The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Herd - Hour 2 - Tom Brady to the 49ers makes sense

Episode Date: December 13, 2022

Colin gives his new Herd Hierarchy after week 14 of the NFL Why the Niners make sense for Tom Brady's next destination   Guest: Nick WrightSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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So I was saying last night, I always thought Mac Jones was a franchise quarterback. I thought they had a low ceiling. But sometimes when people are in duress and it's not their best night, I said this about Caleb Williams when he won the Heisman. I knew he was great. But when he, after halftime, with a pulled hamstring, came out and limped his way up the field, it was one of his weaker performances. I thought it sealed the Heisman. I'm like, you know, it's like the greatest flight Sully Sullenberger ever had was a crash.

That was his greatest flight. We always knew he was competent. Caleb Williams was always competent. Mack Jones is absolutely a franchise quarterback. I think he has low ceiling. But looking at what he's dealing with. with right now. And winning on the road with no number one plus Stevenson's hurt, Harris is hurt. Devante Parker's got, I think he's in concussion protocol. I mean, they got all sorts of injuries.

On the road is like, it's not everybody knows on your, everybody has good days at work. But it's when fit hits the shan and you can still make the sale and bring it home. It's like, that's impressive. Well, well, they got a little lucky. Kyler Marie goes down a few plays into the game. DeAndre Hopkins fumbles it, Patriots scoop and score. Colt McCoy throws an awful interception. I think, Colin, this Kyler Murray situation gets very interesting in Arizona, because

ACL injury probably means he's out until at least Halloween or Thanksgiving. And if Cliff Kingsbury follows up this clunker with another one, do they go get a quarterback in the offseason, he's got some decisions to make. All right. Now, these are not

standings. It's not what we do here. That's the other network. These are, I believe, this morning, the 10 best teams in the NFL. Here we go. Heard hierarchy. Time is now. Let's go. The top 10 NFL teams, according to college.

Much to the chagrin. Much to the chagrin of McIntyre, barely New England. Best coach in the NFL. They've scored 92 points off turnovers, leads the NFL. They're all banged up. So that's not their best. That's why they threw so much behind the line of scrimmage. And here's my thing.

They're still very good situationally. And I will say it again. I was impressed with Mack Jones last night. He's got nothing to work with. And I think this kid, in, in, we can sit and bang on him. But I watched him last night, and I'm like, he's got a defensive coordinator, Colin plays. He's barking.

He's showing leadership. New England at 10. Number nine. The Vikings. I like the Vikings, but there's limitations. First team in league history to win 10 of its first 13, with a negative point differential. They've got a very low ceiling, but they're very capable.

They're 9-0-1 possession games. Credit to Kirk Cousins and the coach. Justin Jefferson is a game changer. They went to Buffalo and 1. He can literally win you a game on a road. And there are not many guys like this, Tyreek Hill, a Justin Jefferson, a Jamar Chase, where they can just, you know, we know quarterbacks.

We know Mahomes can do it. He's one of the only non-quarterbacks. You can go on the road, good team, and he just takes the game over Minnesota 9. Number eight. Listen, I'm going to put the dolphins in there. They're going through a bad stretch. They're struggling in protection.

There's a ton of injuries with this team. I did not bail on the Niners earlier this year when they had seven starters out. I'm not bailing on the Dolphins. They'll score. They'll make the playoffs. They'll sneak in. They will sneak in. I still have so much respect for their receiving core, their left tackle, their head coach.

This is a team. they're not going to beat a top team in the league, but they could get into a shootout with teams if they have protection. Absolutely could get into shootout with a Cincinnati and Buffalo. Hopefully not in a snowstorm, but I put them at eight. Number seven. Say what you will about the Ravens and they drive me nuts. Have you looked at their defense since week nine?

It's like one, two, or three in the league on everything. Yes, yes, they're struggling offensively. But since Roquan Smith got there, 23 takeaways this year, only to even. Eagles have more. They're going to be in every single football game. They're just going to be in every game. And so to me, you're a top six, seven team in the league. If you're in every game, Lamar will eventually get healthy, so they'll be more dynamic offensively. Ravens at seven. Number six. The Cowboys are at six. They tend to be, you know, they're great when they're playing

downhill. The less they rely on DAC, the better. Back-to-back years with 10-plus wins. McCarthy may not be Andy Reid, but he's clearly capable. Four hundred plus yards in five. of six games, Tony Pollard has emerged as a home run hitter. The key with Dallas is very simple. You got to ask Dak to throw fewer than 35 times. I think we had the stat yesterday. When Mahomes throws 35 times or more, Kansas City's 43 and 15. When Dallas does it, they lose two out of three. There's a way they have to play to win, but they do it off and they're at six. Number five. Buffalo. Listen, Josh Allen didn't play particularly well and they still won. A part of That's the Jets defense.

But Vaughn Miller's injury, I think, takes him out of the top three. You know, Cole Beasley, I'm not sure what that's all about. They've held opponents to one touchdown in back-to-back weeks. But I do think Vaughn Miller was brought in for a reason, and he is gone. They do also tend to bail on the running game faster than I like. Right now they have a knockout punch, but to be a heavyweight champ, do they have a jab? Kansas City's got both. Cincinnati's got both.

San Francisco's got both. Gotta be more than a knockout specialist, Buffalo at five. Number four. The Niners at four, I'd probably have them a spot higher, but Brock Purdy, I don't know in the postseason. They've outscored their opponent since Brock Purdy took over, 65 to 10. They've outgained their opponents in 12 of 13 games. I believe this is the best roster in football. Even their offensive players are physical.

They do have a lower ceiling at quarterback. But they're the only team in the NFL. This is an interesting step. The only team to have more interceptions, 14 than touchdown passes allowed 11. They are a handful defensively. San Francisco at 4. Number 3. But Kansas City worked him in the second half in the Bay Area.

I don't take much of the Denver game. They let 27 and nothing. What are you going to do? You're going to go into a locker room? You're going to tell a team, hey, this game's in doubt. I don't care much about that. Number one total offense in the league. Mahomes leads the NFL in passing yards.

They do, I think, sometimes miss the explosiveness and the urgency that Tyreek Hill could get you. But this is still the most lethal offense, the most clever offense, the most coachable star quarterback in the league. I've got them at three. Number two. But I do think situationally, Cincinnati's a little better. And I'm going to have the Bengals who have won seven of eight and nine of 11. Here's the key of this team, though. This offensive line, they went and bought it, right?

They went and bought some players. They were really rough in the first two or three. weeks, Burrow is sitting in that pocket with time to throw, and they're running the football. So this is the kind of team that can keep the ball away from Mahomes. That's why Buffalo doesn't scare Kansas City, because they bail on their run game. This team's got two running backs. This team's got an offensive line now that will eat the clock and has a star quarterback, Cincinnati, at number two.

Number one. I think we have to give it to Philadelphia. There's a number here that's pretty amazing. They lead the NFL in 110 big plays. That's 11 more than like number two. They've got three players on this team with 10 plus scrimmage touchdowns. I heard somebody else say this. May have been at this network, but I heard somebody say this weekend.

Anytime a team can beat you like three or four ways, they feel like a Super Bowl team. They can beat you with defense. They can beat you with a rush. They can beat you on the ground. They can beat you through the air. They can beat you with a quarterback moving. They're just doing a lot of things right. I haven't seen it yet in the playoffs, but this is not a playoff herd hierarchy.

This is a regular season herd hierarchy. And right now I have them at number one. I think those top three teams are pretty tight. It's pretty tight in there. All right. First things first is a new show. And they're crushing it, by the way. Saw the ratings yesterday.

They're crushing it. We have a little envy. It is the only show on cable news or sports with no budget. Unlimited budget. Unlimited. Yeah, that's the, yeah, I mean, but I'm pitching in my own money, Colin. Maybe you could do that, too. I mean, the reason we have unlimited budget is because I'm self-funding in part.

They told me they asked you years ago to do that and you rejected it. But how are you doing? Great herd hierarchy. I agree with a lot of it. Patriots a touch high. But other than that, I'd maybe flip-flop the Niners and the Eagles. I think the Niners look terrifying, utterly terrifying, even with parties, the quarterback. But yeah, it's a really good herd hierarchy.

Okay, so you know I'm a Herbert guy because I used to work in Portland, and he's such a great kid, and he used to listen to me as a kid. I'm not going to lie, that matters. It does. Anyway, so he was in the backseat of his car with his grandpa going to school, so I like him. But I also like him because he's amazing. It was hard to watch that game and not just say, let's stop the debate, right? Like, it's hard to say that, right? Yeah.

Well, no, I mean, of course. And it shouldn't have been a debate. And listen, I say this with no disrespect at all to our mutual friend and colleague Emmanuel Ocho, but you and I both behind the scenes and you in front of the cameras tried to talk Emmanuel out of that opinion. And he was intransigent. He didn't want to move. And then the game happened. And listen, three for 17 to start a football game, that sometimes happens in the NBA for a guy that's having a bad shooting night.

It never is supposed to happen to an NFL quarterback, ever. I think our friend Ryan Leif once started a Chiefs game 4 for 18, and it was considered the worst game of his career. Now he had some interceptions mixed in. So the dichotomy between Tua having one of the worst games we've seen from any quarterback in the league all season, and Herbert playing a nearly flawless football game up until the fumbled snap at the end, to me, listen,

there's Patrick Mahomes, and then there's that next tier of NFL quarterbacks, where there's Joe Burrow. I would have him next, but some people would argue, hey, give Jalen Hertz's credit. I know there are still people that I haven't watched football in the last two months, so they put Josh Allen in that group. And Justin Herbert is in that discussion. Then there's another tier of quarterback that Dak Prescott is in. There's Aaron Rogers, you know, at this point, is he's still in it? I'm not certain. Other guys.

and then there's another tier of quarterback that the top end is your guy Derek Carr. Tua is in that tier. And by the way, I give him credit for being in that tier because going into this year, I thought he was going to be closer to the Marcus Marietta tier. He has proven that is not the case.

But if I were the Dolphins, Colin, I would be very, very concerned that the brilliant defensive coordinator in San Francisco, D'Amico Ryan, Unlocked something in that jamming these receivers and throwing off the timing. And when we saw it happen, I think a lot of us said, okay, that was great, but that's also the best defense in football that did it. But when the Chargers' JV team, with all those injuries, when they're able to do it, that

to me is greatly concerning if I'm a Miami Dolphins team with a pretty tough schedule the rest of the way. I'm not saying concerning like they're going to fall all the way out of the playoffs, even though that is still on the board. But concerning in that this team has been figured out to a degree, and I don't think Tua is going to have the answers for. You know, speaking of Brock Purdy, I watched the preseason game with Brock Purdy. And my takeaway was, gosh, for the last guy taken in a draft, he was pretty good. I saw him playing college. And I'm like, there is a history in the NFL, as you know, because Mahomes fills a,

this. Most of the great quarterbacks did not go to Bama, Michigan, Ohio State. No, they didn't. They go to non-traditional football powers where they get beat up, run for their life, and have to elevate non-NFL players. That's Mahomes. That's Josh Allen. And I watched Brock Purdy, and I'm like, you know, Nick, that coach doesn't ask you to be Mahomes. I look at him and I think, outside of going to Philadelphia, which I'm not sure about, this kid can play half this league is undrafted, right? Like, what do you make of him? Yeah, well, listen, I think Brock Purdy's been excellent through seven quarters.

I'm going to reserve judgment because, you know, I'm honest with the audience. I don't grind college football the way you do, Colin. So I didn't watch a ton of him at Iowa State. So most of my Brock Purdy experience has come in these last two weeks where he's played well. I assume at some point he regresses. But this to me, and I know this is hard for you, but this is not about Brock Purdy, this is about Jimmy Garoppolo. Because if we ever wanted to get a case study

that the San Francisco 49ers are a paint-by-numbers offense, we are getting it right now because their quarterback is literally nicknamed Mr. Irrelevant. And that game on Sunday, they looked more dynamic offensively than they've looked at any point with Jimmy Garoppolo. And one other thing that I think this NFL season is teaching us is that the teams and the coaches and the GMs that try to move off their own quarterbacks,

there is a reason for it. The Seattle Seahawks were fine waving goodbye to Russell Wilson. They knew something. The Miami Dolphins tried two separate times to replace Tuatong of I Love. Now they've said all the right things after that, and he had a great two months, but there's a reason for it. And the San Francisco 49ers moved heaven and earth to try to move up to get an elite passer because I think they believed they were getting the minimum from that position.

And the fact that the 262nd pick of the draft can step in, Kyle Shanahan can say, we don't really have to change much if I'm being honest with you. And in fact, what they changed was they added the... levels to the passing game, where he in the second quarter Sunday, through more deep, or as many deep touchdowns outside the numbers, Colin, as Jimmy has thrown in the last three years. Brock Purdy in one quarter through as many deep outside the number touchdowns as Jimmy G. has thrown in three years. I think it shows you why the Niners were so desperate for an upgrade, because I do think

that team with that defense, that personnel, and now Christian McCaffrey, if you, if you're they simply have above-average quarterbacking, they're the Super Bowl favorite. We'll see if Brock Purdy can give them that. We knew, or at least I knew, Jimmy Garoppolo couldn't. I know, you know, you're bewitched by the dimples, so at times the quarterback wins thing gets you. The MVP race is sort of Jalen Hertz and Mahomes, although I think Burrough is really good, but he's not going to be it. Yeah. I would guess you'd take Mahomes.

That would be my guess if you had to vote. Okay, so let's just, let's try to do this fairly. Okay, and by the way, Burrow, I think, is on the fringes of it. Yes. I think Burrow, if they run the table and Mahomes and Hertz stumble, then I think that Burroughs has a chance to steal it. But right now it is a two-person race between Hertz and Patrick Mahomes. So Mahomes has a thousand more yards and nearly, I think, nine more touchdowns.

You might say, well, Nick, what about the rushing? Okay, when you add the rushing to the passing, Mahomes still has more yards and still has more touchdowns. Okay, Nick, what about the win-loss record? Well, one team's 12 and 1 and one team's 10 and 3. They both played the Colts against the Colts. The Chief's defense allowed a touchdown at the end. The Eagles defense got to stop at the end, and then they drove down the field. So to me, I'm not going to do it based on the record when they both are, you know, either at the top or tied for the top in their conference.

Here's what I would like to do when it comes to Mahomes and Hertz. Let's do a tale of the tape, Colin. And you tell me which team you would take. Eagles or Chiefs. Who has the better offensive line, Colin? Well, the Eagles offensive line is considered better. Agreed. All right.

Who has the better running game? The better running backs. Eagles, Eagles are, yeah, Eagles right now. Who has the better receivers? Well, at the high end, yeah, A.J. Brown, it would be the Eagles. Yeah, and Devante Smith would also be the best receiver on the Chief. So they have two receivers. Even if you throw in Kelsey, it'd still be the Eagles as a whole. Who has the better front seven defensively?

Chiefs is underrated, but Philadelphia. Okay, who is the better secondary? Yeah, I'd be Philadelphia. Okay, who is the better quarterback? Yeah. I mean, what are we doing? What are we doing? I mean, give me a break here.

I mean, Philly, there is not a single unit on the Chiefs that the Eagles would trade for, except for quarterback, and they couldn't make that phone call quick enough. You think Philly, if they're like, hey, you want Mahomes the rest of the year and we'll take Jalen, they'd be like, no, actually, we love Jalen's quarterback sneaks so much, we're going to ride it out. I mean, come on. And so I understand people might be like, well, just because Mahomes is better doesn't mean he's the MVP. but he also leads, I mean, he leads the entire NFL in passing yards and passing touchdowns. And we've become so spoiled to him that he had a play on Sunday, Colin, that was the play of the year in the NFL. And we're like, oh, yeah, that was Mahomes. And your buddy Peter King, Kevin Wilde pointed this out to me, your buddy Peter King, who I have massive respect and love for,

in the article on Monday, arguing for Hertz to be MVP, one of his sentences was he makes positively Mahomesian plays. Well, what are we doing? Like, yes, agreed. He does things similar to Patrick Mahomes, which is a great compliment, but does not mean you should be the MVP

over Patrick Mahomes. Like we did a thing at the beginning of the year, Colin, where because Josh Allen almost beat Patrick Mahomes, he was the MVP favorite. And now, because at times Jalen Hertz reminds you of Patrick Mahomes, he's the MVP favorite. Why don't he just give it to Mahomes?

That's a pretty good call. One minute left, I want to throw an NBA question. So the Celtics were rolling. They go west where the Warriors and Clippers have multiple wing defenders. They slow down Jason Tatum, and this team is essentially a one-man offense. That's all they are. It is interesting that there is a way to beat the Celtics. And we saw it twice in the last four days.

Throw the kitchen sink if you have elite wing defenders, and they are a one-man offense. Love Malcolm Brogden. Not going to give you 25 regularly. Is that the Celtics will be again a great story come out of the east, and there's no chance they beat the clippers of the Warriors in seven. Am I nuts?

Well, I agree with some of that. I think we've got to give Jalen Brown credit because Jalen Brown has been exceptional this year. Yes. He's been a fringe all-MBA guy. So I wouldn't quite call it a one-man offense, but I understand your point. I am not going to worry,

about the Clippers at all because the Clippers are not a real basketball team. Kauai after the game yesterday said he doesn't even want to play right. He's not worried about the regular season. I mean, Kauai scored 20 points for the first time all season yesterday. So to me, the Clippers are a non-factor here. Where I am concerned about the Celtics is this. They had looked like the best team in basketball by a decent margin. and then all of a sudden the team that undressed them in three straight games in the NBA finals,

they had to play them, and it looked like it was a fourth straight game of the NBA finals against the Warriors. That, to me, was as much psychological edge as it was tactical edge. And here's the other thing. You said at the end of there, they'll just get out of the east. Listen, my pick before the year was the Sixers. That is not looking great at the moment. We'll see. but if we were to get an Eastern

Armored's finals of Celtics bucks, if the bucks are healthy, I have no reason to believe the Celtics are better. The Celtics don't have an answer for Janus. They didn't last year. And last year they escaped with no Chris Middleton playing

for Milwaukee. So listen, I think the Celtics are really, really good and at the top, you know, near the top of the list of contenders, but I do think that you make some good points. And I think that Warriors game was really concerning. Yeah. Selig's had a really bad second half. Tatum wilted and the Warriors pulled away and blew them out. Nick Wright, great. See anybody. First things first after our show.

See you, man. All right. Take care. Yeah, he makes good arguments on Mahomes. That is, it doesn't really count for MVP. But if you called privately and said, want to swap Mahomes for Hertz, everybody in the league would take it. It's like Herbert and Tua. There's not a GM in the league, including Miami's that wouldn't take Herbert over Tua. Right, but I don't think that's the question. No, for MVP. But it is, it does put an exclamation point. When you talk about how a guy is Mahomes like, he is now the standard.

Patrick's the standard of the league. For years and years, Brady would win, but we use Aaron as the standard. Like, I think one of the stories this year is we have three young quarterbacks, four, they've moved past Aaron. Herbert, Burrow, Mahomes, and Allen, nobody's taking Aaron over those guys. Nobody's even taking the phone call. By the way, if we're being real and I have Mahomes on my fantasy team, He was bad this week against Denver.

Those interceptions were not like unlucky. Those were bad interceptions. Well, they're asking more of him because the run game's inconsistent and he doesn't have Tyreek Hill. So they're kind of piling more on him and asking him to do more, which is why I think Cincinnati... It's feeling like they... I hate to use the word vulnerable. No, I think Cincinnati would beat them in the AFC championship. I think Cincinnati does not rely on Burrow as much.

They have two running backs. Their defense post-second half. when Cincinnati didn't run the ball earlier this year, you were asking a ton of Burrell. Now they can run the football. Burrow didn't get sacked. Burrell's not throwing pecks. It still has to be one of the five craziest decisions this season

when Andy Reid kicked that 55-yard field goal at Cincinnati instead of going for it on like fourth and six, fourth and seven, with the great quarterback that everybody loves. I'm still angry at Andy Reid for that. Yeah. Cost me some money. Yeah. It always comes down to that.

One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the I-Hart Radio app. Search her to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

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

I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, CliverTaylor 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 Jek.

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 all day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack,

so I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now, so. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history.

Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You have a chance to win $10,000 from playing Argentina-Croat World Cup semifinals match. Playing along on Fox Super 6. Download the free Super 6 app on your phone and make your six game predictions for your chance to win big. ratings are up. Who you got in that one, Calvert? 18% from the last World Cup. 18.

Yeah. And the games are on early in the morning. No, no, no, it's amazing. Against football. When you consider what the World Cup has to go up against, it's never in the fall. So it's going up against football. Secondly, there have been like these two in the morning games. For the ratings to be up 18% are insane.

It shows you the growth of the sport in this country. This was not ideal. So if it's here or Canada or be a whole different ballgame, ratings would be up 30%. So you don't have to like soccer. But if you're not, if you're still denying it, an MLS team cost $35 million about 10 years ago. Now they're all like $300 million. Yes, they are. They're all exploding.

And it's remarkable if you look at when we have put this. Like the Women's World Cup goes in the summer. So it runs mostly unopposed, you know, some baseball games. Watch the numbers. The Women's World Cup is going to get a huge, huge number. And in four years, when it's here in the States, it will compete and beat some NFL stuff. It's growing. Will it be in the summer, Alex?

Yeah. Yeah, yeah. So the men in four years in the summer, the women's this year in the summer, those are going to be huge numbers. Massive. Yeah. I'm blown away by it considering what the time, because of Qatar, what it's going up against. Yeah. How about the timing of me buying into a.

soccer team in Mexico. Where to go? Last year. Not bad, huh? What to go? Can I pet myself on the back without injuring my shoulder? Warren Buffett over here.

J. Mack with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. So this Kyler Murray injury last night, Colin, I was pretty tore up about it. I'm a big Kyler Murray fan. It's fun to watch.

ACL injury. And it's non-contact? Yeah, this damn turf out here. Anyways, Colt McCoy came on to finish afterwards. He spoke about how hard it was to see his teammate go down and get carved off. Brutal. As a group, we've just got to buckle down and play well together,

practice well together, and finish these last four games out, you know, one at a time. And I think that will be my focus. And, you know, it sucks for Kyler. Just, we've been together for two years. We work together every day. Like, I don't ever want to see anything like that happen. I know how much he cares about the game.

I know how hard he works. It's just unfortunate. And, you know, I think I'll be able to put my arm around him through this because I've dealt with many in my career. Yeah, Colt's pretty good backup. He really is. He's 36. He's an okay backup for, you know, a half or a game or two. Colin, he's probably going to have to start 10 to 12 games next year.

What do you do if you're Arizona? You have Colt McCoy start 10 or 12 games. Are you drafting a quarterback third, fourth round? I am always, unless I have Burrow, Herbert, Mahomes. Listen, the Patriot Ted Brady, they drafted a quarterback seemingly every other year. Now, it was fourth round, six rounds. You can always flip them. I am always looking to draft a quarterback.

Unless I have Burrow, Mahomes, Alan Herbert. That's about it. Maybe Jalen Hertz now. I mean, it's about five, six guys. Otherwise, and they're in their prime. Otherwise, I'm drafting a quarterback. I'm just, you know. I know they paid Kyler-Marie.

What if Kingsbury sees a guy says, man, I could do some things with that guy. In the offense, I work. You know, absolutely. I think you have to. I don't think you do it in the first round. No. Second, third, four. I got no.

Hey, listen, Brady was winning Super Bowls, and they picked Jimmy Garoppolo in the second round. I forget. Second or third one. Yeah, I mean, it's like, and Brady didn't like it, but it's like Brady was still crushing people. You know, he was still rolling. And then if you find a guy who fits Kingsbury's sister. It does well. Hey, Kyler, no rush. Hey, hey, stay on the sideline.

Take your time, buddy. Keep an eye on that situation in Arizona. Next up, Miami Dolphids. This is comical, Colin. They had heaters on their sidelines for the game out here in L.A. at SoFi's Sunday night. Temperatures were in the mid-50s. Chili, you know, like jacket in December.

So-Fi Stadium has the roof, obviously, but there are some, like, wind tunnels that kind of come through. You can see the winder and field goals. It's like an open-air stadium. Yeah, it's perfect. Most of the time. Perfect. That being said, heaters on the bench, soft guys from Miami, have to then fly back across the country to Miami, then fly north to Orchard Park this weekend. I think it's, I think it has a chance to be ugly. Short week, right? They play Saturday night. Oh, no. You know how cold it can get Saturday night in Orchard Park? Oh. They're calling for temperatures in the 20s. Oh, it's over. Maybe teens and wind. Chance of snow. I like Buffalo. I like Buffalo. I like Buffalo to, I mean, listen, I think I was seven and a half.

Oh, I'd take Buffalo. Remember, this is a revenge spot, as they call it. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Buffalo by three touchdowns. You know, I don't like blowouts? Buffalo by three touchdowns. Also, and again, I think I said this yesterday.

If you watch Buffalo Jets closely in the second half, Buffalo was showing nothing. A lot of basic stuff, no exotic plays. They weren't even really looking to move the ball. They were like, we got this one in the bag. Just park the bus here. Get to next week. Get some revenge on Miami.

All right. This does feel like a blowout. And we will wrap up with a sad story. Mississippi State head football coach Mike Leach has passed away. Leach was a head coach for 21 seasons, spending time at Texas Tech and Washington State before joining Mississippi State in 2020. Leaves behind a legacy of the air raid offense and will always be remembered for his fun and eccentric personality.

Mike Leach was 61 years old. major impact Lincoln Riley, of course, getting his start. Not only that he share all his quirkiness with us, which is, you know, a lot of people are quirky, but, you know, a little, they don't want to put it out there. Mike put it all out there. But a real major influence, you start going, you know, like we all know Bill Walsh, West Coast offense had an influence in the NFL. Mike Leach, his fingerprints are all over USC's offense, these air raid offenses,

the offense that Patrick Mahomes played in. A real innovator. And, you know, a lot of times with, sometimes people who are eccentric, he was a little eccentric, aren't appreciated until they're gone. Like Mike was appreciated while he was here. I mean, it was really when he went into hospice. I mean, the internet just exploded. I think Mike understood how important he was for the sport and his, it really is.

You start going to the top coaches, offensive coaches. All of them are like, oh, I took that from Leach. I took that from Leach. So he was an innovator that I think, and this is a great thing, we appreciated when he was here. Mike Leach. And with that, we'll take a break, The Herd. 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, what's up, everybody? It's me, three-time Pro Bowl. LeVar Arrington 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. Hushman Zada 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,

LeVar 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 I'm 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 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 J. 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's big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line.

We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you 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. Think about your happy place. So fun game day, fishing boat, wherever it is, driveway.com. Check it out. Let you buy or sell a car from there. So there was a report, and I talked about it with Albert Breer earlier. I thought it was fairly substantial, that basically the night before each game, Brady now runs a separate meeting

with the Buck's skill players. He doesn't tell Byron Leftfoot. He doesn't tell Todd Bowles. He just does it. And then they have to figure it out during the game. So he would never do that with Josh McDaniels in New England, right? Like Tom versus Time, we all watched that documentary or most of us did who like sports. And I mean, they were, you know, conjoined at the hip during the offseason. So this is why San Francisco makes so much sense. Brady's career. in New England was about defense, coaching, and culture. And then in Tampa, he wanted more control and he got weapons, but he didn't have the coaching and the culture.

San Francisco gives you all that stuff. You get the weapons, you get the coaching, you get the culture, and you get the defense. And I do think Tom realizes the older he gets, this is the perfect spot for him. He could retire or pick and choose. You really get everything an older quarterback wants. You know, Aaron Rogers will tell people privately he's never had great defenses. And it's fair. Peyton Manning mostly did not have great defenses.

So Brady's had the great defense and he won and he's had the great coaching and he won. And he had great weapons in Tampa in a very loose culture and he won. But now he doesn't have the culture. He didn't have the coaching with Bruce Ariens going upstairs. The defense is kind of hit and miss. And so I don't think Brady wants to do the. meetings. He's not a control freak. He likes being hard-coached. He liked McDaniels. Now, it wore him out after 20 years of Belichick. He's not a control freak. We've never seen Tom as a control freak.

He's doing this because he's telling you, I'm not getting it upstairs. I'm having to do this. So, you know, I always said this about the late Kobe Bryant. Kobe Bryant wanted to be the man. He didn't want to be the only man. He wanted to leave the Lakers and go to Chicago because they wouldn't get him a second star, then they made the deal for Powell Gasol. Tom wants to have a say. He doesn't want to have to have the say in coaching. He wants somebody else to come in here and get it done. And I said this, when this thing first happened, we were lucky enough, Joey and I, we broke this on the air. And I said, my only concern, because I worked in Tampa for two years, Boston's a very academic city. There's 51 universities within the Boston metro area. And the teams are early on

analytics. The Patriots were very academic and very culture driven and very disciplined. And it's a northern city. It gets dark early. We're going to film room. You lived in the office. Tampa, it's a port city. It's fun. It's loose. It's squirly. It's always had big personalities. It's always sort of underachieved. They've occasionally been great, but then they're awful four years later. I always thought it was going to be, it's one of those things where what you're attracted to is not what you should marry. You can date it, shouldn't marry. It's. there's a part of Brady that really misses elite coaching, elite culture, discipline, working around the clock.

But he knows that New England doesn't have the weapons. And they've got their quarterback. He wants to go to San Francisco and get that. I think Belichick and Kyle are intellectuals. And that's nothing against the coaches he has now. But those guys are like top of the food chain. I mean, there's Lincoln Riley's like a different level and Shanahan. And, you know, there's just a handful of coaches that are, that are,

I think push Tom and are hard on Tom. And though it wore him out, he misses that. It's really hard. It's like they always say about parent. You can be tough on your kids and become a softer parent. It's hard to be a soft parent and then be tough and don't do this. You've developed a culture. Right.

And so Tom goes from being coached hard to a very loose culture. You can do that. Right? But very quickly, right? Like very quickly, I think Tom's, getting frustrated with, you know, left foot's never been a head coach. And then even though Josh McDaniel failed as a head coach, he experienced it. Then he came back and he was tough on Tom. They barked on the sideline. And Todd Bowles, as this league is pivoted, it just doesn't feel like

he's creative. It's, again, it's hard to be a successful head coach. There's like seven great ones in the world, right? Like seven, it's hard. And I just feel like it's too loose. It's too squirley for him. So, Colin, I'm curious, why would this story get out? Is this Tom Brady signaling to Lefich and Bulls? Hey, guys, step it up. Is this Brady signaling to other coaches around the league? Guys, I'm not watched. Look, this is what I've got to do to try to fix this mess of an offense. Because there's a reason the story got out. No, I read a lot of people who cover Tampa Bay. This right now is not a well-coached team. For this to get out is telling you, like Tom is, is frustrated. He's at Wits' end.

Massive indictment of Bowls and Lefwich who look in over their head. It's a bad look. And I like Bowls because he was with the Jets. Yeah. It didn't work out for him. Well, also, when he was with the Jets, the league felt different than it does today. Yeah. I mean, it's made like an exit stage right to offense in the last five or six years. For as much as he and Ariens butted heads, remember famously they were going at it,

he needs that. You need that tough coaching. Yeah, I mean, and Belichick is just dead. different. You know, he's just, I hear these reports that Tom would go to New England. I don't. No. I don't. They don't have any skill players. You know where he's going to end. I have a good take. I was going to save it for later. Well, San Francisco feels obvious. You don't think. If it's ever too obvious. Let me, let me hear who. What? Las Vegas Raiders. Josh McDaniels. Vegas needs a guy. Remember, they went there, put Gruden as head coach to be new franchise in Vegas. Brady and Vegas. Hey, who are all these acts

that go to Vegas and do these showcases where they're there for months and they make a lot of money. This is a perfect showcase spot for a 46-year-old quarterback next year. I mean, I find this Brady story crazy that it got out. He doesn't want to retire, obviously. And Vegas is a good spot for a single 45. Can you imagine? Well, no, no, it's not crazy. He wants it out for a reason.

No, but I mean, can you imagine? Left Witch reading that? Well, it's just, I don't, I'm trying to say, because Leftwich is considered like a sharp coordinator. But I'm reading this and it's like, you wouldn't do that to... You could be pretty sharp with Bruce Ariens as the head coach, right? It's like Eric B. Enemy, is he a good offensive coordinator? I don't know. Andy reads the head coach. Offense looks great to me. Yeah, it's just... By the way, Vegas with Brady.

Devante Adams would be the best receiver Brady has had since Randy Moss. Right? Oh, Devante is amazing. It's a great fit. Getting the left tackle. Plus, Devonte is very much like Brady. lives the game, totally disciplined, doesn't play the game, he thinks it, he plays it, he works on it. Like, Devante Adams is Brady. Like, he is a grinder, constantly elevating, constantly putting the work in, thinks the game. You know who's not blowing four double-digit halftime leads next year in Vegas?

Tom Brady. He doesn't lose all those games. Cars losing all of them. By the way, someone just texted me, you forgot an important stat about Tampa Bay, Strip Club Capital of the East Coast. Or so I'm told. What does that mean? It's a relevant fact about Tampa.

You said Boston parochial. No, no, no. It's, it's... Tampa, very loose. It's a very loose. I lived there for two years. It's an incredibly loose town. A very Ebor City, cocktails early.

Here's the thing, though, that's tough for Bolt. Let me defend Bowles and Leftwich for a second. So Ariens is the coach. He gets run out. So that signals to the room. Tom wants control. So what is Leftwood supposed to do? Like, Tom got frustrated with Ariens because he was meddling.

Well, Byron. and Leftwich is like, it's Tom Brady. He got the other coach sent upstairs for meddling. So I think leftwich is in a weird spot. Like Tom likes him, but the previous star coach for the Super Bowl got sent upstairs to his room because Tom is like, I'm going to run this pirate ship. So Leftrich comes in and he's like, well. And Bowles is like, I'm a defensive guy.

So I'm going to run the defense. So I do think in fairness to Bowls and Leftwich, in fairness. When a Super Bowl winning coach gets sent upstairs and the messaging is clear, Tom wants more control, what is left foot supposed to do? That's a brutal position to be in. How about this? Figure it out. I mean, you're a great offensive coordinator making a lot of money.

You work with James Winston. They're working with Tom Brady. By the way, the updated AFC playoff picture, New England's in. I mean, they're in right now. Yeah. I mean, they're not. Not for long. They're not.

NFL, not for long. I would rather the chargers get in because they're more fun to watch. Oh, yeah. I mean, half the, New England's a rough watch. They are a rough watch. Okay, hour three coming up. 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 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 Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it.

With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year. for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your

podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.