The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 3 - Jerome Bettis stops by The Herd

Episode Date: January 14, 2026

Colin talks to former Steelers RB Jerome Bettis about Mike Tomlin stepping down, the impact it will have on the league, what the Steelers should do next, and more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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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.

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A redacted amount of years later, we're still joined at the hip. Just a little bit bigger hips. This is a podcast. We're recording it as we tailgate our youth soccer games in the back of my Honda Odyssey. With all the snacks and drinks. Why did you get hard seltzer instead of beer? Oh, they had a bogo. Well, then you got them.

Listen to soccer moms on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Sometimes a suspect is found guilty before a verdict is ever read in court. On the Wicked Words podcast, I talk with the writers who dig deep into the cases that changed history, including Marsha Clark, who went from prosecuting one of the most famous murder cases to writing crime fiction. It doesn't matter that you didn't take part in the murder. If you were at the scene at all, you're guilty of murder. Every week, the real story is revealed. Join us every Monday for new episodes of Wicked Words.

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We're listening to Fox Sports Radio. And with that, he went to Notre Dame, he's a proud Pittsburgh Steeler, a Hall of Famer, six pro bowls, you know him. We know him, we all know him. Jerome Bettis is joining us. You know, great to see again. Two things can be true. I can think Mike Tomlin was amazing,

and I think it's kind of time to put the money on offense, maybe go with a young offensive guy. I don't, just because I replace a guy, I like hardball. Maybe it's time, you know. Are you kind of in the, that camp that you love Tomlin. I mean, Cowher was your guy, but there is an argument they feel

a little outdated offensively. Do they not? Yes, 100%. Because the philosophy of when I was playing that you run the ball and, you know, you play great defense, that is totally changed.

Now you've got to put points on the board. And that's the problem that the stills are having. They're not putting points on the board. And so that you have to fix because you're not going to win football games, you know, with seven points, 10 points, 13 points. That won't win this NFL. So, you know, 15 years ago, it was different. Today's NFL, you got to score, and I think that's where the Steelers are struggling. Now, like, again, I love the idea that Mike Tomlin didn't have a losing season, but I said,

the reason the Patriots got Drake May, they were awful. and the Bears got Caleb because they were awful. What about this idea? You got a ton of draft picks. You go to a Stefansky or Marcus Freeman. You're like, we don't fire coaches. We're going to load this roster up. We got a first, a second, three-thirds, two-fourths.

We'll draft a backup, but we're stacking the roster. We're going to be awful for a year. I mean, that's really uncomfortable for Steeler Nation, because they're never awful. Do you think that's something you can sell to the Rooney's? I don't think you can sell that. That's a tough one because I think Coach Tomlin created a situation where they see what we can rebuild and at least be 500. So if you're not, you know, at least 500, they're looking at you like, you know, you're doing something wrong.

Where I agree with you. You, at some point, you got to fall apart and you got to go out and get the quarterback. Or you said to yourself, we're going to invest a lot of resources. We're going to give that first, two twos, another first, and we're going to go get a quarterback, right? Right now, I don't see the quarterback in their future in terms of in college. But they're going to, at some point, say, we got to go get the quarterback. And if that means you're utilizing those resources and those first row picks, you're going to have to do it because they've seen what happens when you don't invest in the quarterback, right?

And so you're not going anywhere. You can make it to the playoffs, but you're going to lose in the first round because quarterback play is pivotal in the playoffs. I don't see them hiring John Harbaugh. They were reportedly paying Tomlin a lot of money, $17 million. so Harbaugh's in that class. Do you think they would consider hiring a raven? No. And I'll tell you this.

And the Ravens will not consider hiring a stealer. Okay. Okay, I'm good with that. That's fine. I get it. It can be. Here's. But hire you, but it can't be the last stop.

You can't come right from the Ravens, right in the Pittsburgh. That just doesn't work. So I don't think, I think both guys will be extremely. excluded from those franchises because it's just too much bad blood, too much. Marcus Freeman would be at the top of my list. Would you stay at Notre Dame or take the Steelers? Steelers is a blue blood. It's one of the five, six big names in the league.

Would you stay at Notre Dame or Steelers if you were offered both? Oh, my goodness. I think because of what you have to do in Pittsburgh, it's a very dangerous job. So I would not be in a rush to leave my cozy confines. I got a really good program that I've created. We're ready to go. We've got the players in place. I wouldn't be in a rush to leave that when I don't have my quarterback figured out in the NFL

because what we have learned, this is a quarterback-centric league. And if you do not have your quarterback, you have absolutely nothing. So as program, the organization, rather, you still have to give pause because your first question going in and interviewing is, what are we going to do about the quarterback position? And because that's going to be your legacy, in essence, if you go to Pittsburgh, if you win, you figure the quarterback situation out. Were you surprised Mike Tomlin, you know him.

Were you surprised he stepped down? I wasn't surprised. When you start hearing the fans turn on you, the writing is on the wall. And you can prolong it if you want to, but you're not going to get the level of support that you need because what happens is it poisons the players. And then the players start second guessing the decisions that he's making, right? And then once it poisons the players, now it poisons the somebody assistant coaches. And it just becomes a very, very bad situation.

So I think Coach Tomlin did the right thing to do to secure his legacy, right? Because if you allow it to go rock bottom, then you have kind of destroyed your legacy there in Pittsburgh. So I think he did the right thing. The writing was on the wall. He didn't have, I mean, I believe he had the support in the building. But when you don't have the fan support and when things are starting, to really circle down on you, I think it's time for you to move on

and look at the next opportunity. Tomlin could do broadcasting. He'd be great at it, but like Mike Vrable, I think he's a football guy that could do TV, but it's not his makeup. He's like, he calls it the dark side. Like, you know, I'm not doing that. But I also don't see him as going west.

I tend to think Miami Dolphins, New York Giants. Like if I said to you, we got nine openings now. We got Vegas. Now, forget the Ravens. They're not going to hire him. You know, that's the Steeler Raven thing. Is there a place, Atlanta, Miami, Giants?

Is there an opening, Jerome, that you look at and go, oh, yeah, you know him. Oh, yeah. That works for Mike Tomlin. I think probably two places. Looking at the Giants and their situation. and the Tennessee Titans. I think looking at them, historically, defensively, they understand it.

They're not afraid to invest on the defensive side. So I think those two places, they have, I think, the personnel that you can go in and win right now. So I think those two teams would be teams that if I'm telling me, I'm looking at it, And I'm saying the Giants, similar ownership structure, very solid, willing to give you some time. And the Tennessee Titans, really blue-collar environment, really good place where you can go down and really change the culture. Kevin Stefansky doesn't have a great win-loss record, but I think he's offensive, he's smart. He knows the division. If I say Kevin Stefansky, now the record's not glossed.

but he did beat the Steelers with Baker in a playoff game. What do you make about Stefansky as a stealer? I think it would be a challenge, but I would like Stefansky in a sense that he understands this offense, the offensive world that we're in. But he also obviously understands the defensive side, because he's had a strong defense the entire time in Cleveland. So he would be able to.

a guy that I would look at. Now, the fact that he just came from Cleveland, I would say, you know, it may give a little pause, but in terms of X's and O's coach, I think he is super talented and would be a coach for the next organization that decides to give him an opportunity, and especially if he can get a quarterback. That's the concern in Pittsburgh. You've got to get a quarterback. Yeah. Yeah, Stefansky would go from the chaos of Cleveland to the stability of either a Baltimore or Pittsburgh. That's what he hasn't had. He's had players. He just hadn't had stability. So that would be good for him. Jerome Bettis, the Hall of Famer. Great seeing you as always. Thank you. Appreciate you. Yeah. I mean, can you imagine like if you're

Stefansky, you've done a lot of things right, but you've never had stability. Even Baker, young Baker, there was, you know, he's starting some fires at the podium with the media and barking. To go to Pittsburgh, I mean, you can go to to bed at night knowing, you know, your organization's not crazy, they're not impulsive. I think it's so interesting that Stefansky gets booted by Cleveland and could potentially upgrade to Baltimore or the Steelers and beat the Browns for a decade. That is chef's kiss. That would be about as good as it gets for a coach.

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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... 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 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. 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, 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 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 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. 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 Slice Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Jacob Kingston grew up in an ice ice polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey.

I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levant this plant to a billion dollar fraud, But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life.

Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. See, even Jerome Bettis said he's not sure the Steelers would become. bottoming out. And, you know, the Bears, they were about a six-win team or something. They get Caleb Williams. Now, they moved up to get that number one pick. But Drake May is an example of you've got to be bad to get Drake May. You've got to be not very good to get Bo Nix.

So, you know, this is not a great quarterback draft class. I could see the Steelers just saying, you know, we're going to reach on Ty Simpson, but then we're just going, I would draft all defense. They need to get a number two receiver. You got a couple force. You can pick it up there. But I would go edge, defensive end, corners, safeties, another defensive tackle alongside the kid from Oregon.

I think they got to get cheaper, younger, faster, less expensive on defense. Here's Jay Mack with the news. No, no, no, no, turn on the news. This is the herd line news. Let's start with some grim news for the Buffalo Bills. I knew that Gabe Davis went down with an injury, but Colin, they all. also lost Tyrell Shavers, who's also good on special teams and Josh Palmer. Yeah.

In just a beat down against the Jags. I mean, losing three receivers. How's this? Buffalo will only have three wide receivers available on the 53-man roster for the matchup against the Broncos. It's Shakir, Keon Coleman, who has had some healthy scratches this season. And the immortal Brandon Cooks, who I don't know how he continues to do it. Well, they're fortified because they have Dawson, Knox, Kincaid, and Hawks.

Kincaid and Haas at tight end. So they're pretty good at tight end. And they're also a run team first. So they're, I mean, I think you can do it. You'd like to get one of those guys back the following game. I think you can do it for a week. And by the way, when you go on the road, you want to run the ball anyway. I mean, truthfully, you want to shorten the game.

You want to quiet the crowd. You want to dominate line of scrimmage. So I think it's a game you lean on James Cook, Josh Allen, and your tight ends. It's weird. Both of us thought maybe there was a world where Buffalo got blown out by the Jags. I keep seeing, is there a chance where Denver just blasts him here? You know, Buffalo's beat up. Josh Allen, how many times did you go down with like an injury?

It looks brutal every time. Here's the thing. You give Sean Payton, Andy Reed, Kyle Shanahan, you give these guys an extra four or five days of practice and prep. That's what you worry about. So you go all the way down to Jacksonville. Now, all the way out to Denver, you're a little banged up on your offense between Josh and the receivers.

And here comes out Denver with exotics and tricks and different looks, at least for the first couple series, and you just get caught flat-footed. And now you're playing from behind with Denver's pass rush. So, I mean, this, you know, it's, I will say this. Denver's got a way to beat you. They usually don't drop 28 in the first half. A lot of their scoring deep like Chicago in the game. That line has flipped.

So Buffalo opened is a one and a half point favorite. It's Denver one and a half. Obviously not through a key number of three. Through zero is not huge. But that shows you the sentiment is the betting public, they're on Denver here. And now Josh Allen is an underdog, a spot that I'm sure he's going to relish. We'll have our picks tomorrow. Let's move on to this second story con.

That is tremendous. Okay. So Ty Simpson is the Alabama quarterback, who people are high on or low, depending on who you talk to. Well, how's this? He told a reporter that Miami, Tennessee, and Ole Miss were in a bidding war for his services. They said transfer from Alabama. They went to his agent. They went $4 million, $5 million. The highest offer was $6.5 million. Now, this isn't rumors or innuendo. This is Ty Simpson's agent saying this is what the schools told me. And Ty Simpson's on the

record saying I had a $6.5 million offer to leave Alabama, not go NFL and transfer to one of those three schools. Now, Simpson's claims, and I'm curious what you think of this, he turned down all the offers because he didn't want to lose everything he had built up at Alabama. Remember, he was a team captain and make it look like he was just chasing money. Well, here's the thing, is that he's not a great enough prospect to go top two or three where the really bad teams are, but he's a good enough prospect, I'm being told, to go mid to late first round. Well, those teams aren't total rebuilds. That's like when Bo Nix went to Denver. Denver had some good pieces. So, I mean, Could he go like 12, 13, 14, 15?

Well, those are pretty decent rosters. So, I mean, that's what's interesting to me. You know, I mean, what if he went to a Miami? And Miami's like, well, they got the running back. I mean, you start looking that they've got some pieces that I like in Miami. They need an old line upgrade. But you start, you start gets the one advantage to, like Bo Nix. A lot of people were not on.

didn't like Bo Nix. A lot of teams had him as a second round guy. Sean Payton had him as a first. Will he drops to 11? Well, go look at Denver's roster. They had, they had pass rushers. They had a great left tackle. They had some interesting receiving weapons. So, you know, the advantage for Ty Simpson is, let's say, and my people are like, I kind of think he's a guy, but I also thought Jackson Dart was a second round guy. Let's say he goes 13th. Well, who's, I don't know, right in front of me. Who's drafted 13th, 14th, 15th. theme. Those are places you can go and don't have to get into track meets because the defense is good. Yeah, the situation with Simpson's weird. So we got, what, four more months of this draft process,

guys rise and fall. So Simpsons saying that he got some first round grades. Now, I don't know if that's one or two. His dad did, yeah. So Daniel Jeremiah came on my podcast and said it would be an upset if Ty Simpson went in the first round. That's what I was told in season. Yeah, and so I don't know what to believe. Maybe he rises, maybe he falls. I do think he made the right decision, Colin. But when coming out, there's nobody else. It's basically him, Carson Beck, Mendoza, maybe Dante Moore he's supposed to announce today what he's doing. But if he comes out next year, they're going to nitpick him all year. You know that. That's how it goes. Ask King Clubnik, Nussmeyer, all these guys. And then you're going to drop to be like a fourth round pick. So I think he's making the

right decision, but I'm kind of blown away that colleges were like, yeah, we'll give you six and a half million dollars to come be our quarterback. That's a crazy sum of money. Well, this is why the Texas schools, A&M, Texas, and Texas tech, oil money, that's why, you know, I've said this. If the SEC didn't have A&M and Texas, where would they be with this NIL stuff? They'd be in big, big trouble. It's keeping them afloat.

I mean, Georgia's losing quarterbacks to Vandy. George's losing guys out of the poor. They lost like four or five defensive backs. Like I'm telling you, Alabama can't compete financially at the top. Keep your eye on Georgia. Keep your eye on Georgia losing their big booster a year ago. All sorts of portal transfers in the secondary. Couldn't wrangle a quarterback away from Vanderbilt.

Man, there's a lot of stuff going on in that portal. Yeah. Final story, Colin, is not great in the NBA. Anthony Davis has heard again, and it's not great. He's going to be out about six weeks. There's a bit of a kerfuffle, a prominent NBA reporter. said he needs surgery. Anthony Davis vociferously went online and said, nope, wrong, not getting surgery. Either way, he's going to miss at least a month. That'll be his second one of the season,

Colin? Remember he had the cap strain, missed 15 games earlier this season? I don't know, man. This trade that Anthony Davis for Luca, holy hell, it's a disaster of epic proportions. I feel bad for AD. The mads are trying to move him. And remember, now they have Kyrie Irving, and there's all this, oh, oh, Kyrie will come back and help us get... No, no, no, no, no. You want to keep that draft pick because, Colin, you've seen the draft next year. It's loaded. There's like five really high premium guys.

I don't think Anthony Davis sees the court again this season. That's just my prediction. I think they're still trying to trade him, but now he's damaged goods. What do you do with AD? Not much. I mean, there's just no real huge market for him. He's like 32. Look at the amount of games played since that trade.

He's missed more. And without him, the mads are horrific. They have nobody. It's Cooper flag against the world. You know, this is just, it's a bummer to be a Dallas Maverick fan right now. Jay McElhaw News. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by.

The Herd Lye News. Breaking news. According to Shephty Shepter, Oregon quarterback Dante Moore will return to Oregon. So it's the right move to make. Get him 15 more starts. that gives Ty Simpson his camp

probably good news for him he'll be the number two rated quarterback so Dante Moore and I think he could be really good I just don't think he's ready so he's going to stay at Oregon

and that's good for Oregon that's good for Oregon is good for college football Oregon's going to make the playoff again I would guess and it's good college quarterback he's just not ready to be a Sunday quarterback

and Oregon recruits at a high level. So for me, I think this is the NIL, everybody sees it as all negative. I see it as a positive. First of all, it allows quarterbacks like Dante Moore. Most of these, most college athletes don't grow up with a ton of money. I mean, how many people in America really have, like, wealthy parents? Very few, 1%. So my takeaway is the NIL is great for guys like Dante Moore and players,

they can make great money and get, great coaching at Oregon and come out more polished. I also like NIL because not just quarterbacks, even if you just make $100,000 a year, $150, or $200,000 a year as a player, it gives you some sense of, you know, money. Like instead of going from broke college kid to millionaire, you know, you can go buy a car in college, you know, spend a little money, have a little fun. I didn't get that college life. I was eating top ramen. But so I, the NIL has got some value. It certainly helped college basketball to go poach some of the best European kids. But I think the winner here is Dante Moore, Oregon football, college football.

I mean, that other quarterback that went from Cincinnati to Texas Tech, he's like Dante Moore. He could come out and get drafted. But he needs another 12, 15 starts. Good for him. It's the herd. 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, new? Huge news. created our own podcast called Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to a 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, 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. 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 Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. The morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where SportsSlice 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 athletes 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 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering Armenian businessman catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world, he doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across. When Jacob met Levant this plant to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive?

The largest tax investigation in American history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levin, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Well, you played in the NFL for 12 years, multiple-time Pro Bowl or in a Super Bowl 50 champ. Emmanuel Sanders played six years with Denver, four years with Mike. Tomlin, Buffalo Bill's Niners.

All right, so you played with Mike Tomlin. Do you think he's an older coach, 53, more defense than offense? Let's start with this. What are Mike Tomlin's strengths? Because I don't think he's a longtime TV guy. I think he could do TV for a year, but he's not a TV guy. He's a coach. What are his strengths in your four years with him as head coach?

I mean, for me, I think Mike Tomlin wants to be a long-term TV guy. I think he'd be great at it. But for me, I can only speak of my time in Pittsburgh. And when I tell you, the moment that I got there, he was like a father figure to me. The things that he taught me in terms of investing my money and the way to the thing, I remember, you know, I was a young guy and I got an X amount of dollars.

And, you know, I was content with that. And he pulled me over to the side. He said, let me tell you some. He said, you got a financial advisor for that little money. But he said, man, come back and talk to me when you get three or four contracts. and one of my best stories is I was in Buffalo and he probably don't ever remember telling me that

but I walked up to him when I was with the bills and I was on the backhand and getting ready to retire and I said hey Mike T, I went and got three or four contracts and you're right man, that money is a lot better and I definitely was thinking small and so he had me thinking big and that's what type of player coach he is he's always going to give it to you real raw

authentic and you know depending on how you take it you might not like it but you know that he has your best interest And that's why I always love him, man. You know, what we were talking about off air of, like, you know, coaches making players. He was one of those guys that truly was a blessing for me to get drafted with him

because he just changed my whole mindset in the way that I was thinking about going about my business. I love hearing that. So you're in Denver, and you told me something during the break. You used to think players made coaches. But maybe you're watching Sean Payton and Bow Nix. I mean, you tell me how your world has sort of changed on how you view that. Well, I mean, you just look at these quarterbacks, right? And it's no shot to both Nicks, but, you know, even with me, like in 2014, you know, I was blessed to play with Peyton.

And once I got with Payton and once I got in that offense, I went to Pro Bowls. And 15, I was with Peyton and I won a Super Bowl. And then, you know, like I had a couple coaches who, you know, I can't say they were bad, but they just weren't at the pinnacle of the game for me to have success. And so I look at the systems that I was in, the coaches that I had, and I know that I had success. Even when I got with Kyle Shanahan, I had success with him because he knew what he was doing. He was in control of the controller if he was playing madden. And he was controlling him and calling the plays and put me in the best position to succeed. And so, and that's what I see with, you know, with these quarterbacks these days, right?

Right? Like Bo Nix, man, like, yeah, he's a hell of a player, but man, was he blessed? And to be able to get with Sean Payton, because I play with Sean Payton, too, in New Orleans. And when I tell you, Sean Payton, you know, is a defensive coordinator nightmare, especially when I was in New Orleans. He was always two or three plays ahead of the defensive coordinator. He knew where he wanted to go. He attacked where he was supposed to attack, and we had a lot of success. You know, we ended up winning an NFC South that year.

And that's why I say, you know, coaches make players. Like, players don't make coaches. which is it's all about the system that you're in that allows you to flourish. Your last year in the league, you played with Josh Allen and Buffalo. So you're going to see Denver guys and Bill's guys at the game this way. It's great for you. I think you told me a story because you got, Josh wasn't quite what we see now, but you said you had a pretty good inclination that it was going to be all-time stuff, right?

Yeah, I mean, dude, I mean, just from the toughness, right? the way that he plays a quarterback musician. Like, I mean, he's like a running back playing quarterback, but he's not built like a running back. He's 6'5' and just a machine. And then just a rocket of a horn. But, you know, like, as much as talent as he had, you root for guys like him.

Because when I tell you, my time there, he was one of the best teammates that I had. I truly enjoyed being around. And it was always light energy. Like, I always having fun. Yeah, when we get in the game, he would turn it on, but it was always fun to go out and compete with him because you know that he was, he was going to give it his all. And that's why I always respected Josh. And, you know, the success

that he's having, it's no surprise because he wants it. And I know how bad he wants that Super Bowl, too. But I don't know, man, those Broncos in the way. So I'm kind of, I'm kind of in between of like Josh in the Broncos. But, you know, I, you know, I bleed orange and blue. So it's going to, it's going to be a fun little game. I want to ask you about Kyle Shanahan. Shanahan last week, Kittle gets hurt early, the defense has lost all its players, and you've had a lot of different coaches. Tomlin, you said it was like a father figure. Sean Payton was like a mad scientist.

In your time with Shanahan, how do you compartmentalize him? What is he like? H-O-F, Hall of Fame to me. And I've been saying this for years. did an interview I think was last year or two years ago it was some radio station not in san friend and erasin what do you think about the fans saying that they should fire Kyle Shanahan and I said out of their mind I said like what do you what is there even to think about you you guys have one of the greatest offensive minds in the history of the national football league in my

opinion and I say that because I've been around him and I've had some pretty good coordinators myself And when I tell you, like Sean Payton is a Hall of Fame coach to me and Kyle is because these guys always put you in position to win. While other defensive coordinators are playing checkers, they're playing chess. It's a whole other game that they're playing and they're constantly evolving and they know exactly how to attack you. And they do it. And so, you know, the office of performance that Kyle put on, you know,

with Christian McCaffrey is plug and play with the other guys. And as long as Pertie's off in there, and Christian McCaffrey, I just feel like Kyle still has this confidence that I can call whatever I want to call and I can hit you from wherever I want to hit you. And don't be surprised if I run a reverse pass every now and then just to put some points on the board. But I do what I got to do, and that's what a coach does. And I got the utmost respect for Kyle Shannon. So I want to go back to Pittsburgh.

You know, Pittsburgh's a different environment. It's a city, but it feels like a small town. And I asked, I asked Jerome Bettis this. earlier. I said, you know, they're very proud that they never have losing seasons. And I'm like, yeah, but you know how the Patriots got Drake May? They stunk. To get a great quarterback, you got to stink. And Pittsburgh never stinks. Do you think if a new coach came into Pittsburgh and just said, guys, let's stink for a year. And then the following year, there's like seven good quarterbacks. I'm an offensive guy. Don't worry about this year. I don't care if we win three games.

You know Pittsburgh. You think Pittsburgh's ownership would buy that? No, they're not buying that. And I don't think the players would buy that, man. Like, we train all year, and every year is our year to win the Super Bowl. So it's no way that you could just expect me to train in the offseason, and put my body through all of this just to go in tank for a whole year. Like, as a player, like, I got way too much pride for that.

Like, I don't care. We're going to give it all. And if we get beat, we're going to get beat by giving it our all. And, you know, so for me, you know, like no way they can do that like as a player i couldn't do that you know like i'm out here you know putting my life on a line you know because one bad hit you never know it can it can go sideways so why would i ever go out there with that mindset i just couldn't do it did you ever play one game in your career where you wondered if the team was soft tanking no never never okay

yeah i'm not built like i'm never i was never a player built like that for me i like every single play even every single rep and practice i was going hard and i always started no matter the team we might have went four and 12 that year but i still at the beginning of the season i said this is our year you know we're going to win a super bowl i always keep a positive mindset you know yeah i get it ammanuel's great to see you again we get you a couple times a year good luck did you enjoy the game hey thank you calling good to see you man good to see you two-time pro bowler third round pick out of SMU, had a really, really nice career.

Think about that. He had Shanahan, McDermott, Tomlin. He got a Sean Payton at one point. He had some good coaches. And I, you know, that's what he, we were talking during the break. He said, you know, Jackson Dart get Sean Payton. And all of a sudden, Jackson Dart,

he thinks would be in the playoffs two years. So, yeah, I mean, it's, it's, it's, pro sports is sometimes a little cruel. The harder you, work as a college athlete, the worst organization and business you go to. So that's why like Ty Simpson, if people say Ty Simpson is kind of a late first round guy. Well, the Rams have two firsts. What if the Rams are like, listen, Stafford's going to play one more year. We got two first, the second, third, fourth, we got everything else. We'll reach on Ty Simpson. That is an unbelievable

situation where a good team says, we're going to shelf you for a year. We're going to have Matt Stafford learn from a pro, that is perfect. Doesn't happen a lot, but that is perfect. Good show today. Albert Breer got all of our taste buds in kind of order. J. Mac, you freaked out when he was mentioned all sorts of coaches. We have nine openings. I think we have nine more than competent candidates.

But I do think a really important thing to note is if the Giants are going to hire a coach, the sooner you definitively make the hire, the better staff you get with the coach. So like if the Giants, you know, if the Giants Harbaugh says, give me two weeks. And the Giants are like, by that time, you could be the fourth coach hired. So I think, I think the Giants is a good job, but you don't want to sit around and wait for Harbaugh to wait for, you know, I think you got to make your money now. Yeah, I largely agree with that. Once Harbaugh decides where he's going, I think the dominoes will fall in order, right? You're willing to wait for him if you're Atlanta, the Giants, the Titans.

You're willing to wait for Harbaugh. But you've got to have a backup plan. You know this. I mean, we've been business owners. You can't just put all your eggs in one basket. You've got to have Plan B, Plan C, ready to go. Yeah, Kevin Stefansky and John Harbaugh have what they call leverage. A lot of people interested.

Ravens and Browns moved on. Other teams moving on up. 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.

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 I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Guil Farrell's big money players and IHeart podcast presents soccer moms so I'm Leanne yeah this is my best friend Janet and we have been joined at the hips since high school a redacted amount of years later we're still joined at the hip just a little bit bigger hips this is a podcast we're recording it as we tailgate our youth soccer games in the back of my Honda Odyssey with all the snacks and drinks why did you get hard seltzer instead of beer they had a bogo well then you got it listen to soccer moms on the Iheart radio app app app Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Therapy is fantastic, but once again, it does not have a monopoly on healing.

That's why I create the resources and that's why I create the community because I really just want you to have more access. On the podcast, Cultivating Her Space, Dr. Dom and Terry Lomax create a space where black women can show up fully and be heard. It's tough because we're suppressing our emotions and so many of us are like high achieving individuals. Listen to cultivating her space on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast. or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.