The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Herd - Hour 2 - The Patriots and being realistic

Episode Date: July 19, 2023

Thoughts on the Patriots not being able to sign DeAndre Hopkins Is Saquon Barkley being realistic when it comes to his contract?   Guest: Ben VolinSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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So my bad takes in the first hour, according to J-Mack, is that when Justin Fields, who is 5-20 and closer to being a bust than a star, was asked about the five greatest running quarterbacks, he included himself, if you're 5-and-20, my take is as a quarterback, and anybody asked you about any top-five all-time great list, Don't put yourself in it. Little self-awareness. If you're an attorney, there's had 30 cases in 1-5,

and they talk about the greatest attorneys in closing argument history or the slickest or the funny. Can't put yourself in the list. Haven't won enough cases. The second thing is Debo Samuel was not on the top 10 wide receiver list because he's not a top 10 wide receiver. In four years, he's had 1,000-yard receiving season. C.D. Lam in three years has had two,

because CEDY's a better wide receiver than Dibo. Dibo is more versatile. By the way, there's nothing wrong with that. There's a lot of players in this league that are versatile. That doesn't necessarily mean best. I mean, to me, you look at a lot of professions. Let's just say, you know, Jim Nance is the best play-by-play guy. That doesn't mean he's a great podcaster, a talk show host, a local anchor.

He's a great play-by-play guy. that's what he is. Now, there may be announcers that are more versatile, and they can do anchoring and play-by-play and podcasting and talk radio. But on a top list of best play-by-play guys in America, Jim Nance is on that list. By the way, there's a lot of people at this company and other companies that are great. I'm not singling out Jim. Jim's great.

He's an all-timer. He can do football, golf, college basketball. He's great. But that's what Jim does. Now, that doesn't mean he can't have a podcast, but he's not an elite podcast. but he's not an elite podcaster. Debo, a big part of Debo, two elements. One is Kyle Shanahan's offense.

And two, he's great running the ball out of the backfield. He's a bully. He's not a great wide receiver talent. So he was injured this past season because they ran him into the ground the season prior. 2001, top three in the NFL yards per scrimmage from scrimmage and staggering stat that I did not know until just living this up. What is it? Guess who led the NFL in yards per resumed?

Preception, pretty important stat for a receiver in 2021. Debo Samuel led the league 18.2 yards per catch. Led the league in yards per reception. Pretty good stat. Hey, everybody. Debo had a good year. Devonte Adams, yeah, once Debo had a good year. Every sports had a guy with a good year.

You want to make a top 10 best receivers in the league? Jamar Chase has been good the minute he stepped on to the field. Yes. Justin Jefferson The minute. Devon Deanna. You're talking about Cooper Cup took a few years.

A.J. Brown showed up in Philly. Super Bowl. With the near MVP of the league. Oh, by the way, it's pretty nice, good living for Jamar Chase to walk into the league and you've got this guy

by the name of Joe Burrow, who's already an incredible quarterback. Do you want me to rattle off the QBs at DeVos-Samuel said? The poo-poo platter of Jimmy Garapolo, Brock Purdy, Tray Lance.

Yeah. Must be nice. when your tight end, Hall of Fame tight end has to be doubled, and your coach is a genius, and your run game is unstoppable, and the roster, again, it must be nice when you're going out to pass

on a third and one and a second and four because your run game is so profound. By the way, Brandon Ayukes on the other side, kiddle there. Oh, by the way, you got to put your linebackers, move them up to get McCaffrey out of the backfield. He's the best receiving back in the league. Debo is surrounded by greatness,

helping elevate him. DJ Metcalf last couple years. D.K. Metcalfe last couple years. Doug Baldwin retired. It's him and Tyler Lockett. He also had Russell Wilson, future. Last year, he had Gino Smith. One year with Gino.

By the way, I want to get to this before I get to my guest who's sitting around getting tired of us yelling. I want to get to this. So there is no NFL running back controversy. They're upset because they're not getting paid. They are actually, just not as much as they want. Here's Austin Echler, a kid I like talking about not getting the contract he wants.

I've been pretty vocal about this just because, you know, it's not good for our running back market as far as capital coming in. It's putting like a ceiling on it. There's no new contracts being made. There's no new comparables that are actually relevant because there's been a set number set on guys. And so, you know, it's from a player's aspect, we have no control of that. Yes, you do. Running backs are still getting paid. The worst quarterback you play for, the more valuable you are. Saquan was offered a contract by the Giants. They were apart $2 million.

He rolled the dice. Giants wouldn't budge. They had a price. Same with the Patriots on D-Hop. They wouldn't budge. There's a market for D-Hop and Saquant. So running backs are getting paid. So whenever it comes to contracts, I've been doing this for 30 years.

The media's take is always, pay the player. taking advantage of. That's always the media's take. Players are getting screwed. The media has told me how Thursday night football is unethical. The players share in revenue for the $1 billion contract Amazon played for Thursday games. They paid a billion dollars for one year. 52-48, players sharing it. The players in my lifetime have always said, we'll take the money and play another game. Schedule used to be 14, then 16, now 17, players have always said, we'll take more money. Always.

And they share in revenue. Media has told me the gambling is unethical. The owners make a fortune and the players can't even bet on games. Yes, the owners sign deals with like draft kings and share the revenue with the players who can't bet on their sport. Can bet, not at the facility or on their sport. Ooh, draconian rules. So when it comes to the media's take on players, it's always give.

them what they want, you're taking advantage of them. Here's three indisputable factors that do not work in running back's favors. Number one, Warren Sharp had a tweet yesterday. Quarterbacks now account for 21% of rushing touchdowns last year. A decade or so ago, it was 11%. It's doubled. Quarterbacks now account for 16% of all rushing yards last year, most in history. As the league has moved to mobile quarterbacks, they're doing more of the running backs work,

not good for backs. Number two, analytics prove that running backs may have been worthy of contracts, but in the last 10 years, the analytics say can't give a running back a second big contract. And number three, there hasn't been a Pro Bowl running back on a Super Bowl winning roster in 10 years, Marshawn Lynch, the last regular season rushing champ to reach the Super Bowl, Sean Alexander in 2005. These are all indisputable. Every sport has a skill or a position that analytics has changed.

Shooters and basketball are simply worth more. In baseball, relief pitchers, the only stat that matters for hitters is OPS, slugging percentage and on-base percentage. Tony Gwynne today would be a running back. How much value would a single and doubles hit or have? This is the way sports work. tight ends and wide receivers and edge rushers and quarterbacks have never made more. Running backs are more niche.

They do get paid, but not the years they want. Steve Kime, a former GM, who got burned on this once, talked about giving the running back the second big deal. As long as you have a really good, schematical approach and you run the football with determination and you obviously put an emphasis on it, you can have success with we've seen guys who are very solid third fourth round picks you know when you get to 28 29 years old you're starting to look at an older player generally the analytics will tell you that the second contract is not as productive in many regards as the first you know you want to

reward the player but at the same time you're going to be smart about it and and generally history tells us that paying backs is not the most smart decision in the NFL that's not a controversy I've got data on my side, I've got history on my side, I've got analytics on my side. It's not a controversy. If quarterbacks weren't getting paid, that would be a controversy. Receivers or edge rushers, that would be a controversy. If Steph Curry couldn't get a good deal, even though he scores faster than any player, including MJ and LeBron, ever, that would be a controversy. I got all the data on my side.

All of it. All of it. History, data, the minute quarterbacks have been asked to move more because of rule changes. It's an offensive sport. It pivoted about eight years ago, nine years ago, whenever it was. Quarterbacks are now doing more of the running backs work. Of course, I'm going to pay them less. Of course, I'm not going to give them a second huge contract with very few exceptions.

That's not controversial. It's business. Supply and demand. Ben Volan covers the Patriots for the Boston Globe. covered them for a long time. Used to cover the dolphins, by the way, and the Florida Gators down there for the Palm Beach Post, which is, by the way, one of the great writer gigs in the country.

That's good living down there. Okay, so let's start with the Patriots. So I came out and I said, listen, part of free agency, it's a little like college recruiting. You've got to put on your salesman hat. It's just, you know, NFL coaches, mostly the ones that stay in the NFL, they don't want to do the recruiting crap.

They don't like it. But you have to do it for free agency. You've got to sell your vision. And I said with D-Hop, they have a number one quarterback, Belichick's a legend, Bill O'Brien's great offensive coach, steady offensive line, not run dominant. It felt like an easy sell to D-Hop. He chooses a team that doesn't have a vision at quarterback. O-Line was in peril last year, run dominant, most of their best players are on defense.

So it felt like to me, Bill, sell your vision. Although Patriot fan could argue, it was all about the money. Do you believe that Patriots, it was all about the money? they sold their vision clearly and D.Hop didn't care. I don't think the Patriots sold their vision clearly because I do think it was about the money and I don't think, Colin, that the Patriots were ever totally serious about DeAndre Hopkins, certainly not being the top bidder because I think that's pretty clear why he chose the Tennessee Titans. That was the best offer he was going to get. And for reports and everything out there,

the Patriots weren't even really that close. They weren't even in the ballpark. And that's been Bill Belichick's MO, certainly at wide receiver throughout his tenure. with New England. They'll get guys like a Randy Moss, but they won't pay him. They'll get Randy Moss on a bargain contract. I think, look, you also have to consider Mac Jones is not the best self. It's not like the Patriots have the most dynamic offense. Belichick is not known to be the most fun coach to play for. DeAndre Hopkins has a history with Bill O'Brien, probably not all great. O'Brien traded Hopkins away, and they supposedly didn't have such a great relationship. So those things could have been overcome if the Patriots were really serious about trying to get

DeAndre Hopkins. And I think that they're going to be. think all they had to do was just increased their offer by a couple more millions. And they could have had a number one receiver. But once again, they keep their checkbook closed and they let Hopkins go to another team. And they give Mack Jones, you know, a pretty mediocre, not an uninspiring, not an inspiring list of weapons to work with. Yeah, Devonte Barker, by the way, last three years, is the least capable receiver in the league, three straight years of separating. So again, you're putting stress on Mac Jones to have a new coordinator, no number one receiver, and re-signing. And resigning Devante Parker who simply doesn't separate. I don't love the support system for Mac Jones.

I will say this. I said this earlier about Sequin Barclay. I would have franchise tagged Daniel Jones, and then I would have told Sequin, listen, we're not going to give you a new deal yet. He would have been unhappy. But now he's resentful because if you look at the numbers on Daniel Jones, he isn't just better with Sequin. He's completely reliant on him. When Seekone, plays with Daniel, his passer ratings in the 90s. He's got a 3 to 1 TD interception ratio. When Sequin doesn't play, he's a backup. He's a 77 passer rating, more picks than touchdowns.

So when you give the bag to the less talented player, I think it creates resentment. I would have franchise tagged Daniel Jones and just had an unhappy Saquan Barkley, not a resentful one. So your takeaway from the outside looking in, the Giants, Belichick's history, What do you make of what they did in New York and the running back situation we have in the national football league? Yeah, Colin, I totally see what you're saying as far as Daniel Jones and Sequin Barclay being disgruntled. But if Barclay is comparing himself to a quarterback as far as what he's going to make, that's just not realistic. You have to live in reality here.

The quarterbacks in the NFL get paid. And while Daniel Jones did get a big bag of cash, he's still what, like the 10th or 12th highest paid quarterback? It's not like they put him in Patrick Mark. Holmes territory. I don't know the exact numbers of what Sequin Barclay turned down, but the Giants were willing to give him a multi-year deal. It sounds like the sides weren't that far off. So they were going to make him one of the higher paid running backs just not as high paid as he wants. And look, I get it. I understand it. But if you're Saquan Barclay, you have to live in reality. You're a running back, which means you're like an automobile. There are a straight line depreciation every

single year that you play football. And no matter how, no matter how well he plays this year, he's not going to have more value next year. He's going to be a year older and with a year of more hits and less tread on the tires. So I get it. He's disgruntled. He wanted more money, but you can't be comparing yourself to guys at other positions. That's just not realistic. It sounds like the Giants were willing to make him one of the highest paid running backs that wasn't good enough for Sequin Barkley. So J-Mack and I went back and forth on this yesterday. I said, I think billionaires are very comfortable telling even good employees we're moving off you. I mean, I work at a The Murdox moved off their movie division, highly successful, very profitable.

They looked at the future of cinemas streaming and said, we're moving off movies. That was like, whoa, but when you're a business person, an entrepreneur, and have been successful, you're comfortable. Robert Kraft has had to move off multiple employees in his life. I don't think it's a situation with Belichick. If he has a losing record, they're clearly the fourth most talented team in their division. I could see him firing Bill. I don't think it's outrageous.

I really don't. JMAX, like, you can't say you're fired to Bill Belichick. Where do you land on that? Where do Patriot fans land on that? Yeah, I definitely think, even from what you hear kind of behind the scenes, that there's a lot of pressure on Bill Belichick to perform this year. Now, that's kind of a nebulous criteria. Making the playoffs will make his life a lot easier.

If they go 9 and 8 but miss the playoffs, I think he's probably safe. If they have a losing record again, if Mack Jones has another sideways season, then the offense isn't better. And the team is boring again. I definitely think Belichick is on the hot seat and there's a chance that he doesn't come back next year. Now, again, I think it would have to be a disastrous kind of season. But 7 and 10 and Mac Jones screaming at the coaches again, like I definitely think that could happen. Bill Belichick is 18 wins away from tying Don Shula and he's also entering his 49th season. So next year is a huge year for him.

His 50th season coaching, and he could break Shula's record. But he's just – Craft's not just going to give him that opportunity if they go six and 11 or seven and ten. Right. And it's a disaster after, you know, last year, the bizarre decision to put Matt Patricia in charge of the offense to go into a few seasons ago with Cam Newton as your quarterback and not try harder to find a quarterback. Belichick has had some head-scratching decisions in roster building moves since Tom Brady has

moved on, and the team has been very mediocre. They're one of the least sexy teams. the NFL right now. So if it's another season like that, spit five years without a playoff win for the Patriots, I definitely think Belichick's going to be on the hot seat this year. And that's just not me talking. I've talked to a couple of people who are his friends, who have been in the building within the last few years. They're worried that he's on the hot seat too this year. Yeah, I see eight and nine. What say you? Where do they land?

At best, maybe nine and eight. I do think they're a little bit better. I like the Juju Smith-Schuster signing. I think he's going to give them a nice physical presence over in the middle. Bill O'Brien should make the offense a little more cohesive and coherent and just certainly less dysfunctional than last year. So I do think the Patriots are going to surprise some teams and be competitive, but they play in a brutal division and frankly, the entire AFC is just stacked. And it's hard to, when you put them up on paper against other teams, they just don't have the horses. They have a very dull roster with a lot of B-level players. They're missing the superstars. And I just don't know how I feel about the quarterback either. So, yeah,

8 and 9, 9 and 8, they're going to be right in that area. And if that's what it is, Robert Kraft's going to have an interesting decision to make after the season. Ben Volan, good stuff. Updates on the Giants and the Patriots. Benazzoa's continued success. Thank you. Thank you, Colin. So he's got people inside the building that are telling him Bill's friends are concerned.

Let me ask you. So 17 wins, 50th year, 17 wins from Shula. If they go 8 and 9 and finish 4th, and they absolutely have the fourth best. best roster in the division. I have Miami winning it, Buffalo, second, jets, a feisty third, New England. And they go eight and nine. I think, I think it's going to go 12 wins for Miami, 11 Buffalo, 9 or 10 jets, best division in football, Patriots about eight. So my question is, would you then say to Bill, listen, we got like one more year on max contract, I want you to get Don Shula's record, I'm going to give you one more year. We're going to announce it together

it's your last year. Would you do the soft landing or fire him? What would you do you own the franchise? So it's funny. We talked about this. Was it Monday? I've already forgotten. And I said, how do you fire Belichick? And there's really no answer. But a friend, you remember the movie the usual suspects?

Yeah. Okay. So Kevin Spacey was asked, it's not a spoiler, the movie's been out for 30 years. How do you shoot the devil in the back? And it was like a question that they were like, oh, wow, interesting. How do you fire Belichick? I don't think there is a legitimate way you can actually push him out. And I'm going to call him the greatest coach ever.

Other people will say Shula. Asante. Samuel clearly disagrees. Anyways, I'm telling you, there's zero circumstances where Belichick is fired. There is none. They will have to agree that Belichick says he's ready to move on. Kraft will not. I'm just telling you, he's not doing it. I know all the reporters.

Baddard, Kuren, Vowland, all these guys, they know the Patriots well. We could say hot seat. They're not firing Belichick. That's just not happening, Colin. unless there's some major scandal or more cheating. You think they would actually fire Bill Belichick? As I said yesterday, I think billionaires are very comfortable pivoting off even very good employees. This is not a very good employee.

This is a historical figure in the national football league. Let me ask you, when Rupert Murdoch pivoted off our movie business, you ever look at how great the movie business was? when we had a small independent searchlight division that was hitting home runs, we'd been involved in blockbuster movies. But there were market forces at play like that. Oh, interesting. There are market forces in play.

Market forces for Bill Belich? He's pivoted to an offensive league. And Bill is tone deaf completely on offense. So market forces. I'm trying to think. Greatest coach NBA history, ARABAC is up there, obviously. But like, you don't, Pat Riley, I don't think got.

fired anywhere he's been. He's never fired. You're not fire Pat Riley. Andy Reed, you think at some point he's going to get fired by the chiefs? Like, you just don't do this to great coaches. That's how you really, really go down the tubes, which I would love because I don't like the Patriots. Come on. Maybe I'm wrong. I just, I have lived in this corporate legacy media world where I've seen legends let go by billionaires for a variety of factors. Market forces, controversial, under-delivering, not as productive, too much ego. Controversy, I just think if they're seven and nine remain the most boring team in the league, have signed contracts to receivers that can't

separate, this is an entertainment product. They're not entertaining anymore. They're boring. I don't know. Hey, I'm not. I'm not. saying I'm right. I'm right on the Justin Fields topic and the Debo topic. Wait, wait, wait. Hold on. Hold on. This is great. So I think the Patriots end the season with the Jets in week 18, don't they? Yeah.

I don't think... What is that where Belichick's last game against the Jets and the Jets beat them down and get into the playoffs? Oh, gosh. It's delicious. Wait, let me just check the Jets schedule. Just hang tight. It's brutal early, easy late. The Jets do close out

at New England, January 7. And Aaron Aaron finishes off Belichick's career. Now that would be something. The other thing is Belichick could just argue to the end like, hey, it's not my fault that we stunk. Mac Jones is garbage. I didn't want him.

He could just say, I had to settle for Mac Jones. Get me a quarterback. You're not letting me go out with Mac Jones. That would be very convenient considering Bill runs the draft. Another fair point. My scouting department. That's I always say. Jerry Jones had a great line about.

Twitter. I don't want to be on it. I want deniability. When you want all the power in life, I don't want it at Fox Sports. I want our management to have power. I'm just some talking head. Three hours compensated, go home. And then Kraft, hold on, Kraft's counter. Well, you ran Brady out of here. And you know what Belichick said? That's right. That's right.

You made me trade Garapola. Bill's got so much power. There are no scapegoats. There are no finger pointing. Bill runs the organization. That's the downside to power. If there's controversy at Alabama and cheating, which there never has been, you've got to blame Nick because he controls every facet of the program. Can't do one of these Rick Bettino. I didn't know there was a brothel 40 feet from my office.

You can't do, you know what I mean? You can't do one of these. I don't know what's going on. That's the downside. That's why I don't want too much power. Power means no deniability. So Belichick runs the operation. And Kraft can absolutely in his mind say, you ran Tom off.

Okay, you ran Tom off. You couldn't get along with Mac Jones. You ruined his early career. That's an easy thing for a billionaire. And I don't see Kraft as impulsive at all. But he's going to have some arguments if they don't make the playoffs again and are seven and ten. Well, they're not making the playoffs. We agree.

But is there a world where I need to look at the Garoppolo contract with the Raiders? What if it goes south? McDaniels is fired. Garapolo stinks. Could Garapolo be the quarterback for the page? Patriots next year and Belichick sell Kraft on. Hey man, this is a guy I drafted. Okay, you got San Francisco Super Bowl. Like, get me Garoppolo. Forget Mac Jones. Get me Garoppolo.

In 2024 in a division with Josh Allen, Aaron Rogers, Tua in a conference with Mahomes, Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Herbert. You're selling Robert Kraft on. Hey, old rickety, Jimmy G, don't get us back to the promontad. He's better than McEnroe Jones under center. Come on. You, you let Macon, Mac Jones over Garapolo? Oh, stop. At this point, because of the injuries? Yes. You've got to consider everything. I'd rather take an injury-ridden Garapolo

over whatever Mac Jones is. And I'm not anti-Garopolo, but I think they have literally gotten in the way of Mac Joe. I have sympathy for any athlete where I think he's got talent. Like, Mac Jones came into the league as a rookie when they were more functional and was like pretty good.

Easiest schedule ever. Well documented. That was a cupcake schedule. They've done nothing since. Well documented by Jets fans or well documented by reasonable people. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like.

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Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'll say it. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football,

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A lot of stuff going on today. Eddie George last hour, running backs are furious with the league, even though they are getting paid, not as much. much as they want. You know, that's the world we live in. I am, I am siding with NFL front offices because they're leaning into like baseball and basketball. Analytic sports wasn't terribly mathy for most of my life. And in the last 10 years, all the sports have been driven by analytics. It makes for smarter and more efficient sports. And these front offices rely on it. And the data is clear. Signing running backs to a second big contract, do it at your own peril.

It's a salary cap league. I support the teams on this. If they were holding out on quarterbacks, wide receivers, and left tackles, I'd be questioning their sanity. Running backs? Find me the last dominant running back for a Super Bowl winning team. It's a decade ago. It was Marshawn Lynch.

And oh, by the way, Hall of Fame coach, potential Hall of Fame quarterback, and the best defense in 15 years in the league. So Marshawn Lynch was valuable. The Legion of Boom was the story. It was the defense with Marshawn Lynch that was the overriding story. That's why it had a nickname. We don't give defense his nicknames very often, like the steel curtain for the Steelers, orange crush for the Broncos.

Legion of Boom was a top four or five, like no name defense in Miami. Amy. Even a great defense, well, they couldn't figure out a name. They gave it the no name. You know, there was the monsters of the midway. 85 bears. Right, like an all-time defense. So even the last time the running back was the star, the defense was actually historically great. Marciaun Lynch is not a top 10 running back. That was a top five defense. That was the last defense. I mean, remember Peyton Manning Super Bowl? That Seattle defense was so good. It's the only time I've seen in my life. Peyton Manning literally looked like he wanted off the field.

Like, I'm done. I'm out. It was overwhelming. It was the fastest defense, the last defense in the league that was so fast that the defensive players look faster than the offensive players. That's usually not the case, right? Like your running backs are faster than linebackers, your receivers faster than safeties. The safeties felt like they were faster than other teams' receivers. So it's not a running back.

My point is the data is clear. You know, like, like, he'll give an example. It used to be 10 years ago, that 55-inch flat-screen TV. People would line up for it. Now, they still want screens, but they want them on their phone. Is the television industry, is the screen industry anti-flatscreen? Or is the world changed? We all want screens.

It's called our phones. It used to be the flat screen. Now they give them away. Nobody's anti-flat screen. We're pro-technology. NFL is pro-data. The media is always like pay the player or it's unjust. The players are making almost 50% of league revenues on gambling,

Thursday night football, but they've got salary caps. So if you don't want to follow data in your life, like newspaper guy, media guy, if you don't want to follow data in your career, go for it. But my entire career has been following the platforms,

following and chasing the audience, not stubbornly saying, I'm never going to podcast started got on them TikTok I'm on it radio I'm on it TV I'm on it

why nobody's got anything against me but the world changes I'm chasing the consumers nobody's anti flat screen TV nobody's anti running back by the way

they still have all the money they're still spending all the money they're just spending it differently it's not like the budget shrunk every year the salary cap goes up It's not like the owners are hoarding more of it to buy another yacht. They're all spending the money. They're just spending it on edge rushers.

It'd be totally different if the league, because the owners now, obviously, the revenues for the league have exploded. The salary cap's not shrinking. It's going up. So they're paying money. They're just paying it to different people. It's not a controversy. Right? In my industry, cable TV is shrinking.

There's not as much money. So you have to do a side hustle. I don't think anybody. has it against me. I know what's happening to my industry. You want to do headline news after the break? I kind of went in a rant there. It's your show, so I'll defer to you here. You got me so worked up on that Debo Samuel thing.

By the way, you missed out a small correction. You forgot about the New York Sack Exchange with Mark Gastineau and the New York Jets, talking about powerful defensive lines. No, I didn't forget it. I just didn't include it. So, I don't want to infringe on this great rant that you just had. But I think the

problem is Austin Echler, bro, you're not going to get paid by the Chargers. Like, Justin Herbert's getting all the money just the way that the chiefs are giving Mahomes all the money. We get that. But with the Giants, it's tricky because I think you and I would agree. I would have figured out Barclay first, paid him for two or three years, and then sorry, Daniel Jones, you're getting a tag. I don't disagree with that.

So we would agree with that. So not all running back situations are created equal. Josh Jacobs is a tricky one. Oh, no, I think he is of tremendous value. Yeah. And your quarterback, we don't even know what you got there. The Raiders are going to draft a quarterback next year. We don't know how high, though.

It could be one or 15. I think it's going to be, yeah, but they're going to have a top 10 pick and they're going to draft a quarterback. Fair. So if I ran the Raiders, there's an argument to be made that we want this kid to come in with Devonthe Samuels, left tackle Colton Miller, Adams, yeah. Hunter Renfro, Josh Jacobs, and be ready to go. Caleb Williams or Drake May is ready to go. Josh Jacobs, to me, has real value because the team's.

in chaos. They're not great at quarterback. They're going to be drafting a quarterback, so they're going to get four or five years of not paying the quarterback. So Josh Jacobs, I would get. But the problem is Daniel Jones has been there for four years. And he hasn't delivered except when Sequin's on the field. They didn't even pick up his fifth year option. They did not believe in Daniel Jones a year ago. They still don't. Well, I don't know. The owner is 39 million or whatever. Owners still run it. But again, going back to this running back thing, the owners aren't keeping the money. They're just spending it on different players.

Reallocation of funds. In the newspaper business, they just don't make as much money. Craigslist killed the classifieds. People don't read long-form journalism like they used to. The advertising's down. Subscriptions are down. People are buying papers and selling them, billionaires. The money is gone away. Nobody's anti-sports writer. Many of those sports writers who have moved to television, Stephen A. Smith, have gotten rich. Rick Riley, Mitch Album, They've moved into podcasting or radio. Nobody's anti-sports rider. The revenue shrunk.

The owners in the NFL are making more, and they're paying more to quarterbacks and edge rushers and receivers. So the argument everybody's against running backs, they're not buying other yachts. You know, it's not what they're doing. They're just trying to figure out in a salary cap sport. Who do we pay? If you asked me, if I ran an NFL team, and there were six positions, we did this last week, I had to pay six positions.

Quarterback one, left tackle two, edge rusher three, weapon four, corner five. I would go, and I told you this, I would go to second weapon, like second receiver or great tight end, six. But that's the thing. A guy like Echler can be as valuable as a number two receiver. But the problem is Herbert's great, and they have three receivers they like. Like they have Palmer, Mike Williams, and Tina. So now they're, I think they're suboptimal.

One of the receivers is not going to be here at this time next year. And Echler's probably going to be gone. Yeah. So listen, I feel for Austin Echler. He's one of those guys that didn't get paid early or now. But Zeke got paid early. There's no reason Echler can't go somewhere. Yeah, he's valuable.

And help. Okay, I'll give an example. You know where he'd be great? Carolina Bryce Young. They're not paying anybody on offense on that franchise. Nobody's making any money in Carolina on offense. They got a young left tackle. They got a young quarterback.

Receivers are young. They're not paying anybody. and he can catch. Like Austin Echler and Carolina, Pam, that's a perfect spot for it. Echler could land in Arizona next year if they get the number one pick. Number one pick Caleb Williams. We need playmakers running.

We need dump-off guy in Austin Echler who's going to catch 100 balls. Arizona has little, I mean, so little talent on the outside of receiver. I mean, they're going to be in the market for some good running back next year to help Caleb. The Chargers could use a little front seven help defensively. Call Carolina. They have a surplus. Carolina could use an all-purpose running back. They had one in McCaffrey's gone.

Go get Echler. He'd be cheaper. Like, there's a place for him. But it's an idea that everybody's out to get running backs. It's just, it's a non-contra. It's a silly take. End of your first year, Discover credit cards automatically double all the cash back you've earned. That's right.

Everything doubled. Discover.com slash Matt. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHard Radio. I. Hey, what's up everybody? It's me, three-time Pro Bowl of LeVar-Harrington, and I couldn't be more excited to announce a new podcast called Up on Game. What is Up on Game, you ask? Along with my fellow Pro Bowler, T.J. Hushmanzada and Super Bowl champion. Yep, that's right, Plexico Burris. You can only name a show with that type of talent on it. Up on Game. We're going to be sharing our real-life experiences loaded with teachable moments. Listen to Up on Game with.

Me, LaVar Ayrington, T.J. Hushmanzada, and Plexico Burris on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast from. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days I'd put on 10 pounds, I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what 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 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 with Little Kim?

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

Not just because of crack I'm down to talk about crack on day But just so y'all know I mean at this point Mark this is the second episode Where we've discussed crack So I'm starting to see that there's a through line We also have AIDS on the table right now

So Thank you 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. Saturday, it's baseball night in America on Fox. MVP favorite Ronald Acumia Jr. leads the dominant raves against the Brewers or the White Sox take on the twins.

Saturday at 7 Eastern on Fox, the game in your area. Graves going to win the World Series. I will unveil my Dark Horse National League team. I'm going to bet the most have ever bet in a baseball team. I was going to do it today. We're busy. And you're all freaking out about the weather because it's hot in Arizona.

You're freaking out about Debo Samuel. Actually, it's hot in Europe right now. Shout out to anyone listening in Rome. By the way, you know what it is in Rome every July? Hot. Arizona, August. When's the last time July and August? You said, you know where I want to go to cool?

down tempi. I don't, listen, I'm not saying there's not climate change, but Arizona being hot in June, July. How about 110 degrees for three straight weeks, 110 or more? That's staggering. Never before, according to Phoenix. According to Phoenix? Yeah, the Phoenix meteorologists, you know?

According to a guy in Phoenix, it's never been hotter. A Gibrody in Phoenix on the internet. J-MAC with the news. No. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. According to Phoenix, it's hot. Two on the Dolphins are trying to make the playoffs again.

Hopefully maybe win one this time. They reached the postseason last year for the first time since 2016. Looking for their first playoff W since 2000. Yesterday, Tua talked about why his team can compete in the AFC. I think we're definitely legit contenders. There's no doubt what the guys we have on the defensive side of the ball, with the guys we have on the offensive side of the ball, and now with this being the first time as an offense,

we get to come back, understanding the plays already kind of molded into the offense a little more. I think it can get very, very scary, pretty dangerous. I'm going to have a top five hot take board for tomorrow in the NFL. I'm telling you right now, and not only it's a hot take, Miami is supplanting Buffalo as the kings of the AFC East. That team, I had a discussion yesterday with a buddy of mine who loves football. Has anybody looked at Miami's roster? I'm freaking loaded.

It's good. The O-line's okay. The rest of the roster is stacked with one of the best offensive coaches and one of the best defensive coaches. Miami's winning that division. I love that roster. When you do your Dolphins Hot Take in Hot Take Happy Hour, do you think we can do a Jets, Dolphins side-by-side roster comparison? It's not even close. I think the Jets is better.

I know. Dolphins' seventh best players. Bradley Chubb, eight best players. Bradley Chub can play. Oh, yeah, he's a factor. Next up, Green Bay Packers, they're signing USFL MVP and champ Alex Magoo. They'll join a Packers quarterback room with Jordan Love and Sean Clifford. This list is staggering.

Look at the Packers quarterbacks. They got all guys under 28 younger and a total of 83 NFL pass attempts. Danny Eatling, he was a good college quarterback, I think. Danny Eifford, the Penn State kid. Sean Clifford. And then Alex McGoo. You know what? I watched him play.

He's like Taylor Heineke. He can spin it. He's fine. They spay that in football, right? He's a runaround guy. He's okay. He's a backup. He's fine.

Good luck to him. Six wins. Final story to the NBA, where Dave McMenaman of ESTN is reporting, he's confident Anthony Davis will enter training camp with a new contract. There were reports last month. the Lakers were in no rush. I think you and I both agreed. AD's an eight-time All-Star not eligible to sign an extension until after August 4th. This is staggering to me.

Maybe they'll bury it on a Friday news dump like when the college football season starts. So you're with me on this one that I'm not giving an extension. Why? Wait until the season's halfway. I think there's the fear of losing him and LeBron. But you know what? I'd rather bottom out. I got to see what they have draft pick wise. I like AD.

You like it more than me? No, no, no. You had him as the number one player in the puck season. Dude, sometimes I'm just fill in space. Wow, what an admission. They're going to clip that on, put it on the internet. No, I'm just, I like him, but, and I like him a lot. I'm not anti-Anthony Davis.

I'm anti-giving bigs who have had injury issues extensions early. I don't get it. So you don't want to pay Anthony Davis or running backs. You're so funny. It was a joke. This running backs are getting paid, just not what they want. They're getting paid. Austin Ecclors is going to get somebody is going to step up.

If I was Carolina and Frank Reich, I'm going to call him today. I'm going to text I'm going to text Frank Reich. That's how presumptuous. Yeah, I'm going to DM Seekwon Barkley. I don't know if you'll reply, but I'm going to be like, come on, fight the good fight, Sequin. Jets fan Jason over here. You're the last guy you should listen to. You'll lead him down the wrong time.

Oh, please. You'll DM him. Sit out the season. No, I would never. No, no, no, no. Although, I don't recommend that because Levyon Bell had blew up in his face badly. But I think we would see what the giants are without Sequin is a total trash team like six wins, maybe. Yeah, the answer is never not show up for work in any industry.

That's never the answer. The answer is show up for work. I've always had a theory when I've been mad at my bosses. I always say, I'll never cheat you a day. I may leave, but I'll never cheat you a day. I think it's a stain on your personal resume not showing up for work in any industry. That's pouting. I don't pout.

I hold grudges, but I don't pout. Yeah, you do. All right, we got to get out of here, J-Mack with the news. All right, we, I'm going to try to recover. These first two hours is just me trying to create some common sense in this show. I'll try to reboot our three. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite.

Unhumor 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 Hibald. 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. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human

potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, this is Robert from the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. Joe and I are both lifelong Star Wars fan, so we're celebrating May the 4th with a brand new

week of fun, thought-provoking Star Wars-related episodes. Join us as we tackle science and culture topics from a galaxy far far away, such as the biology of tauntons and wampas on the ice planet hot, or the practicality and corporate business sense of the Sith rule of two. Listen to stuff to blow your mind on the iHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.