The Herd with Colin CowherdColin points to the major hole in NBA analytics with the Warriors bringing home another win since acquiring Jimmy Butler and the value he's added that doesn't show up on a stat sheet. He gives his AFC playoff predictions following the week of free agency. He talks to 4-time Pro Bowler Maxx Crosby about his new contract with the Raiders and competing against Patrick Mahomes. Plus, Gonzaga head coach Mark Few joins the show to discuss their prep for another run through the Big Dance
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This is the Best of the Herd with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio.
Here we go on a Friday, and a good one. It's gonna be Mark fugh Gonzaga coach selection weekend. Here we go Selection Sunday, Max Crosby the Raiders. Yesterday I made my NFC predictions. Those are the difficult ones. The AFC one hour from now generally a little easier because you have four star high end quarterbacks than the AFC. We know it's a quarterback centric and generated league, so that will happen in one hour from now, so j mac So, I got three different samples. I watched first quarter of the Warriors with friends, listen to the second quarter driving, and watched the second half at home by myself, and they good.
This thing is getting really really interesting.
Wow.
Another tomato can that the Warriors beat up another nice victory.
Yeah beat.
Steph Curry was asked about retirement and a great quote he said, it's not about stats or anything. It will be Can I still dominate a game? Here's the good news. He didn't last night and they blew out another team. And I want you to think about this, think about this. So they traded got him out of town. Andrew Wiggins wing player eighteen points a game in his career. They brought in Jimmy Butler, wing player career, eighteen points a game that shouldn't radically change the team, right, eighteen points, leaves, eighteen points arrives. No, Nope, our hunch, My hunch was right. Totally different players. Wiggins's soft, empty calories floats around, forgettable, and Jimmy Butler is intentional, intense, physical, impactful, there's a gravity. Analytics does not measure all this stuff. Wing players eighteen a game. No, totally different players. Butler generates double teams, He's creative, he gets guys shots. He is an attacking player. Every possession he creates advantages. Wiggins benefited from advantages created by other players, and that is the big difference. Jonathan Kaminga returned last night. Oh another twenty points a game. Last night you had eight guys in double figures. Butler wasn't even one of them. Steph didn't even play well. But it shows the hole in a lot of analytics and a lot of stats. Eighteen of game leaves, eighteen in game award, totally different team, eight.
Guys in double figures.
They got a guy from like the Netherlands, a big who has a nice shooting touch, and Warriors are now thirteen and one with Jimmy Butler. And again he did not play last night particularly well. But this thing is real. I know you're saying, well, it's a lot of tomato cans, but when your two best players don't play well and you blow people out, just it's an incredible influence. We all know Steph has always had a massive influence on the history of basketball. Combine that with the influence Butler has with the Warriors, and here's shack.
After the last three four years, everybody's been running the three man weave with a table the key. Every team is shooting threes, and they want to blame the analytics. It's because everybody wanted to beat the Golden State Wars because of this guy.
Yep, it's a real thing. And by the way, not only is it influencing the Warriors and influencing basketball, it's influencing ratings. The ratings in the last three weeks. A big part of that because Lebron's not playing again and I still don't contend Luca's the TV draw. I think Lebron and Steph for the TV draws. Warriors with another dominating win last night, So I saw this. If you want to know why they keep building casinos and companies like Draft Kings are doing well, the Steelers have attracted the second most Super Bowl bets this week. That's the appropriate response, laughing. This is why the hause Owas wins. So memo to the people betting the Steelers to win the Super Bowl. Aaron Rodgers last thirty starts. He's eleven and nineteen, passer rating under ninety, completing sixty three percent of his throws, and has not won a playoff game since like twenty twenty one. He'll be joining ahead coach that hasn't won a playoff games in twenty sixteen.
And by the way, but there is.
A there is a lure and a llure to Aaron Rodgers because who was the most bet team last year in twenty twenty four to win the Super Bowl. Chiefs nope, Bill's nope, Niners nope, Lions nope, Eagles nope, Ravens nope. It was the New York Jets with Aaron Rodgers. So Tomlin is toned af to offense and Aaron's passed his prime. So that's just not saying that's not even saying playoffs. That's not saying playoffs. So and I here's something that doesn't get talked about with the Steelers, and this is why I've said Aaron Rodgers should go to the Giants. Better left tackle, offensive coach, great weapon, you'll have more power. And the rosters aren't that different. They're really not. Pittsburgh's just better. They're not that different. Pittsburgh doesn't have a left tackle. Giants do. But have you ever noticed this? And I never hear anybody talk about this, So everybody knows in the business. Mike Tomblin's a motivator, right, That's why his teams play well as underdogs, but not his favorites. He's a great motivator. But when does motivating not work in the playoffs, Because everybody's motivated, right, but for a long, tedious regular season, the guy that can bark boy September, October, November.
It can help.
But if you go to the last twelve Steeler games, they're three and nine and a lot of blowout losses. Motivation is nonsense. Screaming and yelling and getting guys fired up doesn't mean anything in the playoffs. Guys are ready to go, They got their bonuses ready, they want a trophy. Everybody's doing the same thing, focusing on that moment sudden death football. You don't need motivation, You need analytics. You know, you need circumstantial greatness, situational brilliance and so and what's doubling down on that? The raw raw becomest row for Pittsburgh every year at the end of the year. If you go back and look at a stat the Steelers in December or later the last two seasons have been one of the worst teams in the NFL. Five of the last seven seasons, the Steelers have lost three plus games in a row late in the year. Why is this because as the game has gotten smarter and more offensive, the motivating defensive coach that stuff wears out by December. You can only give the same speeches so many times it falls on deaf ears. So the Steelers have become one of the bad NFL teams at the end of seasons. That motivation stuff. It's great early, it's great over a long season. It's great when you're an underdog. It doesn't mean anything against the Ravens, Bills or Chiefs or Tom Brady in his prime. When it's you know, January, it doesn't mean anything. So the Steelers five of the last seven seasons. Russell Wilson could tell Aaron Rodgers, if you got there, it gets old, nobody wants to hear it. It doesn't have the same impact. So you know they are the second most bet team. Uh, just the idea of Aaron Rodgers and adding DK Metcalf for one hundred and fifty million dollars, and DK Metcalf says, I don't even care whose quarterback here.
They made me feel we felt welcome first off, and then secondly they made me feel like they had they had the right decision, you know, with who's going to be throwing me the football? And you know, I'm not making a decision in the quarterback room, so I'm just gonna try to do the best of my abilities to you know, you know, help whoever they have out there throwing the football, so you know they they make the correct decisions, you know, to bring the quarterback in here.
So I'm just gonna roll with.
That mid March, no idea who the quarterback is? Does that sound like a super Bowl team. I don't even know who the quarterback is. We got like four guys. We got offers out for four guys. Now it's interesting. So I've been saying this week, Mike Hunch, he signs with the Steelers, I would sign with the New York Giants. I would sign with the Giants. I think the Giants have more pieces that work for aaron offensive coach, young star receiver, excellent left tackle, and a couple of wins over the Cowboys. I think the idea of going to Pittsburgh, you got Joe Burrow twice, you got the Ravens twice. Cleveland's got a great coach and a very good roster.
No thanks.
I mean Pittsburgh doesn't have a left tackle now, Miles Garrett, probably Hendrickson coming off the edge, and whoever Baltimore has this year. So it'll be interesting to watch. But to me, the idea that the second most bet team. It's just the allure of the Steelers brand, the allure of the alpha Mike Tomlin, the allure of Aaron Rodgers, their bet to win the Super Bowl more than the teams that we almost feel it's an automatic they win their division. It's crazy, that's the house almost always wins for a reason. Cowboys are fighting. The process in Philadelphia is officially over. And the Lakers, once again, even with Luca and Austin Reeves playing great, are awful and get blown out.
Did you notice that?
Listen, you were doing so good and then you had to throw in that jab at the Lakers unnecessary. It's like a flagrant foul right there. Come on, they were missing three starters college, but real quick to go back to the Steelers. Can you just give me the thought process which you think people are betting on the Steelers and it can't just be Aaron Rodgers and DK metcalf.
Oh, I have to say.
So, here's what I think like when people bet bitcoin. I mean, there's no centralized bank in America that acknowledges the Warren Buffetts, who, by the way, ditched eighty billion dollars at applestock and bought bonds a year ago. Looks pretty smart today, right, Well, they don't buy it at all. Right, most of the top financial people they appease the bitcoin crowd. But when you buy bitcomb coin, you're buying hope, you're buying a cent. Hey, I'm ahead of everybody else buying the Steelers is Hey, I'm gonna buy him before they get Aaron Rodgers and watch them pop. But it's just why, it's why the house wins. Aaron in the last thirty games, two conferences, two coaches, both Lafleur and Mike Tomlin, considered above average. He's eleven and nineteen passer rating in the eighties.
That's what he is. That is exactly what he is.
And Tomlin, between Aaron and Tomlin, they do not perform well late in the year. The numbers don't lie. So it's I think it's it's the bitcoin crowd. You're betting that you're smarter than everybody else, and you're getting in on something before it truly explodes.
And that would be forty one year old Aaron Rodgers. That that's what you're betting on.
Hope with DK metcalf Ooh wow.
DK Metcalf. He's gonna swing the title odds right there.
Only again, Dk Metcalf is probably worth half a point a game.
This is why the house always wins, because the general public is not that smart.
Huh. That's a straight up dumb bet.
If one of my friends was like, hey, Steelers to win the title, Like, what are you talking about?
That? That's insanity.
So now in forty five minutes, I will give you my AFC predictions.
I'll tell you.
I'm looking at the AFC West. Is that the best coach division of all time?
I hope you have the Broncos in the playoffs.
Play Andy Reid, Sean Payton, Jim Harbaugh, Pete Carroll. You know, like they always say, when you sit down at a poker table, if you can't spot the mark, it's you who's the mark. I mean, that's just a Super Bowl trophies everywhere, or at least getting to them. I mean that is a three Super Bowl trophies and a Natty Trophy and a Super Bowl appearance in Jim Harball. That divisions hard. My guess. On the AFC West this year, nobody wins more than twelve. Nobody wins fewer than eight. It is just going to be all jammed out. I think the NFC North is almost as good, but we just don't know if JJ McCarthy can play. I mean, I say what you want about Geno Smith. I know we can play. I don't know what JJ McCarthy is in Minnesota, so I have no idea.
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So yesterday, in the much harder to predict NFC, I had three new playoff teams. Today we do the AFC. Now that's a much easier conference to predict. Last year I went four for four on division winners Mahomes, Alan Lamar, C J. Stroud pretty easy. So I think the AFC is much much easier to predict. Yesterday, you know you're throwing darts on some of it. I don't know how how well the Niners draft. I don't know how good is Darnold and Seattle.
I don't know.
I think I know, I don't know. So today we go to the AFC again. I think this is an easy, easier, much easier conference to predict.
Let's start with the AFC East.
If Josh Allen is in his prime like Brady was, he will win this division going away.
Front office coach.
They've added Joey Bosa, Joss Palmer, a couple of good linebackers. It's the best team going away. They got the star quarterback, the starback, the left tackle. You know they're gonna be fine, and a good ed rusher, capable coach. Patriots one of my surprise teams in the league. I think they have the second most town in quarterback in the division. I don't think it's particularly close in Drake May. They got to get him weapons in the draft, but it's a very good tight end running back draft. And they upgraded with Mike Frablett, coach from Girodmeo who just didn't work, and they spent a lot of money, so it's gonna be a different team. I think they will double their win total, no question. Dolphins third, No notable upgrades, but smart coach, capable quarterback. If Tron Armstead retires a left tackle that is a problem. That is a problem. And the Jets, I mean it is what it is.
I got a new.
Coach downgrade at quarterback from Aaron and justin fields.
It is what it is.
I think this is an easy one. Bill's Patriots, Dolphins, Jets, AFC North, great Division. I'm gonna go Ravens, Bengals, Steelers Brown. Okay, the Ravens. The only thing I worried about is is Ronnie Stanley the left tackle coming back? Answer is yes, Bengals cheap franchise. They're three best players. Burrow, Jamar Chase Hendrickson, even t Higgins are four best players. Aren't particularly happy, very very top heavy. But this year I think basically Burrow and their star receivers will lead them narrowly to a wild card berth whether or not Aaron Rodgers goes to Pittsburgh or not. They are tone deaf offensively, and over the last five years they just consistently get bad late in the year. Steelers third, and I like the coach in Cleveland. They got Miles Garrett re signed. But you know what, are they fish rots from the top or the head or something like that. What's the saying. I just don't trust the organization ownership AFC South, so I think Tennessee will be the most improved team. I'm gonna take the Texans Titans Colts and Jags. Now the Texans are rebuilding the old line. They moved off three guys, so I think they had to. They fired Bobby Slowick. But again, I get the best quarterback, I get arguably the best coach. So I'm gonna go with the Texan CJ.
Stroud.
I mean again, I'm gonna do it again this year. Best quarterback in the division wins. I think cam Ward actually is pretty electric and win some games for the Titans and will arguably be the second best quarterback in the division. And also you're kind of guessing on him. You don't know what he is, so generally you need an off season to figure out what a quarterback is. I think cam Ward comes into some backyard football. But J. Mack likes the Titans as a surprise team. I do too, potentially as a playoff team. I like the Colts roster, but they're going into camp with the quarterback competition that sounds very collegiate. Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson don't love either. Like the coach, the GM the roster. Colts third. I don't know what to make Trevor Lawrence hasn't been what we thought They've got a new coach again, do you trust the front office. I'll watch their draft. It is what it is, finally the best division in football. I mean you get literally everybody. I'm gonna go Chargers win the AFC West, Kansas City's the wild card team, Broncos third, Raiders four, So I'm gonna lean into Jim Harbaugh. I think Nause Harris is the perfect running back for this offense. They brought Mike Williams back, a physical receiver. I thought their improvement last year was remarkable. I think they'll keep improving. We've got to be honest about Kansas City. They're not winning all those close games again. Their offensive line is in total flux. At left tackle, They're going to a left tackle that's never started. They let go of Joe Toney, their best offensive lineman. I think Denver made two big swings on defense with Hufunga and Greenlaw. I think they both pay dividends. I think I even think the Raiders will be viable Geno Smith, they got their O line set, Pete Carroll, Chip Kelly, Max Crosby. I think their defense has some players. They were all banged up last year. They gave the Chiefs fits twice this division. I don't think the winner of this division wins more than twelve, whoever it is, and I don't think the fourth place team wins fewer than eight. So I think this is the best division going away in football. I mean, the coaching is Jim Harbaugh, Andy Reid, Sean Payton, and Pete Carroll, and Pete's got Chip Kelly, and Andy Reid's got Spags and Kansas, and then all of a sudden you got the Chargers have Jesse Minter on defense with Harball. This is arguably the best coach division in the history of the NFL. So my division winners, I'm gonna do it like last year, with one exception, Bill's Ravens, Texans, Chargers wild card teams are the Patriots, Bengals, and Chiefs. So I have five new playoff teams, two in the AFC here Patriots, Bengals, and three in the NFC. So I have five new playoff teams. There have been at least four and often more for thirty five years in a row, so some of you fanboys are going to be upset, but you have to have minimum four new playoff teams. So my new playoff teams yesterday, I had Seattle in the playoffs that didn't make it last year. I had Atlanta winning their division. I believe in Michael Pennix.
That was a new.
Playoff team here. I've got the Patriots in Bengals, I'm forgetting somebody in the NFC. So and I wherever Aaron Rodgers lands, if he goes to Minnesota, I had the Bears yesterday. My bad is a wildcard team. So wherever Aaron goes. If he goes to Minnesota, my guests says he's a backup. By like October, they're gonna start J. J. McCarthy. If he goes to New York, they're not getting past Philly and Washington. If he goes to Pittsburgh, he probably is worth a game over Russell Wilson. But Russell Wilson was already good until the end, and all the raw ros stuff just doesn't pan out at the end of the season. And so I don't think Aaron's going to change the dynamics of any division football at this point. Again, last thirty games, he's eleven and nineteen, his passer ratings under ninety. That's with Matt Lafleur. You know, that's with like, okay, it was the Jets. Well it was also green Bay, so most of those games, majority of them were close to majority of your half. There were Green Bay games with Matt Lafleur, so he didn't make the playoffs. Last year they lost to Detroit at home. Remember that was the last game of the regular season.
So you want some pushbacker, Yeah, I do. Of course, this is tough because I like this team a lot. I was just drilling down on the Chargers a little bit. It Do you know how many teams they beat last year that made the playoffs? Won Denver twice. That's it. They did not beat anybody good all season. And I look at the Chargers offseason, Colin, how were they upgraded?
Naw?
J Harris, is that an upgrade? Mike Williams bringing his corpse back to run?
What run?
Down the field?
Like?
I don't see the improved. I don't see how the rosters are.
What have we said about Jim harbaugh first three years in the NFL? I did you see their draft last year?
A lot of guys that could play.
I guess my disagreement would be, like, I think the Broncos have improved their team dramatically, and the Chargers.
I don't think they're like status quo.
Well, I said, the winner will not win more than twelve games and the loser will not win less than fewer than eight. I think the division goes down to the last three weeks. I think health. What worries me about the Broncos Hafunga and green law struggle to stay healthy. Well, yeah, that's a real thing. And by the way, Garrett Bowles has had some hell stuff at left tackle. So a lot of their guys, like the Niners, like year, I worry about Denver staying healthy for eighteen weeks.
I am a little to go to a last place team, not the Jets, the Jags.
You have just sold all of your Trevor Lawrence stock Uh.
So you're done, done, You're off lords. No, No, here was.
A time where you would not take a call on him. He was in that group from him and it's over.
Well, you know it's funny.
So Greg co Sel for years and years kept telling me over and over. The tape tells you he is not close to Josh Allen, that he doesn't see the field as well as he should. He tends to run sometimes to a fault. He gets banged up and listen. There was always a question about Trevor Lawrence. Here was what was the knock? He really likes football? Does he love it? That was the Andrew Luck criticism. Andrew Luck had a big, broad life. He really enjoyed football. He didn't live for it. He wasn't Brady, he wasn't obsessed. He's not obsessed like Brady or Breeze, just obsessed. Trevor Lawrence is going at it and likes it. But he said when he got drafted, it's not the beginning and the end of my my It's not. It doesn't define it doesn't yet.
Well, I kind of want.
I want football too at some point as a quarterback to define you for I'm not asking forever. I'm just saying for like twelve years, it's got to be kind of the center point. I mean, I'm not I'm not asking football players to not have a life and be happily married and have capentine. But for the ten for the eight years you're in your prime, I need you to really be focused, really care deeply.
He's distracted, right, It's not like he's like, oh, I love sports cars or whatever.
He just football is like eh, I'm playing football. Cool.
It's not like Tom Brady's obsessive commanis you.
Know what most people in my Steve Jobs was obsessed and he changed the world. You know most people that are obsessed. All these devices we have, they're built by obsessed people. So I know everybody wants you to be balanced and healthy. I like people that deeply care about stuff.
I think quietly.
Trevor Lawrence is like probably one of the ten most interesting figures heading into the season because Colin. There was talk like do we even extend him? Like how much money do you give him? Because he hasn't been the number one pick you thought he'd be. He was supposed to be generational.
Yeah, well that's why the NFL is great. You can be a second, third, fourth, fifth round pick like Max Crosby who's joining us, live six years, fourth Pro Bowls. He leads the NFL and tackles the loss over the last four seasons.
You know, I've told you this before.
I love you, man, and you did something this week that I think you are very willing to talk about the demon that you've overcome.
You've been very willing.
There was a picture you put on your Instagram so I'll ask you about it because you put it out there first.
I wouldn't otherwise.
But I've talked to you about this before, and there are people right now in this country struggling with what you were struggling with. Do you remember the day that you just said I'm over this, I'm going to change my life.
Do you remember that day?
Absolutely? Absolutely?
First off, Colin's great to see you always, you.
Know, you're my guy.
But yeah, man, I'll never forget it, you know what I mean. That was the biggest day and most important day of my life, you know, besides the day I married my wife.
And the day of my daughter was born.
I wouldn't be here in this position if I didn't make that, to make that decision for myself and my family, you know, to get healthy and put myself first and get the help I needed. So yeah, man, it's been a it's been a hell of a journey ever since. It's been five years already. It's crazy. How how time flies?
Do people ever come up to you and thank you for your messaging and willingness to talk about it?
Yeah? All the time.
You know, my first year and once I got a year of sobriety, that's when I came out of public about it. Yeah, because honestly, I had you know, I had a guy like Darren Waller in my locker room who was very public and open about it, and I was kind of terrified to, you know, tell people that, you know, I was an addict and I was going through what I was going through. But seeing a guy like that and seeing and talking to other people a big influence, you.
Know, talk about their struggles to be about it.
I think it was super important because of my platform and how I can impact others and get back because you know, a lot of people don't like to talk about it, but there's millions of people who suffering from addiction, so very open and honest about it, and I think that's the most important thing.
You know, you live one.
Life, and you know as many people as you can help is the best thing you can possibly do.
So that's what it's all about.
So you are now in the best division in football. It's crazy. I mean, look at the coaches, Sean Payton, Andy Reid, Spags, Jim Harbaugh, Jesse Mincher. Now you have Pete Carroll and Chip Kelly. So when Pete speaks to the team or you individually for the first time. What was Pete Carroll's message?
Compete?
You know, he talks about it all the time. No matter what we're doing, we're gonna compete. We're gonna have fun when we do it. And the culture is first and foremost. You know, Pete everywhere he's been has created a culture of winning and fun. And it doesn't mean you're not working hard. It means that everybody enjoys showing up every single day.
We have one of the hardest jobs in the world.
There's a reason why there's only fifteen hundred NFL players on the planet, you know what I mean. There's eight billion people and there's only a tiny, tiny group of people that can really do it every day. So you have to enjoy the process, and that's something that he's big on. I've talked to a ton of people that he knows and as coach. They've reached out to me, from you know, Marshawn Lynch to Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett, all those guys. They all the wording and how they approached me about how Pete is and how he operates are all so consistent and they absolutely love love him so I'm super excited. You know, me and Peter have only known each other for a couple of months now, but I can't wait to continue, you know, building that relationship and continue to do it together and build a winner here.
You know, it's funny the quarterbacks that you pursue. So you got Mahomes who moves really well and throws can throw left handed. Bo Nix is smaller but way more athletic than people think. Justin Herbert Justin her it's a bit of a house when you rush, do you is that usually you don't care?
Or do you like? Are there angles you take on? Guys?
Do you think differently when rushing? Bo, Justin and Patrick absolutely?
Absolutely.
You know, they all have their strengths, strengths and weaknesses, and it's up to me to figure out the best approach every single week because every quarterback is different, every team is different, every coach is different, and the schemes that I gotta you know, go against change weekly, you know what I mean. I know I'm being circled every week and they're gonna double teamy.
Triple team ship and all that.
So for me, it's like an ultimate mind game more than anything, because I'm trying to figure out how to break that break that code, and it's become more and more of a challenge, but it's become more and more exciting, you know what I mean, over the years, because it's like I take it, you know, I take it as like a sign of respect.
You know that teams are coming after me, but.
You gotta you gotta be so locked in and you gotta find those couple of plays in the game. Okay, if they get in this formation, this is how I'm gonna approach this and this is where I'm gonna change the game.
Like that's literally how.
I'm watching the film, like I'm watching my film all you know, leading up to it.
How can I improve? How can I be the best version of myself?
And then okay, where is these these these little windows I can I can capitalize on? So yeah, every quarterback is different. You know Pat is, I mean, Pat is one of one.
He's different.
You know, he's gonna try to make every single play. You know, guys like Josh Allen Lamar, even Herbert, Like Herbert's gonna you gotta you gotta smack him over and over and over again because he's gonna literally like he'll.
Be on it, damn near on his back and he's still trying to get rid of the ball and make plays.
So yeah, it's it's all you know, it's ultimate respect at the end of the day.
But they know, like my job is to is to kill him, and they're the ones, you know, trying to trying to play quarterback. But also they know.
I'm I'm trying to take their head off at the same time.
So I've said before there are very few d defensive players that lead teams, that are the soul of the team. And when you were talking about contract, I had said on this show, I said, when I think raiders, even in the seventies and eighties, I think of Max Crosby. He looks like a raider, he plays like a raider. You talk a lot of trash. Is that to fire you up? Or is it to intimidate others? Because you you should be in my business. You never stop talking.
Who's that for?
I think it's a mixture, and I do appreciate that. Colin. I know your boy over there. I've seen one of the clips.
I'm gonna I'm gonna keep my opinion to myself, but I know you know football, Colin I don't know about your boy over there, but I would just keep it like this, you know, for me.
I get fired up.
It just depends, like honestly, sometimes if you're just in a that day, you can't predict how you're gonna feel every single day. Sometimes you're gonna be in the best mood. Ever, some days they're gonna be in a dark place. Like that's just what comes with it. And I sometimes I just talk is kind of like get myself going, you know what I mean, like try to get myself Like if I feel like I'm not one hundred and ten percent myself, I might just start a fight in the middle of practice just to get myself going, you know what I mean. So it just kind of depends on where my mind's at, in what space I'm at.
You know.
I don't like to try to chase a feeling because some you know, like if you have a great game, some guys will go be like, Okay, I need to feel like that.
Again, And how do I get to that?
You can't chase There's never gonna be that exact feeling, you know.
What I mean.
You just have to go with the flow and be where your feet are and find whatever space you're in and maximize that because that's just reality.
That's how life is.
Some days you wake up and you have the big smiley face, Hey I'm gonna have a great day. Some days your body's sore, you're hurting, but you still have to find a way to be at your best. So I just feel like there's no perfect recipe to it. You just have to You can't try to overthink it and try to make something that it isn't.
I just try to go with the flow.
And some games I'm quiet, i might not say a single word and I'm just laser focused. Some games I'm just something pissed me off, or I'm you know, trying to get myself going, and I'm just on somebody like Raven's game, like I was talking the whole game. Some other games, I've had some of the best games in my career and I'm sitting there smiling the whole game, not saying a word, not talking. Just I just I just go with the flow, you know what I mean. I don't try to force any type of vibe or energy.
Finally, for about a week, you were the highest paid non quarterback in the world, and I know you're not about money. Guy. Every time I see you jeans T shirt, you're watching UFC. But do you ever that day when you sign that contract, who'd you think about? What'd you think about that one day? The word money was like a big discussion in your life.
Yeah, honestly, you know this, you know, being the second time that I've gotten an extension, you know, the first time was like, oh my god, you know what I mean, Like it was just crazy, like I did it, you know, I got this you contract and I always like had that in the back of my head. How would that feel? And I feel like the first time it was like this big thing and for the outside world, you know, I was like the third or fourth highest paid and at that time, and I'm like I'm a top five.
Guy now blah blah blah blah blah, and it meant a lot more to me. Then then I felt like it's to the outside world.
But this time around, like setting history, you know, resetting history, being the highest paid non quarterback.
I feel like the.
Outside world was like a huge, huge response, and for me it was just like another day, Like I can't even explain it, you know what I mean, Like I'm so laser focus right now and being at my best and getting back healthy and.
Preparing for this next season.
I got so many goals and things I want to accomplish. I truly like I just wanted to get get to a point where I was happy and where I'm comfortable and my family's comfortable, and I'm just the same as usual.
I was.
Literally the day I signed my contract, I'm in there boxing with the guys and getting my work in.
Before I went inside my contract.
My agents and all them are looking at at me like I'm like, I got to get my work in first. I'm going, you know what I mean, Like this is most important. I wouldn't I wouldn't have the deal if I'm not putting in the work. So it really it's it's unbelievable, don't get me wrong. Like it's it's an absolute blessing. Like I am set beyond set, and my kids are set and all that is incredible. But truly, right now, like I'm just focused on building, you know, trying to win a Super Bowl most importantly and building a Hall of Fame resume, and that's that's my focus every single day.
Hey, hey, do you meet Gino yet? Gino Smith have you met him.
Yet, Yes, I have. He was. He was in the building a couple of days ago.
So the second, like the news broke, I had been on FaceTime with him like five minutes before. He called me the big smile and was all fired up. So yeah, I was super fired up. I'm super happy that he's a part of our, part of this team now, and I just have heard nothing but great things about him. So just taking it one day at a time. You know, we're building our relationship and I've been a fan of from Afar for a long time.
I think Gino.
You know, people have opinions, you know how the beginning of his career run things like that, But look what he's done is he's gotten you know, as the years have gone by, and he truly is a really, really, really good quarterback. And I know he's still far from satisfied. So yeah, we've had some great conversations and you know, we're definitely excited to get to work together.
It's so great seeing you.
I'll be going to more UFC fights now here in the next couple of months.
It's always great to see you.
Congrats to you and your family and sharing some personal stuff. Sometimes I don't know if I should ask those questions, but you're always very appreciative and you give great responses. And there's people out there that have dealt with what you did and you're five years free of it, and it's amazing. And I just love seeing you. Man. I appreciate you coming on the show.
You're the best brother in Colin.
I see all your clips, man, all the love and respect you show it truly means a lot. Man, You're one of the best in the game. So I appreciate you. I'll be seeing you soon, all right.
Max Crosby, and I've said this before, there are very few defensive players. Lawrence Taylor's won. He defined the Giants. It was not Phil Simms. It was a Lawrence Taylor to find the Giants the toughness. Max Crosby's the Raiders, like you have to be like Lamar Jackson. To me, I would argue this, Maholmes does not define the Chiefs. I think Andy Reid shares in that Spag shares in that. I think Lamar Jackson is the Ravens like he's the soul and the fabric. I cannot see him playing for any other team. Max Crosby's a Raider. And then if you followed the NFL since the seventies, eighties, nineties, you go back to Lyle Alzado and Matouzak and all the tough guys with the Raiders and Jack Tatum and even their offensive guys. You know, tough guys. Crosby's a Raider.
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Is one of the guys I love in this business. Mark Feugh, Gonzaga basketball coach.
T USA.
Good lord, Yeah, I listen. I listened to the other night.
I watched and listened to that Saint Mary his game and they were pushing you around and getting a whistle and yeah, and you know.
It's it's funny about this. You've got a bit of a.
Formula, the international stuff, Washington, stay. You got a little bit of a formula. And you know, it's it's interesting that guys now come to you, I mean, Chet Holmgren like like it used to be you were banging on doors and guys now come to you. So I was talking to a friend of the other day, I said, the downside to that is you've got to be more selective because more people want that's right, like it used to be if they come all taken. So do you get into situations now where you're like, oh, he's really good, we don't we don't have a spot for him.
Yeah.
I think it's the biggest thing, Colin, is just kind of staying true to your culture. I mean, and you can get tricked a lot of times just on chasing talent, and we st it still happens to this day. But I think in the end, what we've found up here, like what fits us is just staying true. I mean, we we have to have somebody that that really really loves basketball and wants to work and then also just values team and uh and then and then in some cases sometimes we have to teach our transfers that a little bit. We we we've kind of had to had to do that this year. I think it it's taken a while for some of our guys to kind of really latch onto to that and and figure out that's that's that's what needs to be done. And uh. But I'll give this group a lot of credit man. We we uh we lost a ton of games, you know, in the last one or two possessions this year, and it has not broke their spirit.
Uh.
They were very, very driven down the stretch and uh uh you know the other night, I think it all came to fruition.
Yeah, what I was thinking about this, Has your experience with Team USA helped you at all in the NIL world, which is kind of like semi pro in college? Like, what do you take from you because everybody looks at college and pro as two different worlds. Is there anything they share that you've learned. Have you pulled something from college that can help you a Team USA when you're dealing with Lebron and staph or vice versa.
Oh, hey, tons of it. I think my players are so tired of me referencing them and and I was listening earlier to your show and just a great take on Lebron. I reference him so much with our team on just how he impacts winning. I mean, he is just all about winning and hit his preparation and how much film he watches. He watches as much film as the coaches is, how he takes care of his body, and then to your point, how he communicates on the floor. I talked to my team time and time again. I mean, he hits the floor and he's calling out every ball screen, he's calling out every coverage, he's talking on offense. It's amazing and I think that's why he's one of the greatest winners in the history of all sports if you ask me, when you see the impact that he has. But then I'll reference steph on on his his routine every day and how great he was at the end of every practice, no matter how hard we went or how long it been. He's in there just wrapping out his shots and he's gonna take in games and uh yeah, And then the players are probably a little tired of it. But it's been a great source for me. And then conversely, I shared with the USA guys like, hey, you know you can you know you watch that Court of Gold series. This is one and done. This is not a seven game series. And you guys, you know this is my world now and you can't have we can't have a bad day. And to their credit, man, their competitive will shined bright in the in the biggest moment for us to be able to get that gold and get it done.
Yeah, hey, by the way, So I'm gonna throw my hat on and by the way, rip me to shreds if I'm wrong, because you know, you know a million times more than I do.
I said the other day, I said, Cooper.
Are you you were wrong on the on the hair like hair product comparison to to making the athlete get stronger in the in the weight room or whatever. Earlier I thought that was this strange analogy, the great take on Lebron hair product. Yeah, I didn't quite. I didn't grasp that, but I'm usually right on with you, pal, but you lost me there.
Okay, So we were talking about Cooper Flag and he just does everything well, score and transition, can use his body, and I said, he's got some Jason Tatum to him where there's nothing. I look at Jason Tatum and say, he can do kind of everything. Who is the comp for Cooper Flag? Because I think Duke's were really good and I think this kid mark he's ready to play in the NBA. It feels to me like right away and can score right away.
Yeah.
Well, he showed that this summer. He scrimmaged against us and he was ready to go from the jump and went right at us. You know, it was just this GrimAge was our first scrimmage. Our guys were just getting off the beach and everything with USA and vacation. But yeah, he was very, very impressive. And the and the great thing about him, man is he's he's he like to your point, he does everything well. I mean, he can score if he has to. He's got a great feel for the game. I mean, he's got tremendous positional size. He Uh, John's done a great job with him, I think. Uh, and he played for a great coach in Kevin Boyle at Mont Verd And uh, he really understands defense and he impacts the game in a big way on the defensive end. So yeah, he's gonna he's gonna have a huge impact from day one. But it's gonna be one of those impacts like he does everything well. You know, I think people are gonna pick up the paper and look at the stats and it's not always about that. It's it's, uh, you know a little bit like Lebron. He impacts winning in a big way.
Has there been a team I ask you this every year and tell me a team that none of us talking heads talk about, and that you've seen him or watched them or scouted them, and you're like, yeah, I'd rather avoid them in the tournament.
I don't have any real interest.
Has there been a little bit of a sleeper that you know sometimes we talk about the Dukes and the Gonzaga and the Carolinas, a little bit of a team that you think is better than people quite realize.
I mean, I think people realize how good they are. I do, but listen what Houston's doing, what Kelvin's been able to do, and to go through that league. I think they went nineteen and one in that league is just remarkable. And the intensity that they bring in the physicality that they bring and now you know, their offensive efficiency is better than it has been. I had a chance to watch them last week a little bit and I just came away just I mean, I've always been impressed, but was really impressed with that. Was That's probably one that jumps out. I don't know if that really counts as an under the radar team.
Though, Hey, you you told us. I remember when chet Holmgren was coming out and I said, ah, he's skilled, a little skinny, and you said, oh no, this guy is tough. This guy's a fighter, yes, and I gotta tell you he's good. He is a fighter. He is tough. By the way SGA I saw him in college, I'm like, what is that skinny? That kid's developed into something that's insane.
My goodness, he torched us not this summer, but the year before and in USA, and I mean I got to see him up close and personal in that just he's one of those guys. You know how Steph changed the analytics back in the day with shooting threes. I'm telling you, SGA with that pull up jumper and the tough two. I mean, watching that firsthand, uh, it was funny. I mean I was sharing that with Tylu like, Okay, our drop coverage isn't gonna work. Yeah, but this guy we had to cart start trapping him because he's just made that's a that's a layup for him, that little pull up, and that's what you give up and drop coverage. But yeah, they've had a terrific, terrific year mark their head coach has done a beautiful job to kind of navigating through that and Chet I think that's one thing that's being underrated a little bit, is check coming back for them. I mean, you talk about just adding another incredible piece and just an incredible entity. And he's a competitive, competitive dude man, and he he's got a big, big, strong belief in himself and he's his body might not look like it, but that dude is his nails.
Yeah.
You know what we were talking about this earlier A couple a couple more is that I said I like analytics.
I absolutely believe in it.
But I always joke what I really like is MA analytics, which is when you get into big games, I want Jimmy Butler and Andrew Wiggins both average eighteen. Jimmy Butler is a handful Like they're both wing guys that average eighteen.
They're totally different players.
Is that when you get into the tournament sometimes I like, I always love Jalen Suggs. I like guys that get in your kitchen. I like physical guys. Do you think sometimes with analytics, are there players that you've had or seen at USA and you're like, yeah, I'm sorry, the analytics don't quite get the player.
Absolutely, And I'm so with you on that point. At some point, I mean, it just comes down to who who can make up, who can make a play and especially as you get deeper into the tournament, you know, and deeper into the game, It's gonna come down to, you know, do they have that moxie? Do they have that grit? Do they have that toughness? Do they have that? Everybody says they have confidence and swag, but do they really really have that?
Uh?
I mean again, I reference the Team USA, but look at you. Look at the shots Steph said, Look at Lebron, the shots that he made down the stretch. Look at the the pull up that KD hit against Serbia. I mean, just monster, monster shots and just happened. Because those guys are just so good and have such incredible belief in themselves. You have to have a guy like that going down the stretch of the games, and analytics has nothing to do with that fact. You got to just throw it out the windows. In some cases, Colin, you'll be playing against the guy and the staff will say, well, is she's twenty percent from three? And I'm like, I don't care. At the end of the game, you know we are double teaming him because I've seen him time and time again. Just make those shots.
Okay.
Finally, I'm not a big pill popper, but a week ago. My daughter, I'm a crappy sleeper, she said, Dad, I said, I can't sleep. She goes, oh oh. She pulled out her pharmacy drawer and she gave me magnesium. And you're a you're a lousy sleeper too.
Yes, in season in season, I'm bad sleeper, have you?
And now tell me your magnesium backstory.
Well, first of all, I was listening to that show and it was a day we were kind of setting this up your retire staff. It was just fit to be tied with you on magnesium. And they were saying you were a maniac, and I was saying I was texting back with them. I was like, I thought that was one of his best shows. So yes, my daughter came to me and actually shared this scene with Magnese and she had this little oil shed rubbing on the bottom of your feet, Dad, And I was like, come on, and I'm just telling you, I slept for eight hours at and I was the best sleep I've had in a while. So when you started going off on't I'm a big believer.
Hey, by the way, two final fours, you look great. Your energy is through the roof. I Jay Writ's a friend of mine. I couldn't figure out why you retired. You probably didn't want that. Nil, nonsense. You should just Steph Curry said something here, and Steph said, I'll retire. It's not about stats. When I can no longer dominate a game, I'm out. Is there gonna be something with you? Because your energy is insane, you're in great shape. What will be the thing where you're like, all right, I'm gonna shut her down in golf and go to my you know, lake house and hang out.
Yeah, don't, don't forget fly fishing there.
That's good. That's good.
Yeah.
I mean I think probably when when you don't feel you're having the same type of impact on your guys, and then and then the other thing I would say, calling like, I honestly think there's a point where you get to where you know, other people need to enjoy this spot, you know, and and other people need to have the chance to do this too, you know. That's why I don't see hanging on till you're you know. I mean, some guys it's fine if they want to hang on till they're eighty, But I just think it's time at some point it's good to share it. I got a great staff here, and it's time for them experience as as a head coach, you know at some point. So I think all of those factors go in it. Uh, you know, as long as it's still fun. It's a huge challenge adapting. I mean, we could do a whole other show on all the adaptations that have needed to be made in the last like twelve months in this profession. But you know, you just you have to be willing to kind of be flexible. And then I think doing the USA Basketball stints have really helped me kind of understand it from maybe the professional side.
Yeah, it's great seeing you, my man. Great scene.
Yeah you too, Mark. You look well rested this.
Week, and you will be in about a month. You'll be well rested in a month. Great thing.
Yeah, all right, take care, all right.
He just you know, he's he and coach k have really figured it out. You do a little bit of the Olympic stuff, which is just so fun, so international, and then you you dominate a college landscape and uh, it's you know, I went to college right next to gone Zaga, so it's a Spokane's really a beautiful place. Even the winner it's cold, So what you're indoors playing basketball. If it was too nice, you'd want to be outside.
