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- [00:00]
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- [01:21]
Bobby Bones
Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast, Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle. Between us, we have over 17,500 passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirrorball trophy from Dancing With a Star. So where else are you gonna find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music and a little bit of everything. Listen to Lots to Say with Bobby Bones and Matt castle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [01:52]
Richard Sherman
The volume. You know this girl, you fall for this joke, you dope. Super bowl championship? That should always be I ain't mad at you. Go ahead. Welcome back to the Richard Sherman Podcast. You know what time it is. It's time to preview these championship games, both the NFC and afc. And unfortunately, Mitchell, your Detroit Honolulu Blue Boys aren't in it, but we have some really intriguing matchups. What do you think about them?
- [02:24]
Mitchell
You know what? Bummer of a weekend. Would love to have my Detroit Lions in this NFC Championship game, but I'm not going to run from it. I'm still going to rock their logo with pride. Next year is going to be a good year, Richard. I'm excited whether or not Detroit's in Them. I'm excited. I want to start with the AFC because that to me is the matchup of the year. The Buffalo Bills are going on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs and it's Josh Allen's time to really slay that dragon, if you will, with Patrick Mahomes. The Bills won already this season while at home 30 to 21 against the Chiefs and did so in what appeared to be pretty commanding fashion. Richard, how excited are you for this game? Like where's your head at with it?
- [03:08]
Richard Sherman
I'm really excited about it because it's going to. This is when it counts, you know. I understand the regular season matchup was cool. The Buffalo Bills have won four straight in the regular season against the Kansas City Chiefs though the stickler. The issue the problem to that is the postseason when all the chips are in and everything is for everything. They have lost every single game. The Kansas City Chiefs are 3 and oh versus the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs with Josh Allen at the quarterback position. And so that is the mountain they're going to have to climb. That is the hill they're going to have to conquer. That is the dragon, as you say, they are going to have to slay. No Darius and I think they'll have as solid of a shot as as you could have. But again, when it comes down to the Kansas City Chiefs, it's going to come down to the last possession. They have lived in last possession games this season. They have won every single one of them that they played. And it's going to be telling. You know, Vegas has as Ken see Chiefs as one and a half point favorites. Usually when you're a true favorite, you're a three point favorite at home. We've talked about that in the past. And so Vegas is seeing something. The Buffalo Bills at 35 takeaways this season, most in the NFL. They had eight giveaways this season, least in the NFL they won the turnover battle in every single game that they have played. That has to be some kind of record. I don't remember hearing about a team having such a dominant ratio as this and not being a really a championship team. And that's something we used to talk about and Pete Carroll used to talk about winning a turnover battle. Win the turnover battle and a lot of times you'll win the game. But this is the seventh straight AFC championship appearance for the Kansas City Chiefs and that matters. Pedigree matters. Understanding these moments, being in these moments before, that matters in these games. And I know we talked so much about the referees and the roughing, the passer calls and all that. It's still a really good team. A team that's been here before, that has championship medal, championship pedigree. They have the, the foundational pieces. They have the pillars that have been there before. We talked about Kansas City and their problems at offensive line, at the tackle spot. They put Tooney on the outside. He's held his, his own. They've shuffled it as much as they can. Obviously, on the right side, Juwan Taylor has had his issues with the penalties and in the alignment issues. Can they overcome that? And on the defensive side, Chris Jones, I mean, he's. This will be his, what, second game in four weeks? Our second game in six weeks. Well rested. You know, he had a little. He was a little banged up, but he's. He's rested now and I'm sure he'll be impactful. McDuffie's been here before. Justin Reed has two rings on his hand. So Watson was part of their championship team last year. You've got a lot of guys who've been here, done this. Car Loftus had three sacks last game against the Houston Texans. These guys are showing up in big ways. And when you're going against Spags, this will be Joe Brady versus Spag. What is it going to look like? Are you going to let Josh Allen beat you? Don't forget about James Cook. He's been incredibly impactful. Khalil Shakir, no drops in the playoffs this season on 13 reception, 13 targets, no drops. He's played a good game. Keon Coleman, you got all these pieces that have been playing complimentary football, but don't put it past his Buffalo Bills defense and the turnovers that they've been creating. That has been the difference.
- [06:31]
Mitchell
You're not, you're not lying about that. This Buffalo Bills team, it's a wild stat. 35 takeaways and eight giveaways. I mean, shoot, the Detroit Lions, my Detroit Lions had five last game so that the Bills have four straight playoff games like you said, with no turnovers. If it comes down to it, and Buffalo plays a clean game, do you think they win it? Because let's look at it. I mean, there's no lack of experience, especially playoff experience, on this Kansas City chief roster. I mean, they can win anyway, whether it's a shootout or grind it out game. But if the Bills play clean, if they don't turn the ball over, they win this turnover battle again. Do you think they win?
- [07:14]
Richard Sherman
I don't know. I don't think it's that simple in this game and it rarely ever is. They won a turnover battle. 3 oh versus the Baltimore Ravens. And the Baltimore Ravens were 12 point conversion drop away from tying the game with a minute and a half left to go in the game. So it's not always that simple as to say, hey, they win a turnover better if they win the game. Because who knows, maybe Josh Allen comes back after Baltimore ties up, drives down the field, kicks a field goal. They won the game anyway and it's easy. Or they go to OT and you never know what can happen. And Patrick Mahomes isn't going down that easy. He had two interceptions in the last game, got hit seven times. Can they protect him better? Can he protect the ball better? If, if Buffalo wins the turnover battle, obviously they're putting themselves in a great position to be successful and win that game. I don't expect them to turn it over very much. They have it all year long, but that doesn't necessarily guarantee anything.
- [08:06]
Mitchell
Well, the Kansas City Chiefs should be motivated. I mean they got. When you think, hey, it winning and winning and winning two straight Super Bowls, seven straight AFC championship appearances, how motivated do you think they are, Richard, to get this third championship under the belts? Because I want to bring you back in time because you and I have had conversations about your experience in Seattle and about the team that you guys had formed and what you believed could be the beginning of a dynasty. You win the first one or you get close the first year, you win the second year and then unfortunately you choose to throw the football inside the two yard line with under 30 seconds left in the game and ultimately lose. That would have been two in a row. And you said the following year that you guys kind of fell off the rails a bit. Everyone was, there was more, I don't want to say drama, but everyone started looking around and thinking about the past. Like, how motivated do you think the Kansas City Chiefs are to keep this train rolling and get third, the third super bowl victory under their belt?
- [09:09]
Richard Sherman
Well, it seems like they're really motivated because they're here, they're in the AFC championship. They went 15 and two. You know, you, you, you, you look at that and you say, yeah, they won a lot of nail biters, they won a lot of games in the last possession. Missed field goal or blocked the field goal or, you know, whatever the case may be. But they did it. And I think they deserve a lot of credit for that because it's tough, it's tough to be motivated when you got two rings on your finger. You're you know, cleaning the trophy. That's just going back into the case. Like, you got the best team in football, your quarterbacks doing all these commercials, you're tight end, everybody's fed, everybody's eating, everybody's having a great time. You had a great off season. And now your coaches, for some reason, they're not getting poached, which is weird, you know what I mean? Because you're not going to. Is it all Andy Reid? I think that's what people believe. They believe offensively, it's all Andy Reid. So Eric B. Enemy didn't get a coaching job, you know, not a head coaching job. Had to go coordinate somewhere else. He's kind of gone to the wayside now. They have Matt Nagy coordinating for him now. We saw how he did in, in Chicago. It didn't go great, you know, so not every offensive genius works out to be a great head coach. But he's, he's got two rings right now in Kansas City. And then you got spags who's had opportunities to be a head coach. Is, has been one of the best coordinators in the National Football League defensively, hands down. Over the last two years, you would have thought he would get an opportunity, but it hasn't happened. So it's, it's led to more continuity for the Kansas City Chiefs, which is great. Those coaches continue to innovate, continue to be at the forefront of creating game plans and schemes that give opponents problems. And I think this will be another one. Obviously, Josh Allen has done as good of a job this season as he done any season protecting the football. That's a lot of the reason they're in a position to be successful. But I just think this is going to be a hard out. It's never easy, especially when you have to conquer the mountain that you haven't conquered before. It's easier when you say, oh, we can put it on the tape of a playoff game. We've beaten them. Now you can put on the tape of four regular season games. You've beaten them and you've had success. But in the postseason, home or away, you haven't found a way to get it done. And I think again, if you get to these situations, you get deep in these games and things don't go the way that Buffalo thought it would go, that seed of doubt starts to creep in. That seed of doubt, like, oh, my God, it's going to be like last time. Oh, my God, not again. That. That mindset kind of creeps in because it's in the back of your head. These are human beings. So you can, you can say, oh, we know we can beat these guys. We know, we know. We come in, we expect to win. You do. These are pros, they're confident. But you haven't done it in the playoffs. So that seed of doubt is always in the back of your mind. And the more Kansas City plays well, they get a lead, a touchdown, 10 point lead, then that seed gets a little bit of water on it. And that's where that seed gets a little bit of water. It starts to germinate because you start to believe, oh, my God, not again. Not Kansas City again. And Kansas City usually plays their best football when they have to have it. So we'll see.
- [12:31]
Mitchell
So who's it going to be, Rich? I mean, you got to make a pick right now. I need, I need your prediction. Is it finally Josh Allen's time to slay that dragon, or do you think it's yet again Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelsey and the crew.
- [12:48]
Richard Sherman
I want to give it to Josh. I want to say, hey, Josh Allen and the boys, they're going to get it done. James Cook playing his best football. Joe Brady dialing it up like it's gonna work out exactly like they see. Like they see it is. Josh Allen's gonna protect the ball. Their defense gonna play well enough, they're gonna get this win. Can't do it, Mitchell. Can't go against the champs. Something tells me, just don't go against them, Mitchell. I've done it and I played against them. Literally going against them. Didn't want it work out. We had them, had him against the ropes. It didn't work out. So I'm not going to go against them now. They proved me wrong enough times now I'll go against them this time, Mitchell, and they'll prove me wrong again. And then Buffalo will win, of course. But I got to go with Kansas City. I think Kansas City finds a way to get this done. I think there are evenly matched teams, but Andy Reid and that pedigree and these guys just always find a freaking way to win these games, especially at home. They're tough team to beat.
- [13:50]
Mitchell
Richard. If Patrick Mahomes is able to keep this streak going and the Kansas City Chiefs are able to get back to the super bowl and ultimately win it, what does this do to his legacy? I know the conversation's already started. Let's not mistake that. You know, Tom Brady is the goat right now, but Patrick Mahomes is not too far behind. What does this do to his legacy in that conversation for goat status?
- [14:15]
Richard Sherman
Well, Mitchell, he's a baby goat right now. He's a baby goat, and Tom Brady's the big old goat with the gray in his beard and he's standing on top of the hill and he can, yeah, and eat and eat the pastures and he can feel great. But this kid is nipping Mitchell. He gets to another. He gets to another super bowl and finds a way to win that super bowl, gets another super bowl mvp. It starts to become a really, really, really, really interesting conversation at this point in his career because his career isn't over. And everybody talks about the first half of Tom's career versus the second half. You know, there was a. There was quite a few years between his, his third super bowl and the next super bowl, et cetera, et cetera. But this kid's already got his third super bowl. And if he gets his fourth this season, I mean, it will depend on who saw him play. The people who saw Tom play will say Tom. They'll say, this game has become watered down. It's soft. They're flopping like nobody can play defense in this, in this atmosphere. You don't barely. You barely can touch the kids. Millennials, etc. Etc. Whatever. They're saying Gen Z. But the people who watch Patrick play, they're going to say Patrick. That's what it's going to be, especially if he wins this one. It's going to be who you watched. And I know people will have different differing opinions. There are people who think Montana is the best. You know, people watch Joe Montana think Joe Montana is the goat, and they don't. They will not hear anything else. People that watch Marino feel like Marino has an argument even though he didn't win him a bowl. But that's what I think. I think people will think it's whoever they watched.
- [16:05]
Mitchell
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- [18:43]
Richard Sherman
What kind of advantages do they have? I mean, we take the take the crowd, take the home field, take all that out of it. They have a ton of advantages. They got the better team. Now matter doesn't always mean anything, but if you just look down the roster, they're the better team. They got the better running back. They got the better offensive line. They got the better receiving core. Their defense is played better. Then you say, hey, they're at home now. Do I think their coaching staff's better? No. No. I'm going to give my guy DQ the advantage every single time and twice on Sundays. Do I think they have the better Mike linebacker than the hall of Famer, the All Pro? No, I don't. At the Cornerback spot. Very interesting conversation, especially now that Quinon Mitchell, you know, had the injury. We don't know what his status is for Sunday. Lattimore's there for the Washington Commanders now. You know, I'm sure they'll have him on all day. Always open. AJ Brown for majority of the game. You got our guy. Big play. Slay, who had a great game against the Rams last week. The safety position, I think, goes to advantage to Philadelphia. You know, although I like Washington safeties, D line, Jalen Carter and the boys, again, I think that goes to Philadelphia. But again, as I said earlier that last game, and I know Philadelphia fans don't agree with me, but, I mean, what's new? When I watched the Philadelphia Eagles versus the Washington Commanders, Jalen Hurts got hurt early in that game. He was 1 for 4 for 11 yards or something like that, but got injured. Kenny Pickett played the rest of that game. Saquon did what saquon does, had 150 yards, you know, did his thing. Ball control, offense. They scored 33 points, but it was the other guy on the other side that really had me looking very closely at the results of this game. Because you know what it told me, Mitchell and I said it. And I want to say. I want to say I. I said it at the time in that. In the podcast next day. Better be careful because that. That game gave them a weird belief because I understand Jalen Hurts got. Got injured and their offense wasn't the same, et cetera, et cetera. But Kenny Pickett played okay, and you just ran the ball with Saquon. He ran the ball like he ran the ball the previous game, you know, about the same yardage. He averaged 5.2. I think he averaged 5.5 the game before when you played the Commanders, so it wasn't that much crazier. Is Jalen Hurts a good quarterback? Yes. Yes. We're not arguing that. But he doesn't play defense. And C.J. gardner Johnson went out that game. That's a big piece of that puzzle. Gotcha. But Quinion Mitchell potentially may be out this game. Big piece of the puzzle. His qbr, Jaden Daniels, QBR in that game, not his quarterback rating. His qbr out of 100 was 96.2. They turned the ball over. Let me confirm this, because I don't want to lie to you. The Washington Commanders turned the ball over five times in that game. They gave it to the other team five times. They still scored 36 points, the most points the Philadelphia Eagles gave up all season to a Rookie quarterback, same weapon, same everything. His QBR was 96.2 out of 100. The QBR puts a lot more into it than quarterback rating. It puts a lot more into it. He threw two interceptions and still was 96.2. I'm just saying. I'm not saying he has it all figured out. Not saying he played perfect. He threw two interceptions. But to overcome five turnovers and win that game with a rookie quarterback going against a roster that's better than yours. You could say Jalen Hurts was out all you want, and that's the truth. He was out. Is he going to stop them from scoring 36 points? Like what? The time of possession. People say it's a time of possession ball game, Mitchell. They said that's why Jalen Hurts was important in that game, because it's time of possession and they're a time of possession team. Can I tell you what the time of possession was, Mitchell?
- [23:06]
Mitchell
Let's hear it.
- [23:07]
Richard Sherman
The Eagles held the ball for 36 minutes, 18 seconds. The commanders had the ball for 23 minutes and 42 seconds. So wait, the time of possession wasn't the issue. That wasn't that much different. It was skewed greatly to the Eagles favor, and they still lost that game, Mitchell. And that's the part that gives me angst when picking the Eagles in this game. Remember when Jared Goff, your team, Detroit, had five interceptions in the game? Remember how good it felt to watch your team overcome that? That showed championship pedigree. This is a divisional game where all that could go wrong, went wrong. And they found a way to win with a rookie quarterback. That's a team that's coming into this game. And I know that's what the tape that Dan Quinn is showing this team, hey, this isn't. This isn't something we can't get done. This isn't something we've never done before. This is something we could do. And even though they had the ball most of the game, we turned the ball over five times, our quarterback threw for five touchdowns, and we won that game. That's what I'm saying, Mitchell. I got Washington.
- [24:20]
Mitchell
And you know what? We have tape, we got receipts here if you want to replay that episode from week 16. Because you're absolutely right. I mean, you called it. And we were talking off air, and I was like, well, yeah, they were. Without Jalen Hurts. You know, naturally, the Commanders would win that game with Kenny Pickett. Yes, he can. Coming in the game. But you said to me, hey, hey, Mitchell, you got to look deeper here. What concerned me was the defense. And what I saw was Jaden Daniels overcoming a lot of adversity of his own. I mean, this kid is a flat out stud. And again, we got receipts. Also, our season intro, we said, if Jaden Daniels can come in here and be a student, the Washington Commanders could make some noise and get into the playoffs. And here they are the only team in the league right now to have two playoff wins or to have a playoff win period, on the road. And they're going for number three on the road here again. But it's not going to come easy at all. This Philadelphia Eagle team, I feel like they've been knocking on the door of a Super bowl for a long time. Last season they were the reddest of red hot teams till about week 11 of the regular season. And then they started to taper off. And this year they kind of regained that flame. And the addition of Saquon Barkley, the blunder and the gift from the division foe the New York Giants to the Philadelphia Eagles is what I think could really tip the scales in Philly's favor. If Jaden Daniels is able to go into Philly and come away with this win, how historic would this moment be? Rookie quarterback entering the super bowl with a team that was picking number two last year?
- [26:03]
Richard Sherman
It would be historic. That would be history. But he's the sixth rookie quarterback to start a championship game. But he's the first without a top three defense. That tells you something, Mitchell, and that's what I'm saying. Like, do I believe Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles can beat the Washington Manors? Surely. I was there on Thursday night when they played the first time and they beat him. But I also remember that game being closer than the scoreboard showed for a lot of that game, until Saquon Barkley broke that thing open. And that's the thing, Mitchell, until Saquon Barkley broke that game open. And that's what he continues to do. Makes him an MVP candidate, likely offensive player of the year. But they may give it to Lamar or Josh. Whoever doesn't win mvp, I got you. But Saquon Barkley has been the heartbeat. He's been the reason they've won a lot of these close games. And when the game is in doubt or it's close or it's tied and they're just, hey, they're spinning their wheels. Bang. Saquon Barkley, 65 yard touchdown run bank. Now all of a sudden they're up, they're comfortable, everybody's cheering. Sigh of relief. And it's happened. Nobody's been able to stop it yet. You know, the Rams again, they were in that game. It's a dog fight. It's a battle. Bang, bang, bang. Saquon, bang. I'm separating this game. Oh. Oh. The Rams feel like they got a chance. You know, they're breathing life into him. Bam. Saquon slapping his helmet. You are not stopping this, man. If the Washington commanders, and they have not shown the capacity to do it yet because they played him twice and he's had 150 in both games. But 150 is okay, 150. Hold him there if you can hold him to 150. And it sounds crazy. If you can keep him at 150, you've shown you can beat him in that game. They beat him after he had 150 and Jaden Daniels played out of his mind. Maybe Jaden doesn't play out of his mind this game. Maybe the the Philadelphia Eagles. Find some answers, find some game plans, adjust some things. But again, these mobile quarterbacks are an issue for defenses. It's not as simple as X's and O's and just draw up answers. It's going to be down to the Jimmies and Joes. And it sounds like Quinya. Mitchell believes he can play. He's been limited in practice, but again, Nicobi Dean is out. What is going to happen in this game isn't as black and white as people want to see as want to say on paper, the better team. Philadelphia Eagles at home. Veteran guys have been in a Super Bowl. Best offensive line in football, One of the best defensive lines in football. Great receiving core. Best running back in football. Arguably, you know, some would say Derek Hent. Really? They debate that with somebody else. But I just feel like this kid is something special and he's elevating. He's injecting a belief. You know, do you remember back in the day, video games? It used to be like the quarterback, when he's hot, it like raises the attributes of all your other players. And now 80, 85% players are 90 fives and this and that. When a quarterback's hot, that's where he's at. Mitchell, he's elevating. He's increasing the overalls of the players around him. And I think that's going to be enough for them to win this game. And I know Philadelphia fans are upset with me. Find the hole in my logic. That's all I'm saying. Look, I'm here to listen. You can say, oh, you just hate on our team all the time. I'm just looking at the game that happened and what happened in the game. Now Jalen Hurts is going to play this game cool. I got you. It's going to be closer than Eagles fans think. I know you guys want to say this is the same old commanders or Redskins team that you're used to playing. It's not. Dan Quinn is a motivator of many. He's a leader of men. Be careful with this team. Do not be surprised if you, if you watch your team not play the way that you used to them playing if they win. Congratulations to the Eagles. I, you know, I mean Sirianni's done a great job, but I'm excited to watch this game, I'll say that.
- [30:00]
Mitchell
Well, back to your point on Jaden Daniels elevating those around him, especially his receivers. Case in point, Diami Brown. I mean this guy hadn't been anywhere the first three years in the league or whatever. It's been that he's been there and now the last four weeks he's, he's wide receiver too in Washington and he looks darn good at it. And the other guy ain't shot. Kudos to him because there's so many wide receivers in this league that are, you know, quote unquote divas and Terry McLaurin is certainly not one of them. I mean this is the pros pro. He's, he's weathered the storm of dealing with teams that have finished in the top five of draft after draft after draft. And if there's anyone in this league that deserves a top flight quarterback to throw him the ball, it's probably Terry McLaurin and he's taken full advantage of it this year. The other big thing of this is they are division rivals, you know, at the end of the day and you played in a very, very historic division rival NFC championship game. When you run the Seattle Seahawks with the infamous to the New York or The San Francisco 49ers fans tip play. I mean, how motivating was it for you? Obviously you're motivated to win an NFC championship, but how extra motivated are you to make sure your division foe does not win the go win that game and go on to the Super Bowl?
- [31:17]
Richard Sherman
Well, I think there's definitely some added motivation, but there's added familiarity. So you know, you may watch, you know, a team going against a non division team, maybe it's a blowout, maybe, hey, they just overcome by too much talent. But even when you have divisional rivals that you don't even feel like are evenly matched. Rarely is it a blowout because those teams just have too much pride going for each other unless one team is just totally inept. But this is going to be a game of teams that aren't afraid of each other. They're not afraid. You know, the Eagles aren't afraid of Jaden Daniels. They know what he has to offer. They, they have experience with this team. They have experience with Terry McLaurin. But on the flip side, the same is true with the Washington commanders. They don't have the fear of the Philadelphia Eagles are going into Philadelphia and trying to win this ball game. I think they believe they're going to be able to win this ball game. The last time they played, they did win and it was, it was in Washington, not Philly. But the time that they played in Philly, they felt like they were in that ball game. A lot of it. You know, I mean it ended up being a one score ball game. The Philadelphia Eagles end up winning, I think it was by eight points or something like that. And so it's going to be a really good game and I, I'm looking forward to it. I'll have my popcorn in hand, I will have my feet kicked up and I will have my notebook in hand because I will be taking notes because something tells me I'm going to be right.
- [32:37]
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- [33:14]
Bobby Bones
Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast, Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle. Between us, we have over 17,500 passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirror ball trophy from Dancing with the Star. So where else you going to find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? Based in Nashville, we're more than just your basic NFL show. We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music and a little bit of everything because we got lots to say. I I texted you and you texted me back. Now I don't know if you have the update, but like all the little thumbs up and heart and stuff. Like it's all colored. They changed it and the, the heart's a little pink. It felt like I told you I loved you. I'm going to be honest. It felt was a little pink.
- [33:57]
Richard Sherman
There was something sentimental when you, like.
- [33:59]
Mitchell
When, when you send it, you, it's like, do I send the heart now?
- [34:03]
Bobby Bones
I don't like the color edition.
- [34:04]
Mitchell
It's extremely pink.
- [34:06]
Bobby Bones
Listen to Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [34:13]
American Express Representative
I'm so sick of hearing men talk about women's basketball. If only there were a professional WNBA player with her own podcast I could listen to. Hey, this is Lexi Brown, WNBA player and professional yapper. And this is Mariah Rose. You may know me from spilling the tea on Hoops for hotties on TikTok. And we've got a new podcast, Full Circle. Every Wednesday. We're catching you up on what's going on in women's basketball, and not just in the wnba, but with Athletes Unlimited unrivaled and college basketball. We've got you with analysis, inside stories, and a little bit of tea. I know you guys have seen a lot of former and current basketball players telling their stories from their point of view, and I just think it's time for the girlies to tap in. We want to share all of the women's basketball stories that you won't see anywhere else. Tune into Full Circle, an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports.
- [35:16]
Richard Sherman
The forces shaping markets and the economy are often hiding behind a blur of numbers.
- [35:21]
American Express Representative
So that's why we created the Big Take from Bloomberg Podcasts, to give you.
- [35:26]
Richard Sherman
The context you need to make sense of it all. Every day in just 15 minutes, we dive into one global business story that matters.
- [35:33]
American Express Representative
You'll hear from Bloomberg journalists like Matt Levine.
- [35:36]
Richard Sherman
A lot of this Meme stock stuff is, I think, embarrassing to the search.
- [35:39]
American Express Representative
You see Amanda Mull, who writes our Business Week Buying Power column.
- [35:44]
Richard Sherman
Very few companies who go viral are, like, totally prepared for what that means. And Zoe Tillman, senior legal reporter.
- [35:51]
American Express Representative
Courts are not supposed to decide elections.
- [35:54]
Richard Sherman
Courts are not really supposed to play a big role in choosing our elected leaders.
- [36:00]
American Express Representative
It's for the voters to decide.
- [36:03]
Richard Sherman
Follow the Big Take podcast on the iHeartrade radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.
- [36:09]
Mitchell
Obviously Teams get eliminated for playoff contention. And this coaching circuit has started to really take shape. And unfortunately, my Detroit Lions are starting to get cannibalized. I mean, we already lost Ben Johnson to the Chicago Bears. Aaron Glenn just took the New York jets job. Congratulations to both those guys. Terrell Williams just got the D.C. job with the Patriots. I mean, it's. You see three staff members get poached within the matter of not even, what, four days since the Lions exited. I want to start with Ben Johnson going to the Bears because I'm here in Detroit. I gotta listen to the Detroit local sports media. And it's wild. I mean, how quickly a fan base turns on a team after a 15. 2 season and losing. And a lot of these, you know, folks that are writing in on Twitter or Facebook or Instagram, whatever social media platform you want to talk about or, you know, calling into the local sports talk radio shows are blasting Ben Johnson for not being prepared and not, you know, and taking interviews in the lead up to that Washington Commanders game and then exiting and alleged allegedly having his staff already ready to go within two days of an exit. They're viewing it as a mega distraction and wanted him out of town if he was going to be distracted. Like, personally, I don't buy that Ben Johnson has given it his all here in Detroit. He's ribbon this team and this offense up. Offense up from the ashes. He's deserved a head coaching job for the last couple years. He was very patient. He went. He went forward in Detroit the next year when he certainly didn't have to stay. He was one of the hottest names in last year's coaching circuit. So I give him props. I think Chicago is a hell of a fit. But my question to you is, you know, how truly, how much of a distraction do you think it is? Like, how turned off would you be as a player seeing your OC exit stage left two days after you lose in devastating fashion to the Washington Combiners?
- [38:13]
Richard Sherman
I don't make me switch hats, Mitchell. Let me switch hats because I don't know. We don't know about this. Like, my problem with this, and this is, this is the loyalty of sports that frustrates me because this is how quickly the loyalty, like waivers for. For certain fans, not all fans, because, you know, I mean, let's not generalize, but if you think about last season, Detroit had won their first playoff game in however many years, got to the NFC Championship unexpectedly. They were talking about building a statue of Jared Goff. He wins the super bowl, gets paid, does his thing 15 win season number one seed Ben Johnson's coming back. There's so much love in the city. There's so much greatness, so much happiness. And then disaster strikes. They lose. Now you're saying he was unprepared, seemed scored 31 points. Now you're saying Jared Goff isn't worth the contract he was getting, had a really good season, didn't play great in this game. Sure, give him criticism. But to almost like totally flip on these guys is the disappointing part for me. And, but that's the way losses affect fans. In some way, it affects some fans. And that's why you don't expect. Don't expect loyalty from players because of how quickly people are to turn on you because it didn't work out the way you wanted it to. Like, I don't think Ben Johnson wanted to lose that game. I don't think he was distracted. I don't think. I don't think if he didn't do head coaching interviews, the game would have went differently and, oh, my God, he would. They would have came up with such a good game plan. They had a good game plan. They scored 31 points. Jared Goff threw three interceptions. One of them was a pick six. Like, it's going to be tough to win that game. I don't know if it's because he's. Because Ben Johnson wasn't prepared. Jared, through those interceptions, like, he just had an off game. I mean, when he threw the five interceptions, you know, I don't think Ben Johnson was interviewing that week. And Jared threw five, you know what I mean? And they found a way to win that game. They didn't find a way to win this game. I don't think, because Aaron Glenn was interviewing that this defense played that they were decimated and they had been playing above their means for a long time. And unfortunately it caught up to them. They got it. They went 15 and 2. It was still a good season. They lost to a team that's hot right now. I'm sure those teams that lost to Eli Manning and those Giants, you know, are feeling away, too. They're sitting there like, how did you lose to a team that's nine and seven, but they beat an undefeated Patriots team. Like, football is one of the craziest sports. That's why it's the best sport in the world. Because any given day, anything can happen. That's why we watch. That's why we love this sport. You know what I mean? It's people overcoming. It's underdogs. It's good stories, it's storylines, it's the fight, it's the grit, it's the grind. For you guys to think he hasn't been building a staff for the next last two years. He hasn't been having conversations for the last two years of coaches, hey, if I take a job, are you coming with me? If I take a job, he didn't. This didn't happen over the last week. Like, that's silly for you guys to think. It's silly for you to. To really even consider. You think all these guys he's hiring, these conversations just happened two weeks ago. Like, that's silliness. These conversations have been happening the last two years. If he would have taken a job last year, it probably would have been the same staff. So, again, like, it wasn't a problem last year and it shouldn't be a problem now. Like, don't be mad because a guy is prepared for his moment. Like, be happy for him. He gave you his all. He did. We tried. He even stayed another year to try to try to do it again. I can understand frustration. Like, is it disappointing? No question about it. Detroit, I understand it. Disappointment. Fully disappointed. I can respect that. And you're not wrong for that. The problem comes when you don't appreciate. When you sit there and say, hey, was he doing a lesser job for us? Looking towards the future? Like, don't do that. Don't speculate. Don't speculate. Just take the loss and say, we weren't good enough this day. Don't start saying, oh, man, our quarterback isn't the right guy. Like, was he the right guy for those 15 wins? Like, when did he stop being the right guy? When he. When he threw the interceptions this day? Like, come on. Like, it has to be more than this. Like, there's only going to be one team to win the super bowl this year. And so it's. Are. Are the other 31 quarterbacks disappointing? Are there disappointments? Are they just not the right guys for the job? That's not true. You can't just turn on guys. You know what I mean? Because it didn't go great this time. And that's the same problem I have with some. Some of the San Francisco fans. That's what I. With a lot of fans in general. Like, there are lawyer fans, and they don't. They don't stop being loyal to the team and the logo. They just stop being loyal to the players. They just stop being loyal to the players. Like, let's get rid of him. I guarantee you could do worse. You can do worse than Jericho. It won't be as sweet without Jared Goff. But. But to that point, no, I don't think. I don't think it was a distraction. I don't think Ben Johnson was in here like, oh, man, calling guys up till 1 o'clock in the morning, hey, are you. Would you be my office gordier? Would you be my dc? Like, hey, would you be my. Like, these conversations happen during off seasons. They happen during the season. They happen through agents. They happen all the time. You think somebody's going to take a job and then be like, let me get on the phone and see who's available? Like, no. People have to move their families. They have to talk to their families, their wives, their husbands, their kids, get into schools. Like, they have to be prepared when it happens. So give me a break.
- [44:16]
Mitchell
You know what? The Detroit fan base is so used to just lackluster management. From the top down, from the general managers to the coaches, we've never seen. I can't tell you. I think the last time they had an OC hired to take a head coaching position, I believe, was don Shula in 1963. Success hasn't been a thing for this Detroit lion program. And frankly, I think the Detroit lion fan base has to come to grips with the fact that just because you're good and just because you're damn good, really damn good, doesn't mean you're going to win the Super Bowl. Richard, you've been on so many damn good football teams that should have won Super Bowls. And if there's anyone that can state how hard it is to actually win it once you get there, I would have to believe it's you. Because when that finally happens, when Detroit, Detroit finally gets over that hump, and I believe they will, I think this championship window just started getting open. I think it just started getting open. And that will be a great day in Detroit's history. Detroit and this fan base should be more than flattered that both OCS got taken away from him. It sucks, it hurts, it's devastating, especially coming off this unexpected loss to the Commanders on Saturday. But what they're building right now, if there is any indication that what you're building right now in Detroit is the white right way to build things. It's the fact that these guys are getting approached by other organizations, all of them, and getting interviewed, and three of them have already been taken away. Dan Campbell has solutions. Like you already said, Ben Johnson had these conversations in the off season. Dan Campbell didn't know if Ben Johnson was coming back last year, so you know darn well he's got a plan B in, in in mind. Same thing with Aaron Glenn. He was the Aaron Glenn's number one advocate to get a head coaching job. If there's any better form of you're the man to Dan Campbell, it's having your OC and DC take head coaching jobs. So Dan Campbell should feel like he did a hell of a job. So I'm Aaron Glenn taking the jets job. Do you think that's the right fit? Former Jet? What are your thoughts with him?
- [46:24]
Richard Sherman
Well, I'm happy for him, you know, I'm happy for anybody getting a head coaching opportunity that wants it, that wants to pursue that. I'm sure that was a dream of his, especially to do it somewhere that he played. But I mean, I'm salty, you know what I mean? I got a bad taste in my mouth just from the way the Robert Salo situation went, the way Woody Johnson handled it. They were 2 and 3 going to compete in Buffalo for the division. He fires him coming off the London game where I, you know what I mean? You know, the quarterback didn't play a great game. Nobody really played great. And then, you know, to see the season kind of go to shambles for that team and everything that, that kind of happened after that, I just hope that lessons have been learned by Woody Johnson and he stays out of it. You know, stay out of it. Let, let it, let it play out. You know, let the coach coach. You know, if injuries happen and, and things. Put the, do everything you can with management and everything to put the best, you know, 53 man roster together, that's fine. But don't fire the head coach five games into the season and then say, oh man, I'm doing this for the culture. The man's been there. Let a man build a culture. Let him see his contract through or fire him, but don't fire him five games into the season. And so I'm happy for Aaron Glenn and I think he's going to do a great job and they have a talented team and I hope that he, he's able to reach the players and the way that he was able to reach them in Detroit and maximize their potential and things like that. I just hope Woody Johnson stays out of it. I just that part of it, wishing him the best.
- [48:00]
Mitchell
How big of a decline do you see for Detroit next year, if any, losing the OC and dc?
- [48:05]
Richard Sherman
Well, I mean, it's going to be tough. It's just a tough Division in general. So I don't know if I necessarily feel a decline as much as, you know, I mean, I just don't know what's going to happen in that division. You got, you got the, the, the Vikings who are coming off a 14 win season. The packers are battling consistently. The Bears just got your offensive coordinator and they already had a really talented team. They got a good defense, they got players. So, you know, I can't call it. They're still a really talented team. So I don't know. You know, 15 and 2 is tough. You know, it's tough to replicate that season period, no matter how good you are. So do I think they're going to go 15 and 2 or 16 and 1 next year? I doubt it. I think they're still going to be a good team and I think still going to be a championship contender in NFC.
- [48:51]
Mitchell
Another team in that NFC north, the Minnesota Vikings. They just signed Kevin O'Connell to a mega, mega, multi year extension. How bright do you think the future is in Minnesota?
- [49:01]
Richard Sherman
The future is really bright and great job and congratulations to Kevin O'Connell and his staff and everything he's been able to do with Sam Darnold and Kirk cousins and maybe J.J. mcCarthy in the future. And I think that's the bright light for some of these offensive play callers and some of these owners. That's the beacon of hope is the job that Kevin O'Connell has done in Minnesota and even to a small degree the job that Dave Canales has done in Carolina because everybody thinks they need a quarterback whisperer. Hey, they get a quarterback whisperer play, call it like Mike McDaniel when he first got to Miami and what he was able to do with Tuatanga Bailowa, it's like, oh my God, there it is. Look at that offense. Look at him. Like this team is just freaking skyrocketed to the top now. They've kind of come back down to earth, have their own issues, but still Tuatanga Vailoa has progressed and has developed under Mike McDaniel. I think this is great. I mean, I think this is great for them and I think it really should be eye opening to other fans to appreciate what you have. You know, Kevin O'Connell has done a great job and they've won a lot of games, but they haven't won anything in the playoffs. But that franchise is still showing appreciation and trust in his head coach in the direction that they're going. There's teams whose head coach is taking them in the Super Bowls, NFC championships. And there are people, fans of that. Those teams are saying, get rid of them. Like it's, it's time. Like, we've reached our peak. We've reached, like we had a bad season. Like, come on, guys, you got to have a little bit more patience than that. And I think that's a lot of the issue in this league. It's like, if you don't win it every year or you're not in the super bowl every year, then people want to fire good coaches. And so I'm good. It's good to see they're not doing that well.
- [50:41]
Mitchell
The big looming question in Minnesota is going to be what they're going to do at the quarterback position. Do you think that Minnesota is going to roll into this season with JJ McCarthy as well?
- [50:50]
Richard Sherman
I think it depends on what Sam Donald asked for in terms of a salary, how the deal is structured. I wouldn't, I wouldn't, I wouldn't, I wouldn't go into the season without Sam Darnold because that's a known commodity, especially within this system, within this offense. You know what you're going to get. Do you have some problems on the offensive line you need to fix this off season? Surely. Do you think you have something great with J.J. mcCarthy? I don't know. You know, I wasn't, I didn't see the practices. I didn't see how he, what he did. But if they believe they got something special in him and Sam, if his demands are reasonable, I think giving JJ Time to heal and to, you know, mature and develop and see how a pro prepares each and every game, you know, how he goes through things, I'm sure he'll get his opportunity. But to throw him in the fire after a 143 season is tough, is a tough ask for a rookie, but.
- [51:46]
Mitchell
We'Ll see if it's not Minnesota. Where do you think the best landing spot is for Sam Darnold?
- [51:54]
Richard Sherman
That's a great question. The way the draft order has, has, has come out, you know, because you, you would have thought some of these teams, like the Raiders and the Giants are going quarterback early, but they're not in a position to necessarily get the best guy early. But if they have a guy they fall in love with, then sure. But, you know, I could see him being a bridge quarterback at some of these places, the Giants being one of them. You know, I really, you know, depending on what they do with, with Aaron Rodgers and things like that, if they, if Aaron Glenn has a lot of respect for him, somebody in his own division, it would be a crazy, crazy, crazy story, but Sam Darnold, you know, prodigal, prodigal son returns home to the New York jets, the place that threw him away like a bag of stale lays. I mean, it, it could happen. This is a national football league. I don't put anything past anyone, but I could see that happening. The Las Vegas Raiders, if they get somebody, you know, if they, if they don't feel like they can get the guy they want in the draft, I can see them, them taking a shot at him. Yeah, those are the places I could see him going and having a chance to start this season. Everywhere else is pretty much accounted for at the quarterback position, if I'm not mistaken.
- [53:20]
T-Mobile Representative
You can 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 heap 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.
- [53:57]
Bobby Bones
Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast, Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle. Between us, we have over 17,500 passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirrorball trophy from Dancing with the Star. So where else are you gonna find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? Based in Nashville, we're more than just your basic NFL show. We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music and a little bit everything. Because we got lots to say. Say I. I texted you and you texted me back. Now, I don't know if you have the update, but like, all the little thumbs up and heart and stuff, like, it's all colored. They changed it and the. The heart's a little pink. It felt like I told you I loved you. I'm going to be honest, it was a little pink.
- [54:40]
Richard Sherman
There was something sentimental when you, like.
- [54:42]
Mitchell
When, when you send it, it's like, do I send the heart now?
- [54:46]
Bobby Bones
I don't like the color edition.
- [54:47]
Mitchell
It's extremely pink.
- [54:49]
Bobby Bones
Listen to Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [54:56]
American Express Representative
I'm so sick of hearing men talk about women's basketball. If only there were a professional WNBA player with her own podcast, I could Listen to. Hey, this is Lexi Brown, WNBA player and professional yapper. And this is Mariah Rose. You may know me from spilling the tea on Hoops for Hotties on Tik Tok. And we've got a new podcast, Full Circle. Every Wednesday. We're catching you up on what's going on in women's basketball, and not just in the wnba, but with Athletes Unlimited unrivaled and college basketball. We've got you with analysis, inside stories, and a little bit of tea. I know you guys have seen a lot of former and current basketball players telling their stories from their point of view, and I just think it's time for the girlies to tap in. We want to share all of the women's basketball stories that you won't see anywhere else. Tune into Full Circle and iheart Women Women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports.
- [55:59]
Richard Sherman
The forces shaping markets and the economy are often hiding behind a blur of numbers.
- [56:04]
American Express Representative
So that's why we created the Big Take from Bloomberg podcasts to give you.
- [56:09]
Richard Sherman
The context you need to make sense of it all. Every day in just 15 minutes, we dive into one global business story that matters.
- [56:16]
American Express Representative
You'll hear from Bloomberg journalists like Matt Levine.
- [56:19]
Richard Sherman
A lot of this Meme stock stuff is, I think, embarrassing to the Sec.
- [56:23]
American Express Representative
Amanda Mull, who writes our BusinessWeek Buying Power column.
- [56:27]
Richard Sherman
Very few companies who go viral are, like, totally prepared for what that means. And Zoe Tillman, senior legal reporter.
- [56:35]
American Express Representative
Courts are not supposed to decide elections.
- [56:37]
Richard Sherman
Courts are not really supposed to play a big role in choosing our elected leaders.
- [56:43]
American Express Representative
It's for the voters to decide.
- [56:46]
Richard Sherman
Follow the Big Take podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.
- [56:53]
Mitchell
I mean, Robert Sala, you think there's any way he goes back to your friends, San Francisco 49ers and returns to glory over there?
- [57:03]
Richard Sherman
Yes, yes, I think that is definitely a possibility. If he do you.
- [57:08]
Mitchell
Do you think, like, honestly though, here, Richard? Because ever since Salah left, there was a little bit of a time for D'Amico Ryan's. Obviously he then moved on and then San Francisco has kind of been kicking through defensive coordinators looking for that next guy. Like, is there any thought process that goes through Kyle Shanahan's mind that says, I don't know if I want to take Robert Salah back because I know he's going to Be immediately looking for a head coaching position after this next season.
- [57:34]
Richard Sherman
Mitchell, sometimes you want that old thing back. You know, you may not have heard that song and I don't want to go, you know what I mean? I don't want to go back through that with you right now, but you know what I mean? It sound like Kyle saying, I want that old thing back. And sometimes that old thing is what you know and what you know is what go. And a guy that he knows, he can work with, been in championship games, Super Bowls, they built a great roster. You know, it's going to be that wide nine technique. Not a lot of coaches coach right now. And I'm sure Nick Bolsa will be happy to go back to a nine and be able to rush from that. This isn't the only, you know, old flame I expect to be. To be, you know, investigated by the San Francisco 49ers. I expect him to call the Indianapolis Colts and see. See if divorce Buckner, you know what I mean, would potentially like to return. I think they kind of try to go back to the way they know they can win football games. Having a ferocious front, rushing the passer, having a very efficient offense. And I think that's the direction they want to go. I think they know the pass rush helps the secondary. The secondary helps the pass rush. But if you got some killers up front, you win a lot of football games.
- [58:47]
Mitchell
While we're talking about The San Francisco 49ers here a little bit, we got to talk about Brock Purdy. That is going to be the big question mark of the off season for the 49ers is how do they handle his contract extension situation. Do you foresee Brock Purdy resetting the quarterback market?
- [59:04]
Richard Sherman
I think brock Purdy gets $55 million a year now. I know some fans will be like, oh my God, that's so prohibitive. That's going to be killing the team that's going to do this. It's all about structure. And the 49ers have done a good job of structuring it. I'm sure they'll do a great job, especially of the quarterback of structuring his deal. Whether it's, you know, per year bonuses or whether it's stretch his. His signing bonus will be stretched over years. They'll have voidable years at the end. If you look at Joe Burrow's contract, for example, it's the voidable years at the end. It's the way they stretch the contract that makes it a lot more feasible because you want the quarterback to stay within 17 to 20% of the salary. And I know you're like, oh, my God, 55 million isn't 17% of the salary cap, but it's how it hits every year. What is the cap number going to be every year? And if you keep that cap number in the 46 to 47, 48% range, you're perfect. And I think the San Francisco 49ers can do that and still manage to have a good roster and still manage to pay the rest of the guys. Sure, they'll have to make some sacrifices with, you know, some veteran guys. I think they already talked about moving on from Javon Hargrave and guys like that. Charvarius Ward likely won't be back. His family, his wife said she can't deal with the trauma of being in California. So that's unfortunately going to be a loss for the San Francisco 49ers, but I think they're going to do it. I think $55 million is where they're going to be. Could they push it up to, you know, 56, 57? Sure do. I think he resets the market with $61 million. I doubt it. But even if he did, it'd be structured in a way that it would not. It would not cripple our handicap. San Francisco 49ers.
- [60:50]
Mitchell
Well, that's got to be the most important part, because like we talked about, they're still in this championship window. But having to pay Brock Purdy $55 million versus whatever he was making this year, one million bucks is a whole different ball game. So John lynch is going to be, I'm sure, up late at night for several nights trying to make this all work out. So we shall see what the 49ers, Richard, we got a new fan of the program, Tom Brady. He's out there liking the. The Richard Sherman podcast post. And he specifically, specifically liked your take on the Patrick Mahomes hit against the Houston Texans. When the Houston Texans were flagged for unnecessary roughness, Tom Brady had this to say. The reality for me is that offensive players need to protect themselves. When quarterbacks become running backs and they're out of the pocket, they should lose their protection. If you don't want to get hit, you go down, you can run out of bounds. Richard, we got a new fan. What are your thoughts on the comments from Tom Brady?
- [61:52]
Richard Sherman
Well, thank you, Tom. We sure do appreciate you here at the Richard Sherman podcast again, whether you listen for a minute, an hour, a second, we sure do appreciate you, brother. And he's right. And he's right. You got like, they put too much on the defense. Like, it's hard enough to play the game. If I didn't have to keep offensive players safe, if I didn't have to try to cover while guys are pushing and shoving and doing. If I just knew where the guys were going, like, I'm reactionary to everything, so I don't know where they're going. I'm guessing they know where they're going. I'm, I'm trying not to get penalized because as a defender as, especially as a corner, there's, there's 10 flags against me off the bat. Like, there's 10 ways for me to get penalized. Every play for the offensive guy might be a couple. You might get an unnecessary roughness, offensive PI holding, you know, potentially chop block, something like that for defense. You can't hit them high. You can't hit the quarterback. You can't, you can't grab them by the back of their jersey horse collar like. And it's, it's the, the slow mo refereeing that's happening now. It's like, oh, my God, did you see him when he pushed off the way Tridavious White last week got run over by Keon Coleman and people were yelling, oh my God, clearly pass interference. He was in his way. It's not his job to get out of his way. It's his job to defend him. And if they're both hand fighting and Keon Coleman shoves him to the ground like, it's a very frustrating place to be. So to Tom's point, yes, I agree. Like, it has some onus has to be on the offensive player. Like, now you're, you're using the, the rules against us because you're using the rules that put doubt in the heads of the defenders as your advantage, as like a shield around you on the field. And now you're running and you're like, hey, oh my God, am I going to slide? Am I going to not slide? Like, you don't know. Now I can't play fast, and I'm playing a really fast and violent side of the ball. Like, this isn't a finesse defense, isn't a finesse side of the football. Like, all I'm trying to do is take the ball from you. Like, my job, my only ambition is to take that ball and give it back to my offense. And so you have the ball and you're sitting here running slow, and I'm sitting here like, hey, go down. So I don't have to hit you, but if you're not going down, I'm going to punish you. And people are like, oh, my God, they're spearing there. Yes, we're hitting hard as shit out there. We're trying to destroy. We're trying to hit these people and dislodge the ball. Like Tom was saying, it's a violent game. If you don't understand that fundamentally watching football, then don't watch it. Don't watch this game. Like, if you're saying, don't be so violent out there, they're hitting too hard and don't watch this game. That's literally the foundation on what this game was built on. That's what made this game great. Now, is there a health and safety to it where it's, you know, CTE and concussions have become an issue and become something to focus. And the longevity of our players in the future, no question does not make it less violent. If we talk, that'd be like telling boxers, hey, don't hit each other in the face. Then, then why have the sport, like, you know what I mean? At some point you have to. There is an inherent risk in the sport. You're not going to be able to officiate that out of it. And that's what they're trying to do. And it's it. And it's the slow mos, it's the calling players dirty, it's the, the nonsense like that that is really ruining the game. And it's going to ruin it for a lot of people. But people are like, people are going to stop playing this game. They're not the people that play this game. They come from the slums. A lot of times, majority of the times they come from really rough circumstances. They don't come from affluence. So it's the, the people from affluence are sitting there saying, man, this is ruining their lives. This is ruining the game. They're getting too violent. I'm not going to let my kid play. Where I'm from, ain't nobody not letting their kid play football. So you're just giving more opportunities to kids that are deserved than I guess. But, like, at some point you're going to either ruin the game or you're going to stop over officiating and let them play. And I hope they let him play.
- [66:08]
Mitchell
At the end of the day, what's the solution to this? I mean, if you're on the NFL, pa, you know, if you're on the competition committee, player safety Committee, whatever it may be. I mean, there's a difference between the. As Aziz Al Shayer hit on Trevor Lawrence in the hit we saw the Houston Texans make on Patrick Mahomes is with the onus is on the quarterback. Should there be conversation about telling the quarterback, hey, your slides have to be open and obvious. They have to be a yard further back than when you were originally starting your slides. Because we can't put defenders in this situation where they have to guess whether you're going to slide or not. Especially with mobile quarterbacks, especially with guys like Patrick Mahomes that are able to get out of the pocket and fake going out of bounds and then run for another 15 yards up the sideline. There has to be a conversation about this exact set of circumstances, because these penalties, especially when you're the Houston Texans, you're already the underdog in that game. You're already going on the road to Kansas City. Every yard matters in that game. When you get flagged for 15 yards in an automatic first down, that is an absolute backbreaking penalty. What is the ultimate solution to this problem, Rich?
- [67:21]
Richard Sherman
It's probably that. It's probably something along that. But they will never. That's the problem with the competition committee. And I have said as an NFLPA member in those meetings, so people are like, man, they need to have somebody like you in those meetings. I've said in them, they don't listen to us. They don't listen to guys who played the game and tell them, hey, you know how you say, see what you hit? Guess where your eyes are. They're on your head. Guess where your head is hitting where your eyes look. And you just told them to see what they're hitting. Now they're hitting what they see and you're telling them to take their head out of it. You see how that's an issue? No, you don't see it. You don't get it. Oh, okay, so you, you don't want them to see what they hit. You want them to turn their head away and shoulder what they hit. Okay, so now you don't want them to see it because if they see it, they're going to hit it and they're going to use their head to hit it. Okay, I got it. I got it. You don't get it because you're saying things that don't physically, like, make sense. Like there, there are. There are certain things that have to happen for you to be able to make these hits. And the same is true when it comes to this. They always Feel like the owner should be on a defender. The defender should be able to add full speed. See, hey, this guy's going to dunk his head 5 degrees or 5 inches lower, and I'm going to aim for that. But then you hit a guy in his knees and take him out. And now they're calling Kirby Joseph dirty. And now Kirby Joseph is dirty because you said, hey, don't hit the guy high and don't hit him too low. Hit him right in his midsection. But every time you aim for his midsection, he drops his head and I get a penalty and I lose $15,000. So the one place I can hit him in his legs, I know are going to be there. And now you're saying, hey, don't hit him in his legs because now you look dirty and I'm calling you a dirty player. And so there is really no winning for the. It's happening too fast for me to aim and change my trajectory and see where I'm hitting. So if you're telling me full speed, see what you're hitting, get your head out of there at the last second and still strike the person in the spot that I thought was going to be there. You see how impossible that is when it starts to be logical and they won't see it that way. So I agree with Tom. The onus needs to be on an offensive player because the game is, you have time and distance. We don't. We don't have time and distance to. To. To change and do all this. You're watching and you can say, I could get a few more yards here or I could step out of bounds right here. Patrick Mahomes could have decided to step out of bounds two seconds ago. Instead, he returns to the field of play, and then now there's an unnecessary penalty. A penalty that would not have happened if he just stepped out. And that's the frustrating part for defenders is because we're just playing fast and all the things that we're asked, being asked to do within this game aren't always feasible.
- [70:06]
Mitchell
Shout out once more to Tom Brady, the new fan of the program, and we appreciate all you guys. I will let you wrap things up. Rich, please sign us off.
- [70:14]
Richard Sherman
Well, thank you guys for joining us again for another championship preview. We appreciate you. We know you could be anywhere in the world, enjoying your family and your friends hanging out, but you're here with us and we sure do appreciate it. Thank you for joining us. We'll see you Sunday night after these games. Can't wait. The volume.
- [70:57]
Bobby Bones
Hey, it's Bobby Bones. Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast, Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle. Castle. Between us, we have over 17,500 passing yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirror ball trophy from Dancing with the Star. So where else are you going to find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music and a little bit of everything. Listen to Lots to Say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [71:28]
American Express Representative
I'm so sick of hearing men talk about women's basketball. This is Lexi Brown and Mariah Rose and we've got a new podcast, Full Circle. Every Wednesday, we're catching you up on what's going on in women's basketball. We've got you with analysis, inside stories, and a little bit of tea. Full circle is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. Listen to Full circle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Elf Beauty, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports.
- [71:57]
Richard Sherman
Catch Jon Stewart back in action on the Daily show and in your ears with the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. From his hilarious satirical takes on today's politics and entertainment to the unique voices of correspondents and contributors, it's your perfect companion to stay on top of what's happening now. Plus, you'll get special content just for podcast listeners, like in depth interviews and a roundup of the week's top headlines. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, everyone? It's Justin Penik from John Boy Media.
- [72:34]
T-Mobile Representative
The host of the Football Today podcast with Bobby Skinner and Chris Rose. We roll three times a week, on Mondays, on Wednesdays, on Fridays, breaking down everything you need to know about the NFL. We're gearing up for the NFL playoffs.
- [72:48]
Richard Sherman
I hope you can join us.
- [72:50]
T-Mobile Representative
Join in with us three times a week. Listen to Football Today on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast and you will be glad you did.