The Herd with Colin Cowherd - THE HERD - Hour 3 - Tomorrow's headlines today, Brian Baldinger

Episode Date: January 23, 2026

Colin talks to former NFL lineman Brian Baldinger about NFL Championship and why Seattle might have the advantage. He also breaks down the AFC Championship game including why it's so difficult playing in Denver Tomorrow's headlines today with Jason McIntyreSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart 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 IHeart Radio app, Apple

podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Joey Dardano. And on my new podcast, Hope From a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends

as we riff rant and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to me. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from a Hypocrite Wednesdays on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is Saigon, the story of my family and of the country that shaped us.

From IHeart Podcasts, Saigon. You don't think I'm serious about a free Vietnam? One city, a divided country, and the war that tore America apart. This is for Vietnam. They're pouring patril all over here. Freedom for Vietnam! There's a fire coming to this country and it's going to burn out everything. Listen to Saigon.

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 Sports Radio.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. You know, J. Mack, you were always very critical of Barclay. You see, he's complaining. He's not getting on the air anymore.

ESPN buried that show. Why am I critical of Barclay? He was critical of the league. But what did Barclay say? I don't think I saw it. He doesn't, he wishes he worked more. And my feeling is, this is just conjecture, is that ESPN has a great relationship with the NBA. And they said, yeah, we'll bring that show over.

You won't see it as much. Put it on the shelf a little bit. Huh. During football season, sorry, nobody's, you know, nobody's caring. But NBA from February, March, April, May, June, I'm sure he'll be on a lot, right? I haven't seen a second of it this season. I watch the games. I don't, you know.

I do. It felt very, very big at one time, and now it's invisible. So, I don't know. I, you know, I'm just saying conjecture, but I know there were people upstairs in the NBA office that didn't like how they lampoon the league and some of the players. What are you talking to Adam Silver there? I would say people upstairs didn't love sometimes. They would say NFL shows don't make fun of the players.

Why are we making fun of the players? I heard that before. Yeah, no, no. That might have started here. I don't know. I'm an originator. What can we do? No.

I'm just saying, it's just Charles is complaining. It's like it feels obvious to me that, you know, you have these new deals and there's a lot of understandings that don't have to be contractual. There's David Stern didn't like when people were critical of the NBA either. They're very sensitive in the NBA. Remember Adam Silver saying my players are miserable, Twitter. It just feels like it's a thing. But you're right.

In February they could be on every night. We'll see. Jay Mack with the news. No, no, no, no, turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right, shout out to our staff. They keep finding these interesting nuggets. How about this one?

The New England Patriots in their franchise history, Which history, 0 and 4 in postseason games in Denver all time. Now, the line of four and a half, I'm seeing some fours emerge in the desert. I'll have my pick here shortly. There isn't an altitude situation in Denver that has to be addressed. You know, New England has looked, yeah, got fat and happy playing at home against bad offensive lines. Will they look as good on the road? I mean, now maybe anybody can look good against Stitty.

I can't believe we're calling them that. but this is a big home field advantage for Denver and I'm assuming you think 5,280 feet above sea level is an edge for the Broncos, right? Well, I think if you have a quarterback that hasn't played in two years I'm going to and who isn't as athletic, you know, Bo Nex picks up some first

downs with his legs. My guess is New England will get an extra possession in this game, maybe a little field position edge because the Denver offense isn't quite as consistent, isn't quite as potent, and that gives you a little field position edge, which in these playoff games, that is huge. Also, Denver's defense gets a lot of sacks. I don't consider it close to Seattle. I don't think it's as good as the Rams. I don't think it's as Philadelphia's. I thought, no. I mean, I'd be honestly, I thought the bears, the last six quarters defense were doing it with smoke and mirrors. I think Denver's defense, there's, there's ways,

there's ways to move the ball in Denver. Josh Allen, by the way, they weren't punting a lot. They didn't pun at all. I am curious. I don't know how you game plan for Stidham if you're the Patriots. Again, he hasn't thrown a pass in the NFL in two seasons. I mean, if they come out with three tight ends, that might happen. If they come out four rides?

I know anything's in play here. I think you look at Sean Payton's schemes and Sean Payton's habits, and you just scheme against it. My take is they're not going to. reinvent the offense. I mean, Stidham is somewhat athletic. He can move, and he's, you know, he's a little bigger version, maybe a Bow Nix, not as talented. But my guess is you're going to run the same offense. I just don't think you'll, I don't, Bo Nix takes off running more than Stidham would, but I think you'll run a lot of the offense. I don't think you're going to ship. It's too late

in the season. You don't have enough practice time. We're going to install some new, no, you're not. You're just, you're going to play what you do. You're going to do what you do, and hopefully Stim can make, You know, because Bo Nix had two huge downfield throws for touchdown. You can Stenham give you a couple. If he does, you may win the game. I mean, the line's only four. Let's move on to a team that stinks. The Miami Dolphins, Colin, they are in a rebuild mode.

Tuo was benched for Quinn Ewers over the final three weeks of the season, but he's still under contract. At the Dolphins press conference yesterday, new GM John Eric Sullivan, acknowledged that the team is still undecided about what to do at quarterback moving forward. I have a lot of respect for Tua. He's a good football player. He's accomplished a lot in this league.

I think whether it's Tua or anybody else, it's unfair and irresponsible for me to sit up here and talk about anything specific before I've talked to the player himself. That's fair. That's a reasonable answer. I mean, you've got the draft in 90 days. So, I mean, you're going to take a quarterback at some point, maybe second, third round.

Listen, it wouldn't, where's Miami drafting? Not high enough to get Mendoza. Halfley looks very serious there. I mean, he looks like he just got a haircut. Looks like he's going to basic training. I mean, he is locked in. Do you see the stone face by that from that guy?

Let me throw this at you. Rams have like what Atlanta's pick, number 11 or something like that. Rams move up and get Ty Simpson because they still have another number one. one pick where they can address corner and offensive tackle. Their real needs are offensive tackle and corner. Quarterback they could get next year. And the Rams in the building say, listen, we view him as about the 23rd best player. We have two picks. Let's reach on Ty Simpson. And then we'll just get Stafford another tackle, another corner, another receiver. I mean, I could see a team like the Rams saying, we're not going to have two first again. We've only had

one first round pick in nine years, Jared versus. I mean, I think it's very interesting. The Rams are one of the few really good teams that are drafting in the top 15, like really special teams. Do you wait? Do you say to yourself, we have them as like the 23rd player, but we're not going to be in this position again.

Because next year, if you say to yourself, no, let's get a tackle and then a corner, do you know what the Rams are going to have to do to get up into the top two quarterbacks next year? Give up multiple first. So it could be the Rams are too good. So my take is, reach on the quarterback now.

You're not going to play him. Stafford comes back for a two-year deal. He plays one. Maybe they move off him. But I think it's very interesting. What the Rams do with that first pick, they don't get, they rarely have first round picks. Now they have two.

If they don't get a quarterback now, look at what the Rams are going to do drafting 30th the following year to get to the seventh pick. Two-ones, two-twos. You've got your draft capital. Yeah. So I, you know, I've been pretty plugged in on Stafford and Rams here last few years, gave everybody the Puka stuff and the ugly contract.

You did. So I did ask my people, I said, hey, so if Stafford wins a Super Bowl, is it over? And they're like, uh-uh, he's cooking. He wants to play again. Now, I wonder if that changes, Colin, if he wins a Super Bowl and his wife's like, listen, come on, you go out on top like Elway, maybe he changes his mind. But if they lose this game, I would say he's definitely coming back next season, I just, I don't see a trade-up for Ty Simpson.

I personally think we're overrating him because they're really on. aren't a lot of attractive quarterbacks after Mendoza. Do you really believe Ty Simpson's the guy? Like top 20 pick? What I'm saying is if your scouting department, the Rams Scouting Department's good, finds him to be like the 24th best player in your draft and whatever they're drafting.

I could see them saying, guys, in one year there are better quarterbacks potentially. We don't know. We thought Cape Clutnik was going to be great this year. We thought Nussmeier was going to be great. They weren't. We didn't think Mendo, I mean, before the season, did we think Mendoza was going to be an easy number?

I thought it was like Arch Manning, Dante Moore, you just don't know. Let me ask. What about, we just mentioned Tua. Could you see Tua fitting with the L.A. Rams? C.J. Stroud, yes. All right, final story. Let's go to Robert Sala. Everybody likes him.

Great defensive coordinator with the Niners. Didn't really get a good chance with the Jets because of Aaron Rogers. Anyways, he had a lot of interest from folks, and he ultimately picked Tennessee. Here's what Sala had to say. For me, this was the most desirable location. The most desirable team. The people here are unbelievable. There's a type of people you want to work with.

I'm really excited about the city of Nashville and bringing a winner back to the city. You know, they call it Nash Vegas. I think there's a world here where Salas pretty damn good pretty quickly, Colin. We're believers in Cam Ward. We both liked him. They just have to, you know, they got some cap money,

cap space to spend. They were 3 and 14. Offense wasn't great. defense wasn't great, but they have a couple pieces in place. I think this is a good, good spot for Sala. So do I. I think, I mean, listen, it's been kind of a wonky

political job through the years. I mean, I let Vrable go. I don't think that was terribly bright. That was dumb. Yeah. Jay Mack with the News. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lie News.

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, is Covino and Rich from Fox Sports Radio? Now, in addition to hearing us live weekdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific, on Fox Sports Radio, we're excited to announce a brand new YouTube channel for the show. Yep, that's right. You can now watch Covino & Rich live on YouTube every day. All you got to do, search Covino and Rich FSR on YouTube.

Again, go to YouTube, search Covino and Rich FSR. Check us out on YouTube, subscribe, hit that thumbs up icon, and comment away. Hey, it's us to Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas. We invented a podcast?

Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call.

about what we should call it. 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,

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, 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 Rob. Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed.

And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows. Without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall.

And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball. Like, you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah. You figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the bomb.

So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Here's something that should not be as complicated as it is. Getting a racist statue removed. And here's something that should be a whole lot easier than it is. Getting a new one put up in its place. As long as there's a politics of race in America, there's going to be a politics of remembering the Civil War. To get to school, I had to go down Robert Lee Boulevard. I get to the grocery store.

I had to go down Jefferson Davis Parkway. If you're an historian and you leave out half of what the history is, you're not doing your job. I'm Akila Hughes, and Rebel Spirit Season 2 goes deep on both of those things. The fights, the politics, the people who won, and my personal campaign to add something to the Kentucky State House that's actually worth the wall space. We are more than our bodies. We contain essence. We contain spirit.

How do you represent that? They are just fueling a fire. that is really catching. You'll see what I mean. Listen to Rebel Spirit season two on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 13 years in the NFL,

one of my favorites, Baldi's breakdowns, make us all smarter, and he's joining us live right now as we get ready for Ram Seahawks and Patriots, Denver. Let's start with this. Let's just start Rams Seahawks. Let's cut to the chase.

Who do you got and why? Well, I like Seattle. I like Seattle. I like their defense. I know what Matt Stamford did the last time they played. He threw for 450 yards just a month ago. So that's on tape. But, you know, Seattle, I mean, Stapher did make a mistake in that game.

He was unbelievable. All the way to the touchdown throw to Pooka and how they attacked him. I mean, it's smart to what they did. Seattle tried to blitz every time they blitzed, he carved them up. But it's a different game. It'll be played differently. They know they've got to get to Stafford, which they did. do the last time. And so I think it'll be played differently. But I like Seattle. I just,

you know, San Francisco, if they had the ball 10 more times, they wouldn't have scored a touchdown against Seattle. And so that's just where they're playing right now. It's an elite group. I think defense wins championships. And I think their defense will be up to the task. What, Stafford, you liked him when he was in Detroit. Everybody likes him now. I said this earlier, it sounds crazy. I said, if he wins two Super Bowls, I'm putting him right next to Aaron Rogers all time, and I think Aaron's a top 12 quarterback. Stafford's on a 7-2 playoff heater, and I could argue out of his prime. I feel like his first NFL family was dysfunctional.

He got adopted by the Rams, and he's been arguably the second best quarterback to Mahomes in the league during this period, does he not? Well, maybe he just needs another back condition in training camp next year, where he just sits there in Mothball for six weeks, and then comes out and just, balls out. I mean, the Rams used to do that with Jackie Slater. Jackie Slater used to say, every year I don't go to training camp, I get two more years

on in my career. And I always say this, Tom. I know it sounds kind of silly, but you play as long as you can and then two more years. I figure that's what Stappford is going to do. Yeah. Hey, do you trust Donald? Where are you on Donald? When you look at the film, you know, you look at it uniquely.

You're a former player. Do you trust Donald implicitly? Well, it really depends on what the defense is doing to him. When he's under siege, he makes mistakes like a lot of quarterbacks. Like we just saw CJ Stroud and, you know, we saw Drake May. They made mistakes when they were under siege last weekend. The thing is this team, and it is a real team, Colin.

Being around that team, you can feel it. They know that they wouldn't be where they're at without Sam, and they feel like they're good enough to overcome if there are mistakes. And I feel like for Seattle is right now. I think as a team, they're good enough to overcome a mistake or two, whereas a lot of other places, they're just, especially in a championship setting, they're not good enough to overcome. So Drake Mays had some mistakes. Four touchdowns, five giveaways. Now, it is the Texans, and the O line is struggling, but Nick Benito on the edge for Denver should be a problem.

Zach Allen could be a problem. I contend New England still a draft away. They're the only team left that has, they're almost done with a rebuild, but they just need to fortify their linebacking core, their offensive line. When you watch Drake May, of all the things that you look at, Baldi and go as a former offensive lineman, wow, that's good for his age. What impresses you most? I mean, just the overall poise that he played with.

That touchdown to Stefan Diggs is not an easy throw, Colin. That is a stick throw. It's a great catch by Dix. But it's bracket coverage. It happened fast. It was an important play. They finished the drive. Like that throw in that spot is huge.

It looks like, okay, you go back and play notes, Dave's and say, you know, seven yards. That was a difficult throw. He makes difficult throws look routine. And that's impressive. But you can't, you can't rattle him. I mean, Will Anderson got the ball out of his hands a couple of times. Will does that to a lot of players. He never looks rather.

And part of it is because of how. Josh McDaniels coaches him all week long. Like he looks prepared for whatever's coming next. Yeah. Okay, John Harbaugh goes to the Giants. All the years you've been watching Harbaugh and the Ravens teams in the trenches. You're watching O-line play. I'm not watching O-line play.

You're watching the stuff differently. What sticks out to you if I said to you, oh, it's a John Harbaugh team. The Giants will be a John Harbaugh team. What defines his coaching to you? Well, I think there was a toughness. Like, I'll tell you a quick story, Colin. I remember when John got there, and they were led by Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, I mean, Hall of Fame players.

And I was out of practice one day in training camp. John Madden was there. He had his cruiser out there. It was a big deal with a scrimmage. And literally together, Ray Lewis and Ed Reed came up to him and go, you've got to talk to this guy for us, Baldy. He's killing us. So I did.

I went up to John after the practice. I'm like, you're two stars, John, are really complaining. about how hard things are. He goes, that's fine. That's fine, Baldy. He goes, I'm trying to get these younger guys ready for December and January, and we've got to train them this way. Now, Ray and Ed, if they need to get out of the drill,

they know how to get out of the drill. If they've got to save themselves for the season, they know how to do that. But I've got to get my guys ready. And so you go out to a John Harbaal training camp, you feel like it's in the 80s. Like, guys are taking their shoes off because they sweated through the shoes and trained.

training camp as they walk off the field. Like, he trains them hard. And when you win, nobody really complains. And so he's going to get these younger guys and new guys, that there's going to be a way that they practice, and that's where it's going to start. The other thing I'd say is, I know Johnson's he was a special team coach in Philly. He's had two of the great kickers in the NFL.

The Jones have had kicking issues forever. They will get that fixed. Randy Brown will be his kicking coach. They'll find a kicker. they'll develop the kicker and that problem will go away. And as we know, if you're kicking issues, like it's a problem. They'll get that part fixed as well. Great point.

Finally, Sean McDermott's out. I liked him, but I did think they kept losing, they kept finding ways to lose, 13 second game, couldn't get the tush push right. Bow Nix beats him down the field twice. You know, in the six playoff losses, they gave up 33 a game. Some of it may be personnel. You tell me, it's Buffalo's D'S, defensive personnel bad or I mean they gave up a lot in big games yeah no look I mean teams run the

ball against them everybody said every analyst out there said you can run the ball against buffalo now they play they try to plug a bunch of rookies in there day on Walker some of these guys Sanders they put young guys in there that take up a lot of space but they never really fixed it it was always an issue in big games teams can run the ball against them look I mean the owner to do whatever he wants to do it's about winning championships If you don't feel like you keep getting there, you keep getting the postseason, but you can't get over the hump of some of these other teams, sometimes as good as Sean McDermott was and winning in a weak division,

all the stuff that they've done, at some point you say, let's try a different guy, you know? Let's see what's, you know, Mike Fraggles coming in. He might get his team to the Super Bowl in the first year. Liam Cohen, turn a team around right away. What a playoff game? At some point, you just go, let's try something else. By the way, you were in the 80s, you were in an NFC championship game.

What do you remember about it? I remember that when you play in Washington and they play, you know, I know we're in a different world, but when they play Hale to the Redskins after they score, that song never leaves you calm. Like you hear that in your sleep 30 years later, Hale to the Redskins, losing at RFK Stadium like that. After we whipped them during the regular season and then they went on and won the Super Bowl that year. was Joe Gibbs' first team that won a Super Bowl. You get that close and you can't get done, it stays with you a long time. Great seeing you, Baldy.

Yeah, thanks, Colin. Enjoy the games this weekend, buddy. You bet. It's interesting when you talk about that. That was in the early 80s. I grew up in the 70s and 80s when I fell in love with sports, and Washington was unbelievable. I mean, I remember they would always talk like Summerall and – it was a Brookshire or something like his part they were to say like oh yeah it's a 42 year waiting list

for season tickets like it they were on tv that was my favorite team when i was when i was young they were on tv every week honestly like like the eagles are now or the niners are now like those washington teams were great for so long and then you know it's amazing what bad ownership can do uh j mac he is Ready to roll. A couple bumpy weeks. He's back, though. Next, the herd.

Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific. On Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the IHeart Radio app. Hey, it's us to 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 it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts throughout there. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. 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, 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 and friends

on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm CJ Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what.

He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows. Without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid.

He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash will get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball, like,

after you go through a training camp with that, I said, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Here's something that should not be as complicated as it is, getting a racist statue removed.

And here's something that should be be a whole lot easier than it is. Getting a new one put up in its place. As long as there's a politics of race in America, there's going to be a politics of remembering the Civil War. To get to school, I had to go down Robert Lee Boulevard. Get to the grocery store, I had to go down Jefferson Davis Parkway. If you're an historian and you leave out half of what the history is, you're not doing your job. I'm Akila Hughes, and Rebel Spirit Season 2 goes deep on both of those things. The fights, the politics, the people who won, and my personal campaign to add something to, to the Kentucky State House that's actually worth the wall space.

We are more than our bodies. We contain essence. We contain spirit. How do you represent that? They are just fueling a fire that is really catching. You'll see what I mean. Listen to Rebel Spirit Season 2 on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Two games left and then the Super Bowl. A lot of questions. J. Mack thinks he has the answer. to all of them. We like to call it tomorrow's headlines today. Patriots at the Broncos, what is the headline, J-MAC? You're right, Colin. I have the answers. The answers to the tester right here. The headline for Patriots Broncos. Can't wait for it will be. Arm Pat Staines. Broncos lose B-O, but adds Stidham stink. I'm going to go with the Patriots here winning on the road, but a close one. I did just bet the Denver Broncos to come.

cover the spread, but I got to go with the Patriots. I don't know that Sidham could pull off the win. But Colin, I do think the element of surprise here from the Denver Broncos and Sean Peyton is something that I don't think the Patriots can prepare for. I do think this is one of these Sean Payton games. Hey, people doubted me. They thought I had Drew Brees and a superstar. You watch what I'm going to cook up.

And I think he's got some interesting stuff here. Fun stat that I dug up. So Peyton with backup quarterbacks in his career, 14 and 7 against the spread. Now, a lot of that was Teddy Bridgewater in New Orleans, but I do remember, you know, when the starter goes out and you got to go to the backup backup quarterbacks, not against Peyton. He's a really good exes and those guy and a schemer. I just don't know if their offense is going to be enough to keep up with May. And Drake May is fascinating. Colin, I think we talked about it earlier this week. So he was the number one quarterback in EPA this year, one of the more important stats.

But EPA dings quarterbacks who are sacked a lot. Drake May was sacked the second most in the league after. Herbert. So you're like, how does that work? So what he's doing, he's like a Texas Holden gambler, right? He's taking sacks, but he's countering with huge plays. Like he's, nobody hits explosive plays like Drake May. However, of course, Denver gives up the fewest explosive plays with this great defense and the pass rush led the league in sacks. It's a really interesting exes and nose matchup. The question is, can stid them, and they're going to need to do it early. They can't come out and go like three and out

or punt on the first couple drives. Then it's probably over. I, I, I, I, I think Denver keeps it close early, and we're looking at like 27, 23 Patriots. Game of the year. Tomorrow's headlines today, Seahawks hosting the Rams. One for the ages, J-Mack. What's the headline? Remember my first year on the show? I doubted the Seahawks could make a playoff set to shave something in the side of my head.

That was fun. Well, the headline for Rams Seahawks here will be Samma-Rama. Ding-dong. Darnold ditched off playoff porch. Give me the Rams. And Chris Shula's defense going into Seattle and pulling off the upset. I like the Rams to win this outright, Colin. This is such a great matchup.

So there is some negatives for the Rams. Besides the fact that they played an overtime game last week, their defense was on the field for 81 plays, right? And they have a day less because Seattle played on Saturday. No question. That's what worries me a lot. That's a big one. But this is one of my big counters.

Colin, I'm not hearing anybody talk about it. We haven't touched it. Okay. The starting left tackle for Seattle, his backup and the third. Stringer all missed practice Wednesday and Thursday. Your left tackle going against Jared Verse. All of them miss practice this week.

Now there's hope that the starter is able to play. But the backup plan, according to Seattle Insiders, is, oh, we'll move Gray Zabel, our guard out to left tackle like the Bears did with Joe Tunney last week. And Tunney did great. Colin, Tunney's a veteran all pro. Gray Zabel's a rookie. Now he's going up against Jared Verse and compounding matters. You got the Zach Charbonnet injury.

He's their best blocking back. You keep him in the backfield to block against the Blitz. Kenneth Walker can't block anybody. Now, Kenneth Walker's explosive on runs and pass catching, but I'm just telling you, this Rams defense with Chris Shula, I'm just blown away by how good he is. I'm on record. I think he's going to be the next Pittsburgh Steelers coach.

I think it's able to be a phenomenal hire. He's going to get a job in this cycle. He has done masterful work against Caleb Williams. By the way, against Sam Darnold in the last three games, Chris Shula's defense, seven interceptions, 13 sacks. Now, one of the night was when he was with Minnesota in the playoff game, and Shula just had him seeing Go's sacked him nine times. But I like the Rams here.

Devante back. Dotson, full go. Give me the Rams of McVeigh winning. Tomorrow's headlines today. Let's talk about a couple of these new coaches. Uh-oh. Harbon the Giants. Let's see what Max.

Jaymec has to say with the team he hates the most. Obviously, the show's fun when we agree, right? But it's also fun when we disagree. The headline for the New York Giants next season will be. Big Blue suede shoes. New York royalty still waiting to be king. I'm sorry. There will be no playoffs, Colin.

I'll give you eight wins, maybe nine. But I have looked at the opponents. Now, the schedule order is not out yet. This is one of the toughest schedules in the league. Seven of their 17 games against playoff teams. At home, they get San Fran and Jacksonville. You know, timing will matter. Jacksonville going to New York and December could be big.

These are a couple of their road games. at Seattle, at the Rams, at the Texans. And I can't read my handwriting on the other one. But they basically have brutal. Oh, the Eagles, obviously, they have the home and away. Oh, Houston is the final game. This is going to be a very tough schedule. He's got to work out some kinks with the offensive line.

It's good. I'm not willing to call it great. You know, Cam Scataboo, are we really banking on him being like a difference maker, like a Barclay or C-Mack? I think we need to pump the brakes a little bit. Eight or nine wins, second or third in the division. Third, okay. What are you laughing at?

Cowboys, Washington? Who's in the cellar in the NFC East? Not going to be the Giants. Oh, all right. Tomorrow's headlines today. Well, what about Stefanski and the Falcons? What say you? Man, I can't quit these damn Falcons, Colin.

I mean, you laugh at me every week. I bet on them. So now they bring in Stefanski, two-time coach of the year. The headline, Kevin Stefansky and the Falcons will be. NFL, new Falcon League. Falcons put the fun in Stefansky. Oh, yeah, baby.

Michael Beckleck's returns. Listen, I'm just telling you, this Bijon Armstrong, Drake London combo, that's one of the best receiver running back combos in the league. I looked at their free agents. They're not losing many dudes. A couple older guys, Kyle Pitts is the one to watch. Do they tag him? Do they bring him back?

He'll have interest from the Chiefs and others. I just, the real reason I like this team is that the Falcons defense really showed up this season, Colin. They got very good. Remember that win over the Rams at the end of the year? The kid Pierce, they drafted out of Tennessee, showed well, I think this is the division winner, clearly. I know the Saints have improved, and you like Carolina and Baker Mayfield's over here talking trash on Twitter. Give me Stefanski and the Falcons to win the division. Okay, that was fine headline.

Finally, Buffalo Bills, still in the middle of their coaching search. Tomorrow's headlines today. I'm told you have a sixth mystery headline. Yeah, well, we're trying to keep that a secret. Buffalo Bills, you know, I said there's Super Bowl windows closing. You couldn't brush that off fast enough like it was a garbage take. The headline for Buffalo will be. The day bowl is in the details.

Hot seat finds cold comfort. I'd like Brian Dable to go back to Buffalo. This Phillip River stuff, is this misdirection? What the hell's going on here? Seems goofy. I do think the Dable fit is good. My only concern is, is that viewed as too safe of a call? Hey, Josh, it worked with Josh.

Let's bring him back. Do they need to go away from the quote-unquote family? But I think Dable is a really sharp offensive mind. I'll remind people, Jackson DART didn't do it by himself this year. Jackson DART emerged, and Brian Dable had him kind of rolling on offense. Remember, they went and hung 32 on the Broncos in Denver. I think Daible is a sharp mind. I think Daible will be good with Josh Allen.

I just, I don't think they're ever going to get to a Super Bowl. All right. That would be disappointing. Yes. Good stuff. Tom Brady, speaking of good stuff, was on for 20 minutes earlier. It is, it was funny because I was writing this morning. I was looking at the Seahawks Rams, the 10 best players.

And it is remarkable. You get to like Kobe Turner at 11 and Devonte Adams at 15. I mean, it's Leonard Williams, Murphy, the defensive tackle. I mean, Seattle is just these teams are incredible. I mean, the Rams literally have two great interior defensive linemen. You got Young and Jared Verse on the end. But it was the offense last week that was virtually perfect. You're not no turnovers, no drop passes.

Can I remind you, Devante Adams, led the NFL in receiving touchdowns, and you had it behind Kenneth Walker. Well, I'm just telling you, I quit. in Lake, if you were banged up for a stretch, it was hard for me to put you on. And Devante is, I love Devante. And that dude takes shots. I mean, I sort of going to be able. Don't you want him winning his first NFC championship game?

He's 0 in four. This is his fifth trip. He's got to get to a Super Bowl. We need Devonte in the Super Bowl. I mean, that guy's a stud. I'm projecting a big game from Adams. Here's Brady on the Rams momentum going into this game. You give the Rams coaching staff so much credit.

for a performance like that in Chicago last week. You're talking about a team that probably had a 70 degree temperature difference from leaving LA to landing in Chicago, that lack of penalties, obviously no turnovers, and the drop passes, that's just, I'm very jealous of receivers that don't drop balls too, by the way. That's a great stat for any quarterback. But they're doing all the right things.

This is a surgical offense. They have so many weapons. everybody touches it you've got to account for everybody they have a precise passing game they have a ball control offense there's a lot of ways the rams can win too yeah it's um their special teams are a little dicey it's it is um it's just incredible these two organizations out west have just drafted the hell out of april god they just i mean the rams puka is a fifth rounder kairn williams is a fifth rounder I mean, they have a six-round receiver in Jordan Whittingham, seventh-round receiver from Pittsburgh.

Their left tackles undrafted. Landman was undrafted when he was at Atlanta. You know, Verse is a first-rounder. Matt Stafford was a number one pick. The Rams have found tons of talent in the mid-rounds. The Seahawks have found some of that, but what Seattle's done well is they don't miss on their first and second-round picks. They're all studs.

So so much of this league, that's, that's, why I've always loved the NFL draft. Nobody has aced their first two or three picks on an annual basis better than Seattle. The Rams have not had a lot of first round picks. They have crushed in round four and round five. Even Cooper Cup was a third round pick. He's now a Seahawk. So speaking of draft, Fernando Mendoza has officially declared for it.

He will be the number one pick. I asked Tom, he was at the nanny. What do you make of Mendoza? He's played tremendous all season, 16 and O, leading his team. And again, he's another guy that, you know, when you hear him speak, you know, I always kind of judge quarterbacks and go, how would I have answered that? And he's just a very mature young man and he's got a bright future. And, you know, everybody coming into the league, there's still so much room for development.

Nobody's a finished product. I don't care whether you're won the Heisman or you're the Heisman. 199th pick in the draft. It's what do you do when you get there? How important is this to you? Are you obsessed with your job? Are you obsessed with being the best you can be? How can you be the best teammate? How can you work hard? How can you play smart? How can you play tough? How can you play well under pressure? How well can you play in tough conditions? And then ultimately, how well can you play in championship games? And all those things remain to be seen. For the record in the college football playoff. If you look at Mendoza's

numbers, it was just incredible. Completion percentage above 70. And I said, I thought it was good all year. When I saw that road game at Penn State, it was like, in that last drive, it was like, wow, that is different level stuff. That is really hard to do.

All right. Thanks to Tom Brady. Brian Bouldinger, J. Mack. See you on. Hey, guys. It's us. The Jonas Brothers, I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick.

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