THE HERD - Hour 3 – Mark Schlereth weighs in on Ravens report, What would the Giants do with the no. 1 pick?

Thanks for riding with us—let’s get rolling. Denver got blasted by Jacksonville, and Sean Payton’s small‑market comment stirred things up; did that really juice the Jags?

He was blunt, they took it personally, and they handled business. Win streaks hide sloppy details and bring a media swarm that wrecks routine; a loss like that exposes missed tackles, forces a reset, and lets you get your locker room back.

Baltimore Sun drops a detailed piece on Lamar Jackson—sleeping in meetings, bristling at criticism, lots of late gaming—and I said he’s slipped from untouchable to at least take‑the‑call; am I too hot there?

No. A soon‑to‑be thirty quarterback built on his legs brings durability and cap risk, and playing the position is a lifestyle—first in, last out, deflect praise, take the heat—so if injuries mount and you can reshape the roster with multiple firsts, you listen.

The Bears keep closing games and it doesn’t feel like luck; how are they pulling this off?

They own the line and run it, and Caleb Williams’ off‑schedule magic—pocket wiggle, play extension, big arm—thrives in tempo when the menu shrinks; he’s not a finished pocket operator yet, but that’s fueling the late swings.

You had Bucs‑Panthers; Bryce Young outplayed Baker—would you pick up the fifth‑year?

I’d do the option but not a long deal yet; he’s improved and hit key throws against pressure, but he still needs the run game to boost him and his size tightens the pocket, so I’m not stamping franchise today.

That Brady‑Garoppolo line sticks—quarterback is a lifestyle. Leadership and obsession matter more than raw gifts, and some talented guys never galvanize the room.

That Lamar story is going to define the offseason; his cap hit jumps to roughly a quarter, the line’s a mess, the defense faded, and I think they need to act now, not next year.

When a plugged‑in local prints specifics, it’s usually airtight; you at least pick up the phone, but who actually has space and needs juice when some teams are already paying Tua or Geno?

The Raiders make the most sense with a top pick and a vacuum at quarterback; you can jump‑start with Lamar or reset with a rookie like Mendoza, but the cost plus other contracts can corner you fast.

You can live through a dead cap hit if you pair it with a cheap rookie and nail the draft; there are workarounds if you hit on the quarterback.

Giants–Raiders is basically the number one pick bowl, but don’t say “tank” around Max Crosby.

I don’t give a bleep about draft position. My job is to be the best defensive end in the world and lead every day.

It’s an ugly one; I might lean Giants, but I’m not racing to watch it.

One quick Rodgers note: he basically announced the go ball and still beat the clock, which is wild, and it’s another reminder how big quarterback money can thin out depth.

All fired up to bring in Jeff Schwartz. USC–Notre Dame has me worked up—ND’s side deals, soft slate, and timing leverage—and I don’t get why USC should just play whenever they say.

ND’s preferential path is real and silly, but USC stepping back from a rivalry that only paused for world wars and COVID looks like ducking; join a conference, because there’s even a world where ND sneaks in top twelve while a higher‑ranked USC sits.

The sport changed; in the Big Ten grind plus a playoff, stacking another heavyweight road game isn’t smart, and Saban stopped doing that for a reason.

Saban had the rings to call shots; USC hasn’t proved toughness yet and needs to beat a Notre Dame type to chase titles, though ten and two in the Big Ten probably gets them in and quiets folks.

Our core slate is a gauntlet while ND’s is soft, so play it on our terms, maybe early, not in the middle of the grind.

Week‑zero rules complicate that, and if both really wanted it, it happens; ND has the best setup—no title game and a top‑twelve path—so I still wish USC wouldn’t step away.

Oregon at Texas Tech feels dicey—upset alert?

I think Oregon’s fine; Tech hasn’t seen an offense like the Ducks, Oregon’s defense has traveled, and a controlled, lower‑scoring game favors them if they protect the ball.

If the Giants land the top pick, do you take Mendoza over Dart?

Mendoza’s quick‑trigger pocket game keeps him upright, Dart brings bigger tools, and the Giants have so many holes that using capital to help the current guy could be smarter; and coaches don’t tank, they’re fighting for jobs.

Fun one: Jeff faces J‑Mac in our fantasy title, and for the sanity of this show, I need J‑Mac humbled; good luck and happy holidays.

Quarterback roulette for us in fantasy too, and yes, there’s real money on the line.

I barely track fantasy, but since I’m in the money, I’m all in this week.

Can’t wait—draft debates will rage, Mendoza’s sturdy pocket style versus mobility and upside, and we’ll keep sorting it after the holiday. Merry Christmas, everybody.