Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to three Eastern nine am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the Herd at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.

Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to three Eastern nine am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the Herd at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.

This is the Best of the Herd with Colin Cowver on Fox Sports Radio.

This is the Best of the Herd with Colin Cowver on Fox Sports Radio.

Here we go on a Wednesday Baseball commission Rob Manfred in one hour as the Major League Baseball season obviously started in Tokyo with the Dodgers Cubs, but it starts tomorrow as well.

Here we go on a Wednesday Baseball commission Rob Manfred in one hour as the Major League Baseball season obviously started in Tokyo with the Dodgers Cubs, but it starts tomorrow as well.

Major League Baseball.

Major League Baseball.

The team's operating going forward starting tomorrow, and Rob Manfred stops buy in Los Angeles.

The team's operating going forward starting tomorrow, and Rob Manfred stops buy in Los Angeles.

It is the Herd.

It is the Herd.

Jmack.

Jmack.

It was interesting.

It was interesting.

So you know, you can you can add new members. One of my favorite fans of all time was the Eagles, right right, Okay, you can add people to the band, but you know, Don Henley had the voice like in the end. You can add a lot of bad members, and the Warriors can add Jimmy Butler, and Jimmy Butler makes him better. But it is Steph's team and last night was a great example because Jimmy Butler returned to Miami to the heat where he got him to the finals, and he has been great. He has been great when Butler and Steph play together, Warriors are fifteen and three, but last night's the difference between the two. Steph didn't play, Jimmy did, and the offense dried up. The starters for the Warriors at half had ten total points. And Lebron and Steph are transformational all time players, Top ten players. Luca got traded for a reason. Remember Lebron left Miami on his terms. Jimmy was traded out of town, right. So Luca is a great score, but the team's not as good to face because he didn't share the ball as much. And in the NBA, if I don't touch it, I'm not playing d on the other end, and Steph between iq EQ off ball, on ball, scoring, culture, building, leadership. I love Jimmy Butler, but he's combative, he's a bouncer around the league guy. He's a super grinder. He's a more offensive, least skilled Draymond Green. But Steph's the entire package. Lebron's the entire package. You can love Keith Richards. It's mixed band. You can love Butler, it's Steph's band. You can love Luca, it's Lebron's band. And you saw it last night. Is that without Steph this looked like the team pre Butler, Nobody could score. The movement's not as good, they're not talking as much. And the Heat in the MAVs. Listen, both got to finals, right, The Heat got to the finals. But when they did with Jimmy Butler, Jimmy was overwhelmed and Luca got to a finals. But do you remember that finals? He was out of shape, he was gassed. Lebron James with Matthew Dela Vedova Canoza finals. He's not out of shape, He's not gassed. He just doesn't have enough combatants on his side. So I can absolutely love Jimmy Butler, and you can add players to teams even like B plus A minus Guys, I've said this, everybody's got this. Hey, Luca guarantees this. Luca gets worked on the defensive end. We talked about this with Rick Buker yesterday. When Lebron sat out and he didn't play with Luca, they only lost. They were getting boat raced by bad teams because Luca sort of reverts back to who Luca is and why it wasn't Noah's great chemistry with the Mavericks. Guys are sitting around watching, they don't touch the ball. And this was Buker yesterday talking about the Lebron Luca dynamic.

So you know, you can you can add new members. One of my favorite fans of all time was the Eagles, right right, Okay, you can add people to the band, but you know, Don Henley had the voice like in the end. You can add a lot of bad members, and the Warriors can add Jimmy Butler, and Jimmy Butler makes him better. But it is Steph's team and last night was a great example because Jimmy Butler returned to Miami to the heat where he got him to the finals, and he has been great. He has been great when Butler and Steph play together, Warriors are fifteen and three, but last night's the difference between the two. Steph didn't play, Jimmy did, and the offense dried up. The starters for the Warriors at half had ten total points. And Lebron and Steph are transformational all time players, Top ten players. Luca got traded for a reason. Remember Lebron left Miami on his terms. Jimmy was traded out of town, right. So Luca is a great score, but the team's not as good to face because he didn't share the ball as much. And in the NBA, if I don't touch it, I'm not playing d on the other end, and Steph between iq EQ off ball, on ball, scoring, culture, building, leadership. I love Jimmy Butler, but he's combative, he's a bouncer around the league guy. He's a super grinder. He's a more offensive, least skilled Draymond Green. But Steph's the entire package. Lebron's the entire package. You can love Keith Richards. It's mixed band. You can love Butler, it's Steph's band. You can love Luca, it's Lebron's band. And you saw it last night. Is that without Steph this looked like the team pre Butler, Nobody could score. The movement's not as good, they're not talking as much. And the Heat in the MAVs. Listen, both got to finals, right, The Heat got to the finals. But when they did with Jimmy Butler, Jimmy was overwhelmed and Luca got to a finals. But do you remember that finals? He was out of shape, he was gassed. Lebron James with Matthew Dela Vedova Canoza finals. He's not out of shape, He's not gassed. He just doesn't have enough combatants on his side. So I can absolutely love Jimmy Butler, and you can add players to teams even like B plus A minus Guys, I've said this, everybody's got this. Hey, Luca guarantees this. Luca gets worked on the defensive end. We talked about this with Rick Buker yesterday. When Lebron sat out and he didn't play with Luca, they only lost. They were getting boat raced by bad teams because Luca sort of reverts back to who Luca is and why it wasn't Noah's great chemistry with the Mavericks. Guys are sitting around watching, they don't touch the ball. And this was Buker yesterday talking about the Lebron Luca dynamic.

When Lebron stepped out, it became the Lucas show and it looked like Dallas. And the reason that you had everybody defending as hard as they were.

When Lebron stepped out, it became the Lucas show and it looked like Dallas. And the reason that you had everybody defending as hard as they were.

Because they were touching the ball.

Because they were touching the ball.

They knew that if they ran the floor, the ball is going to be passed ahead and I might get a fast break layup.

They knew that if they ran the floor, the ball is going to be passed ahead and I might get a fast break layup.

And that doesn't happen much when Lebron's out. So it's interesting. I had said this. I gave baseball about fifteen years off. I didn't talk much about it. The game got really slow, there was no urgency, the emergence of the iPhone. People are distracted and the stars were not in the right places. Otani was down with the Angels who feel invisible here in La County, which neighbors Orange County. And then Bryce Harper goes to the Nats and Aaron Judge becomes a star, and Otawni is now a Dodger, and all of a sudden you look up and baseball speeds the game up. The defensive shift is eliminated, the bases are bigger, there's more base runners, more stolen bases, and baseball last two years. Rating's up, Attendance up. So Rob Manfred as a commissioner of baseball on in one hour. He's always got a battle the purists. Baseball is like half amusement park, half museum, and the museum crowd, the old school people, they're grumpy. The sky is falling with any change. So yesterday was a great example of that. So Jeff Passen was on. He's a very popular baseball writer for the Other Place. He was on a podcast and he said, you know, baseball is in an incredible place right now. They cannot have a work stoppage and all the steam heads come out of the woodwork. Nobody can compete.

And that doesn't happen much when Lebron's out. So it's interesting. I had said this. I gave baseball about fifteen years off. I didn't talk much about it. The game got really slow, there was no urgency, the emergence of the iPhone. People are distracted and the stars were not in the right places. Otani was down with the Angels who feel invisible here in La County, which neighbors Orange County. And then Bryce Harper goes to the Nats and Aaron Judge becomes a star, and Otawni is now a Dodger, and all of a sudden you look up and baseball speeds the game up. The defensive shift is eliminated, the bases are bigger, there's more base runners, more stolen bases, and baseball last two years. Rating's up, Attendance up. So Rob Manfred as a commissioner of baseball on in one hour. He's always got a battle the purists. Baseball is like half amusement park, half museum, and the museum crowd, the old school people, they're grumpy. The sky is falling with any change. So yesterday was a great example of that. So Jeff Passen was on. He's a very popular baseball writer for the Other Place. He was on a podcast and he said, you know, baseball is in an incredible place right now. They cannot have a work stoppage and all the steam heads come out of the woodwork. Nobody can compete.

Oh good lord.

Oh good lord.

The minute the Dodgers Yankees make a World Series, the sky is falling. Crowd, nobody can compete. We need a salary cap. Baseball is never going to have a salary cap. Union's too strong, and you know, nobody is repeated in baseball to win the World series since two thousand. That is the longest streak of any pro league in America and the longest streak in baseball history. In fact, last year I looked up this morning, the Guardians, Orioles, Royals, Tigers, and Brewers all made the playoffs. In fact, Detroit wont to playoffs. Thereies, they're all in the bottom half of the league in payroll. The league's never had more parody, never but speed up the game of the pitch clock. The purists didn't like it. The change in extra innings, the larger bases, good god, They suggested the golden knit bat used once a game where a star can bat out of order. People freaked out. Baseball's did an incredibly, incredibly healthy place. But no sport has more kninnies and whiners than baseball. I looked it up this morning. So you had last year, you had six guys sign a hundred plus million dollar contract.

The minute the Dodgers Yankees make a World Series, the sky is falling. Crowd, nobody can compete. We need a salary cap. Baseball is never going to have a salary cap. Union's too strong, and you know, nobody is repeated in baseball to win the World series since two thousand. That is the longest streak of any pro league in America and the longest streak in baseball history. In fact, last year I looked up this morning, the Guardians, Orioles, Royals, Tigers, and Brewers all made the playoffs. In fact, Detroit wont to playoffs. Thereies, they're all in the bottom half of the league in payroll. The league's never had more parody, never but speed up the game of the pitch clock. The purists didn't like it. The change in extra innings, the larger bases, good god, They suggested the golden knit bat used once a game where a star can bat out of order. People freaked out. Baseball's did an incredibly, incredibly healthy place. But no sport has more kninnies and whiners than baseball. I looked it up this morning. So you had last year, you had six guys sign a hundred plus million dollar contract.

Six guys. They must have been all Dodgers.

Six guys. They must have been all Dodgers.

Nope, One was a Yankee, one was a Dodger, one was a Diamondback, one was a matt one was a Red Sox, one was San Francisco, six different places.

Nope, One was a Yankee, one was a Dodger, one was a Diamondback, one was a matt one was a Red Sox, one was San Francisco, six different places.

They haven't had a repeat champ, but.

They haven't had a repeat champ, but.

The minute the Dodgers and the Yankees get in, the sky is falling.

The minute the Dodgers and the Yankees get in, the sky is falling.

The purists are outrage. You have parody all over the sport.

The purists are outrage. You have parody all over the sport.

Now, I will say this Dodger team is insane, but we've all had somebody in our social circle. Hopefully you've eliminated them where you know, you go up and say, man, what a beautiful day, and they say, well, it could rain tomorrow. That is baseball purest. The sport's great. There's all sorts of bottom payroll team. I mean, in the NBA you have eight teams that feel like perpetually. The Wizards, they're just not watchable. They had John Wall and they weren't watchable. They can't compete. They had Beal and Wall in their prime. They can't compete in the East. So I mean, yeah, the a's situation's ugly. But the NFL several years ago had the Raiders change where they were playing. The Chargers moved, they had three to Saint Louis, moved out to LA There was a real bumpy two year stretch of the NFL where like franchises were moving all over the country. Yes, the A situation is a mess, but this idea, it is just you know, like I gave baseball fifteen years off the first eight years here. In the last eight at the other place, I just didn't talk it much. Last year and a half, baseball has been unbelievable. All the stars in the right place. The game is faster, more base runners, more stolen bases, more activity. In fact, one of my questions now is I think there's parody in baseball. The place where you lack parody is pitcher and hitter. Not enough teams can hit two sixty five to two seventy as a team because the mound. Pitchers are bigger, stronger, faster, throwing one hundred miles an hour, and batters, even good ones, can be overwhelmed in this sport. That's where you lack parody. The pitchers against the hitters. The sport's fine. And as I've said, who pays forty percent of baseball bills, TV networks, they don't care about parody. They want six really good teams, preferably in New York, Atlanta, Chicago.

Now, I will say this Dodger team is insane, but we've all had somebody in our social circle. Hopefully you've eliminated them where you know, you go up and say, man, what a beautiful day, and they say, well, it could rain tomorrow. That is baseball purest. The sport's great. There's all sorts of bottom payroll team. I mean, in the NBA you have eight teams that feel like perpetually. The Wizards, they're just not watchable. They had John Wall and they weren't watchable. They can't compete. They had Beal and Wall in their prime. They can't compete in the East. So I mean, yeah, the a's situation's ugly. But the NFL several years ago had the Raiders change where they were playing. The Chargers moved, they had three to Saint Louis, moved out to LA There was a real bumpy two year stretch of the NFL where like franchises were moving all over the country. Yes, the A situation is a mess, but this idea, it is just you know, like I gave baseball fifteen years off the first eight years here. In the last eight at the other place, I just didn't talk it much. Last year and a half, baseball has been unbelievable. All the stars in the right place. The game is faster, more base runners, more stolen bases, more activity. In fact, one of my questions now is I think there's parody in baseball. The place where you lack parody is pitcher and hitter. Not enough teams can hit two sixty five to two seventy as a team because the mound. Pitchers are bigger, stronger, faster, throwing one hundred miles an hour, and batters, even good ones, can be overwhelmed in this sport. That's where you lack parody. The pitchers against the hitters. The sport's fine. And as I've said, who pays forty percent of baseball bills, TV networks, they don't care about parody. They want six really good teams, preferably in New York, Atlanta, Chicago.

LA, and Philadelphia and maybe Houston.

LA, and Philadelphia and maybe Houston.

That's where they want the good teams, and that's where they are right now. So J Mack, We've got a lot of stuff you know, it's it's interesting. People are pins and needles on what Aaron Rodgers is gonna do and and I've said he's a slightly better version of Russell Wilson. So Russell Wilson signed with the Giants yesterday and it landed with an absolute nothing burger. WHOA, I don't think I that is a third to fourth place team right.

That's where they want the good teams, and that's where they are right now. So J Mack, We've got a lot of stuff you know, it's it's interesting. People are pins and needles on what Aaron Rodgers is gonna do and and I've said he's a slightly better version of Russell Wilson. So Russell Wilson signed with the Giants yesterday and it landed with an absolute nothing burger. WHOA, I don't think I that is a third to fourth place team right.

Well, certainly, But is it possible that the Giants got win that Hey, Schndor Sanders.

Well, certainly, But is it possible that the Giants got win that Hey, Schndor Sanders.

Ain't gonna be there with three guys. He's not. He's gonna be gone.

Ain't gonna be there with three guys. He's not. He's gonna be gone.

You better grab a quarterback before you get nothing. Right, What if Russell Wilson went to I don't know another team, then they would have no quarterback at all. So I think some draft stuff leaked out, and that's why the Patriots went and got Digs.

You better grab a quarterback before you get nothing. Right, What if Russell Wilson went to I don't know another team, then they would have no quarterback at all. So I think some draft stuff leaked out, and that's why the Patriots went and got Digs.

Is Travis Hunter gonna be there at four colin I don't know.

Is Travis Hunter gonna be there at four colin I don't know.

Yeah, so the Patriots probably heard Travis Hunter has gone at four because the Giants are gonna have to select him because the Browns are taking a quarterback. Yeah yeah, So you know, nobody can keep a secret. I mean, let's be honest. In the NFL, you get close to the draft you got scouts that have worked for multiple teams. You got people who have been fired, right like, so you can't keep secrets anywhere. If you want to keep a secret, don't say anything to anybody. So I think what happened yesterday's a bit of a domino. The Giants find out Cleveland's taking a quarterback. The Patriots find out, oh, we better than signed to Van Diggs because we're not getting Travis Hunter, right, That's probably what's happening.

Yeah, so the Patriots probably heard Travis Hunter has gone at four because the Giants are gonna have to select him because the Browns are taking a quarterback. Yeah yeah, So you know, nobody can keep a secret. I mean, let's be honest. In the NFL, you get close to the draft you got scouts that have worked for multiple teams. You got people who have been fired, right like, so you can't keep secrets anywhere. If you want to keep a secret, don't say anything to anybody. So I think what happened yesterday's a bit of a domino. The Giants find out Cleveland's taking a quarterback. The Patriots find out, oh, we better than signed to Van Diggs because we're not getting Travis Hunter, right, That's probably what's happening.

And Neighbors and Travis Hunter is kind of spicy on the outside.

And Neighbors and Travis Hunter is kind of spicy on the outside.

For the New York Giants.

For the New York Giants.

They got a quarterback who just throws deep balls.

They got a quarterback who just throws deep balls.

That's all Russ does. He doesn't want to go over the middle.

That's all Russ does. He doesn't want to go over the middle.

He just wants to throw the go routes to Pickens and Pittsburg's memory and it worked. Now you get Neighbors and Hunter. That's moderately interesting. With Brian Dable as your head.

He just wants to throw the go routes to Pickens and Pittsburg's memory and it worked. Now you get Neighbors and Hunter. That's moderately interesting. With Brian Dable as your head.

Car right, be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and neonon Easter nin am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.

Car right, be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and neonon Easter nin am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.

Welcome back Rob mad for Baseball Commission at the top of next hour. So Russell Wilson signed yesterday with the Giants. He's had some success in MetLife as a Seahawk, and Jamis Winston had just signed with the Giants, and you know what are they doing here? It's kind of a Donald Trump thing. Flood the zone. See if anything sticks. My takeaway is what Jay McK and I talked about earlier. It does appear Cleveland and I think this is a good fit. Is going to take Shudur Sanders, So cam Ward's going to go number one, shaduor Sanders. Cleveland's going to go number two. The Giants got wind of it and they signed Russell Wilson and Jamis Winston and they're probably in the Travis Hunter, who's the best pure athlete in the draft ballpark. And I was thinking about this this morning. The Giants have really become the Cleveland Browns where I'm dead serious, where I like the offensive head coach Stefanski won eleven games, rotated four quarterbacks and got to the playoffs. That's all I've ever needed to see. He's a good coach. Brian Davill won a playoff game with Daniel Jones. That's all I need to know. The rest of the organizations are trouble. I like the coach that got some good defensive players and they are a sideshow at quarterback. The difference is this morning, Cleveland's going to get Shdor Sanders. The Giants are stuck with Russell Wilson and Jamis Winston. So Cleveland is now a better version of the Giants. The last time Cleveland was legitimate and stable at quarterback was Bernie Cozar mid eighties one five straight. We got five straight playoff appearances, total stability. Never been stable since the last time the Giants were stable. Eli Manning wins two Super Bowls in a five year period. It's been a mess, and if you look at Cleveland, it's been impulsive reactions from the owner. And if you look at the Giants, they've had patients.

Welcome back Rob mad for Baseball Commission at the top of next hour. So Russell Wilson signed yesterday with the Giants. He's had some success in MetLife as a Seahawk, and Jamis Winston had just signed with the Giants, and you know what are they doing here? It's kind of a Donald Trump thing. Flood the zone. See if anything sticks. My takeaway is what Jay McK and I talked about earlier. It does appear Cleveland and I think this is a good fit. Is going to take Shudur Sanders, So cam Ward's going to go number one, shaduor Sanders. Cleveland's going to go number two. The Giants got wind of it and they signed Russell Wilson and Jamis Winston and they're probably in the Travis Hunter, who's the best pure athlete in the draft ballpark. And I was thinking about this this morning. The Giants have really become the Cleveland Browns where I'm dead serious, where I like the offensive head coach Stefanski won eleven games, rotated four quarterbacks and got to the playoffs. That's all I've ever needed to see. He's a good coach. Brian Davill won a playoff game with Daniel Jones. That's all I need to know. The rest of the organizations are trouble. I like the coach that got some good defensive players and they are a sideshow at quarterback. The difference is this morning, Cleveland's going to get Shdor Sanders. The Giants are stuck with Russell Wilson and Jamis Winston. So Cleveland is now a better version of the Giants. The last time Cleveland was legitimate and stable at quarterback was Bernie Cozar mid eighties one five straight. We got five straight playoff appearances, total stability. Never been stable since the last time the Giants were stable. Eli Manning wins two Super Bowls in a five year period. It's been a mess, and if you look at Cleveland, it's been impulsive reactions from the owner. And if you look at the Giants, they've had patients.

They're not Cleveland.

They're not Cleveland.

They've had patients. They've just made horrible decisions. Joe Judge, Dave Getleman, Daniel Jones. Then the extension letting Saquon go. So there's a lot of different ways to get bad Cleveland. It's mostly been an ownership thing. The Giants owner has not helped bad GM thing. Joe, Shane, Dave Gettlman, just to me, are they're not elite guys and so, but the difference is this morning is Cleveland's going to get a quarterback who's a pocket guy, Shouder Sanders, who I like more than the critics. Remember about a month ago when some of these mock draft guys were saying, Hey, Shadoor may fall to the second round. J Mack first me following up, said you're out of your mind. These guys are nice quarterback prospects. Far less talented quarterbacks have gone in the top five than Shador Sanders and Cam Moore. Cam Ward's going on. What this says today signing Russell Wilson is the Browns are taking Shaduur Sanders and Stefanski's a very good pocket quarterback, very good with Flacco, very good with Baker. That's what he does. Guys that sit in the pocket and throw. Yeh, that's why Deshaun Watson's been if he Deshaun didn't throw great from the pocket. He moves a lot and he's not the athlete he once was. So you think I'm you know, listen, the Giants have the worst record in the League's his twenty seventeen. So when I say they're the Cleveland Browns, and they have the fewest touchdown passes in the NFL since Eli Manning retired. But the difference is the Browns this morning are gonna get their future quarterback and the Giants are stuck with two guys past their prime. And by the way, you couldn't get two more unique guys. I mean, here is goofy, weird, funny, authentic Jameis Winston and then sort of stoic, corporate, some would say inauthentic Russell Wilson. It's a weird combination. But this morning, when I say the Giants of the Cleveland Browns, you snicker. The Browns are actually in the next month in better shape. They've got the best total player, Miles Garrett, they may have a better coach, Kevin Stefanski, and they've got their future quarterback, which they don't have it to pay a fortune for for the next four years.

They've had patients. They've just made horrible decisions. Joe Judge, Dave Getleman, Daniel Jones. Then the extension letting Saquon go. So there's a lot of different ways to get bad Cleveland. It's mostly been an ownership thing. The Giants owner has not helped bad GM thing. Joe, Shane, Dave Gettlman, just to me, are they're not elite guys and so, but the difference is this morning is Cleveland's going to get a quarterback who's a pocket guy, Shouder Sanders, who I like more than the critics. Remember about a month ago when some of these mock draft guys were saying, Hey, Shadoor may fall to the second round. J Mack first me following up, said you're out of your mind. These guys are nice quarterback prospects. Far less talented quarterbacks have gone in the top five than Shador Sanders and Cam Moore. Cam Ward's going on. What this says today signing Russell Wilson is the Browns are taking Shaduur Sanders and Stefanski's a very good pocket quarterback, very good with Flacco, very good with Baker. That's what he does. Guys that sit in the pocket and throw. Yeh, that's why Deshaun Watson's been if he Deshaun didn't throw great from the pocket. He moves a lot and he's not the athlete he once was. So you think I'm you know, listen, the Giants have the worst record in the League's his twenty seventeen. So when I say they're the Cleveland Browns, and they have the fewest touchdown passes in the NFL since Eli Manning retired. But the difference is the Browns this morning are gonna get their future quarterback and the Giants are stuck with two guys past their prime. And by the way, you couldn't get two more unique guys. I mean, here is goofy, weird, funny, authentic Jameis Winston and then sort of stoic, corporate, some would say inauthentic Russell Wilson. It's a weird combination. But this morning, when I say the Giants of the Cleveland Browns, you snicker. The Browns are actually in the next month in better shape. They've got the best total player, Miles Garrett, they may have a better coach, Kevin Stefanski, and they've got their future quarterback, which they don't have it to pay a fortune for for the next four years.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and neon eastern non am Pacific.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and neon eastern non am Pacific.

Hey, Steve Covino and I'm Rich David, and together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You could catch us weekdays from five to seven pm Eastern two to four Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and of course the iHeartRadio app.

Hey, Steve Covino and I'm Rich David, and together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You could catch us weekdays from five to seven pm Eastern two to four Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and of course the iHeartRadio app.

Why should you listen to Covino and Rich.

Why should you listen to Covino and Rich.

We talk about everything life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture, stories that well other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last twenty years and still work together, I mean that says something, right.

We talk about everything life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture, stories that well other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last twenty years and still work together, I mean that says something, right.

So check us out.

So check us out.

We like to get you involved too, take your phone calls, chop it up. As they say, I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the.

We like to get you involved too, take your phone calls, chop it up. As they say, I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the.

Most interactive show on planetar.

Most interactive show on planetar.

Be sure to check out Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app from five to seven pm Eastern two to four Pacific, and if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcasts, and of course on social media.

Be sure to check out Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports Radio and the iHeartRadio app from five to seven pm Eastern two to four Pacific, and if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcasts, and of course on social media.

That's Covino and Rich. I don't mean to be a wet blanket, but it was funny. I was reading some politics yesterday. There was no outside of the Miami Heat Warrior game, there wasn't a lot of games I want to watch, so I watched a live listen to three or four podcasts. I listened to an LA Times Patty Hurst podcast. I was listening to pod casts all day yesterday and watching shows, and I was sitting there thinking, you know, there used to be a term that was used a lot. It's not used much anymore in sports, hot take politics, the hot takes are insane. There's forty a day. I mean, everybody exaggerates everything. It's like, folks, go look up the Patty her story, the Pentagon papers. You have no idea what was happening in this country in the sixties and the seventies, and the radicals like take a deep breath and so like today's show. And maybe that got me in the mood watching all the hot takes in politics. But when I saw people attacking Jeff Passon for saying baseball is in a great space. Do just google who made the playoffs last year? It was like a bunch of low payroll teams. You haven't had a World Series repeat champs. It's like twenty two thousand or twenty twenty or whatever it was. It's like forever longer than any other sport, the Patriots and Chiefs have overwhelmingly dominated the last twenty five years in the NFL. Nobody in baseball has nobody. And so the other one or thing I've been pushing back on is this hot take that I saw this headline yesterday. The nil and the transfer portal are sucking the madness out of March.

That's Covino and Rich. I don't mean to be a wet blanket, but it was funny. I was reading some politics yesterday. There was no outside of the Miami Heat Warrior game, there wasn't a lot of games I want to watch, so I watched a live listen to three or four podcasts. I listened to an LA Times Patty Hurst podcast. I was listening to pod casts all day yesterday and watching shows, and I was sitting there thinking, you know, there used to be a term that was used a lot. It's not used much anymore in sports, hot take politics, the hot takes are insane. There's forty a day. I mean, everybody exaggerates everything. It's like, folks, go look up the Patty her story, the Pentagon papers. You have no idea what was happening in this country in the sixties and the seventies, and the radicals like take a deep breath and so like today's show. And maybe that got me in the mood watching all the hot takes in politics. But when I saw people attacking Jeff Passon for saying baseball is in a great space. Do just google who made the playoffs last year? It was like a bunch of low payroll teams. You haven't had a World Series repeat champs. It's like twenty two thousand or twenty twenty or whatever it was. It's like forever longer than any other sport, the Patriots and Chiefs have overwhelmingly dominated the last twenty five years in the NFL. Nobody in baseball has nobody. And so the other one or thing I've been pushing back on is this hot take that I saw this headline yesterday. The nil and the transfer portal are sucking the madness out of March.

Again.

Again.

TV ratings illustrate that we're not watching for madness. We're watching for Duke. We're watching for favorites memories. We know this that lawyers can poke holes in eyewitness testimony because memories fade and change over time. It's called partial recall. You remember something twenty years ago, but your brain fills in the rest. And that's why good attorneys will poke hole and eyewitnesses. And you start talking, talking yourself into circles and misremembering stuff, and you know, you talk about all this madness and all these upsets. So give an example. The three biggest memories for most people watching college basketball. Number one is the Christian Latner shot he played for Duke. They beat Kentucky, No Cinderella in that moment, two massive brands. That's the most memorable shot, in my opinion in the history of the tournament. Second, you could argue, second is young Michael Jordan hitting the basket against Georgetown, you NC against the Hoyas. No Cinderella, John Thompson and Dean Smith, two huge brands. Now we can go back to the Volvano play. But I would say Chris Jenkins of Villanova a number two or three seed beating North Carolina a number one seed. Those are three semi recent memories of college basketball. You name me, remember a couple of years ago. My point is there's so much mythology about Cinderella. Never forget Cinderella. That was a moment, but she was a house cleaner for the other three hundred and sixty days a year. Okay, right, we've made Cinderella and oh my god, that was a night. That was a ball. That's it, right, That wasn't the profession. And my takeaway is it's all mythology. Is that remember a few years ago there was an upset. What was the upset we had? Oh yeah, UMBC, the number sixteen seed beat number one Virginia. Do you remember the next game for UMBC? Oh, you don't either, because that was the greatest Cinderella and you forgot what they did in the next game, So this whole March madness is done. We don't watch for the madness. We watched for big brands. That's why this weekend is going to be great because one of your upsets was John Calipari beating Rick Mattino, and that's about the best upset you could have. Calipari winning as a polarizing head coach. This is just more mythology. And that's like people. A lot of people say they're gonna work out, they're gonna go on a diet, and instead they go on ozempic. They don't go to the gym, and they don't eat right, they don't eat at all. They use ozempic. And you're not watching for these small brands. You can't name two players on VCU with Shaka Smart or George Mason. Unless you're a college basketball.

TV ratings illustrate that we're not watching for madness. We're watching for Duke. We're watching for favorites memories. We know this that lawyers can poke holes in eyewitness testimony because memories fade and change over time. It's called partial recall. You remember something twenty years ago, but your brain fills in the rest. And that's why good attorneys will poke hole and eyewitnesses. And you start talking, talking yourself into circles and misremembering stuff, and you know, you talk about all this madness and all these upsets. So give an example. The three biggest memories for most people watching college basketball. Number one is the Christian Latner shot he played for Duke. They beat Kentucky, No Cinderella in that moment, two massive brands. That's the most memorable shot, in my opinion in the history of the tournament. Second, you could argue, second is young Michael Jordan hitting the basket against Georgetown, you NC against the Hoyas. No Cinderella, John Thompson and Dean Smith, two huge brands. Now we can go back to the Volvano play. But I would say Chris Jenkins of Villanova a number two or three seed beating North Carolina a number one seed. Those are three semi recent memories of college basketball. You name me, remember a couple of years ago. My point is there's so much mythology about Cinderella. Never forget Cinderella. That was a moment, but she was a house cleaner for the other three hundred and sixty days a year. Okay, right, we've made Cinderella and oh my god, that was a night. That was a ball. That's it, right, That wasn't the profession. And my takeaway is it's all mythology. Is that remember a few years ago there was an upset. What was the upset we had? Oh yeah, UMBC, the number sixteen seed beat number one Virginia. Do you remember the next game for UMBC? Oh, you don't either, because that was the greatest Cinderella and you forgot what they did in the next game, So this whole March madness is done. We don't watch for the madness. We watched for big brands. That's why this weekend is going to be great because one of your upsets was John Calipari beating Rick Mattino, and that's about the best upset you could have. Calipari winning as a polarizing head coach. This is just more mythology. And that's like people. A lot of people say they're gonna work out, they're gonna go on a diet, and instead they go on ozempic. They don't go to the gym, and they don't eat right, they don't eat at all. They use ozempic. And you're not watching for these small brands. You can't name two players on VCU with Shaka Smart or George Mason. Unless you're a college basketball.

Coach, you don't remember it.

Coach, you don't remember it.

So the NIL helps college basketball. It keeps stars in for another year. Some guys will say and on a lot of these college basketball programs can pay a million dollars for a great player they step up it. Or I can make three hundred thousand dollars in the G League. I'd rather play in the Big ten and I'd rather play at Duke Carolina, Michigan State Michigan.

So the NIL helps college basketball. It keeps stars in for another year. Some guys will say and on a lot of these college basketball programs can pay a million dollars for a great player they step up it. Or I can make three hundred thousand dollars in the G League. I'd rather play in the Big ten and I'd rather play at Duke Carolina, Michigan State Michigan.

I'd rather play there. So that's where it helps.

I'd rather play there. So that's where it helps.

And it also Cherry picks mid major guys, which nobody watches anyway. So again, take a deep breath. We're watching. We're watching for March and Brands, not the madness. And if you want to talk madness, it's Latner hitting the shot over Kentucky. That was nuts. I watched that live. That was crazy. Duke against Kentucky.

And it also Cherry picks mid major guys, which nobody watches anyway. So again, take a deep breath. We're watching. We're watching for March and Brands, not the madness. And if you want to talk madness, it's Latner hitting the shot over Kentucky. That was nuts. I watched that live. That was crazy. Duke against Kentucky.

I'm sure you saw the ratings Colin or thirty plus, a year high. So they had to go back to nineteen ninety three when the ratings were this high for the first two rounds. Do you want to guess who was playing in nineteen ninety three, the Fab Five?

I'm sure you saw the ratings Colin or thirty plus, a year high. So they had to go back to nineteen ninety three when the ratings were this high for the first two rounds. Do you want to guess who was playing in nineteen ninety three, the Fab Five?

Okay, there you go.

Okay, there you go.

When they went up against the UNC historically great team, hugely popular, culturally relevant.

When they went up against the UNC historically great team, hugely popular, culturally relevant.

That's when the ratings were massive.

That's when the ratings were massive.

Okay.

Okay.

I mean, in my life, the most popular college basketball teams have been the Laytner Duke team, the Patrick Ewing Georgetown team, the Jordan Worthy Carolina teams, UNLV UNLV with Tark which I call Levery Johnson's day, and that was by the way, it may have been a Vegas was an emerging city, but that was a big brand. Those are the most popular.

I mean, in my life, the most popular college basketball teams have been the Laytner Duke team, the Patrick Ewing Georgetown team, the Jordan Worthy Carolina teams, UNLV UNLV with Tark which I call Levery Johnson's day, and that was by the way, it may have been a Vegas was an emerging city, but that was a big brand. Those are the most popular.

And Fab five have to be close to you.

And Fab five have to be close to you.

And I'll argue this for there is this total false narrative that Villanova beating Georgetown when they were both in the Big East was shocking. I did the Roly mass Amino show years later. He said, we matched up great with Georgetown. We got annihilated twice against Chris Mullen, Mark Jackson and Saint John's. Our staff was like, we were hoping we had ed Pinkney. They had Ewing Pinkney could defend he Goes. We loved our chances against Georgetown. We could play him anywhere we matched up. So that was seen as a massive upset. If you remember back then, you could slow the game down, you didn't have to shoot and so but it's like baseball's got parody. Take a deep breath, it's fine and march madness. The ratings are telling you people are into everywhere I went this past weekend. I was in Chicago this past everywhere you went, the game's were on everywhere.

And I'll argue this for there is this total false narrative that Villanova beating Georgetown when they were both in the Big East was shocking. I did the Roly mass Amino show years later. He said, we matched up great with Georgetown. We got annihilated twice against Chris Mullen, Mark Jackson and Saint John's. Our staff was like, we were hoping we had ed Pinkney. They had Ewing Pinkney could defend he Goes. We loved our chances against Georgetown. We could play him anywhere we matched up. So that was seen as a massive upset. If you remember back then, you could slow the game down, you didn't have to shoot and so but it's like baseball's got parody. Take a deep breath, it's fine and march madness. The ratings are telling you people are into everywhere I went this past weekend. I was in Chicago this past everywhere you went, the game's were on everywhere.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd Weekdays and noon Eastern Non a EM Pacific.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd Weekdays and noon Eastern Non a EM Pacific.

Well, we haven't had Julian Edelin on in a long time. He's got his own he's on the Fox NFL Kickoff, and we just got out of free agency. We're moving into the draft. I don't think it's a particularly strong draft. I do want to ask you about free agency. So there were some rumors recently about Aaron Rodgers in Minnesota, and I thought to myself, I would wait if I was Aaron for Minnesota. Great coach indoors know the division justin Jefferson and Minnesota. They brought in Darnold Daniel Jones, but they wouldn't bring in Aaron even for a year. Do you agree with that?

Well, we haven't had Julian Edelin on in a long time. He's got his own he's on the Fox NFL Kickoff, and we just got out of free agency. We're moving into the draft. I don't think it's a particularly strong draft. I do want to ask you about free agency. So there were some rumors recently about Aaron Rodgers in Minnesota, and I thought to myself, I would wait if I was Aaron for Minnesota. Great coach indoors know the division justin Jefferson and Minnesota. They brought in Darnold Daniel Jones, but they wouldn't bring in Aaron even for a year. Do you agree with that?

I do agree with that.

I do agree with that.

Can I hear is?

Can I hear is?

Mike? We go go ahead? Are you there?

Mike? We go go ahead? Are you there?

Yeah?

Yeah?

I do agree with that, just for the simple situation.

I do agree with that, just for the simple situation.

Look, let's let's let's rewind back when Aaron Rodgers was a young, spry quarterback. There was a quarterback in his room that was playing the antics that Aaron Rodgers is literally playing now. And Aaron picked up a lot of the habits of Brett Farv. Let's not joke around about it. He's doing the same things that Brett Favre did at the end of his career.

Look, let's let's let's rewind back when Aaron Rodgers was a young, spry quarterback. There was a quarterback in his room that was playing the antics that Aaron Rodgers is literally playing now. And Aaron picked up a lot of the habits of Brett Farv. Let's not joke around about it. He's doing the same things that Brett Favre did at the end of his career.

That doesn't happen by accident.

That doesn't happen by accident.

So you have a young quarterback in JJ McCarthy with the Vikings with a quarterback genius coach and Kevin O'Connell, and you just want to throw in Aaron Rodgers, who you know Week eight last year on was great because he started to get that chemistry that he doesn't get in the off season because he doesn't do the off season.

So you have a young quarterback in JJ McCarthy with the Vikings with a quarterback genius coach and Kevin O'Connell, and you just want to throw in Aaron Rodgers, who you know Week eight last year on was great because he started to get that chemistry that he doesn't get in the off season because he doesn't do the off season.

But he started to get that.

But he started to get that.

But you're also getting all the other noise that you're going to have with Aaron Rodgers, which is a lot of distraction. And do you really want to go into this locker room Minnesota that went to the NFC Championship or went to the Divisional round last year and really put something in there that could mess with the function way of what that locker room is. They're clearly very confident in McCarthy. They let Sam Darnold walk out the door. We were talking about him being the MVP until Week fourteen last year, which is crazy.

But you're also getting all the other noise that you're going to have with Aaron Rodgers, which is a lot of distraction. And do you really want to go into this locker room Minnesota that went to the NFC Championship or went to the Divisional round last year and really put something in there that could mess with the function way of what that locker room is. They're clearly very confident in McCarthy. They let Sam Darnold walk out the door. We were talking about him being the MVP until Week fourteen last year, which is crazy.

So they have a confidence they know what they want.

So they have a confidence they know what they want.

I liked that they didn't name him the starter because now he used to go on and earn it and you can't just you know, put in this whole process, this plan that you're preaching to the team, and the name a kid who's never even played it down in the National Football League the starting quarterback after So I'm done on leave. So I do agree. I just went on twenty different tangents. I do agree that they didn't with them not bringing in Aaron Rodgers.

I liked that they didn't name him the starter because now he used to go on and earn it and you can't just you know, put in this whole process, this plan that you're preaching to the team, and the name a kid who's never even played it down in the National Football League the starting quarterback after So I'm done on leave. So I do agree. I just went on twenty different tangents. I do agree that they didn't with them not bringing in Aaron Rodgers.

You know, people have said about Aaron, like Pittsburgh fans are saying, well, he doesn't fit our culture. And my take is he's not really a football culture guy. Years ago, in twenty twenty, a story came out where Green Bay told Aaron don't be the problem. Since that article, this would be his third team in four or five years. And so I think Aaron has sent a very clear message. I am unapologetically independent. I am what I am. If you sign me, I'm gonna want to cup all buddies on the team. I'm okay with you as long.

You know, people have said about Aaron, like Pittsburgh fans are saying, well, he doesn't fit our culture. And my take is he's not really a football culture guy. Years ago, in twenty twenty, a story came out where Green Bay told Aaron don't be the problem. Since that article, this would be his third team in four or five years. And so I think Aaron has sent a very clear message. I am unapologetically independent. I am what I am. If you sign me, I'm gonna want to cup all buddies on the team. I'm okay with you as long.

As you don't fool me.

As you don't fool me.

Whatever you like, like Gronks like I'll go to Tampa because I like the warm weather and I'm I don't like the cold weather. So like he told everybody cold weather teams not interested. So to me, you have to have a strong culture or Aaron can kind of hijacket like the Jets. Like I think he could go right now to a Detroit or to a San Francisco. But like, for instance, there were a couple of signings the Patriots made Albert Hainsworth, Randy Moss, I don't think Aaron fits a lot of cultures.

Whatever you like, like Gronks like I'll go to Tampa because I like the warm weather and I'm I don't like the cold weather. So like he told everybody cold weather teams not interested. So to me, you have to have a strong culture or Aaron can kind of hijacket like the Jets. Like I think he could go right now to a Detroit or to a San Francisco. But like, for instance, there were a couple of signings the Patriots made Albert Hainsworth, Randy Moss, I don't think Aaron fits a lot of cultures.

I agree, But I do think he fits the Steelers culture because I believe in Mike Tomlin and the professional that he is as a head coach and how he communicates with players that he can make it work with Aaron Rodgers. Like we didn't hear anything about Antonio Brown until he left the Steelers. That is a magic power by Mike Tomlin who kept all that noise in the building. So if there's any place for Aaron Rodgers to probably be okay with how he handles football, I think Mike Tomlin would be a great guy for that.

I agree, But I do think he fits the Steelers culture because I believe in Mike Tomlin and the professional that he is as a head coach and how he communicates with players that he can make it work with Aaron Rodgers. Like we didn't hear anything about Antonio Brown until he left the Steelers. That is a magic power by Mike Tomlin who kept all that noise in the building. So if there's any place for Aaron Rodgers to probably be okay with how he handles football, I think Mike Tomlin would be a great guy for that.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So when.

So when.

You look at the free agency, I'll tell you a move I didn't love. I don't love Stefan Diggs to the Patriots for that number. Buffalo got better when he left. He was a three in Houston and they just paid him number one money. And my take is the culture isn't set yet, and he can be a little noisy, like in Houston, which is a city that like accepts noise, he could be a bit noisy and I don't love it. Again, Drake May is growing, he's not established. We surmised earlier today is they made that move because Cleveland's gonna take should do and then the Giants are going to take Travis Hunter. And Mike knows I got fired when I lost AJ Brown. We don't have any receivers. They're looking at the draft and thinking we're not going to get Travis Hunter. Is it possible that's what they're doing.

You look at the free agency, I'll tell you a move I didn't love. I don't love Stefan Diggs to the Patriots for that number. Buffalo got better when he left. He was a three in Houston and they just paid him number one money. And my take is the culture isn't set yet, and he can be a little noisy, like in Houston, which is a city that like accepts noise, he could be a bit noisy and I don't love it. Again, Drake May is growing, he's not established. We surmised earlier today is they made that move because Cleveland's gonna take should do and then the Giants are going to take Travis Hunter. And Mike knows I got fired when I lost AJ Brown. We don't have any receivers. They're looking at the draft and thinking we're not going to get Travis Hunter. Is it possible that's what they're doing.

That could be possible, but you know they need to upgrade the receiver room. And what you do get with Stefan Diggs is you get a professional. You ask anyone around town, anyone around the league. The guy works hard, he knows how to run every route, and he's a professional when he's in the building. Yes, there's antics, But number two, I like Mike Rabel dealing with those antiqs because he dealt with AJ Brown. He knows how to deal with a big time receiver. We didn't hear anything out of aj Brown. He's a very like alpha type of guy that's played in the league, that can communicate with these guys. And then number three, he's pissed off at the Bills still like, why wouldn't you want a little fire in a room the receiver room for the New England that hasn't performed in years? Why won't you all a little fire in there? That's what Steph down Diggs is gonna bring. He's gonna bring some urgency, which that room needs. He's gonna bring some motivation. Yes, there's gonna be some other stuff, but I trust that Mike Grabel will take care of that. Yes, he's got a young quarterback in Drake May. But we saw last year how Stephan Diggs was with Stroud. He was a different guy than he was with Alan. He understood, he matured a little bit over the year. He evolved his game and his attitude, and I expect him to do the same thing in here. And if you look at the money, what's it a three year deal? Thirty six million guaranteed, that's a two year or thirty seven that's two year.

That could be possible, but you know they need to upgrade the receiver room. And what you do get with Stefan Diggs is you get a professional. You ask anyone around town, anyone around the league. The guy works hard, he knows how to run every route, and he's a professional when he's in the building. Yes, there's antics, But number two, I like Mike Rabel dealing with those antiqs because he dealt with AJ Brown. He knows how to deal with a big time receiver. We didn't hear anything out of aj Brown. He's a very like alpha type of guy that's played in the league, that can communicate with these guys. And then number three, he's pissed off at the Bills still like, why wouldn't you want a little fire in a room the receiver room for the New England that hasn't performed in years? Why won't you all a little fire in there? That's what Steph down Diggs is gonna bring. He's gonna bring some urgency, which that room needs. He's gonna bring some motivation. Yes, there's gonna be some other stuff, but I trust that Mike Grabel will take care of that. Yes, he's got a young quarterback in Drake May. But we saw last year how Stephan Diggs was with Stroud. He was a different guy than he was with Alan. He understood, he matured a little bit over the year. He evolved his game and his attitude, and I expect him to do the same thing in here. And if you look at the money, what's it a three year deal? Thirty six million guaranteed, that's a two year or thirty seven that's two year.

Fifteen million dollar deal.

Fifteen million dollar deal.

Guys are making forty million dollars now a year, So that's not a big deal. That's where he's probably slated for the receiver he is in his career.

Guys are making forty million dollars now a year, So that's not a big deal. That's where he's probably slated for the receiver he is in his career.

When you were with the Patriots, and the Patriots missed on a lot of receivers and so this after Chad Jackson, they sort of stopped untill Nikkeil Harriet. They didn't draft a lot of first round guys. How long would it take you when you're with a good football team New England to realize, oh, that draft pick can play and that guy can't. Every team has busts, every single team. The great gms have Whift, Bill Polianwift. Were there times after the draft first camp, you're like, we'll think that guy's gonna make it.

When you were with the Patriots, and the Patriots missed on a lot of receivers and so this after Chad Jackson, they sort of stopped untill Nikkeil Harriet. They didn't draft a lot of first round guys. How long would it take you when you're with a good football team New England to realize, oh, that draft pick can play and that guy can't. Every team has busts, every single team. The great gms have Whift, Bill Polianwift. Were there times after the draft first camp, you're like, we'll think that guy's gonna make it.

Yeah, plenty of times.

Yeah, plenty of times.

Wow.

Wow.

You know, if you're a first round guy, you got you got.

You know, if you're a first round guy, you got you got.

A superpower of some sort, right, right, so you want to see that superpower. And yes, you're in diapers with you know, shells and of off season workouts, but there's always something that you can see in an explosive movement a guy body up a guy for the ball and steal it like he's a little kid, or or or the speed of some guy. You see that first round talent like where something is if he's gonna be able to help right away.

A superpower of some sort, right, right, so you want to see that superpower. And yes, you're in diapers with you know, shells and of off season workouts, but there's always something that you can see in an explosive movement a guy body up a guy for the ball and steal it like he's a little kid, or or or the speed of some guy. You see that first round talent like where something is if he's gonna be able to help right away.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So I'm a fan of Shador Sanders, And one of the reasons I'm a fan is he had a terrible online in college. He trailed in all the games, he had no run game, and he completed seventy four percent of his throws. So you played with arguably the most accurate, consistently accurate quarterback, certainly the best bad weather thrower I've ever seen in Brady. And my thing is some guys are accurate and some guys aren't. And like Cam was never going to complete sixty eight percent, Anthony Richardson's not that accurate. Like I watched the door and I'm like, bro is running for his life trailing, so everybody knows he's throwing seventy four percent. Like I don't believe you can go from inaccurate to really accurate. And so now you can go from inaccurate to sixty one percent. But in all your years, of all the backups, wasn't Garoppolo accurate early?

So I'm a fan of Shador Sanders, And one of the reasons I'm a fan is he had a terrible online in college. He trailed in all the games, he had no run game, and he completed seventy four percent of his throws. So you played with arguably the most accurate, consistently accurate quarterback, certainly the best bad weather thrower I've ever seen in Brady. And my thing is some guys are accurate and some guys aren't. And like Cam was never going to complete sixty eight percent, Anthony Richardson's not that accurate. Like I watched the door and I'm like, bro is running for his life trailing, so everybody knows he's throwing seventy four percent. Like I don't believe you can go from inaccurate to really accurate. And so now you can go from inaccurate to sixty one percent. But in all your years, of all the backups, wasn't Garoppolo accurate early?

Yeah, he was very accurate.

Yeah, he was very accurate.

The thing was new quarterbacked.

The thing was new quarterbacked.

Yeah, I wasn't accurate as if I went to receiver with Shador for me, it's not the accuracy. And you look at all this, he was sacked the most the last two years his career in college, he's been sacked the most. Set a few records on that, which you know a lot of times, yes, it's the offensive line's fault, but it's also you know it's it could be the quarterback's fault.

Yeah, I wasn't accurate as if I went to receiver with Shador for me, it's not the accuracy. And you look at all this, he was sacked the most the last two years his career in college, he's been sacked the most. Set a few records on that, which you know a lot of times, yes, it's the offensive line's fault, but it's also you know it's it could be the quarterback's fault.

So a lot some of those can be on him.

So a lot some of those can be on him.

My number one thing with Shador is can he break down the protections.

My number one thing with Shador is can he break down the protections.

He's not a mobile guy. He's a pocket passer. We all keep on saying he's a pocket passer.

He's not a mobile guy. He's a pocket passer. We all keep on saying he's a pocket passer.

So for me, if I'm a general manager, if I'm a team, i want to see how good he is with his protections because there's gonna be a day where your left tackle can't He's not gonna be able to block the guy across from him, so you're gonna have to slide the protection.

So for me, if I'm a general manager, if I'm a team, i want to see how good he is with his protections because there's gonna be a day where your left tackle can't He's not gonna be able to block the guy across from him, so you're gonna have to slide the protection.

You're gonna have to get the ball out quicker. You're gonna have to adjust your game.

You're gonna have to get the ball out quicker. You're gonna have to adjust your game.

So him being able to adjust his game over these last couple of years because of all the pressure, that could help him, but it also could hurt him because now he holds onto the ball too long. It's ultimately going to come down to the offensive coordinator. He gets paired up with that relationship and how he handles protections.

So him being able to adjust his game over these last couple of years because of all the pressure, that could help him, but it also could hurt him because now he holds onto the ball too long. It's ultimately going to come down to the offensive coordinator. He gets paired up with that relationship and how he handles protections.

Brock Purty is trying to get a massive deal, and the Niners have publicly stated we're not handing out cash like we used to in your years in the NFL. If a guy signs a deal and doesn't get what he wants, is their resentment.

Brock Purty is trying to get a massive deal, and the Niners have publicly stated we're not handing out cash like we used to in your years in the NFL. If a guy signs a deal and doesn't get what he wants, is their resentment.

I may have resented Bill every day in contract I signed.

I may have resented Bill every day in contract I signed.

Really, I mean, the.

Really, I mean, the.

Usually a deal, usually they find a place where both ends are happy.

Usually a deal, usually they find a place where both ends are happy.

You were.

You were.

Generally you found a place.

Generally you found a place.

I found a place I understood I wasn't gonna you know, for me personally, I always took team friendly ish deals because I understood what I was a part of. I understood that I'd have my most success in New England because we were winning. I understood that. You know, if I go to another team and that coaching staff gets and you're in the middle of nowhere and you ain't making no money off the field, like I understood all that when I was signing with New England. I think that's a huge part of the evaluation process for the player and the situation. A lot of the times guys you know, want the biggest dollar. But you know, for instance, you look at like Darnold, he goes and he signs with Seattle. I wonder what was the number that Minnesota signed him for, because he's basically playing a one year deal with the team that he doesn't know and he's going to try to hit free agency.

I found a place I understood I wasn't gonna you know, for me personally, I always took team friendly ish deals because I understood what I was a part of. I understood that I'd have my most success in New England because we were winning. I understood that. You know, if I go to another team and that coaching staff gets and you're in the middle of nowhere and you ain't making no money off the field, like I understood all that when I was signing with New England. I think that's a huge part of the evaluation process for the player and the situation. A lot of the times guys you know, want the biggest dollar. But you know, for instance, you look at like Darnold, he goes and he signs with Seattle. I wonder what was the number that Minnesota signed him for, because he's basically playing a one year deal with the team that he doesn't know and he's going to try to hit free agency.

Again and a defensive coach and a defensive coach.

Again and a defensive coach and a defensive coach.

I would have took probably six seven million dollars less to have my one year deal with Justin Jefferson and Addison and a coach that knows how to call plays for me if I'm going to try to hit it again even if I wasn't going to be the guy this year. You know, that's kind of what you're evaluating as a player. It's not just the most money. If that's your goal, there's other a ways to make the money. It's not always about doing on the field. So doing it through your winning, through the community of where you're at, and there's those are all part of that evaluation process for the players.

I would have took probably six seven million dollars less to have my one year deal with Justin Jefferson and Addison and a coach that knows how to call plays for me if I'm going to try to hit it again even if I wasn't going to be the guy this year. You know, that's kind of what you're evaluating as a player. It's not just the most money. If that's your goal, there's other a ways to make the money. It's not always about doing on the field. So doing it through your winning, through the community of where you're at, and there's those are all part of that evaluation process for the players.

So you know that that's the real thing.

So you know that that's the real thing.

What was that number that Sam Donald or the Minnesota Vikings and Sam Donald didn't get.

What was that number that Sam Donald or the Minnesota Vikings and Sam Donald didn't get.

I think most of the smart athletes get winning. Trump's everything because when your career ends, you'll get more deals, and the deals now on social media alone without a seven figure deals without a doubt, casting deals without a doubt.

I think most of the smart athletes get winning. Trump's everything because when your career ends, you'll get more deals, and the deals now on social media alone without a seven figure deals without a doubt, casting deals without a doubt.

So I think players should really take a look at that when they're when they're looking at if their number one goal is money, Okay, you got to look at everything because when you win and you're a champion, you make that money forever. You know, you may not make the money up front like you're making when you're you know, at a team that's four and thirteen and you guys don't make the playoffs, but you're the highest paid guy in the league. You know, that's if that's your goal, at your goal, but you could also make money the other way.

So I think players should really take a look at that when they're when they're looking at if their number one goal is money, Okay, you got to look at everything because when you win and you're a champion, you make that money forever. You know, you may not make the money up front like you're making when you're you know, at a team that's four and thirteen and you guys don't make the playoffs, but you're the highest paid guy in the league. You know, that's if that's your goal, at your goal, but you could also make money the other way.

Finally, I thought it was interesting Tom Brady was quoted. Tom came out with it. This isn't speculation, he said. Eventually, you know, I took a piece of paper and a pen and I wrote down things that mattered to me between Tampa and New England. And he acknowledges they had really good receivers. That was really important. He's like, you know, also the coach was offensive, the weather was better. I didn't want to play in cold weather, and he acknowledged, he goes we reached a point where tension, it was inevitable. How I had to leave, And I'll say this down. I'll ask this because it's out there. Tom's acknowledging the tension. Do you remember the first time, the first time I knew Tom was leaving is when he screamed at the wide receivers get open, and it was on television. I thought, Okay, I'm seeing publicly frustrated Tom with his personnel. That's why I wasn't shocked when he went to Tampa. And he also liked the chargers that had Keenan Allen in my Williams. He wanted receivers. As you left, like it was like, okay, gronk aged. Do you remember the first time you thought Tom's cranky today or Bill treated him away and you just you.

Finally, I thought it was interesting Tom Brady was quoted. Tom came out with it. This isn't speculation, he said. Eventually, you know, I took a piece of paper and a pen and I wrote down things that mattered to me between Tampa and New England. And he acknowledges they had really good receivers. That was really important. He's like, you know, also the coach was offensive, the weather was better. I didn't want to play in cold weather, and he acknowledged, he goes we reached a point where tension, it was inevitable. How I had to leave, And I'll say this down. I'll ask this because it's out there. Tom's acknowledging the tension. Do you remember the first time, the first time I knew Tom was leaving is when he screamed at the wide receivers get open, and it was on television. I thought, Okay, I'm seeing publicly frustrated Tom with his personnel. That's why I wasn't shocked when he went to Tampa. And he also liked the chargers that had Keenan Allen in my Williams. He wanted receivers. As you left, like it was like, okay, gronk aged. Do you remember the first time you thought Tom's cranky today or Bill treated him away and you just you.

Didn't like it, you know Bill? Bill was tough on everyone, And I don't know.

Didn't like it, you know Bill? Bill was tough on everyone, And I don't know.

If I had my blinders on and I thought everyone was on the same table, I may have.

If I had my blinders on and I thought everyone was on the same table, I may have.

You know.

You know.

So if he got into Tom, he got into Tom. If he got into Vince, he got into Vince. If he got into Ninkovic, he got into Ninkovic. You got into Slater, got into Slater, but when it was Tom, it was different. And the thing is, you Tom, he had a really good poker face. Even when you could tell when he had his feelings hurt or he was maybe a little frustrated with certain things, he didn't let.

So if he got into Tom, he got into Tom. If he got into Vince, he got into Vince. If he got into Ninkovic, he got into Ninkovic. You got into Slater, got into Slater, but when it was Tom, it was different. And the thing is, you Tom, he had a really good poker face. Even when you could tell when he had his feelings hurt or he was maybe a little frustrated with certain things, he didn't let.

It affect him. And that's why he's an ultra leader.

It affect him. And that's why he's an ultra leader.

And that's why he's the greatest leader of all time, you know what I mean, because we we all kind of knew what was going on. He felt the tension, but he didn't see it from Tom. He didn't show nobody.

And that's why he's the greatest leader of all time, you know what I mean, because we we all kind of knew what was going on. He felt the tension, but he didn't see it from Tom. He didn't show nobody.

He didn't let it seep in.

He didn't let it seep in.

He didn't let it seep in. He went to work. He was the same guy every day. He like, yes, emotions in the game when he says, oh, get open, guys, that's gonna happen. That's it's an emotional game. You're in the heat of battle. But like, you didn't really see any kind of frustration from Tom. And that's because he always had I knew personally there were certain things, but you know, he never let everyone know. And and that's that's what a good leader looks like.

He didn't let it seep in. He went to work. He was the same guy every day. He like, yes, emotions in the game when he says, oh, get open, guys, that's gonna happen. That's it's an emotional game. You're in the heat of battle. But like, you didn't really see any kind of frustration from Tom. And that's because he always had I knew personally there were certain things, but you know, he never let everyone know. And and that's that's what a good leader looks like.

Games with Names new episode every Tuesday.

Games with Names new episode every Tuesday.

Poka naku is on yours.

Poka naku is on yours.

You gotta tell him stop talking about retirement.

You gotta tell him stop talking about retirement.

I know, I agree you can't.

I know, I agree you can't.

I don't like it.

I don't like it.

I don't either. There's you know, I agree with you on that.

I don't either. There's you know, I agree with you on that.

I think he's just being He was a little young, got a little excited.

I think he's just being He was a little young, got a little excited.

In front of the microphone. You know. I'm telling you.

In front of the microphone. You know. I'm telling you.

Sometimes you get comfortable in the setting and you start talking and you don't understand what you're saying.

Sometimes you get comfortable in the setting and you start talking and you don't understand what you're saying.

Uh.

Uh.

But you definitely don't want to tell an organization that you you don't want to cap your career because.

But you definitely don't want to tell an organization that you you don't want to cap your career because.

Gms don't care about work life balance.

Gms don't care about work life balance.

No, they don't. They don't.

No, they don't. They don't.

They care about This is a production business, that's what they say this is. And if he goes out he balls and and does it, it's fine. But still you just gotta loose sleeps loose lips, sink ships.

They care about This is a production business, that's what they say this is. And if he goes out he balls and and does it, it's fine. But still you just gotta loose sleeps loose lips, sink ships.

Bro and careers and careers. Yeah, he'll be all right, he'll be all right.

Bro and careers and careers. Yeah, he'll be all right, he'll be all right.

They're all right. Julian Edelman, thanks buddy, good seeing you live in LA.

They're all right. Julian Edelman, thanks buddy, good seeing you live in LA.

It's the hurt

It's the hurt