Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – "Best of The Herd" (June 30, 2025)
The "Best of The Herd" episode of "The Herd with Colin Cowherd" offers a comprehensive review of key sports topics, blending insightful analysis with engaging discussions. Hosted by Jason McIntyre alongside Colin Cowherd, the episode delves into NFL team strategies, Team USA's performance in the World Cup, player evaluations, and coaching dynamics. Below is a detailed summary capturing all essential points, notable quotes, and the overall flow of the conversation.
1. NFL Team Spending and Strategic Priorities
a. Pittsburgh Steelers' Defensive Spending
Jason McIntyre opens the discussion by critiquing the Pittsburgh Steelers' ongoing commitment to defensive spending. He expresses frustration with the team's recent acquisition of Jalen Ramsey, highlighting the increased financial burden:
"The Steelers can't help themselves... they're spending seven and a half million dollars more than they were yesterday in the secondary."
[Timestamp: 02:31]
McIntyre points out the irony of Pittsburgh leading the NFL in defensive spending for three consecutive years while struggling to balance their budget, especially with the upcoming $45 million TJ Watt contract:
"By the way, they're number one in defensive spending and they don't have the TJ Watt contract finalized."
[Timestamp: 05:10]
b. Comparison with Other NFL Teams
Contrasting the Steelers, McIntyre lauds teams like the Rams, Eagles, and Chiefs for their strategic focus on offense:
"The Rams and the Eagles have the two cheapest defenses today. And the Chiefs spent the most money in the league on offense."
[Timestamp: 04:05]
He argues that allocating resources to offense is pivotal for sustained success, emphasizing that defensive spending alone doesn't guarantee victories:
"It's almost as if the Steelers, trying to solve their offensive issues, looked at last year's Jets and decided to double down on defense instead of addressing their own weaknesses."
[Timestamp: 03:50]
2. Team USA's Performance in the World Cup
a. Goalkeeper Matt Freese's Impact
Shifting focus to soccer, McIntyre praises the recent performance of Team USA's goalkeeper, Matt Freese, particularly during the shootout against Costa Rica:
"Matt Freese in the shootout three different times made a save. That is remarkable."
[Timestamp: 11:28]
He underscores the critical role of execution in penalty kicks, aligning it with the demands of the World Cup:
"They're all about execution and that's what wins in the World Cup."
[Timestamp: 12:25]
b. Team Composition and Future Prospects
McIntyre discusses the team's progression, noting the contributions of players like Tyler Adams, Malik Tillman, Alex Freeman, and Damian Downs:
"Tip of the cap to Tyler Adams and Malik Tillman and Alex Freeman and Damian Downs. But we did not have a goalie."
[Timestamp: 12:25]
He remains optimistic about Team USA's chances, projecting a potential finals matchup with Mexico:
"We're looking at a USA Mexico final, which would be incredible, obviously, for the country."
[Timestamp: 14:16]
3. Player Evaluations and Impact
a. LeBron James' Continued Dominance
McIntyre reflects on Colin Cowherd's earlier predictions about LeBron James, affirming that LeBron remains a powerhouse in basketball:
"LeBron's not retiring. He's too good. He plays joyfully. Los Angeles is good for him. He's got Luka Doncic. Yes, he'll opt in. Yes, he's going to play. It's nonsense. And we were right."
[Timestamp: 18:29]
b. Aaron Judge as a Franchise Cornerstone
The conversation shifts to baseball, highlighting Aaron Judge's indispensable role for the Yankees:
"Aaron Judge is absolutely one. Yesterday two homers, four RBIs... He's the centerpiece as good as Ohtani is if he takes a day off."
[Timestamp: 22:30]
McIntyre emphasizes Judge's significance by comparing his influence to major stars, noting his impact on ticket sales and merchandise:
"She's getting the most votes in the All-Star Game. She's driving half of the league's television ratings."
[Timestamp: 19:33]
c. Austin Reaves' Decline with the Lakers
Addressing concerns in basketball, McIntyre critiques Austin Reaves' declining performance, questioning the rationale behind his hefty $90 million contract extension:
"Why? His representation believes open market for the Lakers in a year he's going to get closer to 150 million. I'd trade him tomorrow for Derrick White."
[Timestamp: 23:05]
He labels Reaves as a "good B player" but not dynamic enough to justify his current valuation:
"He's a good shooter, not elite but I'm wrong because apparently often in his reps cna player."
[Timestamp: 23:37]
4. Coaching Dynamics and Team Culture
a. Sean Payton's Coaching Excellence
McIntyre praises Sean Payton's coaching acumen, ranking him as the number one coach in the NFL:
"Number two coaching in the NFL by PFF Andy Reid number one."
[Timestamp: 21:43]
He highlights Payton's ability to transform teams, citing Andy Reid's success despite offensive line challenges:
"He inherited a horrible culture, a mess at quarterback, dead cat money and in a division with Andy Reid and Jim Harbaugh took a rookie quarterback to the playoffs."
[Timestamp: 21:47]
b. Critique of Mike McDaniel's Tenure with Miami
The discussion turns critical of Mike McDaniel's leadership with the Miami Dolphins, questioning his effectiveness in building a strong team culture:
"It's got a Pro Bowl quarterback. They've gone backwards for three years."
[Timestamp: 26:05]
McIntyre argues that despite McDaniel's strategic mind, the team's consistent underperformance signals deeper issues:
"It's the numbers. 02 in the playoffs."
[Timestamp: 46:34]
c. Comparison Between Coaches
Comparing coaches, McIntyre advocates for Dan Campbell over Mike McDaniel, praising Campbell's ability to foster a robust team culture despite Detroit Lions' defensive challenges:
"Dan Campbell. He can build a culture. Their culture is one of the best in the NFL."
[Timestamp: 45:09]
He contrasts this with Miami's struggles, attributing their decline to ineffective coaching strategies:
"They went nine and eight playoffs, 11 and six playoffs. Lost to the Chiefs. It was like a second-round pick."
[Timestamp: 43:53]
5. Strategic Moves and Team Management
a. Jalen Ramsey's Move to the Steelers
McIntyre analyzes the Steelers' acquisition of Jalen Ramsey, questioning the strategic value given Ramsey's history of inconsistency:
"Jalen Ramsey, two things. He's a very, very loose player... he's going into an organization that remember last week James Harrison last week saying the best part about Mike Tomlin, he's a players coach."
[Timestamp: 32:24]
He draws parallels with other players like Randy Moss, suggesting that Ramsey's performance is highly influenced by his team environment:
"Jalen Ramsey, much more a reflection of the environment. So he goes to an organization that remember last week, remember James Harrison last week saying the best part about Mike Tomlin, he's a players coach."
[Timestamp: 32:30]
b. Caleb Williams' Quarterback Performance
The conversation shifts to college football, focusing on Caleb Williams' need to minimize sacks to stabilize his performance:
"Caleb Williams, it was such a mess last year, just cut the sacks in half. I don't care about anything else."
[Timestamp: 27:54]
Cowherd emphasizes the importance of fundamental quarterback skills over flashy plays:
"Sacks are an absolute killer. I thought if, you know, if we were assigning blame to what. Why so many sacks Last year in Chicago, the majority of the sacks were not the fault of the offensive line."
[Timestamp: 30:00]
6. Final Thoughts and Live Segment
As the episode nears its conclusion, the hosts recap Colin Cowherd's accurate and inaccurate predictions made over recent weeks:
"Where Colin was right, LeBron. Where Colin was wrong, Matt Freese. Caitlin Clark isn't just the best young player in the WNBA."
[Timestamp: 18:29 - 28:36]
Finally, Matt Hasselbeck joins the show live from Nantucket, adding an interactive element to the episode:
"Matt Hasselbeck is joining us live. Okay, so I want to get into the Caleb Williams thing before I get into the Jalen Ramsey thing..."
[Timestamp: 38:21]
Notable Quotes:
-
"Sacks are an absolute killer. I thought if, you know, if we were assigning blame to what. Why so many sacks Last year in Chicago, the majority of the sacks were not the fault of the offensive line."
— Jason McIntyre [30:00] -
"They've got to go on the road and play somewhere like Buffalo or New England. That'll be the test for them this year."
— Colin Cowherd [34:45] -
"Dan Campbell. He can build a culture. Their culture is one of the best in the NFL."
— Jason McIntyre [45:09]
Conclusion:
The "Best of The Herd" episode delivers a thorough exploration of current sports dynamics, particularly focusing on strategic spending in the NFL, the critical role of execution in soccer's high-stakes moments, and the intricate balance between coaching expertise and team culture. Jason McIntyre's candid analysis paired with Colin Cowherd's insights provides listeners with a nuanced understanding of the sports landscape as of mid-2025.
For those who haven't tuned in, this episode offers valuable perspectives on team management, player performance, and the ever-evolving strategies that define success in professional sports.