The Herd with Colin CowherdColin gives his AFC playoff predictions following the week of free agency.
He talks to 4-time Pro Bowler Maxx Crosby about his new contract with the Raiders and competing against Patrick Mahomes
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Thirty five consecutive season. There are four plus new playoff teams, yet fans are always outraged when you eliminate four, five or six teams. 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, CJ. Stroud, pretty easy. So I think the AFC is much much easier to predict. Yesterday, you know, you're throwing darts on some of it. I don't know how how well the Niners draft. I don't know how good is Darnold and Seattle. I don't know. I think I know, I don't know. So today we go to the AFC again. I think this is an 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 particularly close in Drake May. They got to get him weapons in the draft, but it's a very good tight end running back draft. And they upgraded with Mike Frable att 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, Brown, Okay, the Ravens. The only thing I worried about is is Ronnie Stanley the left tackle coming back? Answer is yes, Bengals cheap franchise. They're three best players. Burrow, Jamar, Chase Hendrickson, even t Higgins are four best players. Aren't particularly happy, very very top heavy. But this year I think basically the Burrow and their star receivers will lead them narrowly to a wild card berth whether or not Aaron Rodgers goes to Pittsburgh or not. They are tone deaf offensively, and over the last five years they just consistently get bad late in the year. Steelers third, and I like the coach in Cleveland. They got Miles Garrett re signed. But you know what, are they fish rots from the top or the head or something like that. What's the saying? I just don't trust the organization ownership AFC South, So I think Tennessee will be the most improved team. I'm gonna take the Texans, Titans, Colts, and Jags. Now the Texans are rebuilding the old line. They moved off three guys, so I think they had to. They fired Bobby Slowick. But again, I get the best quarterback, I get arguably the best coach. So I'm gonna go with the Texans. C. J. 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, their 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 Harbor, Andy Reid, Sean Payton, and Pete Carroll. And Pete's got Chip Kelly, and Andy Reid's got spags and kidsas 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 have minimum four new playoff teams. So my new playoff teams. Yesterday I had Seattle in the playoffs that didn't make a life. Last year, I had Atlanta winning their division. I believe in Michael Pennix. That was a new playoff team. Here, I've got the Patriots in Bengals, I'm forgetting somebody in the NFC. SO and I wherever Aaron Rodgers lands if he goes to Minnesota, Oh, I had the Bears yesterday. My bad is a wildcard team. So wherever Aaron goes. If he goes to Minnesota, my guest says he's a backup. By like October, they're gonna start JJ 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 row stuff just doesn't pan out at the end of the season. And so I don't think Aaron's going to change the dynamics of any division football at this point. Again, last thirty games, he's eleven and nineteen. His passer ratings under ninety. That's with Matt Lafleur, you know, that's with like Okay, it was the Jets. Well it was also green Bay. So most of those games, majority of them were close to majority 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 they upgraded?
Now, j Harris? Is that an upgrade?
Mike Williams bringing his corpse back to run what run down the field?
Like?
I don't see the improved.
I don't see how the rosters are.
What if we said about Jim harbaugh first three years in the NFL, did you see their draft last year? A lot of guys that could play.
I guess my 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 in 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 stockhoeh So you're done, done, You're off lords.
No, No, here was a time where you would not take a call on him. He was in that group 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 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 and 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 doesn't yet. Well, I kind of want. I want football too, at some point as a quarterback, to define you for I'm not asking forever. I'm just saying for like twelve years, it's got to be kind of the center point. I mean, I'm not I'm not asking football players to not have a life and be happily married and have capataine. But for the ten for the eight years you're in your prime, I need you to really be focused, really cared deeply.
He's distracted, right, It's not like He's like, oh, I love sports cars or whatever.
He just football is like, eh, I'm playing football.
Cool.
It's not like Tom Brady's obsessive comparis.
You know what most people in 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 probos 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 of sobriety. That's when I came out of public about it. Yeah, because honestly, I had you know, I had a guy like Darren Waller in my locker room who was very public and open about it, and I was kind of terrified to, you know, tell people that, you know, I was an addict and I was going through what I was going through. But seeing a guy like that and seeing and talking to other people a big influence, you know, talk about their struggles to be 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, Sean Payton, Andy Reid, Spags, Jim Harbaugh, Jesse Menser. 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, Pete everywhere he's been has created a culture of winning and fun. And it doesn't mean you're not working hard. It means that everybody enjoys showing up every single day.
We have one of the hardest jobs in the world.
There's a reason why there's only fifteen hundred NFL players on the planet, you know what I mean. There's eight billion people and there's only a tiny, tiny group of people that can really do it every day. So you have to enjoy the process. And that's something that he's big on. I've talked to a ton of people that he knows and as coach, they've reached out to me, from you know, Marshawn Lynch to Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett, all those guys. They all the wording and how they approach 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 done 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 controw 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 my game more than anything, because I'm trying to figure out how to break that break that code, and it's become more and more of a challenge, but it's become more and more exciting, you know what I mean over the years, because it's like I take it, you know, I take it as like a sign of respect.
You know that teams are coming after me, but.
You gotta you gotta be so locked in and you gotta find those couple of plays in the game. Okay, if they get in this formation, this is how I'm gonna approach this, and this is.
Where I'm gonna change the game.
Like that's literally how I'm watching the film like I'm watching my film all you know, leading up to it.
How can I improve? How can I be the best version of myself?
And then okay, where is these these these little windows I can I can capitalize on? So yeah, every quarterback is different. You know Pat is I mean, Pat is one of one.
He's different.
You know, he's gonna try to make every single play. You know, guys like Josh Allen Lamar, even Herbert, Like Herbert's gonna you gotta, you gotta smack him over and over and over again because he's gonna literally like he'll be on it, damn there 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 for?
I think it's a mixture, and I do appreciate that. Colin. I know your boy over there. I've seen one of the clips.
I'm a 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 going to be in the best mood. Ever, some days you're going to 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 got the big smile on you face. Hey, I'm gonna have a great day. Some days your body 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 are 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 then I felt like it's to the outside world. But this time around, like setting history, you know, resetting history, being the highest paid non quarterback.
I feel like the outside.
World was like a huge, huge response, and for me it was just like another day, Like I can't even explain it, you know what I mean, like I'm so laser 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 it's 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, uh, it's it's unbelievable, don't get me wrong. Like it's it's an absolute blessing. Like I am set, beyond set, and my kids are set and all that is incredible. But truly, right now, like I'm just focused on building, you know, trying to win a Super Bowl most importantly and building a Hall of Fame resume, and that's that's my focus every single day.
Hey, Hey, do you meet Gino yet? Gino Smith, have you met him yet?
Yes?
I have.
He was he was in the building a couple of days ago.
So the second like the news broke, I had been on FaceTime with him like five minutes before.
He called me the big smile and was all fired up. So, uh 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 come 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. He's a Raider. And by the way, it's two xes, Max with two exes, that that's a Raider. Yeah, you notice he said one guy on this set.
Really knows just 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 center 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 Jackson.
We talked about trading Miles Garrett because the Browns weren't in content.
You did, Yeah, you 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 because he's the soul of the team Miles Garrett is, 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. Mcveigh's the Rams.
So, but do you think it's fair for Max Crosby 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, Max Crosby. We always sit there and have a well, I have a beer, he eats. 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 a guy who 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 GM 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 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 if I would. 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'm really fair by the way Brady. I love Brady's obsessive nature. 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, 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 going to happen in their own line is a mess. They just let go of. They don't have a left tackle that's ever started in that division. I got Jesse Mintter, I got all these pass Rushers. You got Max Crosby. Raiders could have beaten them twice last year, and now the Raiders have like a grown up quarterback. Rocket Mortgage help You helps you use your rent payments to get closer to home ownership. It's called rent Rewards. Save up to five grand off the cost of your home just by paying rent. Go to Rocket dot Com. Rocket Mortgage LLC. Licensed in all fifty estate.
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Mark Few, last hour, Gonzaga Bulldogs Herd Line. What do you have tomorrow's headlines today?
Yeah, well we could do that if you want.
If you want, can I Yeah, let's let's let's let's just make a Max Crosby specific No, I.
Was looking at this thing. So you mentioned Cooper Cup earlier. This is really interesting. So the Rams are seen as very pro player, okay, very That's why they can get Stafford, That's why they can get Devonte Adams. Very pro player. Yet it's all about winning in data and they move off guys quickly. So they're moving off Cooper Cup. So they have moved off Von Miller, Robert Woods, Todd Gurley, Jalen Rams, Jared Goff, and they have been right every time, every single time. So they'll they'll treat you great. But they got a gift bag and to see you later in the next breath. And it's really interesting. So much of this league is saying goodbye at the right time. And a great example of this Warren Sharp had this yesterday. Cooper Cup's rank in the ability to get open has gone downhill from fifteenth to seventy first. It's now one hundred and forty first. Devonte Adams when you compare that, oh, he does get open a lot of the time. He is now six ninth, seventeenth fifteen. So they just looked at data and said, one guy gets open and one guy doesn't. We love you, we're moving off it. And I think that's the They moved off Gurley and Goff. And by the way, some guys had stuff in the tank. The only guys they haven't moved off. They didn't want to move off Stafford, although they give him a number, and Aaron Donald retired and moved off them and was still first or second best defensive tackle when he did it, so they that that's the thing about the Rams. This is what the Niners haven't done. The Niners waited a year too long to get off guys, and now they feel wobbly and have to hit on six to seven draft picks. They didn't want to let go a green Law, they didn't want to let go Hafunga. They paid two receivers and they should have moved off Deebo. We said it on this show. Deebo's a good player chess piece. You can't pay both of them because you got Jawan Jennings and you got Kittle. Got to pay those guys. So there's a Belichick feel to these Rams. The difference is Belichick a couple of times moved off guys and got burned by it, like they had three or four good years left. Nobody exits like the Rams do, and they're never wrong. Now. Jared Goff's still good, but Stafford was an upgrade. So I think on Cooper Cup they went into this year. It was very obvious if you watch Cooper Cup last year, they were not designating plays for him, and so I think they went to him a year year ago. My guess is they went to him a year ago and said restructure your deal and he's like, no, thanks, we gotta get money back. But if you watched them last year, from week one, Puka was the guy. Puka was absolutely the guy. Kyron Williams and that was with the tight end Higbee out and they still weren't directing a lot of traffic and throws to Cooper Cup. So A. Jmac is next with Herd Line live in La It's the Herd.
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Sunday, the NASCAR Cup Series eats up in Vegas, where Christopher Bell will look to hold off the pack and capture his fourth consecutive checker flag. The pre race kicks things off at Juli's Churn with the green flag flying at three thirty only on FT one.
How about j Mack with the news.
Turn on the news. This is the herd Line News.
It's burg Steelers. Golin's still searching for.
AQB, but they got DK Metcalf.
Oh, that won the Super Bowl. People, he got a five year extension.
Metcalf talked to the media yesterday, said he's comfortable with what the team plans to do a quarterback, despite not knowing who's gonna throw in the football for Kyle.
I got Mason Rudolph as a backup, not to be.
Confused with Rudolph the red nose reindeer. It's bad in Pittsburgh right now.
No, but they don't think so. So again, I'm not anti DK Metcalf five years, one hundred and fifty million for a highly penalized wide receiver who did not catch a lot of third down to first down conversion catches. Like I said, is he's a bigger, stronger player than Amoran Saint Brown. Amoran Saint Brown catches seventy five times became first down. I am for receivers who moved the chains on third down and DK doesn't. But he's a big play guy. But my argument is that's what George Pickens is. So it's the same guy.
So well, interesting, you've mentioned Pickens, So you know Pickens wears for teen. DK Metcalf in Seattle War fourteen. Well, DK Metcalf wants fourteen and Pickts's like, no, no, no, that's that's my number. Not for sale, uh dk Metcalf's gonna work for so the wide receivers already squabbling in what's.
Gonna I would move? I would move Pickens, but you.
Got a second for Pickens. He's still on his rookie view. He's just a bit of a headache that I think.
I think you probably could. This is not a great receiver draft. I think you could.
You gotta take a dumb team and be like, hey, hey, Pickets the number, you know my Jets or something like that.
Would kind of feel like a hail Mary for coaching staff trying to save their job, like the Giants.
Well, the Panther, the Panthers Carolina, Hey we want to Higgins whouldn't.
Get but we'll take a d I could see them doing.
That, and then it's like, you know Bryce Young, who apparently it's coming on the show Bryce Young, and they're like, what are we doing?
Kitts Probably not paintings anyways. Next story is, uh, we're waiting on Aaron Rodgers' decision. Collins, where's he gonna go?
Steelers, Giants they're the front runners. The Vikings are looming as a dark horse. I am dubious of this, but according to Diana Russini. Rogers is expected to make his decisions soon, and it sounds like the Vikings have had meetings and conversations about pursuing Rogers. The Giants have the biggest offer, but they don't seem to be itching for his services, and all signs kind of point to Pittsburgh.
But it would be impressive if you did pick the Giants and you nailed it.
Yeah, I you made fun of me when I said he doesn't have to leave, he can stay in his house.
It's just such a weak move to go, oh, he go cross town.
Well, I think you're viewing Pittsburgh eat each other.
It wouldn't be going Rams Chargers, right, That's totally He.
Can play in the same stadium. It's just same house, same stadium. I just get a better offensive coach, and I get a better weapon, neighbors as everybody, as good as Garrett Wilson. I think he's got more upside probably. So my take is what the Giants need is a quarterback, tight end running back. Aaron's the quarterback. It is an excellent tight end running back craft. So if they had you know what I'm just telling you, If I was Aaron, I would either retire, which I think I would probably do first, or New York Times.
I don't think you can go out like that.
That's just it's like I think Dan Marino's final game they lost like sixty one to seven in the playoffs.
It' said, Oh my gosh, Reno, it's over. You know, you want to go out on a high note, if possible.
I don't know if it's possible with the Steelers.
They could make the playoffs again. They could. They may not going anywhere, right.
Yeah, yeah, I don't think they are, but they could.
Yeah.
The final story Colin is to college basketball. Cooper Flag. We talked about the injury yesterday right when it happened.
He is listed as doubtful to play today and for the rest of the tournament. Actually, they play Duke UNC tonight at seven Eastern.
Cooper Flag best player in the country. I don't know. Duke's odds to win.
The Natty went down a little bit after this. They're gonna need a healthy Cooper Flag. It doesn't look like that bad. It just came out of the ACC tournament. They'll still be a number one, won't they.
Yeah, there'll be a number one. They're not gonna lose the number one seed.
They would, Yeah, just keeping unless they say Cooper flags out a month that it's you know, for a.
Kid like that, it's probably four to five days of really intense treatment. If he was thirty two, it's twelve days.
Yeah, eighteen years old.
Yeah, eighteen years old. I mean five days of heavy treatment and it'll be ninety five percent.
He's probably the best thing to come out of Maine in like the last few decades.
Well, Stephen King, Yeah, I happened to Maine twice. What'd you think I was fin did a speech there once. I drove by Stephen King's house, which is pretty cool. And then one time as a kid, I was on a propeller jet from Seattle, landed there, then went to Europe. I remember that stormy wow. But last time I was there at a very nice lunch with the people that I spoken from, about four thousand people. People were great.
Four thousand. Are there that many people in name?
Yeah? Sorry, I've only been there once. Maybe it wasn't. It was a lot of people. It was a lot of people. They were nice, very nice. Parents are kid. I didn't see it. I saw this tall kid shooting jumpers in the backyard, though I figured it wasn't Stephen King. Stephen King's house is pretty cool.
Just throw it out, I would hope.
So, I mean, pretty big deal of there.
He's got of a wealthy individual. That's probably the circle you hanglin right, that kind of guy.
No, I do not horror writers. No, I don't.
J Mack with a news Well that's the news. And thanks for stopping by the herd Line news.
Oh J, So we had our predictions. Should we throw those up there again? I'll give you my predictions. I did NFC yesterday. I think that's harder than the AFC. So once again, I'm picking, you know, the top quarterbacks. I do think the Chiefs come back down the earth. I have the Bills, Ravens, Texans Chargers, and then the Patriots, Bengals che Thiefs. Listen, Kansas City's not going like ten to one in close games. Their offensive lines worse, and there's no help. And I mean they're they're drafting late first round. You're not getting you're getting the fifth best offensive tackle. So and and you know Travis is expensive, Patrick's expensive. I mean we just saw Xavier Worthy got in trouble. Rashi Rice immature, guy, so they've got I mean, this is not me making a Bowld prediction. I think they'll win ten or eleven games. I think the Chargers probably win twelve. So and I think the Raiders, Chargers, Broncos all significantly. They're getting better, and I think the Chiefs are getting worse. I think, I mean, the Chiefs have been to two Super Bowls and gotten smoked in a couple of them, and then they've won a couple of them. But I don't think. I think the Tom Brady Super Bowl loss was their left tackle got hurt before the game. Kansas City looked completely outclassed and outmanned, and I don't think you can correct all of that. Plus J McK and I have talked about this. The Super Bowl lose a curse. Teams that lose Super Bowls more often than not. It's a sign of things. And I just think they have huge O line issues and I don't know how you solved them because nobody's given up a great left tackle. Because if you have a good left tackle, that generally means you're protecting a good quarterback. So that's one of those positions. The draft gives you about two good left tackles a year, and once you get them, you just don't give them up. Right, you think it's quarterbacks, it's also left tackle. You can find pass rushers at any one time. We got about six great left tackles in this sport. So they're my NFL playoff predictions.
That's a great point. You left out barbers. You find a good barber, you don't give that up. Why did the Texans give up on tunsl.
Too many penalties, got very expensive, great pass blocker, mediocre run blocker, little immature, too many penalties, and I think I think they felt they got the best out of him and they're gonna move on. I think they feel like, I don't think he's in that top four or five class, and.
I think, yeah, I would agree, he's top ten.
Yeah, a lot of penalties.
His biggest contribution as a pro was wearing a gas mask and doing the bong hits members draft.
His best contribution was protecting c. J. Stroud first two years in the league. He's a very good pass blocker, yes, very good, maybe the two or three in the league. He doesn't run block quite as well, but he's top ten left tackle. I like Ronnie Stanley Moore. Now, Ronnie Stanley's not as good a pass blocker, but he's a better run blocker. Nothing get penalties
