Best of The Herd

Summary

The Herd with Colin Cowherd – "Best of The Herd" Summary

Release Date: June 9, 2025

In the "Best of The Herd" episode, hosts Colin Cowherd, Jason McIntyre, and Matt Hasselbeck navigate through a multitude of significant sports topics, offering insightful analysis and spirited discussions. This detailed summary captures the essence of their conversations, highlighting key points, notable quotes, and the overall flow of the episode.

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1. NBA Finals: Oklahoma City vs. Indiana

Overview: The episode kicks off with an in-depth analysis of the NBA Finals matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC) and the Indiana Pacers. The hosts express skepticism about the series' appeal due to the perceived lack of star power and dynamic gameplay.

Key Points:

• Lack of Excitement: The series is described as "businesslike" and not particularly engaging for casual fans.
• Team Dynamics: Discussion on player performances, with a focus on OKC's consistent lead in games and the potential of SGA (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) to dominate the series.
• Ratings Prediction: Concerns raised about the finals not being a "ratings bonanza" due to the teams' efficiency over excitement.

Notable Quotes:

• Jason McIntyre ([03:34]): "This series does not have a lot of star power. Even SGA's game is businesslike. It's not dynamic, it's not flashy..."
• Jason McIntyre ([06:51]): "You can't just throw the first punch. You got to try to throw all the punches all night. And yeah, that's what we did."

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2. NFL Update: Aaron Rodgers Signs with the Steelers

Overview: The conversation shifts to the NFL, focusing on Aaron Rodgers' recent signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The hosts delve into the implications of this move, questioning its strategic fit and potential impact on Rodgers' career.

Key Points:

• Strategic Fit: Debate over whether Rodgers will thrive in a defensive-first organization like the Steelers.
• Personality and Performance: Analysis of Rodgers' "quirky" nature and how it may affect team dynamics and performance consistency.
• Career Outlook: Mixed opinions on whether this signing is a positive step for Rodgers, with some predicting his career may be winding down.

Notable Quotes:

• Jason McIntyre ([07:08]): "Aaron Rodgers was the Steelers' third choice... So he wasn't this odd, he wasn't this combative in his prime."
• Jason McIntyre ([08:12]): "Even Aaron Glenn with the Jets, a defensive coach, they don't have a quarterback..."

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3. NFL Minicamps and Shedeur Sanders

Overview: The hosts discuss the implications of mandatory NFL minicamps starting the following day, with a spotlight on Shedeur Sanders and his potential role within the Cleveland Browns.

Key Points:

• Mandatory Minicamps: Transition from voluntary to mandatory participation, emphasizing the increased competition and scrutiny.
• Shedeur Sanders' Future: Debate on whether Sanders will secure a starting position, with differing opinions on his readiness and potential.
• Veteran Influence: The impact of veteran players in training camps and their role in mentoring or challenging younger quarterbacks.

Notable Quotes:

• Jason McIntyre ([19:20]): "My bet is Shedeur is going to start at some point in the NFL season."
• Unknown Speaker ([26:04]): "Aaron Rodgers has the weapons, the quirkiness... This is a good fit for a lot of reasons."

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4. College Basketball and NIL Impact

Overview: The discussion transitions to college basketball, focusing on the impact of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies. The hosts explore how these changes are reshaping the landscape of college sports and affecting youth academies in Europe.

Key Points:

• Economic Shifts: NIL deals are revitalizing college basketball but are causing financial strains on European youth academies.
• Player Decisions: Increased financial incentives are influencing players to stay longer in college, potentially delaying their entry into professional leagues.
• Global Implications: European academies like Real Madrid and Barcelona are reportedly considering shutting down youth programs due to financial pressures from NIL.

Notable Quotes:

• Jason McIntyre ([24:23]): "I thought the NIL is going to save college basketball and Real Madrid and Barcelona reportedly are considering shutting down their youth academies in Europe."
• Jason McIntyre ([25:27]): "The NIL is going to deliver where Colin was wrong."

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5. Dodgers' Pitching Struggles

Overview: The Los Angeles Dodgers' recent performance issues are scrutinized, particularly their pitching staff's underperformance and the potential need for organizational changes.

Key Points:

• Performance Decline: Despite a strong roster, the Dodgers have struggled in their last 22 games, with a sub-.500 record.
• Injuries and Depth Issues: Key pitchers like Glass, Snow, and Snell have underperformed, raising concerns about the team's depth and resilience.
• Coaching Considerations: Speculation on whether changes in the coaching staff are necessary to address the pitching woes.

Notable Quotes:

• Jason McIntyre ([25:21]): "I thought the Dodgers roster was all-time stuff but in their last 22 games they're under .500."
• Jason McIntyre ([25:58]): "Their pitching staff, injuries, they're decimated for the third to fourth straight year."

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6. US Men's Soccer Team Performance

Overview: The hosts evaluate the performance of the U.S. Men's Soccer Team under coach Mauricio Jardino, particularly in light of recent losses leading up to the Gold Cup.

Key Points:

• Coaching Effectiveness: Questioning whether the hiring of a "brilliant" coach like Jardino can reverse the team's recent poor performances.
• Player Evaluation: Analysis of player capabilities and whether the issues stem from coaching or player execution.
• Future Prospects: Concerns about the team's ability to compete effectively in upcoming tournaments.

Key Points:

• Three Straight Losses: The team has lost three consecutive matches, raising alarms about their readiness for the Gold Cup.
• Coaching vs. Player Issues: Debate over whether the coaching strategy or player performance is the primary problem.

Notable Quotes:

• Jason McIntyre ([26:04]): "We hired Mauricio Jardino. He is brilliant and they've lost three straight and kind of limping into the Gold Cup."
• Jason McIntyre ([27:09]): "Are we not calling right? Calling wrong on a Monday."

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7. Additional Sports Topics

Overview: The conversation wraps up with various other sports topics, including the Knicks' coaching changes, Cam Ward's performance, and JJ McCarthy's role with the Vikings.

Key Points:

• Knicks Firing Coach: Critique of the decision to fire Tom Thibodeau, suggesting it was due to personnel issues rather than coaching inefficiency.
• Cam Ward's Journey: Appreciation of Cam Ward's work ethic and leadership as a quarterback, highlighting his ability to earn respect despite being younger in the locker room.
• JJ McCarthy Concerns: Discussion on the Vikings' hesitations regarding quarterback JJ McCarthy's ability to perform under pressure.

Notable Quotes:

• Jason McIntyre ([22:23]): "I thought the Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau. Yeah, he's not the most creative guy offensively, but that's why you build a staff."
• Jason McIntyre ([40:52]): "What veteran players respect is excellence... He's about the business of football, but the business of being the quarterback and the leader."

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Conclusion

The "Best of The Herd" episode provides a comprehensive overview of current sports narratives, blending critical analysis with engaging discussions. From the subdued excitement of the NBA Finals to the strategic moves in the NFL and the transformative effects of NIL in college basketball, the hosts offer a nuanced perspective on each topic. Their ability to dissect complex issues and present varied viewpoints makes this episode a valuable listen for sports enthusiasts seeking depth and clarity in today's sports landscape.

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Notable Highlights:

• NBA Finals Critique: Emphasizing the need for star power and dynamic gameplay to boost ratings and fan engagement.
• Aaron Rodgers' Fit with Steelers: Questioning the strategic alignment and potential career trajectory for Rodgers in Pittsburgh.
• Impact of NIL on Global Basketball: Highlighting the financial ripple effects of NIL policies beyond American colleges.
• Dodgers' Pitching Challenges: Pointing out the disconnect between a strong roster and recent performance struggles.
• US Men's Soccer Concerns: Raising doubts about the team's preparedness and coaching effectiveness ahead of major tournaments.

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This summary encapsulates the essence of the "Best of The Herd" episode, providing a clear and structured overview of the key discussions and insights shared by Colin Cowherd, Jason McIntyre, and Matt Hasselbeck.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

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[Matt Hasselbeck]

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[Colin Cowherd]

Can now get almost anything you need for your sunny days delivered with Uber Eats. Now what do we mean by almost? Well, you can't get a well groomed lawn delivered, but you can get chicken parm delivered. A nice tan? Sorry. A box fan? Happily, yes. A day of sunshine? No A box of fine wines? Yes. Uber Eats can definitely get you that. Get almost Almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol in select markets. Product availability may vary by region. See app for details. Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast.

[Jason McIntyre]

Be sure to catch us live every.

[Colin Cowherd]

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. Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast.

[Jason McIntyre]

Here we go Live. It's the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, thanks for making us part of your day. J. Mac. It is good to be back, Mr. Buddy. Had some fun, traveled with my son. Hang out in the east coast last night. Things are good. But I gotta tell you, watching Oklahoma City, it's not gonna be a ratings bonanza. They are businesslike. They are a businesslike organization. They're young and Indiana's got their hands.

[Unknown Speaker]

Full using a B word. I would use boring. That's what I thought of game two.

[Jason McIntyre]

Yeah, third quarter blowouts. So let's start with that.

[Colin Cowherd]

I.

[Jason McIntyre]

First of all, let's start. I've never liked seven game NBA series. Baseball's different because you have to work your way through the starting staff. But basketball, March Madness beats the NBA ratings in the playoffs normally with far less talent. And the reason is it's sudden death Basketball, one bad call, one bad possession. It's. And there's a reason the 100 meter dash is more interesting than the marathon at the Olympics. So this series feels small. Game one's Thursday. Game two is Sunday. Game three is Wednesday. I'm forgetting about this series. It is a forgetful business like series for okc. They're eight. This is one of these games. Another downside to a long series. Seven games, even five games. There will be games built into a series that you know the winner before the tip off. And last night, I'm sorry, OKC was winning that game and they were going to win it comfortably. I mean you got Aaron Wiggins is hot and Jalen Williams and Alex Caruso. Forget SGA who's going to break all sorts of playoff records. But I mean OKC has not lost back to back home games all season. You have to go to last year for them to do that when they were even younger. And SGA is getting better every year. So that game was decided. We can, we can pick apart Halliburton. Slow start. You know, they made their customary run. This is what the Pacers do. They fall behind. They can start very slow, but here they come from behind. And they've done this through the entire playoffs. But the rosters aren't necessarily that even. I like Indiana's roster. I love Oklahoma City's roster. But through two games, OKC has led for 91 minutes. And through two games, Indy's led for two. And that's kind of the series. So this, this series does not have a lot of star power. Obviously. I don't think market size of markets matters that much. I mean, I think the highest rated NBA final ever included Utah So I don't think it matters that much. But there's not a lot of star power. And even SGA's game is businesslike. It's not dynamic, it's not flashy and it's not going to be a series we talk about much in between games. Oklahoma City is going to dominate it statistically. The question is, Oklahoma City is so young and they've never been here before. Are they going to get tight when they go back home or a chance in Indiana to seal it? Is this young team going to get tight because the best player in this series is SGA? I'm looking at numbers this morning. 30 plus points, five assist games. He's tied with LeBron and Michael Jordan and he's going to blow through that. But he's not necessarily a fascinating player. And there are a lot of businesses and teams that are efficient and they're calculated and they're highly productive and they're not that interesting. This series feels like that Saturday Night Live when the celebrity host doesn't have a lot of star power and you're kind of, you're kind of wishing Tom Hanks would host it again or Bill Murray would host it again or anybody not named Steven Seagal would host it again. Just anybody to host it that you've heard of and that you care about. And the band's not very good and there's no star power. We need a Draymond Green in this series. Something inappropriate, anything. It feels very businesslike to me. And the team that has led 91 of the minutes is the team we all thought would lead 91 of the minutes. And here is about to be record breaking SGA on evening the series.

[Unknown Speaker]

You can't just throw the first punch. You got to try to throw all the punches all night. And yeah, that's what we did. We threw enough punches tonight to get a W. You know, this is where our feet are. This is where we are. And you can't go back in the past. You only try to make the future better. So that's what I'm focused on.

[Jason McIntyre]

All right, so I was gone. Colin Wright, Colin wrong in about an hour from now and Matt Hasselbeck. So I was gone. There was some news with Aaron Rodgers who's not nearly as interesting as he used to be, but it is news. The Pittsburgh Steelers are a top four or five brand and Aaron over the last 15 years has been a top four or five in the NFL. Discount double check guy. Like a lot of ads, a lot of commercials, now some controversy. So he signed with the Steelers. But my takeaway on this is when the stories came out over the last three days. Quarterbacks can be a lot of things in the NFL. They can be small. Kyler Murray, they can be old. Brady was Joe Flacco. They can be unorthodox. Philip Rivers. They can be kind of unathletic or the second best quarterback in the family, Eli Manning. But they can't be weird. Head coaches and quarterbacks can't be weird. Even if you're quirky, go be a kicker. You start looking at the stories that came out. According to Adam Schefter, Aaron Rodgers was the Steelers third choice. They wanted Matt Stafford and they wanted to keep Justin Fields. Here's another story from another reporter, Sean McVay. Aaron Rodgers offered the Rams a major discount. Obviously a house in Malibu wanted to play for the Rams. In McVeigh, they offered him nothing. So he went to the Rams, told his agent, I'll play for the cheapest deal possible. McVeigh passed. Oh, by the way, the Vikings. Kevin O' Connell, according to another reporter, Rogers had major interest playing for the great play caller, Kevin o' Connell. Not interested. And that office story I'll talk about later. Ross Tucker says vikings aren't sure J.J. mcCarthy is the guy. What's that tell you? Even Aaron Glenn with the Jets, a defensive coach, they don't have a quarterback. First thing he did is we get Aaron Rodgers in that weird meeting, almost uncomfortable meeting out of the building. So all these secret marriages and ayahuasca and darkness retreats and passive aggressive nonsense and conspiracy theories. Weird doesn't work because weird is unpredictable. And you want your coach to be predictable. And your quarterback, even if he's limited, even if he's unathletic, even if he's small, even if he's old, you want to know what you're getting on Sunday and in camp and at halftime and with Aaron. Because the NFL is unpredictable. And when adversity strikes in the NFL, which is, by the way, the second quarter of week one after Labor Day, that the league's all about adversity. And you're not sure what you get with Aaron. So he wasn't this odd. He wasn't this combative in his prime. But people age differently based on a lot of factors. Aaron got old and rich and for a long time was single. And now he's got a wedding ring. So he's not. And I guess I'm happy for him. But who knows? I just know this. All these great quarterbacks in this league The Lamar Jacksons and the Joe Burrows and the Josh Allens and the CJ Strouds and obviously the Patrick Mahomes and the Justin Herberts are all totally committed to. None are weird. They're kind of predictable. You know what you get and Aaron's not. And I've had two general managers in the league tell me over the last couple years, Aaron comes off as odd. You're not really sure what you get. A lot of a passive aggressive stuff. Nobody wants to deal with that. And so I think Aaron's career, when you Hear about Sean McVay saying, Nah, Kevin O' Connell, nah, I thought Kyle Shanahan would be interested. Apparently, that was a nah. Aaron Glenn, no thanks. Mike Tomlin. Adam Schefter reports. Third choice. They wanted Justin Fields, who, by the way, when you go back and look at the Pittsburgh Cedar Justin Fields numbers, we'll talk about that later. They weren't terrible. So I think Aaron's career is ending the way a lot of careers end for relatives and musicians and actors, that the hat they wear becomes a little bit more tinfoil. They start doing their own homework. And when you got all these offensive coaches who have watched Aaron Rodgers probably at some point worshiped Aaron Rodgers, who would have loved to win his prime, had Aaron Rodgers all say, even at a discount, double check. Nah, no thanks. Aaron's aging the way weird ages. J. Mac calling right, Calling wrong. Top of next hour. There's a lot of things going on right now in the NFL because you know what happens? My guy, Shador Sanders. So OTAs are voluntary, right? Starting tomorrow, minicamps are mandatory. So tomorrow, J. Mac, old Shedeur Sanders with all the veterans in tow in Cleveland. Are you ready for what? I think remember a couple years ago, you and I know this, that the off season in the NFL, our job is basically football season and then waiting for football season. And you go through all these camps and what do they mean and what do they not mean? Exhibition season doesn't mean anything anymore. Nobody plays. And a couple years ago, we were all into the Kenny Pickett dilemma or the Kenny Pickett story, like how is he gonna be in Pittsburgh? And the Shadour Sanders story is that. But my take is Shador Sanders is much better than Kenny Pickett. But it's one of these AFC north teams and we're all waiting for this quarterback. So tomorrow is official Shador, with the veterans in camp. And you know what veterans do, J. Mac? They leak stuff to the press.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, interesting. You know, my favorite part of your vacation was when you took time off of cycling around Europe to chime in on social media about how great Shadour Sanders was. Meanwhile, he's not even throwing a first teamer as col. I know that irked you. I'm sure you saw Cam Newton came after me upset with my Shador take. Listen, I'm just going to rock with Stefanski. If he likes Dylan Gabriel, I like Dylan Gabriel. If he likes Kenny Pickett, I like Kenny Pickett. I think Kevin Stefanski doesn't really love Shador at this point. And that's fair to say, right?

[Jason McIntyre]

Yes, I have. I want to talk about this because I think all of us in the media are forgetting about the most important factor with Shador Sanders. And it's not Shedeur and it's not his dad. And I'll tell you what that factor is coming up next.

[Unknown Speaker]

Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app.

[Covino]

Hey, we're Covino and Rich, Fox Sports radio every day, 5 to 7pm Eastern. But here's the thing. We never have enough time to get to everything we want to get to.

[Rich]

And that's why we have a brand new podcast called Over Promised. You see, we're having so much fun in our two hour show. We never get to everything honestly because this guy is over promising things we never have time for.

[Covino]

Yeah, you blubber lips, blaming me. Well, you know what it's called? Over Promise. You should be good at it because you've been overpromising women for years.

[Rich]

Well, it's a Covino and Rich after show and we want you to be a part of it. We're gonna be talking sports, of course, but we're also gonna talk life and relationships. And if Rich and I are arguing about something or we didn't have enough time, it will continue on our after show called Over Promised.

[Covino]

Well, if you don't get enough Covino and make sure you check out Over Promised and also uncensored by the way, so maybe we'll go at it even a little harder. It's gonna be the best after show podcast of all time.

[Rich]

There you go, Over Promising. And remember, you could see it on YouTube. But definitely join us Listen to Over Promised with Covino and rich on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

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[Jason McIntyre]

Here we go. It's hour two. It is a Monday. We are live in Chicago. It's the herd. I am back, Jason, off my bicycle from Copenhagen. Beautiful country.

[Unknown Speaker]

Good to have you back, man.

[Jason McIntyre]

It was great to be back.

[Unknown Speaker]

Hey, by the way, you want to tell the audience I was tec testing.

[Jason McIntyre]

You while you're in Europe.

[Unknown Speaker]

All lots of important stuff happening around here. So I had to.

[Jason McIntyre]

There is now tomorrow mandatory minicamps in the NFL. So we got. Keep your eye on Cleveland is very fascinating. That's all I'm going to say. Everybody makes bets. You can sit on the fence on this. My bet is Shador is going to start at some point in the NFL season. There are people all over the Internet, former NFL scouts. He's going to be a bust. He can't play well.

[Unknown Speaker]

There's got to be a middle ground. Colin like, yeah, he may start, but Kevin Savinsky doesn't love him.

This thing.

He's gonna be a bust. Like, come on. We don't know.

That's a bit much.

[Jason McIntyre]

All right. Matt Hasselbeck's around the corner first though, on a Monday. Haven't been here for a while. Colin right? Colin wrong.

[Unknown Speaker]

Where Colin was right.

[Jason McIntyre]

Well, this tyrese Halliburton's the most overrated player is nonsense. First of all, I think he has one of the highest IQs and EQs I have seen from a modern point guard. 13 of 15 times this year under 2 minutes when he could tire take the lead, he hit the shot. That's insane. That is all time that's better than Steph Curry. So I never bought into this. I'm not surprised they stole a game in Oklahoma City. I don't think they're as good as okc. I don't think they'll win the series. But this idea, this guy even sniffs overrated. I'll make the argument he is the most underrated player the last two years in the NBA. And tip of the cap to J. Mac, who spotted it over two years ago.

[Unknown Speaker]

Where Colin was wrong I thought Aaron.

[Jason McIntyre]

Rodgers was too smart to sign with the Steelers because I don't think it's a good fit. I think it's a defensive first organization with an offensive coordinator he's not familiar with. They lost their left tackle, they've struggled in pass protect, they've got no Najee Harris and it's a division with Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson four times a year minimum. So I listen, I thought he had better offers. I thought he would land up better offer and I thought this was a. This was a spot that won't end well. But I'm wrong.

[Unknown Speaker]

Where Colin was right Ross Tucker, somebody.

[Jason McIntyre]

Whose opinion I trust is reporting the Vikings do have concerns with JJ and McCartney. McCarthy, quote, no matter what they say about JJ, they wanted Sam Darnold back and they weren't going to get Darnold. So they wanted Daniel Jones back. As much as they're, quote sold on JJ McCarthy, they've got some doubts. So remember, he missed valuable time not only playing but practicing last year because of his surgeries. And I've said it before, he reminds me of an Alabama quarterback. His last two years at Michigan. He played with a great run game. He didn't have to throw much with poor protection. He had the best coach in every game he played and he had the lead for 90% of it and an unbelievable ground game in defense. I just don't know if he's built to come from behind. Throw 43 times a game, which you have to invariably do, especially in the NFC North.

[Unknown Speaker]

Where Colin was wrong I'm surprised the.

[Jason McIntyre]

Knicks fired Tom Thibodeau. Yeah, he's not the most creative guy offensively, but that's why you build a staff. He built the culture they defend. They're tough, they're smart, they're physical. The issues the Knicks had to me are personnel issues. Brunson's not a great defender, so they can struggle. Having he and Cat on the floor at the same time, that's not really a Tibbs issue. I think the NBA is about steps and the process and they need to make another tweak. I'd move off KD and bring in. I'd move into KD and off Cat, but I don't think firing him was the answer.

[Unknown Speaker]

Where Colin was right.

[Jason McIntyre]

As much as I love the NBA, I said this Finals would be a ratings whiff and it has been a clunker. Listen, it's a series for die hards only. The market size isn't great. Halliburton is not really a known entity in America. Even though he's a fascinating player, OKC style aesthetically is not appealing. And sga again, he's great. He's productive, he's efficient. He's not necessarily dynamic or fascinating. So the ratings are bad for this final, even though it's a die Hard final. You can't be a basketball casual and be into this. But I do think Indiana is going to win more games in this series and it goes at least six.

[Unknown Speaker]

Where Colin was wrong.

[Jason McIntyre]

I thought Ant Edwards of Minnesota was about ready to grab the mantle as face of the league, but he really struggled. Two things are true. You can really get him off his game if you force him, trap him, double him and force him to make quick basketball decisions. He is still fundamentally too young. He's not a refined player. He had way too many turnovers, almost as many turnovers as assists. Against OKC, he shot 28% from three and they just forced a really young, still developing star to make fast, quick decisions in the half court. And he's not quite there yet.

[Unknown Speaker]

So I'm wrong where Colin was right.

[Jason McIntyre]

I've been saying the NIL is going to save college basketball and Real Madrid and Barcelona reportedly are considering shutting down their youth academies in Europe. And that's where most of the good players are in Europe that are 17, 18, 19 years old. Why? Because American college basketball programs, nil money is greater than Europe can afford. And so you're seeing Auburn brought back their star guard. Why? They paid him more than he can make in the NBA. Cooper flag made 8 million a year at Duke and now Illinois is going to have five European starters. American basketball programs may shut down some of the great academies in Europe because they're buying the best European players. Not to mention like the Auburn guard. Many of the good college players are staying in college for another year. So college football didn't need saving. College basketball did and I predicted it.

[Unknown Speaker]

The NIL is going to deliver where Colin was wrong.

[Jason McIntyre]

I thought the Dodgers roster was all time stuff but in their last 22 games they're under.500. Their pitching staff, injuries, they're decimated for the third to fourth straight year. Do they have to clean house on the pitching coaching staff? Like what is happening with the staff? They're only one game ahead of the Padres and the giants over that 22 game skid 5th worst team ERA Glass, Snow and Snell among 14 Dodger pitchers.

[Unknown Speaker]

Still on the IRL where Colin was right finally.

[Jason McIntyre]

Oh for years I have told been lectured by American soccer fans. The United States men's national team will flourish. They only get an elite coach. Well, they hired Mauricio Football Jadino. He is brilliant and they've lost three straight and the Gold Cups around the corner. Now Turkey's pretty good. It's okay to lose to Turkey 2 to 1. But I keep hearing my entire life from every young American soccer fan, it's the coach that's the problem. And I keep saying maybe we've overvalued our players. Their grit, their focus, their toughness, our academy system. Maybe it's that and not always the coach. So they bring in a brilliant coach who was lauded for his success in Europe. We've lost three straight and kind of, you know, kind of limping into the Gold Cup. Are we not calling right? Calling wrong on a Monday.

[Unknown Speaker]

Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, Weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific.

[Colin Cowherd]

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[Jason McIntyre]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Jason McIntyre]

The number one pick in the NFL draft.

[Colin Cowherd]

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[Jason McIntyre]

All right. Matt Hasselbeck. I don't know if Matt played soccer. Were you a soccer guy? Matt Hasselback. Were you a soccer guy?

[Unknown Speaker]

Everyone in America Starts in soccer. What do you. I mean, everybody. You find me someone who did not start in soccer. They. I think that's just what everybody does. Guys, girls, everybody. First sport.

[Jason McIntyre]

All right, well, Aaron Rodgers, you called it. You never had any doubts you didn't want to hear.

[Unknown Speaker]

I think I called it on June 9th, actually, didn't I? Didn't I say June 9th?

[Jason McIntyre]

You did. By the way. I don't look. So you were right. I don't love it as a fit. I thought Minnesota would be better. What do you make of the fit?

[Unknown Speaker]

For who? I mean, yeah, for him. Like he probably likes Minnesota. They've had an incredible off season. They did a great job in free agency. They were a 14 win season, 14 win team last year. But Minnesota's taken the longer view of this, I think. You know, I think their original plan was Sam Darnold. They kicked the tires on Aaron Rodgers, they considered Daniel Jones and they said, you know what, we've got to maybe like at least a three year window here. We've got a bunch of guys we've added to our team who are in like their 30s. 31, 32, like that range, 29, like let's, let's take a, let's take an approach at this. We believe in our coach. You saw what he did with Sam Darnold, who was a backup the previous year. We really believe in JJ McCarthy and I think that they basically said no to some good quarterbacks to say yes to this guy because of what they've seen in the building. He had a great red shirt season. As Kevin o' Connell said.

[Jason McIntyre]

Yeah, the thing with Aaron and I Talked to some GMs about this is that there's a story now that he was willing to give the Rams a massive discount and they passed that. Adam Schefter said Aaron was the third choice for the Steelers. I know Aaron and Adam aren't close, but be that as it may, I trust Adam Schefter. You have stories about Minnesota, said net, we're going to go with J.J. mcCarthy, Ross Tucker, somebody who's got strong opinions and well connected. Like, they got questions about JJ and I talked to a couple general managers over the last year about Aaron and they said, you know, quirky is for kickers. We don't love our quarterbacks to be quirky or our coaches. Jerry Glanville was quirky as a coach and I feel like Aaron's aging like a quirky quarterback would. Where the teams that he really was interested in, according to reporters I trust weren't that interested in him. Do you think that's just age or some of his quirkiness?

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah, listen, to answer your first question, it is a good fit. I do believe Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers is a really good fit. And I told you before, the veteran quarterback market is like musical chairs. There's not a lot of chairs. The music stops. You know, all you need is one chair. But there were maybe two chairs and then at the end there was probably one chair. This is the only team that he could go to. Mike Tomlin is well respected by veteran NFL quarterbacks, who he was as a defensive coach, who he is as a leader. The other part of this, I think is Arthur Smith. I think Arthur Smith is a little bit misunderstood as a coach. I played on teams with Arthur Smith as a coach. He is beloved. He is well respected. He was on the defensive side of the ball as a coach when I started in Tennessee. He was there. Then he was on the offensive side. You got to kind of connect the dots on resume as well. Arthur Smith was on staff and replaced Matt LaFleur in Tennessee when he got his first start as an offensive coordinator. First opportunity. So like the thing for a veteran quarterback, you don't want to go in and like learn some foreign language. He's not going to have to do that with Arthur Smith. Arthur Smith, although people think of him as like, run the damn ball all the time. I'm not adaptable. I believe he's very adaptable. At the same time, I think Aaron Rodgers needs to be adaptable to be a run for first quarterback. Like, that was the plan in New York with the Jets. It never really happened. So I think that this is a good fit. Aaron Rodgers has the weapons, the quirkiness, as you say, there's a, there's, it's okay in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh is the kind of organization that can handle it. I think they're going to thrive from it. I, I think there's. This is a good fit for a lot of reasons and kind of look out, I think look out for this team, look out for this offense.

[Jason McIntyre]

Okay. So when I was over bicycling in Copenhagen, you know, living the life.

[Unknown Speaker]

Are you wearing a helmet? I just need to know.

[Jason McIntyre]

No, I was not, by the way, may have had a Heineken in my hand. I was fascinated by Shador Sanders. What I was really fascinated with was the dexterity of the reporting. There was, he looks great. Dylan Gabriel is lost. Shador. And there was just, you can tell people are taking sides and people, you know, listen, boxing matches have three different judges, three different people can see three different fights. So, but that's, that's, that's OTAs. Now veterans show up. It's mandatory minicamp. That's a whole different ball game. And veterans are intimidating, veterans are demanding, veterans are a better comp as to what you're playing against. You give me a thought on what. What will I need to see out of Shador Sanders because I'm on the camp that he was underdrafted and that he can play? I could be completely wrong. What will you look for from the reporting, from the video? What matters at that minicamp with veterans, veterans now sitting next to you in the locker room?

[Unknown Speaker]

Well, it matters more. I mean, earning the respect of the vets in the room is important. But for me to answer your question, what matters more is how a quarterback plays when he is live, you know, so usually quarterbacks, you know, they wear a different color jersey, like a red jersey or something like that. You sit in the pocket, you're cool, you're comfortable, you're calm. How do you play when that jersey is off and you're where you're basically live for the defense to take a shot. That, that to me is a better sense of like when you grade somebod. It's not like what I'm doing in quarterback. Individual hopping around bags, throwing to receivers or running backs or tight ends on air with no defense, no consequences. You know, to me, I don't know when you get that now because we've kind of lowered the number of preseason games that we play. There aren't as many reps to go around with all the quarterbacks in the room. So I think you're going to maybe, I don't know when you're going to get it, you know, like some people are trying to manufacture that with joint practices and that kind of thing. But, but a lot of this is going to be conjecture and kind of what you think a guy is going to be like when the lights turn on. That's when you go back to the college tape for toughness, grit, some of that stuff, certainly stuff that he showed when he was at Colorado.

[Jason McIntyre]

So it doesn't bother me that Lamar Jackson missed OTAs because Lamar and John Harbaugh are linked. They know each other. He knows the personnel, he knows a flowers, Derrick Henry. And I think he's probably got a little chip on his shoulder about his current pay structure. I also think he wins 76% of his starts. I've never questioned his work ethic. I think Lamar is completely committed but there are those that will push back and go, well, you were tough on Aaron Rodgers and like, well, the jets were different. It was a new team. His best player, Garrett Wilson, was a kid. Like, I kind of feel like with Lamar in Baltimore, it doesn't bother me. Should it?

[Unknown Speaker]

Well, it bothers me that he's leaving $750,000 in a roster bonus on the table. I'm just like, ah, that hurts. I heard for you, man, I don't know. Like, figure it out. Go, go lift some weights in bal. Could it be that bad? I mean, shoot, what are they doing that you don't want to be there? Is Miami that fun? I don't know. But no, listen, much like Aaron Rodgers didn't think he needed to be there till, till June 9th, I kind of grew up in that same thing. It was great for me as the backup quarterback of the Green Bay packers to develop the younger roster. That Brett Favre never showed up in the off season. It actually, I believe, kind of strengthened the team, strengthen the backup roles. You've seen backup quarterbacks like Tyler Huntley, like, actually come in and play pretty well when called upon. Yeah, at times for Baltimore. So I, you know, for me it's a little bit of this, like if I'm Jim Harbaugh and the Ravens, I'm like, you know what? Kind of like Brett Favre back in the day with Mike Holmgren. Lamar, you're not here. You're not going to get hurt. You're going to show up ready to go. You're going to be the MVP candidate that you are every year. I'm not necessarily worried, but worried about it. Hey, quarterback room, let's see if you can develop and be a, be a leader. Would I like him there? Sure, I'd like him there. But ultimately, I think you can look at a glass half full on something like this. And Lamar is Lamar. He's kind of one of one. A lot of people say, like, oh, this guy's like Lamar. There's nobody else like Lamar. He's special.

[Jason McIntyre]

You know, I think it's interesting the one player drafted, it wasn't a particularly strong draft in any position. Cam Ward fascinates me. I like his journey. He was a no star quarterback. I like that he transferred. Every time I've seen him at the podium, totally focused, all ball, all the time. Again, it's OTAs. Every report is God. And by the way, he was accurate in college. He could do a little hero ball. But tell me, take me through. So you come in and you're 22, 23 years old and Tennessee has not been great at quarterback. And here come all the veterans into camp tomorrow. And was it harder for you when you were 28, 32, 33, 34. And here comes the kid to take over the culture. Is that a weird vibe as Cam Ward? Because they need him to be a 12 year veteran. They need him to run the show and I think he's capable of it. Is that always been maybe in Green Bay, when the youngest guy in the locker room is asked to be the leader, Is that a weird feeling or do players, do veteran players look at it and go, it's quarterback. The kid's smart, he's talented. I'm watching him. Let's go all in.

[Unknown Speaker]

Yeah. What veteran players respect is excellence. I remember Bill Cower speaking at my rookie symposium and he nailed it. And it was really about like, how, how much can we count on you to do your job? How hard are you going to work? And listen, Colin, at the end of my career, I was 40 years old. I was backing up a young quarterback. The first overall pick, also named Andrew Luck. He was the hardest worker in the. He was the first guy there. He was the last guy to leave. And like, those aren't just cliche things. That was actually legitimately true to the point that our quarterback coach was like, hey, why don't you sleep in a little bit tomorrow? Hey, why don't you get out of here and go home? Let's set a time. We're going to let that loss from yesterday or that win from yesterday, we're going to let that go and move on. Those are the reports that matter just as much to me about Cam. He's been a diligent, diligent worker. He's setting the tone by when he gets to work, how he works when he's there. He's not about the flash and all the other stuff. He's about the business of football, but the business of being the quarterback and the leader. That's the stuff that I don't care if you're young, old, everybody respects in the locker room. And it's early, but he's off to a great start. It's. He's filling, I think he's filling a void in some ways. You know, that city in that town is a distracting town. They call it Nash Vegas for a reason. It's a lot of fun. So if you get somebody that comes in there and, and it's all about football, that's very, very important in my opinion.

[Jason McIntyre]

Yeah, my daughter just moved there and every time I say how are you doing? I get a picture of a music festival she's at, so I'm not sure.

[Unknown Speaker]

She'S working anymore, but and a bachelorette party or 30 on the streets, you know.

[Jason McIntyre]

No, it's a great city as always, buddy. Great seeing you. Matt Hasselbeck thanks man.

[Unknown Speaker]

See ya.

[Jason McIntyre]

Yeah. Now Nashville is one of the if you are I told my daughter this. If you're 23 years old and out of college, go to Nashville and figure it out. That is a good time when you got 30 places you can step into on a Tuesday night that have live music. You may be singing by the end of the night, but it is a fun town.

[Colin Cowherd]

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