Hour 1 - Why Josh Allen won the MVP

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – "Hour 1 - Why Josh Allen Won the MVP"

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
• Host: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
• Description: A thought-provoking, opinionated, and topic-driven journey through the top sports stories of the day.
• Episode: Hour 1 - Why Josh Allen Won the MVP
• Release Date: February 7, 2025

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1. Introduction to the Episode

Timestamp: [02:21]

Colin Cowherd kicks off the episode amidst the excitement of Super Bowl week, broadcasting live from New Orleans. He sets the stage for a comprehensive discussion about the impending Super Bowl clash between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs, promising in-depth analysis and predictions. Notably, Colin introduces special guests, including Michael Irvin and J. Mack, who will contribute to the conversation.

---

2. Josh Allen’s MVP Victory

Timestamp: [06:00]

Colin Cowherd delves into the central theme of the episode: Josh Allen's unexpected MVP win despite a head-to-head loss against Lamar Jackson during the regular season. He articulates his support for Allen's MVP accolade, providing a nuanced analysis of why the award was justified.

• Colin Cowherd: "Josh Allen won the MVP last night even though Lamar Jackson beat him head to head in the regular season. Lamar outplayed him on that game. Lamar had better stats, Lamar had a better passer rating, and Josh Allen won."

Reasons for Allen’s MVP Selection:

1. Defensive Adjustments:

   • Colin explains how the arrival of Derrick Henry in Baltimore forced defenses to make strategic concessions, inadvertently benefiting Josh Allen.
   • Colin Cowherd: "Defensive coordinators had to make choices with the number two running back in the NFL. This often left Lamar Jackson with more opportunities."

2. Support Systems:

   • Despite James Cook being the 16th leading rusher, the overall support Josh received from his team bolstered his performance late in the season.
   • Colin Cowherd: "He won 10 of his last 12 games, one pick after December 1."

3. Subjectivity of MVP Awards:

   • Colin emphasizes that MVP selections are inherently subjective, comparing them to cinematic awards where the body of work sometimes trumps individual achievements.
   • Colin Cowherd: "Awards are subjective. They don't all look the same. Sometimes it's the story plus the stats."

4. Historical Performance:

   • Highlighting Josh Allen’s consistent excellence over seven years, Colin argues that Allen’s long-term impact made him a deserving MVP.
   • Colin Cowherd: "In seven years, he's got the most wins, the most total touchdowns, and the most total yards of any NFL player, including Patrick Mahomes in his first seven years."

---

3. Comparative Analysis with Lamar Jackson

Timestamp: [07:19]

Josh Allen responds to the MVP honor, attributing his success to team efforts and acknowledging the collective effort of the Buffalo Bills organization.

• Josh Allen: "It takes everybody from the equipment staff to the training room to have team success. I'm so fortunate to be a part of a great organization."

Colin Cowherd further elaborates on the debate between Allen and Jackson, using an analogy to Martin Scorsese’s films to illustrate why Allen’s MVP might be more memorable in the long run.

• Colin Cowherd: "I don't think 20 years from now we'll be saying, 'Do you remember the year they gifted Josh Allen the MVP?' Like Scorsese, they gave him the Oscars for the Departed because it was a good movie."

Michael Irvin shares his voting perspective, explaining his decision to support Lamar Jackson over Josh Allen despite the latter’s MVP win.

• Michael Irvin: "I went with Lamar because Buffalo had a better defense, and Lamar raised the level when the defense let him down."

---

4. Broader Discussions on MVP and Player Performance

Timestamp: [10:18] to [22:33]

The conversation broadens to discuss LeBron James’ performance in the NBA, drawing parallels between athletic excellence and strategic game management in football.

• Colin Cowherd: "LeBron had 42 points, the most ever for an 'old guy' at 40 in the NBA. It shows when inspired, what LeBron looks like."

J. Mac and Joy Taylor contribute by comparing MVP selections across sports and discussing the subjective nature of such awards.

• J. Mac: "Jalen Hurts is one of five quarterbacks to make two Super Bowls before turning 27 years old."
• Joy Taylor: "Prime fuels your passions, makes everything easier."

Colin highlights the importance of MVP representations and their long-term significance in sports history.

---

5. Russell Wilson and Team Dynamics

Timestamp: [23:21] to [41:51]

The discussion shifts to Russell Wilson’s uncertain future with the Pittsburgh Steelers, influenced by reports from Jay Glazer suggesting the team might move on from him.

• Colin Cowherd: "Russell Wilson’s numbers are impressive, but something about veteran coaches might make him a disruptive influence in the locker room."

Michael Irvin explores potential team fits for Wilson, including mentoring roles or hypothetical moves, while addressing his potential Hall of Fame candidacy despite current challenges.

• Michael Irvin: "I think Justin Fields is going to be one that they keep on this roster. Wilson has had a tough end to his career."

The panel discusses the implications of losing a player like Myles Garrett for the Cleveland Browns and how it affects team dynamics and future prospects.

---

6. Super Bowl Preview and Predictions

Timestamp: [42:09] to [47:59]

Colin Cowherd previews the Super Bowl matchup, analyzing team performances, player contributions, and strategic strengths.

• Colin Cowherd: "Buffalo and Green Bay are very well run, but they do not attract free agents. The Packers in Buffalo feel like a 'go for it' moment."

Michael Irvin underscores Saquon Barkley's pivotal role for the Eagles, attributing the team's Super Bowl appearance to his performance and the overall talent curated by Howie Roseman.

• Michael Irvin: "Saquon is the reason for that [Super Bowl appearance]. When he joined Philadelphia, he saw a team built to win championships."

The panel reflects on the emotional and strategic investments teams make, using Saquon’s journey with the Eagles as a case study of resilience and team building.

---

7. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Timestamp: [48:09] to [51:13]

As the episode wraps up, Colin Cowherd ties together the discussions on MVP awards, player performances, and team dynamics leading into the Super Bowl. The hosts express optimism about the upcoming game while acknowledging the unpredictable nature of sports.

• Colin Cowherd: "It's a tipping point for everything. The NFL is always understood as a television show. If something feels like a cheat code, the league swoops in."

Michael Irvin closes with reflections on team strategy and player adjustments, emphasizing the need for teams to adapt to changing dynamics and maintain their competitive edge.

• Michael Irvin: "Teams are trying to get their business in order before the start of the new league year in March. This thing is going to pick up over the next few weeks."

The episode concludes with a reinforcement of the themes discussed, setting the stage for continued analysis and coverage leading up to the Super Bowl.

---

Notable Quotes:

• Colin Cowherd [07:19]: "It's time for Josh Allen to win the MVP. His first. And here he was."

• Josh Allen [07:19]: "It takes everybody from the equipment staff to the training room to have team success."

• Colin Cowherd [46:44]: "We've seen Lamar do this before. It's time for Lamar to get. Excuse me. For Josh Allen to get his opportunity."

• Michael Irvin [43:50]: "Teams around the league are calling, they're trying, they're discussing and they want to get their business in order before the start of the new league year."

---

Key Takeaways:

1. Josh Allen’s MVP Win:

   • Despite a head-to-head loss against Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen’s consistent performance, team support, and strategic advantages in the Bills' gameplay justified his MVP selection.

2. Subjectivity in Awards:

   • MVP awards are subjective and influenced by various factors beyond just statistical performance, including team success and historical impact.

3. Player and Team Dynamics:

   • Russell Wilson’s future remains uncertain with the Steelers, highlighting the complexities of player-team relationships and strategic fits.

4. Super Bowl Insights:

   • The upcoming Super Bowl is shaped by team performance, key player contributions, and strategic adaptations, with Saquon Barkley playing a crucial role for the Eagles.

5. Broader Sports Analysis:

   • Comparisons across different sports underscore the universal themes of performance, strategy, and the subjective nature of recognitions like MVP awards.

---

This episode offers a deep dive into the intricacies of MVP selections, player performances, and team strategies, providing listeners with insightful analysis and diverse perspectives on current sports narratives.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Colin Cowherd]

Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports radio and noon.

[Joy Taylor]

To 3 EAS a.m. to noon Pacific.

[Colin Cowherd]

Find your local station for the [e-mail] or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR now let's get this party started. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Here we are. It is super bowl week Friday from the Crescent City, New Orleans, Louisiana. We are live as we were yesterday as we are ready for Philadelphia and Kansas City, which I think is going to be an all timer, an epic Super Bowl. Michael Irvin will join us today, among others. J. Mack. Here we are on the Friday before. And so you know, we have a couple of weeks to talk about this game. This is our, this is our last preamble before it gets underway. I think most people think Philadelphia's got the best team roster, Kansas City's got the legendary quarterback and coach. But I do want to start my show talking about a player that can't beat Kansas City, at least when it matters, Josh Allen. So Josh Allen won the MVP last night even though Lamar Jackson beat him head to head in the regular season. Lamar outplayed him on that game. Lamar had better stats, Lamar had a better passer rating and Josh Allen won. And I have absolutely no problem with it because I don't think 20 years from now we'll be saying, man, do you remember the year they gifted Josh Allen the mvp? Listen, there's two reasons why I would have given it to Josh Allen narrowly. Number one is when Derrick Henry arrived in Baltimore, defenses playing the Ravens had to make choices and concessions. And many times it felt like the key to that team was not Lamar Jackson, it was Derrick Henry. And defensive coordinators had to make choices with the number two rushing running back in the NFL. In most years, Derrick Henry would have led the NFL in rushing if not for Saquon Barkley's all time year. As much as Josh Allen got support from James Cook, he was the 16th leading rusher in the league receiving core. They lost upon Diggs, yet he won 10 of his last 12, one pick after December 1, I think. And again, when you play the Bills, there is one and one mission only, and that is to stop Josh Allen. When you played the Ravens this year, some teams made the choice to concentrate on Derrick Henry. That of course, opened things up a bit for Lamar Jackson. And the second thing is not all MVPs look the same. And we all know that awards are subjective. I mean, Aaron Rodgers has four of these puppies. Tom Brady's got three. There was a year that Joel Embiid of Philadelphia was gifted an MVP over Jokic because people felt Jokic had won two. He shouldn't win three straight before the Nuggets even have a title. They did later that year and Westbrook got an MVP because it was a good story. He had a bunch of triple doubles. That doesn't mean you win a lot of games, but it does mean something. And KD had dumped him and it felt like, man, this poor guy, he's stranded on the OKC island. So they gave him one. And I think we get to a point, seven years of Josh Allen since he entered the league. This has mostly been the powerhouse offense. And he has been so great for so long. It was time. I think back to one of my favorite movies of all time is Goodfellas. Martin Scorsese was the director. He did not win an Oscar for it. I think it's his best piece of art, his best piece of work. He didn't get it. And he'd been doing great movies forever. And so he came out with the Departed. Very good movie. I don't think it's an all timer. I like it. Top 30. Goodfellas top three. And they gave him the Oscar for was just too good for too long. And if you really boil it down and I know you don't want awards to be like that. And Lamar's got better stats. They all look different. They come in different shapes and sizes. Sometimes it's the story plus the stats. But if you look at some numbers, he's the first player ever, five straight seasons of 40 plus touchdowns. And it's just recently that he actually got a really elite weapon. James Cook. That's their elite weapon. And for the record, he was 16th in the NFL in rushing. So in seven years he's got the most wins, he's got the most total touchdowns, he's got the most total yards through any NFL player, including Patrick Mahomes first seven years. It was just time. Time for Josh Allen to win the mvp. His first. And here he was.

[Josh Allen]

I know this is an individual award and it says most valuable Player on it, but I think it's derived from team success and I love my team. Thank you for presenting. I really appreciate it. We got such a great locker room in Buffalo and it takes everybody from the equipment staff to the training room, to the strength staff, to Slick Rick in the mail room, to the cafeteria upstairs. Like it. It truly takes everybody to have team success. And I'm so fortunate to be a part of a great organization.

[Colin Cowherd]

Nobody is going to feel 20, 30 years from now this was gifted. Like Scorsese is time. So I know it's super bowl week, but the NBA does have its trade deadline during super bowl week. I don't think it's the best time to have it. I would have it next week. I'd move it. Just like the NFL has moved free agency teams all the time, alter their calendar. If I was the NBA and wanted more publicity, I'd do it next week. But this week there have been big trades and nobody's benefited more than LeBron James. Last night he had 42 points, the most points ever for an old guy at 40 in the NBA. I don't know what it is. I think I do, but he is 40. And LeBron, like Bill Belichick, has a new relationship. And let's just say he's got a bounce in his step. He is 3, 0 since the Luca trade. And I think we forget this about the greats. When you're great, things can come easier. Now, I'm not insinuating it's not hard work, but for a Mahomes and an MJ and a LeBron and a Messi, there's boredom, there's monotony, there's tedium. LeBron's played in over 1500 regular season games. LeBron has played three and a half season seasons of just playoff games. This season, even with AD and Austin Reaves and JJ Redick, it kind of honestly felt like a train to nowhere. They weren't athletic enough, they weren't dynamic enough. Anthony Davis didn't really want to play the five, he'd rather play the four. Dalton connects fun, but can't defend. They didn't have enough shooters, they didn't have enough defenders. And then Luka and Mark Williams happened and the Lakers are younger, they're born dynamic and they feel like they could win an NBA championship. I'll still favor Boston, but I think they match up pretty well with OKC. And I think LeBron's ride into the sunset in the last three to four days has taken a sharp U turn. And I think he's more engaged, he's always been committed, he's more inspired. And I think when you're an all time great, there's this, there's this work ethic to become legendary and iconic. But I mean, when Michael Jordan's playing the, you know, the new Raptors who just got a new franchise, you think he's as inspired as he is playing.

[Joy Taylor]

The Celtics or the Pistons.

[Colin Cowherd]

The answer is no. And I felt like LeBron, not that he was coasting, not that he's not committed, but it shows you when inspired what LeBron looks like. And you know, it's, I think a lot of times for LeBron and Brady was like this, too. But in football, you get one game a week. In basketball, you're on a road trip to Memphis. You go to Orlando. On the way back, we face Houston. They just all mush together. But LeBron is playing. I mean, this is the best basketball LeBron has played in the last couple of weeks. It's year 22. It feels like year 12. He's not going to do it back to back. He's not going to be as good defensively. He's not going to chase you down and block those shots off the backboard like he did in the first six years in the league. But, dude, last night, he was not only inspired, that was the best Steph has played all year. He's averaging 28, nine and shooting the lights out in January and February. And the last three games, capped by last night, have been absolutely special. And here was LeBron after joining MJ.

[Josh Allen]

As the only two guys 40 plus club.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know, the biggest thing is that.

[LeBron James]

We got to win, obviously, you know, but, like, throughout my journey, anytime I've.

[Colin Cowherd]

Been named or in a category or whatever the case, cross paths with any of the grace is always humbling. Just to know where I come from.

[Joy Taylor]

I love the game so much.

[Colin Cowherd]

So it's pretty cool. Again, like Belichick, new relationship, got a little bounce. One guy's wearing the red jacket, one guy, Laker gold. But it's different. It feels absolutely different. And J. Mac knows that. I appreciated Luca's talent, but I was always a little bit of a pushback on the conditioning and the defense, which Dallas eventually was as well. But I will say it again, this idea, it's almost like LeBron is showing off for Luka. He's like, hey, bro, you can say you're the best player and you may be the best player, but this is what I can do. This is LeBron. It's Lakers extreme Makeover Edition. That's what it feels like. And I do think even with AD There was a little bit of a train to nowhere feel this year. And you have to admit, it does feel different.

[J. Mac]

Yeah. By the way, Belichick wore all of his eight super bowl rings, or however many wore them last night when he was with his lady friend. Maybe LeBron needs to flex those trophies that he's got for Luka. Remind him.

[Colin Cowherd]

But it does feel like last night's a little bit of a flex. A little bit of a flex. Michael Irvin's joining us. Diana Rossini as well. I've got my super bowl pick top and next hour feel strongly about it. J Mac's got his as well. Be sure to catch live editions of.

[Joy Taylor]

The Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am.

[Colin Cowherd]

Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app.

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Joy Taylor]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Colin Cowherd]

Welcome back to New Orleans, home of the Saints, among other things from the nfc. Speaking of the nfc, there is a team in the NFC that has a play called the Tush Push. It's highly effective, boring. They've been rewarded by it. But according to Mike Pereira, he thinks the NFL and the competition committee may get rid of it. Now, people in Philadelphia don't want to hear that. But after that Washington Commanders Philadelphia Eagles moment in the super bowl where at one point they considered because the commanders were jumping offsides, they were going to just award a team a touchdown, which I didn't know was a rule until Mike Pereira on the air said it was a rule. So here's the way I look at it. The NFL, to its core, is always understood. It's a television show. Baseball sometimes has to be reminded of it. The NBA similarly, not the NFL. They changed rules for catches in that Eagles, Patriots, super bowl, and they don't like automatic plays. They changed the kickoff this year. People thought it looked weird. We got over it. They changed the pat. People thought it was odd. We got used to it in the end, especially if it's aesthetically boring. This is a television show. They're going to get rid of it. Listen, if the Tush Push was great tv, then rugby in America would be much more popular because that's what it is. And I hear this. Colin, you have got to give Philadelphia credit. They invented it. Now, they didn't invent it, they perfected it. So What? Even the IRS gets rid of loopholes that have been used for 30, 40, and 50 years. At some point, if something feels like a cheat code, IRS swoops in. The NBA did it with Hacker Shack. I can remember covering a Lakers series against the Portland Trail Blazers and they employed the Hackeshack series. It so bothered the Lakers and their fans that Mike Dunleavy, the coach of Portland, had to have security around him. People were enraged by it, but it was the right thing to do. Baseball did it with a defensive shift. Bit of a cheat code. A lot of guys like Bryce Harper lining out instead of getting on base. Baseball said, yeah, it works, but it makes our game more boring. We want Bryce Harper on second base, not in the dugout. That's why they did it. Networks came to him and said, you know what? Your game's getting slow. The Stars aren't on base. Change it. They did legal for a long time. So was Hacker Shack. And in the end, Philadelphia has been rewarded by it and has won with it and has been to a couple Super Bowls with it. They didn't stop it immediately. They didn't put their foot down. They allowed them to use it for years. But it's become very automatic and automatic and bad TV. And 90% of NFL fans watch on television, not in the stands. And for industries that don't adjust, like taxis, newspapers and the Democratic Party recently, you get into trouble, right? You got to adjust. Mark Murphy, smart guy for the Green Bay packers, says he doesn't like it because there's really no skill involved. And that's where I think it does feel a little bit like the pat. Like the pat. Now you get to December and January and it's a little windy. The better kickers, Harrison Butler's fine. Lot of average kickers are not. There is skill in kicking. There wasn't a ton of skill in a professional football kicker. With the old patty. It was kind of a three foot putt for Tiger Woods. Like, it just isn't challenging PAT now, bad weather on late October, early November. It's challenging even for good kickers. So I like it. And remember, the NBA is seriously considering something right now that people really like, within reason, the three point shot. The NBA is considering Adam Silver. They're considering implementing new limitations and rules on something now that dominates the game. That would be like saying in the NFL we've got too much passing, we've got a curb passing. And I agree with the NBA, there's too many repetitive, monotonous, cookie cutter, too many threes. But this is bad tv. So was the defensive shift. So was the hack a shack. I have no problem with the league allowing maybe two of them a game max. 2 a game, 3 pointers, 15 a game, 18 a game max to TV product above everything else. J. Mac with the news. No, no, no, turn on the news. This is the Herd line news.

[J. Mac]

All right, let's start with the big game Sunday on Fox. Jalen Hurts is one of five quarterbacks to make two Super Bowls before turning 27 years old. And he'll face the last quarterback to do it and that guy named Patrick Mahomes. The two teams met a couple of years ago in the Super Bowl. And after the game, Mahomes said there shouldn't be any doubters following Hurts. Impressive performance and Patrick Mahomes doubled down yesterday. Colin, on the Hurts doubters, I honestly have no idea.

[Josh Allen]

It doesn't make any sense to me. I mean, he goes out there and has successful every single year. It seems like if it's throwing, running, whatever it is. And so I honestly don't know. If you look at his career, it's all he does is win. And that's what the most important job in the NFL is, is to win football games. And if he's asked to make big plays happen, he makes the big plays happen. So I. I do not understand it.

[J. Mac]

Well, as a quasi doubter of Hurts, I'd like you to explain yourself after poems on the other side.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, I don't doubt that he's gifted. Like he's won everywhere high school, college and pros. I don't doubt that he's gifted. Do I doubt that he's Lamar, Josh Burrow, Stafford, Mahomes in the pocket?

[Joy Taylor]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

The film doesn't lie. When you pressure him, when you pressure Brady and Mahomes, it's a nightmare. You can't blitz those two. You put pressure on Jalen Hurts. He's a bottom six quarterback in the league. Stylistically, he's more fun to watch than a lot of the pocket guys. But I think there, I think there's a clear way to disrupt Jalen Hurts. Now, it's really hard because Philadelphia's O line is so good and their running game is so substantive that the way to disrupt him is almost impossible. But he is clearly not great from the pocket under pressure. And so I think, I think we think he's a really good player. But you're talking Mahomes is top two to three of all time. That's a different discussion.

[J. Mac]

Okay, but. So let's say he's not top five. He's certainly top 10. Look at these numbers. Last 13 games he started, started and finished, including the playoffs. Yes, 130 with 33 touchdowns and 11 interception.

[Colin Cowherd]

Now, remember, that's incredible. I'm not doubting that. But remember this. Look at the year Sam Darnold had when everything worked. Like Brock Purdy put up MVP level or close numbers when Christian McCaffrey and everybody was healthy. So I think with quarterbacks, if you're a general manager, you have to make these tough decisions all the time. Joe Burrow's getting to a Super bowl with a horrific offensive line there. Jared Goff with a great offensive line, gets like a number one or a number two seed, but in the end gets ousted. Like. So our question is, it's not that Jalen's not talented, but this has been a Dak discussion for 10 years.

[J. Mac]

He's better than Dak.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, yes, I think so, too, but how much is Dak? How much is the components? And I think Jalen's a very good player with an unbelievable supporting cast, which is what I argued about Brock Purdy two years ago. I think he's better than Purdy, but I argued it.

[J. Mac]

All Hertz has to do is win the game. Just be Patrick Mahomes, Spagnolo Reed, and.

[Colin Cowherd]

That'Ll be a lot of people.

[J. Mac]

Yeah. Yeah. All right, next up, colin, is the 49ers. What a disappointing season. Couple people here sitting on his desk called that, by the way. They only went 6 and 11, missed the playoffs. They did have a lot of injuries. George Kittle is saying, Listen, the 49ers Super bowl window, it is not closing.

[LeBron James]

I just feel like at any moment, you could kick a window wide open. Like, that's how I feel this year. You need good players on your team.

[Michael Irvin]

Yeah.

[LeBron James]

But, like, you can find good players anywhere. And when you still have Nick Bose under contract, Fred Warner under contract, Christian McCaffrey under contract, Trent Williams, like, there's still plenty of talent on this roster. I mean, Brandon Iuka, he tore his acl, but he'll be back. Like, you see guys bounce back from acls all the time. Like, it's not that. Yeah, just a long injury. It's not a serious injury anymore, though. So it's just like, the talent's still there. Our coaching staff is still there. Like, we still have all the pieces. It's just, hey, let's stay on the field. Run the ball, and don't turn the ball over.

[J. Mac]

Little easier said than done, Colin. I looked at their free agents. Are you ready for this? Three starters on defense. Ufunga, Ward and Greenlaw. All free agents. And you got to pay Brock Purdy. I. I don't think it's automatic that they bounce back.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, when Kansas City let Tyreek Hill go to remain dynamic, they had to hit on draft picks.

[J. Mac]

Right?

[Joy Taylor]

Right.

[Colin Cowherd]

20, 22. And I think San Francisco's in a spot where they've got to have a really good draft, and then I think they'll be fine. I do not think it's a year that you need to be great in the draft, because I don't think there's a surplus of elite talent. But if like. Like Ricky Pierce, the Pierce, all the young kid at running back IU comes back, they should be more dynamic offensively. Christian McCaffrey's back. Well, but I do think they're going to have to reinvent their defense. I think they should attack this draft. Attack defense? Yeah.

[J. Mac]

So CMAC turns 29 in June.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay.

[J. Mac]

You think he's bouncing back and having like an amazing year?

[Colin Cowherd]

I think. I think he bounced. I know, but I think he bounces back.

[J. Mac]

I think he's got a couple Williams factor. I mean, he's one more year security this summer, I think.

[Colin Cowherd]

So Trent Williams is old. Well, I think. I think in order for this team to bounce back, outside of Bosa and Fred Warner in the box, I think you're going to move a lot of people. I think you're going to move people. I think you got to hit on draft picks. I think it has to be a defensive leaning draft class. I'd love to keep Hufunga, but safety is a hard guy to pay a lot of money to when you're already paying two linebackers, one of the most.

[J. Mac]

Interesting teams this summer. Final story. Colin is a big story that popped thanks to Fox Sports NFL insider Jay Glazer. So the Steelers have been saying all the right things about keeping Russell Wilson. Russell Wilson has come out and said, oh, yeah, I can't wait to stay here. Well, according to Jay Glazer, he believes the Steelers will move on from Russ this off season. And before you mention a Pete Carroll reunion, Glazer said that's not gonna happen. So all of a sudden Jay Glazer saying, Russell Wilson is a man without a team. Colin, your thoughts?

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, that makes Pete Carroll, Sean Payton and Mike Tomlin, three very respected veteran coaches and his college coach at NC State. So that you can make an argument. Four of his last five coaches have moved off him. So I think we both think he's a good player. But he is a fascinating player. If you just look at raw numbers, you would think he would very easily find a home and find a place to play. But there is something about veteran coaches. Is it disruptive in the locker room? Does he connect with players? I don't have an answer. But it is strange because his numbers tell you there's still something there. There. There is. And again, again, like a Jalen hurts. Not a great pocket quarterback, but if you don't have to pay him, I think. I think what it comes down to with Russell is they liked him when he was free, but they don't want to build around him. They'll go with Justin Fields, who was going into his prime, not coming out of it.

[J. Mac]

So let me give you two teams for Russell Wilson. All right, so let's start with Indy as a mentor to Anthony Richardson. He's not like a real threat, but listen, Russell Wilson is a hard worker, right? We believe that.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[J. Mac]

And he could mentor Anthony Richardson and Indy. You like that at all or.

[Colin Cowherd]

I don't think it's terrible. I think Darnold's a better fit, but that's probably their second best fit.

[J. Mac]

So this next one is a little bit of a hot take, but there's a world where Matt Stafford is not on the Rams next year. I would say the juiciest rumor I heard last night was Matt Stafford and the New York Giants could happen. Now Malik Neighbors has come out and said, hey, we could use Matt Stafford and Cooper cup. And there is. I think the story will come out later today. There's some connections between Stafford and Dable. We'll see what happens. But Russell Wilson to the Rams play action quarterback for Sean McVay.

[Colin Cowherd]

It would, it would, I think if the Rams could move down in the draft in the first round and get a second and a couple extra third, that would allow them because they have about four needs. They need an extra draft pick to get a young Riley Leonard or the kid at Syracuse, Kyle McCord. If, if, if they can manipulate and get a. Get an extra pick. I can see them saying Russ for a year. I mean, it may just be a camp in six games until a Riley Leonard or a McCord plays, but I don't think you can go into a season and have Russell for the foreseeable future replace Stafford. I don't think the fit's good.

[J. Mac]

Yeah. And clearly there were some locker room issues his last couple stops. Well, we're hoping for the best for Russ. I believe he's a Hall of Famer. I don't know if you do, but tough end to his career. Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

J. Mac with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by the herd line news. You know, I was thinking about this. We were sitting around throwing ideas around this morning and I've been watching the NBA since the early 70s. I've said this before. I remember the Lakers when they had number three, Elmore Smith at center. How's that for all time Laker trivia? I watched him in the early 70s. I remember the, the Jerry West, Gale Goodrich, Wilt wearing a headband. It's one of the first memories. I grew up on 70s NBA and Wilt was a great player. But I never felt Wilt change the NBA. I think there's only been in My lifetime. Moses Malone was a great player. George Gervin was a great player. Kevin Durant's a great player. I don't think they changed the NBA. I think there's been seven, six or seven guys that have changed the league. Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Magic and Bird, Shaq, LeBron. Steph Curry feels like it. I thought as great as Kobe was, he was MJ Lite. I didn't think he changed the league. And I was thinking about that in football, what the Chiefs had become. Now it's weird in football. If you talk about who's changed the league. It is always, in my opinion, it always feels like a quarterback with a certain coach. I thought Bradshaw and Chuck Noll changed the league. Bradshaw, super talented quarterback and a defensive minded, conservative coach. I thought Bill Walsh and Joe Montana changed the league. The west coast offense, I think you could say, you could argue the way Jimmie Johnson aggressively made trades like nobody done before that. Jimmy Johnson and Aikman, the Cowboy team change the league. I think Belichick and Brady did. I think Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes are changing the league. And again, just, just think how remarkably well built and gifted Buffalo and Baltimore are. And it's shrinking their careers. They've been, they've been marginalized. They don't feel special. Though we know in any other era they may be the ones holding the trophies. So if you go Back to that 2021 Kansas City loss to Joe Burrow at Arrowhead, since that time, Kansas City essentially wins every big game they play. And they win many the same way, really close. And it feels like they've been on a little bit of a Tom Hanks run. I'm sure you guys all remember this. Tom Hanks had like a 10 year run and it started with like Sleepless in Seattle. It was a league of their own. Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, he went on a 10 year run that ended with about catch me if you can. There were no misses. Like, they were just no misses every year. I mean, you almost felt guilty. If you're voting for the Oscars, it's like we've given Tom enough. And that's where I think Kansas City is and the NFL. And you can really tell because the NFL fans are so tribal and so passionate. Basically, if you can't beat them, blame the league. That was a real Shaq Kobe thing. That was a Warriors, Michael Jordan thing. Well, the league's changing rules. It's the league. That's when you know you're at a different place. But and I and I by the way, I felt Steven Spielberg's a little bit like this. Et, Jaws, Indiana Jones and then the breadth of his work expands with Schindler's List and Nick Wright and I were talking about this yesterday is that it's one thing for Mahomes when he had Tyreek Hill and he's playing a little bit of Big 12 football with Andy Reid, they're scoring a lot of points. It's 24 point quarters. That's not what Mahomes is now. And Nick Wright talked about the growth and the breadth of what Mahomes now creates.

[Nick Wright]

What is remarkable about Patrick singularly is his ability this early in his career to identify the exact type of quarterback that team needs that season or that game and be that quarterback. If when he got there it was well, we have the 29th defense in football so it better be bombs away at all times. They trade Tyree Kill and it's like, okay, we still have prime Kelsey, we have good weapons but we can't stretch the field. I'm going to dink and dunk my way to the most yards any players ever had in a season. Broke Drew Brees record that year, win the MVP the last couple years. Our wide receiver core last year was not good. This year banged up. We were going to have to be a possession based offense, lean on the defense. He can do that. I've never, it was not the only other quarterback who I saw could do that was late stage Tom. Tom in that 14 to 18 run and then well I guess further than that, you know with Tampa. Whatever version that team needed he could be. But Tom was 35 years old when that started. Patrick's 29 and already doing it.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, there's no question his self awareness and his ability to play different ways. Never quite seen anything like it. Diana Rossini's around the corner. Michael Irvin ii, my super bowl pick. Live from the crossing city, it's the hurt.

[Joy Taylor]

Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd.

[Colin Cowherd]

Weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific.

[Steve Covino]

Hey, it's 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 4 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 podcast. And of course on social media, that's Covino and Rich.

[Diana Rossini]

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[Michael Irvin]

Let's go.

[Diana Rossini]

Means you can focus on the present moment. That's the powerful backing of American Express. Terms apply. Learn [e-mail] withamex Card Member entrance access not limited to AMEX Platinum Card all.

[Joy Taylor]

Right, let's talk about Amazon prime for a minute. I've got mine. Do you have yours? Not just about one thing. It's a whole collection of services that help you get the most out of whatever you're into. If you passionate about a hobby, a sport, or all sports in my case. Or you just need to get things done fast. Prime. Amazon Prime's got your back. You can watch content, order supplies, listen on Amazon Music. It's all included under one prime membership. Of course, we can all agree one of the best things about prime is the fast, free delivery. With prime, you can have what you need delivered the same day. But it's more than that. Prime is a collection of excellent services.

[Colin Cowherd]

I love it.

[Joy Taylor]

Amazon Music Listen to the tunes that keep you in the zone. Or this podcast. Whatever you're doing working out on the road, prime doesn't just help you get closer to the things you care about, it helps you discover new things too. Prime's always there to fuel your passion, make it just a little bit easier. So whatever you're into, it's on Prime. Visit Amazon.com prime now.

[Colin Cowherd]

You can count on T Mobile to help keep you connected from big cities big to small towns on America's largest 5G network. Switch the T Mobile, keep your phone and they'll pay it off up to 800 bucks per line via prepaid card. Learn more@t mobile.com heap and switch up.

[Joy Taylor]

To four lines via virtual prepaid card.

[Colin Cowherd]

Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device, credit.

[Joy Taylor]

Service port in 90 plus days with.

[Colin Cowherd]

Device and eligible carrier and timely redemption. Required card has no cash access and.

[Joy Taylor]

Expires in six months. Whether you're ordering wings for the game, whipping up a seven layer dip, or ordering pizza, there's something about football that.

[Colin Cowherd]

Makes me want to eat.

[Joy Taylor]

And this football season, Uber Eats has the best deals for me on game day food, no matter what I'm craving. From two for one pizza. To buy one, get one Wings. Uber Eats will be dropping new deals each week all season long. I'm in Uber Eats, the official on demand delivery partner of the NFL. Order now for game day. Terms and conditions apply. See app for details.

[Colin Cowherd]

Back to Crescent City Diana Rossini, the athletic senior NFL Insider. She's been here since Sunday. I don't even know what this what happens after about the fourth day in New Orleans.

[Michael Irvin]

It's much like Vegas, 24 hours. Get in, get out. Someone needs to get me out of the city because I'm having way too much fun. It has been a spectacular week. What a host city. The food, the people, the logistics. I hate to bring logistics up. That's boring. But when they're smooth and the travel is easy, you can get around it just makes the whole experience fantastic and it puts everybody in a good mood. All the interviews over at Radio Row, where all the stars are, everyone's talking and happy. So things are great here in New Orleans.

[Colin Cowherd]

Pull that mic up just a little closer. Control that. Look at your podcast. Rising star here.

[Michael Irvin]

Learning, learning the ways.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay, so I want to talk about this because Philadelphia Eagle fans are saying, we invented it. No, you didn't. You're punishing us. No, we're not. The NBA with Hacker Shack and baseball with a defensive shift, said, listen, it's bad television. It's repetitive. This is a league that moved off the kickoff. And so I really do think that there was a. There's a tipping point for everything. And that Washington moment, Diana, where it looked like dangerous and the league almost rewarded Philly with an automatic touchdown, I think that was the tipping point. What are you hearing by the committee? Will they change it?

[Michael Irvin]

Well, I think there's definitely momentum. I just have a hard time believing they will actually ban it. Last year there were a lot of conversations happening on the competition committee, and I was told that Roger Goodell actually is the one who. He doesn't love it. It's not one of his favorite plays. And, you know, he never outwardly said Anything to the competition competition committee, like, I want this ban, but the people in the room were reading it and they're like, when the commissioner doesn't like something, usually everyone likes to abide. They decided last year though we're to stick with this. Let's give it another year and they'll go back to the drawing table here in the competition committee will discuss it again. I just don't think there's a good enough argument right now that they can make for them to ban it. The fact that the Philadelphia Eagles have been able to master it and the Buffalo Bills weren't able to do it isn't the reason for them to get rid of it.

[Colin Cowherd]

So he may not be Lawrence Taylor or Reggie White or Aaron Donald, but I do think Myles Garrett is a once in a franchise player that the Cleveland Browns will never have a defensive player that good. He is now available to the market. And I said this yesterday, Diana, Buffalo and Green Bay are very well run, but they do not attract free agents. So Buffalo clearly is not beating. They can't stop Patrick Mahomes with McDermott, they can't stop him. It's 35 point. Green Bay doesn't have Philadelphia's roster or the ability to track free agents. To me, the packers in Buffalo feel like this is a go for it moment. Am I nuts?

[Michael Irvin]

No, you're not nuts at all. Is Cleveland gonna do it? They do not want to move him. Look, I was told that this thing could get messy, right? And the reason why it can get messy because you got two sides on very opposite sides of what they want to do. I just spoke with, with an NFL agent, a high powered one, and he said to me while I was walking over here, he said, this is about guaranteed money, right. This is all contract. This is just a play for miles to get more money. Said, absolutely not. This is the one case where the player truly wants to go to a team where he can go win a Super Bowl.

[Joy Taylor]

Yeah.

[Michael Irvin]

So at some point here, both sides, they're going to have to come to a decision because Myles Garrett is not going to step on that field unless he's going to get shipped out of Cleveland. So I don't know how this thing ends. I can just tell you that teams around the league are calling, they're trying, they're discussing and they want to get their business in order before the start of the new league year in March.

[Josh Allen]

Yes.

[Michael Irvin]

So they can make decisions on how they're going to spend their money, free agency, how they're going to dress. So I I think this thing is going to actually pick up over the next few weeks as we know that teams are going to want some answers. Year.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. I mean, when you go back to the Reggie White of the Charles Woodson moments like free agency can be a bit of a sucker's bet. So can trades. Now, this is a guy that can change a really good team like Buffalo into a team that can beat Mahomes. To me, this is a. You get this about every fourth year in the league, every fifth year, like, okay, let's talk sake.

[Joy Taylor]

1.

[Colin Cowherd]

You were the first person to interview Saquon when he went to the Eagles. And I remember when it happened, I said, this guy's good with the Giants O line. This is a crazy move. Do you remember the first interview with him? And you had it. Do you think he's surprised by how well it's gone?

[Michael Irvin]

No, I don't. Because the first thing he said to me about joining Philadelphia, he said when he was sitting in that room for the first time and he was looking around at the talent. He had never been around a team with that much talent. He's like, everywhere I looked, there were just studs. All pro.

[Colin Cowherd]

Penn State had a bad O line. He never had a great O line.

[Michael Irvin]

He had this. This to him is something he has never experienced. So look, you look at the roster, and this is a roster Howie Roseman built to win championships. Okay? That is exactly the mindset that this Eagles team, when they were constructing it in the off season. And that's the way how he has looked at it this entire time, which is why all season, I knew there was going to be pressure on Nick Sirianni, no matter what they were saying, because they knew that they needed to be playing here in New Orleans this Sunday. And look, they're here. And Saquon is the reason for that. And you know, one of my other takeaways when I was sitting with him at this point, Hard Knocks had already aired. So he got to see the behind the scenes on how Joe Shane dealt him and how they came to that decision and how much owner John Merritt did not want that to happen. We've seen it over and over. It's almost torturous at this point. And, you know, I still felt in that moment, and this was right before training camp, he was still hurt by the Giants.

[Joy Taylor]

Sure.

[Michael Irvin]

Even though he knew he was playing on a better team, I think think he was still stunned that they didn't think he was good enough for that, for him to stay there. And while we know that's not the true reason. They believed in his talent. They didn't just believe, they just didn't believe his worth financially.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right.

[Michael Irvin]

And they knew they didn't have the offensive line for him. That's the Joe Shane side to this whole thing. But to him, I think it took a minute for him to adjust to going from going, look, this team didn't want me, but this new team is going to take me to an experience that I've dreamt of. And now here he is just one year later.

[Colin Cowherd]

So, you know, we're very sensitive. When our high school girlfriends dump us, we don't forget it. He was dumped. Nobody wants to be dumped.

[Michael Irvin]

He was dumped. And for the Giants, the new girlfriend is smoking high. Like, that's the hardest part about this as they have to watch this.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay, so you were at the NFL honors last night. It's not a great college quarterback draft class.

[Michael Irvin]

No.

[Colin Cowherd]

Sam Darnold, until the end, had a remarkable year. Kevin O'Connell gets coach of the Year. Don't have a problem with that. He was terrific. Little bumpy at the end. That's life. I didn't think he had a great roster. I thought. I thought he really overachieved all year. It is weird. Daniel Jones, J.J. mcCarthy, Sam Darnold, what are they going to do?

[Michael Irvin]

Well, the one detail you forgot is he got a new contract. Right. They just extended Kevin O'Connell as well, which is. Right. It's always part of it.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right.

[Michael Irvin]

Because now he's got the security. He always had the belief from ownership. But there was definitely some whispers about teams poking around, possibly wanting to bring Kevin O'Connell to their program. Minnesota was never going to entertain any of that. But that being said, the quarterback position, that he's got so much confidence in what JJ can do, and this was even going back to training camp before he was injured. I think if JJ stayed healthy, he was going to have a shot to start. Right. So now here he's going to come off this injury. Kevin shared that, you know, he's doing well. He's ahead of schedule a bit. I think they have enough confidence in their coaching ability, in their staff and even their defensive staff that they can pretty much make this work with who they've got on this roster. Do I think they want Sam? Absolutely. They are not going to spend a lot of money though, keeping Sam there. Yeah, they could always tag him and trade him, but that's like 40 something million. But you're also taking a risk, right? Because then if you can't trade him if they want to tag and trade, then they're stuck and they're on the hook for 40, 42 million a year. They don't want to do that. So, look, if you were to ask me if I had a guess, what happens? I think Sam Darnold hits free agency and makes good money and they move on and they try to find a way to make this work with Daniel Jones and J.J. mcCarthy.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, I think. I think Darnold get a Baker Mayfield contract. He deserves it. Same draft class. So I said this. We're not going to look 20 years from now and say, you know, do you remember the year they gifted Josh Allen the mvp, but Lamar beat him in the regular season head to head and played much better. Lamar had a better passer rating. Lamar had better stats. But I do think, like, I used Martin Scorsese, Goodfellas, the better movie. They gave him the Oscars for the Departed because it was like body of work. It's a good movie. Josh had a good year. He'd had more profound years. But I do think there was a feeling like it was time. Any animosity from the Lamar fans? I mean, what was the vibe?

[Michael Irvin]

Well, I'm a voter, so I had an opportunity to place my vote. And I went back and forth on this for weeks, for weeks and called GMs, head coaches, I called players, a lot of players. Answers, which surprised me was Saquon. I got a lot of Seguin.

[Colin Cowherd]

I guess I get it, I get.

[Michael Irvin]

It, but I just. I was laying out all the reasons why I was going to go with who I went with, which was Lamar Jackson. I went with Lamar. And the way I viewed it, it was essentially I looked at the pieces around him, right? And you can make an argument that Buffalo had less on offense, but what Buffalo had better than Baltimore was a defense, right? And the times that the defense let Lamar down in Baltimore, he's the one who raised the level and got them wins. And to me, that deserved my MVP vote on top of the fact I voted for him last year and he was even better this last season. So I definitely think there was a feeling of it's time. We've seen Lamar do this before. It's time for Lamar to get. Excuse me. For Josh Allen to get his opportunity. But I don't. I don't think that there was any animosity. I just think people were very divisive about it. I think some people were just set that it's going to be Josh Allen. Some people are going to be set on Lamar and you saw in the voting, it was so close. Yeah, but. But in the end, I feel really good that I voted for Lamar. I think it's right one.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay, Russell Wilson, Pete Carroll moved on. Sean Payton moved on. Jay Glazer came out and said, Mike Tomlin is going to move on. What are you hearing?

[Michael Irvin]

Yeah, I'm hearing the same thing. This. Those conversations had. They started to happen at the end of their season. They decided, all right, we're going to probably most likely stick with Justin Fields here moving forward. Just knowing that for Russell Wilson, I don't think it was the perfect fit. I think it was a great move by Mike Tomlin in the Steelers organization to take a chance on him, see what we got.

[Colin Cowherd]

He was free.

[Michael Irvin]

And then we saw so much success out of it and there were blips of it. But I think in the end, with who they want to be and the identity, all the reasons that we thought it was strange almost came to light now. Like the reasons why we were giving them a hard time initially of why would they bring Russ on or what, you know, they're going to start Russell Wilson. Remember, we were all confused by that.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Michael Irvin]

Justin Fields has got this talent. They can do so much more with him. He's so much more mobile. In the end, though, I think that all came back and now this is going to be a clean slate for them as they make a decision moving forward. But I think Justin Fields is going to be one that they. That they keep on this roster.

[Colin Cowherd]

I also think keep your eye on Pittsburgh in the second third round. Riley Leonard, a little like Justin Fields. Athletic, big, nice arm. Young, I think. I think Pittsburgh's in the market to draft a quarterback. It's not a great quarterback year, but in the second third round, you may get a. You may get a little value in Riley Leonard.

[Michael Irvin]

I think we're going to see some really interesting decisions knowing that it's a quarterback week.

[Colin Cowherd]

Draft Diana Rossini. Oh, fun. The Athletic from the Crescent City, we are live. Michael Irvin's around the corner. My super bowl pick as well, thanks to Annette.

[J. Mac]

Good for him.

[Rich Davis]

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[Colin Cowherd]

Ah, and here we have travelers in their natural habitat enjoying guaranteed 4pm checkout at fine hotels and resorts booked through AMEX Travel. And they don't even see what's coming at them. We're in.

[Steve Covino]

We got the table.

[Josh Allen]

Yep.

[Colin Cowherd]

With resi priority notify they're alerted when hard to get reservations open up Reservation.

[Michael Irvin]

For two Save the best for last.

[Colin Cowherd]

Thanks to AMEX Platinum, the last day vacation brings yet another experience. That's the powerful backing of American Express. Terms apply. Learn [e-mail] withamics whether you're ordering wings.

[Joy Taylor]

For the game, whipping up a seven layer dip, or ordering pizza, there's something about football that makes me want to eat. And this football season, Uber Eats has the best deals for me on game day food no matter what I'm craving from two for one pizza to buy one get one Wings. Uber Eats. We'll be dropping new deals each week all season long. I'm in Uber Eats, the official on demand delivery partner of the NFL. Order now for game day. Terms and conditions apply. See app for details.

[Rich Davis]

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