but I know because, obviously, I covered every Lions Road game for almost 20 years. Eating cheese curds and all that. Yeah, so I was in Appleton, and I went to the mall, and I bought sneakers there. and the whole nine yards and I've lived that life. But it really is nothing there. I mean, let's just be honest. You saw that. You got people parked their cars in people's driveways across the street from Lambeaufield

Game Day. You go to Calvers alone and get some good fast food. Okay. Is that it? All right. But here's my point on the New York Jetrapolit. I get it. They won seven games.

They didn't make the playoffs, but they won seven game. They didn't have a quarterback a year ago, right? So you say, okay, they have a pretty darn good defense. They got young players Some young studs, right? Running back, why I get it You start to look at the roster and go They got a good roster.

You add a Hall of Fame quarterback And add water stir And you go They're going to the Super Bowl Or this is all set up But we saw this very same scenario With the New York Mets This past year who won what

101 games last year Ben Maller and guess what? They went out and got Justin Verlinder the American League Sy Young Award winner comeback player of the year add him to Scherzer and everything that had gone on the year

before and guess what? They're not going to the playoffs. Well the thing that fascinates is, first of all the fact that this is a combustible situation. You just talked about Green Bay and Rogers going to New York and you know you were a sports writer in New York, you grew up there, how different it is. If things go bad, if this turns out

to be rotten, the snowball effect it's going to bury the jets If they're 0 and 4 to start There's no doubt about it They open up with Buffalo On I think Monday night I'm not high on Buffalo

I'll tell you that Well I look at the AFCEs Tell me if I'm wrong on this road I think the whole division Is a Tinder box Because Buffalo you've got The Diggs situation That could turn nasty

My guys that are in Bill's Mafia Tell me I'm nuts That Diggs will be fine But I've seen too many Divo wide receivers Cause problems You look at Miami Tuas, you want to be polite and stuff, but the guys had a lot of concussions.

You don't know if he's going to stay healthy. They don't have a Mike White, I believe, is the backup quarterback there, the former jet. The Patriots, who, I mean, they're a mess. So that whole division is topsy-turvy. But the jets are also also topsy-turvy. Aaron Rogers did not look good. People don't like to talk about this. It's taboo.

He did not look good. He showed signs last year that you're like, is he. Do you have a bad thumb? Well, is that the excuse? Is that to get out of jail free card? It's not an excuse, Ben. Like, you've got to be realistic. Now, that guy threw more interceptions last year than he did the previous three years.

I mean, can you at least admit that that looked a little weird that he didn't have his... It was odd. But he didn't have a thumb injury. But the rule is, Rob, that when you get to a certain age, if you don't play well, then all of it... If you had that same year when you're 25, you're like, ah, you know, it's throw away. But at late 30s? Three years ago, Bucky Brooks... The great Bucky Brooks.

The great Bucky Brooks, who I had a big fight with on the air because he said Aaron Rogers was washed up. This was the year before he won the back-to-back MVP's. All I'm saying is, now you know a thing or two about calling people washed up. Okay. Right, right? I mean, I'm a name Tom Brady here.

But my point is you got to be careful. And I do believe that there was something. I'm not saying he played well. I'm not getting, for Aaron Rogers, he did not play well. But the other thing that scares me about the Jets, even more than Aaron Rogers at age 39, is the Jets, it's different when nobody has expectations for you.

You know that, Ben. Last year, nobody thought the Jets were any good. They won some games that people were shocked at. Oh, wow, look at what's going on here. Now this year with all the talk and they're going to the Super Bowl and you think that people are going to take the Jets lightly coming in with Aaron Rogers. Do you believe that?

Not one second. Right out of the case. It's different. Right. It's so different when all of a sudden you're supposed to be this team. I think the same thing will happen with the Detroit Lions, who people are making all this. See, I disagree with you on the Lions.

I am drinking the Honolulu Blue Kool-Aid. Drink it all. I love Dan Campbell's stick. Everyone ripped him when he got hired. He was a meathead guy. But I think he's figured something out there. Oh, really? Last year he cost him the game against Minnesota.

Their defense was terrible, right. And also, we need to get the sound, Ryan, of the Lions announcers. And we'll talk about the Lions later in the show. Who told Dan Campbell to call time out during the game. They're screaming at him during the game. That's the coach you think. It's going to be coach of the year and get to the Super Bowl? I didn't say coach of the year.

Okay, we'll talk about it. We'll talk about it later for sure. Anyway, we're hanging out, Colin away. Rob Parker there, Ben Mallor here. Is it true that Jerry Jones is following the rule of drama yet again? We'll get to that. We'll do it next. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. 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, Clipper Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball. 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 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's big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed cracks. 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. Rolling on the herd, Ben Mallor, calling away Ben Mallor, and the great Rob Parker.

And hey, at the end of your first. First year, Discover credit cards automatically double all the cash back you've earned. That's right. You did not hear that wrong. Everything you earned. Doubled. Seriously. See terms and check it out for yourself at discover.com slash match.

And there's a rule in sports talk radio that you can't go more than a couple segments without mention the Dallas Cowboys, Rob. Is that the rule that you have to mention the Dallas Cowboys? Is it the Cowboys, LeBron James Lakers, and what's the third part of that? Is there like the trifecta? Is there a third team? Well, it used to be Tom Brady. Oh, the Patriots, yeah, the Patriots would get. And all that, right.

Yeah, so the Dallas Cowboys here are at the top. And the rule of drama, you know what the rule of drama is, right? Rob, it's a in Hollywood thing, that everything's got to be more messy and convoluted than it needs to be. It's the rule of drama. Because if everyone gets along, it's not good. It's kind of like doing a radio show. If everyone agrees on everything, how boring is that? Right.

There are plenty of shows like that, but people don't listen to it. No, no. It's called background noise and all that. But anyway, so the story this week in Cowboyland, Jerry Jones, he liked the team so much, he bought it, and he's the GM, there's been the GM forever, we all know that. And Jerry has, over the years, he's done things randomly just to get attention, to keep the Cowboys. Not that the Cowboys need extra attention, but I feel like Jerry does a lot of

things just because he knows it's going to be good fodder. That football's not the most important thing. One of those moves involved Tray Lance, the transaction last couple days here, Tray Lance coming over the weekend

from the 49ers for a fourth round pick. And if you didn't hear the audio, Jerry Jones, listen to Jerry and explain it. He did not let everyone know what his plan was. He had. What a shocker that was. He had no plan. Take a list.

We didn't tell anybody until we did it, period. There was nobody that knew it. We told Mike after we'd done it. But my point is, we just wanted to get it done. Have you talked to back since then? No, I have not. When you say you told Mike after, did he have any input on the decision? Just that he liked him as a quarterback coming out.

But that's our decision. All right, so what are the Cowboys thinking here? Are you shocked, Ben? They've been running this thing, the Cowboys, Jerry Jones, like a mom and pop store, okay? His kids running a team, Jerry thinks he's the GM, and, you know, I get it. He owns the team, so he wants to do it. He wants to win his way. He's already in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but he still wants to win on his own terms.

And in the last 28 years, they've been to the NFC Championship game. zero times. Their playoff record is 5 and 12. We could go on and on and on. They're with the NFL drags as far as teams that haven't done anything in the last 30 years with the lions and the Browns and the Cowboys are in that group. And all of it coincides when Jerry Jones decided he had to win his way. And this is why we keep getting the same old same-o from the Cowboys.

Why don't you smart people turn over the business to people who do this for a living? And I don't understand it. Why? Well, I'll tell you what, if I bought an NFL team, Rob, I would want to be the GM. I would want to be Jerry Jones. I would. If I had enough more, if I won the lottery. For what?

Why would you? You don't want to hire other people to run the time. I know more than these other people. Get football. Yeah, you think you do. What are football people? Go get guys who have done the work. So you're just like, you would love this, you were like 28 years,

where since Jimmy Johnson left, you haven't done anything really. I mean, let's just be honest. Well, one thing that Jerry has done is the Dallas Cowboys are the most valuable team. That has nothing to do. The Cowboys were before he bought the team, the Cowboys were the American team. Stop giving him credit as if he transformed. No. He hasn't destroyed it.

No, but they had Tom Landry. They had great players. Landry. You got rid of Landry. But you're making it like they were the lions and he turned them into the cowboys. They were popular. But the fact that they've continued, though, and as you just pointed out, you just gave the resume of stinkage for the Dallas Cowboys.

And yet, still, the Cowboys have endured in terms of revenue and popularity and all that stuff. But that's not what you're there for. Yes, a lot of it is because. Yes, if I own a team, I want to increase the value of the team. So you could do that. you don't have to make player personnel decisions, Ben. You could be the owner and enjoy all the money and everybody saying, what a great franchise and look at the stadium you built and all of this.

You can enjoy all that and also win. You could be Robert Kraft. You can hang out with rappers. You can get married at 95 years old. You can do all that if you want and still have a winning product. What are you talking about? Yeah, but if the Cowboys, do win. In Jerry's, you know, how many

years he's going to do this, Jerry's getting older, but it's some way, if the Cowboys win, that's the ultimate, hey, see, I told you so. We're going to win. Oh, is that 40 years later? Yeah. Jerry Jones. Overnight success. It took 40 years. Jerry Jones is so old. I think they moved his office to the cemetery. I mean, just stop.

He's in the waiting room. I mean, what are we doing here? No, but it's fine, the trail lands. Listen, and I'm not, I'm not going to defend, I can't defend Jerry Jones record. All I'm saying is if you listening, won enough money to buy an NFL team, you would want. The whole point of it, as a fan, you want to run the team.

He was a fan, and he bought the team. That's not what you want to do. You don't do that. But football, so many teams hire football. The Jets, how many football people have Jets hired? And there's no better than the Cowboys. Yes, they are. The Jets went to the AFC championship game.

Big deal. What do you mean? Big deal. I'll tell you why. No, wait a minute. No, wait a minute. They went twice with Rex Ryan. You're acting like the Jets didn't do anything for a hundred years.

Let me explain. Because I like the Clippers. And I always point out, on my show, I point out, the Clippers made the Final Four. And that doesn't mean anything. Who cares about the Final Four? They were in the conference finals. That's the only time in their franchise history. It doesn't matter.

Yes, it is. It was a few years ago. They were in the conference finals, and one of the best player got hurt and all that. But my point is, you're talking about, well, the judge. So either that matters. I mean, you know, the Cleveland Browns, you go down the Lions. They've all hired football people for the most part over the years. football people doesn't guarantee you anything.

Nobody says it guarantees, but when you look at the Cowboys and how they had a dynasty won three out of four when Jimmy Johnson was buying the groceries and cooking, and then it took it over by Jerry Jones, and you look 28 years down the road, and you see that this franchise hasn't done what with the talented players and the money that they've spent, Ben, for them not to get to an NFC championship game since 1995

is outrageous. The league is saying. up so that you can, you know, like, you can. I agree with all that. I agree with all that. You can turn your franchise around. That's why when you look at franchises like the Lions and the Cowboys of Late, and you say to yourself, how is this even possible that the Lions have won one playoff game since 1957 or the Cowboys haven't been to the NFC championship game since 1995?

That's more than a generation. People have more than 25 years? Yeah. No, it's been, it's been bad. But the whole Trey Lance thing, to circle back to Trey Lance, from a football standpoint, it makes no sense. Some people are in the Cowboys media are like, well, he's an insurance in case Dack Prescott ends up leaving. And the Cowboys have to make a decision on Dax contract if you're into that kind of thing coming up. But my point, Trey Lance has done nothing other than some scouts when he was in North Dakota.

So this guy is going to be great. and because of the whole COVID thing, he hardly played his last year at North Dakota State. And then now in the NFL he hasn't played much. When he's played, he hasn't been very good. He's played five games, Ben. You're going to evaluate

a guy off of that. Stop it. It's the NFL, right? The old Jerry Glanville line, not for long and all. You got to show something. That's a legit, Ben. Enough for the 49ers to throw in the flag and say that's it. We're done. We're going to bring in Brock Purdy. He's going to be the guy.

was the last pick in the draft. Yeah, okay. And Brock Purdy falls off the cliff this year. They'll be scrambling. It'll just prove to you that they did a terrible job of vetting this guy and scouting him. And Trey Lance should have never been picked. They should have never gave up three first round picks. To swing and miss that bad on the guy is ridiculous.

It tells you about that Shanahan never really wanted him. and there had to be a divide in the front office. Why in the world would you draft a guy, give him five games to play, and then get rid of him? I mean, it doesn't make sense. He couldn't stay healthy, though. That's the problem. He kept getting hurt.

Play five games. Because they kept playing him if he's in a wheelchair. I mean, what are they going to do? The guy's hurt. Why not? Put him out there? That wheelchair football? First in ten, what a wheelchair.

Well, he'd be mobile. He'd definitely be able to move around there. And it'd be hard to tackle. You could get injured if you hit the wheelchair the wrong way. That could become problematic for sure. But, listen, Trey Lance, it's just a bizarre situation. I go back to the drama orama of Jerry's world. But one other point, and Jerry said this somewhat recently in the last year or so.

He said, I think it was last year. The Cowboys had a decision to make, the trade deadline where they're going to add big-name player or whatever. And Jerry, like, did the whole rant. And we'll talk more about this later. But his whole rant, Rob, was like, well, you don't want. want to go all in. Jerry's idea is just he wants to be competitive every year so the Cowboys have a chance. And then he figures the law of averages will play out, which I don't think is a legitimate

law, the law of averages, that at some point by mistake, the Cowboys, as long as they're in the playoffs every year, they're going to win one. They thought that in Chicago with the Cubs and then 108 years passed. Stop with the law. They've been saying that in Detroit with the Lions. I worked in that town. There's no such thing. It's about making good decisions.

It's about building a team the right way. It ain't the law of averages. Everybody doesn't win. There are plenty of teams in every league, Ben, that have never won a championship, right, throughout their whole existence. Because it's not a law of average. Oh, well, the stars will align,

and the clouds will part open, and then all of a sudden everything will fall in our lap and will win. No. Yeah. And by the way, before we get off the Cowboys' conversation point here, If I'm the Cowboys, I would move on from Dak Prescott. I'm not a Dak Prescott guy. That guy has come up small in so many big games over the years.

I don't think he's the guy. He's not the guy that's going to get it done. I have not seen. He's been there long enough now, Dak. And he's fine during the regular season and against inferior opponents. But I've seen that guy go out there and puke too many times in big games. Well, but Jerry gave him the big contract. I know.

I know. I wouldn't have done it. I know. And then they had no choice but to pay him all the, But they're coming up to another crossroads here, Rob, where it's like, they can make a decision whether or not they want to continue to go down that road. But everyone's so afraid. They're so paranoid about change. They're like, I don't know.

When we picked the wrong quarterback, yeah, okay. Maybe you will pick the wrong. Maybe you'll pick somebody who puts you over the top and gets it done. I mean, the Cowboys have talent. Even though you rip Jerry Jones, you'd admit that roster's pretty good. Michael Parsons is a stud. But that's the problem is that they have a good. good roster, but they can't win because

if they had somebody and Jerry's not making it. He just told you. He just signed a quarterback without talking to the coach. The coach of the team. Come on. Come on, Ben. Even if you want to make the move, can you clue when the coach who

actually running the team? Some people were upset because he didn't tell Dak. Now, I don't understand not telling him, Dak. The coach? Yeah, McCarthy. Mike McCarthy's. But he couldn't tell him, I don't know, because he wasn't working the puppet strings on McCarthy. Is that what it was? I guess so. I'm surprised McCarthy's back after the way they imploded against the Niners last year. They must have put so much stock the Cowboys in beating a sub-500

Buccaneer team with Tom Brady who was on his last legs and all that. That was, and you know what, there were so many people thought that Tampa was going to win. I never bought that. Did you buy that? I did not. I had the Cowboys in that team. The Cowboys are going to beat them. That was like the biggest, to me, easy bet I've ever seen. But you saw with the Cowboys, Dak Prescott against the sub-500 team in the playoffs, played well. And then when he went against the 49th defense. That's his MO. Go look at the record.

I know. That's what I'm saying. Anyway, we got to get over to the news of the day. And the great Ryan music, he's got you update. Both of us here. He's going to update us on everything. What's going on, Ryan? No, no, no. Turn on the news.

This is the herd line news. Gentlemen, great to do. be here with you. We'll stick with the NFL discussion, but turn our attention from quarterbacks to running backs. We have an update on the Jonathan Taylor situation. Yesterday's faux deadline passed and resulted in the Colts placing Taylor on the physically unable to perform list. That means he's going to miss at least the first four games of the season. Now ESPN is also reporting that the Colts are still secretly listening to offers from teams. Dolphins, one of those teams that are engaged in discussions with Indy.

And now a surprise team has been revealed. The Green Bay Packers feels a little odd. What do you think, Ben? No, no, the Packers don't spend money. We just talked about the Packers earlier this out. They do not spend money, the Green Bay Packers. It makes no sense. I believe the mystery team, anytime somebody says mystery team,

my BS detector goes off. I think, I don't believe Mystery Team. The Packers have too good running back. They don't need him, Jonathan Taylor. But the money thing more than anything, because Jonathan Taylor's like, I want to be out of here because I want to be paid. When have the Green Bay Packers opened up the pocketbooks, Rob, to pay anybody? Right, but I just running the running game is not an issue for the Packers.

I just, I find that to be interesting unless there's something that we don't know. You know what I mean? Like, we're one of the guys. Now, will Jonathan Taylor, though, rock the boat? Because in order for him to get traded here, he's got to be the biggest schmuck in the world and cause all kinds of issues. Otherwise, he's going to be hanging out in Indy and the Colts, boy, they look like they're going to be bad this year. You know what? And the Colts, you know, this is Jim Mersey and the whole idea is you got a young quarterback who you need to have a running game so he doesn't get killed.

If there's nobody running a football, you could just be like, you know, jail break. You know, just go after this kid and make him throw the ball. Even if you run the ball, it's still going to be a debacle. But I'm just saying, right, like that's why I don't understand this whole thing. thinking, and I'm, any situation where you don't pay people who produce, I'm against it. I'm down on that. God, Jonathan Taylor has produced. He should be paid.

All right, we'll turn our attention back to quarterbacks here. Bengals head coach, Zach Taylor, continues to be mum on the return of their star quarterback Joe Burrow from his calf injuries suffered on the second day of training camp. When Assef he'll return to play this week, Taylor said, we'll see. Yeah, he also was clear about one thing, though. very strongly denied that Burrough's current contract negotiations have nothing to do with his absence right now. I can't believe he didn't confirm that.

That would have been great. You know what? By the way, Joe Burrow hates the franchise and is pissed off with the owners, so therefore he's not practiced. Now, that would have been a great quote by an NFL coach. That would have been wonderful. That would have been like a 10-plus.

Yeah, there's something going on with Burrow. I'm starting to think there's something going on. This seemed like a minor injury. It should not have taken that. long for him to come back and starting to look ahead the week one of the NFL, the Bengals play the Browns, Rob, and is Joe Burrow going to play?

Does he start? If he starts the game, how much does he play? And if Joe Burrow has a problem with the Bengals being frugal, he might not practiced all season, Rob. Is that a fair take? Hey, you already know, we talked about teams pinching pennies

and whatnot and all that. Mike Brown and the Bengals, they didn't have an indoor facility into like two years ago, right? I mean, they were playing out practicing outside. In Cincinnati. In Cincinnati, right? It wasn't like you're in South Florida. It's very bombing there in December.

But that just tells you about that organization. They're hoping for a hometown discount. I hope Joe Burroughs says, stick it, you know, the hometown discount. I want my value. Pay me what I deserve. We saw Patrick Mahomes take some ridiculously terrible contract, team-friendly to Kansas City, and all they're doing is jettison.

players, right, and not paying. Right? You think the Bengals are going to offer Burroughs some of that chili? The Skyline Chili there? A couple cans of that. Please. The first thing, my first day there, you know, I worked at the Cincinnati Enquirer.

That's right. I covered the Cincinnati Reds. Yeah, you were there for the great Lou Panella Meltdown. Yes. So they took me out to Skyline Chili like my first day. They're like, okay, you're here in Cincinnati. You got to try it.

I tried it. Went to the bathroom and never went back. I've never had it, but I know some of the listeners on the overnight show, Justin and Cincinnati, those guys, they say it's terrible. And they're from Cincinnati. I've never had it. Ryan, don't do it. Don't go there?

All right, very good. We will press on here straight ahead. Now, the Dodgers have been a dominant force in Major League Baseball. Unless it's the postseason. Well, for the last decade, though, plus, you don't need to nitpick here, Rob. How dare you? But there is. You just said that about Aaron Rogers, but when it comes to the Dodgers, you guys.

Well, they did win the worst series of all time during a global pandemic. I was there. I was in Texas for that. You were in Texas? I was not. I was watching on TV. So, yeah, they have still not played a winning World Series since 1988 at Dodgers Stadium. But there is one thing.

And I like the Dodgers, but there is a glitch. We have determined a glitch in the magical formula of Dodger baseball. We'll get to that. And we will do it next. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd. Weekdays in noon Eastern. am Pacific. Dynasty the King.

What's good, y'all? It's your main man, Michael Smith, esteemed NFL analyst and certified fantasy football legend. Allow me to present to you your new favorite fantasy football podcast, the Dynasty Exchange, hosted by my first round

rookie picks, Davis, Dylan, and Josh, three guys who most definitely know their stuff. They're the co-commissioners of the coolest and most cutthroat dynasty league you'll ever come across, the Yacht Club. And now they're the co-host of the most elite. Now make that the definitive dynasty program in the game. It's dedicated to

only the most devoted of diehards, the guys like me who can't stay off sleeper in KTC. And trust me, you won't regret making the choice to follow their dynasty advice. Listen to Michael Smith presents the Dynasty Exchange on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcast, or where 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. A win is a win.

A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford 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 wherever you get your podcast.

And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking.

What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it.

Including a recent episode, with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so 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. The herd continues. Collins away for a couple days.

You got me, Ben Mallor, and the great Rob Parker are hanging out together. How do you own the day in sports? You're asking, well, you make incredible plays, but how do the rest of us own the day with Irish Spring? When the spring hits you, you are ready to own the day. So look for Irish Spring at your local retail. today. My grandfather, may he rest in peace, loved Irish Spring. Irish Spring. I have a ton of it at the

house and you could smell it through the box. Is that good? Am I right? It's so powerful. Yeah. You know you're going to clean some of that nasty smell off with the Irish Spring. And when my grandfather passed away, we inherited, one of the great inheritance, Rob, big case of Irish Spring.

Big case. I loved it. So anyway. No doubt. Let me say this. We were talking about the Chile in Cincinnati. My boy G. and Cincinnati. He just texted me, said, don't be dogging my chili, Rob. Great show today, man, you sound great. Thank you in Cincinnati, listening to the herd. And you can check Ben Mallor out, right, overnight.

I'll be on tonight, actually. I'm doing it. It's a double-header, like the great late Ernie Banks. It's a beautiful day for sports radio. What time for everybody? I'll be on 2 a.m. in the east, 11 in the west, until 6 a.m. So be on all night. And I'll be on the odd couple of evening.

That's right. Chris Broushart and Idiye couple Fox Sports Radio. So yes, Ben and I are doing double dip on a Wednesday. And might I add, not that I'm looking for pity or sympathy. And I love Colin. Colin's the legend. But I'm normally sleeping at this time. Yes.

I have a very odd schedule. I have a nocturnal schedule. So when the boss called me up and said, hey, how would you like to fill in? You don't say no when you have a chance to fill in for Colin. Exactly. On the herd? Are you kidding?

Yes. But I then pointed out, well, I normally go to bed. at this time. But anyway, it worked out. By the way, Robbie writes in The Great Mariner Finn. He said he loves Skyline Chili. He thinks it's wonderful. Really?

Conflicting opinions on the Skyline Chili. So anyway. But I wanted to get into the Dodgers here, Rob. The Dodgers running away with the National League West. There's a wide margin. There's two teams in the National League this year, the Braves and Dodgers. We're going to play this weekend in L.A. And it's going to be a great series and likely a preview of the NLCS.

But I got a gripe. I love the Dodgers. I used to do Dodger talk back in the day. But I got a gripe. with the Dodgers. There is a fatal flaw. Andrew Friedman and the people he's hired there, the nerds in the front office,

have done a wonderful job of putting a great team on the field. They also spent a lot of money every year. But the babying of the starting pitchers, the Dodgers had three blue chip starting pitchers in the last couple years that have all needed Tommy John surgery. Dustin Mays had it a couple times, Walker Bueller, and the latest, it's actually going to happen on Friday, Tony Gonsolent. Right.

And the thing that drives me nuts is, The Dodgers have coddled their young pitchers where they limit the number of innings they pitch, how often they pitch, the number of pitches, all of it out of an abundance of caution. At one point, let me ask you this, Rob, you're a baseball guy, baseball writer, should be in the Hall of Fame. But here's the thing.

Wow. Why not? They put writers in the Hall of Fame, right? You should be in there, Rob. Let's start the campaign. But here's the thing. All right, you're babying of pitchers, and it just, it's not working.

So at what point, Rob, will the Dodgers have a come-to-Jesus moment and realize maybe we should try something else here? They won't do it. I totally agree. And we see it over and over. And this is not baby and young pitchers, but we saw this with Clayton Kirschar a couple of years ago. Oh, it gets the twins. Yeah, it was early in the season.

Yeah, it was a perfect game, not a no-hitter. And had hardly any pitches. He had 80 pitches through seven innings, okay? And there were no stress. There were no issues. and they were like, oh no, we've got to take them out. And Kirchow was nice. He let them off the hook by saying he asked to come out and all that.

The line. This drove me nuts. I had a mental breakdown on the radar. He said because it would have been selfish. It would have been selfish. To pitch a perfect game? A perfect game would be selfish. What world are we living in?

What bizarre a world are we living in? And the point I bring that up is, guess what, that season, because they took them out and they didn't let them go. What happened at the end, Rob? What happened? He still got hurt. Snap, crackle, pop. Exactly. And that's my point with the, we,

earlier before we were doing our show prep and talking and we were just talking about Nolan Ryan. Yeah. And I know we sound like, hey, you kids get off our long guys, right? This guy's do 235 pitches in the game. And the next game pitch six innings. And the next

two games after that, complete games. Yeah. Like, stop with the, well, we're going to do what's best for you and we're going to stop you from pitching well. We watched the World Series game where Blake Snell was pitching. Wasn't it a no hitter against

the Dodgers? I want to thank Tampa bit for that one. They took him out and the bullpen puked all over the mouth. So that was good, yes. But wasn't he pitching? He was pitching a great game. The Dodgers they were off balance. They were like, oh my God. We can't believe they're taking him out. Thank you. Bro, I'm risking my life. Blake Snell. He shut him down for that

particular start. But this is what we're talking about is like preempting or trying to overanalyze. These are young guys in their prime. Yeah. Let them pitch. And the other thing, Rob, is we've always heard that because athletes are better now than they were before. The body, the way they work out, everything's amazing.

And I generally agree with that. But yet in baseball, and if you bring this up, and I've talked to some people I know that work in the industry, they're like, oh, you can't do that. Because they don't want to be the GM where a guy gets hurt because they decided to have them throw more. So they'd rather just do it the way they've been doing it in the last like 10 years or so. And it also came up in our production meeting about how in like younger years, guys are babied from an earlier point. Now it's not just when they get to the major leagues. It's often before that point.

Yeah. It is really, really weird on where we are. And instead of just letting guys play and stop worrying about all this stuff and the investments, have insurance. Let the guys play. They're young if they're not hurt. I'm not saying put people out there who are hurt Ben or injured or something. Why did 100

pitches become the drop dead number? Because it's a round number. People love round numbers. Why not 110 or 115? There were no pitch counts in the old days. What are he counting pitches for? We were talking also. Fernando Valenzuela in the World Series for LaSorda had him pitch like 150

pitches or close to it in a World Series game. Just like, keep pitching. You're pitching great. You're pitching great, and there's nobody in the bullpen better than you. So what's the point? Yeah, that's the, the micro, it's paralysis by analysis, right? It's like so many, they've got so many algorithms, and they've got it all figured out. It's called Musugina.

It's all crazy to me. What happened to the human element, though? It's completely. I love the human element. Yeah. We're humans. Are we? Are we going to come to Android at some point?

Would you want to become an Android, right? No, I do not. You don't want to be an android? No. Really? Well, just let me give my time on Earth and then I'm on moving on. You ready to check on and move on? Yeah, that's about right.

I think we'll move on. What do you say there? We'll say bye-bye. For now. 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

Acapella 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. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're 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, unfills of conversations with athletes, creators and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford Show on the 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 IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.