Thanks for listening to The Herd Podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to three Eastern nine am to noone Pacific. Find your local station for The Herd at Fox Sportsradio dot com, or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. It is Memorial Day. Welcome in. This is the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be watching or listening. Thank you to the families who are serving and have served. It can be a tough day for many military families. That you're in our thoughts. The liberties and freedoms we enjoy are due to you and your sacrifice and commitment to this country. And thank you for all joining us. A lot of choices on a Monday, Jmac. The one team on this NBA slate that you've always been a fan of his the New York Knicks. And they were in a rough, rough spot at about eight thirty Central where I'm this last night. They were getting blown out and then something magical happened. You must field. We had a series today. Yeah.

Thanks for listening to The Herd Podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to three Eastern nine am to noone Pacific. Find your local station for The Herd at Fox Sportsradio dot com, or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. It is Memorial Day. Welcome in. This is the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be watching or listening. Thank you to the families who are serving and have served. It can be a tough day for many military families. That you're in our thoughts. The liberties and freedoms we enjoy are due to you and your sacrifice and commitment to this country. And thank you for all joining us. A lot of choices on a Monday, Jmac. The one team on this NBA slate that you've always been a fan of his the New York Knicks. And they were in a rough, rough spot at about eight thirty Central where I'm this last night. They were getting blown out and then something magical happened. You must field. We had a series today. Yeah.

Tom Thabodeaux pressed the right buttons at the right time, and the Knicks are back in the series.

Tom Thabodeaux pressed the right buttons at the right time, and the Knicks are back in the series.

Coward, let's go all right. They were down oh two, they were on the road, down twenty points. Their star was in foul trouble Jalen Brudson. It was one of those what kind of man are you? Games? And Carl Anthony Towns. Two things happened. Number one, Karl Anthony town said, I'll show you what kind of man I am. I'm going to single handedly take over the fourth quarter. Listen the dude he has quarters like this. He averages twenty three a game in his career. When he was in his prime, Karl Anthony Towns always ended up near the top of those GM surveys they do. Who would you start a franchise with? He doesn't play any defense, He's a little quirky, but he can dominate games. I've been to three or four games where he was playing, and he was the best player on the floor at some point in all those games. So, and the second thing that happened, and this does not happen very often for the Pacers, they lost their way offensively. So Halliburton end of the third quarter, beginning of the fourth. So in the third beginning of the fourth, about four and a half minutes he was on the bench. In that time, a fifteen point lead evaporated to four. And then he comes back in and they just never quite felt the same again Indiana. It's hard to get them off their offensive game. But even when the Knicks were down four, three, two points, it felt like they were in control. So the Pacers are a rhythm team and that they have the fastest pace in the league, and they get out of their rhythm and all of a sudden, you had Nie Smith and other guys. McConnell trying to run the offense is like, bro that that's not it. This is Aliburton's offense. They lost their quarterback. They only shot thirty six percent in the second half at home and shot forty two percent. That's the worst half of basketball for the Pacers. And just to give you in the playoffs, to give you another example, it flashed on the screen at one point in the first half, they had fourteen fast break points. They were running the Knicks out of the arena. In the second half total two fast break points. Haliburton sits they lose their rhythm. He comes back in, tries to kick start it and he never could. And what did we talk about last week? Whoever controls the tempo is going to win the games and or the series. And the Knicks compressed it, slowed it down. And also in this matters, the Knicks hit their last fifteen free throws. I know that's not a glamorous headline, but remember Game one, the Knicks had control and they were missing free throws. Open the door. This was the opposite they were controlling tempo in Game one, they lost tempo, miss free throws. Here late they controlled tempo, hit free throws, and so they were a better roaded team than they were a home team. The road team has won every game in this series. So the nixt slowed it down, hit the freebies, and I thought their defensive rotations were much better, especially when you had once Haliburton sat down for that stretch. And you see this in football all the time. You have momentum, you have a bad series, you have a fumble, there's a turnover, and you can never find the momentum. Again, it's hard. Momentum matters, and especially matters in playoff games. So we have ourselves a series the Knicks blue Game one, it kind of felt like they stole Game three, Indiana felt like the better team in Game two. We've got a series and here's TIBs basketball.

Coward, let's go all right. They were down oh two, they were on the road, down twenty points. Their star was in foul trouble Jalen Brudson. It was one of those what kind of man are you? Games? And Carl Anthony Towns. Two things happened. Number one, Karl Anthony town said, I'll show you what kind of man I am. I'm going to single handedly take over the fourth quarter. Listen the dude he has quarters like this. He averages twenty three a game in his career. When he was in his prime, Karl Anthony Towns always ended up near the top of those GM surveys they do. Who would you start a franchise with? He doesn't play any defense, He's a little quirky, but he can dominate games. I've been to three or four games where he was playing, and he was the best player on the floor at some point in all those games. So, and the second thing that happened, and this does not happen very often for the Pacers, they lost their way offensively. So Halliburton end of the third quarter, beginning of the fourth. So in the third beginning of the fourth, about four and a half minutes he was on the bench. In that time, a fifteen point lead evaporated to four. And then he comes back in and they just never quite felt the same again Indiana. It's hard to get them off their offensive game. But even when the Knicks were down four, three, two points, it felt like they were in control. So the Pacers are a rhythm team and that they have the fastest pace in the league, and they get out of their rhythm and all of a sudden, you had Nie Smith and other guys. McConnell trying to run the offense is like, bro that that's not it. This is Aliburton's offense. They lost their quarterback. They only shot thirty six percent in the second half at home and shot forty two percent. That's the worst half of basketball for the Pacers. And just to give you in the playoffs, to give you another example, it flashed on the screen at one point in the first half, they had fourteen fast break points. They were running the Knicks out of the arena. In the second half total two fast break points. Haliburton sits they lose their rhythm. He comes back in, tries to kick start it and he never could. And what did we talk about last week? Whoever controls the tempo is going to win the games and or the series. And the Knicks compressed it, slowed it down. And also in this matters, the Knicks hit their last fifteen free throws. I know that's not a glamorous headline, but remember Game one, the Knicks had control and they were missing free throws. Open the door. This was the opposite they were controlling tempo in Game one, they lost tempo, miss free throws. Here late they controlled tempo, hit free throws, and so they were a better roaded team than they were a home team. The road team has won every game in this series. So the nixt slowed it down, hit the freebies, and I thought their defensive rotations were much better, especially when you had once Haliburton sat down for that stretch. And you see this in football all the time. You have momentum, you have a bad series, you have a fumble, there's a turnover, and you can never find the momentum. Again, it's hard. Momentum matters, and especially matters in playoff games. So we have ourselves a series the Knicks blue Game one, it kind of felt like they stole Game three, Indiana felt like the better team in Game two. We've got a series and here's TIBs basketball.

I know you guys like roll your eyes when they say no lead is safe. But no lead is safe because I think with the three point shot, people make up ground quickly. Pace the game, make up ground quickly. You see comebacks all the time, and if you let up just a little bits, that's what happens.

I know you guys like roll your eyes when they say no lead is safe. But no lead is safe because I think with the three point shot, people make up ground quickly. Pace the game, make up ground quickly. You see comebacks all the time, and if you let up just a little bits, that's what happens.

So you just do not see the Pacers very often lose their way offensively. But that four and five minute stretch where Halliburton left and you just saw the lead shrink. He came back in, he sort of righted the ship. He hit a three. It felt a little better. But by that point the Knicks had growing confidence. And it should also be noted Kat did a lot of his damage with Jalen Brunson on the bench, which we'll get to after the commercial. Okay, so this is a story you may be wondering. I don't think it's going to make a big deal either way. But Aaron Rodgers, according to Jeremy Fowler, there are people in the NFL, and Jeremy Fowler works at the ESPN very good reporter. He is saying, there are people in the NFL many that believe Aaron Rodgers is waiting on Minnesota. I don't know that to be true, but I will say this, Aaron loves to make people think he's a mystery and the media can't figure him out. And he does that because it invalidates us, and we're the one group of people he can't control. He's worshiped by football people, he's loved by teammates, the one group he can't control us, and so he wants to invalidate us. And he's not JD. Salinger. It's not that mysterious. The Steelers are a shaky fit, and Aaron knows it. He doesn't want to offend Mike Tomlin. It may be if he wants to play his best spot. But they can't figure out offense. I've done over this a million times. They're toned af to offense. They just they I think they're now making moves just to make moves. Let's just off George Pickens and let's get a pick and let's overspend for DK Metcalf and they're just making moves to make moves. So there are reports, and I don't care about his personal life. That Aaron's personal life, he's going through some turbulence. You wish him well. I don't want to get into any speculation there, but I just think Aaron is too smart to think the Steelers are a good fit. The O line's been a wreck for years. The oh coordinator position they've run through him. They lost Naugie Harris, their left tackle. And by the way, it does matter. He went from Green Bay, which has always had an offensive culture. They always get quarterback right, they always have offensive coaches, they always have good offensive lines. Green Bay does offense right and they've been doing it right for thirty years. Pittsburgh does defense right. And the only two times they've done offense right they had Terry Bradshaw on Big Ben and in between that, they're not the same franchise. They win games, they don't win big games. And that's what Pittsburgh's going through right now. They've been a bottom ten total offense six years in a row, and that's hard to do. And you look at the two New York franchisees, and Carolina's a bad offense in this league and the Bears. So the Vikings makes a ton of sense. Great brilliant offensive head coach and play caller. They play indoors. He knows the division they have justin Jefferson. They upgraded their offensive line in the offseason. There's also a story that's interesting. So Aaron was apparently on some podcast and said, when asked about the Saints, because we don't know exactly what the Saints are doing. Is it going to be is Spencer Rattler?

So you just do not see the Pacers very often lose their way offensively. But that four and five minute stretch where Halliburton left and you just saw the lead shrink. He came back in, he sort of righted the ship. He hit a three. It felt a little better. But by that point the Knicks had growing confidence. And it should also be noted Kat did a lot of his damage with Jalen Brunson on the bench, which we'll get to after the commercial. Okay, so this is a story you may be wondering. I don't think it's going to make a big deal either way. But Aaron Rodgers, according to Jeremy Fowler, there are people in the NFL, and Jeremy Fowler works at the ESPN very good reporter. He is saying, there are people in the NFL many that believe Aaron Rodgers is waiting on Minnesota. I don't know that to be true, but I will say this, Aaron loves to make people think he's a mystery and the media can't figure him out. And he does that because it invalidates us, and we're the one group of people he can't control. He's worshiped by football people, he's loved by teammates, the one group he can't control us, and so he wants to invalidate us. And he's not JD. Salinger. It's not that mysterious. The Steelers are a shaky fit, and Aaron knows it. He doesn't want to offend Mike Tomlin. It may be if he wants to play his best spot. But they can't figure out offense. I've done over this a million times. They're toned af to offense. They just they I think they're now making moves just to make moves. Let's just off George Pickens and let's get a pick and let's overspend for DK Metcalf and they're just making moves to make moves. So there are reports, and I don't care about his personal life. That Aaron's personal life, he's going through some turbulence. You wish him well. I don't want to get into any speculation there, but I just think Aaron is too smart to think the Steelers are a good fit. The O line's been a wreck for years. The oh coordinator position they've run through him. They lost Naugie Harris, their left tackle. And by the way, it does matter. He went from Green Bay, which has always had an offensive culture. They always get quarterback right, they always have offensive coaches, they always have good offensive lines. Green Bay does offense right and they've been doing it right for thirty years. Pittsburgh does defense right. And the only two times they've done offense right they had Terry Bradshaw on Big Ben and in between that, they're not the same franchise. They win games, they don't win big games. And that's what Pittsburgh's going through right now. They've been a bottom ten total offense six years in a row, and that's hard to do. And you look at the two New York franchisees, and Carolina's a bad offense in this league and the Bears. So the Vikings makes a ton of sense. Great brilliant offensive head coach and play caller. They play indoors. He knows the division they have justin Jefferson. They upgraded their offensive line in the offseason. There's also a story that's interesting. So Aaron was apparently on some podcast and said, when asked about the Saints, because we don't know exactly what the Saints are doing. Is it going to be is Spencer Rattler?

You know?

You know?

And Aaron Rodgers was quoted saying, yeah, I'm too old. I don't want to live in Louisiana. Sorry. So what that means is where Aaron plays matters to Aaron, he is thinking about it. He doesn't want to live in New Orleans. So that's another reason indoors knows the division NFC. He moved over to a defensive culture plan outdoors in the North Northeast with a Jets, and it was a mess. Aaron doesn't want to do that again. So and Jeff Pearlman came on last week. He wrote a book about Brent Farv, and Aaron was all through the book and Farv didn't treat Aarin very well. And I grew to kind of respect what Aaron had to go through. But he made a point about where Aaron's played, and the fit is really crucial when you consider Aaron's personality.

And Aaron Rodgers was quoted saying, yeah, I'm too old. I don't want to live in Louisiana. Sorry. So what that means is where Aaron plays matters to Aaron, he is thinking about it. He doesn't want to live in New Orleans. So that's another reason indoors knows the division NFC. He moved over to a defensive culture plan outdoors in the North Northeast with a Jets, and it was a mess. Aaron doesn't want to do that again. So and Jeff Pearlman came on last week. He wrote a book about Brent Farv, and Aaron was all through the book and Farv didn't treat Aarin very well. And I grew to kind of respect what Aaron had to go through. But he made a point about where Aaron's played, and the fit is really crucial when you consider Aaron's personality.

They just think over time, especially being in a small Midwestern town surrounded by the Midwestern quaintness of Green Bay. I think Aaron Rodgers really started to believe I'm the smartest guy in the room. I know everything. I am very intelligent. I know more than the coaches, I know more than my teammates, I know more than this fan base. And again, if you can contain that in Green Bay, Wisconsin, it's one thing you're treated as a guy, but once you go national, once you go to a different franchise, it doesn't really play out that well.

They just think over time, especially being in a small Midwestern town surrounded by the Midwestern quaintness of Green Bay. I think Aaron Rodgers really started to believe I'm the smartest guy in the room. I know everything. I am very intelligent. I know more than the coaches, I know more than my teammates, I know more than this fan base. And again, if you can contain that in Green Bay, Wisconsin, it's one thing you're treated as a guy, but once you go national, once you go to a different franchise, it doesn't really play out that well.

It certainly didn't in New York. Now, the culture in Pittsburgh is better than New York, but like the Jets, they can't get offense right. So whether the story is true or not, it makes a lot of sense. I've said this. I think he was waiting for brock Perty's contract to get signed that eliminated the Niners. I think that was his first choice. His second choice was Minnesota. This is just a guest by me, but this story comes out, and this is what I felt is Aaron's too smart to think, you know, Pittsburgh is gonna work for me. I don't think they're a game better if he plays there. I don't. I think Pittsburgh now is in the space where they're just making moves to make moves. I don't know Dk Metcalf was overpaid. Pickens trade probably right once you acquire Dk Metcalf, But I didn't love the offseason for the Steelers. J.

It certainly didn't in New York. Now, the culture in Pittsburgh is better than New York, but like the Jets, they can't get offense right. So whether the story is true or not, it makes a lot of sense. I've said this. I think he was waiting for brock Perty's contract to get signed that eliminated the Niners. I think that was his first choice. His second choice was Minnesota. This is just a guest by me, but this story comes out, and this is what I felt is Aaron's too smart to think, you know, Pittsburgh is gonna work for me. I don't think they're a game better if he plays there. I don't. I think Pittsburgh now is in the space where they're just making moves to make moves. I don't know Dk Metcalf was overpaid. Pickens trade probably right once you acquire Dk Metcalf, But I didn't love the offseason for the Steelers. J.

Mack.

Mack.

There's a lot of things going on today, Colin Wright, Colin wrong. In fifty minutes. There was a story over the weekend about Caitlin Clark's value to the WNBA. It is I don't know if people understand this, like what is happening, how popular she is. It's insane, and I think it is time. I like the fact that this story was published, meaning WNBA coaches, players, executives can now read her relevance, which is not only is it transcendent, it's transformational to the league. How was your weekend?

There's a lot of things going on today, Colin Wright, Colin wrong. In fifty minutes. There was a story over the weekend about Caitlin Clark's value to the WNBA. It is I don't know if people understand this, like what is happening, how popular she is. It's insane, and I think it is time. I like the fact that this story was published, meaning WNBA coaches, players, executives can now read her relevance, which is not only is it transcendent, it's transformational to the league. How was your weekend?

By the way, my weekend was excellent.

By the way, my weekend was excellent.

I ran into your friend Lebron yesterday at a volleyball tournament out here in LA But if I could quickly go back to Aaron Rodgers for a second, does he totally want to be Brett Farv Jets then Vikings close out the career.

I ran into your friend Lebron yesterday at a volleyball tournament out here in LA But if I could quickly go back to Aaron Rodgers for a second, does he totally want to be Brett Farv Jets then Vikings close out the career.

Is that what he's.

Is that what he's.

Wanting to do, like copy Brett Farv. It is just so embarrassing and pathetic. But I don't want to bash Aaron Rodgers. He went through some stuff last week. I'm sure you saw with an ex girlfriend kind of throwing him under the bus for not being a nice guy.

Wanting to do, like copy Brett Farv. It is just so embarrassing and pathetic. But I don't want to bash Aaron Rodgers. He went through some stuff last week. I'm sure you saw with an ex girlfriend kind of throwing him under the bus for not being a nice guy.

Which should surprise nobody. But just disappointing stuff.

Which should surprise nobody. But just disappointing stuff.

Aaron. Come on, Yeah, we wish Aaron the very best and the Steeler are the very best. Coming up now? Next the information about how big Caitlin Clark is. It's sort of staggering. Matt Hasselbeck stops by. I'm going to give you my list of the four newcomers in the NFL this year that will change outcomes. I think there's only four, only four people in the NFL that moved and will changed outcomes. It's the hurt.

Aaron. Come on, Yeah, we wish Aaron the very best and the Steeler are the very best. Coming up now? Next the information about how big Caitlin Clark is. It's sort of staggering. Matt Hasselbeck stops by. I'm going to give you my list of the four newcomers in the NFL this year that will change outcomes. I think there's only four, only four people in the NFL that moved and will changed outcomes. It's the hurt.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays at newone Easter not a em Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays at newone Easter not a em Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeartRadio app.

Welcome back on this Memorial Day. Matt Hasselbeck calling right and wrong in forty minutes. So a associate professor of finance at Indiana University broke down the economic scale of Caitlin Clark, who is just a phenomenon. So she generated last year twenty six and a half percent as a rookie on a terrible team, twenty six and a half percent of the economic activity in the league. Listen to some of these numbers. Her stardom not slowing down. The Fever averaged more than the Pacers did per game throughout the league. If she played in your town, attendance for the league rose thirty percent. The valuation of the fever ninety million dollars for the Fever before she arrived, now three hundred and forty million. That's four times, four times valuation increase. Lebron didn't do that when he went back to Cleveland. He certainly didn't do it going to Miami or the Lakers. MJ didn't do that with the Bulls. We're talking one player. She is Steve Jobs. She's taking an insolvent company and turning it into a powerhouse. So listen to this. WNBA merchandise exploded five hundred percent increase. That's one player. I mean literally half the merchandise in the league. She's selling, So you better get comfortable with the fact that if she comes to your arena, ticket prices will jump one hundred and forty percent. She will be more popular than your entire roster. So and my take is, ride the wave, enjoy the fruits, be grateful you went commercial to private. Now we can go back to fly in Spirit Airlines. But nothing kills team spirit like flying spirit. So you got to come to grips with it. She is not only transcendent, she is transformational. She has changed the league. And Hollywood has always understood this. The actors and the directors have always understood this. The bigger the stars, the better the catering, egg rolls for everybody, chicken and beef options. So this is a whole different ballgame. We're talking about these numbers. She is mission very possible. What you are seeing now is I don't think I don't even think the PGA with Tiger exploded like this. I mean, these numbers are insane. And you know, I was talking to a group of people last night that aren't sports fans, and they, you know, they asked, like, how long will it last? And what do you make of it? My take is, well, think about how deep the reservoir of men's basketball talent is in the world. I mean, you know, you can go to Spain, Lithuania, you can go anywhere. You can go anywhere in the United States, you can go to Portugal. There's talent everywhere in the world for men's basketball, and men's basketball has been ahead of women's basketball. My entire life is that we've never found a duplicate for Steph Curry. We never have Nobody plays like him, nobody looks like him, nobody shoots like him in women's basketball. And his greatest Curry is he wasn't the best player in the league. He was the most transformational. People take shots now they wouldn't have considered, but we've never found a duplicate in the men's game for Steph Curry. The gap between Caitlin and anything resembling her is Curry fourfold. So it's not going to end. This is at the beginning of it. The professor states that there's a chance she will have a billion dollar economic impact for the WUNBA this year. Again, ride the waves. People enter your life all the time and make it better. Thank them. J Mack with The News no, no turns. This is the Herdline News.

Welcome back on this Memorial Day. Matt Hasselbeck calling right and wrong in forty minutes. So a associate professor of finance at Indiana University broke down the economic scale of Caitlin Clark, who is just a phenomenon. So she generated last year twenty six and a half percent as a rookie on a terrible team, twenty six and a half percent of the economic activity in the league. Listen to some of these numbers. Her stardom not slowing down. The Fever averaged more than the Pacers did per game throughout the league. If she played in your town, attendance for the league rose thirty percent. The valuation of the fever ninety million dollars for the Fever before she arrived, now three hundred and forty million. That's four times, four times valuation increase. Lebron didn't do that when he went back to Cleveland. He certainly didn't do it going to Miami or the Lakers. MJ didn't do that with the Bulls. We're talking one player. She is Steve Jobs. She's taking an insolvent company and turning it into a powerhouse. So listen to this. WNBA merchandise exploded five hundred percent increase. That's one player. I mean literally half the merchandise in the league. She's selling, So you better get comfortable with the fact that if she comes to your arena, ticket prices will jump one hundred and forty percent. She will be more popular than your entire roster. So and my take is, ride the wave, enjoy the fruits, be grateful you went commercial to private. Now we can go back to fly in Spirit Airlines. But nothing kills team spirit like flying spirit. So you got to come to grips with it. She is not only transcendent, she is transformational. She has changed the league. And Hollywood has always understood this. The actors and the directors have always understood this. The bigger the stars, the better the catering, egg rolls for everybody, chicken and beef options. So this is a whole different ballgame. We're talking about these numbers. She is mission very possible. What you are seeing now is I don't think I don't even think the PGA with Tiger exploded like this. I mean, these numbers are insane. And you know, I was talking to a group of people last night that aren't sports fans, and they, you know, they asked, like, how long will it last? And what do you make of it? My take is, well, think about how deep the reservoir of men's basketball talent is in the world. I mean, you know, you can go to Spain, Lithuania, you can go anywhere. You can go anywhere in the United States, you can go to Portugal. There's talent everywhere in the world for men's basketball, and men's basketball has been ahead of women's basketball. My entire life is that we've never found a duplicate for Steph Curry. We never have Nobody plays like him, nobody looks like him, nobody shoots like him in women's basketball. And his greatest Curry is he wasn't the best player in the league. He was the most transformational. People take shots now they wouldn't have considered, but we've never found a duplicate in the men's game for Steph Curry. The gap between Caitlin and anything resembling her is Curry fourfold. So it's not going to end. This is at the beginning of it. The professor states that there's a chance she will have a billion dollar economic impact for the WUNBA this year. Again, ride the waves. People enter your life all the time and make it better. Thank them. J Mack with The News no, no turns. This is the Herdline News.

All right, call, let's get started with a big story out here in La Sho. Hey o'tani big appearance over the weekend throwing live batting practice for the first time since his left shoulder surgery. Otani only threw twenty two pitches. There were five plate appearances to three batters. After the session, Otani said, I haven't thrown in a while, so it was nice to be able to feel like a pitcher. Obviously when he has thrown, I mean, hey, guy's incredible. Now I'm curious, do you think this is the situation where the Dodgers are.

All right, call, let's get started with a big story out here in La Sho. Hey o'tani big appearance over the weekend throwing live batting practice for the first time since his left shoulder surgery. Otani only threw twenty two pitches. There were five plate appearances to three batters. After the session, Otani said, I haven't thrown in a while, so it was nice to be able to feel like a pitcher. Obviously when he has thrown, I mean, hey, guy's incredible. Now I'm curious, do you think this is the situation where the Dodgers are.

Like, hey, we need Otani back.

Like, hey, we need Otani back.

I mean, they are only up one in the West over the the Giants and Andres are closing in.

I mean, they are only up one in the West over the the Giants and Andres are closing in.

Listen, he's a great pitcher, so obviously he makes the team better when he pitches. And they've had a ton of pitching injuries. I think pitching injuries if you look at Tommy John surgeries, they've skyrocketed in the last five to ten years. It's an industry issue. But the Dodgers, because they're such a big brand and talked about like everybody looks at the Dodgers and they can't stay healthy. There is no question that Otani. They want Otani available because I think part of the negotiations were he's gonna pitch. If you add Otani, he would arguably be the ace of the staff. And so I mean, they have some good arms, but they've got guys who have been injured before, like last known who they got from Tampa. So it's I think you're gonna notice his value in August, September, and October. That's when all this will matter the most.

Listen, he's a great pitcher, so obviously he makes the team better when he pitches. And they've had a ton of pitching injuries. I think pitching injuries if you look at Tommy John surgeries, they've skyrocketed in the last five to ten years. It's an industry issue. But the Dodgers, because they're such a big brand and talked about like everybody looks at the Dodgers and they can't stay healthy. There is no question that Otani. They want Otani available because I think part of the negotiations were he's gonna pitch. If you add Otani, he would arguably be the ace of the staff. And so I mean, they have some good arms, but they've got guys who have been injured before, like last known who they got from Tampa. So it's I think you're gonna notice his value in August, September, and October. That's when all this will matter the most.

Totally. Let's let's get to the NBA where the Timberwolves on Saturday night, what a beatdown on the thunder just absolutely ran them out of the building one forty three to one on one, I mean, Colin winning by forty two points. I don't know how much of this you watched it. The fourth quarter was unwatchable but interesting. Note here Sga, the MVP of the league, was sitting on the bench late in the game wearing a microphone. The broadcast caught him talking about the loss.

Totally. Let's let's get to the NBA where the Timberwolves on Saturday night, what a beatdown on the thunder just absolutely ran them out of the building one forty three to one on one, I mean, Colin winning by forty two points. I don't know how much of this you watched it. The fourth quarter was unwatchable but interesting. Note here Sga, the MVP of the league, was sitting on the bench late in the game wearing a microphone. The broadcast caught him talking about the loss.

Take a listen.

Take a listen.

They were more.

They were more.

Physical earlier and they made.

Physical earlier and they made.

Shots to do missus. And then on top of this, they had a great night.

Shots to do missus. And then on top of this, they had a great night.

We had a bad night.

We had a bad night.

So it's that forty.

So it's that forty.

But if we like take care of these, we could salute because of this night.

But if we like take care of these, we could salute because of this night.

But it doesn't look like this. Well, you know what. I was talking to my friend Jason Tim last night at the voume, we talked about this. Of all the teams remaining, I kind of feel like I get the same team with the Knicks Homer Way, same team with the Pacers home and away, same team t Wolves home and away, OKAYC. Because of their youth, I don't feel like it's the same offense young players on the road historically in the playoffs and rotational players, and they have the deepest bench right and so when you look at OKAC and the numbers validate this, they're not the same offense away from home. They're the youngest team and the deepest team. But those rotational guys, you know, we've talked about this. When you get to the playoffs, your stars shine wherever. Your rotational guys are always better at home. They're always more comfortable. They're often younger players or more limited players. Okay see. I feel there is a gap between homemade case okay see and road thunder.

But it doesn't look like this. Well, you know what. I was talking to my friend Jason Tim last night at the voume, we talked about this. Of all the teams remaining, I kind of feel like I get the same team with the Knicks Homer Way, same team with the Pacers home and away, same team t Wolves home and away, OKAYC. Because of their youth, I don't feel like it's the same offense young players on the road historically in the playoffs and rotational players, and they have the deepest bench right and so when you look at OKAC and the numbers validate this, they're not the same offense away from home. They're the youngest team and the deepest team. But those rotational guys, you know, we've talked about this. When you get to the playoffs, your stars shine wherever. Your rotational guys are always better at home. They're always more comfortable. They're often younger players or more limited players. Okay see. I feel there is a gap between homemade case okay see and road thunder.

And listen, naz Reid goes home and can actually make shots. I mean I think he put every three pointer in. Okay, I will.

And listen, naz Reid goes home and can actually make shots. I mean I think he put every three pointer in. Okay, I will.

Say the one interesting angle here.

Say the one interesting angle here.

Is, you know I can understand you don't show up, you lose by twenty Colin.

Is, you know I can understand you don't show up, you lose by twenty Colin.

This was almost like.

This was almost like.

A we're laying down, you know, we kind of give up. Remember this happened against Memphis in Game three. They were up two oh and Memphis goes up thirty, but then Jah Morant got hurt and okay, see came back. So I think you're onto something with this young team. Obviously, tonight is the series. If okay se wins, it's over up three one, it's got if minute. I vote A wins, and I think they got a shot.

A we're laying down, you know, we kind of give up. Remember this happened against Memphis in Game three. They were up two oh and Memphis goes up thirty, but then Jah Morant got hurt and okay, see came back. So I think you're onto something with this young team. Obviously, tonight is the series. If okay se wins, it's over up three one, it's got if minute. I vote A wins, and I think they got a shot.

At home, right yeah? There, well thunder or seven and one at home with a lot of blowouts. We watched them play Denver. There are three and three on the road. We saw Denver give them problems up in Denver. Now some of that maybe altitude. I think tonight's close. What does it spread three or four points? I think it's a go either way game. It's it's gonna be a must watch fourth quarter.

At home, right yeah? There, well thunder or seven and one at home with a lot of blowouts. We watched them play Denver. There are three and three on the road. We saw Denver give them problems up in Denver. Now some of that maybe altitude. I think tonight's close. What does it spread three or four points? I think it's a go either way game. It's it's gonna be a must watch fourth quarter.

I know the audience is gonna be upset after missing on Game one in Boat series. I have not bet or looked at a line since that. I'm like, I don't get that. I don't understand how the Knicks loses, how the timb rules are getting blown out.

I know the audience is gonna be upset after missing on Game one in Boat series. I have not bet or looked at a line since that. I'm like, I don't get that. I don't understand how the Knicks loses, how the timb rules are getting blown out.

So I haven't looked at the line yet.

So I haven't looked at the line yet.

I'm not betting it, but I do think this is another Anthony Edwards put the team on his back.

I'm not betting it, but I do think this is another Anthony Edwards put the team on his back.

He outscored OKC in the first quarter.

He outscored OKC in the first quarter.

Yeah, in Game three and that was kind of like a lights out moment Colin final story.

Yeah, in Game three and that was kind of like a lights out moment Colin final story.

This is adding to the Aaron Rodgers from earlier.

This is adding to the Aaron Rodgers from earlier.

How about this one? There are reports saying that Falcons backup quarterback Kirk Cousins is on Pittsburgh's radar. The Falcons got Cousins last year, and of course then drafted Pennix, and Cousins is kind of like the odd man out there.

How about this one? There are reports saying that Falcons backup quarterback Kirk Cousins is on Pittsburgh's radar. The Falcons got Cousins last year, and of course then drafted Pennix, and Cousins is kind of like the odd man out there.

It's gonna be Penick's team.

It's gonna be Penick's team.

The fact that this story is emerging on the same weekend as the Aaron Rodgers maybe not going to Pittsburgh thing.

The fact that this story is emerging on the same weekend as the Aaron Rodgers maybe not going to Pittsburgh thing.

I think there's some smoke here for sure.

I think there's some smoke here for sure.

I just don't know if Cousins is gonna work outdoors in Pittsburgh.

I just don't know if Cousins is gonna work outdoors in Pittsburgh.

I don't think that's a good match at all listen. Tomlin appears to be safe. I think signed an extension in the last year or too. Pittsburgh, if they listen, When you have Lamar Jackson and Burrow in your division, okay, those are two of the top five quarterbacks in the league. You have to find a franchise quarterback. You can't keep going out hammingeging it with Kenny Pickett and Will Howard. How do you get a franchise quarterback you win five to six games and have a top eight pick. Pittsburgh in my lifetime has been great twice. Bradshawn is prime, Big Ben in his prime. Outside of that, they don't win big games. They just do not, even with Tomalin or Bill Kower Chuck Nole. So to me, this is the step back Yere and I think if you can get into that six seven, you know you're still viable. Your defensive win games, you're not trying to lose, but you're limited. I would have no problem Pittsburgh just saying listen, we're gonna go with these young guys. Get I mean, it'd be one thing if you didn't have Lamar Jackson ten times in the next five years minimum Burrow ten times. The next five years minimum.

I don't think that's a good match at all listen. Tomlin appears to be safe. I think signed an extension in the last year or too. Pittsburgh, if they listen, When you have Lamar Jackson and Burrow in your division, okay, those are two of the top five quarterbacks in the league. You have to find a franchise quarterback. You can't keep going out hammingeging it with Kenny Pickett and Will Howard. How do you get a franchise quarterback you win five to six games and have a top eight pick. Pittsburgh in my lifetime has been great twice. Bradshawn is prime, Big Ben in his prime. Outside of that, they don't win big games. They just do not, even with Tomalin or Bill Kower Chuck Nole. So to me, this is the step back Yere and I think if you can get into that six seven, you know you're still viable. Your defensive win games, you're not trying to lose, but you're limited. I would have no problem Pittsburgh just saying listen, we're gonna go with these young guys. Get I mean, it'd be one thing if you didn't have Lamar Jackson ten times in the next five years minimum Burrow ten times. The next five years minimum.

Well, I like your idea of Hey, maybe you Ham and nagget with Nathan Rudolph and Will Howard. Hey, why don't you add instead of five six wins, go to three four and trade TJ.

Well, I like your idea of Hey, maybe you Ham and nagget with Nathan Rudolph and Will Howard. Hey, why don't you add instead of five six wins, go to three four and trade TJ.

Watt.

Watt.

Go get a bunch of picks, and you're set up for and it's early what could be a great twenty twenty six draft.

Go get a bunch of picks, and you're set up for and it's early what could be a great twenty twenty six draft.

Well, I don't want to trade TJ. Watt without getting a guarantee back. The problem with I would trade TJ. Watt if I could get the number one pick and its Arch Manning.

Well, I don't want to trade TJ. Watt without getting a guarantee back. The problem with I would trade TJ. Watt if I could get the number one pick and its Arch Manning.

There's no way, no, no, nobody's doing that.

There's no way, no, no, nobody's doing that.

But I'm I'm not.

But I'm I'm not.

What if you a potential contender, somebody who wants to make the playoffs badly? Uh, you know, let's go Jacksonville, Jackson Wills to think we'll give up our first or any.

What if you a potential contender, somebody who wants to make the playoffs badly? Uh, you know, let's go Jacksonville, Jackson Wills to think we'll give up our first or any.

Team you want.

Team you want.

I would consider moving off, moving off of what would you not? Listen?

I would consider moving off, moving off of what would you not? Listen?

Listen?

Listen?

Take quarterback out. You can move off virtually everybody except a great left tackle. Like I'm not going to move off Miles Garrett, but take quarterbacks out. You don't want to move off a great left tackle. That here's the insurance policy for your Star Wars. But we've seen Belichick fire and Andy Reid fired. You can move off legendary coaches. We've seen Montana play for the Chiefs, Brady play for the Bucks. Like the idea that getting older with that with a handful of injuries, TJ. Watt can't be on the market, Like, get over it. He's a great player who would have massive value on the market. Not saying you'd do it. You take calls for that. He's a great player. He's had multiple injuries.

Take quarterback out. You can move off virtually everybody except a great left tackle. Like I'm not going to move off Miles Garrett, but take quarterbacks out. You don't want to move off a great left tackle. That here's the insurance policy for your Star Wars. But we've seen Belichick fire and Andy Reid fired. You can move off legendary coaches. We've seen Montana play for the Chiefs, Brady play for the Bucks. Like the idea that getting older with that with a handful of injuries, TJ. Watt can't be on the market, Like, get over it. He's a great player who would have massive value on the market. Not saying you'd do it. You take calls for that. He's a great player. He's had multiple injuries.

Now he puy on Washington.

Now he puy on Washington.

They're gonna Washington could be a super Bowl team. I don't know, you know, maybe they'll give up their first next year. But I would just bought them out.

They're gonna Washington could be a super Bowl team. I don't know, you know, maybe they'll give up their first next year. But I would just bought them out.

I like your idea. I know that's a tough sale to the fan base. That's a proud fan base. They make the playoffs five hundred every year. That's irrelevant. You want to be a contender. You got a bottom.

I like your idea. I know that's a tough sale to the fan base. That's a proud fan base. They make the playoffs five hundred every year. That's irrelevant. You want to be a contender. You got a bottom.

Outain Jamack with the news, Well that's the news, and thanks for stopping by the herd Line News. So it is a little bit instructive here that that Carl Anthony Towns did his great work last night in the fourth quarter, you know, and Jalen Brunson was not on the floor for a lot of it. So now I think the Pacers are a better team. I think they get more consistently easier looks on offense, and I think they're gonna win a series. But the most interesting part in this series for the Knicks is that it's not complicated to see what they are and what they're not. It's right up. They're not pretty, they don't shoot the three particularly well, and that Brunson and Cat often flourish when the others off the floor. Your turn, No, it's your turn. No, it's a your turn, my turn offense too often, and they're both poor defenders, so well coached offensive teams pick on them. So I would move off a talented erratic Cat, although I think he's talented because I don't think Brunson and Kat on the floor. People just go after him and bad defenders, and I think it also we know what they're not, we know what they need. They need KD, who is a catch and shoot player, which is very valuable because you're going to get Cat's points, You're going to get twenty three to twenty five a game better defender, and he can play complimentary basketball with Jalen Brunson. Cat really doesn't. It's not all Cat's a bad guy. But if you have him on the floor and Brunson, Brunson's not big, he's not long, he's not a great defender, liability. So Brunson leaves and Cat's like, Okay, now it's my turn. And not surprisingly, he's great because he's a gifted offensive player. Again, he averages twenty three in his career. But Katie is great without the ball in his hands. Katie is a plug and play, catch and shoot player. He is better defensively than Karl Anthony Towns. And I mean, you know, I mean think about this. When Karl Anthony Towns was in Minnesota before or Ant arrived, he was at number one scoring option. So Karl Antony Towns has a market. He's gonna average twenty two points a game for somebody. But I do think the Knicks, what you're seeing in this series, it's a pretty simple. You could be a basketball casual. They can't shoot the three consistently, KD. They need a star who doesn't need the ball in his hands a lot KD. They need length. If they keep Mitchell Robbinson and move off CAT. They need length KD. They need a willing defender KD. They need a high basketball IQ because Brunson Michale bridges, this is a smart basketball team and a pretty relentless coach KD. It all fits like. And I listen, I go back when they were beating Boston, and I'm like, I don't know if they need KD. But playoffs are layers, they're steps. You know, against Detroit, You're like, wow, why are the Knicks struggling with Detroit? Because Detroit muddies it up and they had a hard time getting consistent baskets. And then you play Boston in your defense befuddles them and brunts and is great, and so you forget about that. But then they play Indiana and you're watching and you're going, yeah, they kind of need they need another shooter. And all these teams now with the multiple aprons, they're all going to be moving pieces. It is harder to move big pieces. But Cat's gonna market. I don't think Kean Brunson in playoff basketball works. And if you're asking me everything, they need catch and shoot, plug and play high IQ, hit a three pointer if Kat leaves. They need length and a willing defender. Every box is checked with KD. And let's be honest about Kat. The dude has value. You can't tell me he doesn't. He is a I mean you saw yesterday. He is a at times an unstoppable offensive player who attacks downhill. And here's Kat after.

Outain Jamack with the news, Well that's the news, and thanks for stopping by the herd Line News. So it is a little bit instructive here that that Carl Anthony Towns did his great work last night in the fourth quarter, you know, and Jalen Brunson was not on the floor for a lot of it. So now I think the Pacers are a better team. I think they get more consistently easier looks on offense, and I think they're gonna win a series. But the most interesting part in this series for the Knicks is that it's not complicated to see what they are and what they're not. It's right up. They're not pretty, they don't shoot the three particularly well, and that Brunson and Cat often flourish when the others off the floor. Your turn, No, it's your turn. No, it's a your turn, my turn offense too often, and they're both poor defenders, so well coached offensive teams pick on them. So I would move off a talented erratic Cat, although I think he's talented because I don't think Brunson and Kat on the floor. People just go after him and bad defenders, and I think it also we know what they're not, we know what they need. They need KD, who is a catch and shoot player, which is very valuable because you're going to get Cat's points, You're going to get twenty three to twenty five a game better defender, and he can play complimentary basketball with Jalen Brunson. Cat really doesn't. It's not all Cat's a bad guy. But if you have him on the floor and Brunson, Brunson's not big, he's not long, he's not a great defender, liability. So Brunson leaves and Cat's like, Okay, now it's my turn. And not surprisingly, he's great because he's a gifted offensive player. Again, he averages twenty three in his career. But Katie is great without the ball in his hands. Katie is a plug and play, catch and shoot player. He is better defensively than Karl Anthony Towns. And I mean, you know, I mean think about this. When Karl Anthony Towns was in Minnesota before or Ant arrived, he was at number one scoring option. So Karl Antony Towns has a market. He's gonna average twenty two points a game for somebody. But I do think the Knicks, what you're seeing in this series, it's a pretty simple. You could be a basketball casual. They can't shoot the three consistently, KD. They need a star who doesn't need the ball in his hands a lot KD. They need length. If they keep Mitchell Robbinson and move off CAT. They need length KD. They need a willing defender KD. They need a high basketball IQ because Brunson Michale bridges, this is a smart basketball team and a pretty relentless coach KD. It all fits like. And I listen, I go back when they were beating Boston, and I'm like, I don't know if they need KD. But playoffs are layers, they're steps. You know, against Detroit, You're like, wow, why are the Knicks struggling with Detroit? Because Detroit muddies it up and they had a hard time getting consistent baskets. And then you play Boston in your defense befuddles them and brunts and is great, and so you forget about that. But then they play Indiana and you're watching and you're going, yeah, they kind of need they need another shooter. And all these teams now with the multiple aprons, they're all going to be moving pieces. It is harder to move big pieces. But Cat's gonna market. I don't think Kean Brunson in playoff basketball works. And if you're asking me everything, they need catch and shoot, plug and play high IQ, hit a three pointer if Kat leaves. They need length and a willing defender. Every box is checked with KD. And let's be honest about Kat. The dude has value. You can't tell me he doesn't. He is a I mean you saw yesterday. He is a at times an unstoppable offensive player who attacks downhill. And here's Kat after.

So opportunity to utilize all those hours I'll put into the gym, and the game wasn't looking great for me as well, but for all of us, and I just wanted to do whatever it takes to help put us in a position to win.

So opportunity to utilize all those hours I'll put into the gym, and the game wasn't looking great for me as well, but for all of us, and I just wanted to do whatever it takes to help put us in a position to win.

Yeah, it's not a criticism. The guy's got a market. This is pro sports. Michael Jordan finished with the Wizards. You know, it's never pretty in the end. But Kat's not in his prime, but he has quarters like last night, and they're fairly regular. And by the way, I was thinking about this, if if Jason Tatum is out for the Celtics next year, and we don't even know what Cleveland is right now, right like, we're not sure what Cleveland is. We know Indiana is gonna be good, but they're gonna have a Miles Turner dilemma. They're not gonna be able to keep him because they're gonna keep past Gal Siakam. You have to. You're gonna keep Halliburton. You've got a bunch of other rotational guys you like, They're gonna probably lose Miles Turner, so they're gonna lose some of their length. And Miles Turner matters for big teams. If Yanna stays in Milwaukee, it matters. So there's you gonna be a lot of movement, a lot of little pieces moving in New York. And I think this series has really you can be a basketball casual, you know what they need, and I think Katie checks all of those boxes. Colin Wright, Colin Wrong twenty five minutes from now coming up. The players who absolutely there's four maybe a coach, maybe a player that I think change outcomes in the NFL. This is all based on the story that came out today regarding the most valuable New plea year player for every team in the league.

Yeah, it's not a criticism. The guy's got a market. This is pro sports. Michael Jordan finished with the Wizards. You know, it's never pretty in the end. But Kat's not in his prime, but he has quarters like last night, and they're fairly regular. And by the way, I was thinking about this, if if Jason Tatum is out for the Celtics next year, and we don't even know what Cleveland is right now, right like, we're not sure what Cleveland is. We know Indiana is gonna be good, but they're gonna have a Miles Turner dilemma. They're not gonna be able to keep him because they're gonna keep past Gal Siakam. You have to. You're gonna keep Halliburton. You've got a bunch of other rotational guys you like, They're gonna probably lose Miles Turner, so they're gonna lose some of their length. And Miles Turner matters for big teams. If Yanna stays in Milwaukee, it matters. So there's you gonna be a lot of movement, a lot of little pieces moving in New York. And I think this series has really you can be a basketball casual, you know what they need, and I think Katie checks all of those boxes. Colin Wright, Colin Wrong twenty five minutes from now coming up. The players who absolutely there's four maybe a coach, maybe a player that I think change outcomes in the NFL. This is all based on the story that came out today regarding the most valuable New plea year player for every team in the league.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd Weekdays and Neon Easter not a Empacific Friday Night.

Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd Weekdays and Neon Easter not a Empacific Friday Night.

It's a playoff preview between two of the league's best, as the Saint Louis BattleHawks take on Jordan ta'amu and the DC Defenders. Fox UFL Friday kicks off at eight pm Eastern.

It's a playoff preview between two of the league's best, as the Saint Louis BattleHawks take on Jordan ta'amu and the DC Defenders. Fox UFL Friday kicks off at eight pm Eastern.

So I saw the morning a Bleacher Report had a story where they gave every NFL team's best slash most dangerous new addition to the football team. Some are obvious, like Joey Bosa for the Bills. Obviously that he's going to make a difference. He's going to make some big plays. George Pickens to the Cowboys, I mean, they need another receiver. He may implode by week six, but whatever. I thought it was funny that Jackson Dart was listed as the giants Most Dangerous edition. I'm not sure he's going to play. That shows you how bad the Giants are. I'm not sure Jackson Dart's going to play much next year. But to me, it's all about changing outcomes. You can say, oh, this guy will be you don't know. There's four people. This is a head coach quarterback league. There's four people and only four in my opinion, that will change outcomes. Number one is cam Ward, Tennessee. They led the NFL last year in turnovers. They were so hard to watch offensive where even games they out played teams. Tennessee was so bad at quarterback with Will Levis and Mason Rudolph that they lost games where they out physicaled, out schemed and outplayed teams. That's why Brian Callahan was often so frustrated with Will Levis. He knew he out schemed and they out toughed and out physicaled and outplayed and out called teams and lost. Cam Ward is accurate, moves, coachable. I mean, Miami's had some good quarterbacks. He broke all the Miami records. He's a sixty seven percent completion percentage guy. I think he's a really special player. I thought he was easily the best quarterback in this class. And again he's humble. He was a zero star recruit. There's a history of this league when guys come in without a lot of stars and without a lot of pats on the back, nobody's pandering to them. That's jet fuel. So I think cam Ward changes outcomes. I think Tennessee is going to be a playoff team to is Mike Rabel. He never had a star quarterback in the AFC, had a winning record. Three playoff appearances ended up one year with Ryan Tannehill being a number one seed. And listen, New England has eight wins over the last two seasons, what he did in terms of shoring up the lines through the draft and through free agency. This is going to be a much more physical team. It will be in the footprint of his image. Drake May now goes to year two, and we know from watching Denver the last couple of years, when you go from a coach who's more of a coordinator Gerrodmeo, Nat Hackett to Sean Payton or Rabel, you can argue that's a six to a seven point difference. And if the Patriots had six points a game more last year that it won nine or ten games. So I think he's going to change outcomes. I think Geno Smith. Listen, we can say what we want about Geno Smith. The Raiders were a tire fire offensively, and he ranked top five in the NFL in passing yards and completions. When you get we have Gino a run game when Walker was healthy for Seattle, Geno play action passing, big, strong, good arm and accurate. Now again, if you speed him up like a Sam Darnold, he can be prone to mistakes and playing a little fast and frenetic. Geno Smith is going to make this a real offense especially when you add Ashton Gent They've already got brought powers. I like their old line, Chip, Kelly, Gino Smith will change losses to wins. And number four. Maybe I'm being a homer, but I think it's Ben Johnson. This team offs ten of its last eleven games. It was a circus last year and in the three years as coordinator of the Lions, we know that Dan Campbell's not a scheme guy. He's a culture guy. And we watched Detroit the last three years and what did we all think? This offense is clever, This offense is creative. That's not Campbell. Campbell's the barker, he's the volume, he's the gravitas, bends the brains of the operation. So just giving Caleb Williams upgrade oh line, a competent offensive coach with vision and an offensive sentenceability from a defensive staff that fell apart, You're talking about a difference of winning and losing games. So to me put them up, these are the four people in the NFL and a head coach in a quarterback league. These are the four that will change outcomes. Cam Ward, Mike Vrabel, Gino Smith and Ben Johnson. Okay, so this happened. Listen, there are certain Once people get over like fifty years old, you start creeping up the fifty years old and you know, psychologically, as people get older, they like less change. We all become sort of creatures of habit over time. And college foot has an older average fan base than pro football or the NBA or soccer or UFC one of the older fan bases. Baseball's got an older fan base. That's why they always they're screaming about changes, and college football has a older fan base. Okay, so they don't like a lot of these changes. But I read it this morning. The twelve team college football playoff they voted on this Thursday. The top four teams and the top four seeds will all get first round bys. Last year, Notre Dame wasn't eligible for a first round by. Now the vote has been changed Notre Dame and they should be are eligible. This was all settled Thursday afternoon. The five highest rank conference champs will still be guaranteed spots in the twelve team field. It is much more, in my opinion, an NFL model. That's what ESPN and Fox wanted, and I'm okay with it because college football and I love it has always been like a great movie with a sloppy ending. For years, sports writers voted on national Championship, and then and then it was computers voting it. And now there's too much sentimentality. You've got to have Indiana and you've got to have smu in. Not really, No, we don't not really. They have no chance to win. So and you've seen more of it recently. I've been on this now for about a month about USC is willing to play Notre Dame, but USC is like it's going to be on our terms, and because they have a polarizing coach, Lincoln Riley, people are pushing back. Just think about what usc has gone through in the last couple of years. Their conference basically died, and so the only three teams that remained were the three biggest rivals, cold Weather Washington, cold Weather Oregon, and rival UCLA, the three teams they've historically struggled with. Those are the only three that join them. The Cupcakes are gone no more Oregon State, cal Arizona, no more Washington State, and those are all gone. Ys Ducks and a team that's giving them trouble even in lean years, the Bruins then they join the Big ten. Penn State top ten team now Michigan. I think this year rebounds top ten program. Ohio State could be the best program now that Alabama slipped. And you know, keep your eye on Nebraska, keep your eye on you know, there's always somebody surprising you in the Big ten. Illinois this year will be good. So only their three toughest rivals survive the Pac twelve. They join them in the conference now that it's the biggest conference and they're all cold weather. Penn State's cold weather, Michigan's cold weather. Why does it matter, Ohio State's cold weather, Washington cold weather, Oregon cold weather? What's that matter? Even in the NFL, we've never had a dome dynasty. We've had New England, Green Bay, Kansas City, cooler temperature, San Francisco. Why it's hard for dome and warm weather teams in January? Go ask the Chargers and Dan Fouts to go into Cincinnati and four degrees or four below and win. We don't have dome dynasties. We don't have warm weather dynasties. Marino is one of the best quarterbacks ever. There was no dynasty. You got the one Super Bowl we don't have dome and warm weather dynasties in this league. And so I think weather absolutely matters, absolutely matters. And so go look at the Miami Dolphins with two of you don't think weather matters. That's why the Northern teams generally draft quarterbacks big Ben and Bradshaw and Farv and Aaron Rodgers and Joe Flack Brady. You want guys with big arms. And so USC's world now is Oregon, Washington, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State. And if we go to the playoff, we're facing three more bullies. We just don't want to squeeze a Notre Dame game into our November schedule, another cold weather team every other year. We'd rather have a home, warm weather game. I get it. USC, I've been told from inside the building wouldn't mind playing Notre Dame. But on their terms, of course, Notre Dame wants the game. Notre Dame needs the game because they're not in a conference. That's why Notre Dame just signed a twelve year deal with Clemson. It guarantees them a great game. They want to sign the same thing with USC. Of course they want it because they don't have Oregon and Washington, and they're in state rival UCLA the City Champion, and then Michigan and Ohio State and Penn State in Wisconsin. They don't have that on the schedule. So of course Notre Dame wants, as an independent, a guaranteed ten twelve year contract. So my take is USC doesn't need it. USC probably quietly or not quietly, doesn't want it, and if they do it, they're going to do it on their terms. I totally support that. I've been told inside USC's building they're willing to do it, but they're going to control it, not the team. Hey, if Notre Dame wants to play them every year, come join the Big Ten. Fine. If if you want to be austere and you're too good for a major conference, this is the downside. You lose leverage against USC. Here's Lincoln Riley talking about the changes in college football.

So I saw the morning a Bleacher Report had a story where they gave every NFL team's best slash most dangerous new addition to the football team. Some are obvious, like Joey Bosa for the Bills. Obviously that he's going to make a difference. He's going to make some big plays. George Pickens to the Cowboys, I mean, they need another receiver. He may implode by week six, but whatever. I thought it was funny that Jackson Dart was listed as the giants Most Dangerous edition. I'm not sure he's going to play. That shows you how bad the Giants are. I'm not sure Jackson Dart's going to play much next year. But to me, it's all about changing outcomes. You can say, oh, this guy will be you don't know. There's four people. This is a head coach quarterback league. There's four people and only four in my opinion, that will change outcomes. Number one is cam Ward, Tennessee. They led the NFL last year in turnovers. They were so hard to watch offensive where even games they out played teams. Tennessee was so bad at quarterback with Will Levis and Mason Rudolph that they lost games where they out physicaled, out schemed and outplayed teams. That's why Brian Callahan was often so frustrated with Will Levis. He knew he out schemed and they out toughed and out physicaled and outplayed and out called teams and lost. Cam Ward is accurate, moves, coachable. I mean, Miami's had some good quarterbacks. He broke all the Miami records. He's a sixty seven percent completion percentage guy. I think he's a really special player. I thought he was easily the best quarterback in this class. And again he's humble. He was a zero star recruit. There's a history of this league when guys come in without a lot of stars and without a lot of pats on the back, nobody's pandering to them. That's jet fuel. So I think cam Ward changes outcomes. I think Tennessee is going to be a playoff team to is Mike Rabel. He never had a star quarterback in the AFC, had a winning record. Three playoff appearances ended up one year with Ryan Tannehill being a number one seed. And listen, New England has eight wins over the last two seasons, what he did in terms of shoring up the lines through the draft and through free agency. This is going to be a much more physical team. It will be in the footprint of his image. Drake May now goes to year two, and we know from watching Denver the last couple of years, when you go from a coach who's more of a coordinator Gerrodmeo, Nat Hackett to Sean Payton or Rabel, you can argue that's a six to a seven point difference. And if the Patriots had six points a game more last year that it won nine or ten games. So I think he's going to change outcomes. I think Geno Smith. Listen, we can say what we want about Geno Smith. The Raiders were a tire fire offensively, and he ranked top five in the NFL in passing yards and completions. When you get we have Gino a run game when Walker was healthy for Seattle, Geno play action passing, big, strong, good arm and accurate. Now again, if you speed him up like a Sam Darnold, he can be prone to mistakes and playing a little fast and frenetic. Geno Smith is going to make this a real offense especially when you add Ashton Gent They've already got brought powers. I like their old line, Chip, Kelly, Gino Smith will change losses to wins. And number four. Maybe I'm being a homer, but I think it's Ben Johnson. This team offs ten of its last eleven games. It was a circus last year and in the three years as coordinator of the Lions, we know that Dan Campbell's not a scheme guy. He's a culture guy. And we watched Detroit the last three years and what did we all think? This offense is clever, This offense is creative. That's not Campbell. Campbell's the barker, he's the volume, he's the gravitas, bends the brains of the operation. So just giving Caleb Williams upgrade oh line, a competent offensive coach with vision and an offensive sentenceability from a defensive staff that fell apart, You're talking about a difference of winning and losing games. So to me put them up, these are the four people in the NFL and a head coach in a quarterback league. These are the four that will change outcomes. Cam Ward, Mike Vrabel, Gino Smith and Ben Johnson. Okay, so this happened. Listen, there are certain Once people get over like fifty years old, you start creeping up the fifty years old and you know, psychologically, as people get older, they like less change. We all become sort of creatures of habit over time. And college foot has an older average fan base than pro football or the NBA or soccer or UFC one of the older fan bases. Baseball's got an older fan base. That's why they always they're screaming about changes, and college football has a older fan base. Okay, so they don't like a lot of these changes. But I read it this morning. The twelve team college football playoff they voted on this Thursday. The top four teams and the top four seeds will all get first round bys. Last year, Notre Dame wasn't eligible for a first round by. Now the vote has been changed Notre Dame and they should be are eligible. This was all settled Thursday afternoon. The five highest rank conference champs will still be guaranteed spots in the twelve team field. It is much more, in my opinion, an NFL model. That's what ESPN and Fox wanted, and I'm okay with it because college football and I love it has always been like a great movie with a sloppy ending. For years, sports writers voted on national Championship, and then and then it was computers voting it. And now there's too much sentimentality. You've got to have Indiana and you've got to have smu in. Not really, No, we don't not really. They have no chance to win. So and you've seen more of it recently. I've been on this now for about a month about USC is willing to play Notre Dame, but USC is like it's going to be on our terms, and because they have a polarizing coach, Lincoln Riley, people are pushing back. Just think about what usc has gone through in the last couple of years. Their conference basically died, and so the only three teams that remained were the three biggest rivals, cold Weather Washington, cold Weather Oregon, and rival UCLA, the three teams they've historically struggled with. Those are the only three that join them. The Cupcakes are gone no more Oregon State, cal Arizona, no more Washington State, and those are all gone. Ys Ducks and a team that's giving them trouble even in lean years, the Bruins then they join the Big ten. Penn State top ten team now Michigan. I think this year rebounds top ten program. Ohio State could be the best program now that Alabama slipped. And you know, keep your eye on Nebraska, keep your eye on you know, there's always somebody surprising you in the Big ten. Illinois this year will be good. So only their three toughest rivals survive the Pac twelve. They join them in the conference now that it's the biggest conference and they're all cold weather. Penn State's cold weather, Michigan's cold weather. Why does it matter, Ohio State's cold weather, Washington cold weather, Oregon cold weather? What's that matter? Even in the NFL, we've never had a dome dynasty. We've had New England, Green Bay, Kansas City, cooler temperature, San Francisco. Why it's hard for dome and warm weather teams in January? Go ask the Chargers and Dan Fouts to go into Cincinnati and four degrees or four below and win. We don't have dome dynasties. We don't have warm weather dynasties. Marino is one of the best quarterbacks ever. There was no dynasty. You got the one Super Bowl we don't have dome and warm weather dynasties in this league. And so I think weather absolutely matters, absolutely matters. And so go look at the Miami Dolphins with two of you don't think weather matters. That's why the Northern teams generally draft quarterbacks big Ben and Bradshaw and Farv and Aaron Rodgers and Joe Flack Brady. You want guys with big arms. And so USC's world now is Oregon, Washington, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State. And if we go to the playoff, we're facing three more bullies. We just don't want to squeeze a Notre Dame game into our November schedule, another cold weather team every other year. We'd rather have a home, warm weather game. I get it. USC, I've been told from inside the building wouldn't mind playing Notre Dame. But on their terms, of course, Notre Dame wants the game. Notre Dame needs the game because they're not in a conference. That's why Notre Dame just signed a twelve year deal with Clemson. It guarantees them a great game. They want to sign the same thing with USC. Of course they want it because they don't have Oregon and Washington, and they're in state rival UCLA the City Champion, and then Michigan and Ohio State and Penn State in Wisconsin. They don't have that on the schedule. So of course Notre Dame wants, as an independent, a guaranteed ten twelve year contract. So my take is USC doesn't need it. USC probably quietly or not quietly, doesn't want it, and if they do it, they're going to do it on their terms. I totally support that. I've been told inside USC's building they're willing to do it, but they're going to control it, not the team. Hey, if Notre Dame wants to play them every year, come join the Big Ten. Fine. If if you want to be austere and you're too good for a major conference, this is the downside. You lose leverage against USC. Here's Lincoln Riley talking about the changes in college football.

There are some changes that we've all just got to accept because it's just part of it right now. Obviously that continues to move and we'll see out evolves. But I think any door that closes, well, there's also a new, really exciting door that's getting opened, and we've got to.

There are some changes that we've all just got to accept because it's just part of it right now. Obviously that continues to move and we'll see out evolves. But I think any door that closes, well, there's also a new, really exciting door that's getting opened, and we've got to.

I think we can.

I think we can.

Still love what was in the past, but let's don't miss that there's some like pretty cool things happening right in front of our face right now that we're kind of all in the forefront of.

Still love what was in the past, but let's don't miss that there's some like pretty cool things happening right in front of our face right now that we're kind of all in the forefront of.

By the way, one of the reasons the NFL is king a willingness to pivot. Just take a deep breath. It's going to be okay. College fans on average or older than NBA fans or soccer fans or UFC fans or maybe wa WNBA fans, and they get all upset. The tradition Michigan used to play Notre Dame every year. They don't. It survived

By the way, one of the reasons the NFL is king a willingness to pivot. Just take a deep breath. It's going to be okay. College fans on average or older than NBA fans or soccer fans or UFC fans or maybe wa WNBA fans, and they get all upset. The tradition Michigan used to play Notre Dame every year. They don't. It survived