← The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
3 & Out - Derek Carr Retires, Rookie mini-camp update, Brazil game is here to stay
01:06:48
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- [00:00]
John Middlecoff
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- [01:48]
Dutch Representative
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- [02:19]
John Middlecoff
The volume what is going on everybody? John Middlecoff three and Out Podcast Little Sunday afternoon pod because we had some weekend Breaking news. I don't know if it's out of nowhere because it had been a little weird, but I don't think anyone expected Derek Carr to retire. And that is what happened early Saturday morning that Schefter broke the news that Derek Carr is retiring after 11 seasons. 11 start 11 years as a starter obviously nine on the Raiders, a couple on the Saints and now he's Connor quits. So we will dive into that which spend most of our time talking about that a couple other football topics and do a little mailbag as well. So at John Middlekopf is the Instagram fire in those DMs. Get your questions answered on the show and you guys know the drill. If you listen on Collins feed, make sure you subscribe to three and out. It's we have our own feed on Spotify on Apple. You can subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, YouTube, all of our content is up there. So make sure you subscribe to that the YouTube channel as well. But before we dive into some football and Derek Carr, you know I got to tell you about my friends. You know I got to tell you about my partners Game Time best ticketing app in America. I was watching the Denver Nuggets game. That home crowd feels electric, feels elite. So if you want to go to game six, we got you covered. If you want to go any of these playoff games, basketball, NHL baseball, season off and running, comedy shows, concerts, you name it, any event, I got you covered guys. I can even save you a little money while you're at it because my friends at Game Time will take care of you. So take the guesswork out of buying tickets. With Game time down the Gametime app create an account and use the code JOHN. $20 off your first purchase terms apply again create an account and redeem the code Johan. That's John for $20 off. Download the game Time app today. Last minute tickets, lowest prices guaranteed. Well, well, well. Derek Carr has I don't, I don't want to say officially but unofficially retired from the National Football League and a little bit of a shocker. Not not sure that most of us saw this one coming though. Been a weird feels like last month or two with the back and forth with the Saints with kind of some threats about a season ending surgery with them them drafting a quarterback early in the second round. It did not feel like Kellen Moore and kind of the new vibe in the building was in on Derek Carr, which is understandable. Derek went to the Saints because of Dennis Allen who was obviously fired last year. But there's no more guessing how the situation is going to play out. Is he going to get surgery? Is he going to, you know, have to compete for his job? Can Kellen Moore, could they deal him? It's like, nope, I'm done. And you can retire at 34, 35 years old when you've made $200 million playing football. And there is no disputing. He's been one of the more polarizing players over the course of his career because the one thing Derek Carr has been and he will go out as being is a starter in the NFL. This wasn't one of those guys that's like backed up some people bounced around. He's played for two teams. He, he played in 169 games and he started every single one of them. And I had a front row seat when he got drafted to the Saints and he beat out Matt Schaub in training camp. I remember being at a preseason game four against the Seattle Seahawks his rookie season. Pete Carroll was a little old school. This was a team that had already won a Super Bowl. I think they'd already been to another. I mean they were easily one of the best teams in the NFL. Their defensive backfield, Cam Chancellor, Earl Thomas and obviously Richard Sherman. And those guys played in the fourth preseason game and Derek went right down the field, scored a touchdown on him. Then I think Pete pulled everybody, but then he scored either two more or three touchdowns in that first half and it was like Matt Shops done. And I think a day or two later, Dennis Allen announced him as the starter and then he would go on to be the longtime starter for the Raiders. But some background that I had when I was hired out of college at Fresno State to be a GA in recruiting. When I got there in basically probably late May, early June, we had a recruiting class. And this is a day and age when the transfer portal didn't exist. There was only one signing day. People would commit, especially at schools like that, and for the most part they were going to end up playing football for you. And Derek Carr was, when I showed up, the by far the biggest current commit of the class. He was, he was a really good high school player. Probably could have gone to places like Cal, Will. Jeff Tedford was who had coached his brother. I know Utah was really interested, like, but he was dead set in finishing kind of what his brother started. And he had committed very early on in his high school career and really never wavered. And I think his senior year he transferred from Texas back to Bakersfield and had a Massive senior year, but he came to Fresno State honestly probably should have won the starting quarterback job as a true freshman. But Coach Hill old school went with the longtime backup who just simply was not as good as Derek. But Derek not only backed him up that year, redshirted the next year, and then he started for the next three seasons. And if his name had been Derek Johnson instead of Derek Carr, I think he would have been a lock first round pick. But when I got, when I was around him his freshman year, I remember thinking like, this guy's got a big arm. This guy's a really talented player. And then after his freshman year, I was hired into the NFL with the Eagles and I get there and Kevin Cobb, he ended up, ended up only starting a game because he got knocked out and Michael Vick came in, the rest is history. But I remember being in training camp, practices, watching Kevin Cobb throw the ball and texting people back at Fresno, I was like, this guy doesn't throw it nearly as well as Derek. So I, I don't want to say that I knew Derek Carr was going to be an NFL starter right then and there, but I was, it, it was eye opening how much Derek's arm was going to translate. And by Derek's senior year at Fresno State, I think he threw 50 touchdowns and eight picks. I mean dominated, I mean his last couple years. All Mountain west guy, him and Devonte. It wasn't even fair. It was like the equivalent of Jokic and Murray playing against me and you. But because of his name and his brother being a pretty legendary quote unquote bust and being someone that I would say is, has a negative connotation in NFL circles, I do think it hurt him but ended up going in the top of the second round. And the one lesson I think you take away from Derek's career is so much is out of your control. Whether you're a football player. For those of us in life, but specifically at quarterback, you get drafted, you don't pick the other players on your team. You don't get to determine who the coach is. You definitely don't get to determine the scheme, who the assistant coaches are going to be, who the GM is making the moves. And Derek went to a very, very chaotic organization. And basically for the first six or seven years he was there, it was all about when are we going to move, how are we going to move? And then we are moving, but we're staying in Oakland for a couple years. Like it wasn't a very easy situation for any player, let alone a young guy, especially the starting quarterback of the team and everything that was thrown on his shoulders. Like, I do respect how much he, he had to handle because he, he was asked these questions constantly and he had nothing to do with any of them. But I do think his career could have turned out a lot better if it wasn't for a broken ankle his third season, because by his second year in the league, he had thrown 32 touchdowns. They had Amari Cooper, they had signed Crabtree, and it looked like this guy had a chance to be a pretty good quarterback. Like, to be a guy that would be top 10 in the NFL the following year. They are good. They are. They have 11 wins going into week 15. He throws several touchdowns. He's in the conversation to be the mvp. He is taking to the Raiders to the playoffs for the first time in like 15 years. This was a franchise that hadn't been to the playoffs. Hell, hadn't sniffed the playoffs since like 0203 range. And in 2016, he wasn't just having a great year relative to the league. He was playing really, really well. I was going to all these games. I mean, he was playing like a top five or six quarterback in the NFL at a really, really high level. And then his ankle shatters. And honestly, I think after that point, I don't think his career was ever quite the same. Obviously, the Raiders went to the playoffs, they started McGloin in the game and they got worked by the Texans. But then they go through Jack Del Rio, they hire Jon Gruden, the moving process happens. And again, he. I don't think he was ever as good as that 2015, 2016 range. But by 2020 and 2021 under Jon Gruden, after everything had normalized a little bit, they had moved to Vegas. He was playing pretty well again. Over a two year span, he threw like 50 touchdowns and less than 25 picks and was a high completion percentage guy. And the team was just kind of headed in the right direction. And then Monday Night Football's going down. The New York Times has the report, and John Groom gets fired. And then a couple months later, after they get knocked out in the playoffs by the Bengals, they bring in Josh McDaniels. And it's very safe to say Derek's career on the field is all downhill after that. Now, he ended up making a lot of money, and I do think he's kind of the poster child for the modern era of pro sports and the amount of money that's being given out in specifically the NFL for any Decent player. Like, obviously if you're a star, you were making a lot of money in the 80s and the 90s and every generation, right? It's all relative. But even now, like Justin Jefferson, what Michael Parsons going to end up getting? You know, all these guys, the top guys are making money, but the top guys when I was a kid were making the most money. But when you get a guy like Derek, who's never won a playoff game, who's only been to the playoffs twice, and one of them he couldn't attend because he had a shattered ankle. So the one playoff game he did start, he lost and didn't end great against the Bengals because he, he, he clocked the ball on first down in the, in the red zone late in the game. So he basically gave away, you know, one of their four plays, which wasn't ideal, but someone had slid in my DMs and asked me, john, do you think Derek is pulling a Sean Payton doing a retire to kind of pivot? And, you know, kind of crossed my mind. The more and more I let the just reaction of what happened really seep in. And then I read about some of the stuff that happened. They're going to allow him to keep the $10 million roster bonus that he got for being on the team after free agency started, but he gave up the opportunity for the $30 million guaranteed this fall by retiring. Basically, like, we're good. And I don't think you would do that, because if he, if this was really a double middle finger move to try to set a situation where in a year he could get out, why wouldn't he have just got his shoulder surgery this year? They would have been on the hook to pay him between the bonus and the salary, $40 million. And then of course, they would have cut him next year and he would have been, in theory, healthy and a free agent to sign wherever he wanted to play. So I do believe him. And then I saw his wife had a post. Like, I think he's retired. I think he's just done. And I think when you've been in a situation when you played for the Raiders as long as he did, and then you go to the Saints and listen, some of it's his fault. Like he had moments in big games where he did not play well. I'm not trying to act like he's a better player than he gets credit for because I think the last four or five years he's been pretty average. But he also represents, like I said, a guy that made over $200 million. So it's much easier to call it quits when you go, listen, I'm 34, 35. I got a big family. I guess they just moved to Fresno. Like, I'm done. I'm out. He made a lot of money. I mean, there can't be. I know a lot of people in the Fresno area, and while they do have some wealthy individuals, they're all business owners. There is not many people in the state of California outside of the San Francisco and LA area, so especially the Valley from Sacramento to Bakersfield, who have made over $200 million that never owned anything. He's just a W2 employee for the Raiders and the Saints. So Derek banked a lot of cash in the league, and a lot of people would say, not playing that well. And I would say, I do think he made a decision going to the Saints a couple years ago because of Dennis Allen and their previous relationship. I don't know if that's a great move. Obviously, Dennis Allen's not a very good head coach. And I think we do have to question the Saints minus, like, was Sean Payton the brains behind everything? And we're going to see with Kellen Moore if it was all Sean Payton, if this organization is, you know, has the ability to kind of overcome stuff. And I saw Kellen Moore said that we'll just have a. He's in an easy spot now. He's quarterback competition. Jake Hayner, Spencer Rattler and Tyler Schuck. But I think Derek Carr's retirement, I don't think it symbolizes anything. Like, could this be a new trend of guys retiring early? No. Now, is he going to get shoulder surgery? Is his injury legitimate? Because the Saints had a press release. Clearly, I don't think they're all on the same page about this injury. In a weird way, for a guy that you look at his Wiki played in a lot of games. Does feel like recently he's had a lot of injuries, from shoulder injuries to concussions. It just feels like over the last, you know, especially in the 2020s, there have been a lot of Sundays where if you have, you know, a Raider game or a Saints game on, Derek is on the ground laying there, and maybe he was just tired of the pounding he took and said, I'm. I've made enough money and I'm out. But I do think his career could have gone, like, if you played it over 10 times. I do think there are a couple scenarios where it goes way better and he goes to a stable organization. I think he always would have Been a very polarizing player, like a Dak, like a Cousins. But look at Dak for a lot of his career. Like we can nitpick Jerry and say he does some crazy shit. True. But like they've won a lot. They had three straight years where they won 12 games. I do think early on in Derek's career, had he not been with the Raiders, had he been with a team that kind of knew what they were doing, he could have been a guy that was constantly going to the playoffs. I mean, like Andy Dalton doesn't mean he would have won in the playoffs, but I think Andy Dalton went to the playoffs six straight years starting quarterback. So a lot of times as a guy like that Dak, Andy Dalton, Jimmy Garoppolo, like you're not going to go to a bad team and have success. It's going to be very, very difficult unless you're playing out of your mind. But if you're going to play to what your ability is, which relative to the rest of the quarterbacks is somewhere in the middle, you are going to need high level coaching, high level talent, ideally a good defense. And that was the other thing with the Raiders, like their defenses were a joke. I mean, I remember the one year that Khalil Mack won the defensive player of the year and I didn't even think the defense was good. It was just him. The reason he won the defensive player of the year because he literally did everything like fumble, sixes, pick sixes, sacks. It was like, I don't even think there's anyone else good on this defense. Like a good defense wouldn't want any of the other players beside Khalil. And it also shows you the Raiders, man, they had a two year stretch where they got Khalil Mack, Derek Carr, so you got their star pass rusher, they got their starting quarterback, and they got Amari Cooper, which early on looked like a really, really like a guy that was going to be a top three or four wide receiver in the league. And then by the time Jon Gruden got there, it was all kind of over and it was just Derek, who was not quite as good as he once was. So kind of a crazy little tale of a career. But you know, at the end of the day, hard to say, you know, in Derek's shoes, go, I started for 11 years in the NFL, I made $200 million. You know, in his mind, probably thinks it's really, really successful. And I'm not saying he's necessarily wrong, but I think the way people would talk about it Would say he's unsuccessful given how many starts he had and the results. And I think my overall take is I, like most guys don't overcome in any. Like, I could put you like, you are going to have much more success if you're a finance guy and you go work for Goldman Sachs than if you go work for some crazy organization. I'm a much better podcaster because you guys can hear me. Because of Colin Coward that if I did not have him, a lot of stuff is out of our control. So he plays for the Raiders who are running through coaches who finally look like they got it right and then Gruden has to get fired because of everything that happened. It's just not a normal place to work, you know. And a Peyton Manning, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, you know, there's certain type just freak talents that might be able to overcome it. Most guys cannot. You see the Cowboys when a couple things go wrong, Dak looks awful. It's like, what is happening? Say this for the most part in Kirk Cousins career, like when he signed with Minnesota, like they pretty well run organization with a lot of good players, right? It has like from Kevin o' Connell to Zimmer. Like either they're good on defense or good on offense. A lot of talent around them. Like, pretty good place to play. You know, it's Alex Smith. Everyone called the guy a shitty player until Jim Harbaugh showed up. And everyone's like, oh, Alex is okay. Then he goes to Andy Reid. It's like, oh, this guy's a playoff quarterback. And then up until his leg snapped in half with Washington, I think they were 6 and 2. He's having a career year. It's like, yeah, you go to teams that either have good coaches or good talent around you and people that believe in you, you have a chance. And then when Josh McDaniels got there, that relationship was a disaster. And it turns out like, say what you want about Derek. Josh McDaniels is a joke as a head coach, a complete scam artist. I mean, he ran one of the great fugazi campaigns we have ever seen. I read it. Dan Pompeii wrote the article like five years ago. It was like, jesus, I believe this. Josh McDaniels has changed his life around. It's about like him looking in the mirror and writing positive words of affirmation down in a journal. It's like, this guy's a way different human than he was for the Denver Broncos when he drafted Tim Tebow. And everyone in the building, including the Animals couldn't stand the asshole. It's like he has changed. And then we're like two months in, we're like, ah, same shit, different day. And listen, Dan Pompei can write some compelling articles. I just read this one about spy tech and Tom Brady. I actually, I text John. I'm like, I don't know if you saw this, but this article about you and Tom is incredible. Dan Pompeii can write some gripping pieces that has Tom on the record. So, you know, it's not, you know, a scam piece like the Josh McDaniels was. And I don't even know if Josh McDaniels was a scam piece in the sense that he truly believed, like, I'm a positive person now. I'm different than I once was. I will not be Belichick this time around. It's like, no, bro, you will. You're gonna do the same thing over and over. And it didn't matter who played for Josh McDaniels, you would fail. Whether it's Team Tebow, whether it's Derek Carr, whether it's Peyton Manning or Patrick Mahomes, it would not go as well as it could because of this. We say it all the time with Brock Purdy. Like, he's an incredible story and an easy guy to root for, even though he's obviously a polarizing individual in the world of people that talk about football. But like what he has accomplished being the last pick in the draft and how well he's played is fucking awesome. But he benefits greatly from, from going to Kyle Shanahan. If I gave Brock Purdy to some of these other teams, it probably would not look that. And he'd be the first guy to tell you, and I would have told Derek, if you would advise me, should I go to the New Orleans Saints with Dennis Allen? Like, I don't know if that's a great idea, man. This might be your one last shot of getting an opportunity to be a long term starter and getting some money. And obviously money talks, shit walks. And they gave him 70, 80 million dollars guaranteed and he said yes. And now a couple years later he's retired. So crazy story. You never know what's going to happen in this league. But pretty good run for the Fresno State quarterback financially, that's for sure. The NBA 82 game grind is done and now the real fun begins. The NBA playoffs are here and it's time for the high stakes drama. Clutch moments and jaw dropping plays. Can't wait. 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New features can help you write job descriptions and then quickly get your job in front of the right people. We know that's the key. Hiring is not easy. You want to get the right people, get the qualified candidates. Because at the end of the day, the most important thing to your small business is quality candidates. And with LinkedIn you can feel confident that you're getting the best share with your network. You can let your network know you're hiring. So post your job for free on LinkedIn.com John that's LinkedIn.com Johan to post your job for free. Terms and conditions apply. AI is redefining what's possible for your business. Are you up for the challenge? Microsoft is helping leaders like you get AI ready faster with unified data and simplified platform management, unlocking up to 150% improved output across industries. Leaders are turning to Microsoft AI tools and guidance to rise to the challenge. 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- [28:08]
Dutch Representative
Is precious and so are our pets. So time with our pets is extra precious. That's why we started Dutch. Dutch provides 24? 7 access to licensed vets with unlimited virtual visits and follow ups for up to five pets. You can message a vet at any time and schedule a video visit the same day. Our vets can even prescribe medication for many ailments and shipping is always free. With Dutch, you'll get more time with your pets and year round peace of mind when it comes to their vet care.
- [28:37]
Dan Flores
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.
- [29:08]
John Middlecoff
I'll correct my kids now and then.
- [29:10]
Dutch Representative
Where they'll say when cave people were here.
- [29:12]
John Middlecoff
And I'll say it seems like the Ice Age people that were here didn't have a real affinity for caves.
- [29:18]
Dan Flores
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.
- [29:30]
John Middlecoff
Listen to the American west with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. A couple other things Rookie minicamps have started all over the NFL and you know obviously Shador and Dylan Gabriel and all these quarterbacks taking reps and learning learning the plays and on the practice field obviously when you get drafted higher because of the money the organization is going to give you, they are going to be more, I would say aggressively trying to make it look you look good and just spend and invest more time in you, given that they invested a high resource at a high pick and are paying you more money than the rest of the draft class combined. But after a while, if you're not good enough, you're not good enough. And if the fourth round player by the middle of training camp looks like he's a starter or is making plays like he's going to play and he will play over the first rounder if he is just objectively better. And so all these guys were drafted all over the place. And I saw Tom Brady kind of go on this rant. I don't know what podcast he was on. Look like he was talking to like one of the Paul brothers about, like, listen, man, Shador, everyone's making this big deal. I told him, like, now it starts, I was drafted way later than you were, buddy, and look where I'm sitting now. So all these minicamps, all these OTAs and then training camp, you get to control your own destiny. Like some guys make have more money in their bank account. But just because I was drafted 14th or 37th, that doesn't guarantee me anything. Doesn't guarantee that I'm going to be a good player. Doesn't guarantee me that I'm going to be a starter. It doesn't guarantee that I'm going to be on the team in three or four years. I mean, think how many quarterbacks we've seen over the last several years drafted really high who are now on other teams. It was the big deal with, like, one thing that I was told by scouting buddies, the thing with Shador is obviously his interviews went weird with the bad teams. And I can't speak to those. I don't know anyone on those teams. I wish I did, but I don't know anyone on the Giants, so I can't. I've heard just what you've heard about those situations. I do know a lot of people on teams that are deep in the playoffs. And all those teams are viewed as teams that have quarterbacks. So he wouldn't talk to any of them. Well, those teams interview everybody. Like, you don't think the Kansas City Chiefs interview guys that they aren't going to draft because in three or four years they might trade for that player. They might acquire that player in waivers when he gets cut. That guy might be on his team, on the Ravens on the Bills, on the Eagles, on the Lions. And when you just don't talk to those teams like they don't get to know you, yeah, they're probably not going to draft you, but that doesn't mean that they probably won't, I don't know, sign you, trade for you or acquire you in the future. This is the NFL. Guys move teams all the time. And that's because I'm on a team as a high pick and then a couple years later I'm not playing well. Why is that? Because some dude in the later rounds, maybe even undrafted free agent, is in my spot. And it's the best part about the NFL and it starts now. Not that you're able to glean that much from a time when they're in shorts and a T shirt and a helmet, but this is a great time, if you're a young guy, to learn that fucking playbook. Because when the pads do come on and it really separates the men from the boys. And listen, hitting in practice, it's not like it was, I'm sure, 20, 30, 40 years ago, but like the games are, and you get to all the preseason reps and you are judged incredibly, like with a fine tooth comb and a microscope during that period of time in those plays. And not even just by your team, the entire league is evaluating you. So there's just a lot on the line starting now. And listen, there are a lot of guys on the team, their third, fourth, fifth year guys that their spot's not even in jeopardy. I mean, it's the ultimate meritocracy, dog eat dog world. Like if you do not get it done, you will get replaced. There are guys right now who are going to roll into OTAs that have been the starter the last couple of years at guard, at linebacker, at slot receiver, at safety, and are just looking at their wife or their girlfriend or maybe hanging out with their mom today on Mother's Day. And just like I'm the starter, I'm the starting guard for team X, smiling, I'm making seven figs I in three or four months, that guy will not be the starter anymore. Why, he will have been beat out by someone else. Could be a returning practice squad guy, could be a 5th round pick, could be something, someone that he has never even met yet. That's football. And really it starts now. These next month plus are much more mental than physical. But that mental carries right into training camp where then it becomes this combination of mentally and physically taxing. Last but not least, the NFL. I don't know if I don't think it was announced because the schedule is supposed to come out later this week, but I saw a report that this Brazil game is going to be a thing which I don't quite like. I get playing the Friday night game though I did see, you know, in this I forget who it was. Tommy Tupperville or someone in politics made a comment of like, you know, the NFL forever just abided by the rules that they weren't supposed to play in any Fridays from like September through the middle of December. They have clearly not given a you know what lately and they aren't following any rules. But this Friday week one, like they've been playing it and they're clearly doing it again and it's going to be Chargers Chiefs, which is an awesome basically second night of the year game. I mean last year was Eagles packers, which again was fantastic just in terms of the brands, playoff teams, just a cool matchup and I think we just got to buckle up. So unless someone in Washington tells them Fridays are still off limits in September, guys, which who knows, I mean it's a little above my pay grade to even be able to guess if that's even going to happen. But get ready for this. This Friday Brazil game I think is going to be one of the better games of the year in terms of early season matchups, primetime game and yeah, the NFL loves. It's funny when people say like one day we're going to get football Monday through Sunday. I just don't think we are. I mean one of their greatest attributes right now is the scarcity of the actual asset and that's the games. But they have spread more and more over time, put more of these things on television and just because it's so fresh, it's early on. Preseason is always such a letdown. We're so excited for football and you watch like two series of a preseason game, you're like this is awful. So I'm not going to complain. And excited to watch Harbaugh and Andy go at it on, you know, international soil. 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 vice tv.com to find your cable channel. Okay, it's a little mailbag time at John Middlekopf. At John Middlekopf. Is the Instagram Firing those DMs? Get your questions answered right here on the show. Again, just my name, two Fs. We will start with Sean. Been listening to your podcast religiously for the last year. I appreciate that. It's kind of embarrassing, but I just realized I'd not liked and subscribed yet. Well, no, we got to do that anyway. Charger fan, my question is about Greg Roman. I love what Harbaugh has brought to the table and it looks like Jesse Minner is going to go down the same path as McDonald in Seattle, but I worry about the offense. It seems like Roman couldn't figure out whether he wanted to run heavy offense or let it rip. He didn't exactly develop Lamar during his first years while OC in Baltimore, which is concerning. Was he actually a good OC on the Niners with Cap and Alex? Or was a team so freakishly talented that any dude off the street could have ran the offense? Is he just another North Turner from the Cowboy dynasty? Subpar play caller but had a loaded roster? That's a good question. He's a very polarizing individual. I remember his last year with the Niners and that ended up being Harbaugh's last year. To Trent, Balky's daughter tweeted, I think fire Greg Roman. So everyone thought that like, well, if she's saying that, you know that Trent believes that, obviously I would say, listen, he is a big reason. I think Alex looks solid and then he changed the offense completely for Kaepernick and then they ran, you know, his ability to utilize that offense for Lamar won him an mvp. So I think Greg Roman is better than he's talked about now. Is he? If we did an OC draft of coaches that are either head coaches or just the ocs, you know he's not going to go in the top 10. But like, here's the thing with Jim Harbaugh. Jim Harbaugh is a former quarterback, an offensive guy in theory, yet he can't call the place. It's very rare that Jim Harbaugh, someone in his position, a former quarterback, is not the play caller. But Jim Harbaugh is basically John Harbaugh, Mike Tomlin, Dan Campbell, Pete Carroll. I mean, he's like a organizational leader. Rah rah guy. Rah rah sounds negative. I mean that in a positive way. But he swears by this guy. So I think Greg Roman's probably better than he gets credit for but I do think he is going to be under the microscope this year heading into the season. But also Jim Harbaugh's philosophy is running the ball. So like while Jim is not calling play in, play out the plays, there is no doubt in my mind that he's often on the headset like let's run it here, let's run it here. And what did they just do? They drafted a running back in the first round so I would get ready for the running game to thrive. What they had in Baltimore, what they had in San Francisco Elite Run Game 49ers were one of the better running teams in the league with Frank Gore and they definitely were in Baltimore with Lamar. Win the MVP and they will be I would imagine with with Hampton in that running game. Now what do they they basically drafted a running back in the first round and they also signed Najee. So they got two guys they plan on running down your throat. How is it possible this from another Sean, that the Dolphins are going to have another season with a below average backup quarterback? Tua's injuries have completely derailed the previous seasons and left the team utterly unwatchable. Knowing the injury history, they're going to go into a season with Zach Wilson who got beat out by Jarrett Stidham in Denver in seventh round Quinn Ewers make it make sense. I can't. I don't know. I don't know what to tell you. Yeah I if I feel you as a Dolphins fan but I think it's going to get really, really ugly. Really, really ugly. And then brighter days could be ahead. Big fan of the pod. Currently as I drive through Davis, California on my way to Sacramento, it reminded me of how you said you grew up here. I know you used to live in NorCal. How would you compare life up there to Arizona in terms of lifestyle, cost and overall vibe? Also curious to hear your take as a Saints fan. With their current quarterback situation situation looking shaky, do you think it makes sense to trade Kamara while he still has value to gain more draft capital? What's your prediction for the team's direction over the next few years? Yeah, born and raised in Davis, spent 18 years of my life. You know I go back, my brother and mom live there. It's way different than the way I grew up. And I would say just Northern California feels a little different than the Northern California I grew up in in the 90s. The vibes I comparing it to the vibes here, I mean I put the vibes here are just elite. I would put the vibes in Scottsdale, Arizona, up against any lifestyle, I would say somewhat similar. The west coast lifestyle is just, I would say pretty transferable to California. Never been to Vegas or lived in Vegas, but I would imagine Vegas has similar in Arizona. Kind of just the culture of us as humans. Cost of living, it probably just depends on where you live. I mean, there are areas that are outrageously expensive and then there are areas that are really cheap. The biggest difference is the taxes. So I'd say yeah, I mean the Camara thing, I would. My guess is the Saints are not gonna be any good. It's gonna be a rough year when your quarterback situation is shuck Rattler and Jake Hayner, who's my guy, by the way, I like Jake Hayner. I don't know if he's an NFL quarterback, but my guy Mark, who invited me to this golf tournament that I've been at, basically Thursday, Friday and Saturday, which was incredible, playing with like Phil Mickelson's teammates from college. The vibes there were really, really high. I mean, some good people. I've been to a couple of these, invited over the years to country club, one in the Bay Area, one here. I'd say I put the vibes of the Arizona one. You know, some former NFL guys, it was just, it was strong, it was, the booze was flowing. It was sweet. But Mark, who invited me, who's a member out there, his, his sons play college football. He played college football back at San Diego probably 20 plus years ago and he coached a little in this area and he coached guys like Mark Andrews. And he was saying by far the best players he's ever seen in high school were Bijan Robinson, who is like, was like watching fucking Jim Brown in his prime play in high school. It was, it was stupid. And Spencer Rattler, he's like, I'm in this guy, I mean, play college football. So he grew up in Chicago. He's been around football for a long time. His son was a Division 1 recruit playing Division 1 football. Now, like, I value what this guy's take because I remember watching the Netflix thing, I'm like, this guy's just too douchey. But he was saying he was really sweet, like really, really good. And then his career just got derailed at Oklahoma, and then he kind of resurrected it last year or two years ago at South Carolina. Then he had a lot of momentum going into the to the Saints year. But then obviously he's not going to beat out Derek. But then, then he started playing and it was kind of weird. But you're like, how bad was the coaching? I wonder if Spencer Rattler could beat out Shuck or it's impossible because Kellen Moore is going to want Shuck to be the guy. Situation is just weird. I know that the GM is a political position, but I cannot wrap my head around how Greer still has a job in Miami. He is the only GM hired before 21 that doesn't have a playoff win. And all seven GMs with a longer tenure have been to a Super Bowl. He had five first round picks over two years and didn't draft one all pro player. He's mismanaged contracts. His coaching hires are jokes. And clearly other GMs take advantage of him. How do guys like him keep their jobs as. And then he ended it with. And apparently they don't usually I would say more than a coach because a coach's work is just so evident on game day. And game day is where they pay the bills, even though the GM has a huge say. But GMs get to watch the game, typically with the owner, so they can blame everything on the coach. So it's easy to blame it on Mike McDaniel or Vic Fangio or the D coordinator or how they're using guys or Tyreek Hill's attitude. Right. And you never blame yourself because I'm in total agreement. He's done a horrendous job. I mean, he really has. I mean, it's just like, what is going on here? I think the come to Jesus moment for the franchise though is, I'm telling you, I'm all in on it being really, really ugly this year. Now I can't speak. I don't know the guy. I don't know Steven Ross. Bizarre place. Clearly, if I wanted to defend Greer, I have come around to maybe, maybe agreeing with like, I don't think you can win there. I think it's impossible to win in Miami. I just don't think it's possible. Now maybe if they had Sean McVeigh, would they have a better chance? Of course. But is that a place where you can sustain winning? I think we have a long enough kind of resume now in of the Internet era that like you're just not winning there. So maybe it's. You could replace career with the next guy. Like if they had Howie Roseman, would they have a better chance? Of course. But I do think it's much easier to build winning teams in Green Bay, in Philadelphia, in New England. It's kind of proven there's a lot going on for good Rich Young I was, I said good, good looking, rich in shape, people in Miami that are famous. Clearly the just the fuck around factor there is really, really high. Why do the Steelers continue to not see the light and adapt to the modern NFL philosophy of offense wins championships. Do you think it'll take them being really bad to finally cave and legitimately invest in the quarterback position? They just stockpile of picks they have possibly move off TJ Watt or Minka Fitzpatrick, big fan of the show. Well I mean I, I'll never forget when Arians was fired from the Steelers for not running the ball. So we can blame Tomlin but like the culture in that organization goes back to the 70s, right? The culture of the Cowboys is how do we strike a deal? How do we get some star player for a fourth round pick? Well Jerry, you don't. That's not the way it works. If you want to get some legit player, pay them some cash on the open market. You're not going to trade for George Pickens and think like God we got a steal here. Every team in the league could have had the guy. They all said no. So it's like Jerry is the reason that they make some of these crazy deals and ultimately beside a couple guys on their team don't spend that much cash. But thing with the Cowboys, like everyone just blames Jerry. Where I think you get some of these other places Tomlin takes a lot of shit. It's like you don't think Tomlin looks around and like Baltimore has went from like basically they were the Steelers 2.0 and then they've just completely changed with Lamar. Cincinnati got Joe Burrow and they throw it all the time. You don't think he realizes that? I do think you could argue it's like the Rooneys organizational philosophy is old school toughness defense which I'm all for. Like that that's never going to go out of style, right? There are certain things in any walk of life that are always going to work. You know I will teach my child to look someone in the eye and shake their hand, right? Just like are you going to shake less hands in 2040 than you would have in 1980? Probably. But to me that's never going old. You could argue like the thank you note shit we still, I mean got a to do list that we have got to attack here. Thank you note for our wedding. Could you argue the thank you note little outdated, right? I mean do I need a thank you note or email or text message work? Probably. But again the thank you note still has a lot of power. Is the thank you note going to exist in 20 years? Maybe not. But I never fault anyone for teaching their child or writing a thank you note. Right? There is power behind it, right? I do think you could look at the Rooneys and go like, I do understand what you see, but like what are we doing guys? Because if the Rooneys told everybody like hey, we need to take a quarterback high now, maybe they'd argue. We did that a couple of years ago and it blew up in our face. I'd say, yeah, it was. Kenny Picket AI is redefining what's possible for your business. Are you up for the challenge? Microsoft is helping leaders like you get AI ready faster with unified data and simplified platform management, unlocking up to 150% improved output across industries. Leaders are turning to Microsoft 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 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 the.
- [52:16]
Dan Flores
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.
- [52:47]
John Middlecoff
I'll correct my kids now and then.
- [52:48]
Dutch Representative
We'Re they'll say when cave people were.
- [52:50]
John Middlecoff
Here and I'll say it seems like the Ice Age people that were here didn't have a real affinity for caves.
- [52:56]
Dan Flores
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.
- [53:08]
John Middlecoff
Listen to the American west with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. In 1978, Roger Caron's first book was published and he was unlike any first time author Canada had ever seen. Roger Caron was 16 when first convicted, has spent 24 of those years in jail, 12 years in solitary he went from an ex con to a literary darling almost overnight. He was instantly a celebrity.
- [53:38]
Dan Flores
He was an adrenaline Reynold and John Key and he was the star of the show.
- [53:44]
John Middlecoff
Go Boy is the gritty true story of how one man fought his way out of some of the darkest places imaginable.
- [53:50]
Dan Flores
I had a knife go in my.
- [53:51]
John Middlecoff
Stomach, puncture my spleen, break my rib. I had guts all in my hands, only to find himself back where he started. Roger's saying is, I've never hurt anybody but myself.
- [54:01]
Dutch Representative
And I said, oh, you're so wrong.
- [54:04]
John Middlecoff
You're so wrong on that one. Ron from Campside Media and iHeart Podcasts listen to GoBoy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [54:19]
Kwame Christian
The best things in life are on the other side of difficult conversations. But most people avoid them. Staying silent, missing opportunities and holding themselves back. I know this is true because I used to be one of those people. As a kid I struggled to fit in and I was afraid to speak up. That fear followed me into adulthood until I realized something powerful. Negotiation isn't a talent, it's a skill anyone can learn. And it starts with negotiating with yourself, breaking through fear, self doubt and the limits we place on ourselves. Now I help people from all walks of life, whether it's people closing multimillion dollar deals, parents setting boundaries, students finding their voices, or professionals advancing their careers. If you want to handle tough conversations, get what you deserve and take control of your future, this podcast is for you. I'm Kwame Christian, host of Negotiate Anything, the number one negotiation podcast in the world where you'll learn one simple truth. You don't get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate. Listen to Negotiate anything on the iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.
- [55:31]
John Middlecoff
Question for the bag. What's up with the whole JJ is a handoff merchant narrative? Even if that's the case, the Vikings would still be the perfect fit for him. Upgraded O line, two starting caliber backs and the quarterback whisperer. I think it's just because they are depending on a guy that in big games against the best teams you get to third and seven, to third and 12, second and long against the Green Bay packers entire game in the fourth quarter. This is not like in Michigan. They out talented everybody. Just what Mac Jones did the same thing with Saban. We just have better players than you and in the NFL the Vikings are loaded. Their roster man for man is one of the best in the league. But like you're still Going to make some passes and he comes from an offense that didn't rely on him to do that. So can he do that? Obviously physically he can make the passes, but is he going to be comfortable doing that big picture? You like develop that guy? Totally. But what makes his situation unique is like if I told you if you're a Vikings fan and said you're one and done in the playoffs, that'd be pretty disappointing. I'm not saying that your aspirations are win the super bowl this year, but it's like be in the mix for the NFC Championship game standard. The, the. I would say the expectations and the ambitions of the fans and the team are pretty high. A lot of. A lot of rookie quarterbacks get to kind of fly under the radar. He does not like, for example, if Tyler Schuck wins the job for the Saints, they could win four games. He throws 25 touchdowns. It's a successful year. It's not even about the stats with jj. It's about winning and making big plays and not throwing picks and making big passes. Like, it's just, it's an intense environment. Even if that's two or three passes a game, obviously he's going to throw more than that. But I'm just saying, like, there are going to be two or three passes in the second half. They're going to be highly scrutinized. What's your opinion on the Kieran Williams contract situation? The Rams in recent history haven't paid their running backs big money since Gurley. No chance they're paying him zero, I would imagine, which is the right business move. You just play out this season. If he has a huge bounce back and can hold onto the ball, maybe you would entertain franchising and probably not. But yeah, just he's running back. Solid player. Draft. Another one, longtime listener. I mean, I actually like them fumbling issues. Like to me, if you have bad hands, right? You see some of these receivers, they just don't have good hands. Like, that's usually. Maybe you can like incrementally small, small minute details improve. Like from, you know, if 1 to 10, if your hands are a 4, maybe over the course of several years you can turn them into a five. But you're never going to have hands like Chris Carter, right? Marvin Harrison, like, your hands are always going to be average. I do think fumbling is something that can be fixed. We saw it with Tiki Run, Tiki Barber. Like fumbling is something that you can actively work to correct. So point of pressure. Look, I'm the running back coach. But I do feel more confident in fixing a fumbling issue than working on certain things. Like it's if you're a 4, 6 guy, you're never going to be a 44 guy. Like you're always going to be slow relative to the NFL, right? To me, fumbling is something like I do think it's a tangible, specific thing that you can work on and there are coaching points and we've just actually seen it. Just like accuracy with quarterbacks. Some guys are going to be inaccurate, but there are definitely ways that you can help that out with better footwork, you know, more rhythm, more understanding of the offense. Lifetime Saints fan I bleed black and gold personally think the Saints are primed to be a dark horse in the south this year. I think a guy with a lot of upside and elite traits like Shuck really takes our quarterback room to a new level. Also, I think the Brandon Staley hire will pay dividends come mid year. Thoughts? I think you just have so much unknown with the quarterback. He is old, right? So he's a lot of experience coming into the year. We saw Bo Nix. It shouldn't be too big for him. He's played in big programs, he's played big games, he's seen it all. So there's a maturity coming. If you use Knicks as an example, I would use Pennix as an example too, but Pennix only got to start the last couple games. If Pennix had started the whole season, I do think him and Knicks were just like plug and play ready. Now I don't mean plug and play ready to be sweet, I just mean plug and play ready. I like Penix and I'm rooting for Penix but he sitting Penix makes no sense. Like he was ready to roll. Tyler Schuck ready to roll, but how good? You're going to be very dependent on who's around you. They do have Kamara. Chris Olave is a good player. The one dude, 22 who got hurt at the end of the year can fly playmaker. He's interesting. Their tight end is pretty good. They've invested multiple first round picks these last two years in offensive linemen. Banks and the Oregon State kid last year is good so they've invested a lot in that unit and they got an offensive head coach who's going to call the place. So yeah, I mean I think the offense, if the quarterback is good, which is an unknown, I wouldn't bet on him being good. I wouldn't bet on him necessarily if you told me he's Just solid. I'd believe you if like he's just a starter in the league for five or six years. I think that's believable. But I do think the Saints defense, like I think Brandon Staley's pretty overrated. I think he got a lot of credit for the Rams who have a loaded defense. I got news for you. Anyone who's the defensive coordinator of the Rams is good. Why? They have good players, they scout well, they have a good organizational philosophy of toughness. And he did it one year with like the greatest player, one of them in the history of the league in the prime of his career and Jalen Ramsey who was in the prime of his career. What we witnessed in with the Chargers was embarrassing. And then I saw another coach come in that knows what he's doing and their defense was good. So I, to me the offense, I would be more bullish on your guys offense than I would be on Brandon Staley in the defense. Dennis Allen was is a much better defensive coach than Brandon Staley. What's up man? Big fan. I've got two questions for you. First, big Lions fan, how do you think we should approach upgrading the defense while keeping space out of our star players extensions? I feel like we need another true edge rusher. Curious how you manage that balance. My second question is more personal. This time next year I'll have my bachelor's in computer science. I. I have an internship lined up that'll pay really well after a year, but I won't be making money in the beginning and really don't want to move back home. I've also been considering just jumping into the job right after graduation to stay independent. What's your opinion? Let me start with your second question. I didn't make very much money early on and I was just. You had to like focus on the big picture. One thing I knew, and this is no shot at my parents who did a awesome job and couldn't have been any more supportive emotionally just over the course of my life and supported me in it, whatever I wanted to do. Like you know, me going into football, this was not like I didn't grow up in the Shanahan's household. My dad was a farmer, my mom worked at the state capitol. I mean this I didn't. It wasn't like you should do that. Most people was like be a doctor, be a lawyer. Obviously I wasn't smart enough to do anyway either of those or have any interest. But my point is like it would have been easy for them to be like what are you doing? But I did. And again, no shade at them. I was never, ever, ever moving back in once I left, when I went to college, I was never coming back home. That was never an option. So for me, the number one thing, like I could never live with them again. Once I left, I was going, your boy was out spreading his wings. Now, whether I had to live in the shittiest apartment, whether I had to do whatever I had to do, I also like, I mean, while some of my friends were doing well, traveling and partying in their mid-20s, like I worked a lot, didn't bother me. Now it's a little different day and age. Internet wasn't quite as strong in terms of social media. So your fomo. I enjoyed what I did, but like my life was a little different than some people. And if you can stomach like having a little shitty or start but do it on your own. I do think there's a lot of. It's impossible to quantify, but I do think the benefits for your self confidence after that are pretty strong. And it's like I just needed my own. I just, I couldn't go from college doing whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted to. Ever going back there, it wasn't, wasn't happening. I understand some people, you know, I also never worked in that area necessarily, so it wasn't even something that was on the table. But if that's something that means a lot to you, don't do it and figure out a way. And if that means living a little crappier situation for a year, I think you'll look back and it'll make for a good story and you'll be glad that you do that. The Lions, I mean, part of. They drafted defensive tackle in this draft, right? I mean they've drafted multiple front seven players around Hutchinson over the last couple years. And that's part of the way the sport works. I mean, I, I thought, hey, Miles Garrett gets traded, if, if Max Crosby gets traded, the line should go all in. Well, not only did neither of them get traded, they got to combine like $250 million in guaranteed dollars. So I don't, I don't even know what they should. I mean, you can't get mad at them for not trading for those guys. They weren't even available. I think the Lions are fine and let me hammer that home again. Find a way. Don't move in with your parents back in. And I understand it's like a lot of people do it and listen, sometimes you don't have a choice but if you have a job that can pay, just keep your head above water. You got to eat ramen. Like you don't always have to live great. I know everyone. Instagram thinks everyone's living like a king. That's just not the fact of life. Big fan of the pod Question. Could you see a world where the Vikings win 14 games with J.J. mcCarthy? I believe he's about 80% of advertised. It's certainly possible. Improved defense with Flores returning and improved offensive line and run game as well as arguably a top five receiver. Am I insane or is just another year of media underrated the Vikings? Well, I would say if you had a top 10 quarterback on your team, you are, you know, competing for the one seed. Sam Darnold last year was a top 10 quarterback in the NFC or in the NFL and you competed for the one seed right up until the last regular season game that's in your teams on paper is even better Now I would say, and I think you guys would agree, relatively healthy, right? You lost your left tackle. I forget which week that was. 8, 10, 12. But for the most part, like Jefferson, you know, your defensive guys. Did Addison get injured? I don't think he really did. I think you guys were mostly healthy. So assuming health, if JJ, JJ just has to be like a top 15 quarterback and you're winning 12, 13 games. The thing is we just is great unknown. Like what's he going to look like on the road? Week three in Chicago and it's raining. I don't know. There's just no way to know. Congrats. Happy fugazi Friday. Got a mailbag question. I'm a high volume NFL best ball player. Shout out to your sponsor dk. Do you foresee any macro changes to the NFL strategy that could lead to micro edges in fantasy? For example, more running or more passing than in recent years, more rotations and committees at running back versus more workhorse roles. I actually think the workhorse kind of back, you know, you just saw Hampton get drafted in the first round. Like I know they signed Najee Harris like that. That guy's going to have a massive workload these next couple of years. You know, if Christian McCaffrey is healthy, he gets all the touches. Saquon Barkley gets all the touches, right? So you could argue the running game or shifting. You just. Sean Payton is so excited for that UCF running back. The guy the Steelers just drafted from Iowa. That guy's going to be good. Caleb Johnson, that guy's a really good player. So I do think we're going to see a lot more guys get heavy workloads and the run game. Because in the NFL, the rules, you know, for passing one, if your quarterback situation is just somewhat questionable, the easiest way to help them out is a running game. And it's because of the rules and the physicality of the game has changed a little bit. The line of scrimmage, offensive line, defensive line is the one area where you can get after it. And if you draft well and you build a good offensive line like you, you can run the ball down people's throats. That's why the Eagles did it. It's why the 49ers with their scheme do it. I mean, look at Cook with the Bills. So I think that we're getting, I don't want to say a renaissance, but I think teams are much more inclined to ride these guys now. The hard part is in fantasy. I'm not a huge fantasy guy. I played a little dfs in my day. But haven't you guys always. And I don't even know what best ball is. But, but like, don't you guys always draft running backs pretty highly? It's not like they're an undervalued position. So I do think the, I do think the lead backs coming back. Speaking of the lead back, question for the mailback, what did you think of the Chargers? I know some didn't like them taking Hampton in the first round, but I think he fits perfectly. Also, at the end of the wild card loss, the Texans said that he felt they did Herbert a disservice. And I think with the offensive players they chose, Herbert over the weekend will really evaluate, elevate the offense. I feel like some are sleeping on them. What do you think? Think about Harbaugh success. You know, post Andrew Luck, which he had, I mean as a full time start, I think for one year. Then he left and then Shaw got him. But with the 49ers, Frank Gore played a huge, huge role for Jim Harbaugh. Success. I think Jim Harbaugh still to this day calls Frank Gore like his favorite NFL player ever. So if I go to Frank Gore, his stat page, I Bet. So in 2011, when Harbaugh gets there, he runs for 1200 yards. 1200 yards, 1100 yards, 8, 8, 9 touchdowns. But he also catches 17, 28 and 16. He actually caught the ball less than he did. That's actually something to keep an eye on. I wonder if Greg Roman is going to throw the ball to the running back at the time the 49ers, they had multiple running backs. But Frank Gore is a pretty good pass. They honestly probably underutilized him in the passing game. But I would imagine that, I mean, it's going to be. It's going to work. And then look at Michigan. I mean, his best team had Quorum. Gus Edwards. Not Gus. Gus Edwards, who was the. The running back. I think 2023 Michigan football stats. Was that kid's name. Not Gus Edwards. Rushing. Donovan Edwards, who I think had a bad injury. I don't think he got drafted. Blake Corum had 27 touchdowns. Blake Corum stats essentially look like Frank Gore. 28 carries. This is in 20, 23. 15 games, 258 carries, 1300 yards, 27 touchdowns, 16 catches. They did throw the ball. I don't think the Chargers are going to throw the ball as much to Hampton and they throw it to whoever the bat maybe Najee something to keep an eye on. Hampton's gonna work. Hampton's gonna be good. Okay, last question. So I think the Giants had a good draft. Better than people think. Dart won't start this year, barring any major circumstance, but I think the kid can play. What are your thoughts on Scatter Boo? I was around a lot of Arizona State guys the last couple days. I mean, diehards, I mean, dudes that have been around the program before Tillman and Plummer got there. They talk about Scatterboo like he's Jim Brown or Walter Payton. I mean, his season. For the people around this program, he's a really, really big deal. And I got asked a lot about what I thought, and I said, because a lot of these guys, you know, are rooting for him. But I think the question I constantly heard of Scatter Boo was like, well, he just runs over everybody. How is that going to translate to the NFL? And I say historically, it's a risky proposition drafting running backs that run guys over. It's like drafting wide receivers that just only catch contested balls. You know, that's something in the NFL. It's like it gets a lot harder to do. And I would agree that the contested thing is still a big red flag if that's most of your place. Not a route run or whatever. You just body guys up. Like, if you just think this is the next DeAndre Hopkins, probably not. It's like this is the next Draymond Green. Yeah, we've heard that for a decade and none of them turned out to be, to me, Scatter Boo. His short area quickness is excellent and he has great hands. But like the NFL, if this was 2000 or 1993, I'd be like, he's not going to be able to run these guys over. These guys are just bigger and stronger than him. But think about the NFL now. Most of these linebackers are don't weigh 260, 270 pounds. You're not seeing Ken Norton Jr. In the hole. Greg Lloyd and Kevin Green aren't chasing you down. So the size of the guys you're running over, I think the 49er drafted a guy from Oklahoma State that was like 225 pounds the game. And Howie Roseman talked about this after the draft. It's a speed in space game. So a guy like Scatterboo actually benefits from a lot of smaller, quicker guys on the field. Now they can run him down, but if they're meeting him in the hole, I like his chances. So I actually think his style now is he gonna have a 15 year career? I don't know. But is he gonna play in the league? 1,000%. And listen, it's sometimes when you try to dunk over guys, get the ball blocked, he's gonna try to run some guys over and he is gonna get hit hard. He's also gonna light some dudes up because some of these, even the safeties now are how many there's Cam Chancellor isn't in the NFL. There's no John lynch or Steve Atwater coming down the hole to fucking light him up. Look at the size of these safeties that are drafted over the last couple years. They're not as big. Kyle Hamilton is an outlier. So I actually think the league, the dynamics of the size benefits Scatter boo and I forget the guy's name. I'm not been a long couple days boozing, a lot of sun and I'm just out of football mode. But the rookie they drafted last year from the Giants is a good player. The rookie I think scattered was going to be good. They're going to have a good running back room. Their running back room is going to be solid. I'm still a little surprised they picked up kayvon's fifth year option. I don't think every team in the league would have done that. But I'm bullish on Scatterboo again, shorter term career. You know, if you said over, under how many years does he play in the NFL? Like five and a half. You know I might take the under. I'm not expecting like a 10 year run. I'm not expecting Frank Gore here but because if you're going to play a long time at running back. The reason Frank did Frank didn't run people over. He got down, he got out of bounds. He made. You missed. He hit the. He just did not take hits. It's honestly the most underrated skill. Frank Gore's career was like, he did not end up in that many collisions. That was not really his game. He's not playing, you know, Scatter Boo is like George Kittle. It's like, oh shit, should I get out of bounds? Oh, I see three DBs over there. Let's lower my shoulder and go seek contact, which I'm not a huge fan of for running backs because I think it just shortens your career. But like, if that's your skill set, that's your skill set and you write it out. They took him in the fourth round, so if the Giants get a couple years of him playing well, like, that's fine. That's all they're really looking for. If they get, I don't know, 40 games over the next five years of him playing at a high level, they're good. I'm bullish on Scatterboo for sure. 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- [79:29]
John Middlecoff
Listen to the American west with Dan Flores on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You're listening to an iHeart podcast.