January 21, 2026 • 34 mins
Super Bowl champion QB Phil Simms stops by The Herd to talk about John Harbaugh, why he feels Jaxson Dart is the guy, and what to expect from the G-Men next season
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
It's one of my favorite guys. It's Phil Simms. Two
Super Bowl championships, fifteen years with the Giants. He had
a coach that was difficult. You know I've said today
is every year I go out and pick a team
that's my double my win total team. So this year
it was New England because I loved Rabel and had
a lot of free agent money. And the year before
(00:46):
it was well, it was Washington. I got pretty lucky
on that right because I love Jayden Daniels at LSU.
And then before that it was the Rams that it
was the Viking. So I said, the minute you hired Harbaugh,
I'm like, they need a right tackle probably in a
receiver tied and everybody needs another corner in the whole
world except the Seahawks. I think they're gonna win twelve games.
Eleven twelve games. Phil Simms probably chuckling at that, but
(01:08):
I think you know, they let seven to one score losses.
They were hell, they let Denver by ten, they let
the Bears by ten. They let the Lions by ten
in the fourth quarter. So do I sound like a
lunatic when I said I think they can win the
division next year? I think I don't think they're that
far away, even though they had a bad record.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Yeah, I heard you talking during the break and I
got to tell you, I think you were spot on.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
You kind of fired me up.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
I'm like, damn, I'm more excited about the Giants down
than I was all last year.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
So it's great, But you're right, they listen, they have
the quarterback.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
In fact, it's almost it's bad that he drafted, got
drafted as lady as he did. Should have been drafted
before his number came up. But he played really well.
And now they got a quarterback, and they got John Harball,
I mean, and they got a defensive line that can
get to the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Those are my two.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Yeah, And you know, people, I was told this and
told us by GMS through the years. You're not hiring
a scheme guy. You got to hire a CEO. If
he's good with schemes like Kyle Shanahan, that's a bonus.
You're hiring a CEO. You tell me, based on your career.
Can one guy, John Harbaugh, can one guy change the culture?
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Not even a question. It's easy to answer. And you know,
I had it with Bill Parcells. He was the culture.
He set the table every day what he wanted, what
he demanded. And then I had this coach, Dan Reeves,
and I wondered about him. Were at first meeting we have.
He comes into the room, the team is there, he
puts his notepad down on the electure and he's of
(02:39):
course looking great.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
The hair's perfect, he's got the tie on.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
He looks out over us and he goes, sit up straight,
put your feet on the floor, and take.
Speaker 4 (02:48):
Those damn hats off.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
And I'm sitting there and he did it with a
voice that was scary.
Speaker 4 (02:53):
And I turned to bart Oates and I went, we're
going to win.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
And we did, and because now we know who's in charge,
and we got to listen and do what he says.
And to me, that's just a small part. These head
coaches have a chance to really set to the culture
and change everything. John Harbaugh eighteen years down in Baltimore,
And what do you think every player, they've heard the
(03:20):
message many many times in it wears thin. Now he
comes to New York, the players are going to be
excited to hear that message, and so it changes him
his enthusiasm, how he manages these players, and you know,
it's an exciting time.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
I think for the New York Giants.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
How are you sure Jackson Darks the guy? He's in
that tent constantly, Phil, how do you understand that? How
are you sure he's the guy?
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Well, you know, the tent's one thing. So we got
a Giants got to correct that. I'm not laughing, but
it just kind of shows you who he is a
little bit. But talent wise, Colin, I am one behind
him and think he's he's even more than I expected.
And I studied him really hard because under the Giants
liked him, and I don't know, it came to me
(04:03):
late the guy's more mobile than I thought. And then
going to practice during preseason and training camp, Damn, he
could throw it too, I mean like throw it better
than I expected. And so and then he took it
to the field and right away, instant hit man.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
It was awesome to watch.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
Yeah. I mean he's got the confidence of a guy.
The look the field, I mean he is I'll say this,
he's got juice and that's what I look for. He's
got an energy and a juice about him. When he's
on the field. You can tell that the players like
him and trust him. That's a big deal. He's got that.
By the way, is when you were a quarterback, I
mean you had great players around you. You weren't the
(04:41):
most talented New York Giant, Lawrence Taylor, those kind of
level players. What is the secret for a young you
come into the league and you're a kid and you
got older players than you. What's the secret to being
twenty five years old and having a thirty three year
old buy into you.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Well, you know, for me, it was do your job
and shut up, you know, because it just it was
different for Jackson Dart his personality. You know, I kind
of thought, man, when it comes here, is it really
gonna work on the on the pro level? And it
worked big time. The players love him. He's got a
you know, an infectious energy to him to how he
(05:20):
plays and who he is and practice in the locker room.
You know, I see all these videos and I know
it's just a different world. He's always dancing and they're
doing all this stuff. And yeah, he's got it. You know,
he's got the personality that you want in a professional quarterback.
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Speaker 1 (06:15):
Were you surprised? Let's go to Buffalo? Were you? Were
you surplies? They let Sean McDermott go eight playoff wins.
A lot of wins. Playoff wins are gold bars. They're
hard to get parcels. Playoff records barely above five hundred.
It's hard to win in the playoffs. He won eight
playoff games. You shocked they let him go?
Speaker 4 (06:35):
Yeah? I was. I was shocked.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
You know, listen, there's you know, before the year started,
I'll just do it this way. I looked at their roster,
and you do this too, and I think you do
a really good job at it. I looked at it
and go, why are people saying this is a super
Bowl roster? I don't get it. You know, as he
wants these teams and you know, the a little bit different.
(06:58):
Denver might be a little different, but big powerful teams
seemed to be to me what I would want and
give you a better chance of winning playoff games going
to the super Bowl. But I was surprised that he
they let him go. But what they're gonna have coming in,
whoever it is again, it's a new voice, it's a
new way, and maybe that's all they need is something
(07:18):
a little different to get them over the top.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
The you know, it's interesting with we've got Sean Payton
against Mike Vrabel and I look at the pet I
look at the Patriots, Phille I got the same owner
that Brady had I got the same offensive quarter coordinator
Brady had Drake. Drake may moves more than Brady, but
he's a big, tall kid. That's accurate. You know, he's
(07:42):
not as good in the pocket yet as Tom was.
Probably a better mover. And Vrabel to me, looks like
a more current Belichick, where he's a little more player friendly,
a little more engaging with the media. He's a current Belichick,
super bright, no bs, all about football. I look at
New England and I told my friend Nick Wrt this yesterday,
and everybody's looking at Buffalo and Baltimore. I said, if
(08:03):
you told me Andy Reid and Mahomes biggest obstacle for
the next ten years, I said, it's Vrabel, Robert Kraft,
Drake Maye, Josh McDaniel, that's the obstacle. Do you feel
as high on the Patriots as I do?
Speaker 3 (08:16):
Yes, I do. I feel high on Mike Grabel. Look
you're talking about Sean Payton and Mike Rabel. You talk
about culture, sitting the table, understanding the whole organization, especially
as a football team.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
They got it.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
And you know, Mike Brabel, I was down in Tennessee
one year.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
I'll never forget this.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
We're just talking and we're kind of talking about what
we're doing right now, and he goes, Phil, one thing
I've learned in this league. I thought it was all
about I got the x's and o's, and that's not it.
It's connecting with the players. And he changed why he
was at Tennessee and he's carried that over to New England.
I mean, during every time they score, something goes well,
(08:56):
you know, he's hugging the players and right you know,
it gives them energy. They want that recognition that they
did something well. And it's really fun to watch and
to see these two playing a game. I kind of
know what Brabel's gonna do. But Sean Payton, man your guests,
is as good as anybody what he's going to do
in this game.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
But Jared Stidham, So I'm watching Seattle in the rams
and this doesn't happen very often, Phil, Maybe about once
a decade you get a team where they've got a
player on a team friendly deal quarterback and then they
don't miss draft picks for several years. And it's Seattle.
And I've been saying this all year with Seattle. If
you turn the sound down, no bias just watched them.
(09:38):
They look longer and faster, just going one hundred. Their
special teams are fast. They don't have any holes. And
I want you to go back to your career. That
doesn't mean they're going to win the Super Bowl, but
you did get that. And by the way, the last
team like this may have been Pete Carrol Russell Wilson
Seahawks where you got Russell was on a rookie deal
(09:59):
and Pete was at a college and they nailed drafts
for about four years. They were finding stars in the
sixth round. And I look at Seattle and I'm like,
they don't look like anybody else. Doesn't mean they're the
best team in your in your career, how do you
beat teams because you didn't have the best team every time?
How do you beat a team? And I think Sean
McVay looks at this and goes, I don't know if
(10:21):
we have the best roster. I don't know if we do.
How do you use Seattle's youth and explosion and speed
and length against them? Did you ever face a team
where you knew you didn't have the best roster?
Speaker 4 (10:34):
Well, yes, Chicago Bears in nineteen eighty five.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
Hell it was man, that was as rough as it
gets and as tough as it gets, and yeah, we
knew we had to improve the following year to be
able to compete in war with them, and it worked out.
But you know, you talk about Seattle. I was asked
this question a few times. They just talking to people,
and I say, wait, they're big, they look big, they're fast,
they got depth.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
I think they're well coached. Man.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
I think this is a big you know, this is
a big hurdle for the Los Angeles Rams. And now
we got the fans. And one thing about fans and
playoff games. If you're down ten to nothing during a
regular season game, they might boo you, but you're down
ten to nothing in a playoff game, the fans are
still rooting you on.
Speaker 4 (11:15):
Let's go.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
And I think it's going to be a very very
tough test for the Rams going up there, because I
think the when I look at the Seahawks, I see
many advantages they could have in the game. I look
at the Rams and just go, man, Sean McVay. They
got to be really smoking on offense, and the quarterback
is going to have to really, really, I think, play
(11:37):
special for them to beat Seattle.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
Yeah, Seattle's better on defense and special teams. I think
we can say that right now. Interesting. I remember when
John Elway won a Super Bowl and retired, and John
could have still played, but it was time. He had
a lot of injuries. And you know, you know how
it is. You're beat up. You're just tired of practice,
You're tired of camp. You can probably still spin it.
You just don't want to go to the non sense of,
(12:00):
you know, getting ready for a season physically. And I
look at Stafford, who's had a myriad of shoulder and
knee and if he won a second Super Bowl, the
money's not the issue. It wasn't with Lway. You know
that that's not the issue. I look at it and
I think he's a Hall of Famer probably now second
super Bowl, he's first ballot stuff. If he wins, take
(12:23):
me to your last year or two. Could you see
Stafford saying, Man, I'm gonna do an l Way. I
can still sling it, but I just don't want to
go through camp. What do you make if he wins,
what do you think he would do?
Speaker 3 (12:37):
I don't think he'll He'll retire. I don't you know
one thing we're showing a highlight. Right there, there's another
perfect pass spiral down the field. It's beautiful. And man,
when you can play like he can and throw like
he can, it's it's hard to give it up.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
Colin.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
I mean, you talk about training camp and all those
other things. Come on for the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
It's great. You want me to go out there and
throw more today. Wow, Okay, that's what I love to do. Anyway,
let's do it.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
So.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
I think he enjoys the game too much. I think
he still has incredible talent. I mean, they're in Chicago
last week, him and Caleb Williams. Did they know it
was cold, windy and snowy and all that? Because they
didn't look like it. They were throwing damn darts all
over the place at Stafford. It's just very few guys
just play a long career like he's had and lose
(13:26):
arm strength. He hasn't lost any He's still as special
as ever.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
I said that play that Caleb made last week, I said,
I don't think there's five guys ever could do to
make that throw. I mean, it just takes in that wind.
It's hard, and I've made the argument that I can't
judge Caleb like I can judge Stafford because there's two
plays with Caleb, the one Ben Jonson scripted and the
(13:51):
one he'll make up if it doesn't go right. And
Josh Allen's got that are you Are you in the
Caleb group? Now? Did it take a while? What do
you make of him just going forward?
Speaker 3 (14:02):
I loved him coming out and after his rookie year,
I said, if they redraft him again, I still want
Caleb Williams. I'm not a fan hill, I'm leading it.
I love what he does on the field.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
Who he is.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Let's see, he's big, strong, mobile, He's got a very
special arm in many many ways, can run and throw
it and he makes he in one game, he can
make more spectacular throws than some quarterbacks will have in
a whole year.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
And yes, you know there's certain things.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
Oh it's completion percentage, man, I couldn't care too whatever's
about his stupid completion percentage. When you're a quarterback like him,
everything looks open because of that arm and he's in
the field, so you know he only needs a little
tiny window and he'll rip it in there. So you
know he's never going to be sixty five. Well, he
(14:53):
might get the sixty five. As he learns to check
it down, they throw a few more screens and all that.
You know, this completion percentage, I can always hear about him.
Oh my, I come on, there's more to talk about
Caleb Williams than his stupid completion percentage. It has nothing
to do with the outcome of who he is.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
And winning and losing for that football team.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
In my eyes, No, I yeah, I just there's just
certain players, you know. It's almost it's almost like Calvin
Johnson was so strong and so big. I didn't I mean,
he was also fast, but I didn't care a ton
about his forty time. He was just so big, smart,
(15:34):
ran the route tree strong hand pooka nakula by the way.
He runs such good routes. His hands are so strong.
I don't care what his forty is not. Everybody is great,
you know the traits like I nobody like bow Knicks.
Here's what I know about bow Knicks. He's athletic, he's tough,
he never gets hurt, and he's really good laid in
(15:55):
games like I don't care. Yeah, I mean, he's big
when he's supposed to be big. So that's kind of
where I are you a bonus.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
Let me just say this about Caleb. There's no limit
to what you can design for him. So you can
whatever you design, he's going to be able to do it.
And whatever it's, it's this pass that you know, whatever
running what he can do it. So Ben Jonson's got
a canvas there and he just goes, I don't know
(16:25):
what to paint because I got it all right there
for me. And you know, Caleb will settle down as
time goes on and become a more accurate thrower and
know how to change the speeds a little better.
Speaker 4 (16:37):
If you know.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Some criticisms. Yeah, he's very aggressive decision maker. And let's
be honest. Sometimes he throws the ball so hard. I
don't know how the hell they catch it. It's just
on TV it's Boom, it's there so and bo Nick's man,
his dad taught him what I heard it on a telecast.
Don't take sacks as a quarterback, man, he gets rid
of the football. He's mobile as you can be. And
(16:59):
it's our is so much stronger than people giving credit for.
And I'm really I really feel for him the fact
that he's going to miss this two game.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
I really do yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
Were you good in cold weather? Giants got a lot
of cruddy weather. Were you a good cold weather quarterback?
Speaker 3 (17:14):
I had no choice, so it was I'm telling you,
I would say eighty percent of the games I played
in the old Giants Stadium, win was always a factor.
Oh yeah, And over time, like anything, I adapted to
it and what it does to you. Somebody can be
running down the field and if it's into the win,
you have to be a little careful, so they might
(17:34):
have to die for the ball, could be low or whatever,
because you got to give the win that respect.
Speaker 4 (17:41):
So that's changed over time.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Not as many windy games right now in the new stadium,
and of course the climate change or whatever you want
to say, we don't feel win.
Speaker 4 (17:50):
It seems like until January. But yeah, it was windy
and Giants Stadium.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Fifteen seasons with the New York Giants, two Super Bowls,
first round. Pick out a Morehead state? Who is your
big rival? Who is Morehead States big rival?
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Well it was our best week, so it was well,
we had the week up, Hey, Colin. We were not good.
It was a rough four years of playing. I think
I played every snap, which was great at least to
do certain things for the come into the league.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
Our big rival name was.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Eastern Kentucky, but I think I think morehead State went
twenty some years before they beat him with this. I
don't know if John Harball was on that staff or not,
but Rex Ryan was down there on the defensive stat
so they broke that skid because he just blitzed everybody
all the time.
Speaker 1 (18:47):
That's wrecks.
Speaker 4 (18:48):
Oh it was Rex all right. He did a great
job there.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
Phil, great seeing you again.
Speaker 4 (18:53):
All right, Colin, thanks for having me on man.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
You bet Phil Simms all right, he's fired up for
the Giants too. Yeah, get the right coach. Got a cheap,
young talented quarterback. You get real good, real fast in
this league. Wells he had. He's gonna be the best
coach on division. He is today going forward. J Mack
with the news.
Speaker 7 (19:15):
This is the headline news, Jarrett Stidham. Does that name
do anything for anyone out there? He is throwing his
first pass. I can't believe this in two years, Wow,
in a playoff game with the super Bowl on the line.
He's taken a couple of deal downs in the last
two seasons because bo Nicks is always healthy Anyways, The
last time he really suited up was a week seventeen
(19:39):
with the when he was on the Raiders against the
forty nine ers and Max Crosby remembers Stidham and here
he had some nice things to say.
Speaker 4 (19:49):
He was a teammate of mine.
Speaker 8 (19:50):
He he's a great friend of mine, and he is
a competitive individual. Denver did a great job by bringing
him in, you know, having him the backup, because he's
not just going to go in there and dink and
dunk and play it safe, like he's going to go
out there and play quarterback and try to help them
win the game.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Yeah. I remember when Peyton took the job. I mean
was it felt like immediately he went and spent twelve
million dollars a year on Stidham as a backup. I
can remember saying that is a lot for a backup.
I think very early on, Sean Payton felt like, if
this Russell thing doesn't work for twelve million bucks, I
got a guy good enough to win games as a starter,
(20:31):
So I kind of trust to Sean Payton. It's like
when Kyle Shanahan brought Donald in. Everybody banged on Donald,
but like Shannan's like, no, that guy can play. If
Sean Payton brings in. Sean liked the Teddy Bridgewater, you know.
I mean Sean's Shawn's opinion on quarterbacks matter, so he
thinks he's good. Plus he knows the system. Now, he
knows the teammates, so it's not like you know. I
(20:52):
tend to think he'll be fine. I don't think they'll
win now, but I think they'll be fine. I really,
I think it's a close fine. I think he'll go.
If he went fifteen for twenty three for one hundred
and eighty yards and a touchdown pass and one pick, is.
Speaker 6 (21:06):
That going to get it done?
Speaker 1 (21:07):
I don't know. But he's not bow Knicks. But I
don't think he's going to be the root cause for
the issues, you know. I think I also wonder. I
mean again, he knows the playbook, so you can run everything.
He doesn't move quite like nickt he does. He moves
a little. But I think the bon Knicks athletic ability
is a real component to Denver's. I mean it was
(21:27):
last week first half he was running all over the place.
So I would favor New England in this game. If
bon Nicks played, I'd probably take Denver close. I'll now
take New England close.
Speaker 6 (21:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (21:39):
The markets don't know really how to react to this change,
this downgrade. I'm seeing some people say as many as
eight points a swing from bow Knicks. The market's settled
around six and a half. Wow, it's just tough to Gates.
The guy hasn't thrown a pass in two seasons.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
What does that tell you that bo Nicks is worth
a touchdown? For all the critics bow Knicks over a
guy that Sean Payton thinks is pretty talented.
Speaker 7 (22:03):
Well, I mean, listen, if it was Mac Jones, obviously
wouldn't be a.
Speaker 6 (22:06):
Six point down. Great, because Jones is an established, credible quarterback.
Speaker 7 (22:10):
This is a total mystery. I mean, Jared Sidham could
come out and throw for two fifty. I mean I
would be surprised.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
I don't know.
Speaker 7 (22:15):
But you made a good point that Christian Gonzalez in
this Patriots defense has shown well against Stroud and Herbert
in the first two rounds. Their run defense is the
real problem. Yeah, nobody can get through them with Milton
Denver doesn't. Denver's run game is spotty. I think New
England's corners are second to Seattle of the team. Well,
I mean, Patrick's Tartans good. He hadn't had the greatest year,
(22:36):
a good year, it feels like to me. But New
England's New England's secondary, their corners are I mean it.
It reminds me a lot of Vrabel and Tennessee and
Belichick in New England. A lot of contact, a lot
of physicality, ball in the air. I think New England's
secondary is really good. I just you know, it's tough
(22:56):
to pick the Broncos in this spot, just because you
don't know what you're getting from Sinnam. They're at home. Yeah,
what is that homefield is worth? What two points go
on two and a half this year?
Speaker 6 (23:05):
I don't know.
Speaker 7 (23:05):
Well, she should be a good game. Let's move on
to ooh, some drama with a quarterback and his name
is Baker Mayfield. Now, Kevin Stefanski was hired by the
Falcons this week, and the media, you know in Atlanta's
very excited and they're starting to dig into what happened
with Stefanski in Cleveland.
Speaker 6 (23:23):
Coudd he have in Cleveland Colin Baker Mayfield.
Speaker 7 (23:26):
So one of the Falcons beat writers said that Stefanski
dealt with a dumpster fire. His words situation in Cleveland.
Baker Mayfield, you know, because this is what he does,
shined in well, not so fast. I wouldn't quite call
it that, And then of course Baker Mayfield had to
make it personal.
Speaker 6 (23:44):
I was shipped off like a piece of garbage.
Speaker 7 (23:46):
And I'm still waiting for the text or call from you, Stefanski.
Look forward to seeing you twice a year in the division.
Now it gets better, Joe Thomas, the legendary Cleveland offensive lineman.
He responded, Hey, uh, communication is a two way street.
Speaker 6 (24:02):
Baker.
Speaker 7 (24:03):
You know there's no laws against you sending Stefanski something
saying hey man, great working with you after you got traded.
Speaker 6 (24:10):
So here we go off season squabble, very NBA.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
Of these guys to get Baker's got a chip on
bow shoulders. I mean that's who he is. He often
plays better with that.
Speaker 8 (24:23):
You know.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
Listen, it's when when you let go of an employee,
people move on. I think Baker has had a very
redeemable career. I think Stefanski's really smart. But Baker, you know,
Baker did lead them to a playoff win, so let's
I don't think he was a dumpster fire in Cleveland.
I thought he needed to grow up a little. But
I mean the Cleveland media also poked him in the
(24:45):
ribs a lot. So I look at I look at Baker.
Baker was a lot better in Cleveland that Darnold was
with the Jets. So I don't I don't classify it
as a disaster. If you win a playoff game over
the Steelers as a Browns quarterback, that is not a
dumpster fire. I think that's way over the top.
Speaker 7 (25:01):
Let's quickly remember the game Baker won in the playoffs.
He was solid against the Steelers two under sixty three yards,
three touchdowns, but but Cleveland jumped to a twenty eight
nothing lead in the first quarter because Ben Roethlisberger was
a disaster for turnovers, and you know he threw I mean,
it was a crazy game. It's weird, Collin our staff
here at the Herd. Some guys here in LA they
(25:22):
seem to think maybe Stefanski's not that great of a coach.
I think you and I are more in lockstep. You
don't win Coach of the Year and get to the
playoffs twice with the Browns, Okay, if you're not a
pretty damn good coach, I'm higher on Stefanski the most.
Speaker 6 (25:36):
I think you're with me.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
Yeah, I'm not putting him in McVay shanny class, but
I know I think Stefanski is a coach and Baker
is a quarterback. Are similar. Stefanski needs the right personnel
to win, and Baker needs the right coach to win.
Baker was good with LeAnn Coleman, Dave Canalis and Stefanski.
He wasn't good this year. Baker's not good enough to
overcome average coordinator and coaching. And I don't think Stefanski's
(26:02):
McVeigh where he could turn around any mess. I think
Stefanski needs things to work in his favor. I think
they're both very good, Baker and Stefanski. And I don't
categorize it as a dumpster fire at all. Well, that's
not how I view that, right, just it was a
I always said it's turbulent. Baker plays with a chip.
Cleveland's a worn down city that's just sometimes miserable sometimes.
Speaker 6 (26:26):
So remember overcoming ownership and getting to the playoffs twice.
Speaker 7 (26:30):
I mean, I'm I think Stefanski's a pretty damn good coach.
I will remind people they were headed toward disaster. He
plucks Joe Flacco off of his sofa and guides Flacco
to the playoffs. That's right, Okay, I know they got
stopped by the Texans, but you still got to the postseason.
Speaker 6 (26:44):
That's got to be worth something. Final story is in
the NBA where my New York Knicks a bit of
a tail spin.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
COLU.
Speaker 7 (26:51):
Remember they won the NBA Cup, you know, and everybody
was geeked. And I'm talking champions or going to the finals.
They've lost nine of eleven since they were on top
of the world. And they lost on Martin Luther King Day.
They were down by thirty to the MAVs. Yes, the MAVs.
According to a report, Jalen Brunson called a player's only
(27:12):
meeting to address some things. Carl Anthony Towns is being
booed lustily.
Speaker 6 (27:18):
They won him shipped FedEx out of New York tomorrow.
Speaker 7 (27:22):
Fans are done with his act. I'm just hoping this
is just a post holiday malaise that the Knicks are
going through.
Speaker 6 (27:30):
They know they're the best in the East.
Speaker 7 (27:31):
They fall into third behind Detroit and Boston in the standings,
but I still think this is the team to beat
in the East.
Speaker 6 (27:38):
I'm just curious.
Speaker 7 (27:38):
Do you think if this continues, Karl Anthony Towns maybe
ends up getting traded.
Speaker 6 (27:43):
I don't think they can get Yanna, you're going from
the deadline.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
Tibbs was a culture guy. Mike Brown brings in a
different sensibility totally, so Tibbs has really got his own ecosystem.
So I think it's difficult. I think it takes time.
I wouldn't freak out. They are you know, they're not
a great defensive team. They're struggling to defend the three.
I think they'll be fine. You can't judge NBA teams
(28:06):
in January. I think it takes it takes time. They
may have to make a tweak at the deadline. I
think Detroit and the Knicks. I'm Philadelphia's interesting team. I
love their back court, but I think they'll be fine.
I just think you got a different, totally different kind
of coach.
Speaker 6 (28:23):
Let me quickly note they play the Nets tonight.
Speaker 7 (28:26):
If the Knicks somehow lose this game, I think you
go to like Defcon three and we start workshopping Carl
Anthony Towns trades because this is they are not going
to The owner came out recently and was like, yeah,
we gotta win a championship. We gotta go to the finals.
I mean there's some pressure on the Knicks right now.
Speaker 6 (28:42):
Colin.
Speaker 7 (28:43):
It's similar to the NFL where it was like, hey,
no Burrough, no Lamar, no Mahomes, Hey Josh Allen, can
you get us to the Super Bowl?
Speaker 6 (28:51):
They fail? Coach fired. I know the Knicks just fired TIBs.
But this is the season. The Knicks have to break
through a these Jay McLellan news.
Speaker 2 (28:59):
Well, that's the news, and thanks for stopping by the line.
Speaker 8 (29:03):
News.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
Ben Johnson, head coach of the Chicago Bears, step to
the mic today regarding year one as coach of Chicago.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
That next, be sure to catch live editions of The
Herd Weekdays and Noone Eastern non a em Pacific on
Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
Tom Brady's on the show this week, stopping by Friday
like he's a regular. Got him in the rotation. Rams Seahawks.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
That is.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
That is gonna be good. Speaking of good, we talked
about this earlier. I actually think if you size that
up right now, and I said, who are the best
teams at the end of the year in the NFC?
I think it's I think you'd probably say Seahawks one,
Rams two, Chicago Bears three. Chicago played really good football,
(29:57):
and I I mean, how excited do you have to be?
Ben Johnson says all the right stuff. He was asked
this morning about, you know, the success of season one.
Speaker 9 (30:11):
Yeah, there is no building off of this. We go
back to square one. We're back at the bottom again.
And that's that's really all thirty two teams. If you
feel otherwise, you're probably missing the missing the big picture.
You know, we're back at We got to start from scratch.
We've got to start from the fundamentals. And so I
think more than anything else, they're going to know what
they're getting themselves into.
Speaker 4 (30:31):
And yet we got to dig a little bit deeper.
We got to work a little bit harder.
Speaker 9 (30:34):
We got to give a little bit more if we
want to take this thing over the top.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
You know, we spend so much time, you know, people
do fans do you know criticizing players. Caleb Williams didn't
get bigger and stronger and faster, Yet he cut his
sacks by sixty percent. His passer rating, passing touchdowns, rushing touchdowns,
passing yards, total offense lasts six. Well, Caleb Williams didn't change.
(31:04):
What changed with Caleb Williams his boss. Here's Ben Johnson
talking about Caleb's growth.
Speaker 9 (31:13):
The things that we highlighted for Caleb to start the season,
I did think they improved as the season went along.
You know, we revamped the footwork a little bit last spring,
and I think the comfort level grew from that. He
certainly got more comfortable with the concepts that we were
running over the course of the season. That's something that
we can build upon, and yet there's still a lot
(31:34):
more that we can push through in that regard, and
so I'm really encouraged about the steps he took this year.
I'm Caleb williams number one believer, so.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
Is Phil Simms. And the other thing when you say
that we got to work in his footwork, Tom Brady,
with six Super Bowls in his pocket, would go on
vacation with footballs called teammates and work on as at work.
It's like it's like you forget sometimes football, basketball, They're
all like golf. You gotta work on that four iron.
(32:10):
I don't care if you're Greg Norman or Tiger Wood's
in your prime. You got to work at it every
day and I love what Ben Johnson saying, we're back
to the bottom. And you know, Julian Edelman told me
this once. It was interesting. He said, every single Patriot team,
believe it or not, was different. Every camp was different.
Some teams were a little young in spots, some teams
(32:31):
were a little old. He told me. One of the years,
I think it was the Alana year they won the
Super Bowl. He goes, it was no fun. I think
that was. It was one of the years. May have
been a losing super Bowl year. It may have been
the year they lost to Philly. My battle and I
think it's the year they lost to Philly and Nick
Foles and the one Edelman said that that that year
wasn't a lot of fun. And so I like, I
(32:54):
mean again, you're gonna have twelve new players. Remember when
Tampa won the Super Bowl was Brady. They brought every back,
and we were like, I don't know if that's what
you want to do. You don't want to bring everybody back.
You just want a new chemistry. You want to shake
things up. People get a little bit comfortable, everybody makes
a little more. Everybody wants a new contract. So when
you say you know Caleb. It's funny. I've running to
(33:16):
people in Chicago. Boy, you're hard on Caleb, and I'm like, well,
why wouldn't you be. Brady was hard on Brady, Peyton
Manning was hard on himself. Mahomes is hard on Mahomes.
If you can't handle media, get out of the business. Yeah.
I mean, these great athletes are hard on themselves. But
I love what Ben Johnson says. We're back to ground zero,
and it's actually not a cliche. It's like you really are.
(33:37):
I mean, Detroit unbeatable disaster, Washington Conference championship disaster. I
mean seriously, Oh, Denver and cap Hell playoffs, Oh Cloud nine.
Bnick's hurt? What what are we doing? Jarret's that I'm
starting like you just there are no There are no
even when you're in the middle of a dynasty, the Chiefs,
(34:00):
Tyreek Hill, let's go d No, Tyreek Hill still one.
Now you think you've solved it, and now it's worse
now your old line's all banged up. Every year is
your starting ground zero. But I like starting ground zero
with Caleb Williams and those skill players and that all life.
It's a good ground zero to start from. It's good
place to start from. Foundations see them on
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 1 (00:25):
It's one of my favorite guys. It's Phil Simms. Two
Super Bowl championships, fifteen years with the Giants. He had
a coach that was difficult. You know I've said today
is every year I go out and pick a team
that's my double my win total team. So this year
it was New England because I loved Rabel and had
a lot of free agent money. And the year before
(00:46):
it was well, it was Washington. I got pretty lucky
on that right because I love Jayden Daniels at LSU.
And then before that it was the Rams that it
was the Viking. So I said, the minute you hired Harbaugh,
I'm like, they need a right tackle probably in a
receiver tied and everybody needs another corner in the whole
world except the Seahawks. I think they're gonna win twelve games.
Eleven twelve games. Phil Simms probably chuckling at that, but
(01:08):
I think you know, they let seven to one score losses.
They were hell, they let Denver by ten, they let
the Bears by ten. They let the Lions by ten
in the fourth quarter. So do I sound like a
lunatic when I said I think they can win the
division next year? I think I don't think they're that
far away, even though they had a bad record.
Speaker 3 (01:26):
Yeah, I heard you talking during the break and I
got to tell you, I think you were spot on.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
You kind of fired me up.
Speaker 3 (01:30):
I'm like, damn, I'm more excited about the Giants down
than I was all last year.
Speaker 4 (01:34):
So it's great, But you're right, they listen, they have
the quarterback.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
In fact, it's almost it's bad that he drafted, got
drafted as lady as he did. Should have been drafted
before his number came up. But he played really well.
And now they got a quarterback, and they got John Harball,
I mean, and they got a defensive line that can
get to the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
Those are my two.
Speaker 1 (01:56):
Yeah, And you know, people, I was told this and
told us by GMS through the years. You're not hiring
a scheme guy. You got to hire a CEO. If
he's good with schemes like Kyle Shanahan, that's a bonus.
You're hiring a CEO. You tell me, based on your career.
Can one guy, John Harbaugh, can one guy change the culture?
Speaker 3 (02:19):
Not even a question. It's easy to answer. And you know,
I had it with Bill Parcells. He was the culture.
He set the table every day what he wanted, what
he demanded. And then I had this coach, Dan Reeves,
and I wondered about him. Were at first meeting we have.
He comes into the room, the team is there, he
puts his notepad down on the electure and he's of
(02:39):
course looking great.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
The hair's perfect, he's got the tie on.
Speaker 3 (02:42):
He looks out over us and he goes, sit up straight,
put your feet on the floor, and take.
Speaker 4 (02:48):
Those damn hats off.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
And I'm sitting there and he did it with a
voice that was scary.
Speaker 4 (02:53):
And I turned to bart Oates and I went, we're
going to win.
Speaker 3 (02:57):
And we did, and because now we know who's in charge,
and we got to listen and do what he says.
And to me, that's just a small part. These head
coaches have a chance to really set to the culture
and change everything. John Harbaugh eighteen years down in Baltimore,
And what do you think every player, they've heard the
(03:20):
message many many times in it wears thin. Now he
comes to New York, the players are going to be
excited to hear that message, and so it changes him
his enthusiasm, how he manages these players, and you know,
it's an exciting time.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
I think for the New York Giants.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
How are you sure Jackson Darks the guy? He's in
that tent constantly, Phil, how do you understand that? How
are you sure he's the guy?
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Well, you know, the tent's one thing. So we got
a Giants got to correct that. I'm not laughing, but
it just kind of shows you who he is a
little bit. But talent wise, Colin, I am one behind
him and think he's he's even more than I expected.
And I studied him really hard because under the Giants
liked him, and I don't know, it came to me
(04:03):
late the guy's more mobile than I thought. And then
going to practice during preseason and training camp, Damn, he
could throw it too, I mean like throw it better
than I expected. And so and then he took it
to the field and right away, instant hit man.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
It was awesome to watch.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
Yeah. I mean he's got the confidence of a guy.
The look the field, I mean he is I'll say this,
he's got juice and that's what I look for. He's
got an energy and a juice about him. When he's
on the field. You can tell that the players like
him and trust him. That's a big deal. He's got that.
By the way, is when you were a quarterback, I
mean you had great players around you. You weren't the
(04:41):
most talented New York Giant, Lawrence Taylor, those kind of
level players. What is the secret for a young you
come into the league and you're a kid and you
got older players than you. What's the secret to being
twenty five years old and having a thirty three year
old buy into you.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Well, you know, for me, it was do your job
and shut up, you know, because it just it was
different for Jackson Dart his personality. You know, I kind
of thought, man, when it comes here, is it really
gonna work on the on the pro level? And it
worked big time. The players love him. He's got a
you know, an infectious energy to him to how he
(05:20):
plays and who he is and practice in the locker room.
You know, I see all these videos and I know
it's just a different world. He's always dancing and they're
doing all this stuff. And yeah, he's got it. You know,
he's got the personality that you want in a professional quarterback.
Speaker 2 (05:36):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
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Speaker 1 (05:45):
Hey is Cabino and Rich from Fox Sports Radio Now.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
In addition to hearing us live weekdays from five to
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We're excited to announce a brand new YouTube channel for
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Speaker 6 (05:58):
Yep, that's right.
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Rich FSR. Check us out on YouTube, Subscribe, hit that
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Speaker 1 (06:15):
Were you surprised? Let's go to Buffalo? Were you? Were
you surplies? They let Sean McDermott go eight playoff wins.
A lot of wins. Playoff wins are gold bars. They're
hard to get parcels. Playoff records barely above five hundred.
It's hard to win in the playoffs. He won eight
playoff games. You shocked they let him go?
Speaker 4 (06:35):
Yeah? I was. I was shocked.
Speaker 3 (06:37):
You know, listen, there's you know, before the year started,
I'll just do it this way. I looked at their roster,
and you do this too, and I think you do
a really good job at it. I looked at it
and go, why are people saying this is a super
Bowl roster? I don't get it. You know, as he
wants these teams and you know, the a little bit different.
(06:58):
Denver might be a little different, but big powerful teams
seemed to be to me what I would want and
give you a better chance of winning playoff games going
to the super Bowl. But I was surprised that he
they let him go. But what they're gonna have coming in,
whoever it is again, it's a new voice, it's a
new way, and maybe that's all they need is something
(07:18):
a little different to get them over the top.
Speaker 1 (07:21):
The you know, it's interesting with we've got Sean Payton
against Mike Vrabel and I look at the pet I
look at the Patriots, Phille I got the same owner
that Brady had I got the same offensive quarter coordinator
Brady had Drake. Drake may moves more than Brady, but
he's a big, tall kid. That's accurate. You know, he's
(07:42):
not as good in the pocket yet as Tom was.
Probably a better mover. And Vrabel to me, looks like
a more current Belichick, where he's a little more player friendly,
a little more engaging with the media. He's a current Belichick,
super bright, no bs, all about football. I look at
New England and I told my friend Nick Wrt this yesterday,
and everybody's looking at Buffalo and Baltimore. I said, if
(08:03):
you told me Andy Reid and Mahomes biggest obstacle for
the next ten years, I said, it's Vrabel, Robert Kraft,
Drake Maye, Josh McDaniel, that's the obstacle. Do you feel
as high on the Patriots as I do?
Speaker 3 (08:16):
Yes, I do. I feel high on Mike Grabel. Look
you're talking about Sean Payton and Mike Rabel. You talk
about culture, sitting the table, understanding the whole organization, especially
as a football team.
Speaker 4 (08:28):
They got it.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
And you know, Mike Brabel, I was down in Tennessee
one year.
Speaker 4 (08:32):
I'll never forget this.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
We're just talking and we're kind of talking about what
we're doing right now, and he goes, Phil, one thing
I've learned in this league. I thought it was all
about I got the x's and o's, and that's not it.
It's connecting with the players. And he changed why he
was at Tennessee and he's carried that over to New England.
I mean, during every time they score, something goes well,
(08:56):
you know, he's hugging the players and right you know,
it gives them energy. They want that recognition that they
did something well. And it's really fun to watch and
to see these two playing a game. I kind of
know what Brabel's gonna do. But Sean Payton, man your guests,
is as good as anybody what he's going to do
in this game.
Speaker 1 (09:15):
But Jared Stidham, So I'm watching Seattle in the rams
and this doesn't happen very often, Phil, Maybe about once
a decade you get a team where they've got a
player on a team friendly deal quarterback and then they
don't miss draft picks for several years. And it's Seattle.
And I've been saying this all year with Seattle. If
you turn the sound down, no bias just watched them.
(09:38):
They look longer and faster, just going one hundred. Their
special teams are fast. They don't have any holes. And
I want you to go back to your career. That
doesn't mean they're going to win the Super Bowl, but
you did get that. And by the way, the last
team like this may have been Pete Carrol Russell Wilson
Seahawks where you got Russell was on a rookie deal
(09:59):
and Pete was at a college and they nailed drafts
for about four years. They were finding stars in the
sixth round. And I look at Seattle and I'm like,
they don't look like anybody else. Doesn't mean they're the
best team in your in your career, how do you
beat teams because you didn't have the best team every time?
How do you beat a team? And I think Sean
McVay looks at this and goes, I don't know if
(10:21):
we have the best roster. I don't know if we do.
How do you use Seattle's youth and explosion and speed
and length against them? Did you ever face a team
where you knew you didn't have the best roster?
Speaker 4 (10:34):
Well, yes, Chicago Bears in nineteen eighty five.
Speaker 3 (10:36):
Hell it was man, that was as rough as it
gets and as tough as it gets, and yeah, we
knew we had to improve the following year to be
able to compete in war with them, and it worked out.
But you know, you talk about Seattle. I was asked
this question a few times. They just talking to people,
and I say, wait, they're big, they look big, they're fast,
they got depth.
Speaker 4 (10:55):
I think they're well coached. Man.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
I think this is a big you know, this is
a big hurdle for the Los Angeles Rams. And now
we got the fans. And one thing about fans and
playoff games. If you're down ten to nothing during a
regular season game, they might boo you, but you're down
ten to nothing in a playoff game, the fans are
still rooting you on.
Speaker 4 (11:15):
Let's go.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
And I think it's going to be a very very
tough test for the Rams going up there, because I
think the when I look at the Seahawks, I see
many advantages they could have in the game. I look
at the Rams and just go, man, Sean McVay. They
got to be really smoking on offense, and the quarterback
is going to have to really, really, I think, play
(11:37):
special for them to beat Seattle.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
Yeah, Seattle's better on defense and special teams. I think
we can say that right now. Interesting. I remember when
John Elway won a Super Bowl and retired, and John
could have still played, but it was time. He had
a lot of injuries. And you know, you know how
it is. You're beat up. You're just tired of practice,
You're tired of camp. You can probably still spin it.
You just don't want to go to the non sense of,
(12:00):
you know, getting ready for a season physically. And I
look at Stafford, who's had a myriad of shoulder and
knee and if he won a second Super Bowl, the
money's not the issue. It wasn't with Lway. You know
that that's not the issue. I look at it and
I think he's a Hall of Famer probably now second
super Bowl, he's first ballot stuff. If he wins, take
(12:23):
me to your last year or two. Could you see
Stafford saying, Man, I'm gonna do an l Way. I
can still sling it, but I just don't want to
go through camp. What do you make if he wins,
what do you think he would do?
Speaker 3 (12:37):
I don't think he'll He'll retire. I don't you know
one thing we're showing a highlight. Right there, there's another
perfect pass spiral down the field. It's beautiful. And man,
when you can play like he can and throw like
he can, it's it's hard to give it up.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
Colin.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
I mean, you talk about training camp and all those
other things. Come on for the quarterback.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
It's great. You want me to go out there and
throw more today. Wow, Okay, that's what I love to do. Anyway,
let's do it.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
So.
Speaker 3 (13:03):
I think he enjoys the game too much. I think
he still has incredible talent. I mean, they're in Chicago
last week, him and Caleb Williams. Did they know it
was cold, windy and snowy and all that? Because they
didn't look like it. They were throwing damn darts all
over the place at Stafford. It's just very few guys
just play a long career like he's had and lose
(13:26):
arm strength. He hasn't lost any He's still as special
as ever.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
I said that play that Caleb made last week, I said,
I don't think there's five guys ever could do to
make that throw. I mean, it just takes in that wind.
It's hard, and I've made the argument that I can't
judge Caleb like I can judge Stafford because there's two
plays with Caleb, the one Ben Jonson scripted and the
(13:51):
one he'll make up if it doesn't go right. And
Josh Allen's got that are you Are you in the
Caleb group? Now? Did it take a while? What do
you make of him just going forward?
Speaker 3 (14:02):
I loved him coming out and after his rookie year,
I said, if they redraft him again, I still want
Caleb Williams. I'm not a fan hill, I'm leading it.
I love what he does on the field.
Speaker 4 (14:13):
Who he is.
Speaker 3 (14:14):
Let's see, he's big, strong, mobile, He's got a very
special arm in many many ways, can run and throw
it and he makes he in one game, he can
make more spectacular throws than some quarterbacks will have in
a whole year.
Speaker 4 (14:30):
And yes, you know there's certain things.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
Oh it's completion percentage, man, I couldn't care too whatever's
about his stupid completion percentage. When you're a quarterback like him,
everything looks open because of that arm and he's in
the field, so you know he only needs a little
tiny window and he'll rip it in there. So you
know he's never going to be sixty five. Well, he
(14:53):
might get the sixty five. As he learns to check
it down, they throw a few more screens and all that.
You know, this completion percentage, I can always hear about him.
Oh my, I come on, there's more to talk about
Caleb Williams than his stupid completion percentage. It has nothing
to do with the outcome of who he is.
Speaker 4 (15:11):
And winning and losing for that football team.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
In my eyes, No, I yeah, I just there's just
certain players, you know. It's almost it's almost like Calvin
Johnson was so strong and so big. I didn't I mean,
he was also fast, but I didn't care a ton
about his forty time. He was just so big, smart,
(15:34):
ran the route tree strong hand pooka nakula by the way.
He runs such good routes. His hands are so strong.
I don't care what his forty is not. Everybody is great,
you know the traits like I nobody like bow Knicks.
Here's what I know about bow Knicks. He's athletic, he's tough,
he never gets hurt, and he's really good laid in
(15:55):
games like I don't care. Yeah, I mean, he's big
when he's supposed to be big. So that's kind of
where I are you a bonus.
Speaker 3 (16:04):
Let me just say this about Caleb. There's no limit
to what you can design for him. So you can
whatever you design, he's going to be able to do it.
And whatever it's, it's this pass that you know, whatever
running what he can do it. So Ben Jonson's got
a canvas there and he just goes, I don't know
(16:25):
what to paint because I got it all right there
for me. And you know, Caleb will settle down as
time goes on and become a more accurate thrower and
know how to change the speeds a little better.
Speaker 4 (16:37):
If you know.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
Some criticisms. Yeah, he's very aggressive decision maker. And let's
be honest. Sometimes he throws the ball so hard. I
don't know how the hell they catch it. It's just
on TV it's Boom, it's there so and bo Nick's man,
his dad taught him what I heard it on a telecast.
Don't take sacks as a quarterback, man, he gets rid
of the football. He's mobile as you can be. And
(16:59):
it's our is so much stronger than people giving credit for.
And I'm really I really feel for him the fact
that he's going to miss this two game.
Speaker 4 (17:07):
I really do yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:09):
Were you good in cold weather? Giants got a lot
of cruddy weather. Were you a good cold weather quarterback?
Speaker 3 (17:14):
I had no choice, so it was I'm telling you,
I would say eighty percent of the games I played
in the old Giants Stadium, win was always a factor.
Oh yeah, And over time, like anything, I adapted to
it and what it does to you. Somebody can be
running down the field and if it's into the win,
you have to be a little careful, so they might
(17:34):
have to die for the ball, could be low or whatever,
because you got to give the win that respect.
Speaker 4 (17:41):
So that's changed over time.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Not as many windy games right now in the new stadium,
and of course the climate change or whatever you want
to say, we don't feel win.
Speaker 4 (17:50):
It seems like until January. But yeah, it was windy
and Giants Stadium.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Fifteen seasons with the New York Giants, two Super Bowls,
first round. Pick out a Morehead state? Who is your
big rival? Who is Morehead States big rival?
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Well it was our best week, so it was well,
we had the week up, Hey, Colin. We were not good.
It was a rough four years of playing. I think
I played every snap, which was great at least to
do certain things for the come into the league.
Speaker 4 (18:23):
Our big rival name was.
Speaker 3 (18:25):
Eastern Kentucky, but I think I think morehead State went
twenty some years before they beat him with this. I
don't know if John Harball was on that staff or not,
but Rex Ryan was down there on the defensive stat
so they broke that skid because he just blitzed everybody
all the time.
Speaker 1 (18:47):
That's wrecks.
Speaker 4 (18:48):
Oh it was Rex all right. He did a great
job there.
Speaker 1 (18:51):
Phil, great seeing you again.
Speaker 4 (18:53):
All right, Colin, thanks for having me on man.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
You bet Phil Simms all right, he's fired up for
the Giants too. Yeah, get the right coach. Got a cheap,
young talented quarterback. You get real good, real fast in
this league. Wells he had. He's gonna be the best
coach on division. He is today going forward. J Mack
with the news.
Speaker 7 (19:15):
This is the headline news, Jarrett Stidham. Does that name
do anything for anyone out there? He is throwing his
first pass. I can't believe this in two years, Wow,
in a playoff game with the super Bowl on the line.
He's taken a couple of deal downs in the last
two seasons because bo Nicks is always healthy Anyways, The
last time he really suited up was a week seventeen
(19:39):
with the when he was on the Raiders against the
forty nine ers and Max Crosby remembers Stidham and here
he had some nice things to say.
Speaker 4 (19:49):
He was a teammate of mine.
Speaker 8 (19:50):
He he's a great friend of mine, and he is
a competitive individual. Denver did a great job by bringing
him in, you know, having him the backup, because he's
not just going to go in there and dink and
dunk and play it safe, like he's going to go
out there and play quarterback and try to help them
win the game.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Yeah. I remember when Peyton took the job. I mean
was it felt like immediately he went and spent twelve
million dollars a year on Stidham as a backup. I
can remember saying that is a lot for a backup.
I think very early on, Sean Payton felt like, if
this Russell thing doesn't work for twelve million bucks, I
got a guy good enough to win games as a starter,
(20:31):
So I kind of trust to Sean Payton. It's like
when Kyle Shanahan brought Donald in. Everybody banged on Donald,
but like Shannan's like, no, that guy can play. If
Sean Payton brings in. Sean liked the Teddy Bridgewater, you know.
I mean Sean's Shawn's opinion on quarterbacks matter, so he
thinks he's good. Plus he knows the system. Now, he
knows the teammates, so it's not like you know. I
(20:52):
tend to think he'll be fine. I don't think they'll
win now, but I think they'll be fine. I really,
I think it's a close fine. I think he'll go.
If he went fifteen for twenty three for one hundred
and eighty yards and a touchdown pass and one pick, is.
Speaker 6 (21:06):
That going to get it done?
Speaker 1 (21:07):
I don't know. But he's not bow Knicks. But I
don't think he's going to be the root cause for
the issues, you know. I think I also wonder. I
mean again, he knows the playbook, so you can run everything.
He doesn't move quite like nickt he does. He moves
a little. But I think the bon Knicks athletic ability
is a real component to Denver's. I mean it was
(21:27):
last week first half he was running all over the place.
So I would favor New England in this game. If
bon Nicks played, I'd probably take Denver close. I'll now
take New England close.
Speaker 6 (21:38):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (21:39):
The markets don't know really how to react to this change,
this downgrade. I'm seeing some people say as many as
eight points a swing from bow Knicks. The market's settled
around six and a half. Wow, it's just tough to Gates.
The guy hasn't thrown a pass in two seasons.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
What does that tell you that bo Nicks is worth
a touchdown? For all the critics bow Knicks over a
guy that Sean Payton thinks is pretty talented.
Speaker 7 (22:03):
Well, I mean, listen, if it was Mac Jones, obviously
wouldn't be a.
Speaker 6 (22:06):
Six point down. Great, because Jones is an established, credible quarterback.
Speaker 7 (22:10):
This is a total mystery. I mean, Jared Sidham could
come out and throw for two fifty. I mean I
would be surprised.
Speaker 1 (22:15):
I don't know.
Speaker 7 (22:15):
But you made a good point that Christian Gonzalez in
this Patriots defense has shown well against Stroud and Herbert
in the first two rounds. Their run defense is the
real problem. Yeah, nobody can get through them with Milton
Denver doesn't. Denver's run game is spotty. I think New
England's corners are second to Seattle of the team. Well,
I mean, Patrick's Tartans good. He hadn't had the greatest year,
(22:36):
a good year, it feels like to me. But New
England's New England's secondary, their corners are I mean it.
It reminds me a lot of Vrabel and Tennessee and
Belichick in New England. A lot of contact, a lot
of physicality, ball in the air. I think New England's
secondary is really good. I just you know, it's tough
(22:56):
to pick the Broncos in this spot, just because you
don't know what you're getting from Sinnam. They're at home. Yeah,
what is that homefield is worth? What two points go
on two and a half this year?
Speaker 6 (23:05):
I don't know.
Speaker 7 (23:05):
Well, she should be a good game. Let's move on
to ooh, some drama with a quarterback and his name
is Baker Mayfield. Now, Kevin Stefanski was hired by the
Falcons this week, and the media, you know in Atlanta's
very excited and they're starting to dig into what happened
with Stefanski in Cleveland.
Speaker 6 (23:23):
Coudd he have in Cleveland Colin Baker Mayfield.
Speaker 7 (23:26):
So one of the Falcons beat writers said that Stefanski
dealt with a dumpster fire. His words situation in Cleveland.
Baker Mayfield, you know, because this is what he does,
shined in well, not so fast. I wouldn't quite call
it that, And then of course Baker Mayfield had to
make it personal.
Speaker 6 (23:44):
I was shipped off like a piece of garbage.
Speaker 7 (23:46):
And I'm still waiting for the text or call from you, Stefanski.
Look forward to seeing you twice a year in the division.
Now it gets better, Joe Thomas, the legendary Cleveland offensive lineman.
He responded, Hey, uh, communication is a two way street.
Speaker 6 (24:02):
Baker.
Speaker 7 (24:03):
You know there's no laws against you sending Stefanski something
saying hey man, great working with you after you got traded.
Speaker 6 (24:10):
So here we go off season squabble, very NBA.
Speaker 1 (24:14):
Of these guys to get Baker's got a chip on
bow shoulders. I mean that's who he is. He often
plays better with that.
Speaker 8 (24:23):
You know.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
Listen, it's when when you let go of an employee,
people move on. I think Baker has had a very
redeemable career. I think Stefanski's really smart. But Baker, you know,
Baker did lead them to a playoff win, so let's
I don't think he was a dumpster fire in Cleveland.
I thought he needed to grow up a little. But
I mean the Cleveland media also poked him in the
(24:45):
ribs a lot. So I look at I look at Baker.
Baker was a lot better in Cleveland that Darnold was
with the Jets. So I don't I don't classify it
as a disaster. If you win a playoff game over
the Steelers as a Browns quarterback, that is not a
dumpster fire. I think that's way over the top.
Speaker 7 (25:01):
Let's quickly remember the game Baker won in the playoffs.
He was solid against the Steelers two under sixty three yards,
three touchdowns, but but Cleveland jumped to a twenty eight
nothing lead in the first quarter because Ben Roethlisberger was
a disaster for turnovers, and you know he threw I mean,
it was a crazy game. It's weird, Collin our staff
here at the Herd. Some guys here in LA they
(25:22):
seem to think maybe Stefanski's not that great of a coach.
I think you and I are more in lockstep. You
don't win Coach of the Year and get to the
playoffs twice with the Browns, Okay, if you're not a
pretty damn good coach, I'm higher on Stefanski the most.
Speaker 6 (25:36):
I think you're with me.
Speaker 1 (25:38):
Yeah, I'm not putting him in McVay shanny class, but
I know I think Stefanski is a coach and Baker
is a quarterback. Are similar. Stefanski needs the right personnel
to win, and Baker needs the right coach to win.
Baker was good with LeAnn Coleman, Dave Canalis and Stefanski.
He wasn't good this year. Baker's not good enough to
overcome average coordinator and coaching. And I don't think Stefanski's
(26:02):
McVeigh where he could turn around any mess. I think
Stefanski needs things to work in his favor. I think
they're both very good, Baker and Stefanski. And I don't
categorize it as a dumpster fire at all. Well, that's
not how I view that, right, just it was a
I always said it's turbulent. Baker plays with a chip.
Cleveland's a worn down city that's just sometimes miserable sometimes.
Speaker 6 (26:26):
So remember overcoming ownership and getting to the playoffs twice.
Speaker 7 (26:30):
I mean, I'm I think Stefanski's a pretty damn good coach.
I will remind people they were headed toward disaster. He
plucks Joe Flacco off of his sofa and guides Flacco
to the playoffs. That's right, Okay, I know they got
stopped by the Texans, but you still got to the postseason.
Speaker 6 (26:44):
That's got to be worth something. Final story is in
the NBA where my New York Knicks a bit of
a tail spin.
Speaker 1 (26:50):
COLU.
Speaker 7 (26:51):
Remember they won the NBA Cup, you know, and everybody
was geeked. And I'm talking champions or going to the finals.
They've lost nine of eleven since they were on top
of the world. And they lost on Martin Luther King Day.
They were down by thirty to the MAVs. Yes, the MAVs.
According to a report, Jalen Brunson called a player's only
(27:12):
meeting to address some things. Carl Anthony Towns is being
booed lustily.
Speaker 6 (27:18):
They won him shipped FedEx out of New York tomorrow.
Speaker 7 (27:22):
Fans are done with his act. I'm just hoping this
is just a post holiday malaise that the Knicks are
going through.
Speaker 6 (27:30):
They know they're the best in the East.
Speaker 7 (27:31):
They fall into third behind Detroit and Boston in the standings,
but I still think this is the team to beat
in the East.
Speaker 6 (27:38):
I'm just curious.
Speaker 7 (27:38):
Do you think if this continues, Karl Anthony Towns maybe
ends up getting traded.
Speaker 6 (27:43):
I don't think they can get Yanna, you're going from
the deadline.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
Tibbs was a culture guy. Mike Brown brings in a
different sensibility totally, so Tibbs has really got his own ecosystem.
So I think it's difficult. I think it takes time.
I wouldn't freak out. They are you know, they're not
a great defensive team. They're struggling to defend the three.
I think they'll be fine. You can't judge NBA teams
(28:06):
in January. I think it takes it takes time. They
may have to make a tweak at the deadline. I
think Detroit and the Knicks. I'm Philadelphia's interesting team. I
love their back court, but I think they'll be fine.
I just think you got a different, totally different kind
of coach.
Speaker 6 (28:23):
Let me quickly note they play the Nets tonight.
Speaker 7 (28:26):
If the Knicks somehow lose this game, I think you
go to like Defcon three and we start workshopping Carl
Anthony Towns trades because this is they are not going
to The owner came out recently and was like, yeah,
we gotta win a championship. We gotta go to the finals.
I mean there's some pressure on the Knicks right now.
Speaker 6 (28:42):
Colin.
Speaker 7 (28:43):
It's similar to the NFL where it was like, hey,
no Burrough, no Lamar, no Mahomes, Hey Josh Allen, can
you get us to the Super Bowl?
Speaker 6 (28:51):
They fail? Coach fired. I know the Knicks just fired TIBs.
But this is the season. The Knicks have to break
through a these Jay McLellan news.
Speaker 2 (28:59):
Well, that's the news, and thanks for stopping by the line.
Speaker 8 (29:03):
News.
Speaker 1 (29:03):
Ben Johnson, head coach of the Chicago Bears, step to
the mic today regarding year one as coach of Chicago.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
That next, be sure to catch live editions of The
Herd Weekdays and Noone Eastern non a em Pacific on
Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
Tom Brady's on the show this week, stopping by Friday
like he's a regular. Got him in the rotation. Rams Seahawks.
Speaker 2 (29:34):
That is.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
That is gonna be good. Speaking of good, we talked
about this earlier. I actually think if you size that
up right now, and I said, who are the best
teams at the end of the year in the NFC?
I think it's I think you'd probably say Seahawks one,
Rams two, Chicago Bears three. Chicago played really good football,
(29:57):
and I I mean, how excited do you have to be?
Ben Johnson says all the right stuff. He was asked
this morning about, you know, the success of season one.
Speaker 9 (30:11):
Yeah, there is no building off of this. We go
back to square one. We're back at the bottom again.
And that's that's really all thirty two teams. If you
feel otherwise, you're probably missing the missing the big picture.
You know, we're back at We got to start from scratch.
We've got to start from the fundamentals. And so I
think more than anything else, they're going to know what
they're getting themselves into.
Speaker 4 (30:31):
And yet we got to dig a little bit deeper.
We got to work a little bit harder.
Speaker 9 (30:34):
We got to give a little bit more if we
want to take this thing over the top.
Speaker 1 (30:39):
You know, we spend so much time, you know, people
do fans do you know criticizing players. Caleb Williams didn't
get bigger and stronger and faster, Yet he cut his
sacks by sixty percent. His passer rating, passing touchdowns, rushing touchdowns,
passing yards, total offense lasts six. Well, Caleb Williams didn't change.
(31:04):
What changed with Caleb Williams his boss. Here's Ben Johnson
talking about Caleb's growth.
Speaker 9 (31:13):
The things that we highlighted for Caleb to start the season,
I did think they improved as the season went along.
You know, we revamped the footwork a little bit last spring,
and I think the comfort level grew from that. He
certainly got more comfortable with the concepts that we were
running over the course of the season. That's something that
we can build upon, and yet there's still a lot
(31:34):
more that we can push through in that regard, and
so I'm really encouraged about the steps he took this year.
I'm Caleb williams number one believer, so.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
Is Phil Simms. And the other thing when you say
that we got to work in his footwork, Tom Brady,
with six Super Bowls in his pocket, would go on
vacation with footballs called teammates and work on as at work.
It's like it's like you forget sometimes football, basketball, They're
all like golf. You gotta work on that four iron.
(32:10):
I don't care if you're Greg Norman or Tiger Wood's
in your prime. You got to work at it every
day and I love what Ben Johnson saying, we're back
to the bottom. And you know, Julian Edelman told me
this once. It was interesting. He said, every single Patriot team,
believe it or not, was different. Every camp was different.
Some teams were a little young in spots, some teams
(32:31):
were a little old. He told me. One of the years,
I think it was the Alana year they won the
Super Bowl. He goes, it was no fun. I think
that was. It was one of the years. May have
been a losing super Bowl year. It may have been
the year they lost to Philly. My battle and I
think it's the year they lost to Philly and Nick
Foles and the one Edelman said that that that year
wasn't a lot of fun. And so I like, I
(32:54):
mean again, you're gonna have twelve new players. Remember when
Tampa won the Super Bowl was Brady. They brought every back,
and we were like, I don't know if that's what
you want to do. You don't want to bring everybody back.
You just want a new chemistry. You want to shake
things up. People get a little bit comfortable, everybody makes
a little more. Everybody wants a new contract. So when
you say you know Caleb. It's funny. I've running to
(33:16):
people in Chicago. Boy, you're hard on Caleb, and I'm like, well,
why wouldn't you be. Brady was hard on Brady, Peyton
Manning was hard on himself. Mahomes is hard on Mahomes.
If you can't handle media, get out of the business. Yeah.
I mean, these great athletes are hard on themselves. But
I love what Ben Johnson says. We're back to ground zero,
and it's actually not a cliche. It's like you really are.
(33:37):
I mean, Detroit unbeatable disaster, Washington Conference championship disaster. I
mean seriously, Oh, Denver and cap Hell playoffs, Oh Cloud nine.
Bnick's hurt? What what are we doing? Jarret's that I'm
starting like you just there are no There are no
even when you're in the middle of a dynasty, the Chiefs,
(34:00):
Tyreek Hill, let's go d No, Tyreek Hill still one.
Now you think you've solved it, and now it's worse
now your old line's all banged up. Every year is
your starting ground zero. But I like starting ground zero
with Caleb Williams and those skill players and that all life.
It's a good ground zero to start from. It's good
place to start from. Foundations see them on
Hosts And Creators
Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
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