← The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Colin Cowherd Podcast - Bears Built For The COLD, NFL Playoffs Are WIDE OPEN, Lamar Jackson’s Future, Ranking Top NFL Coaches
01:05:42
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- [00:00]
Danny Parkins
This is an iHeart podcast, guaranteed human.
- [00:06]
Colin Coward
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- [03:18]
Danny Parkins
So, yeah, a lot there. Caleb's best game of the season and arguably his career was against Cleveland. And their defense was very good this year, and it was the coldest game at Soldier field in, like, 20 years. His arm is ridiculous.
- [03:34]
Colin Coward
Ridiculous.
- [03:35]
Danny Parkins
So, like, now Jordan Love's got a very. He's got a plus arm. So. But, like, bad conditions should impact Caleb less than other players because of his, like, physical gifts. And then everything else you said is absolutely true. Home field, offensive line, run game, all of those things. Green Bay's defense also, you know, they've lost four straight. Micah got hurt four games ago. They have three sacks and no interceptions in their last four games down the stretch. That's the Jets. The jets have four sacks and no interceptions. They're the only other team in that spot. They're giving up 28 a game. Like the Packer, The Bears defense is not good, but they lead the league in takeaways. Like they. They do make plays. The packers defense, since losing Micah is just bad. They don't sack the quarterback. They don't turn you over. They give up a lot of. So they're just bad and not even opportunistic. But before we get into any more hardcore X's and O's football, I'm going, oh, my God, Colin, you didn't even text me back. I texted you and said, hey, I'm flying in Saturday morning. Do you want to grab lunch? And now I'm going with my. With my buddies and we're going to get lunch. So unless you want to come hang out with some of us as we start boozing. You're more than welcome. But Colin, I, I hate going to NFL games. Hate it. It. It's expensive. People fight. Yeah, it. The traffic is miserable. I think it's crazy that this game ended up on Saturday instead of on Sunday. And there's been great reporting as to like, how the TV networks divvied up these games and why prime got the excellent game that is Bears Packers. But when I saw that it was Saturday night in Chicago and I could fly in Saturday morning, fly back to New York Sunday morning, be back in time to watch all the Sunday games and go and not miss anything by going to this Bears packers game. This is going to be a special thing. Like, it's going to be uncomfortable, it's going to be cold. But I have, I have incredible seats. I am right behind the Bears bench, like, so I'm out in the elements, but like first row behind the Bears bench. I have not been this excited to go to an NFL game since I was like a child. Like, I am very, very excited to be there. It's because, because your friend is, is correct. Like, it's going to be a, it's going to be a experience. It's going to be miserably cold and windy. I'm actually rooting for it to be cold because I don't want it to be if it's going to. I don't want it to be rain. Like, I'd much rather it be snowing than rain. Yeah. Just for like comfort in the stadium. So if it's like 33 and raining, that's going to be miserable. Give me 23 and snow, 30 rain. But I don't know. There's Bears, Packers, Soldier Field, bears as the 2 seed. Feeling like we are not out coached and we are not out quarterbacked. I remember watching football for the first time in 1992, being six years old. My old, my dad and my older brother raised in Wisconsin, diehard Packers fans. 92 is Brett Favre's first year in green Bay. I've never seen the Bears have a better quarterback than the packers my whole life. So the idea that like this game could be like the beginning of the rivalry being real and that's the floor or the ceiling is like passing of a torch to like an era of the Bears being the hammer and the packers being the male. I'm just, I'm so excited for this game. I had to be there.
- [07:03]
Colin Coward
Well, you know, one of the things about running a northern tier team, and I've said this for years, Danny, there's never Been a dome dynasty. In the NFL, there's never been a warm weather dynasty.
- [07:17]
Danny Parkins
I mean, Dan, that's interesting.
- [07:19]
Colin Coward
Yeah. Dan Marino.
- [07:20]
Danny Parkins
What are the Cowboys go there in.
- [07:23]
Colin Coward
The winter, it's not that warm. It's, it's, it's, you know, they've got, I went to a Super bowl, there were ice, sheets of ice were falling off the stadium.
- [07:30]
Danny Parkins
That was that. Yes, sure. Yes.
- [07:32]
Colin Coward
Okay.
- [07:33]
Danny Parkins
Okay.
- [07:33]
Colin Coward
So I don't consider, I consider warm, you know, Miami, Arizona, an LA team, Jacksonville, there's never been a warm weather dynasty. And so the NFL success has gone through cold, crappy weather. And I was thinking about this the other day. Ben Johnson's a real sharp guy. Ben Johnson, I think knew, listen, it's not named the Windy City because of the wind. That's because of politicians years ago. Nonetheless. And Baltimore's always done this and New England did this. Don't worry too much about deep threats. They went and got a center, two guards and a tight end and a slot receiver. And why those guys can operate under 16 yards. Now, Caleb has a power arm, but even if you have a power arm Saturday, it may not matter. And I think what one of the quiet pieces of Ben Johnson, unstated pieces of Ben Johnson's brilliance. He built this team to play in crappy weather. This is an excellent crappy weather team. For the record, so is Philadelphia. Saquon Barkley, good tight ends, excellent O line. So Seattle, by the way, Darnold, big arm. They went and drafted a tight end, two running backs. Really only one receiver. So I think what makes you, you, you, you know, we always think of Green Bay. I mean, Green Bay, always Favre, big Army. Aaron, big arm. Love big arm. Flacco, big arm. Lamar, not so much. Mahomes, big arm. I think Chicago is if, if the, the weather is lousy for the next three weeks, I think the Bears are completely built for you. For the record, Detroit wasn't where Ben was at because golf's not good in that weather. But they were, they were indoors. So I always feel like when golf goes outside, the odds change. So I, I, I know a lot of people go back and forth, but I, in the last 12 hours, I'm like, big Jacksonville, big Chicago, and I do like Mike Tomlin Monday, now that DK Metcalf comes back. So those are the three I feel strongest about. Do you have two to three that you really feel most strongly about?
- [09:48]
Danny Parkins
Well, so one that you didn't mention is my favorite and it's Chargers plus three and a half. Wow. Yeah.
- [09:55]
Colin Coward
So you and J. Mac love that.
- [09:58]
Danny Parkins
So I don't know if I love that. No, like, obviously, three in the hook is, is a big deal. Like it's obviously a very important number in the gambling space. So that's, that is a piece of it. I think Jacksonville wanted New England because they know, okay, two of our most expensive players and two of our best players, Alton Slater, are out for the year. You take two of the four highest paid players off any team, it's going to decimate.
- [10:30]
Colin Coward
Yes.
- [10:31]
Danny Parkins
Now you say they play the same position and their job is to protect your most expensive and important player. And it's a death blow. Like anyone who has been hit. The number of times that Herbert has been hit, who has made the playoffs in the last 30 years, they've all lost in the wild card round. Like it's, it's supposed to be a fatal flaw of a team if you can't stop your quarterback from getting hit. Well, New England's defense is not good. They're not, they're statistically okay in some areas, but they haven't played anybody. And when you dig into it just a little bit, like good quarterbacks have been efficient against them and have at least moved the ball and their pass rush numbers are not good. Now, a lot of that is, you know, they don't even really need to. They're not playing from behind. They're not gearing up and going after it. There's some prevent stuff. There have been a lot of blowouts, sure. I'll concede that. But I think Denver is a worse matchup for the Chargers. I think Houston is a worse matchup for the Chargers.
- [11:35]
Colin Coward
Houston's a bad matchup.
- [11:37]
Danny Parkins
Yeah. No, no doubt. Denver's pass rush almost beat the 84 Bears record. Right. I mean, they, they, they, the Chargers beat him in a 2320 game where Herbert was incredible. But. And abused and sacked and like he was. They were lucky to win that game. But I just think that they looked at it and they said, we'll rest our guys in week 18 and we'll play a team that really hasn't played much of anybody this year and we'll run on them and we'll protect just. And Justin Herbert won't be staring at the ceiling the whole game because their pass rush isn't great. So I just, I think New England having the easiest schedule of any team since the 99 Rams is something. And I think their pass rush not being very good is something. And I think Herbert, like you do, is a superstar. So I really like them to. I think they're going to win the game, but I'll certainly take them plus three and a half.
- [12:32]
Colin Coward
Yeah, it's really been an interesting college and pro football year. I mean, the fact that we have Ole Miss, Miami, Indiana and Oregon is, to me, just wonderful. The nil's got its issues. The transfer portal is the wild, wild West. It's great. I can't wait to watch the games. I was so over Georgia, Bama, Ohio State, Clemson, and they're all great programs. The NFL's been interesting. I always say this whenever, like media critics. Nobody says it much now, but whenever I hear a talk show host who's older or somebody complain about hot takes, I'm always like, God, you sound 100 years old. Have you ever listened to political radio? For all you young guys doing sports talk radio have a million hot takes. It's fun. That's what fans have. They have a million conspiracy theories. And we're a conduit to the fans. We're a vessel to the fans that read ads. Right. So my take is you got to be careful about hot takes. Because if I would have told you in September, Mahomes, Burrow, Lamar don't make the playoffs. Bo Nix and Sam Darnold are number one seeds. You would have thought that was. I was just trying to get clicks. And I think what's becoming clear in this league is the way to make the playoffs is with a star quarterback. If he can stay upright, Mahomes is o line kick. Josh Allen, Justin Herbert. I tend to think C.J. stroud's really good or a cheap quarterback. A really, really cheap quarterback. And I think, I mean, Drake May, Bo Nix, Caleb Williams, I mean, J.J. mcCarthy at the end of the year, actually played well. He can just never stay healthy. And I. And I think what's becoming clear, and you saw it in Baltimore, the fact that Burrow and Lamar Jackson and Mahomes can't make the playoffs, watch their games. I mean, Cincinnati and Kansas City's rosters are just nothing. I mean, they don't look like Seattle's. They don't look like Denver's. They don't look like. And so, I mean, I think my takeaway from this season is. And I've always felt this, Danny, I think I've told you this. I would be a GM in the NFL. That would be my dream if I didn't do this. Pay big money, infrequently, even at quarterback. Just do everything in your. I mean, Dallas, Dax, Dax, cap hit. Look at their defense by the way Josh Allen huge cap hit, look at their defense, is that they're a six seed. And so my takeaway this season, it's another reminder. Even if you pay your quarterback Burrow, Mahomes, Allen, they have to be Superman. And Bo Nix and Caleb can be bad quarterbacks for about half of the halfs they play and they can be one, two or three seeds. That's my takeaway on the season.
- [15:18]
Danny Parkins
Yeah, it's just, it's very tough to, when it's time to pay that guy, flatly say we're not going to pay him. It's, it's, you know, you're saying if you were in that position, you would do it.
- [15:32]
Colin Coward
What I'm saying is I would constantly restructure it. I would tell the player, listen, I mean, I've always had a theory on this, Danny, is that at any one time in the NFL there are six quarterbacks max that you don't even pick up the phone. There's another six that you don't initiate the call, but you pick up the phone and talk. Lamar, I think has moved into that space. And then the rest of the league, I get on the phone, I think you should draft a quarterback every other year. My theory on drafting centers are the most undrafted players in the league. Cornerbacks are on, Everybody plays. Zone corners are overrated. And you should draft a quarterback every other year. Every other. I don't care if you get Mahomes every other year. Draft a quarterback.
- [16:18]
Danny Parkins
Yeah, I mean, Ron Wolf was every year, you know, and that was, that was part of the packers thing. I think about this season in particular. You know, I think there's a lot of. Listen, the NFL tries to be designed for parity. Salary cap, salary floor. Now the playoffs has been expanded where 14 teams makes it, which I don't really like because now every team that was over 500 this year, except for.
- [16:41]
Colin Coward
Minnesota makes the play 40% of the league.
- [16:43]
Danny Parkins
Yeah. So I don't, I don't love that. And so I think that it allows for a little bit of like wrong conclusions to be made because it's like, oh, well, you can be good this way, you could be good this way, you could be good this way. A lot of different ways to do it. I did a thing on the show today. These teams are all flawed, all of them. Like, if you. I think Seattle's the best team. I've had them at 1 or 2 on my top 10. Literally. I think since like week 11, we went back and looked at it.
- [17:11]
Colin Coward
Shaky O line.
- [17:12]
Danny Parkins
Yeah, Shaky o line and do. Are we. I think it's totally fair to just say do we trust Sam Darnold? No. Like, I think it's, I think it's total. Right. He, he was not. He was efficient last week, but not productive.
- [17:24]
Colin Coward
Right.
- [17:25]
Danny Parkins
We've seen him in the playoffs. We've seen him in week 18 last year. Like in big. He does not have a long big game resume and that's putting it mildly. Pick your the rams, they're the second favorite in Vegas. They gave up 28 points per game the last six games of the season.
- [17:41]
Colin Coward
And their special teams are brutal.
- [17:43]
Danny Parkins
Yeah. So like they just so we can go back and forth and so it's like okay, well those are the top two favorites in Vegas. And then everyone's like well Josh Allen needs to win. It's Josh. Josh Allen is going to get crushed by the media if he doesn't win because so much of the analysis is quarterback driven. They have a 31st ranked run defense in the NFL. They give up over five yards of carry.
- [18:03]
Colin Coward
I think Jacksonville is going to control the line of scrimmage in that game.
- [18:07]
Danny Parkins
They, they might. And I Duval nation not a huge fan of me because I have just, I have not believed in Jacksonville. I think they've beaten up on some bad teams. The Denver win was definitely impressive. I have scar tissue with Trevor Lawrence. He, he is on a hot streak right now. I think it's 15 touchdowns, one interception his last six games. He's going to be all over people's MVP ballots. People will vote him third, fourth, fifth and fine. I don't trust him. I don't. He has the most three turnover games of any player in the NFL going back to 2021. He got nine of them. Like he just now he only has one this year but he's a couple other games where he throws a pick and has a couple of fumbles but they happen to recover it. Like I need to see that guy consistently play clean football in big games before I will believe in him. Maybe that's not fair and I'm judging him. Like pre Liam Cohen and Liam Cohen has the interceptions are down, the fumbles are down. But they've also recovered some of his fumbles. Like I just, I don't fully trust the guy. And so these. It's just wide open. It's wide open and I think that makes it, that, that makes it fun. And to circle it back to the Bears point like the Bears defense is not good.
- [19:19]
Colin Coward
Nope.
- [19:20]
Danny Parkins
They have allowed more yards than any other team in the playoffs. They are not good. But they can win. Sure, why not? Why not? Great running team, great coach. Two home games if the bracket holds, if Seattle loses. And the NFC championship game could be in Chicago in sub zero weather. If Seattle eliminate, like it's eliminated. Like, I'll take my chances with this Bears team. They're in the mix of teams that can win.
- [19:53]
Colin Coward
So I want to talk about the Lamar Jackson thing. So listen, 18 years is a long time to be a CEO of a company. Like that's just a long time. And the hardballs are, they're intense, like intense personalities. You know, Jim and John, I could see six, eight years in, in San Francisco. You know, Jim was wearing people at Stanford. He did. Now I think this gym is much more chill. Maybe the Harbaughs need to get to 60 and John Harbaugh's never been quite as intense. But I, I just, I think John will go win somewhere and Lamar will win. But it is interesting with Lamar because I was saying this today. They sat down with a meeting and I don't think the intent was to run John Harbaugh out. But if you're John Harbaugh, you're like, okay, Listen, I was 8 and 4 in the playoffs pre Lamar. I'm 3 and 6 with him. He's missed a full season of games. I don't know what he actually is right now because it's not what it used to be. And Cam Newton's last Pro bowl was at 26. Like, but Lamar is so wildly worshiped and loved in Baltimore. He's unmovable. And by the way, Mahomes is, Allen is, Lamar is. You could move almost every quarterback. And I'm serious, there's about, I mean now Herbert in LA would be tough, but the truth is LA is so chill, you know, But I mean like Lamar is on a short list of. You just can't move them. But my point is what, what, what do, do you think next year? Because remember, hyper athletic quarterbacks age faster. That's not disputable. Old guys, Aaron Stafford, Brady, don't. You can play into your four. I thought Aaron's second half last week was the best he's played in three years. I thought he was outstanding. What do you think Lamar is going forward? Because I think deep down he would never say it publicly, but Lamar didn't throw out an olive branch when he got fired. And that story got leaked to the writer in Baltimore and it didn't come from Lamar's side. And my take is the untold story is Harbaugh asked Some questions about Lamar, like, what are we going forward? He's got a $74 million cap.
- [22:10]
Danny Parkins
It.
- [22:11]
Colin Coward
My ask to you is next year and beyond. Do you believe Lamar is what we saw this year, A slower, more tackleable, more defendable version of what he was three years ago?
- [22:25]
Danny Parkins
Well, I mean, listen, he arguably should have won MVP last year. You know, like, he, it was a very close MVP race with him and Josh Allen last year. So we're not that far removed from Lamar. You know, he was, what, 41 touchdowns and four picks or something stupid.
- [22:38]
Colin Coward
But again, athletic quarterbacks age fast.
- [22:41]
Danny Parkins
No, no, I. Absolutely, absolutely.
- [22:43]
Colin Coward
Ben just fell off a cliff. Yeah.
- [22:45]
Danny Parkins
Like, listen, I, I would not want to be tied to lamar for his 30s. But like, he turned 29 today.
- [22:55]
Colin Coward
Yeah.
- [22:56]
Danny Parkins
I think that it's totally reasonable to say his age. 29, 30, 31, 32 seasons. That you'd be thrilled.
- [23:04]
Colin Coward
Okay.
- [23:04]
Danny Parkins
Could, could win a Super Bowl. Okay. In two of those four years, you know, like it. And so because he has gotten better as a passer. Yeah, I think his. What the next coach's biggest challenge is going to be is figuring out how much of his improvement as a passer was because teams had to defend against him as a runner. And my, like, because, like, his, his mobility makes you have to put in spies and keep eyes on the quarterback and all, and so that it makes it easier to pass the football. He doesn't just drop back and pass it like Matt Stafford, and he never will. And so as that athleticism wanes, how much is his passing efficiency going to wane? And my guess is a significant amount. Yeah, like, I do. I don't think Lamar is going to be, you know, I don't think he's going to win another MVP award, but I do think that he will be good enough in the short term to be competitive because of how talented that roster is. And the other, like, because I think also what you're asking is, like, how attractive is the Baltimore job? It's a great organization.
- [24:07]
Colin Coward
Oh, I think it's. I think it's the best job opening in, for essence, since Green Bay. But Green Bay doesn't have an owner, and they've got their own obstacles and things to deal with. I mean, Green Bay, third year in a row, youngest team. Why they don't sign free agents much. So. Right. Baltimore's as good a job as that's been open in years.
- [24:27]
Danny Parkins
I agree with you. But, like, if you are skeptical of what Lamar is going to be and you're going to have to pay him $70 million.
- [24:33]
Colin Coward
So I'm not skeptical. I think you get two more really, really high end years. But my guess is the Lamar that was freakishly hard to corner. I don't think we'll see that. I think we'll see highly effective. 11 and 6 can win the division. But I do think, I think it's a reasonable take that 29 years old for his. Stylistically, I think he's got two really good years left. I wouldn't bet on four. I think at 33 is not the same player. I think.
- [25:09]
Danny Parkins
Yeah, no, I agree with that. And I said like two of the next four because maybe he hurts his back next year or whatever. But I think. I also think that athletes now, they're just better.
- [25:20]
Colin Coward
Yeah, right.
- [25:21]
Danny Parkins
And so I think we have to kind of like, it used to be like running backs after 27, don't want those guys now. Derrick Henry is still a top six back in the NFL, you know, now he's an Adrian Peterson cyborg. But like Christian McCaffrey usage is higher than it's ever been. Like, we have to like adjust it a little bit. Like, because Cam. Cam Newton took hits in a way that Lamar doesn't take hits right now. Big bigger athlete, but he was one yard touchdowns, Ben Roethlisberger lowering his shoulder. That's not what Lamar is like. You can still be just. If you are a good escape artist, even if you're not running to scramble, just like running to evade the pressure, extend the plays, you can still be effective. So, yeah, two of the next four years, I think you have a top 10 quarterback, Lamar Jackson, and you can, you can win a Super bowl with that. And then when you add in all the other talent there, how well they draft. What Coach Mangini keeps talking about though, is he's like, what people underrate is when you're there for 18 years, it's not like a coach who was there for three and gets fired. He's like, you're, you're either just doing more of what John Harbaugh was doing, or you're changing everything. But the PR was how Harbaugh wanted it. The, the, the food was how Harbaugh wanted it, the training staff, all those things. So I'm fascinated into like the profile of who the next coach of the Ravens is. Like, can it be a first time head coach?
- [26:49]
Colin Coward
No, I said this today. They don't need their culture change. They have one of the best cultures. They need somebody that works with Lamar as he ages. Stefanski.
- [26:58]
Danny Parkins
Yeah.
- [26:59]
Colin Coward
The New York Giants need A variable. They need a culture changer.
- [27:03]
Danny Parkins
So, yeah, I think that's, I think that makes perfect sense.
- [27:06]
Colin Coward
Yeah. Harbaugh works with New York or Atlanta. Stefanski works in Baltimore. Their culture is incredible. They just have to have somebody that Lamar's like, oh, you're my guy. You're an offensive guy. They need an offensive coach for Lamar because I do think you're going to get a little less from Lamar. So what can elevate him?
- [27:23]
Danny Parkins
Really?
- [27:23]
Colin Coward
Elite coaching.
- [27:24]
Danny Parkins
Yeah. Scheme. Yeah. Help. Help helping him out in that way. I agree. It's a fun. By the way, Nick and I were talking about this today. You and John Harbaugh both look great for your age. Because like I kind of was floating like to Nick, I was like, you know, like it would kind of make sense if Andy Reid wanted Harbaugh to replace him because Andy Reid gave him his shot in the NFL back in Philly. But then you look it up. John Harbaugh's 62 years old.
- [27:56]
Colin Coward
Yeah.
- [27:57]
Danny Parkins
Like Andy Reid's not going to, at 67, going to hand it over to a 62 year old guy. So everyone's like talking about how John Harbaugh is this unbelievable coaching candidate and he is, and he'll 10, seven teams will offer him a job and maybe teams that are, you know, maybe they'll fire someone in Tampa to hire him or Green Bay or Buffalo or who the hell knows. But it's not hiring Ben Johnson. It's not hiring Liam Cohen. Like you're, you're hiring a guy to five years. Right. Like, is that, I, that, that would, that would. If, if I were Giants fan and they hire John Harbaugh, it's obviously exciting, but I'm also like immediately starting the clock on it because like how, like is he going to coach into a 70?
- [28:45]
Colin Coward
Well, yeah. So no, I think it a five year hire. And, and, and that's how I feel.
- [28:50]
Danny Parkins
About the NFL is an eternity. I understand that. But it's a, it's just, we're talking about like Lamar's shelf life. It's also interesting to consider like everyone's like, well, John Harbaugh, is he going to sit out a year? I'm like, no, he's going to go get a $75 million contract right now because it's probably his last big payday.
- [29:05]
Colin Coward
Yeah. And he's not calling plays anymore. A lot of these older coaches, I feel that Harbaugh, the Giants is Kyle Whittingham to Michigan. Right. The ship, excellent blue blood brand, plenty of talent. I, I've hit on four or five years in a row. I've my double the win total team back 20, 22, it was the Vikings, then the Rams, then, then it was last year Washington, and this year it was New England and Seattle. I said if John Harbaugh got the Giants or Kevin Stevanski got the Giants, they're my double the win total team. I think they're. I, I actually think Harbaugh makes a little more sense because their culture's so weak. Wouldn't it be ironic if Stefanski, Cleveland fires Stefanski, he goes to Baltimore and kicks their ass for eight years.
- [29:57]
Danny Parkins
Oh yeah. Which is. Well, I thought, I thought firing Stefanski was one of the more arrogant things we've seen in the NFL.
- [30:03]
Colin Coward
Amazing. Amazing.
- [30:04]
Danny Parkins
I'm not, I'm not saying that he's like some sort of like schematic genius. And I think the coach of the year award is terribly flawed and how we give it out. Like I remember when Matt Nagy won coach of the year for the Bears because Vic Fangio's defense got 36 takeaways. I was like, well, how does what, what the hell's going on here? So like two time coach of the years only goes so far with me, but he's clearly a good coach.
- [30:26]
Colin Coward
Yes.
- [30:26]
Danny Parkins
And, and so like, like acting like he's the problem in Cleveland is pure insanity. And it'd be hilarious if he did that and kicked their ass. Like you said, I know you like guys with theories and half baked ideas. Whatever the case may be, how many of the following examples, if time travel existed, would go back and make the at the time indefensible decision to fire the successful head coach, to not let the genius out of the building. I'm talking about like, how much does Tampa wish they had fired Todd Bowles to keep Liam Cohen? How much does Baltimore wish they had moved on from John Harbaugh a little earlier and then they'd have Mike McDonald, Dan Campbell in Detroit, Ben Johnson. Like, you can't let the young play calling genius out the door because of like status quo and culture. Like, if you would have suggested firing Dan Campbell for Ben Johnson, that would have been a hot take for clicks. If you could, if the trade was offered tomorrow, Ben Johnson for Dan Campbell, you do it. The Bears would hang up the phone like and laugh at the proposition. And Detroit would, I would think, do it in a heartbeat. And Todd Bowles. Liam Cohen's not even a question. And obviously Mike McDonald would be a home run hire for Baltimore if he was available and he was an assistant there under Harbaugh. So maybe it's like, maybe this is Monday morning quarterbacking it because you didn't know how good all of those guys are. But your job, if they're in your building, is to know how good they are. And I just think there's something there of like, if you think that the genius is actually not the top person, fire your top person to promote your genius.
- [32:22]
Colin Coward
Yeah, I think it's really hard. It's. It's the classic easier said than done because I do think Dan Campbell is really built a good culture.
- [32:31]
Danny Parkins
I think it's much undeniably.
- [32:33]
Colin Coward
Undeniably, yeah. And also Mike McDonald and Sean McVeigh, who really are kind of really the same guy. One offense and one defense, like the good looking, confident, likable, very pro player. But don't push him. They'll. I mean, Mike McDonald's like, I don't want DK Metcalf in the building. DK Metcalf's gone. Right. Like. And by the way, Sean McVeigh has done this. I told a friend, I said, I would not be shocked if Puka's gone in the off season. I would not be shocked. It's a very good receiver draft. Again, they've got two ones. A two or three. They need to tackle a corner. It's not a good quarterback draft. If they took a second round, third round, if they took a wide receiver, it would not shock me is you've got to be brutal in this business. You know, it's funny, I read something about John Harbaugh, a former Raven player, said he said he's an unbelievable culture builder. He could be a little bit more compassionate. And I thought that's a. That's a player talking. And it's really hard to be compassionate if you're running a network, you're running a football team, you're running a company. Because in the end, you have to make these awful, brutal decisions. And I think, I mean, I ripped the Lions. This was my. I think I've told you this. The greater the loss, the wider the search. When Jim Harbaugh leaves Michigan, you can't give it to an assistant. When Ben Johnson leaves, you can't say, hey, guy that shared the room with him. And I think it's a classic flaw in hiring, is that you think proximity to genius equals genius. And it does not. Proximity to a great mentor, like Belichick's not a great mentor, McVay is. But even McVeigh's coaches, Raheem Morris just got fired. Zach Taylor. So just all this stuff is fascinating to talk about. I think the bigger mistake teams make is that when the genius leaves, because it is hard to fire Dan Campbell and replace him. The key is when the genius leaves, you have to have a global search. You never, ever replace the genius boy wonder with guy down the hallway that makes everybody laugh in the film room. You have to go. And so I think that's the mistake. The genius leaves, and everybody's like, well, Bob knows our culture. It doesn't matter. Go hire. You've heard of Prof. G before, Scott Galloway. He always says, this interviewing's overrated when you have a company. The volume. We've done a lot of this. I didn't know it was smart. It was just. This is how Eyeball was operated in my life. The first thing I ask Nick Wright is, hey, who's the smartest young talented guy you know, in radio? He goes, there's a guy named Danny Parkins. I'm like, all right. And so I. I go listen to Chicago radio for an hour, and I'm like, oh, yeah, that guy's gonna be really good. Just go ask your smartest friends, who's the smartest guy you know, who's the best guy? Yeah, smart people hang out with smart people. A's hang out with A's, B's hang out with C's. And Prof. G says interviewing's ridiculous. He goes, 99% of the time. Just ask all the smart people in your building. Like, tell Ben, way to kick ass. Who would you. Who's the smartest guy you know, it's never the guy down the hallway. I know it's cruel sounding, but it never is.
- [35:53]
Danny Parkins
Yeah, that's. That is pretty accurate.
- [35:55]
Colin Coward
Yeah.
- [35:56]
Danny Parkins
And. And, like, listen, the examples I gave are the most current examples. And yes, firing John Harbaugh would have been kind of crazy a couple of years ago, and Dan Campbell would have been indefensible. Todd Bowles for Liam Cohen. You probably could have done that one. You know what I mean? It was like, wait a minute. Oh, my God, this guy got. Baker Mayfield had the best season of his life.
- [36:20]
Colin Coward
Baker dropped off severely this year.
- [36:23]
Danny Parkins
Yeah. And then he shows up with Trevor Lawrence, who had been the same guy for five years, and now he's immediately awesome. And Travis etn, who had been a disappointment his whole career, is immediately awesome. Like, that guy's probably awesome.
- [36:36]
Colin Coward
Listen, you and I have talked about this in our careers off the air. Don't just chase money, chase good management. Because if you're. If you work hard and you love what you do. You'll find money in any business, you'll find it. Maybe not if you're a elementary school teacher, but in most businesses, if you work hard, find something you're good at. If you love it, you'll do well. What Ben Johnson has actually done in Chicago I think is a little like, we all know he's good. I don't even think we know how good Ben Johnson is because you know this McCasky family. I'll just be democratic. It's a little dysfunctional. Kevin Warren is not considered one of the strongest team presidents. I think Ryan polls has some hits. I don't want to judge Ryan because he has absolutely. I mean he's missed on a few people. It's inexact. He's also hit on a lot of draft picks. We have to be fair.
- [37:35]
Danny Parkins
Yeah, Ryan pulls, has some grand slams and a lot of strikeouts.
- [37:39]
Colin Coward
That's okay. Yes. But he's got some hits. He deserves credit. He's got some hits, definitely. But it was so dysfunctional last year. And if you go back to camp when he was really hard on Caleb and he's like, we're not good. McVeigh succeeds but I mean, let's be honest, like Stan Kroenke is like the second richest owner. It's not that it was easy with Goff, but golf, Goff was a classic drop back guy. I always felt like in Los Angeles the Jeff Fisherman. Maybe, maybe I'm. I guess my whole point is this is that maybe it all blows up next year like Dan Quinn in Washington and it just all unravels. But I think Ben Johnson. I think we have our next McVeigh.
- [38:33]
Danny Parkins
Oh yeah. So like, I don't even think it's.
- [38:35]
Colin Coward
I think he is that good.
- [38:38]
Danny Parkins
Yeah, I think. Listen, do I have like some bias that you could assign to this? Sure. Do you have some like cope copium or hope trafficking that I'm doing with myself? Sure. Like I've fallen for coaches and I've fallen for quarterbacks before. This is very clearly different. It's. It just. It is very clearly different. He. And that's why the Dan Campbell culture thing, it's like, I don't know, Ben Johnson changed the culture pretty damn quick. Winning and accountability helps. It's a, it's a, it's a good way to. It's a good place to start with culture. And I loved what he apparently told the team. You know, after that loss in week 18, he basically came in and said, I don't want you to show up to the facility tomorrow if you are thinking about your vacation or if you are not physically or mentally prepared to be here every day and give us everything you have for the next five weeks because that's what it will take to win a Super Bowl. And it's just like, holy shit. Like, high standards, expectations, willing to back it up. Like, I heard from someone that Ben Johnson does all of the installs. Not like, like, not just like the first 15, like the third down, the red zone. That doesn't delineate it to position coaches. Doesn't like, you know, give the tight ends. Coach one doesn't give. He does all of it. He's, he clearly sleeps at the facility some. Like, he's the type of guy that we're going to look at him in 10 years and be like, oh my God, it was like a presidency. Like, he is, he is a maniacal worker and he's an awesome play caller and he has changed the culture. And I agree with you. Like, I think the bears have a McVeigh Shanahan guy, which is the most valuable thing you can have in coaching because even if his assistants get poached, you still have him. It's why genius defensive coach is great. Genius offensive coach is better. Yeah. Because it stays there and it gives stability to your quarterback. And then they have a top five physical talent at the quarterback position. Not saying he's a top five quarterback. Right. But he's a top five physical talent, no question. And so you now have, if you've got a top five offensive mind with a top five quarterback talent. And, and again, this can change. People get divorced. Relationships, you grow apart. Sure. But it started rocky. And now in week 18, Caleb Williams is wearing Ben Johnson's high school jersey to the game. They love each other, Colin. Yeah, it's what I've wanted my whole life. You know, like, honestly, like Andy, Andy Reid is going to coach for as long as health will allow him to because he found Patrick Mahomes late in life and it's like, it's like the perfect one. Like, so I legitimately will be shocked if Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams are not the quarterback and coach of the Bears in 2035. I will be shocked by it.
- [41:53]
Colin Coward
This will probably go viral. So years ago, I forget who was doing this, but somebody ranked the best 30 dunks of all time and they eliminated the Vince Carter jumping over the Chinese national team center. We're going to take that one out because it automatically wins. You jumped over a seven foot man. And so somebody Took that out and started it. So I'm going to take Andy Reid out of this question because he's almost Belichickian now. It's sort of understood. It's silly. His resume is better, his play. So let's take Andy Reid out of this and let's go rank the coaches until we get to Ben Johnson. Okay, So I would go.
- [42:40]
Danny Parkins
Not going to take long.
- [42:41]
Colin Coward
So. Okay, I'm going to go. McVeigh1.
- [42:44]
Danny Parkins
That's fine. Shanahan, too.
- [42:48]
Colin Coward
Boy, Jim Harbaugh's good. Jim Harbaugh's good.
- [42:51]
Danny Parkins
Jim Harbaugh. Jim. Jim Harbaugh is. Jim Harbaugh is very good. And I know. I know you love him.
- [42:59]
Colin Coward
Okay, here's why Shanahan gets docked for me.
- [43:02]
Danny Parkins
Okay.
- [43:03]
Colin Coward
Why doesn't he come? Why is he bad second half trailing? Because he has the best play sheet in the league and he gets glued to his play sheet. He has the best. He is. That is the most sophisticated play sheet in the league and the best play caller. But there are certain things, you know, I always had my Aaron Rodgers theory. Why does he have so few come from behind wins in the fourth, fewer than Derek Carr. Why? Because Aaron's mood changes after a pick or two. He literally. His mood changes. You can see it. His body language changes. He has a bizarre few come from behind wins. He. I always said he's not a foxhole guy. He is a baller, but a little bit of a Baylor. Okay.
- [43:50]
Danny Parkins
Yeah, but, but, okay. Like, I. But I. I love this. So I want us to just like, stay on it. Like, the guy went to a Super bowl with Jimmy Garoppolo and Brock Purdy. I feel like it's like, that's the only argument I need. Like Kyle Shanahan, if you can go to a Super bowl with the last pick in the draft.
- [44:10]
Colin Coward
Okay, so I'm putting him third. You're putting him second.
- [44:13]
Danny Parkins
Yeah, okay, but. Okay, fine. Okay, but my. But my thing. Okay, so now Harbaugh. Harbaugh wins. Everywhere he goes. Everywhere is a great culture guy. Yeah. I don't know, man. I don't know. Like, Ben Johnson calls the plays.
- [44:35]
Colin Coward
Well, yeah, but can we. Can we have him go through a full season before.
- [44:40]
Danny Parkins
I'm just saying, like, Jim Harbaugh runs a little bit too much for my liking. Like, he kicks field goals a little too often for my liking. Okay, I'm just. I'm just saying, like, there's. It's just. It's a little. It. All I'm saying is we've reached the point of the list where I. We've reached the point of the list where you're going to at least get me to start making some arguments for my guy. Okay.
- [45:05]
Colin Coward
That. That's okay. So I'm like, McVeigh, Harbaugh, Shanahan's lack of second half comebacks bothers me. Shanahan, third, Mike Vrabel, four. Sean Payton. I would probably. I think Peyton's so good. And by the way, it's all inches here. To me. Like, I. It's inches, it's not feet.
- [45:26]
Danny Parkins
So I have a question about Mike Rabel.
- [45:28]
Colin Coward
Okay.
- [45:28]
Danny Parkins
I have a question about Mike Rabel. He wins in Tennessee with a political.
- [45:34]
Colin Coward
Bad ownership with, With.
- [45:37]
Danny Parkins
With Prime. Derrick Henry and A.J. brown.
- [45:41]
Colin Coward
Yeah. And Ryan Tannehill. I.
- [45:44]
Danny Parkins
Okay. But they had one great year and it ended poorly. And yes, there was politicking and all of that. He is clearly a smart coach. He is clearly. You know, he plays on the edges like Belichick. Like, he knows the rules backwards and forwards, which I really respect. Josh McDaniels is a top offensive coordinator. Like, how lucky is that? And maybe it's not luck, it's relationship and Patriots and all that stuff. But like, he has the best offensive coordinator situation you can have. Because it seems like Josh McDaniels can't be a head coach. Right. But he's clearly, like, if we were going to say best play callers in the game. And again, we're removing Andy Reid, like, Josh McDaniels is probably in the top five. Right. Like, he. Josh McDaniels is.
- [46:30]
Colin Coward
I think he's. I think he's probably. He and Brian Flores are the best coordinators in the game right now.
- [46:34]
Danny Parkins
Yeah. Well, so just like you gave him an incredible quarterback and an incredible play caller, and that incredible play caller won't leave because he can't be a head coach. I just. I'll just tell you this right now. I wouldn't trade Ben Johnson for Mike Rabel. Okay. That one. That one wouldn't be hard.
- [46:49]
Colin Coward
Okay, so the difference between you and I, I get to seven and I'm willing to consider Ben Johnson. So I go McVeigh, Jim Harbaugh, Shanahan, Peyton Vrabel and Mike McDonald. Mike McDonald took over. I think he's. I think he's McVeigh on the defensive side. So I get to seven and I could argue. I. I like Demiko Ryan's, but I do prefer offense over defense. I would go Ben Johnson seven, and then d', Amico, Ryan's eight, and then I'd probably go. I mean, we have to put Mike Tomlin in there because he goddamn one is division again. It's insane.
- [47:27]
Danny Parkins
So I would. I would. The.
- [47:29]
Colin Coward
Who am I missing now?
- [47:31]
Danny Parkins
Listen, you know, some people would say Matt LaFleur. I. He's. He's good. I would.
- [47:38]
Colin Coward
Good.
- [47:38]
Danny Parkins
I would take. I would take Ben Johnson over him. Listen, I think. I think not. It's. It's very early, but what Liam Cohen is doing in Jacksonville is very, very impressive.
- [47:48]
Colin Coward
I would like him to finish the season, but I agree.
- [47:51]
Danny Parkins
Yeah. I'm just saying, if I'm going to have Ben Johnson up there, like, what. Because I'm giving Liam Cohen a lot of credit for what Baker did. You know, so, like that.
- [47:58]
Colin Coward
Here's what's funny. Sean McDermott has a higher winning percentage than Andy Reid and Belichick. I'm. I'm at nine and I don't have Sean McDermott. That tells you the depth in coach.
- [48:08]
Danny Parkins
Yeah. And listen, and Nick Sirianni has, like, the highest win percentage ever. And everyone's like, yeah, but it's a super team. So, like, we can. We can parse some stuff here. Sean Payton's great. I would take Ben Johnson because of age. Like, I think you have him for longer. McDonald is incredible. And what. What the Seahawks did in that Week 18 game against the Niners.
- [48:30]
Colin Coward
Oh, it was one of the more. It's amazing. It was only 13 to 3 because it felt 30 to 3. And that. That is the knock I have on Seattle is that they physically dominate teams. And in the last six weeks, you're like, I feel like you left 14 points on the.
- [48:48]
Danny Parkins
Yeah.
- [48:48]
Colin Coward
On the floor.
- [48:49]
Danny Parkins
Yeah, that. I mean, that. JSN is 40% of their offense. And you fully trust their, like, I mean, they clearly sometimes call plays to hide Darnold making mistakes. They'll like, snap, throw like one read throws like, they'll like roll them out left and look back right, and there's one and it's like, throw it to him or throw it away. So they. They. They clearly don't fully trust Darnold, even though they say everything publicly. Like, their actions and their play calling when he gets a little shaky. Suggested. But yeah, McDonald doing that. I mean, we looked it up on the show. Fewest yards ever for a Kyle Shanahan offense since he'd been the head coach in San Francisco. Fewest rushing yards for McCaffrey since he got with Shanahan. And tied for the fewest points for Shanahan since he had been in San Francisco since His first game, Shanahan's first game in San Francisco in 2017. They scored three points and then they held him to three points when they had been the number one offense in football since week 11. When Purdy came back, they were averaging 35 a game. They play a must win game against the division opponent they know and they get held to 174 yards in three points. So yeah, McDonald is excellent. Like he. To me, the coach of the year this year is fascinating. Vrabel, Ben Johnson, Liam Cohen, McDonald's Shanahan with all the injuries, there's, you know, Peyton obviously getting the 1 seed. There's. There's big names, there's history. Guys. McDonald probably, I think, I think he deserves it this year. And that's over by guy Ben Johnson. Yeah. Cause I don't like giving it to just the guy who improves the most with the wins because Vrabel's the favorite and everyone thinks Vrabel's going to win it. But now they have that assistant coach of the year award which I would give to McDaniels.
- [50:36]
Colin Coward
What makes Seattle scary is they have. It's the trifecta. They have a highly productive quarterback check on a very team friendly deal. Second check. And they don't miss on draft picks. Third check. Yeah, so that was their secret sauce with Russell. So Pete. So they had this third round pick, Russell, that was highly productive. And Pete's first three years out of college they were finding, you know, Cam Chancellor and Richard Sherman and I mean they were hitting on fifth and sixth round picks. So it reminds me of a little bit. And that was a strong run game. An athletic quarterback who never really, you know, a lot of the analysts and the. Greg Cosell like was never a Russell guy and he tended. Tends to be right on that stuff. So yeah, I mean it's, it's. Seattle's got it. That's a dangerous, That's a dangerous space. Highly productive quarterback, not paying him a ton. And they do not miss on draft picks. Their last nine in the first or second round. It's nine for nine. That, that's.
- [51:45]
Danny Parkins
Yeah, I saw, I saw you put that graphic up on the show the other day. I was mad at you that I didn't do it first.
- [51:50]
Colin Coward
It's crazy.
- [51:51]
Danny Parkins
Yeah, yeah, it was, it was very, it was very good. So. Yeah, listen, I, it's the coaching. They. A lot of them get fired. Right? We got what, seven openings right now. So you can still, you can still hire one and have a huge mess, you know, and it can Go. Like I remember you and I disagreed. You liked the Pete Carroll higher. I didn't. But I fully admitted to you that a little bit of that was ageism. Well, I was super skeptical.
- [52:20]
Colin Coward
I thought it was a stabilizing. I still picked them for fourth. Like, I didn't think they'd be any good. I just didn't think they'd be the worst team offensively in, you know, bordering on, in 10 years.
- [52:33]
Danny Parkins
Yeah. And listen, and again, like I fully, I don't want to be ageist, but like if you're trying to coach 22 to 32 year old men and you're trying to compete with like MIT Sloan analytics type people and like the game is changing in sports and sports medicine and sports science and go forward on fourth and go for two down eight when you cut the lead from 14 to eight because of this, this, like, you know, I, I, I tend to be biased towards like the younger people who buy into it. And so I just, I think Ben Johnson is, he's just, he's that guy. Like, I'm just, I'm just, I'm positive of it.
- [53:08]
Colin Coward
Yeah.
- [53:08]
Danny Parkins
And I'll be, I'll be floored. I don't even know like, what would the example be of someone that you would say that like you thought was the boy one, like Mike McDaniel maybe.
- [53:25]
Colin Coward
I never, I was, I never bought into him.
- [53:28]
Danny Parkins
Yeah. And by the way, he's still there. Like I, I think Mike McDaniel is a pretty good coach because he's, because of, if you can, if you have a quarterback who can't throw the ball downfield and he can't see over the offensive line and you still are a effective offense when he's out there, I'm like, hey, you're probably a pretty good play caller. You probably run a pretty good offense.
- [53:50]
Colin Coward
As I've said before, keeping two and Mike McDaniel for a year is not crazy. You got to pay 2 anyway. I mean, just, just, just, I mean, listen, I always thought Greer, the general manager, I never could understand this. So let's, I mean, you draft Tua, then you draft Jalen Waddle. You've got your deep threat. Tua's not a deep ball arm. It's very, I mean his comp was Drew Brees. So we're going to get, we're going to give up all sorts of draft capital and we're going to get the fastest guy we've already got Waddle. And oh, by the way, we're going to mostly ignore the offensive line. With a quarterback with injury history and have the worst backup situation in the line. None of that's Mike McDaniel. None of that's Mike McDaniel's fault. None of it.
- [54:36]
Danny Parkins
No, I agree. I agree completely. And not to like talk too much, Dolphins, but my point was more like when the young guy comes on the scene and you just like, normally you can be like, oh, yeah, that's McVeigh, that's Shanahan, and I think that's Ben Johnson. Like, I did not crown Jaden Daniels the way everyone else crowned them. I did not crown CJ Stroud the way everyone else crowned him. After their. Yeah, after their breakout years. I thought it was, I thought they were obviously impressive. I thought I said Daniels was the best I'd ever seen, but like, I wasn't ready to say he was going to be a top five quarterback for 10 years. Drake May, I think, is different. Yeah. Like I, I think Drake May, I will be shocked if he isn't a top 10 quarterback for the next decade. Like, I think, I think he's, he passes it by my scout's eye, if you will. Like, he passes it for me. So I think sometimes I just trust that you can see it with the young guys like coach and quarterback. And I think that Ben Johnson is a yes and Drake May is a yes. And by the way, I think, I think Caleb is a yes too, by the way.
- [55:37]
Colin Coward
Yeah. You know the Mike McDaniel thing, I think Nick Wright said this too, is the media loved him because he looks like the media.
- [55:44]
Danny Parkins
Yeah. I was totally guilty of that. I will fully admit that. Yeah, I thought he, he had funny quirks.
- [55:50]
Colin Coward
Snarky. Yeah.
- [55:52]
Danny Parkins
Yeah. Yes. And smart.
- [55:54]
Colin Coward
Yeah.
- [55:55]
Danny Parkins
Clearly smart. Sarcastic. Yeah. I fully admit that that was a thing for me.
- [55:59]
Colin Coward
Yeah, it's. Tom Tesco told me this years ago. He said, you're really hiring a CEO. He goes, if you get schemes, what a bonus. He goes, but there's not that many Andy Reid's and Kyle Shanahan. He goes, you're really hiring a CEO like Vrabel, Jim and John Harbaugh again? Sean Payton's rare. He can do schemes and personnel. But I mean, really what you want is a walk around guy that builds a culture that's really the key to all this stuff. And that's where I thought McDaniels would miss. I mean, he's, he, he's, he's a small guy. He's not. He's funny, but he's kind of odd at the podium. He stutters. He doesn't make eye contact. And I'm like, boy, that's a hard sell in a room on a Monday after a tough loss. Like, I'm not sure that works. But to your point, he's not the problem there. I don't think he's the primary issue.
- [56:47]
Danny Parkins
No, I. And I, like, if he got fired, I'd want, you know, like, if Brian Flores got a head coaching job and he got to hire Mike McDaniel as his offensive coordinator, be like, oh, that's. That could.
- [56:59]
Colin Coward
Here's what's funny. Flores was kind of thought of as a jerk. I would hire Brian Flores in one second. McDaniels is beloved as one of the nicest guys. I would never give him a second head coaching job. Like, in the end, football's harsh. Like, there is. There is that argument that, like, Kurt Signetti has never smiled. Like, the guys that smile. Pete Carroll smiles a lot on the sideline. Kurt Signetti does not smile. Ben Johnson does not smile. Kyle Shanahan, I mean, it is. There's just something to be said about. Football's hard. Football coaching's hard. And it's. It is a. Can be a very miserable experience. And if I get, you know, Jerry Glanville, Sam Weiss, they were too damn good at the podium. They were just too good at the podium for me.
- [57:47]
Danny Parkins
Well, but like, but then Tomlin is incredible at the podium.
- [57:50]
Colin Coward
He's the best in the history of football. He's the. There's not a second place.
- [57:55]
Danny Parkins
Yeah, he is. He's. He's incredible at it. And if he loses to Houston, the seven straight playoff losses going back to 2016, for him, like, Tomlin, to me, is a weird one to evaluate. Obviously, from what you're talking about, the CEO.
- [58:14]
Colin Coward
Well, there's something. I think what he is. I think he does some things extraordinarily well. Like, he's really good. I mean, he's always done this. If you give him a Monday night game, it's a big stage. He has an extra day. He really can sell to a team. Like, I think they're going to give. I think they can beat Houston. I honestly do. I think Mike is one of the great motivators. I mean, if you told me one coach gets out of coaching, two coaches get out of coaching and become huge motivational speakers, I would say McVeigh, Tomlin, they're just unbelievable. Like, they just. As a guy, I would run through a wall for McVeigh and Tomlin, whereas Shanahan is like a mad scientist. I don't Know if I'd run through a wall, but I'd be like, God, that guy's brilliant. I think Ben Johnson has got a little bit of that McVeigh Tomlin thing where it's like, boy, he's a. You'd run through a wall. I watched those post game speeches. I'm like, man, that is effective. That works.
- [59:14]
Danny Parkins
Yeah, they've. I mean, I've talked to players on the team. Like, they've, like, one guy told me, he's like, I kind of thought it was corny the first time I heard it, and then by the third time I heard it, I thought it was like, you know, it was like the scene in. In Braveheart. Like, you know what? It's like there is something to what that is, what that ability is in him. And yeah, you know, Ben Johnson is, again, he's. It's the best of both worlds. He's. I mean, he ripped his shirt off.
- [59:41]
Colin Coward
In the locker room and it played and it wasn't corny.
- [59:45]
Danny Parkins
Oh, they all loved it and the city loved it and the whole thing. And so, yeah, like, he. I think. I think Ben Johnson's both. And yeah, Mike Tomlin is. He's an incredible 11 out of 10 leader and speaker who teams give up 38 a game in these playoff losses and he can't find an offensive coordinator and he can't find a quarterback on your 40.
- [60:08]
Colin Coward
I know.
- [60:09]
Danny Parkins
Like, you know what I mean? Like, so, like, there's high floor, low ceiling. Right? High floor, low.
- [60:13]
Colin Coward
Maybe that's it. Yeah.
- [60:15]
Danny Parkins
Yeah. And. But no, but by the way, if you told me, like, if, if they, if they did the mutual parting of ways thing and Mike Tomlin got to go coach Cincinnati, I'd be like, oh, well, that. I mean, they're going to win. Super.
- [60:34]
Colin Coward
Oh, I would. I said this on the air. I would hire him in Miami in 30 seconds.
- [60:39]
Danny Parkins
I'm just saying, if you gave him a. If you gave him a quarterback. Yeah. Like, if you told me Mike Tomlin has a top 10 quarterback.
- [60:46]
Colin Coward
Okay, let's say McDermott loses, fired. Mike goes to Allen. That's a Super Bowl.
- [60:52]
Danny Parkins
Immediately. Immediately.
- [60:54]
Colin Coward
Yeah.
- [60:55]
Danny Parkins
Yeah. Like, so I'm not, like, when, when I criticize Tomlin, it's not. I don't think he's a great football.
- [61:00]
Colin Coward
Exactly.
- [61:01]
Danny Parkins
He's obviously a great football coach.
- [61:03]
Colin Coward
Right.
- [61:04]
Danny Parkins
It's just, I would. I. The things that he has not been.
- [61:08]
Colin Coward
Able to do, he can't fix the run game. It's like, it's eight years.
- [61:14]
Danny Parkins
Fix the run game, find a quarterback. Find an offensive coordinator. Like, he doesn't have a coaching tree. It's just, you know, it's like he is a great football coach that, like, would win state championships in high school, like, you know, because he's just a great motivator. But, like, that can clearly take you far. Ish. Because it's football.
- [61:37]
Colin Coward
I think that's what you said. Incredibly high floor. But I think as the game has shifted to offense, it does feel like his ceiling over the last 10 years because it's like 18 years ago they won the super bowl over Arizona. It does feel like over the, the last 18 years he was a high, ceiling, high floor guy. Now he's a high floor guy and it feels like the ceiling has come down a little bit.
- [62:01]
Danny Parkins
Yeah, absolutely. And like, not that it ever was a shot of it working, but like, if Kenny Pickett would have been awesome, then the Steelers would be awesome. Yeah, but, but they're too good to draft high to get a real prospect. And quarterbacks don't generally leave in free agency unless they're super flawed or 40, you know, and so it's like, okay, what, what are you going to do? How are you going to get Mike Tomlin a great quarterback in Pittsburgh? How are you going to do it? Because he's not able to do it.
- [62:29]
Colin Coward
Well, you do it next year because that draft with Arch Manning, potentially, Dante Moore, the kid at Texas Tech that just transferred, next year's draft could have seven first round quarterbacks.
- [62:39]
Danny Parkins
Well, there you go.
- [62:40]
Colin Coward
There you go. That's when you go get them.
- [62:42]
Danny Parkins
Yeah. Yeah, there you. There you go. But so congratulations on another year of 10 and 7.
- [62:49]
Colin Coward
And I, I'm, I really feel I'm watching that and I'm like, Gainwell, DK Metcalf, Friarmouth, Jalen, Warren. Aaron doesn't make mistakes or throw picks.
- [63:02]
Danny Parkins
I'm like, yeah, the only thing is the only thing.
- [63:08]
Colin Coward
Houston doesn't score in the red zone. They're a bad red zone team.
- [63:11]
Danny Parkins
I don't, I don't trust Stroud as much as you do.
- [63:13]
Colin Coward
I like him a lot, but he, they're. They're just a bad red zone offense.
- [63:18]
Danny Parkins
Yeah, I just, But Aaron doesn't want to be hit. True. And, and there's Daniel Hunter and Will Anderson.
- [63:27]
Colin Coward
I know.
- [63:28]
Danny Parkins
You know, and like, so I just, like now their offensive line isn't as bad as the Chargers, but like the Texans are. I think the Texans are the team that no one wants to play because that's just a problem for. Not that they're again, their Offense is bad, but, like, it's just. That's a mismatch for every team.
- [63:46]
Colin Coward
The other thing about Houston, it's such an indictment on Belichick. So Nick Casario is in New England for years, and they cannot draft, like, receivers and tight ends. He goes to Houston and he is the. You know, he finds Woody Marks and Tank Dell and it's like, oh, yeah, like, Houston's actually been one of the better drafting teams in the league for like three years. The guy in New England, New England was the last six years of Belichick, they were an absolutely atrocious drafting team on offense. Atrocious. The guy who was in the building goes to Houston, and now he's just finding guys in the sixth round in your life. So that's another reason. Like Belichick, old defensive guy. You, like, just go look at Houston's drafting. Why couldn't they draft for, like, the last six years of Belichick? Because Belichick, I was told this for years. You get to January and Bill would call off the scouting department. I'll take it from here. It's like, boom.
- [64:47]
Danny Parkins
Yeah.
- [64:47]
Colin Coward
All right, Danny Parkins. Good talking, buddy.
- [64:50]
Danny Parkins
Yeah. The hour flies by, as always. I went 06 down the stretch, picking games on TV to lose the picks contest to Nick Wright. So I've got to go. I've got to get hot for the playoffs.
- [64:59]
Colin Coward
So I went 3 and 2 to close 60% on the year.
- [65:03]
Danny Parkins
That's great.
- [65:04]
Colin Coward
I felt good. A lot of people said that. The lines, I was. I was. You know, that's what happens. The wind blows harder at the top of the mountain. Yeah.
- [65:15]
Danny Parkins
Listen, I do. I maybe notice that you do a bit of line shopping, you know, but again, you're. You're Colin Coward.
- [65:25]
Colin Coward
Oh, come on.
- [65:26]
Danny Parkins
You can say no. That's how the pros do it. You think you're only. You're only betting at one place. You get to. You get to shop around for the best half point value.
- [65:34]
Colin Coward
That's what we do.
- [65:35]
Danny Parkins
That's how. That's how it works. That's how it works. Good for you, man. Happy for you.
- [65:39]
Colin Coward
All right, buddy.
- [65:40]
Danny Parkins
All right, man. I'll see you.
- [65:43]
Colin Coward
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- [66:47]
Danny Parkins
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