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- [00:00]
Phil Sims
This is an iHeart podcast.
- [00:02]
Colin Cowherd
Guaranteed Human. Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio at noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd@foxsportsradio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Now, let's get this party started. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. One of my favorite guys, Phil Sims, two Super bowl championships, 15 years with the Giants. He had a coach that was difficult. You know, I've said, today is every year I go out and pick a team that's my double, my win total team. So this year it was New England because I love Brable and they had a lot of free agent money and. But year before it was, well, it was Washington. I got pretty lucky on that, right? Because I love Jaden Daniels at lsu. And then before that it was the Rams and it was the Vikings. So I said, the minute you hired Harbaugh, I'm like, they need a right tackle, probably another receiver, tight end. Everybody needs another corner in the whole world. Except the Seahawks. I think they're going to win 12 games. 11, 12 games. Phil Sims probably chuckling at that. But I think, you know, they let 71 score losses, they were. They, they let Denver by 10. They led the Bears by 10. They led the Lions by 10 in the fourth quarter. So do I sound like a lunatic when I said I think they can win the division next year? I think, I don't think they're that far away. Even though they had a bad record.
- [01:31]
Phil Sims
Yeah. I heard you talking during the break, and I got to tell you, I think you were spot on. You kind of fired me up. I'm like, damn, I'm more excited about the Giants now than I was all last year. So it's great. But you're right, they listen, they have the quarterback. In fact, it's almost. It's bad that he drafted, got drafted as late as he did. Should have been drafted before his number came up, but he played really well. And now they got a quarterback and they got John Harbaugh. I mean, and they got a defensive line that can get to the quarterback. Those are my two.
- [02:01]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. You know, people, I was told this, I've been told this by GMs through the years. You're not hiring a scheme guy. You got to hire a CEO. If he's good with schemes like Kyle Shanahan, that's a bonus. You're hiring a CEO, you tell me, based on your career, can one guy, John Harbaugh, can one guy change the culture 100%?
- [02:23]
Phil Sims
Not even a question. It's easy to answer. And, you know, I had it with Bill Parcells. He was the culture. He set the table every day, what he wanted, what he demanded. And then I had this coach, Dan Reeves, and I wondered about him where. The first meeting we have, he comes into the room, the team is there. He puts his notepad down on the lectern. He's, of course, looking great. The hair's perfect. He's got the tie on. He looks out over us and he goes, sit up straight. Put your feet on the floor and take those damn hats off. And I'm sitting there, and he did it with a voice that was scary. And I turned to Bart Oates and I went, we're going to win. And we did, because now we know who's in charge, and we got to listen and do what he says. And to me, that's just a small part. These head coaches have a chance to really set the. The culture and change everything. John Harbaugh, 18 years down in Baltimore, and what. What do you think? Every player, they've heard the message many, many times, and it wears them. Now he comes to New York, the players are going to be excited to hear that message. And so it changes him, his enthusiasm, how he manages these players. And, you know, it's an exciting time, I think, for the New York Giants.
- [03:40]
Colin Cowherd
How are you sure Jackson darts the guys in that tent constantly. Phil, how are you going to stay out of that town? Are you sure he's the.
- [03:48]
Phil Sims
Well, you know, the tenth's one thing, so we gotta. Giants gotta correct that. I'm not laughing, but it just kind of shows you who he is a little bit. But talent wise, Colin, I am 100% behind him and think he's. He's even more than I expected. And I studied him really hard because I knew the Giants liked him. And I don't know, it came to me late. The guy's more mobile than I thought. And then going to practice during preseason and training camp, I go, damn, he could throw it, too. I mean, like, throw it better than I expected. And so. And then he took it to the field, and right away, instant hit, man. It was awesome to watch.
- [04:25]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. I mean, he's got the confidence of a guy. The look, the feel, the. I mean, he is. I'll say this, he's got juice, and that's what I look for. He's got an energy and A juice about him. When he's on the field, you can tell that the players like him and trust him. That's a big deal. He's got that. And by the way, when you, he really is. When you were a quarterback, I mean you had great players around you. You weren't the most talented, New York giant, Lawrence Taylor, those kind of level players. What is the secret for a young you come into the league and you're a kid and you got older players than you. What's the secret to being 25 years old and having a 33 year old buy into you?
- [05:03]
Phil Sims
Well, you know, for me it was do your job and shut up. You know, because it just, it was different for Jackson Dart. His personality, you know, I kind of thought, man, when it comes here, is it really going to work on the, on the pro level? And it worked big time. The players love him. He's got a, you know, an infectious energy to him, to how he plays and who he is in practice, in the locker room, you know, I see all these videos and I know it's just a different world. He's always dancing and they're doing all this stuff and yeah, he's got it, you know, he's got the personality that you want in a professional quarterback.
- [05:41]
Colin Cowherd
Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS1 and the iHeartRadio app. Hey is Cavino and Rich from Fox Sports Radio. Now, in addition to hearing us live weekdays from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, we're excited to announce a brand new YouTube channel for the show. Yup, that's right. You can now watch Covino and Rich live on all you gotta do. Search COVINO and RICH FSR on YouTube again go to YouTube. Search COVINO and RICH FSR. Check us out on YouTube. Subscribe. Hit that thumbs up icon and comment away.
- [06:21]
John Paulk
I'm John Paulk. For years I was the poster boy of the conversion therapy movement. The ex gay who married an ex lesbian and traveled the world telling my story about of how I changed my sexuality from gay to straight. Once upon a time I was on 60 Minutes, Oprah, the front cover of Newsweek and you might have heard my story, but you've never heard the real story. So join me as I peel back the layers and expose what happened to me in the midst of conversion therapy to shine a light on what the X Game movement does to people and the pain it continues to cause. I had lost £150 because if I couldn't control my sexuality, I was going.
- [07:06]
Jay Mack
To control my weight.
- [07:07]
Phil Sims
It sounded like, and this is the word I used, a cult.
- [07:11]
John Paulk
And as I look too, at the harm I did from within. Listen to Atonement, the John Paulk story on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [07:28]
Colin Cowherd
Were you surprised? Let's go to Buffalo. Were you. Were you surprised they let Sean McDermott go? Eight playoff wins. A lot of wins. Playoff wins are gold bars. They're hard to get. Parcels. Playoff records barely above.500. It's hard to win in the playoffs. He won eight playoff games. You shocked they let him go?
- [07:48]
Phil Sims
Yeah, I was. I was shocked. You know, listen, there's, you know, before the year started, I'll just do it this way. I looked at their roster, and you do this, too, and I think you do a really good job at it. I looked at it and go, why are people saying this is a Super bowl roster? I don't get it. You know, as you watch these teams and, you know, a little bit, Denver might be a little different, but big, powerful teams seem to be, to me, what I would want and give you a better chance of winning playoff games, going to the Super Bowl. But I was surprised that he. They let him go. But what they're going to have coming in, whoever it is, again, it's a new voice, it's a new way, and maybe that's all they need is something a little different to get them over the top.
- [08:34]
Colin Cowherd
The. You know, it's interesting with we've got Sean Payton against Mike Vrabel. And I look at the page, I look at the Patriots, Phil, I got the same owner that Brady had. I got the same offensive quarter coordinator Brady had. Drake. Drake May moves more than Brady, but he's a big, tall kid. That's accurate. You know, he's not as good in the pocket yet as Tom was probably a better mover. And Vrabel, to me, looks like a more current Belichick, where he's a little more player friendly, a little more engaging with the media. He's a current Belichick, super bright, no bs. All about football. I look at New England and I, I told my friend Nick Wright this yesterday. I said, everybody's looking at Buffalo and Baltimore. I said, if you told me Andy Reid and Mahomes, biggest obstacle for the next 10 years, I said, it's Vrabel, Robert Kraft, Drake May, Josh McDaniel, that's the obstacle. Do you feel as high on the Patriots as I Do.
- [09:29]
Phil Sims
Yes, I do. I feel high on Mike Vrabel. Look, you're talking about Sean Payton and Mike Vrabel. You talk about culture, setting the table, understanding the whole organization, especially as a football team. They got it. And you know, Mike Vrabel, I was down in Tennessee one year. I'll never forget this. We're just talking and we're kind of talking about what we're doing right now. And he goes, phil, one thing I've learned in this league, I thought it was all about I got the X's and O's, and that's not it. It's connecting with the players. And he changed. Why? He was at Tennessee and he's carried that over to New England. I mean, during every time they score, something goes, well, you know, he's hugging the players. And, you know, the. It gives them energy. They want that recognition that they did something well. And it's really fun to watch and to see these two playing a game. I kind of know what variable is going to do. But Sean Payton, man, your guess is as good as anybody, what he's going to do in this game. But Jared Stidham.
- [10:29]
Colin Cowherd
So I'm watching Seattle in the Rams, and this doesn't happen very often, Phil. Maybe about once a decade, you get a team where they've got a player on a team, friendly deal, quarterback, and then they don't miss draft picks for several years, and it's Seattle. And I've been saying this all year with Seattle, if you turn the sound down, no bias, just watch them. They look longer and faster, just going 100. Their special teams are fast. They don't have any holes. And I want you to go back to your career. That doesn't mean they're going to win the super bowl, but you do get that. And by the way, the last team like this may have been Pete Carroll, Russell Wilson, Seahawks, where you got. Russell was on a rookie deal and Pete was out of college. And they nailed drafts for about four years. They were finding stars in the sixth round. And I look at Seattle and I'm like, they don't look like anybody else. Doesn't mean they're the best team in your. In your career, how do you beat teams because you didn't have the best team every time, how do you beat a team? And I think Sean McVay looks at this and goes, I don't know if we have the best roster. I don't know if we do. How do you. How do you use Seattle's youth and explosion and speed and Length against them. Did you ever face a team where you knew you didn't have the best roster?
- [11:46]
Phil Sims
Well, yeah. Chicago Bears in 1985. Hell, it was, man, that was as rough as it gets and as tough as it gets. And, yeah, we knew we had to improve the following year to be able to compete in war with them, and it worked out. But, you know, you talk about Seattle. I was asked this question a few times. They just talking to people and I say, wait, they're big, they look big, they're fast, they got depth. I think they're well coached. Man. I think this is a big, you know, this is a big hurdle for the Los Angeles Rams. And now we got the fans. And one thing about fans and playoff games, if you're down 10 to nothing during a regular season game, they might boo you, but you're down 10 to nothing in a playoff game, the fans are still rooting you on. Let's go. And I think it's going to be a very, very tough test for the Rams going up there, because I think the. When I look at the Seahawks, I see many advantages they could have in the game. I look at the Rams and just go, man, Sean McVay, they got to be really smoking on offense, and the quarterback's going to have to really, really, I think, play special for them to beat Seattle.
- [12:52]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, Seattle's better on defense and special teams. I think we can say that right now. Interesting. I remember when John Elway won a Super bowl and retired, and John could have still played, but it was time. He had a lot of injuries and, you know, you know how it is. You're beat up, you're just tired of practice, you're tired of camp. You can probably still spin it. You just don't want to go through the nonsense of, you know, getting ready for a season physically. And I look at Stafford, who's had a myriad of shoulder and knee, and if he won a second super bowl, the money's not the issue. It wasn't with Elway, you know, that's not the issue. I look at it and I think he's a Hall of Famer, probably now, second super bowl. He's first ballot stuff. If he wins, take me to your last year or two. Could you see Stafford saying, man, I'm going to do an Elway. I could. I can still sling it. I just don't want to go through camp. What do you make if he wins? What do you think he would do?
- [13:50]
Phil Sims
I don't think he'll. He'll retire. I don't you know, one thing, we're showing a highlight right there. There's another perfect pass spiral down the field. It's beautiful. And man, when you can play like he can and throw like he can, it's. It's hard to give it up. Colin, I mean, you talk about training camp and all those other things. Come on. For the quarterback, it's great. You want me to go out there and throw more today? Wow. Okay. That's what I love to do anyway. Let's do it. So I think he enjoys the game too much. I think he still has incredible talent. I mean, they're in Chicago last week, him and Caleb Williams. Did they know it was cold, windy and snowy and all that? Because they didn't act like it. They were throwing damn darts all over the place. And Stafford, it's just very few guys just play a long career like he's had and lose arm strength. He hasn't lost any. He's still as special as ever.
- [14:42]
Colin Cowherd
I said, that play that Caleb made last week, I said, I don't think there's five guys ever could do to make that throw. I mean, it just takes in that wind. It's hard. And I've made the argument that I can't judge Caleb like I can judge Stafford because there's two plays with Caleb. The one Ben Johnson scripted and the one he'll make up if it doesn't go right. And Josh Allen's got that. Are you, are you in the Caleb group now? Did it take a while? What do you make of him just going forward?
- [15:15]
Phil Sims
I loved him coming out and after his rookie year, I said if they redraft him again, I still want Caleb Williams. I'm not a fan. I'm. Hell, I'm leading it. I love what he does on the field, who he is, let's see, he's big, strong, mobile. He's got a very special arm in many, many ways. Can run and throw it and he makes in one game. He can make more spectacular throws than some quarterbacks will have in a whole year. And yes, you know, there's certain things. Oh, it's completion percentage, man, I couldn't care two whatevers about his stupid completion percentage. When you're a quarterback like him, everything looks open because of that arm and he's down the field so, you know, he only needs a little tiny window and he'll rip it in there. So, you know he's never going to be 65. Well, he might get the 65 as he learns to check it down. They throw A few more screens and all that. You know this completion percentage thing and always hear about him. Oh my. Come on. There's more to talk about Caleb Williams than his stupid completion percentage. It has nothing to do with the outcome of who he is and winning and losing that football team in my eyes.
- [16:28]
Colin Cowherd
No, I, Yeah, I just. There's just certain players, you know, it's almost, it's almost like Calvin Johnson was so strong and so big. I didn't. I mean he was also fast but I didn't care a ton about his 40 time. He was just so big, smart, ran the route tree, strong hand, Puka Nakua, by the way. He runs such good routes. His hands are so strong. I don't care what his 40 is. Not everybody is great. You know the traits. Like I ever nobody like Bo Nix. Here's what I know about Bo Nix. He's athletic, he's tough, he never gets hurt and he's really good late in games. Like I don't care. Yeah, he's big when he's supposed to be big. So I don't know. That's kind of where I. Are you a Bo Nixon?
- [17:17]
Phil Sims
Let me just say this about Caleb. There's no limit to what you can design for him. So you can. Whatever you design, he's going to be able to do it and whatever. It's this pass that, you know, whatever running what he can do it. So Ben Johnson's got a canvas there and he just goes. I don't know what to paint because I got it all right there for me. And you know, Caleb will settle down as time goes on and become a more accurate thrower and know how to change the speeds a little better if you know some criticisms. Yeah, he's very aggressive decision maker and let's be honest, sometimes he throws the ball so hard I don't know how the hell they catch it. Yeah, it's just on tv. It's boom. It's there.
- [18:01]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
- [18:02]
Phil Sims
So in Bo Nix, man, his dad taught him what I heard it on a telecast. Don't take sacks as a quarterback, man. He gets rid of the football. He's mobile as you can be and his arm is so much stronger than people give him credit for. And I'm really, I really feel for him. The fact that he's going to miss this YouTube game. I really do.
- [18:21]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. So were you good in cold weather? Giants got a lot of cruddy weather. Were you a good cold weather quarterback?
- [18:26]
Phil Sims
I had no choice. So it was. I'm telling you, I would say 80% of the games I played in the old Giant Stadium win was always a factor.
- [18:36]
Colin Cowherd
Oh, yeah.
- [18:37]
Phil Sims
And over time, like anything, I adapted to it and what it does to you. Somebody could be running down the field and if it's into the wind, you have to be a little careful. So they might have to dive for the ball, could be low or whatever because you got to give the win that respect. So that's changed over time. Not as many windy games right now in the new stadium. And of course the climate change or whatever you want to say, we don't feel when it seems like until January, but yeah, it was windy in Giant Stadium.
- [19:08]
Colin Cowherd
Fifteen seasons with the New York Giants, two Super Bowls first round pick out of Morehead State. Who was your big rival? Who is Morehead State's big rival?
- [19:19]
Phil Sims
That was our best week when we had the week. Hey, Colin. We were not good. It was a rough four years of playing. I think I played every snap, which was great at least to do certain things for the come into the league. Our big rival name was Eastern Kentucky, but I think. I think Morehead State went 20 some years before they beat him with this. I don't know if John Harbaugh was on that staff or not, but Rex Ryan was down there on the defensive staff. So they broke that, that skid because he just blitzed everybody all the time.
- [19:59]
Colin Cowherd
That's Rex.
- [20:01]
Phil Sims
Oh, it was Rex all right. He did a great job there.
- [20:04]
Colin Cowherd
Phil, great seeing you again.
- [20:06]
Phil Sims
All right, Colin, thanks for having me on, man.
- [20:08]
Colin Cowherd
You bet. Phil Sims.
- [20:09]
Phil Sims
All right.
- [20:09]
Colin Cowherd
He's. He's fired up for the Giants too. Yeah, get the right coach. Got a cheap, young, talented quarterback. Yeah, you get real good, real fast in this league. Plus he. He's gonna be the best coach in the division. He is today going forward. J. Mack with the news.
- [20:25]
Phil Sims
No, no, no, no.
- [20:27]
Colin Cowherd
Turn on the news. This is the.
- [20:32]
Jay Mack
Jarrett Stidham. Does that name do anything for anyone out there? He is throwing his first pass. I can't believe this. In two years.
- [20:39]
Colin Cowherd
Wow.
- [20:40]
Jay Mack
In a playoff game with the super bowl on the line. He's taken a couple kneel downs in the last two seasons because Bo Nix is always healthy. Anyways, the last time he really suited up was week 17 with the. When he was on the Raiders against the 49ers. And Max Crosby remembers Stidham. And here he had some nice things to say.
- [21:01]
Colin Cowherd
He was a teammate of mine. He. He's a great friend of mine and he is a competitive individual. Denver did a great job by bringing him in. You know, having him as the backup because he's not just going to go in there and dink and dunk and play it safe like he's going to go out there and play quarterback and try to help them win the game. Yeah, I remember when Peyton took the job. I mean, it felt like immediately he went and spent $12 million a year on Stidham. As a, Remember saying that is a lot for a backup. I, I, I think very early on Sean Payton felt like if this Russell thing doesn't work for 12 million bucks, I got a guy good enough to win games as a starter. So I kind of trust the Sean Payton. It's like when Kyle Shanahan brought Darnold in. Everybody banged on Darnold, but like Shanahan's like, no, that guy can play if Sean Payton brings you in. Sean like the Teddy Bridgewater, you know, I mean, Sean's, Sean's opinion on quarterbacks matter. So he thinks he's good. Plus he knows the system now. He knows the teammates. So it's not like, you know, I tend to think he'll be fine. I don't think they'll win now, but I think they'll be fine. I really, I think it's a close.
- [22:10]
Jay Mack
Define fine.
- [22:11]
Colin Cowherd
I think he'll go. If he went 15 for 23 for 180 yards and a touchdown pass and.
- [22:17]
Jay Mack
One pick, is that going to get it done?
- [22:19]
Colin Cowherd
I don't know. But he's not Bo Nix. But I don't think he's going to be the root cause for the issues. You know, I think I, I also wonder, I mean, again, he knows the playbook so you can run everything. He doesn't move quite like Knicks. He does, he moves a little. But I think the Bo Knicks athletic ability is a real component to Denver's. I mean, it was last week, first half he was running all over the place. So I, I, I would favor New England in this game. If Bo Nicks played, I'd probably take Denver close. I'll now take New England close.
- [22:51]
Jay Mack
Yeah, the markets don't know really how to react to this change, this downgrade. I'm seeing some people say as many as eight points a swing from Bo Nicks. The market settled around six and a half.
- [23:02]
Colin Cowherd
Wow.
- [23:03]
Jay Mack
It's just tough to gauge. The guy hasn't thrown a pass in two seasons.
- [23:06]
Colin Cowherd
What does that tell you? That Bo Nix is worth a touchdown. For all the critics, Bo Nix over a guy that Sean Payton thinks is pretty talented.
- [23:16]
Jay Mack
Well, I mean, listen, if it was Mack Jones, obviously it wouldn't be a six point downgrade because Jones is an established credible quarterback. This is a total mystery. I mean, Jarrett Situm could come out and throw for 250. I mean, I would be surprised.
- [23:28]
Colin Cowherd
I don't know.
- [23:28]
Jay Mack
But you made a good point that Christian Gonzalez and this Patriots defense has shown well against Stroud and and Herbert in the first two rounds. Their run defense is the real problem. Yeah, nobody can get through them with Milton.
- [23:39]
Colin Cowherd
But Denver doesn't. Denver's run game is spotty. I think New England's corners are second to Seattle of the team. Well, I mean, Patrick certain good. He hadn't had the greatest year. A good year, it feels like to me. But New England's New England secondary, their corners are, I mean it's, it, it reminds me a lot of Vrabel in Tennessee and Belichick in New England. Yeah, a lot of contact, a lot of physicality. Ball in the air. I think New England secondary is really good.
- [24:07]
Jay Mack
I just, you know, it's tough to pick the Broncos in this spot just because you don't know what you're getting from Cinem. They're at home. Yeah. What is that? Home field is worth what, two points, Colin. Two and a half this year? I don't know. We'll see. Should be a good game. Let's move on to, ooh, some drama with our quarterback and his name is Baker Mayfield. Now, Kevin Stefanski was hired by the Falcons this week and the media, you know, in Atlanta is very excited and they're starting to dig into what happened with Stefanski in Cleveland. Who did he have in Cleveland? Colin Baker Mayfield. So one of the Falcons beat writers said that Stefanski dealt with a dumpster fire. His words situation in Cleveland. Baker Mayfield, you know, because this is what he does, chimed in, well, not so fast. I wouldn't quite call it that. And then of course, Baker Mayfield had to make it personal. I was shipped off like a piece of garbage and I'm still waiting for the text or call from Hughes. Stefanski. Look forward to seeing you twice a year in the division. Now it gets better. Joe Thomas, the legendary Cleveland offensive lineman, he responded, hey, communication is a two way street, Baker. You know, there's no laws against you sending Stefanski something saying, hey man, great working with you after you got traded. So here we go. Off season squabble. Very NBA of these guys to get into.
- [25:28]
Colin Cowherd
Baker's got a chip on both shoulders. I mean, that's who he is. He often plays better with that. You know, listen, it's when, when you Let go of an employee, people move on. I think Baker has had a very redeemable career. I think Stefanski is really smart. But Baker, you know, Baker did lead them to a playoff win. So let's. I don't think he was a dumpster fire in Cleveland. I thought he needed to grow up a little, but I mean, the Cleveland media also poked him in the ribs a lot. So I look at, I look at Baker. Baker was a lot better in Cleveland than Darnold was with the Jets. So I don't, I don't classify it as a disaster. If you win a playoff game over the Steelers as a Browns quarterback, that is not a dumpster fire. I think that's way over the top.
- [26:13]
Jay Mack
Let's quickly remember the game Baker won in the playoffs. He was solid against the Steelers, 263 yards, three touchdowns. But. But Cleveland jumped to a 28 nothing lead in the first quarter because Ben Roethlisberger was a disaster. Four turnovers and, you know, he threw. I mean, it was a crazy game. It's weird. Colin, our staff here at the Herd, some guys here in la, they seem to think maybe Stefanski is not that great of a coach. I think you and I are more in lockstep. You don't win coach of the year and get to the playoffs twice with the Browns. Okay. If you're not a pretty damn good coach, I'm higher on Stefanski the most. I think you're with me.
- [26:50]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. I'm not putting him in McVay Shani class, but I think. I think Stefanski as a coach and Baker as a quarterback are similar. Stefanski needs the right personnel to win and Baker needs the right coach to win. Baker was good with Liancomb and Dave Canales. And Stefanski, he wasn't good this year. Baker's not good enough to overcome average coordinating or coaching. And I don't think Stefanski's McVeigh where he could turn around any mess. I think Stefanski needs things to work in his favor. I think they're both very good, Baker and Stefanski. And I. I don't categorize it as a dumpster fire at all. Well, that's not how I view that. Right. Just. It was a. I always said it's turbulent. Baker plays with a chip. Cleveland's a worn down city that's just sometimes miserable sometimes.
- [27:39]
Jay Mack
So Cotton, remember overcoming ownership and getting to the playoffs twice? I mean, I'm. I think Stefanski is a pretty damn good coach. I will remind people they were headed toward disaster. He plucks Joe Flacco off of his sofa and guides Flacco to the playoffs.
- [27:53]
Colin Cowherd
That's right.
- [27:54]
Jay Mack
Okay, I know they got stomped by the Texans, but you still got to the postseason. That's got to be worth something. Final story is in the NBA where my New York Knicks bit of a tailspin, Colin. Remember, they won the NBA cup, you know, and everybody was geeked. And I'm talking champions or going to the finals. They've lost nine of 11 since they were on top of the world. And they lost on Martin Luther King Day. They were down by 30 to the Mavs. Yes, the Mavs. According to a report, Jalen Brunson called a players only meeting to address some things. Karl Anthony Towns is being booed lustily. They want him shipped FedEx out of New York tomorrow. Fans are done with his act. I'm just hoping this is just a post holiday malaise that the Knicks are going through. They know they're the best in the East. They fall into third behind Detroit and Boston in the standings. But I still think this is the team to beat in the East. I'm just curious, do you think if this continues, Karl Anthony Towns maybe ends up getting traded? I don't think they can get Giannis.
- [28:57]
Colin Cowherd
Well, you're going for the deadline. Tibbs was a culture guy. Mike Brown brings in a different sensibility. Totally. So Tibbs has really got his own ecosystem. So I think it's difficult. I think it takes time. I wouldn't freak out. They are, you know, they're not a great defensive team. They're struggling to defend the three. I think they'll be fine. You can't judge NBA teams in January. I think it takes. It takes time. They may have to make a tweak at the deadline. I think Detroit and the Knicks. I'm. Philadelphia is interesting team. I love their backcourt, but I think they'll be fine. I just think you got a different, totally different kind of coach.
- [29:36]
Jay Mack
Let me quickly note, they play the Nets tonight. If the Knicks somehow lose this game, I think you go to like DEFCON 3 and we start workshopping Karl Anthony Town's trades because this is. They are not going to. The owner came out recently and was like, yeah, we got to win a championship. We got to go to the Finals. I mean, there's some pressure on the Knicks right now, Colin. It's similar to the NFL where it was like, hey, no Burrow, no Lamar, no Mahomes. Hey, Josh Allen, can you get us to the Super Bowl? They fail. Coach fired. I know the Knicks just fired Tibbs, but this is the season the Knicks have to break the knees.
- [30:10]
Colin Cowherd
Jay Mack with the news.
- [30:12]
Phil Sims
Well, that's the news, and thanks for stopping by the Herd line.
- [30:16]
Colin Cowherd
Ben Johnson, head coach of the Chicago Bears, stepped to the mic today regarding Year one as coach of Chicago. That next, be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific, on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app.
- [30:35]
John Paulk
I'm John Paulk. For years, I was the poster boy of the conversion therapy movement, the ex gay who married an ex lesbian and traveled the world telling my story of how I changed my sexuality from gay to straight. Once upon a time, I was on 60 Minutes, Oprah, the front cover of Newsweek, and you might have heard my story, but you've never heard the real story. So join me as I peel back the layers and expose what, what happened to me in the midst of conversion therapy to shine a light on what the ex gay movement does to people and the pain it continues to cause. I had lost £150 because if I couldn't control my sexuality, I was going.
- [31:20]
Jay Mack
To control my weight.
- [31:21]
Phil Sims
It sounded like, and this is the word I used, a cult.
- [31:25]
John Paulk
And as I look too, at the harm I did from within, listen to Atonement, the John Paul story on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [31:44]
Colin Cowherd
Tom Brady's on the show this week, stopping by Friday. It's like he's a regular. Got him in the rotation. Ram Seahawks. That is, that is gonna be good. Speaking of good, we talked about this earlier. I actually think if you sized it up right now, and I said, who are the best teams at the end of the year in the NFC? I think it's, I think you'd probably say Seahawks 1, Rams 2, Chicago Bears 3. Chicago played really good football. And I, I mean, you, how excited do you have to be? And Ben Johnson says all the right stuff. He was asked this morning about, you know, the success of season one.
- [32:31]
Ben Johnson
There is no building off of this. We go back to square one. We're back at the bottom again. And that's, that's really all 32 teams. If you feel otherwise, you're probably missing the, missing the big picture. You know, we're back at, we got to start from scratch, we got to start from the fundamentals. And so I think more than anything else, they're going to know what they're getting themselves into. And yet we got to dig a little bit deeper. We got to work a little Bit harder. We got to give a little bit more if we want to take this thing over the top.
- [32:59]
Colin Cowherd
You know, we spend so much time, you know, people do, fans do, you know, criticizing players. Caleb Williams didn't get bigger and stronger and faster, yet he cut his sacks by 60%. His passer rating, passing touchdowns, rushing touchdowns, passing yards, total offense, last to sixth. Caleb Williams didn't change. Well, what changed with Caleb Williams, his boss. Here's Ben Johnson talking about Caleb's growth.
- [33:34]
Ben Johnson
The things that we highlighted for Caleb to start the season, I did think they improved as the season went along. You know, we revamped the footwork a little bit last spring, and I think the comfort level grew from that. He certainly got more comfortable with the concepts that we were running over the course of the season. That's something that we can build upon, and yet there's still a lot more that. That we can push through in that regard. And so I'm really encouraged about the steps he took this year. I'm Caleb Williams number one believer.
- [34:08]
Colin Cowherd
So is Phil Sims. And the other thing, when you say that we got to work on his footwork. Tom Brady, with six Super Bowls in his pocket, would go on vacation with footballs, call teammates and work on his footwork. It's like. It's like you forget sometimes. Football, basketball, they're all like, golf, you got to work on that four iron. I don't care if you're Greg Norman or Tiger woods in your prime, you got to work at it every day. And I love what Ben Johnson saying, we're back to the bottom. And, you know, Julian Edelman told me this once. It was interesting. He said every single Patriot team, believe it or not, was different. Every camp was different. Some teams were a little young in spots, some teams were a little old. He told me one of the years, I think it was the Atlanta year they won the Super Bowl. He goes, it was no fun. I think that was. It was one of the years may have been a losing super bowl year. It may have been the year they lost to Philly. My bad on that. I think it's the year they lost to Philly and Nick Foles and the one Edelman said that. That that year wasn't a lot of fun. And so, like, I mean, again, you're going to have 12 new players. Remember when Tampa won the super bowl with Brady? They brought everybody back, and we were like, I don't know if that's what you want to do. You don't want to bring everybody back. You just want a new chemistry. You want to shake things up, people get a little bit comfortable. Everybody makes a little more. Everybody wants a new contract. So when you say, you know Caleb, it's funny. I've run into people in Chicago, Boy, you're hard on Caleb. And I'm like, well, why wouldn't you be? Brady was hard on Brady. Peyton Manning was hard on himself. Mahomes is hard on Mahomes. If you can't handle media, get out of the business. Yeah, I mean, these great athletes are hard on themselves. But I love what Ben Johnson says. We're back to ground zero. And it's actually not a cliche. It's like, you really are. I mean, Detroit unbeatable disaster. Washington Conference championship disaster. I mean, seriously. Oh, Denver and Cap. Hell playoffs. Oh, Cloud nine. Bonick's hurt. What? What are we doing? Jarrett's Denham starting like you just. There are no. There are no. Even when you're in the middle of a dynasty. The Chiefs, Tyreek Hill. Let's go deep. Uh. Oh, no. Tyreek Hill. Still one. Now you think you've solved it, and now it's worse. Now your old line's all banged up. Every year is you're starting ground zero. But I like starting ground zero with Caleb Williams and those skill players and that all line. It's a good ground zero to start from. It's a good place to start from foundationally. Get it, mom.
- [36:45]
Phil Sims
This is an iHeart podcast.
- [36:47]
Colin Cowherd
Guaranteed Human.