January 1, 2026 • 42 mins
FOX Sports Radio hosts Rob Parker and Kerry Rhodes are in for Colin, and the guys debate whether sports fans should be rooting for the ‘underdog’ Indiana Hoosiers to win the CFP national championship, tell us why they have a big problem with Miami (FL) alums like Michael Irvin, and discuss whether Matthew Stafford has any legitimate chance of winning the NFL MVP award. Plus, FOX Sports Radio Weekend host and Marquee Sports NFL analyst Carmen Vitali swings by to discuss all the biggest headlines around the NFL heading into Week 18.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio and
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Speaker 2 (00:20):
Get this you're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Ah, it is a herd. It is Happy New Year.
I'm Rob Parker from the Odd Couple here on Fox
Sports Radio and of course with former All Pro safety
Carry Roads. Yes, or played for the Jets in the
Arizona Cardinals, and we are here on New Year's Day
(00:56):
watching the college football playoff. It is still three to nothing.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
Yeah, Texas Tech missed the field goal and now Oregon
just faked the punt and got a first down.
Speaker 5 (01:05):
Here here we go.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
So Oregon up three nothing here in the second quarter,
about eight and a half minutes to go. Yes, but
I want to say to get more of us, be
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(01:29):
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and comment away. Just search Odd Couple FSR and subscribe.
Carmen Vitally she's gonna join us coming up. She's a
Fox Sports Radio weekend host. She'll join us at the
bottom of the hour. We got a lot of stuff
to talk about, some NFL stuff to get to as well,
(01:55):
Matthew Stafford or that MVP. Look you, I'm just saying
I'm not happy. I'm not happy. I'm just you know, Carrie,
that's not happy. That's I told you so. You know, well,
you know I say that a lot on The Odd Couple, Right,
I told you so, I told you no doubt.
Speaker 6 (02:14):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
So we got a lot to get to an hour
number two. Uh We'll be here for Colin and then
later on at seven pm Eastern. It's the Odd Couple
right here on Fox Sports Radio. Okay, Carrie, I know
the difference between underdogs and cute little stories of teams
that don't have what they need and they somehow find
(02:37):
a way to win.
Speaker 5 (02:38):
Those are heartwarming stories. You want to do a.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Disney movie Angel in the Outfield, you know, and all
these kind of like sappy Mighty Ducks.
Speaker 5 (02:46):
Say the Mighty Ducks.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Oh, my god, you know and all this stuff, Indiana
football is not one of these stories. I Am not
like what they're trying to sell you, like they're they're
fraudulent underdogs to me, because I get that when you
think of Indiana, it's about basketball. Yes, it's never been
about football. So I understand where they are now and whatnot.
(03:11):
But when you look at how they got here, tell
you they're not underdogs. Not a little engine that couldn't
during the top ten money spent on players.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
Top ten, Wow, I don't know that.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Coaching staff and support staff they make twenty million dollars, okay,
and they also.
Speaker 5 (03:41):
Have a quarterback. Their quarterback makes two million dollars.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
This is not Oh my god, how did Indiana come
out of nowhere? They don't have any player, they don't
have this that No.
Speaker 5 (03:52):
Who's saying that. There are people trying to paint them.
They're trying to paint the match.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Yeah, like they're like because of their history, of right,
because of their history.
Speaker 5 (04:01):
Yes, Like this is incredible.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
I can't believe Indiana has a chance to win the
national championship.
Speaker 5 (04:07):
They've never had a chance to win.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
No one's ever talked about Indiana football blah blah blah
blah blah. That's what I'm saying. Yeah, but there's a reason, yes,
and you just name them right when you do the math. Yes,
when you spend money, they've embraced the transfer portal. They've
gotten good players from other schools, like this is a plan,
(04:32):
this is like we're all in here, all our chipps.
I'm not knocking them, but don't make out a false
narrative like your stunned. If you do any research, they
should be where they are because they've spent the money
to build a super team.
Speaker 5 (04:49):
That's all I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Oh, in you on hundred percent correct when you say
that with the numbers right, and I think that's what
college football has afforded teams like Indiana, right, and Indiana
you talked about them being as a basketball school. That
means we know they have the resources to pay those guys.
So if now, if you got a coach you believe
in the team, you believe in, you don't think they're
spending that money there as well to make that team
(05:12):
be be right up there. They decided they've done that,
right and then and we talked about their coach Signetty,
there's no way he's going to come to you and
say we're under dog at anything. So that's not their
make up, their identity at all.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
And that's why I don't want to hear the narrative
about the story like, oh, it's it's not unbelievable now
and that that's my point. Yeah, yeah, yes, if you
told me this was twenty five years ago and Indiana
was in the National College Football Playoff and a chance
when not okay, I'd say, yeah, what Indiana?
Speaker 5 (05:44):
How you know what's going on here? What am I missing?
Speaker 6 (05:47):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (05:47):
But you just said it, Rob. How many people have
done the research to know that they've done that? Because
I didn't. I didn't even know that. I need to
know the money, right, Yeah, I didn't know that at all. Yeah,
that's that part. If that's the case, then no, there's
no way there. They're playing with the big boys. They
were in the top ten.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Of money spent, and money doesn't automatically mean you're gonna win.
I'm not taking away from the coach or the players.
We know that money. The Mets last year had the
first or second highest payroll. I think it might have
been first over the Dodgers. I think you know, money
wise yearly, and they don't even make the playoffs. So
(06:25):
money money doesn't mean automatically, but the idea that people
think that they're some great story because they are the
former team that people used to know, They're not that team.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
Yeah, I mean, this is two years in a row
they've been in the playoffs, so it can't be that
big of a.
Speaker 5 (06:47):
So that's why that's that's why I'm rooting against Indiana.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
This ain't Indiana. This is Indiana on steroids, you know
what I mean, Like like, no, I'm not buy it
into it, and I don't know, I'm weird when it
comes to college football because I still am of the
belief that the that the blue bud bloods, the big
schools always win, like like you would have to give
(07:14):
me a case.
Speaker 5 (07:16):
And that's what I'm really waiting for. Carrie.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
You you played college football, you know college football.
Speaker 5 (07:24):
Same thing.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
The NCAA men's basketball tournament. Oh it's great, Cinderella. They
just no mid majors won. They're not and they're not
going to win. And then not one school one day
like seriously, one school one day game. Yeah, you can
win a couple of games, but the closest State beat
(07:46):
Michigan at the Big House.
Speaker 5 (07:47):
You could win one game.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
You can win one game in the Florida Atlantics. The
you know, Butler almost did it.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Butler almost did it, exactly almost almost.
Speaker 5 (07:55):
But having done it, man, it's gonna be hard to do.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
And I don't know h what I was gonna give
out our odd couple number. I'm gonna throw out all
number anyway here on the herd. If you do want
to join in, do you love this story, the Indiana story?
Speaker 5 (08:15):
Does it not feel as good as you know your.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Typical underdog unbelievable stories eight seven, seven four eight four
thirty four thirty seven.
Speaker 4 (08:27):
The one thing I will say, rob really quickly about
that Indiana story. When you talk about the underdog story
and you talk about, you know, the people who are
representing that team, I think people are falling in love
with the underdog story and the you know, the even
though he's making money, we know all that. I'm talking
about him and his story and his play. And that's
the quarterback Mendoza, right like, he was not the super
(08:48):
highly tired guy. He's a guy that kind of worked
his way up and now you know he's in Indiana.
He's a likable guy. People find his story fascinating. And
I think when you put people in faces in front
of those stories, I think that's more more of the
story here, you know what I mean when it comes
to them being done the dog.
Speaker 5 (09:06):
But he's making two million dollars. I know that.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Okay, so the way see, but his talent was enough
to command two million dollars, is what I'm saying. I
know what you'r and that and that's why I have
like Indiana.
Speaker 5 (09:20):
It has two faces.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Yeah. The face is oh, what a great story. This
is about the quarterback. Yes, oh what a great story.
This is about the coach. He's only been there two years.
Look at what he's turned the program around. Yes, yeah,
oh yeah, he's a genius coach. He's got deep pockets.
Speaker 5 (09:37):
Yeah they do. Yeah, I hear you.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
And and and that's why I can't. I can't wrap
my hands around it. Eight seven seven for the Herd.
Are you loving Indiana? Are you all in on the
Indiana story? Maybe wanting? But now at Ohio States, how
maybe they win the national championship? They might How shocked
would you be? How shock would I be that they
win it? They're a number one team in the country.
I could, I wouldn't be shocked, but they won the
(10:01):
national championship, right, No, I'm asking you, but you could
be number one? You know, No, you can't be number one,
and there'd be an underdog and you and you'd be
surprised that they want Okay, well did Then that's the
oxymoron here is that is that people are talking about
how great of a story it is, but they're the
number one team and they spent a lot of money.
Speaker 5 (10:21):
Rob g Yeah.
Speaker 7 (10:22):
With that in mind, guys, Nick Saban is of course
in very wet pasady in here ahead of the Rose
Bowl on ESPN or ABC excuse me, locally, yep, and
they're previewing the game. Obviously, Nick Saban, you would expect
to have some kind of slant towards the tide. Yeah,
but here's what he said quote. We would play the sound,
but he curses it and we can't do that, Nick Saban, Great,
great job, Nick, I know you're on television, Will been.
Speaker 5 (10:44):
Doing it for a few years. Didn't know you can't curse.
Here's what he said. Quote.
Speaker 7 (10:49):
The amazing thing about this is how much respect we
have for Indiana internally. But when I go play with
my golfing buddies in Alabama and they're all on the
first tea they say we should kick a blank out
of Indiana. It doesn't sound like a big dog on campus.
That sound like they're being viewed as the little bit.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
I mean that's how people are viewing them, not like
oh my god, because they can't see Indiana and having
that kind of juice, or they don't have a track
record for them. People that have put respect on them,
but they should if they look at the team. Yes,
the amount of money they spent, the people they got
in transfer portals, like they have a talented team. There's
(11:29):
a reason they are where they are. No, I mean
still not buying it. No, I ain't buying it.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
I mean, like I said, I think this team is
the number one team for a reason.
Speaker 5 (11:41):
They're super well coached.
Speaker 4 (11:43):
I think you have the number one player in the
country obviously on that team. You got NFL receivers, you
got NFL cornerbacks and defensive backs on that team. That
team and the way they play, their style of play
isn't one of those teams, Rob Blake. Remember we would
get like fascinated with Exis Tech. They woul score a
thousand points. It couldn't stop anybody. And it's a feel
(12:04):
good story. You know, they're underdog, but they can win
the game. That isn't them. This team was built up front.
They're physical, they're strong, that they still superpower.
Speaker 8 (12:14):
Well you see Chris what Yeah, I just question for
you guys on the SABAN thing too. I'm wondering if
it's the little Engine that Could thing or if this
is just because I think there's a founding myth when
it comes to the SEC's dominance that like, Florida was
put in that game against Ohio State back in two
thousand and seven and it was a very north south thing.
No one gave Florida the time of day, and they
(12:34):
kicked the crap out of Ohio State. That was like
a forty one to fourteen national title game in the
BCS era. And I'm wondering how much this is like Alabama.
I mean, they've been taking a few hits, but they
still assume themselves as Alabama. If this is just a
very north south, north versus South kind of mentality here,
it's like we're still the SEC, we should still beat anyone.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
I think that there's part of that. Yeah, No, there's nobody,
but they're blue blood. All right. Are you rooting for
the so called Indiana underdog? Indiana Hoosiers, I want to
hear from you. We want to hear from you. Eight
seven seven forty four thirty four thirty seven. That's eight
seven seven for the Herd. We'll continue this conversation next
(13:16):
with you. It is the Herd here on Fox Sports Radio,
Rob Parker and Kerry Road sitting in for Colin. That's right,
eight seven seven for eight four thirty four thirty seven.
Speaker 5 (13:27):
We want to hear from you, Indiana.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
I'm not buying it. I'm rooting against them. They're the
big dogs. It is a herd right here on Fox
Sports Radio. Stick and stay.
Speaker 5 (13:37):
If you're a Yogi in the USA, ooh.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
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Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 9 (13:51):
Hey, this is Jason McIntyre. Join me every weekday morning
on my podcast, Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. This isn't
your typical sports pod pushing the same tired narratives down
your throat every day. Straight Fire gives you honest opinions
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you win big at the sportsbook, and all the best guests.
(14:11):
Do yourself a favor and listen to Straight Fire with
Jason McIntyre on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
Or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
This is the Herd on New Year's Day here on
Fox Sports Radio with me, Rob Parker and far more
all pro safety Carry Road sitting in for Colin our
number two and make sure you check out my show,
The Odd Couple were Rob Parker and Kelvin Washington. We're
(14:46):
on weeknights from four to seven pm Pacific, seven to
ten pm Eastern right here on Fox Sports Radio. And
I know what you're saying. Well, Rob, you filled in
for Colin, so you're off tonight from the Oddcome right,
Rob G. Because Rob G is the producer of The
Odd Couple, who's producing this show today. Rob G, you're
off tonight.
Speaker 5 (15:08):
Hell yeah, of course he is. Rob G's off, but
I'm not. I'll be in see Rob.
Speaker 7 (15:15):
Me and Carry know that when you're important, they don't
want to wear you out too much.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
That's what I'm just a hack, right, Yeah, keep de
voice fresh baby.
Speaker 5 (15:25):
That's why he doesn't need t in that and that
seat over there. You gotta keep sure Carrie is ready
to go on you hear how silky smooth.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
It is right here.
Speaker 5 (15:34):
I'm struggling, no, no doubt about about it.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
Carmen Vitally is going to join us, coming up in
less than ten minutes here.
Speaker 5 (15:44):
Of course, he's a Fox Sports Radio weekend host.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
But we do have a call here on the Herd,
and let's talk to Greg in pennsyl Tuckie better known
as Pennsylvania. Greg, what's happening my man? Welcome to the
Herd and happy New Year.
Speaker 6 (16:00):
Happy new Year with a real feel of twelve degrees
of beautiful Houston Town, Pennsylvania.
Speaker 5 (16:06):
Wow, where is Houstontown?
Speaker 6 (16:07):
Now?
Speaker 3 (16:07):
I used to My first job in the business was
in Wilkesbury, Pennsylvania.
Speaker 5 (16:12):
So where's Houstontown?
Speaker 6 (16:15):
We're about an hour and fifteen minutes west of Harrisburg,
between Pittsburgh and Philly, right about right in the middle south.
Speaker 5 (16:23):
Okay, okay, awesome, what do you got?
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Where are you on this? Indiana? I know it sounds
like a nice cute story. Indiana has nothing to do
with college football. For a million years. Now's the chance
to win the national championship. But they are not under dogs, Greg, I'm.
Speaker 6 (16:37):
Sorry, no, I absolutely agree they're not underdogs. I would
favor them to win. I think where people are intrigued
is that you have a program three years ago which
was in the catbox right and now storied programs like
Penn State, LSU and Michigan they can't get it right.
(16:57):
But here was able to get the right coach and
now they're playing in the playoffs.
Speaker 5 (17:02):
I agree with that that they got the right coach.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
Yeah, but Greg, they're spending the money like that, like
they finally I don't know if they woke up and
flicked the switch and said, okay, we want to compete.
Speaker 5 (17:12):
We got to go.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
Our coaching staff is making twenty million dollars. Our quarterback
is making two million dollars. Our payroll for players is
in the top ten now with the big dogs. That's
my issue, Greg, is they should be here because they
spent the money on quality players.
Speaker 6 (17:34):
Absolutely, I agree. I just think that the piece where
people are intrigued is, again, this was a team much
like Texis Tack. They're spending the money and they're showing
that the portal is working because, like I was going through,
there are several storied programs who have more endowment and
they can't make it work or find the right pieces.
So that's where I'm I'm rooting for him.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
Oh so you're room for him? Are they going to
be the champs? You got them winning the national champions Ship?
Speaker 6 (18:01):
No, I'm for Miami, Greg, That's a good choice.
Speaker 5 (18:05):
A good choice, good choice.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Everybody's gonna be on the Miami train after last night
when you knock off Ohio State to defending champs.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
Right, yeah, No, I mean Miami. And again, Miami's Miami's
probably the best story in it right now, in my opinion,
I think Indiana.
Speaker 5 (18:18):
You don't have them winning the national champ I think
they can.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
Yeah, I didn't. I didn't pick them to win it.
I don't think I did the bracket. I think I
had I had them going to the championship though, again,
so I have to look at I'll look at it. Yeah,
I'll look at it on the next break. But Miami
is a good story because you also get to see
all the old heads on the sideline.
Speaker 5 (18:35):
Can they go sit down? No, no, no, urban go
sit down. The rest of them are kind of normal.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
Michael Jason Taylor, didn't he tackle somebody on the sideline?
Speaker 5 (18:46):
Taylor hu Ray Lewis. But that's because they have a connection.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Okay, my thing is and and I'm going to be here.
I'm going to be a fuddy duddy.
Speaker 5 (18:54):
Oh here we go. What happened?
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Can the kids have their shine?
Speaker 6 (18:58):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (18:58):
I agree?
Speaker 3 (18:59):
Look, come on, careorry like I guess.
Speaker 5 (19:01):
It's your school there. Let the let those kids come on.
Speaker 4 (19:06):
Man, who's more than fault celebrating on the sideline or
the people that keeps putting the cameras on them down?
Speaker 3 (19:12):
No, the them because you can be there and support
You can be there and support Michael Irvan taking his
belt off and all that.
Speaker 5 (19:23):
Michael Iran need to sit down, but he's the only one.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
I mean right, Lewis sat down since the nineties, so no,
he ain't sat down. But I really I don't want
to be like the old old.
Speaker 5 (19:36):
Get off my law, my law on guy.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
I just think it's not It's like it's even like
a parent whose kids, you know, it's playing high school
basketball or college and they want to make.
Speaker 5 (19:50):
Themselves the focal point or look at me.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
Look at me, you know my let your boy have
his moment, Let those kids at Miami, because the camera
naturally is going.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
To go towards.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
You know, player like ray Lewis and Michael Irvin. He's
a big time former players. I get all that. It
would be nice if those guys are all together and
enjoying it. They're in a suite or they're off to
the side, But as a photographer or reporter, you're going
to focus in on them because more people know them
(20:27):
than some of these nameless, faceless kids on Miami.
Speaker 4 (20:29):
I agree with I agree with what you're saying there.
There is too much of the camera and too much
attention towards Michael Urban and that crew. But so you're
saying the pride, you're saying the pride in his school
isn't a real thing. The pride is in himself in
the moment, like he's putting more of the onus on himself.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Like using the guys of this is my school or whatever.
But it is because you just wouldn't do that if
you really cared about those kids.
Speaker 5 (21:02):
I couldn't see you, you know, I couldn't see you,
do you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Like like it's almost and it's a little different. But
it reminds me of when Dion at Colorado, you know,
won their first couple of games, and everybody on the side,
everybody's on the sideline, every it was like it was
(21:27):
like a concert, Am I right?
Speaker 5 (21:29):
And then all of a sudden they started losing. None
of none of them.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
There nobody there that that. Where are those guys? Where's
the little Wayne concerts before the game? Where's Shannon Sharp
flying in the boulder? You know, like all those guys,
come on, where are you now? If I'm Dion, I'm like, okay,
I got it. That's why it's phony to me.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Yeah, no, that makes sense. No, I agree with you
on like let the kids have their day. But this
started all about Miami been what they can do, and
you said, could they win the championship?
Speaker 5 (22:03):
Yes? Are they the favorite?
Speaker 8 (22:04):
No?
Speaker 5 (22:05):
But they have a chance to bring one back to Miami.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
It's just crazy, all right.
Speaker 7 (22:10):
Hey, rob g just quickly we're keep it out on
this game right here, Oregon Texas Tech. About forty seconds left, Oh,
Texas Tech gonna punt the ball and probably go to
halftime down six to nothing. They had the stat on
the screen. Now you guys are trying to do two
things at once. You may not have seen it. It's
six to nothing, right, so you're feeling good, I guess
pitching today if you are a fan of the Ducks. However,
(22:31):
before this last drive, which I think gained six yards
for Texas Tech, coming into that last drive, total plays
Oregon forty five to twenty total yards one sixty nine
to eighty two, time of possession twenty one point thirty
to seven oh one, and you're only up six to nothing.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
Yeah, I agree, Like this is not you know, this
one touchdown and the whole thing that you work for
the first half is nothing like this is a Texas
Tech type of game, too, right, And we talk about
it right now.
Speaker 4 (23:01):
In the beginning, in the first hour hour of the show,
teams that have to buy start out slow, and again
Texas Texas Tech here is starting out slow.
Speaker 5 (23:09):
It's it's amazing.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
Because I thought the same thing, even though Miami wound
up winning, I thought they're only up fourteen to.
Speaker 5 (23:17):
Nothing at the half. This one's closer. And this is
even closer.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
They haven't even the organ hasn't even scored a touchdown,
I mean two field goals.
Speaker 4 (23:25):
And that's the other thing we talked about it, Rob,
like we you know, we're we're kind of old school.
Speaker 5 (23:29):
We're taking two turnovers and we'll take the points.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
Like if Oregon kicks the kicks the field goal last,
the possession before when they went put on fourth down,
it's nine. Nothing like all these points are going to
matter as this game continues, and so passing up points early,
trying to score touchdowns doesn't always behoove their team that's
trying to be aggressive.
Speaker 3 (23:48):
I agree, because nine is definitely better. Like nine, that's
two score games. That's a two score game. You only
could get six and two with the two point that's eight.
You still have an advantage over them. Yes, I agree.
All right, it is the Herd here on Fox Sports Radio,
Rob Parker, Cary Roads filling in for Colin Cahurd. We're
(24:09):
definitely got a lot of stuff we're gonna get to.
NFL wise, We're gonna talk to Carmen Vitally from Fox
Sports Radio of course here she's a weekend host here
and all things NFL. Looking forward to this coming Sunday,
right with the NFL. A couple of games gonna decide
(24:30):
whether guys get in the playoffs or not, which will
be very very interested.
Speaker 7 (24:35):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (24:35):
I know me and you disagree on the Steelers of Ravens.
Speaker 5 (24:39):
Which makes me, makes it upsets me.
Speaker 3 (24:41):
Rob. I'm just no, no, you upset me. You are
raven You know I'm into the Ravens. I've picked them
to go to the super Bowl the last three years.
I thought Lamar got robbed of the MVP last year.
Not happy about it. Yeah, but just so many things
the this year, that team just hasn't been whole. That's
(25:02):
why I think it's time for John Harbaugh to uh to,
you know, they need to part ways. It's been there
a long time and every year ends the same way.
Carry where it's disappointing, right, every every year. And I'm
it's not always Lamar. I know, Lamar gets blamed for everything.
Mark Andrews, you know, can't catch a ball in the
(25:24):
end zone, a tire playoff game, fumbles, a Flowers AFC
Championship game at the one yard lite.
Speaker 5 (25:30):
Like I could go on and on and on anything
that can happen.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
That's happened, all right. Carmen Vitality, she's joining us now,
of course. Fox Sports Radio Weekend hosts Carbon Happy New Year,
say hello to Kerry Rhades is Rob Parker here on
the herd.
Speaker 5 (25:45):
What's happening, Hi, guys, Happy New Year, Happy New Year, Carmen,
what's shaking?
Speaker 3 (25:52):
Did you have a good New Year's Eve?
Speaker 5 (25:54):
Anything special?
Speaker 7 (25:56):
Uh?
Speaker 10 (25:56):
No, not incredibly special. That we did go over to
a friends how she had a lovely house party and
it was wonderful, just kind of ringing in the new
year with friends. And now I'm parked on the couch
watching these Bowl games. There you go, these playoff games.
I should say, they're not just bowl games.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
That's right. Things have changed, all right. Let's talk about
the NFL, And so Lamar Jackson is practicing and people
still question whether or not what they should do at quarterback,
which I just can't understand.
Speaker 5 (26:28):
But well, where are you on this? Should should Lamar play?
Speaker 3 (26:31):
If he's seventy percent or sixty five percent regardless?
Speaker 10 (26:36):
I mean, I think you need to evaluate if sixty
five seventy percent Lamar is better than any other option
for you, because if it is, and I don't think
it's a it's just a question, right, And I think
the answer is probably yes. So I would I get
that you know, he's he's not one hundred percent, but
at this point, nobody in the season is one hundred percent,
So throw him out there. This is what you play for.
Speaker 4 (27:00):
Do you think if the winner of that Pittsburgh Baltimore
raven game, you know, obviously the winner wins division gets
in the playoffs, actually you know, host a home playoff game,
But do you think in either one of those teams
can actually win a playoff game. And if either one
of those teams can win the playoff game, which one
would you rather throw in the mix to be a
(27:21):
disruptor in the playoffs.
Speaker 10 (27:23):
You know, it's interesting because the Ravens there was a
large part of the season where you know, it was
almost thought to be a lost season, and then all
of a sudden, you know, they're in this position where
they're winning in they're winning like they could win the
division still, and a lot of things have gone right
for them. And it's been my experience with teams that
the ones that can make the most noise in the
playoffs aren't necessarily the ones where things have gone well
(27:46):
for them throughout the season, where it's been sunshine and
rainbows and there's been you know, it's kind of a
smooth sailing. It's always been the teams that have to
overcome something and they have some grit to them and
some fight to them, and they know that they're not
out of it until they're out of it. So I
don't know, I think, like I think both of these
teams are capable because of you know, they have good
(28:08):
Like the Ravens defense hasn't been what you want it
to be, but they've shown the ability to turn it
on here and there. Pittsburgh, I mean, defense wins championships
and I think in the postseason it becomes even more important.
But I don't know, I just I think the Ravens
they've been able to figure it out and get to
this spot when we didn't think that that was the
case six weeks ago. So I'm gonna go with the Ravens.
Speaker 5 (28:29):
There you go. They heard that Ravens.
Speaker 3 (28:33):
I just Carmen, I just got to admit all year
they haven't been able to put it together, and I
just every year ends out like like if they were
have lose to Pittsburgh on a fumble or something at
some point, that would that would be so fitting because
it just has been that way. What about the Houston Texans,
they have a defense to go to the Super Bowl.
I'm not sure about the quarterback. And I'm gonna be honest,
(28:55):
Yeah you said, I'm that serious about CJ. Stroud. I've
seen some glimpses, but I've seen the droughts as well.
Where are you on the Texans? And remember after his
rookie year, they all crowned CJ. Stroud and now they're
going to the Super Bowl and all that.
Speaker 5 (29:11):
Last year. It took a step back in year two
and this year has been uneven.
Speaker 3 (29:14):
He was heard some his numbers aren't great and they
were winning with the backup quarterback in their Carmen. Where
are you on the Texans?
Speaker 10 (29:22):
I mean, what was different about this year? It was
that the Texans didn't have who was starting for them
on the offensive line until Week one. I mean I
kind of go towards all right, what caused you know?
Speaker 1 (29:34):
C J.
Speaker 10 (29:34):
Stroud injury could have been mitigated. I know it's been
up and down for him, but we saw his ability
in that first year. I don't think that that just
goes away. And I understand teams kind of figure you
out and all.
Speaker 5 (29:47):
That, but we've seen second years.
Speaker 3 (29:50):
Jane Daniels won the same like like they do, they
figure out what your strengths are and you have to
make another adjustment. That's all I'm saying, and not that
he's going to be a bum or anything, but there's
a difference.
Speaker 5 (30:01):
People can't get crowned too early one hundred percent.
Speaker 10 (30:04):
No, they can't, and nor can they be given up
on too early either, which I think we've seen a
bunch of times. And I think that you know, the
process of becoming an elite NFL quarterback isn't a linear
one and it's one that you need to have patients with,
and these teams really can't afford patients in a lot
of cases because of ownership pressure, this, that the other.
There's a ton of different factors. But I think we
(30:25):
as an NFL community really expect too much too soon
for too long with these guys, whereas we've seen so
many examples of five six years into their career then
they're they're you know, they clearly have command of an
offense and that you know, these these quarterbacks don't enter
their prime until they're thirty. And how far away from
thirty is CJ. Strouds. So I think that there's adjustments
(30:47):
that need to be that are needed in Houston, for sure,
but I mean that defense, and I mean Will Anderson
and Neil Hunter are just two of the best, and
if they can keep you in games, which they can,
I think that the Texans could still make some noise.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
Carmen vitally joining us here on the herd of course
Fox Sports Radio Weekend hosts, and I do want.
Speaker 5 (31:09):
To get me slide in here.
Speaker 4 (31:12):
There's a so right now, somebody has to win the
NFC South Carmen, and obviously Carolina has the upper upper
hand here. They kind of control their own destiny. They
win therein even if they lose. In Tampa Bay wins
and Atlanta wins, they went off of tie break scenario,
so there's some strange things happening there. But if Carolina
gets in the playoff, we've seen them beat some really
(31:34):
good teams and then obviously obviously have letdowns against lesser
teams or equal teams.
Speaker 5 (31:39):
In their in their world.
Speaker 4 (31:40):
But do you see this team actually having a chance
to make a run in the playoffs.
Speaker 10 (31:45):
I don't know about this year, quite honest. I think
there's still some glaring holes there. And I do think that, yeah, well,
like they have the capability to beat better teams, but
I think that also kind of came out of nowhere
for those teams, you know, like that was not the
narrative that for the Panthers early in the season at least,
And then I think more people have taken notice of
the Panthers as the season has gone on, and they
(32:06):
have beat some of these seams. But then you think
about what the environment is once you get to the
postseason and how nobody's underestimating anybody at that point, you know, yeah,
and the margin for er gets that much smaller, and
I think that that's where some of those glaring holes
in that Carolina team would come. But like to your point,
somebody has to win the NFC salth and none of
these teams. It seems like a couple of years ago
(32:28):
where the Bucks and it was a fout Bucks and
Falcons like literally losing games trying to give the division
to one another. And you're just like, all right, like
someone has to step up here. And I don't know
that any of those teams are built right now to
do much in the postseason. But we've been wrong.
Speaker 3 (32:44):
Before speaking of the postseason. Is this a big postseason
for Sam Doneld, because.
Speaker 5 (32:52):
Very seldom do you win fourteen.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
Games like he did with Minnesota and them not being
interested in keeping a guy right back. He goes to
Seattle and he's had a.
Speaker 5 (33:03):
You know, really good year. There's been some bumps, but
he's bad a really good year.
Speaker 3 (33:06):
And where they are and people are still waiting because
in that game against the Rams, he turned in a
stinker in the first half, and people.
Speaker 5 (33:14):
Are like, there we go.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
It's not oh, the narrative on him. No, it's not
a narrative. This is a fact, like in these big
games he hasn't played well, but they came back, they
won the game, and whatnot. How important is it for
him to win a playoff game if you're Seattle and
for people to get off of the Sam Donald can't
win a big game talk.
Speaker 10 (33:35):
I think there there's something to be said for the
legitimization of Sam Donald by winning a playoff game. I
really do, just because if you look at, you know,
other good quarterbacks when they have bad games, nobody's saying, oh,
you know, they're they're they're they're a terrible quarterback. I mean,
Matthew Stafford turned in a stinker last week and people
are just like, well, he's still in the MVP. Conversation
still deserving it.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
Yeah, that'll be, that'll be seen. I mean we got
to wait and see, because come back, I mean, you
gotta watch the mouth. You can't talk about Matthew Ahead.
Speaker 10 (34:04):
I'm pro Matthew Sabbard. I'm just saying, Matthew Stafford has
put together a body of work that lets you, you know,
he gets you get the benefit of the doubt with that.
With Matthew Stabbert. Yes, Sam Donald doesn't have that luxury
because he doesn't have that body of work yet. And
so I think going going into the playoffs with a
strong of a team as Seattle has, with as strong
of a defense as Seattle has, and winning a playoff
(34:25):
game can go a long way into giving Sam Donald
the benefit of the doubt and saying, oh he is
a good quarterback. Sure can he turn in you know,
some some sinkers every now and again. Of course every
quarterback can. But do we actually think that Sam Donald
is a good quarterback? And postseason success is the quickest
route to that?
Speaker 4 (34:42):
All right, Carment, I'm gonna put you on the spot
a little bit here, and I'm gonna I'm gonna I'm
going to ask you to pick your represent representatives of
the NFC and AFC in the championship in the Super Bowl?
Speaker 5 (34:53):
Do you who do you have?
Speaker 10 (34:54):
Listen, I had this pick going into the season. This
Super Bowl matchup is still on the table, so I
don't feel as confident about it. But I'm not one
to back down from something that's still possible. I had,
I had Bill Packers.
Speaker 5 (35:13):
Bill's Packers. You still feel good about that. I'm not
saying that I don't. You should change your pick, right,
I'm just saying.
Speaker 10 (35:19):
Right, I don't feel good about it, however, because it's
still possible, like I mean, and especially if it actually happens, then,
I mean, bragging rights would be infinite. At that point,
I would never shut up about it because I'm going
to stick to it.
Speaker 3 (35:32):
No, you always got to stick to your pick. Because
I had the Packers and the Ravens. That was my
original pick.
Speaker 5 (35:39):
But he's picking Pittsburgh.
Speaker 3 (35:40):
I'm ticking Pittsburgh because of what the Ravens have done
all year.
Speaker 10 (35:44):
You think you think Pittsburgh is going to get out
of the AFC.
Speaker 3 (35:47):
No, But I'm no, no, no, I mean I'm picking Pittsburgh
to beat Baltimore.
Speaker 5 (35:50):
So that you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (35:52):
Eliminates my pick, right, and like, normally you wouldn't do that,
but I just I really don't feel like Baltimore has
been able to put it together. And then you're telling
me Lamar is not going to be totally healthy. You know,
if he's a healthy Lamar, then then yeah, I'm all in.
I just don't know what I'm what I'm going to get?
What was your original pick? I'm Ravens and Rams? Okay, yeah,
and you still feel good about the Rams the last
(36:14):
couple of weeks. Yes, they stink. They waiting for they
had the number one Carmen had the number one seed
locked up ten days ago.
Speaker 10 (36:24):
And look at where they are now to someone else.
Y'all didn't even bring up the Chicago Bears.
Speaker 4 (36:30):
Oh no, we did not. But he's but Carmen, he's
he's a big believer in Caleb Williams. So am I
but he's I was.
Speaker 3 (36:37):
On the Caleb Williams believing when everybody was talking about
always going to be benched at half midway in the season,
and uh, Ben Johnson doesn't like him and all this
other stuff.
Speaker 5 (36:48):
He's put together an unbelievable season.
Speaker 10 (36:51):
I mean, from what we've heard at the podium these
last couple of weeks actually, like it really seems like
something's clicked for Caleb where he's in command of this offense,
not just along for the ride anymore. And everything we've
heard from Caleb too is that they didn't really like
each other in the beginning, and that's consistent with how
Ben Jonson and Jared Goff's relationship developed as well. Ben
is the exact same person every single day, from the
(37:11):
first day you meet him to you know, day one
hundred into your relationship, and that can rub people that's
the wrong way sometimes because he comes in very intensely
and you know, he has really high expectations and it
takes a while to kind of trust that. And Caleb
kind of admitted to that the last week, I believe
when he was talking about it, and so their relationship
wasn't there, but it is now and now that that
(37:32):
relationship has gotten so much better, and you can tell
that Caleb is starting to kind of see the field
the way Ben wants them to and the way Ben
himself does. I mean, this is a really good It
looks like it's going to end up being a really
good pairing. Now if only the Bears could figure out
their path rush and their run defense, then then we
can start talking about real postseason Chicago pack.
Speaker 3 (37:51):
All right, hey, Carmen, we appreciate you joining us here
on the Herd calmin Vitality of course. Fox Sports Radio
Weekend hosts thank you so much. Happy New Year, Happy
New Year.
Speaker 10 (38:01):
Happy New Year, guys, thanks for having me.
Speaker 3 (38:02):
All right, I tried to tell you Matthew Stafford's MVP
case was fraudulent.
Speaker 5 (38:09):
We'll get into that next here on the Herd.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
It is Rob Parker and Kerry Road sitting in for
Colin right here on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 5 (38:16):
And you know what you need to do, stick and stay.
Speaker 3 (38:20):
In a rainy, rainy l a.
Speaker 2 (38:23):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and Noone Eastern a Empacific.
Speaker 3 (38:28):
But come on, he took he took a song from
Little Off and Nanny and made into a hip hop banger,
A banger banger. I mean, like a lot of people
don't know, Like if you don't know Liulfinnanny, you don't
know this song is exactly it's so many samples from
that time rap.
Speaker 4 (38:44):
Yeah, all the music was sampled at that time, right, believable.
Speaker 3 (38:47):
It is a Herd with me, Rob Parker and of
course former All Pro safety Carry Road sitting in for
Colin New Year's Day. And if you missed any of
today's show, uh, you want to catch it on the podcast,
not just on the Herd feed, but the Odd Couple
feed as well. Just search the Herd or the Odd
(39:07):
Couple wherever you get your podcasts. Right after the show,
today's podcast will be posted. Robb G. He's putting it
together as we speak. Be sure to follow the podcast
righted at least five stars and you could even provide
a review. Again that's uh. Just search the Herd or
search Odd the Odd Couple wherever you get your podcasts,
and you'll find today's full show and a best of version.
(39:30):
Post it right after uh we get off the air here, okay,
Rob G jump in. Everybody thinks I have some personal
thing against Matthew staff You do, past had.
Speaker 5 (39:44):
Chris So.
Speaker 7 (39:45):
Coming into Monday Night's game, Matthew Stafford was the favorite,
betting favorite, consensus favorite, media favorite.
Speaker 5 (39:53):
He was gonna win the.
Speaker 7 (39:53):
NFL m VP. He had a minus two to twenty
five favorite all the shops. And here's the thing. After
throwing your two interceptions first eleven games. He has now
thrown six since Week thirteen, including three on Monday nights
during that stretches Week thirteen only should Nor Sanders with
eight and Brady Cook with seven have more interceptions after.
Speaker 5 (40:16):
Stafford literally limping to.
Speaker 7 (40:18):
The finish line as a result, after Monday's game, Stafford
was minus two twenty five favorite.
Speaker 5 (40:23):
It's flipped the complete opposite direction.
Speaker 7 (40:25):
Drake May now minus four hundred to walk a rank
with the hardware carry.
Speaker 3 (40:30):
I'm gonna say this, of course, the bad game, two
bad games, and even in that. He played well in
the Seattle game in the beginning, but the second half
and the fourth quarter he couldn't get anything going. Here's
why Stafford is not gonna win the MVP. Ooh okay, okay,
because it's harder to give it to you when your
team is the fifth or sixth seed, where they were
(40:52):
the number one seed, Drake May. You could take a
look at whatever and say Stafford has eight more touchdowns whatever,
but did.
Speaker 5 (40:59):
A number umber one overall seed.
Speaker 3 (41:01):
That's the hard part giving it to a guy whose
team's not even in the you know what I mean,
could be sixth seed in the NFC.
Speaker 5 (41:09):
That's the argument.
Speaker 3 (41:10):
You could look back and look and go see, you'd
probably be hard pressed to find a quarterback who's won
the MVP where their team is not in the top
two or three as far as in their conference.
Speaker 5 (41:21):
Yeah, he's made it tough right now, right, he made it.
He's made made it a real conversation. Where two weeks
ago he was a clear Ten days ago, they were
the number one overall seed everything.
Speaker 4 (41:31):
I mean, people were saying they're the best team in
the league. And now you have two stinkers like that
in a row and you're part of that. I can
see why people would vote the other way. I mean,
in my opinion, he's still the guy, but I can
see the other way now.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
But you remember when Lamar won it over Rock Party.
They went into San Francisco. Yes, Rock Party threw four picks.
I remember they said it was tied going into that game.
Lamar played well. In what happened, Lamar won easily one
hundred percent.
Speaker 4 (41:55):
Agree, And doing that in national televised games where you're
the only team playing, that hurts everybody's watching.
Speaker 5 (42:03):
Matthew Steventh, though, do picks against that six and nine
Falcons team going nowhere? Yeah? That hurts.
Speaker 3 (42:08):
So that's a bad part, all right. Our number three,
the final hour of the program here on the Herd
coming up, and we're gonna talk about Lamar Jackson and
whether or not he should start for the Ravens. We'll
get that and much more so. You know what you
need to do the Herd is you
Speaker 4 (42:24):
Need to stick and stay unless you play bad in
the USA.
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio and
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 (00:20):
Get this you're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (00:30):
Ah, it is a herd. It is Happy New Year.
I'm Rob Parker from the Odd Couple here on Fox
Sports Radio and of course with former All Pro safety
Carry Roads. Yes, or played for the Jets in the
Arizona Cardinals, and we are here on New Year's Day
(00:56):
watching the college football playoff. It is still three to nothing.
Speaker 4 (01:00):
Yeah, Texas Tech missed the field goal and now Oregon
just faked the punt and got a first down.
Speaker 5 (01:05):
Here here we go.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
So Oregon up three nothing here in the second quarter,
about eight and a half minutes to go. Yes, but
I want to say to get more of us, be
sure to check out the brand new Odd Couple YouTube channel.
Just search Odd Couple FSR on YouTube. Again, that's Odd
Couple FSR. Be sure to subscribe by hitting that button,
(01:29):
and don't stop there. Give us the thumbs up icon
and comment away. Just search Odd Couple FSR and subscribe.
Carmen Vitally she's gonna join us coming up. She's a
Fox Sports Radio weekend host. She'll join us at the
bottom of the hour. We got a lot of stuff
to talk about, some NFL stuff to get to as well,
(01:55):
Matthew Stafford or that MVP. Look you, I'm just saying
I'm not happy. I'm not happy. I'm just you know, Carrie,
that's not happy. That's I told you so. You know, well,
you know I say that a lot on The Odd Couple, Right,
I told you so, I told you no doubt.
Speaker 6 (02:14):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
So we got a lot to get to an hour
number two. Uh We'll be here for Colin and then
later on at seven pm Eastern. It's the Odd Couple
right here on Fox Sports Radio. Okay, Carrie, I know
the difference between underdogs and cute little stories of teams
that don't have what they need and they somehow find
(02:37):
a way to win.
Speaker 5 (02:38):
Those are heartwarming stories. You want to do a.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
Disney movie Angel in the Outfield, you know, and all
these kind of like sappy Mighty Ducks.
Speaker 5 (02:46):
Say the Mighty Ducks.
Speaker 3 (02:47):
Oh, my god, you know and all this stuff, Indiana
football is not one of these stories. I Am not
like what they're trying to sell you, like they're they're
fraudulent underdogs to me, because I get that when you
think of Indiana, it's about basketball. Yes, it's never been
about football. So I understand where they are now and whatnot.
(03:11):
But when you look at how they got here, tell
you they're not underdogs. Not a little engine that couldn't
during the top ten money spent on players.
Speaker 5 (03:25):
Top ten, Wow, I don't know that.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Coaching staff and support staff they make twenty million dollars, okay,
and they also.
Speaker 5 (03:41):
Have a quarterback. Their quarterback makes two million dollars.
Speaker 3 (03:44):
This is not Oh my god, how did Indiana come
out of nowhere? They don't have any player, they don't
have this that No.
Speaker 5 (03:52):
Who's saying that. There are people trying to paint them.
They're trying to paint the match.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Yeah, like they're like because of their history, of right,
because of their history.
Speaker 5 (04:01):
Yes, Like this is incredible.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
I can't believe Indiana has a chance to win the
national championship.
Speaker 5 (04:07):
They've never had a chance to win.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
No one's ever talked about Indiana football blah blah blah
blah blah. That's what I'm saying. Yeah, but there's a reason, yes,
and you just name them right when you do the math. Yes,
when you spend money, they've embraced the transfer portal. They've
gotten good players from other schools, like this is a plan,
(04:32):
this is like we're all in here, all our chipps.
I'm not knocking them, but don't make out a false
narrative like your stunned. If you do any research, they
should be where they are because they've spent the money
to build a super team.
Speaker 5 (04:49):
That's all I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Oh, in you on hundred percent correct when you say
that with the numbers right, and I think that's what
college football has afforded teams like Indiana, right, and Indiana
you talked about them being as a basketball school. That
means we know they have the resources to pay those guys.
So if now, if you got a coach you believe
in the team, you believe in, you don't think they're
spending that money there as well to make that team
(05:12):
be be right up there. They decided they've done that,
right and then and we talked about their coach Signetty,
there's no way he's going to come to you and
say we're under dog at anything. So that's not their
make up, their identity at all.
Speaker 3 (05:26):
And that's why I don't want to hear the narrative
about the story like, oh, it's it's not unbelievable now
and that that's my point. Yeah, yeah, yes, if you
told me this was twenty five years ago and Indiana
was in the National College Football Playoff and a chance
when not okay, I'd say, yeah, what Indiana?
Speaker 5 (05:44):
How you know what's going on here? What am I missing?
Speaker 6 (05:47):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (05:47):
But you just said it, Rob. How many people have
done the research to know that they've done that? Because
I didn't. I didn't even know that. I need to
know the money, right, Yeah, I didn't know that at all. Yeah,
that's that part. If that's the case, then no, there's
no way there. They're playing with the big boys. They
were in the top ten.
Speaker 3 (06:03):
Of money spent, and money doesn't automatically mean you're gonna win.
I'm not taking away from the coach or the players.
We know that money. The Mets last year had the
first or second highest payroll. I think it might have
been first over the Dodgers. I think you know, money
wise yearly, and they don't even make the playoffs. So
(06:25):
money money doesn't mean automatically, but the idea that people
think that they're some great story because they are the
former team that people used to know, They're not that team.
Speaker 4 (06:43):
Yeah, I mean, this is two years in a row
they've been in the playoffs, so it can't be that
big of a.
Speaker 5 (06:47):
So that's why that's that's why I'm rooting against Indiana.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
This ain't Indiana. This is Indiana on steroids, you know
what I mean, Like like, no, I'm not buy it
into it, and I don't know, I'm weird when it
comes to college football because I still am of the
belief that the that the blue bud bloods, the big
schools always win, like like you would have to give
(07:14):
me a case.
Speaker 5 (07:16):
And that's what I'm really waiting for. Carrie.
Speaker 3 (07:18):
You you played college football, you know college football.
Speaker 5 (07:24):
Same thing.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
The NCAA men's basketball tournament. Oh it's great, Cinderella. They
just no mid majors won. They're not and they're not
going to win. And then not one school one day
like seriously, one school one day game. Yeah, you can
win a couple of games, but the closest State beat
(07:46):
Michigan at the Big House.
Speaker 5 (07:47):
You could win one game.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
You can win one game in the Florida Atlantics. The
you know, Butler almost did it.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Butler almost did it, exactly almost almost.
Speaker 5 (07:55):
But having done it, man, it's gonna be hard to do.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
And I don't know h what I was gonna give
out our odd couple number. I'm gonna throw out all
number anyway here on the herd. If you do want
to join in, do you love this story, the Indiana story?
Speaker 5 (08:15):
Does it not feel as good as you know your.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
Typical underdog unbelievable stories eight seven, seven four eight four
thirty four thirty seven.
Speaker 4 (08:27):
The one thing I will say, rob really quickly about
that Indiana story. When you talk about the underdog story
and you talk about, you know, the people who are
representing that team, I think people are falling in love
with the underdog story and the you know, the even
though he's making money, we know all that. I'm talking
about him and his story and his play. And that's
the quarterback Mendoza, right like, he was not the super
(08:48):
highly tired guy. He's a guy that kind of worked
his way up and now you know he's in Indiana.
He's a likable guy. People find his story fascinating. And
I think when you put people in faces in front
of those stories, I think that's more more of the
story here, you know what I mean when it comes
to them being done the dog.
Speaker 5 (09:06):
But he's making two million dollars. I know that.
Speaker 3 (09:09):
Okay, so the way see, but his talent was enough
to command two million dollars, is what I'm saying. I
know what you'r and that and that's why I have
like Indiana.
Speaker 5 (09:20):
It has two faces.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
Yeah. The face is oh, what a great story. This
is about the quarterback. Yes, oh what a great story.
This is about the coach. He's only been there two years.
Look at what he's turned the program around. Yes, yeah,
oh yeah, he's a genius coach. He's got deep pockets.
Speaker 5 (09:37):
Yeah they do. Yeah, I hear you.
Speaker 3 (09:40):
And and and that's why I can't. I can't wrap
my hands around it. Eight seven seven for the Herd.
Are you loving Indiana? Are you all in on the
Indiana story? Maybe wanting? But now at Ohio States, how
maybe they win the national championship? They might How shocked
would you be? How shock would I be that they
win it? They're a number one team in the country.
I could, I wouldn't be shocked, but they won the
(10:01):
national championship, right, No, I'm asking you, but you could
be number one? You know, No, you can't be number one,
and there'd be an underdog and you and you'd be
surprised that they want Okay, well did Then that's the
oxymoron here is that is that people are talking about
how great of a story it is, but they're the
number one team and they spent a lot of money.
Speaker 5 (10:21):
Rob g Yeah.
Speaker 7 (10:22):
With that in mind, guys, Nick Saban is of course
in very wet pasady in here ahead of the Rose
Bowl on ESPN or ABC excuse me, locally, yep, and
they're previewing the game. Obviously, Nick Saban, you would expect
to have some kind of slant towards the tide. Yeah,
but here's what he said quote. We would play the sound,
but he curses it and we can't do that, Nick Saban, Great,
great job, Nick, I know you're on television, Will been.
Speaker 5 (10:44):
Doing it for a few years. Didn't know you can't curse.
Here's what he said. Quote.
Speaker 7 (10:49):
The amazing thing about this is how much respect we
have for Indiana internally. But when I go play with
my golfing buddies in Alabama and they're all on the
first tea they say we should kick a blank out
of Indiana. It doesn't sound like a big dog on campus.
That sound like they're being viewed as the little bit.
Speaker 3 (11:08):
I mean that's how people are viewing them, not like
oh my god, because they can't see Indiana and having
that kind of juice, or they don't have a track
record for them. People that have put respect on them,
but they should if they look at the team. Yes,
the amount of money they spent, the people they got
in transfer portals, like they have a talented team. There's
(11:29):
a reason they are where they are. No, I mean
still not buying it. No, I ain't buying it.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
I mean, like I said, I think this team is
the number one team for a reason.
Speaker 5 (11:41):
They're super well coached.
Speaker 4 (11:43):
I think you have the number one player in the
country obviously on that team. You got NFL receivers, you
got NFL cornerbacks and defensive backs on that team. That
team and the way they play, their style of play
isn't one of those teams, Rob Blake. Remember we would
get like fascinated with Exis Tech. They woul score a
thousand points. It couldn't stop anybody. And it's a feel
(12:04):
good story. You know, they're underdog, but they can win
the game. That isn't them. This team was built up front.
They're physical, they're strong, that they still superpower.
Speaker 8 (12:14):
Well you see Chris what Yeah, I just question for
you guys on the SABAN thing too. I'm wondering if
it's the little Engine that Could thing or if this
is just because I think there's a founding myth when
it comes to the SEC's dominance that like, Florida was
put in that game against Ohio State back in two
thousand and seven and it was a very north south thing.
No one gave Florida the time of day, and they
(12:34):
kicked the crap out of Ohio State. That was like
a forty one to fourteen national title game in the
BCS era. And I'm wondering how much this is like Alabama.
I mean, they've been taking a few hits, but they
still assume themselves as Alabama. If this is just a
very north south, north versus South kind of mentality here,
it's like we're still the SEC, we should still beat anyone.
Speaker 3 (12:55):
I think that there's part of that. Yeah, No, there's nobody,
but they're blue blood. All right. Are you rooting for
the so called Indiana underdog? Indiana Hoosiers, I want to
hear from you. We want to hear from you. Eight
seven seven forty four thirty four thirty seven. That's eight
seven seven for the Herd. We'll continue this conversation next
(13:16):
with you. It is the Herd here on Fox Sports Radio,
Rob Parker and Kerry Road sitting in for Colin. That's right,
eight seven seven for eight four thirty four thirty seven.
Speaker 5 (13:27):
We want to hear from you, Indiana.
Speaker 3 (13:29):
I'm not buying it. I'm rooting against them. They're the
big dogs. It is a herd right here on Fox
Sports Radio. Stick and stay.
Speaker 5 (13:37):
If you're a Yogi in the USA, ooh.
Speaker 2 (13:41):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and Noone Eastern n a EM Pacific on Fox Sports
Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 9 (13:51):
Hey, this is Jason McIntyre. Join me every weekday morning
on my podcast, Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre. This isn't
your typical sports pod pushing the same tired narratives down
your throat every day. Straight Fire gives you honest opinions
on all the biggest sports headlines, accurate stats to help
you win big at the sportsbook, and all the best guests.
(14:11):
Do yourself a favor and listen to Straight Fire with
Jason McIntyre on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts.
Speaker 5 (14:18):
Or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
This is the Herd on New Year's Day here on
Fox Sports Radio with me, Rob Parker and far more
all pro safety Carry Road sitting in for Colin our
number two and make sure you check out my show,
The Odd Couple were Rob Parker and Kelvin Washington. We're
(14:46):
on weeknights from four to seven pm Pacific, seven to
ten pm Eastern right here on Fox Sports Radio. And
I know what you're saying. Well, Rob, you filled in
for Colin, so you're off tonight from the Oddcome right,
Rob G. Because Rob G is the producer of The
Odd Couple, who's producing this show today. Rob G, you're
off tonight.
Speaker 5 (15:08):
Hell yeah, of course he is. Rob G's off, but
I'm not. I'll be in see Rob.
Speaker 7 (15:15):
Me and Carry know that when you're important, they don't
want to wear you out too much.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
That's what I'm just a hack, right, Yeah, keep de
voice fresh baby.
Speaker 5 (15:25):
That's why he doesn't need t in that and that
seat over there. You gotta keep sure Carrie is ready
to go on you hear how silky smooth.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
It is right here.
Speaker 5 (15:34):
I'm struggling, no, no doubt about about it.
Speaker 3 (15:37):
Carmen Vitally is going to join us, coming up in
less than ten minutes here.
Speaker 5 (15:44):
Of course, he's a Fox Sports Radio weekend host.
Speaker 3 (15:47):
But we do have a call here on the Herd,
and let's talk to Greg in pennsyl Tuckie better known
as Pennsylvania. Greg, what's happening my man? Welcome to the
Herd and happy New Year.
Speaker 6 (16:00):
Happy new Year with a real feel of twelve degrees
of beautiful Houston Town, Pennsylvania.
Speaker 5 (16:06):
Wow, where is Houstontown?
Speaker 6 (16:07):
Now?
Speaker 3 (16:07):
I used to My first job in the business was
in Wilkesbury, Pennsylvania.
Speaker 5 (16:12):
So where's Houstontown?
Speaker 6 (16:15):
We're about an hour and fifteen minutes west of Harrisburg,
between Pittsburgh and Philly, right about right in the middle south.
Speaker 5 (16:23):
Okay, okay, awesome, what do you got?
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Where are you on this? Indiana? I know it sounds
like a nice cute story. Indiana has nothing to do
with college football. For a million years. Now's the chance
to win the national championship. But they are not under dogs, Greg, I'm.
Speaker 6 (16:37):
Sorry, no, I absolutely agree they're not underdogs. I would
favor them to win. I think where people are intrigued
is that you have a program three years ago which
was in the catbox right and now storied programs like
Penn State, LSU and Michigan they can't get it right.
(16:57):
But here was able to get the right coach and
now they're playing in the playoffs.
Speaker 5 (17:02):
I agree with that that they got the right coach.
Speaker 3 (17:04):
Yeah, but Greg, they're spending the money like that, like
they finally I don't know if they woke up and
flicked the switch and said, okay, we want to compete.
Speaker 5 (17:12):
We got to go.
Speaker 3 (17:13):
Our coaching staff is making twenty million dollars. Our quarterback
is making two million dollars. Our payroll for players is
in the top ten now with the big dogs. That's
my issue, Greg, is they should be here because they
spent the money on quality players.
Speaker 6 (17:34):
Absolutely, I agree. I just think that the piece where
people are intrigued is, again, this was a team much
like Texis Tack. They're spending the money and they're showing
that the portal is working because, like I was going through,
there are several storied programs who have more endowment and
they can't make it work or find the right pieces.
So that's where I'm I'm rooting for him.
Speaker 3 (17:56):
Oh so you're room for him? Are they going to
be the champs? You got them winning the national champions Ship?
Speaker 6 (18:01):
No, I'm for Miami, Greg, That's a good choice.
Speaker 5 (18:05):
A good choice, good choice.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
Everybody's gonna be on the Miami train after last night
when you knock off Ohio State to defending champs.
Speaker 4 (18:11):
Right, yeah, No, I mean Miami. And again, Miami's Miami's
probably the best story in it right now, in my opinion,
I think Indiana.
Speaker 5 (18:18):
You don't have them winning the national champ I think
they can.
Speaker 4 (18:20):
Yeah, I didn't. I didn't pick them to win it.
I don't think I did the bracket. I think I
had I had them going to the championship though, again,
so I have to look at I'll look at it. Yeah,
I'll look at it on the next break. But Miami
is a good story because you also get to see
all the old heads on the sideline.
Speaker 5 (18:35):
Can they go sit down? No, no, no, urban go
sit down. The rest of them are kind of normal.
Speaker 3 (18:42):
Michael Jason Taylor, didn't he tackle somebody on the sideline?
Speaker 5 (18:46):
Taylor hu Ray Lewis. But that's because they have a connection.
Speaker 3 (18:49):
Okay, my thing is and and I'm going to be here.
I'm going to be a fuddy duddy.
Speaker 5 (18:54):
Oh here we go. What happened?
Speaker 3 (18:56):
Can the kids have their shine?
Speaker 6 (18:58):
Oh?
Speaker 5 (18:58):
I agree?
Speaker 3 (18:59):
Look, come on, careorry like I guess.
Speaker 5 (19:01):
It's your school there. Let the let those kids come on.
Speaker 4 (19:06):
Man, who's more than fault celebrating on the sideline or
the people that keeps putting the cameras on them down?
Speaker 3 (19:12):
No, the them because you can be there and support
You can be there and support Michael Irvan taking his
belt off and all that.
Speaker 5 (19:23):
Michael Iran need to sit down, but he's the only one.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
I mean right, Lewis sat down since the nineties, so no,
he ain't sat down. But I really I don't want
to be like the old old.
Speaker 5 (19:36):
Get off my law, my law on guy.
Speaker 3 (19:40):
I just think it's not It's like it's even like
a parent whose kids, you know, it's playing high school
basketball or college and they want to make.
Speaker 5 (19:50):
Themselves the focal point or look at me.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
Look at me, you know my let your boy have
his moment, Let those kids at Miami, because the camera
naturally is going.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
To go towards.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
You know, player like ray Lewis and Michael Irvin. He's
a big time former players. I get all that. It
would be nice if those guys are all together and
enjoying it. They're in a suite or they're off to
the side, But as a photographer or reporter, you're going
to focus in on them because more people know them
(20:27):
than some of these nameless, faceless kids on Miami.
Speaker 4 (20:29):
I agree with I agree with what you're saying there.
There is too much of the camera and too much
attention towards Michael Urban and that crew. But so you're
saying the pride, you're saying the pride in his school
isn't a real thing. The pride is in himself in
the moment, like he's putting more of the onus on himself.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
Like using the guys of this is my school or whatever.
But it is because you just wouldn't do that if
you really cared about those kids.
Speaker 5 (21:02):
I couldn't see you, you know, I couldn't see you,
do you know what I mean?
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Like like it's almost and it's a little different. But
it reminds me of when Dion at Colorado, you know,
won their first couple of games, and everybody on the side,
everybody's on the sideline, every it was like it was
(21:27):
like a concert, Am I right?
Speaker 5 (21:29):
And then all of a sudden they started losing. None
of none of them.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
There nobody there that that. Where are those guys? Where's
the little Wayne concerts before the game? Where's Shannon Sharp
flying in the boulder? You know, like all those guys,
come on, where are you now? If I'm Dion, I'm like, okay,
I got it. That's why it's phony to me.
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Yeah, no, that makes sense. No, I agree with you
on like let the kids have their day. But this
started all about Miami been what they can do, and
you said, could they win the championship?
Speaker 5 (22:03):
Yes? Are they the favorite?
Speaker 8 (22:04):
No?
Speaker 5 (22:05):
But they have a chance to bring one back to Miami.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
It's just crazy, all right.
Speaker 7 (22:10):
Hey, rob g just quickly we're keep it out on
this game right here, Oregon Texas Tech. About forty seconds left, Oh,
Texas Tech gonna punt the ball and probably go to
halftime down six to nothing. They had the stat on
the screen. Now you guys are trying to do two
things at once. You may not have seen it. It's
six to nothing, right, so you're feeling good, I guess
pitching today if you are a fan of the Ducks. However,
(22:31):
before this last drive, which I think gained six yards
for Texas Tech, coming into that last drive, total plays
Oregon forty five to twenty total yards one sixty nine
to eighty two, time of possession twenty one point thirty
to seven oh one, and you're only up six to nothing.
Speaker 3 (22:49):
Yeah, I agree, Like this is not you know, this
one touchdown and the whole thing that you work for
the first half is nothing like this is a Texas
Tech type of game, too, right, And we talk about
it right now.
Speaker 4 (23:01):
In the beginning, in the first hour hour of the show,
teams that have to buy start out slow, and again
Texas Texas Tech here is starting out slow.
Speaker 5 (23:09):
It's it's amazing.
Speaker 3 (23:12):
Because I thought the same thing, even though Miami wound
up winning, I thought they're only up fourteen to.
Speaker 5 (23:17):
Nothing at the half. This one's closer. And this is
even closer.
Speaker 3 (23:20):
They haven't even the organ hasn't even scored a touchdown,
I mean two field goals.
Speaker 4 (23:25):
And that's the other thing we talked about it, Rob,
like we you know, we're we're kind of old school.
Speaker 5 (23:29):
We're taking two turnovers and we'll take the points.
Speaker 4 (23:32):
Like if Oregon kicks the kicks the field goal last,
the possession before when they went put on fourth down,
it's nine. Nothing like all these points are going to
matter as this game continues, and so passing up points early,
trying to score touchdowns doesn't always behoove their team that's
trying to be aggressive.
Speaker 3 (23:48):
I agree, because nine is definitely better. Like nine, that's
two score games. That's a two score game. You only
could get six and two with the two point that's eight.
You still have an advantage over them. Yes, I agree.
All right, it is the Herd here on Fox Sports Radio,
Rob Parker, Cary Roads filling in for Colin Cahurd. We're
(24:09):
definitely got a lot of stuff we're gonna get to.
NFL wise, We're gonna talk to Carmen Vitally from Fox
Sports Radio of course here she's a weekend host here
and all things NFL. Looking forward to this coming Sunday,
right with the NFL. A couple of games gonna decide
(24:30):
whether guys get in the playoffs or not, which will
be very very interested.
Speaker 7 (24:35):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (24:35):
I know me and you disagree on the Steelers of Ravens.
Speaker 5 (24:39):
Which makes me, makes it upsets me.
Speaker 3 (24:41):
Rob. I'm just no, no, you upset me. You are
raven You know I'm into the Ravens. I've picked them
to go to the super Bowl the last three years.
I thought Lamar got robbed of the MVP last year.
Not happy about it. Yeah, but just so many things
the this year, that team just hasn't been whole. That's
(25:02):
why I think it's time for John Harbaugh to uh to,
you know, they need to part ways. It's been there
a long time and every year ends the same way.
Carry where it's disappointing, right, every every year. And I'm
it's not always Lamar. I know, Lamar gets blamed for everything.
Mark Andrews, you know, can't catch a ball in the
(25:24):
end zone, a tire playoff game, fumbles, a Flowers AFC
Championship game at the one yard lite.
Speaker 5 (25:30):
Like I could go on and on and on anything
that can happen.
Speaker 3 (25:33):
That's happened, all right. Carmen Vitality, she's joining us now,
of course. Fox Sports Radio Weekend hosts Carbon Happy New Year,
say hello to Kerry Rhades is Rob Parker here on
the herd.
Speaker 5 (25:45):
What's happening, Hi, guys, Happy New Year, Happy New Year, Carmen,
what's shaking?
Speaker 3 (25:52):
Did you have a good New Year's Eve?
Speaker 5 (25:54):
Anything special?
Speaker 7 (25:56):
Uh?
Speaker 10 (25:56):
No, not incredibly special. That we did go over to
a friends how she had a lovely house party and
it was wonderful, just kind of ringing in the new
year with friends. And now I'm parked on the couch
watching these Bowl games. There you go, these playoff games.
I should say, they're not just bowl games.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
That's right. Things have changed, all right. Let's talk about
the NFL, And so Lamar Jackson is practicing and people
still question whether or not what they should do at quarterback,
which I just can't understand.
Speaker 5 (26:28):
But well, where are you on this? Should should Lamar play?
Speaker 3 (26:31):
If he's seventy percent or sixty five percent regardless?
Speaker 10 (26:36):
I mean, I think you need to evaluate if sixty
five seventy percent Lamar is better than any other option
for you, because if it is, and I don't think
it's a it's just a question, right, And I think
the answer is probably yes. So I would I get
that you know, he's he's not one hundred percent, but
at this point, nobody in the season is one hundred percent,
So throw him out there. This is what you play for.
Speaker 4 (27:00):
Do you think if the winner of that Pittsburgh Baltimore
raven game, you know, obviously the winner wins division gets
in the playoffs, actually you know, host a home playoff game,
But do you think in either one of those teams
can actually win a playoff game. And if either one
of those teams can win the playoff game, which one
would you rather throw in the mix to be a
(27:21):
disruptor in the playoffs.
Speaker 10 (27:23):
You know, it's interesting because the Ravens there was a
large part of the season where you know, it was
almost thought to be a lost season, and then all
of a sudden, you know, they're in this position where
they're winning in they're winning like they could win the
division still, and a lot of things have gone right
for them. And it's been my experience with teams that
the ones that can make the most noise in the
playoffs aren't necessarily the ones where things have gone well
(27:46):
for them throughout the season, where it's been sunshine and
rainbows and there's been you know, it's kind of a
smooth sailing. It's always been the teams that have to
overcome something and they have some grit to them and
some fight to them, and they know that they're not
out of it until they're out of it. So I
don't know, I think, like I think both of these
teams are capable because of you know, they have good
(28:08):
Like the Ravens defense hasn't been what you want it
to be, but they've shown the ability to turn it
on here and there. Pittsburgh, I mean, defense wins championships
and I think in the postseason it becomes even more important.
But I don't know, I just I think the Ravens
they've been able to figure it out and get to
this spot when we didn't think that that was the
case six weeks ago. So I'm gonna go with the Ravens.
Speaker 5 (28:29):
There you go. They heard that Ravens.
Speaker 3 (28:33):
I just Carmen, I just got to admit all year
they haven't been able to put it together, and I
just every year ends out like like if they were
have lose to Pittsburgh on a fumble or something at
some point, that would that would be so fitting because
it just has been that way. What about the Houston Texans,
they have a defense to go to the Super Bowl.
I'm not sure about the quarterback. And I'm gonna be honest,
(28:55):
Yeah you said, I'm that serious about CJ. Stroud. I've
seen some glimpses, but I've seen the droughts as well.
Where are you on the Texans? And remember after his
rookie year, they all crowned CJ. Stroud and now they're
going to the Super Bowl and all that.
Speaker 5 (29:11):
Last year. It took a step back in year two
and this year has been uneven.
Speaker 3 (29:14):
He was heard some his numbers aren't great and they
were winning with the backup quarterback in their Carmen. Where
are you on the Texans?
Speaker 10 (29:22):
I mean, what was different about this year? It was
that the Texans didn't have who was starting for them
on the offensive line until Week one. I mean I
kind of go towards all right, what caused you know?
Speaker 1 (29:34):
C J.
Speaker 10 (29:34):
Stroud injury could have been mitigated. I know it's been
up and down for him, but we saw his ability
in that first year. I don't think that that just
goes away. And I understand teams kind of figure you
out and all.
Speaker 5 (29:47):
That, but we've seen second years.
Speaker 3 (29:50):
Jane Daniels won the same like like they do, they
figure out what your strengths are and you have to
make another adjustment. That's all I'm saying, and not that
he's going to be a bum or anything, but there's
a difference.
Speaker 5 (30:01):
People can't get crowned too early one hundred percent.
Speaker 10 (30:04):
No, they can't, and nor can they be given up
on too early either, which I think we've seen a
bunch of times. And I think that you know, the
process of becoming an elite NFL quarterback isn't a linear
one and it's one that you need to have patients with,
and these teams really can't afford patients in a lot
of cases because of ownership pressure, this, that the other.
There's a ton of different factors. But I think we
(30:25):
as an NFL community really expect too much too soon
for too long with these guys, whereas we've seen so
many examples of five six years into their career then
they're they're you know, they clearly have command of an
offense and that you know, these these quarterbacks don't enter
their prime until they're thirty. And how far away from
thirty is CJ. Strouds. So I think that there's adjustments
(30:47):
that need to be that are needed in Houston, for sure,
but I mean that defense, and I mean Will Anderson
and Neil Hunter are just two of the best, and
if they can keep you in games, which they can,
I think that the Texans could still make some noise.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
Carmen vitally joining us here on the herd of course
Fox Sports Radio Weekend hosts, and I do want.
Speaker 5 (31:09):
To get me slide in here.
Speaker 4 (31:12):
There's a so right now, somebody has to win the
NFC South Carmen, and obviously Carolina has the upper upper
hand here. They kind of control their own destiny. They
win therein even if they lose. In Tampa Bay wins
and Atlanta wins, they went off of tie break scenario,
so there's some strange things happening there. But if Carolina
gets in the playoff, we've seen them beat some really
(31:34):
good teams and then obviously obviously have letdowns against lesser
teams or equal teams.
Speaker 5 (31:39):
In their in their world.
Speaker 4 (31:40):
But do you see this team actually having a chance
to make a run in the playoffs.
Speaker 10 (31:45):
I don't know about this year, quite honest. I think
there's still some glaring holes there. And I do think that, yeah, well,
like they have the capability to beat better teams, but
I think that also kind of came out of nowhere
for those teams, you know, like that was not the
narrative that for the Panthers early in the season at least,
And then I think more people have taken notice of
the Panthers as the season has gone on, and they
(32:06):
have beat some of these seams. But then you think
about what the environment is once you get to the
postseason and how nobody's underestimating anybody at that point, you know, yeah,
and the margin for er gets that much smaller, and
I think that that's where some of those glaring holes
in that Carolina team would come. But like to your point,
somebody has to win the NFC salth and none of
these teams. It seems like a couple of years ago
(32:28):
where the Bucks and it was a fout Bucks and
Falcons like literally losing games trying to give the division
to one another. And you're just like, all right, like
someone has to step up here. And I don't know
that any of those teams are built right now to
do much in the postseason. But we've been wrong.
Speaker 3 (32:44):
Before speaking of the postseason. Is this a big postseason
for Sam Doneld, because.
Speaker 5 (32:52):
Very seldom do you win fourteen.
Speaker 3 (32:53):
Games like he did with Minnesota and them not being
interested in keeping a guy right back. He goes to
Seattle and he's had a.
Speaker 5 (33:03):
You know, really good year. There's been some bumps, but
he's bad a really good year.
Speaker 3 (33:06):
And where they are and people are still waiting because
in that game against the Rams, he turned in a
stinker in the first half, and people.
Speaker 5 (33:14):
Are like, there we go.
Speaker 3 (33:16):
It's not oh, the narrative on him. No, it's not
a narrative. This is a fact, like in these big
games he hasn't played well, but they came back, they
won the game, and whatnot. How important is it for
him to win a playoff game if you're Seattle and
for people to get off of the Sam Donald can't
win a big game talk.
Speaker 10 (33:35):
I think there there's something to be said for the
legitimization of Sam Donald by winning a playoff game. I
really do, just because if you look at, you know,
other good quarterbacks when they have bad games, nobody's saying, oh,
you know, they're they're they're they're a terrible quarterback. I mean,
Matthew Stafford turned in a stinker last week and people
are just like, well, he's still in the MVP. Conversation
still deserving it.
Speaker 3 (33:55):
Yeah, that'll be, that'll be seen. I mean we got
to wait and see, because come back, I mean, you
gotta watch the mouth. You can't talk about Matthew Ahead.
Speaker 10 (34:04):
I'm pro Matthew Sabbard. I'm just saying, Matthew Stafford has
put together a body of work that lets you, you know,
he gets you get the benefit of the doubt with that.
With Matthew Stabbert. Yes, Sam Donald doesn't have that luxury
because he doesn't have that body of work yet. And
so I think going going into the playoffs with a
strong of a team as Seattle has, with as strong
of a defense as Seattle has, and winning a playoff
(34:25):
game can go a long way into giving Sam Donald
the benefit of the doubt and saying, oh he is
a good quarterback. Sure can he turn in you know,
some some sinkers every now and again. Of course every
quarterback can. But do we actually think that Sam Donald
is a good quarterback? And postseason success is the quickest
route to that?
Speaker 4 (34:42):
All right, Carment, I'm gonna put you on the spot
a little bit here, and I'm gonna I'm gonna I'm
going to ask you to pick your represent representatives of
the NFC and AFC in the championship in the Super Bowl?
Speaker 5 (34:53):
Do you who do you have?
Speaker 10 (34:54):
Listen, I had this pick going into the season. This
Super Bowl matchup is still on the table, so I
don't feel as confident about it. But I'm not one
to back down from something that's still possible. I had,
I had Bill Packers.
Speaker 5 (35:13):
Bill's Packers. You still feel good about that. I'm not
saying that I don't. You should change your pick, right,
I'm just saying.
Speaker 10 (35:19):
Right, I don't feel good about it, however, because it's
still possible, like I mean, and especially if it actually happens, then,
I mean, bragging rights would be infinite. At that point,
I would never shut up about it because I'm going
to stick to it.
Speaker 3 (35:32):
No, you always got to stick to your pick. Because
I had the Packers and the Ravens. That was my
original pick.
Speaker 5 (35:39):
But he's picking Pittsburgh.
Speaker 3 (35:40):
I'm ticking Pittsburgh because of what the Ravens have done
all year.
Speaker 10 (35:44):
You think you think Pittsburgh is going to get out
of the AFC.
Speaker 3 (35:47):
No, But I'm no, no, no, I mean I'm picking Pittsburgh
to beat Baltimore.
Speaker 5 (35:50):
So that you know what I mean.
Speaker 3 (35:52):
Eliminates my pick, right, and like, normally you wouldn't do that,
but I just I really don't feel like Baltimore has
been able to put it together. And then you're telling
me Lamar is not going to be totally healthy. You know,
if he's a healthy Lamar, then then yeah, I'm all in.
I just don't know what I'm what I'm going to get?
What was your original pick? I'm Ravens and Rams? Okay, yeah,
and you still feel good about the Rams the last
(36:14):
couple of weeks. Yes, they stink. They waiting for they
had the number one Carmen had the number one seed
locked up ten days ago.
Speaker 10 (36:24):
And look at where they are now to someone else.
Y'all didn't even bring up the Chicago Bears.
Speaker 4 (36:30):
Oh no, we did not. But he's but Carmen, he's
he's a big believer in Caleb Williams. So am I
but he's I was.
Speaker 3 (36:37):
On the Caleb Williams believing when everybody was talking about
always going to be benched at half midway in the season,
and uh, Ben Johnson doesn't like him and all this
other stuff.
Speaker 5 (36:48):
He's put together an unbelievable season.
Speaker 10 (36:51):
I mean, from what we've heard at the podium these
last couple of weeks actually, like it really seems like
something's clicked for Caleb where he's in command of this offense,
not just along for the ride anymore. And everything we've
heard from Caleb too is that they didn't really like
each other in the beginning, and that's consistent with how
Ben Jonson and Jared Goff's relationship developed as well. Ben
is the exact same person every single day, from the
(37:11):
first day you meet him to you know, day one
hundred into your relationship, and that can rub people that's
the wrong way sometimes because he comes in very intensely
and you know, he has really high expectations and it
takes a while to kind of trust that. And Caleb
kind of admitted to that the last week, I believe
when he was talking about it, and so their relationship
wasn't there, but it is now and now that that
(37:32):
relationship has gotten so much better, and you can tell
that Caleb is starting to kind of see the field
the way Ben wants them to and the way Ben
himself does. I mean, this is a really good It
looks like it's going to end up being a really
good pairing. Now if only the Bears could figure out
their path rush and their run defense, then then we
can start talking about real postseason Chicago pack.
Speaker 3 (37:51):
All right, hey, Carmen, we appreciate you joining us here
on the Herd calmin Vitality of course. Fox Sports Radio
Weekend hosts thank you so much. Happy New Year, Happy
New Year.
Speaker 10 (38:01):
Happy New Year, guys, thanks for having me.
Speaker 3 (38:02):
All right, I tried to tell you Matthew Stafford's MVP
case was fraudulent.
Speaker 5 (38:09):
We'll get into that next here on the Herd.
Speaker 3 (38:12):
It is Rob Parker and Kerry Road sitting in for
Colin right here on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 5 (38:16):
And you know what you need to do, stick and stay.
Speaker 3 (38:20):
In a rainy, rainy l a.
Speaker 2 (38:23):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and Noone Eastern a Empacific.
Speaker 3 (38:28):
But come on, he took he took a song from
Little Off and Nanny and made into a hip hop banger,
A banger banger. I mean, like a lot of people
don't know, Like if you don't know Liulfinnanny, you don't
know this song is exactly it's so many samples from
that time rap.
Speaker 4 (38:44):
Yeah, all the music was sampled at that time, right, believable.
Speaker 3 (38:47):
It is a Herd with me, Rob Parker and of
course former All Pro safety Carry Road sitting in for
Colin New Year's Day. And if you missed any of
today's show, uh, you want to catch it on the podcast,
not just on the Herd feed, but the Odd Couple
feed as well. Just search the Herd or the Odd
(39:07):
Couple wherever you get your podcasts. Right after the show,
today's podcast will be posted. Robb G. He's putting it
together as we speak. Be sure to follow the podcast
righted at least five stars and you could even provide
a review. Again that's uh. Just search the Herd or
search Odd the Odd Couple wherever you get your podcasts,
and you'll find today's full show and a best of version.
(39:30):
Post it right after uh we get off the air here, okay,
Rob G jump in. Everybody thinks I have some personal
thing against Matthew staff You do, past had.
Speaker 5 (39:44):
Chris So.
Speaker 7 (39:45):
Coming into Monday Night's game, Matthew Stafford was the favorite,
betting favorite, consensus favorite, media favorite.
Speaker 5 (39:53):
He was gonna win the.
Speaker 7 (39:53):
NFL m VP. He had a minus two to twenty
five favorite all the shops. And here's the thing. After
throwing your two interceptions first eleven games. He has now
thrown six since Week thirteen, including three on Monday nights
during that stretches Week thirteen only should Nor Sanders with
eight and Brady Cook with seven have more interceptions after.
Speaker 5 (40:16):
Stafford literally limping to.
Speaker 7 (40:18):
The finish line as a result, after Monday's game, Stafford
was minus two twenty five favorite.
Speaker 5 (40:23):
It's flipped the complete opposite direction.
Speaker 7 (40:25):
Drake May now minus four hundred to walk a rank
with the hardware carry.
Speaker 3 (40:30):
I'm gonna say this, of course, the bad game, two
bad games, and even in that. He played well in
the Seattle game in the beginning, but the second half
and the fourth quarter he couldn't get anything going. Here's
why Stafford is not gonna win the MVP. Ooh okay, okay,
because it's harder to give it to you when your
team is the fifth or sixth seed, where they were
(40:52):
the number one seed, Drake May. You could take a
look at whatever and say Stafford has eight more touchdowns whatever,
but did.
Speaker 5 (40:59):
A number umber one overall seed.
Speaker 3 (41:01):
That's the hard part giving it to a guy whose
team's not even in the you know what I mean,
could be sixth seed in the NFC.
Speaker 5 (41:09):
That's the argument.
Speaker 3 (41:10):
You could look back and look and go see, you'd
probably be hard pressed to find a quarterback who's won
the MVP where their team is not in the top
two or three as far as in their conference.
Speaker 5 (41:21):
Yeah, he's made it tough right now, right, he made it.
He's made made it a real conversation. Where two weeks
ago he was a clear Ten days ago, they were
the number one overall seed everything.
Speaker 4 (41:31):
I mean, people were saying they're the best team in
the league. And now you have two stinkers like that
in a row and you're part of that. I can
see why people would vote the other way. I mean,
in my opinion, he's still the guy, but I can
see the other way now.
Speaker 3 (41:41):
But you remember when Lamar won it over Rock Party.
They went into San Francisco. Yes, Rock Party threw four picks.
I remember they said it was tied going into that game.
Lamar played well. In what happened, Lamar won easily one
hundred percent.
Speaker 4 (41:55):
Agree, And doing that in national televised games where you're
the only team playing, that hurts everybody's watching.
Speaker 5 (42:03):
Matthew Steventh, though, do picks against that six and nine
Falcons team going nowhere? Yeah? That hurts.
Speaker 3 (42:08):
So that's a bad part, all right. Our number three,
the final hour of the program here on the Herd
coming up, and we're gonna talk about Lamar Jackson and
whether or not he should start for the Ravens. We'll
get that and much more so. You know what you
need to do the Herd is you
Speaker 4 (42:24):
Need to stick and stay unless you play bad in
the USA.
Hosts And Creators
kelvin washington
Rob Parker
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