September 7, 2024 • 29 mins
7-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady joins the show to tell Colin what he's done to prepare for his first game as broadcaster for Fox Sports
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Colin gives his Blazing 5 picks for the weekend
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in
noon to three Eastern nine am to noone Pacific. Find
your local station for The Herd at Fox Sports Radio
dot com, or stream us live every day on the
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Speaker 2 (00:22):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
You know, I always knew i'd be Tom Brady's teammate.
I figured I'd be a slot corner. I'm very twitchy.
Let's bring him on. Tom Brady the opener Cowboys. I
always knew when I was Connecticut, I'm like, you know what,
I should go down there, show Battle Belichick my back pedal.
But you know, we're different kind of teammates. Let me
start with that. That's an interesting one.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
So you had your football career.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
That's not real interesting.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
So you exhale, you retire, you exhale, and you probably
gave yourself about four or five months just kind of
just take a deep breath. I saw you you slim down,
you probably weren't sore for the first time in twenty years.
And then you start prepping you sign with Fox. What
have you been doing to prepare for this opening broadcast
for a year and a half.
Speaker 5 (01:12):
Well, I've reached out to all the different people that
I've met over the years of in media and sports
and got their take on kind of what the job entailed,
and then ultimately how the preparation goes during the week
and then how do you be really good when you
come on air? And I've had a lot of time,
I think over the course of my career in interviews,
(01:33):
production meetings, and being on camera that hopefully it's not
too far from what I've already experienced, knowing that there's
going to be a lot of things that are new
to this. So I think the most exciting part for
me is there's more of a structure to my life.
But you've always enjoyed playing football on the weekends. Now
I get to work on the weekends here in the fall.
(01:53):
And obviously the NFL football season is back, which is
we're all excited about that. I'm sure when you're walking
into the student today, it's a different feeling because you know,
this new cycle around at football is very exciting and
and I'm excited to get going. I got the best
teammates in the world, you know, KB and Aaron Tom
(02:15):
and then everyone behind the scenes and the truck and
ze Russ, their whole team. The chance to get to
know those people more intimately and to really put together
something special for the audience is what's exciting for me.
So I'm ready for football season. I'm ready to get
back out there and watch from a different perspective. And
(02:36):
we're fortunate to be in Cleveland this weekend with a
great game Cleveland Dallas, and they can't get here soon enough.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
So when you look at this film, all these years
of experience, one of the things I asked myself about Cleveland.
I love the coach, I love the GM I love
the old line. What's up with Deshaun Watson? I mean
you can play, he didn't play. Are you seeing anything
in this matchup just on film from last year that
you are saying, Man, I got to see this developed, Like,
(03:04):
is there a really interesting element that you can't wait
to see?
Speaker 5 (03:08):
I think there's a lot of storylines in this particular game.
But the interesting part about the NFL is nobody really
knows what they're going to be this season. You have hopes,
you bring in draft picks, free agents, and you try
to put together your team to say, all right, this
is the way that we want to play based on.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Where our deficiencies were last year.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
Certainly Cleveland's defense was top of the league last year.
They want to continue that. They want to get to
Sean back. They brought in a whole offensive staff to
try to get him to play the way that he
played when he was in Houston. Yeah, and they want
to go out there and compete, not just for a
division title, but for more than that. And it's a
great kind of test for them to go against Dallas,
(03:50):
who know they want to get over the hump as well.
And they've got a lot of great players. They've got
a lot of great talent. You know, they got to
get to you know, I think coach McCarthy. They have
a great leader and coach McCarthy that really preaches, hey,
we want to stay focused day after day. We want
to eliminate the distractions. And they've had quite a few
of that this off season, but every team does. And
(04:12):
I feel like Dallas has handled it very well. And
it's a great opening game. This is what it's all about,
a lot of guys coming back from injury. You got
Tron Diggs up there. I want to see him play,
and I want to see what Dak does coming off
last season, his best season as a pro. So so
many great things to watch in this particular game. And again,
it's a perfect day for football. It seems like it's
(04:33):
going to be in Cleveland on Sunday. It's not always
like that there and someone who's been there a few times. Yeah,
but sixty five degrees and partly Claude's perfect, perfect football weather.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Okay, Trent Williams back, And we've said this before. I
feel Trent Williams was more valuable. And I like Brandon Ayuk.
I think the team is Kyle Shanahan's brain, McCaffrey's legs,
and Trent Williams and Bosa. That's the soul of the team.
Tell me, what is the difference if you knew you
had Trent Willim and he didn't play, would it get
(05:02):
in your head? I think his signing is gigantic for
the Niners. You tell me how much it matters.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Yeah, I would be driving him to work every day.
Speaker 5 (05:10):
If I was the quarterback, I'd be making sure Trent
was with me every single place I went. There's no
better protector in the NFL than Trent over the years,
and I think the way they use him, and obviously
they I think San Francisco's run game is incredible, the
way they scheme their run game up. But having Trent
in there, it's just an entirely different offense because of
his athleticism, his rare combination of size, of quickness of power.
(05:35):
I mean, he's just and he gets out there on
the fields. He's a matchup advantage for the Niners every
time that he takes a snap out there. So when
they have him out there, they all feel confident. A
lot of those players are going to go to the
left side of the line of scrimmage right behind him.
They know that when he's in past protection, he's going
to hold up as well as anybody.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Doesn't really matter who he goes against.
Speaker 5 (05:56):
A tremendous player, and it's Niner's at you know, between
the Aux signing and Trent.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
I mean that was a little worries some a few
weeks ago.
Speaker 5 (06:02):
I actually did a practice game against the Saints up
in Santa Clara a couple weeks ago, and everyone's cut
a bit concern.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
But I think now a lot of those concerned.
Speaker 5 (06:12):
Are ease when both those guys are back in the
building and ready to take their put their pads on,
go out to practice, and get ready to play game.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Okay, Chiefs Ravens Thursday. Kansas City's done this dance and
they keep winning it. I love Lamar and I love Baltimore.
I love the coach, I love the owner. I think
it's the best run franchise arguably last decade in the league.
I think Baltimore does everything well except win. In late January,
you tell me, does it start wearing on you? Buffalo's
going through this Tom, you start hearing you can't win
(06:41):
these games. Is the pressure on Kansas City to defend
the home field or Baltimore?
Speaker 5 (06:45):
Thursday, I'd say a little bit more on Baltimore for
that exact reason. I think that when you have great leadership,
and I think of those Baltimore teams when they had
Ray Lewis and Ed Reid as they're two primary leaders,
even though they may lost in a championship game. I
actually saw this the other day, a clip from Ray
Lewis in the locker om matter they had lost to
US I think in twenty eleven in the championship game,
(07:09):
and how Ray talked about that team and how we
wanted to get them back on track going in the
next year. That's always what it's about. When you lose
in the playoffs, you want to think about our how
are we going to get over the hump next year?
What do we need to do? Where are our deficiencies?
Where can we get a little better? Where's our margin
of air? Is it taking care of the football? Is
a third down? Is it scoring points in the ridder?
(07:31):
Is it production from a unit that we haven't got
a lot of production from tight end groupings, running back groupings.
How can we improve our team a little bit so
when we get these big games we're more prepared than
the other team. We got more margin of air and look.
To win a Super Bowl is absolutely incredibly difficult.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
There's only one thing that does it.
Speaker 5 (07:51):
To do what the Chiefs have done is really remarkable,
and they want to try to do it again. That
challenge of them doing it is going to be as
hard to chant challenges any team the NFL's ever had.
That's why it's never happened to win three in a row.
But the Chiefs are poised like they always are to
go in there. I don't think they believe their hype.
They're very well coached, obviously a great quarterback, great leaders.
(08:15):
The defense played really well last year, so those guys
are prepared.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Baltimore wants what.
Speaker 5 (08:20):
The Chiefs got, and that's why you lead the season
off the way they have it, Ravens Chiefs.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
I'm excited to see that one get underway too.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
I couldn't tell you the last time I was this
excited to watch the Chicago Bears play and the Washington Commanders.
And that's the great gift the NFL gives us is
that we watch these great college players for three and
four and five years, and all of a sudden, I
have an emotional investment. I can't wait to watch Jaden
and Caleb. Give me one thing that you'll see with
the one young quarterback. You may see it with Drake May.
(08:51):
The one thing that Tom Brady will see that I
can't that you'll be like, Okay, he's going to be okay,
He's going to be okay. What does a young quarterback?
Is it the feet, is it the head movement? What
do you see that I can't that you would know
it's gonna work?
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Well.
Speaker 5 (09:08):
I think there's lots of ways you can look at
a quarterback play, and I think it's very easily to
evaluate the physical aspect of the game. How well he
throws the ball, how fast his feet are when he
drops back in the pocket. Can you escape the pocket
and make some plays on the run. For me, I
think the sustainable part about quarterbacking is really what's up
here is what's in the brain? Are you snapping the
ball and running good plays consistently against the defenses that
(09:32):
you're out there watching as you're reading the defenses? So
so much of it to me is are is the
coach giving the quarterback because he's going to see it
every day in practice. The coach and the players, are
they given the quarterback the freedom to make the plays
and the decisions that he needs to make to get
the team to win. Because a lot of these guys
can throw the ball, a lot of them can move
(09:53):
in the pocket. Now, watching Caleb do it, he's exceptional
at it right, But to me, it's.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
A deeper level than that.
Speaker 5 (10:00):
When you're looking at starting quarterbacks in the NFL, everybody
should be able to throw the ball well. Everybody should
be able to drop back and make accurate throws. It's
what can you do when you're in front on the road,
in front of seventy thousand people, and every single player
in the offensive puddles look at you and your eyes
going does this guy have the confidence in himself to
(10:20):
bring us back when we're losing in the fourth quarter?
And I think that's the mark of what I see
in quarterbacks when I watch them. I want to say, Okay,
does this guy have the maturity? Does he have the poise?
Does he have the composure to be at his best
when his team needs him the most?
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Ninety seconds Drake may would just sit him? I don't
think there's a right answer. Would you sit him? Or
would you put his feet to the fire and let
it rip?
Speaker 5 (10:43):
So I mean, I'd gone on record to say that
I think it's best, in my opinion, for young quarterbacks
or rookie quarterbacks to.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
Kind of watch a veteran do it.
Speaker 5 (10:54):
And there's so much that goes on and quarterbacks need
to process so much information so quickly, and I think,
if you can have someone When I sat behind Drew
Bledsoell my first year, what a great player he was
someone that I got to watch and learn from. Aaron
Rodgers watched behind Brett Fahr Patrick Mahomes watch behind Alex Smith.
So when you have a real pro in front of you,
(11:16):
they can help with that learning curve, even though though
that young quarterback isn't necessarily going out there and losing
confidence in what his abilities are. So you know, ultimately
those young players are going to get opportunities. The franchises
need those young quarterbacks to come in and take a
big step and lead that franchise on into the future. Right,
I'd just like to give them a little bit of
(11:36):
time to acclimate themselves to the pro game, the pro schedule,
and it's a big difference between college football and professional football.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
We got about ninety seconds left. Week one is different
than it used to be. Tom Nobody plays in the
preseason veterans, I mean the Jets and the Niners. Some
of these older teams are not playing anybody, so there
could be upsets galore.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
It is.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
I mean, if you had a lean in Dallas Cleveland,
because there's so many good veteran players in that. We'll
circle back for about ninety seconds. Now, what do you
think the game looks like? Cowboys Browns? What does it
look like the start?
Speaker 5 (12:10):
I think it's a defensive game. I think you got
two great defenses. Coach Zimmer is a huge addition to
that Dallas defense. They've got a lot of the same
players coming back on Dallas's defense. Cleveland does as well.
I mean both offenses, they're not quite the running games
they've had in the past due to some injuries, so
(12:30):
they've had some offensive line shuffling going on on both teams.
So I think it's going to be a little bit
more of a passing game. And I don't know if
those passing games are quite in midseason form yet with
the way that these you know, CD wasn't in camp,
you know that didn't have a lot of looks at that,
So again, some of these passing games may take a
little time to develop. So I think it's going to
be a really a very good defensive game, two great coordinators,
(12:54):
a couple of the best defensive lines pass rushers in
the NFL going. So I don't think it's a zero
three nothing game. But I don't think it's a high flying, scoring,
all over the place game either.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
Yeah, last week in Week one, it was I'm always
amazed the college kids play so well in Week one
without preseason these NFL games. Week one, there's gonna be
a huge upset. Veterans don't play, so you don't know
what you're getting.
Speaker 5 (13:18):
You don't think the pro football is a lot more
fair than college football. When you see these college football
games and you got a directional Tennessee school versus Alabama,
there's not much chance that.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Yeah, it's tough for those teams to come in and
compete against the big dogs.
Speaker 5 (13:32):
So in the NFL, look, this is as fair as
it gets, which is why everyone loves this sport salary cap.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
It's so many things that you know.
Speaker 5 (13:40):
All these teams have the ability to recompromise their roster
and deal with them in the best possible way and
try to be the best team they could be.
Speaker 4 (13:48):
So creep out great seeing you, good luck.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
in noon Eastern not a em Pacific on Fox Sports
Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app heard Hierarchy Time
is now go the top ten NFL teams according to
College number ten.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
I'm gonna go with the Atlanta Falcons. Kirk Cousins is
Dak Prescott. You'll be relevant, good and you can win
your division. Listen their offensive weapons. I think we're under
us last year, Drake London, Kyle Pitts, b Jean Robinson.
They have a top five or six offensive line according
to PFF. I think Raheem Morris is the rare defensive
coach who understands offense. The bottom line is Kirk Cousins
(14:33):
picked a great division like Tom Brady did.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
He went to Tampa.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
It was a bad division and he had a good
offensive line. That's what Kirk Cousins has joined. I think
they can win twelve games. I don't think they'd win
twelve games in the NFC North, but in the NFC South,
I think they can run away with it. Best online,
best quarterback arguably in the division. Atlanta at ten, number nine.
I think Philadelphias loaded and they could be a top
(14:59):
five team. But I don't know what to make of
them now. They've got all new coordinators. But I thought
Saquon Barkley is literally Jalen Hurt's best friend. What a
gift they lose. They're all pro center, but their tackles
are excellent. They spent money on defense and free agency.
They have stars all over the team. Hurts can move,
Barkley always better than average. A tight end aj Brown
(15:23):
where they weak. I just don't know if I like
the coach. Their division is one of the weaker ones.
I don't think they have to be a great team
to win ten games. Philadelphia at nine, number eight the Texans.
You know, I was thinking sophomore slump, but there's a
couple of numbers that are amazing. Did you know they
had the fewest turnovers in the NFL last year with
(15:44):
a rookie quarterback?
Speaker 4 (15:46):
At fourteen, they are hyper efficient. CJ.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Stroud makes no mistakes, Demiko Ryans a rock star as
a coach. Then they add Stefan Diggs, Daniil Hunter, Rush End,
Joe Mixon. I like their roster last year. They added
three high end starters. Again, I don't know if the
division's any good. Like Atlanta, I think they could run
away with this thing. Texans at eight, number seven Buffalo.
(16:13):
They've won four straight division titles. Good coach, good GM
star quarterback. And you know their offensive line. We know
it's good at left tackle. Then it's been musical chairs.
But they did allow the few of sacks in the
league last year, and the defense was number one under McDermott.
They just do things well. They protect Josh Josh is great.
They defend the pass, they get a good pass rush,
(16:34):
and they draft well. I don't think they'll miss to
I think Stefan Diggs is a better get for Houston
than he is a loss for Buffalo. I think they'll
be fine. I think they're good. The question is are
they ever great? Because Kansas City's made a habit of
being not just good but great. Buffalo at seven, number six,
I think the Niners pull back a little. I didn't
(16:55):
like their offseason, and I think it's time to have
a fair evaluation of brock Per ready to figure out
can we give this guy the bag? They're getting old debo, Trent,
Christian McCaffrey, Kittle. I think it's a big year, a
lot of hype, a lot of wins, and no trophies.
They've been twenty two and five. When Christian McCaffrey plays,
if he plays, they'll be very good. But their offensive
(17:17):
line was not good last year twenty first, and Trent
Williams cannot be in game shape. And then they face
the Jets in the opener, so that's a rough start.
The Jets defense and your offense you got got you
have that terrible shooting. You have Brandon Aiyuk gaining the camp.
Trent Williams. I like the Niners a lot. I think
(17:38):
their divisions better. I only have him at.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
Six, number five. I think Green Bay is fascinating.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
I think they may be too young to win a
Super Bowl, but not necessarily. Where are they not good? Offensively?
Good guys, weapons everywhere. Romeo Dobbs, Jayden Reid, Christian Watson,
Jordan Love, Josh Jacobs. Excellent offensive coach. Their whole lines
are always good. Now defense league, can they generate a
consistent pass rush? I don't know. Super Bowl teams that
(18:04):
have won don't always have great pass rushes. They have
the youngest roster in the league. The average age is
twenty five. There are college teams that are averaging twenty
three with their two deeps, or at least they're starting rosters.
This is a really, really young team. But I think
they're really special and I got them at five, number four. Listen,
(18:25):
Baltimore is gonna be good. Here's all you need to know.
Everybody goes, oh, they only return two starters on the
offensive line. Yeah, Ronnie Stanley and Tyler Linderbaum. Pro Bowl
level guy. If you get your left tackle in your center. Right,
You'll figure out the rest. Baltimore's O line is ohays fine.
They got an all time left tackle in a great
center and Lamar Jackson, who, by the way, is twenty
(18:48):
and one all time against NFC opponents. So just put
in about six w's when they face the NFC. And again,
I think he's got the best receiving Corries had Mark
Andrews back healthy. I just trust the organization, you know
what I mean. Like they're just they're just well run
and it matters. GM coach quarterback Harbaugh. They're going eleven
(19:08):
games again, like Buffalo, They'll be good.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
Will they be great? Let's wait and see number three.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
Most underrated team in the league last year. I think
the Rams are special.
Speaker 4 (19:18):
It is.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
I think they are basically Green Bay with a superstar
coach and a superstar quarterback. I loved them last year.
I think they nailed the draft. I think they're very
well run. And here's the other thing about him. Five
of their first picks were defense, and they've been nailing
the draft for years. Cooper Cup was banged up last year.
He's finally healthy. Say what you will about the Rams.
(19:41):
You rolled your eyes when Uncle Colin told you they
were the safest over bet in the league, and you're
rolling your eyes now, and I tell you they're gonna
win this division and may win it comfortably.
Speaker 4 (19:55):
The Rams at three, number two Detroit, I don't know
how criticize them. They draft, they develop.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
I mean, they play fourteen of their first fifteen games indoors,
and there's I mean, Chicago's got a good defense, but
Minnesota Green Bay average defenses.
Speaker 4 (20:14):
They're gonna score a lot of points. They're gonna control
football games they're gonna do.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
I mean, they beat Kansas City week one last year
and they never they were good the whole year. I mean,
they're just a really sound, well run football team, which
is unbelievable because five years ago they were the opposite
of that. But I mean, Jamier Gibbs, star back, star
tight ends, star receivers, and they still have. What worries
me is it's a losing historic culture. Do they know
(20:40):
how to win a big game? And there's something to that.
There is something about New England for years winning games
when they were outplayed or out talented because they knew
how to win close games. Buffalo Bills have that issue,
like they don't know how to win big games prove it.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
If Detroit's there, they could become the Buffalo of the NFC.
Speaker 4 (20:58):
But man, do I like their talent?
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Number one Kansas City noisy offseason blah blah blah. They're
three best players Chris Jones, Travis Kelcey and Mahomes. Who
cares if they're noisy. Their defense was excellent last year.
It's now they lost a corner, but it's just older,
smarter players. I think there's so much functionality about this team.
I think the hardest thing they face is apathy. It
(21:21):
is very hard to win three straight. I think their
defense is elite. Travis Kelcey is aging, but let's be honest,
he was great when it mattered in the postseason.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
I think one of their tougher.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
Challenges is I think Carbond The Chargers have always played
him pretty tight.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
I think Denver's better than people think.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
But uh, I have Cincinnati at eleven and that's I
feel pretty good about this.
Speaker 4 (21:46):
J Max rolling his eyes. You guys go ahead and
laugh on the rams. I was right last year. I'm
gonna be right this year.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
Do you care about Super Bowl odds or not?
Speaker 3 (21:52):
Really?
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Not really.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Rams are thirteenth in Super Bowl odds.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
He had third in your power rating.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
Now they're over under. Last year was five wins. Why
do you harping on the last year.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
We're in this year. Don't live in the past, buddy,
We're in the present.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
I bought three jet skis last year with my ramswings.
They're gonna get repossessed here. That's funny.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and noon Easter nine am Pacific.
Speaker 6 (22:16):
He's Mike Krmen, I'm Dan Bayern. We have a fantasy
football podcast called I Want Your Flex.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
That's right, Dan.
Speaker 7 (22:23):
Every week we're gonna scour the waiver wire to find
the pickups to turbo boost your fantasy lineup, sit starts,
fantasy football players rankings to get you ready to dominate
the competition.
Speaker 6 (22:34):
Listen to I Want Your Flex with Mike Carmon and
meet Dan Byer on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts and
wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 4 (22:41):
Here we go, blazing five, fire Away, Let's.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
Blaze it up, Fired Up.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
It's Collins Blazon Fox. Titans at Bears.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
All right, I am going to take the Titans plus
three and a half at Chito. Both teams undefeated in
the preseason. Will Levis now has actual weapons, Tony Pollard,
Calvin Ridley, Lagerius Snead. It's a whole new coaching staff.
All Tennessee has heard all off season is how they're
(23:16):
gonna get run out of the building by this frena phenom.
By the way, the Bears never open well, two to
eight in their last ten openers. They had the fewest
sacks last year in the last couple of years in
the NFL. Also, the number one pick as a rookie
quarterback in the common draft era is four fifteen to
(23:38):
one in the opener nine straight since David Carr won.
Bottom line here is I think maybe if they played
in six weeks, it would be different.
Speaker 4 (23:49):
Way, way too much hype.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
You can get this at plus four and a lot
of places shop the number. I'm gonna take the Titans
to up set the Chicago Bears. The final score twenty
six to twenty.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Four, Panthers at six.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
I like the.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
Panthers plus four. In fact, I think they could win.
You may want to bet money line. They've got a
new head coach, Dave Kanalis. He's the one that gave
Baker Mayfield that great season last year. For Baker, they
have upgraded on the O line, ed rusher wide receiver
Bryce Young in the last month last year was not terrible,
(24:30):
completed sixty five percent of his throws mid eighty passer
rating with a battle line in bad receivers. Dennis Allen
I think argument worst coach in the league on the
hot seat. Their offensive line was second worst in the league,
and they didn't generate a pass rush the Panthers defense
even last year, though it was on the field constantly.
The Panthers defense was top five and six in many categories.
(24:54):
The Panthers win this game outright. Take the points twenty
four to twelve.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Broncos at Seahawks.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
I'm gonna take Seattle minus six. I can think Bonnicks
is gonna have a good year and also think this
is a terrible spot. Gino Smith has had back to
back Pro Bowl years. He's a grown up, he's an adult.
He won't be nervous, and he's at home. Mike McDonald
is the new Seahawks coach. He is a whiz defensively.
The Ravens had the number one scoring defense with him.
(25:25):
Seattle's got the weapons here Kenneth Walker, DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett,
Jason Smith, and Nigbah Noah Fan Denver. Meanwhile, defense struggles
rookie on the road, by the way, first round rookie
quarterbacks in week one, not taking number one, but just
first round rookie quarterbacks in Week one, thirteen twenty six
(25:48):
and one all time passer rating at sixty nine. The
Seahawks win. It's close to the line, twenty seven to twenty.
Take Seattle minus the points to cover and win. Ramsaid liars,
I usually don't do this, but I'm gonna take the
Lions minus four and a half. The line was better.
(26:08):
I'll tell you why I'm gonna thread the needle here
in five weeks. I wouldn't do this. Rams Oh line's
a mess. They're moving their center to guard their right tackle.
Their best on lineman may not play. They're left tackle.
They're using a backup and Detroit's pass rush has been
the talk of their camp. This is a team in Detroit,
more players in their prime. Rams are a very young team.
(26:30):
Jared Goff at Home is forty two and nine in
the think about that Jared Goff at Home last two
seasons forty two and nine touchdown interception, not his record
forty two touchdowns nine picks. He is a great indoor quarterback.
He is a great home quarterback. And Matt Stafford is
an older quarterback and I love Matt, but last year
he only completed sixty three percent of his throws. Poka
(26:52):
Naku has been banged up. Cooper Cup's coming off an injury.
I do not like the Rams in this spot, in
this moment. In a month, I'd take the point. I
think the Lions win, and I think they cover thirty
to twenty four. Detroit Jet sent forty nine ers very
close game. I'm taking the points. Take the Jets plus
(27:13):
four and a half. I think it comes down to
a field goal at to very end. But you got
to take the Jets.
Speaker 4 (27:18):
Listen.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
They won three of their last five last year, and
they were terrible at quarterback. They've added Mike Williams, a
couple of offensive linemen. Hassan Redick won't play, he will eventually.
This should be a good team. Their offensive line features
three new starters. I'm okay with that because they're upgrades
in all of them, and now elijahvia Tucker is healthy.
Garrett Wilson, Breese Hall. They have big time playmakers the Niners.
(27:41):
McCaffrey's Heerd, Trent Williams just got into camp, super noisy,
the Ricky pearsall incident. I don't like him in the
spot again, what I feel differently a month and a
half from now, I think the Niners are going to
start slow. If you look at the Jets defense last
season and again, they were on the field the whole year,
top two and three in many categories. Now they get
(28:01):
an offense, it's a more rested defense. I like the
Jets to cover. I'm gonna go Niners to win twenty
four to twenty three. But I think if you look,
if there's a time to beat the Niners in this spot,
it is now. They've been a circus for a month now.
I'm not saying that Jets don't have issues, but the
Jets feel like outside of Hassan Reddick, we haven't heard
(28:23):
much in the last three weeks. Oh, there's a book
on Aaron Rodgers. Okay, he didn't write it. I kind
of feel like the Jets noise has subsided. I mean,
I got San Francisco stuff. I still don't know if
Brandon I who likes his contract. So there we go
the Blazing five in review. I'm gonna take the Titans, Panthers,
(28:46):
and Jets as dogs and the Seahawks and Lions as
favorite again.
Speaker 4 (28:52):
Week one is different.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
I'm betting against a rookie quarterback because I think Bonnicks
is gonna be over we. That's one of the loud stadiums,
one of the best defensive young coaches. That is a
top spot for him.
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in
noon to three Eastern nine am to noone Pacific. Find
your local station for The Herd at Fox Sports Radio
dot com, or stream us live every day on the
iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:25):
You know, I always knew i'd be Tom Brady's teammate.
I figured I'd be a slot corner. I'm very twitchy.
Let's bring him on. Tom Brady the opener Cowboys. I
always knew when I was Connecticut, I'm like, you know what,
I should go down there, show Battle Belichick my back pedal.
But you know, we're different kind of teammates. Let me
start with that. That's an interesting one.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
So you had your football career.
Speaker 4 (00:49):
That's not real interesting.
Speaker 1 (00:51):
So you exhale, you retire, you exhale, and you probably
gave yourself about four or five months just kind of
just take a deep breath. I saw you you slim down,
you probably weren't sore for the first time in twenty years.
And then you start prepping you sign with Fox. What
have you been doing to prepare for this opening broadcast
for a year and a half.
Speaker 5 (01:12):
Well, I've reached out to all the different people that
I've met over the years of in media and sports
and got their take on kind of what the job entailed,
and then ultimately how the preparation goes during the week
and then how do you be really good when you
come on air? And I've had a lot of time,
I think over the course of my career in interviews,
(01:33):
production meetings, and being on camera that hopefully it's not
too far from what I've already experienced, knowing that there's
going to be a lot of things that are new
to this. So I think the most exciting part for
me is there's more of a structure to my life.
But you've always enjoyed playing football on the weekends. Now
I get to work on the weekends here in the fall.
(01:53):
And obviously the NFL football season is back, which is
we're all excited about that. I'm sure when you're walking
into the student today, it's a different feeling because you know,
this new cycle around at football is very exciting and
and I'm excited to get going. I got the best
teammates in the world, you know, KB and Aaron Tom
(02:15):
and then everyone behind the scenes and the truck and
ze Russ, their whole team. The chance to get to
know those people more intimately and to really put together
something special for the audience is what's exciting for me.
So I'm ready for football season. I'm ready to get
back out there and watch from a different perspective. And
(02:36):
we're fortunate to be in Cleveland this weekend with a
great game Cleveland Dallas, and they can't get here soon enough.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
So when you look at this film, all these years
of experience, one of the things I asked myself about Cleveland.
I love the coach, I love the GM I love
the old line. What's up with Deshaun Watson? I mean
you can play, he didn't play. Are you seeing anything
in this matchup just on film from last year that
you are saying, Man, I got to see this developed, Like,
(03:04):
is there a really interesting element that you can't wait
to see?
Speaker 5 (03:08):
I think there's a lot of storylines in this particular game.
But the interesting part about the NFL is nobody really
knows what they're going to be this season. You have hopes,
you bring in draft picks, free agents, and you try
to put together your team to say, all right, this
is the way that we want to play based on.
Speaker 3 (03:27):
Where our deficiencies were last year.
Speaker 5 (03:28):
Certainly Cleveland's defense was top of the league last year.
They want to continue that. They want to get to
Sean back. They brought in a whole offensive staff to
try to get him to play the way that he
played when he was in Houston. Yeah, and they want
to go out there and compete, not just for a
division title, but for more than that. And it's a
great kind of test for them to go against Dallas,
(03:50):
who know they want to get over the hump as well.
And they've got a lot of great players. They've got
a lot of great talent. You know, they got to
get to you know, I think coach McCarthy. They have
a great leader and coach McCarthy that really preaches, hey,
we want to stay focused day after day. We want
to eliminate the distractions. And they've had quite a few
of that this off season, but every team does. And
(04:12):
I feel like Dallas has handled it very well. And
it's a great opening game. This is what it's all about,
a lot of guys coming back from injury. You got
Tron Diggs up there. I want to see him play,
and I want to see what Dak does coming off
last season, his best season as a pro. So so
many great things to watch in this particular game. And again,
it's a perfect day for football. It seems like it's
(04:33):
going to be in Cleveland on Sunday. It's not always
like that there and someone who's been there a few times. Yeah,
but sixty five degrees and partly Claude's perfect, perfect football weather.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
Okay, Trent Williams back, And we've said this before. I
feel Trent Williams was more valuable. And I like Brandon Ayuk.
I think the team is Kyle Shanahan's brain, McCaffrey's legs,
and Trent Williams and Bosa. That's the soul of the team.
Tell me, what is the difference if you knew you
had Trent Willim and he didn't play, would it get
(05:02):
in your head? I think his signing is gigantic for
the Niners. You tell me how much it matters.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Yeah, I would be driving him to work every day.
Speaker 5 (05:10):
If I was the quarterback, I'd be making sure Trent
was with me every single place I went. There's no
better protector in the NFL than Trent over the years,
and I think the way they use him, and obviously
they I think San Francisco's run game is incredible, the
way they scheme their run game up. But having Trent
in there, it's just an entirely different offense because of
his athleticism, his rare combination of size, of quickness of power.
(05:35):
I mean, he's just and he gets out there on
the fields. He's a matchup advantage for the Niners every
time that he takes a snap out there. So when
they have him out there, they all feel confident. A
lot of those players are going to go to the
left side of the line of scrimmage right behind him.
They know that when he's in past protection, he's going
to hold up as well as anybody.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
Doesn't really matter who he goes against.
Speaker 5 (05:56):
A tremendous player, and it's Niner's at you know, between
the Aux signing and Trent.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
I mean that was a little worries some a few
weeks ago.
Speaker 5 (06:02):
I actually did a practice game against the Saints up
in Santa Clara a couple weeks ago, and everyone's cut
a bit concern.
Speaker 3 (06:09):
But I think now a lot of those concerned.
Speaker 5 (06:12):
Are ease when both those guys are back in the
building and ready to take their put their pads on,
go out to practice, and get ready to play game.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
Okay, Chiefs Ravens Thursday. Kansas City's done this dance and
they keep winning it. I love Lamar and I love Baltimore.
I love the coach, I love the owner. I think
it's the best run franchise arguably last decade in the league.
I think Baltimore does everything well except win. In late January,
you tell me, does it start wearing on you? Buffalo's
going through this Tom, you start hearing you can't win
(06:41):
these games. Is the pressure on Kansas City to defend
the home field or Baltimore?
Speaker 5 (06:45):
Thursday, I'd say a little bit more on Baltimore for
that exact reason. I think that when you have great leadership,
and I think of those Baltimore teams when they had
Ray Lewis and Ed Reid as they're two primary leaders,
even though they may lost in a championship game. I
actually saw this the other day, a clip from Ray
Lewis in the locker om matter they had lost to
US I think in twenty eleven in the championship game,
(07:09):
and how Ray talked about that team and how we
wanted to get them back on track going in the
next year. That's always what it's about. When you lose
in the playoffs, you want to think about our how
are we going to get over the hump next year?
What do we need to do? Where are our deficiencies?
Where can we get a little better? Where's our margin
of air? Is it taking care of the football? Is
a third down? Is it scoring points in the ridder?
(07:31):
Is it production from a unit that we haven't got
a lot of production from tight end groupings, running back groupings.
How can we improve our team a little bit so
when we get these big games we're more prepared than
the other team. We got more margin of air and look.
To win a Super Bowl is absolutely incredibly difficult.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
There's only one thing that does it.
Speaker 5 (07:51):
To do what the Chiefs have done is really remarkable,
and they want to try to do it again. That
challenge of them doing it is going to be as
hard to chant challenges any team the NFL's ever had.
That's why it's never happened to win three in a row.
But the Chiefs are poised like they always are to
go in there. I don't think they believe their hype.
They're very well coached, obviously a great quarterback, great leaders.
(08:15):
The defense played really well last year, so those guys
are prepared.
Speaker 3 (08:19):
Baltimore wants what.
Speaker 5 (08:20):
The Chiefs got, and that's why you lead the season
off the way they have it, Ravens Chiefs.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
I'm excited to see that one get underway too.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
I couldn't tell you the last time I was this
excited to watch the Chicago Bears play and the Washington Commanders.
And that's the great gift the NFL gives us is
that we watch these great college players for three and
four and five years, and all of a sudden, I
have an emotional investment. I can't wait to watch Jaden
and Caleb. Give me one thing that you'll see with
the one young quarterback. You may see it with Drake May.
(08:51):
The one thing that Tom Brady will see that I
can't that you'll be like, Okay, he's going to be okay,
He's going to be okay. What does a young quarterback?
Is it the feet, is it the head movement? What
do you see that I can't that you would know
it's gonna work?
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Well.
Speaker 5 (09:08):
I think there's lots of ways you can look at
a quarterback play, and I think it's very easily to
evaluate the physical aspect of the game. How well he
throws the ball, how fast his feet are when he
drops back in the pocket. Can you escape the pocket
and make some plays on the run. For me, I
think the sustainable part about quarterbacking is really what's up
here is what's in the brain? Are you snapping the
ball and running good plays consistently against the defenses that
(09:32):
you're out there watching as you're reading the defenses? So
so much of it to me is are is the
coach giving the quarterback because he's going to see it
every day in practice. The coach and the players, are
they given the quarterback the freedom to make the plays
and the decisions that he needs to make to get
the team to win. Because a lot of these guys
can throw the ball, a lot of them can move
(09:53):
in the pocket. Now, watching Caleb do it, he's exceptional
at it right, But to me, it's.
Speaker 3 (09:58):
A deeper level than that.
Speaker 5 (10:00):
When you're looking at starting quarterbacks in the NFL, everybody
should be able to throw the ball well. Everybody should
be able to drop back and make accurate throws. It's
what can you do when you're in front on the road,
in front of seventy thousand people, and every single player
in the offensive puddles look at you and your eyes
going does this guy have the confidence in himself to
(10:20):
bring us back when we're losing in the fourth quarter?
And I think that's the mark of what I see
in quarterbacks when I watch them. I want to say, Okay,
does this guy have the maturity? Does he have the poise?
Does he have the composure to be at his best
when his team needs him the most?
Speaker 1 (10:33):
Ninety seconds Drake may would just sit him? I don't
think there's a right answer. Would you sit him? Or
would you put his feet to the fire and let
it rip?
Speaker 5 (10:43):
So I mean, I'd gone on record to say that
I think it's best, in my opinion, for young quarterbacks
or rookie quarterbacks to.
Speaker 3 (10:52):
Kind of watch a veteran do it.
Speaker 5 (10:54):
And there's so much that goes on and quarterbacks need
to process so much information so quickly, and I think,
if you can have someone When I sat behind Drew
Bledsoell my first year, what a great player he was
someone that I got to watch and learn from. Aaron
Rodgers watched behind Brett Fahr Patrick Mahomes watch behind Alex Smith.
So when you have a real pro in front of you,
(11:16):
they can help with that learning curve, even though though
that young quarterback isn't necessarily going out there and losing
confidence in what his abilities are. So you know, ultimately
those young players are going to get opportunities. The franchises
need those young quarterbacks to come in and take a
big step and lead that franchise on into the future. Right,
I'd just like to give them a little bit of
(11:36):
time to acclimate themselves to the pro game, the pro schedule,
and it's a big difference between college football and professional football.
Speaker 1 (11:43):
We got about ninety seconds left. Week one is different
than it used to be. Tom Nobody plays in the
preseason veterans, I mean the Jets and the Niners. Some
of these older teams are not playing anybody, so there
could be upsets galore.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
It is.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
I mean, if you had a lean in Dallas Cleveland,
because there's so many good veteran players in that. We'll
circle back for about ninety seconds. Now, what do you
think the game looks like? Cowboys Browns? What does it
look like the start?
Speaker 5 (12:10):
I think it's a defensive game. I think you got
two great defenses. Coach Zimmer is a huge addition to
that Dallas defense. They've got a lot of the same
players coming back on Dallas's defense. Cleveland does as well.
I mean both offenses, they're not quite the running games
they've had in the past due to some injuries, so
(12:30):
they've had some offensive line shuffling going on on both teams.
So I think it's going to be a little bit
more of a passing game. And I don't know if
those passing games are quite in midseason form yet with
the way that these you know, CD wasn't in camp,
you know that didn't have a lot of looks at that,
So again, some of these passing games may take a
little time to develop. So I think it's going to
be a really a very good defensive game, two great coordinators,
(12:54):
a couple of the best defensive lines pass rushers in
the NFL going. So I don't think it's a zero
three nothing game. But I don't think it's a high flying, scoring,
all over the place game either.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
Yeah, last week in Week one, it was I'm always
amazed the college kids play so well in Week one
without preseason these NFL games. Week one, there's gonna be
a huge upset. Veterans don't play, so you don't know
what you're getting.
Speaker 5 (13:18):
You don't think the pro football is a lot more
fair than college football. When you see these college football
games and you got a directional Tennessee school versus Alabama,
there's not much chance that.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Yeah, it's tough for those teams to come in and
compete against the big dogs.
Speaker 5 (13:32):
So in the NFL, look, this is as fair as
it gets, which is why everyone loves this sport salary cap.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
It's so many things that you know.
Speaker 5 (13:40):
All these teams have the ability to recompromise their roster
and deal with them in the best possible way and
try to be the best team they could be.
Speaker 4 (13:48):
So creep out great seeing you, good luck.
Speaker 2 (13:51):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
in noon Eastern not a em Pacific on Fox Sports
Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app heard Hierarchy Time
is now go the top ten NFL teams according to
College number ten.
Speaker 1 (14:09):
I'm gonna go with the Atlanta Falcons. Kirk Cousins is
Dak Prescott. You'll be relevant, good and you can win
your division. Listen their offensive weapons. I think we're under
us last year, Drake London, Kyle Pitts, b Jean Robinson.
They have a top five or six offensive line according
to PFF. I think Raheem Morris is the rare defensive
coach who understands offense. The bottom line is Kirk Cousins
(14:33):
picked a great division like Tom Brady did.
Speaker 4 (14:36):
He went to Tampa.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
It was a bad division and he had a good
offensive line. That's what Kirk Cousins has joined. I think
they can win twelve games. I don't think they'd win
twelve games in the NFC North, but in the NFC South,
I think they can run away with it. Best online,
best quarterback arguably in the division. Atlanta at ten, number nine.
I think Philadelphias loaded and they could be a top
(14:59):
five team. But I don't know what to make of
them now. They've got all new coordinators. But I thought
Saquon Barkley is literally Jalen Hurt's best friend. What a
gift they lose. They're all pro center, but their tackles
are excellent. They spent money on defense and free agency.
They have stars all over the team. Hurts can move,
Barkley always better than average. A tight end aj Brown
(15:23):
where they weak. I just don't know if I like
the coach. Their division is one of the weaker ones.
I don't think they have to be a great team
to win ten games. Philadelphia at nine, number eight the Texans.
You know, I was thinking sophomore slump, but there's a
couple of numbers that are amazing. Did you know they
had the fewest turnovers in the NFL last year with
(15:44):
a rookie quarterback?
Speaker 4 (15:46):
At fourteen, they are hyper efficient. CJ.
Speaker 1 (15:50):
Stroud makes no mistakes, Demiko Ryans a rock star as
a coach. Then they add Stefan Diggs, Daniil Hunter, Rush End,
Joe Mixon. I like their roster last year. They added
three high end starters. Again, I don't know if the
division's any good. Like Atlanta, I think they could run
away with this thing. Texans at eight, number seven Buffalo.
(16:13):
They've won four straight division titles. Good coach, good GM
star quarterback. And you know their offensive line. We know
it's good at left tackle. Then it's been musical chairs.
But they did allow the few of sacks in the
league last year, and the defense was number one under McDermott.
They just do things well. They protect Josh Josh is great.
They defend the pass, they get a good pass rush,
(16:34):
and they draft well. I don't think they'll miss to
I think Stefan Diggs is a better get for Houston
than he is a loss for Buffalo. I think they'll
be fine. I think they're good. The question is are
they ever great? Because Kansas City's made a habit of
being not just good but great. Buffalo at seven, number six,
I think the Niners pull back a little. I didn't
(16:55):
like their offseason, and I think it's time to have
a fair evaluation of brock Per ready to figure out
can we give this guy the bag? They're getting old debo, Trent,
Christian McCaffrey, Kittle. I think it's a big year, a
lot of hype, a lot of wins, and no trophies.
They've been twenty two and five. When Christian McCaffrey plays,
if he plays, they'll be very good. But their offensive
(17:17):
line was not good last year twenty first, and Trent
Williams cannot be in game shape. And then they face
the Jets in the opener, so that's a rough start.
The Jets defense and your offense you got got you
have that terrible shooting. You have Brandon Aiyuk gaining the camp.
Trent Williams. I like the Niners a lot. I think
(17:38):
their divisions better. I only have him at.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
Six, number five. I think Green Bay is fascinating.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
I think they may be too young to win a
Super Bowl, but not necessarily. Where are they not good? Offensively?
Good guys, weapons everywhere. Romeo Dobbs, Jayden Reid, Christian Watson,
Jordan Love, Josh Jacobs. Excellent offensive coach. Their whole lines
are always good. Now defense league, can they generate a
consistent pass rush? I don't know. Super Bowl teams that
(18:04):
have won don't always have great pass rushes. They have
the youngest roster in the league. The average age is
twenty five. There are college teams that are averaging twenty
three with their two deeps, or at least they're starting rosters.
This is a really, really young team. But I think
they're really special and I got them at five, number four. Listen,
(18:25):
Baltimore is gonna be good. Here's all you need to know.
Everybody goes, oh, they only return two starters on the
offensive line. Yeah, Ronnie Stanley and Tyler Linderbaum. Pro Bowl
level guy. If you get your left tackle in your center. Right,
You'll figure out the rest. Baltimore's O line is ohays fine.
They got an all time left tackle in a great
center and Lamar Jackson, who, by the way, is twenty
(18:48):
and one all time against NFC opponents. So just put
in about six w's when they face the NFC. And again,
I think he's got the best receiving Corries had Mark
Andrews back healthy. I just trust the organization, you know
what I mean. Like they're just they're just well run
and it matters. GM coach quarterback Harbaugh. They're going eleven
(19:08):
games again, like Buffalo, They'll be good.
Speaker 4 (19:11):
Will they be great? Let's wait and see number three.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
Most underrated team in the league last year. I think
the Rams are special.
Speaker 4 (19:18):
It is.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
I think they are basically Green Bay with a superstar
coach and a superstar quarterback. I loved them last year.
I think they nailed the draft. I think they're very
well run. And here's the other thing about him. Five
of their first picks were defense, and they've been nailing
the draft for years. Cooper Cup was banged up last year.
He's finally healthy. Say what you will about the Rams.
(19:41):
You rolled your eyes when Uncle Colin told you they
were the safest over bet in the league, and you're
rolling your eyes now, and I tell you they're gonna
win this division and may win it comfortably.
Speaker 4 (19:55):
The Rams at three, number two Detroit, I don't know
how criticize them. They draft, they develop.
Speaker 1 (20:02):
I mean, they play fourteen of their first fifteen games indoors,
and there's I mean, Chicago's got a good defense, but
Minnesota Green Bay average defenses.
Speaker 4 (20:14):
They're gonna score a lot of points. They're gonna control
football games they're gonna do.
Speaker 1 (20:18):
I mean, they beat Kansas City week one last year
and they never they were good the whole year. I mean,
they're just a really sound, well run football team, which
is unbelievable because five years ago they were the opposite
of that. But I mean, Jamier Gibbs, star back, star
tight ends, star receivers, and they still have. What worries
me is it's a losing historic culture. Do they know
(20:40):
how to win a big game? And there's something to that.
There is something about New England for years winning games
when they were outplayed or out talented because they knew
how to win close games. Buffalo Bills have that issue,
like they don't know how to win big games prove it.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
If Detroit's there, they could become the Buffalo of the NFC.
Speaker 4 (20:58):
But man, do I like their talent?
Speaker 1 (21:00):
Number one Kansas City noisy offseason blah blah blah. They're
three best players Chris Jones, Travis Kelcey and Mahomes. Who
cares if they're noisy. Their defense was excellent last year.
It's now they lost a corner, but it's just older,
smarter players. I think there's so much functionality about this team.
I think the hardest thing they face is apathy. It
(21:21):
is very hard to win three straight. I think their
defense is elite. Travis Kelcey is aging, but let's be honest,
he was great when it mattered in the postseason.
Speaker 4 (21:31):
I think one of their tougher.
Speaker 1 (21:32):
Challenges is I think Carbond The Chargers have always played
him pretty tight.
Speaker 4 (21:36):
I think Denver's better than people think.
Speaker 1 (21:38):
But uh, I have Cincinnati at eleven and that's I
feel pretty good about this.
Speaker 4 (21:46):
J Max rolling his eyes. You guys go ahead and
laugh on the rams. I was right last year. I'm
gonna be right this year.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
Do you care about Super Bowl odds or not?
Speaker 3 (21:52):
Really?
Speaker 4 (21:52):
Not really.
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Rams are thirteenth in Super Bowl odds.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
He had third in your power rating.
Speaker 4 (21:56):
Now they're over under. Last year was five wins. Why
do you harping on the last year.
Speaker 2 (22:00):
We're in this year. Don't live in the past, buddy,
We're in the present.
Speaker 4 (22:04):
I bought three jet skis last year with my ramswings.
They're gonna get repossessed here. That's funny.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and noon Easter nine am Pacific.
Speaker 6 (22:16):
He's Mike Krmen, I'm Dan Bayern. We have a fantasy
football podcast called I Want Your Flex.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
That's right, Dan.
Speaker 7 (22:23):
Every week we're gonna scour the waiver wire to find
the pickups to turbo boost your fantasy lineup, sit starts,
fantasy football players rankings to get you ready to dominate
the competition.
Speaker 6 (22:34):
Listen to I Want Your Flex with Mike Carmon and
meet Dan Byer on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts and
wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 4 (22:41):
Here we go, blazing five, fire Away, Let's.
Speaker 3 (22:46):
Blaze it up, Fired Up.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
It's Collins Blazon Fox. Titans at Bears.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
All right, I am going to take the Titans plus
three and a half at Chito. Both teams undefeated in
the preseason. Will Levis now has actual weapons, Tony Pollard,
Calvin Ridley, Lagerius Snead. It's a whole new coaching staff.
All Tennessee has heard all off season is how they're
(23:16):
gonna get run out of the building by this frena phenom.
By the way, the Bears never open well, two to
eight in their last ten openers. They had the fewest
sacks last year in the last couple of years in
the NFL. Also, the number one pick as a rookie
quarterback in the common draft era is four fifteen to
(23:38):
one in the opener nine straight since David Carr won.
Bottom line here is I think maybe if they played
in six weeks, it would be different.
Speaker 4 (23:49):
Way, way too much hype.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
You can get this at plus four and a lot
of places shop the number. I'm gonna take the Titans
to up set the Chicago Bears. The final score twenty
six to twenty.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Four, Panthers at six.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
I like the.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
Panthers plus four. In fact, I think they could win.
You may want to bet money line. They've got a
new head coach, Dave Kanalis. He's the one that gave
Baker Mayfield that great season last year. For Baker, they
have upgraded on the O line, ed rusher wide receiver
Bryce Young in the last month last year was not terrible,
(24:30):
completed sixty five percent of his throws mid eighty passer
rating with a battle line in bad receivers. Dennis Allen
I think argument worst coach in the league on the
hot seat. Their offensive line was second worst in the league,
and they didn't generate a pass rush the Panthers defense
even last year, though it was on the field constantly.
The Panthers defense was top five and six in many categories.
(24:54):
The Panthers win this game outright. Take the points twenty
four to twelve.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Broncos at Seahawks.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
I'm gonna take Seattle minus six. I can think Bonnicks
is gonna have a good year and also think this
is a terrible spot. Gino Smith has had back to
back Pro Bowl years. He's a grown up, he's an adult.
He won't be nervous, and he's at home. Mike McDonald
is the new Seahawks coach. He is a whiz defensively.
The Ravens had the number one scoring defense with him.
(25:25):
Seattle's got the weapons here Kenneth Walker, DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett,
Jason Smith, and Nigbah Noah Fan Denver. Meanwhile, defense struggles
rookie on the road, by the way, first round rookie
quarterbacks in week one, not taking number one, but just
first round rookie quarterbacks in Week one, thirteen twenty six
(25:48):
and one all time passer rating at sixty nine. The
Seahawks win. It's close to the line, twenty seven to twenty.
Take Seattle minus the points to cover and win. Ramsaid liars,
I usually don't do this, but I'm gonna take the
Lions minus four and a half. The line was better.
(26:08):
I'll tell you why I'm gonna thread the needle here
in five weeks. I wouldn't do this. Rams Oh line's
a mess. They're moving their center to guard their right tackle.
Their best on lineman may not play. They're left tackle.
They're using a backup and Detroit's pass rush has been
the talk of their camp. This is a team in Detroit,
more players in their prime. Rams are a very young team.
(26:30):
Jared Goff at Home is forty two and nine in
the think about that Jared Goff at Home last two
seasons forty two and nine touchdown interception, not his record
forty two touchdowns nine picks. He is a great indoor quarterback.
He is a great home quarterback. And Matt Stafford is
an older quarterback and I love Matt, but last year
he only completed sixty three percent of his throws. Poka
(26:52):
Naku has been banged up. Cooper Cup's coming off an injury.
I do not like the Rams in this spot, in
this moment. In a month, I'd take the point. I
think the Lions win, and I think they cover thirty
to twenty four. Detroit Jet sent forty nine ers very
close game. I'm taking the points. Take the Jets plus
(27:13):
four and a half. I think it comes down to
a field goal at to very end. But you got
to take the Jets.
Speaker 4 (27:18):
Listen.
Speaker 1 (27:18):
They won three of their last five last year, and
they were terrible at quarterback. They've added Mike Williams, a
couple of offensive linemen. Hassan Redick won't play, he will eventually.
This should be a good team. Their offensive line features
three new starters. I'm okay with that because they're upgrades
in all of them, and now elijahvia Tucker is healthy.
Garrett Wilson, Breese Hall. They have big time playmakers the Niners.
(27:41):
McCaffrey's Heerd, Trent Williams just got into camp, super noisy,
the Ricky pearsall incident. I don't like him in the
spot again, what I feel differently a month and a
half from now, I think the Niners are going to
start slow. If you look at the Jets defense last
season and again, they were on the field the whole year,
top two and three in many categories. Now they get
(28:01):
an offense, it's a more rested defense. I like the
Jets to cover. I'm gonna go Niners to win twenty
four to twenty three. But I think if you look,
if there's a time to beat the Niners in this spot,
it is now. They've been a circus for a month now.
I'm not saying that Jets don't have issues, but the
Jets feel like outside of Hassan Reddick, we haven't heard
(28:23):
much in the last three weeks. Oh, there's a book
on Aaron Rodgers. Okay, he didn't write it. I kind
of feel like the Jets noise has subsided. I mean,
I got San Francisco stuff. I still don't know if
Brandon I who likes his contract. So there we go
the Blazing five in review. I'm gonna take the Titans, Panthers,
(28:46):
and Jets as dogs and the Seahawks and Lions as
favorite again.
Speaker 4 (28:52):
Week one is different.
Speaker 1 (28:53):
I'm betting against a rookie quarterback because I think Bonnicks
is gonna be over we. That's one of the loud stadiums,
one of the best defensive young coaches. That is a
top spot for him.
Hosts And Creators
Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
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