Best of The Herd

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – "Best of The Herd" Release Date: August 14, 2025

Host: Colin Cowherd
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Description: "The Herd with Colin Cowherd" offers a thought-provoking, opinionated, and topic-driven exploration of the day's top sports stories. In the "Best of The Herd" episode, Colin revisits some of the most compelling discussions and insights from recent broadcasts.

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1. Chicago Bears and Quarterback Caleb Williams

Timestamp: [05:00] – [16:38]

Colin Cowherd initiates the episode by delving into the Chicago Bears' quarterback situation, focusing on Caleb Williams. He draws parallels between Caleb and other prominent NFL quarterbacks, emphasizing the challenges of player commitment and development.

Key Points:

• Caleb Williams' Performance:
  Colin highlights Williams' statistical performance last season, noting a completion rate of 62.5%, an 88 passer rating, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He suggests that with improvements, particularly under a new offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, Williams could elevate to Pro Bowl status.

  "If he just improved 15%, look at the numbers. He's a Pro Bowler." ([05:30])

• Comparison with Other Athletes:
  The discussion compares Williams to renowned athletes like Carmelo Anthony, James Harden, and Lamar Jackson, questioning why some struggle with defensive commitment while others excel. Colin argues that not all talent issues are solvable through mere coaching tweaks.

  "Not all issues are solvable. They [coaches] are great at tweaking. They are not magicians." ([07:15])

• Team Dynamics and Coaching Impact:
  Colin expresses optimism about the Bears' future, contingent on Williams' adaptability and the team's offensive improvements. He critiques historical coaching decisions, citing examples like Sean McVay with Jared Goff, emphasizing that coaching adjustments can only achieve so much without player buy-in.

  "There are certain things in Chicago that are not solvable... But a 15% improvement could make a Pro Bowl quarterback." ([10:45])

2. Pittsburgh Steelers’ Defensive Woes

Timestamp: [14:00] – [25:00]

The conversation shifts to the Pittsburgh Steelers, where Colin critically analyzes the team's defensive strategies and coaching effectiveness, particularly under head coach Mike Tomlin.

Key Points:

• Defensive Backlog and Performance:
  Colin asserts that the Steelers' defense has consistently underperformed despite significant financial investments. He scrutinizes Mike Tomlin's inability to develop a viable run game, which in turn overburdens the defense.

  "The Steelers can't build a run game... that's the hole in his game." ([17:10])

• Impact of Extended NFL Season:
  Discussing the NFL's move to an 18-game season, Colin argues that this expansion exacerbates defensive fatigue, making it nearly impossible to maintain top-tier defensive performance without a strong complementary run game.

  "With an 18-game schedule, you will not have a great defense without a complimentary above-average run game." ([20:30])

• Historical Comparisons and Future Outlook:
  By comparing the Steelers to teams like the New England Patriots under Bill Belichick and reflecting on recent defensive performances, Colin concludes that without addressing fundamental run game issues, the Steelers' defense will continue to languish.

  "Historically, if you spend the most on defense and don't lead the league, it's virtually impossible... because their run game stunk." ([23:50])

3. Impact of Increased Season Length on Defensive Strategies

Timestamp: [20:00] – [25:00]

Colin further explores how the NFL’s expanded season affects defensive units across the league, not just the Steelers.

Key Points:

• Sustained Defensive Pressure:
  The extended season means defenses are continuously on the field, leading to increased fatigue and higher injury rates. Colin posits that without effective run games to keep defenses rested, overall defensive quality will decline league-wide.

  "There will be no great NFL defenses... without a complementary run game." ([21:40])

• Team-Specific Challenges:
  Highlighting the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles, Colin notes that successful defenses often rely on dynamic running games led by players like Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry to control game tempo and give their defenses rest.

  "Baltimore and Philadelphia have complementary run games that keep the defense off the field." ([22:15])

4. Taylor Swift’s Involvement in Sports Media

Timestamp: [31:17] – [35:02]

The episode takes an interesting detour into pop culture, specifically Taylor Swift's unexpected appearances in sports media.

Key Points:

• Public Reception and Media Coverage:
  Colin discusses the mixed reactions to Taylor Swift’s brief appearances during NFL broadcasts, noting that while some fans are irked by her limited screen time, others appreciate the crossover between music and sports.

  "They showed her for 34 seconds... It's part of what they do all summer long." ([32:30])

• Celebrity Influence on Sports Popularity:
  He posits that celebrity involvement in sports broadcasts can attract a broader audience, particularly female fans, enhancing the overall appeal of the games.

  "A lot of female and female fans stay because the game is so great and interesting." ([34:00])

• Comparison with Other Celebrities in Sports:
  Colin draws parallels between Swift's involvement and previous instances of celebrities engaging with sports, suggesting that such interactions are a natural extension of celebrity culture in America.

  "Celebrities get celebrities. It's the way it is." ([34:45])

5. Young Quarterbacks: JJ McCarthy and Comparisons

Timestamp: [38:00] – [54:39]

The discussion returns to NFL quarterbacks, focusing on up-and-coming talents like JJ McCarthy and their readiness for the professional stage.

Key Points:

• JJ McCarthy’s Potential and Challenges:
  Colin and his guests evaluate JJ McCarthy's performance, noting his strengths in mobility and arm strength but also highlighting areas needing improvement, such as anticipating defensive plays and maintaining accuracy under pressure.

  "If he's to become a quality NFL starting quarterback, his game is not going to be built on a playmaking dimension but on his ability to play from the pocket." ([44:12])

• Coaching Influence on Quarterback Development:
  The role of coaching, particularly offensive coordinators like Kevin O'Connell, is emphasized as crucial in shaping a quarterback's success in the NFL. Colin argues that attributing quarterback performance solely to coaching decisions undermines the collaborative nature of the sport.

  "That's what the offensive coordinator is supposed to do... He's supposed to present it so that ideally the first read is clean." ([43:50])

• Comparisons with Established Quarterbacks:
  Drawing parallels with veterans like Patrick Mahomes and Brock Purdy, the conversation underscores the importance of team dynamics and supporting cast in a quarterback's development and performance consistency.

  "Brock Purdy's opening into the NFL was like a comfortable start, and he should be capable." ([53:10])

6. Conclusion and Final Insights

Timestamp: [54:00] – [57:50]

In wrapping up, Colin reflects on the interconnectedness of team strategies, player development, and external factors influencing NFL performances.

Key Points:

• Holistic Team Development:
  Colin emphasizes that quarterback success is a blend of individual talent, coaching quality, and team support, advocating for a comprehensive approach to team building.

  "It's not solely dependent on the young quarterback. It's the way in which he... is able to play based on the rest of the team." ([55:20])

• Future Outlook:
  He expresses cautious optimism about the potential of emerging quarterbacks and teams improving through strategic adjustments and player development.

  "You never know the answer... It depends on how the games are played." ([52:00])

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• "If he just improved 15%, look at the numbers. He's a Pro Bowler." – Colin Cowherd ([05:30])
• "There are certain things in Chicago that are not solvable... But a 15% improvement could make a Pro Bowl quarterback." – Colin Cowherd ([10:45])
• "There will be no great NFL defenses... without a complementary run game." – Colin Cowherd ([21:40])
• "Celebrities get celebrities. It's the way it is." – Colin Cowherd ([34:45])
• "It's not solely dependent on the young quarterback. It's the way in which he... is able to play based on the rest of the team." – Colin Cowherd ([55:20])

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Insights and Conclusions

In this "Best of The Herd" episode, Colin Cowherd offers a nuanced analysis of current NFL dynamics, particularly focusing on quarterback development and defensive strategies amidst structural changes like an extended season. He underscores the delicate balance between individual talent and team cohesion, highlighting that success in the NFL hinges not just on standout players but also on systemic support and strategic planning.

Colin's discussion regarding the Chicago Bears and Caleb Williams serves as a microcosm of broader challenges in the league—balancing raw talent with the necessary coaching and team environment to foster peak performance. Similarly, his critique of the Pittsburgh Steelers' defensive shortcomings amidst an increased season length offers a cautionary tale about the limitations of financial investment without addressing foundational team issues.

The exploration of Taylor Swift's role in sports media adds an intriguing layer to the conversation, reflecting on the evolving landscape of sports entertainment and its intersection with pop culture. Meanwhile, the focus on young quarterbacks like JJ McCarthy provides a forward-looking perspective on the league's future, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and comprehensive development programs.

Overall, the episode encapsulates the multifaceted nature of professional sports, where player performance, coaching efficacy, team strategies, and even celebrity culture intertwine to shape the narrative of the game.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

This is an iHeart podcast.

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[Manny]

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[Noah]

You got a hoodie on. Take it all.

[Manny]

I'm Manny.

[Noah]

I'm Noah.

[Devin]

This is Devin.

[Manny]

And we're best friends and journalists with a new podcast called no Such Thing where we get to the bottom of questions like that. Why are you screaming at me? I can't expect what to do now if the rule was the same, go off on me.

[Noah]

I deserve it, you know. Lock him up.

[Manny]

Listen to no Such thing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Noah]

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[Az Fudd]

Hey guys, it's Az Fudd. You may know me as a gold medalist, you may know me as an NCAA national champion. You may even know me as a people's princess. Every week on my new podcast, futaround and find out. I'll be talking to some special guests about pop culture, basketball and what it's like to be a professional athlete on and off the court. Listen to FUT around and find out. A production of iHeart Women's Sports in partnership with Unanimous Media on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Noah]

Not today. Not today.

[Colin Cowherd]

Every case that is a cold case.

[Devin]

That has DNA right now in a.

[Colin Cowherd]

Backlog will be identified in our lifetime on the new podcast America's Crime Lab. Every case has a story to and the DNA holds the truth.

[Devin]

He never thought he was going to.

[Noah]

Get caught and I just looked at.

[Devin]

My computer screen, I was just like, ah, gotcha.

[Noah]

This technology's already solving so many cases.

[Colin Cowherd]

Listen to America's Crime Lab on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Noah]

Thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio at 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 Cowher on Fox Sports Radio. It is a Thursday. We are full as usual. One hour. Greg Cosell, it's third in Chicago. Wherever you may be, however you may be listening, thanks for making us part of your day. You know, J. Mac, I was thinking about this on Fox Sunday night. I'm not sure if I've ever been this jacked to watch a preseason game. It's Caleb Williams and the Bears taking on the Buffalo Bills. And Ben Johnson has said, listen, we're, we're, we're playing starters. So, and, and we've seen this preseason Mahomes and Burrow and, you know, veterans are playing, everybody's playing. So. But this week, they held out Caleb Williams. And so I want to talk about this. We tend to think, as fans and media, we tend to think, if you're talented, that the problems are always solvable. Carmelo Anthony, well, he's a great athlete. He'll commit to defense eventually. He never did. James Harden never committed to the defensive end. MJ did. Kobe did. LeBron did. Durant has. Even Steph Curry, who's not great, did. Bird did. Melo. James Harden never did. Could have. Lucas never really committed to defense. Well, he's in great shape. He'll use that for offense, my guess, not for defense. Not. We tend to think, though, like, we all know that Sean McVeigh could not make Jared Goff fast or Kyle Shanahan may have made Matt Ryan an mvp, but he couldn't make him a great athlete. But when we see these great talents, we think, wow, you can solve their problems. Aaron Rodgers has been aloof his entire career. Jay Cutler's temperament was not a winning temperament in the NFL, and Cutler was really talented, and so was Aaron Rodgers. Kyler Murray, is he really as committed as Tom Brady was? He's certainly talented enough to be. We think commitment's just getting in a little early, staying a little late. Doesn't work that way. When you're a great athlete like Caleb Williams, there are some things that come easy and you really never develop them right. Like I always said, there's very few supermodels, male or female, that have been neurosurgeons. They don't have to be right. So I look at Caleb, and this is the part that I'm very optimistic last year with two different head coaches and two different play callers, a total circus and an egregiously bad offensive line. Here were the numbers. 62.5% completion percentage, 88 passer rating, 20 touchdowns, six picks. Those are not terrible. If he just improved just with Ben Johnson, very, very. A luxury offensive mind and a very big upgrade on the offensive line. If he just improved 15%, look at the numbers. He's a Pro Bowler. 71 completion percentage, 23 touchdowns, only five picks and one on one pass already. You would be, you would be a Pro Bowler. 15. A 15 is a huge return in the stock market on an annual basis. But 15 tweaking, that's, that's kind of what McVeigh did to Jared Goff. He really, if you go look at the Goff numbers, I mean, I was looking at him this morning. It's, it's not like he took Jared Goff from 54% completion percentage to 70. He took him 54 to 62.

[Devin]

Right?

[Noah]

Like now the passer rating because basically golf was on his back with a Jeff Fisher staff. But it was a lot of tweaking. But he couldn't make him a great athlete. My question with Caleb Williams, are his issues like Carmelo, he could do it, or Luca, he could do it. They just don't want to. He just wants to tuck it and run. Lamar Jackson could have tucked it and run his way to Pro Bowls, but he didn't want to do just that. So Lamar Jackson has developed into a really good pocket quarterback. He didn't have to. He was winning a lot of games his first year and a half. Not great from the pocket, but above the shoulders. Lamar Jackson, a relentless competitor, said, I'm going to get better in the pocket. And he did. But they, it doesn't always work that way. So there are certain things in Chicago that are not solvable. The winter weather, the Bears weaker than average ownership are not solvable. The question becomes, can he improve 15%? Because coaches, offensive coaches are great at tweaking. They are not magicians. Nobody could make Jay Cutler joyful. Nobody's been able to make Kyler Murray's commitment obsessive. You know, nobody's ever been able to get Aaron Rodgers out of that passive aggressive nonsense or Mellow to shoot a 3 or Luca to play defense. Not all, not all issues are solvable. They 15% improvement from Ben, though, and you have a Pro bowl quarterback. And that's why I say you got to get them on the field. Brian Baldinger came on the show yesterday and agrees. Just get him on the field and let's figure out solvable or unsolvable. Let's figure it out by like Thanksgiving. Okay, great. You're toughening the team up. They need to get tougher mentally. Let's put the quarterback out there. You've upgraded the offensive line. You can't be the least bit worried about him getting hurt. He was sacked 68 times and never hurt last year. Put him out there. Let him show the world that this offense fits him and he could do the things that Ben Johnson wants him to do. There's. There's no point to hiding him. He needs to play in this offense and he needs to get the ball out of his hands and win from the pocket. So people think I'm picking on the Pittsburgh Steelers, but every even hall of Fame coach has a little bit of a hole. We saw it with Bill Belichick. He started taking over the drafts and the last seven New England Patriot drafts where Belichick had ultimate control, sitting with his dog in that Nantucket table, making picks. They were awful. Bill had a hole in his game, and his hole was he was not good at drafting. He reached on multiple offensive linemen, multiple wide receivers. He was pretty good on drafting the defensive side, especially corners, linebackers, safeties. He was dreadful on offense. Did he ever draft a wide receiver? I mean, he had to go get Randy Moss, already a pro. West Welker, already a pro. Edelman was a quarterback in college. Like, did they ever draft a wide receiver? That panned out. He just couldn't do it. Mike Tomlin has a hole, too, and I hope he's aware of it. But Mike Tomlin is talking about the Steeler defense. He said, oh, this thing, Listen to this. This thing is going to be historic. Here's Mike Tomlin on year's potential Steeler defense. We feel really good about the prospects of this group. We do. We got to write that story. But we got enough talent, we got enough schematics to do big, big things. And when I say big things, I'm talking about historic things. It's really hard to be a historic defense when you can't sustain drives offensively. And this, to me, is the hole in Tomlin's game. He's a motivator. He develops. He knows defense. But if you notice last year, too, what happens in the last five or six games to the Steelers defense, it falls apart because they're on the field the whole season. Last year, last five games, their defense last in the league in opponent's passer rating, dead last. Quarterbacks ate them alive. They gave up 400 yards a game, 27 and a half points a game. The point differential was minus 66, bottom of the league. So this year's defense is going to be historic because you added Darius Slay and Jalen Ramsey. Both, both baser prime. The Steelers can't develop consistent run games. And there's a reason Philadelphia's defense or Baltimore's defense are dominating. Yes, part of its personnel. The other part is Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry keep the defense off the field so they're arrested. And by the way, that's what Philadelphia, Jalen hurts and Saquon Barkley in the O line. So when the defense is on the field, they are rested and ready to go. Pittsburgh's defense last year with, with T.J. watt, with Cam Hayward, Minka, Fitzpatrick was dreadful because they're on the field the entire game. And as the NFL keeps expanding the season, we're now at 17 games, many suspect it will be 18. You will not have a great defense in the NFL going forward. If we go to 18 games, you will not have a great defense without a complimentary above average run game. That is too many games to have your defense on the field. Remember that playoff game last year with the Ravens? Do you see time of possession? Ravens 40 minutes, Steelers 20 minutes. You can't be a great defense. And in these elongated seasons, this, I mean even college football is going to 14, 15 games after the playoff if you don't have a run game. I don't care how good Alabama's defense is, more guys get hurt, more guys are exhausted. Pittsburgh's defense was terrible at the end of last year because they couldn't move the chains. That's what Belichick always got. He kept Dante Scarnecki around. Best offensive line coach ever. They always had an above average run game. They didn't lead the NFL in sacks. They didn't lead the NFL in interceptions year after year. But their defense was fresh, usually healthy. Go to the sidelines, get on the iPad. What did we do wrong? Sustained drives, Brady picking up first downs. Just move the chains. Seven minute drives. Even if you only get a field goal or don't score, let the defense rest. There are no going forward. There will be no great NFL defenses. 17, 18 game schedule consistently without a good run game. And the Steelers cannot build a run game. And you know the only thing that's historic is that the historic nature of the Steelers is once again they lead the NFL in defensive spending. In the last four years haven't been a top 10 defense. That's virtually impossible to do. Historically if you spend the most money on the side of the ball and you do it for four straight years, it is virtually unheard of that it's not top 10. And yet the Steelers last four years haven't because their run game stunk. It's not that complicated. I think it's the hole in his game. All right, J. Mac, we got a lot. Greg Cosell is going to be joining us. The Angels swept the Dodgers. The brewers and the Angels this year have swept the Dodgers. Did you listen to the Taylor Swift stuff?

[Jay Mac]

What Taylor Swift stuff?

[Noah]

You didn't hear Taylor Swift on that New Heights podcast?

[Jay Mac]

I was unaware that happened. Of course I heard about it. My daughter watched the whole thing. No, I did not pay attention.

[Noah]

What did she make of it?

[Jay Mac]

She's a fan of Taylor Swift. You know, we went to the concert. I don't. I don't know that there's anything super interesting in there. Let me go back to your Pittsburgh point for a seclin. Can you. You run a business. I've run a business. Can you think of running a business finding no success where it matters most, the bottom line, for like four years in a row? And then let's not change anything. Let's just double down on what's not working. Like, how can Pittsburgh think. Let's keep doing this. Like, what am I missing here? That's just bad business.

[Noah]

Yeah, I mean, it's. It's. It's so. And again, even the great coaches have a hole. Belichick and personnel, offensive personnel. He just couldn't do it last seven years. The proof's in the pudding. Jerry Jones, smart guy. Vanity and ego. It's his hole. You know, everybody. Everybody's got one temperament for Elon Musk, bit of a hole. He found that out, you know, dealing with our president. Everybody's got a hole, no matter how smart they are. And I think Mike Tomlins is. He's unable to develop a run game to allow his defense to win the time of possession battle. You can't keep ask. Remember, there's more injuries historically on the defensive side than the offensive side. Defensive guys are there to blow stuff up. I mean, that's what you do as a defensive player. Hair on fire, fast as you can blow stuff up. More defensive players get hurt over a season than offensive players. And by the way, as defensive players get older and expensive, they get hurt more often. So the Steelers now are an old football team. On defense. T.J. watt, Cam Hayward, 37, slay ran. You know, they're an old defense, they're an expensive defense. And what's that mean when you can't develop a run game? By the way, the guy they drafted not been impressive as camp. Not in camp. Najee Harris gone. So there's no indication they have struggled to run the ball in camp. It's going to be any different.

[Jay Mac]

They feel, yeah, they feel like a business, like a Kodak or Xerox. They just don't see that you need to reboot or reinvent yourself.

[Noah]

We think it's a passing league. The top six rushing teams last year in the NFL all made the playoffs. Three of the top five teams in total defense last year did not. So we know the defense isn't as impactful as it used to be based on the rule changes. But the great defenses almost all have something in common. Baltimore, right, Philadelphia. They have a complimentary run game to keep the defense off the field. That's why the tush push is so valuable to the defense. I mean, they could just, they just convert third and fourth downs. That is another four to five minutes of real time. Your defense can be resting.

[Devin]

Yeah.

[Noah]

You want your defense to go to the sideline? Go to the iPad. What did we do wrong? Get a Gatorade. Yeah. And come out hair on fire. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app. Hi, this is Jay. I'm the producer of the Paulie and Tony Fusco show. Usually in these promos they ask you to listen to the show. I'm here to ask you please don't listen to the show. The hosts are two absolute morons who have the dumbest takes on sports imaginable. Don't listen to this show so it can get canceled. Whoa, whoa, whoa.

[Devin]

What the hell are you doing in our studio?

[Noah]

Get him, Paulie. Ignore that fool.

[Devin]

Listen to the Paulie and Tony Fusco show on the iHeartRadio app or wherever.

[Noah]

You get your podcast. He's still moving.

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[Noah]

And with 24.

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[Noah]

Up, a shoe with some bones in it. They had no idea who it was. Most everything was burned up pretty good from the fire that not a whole lot was salvageable.

[Colin Cowherd]

These are the coldest of cold cases. But everything is about to change. Every case that is a cold case that has DNA right now in a backlog will be identified in our lifetime. A small lab in Texas is cracking the code on DNA using new scientific tools. They're finding clues in evidence so tiny you might just miss it.

[Noah]

He never thought he was going to get caught.

[Devin]

And I just looked at my computer screen, I was just like, ah, gotcha.

[Colin Cowherd]

On America's Crime Lab, we'll learn about victims and survivors and you'll meet the team behind the scenes at othram, the Houston lab that takes on the most hopeless cases to finally solve the unsolvable. Listen to America's Crime Lab on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Manny]

Imagine that you're on an airplane and all of a sudden you hear this.

[Noah]

Attention passengers. The pilot is having an emergency and we we need someone, anyone to land this plane.

[Manny]

Think you could do it? It turns out that nearly 50% of men think that they could land the plane with the help of air traffic control. And they're saying like, okay, pull this. Until this, pull that, turn this. It's just I can do my eyes closed. I'm Manny.

[Noah]

I'm Noah. This is Devin.

[Manny]

And on our new show, no Such Thing, we get to the bottom of questions like these. Join us as we talk to the leading expert on overcoming confidence.

[Noah]

Those who lack expertise lack the expertise they need to recognize that they lack expertise.

[Manny]

And then as we try the whole thing out for real. Wait, what? Oh, that's the Runway.

[Noah]

I'm looking at this thing.

[Manny]

See, listen to no such thing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jay Mac]

Saturday, it's baseball night in America. AO MVP front runner Aaron Judge leads the Yankees against the Cardinals or the AL Central leading Tigers take on the Twins. Check local listings for the game in your area. Saturday, 7 Eastern on Fox.

[Noah]

So when Tom Coughlin coached the New York Giants, he came in hot. He had been coaching at college. He goes to Jacksonville, he goes to the Giants. And he was intense. And eventually the owner sat him down and said, you got to lighten up a little bit. You know, the player counsel is like, coach, you gotta lighten up a little bit. He did, and they won Super Bowls. But it's okay because he still, he was always accountable. When he was a taskmaster or he lightened up, he was still holding people accountable. But I find this with parents, managers that I've had in my career, you can't come in soft and then become tough guy. Everybody rolls their eyes and it's. This is what I've said. The media chooses who they like and don't like. They didn't like Brian Flores. He didn't give you any access. Like Urban Meyer in college, even though he was winning games, he wouldn't give you any access. And so the media is like, oh, we don't like that guy. We don't like that person. Pete Carroll gave you a bunch of access at usc. Everybody loved him. And so I think with Brian Flores, he goes into Miami. This is the Coach before Mike McDaniel. He goes into Miami, no access. He's tough on everybody. And he breaks down the culture. First eight weeks, he just breaks it down. They go one in seven from that point forward until he was fired, they were something. They were five and four, bottom five penalized team in the league with upgraded special teams. Okay? Mike McDaniel, not a guy that holds people accountable. Fun loving, the snarky hipster. They're a top five penalized team since he's been a coach of the Dolphins. Brian Flores, a bottom five penalized team. Why? Accountability. Which is something now Mike McDaniel is stressing. So yesterday the Dolphins had a practice with the Lions. The quote here is, it was as lopsided a joint NFL practice as I've ever seen. Apparently, TUA got banged up. Zach Wilson got banged up. A linebacker for the Lions. Grant Steward said, I don't even know if they practice how we practice, but Again, you can't be a bowl of jello. That's what Miami is. Lot of movement, no meat in the sandwich. Brian Flores was rough. He didn't treat everybody well. He has grown since then, and I think remains the best defensive coordinator in the league. Top two, he and Spags. But Miami was something by, like, week nine on, they didn't commit penalties. They took the ball away. The special teams were buttoned up. You didn't have to love him. He didn't get along with Tua, but they were something. And that's why I say with Miami and Mike McDaniel, what are they? I don't know what they are. And again, I understand it takes a while to break down the culture, but I would argue today Miami doesn't even have a culture. And it all starts with lack of accountability. And that's why Brian Flores came in hot. He probably should have lightened up. He now has in Minnesota, but I would hire Brian Flores. Mike McDaniels came in as everybody's friend, and now he's trying to create accountability. And it's hard. And that's not a shot at Mike. It's hard. Jason Garrett in Dallas tried to do that, and people just didn't buy it because he was everybody's, you know, the Clapper. He was everybody's buddy. It was hard. Wade Phillips, in his career, is a really likable guy. It's hard to buy in. He's a taskmaster. Harbaugh can come in hot to Stanford, San Francisco, Michigan, comes in hot, and then can lighten up and be more joyful. I mean, at the end in Michigan, Harbaugh was a lot of fun. And so here's Mike McDaniel on the Lions. Player that said, I don't even know if they practice like we do. Literally does not affect me whatsoever.

[American Public University]

I think there's.

[Noah]

A lot of. A lot of noise. And I would file that into the noise category. Well, it's noise, but it's not necessarily. There's some validation. The noise is just a comment. That's right. Okay, so Taylor Swift went on the Travis Kelsey podcast. It's called New Heights. It's the Kelsey Brothers. It's very popular, and people got really worked up last year, and it was really ridiculous. So she would be on Chiefs game. She would be on tv, and whoever was airing the Chiefs game, which they were on every network, they played every day but Tuesday last year. So people would get worked up over it, which I called him out, because if you looked at the time she was on Screen. It was like 34 seconds per game. I mean, they, they networks would show her, obviously as a. The world's biggest pop star. Just like they would show, you know, a Spice Girl, marry the David Beckham. You know, if Beckham was playing. I mean, Derek Jeter didn't get married, but Derek Jeter, he had a very fruitful life as a Yankee. This is we, we live in this world now. Celebrities get celebrities. But here was Taylor Swift. She is. It sounds real here. You got to give her credit. I know some of you guys aren't comfortable with this because she's on screen for 34 seconds. And I would argue celebrities get celebrities. They get the intensity, they get the nonsense. You know, they get people taking pictures constantly. Like, I get it. They get each other. Here is her talking actually about football. I fell in love with it. I became obsessed with it. I became like a person who was running through the halls of my house screaming, we drafted Xavier Worthy. And my friends are like, what is. Who body snatched you? This is, this is. What do you mean? We're talking about COVID two, Cover four, Cover zero, man cover. We're talking.

[Az Fudd]

We're.

[Noah]

We're learning. Yes. And so it's okay. We're all going to be okay. She's going to be shown for 34 seconds. Travis Kelce's retiring after the year. But, you know, I've heard this before. They're using each other. Well, I would argue they get each other. That Travis Kelce is Saturday Night Live. He's on GQ magazine. He was already popular because he was so great in football. He's good looking, he's got a great person. It felt like he hosted Saturday Night Live before Taylor Swift. I mean, he was a very popular guy. He was Mahomes biggest ally on the offense. It's not like he wasn't big. But I will say I've been a little shocked at how myopic and rigid sports fans have been with this. David Beckham married a Spice Girl. Derek Jeter had celebrity girlfriends. Russell Wilson's married to a singer. Folks, it's hard for Taylor Swift, the world's biggest musical act. In fact, not only that, I read just two days ago on Apple Watch, she has pulled away from the rest of the industry. Who do you want her to date? Guy at the True Value hardware store? I mean, let's be serious here. Celebrities get celebrities. I mean, Justin Verlander, didn't he marry Kate Upton, the supermodel? So just ask yourself, were you bothered by Derek Jeter or Russell Wilson? Or David Beckham. I think a lot of this is. We as Americans are very tribal about our football. But this idea that networks can't show Taylor Swift for 34 seconds, folks, do you realize there's 12 and a half minutes of football in a four hour broadcast? There's, they're showing you a lot that is non football. I've seen every male in Buffalo jump off their minivan onto a table on a pregame show that you can cut back. I'm done seeing that. I'm done seeing cheesehead guy. That is a cliche. I'm done with. I can live with the 34 seconds, by the way. Aaron Rodgers, who has a mysterious wife, has twice, twice dated celebrities. This is just like the way it's going to. There are in America athletes, there are royal family. In the UK you have a royal family, you have princes in Monaco, right? In America, our royal family are superstar athletes and, you know, movie stars. That's our royal family. Here was more Taylor on the new influx of female fans to football. A lot of the women and girls, maybe they, maybe they watched one game to see me cheer on my boyfriend or whatever. But if they, if they stayed, which is what people are saying based on the numbers, that's because the game is so great and it's such an amazing, interesting thing to learn about. Yeah, it's great on television. I mean, it's the reason the Netflix, Amazon Primes, the Hulu's, the Paramounts. The reason these companies do well, good content. It's not because we like paying our Netflix bill every month. They offer really good documentaries and, and it's the best actors and the best writers and the best directors and producers and that's what the NFL is. The NFL is great content. Baseball can be slow. There's not a lot of urgency with the NBA season. It's long. Soccer's over on Apple TV. I'm not paying for that. The NFL's great content. Sorry, J Mac, didn't mean to take a shot. Would you? I mean, let me ask you this. Nobody complained about the obligatory and relentless shots of fireman Ed for 30 years. We can't be bothered by 34 seconds of Taylor Swift Fireman Ed. I am over that one. I'm over. I kind of look forward to the Taylor Swift six second shot four times a game.

[Jay Mac]

Yeah, I will say, the whole Taylor Swift running around screaming, we got Xavier Worthy. That's pretty cool. Now I know in my house I can hype the jets with our draft picks, but my family's not all Excited. I like the Taylor Swift's bought in and talking about COVID two. Cover three, man. Like that's kind of cool. I don't know. I'm impressed. I mean I, I assume and run circles around the family room. No, when you announce usc, just sign the five star offensive line.

[Noah]

No, I, I and I and I do think this is genuine and authentic. Is that I think when you're young, I mean my daughter likes sports more than my son. She's willing to go. She goes to MLS games all the time in Nashville. So I think it's authentic. I don't buy they're using each other. I would. They speak that celeb language. I think they get each other. I think it's hard to be a celebrity. Celebrities and never made more in America. I happen to, I mean of the 12 homes I'm sure Taylor Swift owns, I know where one of them's at. And people sit on the beach and take pictures of her home. It's like a, it's a trend. It's what people do all summer long. Who you gonna date? Who are you gonna be around? You know. Yeah. Congrats to the Kelsey's on that. All right. Greg Cosell's around the corner on a Thursday. I can't wait. 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.

[Greg Cosell]

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[American Public University]

American Public University is the number one provider of education to our military and veterans in this country. They offer something truly unique. Special rates and grants for the entire family, making education affordable not just for those who serve, but also for their loved ones. If you have a military or veteran family member and are looking for affordable, high quality education, APU is the place for you. Visit Apu Apus Edu Military to learn more. That's Apu Apus Edu Military.

[Noah]

A foot washed up, a shoe with.

[Devin]

Some bones in it.

[Noah]

They had no idea who it was. Most everything was burned up pretty good from the fire that not a whole lot was salvageable.

[Colin Cowherd]

These are the coldest of cold cases. But everything is about to change.

[Noah]

Every case that is a cold case.

[Colin Cowherd]

That has DNA right now in a backlog will be identified in our lifetime. A small lab in Texas is cracking the code on DNA using new scientific tools. They're finding clues in evidence so tiny you might just miss it.

[Devin]

He never thought he was going to.

[Noah]

Want to get caught.

[Devin]

And I just looked at my computer screen, I was just like, ah, gotcha.

[Colin Cowherd]

On America's Crime Lab, we'll learn about victims and survivors. And you'll meet the team behind the scenes at othram, the Houston lab that takes on the most hopeless cases to finally solve the unsolvable. Listen to America's Crime Lab on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Manny]

Imagine that you're on an airplane and all of a sudden you hear this.

[Noah]

Attention passengers. The pilot is having an emergency and we need someone, anyone to land this plane.

[Manny]

Think you could do it? It turns out that nearly 50% of men think that they could land the plane with the help of air traffic control. And they're saying like, okay, pull this until this, pull that, turn this. It's just I can do my eyes closed. I'm Manny.

[Noah]

I'm Noah. This is Devin.

[Manny]

And on our new show, no Such Thing, we get to the bottom of questions like these. Join us as we talk to the leading expert on overconfidence.

[Noah]

Those who lack expertise lack the expertise. They need to recognize that they lack expertise.

[Manny]

And then as we try the whole thing out for real. Wait, what? Oh, that's the Runway.

[Noah]

I'm looking at this thing.

[Manny]

See, listen to no such thing on the the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts with that.

[Noah]

Greg Cosell, 46 years NFL Films, joins us. Okay, my guy, Shador Sanders. Boy, the pff grade had him just knocking it out of the park. I will say this about Shador when I watch the game, Greg, I do think he moves better than you know, you said this last week. Bonicks moves better than people. Give him credit. For. And it just. He just does. I think Shedeur's movement is pretty good. It's not Bo Nix, but what did you make of his Chadoor's overall performance last Friday?

[Devin]

I thought he did more good things than bad things. To me, the movement was more critical when it came to pocket movement. That second touchdown he threw I thought was a really good example where he moved to his right in reaction to the blitz pressure. And what I really liked was the way he reset his throwing platform, reset his feet, and then delivered the ball at the be at the front of the end zone. You see it right here. You want to throw low at the front of the end zone. I thought that was a really good play. I think one of the things that he'll need to work on because you don't see this a lot in college football, Colin. And there were a number of plays like this, and I guarantee that the organization saw this is he's not a naturally anticipatory thrower. And there were a couple of throws that he clearly left on the field that require anticipation. And that's something he'll have to improve if he's to become a quality NFL starting quarterback. Because, yes, he moved better, but I think you and I both agree if he's to become a quality starter, his game is not going to be built on a playmaking dimension. It's going to be built on his ability to play from the pocket. But there was more good than bad, certainly in his performance.

[Noah]

So I've argued this, that if Jackson Dart ends up being really good, the Giants have a number one receiver, a very good left tackle, an offensive coach and a tremendous defensive front. Abdul Carter, in very few snaps has looked dominant. So my take is if Jackson Dart can play, I think they're an interesting team. Here's my argument why he should. Three years with Lane Kiffin, 41 college starts in the toughest defensive conference Lane could coach in the NFL today. My take is, I don't want to hear about, well, you know, he's young, 41 starts in the SEC for Lane Kiffin. You watch the game, you watch the film. I thought, is he an anticipatory thrower? I thought he looked good.

[Devin]

Yeah. The issue that none of us know is what happens on a daily basis. You know, we sit and watch the games and we see some good players, some bad plays. We just see the touchdown, which was a really good play, by the way, because he saw the safety rotation pre snap and he signaled to Humphrey on the outside to change his route to convert his route to a fade. And that was a really good play by Dart, a mental play. And that's what you want to see from young quarterbacks. It's not so much the physical. They all have physical ability. But you know, Dart, you're right, he has a ton of college experience. You know, again, to me, we're not there every day. I personally would look to Dart, assuming he's done well throughout camp, I would look to him as the starter, but we don't know how that will play out. You're right about their defensive front. They've got a really good defensive front. Dexter Lawrence will be back, so we'll see. But you know, again, Dart, there were some really good plays and what you would expect, a couple of plays that I'm sure he'd like to have back.

[Noah]

So. Cam Ward may be the quietest number one quarterback pick in the last 20 years. Part of that is the Titans are not a big brand. He's a quiet kid. He's. He's really easy to root for, like Lamar Jackson. He wants to win. It's all about football. His teammates like him. They don't have much on the perimeter to help him. So I don't look at him, I'm not going to look at him this year and go, well, they went eight, nine. It's. Listen, the kid has very little to work with. We gotta contextualize this. He had an 11 play drive. Did you see anything with Cam? The tempo, the accuracy, the movement? What did you see?

[Devin]

Well, I've been around Cam Ward because I was down at Titan's training camp and he is a very impressive kid. And I got a chance to talk to him. And one thing that really stood out to me, just to tell a quick anecdote, when I met him, fortunately, I was set up beautifully by the organization as someone he should talk to. And the first thing he said to me, and I thought this was really impressive, Colin, he just met me, but I was set up beautifully. And he said to me, okay, so what do I need to work on? I thought that was really impressive. He had just met me, but he's very impressive in person. Now, again, his performance, there was a third and five on the first series where he went through his read too fast. Okay, that's something you expect to see, but he throws a really good ball. He's an impressive kid. You're right about the team. There's really good give and take between he and Jeffrey Simmons because Jeffrey Simmons knows that if they're to get to the promised land, it's going to be because of Cam Ward. I would expect that he'll be a good player. Now, the thing is, early in the season, they open at Denver, they're home to the Rams. Then week four, they're at Houston. You know, this could be a tough start simply because the Titans have some holes on their team that need to, you know, be dealt with and they may not be dealt with year one. So I think people are going to have to be a little patient simply because the team is not quite good enough at this point.

[Noah]

Yeah, I agree. You know, I. Speaking of Denver, I saw where Bo Nix, they do this Mike Sando does this quarterback tears thing where he talks to 50 G's. I saw them. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And my only complaint was I said, you know, Bo Nixon below tua, he's a better runner. He's healthier. I think he's got at least as good an arm, maybe better, but whatever. We don't know a ton about Bo Nicks. When I saw it, when I saw him ranked 20th, my take was, it was telling me that executives in the league think very highly of Sean Payton, that he's squeezing every ounce of talent out of this. Do you believe the Bo Knicks success is mostly at this point, Sean Payton?

[Devin]

Well, you know, I've always struggled with that, Colin. There seems to be a sense that if a quarterback is well coached with a really good coordinator and a really good scheme and a well designed system, that that's somehow a knock on the quarterback. I don't really understand that because that's kind of what the coach is supposed to do, you know, And I think that Bo Nix showed a lot last year with the kinds of throws that he made. I mean, he made a lot of big time throws between the number. He showed more arm strength, quite honestly, than I thought he had coming out of Oregon. I mean, you could make the same argument. You know, I've spent a lot of this offseason rewatching a lot of quarterbacks because I can really do that. I can watch 250 plays in a row, which I can't really do during the season. I've just done that with Jaden Daniels. And I think Kliff Kingsbury does an outstanding job with his route design, really presenting clean, defined reads for Jaden Daniels. Is that a knock on Jaden Daniels? Are we supposed to say Jaden Daniels isn't very good because the offensive coordinator does a really good job with his route concepts? Are we supposed to say Jared Goff isn't any good because Ben Johnson's really good with his route spacing and cleanly defining reads. I mean, are we supposed to say Joe Montana wasn't any good because Bill Walsh was really good? I think that's such a silly argument. I mean, that's what the offensive coordinator is supposed to do. He's supposed to present it so that ideally the first read is clean, and then you work through progression concepts. So I don't really understand why that's a problem.

[Noah]

So in that tier one through five that Mike Sando at the Athletic did, there were a couple of quotes about Caleb Williams, and a defensive coordinator said it was alarming to watch his process. Yes, a head coach said it. That word was used more than once. So you have said that you love me. Stocky, he's strong, he's a power thrower. When you. When they say his process is alarming and you've watched the same film, what do they mean by that?

[Devin]

Well, that means he's not seeing the field with the needed clarity. In other words, when you can see the route concepts. I've been doing this for a lot of years, Colin. As you know, there's not a thousand route concepts. So I see the route concepts versus specific coverages. And when you see it depends on the nature of the philosophy of an offense. There's a lot of different ways routes are taught. There's something called pure progression where you're not really worried about the defense. There's a primary, there's a secondary. When the quarterback drops back, he looks to the primary. If it's not there, it doesn't matter what the defense is. You just go to the next guy. Then there's other systems where you're actually reading the defense. You're reading whether it's single high or two shell, or you're reading a particular defender to decide where you throw the ball. So there's different ways that pass game is taught. But what they're saying about Williams is he's not seeing that particularly clearly at all. So throws that are there where the ball should be released, he's just not seeing it the right way. So he's holding the ball. He's not getting a clear picture. You know, the term that's always used is processing. He's not processing it the right way, and that's reason why he holds the ball. The film shows that.

[Noah]

But what's interesting is that it's always been my knock on Zach Wilson and Justin Fields, and they've never gotten great at it. I mean, you can. You can absolutely make a Quarterback more accurate. Not all. Anthony Richardson has regressed. But there are things in. I don't care if it's broadcasting, I don't care if it's in any business. There are things that are solvable, but one of the ones that doesn't seem to be terribly solvable is he doesn't see the field well, like Mahomes.

[Devin]

It's a great point.

[Noah]

I don't know if that's solvable. If you tell me somebody that didn't see the field and a year later did.

[Devin]

Yeah, it's a great point. And I would say the majority of coaches think that's tough to solve. And I'll answer it this way. You can help a quarterback in normal down and distance situations where you the defense is a little more predictive in what they do. The probability and tendencies tend to favor the offense more than the defense. So you can help a quarterback with your play calling on first and 10, second and four, maybe third and three. But when you start getting into long yardage, pure pass situations, whether it's second and nine, third and nine now the defense very often has the tactical advantage and the quarterback has to be able to see see things really quickly and really clearly. And at some point if that can't happen, then you're going to have a quarterback that's very inconsistent and erratic in his performance. And I don't think we could say 100% for sure that Caleb Williams can't do that. He's only going into his second year and he's with a brand new coordinator. I mean Ben Johnson's essentially the coordinator so we want to wait and see on that. But if that starts to show up more and more, then at some point you might say that that's not solvable.

[Noah]

Yeah, you know, Patrick Mahomes wins a lot of games but and they're not going to go 11 and oh and one score games. But he didn't have a great year. He had bad games, he had bad halves, he had really bad series, he had a bad Super Bowl. Some of it was lack of offensive line competency. Sure. When, when you looked at Mahomes struggles last year, did he develop bad habits? Was he relying too much on certain things? Did he trust his own line? Patrick Mahomes didn't get poor, he didn't get bad, but he didn't play necessarily well. What did the film say on his regression? Not winning regression, but his mechanics or his performance?

[Devin]

Well, it's funny you say that because every year and I've had this conversation with people In Kansas City. Every year he does go through, through that where he starts to lose his mechanics because that's sort of the way he naturally plays. Going back to Texas Tech, you know, he's that kind of player where he starts to drift, he starts to lose his mechanics, and then they have to sort of rein him in and get him back on track. But last year, and I think because he just did not have confidence, and he would never say this publicly because he's a class act, but I think because he just didn't feel comfortable with that O line, I think it took a little longer for him to get his mechanics back and he didn't play with the same precision throughout the course of the season that we normally see. But you're right, it's not as if he's suddenly not a good quarterback. It's just that he has to be reigned in at times. And I think the O line last year caused some issues for him, caused a lack of confidence, caused him not to play from the pocket with the same, and I'll use the word precision again, the same kind of precision that we've seen in the past. But it's not as if his traits or his talent level has dropped.

[Noah]

Finally, we'll go back to one of the young guys, and this has kind of been a theory of mine for years, is that you would think, right, that the best quarterbacks in the NFL would all be from power schools. They are five star high school guys. They go to Texas, Bama, Ohio State, Notre Dame, and then they all go to the NFL. But if you look at the history of the NFL, they've often gone to Cal and North Carolina State and Miami, of course Ohio and Texas Tech and Wyoming, because that is preparing you for the NFL. Shaky O lines have to carry. Teams have to make quicker decisions. You don't get comfortable windows. So I do think as the rest of us go to college to prepare us for our work, it's the same in the NFL. You think Ohio State would be better for you, but you, you are very rarely in discomfort with Ohio State's receivers and O line. So when I Look at J.J. j.J. McCarthy, he never threw 40 times a game. He always played with a lead. He had great protection. And I've said, I worry that it's like these Alabama quarterbacks, he's not ready for the NFL, then he gets hurt and that sets him back another year. So I do think the choice college kids make often doesn't necessarily. I mean, Matt Ryan goes to a school where he's got to throw guys open, he has to be anticipatory because nobody's wide open. What do you see with that? Is there anything about J.J. mcCarthy that you worry that he's just not quite ready for this life of somewhat duress and discomfort in the NFL?

[Devin]

Yeah, and I'm not sure we know that. I mean, I think you and I would both agree that Kevin o' Connell is really, really good in terms of defining reads and throws for the quarterback. Look what he did with Sam Darnold last year. So, you know, that remains to be seen, but I imagine there'll be a learning curve for JJ McCarthy. Obviously in college he did not throw the ball a lot, but he's got a good arm, a plus arm, he's got mobility, he's got traits, He's a good sized kid. So there are traits that are there. I mean, even last year when he played in the first preseason game and then he was done for the year, I noticed an immediate difference in his drop and set in the pocket from when I watched him at Michigan. So obviously Kevin o' Connell through the off season as a rookie really worked with him and really tightened him up in a lot of areas. So you have to assume that that continued. But now once you get into the regular season games, we'll see he'll be under a lot of pressure, there'll be duress. They've revamped their offensive line. That often takes time to come together. So we'll see. You never know the answer to that question then. It depends on how the games are played. Is he going to be in games where he has to drop back 40 times? Can the team be good enough, Colin, where he only has to drop back 25 times? You know, there are so many variables. It's not very often for a young quarterback. It's not solely dependent on the young quarterback. It's the way in which he, he's able to play. Based on the rest of the team.

[Noah]

Yeah, I would argue he's got a top three left tackle, a top two receiver and a top three offensive head coach. They rebound the O line and he may have, he may have the best defensive coordinator in the sport. So the truth is, before the season starts, he got the keys to a really nice car. He's not going to have to win by shootouts. Yeah, yeah. And like I always say with Brock Purdy, if you look at Brock Purdy in his first 21 starts when the team was younger and less expensive, boy, he was good. His last 15 starts, he's. He's like 6 and 9 or 9 and 6 and his passer rating has dropped because now the Niners are old and they've had to let Hufango go and Green and the defense isn't as good and he has to throw more. So like Brock Purdy's opening into the NFL was like Dax, that was a lot of comfort. Zeke O line was great. Dez Bryant was a touchdown machine. So I think JJ, here's my hunch, is that JJ McCarthy, like Brock Purdy, will be able to engineer a wildly smart and talented offense. They'll be good. I think when you draft him that high, you want great, but he should be at least capable. Is that right?

[Devin]

But, but you make an interesting point. Is Brock Purdy's talent any different than it was a year, a year and a half ago? No. There's other factors that are involved. And with 99.9% of quarterbacks, those other factors often dictate, you know, how a quarterback plays or certainly how he's perceived. You know, he hasn't changed in his traits. It's just that there are other factors that impact how he plays and how he, how the games turn out. And of course, all we do is look at wins and losses and then we decide that that's what a quarterback is.

[Noah]

Right. Great stuff. Greg Cosell, as always, my man. Appreciate it.

[Devin]

Thanks, Colin. Really appreciate it.

[Noah]

Yeah, I mean, let's be honest about C.J. stroud's rookie year. He had Laramie Tunzel and they ended up hitting on a couple of mid round wide receivers. And he had Bobby Slow, who at the time was like a hot coordinator. And so generally rookie quarterbacks mean. Herbert had a great rookie season in terms of he had Shane Steichen, you know, he had Keenan Allen. So you, you got it. For a rookie quarterback to work, you got to give him something. J.J. mcCarthy has a top two receiver, maybe number one, a top two three left tackle, maybe number one, a top 2 or 3 offensive head coach. That is a huge benefit. That is a massive, massive benefit. Last year, Caleb had none of that. Left tackle was a swinging door. Coach was defensive. Keenan Allen was past his prime. DJ Moore was good, but he was on his back or running for his life. So JJ's got some of those Brock Purdy first starts gifts. He should be capable. I don't see great, but he should be capable.

[American Public University]

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[Manny]

Why are TSA rules so confusing?

[Noah]

You got a hoodie on. Take it off.

[Manny]

I'm Manny.

[Noah]

I'm Noah.

[Devin]

This is Devin.

[Manny]

And we're best friends and journalists with a new podcast called no Such Thing where we get to the bottom of questions like that. Why are you screaming at me? I can't expect what to do now if the rule was the same, go off on me.

[Noah]

I deserve it, you know?

[Manny]

Lock him up list. Listen to no Such thing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Noah]

No Such Thing.

[Az Fudd]

Hey guys, it's Az Fudd. You may know me as a gold medalist. You may know me as an NCAA national champion. You may even know me as the people's princess. Every week on my new podcast, Fut around and Find Out, I'll be talking to some special guests about pop culture basketball and what it's like to be a professional athlete on and off the court. Listen to Fut around and find Out. A production of iHeart Women's Sports in partnership with Unanimous Media on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Noah]

Not today. Not today.

[Colin Cowherd]

Every case that is a cold case.

[Devin]

That has DNA right now in a.

[Colin Cowherd]

Backlog will be identified in our lifetime on the new podcast, America's Crime Lab. Every case has a story to tell, and the DNA holds the truth.

[Devin]

He never thought he was going to get caught.

[Noah]

And I just looked at my computer screen.

[Devin]

I was just like, ah, gotcha.

[Noah]

This technology is already solving so many cases.

[Colin Cowherd]

Listen to America's Crime Lab on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an iHeart podcast.