Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – "Best of The Herd" (May 12, 2025)

Overview In the "Best of The Herd" episode released on May 12, 2025, Colin Cowherd delves into pivotal sports narratives spanning the NBA and NFL. Joined by co-host J. Mac and guest Matt Hasselbeck, the discussion navigates the potential departure of Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks, the intense Celtics vs. Knicks playoff series, and critical NFL developments including quarterback dynamics and team payroll strategies. The episode provides insightful analysis, forecasting future team maneuvers and highlighting where Colin's predictions align or diverge from unfolding events.

1. NBA Draft Lottery and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Future

Exploring Giannis’s Departure: Colin Cowherd initiates the discussion by addressing Shams Charania’s report that Giannis Antetokounmpo is considering options outside Milwaukee. The conversation centers on the Bucks' strategic position—holding a trophy, lacking first-round picks, and facing pressure despite Giannis's stellar performance.

Colin Cowherd [07:05]: "Shams reporting this morning. All you Bucks fans so mean to me for years when I suggested this, go ahead, bring the apologies, I'll accept them. Words are hurtful."

Trade Scenarios and Team Interests: The hosts ponder potential trade scenarios, emphasizing the challenges the Bucks would face in acquiring Giannis without significant assets. San Antonio, Houston, and Oklahoma City emerge as frontrunners capable of assembling compelling trade packages, given their depth and strategic flexibility.

J. Mac [13:05]: "Stop. If you'd have told me the Knicks would be Boston both times in Boston I just said you're crazy."

Potential Impact of Draft Picks: Colin underscores the importance of the NBA draft lottery, predicting that teams like San Antonio, with their history of smart draft selections, could reshape their rosters significantly by acquiring top-tier young talent like Cooper Flag.

Colin Cowherd [60:00]: "So the NBA draft lottery tonight. I said I'm kind of rooting just for historical relevance for San Antonio to win it. Wemby. Why do I keep forgetting their point guard, Stephen Castle."

2. Celtics vs. Knicks Playoff Series Analysis

Celtics’ Dependence on Jason Tatum: Colin critiques the Celtics' reliance on Jason Tatum, suggesting that while the team is robust, Tatum sometimes fades, leading to inconsistent performances. He contrasts this with the New York Knicks’ depth and ability to sustain performances without over-reliance on a single star.

Colin Cowherd [04:32]: "If they're clearly the better team, but I was listening to Tatum after and it's his not ambivalence, it's his reality and understanding and self-awareness that he is part of something unbelievable."

Knicks’ Resilience and Celtics’ Vulnerability: The discussion highlights the Knicks' capability to overturn significant halftime deficits, a stark contrast to the Celtics' occasional offensively stagnant performances despite leading by large margins.

Colin Cowherd [85:46]: "If Boston loses tonight, you're looking at a new head coach and we got to blow it up."

3. NFL Discussions: Brock Purdy, Derek Carr, and Team Payrolls

Brock Purdy’s Contract Negotiations: Transitioning to football, Colin and Matt Hasselbeck examine the ongoing contract talks for Brock Purdy, projecting a potential milestone in his career contingent on the finalized figures.

Colin Cowherd [28:40]: "If it comes in at 45 million or less, I will pick them for third place. If it's 52 or more, get the brooms out. Time to clean out the front office."

Derek Carr’s Retirement and Raiders’ Future: The conversation shifts to Derek Carr’s unexpected retirement, assessing its impact on the Raiders. Matt emphasizes Carr’s leadership and the organizational challenges posed by his departure, suggesting a period of rebuilding is imminent.

Matt Hasselbeck [50:32]: "When we got Marshawn Lynch to our team, Pete Carroll did a good job. We killed him with kindness."

Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles Season Predictions: Colin shares his confidence in the Cowboys for the upcoming NFL season, particularly scrutinizing the Eagles' early favoritism and predicting an intricate battle for playoff positioning.

Colin Cowherd [31:00]: "I think Dallas is going to make an aggressive move. Could they not make a Giannis package?"

4. Team Construction and Ownership Insights

Financial Strategies in MLB and NFL: Colin draws parallels between financial disparities in MLB and NFL, noting how rich ownerships influence team success through free agency and facility investments. He highlights Steve Bisciotti’s tenure with the Baltimore Ravens as a model of successful ownership.

Colin Cowherd [83:26]: "The team, the league. They were trying to hide all of it from the media."

Cleveland Browns’ Draft Strategies: Analyzing the Browns' rookie minicamp, Colin critiques their drafting strategy, favoring Shador Sanders over higher-pick quarterbacks, drawing unfavorable comparisons to past questionable decisions like drafting Johnny Manziel.

J. Mac [56:27]: "No, you don't. Nobody cool wore them."

5. Browns’ Quarterback Competition and Shador Sanders

Evaluating Shador Sanders: The discussion intensifies around Shador Sanders' potential as the Browns' quarterback, juxtaposing him with historical quarterbacks who had tumultuous careers. Colin remains cautiously optimistic, recognizing Sanders’ leadership but underscoring the organizational challenges Cleveland faces.

Colin Cowherd [25:00]: "He just melts into the fabric. He's just another really good player, the most talented player on that team."

Organizational Dysfunction: Matt assesses the Browns' management decisions, lamenting the lack of strategic consistency and their track record with quarterback selections, which hampers the team’s progression.

Matt Hasselbeck [58:44]: "He was a life preserver for a terribly run franchise third season in the league."

6. Final Takeaways: Where Colin Was Right and Wrong

Areas Colin Was Right:

• Giannis Exploring Trades: Colin correctly anticipated Shams Charania’s report of Giannis considering trade options ([71:12], [77:16]).
• Shador Sanders' Drafting Impact: His prediction on the Browns’ draft strategy and focus on Shador Sanders aligning with organizational moves ([25:00], [44:30]).
• Cooper Flag's Potential: Forecasting Cooper Flag as a significant asset in the draft lottery and his impact on opposing teams like OKC ([60:00], [73:51]).

Areas Colin Was Wrong:

• Celtics vs. Knicks Dominance: Initially doubting the Knicks' ability to overturn Celtics' leads, Colin was proven wrong as the Knicks led the series ([77:50]).
• Derek Carr’s Retirement Impact: Underestimating the Raiders' ability to rebound post-Carr’s retirement ([75:29]).

Colin Cowherd [75:29]: "What do you think the market's like for him? Is it more the Bucks are like, we want the best deal or we want to make Giannis happy?"

Guest Insights: Matt Hasselbeck complements Colin’s analysis with professional perspectives on NFL team dynamics, quarterback evaluations, and ownership strategies, offering a balanced viewpoint on ongoing sports narratives.

Conclusion The "Best of The Herd" episode presents a comprehensive analysis of critical sports developments, blending Colin Cowherd’s predictions with Matt Hasselbeck’s seasoned insights. While Colin accurately forecasts significant trade speculations and draft impacts, unexpected playoff outcomes and organizational missteps highlight the unpredictable nature of sports. This episode serves as a valuable resource for sports enthusiasts seeking in-depth commentary on current and future trends in the NBA and NFL.

Notable Quotes:

• Colin Cowherd [07:05]: "Shams reporting this morning. All you Bucks fans so mean to me for years when I suggested this, go ahead, bring the apologies, I'll accept them."
• J. Mac [13:05]: "Stop. If you'd have told me the Knicks would be Boston both times in Boston I just said you're crazy."
• Matt Hasselbeck [50:32]: "When we got Marshawn Lynch to our team, Pete Carroll did a good job. We killed him with kindness."
• Colin Cowherd [25:00]: "He just melts into the fabric. He's just another really good player, the most talented player on that team."
• Matt Hasselbeck [58:44]: "He was a life preserver for a terribly run franchise third season in the league."

Timestamp Highlights:

• [07:05]: Giannis’ potential trade and fans’ reactions.
• [13:05]: Skepticism about Knicks’ playoff performance.
• [25:00]: Analysis of Shador Sanders’ role with the Browns.
• [44:30]: Browns’ offseason evaluations.
• [50:32]: Matt Hasselbeck on Derek Carr’s leadership.
• [60:00]: Colin’s predictions on the NBA draft lottery.
• [71:12]: Discussion on San Antonio’s draft strategy.
• [77:16]: Analysis of Celtics’ playoff vulnerability.
• [83:26]: Financial strategies in sports ownership.

This summary encapsulates the core discussions and analyses from the "Best of The Herd" episode, providing a cohesive narrative for listeners and readers alike who seek to understand the intricate dynamics shaping contemporary sports.