LaVar Arrington (2:57)

Now let's get this party started.

Sports Host (2:58)

You're listening to Fox Sports.

LaVar Arrington (3:00)

Rad.

Sports Host (3:11)

Better watch what you say.

LaVar Arrington (3:16)

You gotta make good decisions.

Sports Host (3:18)

It is the Herd, Fox Sports Radio. Levar Arrington, Jonas Knox in for Colin. You can listen to this show as always on the iHeartRadio app and you can find us on hundreds of affiliates all across the country as we take you all the way up until noon Eastern time or excuse me, at 3 o' clock Eastern Time, noon Pacific here on FSR. So we opened up the show talking about the feel good moment in Los Angeles with Clayton Kershaw getting Strikeout 3000 and then the reality of waking up and realizing you're also probably a Laker fan, which sucks, but again, you know, is what it is. That being said, we now turn over to somebody else in the world of football who knows a thing or two about dysfunction. That would be none other than Nebraska head coach Matt Rule, your former teammate at Penn State. La Bar. You guys, yeah, you guys are real nice to him in practice.

LaVar Arrington (4:14)

I'm sure we had a good time with Matt. Matt was a special teams guy. He was a special situations person. Yeah, super, super intelligent football player. Again, I, I credit him with a lot of things that I learned as a freshman. How, you know, I knew how to study film to a certain degree, I knew how to take notes to a certain degree. In high school I had pretty good program I had came from. But when I got to college, I realized very quickly how much of the educational part of football was involved in terms of the studying, being able to know what to look for, you know, being able to break down what it is that, that the offense is doing and how you need to apply that to you and your information and your notes. Matt, Matt Rule did an excellent job of sitting with me and us learning that, you know, my freshman year there was his last year there, but turns out it translated into him being a really, really fine football coach as well through, through the year.

Sports Host (5:15)

So he was talking with Greg McElroy on the always College Football Podcast and he says that the experience in probably makes him more ready for what the new experience of college football is like.

Podcast Announcer (5:30)

I think the Biggest thing you learn when you're in the NFL is really valuation. You know, like before college football was like, yeah, I think he's a player. Let's offer him, let's take him. You get to the NFL, they're all good players.

LaVar Arrington (5:41)

You know, it's just, hey, what's the.

Podcast Announcer (5:44)

Financial value we're willing to put on this person and put on this position?

LaVar Arrington (5:49)

And every year in the NFL, you go to free agency and you see.

Podcast Announcer (5:52)

Teams walking away from illegal players because of their contract situation.

Sports Host (5:57)

So that was Matt Rule talking about the contractual similarities now, all of a sudden, between the NFL and in college football. And it is. It does. I do wonder if him having that time there in the league makes him more ready for it from that standpoint to where it's now not just your typical, well, do you want to go recruiting now? The money aspect being brought into it, maybe it makes those conversations and how he evaluates players and what they can and can' maybe it makes that a little bit more, I guess, a little bit more accustomed to him. Just based on that time he had in Carolina, in the NFL, I mean.

LaVar Arrington (6:34)

I would assume that that would be the reason why Bill Belichick went, went to North Carolina, is that we are stepping into a brave new world of what the NFL represents. I mean, excuse me, what college football represents. And you do have to figure out what the value is on the position, you know, on the skill level, on the influence. There are a lot of elements that are now in play. I would say it's. It's a. Probably a little bit more complex and a little bit more complicated than just looking at it from the scope of what, what happens in the NFL, other than you having to figure out how much to pay and, and evaluating based off of what the pay would be versus evaluating. If I want to give this guy a scholarship, if you. If we want him to play on the, the. The field as a starter in one of the offensive or defensive groups versus special teams, it's just very different. I think the reason why it would be more complex, Jonas, is from the standpoint of the transfer portal, is what really, to me makes it very interesting. We just had the conversation, too, not too long ago, not too long ago about the suing. Now we had one university sue another university based upon taking. Was in Miami, took a player from Wisconsin. Wisconsin, okay. They felt like the player owed them whatever it is he owed them based off of the contract that he signed. So until elements like that get cleared up, where the legalities of what's taking place at the college level and how that works and who you're, you know, I bet, I guess basically who your rights belong to. Now, yes, you do have an advantage over most likely college coaches because they don't understand most likely, you know, salary caps and free agency and how that all works. But there's still a learning curve that's there because of the lack of, of structure and the lack of established rules on what the engagements are, what's a do, what's a, don't you know, what's breaking the rule, what isn't. There is a lot of gray area that still exists at the college level. And I think that it makes it very difficult for coaches and administrators like athletic directors. You know, you're talking about $20 million, I believe that they get yearly. But that's for all sports. It's not just for one sport. So now you got to figure out a salary cap, but you got to figure out what that salary cap represents for all of your sports. I think Penn State has like something like 800 plus student athletes in their school. So there's a lot that has to be figured out. But now you start to break it down by sport and obviously you're at, you're hiring gms, you're, you're hiring head of staffs that, that are now, you're now structuring the football programs more like pro teams. And I would say that's probably where Matt Rule is probably talking about outside of just evaluation, having maybe somewhat of a, an in terms of how he runs his team.

Sports Host (9:48)

And I would also say based on his time in the NFL with Carolina, at least he's got a pretty good example of how not to do things because that place was a complete clown show. And what he went through at Carolina or where he, David Tepper brings him in. There was some interest from the Giants. Matt Rule gets a seven year deal from the Panthers. Then all of a sudden all the conversations, the whispers start to, you start up. The David Tepper is getting involved. He's meddling into things he's wanting. And Matt Rule even said before the season, before he was fired, listen, I signed a seven year deal. I was told by David, basically put David Tepper on blast. Like, hey, I was told by the owner that I'm going to be given a significant amount of time to get this thing sorted out. I'm working with that understanding going into all this. And then, you know, however long it was later, then he was gone. I wonder if Matt Rule goes back to college with a better Understanding of the salary cap, the structure, but also a better understanding of whatever I do. I don't want it to turn into what I came from in the NFL. Like, he's got, he's got to be. I would imagine he draws from that experience of exhibit A, how things could go sideways if you let it get out of control above you.

LaVar Arrington (11:09)

Well, you know what's interesting, interesting point to that is, is that when it's the pros, people have no problem doing coverage and scrutinizing the dysfunction of ownership or of the front office. It almost seems as though that's what's going to eventually take shape and take hold at the college level.

Sports Host (11:31)

Probably. Yeah.

LaVar Arrington (11:31)

You've never really heard, like, oh, the dysfunction of the president of the university, the AD of the university, or all those different things. So you'd have to assume in this brave new world of N and how things are being handled at the college level, that if you're dealing with a dysfunctional organization, university front office, ads, administrators, whatever it may be, if you're dealing with that type of dysfunction, I wonder, will that become prevalent and will that create more pressure on the universities and how they're not only hiring their athletic directors, but ultimately how they're hiring the presidents and the people that administratively are running the school?

Sports Host (12:13)

It's all, it's almost like now that money, money's involved, oh, open season on everybody. Oh, like now, now that we know that people are getting paid, players admitted, now that we know all of that, everybody's going to be held to the same standard that you've seen from a professional level.

LaVar Arrington (12:29)

You could play that. This is an academic institution game all you want. You're going to find your academic institution ass out on the street looking for a job. You got to figure it out because that is, that has been the cash cow for these universities for many, many moons. And if you mess that up now because you don't. You know, it's always been really easy to minimize. Even like when I play for Joe Paterno. Joe minimized athletics, he minimized athletes because it was more about being a student. It was more about education. It's like, ah, who cares? We play the game, we win the.

Sports Host (13:10)

Game, we lose the game.

LaVar Arrington (13:12)

But they got class on Monday. They, they gotta turn in their, their papers, like they gotta get good grades. Like it was always about academics.

Sports Host (13:24)

What if you made a mistake? Get him out of there.

LaVar Arrington (13:27)

Hey, hey, I put you on the bus that I brought you here on. Get him out of here anyway. But, but here's my Point, the point is, is that you cannot hide behind the, the moniker of this is a place in an institution of higher learning and education. You can't hide behind it. You certainly have to have it. The prestige of going to a fine college in an institution of learning, higher learning is very attractive. But make no mistake about it, you will not be any, in any position as a head of school, president of the school board of trustees, whatever it is. You are not in a place where you can minimize athletics and try to suppress what athletics represents to what the, the, the earning capacity of what it represents to the university and in some cases to the state. You can't minimize it now because it is now being turned into a, a very, very pro like approach. And now people are going to be in a very, very quick rush, a quick movement to try to figure out what the solutions are, what are, what are even the, the, the positions, the appointment of new jobs that have to be created in order to be able to handle this. You're going to have to have capologists, you're going to have to have GMs, you're going to have to, you're going to have to have scouts like, and they already have scouts.

Podcast Announcer (14:59)

Mike.

Sports Host (14:59)

Michael Bardi's, Michael Lombardi's, Belichick's, gm.

LaVar Arrington (15:04)

College. There's a lot there. There's a lot. There is a lot here. And hearing what Matt Rule has to say, it's just the tip of the iceberg in terms of all of the conversations that are going to continue to come up and become like what. What are the main topics of conversations as it applies to this new world of what sports represent at the college level?

Sports Host (15:30)

Do you mean to tell me as we sit here right now on the 3rd of July, 2025 that the term student athlete no longer means the same thing?

LaVar Arrington (15:42)

No, it doesn't. It doesn't because you don't have to. Everybody that, that understands going to college and playing the game, that was a, that was a politically correct way of expressing what you were as a scholarship player. You had to say it. I am a student athlete. And, and while it is still not a pay for play model in, in college, it is still not pay for play, the one term that they have to get used to and it's going to have to be embraced and it's going to lead to a whole lot of different things. Organizing unions and having union reps and, and maybe it leads to collective bargaining agreements and all kinds of stuff like that is employee is employee and that's what's Going to be interesting. How quickly does the, the college level get to the place of where it is comfortable saying that these are employees, meaning if they are employees, you're talking about retirement, you're talking about insurance. You're taught all the things that come along with being employee they are going to have to figure for and they're going to have to have the resources and the funds to put towards those things. Once it becomes a real thing that college athletes are not student athletes, just student athletes. They are students, they are athletes and they are employees. Once you get those three put together and the understanding of that is real, real, real realized. Realized. Yeah, I speak for. Once the, the realization of that comes to fruition, there is going to be so many people, lawyers, you know, financial planners, you name it. There's going to be so there's even private, private family offices, investors, major investors. They are now looking at the college space the same way that they are looking at the pro space. There are people that are actually trying to purchase the rights of the school. It's outside of the Lear fields and the play flies and stuff like that. There are actually private equity groups that are trying to purchase schools. In other words, what it is that the sports represents, they're trying to purchase the rights to that so that they can use that as a place to place their money. This is a very deep rabbit hole that has been created. And I don't see the bottom of it. I don't see the bottom of it just yet. It's still just black. It's just darkness. You don't see the bottom like, oh, there's the floor of this nil. There's the floor of this new, new college, college world. You don't see it yet. There's still so much more to be defined. I mean, what does that look like for liability? You know, what type of lawsuits are going to come from, you know, the athletes that are playing, like, what type of rights do they have? How does this impact Title nine, like with women's involvement and them having fair opportunity to be treated equally? How do all of these things happen? Do you stay with the ncaa? How strong does the NCAA stay? There are a lot of different conversations, a lot of different lanes, a lot of different roads where all of these things have to be discussed and have to be flushed out and, and established and it isn't going to be anytime soon. And these athletes are tasked with trying to navigate it as athletes to a new space. And so are the coaches and so are the administrators of these schools.

Sports Host (19:21)

It's The Herd here, fox Sports Radio. LaVar Arrington, Jonas Knox in for Colin coming up next here on the show. Could we be on the brink of a major trade in the NFL? We'll get the answers to that for you right here on FSR.

Commercial Announcer (19:37)

One more herd the herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the iHeartRadio app. Search herd to listen live or on.

LaVar Arrington (19:44)

Demand whenever you'd like.

Sports Host (19:46)

Hi, this is Jay. I'm the producer of the Paulie and Tony Fusco Show. Usually in these promos they ask you to listen to the show. I'm here to ask you please don't.

Podcast Announcer (19:54)

Listen to the show.

Sports Host (19:55)

The hosts are two absolute morons who have the dumbest takes on sports imaginable. Don't listen to this show so it can get canceled.

Podcast Announcer (20:01)

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

LaVar Arrington (20:02)

What the hell are you doing in our studio?

Sports Host (20:03)

Get him, Paulie. Ignore that fool. Listen to the Pauli and Tony Fusco show on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast.

LaVar Arrington (20:13)

He's still moving.

Commercial Announcer (20:16)

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Sports Host (24:06)

It's the herd. Fox Sports Radio. Levar Arrington, Jonas Knox in for Colin. Coming up here a little over 20 minutes from now. We've got ourselves another scandal in the world of sports. Just what we needed, exactly what we needed to get us through. That'll be yours here again a little over 20 minutes from now on the herd. Right now, though, we welcome in Albert Breer, Amazon NFL on Prime Insider, senior NFL reporter, lead content strategist at the mmqb. Get him on X at Albert Brear and apparently live on the set of Jaws ab. What's happening?

Podcast Announcer (24:40)

Yeah, so anybody knows the beaches up here? We've had shark issues over the last decade or so. So, yeah, I was going to be with you guys live from my, my kids surf lesson that got canceled because there was a SIM sighting at the beach he was going to do it at. Now we're at another beach and hopefully my service holds up. So what?

Sports Host (24:57)

So there's just sharks swimming around. It's, it's great.

LaVar Arrington (25:01)

It's great white. Yeah.

Podcast Announcer (25:02)

Actually, I was actually just explaining this to Lee. It's actually really interesting. It's like 30 or 40 years ago. I can't remember when it was, but there was like the Marine Wildlife Protection act. Right. This is like the 80s or 90s. And you know what, that obviously I did a lot of good, but it also created the explosion of certain populations. So there was an explosion in the population of seals. And where the seals go, the sharks go to eat. And so the seals got pushed closer and closer to the shore. And so now the sharks are basically along the shore in New England. And so I'm talking like it's not just sand sharks. It's like bull sharks, like great whites aren't very far from the shore. They're all over the place up here. So you gotta be really careful or.

LaVar Arrington (25:49)

Just don't go in the water at all. I mean, that's just, I've always, I like the sand.

Podcast Announcer (25:55)

I love going in the water. Right. I love going in the water. But I'm also like one of these guys who's like, I mean, I feel this way, like this, like this in the woods too, to some degree. I'm like, that's their turf. Like, so you better respect it. You know what I mean? Yeah. Like, I don't want to run into a bear in the woods.

LaVar Arrington (26:13)

Come face to face with a bear before twice.

Podcast Announcer (26:15)

So I'm not doing any dumb cowboy stuff. I'm out there.

LaVar Arrington (26:19)

That's.

Sports Host (26:19)

Yeah.

LaVar Arrington (26:20)

I appreciate you being smart, that is good. Speaking of being smart, can I ask you this? I've been hearing this rumor swirling around, circulating around, curious if you've heard it because I took a whole entire segment talking about it in our one, the possibilities of a trade between the Commanders and the Steelers. Um, T.J. watt, obviously going to the commanders, they would be able to shore up and, and make their defensive front a super formidable defensive front, but it would cost them the Services of Terry McLaurin and if they were to do that, and I, I, I believe that there were were draft, draft capital draft picks involved with the trade as well, going from, from the Commanders to the Steelers. And if that were the case, my contention is why not do it? If you feel as though you're to the point now where getting rid of T.J. watt a year early is better than getting rid of T.J. watt a year late after a contract. And if we're going with a one and done with Aaron Rodgers, why not add a player that actually definitively says you've made your offense better with your offseason moves versus you? It's a swap out. You know, Pickens, DK Metcalf, take your choice. Maybe one makes you better, one doesn't. But if you add McLaren to that, you have certainly given him an arsenal of weapons to be able to have success.

Podcast Announcer (27:48)

It's a, it's a fascinating idea, Lavar, and I don't mind the idea of it, you know, I think in large part because it does kind of fit in with what the, with what? With, with, with what the Steelers have done this off season in general. So it's not, it's not an awful idea. I just, I, I think with both the players, you know, you have to be confident you're going to get a deal done. And I think part of the holdup in both the contracts is kind of where those guys are in their careers and that they're in their 30s in both teams. I mean, obviously you guys know what Terry McLaren means, the commanders, and you know what T.J. watt means, the Steelers both from a playing standpoint, a leadership standpoint, all that different stuff, right? So like the read, the only reason either of those teams would hesitate on paying them is age, right? And you're looking at both those guys that are on the wrong side of 30 and it's not do I think you can play for me this year. It's like, what is this going to look like two years from now? So like, I think in both cases it would take the team because I Don't think like the contract issue is going to go away if you trade those guys. Right. Like those guys are still going to want, you know, to do big contracts with their new teams. So is, is this a situation where the commanders feel more comfortable paying T.J. watt and the Steelers feel more comfortable paying Terry McLaurin than they do their own players. So that's what it would take to make it work. And I don't know one way or the other, but I suspect, I suspect that's probably why it would be hard to get a deal done. Not that like either of those teams would love to have those guys. And you know, the one hole that Washington has on its roster right now that's sitting there is pass rush for sure. And, you know, you can question the Steelers depth, you know, receiver as well, and that would really supercharge everything they do. And he'd be a good compliment to DK Metcalf. I think the contractual part of it is kind of where the rubber meets the road and that's why they're in these situations to begin with. Right. We're not talking about either McLaurin or Watt being traded if it weren't for the contract situation.

LaVar Arrington (29:50)

Yeah, absolutely.

Sports Host (29:52)

Albert. We're joining us here on the Herd fox Sports Radio. LaVar Arrington, Jonas Knox in for Colin AB on the heels of the Steelers Dolphins trade that took place. Jalen Ramsey, John who Smith go to Pittsburgh and then you've got Mika Fitzpatrick going to Miami and then Miami then proceeds to trade for Darren Waller who was retired, and then bring him in as tight end. What are the Dolphins doing?

Podcast Announcer (30:17)

I've got that question a lot, Jonas. I think it's a, it's. It's going to involve a word that they will not use when speaking about what they're doing publicly. And that word is rebuild. You know, I, I think they had this window where tool was on his rookie contract. They could expand aggressively, they could build aggressively. And you know, I think like, if you really add up everything that's happened this off season, it's sort of an acknowledgment, okay, like we need to move on to the next phase now. We need to move on to the phase where we have to build a little bit differently because we have our quarterback on a big second contract. They could delay that by a year or two if they wanted to. But doing that would have to come with a real belief that you're that close to a championship. And if you're being real with yourself and you're Miami, do You feel that way? Like, do you feel like you're a player or two away from. From knocking on the door and knocking off the Chiefs or the Ravens or the, or the Bengals or the, you know, or the Bills? Like, I don't. I don't know that you feel that way, you know, So I think where they are right now, Toronto, Armstead retires, Ramsay's traded. I think they would listen on Tyree Kill. They've got some holes in the roster they didn't have before. Two edge rushers, both having dealt with very serious injuries, and Bradley Chubb and, And Jalen Phillips. Like, I, I just think if you look at the team, you say to yourself, like, how many of these guys are going to be here in two years? I think you can name two guys. To me, it's, It's, It's. It's Jalen Waddle and it's Chop Robinson, and other than those two, I don't know how many guys are going to be there, you know, in 2027. So I think this is a natural spot for them to retool and rebuild. And to me, like, that's moving Ramsey and Johnny Smith's contracts off your ledger, moving those problems off your ledger. And I wouldn't read too much into the wall or thing other than that's just a way to try to stop gap a hole that you created by trading Johnny Smith away.

LaVar Arrington (32:09)

You said two people. You didn't say three. So should I assume that includes coaches as well?

Podcast Announcer (32:15)

Yeah, I mean, well, I guess I should say two also, right?

LaVar Arrington (32:18)

Well, I'm not saying to. I'm saying. What about the coach? Yeah, what about the coach?

Podcast Announcer (32:23)

Yeah, no, I know. I think that's fair. I mean, I look like I. Does he have some job security? Yeah, he just signed an extension last year. Do I feel like for sure he's going to be there in 2027? I don't know. You know, I mean, that's. I mean, if. If you're looking at potentially getting rid of the general manager, Chris Greer, who's been there for a long time, does that come with, like, a complete reset of the organization? I don't know. And I think Mike, for the most part's done a really nice job. You know, I mean, like, where they are versus where they were when he got there, like, they've made a lot of progress and culture there has been, for the most part, until last year, was. Was good and he fixed a lot of things there. He got him to the playoffs. But, yeah, I mean, like, I don't know, I mean, if you're going through a roster retool, you know, and all of a sudden you're, you're a four or a five win team, we could be talking about something else entirely.

Sports Host (33:12)

Albert Brear with us here on Fox Sports Radio. How is it going to play out with the fact that 30 of 32 second round picks are still unsigned because two guys got fully guaranteed deals and everybody else is like, why should I sign something different than them? How do you, how do you think this all plays out with training camp right around the corner?

Podcast Announcer (33:29)

I mean, I think it just, it sort of depends on like, you know, each one of these deals and when the first person does a deal that isn't fully guaranteed. And the linchpin right now is Tyler Schuck, the quarterback from the Saints, who I like, I have to look it up. Was he 35, 36? I think he might have been 36 overall, but that's the one everybody's waiting for because that comes with the quarterback premium, right? And then Quinton Judkins is right there. And so if you're Judkins and you see the Carson Schlesinger who won a couple of picks before you got a fully guaranteed deal from the Browns, you're going to be looking for the same thing from the Browns, you know, so there are a couple up there.

Sports Host (34:04)

Chuck was 40, by the way.

Podcast Announcer (34:06)

Pick 40, Chuck was for. Okay, so, all right, so Chuck was 40. So like you're talking about like shock. Like there's like people are waiting on shock because the quarterback premium and does the quarterback get the fully guaranteed deal? Because if the quarterback is the fully guaranteed deal at 40, and I'm sorry I mixed that up, but if Shuck gets a full guaranteed deal at 40, then everybody before 40 is going to ask for it. So if you were kicked before 40, you're waiting on that, right? Like meanwhile, on the other end of the spectrum at 35, and again I have to look up who was 35. Was that Judkins?

Sports Host (34:37)

Emin Worry from South Carolina Warrior.

Podcast Announcer (34:39)

And then Judkins was 36, right? Yep. So Judkins of course has the fact that Schwessinger got the fully guaranteed deal, so now he wants what his teammate got. Emin Worry, of course is going to wait to see if the Browns double, double down on what they did with Schlesinger with Judkins. And then you got the quarterback four picks after that. Thank you for organizing.

Sports Host (34:58)

Well, but is there, and I want to ask you this, is there because now it feels like Jimmy Hasm's done it again to where he's done the guaranteed deal and put everybody in a bad spot. Like, what is. What's the opinion of him around the league from owners and people that are in the NFL?

Podcast Announcer (35:17)

Well, it wasn't him, right? Or was he 33?

Sports Host (35:20)

Yeah, Jimmy. Yeah, that was Schlesinger.

Podcast Announcer (35:23)

33 or 34. He's 33, right? Yeah, 36. And. Okay, okay, now I have it straight. Because. But. But it wasn't him, actually, because it was the Texans receiver Higgins out of Iowa State.

Sports Host (35:34)

Jaden Higgins.

Podcast Announcer (35:35)

Higgins from Iowa State, that we got the first one. So Higgins got it, and then Schlesinger got his deal as a result of what Higgins did. That's what the timeline was. I think. I think I. I think, if I'm not mistaken, if I'm not mistaken, Schwarzenegger signed one day after Higgins.

Sports Host (35:51)

Yeah, correct.

Podcast Announcer (35:52)

And so now. And so that's what created the whole. I knew it was the Texans that. That created it. So it's not Jimmy in particular, but if he does two fully guaranteed deals for a guy at the top of the second round, I think, you know, you do get some side eyes because of it.

LaVar Arrington (36:07)

Hey, let me ask.

Podcast Announcer (36:08)

Okay.

Sports Host (36:10)

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

LaVar Arrington (36:10)

Absolutely. Speaking of. I mean, speaking of guarantees and contracts in Ohio, has there been any movement on the defensive line? You know, that's the rookie, and with Hendrickson, the veteran, have. Has there been any movement on Cincinnati closing that down? Yes.

Podcast Announcer (36:30)

So with Hendrickson, I think it's just a complicated situation that's kind of. You hit the pause button on it now while the NFL's on break, and they'll pick it up when they get back. There have been discussions. I don't think they're necessarily close. And, you know, really, there are two things here. Number one is the raw number, which has gotten really big. Right. So you can say he's not worth what Miles Garrett or what Miles Garrett got or what. What Micah Parsons would get. But then he is in the same category as guys like Max Crosby and. And. And. And. And Daniel Hunter, who just got into the mid-30s on third contract.

LaVar Arrington (37:05)

Can I stop you there? Can I stop you there?

Podcast Announcer (37:07)

Yeah.

LaVar Arrington (37:07)

Is it safe to say that you can't put him in the same category as Miles Garrett? If you look statistically, it's comparable, and they are around the same age.

Podcast Announcer (37:17)

He is. He is. I just think Miles Garrett's seen on a different. Different. On a different level. You know what I mean? So.

LaVar Arrington (37:24)

But production is production. I. I mean, you can you could score 20 points.

Podcast Announcer (37:29)

Here's what I'm saying. Lavar. Lavar. He's gonna be. He has to be in the mid-30s. Okay, look at, like, we're across. I'm saying Crosby and Hunter.

LaVar Arrington (37:36)

Okay. Okay.

Podcast Announcer (37:38)

So there's. So there's that part. So there's that part of it, and then the second part of it is structure, right? Like where the Bengals have had these strict rules about structure over the years. And the thing that complicates this one is that they did the two receiver contracts, right? They broke their rules to do a deal for Jamar Chase. They didn't break their rules to do T. Higgins, right? So Chase got a deal. It was a little bit more from a structure standpoint, like Burrow and Higgins was more of the traditional deal the Bengals have done. So now you look at those two guys. Which one do you do for Hendrickson? Right? So that one's complicated. And then the Shamar Stewart thing, I mean, I. It's. It's. It's about default. It's about the default language on the guarantees, and this one is relatively black and white. Now, I think what will be interesting is, are the Bengals that dead set on setting a new precedent where they're going to give Stewart sweeteners to get him to take it. And does Stewart have to worry about what that's going to mean in the locker room for him and with other players for him if he's setting a bad contractual precedent for other players? So that one, I think. I think that one will get done, but it's just sort of a matter of who blinks first.

Sports Host (38:49)

Jeez, A.B. we appreciate it. Enjoy the Fourth of July holiday. Stay safe out there. I mean, you got. You got great whites swimming around you. There's all sorts of shenanigans taking place. So be safe.

Podcast Announcer (39:03)

I will. I will report back to you guys if I get bitten.

LaVar Arrington (39:05)

How about that? No, don't do that. Just. We'll read about it and we'll send you. Get well, get well wishes, man. They come in. Hey, they come in closer than three feet, bro. I know. That whole three feet. When Jaws came out, they come in. They come in closer.

Podcast Announcer (39:21)

Closer. The gray white come closer than people think. For sure.

LaVar Arrington (39:24)

You're right, man. Don't. Don't. You know boogie boarding is fun? Don't try to surf out there.

Podcast Announcer (39:29)

And.

LaVar Arrington (39:30)

And you know what? If you can't see your feet, you're too deep. That's all I'm gonna tell you.

Podcast Announcer (39:34)

That's right. Yeah.

LaVar Arrington (39:35)

All right.

Podcast Announcer (39:35)

All Right.

LaVar Arrington (39:36)

Well, be.

Podcast Announcer (39:36)

Respect. Respect their environment. Right?

LaVar Arrington (39:40)

Yeah, man.

Podcast Announcer (39:41)

Their turf, not ours.

LaVar Arrington (39:42)

I mean, otherwise you might lose a leg or a limb to.

Sports Host (39:46)

To.

LaVar Arrington (39:46)

To pay that.

Sports Host (39:46)

Cause we can't. We can't have that.

Podcast Announcer (39:49)

I love going in the ocean, so it's hard for me, but I have to be. Yeah, you're right. It's. It's. I have to be judicious at it. Yeah.

Sports Host (39:55)

Well, listen, enjoy it. Enjoy the time with the fam, and then we'll do it again next week.

Podcast Announcer (40:00)

Thanks, guys.

Sports Host (40:00)

There he is. Albert Breer with us here on Fox Sports Radio, Amazon, NFL on Prime Insider, senior NFL reporter, lead content strategist at the mmqb. Yeah, that's wild. Imagine having your kid out there for surplus.

LaVar Arrington (40:13)

I didn't want to really bring it up while AB was on, but it's like. It's like you're your devices read your brain from. From now because your algorithm comes up on, like, what? I was just thinking about something about sharks for some reason. And the. The video of the kid in. In the water in Egypt hollering for his dad while he was getting attacked by a shark. I just saw the video yesterday.

Sports Host (40:38)

Real video or AI?

LaVar Arrington (40:39)

No, it's a real video.

Sports Host (40:40)

Yeah.

LaVar Arrington (40:40)

Oh, yeah. In the. And the boat had just got to the point of trying to save him when the shark took him under. Like, the kid is hollering for his dad and. And the shark took him on. I just saw that video yesterday. I'll pull it up for you on the break as if you want to see it. It's a little. It's. It's.

Sports Host (41:02)

It's.

LaVar Arrington (41:02)

It's sad because I recall it being on when it hit on, like, cnn. They were, like, showing it. Showing it on the news. That's how I knew it wasn't AI. I mean, AI is messed up everything because you don't know if anything's true or false anymore. This was actually a real, real situation where some type of a shark. I don't know what type of shark it was, but definitely had its way with. With little buddy. And it was the. That was the end.

Sports Host (41:26)

Yeah. Yeah. I'm not going like this. Yeah. Not going in the water. I'm good. Everybody have fun with that. Do what you want.

LaVar Arrington (41:32)

Like I said, I put my feet in the sand and. And half the time out here, depending on the time of the year, I'm not even facing the water. I'm facing the volleyball nets. You know.

Podcast Announcer (41:43)

Why?

Sports Host (41:44)

What's over there?

LaVar Arrington (41:44)

I mean, some people do things ass backwards, and I refuse to be the one, you know what I mean? So the water I'll turn around when when these professional volleyball tournaments is over.

Sports Host (41:58)

I'm not looking at the waves, I'm looking at the hills.

LaVar Arrington (42:03)

Cannon it is.

Sports Host (42:05)

Two pros and a cup of Joe. Filling in for the Herd here on fox Sports Radio. LaVar Arrington, Jonas Knox in for Colin coming up next here in another edition of the Herdline News, we've got the latest scandal in the world of sports right here on fsr. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am.

LaVar Arrington (42:23)

Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. FS1 and the iHeartRadio app did you.

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Commercial Announcer (44:31)

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LaVar Arrington (46:18)

We should open a restaurant between the four of us and call it Weak Bellies. Damn foods for those who have weak bellies. It would make sense.

Sports Host (46:29)

Two pros and a cup of Joe in for the herd here on Fox Sports Radio. It's lavar Arrington and Jonas Knox in for Colin. Coming up top of next hour. We will call it a little over 12 minutes from now one team has made a decision and it feels like a decision they could have made a long ass time ago. That'll be yours here again a little over 12 minutes from now. Before we get to this latest edition of the Herdline News, a reminder that even though you're listening to us now, did you know you can also see us? Be sure to check out the fox Sports Radio YouTube channel. Search Fox Sports Radio on YouTube. You'll see us whole bunch of video highlights from our shows. Be sure to subscribe so you have always have instant access to our Fox Sports radio videos on YouTube.

Podcast Announcer (47:11)

No, no, no, no.

LaVar Arrington (47:12)

Turn on the news.

Podcast Announcer (47:13)

This is the Herdline news.

Sports Host (47:16)

All right, Ryan, music. Okay, we got some news out of Major League Baseball. That's right. Luis Ortiz of the Cleveland Guardians under investigation by the MLB for breaking the league's rules on sports gambling. This according to to espn. Yes, being placed on the non disciplinary list. Paid leave through at least July 17th. It's going to conclude at the all star break. This was negotiated on the MLB and the Players association could be extended longer if the investigation remains open past that date. Ah, it's wonderful, just wonderful because then, you know, it humanizes these guys. You know, a lot of people think, well, they're a professional athlete. They're above me. No, they're just like you degenerates can't get right. Like to gamble, like to add a little bit of that hot sauce on a game that otherwise is pretty dull and uninteresting. Throw a prop bet on it, next thing you know, all of a sudden that game matters that much more.

LaVar Arrington (48:18)

You know anyone who's getting busted in professional sports on sports gambling, you're a dummy.

Sports Host (48:27)

Why don't we need to call at.

LaVar Arrington (48:28)

This point, at this point, I'm sorry, at this point, we need to call names here. What if you're getting busted and you're making at least 400,000, right? Like minimum wage is somewhere around like 400, half a million. And you're getting busted at this point in 2025, life in sports, gambling as a pro player or even a college player. You're a dummy. You're dumb. And whatever happens to you, it was meant to happen. Nature took its course. I'm sorry. Stop getting in trouble over gambling and hitting women, stuff like that.

Sports Host (49:05)

Oh, yeah, that.

LaVar Arrington (49:06)

I mean, I'm sorry. That's just, it's dumb.

Sports Host (49:08)

I just, I like people that.

LaVar Arrington (49:10)

You ain't worth my cash.

Sports Host (49:11)

If people see one of these pop up and they go, oh, oh God, it's Gonna poison the sport. It's gonna. No, it's not. Okay? There's. You can always count on some screw off in every room that you walk into. It's not gonna poison the sport. They're just a couple of guys who had to scratch the itch.

LaVar Arrington (49:29)

How much you think that dude's making? How much you think his. His contract is worth?

Sports Host (49:33)

The pitch for the guardians? Yeah, I mean, at least, you know, few.

Podcast Announcer (49:39)

All right.

Sports Host (49:40)

Hey, mortgages are expensive.

LaVar Arrington (49:42)

Well, get one that you can afford with your contract.

Sports Host (49:45)

What do you want to do?

LaVar Arrington (49:46)

You got to go start sports gambling to be able to afford your bills. You're living beyond your means.

Sports Host (49:52)

He's currently on a one year, seven hundred eighty thousand dollar contract.

Podcast Announcer (49:58)

All right?

LaVar Arrington (49:59)

You're gonna gamble that away?

Sports Host (50:00)

Had they given him an extra hundred thousand, he would have to go to these. These extents to, you know what, to get the extra cash.

LaVar Arrington (50:07)

I mean, crazy.

Sports Host (50:09)

I mean, by the way, is he betting on actual major league baseball games or does he have like his own little, you know, sports book at his locker in Cleveland? And he's. He's taking WNBA wagers like Haiti. Y' all want the Mystics? Oh, no.

Podcast Announcer (50:26)

What. What.

LaVar Arrington (50:27)

What is he. What's his name?

Sports Host (50:29)

Luis Ortiz. Oh, that ain't how.

LaVar Arrington (50:31)

That ain't how you sound. That ain't how you sound when he was asking. I can guarantee that.

Sports Host (50:36)

Fever plus five. Say, man, people get so.

LaVar Arrington (50:43)

Hey, Mike.

Sports Host (50:44)

They get so paranoid.

LaVar Arrington (50:45)

Hey, hey, Mike.

Sports Host (50:46)

He gets so paranoid about this stuff. Like, oh, my God, it's gonna. It's gonna ruin sports. No, the gambling's always been here. It's just now guys are like, oh, I can do it from my phone. Like, oh, I can.

LaVar Arrington (50:57)

I can just stay away from gambling. If you're a pro athlete, stay away from gambling. Done. There's just a few things you stay away from, and that's one of them. Done. You go towards it, you go in it, you get caught. I don't have any sympathies towards it. Go, Ryan. What you got?

Sports Host (51:12)

All right, we'll turn our attention to the NBA. The Bucks shocked the NBA world when they waved and stretched Damian Lillard. Now he's a free agent to sign with whoever. And according to the athletic, three teams have emerged as the top potential landing spots. The Golden State Warriors, Boston Celtics, and Jonas Knox's Los Angeles Lakers. Hey, listen, you know, could use all the help. I'd love to see good things happen. Why wouldn't he? He's not playing this year, though, so it's like a futures contract. That's the current reporting. I guess the idea is that he will be in some type of healthy playing shape by the postseason or they'll.

LaVar Arrington (51:50)

Bring him in and rehab have him. I, I don't see why. I guess he's good enough where you feel like if you can get him right now, just go ahead and get him and hold him until he's, he's healthy and ready to go. But I don't know if I was.

Sports Host (52:02)

One of those fan bases.

LaVar Arrington (52:03)

He's healthy again.

Sports Host (52:04)

If I was one of those fan bases. Who are the teams? It's the Warriors, Celtics and Lakers. Correct.

Podcast Announcer (52:09)

All right.

LaVar Arrington (52:10)

Celtics could use them, but they, I mean, you're dealing with one Achilles. You're gonna add another Achilles to your.

Sports Host (52:16)

Achilles, replace Jason Tatum at least six weeks earlier. Is that, is that rehab cheaper if it's two for one, maybe that's what it is like.

LaVar Arrington (52:25)

Or do really well with one rehab.

Sports Host (52:27)

I want to get one 50% off.

LaVar Arrington (52:29)

You get two badass ball players if you do both their Achilles at the same time.

Sports Host (52:34)

I'd like some immediate answers, like, what about this year? Like, is there any help coming this year?

LaVar Arrington (52:39)

Damn, that is crazy.

Podcast Announcer (52:41)

I don't get it.

LaVar Arrington (52:43)

Very bizarre.

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Katie Couric (53:45)

On the latest episode of Next Question with me, Katie Couric. I sat down with Jasmine Crockett, Democratic representative of Texas. She's holding now the fort for her party in one of the most conservative states in the union. I think that ultimately who will become the Democratic nominee for president will be someone that has been out there and has shown that they won't allow themselves to be punched and just say thank you like they will punch back. Listen to Next Question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Sports Host (54:20)

Who are the 25 greatest football players to grace the gridiron since the year 2000? Introducing NFL Daily's top 25 players of the last 25 years. Join me, Greg Rosenthal and an all star cast of media personalities including Mina Kimes, Steve Weiss, Kevin Harlan and more for a look at football's best since the turn of the century. Listen to NFL Daily's top 25 players of the last 25 years starting on June 30th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Katie Couric (54:54)

This is an iHeart podcast.