Loading summary
Transcript33 lines
- [00:00]
Colin Cowherd
Virgin Voyages isn't your average cruise. It's a masterclass in luxury all in. Voyage pricing includes over $1,000 in value, Wi fi, tips, entertainment, even specialty dining. No hidden fees, no surprises. The cabins are next level private terraces, virgin red hammocks, unbeatable sea views. Add in the adult only factor. No kids. That's right, just relaxation. It's no surprise they're award winning. And the destinations Caribbean this winter, Iceland, North America and the Mediterranean in 2025 and 2026. Virgin Voyages is where luxury meets travel. Book it and see what you've been missing. Learn more@virginvoyages.com or contact your travel advisor. You can count on T Mobile to help keep you connected from big cities to 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. Banking with Capital One helps you keep more money in your wallet with no fees or minimums on checking accounts and no overdraft fees. Just asked the Capital One bank guy. It's pretty much all he talks about in a good way. He'd also tell you that this podcast is his favorite podcast too. Oh really? Thanks Capital One Bank Guy. What's in your wallet? Terms apply. See CapitalOne.com Bank Capital One NA Member FDIC who's scoring big this NBA season? You are with all the new ways to get in on the action at DraftKings Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NBA. Take it to the rack with DraftKings Sportsbook. Every point counts. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app. The code is herdherd for new customers to get $150 in bonus bets when you bet just five bucks only on DraftKings, the crown is yours. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER in New York, call 877-8-HOPENY or text hopeny467-369 in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boot Hill Casino and Resort in Kansas. 21 Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void In Ontario, bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance for additional terms and responsible Gaming resources see DKNG co B Ball. Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio and noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd@foxsportsradio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. This is the Best of the Herd with Colin Cowher on Fox Sports Radio. Oh, it is one of my favorite days and weeks of the year. Starting right now, you're gonna see announcements, rumors, meetings, free agency in the NFL. Live in Los Angeles, it's the Herd. Wherever you may be, however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. We have a great show today. Calling right Colin Wrong an hour from now, as is customary on days. So a little bit of fool's gold in free agency. Most of the great teams will resign their own players. You know, Kansas City resigns. Nick Bolton, terrific linebacker. Nobody wants to pay linebackers, but he's been so good for them. That, that, that, that's a real smart move. That to me is what you want to do during this, like, week period. But what happens is a lot of swings by a lot of desperate teams. J Mac and I'm going to start the show with that. I'm going to start the show with that today. There's an old adage, struggling couples often have a baby to save a marriage or they buy a house to save a marriage and it doesn't work. The marriage was in trouble. DK Metcalf to the Steelers for $150 million in five years. That's buying a house to save the marriage. The Steelers can't get the offensive line right. They can't get quarterback right. They spend too much money on defense. Defensive culture, 25th in rushing at rushing average, 25th in the NFL. So let's throw a Hail Mary to save our offense. What's ironic is the one position that the Steelers draft and develop exceedingly well on offense is wide receiver. They've been great at it for 20 years to go back to Hines Ward. They always draft and develop wide receiver, so why spend 150 million on it? And the Steelers thinking they can solve their offensive issues, which have been awful not only since Big Ben retired, but about the last two years of Big Ben. Thinking you can solve your offense by adding another expensive, high maintenance wide receiver is like thinking you can solve your car troubles by putting in some premium leather seating. Yeah, that ain't it, man. George Pickens and D.K. metcalf. Okay. You know how A.J. brown was reading a book on the sidelines in Pittsburgh? They need a. They need a library card. I mean, these guys want the ball now. I mean. Oh, yeah. There's another rumor out there with the Steelers. Aaron Rodgers is talking to him. Good. Hell, what are you trying to be, a rock band that trashes the hotel room? I said this last week, DK Metcalf with a very solid quarterback in Geno Smith. Geno's very solid quarterback. I'll get to him later. He only accounted for 35 first down catches. Okay, that. That's half Amaran Saint Brown and the Steelers are not very solid at quarterback. They've been experimenting, it feels like, for the last five or six years. So I'm not. I am not player hating. I'm situation hating. If you went to a team like DK Metcalf went to Kansas City where they've kind of struggled. I mean, Rasheed Rice is good, but in trouble. Xavier worthy, good, but in trouble. They've had several misses. You go DK Metcalf to Kansas City. In that strong culture, offensively, you could talk me into it. How about Houston and C.J. stroud? You could talk me into it, but Pittsburgh doesn't know. Offense doesn't have a feel for it. They're not good at quarterback. They're not good on the offensive line. I mean, again, this is a team, the last two seasons that has been Pittsburgh, 31st in pass attempts, which has driven George Pickens crazy. So let's add another receiver that's expensive and is going to demand the football. I say it out loud. DK Metcalf said the two things he wanted, warm weather and a solid quarterback situation. Those boxes are left unchecked. So not all wide receiver acquisitions are the same. It's about. It's about feel, it's about fit. It's about, does your organization do offense well? And I'll go from that because I. I think this is a desperate move. Let's go from that to the Rams getting Devonte Adams. Now, DK Metcalfe is in his prime. Devonte Adams isn't. So I wouldn't like this move. No, it's different. I do like this move because of Sean McVay, the offensive culture. They've already got a number one in Puka Nakua. So if Devonte now is a 1A or a 2, it fits. This is very much this move by the Rams. It's essentially a one year deal. It's very similar to Jimmy Butler going to the Warriors. The Rams are lining up all their offensive pieces around Matt Stafford because the Rams feel like, hey, we've got one to two years of great Matt Stafford left. That's what the warriors felt. We got a couple of years of Steph being great. Let's get him a legit 2. So Sean McVay knows offense. The Rams have a feel for offense and they've got an incredible defense that is young and super cheap. So they're flexible. This is a totally different move and that's why I wanted to juxtapose the Steelers move, which feels like a desperate Hail Mary to solve an ailing offense and the Rams move, which feels like a very substantive one, maybe two year deal to line up in an excellent offensive culture with Sean McVay and Matt Stafford. That's the difference. Remember, the Rams have said publicly we're moving off Cooper cup and now I don't know if Devonte is in his prime. I think he's probably just left the prime. He's definitely not twilight. So he's somewhere in between prime and twilight. But in the last three years, Devonte Adams is tied for second in the NFL and touchdowns for wide receiver. That's with Derek Carr, Gardner, Minshew, Aiden O'Connell and Aaron Rodgers off an Achilles surgery. So this is a very good fit. In fact, if you look at the Rams, they made another receiver move this weekend that it's a tell. They're telling you what they're trying to do. They resigned to a one year deal. Two. Two. Atwell, who's been a little bit of a semi bust. Why did they do that? And they even paid him 10 million for one year because they're thinking, they're telling you this next year we think we can win a Super Bowl. So why bring in a young receiver when we got Devonte Puka? Tyler Higby, the excellent tight end, probably a B plus tight end, running back o line set. They resign their left tackle. They're going for the super bowl because The Rams and McVeigh are thinking in a snowstorm against the best team in the league on the road in Philly. We're at the 13 yard line looking to go in with a tying touchdown. Pat wins it and we're going to the NFC Championship. So these are, this is a classic example. DK Metcalf to a huge long term deal to the Steelers feels desperate. Devonte Adams essentially on a one year deal to McVan Stafford feels really smart. So don't confuse the two. You know, don't don't. Don't confuse the two. Lot of nice cars on the freeway. Some take an exit to a nice neighborhood where they can afford it. Some take an exit to an apartment where they can't. Don't confuse two people driving two nice cars. Like, did you need it? Is it smart? Is it thoughtful? Does it work for your budget? So this is what you get in the free agency period, and it's why I love it. In fact, there's a similar situation, which I'll get to on Geno Smith. I thought it was time to move from Seattle. I think he's a really good fit with the Raiders because one organization's really good and feels like they've had a ceiling and the other one's a mess and needs stability. This week is not just about the players. There is no week in the NFL where you can really figure out who knows what they're doing in the front office and ownership and who doesn't. This is not about the players. Free agency week is about executives and owners, and you're going to see a lot of bad ones reach and a lot of good ones find fits. This is fit week, not free agent week. That's what it is. Steelers, let's throw a Hail Mary. We got no feel for it. Rams, we can get devontae for one year. We got two great years of Stafford left. Totally different acquisition, totally different sensibility and mindset. So J. Mac, we got so much stuff. We got. I, I. You know, I had a LeBron theory about a week ago. Got a lot of feedback on that one. I've got another one. Sam Darnold looks like he's going to Seattle. I got my MVP vote in the NBA all settled up. Calling right. Wrong. Next hour. And as you well know, you're betting Dayton and Creighton and Xavier games. You know, March Madness is right around the corner. I just fired on Furman tonight. You got to get in on action. Furman. Furman. Big game against. I believe it's Winthrop. Yeah, I don't even know where either of those schools are located.
- [12:56]
Matt Hasselbeck
By the way, I forgot to ask.
- [12:57]
Colin Cowherd
Who'S quarterbacking the Pittsburgh Steelers next season? It's got to be Aaron Rogers, right? Really? And is Pickens on the roster in like, three weeks or do they trade him for a pick? I mean, again, Pickens gets frustrated in Pittsburgh. He's a huge talent. You put Pickens in Kansas City, it's like, oh, that, that would be interesting, you know, given what happened over the weekend with Xavier Worthy getting in trouble with the law. Maybe that's a great fit for Pickens. Yeah, worthy fans tend to think we're picking on their teams and it's like, it's just like you. There are some jobs, if you're watching or listening to my show, there are some bosses and jobs that are a great fit for your personality and then there are places that aren't right. Like, like. And so it's just the same thing with players. Everybody thinks this is about players this week and it's really about the organizations know what the hell they're doing or they just making Hail Mary's to solve previous decisions. And that's what I think you see with Pittsburgh. I mean they're, they're lost offensively, 150 mil and they gave up a second round pick. I don't love that deal. No. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app with Amex, there's always a new experience to explore. From curating the perfect vacation and chilling in the 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. This is Jonas Knox from Two Pros and a Cup of Joan. 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. 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. This message is brought to you by Apple Card. Choosing the right credit card can be daunting. Among the countless credit card options, Apple Card stands apart. You get up to 3% daily cash back on purchases every day. That daily cash can automatically earn interest when you open a High Yield Savings account through Apple Card. Apply for Apple Card in the Wallet app on iPhone and see a credit limit offer in minutes, subject to credit approval. Savings is available to Apple Card owners subject to eligibility, savings and Apple Card by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Salt Lake City Branch Member FDIC terms and more@applecard.com Omaha Steaks delivers the world's best steak experience and it brings people together with more than 100 years of family owned expertise as America's original butcher. Omaha Steaks legendary filet mignons are extra aged to maximize tenderness and are tested to the highest standards to maintain the coveted distinction of USDA Certified tender. And now during their semi annual sale you can get 50% off site wide at Omaha steaks.com plus our listeners get an extra $30 off with the promo code herdherd at checkout. This weekend was a great time to bust open my Omaha Steaks assortment. Pack air Chilled boneless chicken breasts, ribeye and steak burgers, gourmet jumbo franks. They're great butcher's cut top sirloins and for dessert caramel apple tartlets. It doesn't get better than this. From legendary steaks to classic comfort food, bring home that exceptional handcrafted flavor and convenience of Omaha Steaks. Every steak perfectly aged. Five generations of uncompromising quality. Omaha Steaks has been America's original butcher since 1917. Don't miss the semi annual sale at Omaha Steaks. Visit Omaha Steaks.com for 50% off site wide and for an extra $30 off use the promo code herdherd at checkout. That's 50% off at Omaha Steaks.com and an extra $30 off with a promo code herd at checkout. Where Colin was right. Well Sam Darnold's not despite the rumors and reports gonna be a Minnesota Viking as we pre he has a market. Seattle's the leader in the clubhouse. Pittsburgh also interested. Sam's only 28 years old and has not had a lot of injuries and he's coming off a massive season. He can move, he's got a big arm, he's a playmaker. I think of all the quarterbacks on the market he's the best version. And there were reports for three weeks the Vikings were interested. I didn't think that make any sense. I thought they were trying to do him a solid within the organization to show everybody hey Sam's great. We're considering re signing him and I think in the end it never made a lot of sense where Colin was wrong. Apparently Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers are talking. This doesn't work for me as a fit at all. First of all Aaron's a California cool guy and the Steelers culture is defense. It's super conservative. They can't get their offensive line right. I don't like that for Aaron. I mean, I'm sure he respects Mike Tomlin, I get that. But this is not how like if Aaron went to the Vikings and followed, you know, the Favre trajectory, like that would make sense. Good left tackle, great receiver, good offensive coach, stability in the organization. I don't get Pittsburgh at all. I, I, I, I read this and I think that it's, that's a miss to me where Collin was right. Steph Curry now 11 and 1 when Jimmy Butler I'm going to give myself another right. I had said a month before the move, just sign him. Anytime Steph's had a legitimate one or a two around him, the team is a Western Conference finals or at least competitive for it. Steph now is shooting 42% on threes since Jimmy Butler arrived and to me it feels like Jimmy Butler has been a B12 shot in the hip for Steph Curry. Not like he just learned how to play. But when you're on a treadmill to a play in game for a superstar that's 37 years old. Nah, that's not it. This move is perfect top to bottom where Colin was wrong. I don't think this is a bad move at all. But Geno Smith getting another big contract in the NFL surprised me. He was 21st last couple of years in QBR, which isn't the be all end all. He, you know, he throws a lot of picks and Pete Carroll doesn't like those. But where I will say it makes sense. He's an adult, he's accurate, he gets a lot of yards and the Raiders have no stability at coach and quarterback. So Pete Carroll and Geno Smith, you know, it suddenly feels sort of like Seattle. You get your way into the playoffs, tough division maybe, but I it caught me off guard. Gino may get another three or four year big money deal where Colin was right. Pay your great players early. The Bills signed Josh Allen, but they've moved off Von Miller. I never got the Von Miller deal. In fact, since he arrived, their defense actually got worse. Three straight seasons he was injured a lot. I thought the Rams moved off him at the perfect time. He became sort of a pass rush specialist which for what they were paying him, it doesn't make a lot of sense. I just, my people around the league didn't think it was a good move. I didn't. And I mean they got some sacks out of it and he's a big play guy but for the money and the injuries, it never made sense where Colin was wrong. I thought when the Mavericks made the Luka AD deal, I said, you know what? You can bang on the Mavericks, but short term they'll probably be better. I like the roster. Yeah, but I'm wrong since the entire roster is hurt. P.J. washington, Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, Daniel Gafford, Derek Lively. They are now lost five straight. They are a mess. Everything's bad. The karma, the injuries. Watch them a little this weekend. Yeah, I, I, I thought for a year to two years you would kind of look and go, did Dallas get the better part of this deal? No, not at all. Where Colin was right. I've said, when you get a gift in life, accept it. And I've been critical of the WNBA because they got Caitlin Clark, their Steph Curry and they're fighting it. They did it again this weekend where apparently top players want to go on strike. Angel, Reese, we should go on strike. The league's never made a profit. It's been subsidized by the NBA. This has been my knock on the wnba. It's a league that was growing and then Caitlin Clark was that once in a generation, Jet fuel, like a Michael Jordan, a Steph Curry, a LeBron. You just don't get those. When you get a gift like Tiger woods to the PGA Tour, you put your arm around it, you put him on tv. You understand that it's generational, a complete outlier. And what has the WNBA done? Complain about it. Strike. You go on strike when you have massive leverage. The league doesn't turn a profit. It's paid for by the NBA. This league just can't commissioner down, can't get it right. Can't get it right. And it's too bad because the quality of play today in the WNBA, much better than eight to 10 years ago. Much better. With that, Matt Hasselbeck, 18 years in the NFL, 10 of those with the Seahawks, joins us. You know, I said, Matt, that not all acquisitions are like star receiver. Do you fit? What's the quarterback like? I think Devonte Adams on the Matt Stafford timeline for a really smart offensive organization and kind of a one year deal works. You may disagree with DK Metcalf. Five year deal to an organization that doesn't have a quarterback, can't get the O line right, is kind of tone deaf offensively. That feels like a little bit of a Hail Mary to me. Like, okay, we'll solve our offensive problems. Here's another receiver that wants the ball. Do you like DK Metcalfe? The Steelers.
- [23:39]
Matt Hasselbeck
I kind of do, Colin, because I do think that it solves some of their problems in a roundabout way. You know, a lot of times in free agency or the draft, like beauty's in the, in the eye of the beholder. And Mike Tomlin sees something in DK DK Metcalf that he's like, that's what I need. That fits exactly the kind of guy I need. The competitor, the physicality, like all that kind of stuff. And they've missed on the quarterback. They haven't had high level quarterback play in a while and they've had a, you know, a struggle with running the football. I think that they believe that this will help them get rid of those problems. They will all of a sudden be very, very attractive to a quarterback who wants to come play there. And if you have the weapons that they have on the outside, plus the tight end, I think they're going to do a much better job of having the light box to run the ball. So very similar to what Arthur Smith had when he had Brown back when he was the offensive coordinator in, in Tennessee they had him and it sort of opened things up for Derrick Henry in the run game just a little bit more than it otherwise would have.
- [24:40]
Colin Cowherd
I thought time had played out Geno in Seattle, but I like it for the Raiders because they just need stability in a grown up and an adult. What did you make of Geno following Pete Carroll to the Raiders?
- [24:51]
Matt Hasselbeck
I was a little surprised that Seattle and Gino couldn't figure something out. You know, I think, I think they probably offered him something like Stafford money, old Stafford, and he wanted something maybe more like Dak money. And like that's just like the, the, you know, when it gets in these negotiating, sometimes feelings get hurt. And I think feelings got hurt maybe even last year when guys like Jordan Love were to get new deals and Tua and Trevor Lawrence and like, hey, when's my deal? When's my deal? But the Seahawks don't do deals with guys until they're in that last year of the, of the contract. And so then on the side here you got his, his guy, Pete Carroll coming to Las Vegas with a smile on his face, loving him up. You're the man. You're the man. I give you that same contract. And then after, after a little bit, I think he's probably as the player, it kind of gets in this mode, like, well, why don't I go somewhere that loves me even if the money's maybe not even the same or if it is the same. Yeah, and for that reason, I think you've seen a lot of change in Seattle.
- [25:49]
Colin Cowherd
So where are the Seahawks at? The now Seahawk fans may be freaking out. I think they looked around the room and thought, we just don't feel like Gino can get us to the next level. Seattle's got a much better culture roster right now, in my opinion, than the Raiders. What are the Seahawks doing right now? Where are they at?
- [26:05]
Matt Hasselbeck
I think they like everybody at a price. But listen, I just think this is Mike McDonald's team. You know, they got rid of Ryan Grubb, they got rid of DK Geno Smith. Tyler Lockett moves on. He's a cap casualty, which probably pained them. I know they love Tyler Lockett, but they're going from sort of like this pass, happy we can throw it. Throw the ball, vertical down the field to a Mike McDonald. Feels like a Harbaugh. Harbaugh type thing. We're going to have the top 10 defense. We're going to figure it out on offense in terms of, like, ball first. And if. Think if you look at the trends around the league and Mike McDonald, he's, you know, people think of him as this, like, young defensive version of a Sean McVay. He's looking at the trends. The best teams are the teams that can run the football, and that's sort of the identity. Great defense run the football. That's his vision for the program. Not necessarily four wides all the time. And, you know, how vertical can we be in the passing game? And I think you've seen a switch in that in terms of what they're doing in free agency, who they hired as their offensive coordinator. And I think it's kind of exciting to see what's next.
- [27:09]
Colin Cowherd
So the Niners, a story came out that the Niners, it leaked out, are going to be much more hard line on contracts, much more like the Rams. And I agree. I think they've been too permissive. You know, the saying I always use is ice cream for breakfast, dad. Like, okay, whatever, we'll give you the money. And I think the Rams have been better run that way. I think they have more leverage with Brock Purdy than anybody's acknowledging. What do you make of the Purdy Niner negotiations?
- [27:36]
Matt Hasselbeck
Yeah, I agree with you 100% in breakfast for dinner is a bad idea. Sorry, sorry. Dessert for breakfast is a bad idea, but breakfast for dinner is a great idea, in my opinion.
- [27:46]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
- [27:46]
Matt Hasselbeck
Yeah. Listen, I think Brock Purdy in the Niners will get something worked out. There's a lot of reasons Why I feel that way. First of all, I think he's a great player. I don't think he gets a lot of credit that he, that he deserves. But he's also a guy that's never been paid. And when you've never been paid, like, I think he's made like two point something in his career. By contrast, Kenny Pickett' made like 11 point something in his career. So like you have a guy that has never really been paid, quote unquote, as a quarterback, he's more likely to do a deal that's, I don't want to say hometown discount, but like, hey, let's just get a deal. I don't have as much leverage. But this is their guy. Like, this is the Niners guy. The Niners believe in him, but they also know that if he were to sort of test the market, they like him more than other people like him. And so like, so that's why, like you hear these other names out there, like, I really just think that they'll figure it out and it'll just be a deal that sort of, I think maybe you would say win, win, but you also might come out of it feeling like, well, Brock Purdy probably could have squeezed them for a little bit more, but he didn't. And ultimately, I think you've seen over the, you know, guys like Tom Brady and their career, it actually works out better for the team that way. When the money spread out just a little bit more.
- [28:55]
Colin Cowherd
Go to your last couple years in the league. I don't like Aaron to the Steelers, although DK Metcalf, in your opinion, probably makes it better. I think he could work in seatt battle if the number's right. I could think San Francisco at Brock Purdy said, I want 48 million. I could, I would have no problem go with Aaron Rodgers. Where do you, what do you think his mind is Older quarterback got his money, got his trophy. Where's Aaron at right now?
- [29:20]
Matt Hasselbeck
I would think he'd want to be on a great team, you know, and you want to be on a team that's relevant at the end, that has weapons that can protect me, but that also has weapons and a coaching staff that I like, that I trust and I'm almost intrigued to go play with them. I'm excited to go to work. You know, I think that the. I would, I would expect Sam Darnold in Seattle, but I think with Aaron, I would not discount the relationship and the history that GM John Schneider has with Aaron Rodgers. You know, back in the day in Green Bay, John Schneider and Aaron Rodgers, that would make sense. But, but after they make a strong run at someone like Sam Darnold, Pittsburgh, you know, I think sometimes later in a quarterback's career when they maybe have humbled themselves a little bit, they say, okay, you know what, I can go to that point guard role. I can. I think what he was supposed to be in New York with the jets, maybe that could work this time around with Mike Tomlin, with Arthur Smith, with these incredible wide receivers that they now have a great tight end and like maybe it's a run first offense and Aaron brings his intangibles and his leadership and his experience to the party. That's an interesting one. But I think that's also one that would, would be a plan B, I would think.
- [30:32]
Colin Cowherd
Okay, finally, I want to talk Chicago Bears for a second. So last year the entire talk was oh, wide receiver, wide receiver. This year they get a new coach from Detroit which not so coincidentally has a great O line. They go get guard, center guard. They went and just got the guard from the Atlanta Falcons. And my take is this is what a couple years ago Andy Reid did Tuni from the Patriots. This is what Sean McVay did, Dotson from the Steelers. I actually love, except for Ryan, polls. Basically the new coach is saying, yeah, you missed on all your interior lineman picks. I love what the Bears are doing, but I don't think it makes headlines. What say you?
- [31:10]
Matt Hasselbeck
Yeah, well, the number one thing I think in Chicago is that Ryan Poles and Ben Johnson are aligned. Philosophically, that's, that's number one. And I think philosophically you're seeing Ben Johnson come in with that Detroit Lions playbook and you know, like, basically we're going to build it inside out. We're going to set the foundation up front. And I've said many times, like if you have pass protection as a quarterback, you can take good quarterbacks and make them look great if you just have pass protection and then the opposite is true. And so like I just, I really think they have to figure out the sack situation in Chicago. I was pretty blunt with you all year. I thought a lot of those sacks didn't fall on the offensive line. But those things snowball and so I think they hit the reset button and they're going to go with veterans up front who are going to do their job and then they're going to probably coach the quarterback hard. And I think that's sort of like the vision and the game plan. But all you got to look to is the, in the division look at Detroit, how they built it, how they did it. That's what I think you're seeing out of Chicago right now.
- [32:11]
Colin Cowherd
Matt Hassall, back at a Monday. Great seeing you. But as always, 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, Steve Covino. And I'm Rich Davis and together we're Covino and Rich on Fo 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 with amex. There's always a new experience to explore, from curating the perfect vacation and chilling in the 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, who's scoring big this NBA season? You are with all the new ways to get in on the action at DraftKings Sports, an official sports betting partner of the NBA. From slams to dishing the rock to cleaning the glass, get behind your favorite players and prop bets you can make on DraftKings, the home of NBA player props. Are you ready to place your first bet? Make it simple, like how many points your favorite player will have go to DraftKings sportsbooks app. Make your pick if it's the first time, here's something special just for you. New customers bet a $5. That's it. Five bucks to get 150 in bonus bets instantly. So take it to the rack with DraftKings Sportsbook. Every point counts. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app. The code is herdherd for new customers to get $150 in bonus bets. When you bet just five bucks only on DraftKings, the crown is yours. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER in New York, call 877-8-HOPENY or text hopeny467-369 in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boot Hill Casino and Resort in Kansas. 21 plus. Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void. In Ontario, bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance. For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see DKNG co Beball. All right, let's get into it. Virgin Voyages. This isn't just another cruise line. This is redefining what luxury travel means. First off, all in voyage prices, pricing over $1,000 in value, Wi fi, tips, entertainment, even dining at specialty restaurants. It's all included. No nickel and diming, no hidden fees. It's clear, simple and honestly how it should have always been done. And the cabins? Let's just say they're not your standard hotel on the water deal. They've got private terraces, virgin red hammocks, views of the open sea. It's a reset button for your brain now. Now here's what really sets them apart. No kids. That's right. Adults only. Everything. Food, entertainment, activities tailored to what you actually want and the destinations you're looking at the Caribbean this winter and for 2025, 2026, they're hitting places like North America, Iceland, the Mediterranean. It's top tier travel for people who demand the best. Virgin Voyages isn't just a cruise. It's the future of adult vacation. Get on board. Book now@virginvoyages.com or contact your travel advisor. Everybody loves a good MVP story. And the story of Wasabi Technologies is one of the best. Wasabi is purpose built to free businesses from skyrocketing storage costs and unpredictable egress fees from old and top heavy legacy providers. You know the big guys. Wasabi is the world's hottest cloud storage company, becoming the go to provider for professional and collegiate sports teams and leagues around the world. And here's why. From Wasabi's AI enabled intelligent media storage, Wasabi Air, to the industry's only cloud storage service with triple protection against cyber criminals, data deletion and ransomware. Wasabi has taken the lead in driving innovation in data storage, eliminating overhead where it matters to deliver you results you can count on on and won't break the bank. In fact, Wasabi is up to 80% less than those other guys and doesn't charge a cent for businesses to access their own data. Wasabi another championship story. Check them out for free@wasabi.com Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage. Proud partner of the Volume Podcast Network. Oh, look at this. Holy moly. Sam Darnold. Three years, $110 million deal with the Seahawks. So again, look at the number. Three years, 110 million. Was that 34? 33 and a half. I'm not good math. What have we got? About 35 million a year? 35 and a half. 36. So he's six months younger than Joe Burrow, five months younger than Lamar Jackson, a year younger than Josh Allen, and you get him for 35, 36 million bucks. He got a Baker Mayfield contract. Sorry for butchering the math. He got a Baker Mayfield contract. I'm totally comfortable. You know, Gino wanted 10 million more than this. And I think Darnold's better than Geno. Maybe not by a lot, but he's better. And he's also in his prime. You know, Gino is a young. What is he, 33, 34. Sam is, is younger than many of the elite quarterbacks in the league. So I'm telling you, I, I, I think John Snyder is a really effective gm. He's like, we like Chino. We don't like the number. We like Darnold. We like the number. We've been saying this for six months. Sam coming back west sc, San Francisco. Now he's with the Seahawks. This is a good number for Sam. Same thing. They like DK Metcalf, but they got a pick and they didn't want to pay him. What? What? DK Metcalf. 31 million a year. So they got a quarterback for slightly more than DK Metcalf would have cost him. That's good GMing. I mean, DK was 31 million. This guy's 35, 36 million. And he touches the ball every offensive snap, and he's still in his prime and he doesn't cause any headaches. So, I mean, let's see. Yeah, basically Sam signed a deal that is basically A salary cap adjusted version of the contract Gino got in 2023. A very reasonable contract. So you're seeing really good GMing and very weird GMING today. Love what the Patriots are doing. Love this move by John Snyder. I like what they did in Tampa. I love what the Chicago Bears did, which is shocking to say that. So there's been some very good GMing. So, Colin, essentially, with 55 million guaranteed to Darnold, this is a two year deal. That's right. At 27 million. That's right. I know that everybody wants to see 110 mil. It's really 55 mil guaranteed for two years. That's what it is. Yeah. And at 27 million years, that's pretty good. That's a. That's. That's the Baker. I mean, that's going to be good, but they're going to be like a 500 team at best. Be very careful with. Go ahead, go ahead. Put them in Patriots territory if you want. Go for it. I have them battling the Niners for number two in the division. You can't win them all, Colin. Well, last year I almost did. You gotta be honest. All right. What a show. So much fun. Better go buy my Seahawk jersey. Okay. Live in Los Angeles, it's heard. This is Nikki Glazer 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 up with Hannah. What's up, everyone?
- [41:14]
Matt Hasselbeck
It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the king of spring, Daniel Jeremiah.
- [41:19]
Colin Cowherd
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.
- [41:27]
Matt Hasselbeck
101, free agents will have it covered.
- [41:29]
Colin Cowherd
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.
- [41:40]
Matt Hasselbeck
Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.
- [41:44]
Colin Cowherd
We live in a divided country, and.
- [41:46]
Matt Hasselbeck
Our media couldn't be more polarizing.
- [41:48]
Colin Cowherd
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.
- [42:02]
Matt Hasselbeck
Called One Thing Trump did that focuses.
- [42:04]
Colin Cowherd
On just one 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.
- [42:18]
Matt Hasselbeck
We're doing a new podcast together.
- [42:20]
Colin Cowherd
Here we go. The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.
- [42:24]
Matt Hasselbeck
Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?
- [42:30]
Colin Cowherd
Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us. Us.
- [42:34]
Matt Hasselbeck
Julie is pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.
- [42:38]
Colin Cowherd
Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.