Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from twelve to three eastern, nine to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS one. Find your local station for The Herd at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Herd. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Here we go our two on a Monday, live in Los Angeles. It's the Herd wherever you may be, how whoever you may be listening I Heart Radio, Fox Sports Radio f has one. Watch some baseball this weekend. Dodgers are on fire. Sweat the Giants. Yankees lost somebody in their bullpen, watch out. Mats are trying to get more power and score more runs. I watched that flying at home last night. So we've got really good team, and I'm not sure anybody's as good as the Astros. So it's top heavy in baseball. But we're gonna have a wild postseason. So we got four or five really really really good teams at the top. Joy Taylor is joining me. How Joy, you know I'm into this. You're never gonna ever find anybody who cares more about Mike Sandos quarterback tier list. I don't care who you work with for the next thirty years. I'm so into this. I'll take this home tonight and do four topics on it. But Mike delivers that he's going to join us in about five or six minutes. Tah is in Tier four. That's I, you know whatever. But it's tier season, it's list season. We're going into the start that NFL camp start this week, so we're gonna start putting out all of our rankings, our preseason rankings, our ratings. It's the perfect time for it. And then you know sort of how you do your amendments. When the season starts, everyone makes their official predictions. So Mike in a couple of minutes, I'm so into it. It's embarrassing, all right. It's called Colin right, Colin wrong. On a Monday, I'm both often and here we go where Colin was right. I said the Cardinals had to sign Kyler Murray and they had to do it quickly. There were a lot of doubters on him. Listen, the kids gotten better every year. The franchise was full when he took it over. I don't have to love him. Wiping his social media off I got kids in my life. They're young, they're emotional. He's a young guy, and he's a baseball guy. So baseball tends to be very much about the solo artist, right, the pitcher, the hit her. But in the end, he's a playmaker. And I think the best way to put it with Kyler Murray, if Kyler Murray is my quarterback, I can win any game I play, period. If Kyler Murray wasn't their quarterback, they could lose every single game badly they play. Sorry, I'm signing him. Where Colin was wrong, I'll give you a sneak peek on Mike Sandos quarterback tiers. He has Stafford, Matt Stafford, and Russell Wilson in Tier two. Now, I think they're two of the top six quarterbacks in the NFL. I like the other guys. I got no problem with the other guys in Tier one. But this means that executives and coaches voted Stafford and Russell Wilson tier two. So we'll get to that in five minutes. Where Colin was right, Colin was very very happy. Derek Carr called a Hall of Famer by Davante Adams. How many more stats do we need. He leads the NFL and fourth quarter comeback since he entered the league more than Brady or Aaron or Russell. Yeah, he's a three time pro bowler. He's had seven eight years of battle lines and terrible defenses in chaos, and he made the playoffs last year in a good division. So this made me very, very happy that Davante Adams acknowledged he's going from one Hall of Famer eron to another. And Derek where Colin was right, I am so overd Russell Westbrook as a topic. Please trade him to somebody that has a team. I'm interested in Russell's become the gift that keeps on giving. The Athletic reported last week Westbrook was difficult in film sessions all year, he did not like being singled out, and that he does not understand his trade value. Dave mcmeniman, somebody I trust, reported that Lebron is sort of over him. Listen, I understand it. You got two hundred million dollars, you're a rock star, you're world famous. It is hard to self analyze and be self critical, but I do think Russell has to start looking in that proverbial athlete mirror and saying this is what I am at this current time. I've had a great career, and I think at this point Westbrook is a rotational player on a good team. He may be a starter on a bad team, but on a very good team, a Warrior a Milwaukee, he feels like a rotational player to me, where Colin was raw, I wouldn't have signed James Harden, But I gotta tell you he took a fifteen million dollar paint cut. So I've been critical of Carmelo and Westbrook and Kyrie for not looking in the mirror. For Harden to not only take a paint cut, but to do it immediately, to do it literally had a bad playoff, He's like, yeah, I'm gonna take less. I want to win more. Believe me, that's hard. This is a sport that elevates stars and NFL does. NFL makes you practice, You're gonna take pay cuts. It's different. In the NBA. From the time you're fifteen on its shoe deals, it is you're the man. And for Harden to literally pivot off a disappointing postseason and say I'm gonna take a fifteen million dollar pay cut, I want to play with dudes. Good for him. I did not know and did not think he was capable of it because he's always been a little bit of a solo act. Where Colin was right. Another source confirmed it to me last week, as I said on the air, that they like Trey Lance, but they are having accuracy concerns that on a day to day basis, they just don't know what they're gonna get with trade. Now they're gonna give him the job. They gave up three number one picks, first round picks. They're gonna play them. But there are concerns in the building about his consistency of accuracy, and that's born out based on what we saw last year. The Niners like him, but there are concerns in Kyle Shanahan's offense. That is why Garoppolo is so respected. Jimmy's got a lower ceiling, whatever that means. But Jimmy delivers the ball Brandon Ayu, Deebo, Samuel George Kittle, he puts it spot on yards after the catcho was very good. So there are concerns that I have another source on that. Where Colin was right. Mario crystal Ball has been an absolute home run hire for the Miami Hurricanes. Not only has he been a great recruiter, not only has he assembled a shockingly good staff, but last week he had the courage to come out and get rid of that ridiculous turnover chain. You can't fake cool or swagger. When Miami was great, everybody was kind of afraid of Miami. You can't fake it. You don't have enough good players to have that now. I think in a couple of years if you want to bring it back. But come on, there is there anything worse than a program that was once great. They're no longer great, and they want you to believe they're great. That turnover chain. Let let let small colleges worry about that. I believe I said last week Miami was like one hundred and eighteenth in college football in takeaways. Central Michigan force more turnovers. Rutgers Yukon forced more turnovers. You can't fake cool and you can't fake swagger. And Miami was for years, and finally Mario crystal Ball stepped in and said, enough, we're gonna force turnovers and not have to pat ourselves on the back when we do it. Okay, Colin right, Colin wrong? So I could do three hours today on this quarterback tier thing. So Mike Sando is a senior writer for the Athletic Selector for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He's covered every Super Bowl since the late nineties. So I love this thing. And what I really love about abut it is you talked to fifty Well, I'll let you lay it out. Who are the fifty people you talk to? Mike, GM's head coaches, coordinators, evaluators, some position coaches, just people who are in and around the game twenty four seven. So let's the big broad headline is that there was one of your very tight end experienced people that made Patrick Mahomes a Tier two quarterback. And what was his reasoning, Mike, Yeah, it's a good thing. We talked to fifty Colin. If it was just this guy, he would be in Tier two. And people be don Sando, You're out of the freaking league. What are you doing? Basically, this defensive coach picked knits about his ability to read defenses in his pocket presence that when he took away his first read, things got a little bit difficult for him to me. Fine, good criticism. He's still a one, right, and he is. He's a one point o two thanks to our one friend. Right, Yeah, I mean I think sometimes mechanically he gets loose, but he I will say this, when he does, he's coachable enough. He's not stubborn or rigid. And when he gets loose and he barks in a little bit and he gets less loose and everything's good, which I think is an underrated aspect to be in a quarterback coachability. Okay, here's another one. Lamar Jackson. A couple of your voters did not like Lamar Jackson. What was the knock on Lamar? Well, there's no one who doesn't like him. It's just a question of do you put him in tier one? And one of the requisites for tier one is the ability to handle pier passed, meaning when we know it's you have to pass, can you do it effectively? And I think correctly that is a stipulation for tier one because the game gets reduced to that in the playoffs and critical moments. When you have a great defensive scheme that's tailored up to take away what Lamar Jackson does, you still have to be able to win from the pocket. And he's respected, he's going to have a hard time getting into that Tier one group until he either overcomes that element by winning the Super Bowl anyway, right or having more success, or he develops or they develop in that way, it's a deal breaker for Tier one. Yeah. No, We've said this about Baker Mayfield. When he has to throw fourth quarter, his numbers erode. When he had play action with Nick Chubb, he's very effective, and that really is to me the difference between the greats and the goods and the very goods. So let's go to your tier one and tier two. Listen, I'm a Russell. I'm a Russell Wilson guy, so I can see my own bias because I like him, I know him, but I do think he's a playmaker. And you, by the way, you have Stafford and Russell the first two guys in Tier two, meaning they got some Tier one votes from your people. The Stafford one is interesting, Mike, because in the divisional round, in the NFC Championship, in the Super Bowl, those were come from behind wins. He also had a ton of come from behind wins in Detroit. It's been my knock on Aaron Rodgers for years. He plays very well, comfortable and very well with a lead. The greats trail late and overcome it. So what we know, Matt's got a good arm, Mike, So what is the knock on Stafford? Again, it's not a huge knock, but there were some critics here. It's funny you say that. I think Matt is more willing to throw those lady interceptions than Aaron Rodgers. That may help you get you get in there. Aaron has that passer rating calculator that's constantly going for his whole career. I think in his whole career, might might stop him in some of those situations. I kid, but I think for Stafford, certainly, if he did it another year, he's trending towards that. But you know, when they went to more of a full Ferrari drop back pass offense, I think we saw some bumps in the road. They had to rain it in a little bit. And then two the defense really did carry them through the Super Bowl as well. It is a team game, so maybe maybe we proved that Detroit really was what was holding him back. But he also got quite a nice boost from the situation, maybe more than a normal boost. So you know, it's maybe picking its I think he's probably on that line. I'm fine with him being at the top of two. I think it's a great spot for him, and if he does it again, we're probably having another conversation next year. So Mike Sando the Athletic covered every Super Bowl since the late nineties, so I have said I'm a Garoppolo fan, and I do think there are what Trent Dilfer used to call him dude qualities, is that coaches like him, guys like him. You kind of feel like he walks in the huddle with four minutes left, everybody looks around that good looking guy and goes yeah. And I watched them out play in the fourth quarter. Aaron at Lambeau. He's limited, but it's interesting. He's Tier three, but if you look at it, he's not far from Tier two. So Jimmy is I mean, you're talking about a couple of votes and he's in the Kyler Murray, Derek Carr, Prescott. So that's where I put Jimmy. I like Jimmy a lot. Give me a compliment you heard from your group of fifty, because I think we know the criticisms. What are the guys that like Garoppolo say? It's funny? Tier three is really the play action tier, isn't it You need that more? That's your guy? What people One of the great comments in this thing was like, Jimmy Garoppolo is just the guy we try to chase off in this league. Right, he's successful. You can win with them, but there's we want a little bit more. So, you know, I think that people love the track record with him, that you're able to win with them. It's a big dilemma, Like they can win, they can be in the championship game two three times. You're replacing this guy. I think historically he never would have would have been replaced, but now you know, we're holding them to the highest caliber tier. I mean, I don't know. I don't know if there's anyone gushing over Jimmy. I mean, he is what he is. People like him, but don't love him. So Aaron Rodgers' career has gone on stages. He was the talented backup, and then for a few years he was the golden child's It was like Marino, it just looks prettier, and now there are some of us that have moved into the Okay, he's great, but not always the best teammate. Con and Aaron a little prickily, a little passive, aggressive. It's still beautiful, it's still gorgeous. But I don't trust him in big spots late, like I trust the Brady. I don't. But yet he is your number one quarterback. Are are there any critics of Aaron or is he still in that golden child that aura around him? You know when the production wasn't as good a couple of years ago. He did get a few Tier two votes, But I think there's just almost a reverence for his mastery of the position in the game. You get the feeling that, like some teams, the coach helps the quarterback manage the game and do all Aaron Rodgers is winking at the mic linebacker, He's talking to the referees, who are basically as caddie when Matt Lafleur's head is in the playsheet. Aaron's the one who knows the play clock's down and we're going to call time out. This guy's just in complete command of everything, and like he's almost having We talked to him the piece about his smirk and all this. It's like it's like he knows things that the opposing coaches know that like not even though all the players know like he's at such an advanced mastery level that there's really nothing about how he plays the game that people would want to change. He's admired even he's a standard for somebody like Ethan Mahomes, who's maybe more physically talented right now, but he can learn from how this guy manages a game. It's like he doesn't even need a coach to manage the game because he's in charge of everything. So I did a top ten quarterback list a couple of weeks ago. I had Derek Carr at ten and it was met by outrage, and I'm like, folks, he's got the most comebacks in the league in the fourth quarters since he entered. His defense has allowed the most points in the league since he entered, so he has to win by shootout. He's often playing from behind, which is you know, it's harder to quarterback. You get to the second half and you're trailing, so nobody can textualizes a lot of the things that he deals with. He's on a sixth coach going into his ninth year, but you this year this could be the highest I've ever seen. You had him at twelve. Is that the highest you've had him. I think he got seventh after maybe his first year as a starter, and everyone was really excited about him, and then what happened over the next few years. I think you make a great point about the defensive component dragging him down, But I think the concern on him coming out was would he stand in there? Is he a tough guy? Is he a real guy? Right? And I think after that initial flash of playing well, those questions percolated, and you heard it from people that played against him. They just questioned he'd throw the ball out abound sometimes in a critical situation, or throw it away on fourth down. But I think he answered some of that. I think it's been trending this way. And last year you lose John Gruden. The Henry Ruggs thing was terrible, and who was getting into the playoffs? Right? The defense wasn't great. I mean, they went to the playoffs and the team with Justin Herbert didn't. So I think he gets some credit for that, and that's why he's where he is, and it's where he should be in my opinion. Fifty different executives, coaches. Let's see it again. Let's see here, Joey, Let's look at this so we're gonna go Tier one. Tier two. Put the big full screen up. So it's Rogers for our radio listeners, very small Year one, Rogers, Mahomes, Brady, Alan, Burrow, Herbert. I have no disagreement. I would just put Stafford Wilson in there as well. Tier two is Stafford first, Wilson, Watson, Jackson, Prescott, car Murray, Ryan Again. I think I like Kyler Murray more than people. Tier three feels very right on Cousins, Garoppolo, Tannehill, Mac Jones, Mayfield, Jalen Hurts, Winz Goff, Trevor Lawrence, Jamis Winston. I would put as a Tier four. I'd probably move maybe, I wouldn't move anybody right on the line. I mean he's right on the line, all right. So you want to know my quarterback dilemma this year. So here's what I think is gonna happen. I'll throw this at you, Mike. I think two up. But they've pivoted as a franchised offense. Tremendous, tremendous speed at receiver between Tyreek and Jalen. Those guys are also very good at getting the ball too early yards after the catch guy, So I think it's gonna happen in Miami. As you have two as a four, it's gonna have very good numbers this year. He's going to have a quarterback friendly coach, tremendous weapons, and there's going to be the quarterback dilemma where we're still not sure he's anything more than a Tier four, but he's gonna have Tier two numbers by December. That's my quarterback dilemma. Your thoughts, I'm with you one hundred percent. I mean, he's set up to almost can't fail. But what is success? I mean, do you really want to be in a situation where at the press conference paying him? I mean, I think there are ways away from that happening, but you could really think of the dynamics in the building with the owner, Steven Ross, who really probably doesn't know football that well. And then you've got the hierarchy that's trying to stay there. So they have to do they sell the owner after this year? Wow? Two, it took the next step. We're there. Here we go, guys when they know in their hearts he's limited. Yeah, all right, So I'm gonna order door Dash tonight and read your tier all night long and think of arguments. It is great. It's great seeing you. I love this. It's the athletic which is terrific. Senior writer Mike sand Fifty coaches and evaluators rated thirty four quarterbacks Tier one to Tier four. You know, I love it. I appreciate you taking time for us. You're a busy guy, obviously, and thank you. Hey, thanks go. I appreciate it. You bet there you go. See you can see that too. A thing coming. Two is gonna put up good numbers they have. And it's not just that two has good receivers. He has pre he has bubble screen. I mean, people, forget this about Tyreek Hill. Most of Tyreek's catches are hike, want boom, get it to him, let him go. He's so fast you have to take advantage of. And Waddle runs as well as almost anybody not named Tyreek Hill in the league. He's another guy you can get the ball to Jalen Waddle very early. And so watch two. I put up forty two hundred yards, have twenty seven touchdowns, four interceptions, and you're sitting there thinking, yeah, but we're in a division with Josh Allen, do we? But I don't think that they are in a pressed situation though, like they don't need to pay him next year. Yeah. So if you have success this year, that's great. That means he's developing and you did all the right things. I think next year, the year after that, if he continues to play at that level, then maybe you have something which should be a good thing. Yeah, but I don't know that it's this year is the year that everyone needs to start freaking out about whether two is the guy or not. I think it's the year after this year. Yeah, can't wait one more. Herd. The Herd streams twenty four hours a day, seven days a week within the iHeartRadio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you like. After one of the greatest games in recent memory, the MLB returns to the place where dreams come true. Relive the magic when the Reds take on the Cubs for one Game in Heaven, One Game at the Field of Dreams August eleventh, on Fox. Oh, it is great to be in today. A lot of stuff going on, Mike Sando, the athletic, his quarterback tiers. I know I'm probably more fascinated than you, but nonetheless it's good stuff and don't forget home security matters. Simply Savecolin dot com twenty percent off with Interact. They've monitoring today at simply Safe cli n dot com and Joy Taylor with the news, this is the Herdline News. Well, we're getting into NFL season now, but there are still a few trades out there that might happen for the NBA, and the Celtics are among teams engaged in talks for Kevin Durant. Boston reportedly made an offer that would have sent Jaylen Brown Derek White in a draft pick to Brooklyn for Kevin Durant. That feels like a very fair deal. I agree. Brooklyn does not agree. They decline the offer. They want the Celtics to also include Marcus Smart in any future proposals. Now, Jaylen b Jaylen Brown did tweet this morning just smh, which means shaking my head. Well, he has been involved in this is I think the third time there. It is in the last couple of years. His name gets lobbied out there, and I think part of it is Adam View is viewed as the star. Correct, he is the second, but he's now getting very expensive in Boston. You know, they they don't. Well, you need a second. You do need a second. But if your second Tatum with KD not Jalen, then you may be a favorite to win at all. Oh yeah, I think depending on how much they give up, the absolutely should be considered a favorite. And keep in mind they're not going to be sacrificing. I mean, obviously, Marcus Smart is an incredible defensive player, so you'll be sacrificing a little bit there, and he is an overall great player for them. Katie plays defense, so it's not like you're getting a guy that is playing one side of the ball, right, so you may go down a little bit in defense, But Kevin Duran is a two way player, so it's not like you're going to become a defensive liability as a team. The interesting thing about Jaylen Brown is it was pretty awesome in the finals. He was just pretty pretty good. Now is there a belief that that's as good as he's going to be? Well, I mean, you could you could make the argument, I think if you Boston that the issue was not defense and Jason Tatum obviously could have sepped up bigger in moments which you're not going to move off of Jason Tatum. Jaylen Brown was the most consistent volume player for them. I would argue it's the rest of the roster that you would want to improve on. Now, obviously, Kevin Durant. This is the issue with the Kevin Durant conversation. Obviously Kevin Durant is the best player in this conversation. But in order to get Kevin Durant, how much do you have to give up? Because then that negates the value of bringing in Kevin Durant has to be a reasonable trade for a team that is in a win now situation. Otherwise, you by adding Kevin Durant, you're taking yourself out of the winning conversation. Yeah, and I've said I want Kevin Durant. I'm not blown up my coach, my bench, my culture, or my future. And I think Jaylen Brown, one of your best off the bench, scores a couple of first I feel like you're getting something a starter, You're getting your best player because Ben Simmons. I mean, if you put Ben Simmons, Jaylen Brown, Kyrie Irving an excellent bench player, that's a playoff team. To me, it feels like a playoff team. If Ben if I was Boston. I would throw in some extra draft picks with that set of players. Yes, I would throw an extra draft picks forget you need to keep Marcus Smart, because extra draft picks on that offer to bring in Kevin Durant. You also, Jason Tatum has minimum eight years left prime, right, so that the good news is you can give up draft picks. You don't have to hit stars. You've got a star with Jason Tatum. Now I thought about this, how's this look for Kevin Durant. No, obviously he's not asking to go to Boston, but he did ask for a trade. He is wanting to be traded. And now you're going to a team that beat the Nets, swept the Nets last season in the Celtics, because that was a narrative when he went to Golden State that he went to the team to beat them, but they'd want a title in Golden State, so it was like you're selling out. I think he would be viewed as the pet they can't win without him, like Golden State did win without him. And since you don't think this way, I'm just saying, that's a layup for the people that want to have, you know, some extra narratives around Kevin Durant's career. So Boston, we both love the NBA. Boston's a big brand. If Kevin goes there, they're a better team. It's good for the league. So I would argue the best brands and teams adding good players is good for the league because it wouldn't guarantee them a championship, like if you went to Golden State. Now it's like, okay, this to me is Boston's better, but I'm not getting future. If they can keep Marcus Smart, if they don't have to give up any additional players that original offer of Derek White and Jaylen Brown and you know, a draft picker, multiple draft picks. I do think that they are They should be favored in the ease. Yeah, absolutely should because he's also going into a situation that has an established culture, which we've seen Kevin Durant thriving before. Yeah, Boston Brooklyn doesn't have that. So I think this is actually a great move. I know people push back on the idea that players should be able to ask out of places after with four years on their contract. I get that, Again, that's an outlier situation. You don't have mid level players asking to do this right, stars aren't asking me to do this every other weekend. No, No, it is a rare situation. So the Cowboys traded a Mari Cooper to the Browns this offseason. That's paved the way for Cedee Lamb to take over as the number one receiver, and Cooper thinks his former teammate is ready to step up into that role. CD been ready. It's just about opportunity. I think when if Kellen decide to, you know, feature him, he's definitely ready to step up CD as a playmaker. He'd been ready. He's gonna make the play when when his jersey number is called, And I can't wait to see it happening. I saw I was reading a fantasy football magazine this weekend and they had Ceedee Lamb going like top eight receiver, and I like him, but I was like, he was in the Stefan Diggs category. And it's like and I think that what it tells you is without a Mari, he's gonna get a lot of looks. Well he was. He was the Cowboys leading receiver last year and now Schedrick Wilsh gone and Amari's gone, So like he's gonna have a huge year. He had a huge year. Last year. He had had seventy nine catches, eleven hundred yards and six touchdowns. Amari Cooper had sixty eight catches, eight hundred and sixty five yards and eight touchdowns. So if he stays healthy, he's one hundred and five catches for two thousand yards eighteen hundred yards. Yeah, is that, Alex? Is that unrealistic? The fantasy Lam was sixteenth and receiving yards last season, Cooper was thirty fourth. So CEDI's already the top receiver for the Cowboys. It's just Amari Cooper was the bigger name, the veteran, like the the guy that you would rely on in that space. And it's not that Amari Cooper isn't so great. I think he's gonna do fine in Cleveland. But CEDI's already kind of been in that role. We just haven't we haven't put him in that role, you know, a visually and like officially, and that's what he is this year. I think C's gonna have a huge year. Again, my question is not Dak in the receivers in Dallas. It's a pass rush, it's coaching, it's it's big moments, yeah, it's the postseason, and of course they're gonna be awesome during the regular seasons what they do. So two years ago, Patrick Mahomes signed his massive ten year extension with the Chiefs, and there's been other quarterbacks that have signed that pay more money per year, but it doesn't father Mahomes and that his average salary is no longer the highest in the league. It's awesome for not only the quarterback markets, but for just the market of players in general. You want the salary cap to keep going up. You want players to keep getting more and more money. Kind of the next guy as the top paid guy. Any of these top tier quarterbacks, they make such a difference on NFL football teams that it's gonna get passed up. And I mean even if you look at guys that signed last year to this year, and they got passed up. And I'm sure when the Burrow, Herbert and Russell and all these guys come around, they'll they'll keep setting the bar even higher. When I signed my deal, I knew I was gonna be pretty set for life regardless of what the market kind of happens. But you just keep you just keep playing. Yeah, this is obviously healthy way to look at things. Yes, that is a very healthy way to look I think it's more media and fans. When other guys get paid. Oh yeah, you get into the conversation of are they worth that? Dak As somebody that that conversation is law much he gets paid. He gets paid so much. He is the starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. That's what that pays. Also, twenty years ago when I started this league, when you know, I started getting on the air and doing this. This is remarkable. But I can remember Donovan McNabb had a chunky soup commercial and it was one of the big ones. Yeah, I remember Mahomes has fifteen currently minimum fifteen. I've been told seven figure deals. Of course, no people understand this. It was just like fifteen twenty years ago where Dono mcmcnabb had a chunky soup commercial. Big deal. It was a huge deal. Quarterbacks now are like international soccer stars. Yes, I don't know what the number is, but I bet the American Royalty, I bet you Mahomes will make twenty million a year in endorsements easily, easily, easily, And he has a five hundred and three million dollars deal which is the largest contract in North American sports history. You gotta feel pretty good about that. Obviously, we know NFL contracts are, yeah, you know, very flexible and movable and maybe able to negotiate it again in a few years. But he's making forty five million dollars a year, which is that's that's quite a comfortable lifestyle. Rogers, Kyler and Sean are the top three paid highest paid. He's the fourth highest paid in the league. But I mean, look, that's not surprising for Patrick Mahomes. He always says the right thing and he gets it clearly, like that's not a surprising statement from him. But the idea that you always have to be the highest paid because you're the best, it's exhausting and it's just that's not how contracts work. You get paid when it's your turn to get paid, and hopefully you've negotiated it really well so that you're comfortable in the time that's your contract is being played out. But that's that's the nature of this business. He has a very respectable contract. Should not bother him at all that he's not the highest paid. It's just you're that's just a title. It doesn't it's his point, it doesn't mean anything. The next guy up is going to get paid more. That's how the structure of the sport works. Yep, Joy Taylor with the news. Well, that's the news, and thanks for stopping by The Herd. Lie, Well, it does feel like the start of the NFL season for the next six and a half months. There are four storylines that are gonna emerge by October. Big teams, big coaches, big players. There's four and you can see them coming. And it's only late July. And I'm gonna talk about that next. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and noon Easter nine am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeart Radio app. Hey what's up everybody? It's me three time pro bowler Le Warrington and I couldn't be more excited to announce a new podcast called Up on Game. What is Up on Game? You asked, along with my fellow pro bowler T J. Hushman, Zada and Super Bowl champion. Yep, that's right, Plexico Burris. You can only name a show with that type of talent on it. Up on Game. We're going to be sharing our real life experiences with teachable moments. Listen to Up on Game with me LeVar Arrington, T J. Hutchman's Out of and Plexico Birds on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast from NFL season, I mean, if you consider training camp season, and we do starts really in earnest today. One of the things that's fun to project is what will be the storylines early in the year. Now, as you get to Thanksgiving, you know we're gonna be talking about seven or eight teams with great quarterbacks, But will there be stories that emerge in September and early October. Here's four that are fairly predictable. Number One, Mike McCarthy, coach of the Cowboys, is going to be in trouble early. They open with Brady and Burrow. If they go oh and two, based off how it ended last year, McCarthy's going to be facing heat. They don't get It's not brutal because they do get the Giants at home. Excuse me, They get one Washington at home, and then they get Detroit and the Bears at home by week seven and eight. But it's to start the season. It's Tom Brady, Joe Burrow, a couple of weeks whence then Matt Stafford. Then you're at Jalen Hurtz, who carried his team into the playoffs, and we suspect he's better. And Philadelphia's schedule in the same division has an easier start. You know, it's goff, it's the ugly Jags. They get a buy early. Then they get Pittsburgh and Houston. You can see Philadelphia late October, mid October two game lead. Jerry's getting snippy at the postgame press conferences. McCarthy's getting dragged by the local media. So expect Mike McCarthy if they start the year oh and two Burrow and Brady and they get them both at home and lose both. Based on last year's ending, it's gonna be bumpy. You're gonna hear Mike McCarthy get a new coach stuff very early. Potentially. The second thing is Green Bay did not get a scheduling break early. They have a very tough schedule. And watch now. Remember David bochtr left tackle for the Packers, may not be available in September. This team does not have a number one or a number two receiver, so they open up at Minnesota at Kirk Cousins. Then they in two weeks later have to go two Tom Brady and Tampa, and then a few weeks later they're at Wentz and then at Buffalo and at a very capable Detroit team. Green Bay gets a lot of their toughest games all on the road. They get the dogs that they should win anyway at home. They own Chicago, they get them at home. New England doesn't have the firepower. They get him at home. Giants are a mess, They get them at home. Jets are a mess. They get them at home. So the goal, the games they would win anywhere, they get them all at home. They feel like wasted home games. The games they could really use home field advantage early against Minnesota as they've got a new quarterback, coach and all new receivers. Right like, so I think the Packers very early, you're going to start hearing this, well, they can beat the bad teams, but they can't beat the elite teams. Aaron starts hearing that, Lafleur starts hearing that, and it gets a little edgy in green Bay. Early they did not get a scheduling break. All the tough games to me are on the road, The third thing that's gonna happen is the Kansas City got the worst scheduling break. Look at Kansas City's first seven weeks, brutal. At Arizona, they faced Kiner Murray, Justin Herbert, Matt Ryan, Tom Brady, Derek Carr, Josh Allen, and the best young offensive coach at San Francisco. They get a buy then they get playoff Tennessee, who was a number one seed last year. So what you're gonna hear if they go four and four or five and three, And I almost wonder if you take five and three at this point with that schedule that is brutal, that is the toughest schedule you're gonna start hearing this should have never traded Tyreek Hill. I told you should it never. And it's not gonna mean they're bad. It's gonna mean if you Kansas City fans think you're all gonna go seven and one, if you gave me five and three without Gauntlet, I'm not sure if I just wouldn't take it and be on my way. So I think that story is going to emerge that you shouldn't have traded Tyreek Hill. And I don't think anybody if he was even there. You're going six and two with that schedule. And the fourth story that I think will emerge is New England's gonna fool people early. So I want you to look for our radio audience. New England's got the most brutal final eight games, final seven games in the league. It's not close. Their final seven games are at Minnesota with at Weapons, the Bills, at Arizona, at Derek Carr, Joey Burrow Miami they've always struggled with Miami late. At Buffalo they don't have weapons. Those are great offensive teams. They will have significantly fewer weapons against the last seven teams they play, and most are on the road at Minnesota, at Arizona, at Derek Carr, at Buffalo brutal. So but if you look early, you've got a new coach in the opener, a new coach weapons Miami. Who's Pittsburgh's quarterback Week three, Lamar Jackson without his star receiver, Aaron's tough. But then you get Detroit at home, Deshaun Watson may not play at Cleveland. Then it's the Bears and Justin Fields, Zach Wilson, who Belichick owns. So you could see New England obviously at Green Bay as a load, but you could see New England putting up a six and one start. You're facing Jacoby Brissette, Justin Fields, Zach Wilson two over a new coach, Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, Lamar without his top weapon. So I think a story that will emerge early is lookat Mac Jones. New England is unbelievable, coward drum. Their last seven games are barrutal, brutal, and they just don't have the weapons in twenty twenty two to go up against those teams with Mac Jones to me and win three of those games. Maybe, So McCarthy in Trouble packers rough start considering they may not have a left tackle and they got all new receivers. Kansas City schedule brutal early, the Tyree Hill trade was a mistake, and oh, look at Mac Jones in New England. That's why I know people believe that we often overaccentuate schedules. Schedules don't matter in baseball. They don't matter as much the season so long you know best teams. Eventually at one hundred and sixty two games, you can't fool people. In fact, there's a stat years ago. I read that by June first, you know ninety percent of the playoff teams. You can't fool people, but you can fool people in the NFL. You can if you get a September October schedule where you bring back your quarterback and your coordinator and you face new coordinators. And I mean Green Bay is a fascinating team. We know their defense is really good. But Aaron has a history of struggling to trust new guys in the building at wide receiver, even his Jordy Nelson relationship, even his DeVante relationship took years to develop. Well, Aaron's got a three one year contracts. There is no years to develop, Like you gotta win now because Bok tri they have a lot of guys in that offensive front coming off, including their tight end coming off torn Acls. So it's gonna be if some of those guys recover slowly with that early schedule gets very bumpy, very early for the packers. Feel lean and strong. Try M drive Boost and Burn clinically tested ingredients five dollars first two weeks free, first two weeks five bucks shipping free. Go to try m drive dot com. All right, so here we are with our NFL storylines. What would you do this week? Him? I was in saloon where yeah, no, no, and just for the weekend. Yeah, god and four our flight, No, it's long. It's like I think it's four forty five there, but it's about five fifteen on the way back. And was it great? It was? It was beautiful. It's uh, it's the jungle. Lots of wildlife. Yeah, swam in a so note day like a sinkhole with the water in it. Yeah. Yeah, it was pretty cool. I always wanted to go. So wow, do you have been America's travel guide? I got quite a few stamps this year? Yeah? Do you fly one airline? No? No, so you're just giving those miles away. Well now you get a get a credit card that gives you miles, okay, I always use that one, all right, Yeah, because you got a lot of miles. Hour three on a Monday, a lot of an la. It's the herd

Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from twelve to three eastern, nine to noon Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and FS one. Find your local station for The Herd at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Herd. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Here we go our two on a Monday, live in Los Angeles. It's the Herd wherever you may be, how whoever you may be listening I Heart Radio, Fox Sports Radio f has one. Watch some baseball this weekend. Dodgers are on fire. Sweat the Giants. Yankees lost somebody in their bullpen, watch out. Mats are trying to get more power and score more runs. I watched that flying at home last night. So we've got really good team, and I'm not sure anybody's as good as the Astros. So it's top heavy in baseball. But we're gonna have a wild postseason. So we got four or five really really really good teams at the top. Joy Taylor is joining me. How Joy, you know I'm into this. You're never gonna ever find anybody who cares more about Mike Sandos quarterback tier list. I don't care who you work with for the next thirty years. I'm so into this. I'll take this home tonight and do four topics on it. But Mike delivers that he's going to join us in about five or six minutes. Tah is in Tier four. That's I, you know whatever. But it's tier season, it's list season. We're going into the start that NFL camp start this week, so we're gonna start putting out all of our rankings, our preseason rankings, our ratings. It's the perfect time for it. And then you know sort of how you do your amendments. When the season starts, everyone makes their official predictions. So Mike in a couple of minutes, I'm so into it. It's embarrassing, all right. It's called Colin right, Colin wrong. On a Monday, I'm both often and here we go where Colin was right. I said the Cardinals had to sign Kyler Murray and they had to do it quickly. There were a lot of doubters on him. Listen, the kids gotten better every year. The franchise was full when he took it over. I don't have to love him. Wiping his social media off I got kids in my life. They're young, they're emotional. He's a young guy, and he's a baseball guy. So baseball tends to be very much about the solo artist, right, the pitcher, the hit her. But in the end, he's a playmaker. And I think the best way to put it with Kyler Murray, if Kyler Murray is my quarterback, I can win any game I play, period. If Kyler Murray wasn't their quarterback, they could lose every single game badly they play. Sorry, I'm signing him. Where Colin was wrong, I'll give you a sneak peek on Mike Sandos quarterback tiers. He has Stafford, Matt Stafford, and Russell Wilson in Tier two. Now, I think they're two of the top six quarterbacks in the NFL. I like the other guys. I got no problem with the other guys in Tier one. But this means that executives and coaches voted Stafford and Russell Wilson tier two. So we'll get to that in five minutes. Where Colin was right, Colin was very very happy. Derek Carr called a Hall of Famer by Davante Adams. How many more stats do we need. He leads the NFL and fourth quarter comeback since he entered the league more than Brady or Aaron or Russell. Yeah, he's a three time pro bowler. He's had seven eight years of battle lines and terrible defenses in chaos, and he made the playoffs last year in a good division. So this made me very, very happy that Davante Adams acknowledged he's going from one Hall of Famer eron to another. And Derek where Colin was right, I am so overd Russell Westbrook as a topic. Please trade him to somebody that has a team. I'm interested in Russell's become the gift that keeps on giving. The Athletic reported last week Westbrook was difficult in film sessions all year, he did not like being singled out, and that he does not understand his trade value. Dave mcmeniman, somebody I trust, reported that Lebron is sort of over him. Listen, I understand it. You got two hundred million dollars, you're a rock star, you're world famous. It is hard to self analyze and be self critical, but I do think Russell has to start looking in that proverbial athlete mirror and saying this is what I am at this current time. I've had a great career, and I think at this point Westbrook is a rotational player on a good team. He may be a starter on a bad team, but on a very good team, a Warrior a Milwaukee, he feels like a rotational player to me, where Colin was raw, I wouldn't have signed James Harden, But I gotta tell you he took a fifteen million dollar paint cut. So I've been critical of Carmelo and Westbrook and Kyrie for not looking in the mirror. For Harden to not only take a paint cut, but to do it immediately, to do it literally had a bad playoff, He's like, yeah, I'm gonna take less. I want to win more. Believe me, that's hard. This is a sport that elevates stars and NFL does. NFL makes you practice, You're gonna take pay cuts. It's different. In the NBA. From the time you're fifteen on its shoe deals, it is you're the man. And for Harden to literally pivot off a disappointing postseason and say I'm gonna take a fifteen million dollar pay cut, I want to play with dudes. Good for him. I did not know and did not think he was capable of it because he's always been a little bit of a solo act. Where Colin was right. Another source confirmed it to me last week, as I said on the air, that they like Trey Lance, but they are having accuracy concerns that on a day to day basis, they just don't know what they're gonna get with trade. Now they're gonna give him the job. They gave up three number one picks, first round picks. They're gonna play them. But there are concerns in the building about his consistency of accuracy, and that's born out based on what we saw last year. The Niners like him, but there are concerns in Kyle Shanahan's offense. That is why Garoppolo is so respected. Jimmy's got a lower ceiling, whatever that means. But Jimmy delivers the ball Brandon Ayu, Deebo, Samuel George Kittle, he puts it spot on yards after the catcho was very good. So there are concerns that I have another source on that. Where Colin was right. Mario crystal Ball has been an absolute home run hire for the Miami Hurricanes. Not only has he been a great recruiter, not only has he assembled a shockingly good staff, but last week he had the courage to come out and get rid of that ridiculous turnover chain. You can't fake cool or swagger. When Miami was great, everybody was kind of afraid of Miami. You can't fake it. You don't have enough good players to have that now. I think in a couple of years if you want to bring it back. But come on, there is there anything worse than a program that was once great. They're no longer great, and they want you to believe they're great. That turnover chain. Let let let small colleges worry about that. I believe I said last week Miami was like one hundred and eighteenth in college football in takeaways. Central Michigan force more turnovers. Rutgers Yukon forced more turnovers. You can't fake cool and you can't fake swagger. And Miami was for years, and finally Mario crystal Ball stepped in and said, enough, we're gonna force turnovers and not have to pat ourselves on the back when we do it. Okay, Colin right, Colin wrong? So I could do three hours today on this quarterback tier thing. So Mike Sando is a senior writer for the Athletic Selector for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He's covered every Super Bowl since the late nineties. So I love this thing. And what I really love about abut it is you talked to fifty Well, I'll let you lay it out. Who are the fifty people you talk to? Mike, GM's head coaches, coordinators, evaluators, some position coaches, just people who are in and around the game twenty four seven. So let's the big broad headline is that there was one of your very tight end experienced people that made Patrick Mahomes a Tier two quarterback. And what was his reasoning, Mike, Yeah, it's a good thing. We talked to fifty Colin. If it was just this guy, he would be in Tier two. And people be don Sando, You're out of the freaking league. What are you doing? Basically, this defensive coach picked knits about his ability to read defenses in his pocket presence that when he took away his first read, things got a little bit difficult for him to me. Fine, good criticism. He's still a one, right, and he is. He's a one point o two thanks to our one friend. Right, Yeah, I mean I think sometimes mechanically he gets loose, but he I will say this, when he does, he's coachable enough. He's not stubborn or rigid. And when he gets loose and he barks in a little bit and he gets less loose and everything's good, which I think is an underrated aspect to be in a quarterback coachability. Okay, here's another one. Lamar Jackson. A couple of your voters did not like Lamar Jackson. What was the knock on Lamar? Well, there's no one who doesn't like him. It's just a question of do you put him in tier one? And one of the requisites for tier one is the ability to handle pier passed, meaning when we know it's you have to pass, can you do it effectively? And I think correctly that is a stipulation for tier one because the game gets reduced to that in the playoffs and critical moments. When you have a great defensive scheme that's tailored up to take away what Lamar Jackson does, you still have to be able to win from the pocket. And he's respected, he's going to have a hard time getting into that Tier one group until he either overcomes that element by winning the Super Bowl anyway, right or having more success, or he develops or they develop in that way, it's a deal breaker for Tier one. Yeah. No, We've said this about Baker Mayfield. When he has to throw fourth quarter, his numbers erode. When he had play action with Nick Chubb, he's very effective, and that really is to me the difference between the greats and the goods and the very goods. So let's go to your tier one and tier two. Listen, I'm a Russell. I'm a Russell Wilson guy, so I can see my own bias because I like him, I know him, but I do think he's a playmaker. And you, by the way, you have Stafford and Russell the first two guys in Tier two, meaning they got some Tier one votes from your people. The Stafford one is interesting, Mike, because in the divisional round, in the NFC Championship, in the Super Bowl, those were come from behind wins. He also had a ton of come from behind wins in Detroit. It's been my knock on Aaron Rodgers for years. He plays very well, comfortable and very well with a lead. The greats trail late and overcome it. So what we know, Matt's got a good arm, Mike, So what is the knock on Stafford? Again, it's not a huge knock, but there were some critics here. It's funny you say that. I think Matt is more willing to throw those lady interceptions than Aaron Rodgers. That may help you get you get in there. Aaron has that passer rating calculator that's constantly going for his whole career. I think in his whole career, might might stop him in some of those situations. I kid, but I think for Stafford, certainly, if he did it another year, he's trending towards that. But you know, when they went to more of a full Ferrari drop back pass offense, I think we saw some bumps in the road. They had to rain it in a little bit. And then two the defense really did carry them through the Super Bowl as well. It is a team game, so maybe maybe we proved that Detroit really was what was holding him back. But he also got quite a nice boost from the situation, maybe more than a normal boost. So you know, it's maybe picking its I think he's probably on that line. I'm fine with him being at the top of two. I think it's a great spot for him, and if he does it again, we're probably having another conversation next year. So Mike Sando the Athletic covered every Super Bowl since the late nineties, so I have said I'm a Garoppolo fan, and I do think there are what Trent Dilfer used to call him dude qualities, is that coaches like him, guys like him. You kind of feel like he walks in the huddle with four minutes left, everybody looks around that good looking guy and goes yeah. And I watched them out play in the fourth quarter. Aaron at Lambeau. He's limited, but it's interesting. He's Tier three, but if you look at it, he's not far from Tier two. So Jimmy is I mean, you're talking about a couple of votes and he's in the Kyler Murray, Derek Carr, Prescott. So that's where I put Jimmy. I like Jimmy a lot. Give me a compliment you heard from your group of fifty, because I think we know the criticisms. What are the guys that like Garoppolo say? It's funny? Tier three is really the play action tier, isn't it You need that more? That's your guy? What people One of the great comments in this thing was like, Jimmy Garoppolo is just the guy we try to chase off in this league. Right, he's successful. You can win with them, but there's we want a little bit more. So, you know, I think that people love the track record with him, that you're able to win with them. It's a big dilemma, Like they can win, they can be in the championship game two three times. You're replacing this guy. I think historically he never would have would have been replaced, but now you know, we're holding them to the highest caliber tier. I mean, I don't know. I don't know if there's anyone gushing over Jimmy. I mean, he is what he is. People like him, but don't love him. So Aaron Rodgers' career has gone on stages. He was the talented backup, and then for a few years he was the golden child's It was like Marino, it just looks prettier, and now there are some of us that have moved into the Okay, he's great, but not always the best teammate. Con and Aaron a little prickily, a little passive, aggressive. It's still beautiful, it's still gorgeous. But I don't trust him in big spots late, like I trust the Brady. I don't. But yet he is your number one quarterback. Are are there any critics of Aaron or is he still in that golden child that aura around him? You know when the production wasn't as good a couple of years ago. He did get a few Tier two votes, But I think there's just almost a reverence for his mastery of the position in the game. You get the feeling that, like some teams, the coach helps the quarterback manage the game and do all Aaron Rodgers is winking at the mic linebacker, He's talking to the referees, who are basically as caddie when Matt Lafleur's head is in the playsheet. Aaron's the one who knows the play clock's down and we're going to call time out. This guy's just in complete command of everything, and like he's almost having We talked to him the piece about his smirk and all this. It's like it's like he knows things that the opposing coaches know that like not even though all the players know like he's at such an advanced mastery level that there's really nothing about how he plays the game that people would want to change. He's admired even he's a standard for somebody like Ethan Mahomes, who's maybe more physically talented right now, but he can learn from how this guy manages a game. It's like he doesn't even need a coach to manage the game because he's in charge of everything. So I did a top ten quarterback list a couple of weeks ago. I had Derek Carr at ten and it was met by outrage, and I'm like, folks, he's got the most comebacks in the league in the fourth quarters since he entered. His defense has allowed the most points in the league since he entered, so he has to win by shootout. He's often playing from behind, which is you know, it's harder to quarterback. You get to the second half and you're trailing, so nobody can textualizes a lot of the things that he deals with. He's on a sixth coach going into his ninth year, but you this year this could be the highest I've ever seen. You had him at twelve. Is that the highest you've had him. I think he got seventh after maybe his first year as a starter, and everyone was really excited about him, and then what happened over the next few years. I think you make a great point about the defensive component dragging him down, But I think the concern on him coming out was would he stand in there? Is he a tough guy? Is he a real guy? Right? And I think after that initial flash of playing well, those questions percolated, and you heard it from people that played against him. They just questioned he'd throw the ball out abound sometimes in a critical situation, or throw it away on fourth down. But I think he answered some of that. I think it's been trending this way. And last year you lose John Gruden. The Henry Ruggs thing was terrible, and who was getting into the playoffs? Right? The defense wasn't great. I mean, they went to the playoffs and the team with Justin Herbert didn't. So I think he gets some credit for that, and that's why he's where he is, and it's where he should be in my opinion. Fifty different executives, coaches. Let's see it again. Let's see here, Joey, Let's look at this so we're gonna go Tier one. Tier two. Put the big full screen up. So it's Rogers for our radio listeners, very small Year one, Rogers, Mahomes, Brady, Alan, Burrow, Herbert. I have no disagreement. I would just put Stafford Wilson in there as well. Tier two is Stafford first, Wilson, Watson, Jackson, Prescott, car Murray, Ryan Again. I think I like Kyler Murray more than people. Tier three feels very right on Cousins, Garoppolo, Tannehill, Mac Jones, Mayfield, Jalen Hurts, Winz Goff, Trevor Lawrence, Jamis Winston. I would put as a Tier four. I'd probably move maybe, I wouldn't move anybody right on the line. I mean he's right on the line, all right. So you want to know my quarterback dilemma this year. So here's what I think is gonna happen. I'll throw this at you, Mike. I think two up. But they've pivoted as a franchised offense. Tremendous, tremendous speed at receiver between Tyreek and Jalen. Those guys are also very good at getting the ball too early yards after the catch guy, So I think it's gonna happen in Miami. As you have two as a four, it's gonna have very good numbers this year. He's going to have a quarterback friendly coach, tremendous weapons, and there's going to be the quarterback dilemma where we're still not sure he's anything more than a Tier four, but he's gonna have Tier two numbers by December. That's my quarterback dilemma. Your thoughts, I'm with you one hundred percent. I mean, he's set up to almost can't fail. But what is success? I mean, do you really want to be in a situation where at the press conference paying him? I mean, I think there are ways away from that happening, but you could really think of the dynamics in the building with the owner, Steven Ross, who really probably doesn't know football that well. And then you've got the hierarchy that's trying to stay there. So they have to do they sell the owner after this year? Wow? Two, it took the next step. We're there. Here we go, guys when they know in their hearts he's limited. Yeah, all right, So I'm gonna order door Dash tonight and read your tier all night long and think of arguments. It is great. It's great seeing you. I love this. It's the athletic which is terrific. Senior writer Mike sand Fifty coaches and evaluators rated thirty four quarterbacks Tier one to Tier four. You know, I love it. I appreciate you taking time for us. You're a busy guy, obviously, and thank you. Hey, thanks go. I appreciate it. You bet there you go. See you can see that too. A thing coming. Two is gonna put up good numbers they have. And it's not just that two has good receivers. He has pre he has bubble screen. I mean, people, forget this about Tyreek Hill. Most of Tyreek's catches are hike, want boom, get it to him, let him go. He's so fast you have to take advantage of. And Waddle runs as well as almost anybody not named Tyreek Hill in the league. He's another guy you can get the ball to Jalen Waddle very early. And so watch two. I put up forty two hundred yards, have twenty seven touchdowns, four interceptions, and you're sitting there thinking, yeah, but we're in a division with Josh Allen, do we? But I don't think that they are in a pressed situation though, like they don't need to pay him next year. Yeah. So if you have success this year, that's great. That means he's developing and you did all the right things. I think next year, the year after that, if he continues to play at that level, then maybe you have something which should be a good thing. Yeah, but I don't know that it's this year is the year that everyone needs to start freaking out about whether two is the guy or not. I think it's the year after this year. Yeah, can't wait one more. Herd. The Herd streams twenty four hours a day, seven days a week within the iHeartRadio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you like. After one of the greatest games in recent memory, the MLB returns to the place where dreams come true. Relive the magic when the Reds take on the Cubs for one Game in Heaven, One Game at the Field of Dreams August eleventh, on Fox. Oh, it is great to be in today. A lot of stuff going on, Mike Sando, the athletic, his quarterback tiers. I know I'm probably more fascinated than you, but nonetheless it's good stuff and don't forget home security matters. Simply Savecolin dot com twenty percent off with Interact. They've monitoring today at simply Safe cli n dot com and Joy Taylor with the news, this is the Herdline News. Well, we're getting into NFL season now, but there are still a few trades out there that might happen for the NBA, and the Celtics are among teams engaged in talks for Kevin Durant. Boston reportedly made an offer that would have sent Jaylen Brown Derek White in a draft pick to Brooklyn for Kevin Durant. That feels like a very fair deal. I agree. Brooklyn does not agree. They decline the offer. They want the Celtics to also include Marcus Smart in any future proposals. Now, Jaylen b Jaylen Brown did tweet this morning just smh, which means shaking my head. Well, he has been involved in this is I think the third time there. It is in the last couple of years. His name gets lobbied out there, and I think part of it is Adam View is viewed as the star. Correct, he is the second, but he's now getting very expensive in Boston. You know, they they don't. Well, you need a second. You do need a second. But if your second Tatum with KD not Jalen, then you may be a favorite to win at all. Oh yeah, I think depending on how much they give up, the absolutely should be considered a favorite. And keep in mind they're not going to be sacrificing. I mean, obviously, Marcus Smart is an incredible defensive player, so you'll be sacrificing a little bit there, and he is an overall great player for them. Katie plays defense, so it's not like you're getting a guy that is playing one side of the ball, right, so you may go down a little bit in defense, But Kevin Duran is a two way player, so it's not like you're going to become a defensive liability as a team. The interesting thing about Jaylen Brown is it was pretty awesome in the finals. He was just pretty pretty good. Now is there a belief that that's as good as he's going to be? Well, I mean, you could you could make the argument, I think if you Boston that the issue was not defense and Jason Tatum obviously could have sepped up bigger in moments which you're not going to move off of Jason Tatum. Jaylen Brown was the most consistent volume player for them. I would argue it's the rest of the roster that you would want to improve on. Now, obviously, Kevin Durant. This is the issue with the Kevin Durant conversation. Obviously Kevin Durant is the best player in this conversation. But in order to get Kevin Durant, how much do you have to give up? Because then that negates the value of bringing in Kevin Durant has to be a reasonable trade for a team that is in a win now situation. Otherwise, you by adding Kevin Durant, you're taking yourself out of the winning conversation. Yeah, and I've said I want Kevin Durant. I'm not blown up my coach, my bench, my culture, or my future. And I think Jaylen Brown, one of your best off the bench, scores a couple of first I feel like you're getting something a starter, You're getting your best player because Ben Simmons. I mean, if you put Ben Simmons, Jaylen Brown, Kyrie Irving an excellent bench player, that's a playoff team. To me, it feels like a playoff team. If Ben if I was Boston. I would throw in some extra draft picks with that set of players. Yes, I would throw an extra draft picks forget you need to keep Marcus Smart, because extra draft picks on that offer to bring in Kevin Durant. You also, Jason Tatum has minimum eight years left prime, right, so that the good news is you can give up draft picks. You don't have to hit stars. You've got a star with Jason Tatum. Now I thought about this, how's this look for Kevin Durant. No, obviously he's not asking to go to Boston, but he did ask for a trade. He is wanting to be traded. And now you're going to a team that beat the Nets, swept the Nets last season in the Celtics, because that was a narrative when he went to Golden State that he went to the team to beat them, but they'd want a title in Golden State, so it was like you're selling out. I think he would be viewed as the pet they can't win without him, like Golden State did win without him. And since you don't think this way, I'm just saying, that's a layup for the people that want to have, you know, some extra narratives around Kevin Durant's career. So Boston, we both love the NBA. Boston's a big brand. If Kevin goes there, they're a better team. It's good for the league. So I would argue the best brands and teams adding good players is good for the league because it wouldn't guarantee them a championship, like if you went to Golden State. Now it's like, okay, this to me is Boston's better, but I'm not getting future. If they can keep Marcus Smart, if they don't have to give up any additional players that original offer of Derek White and Jaylen Brown and you know, a draft picker, multiple draft picks. I do think that they are They should be favored in the ease. Yeah, absolutely should because he's also going into a situation that has an established culture, which we've seen Kevin Durant thriving before. Yeah, Boston Brooklyn doesn't have that. So I think this is actually a great move. I know people push back on the idea that players should be able to ask out of places after with four years on their contract. I get that, Again, that's an outlier situation. You don't have mid level players asking to do this right, stars aren't asking me to do this every other weekend. No, No, it is a rare situation. So the Cowboys traded a Mari Cooper to the Browns this offseason. That's paved the way for Cedee Lamb to take over as the number one receiver, and Cooper thinks his former teammate is ready to step up into that role. CD been ready. It's just about opportunity. I think when if Kellen decide to, you know, feature him, he's definitely ready to step up CD as a playmaker. He'd been ready. He's gonna make the play when when his jersey number is called, And I can't wait to see it happening. I saw I was reading a fantasy football magazine this weekend and they had Ceedee Lamb going like top eight receiver, and I like him, but I was like, he was in the Stefan Diggs category. And it's like and I think that what it tells you is without a Mari, he's gonna get a lot of looks. Well he was. He was the Cowboys leading receiver last year and now Schedrick Wilsh gone and Amari's gone, So like he's gonna have a huge year. He had a huge year. Last year. He had had seventy nine catches, eleven hundred yards and six touchdowns. Amari Cooper had sixty eight catches, eight hundred and sixty five yards and eight touchdowns. So if he stays healthy, he's one hundred and five catches for two thousand yards eighteen hundred yards. Yeah, is that, Alex? Is that unrealistic? The fantasy Lam was sixteenth and receiving yards last season, Cooper was thirty fourth. So CEDI's already the top receiver for the Cowboys. It's just Amari Cooper was the bigger name, the veteran, like the the guy that you would rely on in that space. And it's not that Amari Cooper isn't so great. I think he's gonna do fine in Cleveland. But CEDI's already kind of been in that role. We just haven't we haven't put him in that role, you know, a visually and like officially, and that's what he is this year. I think C's gonna have a huge year. Again, my question is not Dak in the receivers in Dallas. It's a pass rush, it's coaching, it's it's big moments, yeah, it's the postseason, and of course they're gonna be awesome during the regular seasons what they do. So two years ago, Patrick Mahomes signed his massive ten year extension with the Chiefs, and there's been other quarterbacks that have signed that pay more money per year, but it doesn't father Mahomes and that his average salary is no longer the highest in the league. It's awesome for not only the quarterback markets, but for just the market of players in general. You want the salary cap to keep going up. You want players to keep getting more and more money. Kind of the next guy as the top paid guy. Any of these top tier quarterbacks, they make such a difference on NFL football teams that it's gonna get passed up. And I mean even if you look at guys that signed last year to this year, and they got passed up. And I'm sure when the Burrow, Herbert and Russell and all these guys come around, they'll they'll keep setting the bar even higher. When I signed my deal, I knew I was gonna be pretty set for life regardless of what the market kind of happens. But you just keep you just keep playing. Yeah, this is obviously healthy way to look at things. Yes, that is a very healthy way to look I think it's more media and fans. When other guys get paid. Oh yeah, you get into the conversation of are they worth that? Dak As somebody that that conversation is law much he gets paid. He gets paid so much. He is the starting quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. That's what that pays. Also, twenty years ago when I started this league, when you know, I started getting on the air and doing this. This is remarkable. But I can remember Donovan McNabb had a chunky soup commercial and it was one of the big ones. Yeah, I remember Mahomes has fifteen currently minimum fifteen. I've been told seven figure deals. Of course, no people understand this. It was just like fifteen twenty years ago where Dono mcmcnabb had a chunky soup commercial. Big deal. It was a huge deal. Quarterbacks now are like international soccer stars. Yes, I don't know what the number is, but I bet the American Royalty, I bet you Mahomes will make twenty million a year in endorsements easily, easily, easily, And he has a five hundred and three million dollars deal which is the largest contract in North American sports history. You gotta feel pretty good about that. Obviously, we know NFL contracts are, yeah, you know, very flexible and movable and maybe able to negotiate it again in a few years. But he's making forty five million dollars a year, which is that's that's quite a comfortable lifestyle. Rogers, Kyler and Sean are the top three paid highest paid. He's the fourth highest paid in the league. But I mean, look, that's not surprising for Patrick Mahomes. He always says the right thing and he gets it clearly, like that's not a surprising statement from him. But the idea that you always have to be the highest paid because you're the best, it's exhausting and it's just that's not how contracts work. You get paid when it's your turn to get paid, and hopefully you've negotiated it really well so that you're comfortable in the time that's your contract is being played out. But that's that's the nature of this business. He has a very respectable contract. Should not bother him at all that he's not the highest paid. It's just you're that's just a title. It doesn't it's his point, it doesn't mean anything. The next guy up is going to get paid more. That's how the structure of the sport works. Yep, Joy Taylor with the news. Well, that's the news, and thanks for stopping by The Herd. Lie, Well, it does feel like the start of the NFL season for the next six and a half months. There are four storylines that are gonna emerge by October. Big teams, big coaches, big players. There's four and you can see them coming. And it's only late July. And I'm gonna talk about that next. Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays and noon Easter nine am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS one and the iHeart Radio app. Hey what's up everybody? It's me three time pro bowler Le Warrington and I couldn't be more excited to announce a new podcast called Up on Game. What is Up on Game? You asked, along with my fellow pro bowler T J. Hushman, Zada and Super Bowl champion. Yep, that's right, Plexico Burris. You can only name a show with that type of talent on it. Up on Game. We're going to be sharing our real life experiences with teachable moments. Listen to Up on Game with me LeVar Arrington, T J. Hutchman's Out of and Plexico Birds on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast from NFL season, I mean, if you consider training camp season, and we do starts really in earnest today. One of the things that's fun to project is what will be the storylines early in the year. Now, as you get to Thanksgiving, you know we're gonna be talking about seven or eight teams with great quarterbacks, But will there be stories that emerge in September and early October. Here's four that are fairly predictable. Number One, Mike McCarthy, coach of the Cowboys, is going to be in trouble early. They open with Brady and Burrow. If they go oh and two, based off how it ended last year, McCarthy's going to be facing heat. They don't get It's not brutal because they do get the Giants at home. Excuse me, They get one Washington at home, and then they get Detroit and the Bears at home by week seven and eight. But it's to start the season. It's Tom Brady, Joe Burrow, a couple of weeks whence then Matt Stafford. Then you're at Jalen Hurtz, who carried his team into the playoffs, and we suspect he's better. And Philadelphia's schedule in the same division has an easier start. You know, it's goff, it's the ugly Jags. They get a buy early. Then they get Pittsburgh and Houston. You can see Philadelphia late October, mid October two game lead. Jerry's getting snippy at the postgame press conferences. McCarthy's getting dragged by the local media. So expect Mike McCarthy if they start the year oh and two Burrow and Brady and they get them both at home and lose both. Based on last year's ending, it's gonna be bumpy. You're gonna hear Mike McCarthy get a new coach stuff very early. Potentially. The second thing is Green Bay did not get a scheduling break early. They have a very tough schedule. And watch now. Remember David bochtr left tackle for the Packers, may not be available in September. This team does not have a number one or a number two receiver, so they open up at Minnesota at Kirk Cousins. Then they in two weeks later have to go two Tom Brady and Tampa, and then a few weeks later they're at Wentz and then at Buffalo and at a very capable Detroit team. Green Bay gets a lot of their toughest games all on the road. They get the dogs that they should win anyway at home. They own Chicago, they get them at home. New England doesn't have the firepower. They get him at home. Giants are a mess, They get them at home. Jets are a mess. They get them at home. So the goal, the games they would win anywhere, they get them all at home. They feel like wasted home games. The games they could really use home field advantage early against Minnesota as they've got a new quarterback, coach and all new receivers. Right like, so I think the Packers very early, you're going to start hearing this, well, they can beat the bad teams, but they can't beat the elite teams. Aaron starts hearing that, Lafleur starts hearing that, and it gets a little edgy in green Bay. Early they did not get a scheduling break. All the tough games to me are on the road, The third thing that's gonna happen is the Kansas City got the worst scheduling break. Look at Kansas City's first seven weeks, brutal. At Arizona, they faced Kiner Murray, Justin Herbert, Matt Ryan, Tom Brady, Derek Carr, Josh Allen, and the best young offensive coach at San Francisco. They get a buy then they get playoff Tennessee, who was a number one seed last year. So what you're gonna hear if they go four and four or five and three, And I almost wonder if you take five and three at this point with that schedule that is brutal, that is the toughest schedule you're gonna start hearing this should have never traded Tyreek Hill. I told you should it never. And it's not gonna mean they're bad. It's gonna mean if you Kansas City fans think you're all gonna go seven and one, if you gave me five and three without Gauntlet, I'm not sure if I just wouldn't take it and be on my way. So I think that story is going to emerge that you shouldn't have traded Tyreek Hill. And I don't think anybody if he was even there. You're going six and two with that schedule. And the fourth story that I think will emerge is New England's gonna fool people early. So I want you to look for our radio audience. New England's got the most brutal final eight games, final seven games in the league. It's not close. Their final seven games are at Minnesota with at Weapons, the Bills, at Arizona, at Derek Carr, Joey Burrow Miami they've always struggled with Miami late. At Buffalo they don't have weapons. Those are great offensive teams. They will have significantly fewer weapons against the last seven teams they play, and most are on the road at Minnesota, at Arizona, at Derek Carr, at Buffalo brutal. So but if you look early, you've got a new coach in the opener, a new coach weapons Miami. Who's Pittsburgh's quarterback Week three, Lamar Jackson without his star receiver, Aaron's tough. But then you get Detroit at home, Deshaun Watson may not play at Cleveland. Then it's the Bears and Justin Fields, Zach Wilson, who Belichick owns. So you could see New England obviously at Green Bay as a load, but you could see New England putting up a six and one start. You're facing Jacoby Brissette, Justin Fields, Zach Wilson two over a new coach, Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, Lamar without his top weapon. So I think a story that will emerge early is lookat Mac Jones. New England is unbelievable, coward drum. Their last seven games are barrutal, brutal, and they just don't have the weapons in twenty twenty two to go up against those teams with Mac Jones to me and win three of those games. Maybe, So McCarthy in Trouble packers rough start considering they may not have a left tackle and they got all new receivers. Kansas City schedule brutal early, the Tyree Hill trade was a mistake, and oh, look at Mac Jones in New England. That's why I know people believe that we often overaccentuate schedules. Schedules don't matter in baseball. They don't matter as much the season so long you know best teams. Eventually at one hundred and sixty two games, you can't fool people. In fact, there's a stat years ago. I read that by June first, you know ninety percent of the playoff teams. You can't fool people, but you can fool people in the NFL. You can if you get a September October schedule where you bring back your quarterback and your coordinator and you face new coordinators. And I mean Green Bay is a fascinating team. We know their defense is really good. But Aaron has a history of struggling to trust new guys in the building at wide receiver, even his Jordy Nelson relationship, even his DeVante relationship took years to develop. Well, Aaron's got a three one year contracts. There is no years to develop, Like you gotta win now because Bok tri they have a lot of guys in that offensive front coming off, including their tight end coming off torn Acls. So it's gonna be if some of those guys recover slowly with that early schedule gets very bumpy, very early for the packers. Feel lean and strong. Try M drive Boost and Burn clinically tested ingredients five dollars first two weeks free, first two weeks five bucks shipping free. Go to try m drive dot com. All right, so here we are with our NFL storylines. What would you do this week? Him? I was in saloon where yeah, no, no, and just for the weekend. Yeah, god and four our flight, No, it's long. It's like I think it's four forty five there, but it's about five fifteen on the way back. And was it great? It was? It was beautiful. It's uh, it's the jungle. Lots of wildlife. Yeah, swam in a so note day like a sinkhole with the water in it. Yeah. Yeah, it was pretty cool. I always wanted to go. So wow, do you have been America's travel guide? I got quite a few stamps this year? Yeah? Do you fly one airline? No? No, so you're just giving those miles away. Well now you get a get a credit card that gives you miles, okay, I always use that one, all right, Yeah, because you got a lot of miles. Hour three on a Monday, a lot of an la. It's the herd