The Herd with Colin CowherdWhere Colin was right and wrong
Colin gives his NFC predictions
Hall of Famer Paul Pierce joins the show in studio to talk about the Lakers as they deal with several injuries including LeBron James
AFC playoff predictions following the week of free agency
Colin talks to 4-time Pro Bowler Maxx Crosby about his new contract with the Raiders and competing against Patrick Mahomes
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Oh here we go. First hour flew by. That's what happens when you get in arguments, when my wife's mad at me, the time just flies by, which is often live in Los Angeles. It's the Herd wherever you may be, however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. So a lot of stuff happened in the NFL. It's official like Wednesday, the free agency, but you're gonna hear stuff drop. And as I said earlier, this is really the week in which you can grade front offices. A lot of people making moves that feel like desperation heaves and hail Mary's. And then you get the Devonte Adams move to the RAM, which feels smart to me because I trust the Rams culture and DeVante's probably got two really good years left. That's exactly how many Matt Stafford has, so we do it every Monday at this time. Where Colin was right, where Colin was wrong, plenty of both, And here.
We go where Colin was right.
Well, Sam Darnold's not, despite the rumors and reports, going to be a Minnesota Viking as we predicted. He has a market. Seattle's the leader in the clubhouse. Pittsburgh also interested. Sam's only twenty eight years old and has not had a lot of injuries, and he's coming off a massive season. He can move, he's got a big arm, He's a playmaker. I think of all the quarterbacks on the market, he's the best version. And there were reports for three weeks the Vikings were interested. I didn't think that make any sense. I thought they were trying to do him as solid within the organization to show everybody, hey, Sam's great, we're considering re signing him. And I think in the end it never made a.
Lot of sense. Where Colin was raw.
Apparently Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers are talking. This doesn't work for me as a fit at all. First of all, Aaron's a California cool guy, and the Steelers culture is defense. It's super conservative. They can't get their offensive line right. I don't like that for Aaron. I mean, I'm sure he respects Mike Tomlin. I get that, but this is not how like if Aaron went to the Vikings and followed, you know, the farm trajectory, like that would make sense. Good left tackle, great receiver, good offensive coach, stability in the organization. I don't get Pittsburgh at all. I read this and I think it's that's a miss to me where Colin was right, Steph Curry now eleven and one when Jimmy Butler, I'm gonna give myself another right, I had said a month before the move, just sign him. Anytime Steph's had a legitimate one or two around him, the team is a Western Conference finals or at least competitive for it. Steph now is shooting forty two percent on threes since Jimmy Butler arrived, and to me, it feels like Jimmy Butler has been a B twelve shot in the hip for Steph Curry. Not like he just learned how to play. But when you're on a treadmill to a play in game for a superstar that's thirty seven years old, Nah, that's not it. This move is perfect top to bottom where Colin was raw. I don't think this is a bad move at all. But Geno Smith getting another big contract in the NFL surprised me. He was twenty first last couple of years in QBR, which isn't the be all end all. He you know, he throws a lot of picks and Pete Carroll doesn't like those. But where I will say it makes sense. He's an adult, he's accurate, he gets a lot of yards, and the Raiders have no stability at coaching quarterback. So Pete Carroll and Gino Smith, you know, suddenly feels sort of like Seattle can get your way into the playoffs. Tough division maybe, but it caught me off guard that Gino may get another three or four year, big money.
Deal where Colin was right.
Pay your great players early. The Bills signed Josh Allen, but they've moved off von Miller. I never got the von Miller deal. In fact, since he arrived, their defense actually got worse three straight seasons. He was injured a lot. I thought the Rams moved off him at the perfect time. He became sort of a pass rush specialist, which for what they were paying him, doesn't make a lot of sense. I just my people around the league didn't think it was a good move. I didn't, and I mean they got some sacks out of it, and he's a big play guy, but for the money and the injuries, it never made sense.
Where Colin was rough, I thought.
When the Mavericks made the Luca ad deal, I said, you know what, you can bang on the Mavericks, but short term they'll probably be better. I like the roster, yeah, but I'm wrong since the higher roster is hurt. PJ Washington, Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, Derek Lively. They are now lost five straight. They are a mess. Everything's bad, the karma, the injuries. Watched them a little this weekend. Yeah, I thought for a year to two years you would kind of look and go. Did Dallas get the better part of this deal? No, not at all. Where Colin was right, I've said, when you get a gift in life, accept it. And I've been critical of the WNBA because they got Caitlin Clark there, Steph Curry and they're fighting it. They did it again this weekend where apparently top players want to go on strike. Angel reees we should go on strike. The league's never made a profit. It's been subsidized by the NBA. This has been my knock on the WNBA. It's a league that was growing, and then Caitlin Clark was that once in a generation jet fuel like a Michael Jordan, a Steph Curry Lebron. You just don't get those. When you get a gift like Tiger Woods to the PGA Tour, you put your arm around it. You put them on TV. You understand that it's generational. A complete outline. And what is the WNBA done complain about it? Strike? You go on strike when you have massive leverage. The league doesn't turn a profit, it's paid for by the NBA. This league just can't commissioner down, can't get it right, can't get it right. It's too bad because the quality of play today and the WNBA much better than eight to ten years ago. Much better.
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So here we go. I'm going to start today, NFC, tomorrow, AFC. Now you gotta have four minimum total new playoff teams. The average is about six over the last like twenty years, have I will tell you I've got four or more and here we go. So we start with the NFC East. The Commanders had a very good free agency period. I like their GM. I think Eagles Commanders will battle down to the end. A lot of free agent losses for the Eagles. They still have the deepest roster. I'll pick them over the Commanders. But I think the Commanders Laramie Tunsul Deebo Samuel is a win now acquisition. They kept guys like zach Ertz, so I think that's a very close competition. I'll take the better roster to win. Dallas third, not active in free agency. Still gonna pay Micah up against the Cap Dak Prescott off a second lower body injury. Giants, it doesn't matter, it really matter. If Aaron goes there, Russell Wilson goes there. I think there's gonna be so much pressure on the organization.
Will win.
And now I'll pick the Giants for fourth. NFC North. This is the toughest division for me in football. The Lions have the best roster, I'll pick them one. The Vikings have the worst roster. I'll pick them four. And yes, Chicago's got a tough road schedule, no question, but they literally went and got Pro bowlers on their interior O line. And again if they can get a running back with their first pick. The coaching upgrade at Chicago from what they were to what they are is gonna be like the quarterback upgrade from Will Levis to camp Ward, like it's gonna change outcomes. I have Chicago's second here's Green Bay's tough for me because I've got to be totally honest about this. I really fell for Jordan Love, but last year against playoff teams, dude completed sixty percent of his throws with a passer rating at eighty one and was two and six in the building at the end of the year. I watch the way they coached him. I think they lost some confidence in him. So I think Bears Packers is down to the final week of the year to figure out who gets into the playoffs. NFC South. I believe in Michael Pennix. I don't like him not having Grady Jarrett, but and I don't like him losing Drew Dolm in the center. The Bucks are getting old. They're bringing back the entire offense. Sometimes that's good, sometimes it's not. I like the trajectory of Atlanta, and I'm a big Michael PENNOCKX fan. Carolina will be better, but an average roster Saints up against the cap kind of rigid there. I just don't like their direction NFC West, so I have the Rams winning it. I have no problem without it. DeVante Adams one of the smartest acquisitions that will work. Their defense could be the best in the league this year if they can get a corner in the draft somewhere. Great coaching. Okay, Seahawks Niners, I would love to watch the draft. Niners have twelve picks. Seattle's got an upgrade on the offensive line, but if you look at Seattle schedule, WOO NFCSUTH, AFC South A Seahawks schedule is screaming ten to eleven wins Niners. Meanwhile, twelve draft picks with a very complicated offensive system means I think they could be kind of trying to figure out what the heck they are till Thanksgiving. That is a lot of new players on the roster, and they lost really good players. Seahawks Niners like Bears Packers. I think play down to the final weekend to see who gets into the playoffs. Arizona. No massive upgrades are what they are. So my division winners Eagles, Lions, Falcons, Rams, Falcons are a new playoff team, wild Card Commanders, Bears, Seahawks both squeak in. So I have three new playoff teams, the Falcons, the Bears, and the Seahawks. You gotta have four new ones every year, minimum closer to six. So I don't think you know. Listen Atlanta before Kirk Cousins fell apart, they beat Tampa twice. I don't think I'm taking a big swing here. I like Panics a lot. There you go.
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Let's bring on Paul Parri's Basketball Hall of Fame co host on the show. What's up? What's up? What's up? My man? Great Cio?
What up?
I'm checking in the game, coach, let's go.
So I'm watching a little Celtics SGA and SGA is just going to score on everybody.
You can't stop Hill at all.
So He's not as vertical as Michael or that dynamic. Did you have a guy in the NBA? Maybe maybe it was you, a guy that just got his you know who, I'll throw a guy. Do you remember Bernard King?
Yes?
I do, Okay, I remember Dominique Wilkins telling me I love guarding MJ. It was fun. He goes, I didn't sleep with Bernard King. Were there guys in the NBA and you were a great defensive player, were there guys that you did not like to play? Because I think Boston looks up and goes, he's getting thirty six. There's nothing we can do about it.
I mean, was that I didn't.
You didn't love to guard that just stylistically? He just got twenty eight every time you played.
Every time.
I mean, I think my ear had better athletes at the perimeter when I started looking back at like Vince Carter, Ray, Allen, Tracy McGrady, Kobe Bryant, you know, even had Glenn Robinson, mash Man, maybe Jamal Mashburn. But mass Burn played off the post a lot A lot of guys who scored thirty in our league like that was very athletic. And not to say he's not athletic. He just knows how to get to the spot. And like the league that we hear in today, how they talking about three and layups? No, he like I'm playing an old school stuff. I'm still mid range. He might be the best mid range shooter in the league.
If you gave Kawhi Leonard his touch, it feels a little bit and that Kui is a stronger player defensively, but Sga is good defender. It just it's he's one of those guys. If I said to you, ke Key Vandaway on steroids, okay, okay.
Footwork, I learned a lot of my footwork from Keky Vandaway coming.
Up twenty six at night.
Yes, that's a good one.
Key Key Vandaway.
But on steroids, I mean I'm a given more like Kobe without the athleticism. Yeah, I mean he just gets to the line, pivots one way, people's the other way, then shoots over you gets to the now.
Now I have said this before, I'm gonna take Boston to win again. I think the biggest obstacle is Cleveland. But they don't really have a weakness.
Here's they do have a weakness though, Huh. They have a week.
What's their weakness.
I mean, we saw it last night and this is the one thing that concerns me.
So when the shots aren't falling, they gotta find other ways to score. Because like when you look at the best scorers in the league that don't have a great shoot night, but you look up, they still got thirty, it's because they got.
To the line. They got to the line, like fifteen times. We saw that.
Now we're doing that.
Yeah, you look up like James hard to have really be five for twenty but thirty points because he made eighteen free throw So you gotta do something that, just like the Gates, you having a bad shooting at night, and that's what I see from Boston. So when you look up and they only have nine free throws because they're not being aggressive.
Now.
The threes they take are are good threes, and that's who they are, that's not their identity.
But they don't manufacture enough free throws and scoring beyond the three.
Yeah, because it's gonna be nice like that where the shots ain't falling. We saw that a night ago. So I just hope they keep in mind just to find a better a better balance, because I knew a night's one, I didn't have my shot going. If I missed my first two threes, I might not take another three the rest of the game. Like, that's just was my mentality because I'm like driving. They know Lebron's like that. Yeah, Like unless I'm just like wide open, I'm not like forcing number threes. You know what, because I got to my main range, I got to my post, and I'm attack the paint, and I knew where I could be effective.
So you know, it's just a fine line.
And you gotta stay true to who you are because Boston's a three point shooting team, right, you got to stay true to who you are. But you gotta saw some nights that listens, we gotta change a game plan. Let's start attacking. We got advantages everywhere we can attack.
Yeah, I would give SGA the MVP over Jokic. Why because I think SGA is arguably the second best player in the year in the league. Yokic is the best player, but a SGA's team is much better b his number two player, Chuck Holmgan gets hurt a lot. See it's the third youngest team in the league. He's babysitting these guys. I do.
They were the number one team last year in the West. They were.
Yeah, so coming in they were the favorite to be number one. But you give it to them not because of he's averaging leading the league, and yeah, I mean he he playing with two All Stars. Joker is not doesn't have another All Star, so you can't just eliminate him. But the reason you give Sga the MVP is because he has the signature moments like last night was a signature moment. The other night versus Denver signature moment forty forty prime time, forty points on prime time.
You look at those deals, right right, you know what I'm saying.
Sunday I was at home, I went to the game. Yeah, I'm like, okay this, I'm gonna make my MVP decision on the game.
National televised game. Oh he got forty up, he sealed it. That's right, you know what I'm saying. But then Joker comes back and the next one he has a big game, so oh not so fast. But then you come back versus the Celtics on the road without your second leading score plan and you deliver.
So right now, he got the advantage.
So the next team, uh, is not as good as your Celtics team, but they have one thing in common, is that one I wish. So basically, Michale Bridges went to Tibbs and said, you got play us less. I had heard because kg U, Ray Allen and Rondo. I had heard Doc Rivers and you tell me if I'm wrong. Santa road trip. If we win the opener, no practice, you can just play the next game. Yeah that Doc would basically guys, give me everything you got in the opener, and if we keep winning, I won't give you a practice. Is that true?
Yeah, I mean we would do more walkthroughs once we got on the road, once the season started. Uh, you know, you win the game because we are we gonna stay true to who we were a defensive unit.
We're gonna play the same way versus everybody.
The league is a lot different now, you know, we don't play the same defensive principles where the defensive principles are different.
And so win the game on the road, all right, We'll.
Get the next night off, but then in game day the next day, we're gonna have to shoot around to walk through. So we'll still get to get get to the game plan. But it's no need to practice and run up and down and bang with each other when when you're seasons towards the end of the season and you need healthy bodies.
I mean, I watched the Knicks and the Blazers. I do. Here's the advantage for the next being zero to ten against the best teams. The advantage is everybody in the building knows we need another dude. Like in the NBA, you get in trouble when the GM thinks one thing, the owner thinks another, the coach thinks another. Everybody knows we probably got to upgrade off Cat or some piece. Do you think there is a piece in the league right now? Who would you part with to get another piece?
In New York?
Oh, so they move Randal to get Cat. Cat's the easier, more effortless offensive player. Randall's better defense. Is there a guy you like, like, I'll give you the one I got one KD?
I mean KD can help anybody who's right on the ball.
I mean, don't they kind of need a catch and shoot?
They can use KD. But I was thinking more like Zion Wilson.
That's interesting.
That would be because you know Kat can still stretch the floor the way he shoots the ball like you have those two imposing, big guys, and he brings some star power to New York and I think he needs some fresh air anyway out of New Orleans.
The other thing is because of his injuries, you wouldn't have to give up the farm, right.
Yeah, he might be you know, somebody you can kind of steal from you.
What's the average at forty five fifty five games a year, So you think Zion.
R I'll take a high risk, high reward for New York and then bring some excitement.
That's really good. So tonight the Warriors get Kaminga back and it's a TNT game. So coming, you know, because Paul the NBA is so young. Now, you know, in the NFL, you're drafting guys that have played three to four years. We're married, they're twenty three college basketball. You're getting Cooper Flag for a year. Dude, he's eighteen nineteen come to the league. So it's a developmental league. And so we've all kind of been waiting on cominga Now. For the record, he's twenty a game this year, but I feel like I've been waiting forever to get the twenty four SGA was a guy the Clippers vailed on and he literally became a star. Did you get a sense even with young guys? Could you since by the second year of a young guy, this guy's ceiling is sixteen.
Like should be able to Does.
Kaminga have another level?
What year is he?
Is he four?
Wow?
That's a good question because usually you know who somebody is by like, if they're gonna be a star star by the second third.
Year, Kevin Garnett, Yeah, by the All Star Game. Second year, I'm like, oh, this is gonna work.
Yeah, yeah, you see it early with the guys who are up there. Now, can Kaminga be like an All Star one day in a good situation? Maybe he has that type of potential. He has athleticism, and it seems like his game is starting to come around. You know, he's shooting shooting the ball better. We already know his athleticism is high left long after year, so he has the tools to be really, really good.
Are you surprised Jimmy Butler has been this important?
Yeah, I didn't know he was gonna have this type of impact. It's like it gave Steph a jolt in the arm. It's like he took a shot and was like, oh, I'm re energized. But dude, know what Jimmy brings. He brings a level of toughness to a physicality that I noticed to the Yeah, for sure, I would say like, Jimmy is one of my comparables actually because of his attitude, the way he plays, he's under control, and his demeanor.
You know.
So he brings a physicality to the team on the offensive end, and then you got Draymond on the other on the other end giving you that defensive physicality. And that's what the words needed because I looked at them before Jimmy got there as like a finesse team.
You know, they didn't get to the line.
No, they were a finess team. They're hit or missed, you know, and then it's gonna be nice. Stephan beyond and most nice he'll be on. But then those nice they're off. There's no physicality brought to the game, and he's bringing that and that's gonna be dangerous and then you're gonna have step close you out. He keep it close, keep it like Jimmy is like the guy in the box. Amen, they just give you body blows, you know what I'm saying. But It's just it's like it just starts wearing on you. You know what I'm saying about the tenth round, you just no more.
So I said this ok C will be a good home team in the playoffs. I don't trust young guys on the road. Go to your Celtics teams. Tell me the okay, remember the Bulls with Derreck Rose. Everybody kept telling me, oh, and I was like, they play so hard in the regular season because they got no trophy. Was there a team when you played that you knew you'd beat him in a playoff series? But man, they brought brought an intensity on a Tuesday night and they were you know, they were a really good team in the regular season. But it never quite translated.
Man.
Uh, remember that Cleveland team Jordan used to face all the time. Not remember that? Remember that time, dude, they chew people up. They could never get past Chicago.
I mean the young Cleveland team with Lebron was like that were they? Yeah? They were really good.
Like even the in the last year we went to the they were still young and fast and they were the number one team in the East and we were like, we actually lost some games. We could have been like saw them in the conference finals or second round. We chose to lose a couple of games to see them in the second round because we knew we could get them in a playoff set. Right, So you know that's they remind me of that team right there, because Cleveland was This was twenty ten, right, and this is when Cleveland was number one seed in the East.
They want like sixte.
So I'm gonna throw a crazy theory at you. Okay, I want you to have an open mind in my theory.
Okay.
So Lebron at forty years old was carrying the Lakers. They make the move to get Luca. He's not in shape, he's playing in shape. And then Jackson, Hayes and Ruey get banged up and Austin reeves and Lebron goes to play. The Celtics has a great first half, Boston pulls away. He feels a little tweak and is growing, and Lebron says, Daddy's gonna take some time off you young guys get healthy. I'm looking at the schedule. It's outrageous and that Lebron could play. And I am defending Lebron on this. It's like a baseball team in August. The starter's like, yeah, my elbows a little sore all the way to the playoffs. That look. And I'm not saying Lebron's dog in it, but I'm saying he's like, you know, it's a little tweak. I've been carrying you guys for three and a half months.
Yeah, I look at it like, I mean, it's pretty brilliant actually, because he said, all right, you know they were in the fourth or fifth, see Luca Combs. They make a push, they pushed all the way to the second seed. They're like, all right, we got some cushion. All right, we have a month, three weeks left, you know what. Second seed is great, But the most important thing is we need to be healthy. So we don't even care we made our push. We're gonna be in the playoffs as long as we're not in the play in So now if we slide all the way to five, we don't mind, because if we going to the playoffs as a healthy team, the Lakers are still gonna be dangerous. Yes, you know, because look who's ahead of them? Who do you trust? Ahead of them? Even at five? Who do you trust?
Houston? No?
I trust Golden State?
Okay, but they won't play Golden State, you know, Golden State to probably come in at that six.
But Memphis, you trust them, birst.
The Lakers the only one, Yeah, the only team that you're like, I mean, okay, see that young Like, come on, you gotta understand listen as a young team, when when the production start and when I call the production, it's the playoffs.
It's the production.
Now you go, okay, see, y'all gonna go from like two or three reporters in your locker room to see all these reporters now they're going, wh y'all play the Lakers.
It's gonna be one hundred of them now.
And I just remember this when I was in the playoffs, just like whoa, so many cameras, so many lights, and that can overwhelm a young team.
Just the bright lights on TV ideo, Oh my god.
And that that type of pressure, you know, as a young team could get to them, you know, and the aura that the Lakers bring. So I'm looking at okay, see Lakers. Only team that can cause the Lakers, I think trouble is the Denver Nuggets.
Yeah, size, because.
Of what they've done in the past, can't stop. Yeah, So let's gonna get interested Ron, Lebron rest up. You know, I would even rest up Luca on the rest of this trip. Let's let's get's healthy. Let's get healthy and come back home and get these gumme gangs that we sposed to get after this road trip.
Get back to a three seed.
Yeah, I mean it'll matter. They can drop the five, go ahead. They just want to be help.
Lebron and Luca can win on the road. Yes, Okay, see, I got my questions with Houston. I got my questions with right. Paul Pierce is always great. Speak after us live in La. It's the Hurt.
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So yesterday, in the much harder to predict NFC, I had three new playoff teams. Today we do the AFC. Now that's a much easier conference to predict. Last year I went four for four on division winners Mahomes, Allen Lamar, C. J. Stroud pretty easy. So I think the AFC is much much easier to predict. Yesterday, you know, you're throwing darts on some of it. I don't know how how well the Niners draft. I don't know how good is Darnold and Seattle. I don't know. I think I know, I don't know. So today we go to the AF seed again. I think this is an easier, easier, much easier conference to predict. Let's start with the AFC East. If Josh Allen is in his prime like Brady was, he will win this division going away front office coach. They've added Joey Bosa, Josh Palmer, a couple of good linebackers. It's the best team going away. They got the star quarterback, the starback, the left tackle. You know they're gonna be fine, and a good ed rusher, capable coach. Patriots one of my surprise teams in the league. I think they have the second most talented quarterback in the division. I don't think it's particular to close in Drake May. They got to get him weapons in the draft. But it's a very good tight end running back draft. And they upgraded with Mike Rablett coach from Gerrodmeo who just didn't work. And they spent a lot of money, so it's going to be a different team. I think they will double their win total, no question. Dolphins third, no notable upgrades, but smart coach, capable quarterback. If Tron Armstead retires at left tackle, that is a problem. That is a problem. And the Jets, I mean, it is what it is. I got a new coach downgrade at quarterback from Aaron and justin Fields. It is what it is. I think this is an easy one. Bill's Patriots, Dolphins, Jets, AFC North, Great Division. I'm gonna go Ravens, Bengals, Steelers Rown. Okay, the Ravens. The only thing I worried about is is Ronnie Stanley the left tackle coming back? Answer is yes. Bengals cheap franchise. They're three best players. Burrow, Jamar, Chase Hendrickson, even t Higgins are four best players. Aren't particularly happy, very very top heavy. But this year I think basically Burrow and their star receivers will lead them narrowly to a wild card berth whether or not Aaron Rodgers goes to Pittsburgh or not. They are tone deaf offensively, and over the last five years they just consistently get bad late in the year. Steelers third, and I like the coach in Cleveland. They got Miles Garrett re signed. But you know what, are they fish rots from the top or the head or something like that. What's the saying. I just don't trust the organization ownership AFC South, So I think Tennessee will be the most improved team. I'm gonna take the Texans, Titans, Colts, and Jags. Now, the Texans are rebuilding the old line. They moved off three guys, so I think they had to. They fired Bobby Slowick. But again, I get the best quarterback, I get arguably the best. So I'm gonna go with the Texan CJ. Stroud. I mean again, I'm gonna do it again this year. Best quarterback in the division wins. I think cam Ward actually is pretty electric and win some games for the Titans and will arguably be the second best quarterback in the division. And also you're kind of guessing on him. You don't know what he is, so generally you need an off season to figure out what a quarterback is. I think cam Ward comes into some backyard football. But J. Mack likes the Titans as a surprise team. I do too, potentially as a playoff team. I like the Colts roster, but they're going into camp with the quarterback competition that sounds very collegiate. Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson don't love either. Like the coach, the GM the roster Colts third. I don't know what to make Trevor Lawrence hasn't been what we thought. They've got a new coach again. Do you trust the front office? I'll watch their draft. It is what it is, finally the best division in football. I mean you get literally everybody. I'm gonna go Chargers win the AFC West, Kansas City's the wild card team, Broncos third, Raiders fourth, so I'm gonna lean into Jim Harbaugh. I think Nausey Harris is the perfect running back for this offense. They brought Mike Williams back, a physical receiver. I thought their improvement last year was remarkable. I think they'll keep improving. We've got to be honest about Kansas City. They're not winning all those close games again. Their offensive line is in total flux. At left tackle. They're going to start a left tackle that's never started. They let go of Joe Toney, the best offensive lineman. I think Denver made two big swings on defense with Hufunga and Greenlaw. I think they both paid dividends. I think I even think the Raiders will be viable Gino Smith, they got their O line set, Pete Carroll, Chip Kelly, Max Crosby. I think their defense has some players. They were all banged up last year. They gave the Chiefs fits twice. This division. I don't think the winner of this division wins more than twelve, whoever it is, and I don't think the fourth place team wins fewer than eight. So I think this is the best division going away in football. I mean, the coaching is Jim Harbaugh, Andy Reid, Sean Payton and Pete Carroll. And Pete's got Chip Kelly, and Andy Reid's got Spags and Kansas, and then all of a sudden you got the Chargers have Jesse Minter on defense with Harball. This is arguably the best coach division in the history of the NFL. So my division winners, I'm gonna do it like last year, with one exception, Bill's Ravens, Texans, Chargers. Wild card teams are the Patriots, Bengals, and Chiefs. So I have five new playoff teams, two in the AFC here Patriots Bengals and three in the NFC. So I have five new playoff teams. There have been at least four and often more for thirty five years in a row. So some of you fanboys are gonna be upset, but you have to minimum for new playoff teams. So my new playoff teams. Yesterday, I had Seattle in the playoffs that didn't make it last year. I had Atlanta winning their division. I believe in Michael Pennix. That was a new playoff team.
Here.
I've got the Patriots and Bengals. I'm forgetting somebody.
In the NFC.
So, and I wherever Aaron Rodgers lands, if he goes to Minnesota, Oh, I had the Bears yesterday. My bad is a wildcard team. So wherever Aaron goes, if he goes to Minnesota, my guest say, is he's a backup. By like October, they're gonna start J. J. McCarthy. If he goes to New York, they're not getting past Philly and Washington. If he goes to Pittsburgh, he probably is worth a game over Russell Wilson. But Russell Wilson was already good until the end, and all the raw rod stuff just doesn't pan out at the end of the season. And so I don't think Karen's going to change the dynamics of any division football at this point. Again, last thirty games, he's eleven and nineteen. His passer ratings under ninety. That's with Matt Lafleur. You know, that's with like, Okay, it was the Jets. Well it was also green Bay. So most of those games, majority of them were close to majority or half they were green Bay games with Matt Lafleur. So he didn't make the playoffs last year. They lost to Detroit at home. Remember that was the last game of the regular season.
So you want some pushbacker, Yeah, I do. Of course, this is tough because I like this team a lot. I was just drilling down on the Chargers a little bit. Do you know how many teams they beat last year that made the playoffs? Won Denver twice.
That's it.
They did not beat anybody good all season. And I look at the Chargers offseason, Colin, how were the upgraded Naja Harris? Is that an upgrade? Mike Williams bringing his corpse back to run what run down the field?
Like?
I don't see the improved I don't see how the rosters are better.
What have we said about Jim harbaugh first three years in the NFL? I did you see their draft last year? A lot of guys that could play.
I guess my disagreement would be like, I think the Broncos have improved their team dramatically, and the Chargers, I don't think they're like status quo.
Well, I said the winner will not win more than twelve games and the loser will not win less than fewer than eight. I think the division goes down to the last three weeks. I think health. What worries me about the Broncos Hafunga and green Law struggle to stay healthy. Well, yeah, that's a real thing. And by the way, Garrett Bowles has had some hell stuff at left tackle, so a lot of their guys, like the Niners last year, I worry about Denver staying healthy for eighteen weeks.
I am a little to go to a last place team, not the Jets, the Jags. You have just sold all of your Trevor Lawrence stocks, so you're done, done, You're off.
Lords.
No, there was a time where you would not take a call on him.
He was in that group for them.
And it's over. Well, you know it's funny. So Greg co Sell for years and years kept telling me over and over. The tape tells you he is not close to Josh Allen, that he he doesn't see the field as well as he should. He tends to run sometimes to a fault. He gets banged up and listen. There was always a question about Trevor Lawrence. Here was what was the knock? He really likes football? Does he love it? That was the Andrew Luck criticism. Andrew Luck had a big, broad life. He really enjoyed football. He didn't live for it. He wasn't Brady, he wasn't obsessed. He's not obsessed like Brady or Breeze, just obsessed. Trevor Lawrence is good at it and likes it. But he said when he got drafted, it's not the beginning and the end of my my it's not it doesn't define it. Well, I kind of want. I want football too at some point as a quarterback, to define you for I'm not asking forever. I'm just saying for like twelve years, it's got to be kind of the center point. I mean, I'm not I'm not asking football players to not have a life and be happily married and have Captaine. But for the ten, for the eight years you're in your prime, I need you to really be focused, really cared deeply.
If he's distracted, right, it's not like he's like, oh I love sports cars or whatever. He just football is like, eh, I'm playing football.
Cool.
It's not like Tom Brady's obsessive companies.
You know what most people in my Steve Jobs was obsessed and he changed the world. You know, most people that are obsessed. All these devices we have, they're built by obsessed people. So I know everybody wants you to be balanced and healthy. I like people that deeply care about stuff.
I think quietly. Trevor Lawrence is like probably one of the ten most interesting figures heading into the season because Colin. There was talk like do we even extend him? Like how much money do you give him? Because he hasn't been the number one pick you thought he'd be. He was supposed to be generational.
Yeah, well that's why the NFL is great. You can be a second, third, fourth, fifth round pick like Max Crosby who's joining us live six years four prol Bows leaves the NFL and tackles for loss over the last four seasons. You know, I've told you this before. I love you, man, And you did something this week that I think you are very willing to talk about the demon that you've overcome. You've been very willing. There was a picture you put on your Instagram, so I'll ask you about it because you put it out there first. I wouldn't otherwise. But I've talked to you about this before, and there are people right now in this country struggling with what you were struggling with. Do you remember the day that you just said I'm over this, I'm going to change my life. Do you remember that day?
Absolutely? Absolutely?
First off, Colin's great to see you always, you know, you're my guy. But yeah, man, I'll never forget it, you know.
What I mean.
That was the biggest day and most important day of my life. You know, besides the day I married my.
Wife and the day my daughter was born.
I wouldn't be here in this position if I didn't make that decision for myself and my family, you know, to get healthy and put myself first and get the help I needed. So yeah, man, it's been a hell of a journey ever since.
It's been five years already. It's crazy. How time flies.
Do people ever come up to you and thank you for your messaging and willingness to talk about it?
Yeah, all the time, you know, my first year and once I got a year sobriety, that's when I came out of public about it. Yeah, because honestly, I had, you know, I had a guy like Darren Waller in my locker room who was very public and open about it, and I was kind of terrified to you know, tell people that, you know, I was an addict and I was going through what I was going through. But seeing a guy like that and seeing and talking to other people a big influence.
You know, talk about their struggles to be open about it.
I think it was super important because of my platform and how I can impact others and get back because you know, a lot of people don't like to talk about it, but there's millions of people suffering from addiction, so very open and honest about it, and I think that's the most important thing.
You know, you live one.
Life, and you know as many people as you can help is the best thing you could possibly do.
So that's what it's all about.
So you are now in the best division in football, it's crazy. I mean, look at the coaches Peyton, Andy Reid, Spags, Jim Harbaugh, Jesse Menzer. Now you have Pete Carroll and Chip Kelly. So when Pete speaks to the team or you individually for the first time, what was Pete Carroll's message?
Compete?
You know, he talks about it all the time. No matter what we're doing, we're gonna compete. We're gonna have fun when we do it. And the culture is first and foremost. You know, Pete everywhere he's been has created a culture of winning and fun. And it doesn't mean you're not working hard. It means that everybody enjoys showing up every single day.
We have one of the hardest jobs in the world.
There's a reason why there's only fifteen hundred NFL players on the planet, you know what I mean. There's eight billion people and there's only a tiny, tiny group of people that can really do it every day. So you have to enjoy the process, and that's something that he's big on. I've talked to a ton of people that he knows and as coach, they've reached out to me from you know, Marshawn Lynch Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett, all those guys, they all the wording and how they approached me about how Pete is and how he operates are all so consistent and they absolutely love love him.
So I'm super excited.
You know, me and Peter have only known each other for a couple of months now, but I can't wait to continue, you know, building that relationship and continue to do it together and build a winner here.
You know, it's funny the quarterbacks that you pursue. So you got Mahomes who moves really well and throws control left handed. Bo Nix is smaller but way more athletic than people think. Justin Herberts, Justin Herbert's a bit of a house when you rush, do you is that usually you don't care? Or do you like? Are there angles you take on guys? Do you think differently when rushing Bo?
Justin and Patrick absolutely absolutely.
You know they all have their strength, strengths and weaknesses, and it's up to me to figure out the best approach every single week because every quarterback is different, every team is different, every coach is different, and the schemes that I gotta you know, go against change weekly.
You know what I mean.
I know I'm being circled every week and they're gonna double teamy, triple teamy ship and all that. So for me, it's like an ultimate mind game more than anything, because I'm trying to figure out how to break that break that code, and it's become more and more of a challenge, but it's become more and more exciting, you know what I mean, over the years, because it's like I take it, you know, I take it as like a.
Sign of respect. You know, the teams are coming after me.
But.
You gotta you gotta be so locked in and you gotta find those couple plays in the game. Okay, if they get in this formation, this is how I'm gonna approach this and.
This is where I'm gonna change the game.
Like that's literally how I'm watching the film, like I'm watching my film all you know, leading up to it. How can I improve? How can I be the best version of myself? And then okay, where is these these these little windows I can I can capitalize on? So, yeah, every quarterback is different. You know Pat is, I mean, Pat is one of He's different. You know, He's gonna try to make every single play you know, guys like Josh Allen Lamar, even Herbert, Like Herbert's gonna you gotta, you gotta smack him over and over and over again because he's gonna literally like he'll be on it, damn near on his back and he's still trying to get rid of the ball and make play. So yeah, it's it's all, you know, it's ultimate respect at the end of the day. But they know, like my job is to is to kill him, and they're the ones, you.
Know, trying to trying to play quarterback.
But also they know I'm trying to take their head off at the same time.
So I've said before there are very few defensive players that lead teams that are the soul of the team. And when you were talking about contract, I had said on this show, I said, when I think raiders, even in the seventies and eighties, I think of Max Crosby. He looks like a raider, he plays like a raider. You talk a lot of trash. Is that to fire you up or is it to intimidate others? Because you you you should be in my business. You never stop talking. Who's that form?
I think it's a mixture, and I do appreciate that, Colin. I know your boy over there, I've seen one of the clips. I'm gonna keep I'm gonna keep my opinion to myself, but I know, you know football, Colin. I don't know about your boy over there, but I would just keep it like this, you know, for.
Me, I get fired up. It just depends.
Like honestly, sometimes if you're just in a that day, you can't predict how you're gonna feel every single day. Sometimes you're gonna be in the best mood. Ever, some days you're gonna be in a dark place. Like that's just what comes with it. And I just sometimes I just talk just kind of like get myself going, you know what I mean, like try to get myself Like if I feel like I'm not one hundred and ten percent myself, I might just start a fight in the middle of practice just to get myself going, you know what I mean. So it just kind of depends on where my mind's at, in what space I'm at, you know. I don't like to try to chase a feeling because some you know, like if you have a great game, some guys will.
Go be like, Okay, I need to feel like that again. And how do I get to that.
You can't chase there's never gonna be that exact feeling, you know what I mean. You just have to go with the flow and be where your feet are and find whatever space you're in and maximize that, because that's just reality.
That's how life is.
Some days you wake up and you have the big smiley face, Hey, I'm gonna have a great day. Some days your body's sore, you're hurting, but you still have to find a way to be at your best. So I just feel like there's no perfect recipe to it. You just have to You can't try to overthink it and try to make something that it isn't. I just try to go with the flow. And some games I'm quiet. I might not say a single word and I'm just laser focused. Some games i'm just something pissed me off, or I'm you know, trying to get myself going, and I'm just on somebody like Raven's game, like I was talking the whole game. Some other games, I've had some of the best games of my career.
And I'm sitting there smiling the whole game, not saying a word, not.
Talking, just I just I just go with the flow, you know what I mean.
I don't try to force any type of vibe or energy.
Finally, for about a week, you were the highest paid non quarterback in the world. And I know you're not about a money guy. Every time I see you jeans T shirt, you're watching UFC. But do you ever that day when you sign that contract, who'd you think about? What'd you think about that one day? The word money was like a big discussion in your life.
Yeah, honestly, you know this, you know, being the second time that I've gotten an extension. You know, the first time was like, oh my god, you know what I mean, Like it was just crazy, like I did it. You know, I got this huge contract and I always like had that in the back of my head.
How would that feel? And I feel like the first time, it was.
Like this big thing and for the outside world, you know, I was like the third or fourth highest paid and at that time, and I'm like, I'm a top five guy now, blah blah blah blah blah, And it meant a lot more to me then than I felt like it's to the outside world. But this time around, like setting history, you know, resetting history.
Being the highest paid non quarterback. I feel like the outside world is like a.
Huge, huge response, and for me it was just like another day. Like I can't even explain it, you know what I mean. Like I'm so laser focused right now and being at my best and getting back healthy and.
Preparing for this next season.
I got so many goals and things I want to accomplish. I truly like I just wanted to get get to a point where I was happy and where I'm comfortable and my family's comfortable, and I'm just the same as usual. I was literally the day I signed my contract, I'm in there boxing with the guys and getting my work in before I went.
And signed my contract.
My agents and all them are looking at me like I'm like, I got to get my work in first. I'm going, you know what I mean, Like this is most important. I wouldn't I wouldn't have the deal if I'm not putting in the work. So it really it's it's unbelievable, don't get me wrong. Like it's it's an absolute blessing. Like I am set, beyond set, and my kids are set and all that is incredible. But truly, right now, like I'm just focused on building, you know, trying to win a super Bowl most importantly and building a Hall of Fame resume, and that's that's my focus, every sin of that.
Hey, hey, do you meet Gino yet? Gino Smith? Have you met him yet?
Yes? I have. He was, he was in the building a couple days ago.
So the second, like the news broke, I had been on FaceTime with him like five minutes before.
He called me with the big smile and was all fired up. So yeah, I was super fired up.
I'm super happy that he's a part of our, part of this team now, and I just have heard nothing but great things about him. So just taking it one day at a time. You know, we're building our relationship. And I've been a fan of from Afar for a long time. I think Gino, you know, people have opinions, you know how at the beginning of his career, run and things like that, but look what he's done is he's gotten you know, as the years have gone by, and he truly is a really, really, really good quarterback. And I know he's still far from satisfied. So yeah, we've had some great conversations and you know, we're we're definitely excited to get to work together.
It's so great seeing you. I'll be going to more UFC fights now here in the next couple of months. It's always great to see you. Congrats to you and your family and sharing some personal stuff. I sometimes I don't know if I should ask those questions, but you're always very appreciative and you give great responses. And there's people out there that have dealt with what you did and you're five years free of it, and it's amazing, and I just love seeing you.
Man.
I appreciate you coming on the show.
You're the best brother in Colin.
I see all your clips, man, all the love and respect you show, it truly means a lot. Man, You're one of the best in the game. So I appreciate you. I'll be seeing you soon, all right.
Max Crosby, and I've said this before, there are very few defensive players. Lawrence Taylor's won. He defined the Giants. It was not Phil Simms. It was a Lawrence Taylor defined the Giants. The toughness. Max Crosby's the Raiders, like you have to be like Lamar Jackson. To me, I would argue this, Maholmes does not define the Chiefs. I think Andy Reid shares in that. Spag shares in that. I think Lamar Jackson is the Ravens, like he's the soul and the fabric. I cannot see him playing for any other team. Max Crosby's a Raider. And then if you followed the NFL since the seventies, eighties, nineties, you go back to Lyle Alzado and Matouzak and all the tough guys with the Raiders, and Jack Tatum and even their offensive guys, you know, tough guys. Crosby's a Raider. And by the way, it's two xes, Max with two exes. That's a Raider. Yeah. You notice he said one guy on this set really knowses.
My phone is just not won't stop buzzing. People like Max Crosby hates you.
What did you say?
I'm like, what did I do? And everybody's pointing to this clip we talked about his extension.
Yeah.
Remember Max Crosby got the biggest centuon we talked about on March fifth, and all these Raider fans jumped down my throat angry raiding.
You were like, well, I don't know if I would pay him, And I'm like that's like not playing lamar Jack.
We talked about trading Miles Garrett because the Browns weren't in content.
You did, Yeah, you were on board with that. No, what you are real Miles Garrett.
Miles Garrett of the Browns, Okay, because they're not a contention. So why wouldn't you move off Crosby, who's a by all accounts.
Like because he's the soul of the team. Well, no, he's the best player on the team. I would say Stefanski. Stefanski got Baker Mayfield. Stefanski has had the deal with nonsensic quarterback and he last few years, he's won eleven games. In eleven games, he's the soul of the team. Don't confuse best player. Jokich is the soul of the Nuggets, right, okay?
Or is it alone the coach?
By the way, Lebron is the soul of the Lakers, not a dear Luca. So it's just the best player. Isn't always like Lawrence Taylor was the Giants, Reggie White was the Packers, you know, But I would say when Aaron Donald was with the Rams, McVeigh is the soul of the team. His energy, his intelligence, his culture. McVeigh is the they can move off any player. Mcvay's the rams.
So, but do you think it's fair for Max Strosby, your boy, to jump off the top rope and clobber me.
Yeah, I kind of like it.
Huh hey, slow feet, don't eat.
You didn't move very well.
Now listen. I do remember seeing Max Crosby at the super Bowl.
It's a great guy.
He's an enormous human being, a great guy. Seems like a nice guy.
When we go to UFC fights, there's all these media types.
Who do I hang out with the athletes?
No, Like Max Crosby, we always sit there and have a well I have a beer and he eats. Yeah, he didn't have slow feet.
I need to get on his diet to bulk up a little bit so I can.
But they're just guys. Anybody listening to me that's over fifty. Like Max Crosby is a raider from the seventies. That's what the raiders were like, you know, there was The tattoo culture is much greater now than it was when I was a kid growing up. People with tattoos served in the military, Like you'd have a Navy guy with it. You could always tell if guy was in the Navy because he would have a tattoo. Now it's the tattoo culture, but I mean, Max is like he's leaning into being a raider.
It probably sounds like you're too close to him to be impartial when it comes to you.
Know, I don't always want to be impartial.
I try to be.
But you know what, when you're not.
Why, you're never gonna be a man. You can't have a relationship with this guy. Crosby.
Listen.
I try to be fair, but I do like certain players because of the way they respond and react. I can't help it. I mean, I cannot help liking Lebron based on being one of the smartest players in the history of sports. I can't. I mean, I was more of a Tiger guy than a field guy, and I love Phil, But there was something about Sundays and Tiger and buffed and the red shirt and pumping his fist and throwing his clubs. I'm like, that's why I don't like country clubs. I was more of a Tiger than a field guy, and I love Phil. I was always more than a magic guy than a bird guy, and I loved Bird. So it just there are you know this whole and partial thing. Everybody has a bias. I think I'm a moderate. I think I'm a moderate with politics, but on social issues I've historically gone left. On fiscal issues, I've gone right. We all have biases. But there are some players I love, by the way, Brady. I love Brady's obsessive nature.
Doesn't love Tom.
But again, am I I always give Brady the benefit of the doubt. Well, then I'm biased. I was always a Tom guy. Now I know Peyton and love him, but I thought Tom. I thought sometimes Peyton could clench his teeth in tight spots. I never felt that with Tom. So it's it's, you know, it's just this idea that all of us are just never have a bias. Well, everybody does. I'm a Max guy.
I don't really have much of a bias just to the Jets.
But like, yeah, yesterday, people are like, you know, like, I'll get a lot of stuff on the Chargers picking them over the Chiefs. Folks. The Chiefs were like ten and one in close games.
I think they were undefeated. I don't think they lost any class.
No, that's not gonna happen. And their own line is a mess they just let go of. They don't have a left tackle that's ever started in that in that division. I got Jesse Mintor, I got all these pass rushers, you got Max Crass. Raiders could have beaten them twice last year. Another Raiders have like a grown up quarterback.
