Podcast Summary: Best of The Herd with Colin Cowherd Release Date: May 7, 2025

The Herd with Colin Cowherd, hosted by iHeartPodcasts and The Volume, offers an engaging and in-depth exploration of the day’s top sports stories. In the episode titled "Best of The Herd," Colin Cowherd and co-host Joy Taylor delve into significant developments across the NFL and NBA, analyzing trades, player performances, team cultures, and personal stories from notable athletes. This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode, enriched with notable quotes and timestamps for reference.

1. NFL Trades: Cowboys and Steelers Maneuvering

Timestamps: 09:00 - 12:00

The episode opens with a focus on the Dallas Cowboys' recent trade involving wide receiver George Pickens. Colin Cowherd discusses the motivations behind the trade, emphasizing the Cowboys' need for a playmaker to alleviate issues in their running back room and left tackle position.

• Impact on the Cowboys: Cowherd asserts that the addition of Pickens, a "volatile but wildly talented" receiver, could potentially increase the Cowboys' win total by three to four games. However, he voices concerns about the team's running back depth, left tackle situation, and overall coaching issues.

  “Dak Prescott's temperament and maturity... Dak will make it work if it can work.” [10:09]

• Dak Prescott's Role: The discussion highlights Dak Prescott’s emotional intelligence (EQ) and ability to handle the team’s dynamics, comparing his influence to stabilizing elements within a chaotic environment.

  “Dak is the cooler. Anytime there's a circus going on in Dak, you know, he brings the temperature down.” [11:00]

• Team Culture Concerns: Cowherd compares the Cowboys' culture unfavorably to other franchises like New England and Philadelphia, suggesting that Dallas's lack of a strong culture could lead to organizational mayhem.

  “Dallas right now is the land of the misfit boys. It's just, it's not a well run franchise in my opinion.” [12:00]

2. NBA Playoffs: Warriors vs. Timberwolves Analysis

Timestamps: 12:00 - 16:00

Transitioning to the NBA, Cowherd and Taylor analyze the recent Warriors vs. Timberwolves game, critiquing the Timberwolves' performance and emphasizing the Warriors' strategic resilience despite Steph Curry’s injury.

• Timberwolves' Struggles: The Timberwolves showcased a lackluster performance with Ant No (presumably Anthony Edwards) underperforming and the team accumulating nine turnovers in the first half.

  “It was one of the ugliest games I've seen. Ant was a no show.” [13:00]

• Warriors' Resilience: Despite Curry's injury, the Warriors maintained a double-digit lead, demonstrating depth and effective team play.

  “Buddy Heald now has kind of taken the place of Steph Curry last night. That was great.” [14:10]

• Curry's Injury Impact: The injury is seen as a pivotal moment, with Cowherd expressing concern over Curry's hamstring, predicting he won’t return for the series.

  “I don’t think he's coming back this series. That's my early guess.” [15:04]

3. Aaron Rodgers and Steelers Speculation

Timestamps: 16:00 - 24:30

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around Aaron Rodgers potentially joining the Pittsburgh Steelers, sparking debates about team dynamics and Rodgers' preferences.

• Rodgers' Schedule Preferences: Colin speculates that Rodgers is waiting for the NFL schedule, preferring non-primetime games to avoid the hectic pressures associated with high-visibility slots.

  “Aaron doesn't want primetime games. He wants that one o' clock window.” [23:54]

• Impact on the Steelers: The Steelers, having lost key players like Dan Moore, Naji Harris, and J. Mack, see Rodgers as a potential solution to stabilize their quarterback position. However, Cowherd expresses skepticism about the Steelers' ability to develop quarterback talent effectively.

  “But they have moved on a lot of highly dramatic players and it feels like it's an exercise in futility.” [24:10]

• Team Culture and Player Fit: The conversation touches on the Steelers' history of drafting dramatic players and how Rodgers might fit within their existing culture, emphasizing the importance of a supportive environment for a quarterback of his caliber.

  “The Steelers got a third round pick. I think Aaron, I believe that he's waiting and this is the speculation...” [24:30]

4. NBA Spotlight: Tyrese Halliburton's Performance

Timestamps: 25:00 - 29:00

Shifting focus to the NBA, the hosts discuss Tyrese Halliburton's performance, countering an NBA player poll that labeled him as the most overrated player.

• Underrated Contributions: Cowherd argues that Halliburton is, in fact, the most underrated player, citing his clutch performances and leadership in critical moments.

  “He was 10 of 11 this year to tie a game or take the lead in the last two minutes.” [28:29]

• Impact on the Pacers: Halliburton's ability to deliver in high-pressure situations is highlighted as a key factor in the Indiana Pacers' success, particularly in one-possession games.

  “He was the most trustable guy to take the lead under two minutes in the league and you're telling me he's the most overrated player?” [28:45]

5. Pacers vs. Cavaliers Game Breakdown

Timestamps: 29:00 - 35:00

The hosts provide a detailed analysis of the Pacers vs. Cavaliers game, emphasizing Halliburton's clutch plays and the Cavs' reliance on bench players in the absence of their point guard, Darius Garland.

• Cavaliers' Struggles: The Cavaliers struggled with lead management and player performance, especially when Darius Garland was unavailable, leading to humiliating losses.

  “Second one is short and it's rebounded by Halliburton.” [28:28]

• Halliburton's Clutch Play: His game-winning shot is underscored as a testament to his reliability and importance to the Pacers.

  “He was the most trustable guy to take a lead under two minutes in the league.” [29:00]

• Developmental Insights: The discussion extends to the NBA's developmental pathways, contrasting college basketball’s role in player growth versus the G League's perceived shortcomings.

  “The NBA can't figure this out. College basketball is your ally.” [30:13]

6. Personal Story: Julian Edelman's Journey to Patriot Hall of Fame

Timestamps: 35:00 - 56:09

A heartfelt segment features Julian Edelman, a former Patriots wide receiver, sharing his journey towards being inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame.

• Edelman's Trust with Tom Brady: Edelman recounts the trust-building moments with quarterback Tom Brady, highlighting pivotal games where he earned his place within the team.

  “We won that game. And that's when I felt like the trust was really coming.” [51:54]

• Overcoming Adversity: He narrates his battle with a sprained foot during preseason, emphasizing the importance of resilience and preparation.

  “I was nervous to tell him, like, my knee wasn't really responding.” [53:24]

• Hall of Fame Significance: Edelman reflects on what it means to be a Hall of Famer for the Patriots, acknowledging the organization's legacy and his personal growth within such a storied franchise.

  “Being a part of the Patriots hall of fame, which could be argued the best organization over the last 20 years.” [54:05]

7. Team Development: New England Patriots' Strategic Moves

Timestamps: 56:10 - 58:29

Concluding the episode, the discussion shifts back to the New England Patriots, analyzing their strategic decisions in the draft and free agency to strengthen the team.

• Offensive Line Strengthening: Cowherd praises the Patriots' drafting strategy, particularly their selection of offensive linemen like Will Campbell, enhancing their offensive stability.

  “They drafted a guy with the fourth pick that they liked and then they get Hendrickson in the second round.” [43:05]

• Integration of New Talent: The integration of Josh McDaniels' coaching with new draft picks is seen as pivotal for the development of quarterback Dak Prescott and the overall team dynamics.

  “Josh McDaniels, that's going to be great for Drake May.” [43:16]

• Running Back Room Concerns: Despite improvements, concerns remain regarding the running back depth, which Cowherd identifies as a critical area needing attention for the Patriots to maximize Prescott's effectiveness.

  “But the running back thing is what ultimately concerns me the most about them.” [38:57]

Notable Quotes

• “Dallas right now is the land of the misfit boys. It's just, it's not a well run franchise in my opinion.” – Colin Cowherd [12:00]

• “Dak is the cooler. Anytime there's a circus going on in Dak, you know, he brings the temperature down.” – Colin Cowherd [11:00]

• “He was the most trustable guy to take a lead under two minutes in the league and you're telling me he's the most overrated player?” – Colin Cowherd [28:45]

• “Being a part of the Patriots hall of fame, which could be argued the best organization over the last 20 years.” – Julian Edelman [54:05]

Conclusion

In this episode of Best of The Herd, Colin Cowherd and Joy Taylor provide a comprehensive analysis of pivotal moments in the NFL and NBA. From strategic trades and player performances to deep dives into team cultures and personal athlete stories, the hosts offer listeners a nuanced understanding of the current sports landscape. Notably, the discussions around Dak Prescott’s leadership, Aaron Rodgers' potential move to the Steelers, and Julian Edelman’s legacy with the Patriots stand out as key highlights, offering both analytical depth and personal insights.

For fans seeking thorough and thought-provoking sports commentary, this episode exemplifies the engaging and opinionated journey that The Herd with Colin Cowherd is known for.