← The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
3 & Out - 49ers make more cuts, Daniel Jones goes to Indy, Tiger needs another surgery
00:48:40
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- [00:00]
John Middlekauff
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- [00:36]
Greg Rosenthal
AI is redefining what's possible for your business. With more unique challenges to solve and higher stakes than ever, Microsoft helps you stay ahead. Our trustworthy AI tools and guidance can empower leaders like you to drive greater impact. And with Azure's simplified platform management, we're helping businesses go further faster, unlocking up to 150% improved output. Whatever challenge comes next, let Microsoft help you keep pushing forward. For more details, visit Microsoft.com challengers this.
- [01:06]
Nikki Glaser
Podcast is sponsored by Talkspace. You know when you're really stressed or not feeling so great about your life or about yourself? Talking to someone who understands can really help. But who is that person? How do you find them? Where do you even start? Talkspace Talkspace makes it easy to get the support you need. With Talkspace, you can go online, answer a few questions about your preferences, and be matched with a therapist. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You'll meet on your schedule wherever you feel most at ease. If you're depressed, stressed, struggling with a relationship, or if you want some counseling for you and your partner or just need a little extra one on one support, Talkspace is here for you. Plus, Talkspace works with most major insurers and most insured members have a $0 copay. No insurance? No problem. Now get $80 off of your first month with promo code SPACE80 when you go to talkspace.com match with a licensed therapist today at Talkspace do save $80 with code SPACE80@Talkspace.com what's up everyone?
- [02:07]
Daniel Jeremiah
It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the King of Spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents. The only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101 free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast the Volume.
- [02:53]
John Middlekauff
What is going on everybody? How are we doing? John Middlekop Little three and out podcast to start because we had some free agency stuff 49ers cut someone else got rid of half their team. Daniel Jones signed with the Colts and as of recording this obviously things can change. Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers are still unemployed. Now if you listen to us on Wednesday and they've still signed I think a lot of what I've talked about still is valid in terms of it's kind of crazy how far they have fallen in a short short period of time. You know Aaron absolute one of the great quarterbacks of all time. Russell one of the stars of his generation and we had guys like Geno Smith and Sam. Daniel Jones came off the board before him. He'd be like well the money it's like yeah Russell Wilson getting $14 million in the Open market now who knows I Daniel Jones get 14 million. Hard to know what actually this money is but with these players so we will dive into that and we will do a I'll put go low on in the end Tiger woods was reported Taurus Achilles what a crazy career. I mean it's Torres Achilles just trying to get ready for the Masters. My my man has had a lot of injuries in his career. I think you can say goodbye to the Champions Tour. So let Tiger take a cart whenever he comes back. We'll also do some the players this week. Some call it the fifth major. I don't know if I'd go that far especially now with live but it's a damn good tournament. So we'll talk gambling who I'm riding with and then a little bit about what I saw last week from my hotel room in terms of Russell Henley taking down Colin Morikawa when I saw some more cows comments in regards to last week storming off and not talking to the media and doing a post round interview. Rory Netflix the full swing I'll talk about that. So we'll do that at the end of this podcast and we'll get back to the mailbag. I have so many DMS saying congrats on the wedding and wedding related that I couldn't even I just don't honestly I feel like I got hit by a ton of bricks. We didn't go on our honeymoon basically because we had like a six day bender in Nashville which also included a wedding But I do understand why people go on a honeymoon. Because I remember telling Maria, it's like, even if we went on the honeymoon, I don't think I would have the juice to do anything beside lay there. It's like, well, maybe that's what people do. They just kind of lay in the sun. It's like, yeah, maybe I could use that right now. But yeah, I'm just, I'm on low fuel, but there's a lot going on. So we will do a podcast and other than that, subscribe to the podcast, subscribe to the YouTube channel, and again, mailbag @johnmittlecoff is the Instagram fire in those DMs and get your questions answered on the show because we'll try to do a mailbag for for Thursday show. And who knows, maybe Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers have have teams by then. But let's, let's talk about some football. I do think just in general, the free agency period, which is really fun. We love transactions in sports and I'm all for it. I do think this is a little janky, right, to have trades and stuff be able to happen before it becomes official. You could argue like five days, maybe not even a couple days after the combine. Just let it rip. Just start free agency on a given day. You don't need the tampering, right? Because free agency has been going on now for several weeks. It unofficially really gets going at the combine. So if the combine ends on a Monday, you could start. And I get it, it's based on the work week. You wouldn't want to start all these deals later in the week because you want to own the news cycle. And I totally understand that. But maybe even put more emphasis on the combine. Start free agency on the Monday right after and just let people start signing and trading and let it go because that's where the trades and a lot of these moves happen. I just think this tampering period is just a complete joke. It really is. You know, free agency starts Wednesday, I think at like noon Eastern or four Eastern or whenever it does. Well, all these deals are already done. So Wednesday is kind of a useless day. It's essentially Monday. But they keep saying, well, Monday, it's actually legal tampering. Guys can't actually sign. I think we could just cut out the middleman here and just rip the band aid off and just let people do what they're actually doing, making transactions, doing deals, Right. I mean, how often? It's very rare. I can think of one Emanuel Sanders. But how often a guy renegs on a deal, right? So Once these guys like Milton Williams all of a sudden come Wednesday afternoon isn't just going to be on the, I don't know, Carolina Panthers or the Arizona Cardinals. Like he's going to be a patriot. So I just, I don't know, something, it feels. Starting to feel these last couple years like kind of a waste of the setup of the buildup because there is no buildup. Stuff just happens. So just let it happen and let it be official. Something that was official today and he was on the unemployment line for, I don't know, an hour was the 49ers. And I think it's pretty easy. And yesterday I did a little rant at the end of the day after they had officially cut Kyle Use check. And just about the way the 49ers have gone about this and the ramifications of a disastrous negotiation last year with Brandon Iuk, when he took him to the cleaners, I mean he bent them over and took them for more money than I thought that they should give them. And they clearly immediately regretted it. And that was before he had a major knee injury. Things got weird and hell, they've put him on the trade block for the last couple weeks. They don't like him anymore. I've never seen a team sign a guy to $75 million guaranteed after 75 catches and then immediately can't stand the guy. So it's just a disastrous contract. And the 49ers have let every guy go on their team. And I think on an individual basis, it's really easy to justify each individually, you know, not com, not connected to anyone else. Dre Greenlaw, injured a lot. Torn Achilles two years ago. Got injured a bunch last year when he tried to came back. Tyler Nola Hufunga, injured a lot. Like it's easy to go through the list. Jalen Moore, he's been a backup, can't start. I go, well, you got Trent Williams, but you can't pay a backup of free. Like I get it. But today Leonard Floyd, who started every single game for them, is a pros pro super high character guy. I mean a pretty high end pass rusher. Not a superstar by any means, but a guy that you can go to the playoffs with as one of your rotational defensive end slash starters. They just cut. It was like, well would totally understand it. Like I got why the Rams cut Cooper Cup. He was going to cost them $20 million. It's like you're not paying Cooper cup in 20, 25, $20 million. No one is right. But Leonard Floyd, seven and a half million dollars. Kind of the going rate for a guy that is going to give you nine or ten sacks and never misses any time like that's what they cost. I just do not understand it. It makes no sense. And I have to be fair because we're often critical of these teams that are cheap. And I've been on the Bears for years. The Bengals, the crafts and the 49ers spent more money than any team in the league last year in actual cash. Obviously you have to be under the salary cap or with the salary cap on any given year because it's a hard cap in the NFL. That doesn't mean you can't spend way more cash than the 200, the 240, the $250 million salary cap right in signing bonuses. And then you can manipulate the cap. Well, Last year the 49ers in 2025 spent more cash than any team in the NFL at $334 million. What was the cap last year like $250 million. So almost $80 million more of actual cap space they spent in cash. I mean it's a lot of money. No one's arguing that spending on a workforce of you end up having way more than 53 guys, let's say 70, 80 over the course of a season. $330 million in compensation. It's a lot. I mean that's the business these people are in. And the Yorks have the team because once upon a time one of the greatest owners in the history of Sports, Eddie DeBartolo got caught giving a brown bag to a politician trying to get a casino on the water down. I think it was when Louisiana and the feds came up and he got in big trouble and had to give it to his sister who the family is notoriously cheap. Now Jed York is the figurehead. They named him the president and he on the day to day operation he's there a lot and he deals with Kyle and John. But ultimately it is the parents team. Jed York could not do anything without his parents approval when it came to selling the team a huge contract to Brock Purdy. Obviously when they're signing a practice squad guy and it depends on the operation. For example, the Eagles spend a shitload of cash on a yearly basis. Not always one, but always in the top five, top 10 in the way they do signing bonus, especially the last couple of years have a highly paid team. Jeffrey Lurie doesn't have to ask his parents for any fucking approval. He's the boss, he's in charge. Just like, if you go around the league, even the cheap teams, Clark Hunt doesn't have to deal with anyone else. If he wants to have a cheap facility and a bad weight room and get D's, that's his prerogative. He answers to no one but himself. No different than Robert Kraft. Jonathan Kraft isn't in charge. Robert is. And I think when you look at the 49ers, your team, as Tim Kawakami tweeted today, they are making $140 million in profit. Honestly, my guess would be it's higher. But I was talking to my brother at the wedding, and, you know, he deals with a lot of different business. He's in farming, but they deal in construction. They deal with so much different stuff. And we were talking about some of these venture capitalists that come in and purchase companies, and typically they like to get like, a 5 to 8% profit range, right? So your profit based on your total revenue, if it's like 5 to 8%, you're doing pretty well. If the 49ers are making 7 to $800 million, which I think is a very fair guess, especially when you look at their valuation of $9 billion, I mean, they're making 15 to 20% net profit. That is money taken home. So when I look at the 49ers pulling back, I'm all for not being reckless and not giving out stupid deals. Have no issue with trading Deebo Samuel. But to all of a sudden have one season where you go 6 and 11 and start pitching pennies. Like, I'm sorry. When you're the 49ers, when you're the Lakers, when you're the Cowboys, Jerry's been crushed over the years for not spending that much cash. When you're the Laker or the. The Yankees, the Red Sox. Craft over the years, that's fucking embarrassing. It really is. Like, no one wants to hear you cry poor. And we talked about this yesterday. You cannot give Purdy an ungodly amount of money and cut corners like the Rams just did and expect to win. Matt Stafford is a better player. He can carry your team if you're going through a rough patch. He's proven that. Brock Purdy, if you're going to have a team that is not going to have dramatically less talent, you're going to be in major trouble. Now, if you're cool with going back to back, five, six, seven wins, okay, but no one wants to hear that. So when you cut Leonard Floyd, like, I. I just don't see how you justify that. I really don't. Who again gets a job in 25 minutes. It makes no sense. And I think the Yorks are kind of going back to their roots of this cost cutting and being cheap. And listen, the other thing, like Mike Silver and some of these guys writing these articles, I do think it's pretty embarrassing to, to go basically four or five years in the NFC championship and a couple Super Bowls, to have one awful season. And don't get me wrong, it was bad, it was a joke. Highest paid team in the league, 6 and 11. I'm all for not tolerating that. But then to just completely change your business plan and try to go cheap is something like, it's hard for me to get behind. And you go through a little rough seas and some rough waters and we start getting a bunch of leaks about Kyle and John and the owners. Like that's low level bullshit. I mean it really is because again, this is a business that is their future. Revenue is set in fucking stone. A lot of people, including myself, like, recession hits, advertising change. Like you would go, it would change your business dynamics really, really quickly. Most people listening are in fickle industries, right? Can be huge swings. Good times are great, bad times can be rough. I just married a, a woman who works in real estate. Like seen the ups and the downs. That ain't the NFL. They just signed $100 billion contract a couple years ago, which they can easily opt out. We just saw the NBA whose viewership has been more than cut in half, triple their revenue. The NFL is in a different stratosphere and those networks that paid for the NBA would go under without the NFL. So the NFL, I think it's fair to say, at least for the next 15 plus years, is borderline recession proof, as much as that is humanly possible in any business. So whenever you come out like cutting costs like that, just a bad look, it's really kind of embarrassing. No one wants to hear Jeanie Buss the Steinbrenners, like those type people talking about it. And just within the last month it comes out, well, the 49ers are valued at $9 billion and they're going to sell maybe 10% for a nice little $900 million cash infusion. And now you're just cutting Leonard Floyd to save a couple million dollars. I just think that's impossible to justify. But I do think if you followed this team for a long time, this is the York's operation. You know, at their core, when things get weird, when things are going good, everything's great, everyone's you know, given Jim Harbaugh his flowers, everyone's. But all of a sudden, you lose a game, something happens. Weird. It's like everyone starts pointing the fingers. I saw this happen 10 years ago, and now they're kind of doing it again with their roster all of a sudden. Because 16 and 11 season. See the NFL, it's hard. It sucked. It was hard to watch. I watched every snap. But I think you got to be very careful. People will turn on you fast. And the consumer is, you know, I just. They cannot comprehend this. And they will not comprehend this because I'd argue based on the. The. The math and the numbers, it's kind of difficult to comprehend it. It really is. Like, well, we got to pay per a lot of money. And then you're coming out saying you're going to negotiate hard with them all for it, not against it. I'd be like, hey, three years, $120 million, all guaranteed. Take it or leave it. Fuck you. I'm not. I'm not playing for that. Okay, see you in camp. This is when it's. What are you going to do, hold out? Where are you going to go? I'm all for that type business. I am pro negotiating like that. I'm not anti. This isn't some pro player. You got to give them all the money, all the time bullshit. We saw that last year with Brandon Iuk and it was awful. It was stupid, you know, so I'm all for a very, very difficult negotiation with Brock Purdy, but when you start cutting Leonard Floyd for basically no reason, that one's a head scratcher. The biggest head scratcher of the day, though, by a mile. It was clear last year, really, the Anthony Richardson experiment has been an utter disaster. And in fairness to Anthony Richardson, he's not alone. A lot of high picks over the last four or five years have been really bad, and some of them didn't make it very long on their whole on their own team. Trey Lance didn't even make it to the start of year three. Zach Wilson was gone after year four or after year three. Mac Jones gone after year three. You know, Justin Fields gone after year three. That class. See ya. The Kenny Picketts. Like people move now. 0. Very small amount of patience for these quarterbacks. Cowards. Theory is like year two Thanksgiving. Like, you're on the hot seat as a quarterback. Totally get it. But Anthony Richardson survival in Indianapolis is now tied to Daniel Jones. And when I saw a headline from Tom Pelissaro that he won't demand a trade so guys, we're not talking about Steph Curry in his prime year. We're talking about a guy that had one of the more embarrassing moments in the history of the league. And don't take it from me, just some former scout who talks about football for a living. Listen to what every player said last year. Every single player, including his teammates. He just hasn't been very good. He is extremely inaccurate and he's been injured a lot. But to bring in Daniel Jones who might, might be worse is insane. Now, once upon a time, when the Giants drafted Daniel Jones, I was doing this show. Many of you probably weren't there. We've had good growth since. I remember saying, like most people, like, I think there was universal agreement. That's the most insane draft pick I think I've ever seen. It was right up there with, well, if, if the 49ers would have taken Mac Jones at 3, that would have been worse. But it was that level. Like you just, it's indefensible. It can happen. And I remember a good buddy of mine who's a high up executive in the NFL that does the Southern region was like, I think you're being hard on Daniel Jones. I think he's a good player and he was well liked in the scouting community. A lot of people thought he was like Alex Smith. But when you look at Alex Smith's career, it was really difficult for him. And his career was, I say, or I believe was considered a failure up until Jim Harbaugh showed up and resurrected his career. And it wasn't for a year and a half under Jim Harbaugh that made Andy Reid be able to justify when he got the Chiefs job. I can trade, I think it was like a second round pick. Give him an extension and like make him my starting quarterback and feel good about it. And then under Andy Reid, he became dramatically better than he was under Harbaugh. And by the end of that run when Patrick Mahomes came around, they could have a big trade to Washington with Jay Gruden. And Jay Gruden could feel really good because Alex Smith by that time was just a really good player. No one, and I mean no one can say Daniel Jones is just an average player. He is a below average player who's never really proven anything. I mean his one breakout year a couple years ago when they went won nine games, it's not like he threw 40 touchdowns. His career highs 20. And you watch him last year, I mean when that guy loses confidence, he looks like me or you off the tee. When we're hitting it out of bounds, I mean, it's. It's really, really bad. It's really bad decision making. Like, it has no shot, the ball's in the air. You're like, this is a problem. And to bring him in to compete with a guy who not only needs to be competed with, but probably shouldn't be your starter is setting yourself up for failure like that. Colts quarterback room, Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones is really, really bad. It really is. And to go into the off season and pound the table, we need a veteran quarterback. And to come out with that, I think, is a tough one for Colts fans to swallow. And if I was a Colts fan, I would be pretty down on where we are. I really would. And when people started trading for Alex Smith, he could play. You know, when they just sign now, who knows what the actual number is? It could be fake, but it's clear he's the competition. I think is just insanity. And speaking of quarterbacks, I do think it's fair to say the Tennessee Titans, if they stay with the number one overall pick, and until they make a trade, I think we have to assume they are going to draft number one, have two options. They either draft Abdul Carter or they draft Cam Ward. And based on where we sit on Tuesday afternoon, I do think it's fair to assume that it's going to be the quarterback. Like, I don't think it would have been crazy if they gave like, let's just sock and let's just figure it out. Sign a guy, help Daniel Jones trade for Kenny Pickett. Just get someone in who can at least just function and take snapshots. I mean, Will Levis couldn't even do that. I don't know if there's actually that big a difference between Will Levis and Daniel Jones. Beside Daniel Jones, probably a lot smarter. But I don't care how book smart you are if you're not football smart. But at the end of the day, they haven't signed anybody. So I think it's fair to assume at this point Cam Ward is going to be the number one pick in the draft, and they just push all their chips in the middle of the table with him and just kind of reset. And then you get a division of Anthony Richardson, Daniel Jones, Cam Ward, Trevor Lawrence, and CJ Stroud. So advantage Houston heavily in that scenario. Who's scoring big in the NBA this season? You are. With the all new ways to get in on the action at DraftKings Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NBA from dunks to assists to rebounds, get behind your favorite player and the prop bets you can make on DraftKings, the home of NBA player props. Ready to place your first bet? Try betting on something simple, like picking how many points your favorite player will have. Go to DraftKingsportsbook and make your first pick first time. Here's something special just for you. New DraftKing customers bet 5 bucks to get 150 in bonus bets instantly. 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- [26:40]
Greg Rosenthal
What'S possible for your business. Are you up to the challenge? Microsoft is helping leaders like you get AI ready faster with unified data and simplified platform management, unlocking 150% improved output across industries. Leaders are turning to Microsoft's AI tools and guidance to rise to the challenge. For the NBA, that means using AI powered insights to deliver more personalized fan experiences. For BMW, it means innovating their development process safely and securely. And for Lego House, it means creating new interactive experiences for people to explore. With Microsoft's trustworthy AI tools and guidance, you can drive greater impact. Business leaders Microsoft surveyed saw an average of 3.7 times ROI per $1 invested in generative AI. Whatever challenge comes next, let Microsoft help you keep pushing forward. For more details, visit Microsoft.com challengers.
- [27:36]
Nikki Glaser
This podcast is sponsored by Talkspace. You know when you're really stressed or not feeling so great about your life or about yourself? Talking to someone who understands can really help. But who is that person? How do you find them? Where do you even start? Talkspace Talkspace makes it easy to get the support you need. With Talkspace, you can go online, answer a few questions about your preferences, and be matched with a therapist. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You'll meet on your schedule wherever you feel most at ease. If you're depressed, stressed, struggling with a relationship, or if you want some counseling for you and your partner or just need a little extra one on one support, Talkspace is here for you. Plus, Talkspace works with most major insurers and most insured members have a zero dollar copay. No insurance, no problem. Now get $80 off of your first month with promo code space80 when you go to talkspace.com match with a licensed therapist today at talkspace.com save $80 with code space80@talkspace.com we live in a divided country.
- [28:40]
Jeremy Hobson
I am a lifelong Republican with all kinds of different people.
- [28:44]
Nikki Glaser
You know, I'm a mother, I'm a grandmother.
- [28:47]
Jeremy Hobson
That's why we started the Middle with Jeremy Hobson. It's about bringing voices not from the extremes, but from the vast middle into the national conversation.
- [28:55]
Nikki Glaser
Anna, I'm calling from Las Vegas.
- [28:57]
Jeremy Hobson
Each week we bring together an all star panel. Mark Cuban, so great to have you on the Middle.
- [29:02]
John Middlekauff
Thanks for having me.
- [29:02]
Jeremy Hobson
Jeremy, Neil degrasse Tyson, welcome to the Middle.
- [29:05]
Greg Rosenthal
Thanks for having me.
- [29:06]
Jeremy Hobson
And hear from ordinary Americans from all over the country on the most important issues.
- [29:10]
John Middlekauff
Hi, my name is Venkat. I'm calling you from Atlanta, Georgia.
- [29:14]
Jeremy Hobson
And when you subscribe to the Middle, you also get an episode each week called One Thing Trump did that focuses on just one item from the avalanche of news.
- [29:23]
John Middlekauff
We should be examining what our government spends its money on and are these jobs necessary and what are we doing here? But that doesn't seem to be what we're doing in this situation.
- [29:31]
Jeremy Hobson
Listen to the Middle with Jeremy Hobson on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [29:43]
John Middlekauff
I also think it's pretty nuts. And this just shows you, like, I don't do drama well. I don't have friends in my life that bring a lot of drama. The moment you start bringing a lot of drama and you're not like my immediate family or my wife or someone closely associated with her, like, I'm out. I mean, she watches some of these shows on Bravo, Southern Charm and Southern Hospitality that it's like, I wouldn't be friends with any of these people. These people are just too high maintenance. I just don't do high maintenance as just casual friendships. It's just you guys are like an energy drain in my life. And one thing's pretty clear is that like once upon a time, Aaron Rodgers I mean was being a complete pain in the ass. Was messing with the packers and they still gave without hesitation him $150 million guaranteed. Russell Wilson was with Pete Carroll and John Schneider for years. For years. But it was like he's so good. What are we going to do? He's going to Pro Bowls. It is much easier to have leverage when you're a 27 year old smoke show than when you're 52 with three kids and two divorces. And I think when you look at Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers, it's like the drama, the ratio of like sweet talent, sweet ability. Obviously Aaron in his prime was much better than Russell, but even then Russell was still pretty damn good. That it's all out of whack and it's all a supply and demand chart, right? Like the supplies of the Justin Jeffersons relative to the demand. He is so much better than like 98% of everyone else in the league. It's not even funny. So I'm using him as an example. I'm not saying he is, but if just because receivers when he DK is a better example three or four years ago, it's like yeah, dk, you know, can be tough, get some, get some penalties. Little got a big personality sometimes doesn't always listen. But it's like where do you find a 6 foot 4,230 pound 42 absolute thoroughbred. It's like you don't. So you just deal with it. And then after a while it's like, well, this production is kind of dipping. Like see you, peace, you're gone. Happens all the time at other positions. Usually quarterbacks. You get a little more leeway and I'm sitting here and by the time you're listening to this, maybe they have signed. If I would have told you five years ago that Geno Smith would have someone would have traded a second day pick to acquire him and then going to be willing to give him an extension. And Sam Darnold would be a free agent. And several days before a team that traded Geno Smith and who desperately needs a quarterback will give him a decent chunk of money while Russell Wilson and Aaron Rodgers are just free on the street. Here's the other thing. Pete Carroll, who spent the majority of his career around Russell Wilson, who became, let's face it, a living legend because of Russell. It validated not only am I a great college coach, I can win big in the NFL because of this guy could have signed Russell Wilson. He needed a quarterback, had cap space. Instead he traded a pick on a team that needs a lot of talent to get the guy that replaced Russell Wilson. I mean, think how fucking nuts that is. I don't ever remember a guy falling off a cliff harder than Russell Wilson. And honestly, when you just look at the numbers over the last three years as his star has dimmed at just a rapid rate, they're not that bad. 58 touchdowns, 24 picks. So basically a two to one ratio. But he also has eight rushing touchdowns. So it's like he has been relatively productive. But don't let the numbers fool you. If you watched he's a shell of himself. It got cold out. This year was not good. And when he played better competition, you had no shot. Aaron Rodgers, it's just like the drama ratio, the age, it's like, yeah, we're just out. We are just out. And it shows you. I said this about Justin Fields. I don't think Justin Fields can play. He's. He hasn't proven ever that he can be a thrower from the pocket, he can run around. He's a great athlete, but he's a good guy. And it was like, the jets are like, yeah, we're just going to cut Aaron Rodgers and we're going to pay this guy who I don't even think, and I'm speaking for them, can even play. But you know what? He's just a good guy. He'll get our franchise back on track. We don't even necessarily care next year if we win five or eight games. We just want some normality in the building. We don't want to be a shit show anymore. And they chose Justin Fields, who again, can't really play over Aaron Rodgers, who sound like he was making $50 million a year. Remember, he gave Woody $35 million pay cut. So it just shows you. And listen, I, I can get a little crazy. We all can. We all can have our bad days. But over the course of time and in a business like football, where you spend a lot of time with people treating people right and you know, Aaron's just, I think, viewed as a little out there. Russell's just kind of viewed as a phony, right? And just drama, Drama follows these people. Do you know what? No successful person wants to deal with drama that's unnecessary, especially drama from highly paid employees. Again, if you are Robert De Niro or Leonardo DiCaprio in their prime, the studio is going to handle you. But the moment you start, like being terrible and not being able to move the needle for a movie, like, I'm not going to hire you to Fucking be on my movie set. And that's what it feels like with these two guys. They became so famous, they became so kind of out of touch and in fairness is more Russell than Aaron. Like Aaron's 41 years old and he had an incredible run. And I hate even comparing these two because Aaron is dramatically better than Russell and Russell was a damn good player. I mean Aaron, you could make the argument he's top five or six quarterback of all time. But I think both these guys should have job. Like if both these guys were just completely normal and just acted fine, right? Just for like Matt's view, like Matt Stafford is get along with people. Just everyone likes them, never had really any issues. They would both be on teams right now. But it's the off field stuff, which again is impossible to really. It's easier to quantify Aaron, you know ayahuasca and shit than Russell's. But it's like I'm not touching you because the approval rating from all these GMs, I mean think how many teams a week ago needed a quarterback or just a bridge quarterback that still might even draft a team a guy. And we're like, yeah, we'll just take our time. We'll see what their market is. We'll see. These are guys that have made hundreds of millions of dollars. They were always the max guys and now head coaches, OCs and GMs like, yeah, we're good. I'll just figure it out. With Cam Ward.
- [36:39]
Greg Rosenthal
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- [37:37]
Nikki Glaser
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- [38:39]
Jeremy Hobson
We live in a divided country.
- [38:41]
John Middlekauff
I am a lifelong Republican with all.
- [38:43]
Jeremy Hobson
Kinds of different people.
- [38:45]
Nikki Glaser
You know, I'm a mother, I'm a grandmother.
- [38:47]
Jeremy Hobson
That's why we started the Middle with Jeremy Hobson. It's about bringing voices not from the extremes, but from the vast middle into the national conversation.
- [38:55]
Nikki Glaser
Anna, I'm calling from Las Vegas.
- [38:58]
Jeremy Hobson
Each week we bring together an all star panel. Mark Cuban, so great to have you on the Middle.
- [39:03]
John Middlekauff
Thanks for having me.
- [39:03]
Jeremy Hobson
Jeremy, Neil Degrasse Tyson, welcome to the Middle.
- [39:06]
Greg Rosenthal
Thanks for having me.
- [39:06]
Jeremy Hobson
And hear from ordinary Americans from all over the country on the most important issues.
- [39:11]
John Middlekauff
Hi, my name is Venkat. I'm calling you from Atlanta, Georgia.
- [39:15]
Jeremy Hobson
And when you subscribe to the Middle, you also get an episode each week called One Thing Trump did that focuses on just one item from the avalanche of news.
- [39:23]
John Middlekauff
We should be examining what our government spends its money on and are these jobs necessary and what are we doing here? But that doesn't seem to be what we're doing in this situation.
- [39:31]
Jeremy Hobson
Listen to the Middle with Jeremy Hobson on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [39:44]
John Middlekauff
You know, I almost, I had my weeks messed up and I thought the players was next week. Maybe I was just discombobulated from the wedding. And then I realized late Monday night that the players this week and I realized, well, I got to do a little go low because I'm going to gamble on it. I have a large wager on the vig. I put together a little parlay for my friends at DraftKings and I was like, I want to do a little golf today. And then I'm at the gym today soaking out my entire life from, from about six day bender in Nashville. And I go up to the cafeteria, nice little gym, and I get some food and I see Tiger woods has torn his Achilles. Which would be crazy if like Tiger woods was an active member on the PGA Tour. He's clearly not though. He dabbles in the tgl, which he owns, but his team's terrible. But it's just a pretty jarring moment. So I do want to dive into that. I did watch in my hotel room a little Saturday before I got married and then a bunch Sunday, the Arnold Palmer. So let's, let's dive into golf. Pretty fired up on some picks as well. But I do want to start before we dive into the players or before we talk about what happened last week. Tiger Woods, I've been saying this forever. If you just look at his body and the surgeries the guy has had and obviously some are weight room and just wear and tear of grinding on a golf range, which obviously the golf swing is not a normal movement, right? With your back, with your knees, the pressure points in the. I, I think there's a fair. At one point in time before Tiger started getting hurt, like in, oh, I guess when he messed up his knee at Torrey Pines in 08, there probably weren't many humans over the course of like 25, 30 years who had taken more golf swings than Tiger Woods. So his body is like if you, if you ever met someone and just. Because when I worked in radio, I was going to a lot of warrior games and going to a lot of NFL games. You would meet these older guys that played in the NFL and the NBA in like the 70s or 80s. And most of them don't look like Howie Long on television. Some of these NBA players, it's like they have seven different limps. I'll never forget the warriors were playing the Houston Rockets in a playoff series. And you know, both coaches give a pre game and a post game press conference. And watching Kevin McHale get to his pregame press conference, you felt like you needed to ask him, like you need help. It was really, really hard for him to walk. And the technology those guys have, the shoes they played on, obviously the injuries in football, the surfaces they played on, it's crazy. They can even move. And that's how Tiger woods body is right now. And when you see, and then obviously the car accident, which he's lucky he didn't lose his leg, which is basically cemented together with rods and this Achilles, like what really sucks is I saw someone tweeting a couple weeks ago when they had that rich guy, member, pro member, whatever they call it at Seminole. Tom Brady's in it, Tiger was in it. And people tweeting that like Tiger was, I think he played with Keegan Bradley or Jason Day or some, some really good player was also in his group. And Tiger's like blasting it by him or hitting it, but like Tiger's pretty good player when he can play. And I do believe that that car accident at the Genesis really ended his career. But I think it's fair to say that this is like the cherry on top. Like it's completely over. And I know he mentioned the rehab process, but I do wonder when you have this many different injuries and you have this many, I mean, why do so many guys get injured after they've been injured? Because your body is overcompensating. Remember it happened to Klay Thompson when he tore his ACL in the NBA Finals and then a year later he tore his Achilles because you start putting more pressure on the opposite ligaments. You don't have to go to medical school. You have to follow sports to realize it happens all the time. And the amount of injuries Tiger's had, especially to his lower body and his back, it just feels like it's kind of time for him to just officially retire and take on a different role. And he started to do that over the last couple of years, but it kind of hit me today like I, there's a chance he might never play in any of these tournaments again and there was no guarantee that he was even going to make it to the Masters in a month. Right. So it's just kind of a brutal end and to me where it really crystallized. And he's been gone for a while, but he, he'll come back every once in a while. Like a couple years ago came back to the Masters and it was a really big deal. Couple of years ago he plays at the Old Course and it's a really big deal. And he has, he has three or four of those moments every year. Him and him and Charlie this year battling out with the Longers, which I think is one of the cooler events, especially now that Charlie plays in it. I would imagine this injury in March probably knocks Pops out for the PNC come this fall, which sucks for Charlie, but, but the necessary just kind of demand of getting these guys all back together because Tiger was a one man rocket ship that could carry the sport for 20 plus years and on individual weeks they could do ratings that like the NBA would die for. Well, those days are Gone. And now we have this split up tour. And on the plane ride to Nashville, on the plane ride home, I downloaded like four or five episodes up, full swing. I actually think it's pretty good this season. It's just, you know, an easy watch, it's entertaining. The Rory stuff is just. The Scottish stuff, it's just pretty good. And it just really makes you realize like you, you can have moments, right, like in tennis and golf where you just have these transcendent figures. Like when I was growing up, my dad loved tennis because he loved the McEnroe, Boris Becker, kind of the 80s of tennis. And then I remember kind of just Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi were just massive superstars. And what hap. What has happened over the years in racing, whether it be NASCAR here to Formula One internationally, like when you get these superstar names, they can carry the sport. And golf had that in a special, special way with Tiger Woods. And now they're much more dependent. Like one guy can't carry you, Rory can't carry you, Bryson can't carry you, but the group of four or five guys can. And you can't have them split up. So Tiger's done and he's been done, but like this officially ends it and it's just time to figure it out, move forward and stop fucking around on the players. So a couple weeks, I guess it would have been like a month ago when Ludwig won at Tory. I had a bunch of bets out and I hit one for, and I've mentioned this before for Tony Finaul. And I immediately took the profits. It was like 1500 bucks. And I put $1000 on Ludwig to win this week and I put the other $500 on him to win the Masters. So that's when I first got into golf betting. One of the first bets, I think it was the first outright bet I had ever hit was Justin Thomas to win the players like four or five years ago, maybe it was three or four years ago. And it was an incredible feeling because any of one that listens to this knows if you bet football, like if you take a big Underdog, that's like plus 200, right? So you're basically getting $100. Win 200. We're in golf, you can get a blue chipper at 20 to 1, 25 to 1, 16 to 1, right? I mean, Scotty Scheffler has kind of gone into rare territory where he's like a 4 to 1 golfer. That is not normal in like DJs prime and Rom's Prime. It's usually like 9, 10 to 1 in the next cruise. 12, 14, 18. And one thing I've learned, it is very, very difficult to build to bet winners. It's why I like betting. I mean, one thing I've gotten much more into is betting the top tens and top twenties. But I think on this individual week, like I'm just hoping Ludwig it'd be pretty incredible. I'm fired up, excited to watch him. But Justin Thomas has won here before. And this is a ball strikers course, like the shot making that it takes in one. It could be windy, but this is a quirky course. This is not TBC Scottsdale where you can just kind of blast it around. I mean there are problem areas hit in the trees, you can hit in the water. There are just disasters to be had. There are also low numbers to be had because there are reachable par fives. And when Justin Thomas and you got to be able to kind of work the ball both ways, especially hit a draw if you're a right handed player. So when I look at Justin Thomas, who is like a throwback old school, just can manipulate the golf ball and he's great around the greens, not putting wise always, but you know, with a wedge in his hand, like he won here for a reason. And to me you get him in the top 20, like you can get plus odds on him. Keegan Bradley, who has played here well multiple times, I mean was on pace at one point in time last week at Arnold Palmer, which is a very tough place to play. Bay hill shoot like 60. I mean he was, he was on fire and he's in this weird spot of like he's the Ryder cup captain. He said he won't pick himself so he'd have to qualify top six. And even then I think he'd be a little uncomfortable. But he just has this weird motivation. To me, I just watch him, he looks like he's playing really well. Same thing with Jason Day. So I'm taking Justin Thomas, Keegan Bradley and Jason Day 2 top 20. I think some of the top guys. I was watching Golf Channel today at the gym and Scotty's got about four coaches out there. He's kind of shrugging his shoulders and he had a driver in his hand. It's not like he was on the putting green. Xander missed like three months. You got Colin Morikawa who in last week Russell Henley, who has resurrected his career in his 30s. And it's been awesome to watch. He's just like this gritty. Honestly, Russell Henley feels Like the type of guy that was on the PGA Tour when I was a kid pre Tiger, like when you turned on and it was the Faldo, Greg Norman era, Tom Watson was still around. You know, guys like that, you know, young Vijay Singh, Ernie Ells, Phil Mickelson, some of those guys. Right before Tiger came In the late 90s, there were a lot of guys that kind of had vibes, like Russell Henley. Russell Henley does not feel like this modern day player who just swing out of his ass trying to hit it 400 yards. He just, he's just a good golfer and he's playing Morikawa, he chips in on 16, which if he didn't chip in, it might have been way by, but he does it, flips it, he ends up winning it. And then Morikawa, a lot like Rory last year at the US Open, storms out and doesn't talk to the press. I don't know why we still call it the press. Basically just doesn't give an interview. And I saw Morikawa, like Rory said on full swing, like I didn't want to talk to anybody. I'm not in the mood. And more cow even used like I don't owe you guys anything. And I was thinking like, yeah, you, you don't owe these media members with credential. That's not who you're talking to. Can you imagine Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson, you know, like when the Bills beat the Ravens? Can you imagine if just after the post game, Lamar Jackson's like, I'm fucking going home. I don't owe anyone anything. He'd be fined. Can you imagine if after the Chiefs beat the Bills in the AFC championship game, Josh Allen was like, yeah, I'm just, I'm just not talking like, no, that's not the way it works. And one thing, it got me thinking, I don't blame Colin Morikawa. He lives in this world that just thinks all this money is just showing up. It's because of the consumer, not the PGA Tour, not even the. The only reason that these networks gave you that much money is they thought way more people were going to watch. But the reason these leagues mandate this in the NFL, in the NBA, because it's good content and it keeps the business model rolling. And I think these players just are in la la land, which how much money is behind. The reason that the PGA Tour can't sustain this without getting back with the live guys is because their business model is all fucked up. The ratings have been down the last couple years despite getting a gigantic television deal. And if I was in column more cow issues. I probably would storm out too, if I just blew it. It would have been, you know, beside he. Obviously he's won a couple majors, even though, you know, Covid majors. But still, I mean, he's. He's got two majors. I probably storm out too. I'd be furious. I'd be mad. How often do you think NFL guys want to storm out? Especially the quarterbacks. That's what we're talking about. We're not talking about a guard. We're not talking about Mark Andrews. Face the music. That's part of the business and that's great for the business. Then the next day it gets everybody, AKA the consumer, the most important person talking about it and you just don't say anything. Now, Rory, I would say, is in a different level, right, than Colin. But there has to be like, there has to be mandates. And this is the type stuff that golf has to figure out. Not everyone can just be out for themselves. That's not how all these other sports, especially football, which is in a different stratosphere than you would ever think about operating. They would not allow it. And if you do skip, I'm going to find you 50K, because that's what happens in the NFL. Cam Newton literally wouldn't jump on a fumble. He had to talk after the Super Bowl. So con this, at least Rory was the US Open. This is the bale like Arnold Palmer that no one even likes. And the players the next week, not the end of the world, get up there. Even if your answers suck, it is just good to get. Because honestly, once Rory started talking on full swing, it was fascinating to hear his mindset about missing that putt in 16. He thought that he blew it because he gave Bryson a shot. Like, that's the type stuff people want to hear about. I just, I think sometimes when people become so rich, like in the NFL, Mahomes like his business is providing that, you know, in the NBA, sometimes it's like guys can be out of touch because the business is making so much money based on a contract that is all out of whack. And it's like, I think these guys have a false sense of like how lucky they are to be in this position, given that the audience is not there. And I put golf right there. The NFL, like, they can be a little cocky. Josh Allen's like, Patrick Mahomes, like, we just got 50 million people to watch us fucking play football. And they're speaking facts. No one. Everyone else is dealing with diminishing returns and Honestly, it's like one of the great legal scams going in America with Jay Monahan and the deal that they cut with these networks because they need inventory, but it's not based on how many people are watching. And that's why we hear so often about the ratings, because it's kind of a problem. And I think these players is like, you know, there's one guy that really moved the needle. Most of these other people do not. So I think that really needs to be kind of figured out. And yeah, I'm a sucker for the Florida swing. Love the players. And like I said, I think anytime you can get ball strikers like JT, you know, JT plus odds, but Keegan and Jason Day, like 2 to 1 to top 20. It gives you so much, you know, margin for error. And honestly, I wouldn't even feel that comfortable if I hadn't done the Ludwig thing, betting on an outright. You know, Shane Lowry's been playing really well. He's a guy. But I heard someone say that they thought this was more of a drawers course than a faders course for a right hander. You know, Tommy Fleetwood has never won, but he would fall into that category in theory. Rory would fall into that category as well. But yeah, other than that, I feel for Tiger. I mean, you talk about a guy. I just don't think in the history of life, when it comes to athletes, we have seen a more weathered. I mean, we're talking about golf. The guy, the guy is put together like he played right tackle from 1971 to 1984. It's like Tiger just played golf. And I mean, his back's fused, his ankles fused, achilles ripped, his ACLs gone, his legs broken, he got a club to the tooth. He just had a lot of shit happen. I remember I got a buddy who played on the tour for a long time. We bullshit about football a lot. And he, and he texted me one time after something happened to Tiger. He's like, I don't think there's ever quite been a life like that. And I think there are certain individuals, you know, Tigers involved highs and money and a lot of pain. But like Michael Jackson. When you just see stuff on Michael Jackson, you're just like, he led a life unlike any human being. You know, good and the bad, it would ruin and fuck up everybody. And some of this stuff with Tiger is self inflicted. There's no way around it, but you know, the guy's just trying to hopefully get dialed enough for the Masters as Achilles just so he could play. Probably, I guess he's never missed the cut. But even if he just comes out there, hits a couple balls, even if he missed the cut, no one would even care in his Achilles pops. Oh my God. I mean, ah man, I just. That guy's life been pretty crazy. I know me, I. I couldn't, I wouldn't have the energy to get behind that bad boy. Yeah, I would have tapped out at like 25 years old. And like this. I've had enough. The volume.
- [57:14]
Nikki Glaser
This is Nikki Glaser from the Nikki Glaser Podcast. On a more serious note, I'm still thinking about that commercial with Tom Brady and Snoop Dogg hating on each other. Because when you listen to the reasons for hating someone or something, you realize just how stupid they really are. There is too much hate in this country and it's gotta stop. So join us at iHeart in standing up to it. If you see hate, speak up, call it out and you can learn more by following at what's up with Hate?
- [57:41]
John Middlekauff
This podcast is brought to you by Travis Matthew Apparel designed for confidence and comfort no matter where the day takes you, Whether you're hitting the gym, pounding the pavement or dominating the court, your shoe should work as hard as you do. That's where the New Age from Travis Matthew comes in. An all new pure performance active shoe built for ultimate comfort and performance with game changing cushioned foam and a lightweight upper mesh. Keep your feet in perfect comfort no matter the adventure. Upgrade your performance with New Age from Travis Matthew. Visit travismathieu.com for 20% off your first.
- [58:17]
Daniel Jeremiah
Order what's up everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the King of Spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft, listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
- [58:48]
Jeremy Hobson
We live in a divided country, and our media couldn't be more polarizing. That's why we started the Middle with Jeremy Hobson. It's about bringing voices not from the extremes, but from the vast middle into the national conversation. Each week we hear from ordinary Americans from all over the country, and we and when you subscribe to the Middle, you also get an episode each week called One Thing Trump did that focuses on just one item from the avalanche of news. Listen to the middle with Jeremy Hobson on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.