Loading summary
Colin Cowherd
This is an iHeart podcast fourth quarter one point game. But the real action is at the snack table because you didn't just mash avocados, you swirled in Philadelphia Cream Cheese for a guac dip. So creamy, so unexpected it's drawing double coverage. The real MVP of game day. So good it's in the bowl shaped like a sombrero. You don't follow a recipe, you Philly it whenever you Philly like it. Philadelphia Cream Cheese Running a business online.
GoDaddy Advertiser
Look legit and own your own brand with professional tools from GoDaddy instantly build trust with your customers and boost your credibility with an email that matches your domain so people know you mean business. There's never been a better time. Just go to GoDaddy.com GDnow and choose from a wide variety of popular domains to find one that's right for you. Pair that with a professional email that works for all your business needs, from daily communications to email marketing and everything in between. That's a little price for a lot of credibility. For a limited time, get a domain and matching professional email for just 99 cents a month for one year. Go to GoDaddy.comGdNow and look legit with GoDaddy. That's GoDaddy.comGdNow again. GoDaddy.comGdNow there's never been a better time to choose the domain and email that's right for you. New customer purchases only products. Auto renew separately. See terms on site godaddy.com gdnow summer.
Colin Cowherd
Is here and you 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. Ever go to McNachos on game day and realize the cheese is missing? Or the chips, or both. It happens all the time. But check it Walmart Express Delivery gets what's needed as fast as one hour. One hour, people.
Mack Brown
And it's not just food.
Colin Cowherd
It's phone chargers, pet supplies, toilet paper. Try it now and get free delivery on a first order with promo code Express Walmart Express delivery in as fast as 1 hour promotion valid for first express delivery order $50 men subject to availability restrictions apply. Thanks for listening to the Herd Podcast Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio and noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd@foxsportsradio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Now, let's get this party started. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. All right, it is a Monday. We are live. We're in LA today. It's the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, John Middletop, former NFL scout My buddy at the volume is stopping by filling in for Jason McIntyre. Colin Rice. Colin Wrong Today I listen. I don't know exactly what you can take from the preseason. I do think you do get to see how quarterbacks like I thought Caleb Williams yesterday under it looked like Chicago had a real game plan. He didn't have a great Friday practice. We know stylistically what Ben wants and what Caleb is are not a perfect match. But I as I watched that I thought, oh, everybody in Chicago is breathing a sigh of relief. That's my takeaway. They're like, okay, we'll score some touchdowns. Okay. It doesn't look because it's been a choppy camp, that's fair to say. Well, especially when they turn on the jets and they see their former quarterback Justin Fields not being able to complete a ball. So I think the last 48 hours for bears fans, you can take a.
Mack Brown
Big, big sigh of relief.
Colin Cowherd
Okay. Colin right? Colin wrong. We do it every Monday. Here we go. Where Colin was right. Sam Darnold and the Seahawks, yeah, they looked really, really good. I just think John Snyder, the gm they've had three straight back to back to back great drafts. They're just too good. If Jackson, Smith and Jigba, the Ohio State Buckeye, if he can become a number one and they think he is, I don't think they have a unit that's a problem. This, this Gray's able. This, this offensive lineman they got oh my God, he's moving Chris Jones around like he's a loaf of bread. So Seattle Darnold look comfortable. I think when you watch the Seahawks they are a top five or six roster. I really believe that where Colin was wrong I'll give myself another wrong on Jackson Dart he just looks really poised. I mean you put him on a field, you watch Justin Fields and you see a big, big gap. I think a lot of his coaching but I felt he was more of a mid second round guy. I've always felt the Giants talent is I. I think they're a quarterback away, but he is better and more comfortable than I thought he would be. Even in the preseason where Colin was right, I've said the Bengals ownership gets in the way of Joe Burrow. Reportedly, they're shopping outside pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, who, by the way, when he was not on the field last year for Cincinnati, they were 32nd in the league in defense. You can't ask Joe Burrow to have to win a track meet every Sunday. Value Kansas City figured it out. They hire Spags, they got a great defense, and if Mahomes is off, they can still win a game. So this is what I've been saying for years. I think this year for Burrow, if they don't make the playoffs, he's going to demand to move. Where Colin was wrong. There's two things in life I know aren't good for me, but I. I can't help myself. Cigars and Joe Milton. He didn't have a very good performance. The kid's got a cannon. He is so mercurial. He is so up and down. He's. He's all over the map. And this was not good. Took a sack, took a safety. I know, I know. I've been tongue in cheek for years. But I'll tell you what, he'll have one or two preseason throws that look like Elway, and I'll take a wrong on that. Where Colin was right. What have I said about Mike McDaniel? I know he's smart, but the Dolphins feel like a bowl of Jell O. Where's the meat in the culture? Where's the meat in the sandwich? Listen to Jalen Ramsey, the former Dolphin, talk about moving away from Miami.
Mack Brown
I do appreciate the Dolphins and them working with me and David, you know, not just, hey, this team called and, you know, we're gonna send you here and this and that. Like, it wasn't any of that. It was very open communication.
Colin Cowherd
Y' all been good to us.
Mack Brown
I've been good to y'. All. Like, let's do it the right way. Let's go to a team that's gonna be able to compete. Let's go to a team where there's a lot of respect for the head coach.
Colin Cowherd
Interesting. Go to a team where there's a lot of respect for the head coach. Feels like a little shade thrown at Eminem. Where Colin was wrong. You know, I've downplayed Matt Stafford's back injury. It feels more serious. He's out at practice today, but they don't really have a contingency plan. Stetson Bennett's not the answer and you know Jimmy Garoppolo's aged quickly. So this multiple reporting today that I trust is they're crossing their fingers on this stuff. Like there's a reason they're keeping him out of practice because when he had a practice with 30 snaps the next day he couldn't practice. So this is probably more serious than I've let on. Where Collin was right, I've said it. The minute Taylor Swift started showing up on tv guys, she is great for football. She's going to expand the base. Listen to this. The Chiefs principal owner Clark Hunt said last week our fan base used to be 5050 men and women. It's now 57% of our fans are female, probably the highest in the National Football League. So she has expanded the fan base. There was this sense that she's gonna turn a lot of guys off. Never bought into that. She is a stimulus package with a microphone. She is great for every business. She's likable, she's gifted. She seems to deeply want to learn and know a lot about football. Guys, take a deep breath. We're all going to be okay with Taylor Swift where Colin was right. Well, Trayvon Henderson, the running back out of Ohio State, I didn't understand how you could not draft him before Quin. Sean Judkins, the ever Ohio State running back, well, from what I've seen in the preseason, he may be the steal of the draft. So of the two Ohio State backs, he's a better receiver, he's a better pass blocker, he's a better runner. He was also better in high school, early in college he was a five star running back. He has been really, really good for New England. So and we had said this last year like very few guys last year was a weak draft. There were very few players in the draft that jumped off the television when you watched him. Henderson was one of them. And I think they have got, they've got themselves the steel of the draft. A home run. I would not be shocked if he's not a top five or six running back in the because running backs age quickly in the NFL. For the record, the Browns now are officially naming Joe Flacco is their week one starting quarterback against the Bengals. Yeah, we knew that. Who's the backup? I know that that's not news. News is. And the number two is Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd Weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. FS1 and the iHeartrad He's Mike Carmen I'm Dan Byer and we have a fantasy football podcast called I Want yout're Flexed. That's right Dan. Every week we're gonna scour the waiver wire to find the pickups to turbo boost your fantasy lineup. Sits starts fantasy football players rankings to get you ready to dominate the competition. Listen to I Want yout Flex with Mike Harmon and me, Dan Beyer on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts and wherever you be your podcasts this Labor Day.
Washable Sofas Advertiser
Say goodbye to spills, stains and overpriced furniture with washablesofas.com featuring Annabe the only machine washable sofa inside and out where designer quality meets budget friendly pricing. Sofas start at just $6.99, making it the perfect time to upgrade your space. Annabe's pet friendly stain resistant and interchangeable slipcovers are made with high performance fabric built for real life. You'll love the cloud like comfort of hypoallergenic high resilience foam that feels it never needs fluffing and a durable steel frame that stands the test of time with modular pieces you can rearrange anytime. It's a sofa that adapts to your life. Now through Labor Day, get up to 60% off site wide@washablesofas.com Every order comes with a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. If you're not in love, send it back for a full refund. No return shipping, no restocking fees. Every penny back. Shop now@washablesofas.com Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.
GoDaddy Advertiser
Running a Business Online look legit and own your own brand with professional tools from GoDaddy. Instantly build trust with your customers and boost your credibility with an email that matches your domain so people know you mean business. There's never been a better time. Just go to GoDaddy.com GDnow and choose from a wide variety of popular domains. To find one that's right for you. Pair that with a professional email that works for all your business needs from daily communications to email marketing and everything in between. That's a little price for a lot of credibility. For a limited time, get a domain and matching professional email for just 99 cents a month for one year. Go to GoDaddy.comGdNow and look legit with GoDaddy. That's GoDaddy.comGdNow again GoDaddy.comGdNow there's never been a better time to choose the domain and email that's right for you new customer purchases only products. Auto renew separately. See terms on site. GoDaddy.comGdNow Summer is here, and you can.
Colin Cowherd
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 day at the lake? That's a no. A Philly cheesesteak? That's a yes. A nice tan. Sorry. A box fan? Happily, yes. What about a day of sunshine? Not happening. How about a box of fine wines? Yeah, that's happening. Delivery's on its way. Okay. How about some clear skies? Nope. Well, how about some french fries? Yeah. So how about a freshly cut lawn? Can't help you there. But a barbecued prawn? Order it and it's on its way. Even throw in some paper towels. Clean up after the feast. So while you can't get fun in the sun delivered, don't worry because you can get pork buns delivered. 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. Hey folks, this message brought to you by the one and only official Whiskey of the herd with Colin Coward, Green River Whiskey. Now here's a story that'll knock your socks off. Picture this. Founded way back in 1885, Green River Whiskey is OG Kentucky Cool, the 10th oldest distillery in the state. And get this. It was so valuable back in the day that 20 barrels of the good stuff were traded for shares in a gold mine. That's liquid gold. Literally. But like any great drama, tragedy struck in 1917 with a fire that almost wiped it off the map. Cue the hero music. It was rebuilt on the same hallowed grounds. Let me tell you, better than ever. So whether you're sipping their single barrel bourbon or a smooth straight rye, know you're raising a glass to history. Folks, here's to Green River Whiskey, where rich flavor meets richer stories. Hop on over to greenriverwhiskey.com, discover a legend in a bottle today. Cheers to that. A product of Green River Distilling Company, Owensboro, Kentucky. Alcohol by volume varies by product. Green RiverWhiskey.com Please drink responsibly. Herd hierarchy time is now. Let's go. The top 10 NFL teams, according to College, number 10, Detroit, lost both coordinators who were excellent, lost a couple of their best offensive linemen on the interior. That's an issue. That's why they addressed it in this Draft. They've already had injuries in this preseason and so I. They're the fourth NFL team to lose both coordinators in the last 25 years. It's hard, go ask Philadelphia and especially when they're elite coordinators that get head coaching jobs. So the divisions better lost their coordinators. I have Detroit at number 10. Number nine, Green Bay. Very quiet camp now. Jordan Love struggled in the division last year. He was one in five. Only beat the Bears barely. So that's a little concerning. But they upgraded their receiving core. I, you know, they've. They've added some nice pieces. Not necessarily game changers although they improve the interior of their off offensive line and I just think they've had a quiet camp. I'm not worried about the Jordan Love left hand injury at all. I think this is a well run operation. I like teams that are quiet in July and August they have been. I have them at nine. Number eight, the Rams. This is. I would have them much higher. I'd have them two or three. But the Matt Stafford injury is concerning. No team played more rookies than the Rams last year, which you'd think is a bad thing. But they were also the least penalized team in the league. They have a smart, young, hyper aggressive defense that will be the key to their team. Not Matt Stafford, but you got to have Stafford on the field. They're not particularly strong at backup the division. Solid Rams at number eight. Number seven. The commanders, I may have them higher. I don't like the Terry McLaurin vibe. I think you have to give young quarterbacks dependable weapons. Their offensive line is still okay. Debo will help. But I think. I think the Giants could be a tough, mediocre team. Philadelphia is not going backwards. So I think there's some tough games on the schedule. Back to back playoff teams from last year to. No, that's Green Bay. I think Washington overall is going to be good. I do not think they'll end up in the NFC championship so they may take a step back and how they finish. But I still think they'll be a very viable, fun team to watch in a playoff team. Number six, Seattle. Back to back to back drafts that I like. They are going to rely on that run game. They upgraded their offensive line. Their defense will be in the second year under Mike McDonald. The early schedule is pretty easy for Sam Darnold who I do believe is a better version of Geno Smith. He's a better athlete, can be a bit reckless, but he's a west coast kid. I think he's comfortable. I think they upgraded offensive coordinator. So I just think this a team if, if Jackson, Smith and Jacob can become a number one wide receiver. I like their backs. I like their O line. I like, I like their secondary. There's not a lot about Seattle I don't like. And if, if Stafford, by the way, did not play much this year. I already have them winning the division. That could be two wins. Number five, Kansas City. Listen, the last two seasons they've been number 15 in scoring offense. All right, so they're getting old at tight end. Chris Jones is not getting younger. I really like the hierarchy of the franchise, but they're not going to go 11 and 0 and 1 score games. The division's tougher. God, if they could go, if they could go 8 and 4 in one score games, you'd feel great about it. But I think they're built for the postseason. Great coaching, great quarterback, old weapon, but I think they'll get dinged up in the regular season. I have Kansas City. They're still waiting on that Rasheed Rice news on the suspension. That doesn't help because I thought he developed into a volume number one wide receiver. Maybe a lower tier one, but a one. I have him at five. Number four Broncos. Listen, they didn't just add players, they added elite players. Dre Greenlawn, Evan Ingram hung at safety. Last year's defense was good and aggressive. Why would it go backwards? So again, Bo Nicks in a second year I the O line is rated number two according to PFF in preseason. So last year caught us by surprise. This year all their good young players are a year older in the system of Sean Payton. I have Denver at number four, number three, Baltimore. And they're going to win 75% of their games with Lamar Jackson. Number one total offense last season, top 10 scoring defense. They do everything well. I mean they really do. They can throw it, they can run it. Special teams defense, culture. I think it's probably the best run organization along with Kansas City in the National Football League, maybe Philadelphia. But what don't they do well? Well, they don't win a lot of playoff games. Okay, Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, now Sean Payton and Harbaugh. It's hard in the afc. I have Baltimore at three, number two. But I think the world's best football player is Josh Allen. I'll put Buffalo at two also Buffalo in their division should go two and O against Miami and two and O against the jets and should be a much better team overall than New England. I think they come in with a better seed. James Cook is wrapped up. I think he's a really, really good running back. I don't know if John and I have talked about this. James Cook quietly has become a really nice running back and a weapon. I think they've drafted well. I don't think their roster is overall as good as Baltimore. I don't think it's overall as good as Philadelphia. But I think their quarterback is able to do things to extend plays and elevate teammates that nobody else in the sport can do. I have Buffalo at two number one. Listen, not only was their defense number one last year, I looked it up this morning. It was the youngest defense in the league and the cheapest. So they do everything right. I I don't think they're as good at quarterback. I think when you can force Philadelphia to play from behind and you can force them to throw, they're not as dangerous as a Buffalo is forced to throw or a Kansas City is. But again, it's they do everything well. They GM well, they quarterback well, their line plays incredible. Saquon Barkley has just been jet fuel to an uber talented roster. So there is my herd hierarchy, a couple of teams. Where are the Chargers? I think the Rashawn Slater injury is a real problem. They are a Joe Alt twisted ankle from being in real trouble up front and I still don't trust their receiving corps outside of lad McConkey. So I have them at 11, Bengals at 12.
Washable Sofas Advertiser
This Labor Day, say goodbye to spills, stains and overpriced furniture with washablesofas.com featuring Annabe the only machine washable sofa inside and out where designer quality meets budget friendly pricing. Sofas start at just $6.99, making it the perfect time to upgrade your space. Anibe's pet friendly stain resistant and interchangeable slipcovers are made with high performance fabric built for real life. You'll love the cloud like comfort of hypoallergenic high resilience foam that never needs fluffing and a durable steel frame that stands the test of time with modular pieces you can rearrange anytime. It's a sofa that adapts to your life now through Labor Day. Get up to 60% off site wide@washablesofas.com Every order comes with a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. If you're not in love, send it back for a full refund. No return shipping, no restocking fees, every penny back. Shop now@washablesofas.com Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply Running a business online.
GoDaddy Advertiser
Look legit and own your own brand with professional tools from GoDaddy instantly build trust with your customers and boost your cred with an email that matches your domain so people know you mean business. There's never been a better time. Just go to GoDaddy.com GDnow and choose from a wide variety of popular domains. To find one that's right for you, pair that with a professional email that works for all your business needs from daily communications to email marketing and everything in between. That's a little price for a lot of credibility. For a limited time, get a domain and matching professional email for just 99 cents a month for one year. Go to GoDaddy.comGdNow and look legit with GoDaddy. That's GoDaddy.comGdNow again. GoDaddy.comGdNow there's never been a better time to choose the domain and email that's right for you. New customer purchases only Products Auto renew separately. See terms on site godaddy.com gdnow summer.
Colin Cowherd
Is here and you can now get almost any 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 day at the lake? That's a no. A Philly cheesesteak? That's a yes. A nice tan? Sorry. A box fan? Happily, yes. What about a day of sunshine? Not happening. How about a box of fine wines? Yeah, that's happening. Delivery's on its way. Okay, how about some clear skies? Nope. Well, how about some French fries? Yeah. So how about a freshly cut lawn? Can't help you there. But a barbecued prawn? Order it and it's on its way. Even throw in some paper towels. Clean up after the feast. So while you can't get fun in the sun delivered. Don't worry because you can get pork buns delivered. 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. Hey folks. This message brought to you by the one and only official Whiskey of the herd with Colin Coward. Green River Whiskey. Now here's a story that'll knock your socks off. Picture this. Founded way back in 1885, Green River Whiskey is OG Kentucky cool. The 10th oldest distillery in the state. And get this, it was so valuable back in the day that 20 barrels of the good stuff were traded for shares in a gold Mine. That's liquid gold. Literally. But like any great drama, tragedy struck in 1917 with a fire that almost wiped it off the map. Cue the hero music. It was rebuilt on the same hallowed grounds, let me tell you, better than ever. So whether you're sipping their single barrel bourbon or a smooth straight rye, know you're raising a glass to history, folks. Here's to Green River Whiskey, where rich flavor meets richer stories. Hop on over to greenriverwhiskey.com Discover a legend in a bottle today. Cheers to that. A product of Green River Distilling Company, Owensboro, Kentucky. Alcohol by volume varies by product. Green RiverWhiskey.com Please drink responsibly. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific. Well, I've been looking forward to this all day. Mack Brown, the national champion head coach with Texas, I mean, he knows, he knows where all the skeletons are buried in this sport. And there's a lot of changes. And I always thought Mac had the ability to teach and coach in a joyful way. He loved what he did when he returned to Carolina. The players loved him. But sometimes it's just time to move to the hill country in Austin, Texas, and enjoy life a little bit. And Mack Brown is now joining us live. Coach, you know, I was thinking about this, everybody, and I've said this before. I, I think I said years ago, the best job in football in America is coaching the Texas Longhorns. And I said that and a coach texted me and he goes, listen, it's a good job. He goes, but there's a lot of drama. There's a lot of boosters, there's a lot of stuff, the Longhorn Network. And I love Sark. I really do love Sark, but I think it's one of those jobs. Coach, it's a little harder than people think. You know, at Alabama, football runs everything. But at Texas, it's a music town, it's a food town, it's a. When you watch Sark coach, do you envy him or do you understand sometimes what he's going through?
Mack Brown
I think it's a great question, Colin, but I really think it's both ways. I love the University of Texas. I think it is the best job in the country and especially within aisle because you've got a chance because you got people that are passionate and they care and the only way you can manage it, you got to take their passion and it's really pride and it's not pressure and they want to win so badly. And you've got to be able to handle all the outside noise. And Sark's coached at Washington, he's coached at usc. So he's done all this. He's been there, done that. I really like him and I respect him and he's doing a tremendous job. But after you coach at Texas, it's really tough because you really got everything you need. When I first got there, I asked a lost daughter, I said, I'd like to buy this. Does it fit in our budget? And he said, coach, you don't have a budget. You can do whatever you want. I said, we don't have a budget. And he said, no, man, you go through it. And I asked a loss one time as our athletics director, how hard is your job? And he said, when you're winning, mine's easy. When you're losing, I don't have a job.
Colin Cowherd
That'S so good. They have Arch Manning, and the Manning family is classy, smart. I mean, Arch Manning could have transferred. Not interested. Supported Quinn Ewers. I, I, maybe I'm worrying about something that doesn't matter. Tim Tebow became like a celebrity quarterback, Cam Newton in college. Would you be worried about the burden, the expectation, the celebrity? I mean, you got Texas's program, the Manning name. Would you be a little worried about that if you were Sark coming into the season?
Mack Brown
Yes. And, and you have less worries because Archie Manning's the granddad and Eli and Peyton are uncles. And Cooper's been through this whole ride with all of them, the dad and this, this family handles it. They got class, they got charisma, they got confidence. They, they have done all of these things they need to do. And I've been around Arch enough. He's just, he's smart, he's self deprecating. He'll, he'll laugh. He, he'll talk about people that have said critical things of him and say, yeah, I can understand that. Just, I haven't played a lot yet. And so I'm really excited to watch him play. I watched Chris Sims go through this with his dad winning a Super bowl at Texas.
Colin Cowherd
That's right.
Mack Brown
And then I watched Vince Young and his last year going through, is he going to win the Heisman? Is he better than Matt Lanard? Is he better than Reggie Bush? And Vince has got a really good perspective on being the quarterback here, but Arch is really into the guys. He's into that locker room, and that's what's so critical for a quarterback. And the thing, Colin, I think people miss on Arch is Archie could run, Granddad. We all saw him. I played. Yeah, yeah, yeah, he could run, man. And Eli and Peyton were. They could run, but there were more pocket quarterbacks. Arch can run, and that will give him a chance. They got four new offensive linemen, so that's going to be difficult going to Ohio State. But when you've got a quarterback that can run, it makes those offensive linemen.
Colin Cowherd
Look a lot better, you know. So Belichick takes your gig. I. It's interesting because usually when a legend like you retires, they bring in a young hotshot. They didn't. They brought in an old NFL guy who's. Who kind of has a way of doing things. I think I'll throw it, give you my take. I think NIL saves Bill. I don't think Bill would have succeeded in the old way of building through high school players. But the NIL is almost professional football. I think it gives him a chance, but I also think Mac, 17 hours max. I mean, you don't get the hours. You can't have a 60 hour week. Kids have more power. There's a lot of stuff here where I'm like, I don't know, give me your crystal ball. What do you think Bill will handle effortlessly and what could be something that, you know, he'll. He'll kick around a little.
Mack Brown
The first thing, Colin Chancellor Lee Roberts has committed to football big time. For the first time in North Carolina history. They are really wanting football to be good. So they're. They're all in. And, and that gives them a chance to be successful. Bill is arguably the best coach of any sport. I mean, you win that many Super Bowls, at whatever level the man can coach, he can evaluate because he had to bring in all those kids at the Patriots. And now administrators don't like to say it, but we have pro football at some level in college. We no longer have amateurism. We have payment scales. We've got nil. Kids are asking for money. They have agents, there's negotiations. So I do think the fact that we are much more like the NFL than ever before will really help Bill with this transition. The other thing is every coach wants his own players. And they used to say it takes you two or three years to get your guys in there. He's brought in 72 new guys. So you got money, you can evaluate and you can bring in who you want. I think he has a chance to win big and win big fast.
Colin Cowherd
We were talking about this. It seems like about every third year you get a really, really good quarterback class and Cade Klubnick is. I swear. Is he from Austin? He may be from Austin, Texas. Is he?
Mack Brown
Yes. Westlake High School.
Colin Cowherd
That's right. Yeah. So he. Where you're at? He's from there. So I went back and I watched his high school stuff and I went. I went deep diving a couple and I saw him play a few times for Clemson. He moves like Arch Manning. He can move a little bit now. He's a. He'll 4, 6, 5. He can run. You faced him, I think twice at Carolina. I remember one for sure. Twice. What, when you. After those games, was he better in person? Were there things he struggled with? Give me a. Give me a little bit of a. If I'm an NFL GM and I call you, I say Mac, I'm thinking of drafting Cade Clubnik. Give me a thumbnail sketch on him. What do you. What do you think of him?
Mack Brown
I saw him in high school. My son went to Westlake High School. Todd Dodge was his coach. And I knew Todd really, really well. We recruited him and couldn't get him to come. I think he's really, really good. The two times that we played him, the first time he was good, but, okay, maybe a little cautious last year. At the end of the year, he got really confident. He nearly brought him back in Austin in a huge game, playoff game. But especially for him at home, he's tough. He can run, he can throw, he's accurate, he's confident. And I think he gives Clemson a chance to be really, really good.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, you know, Clemson hasn't done the nil stuff. You are a legendary recruiter. Belichick, Deion Sanders, Lincoln Riley, Brian Kelly, they're all in on it. I worry that Nil erodes chemistry. That's what I worry about. I feel like you don't know the odometer on a used car. I like to know what I know about my guys. I've been recruiting since they were high school sophomores. What did you make of Nil? Does it. I mean, forget the pain. The players, kid, they. They obviously deserve some compensation, but what does it do to a locker room? Does anything worry you about the Portal or Nil?
Mack Brown
Colin? It's another great question. I do think the. The major programs, the brand programs that are going to have the majority of the money, it's going to ruin the competitive balance in college football because we're going to have the same 15 playing at the end. And if you've got enough money to recruit high school players and keep them, then Nil is not going to bother you, when you bring in all the different guys, it's really hard. So what we learned is if you've got money and you buy a team, it doesn't mean you're going to win. Number one, you got to buy the right ones. Number two, they've all got to fit well in that locker room. You've got to mesh together as a team, which is hard in a short period of time. And number three, they've got to be unselfish. And that's one thing we're looking at right now. I saw Cedric Benson in a locker room after we beat Michigan in the Rose bowl sit there crying because he didn't want to take his uniform off and he was a first round draft choice and he just sat there and I said, why are you crying? He said, this is the last time I'll ever have this uniform on. And I'm not sure we're going to have that loyalty. At schools that are bringing in all the transfers now, as much as the one like Sark only brought in 10 transfers. 10, 11. He's building it with high school guys. Clemson is building it with high school guys. They bring in a few transfers, but not many. So at the highest level, if you can continue to bring in and develop the right guys and you're recruiting the right guys, I think you're going to have the chance to be the most consistent program programs in the long haul through this nil period.
Colin Cowherd
Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific East. Mike Carmen, I'm Dan Byer and we have a fantasy football podcast called I want your Flexed. That's right, Dan. Every week we're going to scour the waiver wire to find the pickups to turbo boost your fantasy lineup sits starts fantasy football players rankings to get you ready to dominate the competition. Listen to I Want yout Flex with Mike Harmon and me, Dan Beyer on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts and wherever you get your podcasts. Yeah, I, I like that. I like, you know, I'm kind of with Sark on that or like if you're Ohio State and you bring in like Caleb Downs, if you can bring in a first round pick, go get him by all means, but I worry about that. Oh, by the way, I gotta ask you about Drake May. So I like one of the things I like about Drake May, he was your quarterback for several years is that I like he comes from a family of athletes and older brothers and there is something about that coach, about the toughness you know, playing with your brother's buddies and you're getting thrown around the basketball court and the football. Give me. Did you notice that with Drake? Because in the NFL as a rookie, they're going to haze you, they're going to be on you, you're carrying luggage. They're. Vrabel's a tough guy. What about Drake may impressed you beyond the size, the arm. What else did you like about it?
Mack Brown
He said when he was a kid, he had to fight for food. He had all those brothers in there. So everything he did, he would have to compete and fight. So they'd play pickleball and get mad. And one day I walked in the players lounge and there was a broken ping pong paddle. And I said, who broke the paddle? And he's sitting over in the corner and they all pointed to Drake and I said, drake, why'd you break the paddle? He said, the tight end beat me in ping pong. Can you imagine? The tight end beat me and ping pong. And I said, yeah, but I still think you can keep the PA clean without breaking it. But he, he is so competitive. He's smart, he's got a great heart. He is a wonderful team leader. He'll have that locker room fighting for him in every minute. I just love him. I, I think he's a quarterback that's going to win a Super Bowl.
Colin Cowherd
Oh, that's great. Okay. Finally, Mac and I talked for a couple minutes before we went on the air and he moved to Austin, Texas, which is one of America's great cities. And I'm not telling you where, but I know what golf course he's on and it's darn nice, I'll tell you that. And I told you during the break, I said, my wife said, you need to get a hobby. And I could never find one. And then two years ago, I got oddly, bizarrely into obsessed with golf and just crazy, like, you know, just I'm into it all the time. And tell me a little bit about, are you playing golf regularly, Colin?
Mack Brown
I'm playing just about every day. I'm playing six holes, nine holes, 12 holes, and I just love it. And as a coach, you played, but you played with boosters. They were asking about the quarterback or why'd you do this? Or why'd you do that? They told you, you can play bad, but don't play bad and slow. You gotta play fast. You never practice. You're always shaking hands before you hit the ball on the first tee in a tournament. So I've never been able to really play golf and enjoy it. And now I am just absolutely loving it. So I'm, I'm doing my work, I'm doing some stuff and then I head to the golf course.
Colin Cowherd
And what did your for you have a friend that told you. I want, I want you to share this with our audience because it really is so true. What did your, you have a friend that's a golfer. What did he tell you about golf?
Mack Brown
I was playing with my friend the other day and he was playing awful. He was really struggling. So he looked at me at the end of the match and he said, you know, coach, this is really interesting golf. I said, what are you talking about, bud? And he said, it costs a lot of money. It takes all day to play four and a half, five hours. You hit a lot of bad shots and it makes you absolutely miserable. And as soon as you get through, you can't wait to get back on the course. And I think that's.
Colin Cowherd
God, that is. And it's expensive. I mean, it checks every bad box.
Mack Brown
And when you get home, your wife's mad. Where have you been?
Colin Cowherd
Did you have fun?
Mack Brown
No, it was awful. I had so many bad shots.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, it's so true. It's great to see you as always. Great, great American sports storyteller. Mac, I love you. Thank you so much.
Mack Brown
Thanks, Colin. Love you and appreciate what you do.
Colin Cowherd
For years, everyone thought Verizon had the best network because they did. But now the best mobile network in the US is T Mobile. T Mobile's network has the most advanced 5G with more towers and their signal reaches further than ever. So you can text an Insta talk and say, you won't believe where I am. T Mobile has the best mobile network in the US based on analysis by Ookla of Speedtest intelligence data 1H2025 ctmobile.com network hey, it's Ryan Seacrest for Albertsons and Safeway. Now through August 26th, it's back to deals time where you can enjoy storewide deals and earn four times points. Look for in store tags to earn on eligible items from Lindor, Oreo Lays, Celsius, Cottonelle and Snapple. Then clip the offer in the app for automatic event long savings. Shop in store or online for easy drive up and go pickup or delivery subject to availability restrictions apply. Visit Albertsons or Safeway.com for more details. Summer is here and you 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.
Washable Sofas Advertiser
Every day has a to do list, but adding Enjoy Belvita to yours can help you knock out the rest of it. Belvita Breakfast Biscuits are a tasty and convenient breakfast option when paired with low fat yogurt and fruit that provide steady energy all morning while Belvita Energy Snack Bites give you the perfect mid morning refuel. Best part? They both taste great, so make the most out of your morning with a bite of Belvita. Pick up a pack of Belvita at your local store today.
Colin Cowherd
This is an iHeart podcast.
Date: August 23, 2025
Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd (iHeartPodcasts and The Volume)
Episode Theme: A wide-ranging review of the week's sports headlines, NFL preseason takeaways, quarterback analysis, a new "Herd Hierarchy," and an in-depth conversation with legendary coach Mack Brown about college football's evolving landscape.
In this "Best of the Week" episode, Colin Cowherd delivers his signature takes on the NFL preseason, player performances, organizational issues, and trending sports stories. The episode features his weekly "Colin Right/Colin Wrong" segment and the anticipated "Herd Hierarchy," ranking the NFL’s top teams ahead of the season. A highlight of the show is a lively interview with championship-winning coach Mack Brown, covering Texas football culture, the impact of NIL and the transfer portal on college football, and plenty of inside stories.
(03:20 – 06:20)
Colin on Caleb Williams in Chicago:
"As I watched that, I thought, oh, everybody in Chicago is breathing a sigh of relief." (03:59)
Sam Darnold & Seahawks’ Potential:
"Seattle Darnold look comfortable. I think when you watch the Seahawks they are a top five or six roster. I really believe that." (04:36)
Jackson Dart Surprise:
Cincinnati Bengals' Management Issues:
"You can't ask Joe Burrow to have to win a track meet every Sunday." (05:08)
Joe Milton’s Inconsistency:
"He is so mercurial. He is so up and down...I'll take a wrong on that." (05:52)
(06:21 – 08:01)
Dolphins’ Culture Questioned:
"Let's go to a team where there's a lot of respect for the head coach." — Jalen Ramsey (07:04)
Concerns Over Matthew Stafford’s Health:
Taylor Swift & the NFL:
"She is a stimulus package with a microphone. She is great for every business." (08:04)
Trayvon Henderson Draft Steal:
Joe Flacco as Browns’ QB1:
(13:27 – 21:25)
Cowherd ranks the most promising NFL teams of the upcoming season, with context and rationale for each placement:
"They do everything right. They GM well, they quarterback well…Saquon Barkley has just been jet fuel to an uber talented roster." (20:17)
"I think the world's best football player is Josh Allen." (19:50)
"They do everything well…Maybe the best-run organization along with Kansas City." (19:10)
Additional mentions:
— Chargers: O-line concerns and distrust in depth at receiver keep them outside the top 10.
— Bengals: Placed at #12, with unresolved key issues notably at defense.
(23:26 – 40:10)
Texas: Best but Toughest Job?
"I love the University of Texas. I think it is the best job in the country…but after you coach at Texas, it's really tough because you really got everything you need." (26:56)
Arch Manning & the Program:
"He's smart, he's self-deprecating… I'm really excited to watch him play." (28:42)
Brown foresees NIL accelerating "professionalization" of college football, making it familiar ground for NFL-experienced coaches (e.g., Bill Belichick at UNC):
"We no longer have amateurism. We have payment scales. We've got NIL. Kids are asking for money. They have agents…much more like the NFL than ever before." (31:27)
Building Teams in the NIL Era:
"If you've got money and you buy a team, it doesn't mean you're going to win. Number one, you got to buy the right ones. Number two, they've all got to fit well in that locker room." (34:11)
"He is so competitive...I just love him. I think he's a quarterback that's going to win a Super Bowl." (37:12)
"'It costs a lot of money. It takes all day...You hit a lot of bad shots and it makes you absolutely miserable. And as soon as you get through, you can't wait to get back on the course.'" (39:15)
This “Best of the Week” episode blends trademark Cowherd NFL analysis, speculation and humor, with a particularly engaging segment featuring Mack Brown’s wisdom on college football’s evolution. The show strikes a balance between hard sports analysis and lighter, personal stories, making it accessible to both hardcore fans and more casual listeners interested in the larger sporting culture.