July 19, 2024 • 42 mins
Colin updates his official NFL predictions for this upcoming season as training camps are starting to begin
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
All Right, here we go. It's a Friday. It's hour two.
We'll be going to London in just about five six
minutes to join the US Olympic basketball team as they
get ready for Paris and the Olympics, which are starting soon.
Jmack joining me as usual today. Jmack, So I do
several predictions going up to the season. This is the
(00:50):
camps are starting today and tomorrow this weekend, so I
thought let's do a pre camp prediction. At least seven
new playoffs teams on average transpire every year. I've got
five new ones, so I'm keeping a couple in the holster.
I'm waiting for camp. There will absolutely be injuries and
(01:11):
stories that develop, so this is my pre camp before
any injuries. Pre camp predictions. Let's start in the AFC East.
The Bills have won the division four straight years. I'm
giving it to them. The Dolphins, it's an offensive league.
Had the number one total offense in the NFL and
two it through for forty six hundred passing yards. It's
(01:34):
an offensive league. The Jets third, Yes, they have a
great defense. O line questions, head coaches defensive Aaron has
not taken a snap more than four snaps in five
hundred and fifty nine days in the NFL. Hasn't taken
more than four snaps. Sorry about the great defense. Jets third,
(01:54):
Patriots fourth. I think that's the first or second worst
offensive roster in the league. AFC it's the best division
in football, so it's inches not feet. Listen the Ravens
top five offense, top five defense, and the best special
teams coach in the league. I have him winning the division.
Zach Taylor and Joe Burrow have proven when Joe's healthy,
(02:15):
they win. What do you want me to say? Last
year with Jake Browning they had a winning record with
Jake Browning Burrows back in. They're a playoff team. Steelers,
they can't figure out their O line or their offensive coordinator.
I love their roster. Frankly, I worry in an offensive
league about getting it right on that side of the ball.
(02:36):
Love the coach in Cleveland, total question mark, Undershaun Watson,
weird personality, weird injuries. I'll just put them forth for now.
AFC West Kansas City until further notice. They won the
division eight straight times, best coaching, football, best quarterback, they
get it. I think the Chargers have limitations on the perimeter,
but don't be shocked if they don't make a move
(02:58):
for Brandon Ayyuk and potentially give mac or Bosa on
their edge. They've got two good edge rushers, they need
a star receiver. They may make a move. In my opinion,
I'll take them second. I like the Broncos more than Vegas,
but PFF says worst roster in the league. Broncos third,
Raiders fourth. They've got a rookie coach and quarterback issues. Finally,
(03:19):
AFC South really much better division than people give it
credit for. I worried about the Texans pulling back, but
they had another really strong draft and free agency period.
Stefan Diggs, Joe Mixon. I'll take them to win. I
think it's Trevor Lawrence's best roster yet. Jaguars finished second.
They were nine to eight last year, and Trevor Lawrence
(03:41):
fell apart down the stretch. They'll rebound. I like the Colts,
but I questioned Anthony Richardson's playing style and staying healthy.
Their third, and the Titans, I have questions at quarterback
and their offensive lines worse than Will Levis, so I'll
take them fourth. We go to the NFC. By the way,
I have three new playoff teams in the AFC. Bill's Chiefs, Ravens,
(04:02):
Texans winning the division, Bengals, Chargers, Jaguars wildcard team. So
that's three new playoff teams. That's the average. Three and
a half to four is the average per year. I've
got three. Let's go to the NFC, where Philadelphia easily
the best roster in the division. Nick Seriani did he
(04:22):
hire better assistance. They started last year ten and one,
then they fell off a cliff. I think they rebound,
maybe not a super Bowl team, at very good. I'm
gonna go with Washington, new coach, new OC, new quarterback,
new owner. I think they used that energy and juice
to catapult. I think they're the surprise team in the NFL.
(04:43):
Washington second, Dallas is a very viable third. But I
think they're top heavy and overly dependent on Dak and
CD Lamb to carry the entire offense. Giants just not
good enough to quarterback. I pick them forth. Let's go
to the NFC North Detroit. Number one offensive line in football.
(05:03):
If you have the best offensive line in football, it's
like having the best starting pitching staff in baseball. It
gives you so many advantages over everybody else. I love
their front office, you know, I love golf. Not great defensively,
They've tried to show it up. I have Green Bay
second best young offensive talent to me in the sport.
They're not paying anybody until Jordan Love here in about
(05:24):
a week. I take them for second by the way
they close the season out winning six of eight games
and hammer the Cowboys in the playoffs. Chicago's a viable third.
Can't wait to watch them play, but it's a defensive
coach on the hot seat and a rookie quarterback. O
line's good, not great. They're third. I think Minnesota is
going to be the best fourth place team in the NFL.
I love their offense, and I'm rooting for Sam Darnold,
(05:47):
but the division's too good. I think by the end
of the year, we'll say this is the best division
in football. I'll pick the Vikings as a really fun,
dynamic number four. Let's go to the NFS West. Yes,
I like the Rams. I thought they had a back
to back sensational drafts, finish top ten in total offense
(06:08):
and scoring last year. I really like what they've done
with their defensive front in the last two drafts. Niners
are good, but they're an old, expensive football team. Watch
out for injuries and the Brandon au noise. Seattle, Hey,
they finished nine to eight. Gino Smith's good enough to
win you games if they have a new staff, a
(06:29):
new coach. I'm gonna take Shanahan and McVeigh over the
rookie coach their third I love Kyler Murray, but I
just don't think Arizona roster right now can compete with
the rosters above them. Finally, the worst division in football.
I do think Atlanta getting Kirk Cousins and Michael Pennix
will stabilize the quarterback position. Second best offensive line in football.
(06:50):
It's hard not to be a playoff team when you
have that good of an offensive line. Bucks have made
the playoffs four straight years. Baker is more than capable,
Carolina Saints not very good. I don't like New Orleans
situation right now. Coaching at all NFC playoff teams Eagles, Falcons, Lions, Rams, Niners, Commanders,
Packers are wild card teams, but only two new playoff teams.
(07:14):
So the problem. I have only three new playoff teams
in the AFC, only two new playoff teams in the NFC.
I'm at five the averages seven. So again, I'm gonna
wait through camp. I'm gonna wait for injuries. My take
is something will happen again. You think it's crazy, We're
(07:35):
gonna have a surprise team. Mine's Washington. Last year it
was Houston. I'm crossing my fingers. I think the Chargers
will make a move at wide receiver and potentially move
off Bosa or Khalil Mack. That is my guest because
they drafted a couple of years ago previous regime defensive
end from USC who's a very, very aggressive pass rusher,
(07:59):
So they've got a little stockpiled talent there. J Mack,
I know your initial thought. I'm not going to bet
against the number one offense in the league last year, Miami. Oh,
hold on, hold on, hold on, they're not gonna make
the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Do you have the exact same winners in the AFC
for each division?
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Yeah, because they're easily they're all star quarterbacks.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
That never happens. Well you know that it never happens.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
I don't know. Brady Manning and Big Ben won their
division year after year after year.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
But that's not every division. That's three of the division.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Buffalo, Kansas City. Like I said, with the Texans, I
think Texans Jags comes down to the final week. That's
a that's either a Trevor Lawrence C. J. Stroud.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
I keep an eye on the col So.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
I have the AFC East. I have Miami offense and
Jets defense. They beat each other up and in the
end they miss it. They missed the play they're both
in the nine and eight category.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
Listen, this is fine, this is good, but there's no
real hot takes in here. Yet every year there's a
super whiff by everyone.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Dallas not making the playoffs, and Washington with a rookie coach,
well dan Quinn.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Washington, new owner, right, new coach, new quarter there's too
much newness man that there's no shot of Washington. I
think you need to get a little hotter and look
at the Baltimore Ravens.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Did you want a hot take? I give you one
with Washington and you throw a bucket of water on it. Well, fair, okay, fake, Okay,
here's another hot take. Niners have the best roster. I
have him second, I don't.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
I don't think you're my friend. It's not hot. That's
just dumb.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
I'm sorry.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
The Ers are not fitished executive vision. Come on, buddy,
uh I think keep Let's let's we need to add
at one point this July, maybe August. Let's look into
the Ravens a little bit more. They lost a ton,
including their defensive coordinator who was tremendous. And he goes
to Seattle.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Did they have John Harbaugh and Lamar Jackson?
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Yeah? But it's more than a two horse races?
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Is it? Not? Really?
Speaker 4 (09:53):
Okay?
Speaker 1 (09:54):
If you have if you have a top five coach
and a top five quarterback, you make the playoff.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
Okay, how's this? Let let me hit you better skill
position players, Chargers or Cowboys. Take a deep breath.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
I don't like either. They're both really.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
Fitous Cowboys they have CD lamb. So how are the
Chargers in the tougher conference making the playoffs because they
have a great quarterback and a great coach, and Dallas
has B to B plus at both.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
It's a coach quarterback league. You give me a top
six to seven quarterback and a top six seven coach,
you're making the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
If we were doing this last summer, I would have said, Houston, Texans,
you're like C. J. Stroud in a rookie defensive coach.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
No way get them out of here. That I did that.
That's my Washington defensive coach in a rookie quarterback. Washington
is my Houston. That's my that's my huge We're gonna
have a Houston. Mine is Washington, all right.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
So we do a friendly wager on that earth.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
We have things. I have to go to London. I'm
a very international host. Joe Varden, senior NBA writer for
The Athletic, former Cavs beat writer at Joe Varden on Twitter.
He's putting up with our nonsense today. He's in London,
one of the great cities in the world. So you know,
it's interesting I said it that stylistically. In the NBA,
(11:05):
there are players that the fans and the media love.
Carmelo Russell, Westbrook Harden. But my eyes tell me stylistically,
Embiid is much more fun to watch. But Anthony Davis
has become a better player over the last two years.
He has been sensational and Joe, he can not only lead,
(11:25):
he can be complementary, and I don't feel Embiid has
a lot of complimentary in his game. You got to
kind of change the system. So your take on a
d or Embiid starting and my point on my eyes
are telling me eighties a better fit on this Olympic team.
Speaker 4 (11:43):
So part of what is working with Anthony Davis and
with a bunch of the other guys that he's playing
with on that second unit is as we know, the
world has largely caught up with the talk about these
best teams all over the world right what they haven't
done is created the depth. So what we have in
(12:04):
this scenario where if Lebron and Steph and Joel, three
of the great players in history, can just hold the
fort down, then Anthony Davis comes off the bench against
lesser players and just destroys them.
Speaker 5 (12:18):
And that's what's happening. He is a beast.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
He is playing at full tilt, which has been great
to see he's been awesome in camp, He's been really
cool to deal with. All those things are true, but
when he gets on the floor, he is playing against
players who simply have no business matching up with him,
and he is taking full advantage.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
Is there a team that does match up with them
and could fight them for the goal?
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Joe, No, there isn't a.
Speaker 4 (12:46):
Team that matches up with them. But we're not out
of the woods yet here in terms of the Americans.
And one of the reasons, of course, is that everybody
can shoot a three. Now, the second is the the
Americans could get an injury. A lot of their players
are older that that is true. And then the final
(13:06):
thing is that these games are only forty minutes long,
so you know, you shrink the game.
Speaker 5 (13:12):
Everybody can shoot threes. You get in a.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
Situation where Serbia plays Jokic for thirty five minutes out
of forty, if he keeps it close, you know, you
get into a tight situation. I mean, these are the
kinds of things that can happen. But I've seen them
play against Canada fully loaded, fully loaded NBA roster, Australia
ten NBA guys, and Serbia with Jokic and Team USA
(13:37):
has clearly been the better team.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Yeah, Kevin. We made this argument an hour ago. I said,
if I was a Phoenix Suns fan, I'd be like,
please don't play Kevin Durant. I think fairly part of
his sort of reality now is he's you know, he's
a bigger guy. Six to eleven guys up get hurt early,
they start getting hurt later. He's not Larry Bird on
(14:02):
the Dream Team where he was a shot fighter. Kevin's
still an amazing player, But what will his role be
when he comes back? Could he could he be eight
minutes a half guy and just really have a reduced
role because I think Steve Kerr also, you know, I
mean he's thinking about the league and the Suns, and
you don't want to get guys, you know, extended beyond
what they're capable of. What's Durant's role in this Olympics.
Speaker 4 (14:27):
So you look at what they're doing with Joel, and
Joel is actually playing a few less minutes than Lebron
and Steph and Ad and Dam. But by and large,
what Steve is doing is he's playing five guys at
a time. He's using hockey subs. So I think that Durant,
(14:47):
assuming that he gets onto the floor this week. I
know he practiced today. I'd be surprised if he plays Saturday.
I feel more like Monday against Germany is when he
makes his on court in game debut. But if he starts,
I think, by and large, you know, he plays the
hockey sub minutes. The thing is Steve can then turn
(15:08):
to a few more minutes for Tatum and or Booker
over Durant, but that's you know, I think he's gonna play.
I think he's gonna start, and he's got to find
a way to fit in if you will, on a
on a starting unit that already has the guys that
we mentioned and might have Anthony Edwards too. You know, Colin,
I asked Kevin this very question. It's funny that you
(15:31):
asked me, and I said, at the end of his
press conference today, you know you, we know you're a
great player, we know your USA's all time leading scorer.
But you've been sitting there for two weeks watching these guys.
What do you think your impact will be on a
team that already has Curry, Lebron and Joel and the starters.
And he said, basically, what we're saying now is that
(15:51):
you he can do anything. You know, he is a shooter,
which you can never have enough shooting. He can protect
the rim, you know, as a six to elevens seven footer,
he can do that coming down, you know, from the wing.
I think that helps. And he's he's a clutch scorer,
which you know, I know they have Curry. Lebron can
be great in the clutch, but but Durant in gold
(16:13):
medal games, this is crazy. He's averaging twenty nine points a.
Speaker 5 (16:17):
Game in gold medal games.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
So when the Chips are down, if they have to
turn to a guy, they could turn to him, you know.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
Bring It's an interesting question the future. I mean, Jalen
Brown's obviously Kyrie Irving good enough to play. They're not.
You can argue Nike whatever. But the future is interesting
because KD Stephan Lebron this is the last. This is
the end of the road. I don't know if Ade'd
come back again because his body again, there's been durability issues.
In your eyes, we can't just bring the Celtics over.
(16:47):
What is the future of the Olympic team for us?
Speaker 5 (16:51):
I love this conversation.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
It's something that I think about a lot, and I
started thinking about it last summer with the World Cup team,
because those were the guys who are supposed to be
just sort of coming up. When we think about the
next Olympic team, which is gonna They're gonna play in
Los Angeles, So this is another very important Olympics for
the Americans. Tatum and Booker, you think they're going to
(17:16):
be on the team. Anthony Edwards is the leading scorer
right now. He forget about Curry, forget about James, forget
about Davis. Anthony Edwards is leading this team and scoring
through three games.
Speaker 5 (17:29):
He's on the team.
Speaker 4 (17:30):
Tyrese Haliburton, He's on the team because he's on this
Olympic team now. So then you think about, is will
Brunson be too old? Maybe not Donovan Mitchell, Maybe he
gets a chance. You know, Cooper Flagg, You know he
will have been in the league three years by then.
I wouldn't be surprised if he's on the team. You know,
the two guys that we're not talking about right now,
(17:52):
John Morant and Zion Williamson, they were supposed to be
the next faces of the league. For varying reasons, it
hasn't happened. Did they get it turned around within the
next four years? So did they get a chance on
Team USA?
Speaker 5 (18:06):
These are all great questions.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
France is going to be awesome by then, you know,
Victor women Yama is just going to be in point.
Speaker 5 (18:16):
They're gonna be a lot to deal with.
Speaker 4 (18:17):
But but you know, I think the next Team USA
is still going to be very good.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
Yeah, you know, it's it was not a great draft.
We know that Brawny went fifty five. I defended the move.
And my takeaway is all week I've been going to
the players that were drafted just above him and just
after him, and he's very much, very similar, except he
sells more merch. But it's you know, it's guys struggling.
It's all G league guys within basketball. It didn't bother.
Speaker 5 (18:45):
Me at all.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
And the argument I made Joe was we do favors
for each other, and and Lebron's done a twenty year
favor for the NBA, making their rating. They got a
new TV contract mostly on Lebron, James Right and Steph
or in the Warriors dynasty. So you know, in a
bad draft, his kid's a G league prospect. I don't
have a problem with it at all. He's actually I
(19:07):
back to back pretty good games. But in basketball, do
you send any resentment for the pick?
Speaker 4 (19:16):
Not yet, But I mean you have to keep in mind,
like basically since that pick was made, I've been around
these twelve.
Speaker 5 (19:24):
Future Hall of famers and one of them is his dad.
Speaker 4 (19:26):
So it's harder, it would be harder to catch the
average you know, the average player, you know, grumbling about
this or that.
Speaker 5 (19:34):
I think the average player.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
Knows that teams every year take flyers on guys. Every
year there's draft and stash guys from Europe. Sometimes they
never come over. You know, there's players that are taken
in the top fifteen who stink top twenty. So you know,
I think no one is under any illusion as to.
Speaker 5 (19:56):
Why this happened.
Speaker 4 (19:57):
Yeah, and it would be better if, like the Lakers
like didn't try to make up reasons for why Ronnie
was pickling.
Speaker 5 (20:03):
We know that what we want to see next is
what Bronni does with the opportunity.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Yeah, it's good. It's a great point. There is that
draft and stash European thing which is not discussed, but
to your point, it does happen. And I think in
the end, when the NFL, you have a seven round draft.
I've always felt after about the fifteenth pick, you're you're
taking some gambles. In the NBA, it's an older college
player who maybe fits. Uh. Finally, you have unique access
(20:29):
Joe Varden joining us for our radio audience at Joe Varden,
a long time NBA writer now for The Athletic, does
a great job. You gotta go to practice, you gotta
watch these guys, and nobody gets that. What is it
like watching the the legends of the game with the kids.
What's the intensity? What is I know, it's a simple question,
(20:51):
what is practice like for these guys?
Speaker 5 (20:55):
They work hard, you know, they they have to do
it in.
Speaker 4 (20:59):
A controlled manner when they're practicing against each other, partially
because of some of the injuries.
Speaker 5 (21:06):
You know, Joel.
Speaker 4 (21:07):
Uh, there's a there's a player here who's kind of
like a two way guy. He's played a little bit
for Utah, but he's also played spent time in the
in the G League.
Speaker 5 (21:15):
His name is Michael Potter.
Speaker 4 (21:17):
And he he's here with Team USA and he practices
some of Joel's minutes. So you have to so so
things like that are happening, like Kevin Durant isn't on
the floor. You know, Kawhi Leonard when he was in
training camp, he was practicing, but they had to go slower.
But the real off factor I find is when you
(21:41):
watch these guys practice, like in the in the pregame
early shoot a rounds.
Speaker 5 (21:47):
They're very regimented.
Speaker 4 (21:49):
They come out to at a time and they work
with position coaches. And there's a scenario that happens before
every game where Lebron James works with Anthony Edwards and
who is their position coach, Eric Spolstra, and you get
to watch Spolstra work with Lebron after all their history together.
(22:09):
You've got Spulstra working for twenty minutes before every game
with Lebron, but then also with Anthony Edwards. So it's
so cool to see, like you know, the past come
back together with those two. But then watch the torch
literally be handing handed over to Anthony. Anthony Edwards is
the next guy. It's awesome to watch Steph on the
(22:29):
floor with Lebron at the same time and watch them
sort of command attention at practice. You know, Lebron is
more of the voice, but Steph sort of carries the
equal amount of respect and yeah, you just get you
just get to watch all this sort of come together
and and it's fun to talk with Steve Kerr about
it because he knows that he's coach. He's coaching an
(22:52):
embarrassment of riches. But you know that's that's what this
team was supposed to be. It was supposed to be
a flex of the might of the American NBA over
the last fifteen years. And you know it'll be a
different flex in four years from now.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
Joe, you do a great job. Good seeing you again,
haven't seen you in a while. Have a blast. It's
a great basketball assignment. He's for the athletic and they
hire only the best. It's good scene again, my man.
Speaker 5 (23:16):
Great to be on. Great to see you as well.
Speaker 4 (23:18):
Collin.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Joe Varden, he did for years. He was a Cavaliers
beat writer that we used a lot. So he just
keeps going up and up and up. And that's a
fun team to cover. And there's a lot of actually
there's a lot of storylines. When you can go to
the bench for Jason Tatum and Anthony Davis.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
We're pretty good.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
His job of getting to watch Team USA practice amazing.
So when I moved out here, we were able to
get like media passes to the Lakers. So I would
go to some Laker games like two hours early, just
stand courtside and like Lebron's warming up right here or
not before Lebron got there. But it was just like
I would love to do that. Watch Luka Doncic put
up like seventy five shots, Like I'm a nerd like
that about this.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
I said this years ago. Mark Cuban had just purchased
the Mavericks but a national figure, and I was working
in Portland, so this is this is a long time ago,
and I'm doing a six o'clock news report and just
before I go on, Dirk Noavitsky is he's shooting around
the three point ring twenty one of twenty two. Yeah,
(24:17):
and the one that didn't go in rattled in and out,
and it's like people have no idea.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
Well that's Dirk Davitsky. I mean, I've watched like Lonnie
Walker into the bench guys make like eighteen straight. I'm like,
what how is he not playing? More like, oh, that's right,
he's in the NBA.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
These guys are real and these are the world's best players. Yeah,
what would practice be like, I know. I've talked to
Mark Few, the Gonzaga coach who's helped in this coaching
for years with the Olympics, and he said, it's just
it is. And by the way, he's got NBA guys
at Gonzaga. He's like Colin, it's it's just hard to
explain how good Lebron and Durant and those guys are.
(24:52):
It's it's He had Durant in his prime, and he
told me, he goes, I've never seen a guy this
is Mark Few and Kevin Durant. He goes all the
great players I've done at this Olympic level. He gets
his shot every single time. You can't you can't trap him,
you can't take the ball out of his hand. If
Kevin Durant wants to get a good look, he will
(25:12):
get it every single time, regardless of who you put
on him. And he said, I mean, and he's like,
and these are this is at practice and games against
the world's best players. So it's a That's why I always,
despite all the stuff with KD to the end, I'll
defend him. He is one of the great gifted offensive
players in the history of the sport. Like way up
their top five to six. Fox Sports Radio and Tire
(25:35):
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Speaker 2 (25:52):
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Speaker 1 (26:01):
Jm We got a lot, a lot of stuff going
on to the Eric Mangini Last Hour, Your Tomorrow Headlines
Today First, JMAK with a news.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
Turn on the news. This is the headline news.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
Let's start with Justin Herbert. He's definitely a top ten
quarterback in the league, hasn't won a playoff game yet,
and some weirdly have viewed his stoic presence as lacking
in leadership. I kind of hate that.
Speaker 5 (26:26):
Well.
Speaker 6 (26:26):
I think it's funny that everyone who calls Justin a
quiet leader isn't actually on the team, so they have
no idea what his leadership is like.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
He's not a quiet leader.
Speaker 6 (26:33):
No, I think you know justin he gets righted up,
he talked, you know, he's vocal, he's all those things.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
He's a great leader.
Speaker 6 (26:39):
And I also think that you know, people people see,
you know, they see more than they hear, you know,
And just the way he conducts his business, the way
he goes about it, I think, and he's always been
a great leader.
Speaker 3 (26:50):
Let's Ray Shawn Slater defending his guy. Different kinds of leaders.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
I think they're I think their first pick was really interesting.
So in the offseason when Harbaugh got hired, he went
and got two different running backs. Let Austin Eckler as
smaller back go in their first pick, although they had
other needs, was a tackle, a left tackle, and they
already have a left tackle. So what does it tell you?
The Chargers are doing power run game. So Joe Alt
(27:16):
was the best tackle arguably in the draft. They have
a great left tackle, and they said, no, we're getting
another one and we're gonna go pick up power, thick,
power running backs. Herbert's also capable of being you know,
he's a big, strong guy that can scramble and pick
up yards. So they have a clear need on the perimeter.
But Michigan won a national title with one really elite
(27:38):
wide receiver. Harby has proven over time, if I'm lacking anywhere,
it won't be O line, D line, quarterback, linebacker. If
I'm a wide receiver shy, I can still win big.
We'll make you.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
Greg Roman is the OC he was with Harbaugh in
San Francisco. Yeah, it's a lot of familiarity, and you're
maybe you're right. You know you had Chargers.
Speaker 1 (27:59):
I think playoffs have them as a playoff team. I
think their schedules pretty workable, favorable.
Speaker 3 (28:04):
I don't want to be too low on the Charges
because they're easy to root for. But like Raiders are
one of the worst teams in the league, Panthers are
not great. I think we both agree Steelers are not
very good. So then you get the Chiefs, who they
fared well against. Right, they're usually super competitive with the Chiefs.
So there's a world where they're four and o heading
into the bye week.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
Well, they're going to be favored in the first three games,
and they also get Kansas City at home, so they'll
that will be if they're three and oh a two
point spread.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
Look when you come out, it's like Denver in Arizona.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
No world, look and the key with a Chargers schedule
as you're building culture, it's an it's one of the
league's easier early schedules, right like it would you know,
you don't want to start with Harbaugh and second guessing
on the you know, the wide receiver scarcity. This team,
they're going to be two and oh, they're going to
(28:56):
be a three and oh team to start, my guess.
So if you lose to the Chiefs, you come off
a bye and you get PFF's weakest roster Denver than
Arizona and New Orleans. So the reality is it's much
easier to get unity build a culture when you're six
and one, and so now toward the end, not the
(29:18):
very end, very end, you get the Raiders and the
Patriots at the end. But like every NFL schedule, weeks
eleven through fifteen, it's a lot of Burrow, Lamar and
Mahomes and Baker Mayfield. So that's a tougher part. But
they should start and end very well. That's why I
have him in the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
The early buy is not favorable. And then to go
where you're facing Bengals Ravens back to back, I know
they're at home. Then you've got to cross the country
to Atlanta, come back home, then go back to Kansas City.
Like that's a brutal stretch in the early buy you
never want that, right you, But like the later by
which helps, especially for the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
They would not be surprised because they had Bosa, Mac
and the USC kid. Have three guys that get after
the quarterback, but could use a number one receiver. Cheat
them in your thoughts regarding Brandon Ayuk, the Niners don't
want to send him down the street. They want to
send them to the AFC. So Ayuk's a West Coast kid.
(30:16):
I could see the Charger saying, we'll give you Bosa.
By the way, you'd have both Bosas, but you pay
You paid Herbert, right, I can Herbert, but you let
go of Keenan's contract and Mike Williams well. But but
Bosa is a productive player. I'm just saying they have
a a scarcity of a position and Ayuk's available, and
(30:40):
they've got some depth at pass rush.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
Oh, I forgot the kid from Georgia. They drafted the receiver.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
Right, he's a second round pick, slot guy. He'll I'm
sure he'll be productive.
Speaker 3 (30:49):
Maconkey, Yes, thank you, he's that guy spicy, He's got
some juice, some talent. I like Chargers. Maybe I gotta
get him in the playoffs. I just I can't pull
the jets. Honestly, Let's go to the next story, and
that's our favorite punching bag, New York Giants. Gosh, it's
gonna be fun just taking shots at them all season.
I'm just telling you this hard knock situation. Even Briers
said it. People around the league are seeing it and
(31:11):
are like, Ooh, I don't want to be subject to that.
So Joe Shane stepped in it again. He went and
talked on the Hard Knocks podcast with Peter Schrager about
replacing Saquon Barkley with Devin Singletary. Take a listen.
Speaker 5 (31:25):
He was the guy we had on our on our radar.
Speaker 7 (31:27):
The last four years, he's been the leading rusher on
whatever team he's been on, and the last four years
those teams have won a playoff game. So he's good
enough to win with he's health, he's durable, and he's
he's good enough to win playoff games.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
Yeah, we'll see. So he's a back.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
Devin Singletary was drafted by you. You want to take
a guest who drafted him. Oh, Joe Shane and Buffy Yeah, Buffalo, Buffalo, Yeah.
And then Joe Shane leaves Buffalo and the Bills pretty
quickly move off of Devin Singles.
Speaker 1 (31:54):
Singletary. Is Shane nice back? He's a two, he said,
so last season he was in Houston.
Speaker 3 (31:59):
Yeah, oh yeah, one season.
Speaker 2 (32:02):
Solid year.
Speaker 1 (32:03):
We run for eight hundred yards, seven hundred yards.
Speaker 3 (32:06):
Eight and ninety eight yards. Yeah, and then Houston said
thank you for your service and we'll move on. So
now third team in three years for different single two.
Don't talk to me about how he's replacing saquad Barkley.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
Well, and the issue is both the Giants and the
Cowboys are weaker today in the position right behind the quarterback,
and the Eagles are stronger. So Philadelphia gave their young
quarterback a bona fide star behind him, and the Cowboys
(32:37):
are arguably the weakest team in the league at running back,
if not the Giants are. So I think for young
quarterbacks it's not just perimeter weapons. Who's the tight end,
who's the right tackle, who's your running back? I mean,
Barkley is Daniel Jones Without Saquon Barkley, you think you're
(32:57):
struggling with him now young quarterback, and by the way,
Daniel Jones isn't that young anymore, Like he's now moving
into his prime years.
Speaker 3 (33:06):
I don't know if there's gonna be a prime for
that guy. The last three years for the Giants have
been just such a cluster, total and unmitigated disaster. With
the extending Daniel Jones and they're not arguing with Saquon
then losing him to your rival.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
It's been a lot of upstairs chaos, really bad. Yeah,
And for the record, take out the seven to eight
prime years of Eli Manning. They have been a mess.
Eli Manning was so valuable to that franchise. Because Peyton's
so great, you kind of just look at Eli as
having two great seasons. No, Eli created stability with the Giants,
(33:47):
not just beat Brady and Belichick twice. Eli created stability.
He reminds me a little bit of Matt Hasselbeck, Like,
what if Matt Hasselbeck was your quarterback. He wouldn't get
the headlines. You were, oh, was viable? You were is
good and you know took Seattle to a super Bowl
where they kind of out played the Steelers. A couple
of bad calls. You know, people forget that. So there
(34:09):
are these quarterbacks that Eli is gonna go down as
a two time Super Bowl champ, so he'll be better
than hassleback. But there are these quarterback Kirk Cousins has
a lot of this. If Kirk Cousins is your quarterback,
there's at DAX this absolute stability in the room. It's amazing.
Not very many teams are great at quarterback. The second
place to be is capable and not chaotic.
Speaker 3 (34:32):
I almost was trying to think of a parallel for Eli,
a Damian Lillard. Maybe Damian Lillard, if you had him,
you were very viable every year a couple of big plays.
Speaker 1 (34:40):
The Blazers weren't viable every year every year. But he's
hurt a lot. Eli was never hurt. I don't the
NBA compass who's a two time champ who didn't get
the respect a chem.
Speaker 3 (34:53):
Olajahan he got.
Speaker 1 (34:55):
He never gets talked about he does.
Speaker 8 (34:57):
Is fair.
Speaker 3 (35:00):
It's weird to say.
Speaker 1 (35:01):
Eli's basically Philip Rivers with titles. Neither one was gonna
do much out of the pocket. Both great leaders.
Speaker 3 (35:11):
Wasn't Rivers a better regular season?
Speaker 1 (35:13):
Here to that and some of that some of that
he had to overcome some front off of stuff.
Speaker 3 (35:17):
He also had Ladanian Tomlinson, who.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
Was story well. I mean ELI had a front four
of like four Pro Bowl level players and Tiki Barber.
So it's not like ELI didn't have Plexico Burros. But
I mean ELI is better than a Philip. But a
lot of it's defined by January in February.
Speaker 3 (35:33):
That's yeah, that's the truth. Finally, two Basketball, where we're
getting to see Lebron and Steph play together for Team USA.
They had a long standing rivalry there probably for a
good eight to ten years when Lebron was on the
Cavs Lakers, and in a conversation with Joe Varden, Steph
admitted there was a healthy resentment of Lebron amid their rivalry,
(35:55):
with Lebron admitting there was a rivalry, but adding it
was a media driven narrative. Come on, Lebron, those not
media driven. There's no way when they took down the
seventy three win Warriors, remember Warriors went out in respontify
getting Kevin Duray that time, and that's come on, it
doesn't get better than that. I mean, I don't know
(36:17):
that we think about it that way. But Lebron and
Curry basically had one of the best rivalries in NBA history.
Speaker 1 (36:23):
Well, I mean they absolutely controlled the league for twelve years.
I mean it was Lebron getting to the finals or
the Warriors winning the finals. Yeah, I mean that's why
as the NBA ratings dip, it's like post Jordan, the
NBA lost fifty percent of a tradings. I mean, Michael
carried it for a decade, Magic Bird carried it for
a decade, Chack Kobe carried it for about seven years.
(36:44):
Stephen Lebron, they made one East one carried the league.
Speaker 3 (36:47):
So twenty fifteen they met in the finals, and sixteen, seventeen, eighteen,
and then I think nineteen was the Raptors. But four
straight years in the final, we never saw Michael Jordan
versus Magic.
Speaker 1 (36:58):
For three years in Amber Lebron lost, Kyrie Irving and
Kevin Love didn't he in the finals. Matthew della Vado
was fifteen. That would have been a great finals, and
the Cavs just fell apart physically they did.
Speaker 3 (37:09):
Yeah, I don't know, is this the greatest rivalry player.
I know it's tough because Lebron's received but what's the
better magic Bird? Four times?
Speaker 1 (37:20):
Magic Bird's bigger by far.
Speaker 3 (37:21):
It was bigger.
Speaker 1 (37:22):
But that's the greatest rivalry in league history.
Speaker 3 (37:25):
Well, because they came in at the same time. Quote
similar size players.
Speaker 1 (37:28):
I mean, Russell and Wilt had a personal thing going.
Speaker 3 (37:31):
But it's the twelve teams in the league.
Speaker 4 (37:32):
Forget that.
Speaker 1 (37:33):
Well, they were good teams. Huh and the Saint Louis Yes, exactly.
Speaker 3 (37:39):
Like off duty firefighters play suitting Serrah.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
Huge Royals will be no shade at them. Bob pettittt
rules uh. Jmack with a news.
Speaker 2 (37:51):
Well that's the news, and thanks for stopping.
Speaker 1 (37:53):
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Speaker 2 (38:07):
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Speaker 9 (38:16):
Hey Gang Listen is Jay Glazer, host of Unbreakable, a
mental wealth.
Speaker 10 (38:21):
Podcast, and every week we will have on leaders from
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got Fiemmi, and also those who can help us in
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Speaker 9 (38:40):
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Speaker 8 (38:53):
Tomorrow, the four time defending Olympic Jams are back. Lebron
Curry and the best of the USA tune up for
the Olympics as they begin their run for the fifth
straight gold in Paris. USA takes on South suit Dan
tomorrow at three Eastern only on Fox.
Speaker 1 (39:12):
So I made my pre camp, pre season, pre camp
and pre season picks. I make about five predictions before
the NFL season. Here are my playoff predictions. I have
three new playoff teams in the AFC, two new playoff
teams in the NFC. I'll take the Bills, Chiefs, Ravens Texans.
(39:35):
I'm basically taking the best quarterback in the AFC East,
AFC West, AFC South, and I'm taking the first or
second best quarterback in the AFC North in Lamar Jackson.
I'm also taking Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, and Trevor Lawrence.
The AFC is where the best quarterbacks in this league are.
(39:56):
I have almost all of them going to the playoffs. Yeah,
I mean I have Josh Allen Mahomes all the best
quarterback in the NFC. It's a little diceier because I
don't think the league is as powerful and predictable at
the top. I've got the Eagles, Falcons, Lions, Rams winning
divisions narrowly over the Niners, Commanders, Packers. So here, I'm
(40:18):
taking a rookie quarterback, but we have a shocking playoff
team every year. Last year it's Houston, and I think
this year it's Washington with a star rookie quarterback taken
number two who on certain weekends may out play the
number one quarterback taken. I think the Niners are very good,
but I think the Rams have it home runs in
back to back drafts, and Matt Stafford and McVeigh are
(40:41):
next to Reidan Mahomes to me, the best quarterback coach
combo in the NFL. I think the team that's gonna
win a lot of games and nobody's gonna talk about him.
Is the Atlanta Falcons, and I think between their offensive line,
their offensive pieces, Kirk Cousins is gonna mop up. I mean,
they're good at back, tight end, wide receiver, and O line.
(41:01):
It's probably second the third best O line after the
Lions in the NFL. They don't generate much of a
pass rush, but in that division there's not a lot
of great quarterback play. That's why I was okay with
acquiring Kirk Cousins and drafting Michael Pennix because my takeaway
is they probably have potentially the first and second best
quarterback on the division, although Baker Mayfield would have an
(41:23):
argument with that. But only two new playoff teams in
the NFC, so three new in the AFC, two new
in the NFC, and you know I have the Commanders
and Falcons or new playoff teams in the NFC, where
I have the Bengals and the Chargers and the Jags
making it in the AFC, but again, it's very quarterback heavy.
(41:47):
Only Jaden Daniels would be the only team I'm picking
without a proven quarterback. I don't love Brock Purty, but
he's certainly capable. He made a Pro Bowl. So hey,
every year there a shocker. Washington's my shocker. And I
think Miami and the Jets look like playoff teams at
different points in the year, but they cancel each other
(42:08):
out and only the Bills may get from that division.
Speaker 3 (42:11):
Why do you have the Jaguars in the playoffs and
not the Jets or Dolphins?
Speaker 1 (42:15):
Because the Jaguars have a quarterback in their prime. It's
arguably a weaker division, and they have an offensive coach.
I get the offensive Super Bowl winning coach and a
quarterback in their prime.
Speaker 3 (42:26):
You had those guys last year, and what happened.
Speaker 1 (42:29):
The quarterback got hurt. So the quarterback, who doesn't have
a history of getting hurt, is now healthy again and
with his best rush.
Speaker 3 (42:36):
Yeah, I've got to figure out a way to get
you to get the Jets in there. I just don't
know who slides out.
Speaker 1 (42:40):
I wouldn't hold your breath on that this weekend. But
I still have it. I still get one or two
more moves, five new teams. I gotta find two more
Hour three next
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Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
All Right, here we go. It's a Friday. It's hour two.
We'll be going to London in just about five six
minutes to join the US Olympic basketball team as they
get ready for Paris and the Olympics, which are starting soon.
Jmack joining me as usual today. Jmack, So I do
several predictions going up to the season. This is the
(00:50):
camps are starting today and tomorrow this weekend, so I
thought let's do a pre camp prediction. At least seven
new playoffs teams on average transpire every year. I've got
five new ones, so I'm keeping a couple in the holster.
I'm waiting for camp. There will absolutely be injuries and
(01:11):
stories that develop, so this is my pre camp before
any injuries. Pre camp predictions. Let's start in the AFC East.
The Bills have won the division four straight years. I'm
giving it to them. The Dolphins, it's an offensive league.
Had the number one total offense in the NFL and
two it through for forty six hundred passing yards. It's
(01:34):
an offensive league. The Jets third, Yes, they have a
great defense. O line questions, head coaches defensive Aaron has
not taken a snap more than four snaps in five
hundred and fifty nine days in the NFL. Hasn't taken
more than four snaps. Sorry about the great defense. Jets third,
(01:54):
Patriots fourth. I think that's the first or second worst
offensive roster in the league. AFC it's the best division
in football, so it's inches not feet. Listen the Ravens
top five offense, top five defense, and the best special
teams coach in the league. I have him winning the division.
Zach Taylor and Joe Burrow have proven when Joe's healthy,
(02:15):
they win. What do you want me to say? Last
year with Jake Browning they had a winning record with
Jake Browning Burrows back in. They're a playoff team. Steelers,
they can't figure out their O line or their offensive coordinator.
I love their roster. Frankly, I worry in an offensive
league about getting it right on that side of the ball.
(02:36):
Love the coach in Cleveland, total question mark, Undershaun Watson,
weird personality, weird injuries. I'll just put them forth for now.
AFC West Kansas City until further notice. They won the
division eight straight times, best coaching, football, best quarterback, they
get it. I think the Chargers have limitations on the perimeter,
but don't be shocked if they don't make a move
(02:58):
for Brandon Ayyuk and potentially give mac or Bosa on
their edge. They've got two good edge rushers, they need
a star receiver. They may make a move. In my opinion,
I'll take them second. I like the Broncos more than Vegas,
but PFF says worst roster in the league. Broncos third,
Raiders fourth. They've got a rookie coach and quarterback issues. Finally,
(03:19):
AFC South really much better division than people give it
credit for. I worried about the Texans pulling back, but
they had another really strong draft and free agency period.
Stefan Diggs, Joe Mixon. I'll take them to win. I
think it's Trevor Lawrence's best roster yet. Jaguars finished second.
They were nine to eight last year, and Trevor Lawrence
(03:41):
fell apart down the stretch. They'll rebound. I like the Colts,
but I questioned Anthony Richardson's playing style and staying healthy.
Their third, and the Titans, I have questions at quarterback
and their offensive lines worse than Will Levis, so I'll
take them fourth. We go to the NFC. By the way,
I have three new playoff teams in the AFC. Bill's Chiefs, Ravens,
(04:02):
Texans winning the division, Bengals, Chargers, Jaguars wildcard team. So
that's three new playoff teams. That's the average. Three and
a half to four is the average per year. I've
got three. Let's go to the NFC, where Philadelphia easily
the best roster in the division. Nick Seriani did he
(04:22):
hire better assistance. They started last year ten and one,
then they fell off a cliff. I think they rebound,
maybe not a super Bowl team, at very good. I'm
gonna go with Washington, new coach, new OC, new quarterback,
new owner. I think they used that energy and juice
to catapult. I think they're the surprise team in the NFL.
(04:43):
Washington second, Dallas is a very viable third. But I
think they're top heavy and overly dependent on Dak and
CD Lamb to carry the entire offense. Giants just not
good enough to quarterback. I pick them forth. Let's go
to the NFC North Detroit. Number one offensive line in football.
(05:03):
If you have the best offensive line in football, it's
like having the best starting pitching staff in baseball. It
gives you so many advantages over everybody else. I love
their front office, you know, I love golf. Not great defensively,
They've tried to show it up. I have Green Bay
second best young offensive talent to me in the sport.
They're not paying anybody until Jordan Love here in about
(05:24):
a week. I take them for second by the way
they close the season out winning six of eight games
and hammer the Cowboys in the playoffs. Chicago's a viable third.
Can't wait to watch them play, but it's a defensive
coach on the hot seat and a rookie quarterback. O
line's good, not great. They're third. I think Minnesota is
going to be the best fourth place team in the NFL.
I love their offense, and I'm rooting for Sam Darnold,
(05:47):
but the division's too good. I think by the end
of the year, we'll say this is the best division
in football. I'll pick the Vikings as a really fun,
dynamic number four. Let's go to the NFS West. Yes,
I like the Rams. I thought they had a back
to back sensational drafts, finish top ten in total offense
(06:08):
and scoring last year. I really like what they've done
with their defensive front in the last two drafts. Niners
are good, but they're an old, expensive football team. Watch
out for injuries and the Brandon au noise. Seattle, Hey,
they finished nine to eight. Gino Smith's good enough to
win you games if they have a new staff, a
(06:29):
new coach. I'm gonna take Shanahan and McVeigh over the
rookie coach their third I love Kyler Murray, but I
just don't think Arizona roster right now can compete with
the rosters above them. Finally, the worst division in football.
I do think Atlanta getting Kirk Cousins and Michael Pennix
will stabilize the quarterback position. Second best offensive line in football.
(06:50):
It's hard not to be a playoff team when you
have that good of an offensive line. Bucks have made
the playoffs four straight years. Baker is more than capable,
Carolina Saints not very good. I don't like New Orleans
situation right now. Coaching at all NFC playoff teams Eagles, Falcons, Lions, Rams, Niners, Commanders,
Packers are wild card teams, but only two new playoff teams.
(07:14):
So the problem. I have only three new playoff teams
in the AFC, only two new playoff teams in the NFC.
I'm at five the averages seven. So again, I'm gonna
wait through camp. I'm gonna wait for injuries. My take
is something will happen again. You think it's crazy, We're
(07:35):
gonna have a surprise team. Mine's Washington. Last year it
was Houston. I'm crossing my fingers. I think the Chargers
will make a move at wide receiver and potentially move
off Bosa or Khalil Mack. That is my guest because
they drafted a couple of years ago previous regime defensive
end from USC who's a very, very aggressive pass rusher,
(07:59):
So they've got a little stockpiled talent there. J Mack,
I know your initial thought. I'm not going to bet
against the number one offense in the league last year, Miami. Oh,
hold on, hold on, hold on, they're not gonna make
the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Do you have the exact same winners in the AFC
for each division?
Speaker 1 (08:15):
Yeah, because they're easily they're all star quarterbacks.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
That never happens. Well you know that it never happens.
Speaker 1 (08:22):
I don't know. Brady Manning and Big Ben won their
division year after year after year.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
But that's not every division. That's three of the division.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
Buffalo, Kansas City. Like I said, with the Texans, I
think Texans Jags comes down to the final week. That's
a that's either a Trevor Lawrence C. J. Stroud.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
I keep an eye on the col So.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
I have the AFC East. I have Miami offense and
Jets defense. They beat each other up and in the
end they miss it. They missed the play they're both
in the nine and eight category.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
Listen, this is fine, this is good, but there's no
real hot takes in here. Yet every year there's a
super whiff by everyone.
Speaker 1 (08:58):
Dallas not making the playoffs, and Washington with a rookie coach,
well dan Quinn.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Washington, new owner, right, new coach, new quarter there's too
much newness man that there's no shot of Washington. I
think you need to get a little hotter and look
at the Baltimore Ravens.
Speaker 1 (09:14):
Did you want a hot take? I give you one
with Washington and you throw a bucket of water on it. Well, fair, okay, fake, Okay,
here's another hot take. Niners have the best roster. I
have him second, I don't.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
I don't think you're my friend. It's not hot. That's
just dumb.
Speaker 2 (09:28):
I'm sorry.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
The Ers are not fitished executive vision. Come on, buddy,
uh I think keep Let's let's we need to add
at one point this July, maybe August. Let's look into
the Ravens a little bit more. They lost a ton,
including their defensive coordinator who was tremendous. And he goes
to Seattle.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Did they have John Harbaugh and Lamar Jackson?
Speaker 3 (09:49):
Yeah? But it's more than a two horse races?
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Is it? Not? Really?
Speaker 4 (09:53):
Okay?
Speaker 1 (09:54):
If you have if you have a top five coach
and a top five quarterback, you make the playoff.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
Okay, how's this? Let let me hit you better skill
position players, Chargers or Cowboys. Take a deep breath.
Speaker 1 (10:03):
I don't like either. They're both really.
Speaker 3 (10:05):
Fitous Cowboys they have CD lamb. So how are the
Chargers in the tougher conference making the playoffs because they
have a great quarterback and a great coach, and Dallas
has B to B plus at both.
Speaker 1 (10:16):
It's a coach quarterback league. You give me a top
six to seven quarterback and a top six seven coach,
you're making the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (10:22):
If we were doing this last summer, I would have said, Houston, Texans,
you're like C. J. Stroud in a rookie defensive coach.
Speaker 1 (10:28):
No way get them out of here. That I did that.
That's my Washington defensive coach in a rookie quarterback. Washington
is my Houston. That's my that's my huge We're gonna
have a Houston. Mine is Washington, all right.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
So we do a friendly wager on that earth.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
We have things. I have to go to London. I'm
a very international host. Joe Varden, senior NBA writer for
The Athletic, former Cavs beat writer at Joe Varden on Twitter.
He's putting up with our nonsense today. He's in London,
one of the great cities in the world. So you know,
it's interesting I said it that stylistically. In the NBA,
(11:05):
there are players that the fans and the media love.
Carmelo Russell, Westbrook Harden. But my eyes tell me stylistically,
Embiid is much more fun to watch. But Anthony Davis
has become a better player over the last two years.
He has been sensational and Joe, he can not only lead,
(11:25):
he can be complementary, and I don't feel Embiid has
a lot of complimentary in his game. You got to
kind of change the system. So your take on a
d or Embiid starting and my point on my eyes
are telling me eighties a better fit on this Olympic team.
Speaker 4 (11:43):
So part of what is working with Anthony Davis and
with a bunch of the other guys that he's playing
with on that second unit is as we know, the
world has largely caught up with the talk about these
best teams all over the world right what they haven't
done is created the depth. So what we have in
(12:04):
this scenario where if Lebron and Steph and Joel, three
of the great players in history, can just hold the
fort down, then Anthony Davis comes off the bench against
lesser players and just destroys them.
Speaker 5 (12:18):
And that's what's happening. He is a beast.
Speaker 4 (12:22):
He is playing at full tilt, which has been great
to see he's been awesome in camp, He's been really
cool to deal with. All those things are true, but
when he gets on the floor, he is playing against
players who simply have no business matching up with him,
and he is taking full advantage.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
Is there a team that does match up with them
and could fight them for the goal?
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Joe, No, there isn't a.
Speaker 4 (12:46):
Team that matches up with them. But we're not out
of the woods yet here in terms of the Americans.
And one of the reasons, of course, is that everybody
can shoot a three. Now, the second is the the
Americans could get an injury. A lot of their players
are older that that is true. And then the final
(13:06):
thing is that these games are only forty minutes long,
so you know, you shrink the game.
Speaker 5 (13:12):
Everybody can shoot threes. You get in a.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
Situation where Serbia plays Jokic for thirty five minutes out
of forty, if he keeps it close, you know, you
get into a tight situation. I mean, these are the
kinds of things that can happen. But I've seen them
play against Canada fully loaded, fully loaded NBA roster, Australia
ten NBA guys, and Serbia with Jokic and Team USA
(13:37):
has clearly been the better team.
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Yeah, Kevin. We made this argument an hour ago. I said,
if I was a Phoenix Suns fan, I'd be like,
please don't play Kevin Durant. I think fairly part of
his sort of reality now is he's you know, he's
a bigger guy. Six to eleven guys up get hurt early,
they start getting hurt later. He's not Larry Bird on
(14:02):
the Dream Team where he was a shot fighter. Kevin's
still an amazing player, But what will his role be
when he comes back? Could he could he be eight
minutes a half guy and just really have a reduced
role because I think Steve Kerr also, you know, I
mean he's thinking about the league and the Suns, and
you don't want to get guys, you know, extended beyond
what they're capable of. What's Durant's role in this Olympics.
Speaker 4 (14:27):
So you look at what they're doing with Joel, and
Joel is actually playing a few less minutes than Lebron
and Steph and Ad and Dam. But by and large,
what Steve is doing is he's playing five guys at
a time. He's using hockey subs. So I think that Durant,
(14:47):
assuming that he gets onto the floor this week. I
know he practiced today. I'd be surprised if he plays Saturday.
I feel more like Monday against Germany is when he
makes his on court in game debut. But if he starts,
I think, by and large, you know, he plays the
hockey sub minutes. The thing is Steve can then turn
(15:08):
to a few more minutes for Tatum and or Booker
over Durant, but that's you know, I think he's gonna play.
I think he's gonna start, and he's got to find
a way to fit in if you will, on a
on a starting unit that already has the guys that
we mentioned and might have Anthony Edwards too. You know, Colin,
I asked Kevin this very question. It's funny that you
(15:31):
asked me, and I said, at the end of his
press conference today, you know you, we know you're a
great player, we know your USA's all time leading scorer.
But you've been sitting there for two weeks watching these guys.
What do you think your impact will be on a
team that already has Curry, Lebron and Joel and the starters.
And he said, basically, what we're saying now is that
(15:51):
you he can do anything. You know, he is a shooter,
which you can never have enough shooting. He can protect
the rim, you know, as a six to elevens seven footer,
he can do that coming down, you know, from the wing.
I think that helps. And he's he's a clutch scorer,
which you know, I know they have Curry. Lebron can
be great in the clutch, but but Durant in gold
(16:13):
medal games, this is crazy. He's averaging twenty nine points a.
Speaker 5 (16:17):
Game in gold medal games.
Speaker 4 (16:19):
So when the Chips are down, if they have to
turn to a guy, they could turn to him, you know.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
Bring It's an interesting question the future. I mean, Jalen
Brown's obviously Kyrie Irving good enough to play. They're not.
You can argue Nike whatever. But the future is interesting
because KD Stephan Lebron this is the last. This is
the end of the road. I don't know if Ade'd
come back again because his body again, there's been durability issues.
In your eyes, we can't just bring the Celtics over.
(16:47):
What is the future of the Olympic team for us?
Speaker 5 (16:51):
I love this conversation.
Speaker 4 (16:52):
It's something that I think about a lot, and I
started thinking about it last summer with the World Cup team,
because those were the guys who are supposed to be
just sort of coming up. When we think about the
next Olympic team, which is gonna They're gonna play in
Los Angeles, So this is another very important Olympics for
the Americans. Tatum and Booker, you think they're going to
(17:16):
be on the team. Anthony Edwards is the leading scorer
right now. He forget about Curry, forget about James, forget
about Davis. Anthony Edwards is leading this team and scoring
through three games.
Speaker 5 (17:29):
He's on the team.
Speaker 4 (17:30):
Tyrese Haliburton, He's on the team because he's on this
Olympic team now. So then you think about, is will
Brunson be too old? Maybe not Donovan Mitchell, Maybe he
gets a chance. You know, Cooper Flagg, You know he
will have been in the league three years by then.
I wouldn't be surprised if he's on the team. You know,
the two guys that we're not talking about right now,
(17:52):
John Morant and Zion Williamson, they were supposed to be
the next faces of the league. For varying reasons, it
hasn't happened. Did they get it turned around within the
next four years? So did they get a chance on
Team USA?
Speaker 5 (18:06):
These are all great questions.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
France is going to be awesome by then, you know,
Victor women Yama is just going to be in point.
Speaker 5 (18:16):
They're gonna be a lot to deal with.
Speaker 4 (18:17):
But but you know, I think the next Team USA
is still going to be very good.
Speaker 1 (18:22):
Yeah, you know, it's it was not a great draft.
We know that Brawny went fifty five. I defended the move.
And my takeaway is all week I've been going to
the players that were drafted just above him and just
after him, and he's very much, very similar, except he
sells more merch. But it's you know, it's guys struggling.
It's all G league guys within basketball. It didn't bother.
Speaker 5 (18:45):
Me at all.
Speaker 1 (18:46):
And the argument I made Joe was we do favors
for each other, and and Lebron's done a twenty year
favor for the NBA, making their rating. They got a
new TV contract mostly on Lebron, James Right and Steph
or in the Warriors dynasty. So you know, in a
bad draft, his kid's a G league prospect. I don't
have a problem with it at all. He's actually I
(19:07):
back to back pretty good games. But in basketball, do
you send any resentment for the pick?
Speaker 4 (19:16):
Not yet, But I mean you have to keep in mind,
like basically since that pick was made, I've been around
these twelve.
Speaker 5 (19:24):
Future Hall of famers and one of them is his dad.
Speaker 4 (19:26):
So it's harder, it would be harder to catch the
average you know, the average player, you know, grumbling about
this or that.
Speaker 5 (19:34):
I think the average player.
Speaker 4 (19:36):
Knows that teams every year take flyers on guys. Every
year there's draft and stash guys from Europe. Sometimes they
never come over. You know, there's players that are taken
in the top fifteen who stink top twenty. So you know,
I think no one is under any illusion as to.
Speaker 5 (19:56):
Why this happened.
Speaker 4 (19:57):
Yeah, and it would be better if, like the Lakers
like didn't try to make up reasons for why Ronnie
was pickling.
Speaker 5 (20:03):
We know that what we want to see next is
what Bronni does with the opportunity.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Yeah, it's good. It's a great point. There is that
draft and stash European thing which is not discussed, but
to your point, it does happen. And I think in
the end, when the NFL, you have a seven round draft.
I've always felt after about the fifteenth pick, you're you're
taking some gambles. In the NBA, it's an older college
player who maybe fits. Uh. Finally, you have unique access
(20:29):
Joe Varden joining us for our radio audience at Joe Varden,
a long time NBA writer now for The Athletic, does
a great job. You gotta go to practice, you gotta
watch these guys, and nobody gets that. What is it
like watching the the legends of the game with the kids.
What's the intensity? What is I know, it's a simple question,
(20:51):
what is practice like for these guys?
Speaker 5 (20:55):
They work hard, you know, they they have to do
it in.
Speaker 4 (20:59):
A controlled manner when they're practicing against each other, partially
because of some of the injuries.
Speaker 5 (21:06):
You know, Joel.
Speaker 4 (21:07):
Uh, there's a there's a player here who's kind of
like a two way guy. He's played a little bit
for Utah, but he's also played spent time in the
in the G League.
Speaker 5 (21:15):
His name is Michael Potter.
Speaker 4 (21:17):
And he he's here with Team USA and he practices
some of Joel's minutes. So you have to so so
things like that are happening, like Kevin Durant isn't on
the floor. You know, Kawhi Leonard when he was in
training camp, he was practicing, but they had to go slower.
But the real off factor I find is when you
(21:41):
watch these guys practice, like in the in the pregame
early shoot a rounds.
Speaker 5 (21:47):
They're very regimented.
Speaker 4 (21:49):
They come out to at a time and they work
with position coaches. And there's a scenario that happens before
every game where Lebron James works with Anthony Edwards and
who is their position coach, Eric Spolstra, and you get
to watch Spolstra work with Lebron after all their history together.
(22:09):
You've got Spulstra working for twenty minutes before every game
with Lebron, but then also with Anthony Edwards. So it's
so cool to see, like you know, the past come
back together with those two. But then watch the torch
literally be handing handed over to Anthony. Anthony Edwards is
the next guy. It's awesome to watch Steph on the
(22:29):
floor with Lebron at the same time and watch them
sort of command attention at practice. You know, Lebron is
more of the voice, but Steph sort of carries the
equal amount of respect and yeah, you just get you
just get to watch all this sort of come together
and and it's fun to talk with Steve Kerr about
it because he knows that he's coach. He's coaching an
(22:52):
embarrassment of riches. But you know that's that's what this
team was supposed to be. It was supposed to be
a flex of the might of the American NBA over
the last fifteen years. And you know it'll be a
different flex in four years from now.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
Joe, you do a great job. Good seeing you again,
haven't seen you in a while. Have a blast. It's
a great basketball assignment. He's for the athletic and they
hire only the best. It's good scene again, my man.
Speaker 5 (23:16):
Great to be on. Great to see you as well.
Speaker 4 (23:18):
Collin.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
Joe Varden, he did for years. He was a Cavaliers
beat writer that we used a lot. So he just
keeps going up and up and up. And that's a
fun team to cover. And there's a lot of actually
there's a lot of storylines. When you can go to
the bench for Jason Tatum and Anthony Davis.
Speaker 2 (23:33):
We're pretty good.
Speaker 3 (23:35):
His job of getting to watch Team USA practice amazing.
So when I moved out here, we were able to
get like media passes to the Lakers. So I would
go to some Laker games like two hours early, just
stand courtside and like Lebron's warming up right here or
not before Lebron got there. But it was just like
I would love to do that. Watch Luka Doncic put
up like seventy five shots, Like I'm a nerd like
that about this.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
I said this years ago. Mark Cuban had just purchased
the Mavericks but a national figure, and I was working
in Portland, so this is this is a long time ago,
and I'm doing a six o'clock news report and just
before I go on, Dirk Noavitsky is he's shooting around
the three point ring twenty one of twenty two. Yeah,
(24:17):
and the one that didn't go in rattled in and out,
and it's like people have no idea.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
Well that's Dirk Davitsky. I mean, I've watched like Lonnie
Walker into the bench guys make like eighteen straight. I'm like,
what how is he not playing? More like, oh, that's right,
he's in the NBA.
Speaker 1 (24:31):
These guys are real and these are the world's best players. Yeah,
what would practice be like, I know. I've talked to
Mark Few, the Gonzaga coach who's helped in this coaching
for years with the Olympics, and he said, it's just
it is. And by the way, he's got NBA guys
at Gonzaga. He's like Colin, it's it's just hard to
explain how good Lebron and Durant and those guys are.
(24:52):
It's it's He had Durant in his prime, and he
told me, he goes, I've never seen a guy this
is Mark Few and Kevin Durant. He goes all the
great players I've done at this Olympic level. He gets
his shot every single time. You can't you can't trap him,
you can't take the ball out of his hand. If
Kevin Durant wants to get a good look, he will
(25:12):
get it every single time, regardless of who you put
on him. And he said, I mean, and he's like,
and these are this is at practice and games against
the world's best players. So it's a That's why I always,
despite all the stuff with KD to the end, I'll
defend him. He is one of the great gifted offensive
players in the history of the sport. Like way up
their top five to six. Fox Sports Radio and Tire
(25:35):
Rack given away a set of four tires every two
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visit spot Foxsportsradio dot com. Fox Sportsradio dot Com furnished
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Speaker 2 (25:52):
The Herd streams twenty four hours a day, seven days
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live or on demand when you like.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
Jm We got a lot, a lot of stuff going
on to the Eric Mangini Last Hour, Your Tomorrow Headlines
Today First, JMAK with a news.
Speaker 2 (26:10):
Turn on the news. This is the headline news.
Speaker 3 (26:14):
Let's start with Justin Herbert. He's definitely a top ten
quarterback in the league, hasn't won a playoff game yet,
and some weirdly have viewed his stoic presence as lacking
in leadership. I kind of hate that.
Speaker 5 (26:26):
Well.
Speaker 6 (26:26):
I think it's funny that everyone who calls Justin a
quiet leader isn't actually on the team, so they have
no idea what his leadership is like.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
He's not a quiet leader.
Speaker 6 (26:33):
No, I think you know justin he gets righted up,
he talked, you know, he's vocal, he's all those things.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
He's a great leader.
Speaker 6 (26:39):
And I also think that you know, people people see,
you know, they see more than they hear, you know,
And just the way he conducts his business, the way
he goes about it, I think, and he's always been
a great leader.
Speaker 3 (26:50):
Let's Ray Shawn Slater defending his guy. Different kinds of leaders.
Speaker 1 (26:54):
I think they're I think their first pick was really interesting.
So in the offseason when Harbaugh got hired, he went
and got two different running backs. Let Austin Eckler as
smaller back go in their first pick, although they had
other needs, was a tackle, a left tackle, and they
already have a left tackle. So what does it tell you?
The Chargers are doing power run game. So Joe Alt
(27:16):
was the best tackle arguably in the draft. They have
a great left tackle, and they said, no, we're getting
another one and we're gonna go pick up power, thick,
power running backs. Herbert's also capable of being you know,
he's a big, strong guy that can scramble and pick
up yards. So they have a clear need on the perimeter.
But Michigan won a national title with one really elite
(27:38):
wide receiver. Harby has proven over time, if I'm lacking anywhere,
it won't be O line, D line, quarterback, linebacker. If
I'm a wide receiver shy, I can still win big.
We'll make you.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
Greg Roman is the OC he was with Harbaugh in
San Francisco. Yeah, it's a lot of familiarity, and you're
maybe you're right. You know you had Chargers.
Speaker 1 (27:59):
I think playoffs have them as a playoff team. I
think their schedules pretty workable, favorable.
Speaker 3 (28:04):
I don't want to be too low on the Charges
because they're easy to root for. But like Raiders are
one of the worst teams in the league, Panthers are
not great. I think we both agree Steelers are not
very good. So then you get the Chiefs, who they
fared well against. Right, they're usually super competitive with the Chiefs.
So there's a world where they're four and o heading
into the bye week.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
Well, they're going to be favored in the first three games,
and they also get Kansas City at home, so they'll
that will be if they're three and oh a two
point spread.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
Look when you come out, it's like Denver in Arizona.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
No world, look and the key with a Chargers schedule
as you're building culture, it's an it's one of the
league's easier early schedules, right like it would you know,
you don't want to start with Harbaugh and second guessing
on the you know, the wide receiver scarcity. This team,
they're going to be two and oh, they're going to
(28:56):
be a three and oh team to start, my guess.
So if you lose to the Chiefs, you come off
a bye and you get PFF's weakest roster Denver than
Arizona and New Orleans. So the reality is it's much
easier to get unity build a culture when you're six
and one, and so now toward the end, not the
(29:18):
very end, very end, you get the Raiders and the
Patriots at the end. But like every NFL schedule, weeks
eleven through fifteen, it's a lot of Burrow, Lamar and
Mahomes and Baker Mayfield. So that's a tougher part. But
they should start and end very well. That's why I
have him in the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (29:33):
The early buy is not favorable. And then to go
where you're facing Bengals Ravens back to back, I know
they're at home. Then you've got to cross the country
to Atlanta, come back home, then go back to Kansas City.
Like that's a brutal stretch in the early buy you
never want that, right you, But like the later by
which helps, especially for the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (29:53):
They would not be surprised because they had Bosa, Mac
and the USC kid. Have three guys that get after
the quarterback, but could use a number one receiver. Cheat
them in your thoughts regarding Brandon Ayuk, the Niners don't
want to send him down the street. They want to
send them to the AFC. So Ayuk's a West Coast kid.
(30:16):
I could see the Charger saying, we'll give you Bosa.
By the way, you'd have both Bosas, but you pay
You paid Herbert, right, I can Herbert, but you let
go of Keenan's contract and Mike Williams well. But but
Bosa is a productive player. I'm just saying they have
a a scarcity of a position and Ayuk's available, and
(30:40):
they've got some depth at pass rush.
Speaker 3 (30:41):
Oh, I forgot the kid from Georgia. They drafted the receiver.
Speaker 1 (30:44):
Right, he's a second round pick, slot guy. He'll I'm
sure he'll be productive.
Speaker 3 (30:49):
Maconkey, Yes, thank you, he's that guy spicy, He's got
some juice, some talent. I like Chargers. Maybe I gotta
get him in the playoffs. I just I can't pull
the jets. Honestly, Let's go to the next story, and
that's our favorite punching bag, New York Giants. Gosh, it's
gonna be fun just taking shots at them all season.
I'm just telling you this hard knock situation. Even Briers
said it. People around the league are seeing it and
(31:11):
are like, Ooh, I don't want to be subject to that.
So Joe Shane stepped in it again. He went and
talked on the Hard Knocks podcast with Peter Schrager about
replacing Saquon Barkley with Devin Singletary. Take a listen.
Speaker 5 (31:25):
He was the guy we had on our on our radar.
Speaker 7 (31:27):
The last four years, he's been the leading rusher on
whatever team he's been on, and the last four years
those teams have won a playoff game. So he's good
enough to win with he's health, he's durable, and he's
he's good enough to win playoff games.
Speaker 1 (31:40):
Yeah, we'll see. So he's a back.
Speaker 3 (31:44):
Devin Singletary was drafted by you. You want to take
a guest who drafted him. Oh, Joe Shane and Buffy Yeah, Buffalo, Buffalo, Yeah.
And then Joe Shane leaves Buffalo and the Bills pretty
quickly move off of Devin Singles.
Speaker 1 (31:54):
Singletary. Is Shane nice back? He's a two, he said,
so last season he was in Houston.
Speaker 3 (31:59):
Yeah, oh yeah, one season.
Speaker 2 (32:02):
Solid year.
Speaker 1 (32:03):
We run for eight hundred yards, seven hundred yards.
Speaker 3 (32:06):
Eight and ninety eight yards. Yeah, and then Houston said
thank you for your service and we'll move on. So
now third team in three years for different single two.
Don't talk to me about how he's replacing saquad Barkley.
Speaker 1 (32:15):
Well, and the issue is both the Giants and the
Cowboys are weaker today in the position right behind the quarterback,
and the Eagles are stronger. So Philadelphia gave their young
quarterback a bona fide star behind him, and the Cowboys
(32:37):
are arguably the weakest team in the league at running back,
if not the Giants are. So I think for young
quarterbacks it's not just perimeter weapons. Who's the tight end,
who's the right tackle, who's your running back? I mean,
Barkley is Daniel Jones Without Saquon Barkley, you think you're
(32:57):
struggling with him now young quarterback, and by the way,
Daniel Jones isn't that young anymore, Like he's now moving
into his prime years.
Speaker 3 (33:06):
I don't know if there's gonna be a prime for
that guy. The last three years for the Giants have
been just such a cluster, total and unmitigated disaster. With
the extending Daniel Jones and they're not arguing with Saquon
then losing him to your rival.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
It's been a lot of upstairs chaos, really bad. Yeah,
And for the record, take out the seven to eight
prime years of Eli Manning. They have been a mess.
Eli Manning was so valuable to that franchise. Because Peyton's
so great, you kind of just look at Eli as
having two great seasons. No, Eli created stability with the Giants,
(33:47):
not just beat Brady and Belichick twice. Eli created stability.
He reminds me a little bit of Matt Hasselbeck, Like,
what if Matt Hasselbeck was your quarterback. He wouldn't get
the headlines. You were, oh, was viable? You were is
good and you know took Seattle to a super Bowl
where they kind of out played the Steelers. A couple
of bad calls. You know, people forget that. So there
(34:09):
are these quarterbacks that Eli is gonna go down as
a two time Super Bowl champ, so he'll be better
than hassleback. But there are these quarterback Kirk Cousins has
a lot of this. If Kirk Cousins is your quarterback,
there's at DAX this absolute stability in the room. It's amazing.
Not very many teams are great at quarterback. The second
place to be is capable and not chaotic.
Speaker 3 (34:32):
I almost was trying to think of a parallel for Eli,
a Damian Lillard. Maybe Damian Lillard, if you had him,
you were very viable every year a couple of big plays.
Speaker 1 (34:40):
The Blazers weren't viable every year every year. But he's
hurt a lot. Eli was never hurt. I don't the
NBA compass who's a two time champ who didn't get
the respect a chem.
Speaker 3 (34:53):
Olajahan he got.
Speaker 1 (34:55):
He never gets talked about he does.
Speaker 8 (34:57):
Is fair.
Speaker 3 (35:00):
It's weird to say.
Speaker 1 (35:01):
Eli's basically Philip Rivers with titles. Neither one was gonna
do much out of the pocket. Both great leaders.
Speaker 3 (35:11):
Wasn't Rivers a better regular season?
Speaker 1 (35:13):
Here to that and some of that some of that
he had to overcome some front off of stuff.
Speaker 3 (35:17):
He also had Ladanian Tomlinson, who.
Speaker 1 (35:19):
Was story well. I mean ELI had a front four
of like four Pro Bowl level players and Tiki Barber.
So it's not like ELI didn't have Plexico Burros. But
I mean ELI is better than a Philip. But a
lot of it's defined by January in February.
Speaker 3 (35:33):
That's yeah, that's the truth. Finally, two Basketball, where we're
getting to see Lebron and Steph play together for Team USA.
They had a long standing rivalry there probably for a
good eight to ten years when Lebron was on the
Cavs Lakers, and in a conversation with Joe Varden, Steph
admitted there was a healthy resentment of Lebron amid their rivalry,
(35:55):
with Lebron admitting there was a rivalry, but adding it
was a media driven narrative. Come on, Lebron, those not
media driven. There's no way when they took down the
seventy three win Warriors, remember Warriors went out in respontify
getting Kevin Duray that time, and that's come on, it
doesn't get better than that. I mean, I don't know
(36:17):
that we think about it that way. But Lebron and
Curry basically had one of the best rivalries in NBA history.
Speaker 1 (36:23):
Well, I mean they absolutely controlled the league for twelve years.
I mean it was Lebron getting to the finals or
the Warriors winning the finals. Yeah, I mean that's why
as the NBA ratings dip, it's like post Jordan, the
NBA lost fifty percent of a tradings. I mean, Michael
carried it for a decade, Magic Bird carried it for
a decade, Chack Kobe carried it for about seven years.
(36:44):
Stephen Lebron, they made one East one carried the league.
Speaker 3 (36:47):
So twenty fifteen they met in the finals, and sixteen, seventeen, eighteen,
and then I think nineteen was the Raptors. But four
straight years in the final, we never saw Michael Jordan
versus Magic.
Speaker 1 (36:58):
For three years in Amber Lebron lost, Kyrie Irving and
Kevin Love didn't he in the finals. Matthew della Vado
was fifteen. That would have been a great finals, and
the Cavs just fell apart physically they did.
Speaker 3 (37:09):
Yeah, I don't know, is this the greatest rivalry player.
I know it's tough because Lebron's received but what's the
better magic Bird? Four times?
Speaker 1 (37:20):
Magic Bird's bigger by far.
Speaker 3 (37:21):
It was bigger.
Speaker 1 (37:22):
But that's the greatest rivalry in league history.
Speaker 3 (37:25):
Well, because they came in at the same time. Quote
similar size players.
Speaker 1 (37:28):
I mean, Russell and Wilt had a personal thing going.
Speaker 3 (37:31):
But it's the twelve teams in the league.
Speaker 4 (37:32):
Forget that.
Speaker 1 (37:33):
Well, they were good teams. Huh and the Saint Louis Yes, exactly.
Speaker 3 (37:39):
Like off duty firefighters play suitting Serrah.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
Huge Royals will be no shade at them. Bob pettittt
rules uh. Jmack with a news.
Speaker 2 (37:51):
Well that's the news, and thanks for stopping.
Speaker 1 (37:53):
By big in your water and energy bills by a
Navy only heat water when you need it so it
never runs out in a fifteen year warranty. Go to
tanklessmadsimple dot com get a navviant.
Speaker 2 (38:07):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and noone Eastern a Empacific on Fox Sports Radio FS
one and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 9 (38:16):
Hey Gang Listen is Jay Glazer, host of Unbreakable, a
mental wealth.
Speaker 10 (38:21):
Podcast, and every week we will have on leaders from
sports entertainment like Sean McVay, Lindsay Vaughn, Michael Phelf, David Spade,
got Fiemmi, and also those who can help us in
between the ears, anyone from a therapist to someone like
Ed Milett for John Gordon. We've all been through some
sort of adversity to get to the top.
Speaker 9 (38:40):
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 8 (38:53):
Tomorrow, the four time defending Olympic Jams are back. Lebron
Curry and the best of the USA tune up for
the Olympics as they begin their run for the fifth
straight gold in Paris. USA takes on South suit Dan
tomorrow at three Eastern only on Fox.
Speaker 1 (39:12):
So I made my pre camp, pre season, pre camp
and pre season picks. I make about five predictions before
the NFL season. Here are my playoff predictions. I have
three new playoff teams in the AFC, two new playoff
teams in the NFC. I'll take the Bills, Chiefs, Ravens Texans.
(39:35):
I'm basically taking the best quarterback in the AFC East,
AFC West, AFC South, and I'm taking the first or
second best quarterback in the AFC North in Lamar Jackson.
I'm also taking Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, and Trevor Lawrence.
The AFC is where the best quarterbacks in this league are.
(39:56):
I have almost all of them going to the playoffs. Yeah,
I mean I have Josh Allen Mahomes all the best
quarterback in the NFC. It's a little diceier because I
don't think the league is as powerful and predictable at
the top. I've got the Eagles, Falcons, Lions, Rams winning
divisions narrowly over the Niners, Commanders, Packers. So here, I'm
(40:18):
taking a rookie quarterback, but we have a shocking playoff
team every year. Last year it's Houston, and I think
this year it's Washington with a star rookie quarterback taken
number two who on certain weekends may out play the
number one quarterback taken. I think the Niners are very good,
but I think the Rams have it home runs in
back to back drafts, and Matt Stafford and McVeigh are
(40:41):
next to Reidan Mahomes to me, the best quarterback coach
combo in the NFL. I think the team that's gonna
win a lot of games and nobody's gonna talk about him.
Is the Atlanta Falcons, and I think between their offensive line,
their offensive pieces, Kirk Cousins is gonna mop up. I mean,
they're good at back, tight end, wide receiver, and O line.
(41:01):
It's probably second the third best O line after the
Lions in the NFL. They don't generate much of a
pass rush, but in that division there's not a lot
of great quarterback play. That's why I was okay with
acquiring Kirk Cousins and drafting Michael Pennix because my takeaway
is they probably have potentially the first and second best
quarterback on the division, although Baker Mayfield would have an
(41:23):
argument with that. But only two new playoff teams in
the NFC, so three new in the AFC, two new
in the NFC, and you know I have the Commanders
and Falcons or new playoff teams in the NFC, where
I have the Bengals and the Chargers and the Jags
making it in the AFC, but again, it's very quarterback heavy.
(41:47):
Only Jaden Daniels would be the only team I'm picking
without a proven quarterback. I don't love Brock Purty, but
he's certainly capable. He made a Pro Bowl. So hey,
every year there a shocker. Washington's my shocker. And I
think Miami and the Jets look like playoff teams at
different points in the year, but they cancel each other
(42:08):
out and only the Bills may get from that division.
Speaker 3 (42:11):
Why do you have the Jaguars in the playoffs and
not the Jets or Dolphins?
Speaker 1 (42:15):
Because the Jaguars have a quarterback in their prime. It's
arguably a weaker division, and they have an offensive coach.
I get the offensive Super Bowl winning coach and a
quarterback in their prime.
Speaker 3 (42:26):
You had those guys last year, and what happened.
Speaker 1 (42:29):
The quarterback got hurt. So the quarterback, who doesn't have
a history of getting hurt, is now healthy again and
with his best rush.
Speaker 3 (42:36):
Yeah, I've got to figure out a way to get
you to get the Jets in there. I just don't
know who slides out.
Speaker 1 (42:40):
I wouldn't hold your breath on that this weekend. But
I still have it. I still get one or two
more moves, five new teams. I gotta find two more
Hour three next
Hosts And Creators
Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
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