The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Herd - Hour 3 - NFL Midseason Superlatives

Episode Date: November 2, 2023

Super Bowl champion James Jones joins the show in studio to give his perspective on Josh McDaniel's firing and Jordan Love's struggles in Green Bay. Colin delivers his NFL superlatives, including his ...midseason MVP pick.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Starting point is 00:01:48 or stream us live every day on the IHart Radio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. All right, you played James Jones, nine years in the league of Super Bowl champ, just one brief relationship with the Raiders. So earlier this week on, was it Tuesday, Wednesday night, when they fire Josh McDaniels and the GM after only two drafts, couple seasons, not even completed seasons, what did you make of it? Surprised?
Starting point is 00:02:23 No, I wasn't surprised. You know, I do Raiders game day. So I'm in that building every weekend. Road games, home games. I'm in that building every single weekend. So, you know, I hear a lot of the stuff going on, see a lot of the stuff going on. Obviously, I'm close with a lot of players over there.
Starting point is 00:02:37 But even just the stuff that I've seen, they didn't believe in Josh no more. And I'm strictly just talking about players. Right. You know, they did not believe in him no more. You've seen it was a lot of regressing. You know, it wasn't improving, especially on the offensive side of the ball.
Starting point is 00:02:52 You know, you are an offensive mind and you're not taking care of the offense the side of the ball, really having this offense clicking on all cylinders. So, you know, just through that building, it was a lot of people not believing in Josh McDaniels. And for me, when I heard it was a team meeting,
Starting point is 00:03:09 it's only two things come out of these team meetings and players being able to voice their opinions and voice their frustrations. It's two things that come out of this. You either come out and you win, and everybody's saying, cool, we answered all those questions in the team meeting. Are you come out and you play the way you play?
Starting point is 00:03:25 and you lose and you're like, yeah, this ain't going to work. When you have a team meeting, who do you tell? Let's say there's concerns about the coach. Would a captain go up to Mark Davis of the GM and tell him? Well, see, and that's the thing. GMs ain't even in these team meetings. This is coach's players. Sometimes it's players only.
Starting point is 00:03:45 Sometimes it's not a coach need to be in on it. So you'll have one of your leaders, hey, coach, we want to have a team meeting with just you. We don't need no position coaches. We don't need no nothing. The team wants to meet with you. We want to voice our frustrations. We want to get some of this stuff off of our chest. How can we improve in these areas?
Starting point is 00:04:01 How can we get better in these areas? And let's go. Sometimes it's just players-only meetings. I've been in both of them, right? And the only thing to really make these meetings worthwhile is going out there playing well. And if you don't go out there and play well and look like you looked against the Detroit Lions, then you lose the locker room. And I think that's what was happening here.
Starting point is 00:04:21 When you have a team meeting, that's really a lot of conversations going on. in the locker room and we need to address a lot of this stuff, right? And I truly believe it came down to them just not believing in Josh no more. And I truly believe it's a move that Mark Davis had to made. And I think this was the perfect time to make that move because you have two really winnable games coming up. You know, you would hate to fire a coach and a GM and you got the chiefs and the dolphins next on your schedule. What you want the next coach to do? At least you get Antonio Pierce in there who I'm really proud of, really high on. I coach both of his sons, you know, and youth football.
Starting point is 00:04:54 You know, so he's a player. We all know. He knows how he's going to know how to push these guys and get the best out of these guys, but you give him an opportunity. You have the Giants and the Jets on your schedule, two winnable games, you know, to come out there, especially with them both being at home. So I'm excited to see what he's going to do and see how this team is going to look under Antonio. James Jones, you know, it's interesting because I love several players.
Starting point is 00:05:16 I love Max Crosby. Man. One of my favorite players in the league. Absolutely. I would build around him. I love Devonte Adams. There's several players I like. Hunter Renfro.
Starting point is 00:05:26 Josh Jacobs. Josh Jacobs. Josh Jacobs. So I love two. I like about six. I don't think it's a rebuild. I think it's a draft to quarterback and let's see if Pierce can get it done. Do you think there's a chance if Antonio wins a couple games goes 500 the rest of the way?
Starting point is 00:05:47 Absolutely. Should he get the gig? Absolutely. And the reason why I think that that's possible is because the way these players feel about them. They love him. You know, and one thing I know about Mark, one thing I know about Mark, Mark wants to get this thing turned around by any means necessary. Whatever I got to do.
Starting point is 00:06:01 Another thing I know about Mark is he loves his players, current, former, he is always going to look out for you. He's always going to listen to you. So if these players is coming up there like, man, listen, hey, Antonio Pierce is the guy, right? We love him. He got us going in the right direction. Mark is going to listen to that.
Starting point is 00:06:19 So Antonio Pierce has a really good shot at being able to beat a head coach. of this football team. If he goes out here and this team looks the right way and they find a way to win some of these ballgames. Let me ask you. Jay Mack, you and I talked about this. I love in preseason, I said, keep your eye on Aiden O'Connell. He was the Purdue kid, not terribly mobile, but can take the ball out of the shotgun, make throws. Again, not going to move all around, but should he just start the rest of the way and say, Jimmy, so you go with a young kid? Absolutely. I would go with the young kid. We know what Jimmy G's going to bring, right? Just like some of these other quarterbacks in the league that are starting over rookie
Starting point is 00:06:53 quarterbacks, whatever it may be. We know what these guys are going to bring. Let the young guy get in there. Let O'Connell get in there, get some experience, go through his ups and downs, whatever it may be. He has a live arm, is flicker the wrist. That's not the issue. Yes, just like any of these quarterbacks in the National Football League. So let him go out there, get comfortable, get some chemistry with these receivers and go out there and be able to sling the ball, you know, all over the yard. He has a really good running back in the backfield and Josh Jacobs to hand the ball off to. How's the offensive line? Colton Miller's fight. Is that okay? Colton Miller's there. The offensive line is probably middle of the
Starting point is 00:07:23 in the National Football League. Got to address it in the draft. Yeah, but this is one of those things to where, hey, we got to get out here, we got to out skiing people. Let's get this quarterback into some plays to where the football could come out of his hands extremely fast.
Starting point is 00:07:33 He has two really good wide receivers. A lot of people don't watch Jacoby Myers. Jacobi Myers and Devonty Adams. Oh, Jacobi's done a nice job. And by the way, Mayor, the tight end from Notre Dame. Absolutely. But you're talking about being able to make somebody missing a phone booth?
Starting point is 00:07:48 Devante Adams and Jacobi Myers off the line of scrimmage are special. So we has guys to get the ball to, and you already touched on Hunter Renfro. So I've been saying this for two years now. Rookie tight end Notre Dame. Josh Jacobs, Colton Miller, Hunter Renfro, Devonte Adams, Jacoby Myers, Max Crosby. Those are key positions. No question.
Starting point is 00:08:07 You can't tell me this is a total rebuild. No, no. I don't love their, I didn't love their first pick. The defensive edge. Wilson. Worries me a little bit. Could he be a rotational player salvage it? I don't think it's a rebuild.
Starting point is 00:08:20 I think it's a coach quarterback issue. No question. And I think if you draft a quarterback, you'll be able to go in free agency and address some of the needs you may need to address on the defensive line, the offensive line. This team is not far off. And, you know, we talked about it yesterday. But this team right here, if I'm a head coach, this job right here is intriguing to me. Right.
Starting point is 00:08:40 I'm in Vegas. I have really good players to build around. Especially offensive players and an edge rush. No question. So if I'm able to get some help in free agency through the draft on this defense, this team is not far off. They got three wins this year. You know, so.
Starting point is 00:08:54 And it's been a circus and the players didn't like the coach and they've got three wins in a division with Chargers, Sean Payton, Andy Reed. So this is kind of my feeling. Mark Davis can wear me out. There's been a lot of a circus. There's dudes here. There's ballers over here.
Starting point is 00:09:09 Okay, now we've got to get uncomfortable. Packers. Okay, now I said this earlier. Yeah. Here's the biggest concern. The Packers are, a well-run organization. Jordan's getting worse.
Starting point is 00:09:23 So what they did is they did a good job to protect him. But now everybody's got film. And now the numbers by week three, four, five, six. Yeah. It's progressively getting worse. Generally with a young quarterback, bumpy, stable, wow. Yeah. This is like protected, not a lot of wow, unstable.
Starting point is 00:09:45 Oh, crap, this don't work. Like in the building, do you think they know the truth? I mean, they moved off for Suli Douglas, right? Yes, I mean, and that was a trade that I did not want to see happen. Because he plays hard. He plays hard. He's a really good football player. And to be honest, what you're even coming into this season,
Starting point is 00:10:01 I thought that the defensive side of the ball was going to have to play really well. They got seven, eight first rounders on that defensive side of the ball. And I thought the defense would be a whole lot better than they are right now, playing football to be able to help Jordan Love. But as for Jordan Love, when the season first started, I was extremely high on Jordan Love. I'm like, this dude is the future of the Green Bay Packers. He can throw the ball with the best of them.
Starting point is 00:10:24 He's extremely smart. He was seeing the game extremely well. But now that we sit here, these next 10 games, 9-10 games, however many they have left, are huge for him. He is going to have to play at a high level for the Green Bay Packers to say, this is our quarterback of the future. We're not going to go draft one. We're not going to grab one in free agency. He is going to have to play at a very, very high level.
Starting point is 00:10:48 And Coach LaFleur is going to have to let the training wheels off on them. You're going to have to stop calling the game safe. You're going to have to open up this playbook and let him go out there and be able to throw this ball over the yard to see if he really can do it. When I watch tape right now, it's a lot of safe play calling. And when you call safe play calling, that means you're trying to have your quarterback be safe with the football. At one point, we got to find out. We halfway through the season, we got to find out if he can really handle all this. and Coach LaFleur is going to have to do a better job of opening this playbook up.
Starting point is 00:11:20 He has receivers, he has running back. You're going to have to open this thing up to see if Jordan Love really can do it. But these next games is important for Jordan Love. Okay. Jay Mack, are you ready for this hot take? All right. You would have thought it was ludicrous. If I'd have said at one point, Farv's going to be a Viking.
Starting point is 00:11:38 Mm-hmm. He was. Yeah. Minnesota doesn't want Kirk Cous. No. Midwest ethos. Midwest kids. not flashy.
Starting point is 00:11:49 You're not paying any of those receivers, any of those tight ends. They're going to get a left tackle. That offense now is going to be cheap. 28 million for Kirk Cousins. Oh, you're saying Kurt to the Packers? Knows the division, knows the NFC, Midwest Ethos,
Starting point is 00:12:04 small town family guy, same coaching tree on offense. It sounded outrageous, farved to the Packers. I'm Green Bay. Listen, the bottom line here is they do have two seconds and two, third and they're currently number six. But if they win three games and they're nine,
Starting point is 00:12:21 nobody's moving back. You're not getting Caleb and Drake, May, and panics to me, if he plays well this weekend again for a high profile game, go get Kirk Cousins. Yeah, you're going to have to go. Am I nuts? You're going to have to go in free agency to get somebody
Starting point is 00:12:35 of Jordan Love does not check all these boxes. Absolutely. I mean, coming off of injury. Family guy, same coaching tree. Coming off of injury, you're probably going to get them for the right price. You know, and like I touched on earlier, this defense has a lot of first rounders and a lot of ballers on this defense. And the offense, not paying anybody because they're going to draft a tackle.
Starting point is 00:12:54 So in the first round, if they end up 8, 9, 10, they're getting one of the tackles. So I'm not paying Watson, Dobbs. I'm not paying my left tackle. I'm not paying musgrave. I'm not paying anybody. You might be on to something. You might be on to something if Jordan Love does not answer the questions these last nighting games. Three words, hot take artists.
Starting point is 00:13:13 Everybody, if I had told you Durant to the Warriors, farved to the Vikings. Kirk Cousin. I like Kurt. I respect the heck out of him. Midwest guy, nose division. You'll say Minnesota won't. He's a free agent. No trade clause.
Starting point is 00:13:27 You don't think he doesn't want to go to Green Bay and say, okay, all right. You let me go. I'll go across the street. He's competitive. And not only that, you can get a young quarterback to sit him behind Kurt. For three years. You're going to win games with Kirk Cousins. You're always going to win games with Kirk.
Starting point is 00:13:44 You might be on a cell. there's looking at me like I'm a wizard. He's like, wow, does that brain function so quickly? I'm ruined for Jordan Love still, though. But it's definitely not bad if he doesn't answer all these questions. If that doesn't trend today on Twitter, you people are just not paying attention to brilliance. All right, one more. I've got to ask you one more thing.
Starting point is 00:14:01 So you played with Derek Carr. Yes, sir. Okay, he's barking and yelling at people. I think it's good to yell at you. But to yell at Chris Olavé, he was a kid. He's probably sitting there thinking, give me a break. What do you make of him yelling? I mean, I got yelled at as a kid by breath.
Starting point is 00:14:15 Farm. I got yelled as a kid by Aaron Rogers. I mean, at the end of the day, we are trying to win. That's what we are trying. We are trying to win. I used to tell Aaron Rogers, get on me if I'm not doing my job. I have zero sensitivity in my body. If I'm not doing my job at a high level, if I run the wrong route or you don't think I'm running my route full speed or I don't make a tough play or whatever it may be, get on me. That's football. I know you as a teammate. I know if you're disrespecting me and I know when you're just pushing me to say, hey man, let's get this thing right.
Starting point is 00:14:48 Derek Carr is just like, man, come on, you can't stop on routes. He's pushing these dudes to make this thing right. Offensively, we have been struggling. We haven't been scoring any points. I'm the quarterback in charge of all this stuff. I'm going to demand the best out of you. We see it from the great quarterbacks.
Starting point is 00:15:05 You just can't be sensitive nowadays in this league. Get on all of them. If you're not doing your job, get on them. That's what I had to do with him when he first got here. Had to bark, James. You know, you got to bark at them sometimes. It's fine. Bring you closer, too.
Starting point is 00:15:16 It's all good. That's right. Brings us closer. He passed back once in a while. We could be really close. All right, James Jones, Super Bowl, champ. You brought your A game today. Appreciate it, my man.
Starting point is 00:15:25 You are so, you really deliver. All right, I've got a great parlay for you this weekend. Thanks to Draf King Sportsbook. New users, please use the code, Heardt, H-E-R-D when you download the app. Now for my parlay pick of the week via draft king's sports book. Dolphins at the Chiefs, Kansas City, overseas minus two and a half. Andy Reid off a loss.
Starting point is 00:15:49 Mahomes off a loss. Kansas City has a much better O-line and defense. They rebound, and I will swallow the two and a half points. Seahawks at the Ravens minus six. Better quarterback at home, better defense. I like the Ravens here. Ugly win over Arizona. They're a tough, tough home favorite.
Starting point is 00:16:10 I like him here to beat Seattle in cover. Bingles minus two and a half. I like them hosting the bills to cover. I think Cincinnati's defense is more consistent. Burroughs situationally at homes better than Josh Allen on the road. Three favorites, Chiefs, Ravens, Bengals, I'll take all of them. You want to take the herd parlay. Check out Draft King's sportsbook.
Starting point is 00:16:32 New users. Please use the code herd when you download the app. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. call it grotesque, others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the
Starting point is 00:16:50 games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win.
Starting point is 00:17:07 A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me. Clever Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment. And the next, we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose,
Starting point is 00:17:42 and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream,
Starting point is 00:17:55 this is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people.
Starting point is 00:18:15 I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do a little kill? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill,
Starting point is 00:18:32 waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so you all right. Literally, we'll have plenty. But just say y'all know. I mean, at this point, this is the second episode where we've discussed correct. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now.
Starting point is 00:18:51 Thank you for finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. J. Mack, with the news. No.
Starting point is 00:19:11 Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. I'm not sure we could top Kirk Cousins to the Packers in this segment, but I'll try. By the way, that was a pretty good take. I tried to poke holes in it in my head. I'm like, there's really no argument against it. Other than the Vikings seeing it happening and being like, we can't let this happen. In the division, we've got to face Kirk twice now.
Starting point is 00:19:31 Well, if you like him so much, sign him. Sign him, exactly. James makes a great point. You're going to get a discount because of the injury. You're not going to be, it's not going to be a bidding war. Kirk's market small anyway. Yeah. And I always think this whole thing, we don't want people to go in a division.
Starting point is 00:19:44 I'll get over it. I got a business. I got to solve my business. I can't worry about my neighbor. Right? I mean, you've got to get your marriage right. Can't worry about down the street. I don't care if Kirk Cousins, who's a massive upgrade from love makes me better.
Starting point is 00:19:57 And I draft a tackle with my first pick, which I think they will. They won't get the quarterbacks. They don't need Bowers to tide in because they got tied in. Jet's second round pick. Left tackle, receiver. And they drafted another receiver out, I think, out of Michigan State this year. So now they've got three receivers. They're not paying for three years and a left tackle in the draft.
Starting point is 00:20:14 They're not paying anybody. Aaron Jones, who they eventually probably move. You can get it back. He can't stay healthy this year. They'll move off him. They'll get it back. The offense, we'll get to it. It's going to be a very inexpensive offense very quickly.
Starting point is 00:20:27 Yeah. Let's start with Matt Stafford. He missed practice yesterday due to a thumb injury. Lots of chatter that it's going to be Brett Rippin' as the starter this week for the Rams. And the market is telling you that's what. what's going to be the case is the Packers are now three-point favorites. Colin, the Packers have the worst first-half offense in the league. 4.1 points per first half this season for Green Bay. They cannot move the football in the first
Starting point is 00:20:54 half for whatever reason. I don't know, man. If the Rams are missing Stafford, what do you do, you do you do you really consider like, oh, okay, we're not going anymore with Brett Rippin? Well, I think what's going to have, I think the real question for the Rams is do you draft a quarterback, and I think the Rams are going to end up in that top 10. They're not getting the first two. The question is they don't have a ton of draft capital, whereas Green Bay does. Green Bay would have the draft capital with two seconds and two thirds if they wanted to go quarterback. I don't think anybody, Chicago's got two picks. One of them's going to be a receiver. Arizona's got a lot of picks. They may move. I just don't think people are going to. So the team in the draft that's in good shape is Chicago,
Starting point is 00:21:39 because they can get a quarterback and trade down and get seven picks. Rams are in a weird spot. I think what they want to do is get that tied end out of Georgia. I think they're really interested in that. That's because they're not going to get, there's not a great after Harrison. It's not, you don't have anybody else that's a lock first round receiver that's going to like.
Starting point is 00:21:57 Well, the kid in Washington, I like a lot. He's good, but a lot of people like the second and third receiver as much. So I think that Harrison and the tight end from Georgia are the two absolute lock great players. I took a lot of grief in the first month of the season from what I was saying about the Rams in the offseason on this show. Like Rams are going to be bad, they're going to be one of the worst. And all these Rams fanboys, oh, you are so wrong. Here we are, middle of the season.
Starting point is 00:22:20 Rams are going to be picking in the top 10. We would agree on that, right? Yes. Now, again, if you can't get one of the top three quarterbacks, do you trade down, which I think the Rams should do and get multiple picks? Or do you consider moving Aaron Donald in the off season? See what the market is for Aaron Donald? I mean, I think the market's a two-s,
Starting point is 00:22:38 Seconds. People are saying first. Well, they waited too long. Yeah, I think you can get a second, a fourth, and a fifth. I don't think you can get a first for Aaron. That's my gut feeling. The Cooper Cup thing becomes interesting. He's, I think, 30, 31. He's getting, you know, a couple drops.
Starting point is 00:22:52 Not up to a great start. And they have puka, who's amazing. If you trust your offense, do you consider moving Cooper Cup? Like, how much do you want to bottom out if you're the Rams? Can you do a quick pivot on the rebound? What are you do with Stafford? Like, a lot of questions for your guys need. We should invite him out for a drink sometimes.
Starting point is 00:23:08 Well, he's in the season, these GMs, I try to get, they text me and we talk, they can't go to dinner in the season. They always tell me that. That's a tall order. Next up, the commanders traded away, the combo of sweaty and young this week seems like a complete teardown. But Ron Rivera defended the direction the team is heading after making these moves. Based on some of the things that we've seen and some of the growth and development we have, it's an opportunity to see what else we have. It's an opportunity to go out and win football games using different guys. And we feel that we have an opportunity to go out and play and play well.
Starting point is 00:23:45 We look forward to seeing what some of these young guys can do. We do think that there's every opportunity in front of us. It's a tough spot for Ron. Nobody believes that a word he just said. Well, they're going to go get a new coach. There's going to be four or five coaching changes. Remember when Urban got let go middle of the season, Usually you have one or two coaches replaced in season, then another five.
Starting point is 00:24:12 So we got Raiders. Raiders is done. Washington's going to have a new coach. That's guaranteed. We think Sean Payton's staying, obviously. Yeah. You start looking around the league and you're like, I don't see four more moves. I know what happens every year, but currently...
Starting point is 00:24:27 Well, there's at least four, usually six to seven. Does Iber flu survive in Chicago? No. All right, so there's three. By the way, so... Todd Bowles in Tampa. four? Does not survive. They'll get a new guy. They'll go offense.
Starting point is 00:24:41 They'll get a quarterback go offense. So that's four. That's your minimum. If the Falcons miss the playoffs. I don't think he's the problem. I think Arthur Smith is good. I don't know if he's great, but he's good. He went into the season confident in Desmond Ritter. Well, that's what he had. That's what they had to figure out, just like Chicago's got to figure out if Justin's the guy. Atlanta had to figure it out. I watch Atlanta. I never think poorly coached.
Starting point is 00:25:05 Didn't they beat Houston a couple weeks ago? Red zone ineptitude. Well, that's Desmond Ritter. You can't blame the coach for all that. That's fair. I'm just saying, like, if you're a Falcons fan, this was set up to be your year. With the schedule, everything was like perfect.
Starting point is 00:25:18 Well, we already got to four. If we got to Tampa, I don't like to fire guys. Washington, Vegas, what was the other one to Chicago? Tampa, Chicago. You're on the fence about Atlanta. Those feel like they're going to happen. The current momentum feels,
Starting point is 00:25:32 I'm just telling you, that stuff's out there being discussed now. I'll toss one out there before. We'll quickly move. on. McDermott and Buffalo. No. These small markets are very protective. Green Bay, Buffalo,
Starting point is 00:25:45 even like a Cincinnati. They don't, you know, they don't want to fire their coaches. They don't like the controversy. They like to keep their stuff quiet. Oh, oh, yeah, I've said before. I think the Chargers have to win Monday night. Oh, Chargers, yeah.
Starting point is 00:26:00 Yeah, they've got to win Monday night. You cannot go into a game with Justin Herbert and a healthy O-line against Zach Wilson missing four starters and lose. I really think this is a seminal moment for the Chargers coaching staff. You have to win. You got Zach Wilson missing three to four O line starters. They have one receiver of no. Come on.
Starting point is 00:26:21 This is a win. Be wary of that Jets. If you're going to give me the hook, I'm taking it. You give me the three and a half, I will take it with that Jets defense. They will ugly this game up. Bet the under. Chargers can't move the ball. Jets ugly up a 17-16 W.
Starting point is 00:26:35 I don't think. Chargers win 1716, but... I think this is Monday night football. This should be a really good game on Monday night football. Oh, it's going to be awful because the Jets' offense is unwatchable. I hope I sarcasm translated through this. If I get three and a half, the Jets is the side. Final story, Will Levis,
Starting point is 00:26:53 you had kind of a bromance within the offseason. No, I had one rant where I liked him, and then a bunch that I did. I'm kidding. The shirtless photos, the selfies. Anyways, he gets his second career start tonight. Ryan Tanna Hill officially out with the ankle. DeAndre Hopkins is questionable. I did not notice that.
Starting point is 00:27:09 Okay, here, I got a question. Expect it to play. When you watch Pickett and Levis tonight. Oh, dear. Forget about winner or loser. Tomorrow on the show, I want to know, who do you think is more talented? Well, we got a sample size of a probably close to 16 games of Pickett. Levis is more talented.
Starting point is 00:27:26 Kenny Pickett will win more games. Come on. Pickett's like, I mean, if we asked him, gave him truth serum here on the. sofa. He would say, man, I'm, I'm quarterbacking with one arm tied behind my back. What is Matt Canada doing to me? Like, he's not putting me in a position to succeed. We'll see. Island game. You know the Island game brings out all the Yahoo's. Everybody's scrutinizing every single play. Could get ugly for Matt Canada if he doesn't dial up something good here. Every two weeks, you see trending fire Canada, and I always think it means something's burning up north.
Starting point is 00:27:57 Lines two and a half. Steelers at home favored. I, tonight, Vrable's a great underdog coach, but I think the Steelers will unravel, Will Levis. I would probably take Pittsburgh 2013, 2016, 2116.
Starting point is 00:28:16 I bet the first half under 17 and a half, you know, these Thursday games are gross. Rookie quarterback, a short week to prepare. Yeah, I could see like 9-3 at halftime, some junk like that. I'll watch. Are you going to watch it? Yeah, I'll see what else is on NBA, but I have my men's league basketball game tonight.
Starting point is 00:28:32 See, that's... Tonight, no... No alcohol? No, total clarity. It's been a boozy week for you, right? Three or four nights out. No, it has not. I finished with a cranberry juice and three waters last night.
Starting point is 00:28:47 I'm good. Cranberry? And a smash burger. You ever had a smash burger? Cannot say that I have. Oh, my God. Best thing on earth, man. Oh, yeah.
Starting point is 00:28:54 After like three cocktails, a smash burger tastes great. You did marginalize my... Who makes a smash burger? 900, buddy. Oh, fair. All right, Jay Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by.
Starting point is 00:29:08 The Herd Lye News. Mid-season superlatives on the NFL. Talk about that. Our awards. Mid-season awards next. 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, we're Kavino and Rich.
Starting point is 00:29:29 Fox Sports Radio every day, 5 to 7. p.m. Eastern, but here's the thing. We never have enough time to get to everything we want to to get to. And that's why we have a brand new podcast called Overpromised. You see, we're having so much fun in our two-hour show. We never get to everything. Honestly, because this guy is over-promising things we never have time for. Yeah, you blubber
Starting point is 00:29:49 lips. Blame and me. Well, you know what? It's called Over-Promise. You should be good at it because you've been over-promising women for years. Well, it's a Kavino and Rich after show, and we want you to be a part of it. We're going to be talking sports, of course. But we're also going to talk life and relationships. And if Rich and I are arguing about something
Starting point is 00:30:04 or we didn't have enough time, it will continue on our after show called Overpromised. Well, if you don't get enough, Kavino and Rich, make sure you check out Overpromised, by the way. So maybe we'll go at it even a little harder. It's going to be the best
Starting point is 00:30:16 after show podcast of all time. There you go. Overpromising. And remember, you could see it on YouTube, but definitely join us. Listen to Overpromised with Kavino and Rich on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Starting point is 00:30:31 in 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.
Starting point is 00:30:54 Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits,
Starting point is 00:31:08 the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show.
Starting point is 00:31:21 This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast, it's a
Starting point is 00:31:40 space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network, on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs?
Starting point is 00:32:07 Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at It podcast.
Starting point is 00:32:16 I'm Sam Jek. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill
Starting point is 00:32:27 waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you finishing that sentence.
Starting point is 00:32:48 Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you Get your podcasts. Make sure you play this week's Fox Super 6th free-to-play game.
Starting point is 00:33:08 Download the Fox Sports app and enter for free for a chance to win your share of $10,000 in weekly cash prizes. Great to have Jimmy Johnson on earlier this week. Pleasure. Had a good week of shows. Good week of shows. Tonight, Titan Steelers. All right, Jay Mack, you know, in the high school album, you know,
Starting point is 00:33:29 and you'd have cutest couple and biggest flirt. You know, you'd have all those superlatives in there, like most likely to succeed, that kind of stuff. Do you win any of those? Of course not. You win any of them? I don't think so.
Starting point is 00:33:42 I went to a small school. I think everybody won something. This was like 12, 15 years ago. I graduated high school, so I don't really remember. That's a lie. I'm older than that. All right, let's move on. Here we go.
Starting point is 00:33:53 Superlatives. Most valuable. Which player do you consider the mid-season MVP? Ramar Jackson. I think he's been more consistent than Jalen Hertz, Mahalmsboro. Top three in completion percentage, touchdown to interception ratio. I also think he's the soul of the franchise. He got money.
Starting point is 00:34:14 It made him better. 17 and won all time against the NFC. I think he is the MVP and I don't think it's that close so far. Okay. Most likely to succeed which AFC division leader has the best chance to make the Super Bowl? Well, it's either Baltimore or the Jaguars. A little easier schedule because of the division. They'll have home field advantage.
Starting point is 00:34:36 Baltimore may not tougher division. They're 11 and 2 in their last 13. And their defense also does something that's really important for playoff teams. They lead the NFL in takeaways, meaning they give this offense ATN, Trevor Lawrence, Doug Peterson, more opportunities. They have easier schedule, higher seat if they played Baltimore, likely be at home.
Starting point is 00:34:57 Jaguars. No Kansas City Chiefs. Okay. Most likely to succeed in the NFC. Which NFC division leader has the best chance to make it to the Super Bowl? Well, go Eagles, although Super Bowl losers rarely play well. Their defense has the fewest big plays allowed in the league, so you have to drive the length of the field, and they're the best third-down offense and fourth-down offense in the league. What does that mean? They can kill the clock. They always give you the best drive of the weekend when they absolutely need. it. That is situational playoff football. So nobody's better on fourth, the tush push, and nobody right now is statistically better on third. That's moving the chains. If they have to face a gop or they have
Starting point is 00:35:39 to face a good quarterback, that guy will watch from the bench. Which current playoff team has surprised you most? Most surprising. Pittsburgh. Their offense is anemic. 31st ranked total offense. They have nine touchdowns this year. Think about this.
Starting point is 00:35:56 Only the Jets and the Giants have fewer. Their offense is anemic and it's not the receivers in the backs and the tight ends. So you can either blame the quarterback or the O.C. But they have the worst point differential, minus 31, of any team in the league with a winning record. That is weird. They just don't get into the end zone. Most likely to improve which current non-playoff team has the best chance to make the postseason. Cincinnati. Burrow is on fire, leads the NFL in completion, Bersen, since week five at 78%. They're only a game and a half back of Baltimore,
Starting point is 00:36:33 three-game winning streak. They're getting mostly healthy. Coming off back-to-back division title, so this is familiar territory. Keep your eye on Cincinnati. You forgot about the Jets. Okay, cutest couple. Who's been the best pass-catching duo so far this season?
Starting point is 00:36:50 Tua and Tyreek Hill. First of all, world-class speed. The always-likable Tua. Tyreeks on pace to go over 2100 yards and set the all-time single-season record. Do you know that Tyreek Hill comprises 41% of Miami's office?
Starting point is 00:37:09 And they have a lot of pieces. They have good backs. Jalen Waddle. He has the most receiving yards through this point in the season in the Super Bowl era. So that's the cutest couple. This is wrong. The staff should not have done this.
Starting point is 00:37:21 Which couple is most likely to break up? Which team is most likely to break up their head coach. Well, nobody wants to root for this, but I mean, Matt Eberflues. His record is 5 and 20. Do you want to know who his wins are over? Trey Lance, Davis Mills, Sam, Hal, Brian Hoyer, and Mac Jones.
Starting point is 00:37:38 So that 5 and 20s worse than it looks. I'm not rooting for anybody. I defended Matt Nagy for years when he was the Bears coach losing, but I don't, there's nothing here I love. The Montez Sweat move I defended, but there's just nothing here I love. You're back at him this weekend?
Starting point is 00:37:55 against the Saints? No. Finally, biggest flirt, which team with a winning record will still finish with a losing record? Jets. Oh, my gosh, of course. First of all, they have the worst third down offense in the NFL. The opposite of Philadelphia, meaning short drives, give it back to the better quarterback, wear your defense down, 31st ranked passing offense.
Starting point is 00:38:22 And Zach Wilson is three and three and completed 58% of his throw. So the problem is their defense is great. But when you're the worst team in the league on third down, that means a lot of three and outs and six and outs. And your defense over the course of the next six weeks is just going to play too many snaps, get beat up, have injuries, thin out, and not be able to constantly save the franchise. All right.
Starting point is 00:38:46 Let me defend Zach Wilson. These are the defenses he's gone up against his season. At Dallas, Dallas, an elite defense. Okay. Kansas City, Kansas City. a top 10 defense by every metric. Philadelphia, also a top 10 defense. The New York Giants trending in the right direction, top 15 defense.
Starting point is 00:39:04 Zach Wilson has had no easy layups until this week against your charges, Colin. I do think. This will be the easiest defense he's faced outside of Denver, which was on the road. And he won. He did. Did he win that game? Yeah, Denver, I mean, listen, they got Shell by Miami. Otherwise, they've been solid against Mahomes in two meetings.
Starting point is 00:39:21 Wilson's going to have a chance. And he does like to flirt. We know what the old. ladies, according, reported. You always got to throw it. That was not, that was not verified. That was a rumor on a Reddit board. It was more than a rumor. But it's not
Starting point is 00:39:35 a, you didn't like a, well, you don't have to really apologize for, you know, nothing to apologize for it. Yeah. Nothing wrong with that. Well, I'm not going to have an opinion on that, but that's fine. Certainly not a crime. Even in Utah. I mean, that's not a crime. I love Utah.
Starting point is 00:39:54 I can't say that about a state. You go to Utah a lot. You have a lot of friends there. That was classic. That was a pretty... That was good. Okay. Oh, that was great. All right, so we're done for today.
Starting point is 00:40:06 Greg Kosell will put him on the podcast. Yep. I want to see tonight. I want to see Will Levis and Kenny Pickett. By the way, you go on Washington, USC this weekend? I think I am. This is a weekend. You're right.
Starting point is 00:40:17 A lot of people seem to like USC. It's really weird. I mean, I've seen Washington, USC in person. Washington's a lot better. but they're not deep defensively. A few injuries. They've got to outscore you. So it's going to be a wildly entertaining game.
Starting point is 00:40:33 If you're in L.A., go to the game just to watch Michael Pennix and Caleb Williams, two of the top three quarterbacks. And doesn't LSU play somebody? Are they against Alabama this weekend? I think LSU has a big game. You loved LSU the season. They're quarterback. They're still going to win nine games.
Starting point is 00:40:47 They're going to lose three, but they're going to win nine. They've got a lot of talent. USC's got talent. It's just not quite right. Too many transfers. All right, we'll see you tomorrow. Live in L.A. It's The Hurd. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite.
Starting point is 00:41:01 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
Starting point is 00:41:23 I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds.
Starting point is 00:41:48 I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all? You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor? It signals to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to.
Starting point is 00:42:22 Listen and learn the hard way on the IHard radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. This is an IHart podcast. Guaranteed human.

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