Podcast Summary: "Best of The Herd" | The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
• Host: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
• Episode: Best of The Herd
• Release Date: February 4, 2025
• Description: A thought-provoking, opinionated, and topic-driven journey through the top sports stories of the day.

1. Introduction and Episode Kickoff (02:55)

Colin Cowherd opens the episode by introducing host Jason McIntyre, who steps in for Colin due to Colin's illness. McIntyre sets the stage for a content-rich show, highlighting upcoming discussions on the NFL's Super Bowl media night and a deep dive into the NBA's current landscape.

2. NFL Super Bowl Media Night and Team Dynasties (02:55 - 05:48)

• Super Bowl Media Night Insights:

  • "We saw Pete Schrager walking around with the microphone. I saw Jameis Winston working for Fox doing some stuff with our digital side." – Colin Cowherd [03:10]
  • The media night in New Orleans featured prominent figures like Pete Schrager and Jameis Winston, adding a festive atmosphere to the event.

• Critique of the New England Patriots Dynasty:

  • Colin expresses his disdain for the Patriots, emphasizing their transition from beloved underdogs to league-wide villains.
  • "The facts are not great in Spygate. Then you had Deflategate, which was probably a little overblown." – Colin Cowherd [04:05]
  • The combination of the Patriots' dominance and controversial incidents led to widespread animosity from fans and other teams.

3. Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes’ “Villain” Status (05:48 - 16:26)

• Patrick Mahomes’ Embrace of the Villain Label:

  • "We embrace who we are, and we believe we play the game the right way. If winning football games makes you a villain, we're going to go keep going out there and doing it." – Patrick Mahomes [05:48]
  • Mahomes rejects the notion of being labeled as villains, asserting the Chiefs' dedication to their game.

• Colin’s Perspective on the Chiefs:

  • Despite previously criticizing the Chiefs' dynasty, Colin acknowledges their likability and leadership under Andy Reid.
  • "Andy Reid looks like your neighbor. You go on vacation... He's got this jolly look." – Colin Cowherd [07:00]
  • Colin praises players like Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid for their charisma and leadership, contrasting them with the traditionally less personable Bill Belichick.

• Concerns Over Chiefs’ Dominance and Refereeing Bias:

  • Colin raises concerns about the Chiefs receiving favorable referee calls during pivotal plays.
  • "It feels like on every pivotal third or fourth down play, somehow it goes the Chiefs' way." – Colin Cowherd [08:30]
  • He questions the fairness of officiating in favor of a dominant team, comparing the Chiefs to former dominant franchises.

4. NBA Player Empowerment Era and Luka Doncic Trade (16:26 - 36:38)

• Evolution of Player Empowerment:

  • McIntyre recounts the rise of the player empowerment era, highlighting key moments like LeBron James’ move to Miami and the Boston Celtics forming their first super team.
  • "NBA players around the league, hey, I want to play with that superstar. Come on over." – Jason McIntyre [16:32]

• Luka Doncic Trade Impact:

  • "All these owners are like, these salaries are out of control. We're not winning paying all these guys all the money. Let's go trade Luka Doncic." – Jason McIntyre [24:00]
  • The recent trade of Luka Doncic has sent shockwaves through the NBA, signaling a potential shift where owners regain control over player movements.

• Repercussions for Other Stars:

  • Anthony Edwards reacts to Doncic’s trade with concern: "Nobody's safe and owners have the power and they can move off anybody." – Anthony Edwards [20:03]
  • The trade has sparked fears among other star players that their tenure with teams might also be at risk.

• Potential Moves and Future Implications:

  • McIntyre discusses possible future trades involving stars like Kevin Durant and Jimmy Butler, suggesting that the Mavericks might leverage their assets to attract high-caliber players.
  • "LeBron could end up in Dallas next year." – Jason McIntyre [63:37]
  • The episode delves into how ownership decisions could reshape team dynamics and league power structures.

5. Discussion with Albert Breer from New Orleans (36:38 - 45:44)

• Chiefs’ Preparation for Super Bowl:

  • Albert Breer notes the Chiefs’ extensive experience and preparation, contributing to their strong performance.
  • "They know what to expect, and they know the ins and outs of the week and the way everything goes." – Albert Breer [37:05]

• Patrick Mahomes vs. Jalen Hurts Pressure Comparison:

  • Breer argues that Mahomes carries more legacy pressure compared to Hurts.
  • "Mahomes has played so well in so many settings that it’s not going to really affect his legacy even if something goes wrong." – Albert Breer [40:24]

• Chiefs’ Offensive Line Decisions:

  • The discussion touches on key decisions like moving Tooney from left tackle and the implications for game strategy.
  • "This is a pivotal decision for the Chiefs coaches." – Albert Breer [41:51]

6. NBA Top 10 Duos List and Conversation with Eddie House (45:44 - 75:07)

• Colin’s Top 10 NBA Duos:

  • Colin presents his list of the top 10 duos in the NBA, ranking them from Luka Doncic and LeBron James at number one to other promising pairings.
  • "Number one with a bullet: LeBron and Luka. You cannot wait." – Colin Cowherd [51:40]

• Detailed Analysis of Selected Duos:

  • Luka Doncic and LeBron James: Highlighted for their scoring ability and championship potential.
  • Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic: Praised for their playoff performance and synergy.
  • Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard: Noted for their high-scoring partnership despite mixed team success.
  • Jalen Brunson and Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics): Celebrated for their teamwork and defensive capabilities.

• Conversation with Eddie House:

  • Trade Reactions:

    • Eddie House discusses the recent Lakers-Mavericks trade, asserting that both teams benefit in the short and long term.
    • "In short term, Dallas won because they got AD for three more years. In the long term, Lakers won because they can replace LeBron with Luka Doncic." – Jason McIntyre [58:50]

  • Leadership and Team Dynamics:

    • House and McIntyre debate Kyrie Irving’s role in Dallas, questioning whether he can effectively lead alongside Luka.
    • "Jimmy Butler's a warrior. You have an obligation when you are under contract." – Jason McIntyre [71:08]

  • Speculation on Future Moves:

    • McIntyre presents a conspiracy theory suggesting LeBron James might join the Mavericks in the future, sparking an engaging debate with House.
    • "LeBron could end up in Dallas next year." – Jason McIntyre [63:37]
    • "You can't trade Steph Curry. He's a pillar of the community." – Colin Cowherd [73:37]

7. Additional Segments and Advertisements (75:07 - 77:06)

The latter portion of the transcript includes advertisements and brief promotional segments for other podcasts and sponsors. These sections are non-content and have been excluded from the summary as per instructions.

Notable Quotes:

• Colin Cowherd on Patriots' Dynasty:

  • "The facts are not great in Spygate. Then you had Deflategate, which was probably a little overblown." [04:05]

• Patrick Mahomes on Being Villains:

  • "We embrace who we are, and we believe we play the game the right way. If winning football games makes you a villain, we're going to go keep going out there and doing it." [05:48]

• Anthony Edwards on Trade Fears:

  • "Nobody's safe and owners have the power and they can move off anybody." [20:03]

• Jason McIntyre on Player Empowerment:

  • "This was an amazing business decision by billionaires. Yes. Sure to say, this is what I want for now and this is what we need as a league." [14:40]

• Albert Breer on Chiefs’ Advantage:

  • "They know what to expect, and they know the ins and outs of the week and the way everything goes." [37:05]

• Jason McIntyre on LeBron and Luka Duo:

  • "LeBron and Luka. You cannot wait." [51:40]
  • "LeBron could end up in Dallas next year." [63:37]

Conclusion:

The "Best of The Herd" episode provides an in-depth analysis of current NFL and NBA dynamics, highlighting significant trades, team strategies, and the evolving landscape of player empowerment. Through engaging discussions and expert insights from guests like Albert Breer and Eddie House, listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of the ongoing changes and future implications in professional sports.