June 20, 2024 • 32 mins
Marcedes Lewis joins the show to talk about his 19th season in the league and what he expects from his new star QB in Caleb Williams
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
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Speaker 2 (00:22):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
I always think it's interesting. Mercedes Lewis was with the
Bears last year, but it's a reduced role. They have
Cole Comet. They brought in Gerald Everett, but a blocking
tight end, situational tight end. But it is interesting. There
are people like Tom Brady's and obvious we had him
on the show yesterday. Tom Brady loves football, he likes
the process of it. And Mercedes Lewis has been smart
(00:44):
with his money, made good money long time, and as
he becomes more of a situational player again. He played
in all the games for the Bears and what he
is asked to do is not pretty. He is asked
to put his hands on guys, defensive ends and block.
And Mercedes Lewis is now joining US live. I love
seeing it. Most seasons played by a tight end in
league history, and I had Brady on yesterday and Tom
(01:05):
loves the process. But Tom doesn't have to block. Tom
doesn't have to put his hands on people. You could
have called it a career. You're a smart guy. You've
done well in your life, but you keep coming back.
You even keep coming back in cold weather, Green Bay, Chicago.
Did you always it has to be passion in love
(01:26):
at this point? Does it not for the sport?
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Yeah, I mean it's definitely passion is a big part
of it. I think that, you know, I always say,
like I don't ever want to be on the couch
one day watch a ball and have the regret of
not being able to fulfill my passion and my dream.
You know, this is a dream of minds as I
(01:50):
was seven years old. I've been doing this for a
very long time, and mentally I'm still in it. Physically,
I'm still you know, in shape and doing what I
have to do to prepare to play games and help
the team win. So for me, it's really a no brainer. Obviously,
when that window closes, you know, it closes and you.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
Can never get that back.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
So you know, I definitely want to tap into everything
I have. When it saw said and done it, saw
said and done.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
I'll be happy with that.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
You went against the Bears defense in practice at the
end of the year. I don't know how many people
outside of Chicago Mercedes were paying attention. The defense was
actually really good from about week ten on. Was it
just Montes sweat Matt Eberflus, it's a young defense. Did
it click you were at practice? What happened? Why was
(02:42):
the defense so good? I think it was number one
in the league the last six seven weeks. What happened?
Speaker 4 (02:48):
Yeah, well, I.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Think you know, obviously the second half of the season,
the defense starts to really come on with it. It
really was the consistency and willing to come to work
and get better every day from the beginning of the season.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
You know, obviously things are not always going to go
your way.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
There are so many variables on both sides of the
ball that happened and sometimes are out of your control.
But the things you can't control is your attitude and
your effort. And I can honestly say, if I'm washing
from the sideline, whether you know, I'm in getting reps
or I'm not getting.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
Reps, those guys are, you know, competing at the highest level.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
They're putting pressure on each other to be right, and
the communication just got better and better throughout the year.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
And obviously with the acquisition of Sweat coming in, that.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Added another dynamic to the defense and took a lot
of pressure individually off a lot of guys and they
were just able to play ball and not think that
they have to go out there and be superman. So,
you know, still adding pieces and doing the right things.
But I'm excited for what's going to happen this season.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
It's kind of fascinating to watch Jordan Love. I don't
recall a quarterback where I didn't like him in the
first five weeks and I loved him by the end.
He had this massive explosion. Even Matt Lafleur, who's one
of the nicer eyes, was pretty critical of him early.
Something Mercedes something, some switch flipped. I mean, you can't
(04:07):
go from him in week four to him in week seventeen.
It was a different player. He'd been in the you know,
he'd been there for three years, four years. What clicked
because by the end of the season, when he's going
to Dallas, I'm like, oh, he's the best quarterback on
the field here. It's not dak he's the best quarterback.
What do you think clicked for him?
Speaker 3 (04:26):
I just think that it took it took him some
time this past season to kind of understand it, like,
you know, this is his team, you know, obviously being
behind a rod and learning how to be a pro
and just the ins and outs of how to go
about your business.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
He had the best two vision.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
I just think towards the end of the year he
was just everything started to come together for him.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
You know.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
It was one of those things where you know, I
saw that coming from mill Away. The guy listens twice
as much as he speaks. He just wants to be great,
and I'm glad that, you know, he had success and
I hope that.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
He continues to have success because it's such a great guy.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
So, you know, when you stay diligent and understanding it's
a team game and being your personal best is what
it's about every day, knowing the guys that count on you, you're.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Always going to get the best out of yourself. And
he was definitely one of those guys to do that.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
What is the line all that moxie and experience from
you and now you have a rookie quarterback is it.
What is the line for a veteran player, What are
you comfortable helping Caleb with? I mean, you don't want
to be annoying, but you want to help him. What
have you what have you learned so far? And what
is that line for you?
Speaker 3 (05:45):
I think it's always been about there's more pressure on
the rookies coming in or the young guys that want
to learn. And you can ask any of the guys
that are bets, the rookies that come in that are
humble to understand that they don't know it all and
they asked the right questions, We're more than willing to
(06:05):
give them the game.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
And I think that you know, in Caleb situation is
going to be one of those things. Obviously, you know,
coming as a rookie quarterback, being draft first, overall, it's
a lot of pressure on you. But the more you
could lean into your guys and understand that we're all
on the same team and you know, we're all pushing
it for the same purpose, and that's the you know,
in a pursuit of a championship. So I haven't had
(06:29):
a chance to meet him yet in person, but we
have similar friends.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
Obviously being in La Herd. He's a great guy. So
I'm looking forward to that.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
And you know, I'm an open book and I'm looking
forward to taking one of my wing like Fred Taylor
and Kyle Brady did for me when I came in.
So it's going to be a great experience.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
So it's so interesting that you are. I just view
you as a you know, obviously you played with the Jags,
but I really and that was most of your career,
but they're a lower profile team. So I remember your
green Bay years as much as your Jacksonville years because
green Bay's on TV every week, and now you go
to your most hated rival, same weather, probably a little
(07:12):
bit more of a night life, one of my favorite
cities in America. But it I don't think fans think
about this. You were in basically in brawls with Chicago
for the last five years. Now you walk into that
locker room, is it you think it's gonna be a
little odd.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
Uh, It's not really odd for me because you know,
for one, my film doesn't speaking for me, so it's
not about me going in there and boasting and being
weird about it. And a lot of the guys, like
I've been playing balld when a lot of these guys
were in high school, in junior high.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
So it's more so just like the big brother role obviously.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
And you know, sometimes I'll see those like I'll see
comments on my pictures sometimes, or it said the Bears
post something about when I resigned.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
It was like.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Trying to remember something I saw that golda be like, man,
why aren't you retired? Or I didn't even know if
he was still playing or this, that and the third.
I just feel like if I came to your job.
Let's say, if you work in a normal nine to
five job and I came to your job and walked
in and was like, man.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
You're still working here, why don't you retire?
Speaker 3 (08:33):
I just feel like if you have the fashion to
do something right, and you're playing ball or doing whatever
you're doing at a high level, you can control your
destiny in a way. I've been playing this game because
I loved this game, and when it's gone, it's gone.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
You can never get that back.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
And so these are especially these last like five or
six years in my career has been amazing because I've
been able to see it from a different standpoint. And
you know, obviously spending twelve years in Jacksonville. I was
just kind of in the mix of my prime, catching
the ball, doing all these things. But now my role
is changing. It's just been amazing to just be able
(09:10):
to play ball and help guys learn the game from
a different perspective. And I'm here to tell you now that, like,
regardless if I'm forty years old, I'm going into my
nineteenth year. You know, there's grumblings like, oh, he's a
locker room guy this and that. The NFL is not
a place to where you can hide, right, so if
(09:32):
they're gonna, you know, spend their money and invest in me,
it's not to be just a locker room guy. Like
and I don't take it as that. I take my
job very seriously. I enjoy dominating at the point of contact.
And you know, it's just definitely a blessing I forever
and gratitude for this opportunity. And you know, I'm gonna
(09:52):
play this year just like I played every year, and
that's to get better every day.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
And you know something that I'm proud of.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
Finally, if they're he was a guy, he may be
retired now if he's playing, you may not want to
say it, but if I said to you, there's one
guy you just didn't like blocking. He was a and
it may have been a unique player, but you look
at it and think, because you played two hundred and
sixty eight games and a guy that maybe kept you
up the night before or he had a weird style
(10:20):
or a body and you're like, oh, this is gonna
be a just a I'm gonna be sore all week?
What guy? Because you're a blocking tight end, you are,
you are pulling guys down that line. Give me the
guy that you never you won't miss.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
So as you're as you're describing like body types, and
I would, I would say Julius Peppers.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Julius Peppers.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
He's a guy that because I've always liked. For me,
the tougher matches for me are guys that are kind
of like built like me. Yeah, long arms, leach, great
center and gravity and which he had the point of contact.
The actual contact, the connection doesn't really bother me. It's
(11:07):
more so the twitchiness and him being able to get
his hands on me because we both have the same reach.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
Right.
Speaker 5 (11:13):
So, Julius Steppers was always one of those guys I
remember my first couple of years, two or three years
in Jacksonville when Javon Curse with the Titans.
Speaker 4 (11:24):
He was another one of those guys.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
I think the taller guys are more I feel like
I'm going against myself, right if like if I'm going
against like one of the guys that was shorter, but
there was an animal was Dwight Freennie, right, So going
against the white FREENI he was gonna give you speed, quickness, power, twitch,
(11:49):
and just his IQ for the game was just off
the charts. And I learned so much from him coming
up early on in my career that that experience kind
of helped me go forward.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
So when I was.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Gonna have to block guys at his statue, yeah, the
bigger guys, it was just more like, Okay, this is
gonna be mono mono, regardless.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
Of like the IQ, the steed or whatever it is.
It's like the reach and the center of gravity what.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
Always I know when I was meeting my match and
Julius Pepper's probably says at the top of that mountain.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and noone Eastern a em Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
App great seeing you played all seventeen games for the
Bears last year. He has transitioned over. It's Gerald Everett,
Cole Comet, Dj Moore, Keenan Allen, Roma Dunze, Caleb Williams.
It is and the old line is now, I believe
fifteen and up, not fifteen in below. It is the
first time in my life that I look at the
Bears and say that offense is stacked and I can't
(12:51):
wait to watch it. As always, when do you report
you going into about a month? A little over a month, Yeah, so.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
We report line of nineteen who got the Hall of
Fame game, So a little earlier than you know years past.
But you know, I'm out here training doing my thing.
I'm in great shape. I'm down like twelve pounds. I'm
ready to go. So looking forward to it.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
Great seniors, Olas, my man, appreciation you, brother all right,
second oldest player to Aaron Rodgers, a total pro, one
of the great blocking tight ends. And I mean I
was just looking at the players he has played with
and the coaches he has played with. I mean Robert
Sala was an assistant with the Jags when he was
(13:34):
when he was starting out, he played there. He played
there over a decade. Pro bowler Nathaniel Hackett, Matt Eberflus,
Matt lafleuor Mike McCarthy hasn't talked to Caleb yet much,
but both southern California guys. I think I think that's
gonna work. J Mack with the news, No, no, turn
(13:55):
on the news.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
This is the herd Line News.
Speaker 6 (14:00):
I confess that sometimes. You know, there's certain players we
like that we'd like to talk about a lot. Anthony
Richardson's one of them, right, Well.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
You know he's dynamic.
Speaker 7 (14:06):
Yeah, we're very bullish on Richardson.
Speaker 6 (14:09):
He's looking to get back from a souldier injury that cut.
Speaker 7 (14:12):
Last season short is.
Speaker 6 (14:14):
Athleticism is what made him special during that rookie season.
But Shane Steichen wants Richardson to be smart about when
to get down or out of bounds to avoid taking
big hits.
Speaker 7 (14:24):
Now I like this.
Speaker 6 (14:25):
Because remember Richardson had bulked up. He's now listed at
two fifty five.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
Well, that's the downside to a big band or a
Josh Allen or an Anthony Richardson or a Cam Newton.
They can run over lineback. Yeah, they did it in
high school and college. You have to talk him out
of doing it as a pro and so, and it's hard.
I mean, if you've done something your whole life and
it's worked, and you can run away from linebackers and
(14:49):
run over corners, you're gonna do it. So that's what
worries me about him is that he's it's actually a
little bit of a curse when you're as gift that
is Josh Allen or Anthony Richardson or Cam Newton. It's
a curse like Kyler Murray figured out very quickly, I'm
gonna slide. Russell Wilson baseball background Like Kyler, I'm gonna slide.
It took about two years for Lamar Jackson. First couple
(15:11):
of years he would, you know, Herbert by the way,
would put his put his shoulder down justin Now doesn't
do that. So I think it's just sort of the
evolution of large athletic quarterbacks is they're gonna this stuff
works for him and Dell Dell by year two or three,
you've kind of figure out this. I don't want to
do this.
Speaker 6 (15:29):
There was a great quote, I think it was in
Fight Club. The thing that got you here won't get
you where.
Speaker 7 (15:33):
You want to eventually be right.
Speaker 6 (15:35):
And what gott Richardson here was athleticism, running around, like
you said, running over everybody.
Speaker 7 (15:39):
Colin. He started thirteen games at Florida. That's it. Thirteen
both Nick had like what sixteen?
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Well, I think we both thought last year he was
way better than I thought he would be.
Speaker 6 (15:48):
He was, But to make that next step, he's got
to win from the pocket, right, I mean, you cannot
just continue to run around.
Speaker 7 (15:55):
Oh I'm two fifty five. I can absorb its.
Speaker 6 (15:57):
I like Richardson, But if he's not winning from the pocket,
it's gonna be a short career for him.
Speaker 7 (16:00):
Next up to the NBA. Okay, this is a spicy story.
People are gonna get very worked up. But you and
I talked about this.
Speaker 6 (16:06):
So there's a new story out on Yahoo Sports by
this numbers guy, Tom Haberstrow, who took an in depth
look at Michael Jordan's amazing nineteen eighty seven nineteen eighty
eight season. He led the league in scoring and won
Defensive Player of the Award. That's never been done before.
But they took a close look at the defensive stats
in Colin. They were juiced and one of the scorekeepers
(16:30):
from that season has said, yeah, when Jordan was playing
home games, they were inflating his blocks and inflating his steals,
and Jordan basically pushed to get this award.
Speaker 7 (16:39):
He was upset that Michael Cooper.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Wanted to be very competitive guy and they were juicing
his numbers.
Speaker 7 (16:44):
I mean, if you look at the screen, you'll see them.
Speaker 6 (16:47):
His home stats, they call him stocks, blocks and steels
were massively inflated, like historic stuff that we've never seen.
Speaker 7 (16:54):
And on the road he was just a regular defender.
Speaker 6 (16:56):
And it kind of punctures a little bit the history
of Jordan's amazing season. He was great, We get it,
but this idea that he was like the best defender
in the league because of some cook numbers, Jordan fans
out there are very defensive today. Now you and I
have gone fifteen rounds over Jordan versus Lebron. But this
is a big thing for Lebron because he never was
able to get lead the league in scoring.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
And now let me push back, Defensive player of the
Jordan do you think, I mean, Jordan was so powerful
he could get anything in the organization. So you think
anybody else has ever had their stats cooked?
Speaker 7 (17:31):
Yeah? Talk in the eighties. It was in the article.
You gotta read the article.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
Yeah, I saw. I saw it briefly this morning. I
was we left it to you to cover.
Speaker 7 (17:38):
I missed it. It's fascinating.
Speaker 6 (17:40):
So basically they're there's like a stat keeping camp before
the season, and they would look at film and then
there was one where it didn't look like an assistant.
They're like, no, no, that's John Stockton. Give him the assist.
Like the NBA was essentially okay with some of these
numbers being cooked to make their players look like a
little bill.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
It doesn't. He's still six for six, He's still Michael Jordan.
It's just it's it, you know, it peels back. I
think a reality of and I also think officials Michael
got a lot of calls, you know, I mean Michael.
And I think, by the way, Magic Johnson complained a lot.
(18:17):
My Magic got calls. So people think it's rigged. Stars
get calls, and stars from this article get a little
bump in stats.
Speaker 6 (18:25):
Yeah, now we know guys chase triple doubles all the time, right,
Russell west remember.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
The Westbrook year when he was getting like they were
even Carmelo Anthony acknowledged remember when Carl Mellow at some point,
I think was he on that team that year. I'm
not sure that he was saying, Yeah, it's kind of
get we kind of cooked the rebounds for it.
Speaker 7 (18:43):
On the foul line.
Speaker 6 (18:44):
Westbrook would essentially say to the big guys, don't get
the rebound. Let me get it so I can get
a triple double and average it for the season. This
is not the worst thing in the world. But again,
in this current climate, Colin, this kind of stuff cannot happen.
Speaker 7 (18:56):
Fans will go you can.
Speaker 6 (18:57):
Watch the entire game on NBA League Pass and go
through the video like, I don't know, listen.
Speaker 7 (19:02):
Obviously, nobody's saying Michael Jordan was a bum or not
a great defender. But some of his stuff it pokes
a little hole, well, puncture wound.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
You know.
Speaker 7 (19:11):
I'm a Lebron. I think Lebron's better. I think you're
kind of on the fence.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
I think they're totally different players. I think I think
Michael and Kobe don't even play. I think I think
Lebron plays more like magic than he does Michael. So
I think it's hard to compare eras. I mean, what
would Bill Russell be today? He's six 's eight. I mean,
what would he be couldn't shoot one? I mean it's
just like so, I don't think the era thing works.
(19:35):
I think Michael was Michael. And here's what I feel. Michael,
even around other great players in his prime, felt significantly
better than other great players like Barkley. Lebron and his
prime felt significantly better than other great players. Like that's
that's where they're the saying, like Lebron and his prime
(19:56):
was chasing people like all stars down and blocking their
shot and it looked like high school.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
So, I mean when you're truly great, like watching Messy
or a Ronaldo against Imbappe against other great players, you're like, okay,
and that's very rarefied. I mean Derek Jeter's great. I
never felt that with Derek Jeter. There were other shortstop
that had better range or slicker moves. But I mean
you get these, I mean, you get these occasional players
(20:24):
and they're unbelievably rare. We're even among All Stars, and
this is Michael and Lebron. They're a notch above all Star.
And then and then you may have one per sport
like mahomes now compared to even Lamar Jackson and Herbert
feels like a different level.
Speaker 7 (20:43):
He's at the next level.
Speaker 6 (20:44):
So I had said that I would have Lebron for
the first forty seven minutes and give me Jordan for
the final minute because Lebron elevates all those around him,
great passer, great vision.
Speaker 7 (20:53):
Jordan was the ultimate finisher. He was super clutch.
Speaker 6 (20:55):
Yeah, not saying Lebron was in clutch, but anyways, different players.
The final story is Copa America kicks off tonight, Leonan
Messi and are Inthena taking on Canada at eight eastern
on FS one.
Speaker 7 (21:07):
Messi turns thirty seven on Monday.
Speaker 6 (21:10):
This could be the final tournament of his career, although
some people seem to think he might suit up.
Speaker 7 (21:15):
In the twenty twenty six World Couple.
Speaker 6 (21:16):
See Argentina heavy favorites to win Copa America.
Speaker 7 (21:21):
This team is a juggernaut right now.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
As you see Messi help look out that penalty kick
is full of anxiety and stress and a lot of
guys miss it. It looks like he's playing against his son. Yeah,
I mean, he just different. Everything is easy.
Speaker 7 (21:33):
By the way, I still remember that World Cup game.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
In this episode, one of the one of the best
two hours of sports in the last five years. So
so thrilling.
Speaker 7 (21:41):
So here's a Copa America. Odds on the screen.
Speaker 6 (21:43):
Argentina big favorite, Brazil, which you know he touched on
it yesterday. They're missing some of their stars, the coaches
out with the older guys.
Speaker 7 (21:52):
They got.
Speaker 6 (21:52):
They got a teenager Endric on this team, seventeen. He
is phenomenal, like talking next superstar.
Speaker 7 (21:58):
You say, USA down.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
There by the way, there's a big gap between USA
and Mexico. Mexico is not a very good team right now.
Speaker 6 (22:04):
Mexico is not popping right now. They're turning things around.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
I can't wait for Copa. I can't wait. I'm on vacation,
so I got to watch all the games.
Speaker 6 (22:13):
US say. I think that game is in Kansas City.
I'm not sure what July first.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Maybe this is going to be great.
Speaker 7 (22:20):
Win that game.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
Oh, this is gonna be great.
Speaker 7 (22:21):
Think is as good as everybody says.
Speaker 6 (22:23):
I know there's a lot of Lawless and company will
will chime in, but it's a.
Speaker 7 (22:27):
Summer of soccer. I know you're excited.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
I am and on vacation, so I don't you know,
I'm just gonna be sitting He's just going to continue
to rub that in right kind of taking your longest
vacation ever.
Speaker 7 (22:37):
You're trusting me with the keys to the house. I'm that.
I'm that teenager who's throwing a party when you're gone.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
You know that.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
How about just do best of the Herd. You can
do a couple of shows.
Speaker 7 (22:46):
Are you giving me time off? Can you tell the guys.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
I don't have that power, nor do I want that power.
The last thing I want is to have to be
responsible for you.
Speaker 7 (22:55):
That is they throwing the double hoop earings nightmare.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Jmak with a news.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
Well, that's the news, and thanks for stopping by.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
The Herdline News the hopwater that never runs out. Use
a Navvy and tankless water heater five year, fifteen year warranty.
Excuse me, not clunky, Never heat water unless they need it,
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Speaker 2 (23:22):
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Speaker 7 (23:31):
Hey it's me Rob Parker.
Speaker 8 (23:34):
Check out my weekly MLB podcast Inside the Parker for
twenty two minutes of piping hot baseball talk featuring the
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(23:56):
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Speaker 1 (24:01):
So, Jami, my guy was thinking about this. We're gonna
play should I Stay or Should I Go? With NBA
guys because the free agency we're gonna start hearing moves
pretty quick. Guys are starting to comment about it. And
there's a lot of reasons. You and I have both
bounced around the country for our professions, for commerce or whatever,
and there's different reasons. Sometimes you want a new start.
(24:22):
Sometimes you feel it's a greater opportunity, you know, for
pro athletes. Similarly, if you don't have a ring, if
you're Paul George, is that become a priority. Lets let's
play a little should I Stay or Should I Go?
With the guys that could move this offseason?
Speaker 7 (24:36):
You like that song should I Stay or Should I Go?
What's a banger from back in the day? Should Paul
George stay with the Clippers or go to another team.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
I would go And it's I think it's obvious. They
haven't won a playoff series in three years. It's an old,
weird roster. Are you gonna put your roster in the
hands of Harden Kawhy? Is never available? I mean, if
you want to win, he's in the back end of
his career. He's thirty four. I know you, I love
Los Angeles. You don't have to sell your home. But
this roster is not a championship roster, and he could
(25:05):
be used and needed on several young, ascending teams.
Speaker 7 (25:10):
All right, let's move on.
Speaker 6 (25:11):
Should Tyrese Maxi stay with the Sixers or go to
another team?
Speaker 1 (25:15):
Stay? First of all, he's the primary ball handler. He
gets the ball in his hands, and they want him
to score. He doesn't have to work for shots right
like they want him to score. He's in the Eastern Conference,
that's easier. And last year he had his best year
career highs and everything. So he's an ascending player. The
franchise loves him, they want the organization wants him to
(25:35):
be the guy going forward. He's more available than Joel
Embiid and they have cap space, so they're gonna put
another score next to it. So I mean, he's the
centerpiece and beads the star, but I think offensively he's
becoming more and more the centerpied.
Speaker 7 (25:49):
Jamarga Rosen does not have a ring. Should he stay
with the Bulls or go to another team?
Speaker 1 (25:52):
I don't think he fits anymore. I go, they're kind
of guard heavy, Alex Caruso, Zach Levine, Kobe White, They're
kind of guard heavy, and he's been around for a
long time. I just don't think he fits that roster
or that timeline. Now. To me, he's their most dependable score,
more of a mid range guy, but a good athlete.
But I do feel like as a fit, he's kind
(26:13):
of a weird fit now for them.
Speaker 6 (26:15):
A Should Clay Thompson stay with the Warriors or go
to another team?
Speaker 1 (26:19):
Stay listen, you've made a fortune, You've got rings, You're
a California kid. What are we doing here? Just sign
a two year deal, come off the bench, be a
great bench player. For the record, he made the fourth
most three pointers in the league last year, so I
still think in a three and D league he's got value.
Steve Kerr wants him to stay. Are you really gonna
(26:40):
leave because you get an extra year and seven million
more year with Orlando?
Speaker 7 (26:44):
Is it that or is it the money? Or does
he just want the respect? Do we want you?
Speaker 1 (26:48):
Clay? At some point you got to get over yourself
if you're willing to stay there and make eighteen instead
of twenty five and you get does Clay Thompson look
like a guy that's collecting real estate or sports cars?
Speaker 6 (27:01):
So why should they save seven million dollars in not
paying them?
Speaker 1 (27:04):
Because they have other needs? That roster has more than
just a little tweak.
Speaker 7 (27:10):
All right, Should Russell Westbrooks stay with the Clippers or
go to another team?
Speaker 1 (27:15):
Once he bought in to being a sixth man, he
should stay. He actually shot the ball pretty well. I
saw this this morning. He shot forty five percent from
the field last year. That's the highest in five years
for him since Houston. So I think Westbrook's an LA guy.
I think he works for them. I think he's a
tremendous energy guy off the bench for them. And you
know what, I've been critical of Westbrook but he kind
(27:36):
of embraced the role player thing and he was great.
Speaker 7 (27:39):
He got a rough series against the MAVs, he is.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
But I will say this as a sixth man, that
dude plays as hard as anybody in the leak. Still,
if he gets in the gym, who shoots a thousand
three pointers a day, maybe he becomes a better three
point because he's a liability. Well, I think I think
they think they have guys who can score. What you
need with him is just energy off the bench. And
listen when he's playing him against other teams backups, he's
(28:04):
often the best player on the floor.
Speaker 7 (28:05):
Also true, all right, og Arnobi. Should he stay with
the Knicks or go to another team?
Speaker 1 (28:09):
A lot of talk about him. I think he fits
New York. First of all, they were twenty six and
six when he was in the lineup, starting lineup. They'd
a losing record when he wasn't, So I think the
Knicks know how valuable he is. I wouldn't keep your
eye on the Sixers going after him, maybe, but I
think he's a good player. I think after Brunson, there's
(28:30):
an argument og Now he's had injury issues.
Speaker 7 (28:35):
Randall's still technically on.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
Well, but they're going to move off Randall. I mean
to me, the Devincenzo became a great catch and shoot
guy last year. But to me, it's Brunson, og jus
Hart and Devingenzo that feels like and and whoever they
bring in Michale Bridges. But I think Randall Mitchell Robinson,
I think they're expendable. I think he's a nick. I
think he works. He just they're the injury thing.
Speaker 7 (28:59):
And finally the big name.
Speaker 6 (29:01):
Should Lebron James stay with the Lakers or go to
another team?
Speaker 1 (29:06):
Son still in high school. His business here is amazing.
He has power over the franchise. He may get his
podcast partner as a coach. He's It's very rare that
you find a superstar that has a choice and leaves
Los Angeles. It's just it's guys like it here. They're
not struggling to afford housing, and the weather is better
(29:29):
than anywhere else in the country not named Miami in
an NBA, so stars like La. You know, the migration
out of California, A lot of it is housing costs,
But these guys are living in the best neighborhoods they've got.
They don't worry about that. They're not losing a lot
of sleep on the taxes. They make so much money And.
Speaker 6 (29:47):
By the way, did you see the heat dome or
the heat shield whatever they're calling it's happening in the
country right now. It's like nineties everywhere, like seventy two
in the South Bays.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
No, well, we're very fortunate you and I live in
I would say, because we don't have humidity like Florida.
The best weather in America is in California.
Speaker 7 (30:05):
Well, I don't know. Phoenix is okay, ye, it's.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
An oven for four and a half five months, but.
Speaker 7 (30:10):
I'm told it's a dry heat. So it's not that.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
Much to live in Vegas. Dry heat or not. Would
you want somebody with a blow dryer in your face
four months a year?
Speaker 7 (30:18):
So can you, like, what do you do if you
play pickleball in Phoenix? The indoor facility.
Speaker 1 (30:22):
Where you play it like six in the morning.
Speaker 7 (30:23):
You can't play in one hundred ten degree heat?
Speaker 2 (30:25):
Right?
Speaker 1 (30:25):
Well, no, it's a miserable I mean die, like come on, yeah,
So it's listen. It's the NBA is a winter league. Now,
Miami has better winter weather than Los Angeles. But if
you want big city entertainment, you want big city entertainment
and Mediterranean weather. That's why pro athletes like Los Angeles.
They're not sitting there, you know, struggling with the you know,
(30:48):
financial cost of housing, which is just outrageous in California. Yeah,
it really is.
Speaker 7 (30:53):
It's not great.
Speaker 6 (30:54):
But you know, then there's you could go to the
comedy store tomorrow night and see, you know, a major superstar,
because there's one coming through all the time.
Speaker 7 (31:01):
Just a lot of options out.
Speaker 1 (31:02):
Of Los Angeles. Has I believe thirty one music venues,
thirty one. If you think about Los Angeles, if tomorrow
you said we got to have the World Cup in
a month in Los Angeles, you wouldn't have to build
a stadium, the Coliseum, the Rose Bowl so far and
the one the Chargers played that you have four stadiums
(31:22):
you you wouldn't have to be You could have the
Olympics in Los Angeles tomorrow and you wouldn't have to
build there.
Speaker 7 (31:29):
Coming in twenty eight you wouldn't.
Speaker 1 (31:31):
You don't have the build anything. You have all these
you know, the aquatic centers at usc UCLA.
Speaker 7 (31:35):
There's it.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
Just the people that complain about California, most of them
don't live here.
Speaker 7 (31:39):
They haven't been here. Yeah, come check it out for
a week.
Speaker 1 (31:42):
It's Okay, last night I had to there was nowhere
to park. Where I went to have dinner. I went
to see a friend. It was it was just insane
at the beach. It was insane. So whatever people are
telling you about the economy, I don't know what it is.
But I couldn't get a chair.
Speaker 6 (31:57):
Oh, they just see the videos of the homeless folks
downtown with your bad's bad, But of course you know
what he's hanging out there.
Speaker 1 (32:03):
Yeah, it's it's it's listen. Pro athletes don't leave LA
when they have choices. Very often, even our coaches are stars. Harbaugh, McVeigh,
Lincoln Riley, Harbaugh could have gone to a lot of places.
You want to live in the South Bay. That's pretty good.
We'll see you tomorrow.
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in
noon to three eastern nine am to noone 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 (00:22):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
I always think it's interesting. Mercedes Lewis was with the
Bears last year, but it's a reduced role. They have
Cole Comet. They brought in Gerald Everett, but a blocking
tight end, situational tight end. But it is interesting. There
are people like Tom Brady's and obvious we had him
on the show yesterday. Tom Brady loves football, he likes
the process of it. And Mercedes Lewis has been smart
(00:44):
with his money, made good money long time, and as
he becomes more of a situational player again. He played
in all the games for the Bears and what he
is asked to do is not pretty. He is asked
to put his hands on guys, defensive ends and block.
And Mercedes Lewis is now joining US live. I love
seeing it. Most seasons played by a tight end in
league history, and I had Brady on yesterday and Tom
(01:05):
loves the process. But Tom doesn't have to block. Tom
doesn't have to put his hands on people. You could
have called it a career. You're a smart guy. You've
done well in your life, but you keep coming back.
You even keep coming back in cold weather, Green Bay, Chicago.
Did you always it has to be passion in love
(01:26):
at this point? Does it not for the sport?
Speaker 3 (01:29):
Yeah, I mean it's definitely passion is a big part
of it. I think that, you know, I always say,
like I don't ever want to be on the couch
one day watch a ball and have the regret of
not being able to fulfill my passion and my dream.
You know, this is a dream of minds as I
(01:50):
was seven years old. I've been doing this for a
very long time, and mentally I'm still in it. Physically,
I'm still you know, in shape and doing what I
have to do to prepare to play games and help
the team win. So for me, it's really a no brainer. Obviously,
when that window closes, you know, it closes and you.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
Can never get that back.
Speaker 3 (02:11):
So you know, I definitely want to tap into everything
I have. When it saw said and done it, saw
said and done.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
I'll be happy with that.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
You went against the Bears defense in practice at the
end of the year. I don't know how many people
outside of Chicago Mercedes were paying attention. The defense was
actually really good from about week ten on. Was it
just Montes sweat Matt Eberflus, it's a young defense. Did
it click you were at practice? What happened? Why was
(02:42):
the defense so good? I think it was number one
in the league the last six seven weeks. What happened?
Speaker 4 (02:48):
Yeah, well, I.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Think you know, obviously the second half of the season,
the defense starts to really come on with it. It
really was the consistency and willing to come to work
and get better every day from the beginning of the season.
Speaker 4 (03:00):
You know, obviously things are not always going to go
your way.
Speaker 3 (03:02):
There are so many variables on both sides of the
ball that happened and sometimes are out of your control.
But the things you can't control is your attitude and
your effort. And I can honestly say, if I'm washing
from the sideline, whether you know, I'm in getting reps
or I'm not getting.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
Reps, those guys are, you know, competing at the highest level.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
They're putting pressure on each other to be right, and
the communication just got better and better throughout the year.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
And obviously with the acquisition of Sweat coming in, that.
Speaker 3 (03:29):
Added another dynamic to the defense and took a lot
of pressure individually off a lot of guys and they
were just able to play ball and not think that
they have to go out there and be superman. So,
you know, still adding pieces and doing the right things.
But I'm excited for what's going to happen this season.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
It's kind of fascinating to watch Jordan Love. I don't
recall a quarterback where I didn't like him in the
first five weeks and I loved him by the end.
He had this massive explosion. Even Matt Lafleur, who's one
of the nicer eyes, was pretty critical of him early.
Something Mercedes something, some switch flipped. I mean, you can't
(04:07):
go from him in week four to him in week seventeen.
It was a different player. He'd been in the you know,
he'd been there for three years, four years. What clicked
because by the end of the season, when he's going
to Dallas, I'm like, oh, he's the best quarterback on
the field here. It's not dak he's the best quarterback.
What do you think clicked for him?
Speaker 3 (04:26):
I just think that it took it took him some
time this past season to kind of understand it, like,
you know, this is his team, you know, obviously being
behind a rod and learning how to be a pro
and just the ins and outs of how to go
about your business.
Speaker 4 (04:43):
He had the best two vision.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
I just think towards the end of the year he
was just everything started to come together for him.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
You know.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
It was one of those things where you know, I
saw that coming from mill Away. The guy listens twice
as much as he speaks. He just wants to be great,
and I'm glad that, you know, he had success and
I hope that.
Speaker 4 (05:05):
He continues to have success because it's such a great guy.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
So, you know, when you stay diligent and understanding it's
a team game and being your personal best is what
it's about every day, knowing the guys that count on you, you're.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Always going to get the best out of yourself. And
he was definitely one of those guys to do that.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
What is the line all that moxie and experience from
you and now you have a rookie quarterback is it.
What is the line for a veteran player, What are
you comfortable helping Caleb with? I mean, you don't want
to be annoying, but you want to help him. What
have you what have you learned so far? And what
is that line for you?
Speaker 3 (05:45):
I think it's always been about there's more pressure on
the rookies coming in or the young guys that want
to learn. And you can ask any of the guys
that are bets, the rookies that come in that are
humble to understand that they don't know it all and
they asked the right questions, We're more than willing to
(06:05):
give them the game.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
Uh.
Speaker 3 (06:07):
And I think that you know, in Caleb situation is
going to be one of those things. Obviously, you know,
coming as a rookie quarterback, being draft first, overall, it's
a lot of pressure on you. But the more you
could lean into your guys and understand that we're all
on the same team and you know, we're all pushing
it for the same purpose, and that's the you know,
in a pursuit of a championship. So I haven't had
(06:29):
a chance to meet him yet in person, but we
have similar friends.
Speaker 4 (06:34):
Obviously being in La Herd. He's a great guy. So
I'm looking forward to that.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
And you know, I'm an open book and I'm looking
forward to taking one of my wing like Fred Taylor
and Kyle Brady did for me when I came in.
So it's going to be a great experience.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
So it's so interesting that you are. I just view
you as a you know, obviously you played with the Jags,
but I really and that was most of your career,
but they're a lower profile team. So I remember your
green Bay years as much as your Jacksonville years because
green Bay's on TV every week, and now you go
to your most hated rival, same weather, probably a little
(07:12):
bit more of a night life, one of my favorite
cities in America. But it I don't think fans think
about this. You were in basically in brawls with Chicago
for the last five years. Now you walk into that
locker room, is it you think it's gonna be a
little odd.
Speaker 3 (07:31):
Uh, It's not really odd for me because you know,
for one, my film doesn't speaking for me, so it's
not about me going in there and boasting and being
weird about it. And a lot of the guys, like
I've been playing balld when a lot of these guys
were in high school, in junior high.
Speaker 4 (07:50):
So it's more so just like the big brother role obviously.
Speaker 3 (07:57):
And you know, sometimes I'll see those like I'll see
comments on my pictures sometimes, or it said the Bears
post something about when I resigned.
Speaker 4 (08:08):
It was like.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Trying to remember something I saw that golda be like, man,
why aren't you retired? Or I didn't even know if
he was still playing or this, that and the third.
I just feel like if I came to your job.
Let's say, if you work in a normal nine to
five job and I came to your job and walked
in and was like, man.
Speaker 4 (08:31):
You're still working here, why don't you retire?
Speaker 3 (08:33):
I just feel like if you have the fashion to
do something right, and you're playing ball or doing whatever
you're doing at a high level, you can control your
destiny in a way. I've been playing this game because
I loved this game, and when it's gone, it's gone.
Speaker 4 (08:48):
You can never get that back.
Speaker 3 (08:50):
And so these are especially these last like five or
six years in my career has been amazing because I've
been able to see it from a different standpoint. And
you know, obviously spending twelve years in Jacksonville. I was
just kind of in the mix of my prime, catching
the ball, doing all these things. But now my role
is changing. It's just been amazing to just be able
(09:10):
to play ball and help guys learn the game from
a different perspective. And I'm here to tell you now that, like,
regardless if I'm forty years old, I'm going into my
nineteenth year. You know, there's grumblings like, oh, he's a
locker room guy this and that. The NFL is not
a place to where you can hide, right, so if
(09:32):
they're gonna, you know, spend their money and invest in me,
it's not to be just a locker room guy. Like
and I don't take it as that. I take my
job very seriously. I enjoy dominating at the point of contact.
And you know, it's just definitely a blessing I forever
and gratitude for this opportunity. And you know, I'm gonna
(09:52):
play this year just like I played every year, and
that's to get better every day.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
And you know something that I'm proud of.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
Finally, if they're he was a guy, he may be
retired now if he's playing, you may not want to
say it, but if I said to you, there's one
guy you just didn't like blocking. He was a and
it may have been a unique player, but you look
at it and think, because you played two hundred and
sixty eight games and a guy that maybe kept you
up the night before or he had a weird style
(10:20):
or a body and you're like, oh, this is gonna
be a just a I'm gonna be sore all week?
What guy? Because you're a blocking tight end, you are,
you are pulling guys down that line. Give me the
guy that you never you won't miss.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
So as you're as you're describing like body types, and
I would, I would say Julius Peppers.
Speaker 1 (10:43):
Julius Peppers.
Speaker 3 (10:46):
He's a guy that because I've always liked. For me,
the tougher matches for me are guys that are kind
of like built like me. Yeah, long arms, leach, great
center and gravity and which he had the point of contact.
The actual contact, the connection doesn't really bother me. It's
(11:07):
more so the twitchiness and him being able to get
his hands on me because we both have the same reach.
Speaker 4 (11:12):
Right.
Speaker 5 (11:13):
So, Julius Steppers was always one of those guys I
remember my first couple of years, two or three years
in Jacksonville when Javon Curse with the Titans.
Speaker 4 (11:24):
He was another one of those guys.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
I think the taller guys are more I feel like
I'm going against myself, right if like if I'm going
against like one of the guys that was shorter, but
there was an animal was Dwight Freennie, right, So going
against the white FREENI he was gonna give you speed, quickness, power, twitch,
(11:49):
and just his IQ for the game was just off
the charts. And I learned so much from him coming
up early on in my career that that experience kind
of helped me go forward.
Speaker 4 (12:00):
So when I was.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
Gonna have to block guys at his statue, yeah, the
bigger guys, it was just more like, Okay, this is
gonna be mono mono, regardless.
Speaker 4 (12:09):
Of like the IQ, the steed or whatever it is.
It's like the reach and the center of gravity what.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
Always I know when I was meeting my match and
Julius Pepper's probably says at the top of that mountain.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and noone Eastern a em Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
App great seeing you played all seventeen games for the
Bears last year. He has transitioned over. It's Gerald Everett,
Cole Comet, Dj Moore, Keenan Allen, Roma Dunze, Caleb Williams.
It is and the old line is now, I believe
fifteen and up, not fifteen in below. It is the
first time in my life that I look at the
Bears and say that offense is stacked and I can't
(12:51):
wait to watch it. As always, when do you report
you going into about a month? A little over a month, Yeah, so.
Speaker 3 (12:58):
We report line of nineteen who got the Hall of
Fame game, So a little earlier than you know years past.
But you know, I'm out here training doing my thing.
I'm in great shape. I'm down like twelve pounds. I'm
ready to go. So looking forward to it.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
Great seniors, Olas, my man, appreciation you, brother all right,
second oldest player to Aaron Rodgers, a total pro, one
of the great blocking tight ends. And I mean I
was just looking at the players he has played with
and the coaches he has played with. I mean Robert
Sala was an assistant with the Jags when he was
(13:34):
when he was starting out, he played there. He played
there over a decade. Pro bowler Nathaniel Hackett, Matt Eberflus,
Matt lafleuor Mike McCarthy hasn't talked to Caleb yet much,
but both southern California guys. I think I think that's
gonna work. J Mack with the news, No, no, turn
(13:55):
on the news.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
This is the herd Line News.
Speaker 6 (14:00):
I confess that sometimes. You know, there's certain players we
like that we'd like to talk about a lot. Anthony
Richardson's one of them, right, Well.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
You know he's dynamic.
Speaker 7 (14:06):
Yeah, we're very bullish on Richardson.
Speaker 6 (14:09):
He's looking to get back from a souldier injury that cut.
Speaker 7 (14:12):
Last season short is.
Speaker 6 (14:14):
Athleticism is what made him special during that rookie season.
But Shane Steichen wants Richardson to be smart about when
to get down or out of bounds to avoid taking
big hits.
Speaker 7 (14:24):
Now I like this.
Speaker 6 (14:25):
Because remember Richardson had bulked up. He's now listed at
two fifty five.
Speaker 1 (14:29):
Well, that's the downside to a big band or a
Josh Allen or an Anthony Richardson or a Cam Newton.
They can run over lineback. Yeah, they did it in
high school and college. You have to talk him out
of doing it as a pro and so, and it's hard.
I mean, if you've done something your whole life and
it's worked, and you can run away from linebackers and
(14:49):
run over corners, you're gonna do it. So that's what
worries me about him is that he's it's actually a
little bit of a curse when you're as gift that
is Josh Allen or Anthony Richardson or Cam Newton. It's
a curse like Kyler Murray figured out very quickly, I'm
gonna slide. Russell Wilson baseball background Like Kyler, I'm gonna slide.
It took about two years for Lamar Jackson. First couple
(15:11):
of years he would, you know, Herbert by the way,
would put his put his shoulder down justin Now doesn't
do that. So I think it's just sort of the
evolution of large athletic quarterbacks is they're gonna this stuff
works for him and Dell Dell by year two or three,
you've kind of figure out this. I don't want to
do this.
Speaker 6 (15:29):
There was a great quote, I think it was in
Fight Club. The thing that got you here won't get
you where.
Speaker 7 (15:33):
You want to eventually be right.
Speaker 6 (15:35):
And what gott Richardson here was athleticism, running around, like
you said, running over everybody.
Speaker 7 (15:39):
Colin. He started thirteen games at Florida. That's it. Thirteen
both Nick had like what sixteen?
Speaker 1 (15:44):
Well, I think we both thought last year he was
way better than I thought he would be.
Speaker 6 (15:48):
He was, But to make that next step, he's got
to win from the pocket, right, I mean, you cannot
just continue to run around.
Speaker 7 (15:55):
Oh I'm two fifty five. I can absorb its.
Speaker 6 (15:57):
I like Richardson, But if he's not winning from the pocket,
it's gonna be a short career for him.
Speaker 7 (16:00):
Next up to the NBA. Okay, this is a spicy story.
People are gonna get very worked up. But you and
I talked about this.
Speaker 6 (16:06):
So there's a new story out on Yahoo Sports by
this numbers guy, Tom Haberstrow, who took an in depth
look at Michael Jordan's amazing nineteen eighty seven nineteen eighty
eight season. He led the league in scoring and won
Defensive Player of the Award. That's never been done before.
But they took a close look at the defensive stats
in Colin. They were juiced and one of the scorekeepers
(16:30):
from that season has said, yeah, when Jordan was playing
home games, they were inflating his blocks and inflating his steals,
and Jordan basically pushed to get this award.
Speaker 7 (16:39):
He was upset that Michael Cooper.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Wanted to be very competitive guy and they were juicing
his numbers.
Speaker 7 (16:44):
I mean, if you look at the screen, you'll see them.
Speaker 6 (16:47):
His home stats, they call him stocks, blocks and steels
were massively inflated, like historic stuff that we've never seen.
Speaker 7 (16:54):
And on the road he was just a regular defender.
Speaker 6 (16:56):
And it kind of punctures a little bit the history
of Jordan's amazing season. He was great, We get it,
but this idea that he was like the best defender
in the league because of some cook numbers, Jordan fans
out there are very defensive today. Now you and I
have gone fifteen rounds over Jordan versus Lebron. But this
is a big thing for Lebron because he never was
able to get lead the league in scoring.
Speaker 1 (17:18):
And now let me push back, Defensive player of the
Jordan do you think, I mean, Jordan was so powerful
he could get anything in the organization. So you think
anybody else has ever had their stats cooked?
Speaker 7 (17:31):
Yeah? Talk in the eighties. It was in the article.
You gotta read the article.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
Yeah, I saw. I saw it briefly this morning. I
was we left it to you to cover.
Speaker 7 (17:38):
I missed it. It's fascinating.
Speaker 6 (17:40):
So basically they're there's like a stat keeping camp before
the season, and they would look at film and then
there was one where it didn't look like an assistant.
They're like, no, no, that's John Stockton. Give him the assist.
Like the NBA was essentially okay with some of these
numbers being cooked to make their players look like a
little bill.
Speaker 1 (17:57):
It doesn't. He's still six for six, He's still Michael Jordan.
It's just it's it, you know, it peels back. I
think a reality of and I also think officials Michael
got a lot of calls, you know, I mean Michael.
And I think, by the way, Magic Johnson complained a lot.
(18:17):
My Magic got calls. So people think it's rigged. Stars
get calls, and stars from this article get a little
bump in stats.
Speaker 6 (18:25):
Yeah, now we know guys chase triple doubles all the time, right,
Russell west remember.
Speaker 1 (18:29):
The Westbrook year when he was getting like they were
even Carmelo Anthony acknowledged remember when Carl Mellow at some point,
I think was he on that team that year. I'm
not sure that he was saying, Yeah, it's kind of
get we kind of cooked the rebounds for it.
Speaker 7 (18:43):
On the foul line.
Speaker 6 (18:44):
Westbrook would essentially say to the big guys, don't get
the rebound. Let me get it so I can get
a triple double and average it for the season. This
is not the worst thing in the world. But again,
in this current climate, Colin, this kind of stuff cannot happen.
Speaker 7 (18:56):
Fans will go you can.
Speaker 6 (18:57):
Watch the entire game on NBA League Pass and go
through the video like, I don't know, listen.
Speaker 7 (19:02):
Obviously, nobody's saying Michael Jordan was a bum or not
a great defender. But some of his stuff it pokes
a little hole, well, puncture wound.
Speaker 3 (19:11):
You know.
Speaker 7 (19:11):
I'm a Lebron. I think Lebron's better. I think you're
kind of on the fence.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
I think they're totally different players. I think I think
Michael and Kobe don't even play. I think I think
Lebron plays more like magic than he does Michael. So
I think it's hard to compare eras. I mean, what
would Bill Russell be today? He's six 's eight. I mean,
what would he be couldn't shoot one? I mean it's
just like so, I don't think the era thing works.
(19:35):
I think Michael was Michael. And here's what I feel. Michael,
even around other great players in his prime, felt significantly
better than other great players like Barkley. Lebron and his
prime felt significantly better than other great players. Like that's
that's where they're the saying, like Lebron and his prime
(19:56):
was chasing people like all stars down and blocking their
shot and it looked like high school.
Speaker 2 (20:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
So, I mean when you're truly great, like watching Messy
or a Ronaldo against Imbappe against other great players, you're like, okay,
and that's very rarefied. I mean Derek Jeter's great. I
never felt that with Derek Jeter. There were other shortstop
that had better range or slicker moves. But I mean
you get these, I mean, you get these occasional players
(20:24):
and they're unbelievably rare. We're even among All Stars, and
this is Michael and Lebron. They're a notch above all Star.
And then and then you may have one per sport
like mahomes now compared to even Lamar Jackson and Herbert
feels like a different level.
Speaker 7 (20:43):
He's at the next level.
Speaker 6 (20:44):
So I had said that I would have Lebron for
the first forty seven minutes and give me Jordan for
the final minute because Lebron elevates all those around him,
great passer, great vision.
Speaker 7 (20:53):
Jordan was the ultimate finisher. He was super clutch.
Speaker 6 (20:55):
Yeah, not saying Lebron was in clutch, but anyways, different players.
The final story is Copa America kicks off tonight, Leonan
Messi and are Inthena taking on Canada at eight eastern
on FS one.
Speaker 7 (21:07):
Messi turns thirty seven on Monday.
Speaker 6 (21:10):
This could be the final tournament of his career, although
some people seem to think he might suit up.
Speaker 7 (21:15):
In the twenty twenty six World Couple.
Speaker 6 (21:16):
See Argentina heavy favorites to win Copa America.
Speaker 7 (21:21):
This team is a juggernaut right now.
Speaker 1 (21:22):
As you see Messi help look out that penalty kick
is full of anxiety and stress and a lot of
guys miss it. It looks like he's playing against his son. Yeah,
I mean, he just different. Everything is easy.
Speaker 7 (21:33):
By the way, I still remember that World Cup game.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
In this episode, one of the one of the best
two hours of sports in the last five years. So
so thrilling.
Speaker 7 (21:41):
So here's a Copa America. Odds on the screen.
Speaker 6 (21:43):
Argentina big favorite, Brazil, which you know he touched on
it yesterday. They're missing some of their stars, the coaches
out with the older guys.
Speaker 7 (21:52):
They got.
Speaker 6 (21:52):
They got a teenager Endric on this team, seventeen. He
is phenomenal, like talking next superstar.
Speaker 7 (21:58):
You say, USA down.
Speaker 1 (21:59):
There by the way, there's a big gap between USA
and Mexico. Mexico is not a very good team right now.
Speaker 6 (22:04):
Mexico is not popping right now. They're turning things around.
Speaker 1 (22:08):
I can't wait for Copa. I can't wait. I'm on vacation,
so I got to watch all the games.
Speaker 6 (22:13):
US say. I think that game is in Kansas City.
I'm not sure what July first.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Maybe this is going to be great.
Speaker 7 (22:20):
Win that game.
Speaker 1 (22:20):
Oh, this is gonna be great.
Speaker 7 (22:21):
Think is as good as everybody says.
Speaker 6 (22:23):
I know there's a lot of Lawless and company will
will chime in, but it's a.
Speaker 7 (22:27):
Summer of soccer. I know you're excited.
Speaker 1 (22:29):
I am and on vacation, so I don't you know,
I'm just gonna be sitting He's just going to continue
to rub that in right kind of taking your longest
vacation ever.
Speaker 7 (22:37):
You're trusting me with the keys to the house. I'm that.
I'm that teenager who's throwing a party when you're gone.
Speaker 3 (22:42):
You know that.
Speaker 1 (22:42):
How about just do best of the Herd. You can
do a couple of shows.
Speaker 7 (22:46):
Are you giving me time off? Can you tell the guys.
Speaker 1 (22:48):
I don't have that power, nor do I want that power.
The last thing I want is to have to be
responsible for you.
Speaker 7 (22:55):
That is they throwing the double hoop earings nightmare.
Speaker 1 (23:00):
Jmak with a news.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
Well, that's the news, and thanks for stopping by.
Speaker 1 (23:04):
The Herdline News the hopwater that never runs out. Use
a Navvy and tankless water heater five year, fifteen year warranty.
Excuse me, not clunky, Never heat water unless they need it,
never runs out. Go to tanklessmadsimple dot com, Navian one more.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
Heard the Herd streams twenty four hours a day, seven
days a week within the iHeartRadio app, Search Herd to
listen live or on demand whenever you like.
Speaker 7 (23:31):
Hey it's me Rob Parker.
Speaker 8 (23:34):
Check out my weekly MLB podcast Inside the Parker for
twenty two minutes of piping hot baseball talk featuring the
biggest names of newsmakers in the sport. Whether you believe
in analytics or the I test, We've got all the
bases covered. New episodes drop every Thursday, So do your
sofa favor and listen to Inside the Parker with Rob
(23:56):
Parker on the iHeartRadio app or where where ever you
get your podcast.
Speaker 1 (24:01):
So, Jami, my guy was thinking about this. We're gonna
play should I Stay or Should I Go? With NBA
guys because the free agency we're gonna start hearing moves
pretty quick. Guys are starting to comment about it. And
there's a lot of reasons. You and I have both
bounced around the country for our professions, for commerce or whatever,
and there's different reasons. Sometimes you want a new start.
(24:22):
Sometimes you feel it's a greater opportunity, you know, for
pro athletes. Similarly, if you don't have a ring, if
you're Paul George, is that become a priority. Lets let's
play a little should I Stay or Should I Go?
With the guys that could move this offseason?
Speaker 7 (24:36):
You like that song should I Stay or Should I Go?
What's a banger from back in the day? Should Paul
George stay with the Clippers or go to another team.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
I would go And it's I think it's obvious. They
haven't won a playoff series in three years. It's an old,
weird roster. Are you gonna put your roster in the
hands of Harden Kawhy? Is never available? I mean, if
you want to win, he's in the back end of
his career. He's thirty four. I know you, I love
Los Angeles. You don't have to sell your home. But
this roster is not a championship roster, and he could
(25:05):
be used and needed on several young, ascending teams.
Speaker 7 (25:10):
All right, let's move on.
Speaker 6 (25:11):
Should Tyrese Maxi stay with the Sixers or go to
another team?
Speaker 1 (25:15):
Stay? First of all, he's the primary ball handler. He
gets the ball in his hands, and they want him
to score. He doesn't have to work for shots right
like they want him to score. He's in the Eastern Conference,
that's easier. And last year he had his best year
career highs and everything. So he's an ascending player. The
franchise loves him, they want the organization wants him to
(25:35):
be the guy going forward. He's more available than Joel
Embiid and they have cap space, so they're gonna put
another score next to it. So I mean, he's the
centerpiece and beads the star, but I think offensively he's
becoming more and more the centerpied.
Speaker 7 (25:49):
Jamarga Rosen does not have a ring. Should he stay
with the Bulls or go to another team?
Speaker 1 (25:52):
I don't think he fits anymore. I go, they're kind
of guard heavy, Alex Caruso, Zach Levine, Kobe White, They're
kind of guard heavy, and he's been around for a
long time. I just don't think he fits that roster
or that timeline. Now. To me, he's their most dependable score,
more of a mid range guy, but a good athlete.
But I do feel like as a fit, he's kind
(26:13):
of a weird fit now for them.
Speaker 6 (26:15):
A Should Clay Thompson stay with the Warriors or go
to another team?
Speaker 1 (26:19):
Stay listen, you've made a fortune, You've got rings, You're
a California kid. What are we doing here? Just sign
a two year deal, come off the bench, be a
great bench player. For the record, he made the fourth
most three pointers in the league last year, so I
still think in a three and D league he's got value.
Steve Kerr wants him to stay. Are you really gonna
(26:40):
leave because you get an extra year and seven million
more year with Orlando?
Speaker 7 (26:44):
Is it that or is it the money? Or does
he just want the respect? Do we want you?
Speaker 1 (26:48):
Clay? At some point you got to get over yourself
if you're willing to stay there and make eighteen instead
of twenty five and you get does Clay Thompson look
like a guy that's collecting real estate or sports cars?
Speaker 6 (27:01):
So why should they save seven million dollars in not
paying them?
Speaker 1 (27:04):
Because they have other needs? That roster has more than
just a little tweak.
Speaker 7 (27:10):
All right, Should Russell Westbrooks stay with the Clippers or
go to another team?
Speaker 1 (27:15):
Once he bought in to being a sixth man, he
should stay. He actually shot the ball pretty well. I
saw this this morning. He shot forty five percent from
the field last year. That's the highest in five years
for him since Houston. So I think Westbrook's an LA guy.
I think he works for them. I think he's a
tremendous energy guy off the bench for them. And you
know what, I've been critical of Westbrook but he kind
(27:36):
of embraced the role player thing and he was great.
Speaker 7 (27:39):
He got a rough series against the MAVs, he is.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
But I will say this as a sixth man, that
dude plays as hard as anybody in the leak. Still,
if he gets in the gym, who shoots a thousand
three pointers a day, maybe he becomes a better three
point because he's a liability. Well, I think I think
they think they have guys who can score. What you
need with him is just energy off the bench. And
listen when he's playing him against other teams backups, he's
(28:04):
often the best player on the floor.
Speaker 7 (28:05):
Also true, all right, og Arnobi. Should he stay with
the Knicks or go to another team?
Speaker 1 (28:09):
A lot of talk about him. I think he fits
New York. First of all, they were twenty six and
six when he was in the lineup, starting lineup. They'd
a losing record when he wasn't, So I think the
Knicks know how valuable he is. I wouldn't keep your
eye on the Sixers going after him, maybe, but I
think he's a good player. I think after Brunson, there's
(28:30):
an argument og Now he's had injury issues.
Speaker 7 (28:35):
Randall's still technically on.
Speaker 1 (28:36):
Well, but they're going to move off Randall. I mean
to me, the Devincenzo became a great catch and shoot
guy last year. But to me, it's Brunson, og jus
Hart and Devingenzo that feels like and and whoever they
bring in Michale Bridges. But I think Randall Mitchell Robinson,
I think they're expendable. I think he's a nick. I
think he works. He just they're the injury thing.
Speaker 7 (28:59):
And finally the big name.
Speaker 6 (29:01):
Should Lebron James stay with the Lakers or go to
another team?
Speaker 1 (29:06):
Son still in high school. His business here is amazing.
He has power over the franchise. He may get his
podcast partner as a coach. He's It's very rare that
you find a superstar that has a choice and leaves
Los Angeles. It's just it's guys like it here. They're
not struggling to afford housing, and the weather is better
(29:29):
than anywhere else in the country not named Miami in
an NBA, so stars like La. You know, the migration
out of California, A lot of it is housing costs,
But these guys are living in the best neighborhoods they've got.
They don't worry about that. They're not losing a lot
of sleep on the taxes. They make so much money And.
Speaker 6 (29:47):
By the way, did you see the heat dome or
the heat shield whatever they're calling it's happening in the
country right now. It's like nineties everywhere, like seventy two
in the South Bays.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
No, well, we're very fortunate you and I live in
I would say, because we don't have humidity like Florida.
The best weather in America is in California.
Speaker 7 (30:05):
Well, I don't know. Phoenix is okay, ye, it's.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
An oven for four and a half five months, but.
Speaker 7 (30:10):
I'm told it's a dry heat. So it's not that.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
Much to live in Vegas. Dry heat or not. Would
you want somebody with a blow dryer in your face
four months a year?
Speaker 7 (30:18):
So can you, like, what do you do if you
play pickleball in Phoenix? The indoor facility.
Speaker 1 (30:22):
Where you play it like six in the morning.
Speaker 7 (30:23):
You can't play in one hundred ten degree heat?
Speaker 2 (30:25):
Right?
Speaker 1 (30:25):
Well, no, it's a miserable I mean die, like come on, yeah,
So it's listen. It's the NBA is a winter league. Now,
Miami has better winter weather than Los Angeles. But if
you want big city entertainment, you want big city entertainment
and Mediterranean weather. That's why pro athletes like Los Angeles.
They're not sitting there, you know, struggling with the you know,
(30:48):
financial cost of housing, which is just outrageous in California. Yeah,
it really is.
Speaker 7 (30:53):
It's not great.
Speaker 6 (30:54):
But you know, then there's you could go to the
comedy store tomorrow night and see, you know, a major superstar,
because there's one coming through all the time.
Speaker 7 (31:01):
Just a lot of options out.
Speaker 1 (31:02):
Of Los Angeles. Has I believe thirty one music venues,
thirty one. If you think about Los Angeles, if tomorrow
you said we got to have the World Cup in
a month in Los Angeles, you wouldn't have to build
a stadium, the Coliseum, the Rose Bowl so far and
the one the Chargers played that you have four stadiums
(31:22):
you you wouldn't have to be You could have the
Olympics in Los Angeles tomorrow and you wouldn't have to
build there.
Speaker 7 (31:29):
Coming in twenty eight you wouldn't.
Speaker 1 (31:31):
You don't have the build anything. You have all these
you know, the aquatic centers at usc UCLA.
Speaker 7 (31:35):
There's it.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
Just the people that complain about California, most of them
don't live here.
Speaker 7 (31:39):
They haven't been here. Yeah, come check it out for
a week.
Speaker 1 (31:42):
It's Okay, last night I had to there was nowhere
to park. Where I went to have dinner. I went
to see a friend. It was it was just insane
at the beach. It was insane. So whatever people are
telling you about the economy, I don't know what it is.
But I couldn't get a chair.
Speaker 6 (31:57):
Oh, they just see the videos of the homeless folks
downtown with your bad's bad, But of course you know
what he's hanging out there.
Speaker 1 (32:03):
Yeah, it's it's it's listen. Pro athletes don't leave LA
when they have choices. Very often, even our coaches are stars. Harbaugh, McVeigh,
Lincoln Riley, Harbaugh could have gone to a lot of places.
You want to live in the South Bay. That's pretty good.
We'll see you tomorrow.
Hosts And Creators
Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
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