Hour 2 - Bradley Beal to Clippers, A.J. Pierzynski

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd Episode: Hour 2 - Bradley Beal to Clippers, A.J. Pierzynski
Release Date: July 16, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd
Platform: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

---

Introduction

In this engaging episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, host Colin Cowherd delves into a variety of sports topics, ranging from NBA player transactions to in-depth discussions on baseball catchers and recent changes in MLB's All-Star Game. Featuring insights from guest A.J. Pierzynski, a seasoned baseball analyst, the hour-long segment offers listeners a rich tapestry of current sports narratives and expert opinions.

---

NBA News: Bradley Beal Joins the Clippers

The episode kicks off with breaking news about Bradley Beal transitioning from the Phoenix Suns to the Los Angeles Clippers. Colin and his co-host debate the impact of this move on both teams.

• Co-host: "Bradley Beal at $5 million a year for the Clippers might be one of the best deals in the league." (36:56)
• Colin Cowherd: "They're a good bench, and with James Harden and Kawhi Leonard, they have a strong postseason presence." (36:53)

The discussion highlights Beal's performance issues in Phoenix, including health concerns and team dynamics, contrasting it with the Clippers' potential to maximize his skills in a more supportive environment.

---

MLB Insights: The Evolution of the Catcher Role

A significant portion of the conversation revolves around the role of the catcher in modern baseball, featuring expert analysis from A.J. Pierzynski.

• A.J. Pierzynski: "The idea of being a catcher today is not as daunting as it was in the '70s and '80s with AstroTurf." (03:08)
• Colin Cowherd: "Cal Raleigh is one of the best, leading the league in home runs despite the physical demands of catching." (12:59)

They explore how advancements in equipment and playing conditions have transformed the catcher role, allowing players like Cal Raleigh to excel offensively while managing the grueling defensive responsibilities.

---

MLB All-Star Game: ABS System and Pitch Clock Implementation

The hosts discuss recent changes to the MLB All-Star Game, focusing on the introduction of the ABS (Automated Ball-Strike) system and the pitch clock.

• A.J. Pierzynski: "The ABS system was a success last night. It's awesome and feels interactive, much like engaging with technology in a museum." (25:02)
• Colin Cowherd: "The pitch clock has sped up the game without taking away from the traditional elements that make baseball charming." (10:06)

They commend the quick decision-making enabled by the ABS system and the positive reception of the pitch clock among players and fans, noting improvements in game pace and viewer engagement.

---

NFL Analysis: Top 10 Wide Receivers and Team Dynamics

Shifting focus to football, Colin and his co-host evaluate the newly released list of the top 10 NFL wide receivers, scrutinizing the rankings based on executive, coach, and scout opinions.

• Co-host: "I take A.J. Brown over Tyreek Hill because of the latter's off-field distractions." (28:18)
• Colin Cowherd: "Puka Nuku should be in there, but the list favors Garrett Wilson due to team dynamics and quarterback performance." (29:27)

The analysis covers the merits and shortcomings of players like A.J. Brown, Tyreek Hill, and Garrett Wilson, emphasizing the importance of team fit and consistent performance in evaluating top-tier wide receivers.

---

College Football: NIL Deals and the Transfer Portal

A heated discussion unfolds around the impact of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and the transfer portal on college football, featuring strategic insights from both hosts.

• Co-host: "Players getting comfortable with $200k a year in college is smart business, considering the short shelf life of an NFL career." (32:14)
• Colin Cowherd: "LSU and USC jumping into the transfer portal headfirst have led to underperformance despite initial hype." (34:00)

They debate the sustainability of relying heavily on transfer players versus developing homegrown talent, highlighting potential pitfalls for programs like Clemson and the strategic advantages for others like Penn State and Texas.

---

Yankees' Trade Deadline Moves

The hosts speculate on potential moves by the New York Yankees as the trade deadline approaches, analyzing the team's needs and possible acquisitions.

• Co-host: "The Yankees need to change some things, especially in their bullpen, to compete more effectively." (13:55)
• Colin Cowherd: "Adding Devin Williams with more speed could help them move away from a home-run-heavy strategy." (14:40)

They discuss the Yankees' current pitching strengths and weaknesses, proposing that strategic trades could bolster their postseason prospects.

---

MLB Home Run Derby and Player Performance

Reflecting on the recent Home Run Derby, Colin and A.J. Pierzynski express their opinions on player performances and potential changes to the format.

• A.J. Pierzynski: "It would have been awesome to see matchups like Shohei Ohtani vs. Aaron Judge for better fan engagement." (10:48)
• Colin Cowherd: "Schwarber hitting three homers shows his consistency, but integrating top hitters could elevate the event." (17:00)

They advocate for more exciting head-to-head competitions to maintain viewer interest and enhance the spectacle of the Derby.

---

Conclusion

Wrapping up the episode, Colin and his co-host reiterate key insights from their discussions, emphasizing the evolving dynamics in both baseball and football. They encourage listeners to stay tuned for more in-depth analysis and upcoming sports news in future episodes.

---

Notable Quotes

• A.J. Pierzynski on Modern Catchers:
  "The idea of being a catcher today is not as daunting as it was in the '70s and '80s with AstroTurf." (03:08)

• Colin Cowherd on the Pitch Clock:
  "The pitch clock has sped up the game without taking away from the traditional elements that make baseball charming." (10:06)

• Co-host on Bradley Beal's Move:
  "Bradley Beal at $5 million a year for the Clippers might be one of the best deals in the league." (36:56)

• A.J. Pierzynski on ABS System:
  "The ABS system was a success last night. It's awesome and feels interactive, much like engaging with technology in a museum." (25:02)

---

Timestamps Reference

• 03:08 – Discussion on modern catcher roles.
• 10:06 – Introduction and benefits of the pitch clock.
• 12:59 – Cal Raleigh's performance and potential.
• 13:55 – Yankees' pitching needs.
• 14:40 – Analysis of Yankees' strategy.
• 17:00 – Home Run Derby feedback.
• 25:02 – ABS system evaluation.
• 28:18 – Top 10 NFL wide receivers debate.
• 29:27 – Further discussion on wide receivers.
• 32:14 – College football NIL deals.
• 34:00 – Transfer portal impact on teams.
• 36:56 – Bradley Beal's move to Clippers.

---

This comprehensive summary captures the essence of the episode, providing listeners who missed the podcast with a detailed overview of the discussions, insights, and expert opinions shared by Colin Cowherd and his guest A.J. Pierzynski.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Unknown Host]

Okay? Have you heard about this?

Last year, Degree changed the formula for their Cool Rush deodorant, and their fans rebelled and wanted the old scent back.

And Degree listened.

That doesn't happen often, they admitted. They effed up and they're bringing back the original Cool Rush scent. They're bringing it back and it's exactly how you remember it. Cool, crisp and fresh. There's a reason it's the number one men's antiperspirant. And it's back in Walmart, Target and other stores now for under four bucks. So try and see what the fuss is about. Head to your local Walmart or Target to try the OG Degree Cool Rush for yourself.

[Danielle Robaix]

Just like great shoes, great books take you places through unforgettable love stories and into conversations with characters you'll never forget.

[Unknown Host]

I think any good romance, it gives me this feeling of like butterflies.

[Danielle Robaix]

I'm Danielle Robaix and this is bookmarked by Reese's Book Club, the new podcast from hello Sunshine and I Heart Podcast, where we dive into the stories that shape us on the page and off. Each week I'm joined by authors, celebs, book talk stars, and more for conversations that will make you laugh, cry, and add way too many books to your TBR pile. Listen to Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Unknown Host]

So what happened at Chappaquiddick? Well, it really depends on who you talk to.

There are many versions of what happened in 1960 when a young Ted Kennedy drove a car into a pond and.

Left a woman behind to drown.

Chappaquiddick is a story of a tragic death and how the Kennedy machine took control. Every week we go behind the headlines and beyond the drama of America's royal family.

Listen to United States of Kennedy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Bob Crawford]

I'm Bob Crawford, host of American History Hotline, a different type of podcast. You, the listener, ask the questions.

[Unknown Host]

Did George Washington really cut down a cherry tree? Were JFK and Marilyn Monroe having an affair?

[Bob Crawford]

And I find the answers. I'm so glad you asked me this question.

[Unknown Host]

This is such a ridiculous story.

[Bob Crawford]

You can listen to American History Hotline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Unknown Host]

Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio at noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. 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. Here we go. It's hour two. Welcome in. It's the Herd, wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. By the way, AJ Perzinski is going to come on a couple of minutes. One of only 11 catchers we got into this discussion during the break with over 2000 hits. The idea of being a catcher today is not as daunting as being a catcher in the 70s and the 80s with AstroTurf. Although AJ Persinski played in some of those turf fields like the Vet in Philadelphia. So Cal Raleigh, I just, it's just very few catchers have been prodigious hitters. Johnny Bench was, Mike Piazza was, Joe Maurer was. But he transitioned to first base eventually. Pudge Rodriguez I think was a big time hitter, but it's, it is, that is asking a lot. So I'm going to get A.J. pruszynski again. He could hit. I want to start with this though. So, you know, camps are going to open up this weekend and we know certain teams aren't going to be great. Like I think we all kind of know like New Orleans is going to may go big game hunting next year in the draft. Cleveland. But there are a couple of teams I think, like Dallas and Miami that people think are pretty good. I think they're potential infernos. I think the team that could fall apart fast, like three weeks in, four weeks in, is the New York Giants. So Russell Wilson talking with Sports Illustrated says Carmelo Anthony gave him advice on being a great New York athlete.

[Colin Cowherd]

It's funny because me and Carmelo were talking about this. He's like, man, this is the perfect place for you to reestablish who Russell Wilson really is.

[Unknown Host]

Right?

[Colin Cowherd]

By not just how you play on the field, but what you do, the community and different things, you're able to impact the people. You know, you know, it doesn't get any bigger than New York City.

[Unknown Host]

So I think the Giants, I mean, you've got a coach in the hot seat, you've got a rookie quarterback who's probably not ready to play. But if you go on a two game losing streak, the fans, the talk radio and the papers in New York are going to demand it. You have a general manager who I'm not quite sure knows what he's doing and the division with Jaden Daniels now is serious. So. And if you look at their schedule the first nine weeks. There's nothing in the NFL close to it. It's got 1 and 8 written all over it. It is brutal. Jaden Daniels, Dak Mahomes, Justin Herbert, Jalen hurts, Bo Nix, Jalen hurts again. Brock Purdy in the Niners, Ben Johnson, Caleb William, Green Bay, Detroit. First nine weeks are brutal. So in the Bears, I mean, let's be honest, teams don't spontaneously combust. You can see the train wrecks coming. You can see the, you can see the infernos coming. So I think my three teams that people, I think the Giants, the Dolphins and the, and the Dallas Cowboys could get ugly fast. And I can't explain Russell Wilson. I have never seen a quarterback almost bizarrely go from highly elusive, very good to wow, we've got to get rid of this contract. I can't explain it. Brady aged gracefully. Russell Wilson got old fast. And what's going to happen with this schedule, even if he plays pretty well, it's New York. It's got a very loud and relentless media. They're starting one in four, they're starting two and six. They're going to want to see Jackson Dart, which is why I would not have drafted Jackson Dart, because they're going to demand he plays and then you're going to have to stay with him for a year and a half and not draft a quarterback next year in a very good quarterback draft. This year was weak. Next year is outstanding. Could be six first round quarterback. So I think this thing has a potential mess written all over it in New York. And with that, the opposite of a mess was that masterclass in TV production and big event feel last night, the All Star Game was absolutely riveting. AJ Brzezinski, Fox Sports baseball analyst, 19 years All Star world champ, joining us. So, okay, so part of being a catcher is framing pitches, okay? That's part of the art of it. And some of you guys, especially you veteran guys, I remember it for the first time with Johnny Bench, I can remember as a kid watching the game and, and Joe Garagiola would talk about Johnny Bench and framing pitches. Okay? Now you got the, you got the new system, the abs, and it kind of takes that away, does it not? Are you a fan of it?

[Colin Cowherd]

I love it. But did it really take anything away from the game last night? Because they still had to decide do I want to tap my head or do I not? They got one wrong right now. Cal Raleigh, who we're going to talk about hopefully, because he is unbelievable. He's One of the best. I think he was 9 for 9 in spring training at doing this with his. With his hand on his head. And him and school stole a strikeout right there. But it doesn't take away the value of framing at all. If they went to full time robo arms, it would. But this is cool, man. The fans loved it. The players love it. The TV loves it. It's great on tv. As you see right here. Look at school's reaction. He's like, yep, I knew it. It was a strike. But I love it. I think it's great. And I love the challenge system because this strategy of who gets to challenge and who doesn't is going to be fascinating.

[Unknown Host]

So there was a lot of pushback. And I've said this years ago, I thought baseball Bud Selig overreacted to a tie in the All Star Game and made the All Star Game decide home field advantage. And I'm like, you've got to be kidding me. 162 games and an All Star Game is going to decide it was bad. They overreacted. Now it doesn't. And so to me, I love, you know, the commissioner's choice, the legend Kershaw. I love Miss. I wanted to watch Miz. I want to see a kid that's six, seven, throwing 100 miles an hour. Did it bother you that somebody with only five appearances became an All Star?

[Colin Cowherd]

No, it didn't. What bothered me was the way he got there. And this is nothing against Miz at all, but how many guys had to say no? The Phillies were mad. But you had Ranger Suarez couldn't pitch. You had Jonathan Sanchez couldn't pitch. They all said no. So guess what? You can't just keep going down Phillies until you run out of people. So they went to something that somebody wanted to see, right? They went to Miss. Miss is exciting TV Miss versus Paul Skins that Wednesday. I've said this, Colin should have been a flex game like they do in the NFL and put it on Fox at 8pm at night so the whole country can see Miz versus Skeens on national television. Not on one o' clock on a Wednesday on no, against, you know, the brewers network and the Pirates network. Let's make this possible because pitching matchups drive baseball ratings. And that is a big one. And I had. The only problem I had was five. Five appearances, fine. But if we're going to make this an exhibition, let's make it an exhibition. Let's get people there that the fans want to see. And Miss is definitely one of those people.

[Unknown Host]

So years ago, people, you know, listen. Baseball, more than any sport in America, the mls, hockey, we don't talk about the history of it. NBA, we talk a little bit about Jordan. NFL, we don't talk about history. We talk about Sunday's game. But baseball, I mean, we. You people still talk about Mantle and Shohei Ohtani. Makes you think about Ruth. That's okay. That's part of its charm, it's allure, its lore and its history. So when Rob Manfred did the pitch clock, it sped the game up, and there was a lot of pushback on it. And my take was, listen, baseball needs to kind of recalibrate what young people want to watch. They're all on their phones. Speed the game up. Don't change it, just speed it up. Are you surprised that there. There really hasn't been a problem with the pitch clock? The game's faster, attendance is up, the ratings are up. Did you think there'd be more pushback? Because there hasn't really. It's just worked.

[Colin Cowherd]

No, I mean, I thought there would be, but there hasn't been because the players love it, the fans love it. The only people that don't like it maybe are the beer salesmen in the stadiums, but as a broadcaster, I love it. Are you kidding me? We used to do. If we made it under three hours, it was a miracle on the Fox Saturday games. Now if we go over two and a half hours, we're like, what was wrong with our game? What took so long? What are we doing? Like 217 to 20. That's the average game time. And these are Fox with longer commercials in between breaks. So I love the pitch clock. Now, pitchers have complained, some of the older guys, but the guys who came up with this in the minor leagues, the pitchers, they have no problem with it. The hitters love it, the pitchers love it, the fans love it. And there's more action, which I'm all for.

[Unknown Host]

So you were a catcher for a long time. Joe Maurer was great, but he initially said, okay, I'm gonna go play first base to extend my career. And back in the 70s and 80s, when you had AstroTurf in St. Louis, Cincinnati, Kansas City, it was brutal. Now, you did play in the Vet, which is insane. Those round stadiums were ovens. But Cal Raleigh is fascinating because a catcher has to wear extra gear. It's heavier. You're in a crouch. So I'm always kind of amazed when a catcher. And I remember them talking about Johnny bench losing £11. £11 in a Saturday day. Game at Riverfront. Like literally just that. You could not keep weight on him, 8 or 11 pounds. So are you surprised? I mean, take me through your experience of having to hit. You're one of 11 guys that played catcher with 2,000 hits. Are you surprised that Cal Raleigh, despite that, what you're wearing the crouch, how it beats you up physically. He's leading baseball and homers.

[Colin Cowherd]

Am I surprised? Yes, because look at his numbers. Last year I think he had a career high at 30. He has 38 homers. I know he went out this offseason and changed some things with his swing. He's catching the ball way more out in front. He looks like a different guy. But here's the thing, Colin. You can catch on a knee now and the gear is so light that it doesn't really weigh hardly anything. I'll say this, he plays in Seattle. Other than the travel, the weather there for a catcher is about as good as it gets. 65, 70 degrees with a roof. If it gets too sunny, they can close the roof and make it shady for him. He's got a great chance to do something we've never seen. He should break the all time catcher home run mark, which I, Salvador Perez said a few years ago. Now the question is, can he get to 60, 65, 70? I don't know because catchers typically slow down in the second half. But if anyone's going to do it. Listen, if your nickname is the Big Dumper and he's one of the great guys in baseball, but the Big Dumper, if he can't do it, I don't know who can possibly do it. But he's one of the best. He's got platinum glove, he's got silver sluggers, he's got all these things. Now can he get the home run mark? This guy is a great player, deserves a lot more credit than what he's even getting. I think you can put him in the MVP race with Aaron Judge.

[Unknown Host]

Okay, so there's a lot of rumors. Jeter and A Rod were talking about the Yankees making moves at the trade deadline. And in the NFL, free agency is fraught with overpriced guys coming in, not fitting the culture. You have to be. Most of the good teams stay away from free agency. You don't want to bring in somebody. I always worry about in baseball or the NBA, especially baseball, you bring in a guy and I mean, first of all, like Devers in the trade, Rafi Devers, there's so much pressure on him. It's totally in his head. So you have that. He's often seen in free agency or a trade at the deadline is you got to save the team. Secondly, he doesn't necessarily fit the team playing in the team locker room. Some guys don't. So what is your. Are the Yankees good enough? I mean, because the Dodgers have the most talent. That's not even arguable. If their pitching's healthy, it could be over. Cubs are very good. Do the Yankees, in your opinion, have to make moves at the deadline to win a series?

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes. I think they need to change up some things, and their starting pitching is actually pretty good now. Losing Schmidt really hurts him. You have Schmidt down and you have Garrett Cole down. But Rodin and Freed are good at the top. They're back into their bullpen. As long as Devin Williams is right is good to me. I'd like to see him at some speed. Right. Add some difference in speed, because they're really a home run or nothing team. That's why the record in extra innings hasn't been good. They rely on home runs and they hit a lot of home runs. But we've seen in the postseason, the pitching gets better, home runs go down. That's why the Dodgers are so dangerous. That's why a lot of the National League teams are more dangerous to me. But in the American League and the Yankees win the league, absolutely. But the Tigers are the team to be right now. But the Yankees can do it. But I still like the Tigers.

[Unknown Host]

By the way, the. The Dodgers have struggled. Give me the best roster you ever played on. Maybe it's your White Sox World Series team. Have you ever been on a team that was really talented and kind of the wheels come off because of expectations. Because right now the Dodger. Dodger fans are apoplectic. Good. Tell me the most talented team you ever played for that had a bad month.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, first of all, Dodger fans, calm down. I think the Dodgers get bored sometimes and they're just like, yeah, we can lose seven in a row. We'll be fine. Next week, All Star break, You know, all our All Stars go there and we'll be fine after the break and they'll be fine. Listen, they're the Dodgers. They have more depth. Everyone's coming back. So everyone in Dodgerland, calm down. You're going to be fine. You're going to win the division and you're going to make a deep run in the postseason more likely. Best team I was ever on was not our 2005 team that won. We weren't the most talented. Our next year's team was way better. We traded for Jim thomy, had like 10 all stars. You look, go back and look at that. 2016, you know what we did? We won 90 games and we didn't even make the playoffs, didn't even make a wild card because our last month we just all couldn't hit at the same time. I've never seen a team Paul can echo, Jermaine Dye, Jim Thome, all these guys that were all All Stars, great players, just not be able to hit at the same time. Myself in there too. It was crazy. We just ran out of steam, didn't make the postseason. So for me, it was my 2006 White Sox team and it was sad. We were devastated. We're like, we won the World Series last year, we're going to do it again this year. We just collapsed.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah. AJ Przeinski is always great seeing you. What a night it was for baseball last night. It was just.

[Colin Cowherd]

Did you like that? I want to know. Did you like the home runoff at the end?

[Unknown Host]

Yeah, I do. Because my take is it's an exhibition. I, I don't want. Guys, if you, if, if you have to travel to Seattle from Atlanta, if you have to, if you're, if you're a player and have to travel across the country and play in Sacramento, Seattle, San Diego, I don't want you getting in at 5 in the morning. I get guys, I, I've always said this, A.J. about the NFL overtime. I don't care if you take the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. What I don't want is 15 more minutes of NFL hits on my quarterback, running back and wide receiver and left tackle. Once you go to extra innings in an exhibition or in a football playoff game, get it done as fast as you can so it doesn't punish everybody the next week. Did you like it?

[Colin Cowherd]

I did. And I love. Schwarber hit three. Of course he did, because he hits a big home run in like every situation in the world. But here's the thing. How cool would it have been to see Shohei, Judge, Raleigh, whoever else you want to throw in there, the guys who started the game, right. Take the top six home run hitters in the league and there are three in each league and do it that way. Nothing against Pete Alonso and Schwarber and Jonathan Aranda. Brett Rooker did a nice job in the Home Run Derby, but it would have been really cool. Oh, hey, we have Shohei versus Judge, first round, Raleigh versus Alonzo, second round, and whoever you want to come up with in Third round. That would have been pretty awesome for the fans. Would have made the fans stay, you know, it had everyone tuned in, especially in a close game.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah, the 2008 all star game was four hours 15 minutes. It was 15 innings. And that is what you can't, that is what you absolutely can't.

[Colin Cowherd]

Can't was there for the tie game. I was there for the tie game. I have the ball from the last L. So I was the catcher in the last tie game and that didn't end very well either. So anyway, to at least get a.

[Unknown Host]

Winner, I'm all for great seeing you again. Appreciate it.

[Colin Cowherd]

Thanks, Colin.

[Unknown Host]

Yeah, that was, that was almost like when they overreacted on the All Star Game. It's like when they overreacted on the Saints pass interference colonies. NFL said, okay, we're going to review pass interference. That was a disaster. It's like it was an All Star game. I remember going on the air and saying, it's an All Star game, it's tied. Who cares? Getting major pushback. You've gotta have a decisive winner, really, in an exhibition. It's almost like the substitute teacher in class that day doesn't count. She never gives you a test like Substitute Teacher Day. It's like it doesn't matter. Blow bubbles in the back. Play that game where you used to play flick footballs in for, you know, paper football. I, I just to me, exhibitions, just get them over with. Don't get anybody hurt. I, I've always felt that in overtimes in football it's, and I the reason I use this analogy because the one time I really got hurt skiing was on the last run and they always, and I, and, and so every time I'm going to have a last run skiing, I, I, it's in my head, slow down because you're fatigued, your muscles are fatigued. So if you go to overtime in football, college or pro, you want it to end as fast as you can. You want them in and out, one series gone. I don't care about fairness. If you're a home team and had 14 possessions and could not win in regulation, I don't care if you lose on the opening kickoff of overtime. I don't care. You're at home, you didn't have to travel. You had 14 possessions. You had the crowd in your favor. You could hear, you couldn't win in regulation. I don't care what overtime looks like. End it as soon as possible.

Be sure to catch live editions of.

The Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS1 and.

The iHeartRadio app hey, it's me, Rob Parker. Check out my weekly MLB podcast, Inside the Parker for 22 minutes of pipin Hot Baseball Talk featuring the biggest names and newsmakers in the sport. Whether you believe in analytics or the eye test, we've got all the bases covered. New episodes drop every Thursday, so do yourself a favor and listen to Inside the Parker with Rob Parker on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast.

There's nothing like sinking into luxury. @washablesofas.com you'll find the Annabe sofa, which combines ultimate comfort and design at an affordable price. And get this, it's the only sofa that's fully machine washable from top to bottom. Starting at only $699, the stain resistant performance fabric slipcovers and cloud like frame duvet can go straight into your wash. Perfect for anyone with kids, pets or anyone who loves an easy to clean spotless sofa. With a modular design and changeable slipcovers, you can customize your sofa to fit any space and style. Whether you need a single chair, loveseat or a luxuriously large sectional, Annabe has you covered. Visit washablesofas.com to upgrade your home. Right now you can shop up to 60% off store wide with a 30 day money back guarantee. Shop [e-mail] Add a little to your life. Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

Interested in investing in Bitcoin but not sure how to get started? Well, with the Gemini Credit Card you can dip your toes into Bitcoin without even trying. Just spend like you normally do groceries, gas or a night out and instantly earn up to 4% back in Bitcoin or one of over 50 other cryptos straight to your account with no annual fee. The Gemini Credit card is pretty much a no brainer and right now you can grab a $200 bitcoin intro bonus. So go to gemini.com card to learn more and start earning today. Terms apply. Again, go to gemini.com card start building your Bitcoin stash now. Terms apply the Gemini Credit card is issued by Web bank. In order to Qualify for the intro $200 crypto bonus, your application must be approved by June 30, 2025 and spend $3,000 in your first 90 days. Terms apply. Some exclusions apply to instant rewards in which rewards are deposited when the transaction posts this content is not investment advice and Trading Crypto involves risk for more details on rates, fees and other Gemini credit card terms. See rates and fees. Hey, so we all make mistakes, but owning up to them is the right thing to do. So you know Degree Cool Rush deodorant, right? Well, last year they changed the formula and it did not go over well with their fans.

So Degree's whole thing is it turns.

Up the sweat and odor protection when you turn up the effort.

And good thing it does, because Cool.

Rush fans really turned up the effort to bring the original formula back. One guy even started an online petition, and Degree listened.

They admitted they effed up.

They're bringing back the original Cool Rush scent. They're bringing it back and it's exactly how you remember it. Cool, crisp and fresh. It's back in Walmart, Target, and other stores now for under $4.

There's a reason it's been the number.

One men's antiperspirant for the last decade. It's the same reason why people were not happy when it changed. So if you've never tried it, it might be a good time to see.

What the fuss is about.

Head to your local Walmart Target, and try the OG Degree Cool Rush for yourself.

Hey everybody.

You've heard me talk about Green River Whiskey, the official whiskey of the herd podcast.

And if you know anything about me.

I love a good metaphor. So the team at Green river challenged me to come up with a perfect metaphor to describe their incredible bourbon and rye whiskeys. And with the playoffs upon us, the answer is clear. Green River Whiskey is like a big playoff win by your favorite team, always sure to raise your spirits. So pair the thrills of this playoff season with Green River Whiskey. And with four core products in their starting lineup, there's something to suit any taste. To find Green river near you, head on over to greenriverwhisky.com here's the green River Whiskey. Raise your spirits. A product of Green River Distilling Co. Owensboro, KY. Alcohol by volume varies by product. Greenriverwhisky.com Please drink responsibly.

Had the All Star game last night. Caitlin Clark is hurt again. There's massive LeBron James trading rumors, which I don't buy. But if people are foisting up a potential Dallas Mavericks deal, the. The. The. The market is changing. Jmax all over that Miami Heat also get mentioned. I don't know what. I don't know what Miami has to give them. I do think Dallas very uniquely has Gafford and P.J. washington and Lively and AD. They have the best big rotation in the league, I think by far. So they could they can give away a couple of them. They do not want to give up AD or Lively. They may have to part ways with Lively. But if I wouldn't make the move if I'm the Lakers. But when you get new ownership and the Lakers have new owners and they're very smart and they know the Lakers and the LA market, they. They're gonna. They're gonna surprise some people. So I'm, I'm at least invested in the story. I think it's interesting. Here's J. Mac with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the Herdline news.

All right, Colin, All Star game last night had a lot of ABS fun. I know you're all over this. We saw it early last night. So there was a challenge call in the first inning. Take a listen to three play two players and an announcer talking about the ABS system.

Falls down. Oh, yeah. Yeah. I don't know if it can come from the. It can't come from the dugout, but it can come from the booth. I think it's gonna work.

[Colin Cowherd]

Let's see. Kyle, how'd you do? How'd you do?

[Unknown Host]

I get to strike.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's messed up.

[Unknown Host]

That's messed up.

[Colin Cowherd]

Hey, hey. You take him any way you can. Get them, boys.

[Unknown Host]

There we go. There you go. Cal, one for one. I have confidence in you.

So Colin, ABS four for five last night. Let me look at it from two standpoints. Number one. This is awesome. It feels interactive, right? Like when you go to a museum and you're able to do stuff. Okay, but if you're an umpire, you gotta hate this, right? You cannot like this. I mean, you look like a missing this. And there was one at the very last pitch of the game, I believe that forced the Home Run Derby. I just wonder how long umpires are going to be around after this is. I would call this a success last night.

Well, we may have robots behind the plate soon enough. Anyway, I'm, I'm impressed by how look at the players reaction to it. Like it's, it's, it's a little bit like unveiling. You know, there used to be that game show behind door number three. We all waited for it. Let's Make a Deal. And it's got a little bit of a let's make a call to it. Like you kind of sit there and everybody's kind of waiting. I'm impressed by how fast they can activate it. It's over in 30 seconds. My first take was. I mean, I've watched college football games the replay literally stops momentum of a great play. Like it stops the game. And so like I'm impressed by how quickly, how actionable that you get an answer. It kind of blows me away.

NFL and NBA replay can take like literally 90 seconds, 2 minutes, 3 minutes. And they're looking at it from 50 angles. And it's very clear this was done in a heartbeat. I mean baseball has really, they, they, they're going to have to make football and, and basketball level up pretty quickly on this stuff.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right.

[Unknown Host]

I agree with.

Yeah. All right, let's go to the next story. And we teased it earlier in the show, but there's now a list of the top 10 wide receivers in the NFL. This is according to executives, coaches and scouts. Jamar Chase was number one. I don't think there could be major quiver with that. Justin Jefferson checked in at 2. Again, I don't think anybody could argue. What's interesting is rounding out the top five they had Tyreek Hill, number three, CeeDee Lamb, 4. AJ Brown, 5. Your guy Amon Ra St Brown at 6, Nopuka Nakua in the top 10. I'm sure you have issue with that. Garrett Wilson, my guy of the jets checking in at 10. I thought Malik Neighbors was a little high. You can clearly see that he has a ton of talent. If he ever gets a quarterback, look out. But your take on the, the list?

Yeah, I'd have Pukinaku in there somewhere.

You got to boot somebody. We're not doing this Internet thing or.

You go to have him in.

Who are you taking out of the top 10.

A little harder than probably Garrett Wilson. Sorry, I, I think A.J. brown, I take A.J. brown over Tyreek Hill.

So a lot of people say he doesn't have the statistical profile to be anywhere near the top five because he doesn't have a target share.

Well, yeah.

[Danielle Robaix]

A.J.

[Unknown Host]

Brown played for Tennessee with Derrick Henry run first team and then he goes to Philadelphia. Saquon Barkley Last year run first team. They only threw the ball 24 times a game. And so I mean I, I look at AJ Brown as. He just hasn't had the environment. I mean go look at Randy Moss's career. He was always talented. He plays with Tom Brady, he's in 50 point games. Like AJ Brown played for Run Centric Tennessee with Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry. And then and it was kind of a physical Mike Frable team run first and then he goes to a Philadelphia team which Jaylen hurts. They literally after the five week, fifth week by said we're Going to throw the ball less so in. AJ Brown's always been like, a little. You can tell with the book on the sideline, He's a little miffed by the fact they don't use him enough. But I would put AJ Brown third if I had to make a vote.

Oh, third.

Wow. Okay.

Interesting. A lot of people were saying he should be lower. I will say when he was in Tennessee, they were the number one seed in the AFC and he was a beast. Then he goes to the Eagles and they're in two Super Bowls. Obviously, there's a lot of players that factor in. I think A.J. brown is elite. I have no issue with that. My thing is Tyreek Hill. Colin, like, if you're picking guys, I don't know that he's top five. For me, yes, the skill is there and the speed, but there's so much other nonsense that goes with this guy that doesn't that have to factor in?

Yeah, I mean, by the way, Pukinakua. No nonsense. PFF had Puka Nuku as their number one receiver last year and he doesn't.

Even have the top 10 according to executives.

Garrett Wilson or Pukinakua? No. GMs.

Take Garrett again, I'm not gonna let you slander my guy, but Garrett Wilson has had, you know, half a leg. Aaron Rodgers, Zach Wilson isn't anybody. You give him Matt Stafford and Garrett Wilson might be top six on this list. I don't know.

Okay, sure.

You bet. Whatever.

All right, final story. Kirby Smart. Colin. He was at SEC media days yesterday and, you know, talked about the new influx of NIL money and how it's really changed some players, making it harder to recruit guys and achieve team goals. He's got some points here.

There's people more in college football today, especially in the sec, that are comfortable with where they are. This is a pretty good life. I'm earning 200k a year. I'm very comfortable. And you don't reach your goals, being comfortable. What you see now is like, where's the drive and energy and enthusiasm? Well, we want people that have it. We're going to seek it, we're going to try to go find it. And if we can just do that, 1% better than everybody else gives us an opportunity to be ahead. Well, I think that's every industry in America. A lot of people are. I don't think that's a fair criticism of players. I think that's everybody in America. Not everybody is aspirational. Not everybody. My daughter is a really smart kid, but she's like, dad, I don't want to own a business. I don't want the stress of owning a business. She's just not interested. My son's the opposite. So the idea, the truth is for some of these players, let's be honest, players know, I mean, you go to Georgia and you're a wide receiver and you're facing NFL guys in the secondary and at safety and you're not getting open. You can figure out pretty quickly, I can't beat my guys at Georgia in coverage. I'm probably not an NFL guy, but I can make $175,000 playing at Georgia. This is top of the food chain. You're probably comfortable. I think so. I, I don't know if Kirby was criticizing him, but what he's basically saying that every industry in America is like that. Not everybody wants to put in 70 hours a week. And a lot of people get comfortable.

Yeah, this is a tough one because let's be real, like, do you want a 10 year future in the NFL or short shelf life, injuries, blah, blah, blah, or do you want to say, I'm going to use football as a tool to get me a degree and oh, by the way, I'm making $200,000 a year on the football team? Like, I think that's probably the smart move. Come on, let's be real, you know, NFL shelf life, it's NFL, not for long. You know, some of these guys, I know Kirby's kind of dinging them here, but I think it's smart business. Can you imagine if you got out of College having made $200,000 a year? That's a nest egg to start a business. If you wanted to move wherever you want to work remotely, travel like, I think it's really smart of these guys to get comfortable making that money. Maybe they don't all want the NFL.

Well, it's also a responsibility of the university to be prepared. And I am for players getting paid. I am for the transfer portal. But I am a believer that LSU and USC and Colorado jumped into that swimming pool head first and they've all underachieved. I mean, Colorado got better, but a lot of that's been a little bit of hype is. I would use great describe. I mean, Georgia, the state of Georgia. You could just recruit the state of Georgia in Florida and that's it. And you could have a team. So I contend you should still 75 to 80% of your players should be high school players. Yeah, that's what Notre Dame's doing. And Notre Dame hasn't been this good in 10 years.

Wait a minute. But then we saw what TCU a couple years ago where they had like half the starting lineup was transfer portal guys and they make a run to the playoffs. And then I think we saw that.

Last year, you know, but Indiana was a fraud. It's not sustainable.

They made the playoffs. Well, if you're a coach, that's awesome.

And then we're humiliated. I mean, great, but there's a, there's a ceiling and a lack of sustainability on bringing in 17 to 24 players a year from the, from the portal.

I'm telling you right now, this will happen this year. Texas Tech will be a juggernaut. They will be awesome in the Big 12. They will put up great numbers and a record and they'll probably make the playoffs. And other coaches are going to miss the playoffs, okay? And their boosters are going to say, hey, how the hell is Texas Tech?

[Colin Cowherd]

Where are you?

[Unknown Host]

Why aren't you there? And you're.

If you put, if you put Texas Tech in the SEC and you put Texas Tech in the Big ten, they wouldn't. Because after a one game losing streak, all the I gotta get mine portal guys would. The chemistry because Texas Tech has talent. You cannot bring in 35 new guys, pay them all. Half the roster makes nothing. Half the roster is rich and think we gotta have great chemistry. If you're winning in the crappy Big 12, then it's great. The minute you go to, you're not gonna lose any games in the Big 12. You put them in the SEC or the Big 10 and they go to Georgia and get rolled and everybody's finger pointing on the flight back. And then you play the next week, you go to LS and get rolled again and the whole locker room implodes.

That's too many ifs, Colin. Again, look at the boosters. They are going to look at some of these programs coming out of nowhere with 20 transfer portal guys and say, why aren't we there? And they're going to want to go to their coach and the coach is going to get on the hot seat for not getting there. I, I'm just telling you it's a weird time. I love it personally. And what, what's the saying? If, if you don't have a plan, plan to fail. And we've seen that at Clemson with your guy Dabo. He said, we don't need this portal. And guess what? They're not reaching the highs they should. Everyone else around them is leveling up. Correct?

Well, they'll be in the national championship discussion. This is. They've got a. They have maybe, I think they have the second or third best quarterback. They have 16 returning starters. Clemson's got a weak schedule out. They've got a game against, I think LSU early. They have to go face Belichick in Carolina. But Clemson's gonna win 10 plus games. They're gonna be in the playoff, I guarantee you. You guarantee Clemson is? Oh, absolutely. They're making the play.

We make that.

Absolutely.

The social media team. Get that Clemson guaranteed in the play.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Unknown Host]

That's bold.

In the acc.

J. Mack with the news.

Well, that's the news and thanks for.

Stopping by the Herd lie news. By the way, Bradley Beal, who was it just didn't work in Phoenix, has agreed to a contract buyout. The Sun's bought him out. He's going to go play for the Clippers. So James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Bradley Beal, I don't know.

Wait a minute. He's going to the Clippers for sure.

Yeah, that's what it says here.

Oh, no. That's a huge loss for the Clippers are better than the Lakers right now.

You think Bradley Beal makes that big of a difference?

Bradley Beal, James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, Zubak. They got a good bench.

Yeah, that just screams great in May and June.

Well, isn't that what you want to be great?

Bradley Beal and Phoenix. It was a disaster. He couldn't stay healthy. It was a disaster. They were garbage.

They recycled their coaches.

I don't, I don't have to read into it. It slapped me in the face for two years. It was a disaster.

I can't believe.

He's definitely nothing subtle or nuanced about Bradley Beals. Phoenix, stay. It was awful.

But reminder, Bradley Beal at 50 million a year with the Suns ain't great. Bradley Beal at $5 million a year for the Clippers might be one of the best deals in the league. Colin, how did LeBron not recruit him?

Just ask yourself, does this sound like a championship team? James Harden. Because in championship team you have to be available and good in May and June. Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Bradley Beal.

[Colin Cowherd]

Really?

[Unknown Host]

If I had told you a year ago, Colin, does this sound like a NBA Finals team? Tyrese Halliburton, Pascal Siakam and Andrew Nemhard, they went to game seven of the Finals.

You know what I would have said? Yeah, they do, actually, because they made the Eastern Conference finals last two years ago. So I would have said in the awful East. Yeah, I would have said they're. They're a viable finals we. By the way, you picked him to beat Cleveland and the Knicks.

I liked them, but again, I said a year ago, like now this time you're saying. I'm just telling you the Clippers are probably the second or third best team in the west with this Beal edition. No, you're not buying Beal. Oh, my gosh.

Okay. All right.

$5 million a year for a starting shooting guard.

He has not played over 60 games in six years.

Yeah, that's an issue. Health and availability is an issue, but it's like Denver, Houston, Paperclips and then okc.

Damn.

The Lakers are so.

You got Kawhi Leonard, Bradley Beal, coin flip if they're available on any given night. And James Harden, who's going to make the hall of Fame. But have you ever trusted him in May.

What about your guy, Tyron Lou? I know coaches on that staff. They are probably doing cartwheels right now. That they stole Bradley Beal. How did LeBron and Luca not be like, bro, come to the Lakers. What a disaster. Oh, my gosh. Rob Pelinka put him on the hot seat.

The hell yeah. I can't believe. Did your TV go out? Did you not get Suns games? Did your NBA pass not shot like 49, blackout issue or something?

Bradley Bill had a good. He's not the reason the Suns were a dumpster fire.

Listen, just because you get a deal on a used car doesn't make it a new car. It's still a used car. I bought. I bought a 1978 Fiat for 180 bucks. It's a 1978 Fiat. It's not getting younger.

You sound like he drives new cars. Give me a good used car. The millionaire next door, baby. Jeez, what a steal that is for the Clippers.

The Clippers? Let me check this out. Yeah, they were the oldest team in the league last season.

Okay, Bradley's not something.

You're taking the Golden Girls and saying, let's add Charleston Heston or something like, yeah, get a little younger. The league's getting younger.

[Colin Cowherd]

Wait a second.

[Unknown Host]

They just got older girls. That's classic. Oh, but you 70s baseball, Charlton Heston Golden Girls.

So time out. They. They didn't they just move Norman Powell?

Yeah, they lost. Norman Powell got off his contract.

So I don't have Norman Powell, but I've got Bradley Beal.

Is that a downgrade?

Norman Powell's pretty good player. He's a good player and he by the way, he's he plays.

By the way, the Clippers didn't they push Denver to seven games in the opening round? I'm pretty sure they did. Your boy Jokic could barely get by these beat up Clippers.

I think you you kind of glazed over the in the first round.

Wow.

This is a big one. A series in the first round.

Are you? Wait a minute. Two years $11 million for Bradley Beal, a three time all star who's probably going to shoot 40% from threes.

Norman Powell shot 42% from threes last year. Contract year younger and healthier, better defender, more available.

He was good. No denying it.

All right, it's the Herd. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd. Weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific Tired.

Of spills and stains on your sofa? WashablesOfAs.com has your back Featuring the Annabe Collection, the only designer sofa that's machine washable inside and out. Where designer quality meets budget friendly prices. That's right, sofas started just $699. Enjoy a no risk experience with pet friendly stain resistant and changeable slipcovers made with performance fabrics. Experience cloud like comfort with high resilience foam that's hypoallergenic and never needs fluffing. The sturdy steel frame ensures longevity and the modular pieces can be rearranged anytime. Check out washablesofas.com and get up to 60% off your annabe sofa backed by a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. If you're not absolutely in love, send it back for a full refund. No return shipping or restocking fees. Every penny back. Upgrade [e-mail] Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

Interested in investing in Bitcoin but not sure how to get started? Well, with the Gemini Credit card you can dip your toes into Bitcoin without even trying. Just spend like you normally do groceries, gas or a night out and instantly earn up to 4% back in Bitcoin or one of over 50 other cryptos straight to your account with no annual fee. The Gemini Credit Card is pretty much a no brainer. And right now you can grab a 200 bitcoin intro bonus. So go to gemini.com card to learn more and start earning today. Terms apply.

Again.

Go to gemini.com card start building your Bitcoin stash now. Terms apply. The Gemini Credit Card is issued by Web bank. In order to qualify for the intro $200 crypto bonus, your application must be approved by June 30th, 2025 and spend $3,000 in your first 90 days. Terms apply Some exclusions apply to instant rewards, in which rewards are deposited when the transaction posts this content is not investment advice and trading Crypto involves risk for more details on rates, fees and other Gemini credit card terms, see Rates and Fees. Hey, so we all make mistakes, but owning up to them is the right thing to do. So you know Degree Cool Rush deodorant, right? Well, changed the formula and it did not go over well with their fans.

So Degree's whole thing is it turns.

Up the sweat and odor protection when you turn up the effort.

And good thing it does, because Cool.

Rush fans really turned up the effort to bring the original formula back. One guy even started an online petition and Degree listened.

They admitted they effed up.

They're bringing back the original Cool Rush scent.

They're bringing it back and it's exactly.

How you remember it. Cool, crisp and fresh. It's back in Walmart, Target and other stores now for under $4.

There's a reason it's been the number.

One men's antiperspirant for the last decade. It's the same reason why people were not happy when it changed. So if you've never tried it, it might be a good time to see.

What the fuss is about.

Head to your local Walmart Target and try the OG Degree Cool Rush for yourself. Hey everybody, you've heard me talk about Green River Whiskey, the official whiskey of the Herd podcast.

And if you know anything about me.

I love a good metaphor. So the team at Green river challenged me to come up with a perfect metaphor to describe their incredible bourbon and rye whiskeys. And with the playoffs upon us, the answer is clear. Green River Whiskey is like a big playoff win by your favorite team, always sure to raise your spirits. So pair the thrills of this playoff season with Green River Whiskey. And with four core products in their starting lineup, there's something to suit any taste. To find Green river near you, head on over to greenriverwhisky.com here's the green River Whiskey Raise your spirits A product of Green River Distilling Company, Owensboro, Kentucky.

Alcohol by volume varies by product.

Greenriverwhiskey.com, please drink responsibly.

Sunday on Fox the IndyCar series hits the streets of Toronto, where the fastest man on earth, Alex Palo, looks to continue his season for the ages. Sunday noon Eastern only on Fox.

So it's been SEC media days. We've been talking about the nil as I can like something, but be careful. You know, I like ice cream. You know, I don't want it for breakfast. I like the nil. I'd be very careful about just adding a bunch of transfer portal players. Steve Sarkeesian at Texas. Texas is the most well funded program right now in the country. They got more money than anybody. I remember before when Texas was approved to go to the sec, I remember saying on the air, I was at Fox, I said, they are going to change that conference. And Nick Saban, remember Nick Saban started complaining about. He was very vague, but he started complaining about nil. He saw it coming. Is it Alabama money? Alabama's economy is not Texas's economy. Go look up their GDP's gross domestic product. There's a lot more money in Texas than Bama. And Nick Saban saw it and got out. Remember when Urban Meyer left Florida and all the Bama fans were like, oh, he's afraid. He's afraid of Nick Saban. Nick Saban was afraid of what he saw at Texas. I remember one of Saban's last years when Bama faced Texas and I remember watching the game and thinking, oh, Texas has much bigger, stronger, faster players. Well, Nick Saban saw that and he got into broadcasting. He saw it coming. So here's Sark on nil. One of the first things we do, we don't talk about nil. We don't talk about nil or revenue sharing or publicity rights until the very end. And that may hurt us on some kids, but if a kid is coming to Texas for that reason, we don't want them anyway. So I think you got about five or six teams. Here's my national championship bubble. I think Bama, Clemson and Notre Dame are really close. I like Clemson's coach and quarterback. Listen, Penn State, let's, let's talk Penn State. I think Penn State and Texas are going to play for the national championship. I think Penn State, first of all, they went and post Ohio State's defensive coordinator. So Jim Knowles from Ohio State. So they're going to. Their coaching staff, their coordinator staff is world class. I think Drew Aller is going to be the second best quarterback in the country to Arch Manning Singleton, the running back. The running backs are both pros. So I think Penn State's offense is going to be a machine. So I think they play for the national championship. Drew Aller is a guy that. He improved his accuracy. I didn't like him two years ago. I watched him last year and I was like, oh yeah, that's a top. That's a top 10 pick in the draft. I think a Texas has improved every year under Steve Sarkeesian. Arch Manning takes over at quarterback. They listen, they. They've got five star recruits. Does Texas at eight different positions. It's a star studded roster. I think Arch Manning is really good. So I think he's the one quarterback that will absolutely go ahead of Drew Allergies. So I have Texas and Penn State. I also. I'll put Ohio State in there. They have Julian Saying is a quarterback, California kid, five star recruit. I haven't seen him play. But they have the best offensive player in the country. The Buckeyes do. And Jeremiah Smith. And I think they have the best defensive player in the country, Caleb Downs. I think Caleb Downs would have gone number one or two last year as a sophomore. I think he's just unbelievable. And they just, they recruit. I mean Ryan Day. The critics, the wolves are off him now because of the natty win. I also think Jor Georgia can win the championship. I don't know a ton about Gunner Stockton the quarterback, but it's a factory. Kirby Smart's a great coach. They've played. I mean they blew out Texas twice last year. So I just have so much respect for the quality of athletes. The state of Georgia high school and Florida produce. I would put Georgia in the national championship contention. I mean they, they kind of humiliated Texas twice and I think Oregon is in it. Dante Moore was a quarterback at ucla. He transferred. He's a. He was a Michigan high school phenom. I think he's really good. I think Dan Lanning's been an absolute home run as a coach. Lanning is better than I thought. I mean he came from Georgia. He was a defensive guy. I'm like really? I mean he was on Kirby Smart staff. How much coaching did he do? It was Kirby Smarts defense. He has been an absolute home run. They've got a great linebacking core. Probably the best linebacking core arguably in college football. A couple all American candidates. Great back end in the secondary. So he's got. They've got a great back seven. And then I would put just outside Bama again. Bama is really good. They got a receiver, Ryan Williams. That's insane. And Kalyn DeBoer is a great coach. I don't know much about Ty Simpson the quarterback. He's been sitting on the bench for three years. I just don't know what they are at quarterback. Calyn Deborah is a really good quarterback coach. So I'm kind of guessing there. Notre Dame has a quarterback battle. I love their roster and coaching staff but again, I don't know what they are at quarterback. Clemson. I know the quarterback 16 starters but they haven't played in the portal at all and I just wonder if you put them up against Penn State, Ohio State, Georgia, Texas. Does Clemson have the athletes to win a national can can compete against those guys. ACC is so bad it's hard to tell but I think there are five teams that I just have more answers than questions. I like Notre Dame and Bama a lot but I just I got to see their quarterback play because you know, Riley Leonard locked a lot like Josh Allen to me. So a little bit of a drop off in quarterback play for the Fighting Irish. Albert brewers around the corner. Bradley Beal got Bradley Beal was quarterback in Notre Dame 170 okay, have you heard about this?

Last year Degree changed the formula for their Cool Rush deodorant and their fans rebelled and wanted the old scent back.

And degree listened.

That doesn't happen often. They admitted they effed up and they're bringing back the original Cool Rush scent. They're bringing it back and it's exactly how you remember it. Cool, crisp and fresh. There's a reason it's the number one men's antiperspirant and it's back in Walmart, Target and other stores now for under four bucks. So try and see what the fuss is about. Head to your local Walmart or Target to try the OG Degree Cool Rush for yourself.

[Danielle Robaix]

Just like great shoes, great books take you places through unforgettable love stories and into conversations with characters you'll never forget.

[Unknown Host]

I think any good romance, it gives me this feeling of like butterflies.

[Danielle Robaix]

I'm Danielle Robaix and this is bookmarked by Reese's Book Club. The new podcast from hello Sunshine and I Heart Podcast where we dive into the stories that shape us on the page and off. Each week I'm joined by authors, celebs, book talk stars, and more for conversations that will make you laugh, cry and add way too many books to your TBR pile. Listen to Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club on the iHeartRadio app. Apple Podcasts are wherever you get your podcasts.

[Unknown Host]

So what happened at Chappaquiddick? Well, it really depends on who you talk to.

There are many versions of what happened in 1969 when a young Ted Kennedy drove a car into a pond and.

Left a woman behind to drown.

Chappaquiddick is a story of a tragic death and how the Kennedy machine took control. Every week we go behind the headlines and beyond the drama of America's royal family.

Listen to United States of Kennedy on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Bob Crawford]

I'm Bob Crawford, host of American History Hotline, a different type of podcast. You, the listener, ask the questions.

[Unknown Host]

Did George Washington really cut down a cherry tree? Were JFK and Marilyn Monroe having an affair?

[Bob Crawford]

And I find the answers. I'm so glad you asked me this question.

[Unknown Host]

This is such a ridiculous story.

[Bob Crawford]

You can listen to American History Hotline on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

This is an iHeart podcast.