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- [00:00]
Colin Cowherd
With amex, there's always a new experience to explore, from curating the perfect vacation and chilling in the Centurion Lounge before you get there trying out that new trendy restaurant. Thanks to Priority Notify with global dining, access by Resy and getting straight to the action at the big game with card member entrances at select venues with AMEX Platinum, you can experience it all. That's the powerful backing of American Express. Terms Apply. Access to the card member entrance not limited to the American Express Platinum card. Learn more@americanexpress.com with Amex as a renter, do you ever feel like you're just throwing money away? Think you'll never be able to save enough to buy your own home? Then check out Rent Rewards from Rocket Mortgage. They're helping you put your monthly rent payments toward home ownership. And for the first time, you can save up to $5,000 off the cost of your home just by paying rent only at Rocket Mortgage. Learn more today at 804Rocket or just visit Rocket.com Rocket Mortgage LLC equal housing.
- [01:03]
Jordan Schultz
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- [01:04]
Colin Cowherd
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- [02:13]
Jordan Schultz
Now let's get this party started.
- [02:15]
Colin Cowherd
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Oh here we go. A lot to talk about NBA playing games start tonight in Los Angeles. It's the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, thanks for making us part of your day. Jordan Schultz is here. J Mac is going to Be joining us here next week. He's on vacay right now. We love that for him. I just got off vacay, so I was thinking about this. There's a story that Cam Ward is one of the 17 players who's going to get invited to the draft. And Jordan, this is interesting. Every industry, you notice this. Every industry could be real estate, it could be NFL teams, it doesn't matter. It could be landscaping. There's like one or two in your hometown you trust, right? It's Uber, it's Lyft. If a third company came in, probably wouldn't have the impact. Very few elite, anything. That's why when you watch the draft once again, this year, it's the same teams. Cleveland, the jets, the Raiders, the Giants, the Panthers, you know, the Browns, the Titans, the Jaguars. It's always the same teams drafting at the top of the draft. In fact, if you look, in my opinion, there are eight teams that I consider sort of my circle of trust. Owner, gm, coach and quarterback. Only eight in the entire league. A quarter of the NFL. Baltimore, Kansas City, Green Bay, Rams, Philly, Niners, Detroit, Buffalo. They're not perfect. Sometimes they overpay, they miss on draft picks. Eventually some have had to fire coaches. But that's my circle of trust. Owner, gm, coach, quarterback. Mostly A's. Then there's a second group of teams that check a lot of boxes. But there's something I don't love. Denver, Seahawks, Chargers, Tampa, Vikings, Houston, and the Commanders. I think the Commanders could get to that tier one by the end of next year. But that's 15 total teams. That is less than half of the NFL. I've said this multiple times in the last year. NFL's becoming a little bit like the NBA. Very few at the top, small, middle, large bottom. And that's because in the NFL, quarterback is so essential now that if you don't have one, you're a have not. Well, what about the Steelers? They've won three playoff games in 13 years over backup level quarterbacks. Never an elite quarterback. In 13 years they've won a playoff game. Not one against the great quarterback. What about Indy? I like the gm, I like the coach, quarterback, owner, you can have them. What about Cincinnati? That's all about Joe Burrow. Take him out. Bad franchise. So New England, let's take a deep breath on Mike Frable. I think it'll work. But they've been bad for several years. So when you look at Cam Ward, Cam ward is the 1 player in the draft that can get Tennessee at least by the end of this year, because Will Levis was so bad, he could get them into the Tier 2 group, he could do what C.J. stroud did to Houston. So, so to me, he's a playmaker. It's a weak division. He's got an offensive coach. I look at Cam ward as the one guy in this draft of the 17 invited. He's the one guy that can change a have, not to a have. Abdul Carter is an excellent player, but do we really believe if he went to Cleveland with their quarterback mess, they're suddenly a tier one, tier two team? Earlier this week or last week on this show from the Athletic, Dane Brugler talked about it's not about landing Mahomes, it's just about getting in one of those top couple of tiers in the league. When you're, we were talking about quarterbacks in the, in the NFL draft, it's almost like you're making a bet, right? I mean, you're making a bet that this guy can be a top 15 quarterback in the NFL. And I think for most teams, they see Cam Ward as a guy that can be maybe a top 12, top 14 quarterback because that's what you're looking for. The goal shouldn't be to find the next Patrick Mahomes. The goal should be, hey, let's find a guy that's going to help us compete and let it help us get to the playoffs. Because once you get in the playoffs, anything is possible. And, and so as I look at this draft and I look at this league as a whole, there's only one way to go from chaos to a top tier group quarterback. Even a coach is limited. It's the quarterback. That's what Houston did. Nothing against D'Amico Ryan's, it's C.J. stroud. And to go from Will Levis to Cam Ward feels like you could make a seven. I mean, look at what Josh Allen did to Buffalo, what Burrow did to Cincinnati. So there's only one way to do it. You got to hit on the quarterback. And I think Tennessee will. So this has been a topic on another network on a very popular show. One of their hosts, popular guys, said, hey, international guy can't be the face of the NBA. And I thought a lot about that. But this morning it really hit me as Luka Dontich, former maverick from overseas, now a Laker, is the top selling NBA jersey. Steph and LeBron are right behind him. So I don't buy that debate because I think borders, at least in sports, are getting Erased. Everything is global now. And I want you to think about this. Shohei Ohtani does not speak English. He's the face of baseball. The UFC surged past boxing, and it was never more popular than when Irishman Conor McGregor was the face of the sport. MLS, their most popular player and their biggest draw today, Messi. And over the weekend, Northern Ireland's Rory McElroy became the face of golf. Now, you could argue it's Brooks Koepka, it's Bryson Dechambeau, but other players, including Phil Mickelson, chose to go to the live tour. That was polarizing, not to me, but to a lot of people, but to Tiger. And Rory remained with the pga. And because of that, and coupled with the Masters win at Augusta and he'll be the favorite at the British Open played in Northern Ireland, I think it's fair to say that Rory McElroy is the face of golf. Oh, by the way, Alexander Ovechkin had certainly an argument over the last 20 years with like a Sidney Crosby. He was the face of the NHL, certainly recently the most talked about. So all these sort of arbitrary borders I think get erased in sports. And I think Luka Dontich is a very, very unique player. One of the things America really likes more than anything. We're the country of winners. We, we keep track. And Luca with the Lakers. If Steph and LeBron retire tomorrow, he's a trash talking international player. Okay? That wasn't what international players used to be. Luka is much more like us than any international player. He trash talks fans, he trash talks refs. That's what quote our players do. Most international players would come over, they were very polite, overly loyal, worked hard, much like Wemby, tried to basically disappear when they weren't at the arena. But Luca coming to Los Angeles is a bigger star. He's a trash talker. He's a scoring wizard. The beer after the game, they pulled out of his hands. He was part of a controversial trade. Now he's at the NBA's biggest brand. He's us. He gets along with LeBron, he gets along with Austin Reeves. He's us. So I don't, I don't buy into this. Rory can't be the face of golf or Shohei or Messi or Conor McGregor. The bottom line is America loves winners. That's what we're into. I say Michael Jordan, you think six for six. LeBron's got all the records. Michael six for six. Tom Brady, all the trophies. Is Tom the most talented? Can Tom do what Josh Allen, Lamar Patrick Mahomes can do. No. Tom's the ultimate winner. And if Luca. Yes, if the Lakers, and I think they have to be a favorite or a co favorite to get the NBA Finals, if they win a championship, Luca will have played very well and I think more than Jason Tatum, who by the way, this morning I looked it up. Jason Tatum is the 10th most watched player on YouTube Highlights. 10th with the best team. He doesn't have the aura, he doesn't have the personality. He's not a trash talker guy over my shoulder right there on FS1. Luca is so international. Guys have assimilated. They become more westernized. I said this a couple of years ago with Giannis when Giannis said basically, get me a good player or trade me. That was a very domestic move. That's what our stars do. That's what LeBron does. That's what the late Kobe Bryant did. I'm going to Chicago. If you don't get me somebody. They got him, pal. Gasol. Giannis is basically, get me a better player, I'm out of Milwaukee. That's not what international players did. My entire life watching this league, that's what they do now. Now they berate fans and trash talk refs and are polarizing. Nothing says America more than that. All Luca needs is a trophy because that's all Shohei Ohtani needed, a trophy to be the face of baseball. All right, We're a very connected world in 2025. You know, listen, our. Our government may have it out for Canada, but when Steve Nash was in winning MVPs, Steve Nash was us. Nobody really cared. We got a lot of stuff going on. You know, the warriors play tonight, and if the warriors playing Memphis don't win tonight, Jordan Schultz, what do we make of them? Because they. They feel a little bit like the old couple at the nightclub. I mean, if you really look at them, OKC is young, Minnesota can be young.
- [12:13]
Jordan Schultz
Memphis is young.
- [12:14]
Colin Cowherd
If they lose to Memphis, Cleveland's young in the East. So there's a lot of youth. I mean, the Celtics are not young and the Lakers are not young. But a lot of the west is these improve. Like Utah is going to get real good, real fast. It's a lot of youth. And then there's the old warriors where Draymond's their youngest star and I think he's 35. So, like, if the warriors lost tonight, and I don't think it's going to happen, they're a 7 1/2 point favorite. I think it's going to be close, but I'll take the warriors to win. But if they lost tonight, they're locked into Butler and Steph and Draymond. Is it like the end? Well, not getting younger.
- [12:51]
Jordan Schultz
The key point you made yesterday, Colin, was that for all the great players they've drafted Draymond, Clay, Steph, Looney, a lot of these newer players that have come in, Kuminga, Moody, they just haven't fit in. So Kaminga first half of the season was fantastic, second half of the season, minutes down, three point percentage, mid 20s, not being as productive. Can you trust that guy? Can you trust a Moses Moody when it really matters in the playoffs? We're going to find out a lot tonight. Even if they win and move on, we will find out a lot tonight about where Steve Kerr is at in terms of the younger players on that roster. Most importantly Kaminga.
- [13:30]
Colin Cowherd
By the way, an NFL team being very clever, pretending they really like a quarterback, and my take is they really don't. Plus I said something yesterday that got people worked up. I had two former NFL coaches text me last night to tell me I'm wrong. I'll tell you what that is. Coming up next, be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS1 and the iHeartRadio app. With Amex Gold, you get up to 100 back annually on eligible purchases at Resi restaurants.
- [14:02]
Jordan Schultz
So party of two right this way.
- [14:04]
Colin Cowherd
Is music to your ears. That's the powerful backing of American Express enrollment. Required terms apply. Learn more@american express.com with amex.t mobile stats are as impressive as your favorite athlete's highlight reel because T Mobile helps keep you connected from the heart of Portland to right where you are on America's largest 5G network switch. Now keep your phone and T Mobile will pay it off up to $800 per line via prepaid card. Visit your local T Mobile location or learn more@t mobile.com keepnswitch. Up to 4 lines via virtual prepaid card will last 15 days. Qualified unlock device, credit service port in 90 plus days device and eligible carrier and timely redemption required Card is no cash access and expires in six months.
- [14:43]
Jordan Schultz
We live in a divided country.
- [14:45]
Colin Cowherd
I am a lifelong Republican with all.
- [14:48]
Jordan Schultz
Kinds of different people.
- [14:49]
Colin Cowherd
You know, I'm a mother. I'm a grandmother.
- [14:52]
Jordan Schultz
That's why we started the Middle with Jeremy Hobson. It's about bringing voices, not from the extremes, but from the vast middle into the national conversation and calling from Las Vegas. Each week we bring together an all star panel.
- [15:05]
Colin Cowherd
Mark Cuban, so great to have you on the Middle. Thanks for having me. Jeremy. Neil, Degrasse Tyson, welcome to the Middle.
- [15:10]
Jordan Schultz
Thanks for having me. And hear from ordinary Americans from all over the country on the most important issues. Hi, my name is Venkat. I'm calling you from Atlanta, Georgia. And when you subscribe to the Middle, you also get an episode each week called One Thing Trump did that focuses on just one one item from the avalanche of news. We should be examining what our government spends its money on and are these jobs necessary and what are we doing here? But that doesn't seem to be what we're doing in this situation.
- [15:36]
Colin Cowherd
Listen to the Middle with Jeremy Hobson.
- [15:37]
Jordan Schultz
On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal, and I'm teaming up with the King of spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season season. From DJs, mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday, keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
- [16:11]
Colin Cowherd
So listen, yesterday I touched a nerve because I, I talked about the six quarterbacks that I think are going to be drafted the highest. And, you know, I said, cam is the best playmaker. Shador needs the right fit, but I like a lot about him. Kyle McCord at Syracuse, to me, is probably the sleeper in the entire draft. But it was interesting because I said Jackson Dart to me is Zach Wilson. And Zach Wilson flamed out in the NFL very quickly in New York. So I got a lot of pushback from people and said, oh, give me a break. Okay, There's a lot of re. I did a little bit of homework on this. Both are 6, 2. Both went to the same powerhouse high school football program in Utah. So they're both about the same size. They're both good looking, kind of cocky, very confident guys who have really good arms. But when they played in college elite competition, when the game sped up, when they faced better coaching, it wasn't good. Zach Wilson, in his career against the Huskies of Washington and the Utes of Utah was Owen three, three touchdowns, four picks. Jackson Dart against Bama in Georgia was one for three. One in three. Excuse me. And his only win he completed 13% of his passes and completed well under 60% and it's even now here I hear this. I had two people push back to me, hey, Jackson Dart has got it. Well, what does that mean? The two things be very careful about because it's a weak college quarterback draft class. So people are going to reach. It's like Kenny Pickett. That was a terrible quarterback draft class. People reached on Kenny Pickett. The Steelers reached. He was not a first round quarterback. I had an NFL general manager with multiple super bowl rings tell me they graded him as a mid third round pick. Steelers reached. It was a bad quarterback draft class, probably the worst in the last decade or more. This is really bad. It's not as bad. There is a second round quarterback, Kyle McCord, Syracuse, who I think could end up being a franchise quarterback if he gets the right landing spot. He's not great enough or transformational enough to overcome a bad coach or a bad O line or a bad owner. I think Cam Ward could even Shador Sanders who could go number two or three in the draft. I think it's where he lands the coach, the players, the roster, the gm, the owner. So be, just be very careful when you hear two things. Oh, this quarterback's a winner. What does that mean? Every quarterback ever at Bama, Georgia, Ohio State are winners. That doesn't mean anything. Will Howard won a bunch of games. He's not as good as Cam Ward. He wasn't as good when Cam Ward was at Washington State and they don't win that much. The second thing is, well, he's got it. That's what they said about Josh Allen. Josh Allen, six, five and a half, 255 and jumps over linebackers. That's not it, that's traits. So here's the other thing though. If you look in the athletic, this is the draft profile of the athletic. It says about Jackson Dart. A three year starter at Ole Miss. He thrived in offensive coordinator Charlie Weiss Jr. Spread RPO heavy play action scheme. Here's Zach Wilson in the athletic his draft profile. A three year starter at byu, he was productive in a former offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, RPO based heavy play action scheme. 6:2, same high school power ass program surrounded by better players go to college. Both dominated weaker competition when they faced the best college teams. It dried up really really fast. And again Dane Brugler on earlier last week and on our show on Jackson Dart and I watched them in college. I never saw him and I felt this about Zach Wilson. I never saw him as a First round quarterback. I came away more impressed with Lane Kiffin and the way he sets up his offense and calls the plays than I did with the quarterback. And that's not really a knock on Jackson Dart. It's just, it's such a scheme, a quarterback friendly scheme that it really makes things easy for him. 53% of his snaps were play action. A lot of screens, a lot of one read. Okay, it's not there, boom. I'm going to take off and use my legs and get six yards. And you know what, that works at the college level. It does not work in the NFL level unless you're Lamar Jackson. So it's, it's listen, in good quarterback draft classes, the first five quarterbacks taken, one's a star, two work and three bust. So this is a weak class where you may have one guy who starts and a lot of misses. And that's kind of my guess. Jalen Mill rolls too mechanical. Jackson Dart to me is Zach Wilson. Shador Sanders absolutely needs the right landing spot. I don't buy the kid from Louisville who I swear is 44 years old. I don't buy it. So I think we're going to get a lot of reaches. I think Jackson Dart's going to be a reach for like Pittsburgh at 21. And my take, I'm going to put it out there. I don't think it's going to work at a high level. Jordan with the news.
- [21:03]
Jordan Schultz
No, no, no, turn on the news. This is the Herd line news. All right, Colin. Aaron Rodgers has still yet to sign with the Steelers or any other team for that matter. Throughout the offseason, Rogers has been linked to the Vikings with Minnesota having no more than lukewarm interest. According to Albert Breer, Rogers pitched the Vikings on a one year run out of Lombardi, assuring the team he'd be willing to play the role of mentor to J.J. mcCarthy during that time. Now that's important because Rogers has never really wanted to be a mentor. We know that. We also know that Minnesota, I can tell you really wanted to keep Daniel Jones ends up going to Indianapolis. In your opinion, Colin, what do you make of Rogers pitch to the Vikings?
- [21:48]
Colin Cowherd
I think it's the smart play. I honestly do. You know, I've said this for years and years in my business, don't chase money, chase management. There's a sea of money. There's not a sea of good management. And I think he knows Minnesota. Yeah, great owner, no chaos, excellent coach, great players. Aaron now is thinking about legacy. It would be a great place to go. He plays for a year. He was very good with Jordan Love. He wasn't Brett Favre. Brett Favre did not treat Aaron Rodgers well.
- [22:19]
Jordan Schultz
That's true.
- [22:20]
Colin Cowherd
Aaron always was more respectful of Jordan Love. Got to give Aaron credit for that. And I think Aaron does care. You know, I, I do think Aaron has fewer than Brady but very strong relationships to the people he considers allies who really are loyal to him. Russell Wilson has very few over the course of his career. Aaron's got guys. So I think Aaron going there for a year, mentoring and probably playing a lot is a great. I mean, it's so funny that Favre went to the jets, then the Vikings. I think it's the play I really do on the. Aaron doesn't have four years left. Aaron doesn't have to me three years left. Aaron's got a couple years left. And if you told me two in Pittsburgh or one in Minnesota, I would take the one with the Vikings.
- [23:05]
Jordan Schultz
My issue with the Vikings is that they've already put so much into JJ McCarthy. That's my problem with the Vikings. They traded up to get him. He has two knee surgeries. They probably didn't think Sam Darnold would play at an MVP caliber level. Certainly not what he, what he, what he gave them last year. So when you have that much invested into JJ McCarthy now he's going into year two. To have him sit a second year and to bring in Aaron Rodgers is a pretty tall order. And I think if you're Kevin OConnell, you're looking at the future and you're seeing it in J.J. mcCarthy. That's why I've never really bought into all the Aaron Rod.
- [23:40]
Colin Cowherd
But why does the future have to start now?
- [23:43]
Jordan Schultz
Why can't the roster is built to win now? Which I guess probably makes you think, well, maybe it's Aaron. Maybe it should be Aaron. I should say.
- [23:52]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, I mean, I'm. Listen, according to the story, Aaron pitched one year. I'm proposing, right, which is, listen, this is the best roster. I think Pittsburgh's fool's goal. Everybody tells me, everybody told me he's going to go, he's going to go to Pittsburgh, he's going to come out. They're having a big event in Pittsburgh and it's like when he didn't show up for that big event and I, I thought there was a chance of it. Aaron didn't want to go to Pittsburgh. He's not a Pittsburgh guy. Two needy receivers, defensive culture, bad O line, lost Najee Harris. That's not who Aaron is. Aaron's too smart to make a dumb decision.
- [24:25]
Jordan Schultz
Minnesota also has the Dome, which is nice. He knows the Dome division.
- [24:30]
Colin Cowherd
I think Minnesota for a year works.
- [24:32]
Jordan Schultz
All right, Colin. The Cowboys moved on from Mike McCarthy this offseason in favor of former OC Brian Schottenheimer. Dak Prescott is continuing to work his way back from a hamstring injury, but he's shown a lot of optimism for what his new head coach can bring to Dallas.
- [24:49]
Colin Cowherd
Just excitement. Yeah, just excitement.
- [24:53]
Jordan Schultz
As you. As you said.
- [24:53]
Colin Cowherd
I mean, I'm known Shotty. He's been there. He's been the last couple years and really three years. Right. The first year being a consultant, that it's not any monumental conversations that are needed to happen, but definitely his direction and the way that he sees this offense going, the way that he sees this team going. And I think it's clear throughout the team with the guys and the men that he's hired as the coaches and the way that he's got the whole building on the same page. So just excited for, for this chapter under him.
- [25:21]
Jordan Schultz
Yeah. I don't buy it.
- [25:22]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. Five win team. Take the under.
- [25:25]
Jordan Schultz
I agree. Yeah, maybe four. Yeah, maybe a four win team.
- [25:29]
Colin Cowherd
We know coaching matters. Go look at Sean Payton in Denver, what he did replacing Hackett. We know coaching is second to quarterback play in this league. There's two things that win immediately. A great quarterback if he's coupled with a very good coach.
- [25:42]
Jordan Schultz
Denver, that's the. They hit both last year. Yeah, Chargers. Both last year.
- [25:47]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. It's. It's just not. Chargers went from. Remember this same personnel. Chargers had the 32nd ranked defense. Yeah. Jesse Minter and Harbaugh come in. They rank, I think, number one or two. Number one. Their draft picks were overwhelmingly on the offensive side.
- [26:03]
Jordan Schultz
Yeah.
- [26:03]
Colin Cowherd
So they. It was the same personnel, 32nd to first. That the Chargers were the greatest shining example of what coaching means in this league. And Brian Shot is more of a position coach, I would argue, than a coordinator. I.
- [26:17]
Jordan Schultz
Exactly. He's not even to me a coordinator, let alone a head coach. So if you think about Jason Garrett, his first year with Dallas wins eight games. Mike McCarthy wins six. We think they win four or five. The Cowboys, by the way, haven't even been to the NFC championship since 1996. This roster needed a great innovative coach. This roster needed Ben Johnson, maybe even an Aaron Glenn. Instead they settle on Brian Schadenheimer, who Jerry introduces as. This is the biggest risk I can take. Everything we talked about yesterday in terms of Dallas operating archaically at a, at a Glacial pace. This, this hire said that it doesn't make any sense. And that division too. Washington, Philly, the Giants probably be a little better. Not, not that easy in the nfc.
- [27:03]
Colin Cowherd
The Dallas Cowboys will be in the Arch Manning sweepstakes. There is no question.
- [27:07]
Jordan Schultz
Maybe it's a blessing in disguise then.
- [27:08]
Colin Cowherd
Yep.
- [27:09]
Jordan Schultz
Okay, to the NBA, where the Lakers will face the T Wolves in the first round of the playoffs on Saturday. Luka has fared well against Minnesota in his career, most recently taken them down in last year's Western Conference finals when he was with the Mavs. Now JJ Redick plans to lean on his star in preparation for game one.
- [27:29]
Colin Cowherd
My playing career, that happened a lot. You know, there's regular season, there's playoffs, and oftentimes it's not completely different things.
- [27:38]
Jordan Schultz
But there, there are nuances to what.
- [27:42]
Colin Cowherd
Teams are trying to do against certain opponents.
- [27:44]
Jordan Schultz
Greg was on Phoenix last year and.
- [27:46]
Colin Cowherd
Got swept by Minnesota. Sorry, Greg.
- [27:48]
Jordan Schultz
Just stating a fact. So he's got, you know, a good, good level of experience as well, was.
- [27:55]
Colin Cowherd
Literally the thing he said to me as soon as the game was over.
- [27:58]
Jordan Schultz
So, you know, we have a lot.
- [28:00]
Colin Cowherd
Of work to do.
- [28:01]
Jordan Schultz
And they're, they're a really good basketball team.
- [28:04]
Colin Cowherd
They're a very different basketball team than the Lakers, where they're kind of old at the point with Mike Conley. They're very young and youthful with Ant Jen. There's Julius Randle, who doesn't have a history of succeeding the postseason. Rudy Gobert's defense over offense. The Lakers are an offensive team. I mean, that's what they are. They've got play initiators, playmakers everywhere. These are two contrasting styles. I think the Lakers win in five. I think they'll just. I just think it'll come down and make them bad. I think the games are competitive and close. Love the coaching staff of the T Wolves. I think JJ Redick could be coach of the year material, but. And I think the games will be close. These games are all going to be 104. 104 to me. With four and a half minutes left, who's got the shot makers late? It's not Julius Randle.
- [28:49]
Jordan Schultz
It's Edwards though.
- [28:50]
Colin Cowherd
No. Well, again, I don't think he's quite ready. He's not LeBron to me or Luca in the clutch in a big spot yet as a player. So I'm going to take Reaves, Luka, LeBron. 104, 104, 350 left. Who makes the big shots down the stretch? I trust the Lakers playmakers And shot makers. Yeah.
- [29:11]
Jordan Schultz
The thing is, Edwards believes in his head that he's already the best player in the league. And sometimes that. That false bravado because he's a great player. But at 23 years old, sometimes that can. That can go one or one of two ways. And I wonder, in this series, it may be if it goes a positive way. I would push back Colin and say Minnesota has Rudy Gobert. They have the big. The Lakers thought they had. Mark Williams obviously doesn't work out. Does that impact this series? Does that size. Okay, so you were. You don't think Minnesota can just impose Gobert in this series?
- [29:40]
Colin Cowherd
No, I. Rudy Gobert is not changing. Comes in series.
- [29:44]
Jordan Schultz
Yeah, I mean, Luca, just. Just for context, last year in the Western Conference finals, 32, 9 and 8, shoots 44% from three against this team. And then one more note. I'll give you Colin, three of the highest scorers in NBA playoff history in the series. Luca, LeBron, and Edwards. So if you're. Actually, here's a question to you. If you're the Lakers and it's a one possession game late, who does take the shot? The final shot in a playoffs?
- [30:12]
Colin Cowherd
Oh, I think. I think it's a hot hand. Probably Luca. But I'll tell you this, is that if I'm the Lakers, I'm not as good defensively as Minnesota, but I know who I have to defend late. Ant, who do you guard with the Lakers? LeBron, Austin? Luca? Or is it Rui in the corner? Really good. Yeah. J.J. reddick's got no multiple cards he can deal here. Late possessions, late half, late games. Ant's got to be the closer. Julius Randall's never been a good playoff guy. Go Bears. Mostly a defensive dude. Mike Conley. Love him. Always have. Great leader, not a shot maker. Late in the playoff series. I. I think Minnesota is just going to run out of ammo.
- [30:53]
Jordan Schultz
Okay, you got. You got Minnesota. You got Lakers in five. I'll go Lakers in seven.
- [30:57]
Colin Cowherd
All right, Jordan with the news. Well, that's the news, and thanks for stopping by the Herd line. Nick Wright stops by top of next hour. Joel Clatt stops by as well. So there's not a lot about the New York Giants that I have liked over the last eight years, but I want you to think about this story. So Adam Schefter reports that Shador Sanders is going to hold one last private workout Thursday in Boulder, Colorado for the New York Giants. Now, former NFL GM Mike Tanenbaum, quote, tweeted it and said, this is what happens late in the process when there's a big disagreement in the building or they've got new information. I don't think it's either. So let's just say this first. Why would you do a private workout? This is not a hung jury where you need more evidence. You have 50 games in college on tape. He's already had a pro day. The only thing scouts aren't quite sure about the mystery with him isn't armor mobility. He's average there. It's. Does he hold the ball too long? Yes. But you're not going to decipher that. Uncode that at a personal workout. I think the New York Giants are doing this because they're not drafting him because the Saints with the Derek Carr news. Derek Carr news that he may miss the season. The Saints are going to draft him at the number nine spot. But by the Giants going to Boulder, Colorado. Clever move. Oh, we are very interested. No, they want to move down and accumulate more draft picks. So I believe the Giants do not want Shador Sanders. They've got 50 college games on tape. They've been to his pro day. They've interviewed him. Again, think about his traits. Arm, okay. Mobility, okay. Everybody in the room knows that the only mystery with Shador Sanders, as he holds the ball too long. You're not going to be able to figure out if he gets rid of the ball quicker at a private workout. Okay. They're just, they're, in my opinion, this is Mike Tannenbaum's off here. Like him, Know him? I think he's off. I think they're doing this to send a signal to the teams drafting below them. You know what, we're, we're having second thoughts on Shador Sanders. This is not a Josh Allen situation where Josh literally struggled with completions though he was 65250, a huge athlete, but he was a small town guy. He played in a small conference. People had a lot. He had a real bad tweet when he was like 17. People had a lot of questions about Josh Allen though. Everybody knew he was great. We know what Shador is. No big arm, no great athlete, super accurate, very composed. We even know his personality because of YouTube and TikTok. We know all these guys personalities. We know his dad's personality. There's nothing to unveil here or decode here. I believe this is the Giants sending a signal. You know, we may, you may want to move up and give us your second round pick because we're having second thoughts on Chador. I believe I'll throw it out there. The Giants have Russell Wilson, the Giants have Jameis Winston, and the Giants believe with their draft position, they can go get Kyle McCord in the second round. By the way, who played at Syracuse. So they they've seen plenty of them, plenty of Kyle McCord. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific. Hey, Steve Covino and I'm Rich Davis and together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4p Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. And of course, the iHeartRadio app. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich? We talk about everything. Life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture. Stories that, well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We like to get you involved too. Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports radio and the iHeartradio app from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcasts and of course, on social media. That's Covino and Rich. This one's for the food obsessed, for the phone eats first person, for the influencer who knows about a new spot before it's poppin.
- [35:39]
Jordan Schultz
And for the person who's all in.
- [35:41]
Colin Cowherd
On dining out with AMEX Gold, you can earn four times points at restaurants up to $50,000 and up to $100 back annually in statement credits on eligible purchases at US resi restaurants so you.
- [35:52]
Jordan Schultz
Can get rewarded for eating what you love.
- [35:54]
Colin Cowherd
That's the powerful backing of American Express. Terms apply and cap applies. Learn more@americanexpress.com with Amax. T Mobile stats are as impressive as your favorite athlete's highlight reel because T Mobile helps keep you connected from the heart of Portland to right where you are on America's largest 5G network switch. Now keep your phone and T Mobile will pay it off up to $800 per line via prepaid card. Visit your local T Mobile location or learn more@t mobile.com KeepAndSwitch up to four lines of your virtual prepaid card allow 15 days qualified Unlock device, credit service port in 90 plus days Device eligible Carrier and timely redemption required card is no cash access and expires in six months.
- [36:32]
Jordan Schultz
We live in a divided country.
- [36:33]
Colin Cowherd
I am a lifelong Republican with all.
- [36:36]
Jordan Schultz
Kinds of different people.
- [36:37]
Colin Cowherd
You know, I'm a mother, I'm a grandmother.
- [36:40]
Jordan Schultz
That's why we started the Middle with Jeremy Hobson. It's about bringing voices not from the extremes, but from the vast middle into the national conversation.
- [36:48]
Colin Cowherd
Anna, I'm calling from Las Vegas.
- [36:51]
Jordan Schultz
Each week we bring together an all star panel.
- [36:53]
Colin Cowherd
Mark Cuban, so great to have you on the Middle. Thanks for having me.
- [36:56]
Jordan Schultz
Jeremy, Neil DeGrasse Tyson, welcome to the Middle. Thanks for having me. And hear from ordinary Americans from all over the country on the most important issues. Hi, my name is Venkat. I'm calling you from Atlanta, Georgia. And when you subscribe to the Middle, you also get an episode each week called One Thing Trump did that focuses on just one item from the avalanche of news. We should be examining what our government spends its money on and are these jobs necessary and what are we doing here? But that doesn't seem to be what we're doing in this situation.
- [37:24]
Colin Cowherd
Listen to the Middle with Jeremy Hobson.
- [37:26]
Jordan Schultz
On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal, and I'm teaming up with the king of spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're gonna be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs, mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Saturday on Fox. Reigning MVP Shohei Ohtani leads the Dodgers against Corey Seager and the Rangers or Nolan Arenado and the Cardinals battle Juan Soto and the Mets. Check local listings for the game in your area. Saturday at 4 Eastern on Fox.
- [38:15]
Colin Cowherd
I got to tell you, March and April have delivered the, the, the college basketball March Madness was amazing. Augusta was absolutely amazing. You know, it's, it's, it's funny. I go in and out on golf there. Golf is one of those sports that I like it. I mean, I, I golf, I like to golf. I do more of it in the summer. I don't do a ton of it in the winter, even though I Live in Los Angeles for the time being. But I would say golf. When there's a transcendent golfer like Tiger woods and he's got a rival like Phil Mickelson, I'm in. Brooks, Koepka, DeChambeau, Roy McElroy. I found myself yesterday watching some clips of Augusta and the Masters and I thought, I cannot wait for the British Open. And it's so fascinating because you know that a lot of sports like the N. We were talking about this this morning as a staff. The NBA is like international soccer. It's driven by personalities, iconic moments and superstar branding, right? Like Messi, Ronaldo, LeBron, Steph. And I was thinking about this. Steph Curry's always been undervalued because he's not a physical specimen. And he introduced the three point shot, which a lot of people don't love as much as the dunk or the, you know, I mean, he's not a physically imposing player. He's just a great greatest shooter of all time. But they played tonight in the playing game, and if they lose, and I don't think the warriors will, and I think this is the perfect team for them to play Memphis. What do we make of the Warriors? I said this earlier. They feel like the adult at the nightclub with all these young kids. It's like, who's wearing Old Spice? These guys are old. And Draymond Green says, slow down, slow down. We're not that old.
- [39:57]
Jordan Schultz
We'll be fine.
- [40:00]
Colin Cowherd
Playoffs, you playing?
- [40:01]
Jordan Schultz
No back to backs or anything like that. So just gotta get there.
- [40:05]
Colin Cowherd
We'll be all right.
- [40:06]
Jordan Schultz
We not senior citizens. We're high level basketball players. If we had to play tomorrow, we'd be all right. You train all year for this. So, yeah, there's no disrespect to the senior citizens, by the way. We love our senior citizens start out there.
- [40:27]
Colin Cowherd
So. But NBA dynasties, they end differently. So if you remember the Chicago Bulls, Jerry Krause is like, guys, this is the last year. That's why the documentary was called, you know, the Last Dance. So. So the front office blew up theirs. They could have extended it, right? They came back and won. You should give them another year. They wouldn't do it. The Heatles broke up because of free agency. LeBron left to Cleveland, the Lakers, Shaq and Kobe blew up because of ego. What you have more of in the NBA is the Sonics or the Blazers or the Dallas Mavericks or, you know, the Denver Nuggets. Will you come in? The Milwaukee Bucks. And you win once, you may go to the finals again. And then it's over. You don't have that many dynasties now in the NFL. Dynasties are all started because of two things. A great quarterback and a great coach. You can go back to Bradshaw, Chuck Noel, Montana, Walsh, Aikman, Jimmy Johnson, Brady Belichick, Mahomes, Reed. It's only one way to have a dynasty in the NFL. You gotta have an A coach and a star quarterback. That's it. Otherwise, now you can win a one off. Nick Foles can win Brad Johnson, Trent Dilfer, you can do that. But a dynasty, that's the only way. NBA dynasties, like international soccer dynasties, usually you have a transformational player and then it's either roster construction. Denver, where you don't have another all star right now, like Boston's got two A players, but they share in it. They don't have a transformational player. But I think what happens with the warriors, they're doing it the way the spurs did it. So the spurs had a dynasty with a beloved player, Tim Duncan, and surrounded him with other very good players that are going to make the hall of Fame, right? A man who Ginobly, a Tony Parker level player, Draymond and Clay KD around Steph. But they didn't blow it up with ego because Steph doesn't really have one. They didn't blow it up with free agency because Steph's not going anywhere. They didn't blow it up in the front office. In fact, Bob Myers, who I saw this past week on vacation, Bob Myers did not want to move Clay Thompson. So he said, I'll go into television. I can't. I don't want to deal with this stuff. So they're doing what San Antonio did, which is slowly trying to extend the dynasty. Remember, they got Duncan's getting older. Oh, we got Kawhi. Let's bring in lamarcus Aldridge from Portland. And that's what they've tried to do here. They bring in Andrew Wiggins, they get one more. But you look at him right now, Steph's post 35. Butler's old. Draymond, I think, is the youngest of the three at 35. PODS is not a star. He's more like Austin Reeves. He'll be your number three or your number four. So if they lose tonight and they're locked into these contracts with Draymond and Butler and Steph, I don't know where they go. I. They do feel like they were hoping that James Wiseman would eventually extend. It didn't work. They were hoping Jordan Pool could extend it. Immature. They Are hoping Jonathan Kaminga could extend it. They were looking for a two for Steph. Wiseman couldn't do it. Poole was too immature. And Kaminga can't do it. And how do I know Kaminga can't do it? Because he was a DNP in the biggest game of the year against the Clippers. Coaches decision. That's not going to work. So I think. I think what they're trying to do is what San Antonio did. We're going to pull it out as long as we can. They got another one. Kawhi got that one against the Heatles, Right. And Wiggins got that one against the Celtics. But very quickly after that, they moved off Kawhi. And I looked it up this, this morning, so it ends very quickly. The Bulls post mj, six years, no playoffs. The Lakers end of Kobe and partly Kobe, six years, no playoffs. And the spurs today, Today, six years, no playoffs. So it can fall off a cliff if Kaminga would have worked. And the warriors have been trying. They've been trying to find. As Clay aged and Draymond aged, they're trying to find the next dominant player. I think they thought for a couple of years Kaminga could be it. But when you watch him and Steph and Draymond and Butler on the floor, Kaminga doesn't fit. Now, now, is somebody else going to pay him a boatload of money? I mean, he can give you 20, 21 a game. He's long, he's athletic. Somebody may bite. But I. I think the warriors are doing, you know, they ex in San Antonio. They extended Popovich, they extended the dynasty. Warriors extended Kerr. They extend the dynasty. But these things usually end abruptly. San Antonio and Golden State are squeezing about as much out of it as you can. But what if they lose tonight? What if they don't? What if they don't win a series? It'll end fast. You'll have to consider making big moves. They're never going to move Steph. But if they don't win tonight or they don't win a playoff series, Draymond's getting older, Butler's getting older, and Steph's going nowhere. And Pods is more of a three or a four. That's what he is. So I think it'll be an active. I thought differently a month ago when Kaminga wasn't playing. I thought he would come back and sort of elevate them to the next level. But when Sunday, Steve Kerr said, we're not playing him, it's like it's not going to work. That is a big, that's a red flag. It's not going to work. In fact, Kurt talked about that in a post game recently. Good to have you. Nick Wright, top of the hour. Joel Cloud as well. You know we, we one of the things I was talking about earlier about 15 minutes ago then you're seeing a lot of gamesmanship before the NFL draft which starts next Thursday, which the NFL it is. I mean it's almost it gets huge numbers and should this is not a sexy draft. Generally if you have three or four high profile quarterbacks, a Sam Darnold, a Baker Mayfield, Joe Burrow to you're you're going to get good ratings. This will do okay. I don't think it'll set all time numbers but it's interesting now you're seeing some game playing. I think the New York Giants smartly are going to see Shador Sanders Thursday in Boulder, Colorado and I believe this is only to move down in the draft. They're trying to get somebody to bite. So Ian Rapaport reports the Giants have a very busy week. So they are set to work out Jalen Milroe privately. They're not drafting Jaylen. So I think what they're doing with that is the Giants are going to Boulder. So according to Ian Rapaport, they're going to work out Jalen Milroe privately why he's not going number two or three. Right. He's not going three. What the Giants are doing. In fact, I wouldn't have let this mill roll thing out because now I think it's very transparent. What the Giants are doing is going to Colorado trying to get somebody to bite on their pick and then they move down to maybe 14th or 15th and that's where you could draft Jalen Milroe. I wouldn't let the Milroe stuff out. You can work him out. I wouldn't want it out there. I think, I think the Giants want to move back, not secure Shador Sanders. I think it's game playing at its best and I don't like much of what the Giants do.
- [47:33]
Jordan Schultz
We live in a divided country and our media couldn't be more polarizing. That's why we started the Middle with Jeremy Hobson. It's about bringing voices not from the extremes but from the vast middle into the national conversation. Each week we hear from ordinary Americans from all over the country. And when you subscribe to the Middle, you also get an episode each week called One Thing Trump did that focuses on just one item from the avalanche of media news.
- [47:56]
Colin Cowherd
Listen to the middle with Jeremy Hobson.
- [47:58]
Jordan Schultz
On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the King of Spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs, mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
- [48:32]
Colin Cowherd
What's up, everyone? Julie Swerbinks here, along with former NHL player Nate Thompson. We're doing a new podcast together.
- [48:39]
Jordan Schultz
Here we go.
- [48:40]
Colin Cowherd
The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.
- [48:43]
Jordan Schultz
Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right? Exactly.
- [48:49]
Colin Cowherd
And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.
- [48:52]
Jordan Schultz
Julie is pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.
- [48:57]
Colin Cowherd
Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts.
- [49:02]
Jordan Schultz
Or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [49:04]
Colin Cowherd
You have to be very careful with tradition because sometimes tradition is just dead people's baggage. I'm Jemele Hill, host of the sports and politics podcast Spolitics. On this week's episode, I talked with comedian Roy Wood Jr. About the lack of African African American star power in Major League Baseball. Baseball needs an Anthony Edwards, and I don't know who that could be. Mookie Betts is Steph Curry. He's exceptional and likable. Million Dollar Smile. But you also need Chaos Negro. Listen to spoletics on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.