Best of The Herd

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Best of The Herd Release Date: March 18, 2025

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Introduction

In the "Best of The Herd" episode released on March 18, 2025, host Colin Cowherd delves into a diverse array of sports topics, ranging from Major League Baseball (MLB) to the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Football League (NFL). Joined by co-host J. Mac, the discussion offers insightful analyses, heated debates, and expert opinions on current events shaping the sports landscape.

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Major League Baseball: The Dodgers and Shohei Ohtani's Impact

The episode kicks off with a comprehensive analysis of the Los Angeles Dodgers' recent performance, particularly focusing on pitcher Shohei Ohtani's transformative influence on the team and the sport.

• Ohtani's Leadership and Performance

  Colin highlights Ohtani's consistent excellence and magnetic presence on the field:

  "The minute the Cubs went to the bullpen. Nah, it's not going to work. [Ohtani] is a magnetism, transformational. [He] reminds me of when Tiger started taking over golf..." (02:15)

• Team Dynamics and Future Prospects

  Discussing the Dodgers' strategy, Colin emphasizes the difficulty opponents face in pitching around Ohtani and the team's depth even without key players like Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman:

  "It's going to be a tough team to face because you're talking about five potential batters that could be Hall of Famers and Ohtani at bats." (04:10)

• Cultural Impact

  The conversation extends to Ohtani's role as a global ambassador for MLB, noting his influence beyond traditional baseball markets:

  "The minute Ohtani parked his car at Dodger Stadium, he was the face of Major League Baseball, Pacific Rim, Los Angeles and beyond." (04:45)

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National Basketball Association: LeBron James and the Warriors' Struggles

Transitioning to the NBA, Colin and J. Mac dissect the Los Angeles Lakers' strategies and the Golden State Warriors' challenges.

• LeBron James' Calculated Approach

  Colin critiques LeBron James' management of his game and fatigue:

  "LeBron's very calculated with everything. He knows when to rest, when to push, balancing his legacy." (06:30)

  J. Mac adds depth to LeBron’s leadership and adaptability:

  "As you age, you understand the value of a nap. He gets a mental reset, a physical reboot. That has always been the value of LeBron." (07:05)

• Warriors' Offensive Decline Without Steph Curry

  Highlighting the Warriors' dependency on Steph Curry, Colin discusses the team's vulnerabilities when Curry is off the floor:

  "If Steph's not on the floor, the oxygen offensively for the Warriors leaves the room." (08:20)

  J. Mac supports this by pointing out the Warriors' upcoming six-game road trip and the resulting fatigue:

  "They have a tired team heading into a six-game road trip. Their offense is struggling without Steph." (09:00)

• Jimmy Butler vs. Draymond Green

  The hosts compare Jimmy Butler's intangibles to Draymond Green's role, noting Butler's impact beyond scoring:

  "Jimmy Butler adds intangibles, toughness, urgency. Draymond is a catalyst, a rebounder, a defender, but without Steph, they're not the same." (09:45)

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National Football League: Free Agency Rankings and Team Analyses

Shifting focus to the NFL, Colin presents a detailed ranking of teams based on their free agency moves, coaching adjustments, and roster strengths.

• Top 10 NFL Teams Post-Free Agency

  Colin meticulously ranks teams from Green Bay Packers at number 10 to the Philadelphia Eagles at number one, evaluating their offseason acquisitions, coaching strategies, and potential for the upcoming season.

  "Green Bay remains the youngest offense in the NFL, but Jordan Love's recent performance raises concerns." (10:12)

  "The Ravens are ranked number two, with Lonnie Stanley and a top-tier offense that shows no signs of regression." (29:50)

• Ravens' Strength and Coaching Excellence

  An in-depth look at the Baltimore Ravens' roster and coaching under John Harbaugh:

  "John Harbaugh truly cares about what players think, adjusting his program based on their input. His relationship with players fosters trust and excellence." (28:15)

• Free Agency Highlights: Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson

  Discussion on quarterback movements and their team impacts:

  "Aaron Rodgers adds a win or two wherever he goes, but he's not changing divisions." (24:33)

  "Russell Wilson could bring significant value to a team lacking a right quarterback." (24:35)

• Team-Specific Insights

  Colin provides unique insights into various teams, including the Chargers’ improvements with Jim Harbaugh and the Rams’ defensive enhancements:

  "The Rams have crushed their defensive line needs, bringing in Devonte Adams and retaining Matt Stafford, strengthening their defense to a top-two level." (43:05)

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Interview Segment: Conversation with J. Mac on NFL Career and Insights

A significant portion of the episode features an engaging interview between Colin Cowherd and J. Mac, delving into J. Mac's professional football career, his experiences, and his perspectives on the sport.

• Career Highlights and Mindset

  J. Mac reflects on his transition to the Ravens and the importance of mindset and fit:

  "I believe that every day when I wake up, it's different. The right fit with John Harbaugh and the Ravens allowed me to take off in my career." (23:04)

• Team Culture and Leadership

  The discussion moves to the Ravens' organizational culture and leadership:

  "John Harbaugh's relationships with players and his adaptability set the Ravens apart. He expects excellence from everyone." (29:10)

• Player Preparation and Rivalries

  J. Mac shares anecdotes about preparing for formidable opponents and maintaining rivalries:

  "Playing against Marshall Yonder was a long day; he was physical and strong. These rivalries fuel our competitive spirit." (39:10)

• Advice for Young Athletes

  Offering wisdom to aspiring football players, J. Mac emphasizes humility and hard work:

  "Listen to what professional players do, put your head down, and work smartly. Those who go the extra mile get ahead." (33:05)

• Diet and Physical Preparation

  The conversation touches on how J. Mac has adapted his diet and training regimen to maintain peak performance:

  "I did a 72-hour water fast to reset my body, followed by a high-protein, low-carb diet during the season to stay light and energized." (36:00)

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Conclusion

The "Best of The Herd" episode offers a rich tapestry of sports discussions, blending tactical analyses with personal anecdotes and professional insights. From the transformative presence of Shohei Ohtani in MLB to the strategic maneuvers in the NFL's free agency, Colin Cowherd and J. Mac provide listeners with a thorough understanding of the current sports dynamics. The episode underscores the importance of leadership, adaptability, and preparation across all sports, making it a must-listen for enthusiasts seeking depth and clarity in their sports commentary.

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Notable Quotes

1. "Ohtani is a magnetism, transformational." – Colin Cowherd (02:15)
2. "If Steph's not on the floor, the oxygen offensively for the Warriors leaves the room." – Colin Cowherd (08:20)
3. "John Harbaugh truly cares about what players think, adjusting his program based on their input." – J. Mac (28:15)
4. "Listen to what professional players do, put your head down, and work smartly." – J. Mac (33:05)
5. "I did a 72-hour water fast to reset my body." – J. Mac (36:00)

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Disclaimer: This summary is based on the provided transcript and aims to encapsulate the key discussions and insights from the episode. For a complete experience, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full podcast on the iHeartRadio app or other available platforms.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

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Find your local station for the [e-mail] or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. This is the Best of the Herd with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio. Here we go on a Tuesday. Live in Los Angeles. It's the herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening or watching. And I was watching at 3:45 in the morning. Fox Sports. You got it baby. J Mac that's why you don't go out partying. You go to bed early so you can watch Dodger baseball. MLB accident three. It started at three. I missed the first 40 minutes but I was locked in after that. J. Mac, I see you got a hair. Haircut for the start of the baseball season. Start of the baseball season, Are you kidding me? That's it. By the way, did Ohtani homer? He had a couple of hits and a couple of runs. Dodgers are really good. Okay, let's just start with this. The Dodgers beat the Cubs. They're obviously not going to go162.0, but 159 and 3 is on the table. This is a really good team. The minute the Cubs went to the bullpen. Nah, it's not going to work. No Mookie bets, no Freddie Freeman. Late scratch, no problem. But watching a Dodger game with Ohtani reminds me of when Tiger started taking over golf. And whenever there was a lull in the action, the director would just say, all right, let's just put it on Tiger. And even walking up the fairway, it was okay to watch him for 90 seconds every fairway. You were watching history. And that's what it feels like with Ohtani. Unfazed, always smiling. Game in Tokyo. Little bit of nerves? Nah. Infectious personality. So he's already got a World Series title. He's already got three MVPs in the bag. And unlike the Angels, he's on a stacked team. So you can't pitch around him. And he's leading off, which will force, yes, people in Los Angeles to show up to Dodger games early. Yamamoto, the starter, got the W for the Dodgers, but he's now in an all time roster. You can't pitch around him. And it's just there's a magnetism, transformational. And again, they didn't have Mookie or Freddie Freeman. This is going to be a tough team to face because if you go to your bullpen and it's not buttoned up, you're talking about five potential batters that could be hall of Famers and Ohtani at bats. And this is what's great for baseball, is that. And we've said this, you know, I grew up in a different time when there were the faces of baseball. It could be Johnny Bench, you know, for a time, you know, it could be Mark Fidrich. It could be a quirky personality. Baseball's been dying for a face of the sport. Now, Aaron Judge is a big deal, but baseball's more regional than national. So you may just be like the face of the league. Hudson river east, if you're Aaron Judge. But I do feel like we talk about NBA is always saying, well, you need a face of the league. And it can't be an international player. The minute Otani parked his car at Dodger Stadium, he was the face of Major League Baseball, Pacific Rim, Los Angeles and beyond. Never forget last year. Dodgers go to Yankee Stadium. All those blue hats, they lead Major League Baseball in road attendance. And being the face of a sport is something you cannot campaign for. Right. Like, it's a little bit like a nickname. You can't give it to yourself. It's got to come naturally. And I'm thinking, oh, boy, he's going to be nervous in this series. This is going to be a lot for him. It wasn't infectious. Unfazed, always smiling, couple hits, couple runs, Dodgers want to know. Got good starting pitching. And here's the skipper after. I don't think I've ever seen Shohei nervous.

[J. Mac]

You know, one thing I did notice.

[Colin Cowherd]

Is how emotional he got during the Japanese national anthem.

[J. Mac]

That was really something.

[Colin Cowherd]

That was very telling how emotional he was. I thought it was a good baseball game. I thought offensively we control the strike zone.

[J. Mac]

Took our watch walks, got some timely hits, played good defense.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. But it really is. We've talked about this a lot about, does the NBA have a face of the league? And I felt forever when I watched Michael Jordan. Jordan was good looking. He was the best dressed. There were the earrings, there was the smile. He had a gait. The way he walked. Michael walked cool. Like he didn't have to ask for it. Like, Michael walked into the room. He was the alpha. And it didn't matter if Barkley, Magic and Bird were in the room. Michael was the alpha around all these great Dodger players. I mean, it's just. Ohtani is different. I mean, it. Language barriers, irrelevant. Doesn't matter at all. The look, the size is so much bigger in person. And even around Major League Baseball players, you can see it. It's totally infectious. Dodgers want to know. Gonna be a lot of W's for this team. They play again tomorrow and It'll be on FS1, actually. So what I'm about to say about LeBron is not necessarily a criticism. It's actually part of sort of his legacy. To me. LeBron's very calculated with everything. His social media posts. So LeBron, remember, they face Boston and they played a good game and for the first half, then in the second half they kind of struggled and LeBron had a, like, a growing tweak. And LeBron's like, see you guys, I'm going to head back to la. I'll see you guys in three weeks. Very calculated. So last night I watched the warriors against the Nuggets. And the Nuggets didn't have Jokic and the Nuggets didn't have Jamal Murray. And the Nuggets completely controlled the game. I mean, they led the whole game at one point by 15, and there was no Jokic and no Jamal Murray. And my take watching is Steph Curry looks really tired. And this is where the Lakers have an advantage over the Warriors. So if, if LeBron's out, Luca and Austin Reaves are both play initiators, they can both drop 30 points. You would not be shocked. Austin's on a heater right now. If Steph takes a night off, I mean, the oxygen offensively for the warriors leaves the room. I love Draymond, I love Jimmy Butler. They don't. They're not offensive, dynamic machines. That's not what they are. What Jimmy Butler adds is all these intangibles and toughness and physicality and urgency. And Draymond is a catalyst and he's a rebounder and a defender. But if Steph's not on the floor, and he was last night, you take him off the floor. I said this before the Jimmy Butler move. The warriors were boring without Steph on the floor. They've got good players. But Kaminga by himself, Jimmy by himself. I mean, you watch Jimmy Butler in Miami just didn't matter. So LeBron is a 40 year old and he understands the value of a nap. So he gets a groin tweak, walks off the floor and he heads to la. He gets treatment every day, you know what I mean? He, he gets rest, he watches his son play high school basketball. He gets a mental reset, a physical reboot. That has always been the value of LeBron. The way LeBron looks at basketball is how can the player I'm going to play with, Chris bosh, could be J.R. smith, Kyrie Irving, it could be A.D. luka, Austin, Reeves. How do they make the game a little easier for me to. So as I age, I have these brief six minute moments where I can take over the game and that's calculated. And that's okay because he still remains one of the top six or seven players in the league. On any night, he's the second or third best player. Some nights he's the best, certainly some halves and quarters he is. But the warriors are different. When Steph sit and it's. If you start looking at the warriors schedule now, they're going on a six game road trip and they are. This is a tired team. And Steve Kerr talked about it after the loss to Denver. He's just been carrying us for, for a month.

[J. Mac]

He's been amazing.

[Colin Cowherd]

He's tired, so we got to get him, we got to get him some rest. I just, you can see it. He doesn't have his, his energy right now, but he's exhausted right now. So we've got to, we've got to absolutely consider giving him a night and getting him rejuvenated for the sake of him, him and our, you know, the remainder of our games. But we'll see. It's not that LeBron isn't valuable, but this roster now, between the size of a Rui and a Jackson Hayes and the offensive initiation of Austin Reeves. Yes, he can do it. And Luca lebron can sit out. Now, the team's not as good. Obviously. They don't communicate as well when LeBron is out. They're not as smart when LeBron's out. He's one of the smartest, greatest communicators, along with Magic Johnson I've ever seen play basketball. But they can score points without LeBron. They can, they can get in the 1 20s. Golden State. Look at that. Six game schedule Roadie coming up. I don't know where their offense is. It's, it's not. And by the way, I like Kaminga, but you can't. It's inconsistent. Love Butler, but he's not a huge scorer, a great shooter. It's not, it's not easy for him. Offense is work for Jimmy Butler. So they got a challenge on their hands because Steph looked tired. No Jokic, no Jamal Murray. And they, they, they just had no fight and no energy as I'm sitting there watching thinking, okay, they'll go on a spurt. They get, they got no spurt in them. They didn't have it. So, J. Mac Adam Wainwright stops by a Kyle Van Noyen studio. Nick Wright tomorrow. I hope you get up early tomorrow with the kids, have breakfast, watch a little MLB action. Listen, I got to get up early Thursday and Friday for the tournament, so it's going to be tough for me to pull a 3am Wake up to watch baseball. I did 3:40 the first couple innings at fourth inning at that point because now they're speeding up. No baseball flies by.

[J. Mac]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

So. But the first 30 minutes a bit blurry. I didn't watch the first inning and a half as a little, you know. Was that after like three pints last night, celebrating St. Patrick's Day? No, that's not how I roll. Oh, really? Not with ensuing MLB action. I'm not out there just partying like dropping big vocabulary words here early. Hey, by the way, so you're Warriors? Yeah. Interesting. They beat up on a bunch of tomato cans and you were gassing them up like they're going to the finals and now they face a YIC list nuggets and lose. You should have been watching Austin Reeves cook last night. Oh my gosh. How good was Austin Reeves? He was good. He was good. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and.

[J. Mac]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[J. Mac]

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[Colin Cowherd]

Affiliates, Northbrook, IL introducing Instagram Teen Accounts A new way to keep your teen safer as they grow. Like making sure they've got the right gear for riding. Knee pads? Check. And helmet. Done. See you dad. New Instagram Teen accounts, automatic protections for who can contact your team and the content they can see. All right, so before I get to Nick Wright, so pff. Came out today with the they ranked all the rosters 1 to 32. I'm not going to do that. But I did take free agency and free agency losses. I considered everything. So we have our coaching moves all set. We have free agency. Outside of Aaron Rodgers again, I think he maybe adds a win to wherever he goes, maybe two wins. But I don't think he's changing. He's not changing divisions. Forget about changing the sport. I just don't think he is. It's not a shot on him. I think Russell Wilson again, could be worth a win to a team that didn't have a right quarterback. But I will tell you what I think based on free agency gains and losses and kind of what teams are going through right now, where we stand with the top 10. I would put Green Bay at 10. They remain the youngest, the youngest offense in the NFL and the youngest roster. They overpaid for Aaron Banks at guard, but it was a position of need. And again, when you have a young quarterback, you've got to protect him. Now, Jordan Love did not play well in the last month of the season, and that is a concern. Plus Chicago's better. Minnesota could be really good. The division is very good. Offensively. I have green bay at 10. Number nine, Denver's going to improve. Good. How. How good was Bo Nicks as a rookie? Well, how. How good do you think he's going to be? Year two with Sean Payton, they got Evan Ingram, which Sean Payton calls their joker position. Like Debo, he can do multiple things. They spent more money on free agency than any playoff team. And again, Bo Nix, an entire off season with Sean Payton. So getting Dre, Greenlaw and Hunga, those are big, instinctive, smart guys who will upgrade the defense. Everybody in the AFC west, including the Raiders, that division's getting really good, really fast. Number eight, the Commanders. Their O line last year was 10. Now they added Laramie Tunzel, a top three pass blocker. Debo Samuel is one of the great moves of free agency, the classic chess piece. So this is a team that could get four to five starters out of the draft. Got two absolute starters in free agency. And again, Jaden Daniels as a rookie was amazing. Another off season to learn Cliff's offense. I have him at 8. Number 7. Really worry about Kansas City. Joe Tuney is one of the more valuable offensive linemen in the league left and they didn't want him to leave. They couldn't afford him. They don't have a left tackle. They paid a lot for Jalen Moore, who's never been a starter. And there's pass rushers all over that division. By the way. They're not going to go 11 and oh in one score games. Raiders are better, Broncos will be better, the Chargers will be better. Listen, it never lasts forever. I think it's going to be a slight pullback here. I still have him as a playoff team. You're not going 11 and 0 in one score games. The division now is simply too good. Number six, the Chargers. I think Najee Harris only player in the league four straight thousand yard seasons behind a bad Steeler O line and a tone deaf culture. Offensively now he goes to Harbaugh. By the way, Harbaugh's second year with the Niners got to the Super Bowl. So think of what Jim Harbaugh turned around in one off season. The worst defense to statistically a top two defense. Now you get another seven. Eight draft picks from a coach who just left college football. Naji Harris, Joe Alt, second year as a starting tackle. I think like Denver, the Chargers make a big jump. I have him at six number five. I worry about the Lions. I like D.J. reed because our past defense has been lousy for years. I like that pickup. They lost both coordinators and they're not going to be as clever without Ben Johnson. They're just not. We saw Philadelphia lose both coordinators a couple years ago and they plummeted. I also think the whole rah rah thing, I think it works early as you're building a culture but now the culture, the rah rah stuff wears down. Are you as good schematically? Because the NFC is getting better fast. I have the Lions at five number four. Listen, they they got an extension for Josh Allen. I also think Joey Bosa and receiver Josh Palmer are upgrades. The extension by the way is fairly team friendly to allow for some flexibility. I thought for much of the year last year they were the best team and I think they've upgraded. I think Joey Bosa is a better version of Von Miller who is expensive and hurt a lot and became kind of a pass rusher. Only I have Buffalo at four number three Ravens rosters ranked number one by pff. They got Lonnie Stanley and again the number one offense last year. I don't see it regressing. This list is not about who's going to win the Super Bowl. It is how do I value your roster and your team right now based on free agency, gains and losses and extensions to your best player? I have the Ravens at three number two. I let the Rams crushed Puna four defensive line that was an area of need and Devonte Adams and retain Matt Stafford and their defense Thanksgiving on was arguably the best in the league. Go ask Sam Darnold sack nine times. So this defense is just getting better every month because they're so young and inexpensive. I put the Rams at 2. Go back to that game in the snow in Philly. They're down to the 15 yard line with a chance to go with two turnovers with a chance to go in for the win. It's a real team heading in the right direction. Number one. Listen, they didn't overpay for Milton Williams. They had some free agent losses but they have drafted so well. Philadelphia is number one again. They are smart enough to know who to pay for and who to let go and I thought all their moves made sense to me. Zach Bond bringing him back the linebacker surprised me a little at that price point. But again I'm going to give Philadelphia the benefit here. It remains the deepest roster with the most dexterity. One more herd. The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the iHeartRadio app search herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. 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'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 Covino and Rich 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 Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcast. And of course on social media. That's Covino and Rich. He has been in the NFL five different teams and yet he's productive with all of them. A. Kyle Van Noy 11 years, a two time Super bowl champ Both for the Patriots. So this is interesting. Let's start with this. Do you watch Kyle? Do you watch free agency?

[J. Mac]

I mean, the first thing I'm going to say is yes, because we saw Jamar Chase and T. Higgins, what they just got right. They're in our division. We have to watch that. I mean, that's amazing that they got those deals done up there. And at the amount that they did, they went all in on offense. So it was pretty crazy for a team to do it. But I'm happy for him. I got to spend some time with Jamar Chase at the Pro bowl and Joe Burrow. Yeah. Two very extraordinary young men in this game that are just going to grow even more. Just two really good dudes at what they do with their craft. And so I'm happy for them to get their money, but not happy when we have to play them twice a year.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, it's interesting because I talked to you a year ago. I think it was before you signed with the Ravens. You ended up 12 and a half sacks. Major first Pro Bowl.

[J. Mac]

Let's go.

[Colin Cowherd]

So it's interesting. That's not the way it usually works as you get older yet you. So I'm gonna say some of this, obviously a lot to you, but some of it had to be fit.

[J. Mac]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Was it?

[J. Mac]

Yeah. I think a little bit is about fit, but I also more think it's about mindset. My mindset's different. I believe that every day when I wake up, it's different. It's kind of our family model with my wife and I, we're just built different. And that's the attitude that I brought into that building. I felt that I was a little disrespected by not getting any offers during that off season. I feel like I perform at a high level my entire career, and then for nobody want to come after me. I was like, man, just because I turned over 30, you're going to say, oh, he's old now he's washed. But then when I got on the football field, it was the right fit. Chuck Smith, Coach Harbaugh. Really, really just kind of let me do my thing. Really put that leadership role on me. And I was able to not think with Mike Mack, and now I don't have to think with Zachary Orr. They do a really good job that put me in positions to succeed, and I've really taken off. I play with a bunch of really good players like Roquan Smith, Kyle Hamilton, Nnamdi Matabike, and then Adafwe Owe and we just do our thing together. And I'm really grateful to be with the group. The core group that they have is something I haven't been around in the league, to be honest. And they're special. Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Tyler Lindenbaum.

[Colin Cowherd]

Did you know Special. Did you know in camp when you guys acquired Derrick Henry? Could you tell in camp, oh, this is going to be a load.

[J. Mac]

I don't know if I want to say that, Colin, but I thought they were going to be really good. I thought the way that they were operating, the way that the offensive coordinator was calling plays during fall camp, you knew it was going to be a work in progress. Right. We saw the first game where people were a little unhappy against Kansas City at the time, but then it, like, took off from there, and we really relied on both of them. And one thing I'll say about that duo is it was the first time, I believe, that they both played with superstars and they elevated each other because they knew they didn't have to do everything. But at the same time, when it was their time to shine, they took it up another level. And so that's something that I watched during the season. It was awesome. The leadership that Derrick Henry brings, the attitude he brings is exceptional. It exudes through the entire building. Everybody likes to be around those two. And Lamar Jackson is the best teammate. He hangs out with everybody he does. He knows everybody's name. He's a joy to be in the locker room. We know you talk very highly of him, and I'm sure he appreciates that you're one of his big cheerleaders in the media, even though he's had, you know, his downs in the playoffs. But I think that's part of his journey. I think that's part of the struggle that he's had just a little bit. I also think it's going to propel him. And the Lamar Jackson that I know that I see every day, it's going to fuel him and get him better and better and better. We haven't even seen. We've seen just a little bit. I think he's got a whole nother level to go.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, I've said this. There's a lot of quarterbacks in the league. There's not a single quarterback that defines the city and the team. Like Lamar, Like, I love Mahomes, but that's as much Andy Reid as anybody.

[J. Mac]

Yeah, you couldn't make that argument.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, yeah, I would. And by the way, I love Josh Allen and Joe Burrow. I honestly feel if I would have picked A culture and a city for Lamar Jackson to play in. It would have been always overlooked, often disrespected, Tough, gritty Baltimore. Yeah, it's just. It's weird. It's like he. And you played with. You've played with great quarterbacks. That. The fact that he knows everybody's name, that's kind of a Brady thing.

[J. Mac]

Yeah, it is. I mean, Tom was the first person that I met when I got traded to New England. Came up to me, shook my hand, and said, my name's Tom Brady. And I wanted to be like, you idiot. I know who you are. Tom's great. He's a great teammate of yours now at Fox, doing a great job speaking at games. I do think Lamar has that. I also think he has a different aura as well, because of the play he has. He has that highlight, real play. So it's. It's a different. You know, he does. Madden plays Tom, you know, he's the pocket passer. You know, rhythm passer, does everything great mentally, all that. Lamar can just show up and play, and that's different. Nobody can do that. Only he can do that. And it's so impressive to watch. They're two complete different players. I'm so grateful that I got to play with both of them because Tommy boy gave me two rings. So I am forever grateful to big bro.

[Colin Cowherd]

So it's funny. So I just love the Ravens so much. Funny story. That. And I never. I don't like calling teams for free tickets.

[J. Mac]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Not my thing. I don't want to owe anybody anything. I got that from my mom. So I called the Ravens, and my daughter was in Baltimore, and I said, oh, God. So I called the Ravens. I said, I'll pay for them. I don't like asking for tickets. They're like, it's fine. And they sat my daughter right next to Joe Burrow's parents.

[J. Mac]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Thank God I'd been nice to Joe Burrow.

[J. Mac]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

But it's such a class organization. What is it about Harbaugh? Yeah, the secret sauce. Like, he's kind of a man's man. Like, when I look at John, it's always like, if you do your job, he will treat you. He just expects you to be a pro.

[J. Mac]

Yep. You know, I want to start with where you just went with the organization. Mr. Bouchotti, amazing owner, One of the best I've been around. Top down, loves football, wants the team to win. But he pours money into the organization. He gives everybody, you know, that A1 treatment. Doesn't matter who you are in the building. He does a phenomenal job. So I do have to commend him for that. And I'm glad you had a great experience with him. But it starts with him and then with John Harbaugh. I just believe for him, what separates him is his relationships to players. He truly cares about what you think and how you see things. And he literally goes up to anybody and will ask and he takes tidbits from everybody and he puts it into his program. He doesn't just focus on, you know, his way or the highway. He adjusts. That's why he's lasted so long. It's an adapt or die mentality. If you stay the same for so long, you're not going to improve, you're not going to get better, you're not going to keep this excellence. That's what I see. The difference between him is that mentality to always get better each and every year and the trust that he has with his players and the relationship. He's a relationship guy. He's a tough guy. He likes to get after it in the weight room himself. Every Single day at 5:00 he's in that weight room. And that's the kind of attitude he has without the same day. And he has that standard for everybody, that standard of excellence.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know, we're going into an NFL draft and one of the things about football, Matt Slater's a guy. You played with the New England. Yeah, like 19 years or something in the NFL. So much of what you bring when I listen to you talk is about professionalism. Okay. And if you could sit down with young football players and just say, listen, I'm going to give you two things about pro football. Okay? You didn't go to a football factory, though. BYU is a great school. It's a really good program.

[J. Mac]

It is.

[Colin Cowherd]

And they've done a great job through the years of getting players ready for pro football. And again, a school that has a great.

[J. Mac]

I mean, we got good ones. Puka. We got Fred Warner.

[Colin Cowherd]

Oh, I know. It's always delivered. NFL quality, guys. Good program. With amex, there's always a new experience to explore. From curating the perfect vacation and chilling in the same Centurion lounge before you get there trying out that new trendy restaurant. Thanks to Priority Notify with global dining access by Resy and getting straight to the action at the big game. With card member entrances at select venues with AMEX Platinum, you can experience it all. That's the powerful backing of American Express. Terms apply. Access to the card member entrance not limited to the American Express Platinum card. Learn more@american express.com With Amex, 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 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. Cart has no cash access and expires in six months. Some people just know they could save 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 and it sounds like your team's taking the lead. Checking first is smart, so check Allstate first for a quote that could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate. Savings vary, subject to terms, conditions and availability. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois. Introducing Instagram teen accounts. A new way to keep your teen safer as they grow. Like making sure they always have their seatbelt on. All right, sweetie pie, buckle up. Good job. Or ring the bell on their bike. Okay, kid, give it a try. Nice. Or remember their elbow pads. Knees too. Okay. Yep, There you go. New Instagram teen accounts. Automatic protections for who can contact your teen and the content they can see. What would you tell a young guy? I'm a linebacker. I'm from Texas A and M4 star. What would be the two things you'd say? Okay, young man, here's the difference with pro football.

[J. Mac]

Oh, man, listen, you don't know everything. And two, put your head down and work. And I'm. I mean, work smart and hard. Those are the two things I would say. I would say, Listen, tell your OGs. Listen to what's happening around, scope it out and work hard. Put your head down and work. And work smartly. And you put those two together, I think you'll be really successful. I think too many guys come in with the mindset. They know it all, which some of them do know a lot. But I think there are some players that have played a really long time. There's coaches that have coached a really long time. So you should listen. You should listen to the players. You should see how professional players this guy works, this guy, how he handles his business. And then the smart work of you've already put in the Work to get here, Continue to do that. But add stuff to that. That's where that smart comes in. Add this to your game. Okay, that guy's doing a little extra work. I'm going to put that into my game. That guy's on the jugs a little bit more. I'm going to put that, that, that in my game. Something that Julian Edelman did was he paid a equipment guy at our facility in New England and he would pay him every year to shoot extra jugs at him. And he would catch so many balls each and every day. I know Zay Flowers does the same thing in Baltimore. So there's different nuggets that you can see if you just watch. Something I picked up when I was a professional as a rookie was Calvin Johnson an amazing superstar receiver. He did conditioning in the morning, and so my ass did conditioning in the morning. Him, him, Coach Caldwell, myself, I just watched. I didn't do, I didn't play as much as I did, but I knew that once I did with the preparation that I had, learning from Calvin Johnson, learning from Rashid Mathis, the study he did, the Glover Quinns, asking all the questions that he did over the years, I knew when I was going to get my shot, I knew I was going to be ready. And I think just being able to listen, just being able to put that head down and work and work smartly helped me become the professional that I am today.

[Colin Cowherd]

As you get older again, you're a Pro Bowler. 12 and a half sacks, let's say it's November, you're in week 10, 11, you're banged up, you have a little bit of a semi high ankle sprain.

[J. Mac]

You have a bye week. Or I already had it.

[Colin Cowherd]

Nope, already had it. Okay.

[J. Mac]

Bummer.

[Colin Cowherd]

And you're, you can play, but you're dinged up. Have you found your diet has changed since your rookie year?

[J. Mac]

Oh, yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Let's talk about that. So what do you do? Let's talk in season because we all know by Thanksgiving everybody's beat up.

[J. Mac]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

It's not like just, I'm a little tired. It's. I hurt in multiple places.

[J. Mac]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

How has it changed your diet and prep?

[J. Mac]

That's a really good question. I think it's funny. I even change it in the off season. For example, I heard you being a big health guy earlier. Magnesium. That's awesome for you. Something I just did was a 72 hour water fast. I didn't eat for 72 hours. I just did straight water just to get my system flushed out and just feel Good. And it was hard for the first two days. And then that third day was like clarity. It was like spiritual experience. It was amazing. But it was just a reset on my body just to get all the gunk that I had. I went to a family vacation in Maui. I ate very good, but I wanted to reset to get ready for this season. And I literally start from the ground up, just like I did with my body. I work with my feet and go all the way up to my head. And I do the same thing with my diet. I start from the ground of doing this 72 hour water fast. And then it's like, okay, we're on this eating healthy path. And it's a lot of meat and vegetables. That's basically it. I don't like to do carbs until the day of the game because that helps you fuel you. But I really stay away from carbs during the season to feel good, feel light. And then during, before the game, I'll put on a couple extra pounds to get, get it going.

[Colin Cowherd]

Is there a team in the league that you just can't hide your disdain form? Like, you just.

[J. Mac]

Oh, they know it. They. Those teams know it. They know the Buffalo Bills, they know I played them all those years. Dion Dawkins, Josh Allen, they. They know you.

[Colin Cowherd]

You play them angry.

[J. Mac]

Yeah. I mean, Patrick Mahomes, he knows him. And Travis Kelce. And then recently it's been the Steelers. And I don't think it's more so the Steelers players. They're relatively good, a couple of them. But it's been more the coaches. Like, it's stuff on the sideline that no one gets to see that the Mike Dubs haven't picked up the coaches.

[Colin Cowherd]

Trash talking.

[J. Mac]

Yeah, Especially like it's a competitive game. Right. And I love trash talking. But it's all those games have been close. It hasn't been like we've beat, we've whipped you or you know, the games are always close. Yeah. The new phrase is people say belt to ass. Like that's kind of the new phrase. But that's when someone gets really beat. Right. And for us, like they've been in competitive games, I feel like it hasn't been Tomlin. It's been the other coaches around have been kind of talking a little trash. And so the disdains. Getting back with that Pittsburgh Ravens rivalry, I feel like it wasn't there when I first got to the Ravens. It's been mostly the Cincinnati Bengals in us. And I feel like it's going back to that Raven Steelers rivalry. That we've been so accustomed to.

[Colin Cowherd]

Who is. And it could be one of your teammates in all the years in the NFL, could be Logan Mankins. I don't know what is there an offensive lineman that's coming around the corner? And you know, it is. It is two hours in the gym. Like somebody that you have so much respect for. Even the night before you're like on that trap play.

[J. Mac]

Yeah. It's funny you say this. It's actually a member of the soon to be hall of Fame. Should be from the Ravens and ring of honor for the Ravens. Marshall Yonder. Marshall Yonder.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[J. Mac]

Me and Hightower would talk about them because back when we were playing in New New England, we played open B gaps, which means there's. You get an end and then you get a. No traditional nose guard and then there's an open B gap, which is the guard, and then it's you. So it's one on one with Marshall Yonder. It's about. You're about to have a long day with him. That was somebody that I always respected.

[Colin Cowherd]

Hands, physicality.

[J. Mac]

Yeah, he was physical and strong and he wasn't afraid of nobody. Like, you had to come. You had to bring it every play. And playing against him. And Osi when he was with the Raiders with Gabe Jackson when they had an older Marshawn Lynch. Yeah. Os, who also played for the Ravens, he was so strong. Oh, just mean. You had to like tell him, hey, you're playing great this season, you know? Yeah. You're playing so good. You know, just take it easy on this play.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's when you respect the guy.

[J. Mac]

Yeah. Those two, those two players I had a lot of respect for. And then Zach Martin played him in. It wasn't a physical standpoint that you were, you were like, it's going to be a long day. But it was more of, he's a great football player. He's going to be ready to go. He knows what he's doing and he's fast and he's strong and he's not overpowering you. He's just quick. He's kind of technician, just like Jason Kelsey was, just like Alex Mack was. I remember getting ready for him for the super bowl Back in 2016 in New England and how fast he was able to climb up on the backers to run and like cut him off on his cut blocks. Those guys, not necessarily like a little brute force, but those guys, technician wise, those three were really, really good at their craft.

[Colin Cowherd]

By the way, it should be noted that the two most physical Guys you mentioned played for the Ravens.

[J. Mac]

Yes, they did.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's always been their culture.

[J. Mac]

Yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

Harbaughs love tough guys.

[J. Mac]

Yes. Yeah, he does. And that guy, that's the toughness guy for us. The two guys that I that jump off is Travis Jones and Namdi Matabike. Those two are a force in the interior D line. They're up and coming. Their ability, their. Their arrow is pointing very, very up of both their careers.

[Colin Cowherd]

What a pleasure to see you again, man.

[J. Mac]

Yeah, thanks for having me. I love being here. I love watching you and, you know, doing your thing. LA is going to miss you. So appreciate you doing everything that you've done and not just this community. I know you're here still for a while. I know you're going to Chicago, but we appreciate you.

[Colin Cowherd]

By the way, BYU is the number six seed. They should go. They shoot a lot of threes.

[J. Mac]

They should have been higher, but, you know, sec, they got to get their glory right. But the thing about Brigham that I'm going to say is, you better watch out. They shoot a lot of threes. They make a lot of threes.

[Colin Cowherd]

You're buddies with Jimmer?

[J. Mac]

I am, buddy with Jimmer. Jimmer, you know, he. He led us almost to the promised land. Did a really, really good job. I think we have another phenomenal player in Richie Saunders, who is all Big 12 this year. Just an underrated Big 12. I know you weren't necessarily hot on Arizona, but I feel like you go.

[Colin Cowherd]

Into the Final Four.

[J. Mac]

Oh, you do. You were hot. I apologize. Yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

By dark horse.

[J. Mac]

Yes. Caleb Love. Very, very good.

[Colin Cowherd]

The center Vaser is. Yes, yes. He was nothing early. He's played well now.

[J. Mac]

Correct. They're very good. I like Texas Tech. They're tough.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's his dark horse.

[J. Mac]

Great pick. Houston, if they can shoot it well. I'm, I'm. I'm very high on them. That's a big if, though, because they do play defense. They do play phenomenal defense.

[Colin Cowherd]

Michigan State, not a lot of shooters, but.

[J. Mac]

Yes, but they're coming alive in the, in the Big 12 tournament. They shot really, really well. I'm very excited to see what the pig Big 12 does. I feel like they've been underrated, just like their football programs were during the bowl season. I think they're going to do the same thing in this tournament. I really, really like the Big 12. The teams that they have, they're tough, they're physical, they play that style the referees let them play down there. But byu, their shooting ability, if they get hot, I'd be scared if I'm anybody in the tournament because they're putting up 90 points and you're like, well, I gotta guard this guy. But this guy over here can shoot. And I really want to put a lot of pressure on Igor Demin. I know he's a freshman, but he's not a freshman anymore.

[Colin Cowherd]

Don't they have some great recruit coming next year?

[J. Mac]

Yes, they do. AJ Number one basketball player in the country. I'm not positive. I think he from Boston. Boston area.

[Colin Cowherd]

He chose byu?

[J. Mac]

Yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

Lds?

[J. Mac]

I don't believe he's lds, but he might as well be, right. That checks. Lds? No, I'm just kidding. But I think it's phenomenal. I think it's going through all the sports there at byu. I think it's been a shift in guard.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, they've always had money.

[J. Mac]

They have. It's secretly. They've had a lot of money. Yes, they do. But it's not even the church is demi and out. I think the. The donors and the boosters are the one providing all the money. When you have a guy that owns the Utah Jazz and Ryan Smith.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yep.

[J. Mac]

You have Danny Ainge, who's also happened with Utah Jazz when they're heavily involved. I just played with the number one, one of the top golfer recruits the other day, Kihei. He was getting offers from Alabama and Oklahoma State. He ended up choosing. Chose BYU to stay close to home. But because of that group of boosters and donors that are bringing in not only money, but that respect of, hey, I can help you get to that next level. That's who you want to be with, you know, And I'm. I'm starting to get involved a little bit more. I would like to kind of not be all the way in like Steph Curry is, but be able to help young men, be able to say, hey, if you do those things, you can be a pro and get to that next level. I think that's awesome what Steph Curry is doing with his former college. Yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

Kyle Van Noe. Great seeing you, buddy.

[J. Mac]

Yeah, good to see you.

[Colin Cowherd]

This is Nikki Glaser from the Nikki Glaser podcast. Have you guys seen this new commercial from Stand up to All Hate? It's basically Snoop Dogg and Tom Brady going back and forth with reasons that they hate each other. But then when you really listen to them, the reasons for the hate are just so stupid. I don't know. This. This commercial really got me. It's a strong reminder that hate in our country continues to be out of control. So join us at iHeart in standing up to it. If you see hate, speak up. Call it out. Your voice is a powerful tool in this fight. You can learn more by following oupwithhate. 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 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. What's up everyone? Julie Swerbinks here along with former NHL player Nate Thompson. We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go. The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.

[J. Mac]

Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?

[Colin Cowherd]

Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.

[J. Mac]

Julie is pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.

[Colin Cowherd]

Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Mark Seale. And I'm Nathan King. This is Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli. The five families did not want us.

[J. Mac]

To shoot that picture.

[Colin Cowherd]

This podcast is based on my co host Mark Seals best selling book of the same title. Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli features new and archival interviews with Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Evans, James Caan, Talia Shire and many others.

[J. Mac]

Yes, that was a real horse's head.

[Colin Cowherd]

Listen and subscribe to Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.