The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Herd - Hour 2 - The future of college football

Episode Date: August 4, 2023

Thoughts on Oregon and Washington leaving for the Big Ten and the future of college football NFL writer Peter King of NBC Sports joins The Herd to weigh in on college football realignment in the wake of Oregon and Washington heading to the Big Ten, which players have impressed Peter at training campSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

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

Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but the show. celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok's podcast network on TikTok. Thanks for listening to The Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to 3 Eastern 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd at Fox SportsRadio.com or stream us live every day on the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FxSport's S.R. Now let's get this party started. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.

Live at Los Angeles, it's the hurt. Wherever you may be and however, you may be watching or listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. Peter King around the corner some NFL stuff. He's been at Jets, Steelers, Lions, Bills, Camp. So according

J-Mack to multiple reports, Dan Wetzel, Brett McMurphy, the Oregon Ducks and the Washington Huskies have informed other Pac-12 schools they intend to leave for the Big Ten. Play would start in 2024.

So that's very important. It makes it a bi-coastal conference with three timesomes. So you can start noon eastern on Fox with a Michigan football game in Wisconsin. Late afternoon game, Ohio State, Penn State. Late afternoon, four o'clock Eastern. Then you go 7 o'clock Eastern.

Washington plays, you know, UCLA. And then you can do the late start. You know, a USC late 730 start at the Coliseum that starts 1030 Eastern. You go bang, bang, bang, bang, eight huge football brands. Ohio State, USC, Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin, Oregon, Washington, UCLA, more of a basketball stool, but still it's Los Angeles market. Seven to eight massive brands. That's the way to do it.

SEC's not slowing down. They're going to add Florida State and Clemson. The minute they can, they will. So they've already added Texas, Oklahoma. So this is a great move for the Big Ten. As far as the Pact 12, Colorado has already gone to the Big 12. That's a good fit. Arizona, Arizona State are going to go to the Big 12.

Those schools recruit Texas. That's a great fit. So the Big 12 is not going to have a bunch of powerhouses, but they're going to have Baylor and Kansas State, TCU, Arizona schools. My guess is Utah. could dovetail it and get down there as well. They recruit Texas all the time. And I have no problem with it.

We're going to have two massive conferences than the ACC and the Big 12. And I don't know what happens to the PAC 12, but it's not, it's just not, you know, it's always been an academic conference anyway. That's why they, for years and years, schools have wanted to get into the PAC 12, and they've always viewed themselves sort of nose in the air as an academic conference.

So it doesn't matter. The schools that are good football programs, Washington, Oregon, USC, UCLA, I feel bad for Utah. because they're totally committed to football, and they're good. The Big Four, get in, and they join. This is the way the world works. It's called a merger. I mean, Facebook buys Instagram.

This is the way the world works. You can prepare for it or be naive and complain about it. But the Arizona schools in the Big Ten or in the Big 12? I've got no problem with that. Colorado, Utah, Utah, in the Big 12. It feels like a... BYU's already in the Big 12. Why shouldn't Utah, their primary rival, be in the Big 12?

Both Arizona schools go to the Big 12. They're rivals. We often talk about what's next. What do you think happens with kind of the leftovers, Oregon State and Washington State? Do they go Big 12? Well, I don't know. I don't know. I do think I wonder if they're, I feel bad because I think Oregon State's football team this year.

It's going to be good. I think their coach is great. So I think Oregon State, Washington State, Boise State, San Diego State. Now you can say, well, it's not the Pac-12. No. But college football going forward is going to be about the 12-team playoff. Oregon State and Washington State can win that conference every year and get an automatic or there'll be a guilt factor where everybody's going to feel bad for Oregon State,

Washington State. Everybody's going to feel bad for them, right? Let me tell you something. They're going to get invited to that 12-team playoff if they go 10 and 2 in a worse conference. They're getting in. If Cincinnati's getting in, you know that Oregon State and Washington. I think Oregon State could be a 10-win team this year. What about Stanford?

Stanford's always been about academics. Cal's always been about academics. What if you did a conference, Oregon State, Washington State, Stanford, Cal, San Diego, Boise. The winner of that is an automatic playoff team. Stanford about academics is going to see those other schools and be like, yeah, that's a no thing. Maybe Stanford goes independent like BYU and Notre Dame. I don't have a problem with that. I don't have the answers for it.

I'm just saying you can either prepare for stuff. or you can complain about it when it happens, and USC's been trying to get out of the PAC 12 for four to five years. I know because I work at a big broadcasting company, and they've been in discussions. This stuff is run by networks, not conferences. This is all about TV money. So I think this is great for the Big Ten.

I can't wait. I'm so jacked up to watch Washington play Michigan regularly. Oregon play Wisconsin. Who's not watching those games? That full-day lineup you broke down. Sounds incredible. It's a bicostal three times. SEC is great, but it's a regional conference.

Georgia could be playing in Texas the same time Oklahoma is playing Alabama. It'll cannibalize it. It may be the best conference and win the most natties, but it's going to be a regional conference. This is a national conference, coast to coast, big brands. Penn State, Out East, Ohio State, Michigan, Midwest, USC, Washington, Oregon, UCLA, out west. I think it's fantastic.

Washington, Oregon, listen, you can say it doesn't fit. I understand that. But it's a much closer flight Seattle to Columbus and Seattle to Chicago than it is Los Angeles. So Washington's a cold weather program. Those are three and a half hour flights. They're built to go on the road and win in the Big Ten. They're a cold weather program. I could argue UCLA's not built for the Big Ten.

But like Washington, Seattle, it's rating by October 1st. So I think Washington's going to be great. Peter King's joining us, Football Morning in America, NBCSports.com, and I grew up a Husky fan, so part of me, I'm a Washington Husky fan, so part of me

just thinks this stinks, and part of me is so excited to watch Washington play Ohio State and Michigan and Wisconsin. I can't see straight. Peter, where do you land on this stuff? Personally, I'm really a traditionalist, Colin, and I am,

I think it's, I think it's bad. I mean, you know, the Apple Cup is cool. Washington, Oregon is cool. The West Coast rivalries are really cool. I love that stuff, but I'm 66. I am yesterday's news. So, you know, I totally understand that. But Colin, so I'm in Atlanta today. Yeah. And the last 24 hours, this stuff is starting to bubble up. And so on the phone and in various places, that I've visited at the NFL, I've asked people, because I always ask people every year, what are you worried about? What worries you about the NFL? And a lot of people say gambling. Well, of course, gambling is trouble. But I had one guy today tell me,

this is a top-ranking NFL executive that, and his words were, what's happening in college football petrifies me. It's like there's no governing body anymore. The NCAA is just letting teams go and because they get beat up in court when they try to make rulings. And and and and and and and and and and and and and this guy said to me, listen, what's dangerous now is the college football programs are our feeder programs. And what happens now if the college football programs is, there are 10 to 20 power programs around the country. And then what happens if all these other schools have to play as independence? Do players get developed enough if you're playing, if you're UCLA or if you're Washington State and you end up out in the cold and you're playing Texas,

San Antonio, or whatever, whoever it is? But I do think that the fact that the fact that the NCAA has lost control of college football and ceded control of college football to the television networks, that is, I think, a very worrisome thing for the NFL right now. Yeah, I mean, you know, I think it is, Peter, a lot of times. I don't know your background. I know some of it, obviously, professionally, but I'm a kid of divorce. I didn't grow up with a church and a community. When I moved out east for a decade, I was always taken back by a little.

intimidated by the churches and the camps and the Cape Cod crowd and all this tradition. I was jealous of it. I'm like, this is great. I grew up a kid, a hectic life, child of divorce, moving around for jobs. And so I am not a traditionalist. My DNA, my psychology is I like new stuff. I'm an old guy, think like a young guy, right? You probably, my guess, is built up with more tradition.

And I think in America, right now we've got a culture. war a bit that worries me. It's a lot of tribalism, that there's the people that like new stuff, the people that are fearful of change, and I just hope we can all put our arms around each other at one point. The one thing you say, and it's a very interesting point, is nobody's running the NCAA, or they're not running football. I would make this argument, though, outside of Oregon, due to Phil Knight's money, the top 20 college football program's 40 years. years ago are the same ones today. The differences, Phil Knight came in and said, I'm going to just make Oregon great, and he did. Oregon wasn't yet, right? But other than that, Michigan, Ohio

State, Notre Dame, Clemson, Bama, Georgia, USC, tech, it's all the same teams. So it's always been Peter so ridiculously top-heavy, and we've never cared much about Purdue. And that sounds awful, but when I say that, that's what I say is the sports always been run by 18 programs, mostly hasn't it? It has, but think of the teams now that could be absolutely left out in the cold. What are the teams going to do, the teams that are not wanted by the Big 12 who are not wanted by the Big 10, who are not wanted by the SDC, what are they going to do? I mean, they have athletic programs to run. Like, and Colin, you would know this. I don't know. These teams who are going to be left that are going to be left out in the cold. What happens to the soccer team at

Washington State? What happens to the baseball team? What happens to the women's basketball team? And I don't even know the answer to that. But my impression is that rising tide of football lifts all collegiate sports boats. Right. And so that is going to end in a lot of places. So here's my theory on that. I love talking about this with you. Here's my theory. So next year we start a 12-team playoff. So what's going to happen is Arizona schools go to the Big 12. Colorado did so will Utah. You will get a newly formed West Coast, Washington State, Oregon State, Stanford, Cal, San Diego

State, Boise State. And they'll, their winner of that will go to the playoff. So that will be fortifying that division. That's a very interesting, that's a very interesting idea. And those teams. And if that happens, fine. Yep. Yeah.

And Peter, those teams, never get into the playoff. So what's going to happen? What's going to happen is the 12-team playoff is going to become a 16-team playoff allowing for an Oregon State and a Washington State to get in. The Big Ten will get five, the SEC-5, then there'll be six available. And that'll be for the little guys, the NC State that gets forgotten, the Washington State, Oregon State. So my belief is, Peter, that the college football playoff is going to be the answer to. everything. It's going to go from 12 to 16, and those little guys are going to get big payouts because two of them, if they keep competing, we'll get into that playoff every year. There's my

theory on it. Here's my, here's my counter to that. Okay. If you even want to pretend, if you even want to pretend that college football players at the highest level are students, If you even just want to pretend that, then in my opinion, that really kind of kills it. And you know why? Because a college football player, let's say he starts practice on July 30th. And the college football player, I would assume, okay, if they do that with the college football playoff, then the championship game will be on the dead week between the championship games in the NFL and the Super Bowl. So if you do that, what you're doing is for, you know, a cadre of teams in the college football teams,

those players are going to play football longer during the course of the year than almost any NFL player does. Okay. So that's interesting. Now they're getting paid, by the way. So that's part of it. But secondly, who this is going to kill is the FCS programs, because you won't be able to put them on your schedule anymore. Tennessee will not be able to play middle Tennessee state. That's who it's going to kill. The Oregon states, Washington states are going to be fortified

by the playoff system, just like in college basketball, 68 teams, you can share some revenue. Those teams won't die. And they'll actually have a better chance statistically of making a major bowl or a playoff. So what's going to happen is you're going to get rid of the out-of-conference games. You're going to get rid of those three, I mean, you know, roast beef tech, Panera bread state. They're done. Right? You're getting rid of those. And it's going to kill those programs that need the revenue. What you're going to do is go right in the conference play, and you're going to go

in the conference play immediately, nine, ten games, and then some will get extra playoff games, and it will have a rebirth of bowl games. So bowl games will come back so the Oregon State's Washington States can get a tenth game or an 11th game and they'll do more bowl games at home so the Oregon State's Washington State will get a home game it'll be a bowl game I know I'm just theorizing this nonsense but I think the FCS programs get whacked I think I think the Oregon states are going to end up surviving and getting into the playoff Oregon State has no shot to be a playoff team now they're going to start getting in winning their conference Colin before we get off and I know that this is the topic

Ja. But I do, can I tell you one NFL thing? Okay, sure. One of it is so, so, so I today in Atlanta, I'm at the Falcons today. This is my eighth training camp. Okay. And, and so somebody asked me on the sidelines out here today, it's the biggest surprise you've seen so far. And I got to thinking, and you know what it is? What? It is Odell Beckham Jr. being 30 years old now and talking like He's 45. This guy has really, really taken to heart the fact that the Baltimore Ravens want him to lead and they want him to be a versatile guy, a great guy in the locker room and a good player. And look, it's unrealistic to think he's going to be what he was at 22, 23, 24.

But that's one thing. And the player that has surprised me, really surprised me. Colin, I want you in whatever, round six of your fantasy football league to take Zayflowers in the Ravens, the wide receiver from Boston College. If you watched what I watched on Wednesday of this week and saw the separation he gets in and out of cuts, it is as good right now as Debo. And he is a guy who I think is going to make beautiful music with Lamar Jackson. Yeah, you know, it's really interesting.

We got into a top 100 player list came out the other day. And I said, how in God's name is Lamar significantly behind DAC? And I like Dak. Lamar's a spectacular. Well, it's because Colin, Colin, I think that's very simple. Because Lamar Jackson has missed 34% of the snaps over the last two years. Lamar Jackson has played in the NFL now for what, five years, you know, in total. one playoff game. He's not played great in the postseason. And look, I understand Dak has

his detractors. Sometimes I'm one of them. But I do think you can count on him to be there every Sunday. In the last two years, you haven't been able to do that with Lamar. Yeah. You know, it's, and I didn't, I wasn't going to talk college football, but they told me in my ear that you wanted to talk about it. So I, and I've always been. Yeah, there was something I wanted to say. Yeah. No, I just, I think it's all interesting. And I grew up in the Northwest. So I Oregon and Washington are my teams. Like, that's where I grew up. So I want to go back to the NFL here. Yeah. The Aaron Rogers pivot's fascinating. So, and I don't think it's fair. I was really tough on Baker Mayfield. I think I was right, but I was probably too tough. On Aaron, about seven years ago,

I said he's a little bit of a bailer, not a baller, is that he's a finger pointer. I said this years ago. I said, don't, when he trails, he checks out. out. He was like a way better version of Jay Cutler. Jay could check out body language, a little bit of a finger pointer. And there were things that Aaron did in Green Bay, constantly drone on about retirement, drove me nuts. But I got to tell you, his pivot in New York, Peter, it's as if he listened. And he said, okay, I'm going to commit to young guys. I'm going to stop talking retirement. I'm going to help my teammates. Listen, sometimes people need change, Peter, in life. They need a new job. Like, I've been blown away by Aaron so far.

This is, you're saying exactly what I saw, and I talked to him last week in New York, in New Jersey. But, but Colin, sometimes you need a change of scenery, period. And I asked him about that. And first, he poo-poot it because he said, hey, look, I'm serious. When I went into the darkness, I was 90% retired. I was going to retire. But then he thought when he went in, when he went in there. You know what? I feel great. I still enjoy the game.

I got to find out if the Packers really want me. Look, that ship had sailed. And then he told me, for the first time in my life since I was 19 years old, I got recruited. And this time it wasn't Jeff Tedford. This time was Robert Sala and Joe Douglas of the Jets. But here's the reason why this works. Sometimes you need to get slapped in the face. Aaron Rogers got slapped in the face.

Not really, but sort of by Brian Gutikins and the Packers. And they said, look, either you're all in or you're not. He wasn't going to be all in in the offseason program. The Packers knew it. And they said, look, before this gets really ugly, let's just end it. Yeah. And I think the Packers did a great job of getting a future one for a guy who might play two years. But, Colin, I will say one thing.

Let's talk. I don't mean to pivot on Rogers, but I will say this. When I left there, I called somebody in the league and I said, over under on Aaron Rogers and how long he's going to play is at least two and a half. Because I think if I had to bet that, I would bet the over. I think he's going to play at least three years. So do I. I do. I really do. And I think, and I also think I've moved around the country, every time I've moved, I've looked at what I did poorly. And I've said, I'm going to get better at that. And I've moved three or four times. And I think Aaron has looked at it and thought, you know what? I was disengaged. Those young guys could use my wisdom.

And I do think I didn't like him droning on about retirement. And Aaron looked at it and went, well, Devante Adams left and said, because he didn't know if Aaron was going to be around. And Aaron said, if you noticed in the last two weeks, Aaron's like, he gave up his avoidable years. He's like, I'm all in. Like, I think we got to give him. Give up a lot of money, too.

I think we got to give Aaron a lot of credit. he's looked in the mirror and said, I've got to get better, and he has, and I'm rooting for him. Okay, one more question. Okay. Okay. Go ahead. Go ahead. I was going to say, Aaron Rogers is a pragmatist, and he's made $319 million in his life,

and he said, I want Joe Douglas. Why do you give up the money? I want Joe Douglas at the trading deadline to be able to go get John Smith or whoever, because I want to fix our problems. I want to win right now. So who cares if I lose 30 million or whatever he lost? And so I think that is a great sign of where Aaron Rogers head is right now. Okay.

So I got to ask you this. You went to the Lions, Bill, Steelers, Jets, but I got to zone in on Sean Payton doing a little parcels, a little psychology. People said, when Sean Payton did that, people said, well, he's just doing that to protect his butt. if this thing goes sideways, he can say, look how bad it was. And then other people are like, listen, he's right. It's a mess. He's got to reshape this whole thing. It's more of a rebuilding project than everybody gets.

What did your guys say around? You've been covering this league since, I mean, you've been on a member of board, Hall of Fame board since the early 90s. What did your guy, it's very rare when a coach rips another coach. What did your people say to that? I mean, look, I had. I've had head coaches on this trip to shake their head, just saying, you don't do that. You know, it's, it was, I thought it was way out of line.

I like Sean Payton. I just thought it was way out of line. It was not something that made any sense to me. If you want to support your guy, and clearly he was trying to support Russell Wilson and say, I got your back, that's fine. But you don't have to trash the guy who coached him. I just, I didn't like it. I haven't met anybody who liked it, quite honestly.

And I think Sean realized the day or two later that he went too far. And so he started to walk it back. But I had a coach, stay to me. Hey, you know Sala. You probably know Sala. I said, yeah, he goes, you should tell him, don't let Peyton off easy. Don't let him just apologize and say, okay, all is forgiven. That was bad.

He broke the code. So we'll see what happens. Yeah. By the way, Lyons Dan Campbell, what's he like in person? Exactly the way he is. The classic old heart on his sleeve guy

who is always going to tell you what he thinks. He's going to emote with his face at all times. And I just think he's a guy who a lot of players want to play for because he lays it all on the line. He as a player was just like what he asked his players to be as a coach. And so I think, you know, I like the Lions. I think they're going to win that division. But, you know, we'll see.

All right. Peter King, by the way, showing his versatility today going heavy. Everybody's got an opinion about this college stuff. I just threw it out there. two-way player, Peter King, excellent stuff. Appreciate it. You have a good continued summer, Peter. Thanks, Colin.

Yeah, I mean, I don't want to bore you all, but I really think what's going to happen in college football. We're going to go from a 12-team playoff for about four years, and then we're going to go to a 16-team playoff. And like college basketball, the playoff's going to be the sport. The playoff's going to be the sport. And that will allow the Big 10 to get four or five teams in and the SEC to get four or five, and the Big 12 and ACC will get two.

and then all these other schools. And I feel bad because Oregon State has a great coach. They are the team last year that USC played that I thought out-coach USC. They literally, and I don't out-coach Lincoln Riley a lot. Like I thought their game plan was incredible. And it just didn't have the players in the end to finish it off, and Caleb Williams won the day. But I think the Oregon States, Washington States,

and those guys, Stanford Cal will eventually make their money getting into that 16 team or 12 team playoff. And then the bowl games will have a renaissance. They'll come back because those schools will all be like, we need another home game. We need seven home games. And so the schools that are going to lose are the directional, you know, I went to Eastern Washington University.

They're the ones, I think, are in trouble. You can't play them anymore. You're just going to go right into your conference schedule, maybe one out of conference game. USC will play your Notre Dame, your classic matchups. You'll have that. And then you'll go right in a conference schedule. conference play and then the other team, the big teams are going to the playoffs and the rest of them

will like, they can play each other. You know, the teams that don't get in, you'll have to schedule, you know, Purdue can do an annual with Stanford, whatever. You're going to have to get that seventh or eighth home game for programs. But listen, the college football is a have, have not sport and it has been forever. Pays all the bills. So the networks pay all the bills for them. and football and college has to pay for women's volleyball and men's baseball and

it's got to pay all the sports they're going to do whatever they got to do to enrich college football at the top that's what they're going to do so the sport's going to be like college basketball it's going to become the playoff and the playoff will expand from 12 to 16 and I wouldn't be shocked if it goes to 24 in 10 years I wouldn't be the networks will be for it you don't you don't think the networks in December are looking for programming networks will be for it. Here's what you never hear from a network when asked about football. Nah, we're not interested in more big games.

They're all interested. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeard radio app. Search herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential.

Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win.

Yep, that's me. Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skisks. hits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple 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 camp? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill,

waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so you're not. I mean, at this point, this is the second episode where we've discussed correct. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people.

Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The utterly inspired all-electric EQE sedan from Mercedes-Benz. hundreds of customizable comfort settings from inside the camera. The vehicle is all electric. The feeling is all Mercedes.

Learn more at MbUSA.com slash EQEJMAC with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Let's start in Dallas, where you love that Dack Prescott, Trayvon Diggs video yesterday. Some people thought it was disrespectful. I saw Shady McCoy here. FS1 went after it

He didn't like it either Diggs did not like it at all He shot back at Shady But Dack and Diggs wanted to clear the air on it Here's what they had to say That's a form of my leadership As I open the door and make people feel comfortable

To talk trash to me To be able to do that And that's why I started is I'm encouraging these guys And I know some of these guys need that To play their best It feels like it makes practice fun You know, just coming out here competing.

You know, I didn't ask my brother. You know, I love deck to death. You know, it's nothing behind it. It's just competitive. And it's just football. It's just how we play. Stack's the leader of our team. You know, you can go out and have a great year.

I have the utmost respect for that. Okay. I'm glad that Shady was on our team. That you don't lean in and say that to a guy's face. If you're respected, you can like somebody but not respect them. I mean, I'd ask yourself this. If you got into a situation in your life, an emergency at your house. You like a lot of people. Who would you call to take you to a hospital?

That's who you respect. Who would you trust if your kids are hurt? You need somebody. You can like a million people. You don't say that to somebody your respect. I'll buy on that list for you? Well, you're always busy at the beach with a gun show. So I would call you and you wouldn't answer. You'd be next to the waves. Out. Wow. But I think there is something to be said. There's a We all talk crap to our friends. I thought that was, I don't care if it's sports. There are places I wouldn't go with Mahomes and Brady and Manning. Fair.

Next up, stay in the NFC. He's Jalen Hertz off his monster year. He has a new OC. But Nick Siriani believes there's no reason Hertz can't be better than he was last year. I think he's operating at a very high level as far as within the offense. Just understanding even more so why we do things, how we do things. and he's really like a coach on the field with those things like that. I think our conversations in the quarterback room just,

they just keep getting deeper and deeper. And as far as, you know, how we really are dissecting all the things that we're doing, I see him continuing to get better. I'm really pleased with how he's been so far throughout camp. I just, again, I just see continued improvement and continued consistency with Jalen. Very exciting. I know they lost Stuyken. and the new offensive coordinator looked him up,

Brian Johnson, his third year in Philly, former college quarterback. He's been there as long as Hertz. But in Buffalo last year, we saw when Daibo left and Dorsey took over, it wasn't seamless, right? Alan led the NFL in Red Zone interceptions, turnover-worthy plays.

I think pro football focus said he was up there among the most in the league. There probably will be some drop-off for Hertz, correct? Yeah, I think, first of all, he played with a lead. It's always easier in the NFL to play with a lead. The schedule's tougher. He'll play trailing.

That's always a little tougher. Also, I mean, he played some bad teams, and he's going to play better teams. And Shane Steichen. So between the fact that they're going to be trailing in some games this year, and that makes it tougher for a quarterback, and Shane Steikin's gone. I think Jaylon's going to be really good. I think we're going to feel he's still great. I think he's going to pull back about 15%.

I think the Eagles are going to pull back about 15%. Meaning they'll be in a battle to the end for the playoffs. The division title, not the playoffs. There'll be a battle in the end for the title with Dallas. I get that, but I'm going to rattle off their first few games. So at New England, I think it's a great defense. You're saying it's a toss-up, but Vegas disagrees. Then it's Minnesota in Philadelphia, and it's a prime time game.

You know Kirk Cousins just, you know, Okay, okay, two and oh, maybe. So two and oh. Then Tampa. Win. Then Washington and Sam Howell. I'm not saying, but there's some tough ones. At the Jets.

No, no, wait, don't get to that, though. Look at Washington and then the Rams. The Eagles could easily start 5 and O, and nobody would be surprised. They're favored in their first five games. That should be 5 and O, and then they have the Jets. Miami. It gets tougher with those two. But they start 5 and O, and they're rolling with the O.C.

I mean, this is going to be the number one team. You know what, I see. a loss at New England. I see a loss at Seattle and at Dallas. I see a loss to Kansas City and Buffalo. And I think New York gives them trouble. So it's five or six loss. So,

so Dallas could pass them. I think they're going to be a... No, I think they're going to win their division is going to be very close. They're not going to steamroll people and look like Alabama eight years ago. I would largely agree with that. And they do have the toughest three-week stretch in the league.

At KC versus Buffalo versus San Fran. Those are three of the top five teams in the league. Yep. Right after the by week. Ooh, that is brutal. That Kansas City game is going to be one of the bigger games of the season. All right, final story. Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask, the only, I believe, quarterback controversy.

Well, Indy might have one. We'll see. But Baker Mayfield versus Kyle Trask is so thrilling in Tampa. Everybody thinks they're going to take a step back, but former NFL scout Jim Monos thinks Baker could actually be an upgrade from last season. Oh, boy. I just think they'll be able to do more with Mayfield because, to be honest, he's just younger and tougher right now. Brady was good.

Brady was checked out. You're maxed out with Brady at that point. He was an easy guy to prepare for, for defenses. He wasn't going anywhere. So Baker Mayfield's scrambling ability now makes Tampa a little more threatening and diverse. Some scouts. Yeah, he's a former scout. Give me a break.

Brady's the best quarterback ever. He may have checked out. Is Baker 6-5 mature as good at the line of service? scrimmage, the relationships with the players, respected, come on. Give me a break. We're still on this toughness thing with Baker. Nobody cares. The headband doesn't make you tough.

Give me a break. I'm just, I'm so, well, Brady may have been checked out. He's still 6'5, great arm, totally respected. Best guy in the league at the line of scrimmage, directing traffic, wildly accurate. Baker leads the NFL in picks since he was drafted. Leads the whole league in picks. Come on. Stop.

If he loses out to Kyle Trask, maybe you're right. Baker will be in the booth this time next year. Well, what's going to happen with Tampa is very interesting. And I said this yesterday and people think I'm reaching. Tampa's one of those teams that's going to start one in five and they're going to sell parts. So if you can't beat out Kyle Trask and he gets beat up because you're going to be trailing in every game, have to throw, everybody in the world knows it. I don't want to be going back to pass with a defensive coach that has no offensive sensibility.

If you can't beat out Kyle Trask, I'm not sure I want to come in and play. You never want to bet this, but first coach to be fired, I would take a look at Todd Bowles' odds. He's been there for a while. I think they're going to let him go. Well, he's been in the org for a while. Yeah, I think they're going to go big, big after Lincoln Riley. If they get Caleb Williams, they're going to make a call and try to bring Lincoln Riley and Caleb Williams to Tampa. That's my guess.

If they get the number one or two pick, they're going to be in great shape. If they get like five, that's not an attractive job. aging roster. They're not going to get Lincoln Riley. They're going to call. They're not going to get him. It's going to stay in the big tent. Do you think Riley and Caleb Williams would not go to Tampa?

I think Caleb Williams would be drafted. I think Lincoln Riley doesn't want the NFL. It's a pain in the butt. That division? You're going to like the second worst division of football. Instant chance to do major damage. Florida taxes, everybody loves to say. No?

No, I think Lincoln will end up in the pros not now. I mean, it's possible. It's certainly possible. Okay. Which of these jobs do you think he takes? It's your Mr. USC. Tampa gets the number two pick so you don't get Caleb.

Would Lincoln go there? No. Would he go to the Jets if they fire Sala, but Roger stays? No, no, no. I think Lincoln Riley would take a phone call. If Tampa had the number one pick because they have a decent roster, I think Lincoln would take that phone call

because that's who's going to get offered the job. You'll take a phone call from anybody. But, no, I don't think Lincoln would take it. phone calls from he likes USC's totally commitment I'm saying I think he would take a phone call yeah yeah I think I think if Caleb's going there and you know take a meeting we a link and we're gonna say the private by the way Pete Carroll took two meetings when he was winning titles at USC Pete Carroll was taking meetings Pete Carroll by the time they won their second Natty people weren't he was on Miami almost hired him Seattle did the Chargers

looked at Pete you're supposed to test the market see what your values were they're the worst case scenario, you get a raise. McVeigh, look at that. I'm going to retire. I'm going to retire. Well, U.S. USC has got to keep up their end of the bargain on the facilities. They broke ground on something. That's part of the contract. If you don't have a contract,

if you don't have those facilities up to snuff, Lincoln Riley contractually can leave. So if the pressure's on USC, J-MAC with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Heard Lye News. Say hello to endless hot water. Navi and

Tankless water heaters, 15-year limited warranty. Go to tankless made simple.com. Tax credits, rebates, Navian. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. On Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the IHeart Radio app. Hey, gang, this is Jay Glazer, host of Unbreakable, a mental health podcast. And each week, we try to help turn our mental health issues into mental wealth. And we dive in with everyone from the world of sports and entertainment.

like Sean McVeigh, Lindsay Vaughn, Michael Phelps, David Spade, Guy Fiery, and also those who can help us in between the ears, anyone from a therapist to someone like Ed Milet or John Gordon. So each week, listen to Unbreakable

with Jay Glazer, a mental health podcast on I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get 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 unloatest. Others say it's

unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast, Superhuman, documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win.

I don't care 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 of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music.

The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app,

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

What the hell does George Bush got to do a little kill? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we picket here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is 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, this is the second episode where we've discussed correct. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history.

Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Tomorrow on FS1, we got a big MLB doubleheader. First at four, the Blue Jays take on the Red Sox. Then at 8.30, Mookiee Betts and the Dodgers battle Juan Soto. And the Padres. Catch all the action tomorrow on FS1. So last night on the big broadcast, which, by the way, the showers didn't work, the lights didn't work, whatever, Hall of Fame game. Should have watched it.

It was kind of a mess. So Aaron Rogers was talking about like Jordan Love and Zach Wilson and helping the young guys. I always felt like it's part of the job is to help those young guys out and get them ready to play at some point. There was a great one behind me in Green Bay who's got an opportunity now, which is really fun for Jay Love. Now, my question is, do you think it's the quarterback's job to get his replacement ready? I do not. I think it's the coach's job to build a culture, a GM's job to build a roster, a coordinator's job to build an offense or a defense. I don't think it's Aaron Rogers' job to get Zach Williams.

Wilson or Jordan Love ready to replace him. And one of the reasons I think that is because here was Aaron Rogers a few months ago in a podcast. I've been doubted before. And like, honestly, I felt in the first year that Matt was here, when I was in Green Bay, 19, I felt at times like a game manager. Like, it was just, I didn't quite understand what we're doing at times on offense. And my job is to take care of the football. And I did.

You know, I threw four interceptions and 26 touchdown. and we were 13 and 3. But I felt like there was so much more. And then I drafted my replacement. And then I want to be P twice. Yeah. I think he was angry when they drafted his replacement. I think it's revisionist history.

I think it's easier. Let's be honest. It is easier to root for your replacement when they're not a threat. And Zach Wilson and Jordan Love are not in Aaron's galaxy and never will be. Got another little report this morning on Jordan Love at breakfast. Not going to get into who shared the information. Was he sitting by himself? Was he big-time? He happened to be a very important person in the world of football. No, I meant Jordan Love at breakfast. No, I didn't have breakfast with him. I had breakfast with somebody who shared a

little insight. And I'm not going to name that person. It sounded like you had something from Jordan Love's breakfast with the Packers. Like there was something that went down in the facility. All right. So. The feeling is from a very good source in division who would sort of know about Jordan Love. Indivision. I'm not going to get into it. I'm just going to say, remember, this league is a lot of the same players, coaches. We have a lot of former Packers that come by this show.

All I'm going to say is the feeling is that when they drafted him, he was kind of a wild dynamic athlete, they had to refine. And they've gotten him in the building, and he's not that great of an athlete. And he's okay. He's not that guy? He's just, there's not a lot of juice. He's, they wish he was a little more athletic. I mean, that was the, Utah State. It was like, oh, crazy talent.

They got him in the building and it's, yeah, he's not as talented as they think. I might look like an athlete at Utah State. That's unnecessary to find school. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite, on Humor 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. A win is a win. A win. A win is a win. Yep, that's me, Cliford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show.

This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast. podcast network on TikTok. This is an IHeart podcast.

Guaranteed human.