The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Herd - Hour 2 - Colin's new Blazing 5 picks

Episode Date: January 6, 2023

Colin's new Blazing 5 picks for the final week of the NFL regular season The perfect fit for Tom Brady next season Derek Carr could work well with the Titans   Guest: Eric ManginiSee 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. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host Kear Games.

This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor it? It signals to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to. Listen and learn the hard way on the IHard radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Thanks for listening to The HARD 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 Hurt at Fox Sports Radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeart Radio app by searching Herd.

You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Here we go. It's hour two. It's LA. Wet, rainy, windy, Los Angeles. It's the herd wherever you may be. And however, you may be listening. IHeart Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and FS1. Tell you what? A lot to be grateful for.

Damar Hamlin's health has made a turn for the positive. He's out off the tube. Communicating with teammates via FaceTime or Zoom or whatever he is. Communicating via the diet. Once again, it shows I had a health scare about three years ago. So I'm always just blown away by the quality of health care in America. Everybody complains. That's just who we are, I think.

I think we have it so good in this country that we don't appreciate sometimes how good we have it in this country until you go to other places. You know, it was just some of the conveniences of America. I spent a week, nine days in Europe this summer, a beautiful, stunning. But our conveniences are phenomenal, our efficiency, the availability of things to quicken and elevate our life, including our health care and our health care professionals,

is remarkable. Knock on wood, we never need them. Demar Hamlin did to save his life, and they have come through, and he has come through as of this morning. So really, I literally drove to work today in a good mood, and I think a lot of people around the NFL and a lot of you sports fans, it was gutting Monday night.

It was hard. Tuesday morning. Drive to Work was bad. Yeah, it was bad. All right. So I'm at 54% for the year. I want to get to 55. Here we go. Let's blaze it up. It's Collins blazing five. Chiefs and Raiders. It's a rivalry game. I'm going to take the nine and a half points with the Raiders. By the way, Patrick Mahomes, as great as he is, is a bad cover quarterback when he's favored by over a touchdown remarkably so. Last seven games, Raiders are 5 and 2 against the spread. They want to go into the offseason, positive vibe.

13 of their games have been decided by under a touchdown, and again, this is a rivalry game. The Chiefs, 1 and 4 against the spread in their last five. They're not great as a big favorite. What are they actually playing for? I think the Raiders are playing for pride to put stuff on tape. Jarrett Stidham played very well last week against the Niners. I think they're competitive. This division's interesting.

I mean, the Chargers have beaten KC a couple of times in KC. Now Denver's playing well. I'm going to take the Raiders to lose but cover Chiefs win 2723, typical AFC West game. Titans at Jaguars. I don't understand this line. I love the Titans. Like it, I love it.

Titans plus six. They've won five of their last six games against the Jaguars, and the Titans are very good against 500 teams or worse, and the Jags are 8 and 8. Derek Henry against the Jags has always been a complete handful, And again, the Jaguars' last two wins have come against teams playing multiple quarterbacks. The Texans with Davis Mills and Jeff Driscoll, and then the Jets with Zach Wilson and Chris Treveller. So they've also in their last three games.

It's a young team, Jacksonville, six giveaways in their last three games. They can get sloppy. I'm going to take the Titans in the division rivalry game plus six an upset win. The Titans pull off the upset 2423 over the Jags. Browns at Steelers. Another division rivalry, and I'm going to take the underdog. I'm going to take the Browns plus two and a half at the Steelers. The Steelers don't score points.

I mean, Pittsburgh, if you go look, they've been held under 20 points for the last five games, and they've played seven straight close games. Deontay Johnson's hurt. Minka Fitzpatrick's hurt. Deshawn Watson last week against a pretty good defense is improving. They got big rushing yards against the commanders. Amari Cooper had a big day. Nick Chubb had a big day.

think they're a team getting better. I think they're going to upset the Steelers in a very, very competitive game. These games in this division, when you can take points in the AFC North do Brown's win over the Steelers 2017. Rams at Seahawks. I love the way the Rams are playing. They're limited. I love the way they're playing.

I'm going to take the Rams plus six here. McVeigh and 12 games against Pete Carroll's won eight of them. They're offense. They have 150-plus rushing yards in back-to-back games. Cam Acres has arrived. multiple takeaways in five of six games. I've got to be honest with you. Baker Mayfield's been good.

Four games, completion percentage back up into the high 60s, pass-a-rating mid-90s. He's got a running game, so he's throwing on second and five and third and two. I like what I see from Baker Mayfield. And Seattle's defense is atrocious. They've got to take some draft capital and shore it up on the inside, and Kenneth Walker's banged up. He was sick this week.

I think the Rams, this is what they've been prone to do. beat the Seahawks 27 to 20. Chargers at Broncos. My only favorite I'll take, I'm going to take Denver minus two and a half at home. The Broncos have scored 24 plus points in three of their last four games. The Broncos, three plus touchdowns in three of their last four games, and we know this is an unbelievable defense. Opposing quarterback's passer rating this year against the Broncos, 81.

And Justin Herbert in week six struggled against this defense. The Chargers are built to play with the lead, but they often fall behind. They've been held to 20 points or fewer in four of their five last road games. Again, their last three wins, Rams, Colts, and the Titans who had to go to Malik Willis. I just think Denver, this means a lot for them. Positive vibes going into the offseason, feeling good, a little momentum. We know they need it. Do the Chargers?

I'm going to have Denver to win and cover 27 to 24. You get these division rivalry games, four out of the five picks. I'm taking points. Now, this is a tough week. People are sitting people. How inspired are the Chiefs? But I like the underdogs in the rivalry games. Just because you're not going to go to the playoffs,

doesn't mean you don't have something to play for. Jared Stidham wants to look good. The Browns. Deshawn Watson playing well now or better. Let's get him some momentum. I like the underdog. People are probably surprised that the Broncos are favored, but it looks like the Chargers will not have incentive to win.

They'll rest their guys so they face Tennessee or Jacksonville. That's the most likely scenario. Yeah, so Denver in this space is actually playing for more. Brandon Staley ain't risking anybody. No, and also many of their best players, Derwin, James, Bosa, get banged up. They're all line. So you're not going to play those guys. You're going to go to the backup quarterback second half of this game.

Eric Mangini, Jets, Browns, Three Rings Under Belichick, Fox Sports Analyst joining us. The story that I admit, it just shows how good Brian Dayball is. The New York Giants are a playoff team. And Greg Kosel said something yesterday, and it was really funny. He said, Colin, how many great quarterbacks are there? Five, six? If you don't have one, you just can't. keep bailing on a quarterback. He got him into the playoffs. Are you surprised by Daniel Jones?

Yes, I am surprised by Daniel Jones, but I'm less surprised because of Brian. And Brian was my quarterback coach for me at the Jets. He was my offensive coordinator for me at the Browns. And I know how smart he is. I know how thorough he is. And he's got a great way of relating to players. and he's got a great way of taking complicated things and making him a lot simpler. Plus, he's got a defensive perspective. He started in New England on the defensive side of the ball, so he's got that perspective when he's working with quarterbacks. So you saw what he did with Josh Allen.

I didn't know it would be as good as it's been in New York, but it doesn't surprise me knowing Brian as well as I do and knowing how capable he is. So yesterday on this show, we talked. talked about where Brady's going, Carr's going, Garoppolo's going. So you know Brady pretty well. Okay, very well. If you had

to guess, because he's leaving Tampa, where's he going and why do you think he's going there? Well, I got on your train early on when you thought San Francisco would be the spot, and I think that's the perfect spot. And regardless of how Brock Purdy

does through this playoff run, you're still going to have a situation. where you've got Brock Purdy and Trey Lance, two really young quarterbacks, if you could go and get Tom Brady for a year, and with the offensive skill positions that you have, the defense that you have, the idea that he could go finish his career there, and I would imagine Tom might even take a discount to go to San Francisco.

Then you're also in a great situation where you've got him mentoring the two young guys that are currently on your roster. I think that could be a great fit and kind of, a fairy tale ending to his career. By the way, the Titans are a good team, need a quarterback. Do Garoppolo or Carr fit there? I know you like Aaron Rogers there, and it makes sense to try to go get a player like Aaron Rogers.

Look, I brought Brett Farr in New York, so I know what it's like to go get a really good Green Bay quarterback, and that worked out well until he got dinged up. I think the issue, though, is what Rabel's trying to build. in Tennessee. And I see Mike trying to build a team that can compete for a championship every year, not just go out and try to rent a championship. And he's got more influence than ever. I like Derek. I like the idea of Derek Carr in Tennessee. Derek seems like a good guy. He's never been on a team with better than a 20th ranked defense. That's right. Mike can go get that defense in Tennessee fixed. He can use draft picks that you don't give up for someone like Aaron

Rogers to go improve the team long term. And then, you can go get that. You know, you've got a good quarterback that seems like a really good person that you can have for multiple years and have a chance to win each of those years. All right, you know the Patriots well, three rings there. Mack Jones body language. Where are you on that issue? I hate it. I hate it.

And I think it was Julian Edelman that talked about it. It's one of those things where when you see guys, you'll see it in the secondary. Someone gives up a big play and one DB points at the other DB. That's not about getting anything right. That's about assigning blame. Hey, it wasn't me. It wasn't me. It's the same thing with quarterback.

When they point at their wide receivers, that has nothing to do with getting anything fixed. If you want to fix it, you go to the sideline, and you talk to that player and you get it fixed. The last thing you want to do is point blame and try to take the pressure off yourself. It's not right. It's not right.

It's not what you should get from your leader. It's not that he doesn't have things that he can fix himself. And it's a little bit different than when you see Tom Brady have frustration. And usually Tom's is on the sideline. It's not necessarily on the field. It's not on brand. It's not what you do in New England. And it shouldn't be done.

It's not right. Well, it also, Tom's got seven rings. So the reality is Kobe, Brian, or MJ could bark. It's different than a guy off the bench barking. You know, success has its privileges, so I'm going to give us Peyton Manning can bark a little, right? Yeah, and he's 45 years old. He's practically a father figure out there. So, yeah, he's got the legitimacy.

He's got all those different things. And Mac Jones has none of those things. And look, the last thing you want to do is be creating extra tension in an environment that's already tense. You know Jim Harbaugh very well. I hope he stays at Michigan because I think he means more to college football. I think he'd succeed wherever he goes. He's a very unique guy. But in college, Eric, I can argue no crazy billionaire owner, no power hungry GM.

He can kind of run the show. If he wants to pivot to a new defense or a new coordinator, he doesn't have to ask anybody. You just do it. Your takeaway on him as an NFL, because I would think with a 44 and 19 and one record, Everybody would want him. Maybe not as much as Sean Payton, but he'd be number two. Minnesota passed.

It looks like, to some degree, NFL people are a tad apprehensive because Jim wants control. That's my takeaway. What's yours? I think Jim would be a great solution for a lot of clubs that are looking for head coach. And look, Jim is as authentic a football coach as you're going to find. That's all he cares about. about and what you see is what you get. But the other thing that's great about Jim Harbaugh is he's not held to conventional

wisdom. And I've shared this with you before. We used to talk about things that were outside the box and he'd say, we're the San Francisco 49ers. We can do whatever we want. And that's the type of thinking that you need to have in order to stay ahead of the curve, whether it's in college football or the league. And he'll be able to go in, infuse energy.

He'll be able to go in and infuse toughness. he'll look at things creatively. He didn't have total control in San Francisco. I'm not sure how much control he'd necessarily want, but he'd also be willing to work with someone else to make sure you're getting to the best place. That's what Jim wants. Jim wants to just get to the best place.

It's not about Jim pacifying his ego or having total control. He just wants to get to the best spot for the team. All right. Jets aren't starting, I think they're starting Flacco this weekend. Is that a sign to you? Is that a signal to you? Yeah, look, I know that Robert said that he should take some time away

and maybe go read a book and all those things. And I get that. They're saying you need to hit the reset button. But to me, why not start him this game? This game means nothing in terms of standings and playoffs. This is the perfect opportunity to let him go into the offseason, potentially on a really high note. And if he goes out and it's as bad as it's been,

then that gives you some more clarity as you as an organization going to the offseason as to what you need to do. I would have probably played him. I would have played him this week to give him a chance to try to go into this offseason, not only for himself, but for the fan base, for the ownership, for the team, showing that he has the potential to be what they hoped he could be. Finally, Damar Hamlin, highly encouraging news. He's off the tube. He's communicating Monday was, I mean, it was, I was sick to my stomach watching it.

And I didn't even see the CPR. I saw players surround. I heard about that. And that stuff, even if you're a first responder, CPR is unnerving. I've seen it happen once in my life at a ski resort. Totally unnerving. Made me not want to ski. It was like, this is scary.

If you're in your career, had you ever? seen anything like that? And you'd been in all these practices in your life in games. Anything compared to it? Not to that degree, Colin. And, you know, I've been in football. I played high school football. I've been coaching it most of my adult life. And it's just, you go through that time period and you know the dangers that are inherent to the game. But you're always trying to put that on the back burner so that you can be aggressive, you can be competitive, you can play fast, but then something like this happens, and it all comes flooding back to what the possibilities are. And having two young kids who both play football, it does make you take a step back. And I love

everything that football's done for me and for people around me. But it does make you really reflect on the other aspects of it. And it's, it was hard to watch. Oh, yeah. And I couldn't be happier to see the way that he's responding. It's incredible. He's been incredible through this fight. Yep. Eric Mangini, Fox Sports.

Coach, good seeing you. Have a great weekend. You have a really good weekend, Colin. Talk to you soon. All right. Thanks. Yeah, I said this. I've only seen CPR perform one time.

There was an accident skiing with friends, saw it a couple years ago. And I mean it is startling. It is completely. Think about that. I didn't know this person. Can you imagine a coworker? These players are watching a coworker within five feet. You're seeing everything.

This thing was 50 yards from me. I don't know who it was. I mean, that's why when you watching these players cry and how devastating is, they're all to ask players to play. It's like, come on now. This is, this is. I'm just thinking in my situation, I didn't know the person. It was 50 yards away.

I could just see it. And it made my, I was sick to my stomach. It's like, yep, day's done out of here. It is. So what these players are dealing with cannot be minimized, marginalized. It was a traumatic event. I read a story two days ago about first responders talking about when they have to perform it. And they do this regularly.

And they, for them, it's highly emotional. like after they perform it, it's, it's, they need kind of time to recuperate. So our medical professionals, people who are trained in this, uh,

it's, it's really emotional. And I've only experienced it once from a distance. I can't imagine watching a coworker five feet from me in a game I'm playing. I have to suit up. I'm suited up. NFL,

we can complain about the five minutes. We can complain about the, immediacy of the cancellation, but they got it right. And some sports haven't. There's been other incidents where things have happened and other sports have continued. We can nitpick the NFL, but they got it right. And driving to work today, very encouraging news on Damar Hamlin. I mean, it puts everybody here at Fox in a really good mood.

Ways to go, but a good day. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart Radio app. Search Her 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 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 you're 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, untrower. filtered 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 Clivert 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 Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at a podcast. I'm Sam Jett. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick you here, unpack what you? went down and tried 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, so. They're 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. Sunday, it's the NFL week 18 season finale on Fox, featuring a double header that starts with the Jets taken on the dolphins or other regional action. Then in America's game of the week, the Cowboys continue their improbable quest for an NFC's title against the commanders or the Seahawks. try to keep their playoff hopes alive against the Rams or cards. Niners. It all starts at one-eastern on Fox and the Fox Sports app. It's kind of confusing. So the Bill's Bingle's game will not resume amid DeMarne Hamlin's recovery.

There's a lot. The league has stepped in. It's a very unique situation. You could have, you know, the AFC championship played at a neutral site. Very confusing, very layered. my takeaway is just like COVID, it's an unusual circumstance, and you just do what you've got to do. Our college football national championship, our Super Bowls are at neutral sites. It's something to remember if you feel like, yeah, the Bingle fans are upset.

The real victim in all this was Demar Hamlin. It's not fan bases. Years ago, the Washington Post had a very interesting article about home field advantage in the NFL, and it just doesn't mean as much as it used to. And one of the reasons is they fly bigger planes, players get treated better, they get into hotels. Let me just read you this from a trainer. He said it used to be teams arrived, checked into a hotel, went to dinner, team meeting, go to sleep. He said, now they're a mash unit, a mobile training unit, set up in the hospital within minutes,

trainer strength coaches, trunks full of recovery devices, bigger planes, players stick their feet. feet in compression boots, massages, lounge and cold tubs. The reality now, bigger planes, players sleep. The reality is players go on the road and it's never been more like playing at home. And so it used to be three and four points was the home field advantage. Folks, it's just not the way it is anymore. Justin Herbert has beaten Mahomes twice in Kansas City. The bills have beaten Kansas City twice a narrowhead stadium. The Tom Brady Super Bowl team won three road games. The Bengals last year, two of their three road wins were road games. The Rams won in Tampa. The Giants team with Eli Manning, Super Bowl, Road, Road, Road. I looked around last year

the Titans and Packers, home teams, number one seeds off a buy, both lost at home. But Colin, I do want to ask you, this neutral site conference championship game, would you agree that this game should be played outdoors? These are two outdoor teams, well, Cincinnati, three. This game should not be played in a dome. I disagree. So one of the reasons we hold bowl games in warm weather, because when you have high functioning offenses, Cincinnati, Kansas City, I mean, Philadelphia, over in the NFC, Buffalo, I don't want wind and rain getting in the way. By the way, you say they're built for cold weather teams. False. Buffalo, look at the temperature, September, October, until Thanksgiving.

giving, weather's not a factor. You only play, even if you're in Buffalo, you play three home games in lousy weather. You generally play five or six in better weather. We've got to remember, football starts after Labor Day. So you play three games in September, four to five in October, four and we, and where do we put our Super Bowl? We put it in a dome. We put it in warm weather. Even if you're a bad weather team, how many bad, Cincinnati Buffalo Monday night?

There's no wind and snow. The bottom line is there's very few games. We remember them. We remember the snow games. We remember Buffalo, New England in a 35, 45-hour wind, right? When New England didn't throw the ball. But the truth is, even in Buffalo, you're going to play in like three lousy home weather. But Buffalo also plays in the division with Miami.

They often late in the season go to Miami. They had an out-conference game in a southern climate. Yeah, well, you remember the Colts how they struggled going outdoors in the playoffs for so many years with Peyton and Harrison. That's the opposite. So that is a dome team. Yes. Asking the chargers with Dan Fouts to play in zero degrees in Cincinnati is different. But even a cold weather team like Aaron Rogers in Green Bay in his prime would rather play

in good weather. Aaron's better in good weather than nine degrees. It's different if a warm weather team Miami historically goes north. but the best quarterbacks, even if they grow up in cold weather, they want to play in warm weather. I hadn't thought about that. I was thinking, you know, if it's Bill's Chiefs, you find an equidistant outdoor stadium, probably not Cleveland, but maybe a site like Cleveland, but you're saying you think it would be like better suited for like an Indianapolis indoor game.

I think anytime I get great quarterbacks, I mean, think about this way. So when New England played Buffalo and one team has Josh Allen and one has Mack Jones, what was the equalizer? Crappy weather. So did the best team win? No, weather overwhelmingly dictated terms. I don't want weather deciding my football game. It doesn't decide my baseball games, my soccer games.

It doesn't decide hockey. It doesn't decide basketball. And by the way, they don't even play in rain in baseball. I don't want Blizzard football. Occasionally it makes for great TV. But what I want is the world's greatest athletes performing at their highest. That doesn't mean I don't like the occasional, you know, snow. game. I understand it. I mean, these teams are overcoming injuries and some weather, but I don't

think we ever want to take the football out of the hands of Patrick Mahomes because it's 42-mile-hour wins. There's a reason we put Rose Bowls and Super Bowls and bowl games in better weather. I don't want to see Georgia, Ohio State playing the blizzard. I wanted to see C.J. Stroud, who's going to be a top five pick, be able to throw a football because he can see and the wind won't deter him. Well, interesting. Because in the college football play, in some of the scenarios they've talked about, the higher seed would host a playoff game. So December,

Ohio, Michigan hosting, it's going to be crappy weather. I don't like it. I know I'm the only person on the earth that wants to see great quarterbacks playing great weather. I know, but I don't care that Buffalo plays in Buffalo. I want to see Josh Allen without having

to overcome weather. I want if he has to overcome a defense or a pass rush, I don't want to add another layer. I want to see Josh Allen at his best. I just think back to, and it's probably, you know, seeing these January games for so long being played outdoors, like Patriots Chiefs. You remember how cold that game was, the AFC Championship game?

Yes. That was like such an epic game, the setting, the outdoors, the freezing, putting their hands in there. You know, like. Best regular season game I've seen in a decade. Let me guess. The one out here at L.A. Mahomes golf.

There you go. Yeah, yeah. Seventy-four degrees. Right. But we're talking about January football, conference championship, Usually played end of January, early February. I'm not saying that you should move a cold weather game indoors, but I'm saying if you have a unique circumstance and can play indoors, do.

Just do. I want to see Mahomes in Burrough in a 31-30 game, not 1713. You can't see. The irony is I want no part of any cold outdoor games. I had jet season tickets one year. I didn't go to any game after like Halloween. Of course. I was just like giving them away.

I'm like, I'm not sitting out there for three hours in that. Hold the way. J-Mack with the news. No. No. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. So you just talked about good offenses.

Let's go to a bad one. Tampa Bay. Colin, this offense has been a disaster this season under Byron Lefford, which last week against Carolina, only the second time this year, they top 30 points. But, hey, Byron Leffertz, there's been way too much criticism of the team's performance. I think it's been moments where we haven't really been that bad. I think you guys over exaggerate because we look different. The numbers say we're not that far off.

We're off full on third down in red zone. It's disappointing those two things for us as a team with who we have. But when you really listen to people talk about us, it's emotions talking. That's not really people that's watching us, watching us get better every week. For some reason, everybody wants to throw dirt on the bucks. We're not ready for people to throw dirt on us.

Well, I think they actually play well when they speed it up. That's when it's really strange. You'll watch them, and they're clunky, and then they go in their two-minute drill and they're effective. Unfortunately, Byron Lefowitz is just lying to us, or he's being willfully ignorant. They are awful this year. Their numbers have fallen off a cliff. You are correct. Their two-minute offense looks great when they run at the final five minutes of the game.

But, Colin, look at these numbers. They're falling off a cliff. We can't just blame this on some of the first. offensive line being out of the mix. Byron Leffield's play calling leaves a ton to be desired. I think they run more on first down than like 90% of teams. Well, and the other thing, when you show the graphic you did, sorry to the radio

audience, but the one graphic that jumps out is their big play offense. Now, you saw it with Mike Evans, but last year, they had 115 big plays this year, 75. So, you know, do the math, 40 fewer big plays, that's like 35%. So To me, that's what I've noticed, is

the first couple years, they were a big play offense. A. B., Mike Evans, Godwin, over the top. Gronk missing also. Yeah. So they're, you know, they just, last week, Mike Evans having the three big bombs was so unique. They just haven't, he disappeared for a month. Next up, Gerard Gough and the Lions, big game Sunday night in Green Bay against the Packers.

They still might have a chance to get to the playoffs of the win. They're going to need help from Baker Mayfield and the Rams. Actually, Goff's old team. Depending on the Seahawks result, obviously, Goff, very, very excited. for the prime time opportunity. It's really big and I think we're excited for it. I think it's something we've earned and, you know, we're playing for a playoff spot and been through a lot this year

and, you know, we're ready for a game that'll be fun in front of everybody. You know, there's going to be a lot more questions, a lot more coverage. We're going to be sitting in the hotel all day, you know, waiting for that Sunday night game. That's the difference. I think once you get out there to game day, it's really the same, and you have to treat it the same.

And sure, late in the game, in the fourth quarter, there's going to be pressure. But that's the same way in every other game. in the fourth quarter, there's no more pressure because of the week it is. I think every game is truly the same, and you've got to treat it that way. I don't know what the weather is. I just looked it up as Goff was speaking. So a high of 31, but that's during the day with the sun out.

They're playing at night in Lambo. It's about 22, 23 degrees. And what's the wind? No wind. Okay, that's good. What about the flurries or anything? No precipitation at all. So it'll be clear, but just cold as you know what.

Okay. And Jared Gough historically has been terrible in cold weather. He's got the small hands. It's a problem. Oh, good. Just the facts, buddy. Just the facts. Come on.

Hand size. Finally. Your buddy, Baker Mayfield. By the way, is he celebrating your birthday with you tonight? Be nice if Baker did give me a shout out. It would be nice. He didn't, but that's okay. Okay.

All right. Well, he's had a resurgence with the Rams. You know, played kind of well these last four games. And McVeigh, his coach, thinks Baker's performance has raised his stock heading into the offseason. been huge. He's left a huge impression, and I think all of his teammates would echo that same sentiment. And so I've been really impressed with him.

I don't think you can minimize how quickly he's come in, endeared himself to his teammates, gotten familiar with some of the vernacular and the verbiage, and then you're going out and playing NFL caliber football games. And so I want to be able to finish out on a high note, but he's done a great job. And if this hasn't elevated people's opinions and thoughts of him, then I'm not sure what he could have done to change whatever the perception is. I just know, I think, very highly of him, and I've loved working with him.

Yeah, no, he's played really good. And you know what? The thing that I like about him, he's been accurate. Remember when he came out of college, we thought it would be accurate. Then he went to Cleveland with a good old line and were like, his accuracy plummeted. And then he went to Carolina. It was worse. And more like it's into his head.

He's back up. He's getting all the layups right. So he's at 67%. And I watched every one of the games he's played. much more comfortable. Credit to McBade. This is not a great O-line and not a great receiving core. So let's not make this out to be,

this is not nearly as talented as the Cleveland team of the Ram team two years ago. So Baker, and this is a big deal, he's completing the passes, he should be completing. You think that sounds like a back-handed compliment, but a lot of these guys in this league don't. And so they're dialing up completions. He's hitting them and the ability to go over the top. think he got himself a bridge quarterback job.

I still think he stays in L.A. I think he's in a short list of the best backup in the league and with Stafford's age and kind of weird, he's got several little injuries. I said this this morning to the team. If you look at the schedule and Stafford, let's say the buy comes in week 11 for the Rams next year, and you can go to Stafford and say, hey, we're at home week 10, take two weeks off, we're going to take you down the stretch, and Baker steps in. Like Baker's a very highly competent backup or a highly competent bridge.

Would you go to the Texans or would you be the Rams backup? I think I'd back up. I'd probably stay at L.A. So what I? So just to clarify something. So Baker's not throwing to Cooper Cup, right? Alan Robinson, I think he's been out. The numbers are not as great as they sound.

So against the Raiders, when they had the great comeback at Sofi, he was under 200 yards for the game until the final drive. Well, he had four hours to learn the office. That's correct. Fair enough. Goes to Green Bay the next week, 57% completion. 111 yards. Then the Denver game, where they blasted Denver, he was very good.

And then last week against the Chargers, 57% completions, 132 yards passing. Chargers had something to play for. And we're healthy, and the Rams are dealing with backups on the O line. Yes. So he's not in a great scenario. I'm with you, though. I think he gets a chance probably as the backup. I do believe he beats Seattle this weekend, and the Seahawks say, come on down.

So you like the Rams too? I do like the Rams. I like the Rams. The problem is, I think he's the Rams. we're on the same side in a lot of games this week. That is a little dangerous, no? Well, I don't know what's going to happen. I went one for three left. Didn't you the crystal ball? Was it a magic eight ball telling you exactly what's going to happen? Hey, birthday weekend. You got a fire. I just think Baker has, I think, all things considered,

been a B-plus, very impressive quarterback. Once you give him McVeigh... He had more talent in Carolina the first four weeks in the season? No question. And he has right now. No question. Absolutely. He had McCaffrey and DJ Moore. Well, the gap between McVey and Matt Ruhle. Nothing against Matt Ruhl. But nothing against Matt Ruh, he leaves and they nearly make the playoffs. I know. With their Sam Darnold. Come on.

Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lye News. 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. Hey, it's Ben. Host of the fifth hour with

Ben Mallor would mean a lot to have you join us on our weekly auditory journey. You're asking what in God's name is the fifth hour? I'll tell you, it's a spinoff of the Ben Mallor show, a cult hit overnights on FSR. Why should you listen? Picture if you will a world where we chat with captains of industry in media, sports and more every week, explore some amazing facts about human nature and more. Listen to the fifth hour with Ben Mallor on the Iheart radio app,

Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only least. 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. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football,

or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that

don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim?

Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jett. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84'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 crack.

So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you finishing that sentence. 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.

So Pittsburgh season, you've got to give Mike Tomlin credit. Pittsburgh has a chance if they, you know, it's been a much better season than we thought. Got off to a bad start, quarterback situation. Kenny Pickett's come in, three, four-year starter in college, played his college football in the same stadium. He plays now for the Steelers. It's been pretty good, pretty good. And he was talking this week sort of about Mike Tomlin as his coach and what he deals with. And here's Kenny Pickett.

You talk about being two and six. He was the same guy now that we're eight and eight. and we're fighting for that playoff spot. His sense of urgency is always there. The passion he has for the game, his energy at, you know, six in the morning when he walks in the building is the same every single day, no matter what the record is. You know, it took me years to get Mike Tomlin.

I always saw him as very emotional. His teams were emotional. A lot of drama. His teams weren't always buttoned up. And then you realize a lot of that was Big Ben, who's overly dramatic, sort of committed, entered the seasons in marginal shape, sometimes out of shape, kind of a remedial audible system because Ben didn't want to put in the time to learn it.

And I think a lot of the stuff I held against Tomlin was more Big Ben. Tomlin is very much like Pete Carroll to me, a really patient teacher, a lot of perpetually optimistic, incredible energy, very good eye for talent, both the Seahawks have found gems in later round and so to the Steelers. And I think there's a consistency to his enthusiasm, which is contagious for players.

There's a presence. Pete Carroll has a presence. Mike Tomlin has a presence. And I think, you know, there's, you can always be snarky. Sometimes in the media we tend to get too negative and too snarky. And Tomlin tends to be bottom line, alpha, optimistic, great. He has what I would call juice. He walks into a room and has juice.

And I think he's done. I think Sean McVeigh has this. Football is hard. We had a player essentially die on the field Monday night and was revived. You're asking a lot of players physically and emotionally and the sacrifices they make. And the NFL's added the Thursday games and the 17th game and there's another playoff team in. And it took me a long time to understand Mike Tomlin. But that optimism and the energy and the juice and the.

presence. Not all coaches are the same. You know, Shanahan is more mad scientist. McVeigh is more culture guy. Big presence. Big energy. Everybody's different. All quarterbacks aren't the same. Some are small. Some run more than others. Some are big arms. Some are average arm. And I think Tomlin deserves a lot of credit for this season because it was a mess to start. It was Trebisky. It was Kenny Pickett. And they've been winning some of these close games with Kenny Pickett. And I don't know if Kenny Pickett's any good. He's okay. Is he going to be special? I don't know.

But the division's pretty tough. What you can't have in the NFL is the fourth best quarterback. So what's fascinating about Pittsburgh, Burroughs the best quarterback in the division. And right now I think he is substantially. Then it's Deshawn Watson, Lamar Jackson. I prefer Lamar Jackson to Sean third. Pick it right now is the fourth best quarterback. Now, can he elevate to another level?

You can like somebody all you want. If you have the fourth best quarterback in a division, you've got to get a new quarterback. Right? So that's, you know, that's why Belichick can stay with the Mac Jones. The Jets don't have their quarterback. Who knows the future of Tua? You can make the playoffs if you don't have Josh Allen. You can make the playoffs. The Chargers will. They don't have Mahomes. You can't have the fourth best quarterback. And that doesn't mean Kenny can't play. But Burroughs elite, Lamar, when he's healthy, to me, when 75% of his games, I've never been as big with Deshawn Watson as others, but he's tamar.

talented. So that's where we are with Kenny Pickett. Do you buy him today? Okay. We've made some money the last couple weeks with these late comebacks. As a franchise quarterback, I don't know. But Colin, with a quarterback on the rookie deal, you can now go spend everywhere else. Yes, you can. They can fortify the offensive line. I think the receiving course good, right? The running back solid, defense very good. I think this seems closer than a lot of people think to really being a factor in the playoffs. Young quarterbacks need an offensive line.

me, that's job one. I think the play calling also leaves a lot to be desired. I think Matt Canada is still the O.C. I think the one criticism against Tomlin and McDermott, dude, four or five years, get the O-line fixed. I mean, come on. You've got to get the O-line fixed. You don't get five years in an O-line. These defensive coaches,

do they lack the sensibility of offensive line? Andy Reid rebuilt his in one year. The Saints with Peyton always had a good O-line. Like, you've got to get the O-line right with young quarterbacks. But it's, Pickett's got something. He's been good. Late in games in big spots.

Moxie. Good word from the 70s. Love that. Hour three and a Friday, live in Los Angeles, is next. Another podcast from some SNL, late night comedy guy, not quite.

Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes.

Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 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. Hey, what's good, y'all?

You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host, Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor? It signals to the world that you need.

not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to. Listen to learn the hard way on the IHard radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHart podcast. Guaranteed human.