The Herd with Colin Cowherd — Best of The Herd (August 25, 2025)
Brief Overview
In this episode, Jason McIntyre fills in for Colin Cowherd alongside veteran journalist Rachel Nichols. They embark on a lively, opinionated discussion of the NFL’s biggest preseason storylines, focusing on the intense spotlight on rookie QBs like Shedeur Sanders and Caleb Williams, the contract standoff between Micah Parsons and the Cowboys, and what’s next for the Washington Commanders and struggling sophomore quarterbacks. Mike Jones of The Athletic joins to share expert insights, and the hosts tackle key questions about branding, developmental patience for young QBs, and the volatility of star-driven franchises.
Key Segments and Discussion Points
1. Shedeur Sanders: The Most Hyped 5th Rounder in NFL History
[03:13–09:12]
- Sanders’ Debacle: Jason recounts Shedeur Sanders’ calamitous showing in Cleveland’s preseason game (3 for 6, 14 yards, 5 sacks for -41 yards).
- “If you’re keeping track at home, Rachel and I had more net passing yards than Shedeur Sanders did…” — Jason McIntyre [06:00]
- Nepo Baby vs. NFL Reality: Jason draws an analogy with ‘Nepo babies’ in Hollywood, arguing Shedeur is expected to succeed based on celebrity, not merit. Unlike most nepo babies, Sanders is receiving benefit of the doubt after poor play, with many expecting him to simply make the roster.
- “That’s just not how it works in the NFL.” — Jason McIntyre [06:41]
- Online Narratives: Fans blame poor O-line protection, but Jason counters with stats—other Browns QBs (Dylan Gabriel, Snoop Huntley) fared better with the same linemen.
- Coach Stefanski’s Response: After accusations that the Browns are “sabotaging” Sanders, Stefanski insists development is the priority.
- “I’m committed to his development, just like all our rookies.” — Coach Stefanski (via Mike Jones) [09:28]
2. What’s Next for Shedeur Sanders?
[09:37–12:43]
- Jason’s Solution: Frustrated by the media circus, Jason proposes Cleveland trades Sanders to the Raiders—a franchise where he might thrive under less scrutiny.
- “Let’s just ship him to the Raiders…we don’t need these headaches.” — Jason McIntyre [11:22]
- Media Hysteria: Jason notes the Sanders storyline has eclipsed coverage of other intriguing preseason developments, drawing comparisons to Bronny James’ NBA draft hype.
- Transition: Jason moves the conversation from Cleveland’s options to the ongoing drama in Dallas.
3. Micah Parsons vs. Jerry Jones: A Contract War
[12:43–16:48]
- Sideline Drama: Micah Parsons is spotted not in uniform, lying on a table during a Cowboys preseason game, stoking media outrage and speculation.
- Jerry’s Negotiations: Jason reacts to Jerry Jones’ convoluted analogy about contract talks resembling a “mama-daddy deal,” and argues Jones is mishandling the situation.
- “You can’t just have a side deal with the player…it’s not how negotiations work.” — Jason McIntyre [13:20]
- Fan Alienation: With Parsons the team’s most popular player, Jason warns delays could lose fan support. He draws a parallel to Emmitt Smith’s 1990s holdout, predicting potential disaster if Parsons’ situation remains unresolved, especially if Dallas struggles in Week One.
- Rachel Nichols Chimes In: Rachel points out the Cowboys’ leverage, with franchise tags available and Parsons not in a strong position, meaning this could drag on and cost Parsons part of his prime.
- “If [Parsons] just continues to sit out…it’ll cost him money, and even if he can [get a medical excuse], this is years off his prime years.” — Rachel Nichols [16:48]
4. Caleb Williams’ Rocky Chicago Start
[22:28–26:48]
- The Ben Johnson Factor: Rachel and Jason react to Bears OC Ben Johnson’s cryptic criticisms after clunky preseason performances by No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams.
- “The first quarter was really any indication. It’s not good enough. We gotta get better in a hurry.” — Ben Johnson [24:20]
- Backup Buzz: Johnson singles out backup Tyson Bagent for praise, causing speculation in the Williams camp.
- “He’s not talking about Caleb Williams. He’s gassing up his backup quarterback.” — Jason McIntyre [25:58]
- Quarterback Pressure: Jason raises doubts about Williams’ mental resilience and on-field composure when things go awry, cautioning that preseason mishaps and internal signals could be harbingers of a rough learning curve in Year 1.
5. Expert Analysis: Mike Jones of The Athletic
[30:28–47:10]
On Shedeur Sanders’ Hype and Future
- Brand Before Results: Mike Jones explains how Shedeur Sanders’ brand—bolstered by NIL deals, social media, and famous lineage—makes his scrutiny unique for a 5th round pick.
- “Brand, the name, everything has just made this a bigger deal.” — Mike Jones [31:09]
- Roster Prediction: Mike expects Sanders to stay with Cleveland, though not necessarily active Week 1, but questions persist about his development and readiness.
On Quarterback Development Trends
- Modern Dilemma: Overhyped young QBs often fail in dysfunctional situations with little patience for development.
- “Lots of times they’re drafted to bad franchises…the patience is not there because coaches don’t have a whole lot of time to save their jobs…” — Mike Jones [42:48]
- Branding vs. Work Ethic: Having a brand is fine if paired with genuine work ethic and teachability—a standard not all QBs meet.
On NFL Storylines and Teams
- Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh: Mike calls Rodgers’ current honeymoon phase fragile; any adversity may trigger public grievances from the veteran QB.
- “There are no bullets flying yet…if this thing is not playing out really well, we could see a frustrated Rodgers definitely air some dirty laundry.” — Mike Jones [36:39]
- Washington Commanders Outlook: Mike is skeptical they can duplicate last year’s playoff run, citing defensive weaknesses and a tougher schedule. The offense (Jaden Daniels, Terry McLaurin) may have to cover for a “toothless” front seven.
- “That defense…is toothless…they got old dudes, non-factors.” — Jason McIntyre [38:38]
- Colts QB Situation: Daniel Jones is named the starter over Anthony Richardson, raising doubts about the latter’s NFL future and highlighting the perils of drafting raw athletic prospects without adequate development plans.
On QB Bust Rate and Overdrafting
- **Jason and Mike discuss why many recent top draft QBs (Bryce Young, Josh Rosen, Mitch Trubisky) flop, noting teams overdraft for hope and then lack the patience or infrastructure for proper development.
- “A lot of these are bad franchises…they’re playing sooner than what they should.” — Mike Jones [42:48]
Notable Quotes:
- “It’s way too early to pull the plug or to panic, but…he’s having to relearn a lot of things.” — Mike Jones on Caleb Williams [44:26]
- “If you’re not able to stay on the field…you’re going to go to a guy.” — Mike Jones on Anthony Richardson’s durability [41:31]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Sanders’ disaster game:
- “If you’re keeping track, Rachel and I had more net passing yards than Shedeur Sanders did…” — Jason McIntyre [06:00]
- On Jerry Jones' negotiation tactics:
- “You lost me there, Jerry. Sounds like a Thanksgiving dinner story from your grandpa.” — Jason McIntyre [13:45]
- On the nature of NFL stardom and media hype:
- “The entire media. Nobody will care about Cleveland anymore.” — Jason McIntyre [11:55]
- On NFL rookie QBs and the new age of branding:
- “This isn’t a normal 5th round pick…This is a guy we thought would go a lot higher and whose skill set…and brand, has just made this a bigger deal.” — Mike Jones [31:10]
Important Timestamps
- Shedeur Sanders’ disastrous performance & hype analysis: [03:13–09:12]
- Mike Jones interview covers QBs, franchise dysfunction: [30:28–47:10]
- Micah Parsons contract standoff: [12:43–16:48]
- Caleb Williams and Bears’ preseason woes: [22:28–26:48]
- Discussion of Washington Commanders’ outlook and concerns: [37:11–40:07]
- Segment on QB bust trends and drafting mistakes: [42:13–44:01]
Conclusion
This episode dives headfirst into the turbulence of a star-driven, media-frenzied NFL: gifted college QBs face culture shock and withering scrutiny, established stars and billionaire owners wrestle for control, and attention-junkie franchises risk losing focus on football fundamentals. The conversation, spiked with Jason’s signature humor and Rachel’s grounded analysis, delivers unfiltered perspectives on what matters most as the season dawns: development, leadership, and sometimes, just managing the circus around the team.