Best of The Herd

Summary

The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Best of The Herd — June 19, 2026
iHeartPodcasts & The Volume

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Episode Overview

This episode features Colin Cowherd, Rachel Nichols, and guest appearances by Stugots and John Calipari, diving deep into the latest in sports with a focus on soccer, the NBA Draft, standout basketball prospects, college football dynamics, the World Cup, NFL quarterback development, risk management in the NFL, and more. With a characteristically lively, candid tone, the discussion moves fluidly from the evolution of U.S. soccer to basketball scouting, the impact of player mentality, and the ongoing narrative of sports overachievers.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. United States Soccer: From Defense to the "Beautiful Game"

[03:22 - 07:00]

• Colin opens by reflecting on the evolution of U.S. soccer — lauding recent performances (notably against Paraguay) for their newfound rhythm and aggressive, skill-based playing style.
• Traditionally, U.S. soccer has been defense-oriented: “We were kind of defense, first set pieces... Mostly one nothing with our goalkeepers being Superman.” (Colin, 04:21)
• Current optimism: For the first time, the USMNT has "flow," "passing skill" reminiscent of Spain, and real depth—no longer reliant solely on stars like Christian Pulisic.
• Key Insight: Success in the World Cup doesn’t mean winning (“England's only won once, Spain's only won once”), but playing with swagger, dictating terms, and looking the part of an elite soccer nation.

“Sometimes it’s what something looks like and what something feels like… we had more goals against Paraguay than in the entire 2022 World Cup."
— Colin Cowherd [04:03]

• Bob Bradley (clip): Vital that US players are competitive and flourishing overseas, as club form carries into national performance.

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2. NBA Draft, AJ DeBonsa vs. Darren Peterson & The Value of Mentality

[07:01 - 12:42]

• Colin dives into NBA Draft talk, focusing on what scouts say about AJ DeBonsa (BYU) versus Darren Peterson (Kansas).
• Scouts praise DeBonsa for his mentality, tenacity, and professionalism:
  • Western Conference executive: “He’s got the mentality, he’s going to force his way into doing whatever he needs to.”
  • Anonymous college coach: “That dude loves to play basketball. So impressive. Best player at the U.S. Under 19 training camp…”
  • Eastern Conference scout: "He could be Kevin Garnett with a jump shot."
• Key Distinction:
  • Talent is everywhere, but toughness and genuine love for the game is not.
  • Peterson’s competitive fire and impact are in question; DeBonsa’s “career guy” focus stands out.

“There’s talent everywhere. There’s not toughness everywhere. There’s not love everywhere.”
— Colin Cowherd [10:06]

• Compare with Jalen Brunson: Improvement through mentality, not physical gifts.

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3. The NBA’s “Small Guard” Exception: Jalen Brunson & Basketball Evolution

[17:14 - 25:20]

• Colin and Stugots discuss Jalen Brunson's rise to Finals MVP—undersized at 6’2”, yet only the fourth such player to achieve this.
• Historic pattern: Most NBA superstars are big, long, tall; exceptions like Brunson, Parker, Curry, and Isaiah Thomas are rare.
• European and global influences have made skill and IQ as important as athleticism; the league now necessitates dribbling, passing, and shooting over just raw athletic explosion.
• Steve Nash comparison: Both Nash and Brunson maximized their unique skills and overcame physical limitations.
• Takeaway: Stories like Brunson’s are unique, not the future blueprint for success, but a testament to what obsession and hard work can achieve.

“It's really more about them than the future of the league. Brunson deserves all the credit... This is really just the Brunson story.”
— Colin Cowherd [24:02]

• Redemption as an American sports theme—anyone can break through given the right combination of circumstances and mentality.

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4. Lane Kiffin at LSU, Recruiting, and the Transfer Portal’s Challenge

[25:22 - 28:13]

• Rachel Nichols brings up college football and Lane Kiffin’s new era at LSU.
• Kiffin expresses optimism about winning a national title, leveraging top recruiting and the transfer portal (50 newcomers, #1 transfer class).
• Colin and Rachel warn chemistry will be an issue: “If you had 85 employees and brought in 50 new ones at once…” (Colin, 27:42)
• Winning takes more than talent acquisition — building “chemistry” amid turnover is tough, as Lincoln Riley found at USC.

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5. World Cup: Mexico’s Dramatic Advancement

[28:13 - 29:57]

• Rachel recaps Mexico’s narrow win over South Korea—secured only by a late, spectacular double save by goalkeeper Raul Rangel.
• The moment compared to Odell Beckham Jr.’s iconic catch: “Wait, what? What did he just do?” (Rachel, 29:24)
• Implication: The entire nation’s progress rested on those seconds—Mexico advances, buoyed by home crowd advantage in upcoming rounds.

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6. NFL QB Development: Jaden Daniels, Coaching, and System Fit

[30:00 - 33:32]

• Rachel and Colin discuss Washington Commanders QB Jaden Daniels—his talent unquestioned, but development depends on coaching stability (defensive-minded Dan Quinn and a new coordinator).
• Colin’s worry: “I don’t worry about Jaden Daniels. I worry about upstairs…is Dan Quinn on the hot seat?” [32:17]
• Washington changing offensive systems (from no-huddle, shotgun-heavy to more under-center), mainly to help Daniels’ durability and growth.
• Broader Point: QB success in NFL is often less about inherent talent, more about environment, stability, and coaching philosophy.

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7. Risk Management & “Red Flags” in the NFL: The Brennan Sorsby Story

[33:32 - 37:46]

• Colin analyzes whether teams should take a chance on Brennan Sorsby, a player with betting baggage.
• Most NFL teams are “results now” businesses, except the Pittsburgh Steelers (“the Steelers are different…they don’t fire coaches”).
• Eagles philosophy praised: Talent and upside matter more than “red flag” risk, if the infrastructure is right.
• Example: Randy Moss thrived in Patriots culture after trouble elsewhere.

"You can't get precious in the NFL ... It’s a talent league."
— Colin Cowherd [36:09]

• Drafting philosophy: Take the best player, build an adult-supporting environment.

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8. Special Feature: John Calipari on NBA Prospects, Darius Acuff, Kat, Cameron Boozer & More

[41:57 - 52:37]

On Darius Acuff:

• Calipari raves about Arkansas recruit Darius Acuff:
  • Relentless work ethic (“didn’t go home for Christmas to work out,” “[played] through a hurt toe,” [41:57])
  • Compares his unselfishness and durability to NBA stars.
  • “He scored 49 against Alabama, played 50 minutes…he’s a different kind of soul.” [42:51]
• Impact stats: Only four college players with 18 points, 10 assists, 0 turnovers in a game:
  • “RJ Barrett. Pretty good. Darius Acuff. Darius Acuff. And Darius Acuff." [43:12]
• Predicts multiple teams will regret not taking him.

On NBA Draft Track Record:

• Correction: Calipari jokes about his own NBA draft record:
  • "It's 45 or 46 first round draft picks... 42 lottery picks, 13 all stars, 2 MVPs." [44:05]

On Karl-Anthony Towns (“Kat”):

• Player evolution:
  • Calipari helped him develop his inside game. Later, passing of Kat’s mother and role change unlocked his offensive leadership.
  • Kat had to stop "flopping" and play through contact to succeed at the highest level.

“Mike [Thibodeau]...played through him. So now the ball moved, the court was spaced…His game became better, played rougher, more aggressive.”
— John Calipari [46:04]

On Cameron Boozer:

• Scouting: Boozer lacks elite athleticism but is smarter and more skilled than credited; “he’s going to be a terrific pro.” [48:18]

On AJ DeBonsa:

• Calipari saw him early (“as a ninth grader”) and labeled him “a freak potential,” with a high upside and a “really nice kid.”
• Says this NBA draft is deep and thinks “if I had the number one pick, I'd take Acuff.” [49:41]

Final Acuff Story:

• Unmatched drive: After scoring 49 in a losing effort, Acuff refused to sit out hurt.
  • “He looks at me and said, ‘Do you know we lost?’ and got up and left. Like, I’m not sitting out.” [51:05]

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9. Tyrese Maxey: The Overlooked Star

[52:37 - 52:54]

• Colin’s admiration for Tyrese Maxey:
  • “I'm a huge believer. Just turn the sound down...He’s a bullet. When pro athletes look slow, you know you’ve found something special.”
  • Maxey compared to Deion Sanders’ college speed and uniqueness.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• "There’s not toughness everywhere. There’s not love everywhere. There’s not. A lot of guys just have size, athletic ability, can make a lot of money. They don’t love the game."
  — Colin Cowherd [10:06]

• “If you look at the top 20 players in the NBA. It’s a lot of big, long, tall guys, okay? And there’s a guiding principle and then historic truth in almost every business.”
  — Colin Cowherd [18:36]

• “Tyrese Maxey is a top-five player...and he ends up being.”
  — John Calipari [43:53]

• “If I had the number one pick, I’m taking Acuff. You know why? Kinda got a feel for guards. Like my guards have done pretty good in the league.”
  — John Calipari [49:41]

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Timestamps for Significant Segments

• U.S. Men’s Soccer: 03:22 – 07:00
• Draft/Scouting: DeBonsa vs. Peterson: 07:01 – 12:42
• Jalen Brunson & Small Guards: 17:14 – 25:20
• Lane Kiffin/LSU Football: 25:22 – 28:13
• World Cup/Mexico: 28:13 – 29:57
• Jaden Daniels/Washington Football: 30:00 – 33:32
• NFL Risk Management/Brennan Sorsby: 33:32 – 37:46
• John Calipari Interview (Deep NBA Draft/Prospects Insight): 41:57 – 52:37
• Tyrese Maxey Praise: 52:37 – 52:54

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Summary & Takeaways

• The episode is a tapestry of evolving sports narratives — from the rise of the “beautiful game” in U.S. soccer to the crucial but undervalued role of competitive drive in basketball prospects.
• The recurring theme: mentality, obsession, and chemistry often mean more than raw talent or physical prowess.
• Colin, Rachel, and Calipari present a candid, insightful look at what’s really valued behind the scenes—hard work, culture fit, and the ability to overcome adversity.
• Listeners walk away with both engaging stories and actionable insights into how stars are made, why some teams and players break through, and what the shifting landscape means for sports fans and front offices alike.

Transcript

[John Calipari]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Colin Cowherd]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[John Calipari]

Here we go.

[Colin Cowherd]

It's Friday. Our boys up in Seattle taking on Australia been since 1930. We've started 2, 0. Rachel Nichols joining me on a Friday and she's already. I can see her putting honey in her tea. Yep, just a little this morning.

[Rachel Nichols]

Little voice, Demi Moore situation. Or as one of our sound guys called it, my after hours voice. So that's what you get on a Friday morning. I don't know.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, we'll all be hoarse after Australia. USA Tonight. Again, you got to go to 1930. You know that. We started two and own this thing that's pre World War II. I'll put an asterisk by those stats. Data analytics statistics aside, sometimes it's what something looks like and what something feels like. And last week, first half against Paraguay, that looked different and you were all right and you should all be optimistic. That looked different. I mean, don't get me wrong, this has always been called soccer's the beautiful game. But we really never took part in the beautiful game thing. We were kind of defense, first set pieces. There was a way we had to win. Mostly one nothing with our goalkeepers being superman. Right. We get the occasional draw against England, a great goal, occasionally a remarkable save. But we didn't have the rhythm or the fluidity that for the first time I watched for 90 minutes. Right. Passing skill. It looked like Spain. I know I shouldn't say that. So what is success at the World cup for the United States? It can't be winning the cup. England's only one one, Spain's only one ones. Right. What it has to be is this. What does it look like and what does it feel like? Are we aggressive? We're Americans. We need to be. It's on home soil. A little swagger, some grittiness, some toughness. Again, playing in possession with purpose. I mean, we had more goals against Paraguay than we did in all of the 2022 World cup and by the way, it looked easy. It was one timing. Fowler and Baligan. Oh, we've got a striker. Pulisic may not play tonight. And for the first time ever, I'm like, we'll be fine. I mean, we're not scoring four goals without him, but we should be fine. I mean, all comics can get a laugh, but the good ones, there's a rhythm, there's a flow to it, and it's like they're just kind of connected to the audience more than the average comic who can write a joke, tell a joke, deliver a joke, and get, you know, a laugh. And so for me, when I watch this, the flow of it. And Bob Bradley was on our show yesterday, the former United States men's National team coach. And he said, it all starts with having our guys, and we got 13 now that play overseas and that are flourishing and confident overseas. That only benefits the United States when they come back to play with us. Here's Bob Bradley. If that player's not playing regularly on a club team, then his ability to come into the national team and really play at a high level goes down. So you've got to understand that making sure a player is in his best form, helping him in terms of everything that's going on with this club, those are things that are eventually going to help the national team. And I liked how we dictated terms in terms of possession and corner kicks. We dictated terms of engagement. That is not American soccer in my lifetime. We're going to play our style and we're going to lead, and we're going to be aggressive and we're going to be vulnerable to on the back end. You may burn us, but we have so much confidence in our skill. We'll just score again. And no more defensive soccer. Frankly, it's boring and ugly. Let other countries, Australia, much more our style formally. Currently, we are getting really close to the beautiful game that it's been called forever, but we never took part in that until maybe now. Okay, so yesterday, top of our show, we gave you coaches, scouts, people in the NBA or college that had watched Darren Peterson, who I would not take number one, despite the fact I think he has an enormous ceiling. I think he lacks certain things like tenacity and a love for the game. So today we give you what they're saying about AJ debonza from byu. Now, listen to these quotes. These quotes matter. People that have coached against him scouts, their job to evaluate before a draft. So let's show you some of the quotes from the article. AJ DeBonsa who is the long. Not a great shooter yet. Some say a lower ceiling than Peterson here is a Western Conference executive. He says, I take A.J. number one. He's got the mentality he's going to force his way into doing whatever he needs to. He's about the right stuff. He's professional. Okay, that's. That's. That's pretty telling. Let's go to the second quote. This is another Western Conference executive. He's a responsible kid. He's not ducking from wanting to be the top player. He carries himself as the best player. He's running to, hey, man, I'm the best player in the league. A lot of confidence. So I've got a tenacity quote, a mentality quote. Let's go to Another quote on AJ DeBonsa. This from an anonymous college coach. That dude loves to play basketball. So impressive. Best player at the US Under 19 training camp in Colorado. He played the right way. We always talk about Jalen Brunson, right? The players we love in this league that play the right way. And finally, there's another quote here from an Eastern Conference scout. AJ could really be good. He could be Kevin Garnett with a jump shot. That's the way I saw thought of him three years ago when I first laid eyes on him. He has a tenacity about him. He wants to. Okay. Sort of the opposite of Darren Peterson, right? So it's. I'm hearing mentality, tenacity, professional. Right. Way to play. This is not a shot at Darren Peterson, who's gifted, but the global basketball world we live in. There's all sorts of athleticism, length and hops. It's everywhere. Means 47 guys in the NBA score 20 or more points. There's talent everywhere. There's not toughness everywhere. There's not love everywhere. There's not. A lot of guys just have size, athletic ability, can make a lot of money. They don't love the game. And that's the difference between, say, in the rest of our lives from job guy and career guy. Job guy goes to his job, leaves, doesn't think about it again. Career guy, he thinks about it all day, even when he's home. Job guy takes pride in his apathy toward his work. Career guy takes pride in his dedication. That's all over pro sports as well. You know, Jalen Brunson, even his dad's surprised. He just keeps getting better. It's not because his vertical improved, not because his traits, his size got better. AJ debons, as a career guy, he wants to Be a great career basketball player. And, and that's, that's the difference. And by the way, played in every game for BYU. Unlike Peterson, all 35 guarantee he didn't feel great every night. He's a defensive grinder. That matters. Here's the other thing that matters. Are you a foundational piece? Meaning when you don't play, is your team worse? Peterson at Kansas, the team was 15, 9 when he played. Some of the data showed they were better offensively when he sat. This is different. If you look at debona at byu led the nation in scoring as a freshman and they were a better team when he was on the floor. Jeff Goodman from our show a couple of weeks ago, he's talking to these coaches and these scouts. He's been covering the draft for years on the feeling that there's too much risk with Peterson and very little with AJ DeVonta.

[Stugots]

If you're Washington right now, I don't think you can afford to take a huge risk. And right now, as talking to people in the NBA closest situation, the biggest question mark they have of Darren Peterson right now isn't whether, like he'll be healthy or not. It's the competitiveness. It's the competitiveness. And when you start questioning that, that's tough to take him number one over another guy who's shown he's competitive, who's shown he's put up numbers.

[Colin Cowherd]

So the draft is under a week. There's just a lot of good players. John Calipari, he's got a guard, Acuff, he's going to be joining us in about 20 minutes. That kid is remarkable offensively like he is. You know, again, he's a smaller player. But what I think helps. Acuff, who is the MVP of the finals, 6 foot 2 Jalen Brunson. Sports tend to be copycat momentum. There was a point in the NFL, it's almost laughable now, where the Wildcat offense was a thing. Let's hike the ball to a running back. And it gained traction. New England even played around with it in a couple of series like it's follow the leader in pro sports. So Jalen Brunson's size and dominance maybe opened some eyes to the Arkansas guard, who's dynamic. But about three weeks ago, I kept hearing it's a little small. Maybe that that's not the thing we think it is. Thirty years ago, scientist Gary Kehoe was having a cup of tea and there was a mushroom floating on it. And what he felt was not a rush, but it was a steady energy that lasted and that moment sent Gary on a decade long search to understand why guys over 40 feel different. Your energy dips, recovery slows weight harder to keep off. So Gary built EmDrive. EmDrive supports healthy T levels, testosterone, steady energy and metabolism and recovery. No hyper extremes. A daily supplement I've been taking for years when men's bodies and biologies start to change. At about 40, mDrive is available at Amazon or at Sprouts. It's made with clinically tested ingredients trusted by over a million men. If you still want energy for the gym, family, work, you know your life. Don't ignore your biology. Go to mdrive4men.com the code is heard H E R D 20 off your first order M drive from n.com One

[Commercial Announcer]

more herd the herd streams 24 hours a day, 7 days a week within the iHeartRadio app search herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like.

[Stugots]

Stigatz Here I have a podcast empire. It continues to grow and I have brought it here to iHeart. I'm also doing a live radio show from 3 to 5pm Eastern because my wife wanted to kick me out of the house. It's called To Godson company Live, which is available in podcast form right when the show finishes every single day. Some of the biggest names in sports. A lot of phone calls.

[John Calipari]

I love you guys show.

[Colin Cowherd]

It's one of my favorites.

[Stugots]

A lot of interaction, guys not taking themselves too seriously. Those are just some of the things that you can expect from Stugots Co. And Stugots Co. Live. So listen to Stugots Co. Live and our original podcast. Please subscribe, rate and review Stugots Co. And God bless football. Taylor's livelihood depends on it. Do it today and you can check all of those out on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast.

[Commercial Announcer]

One more herd the herd streams 24

[Colin Cowherd]

hours a day, 7 days a week

[Commercial Announcer]

within the iHeartRadio app search herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like.

[Stugots]

Stegatz Here I have a podcast empire. It continues to grow and I have brought it here to iHeart. I'm also doing a live radio show from 3 to 5pm Eastern because my wife wanted to kick me out of the house. It's called Stugazi company Live which is available in podcast form right when the show finishes every single day. Some of the biggest names in sports, a lot of phone calls.

[John Calipari]

I love you guys show.

[Colin Cowherd]

It's one of my favorites.

[Stugots]

A lot of interaction. Guys not taking themselves too seriously. Those are just some of the things that you can expect from Stugots Co. And Stugots Co. Live. So listen to Stew Gots Co. Live and our original podcast. Please subscribe, rate and review Stug Co. And God bless football. Taylor's livelihood depends on it. Do it today and you can check all of those out on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast.

[Colin Cowherd]

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[Commercial Announcer]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Stugots]

He's been this good. But as we know, the knock is you just don't want a small guard. I mean it's brought up all the time. I don't think this proves that every NBA GM is going to be like, you know what we need to do this summer, we going to get smaller point guard. Okay, he is this special. But because he's so small, you're like, this can't possibly happen. I think sometimes we lose sight of how obsessed the best players are at getting better. And that's why I kind of love the story for him. Like you think about some of these players, kind of like this is the kind of guy we should all be rooting for to win a championship.

[Colin Cowherd]

Absolutely. And he finally did. It was the Steve Nash story. There were players in the NBA. I remember this well when Nash won another MVP and there was a lot of pushback. How can that Canadian guy who played it like Santa Clara, there was pushback. People don't like it when Jokic won two straight. There was pushback, not very athletic. The game now necessitates skill. You want to be an athlete, but Jokic is arguably the best player. Is he a great athlete relative to Biggs? Historically, no. Now, Nash really is an amazing athlete. He took up tennis late in his life and got really good in about three weeks. But, I mean, I think we have to just give the Nashes and the Jokic and the Brunsons. It's really more about them than the future of the league. Brunson is. He deserves all the credit. Nothing against Mike Brown, nothing against his dad coaching teammates. This is really just the Brunson story. He is an all time overachiever. I said it yesterday if I'd have told you a year ago. Sam Darnold is going to win the Lombardi Trophy and Jalen Brunson will be the Finals mvp. Redemption is now a great big part of our American sports fabric. Rachel with the news. No, no. Heard on the news.

[Commercial Announcer]

This is the Herd line news.

[Rachel Nichols]

Yeah, I don't think anyone's going around being like, are there any five, nine guards out here? Not happening. All right, let's talk a little college football. Colin Lane Kiffin, entering his first season at lsu, he has never been shy about speaking his mind. And this week, he let everyone know how confident he is he will bring a national title to Baton Rouge.

[Colin Cowherd]

I don't know how fast that might not be today, but it's going to happen. And I feel it in recruiting, too, when these kids come in here, now that we got our staff fully here and we know how to sell lsu, too, because now we're meeting up people and know the restaurants in the areas and the people like, it's 101.

[John Calipari]

Yeah, yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

What Nick Saban said. Yeah, it's the best job in America. Yeah, it's. LSU has always been kind of viewed within the industry. If you could. If you could get a job. I mean, I love Ed Orgeron personally, but when Ed won a Natty, you know, it took a lot of people by surprise. It was like, well, Ed, was it Ole Miss? It didn't work. He's more of a position guy or a defensive coordinator. And I think it just speaks to. I mean, people forget. Les Miles was 1 in 11 games a year, 10 games a year. Nick Saban, that's where we really saw Nick Saban. He went Michigan State.

[Rachel Nichols]

Right.

[Colin Cowherd]

He goes to lsu and we're like, okay. Before then, he was winning seven games at Michigan State. Yeah, I think I Don't know. If I win a national championship. I think that a 2014 playoff is coming, Rachel.

[Rachel Nichols]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

And it's. I mean, does the best team win the Super Bowl? Like, a lot of it is matchups. You go through an SEC schedule and then all of a sudden, you know, your second game in the playoff, you're facing Georgia for a second time. It's like, some of it's like luck and happenstance stance and scheduling. So I will say this. They'll become an NFL factory. Orgeron now is on the staff. I could argue Kiffin and Orgeron are the two best recruiters in the country. That's a solid argument.

[Rachel Nichols]

Well, Kiffin's, you know, just been the master of the transfer Portal. They have 50 newcomers on this roster. Colin, 50. And the number one transfer portal class in the nation. So he has been recruiting hard and successful.

[John Calipari]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

It's interesting because, you know, what you and I have seen from the portal, it is really hard. Lincoln Riley found this out, I think, to bring in a bunch of new players and get chemistry. Like, I don't doubt. I don't doubt Lane's team will be very good this year, but the team that's going to win a national championship is going to be good with better chemistry. So I think this year you'll watch LSU and go, wow, that's a Lane Kiffin recruited team. But 50 new guys like bringing it into. Think about this. If you had 85 employees at a company, you brought 50 new ones in. It's going to take. There's going to be some turbulence to get to where you want to go.

[Rachel Nichols]

Lane Kiffin, never. Boring, though, I'll give them that. Good for us. Let's talk World Cup. Colin, last night, I don't know if you were watching that Mexico game. They became the first team to advance to the knockout round with a win over South Korea. But it was not super smooth. The team's only goal was the result of a blunder by South Korea's goalkeeper. Fans in their home stadium were booing them at halftime. Colin. And then South Korea almost tied the game in the 87th minute.

[John Calipari]

Yep.

[Rachel Nichols]

But Mexico's goalkeeper, Raul Rangel made an incredible save. I mean, this is just dastardly that he does this twice, right? Here's the call by Fox's Darren Fletcher.

[John Calipari]

It shows waiting in the box.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's a chance. It's a great save. It's a double save.

[John Calipari]

It's outstanding. From Ranghill. The man from Guadalajara is met.

[Colin Cowherd]

It goes hero.

[Stugots]

Wow.

[Commercial Announcer]

Has he kept that out?

[John Calipari]

I Have no idea. And he says, not in my city on this night.

[Colin Cowherd]

Are you scoring past me. Brilliant from Ragill. Oh, that was magical. It was intense last night.

[Rachel Nichols]

I mean, look, I know that was a defensive play, but just for the sheer like, oh my God, can you believe that happened? I thought of Odell Beckham Jr. S catch right where the. With the hand, and it's just sort of like, wait, what? What did he just do?

[Stugots]

Right.

[Rachel Nichols]

That's what we saw last night. It was incredible. And now Mexico gets to play at home for their first game of the knockout round and would play at home again if they win. So, I mean, this goal saving, that saved the country maybe two rounds of soccer. So that's pretty cool.

[Stugots]

Yep.

[Rachel Nichols]

Very cool.

[Colin Cowherd]

Rachel News. You got one more story.

[Rachel Nichols]

I do. We've been switching around. Let's talk NFL though, and my team. Colin Jayden Daniels hard at work leaving the commanders new offense under new coordinator David Blough. He spent the last two years as the assistant QB coach. So they know each other. On Wednesday, Daniels was asked how it's been going so far and he said it's still a long way to go. Just learning this new offense and terminology, what we do on this play, how we're attacking that play, things like that. So look, Colin, even me as a fan, I don't think last year was Jaden Daniel. It wasn't his fault, right? Yeah, the offensive line was problematic. I mean, he was sacked the most in the NFL while he was playing. Then he got hurt. It just was sort of a scratch year. But do you think that this year he does kind of have to prove that that first season hype is justified and he's really this good?

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, I think one of the things we've seen in the NFL is that look at the quarterbacks who have succeeded Caleb Williams in year two with an offensive coach.

[Commercial Announcer]

Okay.

[Colin Cowherd]

Bo Nix walks in, legendary offensive coach. And then, then you look at Drake. May by year two gets probably the best offensive coordinator in the league, Josh McDaniels.

[Rachel Nichols]

Yep.

[Colin Cowherd]

And then you start looking at some of these young quarterbacks. They get a defensive coach, Caleb Williams, first year, Matt Eberfluous.

[Rachel Nichols]

Right.

[Colin Cowherd]

So Dan Quinn is not only a defensive coach, he's on the.

[Rachel Nichols]

Yep.

[Colin Cowherd]

And oh, you had Cliff Kingsbury. Oh, he left. So the downside of the defensive coach is if the offensive coordinator really hits it, they're out. Or in this case, there was an issue with the GM and the coordinator. So to me upstairs, I know Jaden Daniels can play. When he came out of College. I said he's going to be Lamar Jackson, light but better in the pocket. I worry about his body. He's kind of, he's kind of spindly is the wrong word, but thin frame. I don't worry about him, the talent. I think he's a smart, hard working, focused, great player. My questions now is gm coach? It's the vibe where, you know, because what happened to Eberfluss? He went into his season on the hot seat. By week six, you're like, oh, this has gone sideways completely.

[Rachel Nichols]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

So I don't worry about Jaden Daniels. I worry about upstairs. And let's just see how it plays out the division now. The Giants are better. The Cowboys are better. The Eagles have a new coordinator. They could be an improved team. But if they start 2 and 5, is Dan Quinn on the hot seat? And there's our six stories every Monday after a loss. And you know your local radio, all of a sudden it just players listen, coaches listen. That's what I worry about with this team.

[Rachel Nichols]

I mean, look, the NFC east, the NFC west, definitely the two most competitive divisions in the NFL this year. But when you talk about being worried about Jaden's health, Colin, this offensive change is more than just a coordinator. They are changing the entire style he plays with. Last year, Washington led the league in no huddle. Offense, they led the league in shotgun. They went out of the shotgun 87% of the time. And this is going to be a flip. Most of the time they will go with him under center doing a huddle. It requires obviously more play calling on his part, but they, everyone at camp says he's doing really well so far, but that's partly to protect him. Get, you know, get him through the season. Running backs will help, too. They added some of those. So we'll see. I'm optimistic. I know you love the Giants, but I'm optimistic.

[Colin Cowherd]

Rachel with the news. Well, that's the news and thanks for stopping by the Herd lie news. There is. I read a story this morning. Brendan Sorsby has been a big story. Last couple of weeks we kept saying, take a deep breath, take a deep breath. It'll work itself out. College football is going to be fine and you know, he's going to be suspended. Well, he, eventually there was an injunction and then eventually he's going to go to the supplemental draft, which he probably should have done from the very beginning. So there's a story I'm reading this morning. Is is he going to be welcomed by the NFL despite his baggage? Well, yes, if he can play and yes, if he can stop betting professional leagues. The NFL allows you to bet. Just not on the NFL and not in the facility with Brennan Sorsby. He got to stop betting, period. Obviously that dopamine rush he gets from it, he can't handle it. Some people can't. You know, I lived in Vegas for seven years. I, I, all my friends gambled. None of them had a problem. None of us did. But some people, they, they just, they're built to get addicted to stuff. And he's one of those kids. So other than the Pittsburgh Steelers, in the NFL if you don't win big playoff games, you get fired as a GM or a coach. The Steelers are different winning record, everybody stays 31 of 32 teams. Sean McDermott's a great example. Got the two conference championships, ended that 18 year Buffalo Bill playoff drought. Won a bunch of big games, even beat Mahomes and the Chiefs several times. Got whacked. Why? Because the standard of the owner in Buffalo was higher than eventually McDermott could meet. Everybody in the NFL runs business that way except the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers are like listen, we got a winning record and they don't fire coaches. So I guess my, my take on this kid is you don't know the outcome. So there is a really big risk here. I two things matter to me on sb do you need a quarterback in the next two years? Because next year it's going to be, you're going to have to give up major draft capital. If you're the Steelers, Aaron Rodgers is going to set your ceiling pretty high. This kid has an incredible touchdown to TV TD giveaway ratio. He's a first round talent high second mid first. He's a first round talent. Right. So do I need a quarterback in the next two years and do I have the infrastructure if I draft him that we can support him and give him help but I'm a risk taker. You cannot get precious in the NFL. Don't get precious. The Philadelphia Eagles in the the last nine seasons have made the super bowl three times and won it twice. And they are constantly drafting players with red flags. So the Steelers and the Eagles may be in the same state. They see the world differently. And I prefer the Eagles way, which is don't get precious. You don't know the outcomes. It's a talent league. The media's job is to question what teams do that that draft swordsby. That's the media's job. A general manager's job. Draft the best players, help create a culture with a coach that you can take. Kids who have had addiction issues, parental issues, have struggled sometimes with discipline, and you have an infrastructure in Philadelphia that can handle it. I mean, when Randy Moss came to the Patriots, there were a lot of people, whoa, he's trouble. Certainly wasn't in New England, was with the Raiders, you know. So my take is I'd roll the dice if I had a need and I I felt I had adults. Like I said, the Cowboys Dak Prescott, one of the smartest guys in the league, one of the most mature guys. I'd put him behind Dak for three years. If Aaron Rodgers can sit for three years. If Jordan Love can sit for three years, Brendan Sorsby could. He's a Texas kid. Bring him in, put him under. Dak. Sit for 3 years, see if he's ready. And if he's not, you move on. He never took a snap. John Calipari around the corner it's the Herd. Be sure to catch live editions of

[Commercial Announcer]

the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app.

[Colin Cowherd]

Make your game day legendary with MGM Rewards. From unforgettable tailgate and viewing parties to world class dining, thrilling nightlife and entertainment that keeps energy going long after the final whistle, this is where fans come to celebrate, show off your team spirit, cheer with friends and earn rewards on every experience you love. Because every play is bigger and every moment feels unforgettable in Las Vegas. So what are you waiting for? Make your game day legendary with MGM Rewards. Visit mgmrewards.com for details. Every goal starts with an assist. As Official partners of U.S. soccer, this team is ready to deliver Sensodyne Dentist recommended Defense of your sensitive teeth Centrum Fueling your day with science backed nutrients. Advil, of course. Powerful inflammation fighting pain relief. Voltaren Arthritis Gel helps penetrate deep, keeps the joints moving and tums ready to counterattack with fast heartburn relief. Learn how Halion can assist your game day [e-mail] you ever notice how everything keeps going up?

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Colin Cowherd]

Hi, it's Colin Coward. If you want your outdoor space to really stand out, Deckorators, Surestone technology is where you should start. When you build your deck with Deckorators decking made with surestone technology, you're getting something totally different from the typical wood fiber composites out there. Decking with Surestone technology is made through a patented process that uses crushed rock, which gives every board incredible strength and durability. And Deckorators engineered it with a unique surface design that increases traction in wet conditions. So if you live in a rainy area or you've got kids running around outside, it's a safer, more comfortable surface. Plus, there are more than 40 different color and size combos, so you can design a customized outdoor space that actually fits your home and your style. It's durable, it's safe, it looks great and it's going to stand out. Build seasons right around the corner. Order a sample today. Visit decorators.com herd to get your free sample. That's decorators with A K again. Decorators.com herd well, three of the four last NBA champs, John Calipari played a role Cat SGA Jamal Murray, he's one of the personnel guys that you can always trust. He sees it before everybody else. 34 years coaching, six times in the final four. 42 first round draft picks. I asked my staff if That's a misprint. 42 first round picks. John Calipari, now the coach at Arkansas, is joining us and he's got a kid named Darius Acuff. He's joining us now live. Who, by the way, when people said Brunson's too small and can't defend well, Jalen Brunson's just the Finals mvp. The knock on Acuff is, well, he's a little small. I don't know about his. And my take is if you've not watched the kid play, it looks different than, I mean his. Let's just talk about him. This kid is he the next Brunson, but maybe more athletic, a little bit

[John Calipari]

bigger, a little bit more athletic. Jalen is so quick with the ball that he may be in that category by himself, maybe ever. But this kid here, I mean, great teammate, everybody, you know, we got him and it's going to be his. He was a great teammate. Never wanted to take a day off. Lived in the gym. I'll give you a great one. He didn't go home for Christmas because he wanted to work out. What are you talking about? He wouldn't. He had a hurt toe for about 12 games. College players are using a new term now. I'm shutting it down. I'm going to shut it down. This kid said, I'm not taking a game off. He was in a boot for three days and then would go play. Scored 49 against Alabama on the road and double overtime, played 50 minutes. I mean, he's a different kind of soul work. Great kid. I'll give you this, 10 points. I'm sorry, 18 points, 10 assists, no turnovers. It's been done by four players. RJ Barrett. Pretty good.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Calipari]

Darius Acoff. Darius Acoff and Darius Acoff. I'm like saying, I don't know what, What? Jalen did the mid game. What? Shea did the mid game. How many guys want to make game winning baskets, right? Let me say this, Colin. There's going to be two, three, four teams, maybe five that will regret not taking him. I'm telling you.

[Colin Cowherd]

No, we said.

[John Calipari]

I remember saying it against Tyrese Maxey. I said, you people are nuts.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yep.

[John Calipari]

Tyrese Maxey is a top five player.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Calipari]

And he ends up being.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. My staff knows how much I like Tyrese Maxey. I think he's an incredible all time talent. Okay, so I want to talk about that. I want to go to the Knicks because you were there and by the way.

[John Calipari]

Hold it, hold on. You guys were wrong. I think it's 45 or 46 first round draft picks, but go ahead. Maybe. I think what they had was lottery picks. I think it was 42 lottery picks, 13 all stars playing in 43 all star games, two MVPs. Who's the other one? You know, Shay. Who's the other one?

[Colin Cowherd]

Mvp. Oh, no, not Cat, Not Shay, not Jamal Murray, Derek Rose.

[John Calipari]

Come on, you gotta be on this.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, yeah, you know, I got gray hair. Sometimes stuff slips. Now I want to talk about Cat. Cat was always a unbelievable touch for a big. One of the best shooting bigs I've ever seen in my life. We said this and I Said for years, I'm like, I love him. I don't know if he's a championship player. He's just really good. And then something hit. It may have been the passing of his mother. There was a resolve about him. It was just different. He became an offensive hub. I want you to go back to the Kentucky days. The cat that you talked to and saw at the finals, was he a little bit different, mentality wise, than the kid you coached? Tell me about that.

[John Calipari]

Well, he has a beard, but here's what I will tell you. I didn't let him shoot threes because in high school that's all he did. And I said, you got to prove you can guard, pick and roll defense, that you could rebound and have a presence. You could score from 7ft and in and make your free throws because they'll know you can shoot. I think he took six threes. And I said, if you do these things, you're going to be the number one pick. And he is. He was now the only thing he and I talked about in this series. I said, look, you got to play through bumps and quit flopping because they're not calling fouls. No, everything's got to be an and one.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Calipari]

Oh, and he started. He was unbelievable. Second thing, Mike, what they did and what the Knicks did after they lost a couple games to Atlanta, they played through him. So now the ball moved, the court was spaced. Now, what you could see is an aggressive driver. You could see an unbelievable passer. And you know what it did to the rest of his game because he touched the ball just about every time down, became a better defender, played rougher, played more aggressive because they played through him. Now, didn't change Jalen. He's still the mvp. Last game, when Kat was out with foucher, we scored 45. It helped Hart, it helped Bridges, it helped OG. It helped them all by him being out and in. Now, there are still times that you want him near the basket. And you know what they did? They stuck. When there was any switch and a guard was on him, they put him underneath, literally under the net. You know what he did? He rebounded so he'd get an offensive rebound and stick it back in. But no, he. I got upset because anything happening to the Knicks ended up being about Carl. And I'm like, what are you talking about?

[Colin Cowherd]

That.

[John Calipari]

Then again, I'm biased. I don't want to hear anybody talk, talk stuff about my kids. But he. Jalen did what he did and Carl did what he did. That's why they Won. And every one of those players starred in their role.

[Commercial Announcer]

Yeah.

[John Calipari]

Including guys coming off the bench.

[Colin Cowherd]

This is me. People are calling this, including Acuff, the best draft in a long time. I want to ask you about a player specifically Boozer, Cameron Boozer. He was very good against you. I remember that being a TV game. He, he was tough. Now people say, John, you know, he's not super athletic. And I'm like, well, his dad wasn't either, but his dad was really good. His dad was smart, his dad was tough. Can you give me a scout's eye view at Cameron Boozer? Like a lot of. I mean, people say he could go one. How do you view him?

[John Calipari]

Well, here's what I would say. You, you know, they'll talk about the athleticism and all this. He's a better athlete than you think. The thing that I like this year is he skill got better on the perimeter because no one's really playing with someone next to the basketball. You got to be able to play out, you know. You even looking at san Antonio Wemby 7 6.

[Commercial Announcer]

I know.

[John Calipari]

How much did they send him under the basket? So you're not going to play that way. You're not going to play that kind of game. But he's a better skilled player. He can really pass the ball. And when he figures it out what he can do, he'll do what he does. I think he's going to be a terrific pro.

[Colin Cowherd]

AJ DeBonsa, you recruited him. You may have gotten close. I recruited Boozer too.

[John Calipari]

I recruited the Boozers brothers too.

[Colin Cowherd]

I get told no by everybody.

[John Calipari]

I don't know what's going on, but yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

So Devonsa, to me, I would.

[John Calipari]

I saw him as a ninth grader. I saw him as a ninth grader. I went over to a gym. They said, you got to see this guy. And I went over and I'm like, what in the world, a freak potential. The upside, you know, you're looking at upside with him, all that stuff and a nice kid. Really nice kid.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Calipari]

I mean, he's going to be good. This. That's why this draft, when you look at these names that they're talking about, they're all really good players. And I recruited most of them and they told me no. But my guy came with me and look, if I had the number one pick, I'm taking a cuff, you know why? Kind of got a feel for guards. Like my guards have done pretty good in the league.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Calipari]

And like my guess is Max Deals. Your guys don't know this I think my guys have about 30% of the max deals. That means they're going to have second and third contracts. I think Darius Acuff will go in that league. An average 18 and 8. Minimum. 18 and 8. The reason I'm saying it, because he is a terrific passer. Way faster than people give him credit. His toe was hurt. Let me give you this story. Darius walked in, we just lost to Alabama, had four guys filed out of the game. I'm playing with two guys the last overtime that hadn't played all year. He's trying to will us to win. His foot is so bad. He scores 49. We come back, he's sitting at this desk or at this couch. My desk is right there. And I said, listen, you should take the next game off. Just, just. He was in a boot. Take the next game off. We were playing Missouri at home. He looks at me and he said, do you know we lost? And he got up and left like, I'm not sitting out. We just lost the game. You don't want that. What? You don't want a guy that. He's going to give you everything. He has a great teammate. All the stuff I, you know, we all hear stuff. I got a couple guys on my team, you heard this and that. I'm around these kids, all they want to do is get better. They want to respect who's coaching them. And Darius Acuff, I'm telling you, there are going to be some guys regretting and I know. Well, one through four are already established. Well, that's okay. That's okay. When he starts playing, you'll remember this conversation. And we're saying you're going to regret not taking him because he can. If you're, if you're good enough calling, you're big enough. And he's about 62 with a 67 wingspan, right? So he's good. Jalen, though. I hate comparing anybody to Jalen because he's a unicorn. He's all this mid game stuff, getting fouled. You know, he's this, this kid is good, though.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right. John Calipari, Arkansas, 34 years, a Hall of Famer as a basketball coach. We're up against it. It's great seeing you. You look good. You're crushing it. You're recruiting's good and I appreciate you coming on the show.

[John Calipari]

You know I'm always here if you need me. Colin, you're a good man.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right, John. Cal. Thank you, John. John's done a remarkable job. Everywhere he's gone and I'm looking at all the players he's recruited on my sheet. Oh my God, he's got. He's got some Max deals. Tyrese Maxey Witness. I got two guys sitting next to me as my witness. I sold my Embiid stock several years ago. I have. I am a huge believer in Tyrese Maxey. I always say when you watch certain players, turn the sound down, don't be influenced by announcers. Watch Tyrese Maxey. Just turn the sound down. He's a bullet. Like, it's just. I'm sorry. When pro athletes look slow. That's what Deion did in his prime in college. Like, okay. Made Miami Hurricane DB's receivers look slow. All right, we got a break. Hour 2 Moadu around the Corner make your game day legendary with MGM Rewards from unforgettable tailgate and viewing parties to world class dining, thrilling nightlife and entertainment that keeps energy going long after the final whistle, this is where fans come to celebrate, show off your team spirit, cheer with friends and earn rewards on every experience you love. Because every play is bigger and every moment feels unforgettable in Las Vegas. So what are you waiting for? Make your game day legendary with MGM Rewards. Visit mgmrewards.com for details. Every goal starts with an assist. As Official partners of U.S. soccer, this team is ready to deliver. Sensodyne Dentist Recommended Defense of your sensitive teeth Centrum Fueling your day with science backed nutrients. Advil, of course. Powerful inflammation fighting pain relief Voltaren Arthritis Gel helps penetrate deep, keeps the joints moving and tums ready to counterattack with fast heartburn relief. Learn how Halion can assist your game day [e-mail] unplus nicotine pouches present comfort

[Stugots]

chronicles at 10 o' clock tee time how comfortable you show up in stretchy

[Colin Cowherd]

shorts, a breathable tee and maybe no socks. Let the dogs breathe while other sweat and pleated khakis your in your comfort zone bombing drives and in your pocket.

[Stugots]

On nicotine pouches the softest pouch on the planet. Buy a [e-mail] Products for tobacco consumers 21 years of age or older. Warning this product contains nicotine. Nicotine is an addictive chemical.

[Colin Cowherd]

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[Rachel Nichols]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Colin Cowherd]

Guaranteed Human.