The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 2 - Herd Hierarchy post-free agency, Channing Frye defends SGA's greatness

Episode Date: March 13, 2026

With the first week of free agency frenzy done and all coaches in place, it's time for Colin to unveil a new Herd Hierarchy for the NFL, evaluating where teams sit heading into the draft. NBA champion Channing Frye joins the show to tell Colin why LeBron James has adjusted to his role as a number 3 option on the Lakers and defends Bam Adebayo for his “controversial” 83-point performance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hey guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas.

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you.

you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. 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 ice. Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on, a Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Winning on Clay is an art. The rallies are relentless. And at the French Open, only the toughest survive.

I'd know, I competed there for decades. Join me, Renee Stubbs, on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast for no-nonsense breakdowns of the biggest matches, the toughest players, and the moments that define Roland Garris. She can win. She's an outsider to win the French fame. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lina Rubakina is. arguably the best player in the world right now, and I actually can win on any surface. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcasts on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHart Women's Sports. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hardway 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 are armored. It signals to the world that you 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 AHA radio app, Apple Podcast,

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Here we go. It's hour two. It's a Friday. We got good stuff. World baseball classics been amazing. I'm still going to defend Bam out of Bayou. God, did that guy get ripped apart by the NBA fraternity? I don't get it at all.

And he's got a hysterical bite on that. Bam out of Bayou is, you know, reminds me a little bit of another former Miami Heat player, Udonus Haslam. Good guys, low profile, work their butt off, just perfect Miami Heat culture guys. And I mean, just the NBA savagely went after him. And I don't buy any of it. I'm going to get to that in about five minutes. I'm going to support Bam on a Bayou's 83 point spectacle in a couple of minutes.

But all right, the draft's coming up in April. a draft can absolutely change a franchise if you get the right quarterback. So the Raiders getting Fernando Mendoza, that's going to be a big deal. Okay, but I think really when I look at teams after a season ends, I look at the coaching hires, I look at free agency, and that's about 75 to 80 percent of what the new league is going to look like, and maybe I'm being optimistic on some of these free agent signings, but a lot of GMs made moves I agree with.

So here's my top 10 pre-draft. draft may tweak a spot or two, but I doubt it does a lot. And here we go. Number 10. Number 10. I would say Detroit. I thought they had a coordinator issue last year, not a personnel issue. Drew Petzing, new OC, I think it's going to be fantastic.

Listen, they've had a top five offense in four straight seasons. And last year, they had a coordinator issue or Dan Campbell had a takeover play calling. And they were still viable, nine and eight. so I think they're going to improve by two or three wins. I love their front office. You know I like Jared Goff. Respect Dan Campbell. Lions at 10.

Number nine. Patriots. Now, why do I bring him down? Well, they go from the historically easiest NFL schedule in 50 years to the sixth toughest. They lose Stefan Diggs. They add Romeo Dobbs. That's kind of a wash to me. They add Kevin Byard in the back end of their defense, who's an interception machine.

I love the coaching. the owner, the culture. I just think the AFC had a down year. Lamar's back, right? Like Mahomes won't get hurt again. The Chargers will be better. Denver Bow Nicks, another healthy offseason. So I think New England at nine.

Number eight. I think Sean Mannion, the new OC, is going to work. I thought Tariq Wulin grabbing him at corner. I didn't think it was a position of need. The Eagles now have the best cornerback. Troika trio in the league by a lot. So it's not like they didn't need, didn't have enough talent defensively. Now they added an elite pro bowl level corner.

I think Mannion, listen, Nick Siriani is very coordinator dependent. Okay, that's just the reality. He needs a Kellynne Moore. He needs a Shane Steichen. I think Mannion could be good. I have Philly at eight. Number seven. Listen, the smart bet, take the Houston Texans to win their division again.

They added David Montgomery, the running back. I think that is a sneaky addition. So David Montgomery and Woody Marks, that is a above average running back tandem. And they just couldn't, they couldn't produce consistent run totals last year. Yeah, it's worrisome that C.J. Stroud has regressed, but they're still winning their division. AFC South, they're favored to win it for a fourth year. They won 12 games last year. I think they'll be around that this coming year.

Number six. Probably lower than a lot of people think I like the Chargers. Listen, they had the worst O line in the league due to injuries and won 11 games in a good division. They're going to win 11 plus this year. They get Rishon Slater and Joe Alt back at tackle. They have a ton of cap space, so they've addressed the Interior O line. They also added Mike McDaniel,

who I think is one of those coordinators like Detroit's, Drew Patsig, that's going to be worth a win or three. And they got a kind of a sneaky, Keaton Mitchell, the running back, the speed back from Baltimore comes over with Amarian Hampton. So I like what I see. I think this is going to be a team that's offense leads the way, unlike last year where defense had to lead the way. I have the chargers at six.

Number five. Broncos. People may forget this. But in that divisional round loss to the page. They were missing Bo Nix, their number one back J.K. Dobbins, and their number two and three wide receivers. They were banged up at the end of the year. The NFL, as you well know, is a league of attrition, and they just picked a bad week to be playing in the divisional round. Team won 14 games. They don't allow sacks, and yet they led the NFL in sacks. I don't think that changes.

Great head coaching. Great line play. Denver at five. number four i'll put josh allen an inch ahead because he's josh allen i think bradley chub again kind of a sneaky smart signing going to give you about nine 10 11 sacks and dj more because the um colston loveland and luther burton burden exploded last year at the end of the year for the bears people think well d j more's numbers drop d j more is still a number one never misses starts tough player. So Chubb and DJ Moore to me are some really nice

B plus added elements. Buffalo at four. Number three. The Seahawks. I think it's almost impossible to win back to back. I think Kenneth Walker leaving is a real thing. Now, if it was a great running back draft, I wouldn't

worry much. It's not. Zach Charbonnet comes back. They've got kind of a, it's running back by committee after Charbonnet. Listen, JSN, Mike McDonald, Sam Darnold, Gray Zabel, Nick, Iman Worry, they've got really good leadership on this team and really good players, but they had to move off some really nice football players.

That's what happens when you win a Super Bowl. Guys want to eat. Seattle, I have them at three. Number two. The Bears, to me, first round pick's going to be a corner. Second round picks. They're going to go and get a pass rush. I like what I see. again, a really sneaky stat with the Bears.

They were the third best rushing team in the league last year. And you think it's about Caleb in the aerial circus. They ran the ball really well. Now, they have to replace Drew Dolman at center. They did it with Garrett Bradbury from New England. Not as good as Dolman, but a good solid pro in the middle anchoring your O line. Again, they're probably not going to lead the league in takeaways like they did last year. They'll probably drop to somewhere in the upper half in the NFL.

But I have the Bears at number two. Number one. The Rams, they solved their dilemma, corner. Trent McDuffie, top five corner, teammate Jalen Watson. There was an argument the Rams were the best team last year, but in the NFL, you don't have to be great anywhere, you can't be bad anywhere, and last year the Rams really had issues in their secondary.

So they've gone out, solved it. Trent McDuffie is an elite corner, and there you go. There's my post-coaching hire. post-free agency top 10, Baltimore 11, Jacksonville, 12. Jacksonville lost a couple of key pieces. Don't love that E.T. and the running back who'd been there with Trevor Lawrence forever. So I got Baltimore 11.

I got Jacksonville 12, and that's where we stand today. Okay, so I got to defend Bam Otabayu. So Bam Otabayu is a pros pro. All-NBA defense five times, two-time Olympian, very much a heat. culture guy. Plays on both ends. Excellent pro. And a couple nights ago, he drops 83. And I defended him. I said, okay, got a little doctored at the end. But he had 31 points in the first quarter. He had 62 after three. If he just played a normal fourth, he scores 71. But he scored 83. That's surpassed Kobe. And people didn't like it. And the pitchforks and the knives came out. And I'm like, guys,

This is not a This is not a random guy that, you know, he scores, he defends, he's an Olympian, he's a legitimate player, and Spolstra's not a guy that doctors stuff up. Here was Bam on his critics after an 83 point performance. First of all, y'all are blaming me. You should be blaming their head coach.

Get that first. I was not the one. let me go one-on-one the whole game until I started, until I had 70, then you started to send a double. At that point, I got 70 with like, what, nine minutes left to go in the game?

You think I'm not going for it? I mean, seriously, you got 71 points, nine minutes. Everybody knows the Kobe number. I'm going to go after the Kobe number. I don't have any problem. Spow could be my favorite coach in the NBA. Spoh's like,

Get over it, people. I apologize to absolutely no one. Period. I'm not losing any sleep over what other people are saying about it. What's ethical? What's not? All this stuff happened under two minutes, like I said. Like he had already broken a bunch of records.

And we're going to go for it. It was just an amazing moment, you know, to be a part of that. And I would do it 10 times out of 10. By the way, when people say, that's not basketball. Was Hackashack not basketball? Of course I was. Shaq was a bad free throw shooter. Mike Dunleby, I was in that arena when he began the hack of shack with his Portland Trailblazer team.

They couldn't stop him. They started fouling him. Fans hated it. It's real basketball. When I was a kid growing up, Dean Smith used to get a lead in North Carolina and they would run four corners offense. And they would freeze out the other team's offense. There was no shot clock. Was that basketball?

It was allowed. There's a lot of stuff in sports that it's almost like being an accountant. You're always looking for loopholes and how to manipulate. I have, I mean, you see sometimes in the NFL you bring in like a third tackle and he's an eligible receiver. Well, that's not real football. Yes, under the rules it is. What they did in the last couple of minutes of the game is legal. By the way, right now I've defended tanking.

Tanking today, you can say it. It's not allowed. I watched it all year with Indiana. I watched it with Utah. It's allowed. So you can try to shut off accountants. They're going to find loopholes. And I just don't have any problem with a pros, pro, a great organization, a great coach saying,

okay, we got nine minutes left. He's at 70. We're going for the Kobe number. I'm not losing any sleep. over that. I mean, James Harden for years was falling down, taking threes. The NBA had to step in and go, okay, that, that's not going to work. I can guarantee Adam Silber's not sitting there thinking, hey, listen, the next time a guy gets to 70 with nine minutes left, we've got to outlaw what they did. Nobody cares. I was reading this. The other thing, because I said, I watched it on YouTube,

but I didn't watch it live. Tyler Hero and Norman Powell, the heat. other two leading scores were out of the game. So who's going to shoot? I don't know. The guy was 70? I'm going to probably give him the ball. I love BAM's reaction and I love Spos even more. 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. Stagat's here. I have a podcast empire. It continues to grow. and I have brought it here to IHart. I'm also doing a live radio show from 3 to 5 p.m. Eastern because my wife wanted to kick me out of the house. It's called Stugats and Company Live, which is available in podcast form right when the show finishes every single day. Some of the biggest names in sports.

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What's the news, huge news? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to a... We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special.

So how did we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Oh, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band. Before Jonas Brothers was... This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this.

We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it.

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. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo.

Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them.

Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slicelive 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis. And I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs. And on the Renee Stubbs' tennis podcast, I'm breaking down. down everything happening at Roland Garris, every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on Clay.

Jen she went. I mean, she went down at three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lina Rabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now, and I actually can win on any surface, because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court-side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs Tennis Podcast on the I-Hubbs.

Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. 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. Total Pro, smart guy. I love having them on the show. Channing Fry is now joining us live. After Luke had dropped 51 last night, you and I were talking during the break, Channing.

As I had said before this season, I said, this can be the first time ever, where everybody has sacrificed for LeBron and should have. He told Chris Bosch, go in the corner. Kyrie, playoff ball. Dwayne Wade, I'm going to run the offense. And everybody did and everybody should have. And even last year when Luca was off an injury and out of shape, it was kind of LeBron's ecosystem.

And I said this year, LeBron's going to have to play off ball. Well, the problem for LeBron is not only is he playing off ball to Luca, he's playing off ball to Austin. Because Austin's having the best year for an undrafted player maybe of all time. So you know, LeBron. I think this is a tough ask to ask a superstar. I don't think Michael Jordan would have said, you know, I'm going to play off ball. I don't think that would have worked.

You tell me, how effective can LeBron be off ball? Is there a better third option on a team? Like, I don't think there is. Think about that. It's like your best player has their best defender, then your second best defender guards Austin Reeves, and now who's guarding LeBron? I think at the end of the day, we're having this conversation because he's 41 and because

Luke is great and Austin Reeves is turning into that dude that I think everyone sees. But also I think LeBron is okay with, you know, you guys take this seat. When you need me, I got it here. Like I think we're, the older he gets, the less he can sprint, the less longevity he can sprint. So if you give him a playoff series, he might not be so off ball, right? he may be the guy that wins you a series. Think about the impact Andre Guadala had for Golden State, right?

He wasn't leading them in scoring. He was leading them in almost every other category, setting up the offense, being an anchor defensively. But I think during the regular season, after doing this for 22 years, I don't know if he really minds it as much. And I think he's learning to adapt. So to me, that's what makes them scary.

And think about, okay, LeBron had 18 and your third in the West. Like, congratulations. Like, who would have thought? Right. So I defended, I defend SGA. And I say, the leading score in the NBA in the 80s was not Michael Jordan. It was Alex English. Okay.

Okay. Now he played in a high powered offense, but he liked SGA. It was leaning. It was angle jumpers. It wasn't dunks. It was getting to the free throw line. And I think people bang on SGA because it's not aesthetically pleasing. We love watching Dom.

Monique and Zion and Barclay and Drexler. And not all games. There's a lot of ways to score points, Channing. Kiki Vandaway scored a lot of points. I don't remember any dunks. So a lot of people call him a free throw merchant. He's averaging eight made free throws a game. I'm like for his usage, that doesn't seem outrageous to me.

Does it to you? No. Stop complaining and play some dang defense. Stop it. every time somebody is great, they're a free throw merchant. Think about this. Joel Embedde, LeBron, SGA, who else? Luca, Yokic, like every single MVP.

Think about how many times Janus went to the frito line. Is he a frito merchant? Like when you're great, you create advantage that other people can't stop. And you know who complains? The guys that are the defenders that can't stop them. Right. Look at Jalen Brown's job is to defend your. best player. And when that player, SGA, gets to the free throw line, he's getting a rhythm. And so

you're trying anything to stop that. But isn't he the most efficient pull-up jumper guy we've seen almost ever? Yeah. Does he not, his consistency over the years garners him to get to the free throw line minimum 10 times. And maybe you don't like it, but that's what the greats do. Jordan did it. Kobe did it. D. Wade got to the free throw line. It's part of the game. Stop complaining. It's how he plays. Play better defense.

It's not as egregious as like when James Hardin was getting to the line. But they had to stop. But think about what James Hardin did to get an MVP. Like you got to get to the free throw line. You can't just shoot jumpers and layups all game. Yeah. So I defended Bam out of Bayou. I'm like, guys, he had 31 after the first quarter.

And Tyler Hero late in the game, you know, they didn't have their other Norman Powell, Tyler Hero, they're not in the game late. He's got 70 with nine minutes to go. And Bam's like, well, you think I'm not going to go for it? I mean, 70 with nine minutes left. Again, I don't care if Jesus was on that court, Bam, at a bio is getting that ball.

What? You allowed, the wizards allowed him to get 70? I'm shocked they didn't go for a hundred. NBA players are greedy, especially a guy like Bam, who averages, what is the average, what is the average, 22, 24, for him to have the, opportunity to go for 70, man, listen, I wouldn't have shot the ball. I would have set four screens for him, shoot the ball every single time. The minute a team just lays down and dies like

the wizard did that first quarter, I was there when Kevin Love at 34 in a quarter. He just didn't have the conditioning that Bam does. And to get, I watched every single shot, 62, I think after three-quarters, 71, whatever he had. Yeah. Man, again, I don't care how you got to do it. But the Washington Wizards are allowing you to do this. They've allowed you to think that that was possible because they just laid down and didn't want to play defense.

They didn't want to commit to, sometimes you've got to take a tough foul. Sometimes you got to, you got to say, hey, we're losing at football or we're losing at basketball, maybe we're going to play some football. And I know it's dirty, but if you were on a veteran team, somebody would have laid him out. And that's just things happen. So congratulations of Bam is nothing unethical about that. Because he had to shoot all those shots.

So get 83, get 100. I don't care. Congratulations. You know, we've talked a lot on this show about the New York Knicks. And my favorite Nick of all time was Bernard King. It wasn't Ewing or Carmel. I loved Bernard King. And I remember Dominique Wilkins saying,

I didn't mind guarding Jordan. He goes, I couldn't sleep at night if I had to guard Burrard. Bernard King. You could just put 40 points down. There was no way I was stopping him. But I think Jalen Brunson has, it feels like New York. Villanova guy, high IQ, little undersized, gritty. He's got a New York feel to him. He's a tough guy. He's a Villanova guy. And I also think, oh, gee, Bridges, heart. I think Carl Anthony's crazy talented. But there is, there is an argument that they're missing and once Hardinstein left like they lost defense. Right.

What do you do when the team's really good? And how do you go about maybe having to sit Jalen Brunson down and go, okay, do we have to get rid of OG Carl Anthony, draft picks to get Yonis? Do you go to Jalen Brunson and ask him privately or do you just make the deal? I think you, you lay it out and you say, hey, this is what we need for. our future to get an opportunity to get Janus. No offense to OG, McKill Bridges, or whoever else you're going to

pick. Nobody is going to be Janus. Nobody's going to be Janus. But again, are you sacrificing your future five, six, seven years for a chance to win? But if I'm a GM, give me Janus on my team all day. My job is to put the best team

out there. And to me, I looked at, like, who the Knicks lost to. I think they've lost, the last four losses are to, like, The calves, pistons, like, they only have one bad loss in a month and a half. And everyone's like, well, your defense is bad. And you only lost to the Pacers, I think, like, way back in February sometime. For me, I just think this team has really high expectations.

They are, I think it looks like they're a little disinterested in the regular season. Because nobody cares where they are. They are interested in the offseason because that is what everyone's going to judge them. I was in New York when they went to the Eastern Commerce Finals. the whole city was electric. I would be bored of the regular season and couldn't wait till the garden is rocking if I was in New York Knicks.

So right now, are they going to be looking kind of like how can we win without doing as much as possible because we need to be healthy for the playoffs? I think that's what's happening. So I'm not really taking it too much more like a grain of salt. I think the Knicks are competing,

but the East is turning out to be a monster now because that matchup, you know, they may have the heat. I think they're third. Let's say they go to, they play 3-6 in Miami Heat. That's still going to be a tough matchup. Yeah. And then you look how Orlando's been playing.

Now, Boston, holy crap, the calves when they're healthy. You know, all these teams. It's just, it's going to be a monster in the Eastern Conference. I want to circle back one more question, Channing Fry for our radio audience. One of my favorite guys, 13 years in the NBA played with Kyrie and Duane and LeBron and Grant Hill. I threw this out there. LeBron James is still really good individually. In the team construct with the Lakers, he shouldn't have the ball as much.

And I do wonder, you know, LeBron was very mobile and his messaging, MJ made the sport global. LeBron made it mobile that you had to at least consider moving. And the downside of that is that you're always like a consultant. You don't feel like a true family member. KD's got this too. You kind of bounce around the league and you did some of this. You bounce around the league and you don't, you miss that Kobe, Derek Jeter, John Elway thing. Do you think going back and looking at everything for LeBron, if you had to get inside his head and say,

okay, you wouldn't have gone to the Lakers, you would have stayed with Miami, you would have done Cleveland in Miami. Because I look at LeBron and I think he may not even get a statue at L.A. because eight years, you know, now it's minute restrictions. He's got a COVID title. Do you think LeBron has any regrets in his career about his mobility? Absolutely not. Absolutely not. Like, look, they traded Luca away in the middle of the night.

Did you see the teams? Now, this is, we talk about an all-time great. I don't care if you got them, one, two, or three on your list. Did you see the talent that he was taken to the NBA finals? So he is, as a player, is supposed to just say, I trust you with my career. He would have never been in the conversation. That's not true. He might have been in the conversation if he had stayed in Cleveland.

Might. If he had never, if he, because he went to Miami, because he won, because he was on that, that showcase with those guys, he can now say, look at this ring, look at this ring. When he came back, it was the right time for him. him to come back to win a chip and then go to the finals four more times with that team right and only one once then going to l.A. was like hey this time has ended here because i see the writing on the wall we're in the cap like we're on the on the apron now we have to rebuild it happens like look at yannis right now yannis should have left two years ago yeah and now look at the bucks so he's

stuck there basically and so is that good for him think about yonis on the nix we'd be watching What? Going for a title. Right now, Yonnas probably already got a jet burned up to go to back to Greece. Like, it's not, it's not, it's a different era with the salary cap, with all these things. They traded Tyrese Halliburton. What, the first year, second year of his career. Like, what, he didn't want to do that. But think about now he might get a statue in Indiana when he's done, unless something happens. And I don't think, I don't think it says you should just go to team to team to team. but I think if you're strategic and your team goes to the finals or you're competing for a chip every year, then you're making the right decision, especially if you're an all-time great.

Channing, as always, it's great talking to you. We're going to bring you back as we get close to the playoffs and into the playoffs. I love having you on the show, my man. Appreciate you. Thank you, guys. All right, Channing Fry. He's just full wisdom and insight, and he's played with great coaches and great players. And, yeah, that to me is the downside of kind of bouncing around to the, better jobs is you're not like family anywhere like and and you know all a lot of you watching the show

have bounced around for jobs and commerce and like there is sort of that like jealous that envy of the cul-de-sac like you lived on the same cul-de-sac you barbecued with the same families for 35 years and you know you don't get that if you're you know chasing commerce and that's what lebron did john middlecough with the news no no turn on the news this is the herd line news. Well, speaking of bouncing around, Mike Tomlin spent almost two decades with the Pittsburgh Steelers,

but he's going to be a free agent. He stepped away. And since stepping away, we haven't heard much from him. And last night, he was at a Steeler event, and he had some thoughts on his tenure with the Steelers. This often said, you know, we're not here for a long time. We're here for a good time, like you have to choose.

And, you know, I think our experience here in Pittsburgh and with the Great Steel Organization exemplifies that, man. We were here for a long and really good time. I think that's a good way to put it. I do think at the end, it was time for a new voice, whether McCarthy is the right voice, he is the right side of the ball. But, I mean, Tomlin, I mean, the one thing when I think of Tomlin is he was a great underdog coach because that leaned into his strength. motivation. Like if he went into a game and nobody gave him a shot, that's when Pittsburgh was at its most dangerous. They weren't always great as a favorite. They were very good as a dog. And I mean, they were always relevant under Tomlin, which in this league, you can't say that about outside

of maybe the Packers or Belichick's Patriots, a lot of teams don't even relevant year after year. Well, think about this. Since 07, he has more wins than guys like Harbaugh, Andy Reid, Sean Peyton. What are those three guys have in common? they're all on new teams. You know, Belichick kind of got washed out of the league, but those three guys, Sean Payton, just in the AFC championship game, Andy Reid goes and win Super Bowls,

if you tell me that John Harbaugh, and rightfully so, was the number one target, the Giants went all in, they gave him $100 million. If Tomlin chooses, who knows, he'd go have a Gruden, a Madden, he could be a TV star,

but I think the NFL is better with him in it. Yeah. Don't you think he's the clear number one candidate this next coaching cycle in January of 2000? Well, yeah, and I think, you know, it's interesting because, John, you and I have discussed this, is that the NIL, actually in most instances, LSU is an exception firing Brian Kelly. But the NIL keeps top college coaches in if they're thinking, you know, if Ohio State ever lost their mind and thought, we're going to get rid of Ryan Day. well, you've got $25 million a year in NIL payments, facility upgrades.

You want to pay $68 million to get rid of Ryan Day. I've said this about Lincoln Riley. In a different era, Lincoln would be in trouble. They're spending $30 million on the USC payroll this year and $300 million on a facility. They're not writing a $70 million check. So the truth is, a lot of these college guys who could, you know, be on the precipice of leaving, I think they're going to stay in college. they've got big contracts.

And so, I mean, either hire a hot coordinator or you hire Mike Tomlin, and that seems pretty obvious to me. Yeah, like, Signetti makes $13 million a year. I mean, these college coaches make huge money. I do think there are two jobs to keep an eye on. He got his career really kind of jolted early on before he became a head coach, Tampa Bay, if things get weird with Todd Bowles. And listen, Jerry Jones, the Cowboys, if it doesn't go great with Brian Schottenheimer,

they've made a lot of moves. I think Mike Tomlin is going to have multiple offers in January of 27. Okay, you and I disagree on this one a little bit. I know you're high on Kyler Murray and the Minnesota situation. We can dive into it. But first, let's take a listen to Kyler and his draw from growing up a Minnesota fan. Ever since I started playing tackle football, I was seven years old. I was seven years old.

Genuine fandom, you know, ran deep, Vikings' gear, threw him. through a lot of purple in my household. I cried real tears whenever, you know, whenever bred through that interception, I ever cried real tears that day. How about that? He loves football, John. Well, here's my thing. Kevin O'Connell, his success as a coach, has come with pocket quarterbacks.

You know, Donald can move, but he did a lot of his damage from the pocket. Same thing with cousins. Kyla Murray is a mobile playmaker, right? Yeah. Well, and listen, there's no disputing. He's one of the great American athletes of all time. He was the number one overall pick and the 10th pick in baseball. Yeah.

You know, so he is an elite athlete. But is he anymore? He's had multiple lower body injuries. Is he still quite as fast? Listen, he's 5'9. So he's not going to stand there like Sam Darnold's 6'4 and be able to see. This is Kevin O'Connell likes to pass, but he's going to have to do it a little bit different with this type player. And my other question is they got him for free, right?

They paid $1.23 million. Would they have wanted him if he cost $10 or $15 million? I don't know. I think that's a fair question. I think what makes Malik Willis so attractive is $20 million, $22 million. And I like Malik. I think your concerns are legitimate. But this team won nine games with J.J. McCarthy, who is not a big strapping guy and also moves pretty well.

I guess my take is Arizona is on a short list, John, and I mean a really short list of a dysfunctional place. I mean, it might be one. I mean, they've ruined a lot of good players, good GMs, and good coaches who have moved on and done just fine with their lives. I think the level of dysfunction in Arizona is only rivaled today by Cleveland and the Jets. That's it. I think Vegas will become much less dysfunctional this point forward. So I think you're going to watch Kyler and go, oh, Kyler's in a good move. Kyler's a little more verbal.

Kyler's a little better, you know, more stationary. I think a lot of it is he felt like he was metaphorically and literally running for his life in Arizona. I'd imagine, remember Ben Johnson did this with Caleb, body language, the way you carry yourself, harped on that last year in OTAs and in training camp. I would imagine that'll be a big thing with Kevin O'Connell. Yeah.

Okay, last but not least, the Cowboys, who they've made a lot of moves here, right? They've added edge rusher, Rashad Gary from Dallas. who obviously had a lot of success with the Green Bay Packers. Gary played for the Cowboys defensive coordinator, Christian Parker as a rookie. And they're also reuniting him with Kenny Clark.

Jerry said the Cowboys are not in the, you know, Max Crosby market right now, but won't rule anything out. What do you think's going on with all these Dallas defensive line moves? I mean, Colin, they've had a ton from Micah to all these guys to going after Max Crosby. A lot of moving parts in Dallas. I will say this between Roshan Gary, Quinn and Williams, Kenny Clark, DeMarvie, and Overshown, and I think they're going to spend their first two picks, John. My guess is it will be corner and safety or safety and corner.

My take is their front now is good. That's an above average front. And because you're paying all those guys and those salary cap hits go up, you've got to get cheap on the back end of your defense. Because as you know, DAC, C, D.D. pickens, that's expensive. So they're a very top, heavy franchise with seven guys eating all the cap. So I think what they have to do, and they just got a number three pick from San Francisco trading the defensive line into the Niners. My take is their first three picks will be back

into their defense or maybe a tight end with their number, their third round pick. But I think they're going to go heavy defense and cheapen up that side of the ball. Here's what I know. We all like the Giants because of the coach. But the course, but the course, quarterback has to prove that he could stay on the field. The Cowboys' offense is fantastic. I mean, Dak has really turned into a consistent top 10 quarterback, really good player. If their defense is just solid, like say what you want about Schottenheimer, his rapport with Dak, the offense, the wide receivers, what he did with George Pickens.

Dallas could be sneaky pretty good if their defense is solid because we know their offense is borderline elite. I mean, who's to say they couldn't win 10 or 11 games next year and compete to win that division and be a playoff team? Yeah, I mean, the mystery team in that division to me, is Washington now. Philadelphia is too talented. If Sean Mannion's fine, they're going to win double-digit games. I think the Giants are going to clearly double their win total. And Dallas, with this defensive front, should be competent. It should be a competent team.

Washington's the mystery. Dan Quinn had to replace his staff. You've got Adam Peters, who is viewed by some as a basketball guy, masquerading as a football guy. I feel like I kind of know what Dallas is going to be. They're going to move the ball. they're going to have a better pass rush. They don't have an elite coaching staff, so they won't win a lot of the close games, the situational moments, but they'll be noticeably better on the defensive side.

One thing you know about the Cowboys, they nail a lot of first round picks, and this year they got two in the top 20. They could be dramatically more talented on defense come the start of the year. Yep. John Middlkoff with the news. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays at noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific.

Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what, we have some big news. What's the news? Huge news. We created our own podcast called Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it.

We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts. We're starting a trend. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Oh, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early

names of our band before Jonas Brothers was... This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast where people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad,

Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite on Humor Me with Robert Smygle 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 I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get.

your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral, moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. SportsSlice brings you closer to the action

with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slicelive 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis, and I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs, and on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris, every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on Clay. Jenchen win.

I mean, she went down in three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lina Rabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now, and I actually can win on any surface, because if she's serving, well, good luck. Consider this your court-side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs Tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. 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. All right, coaching's all done, free agencies wrapped. Here's my top 10 teams for a variety of reasons. A couple of teams I like, just because of coordinators they've hired, I have Detroit and the Chargers. feel really good about because I like the coordinators, the offensive coordinators they hired. The Seahawks lost a great coordinator.

I'm going to drop them down. I think one of the things, John, that I've noticed is that, you know, we've always talked about quarterbacks, general managers, head coaches, coordinators. I mean, one of the reasons I like Minnesota is Brian Flores. Now with an offensive coach, Chicago, I don't care about their new offensive. defensive coordinator because Ben Johnson's very scheme centric. He's great at it. Anybody here too high or too low in your opinion? No, I mean, I think the NFC coming into the year is pretty good. I think we still got some major question marks with C.J. Stroud, how he's going to play

in some of these big games. He was not good in the playoffs. The health of the Chargers is always a concern. The bills have a brand new coach. I like, you know, I like the Bradley Chubb, DJ more. You know, I did look, and then I grabbed my binoculars to double check because the 49ers, Colin, they beat the Rams in Los Angeles. Brock Purdy out played Caleb. They beat the Bears on that Monday night football game. Seattle, they beat them as well. I know the last two games didn't go as well.

And they beat the Eagles in the playoff game. I don't say the 49ers. They won 12 games, and I think you agree they have one of the best coaches in the league. Well, they lost Sala. So again, that is a major law. I thought Sala was as good at coordinators the sport had last year. I agree. I also big touch year for Kittle, for Trent, for McCaffrey,

Bose off an injury, Warner off an injury. And that's why the Mike Evans move. It's like, guys, your top seven, you could make an argument. They're top seven players. None are in their prime. I guess Brock Purdy is. Yeah, I would say this about Mike Evans. Last year he broke his collarbone.

He is fits their mold. Fred Warner, Kittle, Trent, very, very. series. He had 24 touchdowns the previous two years. Drey Greenlaw, who was kind of off in Denver. He is back. Again, these are older players, some injuries, 12 wins last year and beat a lot of those teams that I see on your list. And they have an elite coach. But I'm with you on the Sala. Rahim Morris, right, is not a good head coach, but he's a fantastic number two. He's Sean McVeigh's right-hand man. So I think that, I mean, listen, the NFC West is packed

with really good teams. The Broncos, right, it got a little weird with Bo and Sean. It'll be interesting. Their team's really good on paper. I think they're kind of an interesting team. Do they take that next step and be like a true Super Bowl contender? They come back to the pack a little bit. I think Denver is. I think we know what Denver is.

Because of Bo Nix had 61 college starts, I think you saw a ceiling by the beginning of this year. Like this, by October, late October, I'm watching Bo Nix and I feel like I kind of know what he is. Athletic, accurate underneath, fiery guy. wish he was a little bigger, good arm, not great. I feel like, because all those college starts, I feel like I kind of know what he is.

With Drake May, when he came in, he was unpolished. So I'm like, I don't even count the first year. And then late second year, you're like, oh, this guy's actually really, really good. But I kind of feel like Denver, this is what they are, is what they are good enough to win a ring. I think it's close. Hey guys, it's us and the Jonas Brothers.

I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our. our own podcast called Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it.

We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but, you know, tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite.

Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends. 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. I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on, a Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the Aihar Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Winning on clay is an art. The rallies are relentless. And at the French Open, only the

toughest survive. I'd know. I competed there for decades. Join me, Renee Stubbs, on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast for no-nonsense breakdowns of the biggest matches, the toughest players, and the moments that define Roland Garris. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lerner-Rabiner is arguably the best player in the world right now, and I actually can win on any surface. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHart Women's Sports. Hey, what's good, y'all?

You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host, Kier 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.

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