The Herd with Colin Cowherd - The Richard Sherman Podcast - NFL Season Predictions: 49ers & Jimmy Garoppolo, Russell Wilson, Seahawks

Episode Date: September 1, 2022

On the first episode of The Richard Sherman Podcast, Richard & his co-host Mitch Eisenstein give their predictions for the NFL season. Richard gives his preview on the San Francisco 49ers and if it will be awkward between Jimmy Garoppolo & Trey Lance. They discuss who will win the breakup between Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll & Denver Broncos QB Russell Wilson. Richard & Mitch predict every division winner, every NFL award including MVP and give their best guess on who will win Super Bowl LVII. #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Welcome, welcome, welcome back. Year three of the Richard Sherman podcast with my guy, Mitch Eisenstein, back at it again. Metro, how you been? Richard, it is an absolute pleasure, my friend. New Year. knew you, same Mitchie-Ritchie connection. Tell me how you've been, Rich. This is a bigger question out there. Tell me how you've been. I've been employed, you know, that's it. Employment is hard

to find. You know, gameful employment is very difficult to find these days, and I found it again. With Amazon, you know, on Prime Video, people still talking about they can't find it. Like, it's right next to next Netflix, you know, the apps on your phone. You can, you can even watch on a plane these days, you know? People complain, and then they get on the plane, and now they can watch the game. Like, don't complain about it. Just get on the game. You'll still be able to catch the game. It's technology evolving. Like, go with us. Richard, you impressed on Thursday night. It was the first time you guys were live. For those that don't know, Thursday night football is on Amazon Prime now. You got to go through the app. You got to click on Thursday night football. And there's your

boy, Richard Sherman, next to Ryan Fitzpatrick and his beautiful chest hair and our boy, Tony Gonzalez. And in the middle of that is Carissa Thompson. Richard, talk about to transition. A lot of guys hang up the cleats call today and set sail to the Caribbean. You are entering in a whole new field of sports media. Talk about what it's been like, how they've been preparing you for this moment, and how excited you are for it. Well, first off, first of all, I went to ride off into the sunset and be, but then my wife said, get out of the house and find something to do. So then I went and found something to do. It's been great, man. I'm excited for it. You know, it was an incredible opportunity with the incredible

cast, you know, as you just mentioned, Carissa, Fitzmagic, TG. It's so many great people. Kaley's on there. A1, Andrew Whitworth, can't forget Witt. It's outstanding staff, an outstanding group to work with, you know, all the people in the background. They're freaking so fantastic. It's really an all-star team, and I'm blessed to be a part of it. Richard, and on top of that, we've signed with the volume. We're going to take this podcast to New Heights. If you're new the Richard Sherman podcast, we're going to be double-diffing this year. to be going on Sunday nights and they're going to have a weekly guest on Tuesday. So we're really, really excited to bring you content twice a week here.

Richard, but let's get into the season a little bit. You know, we've made it almost all the way through training camp. Jimmy G's still enough. Oh, wait, wait, wait. Oh, Jimmy. Sorry, Mitch. I'm going to start right there. Let's start in the NFC West.

Let's start with your two former teams, the Seattle Seahawks and most notably the San Francisco 49ers. Let's start right there. Let's start with Jimmy G and the quarterback situation with the 49ers. Well, I think it is the best case scenario for everybody involved. I think it's one of those situations where somebody for the first time ever had their cake and got to eat it too? Like, what are we dealing with? And then there are people complaining saying, hey, it's so terrible for Trey Lance. But they were the same people that were sitting there like, well, what happens if Trey Lance isn't ready?

What happens if he gets hurt? Then you got nobody. You're out there with somebody who's pretty good. No, you got Jimmy G. Who would have been the number one backup to any other quarterback in this league, except he's a starter. He's a guy who just went to the NFC championship last year. There is no other backup quarterback in a national football league right now who could say that.

I mean, you've got a situation in Carolina where you're paying two guys over $15 million, and there's questions whether either of them can get the job done. Like, there's definitely questions on whether either of those guys can get them to a Super Bowl, but then you got people complaining about a situation where they have two guys that they believe can get them there. Richard, you've said it. Like, he is the consummate pro. He's one of the best teammates you've ever played with. We've talked about this on and off air.

This speaks to who Jimmy G is as a professional. I mean, he's done this throughout his entire career. When you side with the 49ers, I thought you were bad shit crazy. I thought you were absolutely nuts. You told me, Mitch, Jimmy G is going to win the 49ers a title. And I said, Richard, are you insane? And then what do you know?

I mean, granted, you guys didn't win. We were seven minutes of wait a minute. But you were in the position to win it. And now the 49ers are in a what you call championship window at this moment. I think everyone in their mother is aware of that. Why not keep the guy around to hedge your bet in the event Trey Fowles. Exactly.

Why not have two engines? Hey, I got a Ferrari, and I just got this freaking brand new engine, 700 horsepower. Now, I got another engine that's about 500 horsepower. I know it. I've had it for years. I know exactly what I get. But this one can really take me there. Now, I don't know if it's going to blow out on the road.

I don't know if it's going to slow down. I don't know if a piston's going to go out. I don't know what's going to happen. But I know it's faster. So they put that engine in. So why not keep the other one? You don't have to throw the other one away. If you can afford to keep both, then you keep both.

Jimmy's happy with it. Trey's happy with. The only people that aren't happy with it are the people on the outside. They're like, oh, what if they don't do well? Well, what if they do well? What if they go undefeated in the first five games? And he's not looking over his shoulder. And they're just supporting each other like great teammates.

The thing about this 49ers team that nobody's mentioning, it's a team full of great people. That's the part you're not to admit. mentioning. Like, these aren't selfish people. You don't hear a lot of me, me, me, me, guys in that locker room. And Jimmy's the last one who would be that way. So they think about team, teammate, then self. So people are like, why isn't Jimmy saying something? Why isn't he getting upset? Why isn't he saying trade me and do all this? Because the philosophy is team, teammate, self. Self is third. When you teach that philosophy and you have that culture, then guys aren't

thinking me first. Hey, if this is what's best for the team, this is what I'm going to do, and I'm going to wait for my opportunity. If my opportunity comes, I'm going to step up and do what I need to do to help my guys get to another Super Bowl. And Richard, you were a part of that. And again, when you went to San Fran, leaving Seattle, which was another family-focused organization, obviously treated everyone amazingly there. But when you went to San Francisco, it was that same type of organization. And honestly blew me away. I know that you loved Kyle Shane Hans coaching philosophy, similar to Pete Carrolls, the best man plays. It doesn't matter whether you pay D forward $20 million a year as your defense event, the best man plays. And that competition

that is bred throughout training camp and practice, I know ignites your competitive fire. It doesn't matter if you're fourth under debt charter first. You're always playing for your job. And Richard, I mean, here we go again. Trey Lance and Jimmy G. are now going to be competing on a day and day out basis. and we're going to see who provides them the best opportunity to win. It could be worse, Rich. But see, that's where I disagree because they're not going to be competing.

It's Tray's job. It's trade's job. And that's what makes the dynamic easier for everybody. It's Tray's job. Cal established that at the beginning of training camp. He established that in the middle of training camp. He reestablished it last week. Like, it's Tray's job.

Jimmy's the backup. When you establish that, then there isn't the uncertainty. There isn't the drama. There isn't the whispers. Now, sure, there's human nature. There's human nature with everybody. You can speculate human nature till the end of time. Like, hey, if he misses Kittle on this route,

our Debo gets upset, our Brandon IEuk isn't getting the ball as much. What if that happens in Jimmy's playing? Like, if, if, if was a fifth, we'd all be drunk, blackout drunk. We'd be on the sidewalk. Brung out. Like, ain't no ifs. Great teammates.

They're going to support the guy, as they have. happen, things aren't going to go perfect. There will be adversity. There will be ups. There will be downs. They will support each other. Jimmy will support Tray. Tray will support Jimmy. The offense, the weapons they have. You got Trent Williams. You got leadership. You got a foundation on that team that can weather the storm that will be the media more than it will be the team. The human highlight real Trent Williams himself. Richard, let's stay within the division. Things could be worse, right? Your former team, Seattle Seahawks, to me, you're talking about having somewhat embarrassment of riches with

Tray Lance and Jimmy G. And then you fold over to Seattle. What are they dealing with? Who do you honestly like in that QB competition? I know Gino Smith was just named the start over Drew Locke. I don't think Drew Locke took that very happily. Do you think that situation was handled appropriately? And what do you think of the Seattle Seahawks team right now?

I think they went with safe and predictable. And the guy knew the playbook. Gino did well in the last, the three games he had to play last year. Pete is very turnover averse. Turnover averse is what I'll call it because he does not want to turn the football over. And Gino does not turn the football over very often. You know, he doesn't take the same risk as somebody like Drew Locke, but high risk, high reward.

Drew Locke threw some touchdown passes in the preseason. Was impressive at times. If you put a highlight real of his positive plays versus a highlight real, of Gino's positive plays, there would be a disparity. But then on the flip side, you take a highlight real of the negative plays of both. There will be a disparity. And so I think Pete didn't want to risk that kind of volatility. And Drew Locke didn't have a ton of time to learn the playbook.

They were traded right before training camp. It was an unfair situation because he didn't have a truly true fair shot at winning the starting job. There wasn't enough time. He didn't get enough reps with the ones. The one game he was going to start in the preseason, good night. Caught COVID. It almost seemed like everything was working against him. So it's just unfortunate set of circumstances.

But I don't think they're married to Gino in a way that they will not pull him if they are not doing well early on in the season. Richard, I want to know what's your forecast for Seattle. Where do you see this season going for them? My forecast, it's the great unknown. Part of me tells me that Pete's going to find a way to be competitive and surprise some people and pull off 500. Something else tells me it could be a rough year.

It could be a rough year. You know, I just don't see Pete going quietly into the night. They got a good running game. They got three really good running backs. They found two tackles in the draft rookies that performed outstanding in the preseason. Like, it's going to be a big problem for them later if they're are as good as they've been in the preseason during the regular season because in the next couple of years, you happen to pay two tackles. It's just, oh, my goodness, it's a good problem to have them. But if they found gold there, then they'll have a chance because you've got to be able to protect your quarterback.

They have the weapons on the outside and DK and lock it. They have some weapons that tie in. They have a running game. I mean, Penny was in the last five games. I mean, last six games, I think he ran for 155 times. Like, that's something you can lean on. Now, defensively, they're going to have to pull it together. You got quandary digs.

You got likely a rookie corner, Ricky's sixth round corner starting, which I know a little something about. I'm going to go see the kid later on today and have a conversation with him and try to, you know, impart my little two sense of wisdom. But I think they could have a chance. They have rushers. They have a rusher.

It's just too many questions. question marks, though, you know, and question marks aren't always a bad thing. But in this league, they're going to have a rough start to the season. They're going to have some tough ball games. I think they got Denver first. If they can somehow pull off that game, I mean, there will be a lot of optimism going into the future. If they don't, depending on how they do, you know, if it's a close game, still will be optimism. If it's a blowout. 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 Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver 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, 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, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, 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-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? 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 a little Kim?

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 a here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, 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're just saying, 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. Now you're finishing that sentence. 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. People are going to be ready to Melanie? Richard in the season. predictions. I got a bold prediction for you. Kenneth Walker the third will be an absolute staple in this league for years to come. As soon as he gets over this little hernia injuries deal with, I think that they're going to have a one-two combo and Rashad Penny and Kenneth Walker the

third. I know a thing or two about Kenneth Walker the third. We've talked about this, Rich. He's in the perfect position to go beast mode in that offense. If they can find some level of consistency at the quarterback position, like you said, they got all the weapons in the world. He can have, they can have a field day. And if they're running the ball 50% of the time like Pete Carroll loves to do, who knows what happened? Maybe they do, maybe they do hit 500. And I think that would be an outstanding season for that. They're not going to be running a 50% of the time.

They're going to be running as 60% of the time. They're going to try to run it as much as they can because the best defense you could have is a great run game. Shorten the game for your defense. Hey, there's two different defenses. is when a defense is playing 30 minutes versus a defense playing 40 minutes. A defense playing 25 minutes is much better than a defense playing 35 minutes because they're on the field for less time.

They have less opportunities to give up big plays, less opportunities to give up yards. That's what Pete Carroll has always known. And that's why they will run the ball this year as much as they possibly can put Gino Smith in a position where he does not have to be Superman and give their defense a chance to make stops. They may leak on defense. They'll get in the red zone and they'll stand up. It's all about staying on top, limit the big plays, and stand up in the red zone.

If they can do those things, which are Staples and Pete Carroll's philosophy, they'll have a chance to win most of the games they're in. Now, it does come down to talent sometimes. There will be games where they will just be out talented. You know, I mean, there's no coaching. There's nothing you can do when the other team just has more better players than you have. but in situations where the talent is equal, they'll have a shot. Now, Richard, let's just kind of get into some predictions leading into the season. We're going to stay in the NFC West.

Who do you think comes out of that division, arguably the best division of football? San Francisco 49ers. San Francisco 49ers come out of that division, in my humble opinion. Why not the Rams, I think, is the glaring question there. Well, because the Rams are 1 and 6 against San Francisco. 49ers and a drop interception away from being 0-1-7 in the last seven meetings. And that's going to be tough to overcome. I mean, they won the NFC championship to go to the Super Bowl.

If you could have any one, I'm sure both teams would have just pick that one. I just don't see them beating them consistently this year because San Francisco has arguably gotten better. Let's move down south, NFC South. You've got an old team there too in the Tampa Bay Buc. Talk about that division. I'm going to go out of the limb here and say that you're going to pick the bucks to win the division. So let's just get that out of the way. Talk about that team.

What do you see their record being? I think 13 and 4 is what they're going to consistently be at for most people. I mean, 12 and 5 maybe, you know, with the old line situation being kind of in flux, they're losing the center a week. It seems like that's going to matter. They've had some continuity on the offensive line for the last, at least Tom's time. there. And Louis and Ryan Jensen early on in training camp and his backups being a little beat up already. It's going to leave some question marks. So if they can find a way to solidify that

the inside of that offensive line, then I think they're 13 and 4. No questions about it. You know, they have enough talent on defense. Shaq Barrett is a monster. You got Devin White. You got You got guys all over on all three levels of the defense. Levanti David, Carlton Davis, who just signed a big deal. You got Winfield Jr. You got so many guys who can make plays and make a difference on that defense. And offensively, I mean, Quintoros, Julio Jones, you know, you're not going to want for a receiver from that group. You got 3,000-yard receivers.

You got Rudolph, who's, you know, not. Gronk. Nobody's Gromk, but he's a big body that Tom Brady can use in the situations in the same ways that he was able to use gronk if he can teach him, you know. And in the running game, you know, Lenny Fernette is going to do what he's done for them for the last couple of years which is to be incredibly consistent in both aspects of the game. Anytime you have contorius Julio Jones on your team as your wide receiver four or whatever he is on the depth chart, I mean, God bless. Good luck to those opposing defenses. Yeah, yeah. Imagine being a corner and you come in and dime and you're like, all right, who I got a guard? And it's

Julio Jones. Like, who wants to deal with that? You're like, hey, nobody's fourth corner. And they're like, Julio's lawful step. I don't care. He had five steps to lose before he got regular. Like, hey, he was an alien. He is an alien. Like, you talk about it. He can lose three steps and still be top ten. He's a thorough list of thoroughbred horses, dude. Like, just straight up. I mean, I remember your guys battles in Seattle. Seattle. Like, it was just watching. You knew right then and there, you were watching in front of you two Hall of Famers. Like, it's just, you see him on tape in person. He's just flat out different. Good luck to that rookie sixth round pick. They get to slide up to them in the slot.

Right, right, right. He's going to have some fun. Oh, my goodness. Rich, I got to be biased here. We've got to move up north. We got to move up to the NFC North. We're not going to I don't care. We got one ass cheek and three toes, Rich. I'll beat your ass. The Detroit, Lions and Dan Campbell, Man Campbell, Dan Campbell, Motor City, Dan Campbell. Do the Detroit Lions have any shot in hell at the NFC North? What do they call it?

A puncher's chance or a fighter's chance? A puncher's chance. Yeah, I think it's something like that. I think they got that because they got the offensive weapons. Jared Golf, you know, the very much maligned, Jared Golf and the stuff he gets. But he's really, really solid. You know, he's not a world beater,

but he can get the job done at a high level. He's above average quarterback in the national football league, and he has above average weapons right now, and that's quietly as is kept. They've slowly but surely solidified that offensive line, and I think they have enough playmakers on defense, Aidan Hutchinson. They started to develop a bit of a pass rush there,

and a pass rush helps your secondary. Jeff Akuta, look, look, you know, let me, you know what I mean, very cautiously, optimistic. He looked, looked like he could do, the job that he's been asked to do that he has not been able to do in previous years. Look, you work. Fair.

Now, if they can just be solid in aspects of the game that seem to be the things that Dan Campbell is harping on, the foundational fundamentals of the game, when you can be great at those things, you will always have a chance to win. And I think during the end of the season last year, they started to mature. where they start to jail, they start to come together, they start to have fun. And it seemed to translate into the preseason. Now, doing up downs and bear crawls and stuff at practice,

not my style. But the players still seem to love the guy. You look on hard knocks. They're laughing. Everybody's positive. There's energy in the building. We'll see how it translates. Well, Richard, you heard it here first, guys.

Richard Schumer predicts a 16-1 season, the Detroit Lions. I'm going to my head. I couldn't do it. All right. Well, we're going to stay in the division. I know you've got a tremendous amount of respect for Aaron Rogers, the Detroit Lions arch nemesis. What does Aaron Rogers game look like without Devonte Adams there?

It's the main question heading into this season. It looks like it's a question. He's still a Hall of Fame quarterback in the most talented arm I've ever seen in National Football League. I ain't seen it on any field. but it looks different. You know, the chemistry rapport that they had is just different than anything we've seen from any other team and any other combination.

And you've seen the inconsistency from the wide receiver group and the frustration that he's had so far in Green Bay. And that's what's concerning. So, Rich, I mean, obviously Aaron Rogers having to overcome the lack of offensive weapons he's had in the past, you see them still coming away? with this division? Yeah. I still think, you know, I'm not saying,

I'm not saying that division is cakewalk. I mean, you know, Detroit is going to be a lot better this year. Thank you. There you go. You're welcome. Minnesota, you know, always has a chance. You know, they have a ton of talent on offense. Obviously, Kevin O'Connell being there and, you know,

the West Coast offense and them scheming people up as McVeigh and Calshanahan have with those, with that offensive system. In Chicago, Justin Fields, the last game, looked like a national, it looked like a problem, really. I mean, it looked like an issue. Can they protect them long enough to be an issue? It's probably going to be an issue. But, you know, I'm here all week.

I still got Green Bay walking away with it comfortably. Richard, I respect your analysis, but there are flaws to it. And I dissent from your opinion. I think this is the one year, and this is spoken like a true homer who's been watching all the hard knocks and drinking all the Honolulu Blue Kool-Aid. I think the Detroit Lions are going to win the division and host a playoff game for the first time. I think I've got to fact check this for the first time in my lifetime. So that is my bold prediction from that conference.

Richard, let's keep them moving on. We got the NFC East next. I just want to make sure that I don't see any drugs in the background over there. You're more than welcome to invite anyone over and search the house. I'm thinking about it. Richard, we're going to move on. We've covered the, we've covered the NFC West, South and North. Let's move to the NFC East.

Just give me a quick who's going to win and why and we'll keep this train moving. I don't know who's going to win the NFC East. I don't think it'll matter. I don't think it'll matter. Since the Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl that year, the East hasn't been very relevant in terms of the playoffs. unfortunately, you know, no offense to you guys. Hashtag, you know, the Dallas Cowboys has, have one of the best seasons they've had in a long time and then get to the playoffs and get

Kyle Shanahan or they will be McBade, you know, whichever one they run into first. And the Philadelphia Eagles, I think, we'll deal with the same thing. You know, I just don't see them having enough to get into playoffs and beat one of those teams. And those are teams you'll have to beat or Green Bay, you know, or they'll have to go to Lambo and beat Green Bay. And I, you know, I just think those are difficult things to do. And if they do that, I'd be surprised. Moving on. Irrelevant.

NFC East, irrelevant in the grand discussion of things. Let's move over to the AFC. We have a juggernaut of a conference in the AFC West. Yes. Russell Wilson goes to the Denver Broncos. Broncos country. Let's ride, baby. What do you see the Broncos doing this year with Russell at the helm?

You know, they'll be solid. It'd be surprising. Again, it'd be surprising to see them win that division. to be really surprising with the amount of talent that is in L.A. with the Chargers and the amount of great coaching and consistency that's in Kansas City, you know, no matter what, Kansas City is going to have a great scheme. They're going to scheme guys open. They'll still have Travis Kelsey. They still have Mahones, who's one of the most talented quarterbacks in the national football league. So no matter what they do, it'll be tough sledding in there within their own division.

and you're not even going to talk about the schedule that they have when they have to deal with San Francisco 49ers in the Rams, you know, in the NFC West. It's going to be a tough road for them, you know. If they can come out, that's why it's so crazy, you know, that Russell chose that conference, I mean, that division of going in that conference for that matter, you know, because to get out of that conference,

to get out of that conference with a championship, you likely have to go through two or three of the top five quarterbacks in the national football league at any given time. And you really, honestly, might have two of them in your division. And so for him to challenge himself like that is admirable. So if they go out there in the Denver Broncos, pull off a division championship and win a Super Bowl out of that division, it may be one of the greatest accomplishments anybody has done in a very long time.

And it'd be one of the most respected championships in Super Bowls in a very long time. But the likely scenario is Patty Mahones or Justin Herbert. walking away with the division championship and seeing pick one yeah yeah you're going to see Josh Allen Pat Mahones or Herbert in the AFC championship so who you got one team aFC West who is it going to be the chiefs or the Chargers the Chargers just haven't done it and I want to pick them I'm going to charge you know what I'm on board with you rich

they've got the town Justin Herbert is year three it's time baby AFC South, who wins why? AFC South, it seems like the Colts Division to lose. The Titans lost A.J. Brown. They still have Derek Henry in a great running game. The defense could be something, but I think the Colts are going to be really consistent. Matt Ryan is picture perfect for that offense

and what they do. DeForest Buckner and that defense is going to still be very tough to deal with. I got the Colts. The Texans look awesome, too, by the way. AFC North. The AFC North. I mean, that's going to be a very competitive division. I mean, you got, it's always gritty and grimy.

You can't just write off Lamar Jackson and Baltimore ever. But Cincinnati just, you know, is very confident now. You know, when you get to a Super Bowl, it just changes your team. It changes the way you look at things, changes your confidence level, changes your base confidence level. Like, they're going to be walking into games expecting to win in a way that they weren't last year. And so with that in mind, Cleveland having the quarterback, controversy. I don't see them being competitive. And now if they had Deshawn Watson, I would,

I, you know, I'd be a lot higher on them right now, but they don't. So I'm going with Baltimore because of their consistency, and that's what they do. Richard, you've been in the position of the Cincinnati Bengals, right? I mean, their ceiling is now their floor, right? I mean, what they thought they were going to achieve last year is now the expectation of what they at minimum will achieve. But how hard is it to come back the season after just missing out on the Super Bowl. I mean, you've been there before, you've won it, you've lost it in heartbreak fashion. How hard is it to regroup the rally?

It depends. Because when we felt like we should have won the Super Bowl and it was 2012, we didn't make the Super Bowl. We felt like we should have won it that year. We came back and won it the next year because the energy and the focus was there. It was totally different. You're pissed off and you're not taking no for an answer. There's no allowing yourself to be distractions.

You make different kind of sacrifices because you know you tasted it. you know, and you can't get the taste out of your mouth. And you're going to do whatever is necessary to get there again. And I think that's what the mentality they're coming with. And if they can keep Joe Burrell upright and block for him and protected, I mean, what Jamar Chase did last year is repeatable. You know, he wasn't getting lucky and having some kind of tip catches, you know, miraculous. He was taking slant 70 yards.

He was taking curl routes, 80 yards. He was getting the yards the hard way like Anquan and Larry Fitzgerald used to. And so it's repeatable. And I think they're going to have a great chance to be very competitive for the AFC championship again. I just feel like Baltimore, they got really injured last year. They got beat up. They lost a lot of people to ACLs and they won't this year. They won't have that kind of tragedy.

And they'll be right in the mix. Finally, the AFC East. Is this the year of the Miami Dolphins? No, it's not. Not what Josh having in the division. No, it's not. I'm going to let you know something. It ain't a lot to do in Buffalo.

But what there is to do in Buffalo, Buffalo is coming out of the AFC. And Buffalo with Josh Allen and Diggs and like getting Von Miller was like, it's hard to describe. You know, it's kind of like what the Rams did. You know, they didn't need them. It's an embarrassment of riches and they got them. They were a championship roster who likely would have been in the Super Bowl had their overtime rules been a little different. Right.

But they aren't and they weren't. But I think that they'll come out of the AFC. I got them in the Super Bowl with San Francisco 14. You know, I know that's where we're going next. San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills in the Super Bowl, and I got San Francisco winning it, Calh Shanahan, finally getting his Super Bowl that he's been needing and send me my ring. That would be well deserved, Rich.

Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman. documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth.

Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver 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, 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, this is right what you need to be. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, 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. 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 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 all 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 for finishing that sentence. 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. So that leads us to player predictions, man.

Back on MVP talk, Rich. I already told you, I'm going with my boy. Actually, not my boy. I don't even know him, but a guy who I think from Buffalo who is going to carry that team finally, finally to a Super Bowl, potentially to a win, you know, Jim Kelly's status. Don't be Jim Kelly status. Don't beat Jim Kelly status. Don't take him to force of bowling and go home enough. Take a little bit further than Jim Kelly. I think it's Josh Allen's time, Rich. I mean, come on. Like, he probably should have won it last year. Let's be real with ourselves. You know what I mean? Like it is. Tom Brady should have won it. He's 50. and he's still 50 touchdown.

The Josh Allen from the Buffalo Bills, by the way, not your favorite Josh Allen from the Jacksonville Jaguars. I was wondering if you were going to go there. But Justin Herbert is the guy. He's setting records every single year for the youngest to do this, the youngest to throw this how many yards, the youngest to throw this many touchdown. And you've got to remember,

his first start came because of tragedy to Tyrod Taylor an unexpected injury at time. He wasn't even practicing to be the starter. Now he's the undisputed guy. And he's going to be the undisputed guy in the National Football League, the MVP after this season. He has all the weapons, Austin Echler, Keenan Allen, Mike Williams. Like, he's here to do it this year in L.A. Gunslinger, Rich.

Gunslinger. I love Justin Herbert. I love the call. Absolutely love the call. You've already spoken about it on Thursday, Air Football. Nicholas, I forgot his middle name. Bosa is your defensive player of the year. Why?

Why? Because he's unstoppable. He is unstoppable. And what you need to do is doubling and chipping. What you cannot do is doubling and chipping. Because there are too many other people that will destroy your offensive line. Eric Armstead being the main culprit, Javon Kinlaw, Drake Jackson being the new guy.

they have a rotation that will the rotation of devastation. It's going to be tough to deal with. And so you're not going to be able to double bosa. And all you're going to do is be able to watch your quarterback get hit by him over and over. And not to say that, hey, in the run game, he'll probably have two, three TFLs again. Like, I just can't imagine him not getting it unless, well, I mean, I can because he didn't get a vote for comeback player a year last year. And he had 15 and a half sacks coming off ACL. And, I mean, good night.

Richard, was you being a former 49er and a former teammate of Nick Posta picking them to win the Super Bowl and him to win the defensive player of the year? A lot of people would say are a little bit biased, but I wouldn't be one of them. I mean, I think you're spot on. I think it's the 49ers year. I think Nick Bowes said if he can stay healthy, he's got everything in that pedigree, in that family, to win a defensive player of the year. So let's see what happens.

But Joy Bosa could win it too, so who knows? We got one or the other. I don't take one of the bosses. It's going to be one of the boasas or what? You know what I mean? It's going to be hard to anybody else. I mean, Aaron Donald could always do it. Fair.

Offensive player of the year. Offensive player of the year. Jesus always. What sucks about that is I wish they take the quarterbacks out of it, but they don't. They don't. It's going to be a quarterback. I think this is Justin Herbert's time to shine.

I think he has a season that finally puts him amongst the elites. Obviously, his number. and the stats say that, but I think him playing down the stretch and winning crucial ball games is going to really put it over the top officer player to year, Justin Ir. I would go Jerry Gough, but I feel like a lot of people are picking him, so I have to go a different direction. I'm going to go Josh Allen for obvious reasons. Rockstar, probably putting people through tables.

They're going to be winning a hell of a lot of games up in Buffalo. Coach of the year. Coach of the year. Coach of the year. Is it my boy Dan Campbell's time to shine? Is it Robert Salas time to shine? Is it someone emerging from the depths? What are we looking at here, Richard?

Let's see. I mean, you got the guys that you always expect to get it. You know, Andy Reid will always be in it. That's tough. That's tough. We'll come back to that one. You'll come back to that one. Because I need to think about that one a little deeper.

Because in Tampa, I don't think they'll give it to him, even if Tom wins the Super Bowl this year. I don't think they'll give Coach of the year to Todd bowls because they'll be like, hey, of course, of course they did. You know, we did it, you only did it seven times before, you know, in situations like that where it's like, they'd probably end up naming Tom Brady, the coach of the year at that one, Rich. Right.

Okay. I will save that one for a rainy day. How about come back player of the year? Is this something that Baker-Mathield might have his eyes on? Or are we just avoiding him? I know you love Baker. I mean, he could. He could.

They always give it to quarterbacks. They always give the awards to quarterbacks because it's like no matter what, the quarterback, the quarterback, the quarterback's quarterback. So they don't care about the quarterback that's coming off in Achilles' tear and then just comes and that helps lead a team to a Super Bowl. I mean, they don't give a rat to ask the guys like that. Right, J.C. Horn.

I'm going with J.C. Horn. I think it on the same team. Fair. Okay. Should have got to play last year. We'll come back and have the season he should have had last year, which will be fantastic. J.C. Horn. Okay, Rich. And you know what? I'm going to give you a pick for coach of the year.

Brandon Staley, because we're going to keep the chargers in the mix. They didn't make the playoffs last year. They'll make the playoffs like they make an AFC championship. That'll earn him a coach of year. I'm going to go with Kyle Shanahan and my dark horse is Dan Campbell. I like your pick of Brandon Staley though, Rich. Richard, okay, we've called out the obvious ones. Let's move a little bit more to the bold predictions category of things. Which dark horses do you like to, you know, rise to the top to be potential stars in this league that no one's really thinking about right now? I'm going to throw a name at you. And I want you to know, this is, this is my pick, Rich. Tony Pollard. Tony Potter. Why would you even bring up Tony Potter? Why would you bring him up?

Because it's called a bold prediction. That's why. That's crazy. The owner. The owner of the team said we only go as Ezekio Elliott goes, who is in front of Tony Pollard. So he will not, unless something crazy happens to Z, Tony Pollard will only be a secondary thought in the owner's mind. I don't even believe the owner, Rich. A pony Pollard is my choice for breakout player of the year.

I don't know. Devonte Smith of the Philadelphia Eagles breakout player the year. Respect. Respect. Finally, it's fantasy football draft season. If you walk around town, you're going to see a bunch of people having drafts at local bars. You might, you know, I mean, for me, I just have my Zoom annual draft with all my buddies, Rich. Let's forget the quarterbacks.

Let's look at the running backs and wide receiver positions. Who's kind of some of your dark horse guys that aren't necessarily at the top of the list that you think are due for breakout seasons? Well, Brandon Ayup, he isn't at the top of any of guys list. And with everything you're hearing out of camp, he's due for a breakout season. We'll see what Michael Thomas has. You know, I think people of the expectations are very high for him. I think Quintor's Julio Jones is a sleeper that, you know, guys can get late in their fantasy drafts. I think Keenan Allen is always underrated.

Him and Mike Williams down there in L.A. are always underreate. Alan Robinson, who never gets credit. It's in a situation where Cooper Cup will be getting doubled. Cooper Cup had a 244 targets last year. I think that'll spread a little bit more evenly this year with Alan Robinson being there. All right, Rich. Well, we've had a good first show. I think we can both agree with that.

You know what I mean? I mean, some of your picks in Detroit, I mean, they're 16 and 1. I don't know. I mean, that might make ourselves like the ratings. At the end of the day, it's been real. It's been fun. It's a shame. It hasn't been real fun.

But, Rich, we're going to have an opportunity. opportunity to make it real fun in the future. Twice a week, the Richard Sherman podcast. Do you want to sign us off? Well, thank you very much, Mitchell, for joining me, as always. It's been fantastic. Your Detroit homerism is, is, is, uh, is awesome. It's, it's, it's, it's, it's sad.

I'm just kidding, I'm just kidding. But thank you guys for joining us. Hopefully you join us every week, twice a week, this season. We're trying to give you more content. We'll be Sunday, Sunday, before the Sunday night game. We'll be trying to get this content out to you. Every week we'll have a new guest,

starting with George Kittle, of course, but you might have some Hall of Famers on the docket. We'll let you know later. Join us next week. Can't wait to see you. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and friends.

Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and headwriter, Streeter Side. help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes.

Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all,

embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me.

I'm Sam J. 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. with our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. It was a wild year. It was a wild year.

I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.