The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Best of the Herd

Date: March 13, 2026
Host: Colin Cowherd
Guests/Co-hosts: Channing Frye, John Middlekauff
Episode Theme: Dissecting the top sports stories of the week, with deep dives into NFL quarterback trends and narratives, NBA star roles, and headline performances across leagues.

Episode Overview

This episode delivers Colin Cowherd’s candid, incisive analysis of major happenings in the NFL and NBA. Colin and his guests break down quarterback cautionary tales, the unique late-career evolution of LeBron James, Bam Adebayo’s eye-popping stat line, and forecast franchise futures, all while offering honest assessments and memorable moments from within the sports world.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. JJ McCarthy: A Quarterback Cautionary Tale

(03:03–08:30)

• Colin warns NFL GMs not to overvalue college QBs with “winner” reputations or “game manager” backgrounds.
• He contrasts McCarthy's modest stats with the stacked Michigan roster supporting him (13 NFL draftees), arguing that elite talent should deliver elite production.
• Colin lists QBs from top programs who had to “carry” their teams with high-yardage passing (Bo Nix, Jaden Daniels, Michael Penix, etc.) and points out McCarthy’s sub-200 yds/game as alarming.
• Memorable line:

  “A winner is how you should describe a poker player or a lawyer…We don’t talk about any other athlete and say ‘he’s a winner.’” — Colin Cowherd (06:35)

Insight: Athletic traits and production trump “intangibles” like “winner” labels at the NFL level.

2. Kyler Murray in Minnesota and NFL QB Market Analysis

(08:30–11:00, 51:22–53:49)

• Kyler Murray signs a one-year deal in Minnesota, reuniting with offensive whiz Kevin O’Connell.
  • Colin believes Murray’s “wow traits”—elusiveness, deep ball—make him a top-10 active QB in touchdowns.
  • John Middlekauff cautions about Kevin O’Connell’s history with pocket passers and doubts Murray’s fit, questioning his post-injury mobility.
  • Both agree: Arizona dysfunction may have hampered Murray more than talent issues.
• They question if Murray would be worth it to Minnesota if he commanded $10–15M, not just $1.3M.

Quotes:

• “Kyler Murray and Sam Darnold have been the two quarterbacks I have always liked more than the market because they have wow traits.” — Colin Cowherd (08:20)
• “He’s had multiple lower body injuries. Is he still quite as fast?” — John Middlekauff (52:07)

3. LeBron James’ Career Evolution: From Star to Third Option

(08:31–11:11, 34:10–36:28, 43:30–46:51)

• Colin details LeBron’s transformation from primary playmaker to a low-usage, off-ball role, as Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves rise.

• Both host and guests acknowledge the challenge and humility required for one of the game’s titans to adapt at age 41, especially as Reeves becomes a breakout star.

• JJ Redick commends LeBron’s team-first focus, even as his shot volume and ball dominance drop.

• Channing Frye points out LeBron’s uniqueness as a third option and suggests LeBron’s reduced role preserves him for playoffs.

• They discuss “mobility” in LeBron’s career—how changing teams limits “family” status but maximizes legacy.

• Memorable line:

  “At some point...I’m going to be the third voice, and I don’t know if I’ll be as good as LeBron…I just think he deserves credit for committing to this kind of basketball.” — Colin Cowherd (11:05)

• Frye:

  “Is there a better third option on a team? Like, I don’t think there is.” (35:11) “Absolutely not [regrets]. He can now say, ‘Look at this ring. Look at this ring.’” (44:53)

4. NBA Performance Debates: Bam Adebayo’s 83, SGA’s Style, Knicks’ Future

(18:11–22:40, 36:28–43:30)

• Colin vigorously defends Bam Adebayo’s “doctored” 83-point night, noting the legitimacy of racking up points against a faltering Wizards squad.
  • Bam’s and coach Erik Spoelstra’s biting responses are highlighted.
  • Colin views sports, like accounting, as about finding legal “loopholes.”

Key Quotes:

• Bam:

  “First of all, y’all are blaming me. You should be blaming the head coach.” (27:09)
  “I was not the one...Let me go one on one the whole game, until I had 70. Then you started to send a double.” (27:18)

• Spoelstra:

  “I apologize to absolutely no one, period. I’m not losing any sleep over what other people are saying about it.” (27:33)

• Colin (on loopholes):

  “It’s almost like being an accountant. You’re always looking for loopholes and how to manipulate.” (28:25)

• SGA’s “Free Throw Merchant” Critique:

  • Channing Frye pushes back on anti-SGA arguments, citing “creating advantages” as the hallmark of elite players.

  • “Stop complaining and play some dang defense.” — Channing Frye (37:19)

• Knicks’ Potential Trade Dilemma and Playoff Readiness:

  • Frye suggests if Giannis or an equivalent becomes available, you “make the deal—my job is to put the best team out there.”
  • Knicks are gritty, but the East is now “a monster” with top teams reloading.

5. Colin’s NFL Post-Free Agency, Pre-Draft Top 10

(18:11–23:37)

• Detailed rankings (with rationale) for all ten teams—Rams, Bears, Seahawks, Bills, Broncos, Chargers, Texans, Eagles, Patriots, Lions—with Baltimore and Jacksonville just outside.
• Emphasis on post-coaching-hire, post-free-agency changes and signature offseason additions.
• Key insight: “You don’t have to be great anywhere. You can’t be bad anywhere.” — Colin Cowherd (22:20)

6. Mike Tomlin as Top Coaching Free Agent

(47:44–50:45)

• Stepping away from Steelers after a storied tenure, Tomlin is praised as “a great underdog coach.”
• Cowherd and Middlekauff agree Tomlin is the likely No. 1 NFL coaching candidate for the 2027 cycle.

• “They were always relevant under Tomlin, which in this league, you can’t say that about...a lot of teams.” — Colin Cowherd (48:24)

• Trend: College jobs become more tenable with NIL; NFL may start pulling more coordinators after Tomlin.

7. Cowboys’ Defensive Overhaul and NFC East Prognosis

(53:50–56:45)

• Dallas signs key defensive players (Rashan Gary, Quinn, Williams) and plans to address the secondary in the draft.
• Middlekauff expects Cowboys’ offense to remain elite; defense now “solid” and playoff-caliber.
• Giants and Eagles also highlighted; Washington is “the mystery team.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• LeBron adaptation praise:

  “He’s always been a winning player...He deserves credit for committing to this kind of basketball when he could score 24 a night for half the teams in the league or more.” — Colin Cowherd (11:00)

• On Bam’s scoring frenzy:

  “You got 71 points, nine minutes. Everybody knows the Kobe number. I’m going to go after the Kobe number.” — Colin Cowherd (27:33)

• COLIN on NFL team-building:

  “In the NFL, you don’t have to be great anywhere. You can’t be bad anywhere.” — Colin Cowherd (22:20)

• Channing Frye, on LeBron’s legacy:

  “Absolutely not [regrets]. He can now say, ‘Look at this ring…’ Going to LA was like, hey, this time has ended here...It happens.” (44:53)

• JJ Redick on LeBron’s role:

  “He wants to do everything possible to help this team win...I know what I’m capable of still doing as an individual. But what’s important for this team...that’s the only thing that matters.” (11:12)

Important Timestamps

• JJ McCarthy Cautionary Tale: 03:03–08:30
• Kyler Murray Discussion: 08:30–11:00 & 51:22–53:49
• LeBron as Third Option/Team Dynamics: 08:31–11:11; 34:10–36:28; 43:30–46:51
• Bam Adebayo’s 83-point Game Defense: 18:11–22:40; 27:09–29:00
• SGA’s Offensive Style Debate: 36:28–38:41
• Nick’s Trade Strategy/East Playoffs: 40:31–43:30
• Post–Free Agency NFL Power Rankings: 18:11–23:37
• Mike Tomlin & Coaching Carousel: 47:44–50:45
• Cowboys’ Defense and NFC East Breakdown: 53:50–56:45

Episode Takeaways

• NFL: Don’t trust “winner” QBs without independent production and traits.
• NBA: LeBron’s willingness to adapt and play off-ball, even as a third option, cements his competitive, legacy-first ethos.
• Bam Adebayo’s 83 points: Not a scandal; a combination of opportunity, culture, and opponent apathy.
• Offseason Dynamics: Power shifts via coaching, free agency, and the draft are in full swing—NFL and NBA titles require savvy adaptation at every level, not just star player accumulation.

If you missed the episode, this summary offers a thorough breakdown of Colin Cowherd’s sharpest analyses, his guests’ honest perspectives, and the most talked-about sports stories of the week, all in their own direct, conversational style.