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- [00:00]
Colin Cowherd
This is an iHeart podcast.
- [00:04]
Jason McIntyre
Banking with Capital One helps you keep more money in your wallet with no fees or minimums on checking accounts and no overdraft fees. Just ask the Capital One Bank Guy. It's pretty much all he talks about in a good way. He'd also tell you that this podcast is his favorite podcast too. Oh really? Thanks Capital One Bank Guy. What's in your wallet? Terms apply. See CapitalOne.com Bank Capital One NA Member FDIC introducing the new Dell AI PC powered by the Intel Core Ultra processor. It helps do your busy work for you so you can fast forward through editing images, designing presentations, generating code, debugging code, summarizing meeting notes, finding files, managing your schedule, responding to Jim's long emails, leaving all the time in the world for the things you actually want to do. No offense Jim. Get a new Dell AIPC starting at 699.99@dell.com how those ahead, stay ahead Nothing says summer like long days, clutch plays and firing off a few bets on the game. All with DraftKings sportsbook. If you've never been on baseball before, it's easy. Just pick a guy to go yard, hammer some live odds mid game, or just ride your squad. Hope for the best. So download the DraftKings sportsbook app. The code, as always, is heard H E R D. That's code heard. New customers 150 bucks in bonus bets instantly just betting five bucks only on DraftKings. The crown is yours.
- [01:28]
Colin Cowherd
Gambling problem, call 1-800- gambler in New York, call 877-8-HOPENY or text hopeny 467-369 In Connecticut, help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boot Hill Casino and Resort in Kansas. 21 + age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void. In Ontario, new customers only. Bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance. For additional terms and responsible gam.
- [02:02]
Jason McIntyre
Thanks for listening to the Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio and noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd@foxsportsradio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.
- [02:22]
LeVar Arrington
Now let's get this party started.
- [02:23]
Colin Cowherd
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Yeah. All right, let's welcome in Joe Varden has covered the NBA LeBron for a long time, has seen Cooper flag up close and personal last Night, Joe. Let's hear about it. How good was Cooper flag last night? I don't care that he was 5 for 21. I thought he looked great.
- [02:41]
Joe Varden
I was gonna say he stunk. Five of 21 stinks. You know, these summer league debuts can be so fun. And you think about the year when Zion debuted out here and there was an earthquake, they stopped the game. And then you think about the hype with when Victor and he had his first game and he actually wasn't very good. I was thinking about those things last night watching Cooper and I also thought immediately to this idea that Jason Kidd wants to put the ball in his hands and that had been broadcast. And so on the first possession Cooper's got the ball over the timeline and he's immediately seeing a double team. I remember seeing Cooper here last year against the Team USA Stars and he was awesome. And so I felt, I feel like that was a little bit more indicative of the player that he's going to be than what we saw last night. Like there's so much going on with these summer league games and who your teammates are. And obviously they just wanted to get the ball to Cooper last night and get out of the way, especially in the first half. So, you know, I thought he was kind of all over the place. You know, I bet he'll be much better the next time he plays and then he probably won't play much after that. But you know, you just have to remember that whatever goes on out here, there's a lot more that goes into what makes these players, you know, would have the kinds of expectations that he has. And I am as, I am as excited as you are about what we're going to see long term from Cooper.
- [04:17]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. So on some of those drives to the basket, the whole defense is collapsing on him. Like good luck trying that. With Klay Thompson on the perimeter and P.J. washington, you know, there's no chance that def teams will defend him like that in the league. I'm just curious, do you think he starts in some kind of hybrid point guard role or do they bring him off the bench just like a sixth man just to ease in the 18 year old?
- [04:39]
Joe Varden
No, I would be surprised if he doesn't start. I am concerned about this point guard thing and like, you know, I'm a journalist, I covered politics for six years. I'm not a Hall of Fame point guard like Jason Kidd is, so I will defer to him. But just having like covered this league now for 11 years and seen the things that I've Seen a rookie who is certainly versatile but is not used to playing that position. All of a sudden, being under the pressure cooker of the NBA, where teams are designing defenses to try to stop you, I think that's a lot of pressure for him. And, you know, you're exactly right. Like, Dallas does have options on the floor. Like, Clay is out there, AD Is out there. You know, I don't know about Kyrie, but soon enough, he'll be back. You know, they have players, but there's still something about being able to run an offense and get the ball where it needs to go and do it without turning it over. And, you know, I just. I question this. Like, I'm so excited for Cooper because he's a number one pick, and he wound up on a team that does not stink. You know, they've already built around him. And so that is. That puts him at such an advantage. To ask him to be a point guard puts a level of pressure on him that maybe he otherwise wouldn't have to face because of the rest of the situation around him.
- [06:13]
Colin Cowherd
Totally agree. All right, Joe, let's quickly pivot to LeBron. And there's been, you know, you know, LeBron well covered the Cavs for many years. We know when he gets passive aggressive on social media, something's up. And now you got this report that he's just unhappy. The Lakers aren't really showing him the difference that they used to, and now it's all catering to LUCA. And so LeBron's kind of gone radio silent. I don't know. Is there something here or nothing? Is this normal? LeBron? Is he really ticked? Do you see? You know, I keep trying to draw this parallel. Like, the warriors have done nothing in free agency, and it's like, all right, is the Warriors a potential landing spot for LeBron? I don't know. I'm just thinking out loud here. Is it. Is it possible?
- [06:57]
Joe Varden
Because I was. You know, I was watching the previous segment before you brought me on, which was so good.
- [07:04]
Colin Cowherd
Thanks.
- [07:05]
Joe Varden
Is there a way for literally everything you've just said to be true? Like, can it be true that LeBron is feeling a little bit frosty because, you know, this transition to the next superstar is actually happening? And when that transition occurs, Whoever is in LeBron's position, you know, it feels a little personal, it feels a little raw. Is it possible? But at that, at the same time, the Lakers are probably his best option to try and win. They were third in the west last year with just LeBron and Luka, and no no discernible big. And now they have deandre Ayton, you know, larivia, and then a roster that was already pretty good. Is it possible that when you're the Lakers and you're talking about Luka Doncic, and yes, he's 26 years old and you hope he's on your team for 14 years, but you don't really have time to punt on the year, so you have in LeBron a second team, all NBA superstar who's still averaging about 25, 8 and 8. How do you get rid of him and still compete? Like, this idea that the Lakers don't want to compete this year is asinine. And the suggestion, like that suggestion coming from LeBron's camp is as silly as when it comes from anybody else. Like, they could trade him. They absolutely cannot buy him out right now. That would be. That would, like. I can't even wrap my mind around that, because they're going to try to compete and they're going to try to win. If they were to try and trade him, there's only a couple of teams that could realistically come up with $52 million in assets without ripping up their entire team. So then you have to ask yourself, you brought up the Warriors. Would you rather have LeBron under contract for this year with Luka, or would you rather have Jimmy Butler on his deal as he's getting older? Or do you want Karl Anthony Towns.
- [09:12]
Colin Cowherd
No.
- [09:13]
Joe Varden
From New York and playing on the same team with Luca, and they're both locked up for a long time? I don't know. I don't think so. So, you know, like, I think all of these things are true. I would also add, because you. One of the things you said was, is like, is this, like, normal LeBron? The answer is definitely yes. You know, I've been. I've been playing this game, you know, like, when I'm. When I'm on shows. Like, I will ask the host to guess who wrote this. And I. And I read something that basically says LeBron is taking his time this summer to see if the team is serious about building a contender. And everybody guess. And, you know, somebody. Somebody will say Sean. Somebody will say Brian. Somebody will say somebody. One of my colleagues at the Athletic. And the answer is me from 2015. This happens all the time. And they almost say this.
- [10:16]
Colin Cowherd
Exactly.
- [10:18]
Joe Varden
The only difference is, is LeBron had to pick up his option.
- [10:21]
Colin Cowherd
Why?
- [10:22]
Joe Varden
Because he was going to be paid $52 million. And if he had declined it. There was one team, one, the Brooklyn Nets, who are not ready to contend that LeBron would have no business going there at this age. They're the only team that even had that kind of cap room to pay him the money that he's worth. So financially he had to do this. But he wants to still feel, still feel relevant. He wants the team to go all in. And I just, I just, the idea that they aren't, I just don't, I don't agree with that. I think they, they, they traded for Luka Doncic. Like he is one of the top five players, top three players probably in the NBA. Like the Lakers are trying to win and having LeBron on the team probably gives them a better chance to do that.
- [11:08]
Colin Cowherd
Totally agree. What, what a take. That was powerful. Joe Varden. The Athletic knows LeBron well, knows the Cavs, knows the league, the Lakers, hopefully you internalize that. Joe, thanks a lot. Enjoy the rest of summer league and have a great summer, man.
- [11:21]
Joe Varden
Great to see you have me on anytime.
- [11:23]
Colin Cowherd
All right, Joe Varden, listen, that was really smart stuff and I don't know if you guys have seen this movie, King Richard about the Serena, Serena and Venus Williams and their dad, Richard Williams, he had a line in that movie and I had to look it up. I, I, they're trying to attribute it to like Ben Franklin or something, but if you don't have a plan, plan to fail. And if you just let that sink in, it's actually pretty damn good. And I just wonder if the Lakers got Luca and they started to formulate a plan and that plan is something that LeBron's just not part of going forward. We need like a multi year plan. Look at how OKC's built. They're ready to weather anything for like the next two years. And they have a billion draft picks in their war chest. They're built really well. Some of these other teams, the Suns, the Warriors, they're not in as great a shape. So I think the Lakers have a plan. It just doesn't include LeBron. All right, we are moving to the Fox Sports app for the final half hour. Next up on FS1 is soccer. The Women's Euro 2025 Portugal versus Belgium. So catch us on the app. We'll have Chris Felica dropping by the Bear to talk gambling. Dude, he's gambling on the women's Euro. I love it. Catch us on the app. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS1 and the iHeartRadio app.
- [12:55]
LeVar Arrington
Hey, what's up everybody? It's me, three time Pro Bowler LeVar.
- [12:58]
Jason McIntyre
Arrington and I couldn't be more excited to announce a podcast called Up On Game. What is up on Game?
- [13:04]
LeVar Arrington
You ask? Along with my Fellow Pro Bowler T.J. hushman, Zada and Super Bowl Champion. Yep, that's right.
- [13:11]
Jason McIntyre
Plexico Burris.
- [13:13]
LeVar Arrington
You can only name a show with that type of talent on it. Up on Game we're going to be sharing our real life experiences loaded with teachable moments.
- [13:22]
Jason McIntyre
Listen to Up on game with me.
- [13:25]
LeVar Arrington
Lavar Arrington, TJ Huch, Manzada and Plexico Burris on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podc.
- [13:34]
Jason McIntyre
That's from introducing the new Dell AI PC powered by the Intel Core Ultra processor. It's not just an AI computer, it's a computer built for AI. That means it's built to help do your busy work for you so you can fast forward through editing images, designing presentations, generating code, debugging code, running lots of apps without lagging, creating live transitions and captions, summarizing meeting notes, extending battery life, finding that file you were looking for, managing your schedule, meeting your deadlines, responding to Jim's long emails, leaving all the time in the world for more you time and for the things you actually want to do. No offense Jim. Get a new Dell AIPC Starting at $699.99 at Dell.com AIPC how those ahead Stay Ahead Banking with Capital One helps you keep more money in your wallet with no fees or minimums on checking accounts and no overdraft fees. Just ask the Capital One Bank Guy. It's pretty much all he talks about in a good way. He'd also tell you that this podcast is his favorite podcast too. Oh really? Thanks Capital One Bank Guy what's in your wallet? Terms apply. See capital1.com Bank Capital One NA Member FDIC hi, it's the Herd. Nothing says summer like long days, clutch plays and firing off a few bets on the game. All with DraftKings sportsbook. As the season heats up, so do the bats. And DraftKings sportsbook has you covered with live betting, home run props, odd boosts and more. Whether you're chasing dingers or jumping in mid game, always action to be had. If you've never been on baseball before, it's easy. Just pick a guy to go yard, hammer some live odds mid game or just ride your squad, hope for the best. No spreadsheets, just vibes dingers. So here's something special for first timers. New DraftKings customers all you have to do is bet five bucks and you'll get $150 in bonus bets and you'll get it instantly. So download the DraftKings sportsbook app. The code, as always, is heard. H E R D. That's code heard. New customers, 150 bucks in bonus bets instantly. Just betting five bucks only on DraftKings. The crown is yours.
- [15:59]
Colin Cowherd
Gambling problem. Call 1-800- gambler in New York. Call 877-8-Hopeny or text hopeny 467-369 In Connecticut, help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boot Hill Casino and Resort in Kansas. 21. Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void. In Ontario, new customers only. Bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance. For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see DKNG CO Audio back here on the Herd. Final half hour of the week. Hope everybody has a good, safe weekend. But before the weekend begins, let's go to Alex with the news. No, no, no.
- [16:44]
LeVar Arrington
Turn on the news.
- [16:45]
Colin Cowherd
This is the Herd line news.
- [16:48]
Alex Curry
Let's start in the NBA, and we've talked about this a bit. The warriors have yet to make a big move this offseason but indicate that they could land Al Horford soon. Heading into the season, Golden State's core of Steph Draymond and Jimmy Butler are still there. They're all over 35 years old now. Despite the older age, Vince Carter isn't concerned, but believes their wisdom will be key.
- [17:11]
LeVar Arrington
A lot of knowledge.
- [17:12]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
- [17:12]
LeVar Arrington
They have an advantage because of knowledge. Like, we always look at age and we think old. We think, can't do it. Can they do it?
- [17:19]
Colin Cowherd
Will they do it? This, this?
- [17:20]
LeVar Arrington
But, like, look at the knowledge. To me, the expectations for Steph Draymond, you know, even buckets to have to do it early. That's not what I need you for. Yeah, you see what I'm saying? I need you for later. Yes, I want to build, build up my young guys for the playoffs because those three guys know what it takes and know how to handle it.
- [17:43]
Alex Curry
And you can't forget, like, they were a dynasty not that long ago. Like, their last. Their last chip was in 2022. They won four championships in eight years. But it's not the same. It's not the same championship core. And it's always tough at the end of a dynasty when you still have some of the big names on your team because you remember how great you were. And how great you could be if everyone was still there and still in the prime. But, I mean, Vegas doesn't think they have great odds this season. We talked about it earlier. Their odds to win the NBA title are tied for 10th best with the Hawks at plus 2,500.
- [18:26]
Colin Cowherd
They're just an old team.
- [18:27]
Alex Curry
They're just an older team.
- [18:28]
Colin Cowherd
So. So I'm looking at their stats from last year. Their, their leading score was Curry. Yeah, he's 36. Their second leading scorer was Jimmy Butler. He's 35. Then there is Kuminga. He's going to be gone. He's one of the young guys. Dennis Schroeder, 31. He's going to be gone. Draymond Green's, like I said, Kevon Looney's gone. He's on the older side. Buddy Heald's 32. Like, they don't have a lot of young guys. Pods is the only young guy who's Moses Moody, but he's like the seventh or eighth guy.
- [18:59]
Alex Curry
And as we saw, if Curry's out, like, they're, they can't, they're, they can't win.
- [19:04]
Colin Cowherd
I don't know. I guess there's probably a way LeBron is hoping that he could go out with Curry or something, as opposed to.
- [19:11]
Alex Curry
You think, you putting that out there in the universe.
- [19:13]
Colin Cowherd
They been friends dating back for years.
- [19:16]
Alex Curry
So yeah, there's respect, there's mad respect.
- [19:18]
Colin Cowherd
Between the two, but where are they.
- [19:20]
Alex Curry
Going to do it?
- [19:20]
Colin Cowherd
But LeBron, why are the Lakers taking on the Jimmy Butler contract? They're not.
- [19:24]
Alex Curry
No.
- [19:24]
Colin Cowherd
So I, I don't see that now. You could reroute Butler to Milwaukee and get Giannis to the Lakers.
- [19:33]
Alex Curry
Did he in his contract though? Does Butler have a no trade?
- [19:36]
Colin Cowherd
I might have to check that.
- [19:37]
Alex Curry
Yeah, I know they just signed it. Milwaukee would want to like, that's something that he would have, considering how he left the Heat. Yeah, it was just kind of weird.
- [19:46]
Colin Cowherd
The no trade clause. You know, the Bradley Beal thing is really, it's tough.
- [19:50]
Alex Curry
Interesting. Yeah, it's going to be interesting. They're going to have to. They need to make a little more younger depth moves. The warriors, if they want to move up with their odds. But let's move to the NFL where Aiden Hutchinson is fully cleared to return from a broken leg that ended his season prematurely in Week 6. And the Lions best defender came eligible for contract extension this offseason, but is yet to sign one. Meanwhile, he discussed where he's at entering his fourth NFL season.
- [20:20]
LeVar Arrington
I'm exactly where I need to be. And every year I've been able to improve on my own physical attributes as long as the or along with the mental ones. So I feel like every year I take a step and despite having that rehab this offseason, I feel like I'm in the perfect spot and exactly where I need to be going into year four.
- [20:41]
Alex Curry
Yeah, the Lions need him to be the best that he can be because they have a lot of new this year. They lost both their offensive coordinator, their defensive coordinator, a lot of assistance. Along with that, their four time Pro bowl center and Frank Ragnow retired which like that's a really big deal. That's a lot, a lot of new and changes on this team and they've fallen short the last two years after being the favorite. They lost to the Commanders in the divisional round last year, the NFC title game to the 49ers the year before. I mean that's kind of their brand is like the grit, like don't believe in us. We can prove you wrong. But they've fallen short when they had everything the last few years and now they have new coordinators losing their center. You hope that Aiden can get back to his top form, but do you think he can be One of the NFL's elite edge rushers again?
- [21:35]
Colin Cowherd
Certainly get back to top five? No doubt about it. I mean we've seen guys bounce back from injuries at the edge rusher position. I, I think he's certainly right there with Miles Garrett, J. Watt, Micah Parsons, whoever you want to put in there. He, he's a superstar. They just need him back badly. Yeah. Yeah.
- [21:51]
Alex Curry
Well, let's stick with the NFL. J. Mack, you have the 49ers as Super bowl contenders, but they already have one potential roadblock to their ultimate goal. Reports indicate that Brandon Aiyuk will likely start the season on the physically unable to perform the PUP list after tearing his ACL and MCL last season. However, the report does add that San Francisco isn't ruling him out for week one. They obviously have a very easy schedule this season because of how bad their season was last year. However, I know you're hot on them and you have them certainly what in the super bowl six pack did you also have Rams in the super bowl six packs and you had two NFC west team.
- [22:35]
Colin Cowherd
That division is loaded.
- [22:36]
Alex Curry
It is. I don't think they're going to win the NFC West. I think the Rams take the NFC west, but they should be a playoff team. I mean they did trade Debo to the Commanders, so IUK is going to be More of he needs to get.
- [22:50]
Colin Cowherd
Back to what he was two years ago.
- [22:51]
Alex Curry
Yeah, he does. It's just.
- [22:55]
Colin Cowherd
They open with Seattle. That's. That's a tough one on the road.
- [22:59]
Alex Curry
But they do have one of the easier schedules for a pack.
- [23:04]
Colin Cowherd
Saints are horrible. Arizona is. I think Arizona is a plucky team. Jacksonville, we don't think is going to be great.
- [23:11]
Alex Curry
Third place schedule.
- [23:12]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. Now, without iuk, this would be their wide receiver grouping. Week one. Juwan Jennings, who's pretty damn good as a three.
- [23:18]
Alex Curry
Yeah.
- [23:19]
Colin Cowherd
Is he great as a one or two? I don't know. Ricky Pierce, all the guy who got shot.
- [23:22]
Alex Curry
Yeah.
- [23:23]
Colin Cowherd
And then bounced back last year. And then their third wide receiver is kind of open. DeMarcus Robinson, maybe. But I do think we'll see a lot of two tight end sets from them. Kittle and Luke Farrell and then McCaffrey back. And so they should be good. I think three.
- [23:36]
Alex Curry
They have a lot of weapons, but not as many as they did last year. You're high on them. I think they'll do well. I don't think they're going to be. They should do better because of their strength of schedule because it's not as strong as everybody else because of the bad season last year. But I'm not as high as on the 49ers as you are.
- [24:00]
Colin Cowherd
All right, Alex with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd lie news. All right, our next guest is a really good one. Chris Felica, the Bear. He's going to drop by to tell us why. I hope I'm reading this right. The Chiefs are going to continue to dominate the AFC West. What? We'll talk to Felica next. One more heard. The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the iHeartRadio.
- [24:28]
Jason McIntyre
App search herd to listen live or.
- [24:30]
Colin Cowherd
On demand whenever you'd like.
- [24:33]
Jason McIntyre
Introducing the new Dell AI PC powered by the Intel Core Ultra processor. It's not just an AI computer. It's a computer built for AI. That means it's built to help do your busy work for you. So you can fast forward through. Editing images, designing presentations, generating code, debugging code, running lots of apps without lag, creating live transitions and captions, summarizing meeting notes, extending battery life, finding that file you were looking for, managing your schedule, meeting your deadlines, responding to Jim's long email, leaving all the time in the world for more you time and for the things you actually want to do. No offense, Jim. Get A new Dell AIPC starting at $699.99 at Dell.com AIPC how those ahead? Stay ahead. Banking with Capital One helps you keep more money in your wallet with no fees or minimums on checking accounts and no overdraft fees. Just ask the Capital One bank guy. It's pretty much all he talks about in a good way. He'd also tell you that this podcast is his favorite podcast, too. Oh, really? Thanks. Capital One Bank Guy. What's in your wallet? Terms apply see capitalone.com bank capital1na Member FDIC.
- [26:01]
Colin Cowherd
Welcome back to the herd. We have a great guest coming up, Chris the Bear Felica. You know him well. Big noon kickoff. The Bear Bets podcast with Jeff Schwartz. Felica, how we doing, my man? How's everything going?
- [26:16]
LeVar Arrington
We're doing all right. We're getting ready for a little match day three here of whipping zero here in a little while here. It's being a span Italy, so we're getting ready to lock in for that.
- [26:24]
Colin Cowherd
I see you dropping bets on social media about the women's Euros. I'm like, this guy is an animal. I love it. He is just. By the way, how is the tournament going for you?
- [26:34]
LeVar Arrington
It was great up until yesterday when like an idiot, I got involved and bet under two and a half in a in a match that had seven goals scored. So outside of that, it's been pretty good.
- [26:45]
Colin Cowherd
Okay. All right. Well, is it? Hey, you jump in there. Crushing it. Let's get to football, though. You know, they made me tease this old Chiefs win the AFC West. I'm out on the Chiefs this year. We did have Breer come on yesterday and say, listen, the offense could actually be better with a healthy Rasheed Rice, Hollywood Brown, Xavier Worthy. I still question the offensive line, but you seem bullish on Casey.
- [27:08]
LeVar Arrington
I do. I mean, you get a lot of expectations and hype now in that division for what the Chargers are going to do in year two under Jim Harbaugh, for year two under Sean Payton, what the Broncos did now with Bo Nix. Look, I get it, but at the same time with how badly the Chiefs were embarrassed in that game and Albert Beer kind of outlined it for you, you're going to have healthy what you and I, basically, that's who Patrick Mahomes was throwing to last year. Pacheco should be healthy now. You draft Josh Simmons to kind of shore up that offensive line some. I know the schedule is always going to be difficult. And while I think the Chargers and the and the Broncos will certainly be better this year, I think it's very, very dangerous. To count the Chiefs out here, I bet the -120 to win to win the west. And I bet if you're kind of correlating some things, I think Patrick Mahomes in a big bounce back year, plus 700 to win MVP isn't necessarily a bad look either.
- [28:00]
Colin Cowherd
I'm sorry, can you clarify that bounce back year for Mahomes? Are you saying he was not great last year?
- [28:06]
LeVar Arrington
You look at the numbers and you look at everything compared to the great numbers in career that he has throughout the course of his career. Last year was certainly not a fantastic year in terms of a lot of the things you look at from a home. So. And I think even he would admit that with all of the issues that they had on the offensive line and receiver. So I think things are setting up for a very big year from him and that Kansas City offense.
- [28:29]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, listen, I understand it. I'm just leaning into my Chiefs hating role. Let's go to the Commanders.
- [28:34]
LeVar Arrington
That's okay.
- [28:36]
Colin Cowherd
Commanders. Listen, they were phenomenal last year. A lot of people are comparing them to Houston who had a shocking rookie year with CJ Stroud. Then they pulled back a little bit. But I thought Washington had a good off season. I like Deebo, I like Tunsil. They retain their coaches. I'm assuming McLaurin is going to get sorted. But you don't seem as bullish on Washington.
- [28:54]
LeVar Arrington
Yeah, I worry. Anytime you see a team that pulls out a bunch of miracle wins the way they did against the Bears, the way they did against the Eagles, where they did against the Falcons, I worry about those things kind of going against them the following year. Look, they are going to be a very trendy team, very popular team to not only win the NFC east but to win the NFC and get to the Super Bowl. After what we saw them do in the playoffs last year in Detroit, they had three other wins besides those games that I mentioned, besides five points or fewer. You lose Dante Fowler and Jeremy Chin on that defense, I think that's a big deal. You look at the schedule, road games, Green Bay, Chargers, Kansas City, Detroit and Denver come to D.C. like those are 10 games against some really, really good teams. So I don't know, could they get to 10? Maybe. But under nine and a half seems like a a good wager to be. I know a lot of people who I respect kind of viewing things the same way and I know it's funny because when you set these win total season win totals for teams, the odds makers know it and they see the schedule too. So all this is kind of baked in, but just seeing how the Commanders came from kind of nowhere last year expecting them to win 10 games again this year with the fortune that they had last year. And by the way, Jaden Daniels being relatively healthy for the entire year. I think it's kind of. Kind of. What's the word I'm looking for? I'm very optimistic.
- [30:24]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
- [30:24]
LeVar Arrington
Think that they're going to get the same kind of fortune they are this year.
- [30:26]
Colin Cowherd
They do open giants at packers vs. The Raiders at Atlanta. So that's a manageable start. Obviously it gets. It gets much tougher than that, but. Yeah, that's a good point. I like that. Now your coach of the Year pick is interesting because I'm actually bullish on this team as a sleeper in the NFC.
- [30:46]
LeVar Arrington
Yeah. You look at Jonathan Gannon at 20 to 1 to win the, to win the Coach of the Year award and that's a division with, with the Rams, everyone in there, the Seahawks and the Niners. It might be a division that's kind of in flux and a little bit of transition. I don't think there is a real Claire favorite. We think Kyler Murray is going to run a little bit more this year. That would certainly help in the way the schedule shakes out for Arizona. You just mentioned the Washington schedule. Arizona has quite the same thing, a very favorable schedule early in the year. They could be looking at like a 5 and 2 type start. Marvin Harrison back obviously for his second year. You added some good pieces on that defense with Walter Nolan and Will Johnson. Like this could be a very surprise team this year. They made the playoffs a few years ago and the one thing that I like about Arizona is there. Well, it wasn't really much expected from them the last couple of years and they played hard every single week for Gannon. So they clearly in the locker room like him and want to play hard for him. And at 21, basically, if you think Arizona has a chance to win that division and or make the playoffs, you're going to get a much better bang for your buck on betting on Gannon to win coach of the Year than you are on the Cardinals to win the division.
- [32:03]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, the Cardinals first five opponents, okay, these are the quarterbacks. They have Tyler Shook, rookie Bryce Young, maybe on his last legs, Brock Purdy. That's a loss probably. Then Sam Darnold in his new Seattle home and Cam Ward of Tennessee. And then you go to the sixth game and it's against the Colts. We don't even know who their starter is going to be. With the Anthony Richardson thing. So great point. Way to look ahead on Arizona now. Let's go to college football. Real quick. Bear, by the way, the Deion Sanders stuff this week about how he wants like a salary cap. I know you're a big college guy. I am just curious, where do you stand on that with Dion thinking, hey, we need a salary cap. It almost feels like Texas Tech is loading up so much and he sees him, he's like, we can't compete with them, you know. And.
- [32:49]
LeVar Arrington
Isn'T this what everybody wanted in college football or open market? Yeah, pay the players, make him employees, money galore. Everybody gets paid. Which way do you want?
- [33:00]
Colin Cowherd
I'm with you. You know, I think it's a good thing, but at the same time it's going to be difficult to pull off. Now some of these picks that you have, Oregon, obviously they have one of the biggest nil budgets. You'd like to over on Oregon even after losing Dylan Gabriel?
- [33:16]
LeVar Arrington
I do, I think there's an assumption that there's going to be a massive step down from Dylan Gabriel to Dante Moore at quarterback. And I don't, I don't necessarily see it. I know they lose Evan Stewart potentially with an offseason knee injury, but I think people are kind of just judging Dante Moore on one season as a true freshman on a bad UCLA team. This guy was one of the highest thought of quarterback recruits in the country a couple of years ago back now in an offense that should really kind of use his strengths and make him a very viable college quarterback. And the way I'm looking at over ten and a half with Oregon is I don't know why we're just going to assume that they're going to go to Penn State and lose in September. I mean, Penn State is a program that for everything that they've done under James Franklin, these games against big name opponents are games that they don't seem to win. So I think there's a ton of pressure on Penn State in that game to win. And even if Oregon does go there and lose, you look at the remainder of the schedule. You got a road trip to Iowa, you host sc. There really aren't a lot of roadblocks on that schedule. From two for, for Oregon, from maybe losing at Penn State, running the table, finishing the year 11 and 1.
- [34:26]
Colin Cowherd
All right, well, we got a minute left. Let's. I can't believe this. Carson beck, Heisman odds 37 to 1. You like that? I thought everybody was out back.
- [34:36]
LeVar Arrington
Well, I don't know why I think People are out on Beck because they saw the injury at the end of the year. They saw last year all those young Georgia wide receivers dropping balls. Offensive line, that was injury. And he, he didn't people forget how good he was in 2023. Now a lot of people I think are putting that on the presence of Brock Bowers and Aladdin McConkey. But I think with Elijah Lofton, he's got a weapon at Miami that can be very similar to that. JoJo Traitor is a young wide receiver that Miami likes. The offensive line should be one of the top three to five in the country. They've got a deep running back room that can help. And oh, by the way, he's going to be playing a bunch of ACC defenses, not a bunch of SEC defenses anymore. They got a game opening season game against Notre Dame where Miami were to win that. And I think that basically right, right around a pickup type of game, two, two and a half points bread. Maybe that price is going to come down dramatically and you're not only going to see Beck's price to win the Heisman dramatically come down, but Miami's price to, to reach the College Football Playoff come down. So Beck is someone that I think people are really sleeping on this year. Funny, you see a lot of, you see a lot of these like top 10 lists for quarterback and people are forgetting about Beck.
- [35:41]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. Well, now you, you should admit you are a Miami guy, right? I am deep.
- [35:47]
LeVar Arrington
Anyone, anyone who knows me in Miami knows that I am tough on them in the past. I called their defense out last year. I'm typically not rose colored glasses with my teams.
- [35:55]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. So how many Ferraris does Beck have now? Is he. Is it two or three or. I lost. Not just.
- [36:01]
LeVar Arrington
I think he's got maybe a couple of Ferraris and a Lamborghini as well.
- [36:05]
Colin Cowherd
That nil. Life is nice. All right, Chris the Bear. Felica. Great stuff. Chris, we'll talk to you in August, buddy.
- [36:12]
LeVar Arrington
Absolutely, J. Macbe. Well, have a great weekend, Chris.
- [36:14]
Colin Cowherd
Felica. Like Carson Beck. I like that. That's not bad. 37. I've forgotten about him. Anyways, what a show. I mean, we got Alex Curry. We're giving her books for the newborn that's arriving soon. Colin's back on Monday. Thanks to all our guests. Joe Varden. Marlon Humphrey was phenomenal. Mark Medina. See y' all later. This is an iHeart podcast.