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 noone Pacific. Find your local station for The Herd at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.

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 noone Pacific. Find your local station for The Herd at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.

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.

It is a Monday.

It is a Monday.

Live in Chicago.

Live in Chicago.

It's the Herd wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. One hour from now. Where Colin was right, Where Colin was wrong. We have an emerging, heated rivalry in the WNBA. Brock perty got played. We have four NBA final teams. Final four teams all led my point guards, which is unique, not centers, not wings.

It's the Herd wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. One hour from now. Where Colin was right, Where Colin was wrong. We have an emerging, heated rivalry in the WNBA. Brock perty got played. We have four NBA final teams. Final four teams all led my point guards, which is unique, not centers, not wings.

But j Mack.

But j Mack.

I know you love rock party, so you're going to ride his coat tails a little today. That's fine with me.

I know you love rock party, so you're going to ride his coat tails a little today. That's fine with me.

I had to text you about the brock Purty deal over the weekend.

I had to text you about the brock Purty deal over the weekend.

Very excited.

Very excited.

I'm officially taking Niners to the Super Bowl. Column Niners Bills lock it up?

I'm officially taking Niners to the Super Bowl. Column Niners Bills lock it up?

All right?

All right?

Well, all right, good luck with that.

Well, all right, good luck with that.

So brock Purty got two sixty five one hundred million guaranteed. He basically fifty three million a year, which is the area I worried about. Listen, I am willing to pay quarterbacks fifty to fifty five million dollars a year that lead their teams or that are the offense, not that quarterbacks that comply with it. Lamar Jackson with a great organization and a great coach, he gets hurt. Baltimore can't score Tom Brady with Belichick, he leaves. They fall off a cliff. Jimmy Garoppolo got this roster to the Super Bowl. So my take is, I like quarterbacks who initiate advantage, not benefit mostly from it. And I'm not saying he's a smart kid that doesn't move well, but it's like movie directors and movie stars in Hollywood. Spielberg and Creuz are filling the theater. Many people benefit being in their movies, and some with a lot of talent. But again, Hollywood has a bit of a salary cap. Like there are budgets for movies and there are budgets for teams. So I think brock perty tends to be closer in talent to a Baker Mayfield thirty five million a year than Josh Allen fifty five million a year. And I'm not saying Brock is the only quarterback I think's overpaid. It does appear that Trevor Lawrence is overpaid.

So brock Purty got two sixty five one hundred million guaranteed. He basically fifty three million a year, which is the area I worried about. Listen, I am willing to pay quarterbacks fifty to fifty five million dollars a year that lead their teams or that are the offense, not that quarterbacks that comply with it. Lamar Jackson with a great organization and a great coach, he gets hurt. Baltimore can't score Tom Brady with Belichick, he leaves. They fall off a cliff. Jimmy Garoppolo got this roster to the Super Bowl. So my take is, I like quarterbacks who initiate advantage, not benefit mostly from it. And I'm not saying he's a smart kid that doesn't move well, but it's like movie directors and movie stars in Hollywood. Spielberg and Creuz are filling the theater. Many people benefit being in their movies, and some with a lot of talent. But again, Hollywood has a bit of a salary cap. Like there are budgets for movies and there are budgets for teams. So I think brock perty tends to be closer in talent to a Baker Mayfield thirty five million a year than Josh Allen fifty five million a year. And I'm not saying Brock is the only quarterback I think's overpaid. It does appear that Trevor Lawrence is overpaid.

I said it at the time.

I said it at the time.

I think Dak Prescott and Tua I didn't like those contracts.

I think Dak Prescott and Tua I didn't like those contracts.

I was right on both.

I was right on both.

But you know, the critics say, well, Justin Herbert hasn't won a playoff game either, But I think most people in the league know he can deal. So here's what the contract tells me. It tells me that Kyle Shanahan has all the power. And Kyle Shanahan's looking at that contract and he's looking at the guy who's smart, coachable, moves. Well, they don't play in crappy weather where Brock Purty's not been the same guy as he has been in more temperate weather, and he's good with it. But we all know the more you pay to and Dak, the less they have around him. To his O line would be a lot better if he made thirty five million a year, and Dak would have more weapons if he made thirty five to forty million dollars a year. So I've said this, the Niners didn't really attack their offensive line in the offseason. Trent Williams sprains and knee or an ankle, cross your fingers. He doesn't, and Brock Purtty's going to have to once again lead the team and initiate offense. You know, it's interesting. There's a guy that's going to get paid next.

But you know, the critics say, well, Justin Herbert hasn't won a playoff game either, But I think most people in the league know he can deal. So here's what the contract tells me. It tells me that Kyle Shanahan has all the power. And Kyle Shanahan's looking at that contract and he's looking at the guy who's smart, coachable, moves. Well, they don't play in crappy weather where Brock Purty's not been the same guy as he has been in more temperate weather, and he's good with it. But we all know the more you pay to and Dak, the less they have around him. To his O line would be a lot better if he made thirty five million a year, and Dak would have more weapons if he made thirty five to forty million dollars a year. So I've said this, the Niners didn't really attack their offensive line in the offseason. Trent Williams sprains and knee or an ankle, cross your fingers. He doesn't, and Brock Purtty's going to have to once again lead the team and initiate offense. You know, it's interesting. There's a guy that's going to get paid next.

C J Stroud. C J.

C J Stroud. C J.

Stroud went to a franchise that was a dumpster fire with a rookie head coach and a rookie coordinator and kind of a bad team and led him to the playoffs. And then last year, his top two receivers got hurt, another receiver was in and out of the lineup, the offensive line was awful, and he led him to the playoffs again and won a playoff game.

Stroud went to a franchise that was a dumpster fire with a rookie head coach and a rookie coordinator and kind of a bad team and led him to the playoffs. And then last year, his top two receivers got hurt, another receiver was in and out of the lineup, the offensive line was awful, and he led him to the playoffs again and won a playoff game.

CJ.

CJ.

Stroud is somebody I would pay. Okay again, he is initiating, he is overcoming. Last year there was a great moment for people to judge brock Perty. He lost Christian McCaffrey, the team was banged up.

Stroud is somebody I would pay. Okay again, he is initiating, he is overcoming. Last year there was a great moment for people to judge brock Perty. He lost Christian McCaffrey, the team was banged up.

How did he do?

How did he do?

He was one and six against playoff teams. So again, I think a lot of people can drive this forty nine er car right, Garoppolo drove it to.

He was one and six against playoff teams. So again, I think a lot of people can drive this forty nine er car right, Garoppolo drove it to.

The Super Bowl.

The Super Bowl.

I don't think there's a lot of quarterbacks could.

I don't think there's a lot of quarterbacks could.

Do with c. J.

Do with c. J.

Stroud's done in Houston, rookie coach, rookie coordinator, O Line in the tank, Tank Dell gets hurt, Stefan Diggs gets hurt, and he's won the division back to back. Now you can say, well, the division isn't good. Well, brock Perty's best year was when Christian McCaffrey, by the way, was third in MVP voting in the Rams and Arizona were both in rebuilds. So we'll see. I wouldn't have paid it. I would wanted a more team friendly deal. He is now in the class of a lot of big money quarterbacks. Some Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, A c J. Stroud next, I would have no problem paying others Toua, Dak and Purty. I'm less comfortable. I've been right on Tua, I've been right on Dak. I think I'm right on brock pretty we'll find out, but it does. It does signify who's running the franchise. And shan Ann's like, he doesn't make a lot of mistakes, he's coachable, he moves well enough. If we can keep him healthy, the schedule is easy. I can win eleven twelve games with this guy. And there's you can tell by drafts who's in control of the franchise. You can tell by contracts to quarterbacks who's in control of the franchise. I mean, Mike Tomlin is controlling the Steelers. How do I know they still don't have a quarterback right there's no urgency for them at quarter That tells me Tomlin has all the power right now, all the Jews in Pittsburgh. Okay, So I think this is really interesting. And one of the things we talk about that we love about sports on the show is that there's a lot of cultural changes. Baseball has done a really good job to improve and you know, kind of take advantage of some things and make the game faster, and it's helped ratings in revenue. So the NBA got into a, you know, for a kind of a stretch, especially when Lebron would move around in Miami or Kevin Durant would move to the Warriors, where you just had like three Hall of Fame players. And the medium sized markets are the unglamorous markets, the Memphis, the Portland's you know, markets like that are like, well, well wait a minute.

Stroud's done in Houston, rookie coach, rookie coordinator, O Line in the tank, Tank Dell gets hurt, Stefan Diggs gets hurt, and he's won the division back to back. Now you can say, well, the division isn't good. Well, brock Perty's best year was when Christian McCaffrey, by the way, was third in MVP voting in the Rams and Arizona were both in rebuilds. So we'll see. I wouldn't have paid it. I would wanted a more team friendly deal. He is now in the class of a lot of big money quarterbacks. Some Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, A c J. Stroud next, I would have no problem paying others Toua, Dak and Purty. I'm less comfortable. I've been right on Tua, I've been right on Dak. I think I'm right on brock pretty we'll find out, but it does. It does signify who's running the franchise. And shan Ann's like, he doesn't make a lot of mistakes, he's coachable, he moves well enough. If we can keep him healthy, the schedule is easy. I can win eleven twelve games with this guy. And there's you can tell by drafts who's in control of the franchise. You can tell by contracts to quarterbacks who's in control of the franchise. I mean, Mike Tomlin is controlling the Steelers. How do I know they still don't have a quarterback right there's no urgency for them at quarter That tells me Tomlin has all the power right now, all the Jews in Pittsburgh. Okay, So I think this is really interesting. And one of the things we talk about that we love about sports on the show is that there's a lot of cultural changes. Baseball has done a really good job to improve and you know, kind of take advantage of some things and make the game faster, and it's helped ratings in revenue. So the NBA got into a, you know, for a kind of a stretch, especially when Lebron would move around in Miami or Kevin Durant would move to the Warriors, where you just had like three Hall of Fame players. And the medium sized markets are the unglamorous markets, the Memphis, the Portland's you know, markets like that are like, well, well wait a minute.

That's not fair.

That's not fair.

And Adam Silver took over for the late David Stern and there's some things he had to eventually unpack. So I think what is interesting with the final four teams in the NBA playoffs Indiana both led by high eq IQ point guards, and the two best players for Oklahoma City and Minnesota are guards as well. Four guards lead their teams, and especially in the East, Why why why is this happening?

And Adam Silver took over for the late David Stern and there's some things he had to eventually unpack. So I think what is interesting with the final four teams in the NBA playoffs Indiana both led by high eq IQ point guards, and the two best players for Oklahoma City and Minnesota are guards as well. Four guards lead their teams, and especially in the East, Why why why is this happening?

Because with the.

Because with the.

New CBA, right and all these aprons that punish teams, you can't stack your roster with Chris Bosh, Lebron and Wade, with Kevin Durant, Steph and Clay in their prime. So what you're seeing is rosters with a lot of rotational B players. And so the point guards who can score, Hallie can score, Brunson can score, Sga can score, and can score. But it's the guards that not only can finish and Brunson's become an a plus finisher, but can elevate others, elevate role players. That's what the is now and it's happened very quickly with a new CBA. Once Boston has to unpack some of these guys. Horford will be gone, Poor Zingles will be gone, Drew Holiday's gone there. We thought they had a bit of a two year head start, grandfathered in cheat code, but they got new owners. Now maybe the owner's sold because they saw the reality when they won that title. This is as good as it's going to get. The new norm in the NBA is roster construction and smart iq EQ guards that can finish, but can elevate all those B players. I mean, you look at Oklahoma City SGA is your A. Everybody else really plays a role. You saw Caruso yesterday, how valuable. Look at Minnesota it's aunt, but Gobert doesn't score. Julius Randalls just now emerging as a two. Mike Conley passed his prime NOAs reed defender, athletic undrafted. You start looking at all these teams now, Indiana's roster construction, Okac's roster can struction, Minnesota great GM or roster construction led by guards now the NIXT Interestingly, they play about six to seven guys, and so we'll see how it plays out. I think Indiana should be a slight favorite over New York, and I don't know what to make of Minnesota Oka. See again, I think OKC home court advantage that will probably matter in a game seven. But I think we're seeing a couple of moves in the NBA. So Adam Silver takes over for David Stern. He can't make all these moves. Immediately, it had become a three ball shooting league. David Stern was more willing to let stars accumulate in one spot, and Adam Silver said, I don't like it. This is going to be the seventh different champion in seven NBA seasons. That is Adam Silver's league. Adam Silver also either sent a memo or made phone calls and says, I want more physical basketball. What does physical basketball do? Physical basketball? Where's teams out? Notice the sh shooting percentage, the field goal percentage plummeted. It's the lowest field goal percentage in like six NBA seasons. Shooters are getting hit, Shooters are getting leaned on, shooters are having to defend. The scores are coming down. So the next got a little fortunate here where the league moved into them. But I like what the league is now. It's more fair to more teams. The big markets can still flourish. There's still places where stars want to go. There's still trades that will be made. But it's point guards scoring, yes, but elevating roster construction and B to B plus players around them. Here's sga on what he sees with his team and going forward.

New CBA, right and all these aprons that punish teams, you can't stack your roster with Chris Bosh, Lebron and Wade, with Kevin Durant, Steph and Clay in their prime. So what you're seeing is rosters with a lot of rotational B players. And so the point guards who can score, Hallie can score, Brunson can score, Sga can score, and can score. But it's the guards that not only can finish and Brunson's become an a plus finisher, but can elevate others, elevate role players. That's what the is now and it's happened very quickly with a new CBA. Once Boston has to unpack some of these guys. Horford will be gone, Poor Zingles will be gone, Drew Holiday's gone there. We thought they had a bit of a two year head start, grandfathered in cheat code, but they got new owners. Now maybe the owner's sold because they saw the reality when they won that title. This is as good as it's going to get. The new norm in the NBA is roster construction and smart iq EQ guards that can finish, but can elevate all those B players. I mean, you look at Oklahoma City SGA is your A. Everybody else really plays a role. You saw Caruso yesterday, how valuable. Look at Minnesota it's aunt, but Gobert doesn't score. Julius Randalls just now emerging as a two. Mike Conley passed his prime NOAs reed defender, athletic undrafted. You start looking at all these teams now, Indiana's roster construction, Okac's roster can struction, Minnesota great GM or roster construction led by guards now the NIXT Interestingly, they play about six to seven guys, and so we'll see how it plays out. I think Indiana should be a slight favorite over New York, and I don't know what to make of Minnesota Oka. See again, I think OKC home court advantage that will probably matter in a game seven. But I think we're seeing a couple of moves in the NBA. So Adam Silver takes over for David Stern. He can't make all these moves. Immediately, it had become a three ball shooting league. David Stern was more willing to let stars accumulate in one spot, and Adam Silver said, I don't like it. This is going to be the seventh different champion in seven NBA seasons. That is Adam Silver's league. Adam Silver also either sent a memo or made phone calls and says, I want more physical basketball. What does physical basketball do? Physical basketball? Where's teams out? Notice the sh shooting percentage, the field goal percentage plummeted. It's the lowest field goal percentage in like six NBA seasons. Shooters are getting hit, Shooters are getting leaned on, shooters are having to defend. The scores are coming down. So the next got a little fortunate here where the league moved into them. But I like what the league is now. It's more fair to more teams. The big markets can still flourish. There's still places where stars want to go. There's still trades that will be made. But it's point guards scoring, yes, but elevating roster construction and B to B plus players around them. Here's sga on what he sees with his team and going forward.

We can win no man of the environment, and no matter the type of game.

We can win no man of the environment, and no matter the type of game.

It can be ugly, it could be pretty, could be high scoring, it could be low scoring. It can be a lot of free throws, it could be no free throws. Like, no matter what it is, we can we can find a way to win. And I think that's that's very important this time of the year.

It can be ugly, it could be pretty, could be high scoring, it could be low scoring. It can be a lot of free throws, it could be no free throws. Like, no matter what it is, we can we can find a way to win. And I think that's that's very important this time of the year.

Yeah, And I also think this when you allow more physicality all these three point parade teams like Cleveland and Boston and Golden State, you allow more physicality. It's hard to be a finesse team when you're in a fistfight in a phone booth. And Detroit was physical, and Houston was physical, and the Knicks are physical, and and Minnesota can be physical. It's a big advantage. The regular season was pretty basketball. Fill your lanes, grab the three, nobody touches, you shoot it backpedal. That's not what the playoffs were So I like it's point guard led, it's more physical, fewer whistles, more twos over.

Yeah, And I also think this when you allow more physicality all these three point parade teams like Cleveland and Boston and Golden State, you allow more physicality. It's hard to be a finesse team when you're in a fistfight in a phone booth. And Detroit was physical, and Houston was physical, and the Knicks are physical, and and Minnesota can be physical. It's a big advantage. The regular season was pretty basketball. Fill your lanes, grab the three, nobody touches, you shoot it backpedal. That's not what the playoffs were So I like it's point guard led, it's more physical, fewer whistles, more twos over.

Threes, and I like what I saw. So J Mac, I.

Threes, and I like what I saw. So J Mac, I.

Think, I think I like Indiana slight edge, probably OKC on depth they get Game seven at home.

Think, I think I like Indiana slight edge, probably OKC on depth they get Game seven at home.

Do you have a strong do you have a strong pull either way? Yeah?

Do you have a strong do you have a strong pull either way? Yeah?

I will go Nicks Timberwolves in the finals. And I'm not just going opposite you. That's what I picked back in October. Oh my podcast. I was bullish on the Knicks. Obviously during the season I backed off a little bit, but it could be a good final four. I am curious though, seven final different champions in seven years. I thought you and I liked dynasties because.

I will go Nicks Timberwolves in the finals. And I'm not just going opposite you. That's what I picked back in October. Oh my podcast. I was bullish on the Knicks. Obviously during the season I backed off a little bit, but it could be a good final four. I am curious though, seven final different champions in seven years. I thought you and I liked dynasties because.

In the twenty teams when it.

In the twenty teams when it.

Was the Super Warriors against the Super Cabs and the Super lebron teams, the ratings for massive and now when we see like Heap Nuggets, ratings are.

Was the Super Warriors against the Super Cabs and the Super lebron teams, the ratings for massive and now when we see like Heap Nuggets, ratings are.

Like half that.

Like half that.

So I thought we liked super teams in the final.

So I thought we liked super teams in the final.

Well, remember the NBA got its seventy six billion dollar contract. Now it's up to the networks to make it work the NBA. The players are happy, the coaches are happy, the owners are happy, and the commissioner's happy. Now that they have the bag. It doesn't matter about ratings. If people want to troll the NBA, go for it. I've always said this, once't you sell your house, Who cares what somebody does with it. It's not your house. The NBA got the money, they have an eleven near deal. It's not their concern if NBC can make it work. So and Adam Silver's take was what he was always trying. He was much more concerned about the ratings. I knew that from the league office. They didn't like all this anti ratings talk. Now they don't care. They got their money. What they want is Adam Silver's bosses or owners half the league. Half the owners were like, well, we can't get Katie Stephan play. We can't build a roster like Boston. We're not a we're not a huge marquee franchise. And so he had to you know, that's that's who his bosses are. So again, when the NFL signs contracts, it's up to Fox and CBS and Netflix.

Well, remember the NBA got its seventy six billion dollar contract. Now it's up to the networks to make it work the NBA. The players are happy, the coaches are happy, the owners are happy, and the commissioner's happy. Now that they have the bag. It doesn't matter about ratings. If people want to troll the NBA, go for it. I've always said this, once't you sell your house, Who cares what somebody does with it. It's not your house. The NBA got the money, they have an eleven near deal. It's not their concern if NBC can make it work. So and Adam Silver's take was what he was always trying. He was much more concerned about the ratings. I knew that from the league office. They didn't like all this anti ratings talk. Now they don't care. They got their money. What they want is Adam Silver's bosses or owners half the league. Half the owners were like, well, we can't get Katie Stephan play. We can't build a roster like Boston. We're not a we're not a huge marquee franchise. And so he had to you know, that's that's who his bosses are. So again, when the NFL signs contracts, it's up to Fox and CBS and Netflix.

It's up to you to figure out how to make it work. Right.

It's up to you to figure out how to make it work. Right.

So the NBA, now the ratings talk, you know, let people it doesn't really matter anymore. And to argue that it's not a successful league, it's a star driven league. Hockey struggles, they don't have them, right, Like, if you want to talk about leagues that struggle, NBA's got stars, and it's international soccer. It's got plenty of stars and big brands. It'll always be okay in my lifetime anyway.

So the NBA, now the ratings talk, you know, let people it doesn't really matter anymore. And to argue that it's not a successful league, it's a star driven league. Hockey struggles, they don't have them, right, Like, if you want to talk about leagues that struggle, NBA's got stars, and it's international soccer. It's got plenty of stars and big brands. It'll always be okay in my lifetime anyway.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in neon Easter nine am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays in neon Easter nine am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.

Forty five minutes from now. Where Colin was right and where Colin was wrong. So I said this last year with a WNBA, people just aren't used to the heated intensity of a great rivalry in the WNBA.

Forty five minutes from now. Where Colin was right and where Colin was wrong. So I said this last year with a WNBA, people just aren't used to the heated intensity of a great rivalry in the WNBA.

They're not used to it. In the NBA.

They're not used to it. In the NBA.

We had MJ and the Pistons, we had Bird and Magic, we had the Lakers in Detroit.

We had MJ and the Pistons, we had Bird and Magic, we had the Lakers in Detroit.

We're kind of used to it.

We're kind of used to it.

And so I think even the officials aren't quite sure what to do and how to act. Yesterday, as Caitlin Clark and Indiana hammer the Chicago Sky, it was like four and a half minutes left in the third, there was a foul.

And so I think even the officials aren't quite sure what to do and how to act. Yesterday, as Caitlin Clark and Indiana hammer the Chicago Sky, it was like four and a half minutes left in the third, there was a foul.

It should not have been upgraded into a flagrant fowl.

It should not have been upgraded into a flagrant fowl.

It was a foul, and I really think if you true respect women's basketball, let them play sort of like guys. Many of the media themselves, who consider themselves WNBA friendly, are too often patronizing and pandering rivalries, equal ratings. Sports is better with intensity. Animosity is part of it. It was a physical basketball play. This is okay. Who cares if Angel Rees doesn't like Caitlin Clark. It's not soccer. I don't need Jersey swamps, lambeerd couldn't stand in. Isaiah couldn't stand MJ. MJ still hates Isaiah. It made a documentary great. So I the WNBA, if you respect it and the league, the women are getting bigger and better. They're just the passing, the ball handling. It's a better league than ten years ago. Caitlin Clark obviously has jet fuel to its popularity right now.

It was a foul, and I really think if you true respect women's basketball, let them play sort of like guys. Many of the media themselves, who consider themselves WNBA friendly, are too often patronizing and pandering rivalries, equal ratings. Sports is better with intensity. Animosity is part of it. It was a physical basketball play. This is okay. Who cares if Angel Rees doesn't like Caitlin Clark. It's not soccer. I don't need Jersey swamps, lambeerd couldn't stand in. Isaiah couldn't stand MJ. MJ still hates Isaiah. It made a documentary great. So I the WNBA, if you respect it and the league, the women are getting bigger and better. They're just the passing, the ball handling. It's a better league than ten years ago. Caitlin Clark obviously has jet fuel to its popularity right now.

The Fever outdraw the.

The Fever outdraw the.

Indiana Pacers, and the Pacers are really fun to watch. So, but I didn't think this was a flagrant. This is a basket and people just aren't used to it. So too many people are precious and pandering and projecting, and they're polarizing, and Angel Reese got the best of Caitlin junior year of college, then Caitlin got the best of Angel senior year of college. Last year, they were both exceptional. Clearly Caitlin's more popular. And yesterday the Indiana fever. I mean, we're looking at like a Tiger Woods, That's what we're looking at here. Angel Reese is a good player, She's not a phenomenon. Tiger was Lebron, was Taylor Swift? Is Caitlin Clark is so? But the foul, to me, it's like, just let them play. It wasn't a flagrant. It was just a hard fowl. Here's Caitlin after.

Indiana Pacers, and the Pacers are really fun to watch. So, but I didn't think this was a flagrant. This is a basket and people just aren't used to it. So too many people are precious and pandering and projecting, and they're polarizing, and Angel Reese got the best of Caitlin junior year of college, then Caitlin got the best of Angel senior year of college. Last year, they were both exceptional. Clearly Caitlin's more popular. And yesterday the Indiana fever. I mean, we're looking at like a Tiger Woods, That's what we're looking at here. Angel Reese is a good player, She's not a phenomenon. Tiger was Lebron, was Taylor Swift? Is Caitlin Clark is so? But the foul, to me, it's like, just let them play. It wasn't a flagrant. It was just a hard fowl. Here's Caitlin after.

I'm not sure what the rest saw to upgrade it, and that's up to their discretion after watching the initial whatever happened during the play, and then whatever happened after. You know, we watch a lot of basketball. You it's a takefoul to put them at the free throw line or rather give up two points. I've watched a lot of basketball in my life. That's exactly what it was. I wasn't trying to do anything malicious. That's not the type of player I am, So yes, was it anything like that? And I went for the ball, and that's clear as day in the replay. You watch it, you know it shouldn't have been upgraded.

I'm not sure what the rest saw to upgrade it, and that's up to their discretion after watching the initial whatever happened during the play, and then whatever happened after. You know, we watch a lot of basketball. You it's a takefoul to put them at the free throw line or rather give up two points. I've watched a lot of basketball in my life. That's exactly what it was. I wasn't trying to do anything malicious. That's not the type of player I am, So yes, was it anything like that? And I went for the ball, and that's clear as day in the replay. You watch it, you know it shouldn't have been upgraded.

So they're not even quite sure how to officiate this rivalry.

So they're not even quite sure how to officiate this rivalry.

Take a deep breath. The women are adults. They can handle it.

Take a deep breath. The women are adults. They can handle it.

Basketball, College pro WNBA is all better when it's a little chippy, When there's real rivalries, a couple of scoops of animosity, it is okay.

Basketball, College pro WNBA is all better when it's a little chippy, When there's real rivalries, a couple of scoops of animosity, it is okay.

Take a deep breath.

Take a deep breath.

Even the officials now not quite sure how to handle it.

Even the officials now not quite sure how to handle it.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and noone Easter not a m Pacific.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and noone Easter not a m Pacific.

Hey, Steve Covino and I'm Rich David and together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio.

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.

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.

We talk about everything life, sports, relationships, what's.

Going on in the world.

Going on in the world.

We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the.

We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the.

World of sports and pop culture.

World of sports and pop culture.

Stories that well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss.

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.

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.

We like to get you involved too.

Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say.

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.

I'd say, the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the 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 that's Covino and Rich.

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.

Here we go, our number two on a Monday. You know, j Mac, I have discovered something in Chicago. I eat a lot more bread and I'm and it's all good. I told my wife. Can we mix in? I don't know, canialoe some seafood? I'm eating a lot of bread and it's all amazing.

Here we go, our number two on a Monday. You know, j Mac, I have discovered something in Chicago. I eat a lot more bread and I'm and it's all good. I told my wife. Can we mix in? I don't know, canialoe some seafood? I'm eating a lot of bread and it's all amazing.

Oh boy, you gained some weight huh yeah, right before your big trip.

Oh boy, you gained some weight huh yeah, right before your big trip.

Huh yeah.

Huh yeah.

Pounds so you can look like a typical American over there.

Pounds so you can look like a typical American over there.

Yeah. I am all right. We do it every Monday at this time. Colin is right.

Yeah. I am all right. We do it every Monday at this time. Colin is right.

Colin is wrong, and there is as always plenty of both. Where Colin was right, well, I'm somewhat vindigated. I broke the story a year ago that Caleb Williams and most notably his dad, were a little uneasy and unsure about his son playing in Chicago. Excellent reporter Seth Wickersham also last week reporting the same thing. Listen, Caleb and his dad, looking at the history of the quarterback position, had said, this is where quarterbacks go to die. I was told the same thing. Caleb didn't want to push the nuclear button. He did not want to start his NFL career controversy, so he complied. He went to the Bears. But it should be duly noted that all of his concerns about the Bears and chaos did come true.

Colin is wrong, and there is as always plenty of both. Where Colin was right, well, I'm somewhat vindigated. I broke the story a year ago that Caleb Williams and most notably his dad, were a little uneasy and unsure about his son playing in Chicago. Excellent reporter Seth Wickersham also last week reporting the same thing. Listen, Caleb and his dad, looking at the history of the quarterback position, had said, this is where quarterbacks go to die. I was told the same thing. Caleb didn't want to push the nuclear button. He did not want to start his NFL career controversy, so he complied. He went to the Bears. But it should be duly noted that all of his concerns about the Bears and chaos did come true.

Where Colin was wrong.

Where Colin was wrong.

I would not have paid Brock pretty in the fifty millions, but the Niners did. I said, listen, Tua and Dak, you'll become top heavy, and the Dolphins and the Cowboys did.

I would not have paid Brock pretty in the fifty millions, but the Niners did. I said, listen, Tua and Dak, you'll become top heavy, and the Dolphins and the Cowboys did.

Listen. Kyle Shanahan is running the operation.

Listen. Kyle Shanahan is running the operation.

He's a smart kid, moves pretty well, terribly coachable, and let's be honest, when you give him time with the weapons like Kittle and Jennings. He's an accurate distributor of the football. I thought they'd pushed back. I thought they'd try to get in the forties, but he got closer to fifty five million than forty five million. Where Colin was right, Caitlin Clark. It took a year, but the league has finally figured it out. The WNBA is going to televise at this point today all but two of her games, and those may eventually get televised.

He's a smart kid, moves pretty well, terribly coachable, and let's be honest, when you give him time with the weapons like Kittle and Jennings. He's an accurate distributor of the football. I thought they'd pushed back. I thought they'd try to get in the forties, but he got closer to fifty five million than forty five million. Where Colin was right, Caitlin Clark. It took a year, but the league has finally figured it out. The WNBA is going to televise at this point today all but two of her games, and those may eventually get televised.

She is Taylor.

She is Taylor.

Swift meets Tiger Woods. We said this last year. The league just didn't quite know what it had. Right now, the Fever are out drawing not only a good team in the Indiana Pacers, but a highly entertaining Eastern Conference Finals team in the Indiana Pacers. She is a once in a generation not only talent talent, but revenue stream and the WNBAS finally figured it out.

Swift meets Tiger Woods. We said this last year. The league just didn't quite know what it had. Right now, the Fever are out drawing not only a good team in the Indiana Pacers, but a highly entertaining Eastern Conference Finals team in the Indiana Pacers. She is a once in a generation not only talent talent, but revenue stream and the WNBAS finally figured it out.

Where Colin was right.

Where Colin was right.

I thought the Denver Nuggets would push Oklahoma City to six or seven games. I did like the Thunder to win the series based on depth and levers their coach could pull. But the series, if you listen to odds makers, they thought it was going to be a landslide, and I'm sorry even the odds makers don't quite understand how good Jokich is. Yesterday, by about mid to late second quarter, they ran out of gas. Murried didn't do anything. Aaron Gordon was playing at about seventy percent. But I thought it would be a close series, and it was.

I thought the Denver Nuggets would push Oklahoma City to six or seven games. I did like the Thunder to win the series based on depth and levers their coach could pull. But the series, if you listen to odds makers, they thought it was going to be a landslide, and I'm sorry even the odds makers don't quite understand how good Jokich is. Yesterday, by about mid to late second quarter, they ran out of gas. Murried didn't do anything. Aaron Gordon was playing at about seventy percent. But I thought it would be a close series, and it was.

Where Colin was wrong.

Where Colin was wrong.

The New York Knicks listen after they won that first game coming back from twenty in Boston. I said, they're not gonna win. They're not gonna win another game in this series, and I.

The New York Knicks listen after they won that first game coming back from twenty in Boston. I said, they're not gonna win. They're not gonna win another game in this series, and I.

Really believed it.

Really believed it.

But the physicality in the NBA playoffs benefited a lot of teams. I mean, it made the Pistons more viable against the Knicks. It helped the Knicks, it helped the Pacers, it helps Minnesota, and Boston was a pretty team that was heavily reliant on threes, and three point shooting has gone down significantly in these playoffs.

But the physicality in the NBA playoffs benefited a lot of teams. I mean, it made the Pistons more viable against the Knicks. It helped the Knicks, it helped the Pacers, it helps Minnesota, and Boston was a pretty team that was heavily reliant on threes, and three point shooting has gone down significantly in these playoffs.

I'm here for it.

I'm here for it.

I like the layered style of play the NBA is encouraging, but I was wrong on that.

I like the layered style of play the NBA is encouraging, but I was wrong on that.

Series where Colin was right.

Series where Colin was right.

I never got the hate for Tyrese Halliburton. I Q distributes controls, pacing, he can score elevate others. He was voted most overrated player on an NBA anonymous poll. Some of it's just petty, but I think when you watch him play, you're seeing the future of the NBA. The new CBA is not going to allow for stacked rosters. It's going to be point guard driven, elevating other B and B plus players. And I think Halliburton's as good as anybody.

I never got the hate for Tyrese Halliburton. I Q distributes controls, pacing, he can score elevate others. He was voted most overrated player on an NBA anonymous poll. Some of it's just petty, but I think when you watch him play, you're seeing the future of the NBA. The new CBA is not going to allow for stacked rosters. It's going to be point guard driven, elevating other B and B plus players. And I think Halliburton's as good as anybody.

At the league at that where Colin was right.

At the league at that where Colin was right.

The New England Patriots, I said back in March, they are the number one bet on my board to double their wins. And the over unders and or future bets came out last.

The New England Patriots, I said back in March, they are the number one bet on my board to double their wins. And the over unders and or future bets came out last.

Week and lo and behold.

Week and lo and behold.

The Patriots were favored in eleven of their seventeen games. So listen, Major upgraded head coach d Line. They had eleven draft picks, so I can only assume their death they'll be better. I think they got a left tackle in the draft and Will Campbell. I don't think there's any question the AFC is harder top to bottom than the NFC, but I think a coaching upgrade. Sean Payton proved this in Denver. Can be somewhere between three four and six points per game and if you had just given this team six to seven points more last year, they would have won ten games.

The Patriots were favored in eleven of their seventeen games. So listen, Major upgraded head coach d Line. They had eleven draft picks, so I can only assume their death they'll be better. I think they got a left tackle in the draft and Will Campbell. I don't think there's any question the AFC is harder top to bottom than the NFC, but I think a coaching upgrade. Sean Payton proved this in Denver. Can be somewhere between three four and six points per game and if you had just given this team six to seven points more last year, they would have won ten games.

Where Colin was right.

Where Colin was right.

Well, now even X steeters popular X steeters like Ryan Clark are sounding off about Mike Tomlin. I think Mike Tomlin's going to get votes for the Hall of Fame. I think he's a great motivator. But Ryan Clark said last week his message has grown stale. Listen, it's an offensive league. This team can't figure out their offensive line for seven years. They're showing no urgency at quarterback. Who knows if Aaron Rodgers is going to be around. Even pat Riley used to say it, you get about ten years to coach, and then people players tune you out. I think Tomlin's going to get Hall of Fame votes, But listen, Andy Reid, Bill Belichick, Pete Carroll all time co which is it moved on or been moved out? And I just feel like it's time in Pittsburgh.

Well, now even X steeters popular X steeters like Ryan Clark are sounding off about Mike Tomlin. I think Mike Tomlin's going to get votes for the Hall of Fame. I think he's a great motivator. But Ryan Clark said last week his message has grown stale. Listen, it's an offensive league. This team can't figure out their offensive line for seven years. They're showing no urgency at quarterback. Who knows if Aaron Rodgers is going to be around. Even pat Riley used to say it, you get about ten years to coach, and then people players tune you out. I think Tomlin's going to get Hall of Fame votes, But listen, Andy Reid, Bill Belichick, Pete Carroll all time co which is it moved on or been moved out? And I just feel like it's time in Pittsburgh.

One more heard. The Herd streams twenty four hours a day, seven days a week within the iHeartRadio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you like.

One more heard. The Herd streams twenty four hours a day, seven days a week within the iHeartRadio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you like.

Jeff Schwartz played in the NFL for almost a decade. Of course, his brother is Super Bowl winner right tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs. He is now joining US Live, which we always appreciate him stopping buy also host a bare Bets podcast with our friend Chris Flika, So you know the Caleb Williams. One of the comments off the seth Wickersham book was there's nobody there watching film with me. So you tell me, when you're watching film as a quarterback, is it a solo endeavor?

Jeff Schwartz played in the NFL for almost a decade. Of course, his brother is Super Bowl winner right tackle for the Kansas City Chiefs. He is now joining US Live, which we always appreciate him stopping buy also host a bare Bets podcast with our friend Chris Flika, So you know the Caleb Williams. One of the comments off the seth Wickersham book was there's nobody there watching film with me. So you tell me, when you're watching film as a quarterback, is it a solo endeavor?

Are their coaches always there? You tell me.

Are their coaches always there? You tell me.

What I found interestingly about that comment isn't really about the coaches helping him. He says, there's no veteran.

What I found interestingly about that comment isn't really about the coaches helping him. He says, there's no veteran.

To help him.

To help him.

That's how you learn watching film from veterans, from guys have done it before. Yeah, your coaches can help you, but they coach at the game plan if the meat on their own. And there are specific times when you do me with them and they do work with you. But a lot of time when you watch film quote unquote like on your own, it's with a veteran. When you're a young player. I mean, Jordan Gross was my mentor give the shout out. He helped me learn how to watch film, how to lift, how to prepare how to do all those things. And when you look at the depth chart last year of the Bears, there was no veteran like that was a huge mistake of theirs that they didn't have someone just there, not to compete with him for the job, but just there. Hey man, here's how you prepare. Here's how you watch film. Here's how you watch a pressure tape. Here's how you watch a base defense tape. Here's what do you on Fridays, the here's how you prepare on Saturdays. And of course ones that always do exactly what the veteran tells them to do, but it's a good sounding board, it's someone to talk to who's been through the battles of NFL season. There was no one there to do that with. So couple with probably not understanding that coaches might not watch as much film with you as you'd like, is you have to find a different way to learn. And that's a way a lot of guys learn. And so that was surprising to me that I, I guess I hadn't thought about that, and I when looked back at the depth chart and.

That's how you learn watching film from veterans, from guys have done it before. Yeah, your coaches can help you, but they coach at the game plan if the meat on their own. And there are specific times when you do me with them and they do work with you. But a lot of time when you watch film quote unquote like on your own, it's with a veteran. When you're a young player. I mean, Jordan Gross was my mentor give the shout out. He helped me learn how to watch film, how to lift, how to prepare how to do all those things. And when you look at the depth chart last year of the Bears, there was no veteran like that was a huge mistake of theirs that they didn't have someone just there, not to compete with him for the job, but just there. Hey man, here's how you prepare. Here's how you watch film. Here's how you watch a pressure tape. Here's how you watch a base defense tape. Here's what do you on Fridays, the here's how you prepare on Saturdays. And of course ones that always do exactly what the veteran tells them to do, but it's a good sounding board, it's someone to talk to who's been through the battles of NFL season. There was no one there to do that with. So couple with probably not understanding that coaches might not watch as much film with you as you'd like, is you have to find a different way to learn. And that's a way a lot of guys learn. And so that was surprising to me that I, I guess I hadn't thought about that, and I when looked back at the depth chart and.

There was no one there.

There was no one there.

No he makes to help him.

No he makes to help him.

Do his comments.

Do his comments.

They bother boomeras size, and do they bother you in retrospect?

They bother boomeras size, and do they bother you in retrospect?

They don't bother me.

They don't bother me.

I do questions sort of the timing of why they're out now the book that's it's not due till September last I checked it in the middle of May. Are people rushing out to buy the book today because the comments are out? So that's kind of I don't know why they're out today. But look, his dad, I think I ended up being right in year one law of dysfunction. Not great situation. So you know, in the end, his dad was right. Now obviously now you can change the course of the history of the Bears, right you bring in Ben Johnson, you're bringing the additions they've made to the offensive line on defense, and you can become the Bear's first four thousand yard pastor and change everything. But I think up until now, his dad has been right. I mean, his family's been right. It has been dysfunctioned. And look, I know they helped to change that with the Ben Johnson higher.

I do questions sort of the timing of why they're out now the book that's it's not due till September last I checked it in the middle of May. Are people rushing out to buy the book today because the comments are out? So that's kind of I don't know why they're out today. But look, his dad, I think I ended up being right in year one law of dysfunction. Not great situation. So you know, in the end, his dad was right. Now obviously now you can change the course of the history of the Bears, right you bring in Ben Johnson, you're bringing the additions they've made to the offensive line on defense, and you can become the Bear's first four thousand yard pastor and change everything. But I think up until now, his dad has been right. I mean, his family's been right. It has been dysfunctioned. And look, I know they helped to change that with the Ben Johnson higher.

You know, it's funny the world.

You know, it's funny the world.

We I can like a player, but in a salary cap sport, you know, I don't worry about it. In baseball Peywan Soto what you want if you're Steve Cohen. But I didn't like the to A deal or the Dak deal, and I feel the exact same way about the brock Pretty deal. I like Dak and Tua at the right number. Now revenues go up, maybe fifty three feels like forty eight in two years. But I feel the exact same way I've called brock Pretty, Jeff, the AFC. Tua not as good in bad weather, a little smaller than i'd love, can struggle pushing the ball downfield again if it's a little windy or inclement and a couple injuries where one more, I'm not sure what I have. Do you feel that it's kind of like the to A deal.

We I can like a player, but in a salary cap sport, you know, I don't worry about it. In baseball Peywan Soto what you want if you're Steve Cohen. But I didn't like the to A deal or the Dak deal, and I feel the exact same way about the brock Pretty deal. I like Dak and Tua at the right number. Now revenues go up, maybe fifty three feels like forty eight in two years. But I feel the exact same way I've called brock Pretty, Jeff, the AFC. Tua not as good in bad weather, a little smaller than i'd love, can struggle pushing the ball downfield again if it's a little windy or inclement and a couple injuries where one more, I'm not sure what I have. Do you feel that it's kind of like the to A deal.

I feel like he's one of the quarterbacks that you have mentioned that needs a lot around him to elevate his team.

I feel like he's one of the quarterbacks that you have mentioned that needs a lot around him to elevate his team.

Right.

Right.

He's not a guy like an Alan Mahomes Herbert Jackson, like we know that, right, guy that's can elevate everyone around him. If things are going well, he's going to play really good. The thing we don't talk about with the Niners and with some of these teams as well, that's that signed these quarterbacks is how important it is to draft and develop when you play, when you pay someone this much money. The Chiefs have done it well, the Eagles, the Ravens, the Bills to some extent, the Niners haven't. Go look at their roster right now, Colin. Find me the impact players they have drafted in the last five seasons.

He's not a guy like an Alan Mahomes Herbert Jackson, like we know that, right, guy that's can elevate everyone around him. If things are going well, he's going to play really good. The thing we don't talk about with the Niners and with some of these teams as well, that's that signed these quarterbacks is how important it is to draft and develop when you play, when you pay someone this much money. The Chiefs have done it well, the Eagles, the Ravens, the Bills to some extent, the Niners haven't. Go look at their roster right now, Colin. Find me the impact players they have drafted in the last five seasons.

Right, Not a lot of them.

Right, Not a lot of them.

And that's what's going to hold them back is they have not draft and developed. And look, they lost multiple first round picks on the Trey Lance deal, so they have a first round pick for a couple of years. Hard to draft impact players in the third, fourth, and fifth round like successfully year after year, and they just don't have So they're there. They paid Rod Prey, which they had to do, as you mentioned, like they had to. They had to do it, there was no option. But now you look at the roster and you think, Okay, when Tren Williams is gone, When when Kittle's older, when McCaffrey's older, when all these guys get older, where are the packed players? And the last year's draft was good, I think so far. But they got a guard and here, so I think it'll be good, but obviously was hampered first half of last year with playing time. The problem with the Niners isn't they paid party that the rest of the roster. Where's the young, impactful players.

And that's what's going to hold them back is they have not draft and developed. And look, they lost multiple first round picks on the Trey Lance deal, so they have a first round pick for a couple of years. Hard to draft impact players in the third, fourth, and fifth round like successfully year after year, and they just don't have So they're there. They paid Rod Prey, which they had to do, as you mentioned, like they had to. They had to do it, there was no option. But now you look at the roster and you think, Okay, when Tren Williams is gone, When when Kittle's older, when McCaffrey's older, when all these guys get older, where are the packed players? And the last year's draft was good, I think so far. But they got a guard and here, so I think it'll be good, but obviously was hampered first half of last year with playing time. The problem with the Niners isn't they paid party that the rest of the roster. Where's the young, impactful players.

Yeah, they're hoping Michael Williams. Is that they're hoping the kid they got in the first round.

Yeah, they're hoping Michael Williams. Is that they're hoping the kid they got in the first round.

Is that?

Is that?

You know, it's a couple of weeks ago we had or a week ago we had the rookie mini camps. Now I am under the I believe this that Dylan Gabriel was a reach. I don't think he's an NFL quarterback. Of note, I think the front office of Cleveland, not counting the owner, wanted to draft a quarterback so they get out of the Chadure conversation. My buddy John Middlkoff mentioned this, and then by the fifth round, the owner knocked on the door and said, go draft him. That said, I think Shador is going to win the job. I don't think he's great, but I think he's accurate. He moves well enough. Where do you land on that circus? I mean, it's Kenny Pickett, it's Gabriel a door. It's like, where are you on the Cleveland quarterback situation?

You know, it's a couple of weeks ago we had or a week ago we had the rookie mini camps. Now I am under the I believe this that Dylan Gabriel was a reach. I don't think he's an NFL quarterback. Of note, I think the front office of Cleveland, not counting the owner, wanted to draft a quarterback so they get out of the Chadure conversation. My buddy John Middlkoff mentioned this, and then by the fifth round, the owner knocked on the door and said, go draft him. That said, I think Shador is going to win the job. I don't think he's great, but I think he's accurate. He moves well enough. Where do you land on that circus? I mean, it's Kenny Pickett, it's Gabriel a door. It's like, where are you on the Cleveland quarterback situation?

I feel like there's sort of two separate job applications jobs happening, right, there's like the Flacco Kenny Pickett who's going to start Like that's one competition, right, and the loser of that most likely is released, Okay, And then there's sort of like the Gabriel Sanders who's the primary backup. I don't think that at Gabriel Sanders camp unless they are so good early in training camp are going to overtake sort of the picket Flacco, who's going to start competition? Right, because look, those guys have experience. And I mentioned this when the draft happened. There's four quarterbacks that need reps. You have single practices. Now you don't have two days, and now even practices you get every fourth day off and you have a load of management day. Like, there's just not enough reps calling unless you there is that good early on, he's that much better than Flacco, which he probably won't be in practice, right. Flacco has done this a long time now, so you basically would have to give him the job. Saying hey man, we just see so much a practice there's not a lot to see in games yet will give them jumps. I think early on it's probably Flacco, Pickett, whoever wins that job, and then the primary backup will just be the winner of the Sanders Gabriel, I thank you. Look, Gabriel, I'm with you. I think he's a career backup, but he's gonna look good in practice, Like You're gonna have to basically lose that job in the preseason, and I think you will think Santors will play better than him. So I think that right now. I think Flacco starts probably the year as a quarterback. At some point though Sanders overtakes him and get shoutcause Flaco gives you only so much, right, there's not a lot of upside in that. Just sort of get you through the first couple of weeks, maybe feel good about your offense, get some wins here and there, don't make a ton of mistakes. Eventually that's gonna run out. We saw it Nindy last year. They tried to bench Richardson for Flacco. Lasted like two weeks. So I think Sanders will eventually play, but probably not aout the season.

I feel like there's sort of two separate job applications jobs happening, right, there's like the Flacco Kenny Pickett who's going to start Like that's one competition, right, and the loser of that most likely is released, Okay, And then there's sort of like the Gabriel Sanders who's the primary backup. I don't think that at Gabriel Sanders camp unless they are so good early in training camp are going to overtake sort of the picket Flacco, who's going to start competition? Right, because look, those guys have experience. And I mentioned this when the draft happened. There's four quarterbacks that need reps. You have single practices. Now you don't have two days, and now even practices you get every fourth day off and you have a load of management day. Like, there's just not enough reps calling unless you there is that good early on, he's that much better than Flacco, which he probably won't be in practice, right. Flacco has done this a long time now, so you basically would have to give him the job. Saying hey man, we just see so much a practice there's not a lot to see in games yet will give them jumps. I think early on it's probably Flacco, Pickett, whoever wins that job, and then the primary backup will just be the winner of the Sanders Gabriel, I thank you. Look, Gabriel, I'm with you. I think he's a career backup, but he's gonna look good in practice, Like You're gonna have to basically lose that job in the preseason, and I think you will think Santors will play better than him. So I think that right now. I think Flacco starts probably the year as a quarterback. At some point though Sanders overtakes him and get shoutcause Flaco gives you only so much, right, there's not a lot of upside in that. Just sort of get you through the first couple of weeks, maybe feel good about your offense, get some wins here and there, don't make a ton of mistakes. Eventually that's gonna run out. We saw it Nindy last year. They tried to bench Richardson for Flacco. Lasted like two weeks. So I think Sanders will eventually play, but probably not aout the season.

Number one.

Number one.

I was talking about this, there's been these questions about I'll circle back to Caleb Williams that there was a little bit of ego and I said, well, he was the first NIL superstar. So I've defended him, and there was questions about Chaudeur not wanting to like like, you know, his dad kind of leading the charge on. So the last couple of years we've had Caleb a little pushback on the emotion. Nil Shadeur Sanders drops in the draft. Dad's talking. Next year we have Arch Manning and again the Manning family is American royalty. Now I think it's interesting how they've handled it. They have never transferred, they've been Now he's making six million nil. So I think the Mannings have because of Dad Eli Peyton, Like they get the game, they get the quarterback position right, like just be a good sport, be a backup to quinn Ewers. But you're a college football die hard and I think I'm beyond the casual in college football. What do you make a year out? A year ago today, quinn Ewers was a first round quarterback? Is Arch Manning? Is the Manning name a bigger part of this than the talent? What do you see with him?

I was talking about this, there's been these questions about I'll circle back to Caleb Williams that there was a little bit of ego and I said, well, he was the first NIL superstar. So I've defended him, and there was questions about Chaudeur not wanting to like like, you know, his dad kind of leading the charge on. So the last couple of years we've had Caleb a little pushback on the emotion. Nil Shadeur Sanders drops in the draft. Dad's talking. Next year we have Arch Manning and again the Manning family is American royalty. Now I think it's interesting how they've handled it. They have never transferred, they've been Now he's making six million nil. So I think the Mannings have because of Dad Eli Peyton, Like they get the game, they get the quarterback position right, like just be a good sport, be a backup to quinn Ewers. But you're a college football die hard and I think I'm beyond the casual in college football. What do you make a year out? A year ago today, quinn Ewers was a first round quarterback? Is Arch Manning? Is the Manning name a bigger part of this than the talent? What do you see with him?

Yeah, well we just have. He hasn't played a ton of football yet.

Yeah, well we just have. He hasn't played a ton of football yet.

I mean when he's played the football, there's obviously signs that he can mature in to something that's that's special. I need to think about this year in college football. It's the year the quarterback. I mean, there's like eight quarterbacks right in the top of your head that could go number one. Now, obviously they probably all won't be the ninth quarterback who goes first overall. But you look at you look at Arch, you look at a club Nick and ness Meyer and and all these guys. And I'm missing obviously a bunch of names here. Like, there's gonna be so many quarterbacks this year. It's gonna be sort of like an ice cream flavor, right, like you pick your favorite one and it might be different across different teams. Art just has to play more. When you see more consistent play just hasn't played right. You were just been the starter. He's spots started. He's looked good in those moments. But look, when you spots start, teams don't have film on you. You know, it's the fifth, sixth, seventh game in a row you played, where teams start figuring out. Okay, well, when he rolls to his right, he does this. When he looks left, he does that. Here's the offensive that they design for him. What if we take that away? What's next? So in the glimpses we've seen, he looks like a very complete quarterback. Just you see a full season. He'll get a full year this year. A lot of people predict Texas back in maybe a championship game, winning the SEC. Like he'll have his moments this year, calling they have a hard schedule, like they play at Ohio State and then have Georgia as well. They might have Bama as well, like they're they're gonna have an opportunity or he will have an opportunity to play the better teams in the country to show us whether or not he's good enough. Now, the last thing I'll say here, the NFL draft, I think has gone away from what do you show me on Saturdays? And it's more what can you be on Sundays? So we might think a quarterback here and there doesn't have it in college, but teams look at his talent, his arm talent, his his his maturity, his mental capacity, his ability to see things you know, happen in real time, and say we want that guy on our team. The college production doesn't matter as much, so this would be a fun year. There's so many quarterbacks this season, there could be seven eight guys in the top two days.

I mean when he's played the football, there's obviously signs that he can mature in to something that's that's special. I need to think about this year in college football. It's the year the quarterback. I mean, there's like eight quarterbacks right in the top of your head that could go number one. Now, obviously they probably all won't be the ninth quarterback who goes first overall. But you look at you look at Arch, you look at a club Nick and ness Meyer and and all these guys. And I'm missing obviously a bunch of names here. Like, there's gonna be so many quarterbacks this year. It's gonna be sort of like an ice cream flavor, right, like you pick your favorite one and it might be different across different teams. Art just has to play more. When you see more consistent play just hasn't played right. You were just been the starter. He's spots started. He's looked good in those moments. But look, when you spots start, teams don't have film on you. You know, it's the fifth, sixth, seventh game in a row you played, where teams start figuring out. Okay, well, when he rolls to his right, he does this. When he looks left, he does that. Here's the offensive that they design for him. What if we take that away? What's next? So in the glimpses we've seen, he looks like a very complete quarterback. Just you see a full season. He'll get a full year this year. A lot of people predict Texas back in maybe a championship game, winning the SEC. Like he'll have his moments this year, calling they have a hard schedule, like they play at Ohio State and then have Georgia as well. They might have Bama as well, like they're they're gonna have an opportunity or he will have an opportunity to play the better teams in the country to show us whether or not he's good enough. Now, the last thing I'll say here, the NFL draft, I think has gone away from what do you show me on Saturdays? And it's more what can you be on Sundays? So we might think a quarterback here and there doesn't have it in college, but teams look at his talent, his arm talent, his his his maturity, his mental capacity, his ability to see things you know, happen in real time, and say we want that guy on our team. The college production doesn't matter as much, so this would be a fun year. There's so many quarterbacks this season, there could be seven eight guys in the top two days.

Jess Schwartz, I want to leave you with this, and I said this last year. I got some pushback. I said it last week. Is that people are hyper ventilating. The first thing the WNBA did is they just didn't understand how popular Caitlin Clark was. I mean again, with Taylor Swift, you got ten years off your ticket master to figure out.

Jess Schwartz, I want to leave you with this, and I said this last year. I got some pushback. I said it last week. Is that people are hyper ventilating. The first thing the WNBA did is they just didn't understand how popular Caitlin Clark was. I mean again, with Taylor Swift, you got ten years off your ticket master to figure out.

How popular she was.

How popular she was.

Sometimes you just don't know how big of a star she is. So I'm not going to crush the league for that. But it was funny watching the foul over the weekend that got upgraded to a flagrant, and I thought, God, the league doesn't know how to.

Sometimes you just don't know how big of a star she is. So I'm not going to crush the league for that. But it was funny watching the foul over the weekend that got upgraded to a flagrant, and I thought, God, the league doesn't know how to.

Efficiate this rivalry yet. It's like nobody quite knows how to handle it.

Efficiate this rivalry yet. It's like nobody quite knows how to handle it.

What did you make of this foul, the flagrant, the talk after, what did you make of it?

What did you make of this foul, the flagrant, the talk after, what did you make of it?

I like competitors that are firing. I've said this for many years now, Like sports are emotional. It's okay if in the emotion of a sport too grown adults yell each other and are angry. I've never had a problem with it. I don't get the flagrant foul system in basketball. I've never gotten it that didn't look like a flagrant to me. They sort of deem like anything extra non intentional that's a little bit hard as a flagrant foul. The thing that's so fascinating to me. And I'm gonna steal this from from Josh pay because as he came up with this with this term in twenty twenty three, when Colorado started three to zero, there were a lot of people talking about Colorado and Dana Sanders that did not talk about college Trumble ever, and they said things that were now a little bit different. And that's the deon tax, he said, right where it's people that don't really cover the sport, don't they don't pick tens of the sport that now we're forced to talk about it because it's popular and they're on shows and they gotta say something. It feels like right now we're like a WNBA tax, the Caitlin Clark injuries tax, where people are commenting about the sport a don't watch it, that don't watch sports a lot, they don't understand sports. Like, to me, yeah, it's a hard foul, it happens in sport. Injuries got upset she yelled at Cluck like that, That's what happens a lot all the time, NBA, NFL, NHL. Mean you watch NHL, I watch tons of h They fight like all the time. They punch each other in the face, they get into it after goalie gets hit, Like so to me, that's sports, and there's nothing more or less than what happened during that play. But everyone has to talk about it because they want to talk about the popular thing that happened this weekend. So it's like it's attacks on new fans having the time there was. I've seen stuff where people said calling that she should not play against a fever anymore injel reaches, Like what are we doing?