The Herd with Colin Cowherd — Best of The Herd

Date: August 22, 2025
Host: Danny Parkins (in for Colin Cowherd)
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

Episode Overview

This episode of "The Herd" is hosted by Danny Parkins, who sits in for Colin Cowherd as the NFL preseason winds down. The main focus is a comprehensive breakdown of the Micah Parsons contract stalemate with the Dallas Cowboys and general trends in NFL contract negotiations, followed by an in-depth look at Caleb Williams’ rookie year with the Chicago Bears and prospects for the highly touted 2024 quarterback class. The episode’s highlight is an engaging interview with Robert Mays (The Athletic Football Show), covering topics from rookie QBs and holdouts to the most intriguing teams going into the NFL season.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Dallas Cowboys, Micah Parsons & the Contract Soap Opera

Timestamps: 02:06–18:12

• Jerry Jones’ Tactics:
  Danny details Jerry Jones' "media tour," spotlighting how Jones has publicized the dispute over Micah Parsons’ yet-to-be-signed contract. Jones is accused of embracing the drama and headlines:

  "He's just here for the soap opera, the Clicks, and we're feeding into it because here we are on the biggest show talking about the biggest story and the biggest team and their best defensive player who remains unsigned." (Danny Parkins, 03:25)

• Agent Role and Negotiation Breakdown:
  Jones is painted as old-school, wanting to bypass agent David Mologhetta (who disputes Jones’ coarse remarks), even though he's handled Cowboys contracts before.

  "That's the only reason we have agents, is to do the negotiation. It's the only reason we pay the commission." (Danny Parkins, 05:12)

• Financial Implications:
  Parkins explains the stakes: every missed game costs Parsons $1.3 million, making a prolonged holdout unlikely.

  "I think Micah Parsons is going to play Week 1 because I think he would rather play for $1.3 million than not play and get zero. It's a revolutionary thought." (Danny Parkins, 07:12)

• Historical Context:
  Parkins compares Parsons’ situation to previous Cowboys holdouts and describes the modern economic pressures on players:

  "Guys don't sit out games anymore. There's too much money at stake. This isn't even the Emmett Smith thing from back in the early 90s..." (Danny Parkins, 15:40)

• The Broader Trend:
  Summing up, Danny calls the contract standoff mostly showmanship and posturing, expecting Parsons and the other major unsigned players (Terry McLaurin, Trey Hendrickson) to ultimately play Week 1.

2. The 2024 Quarterback Class & Caleb Williams’ Year 1 Analysis

Timestamps: 22:00–33:03

• Chicago Bears & Caleb Williams:
  Danny evaluates Caleb Williams' rookie year, labeling it solid and putting the “bust” narrative to rest—despite organizational instability, poor O-line, and coaching chaos.

  Bad:

  • "The worst of it, and there were a few, was 68 sacks. 68 sacks is an absurd number." (Danny Parkins, 23:35)
  • Too reliant on talent, not NFL-ready off the field yet
  • Organizational failure: midseason head coach firing (an historic first in franchise history), injury-plagued O-line

  Good:

  • "Tough as hell. He played all 17 games despite being sacked 68 times. He had a three and a half to one touchdown interception ratio, 20 touchdowns against only six picks." (Danny Parkins, 25:14)
  • Upgrades for Year 2: new coaching, better O-line, and added pass-catching talent.

• Misreading the Narrative:
  Danny refutes critics, noting context and near-wins that could have flipped the Bears’ record and perception:

  "If they win two of those four games... you're like, okay, 7 and 10, ups and downs, missed the playoffs, took too many sacks, coach got fired—instead, it's, I don't know, Is Caleb Williams an NFL player?" (Danny Parkins, 29:41)

• Outlook for 2025:
  Danny expresses optimism: "Should be a very exciting season and a very exciting next decade for Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears." (Danny Parkins, 32:00)

3. Interview: Robert Mays, The Athletic Football Show

Timestamps: 36:16–52:43

a. Caleb Williams’ Growth & Ben Johnson’s Impact

• Preseason Optimism:

  "It'd be hard not to feel better when you look at how on time and mechanically sound the offense felt. Just watching him operate with a level of urgency and confidence... I absolutely still have faith that it can get cleaned up with the right coaching. And I think Ben Johnson is the right coach." (Robert Mays, 38:17)

• Ceiling Projection:

  "If you told me at the end of the 2026 season that Caleb Williams was the eighth best quarterback in the league, I would believe that..." (Robert Mays, 39:19)

b. 2024 QB Class — Historic Potential

• Depth and Promise:

  "Arrow is pointed way, way up in a way that we just don't typically see with a group as a whole." (Robert Mays, 41:39)

c. Contract Holdouts & NFL Trends

• Mays predicts all marquee holdouts (Parsons, McLaurin, Hendrickson) play Week 1:

  "These guys are incentivized to play. I don't think they want to be missing game checks...most of this stuff gets sorted out before the actual games get started." (Robert Mays, 44:43)

• On the Cowboys Drama:

  "Jerry is P.T. Barnum. The fact that that's his priority right now is making a spectacle of this team...If I was a fan of this team, it would drive me absolutely bonkers." (Robert Mays, 46:08)

d. Rookie to Watch: Travis Hunter

• "We've never seen anything like this...The amount of gas he has in the tank, we should study him." (Robert Mays, 43:22)

e. Jackson Dart & The Giants

• Quick debut expected: "I expect to see him pretty quickly. Brian Daboll seems to be pretty happy about what he's getting from Jackson Dart." (Robert Mays, 47:11)

f. Most Surprising Training Camp Takeaways

• Optimism for the Titans and Panthers:
  "The process, the way that they've tried to build the rosters...the general direction and how much quiet optimism I have about both of those places, I did not expect." (Robert Mays, 48:35)

g. Boom-or-Bust Rams & Injuries

• "There's more volatility with that team than almost any other in the league...I think the floor is slightly higher for the Rams than it has been in years past..." (Robert Mays, 49:54)

h. Super Bowl Pick

• "It pains me to say it, but I'm probably going to pick the Ravens...They felt like the best team in the league for stretches of last year and just couldn't get over the hump." (Robert Mays, 52:16)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Micah Parsons' Contract:
  "Jerry Jones is living in the stone Ages. He's living back in the 80s. It's just not how it's done anymore." (Danny Parkins, 14:40)

• On Caleb Williams’ Rookie Year:
  "Bust is off the table. He's good. So let's start. There's the good, the bad and the narrative. And I'll be fair..." (Danny Parkins, 22:00)

• On Cowboys’ Negotiation Dynamics:
  "He likes it for vanity. He likes it for ego...I think it should be $12 million a year. No, I think it should be $14 million a year. No. The Cowboys negotiator dealt with the player's agent because that's how it works." (Danny Parkins, 13:12)

• On NFL’s Contract Culture:
  "Holdouts in terms of missed games, they're not extinct, but they're like an endangered species. Because the best players get paid. In a post Le'Veon Bell world, it doesn't really happen." (Danny Parkins, 44:13)

Recap & Takeaways

• Micah Parsons Situation:

  • The stalemate is mostly media bluster and old-school posturing by Jerry Jones.
  • Financial realities make a lengthy holdout impractical.
  • Ultimately, Parsons (and other stars) are expected to play Week 1.

• NFL Team Contract Dynamics:

  • Brief overviews of the McLaurin (Washington) and Hendrickson (Cincinnati) situations—both near resolution.

• Caleb Williams Outlook:

  • Rookie mistakes masked substantial promise—significant upgrades and coaching changes should mean a breakout in Year 2.
  • The 2024 quarterback class is already tracking as potentially historic.

• Interview with Robert Mays:

  • Optimism about the Bears and Caleb Williams’ development.
  • Adds national media perspective to trends in rookie contracts and NFL QB pipelines.
  • Highlights unique rookie storylines, like Travis Hunter’s two-way play.

Segment Timestamps

• Cowboys/Parsons Drama: 02:06–18:12
• Caleb Williams/Bears Review: 22:00–33:03
• Robert Mays Interview: 36:16–52:43
  • Caleb/Bears: 38:17–40:00
  • QB Class: 40:00–41:39
  • Contract Talk: 44:13–46:56
  • Travis Hunter: 43:22–44:13
  • Giants/Jackson Dart: 47:11–48:17
  • Surprises: 48:35–49:40
  • Rams: 49:54–51:00
  • Super Bowl Pick: 52:16

Final Thoughts

This "Best of The Herd" episode captures the NFL preseason’s most fraught contract negotiations, expertly contextualizing them within league trends, while spotlighting the league’s next generation of quarterbacks. Through Parkins’ sharp analysis and the insight of Robert Mays, listeners receive an authoritative and engaging update on the issues, narratives, and talent poised to define the NFL’s upcoming season.