Unnamed Analyst (4:01)

No, I think that it was done in a way that everybody knew what was happening. They waited a few games. Right. It was like, oh, Lucas, he's not quite fitting in with the Lakers yet. Or oh, it's conditioning isn't quite there was partly because of the way they were playing.

Jason McIntyre (4:13)

Right.

Unnamed Analyst (4:14)

But they have to give deference to LeBron. It's his team. They have to sort of show that at the beginning. And we've seen this with the NBA. Coaches do this kind of thing all the time. If they know they're going to move a sort of big name vet to the bench, they'll let that guy play a couple of games as a starter for that season and be like maybe it makes sense to move you to the bench even though they knew that summer all along that's what they were going to do. Yeah, I think that was the plan here with Luka. And Frankly, I think LeBron has been looking for this. I think LeBron was hoping that Anthony.

Jason McIntyre (4:41)

Davis, but Anthony's not a playmaker.

Unnamed Analyst (4:43)

He is not a playmaker in that way. He was never going to be able to do that. So the fact that he has a guy who can frankly extend his career and extend him within games. We've seen so many games with LeBron. You can tell by the third or fourth quarter, especially defensively, he's starting to wear down. And Lukas just going to take some of that physical load off him in so many ways. And just the pounding he's going to get through the first few quarters.

Jason McIntyre (5:05)

Yeah, it's interesting. For the record, Anthony Davis is hurt. The Mavericks are actually playing well and I, Kyrie and Luca got along well and I may have some misgivings about some of the stuff with Kyrie and disruptions. He is an all time offensive talent. If you talk to NBA players, they talk about Kyrie and like Kobe reverence, like you can't stop him either hand.

Unnamed Analyst (5:30)

Sort of with that idea.

Jason McIntyre (5:32)

And if he was four inches taller, he would win an NBA one on one contest. He's just, he's a little small to stop, stop guys, because he's that good. So tomorrow, Lakers play Dallas. Yes. I saw a story where they won't let Luca jerseys in the building in Dallas. Are you surprised? The anger now Dallas is playing pretty well, so that, that really has helped the situation. But are you surprised by the outrage of it?

Unnamed Analyst (6:00)

No. I mean, look, you know, this game tomorrow is going to be here in Los Angeles and the big question there is, is Nico Harrison going to sit visibly in the stands in a way that Luka can see him? Because that's really the back and forth that we expect possibly tomorrow because Luka, when he gets amped and you know, we've seen him start swearing at fans or kind of pick a guy out and play. But people are still so angry in Dallas that later this spring when Luka comes to Dallas, I am so fascinated at who they're going to root for. At that point, Dallas is going to really be trying to make a run into the playoffs. I don't know what's going to happen because none of this has simmered down. None of it. If you talk to people in Texas, they are just as angry as they were when this first happened.

Jason McIntyre (6:41)

Yeah, I still think Dallas has a really good team and when AD comes back, they're going to be a handful. I really, I really believe if you think Kyrie is as gifted an offensive player as the sport has and that's you, there's an argument if you think AD is the best defensive player in the league. I do. You can't tell me with all those other parts. Dallas is not a, is not a team capable of getting to the conference final.

Unnamed Analyst (7:05)

It's just they're going to run out of time this year with the amount of time that AD is projected to miss and Lively is projected to miss. And it just seems like they're going to run out of time to be able to coalesce and make a run. And then you're really betting on next year or the year after that. And that bet is hedged against the next 10 years of Luka's career.

Jason McIntyre (7:23)

Right.

Unnamed Analyst (7:23)

So you had bet on this one or two year window that the Mavs are going to be the better team, but you are betting against that sometime in the next decade, Luke isn't going to make you look dumb and win a title. And I think there's a good chance Luka's going to win a title here in la.

Jason McIntyre (7:37)

So for years, Jimmy Butler listen, whenever there's a divorce, there's finger pointing, if not publicly, privately, it could be Brady Belichick. Doesn't matter if it's Aaron and the Packers. So Jimmy Butler wins everywhere. He got the Bulls of the playoffs, the T Wolves of the playoffs, the Sixers, if not for a bounce, the Kawhi bounce. They finally get to a second round playoff series. So it's the best series they've ever had. Miami last four years, two finals and then he goes to Golden State and it's like, oh, now they get to the free throw line, you cover the league. So obviously he's too talented to just bounce around. Some of it's true that he can be a pain in the butt, but he's also a winning player, like inside the league. Why Miami? I understood he wanted big money and they're like, we're not going to do it. I get that. But what is his reputation in the league? Because he wins everywhere.

Unnamed Analyst (8:31)

Everyone knows how good he is and that as you said, every single place he has been, he has worn out his welcome. Now what Golden State is banking on is this is the end. They've got the contract that he's going to have for the next couple years. He agreed to it. By the time that deal is done, he'll be 37 years old. So they are gearing, they're sort of betting on the fact that there won't be some big crazy blowup, acrimonious ending and that in the meantime he is giving Steph Curry an ending to his Golden State Time that is competitive.

Jason McIntyre (8:59)

They're on the same timeline.

Unnamed Analyst (9:00)

Interesting. And they're on the same timeline. And before it just with Clay gone, Steph was having to carry so much of the load and even before Clay left because he wasn't the player he used to be. Now he's got another guy when he's off the court. If you look at the on. Off minutes and Jimmy's on the court, he's making everyone better, even the bench players. And they just, they needed that shot in the arm so badly. And Steve Ker said, he gives us the swagger we haven't had.

Jason McIntyre (9:24)

Yeah. And. And I, I do think this is. I. I do think Steph Curry has been such an. A great states person for the league.

Unnamed Analyst (9:33)

Right.

Jason McIntyre (9:34)

That's. And I don't believe this very often, but I do believe it. In Steph Curry's case, you kind of owed him one.

Unnamed Analyst (9:40)

Yeah. Oh, I think they felt they owed him one.

Jason McIntyre (9:44)

The warriors did.

Unnamed Analyst (9:45)

I think they absolutely did because they have a real sense of honor about what he has brought to their organization, what he has done for them financially and otherwise. But I also think they knew they had this incredible asset they could maximize. I mean, this guy is one of the most popular players on earth in any sport.

Jason McIntyre (9:59)

Yeah.

Unnamed Analyst (10:00)

So keep him winning. You will keep people coming into the building and buying his merch.

Jason McIntyre (10:03)

Yeah. So sometimes it's just a personnel reality. You watch the Chiefs and the Eagles. Philadelphia had too many good players. Right. And Kansas City couldn't block them. When I watched the Knicks, I'm like, like the coach, I thought Mikhail Bridges, OG trade last year, they'd be a good defensive team, getting better. One thing that has become clear is both Cleveland and Boston attack cat, and they don't make. They go right after him. If the last two Boston Knick games, I've watched the first quarter of both, it is over. Do you think New York has misgivings about Carl Anthony Towns because he is a gifted offensive player?

Unnamed Analyst (10:43)

I mean, if they are, they just weren't very intelligent about what they were getting. And I don't believe that that's a smart front office. They know he's not a defensive center. I mean, we all know that. That's why Minnesota brought in Rudy Gobert. They knew what they were getting in Karl Anthony Towns. I think they hoped Mitchell Robinson would be healthier and back earlier than he has been. But also they thought they'd get better perimeter defense, which they haven't been getting. They have played so badly defensively for a Tom Thibodeau.

Jason McIntyre (11:08)

Team.

Unnamed Analyst (11:08)

It's shocking, Colin.

Jason McIntyre (11:10)

It is shocking. Well, Josh Hart just came back. That'll help Robinson and Hart'll help.

Unnamed Analyst (11:14)

He did, but he's been in and out. It's not like he's been just gone for the last couple months. I mean, they've had guys there. They've had injuries, but everyone has injuries. This has been just against the three. They're in the 29th or 30th in the league, depending on the day. And when you look against top 10 offenses, again, they are second to last in the league defensively.

Jason McIntyre (11:34)

Yeah. That's crazy.

Unnamed Analyst (11:35)

That's crazy.

Jason McIntyre (11:36)

Is it hard, Honestly? Was that. Was he better than we thought?

Unnamed Analyst (11:39)

There's so many different ingredients that went into this. It's who they traded away. It's now having guys who are vulnerable, like, you can attack Carl Anthony Towns, and frankly, you can attack Jalen Brunson because of his size. I mean, he's such a gritty player. He's been a marvel for them, but he can't grow. He only is who he is. And they thought they could shore up some of the other spots, and it just hasn't happened.

Jason McIntyre (11:58)

How about. You know, I think Daryl More. It's a really smart guy. Really smart guy. But when you put your arms around certain players and they put their arms around Embiid, and I've always said he's a. He's a. There are components to him that are. Shaq, like. But he's an odd player for me. He shoot. He's on the perimeter too often. He's 29% from the floor on threes, and he's shooting more of them that I know. He's gifted. I don't think he's a bad guy. But I said this earlier. Sometimes he's the big truck in the garage, that it's broken down again and you can't get it out. Like, he's not available. Is Embiid going to cost that front office work? I mean, this thing feels like Rachel, it's. It's gone over the edge.

Unnamed Analyst (12:43)

We hear it swelling again over the weekend, and they said they're going to get new imaging on his knee, and they're talking about surgery. If it were me, I would shut him down for the rest of the season. You're not salvaging anything. And frankly, your draft pick is top six protected. So if you land outside there, you're going to have to give up your draft pick. You want to keep that draft pick, especially considering how this season has gone. So I would shut him down. I would get him whatever surgery he needs. He came back too quickly last year after playing in a game where he got hurt in the very first place. This whole source of this injury, he never should have been playing in the first place, but he was being pressured to come back and play because of the 65 game rule and he was on his pace and all of this stuff. He never should have played in that game because he had missed the game before and he should never have come back as early as he did. He is a guy who physically, with the amount of height and weight and sort of the way he plays, I don't think is ever going to be an 80 game player. I mean we've seen that and I think if they treat him going forward, if they can get him healthy after this season and treat him going forward as hey, this guy's going to play 60 games for us, that's just how it's going to be. I think they have a chance of being able to reset here with him and Paul George, but I would, I would shut down things for the season because Paul hasn't been healthy either.

Jason McIntyre (13:54)

Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific.

Colin Cowherd (13:59)

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Jason McIntyre (14:29)

Count on T Mobile to help keep you connected from big cities to small towns on America's largest 5G network. Switch the T Mobile Keep your phone and they'll pay it off up to 800 bucks per line via prepaid card. Learn more@t mobile.com Keep and switch up to four lines via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device, credit service port in 90 plus days with device and eligible carrier and timely redemption required. Card has no cash access and expires in six months. Last week was our first playoff game and my plaque psoriasis was so itchy under all my gear. Sometimes just thinking about scratching could take me out of the moment. And then my doctor told me I could get clearer skin with a pill.

Colin Cowherd (15:18)

Called Otezla Otesla Apremilast is a prescription medicine used to treat adult patients with plaque psoriasis for whom phototherapy or systemic therapy is appropriate. Otezla can help you get clearer skin after just four months.

Jason McIntyre (15:30)

Okay, ready for the next game? Talking to my doctor about a pill was a total game changer.

Colin Cowherd (15:35)

Don't use OTTLA if you're allergic to it. Get medical help right away if you have trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat or arms, severe diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, depression, suicidal thoughts or weight loss can happen. Tell your doctor if any of these occur and if you have a history of depression or suicidal thoughts. Ostrom Live in the moment Ask your doctor about OT Tesla. Call 1-844-40-TESLA or visit otesla.com for prescribing info, info about cost and More the More better, the merrier title of your podcast all your old Brooklyn Nine9 friends are appearing on your favorite podcast, More Better. Don't miss Brooklyn Nine9 stars and show hosts Stephanie Beatriz and Melissa Fumero as they welcome their friends and former castmates back to laugh about old times and swap some stories. This week, it's Gina Linetti herself, the talented Chelsea Peretti. Remember when we were in that scene.

Unnamed Analyst (16:28)

Where you guys were just supposed to hug and I was standing there?

Jason McIntyre (16:31)

Yeah.

Colin Cowherd (16:32)

I was like, can I also hug them Then Next week, the Nine Nine nonsense continues as the More Better amigas sit down with Joe Latrulio, AKA Detective Charles Boyle. There'll be more laughs, more conversation, more stories from the set, and more More Better. Don't miss a minute.

Unnamed Analyst (16:50)

You felt safe enough to throw out.

Jason McIntyre (16:52)

A bad idea, right? I mean that is the key because you're definitely not throwing out good ideas all the time. I mean that's just not how it works.

Colin Cowherd (16:58)

Listen to More Better with Stephanie and Melissa on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Jason McIntyre (17:05)

So I am a big believer in I think baseball did a great job. Pitch clock has shortened the game by 25 minutes since they've done it. Attendance and ratings. Up at Fox we got had great numbers in the National League playoffs. I thought it was the best baseball playoffs in a decade since maybe the Cubs year. Really good. I am a tweaker. I believe in it. I think the NBA is overthinking the All Star weekend. All Star games outside of baseballs and baseballs to some degree, they're just not the same. They're not as special. Every game's on tv. I just don't care. And they're trying to tweak it and I think their tweaks aren't working. Could I just make an argument that the NBA All Star Weekend, the world has changed. The Pro Bowl's unwatchable hockey just said.

Unnamed Analyst (17:56)

Let'S try something different, something totally different.

Jason McIntyre (17:58)

Is there a way to solve the NBA All Star Weekend?

Unnamed Analyst (18:01)

Well, I was in San Francisco on the ground for you, Colin, and I asked several players, what about a one on one tournament? Because I don't know if you were paying attention to what the unrivaled women's league did recently, but Nafisa Collier won their one on one tournament. It was fantastic tv. No one was too embarrassed to go out there and try. Everybody went and did it. So I asked Kyrie Irving, I asked James Harden, I asked Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Edwards. They all said on camera recorded that they would participate in a one on one tournament. So maybe next year. That's what we need. Now Giannis did say, you need to, you know, match up the guys in terms of guardsmen. And he said also, I'd like to see defense be part of that. So it's not just, oh, you score on me, you're out onto the next guy. That's interesting. Could be interesting, right?

Jason McIntyre (18:44)

Yeah. I'll wrap it up with this. So the NBA signed an 11 year, $76 billion deal. They're fine now. I think NBC overpaid for it. I think the rights holder, currently the incumbent, abc, espn, that's where I'll watch my NBA or on Fubo or some, you know, device. I'm probably not going to go to a streaming service on a Tuesday night to watch Orlando play Cleveland. I'm probably not going to go to NBC. So you can argue they overpaid for it. But bottom line, with a new contract, Adam Silver's happy, the players are happy, the owners are happy.

Unnamed Analyst (19:18)

11 years of financial security.

Jason McIntyre (19:20)

Do you think? But. But they do get a lot of pushback. My argument is it's better to be polarizing than indifferent and that we all grew up. It's not an expensive sport. It's not hockey or golf or skiing or tennis. It's not exclusionary and that the fact that people have an opinion on basketball is good. They do get beat up on the rating stuff. Do you think the league cares?

Unnamed Analyst (19:44)

Yes, I absolutely think they care. I know for sure.

Jason McIntyre (19:47)

But the rating stuff, they do.

Unnamed Analyst (19:48)

Yeah, of course they do. I mean, it's not, it doesn't look good. And yes, they have their TV contracts wrapped up for the next decade plus. But they still need advertising and sponsorships and things like that. You don't want the perception that the league is in trouble. That being said, they keep stressing there's other metrics that their fans use. It's not just traditional cable TV anymore. They particularly have tech savvy fans. People watching on their phones. They're the most streamed league. Their social media is the highest, you know, which is where a lot of people watch clips, things like that. So their big thing is, hey, we're still being watched by so many millions and in fact billions of people worldwide.

Jason McIntyre (20:21)

They're watching it differently.

Unnamed Analyst (20:22)

It's just not the way you're measuring. And I think that has truth to it. It's like everything else that has some truth to it. And yes, ratings are down because people are interested in other things. Generationally people are not as interested in traditional sports if you're under a certain age. And that's just across the board.

Jason McIntyre (20:38)

You know, I've had this theory, I think, I don't know if I've told it to you that the iPhone changed everything. Is that we're an event culture. So UFC is safe, college football safe. The NFL is safe, the Olympics are safe, the World cup is safe. And like the World Series is safe and big events are safe.

Unnamed Analyst (20:57)

Well, the hockey that you liked so much was a big event.

Jason McIntyre (20:59)

It was an event. Events are safe. But we are so distracted on this that Monday through Friday sports that don't feel special. My wife is not going to let me after a football season. We're watching Netflix.

Unnamed Guest (21:12)

Yeah.

Unnamed Analyst (21:12)

Happening on a Tuesday.

Jason McIntyre (21:13)

Yeah. I mean I. I honestly believe this is. That my wife will give me events.

Unnamed Analyst (21:18)

Yes.

Jason McIntyre (21:18)

But if you look at baseball, hockey in the NBA.

Unnamed Analyst (21:20)

Yeah.

Jason McIntyre (21:21)

Regular season stuff, it's a hard pull.

Unnamed Analyst (21:24)

It is a harder sell. And by the way, this is part of the push and pull the NBA has with its stars sitting out of regular season games because then the players are messaging to the fans. We don't think it's that important either.

Jason McIntyre (21:35)

Yeah, I hate load management.

Unnamed Analyst (21:36)

I mean it's a tough. It's a tough position to be in.

Jason McIntyre (21:39)

Yeah. Are you going to the NBA? Are you going to the Lakers Mavericks tomorrow? J. Mac, you like controversial events. You're very controversial as a whole.

Unnamed Guest (21:47)

I'm controversial.

Jason McIntyre (21:47)

Are you going to go to it?

Unnamed Guest (21:48)

I will be there. Yes.

Unnamed Analyst (21:49)

I would like to see if the Nico Luca face off.

Unnamed Guest (21:52)

I would guess Nico's not going to.

Unnamed Analyst (21:53)

Be there, you know. Well, I mean I think he'll be in the area, but I don't know if he'll be.

Jason McIntyre (21:57)

I don't know.

Unnamed Guest (21:58)

Luca's crew might go after him. I mean, his dad may go after the guy. He's really ticked off. Some of the comments he had afterward.

Unnamed Analyst (22:06)

I think Nico Harrison has been seen in his regular seats in Dallas since the trade happened because of the fans around him.

Jason McIntyre (22:13)

God. I still think if Anthony Davis was healthy, you'd look at them and on a nightly basis you'd feel like we could end up in the finals. I think what makes it worse is Anthony's out, they're banged up, there's no Luca, so the product's not very good. Even when they win, it's not. It's not as lively.

Unnamed Analyst (22:30)

Was this unforeseeable to you, though, when they traded for a 31 year old guy with an injury history that was worse than the injury?

Jason McIntyre (22:35)

No, no, no, no, no. I wouldn't have made the deal. I. I argued this with somebody in the airplane the other day. I said if because he had missed back to back camps, he was hurt since around Christmas. Conditioning's poor, doesn't defend. He's the worst star defender in the league. I said, if you gave me three firsts, Anthony Davis and Austin Reeves, I wouldn't do it, but I could make an argument. Okay, I can couple those three picks into one. First, get a star. I could make an argument. I think it's unfair and intellectually dishonest to not acknowledge he's an atrocious defender. His conditioning is hit and miss. He doesn't necessarily always play well with others, and he'd been hurt in back to back camps and it was the same injury. It's this calf stuff, which can be a condition. Yes. So I think you have to be fair about this. It was a bad haul. They just didn't get enough. But I understand the conversation of he's aging really fast. I get that conversation.

Unnamed Analyst (23:39)

I don't know. I watched Nikola Jokic, at around the same age, completely change his diet and habits and go out and win three MVPs and an NBA title. I think that Luka Doncic, as competitive as he is, has done his whole career by eating what he wants, drinking what he wants. He's been a prodigy since he was 11 years old, and guess what? It's all work worked out. Colin, we know people like that, right? We know people in regular life who've just kind of gone along with study habits or good genetics or whatever it is, and they just always seem to do well on the test, no matter what. Or any of that. And at some point they hit a level where just being smart enough doesn't mean you'd always do well on the test. And just having good genetics doesn't mean that you always jump the highest. He is going to reach a point where his conditioning is catching up with him. And maybe that is now.

Jason McIntyre (24:21)

Yeah, I think it is now.

Unnamed Analyst (24:22)

But I think he has gotten mental wake up call. He has needed with this trade that we are going to see him in different kind of condition just like we did with Jokic. So we'll see. I mean, again, Nico Harrison has bet the next 10 years against the next couple years of what? Anthony Davis.

Jason McIntyre (24:37)

Yeah, it's a bad deal for them.

Unnamed Analyst (24:39)

And they're already losing this season of that bet because Anthony got hurt. And again, one might argue that while that particular injury wasn't foreseeable the way he got hurt, it was a foreseeable fact that he could be injured for a stretch of his Mavericks career because of his history and age.

Jason McIntyre (24:53)

Well put back in a second live in LA. The herd. One more herd. The herd streams 24 hours a day, 7 days a week within the iHeartRadio app.

Dallas Goddard (25:02)

Search herd to listen live or on.

Jason McIntyre (25:04)

Demand whenever you'd like. 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've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We like to get you involved too. Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports radio and the iHeartradio app from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcast. And of course, on social media, that's Covino and Rich with amex.

Colin Cowherd (26:03)

There's always a new experience to explore, from curating the perfect vacation and chilling in the centurion Lounge before you get there trying out that new trendy restaurant thanks to Priority Notify with global dining access by Resy and getting straight to the action at the big game with card member entrances at select venues with AMEX Platinum you can experience it all. That's the powerful backing of American Express. Terms apply. Access to the card member entrance not limited to the American Express Platinum card. Learn more@american express.com with AmEx you can.

Jason McIntyre (26:33)

Count on T Mobile to help keep you connected from big cities to small towns on America's largest 5G network. Switch the T Mobile keep your phone and they'll pay it off up to 800 bucks per line via prepaid card. Learn more@t mobile.com Keep and switch up to four lines via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device credit service port in 90 plus days with device and eligible carrier and timely redemption required Card has no cash access and expires in six months Colin Coward here with pro tight end Dallas Goddard to share his journey with plaque psoriasis and how he tackles his symptoms with otla. Aprimolast yeah, being a football player with plaque psoriasis can be challenging. My skin gets flaky and itchy, so my doctor told me about a pill, otesla. It works from the inside out.

Dallas Goddard (27:26)

OTESLA is a prescription medicine used to treat adult patients with plaque psoriasis for whom phototherapy or systemic therapy is appropriate. OTESLA can help you get clearer skin after just four months. Dallas is an OTESLA patient that has been compensated for his time. Don't use OTESLA if you're allergic to it. Get medical help right away if you have trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat or arms, severe diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, depression, suicidal thoughts or weight loss can happen. Tell your doctor if any of these occur and if you have a history of depression or suicidal thoughts.

Jason McIntyre (27:51)

Talking to my doctor about a pill was a total game changer. If you're struggling with plaque psoriasis, talk to your doctor about Otesla. Visit Otesla.com for more information or call 1-844-4-OTEZLA for prescribing info, info about cost and more.

Colin Cowherd (28:09)

The more better the merrier title of your podcast. All your old Brooklyn Nine9 friends are appearing on your favorite podcast, More Better. Don't miss Brooklyn Nine9 stars and show hosts Stephanie Beatriz and Melissa Fumero as they welcome their friends and former castmates back to laugh about old times and swap some stories. This week, it's Gina Linetti herself, the talented Chelsea Peretti. Remember when we were in that scene.

Unnamed Analyst (28:32)

Where you guys were just supposed to hug and I was standing there?

Jason McIntyre (28:35)

Yeah.

Colin Cowherd (28:36)

I was like, can I also hug them? Then next week, the 99 nonsense continues as the More Better amigas sit down with Joe Latrulio, AKA Detective Charles Boyle. There'll be more laughs, more conversation, more stories from the set, and more More Better. Don't miss a minute.

Unnamed Analyst (28:54)

You felt safe enough to throw out.

Jason McIntyre (28:56)

A bad idea, right? I mean, that is the key because you're definitely not throwing out good ideas all the time. I mean, that's just not how it works.

Colin Cowherd (29:02)

Listen to More Better with Stephanie and Melissa on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Jason McIntyre (29:09)

For the record, I got no pushback on my idea that if there was one star in Hollywood that you walk into a room and you would be starstruck, Tom Cruise would be it. That is no shot to any of the great actors in Hollywood. I love Ed Norton. Don Cheadle.

Unnamed Guest (29:24)

How about De Niro?

Jason McIntyre (29:26)

I wouldn't be in awe. I would be like, hi, Bob Pacino again.

Unnamed Guest (29:31)

I I oh, I got it. Leonardo DiCaprio. Come on, he's the man.

Jason McIntyre (29:34)

I would be, but I think it would be Tom's a movie star. Like Tom is just different.

Unnamed Guest (29:42)

DiCaprio's done everything. What about Brad Pitt?

Jason McIntyre (29:45)

I think in a weird way, Brad Pitt would know who I am and we could hang out.

Unnamed Guest (29:49)

Oh my gosh. Is that the most egotistical comment you've.

Jason McIntyre (29:52)

Ever made on the Tom Cruise has no idea who I am. J. Mac with the news that I know. No, no, no. This is the Herd line news.

Unnamed Guest (30:01)

Let's start with somebody who definitely knows who you are, and that's Sam Darnold, the Minnesota Vikings. Colin had a great season with Sammy D under center. Didn't end the season great. However, according to Jeremy Fowler, so a credible reporter, Minnesota's open to doing a deal with Darnold.

Jason McIntyre (30:17)

This is so weird.

Unnamed Guest (30:19)

And that the franchise tag is not the likeliest path. I don't know what to believe. Is this potentially Darnold's agent trying to get up leverage with the Raiders?

Jason McIntyre (30:28)

I think, I think it is. That's what I think it is. Because J.J. mcCarthy, you're not going to draft them and sit him. The reason you get that, the reason you want your rookie quarterback or your first or second year quarterback to play is because you're, you can load the roster up. So this has to be Darnold agent.

Unnamed Guest (30:45)

The only other angle is there's something about McCarthy's injury that we don't know that the Vikings.

Jason McIntyre (30:50)

How about this? Darnold's agent has a good relationship with the Vikings and he says, hey, I want to. I'm going to. I want to do. The Vikings want to do Sam solid. They're not going to keep him, but they like him. Everybody likes Sam. And the Vikings are like, you can release whatever you want. We'll make sure JJ McCarthy knows that's not really true, but there's an orange organizational handshake that, listen, we got to do Sam solid. We're not going to franchise tag him, but he did us. He did us. I mean, he won the division. Or was it. Did they finish? Yeah, they won the division, didn't they? Or they lost the division. So he didn't do a solid. We'll do you a solid. We just won't talk when that story comes out. We'll say we don't want to comment on it, but it drives up the number on Sam.

Unnamed Guest (31:32)

That sounds reasonable. And the Vikings seem like a good organization. Well, run. I just can't imagine O'Connell targeting his guy in McCarthy, getting him and then being like, nah, let's keep Darnold. That just doesn't make sense. All right, let's move on to the next one. Colin to. The NFL Combine officially opens today. Shadour Sanders will be in attendance and is expected to arrive with the other quarterbacks tomorrow. But he will not work out for teams. It's unclear if he's going to go through medical exams now just to defend. Should. Last year, the top three quarterbacks. Jaden Daniels, Caleb. Yeah, yeah, those three. The top three guys that went first, none of them were.

Jason McIntyre (32:11)

Yeah, it's kind of a trend.

Unnamed Analyst (32:12)

Yeah.

Unnamed Guest (32:13)

I mean, if you're up there, you're just not going to hold out or you're not gonna.

Jason McIntyre (32:16)

And I also think this is something I've heard from multiple people in the league. People know what Shadour is. He is a classic pocket quarterback who is a very accurate thrower, moving left, moving, moving right. His accuracy and his leadership are unquestioned. He's not a highly mobile quarterback. He's not Cam Ward the athlete. He doesn't have a huge arm. People have seen so much of him. They know what he is. It's not like when Lamar Jackson came in. You're like, is that going to work in the NFL? Or Jordan Love played against Utah State's competition. Is that going to work? I think. I think there are Times, if you like Cam Ward. I know what Cam Ward is. I saw him in the Pac12. I saw him at Miami. I've seen 30 starts like Bo Nix. I know what he is. I saw him at Auburn. I saw him at Oregon. I think for a lot of these guys, I knew what Caleb Williams was. Jaden Daniels, Arizona State, lsu. I don't need to see Shador Sanders throw. He doesn't have a big arm and he's really accurate and every scout in the league knows that.

Unnamed Guest (33:14)

Yeah, Deion is now pushing an angle like, hey, this guy had half a dozen offensive coordinators in his college career. We haven't seen the best of him yet, which is entirely possible. I'm just. It is intriguing to me if Shador ends up in Cleveland with Stefanski, who is known as something of a quarterback guru. He's very sharp offensive. That would be a good fit for Shador Sanders, I believe, if he landed well.

Jason McIntyre (33:37)

I mean, even the Giants with Brian Dable. That's a better than average fit as well. Yeah.

Unnamed Guest (33:41)

And the guy Callahan with the Titans.

Jason McIntyre (33:43)

No. You're lucky. So last year he's good. It was a really talented quarterback class, but most of them went to defensive coaches, which concerns you. This year it's not as talented a class, but most of the teams that need a quarterback have offensive coaches. So my take is that these quarterbacks, though not highly thought of, are all going to pretty good spots for B prospects.

Unnamed Guest (34:09)

And then there's. Look at number seven there on the screen. Can you see it squint?

Jason McIntyre (34:12)

The jets, they're going to get a.

Unnamed Guest (34:13)

Tight end coach and they don't have a quarterback. That's what we are.

Jason McIntyre (34:16)

They're going to get either Penn State's tight end or Arizona's receiver.

Unnamed Guest (34:20)

I had a bunch and they need both. Big time jets fan. Text me. Can we just tank for Arch Banning? That's how desperate fans are right now. Like, let's. Let's go Tyrod Taylor, whoever at quarterback, I don't care. But I don't want to invest in someone else like Kirk Cousins. And we could get Arch Manning in a year. Do you like architect that much that he'll be number one?

Jason McIntyre (34:39)

No, I don't know enough about it.

Unnamed Guest (34:40)

That's the thing. I. I don't know that he's like gonna be that.

Jason McIntyre (34:43)

But next year's class is considered better.

Unnamed Guest (34:45)

It is. And I will just point this out. I had Daniel Jeremiah on my podcast. Nobody's talking about Jalen Melro anymore. It's all Jackson dart and your Guy from Syracuse who Transferred from Kyle McCord. Why is nobody talking about Jaylen Milro anymore?

Jason McIntyre (35:01)

What's up?

Unnamed Guest (35:01)

I think my hunch is that many teams like him and they don't want anybody on the scent. Hey, let's put other names out there. Jackson Dart. Oh, he's rising here.

Jason McIntyre (35:10)

I watched Jackson Dart play half a dozen times. I never once thought first round quarterback. And that was. And that was with Lane Kiffin. So my take is Jackson Dart is a good third round quarterback, but all of a sudden I'm hearing all. And it's nothing against the kid, but I've. I've seen him practice in person. I watched a lot of his games with offensive coaches in college, and he always felt like a second third round pick to me.

Unnamed Guest (35:35)

You know how my parents always would say, trust your first instinct, Jason? You know, on a test or whatever. My first instinct was Jaylen Milro is going to be the third quarterback. I'm not wavering off that.

Jason McIntyre (35:44)

I agree.

Unnamed Guest (35:44)

All the noise.

Jason McIntyre (35:45)

No, I agree.

Unnamed Guest (35:46)

I'm telling you, Melrose, really talented. And you were the one who pointed out he checks all the boxes on.

Jason McIntyre (35:50)

A great kid, great parents. He is a bit mechanical. His comp is a big better version of Anthony Richardson. More athletic and a better thrower. But he is not a walk into this league and play guy.

Unnamed Guest (36:03)

No, I would.

Jason McIntyre (36:03)

Yeah, no, no, I should do. And Cam Ward could start tomorrow in the NFL. They. They'd be fine. Jaylen Milro is not ready to start in the NFL.

Unnamed Guest (36:09)

All right, final story, and this is not great. It's the Joel Embiid situation in Philly Collins. I mean, they, they're cratering. They've lost seven straight. He can't really do anything offensively. Settling for jumpers. Look at him missing a layup here. Actually got benched over the weekend for the entire fourth quarter. And then the stories are coming out that, you know, he's. He's looking at alternative options for his knee. Doctors have suggested. Are you ready for this? Embiid may need a radical procedure like micro fracture surgery, meniscus replacement. I mean, we're looking at six months to a year. Colin, it is over. It just feels. I, I kind of feel bad a little for Paul George, thinking, oh, we got a big three. Embiid, Maxi and me, Paul George probably going to get shipped this off season like this. This is done.

Jason McIntyre (36:56)

Sixers are toast. Yeah. The Philadelphia experiment is over.

Unnamed Guest (36:59)

The process continues, what, 10 years after we started. Trust the process.

Jason McIntyre (37:03)

No, it's over. Let's not. And also Cleveland's mostly young. Celtics are certainly not old. I mean, Jaylen Brown and Tatum are in their prime. Knicks are going nowhere. Knicks. Knicks struggle against the Cavs. And the Knicks, they don't. No, they're still. That's a solid team.

Unnamed Guest (37:18)

What do we do with Embiid's career in context? Want an mvp? He's never been to a conference.

Jason McIntyre (37:24)

You can't win a second playoff after LeBron leaves the East. I don't want to hear about it. I don't want to hear you in some top 10 center conversation.

Unnamed Guest (37:33)

I mean, Patrick Ewing made the finals, okay? Patrick Ewing.

Jason McIntyre (37:36)

Patrick Ewing is better than Joel Embiid. I.

Unnamed Guest (37:38)

People don't want to hear that because Embiid.

Jason McIntyre (37:39)

Three level scores, scorer. Threes. Oh, I'm sorry, kid.

Unnamed Guest (37:42)

Get to the conference finals. And he had Jimmy Butler on his team. He had a lot of good players on his team. Ben Simmons before he went sideways.

Jason McIntyre (37:49)

Everybody else got blamed. Yes, that just should be noted. Everybody else got blamed in Philly. Is he. Is he better than Dwight Howard?

Colin Cowherd (37:59)

No.

Unnamed Guest (38:00)

Dwight Howard at his prime was, like, the best center in the league for like, two or three years.

Jason McIntyre (38:03)

That's right.

Unnamed Guest (38:03)

No, no. Dwight Howard over.

Jason McIntyre (38:04)

Over a. I'll throw you a center. Okay, let me. Let me see.

Unnamed Guest (38:09)

Don't say, like, Dwayne Shinsis or something like that.

Jason McIntyre (38:11)

No, I'm not gonna do that. Okay, I'll throw a center. I mean that. I was gonna say Bob Lanier, but generationally, you don't even know. Hold on, hold on, hold on.

Unnamed Guest (38:24)

All the guys I'm thinking of, like, Ralph Sampson.

Jason McIntyre (38:27)

Ralph Sampson was better.

Unnamed Guest (38:28)

Well, he had an amazing college.

Jason McIntyre (38:30)

David Robinson. Stop it. Come on, D. Robinson. Of course. Jokic right now. Jokic by a mile.

Unnamed Guest (38:38)

Come on.

Jason McIntyre (38:39)

I'm thinking. What is he. I would take Dwight Howard, too, pal. I would take Pagasol. Won two titles.

Unnamed Guest (38:48)

I agree. People don't want to hear that.

Jason McIntyre (38:49)

No, pal. Gasol is one of the more underrated players. I mean, how about Marc Gasol? His brother, Embiid? Boy, boy, when you're getting the second best Gasol, that's not much. That's not a great way to end the segment.

Unnamed Guest (39:04)

Willy's gonna be upset.

Jason McIntyre (39:06)

How about no. Moses Malone was better than mb.

Unnamed Guest (39:08)

Of course.

Unnamed Analyst (39:09)

Yeah.

Jason McIntyre (39:09)

Moses Malone was the best rebounder in the league forever. J. Mac on the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by the Herd lie news. Go look up Elvin Hayes. Maybe that's it.

Unnamed Guest (39:22)

Is that a basketball player or. No, that's a joke. Everybody has a joke.

Jason McIntyre (39:28)

Colin Coward here with pro tight end Dallas Goddard to share his journey with plaque psoriasis and how he tackles his symptoms with otla. Aprimolast yeah, being a football player with plaque psoriasis can be challenging. My skin gets flaky and itchy, so my doctor told me about a pill, otesla. It works from the inside out.

Dallas Goddard (39:46)

OTESLA is a prescription medicine used to treat adult patients with plaque psoriasis for whom phototherapy or systemic therapy is appropriate. OTESLA can help you get clearer skin after just four months. Dallas is an OTESLA patient that has been compensated for his time. Don't use Otel Tesla if you're allergic to it. Get medical help right away if you have trouble breathing or swallowing, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat or arms, severe diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, depression, suicidal thoughts or weight loss can happen. Tell your doctor if any of these occur and if you have a history of depression or suicidal thoughts.

Jason McIntyre (40:12)

Talking to my doctor about a pill was a total game changer. If you're struggling with plaque psoriasis. Talk to your doctor about Otesla. Visit Otesla.com for more information or call 1-844-4-OTEZLA for prescribing info, info about cost and more Marc I'm Mark Seale. And I'm Nathan King. This is Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli.

Unnamed Guest (40:33)

The five families did not want us.

Unnamed Analyst (40:35)

To shoot that picture.

Jason McIntyre (40:36)

This podcast is based on my co.

Unnamed Guest (40:38)

Host Mark Seale's best selling book of the same title.

Jason McIntyre (40:40)

Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli features new and archival interviews with Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Evans, James Caan, Talia Shire and many others. Yes, that was a real horse's head. Listen and subscribe to Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, it's Alec Baldwin. This past season on my podcast, here's the thing, I spoke with more actors, musicians, policymakers and so many other fascinating people like writer and actor Dan Aykroyd. I love writing more than anything. You're left alone. You know, you do three hours in the morning, you write three hours in the afternoon. Go pick up a kid from school and write at night and after nine hours you come out with seven pages and then you're moving on. Listen to here's the thing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Colin Cowherd (41:37)

This is Mel Reid, LPGA Tour winner and six time Ladies European Tour winner and Kyra K. Dixon, NBC sports reporter and host. And we've got a new podcast, Quiet, Please. With Mel and Kira.

Jason McIntyre (41:48)

We are bringing you spicy takes on sports and pop culture, some interviews with.

Colin Cowherd (41:52)

Incredible people who have figured out how to make golf their superpower. And iheart WINS Sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

Unnamed Analyst (42:03)

Presented by Elf Beauty, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports.