Best of The Herd

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – "Best of The Herd" (December 11, 2024)

The Herd with Colin Cowherd, hosted by iHeartPodcasts and The Volume, offers a compelling and opinionated exploration of the day's top sports stories. In the "Best of The Herd" episode released on December 11, 2024, Colin Cowherd delves deep into the evolving dynamics of the NFL, the challenges in college football coaching, and the swirling trade rumors surrounding NBA superstar LeBron James. This summary captures the key discussions, insights, and conclusions drawn during the episode, enriched with notable quotes and timestamps for reference.

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1. The Rising Value of Running Backs Over Wide Receivers in the NFL

Colin Cowherd kicks off the episode by addressing a paradigm shift in the NFL: the resurgence of the running game and the fluctuating value of wide receivers. Historically, Cowherd likened wide receivers to the "icing on the cake," suggesting they enhance but aren't essential to a team's core structure. However, recent rule changes have elevated the status of wide receivers, making them more central to team strategies.

Key Points:

• Shift in Asset Value: With defenses adapting to emphasize pass coverage, running backs have regained prominence as reliable and versatile assets.
• Player Dynamics: High-profile wide receivers like A.J. Brown, Deebo Samuel, and Devonte Adams are often seen as "high maintenance," requiring extensive attention to maintain their performance and chemistry with quarterbacks.

Notable Quote:

“Receivers are the icing to the cake. They make it better, but they're not essential to the cake.”
— Colin Cowherd [26:26]

Cowherd contrasts this with running backs, whom he describes as "all-weather power" players—dependable, less flashy, and crucial for maintaining team momentum.

2. Challenges in College Football Coaching: The Bill Belichick Carolina Rumor

A significant portion of the discussion centers around the speculative rumor of NFL legend Bill Belichick contemplating a coaching move to the University of North Carolina (UNC). Cowherd assesses this potential transition, highlighting several obstacles that could render the move unsuccessful.

Key Points:

• Age and Charisma: At 72, Belichick may lack the charisma and relatability required to connect with younger college athletes, especially those entering an era dominated by NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) regulations.
• University's Dual Focus: UNC's commitment to both academics and sports creates a complex environment where maintaining balance is challenging. Cowherd notes, “the administration at Carolina right now is a little bit of a mess.”
• Recruitment Concerns: Top college football agents are not favoring UNC, indicating potential recruitment difficulties.

Notable Quotes:

“He's trying on the other network, but he doesn't have any charisma.”
— Colin Cowherd [13:32]

“Deion Sanders really does care about elevating young men... Belichick cares about elevating one young man, his son.”
— Colin Cowherd [13:32]

Cowherd juxtaposes Belichick's potential move with Deion Sanders' successful tenure at Colorado, emphasizing the latter's ability to mentor athletes holistically.

3. Trade Rumors Surrounding LeBron James and the Authenticity of Such Moves

The episode explores circulating rumors about LeBron James seeking a trade that would include his son, Bronny James, joining the Lakers' roster. Cowherd critiques the plausibility and authenticity of these trade talks.

Key Points:

• Inauthenticity of the Rumor: Cowherd expresses skepticism, highlighting Bronny's current status as a G League player and not yet a primary NBA talent.
• Impact on Team Dynamics: Suggesting that prioritizing personal moves over team success compromises the Lakers' competitive edge.

Notable Quotes:

“Bronny's not an NBA player. He's a G League player. And he's not a dominant G League player.”
— Colin Cowherd [19:16]

“Trying to force us to believe, like, this is a real thing, we got to stop pretending it's inauthentic.”
— Colin Cowherd [20:33]

Cowherd criticizes the notion as "Globetrotter level sticky," drawing parallels to past NBA stars whose late-career moves did not pan out as intended.

4. Quarterback Performance and Management: Insights with Josh McDaniels

A significant segment of the episode features a dialogue between Colin Cowherd and former New England Patriots coach Josh McDaniels. They discuss strategies for managing quarterback performance, especially concerning aging quarterbacks and maintaining their effectiveness.

Key Points:

• Identifying Decline Signs: Recognizing behavioral and performance indicators that a quarterback may be experiencing a decline, such as reduced resilience to hits or decreased playmaking abilities.
• Team Strategies: Emphasizing the importance of balancing offensive play calls to protect quarterbacks without stifling their offensive contributions.
• Mental and Physical Toughness: Highlighting the necessity for teams to cultivate resilience and adaptability to sustain performance throughout the grueling NFL season.

Notable Quotes:

“You give me the ball, I'll produce, I'll block, I'll take on a rush end...”
— Colin Cowherd [03:47]

“There's value in winning close games. They're going to have to win them in January in that fashion.”
— Josh McDaniels [34:37]

“What do you feel most comfortable doing? Let's do more of that and major in that.”
— Josh McDaniels [31:43]

The conversation underscores the delicate balance coaches must maintain between leveraging a quarterback's strengths and mitigating their vulnerabilities.

5. Russell Wilson’s Contract and Fit within the NFL

Colin Cowherd shifts focus to quarterback Russell Wilson, analyzing his contract status, performance trajectory, and fit within his current and potential teams.

Key Points:

• Contract Evaluation: Despite earning $304 million over 13 years, Cowherd posits Wilson as a bargain, especially for teams like Pittsburgh that have a historical affinity for sustaining player longevity.
• Performance Trends: Acknowledges Wilson's decline in performance compared to his peak, questioning the urgency for teams to restlessly pursue a new contract.
• Team Compatibility: Emphasizes the importance of finding a team where Wilson can thrive, akin to how Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes have secured their successes.

Notable Quotes:

“Russell is more a great fit than he is a currently great player.”
— Colin Cowherd [36:48]

“He is absolutely an upgrade at a position of need. And secondly, he's not spectacular nor is he in his prime.”
— Colin Cowherd [36:48]

Cowherd advises that teams should prioritize long-term fit over immediate gratification when considering veteran quarterbacks like Wilson.

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Conclusion

In this "Best of The Herd" episode, Colin Cowherd delivers a nuanced analysis of current trends in the NFL and college football, intertwining them with broader discussions on athlete management and team dynamics. Through insightful dialogues with experts like Josh McDaniels and his own seasoned perspectives, Cowherd provides listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the shifting landscapes in professional sports. The episode not only highlights the strategic transformations within the game but also critically examines the authenticity of high-profile sports rumors, ensuring listeners are well-informed and engaged.

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Note: All timestamps correspond to the original podcast transcript, facilitating easy reference to specific segments.

Transcript

[LeVar Arrington]

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[John Mittelkoff]

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[Colin Cowherd]

[e-mail] this podcast is sponsored by PayPal. Now here's the kicker. The PayPal debit card earns you 5% cash back in a monthly category of your Choice. Up to $1,000 of monthly purchases. So groceries, health and beauty, gas, apparel, restaurants. On top of that, you can get cash back offers within the app from brands like Doordash, Instacart, Sephora. This month, it's all about that apparel. I got a crazy schedule. I shop online a lot. Snag a suit here or there, fresh gear, 5% cash back adds up fast. And signing up is easy. Just Download the new PayPal app to sign up and you're ready to start earning cash back on your everyday purchases. Pay smart, Earn cash back. Enjoy peace of mind with a PayPal debit card. Don't just pay PayPal terms apply. See PayPal app cash back Earned as points you can redeem for cash and other options. This card issued by the Bancorp and a person went to license by Mastercard International Inc. This is John Mittelkoff from three and.

[Josh McDaniels]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Josh McDaniels]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[LeVar Arrington]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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 [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 Cowherd on Fox Sports Radio. Oh, here we go. It is a Wednesday. We are live in Los Angeles. It's the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, thanks for making us part of your day. J. Mac. We are packed today. Josh McDaniels, former, you know, legend in New England, Albert Breer stops by today. Some breaking stuff. Mark Sanchez stops by as well. And you know, for years and years, I had talked about wide receivers. Chris Carter used to give me crap for this being overrated. I said, a football team's a cake. They're the icing. It makes it better, but it's not essential to the cake. And then clearly, because of rule changes, receivers became more valuable. But about six months ago, you suggested that we could have. You've heard of housing bubbles. You said wide receiver bubble. And I think you were onto something. You think maybe, huh? I think you were. So I want to start with that today 49ers Brock Purdy. The quarterback says, oh, I love Deebo Samuel the wide receiver. Here we go again. Another high maintenance wide receiver that the quarterback has to make sure he's happy. Like A.J. brown in Philly. And Deebo and Malik, neighbors earlier in the year with the Giants. And Devonte Adams with cryptic messages when he was a Raider. And I like Devontae, but CD Lamb is perpetually unhappy. And George Pickens and Deontay Johnson. Even Ja'Marr Chase, who I love, made noise this year. Oh, by the way, the top five rushing teams, rushing teams in the NFL, Philly, Baltimore, Washington, Detroit and the packers are 48 17. Hey receivers, we gave you a couple of years to be stars and you wasted it complaining. The world changes quickly. Nine months ago, all we heard is the media lament the future of running backs. Nobody wants to pay a running back. Running back saying nobody loves us. Today, power running football is back. Detroit, Baltimore, Green Bay. Wide receivers have become once again flashy sports cars. Really expensive, high maintenance. You buy one and you find out they're not great in winter months and they're not something you could drive every day. Meanwhile, there are running backs. All weather power, economical, low maintenance grinders add toughness and leadership to locker rooms. Yes, occasionally you will get a running back that's got some flash. Kyron Williams of the Rams, Christian McCaffrey, Saquon Barkley. But six of the top 10 wide receivers in the NFL, six of 10 leading in wide receiver yards are on teams with losing records. Loud and losing. And once again, whether it's Philly or at San Francisco or it's Dallas, it's this constant need. Look at me. Let's make sure the wide receiver is healthy. I don't get that with Saquon. I don't get it with Derek Henry. I don't get it with James Connor in Arizona. I don't get it with Walker in Seattle. They're grinders. Head down. You give me the ball, I'll produce, I'll block, I'll take on a rush end, I'll take on a Mike linebacker coming a million miles an hour to protect my quarterback. And I like Debo Samuel, but in six NFL seasons, he's only had two years of a thousand plus yards. Derrick Henry, seven straight seasons of a thousand plus yards. And whereas running backs, when they're good, make a quarterback's job easier, wide receivers, when they're good, often need to be constantly soothed and pampered and taken care of. I mean, the A.J. brown situation is Ridiculous. Your team's on a heater. Saquon Barkley should be arguably mvp. And you want more targets, you're getting seven. Okay, we'll give you nine. And I like a lot of the receivers, but I always felt in this league that they were the icing to the cake. Saquon Barkley is the cake. Christian McCaffrey is the cake. Derrick Henry is the cake. And that doesn't mean I don't like wide receivers. But how many times do we see this? Winning teams having to make sure the wide receivers healthy. What's interesting about Debo, my favorite Debo is after the catch and when he plays running back. So when the receiver Debo becomes the running back Debo, I like him more. So I think it's just a very interesting. The world changes quickly. And if you look at the teams now with power run games, always a quarterback's best friend. It's Baltimore, it's Philly, it's Detroit, it's Washington, it's Green Bay. Running backs are back, all weather, economical, tough. Quarterback's best friend. All right, so nobody wants any sportscaster to sit on the fence, right? Well, what's the point? You got to pick a side on stuff, right? And I'm just going to tell you when the story keeps coming out today that Belichick and Carolina are close to joining forces to be the coach of the Tar Heels. My takeaway and my opinion is it's eventually going to be a disaster. Let's start with this. He's 72. Yeah. And his personality is formed. He's got no charisma. He's trying on the other network, but he doesn't have any charisma. And college football. Dan Lanning, Big energy, good looking, confident young Sark salesman. Saban. Charming. Kirby Smart. Likewise. Marcus Freeman. Good looking, cool. Jim Harbaugh, totally authentic, full of energy. Pete Carroll at usc. I mean, he hit you like a strong drink, man. He was coming at you 100 miles an hour chewing that gum. Good looking guy. I'm going to change your life. The players choose you in college football in today's nil. Bill's Patriot way. Hey, take a little less for the team. Yeah, that's, that's not, that's not happening. That, that's not happening. So that's the number one reason Belichick, in my opinion, seemed a little out of touch dealing with 27, 28, 29 year olds his last three years in pro football. Now he's dealing with 17 and 18 year olds. So that's the first Part, the second part is. And this, this is true in a lot of universities, but it's really true at Carolina. The administration at Carolina right now is a little bit of a mess. Academics one side, sports on the other. This is a proud university. That's rival is the academic power Duke. So they don't want to take a second fiddle to anybody. So North Carolina is serious about academics and there's a lot of pushback upstairs in the academic world to the sports world and the football program. And by the way, what's interesting is the top college football agent is Jimmy Sexton. He is a power broker. Why isn't he sending his best candidates to Carolina? Why are like second tier candidates backing out? Agents will tell you the truth, where they send their people. If they start, if top agents in any industry start, start sending their people to certain locations, it or not sending people to certain locations, it tells you everything. Why isn't Jimmy Sexton sending all of his great clients to Carolina? Because it is a top 20, 25 job. So. And the third thing is, I think it's all about Bill Belichick wanting to give this job to his son in like a year. I think he's going to get worn out a year in and say I want to give it to my son. Which by the way, I get it, I'm a dad, totally get it. But whereas Deion Sanders went to Colorado and he was about attitude, us noticing a program that was irrelevant, swag, confidence. And I truly do believe that Deion Sanders really does care about elevating young men. To me, Belichick cares about elevating one young man, his son. And I get it, I really do. But that's not why you take a job. Right. Like I think Deion to Colorado works because I think he's a. When it comes to Dion and what he really wants to do, he got the bag. He's the greatest cornerback of all time. He wanted to change some lives, including his son, not just his son. And so I don't buy it. I'm not sitting on the fence. Michael Irvin, who was so good yesterday on our show the Playmaker, former Cowboy, his thoughts on Belichick and Carolina.

[LeVar Arrington]

The current landscape of college football is a lot different than even when Jimmy was in college. You know, so much different back then. You know, Jimmy can really use the hammer to keep you in line. I just don't know if coach has the time to counsel. And that's what it's going to take. That's what make Deion so great in college. He's really a mentor. Coaching coach is a coach that has forced a mentor. It's a lot. It's a lot dealing with kids in there. And I just think that's not what coach want to be doing. He wants to coach football.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. College football has gotten harder for college football coaches in the last five to 10 years. I'd argue the NFL, though the owners are crazier and richer than ever, is easier because there's more really good quarterbacks and really talented offensive play callers and play designers. So for a head coach in the NFL, you don't have to be a wizard. Schematically, all sorts of very talented young coaches all over the NFL and that league has a pension for coaches. So it's a much better place to be an assistant than college football. This doesn't work to me. It may make headlines. It may feel right for about six games or six months. I don't think it works. J. Mac disagrees. We have some stories today. I have two potential very unpopular opinions. Only two? Only two today. It's gonna be tough to top yesterday's show. Colin. It was very strong. One of the better Tuesday shows. Well, you talked a lot, so I think you liked yesterday. No, no.

[Josh McDaniels]

That's what the people want.

[Colin Cowherd]

You gotta give the people what the combative J. Mac versus Coastal Elite. Colin yeah, it was something like that. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app.

[John Mittelkoff]

Apple cart is the perfect card for your holiday shopping. You can apply on your iPhone in minutes and start using it right away. You'll earn up to 3% daily cash back on every purchase, including products at Apple like a new iPhone 16 or Apple Watch Ultra. Start holiday shopping for your friends and family today with Apple Card subject to credit approval. Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Salt Lake City branch terms and.

[Colin Cowherd]

More@Apple card.com this podcast is sponsored by PayPal. Now here's the kicker. The PayPal debit card earns you 5% cash back in a monthly category of your Choice. Up to $1,000 of monthly purchases. So groceries, health and beauty, gas, apparel, restaurants. On top of that, you can get cash back offers within the app from brands like Doordash, Instacart, Sephora. This month, it's all about that apparel. I got a crazy schedule. I shop online a lot, snag a suit here or there, fresh gear. 5% cash back adds up fast. And signing up is easy. Just Download the new PayPal app to sign up and you're ready to start earning cash back on your everyday purchases. Pay Smart. Earn cash back. Enjoy peace of mind with a PayPal debit card. Don't just pay PayPal terms and limits apply. See paypal.com rewardspal Cashback earned as points redeemable for cash and other options on up to $1,000 spend per month. The PayPal Debit MasterCard is issued by the Bancorp Bank N.A. pursuant to license by MasterCard International, Inc. And may be used everywhere MasterCard is accepted.

[Jon Stewart]

Catch Jon Stewart back in action on the Daily show and in your ears with the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. From his hilarious satirical takes on today's politics and entertainment to the unique voices of correspondents and contributors, it's your perfect companion to stay on top of what's happening now. Plus, you'll get special content just for podcast listeners, like in depth interviews and a roundup of the week's top headlines. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Adnan Virk]

What's up everybody? Adnan Burke here to tell you about a new podcast from iHeart podcast in the National Hockey League. It's NHL Unscripted with Virk and Demers.

[Jason Demers]

Hey, I'm Jason Demers, former 700 game NHL defenseman turned NHL Network analyst, and boy oh boy, does Daddy have a lot to say.

[Adnan Virk]

I love you, by the way, on NHL Network, we're looking forward to getting together each week to chat and chirp about the sport and all the other things surrounding it that we love. Right?

[Jason Demers]

Yeah, I just met you today, but we're going to have a ton of guests from the colliding worlds of hockey, entertainment and pop culture. And you know what, Tons of back and forth on all things NHL.

[Adnan Virk]

Yeah, you're still going to find out we're not just hockey talk. We're into all kinds of random stuff on this podcast. Movies, television, food, wrestling, even the stuff that you wear on NHL.

[Jason Demers]

Now you wish you could pull off my short shorts, Ferkey.

[Adnan Virk]

That's sure to cause a ruckus. Listen to NHL Unscripted with Burkin demers and the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The forces shaping markets and the economy are often hiding behind a blur of numbers.

[John Mittelkoff]

So that's why we created the Big Take from Bloomberg Podcasts to give you the context you need to make sense of it all.

[Adnan Virk]

Every day in just 15 minutes, we dive into one global business story that matters.

[John Mittelkoff]

You'll hear from Bloomberg journalists like Matt Levine.

[Jon Stewart]

A lot of this meme stock stuff.

[Colin Cowherd]

Is, I think, embarrassing to the Sec.

[John Mittelkoff]

Amanda Mall, who writes our BusinessWeek Buying Power column.

[Colin Cowherd]

Very few companies who go viral are, like, totally prepared for what that means.

[John Mittelkoff]

And Zoe Tillman, senior legal reporter. Courts are not supposed to decide elections. Courts are not really supposed to play a big role in choosing our elected leaders. It's for the voters to decide.

[Adnan Virk]

Follow the Big Take podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.

[Colin Cowherd]

So I'm hoping this story is not true, but it comes from an NBA website called Clutch Points, and it says, today, sources close to the Lakers say that if James asked the Lakers to trade him and his name swirling around trade deadlines in, like, February, they would work to define LeBron a deal where he'd rather be. But it is believed James would only go if Bronny James, his son, would be part of the deal. So that's weak. I mean, the moment LeBron made playing with his son a priority, he probably punted on winning any more titles. So let's just be honest about this. Bronny's not an NBA player. He's not. He's not a primary ball handler. He's not a shooting guard. He's tiny. He's athletic, but everybody in the league's athletic. He's not an NBA player. So I basically, I totally supported LeBron again with his son in that moment, the first night they played together. Totally supported it. But we got to stop pretending here. This is getting Globetrotter level sticky. Bronny's not an NBA player. He's a G League player. And he's not a dominant G League player. He's not even a very good G League player.

[Jon Stewart]

So.

[Colin Cowherd]

And he wasn't a very good college player on a. On a solid program. Not a great one. So, again, if Bronny and Braun were playing at the UCLA gym here five minutes from where I sit, and it was August and we all had our iPhones out, that's awesome. But trying to force us to believe, like, this is a real thing, we got to stop pretending it's inauthentic. It's not. It's just not good. And listen, NBA stars have always aged strangely. Michael Jordan was on the Wizards. He was cranky and didn't get along with his Washington teammates. Melo was sending us random videos from gyms wherever, seeing if he could make another roster. Shaq was on three teams in three seasons. And LeBron's trying to make us believe that Bronny's an NBA player. He's a nice kid and he's athletic, but he's a 61 non point guard. They do not exist. That would be like saying a really super slow wide receiver. They don't exist in the league. And so I mean, listen, I'm not trying to be mean, but have we gone from the decision to the delusion if this story is true and I don't think the lakers should trade LeBron because the attendance is still good, he's the second best player on the team. He's a playmaker and outside of Austin Reeves, they don't have another. So I think trading LeBron is ridiculous. But the Lakers have sort of allowed this and there's where we stand now. He's at the center of trade rumors and it just feels terribly inauthentic. I can be okay with a moment but not think it's a movement, right? There's a lot of moments I support. They don't need to be movements. And I think it's just inauthentic. To try to make this a package deal would be saying, hey, both are what another team wanted. And I think LeBron at this point has a very limited market. I don't think Bronnie has one at all. Just being real here. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific. This podcast is sponsored by PayPal. Now here's the kicker. The PayPal debit card earns you 5% cash back in a monthly category of your Choice. Up to $1,000 of monthly purchases. So groceries, health and beauty, gas, apparel restaurants. On top of that, you can get cash back offers within the app from brands like DoorDash, Instacart, Sephora. This month, it's all about that apparel. I got a crazy schedule. I shop online a lot, snag a suit here or there, fresh gear. 5% cash back adds up fast. And signing up is easy. Just Download the new PayPal app to sign up and you're ready to start earning cash back on your everyday purchases. Pay smart, Earn cash back. Enjoy peace of mind with a PayPal debit card. Don't just pay PayPal. Terms and limits apply. See paypal.com rewardspal Cashback earned as points redeemable for cash and other options on up to $1,000 spend per month. The PayPal Debit MasterCard is issued by the Bancor Bank N.A. pursuant to license by MasterCard International, Inc. And may be used everywhere. MasterCard is accepted as we gather together.

[John Mittelkoff]

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[Adnan Virk]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Jon Stewart]

Catch Jon Stewart back in action on the Daily show and in your ears with the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. From his hilarious satirical takes on today's politics and entertainment to the unique voices of correspondence and contributors, it's your perfect companion to stay on top of what's happening now. Plus, you'll get special content just for podcast listeners like in depth interviews and a roundup of the week's top headlines. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Adnan Virk]

What's up everybody? Adnan Burke here to tell you about a new podcast from iHeart podcast in the National Hockey League. It's NHL Unscripted with Virk and Demers.

[Jason Demers]

Hey, I'm Jason Demers, former 700 game NHL defenseman turned NHL Network analyst, and boy oh boy, does Daddy have a lot to say.

[Adnan Virk]

I love you, by the way, on NHL Network. We're looking forward to getting together each week to chat and chirp about the sport and all the other things surrounding it that we love. Right?

[Jason Demers]

Yeah, I just met you today, but we're going to have a ton of guests from the colliding worlds of hockey, entertainment and pop culture. And you know what, tons of back and forth on all things NHL.

[Adnan Virk]

Yeah, you're still going to find out we're not just hockey talk. We're into all kinds of random stuff on this podcast. Movies, television, food, wrestling, even the stuff that you wear on NHL.

[Jason Demers]

Now you wish you could pull off my short shorts, Virky.

[Adnan Virk]

That's sure to cause a ruckus. Listen to NHL Unscripted with Virk and demers and the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The forces shaping markets and the economy are often hiding behind a blur of numbers.

[John Mittelkoff]

So that's why we created the Big Take from Bloomberg Podcasts to give you the context you need to make sense of it all.

[Adnan Virk]

Every day in just 15 minutes, we dive into one global business story that matters.

[John Mittelkoff]

You'll hear from Bloomberg journalists like Matt Levine.

[Jon Stewart]

A lot of this Meme stock stuff.

[Colin Cowherd]

Is, I think, embarrassing to the sec.

[John Mittelkoff]

Amanda Mall, who writes our businessweek Buying Power column.

[Colin Cowherd]

Very few companies who go viral are, like, totally prepared for what that means.

[John Mittelkoff]

And Zoe Tillman, senior legal reporter Courts are not supposed to decide elections. Courts are not really supposed to play a big role in choosing our elected leaders. It's for the voters to decide.

[Adnan Virk]

Follow the Big Take podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.

[Colin Cowherd]

Six Super bowl rings, 14 years offensive coordinator, four years as a head coach. What a pleasure to have Josh McDaniels back. There's so many things today I want to touch on. I, I said this as that for years I was sort of like the cake is the quarterback, left tackle, the run game, the D line, the O line. Receivers are the icing. They, they make it fun.

[Josh McDaniels]

Yep.

[Colin Cowherd]

But they're not essential. And then the rule changes and then they became more essential. But I'm looking at the resurgence of running backs. Baltimore, Green Bay, Detroit, Washington power teams. It's a cyclical league and in the last year and a half, something has happened where teams now are moving back to the run game. Why?

[Josh McDaniels]

Yeah, I think, I think in many regards it's the defense's response to those elite players on the outside. And when there's more safeties in the deep part of the field and less people down near the line of scrimmage, there's just less things you can do to get those guys the ball. And so the guy that's standing by the quarterback or behind the quarterback becomes more valuable because honestly, that's the right thing to do. When there's a light box or a fair fight inside, you give those guys the ball and you can see there's a lot of great running backs in this league, I don't think they should be devalued. But, you know, based on how defenses are defending, you know, teams and offenses, I think they become more valuable.

[Colin Cowherd]

As we're seeing right now, historically, receivers have been noisier and more verbal. I've always said they're kind of the pro basketball players of football. They break the huddle first. It's one on one. They're often the biggest, longest athlete. They want the ball and I get it. But like in Philadelphia now, now we got an issue. We're red hot. We're clearly off the by. Josh, we're going to throw less, we're going to run more. The centerpiece is Saquon. It's working. How would you quiet the locker room? There are increasing stories. Brandon Ingram, Jalen, you know, Dak and DEZ had an issue and Dallas, I Thought made the right decision. They moved Dez out. A.J. brown's really good. How do you quiet the noise in season?

[Josh McDaniels]

Yeah, I think you have to tell them and show them. Honestly, showing them is more important than telling them that you're interested in getting them the ball. And the only reason you want them to have the ball is because they're going to help your team win more than any other player at that position. And there's certain guys like A.J. brown, and we just saw one game on Monday night with Jamar and CD and, you know, the Justin Jeffersons in the world, and these guys that are. They're elite players. They deserve to have the ball. As an offensive coordinator and the quarterback, you want to get them the ball, but there's also a lot of attention being paid to those guys. So, look, I think there's a balance there between forcing it to them too much, where they're trying to take them out of the game, and now you're just punting a lot and throwing a lot of incomplete passes and not getting them the ball at all. And so I think you just try to find the balance, keep them involved early in the game. I think that's important, is to get them involved right away, just so they touch the football, they're in the flow of the game. And then the design of the offense, when you are throwing the ball, you know, it should go through those guys. It just should.

[Colin Cowherd]

So there are decisions. Russell Wilson is. I would say there's a resurgence, but he was seen as a declining player in Denver. Kirk Cousins appears to be declining fast. Brady was remarkably able to stay at a high level, and his decline was very, very hard to see. If you're. I mean, you're like, a master at this. This may not something that you would talk publicly about, but what would be the first thing you would see with a quarterback and think, whisper to Bill or whisper to a coach. He doesn't have blank anymore.

[Josh McDaniels]

Yeah, I think. And we didn't see it with Tommy.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Josh McDaniels]

You know, and he's rare, as, you know. I mean, like, very rare. Yeah. You know, to me, if you start to feel like they don't want the hits, you know, and the ball's kind of coming out maybe earlier than it should.

[Colin Cowherd]

Or beat early.

[Josh McDaniels]

Yeah, beat early because they just know what's about to come, you know, and hit them in the. In the chest or in the shoulder or, you know, those start to accumulate over time, and they start to hurt more. And we were talking about it, you know, the NASCAR drivers that get A little older that all of a sudden they start to fall down the leaderboard and they're still driving for the same organization. They're still doing the same thing.

[Colin Cowherd]

They got four kids.

[Josh McDaniels]

Yes. Right. There's a little bit more to drive for or play for. And I don't even know that anybody makes those decisions consciously. I think it's almost a subconscious decision that your body makes for you that, you know, it may not want to go through this anymore.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. If you were in Chicago. So it structurally is an organization on tilt. Give me the first thing. I'm Caleb Williams. You walk into the room, what is the first thing you do? Because he was struggling, ascending, plateaued, dropping. What's the first order of business to a talented young quarterback to get him right.

[Josh McDaniels]

You're talking about right now.

[Colin Cowherd]

Caleb Williams walked in today.

[Josh McDaniels]

Today.

[Colin Cowherd]

How do you get it back?

[Josh McDaniels]

What do you feel most comfort doing? You know, I think. Yeah. What do you feel most comfortable doing? Because the offense isn't going to be very good. Doing things that I like if you don't like them.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right.

[Josh McDaniels]

You know, and so I think the biggest thing you have to do is what's in his bucket that he feels really good about. And you start with that and honestly major in that. And then if you say, hey, I think there's a few things that would help us as a team if we could add these to your bucket, you know, and then at that point, you know, you got to have the conversation. And I think he deserves to know why you want to do that. You know, I think if we do this, that helps us get the ball down the field more. We can get this guy the ball if we do some, you know, some of this. But I think to me it has to start with where he's comfortable. And look, these rookie quarterbacks, as we've seen, there's been flashes of great play from all of them and all of.

[Colin Cowherd]

Them have had bad days.

[Josh McDaniels]

That's right. And they all. And some of them have hit like a little bit of a lull or a wall, if you will. And then you kind of got to get them back. And so I think to me it starts with what do you feel most comfortable doing on a play to play basis? Let's do more of that. Let's major in that and then see where we go from there.

[Colin Cowherd]

So in any industry, if something's viewed as a high stress job, and there's a lot, it could be a fighter pilot, could be an astronaut, the company usually gives you longer time to recover. Right. And so let's not perfectly analogous to football, but when you're the Chiefs and every game, yep, it's a one score, one possession game, is it possible that it does wear on you over the course of a season that you need some layups in this league and they don't get any layups?

[Josh McDaniels]

Yeah, it can if you. If you're focused on just the result. I think if you're focusing on the process and. And that team knows on Monday when they watch the film that they're playing pretty good football. And right now, based on all of our injuries and the situation and circumstances that we have, this is the best we're going to do right now. You know what I mean? Not saying that we can't improve, but look, you know, the days of thinking you're going to go in there and score 40 every time. That's not right now. That's not this team, you know, now when they had Hollywood and Rashee and, you know, they were healthier and they lost Pacheco for a while and all. I mean, look, they've had to deal with a lot of things this year for three years. Really. Yeah, they really have. And they've played more games than everybody else.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes, too.

[Josh McDaniels]

So there. Look, that happens. That happened to us in New England where you just. There's a. There's an attrition that takes over when you're the team that's playing the final game of the season. So I think, to me, I think they'll do a great job. And he does a phenomenal job always, but he'll keep it in perspective. You know, there's value in winning close games. They're going to have to win them in January in that fashion. And so I think his team is mentally and physically tough. And for that I think there's a lot of positive.

[Colin Cowherd]

Finally, we've seen Jordan Love of Green Bay and Jalen hurts. Both staffs have said we want you to throw less. So Jordan loves getting in the 22 to 23 attempts. In fact, anytime he's thrown over like 30, 35, they're on three. And by the way, it works. And they have a great running back. Philadelphia Jalen at 34. We get loose at 24. We're great. When you add Tom. And even though Tom is the most efficient and productive quarterback ever, was there a number you looked at and you would be in game thinking, this isn't what I want. We're going too many innings here because Tom was obsessed to begin with. You know, like Tommy would just throw it 50, if you let him. Did you go into games or over the course of a season? Okay, now we're in November. Did you have a number as a quarterback?

[Josh McDaniels]

It depended on who we were playing.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay.

[Josh McDaniels]

You know, if you, if you go into the game and you say, listen, throwing the ball against Dwight Freeney and Mathis and that pass rush, you know, 52 times is not a good idea.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right.

[Josh McDaniels]

We need to run the ball, you know, 28, 30, 32 times for us to feel better about controlling the game.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right.

[Josh McDaniels]

That's different. There were times where we played, you know, the Baltimore Ravens and we went into the game saying, you can't run. We're definitely throwing at 55 or more times. And I think the decision during the week and the comfort you get with it and you tell the team, this is how we're going to try to.

[Colin Cowherd]

Would you tell Bill that?

[Josh McDaniels]

Yeah, well, he would. Yeah, he would tell me that, you know, like, I don't think we're going to make many yards running the ball this week, you know, and you say, okay, you know, well, how many is too many? You know, you asked him that. 7. You know, so you just, you just say, all right, we're going to put all our eggs in this basket. Now, you might design the offensive game plan a little differently, you know, maybe a couple less down the field throws and more screens or something else that are extensions of the running game, but that stop the rush from becoming a big factor. But I think what these teams are after is complimentary football.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right.

[Josh McDaniels]

Don't turn it over. Score score points when we get our opportunities, give the ball to the back as much as we can. Create some big plays off that and play action and then play good defense.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. Get a lead. Run games are great with the lead, not just trailing.

[Josh McDaniels]

That's right.

[Colin Cowherd]

Great with a lead.

[Josh McDaniels]

That's right.

[Colin Cowherd]

Love having you on, man.

[Josh McDaniels]

I love being here.

[Colin Cowherd]

Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific. So there's a story out there. I find this interesting. The Russell Wilson contract. So, J. Mac, Russell Wilson has earned in his 13 year career. This is amazing. $304 million. That is a lot. And so Russell right now is one of the best bargains in football. But not for Denver. They're still paying him. He's a bargain for Pittsburgh. Okay. He's not playing for free, so Denver's paying him, not Pittsburgh. Now, Russell wants a new contract and I would give him one. But here's the thing. Russell is an aging, slightly declining player from Three years ago. That's indisputable. Pittsburgh has no reason to hurry. There's not a huge market for him. And the other key is, let's see the next three to four weeks, the schedule for Pittsburgh is the ultimate truth serum. At Philly, at Baltimore, Kansas City and then high scoring Cincinnati, they go 2 and 2. 04. Maybe he's not the answer. So to me you sign stars early, don't screw around with top talent, but if somebody's a great fit, then you can wait. Okay. And I think Russell Wilson is more great fit than he is currently great player. It's not a criticism. He is absolutely an upgrade at a position of need. And secondly, he's not spectacular nor is he in his prime. And so again, Josh Allen, Lamar Herbert, sign him early. Don't waste your time. Don't even go to the last year of the deal. Just get it done early. That's not Russell. And part of Russell's appeal, and this may sound harsh but two of his wins are against Cleveland. And part of his appeal is he's better than we thought. We came in the Russell Wilson Steeler thing, very low expectations and truck stop food is amazing when you're starving. And he is now solved. Let's be honest, this offense for five or six years was awful and it's no longer awful. It's not high electric dynamic. Wow. It's not Buffalo, you know, it doesn't look like Detroit or Philadelphia. It's not those teams or the Rams against the Bills. It's not that. But when you're starving, you know, it's amazing what tastes great. And I think Russell also has to come to terms with he's getting paid great now for a team he doesn't even have to play for. So to me Pittsburgh is a great fit. Now superstars work anywhere. Russell doesn't work anywhere. He didn't work in Denver and he wasn't getting the Seahawks to the playoffs. So to me, if I'm Russell, he didn't take a player friendly deal in Seattle, nor did he take one in Denver. This is probably a time for Russell Wilson to go, you know what coach they draft well, they develop. I got a star semi star back, a star receiver. This to me is that, you know, I made a lot of dough. Do you want to go to Aaron Rodgers and make more money and go to the jets or do you want to really be with a great, well capitalized business with a history of winning again? When you're a superstar, it's different when you're, when you're good and you're a great fit. That's when I think money can't drive the decision. Mahomes let money drive a lot of it. This podcast is sponsored by PayPal. Now here's the kicker. The PayPal debit card earns you 5% cash back in a monthly category of your Choice. Up to $1,000 of monthly purchases. So groceries, health and beauty, gas, apparel, restaurants. On top of that, you can get cash back offers within the app from brands like Doordash, Instacart, Sephora. This month, it's all about that apparel. I got a crazy schedule. I shop online a lot, snag a suit here or there, fresh gear. 5% cash back adds up fast. And signing up is easy. Just Download the new PayPal app to sign up and you're ready to start earning cash back on your everyday purchases. Pay smart, earn cash back. Enjoy peace of mind with a PayPal debit card. Don't just pay PayPal terms apply. See PayPal app cash back Earned as points you can redeem for cash and other options. This card issued by the Bancorp and a pursuant to license by MasterCard International, Inc. Join iHeartMedia Chairman and CEO Bob Pittman for a special episode of the hit podcast Math and Stories from the Frontiers of Marketing as he interviews the iconic and prolific Martha Stewart in front of a live audience in celebration of her 100th book.

[Adnan Virk]

Did you ever think you were going.

[Colin Cowherd]

To wind up writing 100 books? Yeah.

[Adnan Virk]

You did?

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. It's just a minor goal. Listen to Math and magic on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jon Stewart]

Jon Stewart is back at the Daily show, and he's bringing his signature wit and insight straight to your ears with the Daily Show Years Edition podcast. Dive into John's unique take on the biggest topics in politics, entertainment, sports, and more. Joined by the sharp voices of the show's correspondents and contributors, and with extended interviews and exclusive weekly headline roundups, this podcast gives you content you won't find anywhere else. Ready to laugh and stay informed? Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Adnan Virk]

What's up, everybody? Ad Nan Burke here to tell you about a new podcast. It's NHL Unscripted with Virk and Demers.

[Jason Demers]

Jason Demers here. And after playing 700 NHL games, I got a lot of dirty laundry to air out.

[Adnan Virk]

Hey, I got a lot to say here too, okay? Each week we'll get together to chat about the sport that we love.

[Jason Demers]

Tons of guests are going to join in, too. But we're not just going to be talking hockey, folks. We're talking movies. We're talking TV, food, and an AD's favorite wrestling. It's all on le Table.

[Adnan Virk]

Listen to NHL unscripted with Virk and demers and the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The forces shaping markets and the economy are often hiding behind a blur of numbers.

[John Mittelkoff]

So that's why we created the Big Take from Bloomberg Podcasts to give you the context you need to make sense of it all.

[Adnan Virk]

Every day, in just 15 minutes, we dive into one global business story that matters.

[John Mittelkoff]

You'll hear from Bloomberg journalists like Matt Levine.

[Jon Stewart]

A lot of this Meme stock stuff.

[Colin Cowherd]

Is, I think, embarrassing to the SEC.

[Adnan Virk]

Follow the Big Take podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.