Hour 2 - What will happen to Giannis?

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 2: What Will Happen to Giannis?

Release Date: May 2, 2025
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Title: Hour 2 - What Will Happen to Giannis?

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Introduction

In this episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, the hosts delve into one of the most pressing questions in the NBA offseason: "What will happen to Giannis Antetokounmpo?" As speculations rise about Giannis potentially leaving the Milwaukee Bucks, the panel explores the implications, possible destinations, and the ripple effects across the league.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Future

[03:43] Jeff Schwartz:
“Giannis is going to be the story of the NBA all season. I'm here for it.”

The discussion kicks off with the acknowledgment that Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks' star forward, is on the verge of making a significant career decision that could reshape the NBA landscape. The consensus is that Giannis is considering leaving Milwaukee, a move that could trigger a domino effect affecting other star players like Kevin Durant.

Possible Destinations:

1. New York Knicks:

   • [04:20] Jeff Schwartz:
     “The Knicks could be in play, especially if they get dusted here by the Boston Celtics.”

   The Knicks emerge as a frontrunner due to their market size and recent efforts to rebuild around young talents. However, their current roster depth and ability to compete immediately are points of contention.

2. Los Angeles Lakers:

   • [05:15] Jeff Schwartz:
     “LeBron is the GOAT. The Avalanche of stats and evidence points LeBron's the best player in the history of basketball.”

   The possibility of Giannis joining forces with LeBron James in Los Angeles is heavily debated. While the chemistry between Giannis and LeBron could be electrifying, the logistics of a sign-and-trade involving both players raise substantial challenges.

3. Houston Rockets:

   • [06:10] Jeff Schwartz:
     “Houston matches up well with Giannis' style. They could provide the necessary support to maximize his dominance.”

   The Rockets are considered a viable option due to their strategic approach and willingness to make significant moves to secure a championship contender.

Trade Scenarios and Challenges:

• LeBron’s Potential Movement:
  A key obstacle in any Giannis trade scenario is the involvement of LeBron James. Moving both superstars would require Milwaukee to part with substantial assets, making it a complex and perhaps unrealistic endeavor.

• Milwaukee’s Flexibility:
  The Bucks are assessing their options, knowing that a stalemate from Giannis could limit their strategic flexibility in acquiring other top-tier talent.

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Comparative Analysis: Giannis vs. Other NBA Stars

[06:50] Jeff Schwartz:
“Would you rather have Giannis or Jokic? It’s a toss-up.”

The panel compares Giannis with other elite players such as Nikola Jokic and Stephen A. Smith (SGA), debating who holds the edge in terms of MVP potential and overall impact. Giannis is lauded for his versatility and dominance on both ends of the court, while Jokic is praised for his unique playmaking abilities.

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Current NBA Playoff Highlights

Rockets vs. Warriors Series:

[07:59] Alex Curry:
“Steph Curry is looking a little tired but still that darn good.”

The conversation shifts to the ongoing playoff series between the Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors. The Rockets' defensive strategies against Steph Curry are highlighted, noting that while Curry remains a potent scorer, the Rockets are effectively limiting his efficiency through aggressive defensive tactics.

Key Points:

• Defensive Adjustments:
  The Rockets have employed varying defensive schemes to disrupt Curry’s rhythm, including high-pressure switches and blitzes.

• Player Performance:
  [10:06] Alex Curry:
  “They are forcing a guy who’s an electric dynamic shooter to be a passer.”
  Despite these efforts, Curry continues to deliver impressive performances, albeit with occasional turnovers when attempting to navigate the Rockets' intense defense.

Physicality and Refereeing:

[12:09] Alex Curry:
“Manage the emotion in the playoffs for the young Rockets.”

The series has seen an uptick in physical play, particularly involving Draymond Green. The necessity for referees to maintain control is discussed, emphasizing the fine line between competitive intensity and unsportsmanlike conduct.

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Player Spotlight: Jalen Green

[14:03] Alex Curry:
“He’s harder on himself than any of us can be in the media or fan base.”

Jalen Green’s performance has been a focal point, with his recent low-scoring games raising concerns about his adjustment to high-pressure playoff scenarios. However, the panel remains optimistic about his potential growth, expecting improvements as he gains more playoff experience.

Key Attributes:

• Defensive Stance:
  Monitor whether Green maintains defensive pressure and contributes to offensive rebounds.

• Mental Toughness:
  Green's ability to handle frustration and adapt his game is seen as crucial for his continued success.

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Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers Series

[15:36] Alex Curry:
“This was a team that it was essentially centric. Carl Anthony Towns centric.”

The Timberwolves' surprising success against the Lakers is dissected, with particular emphasis on Rodney Theodore’s dominant performances and the strategic adjustments made by the Timberwolves’ coaching staff.

Key Insights:

• Defensive Strategy:
  Emphasis on disrupting the Lakers’ offensive flow, particularly leveraging physical defenders like Rudy Gobert.

• Impact Players:
  The emergence of players like Rudy Gobert as a dominant force reminiscent of Shaquille O’Neal in playoff performances.

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Emerging Stars: Anthony Edwards and Austin Reaves

Anthony Edwards:

[34:27] Jeff Schwartz:
“He’s a guy that if Cleveland doesn’t get their act together, this could be a very disappointing season.”

Anthony Edwards is celebrated for his remarkable playoff performance, earning him the moniker “Kingslayer” after eliminating top contenders like Luka Doncic and Kevin Durant. His combination of respect for veteran players and relentless competitiveness is highlighted as a key factor in his rising stardom.

Austin Reaves:

[36:15] Jeff Schwartz:
“Austin Reaves is my guy, but he's not quite.”
Despite a tough series, Reaves is recognized for his potential and significant contributions to the Lakers’ efforts.

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NFL Segment: Travis Kelce and the Dallas Cowboys

[38:07] Jeff Schwartz:
“When Shador’s dad comes on the floor and talks trash, you have to handle it with class.”

Transitioning to the NFL, the discussion focuses on Travis Kelce’s impending retirement considerations and his impact on the Kansas City Chiefs. The panel examines the challenges Kelce faces as an aging superstar and his significance alongside Patrick Mahomes as one of the greatest duos in NFL history.

Key Points:

• Leadership and Influence:
  Brett Veach’s comments underscore Kelce’s invaluable presence on and off the field.

• Future Prospects:
  The uncertainty around Kelce’s continuation with the Chiefs and the broader implications for the team’s strategy moving forward.

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Final Thoughts and Predictions

[40:42] Jeff Schwartz:
“Let's look forward to the NBA Finals and see if Giannis stays in Milwaukee or takes his talents elsewhere.”

As the episode wraps up, the hosts share their final predictions concerning Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future, the ongoing playoff series, and emerging talents across the NBA and NFL. The sentiment remains one of excitement and anticipation for the unfolding sports narratives.

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Notable Quotes

• Jeff Schwartz:
  “Giannis is going to be the story of the NBA all season.” ([03:43])

• Alex Curry:
  “He’s harder on himself than any of us can be in the media or fan base.” ([14:03])

• Ryan Hollins:
  “J. Mac, there's a way for the Lakers to get Giannis. And I'm like, you got me, baby. I'm a fish. Reel me in.” ([06:00])

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Conclusion

This episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd provides a comprehensive analysis of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s potential departure from the Milwaukee Bucks, exploring various trade scenarios and their implications. Coupled with in-depth discussions on current playoff series, emerging talents, and NFL insights, the episode offers listeners a nuanced understanding of the dynamic and ever-evolving sports landscape.

For those keen on the latest sports developments and expert opinions, this episode serves as an essential listen.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

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[Ryan Hollins]

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[Alex Curry]

Now let's get this party started. You're Listening to Fox Sports radio.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Our number two here on the herd. It's a fabulous Friday. Jason McIntyre in for Colin Cowher, joined today by Alex Curry. Alex, how's life? Good.

[Unnamed Guest]

I mean, life's great.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Yeah.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah. I've had a week. I was in Red Rocks on Sunday. I've got beach life this weekend. I was at playoff games all week. So we're just all over the place.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Alex, loving life, loving sports. It's getting to be beach season. Do you have any big plans this summer?

[Unnamed Guest]

Alex who? Yeah, I'm welcoming a baby girl into the world.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Wow, that's so exciting.

[Unnamed Guest]

That's gonna be my summer.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Yeah. Yeah. Obviously, I didn't know if you ever reveal that.

[Unnamed Guest]

Oh, yeah, no, yeah, I did. I did publicly a couple weeks ago.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Oh, nice.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah.

[Jeff Schwartz]

So exciting. Congrats.

[Unnamed Guest]

Thank you.

[Jeff Schwartz]

I got two. You know, we'll see you in a couple years after you have the baby. You know, those first six months to a year, really fun.

[Unnamed Guest]

It's okay. We're gonna be great.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Yeah, it's been wonderful. Yeah, we're gonna be fun and have fun. With Ryan Hollins checking in ahead of Houston versus the Rockets. But I did want to open this hour. We touched on it with Rick Buker just now. But Giannis is going to be on his way out of Milwaukee. Everybody knows that the NBA off season will wait for Giannis to make a big decision before Kevin Durant or any other dominoes fall. And just before we came on air, like, two minutes ago, the producers were like, hey, J. Mac, check out this video of Giannis walking around the streets of. Wait for it. New York City Season ends for Giannis in Indiana. What's the first place he goes to? You know it. The Big Apple. So, of course, this viewer, which is what his TikTok was like, oh, look, there's Giannis walking around. Here's the weird part. Look at the people passing by Giannis. Nobody even does, like, a double take or anything. It's very strange. It's like, oh, who's that 611 guy walking in the street? Like, nobody even looks stunning. Maybe that would be great for Giannis going to New York. The Knicks could be in play, especially if they get dusted here by the Boston Celtics. I'm gonna say I spent a lot of bandwidth yesterday. Somebody on the staff was like, j. Mac, there's a way for the Lakers to get Giannis. And I'm like, you got me, baby. I'm a fish. Reel me in. And you know, it was the three of us texting about this situation. And of course, by overnight, you come to the morning meeting and I'm like, all right, so this Giannis deal. And everybody kind of looks at me like, jay, you're not going to do this. And I'm like, okay, so we know Houston's going to be in the mix. We know the New York Knicks probably going to make a run at Giannis. I would guess, since he has two years followed by a player option. Everybody and their mom makes a play for Giannis. You got to. He's in the prime still of his career. He's got at least four more years of being totally dominant. I mean, guys, in, in that Game 5 loss to Indy, he had, I think, 30, 20, and 10. He does everything. He's really, really good. I know SGA is going to win the MVP. There's no way on earth you could explain to me SGA is better than Giannis. I'm sorry, it's just. That's not a thing. Jokic, amazing player. Would you rather have Giannis? I don't. It's a toss up, you know, I'm a Luca guy, but I, I, I work with the guys to try to make this Giannis trade happen. And it's like, all right, they've got to part with LeBron now. LeBron. And again, you guys know I'm a LeBron guy. LeBron is the GOAT. Don't argue with me. There's an avalanche of stats and evidence that points LeBron's the best player in the history of basketball. Okay. He also loves Steph Curry and Draymond Green. The warriors made a run at him, remember two, I believe it was two, February ago. They made a run in him at the trade deadline. LeBron has openly talked about wanting to play with Curry. They've been on Olympic teams together, all Star teams. They go back. And we know Draymond and LeBron are tight as well. So is there a world where LeBron would say, sure, do a sign in trade, I will leave the Lakers. I don't want to be second banana to Luka Doncic. I don't know that LeBron would do that, but it looked a little clunky in the playoff series against Minnesota, maybe just because they lost. So is there a world where LeBron is like, yeah, I'll sign and trade. I'll go to Golden State. Giannis would come to the Lakers and then the Lakers and Warriors would have to give up, like Austin Reeves, Jimmy Butler, Moses Moody, draft picks, and that all goes to Milwaukee. It's a pipe dream for Sure. I don't think it can match what Boston could give Milwaukee, AKA Jalen Brown and Derrick White, or Jalen Brown and Porzingis. Whatever the combo is, Peyton Pritchard gets involved. I don't know. Giannis is going to be the story of the NBA all season. I'm here for it. I'm very excited. You know who else may be excited? Ryan Hollins, our next guest. He's been calling NBA games forever, played in the NBA for a long time. He's fired up about Rockets warriors tonight. Ryan, how you feeling, man on the E. Oh, well, not the eve or a day of game six, Big one in the Bay Area.

[Alex Curry]

I'm ecstatic, man. This gets as box office as it's been. This is the biggest game since Houston lost that, that game seven to Golden State. Now fitting against Golden State again, all eyes and ears from the NBA world are going to be locked in and you got some bad blood, you got some young blood, you got some old blood. Draymond Green is going to be display tonight. Wheeling and dealing and chopping and whopping against. Our guys are attempting to. Dylan Brooks has inserted his villain card the other day into the contest. But you have a group that doesn't fear Golden State. They just are not old enough to know what the moment looks like. And tonight, the best thing in Houston's favor, J. Mac and I want you to hear this, is that although it may be a very short span where you can see it, but our young guys have started to get a taste of the playoffs. In the first two games at home were new for all the young guys. The two games on the road were new for all the young guys. So in this third game, you can expect them to be much better. Now, make no mistake, they got Chef Curry on the other side, but in the favor of the Houston Rockets. They arguably are equipped to play the best defense on Steph Curry of any team in the National Basketball association. And they have made a concerted effort to say that they are going to do their darndest to try to take the three pointers away. And it's been a recipe. The defense has been good enough. It's the free throws and the experience on the offensive end that had been the problem.

[Jeff Schwartz]

J. Mac yeah, you're right. They, they are equipped to defend Curry. Let me ask you this, I haven't heard this floated, but you know, in boxing, when you kind of the, the heavy boxer leans on the other boxer to kind of wear him down. You know, you watch Curry the last two games, Ryan, it's not dominant. Curry volcanic, 35 points. I think he scored a total of 30 in the last two games. He's looking a little tired. They're starting to rough him up. It's been a long series. I'm just curious, have you watched Curry the last two games and are the Rockets doing something different or is it just maybe fatigue setting in?

[Alex Curry]

I'll say frustration, but not fatigue. Frustration in the sense. So there's different coverages. Okay, I'll give you a little bit of it. I hope you watched it. When Curry comes off a switch, that man's switching extremely high. Sometimes he comes off and he gets blitzed. Now, the proper playoff, a switch or a blitz is to move the basketball, possibly go make a play. And what Curry's starting to do when he sees a blitz, he can get frustrated and start to dribble as soon as the Rockets are jumping into his dribble. And that's something you don't want to do. You want to take your time and size up and go. Secondly, when he's getting blitz, the one thing he's done a few times, he's tried to dribble through that blitz and he's turned the basketball over. So you're forcing a guy who's an electric dynamic, the greatest shooter of all time, to be a passer. And there are moments where he has had frustration set in. Now, the discipline, I believe it was. It was. What was it? Game 4? The discipline from the Houston Rockets wasn't there. But for Curry, I would say frustration more so than the fatigue in this whole thumb thing. Dude, he's shooting lights out. And I'm going to tell you one thing. If Houston, the second I'm telling you, man, there's been probably. I can count on both hands in all these games that Curry's gotten open looks. And he's probably knocked down at least seven or eight of the 10 open looks. Houston just playing phenomenal defense right now, but he doesn't look fatigued. He's still that darn good. And every spec needs to be on his mane.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Let me ask you that. Draymond Green has gotten into it with several Rockets, no surprise, but he. He weirdly loves to go after, like, Eastern European centers. He loves to go after the Euro guys, him and Shen Goon, like it's getting ugly. I'm just wondering, do you think that refs need to get control this early? Because we saw Dylan Brooks and Jimmy Butler get into it. Amen. Thompson and. And Curry on the ground. Listen, man, I don't Want to see a fight in the NBA playoffs. But I'm just curious, is it getting too physical in this series?

[Alex Curry]

Don't do this, J. Mac. Don't do this, J. Mac. Because. Because when the NBA didn't compete and when guys were, you know, didn't have the bad blood and the emotions and remember all the jersey swaps after games and just shaking hands, everybody complained. Now you get some elbows. Now you get some words. Now you get these guys beating their chest and competing. You have to ride with that, too. Okay? Now, in fairness to your point, the NBA made a huge, huge. And sent a huge message to both teams, I can assume via email, via whatever, that they were going to clean the game up. And one of the big moments. Amend Thompson, who was electric five stills in the first half, looks so much like himself at home. And you can tell whatever happened in that last game, it sat with him and it didn't sit well. He got a huge play in and one and he went to talk some trash. And of all people. And I want you to hear me when I say this, J. Mac. Dillon Brooks ran over. Dylan Brooks sprinted over and he ripped. He physically grabs. Look at me, J. Mac. He physically grabs him by the collar and threw him in. Thompson out and said. And that told me, from the coaching staff on down to the players, the focus was basketball. So I'm intrigued to see what tonight ends up looking like. But I'm seeing the growth there and the understanding. Manage. Hear me, the management of emotion in the playoffs for the young Rockets to try to figure out. And for those who think Draymond's just a wild man. Draymond just. He knows how to play in that year. And a lot of times he gives himself, his teams a chance.

[Jeff Schwartz]

All right, one more Rockets question before we move on the enigma that is Jalen Green. I'm going to read you his point totals in the series. 7:38, 9, 8, 11. What's going on, bro? What's happening with Jalen Green?

[Alex Curry]

He's still going to college, brother. He's still. Yeah, you gotta forget, man, like. Like three years ago or four years ago, he was. He was playing high school basketball, right? He was doing G League at night. You know. You know, when you go to college, you're playing March Madness. You play in these situations, you play overseas, you get to simulate high pressure situations. He didn't get to simulate that. So this is new. The best part about what I'm saying is that he's going to get better, he's going to adjust. We've already seen adjustments in that last game. No, he didn't have the monster point total, but his team won in the mentality, the ball handling, the physicality he came out with. It was what you'd love to see and expect from Jalen Green. Here's the noise, here's the frustrations, and what I know from knowing Jalen Green and seeing him since a rookie, he's harder on himself than any of us can be in the media or in the fan base or whomever. But my focus for Jalen Green, my keys that I want you guys to look for tonight. Is he in his stance, defending? Is he up pressure in the basketball? Is he diving in for some offensive rebounds? I want to see him do the little things, and then I know the points are going to end up being there. In a game like this, you got to get it how you get it.

[Jeff Schwartz]

J. Mac, let's go to the Lakers. Getting dispatched by the Timberwolves. Anthony Edwards, by the way, same age as Jalen Green, 23, was pretty tremendous in the series. Not a great closeout game. Missed all those threes. But I'm gonna be honest, I. I did not see this coming. Minnesota finished a regular season.

[Alex Curry]

I know you didn't see it coming.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Well, nobody did. Ryan, who saw it coming, stop it.

[Alex Curry]

I disagree with you. When we met, I was like, you need to pump your banks brother.

[Unnamed Guest]

You.

[Alex Curry]

You were ready to have them coming out of the last.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Yeah, I had them coming out. I did.

[Alex Curry]

So you.

[Jeff Schwartz]

You alone didn't see this point. Like, they were Lakers were favorites. You got everybody talking Lakers in five, Lakers at six, and it's like, whoa, this was not a great matchup. Now, I'm going to keep it real with you. I did not see Rudy Gobert scoring 14 points in the first four games combined and then having 27 in the closeout. Like, what are the Timberwolves right now? I don't know what they are.

[Alex Curry]

They're still figuring out what they are. You know, this was a team that it was essentially centric. Carl Anthony Town, centric. So now the expectations were them to get out and defend, pressure the basketball. And for Chris Finch, he's always had success when he disrupts you defensively and get out and run Now, J. Mac, I don't know how you didn't see this. If you run this clip back. I tried to tell you when they have to play five active bodies who are at your head downhill and looking to make prove a message. The Lakers are going to struggle. Now. If they had a team that was focused on my two stars versus two stars, they would have had a whole lot more success. I do agree with you there. This was a tough matchup. But here's. It's kind of the Western Conference. If they played Houston, they would have seen live bodies. If they played okc, they would. They're going to see live bodies. And clearly you just found out you messed around and found out with the Minnesota Timberwolves. But it's, it's the defensive end that the frustration was there. And then you didn't play your rim protector because what he does, even though you may lose something on the offensive end, he allows LeBron and Luka to rest where when you go small, those guys are expected to chase and exert the same energy that the Timberwolves were. And that was a bad matchup.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Let's be real. Julius Randle had a career playoff series. Did you see the stat that Rudy Gobert in Game 5 had eight dunks, the most in a playoff game since Shaq? I mean, that like he looked like Shaq out there, that. That's out of, out of body experience last year. Surely you remember him getting cooked by Luka in Dallas. Minnesota, you remember that. That being said, do you think the Timberwolves should be favored over the Rockets or the Warriors?

[Alex Curry]

No. This is going to be. If we're, if we're going to jump ahead, I would not favor them against Houston because Houston matches up. You're going to have a fun series, likely six or seven there because it's a game of athleticism and you got Amen Thompson and Jalen Green, okay? And these and Tar Eason and these guys and Jabari Smith Jr. And these guys that can rip and run and get up and down the floor with you. Golden State's unique because Golden State would have to slow it down. And here's the thing that's not in Golden State's favor right now. They ain't getting no younger. Dumb bumps and bruises don't heal the same way. And now as these series goes on, as we even look at playing against Houston and potentially don't even speak it to us, I don't even want to say these words of, of Golden State in the second round, brother. That's where I stand with it. But they are getting older and they're getting function bruises that don't last. And Houston's putting out a model on how you go out and guard Steph Curry and say those other four guys have to beat you.

[Jeff Schwartz]

So let me ask you about the paperclips And Nuggets game seven. Do you have a lean in that one? YIC versus Kawhi. Anything there? I mean, Oklahoma City's in the clubhouse chilling with their feet up, having a. Having a Mai tai, a Tom cot, whatever drink you want. They got all week to rest as these two go to game seven.

[Alex Curry]

Now, we talked about this, too, man. These two teams could be the. The best in the West. You were trying to put the Lakers. You completely overlooked what a healthy Kawhi Leonard would look at. And these are two as evenly matched teams as you can see. And this is why down the stretch of the season, the. The. For the Nuggets, the big focus was getting home court advantage, because you knew you might have a situation just like this. So here. Oh, man, you're. You're gonna listen. Here's. Here's the X factor. The X factor in this game is Kawhi Leonard. Let's just put it out there right now. The winners. The winner is likely. Okay? The winner is likely. If everything matches out, even, it's going to be the Denver Nuggets because they're at home. They got Nikola Jokic as a bad man, and they have been doing a great job against the Clippers, who are unbelievable on the defensive end of the floor. But Kawhi Leonard is an X factor, a man who can go on his. His own 10 or 15 or 20. He's a guy who can absolutely light you up. He's a world champ, and he looks the best that we have seen him since he was a Toronto Raptor. So ultimately, at the end of the day, if Kawhi Leonard decides to turn this next game on his head, he's going to have a chance to do that. If he does it, and he just. One of the guys is going to be. Is going to be the Nuggets moving forward. And arguably, this could be the team coming out of the west potentially, because this series was that tough and was that good. J. Mac.

[Jeff Schwartz]

So I know you're a connoisseur of the NBA. Sure, you saw it. But Tyrese Halliburton's dad came on the floor, was waving a towel and cursing at Giannis. Giannis eventually tracked him down and was like, dude, you know, you need to lean back. We just heard that Halliburton's father has been banned, I guess, from going to playoff games the rest of the postseason. I'm fine with that, but I'm curious as to your thoughts. You know, did your dad ever come on the floor and talk some trash to an opponent like, where do you stand? What do you do? If you're Halliburton who didn't really call out his dad, but he's like, yeah, you can't do that.

[Alex Curry]

This is what players talk about behind the scenes. And let Denier Hollins, don't have my father anymore today, but let him have been on the front row and something been physical or someone been talking trash. It would have been hard for him to sit back now. He wouldn't have been cursing, but he might have been just right. He might have been right there. And there's a reason you didn't see Denier Hollins on the front row of these games. We know we got a crazy parent. Come on, Halle. I love your brother, but you know, when you got a crazy pops or crazy moms or a crazy uncle or cousin and you know who they are, you gotta put them up in the suites. Now I believe he should be absolutely able to see his son play. These are treasured moments that he should never get back. So I'm going for that, but he gotta go to the suites right now. And My challenge to Mr. Halliburton, I love you, brother. You know, we've chopped it up. My challenge to him is to say, allow your son to have these moments. Take your emotions, go up to the suite and go on and enjoy, brother. No one can get these things back. And remember, this is about him. All the work that he put in, all the work that you guys and you watched him grow, and allow him to have these moments and, and also stay off the Internet, OG Stay off the Internet, you know, and he wants to explain himself. And I do believe that he went out originally to try to t Giannis and he's been involved in a lot of NBA games. He's a, he's a very noticeable figure. And do believe when they came close, it was like, I love you, brother. Like, I love you. I'm here with you. But those are the moments that the players are supposed to have. Those are the moments that your son is supposed to have, you know, and it's tough as a parent, man, I, I, I struggle to watch my kids games also. So let's not villainize him for being the father, but understand it's a tough thing to go through.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Last one, real quick. Who's got a better chance at the upset? The Pacers against the Cavs or my Knicks against the Celtics?

[Alex Curry]

Knicks, Pacers, Cavs. Pound for pound. The Knicks are good enough pound for pound, but they don't have. They, they're pound for pound the Knicks are good enough, but they don't have the depth. The, the depth is going to be the problem. And, and here's the thing. Boston can play in different gears. Missoula can go big to match up with Carl, Anthony Towns and Robinson, if he chooses to do those, do so. And they kind of, you know, all this. He may put the double big back in the NBA, okay? And now you got all these teams trying to big, and what it did, it called Anthony Towns against Detroit, got a lot of mismatches, okay? And then he started getting downhill against Tobias Harris, and it was a bit of an edge there. But ultimately, at the end of the day, Boston gets dangerous because they can go absolutely small and they're comfortable there with Drew Holiday, you know, and those four All Stars are there. We're going to call Derrick W. All Star, right? You can do that or you can get big with Porzingis in there, in Horford, or however you like to do it. And they still have spacing, which is really dangerous. And Boston is probably, from a spacing standpoint, the best team that can go double. Now on the other side, Cleveland got their hands full. And I. And I'm going to tell you this right now, the Pacers this season have been the most disrespected team in basketball. They were a team that challenged. They were a team that they, they ran into Boston and they, they, they got worked out on by Boston, but they challenged Boston last season. And they were a team that nobody looked at, nobody picked, nobody even sniffed that they moved the basketball. They play hard, calibur. The most disrespected young star in our game, which is ridiculous, because listen, man, you, you talk about there's a group of guys who can control the basketball game. LeBron at his best, Luka, James Harden. Halliburton's in that discussion because he can beat you with the pass and he can beat you with the score. And you saw what he did against Milwaukee, okay? So, so Halliburton is that darn good. And there's a reason that they play the way they play, and it's centered around him. So he's a guy that if Cleveland doesn't get their act together, this could be a very disappointing season. And I'm telling you, man, Indiana is really good. Indiana is legit. Rick Carlisle, a coach that I played for, is as much of a mastermind and genius on the offensive end and knows how to throw some. You know, if you have something that you're lacking, if you have something that you're lacking. He'll throw a defense together that could give you a headache. Remember what he did LeBron before. But LeBron really became LeBron. And Dallas won that championship with Dirk Nowitzki. He, he can put some stuff together. So shout out to Rick Carlisle and I'm telling you, man, put some respect on those Indiana Pacers. J. Mac, because I know you, you, you like to talk crazy. And you don't like to own it because me and you talk. You were gonna own this Laker thing. You didn't own this Lakers thing. You came on here talking about me and everybody else. No, you gotta own this Laker thing, man.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Multiple times. I'm still surprised they lost Ryan Hollins. Catch him on Fox sports radio Sundays, 9am Eastern. Good luck to your Rockets tonight. Thanks a lot, Ryan.

[Alex Curry]

Can we get you some Rockets grand tonight, man?

[Jeff Schwartz]

Maybe.

[Alex Curry]

Come on, man. Yeah, you can get Lakers out of it, man.

[Ryan Hollins]

Come roll with us, man.

[Unnamed Guest]

Roll with the young, the young guys, man.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Thanks a lot, Rob. Good stuff. Coming up next team, did one NBA superstar officially pass the baton to the next guy? Alex Curry has the latest next one.

[Alex Curry]

More herd. The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the iHeartRadio app. Search herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like.

[Commercial Speaker]

So we all made mistakes, right? But owning up to them, it's the right thing to do. But we all know degree Cool Rush deodorant. Well, last year they changed the formula and it did not go over well with the fans. Fans, the grease, whole thing, it turns up sweat and other protection when you turn up the effort. And good thing it does because Cool Rush fans really turned up the effort to bring back the OG formula. One guy even started online petition and degree Listen, they admitted they effed up and are bringing back that OG Cool Rush scent back. And it's exactly how you remember it. Cool, crisp and fresh. It's back at Walmart, Target and other stores for under $4. There's a reason why it's been the number one Ms. Antiperspirant for the last decade tape. It's the same reason why people are not happy when the recipe was changed. So listen, if you've never tried, it might be a good time to try. See what the fuss is about. Head to your local Walmart or Target and try the OG degree Cool Rush for yourself.

[Ryan Hollins]

At the end of the season, there's only one team that can call themselves NBA champs. Only one player that can call themselves the number one pick in the NFL draft. Well, there's only one electric SUV worthy of the title. The ultimate the all electric BMW. What I love about the IX is that it delivers legendary BMW performance. While its sleek design exudes innovative style from the inside out. Not to mention how much space and utility it provides. Over 75 cubic feet of cargo space. The IX is completely changing the game with an all electric suv. The greatest legends of sports never compromise any part of the game. So why would you settle for anything less from your suv? After all, there's only one ultimate the BMW ix. Everything you love about the ultimate driving machine. Electrified summer is almost here, and you can now get almost anything you need for your sunny days delivered with Uber Eats. Now, what do we mean by almost? Well, you can't get a well groomed lawn delivered, but you can get chicken parm delivered. A day at the lake? That's a no. A Philly cheesesteak? That's a yes. A nice tan? Sorry. A box fan? Happily, yes. What about a day of sunshine? Not happening. How about a box of fine wines? Yeah, that's happening. Delivery's on its way. Okay. How about some clear skies? Nope. Well, how about some french fries? Yeah. So how about a freshly cut lawn? Can't help you there. But a barbecued prawn? Order it and it's on its way. Even throw in some paper towels. Clean up after the feast. So while you can't get fun in the sun, deliver. Don't worry because you can get pork buns delivered. Uber Eats can definitely get you that. Get almost almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol in select markets. Product availability may vary by region. See app for details. Looking to transform your business through better HR and payroll? Meet Paycor, a paychecks company. The powerhouse solution that empowers leaders to drive results. From recruiting and development to payroll and analytics, paycor connects you with the people, data and expertise you need to succeed. Their innovative platform helps you make smarter decisions about your most valuable asset, your people. Are you ready to become a better leader? Visit paycor.com leaders to learn more. That's paycor.com leaders.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Welcome back. Ryan Holland's calling me out about not owning it, folks. I did and I went on my podcast. I was like, how did I miss this? Are you ready? The Timberwolves were 32 and 29. After 60, about 60 games. 32 and 29. Then March Madness comes. I ain't paying attention to the NBA during March Madness. Sorry. Great tournament. Wolves go 17 and 4 to end the season. Avoid the play in and and I'm sorry. I Just missed it. It's a whiff. A rare mistake by your boy. But call me out, Hollands. That's all good. Let's go to Alex Curry with the news.

[Alex Curry]

No, no, no, no.

[Colin Cowherd]

Turn on the news.

[Alex Curry]

This is the Herdline news.

[Unnamed Guest]

All your guests are coming in hot for you, J. I like that. I. I know.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Bring it on. I want all the smoke. Maybe I should start a podcast called all the Smoke.

[Unnamed Guest]

All the Smoke. Bring the Heat.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Is there one that exists with that name?

[Unnamed Guest]

I think there's like, a smoke one like that.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Thanks for having me on, Captain Jack.

[Unnamed Guest]

Well, let's start in Dallas because the Cowboys new head coach, Brian Schottenheimer, just finished his first draft. Since he got the job, he's been preaching authenticity, leadership and confidence. And shotty feels like he's gotten some players with those traits in his locker room.

[Jeff Schwartz]

I feel like we've got some incredible football players, but they're also going to be influencers in the locker room. They're going to be guys that practice hard. They're going to be guys that play the right play style. They play to the whistle. They're going to give us what we want, which is, you know, four quarters and beyond.

[Unnamed Guest]

I. I think they're still going to be the third best team in the NFC East. They still have so many holes that they need to fill. They need weapons, running back, wide receiver, cornerback. They still haven't signed Micah Parsons yet. That's been its own, like, interesting situation going on. They. They have a lot of holes. Are you. Are you buying Cowboy stock this year?

[Jeff Schwartz]

No, no. Some incredible football. They got what, how many guys on a roster? 55 or something like that, that. They don't have 10 incredible football players, do they? No, they have five. Is Dak incredible?

[Unnamed Guest]

Alex, you have to. You're paying him like, he's an incredible.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Football player, but that wasn't. Is he incredible?

[Unnamed Guest]

Is he for his team? What are you comparing it to, the league or the players on the team? Like, would he be considered one of the top five incredible? On the team?

[Jeff Schwartz]

Yes, on the team, he's incredible. That ain't saying much since they won, like, five games.

[Unnamed Guest]

That's what I'm saying. It's. I. I've been fooled way too many times by the Cowboys. Like, I'm in the prove it to me now phase. Like, you guys got to go out and you got to win some playoff games if you want to be in this conversation of being a great team again. Like, it's going to be tough. Eagles are going to Be great again. I think commanders are going to be good. Giants are still. We're figuring out what they're going to be. But Cowboys, like, at best. Third. Third Best. Best in the NFC East.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Yeah, that sounds about right. They. They should. They should come up with a hat that says make the Cowboys great again. You know, like, turn back the clock. Listen, it's been 30 years, Alex.

[Unnamed Guest]

Right?

[Jeff Schwartz]

30 years. Come on.

[Unnamed Guest]

Very.

[Jeff Schwartz]

I have faith in Brian Shut.

[Unnamed Guest]

Do you?

[Jeff Schwartz]

I can't even say with a straight face.

[Unnamed Guest]

Okay, yeah, no, I. I think we're on the same page there, but let's move to the NBA. The Timberwolves made quick work of the Lakers in the first round. After the Game 5 loss, LeBron went up to Anthony Edwards and told him it's the next step. Now, post game, Ant was asked what the series win meant to him, and he responded with, we just beat the best player ever. Now, Ant has been very open about the respect that he has for LeBron James. He talked about it heading into the series. He talked it after. But like during it was all business. And this is a guy who has so much confidence. He's been very outspoken throughout his career, but he also shows respect for all the. The veterans, the greats and the big names that have come before him. And I love that he's all business when he's. He's playing him, which takes a certain kind of player, but there's also like a mad respect for who kind of paved the way for him being like that next generation of great players. I don't know if you saw, but Adidas released a new Ant campaign titled the Kingslayer because he's now eliminated Jokic, LeBron, Luka, KD and Booker in his last four playoff series. So.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Yeah, yeah, I like ants, so I don't want to go. I just think it's a. What can he. Can he get to an NBA Finals before we call him the Kingslayer? This is like Reuben Patterson having a great game against Kobe and then calling himself, I'm the Kobe Stopper. No, bro, I. I love Anthony Edwards. They. They destroyed it. What we now know is a crap Suns team last year and they eviscerated what was a good Lakers team. Let's settle down. Anthony Edwards is amazing. He's box office. I like him a lot. I'm a big fan. Do you. I don't know if you remember. I think it was last year, maybe two years ago. I called him the best in game dunker in NBA history. And everybody's like, you're crazy. You're out of your mind. I'm telling you. I believe that at the time. I still think it is now.

[Unnamed Guest]

Okay.

[Jeff Schwartz]

And people are now like, oh, you're not to give Anthony Ed respect. Put respect. I love him. I'm a big fan.

[Unnamed Guest]

Oh, yeah. I mean, put respect on his name. He's. He's proven himself that, like, he belongs and he could be there. And he is one of the great young next.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Oh, no.

[Unnamed Guest]

Stars of our generation.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Alex.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah. What were you doing at 23 working for the Angels?

[Jeff Schwartz]

That's pretty good.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah. Sideline.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Have you seen that? There's this viral thing that going on Instagram or one of these, like, guys is saying, like, t. Mac, what were you doing at 23? Yeah. And he's like. Like averaging 30. And it was like, whoa. Then it go, you know, fades away. But listen, he's 23 years old. He took down KD and LeBron and Luca. Like, yeah, he's really, really good.

[Unnamed Guest]

It's good.

[Jeff Schwartz]

But.

[Unnamed Guest]

But what I love about it is he respects them. And he talks about it before the series and after the series, but during it's all business, and that's what you have to do. He's like, I know how great they are. We just literally beat the best player. It's good, though. Like, he has. Has. He has the grit and he. And he has the style of play, but he also has the respect, and that's. That's rare.

[Jeff Schwartz]

It is like when you were playing folks in soccer and it was like, the best player in the region or college or whatever.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Did you have the respect or was it like, man, I'm dead good before.

[Unnamed Guest]

Before and after the game, but during, like, we're equals.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Yeah.

[Unnamed Guest]

And this is all business. It's going down like. Yeah. Which is what he does.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Austin Reaves is as my guy, but he's not quite. No, he got destroyed.

[Unnamed Guest]

He got exposed.

[Jeff Schwartz]

It happened to the best of us.

[Unnamed Guest]

He got exposed. That was one of the amount of. The amount of shots he missed in.

[Jeff Schwartz]

The last two games was bad series. Brutal happened step.

[Unnamed Guest]

It was brutal. Okay, let's go back to football for our final story here, Travis Kelce is the oldest tight end in the NFL, but is coming back to play for another season after last year's super bowl disappointment. Now, chief Chiefs GM Brett Veach talked about how much Kelsey means to the team, saying, I don't know if I look at it in terms of expectations for yardage or touchdowns or catches, I think that when he's on the field now, he makes Us better and he does. J. Mac, like, the impact that Travis Kelce has had on the game when he is healthy is unmatched. Like him and. And Patrick Mahomes are one of the greatest duos to ever do it not only in the regular season, but are the best in the postseason. So it's just we are seeing a realistic what happens to an aging Superstar? Right. He's 35. He's going to be 36 when he's playing next year. And he's at a position where you get beat up. We saw it with Grom. He left, he came back. Like these big guys that are getting a lot of targets at the tight end position. It takes a lot. I know you're not high on the Chiefs. What you said a couple weeks ago that you don't have them making the playoffs. Crazy.

[Jeff Schwartz]

I still probably heard from like eight Chiefs bloggers. Can I do an interview with you? Kansas City TV stations like J. Mac, do you have a moment? I was like, no, I don't. Oh, I said what I said, whatever, whatever, whatever. But you know Travis Kelsey. You want to look up his playoff stats. Final three playoff games, not counting the Houston game, just Buffalo, Baltimore, Super Bowl.

[Unnamed Guest]

This was a brutal year for him. This was an aging year for him.

[Jeff Schwartz]

You think it's going to get better.

[Unnamed Guest]

If he's might have a good September if he's healthy?

[Jeff Schwartz]

You know, I'm not a prop guy. You go to see comics sometimes. What? Carrot Top is the guy who does all the props?

[Unnamed Guest]

Oh, my God.

[Jeff Schwartz]

I should pull out a milk carton with Travis Kelce's face on it from.

[Unnamed Guest]

The fact nowhere to be found.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Where was he in the Super Bowl?

[Unnamed Guest]

Mahomes couldn't even get a throw up. He's like one of the best quarterbacks of our time right now. Okay, this was. That was hats off to the Eagles.

[Jeff Schwartz]

D. Yeah.

[Unnamed Guest]

Okay. They completely shut down the Chiefs. They had no answer for that.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Let's see, maybe the bullies out there.

[Unnamed Guest]

Fine. They're going to be fine.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Alex with the news.

[Alex Curry]

Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by the Herd line news.

[Jeff Schwartz]

All right, coming up next, we're going to ask a former NFL player if Shador is going to win the starting job in Cleveland and he also hates my 2026 NFL mock draft. Get in line, buddy. That's next.

[Alex Curry]

Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the iHeartRadio app.

[Commercial Speaker]

Hey, Steve Covino. And I'm Rich Davis. And together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific, on Fox Sports Radio. And of course, the iHeartRadio app. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich? We talk about everything. Life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture. Stories that, well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we, that we've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We like to get you involved too. Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports radio and the iHeartradio app from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search kobenonrich wherever you get your podcasts. And of course, on social media, that's Kavino and Rich.

[Colin Cowherd]

Hey, so we all make mistakes, but owning up is the right thing to do. You know Degree Cool Rush deodorant? Well, last year they changed the formula and it did not go well with their fans.

[Jason McIntyre]

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 back the original formula. One guy even started an online petition and Degree listened.

[Colin Cowherd]

They admitted they effed up and are bringing the original Cool Rub scent 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.

[Jason McIntyre]

There's a reason why 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 never tried it, it might be a good time to see what the fuss is about.

[Colin Cowherd]

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

[Ryan Hollins]

At the end of the season, there's only one team that can call themselves NBA champs. Only one player that can call themselves the number one pick in the NFL draft. Well, there's only one electric SUV worthy of the title. The ultimate. The all electric BMW ix. What I love about the IX is that it delivers legendary BMW performance. While its sleek design exudes innovative style from the inside out. Not to mention how much space and utility it provides. Over 75 cubic feet of cargo space. The IX is completely changing the game with an all electric SUV. The greatest legends of sports never compromise any part of the game. So why would you settle for anything less from your suv? After all, there's only one ultimate the BMW ix. Everything you love about the ultimate driving machine. Electrified summer is almost here and you can now get almost anything you need for your sunny days delivered with Uber Eats. Now, what do we mean by almost? Well, you can't get a well groomed lawn delivered, but you can get chicken parm delivered. A day at the lake? That's a no. A Philly cheesesteak? That's a yes. A nice tan. Sorry. A box fan? Happily, yes. What about a day of sunshine? Not happening. How about a box of fine wines? Yeah, that's happening. Delivery's on its way. Okay, how about some clear skies? Nope. Well, how about some french fries? Yeah. So how about a freshly cut lawn? Can't help you there. But a barbecued prawn? Order it and it's on its way. Even throw in some paper towels. Clean up after the feast. So while you can't get fun in the sun delivered, don't worry because you can get pork buns delivered. Uber Eats can definitely get you that. Get almost almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol in select markets. Product availability may vary by region. See app for details. Looking to transform your business through better HR and payroll? Meet paycor, a paychecks company. The powerhouse solution that empowers leaders to drive results. From recruiting and development to payroll and analytics, paycor connects you with the people, data and expertise you need to succeed. Their innovative platform helps you make smarter decisions about your most valuable asset. Your people. Are you ready to become a better leader? Visit paycor.com leaders to learn more. That's paycor.com leaders.

[Unnamed Guest]

Tonight, we're under the lights in primetime as the Arlington Renegades take on the St. Louis Battlehawks. Fox UFL Friday kicks off at 8pm Eastern.

[Jeff Schwartz]

All right, let's get right to it. Jeff Schwartz, Fox Sports NFL analyst. Played offensive lineman for eight seasons in the league. He's on the Bear Bets podcast with Felica Schwartz. How you doing, man? How's life in Carolina?

[Unnamed Guest]

It's good. You know that. That push to the end of the NFL draft, man, it's exhausting for like three days. But now you're a little bit arrested. I'm already watching film on 2026 guys because why not what else are you going to do?

[Jeff Schwartz]

Yeah, exactly. Hey, let's start with Shador Sanders. By the way, did you ever make prank calls as a kid?

[Unnamed Guest]

I did not. I do not think I made a lot of prank calls. I, I feel maybe, maybe I did. I don't know. We had, you know, obviously we didn't have cell phones back then. You to like, find a number in the yellow pages and call someone. But I mean, those kids, I, I don't know what the punishment should be. Karma will get them. Yeah, I feel like karma will get those kids.

[Jeff Schwartz]

That's a good point. As for Shadour, the slide was puzzling. You know, we could go 50 different ways. I just gotta ask, like, Dylan Gabriel, you're an Oregon guy.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah.

[Jeff Schwartz]

You didn't even think Dylan Gabriel was third round material. Like, I, I, that was the most puzzling aspect. To take Gabriel, then two rounds later, take Shador.

[Unnamed Guest]

The process there does not make sense unless you reorder the draft for the Browns. Like, let's say you just, in your head, you reorder, you have the thing in Sanders in the first round and then Gabriel in the third or fourth or fifth. You'd be like, okay, that makes sense. I mean, we saw Washington do this years ago. They took RG3 and they took Cousins. Cousins ended up obviously being the better quarterback. That's been done before. When you draft him in the third round and the fifth round, it does feel like the process isn't great. And that also leads to, how do you split up practice reps early in their careers? Because you drafted Gabriel head of Sanders, so that tells me that you think he might be better. Or maybe you draft the Sanders in a value spot. He's your starter or he's your guy taking reps ahead of Gabriel early on. But if you just go based off draft order, that puts Dylan Gabriel with reps ahead of Shadir Sanders immediately. That puts Shadur at, you know, third quarterback for now, fourth quarterback.

[Alex Curry]

Right.

[Unnamed Guest]

I mean, there's four legitimate options heading into the spring. So it kind of just puts him behind trying to win this job early. If the Browns just give reps based on how they draft it.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Yeah. And I'm sure you saw Cam Newton wearing his, like, wacky hat. Hey. Yeah, hey, Shador, don't chase clout. Just work. It's an example. Like, it felt a little hollow. I don't know. You're a former player. Like, were you ever around a quarterback who came in with the fanfare that.

[Unnamed Guest]

Shador will I play with Jimmy Clawson, I mean it was, it was a lot of fanfare with, with Jimmy his first year in Carolina. It wasn't quite the same because you didn't have social media and obviously the familiarity with Deion Sanders or you know, Jimmy Clauss's dad wasn't a famous pro football player. So no, I haven't been in a situation where I play with Eli Manning in New York. I mean I've been in the spotlight with his quarterbacks before and I think everything they said about sort of the backup role and why standards might not be perfect for it is a fair point now. Now obviously he has the opportunity to prove a little different and I think this process, clearly they overplayed their hand. I'm just surprised that with the connections that his dad has, the NFL, that no one just told him truthfully, hey man, here's how we sort of see your son. Because obviously if they were told earlier in the process, hey, you know, Your son's graded 30th on our big board. He's our third quarterback. Maybe they handle the process a little bit differently but they treated the pre job process like they knew they were going to be drafted in the first round by a specific set of teams. It just didn't go that way. So. But no, I've not played with someone just like Shadura played with Jimmy Klosser and a bunch of of, you know, he was a five star kid, famously showed to Notre Dame like in a limo. I mean I play with guys that have some, some lore before but not quite the same as, as Sanders.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Let me ask you, the Kansas City Chiefs, you are connected to them obviously.

[Unnamed Guest]

Yes.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Your brother spent a lot of time there. Let's be real, after the super bowl butt kicking, I didn't see a lot of activity in free agency that was positive. Losing Tooney was surprising. The draft they picked a guy who's coming off a major injury and the track record for guys coming back from that ain't great. I'm just wondering, did the Chiefs get better this off season? Jeff?

[Unnamed Guest]

Yeah, it's a good question. I didn't have a lot of flexibility right with their castings they never been a big spender frequency but it did address the tackle spot both in frequency and in the draft. And I think they drafted well with the positions of need they need to get better on the defensive line we talk a lot about the offensive line. The super bowl they didn't play terribly well but the defense line didn't touch hurts either. Like that's been ignored because of the attribute of the offense. You have to hope offensively that, that, you know, Rashid Rice comes back healthy. Obviously there might be suspension there at some points. You're adding another player back. Jason, you didn't really have last season, so that feels like a free agency ad there. You drafted another wideout. I think they're going to be fine. I think that depending on what Travis Kelsey did, he ended up coming back. Obviously was going to change how they did their offseason. You know, if he came back, which he did, it was let's go for one more push with this current core. And they're basically doing that. That's what they're doing. And again, you had Rice in the offense and you feel like you're a more explosive offense almost immediately. You fix a tackle spot, you feel better about that. Defensively, it's a really good defensive team.

[Jason McIntyre]

Right.

[Unnamed Guest]

They re signed Bolton, they added some, some pieces obviously in the draft. So they're right where they need to be and they know how to win. They know how to I think sort of conserve it in the regular season just to get to the postseason. On the ran against Eagles team that was just better than them on Super Bowl Sunday.

[Jeff Schwartz]

I'm surprised they didn't draft a tight end with Kelsey the way he ended last season, his worst season of his career year invisible in the three playoff games. You do a lot of gambling stuff. We've done stuff together. They went 110 in one score games. Jeff, you know what historically happens the following year if that turns to 5 and 6 or oh my gosh, 4 and 7, what are we looking at for the Chiefs next year?

[Unnamed Guest]

It's a good question and it's certainly true because I think when you look at like a team like the Giants who was one in eight and one score games like I'm sure I know that everyone's on their under this season already. They're under five and a half wins and I certainly get it. But, but if Jason, if they just sort of go back to the mean, they're getting over five and a half wins. Here's the thing with the Chiefs though. When we talk about one score wins, we often talk about, you know, let's sort of like maybe a not a sloppy game but sort of something happens the end of the game where you sort of, you make a 50, 50 playing you win or you know, or you kick a late field goal to win the game you've been behind all game, you sort of come back and win. That's how we view those games right A lot of the Chiefs games where the Chiefs just were up double digits in the second half, there was a three game stretch. It was Carolina, Chargers, Raiders, they were up by at least 10 points in the second half of all three of those games and sort of just BS'd a little bit and the game ended up being tied and that they were never down in those games at all. But it was a one score game. So I think their one score game is a little bit different than other teams one score games. But you're absolutely right. If that comes back to the mean, that's five losses right there. Right. Or six. And all of a sudden they're not, you know, the one seat of the two seat. So I think we have to look at the Chiefs differently, which I think is hard to do because they're just. They're different than other teams that you're not supposed to be able to do what the Chiefs do and continually win. But they keep proving that it does not matter the way they play when they get to the postseason.

[Alex Curry]

Yeah.

[Jeff Schwartz]

All right, Jeff schwartz, we got 15 seconds left. Who's coming out of the NFC? The NFC. Could the Eagles get back to the Super Bowl?

[Unnamed Guest]

I think so. I can't find a better team right now. Maybe some from the North. I just, I think the Eagles are just. They're so good up front and in the middle, which is so important.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Yeah. Wow. All right, Jeff Schwartz. You catch him on the Bare Bets podcast with Chris Felica. He does tv, radio, podcast. He's everywhere. Gambling machine. Maybe I'll see in Vegas again. It's been a few years, right?

[Unnamed Guest]

I'll be there in July, so come on down.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Yeah. What's a 120 degrees in July? Okay.

[Unnamed Guest]

Ah, whatever. Yes. No humidity.

[Jeff Schwartz]

Good stuff. Jeff Schwartz. All right, coming up next year on the Herd, there's a great win for my Knicks last night. What's going to happen against Boston?

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