Best of The Herd

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Best of The Herd Release Date: December 10, 2024

---

Introduction to the Episode

In the "Best of The Herd" episode, Colin Cowherd engages in an in-depth discussion with guest Michael Irvin, focusing primarily on the current landscape of the NFL. They delve into team performances, coaching dynamics, player evaluations, and the overarching culture within various franchises. The conversation is enriched with expert insights, personal anecdotes, and strategic analyses that provide listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the state of American football.

---

Key Discussions and Insights

1. NFL Team Performances and Player Evaluations

Dissecting Team Competitiveness:

• Colin Cowherd critiques the NFL's increasing quarterback-centric approach, expressing concerns that teams without stellar quarterbacks are becoming "have nots," similar to issues seen in the NBA. He remarks, “The NFL has got to be careful. It’s become so quarterback centric and the rules are so quarterback friendly” ([00:25]).

• Michael Irvin emphasizes the importance of versatility in quarterbacks, highlighting Joe Burrow and Jamar Chase. He states, “Burrow is the one guy that will go into Arrowhead Stadium and I think gives Andy Reid and Steve Spagnola nightmares” ([10:15]).

Player Spotlight: Joe Burrow and Jamar Chase:

• Cowherd praises Burrow’s leadership despite organizational shortcomings, noting, “He’s got a bad offensive line and a lousy linebacking core. I mean that team, it’s almost impossible to get a bad O line to a conference championship” ([08:45]).

• Irvin lauds Chase as a top-tier wide receiver, asserting, “He is a special player. He continues to make plays after the catch, before the catch. Any way that you get him the ball” ([09:30]).

2. Coaching Dynamics and Hiring for the Chicago Bears

Evaluating Head Coaching Candidates:

• Colin Cowherd reviews the Chicago Bears’ potential head coaching candidates: Ben Johnson, Brian Flores, Joe Brady, and Mike Vrabel. He expresses skepticism about first-time candidates handling such significant roles, stating, “There are just too many potholes and obstacles for Joe Brady or Ben Johnson. This is not the job” ([15:20]).

• Michael Irvin supports Brian Flores as a top candidate due to his defensive prowess and cultural impact, mentioning, “Brian Flores is a strong one A to me because I watched him go to Miami. He may have messed up the TUA thing... but he is a really good coach” ([16:45]).

Cultural Change vs. Scheme Expertise:

• Cowherd differentiates between culture changers and scheme experts, highlighting that the Bears need someone who can transform the organization’s culture, not just implement new strategies. He concludes, “Vrabel is the play here, and I think it’s an easy one” ([20:10]).

• Irvin adds that stability is crucial for young quarterbacks, suggesting that maintaining the current offensive system could foster growth. He states, “I can do a defensive coach, I can go in that route to give you that stability” ([21:30]).

3. Team Dynamics and Internal Conflicts

Philadelphia Eagles’ Internal Issues:

• Cowherd discusses the tension between A.J. Brown and Jalen Hurts, pointing out that the Eagles' focus on a run-heavy offense may be limiting the passing game. He notes, “We are a Barkley-led team... we’re not going to give you 14 targets like Jamar Chase” ([30:00]).

• Irvin emphasizes the need for the team to address internal conflicts to maintain cohesion, stating, “We have to be able to talk, talk things out as men” ([37:38]).

Loyalty and Organizational Stability:

• Michael Irvin praises Mike McCarthy’s loyalty to the Bears, acknowledging the challenges it poses to organizational change. He remarks, “Jerry is loyal. And that’s one of the best things I love about him” ([45:10]).

• Cowherd counters by highlighting the Bears' dysfunctionality under current leadership, asserting, “The Chicago Bears are dysfunctional” ([40:00]).

4. Legacy and Mentorship in Coaching

Impact of Experienced Coaches:

• Cowherd reflects on Bill Belichick’s legacy, questioning his fit with the Bears and his motivations beyond coaching, such as family legacy. He muses, “Does he really want a coach or is it about getting his son the job?” ([43:39]).

• Irvin underscores the importance of mentorship in coaching, especially for young quarterbacks, stating, “Deion is a mentor. Coaching is a coach that has to mentor” ([44:10]).

Balancing Legacy with Modern Coaching Needs:

• Michael Irvin discusses the challenges of balancing legacy with the evolving demands of college and professional coaching, mentioning, “The current landscape of college football is a lot different than even when Jimmy was in college” ([43:39]).

5. Player Development and Organizational Support

Supporting Young Talent:

• Cowherd highlights the Bears’ struggles in developing young receivers, indicating missed opportunities with players like Chase Claypool. He states, “Ryan Polls is pretty darn good. I like him” ([36:50]).

• Irvin emphasizes the importance of providing consistent support and development for young quarterbacks, suggesting that changing coaches may disrupt this progress. He says, “I’m going to ask the question... Does Miami plan on keeping Caleb Williams?” ([41:16]).

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Colin Cowherd ([00:25]): “The NFL has got to be careful. It’s become so quarterback centric and the rules are so quarterback friendly.”

• Michael Irvin ([09:30]): “He is a special player. He continues to make plays after the catch, before the catch. Any way that you get him the ball.”

• Colin Cowherd ([15:20]): “There are just too many potholes and obstacles for Joe Brady or Ben Johnson. This is not the job.”

• Michael Irvin ([16:45]): “Brian Flores is a strong one A to me because I watched him go to Miami. He may have messed up the TUA thing... but he is a really good coach.”

• Colin Cowherd ([20:10]): “Vrabel is the play here, and I think it’s an easy one.”

• Michael Irvin ([21:30]): “I can do a defensive coach, I can go in that route to give you that stability.”

• Colin Cowherd ([30:00]): “We are a Barkley-led team... we’re not going to give you 14 targets like Jamar Chase.”

• Michael Irvin ([37:38]): “We have to be able to talk, talk things out as men.”

• Michael Irvin ([43:39]): “The current landscape of college football is a lot different than even when Jimmy was in college.”

• Michael Irvin ([44:10]): “Deion is a mentor. Coaching is a coach that has to mentor.”

• Colin Cowherd ([40:00]): “The Chicago Bears are dysfunctional.”

• Michael Irvin ([45:10]): “Jerry is loyal. And that’s one of the best things I love about him.”

---

Conclusions and Takeaways

• Organizational Culture is Crucial: Both hosts agree that the cultural framework within a team significantly impacts its success. Coaches who can instill a positive and resilient culture are invaluable, especially for teams undergoing transitions.

• Leadership and Loyalty: Leadership stability, as exemplified by loyal figures like Mike McCarthy, is a double-edged sword. While loyalty fosters trust, it can also impede necessary organizational changes.

• Player Development: Effective development programs for young talent, particularly quarterbacks and receivers, are essential. Consistency in coaching approaches facilitates smoother growth trajectories for emerging players.

• Strategic Coaching Hires: The Chicago Bears, in particular, need to prioritize hiring coaches who are not only tactically adept but also capable of driving cultural transformations to overcome existing dysfunctionality.

• Legacy vs. Modern Needs: Balancing a coach's legacy with the modern demands of the sport is challenging. While experienced coaches bring invaluable wisdom, aligning their philosophies with contemporary team needs is imperative for sustained success.

---

Final Thoughts

"The Best of The Herd" episode offers a nuanced exploration of the NFL's current state, emphasizing the intertwined roles of coaching, player development, and organizational culture. Colin Cowherd and Michael Irvin provide listeners with a deeper appreciation of the complexities that shape team performances and the future trajectories of franchises within the league.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

The human soul has a minimum daily requirement of entertainment. But listening to a podcast like you're doing right now, yeah, that doesn't count. Welcome to the world of MGM Rewards where they have the greatest live shows on earth, the biggest names in sports, the best chefs on the planet, and the most unforgettable nights of your life. This is all the entertainment you can handle and more. So book now and make the most of your Vegas getaway@mgm rewards.com MGM rewards.com Welcome to the show. Wasabi Technologies is purpose built to free businesses from skyrocketing storage costs and unpredictable egress fees from those old and top heavy legacy providers. You know the big guys. Wasabi is the go to provider for professional and collegiate sports teams around the world. From Wasabi's AI enabled intelligent media storage Wasabi Air to the industry's only cloud storage service with triple protection against cyber criminals, Wasabi is driving innovation in data storage. All for up to 80% less than the other guys. Try them for [e-mail] Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage proud partner of the Volume Podcast Network. It's football season and UberEats is dropping undefeated deals and all your game day favorites this week. Score. Buy one, get one free six piece boneless wings from Buffalo Wild Wings only on Uber Eats. Craving even more. We've got you covered with game day deals on pizza, burgers, tacos and more all season long. Uber Eats official on demand food delivery partner of the NFL. Order now for game day terms, taxes and fees apply. See app for details. Hey, what's up everybody? It's Lavar Arrington here from up on Game and I need you to listen for a moment. All right, I'm get serious. The hate in this country is getting out of control. It's at an all time high. It's going to take all of us to stop it. I mean think about it. We're all on the same team in this country, right? Let's take a break from hate so our team can regroup. We need to take a time out Against Hate. Visit standuptoallhate.org to help and join me in calling for a timeout against hate by following at what's up with Hate or posting the blue square emoji. The Emirates NBA cup is here. You can win big getting in on the action at DraftKings Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NBA. So score big with DraftKings Sportsbook. Every point counts. Download their app. The code is heard H E R D for new customers to get 150 bucks in bonus bets, betting just five. If you win only on DraftKings, the crown is yours. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER in New York, call 8778 HOPENY or text hopeny467-369 In Connecticut, help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino and Resort in Kansas. 21 plus. Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario, bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance. For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see dkng co bball thanks for listening to the Best of the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports radio and noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the [e-mail] or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. This is the Best of the Herd with Colin Cowherd on Fox Sports Radio. Here we go on a Tuesday, loaded up and ready to go live in Los Angeles. It's the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, thanks for making us part of your day. One hour from now, Nick Wright and our herd hierarchy, the playmaker Michael Irvin stops by. You know you and I have, I think J. Mac. We both are football first guys. We like the NBA. You love college basketball. Both of us like soccer. I'm a UFC guy as well. I'm. I'm, I'm moving back to baseball because of the moves in the last couple of years. I thought the baseball playoffs were hard to turn off, but I was watching last night's game and it felt different. Cowboys, Bengals, Bengals went on to win than most games and I'll tell you why. The reason we watch football is because we care about the outcomes and it's not that way for a lot of sports in the NBA. The bottom of the NBA is so large you end up watching games sometimes because you just want to watch like an individual star or two. You don't really care about who wins the game. And I've been saying this all season where the NFL has got to be careful. It's become so quarterback centric and the rules are so quarterback friendly. If you don't have a great quarterback, you're a have not. So you don't want to become the NBA. You want to care about the outcomes and last night felt like an NBA game. All I care about was Joe Burrow and Jamar Chase. That's the only reason I watch that game. And that's what I worry about. The NFL bottom is getting large. There's like 11 teams that are hard to watch. Burrow, 33 of 44. He's absolutely brilliant. Jamar Chase, 14 catches, game winner, probably the second best receiver in the entire world. These are all time greats, but they are stuck in a shaky organization that frankly has suboptimal ownership in a front office. They're the opposite of the Eagles. They don't take any risks. Now, it's not the first time ever a great quarterback has been stuck with a franchise that can't deliver for him. Andrew Luck, Carson Palmer, same ownership in Cincinnati. Matt Stafford, Joe Burrow is similar. There is no arguing. This is why you have to contextualize championships. The fact that he got a bad offensive line and a lousy linebacking core. I mean that team, it's almost impossible to get a bad O line to a conference championship. He got to within a play of winning the Super Bowl. The guy is absolutely incredible. But I'm watching him last night and I felt like I'm watching an NBA game. I'm just watching this for Burrow and Chase because I think Jamar Chase is a top 10 wide receiver talent of my life. I think he's that good. I'm not saying he's Jerry Rice, he's an all timer. I remember when he came out of college, they're like, he's not that fast. I don't know. Nobody catches him. And Burrow, what do you want to say? He's the one guy that will go into Arrowhead Stadium and I think gives Andy Reid and Steve Spagnola nightmares. So, so much about life, especially for young people, is where you land. Mahomes got a great owner and a great coach. Josh Allen got a good owner and a good coach. And that's the difference between a conference championship and trophies. And so like they say in real estate, location, location, location. And that's why I always say you have to contextualize championships. Dan Marino had a great coach. Never a great defense, doesn't have any. He got to the super bowl once. And that's why I say about John Elway. John Elway is probably the greatest prospect to ever enter the league in terms of talent. I mean, it was number one. There was no question. John Elway got to Super Bowls and got humiliated. He got beat by 45, 32, 19 points. John Elway, his was, yeah, he's a Talented loser in the big games. Then he got an all time coach. Mike Shanahan and Terrell Davis back to back Super Bowls retires and he's a legend. I mean even now you just say the word Elway. It's like Pele Elway, like everybody gets it means great. It won that for a long time. He needed the right coach. So to me, I look at Joe Burrow and I saw a stat this morning and this really sums it up. Burrow. Here's quarterbacks that have led the league in passing touchdowns on teams with losing records in the past 50 years. Joe Montana, Drew Brees and Joe Burrow. And you know, Montana was fortunate. He had the ownership, he got the coach. But it doesn't always work that way. And this is not a referendum against Zach Taylor. But I'm just watching Burrow last night and Jamar Chase. 14 catches, game winning touchdowns. Here's Burrow after talking about his superstar receiver. He's, he is a special player. He continues to make plays after the catch, before the catch. Any way that you get him the ball. He makes plays. He deserves all. He's going to get more. Hasn't been paid yet. I'm not sure what they're waiting for, but because they're not going to pay T. Higgins, they've already let safeties and Joe Mixon go. I don't know what they're waiting for. I think he'd have a contract in Philadelphia already. Crazy me, I think he'd have one. So the Chicago Bears, according to a popular former radio host, now a podcaster, Dan McNeil, they're down to four head coaching candidates. These are the names you're hearing. Ben Johnson, Brian Flores, Joe Brady and Mike Vrabel. So now I believe that some jobs, and I'm not just talking football, some jobs are too big for first timers. You can't go from intern to chief resident at a hospital. You can't go from city controller to President of the United States. That's too much. There are just too many potholes and obstacles for Joe Brady or Ben Johnson. This is not the job. This is not the job for those two guys. It's too big. It has too many moving parts. Too much, too much dysfunction. The two guys. Let's first talk Brian Flores because he's very interesting, been a head coach, tremendous defensive resume, learned under the school of Belichick, has been in a dysfunctional organization. He created some of it and he failed. But he created a culture and a defense very quickly. Now he's intense. He didn't get along with Tua. He's acknowledged it. He's been reflective. I wouldn't make him my first choice, but I've said all year, Brian Flores deserves a head coaching job. He's just too damn good at defense. And he's also been willing. He's not a stubborn guy. He has gone to the podium and said, hey, man, I wish I could do the to a thing differently. And I know Internet trolls want you to believe that they're perfect, but most of us make mistakes in our life all the time. Nick Saban was just talking about this the other day on TV when he took the Dolphins job, and he had a couple funny lines that you just, you make mistakes, you make choices if you're aggressive. And Brian Flores is a hyper aggressive guy, but he deserves a second job. He is a really good coach. He would be my 1A, but my 1 would be Mike Frable because he's been a head coach for six years. He's been part of a dynasty. He got to a conference championship with Ryan Tannehill. And most of all, he is a culture changer. And I talked about this yesterday. If you look at organizations that were really a mess, like the Chargers with Brandon Staley, the Lions forever, it wasn't just guys who were schemers. It was culture changers. Jim Harbaugh has changed the way we think about the Chargers. Dan Campbell, the biting kneecap stuff, he's not a scheme expert. What he is is a culture changer. And I think that matters. When Green Bay was looking for a coach, I'll never forget this. I got a call on Matt LaFleur, and I called around and I said, what do you know about Matt LaFleur? And the question was, well, McVeigh, Shanahan and LaFleur are tight. McVeigh's the culture guy. Hansom walks into a big, big lot of confidence. He's the culture changer. And he did that to the rams literally in two weeks. Whereas LeFleur was really good with schemes, could develop into a big presence. But Green Bay wasn't a mess. Green Bay wins. They draft and develop well. What they needed is somebody to get along with Aaron Rodgers and somebody that with their draft and development program and their smart, mostly frugal free agent signings, they didn't need somebody to blow it up. Aaron and McCarthy didn't get along. LaFleur gets along with everybody in the league. And so it's different. Oregon is San Francisco. When they hired Kyle Shanahan, they had good ownership. They had some Good players. They needed a scheme expert. So not every team needs the same thing. Vrabel's my choice in Chicago. He's a culture guy. He's had dysfunction in Tennessee. But I gotta tell you, Brian Flores is a strong one A to me because I watched him go to Miami. He may have messed up the TUA thing and defensive coaches aren't always great in the offensive rooms, but I think Vrabel's the play here, and I think it's an easy one. And also, the Bears could have had Jim Harbaugh who wanted the job and passed on him. This organization could have already solved their cultural issues and they passed. Don't pass again. All right. We got a lot of stuff going on. Nick Wright heard hierarchy. Philadelphia Eagles, you're already getting. Now Philadelphia sports radio creates more controversies than any sports radio in the country. They already got players for the Eagles squawking and talking and disrupting kind of self inflicted by Graham. He just popped off. Hey, let me go. Can I go back to the Bears for a sec? So we're hearing a lot of Belichick stuff this morning. I don't know who this Chicago guy is who's reporting this stuff. You said he's credible. How have. How are the Bears not considering Bill Belichick? What is that about? Because I think Belichick. I think Belichick's interest in Carolina tells you where his head's at. Is that now it's about his legacy and his kids? Also, Bill's a lifetime AFC guy. You know, he. The Giants. That's a long time ago. It was the Jets. No, thank you. It was the Browns, it was the Patriots. I don't think he fits in Chicago. And I think there are different stages people are in their life. I think when Andy Reid went to Kansas City, he's in his 50s, and he wanted to prove Philadelphia made a mistake. Bill doesn't need to prove anything at the NFL level. He's got the boat, the rings, the house, Nantucket, the new girlfriend. He doesn't need to prove anything. College is about legacy. And I think that's a different stage. Harbaugh, by the way, he left that NFL stone unturned. He got to a Super bowl, did not get along with Trent balke, with the 49ers in the front office. So he wanted to prove, hey, give me an organization where I can bring all my guys in and I'll win you a ring that has a legitimate quarterback. So Harbaugh had something to prove because day one in San Francisco, he And Trent Bolke battled. He's like, no, no, I want all my guys. And so they allowed that. So I don't think Bill has anything to prove. I get that. But, Colin, when I hear somebody and again, I don't know who this guy is reporting this, but this idea that Joe Brady is on the Bears list and Bill Belichick is not, I hear that I'm out. I'm out on the Bears. Forget the future, Colin. They're not going anywhere. Joe Brady, come on. Well, I said I don't think Brady or Ben Johnson, they are not equipped to deal with this. There's also now a reported rift between Ryan Polls, the gm who I think is pretty good. I like him. I think Ryan Polls is pretty good. I think he missed on the Chase Claypool thing. But everybody misses on receivers, okay? It's a position with a lot of drama and personality. I think Polls is pretty darn good. I like him. And I actually think the offensive line choices I like, too. I don't think this staff was equipped to make those young players better. But now Kevin Warren and Ryan Polls, their story, they don't get along. And if you watched at the press conference, it was tense and weird. Instantly the next morning I was like, what's going on there behind the scenes? Not pretty. I think there are different times to hire different people. To me, Vrabel is the clear choice for Chicago. Those names, yeah, I would agree. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS1 and the iHeartRadio app. Apple Card is the perfect card for your holiday shopping. You can apply on your iPhone in minutes and start using it right away. You'll earn up to 3% daily cash back on every purchase, including products at Apple like a new iPhone 16 or Apple Watch Ultra. Start holiday shopping for your friends and family today with Apple card subject to credit approval. Apple card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Salt Lake City branch terms and [e-mail] the human soul has a minimum daily requirement of entertainment. But listening to a podcast like you're doing right now, yeah, that doesn't count. Welcome to the world of MGM Rewards where they have the greatest live shows on earth, the biggest names in sports, the best chefs on the planet, and the most unforgettable nights of your life. This is all the entertainment you can handle and more. So book now and make the most of your Vegas getaway@mgm rewards.com MGM rewards.com Welcome to the show. It's football season and UberEats is dropping undefeated deals and all your game day favorites this week scored buy one get one free six piece boneless wings from Buffalo Wild Wings only on UberEats. Craving even more? We've got you covered with game day deals on pizza, burgers, tacos and more all season long. Uber Eats Official on demand Food Delivery partner of the NFL. Order now for game day terms, taxes and fees apply. See App for Details what makes the holiday special are the details from Genesis. And every little detail in a Genesis is another gift to you. Like during winter, you'll be thankful for the available heated steering wheel and the available snow mode to help get you through the snowiest of snow days. And the available all wheel drive is helpful all year round, but especially during the winter. I mean, Genesis has put a lot of thought into the details. 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 if you ever worry about the safety of your home and family, there's no better time to act right now. SimpliSafe is extending its massive Black Friday deal for my listeners. Get 50% off a new SimpliSafe security system. It's the home security I trust using it for years. Peace of mind knowing my home is 24. 7 protected and 50% off today just by visiting simplisafecollin.com it's your last chance to get your home at SimpliSafe's lowest prices of the year. Old school systems only take action once somebody's inside your home. That's too late. Simplisafe's Active Guard Protection changes the game by preventing crime before it ever happens. If somebody's lurking around or acting suspiciously, those agents can see them in real time, talk to them directly, set off a spotlight, even call the police. There's no long term contracts, no cancellation fees. A buck a day. That's it. For all that protection, Simplisafe is extending its massive Black Friday deal. You can get 50% off any new system with a select professional monitoring plan. It's your last Chance to protect your home at Simplisafe's lowest prices of the year. Head to simplisafecollin.com simplisafecollin.Com there's no safe like Simplisafe. Herd hierarchy time is now. Let's go. The top 10 NFL teams according to college number 10. I don't think the Rams could duplicate that effort again this season. But Matt Stafford, Sean Mc, Kyron Williams, Cooper Cup, Puka Nakua, Rob Havenstein, I mean they've got pieces here. They've got five or six really top of the chart pieces. And when Matt Stafford has time to throw and they didn't allow a sack against Buffalo. He is beautiful. He's what Aaron Rodgers wishes he still was. When you give Stafford time to throw, he's in that burrow class. It is just different. Rams at 10 number 9. You know the Seahawks look at Baltimore's defense since Seattle hired their coordinator as head Coach held in three of their last four games they've held offenses under 20 points and Geno Smith, you know he's second in the league in completions to Joe Burrow. But they're on a four game winning streak since the bye. I think John Snyder has put together the last couple of years excellent drafts and I don't think there are a lot of holes in this roster. I don't think they're special at quarterback but they're certainly good enough I think to make the playoffs and potentially win a playoff game. Seattle at nine. Number eight Steelers. George Pickens absence really was impactful. They really need him. But Russell Wilson six and one as a starter. Here's what I like. They're four zero against teams with winning records. So they tend it's Mike Tomlin's history is he is a great underdog coach. Now they got the Eagles coming up at Philly at the Ravens and the Chiefs. So we're going to find out contender or pretender in the next three weeks. Number seven, the Ravens. Listen, they have five losses by a combined 22 points. They're losing to teams like, you know, the Chiefs. Number one total offense. Number two rushing offense. Listen, they get penalized way too much. That is a problem. And their past defense. What I don't like about this team they're like a baseball team with a bad bullpen. They can outplay and lose. They this team can outplay you but on the back end they are leaking so much oil that they can lose games. They should win. So I think Baltimore is out of the super bowl bubble with the back End of their defense. Number six. I. You keep waiting for the Minnesota bubble to burst and they're on a six game winning streak. Seven and one and one score games. You know who else is good at one score games? Kansas City. Really good coaches and good quarterbacks are good in one score game. Sam Darnold in the last month, 11 touchdowns, no picks. There was an aspiring young sportscaster years ago that said he was going to be a great player. Hey, it took a while. Hey, all I know is this, Minnesota's really good. Are they great? I don't know. Number five. The packers are closer to great now. I think they're a year away. They're like Detroit last year. They're really young, but they become a power run team behind Josh Jacobs. So they are taking a lot of the responsibility from Jordan Love, who can be a tad reckless despite being an excellent talent. So they are now kind of a power running team. And for years and years with Aaron Rodgers, we were always like, they don't have much of a run game. Oh, they got it now. Josh Jacobs. They got it now. Green Bay at five. Number four, Buffalo. Super talented, but they beat themselves. Rams. They had a block punt, nine guys on the field. They're two and three against winning record teams. Why? Because you got to have it buttoned up against winning record and winning teams. Now they're not allowing sacks anymore. And the Rams had a good defensive front. That's why Josh Allen's putting up these numbers. I like their roster, I like their momentum, but I don't trust them in big games. And the Rams are an inferior team to the Bills. And the Rams blocked a punt and the Rams didn't waste a time out at the goal line. So Buffalo's great and I do. My final four teams I think are super bowl teams, but they really concern me in close games. Number three, Philadelphia. So do they. They Nick Sirianni. Now we've got A.J. brown and Jalen Hurts, don't get along. But clearly since the buy, the coaching staff has been very intentional. They've become a run team over a pass team. Clearly Saquon Barkley is leading them. It's got a Christian McCaffrey Niners feel like they like the quarterback, don't love him. So I think it's a very, very good team. I think they have the best roster in the league, slightly better than Detroit, but I've got my issues in tight spots with the coach and the quarterback. Number two, Kansas City. First team in NFL history to have three plus kickers with game winning field goals as time expired in a single season. Listen, they're 100 in games decided by 7 or less and you can keep telling me it's luck. It's not luck. It's their brand. It's their business model. They are, they're such a complex team because they're the best third down team in the sport and yet they're only averaging five yards of play, which is the worst in the Mahomes era. So they're not as explosive. They're not going to give you the total yards, they're not going blow you away. But they've never been better than on third down. So that's the complexity of this dynasty. It's got a Patriots feel. You don't feel they have the best roster, but they have the best coach, the best quarterback, and like Michael Jordan, when you need a bucket, that's the team you want. Casey at two number one by an inch Detroit. Listen, since week nine of 2022, they're 34 and nine, half of them blowouts. They have the number one scoring offense and the number one offensive line. They're the one team I think could make Mahomes sit on the sidelines and watch a game. I trust Mahomes to beat everybody in this league. Detroit has the personnel to say we're going to play keep away and have a nine minute drive. So that's the kind of personnel they have. And the other thing is about Detroit is Aiden Hutchinson got hurt, hasn't hurt the defense. Now I think a lot of that is because they lead and so their defense knows what's coming, right? They're not in a lot of close games so the defense can pin their ears back and go for the pass rush. But I have them as by an inch. As a number one team, be sure to catch live editions of the Herd Weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific. This podcast is sponsored by PayPal. Now here's the kicker. The PayPal debit card earns you 5% cash back in a monthly category of your Choice. Up to $1,000 of monthly purchases. So groceries, health and beauty, gas, apparel, restaurants. On top of that, you can get cash back offers within the app from brands like Doordash, Instacart, Sephora. This month it's all about that apparel. I got a crazy schedule. I shop online a lot, snag a suit here or there, fresh gear. 5% cash back adds up fast and signing up is easy. Just Download the new PayPal app to sign up and you're ready to start earning cash back on your everyday purchases. Pay Smart Earn cash Back Enjoy peace of mind with a PayPal debit card. Don't just pay PayPal terms and limits apply. See paypal.com rewardspal Cashback earned as points redeemable for cash and other options on up to $1,000 spend per month. The PayPal Debit MasterCard is issued by the Bancor Bank N.A. pursuant to license by MasterCard International, Inc. And may be used everywhere MasterCard is accepted. The human soul has a minimum daily requirement of entertainment, but listening to a podcast like you're doing right now? Yeah, that doesn't count. Welcome to the world of MGM Rewards where they have the greatest live shows on Earth, the biggest names in sports, the best chefs on the planet, and the most unforgettable nights of your life. This is all the entertainment you can handle and more. So book now and make the most of your Vegas getaway@mgm rewards.com mgm rewards.com welcome to the show. It's football season and Uber Eats is dropping undefeated deals on all your game day favorites this week. Scored Buy one get one free six piece boneless wings from Buffalo Wild Wings only on Uber Eats. Craving even more? We've got you covered with game day deals on pizza, burgers, tacos and more all season long. Uber Eats Official on demand Food Delivery partner of the NFL. Order now for game day terms, taxes and fees apply. Seat for Details what makes the holiday special are the details from Genesis. And every little detail in a Genesis is another gift to you. Like during winter, you'll be thankful for the available heated steering wheel and the available snow mode to help get you through the snowiest of snow days. And the available all wheel drive is helpful all year round, but especially during the winter. I mean, Genesis has put a lot of thought into the details. 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 the Emirates NBA cup is here. You can win big betting in on the action at DraftKings Sportsbook, the official sports betting partner of the NBA. All 30 teams split into six groups every Tuesday and Friday, playing for the right to advance to a single elimination in season tourney. It culminates in the NBA cup championship in Vegas. First time. Here's something special just for you. New DraftKings customers bet $5 to get $150 in bonus bets if your bet wins. So score big. Every point counts. Download the DraftKings sportsbook app. Put in the code Herd. H E R D. That's Code Herd for new customers to get $150 in bonus bets if your bet wins. When you bet just five bucks only on DraftKings, the crown is yours. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER in New York. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text hopeny 467-369 in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino and Resort in Kansas. 21 plus. Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Foydon, Ontario. Bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance. For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see dkng B Ball, the playmaker. He is ready to go.

[Michael Irvin]

You crazy. College. College. My dude, man, he's funny.

[Colin Cowherd]

I'm just.

[Michael Irvin]

You guys are funny, man.

[Colin Cowherd]

Listen, you guys got a lot of connections. You're giving a commencement speech at Miami.

[Michael Irvin]

I am now.

[Colin Cowherd]

Shadour is going to go number one in the draft.

[Michael Irvin]

Yes. Yes. I love Shadour. And he deserves to be number one. He's a hell of a quarterback. But Cam Ward deserves to be number one, too.

[Colin Cowherd]

A lot of backyard football, there were. There was talk that maybe his personality cams in the cam.

[Michael Irvin]

What? There's what?

[Colin Cowherd]

There are. There are people that are saying he's edgy. And he's not for everybody.

[Michael Irvin]

Listen, you know what? This trips me out, man. Every time we get to this place, all these other things start falling off people lips. You know what I'm saying? This man right here, this man has done a hell of a job showing you that he has the ability to do what he. Whatever you need him to do in any situation. Big arm, big arm, big player, poised. You see. You see some Patrick Mahomes stuff in him, too. Nobody ever says that. Nobody ever says that. I see it in him also. And now all of this stuff is starting to come out. I don't know about who's saying all this stuff. I spent every weekend with them. Okay, so. So if a man's opinion is only as good as his knowledge Base on the subject is he take ye what I say to thee over what they say to thee. Cause they are just running a radio, that's all. They don't know what they're talking about. This dude's a great dude. A great leader. A great leader.

[Colin Cowherd]

You're edgy, so you may like edgy.

[Michael Irvin]

Yeah. Ed. Ed, Edgy. What is edgy? What is edgy? First of all, in order to be edgy.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Michael Irvin]

Somebody had to put the line at edge and said if you go over this, you edgy. Who the hell put the line at edge to say I'm edgy and you not. I'm not into these things, man. I am not bound or strapped with these things that the world gets strapped with. I heard somebody say that Cam Ward was being greedy in the portal, right? Agree. Let me listen. Listen. In order for somebody to be greedy, that means someone else has set a line on what he is worth. So what they're really saying, these anonymous sources, what they're really saying is, oh, we, we thought he was worth this, but he came in off said did it, I agreed it and he wanted this really. But he showed you this year that he was. That, that he was asking for the man's the highest trophy.

[Colin Cowherd]

No, he's great.

[Michael Irvin]

The man had a right.

[Colin Cowherd]

I don't traffic in rumors, but I have a source told me he's an edgy kid. Some may be put off by that. Edgy. But like to your point, what does that mean?

[Michael Irvin]

And it takes imitation. Let me tell you guys something. This, this, this is why. And I was just saying this to these guys, this is why I love these top quarterbacks.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Michael Irvin]

A lot of times we wonder, yeah, you have physical skill set. You can play the game. But can you be, can you be in the game with the game as big as. I don't know what, and still play at the level that you played the game when the game wasn't that big?

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, it's.

[Michael Irvin]

Can you play a certain way all the time, no matter what? And I'm going to tell you the best thing about Shadow Sanders in a Cam War Shadow, because he's Deion's son, he's been around it all his life. But Cam, because he's at Miami and all of this noise right now, all of this vibration, that mess right now is because of what he's done at Miami. So I'm telling you, these two guys, because of where they come from is what I like to call. They already pressure cooked for the NFL, if you know what I'm saying they better that pressure cooker and they know how to perform. And when people go in pressure cookers and know how to perform, people that don't know start saying, oh, he's too edgy. That's what I'm talking about.

[Colin Cowherd]

No, listen, I am sermon clothes. I am glad case closed then you sold me. I just bring stuff I hear, right. I don't traffic and nonsense.

[Michael Irvin]

Okay, I appreciate you not trafficking and nonsense. See, that's what I talk about right there. Now that's a gift right there. Colin put that thing in the ether and disclaimed it at the same damn time. Do you hear me? Y'all Say what you want to say. Say, I love you, buddy. You so special, buddy.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay, how about this? Okay, you see, I never looked at you as a diva. I looked at you. My take was you and Aikman and Emmett were the heart of it. And by the way, you wanted the damn ball.

[Michael Irvin]

Right?

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay. And you were one of the only guys in your era that was like, I'll go over the middle and take shots. I don't care. So that doesn't bother me. What bothers me. And I also think receivers want the ball. That doesn't. It doesn't bother me.

[Michael Irvin]

Right.

[Colin Cowherd]

I got a little issue with the Eagles with a quarterback that's not Aikman. And they've said, listen, we're. We're a Barkley led team. We're not going to give you 14 targets like Jamar Chase. We're going to give you seven. And they're winning, Mike. They've won like nine, 10 in a row. I don't love what A.J. brown's doing here. If the stories are true from Brandon Graham where he and Jalen hurts. Okay, here's. Here's the Brandon Graham sound. I want you to listen to Brandon Graham. I don't know the whole story, but I know that one is Charlie.

[Michael Irvin]

And I mean I live in to be a little better with how he respond to things. And they was friends before this. It's like, man, but things have changed and I understand that because life happens. But we gotta. It's the business side that we have.

[Colin Cowherd]

To make sure that we don't let the personal get in the way of the business. And that's what we got to do.

[Michael Irvin]

Better as right now because we know it's the issue. Everybody's seen with some. Some things. But we need to be able to talk. Talk things out as men.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay? So. So it does. Again, I understand some noise. I forever defended Stefan Diggs, but I, I do think that it's very intentional. Michael. The staff of the Eagles think Saquon's how they're going to roll. That's they're a Derun team first, right? You tell me as AJ have a point.

[Michael Irvin]

Well, well, everybody has a point. But just because you have a point doesn't mean it's time to deliver it anywhere. And to everybody, AJ has a point. There are things that are going on within the passing game that, that they, that they need to work on, they need to fix. And here's my thing, here's my thing, here's my thing. We have to look deeper into this. Why would AJ say this to us? Looked a little calculating even the drop, like he knew he was going to do this if this continued. Said to the media now I talked about this yesterday. I said I wonder who's he talking about. Is he talking to the quarterback or is he talking at the head coach and maybe or the play call or Kellen Moore, you guys gotta call some plays to get me some passes over here. Or is it his inefficient if he see at the quarterback. You see what I mean? Who is he talking about now? This bro, this, this just told me who he was talking about. This has told me. So obviously it's 1 in 11 that they have a problem. But the other problem that comes with that, if he is talking about it now on TV, do A.J. brown think. Does he think, oh, it's one plus his coach. Because I'm not even getting a call and I understand from that perspective. Do you watch your mark Chase last night? They were throwing him smoke routes. It takes nothing to throw a smoke route. Nothing. That means you just run a little. I'm just standing. I'm gonna throw you the ball. You go run with it through. You can throw one or two of those. When he, whenever he has man to man coverage out there to start the game, to get him involved. I'm right on, I'm with him on what he's saying about that. Get me in the game so I can use my energy to help you instead of using that energy against you.

[Colin Cowherd]

Brady used to say that Tom liked to get his receivers going. So they were in the game.

[Michael Irvin]

Right.

[Colin Cowherd]

Try to do that with you, right?

[Michael Irvin]

Yes. And Troy. But Troy did that with me. But if Troy didn't, I would never do this. After we get a win. I don't mind. I want you to want the ball. I'd rather have you want the ball than not want the ball. I'd rather push pull you back than try to say go out there and kick that damn ball. You see what I mean? I'd rather pull you back. I want all of that, but I want you to know when and how to put that out. This is the reason I say 10 and 1 last year, then went 1 in 6. Something fell apart in that locker room. Something fell apart. We were one with your one week past that moment. Why are you bringing this back up? Which brings back up. Which opens back up the case for everybody to bring back that stuff.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Michael Irvin]

And now you got to deal with it all over again. When you're coming off a big win like that, it's just not the time. I love great fighters, but I love when you know who and when to fight. Fight. And that wasn't the time.

[Colin Cowherd]

Very well done. Chicago Bears are dysfunctional. Now, I would argue that if you're a dysfunctional franchise and not all teams are dysfunctional that need a coach. Kansas City wasn't dysfunctional. They wanted Andy Reid, but they were a well run, well done organization. They just wanted a better coach. Detroit needed a culture changer. Chargers needed a culture changer. Bears need a culture changer. I think Vrabel and Brian Flores are my two choices. Is there somebody out there you like?

[Michael Irvin]

Well, I always say now if this is, this has to be depending on what I see the rest of this year with Caleb Williams in next four games, five games, whatever we have left in the office. Coordinator right now that he has, Thomas Brown. Because if I see any kind of real progress and something I say, oh, let me ride this out. Because a few games he looked pretty good and then he, you know, had a little slip and come out Caleb. So, so, so if I see that, then I got some leeway because I can go look at the Rabels and all of these guys and get that stability and have some form of stability with my young quarterback. At least the same system so we can see growth from year one to year two. That's the biggest growth you got in the NFL. I don't necessarily want to start him back over with year one again in a whole new offense with a whole new system. So if I see great growth in these next few weeks, then I can do a defensive coach, I can go in that route to give you that stability. But if I don't, then I'm going to go an offensive coach so I can give him the total power over the organization because he and office of coach are connected and their success shall be connected and they'll have a different approach to that game.

[Colin Cowherd]

So you, the best coach you ever had is one of the few coaches in the history of football that was great at college and as a pro coach Jimmie Johnson. As you know, it's usually an either or situation. Some guys can't recruit, some guys aren't good enough scheme. Jimmy was good at both. He knew the personnel side, he knew the scheme side. So Belichick, now he's got a new man. He's got a young girlfriend, he's got a son coaching at Washington that he wants to be a coach. Does he really want a coach or is it about getting his son the job? Would you hire him? What do you expect? What do you make of this story?

[Michael Irvin]

There's no doubt coach wants to coach, you know what I mean? And can coach. And one of the greatest coaches of all time. And no one can ever take that from coach. But, but you know, the current landscape of college football is a lot different than even when Jimmy was in college. You know, so much different back then. You know, Jimmy can really use the hammer to keep you alive now.

[Colin Cowherd]

Guys leave in a minute.

[Michael Irvin]

Can't whack, man. I mean, leave in a minute and you come down on these guys. So tough and hard guys is good in the portal. There is no problem with. You'll be playing next year. You'll be playing. You know what I mean? When we were in school that you can. You're not going anywhere. And if you're not here, you're not anywhere. So if you're not here, you're back at the ghetto. Coach, I'm gonna do whatever you tell me. I'm not going back to the ghetto. You see what I mean? It's different now in these guys getting paid. I just don't know if coach has the time to counsel. And that's what it's going to take. That's what make Deion so great in college. He's really a mentor. Coaching coach is a coach that has forced a mentor. You know, a mentor coaching. This is his, this is his world. But a coach forced a mentor because you got to go and mentor those guys out of the porter before you even mentor them on the team. And all of these things, man, it's a, it's a lot. It's a lot dealing with kids in there. And I just think it's, it's, it's. Yeah, that's not what coach want to be doing. He wants to coach football.

[Colin Cowherd]

Finally. Let's. Let's go back to something we discussed now. I think Deion has Been successful for a lot of reasons. Colorado's a bottom 10, 15 job in the sport. He's made them relevant. He's putting guys in the pros. They may have the top two draft picks. He's made them cool. There's a lot of wins here. I didn't know how it would work. My take was we talked Colorado with Deion. I think he's been committed. I think he's been tremendous. I watched the Cowboys give away another game last night on some coaching snafus on the block punt. I just want to say I'm going to ask the question. You are friends with important people. Do you believe because you have said Dion would be interested. Jerry is more loyal than people give him credit for. If Dallas wins out, are we sure Mike McCarthy's gone? Jerry's loyal.

[Michael Irvin]

Yeah, he is. He is. And I've heard Troy even recently talking about it and saying, you know, Mike McCarthy, he's not sure Mike McCarthy will be gone. And Jerry is loyal. And that's one of the best things I love about him. Trust me. Trust me. That's one of the best things that I love about him, that he is loyal, giving, loyal to a fault. Loyal to a fault. And you know what I mean. But. But I, you know, you look at what I'm talking about here at what if you can find another good receiver, you can put them in this mix and you see what, what Rams are doing, what the Rams just did to a top team like the Bills because they got that Cooper, Puka, Puka Cooper thing going. You know, two number one and a good back. And well, let me tell you, when you have those two number one receivers, you can have an average back, a Rico Dow and still get real good traction because coverage is going to have to back the hell up.

[Colin Cowherd]

Nobody can cheat.

[Michael Irvin]

We. You just talked about the Philadelphia Eagles and you gave it all to Saquon Barkley. But take them to Beast off the end. Take, take AB out and you take Devontae Smith out and watch all them safeties drop down in that box and you see Devontae Saquon going to be doing the same thing he was doing in New York. Let's be real here. You see how this thing works? You know what I mean? These things have to work together. You can't separate them like that. So, yeah, Dallas can have a shot if they can find another number one receiver right now. But you gotta bring. And you gotta. The problem is if you keep Mike McCarthy, then you gotta go get me somebody that's so tough at what somebody else to give me hope that these things can be different. Nobody's saying Mike McCarthy's not a good coach. I'm just saying it, it dampens the hope when we do this again. That's interesting after seeing the results over the last 10, four years.

[Colin Cowherd]

Hope's a big thing.

[Michael Irvin]

Hope's everything. Hope will dictate effort from everybody. I always say that hope dictates effort. Give me little hope, you get little effort.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know what? That's a great way to put it. And I am, I am glad that you cleared the air with these unsubstantiated ham ward rumors.

[Michael Irvin]

And we won't be using that. We would not be a part of that clickbait mess. We would not. We would not be a part of that cleared it. I appreciate you giving me the room to clear the air. I do.

[Colin Cowherd]

The great playmaker Michael Irvin, always welcome on this show and he's getting ready for that commencement speech in Miami.

[Michael Irvin]

Oh, yeah. Get ready for that. I'm looking forward to.

[Colin Cowherd]

Oh, you're going to be great.

[Michael Irvin]

Do you believe that I get to do.

[Colin Cowherd]

I do believe that. Because if you look at your life, it has not been linear. It has had turbulence.

[Michael Irvin]

Right? Right.

[Colin Cowherd]

By the way, you don't love turbulence, but you've encountered it.

[Michael Irvin]

Right.

[Colin Cowherd]

And you've overcome it.

[Michael Irvin]

And it's part of all of our journeys.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's right.

[Michael Irvin]

It's part of all of our journeys. So since we all got to go in them, let's go in and learn something to figure out what to do when we come out of them and where to go to. That's what we do.

[Colin Cowherd]

Michael Irvin this podcast is sponsored by PayPal. Now here's the kicker. The PayPal debit card earns you 5% cash back in a monthly category of your CH, up to $1,000 of monthly purchases. So groceries, health and beauty, gas, apparel, restaurants. On top of that, you can get cash back offers within the app from brands like Doordash, Instacart, Sephora. This month, it's all about that apparel. I got a crazy schedule. I shop online a lot. Snag a suit here or there, fresh gear, 5% cash back adds up fast. And signing up is easy. Just Download the new PayPal app to sign up and you're ready to start earning cash back on your everyday purchases. Pay smart, earn cash back. Enjoy peace of mind with a PayPal debit card. Don't just pay. PayPal terms apply. See PayPal app cash back earned as points you can redeem for cash and other options. This card, issued by the Bancorp N.A. pursuant to license by MasterCard International, Inc. The human soul has a minimum daily requirement of entertainment. But listening to a podcast like you're doing right now, yeah, that doesn't count. Welcome to the world of MGM Rewards where they have the greatest live shows on earth, the biggest names in sports, the best chefs on the planet, and the most unforgettable nights of your life. This is all the entertainment you can handle and more. So book now and make the most of your vegas [e-mail] MGM rewards.com Welcome to the show. It's football season and Uber Eats is dropping undefeated deals on all your game day favorites this week. Scored buy one get one free six piece boneless wings from Buffalo Wild Wings only on UberEats craving even more. We've got you covered with game day deals on pizza, burgers, tacos and more all season long. Uber Eats Official on demand food delivery partner of the NFL. Order now for game day terms, taxes and fees apply. C App for details hey, what's up everybody? It's lavar Arrington here from up on Game and I need you to listen for a moment, all right? And get serious. The hate in this country is getting out of control. It's at an all time high. It's going to take all of us to stop it. I mean, think about it. We're all on the same team in this country, right? Let's take a break from hate so our team can regroup. We need to take a time out against hate. Visit standuptolhate.org to help and join me in calling for a timeout against hate by following at what's up with Hate? Or posting the blue square emoji. What makes the holiday special are the details from Genesis, the warm touch of an available heated steering wheel room for all your gifts, your family and friends, and a festive holiday feast 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.