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- [00:00]
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. Banking with Capital One helps you keep more money in your wallet with no fees or minimums on checking accounts and no overdraft fees. Just ask the Capital One bank guy. It's pretty much all he talks about in a good way. He'd also tell you that this podcast is his favorite podcast too. Oh really? Thanks Capital One Bank Guy. What's in your wallet? Terms apply See capitalone.com bank Capital One NA Member FDIC Wasn't that delicious? So good.
- [01:06]
Nick Wright
Your bill, ladies.
- [01:07]
Colin Cowherd
I got it. No, I got it. Seriously, I insist. I insisted first. Don't be silly.
- [01:14]
Nick Wright
Silly?
- [01:14]
Colin Cowherd
You don't be silly. People with the Wells Fargo Active Cash Credit card prefer to pay because they earn unlimited 2% cash back on purchases. Okay. Rock paper scissors for it. Rock, paper scissors. Shoot. No, the Wells Fargo Active Cash credit card@wells fargo.com ActiveCash terms apply. Hey everyone, it's Katie Couric. Well, the election is in the home stretch, right in time for a new season of my podcast. Next Question. I'm bringing in some foks friends of Katie's to help me out like Ezra Klein, Jen Psaki, Asted Herndon. But we're also going to have some fun thanks to some of my friends like Samantha Bee and Charlamagne the God. We're going to take some viewer questions as well. I mean, isn't that what democracy is all about? Check out our new season of Next Question with me, Katie Couric, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening to the Heard 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 herd@foxsportsradio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Here we go on a Tuesday. Live in Los Angeles. It is the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, thanks for making Us part of your day. My New Year's resolution, no haircuts. I am going shaggy, baby, and I don't care. J. Mac in one hour. Nick Wright, Herd hierarchy. I'm so fired up. There are so many things percolating in the NFL with all these jobs, job openings. Yeah, it is crazy. I don't know what's wilder, your. Your hair flow this morning or you coming off the birthday with a bunch of hot takes today. Yeah, it was a hot take. Birthday for Seaman. I brought in a lot of smoke. Is that new? Did you just give yourself a nickname?
- [03:14]
Nick Wright
Seaman?
- [03:15]
Colin Cowherd
Okay, everywhere, everywhere. People were nice to me yesterday, so thank you very much. And we move on in life. Okay, so I look at the Bears list for reported interview requests for the Chicago Bears for their job, head coaching job. I mean, I follow this league. There's a couple of guys. I mean, there's not this many great candidates. Why are you wasting your time? I mean, Anthony Weaver, Dolphins defensive coordinator. Did you watch the Dolphins at any point this year? And go, man, that defense is something else. Drew Petzing, offensive coordinator, Arizona. Folks, this is not American Idol. I'm not here for the fun tryouts. The hell you doing, Amir? You're wasting time on second, third tier candidates. Somebody else is hiring. Mike Vrabel. What are you doing here? I mean, the Chargers, last year in late November, in the building, we're talking about two candidates, Harbaugh and Vrabel. It was late November, early December, and they narrowed it down in the office to two guys they really wanted. One is great now, and one. Mike Vrabel's the best candidate this year. So, you know, what's the Bears path? This is just too broad of a list. It's unserious. You can't have 13 people. Let's be honest about this year's candidates. There's one a candidate, Mike Vrabel. That's it. I do think Pete Carroll and Brian Flores are worth a zoom call, but they're not a candidates. Flores, too intense, didn't work in Miami, though. I like him and think he deserves a second chance. And Pete Carroll, again, tends to be too loyal to average assistants. I think he's worth the zoom call. I am not hiring a coordinator for the Bears job. And I think Aaron Glenn is great. Ben Johnson, likewise. This is too big of a job, too big of a list. And coordinator candidates are like half a candidate. You don't know if it's going to work. You know, Mike Frable is going to work. So I look at this Bears list When you're hiring a head coach, it's a little bit like house hunting. In a really competitive market, you don't have time to waste. If you qualify for a $5 million house, skip the fixer uppers. Don't even stop off at the condos. Get to the big boy houses. Don't waste your time. It's a competitive market. So it, it's. I mean, this list is a who's who of who's he. What are we doing here? No, no. Waste of time for the Chicago Bears. And, you know, it's, it's. This is too big of a job for 90% of the guys on this list. And you should have it narrowed down. I mean, you got rid of Matt Eberfluss the day after Thanksgiving, and it's what, January 7th? If you fire a coach the day after Thanksgiving and it's the day that is officially too late to say Happy New Year's to people in the office, you're wasting your time. Get to it. It's the prom. Either ask the girl out or she's dancing with somebody else. But this list is just, it's unserious. This is an unserious list. I've said before, it is too complicated, too political, too big, historically, too wonky for a coordinator. Even a great one. Even a great one. And you could say, well, look at what Sean McVeigh did. Stan Kroenke is one of the richest, smartest owners in the NFL. Jeff Fisher sort of felt a little outdated offensively. McVeigh knocked everybody's socks off. But you had Stan Kroenke. You had, you know, a number one picket quarterback and some good players on the roster. You needed a. You needed a left tackle and a head coach. But there was stuff working there. An organization that had had some success. Chicago, is it. This is an 800 pound lift. I mean, this is a big lift. Albert Breer yesterday, I mean, this, this list I'm looking at now has got unserious candidates. Here's Albert Brewer yesterday on the Bears job. They haven't won a playoff game in 14 years. And I think if they look in the mirror, that's what, what they'll find is, is that there are issues there that go deeper than just one coach or how just one player is developed. If they do bring in a guy who's a leader of men who works on the defensive side, that person's going to have to come in with a very clear, concise plan for the quarterback and not just for the next year or two. But going forward, if you lose an offensive coach, how do you replace them? All that stuff, there's, you know, one of the things that it's. It's hard to say it out loud, but it's sort of true. In every business I've ever been in, there's a really small, finite number of candidates qualified for most jobs. And you look at the resume and you make a couple calls and the list gets whittled down very quickly. The Chargers figured it out after hiring, like, Anthony Lynn and Brandon Staley. Dean Spanos figured out, I need a culture changer. We are lost as a franchise. We are, we are on fire. I got to bring in the number one captain. I got to bring in the fire captain in the big truck. And they went, Vrabel interviewed him and Jim Harbaugh and Vrabel, by the way, they, they called Vrabel after they decided on Harbaugh and they said you were amazing and if Jim Harbaugh is not in the market, you are amazing. I heard this from like six different people in the Chargers building. They loved Vrabel. They thought they were going to hire Vrabel. They loved him. And so, I mean, they, they got down very quickly to the two candidates. You talking jets and Bears. You can't have 13 people up for a job. Not 13 people on the planet that can turn around the jets and the Bears. Okay, I saw this story and I have heard something similar. We've discussed it this week. I think J. Mac said this. The Minnesota Vikings are a fascinating team. This off season, they got this brilliant offensive coach. They have Sam Darnold, a reclamation project, who until Sunday was in the MVP race. And then they brought in Daniel Jones in November. And then they drafted J.J. mcCarthy. Well, according to Jeff Howe of the Athletic, J.J. mcCarthy would rank over Shadour Sanders and Cam Ward by several executives and coaches. That is what I have heard. That is what I have heard from people I've asked that. That J.J. mcCarthy would be higher ranked than the two quarterbacks doesn't mean everybody's right or my sources are right. But that's what you're hearing. And that's why this game for Sam Darnold against the Rams is fascinating. And there are times I get nervous for young athletes because I know so much is on the line. Think about Sam Darnold, Southern California kid when he plays The Rams in LA. It's a hundred million dollar football game. Kevin O'Connell could lose it. So what? McVeigh could lose it. So what? Stafford could lose it. If Sam Darnold loses, plays poorly. I mean that people are going to make a decision that it's just all Kevin O'Connell and Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. And in the end, the elite competition, Big St. Couldn't handle it. The market dries up. I don't even know, I don't even know if, if the Vikings keep him. But if Sam crushes, he's either getting franchised for a year in Minnesota, I would guess maybe they sign him to a contract franchise or he goes to the market and you got teams like the Raiders now that don't have a great draft pick. They may spend a fortune on him. And I wouldn't doubt it. So it's $100 million game. And here's the thing that is cruel and unfair in sports, but it is a fact. Sam Darnold was one kind of quarterback for six years. Super athletic, big arm, but reckless big. Too many mistakes in big spots. That's what he was. And that's where my brain goes and your brain goes and general managers brains go. When we see the Detroit game, yeah, too much juice, can't make the play. Missing open wide receivers, that's where our brains go. And it's like, it's almost like if you miss a big free throw in the NBA Finals as a young player. Nick Anderson did this for Orlando against Houston. You have to hit so many big free throws for me to forget about that free throw you missed in the finals and Nick Anderson didn't. And that's what I remember him for. And he was a good guy and a good player, but that's what I remember him for. And so if Sam Darnold beats the Rams, wins a playoff game, then Detroit's a one off. It was Detroit. It was the biggest game in 50 years. The Lions have better players. I forget all about it, but it's, it's almost like Sam Darnold has been typecast. It's like Daniel Radcliffe, Harry Potter. He has got to be in so many movies for me not to see Harry Potter. Every time I look at him, you put him in a crime drama, I'm like, oh, is he gonna cast a spell on somebody? I mean, I'm sorry, that's what I see. I mean he gotta be in so many movies. And so this game for Darnold is making me nervous. I, I, I try not to pick winners on this. I just want Darnold to play well. And J. Max over here got the Rams rolling in this game. He's got me all freaking out. It's My birthday week. I need some symmetry. I need. I need calm. And this in the Darnold situation is if I see something for six years and then all of a sudden you're really good and I'm starting to forget about it and oh, biggest game, that's where my brain goes. And that's where GM's brains go. So. The Vikings are a fascinating team and I don't think they have the answers yet. I think they're waiting for this Rams game and they want to see it. And I don't think they were going to be Detroit anyway. I don't think it was a winnable game. I said it last week. Take the Lions. This is going to be a crazy standal, once in a generation game for the Lions. Good luck, Sam Darnold. But it's cruel. I still think Nick Anderson, I think missed free throw in the Finals because he didn't go back and hit 13 big free throws in the finals to make me forget. Michael Jordan missed free throws in the Finals. LeBron has missed dozens of big free throws, but he's hit enough that I forgot about it. I mean, Chris Weber, the goal, the guy that called timeout. If Chris Weber would have gone on to win four titles in the NBA, that barely makes his resume, but his NBA career was a little sideways and wonky and underachieving. So that's what I think of. And it's just, it's unfair, but that's where my brain goes. And J. Mac, the whole time here has got a very confident smirk looking at it. You love the Rams in this game. You see the line, you see the screen. It was two and a half yesterday. Now it's one and a half. Obviously, you know, just one point.
- [14:15]
Nick Wright
But I'm just telling you there is.
- [14:16]
Colin Cowherd
A lot of support for the Rams in this game at home. And, and I don't. You don't want to bash Darnold too much because I know he's your guy. He had a great season. Listen, Lamar Jackson does this every year. Amazing regular season. Show me the playoff success. When has he ever had an amazing playoff? I know. In a big spot. Well, for a long time people said that to be fair about Peyton Manning in the playoff. It was true at the beginning. Yeah. I mean, nothing wrong with that.
- [14:42]
Nick Wright
It's a fact.
- [14:42]
Colin Cowherd
He struggled. I think the first five years he had zero playoff wins. Yeah, like, it's not great. Take some time. That game is making me nervous. As well it should. We're going to try to go to that. Right. Would you like to go to that. Yeah, use your superpowers to cook us up. Listen, my I have superpowers. One day, my birthday. I can ask for stuff on my bro. I got free cake yesterday and a backpack. What if you sold the Rams? Both of our birthdays are this week. Could you hook us up? Make it happen? Yeah, it's a small game that nobody's going to. It should be easy. 31 14. Oh, come on. I don't want 31. I'm not interested in that. I want 30. 27. Anybody could have won heroic performances by Stafford and Darnold. Whose house? Rams house. Yeah, baby. Obnoxious. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the iHeartradio hour. Banking with Capital One helps you keep more money in your wallet with no fees or minimums on checking accounts and no overdraft fees. Just ask the Capital One bank guy. It's pretty much all he talks about in a good way. He'd also tell you that this podcast is his favorite podcast, too. Ah, really? Thanks. Capital One Bank Guy. What's in your wallet? Terms apply. See capitalone.com bank capital1na member FDIC playoffs. We're talking about playoffs. You bet we are. Get in on the action at DraftKings Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NFL. Scoring touchdowns is key to winning in the playoffs, and you can score big by betting on them at DraftKings, the number one place to bet touchdowns. Ready to place your first bet? Try betting on something simple like a player to score 6, go to the DraftKings sportsbook app and make your pick. New DraftKings customers can bet $5 to get $200 in bonus bets instantly. Download the DraftKings sportsbook app and use Code Bobby Sports. That's Code Bobby Sports for new customers to get 200 in bonus bets instantly. When you bet just five bucks only on DraftKings sportsbook, the crown is yours. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER in New York, call 877-8-HOPENY or text hopeny467-369 in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boot Hill casino and resort, Kansas 21. Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void. In Ontario, bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance. For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see DKNG Co Audio. Wasn't that delicious? So good. Your bill. Ladies. I got it. No, I got it. Seriously. I insist. I insisted first.
- [17:40]
Nick Wright
Don't be silly.
- [17:41]
Colin Cowherd
You don't be silly. People with the Wells Fargo Active cash credit card prefer to pay because they earn unlimited 2% cash back on purchases. Okay. Rock, paper, scissors for it. Rock, paper, scissors, shoot. No. The Wells Fargo ActiveCash credit card. Visit Wells Fargo.comActiveCash terms apply. 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 required. Card has no cash access and expires in six months. Lately on the NPR Politics podcast, we're talking about a big question. How much can one guy change? They want change. What will change look like for energy? Drill baby, drill schools. Take the Department of Education. Close it. Health care better and less expensive. Follow coverage of a changing country. Promises made, promises kept. We're going to keep our promises on the NPR Politics podcast. Listen on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. It's our playoff herd hierarchy. Here we go. Herd hierarchy time is now.
- [19:15]
Nick Wright
Let's go.
- [19:15]
Colin Cowherd
The top 10 NFL teams according to college. Number 10, Tampa Bay. I put him in over Washington. They play him this weekend. I'll tell you, there's one stat that I love about this team. They have the best third down offense in the NFL. That the only team on third down that converts over 50% of the time. That is a big stat for me. You're moving the chains. You're often keeping it away from Jaden Daniels. This is a team that situationally is very, very good. It's why I like Tampa. To beat Washington, I put Tampa Bay at 10. Number nine, the Packers. You know what? I liked him all year, but now Jordan loves banged up. Christian Watson is out. Listen, seven straight games for Jord without a giveaway. That is the longest streak of his career. So would it shock me if they went to Philadelphia and Jalen Hurts didn't play and they upset him? No, I said early in the year and I believe this. They're a year away, but I'm going to have them right now. There's so many things I like about the organization, but boy, Philadelphia is an opener. It's a Big lift. I'll take Green Bay at nine, number eight, the Chargers. I don't think they have enough weaponry to get to a Super Bowl. But listen, they lose to the right teams. Five of their six losses came to the Chiefs twice, Ravens, Tampa Bay blew them out. So I think they are, they're the best version of what they can be right now. And they've got a lot of things. I like a star quarterback, two excellent offensive tackles, Khalil Mack, Derwin James in the back end. But I feel they're a running back, a tight end, a wide receiver shy to be to Kansas City or a Baltimore or a Buffalo. I have the Chargers at eight, number seven. I'm gonna put the Rams one slot ahead of them because right now they are so healthy. And when they have Cooper cup and Stafford and Kyron Williams and Puka Nukua, they are 14 and 5 and most of their losses are close. Matt Stafford's playing well. I don't love their first half offense this year. It feels like Stafford is an old pitcher that needs to get to the fifth inning to warm up. They just feel like they're not quite capable of getting off to good starts. Now their defense keeps them in games and they usually win them. I don't think you can be a bad first half offense and win multiple playoff games. So whatever that is, they gotta solve it. I have The Rams at 7, number 6, the Vikings at 6. The Rams. Vikings is a great game. Listen, they were 04 in red zone trips and Sam Darnold had too much juice and too much adrenaline, missed open throws. But the only two teams they've lost to this year, the Lions a couple of times in the Rams. So like we're talking about a very good football team. Sam Darnold did not have a good game in a big spot. I didn't think it was a winnable game. I thought it was the biggest football game in Detroit with a better roster in 15 years. I'll put the Vikings at six, number five. We have to be honest, speaking of history, you know, the Ravens are the first team in league history with 4,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards in a season that cannot be overlooked. This is just not another team in the NFL. They are a passing powerhouse and a running powerhouse and they lead the NFL in yards per carry. So if you're going to beat Kansas City, that is the way to do it. I'm not saying they're going to, but the way to do it is you get four and a half yards of carry and Patrick Mahomes is thrown on third and two and second and four. That's the way to beat Kansas City. So I think they're uniquely built. They're a better version of what they've been in previous years. They're even better, better on the ground than previous years. Number four, the Eagles. Jalen Hurts. Concussion protocol, maybe. I think their roster would be number one. I am a little worried about the Jalen Hurts situation. Listen, if Hurts and AJ Brown play, they're 11 and oh, and they have the best roster in the league. So I've always said the final four teams in my blazing five, I believe are the super bowl teams. Those are teams that can win a Super Bowl. My final four teams, you know, if I did this tomorrow and Jalen Hurts was out of protocol, I'd probably have him at three, but I'll put him at four. Number three, Detroit. Now, they're getting healthier on defense and this should be noted. This is how good of a coach coordinator Aaron Glenn is. I don't think they have great defensive personnel. I think they have great offensive personnel. They've allowed the lowest passer rating of any team in the NFL this year and that's with Hutchison, their top pass rusher, out for most of the year and massive injuries in the back seven. This is a really, really well coached team and also another team that matches up with like a Kansas City. Two running backs, great online, like Baltimore can play some keep away. Detroit at three. Number two. Buffalo feels like the best version of Buffalo. They're no longer reckless. Fewest turnovers in a single season in NFL history. Tied for the second fewest turnovers, eight. So they don't beat themselves like previous seasons. They don't give the ball away. They don't allow sacks. So I think this is the best version of Baltimore and Buffalo this year. Is it good enough to beat Kansas City? I. If I was a betting person, I would say no. So let's go to number one and we all know who it is. Number one. Listen, they're seven and two against current playoff teams this season. Seven straight games without a turnover. I think their receiving core is more dynamic today than it's been the previous two years. Their defense may be not quite as good. The AFC playoffs are going to be one for the ages because, you know, I look at this team and I see a little snazzier version of offense. Xavier Worthy now is a better tool than previous years. I think they now have a second tight end. I don't think their offensive tackle situation is ideal, but it's good enough. But I think Baltimore and Buffalo are the best versions of Baltimore and Buffalo in years. And I do think a little bit they'd rather face a Bo Nix potentially than a Joe Burrow. That's the advantage for the Chiefs, although I would have taken them to beat Cincinnati. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific Banking with Capital One helps you keep more money in your wallet with no fees or minimums on checking accounts and no overdraft fees. Just ask the Capital One bank guy. It's pretty much all he talks about in a good way. He'd also tell you that this podcast is his favorite podcast too. Oh, really? Thanks. Capital One Bank Guy. What's in your wallet? Terms apply. See capitalone.com bank capital1na member FDIC. Wasn't that delicious? So good.
- [25:49]
Nick Wright
Your bill, ladies.
- [25:50]
Colin Cowherd
I got it. No, I got it. Seriously, I insist. I insisted first.
- [25:56]
Nick Wright
Don't be silly.
- [25:57]
Colin Cowherd
You gonna be silly. People with The Wells Fargo ActiveCash credit card prefer to pay because they earn unlimited 2% cash back on purchases. Okay. Rock, paper, scissors for it. Rock, paper, scissors. Shoot. No, the Wells Fargo Active cash credit card. Visit Wells Fargo.com ActiveCash terms apply. 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 required. Card has no cash access and expires in six months. Lately on the NPR Politics podcast, we're talking about a big question. How much can one guy change? They want change. What will change look like for energy? Drill baby Drill schools. Take the Department of Education. Close it. Health care better and less expensive. Follow coverage of a changing country. Promises made, promises kept. We're going to keep our promises on the NPR Politics podcast. Listen on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. Nick Wright, co host, first things first, joins us now live. Okay, the wild card in that is Philly, who I thought Jalen hurts played his best football in the last month, but now he's in concussion protocol. Anything jump out to you?
- [27:39]
Nick Wright
So, a number of things. One is I think you're letting people bully you, Colin. I don't think you actually believe the Vikings are going to beat the Rams. So just put the Rams ahead of them. I think you're going to pick the Rams and I think that you didn't that you having a 107 team ahead of a 143 team you didn't want to do. You love Darnold and again I'm not. We'll see. But my guess is Friday when the blazing five happens and you're staring at the Rams plus a point and a half, you grab that. So I would flip flop the Rams and the Vikings if you're doing what I think you're going to do. And then lastly you mentioned that you said something that so many people have said and so I will just ask it to you because it really this narrative that the Chiefs didn't want Cincinnati in the playoffs despite the fact that the Chiefs have won three straight against Cincinnati, that since Cincinnati last won a playoff game the Chiefs have won two Super Bowls and that the Bengals now have the same playoff drought as the Giants and the Jags. Set all that aside in order to play the Bengals, the Bengals would have to beat the Bills. Don't you think the Chiefs would sign up right now for a playoff path that involves guaranteed never playing Buffalo and you get Cincinnati in round two? Because that was the only path. The only way the Chiefs played the Bengals was if the Bengals went to Buffalo and clipped the Bills. I would have loved that. I wish the Bengals were a better organization so they could have made the playoffs and made that happen. Unfortunately, they needed the Chiefs JV team to beat Bo Nix and they couldn't abide. But wouldn't that have been good for the Chiefs? For the Bengals to get in and beat Buffalo?
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Colin Cowherd
Well, well, I think the, the advantage Kansas City has now is Buffalo and Baltimore have shown, especially Baltimore. They get tight against Kansas City. Cincinnati's playing with house money. If they would have snuck in and Joe Burrow on house money with great receivers is always a little scary. There's always a playoff team that gets in and you know, and you're like, they got nothing.
- [29:56]
Nick Wright
That offense, who could slow it down? I mean the Steelers were falling apart. They, they hung a whole 19 on them and needed Russell Wilson for getting clock and score to beat them. And they need, I mean again, the Bengals. The Bengals are the scariest team I've ever seen that the moment the season ended, fired half their coaching staff. They're so scary. They're like, we need to revamp everything but whatever, we don't, we can, we don't have to talk about the teams that missed the playoffs today. So we can leave the Bengals out of it.
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Colin Cowherd
Let's talk about something we both have affection for is the city of Chicago and the Bears. And it's a huge, it's a huge job. I suggested 20 minutes ago. I said it sounded crazy. If I would have said to you years before it happened, Brett Favre will lead the Vikings to the NFC championship. The Niners will bail on Joe Montana. KD will join the rival Warriors. I don't think it's crazy if the Steelers got boxed that Chicago calls Pittsburgh and says, we'll take Mike Tomlin. And by the way, this league fired Andy Reid and Belichick. You can have the discussion. They haven't beaten a good quarterback in a playoff game in 15 years. What I so I think if I'm going to all these silly candidates the Bears are interviewing, there's like 13 and some of them, you're like the offensive coordinator for Arizona. What are we doing here? I mean, again, this is not American Idol. I don't need to see all these tryouts. What's the point? So my take is, is Tomlin, if they get beat, I think they should consider Vrabel or Tomlinson. Am I nuts?
- [31:24]
Nick Wright
Well, no, I don't think you're nuts at all. I understand and I agree with the idea that Ben Johnson should be the number one candidate for two reasons. One is the ideal, and you've talked about it, is pairing your young quarterback with the offensive minded coach so you don't have to worry about the quarterback learning new systems. That is the ideal. It has the added benefit of weakening the biggest competition within your own division.
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Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
- [31:56]
Nick Wright
So I totally get that Ben Johnson should be the top candidate, but after him, I agree with you that I would prefer established, proven coach like a Mike Vrabel, certainly a Mike Tomlin if you could get him over. We're going to spin the offensive coordinator wheel and hope it lands on a Kevin O'Connell rather than it landing on a Brian Dable. We're going to hope it lands on a Matt LaFleur rather than it landing on a Freddy Kitchens or a Shane Steichen. Like I the it is very in vogue to just say, you know who they should go after? Liam Cohen or as you said, the offensive coordinator from Arizona. But a year ago, Bears folks, a lot of people were like, you know who they should hire? Bobby Slowik. Look at what he did in Chicago with C.J. stroud. Well, Bobby Slowik all of a sudden didn't get a head coaching job and now he's on the hot seat as the coordinator. So it's not quite as simple as flavor of the month offensive coach. I do think Ben Johnson would be a home run, but I am not at all against Mike Vrabel there. I think he would be excellent. And obviously, if they could get Mike Tomlin, I think Mike Tomlin's great. I think he's clearly one of the five best coaches in the league. And so, yeah, I think that would be great. You also, you are really dead set on the Bears trading for a coach. You wanted them to trade for Kyle Shanahan. Now you want him to trade for Mike Tomlin. You want the Bears to have a proven winner. And I like it. I like it.
- [33:36]
Colin Cowherd
I will say this. I'm more impressed with Aaron Glenn in Detroit than Ben Johnson, and here's why. Aaron Glenn hasn't had Hutchison or a secondary for two months. And they have the best defense against quarterbacks in the league. They allow the lowest pass rate. Ben Johnson's got the best O line, a number one receiver, two great backs, the best tackle combo. Like, it's, it's. You're playing with a lot of nice toys here that I think a lot of. And I think Aaron Glenn is a remarkable. They lost Hutchison. All of us were like, oh, oh, no. They went and got BNC guys. They put it in. So I think what they did to Darnold, who was on a heater for three months, Darnold looked like he was the Jets. Darnold.
- [34:14]
Nick Wright
That's what I was about to say. That's what I was about to say. You want Colin Coward to think you're a defensive mastermind, make Sam Darnold look bad.
- [34:22]
Colin Cowherd
I mean, it can't be.
- [34:24]
Nick Wright
I mean, that there's no surefire thing for Colin to be like, that's a head coach right there. That if you can make Sam Darnold, of all people, only score nine points, I mean, it's fair point.
- [34:35]
Colin Cowherd
So I said this. The jets haven't been good or interesting in forever. Rex Ryan and Aaron Rodgers, you might as well just call HBO now and say, start miking people up for hard knocks. This is the greatest combination ever. When Rex Ryan puts his name out there for the jets, part of me thinks, okay, I would prefer Ben Johnson, but he's going to have offers and probably won't take it. How do you solve prickly Aaron Rodgers, impulsive owner, pretty interesting roster. You're in the city, you're hearing all the opinions. How do you solve Aaron and the.
- [35:14]
Nick Wright
Jets you don't, you can't. He's going to be a 42 year old quarterback who has demonstrated over the last two healthy years of football that he is at best the 17th best quarterback in football with no leadership capabilities and that where the team eats itself alive. So you can't solve that piece of it. But they're going to need someone to. So I'd move on from Aaron, but you're going to need someone to coach the team either way. And if Rex Ryan somehow talks his way into this job, it'll be an all time coup. I don't think it'll be a good decision. Yeah, but you don't do politics on this show smartly. And this isn't political. But I do want to give people, if they don't know it, a brief history lesson. Long time ago, back in, gosh, the late 90s, when George W. Bush was running for president, he hired a guy to run a committee to figure out who his vice president should be. That guy's name was the late Dick Cheney. And Dick Cheney did a bunch of research, then was like, you know what? After interviewing all the candidates, the best guy is me. And he ended up being vice president. It would appear that might be what Mike Tannenbaum and Rex Ryan are doing with the Jets. Tannenbaum gets hired to pick the next gm. I'm thinking Mike Tannenbaum's gonna have a list. At the top of the list is gonna be Mike Tannenbaum and the coach that he had when he already was the gm, Rex Ryan. If they get the old band back together. Being able to sell Woody Johnson on, hey, I mean, you've just sucked since we left. I guess it's an idea. It's not an idea. I would sign up for. You mentioned Aaron Glenn. How about Aaron Glenn who played for the Jets.
- [36:58]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
- [36:58]
Nick Wright
Who has like actual sweat equity with the franchise. That would make sense. But yeah, sure, Mike Tannenbaum, Rex Ryan and Aaron Rodgers, which would have been an interesting combination in 2010. Running it back in 2025. Why not?
- [37:15]
Colin Cowherd
So, so many things the Lions do embody the NFL. Like, like I remember this. Sure. Years ago. It didn't bother me because Steph Clay and Draymond were drafted and developed by the warriors and they'd already won pre kd. But when they signed Kevin Durant, it was kind of shocking to me. Everywhere I went for several years out in the public, they were like, NBA stinks. I refuse to watch a league where they, where they basically bought a dynasty. And I'm like, Time out. Steph, Clay and Draymond were drafted and developed. Draymond, second round. People didn't like it. Detroit, a city that builds cars, has built a football team. Three wins, you know, nine wins, 11, 14. I honestly think, and I was thinking about you this morning. If the Chiefs were to get beat, Detroit would be the team that you would be like. Okay, good American story. You're a Midwesterner. They, it's sweat equity. They put the time and just imagine losing the super bowl because I think Detroit is speaking to the country. I just saw the rating for the game. Detroit and Minnesota. It was a bad game. The rating's insane. America loves this team. Do you love them? Yes.
- [38:37]
Nick Wright
Oh, I respect them. And I, I thought Dan Campbell was incredibly reckless last Monday playing his guys, but listen, the guy drew to an inside straight and it worked out perfectly. He got out of that game, you know, mostly healthy and it clear. Listen, they came out with their hair on fire in their biggest game of the year. They won. Now they get the buy. And you got to give credit. I love the fact that the Lions are. That they are who they are without apology when it comes to the aggressiveness offensively on the fourth downs. And I do like to bring them up again, the fact that Aaron Glenn has recognized, you know what, Our defense isn't good enough because of the injuries to play you straight up.
- [39:25]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
- [39:25]
Nick Wright
So we're going to do. To bring up the Chiefs the way the Chiefs before they had good defensive players won a Super bowl in 2019, which is it's going to be boom, bust. We're going to sit in the house repeatedly and maybe we'll get beat, but maybe we'll force a turnover, maybe we'll tip a pass and that's how we're going to make up for a lack of talent on defense because the Lions, because they've suffered all those injuries. So I do have massive respect for what the Lions have done and how they have embodied their coaches culture. And I have respect for Brad Holmes, the gm.
- [39:59]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
- [39:59]
Nick Wright
Who said I don't care that people are going to roll their eyes at a draft that goes running back, inside backer, tight end, safety, because those are devalued positions. I'm going to get the best or second best player in the draft at all four spots. And while everyone else is taking defensive end 7 and wide receiver 6, I'm going to get starters. So I, I truly respect all of that same. Do I like them?
- [40:30]
Colin Cowherd
No.
- [40:30]
Nick Wright
I don't like anyone but my team. That's about to win the third straight Super Bowl. Like, I don't like any of these teams, but I will tell you, as far as if it is one versus one Chiefs, Lions, it is going to be. When they show those maps of who's rooting for who, the Chiefs will have Missouri and Kansas, and the Lions will have all other 48 states. Yeah, it will. Even though they're 15 and 2, it will feel like the underdog because of who they are. And, yeah, if someone's got to win a Super bowl, that's not the Chiefs. I suppose it'd be fine if it'd be the Lions, but unfortunately, the Chiefs win all the Super Bowls, and so they're probably just not going to.
- [41:13]
Colin Cowherd
Okay, well, I love that confidence. You know, you're a great poker player, so you have confidence even with losing hands. And I think that's imperative to be a great poker player. And I also think to be a sportscaster, your history is you believe even in rough, turbulent waters.
- [41:32]
Nick Wright
Oh, yeah. That's the thing. It was really hard to believe in the Chiefs. This year started 15 and 1, and all year long, everyone was saying, what's wrong with them? Real quick, if I may, before I go, Happy belated birthday. My wife, who you always say such kind things about, said to me yesterday. She said, you know, it's Colin's birthday. And I was like, oh, I didn't, because I'm a man and I don't remember such things. And she said. She said, are you gonna call him? And I was like, no, I don't think I'm gonna call him. She was like, that's. She's like, nick, he's your friend. You need to call him. And I'm like, I think he would find that odd. She was like, at least text him. So that birthday text you got from me yesterday was really just because she told me to. Like, I just. I. It doesn't feel like I love you with all my heart. And it really felt weird even sending you that. I was like, I'll talk to him on TV the next day, but happy birthday.
- [42:30]
Colin Cowherd
Well, I appreciate it. I. I'm one of these guys that says I don't care about birthdays. And then I got all these texts and these nice gifts, and I will be honest with you, it was very nice. So I appreciated it.
- [42:41]
Nick Wright
Nice gifts. Wow. I guess I fell short. I just sent a text I wasn't even gonna send. I'll pay for that bottle of wine you were stunting on Twitter. If you just send me an invoice. I'll buy you that retroactively. See you, buddy.
- [42:55]
Colin Cowherd
See you, buddy. I'll send Nick Wright an invoice. That's what I'll do now. People were really nice yesterday. You know, most kids that I paid college tuitions for were nice, but I mean, there was something in it, you know. But no, the point people are very thought. And I'm one of these guys that say, yeah, I'm always out there. I don't care about birthdays. And then people say nice stuff and it warms your heart. So who am I kidding? I'm a big soft nothing. I'm out here like, oh, I don't care. I have no emotions and I get all teary eyed when I get a backpack from a friend. Give me, give me a break. 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. Banking with Capital One helps you keep more money in your wallet with no fees or minimums on checking accounts and no overdraft fees. Just ask the Capital One bank guy. It's pretty much all he talks about. In a good way. He'd also tell you that this podcast is his favorite podcast too. Oh really? Thanks. Capital One Bank Guy. What's in your wallet? Terms apply. See capitalone.com bank capital1na member fdic hey everyone, it's Katie Couric. Well, the election is in the home stretch right in time for a new season of my podcast. Next question. I'm bringing in some foks friends of Katie's to help me out like Ezra Klein, Jen Psaki, Asted Herndon. But we're also gonna have some fun thanks to some of my friends like Samantha Bee and Charlamagne. Tha God. We're gonna take some viewer questions as well. I mean, isn't that what democracy is all about? Check out our new season of Next Question with me Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.