Brady didn't want Darnold in Vegas, George Kittle on NIL, Early hot seat talk

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Episode 3 & Out

Title: Brady didn't want Darnold in Vegas, George Kittle on NIL, Early hot seat talk
Release Date: June 30, 2025
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

---

1. Tom Brady’s Influence on Sam Darnold’s Raiders Situation

Timestamp: [02:15]

The episode kicks off with an in-depth analysis of Tom Brady’s role in the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders’ quarterback decisions, particularly concerning Sam Darnold. Host John Middlekauff delves into how Brady's refusal to support Darnold potentially influenced the Raiders’ trajectory.

Key Points:

• Brady’s Strategic Decisions: Brady’s extensive experience led him to prioritize adaptability over adhering to strict offensive philosophies. This flexibility contrasts with coaches and quarterbacks who are tied to specific play styles.
• Impact on the Raiders: Tom Brady’s reluctance to back Sam Darnold may have pushed the Raiders to explore other quarterback options, ultimately leading to the acquisition of Geno Smith and the hiring of Pete Carroll.

Notable Quote:

John Middlekauff ([02:25]): "Tom Brady did not want Sam Darnold in Vegas, which significantly influenced the Raiders' quarterback strategy moving forward."

---

2. George Kittle’s Insights on NIL (Name, Image, Likeness)

Timestamp: [18:00]

The discussion shifts to George Kittle’s recent comments on the evolving landscape of NIL deals and their impact on college athletes’ decisions regarding early entry into professional leagues.

Key Points:

• NIL Deals Influence: Kittle highlights how substantial NIL offers can sway talented athletes to forgo their remaining college eligibility, prioritizing immediate financial gains over completing their collegiate careers.
• Economic Implications: The increase in NIL deals, particularly for high-profile athletes, creates a financial divide between players from top-tier programs and those from smaller schools.
• Long-term Effects on College Football: The trend may lead to improved retention of top talent in college programs, as the financial incentives become increasingly aligned with staying longer in the collegiate system.

Notable Quote:

John Middlekauff ([22:00]): "George Kittle remarked that the NIL earnings are so lucrative that they can sometimes overshadow traditional signing bonuses, reflecting a significant shift in how young athletes approach their careers."

---

3. Early Hot Seat Talk: Coaching Job Security and Compensation

Timestamp: [25:30]

The podcast delves into the precarious nature of NFL coaching positions, emphasizing the high stakes and substantial compensation associated with head coaches.

Key Points:

• Coaching Salaries: Head coaches in the NFL command multimillion-dollar salaries, accompanied by immense pressure to deliver results. Failure to meet expectations can result in swift terminations.
• Job Security: Coaches like Brian Daboll and Shane Steichen are highlighted as being in precarious positions, where their future depends heavily on the team’s performance and key player performances.
• Market Dynamics: The discussion touches on how former head coaches can transition to coordinator roles if terminated, though these positions come with reduced compensation and less influence.

Notable Quotes:

John Middlekauff ([30:15]): "Head coaches are not only highly paid but are also under constant scrutiny. One poor season can put them on the chopping block, regardless of their past successes."

John Middlekauff ([34:00]): "The pressure is relentless. If a head coach underperforms, even consistently good coordinators like Mike McDaniel might find themselves in the hot seat."

---

4. The Ripple Effects of NIL on College Football and Beyond

Timestamp: [20:00]

Expanding on the NIL topic, the conversation explores how these deals are reshaping college football dynamics and athlete behavior.

Key Points:

• Player Decisions: Athletes now weigh financial gains from NIL deals against the benefits of completing their education and enhancing their draft stock through collegiate play.
• Program Competitiveness: Top-tier programs are better positioned to attract and retain talent, potentially widening the gap between elite and mid-tier teams.
• Academic Implications: With athletes prioritizing NIL opportunities, there may be a decline in classroom attendance and academic engagement, prompting discussions about the balance between athletics and academics.

Notable Quote:

John Middlekauff ([25:45]): "NIL deals are not just about money; they're changing the very fabric of college football, influencing where players choose to play and how long they stay in the system."

---

5. Broader NFL Strategies and Player Evaluations

Timestamp: [15:00]

The episode also touches upon broader strategies within the NFL, including offensive philosophies and player evaluations, with references to scouting practices and player performance metrics.

Key Points:

• Flexible Offensive Strategies: Contrasting Tom Brady’s adaptable approach with other quarterbacks who may have rigid offensive styles.
• Scouting and Player Potential: The importance of thorough scouting in identifying quarterbacks who can thrive under various offensive schemes, emphasizing the need for versatility and leadership.
• Future Projections: Speculations on how current quarterback performances and coaching strategies will shape future team successes and playoff prospects.

Notable Quote:

John Middlekauff ([18:45]): "Effective scouting and recognizing a quarterback's ability to adapt can make the difference between a team that wins championships and one that remains stagnant."

---

Conclusion

In this episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, listeners are treated to a comprehensive analysis of key NFL developments, from Tom Brady’s strategic influence on quarterback decisions to George Kittle’s insights on the transformative impact of NIL deals. Additionally, the discussion on coaching job security provides a nuanced understanding of the high-pressure environment of NFL leadership. With rich insights and expert commentary, this episode offers valuable perspectives for sports enthusiasts seeking to deepen their understanding of the current dynamics shaping the NFL landscape.

---

Notable Quotes Overview:

• John Middlekauff ([02:25]): "Tom Brady did not want Sam Darnold in Vegas, which significantly influenced the Raiders' quarterback strategy moving forward."

• John Middlekauff ([18:45]): "Effective scouting and recognizing a quarterback's ability to adapt can make the difference between a team that wins championships and one that remains stagnant."

• John Middlekauff ([22:00]): "George Kittle remarked that the NIL earnings are so lucrative that they can sometimes overshadow traditional signing bonuses, reflecting a significant shift in how young athletes approach their careers."

• John Middlekauff ([30:15]): "Head coaches are not only highly paid but are also under constant scrutiny. One poor season can put them on the chopping block, regardless of their past successes."

• John Middlekauff ([34:00]): "The pressure is relentless. If a head coach underperforms, even consistently good coordinators like Mike McDaniel might find themselves in the hot seat."

---

This summary captures the essence of the episode, focusing on the main discussions and providing valuable insights for those who haven't tuned in.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

This is an I Heart podcast.

[John Middlekauff]

You know, we love talking stats here on the Odd Couple with Rob Parker and Kelvin Washington. Here's one that's super simple to remember. Discover automatically doubles the cash back you've earned on your credit card at the end of your first year. With Cash Back Match. That means with Discover, you could turn $150 cash back to $300. That's right. You could put it towards some memorabilia you've had your eye on. Or treat yourself to a premium sports network you earn and Discover doubles. See [e-mail] credit card picture this. You're halfway through a DIY car fix, tools scattered everywhere, and boom. You realize you're missing a part. It's okay because, you know, whatever it is, it's on ebay. They've got everything. Brakes, headlights, cold air intakes, whatever you need. And it's guaranteed to fit. Which means no more crossing your fingers and hoping you ordered the right thing. All the parts you need at prices you'll love. Guaranteed to fit every time. Ebay. Things people love. Okay, have you heard about this? Last year, Degree changed the formula for their Cool Rush deodorant. Their fans rebelled and wanted the old SIM back. And Degree Listen, that doesn't happen often. They admitted that they effed up and are bringing the original Cool Rush scent back.

[Katie Couric]

And it's exactly how you remember it.

[John Middlekauff]

Cool, crisp and fresh. There's a reason it's the number one men's antiperspirant and is back in Walmart, Target and other stores for under $4. So try it and see what the fuss is about. Head to your local stores to try the OG Cool Rush for yourself.

[Jasmine Crockett]

On the latest episode of Next Question with me, Katie Couric. I sat down with Jasmine Crockett, Democratic representative of Texas. She's holding down the fort for her party in one of the most conservative states in the union.

[Colin Cowherd]

I think that ultimately who will become the Democratic nominee for president will be someone that has been out there and has shown that they won't allow themselves to be punched and just say thank you like they will punch back.

[Jasmine Crockett]

Listen to Next Question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[John Middlekauff]

The volume. What is going on, everybody? How are we doing? John Middlekoff 3Now podcast. It is a Sunday afternoon. I actually recorded a podcast earlier today with Colin. You can go find that on all his feeds. YouTube as well. I thought, you know what? Let's do another podcast because we're gonna break for 4th of July here later this week. So let's bang out a couple podcasts early in the week. We'll do some football talk. Tom Brady didn't want Darnold. I watched Enygma at least a couple episodes till my wife was like, turn it off. The Aaron Rodgers documentary. I listened to a podcast with George Kittle, who has some interesting comments on the nil. We're also going to do a big mailbag @johnmittlekopf. Is the Instagram fire in those DMs. I'm going to need you guys. I need you this offseason. July is a big month for you. So at JohnMittlekoff, fire in those DMs. Get your questions answered on the show. We will interact with the people over the course of the next month because we need you. And we'll have podcasts. I'll probably do a golf podcast tomorrow and then maybe one more football podcast later this week. So make sure you fire in those DMs. Other than that, you know the deal. If you listen on this on Collins feed, make sure you subscribe to Three and Out. Obviously everything up on YouTube as well. But before we dive into any football, you know, I got to tell you about my friends, my partners in the official ticketing app of this podcast, Game Time. Best in the business. Do you guys want to go to what is more fourth of July than baseball? You know, I remember we used to have a big baseball tournament in Little League where I was growing up. You want to go to one of these baseball games? Do you live in a major league city if you want to attend one of these games, have some beers, enjoy the sun, eat some peanuts. This is the time of year to do it. Get some sun. It's really enjoyable. Take a friend, take a loved one and go enjoy yourself and do it on us. So here's the thing. Game Time. Everything from concerts to comedy shows to obviously football season. I saw today, I don't know, Fox or NFL or someone put it out. We're 10 Sundays away till the National Football League. So not that far. It feels far. But once you get to July 4th, it's. It's truly right around the corner. So you want to get a football. Football tickets for the fall. Take the guesswork out of buying tickets with Game Time. Download the Game Time app, create an account and use the code JOHN for $20 off your first purchase terms apply. Again, create an account and redeem the code John for $20 off. Down the game Time app today, last minute, take his Lowest price guaranteed. Mike Silver, the longtime reporter slash writer, wrote for Sports Illustrated in its heyday. Just put out a new book on kind of the Shanahan Clan. I actually just hit me like, I think I'm gonna try to read a couple books this July. That's a goal of mine. Let's read two books this July. Not listen. I do a lot of audio books, but, like, sit there and read. No phone. Just enjoy the book, even if it's on my iPad. Just let's do. And that's one of them. I need to download it later tonight for the holiday. And Mike Silver, who's pretty dialed in, threw something out last week that Tom Brady was the driving force in making sure the Raiders were not interested or signed or went down the path of Sam Darnold. And obviously they didn't. They actually. He goes to Seattle that they get Geno Smith that Pete Carroll, you know, had a history with. And it kind of hit me. I'm sure some of you listening are with a company, work somewhere where you started as a young intern, started out of college. And if you're my age, maybe you've been there 15, 20, 30 years, however long, that's pretty impressive. Obviously, you know, anytime you work your way up, but usually when you enter a company at 22, 23, 24 years old, if you're young, they kind of look at you a little differently. It's like sometimes I think that my parents, friends that, you know, as you get older, you know, you saw me in junior high and high school doing the dumbest shit, and I was like, you're married, you have a house, you have a career. It's like, I can only imagine one day when I'll look at, like, my kids, friends, and then they're grown up and they're big. It's like, how do you take them seriously? Maybe it's just as time goes on, you just become kind of numb to it. But I do understand from Tom Brady's perspective, like, he had a front row seat of the ugliness. Now, a huge part of that clearly was the jets, but of the Sam Darnold experience. And maybe it's hard for Tom Brady to look at Sam Darnold, regardless what happened last year, and take him seriously. And there's an element of that, like a lot of you that, you know, started a company, then go somewhere else because you want to be taken seriously, right? And sometimes that helps that when you go somewhere else and they don't look at you like, oh, I remember when he was Just an intern. Right. And I also wonder if Tom Brady, who Kevin o' Connell, was drafted to the Patriots, like that's where he started his career. The relationship with Tom and Kevin is probably kind of unique where it's not just like football conversations, like, these guys are friends and they could have an honest conversation about the experience of the last couple weeks. Now, I'll never defend Sam Darnold. In that last game against Detroit, he did not play well. There is no excuses for that performance. I do think the playoff game is partly on the coach. The coach did a really poor job when the offensive line was getting smoked and he just refused to run the ball. It was just, I'm going to pass. We're going to go down my way. And I think sometimes in football, and Tom Brady knows this better than any anyone, is like, we don't have a style. We'll pass if it's working, we'll run. If it's working, we'll do whatever it takes to move the ball, get first down and score points. We have no quote unquote offensive philosophy beside to try to score more points than the other team. We will do whatever's working. That's not normal. What Belichick and Tom Brady was used to philosophically is basically abnormal to everyone else in the NFL. Sean McVeigh has a certain style in which he likes to play. Same with Kyle Shanahan, same with Kevin o' Connell, same with Andy Reid, same with Jim Harbaugh. And they kind of win or lose playing that style. Bill Belichick, you know, his operation offensively and defensively had none. They did whatever it took to win that individual game. And it's, you know, why he'll go down as one of the greatest coaches, if not the greatest coach of all time. But I do think Tom Brady. Listen, you know, we talk about this in scouting all the time and it's discussed a lot now because so many people discuss the different, the way people view, you know, biases when it comes to viewing players and previous experiences when it comes to building teams. And listen, we're all a product of the way we've been taught in our experiences. And Tom Brady had a front row seat for the ugly of Sam Darnold. And, you know, he goes to Seattle. I think he's turned the corner. I expect him to be a solid player. But I, but I do understand where Tom Brady's coming from. You also don't tie yourself to a younger player. You did trade a third round pick for Geno. But if in a Couple of years, it doesn't work. You're still in the mix like of looking to draft a quarterback and it doesn't change anything though. I don't think Seattle, who just drafted a quarterback in the third round really viewed it that way either. It's not like we're signing up for this guy and he's our quarterback for the next five years. But listen, one thing that's going to be clear is John Spytak has been in the scouting profession, had a front row seat for guys that know what they were doing for 20 plus years. Obviously Pete Carroll as a head coach has specific philosophies with operation. It's going to be interesting to see Tom Brady's influence when it comes to moving forward because what if they get to the point? Sam Darnold's an easy one if your spikes are clear. I'm not going to battle Tom on this even if I liked him. Whatever. Cool. We'll just go with Geno. Pete will be happy. It's. But what if we get to a point in like a year where it's like, Tom, I like this guy. I've been scouting quarterbacks for a while. I understand you're the greatest player of all time. But like this is my profession. I've had a front row seat. Like I got a pretty good idea what works and what doesn't. You know, I've scouted every player in this league for a long, long time. And what if Tom disagrees? And it's going to be fascinating to watch how that plays out over time. Because listen, Gino, if you're John Spytak this year, to me, the number one goal of your scouting department is we are, we are all in on looking at all these quarterbacks. We're evaluating every single guy that's going to get drafted, let alone all the guys are going to be top, you know, 100 prospects. All my scouts are going to see him in person. If I'm spy Tech, I would like to find ways to see a handful of them in person over the course of the year. So they're going to be scouting quarterbacks very, very heavily, you know, is Tom. So I don't know, it'll be fascinating to watch it play out. George Kittle had a comment on the bus that I thought was pretty interesting. And like most teams, and you see this during hard knocks, right when a rookie's introducing himself and most teams have certain requirements, what your school is, where you're from, what your signing bonus is. And Kittle said that the 49ers. When rookies during OTAs introduced themselves to the team, they added what you made during nil. And he said it was the most eye opening experience he's ever had because he'd get a guy that's an undrafted free agent that would like come up. My signing bonus is $30,000. Last year in nil I made $700,000. George, thinking like you made a bad decision. And listen, the numbers that are thrown out there at first seem like a little crazy knowing people in the business. Obviously it's been well reported. Now I feel pretty comfortable. Like some of the seven figure deals clearly are going to the quarterbacks, but like good players at big programs, starting players, we're making anywhere between half a million dollars to, you know, seven to $800,000. And some of these guys, historically if I was going to be a fourth or fifth round pick, maybe I just didn't like school. I don't blame them. I did not like school. I thought about that today actually. How could someone who hated school as much as me somehow have multiple degrees from a higher institution of learning? It's pretty crazy. Now I cheated in high school. I hated school because it was just so boring to me. Looking back, there were some classes in college that would probably somewhat interest me now, but I just remember sitting in class and thinking what a waste of time this all is. Like this is. So how is any of this going to help me? Like going to. I remember taking chemistry in college. I'm like, what the fuck is this going to do for me in five years in the real world? And the answer was absolutely nothing. But I had to take it. The point is, a lot of athletes think like that. Don't blame them. Because if you're starting for the University of Texas, for the University of Alabama, for the University of Ohio State, Oregon, whatever, a top 30, 40 program. How could you not think I'm going to be in the NFL? Don't blame them at all. And most of them are at least going to get a shot, right? If you're a starter, several year starter, Division 1 college, especially the top programs, probably at worst going to be an undrafted free agent and just get an opportunity in a training camp. Even if you get washed out pretty quick, you're going to get your shot. And a lot of guys would be like, listen, I'm not going to be a first round pick, but I got a year of eligibility left, but I despise school. I'm leaving. Nowadays I've talked to more and more people that which is crazy to me now, granted, I graduated college in 08. I mean the Internet was big then, but nowhere near what it is now. A lot of these kids don't even go to actual tan like actual classes. They take online classes. A ton of athletes never enter the actual classroom of a college. I saw was a con canipple. The Duke player that was just drafted, I think fourth overall in the NBA draft said one reason that he chose Duke, I think it was concan nipple. It could have been someone else, but it was pretty sure. Talking about Duke like they actually. The kids actually went to class. You would actually interact where all these other programs, one of their recruiting pitches was like, hey, come here for a year or two. We'll pay you a lot of money before you go to the NBA. And you will never actually have to go to a classroom like that is fucking. That wasn't even an option 10 years ago, let alone 20 years ago. And I do think that more and more, and this is where the draft was viewed as pretty bad the last couple years, after the first couple rounds, especially last year, people were like after the fourth round, this thing is. Doesn't feel as deep. Why would any guy on the fence not go back to school? It's like, even if I hate classes, I don't actually have to go to one. And let's face it, you think I'm the guy actually logging into the classroom? Of course not. And I'm making 6, 7, $800,000. Do you know how much money that is just in general, let alone being. And listen, I'm pro these guys making coin. I've said this to countless people. I mean I saw. It's one thing like Cooper flag reports are all over the place. I saw something that he might have made $28 million his first year or just his nine months at Duke if that is true. Like I can't even imagine going from. He didn't necessarily go from nothing because the companies were already trying to buy him. But even if he's on retainer for hundreds of thousands of dollars, going from that to $28 million again, is that true? Let's not even use him. He's a bad example. Let's just use starting quarterback some guy in college like Cam Ward who was making decent money. And then all of a sudden Miami gives him two or three million dollars. Like what could you possibly do with that money? You're 23, you're just. You're going to practice, eating, hanging out with your teammates the whole time. I don't even know. I can't even fathom having that much there. But I do know this more and more as these kids see these examples of these guys that get drafted either in the mid rounds or don't get drafted and basically their career might be over in a year and only get 50,000, 75,000, 30,000 signing bonus. It's like I could have just come back for one more year of $750,000 even if I'm an impressive guy and I'm going to have a very lucrative career non football in my life. I don't know what the starting salaries are in most industries but they aren't sniffing $700,000. So you do have to wonder the ramifications moving forward. It's only going to help out and make college football better because better players are going to stay. Now if you can be a Cam Ward, a Cooper Flag, a guy, get drafted really high, you're always going to go pro because there's a lot more money there. But some of these guys that aren't going to go and they're just our question marks like you're not guaranteed anything. It makes no sense for you not to go back to school. Foreign golfers drive for show in Pufferdale. The easiest shot for you to make some dough betting on this week's tournament at DraftKings Sportsbook. From the opening round to live on Sunday, DraftKings Sportsbook has you covered with live betting and player props. I'll give you something. We got the the Rocket Mortgage Classic this this weekend up in Detroit and Colin Morcal is currently the betting favorite. But how about Cam Young? You get it plus 2,800. That's bet $100 to win 2,800. And you can also get them 5 to 1 to top 5 plus 260 to top 10. The other thing that's great about golf, you can bet on guys to top 10 to top 20. Don't even need them to win the tournament. So if you want to get in on the action, I highly recommend it. And here's something for our first timers. New DraftKings customers can bet 5 bucks to win 150 in bonus bets instantly. Download the DraftKings sportsbook app now. Use the Code John. That's Code John for new customers to get 150 in bonus bets instantly. When you bet just five bucks only on DraftKings, the crown is yours. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER in New York. Call 877-8-HOPE NY or text hopeny467-369 In Connecticut help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-78-9777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boot Hill casino and resort, Kansas. 21 plus. Age eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario. New customers only. Bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance. For additional terms and responsible gambling resources, see DKNG Co Audio. To all my small business owners out there, I feel your pain. Business is on your mind 24 7. It never ends. So when you're hiring, you need a partner that works just as hard as you. That hiring partner is LinkedIn jobs. When you clock out, LinkedIn clocks in. They make it easy to post your job for free. Share it with your network and get qualified candidates that you can manage all in one place. Post your job. LinkedIn's new feature can help you write descriptions. Then quickly get your job in front of the right people. Get qualified candidates. We know how important that is because at the end of the day, the most important thing for your small business is to get the right candidate. With LinkedIn, share it with your network. You can let your network know you're hiring. You can even add a hiring frame to your profile picture to get two times more qualified candidates. Post your job for [e-mail] John that's LinkedIn.com John to post your job for free, terms and conditions apply.

[Zoe Saldana]

Hi, Zoe Saldana. Welcome to T Mobile. Here's your new iPhone 16 Pro on us.

[T-Mobile Representative]

Thanks. And here's my old phone to trade in.

[Zoe Saldana]

You don't need a trade in. When you switch to T Mobile, we'll give you a new iPhone 16 Pro. Plus we'll help you pay off your old phone. Up to 800 bucks and you still get to keep it.

[T-Mobile Representative]

There's always a table.

[Zoe Saldana]

Not right now. AT T Mobile.

[T-Mobile Representative]

I feel like I have to give you something in return for karma.

[Zoe Saldana]

That's okay.

[T-Mobile Representative]

I don't really have much in my purse. Oh, let's see. Hand sanitizer. It's lavender.

[Zoe Saldana]

I'm good. Seriously.

[T-Mobile Representative]

Let me check this pocket. Oh, mints.

[Zoe Saldana]

Really, I'm fine.

[T-Mobile Representative]

Oh, I have raisins. I'm a mom. Wait, wait one sec. I've got cupcakes in the car.

[John Middlekauff]

It's our best iPhone offer ever. Switch to T Mobile. Get a new iPhone 16 Pro with Apple Intelligence on us. No trade in needed. Will even pay off your phone up to 800 bucks with 24 monthly bill credits.

[Dan Flores]

New line, $100 plus a month on experience beyond Finance Agreement. $999.99 and qualifying ported for well qualified plus tax and $10 connection charge pay off via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days credits end and balance due if you pay off early or.

[Colin Cowherd]

Cancel CT mobile.com I think Democrats have for a very long time allowed Republicans to play them. So essentially Republicans came up with a narrative and and Democrats decided to play into that and that only hurt the Democrats.

[Jasmine Crockett]

I'm Katie Couric. Jasmine Crockett, Democratic representative of Texas, is not known for holding back and our recent chat on Next Question is no exception. But when you hear how she got to where she is, her intensity makes perfect sense.

[Colin Cowherd]

It's just hard to imagine a world where you don't have enough people that care to do right by people. And so that same passion that carried me through as a public defender that led me to want to change laws and thinking about the harm that will happen not just to my constituents, but just generally like I carry that weight.

[Jasmine Crockett]

With me because you've seen it up close.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Jasmine Crockett]

Listen to Next question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Memphis Bleak]

The American west with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network. Hosted by me writer and historian Dan Flores and brought to you by Velvet Buck. This podcast looks at a West available nowhere else. Each episode I'll be diving into some of the lesser known histories of the West. I'll then be joined in conversation by guests and such as Western historian Dr. Randall Williams and best selling author and Meat Eater founder Stephen Rinella.

[John Middlekauff]

I'll correct my kids now and then where they'll say when cave people were here. And I'll say it seems like the Ice Age people that were here didn't have a real affinity for caves.

[Memphis Bleak]

So join me starting Tuesday, May 6, where we'll delve into stories of the west and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today.

[John Middlekauff]

Listen to the American west with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm not proud to say this, but Friday afternoon we were just kind of hanging out at the house in Maria and I was like, you know what? Let's throw on the Aaron Rodgers documentary. Now granted it was, you know, you know, Netflix. It wasn't like I had been thinking about it. It kind of popped up on the Netflix when we were looking around, you know, right around probably. I think we had just had dinner. So it was early. We had an early dinner on Friday. So let's just. Let's just throw this on, see what. See what it's all about. And I didn't make it through the whole thing. She. Let's just say she was the driving force of like, yeah, let's watch something else. After about halfway through episode two, and I had two big takeaways from the documentary. One, somewhat of a troubled soul. And listen, there are elements to all of us that we all have issues. One thing I see a lot from my generation is the trauma we all had. Being a parent is hard. Most parents try their hardest. There's no handbook to do any of this for the most part. Like, you could find an example in most human beings if it's not, like, specific things. Right. I'm just talking most people's childhood, like, the trauma we had to endure of our parents. Like, oh, my God. It's like, yeah, some people just kind of grow out of phases or can figure things out for like, yeah, holding on to this anger and this chip on my shoulder is something that's not going to be that healthy or be able to balance it. And there is a chip on Aaron Rodgers shoulder that you feel. And listen, only you know, just like, only I know what it was like to grow up in my home. What it was like to grow up in his home. And obviously, if no, like, laws were broken or anything, it's like, yeah, it's like probably disagreed, probably agreed with some things your parents forced you to do as a kid and, like, still be harboring this energy toward, like, his childhood. You kind of feel it, like, watching it, like, there's just. He's like, he's this troubled soul who really likes himself some Aaron Rodgers. And it was like, Jesus. My takeaway watching this was like, I just have a hard time seeing Tom or Peyton kind of act like this. And a huge element of it is, you know, part of this was shot. It's he's single, no family, no kids, obviously doesn't talk to his family. Just feels like he's kind of a lost soul with no family to lean on. And I do think as you age, right, as you get older, especially if you have the amount of disposable income which you have in Aaron Rodgers situation, to have nothing to lean on. Like, family, when you are someone that is famous as him, is potentially the only part of your circle that really can keep some humility in your life. Obviously your parents, your brothers and sisters, your wife can say things to you critically that no one else is saying. And obviously, once you put children in that, you are living for someone else. There's a bigger purpose to your life. And you're just watching Aaron Rodgers, you're like, this guy feels kind of like a lost soul, a huge ego who's just a lost soul. Now, the one thing I will defend with his parents, from his perspective, is the thing that happened with his brother on the Bachelor when they left the open seats. Like, that is a complete loser move by his parents. Even if you weren't happy with your child and you weren't speaking to your child, there would be a level of respect. You would think, I know I would never do this to my future children. My parents would never have done this to me. It's like, yeah, we're not doing this. We can bring cameras into the house for my other son dating this girl. But to put those two seats, you knew exactly what you're doing. That's a loser fucking move. And I don't blame Aaron from, like, double middle fingers now the rest of your life. I don't know what else happened. It just feels like there's all this negative energy so surrounding his family that's forced him into the kind of this weird life that I see people on the Internet right now are making fun of. Like, do we got a Manti tail situation going on? He's got a wedding ring. No one's seen his wife. He's going on solo walks on the beach. I don't recommend Enigma. If you never watch it, you're not missing much. It's just kind of. The football part's kind of cool. Like, I enjoyed, like, that. Mike McCarthy is a big part of it. Some of his former coaches are a big part of it, but any part outside of football just feels a little weird. And this is what I was saying, like, about, you know, people making fun of him for the ayahuasca, for the darkness retreats. Like, you get made fun of for doing that stuff. Like, even if there are positive benefits, you know, like, listen, I don't journal, but clearly watch a lot of successful people that, like, talk about on Instagram. Like, probably journaling is pretty hot. If I went on a couple of my group chats that I'm on text messages with from friends from college or friends from the NFL and just started throwing out, like, here are my thoughts that I've journaled over the last week, and they made fun of me, I'd only have myself to blame. And I just think when you've. I mean, he's made hundreds of millions of dollars. There's like a LeBron element to this. What does he get made fun of all the time? It's like LeBron lives in his own little world. Well, who in LeBron's camp is going to tell LeBron? No, who's going to tell LeBron? Like, hey, that's kind of sounds stupid. I just saw today he opted back into his contract. He will have made $580 million in his NBA career. So when you factor in the amount of revenue he's generating for everyone in that little circle, business, pretty business is booming. And the one thing when business is booming, you don't want to fuck with the cash cow. So I just watched this enigma thinking, this is a bizarre experience. This is not even uncomfortable, but there's an element of kind of sadness. There's an element you feel for the guy, obviously the family element. But it's like there's just like this egotistical factoring in, like this resentment toward other. It's just, it's a wild experience, which, yeah, wouldn't recommend other than that. I was thinking today, like some of these guys, I saw Florio put it like a hot seat. Obviously, every year we know on the low end, it's five. On the high end, it could be like six or seven guys getting fired that some of these guys that are on summer break right now that have, you know, one of the best jobs in professional sports, you're the head coach of an NFL team. Even if you're on the low end, you're making seven, $8 million. Think about major League baseball managers. Some of these guys make like $800,000. So that's like what a running back Coach makes with 10 years experience in the league. So it's an incredibly highly paid, highly public, highly. You know, you get a lot of power that comes along with it. It's a great gig. It's an intense gig. It's a stressful gig, but it's. It's one that not many people get the opportunity to ever do, even in the profession. Some of these guys know they're screwed. I was thinking about, if you're Brian Dabel, you head to vacation. You think my career, my head coaching career at least is depending on Russell Wilson throwing touchdowns. I'm Shane Steichen and listen, I. One of the, you know, surprise predictions last. Last week on the Herd was, Daniel Jones resurrects his career. What if he doesn't? And if you're Shane Steichen, you're thinking, a couple years ago, I was known as A genius. I helped save, like Nick Sirianni's career because they gave me the play calling duties. I helped make Jalen Hurts a high end player. Offensively, I was known as a genius. Hell, two years ago I was like, this guy won nine games with Gardner Minshew. Now I'm potentially fighting for my job and it's tied to Daniel Jones. By all reports and everyone in India, you could see this coming from a mile away. He's going to be the starting quarterback in Indianapolis. You can put that in Sharpie right now. Daniel Jones, week one, starting. That's who you're depending on, man. I mean, sometimes when your back's against the wall, you just hope to get a lifeline, right? It's like you see some of these situations, someone's like floating. It gets found by a coast guard in the water. It's like, well, we had my boat capsized, but we had this incredible blow up buoy thing that I was able to sit on. I had a flare. It wasn't easy, but given the circumstance, saved my life. I don't know if that's the situation here. Could get really, really ugly. And obviously every year, you know, you have situations that you didn't see coming. You know, everyone thinks Mike McDaniel's in major, major trouble. I think that team is just not going to be very good. And I think I've said this forever. You know, it's one of those jobs like Brian Dabel and Shane Steichen, if they were to get fired, would be offensive coordinators immediately. Like, look at Dennis Allen, who was, he was an embarrassing head coach. Your boy picked the Saints last year. Shows you what an idiot I am. But he'll never be a head coach again. But the moment he's available, like three teams are trying to hire him as a defensive coordinator and he will be a defensive coordinator until he doesn't want to work in the NFL. Well, a defensive coordinator like Dennis Allen, he's making like two and a half, three, four million dollars. He has none of the stress of being a head coach. He's not in charge of the personnel. All he has to do is coach defense. And he's making millions of dollars. He's making more than probably, I don't know, 40%, 50% of the roster. And he's a failure as a head coach. So Shane Steichen, Brian Dabel, these guys, even Mike McDaniel, I'm sure would get hired to be an offensive coordinator pretty quickly. But being a head coach, pretty lucrative, right? It gives you A lot of fame gives you a lot of money, gives you a lot of power. You sit at the front of the seat, you sit at the front of the table, everyone's looking at you. You make the hires. You have a huge influence. Even if you're not in control of the draft, you have a huge influence on the draft because what GM wants to give a player to the head coach that doesn't want to coach him. So say, you know, whether the front office is in charge or not, you kind of have to acquiesce a little bit to whoever your coaches are because you want them to like the players, because they don't like the players. They can control that guy's trajectory and all of a sudden he's not playing and does you no good.

[Katie Couric]

Blending Vice's signature dynamic storytelling with the high octane world of sports, Vice Sports brings an exciting and diverse range of programming that goes beyond the game. From action packed live events to gripping behind the scenes documentaries, to hard hitting investigative pieces and in depth profiles of athletes, coaches, teams, Vice Sports captures the raw energy, drama and passion that makes sports truly unforgettable. Catch live events and other exclusive sports programs Only on Vice TV. Go to Vicetv.com to find your cable channel.

[Zoe Saldana]

Hi, Zoe Saldana. Welcome to T Mobile. Here's your new iPhone 16 Pro on us.

[T-Mobile Representative]

Thanks. And here's my old phone to trade in.

[Zoe Saldana]

You don't need a trade in. When you switch to T Mobile, we'll give you a new iPhone 16 Pro. Plus we'll help you pay off your old Phone up to 800 bucks and you still get to keep it.

[T-Mobile Representative]

There's always a trade in.

[Zoe Saldana]

Not right now. @ T Mobile.

[T-Mobile Representative]

I feel like I have to give you something in return for karma.

[Zoe Saldana]

That's okay.

[T-Mobile Representative]

I don't really have much in my purse. Oh, let's see. Hand sanitizer. It's lavender.

[Zoe Saldana]

I'm good.

[T-Mobile Representative]

Seriously, Let me check this pocket. Oh, mints.

[Zoe Saldana]

Really, I'm fine.

[T-Mobile Representative]

Oh, I have raisins. I'm a mom. Wait, wait one sec. I've got cupcakes in the car.

[John Middlekauff]

It's our best iPhone offer ever. Switch to T Mobile, get a new iPhone 16 Pro with Apple intelligence on us, no trade in needed. We'll even pay off your phone up to 800 bucks with 24 monthly bill credits.

[Dan Flores]

New line 100 plus a month on experience beyond Finance Agreement 999.99 and qualifying forwarded for well qualified plus tax and $10 connection charge. Pay out via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days credits end in balance.

[John Middlekauff]

Due if you pay off early or.

[Colin Cowherd]

Cancel CT mobile.com I think Democrats have for a very long time allowed Republicans to play them. So essentially Republicans came up with a narrative and Democrats decided to play into that. And that only hurt the Democrats.

[Jasmine Crockett]

I'm Katie Couric. Jasmine Crockett, Democratic representative of Texas, is not known for holding back and our recent chat on Next Question is no exception. But when you hear how she got to where she is, her intensity makes perfect sense.

[Colin Cowherd]

It's just hard to imagine a world where you don't have enough people that care to do right by people. And so that same passion that carried me through as a public defender that led me to want to change laws and thinking about the harm that will happen not just to my constituents, but just generally like I carry that weight.

[Jasmine Crockett]

With me because you've seen it up close. Yeah Listen to Next Question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dan Flores]

I know a lot of cops and they get asked all the time, have you ever had to shoot your gun? Sometimes the answer is yes. But there's a company dedicated to a future where the answer will always be no.

[John Middlekauff]

Across the country, cops called this Taser the Revolution.

[Dan Flores]

But not everyone was convinced it was that simple.

[John Middlekauff]

Cops believed everything that Taser told them.

[Dan Flores]

From Lava For Good and the team that brought you Bone Valley comes a story about what happened when a multi billion dollar company dedicated itself to one visionary mission. This is Absolut Season 1 Taser Incorporated.

[John Middlekauff]

I get right back there and it's bad. It's really, really really bad.

[Dan Flores]

Listen to new episodes of Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Binge episodes 1, 2 and 3 on May 21 and episodes 4, 5 and 6 on June 4 ad free at Lava for Good. Plus on Apple Podcasts.

[Memphis Bleak]

The American west with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network. Hosted by me, writer and historian Dan Flores and brought to you by Velvet Buck, this podcast looks at a West available nowhere else. Each episode I'll be diving into some of the lesser known histories of the West. I'll then be joined in conversation by giving guests such as Western historian Dr. Randall Williams and best selling author and meat eater founder Stephen Rinella.

[John Middlekauff]

I'll correct my kids now and then where they'll say when cave people were here. And I'll say it seems like the Ice Age people that were here didn't have a real affinity for caves.

[Memphis Bleak]

So join me starting Tuesday, May 6, where we'll delve into stories of the west and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today.

[John Middlekauff]

Listen to the American west with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Okay. Mailbag time on middlekophnmittalcoff is the Instagram fire in those DMs. Get your questions answered on the show. Want to bang out a bunch? If you guys we're gonna do I'm gonna need you probably later in the week, so fire back in those DMS at johnmiddelkoff. You you guys know the drill. This is your time to shine in the off season. This is from Kevin. Good question. Did you see Big Ben's take that prime that he would take Prime Rogers over Prime Mahomes. What are your thoughts? You know what's funny is on my YouTube like I don't even know page homepage Roethlisberger podcast where he's I don't know who his buddy is. Young kid it looks like popped up today. And I watched for a minute. It was like Ben talking about his vacation. But I didn't hear him say that. I saw the headline. Listen, you could and this is what I noticed in Enigma. You could make the argument in the peak of his powers. I'm talking regular season is as good of a quarterback that has ever played. I mean Aaron was a total package. He was smart, he was athletic, he had a huge arm. He could make throws from the pocket. He could scramble and make throws on the run. Meaning he was a playmaker and he was incredibly accurate and he could play in all weather types. Like he was as good of an individual player in the regular season that's ever played. Now I think if you want to nitpick early on, the defense let him down. I do think he let them down a little bit as he got older. But this isn't like yeah, I would take I think there's something special about what Mahomes brings to the table. But like listen, you could argue like anything you wanted in sports, right? You go Rogers. Well you know, Mike McCarthy was his head coach. Don Capers was his defensive coordinator. You put 26 year old Aaron Rodgers with Andy freaking Reed and Steve Spagnola and let like that operation, who do you like? You go, I think it's a fair argument. Would Aaron Rodgers just have one super bowl if in the prime of his career from like 10 to 15. He was on this Chiefs team. Now, would he have gone to five to six Super Bowls or five of six Super Bowls? Yeah, I think you could make the argument that you would rather have Mahomes in some of these situations, though Mahomes played a little like Rogers in some of these big games. Right. Just don't make a mistake, play smart. And his defense got the job done. Now, like, listen, I would take Mahomes after watching Enigma. I think there's some element of Mahomes that just resonates with human beings more than Rogers, But I don't think it's the craziest take. I really don't. I think if you put in his prime, Aaron Rodgers and you give him to Belichick in 2001 or you give them to Bill Walsh in 1983, like, I think you're winning a lot of Super Bowls as well. But that's not how we play the game. Like, I don't think it's absurd of a take is like, when Daryl Morey used to call James Harden a better offensive player than Michael Jordan. It's like, Darryl, you lost us. Like, you lost the argument. The guy. And I also understand from Big Ben's perspective, plus, listen, we talked about Brady with the bias for Sam Darnold. There's an element here of like, Ben played against Rogers, saw how fucking good he was. He's like, I'm Big Ben. I'm going to the hall of Fame. I'm one of the best quarterbacks of my generation, and this guy's way better than me. And I've won two Super Bowls. I'm not a better player in this guy. So I get it. When you see something like, you're not going to convince me there's anyone better at sports talk and what they do than coward. Why I've had a front row seat. I saw it last week. I've listened forever. I've podcasted with them, and then I saw him work live on television. I'm like, that's. That's as good as it gets. That's. It's crazy how talented this guy is. And, you know, I think part of any of our experiences are just what we see, right? And I think there's an element of that with Ben, with Aaron, you forgot Jalen hurts in your top 10 on your last pot. Please tell me that's the name you're missing. Jalen Hurst, top 10 quarterback. I would agree. Sometimes when you're doing this stuff on the fly. Okay, this from Matt, my twin brother, and I Are having a debate on who will be the better team this upcoming season, the Broncos or the Raiders. With Peyton Bowe second year in the system with a better run game and elite defense, I think the Broncos are sneaky good and could win a playoff game or two. My twin thinks the Raiders win a playoff game, that there's no way. The Broncos had one of the best defense in the league. They led the league in sacks. Their offense is going to be better. Their quarterback threw 29 touchdowns last year. They already have an established culture operation. Pete Carroll's never coached these guys. Even if they vastly improve, there is no way you could objectively pick the Raiders going into this season over the Broncos. Now, if you're a Raider fan, I totally get it. But like, based on every all the evidence we have the roster, you would have to take the Broncos. So I would. I think it's not inconceivable that the Broncos or the Chargers win the division.

[Dan Flores]

Right?

[John Middlekauff]

I mean, are the Chiefs going to win it 15 straight years? They're going to have one of these years where just they win 11 games and someone in their division wins 13. This might be it. Two questions. My partner and I are looking to plan a golf spa trip. Do you have any recommendations in Scottsdale? Furthermore, how do you see the jets doing this year? I would say two hotels that jump out to me that also have golf courses would be the Desert Ridge Hotel. It's in North Scottsdale. I stayed there years ago when I was kind of looking at trying to buy property here. I came out here for like 10 days. That's where I met my future wife. It's sitting especially if you have kids. It's got like a lazy river. It's just a cool hotel. I think they got 27 holes of golf behind it. Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo developed it. It's a cool property. And then the Phoenician, same type thing. I would imagine both. I'm not a big spa day guy. I mean, I like a good steam room in a sauna, but I've never got a spa day here. But I would imagine both have, you know, the infrastructure there for spa day. You have to check. But I'd say Desert Ridge or the Phoenician. Also, just like I said, golf. The Jets, I think they're not going to be very good. If I had to bet, like more than likely they're selling off some of their parts by the trade deadline. This is a reset, you know, it'll be fascinating. You know, Breece hall has Already been on the trading block. I think the Sauce thing is pretty fascinating. I had a scout in the league that told me not even a scout, it means like an assistant GM that said, listen, those first two years they let Sauce, they weren't calling PIs. He got to be as physical as he wanted and when he's tall, long corner, he could fucking maul you. Last year, what happened, they started throwing the flag. Sauce is not a 4 3. He's not Derek Stingley. So if they don't let him maul you at the line, like he's not just going to be able to mirror you in the hip pocket. So it's going to be fascinating, you know, you know, first two years, like all pro. So if you're Sauce, you're like thinking, give me $100 million and if you're the Jets, I could not do that. I'd have to let it play out a little bit. And then if it plays out and not the right way and you're not going to give him an extension, you know, what's his market? He does fit some specific type defenses, you know, I don't know. He's going to be a fascinating case study. I think the jets are just not going to be good and not because, you know, Aaron Glenn's impressive guy, but fields your starting quarterback a lot of just unknown, you know, with just how last year went, how these guys are going to bounce back or I don't know. I don't have high hopes for the kind of the squad. I was listening to the New Heights podcast a few days ago where Jason Kelsey started comparing the Chiefs rookie Josh Simmons physically to players like Jason Peters and Trent Williams. However, do you think he truly will be able to be an above average left tackle for the Chiefs like Eric Fisher? Or do you think the Chiefs online will be good without a player like Joe Tunney? I didn't listen to the podcast, but I obviously, you know, do this for a living. I saw the headlines of Jason. One thing's pretty clear is Jason, I don't know what is, you know, if he has an official title, but like he watches offensive lineman for Howie and he likes doing it. And I would imagine how he's like, this guy could be there when we draft, right, because of the injury. And you know, the Eagles probably were interested anytime a guy like, I mean, look, they took John Campbell, who also liked Josh Simmons. The only reason he was there because of injury, Josh Simmons before he got injured was going in the top 10. Now when you compare, you know, Jason Peters was a tight end in college. Trent Williams went fourth overall. I think both those guys share two characteristics of physically. There aren't many human beings like either one. You know, both guys could be £350 and they still move around as a foot athlete like they're a linebacker. They are elite athletes. They are just in this body type that, I mean a small, small percentage of human beings are on the planet that have 6, 5 the girth to be 340, 350 pounds and then athletically move like that. But both guys, when they're right physically in their primes, Trent will see if he's still in it. Obviously Jason's prime ended years ago. We're not, I mean they were as good as it gets at left tackle. You know, I, Josh Simmons, I think, I think the scary thing for him would be that didn't he tear his patella? Yeah, that's now listen, my dad Torres patella when I was in junior high, maybe I was in elementary school. It would have been the mid, mid to late 90s. There's a man in his 50s, so I'm not comparing him to an athlete, but it's a very, very serious injury. It's not an acl, it's not even Achilles. It's not like Tommy John, like it's some injuries like that, you're never quite the same and I think it shows you because most people would agree him coming out even more than Will Campbell. This guy physically had the highest upside. Like if anyone was going to be just a seven time Pro Bowler at left tackle, it was going to be this guy. If he had torn his acl, not torn his patella, there's no way he makes it to the Chiefs. None would never have made it that far. He would have gone probably still in the top 15. Even if someone's like I'm red shirting him, it's worth it. But you know, the patella thing is scary. My dad's knee never was the same. Honestly, when he got into his mid to late 60s, he should have got a knee replacement. This guy's how old's Josh Simmons? He's 22 years old. So I mean obviously, you know, your body recovers differently. If everything's fine and he just comes out of it like a player that tears acl, breaks his leg, whatever. The Chiefs are going to have one of the best players in the draft for sure. Because physically like this guy was at Ohio State for a reason. It was a big deal when he got injured. I always like to look at like, you know, blue chip guys like this. If you just go to Josh Simmons rivals, like if you just go to his. What he was like coming out of high school. He was not the craziest recruit ever, I guess. Four star originally signed with San Diego State, then obviously blew up, actually started San Diego State. I actually didn't know that. Started San Diego State and then transferred to Ohio State. So this guy's transfer portal went to Helix High School. You guys want to play a little, a little trivia? You know who else went to Helix High School? Well, given that only I'm on the podcast, I'll answer Alex Smith and Reggie Bush. It's in, I think north San Diego. It's considered, this is a good signing for the San Diego State. That's the sad part about the fucking transfer portal. It's like you're San Diego State. You get Josh Simmons, who Jason Kelsey is comparing to Trent Williams and Jason Peters, and then all of a sudden the guy ends up at Ohio State. How is the little guy supposed to compete? Fresno State, San Diego State, Boise State, they get their Josh Simmons and then all of a sudden two years later the guy's at Ohio State. And I don't blame Josh Simmons for going to Ohio State. I'd go to Ohio State too. Can you imagine Josh Simmons like, the transfer portal's got some good players. There can't be many guys. This guy's a future first round pick at left tackle entering the transfer portal from smaller Division 1 program. I can't even imagine how many people are coming after that guy. Okay, this from Richie. Congratulations on your wedding. Congrats on filling in for the herd. This guy's giving me a lot of congrats. Why do you think the UFC and MMA is not discussed more in major sports networks like FS1? Look at this weekend, UFC had a major event, UFC317, which I believe was stacked with great fights and fan favorite fighters. The event also delivered with many finishes via tko, KO or submission. I guess I would prefer shows like the Herd. And first things first, to discuss more UFC content over topics regarding the LA Lakers, the irrelevant Dallas Cowboys, Flaggles Fly, or the wnba. I would like to know your opinion of the UFC and Dana White and how mainstream can you envision the company growing? That's a pretty good question. I think there are two elements of this. One, if you, if you're Colin or Nick or whoever. What? First, first take the majority. 90% of what you're going to talk is going to be football and basketball and you Know, depending on the show, like Collins, probably 70 football, 75 football and 25 basketball. Some of the other shows maybe, you know, first takes 50, 50, right. They talk a ton of NBA. I would imagine Nick Wright show talks a lot of NBA too. But like, you know, that works like that's a winning formula. Not every guy is going to be in the UFC, right? I would say the UFC like tennis or golf or, you know, F1 or NASCAR. Baseball has become very niche in the sense of people following it very, very intently. So if I just like, hey, here's a topic on Steph Curry or here's a topic on Jalen Hurts, most sports fans are going to be able to follow along. I'm a good example. I have a lot of respect for the business that the Fertitta brothers, the Dana White. When I went to Cal Poly, Chuck Lydell was becoming a rocket ship. He was a Cal Poly gratitude. He trained in Cal Poly. He would, he would. Or in San Luis Obispo, he would show up at the frat parties when I was in college and like steal the hottest chick. Like he. It was a big deal because we were in that little world. But like UFC the other night, I didn't watch. Not because I don't respect the fighters. I'm just not that into it for whatever reason. Right. And I know Daniel Cormier seems like an awesome dude. Rogan Anik, like, their whole operation is really, really high level. But it still is in terms of one, anytime you get pay per view, you have a barrier to entry. Where these other sports are just, they're not technically free. Right. Because cable box or whatever. But for the most part, like it's. It's easy to watch an NBA playoff game or an NFL game or a college football game. It is a little more challenging to watch that. And I think Caitlin Clark's a good example. She became a story on the main networks before everyone was watching her, but then it drove people to watch. But like, you'd have to be pretty passionate to do that and hope that people would part. A huge part of these television shows is ratings. So you do things that you know will work. So like, Colin knows that if me and him and he was really cool to like, he did a couple segments where it was a back and forth with me. He didn't have to do that. And we chose. I mean, he chose. But like you want to do NFL segments, like, yeah, he knows it's going to work. You know, if I was a former baseball scout, we wouldn't do like my five favorite players in Major League Baseball. Right, we wouldn't do that. And Fox has some Major League Baseball. So I think it's a long winded way of saying one. I think it's still in a weird way not that mainstream, even though it's a very lucrative operation now and Dana White's really famous. And some of you know, I think if Conor was still involved, like you can I do golf on this medium one? Because I love it, I follow it. I mean today I'm watching Max Grazerman go at it with this dude from South Africa and Jake Knapp and live on the other television. But that's not normal. And I know that when I do go low tomorrow that most people probably haven't watched the Rocket Mortgage tournament. I don't blame you wouldn't watch it either if I had something else to do. So you know that it's a little like that with ufc, but if Tiger woods had just played in the Rocket Mortgage and won the Rocket Mortgage, you could talk about it and people would follow along. Just like if Conor McGregor were still fighting like someone that famous, you could talk about it and people would fall. It's why like when Jake Paul fought, if he wanted to fight Mike Tyson, like people kind of pay attention in a sport like that. The individual firepower, you need a superstar to breakthrough. And I don't even know if Chuck was quite, that he was close. And then they've had, you know, I would say Connors and I think even Dana said, right, he's the most important fighter that's, that's ever come along in terms of mainstream popularity and fame. Like golf was around well before Tiger woods showed up. He changed the sport in terms of I love country music. Garth without Garth Brooks, country music doesn't become as mainstream as it became the last 25 years. Change the fucking game for everybody. Open the floodgates for guys like Tim McGraw, Kenny Chesney, Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan to become worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Before that it was kind of like redneck honky tonk, you know, very, I would say a little niche music. And it no longer is, you could argue now it's the most popular music going. And a big reason for that happened when I was a kid with Garth brooks in the 90s that broke through that. Whether you like country music or you didn't like country music, you followed Garth Brooks. And I think individual sports have elements of that. Tiger woods was that I would imagine back in like the 50s and say Arnold Palmer was like that. We've seen that in tennis. Like, you know, Pete Sampras was way better than Andre Agassi. Andre Agassi was the more important player in terms of, like, commercial fame. So I. I don't know if I specifically. Because I don't know if there's a specific answer. Like, I think Colin could probably answer that question. Like, no, it just doesn't work. I also think you're talking to an audience of, like, I don't know how many people buy the pay per view because I. I love sports. It's like, the majority of things that I watch, I don't order the pay per views. And I like fighting. I like watching people get their ass kicked. Though. There was something. One of the guys that got KO'd, he got knocked out. Dude hit him right across the face. He's out. As he hits the ground, I bet his head hits the canvas. Also knocks him out. He is out. I mean, it's. It's clear the guy's done this. Dude jumps on him, hammer punches his face before the ref could get there. I like violence. I am pro. Violence felt a little unnecessary. I was like, Jesus. Felt uncomfortable watching in a good way. But it was had to hurt.

[Zoe Saldana]

Hi, Zoe Saldana. Welcome to T Mobile. Here's your new iPhone 16 Pro on us.

[T-Mobile Representative]

Thanks. And here's my old phone to trade in.

[Zoe Saldana]

You don't need a trade in. When you switch to T Mobile, we'll give you a new iPhone 16 Pro plus we'll help you pay off your old Phone up to 800 bucks and you still get to keep it.

[T-Mobile Representative]

There's always a trade in.

[Zoe Saldana]

Not right now. @ T Mobile.

[T-Mobile Representative]

I feel like I have to give you something in return for karma.

[Zoe Saldana]

That's okay.

[T-Mobile Representative]

I don't really have much in my purse. Oh, let's see. Hand sanitizer. It's lavender.

[Zoe Saldana]

I'm good. Seriously?

[John Middlekauff]

Hmm.

[T-Mobile Representative]

Let me check this pocket. Oh, mints.

[Zoe Saldana]

Really, I'm fine.

[T-Mobile Representative]

Oh, I have raisins. I'm a mom. Wait, wait one sec. I've got. Got cupcakes in the car.

[John Middlekauff]

It's our best iPhone offer ever. Switch to T Mobile. Get a new iPhone 16 Pro with Apple Intelligence on us. No trade in needed. We'll even pay off your phone up to 800 bucks with 24 monthly bill credits.

[Dan Flores]

New line, 100 plus a month on experience beyond Finance Agreement 999.99 and qualifying forwarded for well qualified plus tax and 10 connection charge. Payout via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days credits and imbalance due.

[John Middlekauff]

If you pay off early or Cancel.

[Colin Cowherd]

See t mobile.com I think Democrats have for a very long time allowed Republicans to play them. So essentially Republicans came up with a narrative and Democrats decided to play into that. And that only hurt the Democrats.

[Jasmine Crockett]

I'm Katie Couric. Jasmine Crockett, Democratic representative of Texas, is not known for holding back and our recent chat on Next Question is no exception. But when you hear how she got to where she is, her intensity makes perfect sense.

[Colin Cowherd]

It's just hard to imagine a world where you don't have enough people that care to do right by people. And so that same passion that carried me through as a public defender, that led me to want to change laws and thinking about the harm that will happen not just to my constituents, but just generally like I carry that weight.

[Jasmine Crockett]

With me because you've seen it up close.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Jasmine Crockett]

Listen to Next question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Memphis Bleak]

The American west with Dan Flores is the latest show from the Meat Eater Podcast Network. Hosted by me, writer and historian Dan Flores and brought to you by Velvet Buck, this podcast looks at a West available nowhere else. Each episode I'll be diving into some of the lesser known histories of the West. I'll then be joined in conversation by guests such as Western historian Dr. Randall Williams and best selling author and Meat Eater founder Stephen Rinella.

[John Middlekauff]

I'll correct my kids now and then they'll say when cave people were here and I'll say it seems like the ice Age people that were here didn't have a real affinity for caves.

[Memphis Bleak]

So join me starting Tuesday, May 6th where we'll delve into stories of the west and come to understand how it helps inform the ways in which we experience the region today.

[John Middlekauff]

Listen to the American west with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Dan Flores]

I know a lot of cops and they get asked all the time, have you ever had to shoot your gun? Sometimes the answer is yes. But there's a company dedicated to a future where the answer will always be no.

[John Middlekauff]

Across the country, cops called this Taser the Revolution.

[Dan Flores]

But not everyone was convinced it was that simple.

[John Middlekauff]

Cops believed everything that Taser told them.

[Dan Flores]

From Lava for good. And the team that brought you Bone Valley comes a story about what happened when a multi billion dollar company dedicated itself to one visionary mission. This is Absolute Season 1 Taser Incorporated.

[John Middlekauff]

I get right back there and it's bad. It's really, really, really Bad.

[Dan Flores]

Listen to new episodes of Absolute Season 1, Taser Incorporated on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Binge episodes 1, 2 and 3 on May 21 and episodes 4, 5 and 6 on June 4 ad free at Lava for Good plus on Apple Podcasts.

[John Middlekauff]

Okay. Hey, John, I think your criticisms of the Dolphins are reasonable considering they're coming off an 8. 9 season. However, to lead the league in completion percentage 72% last year. I also think they had a pretty good draft. If their O line is even average, I think they will go back to their 23 form. They also were missing seven starters last year. Ramsey can get them a trade package. Can he though? Because if he could, he'd be gone. I don't. I don't know if Jalen can get you a trade package. Maybe we're all just overlooking a scenario where they actually are decent. The years. My guess is nine and eight. Yeah, just. I'm betting on them to suck. I am. I'm with you. I think Tua gets unfairly criticized. Like he's not as bad as I think the way he's talked about. But can't play outdoors late in the season. We know that's a fact. And then the injury risks are just pretty high. Is scary Terry a Hall of Fame on a Hall of Fame run? He's had a thousand yard season every single year since he's been in the league, but no one talks about it. If he continues for another four years. Is he a Hall of Famer? I think sometimes, you know the hall of Fame talk. You can accumulate enough numbers to be in the hall of Fame. And listen, Terry McLaurin is a really good player. And like you said, he's been from 2087, 110077 a thousand 77, 1100 79, a thousand 82, 1000. When I watch Terry McLaurin, I don't think hall of Famer, right? Like when I watch Justin Jefferson, I think hall of Fame Jamar Chase, I think hall of fame. Watch Terry McLaurin really good. Whatever happened. Just like this guy's just good. This guy's a good player. I feel like the NFL hall of Fame is kind of becoming the NBA hall of Fame. Well, I guess it's not even the NBA fall. Is the basketball hall of Fame where everyone kind of gets in where it's like, I like the hall of Fames to be like, yeah, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, KOBE Bryant, Shaq, LeBron, Steph, like the Deion Sanders, the Best of the best. Like, Terry McLaurin is good. I'd want him on my team. Does anyone think, and I'm not trying to shit on your take here, but Terry McClory is not a Hall of Famer to me. Does that mean if he has another five years playing like he's playing, who knows? I wouldn't put it past him. But like, I just think sometimes, like Aaron Donald, you know, Trent Williams, hall of Famer, should be pretty obvious that there should be. You should know right away. It shouldn't be an acquired taste. Should not be an acquired. Like I used to, when I was a kid, I didn't like mustard. Now I like mustard on my sandwiches. Used to hate tomatoes. Now I can't eat a sandwich without tomatoes. You should know right away. You know what? I never turned down pizza. I liked it my whole life. Like I watched this player. Like, this guy is elite. I don't like there can be a. There can be a level of player that between like not trying to replace but also not going to the hall of Fame. And that's. Listen, sports debate talk has kind of created this, but it's good. I mean, not putting that much emphasis. He's two time Pro Bowler, second team all Pro. I mean his career high in catches is his second year. 87. Not all his fault, but I mean he's like averages essentially 78 catches a year, a thousand yards, like four or five touchdowns, which is fucking good. He's gonna make $150 million playing in the NFL. Okay, last question. This is from Cam. Camryn. Maybe it's the fan in me, but whenever I hear Baker grouped with guys like Geno and Darnold, I feel like it's disrespectful. He had decent numbers in Cleveland and since joining Tampa has arguably been a top eight, nine guy. With the weapons he has this year, do you think he can perform well enough to be consistently talked about as a top tier guy in the book that's already been written? I agree. Comparing him to Geno Smith is unfair. He is a better player objectively than Geno Smith. Like, even Geno's good games. Like Gino had a lot of bad games and big moments. Geno solid. Like, to me, Geno is your. Is your classic. Like somewhere between 13 and 17. And over the course of the year has good and bad, but like serious limitations. But makes up for it with leadership. He's got a big arm so he can make some big plays. But like you never watch Gino, like, that's the Top seven quarterback like you have. Baker games are like, is this one of the best players in the league? And him and Sam were on the same team. Now both of them, different world to go. Baker beat him out. Now you could argue that they were going to start Baker no matter what. Still happen. I'm with you. I think Baker, I would expect a huge year from Baker. I mean I like Tampa to win that division. I like BAKER to throw 35, 40 touchdowns and I think he's going to be well established as competing to be one of the best quarterbacks in the nfc. Like one thing with the AFC is you have like all time great players, right? Mahomes hall of Fame, Lamar hall of Fame, Josh Allen, hall of Fame. Joe Burrow, probably going to be hall of Fame. Herbert fucking good. You got big time quarterbacks in the nfc. Okay. Jaden, incredible rookie year. See back it up. Which I expect him to do. I'm not down on him. You know, you got Jalen, who everyone loves. Jalen hurts after the Super Bowl. There were times last season where people are like, what the hell is going on with the pass game? Jalen can be a frustrating player at times. Obviously very talented dual threat guy. You know Goff, his good games look damn good in the dome. But it can have games where you're like, that was pretty bad. It's not exactly murders row in the NFC. Stafford's 38 years old. You know, Purdy, depending on who you ask, either is awesome or sucks. So the competition, Baker has to go, especially in his own division. You got Bryce, you got Penix and sometimes the south. You know, it's crazy. This happens to me every time. You got Tampa, you have New Orleans, you have Carolina and Atlanta, you got. So you got Tyler Schuck, Penix. There's a chance Tampa wins that division by a couple games. What if Atlanta doesn't win? Like goes like 8, 9 or 7 and 10. Is Arthur blank gonna fire everybody? That thing could get weird and that thing can get weird fast. But I'm with you. I think Baker has established himself as, you know, one of the big guns definitely in the, in the nfc and that's how many you're only playing for AFC games. Well, I guess it flip flops. Maybe you're playing five this year. But let's just, let's just end with this. Let's just pull up Tampa schedule. Who they went 10 and 7 last year. So they open with the Falcons. Like them to win that game at the Texans, Jets, Eagles at Seahawks, Niners at Lions at Saints, Patriots at Bills at Rams. Schedules. Actually they got some tough games.

[Dan Flores]

Because.

[John Middlekauff]

They play the NFC West. If they can just kind of be around.500, the last six, seven games get kind of easy. Cardinals, Saints, Falcons, Panthers, Dolphins, Panthers. So if they can be around like 6 and 6, 5 and 5, they got a stretch here where they could take advantage of it. But they got some tough games early at Houston's on an easy game. That's Monday Night Football, it looks like. Might be a Monday Night Football double header. Get the Eagles at home, have heat on their side at Seattle. That's not easy. Then you got to fly all the way home to play the Niners the next week. Then you got to go at Detroit, which is a Monday, Monday night game. That's a good Monday Night Football game to me. Where they really got to take advantage of is they just got to dominate within their division and I don't see why they won't. Like I, I would say what they do. Last year in the division, they went 4 and 2. I mean, I think if they go 4 and 2 again, they're probably, maybe they're a nine win team this year. But if they go 5 and 1, I mean, I don't see how they wouldn't be, you know, a 10 win team. The Volume.

[Katie Couric]

Hi, it's Colin from the Colin Coward podcast. I've been around long enough to know quality when I see it, or in this case, when I taste it. Tito's handmade vodka. Good stuff. No flash, no gimmicks. Smooth, clean tasting. Made the right way. Tito's made in Austin, Texas. Real attention to detail. I like to keep it simple. Tito's soda, one lime, lot of ice. Refreshing, easy. Summer, winter, spring. Totally versatile. Always works. Listen, baseball season's here. The perfect time to kick back with some Tito's. It's what I pour. You should too. Distilled and bottled by 5th Generation Inc. Austin, Texas. 40% alcohol by volume. Savor responsibly on the latest episode of.

[Jasmine Crockett]

Next Question with me, Katie Couric. I sat down with Jasmine Crockett, Democratic representative of Texas. She's holding down the fork for her party in one of the most conservative states in the union.

[Colin Cowherd]

I think that ultimately who will become the Democratic nominee for president will be someone that has been out there and has shown that they won't allow themselves to be punched and just say thank you like they will punch back.

[Jasmine Crockett]

Listen to Next Question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts what up, y' all?

[John Middlekauff]

This your main man, Memphis Bleak, right here. Host the Rock Solid Podcast. June is Black Music Month, so what better way to celebrate than listening to my exclusive conversation with my bro, Ja Rule? The one thing they can't stop you or take away from you is knowledge. So whatever I went through while I was down in prison for two years through that process, learn, learn from. Check out this exclusive episode with Ja Rule on Rock Solid. Open your free iHeartRadio app, search rock Solid and listen.

[Dan Flores]

Now, I know a lot of cops. They get asked all the time, have you ever had to shoot your gun? Sometimes the answer is yes. But there's a company dedicated to a future where the answer will always be no. This is Absolute Season one Taser Incorporated.

[John Middlekauff]

I get right back there and it's bad.

[Dan Flores]

Listen to Absolute Season 1 Taser incorporated on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

This is an iHeart podcast.