The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 3 - Alex Rodriguez stops by The Herd

Episode Date: October 7, 2025

Alex Rodriguez joins The Herd to talk about the Aaron Judge and the Yankees, if the Mariners have a chance to win it all, the Dodgers game 2 win over the Phillies, and more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick.

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

Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Winning on Clay is an art. The rallies are relentless. And at the French Open, only the toughest survive. I'd know. I competed there for decades. Join me, Renee Stubbs, on the Renee Stubbs tennis podcast for no-nonsense breakdowns of the biggest matches, the toughest players, and the moments that define Roland Garris.

She can win. She's an outsider to win the French fame. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lina Rubakina is arguably the best player in the world right now. And I actually can win on any service. 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. I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on, a Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman.

Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to The Heard Podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to 3 Eastern, 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd at Fox SportsRedio.com or stream us live every day on the IHeart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.

You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. All right, welcome back. 22 years, 3MVP, is 14-time All-Star. And you're always been good to our show. Whenever you're around and you're probably doing some business, you told me 10 years ago you loved business and it's all worked out for you. So you've always been very sharp. You've got your own analytic mind and business.

And you and I are Aaron Boone apologists. So my take is, first of all, I do believe, because of the length of a season, you have to be a players manager. This is not football where you can be dogmatic and cut guys, and you got to get along with players. So Dave Roberts, Aaron Boone are players guys. But he doesn't set the lineup. He gets all the heat.

And the truth is in this series, they're just not getting out. I mean, your take on Aaron Boone and the relentless nonstop criticism he gets. Well, I mean, you know, you and I met years ago at the kingdom back in Seattle, and even a guy like Lou Panella, who's more cut out of, you know, Bill Belichick or Nick Sabin, you know, very hard. I love them like a dad, and he was a great teacher. I don't know if that works in today's game. The reason why I like Aaron Boone so much is it's a no-win situation for him. Upstairs, they make the lineup.

If it works, they get the credit. And if you lose, Boone's in the hot seat. So I rather see after the games, you know, Mike Fish, Cashman, the analytics, explaining why they're making the moves. why they have three left-handed catchers. So I think Boone is, you know, I mean, they got just destroyed up there in Toronto the first two games. And I don't think anyone could have won those games as a manager. Well, yeah, when you go to a deciding game in the playoffs, game one, you can't win.

I mean, the Cubs found this in Milwaukee. When you go to these deciding games and you, you know, sometimes you empty the bullpen. So Aaron Judge is in a world that you lived in. It's Aaron's hitting in the series. It's not about that in New York. He's got to have a three-run bomb in the eighth. and I do think it's different in New York. I said this last week,

even compared to Dodger Stadium, which is a jewel, the pressure in New York, the talk radio in New York, the intensity of New York, people are a little ruder, fans are a little more gruff and blunt. Do you feel he hasn't had the moment in the postseason?

You are there, you know the pressure. Do you think it weighs on him? Of course it weighs on him. I don't think Aaron's going to admit that. I didn't admit that when I struggled. but in New York it compounds at a much higher rate. If you struggle in Milwaukee or secondary market, it compounds, but it doesn't compound at the rate of the snowball of New York, which I felt.

Now, I think you said the perfect word. I think one of the most misleading stats in baseball is people look at stats as the end of all. It's really about moments. Look at the moments of Yankee history, whether it's 77 Reddy Jackson with the three homers, or Aaron Boone with the walkoff against the Burrette Sox. or Mr. November, do you remember what Reggie had in that series or Aaron Boone or Jeter? You don't, but you remember those moments. I think what Aaron Boone, what Judge needs is a couple big moments and forget about the stats.

Go one for 13. If that base is loaded when he struck out, if he gets a double or a home run, you're a hero. You're a hero, and you're one for 13. So enough with the stats, get big moments, help your team win. You know, I have credited the Yankees. I've said, listen, the Jets, the Giants, Oakland, Nets, now you're an NBA owner. They've all been chaotic. They're firing and hiring. The Yankees, Brian Cashman, 30 years, they've had three managers, 30 years.

They're almost patient to a fault. George Streinbender created almost like Bill Parcells. He created chaos because it created clarity. It's not Aaron's style. That was Parcell style. That was Billy Martin style with Reggie. Do you think they should be less patient? I mean, would you shape things up if they get beat in tonight or in a game four?

It's a really, and by the way, Billy Martin was Lupinella's teacher, right? So I felt in many ways that connect this tissue. But it's funny. What you see with the Yankees is you see no turnover with manager and cashman, but you see incredible turnover with that roster. Now, if you go back three years, the only two people standing are VOPI and Judge. And you have 24 new players. And what I found when you win and you have teams that have been ultimately very successful,

whether it's the Spursion basketball, Belichick and the Patriots and Brady in football, you look at the Dodgers core. It takes about four years to kind of come together and cement. And for me, there's just too many turnovers. If they lose now, they'll be a completely different turnover next year. And you'll have Boone coming back and you have Cashman coming back. So I just think you need to stick. Imagine if Soto was there for two or three years with Judge or four years.

They'll win a championship, almost guaranteed. but a one and out, tough to do. I want to talk about the Dodgers. I've said this about the Yankees the last two years. If you watched the Yankees last year in the World Series, when Garrett Cole didn't pitch, they looked overmatched athletically by the Dodgers. Now, the Yankees have always beaten up on the American League Central.

I feel this team is uneven. It's very home run dependent. They don't sacrifice. They don't play small ball. The bullpen's shaky. The Dodgers are different. They're not uneven. They just have a bad bullpen.

inning seven and eight are white knuckle. They have to go in with a four to five-nothing lead or a five-run lead. When you know the bullpen is your flaw as a player, are at-bats different. Do you think differently? Is there more intensity? Dodger players all know. This is star-studded.

But last night it took a four-nothing lead, and I'm like, I think that's enough. Did it change? Did the players know? Listen, we have a bad bully. You're at bats get more intense. Do you manage differently when you have that back end that struggles? By the way, I think, you know, Doc Roberts, it's the unsung hero. I mean, he's just done such a great job with that team.

And it's hard to do, by the way, because there's a lot of moving parts in LA, right? There's a lot of noise. There's a lot of media, big fan base. But I think the Dodgers are the complete package. It doesn't matter if they're going to beat you 1-0 or 10-to-1. It reminds me of the old 90s Yankees when they won four titles, where they're going to beat you any way you want to play. in the trenches pitching 1-0, 10-0.

They're going to win. The Dodgers are that way. They made three of the most unbelievable plays in the 19th and yesterday. Unbelievable. The months he play to Mookiee Betts, like right, it's like a quarterback hitting a wide receiver on the run with no force. He has a tag. And then you go to Freeman, goes to his right and throws a strike to Mookie for a force.

And then he picks it a very tough pick to end the game where the second basement throws like a little bit of a jellyfish. those are the hardest ones because if it's a bullet you can scoop it but when it's a little soft like a little dead fish it's like ugh they're unbelievable and i don't see anybody stopping the dodgers yeah judge i feel because it's an uneven roster has pressure i don't feel that with otani freddie freeman can carry this team i mean mucky beth struggled in september i think he had a stomach illness he got really hot in september i don't feel this team, even though Otani is Babe Ruth, he's R.A. Babe Ruth. I don't feel

there's pressure on him. Do you? Well, I mean, there's always some pressure, obviously, and he has tremendous pressure from his country because he's, like, the biggest thing in Japan, right, the greatest ambassador. But what I will say is, look at game one against the Phillies. O for four, four strikeouts, three looking, and they still win.

It's almost impossible for the Yankees to win if Judge comes up, 0 for 5 with four punchouts. It's not going to happen. So to your point, less pressure than Judge, but they do have an incredible complimenter set of, you know, in a great roster. Yeah, it's interesting. The forgotten man for the Dodgers is Teoska Hernandez.

They're so good. He was a Yankee killer last year. Remember when they went in the regular season in New York and he just ate him alive? If you ever wonder if the Dodgers are great, it's like when I was a kid growing up, the Reds were so loaded. Nobody talked about Tony Perez. Right, right, right. It was like, oh, Rose and Griffey and Bench and, like, Morgan, and you're like,

Tony Perez is an All-Star. That's what I feel to say Oscar Hernandez He turns into into Manor Ramirez in October It's incredible How great of a player he is Okay, so

I grew up a Mariners fan I go to eBay And look at the old stuff I've got a soft spot in my heart You do as well Yeah So what's great about baseball right now Milwaukee's a small market

Even though Seattle is very corporate-centric It's viewed as kind of a small market I think some of its geography It's a long road trip It's a long way it's rough on a team over the course of a season. I've argued that that's why the Vancouver Grizzlies didn't work in the NBA. It's a beautiful city.

You've been there. It's a long road trip for 82 games. Do the Mariners, Munoz in the back end, Raleigh, do the Mariners have enough? Can they be, can they get through the American League? Or is it just a great story with a handful of really special players? No, I think they can get through. And the fact they have home field advantage, to your point,

is very challenging for them, but it's even more challenging if a team's coming from New York or from Toronto or from Florida. And the Pacific Northwest, they own that quadrant part of the U.S. Incredible fan base, great TV numbers. The players are extremely popular. And by the way, while everyone's looking at the big dumper, right, in Rally, of Starsborn with Julio Rodriguez, who has the it factor to be one of maybe even the next. you know, Aaron Judge. How do you explain?

Milwaukee has the best, people say, best young GM, best manager, both leave, Cubs take one, Mets take the other. They replace them, and say, yeah, don't miss a beat. Is it, do you explain Milwaukee? I mean, last night, just power.

Do you explain it through great drafting and development? I mean, it's not like to just go outspend people. How do you explain in a sport with no salary cap? It's got a Packers field. They shouldn't be this good for 35. years. The Brewer shouldn't be this complete. How do we explain it? Well, you have, I'm a big believer in leadership. Pat Murphy's an incredible coach. He recruited me at Arizona State 100 years ago when he was there. Great communicator, no BS. And they play old school style baseball. They're not a home run team.

They don't give up home runs. They don't hit home runs. But they're hitting them now when it counts. And in that stadium, that's a great comp to the Packers, that fan base, I started my career in 1994 in Appleton, Wisconsin. incredible fans, very smart, rabid, loud. They love their team, and that's a team that's in a run. Look, they haven't been in this position as in 1982 when they lost to the Cardinals in the World Series. There's a magic about them that they play good, solid baseball. Yeah, you know, when I was a kid growing up,

you're a baseball savant, you have the great history of it, and I'm going to go old school. I mean, forget Molitor and Robin Yount. People forget how good the twins and the Brewers were in the 70s and early 80s. and it was like Rod Carew for the Twins, and the Brewers had all these people sometimes forget how great of a baseball market Milwaukee is. Indeed.

You just forget about it because, you know, the Cubs get all the glare down in Chicago. How is baseball, and this is a kind of a macro topic because you have such an instinct for the sport. So Rob Manfred, we're going to speed the game up. We're going to make the bases bigger. We're going to do universal DH. I think baseball had a really different.

Rob Manfred looked at baseball and said, we got a lot of traditionals, and they're wrong on a lot. I think this is as healthy as baseball has been since I was a kid. Now, am I wrong? Am I missing something? What are you hearing? What do you see? Well, I don't know if you were a kid.

I mean, you've got to remember this. And I think people forget this, Colin. In Bill Buckner, ball goes through the wickets, right? In 1986, game seven, you had 55 million people watch that game. When the Red Sox came back against us in 2004, we were up 3-0. You know, you had 30, 35 million people watching on Fox. So that was an extraordinary time and a different era. But the game has never been healthier.

And Rob Manfred, Tony Clark, the leaders of this game have done a great job. I think the only thing in the horizon that scares me a little bit is work stoppage potentially in a couple years. Yes. But as far as the postseason, I've been doing this now with Kevin Burkhard for almost 11 years. And these last two years are as exciting as I've seen them. Unbelievable. And again, Milwaukee, Seattle, San Diego's not a big market. You have 40 million people in Toronto.

I mean, there's one team in that country. Talk about pride. You go to Rogers Center. I'll tell you what, you better pack your lunch. They're a handful up there. Very, very tough place to win. Alex Rodriguez, it's great seeing you. We took you one minute long.

You're a busy guy. Are you here for business, I take it? No, I'm here for you. So you're literally, you get here this early. So the Mariners are on right after us. Aren't the Mariners on right now? We have two games. We have the Mariners, and then we have the Yankees for the prime time on Fox.

Great seeing you. Great seeing you. Love having you here. Thank you. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHeart Radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. He's by Carmen.

I'm Dan Byrd. We have a fantasy football podcast called I Want Your Flex. That's right, Dan. week we're going to scour the waiver wire to find the pickups to turbo boost your fantasy lineup sits starts fantasy football players rankings to get you ready to dominate the competition listen to i want your flex with mike harmon and me dan byer on the i heart radio app apple podcast and wherever you get your podcasts hey it's us the jonas brothers and guess what we have some big news what's the news news news we created our own podcast called hey jonas we invented a podcast

well we didn't invent it we just contribute First people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts. We're starting a trend. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember.

I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Oh, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band. Before Jonas Brothers was... This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast.

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, 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. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying,

and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode we're cutting through the noise. Breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. 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 Slicalif 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.

Gentian win. I mean, she went down in three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lernerabakina 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 IHart Women's Sports. All right, J-Mac with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right, Colin, let's start with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They almost made your herd hierarchy top number one.

They finished at number two. How about this start to the season, man? Tampa's the first team in NFL history to win four games by three or fewer points in the first five games. The opposite of the Lions this year. They bought nobody. They can't get margin. Baker talked about it after the walkoff in Seattle. obviously I mean the games we've had so far this year as long as we have time on the clock we've got a chance and our guys truly truly believe that from the bottom of their hearts so it's that's a good feeling to have and just guys executing doing all the little things right there's real value in winning like this I mean Kansas City last year struggled to run the football wide receiver room was a mess O line struggled they were great in close games there is incredible value

We've said this before in college football when a team wins by blowout You know like the Clemson in years wins by a blowout SEC teams Big Ten teams are playing closer games every week I think this pays dividends To be able to win close You Kansas City last year

Got to the Super Bowl Were they really the second most talented team That holds everywhere So that's the problem Our staff came up This is a crazy stat So four teams have trailed in the fourth quarter Of every game this season

Right The Jets who are winless. The Titans who stink and are 1 in 4. The Browns are 1 in 4. And Tampa, which is 4 in 1. Trailing in the fourth quarter of every game this season. There's a lot of luck involved. Well, no, there's not.

Yeah, at the end of games. Why? Look at those teams. Bucks, Browns, Titans, Jets. You think it's luck. Why is the one team 4-1? Name the quarterbacks for the 4 teams. Flacco, Cam Ward.

Justin Fields and MVP candidate. They're winning the games because of the quarterback. I know it's fashionable to put Baker as an MVP candidate. There's zero chance he wins the MVP. None. So all this luck that involved, when the football bounces the other way later this season and they end up, you know, 9 and 8, 10 and 7. I wouldn't be so sure.

When you looked at that schedule, that Seattle game was a tough one. They're winning some of these games, the close ones that were tough games. Also, no Bucky Irving, no Evans. They're getting healthier. It was a great win. No doubt. I don't think it's sustainable. I'm going to go with San Francisco this week.

Getting points in Tampa. Is the better side. The number, has it gone to three yet? I saw three last one. If it goes to three, San Francisco is the side. Mack Jones or Purdy doesn't matter to you right. Why would you sit Mac Jones? He's red hot.

Unless Purdy's 100% healthy, why would you do that? Purdy's a better quarterback. Slightly. Let me just say, what's the word less than slightly? granularly, barely. Definitely not a word, I don't think. Let's move on to the Bengals. They got the big trade last hour, acquiring cement shoes, Joe Flacco, and a six-round pick from the Browns.

Cincinnati is moving on, it seems like, from Jake Browning. He has been a total disaster. Flacco will now compete for the starting job. They got the Packers this week. Now, listen, man, I know Flacco. is a smart, savvy veteran. Are you really throwing him in against the Packers' defense off a buy?

You think he could start this game? Now, I know the Packers just gave up 40 to the Cowboys. The story isn't the Bengals. The story is Cleveland. So Cleveland has said, basically, we have two first-round picks next year. We're going to play Dylan Gabriel and Shadour, but mostly Dylan Gabriel,

to figure out if we got the guy. That's what you have to do. Dylan Gabriel, again, a little smaller than I'd like, but if this is, this is why they're doing it. Can we call this a soft tank? It's not a, people don't tank in the NFL. They just don't have very many good players. What it is is Cleveland saying we've got two first round picks. Drew Aller, Cade Clubnick have not been overwhelming.

We have a chance to have the number one pick. Let's let Shadur and Dylan Gabriel play. That's what this is. Get Joe out of the building and let the young guys have the rest of the season. I think it's really smart by Stefansky in Cleveland. Let's see. It's like what the Giants are doing with Jackson Dart. You can't make a decision off seven games.

You've got to give him 15 starts. Let's see if you can play. And you get a late round pick, you know, in addition. I just, I don't know how he's going to do anything. Flacco, that is, with the Bengals. I think we, I like Dylan Gabriel more than you do. You don't seem keynote. You like these big Drew Aller types.

I like traits. Yeah, but I have that work out for Brock Osweiler. Listen, I was looking for a six-five. Six-four update guy. You were what was available? Yeah, because I was the best on the market, big guy. Final story is, oh, this is shocking news from the college football world. North Carolina is backing out of its season-long documentary.

It was going to be on Hulu. They were going to chronicle Belichick's first year with the Tar Heels. The deal was just announced two months ago. Remember the rigmarole with Bill's girlfriend pulling the chain, pulling things behind the scenes? And now all of a sudden, it's gone. So Belichick, after getting smashed by Clemson, I guess he doesn't want that footage to see the light of day, huh? This has gone so poorly. So bad.

I was way, I thought this would go good. Belichick's a genius. It's college the ACCCC. Well, I thought they'd be, I thought they had a chance to win seven or eight games. I didn't think they'd get shelled by everybody on their schedule. They may not win five games. Oh, they're not going to win five games. And they may not win three.

They're not winning. And, you know, again, it's, he's closed himself off. He did that in New England. How do you not get along with Robert Kraft? He's going to build a statue. I mean, he got to get over it. The minute Robert Kraft said, no, we're going to keep Brady and Moo on Jimmy Garoppolo. Bill pouted.

Bill never looked at him the same. Oh, gosh, an owner said, listen, we're going to keep Brady, who went on to win a Super Bowl in New England and Tampa. So Kraft and Brady were right. Yeah. It's a tough one for Bill, man. Listen, this is, we both know Michael. Lombardi a little bit.

Like, things are spiraling in North Carolina. These are pro guys. They're not college guys. Do you, I don't want to go too over. Do you think they last more than one season there? No. I mean, what do they win three games? And there's a mutiny and, like, they can't get anybody in the port.

Do they run him out? Bill. This would be a rough ending. Was never a Saturday guy. I've said it. Urban Meyer was never a Sunday guy. These sports are totally different. This is like Willie Mays in the outfield with the Mets stumbling around.

You're like, that's not Willie Maze that I know. You know? He's late career. It's a tough one for Bill. J. Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lie News.

You better get ready. Mariners in the world series. I'm just telling you right now, you better get, you better get ready for it. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, it's us, the Jonas brothers. And guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, huge news?

We create. our own podcast called Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts. We're starting a trend.

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

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

Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite, unhumor me with Robert Smigel 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 acapella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise. Breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear.

The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context and ask the questions everybody wants answered. SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slices Life 12

and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. The French Open is one of the toughest tests in tennis. And I know firsthand because I competed there myself. I'm Renee Stubbs. And on the Renee Stubbs' tennis podcast, I'm breaking down everything happening. at Roland Garris, every match, every upset, and what it really takes to win on Clay. Jen she went.

I mean, she went down at three to Rabakina, but I'm delighted. She's an outsider to win the French for me. And she likes Clay. Listen, Lena Rubakina 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 I Heart Women's Sports. Mariners at the Tigers, right after our show. We'll be throwing to it. Blue Jays at the Yankees, a lot of pressure on New York and Aaron Boone. And I do think it is different. The pressure is different in New York than it is Los Angeles. First of all, they did studies on this years ago. People are more prone to honk quickly in New York.

It's a lot of people in the boroughs jammed up, very impatient. And when it comes to the Yankees because of their history, they get very frustrated. Talk radio is much bigger in New York. There's a volume to New York sports that different, and I think the pressure is different. And I asked A-Rod 10 minutes ago about being Aaron Judge. It's not about hitting for average. It's about hitting in a big spot that changes an outcome of a series. and here's Arod.

People look at stats as the end of all. It's really about moments. Look at the moments of Yankee history, whether it's 77 Reggie Jackson with the three homers or Aaron Boone with the walkoff against the Red Sox or Mr. November. Do you remember what Reggie hit in that series or Aaron Boone or Jeter?

You don't, but you remember those moments. I think what Aaron Boone, what Judge needs is a couple big moments and forget about the stats. Go one for 13. if that base is loaded when he struck out, if he had to double or a home run, you're a hero and you're one for 13.

So enough with the stats, get big moments, help your team win. Also, a crazy Monday night football game last night in which there were, you know, turnovers, fumbles at the one, flags and then flags taken out. I think Kansas City is the better team. You know, we talked earlier today about an hour ago about the current NFL playoff standings.

I don't think they'll change. much much. I think as the NFL has become much more quarterback dependent that you can see very early, you have to have a great quarterback or a quarterback being well-coached and playing at a great level. So currently right now the NFL playoff standings in the AFC and the NFC, I don't think it's going to change a lot. Colts, I think are the most underrated team in the league. Bills, Steelers are the healthiest of all beat-up teams in the AFC North. Chargers, Jags, Denver, and New England. That's a lot of the teams I thought would make the playoffs. I don't think the AFC South will have two playoff teams.

I think the Colts have the better complete roster and the better O line. So I'm going to take Jacksonville, take them out, put Kansas City in. That's my belief in the AFC. And the NFC, I don't think Minnesota is going to make it, not good enough at quarterback. And I think eventually the Rams will absolutely get in. I keep my eye on Washington, but, you know, it's Jaden Daniel's health. Philadelphia is fascinating because they have the best roster, but as Nick Wright said earlier today, when you drop that game to the Broncos and you got totally dominated again in a half of football,

often at home. And here's Nick Wright on the plight, the coaching crisis with Philly right now. In their last six halves of football, they have either had less than eight yards rushing or eight yards passing in three. of them. It reminds me a bit of two years ago when they started 10 and 1, but it was so angsty. And every game, they won, but it was like, yeah, but, yeah, but. And what that led to was a historic collapse. I don't know if we're going to have a historic collapse. But, you know, Detroit hired from within for their coordinators. It's worked. Philadelphia tried it, and it hasn't.

It was somebody that had never been a play caller. It's tough. And Philadelphia is not a real patient football city or sports city, so it's hard to learn on the fly. You know, there's a lot of these cities like Tampa, the media is supportive or Milwaukee with the Brewers. It's not in Philadelphia. If you're struggling, I mean, talk radio still gets a massive number in four or five cities in the country, most in the northeast. So, you know, just Drew Bledsoe was on yesterday, and this is the best roster in the NFL. I don't think anybody even doubts it.

I'm not sure anybody's close, but here's what Bledso sees with the Eagles. They're a punchy in the mouth, run the football, play defense, play action, you know, big play, you know, a team. And that's, you know, that's, that's who they are. You know, but in order to, you know, in order to play that way, though, you have to be remarkably consistent. You know, you have to, you have to convert third down so you can keep running the football. You know, you've got to get the defensive stops. I just think you're seeing a little bit of inconsistency out of the Eagles' offense right now.

Now, you know, they're four and one. And they played, you know, the Broncos are a good football team. And, you know, so there's no reason to panic, you know, with what's going on with the Eagles. But their identity is their identity. Let's go back to the current JMAC playoff standing. So put the AFC and the NFC up. And I just want to name either coach or quarterback. So if you put up the playoff standings, you literally have to have a great quarterback now

or a quarterback playing at a very high level. So right now, you look at the Colts. Well, it's probably the weakest division. And you say, well, Daniel Jones, but people love Shane Steichen. And their old line's great. Josh Allen, Aaron Rogers, Harbaugh Herbert, say what you want. Trevor Lawrence, a huge talent. Sean Payton, Mike Vrable and Drake May.

So there's either a great coach or there's a super talented quarterback. Go to the NFC. Jalen Hertz. Kyle Shanahan is having maybe his best coaching year. Baker Mayfield is in the MVP conversation. I mean, I would say Dan Campbell and golf are both A-ish. Jordan Love, Matt LaFlewer, Sam Darnold playing great football. That's why I don't think Minnesota lasts.

I think Kevin O'Connell is a great coach. I think there's limitations. But by and large, you know, it used to always be in the NFL. There's a lot of ways to win. Now, you don't have to look a certain way, but find the team, and you can say what you want about Aaron Rogers. He is getting rid of the ball right now faster than any NFL quarterback. So Aaron's getting it out, getting it accurate. It is hard to win in this league if you're not special at coach or quarterback.

There's not a lot of different ways to win anymore. That's why he talked about it earlier. look at the teams that are struggling. The Jets. Well, they don't have an elite coach or a quarterback. Struggle from 15. What I've noticed over the last several years, the bottom, I was on this two years ago, the bottom of the NFL is the bottom of the NBA now.

Like you can tell a month into the season, teams can't compete. We're seeing college lines in NFL games. It was almost never. You'd see like, if you saw an 11-point NFL line, you're like, oh, that must be, that's the best team in the league against the world. worst team in the league. You're seeing lines now that are just wild. Bengals are 15-point dogs against Jordan Love and the Packers this week. Now, I don't know if it's going to be Browning or Flacco, but yeah, that's unwatchable.

Let me ask about the Vikings. So they're in there. I was looking into toughest schedules. They have the toughest or second toughest schedule. I don't think they're a playoff team. So Washington and the Rams are not in their company. Okay, so again. So who are you pulling out? Yeah, I take out. So I'm going to put McVeigh and Stafford in and take Minnesota out. Why? Coach and quarterback. What about Washington? I think they have a superstar quarterback. I think they're going to go in. The question is

who. Who do you fall? So right now maybe Seattle. Right now Seattle's in. And I think Donald, but again, who are the teams I'm taking out? So three teams I think are going to make it that aren't currently in here. Reed and Mahomes, Stafford

McVeigh, and Jaden Daniels. You did not mention CJ Stroud in Houston. You crowned him a couple years ago. He's not in. He's not in. We've got to talk about the teams that are. Should he be in, though?

Not in that division. No. Interesting. No, I don't. I think the only team, like Shane Steichen's not proven as a head coach, the only team you look at and go, well, where's a great coach and a great quarterback is Indy? It's a bad division.

And I think their roster is so undervalued. Well, it's early. Can you imagine a playoffs with Noma home? No Burrow and no Lamar Jackson? It's not happening. Mahomes is getting in. By the way, even if that's true, I would still get Josh Allen, Aaron Rogers. Aaron Rogers?

Do you think he's at an appointment viewing right now? I think the Steelers with Aaron Rogers would get a huge playoff number. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, they'd get a number. They're boring, man. Have you watched them? Other than that Jets game when they went up and down the field. Philadelphia is boring.

Yeah, but they have great players. Jalen are hurt. They just can't get them the ball. Devontas Smith. I think people are going to have to come to terms. Here's the other thing that's exciting if you're the NFL. The teams that are currently in, Drake May, Bo Nix.

Oh, come on. No, I'm just saying. People aren't into them yet the way they are burrow. Jordan loves. People like, I'm just saying. He loves hot and cold, man. I'm still ticked about that. He's not cold.

Where do you get the cold part? He hasn't been amazing. I think I might have a ticket on him to win the MVP. This season? Hold on. Let me look. No, I want to do this real quick. Hold on.

I don't have it. Jordan Love. Put the Packer's schedule up there. No, time out. Forget the schedule. Jordan Love this year. Eight touchdowns, one pick, and a 113 passer rating. He was good against the Lions.

By the way, with Jaden Reed hurt, Christian Watson hurt, Zach Tom Wright, tackle hurt. So the offense is all banged up. They played a pretty good schedule, and he's rolling. I don't know. didn't roll against the Browns when they lost that game outright in Cleveland, did he? They're a stinker. Everybody rolls against the Cowboys. Justin Fields was good yesterday. They had a stinker. This is a week-to-week league. You don't know who you're getting. I think the team that we both love, but they don't look the same is Buffalo. That defense?

Yeah, well, Milano and Oliver, they need those guys in there in the middle. I think they could be right for a trade. You know, you start picking some of these bottom feeders off. Bengals start selling parts, right? Some of these defenders if they have any good ones? No, I think Buffalo at the trade deadline has to address the inability to stop the run. Especially with the Chiefs stinking this year. This is your chance, Buffalo. Get to the Super Bowl.

Stinking. You heard it stinking. Two and three are rotten. Baseball playoffs next. Hey guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin.

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