Best of The Herd

Summary

The Herd with Colin Cowherd: Best of The Herd – March 12, 2025

Hosted by iHeartPodcasts and The Volume, “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” offers a deep dive into the most pressing sports stories with insightful commentary and expert opinions. In the “Best of The Herd” episode released on March 12, 2025, Colin Cowherd navigates through a week filled with intriguing NFL developments, player analyses, and strategic team decisions. Below is a comprehensive summary of the episode’s key discussions and insights.

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1. Comparing Aaron Rodgers to Kevin Durant

Timestamp: [02:30]

Colin Cowherd opens the discussion by drawing parallels between NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers and NBA star Kevin Durant. He emphasizes their transitions from successful, stable teams to more tumultuous environments driven by personal desires and media pressures.

Colin Cowherd: "Aaron Rodgers has been reduced to that. Think about this, what Aaron Rodgers has become... he's become Kevin Durant."
[02:30]

He critiques their decisions to leave powerhouse organizations—Rodgers from Green Bay and Durant from Golden State—in search of new opportunities, which he suggests have led to instability and challenges in their careers.

2. Sam Darnold’s Contract and Performance Debate

Timestamp: [05:15]

The conversation shifts to quarterback Sam Darnold, with Colin defending his recent performance and contract negotiations against criticisms from co-host J. Mac. Colin argues that Darnold’s athleticism and team-friendly contract position him well for future success.

Colin Cowherd: "Darnold will do better than 21 touchdowns and 15 picks next year. I don't know how much better, but he's younger, he's a better athlete."
[05:15]

J. Mac counters by analyzing Darnold’s career statistics, expressing skepticism about his ability to exceed past performance metrics. The debate highlights differing perspectives on evaluating player potential versus past results.

3. Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers’ Strategic Moves

Timestamp: [10:45]

Colin delves into the San Francisco 49ers’ recent roster changes, particularly focusing on Brock Purdy's role within the team. He discusses the challenges Purdy faces with an aging roster and the expectations placed upon him.

Colin Cowherd: "Brock Purdy now lives the same life as every other quarterback in the league. It's a flawed roster."
[10:45]

Albert Breer joins the conversation, providing insights into the 49ers’ negotiation strategies and the impact of past decisions on the current team dynamics. They explore the potential outcomes of Purdy’s integration into the team and the broader implications for the 49ers’ future.

4. Chicago Bears’ Offseason Decisions and Ashton Genti Rumors

Timestamp: [15:30]

The focus moves to the Chicago Bears’ offseason moves, specifically the rumors surrounding running back Ashton Genti. Colin and Albert analyze the Bears’ strategy in strengthening their offensive and defensive lines, questioning the necessity and timing of acquiring a running back.

Albert Breer: "Ashton Genti can do that [impact the pass game]. It wouldn't floor me if they took a running back in the first round because of Ben Johnson's past."
[15:30]

Colin expresses his preference for prioritizing defensive needs over additional offensive players, while Albert emphasizes the versatility and potential contributions of running backs like Genti in balancing the team’s offense.

5. Denver’s Team Strategy Under Sean Payton

Timestamp: [19:00]

Examining Denver’s strategic approach, Colin discusses head coach Sean Payton’s philosophy of leveraging younger players and schematics to enhance team performance. He highlights the balance between investing in defense and managing the offensive line.

Albert Breer: "Sean Payton's belief in himself that... I can find receivers in the draft that I can develop and fit into my offense."
[19:00]

The discussion underscores Payton’s confidence in his ability to mold the team’s dynamics through draft selections and tactical adjustments, positioning Denver as a team to watch in the coming season.

6. Rams, Chargers, and Offensive Line Challenges

Timestamp: [23:45]

Colin addresses the struggles of the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers with their offensive lines. He critiques their investment decisions and the implications for team performance, particularly focusing on their ability to protect quarterbacks and sustain offensive drives.

Colin Cowherd: "I watched this offense struggle last year, get pushed around by a couple of teams. Raiders gave him fits up front."
[23:45]

Albert adds context by comparing current strategies to past moves, suggesting that continued investment and strategic drafting are crucial for improving the offensive line’s effectiveness.

7. The Aaron Rodgers Dilemma: Steelers vs. Giants

Timestamp: [27:10]

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the potential destination of Aaron Rodgers, weighing the implications of him joining either the Pittsburgh Steelers or the New York Giants. Colin and Albert debate the suitability of each team for Rodgers’ career trajectory and personal aspirations.

Albert Breer: "Pittsburgh is asking him to be the finishing piece... Giants would be asking him to be the difference maker."
[27:10]

Colin expresses skepticism about the Steelers’ ability to integrate Rodgers effectively, while Albert highlights the contrasting roles and expectations between the two franchises. The discussion hints at the complexities and pressures Rodgers faces in making a decision that could define the latter part of his career.

8. Final Thoughts and Takeaways

Timestamp: [30:00]

Wrapping up, Colin reflects on the week’s strongest performances and strategic moves, emphasizing the importance of team dynamics and management decisions in shaping future success. He encourages listeners to stay engaged with ongoing developments and promises more in-depth analysis in future episodes.

Colin Cowherd: "These are foundational moves that will determine how teams perform this season and beyond."
[30:00]

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Conclusion

In this edition of “Best of The Herd,” Colin Cowherd provides a thorough analysis of pivotal NFL narratives, from high-profile player moves to strategic team-building decisions. By incorporating expert opinions and engaging debates, the episode offers listeners a nuanced understanding of the complexities within professional football. Whether you're a seasoned fan or new to the sport, this episode delivers valuable insights that enhance your appreciation of the game.

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For those interested in catching the full episode, “Best of The Herd” is available for streaming on the iHeartRadio app and other major podcast platforms.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

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[J. Mac]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, thanks for making us part of your day. We have had a very, very, very strong week of shows. If I may say it yesterday, I don't know if we could top that with Nick Wright and Urban Meyer. Man, we were delivering the goods. Great to be here today. You know, I was thinking, you know, sometimes JMac, I'm driving to work, I don't listen to anything. I just, I stay in my own thoughts. That's a dangerous place to be. Dangerous place. And I, and I, because when I get up in the morning, I usually sit for about 45 minutes to an hour and I kind of perus some websites. I want to see the headlines. And so when I drive to work, I'm thinking about, you know, trying to kind of assemble stories. And I thought about this when I saw a story, will Aaron Rodgers end up with the Steelers? And if not, it'll be Russell Wilson. And I thought, I mean, Aaron Rodgers has been reduced to that. Think about this, you know what Aaron Rodgers has become, what I compared him to the last four years, he's become Kevin Durant. Think about it. Both left incredibly stable organizations, Green Bay and Golden State, all they do is win. They got into their feelings, little bit of ego. They want to play with their buddies. So they go to unstable places. The jets in Brooklyn, and it's a mess. Very quickly they stoke flames with the media. Can't trust the media. Hot take people. Clickbait. Can't I do my own homework? Both if I, I've mentioned this for years. They're both single guys, rich single guys that get older. Nobody at home to hold them accountable, you know. You know, it is kind of doing their own thing, whatever they feel like. Surround themselves with people who agree with them. And now both the great Kevin Durant and he's great. And the formerly great Aaron Rodgers. He was great. Have been reduced to crossing their fingers, hoping they can latch on to a team that can make the playoffs. Both can be funny, both can be charming. Both are all time talents. I think they're both kind of interesting guys. I think, I think in terms of professional athletes, they have a lot to say and they're interesting. But we have to be fair about Katie and Aaron, both of those kind of people. And you probably know somebody like this in your life. They're always searching for something. You could have a sister or brother like that. They're always sort of searching for something. Just being successful and winning, it's not enough. Both also, sometimes to a fault, push back on authority. Golden State was good for kd. Green Bay was really good for Aaron Rodgers. And both of, in my opinion, hurt their own careers based on poor decisions, the inability to realize how damn good they had it at Golden State and Green Bay. In life, if you can't tell how green your grass is, then everybody else's grass looks really green. And now, because, you know, Katie's been banged up a few times, he's getting older, he's not going to be anybody's leader. They've tried that in Phoenix. It doesn't work. Okay, they tried that in Brooklyn. It didn't work. He's got to be an accessory. He's got to be a piece. And Aaron Rodgers is probably 13th best quarterback in the league. Maybe 12th, maybe 15th, some would say lower. But you can't build around Aaron Rodgers anymore. And the moral to the story or the lesson in life is, at least as a pro athlete, winning a lot. If you're being compensated fairly, it's enough. You got to know how green your grass is. Golden State, I mean, you could. You could show up, have a bad night, and the team wins by 20. That's. That's a good life. I mean, that's like for you and I, having a bad day at work and you come home and your kids are so great and your wife's so great. You have a great day and yet you had a bad day at work. That's a pretty good life. And I think that's. Reading that this morning, that it's down to Aaron Rodgers. This is. Could be the New York Giants, it could be the Pittsburgh Steelers. And I'm like, man, we're talking MVP a few years ago with kd, we're talking a few years ago, is he better than LeBron? And this is what it's been reduced to. Okay? You know, I grew up in the Pacific Northwest. That's up in the corner of the country for the uninitiated. And so this story just cracks me up. And you also know I like Sam Darnold, and I don't want to criticize any media people by name, but the Seahawks signing Sam Darnold and, and letting go of Geno Smith, some of the takes by you media people have been awful. Geno Smith last year had 21 TDs and 15 picks. He's 34. Darnold's more mobile. Darnold signed an incredibly Seahawk friendly deal. Darnold was better than Gino last year. What's all the hysteria like? I understand the media falls for stories, but the story has gone from what a great comeback story. Hey, Chino Smith is irreplaceable. What, 21 touchdowns, 15 picks. And he had two good running backs. And he had three good receivers and he had a capable tight end. Speaking of comeback stories, media, how about we come back to reality? Darnold, seven years younger, had a much better year, much better athlete, mobility wise. And that deal Darnold signed with the Seahawks, Sam gave away money. He knows the value of being in a good situation. Darnold, that's an incredibly Seahawk friendly deal. It's like the Buccaneers Baker deal. It's incredibly team friendly. And in both cases, John Snyder, Seattle, Jason Light. In Tampa you have an elite GMs. This is very much Tampa. You kind of got a quarterback who's B2B plus and you got him for like a C minus contract. So I mean, think about this all the. How did you let Geno Smith go? Russell Wilson right now can't really find a job. And in the last two years he's had more touchdown passes and a higher passer rating than Geno Smith. You people are. You're all freaking out. Like the media just latches onto stories and they can't let go. I'm going to make a guarantee. This is Collins personal guarantee or your money back. Darnold will do better than 21 touchdowns and 15 picks next year. I don't know how much better, but he's younger, he's a better athlete. He'll make things happen off script. I mean, Seattle last year, third down's a really important down, right? We would all admit that. You, me, everybody, J. Mac, you'd admit this. Third down's important. Seattle had Locket, the Ohio State kid we all like. DK Metcalf, legit left tackle, two decent backs. The Seahawks were 21st on third down and oh, by the way, the sixth most drives ending in a punt with way better than average weapons in a division where the Niners were falling apart. Arizona's Arizona and the Rams are a year away now the Rams are the best team in the division. Rams are better. San Francisco, rebuilding. I mean, good God, if you go to Geno and Sam Darnold's comps last year across the board, Darnold significantly better. So I understand the need by writers and bloggers and media people to latch onto the story but the Geno Smith leaves Seattle has gone from cool comeback story. Let's come back to reality. 21 touchdowns, 15 picks 34 years old. Not as mobile as Darnold. There's an argument and I like Gino to the Raiders because he's an adult. He's a grown up. He's accurate. He'll move the chains. There's an argument Seattle squeezed just about everything Gino's got. He's probably got one or two decent years quarterbacks hit 35 and 36. It just looks different. Except for Tom Brady it kind of looks different. I'm not anti Gino but JSN, DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett two capable running backs Noah Fant six in the league and drives inning and punt 21st in the league on third down like come on now. I mean Bo Nix considerably better and and was throwing to Cortland Sutton and then just crossing his fingers as a rookie. Take a deep breath Darnold. Gino, I've said you can argue they're Both somewhere between 13th and 16th best quarterback in the league if I get the guy that's seven years younger, more athletic with a better friendly team deal. Remember Gino wanted 45. Sam's got like 33. I can get two more players like they're not different enough. Sam Darnold is not going to give you the Vikings year. He's also not going to give you a Jets year. Seattle's got a good GM and Sam's going to play with four more new starters that John Snyder drafts. Think about that as well. Do not, do not undersell Baker signing a team friendly deal. That's why Tampa's got so many good players. Brady didn't break the bank. Baker didn't break the bank. Gino for his Skill set at 34 wanted a lot more money than Sam got. All right J. Mac, we have oh I've got an interesting Micah Parsons shot at Brock Purdy. You're not gonna hit him with more you people. I heard a couple of those in the opening rant that's a little combative to start the show by the way. Bo Nixon, Cortland Sutton 13th on third down in a division with the Chargers defense and the Chiefs defense. Okay. As a rookie 13th on third down in a division with two of the top four defenses in the league. Not bad. Can I already take you up on your your money back guarantee that you just made? So you said I guarantee you he'll he'll go better than 21 touchdowns in 15 picks. Okay, so I just looked at Sam Darnold's career. Other than last year's outlier with the great Kevin OConnell. Sam Darnold has never thrown 21 touchdowns in the NFL and now his top receiver is JSN. They got rid of two other guys. I. I don't think he's going to hit 21 touchdowns. Do you think they're going to all of a sudden air it out? No, he's going to go 24 and 8, which is way better than 21 and 15. He'll go 24 and 8. By the way, they have a number one receiver fant two running backs. We know you can find receivers in college. You can find receivers, by the way, because Sam Darnold's deal is friendly. You can find receivers at the trade deadline. What if a team is a mess in week seven? Then go find. You know, the Darnold deal is so team friendly it allows you moves potentially at the trade deadline. You also said they're between the 13th and 16th best quarterback in that whole ballpark. I hate to break it to you. Yeah. But I recently went through all my podcast. Yeah. And they're. Neither of them are top 15. I mean, there's 15 better quarterbacks in the league right now. Like Tua. Would you say two was better than both those guys? I would say two has been more consistent with both those guys. But small, not good. Deep concussion issues. And if it's windy, he's not the same player. I'd take Darnold. I'm just saying. Okay. And I also look at tua. How much you have to pay Tua and how much you have to pay Sam. That factors in. I mean, there's only a couple quarterbacks in the league where you're like, what's the weather like? And if the answer isn't what you want to hear, you don't get the same player. So Dak or Geno Smith or Sam Darnold, like, it's got to be Dak. I don't love him. Especially not at 60 mil after a second lower body injury. We sure it's Dak.

[J. Mac]

Wow.

[Colin Cowherd]

Oh, Sam Donald rising the ranks. Suddenly I'm being realistic. By the way, Jordan Love had a totally up and down season. Went 25 TDs, 11 picks. Sam can't go 24 and 10. And Jordan love last year disappointed most of us 24 and 10. I'm not saying, I'm not saying 36 and 6. I'm not asking for a Josh Allen. I'm not saying 29 and 4. Aaron in his prime. I'm just saying 24 and 10. 24 and 11. Sam can't do that. No. By the way, all you Aaron Rodgers fanboys, Apparently Peter Schrager on Good Morning Football Today reported that Aaron Rodgers could take up to four weeks to make a decision. This stuff is funny. Can you imagine trying to hire somebody you know, the most important position on your team in a team sport? Hey, give me a month. What have you been doing? You were out of the playoff race like three years ago. I mean, what are we doing here? Can you. Can you. Can you get. Can you give me an answer? I'm not. I'm not looking for you to play tomorrow. Could you just give me an answer? Hey, again, it's amazing. Rich single guys, the older they get, the weirder they get. This is funny. Micah Parsons took a shot at the 49ers. And Brock Purdy, as Micah is watching the Niners having to get rid of all these players because now they have to pay Brock Purdy. And the little tweet by Micah is no more rookie quarterback. Lol. Welcome to reality. Yes, yes, yes. Brock Purdy now lives the same life as every other quarterback in the league. It's a flawed roster. It's an average offensive line. You have a highly compensated receiver coming off surgery, and there's no more money to upgrade. You have to cross your fingers on draft picks. So this is the real NFL. This has been my narrative for years. It's almost like the first time you move out from your parents and you're on your own. Oh, wait. My phone bill's $278 a month. I've only got one lamp. Oh, I had no idea cutlery cost this much. Mom said I have to pay for my own car insurance. Yeah, that's called grown up adult. That's a reality. When you get off, you know, the parents dole. So Brock Purdy's been in this league, you know, three full years. A little bit of a trust fund kid. Not a lot of discomfort. Didn't have to carry anybody. Not a lot to overcome. Well, then the second half of last year happened. Left tackles out, McCaffrey's out, receiver banged up. That. That, by the way, that's not a hardship. That's called the NFL for a quarterback. That's what Mahomes has been dealing with for three years. That's not a hardship. You having to pay your own car insurance is not a hardship. It's called being an adult. So Micah Parsons is just saying, okay, remember, remember Dak? When Dak came into the league, you guys all fell for it. Number one O line by a mile. I mean, like Philadelphia's own line now just dominant. Zeke was all pro. They got him Amari Cooper, short time after that CD Lamb we eatin'and all of a sudden now you get paid and you get an injury like Brock Purdy's gonna get paid. And he's had a couple injuries, you don't move quite as well. And then all of a sudden you're measured on different stuff. So the other thing to remember. So Brock Purdy entered the league with the best roster just in his division, looking down at everybody. Now the Rams have a better roster. Rams have a better quarterback. Rams have a better coach. Purdy was.02 against the Rams last year. So remember how Sean McVay got tired of losing to Kyle Shanahan and moved off golf? Let me tell you something. If Brock Purdy gets a new deal the next two years can't beat McVeigh. That's going to piss Shanahan off. Whole world changes now. When you get paid, expectations go up. McVeigh loved golf and then he couldn't beat his rival. He was winning a lot of games. He got you to a Super bowl he couldn't beat. The Niners ticked him up. Never forget, McVeigh and Shanahan maybe buddies. They are intense rivals. And now McVay's got the better roster, the better quarterback. He won both games last year. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app.

[J. Mac]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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 Keep 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. This is Jonas Knox from 2 Pros and a cup of Joe and today's podcast is brought to you by Ferguson Home. Whether you're a homeowner working on a remodel or a pro managing multiple projects, Ferguson Home is where great ideas become stunning spaces. It's designed for the way you want to shop. Explore the best selection of kitchen, bath and lighting products online, or visit a local Ferguson Home showroom and get one on one support from an expert consultant. Go to FergusonHome.com to shop the latest styles from top brands like Kohler or find a showroom location near you.

[Larison Campbell]

There's a type of soil in Mississippi called Yazoo Clay. It's thick, burnt orange and it's got a reputation.

[Colin Cowherd]

It's terrible, terrible dirt.

[Larison Campbell]

Yazoo clay eats everything, so things that get buried there tend to stay buried until they're not in 2012, construction crews at Mississippi's biggest hospital made a shocking discovery.

[Colin Cowherd]

7,000 bodies out there or more.

[Larison Campbell]

All former patients of the old State asylum. And nobody knew they were there.

[Albert Breer]

It was my family's mystery.

[Larison Campbell]

But in this corner of the south, it's not just the soil that keeps secrets.

[Colin Cowherd]

Nobody talks about it. Nobody has any information.

[Larison Campbell]

When you peel back the layers of Mississippi's Yazoo Clay, nothing's ever as simple as you think.

[Colin Cowherd]

The story is much more complicated and nuanced than that.

[Larison Campbell]

I'm Larison Campbell. Listen to under yazukle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Colin Cowherd]

Mike Caparson's coming around on the old a Brock Purdy narrative. Things are changing. It's like J. Mac. First couple of weeks, made mistakes, nobody cared. Now the Brink truck stopped by. Little tougher grading scale in the old herd update guy. Oh, I saw this. I saw this story. Saw this story. There's a lot of people out there selling this store. NBA is dead. Seven years was 11 years. $76 billion contract. Yeah, I don't think it's dead. I don't think it's going to the emergency room. Owners happy, Players happy. Adam Silver happy. If you sell your house for twice what it's worth, you're happy. Forget what happens. Do it after. So, oh, the Laker Celtics game, it wasn't even a good game in the second half. Scored a seven year ratings high as the NBA playoffs approach. Every sport except the NFL needs certain brands, certain cities to win. Last year, Dodgers, Yankees had a 67% increase. 67% World Series ratings increase. By the way, when the Cubs played in game seven, both those series on Fox, it was the highest. It had 40 million viewers for a baseball game in America, 40 million. So Cubs, Yankees, Dodgers. Baseball, all of a sudden is cool again. In college football, highest natty rating in my adult life. USC, Texas, a, 22 and a half. So the NBA today, L.A. lA Lakers, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, San Francisco love their teams, and their teams are all good. Jeannie Buss said this the other day. She was on a podcast. She said, I had no idea the global impact of luca. So you, you, you put Luca. You put Luca in, you know, Los Angeles from Dallas, you put Jimmy Butler, Miami to the warriors. And, and it's like, whoa. It changes everything. So the Cowboys haven't been to a Super bowl in what, like 30 years? Doesn't matter. Irrelevant. So that's why I've been saying going forward, I, I can't understand ESPN not signing baseball. The Dodgers are great. The Mets are fascinating. Yankees good. Braves, I was good. Cubs just got the best offseason acquisition of the year. Braves, Dodgers, Mets, Phillies. All the big markets, all the big brands are great. Like, what is ESPN doing, like, double down on Bay now? And I'm not a huge baseball guy, right? Like, this is the best time to buy baseball. And the game now is watchable because it lasts 2 hours and 36 minutes, not 3 hours and 11 minutes. So here was on the Julian Edelman podcast, here was Jeannie Buss talking about the LUCA move. Here's Genie Buss. We were not looking to trade Anthony Davis. Dallas contacted us. It was a deal that both sides wanted to make. I didn't anticipate the global impact it would have. I mean, I knew it was going to be a big story in the NBA, but he really is a global superstar. Yeah. So it's. I said this, the NBA, you got to have your players in the right spots. This is baseball. Bryce Harper in baseball sports. Crazy. Philadelphia judge New York. Stacked rosters with the Dodgers and the Mets. Braves Acuna, Cubs make a move. Southern California Padres are stacked. Like in baseball, NBA, you got to have the right brands. I mean, I know you all love Boise State, but the bottom line is it's really good when Michigan and Ohio State and Notre Dame end up keep. You know, I mean, that Michigan, Big Ten's explosion the last couple years is going to pay dividends for years. You want the Big Ten in the SEC and those big brands and Notre Dame to be good. So just over time, there are everybody except the NFL. You need stars in the right places. NBA is going to be fine. You don't have to love the NBA, but I mean, this weekend's a great example. I'm watching Michigan, Michigan State play tough, watch bad offensive teams. I turn on OKC in Denver and it's like superstars and it's like, it's a, it's a, it's a great watch. College basketball is fun, but it's a three week sport. NBA is going to be fine. You got an MVPs battling on another channel, Michigan, Michigan State who are struggling to hit a jumper on the other channel. Don't talk yourself into less athletic, less dynamic athletes. We love March Madness for three weeks. NBA is going to be fine. Doesn't have to be your favorite sport. Just say this out loud. Here's the cities that really love this Sport. New York, L.A. chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Dallas did. Chicago's led the NBA in attendance for four straight years. They have a bad product. If New York, LA, Chicago, Boston, Philly, San Francisco are really into something. I mean I love college football. Nobody in Philadelphia, San Francisco, New York, Boston, nobody cares. They don't care about it. I do. Rocket Mortgage helps you use your rent payments to get closer to home ownership with something called Rent Rewards. You can save $5,000 off the cost of your home just by paying rent. Go to Rocket.com Yes, Rocket Mortgage LLC license in all 50 states. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific. Hey, it's 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, 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 Covinoenrich 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 Kobe, Known Rich wherever you get your podcast. And of course on Social Media. That's Covino and Rich.

[J. Mac]

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[Colin Cowherd]

This is so good.

[J. Mac]

And to finish strong, the freshest sushi spot with up to $100 back annually on eligible purchases at US resi restaurants. What a day. That's the powerful backing of American Express. Terms apply. Cap applies. Learn more@american express.com With Amex, you can.

[Colin Cowherd]

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.

[Larison Campbell]

There's a type of soil in Mississippi called Yazoo clay. It's thick, burnt orange and. And it's got a reputation.

[Colin Cowherd]

It's terrible, terrible dirt.

[Larison Campbell]

Yazoo clay eats everything, so things that get buried there tend to stay buried until they're not. In 2012, construction crews at Mississippi's biggest hospital made a shocking discovery.

[Colin Cowherd]

7,000 bodies out there or more, all.

[Larison Campbell]

Former patients of the old state asylum. And nobody knew they were there.

[Albert Breer]

It was my family's mystery.

[Larison Campbell]

But in this corner of the south, it's not just the soil that keeps secrets.

[Colin Cowherd]

Nobody talks about it. Nobody has any information.

[Larison Campbell]

When you peel back the layers of Mississippi's Yazoo clay, nothing's ever as simple as you think.

[Colin Cowherd]

The story is much more complicated and nuanced than that.

[Larison Campbell]

I'm Larison Campbell. Listen to Under Yazu Clay on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast or or wherever you get your podcast.

[Jeremy Hobson]

We live in a divided country. I am a lifelong Republican with all kinds of different people.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know, I'm a mother, I'm a grandmother.

[Jeremy Hobson]

That's why we started the Middle with Jeremy Hobson. It's about bringing voices not from the extremes, but from the vast middle into the national conversation.

[Albert Breer]

Anna, I'm calling from Las Vegas.

[Jeremy Hobson]

Each week we bring together an all star panel. Mark Cuban, so great to have you on the Middle.

[Colin Cowherd]

Thanks for having me.

[Albert Breer]

Jeremy.

[Jeremy Hobson]

Neil Degrasse Tyson, welcome to the Middle.

[Colin Cowherd]

Thanks for having me.

[Jeremy Hobson]

And hear from ordinary Americans from all over the country on the most important issues.

[Albert Breer]

Hi, my name is Venkat. I'm calling you from Atlanta, Georgia.

[Jeremy Hobson]

And when you subscribe to the Middle, you also get an episode each week called One Thing Trump did that focuses on just one item from the avalanche of news.

[Colin Cowherd]

We should be examining what our government spends its money on and are these jobs necessary and what are we doing here? But that doesn't seem to be what we're doing in this situation.

[Jeremy Hobson]

Listen to the Middle with Jeremy Hobson on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right, welcome back. Apparently, Rams picked up Devonte Adams, which we thought was one of those seamless moves that'll work. Demarcus Robinson, the receiver, went to San Francisco yesterday. Cooper Cup's gonna get released here pretty quick. Let's go to Albert Brear joining us live. Cooper Cups, is there a spot? I actually think the Chargers would be interesting. What do you make of Cooper Cup? Where would he go?

[Albert Breer]

Yeah, I mean, I think there are teams out there that are contenders. That would make some sense. What are the. What about the Lions, you know, where he could have a complimentary role with Amon Ross, St. Brown and Jameson Williams there. Obviously he's got the background with Jared Goff from all their years together in Los Angeles. There are some contenders out there. And then, I think, you know, like, maybe where the bigger money would be might be in a place where he could help lay a foundation. And, you know, one place like that would be Jacksonville with Liam Cohen there. He can make a difference for Brian Thomas Jr. Coming off of his rookie year. And really, I think he'd know the expectations of Liam Cohen. He'd know the system. You know, he kind of helped be a torchbearer in a place like that. So I think he's going to have some options out there. Colin, you're just going to have to be comfortable with A, that he's, you know, probably not quite what he was a couple of years ago, and B, you might be dealing with a guy you only get for 10 or 12 games because that's really what he's been the last three years.

[Colin Cowherd]

By the way, the Niners making some fairly seismic moves. They wanted to keep Hunga and Greenlaw. Those are excellent players. Banged up a lot, but excellent, instinctive players. And some of it's just clearing space for Brock Purdy. So they've got some space. But they also released a leak a couple days ago. Like our negotiations are going to Be different now. Which, by the way, is what the Rams have done. They just set a ceiling and said, stafford, this is what you're making. We're not moving off it. You know, signing both Iuk and Debo always felt a little much. The Brock purdy thing. I'm just 44 million. I mean, this stuff matters when you're talking about a guy who I view is sort of a good player, but he needs players around him to excel.

[Albert Breer]

Yeah. And I think that's why this is going to take a little while, you know. And if you look at the last few years with the Niners, they have let some negotiations drag into the summer. Three years ago was Deebo, two years ago as Nick Bosa, last year with Brandon Iuk. So, you know, we've seen these things, you know, drag and we've seen the Niners have some trouble negotiating table that could happen with this one. This is a complicated negotiation. I don't think he'll hold out the way a couple of those other guys did, but I don't think this one's going to be easy either. I think the Niners are kind of where the Rams were two years ago, where the Bills were last year. Both Those teams carried $75 million in DEB dead money into a season and in an attempt to kind of clean their cap out and try to have some more balance going forward and kind of it wasn't going back to square one, but reset their program. I think that's really where the Niners are right now and, and look like, you know, it's tough, you know, because it's, you know, the way that they built and doing it through the draft. They found George Kittle in the fifth round. They found Fred Warner in the fourth round. They found Brock Purdy in the seventh round. Debo Samuel was a second rounder. So it's not easy to, to, to, to do that again. But they have shown the ability to draft and develop over the years, and that's what they're going to have to be good at as they sort of move off of the core that got them to two Super Bowls. You know, I, I again, like, I think a lot of times when you go into these situations, that fan base can panic and look like, well, we're letting go of this guy and we're letting go of that guy, and this is going to be a year where we're completely ripping the band aid off and tanking. That doesn't have to be what it is, you know, Again, the Bills did it last year. And they were able to make the playoffs with $75 million in dead money. The year before that, the Rams did it, made the playoffs with $75 million in dead money. So I wouldn't rule out the Niners team. That's been really good over the last few years, and with, you know, a head coach and a general manager who really know what they're doing, being able to draft and develop their way out of this.

[Colin Cowherd]

So I think the Bears, I. Two of my favorite moves were Joe Tooney and Drew Dahlman. For a young quarterback, I love those. Not sexy, but I love them. And J. Mac, there's a rumor out today that Gen T, the running back from Boise State, is going to go to Chicago. Now, J. Mac says they want to leak that because they know Genty. There's three or four teams that want him and they want teams moving up. So I got, you know, Clouseau over here, Inspector Clouseau. My take is, I don't know, I think they want another edge rusher. I. I don't know. I kind of like, I think there's a defensive need for them more than a running back need. What do you, what do you make of the Bears offseason and the Genti rumor?

[Albert Breer]

Well, they just spent almost $20 million a year on Daio Oda Yingbo. I got to still get the pronunciation of his name right. The address from the Colts to play opposite Montez Sweat. They've invested in Javon Kinlaw at defensive tackle and then like you said, on the offensive line, adding Joe Tuney and, and Drew Dahlman and Jonah Jackson from the Rams. Also, they've sort of reimagined what they are up front on both sides of the ball. And that mirrors what Ben Johnson was a part of in Detroit. If you look at the foundation of the teams in Detroit, they spent money, they spent draft capital on lineman Penne Sewell was their first draft pick. They, the next year, they spent the second overall pick on Aidan Hutchinson. There were other guys they got later in the draft, like Elaine McNeil, been foundation pieces. They obviously inherited Frank Ragnow and Taylor Decker there. And, you know, I, I think if you look at, you know, what, what Ben Johnson would want to build in Chicago would be similar. And so you're seeing that investment on the lines. If you want to bring Astro Genti into the conversation. Okay, here's the way I look at that one. There are people out there, and we've heard Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter, in some order, are the number one and number two guys in this year's draft class. Right. I've heard some people put Ashton Genty in that territory too. Now you don't value him the same way you would a two way player who could play receiver and corner two premium positions or an edge rusher. Right. Like so the positional value isn't there. But if you view Ashton, Jenny, that Genti that way, where he's in that class of player. Wasn't there a team recently that surprised everybody by taking a running back in the first round and got a really big payoff? Right? Yeah, that was Jameer Gibbs with the Lions.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Albert Breer]

So that's, you know, part of Ben Johnson's past as well. So it's interesting. It's another way of investing in your young quarterback where you can take some of the pressure off of him by having a really productive running game. Yeah, the running backs who get drafted high and have been productive players after being drafted high. Saquon Barkley, Ezekiel Elliott, you know, obviously like. Yeah, well, no, a couple of years ago with both, with both Bijan Robinson and Jameer Gibbs, those guys bring value in the pass game too, you know, and Ashton Genti can do that as well. So I mean, it wouldn't floor me if, if they took a running back in the first round because of Ben Johnson's past and because of what it could mean for Caleb Williams.

[Colin Cowherd]

So it's interesting. Denver and Sean Payton made a couple interesting moves. Hofunga's been hurt a lot. Same with Greenlaw. Good players, insanely instinctive smart guys. And my take was Sean Payton thought, listen, I got to 25 points a game last year with Bo Nix as a rookie. If I can squeeze a little more juice out of him, 26 and a half, 27 in a game. If you look at the games that they scored like 25 or more last year they went 9 1. And I can see Peyton saying, I'll squeeze the offense, I'll squeeze the juice out of the offense. I got to get our defense, which got kind of tired at the end of the year because a lot of people look at those moves and say they're risky. But I think Bo Nix was actually better than Sean fought as a rookie at quarterback. What say you?

[Albert Breer]

Yeah, this is a, this is another one where you can look at a guy's past like Sean Payton over the years. They didn't pay skill position players really until the very end when they had both Michael Thomas and Alvin Camara on big contracts. Remember, they paid Jimmy Graham. They wound up trading him a year after they, they Paid him. I mean, if you want to go way back, Marcus Colson, but you can't find a ton of skill players they paid in New Orleans. They paid the quarterback, they paid the offensive lineman, they paid the defense. And so I think this does reflect the way that they built in New Orleans. And I think it's Sean Payton's belief that he can make it work with younger players or lesser players at the skill positions because of what he's able to do schematically. And so I think this is really Sean Payton looking and saying, we had the number one defense in the NFL last year. We have Patrick certain, we have a couple of young edge rushers that are still on their rookie deals are coming off, just coming off their rookie deals and Nick Bonito and Jonathan Cooper, and we can take the defense to the next level. We've got a chance here to take a really good defense and make it a great defense by adding guys like Drake, Greenlawn and Hufanga right down the middle. And so, you know, I look at it as Sean Payton's belief in himself that, hey, I can find a joker, as he calls it. I can find a receiver in the draft. They did it last year with the two rookies they drafted, Vale and Franklin. I can find those guys in the draft that I can develop and I can fit to my offense. Let's go spend everywhere else and I'll make it work schematically because of what I bring to the table. Exactly what he did in New Orleans and I think it's what he's going to try to do again in Denver this year.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's good stuff. The. I will tell you, there's. There's one team they lost, Joe Tuney, they're going to go with a backup niner tackle at left tackle. I don't know. I watched, I watched this offense struggle last year, get pushed around by a couple of team. Raiders gave him fits up front. Kansas City goes into this season. I don't love the O line. It's hard to be a great team. Albert with a mediocre below average O line, is it not?

[Albert Breer]

Yeah. And you know, they were going to take a swing on Ronnie Stanley, too. And I think their number was going to be right around where Baltimore's number was for Ronnie Stanley. And. And obviously Baltimore is able to take him off the market two days before free agency starts. So that was their plan, was to invest in one of the best left tackles in football. Doesn't work out for them. So they have to go to plan B, which is really projecting a guy. You know, like they look at Jalen Moore and they see some talent there. He obviously had limited snaps. It was those really came when Trent Williams was hurt. But they saw a guy like, okay, we'll bring him in. We got a two year deal, $30 million. It's not crazy money. And we'll project him to be a little bit more than he was in San Francisco. Will it work out? We'll see. I don't think it's the only dart they're going to throw at that position. I don't know how much longer Juwan Taylor is going to be there at right tackle. Like this might be his last year there. So I still think that they're going to spend significant draft capital on the tackle position and try to get that right. I mean I, I, you've seen they've done it over the last few years. Wanna Morris was a young guy that they tried to bring along. Kingsley Sue Mattia is moving inside the left guard now. You know, really for the Chiefs this is going to be about throwing a bunch of darts at the position and trying to get it right. And again I don't think they're done throwing those darts. Wanya Morris will be in that mix now, you know, now they bring in Jalen Moore like you said from San Francisco to be in that mix and I think they'll probably draft another tackle somewhere in the top hundred picks or so.

[Colin Cowherd]

Finally, it's inevitable. An Aaron Rodgers question. I mean I don't love this the Steelers.

[Albert Breer]

I don't know if anybody knows exactly what he's going to do. To be honest with you, I think only Aaron knows.

[Colin Cowherd]

I mean is that where we, is that where we're at? I mean seriously.

[Albert Breer]

Yeah, so I mean I think to so just having talked to some people who know him and you know, who understand the experiences that he's had and everything else. Here's how I would compare the two opportunities that he's got. Right? So you have the one opportunity in Pittsburgh where you're really asking him to be the finishing piece and he's coming in and he'd be coming in and playing with some guys that really are his peers. Right? Like so T.J. watt, Minka, Fitzpatrick, those guys are going to be operating with the same level of urgency that he's operating with. They've got a young offensive line that I think's got a chance to be really good. They're bringing in DK Metcalf. That's another win. Now move. So you look at it It's a team that's been good for a long time, just hasn't been great in a while. Right. So what are you asking him to do? You're asking him to come in and be the last piece. I think if he goes to the Giants, you're asking him to be the difference maker. Now, they could be really good. They've got Brian Burns, they've got Cave on Thibodeau, they've got Dexter Lawrence, they brought in a couple of young guys to play in their secondary. Paulson Adibo, I think, has a chance to be a really good player for Malik. Neighbors on offense, bringing back, you know, Andrew Thomas at left tackle. Tyrone Tracy has potential at running back. But isn't that sort of what he just did with the Jets? Right, like where the jets were asking him to be the difference maker with a younger team and that didn't really work. Pittsburgh is asking for something different. Pittsburgh saying, look, we just need somebody to put us over the top of the position. So I do wonder if that's going to be a factor in his decision making. Again, only he knows and he's very private about these things. And I don't know what the timeline is. It could happen in 10 minutes, it could happen in 10 days. But, you know, I do think, you know, we're all a product of our own experiences. And I, and I look at this like Pittsburgh offers him as something that's a little bit different than than what he went through with the jets, where I think the Giants would be asking him to do something similar to what the jets were asking him to do a couple of years ago.

[Colin Cowherd]

Albert Brer, Monday morning quarterback on a very fun week. A few other things. Cooper Cups going to get let go by the Rams, so keep your eye on that as always, Albert. Great stuff. Some people just know they could save.

[Jeremy Hobson]

Hundreds on car insurance by checking Allstate first. Like, you know, to check for the nearest bathroom first before the game starts. Now you're heading in the wrong direction.

[Colin Cowherd]

And it sounds like your team's taking the lead.

[Jeremy Hobson]

Checking first is smart, so check Allstate.

[Colin Cowherd]

First for a quote that could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate Savings. Vary subject to terms, conditions and availability.

[Jeremy Hobson]

Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company and Affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois.

[Colin Cowherd]

This is Nikki Glaser from the Nikki Glaser Podcast. On a more serious note, I'm still thinking about that commercial with Tom Brady and Snoop Dogg hating on each other. Because when you listen to the reasons for hating someone or something you realize just how stupid they really are. There is too much hate in this country and it's gotta stop. So join us at iHeart in standing up to it. If you see hate, speak up, call it out and you can learn more by following ot'supwithhate what's up everyone?

[Jeremy Hobson]

It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the King of Spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you, with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. We live in a divided country, and our media couldn't be more polarizing. That's why we started the Middle with Jeremy Hobson. It's about bringing voices not from the extremes, but from the vast middle into the national conversation. Each week, we hear from ordinary Americans from all over the country. And when you subscribe to the Middle, you also get an episode each week called One Thing Trump Did. That focus focuses on just one item from the avalanche of news. Listen to the Middle with Jeremy Hobson on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.