1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,600 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast. 2 00:00:02,759 --> 00:00:05,080 Speaker 1: Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox 3 00:00:05,120 --> 00:00:08,319 Speaker 1: Sports Radio in noon to three eastern nine am to 4 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:11,440 Speaker 1: noone Pacific. Find your local station for The Herd at 5 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us live every 6 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:17,799 Speaker 1: day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio 7 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 1: or FSR. 8 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:22,759 Speaker 2: This is the Best of the Herd with Colin cowher 9 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:26,400 Speaker 2: on Fox Sports Radio. 10 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:31,920 Speaker 1: Here we go Wednesday. That's today it is. We're in Chicago, 11 00:00:32,320 --> 00:00:38,160 Speaker 1: the temperatures mid sixties. Honestly, I had to get talked 12 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 1: out of wearing a tank top on the show today. 13 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:43,800 Speaker 1: It's the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you 14 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 1: may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your 15 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:50,120 Speaker 1: day and listen. I got a lot of opinions on 16 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:53,239 Speaker 1: Katie's burner account. It just hasn't been verified yet. When 17 00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 1: it gets verified, I got all sorts of opinions. So 18 00:00:56,440 --> 00:00:58,920 Speaker 1: a lot of people in our space, the talk show space, 19 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:00,480 Speaker 1: they don't like to get called out. That's why I've 20 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 1: always respected guys who don't play it safe, who have 21 00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 1: big opinions. They don't care what you think. They don't 22 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:09,959 Speaker 1: care about the pushback. They The bottom line is, you 23 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 1: can't worry about the critics, you can't worry about fans. 24 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:15,040 Speaker 1: Do your prep. Let it rip, it lands where it lands. 25 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:18,400 Speaker 1: And I saw this this morning. Caleb Williams. According to 26 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 1: NFL dot com, they looked at all the numbers, is 27 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: the NFC norths best quarterback? And my take was, no, 28 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:28,560 Speaker 1: we're getting into a discussion if you count everything that 29 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 1: Caleb Williams may very quickly be the best quarterback. You've 30 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 1: got to count everything with a quarterback, including the cost, 31 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: not including what a quarterback costs. There's a reason the 32 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 1: Bills have no Pro bowlers on defense and the and 33 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 1: the Bears have a stacked roster. It's because Caleb Williams 34 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 1: cost ten million a year. It's a three and a 35 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: half percent cap hit. Lamar Jackson's going to be a 36 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 1: twenty five percent cap hit if you count mobility and 37 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:02,280 Speaker 1: health and all and lack of turnovers this year he 38 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 1: corrected negative plays. It's Caleb Williams. I don't care about resume. 39 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:13,640 Speaker 1: I'm not into past celebrations or pass failures. I'm into 40 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: projecting twenty twenty six Labor Day weekend. Is Caleb the 41 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:23,959 Speaker 1: best quarterback in the league, because discussing quarterbacks without also 42 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 1: acknowledging the cost is like doing your family budget when 43 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 1: you sit down with your wife and not counting the 44 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 1: maserati you bought last year without asking her. Yeah, it's 45 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 1: going to kind of screw up the budget. Not going 46 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:39,959 Speaker 1: to have a nanny this year, not going to be 47 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:44,560 Speaker 1: going to the movies much, forget second vacation, can't afford one. 48 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 1: I looked up the stats this morning. Only one quarterback 49 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:53,000 Speaker 1: in the league had more big time throws twenty plus 50 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:56,800 Speaker 1: throws than Caleb Williams. It wasn't Josh Allen Mahomes and 51 00:02:56,840 --> 00:03:01,120 Speaker 1: it wasn't Lamar Jackson. Caleb Williams has the lowest interception 52 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: rate since he entered the league, better than Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, 53 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:08,520 Speaker 1: Joe Burrow, and Josh Allen. He is now officially the 54 00:03:08,720 --> 00:03:14,360 Speaker 1: fastest quarterback on clock, better than Lamar, faster than Josh 55 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 1: Allen and oh by the way, he also had the 56 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 1: longest completion in the league last year. So if you 57 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:24,200 Speaker 1: count everything and you have to count cost, there is 58 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:28,880 Speaker 1: a reason Drake may Bow, Nicks, Caleb Williams have really 59 00:03:28,919 --> 00:03:31,920 Speaker 1: good rosters and the Buffalo Bills don't have a pro bowler, 60 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 1: or why the Chiefs O line in run games stinks 61 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:38,119 Speaker 1: if you're counting everything I said when he came into 62 00:03:38,160 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 1: this league. I said two things he won't get a 63 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 1: lot of credit for because he's so dynamic. There's so 64 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 1: much horsepower that you're in awe of watching him as 65 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:49,280 Speaker 1: he never gets hurt. And he doesn't throw interceptions. That's 66 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: just the little stuff on the edges. Now he throws 67 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:56,560 Speaker 1: the longest ball and is the fastest quarterback and has 68 00:03:56,600 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 1: the lowest interception rate and his three point five percent 69 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 1: against the cap. Now, once he's gotten rid of the 70 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 1: negative plays which he did last year, is he next year? 71 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 1: All things in the best quarterback in the league. You 72 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:16,359 Speaker 1: can keep telling me about Josh Allen and Mahomes and 73 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:20,200 Speaker 1: Lamar Jackson CJ. Strouds regressed. I think Lamar regressed this year. 74 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:24,840 Speaker 1: I'm not into resumes, I'm into projecting. And he's also 75 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:27,160 Speaker 1: an ascending player. Go look at his last seven regular 76 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 1: season games last year. It was it like fourteen touchdowns, 77 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 1: two picks, something like that. So you know when I 78 00:04:33,320 --> 00:04:36,840 Speaker 1: when I hear this stuff, if you're gonna count and 79 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 1: I think you should for quarterback, I mean, we have 80 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:41,880 Speaker 1: a trend in this league. Highest paid quarterbacks take out 81 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:44,440 Speaker 1: Mahomes in twenty twenty three. They don't make super bowls. 82 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:49,520 Speaker 1: They don't make super bowls. Sam Darnold just did, Drake 83 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:53,280 Speaker 1: May did, Bo Nicks should have. So if you're gonna 84 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:55,480 Speaker 1: count everything, and I mean it's like, how do you 85 00:04:55,520 --> 00:05:00,119 Speaker 1: not count what a quarterback costs? I said it all 86 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 1: this year. Look at the Bears roster offensively, It's stacked interior, 87 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 1: O line, right tackle, running back, depth, wide, receiver, Snowah's ark, 88 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 1: they got two everything. Here's Caleb on Max Crosby's podcast, 89 00:05:14,480 --> 00:05:18,080 Speaker 1: not talking about himself, but what he thinks he can 90 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 1: be part of with the Bears offense this year. I 91 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:22,240 Speaker 1: really want to. 92 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 3: Become the greatest offense this year. That's that's really on 93 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:30,119 Speaker 3: my mind. 94 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 4: I think the. 95 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 3: Average was thirty eight point five or something like that 96 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:35,120 Speaker 3: of Denver. 97 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:38,880 Speaker 4: At Peyton year we have fifty touchdowns. 98 00:05:39,080 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 3: I think he's thirty nine is the is the number? 99 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:46,479 Speaker 3: You know, average score? And so yes, so what we're 100 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:46,840 Speaker 3: going for. 101 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, I don't think it's crazy. You know, we when 102 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 1: things are right in front of you. The NFL is 103 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:01,839 Speaker 1: a hardcap league. Every dollar matters. So you can tell 104 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 1: me how great Josh Allen is and I can tell 105 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:08,400 Speaker 1: you too bad. We can't afford to go get Max Crosby. 106 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 1: You know who can the Bears Denver. Now they're out 107 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 1: from under Russell Wilson's cap hit. So there you go. 108 00:06:19,640 --> 00:06:22,520 Speaker 1: And I don't think that's hyperbolic. I think the kids 109 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:25,799 Speaker 1: that good. The numbers are now all coming in, big throws, speed, 110 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 1: longest completion interception rate, they're all coming in, and it's like, oh, 111 00:06:30,040 --> 00:06:33,160 Speaker 1: they're better than Josh and Lamar and Mahomes and Burrow. 112 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:37,680 Speaker 1: And he never gets hurt and now there's no negative plays. Okay, 113 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:43,840 Speaker 1: I'm here for it. So I saw this. I'm working 114 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:45,719 Speaker 1: on a project right now with a couple of people 115 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:48,720 Speaker 1: and a bunch of people, and it's one of those 116 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:52,800 Speaker 1: Hollywood projects. And the difference is our show is great 117 00:06:52,800 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 1: because j McK and I can prep do the show, 118 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:59,200 Speaker 1: go home, it's done. Hollywood's very glacial, and because of that, 119 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:02,559 Speaker 1: actors can be very frustrating to work with at times. 120 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:06,440 Speaker 1: It's very slow. It's let me get into character, let 121 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 1: me contemplate what the motivation is for this character. And 122 00:07:09,640 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 1: I'm like, bro, let's go got a life to lead, 123 00:07:13,000 --> 00:07:16,880 Speaker 1: cha cha. So I see this story with Aaron Rodgers, 124 00:07:16,920 --> 00:07:20,000 Speaker 1: and Aeron's always been the most Hollywood of the quarterbacks 125 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 1: Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Urgency. Aaron Rodgers is very 126 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:29,320 Speaker 1: much like Christopher Walkin staring out a window. It will 127 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:33,520 Speaker 1: be amazing when I get to it. So I see 128 00:07:33,520 --> 00:07:39,720 Speaker 1: a story this morning, former general manager urges the Steelers 129 00:07:39,760 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 1: to move on from Aaron Rodgers. And I don't think 130 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:47,680 Speaker 1: the general manager dislikes Aaron Rodgers. This is a very 131 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:52,440 Speaker 1: urgent league and Aaron's a very casual guy, and I 132 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:55,760 Speaker 1: think that's much easier to do when you're in your prime. 133 00:07:56,880 --> 00:08:00,120 Speaker 1: You know, when Aaron first exploded onto the scene, he 134 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 1: was a little like the very first flat screen TVs. 135 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:08,160 Speaker 1: WHOA what is that? You hang it on your wall? 136 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:11,640 Speaker 1: Like god, it's like eighty eight inches, Like not that 137 00:08:11,720 --> 00:08:14,559 Speaker 1: many people if anybody else you know in your group 138 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:18,520 Speaker 1: had the giant flat screen. Now everybody has them, and 139 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 1: they're not that special, and it's kind of embarrassing if 140 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:24,800 Speaker 1: you don't. And it's so it's like something to not 141 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:28,520 Speaker 1: necessarily brag about. They're kind of giving them away, and 142 00:08:28,560 --> 00:08:31,920 Speaker 1: that's how I kind of look at Aaron. Aaron's casual 143 00:08:32,040 --> 00:08:36,960 Speaker 1: nature was much cooler when he was much better, and 144 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:39,679 Speaker 1: I thought he had a really good year. But I'm 145 00:08:39,840 --> 00:08:43,920 Speaker 1: i'm I'm thinking about Mike McCarthy's building his staff. Free 146 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:46,959 Speaker 1: agency starts in three weeks. It's like, Aaron, you're forty 147 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: two years old. There are certain things. By the time 148 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 1: you're forty two, you mostly give a quick answer to like, hey, 149 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 1: do you want to come back for your job? Do 150 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:58,560 Speaker 1: you like it here? What do we got to pay you? 151 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 1: That stuff's harder at and maybe it's harder at eighty, 152 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:06,200 Speaker 1: but when you're like when you're a pro athlete at forty, 153 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 1: you kind of know when a season ends, I don't 154 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 1: want to go to that again. I don't want to 155 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:15,120 Speaker 1: get hit again. I'm not into it. So I it's 156 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 1: you got you know, Albert Breer on Monday on the 157 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:21,680 Speaker 1: I would go get Malie Willis. And it's nothing against Aaron, 158 00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:24,200 Speaker 1: who I defend it all year. But it's like, bro, 159 00:09:24,520 --> 00:09:29,960 Speaker 1: this whole Hollywood casual indifferent thing. I mean, Tom Brady 160 00:09:30,040 --> 00:09:34,480 Speaker 1: is LFG, Aaron Rodgers is LFC. Let's f and chill, 161 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:37,440 Speaker 1: and I think that's much easier when you're in your prime. 162 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 1: Here's Albert Breer on if the Steelers should wait for 163 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:45,320 Speaker 1: ar I know the Steelers like Will Howard. 164 00:09:45,360 --> 00:09:46,920 Speaker 5: I don't think they like him to the level where 165 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:48,720 Speaker 5: it's like, we're not going to do anything else. 166 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 4: At quarterback, you know. 167 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:52,400 Speaker 5: And then if you are going to wait for him, 168 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 5: the problem is than all that quarterback movement that happens 169 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 5: in the middle of March. I mean, you could be 170 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:01,400 Speaker 5: left with you know, everybody's got their seat, you know, 171 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:04,440 Speaker 5: in the game of musical chairs, and you're left with nothing. 172 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:07,160 Speaker 5: I don't think Art Rooney wants to be bad this year. 173 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 5: I don't think he wants to bought him out. I 174 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 5: think bringing in Mike McCarthy as the head coach tells you, 175 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:16,640 Speaker 5: you know, implicitly that they do not want to go 176 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:20,720 Speaker 5: through the full rebuild all at once. Go be bad 177 00:10:20,800 --> 00:10:22,680 Speaker 5: for a couple of years in draft a quarterback. 178 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:27,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, I when I read this story, I think to myself, 179 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:32,480 Speaker 1: the whole casualness is it works for actors, It works 180 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:35,400 Speaker 1: when you're in your prime as an athlete. I it 181 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:39,080 Speaker 1: would drive me insane if I was Mike McCarthy. I'm 182 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:41,679 Speaker 1: trying to figure out the draft. I got free agency 183 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:44,360 Speaker 1: I'm looking at film. I'm trying to figure out my roster, 184 00:10:44,960 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 1: and the most important position is I'll get back to you. 185 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 1: Bring your wife. Maybe I'm married, maybe I'm not. Wait 186 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:54,720 Speaker 1: what huh, it's just to me. It's like I need answers, 187 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:59,520 Speaker 1: bro like fast. I'm building a business here, j Mac. 188 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:02,920 Speaker 1: There are some Laker stuff percolating. I also want you 189 00:11:02,960 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 1: to work on that KD. Burner story. 190 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 6: Callery is firing on all cylinders today. It's almost like 191 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 6: he's excited about something. 192 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:12,040 Speaker 1: Is it the return of the NBA tomorrow. Maybe it's 193 00:11:12,040 --> 00:11:14,640 Speaker 1: my vacation, Oh, vacation. 194 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:16,760 Speaker 6: That's what I thought. It was Michigan Duke on Saturday. 195 00:11:16,880 --> 00:11:18,320 Speaker 6: You got to set an alarm in your phone for 196 00:11:18,360 --> 00:11:18,760 Speaker 6: that one. 197 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 1: Well, Michigan's a giant team, so if you don't have length, 198 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 1: you're in big trouble against the Wolverines. 199 00:11:25,800 --> 00:11:28,800 Speaker 6: It's a great game. Yeah, So listen, you want the KD. 200 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 6: Burner stuff, I'm on it, boss, Yes, sir. 201 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:37,560 Speaker 1: Well there is. There's been stories about somebody found Kd's 202 00:11:37,559 --> 00:11:40,720 Speaker 1: burner and he takes a shot at teammates, and he's 203 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:43,520 Speaker 1: taking it shots at guys he plays with. And I 204 00:11:43,520 --> 00:11:45,480 Speaker 1: don't know if it's true or not, but people are 205 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:49,400 Speaker 1: acting surprised. And my take is, guys, we always said 206 00:11:49,440 --> 00:11:53,560 Speaker 1: this about KD. Great player, not a great leader. You 207 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:58,600 Speaker 1: don't build a round kit. You build around Steph, Magic Bird, Lebron, 208 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 1: Kobe Duncan. There are players you build around, and then 209 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 1: there's just players that are really talented leaders. Steph Curry, 210 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 1: you would never hear this story with Steph Curry on 211 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:11,959 Speaker 1: the burner. You would never hear that story with Lebron 212 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:14,560 Speaker 1: on the burner. You would never hear that story with 213 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:18,160 Speaker 1: Tim Duncan in a burner account. Yo, Kitch Luca sd 214 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:22,920 Speaker 1: k D. If you told me this story, guess who 215 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:26,200 Speaker 1: it is? I would say, Well, who's not a leader, 216 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 1: who's kind of an independent, who's a guy that's just 217 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:31,200 Speaker 1: a ball er doing his own thing. I'd be like, Oh, 218 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:35,000 Speaker 1: that's probably KD. So it plays into his brand, which 219 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:38,480 Speaker 1: is he's not married, he's doing his own thing, he's 220 00:12:38,520 --> 00:12:41,840 Speaker 1: a little thin skinned, he battles on the internet. He's 221 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:45,079 Speaker 1: staring at his phone all day. And that's remember we've 222 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:48,079 Speaker 1: talked about this before. He's got rabbit ears because he's 223 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:49,840 Speaker 1: on the phone all day. Married guys with a bunch 224 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 1: of kids aren't on phones all day, at least guys 225 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:54,280 Speaker 1: I know, and so I think single guys are. If 226 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:55,839 Speaker 1: you go to a restaurant and you watch two people 227 00:12:55,840 --> 00:12:57,640 Speaker 1: on a date and they're both singling, they're young, they're 228 00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:02,600 Speaker 1: on their phones, that's generational. So to me calling out teammates, 229 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:04,760 Speaker 1: people are shocked by it, I'm like, no, I'd be 230 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:09,960 Speaker 1: shocked if it was Steph Curry or Duncan or or 231 00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:12,520 Speaker 1: you know the guys in this league like Jalen Brunson, 232 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:16,840 Speaker 1: I'd be shocked. No way, Steph Curry shocked, Yo, get shocked. KD. 233 00:13:16,920 --> 00:13:19,000 Speaker 1: I'd be like, that's kind of what we've always said. 234 00:13:19,480 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 1: You don't build around him. He's not the cake. He's 235 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:26,240 Speaker 1: just unbelievable. Icing And there you have it. If it's true. 236 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:29,040 Speaker 2: Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays 237 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 2: in noon eastern nine am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio 238 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 2: FS one and the iHeartRadio app. Fox Sports Radio is 239 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 2: taking over YouTube and you can be a part of it. 240 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:43,000 Speaker 2: Just go to YouTube and search Fox Sports Radio. 241 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:46,600 Speaker 7: If that subscribe button and smash that notification bill and 242 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:49,520 Speaker 7: catch all the videos from your favorite shows. Due Pro's 243 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:52,200 Speaker 7: and a Cup of Joe Dan Patrick, Colin Cower, Doug 244 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:55,080 Speaker 7: Gottlieb Cavino and Rich The Odd Couple with Rob Parker 245 00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:58,000 Speaker 7: and Kelvin Washington, The Jason Smith Show with Mike Harmon, 246 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:01,800 Speaker 7: and The Ben Maller Show Sports Radio on YouTube. 247 00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:07,920 Speaker 1: Subscribe, hit that thumbs up icon and comment away, welcome in. 248 00:14:08,679 --> 00:14:10,160 Speaker 1: I never forget this. 249 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:10,720 Speaker 2: I was. 250 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:14,600 Speaker 1: I'm watching a documentary right now. It is fantastic. I'm 251 00:14:14,640 --> 00:14:18,840 Speaker 1: three parts of four parts through it. It's called Soul Power. 252 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:25,240 Speaker 1: It's the story of the ABA. And the ABA was 253 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 1: initially legitimized because they stole a star from the NBA, 254 00:14:29,960 --> 00:14:34,440 Speaker 1: Rick Berry, the MVP. But it was ultimately legitimized not 255 00:14:34,640 --> 00:14:38,960 Speaker 1: by Rick Berry alone but by Doctor J. A star 256 00:14:39,280 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 1: with star power. Yes, he was a great player, Doctor J. 257 00:14:43,280 --> 00:14:47,760 Speaker 1: The Dunks. And then the NBA had a down period 258 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:51,120 Speaker 1: and David Stern came in and what saved the NBA 259 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:57,880 Speaker 1: star power, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and and and then 260 00:14:57,920 --> 00:15:01,000 Speaker 1: this the league went global. Who gets credit for that? 261 00:15:01,160 --> 00:15:07,000 Speaker 1: David Stern agents no Michael Jordan superstar. So in review, 262 00:15:07,520 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 1: what legitimized the ABA? Why did the NBA look at 263 00:15:10,920 --> 00:15:17,360 Speaker 1: the ABA and go we should merge Doctor J? And 264 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 1: then there was saved by Magic and Bird went global 265 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:25,000 Speaker 1: by MJ. What is the biggest hole the NBA right 266 00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 1: now has. It's not money, They're making a lot of money. 267 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:30,600 Speaker 1: It's not ratings. Now All Star Game, we got great ratings. 268 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:36,320 Speaker 1: A lot of the international guys lacked star power. SGA 269 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:39,640 Speaker 1: lacks star power. He's just a great player, saying with Jokic, 270 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:43,520 Speaker 1: Wemby's got a little bit of it, Luca's got a 271 00:15:43,560 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 1: little bit of it. Not close to stephanor Lebron. It's 272 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:50,040 Speaker 1: a star driven league. And so when I watch what's happening, 273 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:52,560 Speaker 1: I'm reading a story this morning on Magic. Johnson was 274 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:54,840 Speaker 1: on All the Smoke, a podcast, and he was talking 275 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:58,440 Speaker 1: about how we got Lebron, a very smart businessman, very 276 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 1: shrewd businessman. Magic and Lebron, how we got him to La. 277 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:04,320 Speaker 1: It wasn't because the Lakers had the best front office, 278 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:07,680 Speaker 1: the best owners, or the best roster. In fact, they 279 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:09,760 Speaker 1: were at the bottom of the group of teams. But 280 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:15,400 Speaker 1: Magic knew Lebron's a star. Stars love La. You can 281 00:16:15,480 --> 00:16:18,120 Speaker 1: hide in la O. Tani was offered a lot of places. 282 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:20,760 Speaker 1: He stayed in La to a better baseball team. You 283 00:16:20,760 --> 00:16:25,520 Speaker 1: can hide here, right and So what's interesting about this article. 284 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 1: It really makes me think of David Stern and Adam Silver. 285 00:16:31,880 --> 00:16:34,720 Speaker 1: Adam Silver is getting criticized during All Star weekend. The 286 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 1: league's got issues and they do so did baseball years ago, 287 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:40,880 Speaker 1: and the commissioner tweaked them, change them, altered them, and 288 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:44,000 Speaker 1: it's been a renaissance for baseball. But one of the 289 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 1: things basketball has to lean into is star cities. The 290 00:16:49,000 --> 00:16:52,360 Speaker 1: reason Rucker Park is cool is that it's not in Sacramento. 291 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:55,520 Speaker 1: It's not in Cleveland, it's not in Omaha, it's not 292 00:16:55,560 --> 00:16:58,400 Speaker 1: in Memphis. It's in New York City. And New York 293 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:01,440 Speaker 1: City's cooler than Memphis. And it matters more. We got 294 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:05,360 Speaker 1: two trillion dollar GT beat GDPs in this country, LA 295 00:17:05,359 --> 00:17:10,840 Speaker 1: and New York trillion plus. Lean into it. Lean into stars. 296 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:14,560 Speaker 1: It saved your league. It legitimized the ABA. When your 297 00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 1: league was broken, you leaned on them. Your most popular 298 00:17:17,320 --> 00:17:20,360 Speaker 1: teams have been star studed, your best players have been stars. 299 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:23,720 Speaker 1: They made your sport global. They sell the most merchandise. 300 00:17:24,359 --> 00:17:28,040 Speaker 1: Stop trying to neutralize market size and market share. It 301 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:30,840 Speaker 1: does matter. There's a reason on the East Coast in 302 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:34,440 Speaker 1: a winter league, the one place that historically keeps landing stars. 303 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:40,639 Speaker 1: Is Miami star friendly, no state tax, aqua water, celebrities everywhere. 304 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:44,879 Speaker 1: That's the one Eat Boston, New York, Philly. Now a 305 00:17:44,920 --> 00:17:47,000 Speaker 1: lot of them want to go to Miami Winter League, 306 00:17:47,040 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 1: warm weather, no state tax, aqua water. Lean into it. 307 00:17:51,240 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 3: This. 308 00:17:51,480 --> 00:17:54,840 Speaker 1: Magic Johnson's a prime example. Magic figured it out. He's like, 309 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:57,720 Speaker 1: this is a celebrity town. It's a celebrity league. You're 310 00:17:57,760 --> 00:18:01,399 Speaker 1: a star. It's spread out on top of you. And 311 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:06,000 Speaker 1: choose the Lakers because they were good. And I think 312 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:09,119 Speaker 1: it's unnatural to try and convince us we have to 313 00:18:09,160 --> 00:18:12,720 Speaker 1: care about OKC as much as the Knicks and the Lakers. 314 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:15,520 Speaker 1: It's always been a city league. It's never been a 315 00:18:15,600 --> 00:18:19,280 Speaker 1: rural league. It's never been a media market league. Hell, Portland, Oregon, 316 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:21,159 Speaker 1: where I used to live, they've never even hosted an 317 00:18:21,240 --> 00:18:24,400 Speaker 1: NBA All Star Game. They don't have enough hotel rooms. Apparently, 318 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:28,400 Speaker 1: I'm not making it up. They've never been a proud 319 00:18:28,560 --> 00:18:31,399 Speaker 1: NBA franchise forever and will remain for the next one 320 00:18:31,480 --> 00:18:34,359 Speaker 1: hundred years. Probably. They've never hosted an All Star Game. 321 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:36,760 Speaker 1: Why the league's like, you're not big enough. So the 322 00:18:36,840 --> 00:18:40,400 Speaker 1: league acknowledges and David Stern was very comfortable leaning into 323 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:47,240 Speaker 1: the big city. So I don't know. I magic Johnson 324 00:18:47,280 --> 00:18:50,720 Speaker 1: figured it out. He recruited Lebron. There were seven teams 325 00:18:50,760 --> 00:18:53,240 Speaker 1: after him. He's like, you can hide here, you can 326 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:55,960 Speaker 1: In the story he's saying, you can be a billionaire here. 327 00:18:56,240 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 1: You're not going to be a billionaire in Acron unless 328 00:18:58,760 --> 00:19:03,439 Speaker 1: you're like in you know you've got factories, right, Like, 329 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:07,199 Speaker 1: that's not gonna work. Here. Was Nick right yesterday on 330 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:08,680 Speaker 1: Lebron's future with the Lakers. 331 00:19:09,920 --> 00:19:12,760 Speaker 8: I do not believe Lebron James is retiring, and I 332 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:15,640 Speaker 8: do not believe Lebron James will be a Laker next year. 333 00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:19,520 Speaker 8: I think wherever the final chapter is going to be 334 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 8: will be somewhere else. Is a basketball crime that you 335 00:19:26,359 --> 00:19:31,959 Speaker 8: had Lebron James on your roster, who Luca modeled his 336 00:19:32,119 --> 00:19:36,240 Speaker 8: game after, and the types of players that you need 337 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:40,320 Speaker 8: to have around an older Lebron James to succeed are 338 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:42,680 Speaker 8: the exact types of players. 339 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:44,120 Speaker 1: You need to have around Luke at Ancic. 340 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:46,880 Speaker 8: And they trade for Luke at Ancic and we're more 341 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:49,600 Speaker 8: than a year removed, and they're like, man, we sure 342 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:52,440 Speaker 8: don't have the right types of guys around him. 343 00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:56,399 Speaker 1: A lot of people think Lebron doesn't end his career 344 00:19:56,400 --> 00:19:59,119 Speaker 1: in LA. But there was a story yesterday and it 345 00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:02,200 Speaker 1: was written about in confirmed again today. The Lakers are 346 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:05,159 Speaker 1: bringing him back if he wants to come back. And 347 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:10,400 Speaker 1: of course he wants to come back. That's why Stafford's here, 348 00:20:10,440 --> 00:20:13,800 Speaker 1: and Otani's here and Freddie Freeman is here. Of course 349 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:17,480 Speaker 1: he wants to come back. It's a city league. He's 350 00:20:17,520 --> 00:20:20,879 Speaker 1: a celebrity, he's a star. The league can try to 351 00:20:21,200 --> 00:20:24,040 Speaker 1: convince us that we have to care about Indiana, OKC 352 00:20:24,200 --> 00:20:27,680 Speaker 1: and San Antonio as much. The players don't. They may 353 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:30,840 Speaker 1: get drafted and developed there. The players don't. They've always 354 00:20:30,840 --> 00:20:32,280 Speaker 1: had certain cities they want to play in. 355 00:20:32,600 --> 00:20:35,240 Speaker 2: Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays 356 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:37,159 Speaker 2: and noon Easter not a em Pacific. 357 00:20:39,640 --> 00:20:43,199 Speaker 1: So we said a lot of it. There's a story 358 00:20:43,240 --> 00:20:50,440 Speaker 1: out there about Kevin Durant All Star Weekend. Somebody found 359 00:20:50,800 --> 00:20:54,600 Speaker 1: its surface that he had a burner account allegedly and 360 00:20:54,640 --> 00:20:58,159 Speaker 1: he was banging on she goon his teammate Jabari Smith, 361 00:20:58,200 --> 00:21:00,240 Speaker 1: and he was criticizing a lot of players don't legue, 362 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:03,960 Speaker 1: including his teammates. And before it was validated My take is, 363 00:21:04,240 --> 00:21:07,600 Speaker 1: I'm not really surprised because I've always thought he's an 364 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:10,000 Speaker 1: all time great player. But like a James Harden or 365 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:13,800 Speaker 1: a Kawhi Leonard, he's not necessarily somebody I would build around. 366 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:17,040 Speaker 1: He's not a leader. He's just a great talent, and 367 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:22,280 Speaker 1: you know, and that's a commodity to have somebody that's 368 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:27,520 Speaker 1: great and wants to lead. Curry, Magic, Lebron, Tim Duncan, 369 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:31,720 Speaker 1: like that stuff is most pro athletes that's not just 370 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:37,200 Speaker 1: natural like it organically. They're just great leaders. Fortunately many 371 00:21:37,320 --> 00:21:40,439 Speaker 1: quarterbacks are. But when I heard the story about Katie, 372 00:21:40,520 --> 00:21:43,720 Speaker 1: my take his I wouldn't be shocked by it. A 373 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:46,280 Speaker 1: lot of time on his phone, tends to have little 374 00:21:46,359 --> 00:21:50,439 Speaker 1: rabbit ears, you know, lack a little self awareness if 375 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:53,160 Speaker 1: you're on a burner phone, ripping teammates. He was asked 376 00:21:53,160 --> 00:21:56,120 Speaker 1: about it today and would not He did not deny it, 377 00:21:56,160 --> 00:21:57,399 Speaker 1: but he did not confirm it. 378 00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:00,320 Speaker 7: I know you got to ask these questions, but I'm 379 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:01,800 Speaker 7: not here to get into Twitter nonsense. 380 00:22:01,840 --> 00:22:03,720 Speaker 4: I'm just here to focus on the season. 381 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:04,640 Speaker 1: Keep it pushing off. 382 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:05,760 Speaker 6: But I know I. 383 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:06,919 Speaker 4: Gets you have to answer those Christmas. 384 00:22:07,760 --> 00:22:11,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, I does it bother me? Yeah? I don't think 385 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:15,800 Speaker 1: it's great to bag on your teammates. But I also 386 00:22:15,960 --> 00:22:18,639 Speaker 1: I've always said I would love to have KD on 387 00:22:18,720 --> 00:22:21,840 Speaker 1: my team. I wouldn't build around him, but I'd love 388 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:24,680 Speaker 1: him to be He could be the most talented guy 389 00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:27,240 Speaker 1: on the Warriors, but I thought the soul of the 390 00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:30,600 Speaker 1: team was Kerr Stephen Draymond. He was just the most 391 00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:35,040 Speaker 1: talented guy. With that Lance zerline. Before we get into 392 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:38,439 Speaker 1: the football host daily radio show in Houston, Kd's a 393 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:41,639 Speaker 1: rocket obviously. So how have you guys handled this story? 394 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:42,479 Speaker 1: What do you make of it? 395 00:22:43,560 --> 00:22:45,359 Speaker 9: Well, I mean, you know, we had a little about 396 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:47,119 Speaker 9: like everyone else is. You know, at first, it was 397 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:49,680 Speaker 9: very curious. Kind of had my doubts. I mean why, 398 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:53,840 Speaker 9: I don't know. It seemed plausible simply because KD has 399 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:55,640 Speaker 9: been that guy in the past. 400 00:22:55,359 --> 00:22:56,240 Speaker 4: But I don't know. 401 00:22:56,280 --> 00:22:58,119 Speaker 9: I thought, I don't know if I buy into this, 402 00:22:58,200 --> 00:23:01,840 Speaker 9: And then you start thinking about group text exchanges and 403 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 9: things that aren't meant for the public, and is there 404 00:23:04,240 --> 00:23:05,440 Speaker 9: a chance he could have done it? 405 00:23:05,640 --> 00:23:07,560 Speaker 4: Absolutely? And I think what. 406 00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:09,560 Speaker 9: You talk about is he'll tell you right off the 407 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:11,720 Speaker 9: bat he doesn't want to be the team leader. He 408 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:14,840 Speaker 9: doesn't That's never what he wants to do, and so 409 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:18,200 Speaker 9: I think it's good that they have Emo Dooka. You know, Colin, 410 00:23:18,280 --> 00:23:21,159 Speaker 9: this team is not playing very good basketball currently. I 411 00:23:21,160 --> 00:23:25,160 Speaker 9: mean they've they've really fallen off over the last month basically. 412 00:23:25,560 --> 00:23:27,440 Speaker 4: So this is it's bad timing. 413 00:23:27,520 --> 00:23:29,040 Speaker 9: I don't think it's going to have an impact on 414 00:23:29,080 --> 00:23:32,040 Speaker 9: the court necessarily, but I do think it's worth a 415 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:34,760 Speaker 9: different conversation about how we end up viewing Kevin Durant 416 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:35,600 Speaker 9: win his career is over. 417 00:23:36,000 --> 00:23:38,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean it's an interesting team. Shen Goon's talented, 418 00:23:38,800 --> 00:23:41,439 Speaker 1: but a euro is he going to be like the leader? 419 00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:44,280 Speaker 1: Katie doesn't want to be a men. Thompson's too young. 420 00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:49,320 Speaker 1: The talent's there, but I mean they've got a very strong, willed, 421 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:54,480 Speaker 1: excellent coach. Maybe that's the leader. But you know, it's interesting. 422 00:23:55,160 --> 00:23:59,879 Speaker 1: Kad is one of those guys, and and Lebron and 423 00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:03,639 Speaker 1: feels a little bit like this. They're great and they're talented, 424 00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:06,919 Speaker 1: but Magic felt like the Lakers. Kobe felt like a Laker. 425 00:24:07,040 --> 00:24:10,040 Speaker 1: Jeter felt like a Yankee, you know, even when he left. 426 00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:12,960 Speaker 1: Ken Griffy felt like a Mariner even though he left. 427 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:15,800 Speaker 1: It's like people think he likes us more. How is 428 00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:19,400 Speaker 1: kad How is he viewed in Houston, a very good 429 00:24:19,400 --> 00:24:22,840 Speaker 1: basketball city with very passionate fans. Yeah. 430 00:24:22,920 --> 00:24:26,080 Speaker 9: Still, you know, it's still honeymoon phase. So this kind 431 00:24:26,080 --> 00:24:29,120 Speaker 9: of story a year removed. Maybe if he had played 432 00:24:29,119 --> 00:24:32,960 Speaker 9: poorly in the playoffs, it could impact it differently. Right now, 433 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:36,120 Speaker 9: I think it's just weighing on everyone just a little 434 00:24:36,119 --> 00:24:38,439 Speaker 9: bit and they're kind of curious to see where this goes. 435 00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:42,720 Speaker 9: But everyone's handling it okay for right now. But let's 436 00:24:42,760 --> 00:24:44,680 Speaker 9: see what happens when in the win and lost Colum, 437 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:47,359 Speaker 9: because you know, just like I do, the real mess 438 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:51,000 Speaker 9: starts when you start to underperform and you don't win 439 00:24:51,040 --> 00:24:54,159 Speaker 9: and clutch situations, that's when it really happens. Katie has 440 00:24:54,160 --> 00:24:57,320 Speaker 9: been a great addition, maybe hasn't won as many games 441 00:24:57,320 --> 00:24:59,760 Speaker 9: down the stretches as Rocket fans that hope with some 442 00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:01,640 Speaker 9: of the that just goes to you know, they're still 443 00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:04,200 Speaker 9: figuring out him versus Shingngoon who needs the ball in 444 00:25:04,240 --> 00:25:07,159 Speaker 9: their hands. And you know, he's not a demanding player. 445 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:09,560 Speaker 9: We talk about the leadership thing. He's not an Alpha 446 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:11,800 Speaker 9: give me the ball, give me the ball type guy, 447 00:25:12,160 --> 00:25:13,960 Speaker 9: and so sometimes he's not going to get the ball 448 00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:16,520 Speaker 9: maybe when he wants the ball because he's done demanded. 449 00:25:16,520 --> 00:25:19,760 Speaker 1: Land Zerline, NFL dot com draft analyst, doing it for 450 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:22,159 Speaker 1: a long time, covering the league for twenty four years. 451 00:25:22,560 --> 00:25:25,240 Speaker 1: So let's just get to the quarterback and the quarterbacks. 452 00:25:25,280 --> 00:25:29,199 Speaker 1: Mendoza is a clear number one pick, Ty Simpson, you 453 00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:32,080 Speaker 1: have late first round, which I said yesterday, there are 454 00:25:32,119 --> 00:25:37,120 Speaker 1: certain things men will spend on and reach on, regardless cars, 455 00:25:37,320 --> 00:25:40,240 Speaker 1: another driver in their golf bag, and quarterbacks. Somebody's going 456 00:25:40,320 --> 00:25:44,040 Speaker 1: to reach for Ty Simpson. Let's start with him. I 457 00:25:44,080 --> 00:25:46,520 Speaker 1: think he feels a little bit like a less mobile 458 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:50,800 Speaker 1: Jackson Dart. He's talented, he faced sec defenses, he had 459 00:25:50,840 --> 00:25:53,159 Speaker 1: some good receivers, he didn't have a ton of a 460 00:25:53,240 --> 00:25:56,800 Speaker 1: run support behind him. I think he's probably with the 461 00:25:56,880 --> 00:26:00,480 Speaker 1: right coach, a franchise quarterback. How how do you view 462 00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:03,359 Speaker 1: Ty Simpson, Let's say, compared to a Jackson Dart, is 463 00:26:03,359 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 1: he as good a prospect as the Giants rookie quarterback 464 00:26:07,040 --> 00:26:07,440 Speaker 1: this year? 465 00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:11,600 Speaker 9: I have a higher grade on Jackson Dart, but I 466 00:26:11,600 --> 00:26:13,720 Speaker 9: can tell you know, based on the way I saw 467 00:26:13,800 --> 00:26:16,800 Speaker 9: Jackson Dart play, I would put Jackson Dart over Ty Simpson. 468 00:26:16,840 --> 00:26:19,879 Speaker 9: I think Jackson Dart has a level of confidence that 469 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:22,080 Speaker 9: you have to have. It's kind of rare for a 470 00:26:22,160 --> 00:26:25,240 Speaker 9: rookie in New York to be unfazed by that market. 471 00:26:25,440 --> 00:26:27,440 Speaker 9: And I liked a lot of what I saw from 472 00:26:27,480 --> 00:26:30,919 Speaker 9: Jackson Dart from a mobility standpoint, from a confidence standpoint, 473 00:26:31,200 --> 00:26:33,920 Speaker 9: he looked like a guy who belongs. And I feel 474 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:36,800 Speaker 9: like I was way off on his evaluation. I think 475 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:39,480 Speaker 9: he's going to be much much better. Ty Simpson, you 476 00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:41,760 Speaker 9: know the mistakes he makes, Colin, he does a lot 477 00:26:41,760 --> 00:26:44,399 Speaker 9: of things that are synonymous with first year quarterbacks, first 478 00:26:44,480 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 9: year starters. And he's twenty three years old, but he 479 00:26:46,920 --> 00:26:50,280 Speaker 9: started one season, so you know, a little bit lazy 480 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:52,400 Speaker 9: with the eye discipline, that the feet get a little 481 00:26:52,480 --> 00:26:56,080 Speaker 9: jittery when the pocket starts to heat up. Sometimes he 482 00:26:56,320 --> 00:26:58,320 Speaker 9: doesn't know when to get rid of the football at times. 483 00:26:58,359 --> 00:27:01,240 Speaker 9: He trailed off the second half of the season. Maybe 484 00:27:01,240 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 9: team's got a book on him that's synonymous with quarterbacks 485 00:27:04,320 --> 00:27:05,960 Speaker 9: who've been doing it for one year. So I still 486 00:27:05,960 --> 00:27:07,560 Speaker 9: think there's a lot of growth. I see a lot 487 00:27:07,560 --> 00:27:10,360 Speaker 9: of things I like. I do think it may feel 488 00:27:10,440 --> 00:27:13,080 Speaker 9: lazy because it's Alabama Alabama, but I think from a 489 00:27:13,080 --> 00:27:16,840 Speaker 9: skill skill set, standpoint, there's a lot of similarities to 490 00:27:16,920 --> 00:27:18,960 Speaker 9: mac Jones coming out, and I had a second round 491 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:22,359 Speaker 9: grade on Mac Jones and my grade on my greade 492 00:27:22,359 --> 00:27:24,480 Speaker 9: on Ty Simpsons is going to be two three. But 493 00:27:24,680 --> 00:27:26,679 Speaker 9: I do think he has a chance to be a 494 00:27:26,760 --> 00:27:29,680 Speaker 9: legitimate starter and a good starter in the NFL. 495 00:27:30,080 --> 00:27:32,280 Speaker 4: It just really depends on He's going. 496 00:27:32,240 --> 00:27:34,760 Speaker 9: To be very dependent upon where he goes and the 497 00:27:34,800 --> 00:27:37,679 Speaker 9: type of tutelage he gets in that red shirt year. 498 00:27:37,680 --> 00:27:40,240 Speaker 9: And I think having a red shirt year is really important. 499 00:27:40,280 --> 00:27:42,240 Speaker 9: That's why I think, you know, a chance to play 500 00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:45,040 Speaker 9: with the Rams would probably be optimal for Ty Simpsons. 501 00:27:45,119 --> 00:27:47,880 Speaker 1: So Mendoza, give me the red flag. We picked these 502 00:27:47,880 --> 00:27:50,719 Speaker 1: guys apart. Give me the red flag on Mendoza. And 503 00:27:50,760 --> 00:27:53,080 Speaker 1: what worries you the most? Because we know he's big, 504 00:27:53,119 --> 00:27:55,800 Speaker 1: and he's got a decent arm, and he's a great kid, 505 00:27:55,840 --> 00:27:58,639 Speaker 1: and he's humbling, gracious, and he won big games. I 506 00:27:58,640 --> 00:28:01,120 Speaker 1: thought he got much better beginning to end of the year. 507 00:28:01,240 --> 00:28:02,760 Speaker 1: What's the red flag on him? 508 00:28:03,320 --> 00:28:05,640 Speaker 9: Red flag is going to be pocket mobility. The red 509 00:28:05,640 --> 00:28:07,679 Speaker 9: flag is going to be and this is my biggest concern. 510 00:28:07,720 --> 00:28:10,119 Speaker 9: I think he throws the ball from a from an 511 00:28:10,119 --> 00:28:13,119 Speaker 9: accuracy standpoint a baseline accuracy, like Joe Burrow did when 512 00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:16,280 Speaker 9: he was coming out. It's just it's really impressive. His 513 00:28:16,359 --> 00:28:19,080 Speaker 9: ability to hit receivers in stride and throw the ball 514 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:23,240 Speaker 9: right to your hands every single time. He's unfazed by 515 00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:25,000 Speaker 9: a lot of what he sees. I think he gets 516 00:28:25,200 --> 00:28:28,160 Speaker 9: he attacks the intermediate pockets and zones. But my big 517 00:28:28,200 --> 00:28:31,000 Speaker 9: concern Colin is that if you don't protect him properly, 518 00:28:31,280 --> 00:28:34,240 Speaker 9: Joe Burrow could slide around in a pocket, get outside 519 00:28:34,240 --> 00:28:36,720 Speaker 9: of the problem and make some things happen. 520 00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:39,520 Speaker 4: That's not Fernando Mendoza. I know he's tough. 521 00:28:39,560 --> 00:28:42,320 Speaker 9: We all saw the touchdown run in the National Championship game. 522 00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:44,800 Speaker 9: But when the pocket heat gets you know, when it 523 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:47,479 Speaker 9: actually leaks inside the pocket, he's pretty much cooked. 524 00:28:47,720 --> 00:28:49,160 Speaker 4: And he's not real pocket mobile. 525 00:28:49,200 --> 00:28:53,520 Speaker 9: In terms of sliding around, climbing sliding, which Ty Sampson 526 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:56,760 Speaker 9: ironically is really good at that, Fernando's not great at it. 527 00:28:56,800 --> 00:28:59,400 Speaker 4: So I think he has to be protected. 528 00:28:59,160 --> 00:29:02,160 Speaker 9: At an above actge level and has to have a 529 00:29:02,240 --> 00:29:05,680 Speaker 9: running game to kind of neutralize, you know, defenses a 530 00:29:05,760 --> 00:29:08,720 Speaker 9: little bit. I think everything about that you mentioned about 531 00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:11,720 Speaker 9: Fernando Mendoza is dead on, But if you want to 532 00:29:11,720 --> 00:29:14,600 Speaker 9: look for a red flag, it's the fact that pressure 533 00:29:14,680 --> 00:29:18,960 Speaker 9: can maybe unduly take him out of his potential faster 534 00:29:19,040 --> 00:29:20,880 Speaker 9: than some of the other top quarterbacks we've seen over 535 00:29:20,920 --> 00:29:21,800 Speaker 9: the last few years. 536 00:29:22,000 --> 00:29:24,960 Speaker 1: If I said to you, can't miss athlete, and I 537 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:26,959 Speaker 1: think there's a couple in this draft. If I just 538 00:29:27,000 --> 00:29:31,280 Speaker 1: said too talented to miss, give me two guys that 539 00:29:31,360 --> 00:29:32,880 Speaker 1: you just think can't miss. 540 00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:36,680 Speaker 4: Yeah, Mansur Delaane, cornerback at LSU. 541 00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:40,040 Speaker 9: I've got him as my highest rated cornerback since Patrick Certan, 542 00:29:40,120 --> 00:29:42,560 Speaker 9: who I gave a seven to zero grade to Mansur, 543 00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:45,000 Speaker 9: I've got a six to eight, which basically means he's 544 00:29:45,000 --> 00:29:47,720 Speaker 9: on the high end of Pro Bowl to all all 545 00:29:47,760 --> 00:29:51,400 Speaker 9: pro caliber type player from LSU. If you haven't seen him, 546 00:29:51,560 --> 00:29:55,160 Speaker 9: he's very fast, he's very sticky, great feet, just a 547 00:29:55,320 --> 00:29:59,360 Speaker 9: smothering presence from from a man cover standpoint out of 548 00:29:59,400 --> 00:30:00,800 Speaker 9: press and I think think he is going to be 549 00:30:00,840 --> 00:30:04,280 Speaker 9: a fantastic cornerback and one that really gets drafted a 550 00:30:04,280 --> 00:30:07,720 Speaker 9: lot higher than some people are projecting him right now. 551 00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:09,560 Speaker 9: And then you know, I guess I'll go to my 552 00:30:10,160 --> 00:30:13,000 Speaker 9: top pick in the draft. My number one prospect is 553 00:30:13,120 --> 00:30:15,720 Speaker 9: Arville Reese. You know, Rville Reese. The one problem I 554 00:30:15,760 --> 00:30:18,440 Speaker 9: have is we have seen guys with the elite traits 555 00:30:18,840 --> 00:30:22,960 Speaker 9: lead explosiveness not pan out, especially when they're hybrid players, 556 00:30:23,400 --> 00:30:25,120 Speaker 9: because you got to pick a lane and see, you know, 557 00:30:25,160 --> 00:30:27,640 Speaker 9: see what you've become. But for Reese, he's been coached 558 00:30:27,680 --> 00:30:31,000 Speaker 9: by James Lorenidas, he's been coached by Matt Patricia, so 559 00:30:31,080 --> 00:30:35,360 Speaker 9: he has pro tutelage. Then you look at rare height, length, explosiveness. 560 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:37,040 Speaker 9: He can come off the edge. I think he's a 561 00:30:37,120 --> 00:30:39,560 Speaker 9: very good linebacker. Too many people to me are just 562 00:30:39,600 --> 00:30:41,840 Speaker 9: pushing him to the edge and saying he's an edge. 563 00:30:41,960 --> 00:30:44,800 Speaker 9: He's not a linebacker. I mean, I don't know. I 564 00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:47,320 Speaker 9: think he could be a linebacker that just is a 565 00:30:47,360 --> 00:30:49,800 Speaker 9: really is a real demon and a werewolf as a 566 00:30:49,840 --> 00:30:53,040 Speaker 9: pass rusher on rush down scenario. So I think arvel 567 00:30:53,120 --> 00:30:56,720 Speaker 9: Reese's explosiveness, his toughness, he's got a little chip on 568 00:30:56,760 --> 00:30:58,800 Speaker 9: his shoulder. I think he's kind of I think that's 569 00:30:58,880 --> 00:31:01,720 Speaker 9: can't miss traits and can't miss at the athleticism. 570 00:31:01,760 --> 00:31:04,560 Speaker 1: In my opinion, I think about every other year it 571 00:31:04,680 --> 00:31:07,120 Speaker 1: feels like there is a running back that just feels 572 00:31:07,120 --> 00:31:08,920 Speaker 1: plug and play in the NFL and he's very good. 573 00:31:08,960 --> 00:31:14,480 Speaker 1: I thought Jean Robinson, Ladenian, Tomlinson, Ezekiel Elliott, Saquon Barkley, 574 00:31:15,040 --> 00:31:18,000 Speaker 1: Ashton Genty I wasn't quite sure about. It was a 575 00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:21,520 Speaker 1: weak draft. But I do feel like Jeremiah Love explosiveness, 576 00:31:22,200 --> 00:31:29,800 Speaker 1: kind of core strength, strong. It just looks like, oh, 577 00:31:29,880 --> 00:31:33,200 Speaker 1: he will play as a rookie and be productive. Where 578 00:31:33,240 --> 00:31:35,720 Speaker 1: do you over the last five or six years? Is 579 00:31:35,720 --> 00:31:38,280 Speaker 1: he in that elite Bjeon Robinson group? 580 00:31:40,200 --> 00:31:40,880 Speaker 4: I think he is. 581 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:43,680 Speaker 9: Yeah, based on my grade, I don't have as highs 582 00:31:43,680 --> 00:31:45,920 Speaker 9: Bijon and I had Ashton Gents higher. But you know 583 00:31:46,000 --> 00:31:48,800 Speaker 9: what I mean, Jeremiah Love to me, he's not even 584 00:31:48,800 --> 00:31:50,680 Speaker 9: the most natural running back on his team. I think 585 00:31:50,680 --> 00:31:54,160 Speaker 9: it's Jendarium Price has better vision, is more natural, but. 586 00:31:54,200 --> 00:31:56,760 Speaker 4: Jendarian a bit but rather but Jeremiah Love. 587 00:31:56,880 --> 00:32:01,200 Speaker 9: I mean, this guy has unbelievable speed and blowsiveness. He 588 00:32:01,600 --> 00:32:05,760 Speaker 9: runs with an urgency that at times is a little 589 00:32:05,760 --> 00:32:07,800 Speaker 9: too hot because he doesn't let the you know, the 590 00:32:07,880 --> 00:32:11,280 Speaker 9: run blocking develop. But when he hits that hole, I mean, 591 00:32:11,360 --> 00:32:13,640 Speaker 9: forget about it. He's got a great spin move, leaves 592 00:32:13,640 --> 00:32:15,720 Speaker 9: his feet too much. He tries to jump over everyone. 593 00:32:15,960 --> 00:32:19,080 Speaker 9: But I think that's his mindset. This desire to jump 594 00:32:19,120 --> 00:32:22,200 Speaker 9: over everything and just attack everything is what you love 595 00:32:22,240 --> 00:32:24,480 Speaker 9: about him, and it's what makes him such an explosive 596 00:32:24,520 --> 00:32:26,360 Speaker 9: home run hitter when the ball is in his hands. 597 00:32:26,440 --> 00:32:29,720 Speaker 9: And I'll tell you what makes him special third down talent. 598 00:32:29,960 --> 00:32:32,400 Speaker 9: He is really good at picking up blitz this and 599 00:32:32,440 --> 00:32:34,200 Speaker 9: they line him up out in the slot. They'll run 600 00:32:34,280 --> 00:32:36,600 Speaker 9: him out in the slot and he runs real routes. 601 00:32:36,960 --> 00:32:40,400 Speaker 9: So now we have somebody who can hit you home runs, 602 00:32:40,640 --> 00:32:43,560 Speaker 9: you know, from the backfield, who can mismatch people out 603 00:32:43,560 --> 00:32:46,040 Speaker 9: on the slot linebackers, so you can't put a linebacker 604 00:32:46,080 --> 00:32:49,960 Speaker 9: on him. He is a three down home run hitter 605 00:32:50,480 --> 00:32:53,760 Speaker 9: with the ability to, you know, give you an unbelievable 606 00:32:54,240 --> 00:32:57,000 Speaker 9: output relative to where you draft him. And that's not 607 00:32:57,120 --> 00:32:59,000 Speaker 9: something you can say with all running backs. That's why 608 00:32:59,120 --> 00:33:01,840 Speaker 9: you know, the analytics doesn't love running backs early. But 609 00:33:01,920 --> 00:33:04,920 Speaker 9: the output he's going to give you from day one 610 00:33:05,280 --> 00:33:06,720 Speaker 9: is going to be pretty special. 611 00:33:07,360 --> 00:33:10,640 Speaker 1: Okay, I want to end it here, lan ZERLINNFL dot Com. 612 00:33:10,680 --> 00:33:14,320 Speaker 1: So listen, we've seen Dak drafted in the fourth round, 613 00:33:14,520 --> 00:33:17,800 Speaker 1: rock Purty in the seventh, So let's take Simpson Mendoza out. 614 00:33:17,840 --> 00:33:21,720 Speaker 1: There were a lot of quarterbacks, Lance nuss Meyer LSU, 615 00:33:21,960 --> 00:33:25,440 Speaker 1: Caid club Nick at Clemson, Drew Aller at Penn State. 616 00:33:25,480 --> 00:33:28,080 Speaker 1: We came into the league where like these are lottery picks, 617 00:33:28,520 --> 00:33:30,840 Speaker 1: and it's funny. I watched Kaid club Nick. I'm like, 618 00:33:30,960 --> 00:33:33,360 Speaker 1: you know, there's a decent ball, he moves pretty well, 619 00:33:33,400 --> 00:33:36,000 Speaker 1: and now it's just he's off the radar. Then there's 620 00:33:36,040 --> 00:33:39,560 Speaker 1: the Vanderbilt kid. I am out on small quarterbacks. I 621 00:33:39,640 --> 00:33:42,520 Speaker 1: don't I what I'm hearing is if I said to 622 00:33:42,560 --> 00:33:46,160 Speaker 1: you there's a fourth round quarterback in this draft with 623 00:33:46,280 --> 00:33:49,760 Speaker 1: a shot to shock people? Does this draft have one? 624 00:33:51,360 --> 00:33:53,040 Speaker 4: You know, I'm going to throw somebody out there that 625 00:33:53,120 --> 00:33:53,840 Speaker 4: you mentioned that. 626 00:33:54,720 --> 00:33:57,000 Speaker 9: I actually thought the tape was a little bit better 627 00:33:57,160 --> 00:33:58,280 Speaker 9: than my expectations. 628 00:33:58,320 --> 00:34:02,160 Speaker 4: And that's Kid club Nick. And that's this is this 629 00:34:02,200 --> 00:34:03,000 Speaker 4: is all relative. 630 00:34:03,080 --> 00:34:05,480 Speaker 1: Because I watched MS I liked him. 631 00:34:06,320 --> 00:34:08,839 Speaker 9: Yeah, I mean, look, he has better arm talent than 632 00:34:08,840 --> 00:34:09,760 Speaker 9: I was led to believe. 633 00:34:10,480 --> 00:34:11,800 Speaker 4: He's he is mobile. 634 00:34:12,239 --> 00:34:14,360 Speaker 9: I think that he had a situation where it was 635 00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:16,960 Speaker 9: just it was a bad situation, too many bad drops, 636 00:34:17,719 --> 00:34:20,560 Speaker 9: The coverage got a little rather, the protection got a 637 00:34:20,560 --> 00:34:22,759 Speaker 9: little leaky for him. I think klub Nick, with the 638 00:34:22,880 --> 00:34:27,120 Speaker 9: right offense, a ball control play action based offense. I 639 00:34:27,120 --> 00:34:29,840 Speaker 9: think he's got a chance, more so than Carson Beck, 640 00:34:29,880 --> 00:34:33,040 Speaker 9: who has you know, better traits. But I think he's 641 00:34:33,040 --> 00:34:35,439 Speaker 9: going to make too many mistakes. Aler to me might 642 00:34:35,440 --> 00:34:38,640 Speaker 9: be a lost cause. And then you know, Diego Pavia 643 00:34:38,840 --> 00:34:41,720 Speaker 9: is too small. The last guy to start an NFL 644 00:34:41,840 --> 00:34:45,240 Speaker 9: game under five foot ten, if you don't count Kyler Murray, 645 00:34:45,360 --> 00:34:48,200 Speaker 9: if we assume he is actually five foot ten, was 646 00:34:48,280 --> 00:34:52,040 Speaker 9: Eddie LeBaron in nineteen sixty three. Pavio measured in at 647 00:34:52,120 --> 00:34:54,279 Speaker 9: under five foot ten at the Senior Bowl, but his 648 00:34:54,400 --> 00:34:57,400 Speaker 9: tape is number two behind Mendozs. I mean, from a 649 00:34:57,440 --> 00:35:00,680 Speaker 9: tape standpoint, he's ahead of Ty Simpson, He's ahead of 650 00:35:00,719 --> 00:35:05,120 Speaker 9: these other guys. But it's just, you know, the size 651 00:35:05,200 --> 00:35:07,560 Speaker 9: is tough. He sails some balls because he has to 652 00:35:07,600 --> 00:35:10,319 Speaker 9: throw a trajectory to get it over you know, over 653 00:35:10,320 --> 00:35:13,440 Speaker 9: the pocket, over the offensive line, and just historically it. 654 00:35:13,440 --> 00:35:14,080 Speaker 4: Just doesn't work out. 655 00:35:14,120 --> 00:35:15,840 Speaker 9: And then you also have to ask yourself, does he 656 00:35:15,880 --> 00:35:18,560 Speaker 9: have the personality to be a second set of eyes, 657 00:35:18,960 --> 00:35:22,040 Speaker 9: to be deferential to whoever the starter is. Can he 658 00:35:22,120 --> 00:35:26,960 Speaker 9: take his hyper competitive behavior and really rein it in 659 00:35:27,239 --> 00:35:28,000 Speaker 9: as a backup. 660 00:35:28,040 --> 00:35:29,279 Speaker 4: I don't know if he can do that. He had 661 00:35:29,280 --> 00:35:31,440 Speaker 4: good take though, but club Nick, if you ask me, 662 00:35:31,480 --> 00:35:32,200 Speaker 4: who is the guy? 663 00:35:32,320 --> 00:35:34,799 Speaker 9: I think Club Nick maybe would have that chance in 664 00:35:34,800 --> 00:35:35,520 Speaker 9: the middle rounds. 665 00:35:35,719 --> 00:35:38,439 Speaker 1: All right, Lance serline, good stuff is always Lance And well, 666 00:35:38,480 --> 00:35:40,640 Speaker 1: we'll check back a couple of times before the draft.