Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd — "3 & Out - Matt LaFleur’s Future, Jerry Jones at the Deadline, Kyler to IR & Drew Brees’ New Gig"

Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Episode: 3 & Out - Matt LaFleur’s Future, Jerry Jones at the Deadline, Kyler to IR & Drew Brees’ New Gig
Date: November 6, 2025
Host: John Middlekauff

Episode Overview

In this episode of "3 & Out," John Middlekauff offers a fast-paced, unfiltered look at the NFL's major storylines heading into midseason. He digs into Matt LaFleur’s job security with the Packers, Jerry Jones’ high-risk moves at the trade deadline, the uncertain future of Kyler Murray in Arizona, and Drew Brees’s much-discussed return to sports television. John also covers the Kirk Cousins contract saga, player injuries, and trends impacting sports media, before diving into an extensive mailbag with listener questions on everything from team building to the nuances of in-game coaching adjustments.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Matt LaFleur’s Job Security and the Packers’ Future

[05:00 - 17:00]

• Pressure Mounts on LaFleur: Middlekauff highlights a growing dissatisfaction among Packers fans with head coach Matt LaFleur, calling it "surprising" given LaFleur's prior universal likability.

  • "I didn't realize there was so much pressure on Matt LaFleur from his fan base... you drop a game as a big favorite... and people start asking some serious questions." (05:20)

• The Jordan Love Factor: Middlekauff references a key stat placing Jordan Love among elite company for early-career production (10,000+ yards, 70+ TDs, <30 INTs in 50 games). This elevates expectations for LaFleur.

  • "When you are in a situation with a quarterback who is producing... you're held to a pretty high standard." (09:30)

• The Stakes: He argues that, with a talented team and solid QB, playoff underperformance will put LaFleur’s job in jeopardy, especially if the team has another embarrassing early exit.

  • "You better win some playoff games, because I do think there's a chance you could question. It's kind of like the James Franklin thing..." (12:20)

Memorable Quote:

• "I would have told you six months ago you were crazy, that LaFleur’s job was in jeopardy... but better win." (15:40)

2. Jerry Jones, Aging Ownership, and Risk-Taking at the Deadline

[17:30 - 27:00]

• Cowboys’ Deadline Move: Middlekauff critiques Jerry Jones' aggressive trade for Quinnen Williams, saying most owners wouldn’t risk a future draft pick so far out.

  • "Jerry's not thinking about five years from now. He's 83 years old... If you gave me $10 million at 80, I'd probably operate a little differently." (19:05)

• Organizational Perspective: Contrasts Jones’ "win now" approach with the longer-term strategies typical of younger GMs and owners.

  • "No other team would employ a GM probably even close to 70, let alone in his 80s." (22:10)

• Player Impact: Notes Quinnen Williams’ own comments about wanting to leave a losing Jets organization, but questions whether the “new situation” in Dallas will lead to more wins.

Memorable Moment:

• "Jerry's living in the moment... there's never been a hearse with a Wells Fargo following behind it." (20:54)

3. Kyler Murray’s Benching and Murky Market

[34:00 - 39:20]

• Cardinals’ Move: Arizona places Kyler Murray on IR, with Middlekauff arguing the team is quietly moving on from him while promoting Jacoby Brissett.

  • "Even if everyone knows we've benched Kyler Murray... that's never coming out of your mouth." (34:45)

• Trade/Releasing Projections: Expects Murray to be released in February rather than traded due to his contract size and cap hit.

  • "No one is taking on that salary of $45, $50 million... that's not the way it works." (36:10)

4. Kirk Cousins’ Contract — Atlanta’s Costly Mistake

[39:25 - 43:00]

• Cousins’ Payday: Breaks down how Cousins and his agent "fleeced Atlanta," making $90 million over two years for minimal results post-injury.

  • "He threw 18 touchdown passes, 16 interceptions, and was objectively a below average player... before his career was over, I'm getting $90 million from Home Depot, and that's what he did." (41:10)

• Implications: Predicts this misstep will contribute to organizational shakeups if the Falcons continue to underperform.

5. Drew Brees’ Return to TV – Will He Succeed?

[46:30 - 50:40]

• Broadcasting Challenges: Middlekauff questions whether Brees can be as impactful in the booth as he was on the field, given his previous struggles on NBC.

  • "Just being a famous former Hall of Famer doesn't make you a good broadcaster... it's kind of irrelevant." (48:05)

• Comparison: Highlights how charisma and comfort on camera matter more than star power, noting successful broadcasters aren’t always ex-stars.

Notable Quote:

• "Part of being great as a broadcaster is…this is entertainment, man! Can you make me smile…can you be self-deprecating?" (49:17)

6. Tom Brady Cloning His Dog & Musings on Celebrity Longevity

[50:45 - 53:15]

• Brady’s Latest Investment: Middlekauff reacts to Tom Brady’s involvement in a bioscience company cloning dogs (and maybe one day, humans).
  • "The least shocking thing I've ever seen is that Tom Brady is in the cloning business... if I was him, I wouldn't want to die either." (52:10)

7. Sports Ratings and the Power of Big Brands

[53:20 - 56:40]

• Dodgers, Ratings, and Dynasties: Discusses TV ratings for the World Series vs. NBA Finals, explaining why major brands like the Dodgers draw far more viewers than small-market teams.
  • "People like dynasties, they just do. The Bulls, the Patriots, now the Chiefs, the Warriors—they move the needle." (56:10)

Mailbag Highlights & Rapid-Fire Segments

[57:00 - End of Content]

• NFL Injuries & Contracts:

  • Brandon Aiyuk and Brock Purdy’s season-ending injuries and long-term career outlooks (58:30)
  • Debate on QB archetypes: “Will we ever see a QB under 6 feet go #1 overall again?” (01:06:50)
  • Comparison between how teams handle QBs with questionable durability and production

• College Football Parallels:

  • How Indiana's turnaround is changing expectations for new head coaches (59:45)
  • The "flattening" of the college football landscape—power jobs aren’t what they used to be

• NFL Team-Building:

  • Why some franchises remain dysfunctional despite front-office changes (01:15:30)
  • Middlekauff attributes it to "winning culture" among players being hard to shake into existence

• Viewer Experience & Culture:

  • Football’s popularity compared to other sports—each loss feels bigger due to schedule scarcity (01:11:10)
  • Entertaining debate on watching games with alcohol vs. edibles—“it depends if you're by yourself...” (01:09:45)

• Sports Media/Coaching Adjustments:

  • Debunking the myth of “halftime adjustments”—QB’s make changes series-to-series, not just at the break (01:18:00)
  • Sales jobs as entry points for sports management careers

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Jerry Jones’ win-now philosophy:
  “If you just handed me $10 million at 80 years old… I'd be like, who knows how much longer I have? Jerry's living in the moment, and that's why the Cowboys are just a different operation.” (20:54)

• On Kyler Murray’s future:
  “I would expect Kyler Murray to be released in February… There’s just not a trade market when you’re talking $45, $50 million.” (36:20)

• On the Kirk Cousins contract:
  “Kirk Cousins will officially have made for two years of work, started 15 games, he made $90 million… That is great business.” (41:15)

• On Drew Brees in the broadcast booth:
  “Your job as a football player was production-based… As a broadcaster? Can you make me smile… be self-deprecating?” (49:17)

• On dynasties and ratings:
  “People like dynasties, they just do. The Bulls, the Patriots, now the Chiefs, the Warriors—they move the needle.” (56:10)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Matt LaFleur Job Security: 05:00 – 17:00
• Jerry Jones & Cowboys’ Trade Deadline: 17:30 – 27:00
• Kyler Murray on IR: 34:00 – 39:20
• Kirk Cousins and Falcons: 39:25 – 43:00
• Drew Brees Broadcasting: 46:30 – 50:40
• Tom Brady & Dog Cloning: 50:45 – 53:15
• Sports Ratings & Dynasties: 53:20 – 56:40
• Mailbag (NFL injuries, coaching, culture): 57:00 – end

Conclusion

This episode delivers Middlekauff’s signature mix of sharp analysis, humor, and wide-ranging sports curiosity. Through thorough breakdowns, memorable analogies, and candid takes, listeners get a nuanced and entertaining look at current NFL storylines, offbeat industry news, and persistent questions about football's place in American culture.

Recommended For: Fans who want both detailed NFL analysis and unfiltered personality—especially on topics beyond the box score.