The Herd with Colin Cowherd—Best of The Herd

Episode Date: September 2, 2025

Episode Overview

On this “Best of The Herd,” Colin Cowherd returns from a summer hiatus and dives straight into the biggest football stories of the week. With the NFL season about to begin, he gives his final “Herd Hierarchy” ranking of teams, discusses the Dallas Cowboys’ blockbuster decision to trade Micah Parsons, critiques Bill Belichick’s recent coaching trajectory, and examines Ohio State’s approach under Ryan Day. Nick Wright, Albert Breer, and Ryan Day make guest appearances, with Nick Wright offering spirited disagreement on some of Colin’s picks and takes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bill Belichick’s Decline & Coaching Philosophies

(Segment Begins: 02:15)

• Concerns over Belichick's Staff Building: Colin expresses discomfort with the “friends and family” makeup of Bill Belichick’s coaching staffs, referencing the prevalence of nepotism and lack of fresh voices.
  • "It kind of feels like a friends and family staff… Young Bill Belichick would have fired this Bill Belichick. He's seeking comfort. You can't coach in a gated community." (Colin, 03:26)
• Reluctance to Modernize: Points out Belichick has consistently undervalued offense and clung to old strategies—a “chef that won’t change the menu.”
• Notable Quote:
  • "You have to take offense seriously. Freddy Kitchens is the OC. He was already on staff, you know, so why put any effort into going out and getting the best OC on the market? We'll just move up Freddy Kitchens." (Colin, 05:12)
• Comparison with Other Coaches: Contrasts Belichick’s recent habits with Saban’s willingness to hire uncomfortable but great coaches like Lane Kiffin.
• Transfer Portal as “Bitcoin”: Colin questions if quick-fix transfer solutions in college football deliver as promised:
  • "The transfer portal feels a little like bitcoin. Everybody thinks they’re going to get rich and it’s a lot of nonsense and hope and hype." (Colin, 07:36)
• Belichick’s Post-Brady Record: Without Tom Brady, Belichick-coached teams average just 19 points per game—a stat Colin finds damning.

2. Dallas Cowboys Trade Micah Parsons

(Segment Begins: 11:30)

• Media Criticism of the Trade: Colin is careful not to echo the “leaks” and criticisms suddenly emerging about Parsons’ character post-trade, noting these often originate from inside the Cowboys’ camp.
• Locker Room Dynamics: Parsons was not the most popular player; Albert Breer reports Zach Martin, CeeDee Lamb, and Dak are more beloved.
• On Paying Stars: Strong skepticism about paying $47 million to Parsons when Dallas lacks the infrastructure—culture, staff—to get maximum off-field value from him.
• Dallas’ Need for Flexibility: Emphasizes how the trade (netting four first-round picks over two years) offers Dallas the flexibility it lacked in recent years—crucial, given how the Cowboys missed out on upgrades like Derrick Henry.
  • "You have two first-rounders next year. Get a quarterback later first round, go get another edge rusher. He’ll be a lot cheaper." (Colin, 15:00)
• Green Bay’s Perspective: Micah Parsons as a “good fit” for Packers’ current needs.
• Notable Quote (Parsons):
  • "Winning is everything to me… I haven't been there and I don't know what it takes. But I got a funny feeling that, you know, a lot of this history. This program does… and I trust Coach LaFleur." (Micah Parsons, 13:57-14:26)
• Colin’s Verdict: Dallas is rebooting; Green Bay is built for contention now, and the context matters for whether trading a star is foolish or strategic.

3. Ohio State, Ryan Day & Arch Manning

(Segment Begins: 16:50)

• Game Strategy Debate: Colin and guest discuss Ohio State playing it safe versus Texas, citing Arch Manning’s struggles against a Matt Patricia-led defense.
• Critique of Arch Manning’s Performance: Manning looked “off-kilter” and “felt pressure that didn’t exist”—surprising given his time in the system.
• Perspective: Colin warns against overreacting to one game but notes other touted QBs (Caleb Williams, Trevor Lawrence) immediately proved their hype.

4. Final Herd Hierarchy—Top 10 NFL Teams Entering 2025

(Main Segment Begins: 19:41, Hierarchy Starts at 22:45)

Colin’s Final Ranking (with rationale):

1. Eagles
   • Best overall roster; trenches are “nailed”; don’t love the head coach personality.
2. Bills
   • “Josh Allen is the most talented football player in the world… but he doesn’t have Mahomes’s coach.” (25:49)
3. Ravens
   • “Structurally like Kansas City, I don't see holes in the organization.” (26:53)
4. Broncos
   • Bo Nix “a hit”; major roster upgrades.
5. Chiefs
   • “Andy Reid and Mahomes are… best at what they do in this sport.”
6. Seahawks
   • “Second year with a really bright young coach, upgrade coordinator and quarterback.”
7. Commanders
   • “Oldest team in the league… Deebo Samuel chess piece is interesting.”
8. Packers
   • “Micah trade is absolutely worth a win”; organizational respect.
9. Rams
   • “Second best coach in the league… least penalized team last year.”
10. Lions
    • “Lost two O-linemen, coordinators; not sure they win their division.”

Key Critiques from Nick Wright (Starts at 29:14)

• “This is a bottom two or three Herd Hierarchy. I just have to… Where are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? … The Seahawks and Broncos are a little overly respected.” (Nick Wright, 29:25-30:07)
• Wonders why Seattle is so high, why Denver is favored, and why the Bucs are always slotted as “11th” by Colin.

5. Cowboys-Packers Trade Deep Dive:

(Continued at 33:42)

• Nick Wright agrees with Colin: mistakes led Dallas here, but once forced to choose, trading Parsons for flexibility makes sense.
• “If the breaking news was not that Micah’s traded, but that the Cowboys signed Micah to the exact contract Green Bay did, everyone would be killing the Cowboys.” (Nick, 36:25)
• Both agree that the key will be hitting on those next picks—trading a star is only “fine” if the return is well spent.

6. Evaluating Belichick’s Legacy (without Brady)

(Segment Begins: 38:15)

• Colin and Nick note that while Belichick built dominant defenses, his staff choices, scouting, and adaptation have slipped badly in recent years.
  • “His coaching staff decisions were outright bad. His inability to ever get the quarterback position right outside of Brady, which is a big yeah, but... that matters.” (Nick Wright, 39:50)
• Nick points out the necessity of excellence to sustain the odd personal/professional boundaries Belichick has embraced.

7. Arch Manning’s College Roadblock

(Segment Begins: 41:36)

• Both agree that Manning’s struggles were a big red flag compared to past “anointed” QBs, and that maybe he stays at Texas longer than anticipated.
  • “It did feel like he was anointed without having accomplished in a way we hadn’t seen recently in college football.” (Colin, 45:07)

Notable Quotes

• On Belichick’s Staff Choices:
  “You can't coach in a gated community… Young Bill Belichick would have fired this Bill Belichick.” (Colin, 03:26)
• On the Cowboys’ Need for Flexibility:
  “They couldn't make any deals… It gives them flexibility, it gives them multiple first round picks.” (Colin, 15:00)
• On Josh Allen:
  “I think Josh Allen is the most talented football player in the world. … He doesn’t have Mahomes as coach.” (Colin, 25:49)
• Nick Wright on the Herd Hierarchy:
  “This is a bottom two or three Herd Hierarchy… The Seahawks and Broncos are a little overly respected.” (Nick Wright, 29:25-30:07)
• Nick Wright on Belichick’s Slide:
  “His inability to ever get the quarterback position right outside of Brady, which is a big yeah, but... that matters.” (Nick Wright, 39:50)

Memorable Moments & Banter

• Direct Jabs at Herd Hierarchy:
  Nick Wright comes in hot, poking at Colin’s rankings and the “annual” omission of the Buccaneers from the top ten.
• Playful Side Bets:
  Colin and his cohost banter over whether the Seahawks or 49ers will finish higher, with playful “side bets” proposed (golf, dinner, etc.).
• Friendly Jabs:
  Colin jokes, “My back’s hurting from carrying the ship in the last 10 days… or all that golf.” (19:41)

Timestamps For Major Segments

• 02:15 – Belichick’s coaching philosophy and recent struggles
• 11:30 – Cowboys trade Micah Parsons; franchise direction
• 16:50 – Ohio State’s strategy and Arch Manning’s rough outing
• 22:45 – The final Herd Hierarchy (Top 10 NFL teams)
• 29:14 – Nick Wright critiques the rankings
• 33:42 – Deep dive: Dallas-Green Bay trade, QB draft class
• 38:15 – Belichick’s post-Brady legacy
• 41:36 – Arch Manning’s fit in the college ranks

Conclusion

This episode delivers quintessential Colin Cowherd: provocative NFL takes, bold hierarchies, sharp critiques of coaching philosophies, and lively debate with Nick Wright over the contours of football’s power structure. The show balances deep football insight with entertainment, providing a detailed prelude to the NFL season that challenges assumptions and stirs anticipation.

For listeners seeking league-wide storylines, off-field intrigue, and strong football opinions, this episode sets the perfect tone for the NFL’s return.