The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 2 - Where Colin was right and wrong, Jaxon Smith-Njigba's record deal

Episode Date: March 23, 2026

Where Colin was right and where he was wrong Thoughts on the Seahawks signing Jaxon Smith-Njigba to a record deal and how it affects the entire NFL Did the Broncos give up too much for Jaylen Waddle?   Guest: Matt HasselbeckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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It's Monday. It's our number two. I guess I shouldn't be shocked. Eight of the last nine NCAA basketball champs have lost in the round of 32 or earlier in the following tournament. The exception is that the Yukon team, that great Yukon team several years ago. But it caught me off guard. I filled out my bracket.

I had a couple of red stripes before I filled it out, so it was a little choppy. You know, you go to the Caribbean. You got those little crudo, a few red stripes, you know, a lot of vitamin D. I told J. Mack, I overdosed on vacation. The good news, it was vitamin D. But, you know, J. Mack, I will tell you, when you go on vacation, it puts things in perspective. How's that? And I've come to the conclusion that I like sports.

Because I'm sitting there and it's 83 degrees and I'm like, give me a red stripe. I've got to turn the tournament on Friday. And it's great. I just, it is a lot of fun. All right. We call it Colin right. We do it every Monday and here we go. Where Colin was right?

Well, I said the NIL is going to favor the Big Ten. Major universities, rich alumni, massive endowments. Six of the 16 teams left in this tournament are big teams. 10. They have been 13 and 3 in the tournament. Iowa, a middle of the pack team, knocked off heavyweight SEC heavyweight Florida. So the NIL is kind of what we thought it would do to the Big 10, which has the wealthiest, well-heeled boosters out there, and they're spending money on their sports teams. Where Colin was wrong. Well, the Lakers are on a nine-game winning streak. LeBron's completely energized on the defensive end.

I never thought this team could even be remotely elite defensively, and at least during this winning streak, their top five, top six. So it's hard to get stars, older stars, to play great defense on a nightly basis. But LeBron is going above and beyond what is necessary. Luke is playing like an MVP, and I'll take an L on this one. Where Colin was right? I said the NIL would be great for older coaches. Rick Bettino's still alive. Tom Izzo, Rick Barnes, Kelvin Sampson.

Why? John Callaparte, why? Because college sports recruiting now is much more administrative and less hustle. Rick Patino acknowledges he no longer recruits high school kids. He's not going to AAU tournament. He's got no interest. He'll buy the best players. And I think that's great for the players because now you get all the wisdom from the Izo's.

the Kelvin Sampson's and the Caliparries. I mean, it's always been a better coached sport than the G League, but now more so than ever. Where Colin was wrong. Okay, in my blotchy bracket, I had Florida playing Michigan for the national title, and this to me was the biggest upset in the tournament. You know, Iowa at one point led early, and I'm like, yeah, this ain't going to last. And Iowa was kind of a middling Big Ten team, but they had just enough size. to match up. They got themselves a fiery coach. And my finals, Gators, finals team, out.

Where Colin was right? I said about the World Baseball Classic. I said, I know I kissed up to my bosses. I said, I think it's the smartest thing we have bought at Fox Sports. And I said this when I worked at the other place, World Baseball Classic is massively undervalued as a property. I get patriotism, I get passionate. I get big stars. Listen, Venezuela winning is awesome. I mean, they just came through the screen how much they cared. You got total buy-in from Aaron Judge and O. Tani and Bryce Harper.

This is one of those properties in sports. Maybe it's a little bit like, I don't know, the Little League World Series or something that we, you know, you don't talk about it a lot as a property. I thought this was absolutely fantastic. You could just see the passion and the intensity coming through the television set. Where Colin was wrong. I don't get the Ravens having an 11 and a half over-under wind total. That's best in the league.

They got a new unproven coach. I think he's good. A new OC. They lost the best center in football maybe. Tyler Linderbaum. You got the Max Crosby mess. You got the Lamar Jackson, a converse. track. I mean, you know, if Aaron Rogers sticks around, Pittsburgh's pretty good. Joe Burroughs off in the

best quarterback Sunday in the league. I mean, you're going to beat the Browns probably twice, but I don't, I think Baltimore, to me, is an underback. And that's nothing against Jesse Minter, but I don't know. Half these coordinators don't work as head coaches. I'll take an L on that one. Where Colin was right. Minnesota has not only signed Carson. and wince, but Kyler Murray, Chase Daniel, quarterback turn analyst said the second Kyler signed with Kevin O'Connell, J.J. McCarthy's done. I always said about J.J. McCarthy, he's got talent. Seems like a good kid. He doesn't have a wow trait. And as much as I love Jim Harbaugh, when I asked him about him, he said, well, he's a winner. Winner's not a trait. Winners what happens

when you play at Ohio State in Alabama and a Jim Harbaugh college team. Winning's not a trait. personality, arm, mobility, toughness. Those are traits. So I'll take an R on that one. Colin Wright, Colin wrong, and a Monday. And with that, Matt Hasselbeck, 18 years in the NFL, joins us, the former Seahawk. Great.

I'll get to J-Chain in a second. I want to start with J-S.N. And I said, so Seattle had a lot of tough choices. They had to let go with some really good players. And simultaneously, they signed JSN to a huge. huge contract and they do it a year before they had to. And I said an hour ago, I said, a lot of young athletes get bad advice. If I'm a general manager and I'm going to set a record for a position, it's not just talent. Do I know that I don't get phone calls at three in the

morning or that he's good with coaches? He's good with teammates. There is something to me, Matt, about JSN's demeanor and maturity beyond his route tree. That, that, that, I'm not. You know, would make me comfortable just saying, I'm going to pay him a year, you're an half early. I don't know if you noticed that when you were in the league, but I'm not shocked by this deal. I think he's one of the safest early signies in the league to me. Now, I would take it one step further. I think they knew a year ago that they were going to do this deal. I think him and Devin Witherspoon, I expect Devin Witherspoon to be the next guy. And you talk about, you know, if you're going to pay a guy, if you're going to pay him,

you know, make him the highest paid player at his position, a hundred, You're talking about the elite talent on the field, but 100%, you're also talking about, is this guy going to change? What's he going to be like once he gets paid? Is he still going to be the leader that we've seen him to be the last three years? And I think the answer is absolutely yes with JSN. I mean, to me, he's top five ever in terms of what he's done at his age in the first three years of his career and I think they're going to get him for the prime of his career which is wild

to say considering how productive he's been so far already so another receiver that I think's a huge talent's Puka Nakua but he stepped in it a few times. McVeigh is a culture guy that stuff drives him nuts like he is not in I mean he is guys we just we don't step in it and Pook has been dinged up But now I think it puts a little heat from Pooka's agent to the Rams is, well, look at Pookas numbers. I mean, Pooka's getting to Super Bowls. Do you think it puts the Rams in a little bit of a weird spot? Because unlike Stafford or unlike Darnold, you know, they're paying their quarterback more. What do you think the Rams are feeling this morning with Puka?

Yeah, when you do these contracts, it's all about comparables. It's very similar to selling a house. You know, this house on the market sells for this. this is the square footage. This is the price per square foot. And then you start talking about, well, you know, what do you like about this house versus that house? You know, this one's on a hill.

This one's in the valley. Like whatever the stuff is. And so, yeah, those little, I don't know, blemishes on your resume, so to speak, things that you've had to deal with. You're mentioning he stepped in it a couple of times. These are headaches. And I just think that, you know,

the patience that you have for those headaches, it's different for every player. If you're a really, really strong player, you got a lot of patience and they're not a big deal to you at all. But then again, I think when you get someone as great as JSN on and off the field with no issues whatsoever, no maturity issues that, you know, even when he's a young player, I think maybe the value goes up. So there was a trade, and I think I was still here, maybe I wasn't. I like Jalen Waddle, good player. But the Broncos gave up like a first, a third. And I'm like, I mean, a first and a third.

I'm like that. And I think there was another fifth maybe. And I'm like, and it feels like it's a Sean Payton move. It's like, Sean's like, we're getting him. I've got the juice in the building. Are you worried that Peyton maybe has too much influence over personnel and coaching? Did you like the move? No, because I trust Sean.

Peyton, you know, and I think it's more of an indictment on what the Broncos probably feel about this year's draft class. And you got to remember, too, like, when you have a young quarterback, you don't always want to pair him up with a young receiver. It's kind of nice to pair a young quarterback up with a guy that's a proven thing in the NFL. So I actually think this is a good move. And I think I'm probably biased because when I think of Sean Peyton, I think of who he, who he and his offense has been when they have that number one receiver where, hey, if you're ever one-on-one with that guy, Greenlight. You know, I'm thinking like Michael Thomas.

Like, if you're ever by yourself, take it. If not, I got a concept over here where we can play the, you know, our guys against your guys. Right. But if it's ever one-on-one, that really, you know, that's passing game 101. If you can get that with a quarterback that can deliver the ball, you're good. And that's what Sean Payton's done for a long time. So what I worry about what J.J. McCarthy is, because I do think he has

talent. I think he can spin it. I think he moves pretty well. When I watch him play, his confidence can ebb and flow drive to drive. Well, now you bring Kyler in the building and Carson Wentz in the building. I'm like, okay, that's not, that's not a, that's not great for a young man's confidence. It does feel like he would be a little affected by that. Now, now, now, now, now, Brough Purdy plays like he's Dan Marino. They bring Donald in the building and and Brock Purdy played better. Some guys are just like, hey, like Brock Purdy's one of those guys. He thinks he's the best quarterback in the league.

God love him. I think when you bring Kyler in, I think it ends the JJ McCarthy thing, or at least punctures his confidence some. Do you like it? I mean, this is a sink or swim for him. He's almost out the door, almost. And I've heard a lot of people say, oh, he's done in Minnesota. I disagree.

He could be. but this reminds me a lot when I was in Seattle. Like they traded for me. It was a big deal. I'm the guy and I kind of fell on my face that first year. And they brought in Trent Dilfrew. It just won the Super Bowl. He was a veteran guy.

They brought in other veteran guys that was teammates with kind of like proven guys that weren't the long-term answer either, probably. And that's kind of what you got here. You got Kyler Murray on a one-year deal. Carson Wentz is back. He's a pro. I think this is an investment in a chance for J.J. McCarthy. Hey, listen, man, you were not ready the first time around.

you're probably not going to be our starter to start this season. It's probably going to be Kyler Murray. But you better be ready because this is the NFL and you probably will get another shot and you better be ready. You know, fortunately for me, Trent Dilfer, unfortunately for him, he tore his Achilles in the game against Dallas when Emmett Smith broke the rushing record and I'm standing there on the sidelines wondering if I'm ever going to get a chance. I go back in that game.

We win the game. I never look back. I'm the start of the rest of my career in Seattle. And, you know, 10 years in Seattle, Ring of Honor, all the stuff. but it almost never happened. I mean, I was one foot out the door as well. So I think J.J. McCarthy in a similar way, he essentially is one foot out the door,

but I'm not giving up on it yet. Now, if there's a team that wants him, the Vikings might say, hey, okay, fine, you can have him. But I do believe the Vikings would love for him to be the quarterback of the future. I just don't think it'll be week one. So about 33%, statistically, that used to be the number of free agents hit. and a lot of them don't.

Well, it's not because they're not productive or talented guys. It's because they don't fit into the culture. The GM love the talent. The coach doesn't love the fit. And so we've got, this was a, it seems like the general managers in the league, Matt, over the last four or five years are way more aggressive. I mean, there's just more deals done now. And most of the GMs that I have on my phone or a source, they're just go for it guys.

I mean, two first for sauce gardener. You know, it's like, we're going for it. That's a big swing. In terms of free agency, when you were in the NFL and a new guy comes in, and he's often paid more than somebody in his group, you know, he comes in, everybody loves him, the media, he's a star. Is a lot of the free agency stuff culture fit more than talent fit? Like, how does it play when a guy gets paid? And a lot of times you let guys in the building go. What's the messaging like and the fit like for players?

I agree. I think it's actually a really big deal. I mean, I remember saying goodbye to one of my favorite teammates ever, a wide receiver at a Penn State, Bobby Ingram. That was my guy. It was like third in Bobby Ingram to go. It was like, that was my guy. And the GM and the scouts decided to kind of, quote, unquote, upgrade the position

with the top free agent on the market that year, the wide receiver at a Cincinnati, T.J. Housman Zata. and TJ is brash. I mean, he is brash and he is full tilt. He's full tilt in practice, whether it's offense or scout team. He's stealing reps from the guys on scout team so he can go against the starting defense. He's spiking the ball in the end zone. It just was different.

Like, I don't know how they did in Cincinnati. That's not really how we did in Seattle. And so it took a little bit. It definitely took a little bit not only for to like to get to know T.J. Just how competitive he was, but also like to say goodbye to the Bobby. Ingram, who was just, you know, he's an amazing, he's coaching for the commanders now. He's an amazing guy. So it's not only talent. It is culture fit. And it also does that contract change you. Some guys, when it's a free agent year, they ball out. It's like the best, the hardest they've

ever worked. Then all of a sudden they get paid and they relax a little bit. And so it's all of it. I think all of it matters. And then obviously chemistry with the guys you're playing with is important as well. Now, can you see this screen? Can you see this screen? Okay. get it. Give me one guy on that list. If I said, absolutely going to work, absolutely going to fit. It's just culture, talent, need. Give me a guy that you love. I know I got my guy. You give me the guy. I like a lot of these and your guys probably Tyler Lindembaum. Yes. Yes. And he's great. And that's a long term one though. That's one of those ones that five, six years from now, you're going to talk to Fernando Mendoza and he's going to say, you know what? yeah, yes to everything you're saying,

but one thing that no one ever talks about is my relationship with my center and what a big deal that was for me in my first year or two in the NFL. Like that's one of those for me. I think also I think Mike Evans, you know, I think there's been a little bit of shade thrown on that move a little bit.

And I think Mike Evans is one of the most underrated wide receivers to ever play the game. I just, you know, I know it's down there in Tampa. They don't get the same amount of attention. He got a lot of attention when Brady was down there. But besides that, I just don't think that he's gotten the attention. And similarly, so we talked about Sean Payton having that backside guy, that one-on-one take it anytime you want it, that's what Kyle Shanahan had in Julio Jones, when Matt Ryan won the NFL MVP and really should have hoisted a Lombardi except for it was the 28 to

three game. So to me, I think Mike Evans might be one. If it clicks, with all those reasons that I was saying earlier about, you know, the T.J. Hussmanzada. I think that that could be really special. And I think like TJ in the sense, I think that would have clicked. We just had a head coaching change and stuff like that. So there's some things that are outside control. But, you know, this is the guess, right? Every year is a different year.

And this is what you're wondering, how these things, how these pieces are going to fit. I know why you like Mike Evans, because if you sailed one, he's got a huge catching radius. Colin, I got to tell you, my first pass at an OTA, with the Green Bay Packers. I'm all excited.

I throw this dagger route. It's an 18-yard in-rout. And I just, I sail it. I throw it way too high. I'm way too excited. The receiver came across the middle. He just caught it like without even flinching. It just made it look like it was a catch.

It was like a catcher, you know, framing a fastball that's a little too high. And it was just, I was like, wow, it's kind of nice to play with guys this talented. And that's what it's like playing with a great player. Matt Hasselbeck is always on a Monday. Good to see anybody. Great to see you, too.

All right. Yeah. So are you, how is your, J-Mack, how is your bracket? Are you still crushing in this thing? Are you doing okay? You like Arizona to win. Well, listen, I do kind of like Arizona, yes,

but I will be honest with you, I am now a huge Duke and Michigan fan because we bid on them in a Calcutta. Those are the teams we're backing. So I need Michigan a lot. And you know what? You mentioned Alabama? So Michigan's only lost two,

two games in the regular season. One of them, Wisconsin just kept making threes. All Alabama does is shoot threes. So I have some concern. As for Duke, I'm terrified of St. John's Colin. I'm absolutely terrified. Rick Bettino, here's how good a coach Patino is. And it's not like Kansas is a great shooting team. No. So Kansas shot a better three-point field goal, free throw percentage. I mean, St. John's couldn't even hit their free throws. Kansas dominated more points in the paint, more rebounds had nine blocks. St. Johns couldn't shoot, and St. John's won. Kansas couldn't inbound the basketball college.

You can't throw the ball in bounds. That was a crazy game. And Duke has a freshman point guard now going against that pressure. Boozer's brother. And I'm like, I don't know, man. I'm worried about Duke. The line, by the way, is dropping in that game. Seven and a half, now six and a half.

All right. One more herd. The herd streams 24 hours. Today, seven days a week within the IHard Radio app, search her to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Hi, this is Jay. I'm the producer of the Pauli and Tony Fusco show. Usually in these promos, they ask you to listen to the show. I'm here to ask you, please don't listen to this show.

The host are two absolute morons who have the dumbest takes on sports imaginable. Don't listen to this show so it can get canceled. Whoa, whoa, what the hell are you doing in our studio? Get him, Paulie! Ignore that fool. Listen to the Pauline Tony Fuscoe show on the IHart Radio app. wherever you get your podcast. He's still moving. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news?

Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to a podcast. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it and well we were thinking i'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before jonas brothers was this is how you guys remember it going down yes i have a very different memory of this we were talking about a thing a bit for the podcast for people could call in and say hey jonas and then i wrote down on my little note pad hey jonas and offered it up as a potential

title oh but thanks for remembering that guys listen to hey jonas on the iHeart radio app apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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

Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slic Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in 10. and I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs, and on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris. Every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on Clay.

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

Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented.

it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Chris Broussard next hour, Matt Hasselbeck joining in, some NFL news trickling in. Lakers on an absolute heater. I do think it's interesting with LeBron, and this is not a criticism, but LeBron spends plenty of time on the phone. And, you know, he is fully aware. You know, Michael Jordan

later in his career needed, you know, he used to cut out articles and make sure, you know, you kind of create villains and create critics because it motivates you. I think sometimes you forget, you know, it's one thing if you're a pitcher in baseball and you're an older veteran pitcher, Adam Wainwright, Justin Verlander, you know, you're starting once a week. You got, you know, you got seven innings, you know, that's easy to stay focused. But you're, you know, you go in a six-game road trip. You're LeBron James. You're playing a bad team. What gets you up? You know, you can't go out in public if you're LeBron. I mean, you know, dark shades and go into movies with Luca Dantage, good luck hiding from the public. So you sit around, wait for

the game, and what gets you motivated playing in a city you don't want to be in? You miss your family. You miss your kids. So for LeBron James, I mean, his to be. To be. this into it. I mean, it's almost like an obsessiveness. Brady had it that it's just hard to quantify. Like some people just care so much, but it's really impressive. LeBron at this age is really, I mean, it's very much being like, what does the team need from me, guy? You just don't get that from superstars in the NBA. You know, they'll take their shots, but, you know, he has committed both ends of the floor right now, and he deserves praise for it. J-Mack with the news.

No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right, Colin, let's go back to the tournament real quick. Saturday night while you were boozing it up on Island time. There was a hell of a game between Vanderbilt and Nebraska. Game of the tournament for sure. Colin, this half-court shot went halfway down and out.

Tyler Tanner, who is an unbelievable young kid at Vanderbilt. That kid has star written all over him. I've never seen a shot go halfway down from that distance and out. I mean, they win the game if that goes in, and that's got to be an all-time top five March Madness Miss. Think about this. Nebraska, a football school is suddenly really good in basketball. Indiana, a basketball school is now great in football.

A, NIL changes all. sorts of realities. And the second thing is it shows how valuable coaching is at the college level. Like in the NBA, how much does coaching matter? Well, it matters, but there's limitations. It's a star-driven league. In college basketball and college football, the coach is your star. He's your quarterback. And, you know, look at Indiana football and Nebraska basketball. I love the new landscape. You just have no idea who's going to get good. What booster steps up? Well, yeah, just pick a Big Ten team, right? Big Ten, Nebraska comes out of nowhere in hoops.

By the way, the Nebraska women's volleyball team was incredible, drawing hundreds of thousands of fans, undefeated for much of the season. And then Vanderbilt. Remember the football? The quarterback Pavia goes to the Heisman ceremony. And now Vanderbilt basketball is making runs in the NCAA tournament. Well, Vanderbilt's a very wealthy private school whose graduates on average, I think the median incomes like 200 grand, which is the highest easily in the SEC.

so it's not a shock in the NIL era that Vanderbilt is going to be going forward. I mean, all you Vanderbilt, Commodore grads, this is your moment. Yeah. Some of this NIL stuff may not last forever. So this is your moment to commit and, you know, be good alumni. A bunch of CEOs, right? And I mean, I don't want to knock the SEC, but you always talk about the guys who have a couple car dealerships, you know, and they're the big donors.

And Big Ten Country is just they're built different. Larry, it's Larry Ellison, you know, who now, I mean, literally owns like paramount. Like that, that's honestly what's happening here. You got billionaires in the big 10. You know, Mark Cuban can write a $15 million check, and it's not, he made more on dividends last month than that. So I just think it's a different reality. And I like the idea that the schools with, you know, great education, wealthy alumni, they have a chance against football factories now.

I mean, how many Alabama natties do I need to see? It's awesome to see Indiana win one. Sure. All right. Let's move on to the NBA, Colin, bizarre result this weekend. The Boston Celtics lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves. And by the way, no Anthony Edwards. Bones Highland.

They dusted him off. He had 23 points. And Jalen Brown, not thrilled with the loss here. I'll tell you why this is a big, big deal right after the Jalen Brown quotes. Here we go. They're physical. They're quite shy. They're definitely.

up the level of intensity, and we didn't necessarily meet the challenge. So that's what the story of the game rolls out. We got to be better. We got to be great for that. And that's uncharacteristic of luxury, you know, usually our hard playing team and tonight, it's what. It's a long season. I can remember Michael Jordan.

I could be wrong on this, but the Jordan Bulls, go look this up. I remember them losing, I believe I'm right, to the expansion Toronto Raptors. I mean, I'm sorry, but it happens where the, you know, we've always seen these teams. You go down to Miami, you know, in the winter and the NBA, and all of a sudden it's like, well, what happened? The guys didn't quite show up. That's because the guys were having a good time last night in South Beach.

It happens. So this is why it's a big one. Minnesota's jockeying to stay out of the play in without Anthony Edwards. That's tough. But it's bigger in the east, Colin. The Celtics are only a half game up on the Knicks for the two seed. The two seed would play the three in the second round and get home court advantage. So that's a huge loss for my Knicks, who have peeled off six in a row, and they're breathing down Boston's neck.

So Boston had home court last year. It didn't matter. The Knicks beat them. Remember those shockers in the first two games. I do believe that the way these teams end the season is huge. Remember, last year the Timberwolves column went 17 and four ahead of the playoffs. Steam roll the Lakers in the first round. So getting hot at the right time, remember the New York Giants in the NFL?

Come in as a wildcard team, but they're hot. And then they go and win the Super Bowl. I think there's something to that, like late season hotness. Are you buying that? No. I'll tell you what I'm buying. The staff are amazing staff. The Raptors went 21 and 61 in their first season, 1996.

It's fancy. Including a one-point win over the Bulls in late March. What is it today? Late March. welcome to the NBA where teams that already kind of feel like they've got their seating close you're not getting the greatest effort

you're basically the bronzed version of Rain Man when it comes to 1990s MJ scored 36 points and they couldn't be the 21 and 61 Toronto Raptors yeah Jordan beating up on a bunch of plumbers north of the border well done Michael

alright let's move on final story let's go to the NFL draft very interesting stuff so I You know, you put your stake in who you believe. I've been a long-term guy on Daniel Jeremiah. He's often right. He's plugged in. Colin, keep an eye on this.

He is speculating on the Rich Eisen Show that keep an eye on the L.A. Rams, potentially, making a move on grabbing Jeremiah Love, the Notre Dame running back. Here we go. The most fun example is if we are the... Let me just run to this little scenario I was looking at the other day. I love it.

So, if you... are, if you are the Rams, I mean, everything screams all in, right? I mean, what they're doing, screams, they're going for this thing right now. You're this close. You're a drop pun away. You've already gone out and you've got McDuffie. What if there's a world in which you can move up in this draft to go take Jeremiah Love to put in your backfield as your finishing piece to give you somebody that's as talented as Todd Gurley, what they had early on in the McVeigh years? Now, I don't get that. They've got Kyron Williams had a great year. They just signed him.

Blake Corum is a smaller, but a nice off-speed pitch. I don't really get that. So let me stitch a couple things together. And following the breadcrumbs in draft season, super fun. So Jeremiah previously speculated Mackay Lemon. Remember USC? Oh, Rams and Mackay Lemon. We just heard that the Rams were trying to maybe trade for A.J. Brown.

Remember that? The rumor. Hey, we move off Devante. We get A.J. Brown. And now we're hearing Jeremiah Love. These are three high-price. profile offensive guys. I believe the Rams clearly feel like the offense could use one last kick in the butt.

And it would be some sort of jet fuel in the form of Jeremiah Love, AJ Brown, something. So my mock draft coming out Wednesday, I'm going to have an offensive skill player to the Rams. Half of this battle for picking the mock drafts, Colin, is following breadcrumbs. And when you hear stuff like this, it's like to me and you, oh, Rams, go get a swing tackle, get some insurance for Stafford. doesn't sound like it sounds like skill position to me. Yeah, I, I don't know. I think when you have a 38-year-old quarterback,

getting the tackle position, remember, not only is Havenstein done, but the left tackle had blood clot issues. Dude, I'm taking, I'm moving up for a tackle. Well, I remember that Bears game. Remember that Bears playoff game? They couldn't, they struggled to move the football. Did they not?

I mean, they needed overtime. They needed a Caleb Williams interception when DJ Moore cuts off that route. But Kyron Williams, I think, has had three straight years over a thousand yards. I don't think tight end running back receipt. Now, they need another receiver. Tutu Atwell's gone. Puka gets banged up. Devonte is like 33.

I think they need a receiver. It's not a great, it's a good receiver draft, but it's a very good early offensive tackle draft. I don't know. You know, again, I'm getting a good. all these rumors, there's probably where there's smoke, there's fire. Daniel Jeremiah is very tied in. Let's be honest.

There aren't a lot of, like, Carnell Tate's really good. I don't think he's in the I do too, but he's not just a Jefferson Jamar Chase. I don't, I think physically Carnell Tate is duty is one of those rare guys that is a sophomore in college

look like a pro athlete. I think Carnell Tate's great. I don't, I mean, now, now, again, Mackay Lemon's very good, but he is not the game breaker, Carnell Tate, he's not physically Carnell Tate

who can beat man-and-man coverage, whereas a Mackay Lemon is more like deceptive, yards after catch, strong hands, good return guy. Cornell Tate I'd move up for. Do you think that... McCoy Lemon I would not move up for.

I just think he's terrific. So remember, Broncos looked at the draft landscape, talk to guys at the combine, came back and said, let's go get Jalen Waddle. Patriots, similar situation. Let's go spend money and bring in Romeo Dodds. I just wonder if this receiver class is not as superstar laden. Well, it's not great.

There's one guy that is a wow trait guy. It's Carnell Tech. Is he going to put up Malik Neighbors-type numbers? Remember neighbors is a rookie? I don't know, but I think he's much more durable. He's a much stronger athlete than neighbors. I mean, I think Tate's like, you know, he's like Armour on St. Brown. Like, it's just like not much body fat.

Like, like a guy that's going to be in a tremendous shape, long, durable career. That's my take on. All right. J. Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The herd line news. And the other thing with the Rams, it's not a good tight end draft at all.

There's one at Vanderbilt. everybody likes. But the Rams played all that 13 personnel, which is one back and three tight ends. So there's not a tight end to move. Last year was a great tight end draft. Colston Loveland, Warren with the Colts, the kid that went to Cleveland's, a stud. I think from, is that the kid from Bowling Green? That was a good tight end draft last year. There's that Kenyon Sadiq from Oregon, who is a, you know, most tight ends are six five and up. He's like six three. He's the kind of guy that would work in like Baltimore. He's kind of a different player. I don't know if I'd move up for him, but he is a,

you can move him all over the field. He's a really interesting player. In Chicago, it's the Hoot. 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, it's us, the Jonas Brothers. And guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts.

Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. And we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this.

We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, for people could call in and say, hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an

a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's

telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise. Breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody

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Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slicalife-12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis. And I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs, and on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening at Roland Garris.

Every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on Clay. Jenchian went. I mean, she went down in three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lena Rabakina is arguably the best player in the world right now. And I actually can win on any surface. Because if she's serving, well,

Good luck. Consider this your court-side seat to the French Open. Listen to the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Sunday, the NASCAR Cup series is on FS1.

Catch the best of the best as they go full throttle at Martinsville. The green flag at the paperclip flies Sunday at 3.30 Eastern with free race action beginning at two only on FS1. You know, one of the silliest things I saw this weekend is Gonzaga lost second round to Texas, a big brand, a lot of money. And it's like, I don't know, Mark Few. Okay, so I went to college right next to Gonzaga, Eastern Washington University. We played Gonzaga.

John Stockton, for the record, I was doing play-by-play on the college radio station, had 42 against us. Okay. And they didn't get to the tournament. And when they did, before Mark Few, Gonzaga had three tournament wins. They have 45 since he arrived. Also, they used to, they were a slightly better than a 500 team. They didn't have anybody, you know, outside of stocked and sniffing the NBA. Now it's an NBA factory and they win 87% of their gains. The truth is he had a great assistant coach who was his primary recruiter. And that guy left a couple years ago. He went to Arizona.

And now Arizona's stacked. Arizona's roster stacked. And Arizona's a great program. Probably the, you know, it's, it's what UCLA wants to be. I mean, the truth is, Arizona and to me, God and Zag are the two best West Coast programs. UCLA may have the biggest brand, but they don't have the money. But Mark Fuse made the tournament 27 straight years. Mark Few's fine.

But, and this is the same thing that happens to a lot of co. Pete Carroll lost his best assistance at USC. And he, you know, well, one question. Light is good at the very last year. And so, you know, don't make much of it. Here's the new coach of Arizona, Tommy Lloyd on the new NIL and how it's changed everything. Parity is great for the game, but things change. And, you know, I think once, you know, finances become part of it, you know, there's going to be a breaking point for some of the lesser programs.

This just don't have the finances. And I think that's just a obvious statement. Yeah, it really has it. I mean, Kentucky still has a lot of money, but that Mark Pope, who was good at BYU. He's a smart guy. And, you know, they didn't really have a point guard yesterday and they got taken to the woodshed by Iowa State and didn't play very good defensively. A lot of this, you know, this is why I say about Rick Patino. You're talking about an all-time guy in Rick Patino. His team can't shoot. And he gets the fourth team to the sweet 16. I mean, it's not like Canada. Kansas shoots great, but Kansas has the number one player in college basketball. Kansas shot a better three-point field goal, free throw, more rebounds, three times the blocks, more points in the paint, and Rick Patino won. Patino's as good as anybody that's ever coached.

So, you know, this stuff is, you know, that's why when Mick Cronin complains about NIL money, let's play the Mick Cronin bite. like UCLA fans are like, let's get rid of Mick Cronin. Mixed a really good coach, and he's not wrong here. But, you know, I don't think there's any coach in college basketball that squeezes more juice out of his roster than Rick Bett Cotino. But this, as people worked up about Mick Cronin at UCLA. Big picture-wise, third consecutive season, not getting to the second weekend of the tournament. I know different seasons, different reasons.

but do you feel like anything needs to change with the approach, or after construction, or the way you're... Yeah, I have no... Right now, I'm worried about tonight, consoling the guys. We'll stay here in the front row. I'd like about five more million. There's my answer. Jim Alexander from the Orange County Register.

Watching Tyler on the bench... Not for... Haven't... Yeah. You know, it's just not going to land at UCLA. He's already kind of been worn behind... the scenes. And, you know, the other thing about the NIL, college, you can't get too precious about this stuff, too touchy-feely.

You want to win? Open up the checkbook. I mean, it used to always be in college sports. People would be like, well, you know, it's about the education. Do you understand that High Point University won a game in the tournament? And they got 16,000. like applicants or 16,000 people interested in going to the university. This stuff works hand in hand. Alabama for years, their enrollments skyrocketed during the dynasty with Nick Sabin. So if UCLA is always kind of struggled with that, well, we are an academic powerhouse.

Open the checkbook. There is no advertising, which is you can equate to what UCLA gets being on television with 7 million views. You're playing Yukon, like the Duke of the Northeast. You know how many free UCLA, you know, mentions you're getting on the air? Open the checkbook. Plenty of money at UCLA. And what president at universities and admission directors have discovered, not only do you get all this free advertising and exposure, but you get not only more students, but more elite students. Because what a 17 and 8? 18 year old kids want to do. They want to have fun.

I mean, even the academic kids like JMAQ who were kind of nerds that got good grades. He was still wearing dual earrings. He was still, I mean, I wasn't an academic guy, but the bottom line is, what does 17 year old kids want to do? They want to go to places where there's, there's like a social life.

And so UCLA tends to get a little, like USC has no problem just saying, hey, football matters to us. Clemson. Yeah. And by the way, everybody goes, well, that's because UCLA is such a great school. Actually, USC is caught up to UCLA academically because of people have opened the checkbook.

So if you get to, and people, by the way, is Duke a great university? Yes. Yep, they're great in basketball. Is Virginia a great university? Yep, they're great in basketball. Is Michigan, Notre Dame are these great universities? Absolutely. Wisconsin's a great university.

Do you want to win? Do you want exposure? Open up the checkbook. And you can't get precious. uncomfortable because Mick Cronin's like, we need more money. They do. Yeah. Well, they were able to get dent in the portal. I'll tell you about off air, the story about Mara, who they lost. That was a tough one for Mick. He's not thrilled. But I think they're going to be fine. They showed well yesterday. But you're right. They got to spend the money.

Academics. We're a powerhouse. Show me the money. Hey, guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And Guess what? We created our own podcast called Hey Jonas. Nice. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it.

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

Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite, unhumored me with Robert Smygel and Friends, me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Tolodano. It's our favorite time of the year. on our podcast point game, the playoffs.

We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season. And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was finally. You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis come until he's like, you know I love you, dog. You know, it's all love.

This was just playoffs. This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Every family has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life? That is not the look of an innocent man. Is everyone lying to me about who they are? I felt such desperation.

I felt it was what I had to do. Listen to Deep Cover the Family Man on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Joey Dardano, and on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changed. in lives, helping people in need with thoughtful solutions. Syke, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant, recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to me.

This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from a Hypocrite Wednesdays on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Thank you.