February 25, 2025 • 32 mins
College football has finally changed its focal points to the NFL
Colin talks to Timberwolves Head Coach Chris Finch about their season, the state of the NBA, and their incredible win last night against the Thunder
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
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Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Well, sometimes you get lucky.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
It is the greatest road wind in the history of
regular season NBA. Last night, Chris Finch and the te Wolves. Uh,
first time ever a team is trailed by over twenty
entering the fourth and one, and you scored forty one
points in the fourth against the number one rated defense.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
So I want when you go into.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
The fourth quarter, you you were Belichick meets Andy Reid
meets Red Arbach. What did you tell What do you
tell a team you're getting housed against an excellent team?
Speaker 3 (00:59):
What did you tell you?
Speaker 4 (01:00):
Well?
Speaker 5 (01:01):
I mean, first of all, I think you just you
have to have that competitiveness in you, you know, and
we have a lot of competitors, and our team's fighting,
and we've had a couple comebacks like that, not quite
as big, but you've been a lot of close games yeah,
we've been in a lot of clutch games, but it
was really the young guys, So the rookies who brought
us back into that game. And sometimes you just need
(01:21):
that young energy. So the third time we played Oklahoma
City in four games, we played them the night before
and so just they brought the juice and made a
couple of plays and full disclosure calling I at about
ten minutes on the clock, we were down nineteen.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
I was almost going to pull the two remaining.
Speaker 5 (01:40):
Starters, and then I thought, let me just see what
happens here for the next minute or so, and then
I think we got an A and one and kind
of cut it to sixteen, and then you think, well
maybe we'll see you know, and then just kind of
snowballed from there.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
By the way, Oklahoma City, now, let's play the clip. Chris,
despite winning, a little fired up after he maybe a
little lighter in the wall in a couple of days.
Here's Chris after the win last night.
Speaker 5 (02:06):
It's so frustrating to play this team because they foul
a ton, you know, they really do.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
They foul.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
They foul all the time, and then you know you
can't really touch Shay and it's a It's a very
frustrating thing and it takes a lot of mental toughness
to try to play through it. And you know, we
we just eventually were able to get downhill and and force,
you know, force the issue ourselves and we're rewarded for it.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
So J Mack has been on this all season. He
has been on this all seat. I defend SG, I
defend Carl Malone, I defend James Harden. I don't think
you get that whistle in the playoffs, and I think
that's problematic. You Carl Malone didn't, Harden didn't, SJ won't.
But there are players that do create contact. Luca, by
(02:53):
the way, it's phenomenal at it. But you obviously feel
strongly about this. Were you sending him back, Sage, what
was that for?
Speaker 5 (03:02):
I mean, first of all, I would thanks for bringing
to attention. But more to the point, it's like they're
the very physical defense, which is I mean, they've done
a great job building their defense there. They swarm you,
and there's an adage when you're playing defense, like, hey,
if we're physical and we're fouling all over the place,
they're not going to be able to call them all.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
That's Jerry Sloan with a jazz Jerry Sloan will just
be so physical they can't blow the whistle all.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
Night, and and and all credit to the league, you know,
about a year ago they decided that they were going
to allow more physicality into the game. Like it too,
and we're a defensive team and we benefit from that.
But then and when you have a player on the
other end, Shay, who's so crafty and so hard to guard,
(03:48):
and he's able to slow the game down in a
way where everything's focused on him, so all the all
the contact is kind of accentuated. It's it's it is
a very tough mental you know, trap that you have
to fight through with your players because you want to
be able to match physicality when the game is physical,
(04:08):
and you can't do it around a player like Shaye
because he's so crafty.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Well, there are certain players. Jokich is one, Sga is one,
and Luke is one. It doesn't matter what the pace
of the game is. Yes, they played at their pace.
Speaker 5 (04:18):
Yeah, I mean the guy's selling popcorn is selling popcorn
at their pace.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
And okay, so AT's an interesting player. What is so aunt?
I was surprised today, I knew he was like top ten.
He leads the NBA in three point shots made what
And I've complained about this.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
I want ant being dynamic.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
I also understand like Wemb's shooting to me too many threes,
But I understand the game and the analytics.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
As a coach.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
What is the dividing line, the line in the sand
on Okay, I want you to shoot threes, but you
can beat guys off the dribble and be dynamic.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Do you fight with that?
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Well?
Speaker 5 (04:55):
I think I asked this question a lot, like what's
the number of threes you like ideally like Anthony to shoot.
I don't really have a number. I just want good ones,
and he's done it. I think largely the ones he's
taken this year are good. He came into the season
trying to up his volume because, as crazy as it
may sound, I think for the first time he gained
(05:16):
full confidence in his shot. He's always been able to
make it. We've always been preaching, hey, this is something
you really do. You need to trust it more. And
I think he started the season on such a hot
streak that he kind of relied on it, maybe a
little too much.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
And then since Christmas.
Speaker 5 (05:32):
Time, he's really gone back to attacking more. I love
his shot balance right now. He's attacking more. His free
throws are up as a result, but yet he's still
shooting good shots and making him out a high clip.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
So I think he's kind of mastered it right now.
Speaker 5 (05:50):
We've seen a few more of the Anthony dunks and
spectacular plays going to the rim in the last month
and a half.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
You didn't want to necessarily move off, but it's the CBA,
it's the reality. So you bring in Julius Randall a
little ball centric for me, but he's a bit more
of an initiator that can get ant good looks. Karl
Anthony Towns isn't. So it works out. But the new CBA,
I mean, here's my theory on the Luca trade, and
you tell me if I'm wrong.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
My theory is it was.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
It was different when you pay a guy thirty five million,
so a billionaire goes that's a lot of money. But
you know quarterbacks of the NFL are making sixty If
I got to pay a guy seventy five million, now,
it's like that's more than Patrick Mahomes. That's that's double
Josh Allen, that's double what Lebron made in his prime.
(06:37):
I'm gonna consider everything. Conditioning's bad, bad defensive player, So
I didn't buy it was just Nico the GM. My
take is this new CBA, the Stars won, but I
think billionaire owners now are like, wait.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Wait, wait, wait, seventy five billion.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Is a number that is so punitive if the players
hurt or isn't in condition. So my take is the
players think they won the Stars, but I think billionaires
look at that number and think that is double Erran
judge and they played twice our games and that went
(07:18):
into the Luca trade.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
Yeah, I would agree. I would agree with that.
Speaker 5 (07:22):
I think now in the new CBA landscape, you really
have to decide, like you know obviously who you're gonna
marry going forward. There's amazing talent. Luca is an amazing talent,
take and that's their decision. I'm not going to comment
too much on that. Yeah, but I also think when
you when you get to this point with the with
these salaries, it really limits your ability to continue to
(07:44):
construct teams around that star without it being further punitive
with the double apron and now just being able to
escape those areas of the CBA to kind of readjust
which is what we had to do so we could
continue to build around And yeah, I had to move
Carlton towns and so it's it's it's like the tax
(08:07):
code right now.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
I mean, trying to figure out the tax code.
Speaker 5 (08:12):
It's so complicated and a lot of these teams are
now having to kind of pivot quickly to set themselves
up for four or five years down the road, which is,
you know, an interesting place to be when you're roster building.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
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FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
I want to throw this at you that when before
I kept saying about a month ago, just get Jimmy
Butler with staff. I don't care what analytics say. He
has the emotional intelligence. He'll work with Draymond and staff
and Kerr is that if you're a little squirrely or young,
it won't work there, and that he's intense, but it'll work.
(08:54):
And it has worked. So I want you to talk
about this. Julius Randall, by the way, has worked better
than I thought with Aunt. I didn't think it would work.
I thought he was too ball centric and I think
Ant needs the ball. But it has worked. So I
want you to talk about the Warriors and Jimmy Butler.
Butler has a reputation that he's tough. Everywhere he goes,
he wins. What is it about him? Did you think
(09:15):
the Warriors? Did you think it would work as well
as it did?
Speaker 4 (09:20):
Yeah? I thought it would work. I did.
Speaker 5 (09:22):
I think you know, Jimmy high basketball like Q. He
fits their basketball culture. He doesn't need the ball, and
when he has the ball, he's looking to make his teammates.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Very intentional.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
Yeah, he's very intentional.
Speaker 5 (09:34):
He can get to the line, which is something that
they struggled with, which helps you control games. And you know,
he's a perfect partner alongside Draymond because of the defensive flexibility,
the toughness, the rebounding, and he will immediately understand as
we've seen, you know, how Steph plays and how to
make you know, how to kind of jive with.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
That with the playmaking.
Speaker 5 (09:56):
You know, he's just waiting to find Stephanie's a lot
like Draymond and I way, but then when needed, he
can step up and make a shot. And the admirable
thing not only does he win everywhere? His numbers go
up in the playoffs, which you don't often heard of. Yeah,
so you know we're done with him for the season.
For that, I'm glad hopefully we can keep him behind
(10:17):
us in this race coming down the stretch.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
But they are going to be a problem.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
So and I like to ask you these mask macro
league questions and I'll get back to Ann Edwards at
the end. But I thought JJ Reddick had a moment
this week and he said the quiet part out loud,
which is, we're.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
Going to run the offense through Luca.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
I think Lebron wanted to run the offense through a
D but he doesn't.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
He's not a playmaker.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
I thought when Lebron was in his prime, even Kyrie
had to be off ball. Lebron was just the best
player I've ever seen. D Wade relinquished it very quickly
four practices in.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
You run the office.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
But I do think JJ touched on something that people
haven't said out loud, which is, no, it's will save
you for your spurts from somebody who knows the game
on such a micro level. Lebron's always been a fascinating
player because you'd love for him to play off ball,
(11:12):
but he's so damn good at beating people to the basket.
How do you think Luca Lebron will look going forward? Ideally,
because sometimes your greatest gift is a burden, and I
think Lebron sometimes he is the ecosystem. It just has
to run through him. But when JJ said that, I
was like, man, he said the quiet part out loud.
(11:35):
Do you think it's problematic? How do you think it'll look?
Speaker 3 (11:37):
Well?
Speaker 5 (11:37):
I think sometimes when you're a coach, you have to
say the quiet part out loud so there's clarity in
your team, you know.
Speaker 4 (11:43):
And it's not always comfortable.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
You know.
Speaker 5 (11:45):
Luca's grown up playing with the ball in his hands
his entire life, just as Lebron has.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
You know.
Speaker 5 (11:52):
And the key will be how they divide those minutes,
and they'll stagger them just enough so they all get
their own usage. And I think we've seen early on
when Luca tries to overly defer. You know, that's when
he was it's not his game and he was turning
it over and he was a little bit uncomfortable.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
And I think that all comes from a good place.
Speaker 5 (12:10):
They're trying to accommodate each other Right now, I think
they'll all get to a point where they'll say, you know,
I got to be me. But I do believe that
because they're both so such exceptional passers, and they're wired
to make the right play almost all the time. That's
why I love it and and really admire about Lebron
is that he's he makes the right play if it's always,
(12:31):
if it's a cut, if it's a path, you know,
if it's a drive or a run in transition, he's
going to do it. And Luca's learned that too. You know,
when he gets doubled, he makes the right play all
the time. He doesn't force it anymore. And I think
that kind of mentality gives them the best chance to
be really successful with each other.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
I think the NBA has always been a player's league
since Spencer Haywood, right like, you can go back to
where the players had a real say. I have no
problem with it. I like Adam Silver. I think he's
very bright. He didn't want any more work stoppages. I
think the money train is flying. But I do think
sometimes he's a bit of a permissive parent. David Stern
(13:12):
was a barker. He would not allowed load management. This
thing's gotten out of hand in my opinion. The players
now make so much money that they have so much control.
And again I'm not bothered by it. That's who we
go to watch. But I think the All Star Game
is a prime example. Stars don't want to play it.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
There's nothing you can do.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
You have aunt and is the most dynamic player in
the league. Are there eggshells you have to walk on
with a superstar player?
Speaker 3 (13:39):
They're not firing him if you go on a four
game winning streak.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Is it tough for you, Chris, knowing that you have
one of the four seminal players in this league that
people buy a ticket to watch.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
Well, I mean, it's the reality of our league.
Speaker 5 (13:52):
You know, coaching is the ultimate middle management position in
our league. So you have to have a relationship with
these guys. You have to understand n Fortunately for Anthony,
he's wired in the right way. He's highly coachable, he cares,
he competes, he's about the right things.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
And you know, we all.
Speaker 5 (14:09):
Know that it's a players league and that's what's the
beauty of it. And of course these guys are amazing
and people should come to watch them play all the time.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
You know, I do feel.
Speaker 5 (14:19):
That, you know, with the All Star Game, it's kind
of gotten to a point where.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
Everybody's scratching their head. They don't know how to make
it better.
Speaker 5 (14:28):
For me, I would just lean into the fact that
it's an incredible fan fest weekend.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
There's a lot, there's a lot at stake.
Speaker 5 (14:35):
I do think if you havn't been the coach last year,
the players did show up with the mindset or some
of them or showed up with the mindset to want
to compete. But if you have half the players who
don't want to compete half that, do you know, you
don't have a chance to have a competitive game. So
I do think like there they have to rethink that
maybe they just like kind of go away from the
(14:57):
game even and just have more events with more player
interactivity with the fans, which is really what people want.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Yeah, you know, I think the NBA, I said this earlier,
outside of the NFL, which is the English Premier League
of the UK, is that everything's cyclical.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
I mean, boxing was huge, it's over.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Tennis just had three extraordinary players, all in their prime,
playing at the same time for fifteen years. We'll never
see that again. I mean that you have to go
back to like Connors and McEnroe and bored and yeah,
and do you worry?
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Do you worry?
Speaker 4 (15:34):
Though?
Speaker 1 (15:36):
The league is getting international to a point where I
guess I'll ask this, the league doesn't have a Face
of the league. Does it need one? Do you believe
that would fix? Like Caitlin Clark, literally one player from
Iowa fixed a lot of the WNBA problems. I always
say this in politics. The Democrats were lost, Obama showed
(15:58):
up suddenly, the Conservative as we're lost, Trump shows up now.
Democrats are the bottom line. Sometimes a singular personality changes
the direction of a political party of a league.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
You know, pre.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
Pre Magic and Bird, NBA was kind of a mess. Yeah,
like they had a drug problem. If I said to you,
let's solve this ratings problem, Chris Finch, what do you
think it is?
Speaker 5 (16:23):
Yeah, I don't think it's a face of the league problem, Colin.
I think there's a lot of good stars. I mean
there may you know, there may not be a supernova
out there right now just to drag the league along.
I do think that the game is in a great
place in terms of its competitiveness.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
Games like last night are just like.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
Game seven of the Western Colm. I mean, you guys
were it was incredibly intense.
Speaker 5 (16:45):
And there's so there's you're never out of a game
that I mean, these games are wild, the variants in
the league, with the three point shooting in the pace
and just kind of never out of the league right now.
That one thing I've said about the All Star Game
is like, we see such great spectacular plays from these
guys going against each other every single night that you
don't need.
Speaker 4 (17:05):
To see it in an All Star Game.
Speaker 5 (17:07):
You know, we see such amazing plays and on a
nightly basis. I do think there can be some thought
into the schedule. I'm an advocate for less games. You know,
obviously people are gonna have to give up money to
make that work, and for the betterment of the game,
I think it's worth considering.
Speaker 4 (17:25):
You know, I might not have a job when I
walk off this set, but.
Speaker 5 (17:29):
I think that that's a way to kind of increase
the not just maybe the participation of the league's best
players on a nightly basis, but also to kind of
draw focus to maybe three games a week as a
nice rhythm, and we can look back and say, hey,
what happened in the NBA this week because everybody's kind
of played a bit of a balanced schedule, and I
(17:52):
think that way we could, you know, we can highlight
some of the great plays. Sometimes when there's so many games,
we can't watch them all, can't see it all, and
it becomes, you know, a little bit of white noise,
if you will.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
So if I instead of asking you who's the best
team in the league you've played, if I ask you, Chris,
who would you not either conference?
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Who would you not want to play in a series?
Speaker 4 (18:17):
Well, I mean Cleveland kicked our tail twice.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
I mean I think they're I think their efficiency's insane.
Speaker 5 (18:22):
Yeah, and they are complete. You know, there's a lot
of good teams in the league right The West is
just loaded top to bottom, but teams that I've been
super impressed with.
Speaker 6 (18:31):
When I won nineties basketball, Michael Jordan and Kobe was
not as clean as y'all think.
Speaker 4 (18:38):
It was.
Speaker 6 (18:39):
Every great player, whether that's in wemby Ron, you know, Steph, this,
that this that you know, they compare them to a month.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Forty years ago.
Speaker 6 (18:50):
The rules weren't even the same. Nobody celebrates these new people,
So why the would anybody want to be the face
of this league. You're gonna get on every network for
not being somebody from forty years ago. Bron is one
of the greatest players ever to play. Stephen Curry is
one of the greatest players ever to play. Jannis is
(19:12):
one of the great Jokic you know, we do we
talk about Michael Jordan. All this superstar era is over.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Okay, clear shot. It appears to me at Barkley inside
the league. Does Barkley bother the players?
Speaker 4 (19:28):
I don't think so.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
No.
Speaker 5 (19:30):
I think I mean, I would say most people thoroughly
enjoy that show for what it is. It's part of
the fabric of the NBA. It's it's it's irreverent, it's entertaining.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
I think it's a comedy shit.
Speaker 5 (19:41):
Yeah, I mean it should they should have a disclaimer
for entertainment purposes only.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
So.
Speaker 5 (19:47):
But I mean it's you know, it's it's part of
our league. I mean, it's it's baked into our league
and we love that. But it's I don't think it's bothered.
There are some things here and there. I think it's
gotten a little personal. It's had a little spice, you know.
I know in the playoffs last year when they had
Draymon on and he was going at route.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
I thought Draymond was a little over the top.
Speaker 5 (20:06):
Yeah, but you know, it added some spice and it
was fine. It all went away quickly. But no one's
overly bothered by.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
It, Okay.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
J Maac thinks it's the it's the fall of the
Roman Empire here.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
It just drives him crazy. I I I do think.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
At some point that's a great line. I consider it
almost is. Ernie is the ring master. It's got almost
a pro wrestling field too. They make, you know, sexual jokes.
It's like there are certain shows that break all the rules.
That's the show on TV that breaks all the rules.
I mean they swear, it's it's innuendos about relationships. They're
(20:43):
calling certain women in certain cities overweight. I'm like, this
is totally inappropriate and it.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
Kind of works.
Speaker 4 (20:50):
Ye.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
So and and to your point, everybody kind.
Speaker 4 (20:52):
Of gets, yeah, appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
You got didn't you You got a technical like three
weeks ago, and you're not a real You don't.
Speaker 4 (20:59):
Bark a lot, bark a lot. Yeah, I just tried to.
Speaker 3 (21:02):
Did you drop a was it a word?
Speaker 4 (21:04):
Yeah? Boso? Yeah, Boso?
Speaker 3 (21:08):
You called it? Okay, I'm the referee. Dude, what'd you say?
Speaker 4 (21:13):
I said, you're a boso, that's kind.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Of what you would say. And he just ted you
up for that.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
I think it was I had been complaining for a lot.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
Oh you've been complaining for a while.
Speaker 4 (21:25):
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, So did.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
You drop a word before bo.
Speaker 4 (21:28):
You might have it? Definitely after.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Great seeing you.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (21:34):
Thanks Chris Finch off the craziest win NBA history last night,
Come back on the road and beat Okay, see uh
back in a second Live in La It's the Hurt.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
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Speaker 7 (21:47):
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Speaker 1 (22:45):
I just found out something that I cannot believe. J
Max did not put this in updates today. Well, you
don't think it's a big.
Speaker 9 (22:52):
Story tomorrow, it's not that big.
Speaker 10 (22:53):
It's I suggested a guest that we should invite on
who like Chris Finch Is he Care Show? And there's
a story about Pete Carroll going to the Combine not
flying first class because the raiders are cheap.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
So he flew a coach like like like me, not
like you. Obviously, no I fly coach regularly, irregularly, but
I fly in the nineties.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
Whatever. J Man with the news, Turn on the news.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
This is the Herdline News.
Speaker 6 (23:22):
All right.
Speaker 9 (23:22):
We do have some breaking news from the Combine.
Speaker 10 (23:24):
It centers around Miles Garrett, the superstar edge rusher, who
was requested to trade from.
Speaker 9 (23:29):
The Brown citing his desire to win.
Speaker 10 (23:32):
Teams have been checking in on trading for Garrett, but
GM Andrew Berry addressed the situation at the Combine this morning.
Speaker 11 (23:39):
Understand the trader quests and everything, but our stance really
has not changed. You know, we can't imagine a situation
where not having Miles. Our focus is on, you know,
building the team, and you know, again, Miles has got
to be.
Speaker 4 (23:52):
A big part of that. So many calls have you got?
Speaker 11 (23:55):
Uh, I wouldn't really touch on any conversations that I
have with other teams, just respectfully. Yeah, I don't think
that's appropriate just for current and future business, but it's
irrelevant to this situation because we're not interested everything Miles.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
Yeah, the question is, uh, you know who would call
with Miles Garrett? How about everybody? I mean, I mean
there's probably six teams that wouldn't. Philadelphia's load is they're
gonna call.
Speaker 10 (24:17):
So is this him being firm we're not trading him,
or is this trying to gin up the price get
a bidding war going, Hey, we're not trading him. Sorry,
all right, Well what about I can't imagine too first
for a guy this this age, with this many injuries gone.
Oh boy, I know he's not a spring chicken as
they say.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
He's still unbelievably dominant. I think his body wears well
over time. I really would have no problem. I'm I
don't think I would say this about any defensive player
since Aaron Donnell. I would strongly consider. Again, if I
was a late first round team like Buffalo or what
I'm gonna be drafting late in the first round, I
would give up two firsts if I was the Buffalo
Bills or Green Bay Packers, because I'm drafting in no
(24:56):
man's land anyway. No man's land in the NFL is
drafting twentieth down because you're out of first round players
even in a good draft by about seventeen or eighteen.
This year's got about twelve, So no man's land. If
you're the Buffalo Bills are Green Bay Packers, you're you're
drafting at twenty five, twenty seven. I would absolutely give
up two first for Miles Garrett. Absolutely, dude, he is
(25:17):
a he will change if you told me today.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
Let's just take green Bay.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
Green Bay has not had a consistent pass rush in forever.
Speaker 9 (25:27):
Yeah, but they have needs their offensive line with.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
Spinal called the draft, they don't have.
Speaker 9 (25:32):
You just said you're giving up two first.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
No, no, but they have a history the Packers do
of nailing third, fourth, fifth, sixth rounders for the offensive line.
Speaker 9 (25:40):
I mean, so you're a gambler, you like to push
all your tips in the middle.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
If I'm a Titans and I'm drafting top of the first,
I'm not giving away two first. But once you're a
well run machine, Kansas City, you're drafting thirtieth every year.
Speaker 9 (25:52):
Kansas City's got some means. I don't think that can.
I think the Eagles. I think your Eagles arguments the best. Hey,
we've got a loaded.
Speaker 10 (25:58):
Roster, we don't have to pay anybody yet we can
and give.
Speaker 9 (26:00):
Up maybe two first for Oz Garrett. And oh my gosh,
that is a terrifying defensive line. That would be phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
You know, I think people, you know, I hear the
new York Giants, so they don't want to give off
that first round pick for Matt Stafford. Well, it is
a number three pick, and if the Rams got that pick,
they would they would I don't think they would draft
the quarterback. I think they would keep keep going down,
go get Aaron Rodgers and just fortify their roster. But
when you're a good team, those first round picks. I
(26:30):
mean last year, the Niners are picking like Ricky pearsall
in five minutes after the draft. People are like, yeah,
he can't separate, that's what you hit. And I like
Ricky Pearsoll, but does he feel like a first round talent.
Speaker 10 (26:42):
Let's see next year when there's more playing time and
he hasn't.
Speaker 9 (26:44):
Been shot in the offseason.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
Yeah, no, I mean he had a rough start.
Speaker 9 (26:47):
Jeez all right. Next story is yesterday we learned that
an anonymous.
Speaker 10 (26:52):
NFL team had sent a proposal to the league trying
to ban the tush push.
Speaker 9 (26:56):
Well, now it's out there.
Speaker 10 (26:57):
It was the Green Bay Packers who made this, and
GM Brian Guttikunsk confirmed it today at the combine.
Speaker 12 (27:05):
Yeah, I'm aware of it. We really haven't had very
many discussions about it. I'm sure, we will over the
next few weeks as we head into the owner's meetings.
But so I'm aware that we did, but really haven't
had many discussions about it. We're not very successful against it,
I know that, but to be honest with I have
not put much thought into it. It's been around for
a while, we've used it in different fashions with our
tight end. So again, I think there'll be a lot
(27:28):
of discussions about it. I got to kind of look
at the some of the information as far as injury
rates things like that to see, but we'll see.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
Listen, it's a automatic play, and the league hates those.
They hated the pat they didn't like to kickoff. The
NFL gets rid of automatic plays.
Speaker 4 (27:44):
They just do.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
That's what they do.
Speaker 9 (27:45):
So here's the thing.
Speaker 10 (27:46):
They need twenty four of thirty one teams. Obviously the
Eagles are not going to vote for it to ban
the play.
Speaker 9 (27:52):
That's seventy seven percent.
Speaker 10 (27:53):
Do you think seventy seven percent of teams in the
league want to ban it?
Speaker 9 (27:56):
Yeah, no way.
Speaker 10 (27:59):
Well, first of all, Oh Bill's tried it three times
against the Chiefs.
Speaker 9 (28:02):
And it couldn't work. And now mcdrumot's yeah, we should
try to ban.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
The First of all, there's a lot of envy in
the world. If the best team in football, with the
best gym and best roster is doing something nobody can stop,
you'll get twenty four votes in five minutes.
Speaker 9 (28:15):
Did they even use it in the Super Bowl? It's
such a blowout, Like, I think this is a little overblown.
You know what, stop the damn play? Just stop it.
Speaker 3 (28:22):
How hard can it be.
Speaker 10 (28:23):
You've got an entire offseason to figure out how to
stop the toush push.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
Well, it's again, I think it's easier said than done.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
I think leagues have a.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
History of making moves to make the game more dynamic
for its television partner.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
I mean, why change the kickoff? Why change the pat?
Speaker 10 (28:45):
We're getting injured on kickoffs. The pat was automatic and boring.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
These you would leave the room for.
Speaker 10 (28:51):
Extra points, Sorr, I gotta go to the bathroom, leg
go get some chips.
Speaker 9 (28:53):
You're not leaving the room for toush push on fourth
and one. You're not doing that. You're watching, aren't you?
Speaker 1 (28:59):
Like, Well, it's generally a fourth down, so I'm watching.
I would be surprised if it is no overturned.
Speaker 3 (29:07):
It'd be one thing.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
If nine teams did it well, one does and that
one team's dominates trying it well. I think the Chargers
tried it, the Bill. I think teams try it.
Speaker 10 (29:16):
The Giants are the ones who tried it. And remember
Daniel Zones got hurt and the center got hurt. All
these guys got banged up because you.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
Know what I think.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
I think it helps that you can want to ban
it and use an excuse.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
Hey, I think it's unsafe for players.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
It's one thing if you if you vote to ban
it and you're only out is well.
Speaker 3 (29:34):
We can't stop it.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
I can vote against it and go. I think it's
really unhealthy for the easy young men in the NFL,
and we've got to protect our players. And they can
sound very altruistic. That's a much easier no vote for
me as a GM.
Speaker 9 (29:48):
You sound like a politician.
Speaker 10 (29:49):
Hey, you've got no evidence to back it up, but
you're just gonna say something and keep saying it and
saying it until if it comes back, like the Eagles
run this play twice a game, three tempt any injuries
on the Eagles running it, anybody getting hurt.
Speaker 1 (30:01):
All I know is the safety of young men is
my number one concerns.
Speaker 10 (30:06):
All right, final story is the combine is really kicking
off in earnest this week.
Speaker 9 (30:11):
Everybody's excited.
Speaker 10 (30:12):
Travis Hunter, considered one of the best in the nation
last year at corner and receiver. The Athletics surveyed six
NFL players asking them what position he should play after
he's drafted. None of them picked wide receiver. Colin nowadays
only six guys tiny staple size three said, corner three
said both ways. I'm gonna say Travis Hunter wants to
(30:33):
play wide receiver because he wants to get paid, and
that's the position that gets you paid.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
Right now, Yeah, this all this is.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
I mean, listen, if he goes to it New England,
he's obviously going to be the most dynamic athlete.
Speaker 9 (30:45):
So you think Vrabel's taken him.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
Well, I think he's going to be a successful player,
and I think he's going to be a great highlight player,
like he's just built for highlights. But I think over
the course of time, cornerbacks have to tackle bigger running
back and bigger tight ends and often bigger receivers. You
coulda take another forty five snaps on offense, Like I
just I don't think it's built for the long haul.
(31:09):
I think he'll be dynamic. I think his first couple
of years in the league, people will be like, this
is amazing, but isn't you want to get guys to
a second contract? And I just think you're It's asking
a lot for a thin player on a perimeter, player
that defensively has to tackle in between the tackle players regularly,
and I think it's a big ass to play both sides.
Speaker 9 (31:29):
Feels like Jacksonville is a great fit. No pressure.
Speaker 10 (31:32):
Is the number one receiver right out of the gate,
right they got some skilled guys Trevor Lawrence and quarterback.
Speaker 9 (31:36):
I think Jacksonville five makes a ton of sense for him.
Speaker 1 (31:39):
J Mack with the news, Well that's the news, and
thanks for stopping by the Heard Line News.
Speaker 3 (31:46):
Good to have Chris Finch in today.
Speaker 1 (31:49):
So far today I've had gummy Bear soup and sour
Patch kids sandwich. We are rolling here as we have
a stocked.
Speaker 3 (31:56):
Candy fridge right off the set.
Speaker 1 (31:58):
Chris Finch, Daniel Jeremiah Bull stop by today. Daniel Jeremiah
has Abdul Carter from Penn State. He did his twenty
third combine and he said the first time he was there.
There were two reporters, the late John Clayton and Chris
Mortenson were both there. And now it's like it's a thing.
(32:19):
The access is still limited, but the Combine Week is
really known as deal week. Is that, you know, people
go now to make deals, the Rams front office and
Matt Stafford's agent. You know, I'm being told they're gonna
try to make a deal. I don't think they'll get
a deal done, but they're trying to lay the groundwork,
so you know people are on his you know, the
(32:39):
sides remain reasonably amicable.
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in
noon to three Eastern nine am to noon Pacific. Find
your local station for The Herd at Fox Sports Radio
dot com, or stream us live every day on the
iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Well, sometimes you get lucky.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
It is the greatest road wind in the history of
regular season NBA. Last night, Chris Finch and the te Wolves. Uh,
first time ever a team is trailed by over twenty
entering the fourth and one, and you scored forty one
points in the fourth against the number one rated defense.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
So I want when you go into.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
The fourth quarter, you you were Belichick meets Andy Reid
meets Red Arbach. What did you tell What do you
tell a team you're getting housed against an excellent team?
Speaker 3 (00:59):
What did you tell you?
Speaker 4 (01:00):
Well?
Speaker 5 (01:01):
I mean, first of all, I think you just you
have to have that competitiveness in you, you know, and
we have a lot of competitors, and our team's fighting,
and we've had a couple comebacks like that, not quite
as big, but you've been a lot of close games yeah,
we've been in a lot of clutch games, but it
was really the young guys, So the rookies who brought
us back into that game. And sometimes you just need
(01:21):
that young energy. So the third time we played Oklahoma
City in four games, we played them the night before
and so just they brought the juice and made a
couple of plays and full disclosure calling I at about
ten minutes on the clock, we were down nineteen.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
I was almost going to pull the two remaining.
Speaker 5 (01:40):
Starters, and then I thought, let me just see what
happens here for the next minute or so, and then
I think we got an A and one and kind
of cut it to sixteen, and then you think, well
maybe we'll see you know, and then just kind of
snowballed from there.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
By the way, Oklahoma City, now, let's play the clip. Chris,
despite winning, a little fired up after he maybe a
little lighter in the wall in a couple of days.
Here's Chris after the win last night.
Speaker 5 (02:06):
It's so frustrating to play this team because they foul
a ton, you know, they really do.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
They foul.
Speaker 5 (02:11):
They foul all the time, and then you know you
can't really touch Shay and it's a It's a very
frustrating thing and it takes a lot of mental toughness
to try to play through it. And you know, we
we just eventually were able to get downhill and and force,
you know, force the issue ourselves and we're rewarded for it.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
So J Mack has been on this all season. He
has been on this all seat. I defend SG, I
defend Carl Malone, I defend James Harden. I don't think
you get that whistle in the playoffs, and I think
that's problematic. You Carl Malone didn't, Harden didn't, SJ won't.
But there are players that do create contact. Luca, by
(02:53):
the way, it's phenomenal at it. But you obviously feel
strongly about this. Were you sending him back, Sage, what
was that for?
Speaker 5 (03:02):
I mean, first of all, I would thanks for bringing
to attention. But more to the point, it's like they're
the very physical defense, which is I mean, they've done
a great job building their defense there. They swarm you,
and there's an adage when you're playing defense, like, hey,
if we're physical and we're fouling all over the place,
they're not going to be able to call them all.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
That's Jerry Sloan with a jazz Jerry Sloan will just
be so physical they can't blow the whistle all.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
Night, and and and all credit to the league, you know,
about a year ago they decided that they were going
to allow more physicality into the game. Like it too,
and we're a defensive team and we benefit from that.
But then and when you have a player on the
other end, Shay, who's so crafty and so hard to guard,
(03:48):
and he's able to slow the game down in a
way where everything's focused on him, so all the all
the contact is kind of accentuated. It's it's it is
a very tough mental you know, trap that you have
to fight through with your players because you want to
be able to match physicality when the game is physical,
(04:08):
and you can't do it around a player like Shaye
because he's so crafty.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Well, there are certain players. Jokich is one, Sga is one,
and Luke is one. It doesn't matter what the pace
of the game is. Yes, they played at their pace.
Speaker 5 (04:18):
Yeah, I mean the guy's selling popcorn is selling popcorn
at their pace.
Speaker 1 (04:21):
And okay, so AT's an interesting player. What is so aunt?
I was surprised today, I knew he was like top ten.
He leads the NBA in three point shots made what
And I've complained about this.
Speaker 3 (04:34):
I want ant being dynamic.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
I also understand like Wemb's shooting to me too many threes,
But I understand the game and the analytics.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
As a coach.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
What is the dividing line, the line in the sand
on Okay, I want you to shoot threes, but you
can beat guys off the dribble and be dynamic.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Do you fight with that?
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Well?
Speaker 5 (04:55):
I think I asked this question a lot, like what's
the number of threes you like ideally like Anthony to shoot.
I don't really have a number. I just want good ones,
and he's done it. I think largely the ones he's
taken this year are good. He came into the season
trying to up his volume because, as crazy as it
may sound, I think for the first time he gained
(05:16):
full confidence in his shot. He's always been able to
make it. We've always been preaching, hey, this is something
you really do. You need to trust it more. And
I think he started the season on such a hot
streak that he kind of relied on it, maybe a
little too much.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
And then since Christmas.
Speaker 5 (05:32):
Time, he's really gone back to attacking more. I love
his shot balance right now. He's attacking more. His free
throws are up as a result, but yet he's still
shooting good shots and making him out a high clip.
Speaker 4 (05:46):
So I think he's kind of mastered it right now.
Speaker 5 (05:50):
We've seen a few more of the Anthony dunks and
spectacular plays going to the rim in the last month
and a half.
Speaker 1 (05:58):
You didn't want to necessarily move off, but it's the CBA,
it's the reality. So you bring in Julius Randall a
little ball centric for me, but he's a bit more
of an initiator that can get ant good looks. Karl
Anthony Towns isn't. So it works out. But the new CBA,
I mean, here's my theory on the Luca trade, and
you tell me if I'm wrong.
Speaker 3 (06:16):
My theory is it was.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
It was different when you pay a guy thirty five million,
so a billionaire goes that's a lot of money. But
you know quarterbacks of the NFL are making sixty If
I got to pay a guy seventy five million, now,
it's like that's more than Patrick Mahomes. That's that's double
Josh Allen, that's double what Lebron made in his prime.
(06:37):
I'm gonna consider everything. Conditioning's bad, bad defensive player, So
I didn't buy it was just Nico the GM. My
take is this new CBA, the Stars won, but I
think billionaire owners now are like, wait.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
Wait, wait, wait, seventy five billion.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Is a number that is so punitive if the players
hurt or isn't in condition. So my take is the
players think they won the Stars, but I think billionaires
look at that number and think that is double Erran
judge and they played twice our games and that went
(07:18):
into the Luca trade.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
Yeah, I would agree. I would agree with that.
Speaker 5 (07:22):
I think now in the new CBA landscape, you really
have to decide, like you know obviously who you're gonna
marry going forward. There's amazing talent. Luca is an amazing talent,
take and that's their decision. I'm not going to comment
too much on that. Yeah, but I also think when
you when you get to this point with the with
these salaries, it really limits your ability to continue to
(07:44):
construct teams around that star without it being further punitive
with the double apron and now just being able to
escape those areas of the CBA to kind of readjust
which is what we had to do so we could
continue to build around And yeah, I had to move
Carlton towns and so it's it's it's like the tax
(08:07):
code right now.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
I mean, trying to figure out the tax code.
Speaker 5 (08:12):
It's so complicated and a lot of these teams are
now having to kind of pivot quickly to set themselves
up for four or five years down the road, which is,
you know, an interesting place to be when you're roster building.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
in noon eastern non am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
I want to throw this at you that when before
I kept saying about a month ago, just get Jimmy
Butler with staff. I don't care what analytics say. He
has the emotional intelligence. He'll work with Draymond and staff
and Kerr is that if you're a little squirrely or young,
it won't work there, and that he's intense, but it'll work.
(08:54):
And it has worked. So I want you to talk
about this. Julius Randall, by the way, has worked better
than I thought with Aunt. I didn't think it would work.
I thought he was too ball centric and I think
Ant needs the ball. But it has worked. So I
want you to talk about the Warriors and Jimmy Butler.
Butler has a reputation that he's tough. Everywhere he goes,
he wins. What is it about him? Did you think
(09:15):
the Warriors? Did you think it would work as well
as it did?
Speaker 4 (09:20):
Yeah? I thought it would work. I did.
Speaker 5 (09:22):
I think you know, Jimmy high basketball like Q. He
fits their basketball culture. He doesn't need the ball, and
when he has the ball, he's looking to make his teammates.
Speaker 3 (09:31):
Very intentional.
Speaker 4 (09:32):
Yeah, he's very intentional.
Speaker 5 (09:34):
He can get to the line, which is something that
they struggled with, which helps you control games. And you know,
he's a perfect partner alongside Draymond because of the defensive flexibility,
the toughness, the rebounding, and he will immediately understand as
we've seen, you know, how Steph plays and how to
make you know, how to kind of jive with.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
That with the playmaking.
Speaker 5 (09:56):
You know, he's just waiting to find Stephanie's a lot
like Draymond and I way, but then when needed, he
can step up and make a shot. And the admirable
thing not only does he win everywhere? His numbers go
up in the playoffs, which you don't often heard of. Yeah,
so you know we're done with him for the season.
For that, I'm glad hopefully we can keep him behind
(10:17):
us in this race coming down the stretch.
Speaker 4 (10:19):
But they are going to be a problem.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
So and I like to ask you these mask macro
league questions and I'll get back to Ann Edwards at
the end. But I thought JJ Reddick had a moment
this week and he said the quiet part out loud,
which is, we're.
Speaker 3 (10:31):
Going to run the offense through Luca.
Speaker 1 (10:35):
I think Lebron wanted to run the offense through a
D but he doesn't.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
He's not a playmaker.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
I thought when Lebron was in his prime, even Kyrie
had to be off ball. Lebron was just the best
player I've ever seen. D Wade relinquished it very quickly
four practices in.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
You run the office.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
But I do think JJ touched on something that people
haven't said out loud, which is, no, it's will save
you for your spurts from somebody who knows the game
on such a micro level. Lebron's always been a fascinating
player because you'd love for him to play off ball,
(11:12):
but he's so damn good at beating people to the basket.
How do you think Luca Lebron will look going forward? Ideally,
because sometimes your greatest gift is a burden, and I
think Lebron sometimes he is the ecosystem. It just has
to run through him. But when JJ said that, I
was like, man, he said the quiet part out loud.
(11:35):
Do you think it's problematic? How do you think it'll look?
Speaker 3 (11:37):
Well?
Speaker 5 (11:37):
I think sometimes when you're a coach, you have to
say the quiet part out loud so there's clarity in
your team, you know.
Speaker 4 (11:43):
And it's not always comfortable.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
You know.
Speaker 5 (11:45):
Luca's grown up playing with the ball in his hands
his entire life, just as Lebron has.
Speaker 4 (11:50):
You know.
Speaker 5 (11:52):
And the key will be how they divide those minutes,
and they'll stagger them just enough so they all get
their own usage. And I think we've seen early on
when Luca tries to overly defer. You know, that's when
he was it's not his game and he was turning
it over and he was a little bit uncomfortable.
Speaker 4 (12:08):
And I think that all comes from a good place.
Speaker 5 (12:10):
They're trying to accommodate each other Right now, I think
they'll all get to a point where they'll say, you know,
I got to be me. But I do believe that
because they're both so such exceptional passers, and they're wired
to make the right play almost all the time. That's
why I love it and and really admire about Lebron
is that he's he makes the right play if it's always,
(12:31):
if it's a cut, if it's a path, you know,
if it's a drive or a run in transition, he's
going to do it. And Luca's learned that too. You know,
when he gets doubled, he makes the right play all
the time. He doesn't force it anymore. And I think
that kind of mentality gives them the best chance to
be really successful with each other.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
I think the NBA has always been a player's league
since Spencer Haywood, right like, you can go back to
where the players had a real say. I have no
problem with it. I like Adam Silver. I think he's
very bright. He didn't want any more work stoppages. I
think the money train is flying. But I do think
sometimes he's a bit of a permissive parent. David Stern
(13:12):
was a barker. He would not allowed load management. This
thing's gotten out of hand in my opinion. The players
now make so much money that they have so much control.
And again I'm not bothered by it. That's who we
go to watch. But I think the All Star Game
is a prime example. Stars don't want to play it.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
There's nothing you can do.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
You have aunt and is the most dynamic player in
the league. Are there eggshells you have to walk on
with a superstar player?
Speaker 3 (13:39):
They're not firing him if you go on a four
game winning streak.
Speaker 1 (13:41):
Is it tough for you, Chris, knowing that you have
one of the four seminal players in this league that
people buy a ticket to watch.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
Well, I mean, it's the reality of our league.
Speaker 5 (13:52):
You know, coaching is the ultimate middle management position in
our league. So you have to have a relationship with
these guys. You have to understand n Fortunately for Anthony,
he's wired in the right way. He's highly coachable, he cares,
he competes, he's about the right things.
Speaker 4 (14:08):
And you know, we all.
Speaker 5 (14:09):
Know that it's a players league and that's what's the
beauty of it. And of course these guys are amazing
and people should come to watch them play all the time.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
You know, I do feel.
Speaker 5 (14:19):
That, you know, with the All Star Game, it's kind
of gotten to a point where.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
Everybody's scratching their head. They don't know how to make
it better.
Speaker 5 (14:28):
For me, I would just lean into the fact that
it's an incredible fan fest weekend.
Speaker 4 (14:33):
There's a lot, there's a lot at stake.
Speaker 5 (14:35):
I do think if you havn't been the coach last year,
the players did show up with the mindset or some
of them or showed up with the mindset to want
to compete. But if you have half the players who
don't want to compete half that, do you know, you
don't have a chance to have a competitive game. So
I do think like there they have to rethink that
maybe they just like kind of go away from the
(14:57):
game even and just have more events with more player
interactivity with the fans, which is really what people want.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Yeah, you know, I think the NBA, I said this earlier,
outside of the NFL, which is the English Premier League
of the UK, is that everything's cyclical.
Speaker 3 (15:15):
I mean, boxing was huge, it's over.
Speaker 1 (15:18):
Tennis just had three extraordinary players, all in their prime,
playing at the same time for fifteen years. We'll never
see that again. I mean that you have to go
back to like Connors and McEnroe and bored and yeah,
and do you worry?
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Do you worry?
Speaker 4 (15:34):
Though?
Speaker 1 (15:36):
The league is getting international to a point where I
guess I'll ask this, the league doesn't have a Face
of the league. Does it need one? Do you believe
that would fix? Like Caitlin Clark, literally one player from
Iowa fixed a lot of the WNBA problems. I always
say this in politics. The Democrats were lost, Obama showed
(15:58):
up suddenly, the Conservative as we're lost, Trump shows up now.
Democrats are the bottom line. Sometimes a singular personality changes
the direction of a political party of a league.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
You know, pre.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
Pre Magic and Bird, NBA was kind of a mess. Yeah,
like they had a drug problem. If I said to you,
let's solve this ratings problem, Chris Finch, what do you
think it is?
Speaker 5 (16:23):
Yeah, I don't think it's a face of the league problem, Colin.
I think there's a lot of good stars. I mean
there may you know, there may not be a supernova
out there right now just to drag the league along.
I do think that the game is in a great
place in terms of its competitiveness.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
Games like last night are just like.
Speaker 3 (16:42):
Game seven of the Western Colm. I mean, you guys
were it was incredibly intense.
Speaker 5 (16:45):
And there's so there's you're never out of a game
that I mean, these games are wild, the variants in
the league, with the three point shooting in the pace
and just kind of never out of the league right now.
That one thing I've said about the All Star Game
is like, we see such great spectacular plays from these
guys going against each other every single night that you
don't need.
Speaker 4 (17:05):
To see it in an All Star Game.
Speaker 5 (17:07):
You know, we see such amazing plays and on a
nightly basis. I do think there can be some thought
into the schedule. I'm an advocate for less games. You know,
obviously people are gonna have to give up money to
make that work, and for the betterment of the game,
I think it's worth considering.
Speaker 4 (17:25):
You know, I might not have a job when I
walk off this set, but.
Speaker 5 (17:29):
I think that that's a way to kind of increase
the not just maybe the participation of the league's best
players on a nightly basis, but also to kind of
draw focus to maybe three games a week as a
nice rhythm, and we can look back and say, hey,
what happened in the NBA this week because everybody's kind
of played a bit of a balanced schedule, and I
(17:52):
think that way we could, you know, we can highlight
some of the great plays. Sometimes when there's so many games,
we can't watch them all, can't see it all, and
it becomes, you know, a little bit of white noise,
if you will.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
So if I instead of asking you who's the best
team in the league you've played, if I ask you, Chris,
who would you not either conference?
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Who would you not want to play in a series?
Speaker 4 (18:17):
Well, I mean Cleveland kicked our tail twice.
Speaker 3 (18:20):
I mean I think they're I think their efficiency's insane.
Speaker 5 (18:22):
Yeah, and they are complete. You know, there's a lot
of good teams in the league right The West is
just loaded top to bottom, but teams that I've been
super impressed with.
Speaker 6 (18:31):
When I won nineties basketball, Michael Jordan and Kobe was
not as clean as y'all think.
Speaker 4 (18:38):
It was.
Speaker 6 (18:39):
Every great player, whether that's in wemby Ron, you know, Steph, this,
that this that you know, they compare them to a month.
Speaker 2 (18:48):
Forty years ago.
Speaker 6 (18:50):
The rules weren't even the same. Nobody celebrates these new people,
So why the would anybody want to be the face
of this league. You're gonna get on every network for
not being somebody from forty years ago. Bron is one
of the greatest players ever to play. Stephen Curry is
one of the greatest players ever to play. Jannis is
(19:12):
one of the great Jokic you know, we do we
talk about Michael Jordan. All this superstar era is over.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
Okay, clear shot. It appears to me at Barkley inside
the league. Does Barkley bother the players?
Speaker 4 (19:28):
I don't think so.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
No.
Speaker 5 (19:30):
I think I mean, I would say most people thoroughly
enjoy that show for what it is. It's part of
the fabric of the NBA. It's it's it's irreverent, it's entertaining.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
I think it's a comedy shit.
Speaker 5 (19:41):
Yeah, I mean it should they should have a disclaimer
for entertainment purposes only.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
So.
Speaker 5 (19:47):
But I mean it's you know, it's it's part of
our league. I mean, it's it's baked into our league
and we love that. But it's I don't think it's bothered.
There are some things here and there. I think it's
gotten a little personal. It's had a little spice, you know.
I know in the playoffs last year when they had
Draymon on and he was going at route.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
I thought Draymond was a little over the top.
Speaker 5 (20:06):
Yeah, but you know, it added some spice and it
was fine. It all went away quickly. But no one's
overly bothered by.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
It, Okay.
Speaker 1 (20:13):
J Maac thinks it's the it's the fall of the
Roman Empire here.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
It just drives him crazy. I I I do think.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
At some point that's a great line. I consider it
almost is. Ernie is the ring master. It's got almost
a pro wrestling field too. They make, you know, sexual jokes.
It's like there are certain shows that break all the rules.
That's the show on TV that breaks all the rules.
I mean they swear, it's it's innuendos about relationships. They're
(20:43):
calling certain women in certain cities overweight. I'm like, this
is totally inappropriate and it.
Speaker 3 (20:49):
Kind of works.
Speaker 4 (20:50):
Ye.
Speaker 3 (20:50):
So and and to your point, everybody kind.
Speaker 4 (20:52):
Of gets, yeah, appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (20:55):
You got didn't you You got a technical like three
weeks ago, and you're not a real You don't.
Speaker 4 (20:59):
Bark a lot, bark a lot. Yeah, I just tried to.
Speaker 3 (21:02):
Did you drop a was it a word?
Speaker 4 (21:04):
Yeah? Boso? Yeah, Boso?
Speaker 3 (21:08):
You called it? Okay, I'm the referee. Dude, what'd you say?
Speaker 4 (21:13):
I said, you're a boso, that's kind.
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Of what you would say. And he just ted you
up for that.
Speaker 4 (21:20):
I think it was I had been complaining for a lot.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
Oh you've been complaining for a while.
Speaker 4 (21:25):
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, So did.
Speaker 3 (21:26):
You drop a word before bo.
Speaker 4 (21:28):
You might have it? Definitely after.
Speaker 3 (21:33):
Great seeing you.
Speaker 4 (21:34):
I appreciate it.
Speaker 1 (21:34):
Thanks Chris Finch off the craziest win NBA history last night,
Come back on the road and beat Okay, see uh
back in a second Live in La It's the Hurt.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
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Speaker 7 (21:47):
Hey, Steve Covino and I'm Rich David and together we're
Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 8 (21:53):
You could catch us week days from five to seven
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Speaker 7 (22:00):
Why should you listen to Covino and Rich.
Speaker 8 (22:02):
We talk about everything life, sports, relationships, what's going on
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Speaker 7 (22:06):
We have a lot of fun talking about the stories
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Speaker 8 (22:14):
And the fact that we've been friends for the last
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Speaker 3 (22:18):
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Speaker 7 (22:20):
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Speaker 8 (22:28):
Most interactive show on planetar.
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Be sure to check out Covino and Rich live on
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Speaker 1 (22:45):
I just found out something that I cannot believe. J
Max did not put this in updates today. Well, you
don't think it's a big.
Speaker 9 (22:52):
Story tomorrow, it's not that big.
Speaker 10 (22:53):
It's I suggested a guest that we should invite on
who like Chris Finch Is he Care Show? And there's
a story about Pete Carroll going to the Combine not
flying first class because the raiders are cheap.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
So he flew a coach like like like me, not
like you. Obviously, no I fly coach regularly, irregularly, but
I fly in the nineties.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
Whatever. J Man with the news, Turn on the news.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
This is the Herdline News.
Speaker 6 (23:22):
All right.
Speaker 9 (23:22):
We do have some breaking news from the Combine.
Speaker 10 (23:24):
It centers around Miles Garrett, the superstar edge rusher, who
was requested to trade from.
Speaker 9 (23:29):
The Brown citing his desire to win.
Speaker 10 (23:32):
Teams have been checking in on trading for Garrett, but
GM Andrew Berry addressed the situation at the Combine this morning.
Speaker 11 (23:39):
Understand the trader quests and everything, but our stance really
has not changed. You know, we can't imagine a situation
where not having Miles. Our focus is on, you know,
building the team, and you know, again, Miles has got
to be.
Speaker 4 (23:52):
A big part of that. So many calls have you got?
Speaker 11 (23:55):
Uh, I wouldn't really touch on any conversations that I
have with other teams, just respectfully. Yeah, I don't think
that's appropriate just for current and future business, but it's
irrelevant to this situation because we're not interested everything Miles.
Speaker 1 (24:08):
Yeah, the question is, uh, you know who would call
with Miles Garrett? How about everybody? I mean, I mean
there's probably six teams that wouldn't. Philadelphia's load is they're
gonna call.
Speaker 10 (24:17):
So is this him being firm we're not trading him,
or is this trying to gin up the price get
a bidding war going, Hey, we're not trading him. Sorry,
all right, Well what about I can't imagine too first
for a guy this this age, with this many injuries gone.
Oh boy, I know he's not a spring chicken as
they say.
Speaker 1 (24:33):
He's still unbelievably dominant. I think his body wears well
over time. I really would have no problem. I'm I
don't think I would say this about any defensive player
since Aaron Donnell. I would strongly consider. Again, if I
was a late first round team like Buffalo or what
I'm gonna be drafting late in the first round, I
would give up two firsts if I was the Buffalo
Bills or Green Bay Packers, because I'm drafting in no
(24:56):
man's land anyway. No man's land in the NFL is
drafting twentieth down because you're out of first round players
even in a good draft by about seventeen or eighteen.
This year's got about twelve, So no man's land. If
you're the Buffalo Bills are Green Bay Packers, you're you're
drafting at twenty five, twenty seven. I would absolutely give
up two first for Miles Garrett. Absolutely, dude, he is
(25:17):
a he will change if you told me today.
Speaker 3 (25:21):
Let's just take green Bay.
Speaker 1 (25:23):
Green Bay has not had a consistent pass rush in forever.
Speaker 9 (25:27):
Yeah, but they have needs their offensive line with.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
Spinal called the draft, they don't have.
Speaker 9 (25:32):
You just said you're giving up two first.
Speaker 1 (25:34):
No, no, but they have a history the Packers do
of nailing third, fourth, fifth, sixth rounders for the offensive line.
Speaker 9 (25:40):
I mean, so you're a gambler, you like to push
all your tips in the middle.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
If I'm a Titans and I'm drafting top of the first,
I'm not giving away two first. But once you're a
well run machine, Kansas City, you're drafting thirtieth every year.
Speaker 9 (25:52):
Kansas City's got some means. I don't think that can.
I think the Eagles. I think your Eagles arguments the best. Hey,
we've got a loaded.
Speaker 10 (25:58):
Roster, we don't have to pay anybody yet we can
and give.
Speaker 9 (26:00):
Up maybe two first for Oz Garrett. And oh my gosh,
that is a terrifying defensive line. That would be phenomenal.
Speaker 1 (26:08):
You know, I think people, you know, I hear the
new York Giants, so they don't want to give off
that first round pick for Matt Stafford. Well, it is
a number three pick, and if the Rams got that pick,
they would they would I don't think they would draft
the quarterback. I think they would keep keep going down,
go get Aaron Rodgers and just fortify their roster. But
when you're a good team, those first round picks. I
(26:30):
mean last year, the Niners are picking like Ricky pearsall
in five minutes after the draft. People are like, yeah,
he can't separate, that's what you hit. And I like
Ricky Pearsoll, but does he feel like a first round talent.
Speaker 10 (26:42):
Let's see next year when there's more playing time and
he hasn't.
Speaker 9 (26:44):
Been shot in the offseason.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
Yeah, no, I mean he had a rough start.
Speaker 9 (26:47):
Jeez all right. Next story is yesterday we learned that
an anonymous.
Speaker 10 (26:52):
NFL team had sent a proposal to the league trying
to ban the tush push.
Speaker 9 (26:56):
Well, now it's out there.
Speaker 10 (26:57):
It was the Green Bay Packers who made this, and
GM Brian Guttikunsk confirmed it today at the combine.
Speaker 12 (27:05):
Yeah, I'm aware of it. We really haven't had very
many discussions about it. I'm sure, we will over the
next few weeks as we head into the owner's meetings.
But so I'm aware that we did, but really haven't
had many discussions about it. We're not very successful against it,
I know that, but to be honest with I have
not put much thought into it. It's been around for
a while, we've used it in different fashions with our
tight end. So again, I think there'll be a lot
(27:28):
of discussions about it. I got to kind of look
at the some of the information as far as injury
rates things like that to see, but we'll see.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
Listen, it's a automatic play, and the league hates those.
They hated the pat they didn't like to kickoff. The
NFL gets rid of automatic plays.
Speaker 4 (27:44):
They just do.
Speaker 3 (27:45):
That's what they do.
Speaker 9 (27:45):
So here's the thing.
Speaker 10 (27:46):
They need twenty four of thirty one teams. Obviously the
Eagles are not going to vote for it to ban
the play.
Speaker 9 (27:52):
That's seventy seven percent.
Speaker 10 (27:53):
Do you think seventy seven percent of teams in the
league want to ban it?
Speaker 9 (27:56):
Yeah, no way.
Speaker 10 (27:59):
Well, first of all, Oh Bill's tried it three times
against the Chiefs.
Speaker 9 (28:02):
And it couldn't work. And now mcdrumot's yeah, we should
try to ban.
Speaker 1 (28:05):
The First of all, there's a lot of envy in
the world. If the best team in football, with the
best gym and best roster is doing something nobody can stop,
you'll get twenty four votes in five minutes.
Speaker 9 (28:15):
Did they even use it in the Super Bowl? It's
such a blowout, Like, I think this is a little overblown.
You know what, stop the damn play? Just stop it.
Speaker 3 (28:22):
How hard can it be.
Speaker 10 (28:23):
You've got an entire offseason to figure out how to
stop the toush push.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
Well, it's again, I think it's easier said than done.
Speaker 3 (28:31):
I think leagues have a.
Speaker 1 (28:34):
History of making moves to make the game more dynamic
for its television partner.
Speaker 3 (28:42):
I mean, why change the kickoff? Why change the pat?
Speaker 10 (28:45):
We're getting injured on kickoffs. The pat was automatic and boring.
Speaker 3 (28:50):
These you would leave the room for.
Speaker 10 (28:51):
Extra points, Sorr, I gotta go to the bathroom, leg
go get some chips.
Speaker 9 (28:53):
You're not leaving the room for toush push on fourth
and one. You're not doing that. You're watching, aren't you?
Speaker 1 (28:59):
Like, Well, it's generally a fourth down, so I'm watching.
I would be surprised if it is no overturned.
Speaker 3 (29:07):
It'd be one thing.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
If nine teams did it well, one does and that
one team's dominates trying it well. I think the Chargers
tried it, the Bill. I think teams try it.
Speaker 10 (29:16):
The Giants are the ones who tried it. And remember
Daniel Zones got hurt and the center got hurt. All
these guys got banged up because you.
Speaker 3 (29:23):
Know what I think.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
I think it helps that you can want to ban
it and use an excuse.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
Hey, I think it's unsafe for players.
Speaker 1 (29:30):
It's one thing if you if you vote to ban
it and you're only out is well.
Speaker 3 (29:34):
We can't stop it.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
I can vote against it and go. I think it's
really unhealthy for the easy young men in the NFL,
and we've got to protect our players. And they can
sound very altruistic. That's a much easier no vote for
me as a GM.
Speaker 9 (29:48):
You sound like a politician.
Speaker 10 (29:49):
Hey, you've got no evidence to back it up, but
you're just gonna say something and keep saying it and
saying it until if it comes back, like the Eagles
run this play twice a game, three tempt any injuries
on the Eagles running it, anybody getting hurt.
Speaker 1 (30:01):
All I know is the safety of young men is
my number one concerns.
Speaker 10 (30:06):
All right, final story is the combine is really kicking
off in earnest this week.
Speaker 9 (30:11):
Everybody's excited.
Speaker 10 (30:12):
Travis Hunter, considered one of the best in the nation
last year at corner and receiver. The Athletics surveyed six
NFL players asking them what position he should play after
he's drafted. None of them picked wide receiver. Colin nowadays
only six guys tiny staple size three said, corner three
said both ways. I'm gonna say Travis Hunter wants to
(30:33):
play wide receiver because he wants to get paid, and
that's the position that gets you paid.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
Right now, Yeah, this all this is.
Speaker 1 (30:40):
I mean, listen, if he goes to it New England,
he's obviously going to be the most dynamic athlete.
Speaker 9 (30:45):
So you think Vrabel's taken him.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
Well, I think he's going to be a successful player,
and I think he's going to be a great highlight player,
like he's just built for highlights. But I think over
the course of time, cornerbacks have to tackle bigger running
back and bigger tight ends and often bigger receivers. You
coulda take another forty five snaps on offense, Like I
just I don't think it's built for the long haul.
(31:09):
I think he'll be dynamic. I think his first couple
of years in the league, people will be like, this
is amazing, but isn't you want to get guys to
a second contract? And I just think you're It's asking
a lot for a thin player on a perimeter, player
that defensively has to tackle in between the tackle players regularly,
and I think it's a big ass to play both sides.
Speaker 9 (31:29):
Feels like Jacksonville is a great fit. No pressure.
Speaker 10 (31:32):
Is the number one receiver right out of the gate,
right they got some skilled guys Trevor Lawrence and quarterback.
Speaker 9 (31:36):
I think Jacksonville five makes a ton of sense for him.
Speaker 1 (31:39):
J Mack with the news, Well that's the news, and
thanks for stopping by the Heard Line News.
Speaker 3 (31:46):
Good to have Chris Finch in today.
Speaker 1 (31:49):
So far today I've had gummy Bear soup and sour
Patch kids sandwich. We are rolling here as we have
a stocked.
Speaker 3 (31:56):
Candy fridge right off the set.
Speaker 1 (31:58):
Chris Finch, Daniel Jeremiah Bull stop by today. Daniel Jeremiah
has Abdul Carter from Penn State. He did his twenty
third combine and he said the first time he was there.
There were two reporters, the late John Clayton and Chris
Mortenson were both there. And now it's like it's a thing.
(32:19):
The access is still limited, but the Combine Week is
really known as deal week. Is that, you know, people
go now to make deals, the Rams front office and
Matt Stafford's agent. You know, I'm being told they're gonna
try to make a deal. I don't think they'll get
a deal done, but they're trying to lay the groundwork,
so you know people are on his you know, the
(32:39):
sides remain reasonably amicable.
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