The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Herd - Hour 2 - Championship Weekend

Episode Date: January 27, 2023

Colin gives his picks for the championship games this weekend Why the Niners should be concerned about their matchup against the Eagles   Guest: Carson PalmerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer,

Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games.

Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver 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, unfiltered conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes,

follow at Clifford and at TikTok's podcast network on TikTok. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 12 to 3 Eastern, 9 to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS1. Find your local station for the herd at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Hurd. Now let's get this party. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.

Here we go. Live in Los Angeles, our number two in a Friday. It's the herd wherever you may be and however you may be listening. IHeart Radio. Fox Sports Radio, FS1. Good to have you in today. Don't forget McIntyre's picks in a couple of hours. Carson Palmer is going to be joining us, three-time Pro Bowler in about five, six minutes.

J-Mac. It's an exciting time. Three games left in our football season. That's it, three games. A bit of a melancholy vibe as well, right? Two games this weekend? That's it, no football Saturday? When was the last time there was no football on Saturday?

Like August? Well, I will say this. The NFL moved its free agency period. NFL free agency is so much better now than like 10 years ago. Oh, considerably, yeah. Baseball's hot stove league used to get a lot of attention. tension, but now we know the teams that can afford the good players, because no salary cap. And in the NBA, there's a lot of talk, but very few players.

Not a lot of action. There's not a lot of action. Yonnes, he's going to move. Dame, Bradley Beal, most guys don't. By the way, Senior Bowl coming up, that's always fun. NFL draft combine. Love that. You know, a lot of scouting, and we like team building and talking.

I think the audience tends to like that stuff. I think it's fun. You sent me your mock draft yesterday. my only quibble with it is I just think Seattle is not going to draft that high again. I think they're taking a quarterback. Although Pete Carroll would love to get a rush end because they need another rush end. I mean, if you're Seattle, don't you think maybe you're two defenders away from leveling up to the next spot in the playoffs next year? But they have two firsts, two seconds, and two fourths.

You can get them. You're not going to get another quarterback outside of that first pick. Probably also not going to hit a home run with every pick like you did last year, right? That's true. duplicate that. Virtually impossible. Just like the Jets, who had an outstanding draft last year, everybody had an impact. You're not going to grand slam home run again, are you?

That's fair. All right. I don't know how I feel about these picks. I don't think I'd spend a ton of money on him. I think these games are go-either-way games. But I do feel a little more strongly, a little more strongly, I think, with the NFC. So here are my picks. 49ers at Eagles.

Youngest quarterback matchup in conference championship history, Hertz, Jalen Hertz 24, Brock Purdy, 23. I'm going to take the Eagles minus two and a half, and here's why. They've got the better offensive line, number one in the league. Lane Johnson and Jason Kelsey didn't allow a sack all year. That tells me that despite Bosa and Armstead, Hertz will have a little more of a comfortable pocket. Their defense is also number one up front and on the back end.

Jalen Hertz, I know what he gives me. Last 20 starts, 18 and 2, he's going to complete 65%. Passer rating around 100. Very consistent numbers in his last 20 starts. I know exactly what I'm getting. Good teams, bad teams doesn't matter. The Niners worry me. O line could really struggle against the Eagles front.

The Niners only scored one touchdown in their divisional round win against the Cowboys. They're giving up points as well. Nine red zone trips, only four touchdowns, settling too often for field goals. And their defense has been vulnerable over the top. 13, 40-plus yard plays this season. Third most, if you include the playoffs. I think the more comfortable experienced quarterback at home wins a close game. 28, 23, Philadelphia.

I think they hit on a few more deep balls, big players. but I think it's eye candy. It's a lot of fun to watch. Bengals at Chiefs. I'm going to take Bengals plus one and a half. It's a rematch of last year's AFC championship. Bengals are on a 10-game winning streak and Burroughs on fire. 13 consecutive wins in December and January.

The biggest star in the game on the perimeter, Bengals have him. Jamar Chase, nine touchdowns in his last nine games. In fact, Jamar Chase and T. Higgins have eaten the Chiefs up. Over 200 yards a game in their last three games against Kansas City. The Chief's defense is vulnerable in the back end. They allowed the most touchdown passes in the league this year. Remember, they had Ward. He's now a nineer.

That's what happens when you pay your quarterback a fortune. Also, after suffering the injury, Mahomes did not complete a pass or have a pass attempt outside the pocket. Now, Mahomes from outside the pocket is the best quarterback in the league and maybe by a stretch. Number one in pass attempts, completions, and passing yards. But when you force him to stay in the pocket, he is still good. He is still really good. But he's not quite as spectacular. I'm going to go.

The big playability of Jamar Chase, the better back end, nobody has a better second half defense. Boy, the Bengals really tighten up the screws. I think it's a great game. I'll take points. Bengals 26, Kansas City 24. So I'm taking the favorites in the NFC, which is a battle of rosters. And I'm taking the Bengals and the points in a battle of superstar quarterbacks and offensive coaches in the AFC. You were great last week.

I don't hate him. I do have to ask you, is the Brock Purdy rookie in conference championship game? Is that stuff blown out of proportion? Rookies in conference championship games, O and four straight up. Mark Sanchez went to one. They got destroyed, I think, by the Colts. How many career playoff wins does Brock Purdy have?

Two. Yeah. How many. Jalen Hertz have? One. One. So it's not like Jalen Hertz is the most experienced quarterback in the league. I know he had a great year.

He was nearly the MVP. But you would acknowledge that over the last 20 starts, he has established himself as an elite quarterback, a top 10 quarterback. Yes, yes. certainly. He's at a great season, but Colin, this will be the toughest defense he's faced. And he's seen some very weak defenses heading into this matchup. The Giants, come on. The one thing that is interesting, and I just think it's interesting, is the chess match, Nick Seriani. So Nick Seriani couldn't win with a very capable backup.

Kyle Shanahan is 7-0 with a third-string quarterback. So this is not a shot at Sariani. If this game gets close, it's late, it's a chess match. Shanahan is arguably the best half-time adjustment guy in the league. Cincinnati's arguably the best defense, defensive adjustment team in the league. And so, you know, one of them I like, listen, I like all four of these teams. I think all four have an offensive identity. And when we watched Buffalo last week, this has been my knock on the Chargers. They're calling plays.

I don't sense an identity. I don't see the mesh of run game, pass. game, these four all have an identity. And I think it's not just good quarterbacks. It's not just good rosters. It's not just offensive coaches. But I do think offensive coaches have the ability to cinch up things, mesh things better. It's like I said earlier, you can be a car salesman or you can sell classic cars.

You're both selling cars. But there's a refinement ability on one of the people and the other person's more of a salesman. they're both selling cars. But the classic car guy can take things, sandpaper, refine, clean up. And that's what I feel these, you know, I,

that's what Kyle Shanahan does. Which, by the way, concerns me about Trey Lance. So he got Purdy here in Garapolo. So if the Trey Lance thing, like they put their hands in the air, I mean, he got Matt Schaubb to a Pro Bowl.

Matt Ryan's the MVP. Matt Ryan came within minutes of winning a Super Bowl. So Shanahan's really different. Can I ask you, who has the advantage? Eagles' offense or the Niners' defense? And I do ask that because Shane Steichen has been incredible for the Eagles as the offensive coordinator. He's not getting a lot of looks for head coaching jobs. D'Amico Ryan's, I think, remember he had four interviews lined up last week,

had to cancel two of them. Are we undervaluing this Niners defense? Because last week we saw Wink Martindale of the Giants, we're going to blitz, we're going to blitz, leave guys on an island against A.J. Brown or Devante Smith. What do they do on the first play of the game? Devante Smith, 40 yards down the field. Niners are not doing that. They're playing a lot of zone.

They've got that great safety, Mufunga, who is, you don't know if he's in the box, he's on the back end, is he covering a tight end? Is he covering a running? Like, he's all over the place. This 49ers defense, I just, I don't see a lot of success for the Eagles offense. Okay. Maybe 20 points, maybe.

Wow. It's going to be low score. I feel like this is low scoring. Well, the Niners defense has a pro bowler in every unit and Hall of Famers in some. Let's talk to Carson Palmer, former Pro Bowl quarterback 15 years in the league. Carson, go back to your career. Tell me the best, because I think this Niners defense with a hard cap, it's really hard to create this.

I mean, it's just dudes. I mean, two good linebackers, two good safeties. What's the best defense you ever faced? It's a toss-up between the Baltimore Ravens with Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, and that whole crew. and that dynasty that Pittsburgh built, that was all defense when you look back at the studs they had on the back end, on the defensive line at the linebacker core in the mid-2000s. Those were two of the dominant defenses.

So, Carson, you were a great quarterback and Jalen Hertz is emerging as one. What did those defenses force you to do that you didn't have to do on most Sundays? Well, they sat back and forced us to run the ball. we were a passing offense when I was playing against those two offenses or those two defenses and they sat back in two high looks and had two high safeties and really forced you to run the ball and I think that's what they might have to do this weekend that running game needs to get going but sitting back and not letting the offensive players get on your back end and run over the top of your backside of your defense is really really important this weekend are you shocked

and again you were a Heisman winner a number one pick I've said this before. You looked and played like a number one pick. And there are those. Peyton Manning, big, good arm, legacy, talent. But this league is full of guys who went to North Carolina State, Miami of Ohio. I mean, that's the history. What do you make of Brock Purdy?

It could be lightning in a bottle. Is it lasting? I don't know an answer. What do you make of it? I think it comes crashing down this weekend for Brock, and he's had an unbelievable run, as everybody's witness. And you guys were just talking about Kyle Shanahan and the brilliance of Kyle Shanahan. Kyle Shanahan gives your receivers cushion. He gives your receivers and your tight ends separation.

And when you have to throw tight balls into tight windows against really good coverage, like I think we're going to see Philly play this weekend on the back end, makes it really, really hard. And at the end of the day, you hate to say, say it because everybody says, well, Tom Brady was a six-round pick. Brock Purdy was a seventh-round pick for a reason. And I think we're going to see a little bit of weather. It sounds like there might be some wind in Philly this weekend. So there's been some throws I've seen this off or this postseason where Brock doesn't quite have the velocity in the zip on the ball

that a first second round pick. And he's gotten away with it because there's been so much cushion created by the system that these receivers are running. And so I think these windows are going be tight. If I was Philly, I'd play just a ton of man to man, try to stop Christian McCaffrey, and make Brock Purdy be really accurate and throw the ball with a lot of velocity in a 10 to 15 mile an hour wind environment. And we haven't seen him do that. So I, well, I think this is a huge weekend for Brock, obviously a chance to go to the Super Bowl, but this is a great opportunity to go up against a phenomenal defense with a great pass rush and a ton of speed on the back end and make him throw really, really accurate throws where he's hitting his receivers in the face

on the run and making it easy on them. And I just think we haven't seen him do that yet. And this is where he has to prove if he's worthy of being the guy that everybody's, you know, the pedestal that everybody's putting him on. Yeah, by the way, Brady is 6'4.5, 2.30 and drafted by a baseball team, a catcher. So Brady's never had a velocity issue. Comparing him and it's also much more of a quarterback league now. So everybody's dying to find a quarterback. There were quarterbacks. Montana slipped. Brady slipped. I don't see the comp with Brady and Purdy. I don't. Now, let's go to the AFC. High ankle sprains, I would imagine for a pocket quarterback are annoying, but for a mobile quarterback, I think there's probably more issues. Go to your

career. I'm sure you, and you guys all get them. Did you, is it take velocity off the ball? I mean, you could run actually more than people think. You tell me what a high ankle sprained, even if it's a grade one, how does it change the way you play? Well, it's different for me than it is Patrick Mahomes. My game was in the pocket. His game is outside the pocket. That's where he really gashes teams. And I don't think you're going to see it. I think this game sets up perfectly for Cincinnati. Cincinnati doesn't have an edge rusher that runs 4-3 or 4-4 like Vaughn Miller that can run you down. They're a physical, you know, Trey Hendrickson, big, heavy, strong. I think you're going to see this defensive line collapse the pocket and keep Mahomes in the pocket because he can't really,

he doesn't quite have that ability to get outside of it. But I think they're in for a world of trouble against this defense. It lets this defense sit on the back end, play coverage, keep the ball in front of them. And you've got to assume your defensive line, who again is just so physical is going to beat up this offensive line and get to Mahomes. And he's just not going to have that explosiveness, that quickness. You know, when he was coming out, people didn't think he could run. I think he's blown away expectations of his mobility. But we haven't seen him, you know, you think back to the last Super Bowl when he had

that turf toe injury, he didn't quite have the same mobility, and they weren't as explosives as they have been in the past against the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, and you just didn't see that explosiveness. I think it's going to be even worse. I think everything we're hearing out of Kansas City is too good to be true. it sounds like there's a lot of, you know, they're trying to make it seem like it's better than it is, trying to make Cincinnati worry about his mobility. And I saw him in the video jogging in warmups and he looked really, really good.

It just sounds too good to be true to me. I think Cincinnati, this is exactly what they wanted. They're going to be able to keep them in the pocket, collapse the pocket, and keep their receivers in front of them on the back end. I want to talk about a couple of great veteran quarterbacks and what you would do. So you've got a great life and what you would do. One of my, I don't need to disclose it, but one of the great places to live in America. And you could get a football right now, go out in your backyard and spin it.

We all know that. I talk to Drew Bledsoe all the time. He's like, I never lost that. I lost my love. I lost my legs. So you're Aaron Rogers. You can still play. But, you know, you get your wealth.

You've got your ring. You've got your life. You know, I think it'd be hard to give up a $100 million or whatever it is. But what do you think right now, now, Green Bay has got a bunch of young players on the offense. Brady doesn't want, you know, Brady wanted gronk, Leonard Fernette. He didn't want those kids. Your gut feeling on what Aaron decides, if you had to, you know, make a big decision.

Where do you think he goes on this? I think he plays. I think he's wearing a uniform next year and playing in the National Football League. I think it's 50-50 if he's back in Green Bay, maybe New York playing for the Jets. I just think this was a taxing year for him. Mentally, physically, emotionally. There were so many questions about his receivers. And then he was, you know, everybody tried to paint it in a certain way that he was talking trash on his receivers.

And he was always defending himself and defending his teammates. This was an emotionally taxing year. When you get to be 34, 35, 36, 37, you want to be playing on a great team. You want to be surrounded by great players. You don't want to be teaching guys how to run a curl. route, teaching guys that it's their first, second year, how to run a corner versus cover two. I mean, there's so many little things that took away energy out of his game, out of his preparation, out of his weekly schedule, just dealing with stuff with young guys.

I mean, it's not their fault. They're young. They came from a running gun college system, and now they're playing in an Aaron Rogers system. That is emotionally, physically. Like I said, all those things, that is taxing. I don't know if Aaron wants to go through that again, because they didn't really prove on as a season wore on, that they just were on the cusp. They were just about to get it. They were about to make that leap. They still seem like a receiver core that has a lot of work to do.

And again, you know, Aaron's got the decision to make. Does he want to go through that again and go back to, you know, coach Rogers and coaching these guys and bringing these guys along? Or does he want to try to find a new suitor that's got a more established veteran group of receivers and offensive players around them? And Russell Wilson, some subscribe to the theory that, He's a mobile quarterback. He's a bit washed. You know, I think Russell's very unique as a personality.

I know I'm a little, not great. I think sometimes there's a little lack of self-awareness. I think the great quarterbacks tend to be unifiers. It kind of feels like if I said, yeah, quarterback's out tonight with the offensive linemen having beers. He'd be like, yeah, of course he is, right? Like Peyton had that quality. Sometimes Russell, many believe, doesn't.

Do you think it's solvable or by this time in his career? He's married. He's got his money. got a ring that quarterbacks are what they are. Can you solve the Rubik's Cube here? Or is this just his personality? He's a different cat. He's definitely a different cat.

He's not, it doesn't sound like he's the easiest and smoothest teammate. It doesn't sound like he's, he's the easiest guy to coach. And you're seeing, like you mentioned, you're seeing a decline in his physical attributes. And what made Russell so great and the magic that Russell brought to the field was he could get out of anything. He could have two guys bearing down on him. He could step up. He could spin out. And before you know it, he's launching one to Tyler Lockett down the field for 60 yards.

You don't see that explosiveness anymore. We saw a couple runs. He had a nice touchdown run, I think, the second last game of the season. But it didn't look like the Russell Wilson that we're used to seeing in the blue and green to the Seattle Seahawks. He looks slower. He looks like he doesn't quite have that explosiveness. And I just think we're starting to see a guy that's played a lot of football. he's taken a lot of hits he's been he's hit the ground a bunch of times he's he's taken on tacklers

you're seeing a guy that his best attribute was his magic and his magic came to life with his feet and those feet are definitely slowing down by the way Tommy Brady um 46 years old is it's pretty old in in dog years and football years uh what do you make of it would you hang her up and hang out with kids I mean, he gets a lot of his kids now. I don't know what to, you know, whenever I hear that, it's like, you know, it's not like he didn't hang out with his kids. What do you make of what he's going to do? Yeah, if anything, he's seeing his kids more because he's got them, you know,

now that he's single, he's got them on his hands solely, not he and his wife. So I don't think it's a kid's thing. I mean, you know, he looked pretty good. It's hard to say. I mean, as you watch, the first thing I assimilate any quarterback in age is where's their velocity? Yeah. Where is the ball jumping off his hand still?

I still think it is. I don't see a decline and you saw it. I felt it at the end of my career. You saw it with Rothesberger and Breeze. You're not seeing that at age 46 and it does not make any sense. And I don't think anybody can figure it out, but him. He has figured it out. I think he's going to be playing football again next year.

Probably not in Tampa. I know there's some hype about Miami and New Orleans. Who knows where it's going to be. but I think he's wearing a football uniform again next year as well. Are you going skiing today? I'm not skiing. I'm in the office today. I got work to do.

You're retired. What do you mean, work? You're just out there hanging out. Well, good for you. I'm always working. Hey, you look great. Great seeing you, man. You too.

Thanks, Colin. All right, Carson Palmer. Good dude. We bring his brother on from time to time, the quarterback whisper. So he likes the Bengals and the Eagles, too. Colin, everyone likes. the Bengals and the Eagles this weekend. Do they?

If you look around, yeah, everybody's taking the Bengals. Who's everybody? I mean, you know, basically every single person on the internet. And I think it's every single person. But no, if you turn on a radio, turn on TV, everybody likes Bengals and Eagles. Everyone. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week, within the IHard Radio app.

Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. 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 I'm saying. Yep. That's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw,

unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk. about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told,

and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the I Heart 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. cap 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 picket here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it.

Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84's big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack. No, we don't have plenty. But just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, this is the second episode

where we've discussed, correct. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really?

Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Great weekend. AFC NFC NFC Championship. One of the best weekends of the year.

J-MAC with the news. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Will you watch some college hoops tomorrow before you hit the slopes? No. No college basketball? No. I watch low NBA.

Like your Celtics. I got this morning at 4.30 in the morning I was on the treadmill. 4.30? Yeah. And watching some NBA highlights. 430 a.m.? I went to bed. I went out with my daughter to eat

at a West Hollywood kind of hipster place. Oh, nice. We sat in the back, had a great meal. It was great talking to my daughter for about 90 minutes. We had a great conversation. Got in the Uber, went home, and got a little book, read a little, crashed. So by 4.30, I'm staring at the ceiling.

4.30? Yeah. Jeez. I don't ever sleep to the alarm. Do you sleep to the alarm? Usually, yeah. Wow. I never.

I started watching the show on Disney. Ann Door, have you seen it? I've heard of it. It's one of these Star Wars offshoots. It's awesome. So I've been watching a lot of that. We're watching White Lotus still. I know you're waiting to jump in on that.

I think Ann would like it. All right, let's start with Dallas Cowboys. Colin, I don't know if you saw this. End of the season presser yesterday. Mike McCarthy, he knows his job is safe, but he did not give a vote of confidence to offensive coordinator Kellyn Moore. Saw that. Interesting.

It sounds like it's about to get ugly. Dan Quinn announced he's returning as defensive coordinator. Another offseason where he goes hunting jobs, he interviewed everywhere. Again, Lance back in Dallas. Here's what McCarthy said about his coordinators. My evaluation process is still going on. I really don't want to play this game today.

It's been a long couple of days. Kellynmore, just like the rest of the coaches, will be evaluated. We're all extremely excited to have Dan back. Dan's coming back. Dan's back. But Kellyn Moore's going to be evaluated. Okay. Had a chance to visit with him a short.

short while ago. This is big for us. Gives us continuity. Definitely what we've accomplished the last two years building off that. So Dan Quinn, back. Killen Moore being evaluated. Well, Dak had a spot a year. So, is that Kellen Moore to blame for that?

I mean, Dak was injured. Cooper Rush should look good in the offense, huh? I know, I know. I know. So the story, I hit up a buddy in the industry who said, keep an eye on Brian Schottenheimer as the new offensive coordinator. So the Cowboys hired him

last March as a consultant. McCarthy offensive guy. I thought Kellyn Moore a year ago was a genius. Hot shot. Everybody loved him. A year, by the way, a year ago, Brian left, which was a genius. You know who really likes Kellyn Moore? Who? Is Jerry Jones. And I wonder what is

McCarthy trying to get Jerry's guy out of there? Because you know Jerry just like how he loved Jason Garrett forever. Kellan Moore's his new guy. I think there's some dysfunction going on. Well, Jerry's got DAC blinders on. And Zeeke. But I mean, really the DAC blinders.

I think he'd move off Zeke if he could. He loves Dad. I just, of all the problems in Dallas, and there aren't many, they had a good season. How is Kellyn Moore the Fall guy? It doesn't really make sense. Because Jerry, Jerry's got the Dak Blinders on, so you've got to blame somebody. That's what it always feels like to me. I still contend, I don't have the numbers in front of me.

Take Amari Cooper out of Dax's career. When he has a number one Amari Cooper, there's Dak, there's Jerry with his Dak blinders on, I think of you, I don't have the numbers in front of me, but I always felt like Amari Cooper was more tied to Dak's success than he ever got credit for. So that Tampa playoff game, Dax's best game of the season, Kellan Moore called it incredible game. Yeah, it was great. And now two weeks later, you're dusting it.

Doesn't feel right. So these coordinators, both sides of the ball, they go from genius to. out of work a year later. And it's usually because the owner likes the quarterback or somebody's got to take the fall. So obviously, Mike McCarthy, and I think he's better than average, somebody's got to take the fall, right? It is not McCarthy. So, so. It's not Dak. So who's going to take the fall? But why does somebody have to take the fall? You made the playoffs you won a game two years in a row. Well, Dak had an off year. It's like in Green Bay. No, like, Jack had an off year. Can we just, isn't that the reason? Well, at this point,

When you're getting paid 45 large a year. I know you defended McCarthy a lot last week. You can't talk out of one side of your mouth saying continuity and then fire the offensive coordinator who's been there for a minute with that. So much of the NFL is blame game. Prime example. Chargers. Oh, well.

Okay, got to blame the offensive coordinator. Okay, Green Bay. A lot of talk. Are they going to move off their defensive coordinator because the defense underachieve? Yet the owners, well, the Packers don't have one, but in most instances, you've got to blame somebody. Owners want somebody to blame. Otherwise, a coach gets fired.

So Mike's going to come in and say, well, we just weren't efficient enough there. That's the game in this league. I'm on record. I don't like this. Dallas will regress next year, especially of Schottnheimer is the O.C. Jets fans know about Shotnamam. Well, Buffalo and Dallas are going to have to make personnel choices based on quarterback pay. And to your point, I think it's a very reasonable take that Buffalo won't quite be as talented, nor will Dallas.

Next up, NFL fans and the Packers are still. trying to decide what Aaron Rogers' future will look like. In the meantime, Romeo Dobbs, remember that guy? He made a surprising comment about his relationship with QB1 in Green Bay. Here's Romeo Dobbs. Outside of the facility hanging out with Aaron Rogers' story? I didn't get a chance to hang out with him. Not one time.

He didn't take you guys out. One time. I mean, as far as being around 12, I'd say possibly it's always been football. So, I mean, in the building on the practice field, there was never a time where, you know, got the really, or not there was an event, well, not an event, but we had a team get together for Halloween.

I thought that was pretty cool. What do you make of that? I don't want Eric Rogers with the chats, that's for sure. I want my quarterback to be a unifier. Get the team together. You know, Jimmy Garoppolo and the 40, Jimmy Garoppolo was a backup. They go to Warriors games with him.

George Kittle and all these guys. You want your quarterback to be that guy who hangs with everybody. Well, here's what's interesting. Rogers, come on. Aaron's not married, nor does he have kids. And he's in the middle of nowhere. So it's not like he doesn't have time. I would get if you were in L.A.

And he's got, you know, he's married, he's got kids. Like Matt Stafford's in L.A. Stanford doesn't have time for every guy in the roster. Aaron's got no marriage, no kids, and there's nothing to do in Green Bay. It's like you can't make a little time. I don't need you to be a social butterfly, but you got, what are the restrictions? Don't you have to build chemistry, get to know your teammates?

I don't want to be like anti-Aaron Rogers guy. I totally get Matt Ryan married kids. I get that. Like I get marriage kids. You don't have a lot. And as you age, young guys, you don't have a lot in common music technology. but the one place in the league and the one lifestyle in the league is single guy with no kids in Green Bay. Quarterbacks got plenty of time.

You could play that, well, he's 39. He doesn't want to hang out with a 23-year-old receiver. You're not going to have pizza twice a year? Yeah. You're not going to invite them over at your house. And we recently met up to watch a playoff game together. Right? We're different places in life.

But we were hanging out. And we're both married with kids. I mean, I've got kids still in the house. Right. You know, left him at home for a couple hours solo while we met up. But it just seems to me you'd, I would, just a self-awareness thing, knowing that I'm single with no kids and in Green Bay, and these are small college receivers, I would have made a point to just, if nothing else, it's good PR.

They talk to the local newspaper. It's odd to me. Let me show you around town, Romeo. Let's hit up a good restaurant, a good restaurant. a good bar. I mean, he's been there forever. Rogers knows the lay of the land. That is so, didn't have one social moment outside of the facility.

From August to January. That's like what, six months? I can't even count. Am I nuts? Am I being like harsh on that? That seems so strange to me. Very weird. Didn't have beers and pizza at your house once? Buy week, something? Final story. In the NBA. How about this with Colin?

Nets? You know, they had been on a hot streak. Then they had back-to-back losses against the Sixers and Pistons. After playing 28 minutes the night before, Ben Simmons had to leave last night's game early with knee soreness. Head coach Jacques Vaughn talked to the media about it. Here's what he had to say. The goal is, in my eyes, I'll say this,

is for everyone to play every game and to do what's necessary to be prepared to play every game. A certain amount of minutes that each individual played in Philly, Some play equally tonight. So the preparation that it takes going into that, you just have to give credit to the guys who were prepared to play, ready to play, did what was necessary to get their bodies ready to play. Can I tell you an interesting scenario last night? So last night, I show up at the restaurant to hang out with my daughter,

pretty cool place. We'd never been there before together. It was really fun night. So I go, I get there 15 minutes early, so Daddy wants a cocktail. So I go up to the bar and beautiful, beautiful people up there in this like swanky wee-ho, West Hollywood place. What's the name of the joint? Craig's. Okay.

So I go up there and the young lady, say, short glass, lot of rocks, goose, lime, perfect. She poured a perfect drink, first of all, left a big tip. Yes. So as I'm at the bar, a guy next to me grabs his phone. And he's looking at NBA stuff. And because I talk to everybody, I'm like, what game you got? It looks like the Houston Rockets or something like that. And he starts so and so and so.

And we start talking. And he was an NBA scout. Okay. And he also said, my dad listens to you all the time and says, if you listen to coward, he's got a lot of answers. Anyway, I said, of course. Anyway, I peppered him with like 20 questions. Yes.

Most underrated player, most over it. And I said, can I throw a theory? out, I think Brooklyn is fools gold. I said, in the playoffs, when I get to see these same guys over and over, I think they're going to get swept. I said, when they walk into town and, you know, they're rested, you're not, Kyrie Durant go off. Totally agree.

He says, put Simmons on the line, attack Kyrie Irving. He says, I've been doing this for years. It's hard to get a real evaluation on teams. He said Boston and Milwaukee are very good teams. He does a lot of scouting, I think, over there. He said, Boston, Milwaukee are very good teams. He said it's hard to get an evaluation in the regular season. People aren't equally rested.

But he didn't buy in of the Brooklyn Nets either. So my NBA acumen was on display over a cocktail at Craig. It's a nice flex. So Jacques Vaughn is already getting sick of Ben Simmons. At what point do Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving start saying stuff about Ben Simmons? Publicly. Like, Jacques Vaughn is pretty clearly in this video holding back. He's, like, kind of grinning and, like, not a good look for Ben Simmons.

And I defend it, listen, you, I think you and I agree with this. You could defend somebody for a while, and then once you get new information, I'm off, it's over. Kyler Murray and Ben Simmons are the guys who I used to defend a lot. I'm done. So I think I'm over with those guys. Not feeling it with either of them. So the top of the east is going to be, in some particular order, Milwaukee, Boston, Philly. who else says Cleveland I think oh oh the scout told me last night

keep your eye on Cleveland Donovan Mitchell He said Evan Mowgli is the real deal He said Cleveland is gonna shock somebody he said he scouted him a lot He's like that is a really really promising team He liked Cleveland Did you hang out with scouts last night? I did not So what do you bring into the table?

I was just excellent I don't know if I should admit this but I showed my 11 year old Taken 2 have you seen that I have no idea what you're talking about My God. Liam Neeson? You don't know what Taken is? No. Is everybody else? Oh, dear.

I'm out here breaking news with Scouts. You're talking about video games or something. No, it's a movie. Taken. Liam Neeson. I don't have time for movies. I am breaking down the Oklahoma City Thunder roster every night. Well, I'm a good dad, so we watch Taken.

A lot of violence, you know. Right. Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Her Lie News. But I did think of you because you and I are fascinating. by drafts.

You and I both love mock drafts. To sit with a scout for even 10 minutes. It's just the best. I'm like, when are you back in town? He's like next week. I'm like, boom, dinner's on me. I'm going to write 50 questions. I want to ask him about the Atlanta Hawks bench

and I'm going to pepper him with questions. Wembenyama, you got to ask about what do you say? He said best, he said, not since LeBron has somebody been probably guaranteed to drop 28. 324 as a rookie. He said he's a really, he goes, you never quite know when guys get into the league, you know, work ethic, you're facing now men, he goes, coaching, he goes, there's a lot of dynamics. He said, LeBron figured them all out. He said, you don't quite know until you see him amongst older men,

coaching's harder in the pros. He said, but the game don't lie. It's special. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays at noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports F-S-1 and the I-Hard Radio app. This is Steve Covino and Rich Davis. And together we are Covino and Rich. Covino and Rich. Thanks, buddy. That's right, Covino and Rich, Fox Sports Radio's newest hit show.

Heard weekdays from 5 to 7 Eastern 2 to 4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the I Heart Radio app. Every Covino and Rich show is available as a podcast. Just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcast and subscribe. I'm such a rockin' dude. The show features our unique. on sports, inject it with some fun, humor, and relatability. Listen to Covino & Rich five days a week on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Covino and Rich, get me your hell, yeah. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds.

I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'll say. Yep, that's me, Clipper 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 on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, 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. So, Thank you for finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people.

Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Fox Bet Super 6 is giving everyone a chance to win Terry Bradshaw's SUV. And $100,000, download the free Super 6 app and enter your six picks. And the 49ers Eagles NFC championship contest then opt in to the SUV giveaway sweepstakes. I'm on an island, Colin.

I think I'm on an island. Give me the Niners to shock the world. Brock Purdy goes into. What is it? Lincoln Financial, whatever. The stadium. The link. The link.

And pulls off a stunning victory. 1716. With all those offensive stars, that's the points. 1716. These are two of the best defenses in the league. That's like what the Bears. That's a Bears Atlanta school. I also believe, and I might be alone in this,

I don't see the Niners making Purdy throw the ball a lot here. You don't want to risk it against his defense. Purdy's done a good job with throwing it into the ground, throwing it away, doesn't want to force a turnover. So yeah, I see a lot of running from San Fran. Here's Carson Palmer earlier on our show. I don't know if Brock Purdy comes crashing down, but I agree with a lot of what Carson said.

I think it comes crashing down this weekend for Brock, and he's had an unbelievable run, as everybody's witness. Kyle Shanahan gives your receivers cushion. He gives your receivers and your tight ends separation. And when you have to throw tight balls into tight windows against really good coverage, like I think we're going to see Philly play this weekend on the back end, it makes it really, really hard. And at the end of the day, you hate to say it because everybody says, well, Tom Brady was a six-round pick.

Brock Purdy was a seventh round pick for a reason. There's been some throws I've seen this postseason, where Brock doesn't quite have the velocity and the zip on a ball that a first second round pick, and he's gotten away with it because there's been so much cushion created by the system that these receivers are running. Also, weather, cold, could be wet, a little windy. Also, because of the pass rush,

he'll be pressured to throw the ball perhaps a little more quickly. you know what Philadelphia wants to do. Force him to throw. So if I'm Philadelphia, they have the best corners in the league. If I'm Philadelphia, I'm saying make him throw. So this idea they're just going to run it, Philadelphia knows that. Whereas with Jalen Hertz, he can pass, he can run. You can't marginalize him as easy.

I think he's even Mahomes this weekend. He's not going to be running around. Jalen Hertz gives me every option. So if you're Philly, you win the coin toss. You're telling me you want the kickoff, you go down and score a touchdown and Brock Purdy's behind the eight ball for the final 53 minutes or whatever. Get the ball first, put them in a we need to throw. Start this year, slam dunk wireless savings. Go to consumer cellular.com slash the herd.

$25 off when you sign up today, the code, the herd. Power hour. Hour three next. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast'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 I'm saying. Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement

to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, 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 Cliverd Show on the IHeard Radio app,

Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.