July 16, 2024 • 37 mins
Colin believes Nike and LeBron James have made some mistakes recently by overstepping and using their influence improperly. He ranks his top 10 coaches in the NFL right now with a clear-cut choice taking the top spot. Plus Nick Wright from First Things First joins the show to react to Brandon Aiyuk's official trade request from the 49ers amid drawn out contract negotiations.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast.
Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox
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Speaker 2 (00:19):
This is the Best of the Herd with Colin cowher
on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Ah, here we go. It is a Tuesday, and we
are live in Los Angeles. It's the Herd wherever you
may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for
Megan Hou's part of your day. We have so many
things to talk about today, All Star Game tonight and
Fox Nick Wright stopping by. There are so many good
(00:47):
topics today. Here we are in July, middle of July,
and this is usually the slowest sports week of the year,
and we got a ton to talk about today.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
J Mac it should be a very spirited show tellers,
and I want to start about something just because you
have power in life, be very, very.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Very careful about always using it because people keep track.
We'll start the show talking about the misuse of power,
not the abuse of power. I don't think it rises
to abuse, but it's arguably misuse. So Jalen Brown doubled
down on his Nike theory, which is the reason he
(01:33):
is not on the Olympic basketball team is because of Nike.
I think he's right. It should be noted he's the
best player in the league, not on the team. He's
not a Nike guy. Kyrie Irving's the second best player
in the league, not on the team. He got dropped
by Nike in twenty twenty two. I don't think it's
(01:56):
a coincidence. Nike right now has a leadership, and I
was in Beaverton, Oregon this weekend going to the zoo,
not Nike. In Portland, they butchered the Major League baseball jerseys.
It's as bad a gaff as I've ever seen in
my life on jerseys by a sports apparel company, and
Nike usually gets it right. Their stock is down thirty
(02:19):
three percent in six months. Phil Knight is now eighty six.
He's a visionary and a brilliant man, but he acknowledges
he is all in on Oregon football, winning them a
Natty in the nil and now they have the Olympic mess.
It feels like there's a leadership issue. As Phil Knight ages,
this happens all the time in corporate America. There has
(02:41):
always been this very tricky dance by Nike and sports
apparel companies. You want to use the velvet hammer, not
the sledge hammer. You have massive power in college and
professional sports. You don't want to abuse it. And I
don't think rises to abuse of power. It's the Olympics.
(03:02):
It gets political. It was political MJ and Isaiah Thomas,
but it does feel like an overstep, an overreach by Nike.
Jalen brown not being on the team is ridiculous. It's
absolutely ridiculous. The finals of the MVP, MVP of the
Finals and the Eastern Conference Finals. He's a tremendous basketball player.
(03:25):
Nike a misuse of power. The second misuse of power
we have seen this week. Lebron jameson Clutch Sports. They
engineered Bronny getting drafted with a number fifty five pick. Now,
it was a terrible draft, and anybody drafted there was
going to be a G leaguer at best. But Brownie
(03:46):
offensively doesn't even look like a G leaguer. It's been embarrassing.
He's over fourteen on threes, he was bad again last night.
Now I do think athletically he can be a defender
in this league. May be, but he would not have
been drafted if not for Lebron James and clutch sport.
In a good draft. Can't draft it. This team, the
(04:11):
Lakers can't really waste draft picks, but they do need
on ball defenders. They're old in spots, expensive in others.
He's cheap and can defend that. I don't deny. But
in both the case of Nike and the case of
Lebron James, they had power. Power can corrupt. Men tend
(04:34):
to flex. Anytime they have power, they use it, misuse it,
or abuse it. This classifies as misusing it. And this
is the classic dad, the classic parent trying to muscle
his kid to get a job that he didn't really
earn and kind of getting in the way the natural
flow of life, usurping somebody getting power, jamming a kid
(04:56):
in you how many times I've been asked, hey, can
you get my son my daughter a job at blankety
blank blank? And my answer as alas I can get
him an internship. Maybe I can't get them a job
they're not qualified. It hurts, it's painful. It's the truth.
So both Nike, Clutch Sports and lebron had leverage, and
(05:18):
in my opinion, this is the downside to it. Brownie's
been sort of embarrassing so far. Now the Lakers are
in a position where the new coach JJ Reddick now
has to go to the microphone and tap dance to
make sure he says all the right things about Brownie.
Speaker 4 (05:38):
He's a development player. That's how we're looking at Bronnie.
He's certainly going to spend time with the Lakers. He
will spend time as well in the G League. We're
going to develop his shot, will develop his ball skills.
He's already got a great feel. He has a really
good instinctive nature on the defensive end.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Okay, that's a good way of saying he can't shoot.
Be careful when you accumulate power, how you use it,
just because you have it. Sometimes it's best to let
the natural flow of business work, just let things play
out as they would without your power. So I have
(06:21):
joked kind of sort of not really that I do
think if I didn't do this for the living, the
broadcasting thing, and I would have spent the last thirty
years trying to be an NFL executive, not broadcasting. I
just started going toward the NFL. I think I'd be
a pretty good executive. I know I would not have
(06:41):
drafted JaMarcus Russell, Johnny Manzel, Daniel Jones, Zach Wilson, Tim
Tebow in the first round. I would have drafted Zam
Darnold though, and he may still have something. But one
of the reasons I think this is I hear things
all the time around the name, and it sounds like
they're coming from unseerious people. Here's the latest. An NFL
(07:07):
executive rips Josh Allen, one of the more overrated players,
makes a lot of mistakes. Oh good God, somebody seriously
said that. So I have a theory on life. Would
you ever tell your kids in life, Hey, Johnny, Hey Susie,
play it safe, don't make mistakes, don't take any big swings,
(07:30):
and if you do make a mistake, punish yourself. Life's
about being perfect, No, it's not. Life's about being a
playmaker and taking swings. And it's okay whether you're an
artist or a quarterback or a point guard to have turnovers.
Josh Allen is transformative. He's won his division four straight years,
and in those four years he has the most touchdowns
(07:54):
ever by any player in the history of the sport,
even more than Patrick Mahomes. Until last season, he had
no run game, no consistent run game outside of left tackle.
The offensive line's been a revolving door of players, and
for the record, he's on his third offensive coordinator in
seven years. But Josh Allen doesn't play it safe. Patrick
(08:18):
Mahomes sometimes throws it left handed or sidearm. You want
to know who also had a lot of interceptions, Peyton
Manning and Brett Favre and John Elway and Dan Marino
and Joe Namath and Josh Allen. Point guards, business people, politicians.
(08:39):
Quarterbacks don't play it safe. You're not just distributors of messages.
You're playmakers. The greatest quarterbacks many of them, Brady's an exception.
Mahomes a little bit too, have thrown lots of picks.
I think the issue with Josh Allen is there are
(09:00):
two defensive coaches in this sport that are very good,
Mike Tomlin and Sean McDermott. The latter is Josh's coach,
and both those coaches have struggled developing consistent run games.
Hiring the right offensive coordinator and getting the old lines right.
Both of them offensive coaches speak a different language. That's
(09:22):
why it's such an advantage for Mahomes or Joe Burrow
or initially Kyler Murray or Tua that went from Brian
Flores to Mike McDaniel the defensive coach, bench Tua the
offensive coach, made him a pro bowler. Dak O line
run game, Jason Garrett, it's such an advantage to have.
(09:44):
It's a different language an offensive coach. When especially you're
a young quarterback, you're making mistakes, you need to be refined.
Josh Allen needed Brian Dable. You think Daniel Jones makes
the playoffs without Brian dan Dable. So this is not
(10:05):
about mistakes. This is a quarterback that's overcome no run game,
revolving door offensive line, third, different coordinator, and a defensive
coach who is not a bad coach, but like Mike Tomlin,
doesn't have a great feel for offensive elements of the game.
(10:26):
Sean McVeigh and Andy Reid have rebuilt offensive lines in
one off season. The Steelers are still trying to get
theirs right over the last six years, but this goes
back to a fundamental belief. What an awful thing where
you could tell your kids in life is to play
(10:47):
it safe, don't elevate others, don't take big swings, be
paralyzed by any mistake. The great point guards, the great quarterbacks,
the great politicians, business people, Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos often
talk about the value of going for it, the process
(11:07):
of learning from mistakes. Yes, Josh Allen throws some ugly picks,
but over the four years that he's won the division,
he's the most productive player in the history of the sport.
And some knucklehead is saying, you know it got guys overrated.
I'd argue he's underrated. He just doesn't quite have all
(11:32):
the elements offensively that you need to beat. Maybe the
greatest quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, and the greatest coach, arguably Andy
Reid of all time. It's Phil Mickelson playing in Tiger's prime.
It's Takeima lajah On playing in Jordan's prime. He won
(11:53):
when Michael left. Part of Josh Allen's issue. Andy Reid
and Mahomes may go down as the greatest quarterback coach
combo in league history. Brady Belichick were and it kept
Peyton Manning out of a lot of Super Bowls. That
was not a knock on Peyton Manning. It was a
reality on Brady and Belichick. All fight. I'll die on
(12:17):
this hill, Josh Allen. To this point, the criticism is silly.
He's underrated. If you redrafted everybody in this league, Mahomes won,
Josh Allen two, those would be the first two pick.
There'll be no defensive players, no special tams players, no
wide receivers you could draft today. Burrow wouldn't get picked. Injuries,
(12:37):
Lamar wouldn't get picked. Playoffs, success lack of it. If
you redrafted every guy in this league today, it would
be number one Mahomes and number two Allen. And the
only reason Mahomes would be drafted over Allen. If you redrafted,
there'd be pressure to take him because he's got all
the trophies and Alan doesn't. All right, just to start today,
(13:00):
I don't. I haven't even fired on all cylinders yet.
Got me all worked up on that.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd Weekdays
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FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 5 (13:16):
Hey gang, this is Jay Glazer, host of Unbreakable, a
mental Wealth podcast, and every week we will have on
leaders from sports entertainment like Sean McVay, Lindsay Vaughn, Michael Phelf,
David Spade, Got Fiemmy, and also those who can help
us in between the ears, anyone from a therapist to
someone like Ed Milett or John Gordon. We've all been
(13:38):
through some sort of adversity to get to the top.
We've all used different tools. Listen to Unbreakable with Jay
Glazer and Mental Wealth podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple
Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Alright, hour number two, Baby, I am ready to roll.
It is a Tuesday live man loss and yellous. It's
the come on with a dark blue shirt. Today's a
power shirt. I want to make a statement today and
the power of our show today. So let's kind of
(14:14):
dark grayish charcoal is here. I like it, you know
what with my head of metallic gray hair. It's in
a political season. It's very presidential. I could have heard
that RNC last night given a speech. Yeah, it's like
twenty five years older.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Don't you have to be like old.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
Man yelling at the cloud to be on stage of
the political event. No, I think jd Vance is like
thirty nine. He's like that, he's the guy. He's the
new oh right, the new guy. Yeah, yeah, yeah, the
Ohio guy. Yeah, he's like thirty nine. I just I
like somebody whose age starts with a three. I'm just
for young people. So Andy Reid was talking yesterday, Nick
Wright in about five minutes. Andy Reid was talking yesterday
(14:53):
about retirement and stuff, and it's everybody's trying to get
Andy Reid into retirement. Can we stop? I want more
Andy Reid's in the league, not fewer, his play calling,
his play design. Belichick was grumpy, see you later. I
like Andy Reid, and I thought, what's funny about this
sport is that we all acknowledge it is a quarterback league,
(15:16):
but it's really a quarterback in the coaches league. And
I was just sitting there this morning. You can't count
I'm not going to count Jim Harbaugh because he's been
out of the league for years. Joe Gibbs left the
league for years. Took him about a year to catch up.
I think Harball's going to end up being a top
ten coach very quickly. I think his brother's unbelievable. But
if I had to name the top ten coaches in
(15:38):
the NFL today, I think this, and it feels the
same way. When Belichick was in his prime, there was
a big gap Belichick to two. When Jordan was in
his prime, there was a big gap mj to the
two when Lebron was in his prime. When you're really great,
it means there's a huge gap between you and the
next guy. And that's how I kind of feel with
(15:58):
Andy Reid right now. So let's top ten coaches in
the NFL before we get to Nick right. I think
Andy Reid's an easy one experience play design, play calling
in the He's got the second most playoff appearances by
any coach in league history, behind Shula and Belichick. He's
been the winning his coach for two different teams, and
I think the league punished him for a long time
(16:20):
because it was a defensive league. The minute the NFL
pivoted to an offensive league, Andy Reid has dominated it.
He's number one. I think Sean McVay is the best
culture center in the league. He got a head coaching
job in the NFL at thirty years old, won a
Super Bowl at thirty six, and this guy's had eight
(16:42):
different quarterbacks play a snap in seven seasons. He's been
in a very good division. And I've had other people
in the NFL say this. His ability to not only
see personnel in college, but develop it quickly in the NFL.
There's a reason Rams do not have a lot of
busts when they draft. They have a good GM, but
(17:03):
his ability to get the most out of every player
and a roster is I think historically remarkable, and he's
a good guy. Number Three, the most underrated coach maybe
in my lifetime, John Harball, because Jim gets so much attention.
This guy has a number one scoring defense under John Harball.
They always have great special teams, often best in the
(17:25):
league under John Harball, and right now they have the
best rushing offense in the NFL under John Harpball. All
three elements of the sport defense, elite, special teams, elite,
run game, elite. The guy can flat out coach four
time AFC Championship game appearance to Super Bowl. Even the
(17:46):
Andy Reids acknowledge I'm gonna let Spags do defense. Harbaugh
does everything well, drafting, player development, leadership, culture, run game,
special teams, defense. He's a buddy, But I think Sean
Payton's brilliant nine season was double digit wins. You know,
last year everybody was banging on Russell Wilson. He got
(18:08):
the best out of Russell Wilson. Russell's not going to
be that good in Pittsburgh. He's not gonna be that good.
It was the Broncos defense. And I think if you
look at his history, one of seven coaches with a
Super Bowl from the Parcels Tree. He likes the Rebills people.
The Saints were the worst franchise in the history of
the league when he took him over. There was no
(18:30):
franchise that it was ever had less talent and less
cultural relevance in the history of the league of the
Saints when he took him over, and they had nine
years with double digit wins. Number five Mike Tomlin. Listen,
he's had five different offensive coordinators and I don't trust
him with O lines or hiring OC's, but we got
to be honest. Since he's been coach, only two teams
(18:54):
have had a better record, the Packers and the Patriots.
And he's done it with different quarterbacks, never had to lose.
I think he's the great motivator in the NFL. I
think he gets players to play above themselves very well.
I also think we I have also said I thought
he would be a great college coach if ARA wanted to.
He's great in teaching, He's very good in motivation and
(19:16):
player development. I don't think he has a touch for offense.
I don't think. I don't like his offensive coordinator, Highers,
but I put him at five. Now you're gonna think
I have Kyle Shanahan too low at six. But here's
the issue. I love Kyle, but he is very tied
to his play sheet and I think it's hurt him
(19:37):
late in big games. He has been outscored fifty eight
to twelve in the fourth quarter and overtime of three
Super Bowls. Now again, I think you know he's top
six in the league. You can argue he should be higher,
but I think John Harbaugh's history of both sides of
the football and special teams excellent is above this. Kyle
(19:58):
is very good. He is a Andy Reid type coach,
a play designer. Again, he is tied to his play
sheet and there are times late in games where I
think he gets out coached. I love him, I love
his dad. He'll be a Hall of Famer. I think
he's gonna win a Super Bowl. But again, once you
(20:19):
get past Andy Reid and maybe McVeigh and Harbaugh, it's
inches not feet. Number seven Matt Lafleur fifty six wins
in five seasons, tied for the second most in league
history as a head coach. I thought last year the
playoff win over Dallas in Dallas, with the youngest team
since the nineteen seventy Buffalo Bills, was a crowning achievement.
(20:40):
I felt it took a while, but last year Thanksgiving
on it felt like Matt Lafleur was now running the
franchise and Aaron Rodgers and the ghost of Aaron were
officially out of the building. I think he's a really
clever guy, very close. He may not be the culture
builder of McVeigh or the play builder of Shannon Hand,
(21:00):
but his IQ, his ability to get along with players
and navigate through Aaron Rodgers, I think the guy's really good.
Number eight Kevin Stefanski the Browns, Come on, man, this
has been a tire fire my entire life. Two time
Coach of the Year, two playoff appearances, won a playoff
game with Baker Mayfield. The guy is a really sharp dude.
(21:24):
He and Andrew Berry know what they're doing. The Browns
had the worst record in the league when he took
that over, and I'm sorry that matters to me. What
do you take over? I don't care if you're a
radio host. I don't care if you're a businessman. What
do you take over? He took over the league's biggest circus,
and he's made the playoffs twice. Number nine Sean McDermott.
(21:47):
He's got the most wins in the league without a
Super Bowl title. Again, like Mike Tomlin, don't love his
inability to create consistent run games. Tomlin, I don't like
his choice on oc He's McDermott o line outside of
left tackle has been a revolving door. I do think
when they landed Cook, their run game will be now
(22:08):
substantial going forward. But we can't we can't keep banging
on McDermott without also acknowledging this was a lousy organization.
He's a very good leader. He's also willing to admit mistakes,
and a lot of rigid older coaches don't. He can
be a little tight, he can be tough on coaches,
but he is willing to stand up, be a man
(22:29):
and acknowledge mistakes. Much respect for that. Sean McDermott nine
number ten. I know he doesn't have a big resume. Damn.
I think Demico Ryans is great. I gotta tell you something.
I was told by people in the building at San Francisco.
They thought his second year on the staff, they thought
he could have been a head coach, and he was
(22:51):
just out of the league. I'm sorry, but to take
a rookie quarterback to build a staff. When I watch
Houston play, I think they's every ounce out of their talent.
I think I know. I don't love defensive coaches. That dude,
he is dialed in. That is a culture creator. He's
(23:12):
got you know what. He reminds me of a little bit.
He's got some McVeigh, really young, big energy, looks like
he could play in the league, and a culture creator
who makes quarterbacks very comfortable. Now, I'm not gonna put
Jim Harbor on the list. I think he'll be great,
but he hasn't coached in forever. Who did I miss
j mc I don't know.
Speaker 6 (23:33):
I mean for the Shanahan stuff is complete. I mean
that's lunacy.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
Colin.
Speaker 6 (23:38):
If you're asking around.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
The league gms, who do he want?
Speaker 1 (23:40):
Is your head coach?
Speaker 6 (23:41):
Kyle Shanahan's probably at worst third. I think I'm not
a Dolphins guy, But where's Where's Mike McDaniel?
Speaker 1 (23:48):
He was eleven? Dan Campbell, So Dimiko. This Houston Texan
stuff is out of control.
Speaker 6 (23:53):
One season and Stroud is the top seven quarterback in
the league one season, Dimigo Ryan's top ten quarter It
could be true, but.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
We see a little more, just a little Be sure
to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and noon
Eastern not a Empacific.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
Nick right joining me live. Oh boy, folks. The disrespect
for John Harball, the guys great at everything, everything he does,
He's great. Wow, John Harber.
Speaker 7 (24:22):
No, John Harball. I'm fine with that. I mean, that
was the least problem with your list. Listen. I see
Sean Payton at four, and I'm just happy to know
that if somehow I were to ever become an NFL
head coach, at least I'd be high on Cowhard's coaching.
Ritings like that, real loyalty, and I respect that about you.
(24:42):
It's one of the things I find admirable. I don't
understand how far you have Kyle Shanahan down because you
and I agree on brock party. Like if we know
what Jimmy Garoppolo was, they were in a super Bowl
and another NFC championship game. You and I, I think,
know what brock Party is. They weren't NFC championship game
and then a super Bowl, so I would have Shanahan
(25:04):
a touch higher.
Speaker 4 (25:05):
I have no issue with.
Speaker 7 (25:06):
The hardball where Tomlin placement, even though they don't have
a bunch of recent playoff success. They're just always in
the mix. Two guys who I think warrant you and
you said you had Dan Campbell right on the outside.
Campbell h yes, So Kevin O'Connell was one of them,
and Shane Steichen I think is interesting. It very early,
(25:28):
you know what I mean, just a year in but
just a year for Damiko. He had a disaster at
quarterback situation last year after Anthony Richardson got hurt.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
I liked what he did.
Speaker 7 (25:37):
And then one other thing I'm remiss to, you know,
leave out what you're saying. Kevin Stefanski is true, but
it is It was also true for Baker Mayfield, who
was the quarterback that took over that awful team and
then they made the playoffs. One of his two playoff
appearances with Baker, his playoff win with Baker. All that
(25:57):
I'm just saying. I'm just saying that's true, But I
know you've come around on Baker. I like the list
in general. I think mcdermot's a little high, Shanahan's a
little low.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
And that's my beg. Hey, let me throw this at you.
Mike Garoffalo, who does a terrific job to just reported
this that Brandon I Yuke, the very talented receiver for
the Niners, has requested a trade because they're not that
the Niners and him are far apart. Now we have
talked about this, is that Purdy's not a deep ball thrower.
(26:28):
I Yuke can be a really stretch the field player.
That's not what again, if Josh Allen's the quarterback, I
think you resign him. That's part of it. The other
thing is I think McCaffrey and Deebo and the two
receivers they drafted, Ayuke's a weird fit for them. It's
like it's like we talked about Julius Randall earlier, really
(26:48):
good player, bad fit for the Knicks, don't resign him.
I think Ayuke's exceptional. I get this move by the
Niners if they moved off him. What's your reaction on this?
Speaker 7 (26:58):
Why my reaction is, I think this will hurt Party
a lot. I think that they listen what they They've
paid everyone, and they are planning. I think it's a
year from now to have to play pay party. But
Semax the most expensive running back in the league. They
paid Debo, Trent Williams, the most expensive left tackle in
the league. They have Nicky Bosa's contract is unfathomable in
(27:20):
the way it's going to kick in shortly, and so
I understand you. You can't Kittle makes good money for
his position, so you have to pick and choose your spots.
But I think this will be very painful for them.
I also, everyone obviously is immediately going to connect him
to Washington because of Jaden Daniels. That makes sense, and
Pittsburgh because he and Tomlin have kind of been openly flirting.
(27:44):
It would seem about a partnership at some point, so
that makes sense. But there's a lot of teams that
could use Brandon Ayuk. I don't know that the Niners
would trade with the team they're playing in the NFC
Championship game in this clip right here, but the Lions,
who still don't really have that wide receiver too and
are clearly all in right now, that makes a lot
(28:06):
of sense. You would have to think the Buffalo Bills,
who right now have a pretty naked wide receiver room,
but maybe their hesitancy would be you know, the Digs
thing didn't end great, and if they're concerns with Ayuk
and paying him, but he is an excellent player that
it's going to be hard pressed to find a team
(28:27):
that couldn't use him. And I just don't know if
the Niners are going to have a restricted pool of
teams they're willing to trade with. But Brandon Ayuk will
get your first round pick, yes, and probably a little
bit more. He's that type of player, and I imagine
he's going to get traded.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
By the way. Speaking of fits, I had said the
Knicks Isaiah Hartenstein only averages eight points a game, but
he was a great fit for that team because he
was a real center who could defend fives. As the
league is getting bigger and the Knicks poff play four guards,
Julius Randall on a max contract feels like a bad fit.
(29:06):
I think he's got value. I don't like this story
today that James Dolan loves him. What say you, yeah, Well, listen.
Speaker 7 (29:15):
One of the best things that has happened to the
Knicks over the last five years is that the sphere
in Vegas was being built and opening, and so James
Dolan was focused on that and not the Knicks. He
let the adults and professionals run the Knicks, and shockingly,
all of a sudden, the Knicks have a real culture,
a real roster, and the real contenders. James Dolan now
(29:38):
seems to be back in the mix. He's, you know,
releasing statements about saying how the NBA is going to
become more like the NFL, as if that would be
a thing people think is bad. And now he's seemingly
meddling a bit in the front office stuff. One of
the biggest benefits, in my opinion, to the contract Jalen
Brunson just took is it allows the Knick the flexibility
(30:01):
to trade Julius Randall, not as like a salary dump
or just pick up picks, but to get quality players
in return. I think Julius Randall is a good NBA player.
He has a brutal postseason resume, but it's a pretty
small sample size, but it is really brutal from a
field goal percent and standpoint. Yeah, but I don't know
(30:22):
that he fits fully with this team the Knicks have built,
and I think he's more useful probably as a trade
chip if they are trying to acquire another center, so
it's not just Mitchell Robinson, as they're only true five
in the front court. I certainly don't think giving when
you're gonna have to pay Bridges, you already paid Og,
(30:44):
you just paid Jalen And even though it's not the
five for two, seventy four for one sixty is still
significant all those guys. Yeah, I wouldn't give Julius Randall
a MAX extension, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
USA Basketball beat Australia, don't. I think it's kind of
ridiculous that Jalen Brown's not on the team. But I
do think after your top six players, Historically, Olympic teams
get very political. I think Nike has injected itself here
with Kyrie and Jalen. What do you make of the
(31:17):
overall rotation of this team and what we should expect.
Speaker 7 (31:21):
Well, I think listen, right before we went on vacation
on First Things First, I gave what my starting five
would be, steph Aunt, Lebron Tatum and Joel Embiid and
Steve Kerr, obvious longtime fan of First Things First, went
with that exact starting five. So I think they're off
to a good start. It is so here is what's tricky.
There is a strong argument to be made Colin that
(31:44):
for the twelve man roster, have eight stars and then
four glue guys, guys who won't care if they don't play,
won't care if they don't get shots, are out there
for one specific thing, whether it be their defense, or
their reb or their free throw shit whatever. You know,
Guys like Derek White who are just.
Speaker 1 (32:05):
Happy to be there.
Speaker 7 (32:06):
There is an argument that that makes sense because why
have Devin Booker as and he's an excellent player, but
as your tenth man when he might not be happy
as the tenth man and he's kind of redundant. My
biggest issue with Jalen Brown being excluded is they clearly
didn't go with that game plan they want. They went
(32:29):
stars across the board, and I think they made a
mistake initially in picking Kawhi over Jalen because Jalen is
better than Kawhi at this point, and then they doubled
down on that mistake by not replacing Kawhi with Jalen.
Jalen seems adamant that it's a Nike thing at this point.
(32:49):
He seems to have a strong case that Nike, you know,
had a real influence on it. Ultimately, it won't matter
because I know folks try to create a scenario where
the US is vulnerable. The United States is not vulnerable
in this Olympics since they lost the one Olympics they've
lost since the pros, they have lost one game total.
(33:11):
It was in the qualifying round. It didn't even matter.
They win by an average of twelve plus points. And
there is not a single team in this tournament that
has two players that would make our team. Yeah, listen,
Shay on Canada, Yokich on Serbia, Yannis on Greece. We know,
but the second best guy on all those teams would
(33:32):
not make this roster. So I'm not worried about the.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
US at all.
Speaker 7 (33:36):
Because they were up twenty four in the second half
against Australia, let their foot off the gas in a
game that was a warm up game.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
Finally, I'm viewed as very overly critical on Aaron Rodgers,
though I don't think I am Jmack is viewed as
two pro Jets you land in the middle. I have
said that I think the Jets season will just come
down to the offensive line. I think for old quarterbacks,
Russell Wilson's an advantage of how he didn't have won
(34:03):
and struggled. Brady and Stafford had one, Kirk Cousins Atlanta
has won. I think all three will flourish to already have.
I don't think it's a great old line. I think
it's overvalued by the PFF and all those kind of sites.
What do you expect this year? I think I think
it's a very nine to eight team, and I think
the online.
Speaker 7 (34:24):
Of course that's correct to night or nine win team,
and everyone's going to try to sell you this bill
of goods of oh my god, but they won seven
games with that quarterback play last year. That's the argument
that you're that we heard a year ago, by the way,
when they won seven games with the quarterback play before
Aaron got there. Then they won seven games again, and
(34:45):
then when you actually look at the games they won
over the last two years. They have four quality victories
over at pardon me, actual NFL starting quarterbacks. Everyone else
is either a rookie quarterback or a backup quarterback, or
the quarterback was injured in the game. And as far
as Aaron goes, I need someone to cogently explain to
(35:10):
me why he will be better than his last year
in Green Bed. And the only argument anyone can make is, oh,
he cares again, Like what like that? You're really that's
the argument? Oh, he had chip on his shoulder.
Speaker 2 (35:28):
Now.
Speaker 7 (35:29):
Meanwhile, his last year in Green Bay, he what was
mailing it in? What about the final game of that year,
the final game of the NFL season in Lambeau against
a divisional rival, win and go to the playoffs? Wasn't
motivated that night after the game, he seemed sad walking
(35:51):
off the field with Randall Cobb. Why would this Jets
team get a better Aaron Rodgers than that Packers team did?
Remove the Achilles tended didn't happen? Do they have a
better coach? Know, the Packers have a great offensive mind
and Matt Lafleur. The Packers have Bob Salah and an
offensive coordinator they tried to replace in the offseason, but
(36:11):
they couldn't competently do it. Oh, it's all these amazing weapons.
I mean, Garrett Wilson's awesome. Breese Hall is a good
to very good player who last year, even though the
Jets tried to game the system the final game of
the year and give him forty touches so you get
to one thousand yards, the coaching staff couldn't even do
the math properly, and he finished at nine to ninety
(36:32):
two when the whole game was to get him to
one thousand. Like, the Jets don't have elite weapons. They
have one great receiver, they don't have an elite offensive line.
They just don't have a disaster at the offensive line anymore.
And they don't have an elite quarterback. A quarterback who
at age thirty eight was league average across the board,
(36:53):
had the worst season that he'd had in twelve years.
And then Teares's achilles does not all of a sudden
get a awesome He might get back to that level,
and that level is not good enough. So no, that's
that's a very simple, obvious point. And I understand that
the Jets have a lot of fans. Yeah, which is
remarkable because they've been one of the least competent organizations
(37:16):
for fifty years across sports, and I think this year
probably continues that.
Speaker 1 (37:21):
No, it's I mean, now the Yankees are struggling, Mets,
Jets giants, you know, it's ants. I mean, it's about
to be.
Speaker 7 (37:27):
A Knicks town here.
Speaker 6 (37:28):
Bro.
Speaker 7 (37:29):
I think the Yankees can turn it around, but the
Knicks got the juice right now, there's no doubt about it.
Speaker 1 (37:34):
Nick, Right, Good seeing you, buddy, as always appreciate it.
Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast.
Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox
Sports Radio in noon to three Eastern nine am to
noon Pacific. Find your local station for The Herd at
Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live every
day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio
or FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
This is the Best of the Herd with Colin cowher
on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Ah, here we go. It is a Tuesday, and we
are live in Los Angeles. It's the Herd wherever you
may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for
Megan Hou's part of your day. We have so many
things to talk about today, All Star Game tonight and
Fox Nick Wright stopping by. There are so many good
(00:47):
topics today. Here we are in July, middle of July,
and this is usually the slowest sports week of the year,
and we got a ton to talk about today.
Speaker 3 (00:58):
J Mac it should be a very spirited show tellers,
and I want to start about something just because you
have power in life, be very, very.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Very careful about always using it because people keep track.
We'll start the show talking about the misuse of power,
not the abuse of power. I don't think it rises
to abuse, but it's arguably misuse. So Jalen Brown doubled
down on his Nike theory, which is the reason he
(01:33):
is not on the Olympic basketball team is because of Nike.
I think he's right. It should be noted he's the
best player in the league, not on the team. He's
not a Nike guy. Kyrie Irving's the second best player
in the league, not on the team. He got dropped
by Nike in twenty twenty two. I don't think it's
(01:56):
a coincidence. Nike right now has a leadership, and I
was in Beaverton, Oregon this weekend going to the zoo,
not Nike. In Portland, they butchered the Major League baseball jerseys.
It's as bad a gaff as I've ever seen in
my life on jerseys by a sports apparel company, and
Nike usually gets it right. Their stock is down thirty
(02:19):
three percent in six months. Phil Knight is now eighty six.
He's a visionary and a brilliant man, but he acknowledges
he is all in on Oregon football, winning them a
Natty in the nil and now they have the Olympic mess.
It feels like there's a leadership issue. As Phil Knight ages,
this happens all the time in corporate America. There has
(02:41):
always been this very tricky dance by Nike and sports
apparel companies. You want to use the velvet hammer, not
the sledge hammer. You have massive power in college and
professional sports. You don't want to abuse it. And I
don't think rises to abuse of power. It's the Olympics.
(03:02):
It gets political. It was political MJ and Isaiah Thomas,
but it does feel like an overstep, an overreach by Nike.
Jalen brown not being on the team is ridiculous. It's
absolutely ridiculous. The finals of the MVP, MVP of the
Finals and the Eastern Conference Finals. He's a tremendous basketball player.
(03:25):
Nike a misuse of power. The second misuse of power
we have seen this week. Lebron jameson Clutch Sports. They
engineered Bronny getting drafted with a number fifty five pick. Now,
it was a terrible draft, and anybody drafted there was
going to be a G leaguer at best. But Brownie
(03:46):
offensively doesn't even look like a G leaguer. It's been embarrassing.
He's over fourteen on threes, he was bad again last night.
Now I do think athletically he can be a defender
in this league. May be, but he would not have
been drafted if not for Lebron James and clutch sport.
In a good draft. Can't draft it. This team, the
(04:11):
Lakers can't really waste draft picks, but they do need
on ball defenders. They're old in spots, expensive in others.
He's cheap and can defend that. I don't deny. But
in both the case of Nike and the case of
Lebron James, they had power. Power can corrupt. Men tend
(04:34):
to flex. Anytime they have power, they use it, misuse it,
or abuse it. This classifies as misusing it. And this
is the classic dad, the classic parent trying to muscle
his kid to get a job that he didn't really
earn and kind of getting in the way the natural
flow of life, usurping somebody getting power, jamming a kid
(04:56):
in you how many times I've been asked, hey, can
you get my son my daughter a job at blankety
blank blank? And my answer as alas I can get
him an internship. Maybe I can't get them a job
they're not qualified. It hurts, it's painful. It's the truth.
So both Nike, Clutch Sports and lebron had leverage, and
(05:18):
in my opinion, this is the downside to it. Brownie's
been sort of embarrassing so far. Now the Lakers are
in a position where the new coach JJ Reddick now
has to go to the microphone and tap dance to
make sure he says all the right things about Brownie.
Speaker 4 (05:38):
He's a development player. That's how we're looking at Bronnie.
He's certainly going to spend time with the Lakers. He
will spend time as well in the G League. We're
going to develop his shot, will develop his ball skills.
He's already got a great feel. He has a really
good instinctive nature on the defensive end.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
Okay, that's a good way of saying he can't shoot.
Be careful when you accumulate power, how you use it,
just because you have it. Sometimes it's best to let
the natural flow of business work, just let things play
out as they would without your power. So I have
(06:21):
joked kind of sort of not really that I do
think if I didn't do this for the living, the
broadcasting thing, and I would have spent the last thirty
years trying to be an NFL executive, not broadcasting. I
just started going toward the NFL. I think I'd be
a pretty good executive. I know I would not have
(06:41):
drafted JaMarcus Russell, Johnny Manzel, Daniel Jones, Zach Wilson, Tim
Tebow in the first round. I would have drafted Zam
Darnold though, and he may still have something. But one
of the reasons I think this is I hear things
all the time around the name, and it sounds like
they're coming from unseerious people. Here's the latest. An NFL
(07:07):
executive rips Josh Allen, one of the more overrated players,
makes a lot of mistakes. Oh good God, somebody seriously
said that. So I have a theory on life. Would
you ever tell your kids in life, Hey, Johnny, Hey Susie,
play it safe, don't make mistakes, don't take any big swings,
(07:30):
and if you do make a mistake, punish yourself. Life's
about being perfect, No, it's not. Life's about being a
playmaker and taking swings. And it's okay whether you're an
artist or a quarterback or a point guard to have turnovers.
Josh Allen is transformative. He's won his division four straight years,
and in those four years he has the most touchdowns
(07:54):
ever by any player in the history of the sport,
even more than Patrick Mahomes. Until last season, he had
no run game, no consistent run game outside of left tackle.
The offensive line's been a revolving door of players, and
for the record, he's on his third offensive coordinator in
seven years. But Josh Allen doesn't play it safe. Patrick
(08:18):
Mahomes sometimes throws it left handed or sidearm. You want
to know who also had a lot of interceptions, Peyton
Manning and Brett Favre and John Elway and Dan Marino
and Joe Namath and Josh Allen. Point guards, business people, politicians.
(08:39):
Quarterbacks don't play it safe. You're not just distributors of messages.
You're playmakers. The greatest quarterbacks many of them, Brady's an exception.
Mahomes a little bit too, have thrown lots of picks.
I think the issue with Josh Allen is there are
(09:00):
two defensive coaches in this sport that are very good,
Mike Tomlin and Sean McDermott. The latter is Josh's coach,
and both those coaches have struggled developing consistent run games.
Hiring the right offensive coordinator and getting the old lines right.
Both of them offensive coaches speak a different language. That's
(09:22):
why it's such an advantage for Mahomes or Joe Burrow
or initially Kyler Murray or Tua that went from Brian
Flores to Mike McDaniel the defensive coach, bench Tua the
offensive coach, made him a pro bowler. Dak O line
run game, Jason Garrett, it's such an advantage to have.
(09:44):
It's a different language an offensive coach. When especially you're
a young quarterback, you're making mistakes, you need to be refined.
Josh Allen needed Brian Dable. You think Daniel Jones makes
the playoffs without Brian dan Dable. So this is not
(10:05):
about mistakes. This is a quarterback that's overcome no run game,
revolving door offensive line, third, different coordinator, and a defensive
coach who is not a bad coach, but like Mike Tomlin,
doesn't have a great feel for offensive elements of the game.
(10:26):
Sean McVeigh and Andy Reid have rebuilt offensive lines in
one off season. The Steelers are still trying to get
theirs right over the last six years, but this goes
back to a fundamental belief. What an awful thing where
you could tell your kids in life is to play
(10:47):
it safe, don't elevate others, don't take big swings, be
paralyzed by any mistake. The great point guards, the great quarterbacks,
the great politicians, business people, Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos often
talk about the value of going for it, the process
(11:07):
of learning from mistakes. Yes, Josh Allen throws some ugly picks,
but over the four years that he's won the division,
he's the most productive player in the history of the sport.
And some knucklehead is saying, you know it got guys overrated.
I'd argue he's underrated. He just doesn't quite have all
(11:32):
the elements offensively that you need to beat. Maybe the
greatest quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, and the greatest coach, arguably Andy
Reid of all time. It's Phil Mickelson playing in Tiger's prime.
It's Takeima lajah On playing in Jordan's prime. He won
(11:53):
when Michael left. Part of Josh Allen's issue. Andy Reid
and Mahomes may go down as the greatest quarterback coach
combo in league history. Brady Belichick were and it kept
Peyton Manning out of a lot of Super Bowls. That
was not a knock on Peyton Manning. It was a
reality on Brady and Belichick. All fight. I'll die on
(12:17):
this hill, Josh Allen. To this point, the criticism is silly.
He's underrated. If you redrafted everybody in this league, Mahomes won,
Josh Allen two, those would be the first two pick.
There'll be no defensive players, no special tams players, no
wide receivers you could draft today. Burrow wouldn't get picked. Injuries,
(12:37):
Lamar wouldn't get picked. Playoffs, success lack of it. If
you redrafted every guy in this league today, it would
be number one Mahomes and number two Allen. And the
only reason Mahomes would be drafted over Allen. If you redrafted,
there'd be pressure to take him because he's got all
the trophies and Alan doesn't. All right, just to start today,
(13:00):
I don't. I haven't even fired on all cylinders yet.
Got me all worked up on that.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd Weekdays
and Noone Easter nin am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 5 (13:16):
Hey gang, this is Jay Glazer, host of Unbreakable, a
mental Wealth podcast, and every week we will have on
leaders from sports entertainment like Sean McVay, Lindsay Vaughn, Michael Phelf,
David Spade, Got Fiemmy, and also those who can help
us in between the ears, anyone from a therapist to
someone like Ed Milett or John Gordon. We've all been
(13:38):
through some sort of adversity to get to the top.
We've all used different tools. Listen to Unbreakable with Jay
Glazer and Mental Wealth podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple
Podcasts or wherever you get podcasts.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
Alright, hour number two, Baby, I am ready to roll.
It is a Tuesday live man loss and yellous. It's
the come on with a dark blue shirt. Today's a
power shirt. I want to make a statement today and
the power of our show today. So let's kind of
(14:14):
dark grayish charcoal is here. I like it, you know
what with my head of metallic gray hair. It's in
a political season. It's very presidential. I could have heard
that RNC last night given a speech. Yeah, it's like
twenty five years older.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Don't you have to be like old.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
Man yelling at the cloud to be on stage of
the political event. No, I think jd Vance is like
thirty nine. He's like that, he's the guy. He's the
new oh right, the new guy. Yeah, yeah, yeah, the
Ohio guy. Yeah, he's like thirty nine. I just I
like somebody whose age starts with a three. I'm just
for young people. So Andy Reid was talking yesterday, Nick
Wright in about five minutes. Andy Reid was talking yesterday
(14:53):
about retirement and stuff, and it's everybody's trying to get
Andy Reid into retirement. Can we stop? I want more
Andy Reid's in the league, not fewer, his play calling,
his play design. Belichick was grumpy, see you later. I
like Andy Reid, and I thought, what's funny about this
sport is that we all acknowledge it is a quarterback league,
(15:16):
but it's really a quarterback in the coaches league. And
I was just sitting there this morning. You can't count
I'm not going to count Jim Harbaugh because he's been
out of the league for years. Joe Gibbs left the
league for years. Took him about a year to catch up.
I think Harball's going to end up being a top
ten coach very quickly. I think his brother's unbelievable. But
if I had to name the top ten coaches in
(15:38):
the NFL today, I think this, and it feels the
same way. When Belichick was in his prime, there was
a big gap Belichick to two. When Jordan was in
his prime, there was a big gap mj to the
two when Lebron was in his prime. When you're really great,
it means there's a huge gap between you and the
next guy. And that's how I kind of feel with
(15:58):
Andy Reid right now. So let's top ten coaches in
the NFL before we get to Nick right. I think
Andy Reid's an easy one experience play design, play calling
in the He's got the second most playoff appearances by
any coach in league history, behind Shula and Belichick. He's
been the winning his coach for two different teams, and
I think the league punished him for a long time
(16:20):
because it was a defensive league. The minute the NFL
pivoted to an offensive league, Andy Reid has dominated it.
He's number one. I think Sean McVay is the best
culture center in the league. He got a head coaching
job in the NFL at thirty years old, won a
Super Bowl at thirty six, and this guy's had eight
(16:42):
different quarterbacks play a snap in seven seasons. He's been
in a very good division. And I've had other people
in the NFL say this. His ability to not only
see personnel in college, but develop it quickly in the NFL.
There's a reason Rams do not have a lot of
busts when they draft. They have a good GM, but
(17:03):
his ability to get the most out of every player
and a roster is I think historically remarkable, and he's
a good guy. Number Three, the most underrated coach maybe
in my lifetime, John Harball, because Jim gets so much attention.
This guy has a number one scoring defense under John Harball.
They always have great special teams, often best in the
(17:25):
league under John Harball, and right now they have the
best rushing offense in the NFL under John Harpball. All
three elements of the sport defense, elite, special teams, elite,
run game, elite. The guy can flat out coach four
time AFC Championship game appearance to Super Bowl. Even the
(17:46):
Andy Reids acknowledge I'm gonna let Spags do defense. Harbaugh
does everything well, drafting, player development, leadership, culture, run game,
special teams, defense. He's a buddy, But I think Sean
Payton's brilliant nine season was double digit wins. You know,
last year everybody was banging on Russell Wilson. He got
(18:08):
the best out of Russell Wilson. Russell's not going to
be that good in Pittsburgh. He's not gonna be that good.
It was the Broncos defense. And I think if you
look at his history, one of seven coaches with a
Super Bowl from the Parcels Tree. He likes the Rebills people.
The Saints were the worst franchise in the history of
the league when he took him over. There was no
(18:30):
franchise that it was ever had less talent and less
cultural relevance in the history of the league of the
Saints when he took him over, and they had nine
years with double digit wins. Number five Mike Tomlin. Listen,
he's had five different offensive coordinators and I don't trust
him with O lines or hiring OC's, but we got
to be honest. Since he's been coach, only two teams
(18:54):
have had a better record, the Packers and the Patriots.
And he's done it with different quarterbacks, never had to lose.
I think he's the great motivator in the NFL. I
think he gets players to play above themselves very well.
I also think we I have also said I thought
he would be a great college coach if ARA wanted to.
He's great in teaching, He's very good in motivation and
(19:16):
player development. I don't think he has a touch for offense.
I don't think. I don't like his offensive coordinator, Highers,
but I put him at five. Now you're gonna think
I have Kyle Shanahan too low at six. But here's
the issue. I love Kyle, but he is very tied
to his play sheet and I think it's hurt him
(19:37):
late in big games. He has been outscored fifty eight
to twelve in the fourth quarter and overtime of three
Super Bowls. Now again, I think you know he's top
six in the league. You can argue he should be higher,
but I think John Harbaugh's history of both sides of
the football and special teams excellent is above this. Kyle
(19:58):
is very good. He is a Andy Reid type coach,
a play designer. Again, he is tied to his play
sheet and there are times late in games where I
think he gets out coached. I love him, I love
his dad. He'll be a Hall of Famer. I think
he's gonna win a Super Bowl. But again, once you
(20:19):
get past Andy Reid and maybe McVeigh and Harbaugh, it's
inches not feet. Number seven Matt Lafleur fifty six wins
in five seasons, tied for the second most in league
history as a head coach. I thought last year the
playoff win over Dallas in Dallas, with the youngest team
since the nineteen seventy Buffalo Bills, was a crowning achievement.
(20:40):
I felt it took a while, but last year Thanksgiving
on it felt like Matt Lafleur was now running the
franchise and Aaron Rodgers and the ghost of Aaron were
officially out of the building. I think he's a really
clever guy, very close. He may not be the culture
builder of McVeigh or the play builder of Shannon Hand,
(21:00):
but his IQ, his ability to get along with players
and navigate through Aaron Rodgers, I think the guy's really good.
Number eight Kevin Stefanski the Browns, Come on, man, this
has been a tire fire my entire life. Two time
Coach of the Year, two playoff appearances, won a playoff
game with Baker Mayfield. The guy is a really sharp dude.
(21:24):
He and Andrew Berry know what they're doing. The Browns
had the worst record in the league when he took
that over, and I'm sorry that matters to me. What
do you take over? I don't care if you're a
radio host. I don't care if you're a businessman. What
do you take over? He took over the league's biggest circus,
and he's made the playoffs twice. Number nine Sean McDermott.
(21:47):
He's got the most wins in the league without a
Super Bowl title. Again, like Mike Tomlin, don't love his
inability to create consistent run games. Tomlin, I don't like
his choice on oc He's McDermott o line outside of
left tackle has been a revolving door. I do think
when they landed Cook, their run game will be now
(22:08):
substantial going forward. But we can't we can't keep banging
on McDermott without also acknowledging this was a lousy organization.
He's a very good leader. He's also willing to admit mistakes,
and a lot of rigid older coaches don't. He can
be a little tight, he can be tough on coaches,
but he is willing to stand up, be a man
(22:29):
and acknowledge mistakes. Much respect for that. Sean McDermott nine
number ten. I know he doesn't have a big resume. Damn.
I think Demico Ryans is great. I gotta tell you something.
I was told by people in the building at San Francisco.
They thought his second year on the staff, they thought
he could have been a head coach, and he was
(22:51):
just out of the league. I'm sorry, but to take
a rookie quarterback to build a staff. When I watch
Houston play, I think they's every ounce out of their talent.
I think I know. I don't love defensive coaches. That dude,
he is dialed in. That is a culture creator. He's
(23:12):
got you know what. He reminds me of a little bit.
He's got some McVeigh, really young, big energy, looks like
he could play in the league, and a culture creator
who makes quarterbacks very comfortable. Now, I'm not gonna put
Jim Harbor on the list. I think he'll be great,
but he hasn't coached in forever. Who did I miss
j mc I don't know.
Speaker 6 (23:33):
I mean for the Shanahan stuff is complete. I mean
that's lunacy.
Speaker 1 (23:37):
Colin.
Speaker 6 (23:38):
If you're asking around.
Speaker 2 (23:39):
The league gms, who do he want?
Speaker 1 (23:40):
Is your head coach?
Speaker 6 (23:41):
Kyle Shanahan's probably at worst third. I think I'm not
a Dolphins guy, But where's Where's Mike McDaniel?
Speaker 1 (23:48):
He was eleven? Dan Campbell, So Dimiko. This Houston Texan
stuff is out of control.
Speaker 6 (23:53):
One season and Stroud is the top seven quarterback in
the league one season, Dimigo Ryan's top ten quarter It
could be true, but.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
We see a little more, just a little Be sure
to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and noon
Eastern not a Empacific.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
Nick right joining me live. Oh boy, folks. The disrespect
for John Harball, the guys great at everything, everything he does,
He's great. Wow, John Harber.
Speaker 7 (24:22):
No, John Harball. I'm fine with that. I mean, that
was the least problem with your list. Listen. I see
Sean Payton at four, and I'm just happy to know
that if somehow I were to ever become an NFL
head coach, at least I'd be high on Cowhard's coaching.
Ritings like that, real loyalty, and I respect that about you.
(24:42):
It's one of the things I find admirable. I don't
understand how far you have Kyle Shanahan down because you
and I agree on brock party. Like if we know
what Jimmy Garoppolo was, they were in a super Bowl
and another NFC championship game. You and I, I think,
know what brock Party is. They weren't NFC championship game
and then a super Bowl, so I would have Shanahan
(25:04):
a touch higher.
Speaker 4 (25:05):
I have no issue with.
Speaker 7 (25:06):
The hardball where Tomlin placement, even though they don't have
a bunch of recent playoff success. They're just always in
the mix. Two guys who I think warrant you and
you said you had Dan Campbell right on the outside.
Campbell h yes, So Kevin O'Connell was one of them,
and Shane Steichen I think is interesting. It very early,
(25:28):
you know what I mean, just a year in but
just a year for Damiko. He had a disaster at
quarterback situation last year after Anthony Richardson got hurt.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
I liked what he did.
Speaker 7 (25:37):
And then one other thing I'm remiss to, you know,
leave out what you're saying. Kevin Stefanski is true, but
it is It was also true for Baker Mayfield, who
was the quarterback that took over that awful team and
then they made the playoffs. One of his two playoff
appearances with Baker, his playoff win with Baker. All that
(25:57):
I'm just saying. I'm just saying that's true, But I
know you've come around on Baker. I like the list
in general. I think mcdermot's a little high, Shanahan's a
little low.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
And that's my beg. Hey, let me throw this at you.
Mike Garoffalo, who does a terrific job to just reported
this that Brandon I Yuke, the very talented receiver for
the Niners, has requested a trade because they're not that
the Niners and him are far apart. Now we have
talked about this, is that Purdy's not a deep ball thrower.
(26:28):
I Yuke can be a really stretch the field player.
That's not what again, if Josh Allen's the quarterback, I
think you resign him. That's part of it. The other
thing is I think McCaffrey and Deebo and the two
receivers they drafted, Ayuke's a weird fit for them. It's
like it's like we talked about Julius Randall earlier, really
(26:48):
good player, bad fit for the Knicks, don't resign him.
I think Ayuke's exceptional. I get this move by the
Niners if they moved off him. What's your reaction on this?
Speaker 7 (26:58):
Why my reaction is, I think this will hurt Party
a lot. I think that they listen what they They've
paid everyone, and they are planning. I think it's a
year from now to have to play pay party. But
Semax the most expensive running back in the league. They
paid Debo, Trent Williams, the most expensive left tackle in
the league. They have Nicky Bosa's contract is unfathomable in
(27:20):
the way it's going to kick in shortly, and so
I understand you. You can't Kittle makes good money for
his position, so you have to pick and choose your spots.
But I think this will be very painful for them.
I also, everyone obviously is immediately going to connect him
to Washington because of Jaden Daniels. That makes sense, and
Pittsburgh because he and Tomlin have kind of been openly flirting.
(27:44):
It would seem about a partnership at some point, so
that makes sense. But there's a lot of teams that
could use Brandon Ayuk. I don't know that the Niners
would trade with the team they're playing in the NFC
Championship game in this clip right here, but the Lions,
who still don't really have that wide receiver too and
are clearly all in right now, that makes a lot
(28:06):
of sense. You would have to think the Buffalo Bills,
who right now have a pretty naked wide receiver room,
but maybe their hesitancy would be you know, the Digs
thing didn't end great, and if they're concerns with Ayuk
and paying him, but he is an excellent player that
it's going to be hard pressed to find a team
(28:27):
that couldn't use him. And I just don't know if
the Niners are going to have a restricted pool of
teams they're willing to trade with. But Brandon Ayuk will
get your first round pick, yes, and probably a little
bit more. He's that type of player, and I imagine
he's going to get traded.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
By the way. Speaking of fits, I had said the
Knicks Isaiah Hartenstein only averages eight points a game, but
he was a great fit for that team because he
was a real center who could defend fives. As the
league is getting bigger and the Knicks poff play four guards,
Julius Randall on a max contract feels like a bad fit.
(29:06):
I think he's got value. I don't like this story
today that James Dolan loves him. What say you, yeah, Well, listen.
Speaker 7 (29:15):
One of the best things that has happened to the
Knicks over the last five years is that the sphere
in Vegas was being built and opening, and so James
Dolan was focused on that and not the Knicks. He
let the adults and professionals run the Knicks, and shockingly,
all of a sudden, the Knicks have a real culture,
a real roster, and the real contenders. James Dolan now
(29:38):
seems to be back in the mix. He's, you know,
releasing statements about saying how the NBA is going to
become more like the NFL, as if that would be
a thing people think is bad. And now he's seemingly
meddling a bit in the front office stuff. One of
the biggest benefits, in my opinion, to the contract Jalen
Brunson just took is it allows the Knick the flexibility
(30:01):
to trade Julius Randall, not as like a salary dump
or just pick up picks, but to get quality players
in return. I think Julius Randall is a good NBA player.
He has a brutal postseason resume, but it's a pretty
small sample size, but it is really brutal from a
field goal percent and standpoint. Yeah, but I don't know
(30:22):
that he fits fully with this team the Knicks have built,
and I think he's more useful probably as a trade
chip if they are trying to acquire another center, so
it's not just Mitchell Robinson, as they're only true five
in the front court. I certainly don't think giving when
you're gonna have to pay Bridges, you already paid Og,
(30:44):
you just paid Jalen And even though it's not the
five for two, seventy four for one sixty is still
significant all those guys. Yeah, I wouldn't give Julius Randall
a MAX extension, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (30:57):
USA Basketball beat Australia, don't. I think it's kind of
ridiculous that Jalen Brown's not on the team. But I
do think after your top six players, Historically, Olympic teams
get very political. I think Nike has injected itself here
with Kyrie and Jalen. What do you make of the
(31:17):
overall rotation of this team and what we should expect.
Speaker 7 (31:21):
Well, I think listen, right before we went on vacation
on First Things First, I gave what my starting five
would be, steph Aunt, Lebron Tatum and Joel Embiid and
Steve Kerr, obvious longtime fan of First Things First, went
with that exact starting five. So I think they're off
to a good start. It is so here is what's tricky.
There is a strong argument to be made Colin that
(31:44):
for the twelve man roster, have eight stars and then
four glue guys, guys who won't care if they don't play,
won't care if they don't get shots, are out there
for one specific thing, whether it be their defense, or
their reb or their free throw shit whatever. You know,
Guys like Derek White who are just.
Speaker 1 (32:05):
Happy to be there.
Speaker 7 (32:06):
There is an argument that that makes sense because why
have Devin Booker as and he's an excellent player, but
as your tenth man when he might not be happy
as the tenth man and he's kind of redundant. My
biggest issue with Jalen Brown being excluded is they clearly
didn't go with that game plan they want. They went
(32:29):
stars across the board, and I think they made a
mistake initially in picking Kawhi over Jalen because Jalen is
better than Kawhi at this point, and then they doubled
down on that mistake by not replacing Kawhi with Jalen.
Jalen seems adamant that it's a Nike thing at this point.
(32:49):
He seems to have a strong case that Nike, you know,
had a real influence on it. Ultimately, it won't matter
because I know folks try to create a scenario where
the US is vulnerable. The United States is not vulnerable
in this Olympics since they lost the one Olympics they've
lost since the pros, they have lost one game total.
(33:11):
It was in the qualifying round. It didn't even matter.
They win by an average of twelve plus points. And
there is not a single team in this tournament that
has two players that would make our team. Yeah, listen,
Shay on Canada, Yokich on Serbia, Yannis on Greece. We know,
but the second best guy on all those teams would
(33:32):
not make this roster. So I'm not worried about the.
Speaker 1 (33:35):
US at all.
Speaker 7 (33:36):
Because they were up twenty four in the second half
against Australia, let their foot off the gas in a
game that was a warm up game.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
Finally, I'm viewed as very overly critical on Aaron Rodgers,
though I don't think I am Jmack is viewed as
two pro Jets you land in the middle. I have
said that I think the Jets season will just come
down to the offensive line. I think for old quarterbacks,
Russell Wilson's an advantage of how he didn't have won
(34:03):
and struggled. Brady and Stafford had one, Kirk Cousins Atlanta
has won. I think all three will flourish to already have.
I don't think it's a great old line. I think
it's overvalued by the PFF and all those kind of sites.
What do you expect this year? I think I think
it's a very nine to eight team, and I think
the online.
Speaker 7 (34:24):
Of course that's correct to night or nine win team,
and everyone's going to try to sell you this bill
of goods of oh my god, but they won seven
games with that quarterback play last year. That's the argument
that you're that we heard a year ago, by the way,
when they won seven games with the quarterback play before
Aaron got there. Then they won seven games again, and
(34:45):
then when you actually look at the games they won
over the last two years. They have four quality victories
over at pardon me, actual NFL starting quarterbacks. Everyone else
is either a rookie quarterback or a backup quarterback, or
the quarterback was injured in the game. And as far
as Aaron goes, I need someone to cogently explain to
(35:10):
me why he will be better than his last year
in Green Bed. And the only argument anyone can make is, oh,
he cares again, Like what like that? You're really that's
the argument? Oh, he had chip on his shoulder.
Speaker 2 (35:28):
Now.
Speaker 7 (35:29):
Meanwhile, his last year in Green Bay, he what was
mailing it in? What about the final game of that year,
the final game of the NFL season in Lambeau against
a divisional rival, win and go to the playoffs? Wasn't
motivated that night after the game, he seemed sad walking
(35:51):
off the field with Randall Cobb. Why would this Jets
team get a better Aaron Rodgers than that Packers team did?
Remove the Achilles tended didn't happen? Do they have a
better coach? Know, the Packers have a great offensive mind
and Matt Lafleur. The Packers have Bob Salah and an
offensive coordinator they tried to replace in the offseason, but
(36:11):
they couldn't competently do it. Oh, it's all these amazing weapons.
I mean, Garrett Wilson's awesome. Breese Hall is a good
to very good player who last year, even though the
Jets tried to game the system the final game of
the year and give him forty touches so you get
to one thousand yards, the coaching staff couldn't even do
the math properly, and he finished at nine to ninety
(36:32):
two when the whole game was to get him to
one thousand. Like, the Jets don't have elite weapons. They
have one great receiver, they don't have an elite offensive line.
They just don't have a disaster at the offensive line anymore.
And they don't have an elite quarterback. A quarterback who
at age thirty eight was league average across the board,
(36:53):
had the worst season that he'd had in twelve years.
And then Teares's achilles does not all of a sudden
get a awesome He might get back to that level,
and that level is not good enough. So no, that's
that's a very simple, obvious point. And I understand that
the Jets have a lot of fans. Yeah, which is
remarkable because they've been one of the least competent organizations
(37:16):
for fifty years across sports, and I think this year
probably continues that.
Speaker 1 (37:21):
No, it's I mean, now the Yankees are struggling, Mets,
Jets giants, you know, it's ants. I mean, it's about
to be.
Speaker 7 (37:27):
A Knicks town here.
Speaker 6 (37:28):
Bro.
Speaker 7 (37:29):
I think the Yankees can turn it around, but the
Knicks got the juice right now, there's no doubt about it.
Speaker 1 (37:34):
Nick, Right, Good seeing you, buddy, as always appreciate it.
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