The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Best of The Herd
August 28, 2025 | iHeartPodcasts & The Volume
Host: Jason McIntyre (in for Colin Cowherd), with Rachel Nichols & Albert Breer

Episode Overview

This “Best of The Herd” episode focuses on the looming NFL season, centering primarily on drama involving the Dallas Cowboys—specifically Micah Parsons’ contract standoff and organizational philosophy under Jerry Jones. The discussion also branches into quarterback situations in Chicago with Caleb Williams, college football championship contenders, and larger themes of leadership, management, and media spectacle in sports.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dallas Cowboys Drama: The Micah Parsons Situation

(03:19 – 15:00; 26:19 – 46:29)

• NFL Kickoff Looms: Only one week out from the Eagles-Cowboys opener; Eagles are defending champs with the "league's best roster," but media focus remains on the Cowboys.
• Micah Parsons’ Contract Dispute:
  • Parsons is seeking an extension. He's getting a second opinion on his back, skipping crucial practice.
  • Micah's brother stirs the pot online:

    “It’s going to get ugly. Put your gloves on. This is going 12 rounds.” (Micah’s brother, 07:14)

  • Parsons has filed a grievance regarding his fifth-year option.
• Media Obsession with Cowboys:
  • Cowboys haven't reached a conference championship since 1995.
  • Jerry Jones is more invested in headlines and spectacle (“reality TV shows,” “keeping up with the Joneses”) than actual football success.
• Track Record of Negotiations:
  • Jason McIntyre:

    “Every one of these holdouts end in the Cowboys capitulating, right? Name me one that they’ve won.” (07:56)

  • Jerry Jones has a pattern: drag out deals for star players (Dak, Zeke, CD) until the very last minute to maximize media attention.
• Comparisons to Eagles and Other Teams:
  • The Eagles have set the standard in proactivity—locking up stars before drama can start.
    • Notably, every other 2021 first-round star (Trevor Lawrence, Jamar Chase, Devonta Smith, etc.) has already been extended without drama except Parsons.
  • McIntyre:

    “Jerry Jones is just unserious about football. He doesn’t truly care about winning—the actions are not backing that up.” (10:43)

• Risk to Players:
  • McIntyre details how players like Rayshawn Slater were protected financially with pre-injury extensions, while Parsons plays under risk.
  • The use of franchise tags, fifth-year options, and delayed negotiations is a tool for owner control.

Notable Quotes

• “Jerry thinks this is good business because he’s not serious about football. He’s obsessed with himself.” — Jason McIntyre (08:05)
• “If you’re a Cowboys fan out there ... the only thing you can do is not show up to the stadium.” — Jason McIntyre (11:14)
• “Most of them [owners] think that way ... keeping the money in your own pocket for as long as you can. That could be an element here.” — Albert Breer (37:45; 38:11)

2. Deep Dive: Albert Breer on Cowboys’ Negotiation Dynamics

(30:25 – 46:29)

• How This Standoff Differs:
  • Parsons isn’t as universally beloved in the locker room as previous stars (Dak, CD, Zack Martin).
  • Public disputes and leaks make the drama nastier than previous holdouts.
• Jerry Jones’ Mindset:
  • Deliberately slow-rolling contracts is partially about asserting control and maximizing Cowboys media presence.
  • Headlines and news cycles are part of the “business plan.”
  • Breer:

    “Maybe there is a side benefit that he sees in this whole thing, that they’re going to be in the A block in a lot of shows like this one.” (39:00)

• Workforce Control Across NFL Owners:
  • The system (CBA, franchise tag, fines) ensures that management retains leverage over players.
  • “There are definitely teams that don’t want to exert it. Jerry’s just never been afraid to exert these sorts of mechanisms.” — Albert Breer (41:27)
  • Treating a star like Parsons this way sends a message to the entire roster; teams like the Eagles avoid such negative signals with proactive contracts.

3. Chicago Bears: The Caleb Williams-Ben Johnson Dynamic

(15:04 – 16:10; 46:29 – 51:30)

• Ben Johnson’s Coaching Style:
  • Johnson is intentionally tough on Caleb Williams, “feeding him through a firehose” to accelerate learning and then tailoring the offense to strengths.
  • There were rough days early in camp, but preseason games (especially game #2) showed improvement.
  • This high-pressure approach is by design—with the hope that the growing pains pay off.
• Transition Challenges for Caleb Williams:
  • Williams played "backyard football” in college, freelancing with little structure—now he must adapt to a more regimented, pro-style offense.
  • Breer draws parallels to Mahomes’ transition from improvisational college play to structured NFL lead.
    • “They’re trying to teach him to play quarterback in a more between-the-lines sort of way. Instead of constantly coloring outside the lines ... just play quarterback four times out of five, and then that fifth time, you can go and show everybody exactly what you're capable of.” — Albert Breer (50:16)
• On Ben Johnson's Attitude:
  • McIntyre has been criticized by Bears fans for questioning the Bears’ developmental plan; Breer gives assurance that this is a purposeful, positive struggle.

4. College Football National Championship Tiers (McIntyre’s Predictions)

(21:26 – 26:19)

• Head of the Class: Clemson, Ohio State, Penn State, Alabama
• Honor Roll: Georgia, Notre Dame, Oregon, Texas
• Waitlisted: LSU, Miami, South Carolina, Texas Tech
• Notable surprise predictions: Alabama as a national title contender, “buy” on Kalyn DeBoer as Alabama’s coach, skepticism on Georgia’s dominance due to roster turnover.

5. Other Noteworthy Segments

• Arch Manning Hype:
  • Breer is cautious about the rush to anoint Arch Manning as elite, citing lack of starting experience and the pressure of comparisons to Peyton and Eli.

    “They assume that he’s got all the stuff that Peyton and Eli had ... and that’s not really respectful to how difficult it is to see the game, to think the game the way that Peyton and Eli did.” — Albert Breer (28:07)

• Broader Themes:
  • The contrasting organizational philosophies between the Eagles and Cowboys offer insight into how proactive or reactive management can shape a franchise’s culture and on-field success.
  • Player empowerment, risks, and leverage clearly matter in today’s NFL negotiation realities.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Jerry Jones:

  “He plays at a stadium called Jerry World... that’s not going to translate to building a contender in the modern era. It’s not going to happen.” — Jason McIntyre (08:05)

• On Media Narrative:

  “The worst part is Jerry thinks this is good business because he’s not serious about football. He’s obsessed with himself.” — Jason McIntyre (08:05)

• Parsons’ Leverage:

  “Micah has the leverage here ... I think Micah probably has a little more ammo to empty the clip.” — Jason McIntyre (37:37)

• On Ben Johnson & Bears:

  “He’s being intentionally tough on Caleb Williams ... Overload him with information, overload him with scheme, and then come back and narrow down what he’s doing and figure out what he does well and what he doesn’t do well.” — Albert Breer (47:17)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Dallas Cowboys Drama & Micah Parsons: 03:19 – 15:00; 26:19 – 46:29
• College Football National Championship Predictions: 21:26 – 26:19
• Arch Manning Discussion: 27:52 – 29:54
• Bears (Caleb Williams & Ben Johnson): 15:04 – 16:10; 46:29 – 51:30
• Broader NFL and Player Contract Philosophy: Woven throughout 30:25 – 46:29

Tone & Style

• Spirited, irreverent, and candid—McIntyre strikes a mix of fan frustration, sharp analysis, and humor.
• Breer offers calm, deeply informed NFL insights, providing broader league context.
• Frequent playful banter, asides, and references to pop culture (“Keeping up with the Joneses,” “Star Island,” “Frank the Tank”).

Summary for the Uninitiated

This episode is a lively, opinionated cross-section of the week’s biggest football storylines—especially the Cowboys’ inability to get out of their own way, juxtaposed against the clinical efficiency of the Eagles. The sausage-making of NFL contracts, star player leverage, and organizational dysfunction is on full display. There’s also a nuanced look at quarterback development in Chicago and predictions for the college football season. If you care about how off-field decisions shape on-field outcomes—or just want a smart, sometimes scathing sports talk, McIntyre’s guest stint delivers both.