Best of The Herd

Summary

Best of The Herd - January 8, 2025

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
• Host: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
• Description: A thought-provoking, opinionated, and topic-driven journey through the top sports stories of the day.
• Episode: Best of The Herd
• Release Date: January 8, 2025

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1. Tragic Wildfires Devastate Los Angeles [02:07 - 05:00]

Colin Cowherd opens the episode with a somber tone, addressing the catastrophic wildfires engulfing Malibu and Pacific Palisades. He extends thoughts and prayers to those affected, describing the scene as "apocalyptic" with "dark clouds hover[ing] all over Los Angeles" due to "100 mile an hour winds" that have led to significant property and home losses.

Colin Cowherd [02:30]: "It's apocalyptic in Los Angeles this morning. Dark clouds hover all over Los Angeles as fires and 100 mile an hour winds reportedly last night just engulfed Malibu."

Cowherd emphasizes the unprecedented nature of the disaster, highlighting the challenges faced by residents and the emotional toll of witnessing such devastation.

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2. Raiders Coaching Changes: Blaming the Owner vs. the Coach [05:01 - 14:48]

A. Analysis of Raiders Firing Antonio Pierce [05:15 - 10:45]

Cowherd delves into the recent decision by the Raiders to fire Antonio Pierce, critiquing the franchise's handling of coaching staff. He argues that the blame should lie with the owner rather than the coach, citing the Raiders' ongoing issues with finding a stable leadership.

Colin Cowherd [06:20]: "This is a classic example where we are blaming the coaches and often blaming the GMs. And that's not the issue here."

He highlights the Raiders' attempts to hire high-profile coaches like Jon Gruden and Josh McDaniels, none of which proved successful. Cowherd maintains that Pierce was unfairly dismissed, pointing out the team's competitive performance despite the coaching changes.

Colin Cowherd [08:50]: "I would have kept the coach. I'm a friend of the GM, Tom Telesco. Nobody knew if he would keep the job."

B. Critique of Ownership Decisions [10:46 - 14:48]

Continuing his analysis, Cowherd criticizes the Raiders' ownership for their inability to provide consistent support and make informed decisions regarding coaching appointments. He emphasizes that the instability at the top has hindered the team's performance and potential success.

Colin Cowherd [12:10]: "The Raiders owner keeps giving his coach spam and canned beans and he wants him to beat Bobby Flay and Wolfgang Puck across the street."

Cowherd concludes that the root of the Raiders' struggles is systemic, stemming from ownership mismanagement rather than the competence of individual coaches like Pierce.

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3. Bill Belichick and the Patriots: A Case of Misaligned Vision [14:49 - 22:04]

A. The Brady-Belichick Era and Its Aftermath [14:50 - 18:30]

Cowherd transitions to discussing Bill Belichick's tenure with the New England Patriots, particularly focusing on the departure of Tom Brady and its impact on the franchise. He disputes the notion that misalignment with ownership led to the team's downfall, instead attributing issues to Belichick's management style and drafting shortcomings.

Colin Cowherd [16:00]: "This is not about Robert Kraft. The minute Brady left, the filter was off Instagram."

He argues that Belichick's inability to draft effectively and maintain a progressive young staff contributed significantly to the Patriots' decline post-Brady.

B. Comparing Coaching Styles and Organizational Success [18:31 - 22:04]

Cowherd contrasts Belichick's approach with that of other successful coaches like Andy Reid and Sean Payton, highlighting the importance of shared vision and adaptability within a team.

Colin Cowherd [21:00]: "You can get a lot done when you're going in different directions, then that's..., that makes it really hard to keep up with everybody else."

He concludes that while Belichick had a successful run, the lack of evolving strategies and poor personnel decisions have marred his legacy, especially after the exit of a key player like Brady.

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4. Mike McCarthy and the Dallas Cowboys: A Defense Amidst Speculation [22:05 - 37:55]

A. Defending Mike McCarthy’s Coaching Record [22:05 - 28:00]

Colin Cowherd shifts focus to Mike McCarthy, the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, defending his effectiveness despite recent rumors linking him to potential moves by the Chicago Bears.

Colin Cowherd [24:00]: "Mike McCarthy... gets the most out of Dak Prescott. When Dak is healthy, they win 12 games."

He praises McCarthy's ability to maximize the talents of quarterback Dak Prescott, maintaining a robust offensive ranking under his leadership.

B. Addressing Coaching Optics and Media Perception [28:01 - 37:55]

Cowherd discusses the challenges McCarthy faces regarding public perception, contrasting him with more flamboyant or "alpha" coaches who garner more media attention.

Colin Cowherd [30:00]: "He's not slick, young, and clever, just a good offensive coach. And he doesn't have a big alpha presence in the locker room."

Despite these challenges, Cowherd underscores McCarthy's accomplishments, including a Super Bowl ring and successful tenures with various quarterbacks, reinforcing his value to the Cowboys.

Colin Cowherd [35:00]: "He's got a Super Bowl ring. He's effective, he wins a lot. And he wins with different personalities."

Cowherd ultimately suggests that the Cowboys are likely working on extending McCarthy’s contract, valuing his contributions to the team's success.

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5. Guest Segment: Drew Brees on Playoff Pressure and Coaching [37:56 - 37:55]

A. Playoff Preparation and Managing Pressure [37:56 - 45:00]

Drew Brees joins the show to discuss the dynamics of playoff football, particularly focusing on young quarterbacks like Jaden Daniels and their ability to handle high-pressure situations.

Drew Brees [24:49]: "Just focusing on the process and knowing the result will take care of itself."

Brees emphasizes the importance of process over outcome, advising young athletes to maintain focus on daily routines and preparation to achieve success in crucial games.

B. Sean Payton’s Coaching Longevity and Style [32:33 - 35:48]

The conversation shifts to Sean Payton, with Brees lauding Payton's enduring success and coaching methodology. He attributes Payton's longevity to his ability to incorporate lessons from legendary mentors and his commitment to evolving coaching strategies.

Drew Brees [35:00]: "He's taken the best of what people have poured into him, and now he's carrying on that legacy."

Brees highlights Payton's dedication to finding strategic advantages and fostering a motivated, cohesive team environment, which has kept him relevant and effective over the years.

C. Handling Playoff Favorites and Personal Performance [27:13 - 28:11]

Brees shares personal anecdotes about managing performance anxiety in playoff games, illustrating how focusing on preparation and execution can mitigate external pressures.

Drew Brees [27:46]: "If you focus on the process, the result will take care of itself."

He recounts an incident from a Super Bowl where he overcame initial panic by returning focus to the basics, reinforcing the importance of mental resilience in high-stakes environments.

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6. Conclusion and Final Thoughts [37:56 - End]

Colin Cowherd wraps up the episode by reflecting on the insights shared by Drew Brees, particularly the emphasis on process, preparation, and the enduring impact of effective coaching. He reiterates the importance of leadership stability in achieving team success and commends Brees for his candid perspectives.

Colin Cowherd [35:48]: "You've been so good today. Great stories today."

Cowherd invites listeners to tune in for future live editions and underscores the value of engaging with knowledgeable guests to navigate the complexities of professional sports.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

1. Colin Cowherd [02:30]:

   "It's apocalyptic in Los Angeles this morning. Dark clouds hover all over Los Angeles as fires and 100 mile an hour winds reportedly last night just engulfed Malibu."

2. Colin Cowherd [06:20]:

   "This is a classic example where we are blaming the coaches and often blaming the GMs. And that's not the issue here."

3. Colin Cowherd [12:10]:

   "The Raiders owner keeps giving his coach spam and canned beans and he wants him to beat Bobby Flay and Wolfgang Puck across the street."

4. Colin Cowherd [16:00]:

   "This is not about Robert Kraft. The minute Brady left, the filter was off Instagram."

5. Colin Cowherd [24:00]:

   "Mike McCarthy... gets the most out of Dak Prescott. When Dak is healthy, they win 12 games."

6. Colin Cowherd [30:00]:

   "He's not slick, young, and clever, just a good offensive coach. And he doesn't have a big alpha presence in the locker room."

7. Drew Brees [24:49]:

   "Just focusing on the process and knowing the result will take care of itself."

8. Drew Brees [35:00]:

   "He's taken the best of what people have poured into him, and now he's carrying on that legacy."

9. Drew Brees [27:46]:

   "If you focus on the process, the result will take care of itself."

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Conclusion

In this episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, listeners are treated to in-depth discussions about critical topics in the NFL, including the Raiders' coaching turmoil, the Patriots' post-Brady era, and a robust defense of Mike McCarthy's coaching prowess with the Cowboys. The guest appearance by Drew Brees adds valuable insights into handling playoff pressure and the lasting impact of effective coaching strategies. Throughout the episode, Cowherd emphasizes the importance of ownership decisions, leadership stability, and the relentless pursuit of excellence within professional sports teams.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

You can count on T Mobile to help keep you connected from big cities to small towns on America's largest 5G network. Switch the T Mobile keep your phone and they'll pay it off up to 800 bucks per line via prepaid card. Learn more@t mobile.com heap and switch up to four lines via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device credit service port in 90 plus days with device and eligible carrier and timely redemption. Acquired card has no cash access and expires in six months Whether you're ordering wings for the game, whipping up a seven layer dip, or ordering pizza, there's something about football that makes me want to eat. And this football season, Uber Eats has the best deals for me on game day Food no matter what I'm craving, from two for one pizza to buy one get one wings. Uber Eats. We'll be dropping new deals each week all season long. I'm in Uber Eats, the official on demand delivery partner of the NFL. Order now for game day. Terms and conditions apply. See Apple for details. With AMEX Platinum, you can enjoy access to dedicated card member entrances at select events because skipping the line makes you the star of game day. That's the powerful backing of American Express. Terms apply. Learn more@american express.com with AmEx card member entrance access not limited to AMEX Platinum Card Jon Stewart is back in the host chair at the Daily show, which means he's also back in our ears on the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. Join late night legend Jon Stewart and the best news team for today's biggest headlines, exclusive extended interviews and more. Now this is a second term we can all get behind. Listen to the Daily Show Ears edition on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to the Best of 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 [e-mail] or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.

[Drew Brees]

This is the Best of the Herd.

[Colin Cowherd]

With Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio. Oh, we got a good Wednesday show today. Drew Brees, Greg Olson, Peter Schrager live in la. It's the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day and thoughts and prayers to the people in Malibu and Pacific Palisades. I've never seen anything like it. I did not grow up in Los Angeles I've been here almost a decade. It is apocalyptic in Los Angeles this morning. Dark clouds hover all over Los Angeles as fires and 100 mile an hour winds reportedly last night just engulfed Malibu. It's hard to see anything left standing, so families, kids. So far it's been property and homes lost. Just, just a rough 24 hours in Los Angeles. Pretty gutting to drive to work this morning. J. Mac is joining me as always and again, we got a really good show today, but it's a pretty somber tone here in Los Angeles as we're watching friends and associates and neighbors and colleagues go through really, really difficult times. Some of the videos online that I watched for 30 minutes this morning, it's hard to wrap your brain around. It looks like an awful movie. So again, best everybody out there getting through in Los Angeles and absolutely horrible, horrific, unspeakable tragedy with these very unique, bizarre 80, 90 mile an hour winds which are spreading wildfires all over the city. And we'll go from there and we'll start our show today. And listen, we got college football, the playoff tomorrow and Friday, great games. I mean that Ohio State Texas game is going to be one for the ages. And then we have, you know, NFL playoff action starts this weekend and you know, we talk are more willing to fire coaching staffs. So I'm going to play a game today called Defend the Owner and Blame the Owner. And let's start with the latter, Blame the owner. The Raiders fired Antonio Pierce. I would have not fired Antonio Pierce. They are now as a franchise paying four coaches. They're paying Jon Gruden, still Josh McDaniel, still Antonio Pierce and probably in the next two days a fourth coach. That'll be official. They'll hire somebody else. I assume they'll have another coach. And they've tried every path. The owner wanted to hire a legend who'd been out of the sport for a while. Jon Gruden. Didn't work. They tried to hire Josh McDaniels, the whiz kid from the dynasty. That did not work. And then they thought, well, we're going to do, we're going to keep the interim coach who's a former Raider and loved by players. And I didn't know if it would work, but I still would have kept him on. And Antonio Pierce got fired. So for the record, he was 9 and 17. But I thought the Raiders, considering their quarterback situation, played close games. I mean, they beat Mahomes and Reed in Arrowhead, in Arrowhead last season with Aiden O'Connell at quarterback and they were a blocked kick away from beating Mahomes and Reed this year in arrowhead with Aiden O'Connell at quarterback. I mean, Andy Reid in his division with a better quarterback. Jim Harbaugh in his division with a better quarterback, Sean Payton in his division with a better quarterback. I mean, they were three and one in division last year and almost all their games in division are close. He even beat the Ravens this year in Baltimore in Lamar Jackson with Gardner Minshew. So I don't think it's an Antonio Pierce issue, but we all know being the Raiders head coach is not a job. It's a residency, 12, 15 months. Get some cash, be on your way. We are. This is a classic example where we are blaming the coaches and often blaming the GMs. And that's not the issue here. You tell me the great candidate for this job right now, Ben Johnson, you think with this carousel of coaches, he's putting the Raiders on his list. And oh, by the way, I like Ben Johnson. This Detroit offense is like eight guys that could end up getting hall of Fame votes. There's a dozen coordinators in the NFL that could score a lot of points with the Lions. In fact, I'd argue the Lions most impressive coordinators. Aaron Glenn, the defensive coordinator who lost his best player, Aiden Hutchinson early in the year at one point had like 12 guys on the IR on defense. And yet week after week, I mean, it just made Sam Darnold look like he saw ghosts again. So who are the great candidates? The truth of this, I'm blaming the owner here. If they would have given Cliff Kingsbury one more year as the coordinator, he was offered a two year deal. Washington said, we'll give you three years if they'd offered one more year. Kingsbury wanted to stay out west. Texas college coach, Arizona NFL coach, had done USC for one year. He wanted to stay out west. He wanted that Raider offensive coordinator gig and wouldn't give him to him. And if he would have gotten the gig, Cliff Kingsbury would have pounded the table, I imagine, for Jaden Daniels, because he pounded the table to Dan Quinn for Jaden Daniels, not Drake may, not J.J. mcCarthy, not Michael Pennix, not Bo Dix. And Jaden Daniels this year looks like the best rookie quarterback. So this is on the owner. You know, the, the Raiders owner keeps giving his coach spam and canned beans and he wants him to beat Bobby Flay and Wolfgang Puck across the street. Andy Reid with Mahomes, Jim Harbaugh with Justin Herbert, Sean Payton with a very good rookie, Bo Nix and this is a guy that should have in back to back years, beaten Andy Reed and Mahomes in arrowhead with Aiden O'Connell. So in this instance, to me, this is blame the owner. This is not blame the coach. I would not have fired Antonio Pierce. I'm a friend of the gm, Tom Telesco. Nobody knew if he would keep the job. I'm not sure he knew if he would keep the job. They kept the gm. I like that. I would have kept the coach. Okay, so that's, that's the first part of this, and that is blame the owner. Now I'm going to defend an owner. So Bill Belichick. This week, the legend weighed in on the New England Patriots firing Gerard Mayo. That shared vision between ownership and coaching and scouting, and that's when you can be successful. And I had that up until about the last four years in New England. And when you have that shared vision and, you know, everybody kind of pulling in the same direction, you know, you have a chance, you can get a lot done when you're going in different directions, then that's. That makes it really hard to keep up with everybody else. So I think you look at the organizations and you can kind of see the ones that are and the ones that aren't. No, Bill, it's. It's simpler than that. Tom Brady left New England. Somebody you wouldn't have dinner with for 20 years, not one time, who struggled to give him a game ball. He had good years left, won a Super bowl in Tampa. And you built no coalition, no relationship with him. I watched the documentary. We all did. This isn't about Robert Kraft not sharing and pulling in the same direction. Robert Kraft didn't get dumb at 80 and decide, you know, I want to do business differently now. Quarterbacks are like filters on Instagram. They make everything pretty. Take them away. A lot of people look average. Take the Indianapolis Colts when they had Andrew Luck. 11 and 5. 11 and 5. 11 and five with an average roster. Everybody loved Chris Ballard, Jim Ursay, strength, letting go of Peyton Manning. Now everybody thinks everybody in the building's dumb. And I like the roster more than I did with Andrew Luck, and I like Shane Steichen. But the quarterback position in Indianapolis is awful. I mean, go look at the Bills pre Josh Allen. They were going to move to Toronto. They didn't have a playoff win in 25 years. They've now won five straight division titles, and they literally own Miami, the Jets and New England. This is not about pulling in the same direction. This is about a coach who Made everybody bend the knee. And the minute Tom Brady, who bought into it for 20 years, took pay cuts, rallied behind the coach, did a local AM radio hit every Monday to have the same message as Bill Belichick the next week. I mean, it was all sacrificed by Brady until it was enough sacrificing and he wanted to have some say in the offense. Go watch the document. And then he left and won a Super bowl in Tampa, being that franchise's best quarterback, too. This is not about Robert Kraft. The minute Brady left, the filter was off Instagram. Bill hired a defensive coordinator to be offensive coordinator. He had a draft in which depict three offensive guards and two kickers. And they desperately needed speed. In fact, if you go back and look at the last 20 years, only one of Belichick's drafts at New England, one player, one skill player made a Pro bowl. Gronk won 20 years. Bill seized control, made everybody bend a knee. And that worked when you had that eraser in Tom Brady. And when he left, it all came tumbling down. And by the way, I think Dan Quinn's doing a great job in Washington, but Jaden Daniels erases all the mistakes. So after winning six Super Bowls, Robert Kraft did not get dumb. But as we know, in multiple books, Bill took more power. Brady was irritated, annoyed, defeated, and left. And that's when the problem started. Brady's last year, the year he would complain on television and the cameras caught him about yelling at receivers. Somebody get separation. They can't. They were Belichick's draft picks and free agent makings. So, you know, I. I think what happens is Brady hid Bill's inability to draft well, his grumpiness, his inability to create a progressive young staff. It's the same old retreads every time. And Brady hit all of it. Then he left, and it all came tumbling down. 20 years with Belichick mostly controlling the personnel. One skill player, Gronk, made a Pro Bowl. So the Raiders situation, that's an owner situation, the New England one, I don't buy that. Kraft suddenly, who wanted to keep Tom, who pushed back on keeping Garoppolo and keeping Tom, and they won other Super Bowls. I don't buy it's all craft. I don't buy it for a second. Ask yourself this. If it's all craft, why did Belichick get one legitimate interview for a job? Because a lot of people saw what I saw and what you saw. Everybody was going in the same direction, and Tom kept it all together. Colin, you're saying that because he works at Fox I said it three years ago. I said it five years ago. It's the most lopsided divorce in pro sports history. Brady left and won in Tampa, literally. Belichick, who couldn't win in Cleveland, who couldn't win with Bledsoe, who couldn't win when Brady left, won one time with one quarterback. Andy Reid's one with a bunch, Sean Payton's one with a bunch, Bill 1, Greg Olson, Peter Schrager and Drew Brees all stopped by today. Again, hearts, thoughts, prayers go out to the people in Malibu and Pacific Palisades. Coastal towns here just wrecked over the last 24 hours. The winds continue to whip as I drove in this morning. Again, it was just a haunting scene. The hills on fire in Los Angeles. So you just, you cross your fingers. We got a lot of people in this building. I don't think we'll be evacuated, but we're not that far from the beach, you know, rough, rough day here in LA for a lot of people thinking of you. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartradio. Whether you're ordering wings for the game, whipping up a seven layer dip, or ordering pizza, there's something about football that makes me want to eat. And this football season, Uber Eats has the best deals for me on game day food, no matter what I'm craving, from two for one pizza. To buy one, get one wings. Uber Eats will be dropping new deals each week all season long. I'm in Uber Eats, the official on demand delivery partner of the NFL. Order now for game day. Terms and conditions apply. See app for details.

[Katie Couric]

Hey everyone, it's Katie Couric. Well, the election is in the home stretch and I'm exhausted, but turns out the end is near. Right in time for a new season of my podcast. Next question. This podcast is for people like me who need a little perspective and insight. I'm bringing in some foks friends of Katie's to help me out like Ezra Klein, Van Jones, Jen Psaki, Asted Herndon. But we're also going to have some fun, even though these days fun and politics seems like an oxymoron. But we'll do that thanks to some of my friends like Samantha bee, Roy Wood Jr. And Charlemagne the God. We're going to take some viewer questions as well. I mean, isn't that what democracy is all about? Power to the podcast for the people. So whether you're obsessed with the news or just trying to figure out what's going on. This season of Next Question is for you. Check out our new season of Next Question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right, welcome back. Greg Olson, who's just fantastic, is going to join us in 20 minutes. Drew Brees. Also, Peter Schrager stops by. There's a lot of movement in the coaching area we need. We should know stuff here in the next six to seven days. The Chicago Bears are interested in Mike McCarthy and Jerry Jones in the last 12, 24 hours has denied the Chicago Bears the right to interview Mike McCarthy until his contract runs out. So my guess is they're working on extending Mike McCarthy in Dallas, and we can take jabs at Jerry Jones. But I think it's a smart move. So, first of all, there's not a huge list of proven candidates, and McCarthy is actually the guy that gets the most out of Dak, and that's a real thing. Since he arrived, this is hard to believe, but since Mike McCarthy arrived in Dallas, they have the number two offense in the NFL that is ahead of Reed Mahomes, Sean McVeigh, and Stafford. And boy genius Kyle Shanahan is ninth on that list. And that's what Dak Prescott. So once you decided to pay Dak Prescott 240 million in an extension, you got to find somebody that gets the best out of Dak Prescott. And you know who gets the best out of him? That guy. When Dak is healthy, they win 12 games. But remarkably, when Dak isn't healthy and doesn't play, they're still 500. And I think one of the things that really hurts Mike McCarthy is optics. There's two kind of coaches, everybody, including me, loves the slick, young, clever, lot of motion in the offense. Offensive guy, it's a lot of McVay Leflore. We like those guys. People like those guys. They're young, progressive, smart, clever, outthink people. Ben Johnson, now's that. And the other kind of coach we really wrap our arms around is the alpha, the presence as Mike Tomlin. That's Vrabel, and that's Dan Campbell. That's Jim Harbaugh, a little bit of John Harbaugh. McCarthy's neither. He's not slick, young and clever, just a good offensive coach. And he doesn't have a big alpha presence in the locker room. So. And a lot of it to me is optics. Those are the two kind of coaches we like. So, and, and I, I think Mike McCarthy, though, the one thing I will defend him on. If you're going to defend Mike Tomlin, who is a defensive coach and the offense feels absolutely outdated under him in Pittsburgh for about seven, eight, nine, 10 years, then you got to defend Mike McCarthy because in an offensive league, because of rule changes and safety practices, he's on the right side of the ball. And none of us think Dak is Josh Allen or Lamar or Mahomes or Burrow. We think he's pretty good and he's winning 12 games a year when Dak Prescott is healthy with a pretty good quarterback. McCarthy's got a super bowl ring. He's effective, he wins a lot. And he wins with different personalities. Now that we've seen more about Aaron Rodgers and his, for lack of a better word, quirkiness, he worked with that. He worked with Favre, he works with Dak, he works with Cooper, Rush starters, legends, backups. He wins with all of them. So we can take all the jabs at Jerry Jones. But I will say if you're defending Tomlin, you got to defend Mike McCarthy. He's got a Super bowl ring. He's worked with multiple personalities. He's one with stars and non stars, non legends and legends at quarterback. And he's on the right side of the ball. And I think right now Dallas saying no to the Chicago Bears is saying actually yes to an extension of Mike McCarthy. And I think they're working on one. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific. Hey, Steve Covino. And I'm Rich Davis, and together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. And of course, the iHeartRadio app. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich? We talk about everything. Life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture, stories that, well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We like to get you involved, too. Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports radio and the iHeartradio app from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcast. And of course, on social media, that's Covino and Rich. Whether you're ordering wings for the game, whipping up a seven layer dip, or ordering pizza, there's something about football that makes me want to eat. And this football season, Uber Eats has the best deals for me on game day. Food, no matter what I'm craving. From two for one pizza. To buy one, get one Wings Uber Eats. We'll be dropping new deals each week all season long. I'm in Uber Eats, the official on demand delivery partner of the NFL. Order now for game day. Terms and conditions apply. See app for details.

[Katie Couric]

Hey everyone, it's Katie Couric. Well, the election is in the home stretch and I'm exhausted, but turns out the end is near. Right in time for a new season of my podcast. Next Question. This podcast is for people like me who need a little perspective and insight. I'm bringing in some foks friends of Katie's to help me out, like Ezra Klein, Dan Jones, Jen Psaki, Asted Herndon. But we're also gonna have some fun, even though these days fun and politics seems like an oxymoron. But we'll do that thanks to some of my friends like Samantha bee, Roy Wood Jr. And Charlemagne the God. We're gonna take some viewer questions as well. I mean, isn't that what democracy is all about? Power to the podcast for the people. So whether you're obsessed with the news or just trying to figure out what's going on, this season of Next Question is for you. Ch our new season of Next Question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, he is eligible for the hall of fame in 2026 and it just turned 2025, so he won't have much, much of a weight. 13 time Pro Bowler, one of the top 10 quarterbacks I've ever seen. Drew Brees joining us live. So I think we both like Bo Nix and Sean Payton. I think we both thought this is going to work if you got to land somewhere. If you're Bo Nix, this is it. So here they are going into a playoff game. So I want you to go back to your first year with Sean. So Sean's intense. I can't even imagine what playoff Sean is like. Is it different? Is playoff week with Sean, Drew and you had a lot of them. Is he a little different?

[Drew Brees]

You know, I wouldn't say that he's different, but he's definitely going to have something up his sleeve, you know, And I would say, look, he's still relatively new in his tenure there, obviously, you know, only his second year in Denver, but really, I would say this year, based on new quarterback and kind of like the first year in the system where everybody's really kind of, you know, starting to embrace it now and moving forward. Like, he. He's going to look at this as like there's going to be something special this week or something unique this week that he kind of throws into the preparation that. That makes the guys feel like this is a little something different.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Drew Brees]

And the fact that, look, you're going on the road and playing, you know, arguably one of the favorites, you know, and. And a guy in Josh Allen and an environment like, you know, Bill's mafia, where, like, he's going to build that up a little bit, like playing in that atmosphere, in that stadium with the weather conditions, you know, like, all that stuff he's going to have, he's going to be talking about, you know, yeah, it's on turf, but it's slick, you know, make sure you got the right cleats. And, you know, he's going to. He's going to have something about, like, man, we're going to, like, be throwing snowballs, you know, into the stands at the fan. Like, he's going to build it up to where it's. Yes, it's. It's. It's different, but, man, it's going to be fun. Right? There's going to be the keys to victory. There's going to be a lot, you know, locked in and focus, but at the same time, like, there's going to be something different and fun about this week.

[Colin Cowherd]

So Jaden Daniels, on the road, first playoff game. And I think I've talked to you for. Through the years. Playoffs are different. Peyton told me this. I think you've told me this. They're different. There's like preseason speed, regular season speed, division rival speed, playoff speed. So, Jaden Daniels, first playoff game on the road. Vidavia, you tell me. Take me to your first playoff game. Just the nerves you dealt with, the anxiety, the prep.

[Drew Brees]

Yeah. You know, it's. I would equate it to, like, similar to when you watch the super bowl. Like, it always feels in the beginning of the super bowl, like, everybody's on eggshells.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Drew Brees]

Like, the game is just slower. Everyone's trying to feel it out, you know, and then all of a sudden, second quarter, third quarter, it feels like all of a sudden, now there's this explosion. Everyone starts playing a little bit more loose, a bit more confident. Obviously, the more experienced teams, you know, maybe it doesn't affect them as much. Like, it's easy to sit here and say, hey, these young quarterbacks, man, it's the playoffs and everybody's going to build it up and, you know, more pressure and this and that. In some cases, young guys step into these things and it's like they don't know any better. Right. Like, this is the game that they've played their whole life. And like, a guy like Jaden Daniels to me, comes across as somebody especially just watching the way that he's progressed and especially played down the stretch, like, this dude plays loose. This guy looks like he's having fun. Like he's just playing ball in the backyard. I don't think he really knows any better, and he's just having fun. And it looks like the team is feeding off of that as well. And look, I've always loved Dan Quinn, and Dan Quinn has a tremendous track record. And these guys, man, he has them prepared and playing hard, playing loose, like, playing confident. So, like, I see a commander's team of any team that is going to just come into this thing like, hey, man, we got nothing to lose. Like, let's turn it loose. Right? Like, we're a wild card, man. Nobody expects us to do anything. We've flown under the radar the whole season, you know. Yeah, we got this young quarterback that now all of a sudden starting to get some notoriety. But it's like, man, we. This doesn't phase us. This is not too big for us.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. So Buffalo, Baltimore and Philadelphia are considered pretty heavy favorites. And they're at home. They're at home. Go back to your career. You were a home favorite in the playoffs and a couple of times, a big favorite. Is there sort of a weird pressure knowing we got to probably get the better coach? You're a real great player. We're at home, we should win this game. But in the back of your head, are you thinking, okay, it's the playoffs. Crazy stuff happens. What is it like to be a big playoff favorite? Because there's usually about one a weekend in the NFL.

[Drew Brees]

You know, I'll be honest, I never paid attention or was aware of the line in a playoff game except for one time, and that was when we played in the super bowl against the Colts. To start that week, we were a seven and a half point dog. And I remember Sean Payton made the point early in the week of Preparation like you're a seven and a half point dog. But very few times do I go into a game or a scenario where I truly feel like, like with that line, we are the better team.

[Colin Cowherd]

Wow.

[Drew Brees]

Watch how this line changes from Monday to Sunday. Watch how this line changed from Monday to game day. Sure enough, like every day he would put it up there and we dropped a six and a half, we dropped a five and a half, we dropped.

[Colin Cowherd]

A four and a half.

[Drew Brees]

I don't even know what it was by the time game rolled around. But bottom line, it was the world feels like you are the better bet. Right?

[Colin Cowherd]

Right.

[Drew Brees]

Like they are betting on you. And so this line is beginning to change. Right. So it was meant to be a confidence builder for us as a team. But like, that was the only time I ever paid attention to it otherwise, man, like I was locked in, focused on my job. Like, I don't care who we're playing, it's a faceless opponent. Like, I'm studying the opponent. We're going to go kick their butt. I'm trying to score 40 points. I'm trying to complete every pass, I'm trying to score on every drive. I'm trying like, like it didn't matter, you know, the intent was still the same regardless of what the line was.

[Colin Cowherd]

Sometimes I will watch sporting events and I'll get nervous for a player. I know the player. I like the player. Sam Darnold's one of those. If he'd have played great against Detroit, I wouldn't feel this way. And I didn't think it was a very winnable game. Biggest game in Detroit in 50 years. I'm like, this is a tough game for Minnesota. So he goes there, he doesn't play well. Now I'm thinking, okay, Sammy, you're going to a playoff game. It's your first playoff game. I'm really hoping he plays well. You didn't have many bad games, but was there ever a moment for you, Drew, that you didn't love your performance one week and the next week was a playoff game or a big game. How do you forget it? And again, you didn't have many of those. But how do you forget a performance you're not happy with? 6, 7 days earlier?

[Drew Brees]

I'll be honest, those were typically the games where I played my best. Was coming off of maybe a one or two game stretch where I just felt like I hadn't played my best or, you know, there was a lot more to be had, you know, out of the, out of the game, you know, so just the way that I then approached that next week of preparation, I would really lock in on the process, you know, because if you focus on the process, the result will take care of itself. So it became just this laser focus on like each day, my routine, my habits, getting my work done and knowing that that will equate to a great performance on Sunday, regardless of what happened the weeks before. Like just focusing on the process and knowing the result will take care of itself. And so, like, call it a little bit, just like a heightened level of urgency and of focus. Not pressure, just urgency and maybe getting back to just some of the basics, you know. So, like, look, I think this is a pivotal game for Sam Donald. He's played a phenomenal regular season. Phenomenal. Especially all that he's, you know, gone through to get to this point and then the opportunity that he had this season to making the most of it. But, you know, you're remembered for what you do in the playoffs and it's all, all that regular season did was get you to this moment so that you would have this opportunity. Look, I was, I actually went to the game. I took my sons to the, to the Detroit game. We were sitting literally front row. I watched, I watched every snap. They had tons of opportunities. Yes, they were down inside the 10 yard line four times. They could have been up 14, 17 points at halftime. Yep, they were terrible in the red zone. A lot of things I saw I would have done differently. But you take that performance and you turn that into one of two things. Either you let that drag you down moving forward or that has created a heightened level of urgency and focus and intensity. Attention to the process this week so that you go out and play lights out.

[Colin Cowherd]

Finally, I want to circle back to Sean Payton because you have. When I think of Sean, I think of you. When I think of you, I think of Sean and like reading Mahomes or Brady and Belichick, it's just legendary legacy stuff. Not all coaches age well. Sean is aged well. He is blunt. He put it out there. I, I there, there's just something. When I sat when he was here at Fox, I'd go to dinner with him and he's so intense. And if I had to guess why he's aged well, he just loves it so much that that light has never dimmed. But why do you think that he remains so good all these years after he started?

[Drew Brees]

Yeah, so a couple things. Number one, Ben, you're so much of a product of your mentors and who you've had a chance to be around. And, you know, Sean would attest to this. But just from being around him and looking at his influences, like Bill Parcells, Jon Gruden. Yeah, like, there was so much of an influence from those guys in the way that Sean would teach, coach, communicate. And it was like the best of, like the best of those guys. You know, Sean took and kind of made his own, you know, So I feel like there's always that, that he's taken the best of what people have poured into him, and now he's carrying that on to become his coaching style. Look, he's an offensive guy, right? He loves being ahead of the curve. He loves, like, he's a grinder. Dude's a grinder, man. He puts in a ton of time late nights, like, just trying to find those little, like, edges or advantages that he can put in the game plan. They're gonna make the difference. And so many times, I can't tell you, like, we'd be getting a Saturday and it was like, you know, he'd say, I went back and watched this and I just came up with this idea and we would massage it a little bit. It would go in the game plan, and sure enough, it would be one of the game changing plays in the game, right? Happened so many times. He's an outstanding communicator. Like, just his ability to order the chaos. Order the chaos, like, block out the noise, like, get the team zeroed in on the keys to victory each and every week, despite all of the distractions and all the other stuff that people want to talk about. Like, man, fellas, if we do this, like, we put ourselves in the best, best position to win this game, right? He had a great way of bringing levity and humor to tense situations or as a way to motivate guys, right? Like, I'll never forget, we had. We had a safety one time who was. Was a ball hawk machine. And he would always make, he would always make the comment to him, hey, you know, defense, when so and so gets this interception, we're going to have to block everybody to get him in the end zone to get him a pick six, right? So make sure that when you, like, we get this interception, you got to go find a block because otherwise there's no way this guy's going to make his way. Like, so it was a. It was like a subtle jab, but then sure enough, like, it just, you know, created a little extra motivation for the defense. So like, little stuff like that where he would find ways to just kind of like, you know, dig into a little bit and everybody's laughing, everybody's having a good time, and you kind of walk away and you're like, was he just making fun of me? Yeah, but at the end of the day, like, that would create a little bit of an edge and a chip on your shoulder. Like, man, you got something to prove. Like, I was always feeling like I had something to prove to Sean Payton. And maybe it was just proving him right because he believed in me, what a lot of people did.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Drew Brees]

But he's. That's why he's aged well, because he can identify with players, man, he makes it fun. When it's time to work, it's time to work. When it's time to play, man, we're gonna have a good time. And he's taken the best of those who have poured into him, and now he's just carrying on that legacy.

[Colin Cowherd]

You've been so good today. I'd be remiss if I didn't ask you this. I want you to listen to them. I love Lamar Jackson. He cares so damn much. He gets so mad when he struggles. I love guys like that. I want to play a Lamar Jackson bite. And I have a question out of it. Let's play this real quick about why he struggled in the playoffs. Yeah, I'd just be too excited, that's all. You know, too Essy, like, I'm seeing things before happening, like, oh, I gotta calm myself down. But just being more experienced, I've. I found a way to balance it out. Okay. When he says that, I get. I get all juiced up. I never think of you because you were such an accuracy machine. I don't ever remember. I remember Anxious Brady. I definitely remember Anxious Manning. I never remember. Yeah, yeah. Drew looks a little frenetic. Don't remember it. Did you ever get nervous?

[Drew Brees]

Did I give you. I'll give you one example. So super bowl, right? You know, you're going into like, man, just any other game. It's just like any other game. And I think first play, we. We hand the ball off for like 5 yard game. Next play, we throw a short pass. It's like third and four and we're gonna, we're gonna run. We, we call just like, you know, I'll go, we're just going to run by the corner on third and fourth, thinking he might be sitting at the sticks and we're going to get a big play. Robert Meacham runs by the corner. Me, he's got like 3 or 4 yard of space on him. And I launched the ball over his head. I mean, launch it over his head 10 yards and I go to the sideline and I'm just sitting there going, dude, calm down. Like my heart was racing. You know, it's the Super Bowl. It's the first drive we had all go called and I just launched it over this guy's head and he's wide open, you know, and then that's when I was like, hey, man, it's just like any other game, okay? Right? Just, just play the game. Just, just focus on, focus on your job. But like that, that would be, you know, look, I get it. You know, I get it. Like you get in some of these moments and it's easy to get amped up, you know, and anxious and feel like, man, I gotta go make a play, right? I gotta go. No, just execute, man. Just execute the offense. Right? And all those opportunities will come.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. Now I want to go look up that piece of video. Now that you've told it to me, I'm like, oh, I don't remember drew missing by 10 yards over a receiver. What a pleasure. What a pleasure to have you, buddy. I appreciate you coming on again. Great stories today. All right, let's talk about Amazon Prime. It's not just one thing. It's a collection of services that help you get the most out of whatever you're into. Whether it's a hobby, sport, or getting things done fast. Prime's got you covered. Like my hobby for all things sports. You can order sports supplies, listen to content like this, podcast on Amazon music, or watch content. You can do it all with Prime. Everybody loves the fast, free same day shipping, especially as we kick off the year. But what about all the content you can listen to on Amazon Music, music to podcast, fast shipping. What is not to love about this membership? I'm in? Prime fuels your passions, makes everything easier. So whatever you're into, it's on Prime. Visit Amazon.com prime now. Whether you're ordering wings for the game, whipping up a seven layer dip, or ordering pizza, there's something about football that makes me want to eat. And this football season, Uber Eats has the best deals for me on game day food, no matter what I'm craving from two for one pizza. To buy one, get one wings. Uber Eats. We'll be dropping new deals each week all season long. I'm in Uber Eats, the official on demand delivery partner of the NFL. Order now for game day. Terms and conditions apply. See app for details. Jon Stewart is back in the host chair at the Daily show, which means he's also back in our ears on the Daily Show Ears Edition 5 Join late night legend Jon Stewart and the best news team for today's biggest headlines, exclusive extended interviews and more. Now this is a second term we can all get behind. Listen to the Daily Show Ears edition on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.