The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Herd - Hour 2 - Herd Hierarchy

Episode Date: October 24, 2023

Colin shares his new Herd Hierarchy ranking the top 10 NFL teams after week 7 Thoughts on the Jim Harbaugh NCAA scandal   Guest: Nick WrightSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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hour two, it's The Hurt. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, thanks for megan as part of your day day. I appreciate it. Nick Wright in five minutes, heard hierarchy. So it's interesting this part of the season, as we watched like the Niners and the Vikings last night,

and Minnesota completely outplayed, out-schemed, out-coached San Francisco. Weird. And Detroit was humiliated by Baltimore. That was kind of odd. So what do you make of all these games? Well, this is not college football. The really good teams, Kansas City, Philadelphia,

have an ability to win when they can't figure out their identity or they don't play their best game. The Jets Chiefs game sums up really the difference between, like, the bills, who I'm really struggling with, they got all sorts of issues right now. The bills, when they play bad or poorly, they lose. Philadelphia, Kansas City can play poorly, Kansas City against the Jets, and win, and that's the difference. Buffalo has to play well. There's a lot of issues with that team.

J-Mack, to his credit, called it. The off-season, the moves, the drama, something's wrong. You see how McDermott, how frustrated he has been. Something's not working with Buffalo, and I cannot believe it in my herd hierarchy this week. You'll notice something. Well, the Jets are closing in on the top 10? They're getting closer. Yeah, they beat the Giants this week.

weekend they get in there. That's happening, by the way. You ready to go? Lock it up, yeah. Heard hierarchy on a Tuesday. Heard hierarchy. Time is now. Let's go. The top 10 NFL teams, according to college. Number 10. You know, I pushed back. I called them the fake Gucci loafers of the NFL. They looked the part, but you put them on the road against Buffalo and Philadelphia and what is Miami. They had one touchdown drive. In fairness, though, they've got a lot of good players. The O lines banged up. They were missing five starters on offense. Don't sell all your Miami stock.

They lead the NFL in scoring. They play, especially when they play at home, better weather. They're no fun to play. One of the only teams that can outscore the best teams like Kansas City and Baltimore in this league. But again, there's a lot of fake gold watch quality to Miami where they play a certain way. They're a heavyweight with a glass chin. They fold quickly. I have them at 10.

Number nine. You know, I don't love Dallas, but I do. think when they play a certain way, they're good, but they're also the most penalized team. They're highly dependent on CD Lamb. DAC completes 81% of his throws to CD Lamb, and that's where he usually goes in crisis. I don't think they're quite as talented as people think. Again, lots of penalties, play the second easiest schedule, but when they play a certain way, and that's why they're not a great team.

When they can play with a lead, they can pin their ears back. Dallas, pretty good. I have them at nine. Number eight. But I would take Cincinnati because they have Joe Burrow. They've won three of four. They're getting healthy coming off a buy. They give you a consistent pass rush.

They have the hardest remaining schedule, and it would be nice if they were not so dependent on Jamar Chase. So last three games, 10-plus targets, it'd be nice if somebody else could deliver beyond Burrow and Jamar Chase. But they get a consistent pass rush. They're good situationally. Burroughs amazing. So I'll put them in eight.

Number seven. Don't sell your lion stock. They're going to win 12 games. They have the second easiest remaining schedule. Number four total offense, number two rush defense. As I said, Lamar Jackson is 16 and one against the NFC. If you've never faced Lamar Jackson, it is an avalanche of speed, and you don't know what the hell to do with it.

And so this is what Lamar Jackson does. He destroys people out of division the first time they see him. Steelers, Bengals, Browns, get a load of him, Kansas City. You have kind of an idea how to fix the Rubik's Cube. Detroit's fine, great old line, I like a lot about them, don't sell your stock, they're going to host a playoff game, they're going to win a playoff game, I have them at seven. Number six. I can't believe I have the Steelers at six.

This defense, though, 54 straight games under 400 yards, but if you dig deep, here's what's fascinating. Kenny Pickett is good in the fourth quarter. Five fourth quarter comebacks. Six game-winning drives in his last 18 starts. Some of these games shouldn't be that close. But Kenny Pickett in the fourth quarter this year. And this is a real thing for a young quarterback.

He's got some swag and confidence, a 103 passer rating. This team, like, they didn't play well this weekend and won. They beat Baltimore. Pittsburgh's got an ability in which, this is what the good teams do, to scuff around for two and a half, three quarters and win sometimes on the road. Pittsburgh, I can't believe it, at six. Number five. Jacksonville.

13 and 5 in their last 18 games. Lead the NFL in takeaways. Trevor Lawrence, for the record, in his last full season of games, 16, 17 games, has 100 passer rating. He's really good. I still feel like they're in a rebuild a little bit, although I don't think they are, but I think they've got the weapons. I think they can win by shootout.

The only team I don't think they can beat is Kansas City. Number four. San Francisco. Again, don't sell all your stock. but we do get a reality check on Brock Purdy, who I've said, I think he's good, but I don't think he's very good. Brock Purdy in the fourth quarter this year, passer rating of 54. Brock Purdy, when trailing in the fourth quarter this year, passer rating of 17, what we saw last night, what makes a special quarterback, an Elway of Brady and Mahomes is the ability,

fourth quarter, nothing's working, missing pieces, win. Brock can't do that. That's why he's good. But he doesn't even qualify as very good. Number three. Philadelphia. They've lost a turnover battle in three straight games. That worries me.

They are sloppier this year. Jalen Hertz, 10 giveaways. Not healthy. He is limping. That worries me. But it's a stacked roster. A.J. Brown has emerged like we knew he eventually would as a star. The defense does not allow big plays.

They went and got a safety on the back end. They've been dinged up at the safety spot. So they remain a really good. roster smartly coached. I thought the last two weeks they found an identity offensively finally. Number two. Kansas City, six and one, right? Six and O, since that loss to the Lions. It is absolutely the fastest defense and arguably the best in the Mahomes era. They dominate their division. Chargers are off as usual. Raiders are average. Denver's a bit of a mess. 13 straight wins against their division.

I don't think they have a great receiving core, but the Chargers Brandon Staley made sure it looked like it in the first half this weekend. Kansas City at 2. Number one. Listen, I've been saying this for the last three weeks. Baltimore is great. Lamar Jackson, this is easily the best version of him. To me, he is the second most dangerous quarterback to face beyond Patrick Mahomes.

And they finally, this organization is well run. But they've been real spotty. no depth at wide receiver. Save Flowers. Odell Beck. Nelson Aguilar's making place. Mark Edwards, this is the best Lamar. He is the highest-gritted quarterback in the league.

Their defense is through the roof good. He's top three in completion percentage, passer rating yards per play. This is the best Lamar I've seen. And if you ask me today, the two quarterbacks in this league, I would not want to face. Mahomes won. Lamar one.

1A. I think he's playing at that level. In fact, I said a couple of weeks ago in London, his first half against Tennessee was the most electric, impressive first half I had seen by a quarterback this year. Now, it's probably surpassed by Mahomes this week, but they've got some veterans on defense. They got some money on it. Baltimore won, Kansas City, 2, Philly, San Francisco. So I generally believe my top four teams are the Super Bowl potential winning teams, and I still feel that today. Inches not feet between Baltimore, KC, and Philadelphia and San Francisco. And to JMAX point, I would be a little concerned with Jalen Hertz's injury,

although I do believe they have found their identity, which for five weeks they were winning games but didn't have it. Any thoughts? Yeah, where are the Buffalo Bills? 11. So they smacked Miami good. Miami's beaten nobody in Buffalo's. I mean, again, the Jets beat the bills.

You can't go on one game. No, but the Jets are still a three-win team. I'm just saying. I just looked up D-B-O-A. You love the stats. DVO-A has Buffalo as the fourth best team in the league. They also have Josh Allen as the top quarterback in the league, which is a little crazy. I'm just saying I have them at 11.

When I did this list. 12 of Seattle? Jet Seattle. I like that. I'm not going to argue that one. I wish Seattle, Seattle's offensively. Seattle, they're really good. I almost think sleeping giant.

Okay, so last week, Nick said my herd hierarchy was outrageous. So let's go to him live, Nick Wright. You know what? I got to give you credit. You have sold stock on Buffalo for four years. No, that's not what we're doing. No, no, we'll do Buffalo in a moment. I mean, give me, what are the Ravens, the Bengals, the 49ers, and dolphins all have in common?

What's that? They are the four teams. that have graced the top of the herd hierarchy this year. There seems to be a team missing that you have just slotted perpetually in the two-hole and then every time you talk about them, you're like, they have the fastest defense, they have the best quarterback,

the team at number one has the second best of all these things, that's why they're number one. What do you do it? What do the chiefs need to do to be the top the herd hierarchy, Colin? Tell me. Tell me, and I'll relay it to them. Great idea. So first half against Chargers, amazing. And then they disappear. It's like they give me half. Oh, okay. Oh, they disappeared? Oh, I'm sorry. Did they disappear or did they shut out your beloved Justin Herbert for a half? Because I do believe there are two sides to the ball, Colin. In fact, maybe a third. And special teams where the chiefs have a kicker has a missed a kick and a punt returner that J-Max Jets couldn't use for six yards all year, who, broke the game open. Like, what are we doing? They have the best coach, they have the best quarterback, they have the longest winning streak,

and they have the best record. And you refuse to put them at number one. So yes, you can try to butter me up by saying I was the only person in America who called it on the bills years ago and took all the slings and arrows from folks. And now I'm being proven correct, obviously. But at some point, I need to come on here in the most electric 30 minutes in sports television all week, the herd hierarchy into you and I talking. And have the Chiefs be number one. And it can't only be after they win the Super Bowl. I always have them one that week.

They're always won that week. Yeah, exactly. And then somehow teams jump them. They don't lose and other teams jump them. I don't understand. Go ahead. Sorry. That's not a periodic chart. It's not perfect. Okay. So I had said on Brock Purdy.

I think he's good. But I wouldn't give him a very good. I said, how do I contextualize? He never trails. Well, now we have information. When he trails late, he's not the same quarterback. Is it fair, though? I watch Jordan Love, can't complete the ball down the field. I watch other quarterback struggle. I think he's good, but I just don't think you can win a Super Bowl with, I thought Garoppolo was good. Is that fair? Well, yeah, I mean, your bar for good might be a little lower than mine. I think he's fine. Brock Purdy's fine. And folks got very

mad at me because I do that silly Mahomes mountain quarterback ranking thing and the day after he went 20 of 21 he didn't move up and people are like what more do you want to see and my answer was more I want to see brook purdy under less than ideal circumstances either because his full cast of avengers skill position players are not all there or he's trailing late and now we've gotten to see both and he's been awful. Like, let's be very, very clear. Last week, he was outplayed by P.J. Walker. Oh, Nick, that's against the Brown's defense.

That's unfair. No one could move the ball in the Browns defense, except for, I guess, Gardner Minshew, who hung 38 on the Browns defense six days later. And in that game, Brock Purdy down at the very end, tried to throw an interception on the first pass of the drive. It was dropped.

They did end up getting in field goal range after an Iyut catch and run, and they missed it. And then last night, two separate times against a defense that is not overwhelming, he had the opportunity to go have a statement drive. And two separate times, he threw pillowy perfect passes to the team in purple. It didn't work out. So, yeah, I have real questions. I have real questions given the fact that I used to fight on this hill about Jimmy Garoppolo and folks would say, but look at the win-loss record.

Look at his quarterback rating. It's not just the weapons in Kyle Shanahan. And then he went to the Raiders, has missed time, and despite that, leads the league in interceptions, is clearly not the guy. So yeah, I have questions about Brock Purdy. I have questions that if you are not in, if everything is not going perfectly, all your weapons with the lead, defense trying to stop McCaffrey, what can't? can you do? And this is where, and I don't blame Brock Purdy for being Brock Purdy. I blame the

general football intelligentsia that was trying to bully folks into just saying, admit he's great. He's undefeated. Is that what more do you want to see? When we were watching the games and we said we want to see more, and the fact that there are going to be folks who two weeks ago were arguing loudly, he's the MVP of the league who today are arguing. arguing much more quietly, he's the biggest weakness on his team, shows you that maybe we have to be a little more discerning with some of our commentary about these quarterbacks who were on great teams with great supporting cats. Now, let's segue to a team Kansas City was clearly better than and has been since Trevor Lawrence arrived with the Jaguars. But they've got some interesting

numbers. They take the ball away. They can make it uncomfortable. They have big play ability. I look at Baltimore as the scary one to match up with Kansas City because I think they have a really elite defense. Last year, you know, I love Trevor Lawrence out of college. Are you buying them a little more? What do you see with them? Because I do think Lawrence is really special. I believe in the Jags. My preseason AFC title game pick was Chiefs Jags.

The Jacksonville Jaguars since November 1st, Colin, have lost five games. Since November 1st, a bad loss to the Texans who are actually okay, a loss to the Lions, and three losses to the Kansas City Chiefs. Since last November 1st, they've lost two games that weren't to the Chiefs. And Trevor's raw numbers are not overwhelming. But if you watch these games, third and long, he is as reliable as any quarterback in the league. They have an excellent running game now that Travis Etienne is healthy. They have a sharp coach in Doug Peterson.

They just won three games in 11 days on two continents and three time zones. And at some point, folks are going to need to recognize this team is legitimate. Now, do I think they can beat the Chiefs in a road playoff game? No, I don't. But do I think they can be the lucky contestant that gets to attend the Arrowhead Invitational this year? Absolutely, I do. And so, yeah, I think the Jags are legit.

thought they were legit since last year, and I know folks hang the four interception half around Trevor's neck from that playoff game. But his ability to rally from that, get his team that victory, and then hang in the game against Kansas City in the divisional round, I thought was wildly impressive. And again, aside from that game against the Texans, they've been very good all year. All right. So NBA season starts tonight. I think there's five teams that have a chance to win it. I usually think it's about the same number in baseball, college football, college basketball. Maybe the NFL's got six, but it usually comes down to five. I think Boston, Denver, Milwaukee, Lakers I had at five.

Phoenix is in there. That's about it. But the honest thing's interesting because I said this. So he's lined up now with Dame. And for years, Died Wade was a one title guy that everybody loved. liked beloved in his city. And then he got LeBron, and now he's a three-ring guy, and he's an icon. And the Duncans and Dee Waits, Kobe, M.J., LeBron, Steph, Russell. They all needed another guy. But right now is it unfair to say, Janus is a little like Dirk Nevitzky with better defense. Beloved, unique.

We all like him. MVP cachet, one title, and may not win another. And he's going to be great. But if you want to get into the club. Dunk, the bar is incredible. Shack, Russell, Correem. Isn't he kind of Dirk with defense?

Well, listen, I don't listen. I maybe think more highly of Dirk than a lot of people. Is the sixth all-time leading score, best player on two finalists, a great championship going through Durant, Russ, and Hardin, Kobe, Brian, and then LeBron and Wade. So, listen, I think Dirk is, you know,

around the 19th greatest player of all time. And I think Janus, I think that is a very good ranking. I think Janice is just right now a touch better than him. But Janus isn't 30 yet. Janice is, you know, has a lot of meat left on the bone. I agree with you if he were to not win another championship, then we look at him differently. But I think Janice has a real chance to climb into the area of the Pantheon where Shaquille O'Neal and Akeem O'Neal and Akeem O'Alajuwon live, which is he's.

He's going to need not just one more title, but probably a couple more titles for it. And I get a little frustrated with some of, and I'm not talking about you, some of the commentary around Janus is like, yes, he does all these things well, but here's his limitations offensively, which would make a lot more sense if I hadn't seen him average 30 a game on crazy high efficiency. If I hadn't seen him hang 50 on a team to win a championship. A lot of the things Janice can't do, Shaq couldn't do either, but we didn't hang it on Shaq because it's like, well, what he does, he's so dominant at. I really like the fit with Dame.

I think they'll be very good. The question is, because the example you gave about Janus, right now the same thing could be said for Yokic, MVP, one ring. Yeah. You know, what if he doesn't win more? Well, there's, you know, there's only one champion a year. and Janice and Yokic to me right now are the clear-cut two best players in the league with LeBron and Steph trying to hold on for another couple years to see if they can contend obviously Boston's right there as well as you mentioned.

All right, just a couple. Well, just like 90 seconds on this, but I do want your take. Sure. Travis Kelsey with Taylor Swift in the building is the greatest player in league history. Travis Kelsey without Taylor Swift is Travis Kelsey. He's a pro bowler. Do you have a theory behind that? He's like a different player when she's.

She's there. Well, yeah, it's the most obvious theory ever. I mean, Colin, you ever get a text from your lovely wife, Anne that says, hey, I'm watching? Does it perk your energy up a little bit? Do you try to be a little funnier? Do you try to be a little more charming? I bet you do. And so, yeah, Travis Kelsey, who has the rings and all of a sudden at 34 years old, has new motivation. He's trying to impress the most famous woman in the world who also is his girlfriend. So yeah, I think it helps. Yeah, I think it's good. And I think it's genuine. Listen, I'm not a Taylor Swift expert, but she seems deeply invested. Yeah. And I think it's great. I also think it is, it's a bit of a renaissance for Patrick Mahomes's wife, Brittany, who has been subject to a lot of unfair stuff in the media and in social media.

She's super likable. It's amazing. If you had told me, Colin, 15 years ago that Kansas City would be such the football epicenter that it has its gravitational pull has brought in international pop stars. I'd have said you've lost your damn mind. But that's where we're at. Now, unfortunately, you know, I'm sure you think, you know, Mark Andrews has similar pull as you have the Ravens ahead of the Chiefs. But that's a story for another day, I guess.

Well, I'll have them number one in February, and you'll be happy about that. Yeah, thank you. All right. Nick Wright, first things first after our show. It's a point well taken. I'll try to nudge them up maybe next week. Nick Wright, first things first. See you, you know, I will say this about Kansas City.

And I was in Connecticut. The Patriots Dynasty was efficient, smart, and kind of boring. Kansas City is great for the sport. You know, Swifties, Mahomes, Reeds Funny, Travis Kelsey. It's big, it's explosive. The Spurs were a great team. They weren't great for the NBA. Kobe and Shaq were great for the league.

They were villains. They were stars. Not Alabama football. Look at the ratings. Was not great. Was not great as a dynasty. Michigan with controversial Jim Harbaugh would be amazing for the sport. USC and Pete Carroll, Reggie Bush,

amazing for the sport. That's where we're at. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week, within the IHeart radio app. Search heard 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, unfiltered conversations with some. 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?

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. Thank you finishing that sentence.

Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I think it's so interesting the way the Packers change their perspective. Matt LaFleur changed this perspective on Jordan Love, very frustrated after the game. They come back, the coaches meet, and it's like, you know, we got to call a better game. Any time play calling is there to defend a quarterback.

you got the wrong quarterback. That was what they said about Daniel Jones. You know, the play call Tyrod Taylor plays. It's funny. They're more effective. Justin Fields. You know, the play calling, they used some backup from a division two school. They picked up first downs on third downs, 61% of the time.

It's not play calling. You can argue we're missing the left tackle, or we don't have our number one receiver, or our star tied ends gone. Those are legitimate reasons. Play calling. Andy Reid's never called a perfect game. Mahomes makes plays.

you got to make plays, right? I'm not saying a head coach can't hurt you, but when I watch the Bears backup, I mean, I watch Gardner Minchu with Shane Steichen. I mean, at some point, you got to throw the ball down the field accurately. Jordan Love can't. Brock Purdy can. He's limited, but he can throw the ball down the field.

Did Kevin O'Connell call the greatest game of all time last night? Well, it was pretty good. Or did Kirk Cousins just accurately deliver the ball to wide open wide receivers? The whole play calling thing, we've got to do a better job, setting him. Guys got to make plays. Jay Mackle of the News. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news.

This is the herd line news. Miami Dolphins are going to, fans are going to love this segment. So Tua and the offense, right, they didn't do much Sunday against the Eagles. But despite the loss. One touchdown drive. One touchdown drive. That's it. It couldn't really move the football.

All right. Despite the lost Tua, you know, he found some silver linings and some positives to take away from the game. Well, we learned that the little things matter and they turn into big things as they continue to build up. You know, and this is a good test early in the season. You know, people can say that the penalties this, the penalties that, like, for us as a team, we're not throwing that out as an excuse. You know, they went out there. They did what they had to do to win that game.

And we didn't do enough to win that game. So it is what it was. I'm not saying officials are great, but we complain about officiating every year of my adult life in the NFL. Ask yourself this, when do players in the NBA foul more when they guard better players? Because better players beat you off the dribble. Better players are more athletic. They get higher. They get quicker.

They're twitchier. So you're playing behind them, you foul them more. When do you commit penalties in the NFL off and holding? A guy beats you and you have to hold him. you know who gets held a lot? Max Crosby and the bosses. So do you know why Miami didn't create a lot of penalties by Philadelphia? Because they don't have elite defensive personnel.

And if you're well-coached offensively and you don't have stress points because they don't have much of a pass rush, guess what? So this whole thing about, well, there's a bunch of penalties on them. Philadelphia forces you into penalties because they create disruption in your backfield. It's the same reason. If you start looking at who gets held a lot, it's people who beat you on the edge. In the NBA, who gets fouled a lot? It's remarkable to listen to people who make excuses. Well, the stars get the calls.

The stars are twitchier, longer, faster, better jumpers. They beat you off the dribble. So you're always playing from behind. You're always pursuing and chasing. That's why stars get the call. Bench guy, you can stay in front of it. Steph Curry, you can't, so you foul him. I mean, the face mask went on the sideline to the receiver.

They just missed it. Again, it's okay. This isn't about the referees, though, Colin. I'm just going to tell you the records of the five teams that Miami's beaten. Are you ready for this? Yeah. They beat the Chargers who are two and four. That's the best team.

Let me out. Are the Chargers good? No. Okay. They beat the Patriots who are now two and five. Are the Patriots good? No. Okay.

They beat the Broncos. They're two and five. Are they good? No. They beat the Giants who are two and five. I'm not even going to ask. We know they're not good. The Carolina Panthers, O and six.

No. So the five wins have come against teams that are currently eight and 25. The two teams they face with a winning record, they got their butts kicked. Are the Miami Dolphins good, Colin? Again, they fool people like fake Gucci loafers, a leased speedboat. They fool people into thinking they are rich. No, everything is fake. They're going home to like a one-bedroom apartment down the street on Ocean Drive.

So here's the other question. The dolphins are nine and a half-point favorites at home against the Patriots this week. I would take the nine and a half points. Now they come off a loss, but I still think their offensive lines are beat up mess, and New England creates pressure. So I think Miami's going to win, but first of all, it's a division game where seemingly the now competent Patriots get almost 10 points. I mean, even Seattle, Arizona this week.

Now Seattle eventually, I think covered. Seattle, Cleveland, I think, right? No, no, last week, Seattle, Arizona. Seattle played like crap, but Arizona hung around. It's just the reality. If you don't face Lamar Jackson, you're done. But if you face him twice a year, you can compete, you can stop him.

The Rubik's Cube. You get it a little solved. So in the last meeting, Christian Gonzalez, remember the rookie played and was awesome against Tyreek Hill. Gonzalez is now out for the season. This one could get out of hand for the Patriots. They might be in some trouble here. But let's remember, come Monday morning, let's not crown the dolphins if they beat the Patriots by 25, right?

In that South Florida. Well, they're not going to beat them by 25, are they? Are you sure? Are you betting Miami? I haven't bet this yet, but I'm looking Miami. I've only got two bets in. I already know my two I'm betting. All right.

All right. Let's get to the next story. Eagles and the Tush Push, aka the Brotherly Shove. This is pretty cool. Hall of Famer Joe Thomas, I believe he's been on the show, believes he has figured out how to stop after analyzing the brotherly shove slash push. Here are his two methods to stopping it.

Number one, the linebackers need to. push the tush of the defensive linemen in front of them, not rocket science. And then second, the outside linebackers, Colin, need to run around the edge and tackle the pushers. So if, like, D'Andre Swift is pushing, go and take him down. Now, first of all, I'm assuming that's legal. I've never seen someone tackle someone who's pushing someone, but we're in weird times. First of all, I agree with him on Phillips shouldn't be making the tackle there. He should be taking out A.J. Brown.

So his second theory on it is the edge rushers come in and block the pushers is a valid one to me pushing the defensive. Listen, you know why for instance, the Eagles have the best safe center in the league, Jason Kelsey. And they also have maybe the best young defensive tackle in the league, Jalen Carter.

Yeah, they dominate the interior. So they're really good. This is built for this roster. It doesn't, Chargers tried it with a backup center. It doesn't work. Giants tried it with... With the backup guys got injured. So I will say this. The idea to come around and pull DeAndre Swift off so he can't push is interesting.

But by that point, Hertz usually already has the yard needed, right? Usually. Now, Fred Warner, did you see last night what he did? Yeah, he like guessed. Yes, timed it perfectly. Here it is. Look at him, time it. And he got there.

Now, again, it's slow Kirk Cousins. You know, Kirk Cousins isn't squatting a small vehicle. I mean, look at Warner, man. That was an awesome play right there, dude. He timed that perfect. Now, that's reckless as hell. You could get seriously injured diving over like that trying to make a tackle. I don't know.

My take is they're really going to sit down as a league and review it because I think their biggest concern is not the tush push, but now as you try to defend it, do you create that stuff and guys get hurt? Well, I didn't want to say it earlier, but let's see this. When did Jalen or hurts suffer this knee injury that you needed a break? Was it on the tush push? I don't know. No, it's something.

to talk. I don't know. He has not taken a shot this year that I think looks like he would get injured. Is this constant he's done it 30 times. Jamming in, you're in a pile, guys pushing you. It's possible. Final story, NBA. Oh, this is fun. And we were early on this because we just

were like that. So Joel Embed obviously kind of wondering what's going to happen in Philly with James Harden not there. According to a report in the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Knicks are willing to offer three players from a selection of Julius Randall, R.J. Barrett, Evan Fornier, and Mitchell Robinson. You could have everybody except Jalen Brunson. What do I care? Plus two to three first round picks

in exchange for Embedd. Now, it should be noted that Leon Rose was M. Beade's agent. He is now the president of the Knicks. That relationship has been well documented. So my take is, how many years has M. Bid been in the NBA? Is he past his physical peak? Let's go to his last three years. of injuries. Jalen Brunson M. Bede is really good, but if you give up draft capital, you're not going to have a bench. If you start giving up these ancillary pieces, what are you? I would probably make the move. And in New York, you have to think about this because of what they charge for tickets. It would be a great business move because Brunson's a terrific quarterback, but he's not selling tickets. You could raise prices with Mbed. You'd sell more gear. It'd make New York so much fun.

I would pull it off. I don't think it would equal championships. But I think it would be a really great fun watch for the league. And I would watch a lot of Nick games. Because they don't have that. Right now they have Jalen Brunson, who's a very good quarterback. But you've got to put some A's around him, and none of those guys are A's. They've got a bunch of Bs. As a longtime Knicks fan, and I love Jalen Brunson.

What do you think he thinks about this? Because Jailen Brunson, remember, with the two to Luca then moves off to the Knicks where he's the number one. Different. How is he going to feel? Different. Are you sure? Because Luca dominates the ball. What do you think Joel Embedde does, dude?

He wants the ball all the time in Philly. On the perimeter, on the block. Luca is a ball-centric guard, who, by the way, is a defensive liability. Embedd's a big. The quarterback will control when the big gets it. And Embeddead thinks he's the man. Well, he will be on this team. He will be the man.

How does Jalen Brunson get to feel? Like, Jalen Brunson got him in his second round? Embed's never been to the conference finals. Jalen Brunson has in Dallas. Jalen Bruns will be viewed. Jalen Brunson will be viewed as the quarterback and the second best. player and kind of the key, he'll be the brains of the operation. M. B.D. will be the finisher and the star. I think

it was different in Dallas. I mean, Luca has to have the ball. It's like James Harden. I always feel like Luca is part James Hardin, part Carmelo. They've got to have the ball. So by the way, if you move on from all those guys, as the next would, they would be left with some sort of, Quentin Grimes. Oh, okay. I thought like that. Emmanuel quickly. All right. Dante D. Vincenzo. Okay, what's wrong with that? Josh Hart.

Okay. So I get Embed Brunson and those guys? I'm okay with that. Are you doing any damage with that? Are those guys doing the promise? You're doing more damage than what you got now? That's not. Those guys are, the Knicks have a collection of really nice B-minus guys.

For whatever reason, I'm not the biggest Joelle Embed guy. Can you just give me the elevator pitch on why Joel Embed is an elite superstar in this? Well, I mean, he's a unique shack-like. When I watch him play, his ability to handle the ball, run the floor, finish at the rim, hit a jumper. He's got some shack qualities. Now, now, now, now, older, missing games. Not always there in the big spots, but some of that was chemistry. Jalen Brunzel will make sure the chemistry is good.

Hey, just by the way, Shaq took, like, the young Orlando Magic to the NBA finals. Vanquished Michael Jordan in the second round. I didn't say he was Shaq. I said he has Shaq-like quality. I don't know, man. I know Embed's well-liked around the league. They love him on NBA Twitter. He's a popular, cool guy.

Married a model, and he's living up, living it up going all the parties in the Hamptons. on the court, I just, I don't think you win with a big. Now remember, can I defend Embed? His two best teammates, Ben Simmons, James Harden, have essentially quit on him. Right. It's fair. I mean, I've got some issues sometimes with you, but you don't quit on me. Now, the modern big.

You give me the game every day. The modern big of Yokic you win with, because he's 15 assists a game, right? He's making threes. So Yokic is a different player. Totally different. You can win with that. He's not nearly as athletic as Embededed. What, he is a great distributor.

He's like Arbita Sabonis. Yes. Where he's like a point center. That's a totally different player. I love that player, but Embed's a finisher. Yokic can finish, but he often gets more gratification out of distributing. Oh, Yokitur. Well, I think Yokic is fantastic.

So I would choose him. I also think his body is sturdier, longer. I think his body will last. He's one of those bigs. I don't remember Akeem ever getting hurt. He probably did. I remember Shaq being hurt all the time. I don't remember Akeem.

So it's like Yokic to me, if you told me he had five more MVP's, four more titles, I'd be like with Yokic. Yeah, I got the right pieces around him. Embed, I got about three big years left. I got some buddies who say I can no longer refer to Yokic as Doey on the show. Remember I called him Doey a couple times? I mean, he's not chiseled. He's not rocked up, okay? Come on.

Doey is different. So what, how would you describe him? The frame? There are offensive guards in the NFL that are dole. Is he thick with two C's? Can I, can I, H-I-C-C? Yes, he's thick. That's fair.

J-Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd-Ly News. Lane Johnson Eagle's second hour, last hour, excuse me. If you use Debit, here's a game changer. Discover Cashback Debit. Checking account rewards everybody with cashback on everyday purchases, no fees, no fees at all.

Go to Discover.com.com slash cashback debit. Discover Bank member FDIC. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd. in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Two NBA Insiders podcasting twice a week to plug you right into the NBA grapevine. All happening in only one place. This League Uncut. The new NBA podcast with me, Chris Haines. And me, Mark Stein. Join us as we team up to expound on everything we're covering, hearing, and chasing. Listen to This League Uncut with Chris Haines and Mark.

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 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, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football,

or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for Raw, 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 Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people.

I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do a little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jek. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick you 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 was big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all 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, so... Thank you finishing that sentence. Yes.

I don't think there's a more important year for black. 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 a huge day of football on Fox as Matthew Stafford and the Rams take on Dak Prescott and the Cowboys. Or the Browns Battle of the Seahawks or other regional action. Check for the game in your area. Only on Fox and see the podcast for that. Keep it on that Saints Colts game. Really like the Saints in that one.

Okay, so Dion Sanders is on the sanity side as well on the Michigan scandal. The scandal that Michigan stole signals. Some intern. Said Dion Sanders, you can have somebody's entire game plan. They can mail it to you. You're still going to stop it. Matt Rule on the sane side as well. Sign stealing happens every game.

There's nothing wrong with teams over there looking over trying to steal our signs. There's nothing wrong with us trying to look at their signs. It's why you should have mics in the helmets, right? All these coaches that vote against it every year is because they don't want to teach their quarterback. In the NFL, the quarterback goes out there with three play calls. But you get to college and you're watching a game on a Tuesday night and they got the signal and they're just calling to play. So that's what makes college football to me. That's why they score maybe more points, but it's also why the kids are less prepared.

So that's why there should be, 100% should be. We could get rid of all the stupid signs on the sidelines. We could get pictures of, you know, rock stars and all that stuff. We could just play football the way it was meant to be. Yeah, but three years ago, they had sandwich boards on the sidelines, you know, a giant billboard on the 405. Hey, we're running. This is the play.

It's a face plus an alligator. And then everybody then complains. That's when Michigan started stealing signs. That was so inappropriate. The solution here, helmets like the NFL, it wouldn't matter. That's why people are doing all these goofy signs. And Ohio State's stealing signs too. They may be doing it different.

Everybody's stealing signs. It's like in baseball. Everybody is looking for signs. Everybody's looking for an edge. This is not golf. Everybody's looking for an edge. You know, Michigan took it to a, hey, get a staffer to go on seat geek and get his iPhone. All right.

but you still have to stop them. It's not like we have this historically irrelevant program that is suddenly winning 11 games because of sign stealing. This doesn't rise to the Houston Astros. This is a great program that the last three years recruited. They're going to have 20 guys drafted in the NFL draft reportedly. I mean, that's kind of the speculation. That's the most ever.

They are a stacked roster. Stacked. Everybody is stealing place. I've texted so many people in the sport. It's deflategate. You hated Brady. You couldn't beat Brady. So deflategate was something.

If Deflate Gate, if Zach Wilson a couple years ago was playing with an inflated ball, do you think anybody would care? Even if somebody as good as Kirk Cousins was, would anybody care? No. Nobody would care. It was Tom Brady, so it gets a suffix. Gate, water gate, deflate gate, spy gate. You know what you get the gate? Because they were unbeatable.

That's why it's a story. This is only a story because it's Harbaugh. And people narmed on him because he's boat racing everybody, including the Buckeyes. So he is cheating. Just know when they created this rule, there were no iPhones. They did it for camcorders. Right? They were doing it for big game fill stuff, recording.

It's an iPhone. The whole stadium's got an iPhone on. The whole stadium's recording games. Do a better job to hide your signals. Hour 3 next. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends.

Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert 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 I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new week of fun,

thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far, far away, such as the biology of tauntons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to Stuff to Blow Your Mind on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get. It's your podcasts.

This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.