Jason McIntyre (3:56)

Just got an invite from some friends.

Colin Cowherd (3:57)

Listen, let's get the new year started right. Right. Start the night in Vegas. Start the year in Vegas. So I want to start. I'll get to the Detroit Lions. I'll get to them in about five, 10 minutes. I want to talk about Brock Purdy because there's this feeling that now, even though he has a year left on his rookie deal, that you have to pay Brock Purdy now. Oh, you got to get a discount now on this guy. And I was about two weeks ago. I'm watching all these drone videos on TikTok, all these guys in New Jersey, and it's clear that men struggle telling the difference between drones and small planes and aliens. It's also clear men have a problem deciphering the difference from, like Joe Burrow, who gets whatever he wants with a bad roster, and Brock Purdy, who's really good in the first half with one of the great play designers in NFL history, Kyle Shanahan. I always get left With a feeling it's a lot of empty calories and empty yards. It's one thing if you're burrow and your O line's bad and we don't love your coach and your O is playing from behind. Brock Purdy has after Andy Reid and maybe Sean Payton, the best play designer. Forget play caller. Best play designer since, you know, maybe his dad, Mike Shanahan. So. And you have the best tight end arguably in football and two good receivers and you're at home. And the Lions are missing eight defensive starters. But this league is about second halfs. The first half is on script. Yes, he's great, often on script. But when Bo Nix and Justin Herbert met like a week ago, remember that game about 10 days ago, 14 days ago, Bo Nix was really good on script. In the first half, Justin Herbert was great off script because Justin Herbert's a lot better right now than Bo Nix. And in the second half this year, the more important half, brock Purdy has eight touchdowns and 10 picks and 12 total giveaways. He's bad and trailing in the second half, he's worse. He has a passer rating below 75. You know, in the non scripted half with one of the great play designers of my life. You want to know. It's not random, by the way. You want to know the top five quarterbacks right now. Second half passer rating. Oh, what a shock. Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Jared Goff and number one pick, Baker Mayfield. More talented guys. There's a connection between the two. Just a big majority. For all these people saying I have to pay Brock Purdy a year early, if at all. A big chunk of his yards are after the catch because Kittle is great after the catch and Debo is great after the catch. And the other part is how open everybody is. I swear to God. Has George Kittle ever been covered on any catch in the last month? He's wide open. So to me it's always, always empty calories. With Brock Purdy, you got to watch the games in the second half. In a tight game, two ugly picks threw behind Juwan Jennings on a big third down. Yes, they miss field goals of 51 and 58 yards. Why did they have to kick field goals of 51 and 58 yards? Because he missed to Juwan Jennings or. Or he doesn't quite have the athletic ability that his backup Josh Dobbs had to run into the end zone. I mean, every time he throws a ball over the middle, you're holding your breath. You're not with Mahomes or Herbert. I don't feel that way with Josh Allen. I do with Brock Purdy. I don't feel that way with Jared Goff. So this idea that he's a 50 million dollar quarterback. Jimmy Garoppolo won 69% of his games in San Francisco and people Niner fans couldn't get him out of town fast enough. Maybe they were jealous because he was so handsome. He won 69% of his games. He got to Super Bowls. They couldn't get him out of town fast enough. They blamed him for losing to Mahomes in the super bowl because he missed one deep route. Purdy's win in 64% of his games, it seems to me. And by the way, he's also hurt again. And he's been hurt multiple times because he's a smaller athlete. I thought it was interesting when Josh Dobbs came in, who's just a remarkable kid. I think he was like a chemical engineer at Tennessee. You can give him a playbook, he can memorize it in 15 minutes. But he ran for a touchdown because he's a super athletic kid. I don't think Brock Purdy could have run for a touchdown. Dobbs a faster, more elegant athlete. So the idea that I've got to pay him 50 million and pay him early, there is a difference. Sorry guys, but there is a difference between aliens and a small plane flying over your house or maybe your neighbor's drone. And there's a difference between guys who are literally tractors, you know, like they're pulling a franchise to wins and guys that are trailers, they're mostly being pulled. Second half, game on the line, playing with a lead, two really ugly picks when he had to throw it over the middle. And again here, here's Kyle Shannon after on his injury.

Nick Wright (9:20)

I know everyone when they hear about.

Colin Cowherd (9:21)

Brock's elbow and stuff. Just like me, you think of elbow injury from a couple years ago, but you know, just talking to doctors, he just got hit in the right spot.

Jason McIntyre (9:29)

And when you get hit there, you're just.

Colin Cowherd (9:31)

Your nerves go and you can't feel much. But hopefully it'll be all right. And let's again, I'm going to get to the Detroit Lions after the break. Herd hierarchy, top of the hour, Nick Wright, Urban Meyer. So let's talk about this whole thing about what you pay a quarterback because we've seen with Dak, if you pay A plus money to a B to a B plus quarterback, you can't have a legitimate roster. I mean, look at the Cowboys compared to the Eagles. How many guys would even start for the Cowboys on the Eagles, Right? Because you've been paying Dak, overpaying him for years and years and years. And so this stuff, this is a big topic. This stuff's really important. You can overpay a wide receiver, you know, you pay him 20, he's worth 15. You start overpaying a quarterback 58 and he's worth 33. One of the reasons Tampa so good is because they're getting a deal on Baker Mayfield. They're paying him 33 million. I take Baker over Brock Purdy in a second. 33 million, they're getting a deal. It's okay for teams to occasionally get deals on quarterbacks too. Not everybody has to be overpaid. But a team that is underpaid, Tampa, with Baker, they've got a stacked roster. They got good dudes everywhere. D line, wide receiver, tight end, two to good running backs. Dallas overpays their quarterback and they're stuck. So to me, there are three groups, three clubs for quarterbacks in terms of $50 million. Plus the first club is. I'm going to pay you what I got to pay you. Mahomes, Lamar, Josh Allen, Herbert, Stafford, Burrow, Goff, Love, you're great. I think you can get to a Super Bowl. I'm going to pay you what I'm going to pay you. And I think a lot of your success is based on you and you being great. Then there's the 50 million dollar club. We can negotiate. I'm not offended if you ask for it, but I'm going to push back a little. Jalen hurts, Sam Darnold. Baker and Jaden Daniels. Jaden, I want a little more time. Baker and Sam. Let's be honest, it's the perfect season. Jalen hurts. Feels very circumstantial. Best O line, unbelievable receivers. You know, M. VP when he had Shane Steichen, I like him. These guys can ask for 50 million. I'm not offended. We can negotiate. And then there's the third club, which is if you ask for it, I'm hanging up the phone. Brock Purdy's in that one. Okay, it's nothing personal, but we're not getting to 50 and getting to 50 a year early. What's the market? Go to the market. So you know, it's like negotiating for a new car. You can tell me that Civic is worth a hundred grand. Well, we got, we got rust proofing, a sunroof, and the salesman can tell me. How about the sports package? Okay, I'll give you 51,000, not 100,000. I'm walking out of the dealership. If you think that Civic is worth $100,000 and it's not, nobody's picking on Brock Purdy. That's another thing. Oh this and that. When you get to a quarterback because they're paid so much now, I mean like Mahomes signed a $450 million deal. You can make mistakes over paying a little bit for a mike linebacker or overpaying for, you know, a tight end a little. You're pay 13, he's probably worth 8. You start overpaying a quarterback, you get to the 50, 60 million dollar club. Not interested. That it got your. There's only one thing that guarantees you can't win Super Bowls. Only one thing paying a B quarterback. A plus money. Even Tom Br, Drew Brees in his prime took big money for a couple years. Sean Payton and Drew Brees had two back to back mediocre years, restructured his deal, better deal, they end up in a Super Bowl. Tom Brady was never the highest paid quarterback. Kirk Cousins was. And Kirk Cousins because of that didn't have the surrounding elements. So I'm just, I keep watching this thing and I'm going to keep going back. I feel with Brock Purdy and certain quarterbacks there's a lot of ifs, ands and buts. If this is healthy, if I have Christian, if I have a great play designer, if it's not wet, if I lead, if it's the first half, I can't pay that kind of money. I can't just won't do it. So, and I'm not, I'm not like old guy yelling at clowns here. I'm, I'll pay it. There's like eight guys in the, in the world. I'll pay whatever I got to pay you. Then there's another half a dozen guys are close to it where we can negotiate. But paying them 50 large and having to pay him early, I'm not doing it. J. Mac, I know he's your guy. I know you worship at the altar of the Brockster boy.

Jason McIntyre (13:56)

After the positive Monday you had coming.

Colin Cowherd (13:58)

Off the top rope on Brock Purdy to start New Year's Eve. Colin, come on man. Hey. The rest of the show is flowers, rainbows, just making sure and birds chirping. But I have to address that. It's a serious topic. We all watch the NFL. It's got the highest ratings by a mile and it's all centered around one position. But it's not just centered around the position. It's centered around what you pay the position. Yeah, he had two bad throws last night on an otherwise extraordinary night. No Christian McCaffrey, no Brandon, you, alliance had no eight defensive starters. I just, yeah, I would move off.

Jason McIntyre (14:34)

Some of those defensive starters who can't.

Colin Cowherd (14:35)

Plug a hole to save their life. Jir Gibbs, running wild. How about. Listen, you got to give Dan Campbell some credit, okay? Everybody wanted him to sit as guys. The game means nothing. He plays everybody. Are people crazy? The game means nothing. First of all, this is the Detroit. I'm going to get into this. The idea that game didn't mean anything for Detroit, I completely push back on that. I'll talk about that coming up. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on FO Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app. Hey, it's Steve Covino and I'm Rich Davis and together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. And of course, the iHeartRadio app. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich? We talk about everything. Life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture. Stories that, well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We like to get you involved, to take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports radio and the iHeartradio app from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Ko Vino Enrich wherever you get your podcast. And of course, on social media, that's Cavino and Rich from the Delta Sky Club. Welcome back Ms. Klein, to the JetBridge. Delta Air Lines relies on 5G solutions from T Mobile for business to power operations and serve customers faster. Together we're putting 5G into the hands of ground staff so they can better assist on the go travelers with real time information throughout the airport. This is elevating customer experience. This is Delta Air Lines with T Mobile for business. Take your business further@t mobile.com now. This podcast is sponsored by PayPal we've partnered with them to make this holiday season even better. With all the shopping, gifting and holiday prep, my PayPal debit card is my go to for getting more out of my purchases. Here's how it works. I choose my monthly category Gas, restaurants, apparel, groceries, health and beauty, or just for the holiday season, tech. And I earn 5% cash back on up to a thousand bucks in the purchases in those categories. Yeah, 5% cash back. This month I'm gonna go with tech. It's my category. It's a no brainer, right? Everybody loves the latest tech gifts, so whether it's stuff for the fam or adding new gadgets to my personal collection, that cash back adds up fast. 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If there's a gap in your health insurance, Aflac wants to better protect you by helping close the gap. You're sick, you're injured. Aflac can pay cash to help fill the gaps your health insurance can leave behind. You can use the cash, put it towards whatever you need. Rent, mortgage payments, medical bills. It's completely up to you. Look, life can be tough. Fortunately, Aflac is tougher. I mean, we're talking middle linebacker, tough. To learn more about how Aflac can help fill the gaps health insurance can leave behind, visit aflac.com I'm not a weatherman, but I'll give you my forecast. Snow and ice are coming, and they're going to make driving a challenge. Thankfully, the experts at Tire Rack know a thing or two about conquering winter's worst. Rain, sleet, slush, whatever winter means to you. Tire Rack has tires that elevate traction and braking and keep you and your family safe all season tires, all weather tires. And if you live where it snows a lot, dedicated winter tires. Just go to tire rack.com easy to use shopping tools will guide you to a personalized recommendation. The right tires for how, what and where you drive. Choose from a full line of Yokohama tires shipped fast and free and backed by two years of free road hazard protection. Go to TireRack.com Colin to see their Yokohama test results and special offers. Tire Rack has thousands of recommended installers and offers the convenience of mobile tire installation. I love that. Great tires, great deals and great people. What more could you ask for? That's tirerack.com Colin the way tire buying should be. Here we go. Hour number two on a Tuesday. Urban Meyer next hour, Nick. Right. In five minutes, live in Los Angeles, it's the herd. Wherever you may be, however you may be listening, J. Mac is strong. It's amazing. Whenever I can get old J. Mack out of the house, he's got the kids and the pets and the family. I think I have figured out a way just to wrestle him psychologically. Guilt him into joining his mentor tonight for a little pop. Mentor? How about one little pop tonight? Anne gave you a hall pass for tonight. I'm gonna see. And Thursday through Sunday night. So I'm gonna. It's Ann weekend. You know what? Have you seen the movie Hall?

Jason McIntyre (21:27)

Hall Pass?

Colin Cowherd (21:28)

No, you got to see that. Owen Wilson? Yeah, and a couple other guys.

Jason McIntyre (21:34)

It's.

Colin Cowherd (21:34)

It's a great movie. You will laugh out loud Some really dirty inappropriate. You're going to consider maybe going out tonight? That or hall pass. I'll watch the movie for the Uber. Be safe. Okay. All right. Here. We do it every week at this time. The Herd hierarchy. Let's go Herd. Higher hierarchy.

Nick Wright (21:55)

Time is now.

Colin Cowherd (21:56)

Let's go. The top 10 NFL teams according to college. Well, number 10. If they beat the Saints, they can clinch their four straight division title. I've said it. I like their personnel. Baker Mayfield leads the NFL and touchdown passes over the last two years since he joined the Bucks. They're a big play offense with excellent running backs. Jason Light's a great gm. They've always got talent. When they've had good quarterback play like Brady and Baker, they can. They can play with anybody. 51 over their last six games. Blew the Chargers out. That was a real eye opener. I don't think they can hoist a trophy, but they could certainly host a playoff game and knock off an injury riddled Detroit if possible. Bucks at 10. Number nine. I'm going to go Rams. Their offensive sluggishness in the first half is hard to explain, but their defense is really good and young and it's getting better. They've held opponents under 20 points in three straight games. Matthew Stafford's having a very good year over his last seven games. A passer rating a 105. They're a little puka Nukua dependent, so I don't think they're a trophy team. But I have them at nine. Number eight. I would put the Chargers at eight because their quarterbacks younger and can run. And I think that mobility is the difference between the two teams. Justin Herbert, 99 passer rating, hyper efficient, never reckless, big with mobility. That gives them a slight edge in my opinion over the Rams. Also, five of their six losses have come to good teams. The Chiefs a couple of times. Ravens, Buccaneers. They're losing to the right teams. I have them in eight. Number seven, the Packers. I thought the packers could hoist a trophy, but they're.05 against the Lions, the Vikings and the Eagles. They're 11 and oh against everybody else. So they're a bully against average to pretty good teams. They're not gonna. You're not gonna. They're not gonna beat your Ravens. They're not gonna beat your Chiefs. Bills. That's not who they are. Six straight games without a giveaway though, and I think that's coaching. And Matt LaFleur. They have taken some attempts away from Jordan Love. They don't turn it over. They're Kind of a power run team. I have the packers at seven, number six. But you know, Lamar Jackson's better than Jordan Love in my opinion. So I have them at 6. Second largest rushing differential in a season in league history. They remain a run team. Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews allows them to pass as well. But number one, scoring defense. Number one, total defense since week 11. You know, I love this organization. Kind of holding your breath on what they look like in the January playoffs. But the Ravens at six, number five. I thought Sam Darnold was amazing. I've got him at 5. They're tied for the most give takeaways in the league this year at 31. That is the Brian Flores factor. The fact that Brian Flores isn't front and center for everybody from the Bears job to the Saints job. This defense does not have elite personnel, but they're putting up elite takeaway stats. That's a Brian Flores factor. By the way, Sam Darnold's the first quarterback in league history to win 14 games in his first season with a new team. Even Tom Brady did not do that. Maybe Darnold is better than Brady when you think about it. Number four. Number four, Detroit. Stacked roster offensively, falling apart defensively. But I mean, they have five games this year with 40 or more points and no turnovers. I mean, it pretty easy for them. They're clever, they can play power run. They're getting Montgomery back four straight games for three plus touchdown passes. I think we all know the story on them. If they were healthy, they could win the super bowl. But we don't trust their defense going forward. Number three, Philadelphia. They're 11 and oh, and Jalen Hurts and A.J. brown play the number one total defense. They allow 4.8 yards of play. So that's pretty good in the NFL in this day and age. 4.8 yards of play. Their O line and D line combination is the best in the NFL. They got a great GM and they got a roster to show for it. Do I worry about the concussion? I would worry about it if it was in two weeks. I don't worry about it now. I have them at number three. Number two, the Bills. The Bills have cut down on given the football away. They only have eight giveaways and they've only allowed 14 sacks. So we always liked Buffalo, but we thought, yeah, they'll beat themselves. Well, they don't beat themselves this year. They don't turn it over. They don't give you sacks, don't have a lot of negative plays, and they do it without A single thousand yard rusher or thousand yard receiver. So they are still somewhat too reliant on Josh Allen. But you know what? I like James Cook, I like Kincaid, Dawson, Knox. I like their receiving core. Coleman's getting better. I got at two number one, same old Chiefs. Best coach, best defensive coordinator, best quarterback and arguably the best defensive lineman, Chris Jones. Let's just say this, it's the same team we've seen except I think it's a better offensive version. It always, since Tyreek Hill left, it's a lot of patchwork at receiver. That's what they've been for three years now. And then now they got Hollywood Brown back. They wish they had Rasheed Rice, but that'll do. And Worthy's become a real player. And Travis Kelsey, this is what they do because they play Mahomes what they pay him. And they lost Tyreek Hill. This is the one unit they've tried to kind of figure out and bring in a guy for a year and move this guy over there. But you know what? Third team in NFL history to go six straight games without a, without a turnover. So that's very rare. So you get all the upside and not a lot of the downside. Best situational team in football and that's, that's not even arguable. Although I will say Detroit on third down and fourth down with Ben Johnson. You know a coach, you know a team is rolling when they go to the red zone in a congested area. Remember Andy Reid a couple years ago in the super bowl in the congested area. Sky Moore is wide open. Like you know you have a good offensive scheme and this is what Shanahan does. Anybody guard George Kittle or is he just open by 20 yards on every play? So let's bring in Nick Wright, co host. First things first, he is now joining us live. You know, last week you almost complimented me on the, on the top 10. Anything bother you this week?

Jason McIntyre (28:15)

Lions too high. Lions are going to lose to the Vikings on Sunday and after they could lose their first playoff game. Defense is just too, it's past the point of no return. And I think I like a ton of what Dan Campbell has done and has brought to that organization. He's obviously a very good head coach, not taking anything away from him. However, his decision to play his guys last night was objectively a mistake. You are now in one of the highest leverage regular season games ever. As far as its impact on who can win the super bowl, one seed or five seed will be determined Sunday night in game two. Hundred seventy two and you had a choice. Have my banged up and most important players have a bye week or have my entire team on short rest having played Monday night. And he chose the latter rather than the former. And I think it's a mistake. And so I love who they are. Offensively, golf has been sensational. The running game hasn't really been hurt by Montgomery being out because Gibbs is so good. I give them full credit, but that Niners team has struggled to look like that offensively all year. And until Purdy gave the game away, the Niners team was moving the ball up and down the field. I think Sam Darnold is going to do the same thing. And then in round one, they'll either be facing the Rams or the Bucks, either of whom can move the ball. By the way, the Bucks beat them this year. The Rams took them to overtime this year and that's when the team was whole and healthy. So I think Detroit's had an awesome season that unfortunately is going to end quickly because of all the defensive injuries. And I think Dan playing the players last night was a big mistake.

Colin Cowherd (30:09)

I tend to see myself as an ambassador of goodwill. Glass half full. Colin Optimist. Every morning I get labeled as a mean Brock Purdy guy. But to me, first half is script, second half is talent. Brock Purdy is now a bad second half quarterback and I'm supposed to pay him early and 50 million. I don't understand it. What am I seeing that nobody else is? I mean, you and I were both very hesitant on the Dak deal and we're right. I mean, I don't think Purdy's as good as Dak. What do you make of this idea that you have to pay him early?

Jason McIntyre (30:51)

No, it's at this point it'd be insane at this, especially with him. And I understand, we hope and it looks like that injury last night is not a very significant one. But it's a reminder that this is an undersized player who has suffered, you know, one major injury in his career, has been banged up a few other times in a relatively small career sample and all year long. Last year you and I said, listen, you can't deny the production. I do question how much of it is coaching talent and circumstances and what would he look like in a league average situation. And amazingly, he got dropped into a league average situation this year and now they're six and ten. He wants it. This is the third straight week, Collin. People act like this was season from hell. It didn't start that way. They were 44 going into the bye. After the bye they beat Tampa, their best win of the year. They were a game out of first place and then the last three weeks starting with the playoffs on the line against the Rams down three fourth quarter infield goal range late throws the game losing pick last week when they'd already been eliminated from the playoffs. But still he's playing down five two minute warning on the other side of the plus side of the 50 chance to go in the game pick last night leading the game. Throws after playing awesome for the first half, awesome throws a terrible interception and Then once again, fourth quarter down less than 7 chance to win the game or at least go take the lead probably too early to win the game.

Colin Cowherd (32:38)

Pick.

Jason McIntyre (32:39)

He is who we thought he was and I think the Niners know it too. So I don't know that the Niners are going to, you know, offer your guy Sam Darnold a huge deal. I don't know that they're going to spend a ton of money at the quarterback position. Here's what I could see them doing telling Brock Purdy yet, listen, you're under contract and you did not have a good year three so we're not going to pay you after year three. And oh by the way, as it happens, Kyle Shanahan's long lost love Kirk Cousins is going to come play for a million bucks as well. Don't worry, he's just going to back you up. We'll see. So yeah, I think the idea of Brock Purdy getting the TUA or Trevor deal, even if he has accomplished more than both of those players, went out the window this past month.

Colin Cowherd (33:25)

So I showed this earlier. It's easy to blame Mike McCarthy, but I showed this earlier. We have a graphic. I said if you take the two best rosters in the nfc, I won't even count the afc. I'll just go nfc. And I put the Lions and Eagles best players just offense because it's an offensive league. Even the Chiefs at some point you have to it's hard to make stops. Sure and I put it on the screen there and only two Cowboys would be considered. Zach Martin is now old, injured and very expensive. I'd pass because the two other guards are great and CD Lamb is not Amaran St. Brown as a slot or A.J. brown as an ex receiver. And we're blaming McCarthy. So maybe you could squeeze in CD Lamb.

Jason McIntyre (34:09)

But my take is CD Lamb in over a Monroe St. Brown. But aside from that I agree with everything you got there.

Colin Cowherd (34:16)

Go ahead and that's an upstairs problem. That's a scout problem. That's a general manager problem. Andy Reid is not beating the Eagles and Lions with that in an offensive lead. Why not keep Mike McCarthy?

Jason McIntyre (34:30)

Well, I. I think your point's well taken, but the reason I have two significant reasons I wouldn't keep Mike McCarthy. One is, I think tangible, and one is more kind of intangible. The tangible one is this. You have to make some type of seismic change, and it's the only one you can. You just signed the quarter. There's only. There's really only three major moves a team can make. One is front office change. Well, in Dallas, front office is ownership, so that is status quo. Another is quarterback. Well, in Dallas, they just re signed the quarterback to the biggest deal in NFL history this past offseason hasn't even kicked in yet. So that can't change. The other is head coach. And I. So Even if Mike McCarthy is not the culprit here, it's the only chance they have at really shaking things up. So I would go try to get Mike Vrabel, who, with a quarterback worse than Dak Prescott, made a conference title game. And then after that they went 11, 5, 12, 5 and he was the 1 seed with Ryan Tannehill. I would go try to do that. The other reason I would move on from McCarthy is it's very weird how we kind of do the coaching math, which is, let's say Dak never got hurt. And this Cowboys team was right now a 12, 4 team, you know, that was locked into the wild card, all right, and then they lost their first playoff game. Everyone would say you have to fire McCarthy, be cut, like. And so now that was the standard going into this year was can't fall flat on your face in the playoffs because they were so bad, never even got a chance to see them in the playoffs. So now it's like the McCarthy expectation clock has fully reset to where next year. This year they're sub 500. If he keeps his job next year, if they go 10 and 7 and get the 7 in the playoff spot, we're like, hey, improvement, definitely keep his job. And we're just back to where we thought we were this year, like in 2026. So I, even if I don't think he's done a terrible job, I have to change something significant. I can't change the front office. I can't change the quarterback, so I might have to change the coach.

Colin Cowherd (36:56)

So you know that when you and I believe in something like you for years believe that the Buffalo Bills would beat themselves and America attacks you. It's hard not to when you're proven right, to just not explode with joy.

Jason McIntyre (37:11)

And remind people, especially when you're attacked for it, relentlessly called a hater, called all these things and then you're just showing proven right. Yeah. So go ahead.

Colin Cowherd (37:18)

For six years I was mocked, ridiculed and it was hurtful. And I kept saying Sam Darnold can play. The Panthers and the jets are dysfunctional. And so I'm trying not to have confirmation bias, but he may be having one of the great seasons in the last decade. Now I'm not denying Kevin O'Connell the receiving crew, but I think about this, Nick. The Vikings have never gotten a ring and it matters. If they were the packers, you could say, hey, we know quarterbacks, we'll let him go. We're going to go with J.J. mcCarthy because they got rings and they've proven they can do that. Vikings don't super bowl losers like the Bills. How do you let Sam leave? How do you let the greatest year ever for a Vikings quarterback walk out the door?

Jason McIntyre (38:10)

So I, at this point, barring a true collapse, and by collapse I mean they lose in Week 18 and then just look awful in the first playoff game. I don't think they'll let him leave now. I don't know that they'll do what I'm sure he would like them to do, which is give him a real contract. And I don't think he would accept the Geno or the Baker contract, which leaves us with the always unfair to the player. But the NFL will never get rid of it. Franchise tag to me, we are, we are moving rapidly down that path. Now listen, listen. If they make the super bowl then I think, which by the way, I think they can do, I think they're going to be the one seed and they can make the Super Bowl. Then we talk long term contract. But if this playoff run ends the way I think Vegas thinks it will, which is in either the divisional round or the conference championship round, I think Sam Darnold gets franchise tagged one year, $42 million and you tell JJ McCarthy, hey, it's a good thing we drafted you at 20 years old because you're still be young when you finally get to play. And we figure that out. The part that I and I saw you do this yesterday, this is what I want to say about Darnold and kind of a media criticism at large. I think NFL media, and I'm included in that we do the MVP discussion really poorly, which Is we start it so early.

Colin Cowherd (39:46)

Yes.

Jason McIntyre (39:47)

That by week 10 or 11, it's almost like, hey, here are the three or four eligible parties for MVP of the league. And then it's an argument amongst them. Sam Darnold 2 weeks ago had the play of his life to beat Seattle and stepped up in the pocket, passed just Justin Jefferson. A brilliant game to keep Minnesota live for the one seed. Sam Darnold last week played a nearly perfect game of football, made the one mistake with the pick, responded immediately with a great drive to keep Minnesota alive for the one seed. If you put his numbers up to honestly, any quarterback in the league, Lamar Jackson included, it's not like it's a 10, 8 round. And other than Lamar, he compares favorably to just about every quarterback that we're discussing for this.

Colin Cowherd (40:41)

Yeah.

Jason McIntyre (40:42)

If they beat Detroit.

Colin Cowherd (40:44)

Yeah.

Jason McIntyre (40:44)

And The Vikings are 15 and 2 and this guy's numbers are what they are. It is a reasonable take to say Sam Darnold should be league mvp. In the same vein that, hey, I still don't know how it happened, but Rich Gannon was a league mvp. Like, there are some guys that don't have this, like, look at those numbers. And everyone talks about that. You know, Lamar is having one of the greatest seasons ever. And by the way, he is. But those numbers are similar and obviously his numbers are far superior to Josh's. So I just, I think it's you. If you were to all of a sudden do the Sam Darnold should be mvp, people will just say, ah, Colin, you're a Sam Darnold homer. Which you, by the way, are. However, if it were a fair argument, if The Vikings win 15 games when they were projected to win six, and it's because he has 4,400 yards, 38 touchdowns, and is on a heater at the end of the year, that's got to count for something.

Colin Cowherd (41:49)

Yeah. I think you even have to consider that Baltimore and Buffalo have better rosters than Sam Darnold. Sam Darnold has the better receiving core, but so does. I mean, look, Joe Burrow's got a receiving core that's remarkable. He may not make the playoffs, probably won't. So, yeah, it's one of those things where I just know the Bills not beating Kansas City has been your thing. Darnold, I can't quit him. And I will say this, as I've aged, it does make me happy. I always feel like I've been lucky. I've landed with good bosses. I think it's a shame. I think it's really cool that Baker and Sam and I, like Baker, have both landed with a great offensive mind. And it just shows that if you keep your head down, you grind, eventually you'll find your kingmaker. That's kind of my take.

Jason McIntyre (42:36)

Yeah, I think that's very wise words. But you did just there, maybe accidentally put into the universe. And I know you like Baker, and I know you two have, you know, you know, come to terms after what was a rocky beginning of your relationship. You did just put out into the sports ether the nightmare cowherd scenario, which is Bucks Vikings round one and bake show kicks Darnold right out of the playoffs. That is a 4. 5 that we could see if the Vikings lose on Sunday night. And Baker is planting his flag midfield at Tampa. And Sam is sad. You don't want to deal with that. And that is a possibility. Possibility, my friend.

Colin Cowherd (43:19)

I can hear the cough coming, the chest congestion coming. I'm a little sick for that show.

Jason McIntyre (43:24)

Yeah, Absolutely.

Colin Cowherd (43:26)

Nick, first things first. Good seeing you, buddy. That would, you know, I. Baker Mayfield, somebody asked him recently about me, and he said, we're frenemies. Is that I offered him a job at my company. I said I think he'd be a great podcaster. I told you, I think he could be one of the great college football guys of all time. I think he's really, really talented, and I am happy because I feel I've had the good fortune over 30 years of doing this, as I not always had great bosses, but I've had a couple really good ones. And there's only so much you can do. Justin Herbert. There's only so much you can do on just sheer talent. You eventually need a kingmaker. You eventually need somebody that can get you to a place that you can't get by yourself, because none of us can get there. So it does make me happy that Baker go. Great GM in Tampa, Mike Evans, really good running game. I mean, they've got, like, three running backs I like, and it's like Baker and Sam are both proving, keep your head down, grind at it, keep working your butt off. You will eventually get a great boss. You will eventually get one. I mean, that's crazy. So Baker basically had the option to be a podcaster or one of the top three quarterbacks in the nfc, and he decided to be, like, a good quarterback. I mean, honestly, you look at the nfc, he's up there. Oh, there's no. I mean, like, everybody loves Jared Goff. I get it. If we switch Goff and Baker, Baker goes to the Lions and golf goes to the. Well, no, no, they're. They're. I mean it's Jalen hurts in the NFC is Jaden Daniels. I think. I think Goff is less reckless and a better throws a prettier deep ball but fake I said this when I was criticizing Baker. Oh yeah. He's one of the 20 best quarterbacks in the world even at his low point. Well that, that's not saying much. I mean. Well, by the way Aaron Rodgers is about 18th right now and the jets are going to bring him back generous Colin 18th deck or. Or Aaron Rodgers next year. Who you got? Well, I have. I don't have to pay Aaron so as much so I would take Aaron for. You're paying with the headaches. Yeah, but I. All the nonsense. There's no nonsense with Dak. He's getting hurt a lot and every time he gets hurt and comes out he's less of a player. Oh, listen, I. I've come to terms with Aaron. Do you want Brock Purdy or Aaron Rodgers next year? Well, Brock Pie's free, so I take Brock. I mean if you're free, I'm gonna. He's not free for long, my man. You know, big year for Brock. He's in a contract year. So are you. So am I. Let's get out. A lot of interesting stuff happening. I'm being franchise tagged. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartradio app from the Delta Sky Club. Welcome back Ms. Klein to the Jet Bridge. Delta Airlines relies on 5G solutions t mobile for business to power operations and serve customers faster. Together we're putting 5G into the hands of ground staff so they can better assist on the go travelers with real time information throughout the airport. This is elevating customer experience. This is Delta Air Lines with T Mobile for business. Take your business further@t mobile.com now this podcast is sponsored by PayPal. We've partnered with them to make this holiday season even better. With all the shopping, gifting and holiday prep, my PayPal debit card is my go to for getting more out of my purchases. Here's how it works. I choose my monthly category. Gas, restaurants, apparel, groceries, health and beauty or just for the holiday season, tech. And I earn 5% cash back on up to a thousand bucks in the purchases in those categories. Yeah, 5% cash back this month. I'm gonna go with tech. It's my category. It's a no brainer, right? Everybody loves the latest tech gifts. 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And of course, the best gifts are thoughtful ones like the available Nappa leather seating. Oh, speaking of gifts, you'll have plenty of room to haul around everything you've picked up for family and friends, no matter which Genesis you're driving. And with a lineup featuring SUVs, EVs, Sedans, something for everybody. Experience the Genesis Signature event. And as one big final gift, Genesis is offering you a $1,000 bonus on select Genesis vehicles. The deal ends January 2nd. See participating Genesis retailers for details. Visit genesis.com to see how Genesis can make your holidays even brighter. Details make the Holidays hey, y'all know the Aflac commercials, right? With the famous duck and the coaches. Great commercials. But did you know that Aflac is a leader in supplemental insurance? That's what the Duck is quacking about. Helping cover gaps. So, like, this is how I think of Aflac. Let's say you have an All Pro linebacker. Anytime there's a gap in the defensive line, you know he's going to fill it, no problem because he's an All Pro. Aflac does the same thing. If there's a gap in your health insurance, Aflac wants to better protect you by helping close the gap. You're sick, you're injured. Aflac can pay cash to help fill the gaps your health insurance can leave behind. You can use the cash, put it towards whatever you need. Rent, mortgage payments, medical bills. It's completely up to you. Look, life can be tough. Fortunately, Aflac is tougher. I mean, we're talking middle linebacker tough. To learn more about how Aflac can help fill the gaps health insurance can leave behind, visit aflac.com I'm not a weatherman, but I'll give you my forecast. Snow and ice are coming and they're going to make driving a challenge. Thankfully, the experts at Tire Rack know a thing or two about conquering winners. Worst rain, sleet, slush, whatever winter means to you. Tire Rack has tires that elevate traction and braking and keep you and your family safe all season tires, all weather tires, and if you live where it snows a lot, dedicated winter tires. Just go to tirerack.com easy to use shopping tools will guide you to a personalized recommendation. The right tires for how, what and where you drive. Choose from a full line of Firestone tires shipped fast and free and backed by two years of free road hazard protection. Go to TireRack.com Colin to see their Firestone test results and special offers. Tire Rack has thousands of recommended installers and offers the convenience of mobile tire installation. I love that. Great tires, great deals and great people. What more could you ask for? That's tirerack.com Colin the way tire buying should be I've called in the Bill Parcells of college football. I've always said it's much more difficult to rebuild quickly at multiple places than to build great power. That's nothing against Nick Saban or any coach that's done that, but Urban Meyer, Bowling Green, Utah, Florida obviously, and Ohio State. So what a pleasure to have sports. Kind of the voice of college football with Joel Klatt and others. So let's just Nick Saban said this week he goes, you Buckeye fans got to get therapy on Michigan. And I looked at it. Ohio State's 444 against everybody else in 04 against Michigan. Is it fair to say right now? And it's been reversed. Michigan's in the Buckeyes head a little bit.

Nick Wright (51:24)

It's very fair. Obviously it's happened the last four years after a dominant run and it's got to get, you know, it's got to get changed. And I hear people say that there's too much emphasis on the game and that's, you know, I grew up in right outside Cleveland, Ohio. It is the game. I grew up in the ten year war with what, Bo and Woody. So that's the way it is at Ohio State and it will never change. So when someone says they need to back off that game, I'm like, they don't have to back up off the game. Just got to Win that game.

Colin Cowherd (51:52)

Yeah, yeah. People say that when they lose it, when they win it. Nobody says that. I think Oregon's the fastest team in college football, but in my life, I don't remember a mediocre to below average defensive team winning a nasty. I think it comes down to I love the Texas defense, the Buckeye defense, Penn State's defense, Notre Dame's defense. I don't. And I love Oregon. And I said they're going to. Oregon's going to beat him. I said this before the season. They're going to beat Ohio State at Austin. They're going to lose in a rematch. I just question Oregon's defense. They'll score, but I watch Penn State do it. I watched Ohio State, I watched Boise State. What do you make of Oregon's defense? Is it a personnel issue?

Nick Wright (52:35)

Well, I love their coordinator. Tasha Lapoy was actually on my staff one time and I think he's one of the great motivators. I love their defensive line. But you know what they got exposed against Penn State. I'm actually going to talk on the Big Ten network about that briefly. That the Q run game exposed them and Ohio State's not done a lot of Q run game. If I'm watching that Chip Kelly and that staff, watching what Penn State did with a non dual threat player in Drew Allergic. They ripped them up and down the field a little bit with the Q run game and then Prabula came in.

Colin Cowherd (53:05)

Explain the Q run game to Ormes.

Nick Wright (53:07)

It's an equalizer. It's where you read a defender for it's spread option. So you're going to read a defensive end and you put, you know, people.

Colin Cowherd (53:14)

Have to make judgments and you equate numbers.

Nick Wright (53:17)

You can't load the box because you're always reading one defender. And they did that with Drew Eller. Drew Eller, Will Howard's excellent runner. So I would anticipate I would see some of that going back to Oregon's defense, though I got a little more confidence. Oregon's defense, you watch them in some of those games they had 10 sacks against Washington. The defensive line plays with great effort. I really admire their coordinator. I think they'll play better in this game against Ohio State.

Colin Cowherd (53:43)

Listen, there are times when as a college coach, even when you were at Florida or Ohio State, there are times as a college coach you look across and say, listen, they're going to be able to do this off us, right? Like, like if you faced a Bama or Georgia, they're going to get a sack or two on Us, they got NFL dudes. I look at Oregon's offense and I'm like, you just guys, we're going to give up some plays. How do you stop Oregon? Because they score on everybody.

Nick Wright (54:07)

Yeah, I got theory on that. And what happened is when you play a soft schedule like Ohio State, schedule was awful. The beginning, first three games, the 50 point favorites, I think in every game. And then what happens is during the, during the course of practice, you go against something called a scout team. And here you are, the defensive backs, Ohio State. You're playing the schedule they played, which was. I mean, you didn't see any juice at all. All of a sudden you're lined up against Oregon and that is the fastest group of receivers. You know, them and Ohio State, those are the two best groups of receivers and they were on them. I watched the game and it looked like, you know, Ohio State was in quicksand. Those are fast corners. They were shocked. Here's the good thing. I don't think they'll be shocked because they faced them. And I don't know if Coach Day's done this, but I made a comment earlier on this too, that I would, there would be no scout team if I was getting ready to play Oregon. The corners are not going to go against a scout team receiver, right? You're going to go against Jeremiah and Mecca. You're going to be going against dudes the entire time. Because what happens, you get shocked and the game is on you so fast if you're not prepared for the speed. They played them once and I would anticipate in practice they're going against good on. Good to get ready for this game.

Colin Cowherd (55:15)

So your entire career I can go back to Alex Smith and Chris Leak into Tebow. I think we tend to. I'm guilty of this. We just think quarterbacks are the same every Saturday or Sunday. But the truth is, college kids, as they're growing, confidence is a big part. And I thought Will Howard lost it against Michigan. I just lost it. And then I watch him, you know, against Tennessee and I'm like, okay, this is the kid that I thought could get drafted. What is Will Howard? I mean, I'll forget the NFL, but what do you like about Will Howard? Because if they do get into a shootout, which he did before, tell me the things you see as a coach.

Nick Wright (55:53)

I like everything about Will Howard. I like an athletic quarterback, can get you out of trouble, which he does. He's had big scrambles and he makes plays with his legs as well. Here's the best thing about Will Howard, his surrounding cast.

Colin Cowherd (56:04)

Yeah.

Nick Wright (56:05)

One of the best I've ever seen on a football field. And the offense line, I'm not including them. I'm talking the offensive skill, the offense lines. That's three major injuries.

Colin Cowherd (56:14)

Yeah.

Nick Wright (56:15)

But you're looking at those two tailbacks. You're looking at three, maybe four receivers that are all high draft picks. That's the best thing Will Howard's got going. He is. He's got to be a distributor and he does not have to be the game winner.

Colin Cowherd (56:27)

That's right.

Nick Wright (56:28)

And that's. I've had quarterbacks that thrive in those kind of situations when you have to go put it on your shoulders. You know, there's not many quarterbacks can do that.

Colin Cowherd (56:36)

You know, I've said on this show before, it's hard to win a Super bowl with a shaky O line. And you can't win a World Series with a bad bullpen. You can't, I think a bullpen, seventh, eighth and ninth inning, you're facing the best hitters in the world. You got to have closers and O lines. Not when you're trailing, when you're leading and you can't close the door. Ohio State's O line to me is the weakness of the team. For the record, I think it's the weakness of Georgia. So I eliminate Georgia because they're on a backup. They can't win the Natty, in my opinion. Are you concerned that Ohio State, if they get into a great game against a great team and they need an eight minute drive, they don't have the offensive line to do it?

Nick Wright (57:19)

I'm very concerned because I think you're right. As we made it to the final game, final two games when I was at Florida and Ohio State and it is, it's a line of scrimmage game. Because a lot of time, skill negates itself. You know, you have great skill on both sides. So what's going to win? Can you get 4 yards, 4, 5 yards a snap? And like you said, can you close out a game or get a first down when you need to? And that's all offensive line driven. I would say I'd be very alarmed. They played their best. They did against Penn State. They had a 10 or 12 play drive.

Colin Cowherd (57:47)

Yep.

Nick Wright (57:48)

Six minute drive start at the one yard line. That was the best offensive four minute drill I may be ever seen. And then Seth McLaughlin, the center goes down. Yep. When I got that text, I almost fell out of the chair. Like what happened? Because you lose your center at that point in the season and they played not very well a couple games, but they played excellent against Tennessee. So I am concerned, I would be more concerned if they didn't have the best skill in America.

Colin Cowherd (58:12)

I want to talk Notre Dame and Georgia. So there's this sense for a long time because Brian Kelly, Kelly won early and then they go play a Natty against Bama and get rolled. But the last two times he played them, they went toe to toe with Georgia. I like him. This game is that I think sometimes maybe it's because the academic, the austere Notre Dame view that we don't think of Notre Dame as elite recruiters. We think of Ohio State. I think Notre Dame is more in the Michigan recruiting, but I think Ohio State, Georgia, Texas, Bama, lsu. It's a whole different ball game, whole different ballgame. Oregon's buying their guys. They're kind of in that space. But I think when I watch Notre Dame play, I'm like, they got a lot of dudes and I think they match up with Georgia. And I think in our mind we're like, George has got better players. I'm not sure they do. I don't know. You're looking at me like I'm nuts.

Nick Wright (59:00)

No, I agree with you. I think imagine getting hit in the face by Northern Illinois and picking that team off the mat. You know, Marcus Freeman and his staff did that and the leadership of that team did it. I counted them out when I saw that, you know, Notre Dame's done. How do you, how do you regroup from that kind of a loss? They have and I've studied them actually the last couple of weeks at home. I just would watch the videotape. I think they're toe to toe with Georgia. I think I agree with you. Georgia's offensive line is not the typical Kirby smart. It's a weak, dominant offensive line. They're playing a backup quarterback. I think this is going to be. I think this is going to be whoever has ball last is going to win this thing.

Colin Cowherd (59:35)

Yeah, I always used to think, you know, it's cold weather, small town, isolated academics are hard. I think Marcus, I think Brian Kelly in the end, when he was in his coaching prime and I think Marcus has done a tremendous. If you meet Marcus, you can see why he's a good recruiter. Yeah, I think the sports, a young man's game. And I think Marcus is one of those guys that he's, he's. He's putting in 17 hour days.

Nick Wright (59:56)

He'll be on the recruiting, in the recruiting. I used to coach There for six years under Louisville. Yes, I remember Davion. I would always plan my recruiting visit around because I recruited the south south for Notre Dame. And if you heard the two words lake effect, do not bring a kid from the south, don't do it. And then if you got caught, I would get those cars. You had real nice cars and I turned up to 90 degrees, we'd have a jacket in there for him. So recruiting at Notre Dame, but it's not, you know, that's old school now. It's just how much I think recruiting is. Notre Dame is a great education, but we're going to pay you this. Are you going to go so yeah, I think it's a different world than was all right.

Colin Cowherd (60:35)

I'm not a huge Quin ers fan. He's probably a Sunday player Arch Manning. So I mean listen, we know this Joe Burrow was a Buckeye then. He's not like here's the problem with college football now in the NFL you have a starter and then you have a backup and everybody gets it. In college, Ohio State has to have two five star or four star guys. You can't just not as a season expense. So you got Arch Manning and the royalty in America of the Manning name and then you got got Quinn Ewers. I think this is a harder balance than you think. I to have Arch Manning behind you, I would be, I would be like, you know, Peyton's coming to practice. What if Quinn Ewer scuffs? What if they trail at half? What if you see him lose his confidence? Is that a harder balance than we all recognize?

Nick Wright (61:20)

It's a. It's a really hard balance. But I would actually tell our quarterbacks that you're no different to me, even though you are an offense guard or a tailback, you're struggling. The other guy, especially if deserves a right to play, you'll play. You know, Nick Saban did that on the I believe at halftime a won a national championship. The quarterback change. So it. I've had quarterbacks say I don't like the look of the I had Chris Leek and he people said he's looking over his shoulder table and I said, yeah, so is the receiver. So is the middle linebacker. I mean that's if you recruit really good players, have a good day or someone's going to come in and get a few snapshots. So I'm sure Sark has had that conversation probably hundreds of times this fall. To me it's so much on the player. Can the player handle the fact that arch might come in the game and I don't know that. We're gonna have to find out.

Colin Cowherd (62:06)

So Penn State crushes smu.

Nick Wright (62:09)

Yeah.

Colin Cowherd (62:10)

And they're looking up at the next game. They could play Georgia, Notre Dame and James Franklin puts in the film and these guys are all like, yeah, they got a good running back. You can't fool the players. I don't know, I, I think Boise State now, Boise State is not built to play from behind. They get after the quarterback, they protect their quarterback, they run the football. Boise State's got pros. I don't know. How do you as a coach convince your team? It's easy to convince. Hey, here comes Tennessee, here comes Notre Dame, Georgia. That's a different ball game. How do you convince Boise State, Penn State players? Is that a truck? Is that a struggle?

Nick Wright (62:49)

That's a real struggle. It's the locker room. You know, if I have grown ass men as players, I'm having meetings with them. They have to, you know, if coaches up there, I mean, what is it, week 14 if I'm still having to do sales job on my team? It's probably not a great team. I don't have great leaders. I would anticipate that's not the case. I'll say this about genty, is that we were there. Yeah. And the post contact yards is what would be alarming to me. I would make a videotape of not him running against some team for 60 yards where he's untouched. I would make a 30 play highlight tape of post. I think he's the best post contact runner I've seen in several years in college.

Colin Cowherd (63:26)

You know, the Michigan State walker was like that.

Nick Wright (63:28)

Yeah. He gets stronger as he gets hit. Yeah. And we witnessed it. And I would make a 25 play highlight tape. I'd be running that through the facility and make sure the defense sees it over and over again. You better get him down because he's going to get yards after the hit.

Colin Cowherd (63:42)

Yeah. Go back to that Penn State, Ohio State game. Now, Will Howard fumbled near the goal line. I thought that really hurt the momentum of Penn State. But I think that edge rusher Carter could be one of the five or six best players in college football. Penn State, because Michigan and Ohio State, they just take all the oxygen out of the room. Penn State is one of those unique programs that we overlook and It's a top 10 program. Go back to your days facing them. I, I don't know, I look at their talent and maybe it's not Texas or Ohio State, but There's pros everywhere on that.

Nick Wright (64:18)

Everywhere. Yeah, I go back to our games. We had some. We were down and I want to say two scores, twice in the fourth quarter against him in 2017 and 18. I think James Franklin has done a hell of a job. He doesn't get the credit he deserves. The fan base, the support is second to none at State College. So, yeah, I never looked at Penn State any differently than the upper echelon teams. Maybe others have. I never did because I walked out there and there's Saquon Barkley, you know, trace McSorley. There's the, like you said, the defensive players, they've had. So. No, I've never. I've always looked at them as a top five, top seven program.

Colin Cowherd (64:54)

Okay. Now we got to get serious.

Nick Wright (64:56)

Okay.

Colin Cowherd (64:56)

Got to get serious.

Nick Wright (64:57)

Okay.

Colin Cowherd (64:58)

So. Yeah, the world. So years ago, I think it was McKay Caffrey and Leonard Fournette. You're in second tier bowls and they're. Like I said at the time, when it comes to running backs, if you've given me three or four years and you sit out of the Liberty Bowl, I get it. Okay? We're not talking to Natty. So do you agree with that premise? Running backs were the last players in the NFL and college football. You can take a shot, you can hit him in the head, you can hit him anywhere. It's the last player available. If it's a second tier bowl, I'd let him sit.

Nick Wright (65:30)

Yeah, I don't know. I mean, that did not compute. Denzel Ward, the first time this really happened. Denzel Ward, a first round great player, great kid. I mean, I loved his family. We were like this. He comes in. No, I think his coach came into me and said, I think Denzel Ward's going to sit out the Cotton Bowl. I'm like, I never heard that before. This is before that all started happening and I was like, sit out. Why would he sit out and get ready for the NFL draft? That was the first time. And that just did not. You know, I use the word compute. Like, what do you mean you're going to sit out on your teammates, et cetera, et cetera.

Colin Cowherd (66:04)

So Cam Ward played one half and left.

Nick Wright (66:07)

When I heard that, I think I told you earlier to me that someone said, coach, what's your thoughts on that? I'm thinking that's. That's like saying the world is square. I don't know. What do you say to your. Like, did he go in and change at halftime? Did he get in a car and leave? Did he walk I didn't see what happened.

Colin Cowherd (66:23)

Yeah.

Nick Wright (66:23)

And they lost.

Colin Cowherd (66:25)

Does it matter more because he's a quarterback?

Nick Wright (66:28)

Sure. Of course. That's the number one position. But I'm just wondering what do you, how that, how do you, you know, you walk in after the game and you, you just, you know, you got. People played their hearts out. And I'm not criticizing Cameron because I don't know the whole situation, but someone asked me how I feel about that. Like I, I don't. What do you say to your teammates? You just maybe, maybe the attitude, it's just a second rate bowl game. I've never looked at anytime you keeping score, you're trying to win that damn game. And so I don't know, I just, I got really mixed feelings on that. So.

Colin Cowherd (66:58)

I am a fan of the transfer portal and the nil, but things need guardrails. Okay. I'm okay with that. I think it's hard to figure out the transfer portal because you have to be on the academic calendar. It gets in the way. It's right after.

Nick Wright (67:14)

That's the first time I've heard academics in a long time. That's great. Great.

Colin Cowherd (67:18)

So it's a weird. The nil. I'm gonna, I'm gonna propose this is that. Listen, Oregon's got Phil Knight And Texas has two billionaire donors that we just say, listen, you get 18 million, that's the top. We know Purdue's got three and a half to five, Ohio State's gonna have 18. But even the NFL has a salary cap. We're just going to say 18 is what you can do. Is that reasonable or do you not like that?

Nick Wright (67:43)

I think it's very reasonable. And I think there is logically you have to have some kind of guardrail, some kind of system set up. I'm going to tell you this. I don't think there's any chance though because that would mean that the upper echelon schools are going to have to give up power. If you're Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, you know, Oregon, the teams with just ridiculous amount of money, you're the power player right now in college sports. Imagine sitting in a room and say, okay, we're going to back you guys down and make this more equal. Like the NFL. The NFL, you got 32 teams and they're all working together under the same guidelines. College college football is like this. You got teams that are, you know, 20 million dollar salary.

Colin Cowherd (68:26)

Your Buckeye spent 20 million and you.

Nick Wright (68:28)

Have teams that can't do that. Why would those teams ever lower and raise the Others right now. I don't see that happening. I keep hearing that. I just. I've sat in those meetings in the SEC. You think the SEC cares about the Big 12? No, I'll answer that question. I send those meetings. They don't. They care about the sec. I send the Big Ten meetings. You think the Big Ten is really concerned about what happens in the acc? No, they're concerned about making sure their programs thrive in the Big Ten. So you need cooperation and you need more equal footing. I don't know if I see that happening. Logically. Yeah, but I don't see that happening now.

Colin Cowherd (69:05)

It's going to go to a 14 to a 16 team playoff. I thought the media. I thought everybody overreacted to the first round. Listen, March Madness, you got blowouts and you get a. If you get a couple of good Thursday games opening weekend, you feel great. Would you expand it? Are you okay with. Because there's a lot of discussions that they're going to 14. There's also the Mountain west may not get a buy. We're going to see changes. It's the first year. Lighten up Everybody. Of the 12 teams playoff, what bothers you the most? What do you. I don't like that Penn State's got an easier route than Oregon. That's not fair. Oregon went undefeated, won the conference championship and I got. Ohio State is my first game.

Nick Wright (69:47)

Yeah, I think there's going to be. Like you said, this is the first year there were some mistakes made. Get used to blowouts. They're going to happen all the time. I think college basketball is a little bit easier for an upset than college football. Just the masses of the humanity on the bigger teams. So there's going to be some adapting. The biggest issue I didn't like is the fact that there are blowout games. But I don't know how you get away from that. I agree with you also there's got to be rewards. When I saw Penn State's path, they're a double digit favorite, you know, and then you can see Ohio State and not Ohio State. I'm not worried about how State, but the team that won it, like you said, Oregon, they had a more difficult path than Penn State. And that does not equate.

Colin Cowherd (70:30)

Yeah. Hey, would you be. James Franklin suggested Nick Saban could be college football's commissioner. And for years on this show we said, how can you be an $8 billion annual business and have no commissioner? I think they need a strong voice to unify people. Why wouldn't you do it? You don't have to recruit. It's just a big strong guy that knows you have a big personality, you have strident beliefs. Why wouldn't you do it?

Nick Wright (70:54)

Why wouldn't I? Or Nick. Save it.

Colin Cowherd (70:56)

You.

Nick Wright (70:56)

No, I'm voting for Nick to be there.

Colin Cowherd (70:58)

Why wouldn't you do it?

Nick Wright (70:59)

No interest at all. You know, I just.

Colin Cowherd (71:01)

None.

Nick Wright (71:01)

None. I, I just. I. The. When you're a commissioner of a conference that. Let me put it this way. So imagine the NFL, and they said, okay, Roger Goodell, we're going to now put the USFL in with the NFL. You guys are all going to be together and then, you know, and that's what college sports, college football. Right now, not everybody's not the same.

Colin Cowherd (71:21)

Right, Right.

Nick Wright (71:21)

They're not operating in the same guidelines. It's, it's. And it'll never be that way. You take an Ohio State, you take the Wolverines, you take Georgia, and then you. You're mixing. So I'm not going to use names because I want teams to get mad here, but they're. They're not the same.

Colin Cowherd (71:34)

That's right. Right.

Nick Wright (71:34)

So this person has to lower their level, and this person has to raise to get any tw. Any type of equilibrium in a. That's not going to happen, Colin. So a commissioner would take. You know, I, I don't. I don't know. I. Again, I, I just. Because I've sat in those meetings, you got the haves and you got the have nots. The haves would have to give up power. Do you really see that happening? I don't.

Colin Cowherd (71:58)

Hey, so Belichick. So I know you and Belichick are tight, so I think the coaching's fine. My take has always been that Bill could barely tolerate Robert Kraft. The idea he's going to have to deal with a volleyball coach. I'm like, give me a break. That Bill's going to come in there and Mike Lombardi, who I know is another kind of gruff guy. These guys are strident, strong opinion guys. And all of a sudden it's like, hey, you going to go to the, the. You're going to go to the tennis match today and support the athletic program? Give me a break. So I think Bill will just get worn out by the nonsense of college sports. The coaching's fine. The recruiting's fine. The players come to you. They're collective. Now, you know Belichick, did you call him and warn him about some of the stuff he's going to have to deal with?

Nick Wright (72:46)

No, but I think five years ago, I would have cost it. Don't do it. You're not going to wake up at six in the morning and. And go meet with the social studies teacher in high school and ask about the player.

Colin Cowherd (72:58)

Oh, brother.

Nick Wright (72:58)

And then go into the. Get the transcript and figure out how he's doing in the geology class and all this. And then you have to go to a basketball practice and basketball game that night. But you don't have to do that. You know how many times the coaches were. I heard this, I didn't realize this were out on the road in December. None. You don't recruit anymore in the month of December. That used to be when you would fly in that private jet and you'd be in four to five states in one day. The way we used to recruit, finish at a basketball game and then you'd be watching your computer get ready for bowl game. It's not that way anymore. Now it is simply they come visit you, you find out what the number is and you pay the number. So Coach Belichick, why don't you call it?

Colin Cowherd (73:36)

Why don't you do it again? If you. If I could take recruiting out. Why don't you coach again?

Nick Wright (73:39)

Because I'm a Fox big Noon man.

Colin Cowherd (73:41)

They do.

Nick Wright (73:42)

I got a great job here.

Colin Cowherd (73:43)

Hey, Sean Payton was at Fox and now he's coaching the Broncos. You don't have to coach, you have to recruit anymore.

Nick Wright (73:49)

Let's go back to Bill Belichick. He'll figure it out and I can't wait to watch it. He's 72 and I'm not a math major, but that's only three years away from 75. So, you know, that's.

Colin Cowherd (74:02)

So when you guys are together, I would be. I would love to hear this. I should wire you next time you go talk to him and I'll give you some questions. So obviously you asked Bill stuff and you're interested and then he asked you stuff is give me something. You asked Bill a little bit of his wisdom because you guys are both. I mean, he, he give me something that Bill said in a fishing trip or something and you were like, oh, that's smart.

Nick Wright (74:28)

Yeah. I would go visit the Patriots very often and he'd come every year, started at Gainesville, Florida and would visit with us and. And he had the greatest locker room I have ever witnessed. I would go watch practice. You know Tom Brady, William Ganet, you know, Mike Vrabel, Rodney Harrison, you know, he had that locker room. And I remember I would actually sat with Tom Brady and Vrabel and I. Because I was having some issues at Florida locker room issues.

Colin Cowherd (74:52)

I remember that.

Nick Wright (74:53)

And I was like, how in the hell do you guys do this? And they, those players said to me, it's our job to make sure nothing ever gets to Bill Belichick's desk. That was how strong his locker room was. And I would meet with my leaders and use that as examples. And it got better as time wore on. But. And he would always ask me about the spread offense. I was back in the Alex. I got a phone call. I remember Bill Belichick called me when I took the Florida job and he said, hi, this is Bill Belichick. And I said, I thought it was one of my boys messing around. I said, well, this is Pete Rose, how you doing? And he came down and Josh McDaniels back in the day and they started running some of our Alex Smith spread offense stuff. So he wanted to talk football, I wanted to talk locker room. I was amazed at how he did it.

Colin Cowherd (75:35)

The Patriots, yeah, those Patriot teams were.

Nick Wright (75:38)

No nonsense, the best locker rooms I've ever witnessed.

Colin Cowherd (75:41)

What was the best locker room you ever had?

Nick Wright (75:44)

I would say the 14 national champion Buckeyes. You know, when you're down your third string quarterback, who are your leaders? Joshua Perry, Curtis Grant, Jeff Heirman. We had just incredible leaders. And here you took a third string quarterback and had one of the greatest runs ever. Because everybody just, you know, Joey Bosa, Zeke Elliot, Mike Thomas, you know, do.

Colin Cowherd (76:04)

You ever have a game and witness didn't happen to you much that Florida or Ohio State, you went in and you knew you didn't have as good of players, but you couldn't tell the players. Did you ever have a game and you came out of it and you thought we shouldn't have won that game?

Nick Wright (76:19)

Sure. Back in the LSU days, LSU had the best talent. Man, people forget what Les Miles had down there. I mean they had about a four to five year run. I'd grabbed my line coach every time when I saw lsu. Come on Tyson, how in the hell are you going to block those guys? Their defensive line was that good.

Colin Cowherd (76:35)

How about Ed Orgeron's Joe Burrow team?

Nick Wright (76:38)

Never coached against him, but they, they looked a part.

Colin Cowherd (76:41)

That's the most talented college team I've ever seen.

Nick Wright (76:43)

Yeah, yeah, I've had a couple of those where I'd look across and say how in the hell. But just you change your game plan, you know, you got to, you got to get the ball off fast. You got to attack this. We felt that way actually in the national championship against Ohio State. State when I was in Florida. Get the ball out here. Don't play in here. Get the ball out here. And that's what we did.

Colin Cowherd (77:01)

Yeah. That's good stuff. The I can't believe you wouldn't. Would you take a call? Would you take a call? Look a really good program says hey listen lot of money down here in.

Nick Wright (77:12)

Blank this wasn't on the rundown you guys.

Colin Cowherd (77:15)

You're not gonna get away. You look fantastic. You can't me what's gonna just had.

Nick Wright (77:20)

Grand Grandkid number six.

Colin Cowherd (77:22)

Wow.

Nick Wright (77:22)

Peyton 2 days ago so we're life is good man.

Colin Cowherd (77:25)

All right. You golfing a lot?

Nick Wright (77:27)

Yeah. Not very good, but a lot.

Colin Cowherd (77:29)

Yeah. Who's good? You got good Scotty Scheffler. Nobody else is good. The great Urban Meyer. We take a break back after this. Live in LA the herd. I'm partnering with PayPal. The holiday season is here and I'm going to save big with cash back offers in the PayPal app. It's easy. I browse deals from my favorite brands, save offers in the app and use PayPal checkout online. Really, really easy. Whether I'm buying gifts for my family or treating myself to something nice, I'm earning cash back and you can too. Don't just pay PayPal.

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