Colin Cowherd Podcast - Josh Allen Is Superhuman, College Football Playoff Set, Darnold Dazzles, Jets Next Head Coach?

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd Episode: Colin Cowherd Podcast - Josh Allen Is Superhuman, College Football Playoff Set, Darnold Dazzles, Jets Next Head Coach?
Release Date: December 9, 2024
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

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Introduction

In this episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, host Colin Cowherd engages in an in-depth discussion with former NFL scout John Middlekauff. The conversation spans a wide array of topics, including standout NFL performances, coaching dynamics, team prospects, and the intricacies of the College Football Playoff system. The duo provides expert analysis, shares notable insights, and offers predictions that cater to both avid sports enthusiasts and casual listeners.

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NFL Game Analysis

Rams vs. Bills: A Battle of Titans
The episode opens with an analysis of the recent game between the Los Angeles Rams and the Buffalo Bills. John Middlekauff critiques the Bills' defensive strategy, highlighting a pivotal moment at the game's end where defensive lapses almost cost the Bills the victory.

• Notable Quote:
  Middlekauff (00:55:15): "This is one of the things I don't love, defensive coaches and sometimes a lack of sense of urgency with the offense."

Josh Allen’s Superhuman Performance
Colin Cowherd praises Bills' quarterback Josh Allen, dubbing his performance as "superhuman" due to his unprecedented achievement of three rushing and three passing touchdowns in a single game—the first quarterback in NFL history to do so.

• Notable Quote:
  Cowherd (04:20): "Josh Allen, first player in the history of the sport as a quarterback to have three rushing and three passing touchdowns in the same game."

Player Spotlight

Sam Darnold: Rising Star
The discussion shifts to Sam Darnold's impressive performance, positioning him as a top-tier quarterback in the league. Both hosts express confidence in Darnold's potential, comparing him favorably against established quarterbacks like Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith.

• Notable Quote:
  Middlekauff (30:38): "Sam Darnold's 68% accuracy this season is phenomenal. He’s in the top three quarterback class in the league right now."

Critique of Other Quarterbacks
Baker Mayfield is criticized for his recklessness and inconsistency, while Geno Smith is acknowledged for his leadership despite his limitations.

• Notable Quote:
  Cowherd (29:22): "Baker's reckless. He lives for the chip on his shoulder. You can't coach that out of him."

Team Analysis

Buffalo Bills: High Hopes and Challenges
The Bills are lauded for their strong leadership and offensive prowess but are cautioned about their defensive vulnerabilities and upcoming tough schedules.

• Notable Quote:
  Middlekauff (09:10): "They should be able to sleepwalk to go three and back down the stretch. But we'll have to see."

Los Angeles Rams: Playoff Contenders
The Rams' current form is praised, though questions remain about their consistency and defensive lineup. The possibility of them sneaking into the playoffs is discussed, with Middlekauff warning of potential challenges.

• Notable Quote:
  Cowherd (04:20): "The Rams are now seven and six. With Arizona fumbling, San Francisco feels a big win today for them."

New York Jets: Coaching Conundrum
A significant portion is dedicated to the Jets' search for their next head coach. Both hosts advocate for Rex Ryan, citing his ability to instigate cultural change and handle media pressure effectively.

• Notable Quote:
  Middlekauff (45:32): "I think the next head coach of the Jets is going to be Rex Ryan. He gives them a presence."

Chicago Bears: Desperate for a Culture Change
The Bears' dismal performance is dissected, emphasizing the urgent need for a culture changer rather than just a tactical football coach. Vrabel is suggested as a viable candidate to revitalize the franchise.

• Notable Quote:
  Cowherd (12:07): "They need to get a culture changer, not just a football coach. That's why Ben Johnson's not the answer."

College Football Playoff

Alabama vs. SMU: A Controversial Selection
The hosts debate the selection criteria for the College Football Playoff, questioning the inclusion of Alabama despite their loss to a subpar Oklahoma team. SMU's deserving run is also highlighted, raising concerns about the fairness and structure of the playoff system.

• Notable Quote:
  Cowherd (50:18): "I think the committee wanted Alabama because I do think Alabama moves the needle more when you have them playing."

SEC Dominance and Conference Imbalance
John Middlekauff points out the SEC's overwhelming influence on the playoff selections, suggesting that other conferences like the Big Ten and ACC might struggle to have their top teams fairly represented.

• Notable Quote:
  Middlekauff (52:23): "The SEC ratings have been insane. We're carrying the popularity of this sport as a conference."

Potential Playoff Surprises
Teams like Oregon, Penn State, and Tennessee are discussed as potential dark horses in the playoff, each with unique strengths and vulnerabilities that could disrupt the traditional powerhouses.

• Notable Quote:
  Cowherd (54:25): "Tennessee is the sleeper national championship pick. Their defensive line is really good."

Draft Order and Prospects

Impending NFL Draft Picks
The conversation covers potential draft picks for struggling teams like the Raiders and Giants, focusing on key positions such as quarterback and offensive tackle. The importance of securing top talent to rebuild is emphasized.

• Notable Quote:
  Cowherd (43:19): "Raiders are likely to take Shadow Sanders, and the Giants might go after Darnold or Cam Ward."

Coaching Dynamics

Successful Coaches: Building Culture Over Schemes
The hosts compare coaches who have successfully turned around their teams by focusing on culture rather than complex schemes. Examples include Dan Campbell and Jim Harbaugh, who are praised for their leadership and ability to inspire players.

• Notable Quote:
  Middlekauff (19:28): "Dan Campbell and Jim Harbaugh are great examples of coaches who change the culture."

Vrabel vs. Ben Johnson
Vrabel is favored over Ben Johnson for teams needing a robust cultural change, with Vrabel's leadership and player rapport being key factors in his selection.

• Notable Quote:
  Cowherd (16:58): "I'm going to build the team. I'm going to build the culture, the vision. Ben Johnson, a lot of guys."

Transfer Portal and NIL in College Football

Impact on Team Stability and Competitive Balance
The episode delves into how the transfer portal and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) policies are destabilizing college football teams. Frequent player movements are making it difficult for teams to maintain consistent rosters, thereby affecting overall team performance.

• Notable Quote:
  Cowherd (74:59): "The transfer portal has done this to college football. The minute you think you're loaded, you lose everything."

Recruitment Challenges and Player Development
John Middlekauff discusses the challenges coaches face in developing players amidst constant transfers and the shifting dynamics of team rosters.

• Notable Quote:
  Middlekauff (70:22): "Players are bouncing left and right, and you're never going to develop as you used to."

Additional NFL Updates

Dolphins vs. Jets: A Thrilling Overtime Battle
The Dolphins' overtime victory over the Jets is analyzed, with a focus on Aaron Rodgers' exceptional performance. The implications for the Jets' future, especially regarding their quarterback situation, are debated.

• Notable Quote:
  Cowherd (43:19): "Aaron Rodgers played his best game this year with 39 pass yards and 27 touchdowns."

Concluding Thoughts

The episode wraps up with final thoughts on the NFL and college football landscapes, emphasizing the need for strategic coaching hires and the evolving nature of player development and team dynamics in both professional and collegiate arenas.

• Notable Quote:
  Middlekauff (75:50): "Winning in the NFL is hard. Hiring Morgan and Morgan is easy."

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Notable Quotes and Timestamps

• (00:55:15) Middlekauff: "This is one of the things I don't love, defensive coaches and sometimes a lack of sense of urgency with the offense."
• (04:20) Cowherd: "Josh Allen, first player in the history of the sport as a quarterback to have three rushing and three passing touchdowns in the same game."
• (30:38) Middlekauff: "Sam Darnold's 68% accuracy this season is phenomenal. He’s in the top three quarterback class in the league right now."
• (45:32) Middlekauff: "I think the next head coach of the Jets is going to be Rex Ryan. He gives them a presence."
• (50:18) Cowherd: "I think the committee wanted Alabama because I do think Alabama moves the needle more when you have them playing."
• (74:59) Cowherd: "The transfer portal has done this to college football. The minute you think you're loaded, you lose everything."
• (75:50) Middlekauff: "Winning in the NFL is hard. Hiring Morgan and Morgan is easy."

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and expert analyses presented by Colin Cowherd and John Middlekauff in the specified episode. From exceptional player performances and strategic coaching decisions to the evolving challenges in college football, listeners are provided with a nuanced understanding of the current sports landscape.

Transcript

[Jon Stewart]

Jon Stewart is back in the host chair at the Daily show, which means he's also back in our ears on the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. Join late night legend Jon Stewart and the best news team for today's biggest headlines, exclusive extended interviews and more. Now, this is the second term we can all get behind. Listen to the Daily Show Ears edition on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

Had enough of this country? Ever dreamt about starting your own?

[John Middlekauff]

I planted the flag.

[Colin Cowherd]

This is mine.

[John Middlekauff]

I own this.

[Colin Cowherd]

It's surprisingly easy.

[John Middlekauff]

55 gallons of water, 500 pounds of concrete.

[Colin Cowherd]

Or maybe not.

[John Middlekauff]

No country willingly gives up their territory. Oh my God.

[Colin Cowherd]

What is that? Bullets?

[John Middlekauff]

Listen to Escape from Zakistan.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's Escape from Zaq istan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. The volume our week 14 reaction is presented by Uber Eats. Get game day deals all season long on Uber Eats. Used them today. There you go, baby. I went, had friends over at the house, got McDonald's, several chicken sandwiches, some french fries. Fantastic as always. It's easy enough to take care of at UberEats. Hop onto their app, order up whatever you're craving. UberEats has game day deliveries dialed in. Couldn't be easier. Use it every weekend. Plus they got deals going all season long. Uber Eats it is. My regular. Go to McDonald's was fantastic as well. One for me, maybe one for the crew. With Uber Eats you can actually score. Buy one. Get one free fries with McDonald's through December 15th. That's what I did. Ordering Uber Eats. Perfect addition to your pregame ritual or your post game ritual anytime. And as the official on demand food delivery partner of the NFL, Uber Eats is keeping the deals going all season. Must grab deals on nuggets, sandwiches, drinks and more all season long. So order McDonald's on Uber Eats now for game day terms. Apply. See app for details. All right, it's time for our Sunday collaboration. John M. Former NFL scout with the Philadelphia Eagles, has a three and out podcast. Rams hold on to beat the bills 44:42 Before I talk about the game, there was a really interesting play at the very end of the game. It did not cost the Bills the game, but I thought Tom Brady touched on it and it drove me crazy. This is one of the things I don't love, defensive coaches and sometimes a lack of sense of urgency with the offense. So there was about a minute 15 left and Brady kind of nailed it. Spread your team out. Take three quick Shots into the end zone, get a touchdown. You want to have about a minute 20 left, drive down and score. And then Sean McDermott twice ran the ball into the end zone, which he had to burn. One of his own timeouts the second one they scored on. And it's just situational football. It didn't in the end matter, but that was like one of those, oh, this is really obvious. I think the Andy reeds, McVeighs, Shanahans would get that. That drove me nuts. Did it bother you?

[John Middlekauff]

No, I. To me, when you're in that situation, when you need the onside kick at the end of the game, I basically in my mind give you a loss. I just. It doesn't bother me like that game was lost early in the game when the bill showed up really flat. Yeah, no, they showed up like today was. They showed up today like it was a trap game. Yeah, right. Sunday night they win the division, which it's about as early as you can win a division in the NFL. December 1, right. You fly across the country to play the Rams, who aren't some scrub team, but you got the Lions next week and you come out flat. And it took a herculean effort from Josh just to get back into the game. And for whatever reason, your defense, which has been really good, was bad today. I mean they were getting slice and dice and let's face it, McVeigh, Matt Stafford, these two guys, offensive wizard, great quarterback, both make a lot of money. They have not been that good for about a month. This was not the Rams team that we have been watching. Right. They have not been played well on offense. Now their offensive lines coming back together. But today I thought they went toe to toe, I thought with the best player in the league.

[Colin Cowherd]

I thought it was the best the Rams have played since the super bowl season. I thought they played nearly a flawless football game. The fact that Buffalo scored so many points. Josh Allen, first player in the history of the sport as a quarterback to have three rushing and three passing touchdowns in the same game. If you did not see this game, it may be the single greatest. I don't think I've ever seen a moment of a player carrying a franchise. The secondary for the Bills was banged up and torched. They came in with no juice. He single handedly kept them in the game with running play. Not just, not just casual running plays, not 6, 8 yards, like 25, 35, 40 yard running plays. I mean Mahomes has all the trophies. Mahomes is not as talented as Josh Allen. Josh Allen's insane. And I thought this was a, you know, Puka's had injury issues. So is Cooper cup and they're going to draft a receiver. I'm pretty strongly a believer of that, but it shows you why. The Rams are now seven and six. And with Arizona fumbling, San Francisco feels big win today for them, but feels like they're just a little disjointed. If the Rams sneak into the playoffs, John, watch out because I would have no interest playing this team.

[John Middlekauff]

Well, to me, Thursday night they play the Niners. So they could kind of end the Niners season, right? They could end the Niner season. They would be 8 and 6 and they would be in position Seattle. If Mike McDonald was an offensive coach, we'd be talking about him like a McVeigh or Shannon. But he coaches defense. He's done a fantastic job job. But this is must win for really the. The Niners, you know, aren't really alive. And they lost another player today. At the end of the game, their running back got hurt. So now they're on their seventh running back. But the Rams. This goes back to last year when Puka plays like this. He had 12 for 160. He becomes, you know, essentially he becomes like a Marvin Harrison or a Chris Carter or, you know, Justin. He becomes an unstoppable force. They are tough to beat because I was texting with some buddies this week. Jared Verse and Fisk are so good. Yeah, those. Those two draft picks are immediately people around the league. They're violent because he's like. I was texting with a buddy who's like, you know, their. Their talent on defense isn't that great, but their defensive line is violent.

[Colin Cowherd]

Excellent.

[John Middlekauff]

And it starts with those two guys. And a lot of people thought like, is Fisk a little bit of an overdraft? You know, Verse, will his power translate? It's translated, yeah. And those two guys are ass kickers. To me, it's all about Puka who they had to wrap at the end of the game. Now he came back in something to monitor now, short week, but the other thing and you hit on it. We have a lot of these arguments, I think on social media. And just when we talk about Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, I understand Lamar has a couple MVPs. Now. Last year's MVP was not a great MVP season. Like, if you look at his numbers, he had a much better season in 19. Statistically, up until a couple of weeks ago, he was blowing that season away. This year, Josh Allen is one of the best players ever. Any Sport I've ever.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes.

[John Middlekauff]

Like, how are we arguing when we watch this guy play? Like, yeah. Does he throw a couple of picks? Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

So did Favre, by the way.

[John Middlekauff]

What are we talking about?

[Colin Cowherd]

He is, to me, Ohtani. He is different than the other great players like Ohtani. Mookie Betts is amazing, but he looks small compared to Ohtani because he is. I mean, it has an Ohtani feel. Like, wow, you may be watching, you may be watching the greatest talent ever. I mean, John Elway ran. He didn't do this. John Elway was strong. He wasn't this. John Elway had a good arm. I'm not sure it was this like. And again, we all acknowledge Mahomes, but Mahomes has Reed great ownership. I mean, everything is Patrick's terrific. But what I watch today, I mean, just here's the thing I worry about with Buffalo. Kansas City never delivers that Kansas City, when they show up with no juice. Now this did happen early in Mahomes career, they'd fall behind 24 to 10 and you'd be like, oh my God. But in the last three years, Kansas City does not do this. You can beat them, you can beat them at Arrowhead, but they rarely come with no juice. And that's a team with two trophies. Buffalo doesn't have one. And it worries me at times like the first half was 24:14. The Rams did whatever they wanted to. Kyron Williams ran Pooker Cup. I mean they just did whatever they wanted to. I mean it was like eight man football for Buffalo. It's like, is anybody guarding the receivers? That does trouble me. They were on about a four or five week run where I had not seen this. But don't they give you this about four times a year?

[John Middlekauff]

Yeah, and they've been doing it now for a couple of years, but then they bounce back, you know. Next week they're playing Detroit, who still, I would imagine even with the mini buy still going to have a bunch of injuries. Like that's a pretty big moment for Buffalo because Colin, they finish with Patriots, Jets. Patriots.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

So they should be able to sleepwalk to go three and oh down the stretch. But we'll have to see. You know, Kansas City still got a couple tough games. Every game they play is close. I don't think this totally kills Buffalo from the number one seed. Cause if you look at Pittsburgh's last four games, it's like Philly, Baltimore.

[Colin Cowherd]

Oh, brutal.

[John Middlekauff]

They got a tough, they got a tough schedule. So to me, Buffalo, their schedule eases up and I think we're going to learn a lot about them with Detroit because we already know about Detroit. Right. Their competitive character, their makeup. You can never write them off. They could be throwing me and you out there on defense. But today was. The first half was embarrassing for Buffalo. That can't happen if you want to win a Super bowl. And they're not, even when healthy, are talented enough to just cruise by. No, their defense is not loaded with names on the back end.

[Colin Cowherd]

Once you pay your star quarterback. Kansas City has offensive tackle issues. They're still trying to figure out, frankly, their receiving core, they're not as good at corner as they were last year. Like it's, it's there. Once you pay the quarterback, you're. I mean, right now, Baltimore's back end Joe Burrow's defense is atrocious. If you look at Stafford, let's be honest about it, the offensive line, it feels like they're playing catch up with the Rams the last several years. They, they, they don't pay a single person right now. On the defensive side, they can't afford to. So I just, I think it really. That's why coaching and quarterback play, John, is so essential. In January, December and early February, there are no perfect teams. They're just. You can't. In the transfer portal, by the way, has done this to college football in the nl the minute you think you're loaded, you lose all like an Ohio State can't carry three great tackles because somebody poaches the best tackle they have. That's not starting. So like in college football, the, the unintended benefit of, of the transfer portal in NIL is there's no more Alabamas. That's over. Like there's just too many teams here. And when I watch the NFL, you're like quarterback play and coaching obviously matters, but there are. Coaching becomes essential because I mean, you watch Buffalo in the back end today. Baltimore's back end. Jesus, it's. Those are bad secondaries.

[John Middlekauff]

The, the one thing with Buffalo and same thing with Baltimore when their offense is on. I mean, they scored, they flipped a SW second half, they can get to 40. How many teams. I mean, Stafford is one of the better quarterbacks of his generation. Puka looks like clearly when he's healthy, one of the best wide receivers. How many teams are beating Buffalo when they flip that switch in the second half? There's a short list. Yeah, I mean, and you, you, you're going to have to have a Stafford or a Lamar or a guy like that to beat them when they are Playing like that on offense.

[Colin Cowherd]

Stafford. Josh Stafford's last month 120 passer rating, 11 touchdowns, no picks. Stafford's on a complete heater. And I think, honestly, he was a little.

[John Middlekauff]

They're getting healthy.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, the old Lions getting healthy. It's time to look at this weekend's tastiest matchup, Sunday Night Football, brought to you by Uber Eats. Okay, I want to pivot to a game now. It's not the second best game, but I think it speaks. I think it speaks to. The Bears are a fascinating topic. So they lost 38, 13, and it was the worst first half any team has played in the NFL this year. It was. It was bordered on, like Carolina and their offense last year. So at half, they had 12 yards and a first down. But what was interesting to me is generally you get an interim head coach bump. They didn't even get that. It was their worst performance with an interim coach. Total disarray as a franchise. Four yards in the first half, fewest by a Bears team since 1991. So they. They're just running through coaches and they're getting no bounce. So my question to you as we start with the Bears and then pivot to the Niners, who have to win Thursday or the season's over, is to me, you need a culture changer, not just a football coach. That's why Ben Johnson's not the answer. You have to come in. Somebody's going to come in and kick ass. I think you have to swing big. You have to go big. Harbaugh should have been it last year. Who are we putting front and center in the coaching search? Because you and I would both acknowledge we don't love the owner. We don't. Kevin Warren's not a strong president. If you ask people around the league, the front office, Ryan, polls, I think there are moments I like him. Coaching staff's in disarray. Players today indicated they don't trust this staff. Where do you go for a coach?

[John Middlekauff]

Well, normally with interim coaches, really quick, Colin, you get a bump because you messed with the staff. They had already done that when they fired Waldron and made the interim head coach the offensive coordinator. So he actually got, in a weird way, diminished because he had to have more stuff on his plate. And clearly the offense was a joke in the first half. To me, Vrabel makes a lot of sense.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes.

[John Middlekauff]

Like, they need one thing. When you watch Dan Campbell, when you took over the Lions, it was a job where you go, you can't do this, man. It ain't going to work. It's, it's. This is not going to happen here. And he basically said, screw you. It sure as hell is. And he had that type personnel.

[Colin Cowherd]

And they have poor ownership too. Like the, like the Bears. They have below average ownership.

[John Middlekauff]

I would say the Bears have a more glamorous franchise in city than the Lions. They're really not that. They're much closer together than they are close to the Vikings and the Packers.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's right.

[John Middlekauff]

Right. So I. You need to get a guy who comes in. But this is the problem, Colin. It gets back to Kevin Warren. That press conference he gave after they fired Eberfl, Ryan Poles, the GM was riding shotgun. Well, why does every president like. I'm. I'm sure Kevin Warren's making seven figures. He was hired to build the stadium, which is an extremely important job. But no one really cares about that. Like you don't give press conferences for selling PSLs or getting the naming rights deal for $400 million. Even though it's a really big deal to the business in the business world. And no one talks about that. Where do you get credit when you're around the football team? And I think football people get very, very uncomfortable when a guy like him is around when coaches are getting fired or if you were winning, he'd be right there. But when you lose like today in the first half, all I could think about is like, Kevin Warren's probably slithering out in his seat. Right. I don't want to sit next to polls or, you know, this, this new interim coach, like, this is not my problem. But if things go well, they want there. Look at the 49ers are a good example. It's John and Kyle. And anything that happens is strictly on them. And they got an issue, they go right to Jed.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yep.

[John Middlekauff]

And it's a streamlined process. And that's the way with every good organization. If les and Sean McVeigh need something, they can go to the Cronky.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yep.

[John Middlekauff]

Now they work with the president and you have good relationships. But it feels like he. To have a coach fired and have him lead the press conference is one of the more glaring things I've seen in recent memory. Shouldn't Ryan polls be given this press conference?

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes. Yes.

[John Middlekauff]

And I heard from a bunch of people in the league. All these candidates see that and that's where you get a guy like Vrabel that goes, maybe I'll figure out and I could fake it for a year. And then I'll. Once I start winning, I will take over. But that's a turnoff to a lot of people. And the other thing is. And listen and I'm guilty of this. I gave Caleb credit the last, I would say three or four weeks. He has made some high end plays and the physical skills are undeniable. But is he a good player? Right. Because even last week against Detroit or on Thanksgiving, they were getting their ass kicked in the first half down 16 nothing. They have a lot. They scored 17 points in the fourth quarter against Minnesota. They have a lot of points when the game's kind of out of hand and they've come storm. That's why when the Niners are up like 30 to 6, I'm like, get ready. The Bears going to score a couple touchdowns right now. It's when they do their work. So I listen. He's very talented, but that franchise has a lot of issues and he's part of that. It's a team effort and that's where Vrabel I'm not as dependent on my core.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's right.

[John Middlekauff]

I'm going to build the team. I'm going to build the culture, the vision. Ben Johnson, a lot of guys. For every McVeigh and Kyle on the floor, we have seen countless offensive coordinators flop. I would not be in the business the first time. Head coaches, I think that's too risky given our situation.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, look at the coaches who have succeeded taking over shipwrecks. Harbaugh with the Chargers, a talented mess. With Brandon Staley, it was a talented mess.

[John Middlekauff]

He did it with the Niners too. Same situation back in the day.

[Colin Cowherd]

Culture builder Dan Campbell, he's not a schematic genius. He's a culture builder. So if you look at when you look at bad franchise, D'Amico Ryan is another guy. Good looking, kind of stoic, intense. McVeigh rams were an absolute mess. McVay good with schemes. But if you ask him, it's his presence, it's his ability to own the locker room. When you have a bad franchise or a franchise that's turbulent or in disarray. McVade of the Rams, Dan Campbell, Jim Harbaugh, twice. It's not the schematic geniuses. You got to change the culture. So Vrabel has the physical element which Dan Campbell and Harbaugh have. They're kind of physically intimidating. Mike Tomlin I would say is a culture coach. Right? Jimmy. Jimmy Johnson had that. Jimmy was a personnel and culture changer. Some guy Shanahan's about schematics. I think Matt LaFleur can do both. But I think Matt's schematics are really good. I mean, he really breaks down Jordan and then builds him back up. But I think Chicago's only choice, Ben Johnson, I don't think he has the personality, the gravitas to do it. I don't think of Cliff Kingsbury. Those type of guys, they're not built for Chicago. It's like if you just think about a family, let's say a family's in disarray and you're kind of like, what father figure, what parent could save a family that was in disarray? It wouldn't have to be the smartest or the most experienced. It would be an ass kicker. Somebody that came in, put their arms around the kids and we are changing the environment. That's all football teams are. It's just young guys. It's family, it's young coaches. So I think we both agree. I think Vrabel is an. And by the way, unlike Belichick, doesn't have to do. Doesn't have to dominate personnel. He's not going to be bitter if he doesn't dominate personnel.

[John Middlekauff]

One thing about Dan Campbell and Jim Harbaugh, use examples. They're former players, so they have a little bit of, I think cockiness is probably the wrong way to describe it, but a willingness to be pretty, I would say self confident in their own beliefs because they've done it as a player. And I think their physical presence. McVeigh, let's face it, kind of feels like he played in the NFL for five years as a slot receiver.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, right, right.

[John Middlekauff]

It's the same with Tomlin, like. Yeah, but he played in the NFL if you didn't know any better. And that's where you know, the Ben Johnson's, the LaFlors, the Kyle's, they are scheme driven.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes.

[John Middlekauff]

You know, and you know, it took Kyle a couple of years to build up. This is a different element. Right. When you're building, look at Lincoln. If you handed Lincoln Riley a team with a bunch of good players, I bet the team would be good.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

But if you got to start from scratch, it gets a little more difficult.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

Whereas Nick Saban, Bring it on. That's. He lives for that moment. And that's where I think the Bears have to be very, very careful. And anytime you have Kevin Warren's, just look at his resume. It's all business stuff. He's going to have such a heavy hand in this. It's that report last week that Jim Harbaugh would have been interested in the job. Of course he would have been. But if Kevin Warren would not want no part of him, why? Because he would suck all the energy out of the room and get all the credit. Even though that's what always has driven me crazy about football institutions. You know, in any other business, all you care about is like, hey, bring this guy on. We will make more money. We will have more success. It'll be good for everybody. Where in football it's like, yeah, he probably is the best option, but it'll diminish my role. Even though I'll make the same amount of money, I won't get the credit. So we're not going to go down that road. Look at Atlanta. They're falling apart.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

And listen, Raheem was a legit candidate, but they wanted no part of Belichick. Why? Because those people in the building knew that they were going to get neutered.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

And you're watching them now, you're like, they are in a free fall.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. That was this week's Sunday Night Football brought to you by Uber Eats. As the official on demand delivery partner of the NFL, Uber Eats has the best game day deals all season long. I use it every weekend. Order now for game day. The Emirates NBA cup is here so you can win big. Getting in on the action at DraftKings sportsbook, which is the official sports betting partner of the NBA. There's sure to be rim rattling slams, no look passes. Get behind your favorite players and the prop bets you can make on DraftKings, the home of NBA player props. If you're ready to place your first bet, make it simple. Pick a team to win. Go to the DraftKings sportsbook app. 90 seconds. Download it. Make your pick a team to win first time. Here's something special new DraftKings customers bet five bucks. That's it. And you can get 150 bucks in bonus bets if your $5 bet wins. So score big with DraftKings sportsbook. Every point counts. Download the app and use the code Colin C O L I N C O L I N for new customers to get 150 bucks in bonus bets. Betting just five bucks. If your five dollar bet wins only on DraftKings, the crown is yours. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER in New York. Call 877-8-HOPENY or text Hopeny 467-369 in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino and resort in Kansas 21 and over age and eligibility var by jurisdiction Boyd in Ontario Bet must win to receive reward. Bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance. For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see dkng co bball. Apple Card is the perfect card for your holiday shopping. You can apply on your iPhone in minutes and start using it right away. You'll earn up to 3% daily cashback on every purchase, including products at Apple like a new iPhone 16 or Apple Watch Ultra. Start holiday shopping for your friends and family today with Apple Card subject to credit approval. Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Salt Lake City Branch terms and more at applecard.com Got great ideas but no idea how to build a website? Get Bluehost their AI design tool creates high quality WordPress sites super fast. Whether you're a blogger, influencer or launching a side hustle, bluehost helps boost your growth with built in marketing and e commerce tools. Upgrade to cloud to get 100% uptime and 24. 7 security to stay online all the time. Why wait? You've got the vision.

[John Middlekauff]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Jon Stewart]

Catch Jon Stewart back in action on the Daily show and in your ears with the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. From his hilarious satirical takes on today's politics and entertainment to the unique voices of correspondents and contributors, it's your perfect companion to stay on top of what's happening now. Plus, you'll get special content just for podcast listeners like in depth interviews and a roundup of the week's top headlines. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

Let's pivot. Vikings 42, Atlanta 21 Good first half and then Minnesota took over. I pushed back when you suggested that Minnesota may have to resign Sam Darnold. First of all, he's going to have a very tasty free agent market. Vegas, Giants, Tennessee minimum are going to at least look at it. If they don't like Cam Ward, Shador Sanders will go number one to either Vegas or the Giants. I think he will. Not everybody's going to like Cam Ward, but if you look in the last month, Darnold has 11 TDs, no picks this receiving core. Plus TJ Hawkinson, Jefferson and Addison had five touchdowns today. We got to be honest about this. In the history of the league, you could put him in a very rich Gannon class like nobody believes in him to. He's a top three quarterback, top four quarterback in the league playing right now. I'M watching Darnold make plays today. And our thing was we all, I think we both felt the same. Big, strong, athletic, coachable, tough kid. But his accuracy could be hit and miss. Well, Kevin OConnell's taken the reckless out and elevated, you know, he's made it very intentional. Sam goes back to pass, you get a very intentional play. And if he has to ad lib, which he did today, he's fantastic. He's not Lamar or Josh, but he is way high end in this league. He is. He is in the Justin Herbert class. Like, I'm going to move and I'm going to crank it. And I never thought this. He's had one stinker all year. He had three. A couple of picks against the Jags. They won that game. Remember that game down in Jacksonville? They were terrible in the red zone. So a stinker. They won. They could still be a number one seed. I think I'm sitting here thinking today, do you let him walk out of the building?

[John Middlekauff]

I think at minimum, right now, he's in the category. If you don't want to do the long term, you got to franchise him right now. The problem with franchising, it's $41 million for a quarterback. And unlike these contracts, you don't get to push any of that off on, you know, years in the Future. He has 28 touchdowns right now. Colin, they have four games left. He has 28 touchdowns and they're 11 and two. The one play you're alluding to, when he scrambled around, he kind of did a 360, went across, threw it to Jefferson across his body. I thought that looked like Josh Allen.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

And that was a play today. If you are the GM and the head coach, you go, this is exactly why we said, kirk Cousins, we're not in the market for you anymore. Because you don't one, you've never had that in the bag. But the version that we're seeing out of Cousins, Cousins just got $100 million guaranteed. He hasn't thrown a touchdown in four weeks. And he's throwing picks just by the, you know, multiple picks every. I mean, he might be cooked. Like you saw today was a pivot point. One guy's career feels like it's kind of headed toward the drain. Like, is he even going to be starting next week?

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

And the other guy is exploding. And you use Rich Gannon as your example. Rich Gannon did not have this level arm. Rich Gannon did not. That was the knock on Rich. Why a lot of people back in the Day were like, you know, it was hard for Gruden to sell Al Davis on Rich because he liked those big arm quarterbacks. And that wasn't Rich, but Rich was really accurate. Sam Darnold, 68% this season. Colin Crazy 8%. Now listen, he's going to turn the ball over a little bit. He's got 10 picks, probably end up with 13 or 14. How often do you watch him and you see him explode the ball down the field? Well, now that they're left tackles injured, the best two players on the Vikings are the two whiteouts. So those guys are thriving under Sam. How could you? I've said before, today is a great example. He threw five touchdowns against a team with a lot of good defensive secondary.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

In your wildest dreams, you would desire JJ to become this player one day, to be that good. What we witnessed today and the chances, based on the history of we all watching the NFL and knowing how hard this league is, it's less than 50% he's ever that good. Well, Sam currently is this good and now has this, I would say, you know, resume of life in the league, of building on calluses, going through adversity, being very confident in himself, but having humility to know how hard it is. Like, he's seen it all. He has seen the worst of the worst. And then with Kyle and now Kevin O'Connell, I understand that they drafted a quarterback, but sometimes things change. I mean, the 49ers drafted Trey Lance and they pivoted in the blink of an eye to Purdy. And sometimes you just. That's isn't that part. You started the volume, like pivot fast. Right. I mean, you know Sam Darnold. Yeah. So what? He's going to cost you a lot of money if he's a top five or six quarterback in the NFL. I mean, this year, how many NFC quarterbacks are better than him? He's better than Jalen. Hurts, right?

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, we're talking about Baker Mayfield. Baker Mayfield had a good quarter today, but was awful for long stretches in the game. Awful. Geno Smith had like three turnovers. Yeah. Baker was awful. And that, by the way. And I've tried to be very positive with Baker because I was so rough on him early, but he can be really reckless and you can't coach that out of him. He's just a different personality. He literally lives for chip on his shoulder. Sam doesn't have that. Sam's not trying to prove anything other than I'm good. Sam's like a Beach Boy. He's having a good time. He's an Oceanside linebacker. Basketball. He's an athlete. He's a great kid. Baker's got that chip a mile long. Baker's battled his own family at times. It's part of his great fabric and his story. I love but Geno Smith, there's limitations. Baker is reckless. Darnold, you're getting a higher upside with. I mean I always thought Baker was a better pure pocket passer this year. I'm not sure. And some of it's Justin Jefferson, but it's not like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and the guys down there are bad either. I just think letting him walk out the door. What if he goes to an NFC team?

[John Middlekauff]

To me though, use Baker as a good example. Aren't we all a little bit of a product of our past? I mean Baker was a walk on at Texas. Is tag six feet tall.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

Sam Darnold's six foot four at usc.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

You know.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right.

[John Middlekauff]

That in the. In the most turmoil time in the history of the program leads him to 11 plus wins.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

I mean in the ugliness of the mid 2010s, he's a strapping big arm. Like he's.

[Colin Cowherd]

He won a.

[John Middlekauff]

He's a blue chip.

[Colin Cowherd]

He won a Rose bowl against a good Penn State team with a really bad college football coach and no pros around him. I mean that you go. You go back to that year and it was hero ball. That's all it was.

[John Middlekauff]

I'm pro Baker and he's really matured and he's become a good player. But the skill set of the two, Sam is the more dynamic player. And looking back like if you did a redraft. Yeah. I think both of them probably aren't going 1 and 3. But clearly they've lived up to like they're going to play in the league for a long time. Sam's high end is higher than Baker.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes.

[John Middlekauff]

Because his mobility bigger. And I just think it's pretty clear. You watch Sam. He's got an explosive arm.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

And on the move he can really sling it. And that's the playmaking. Minnesota. What Limited in the last. Limited that team the last couple of years. You know, Cousins was a stagnant. Can't move if you throw him off his spot. Sam's unfaced. Got ad lib. No problem. Let's rip.

[Colin Cowherd]

So now I want to go and we don't have to spend as much time on these two games because I want to talk a lot of college football playoff Pittsburgh beats Cleveland 27 14. Russell Wilson, 6 and 1 as a starter. Good on third down. Now, they didn't have Pickens today, who. I don't know what they said hamstring, but George Pickens wasn't around, and there were real limitations. Like, this is one of these. You know how, like, AJ Brown leads Jalen as much as Jalen leads AJ Brown. Like, AJ Brown's got this weird stat. He's like the most instrumental wide receiver in the league. Like, the team's different boy. George Pickens with Russ is dangerous without him today. I mean, they didn't do much, but again, this is the first time in years they don't make a lot of mistakes. They get to the line. They're pretty good on third down. I think Pittsburgh's going to have a hard time in a conference, in a division with Burrow. You don't want to start over again. You got Burrow, Lamar Jackson. Hell, Jamis Winston's productive. I don't know what Pittsburgh does. They. They have to sign him, don't they?

[John Middlekauff]

I thought Russell had two of his better throws this season on a couple touchdown passes in the red zone today.

[Colin Cowherd]

The tight end, quick balls, getting the.

[John Middlekauff]

Ball out of his hand. He had a fireman on the one on another one, getting it kind of under a defensive back. I thought today was a really big moment for Russell because like you said, I mean, George Pickett, it was kind of like Malone and Stockton, and that was his guy. And then you remove him. And early on, you know, the Browns clearly are going to play very well against these teams in the division. They're very confident at home or on the road. They are. They're going to have the worst record in the league that every team has to take very seriously down the stretch. You're trying to make.

[Colin Cowherd]

Listen, listen. They missed field goals today. They could have. Absolutely.

[John Middlekauff]

They're field goal kickers in shambles.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right. Okay. They had a chance. This could have been a final drive of the game contest. I mean, there's no question Cleveland was in this thing, Jameis, you know, so that's my take. Russell didn't play particularly well. They missed their star, but they beat a division rival. And he just doesn't make a lot of mistakes.

[John Middlekauff]

Yeah. To me, if he's not turning the ball over and can be productive for you in the red zone. Their defense, this franchise, how they are able to find these defensive linemen. They had 95 today, had an interception on a screen pass from Jamis. They have like three or four pass rushers outside of TJ Watt. Cam Hayward's been in the league, it feels like for 20 years. Still making plays. I mean their franchise. I was wrong. I thought it was time for a divorce and just time. Like Andy Reid, Philly. It was time.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's what I thought.

[John Middlekauff]

And listen, and I, and I also thought this. I thought going from Justin Fields to Russell Wilson was going to be an epic mistake in the locker room. He has been, he has been such a major upgrade. And I seen some clips like Justin Field still in it. Maybe. Listen, maybe sometimes every human being fails at different times. Some are more public than others. Maybe it was healthy for Russell. Maybe it's just kind of changed him a little bit because he has, it feels like ingratiated himself with a group and a city and a friend. It's not easy to do. I mean, that's not exactly diva, you know, it's blue collar working man team. And he feels kind of one of them. I mean, I take him pretty serious. I was impressed today because I thought Cleveland early on was coming to play. Jamis was making some plays. I'm like, cleveland's confident against Pittsburgh. They just beat him a couple of weeks ago. You're like, this be a bad loss. And they kind of hit the jets and all of a sudden they were up a couple of touchdowns and never looked back.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay. Seattle 30, Arizona 18. Seattle is now eight and a five. They sweep Arizona, really dominate the game, ran the ball effectively. Kyler Murray had a couple ugly picks early in the game. You know, it's really interesting when I watch Gino again, you know, 24 of, I think 30, it would just again, kind of stoic, sits in the pocket, makes the throws. I love Seattle's skill, talent. I think they have two backs. I like Smith and Jigba. Lockett still banging around this league, which is crazy. He was a gadget guy and now it's a 10 plus career. I look at Seattle, they're going to make the playoffs now it looks, I mean they're 8 and 5. They have a 62% chance to make the playoffs. I got to tell you this. As Pete Carroll hangs around the USC inferno right now, I know deep down Pete Carroll, we'd take that job in two minutes. Is. I think you and I put Gino below Baker and Sam Darnold. Maybe you don't, but I don't think he's. I think there's.

[John Middlekauff]

I do, yeah, I do.

[Colin Cowherd]

So do I. This roster, I mean they are, they are missing a quarterback now. I thought they should have gone After Penix last year, I. Parts of me think I don't know what to do with Seattle. But you know, I'm sitting there watching it today. This is Arizona's biggest game of the year. They just got hammered by Seattle. Shit. Seattle took total control of the game in the first half. Felt like they sealed it early with picks. I think this coach is good. I think their rosters fairly. I think we don't know a lot of their players but you go watch the way they came back and won against the Jets. You watch the way they went to Arizona. Young teams tend to be more emotional. John and Seattle's young in spots. But these young teams don't know what they don't know. I think Seattle's better than I thought. And before the season you said. I said, give me a team. Denver was my team. No, Washington was my team I thought was going to be better than everybody thought. And I said, give me a team that we're going to look up in week 15 and go, Damn. And yours was Seattle. You kept. Mine was Washington with the commanders. They had all new people. And I said, good. All the other people were awful. They've upgraded it. Everything. Owner down. Would Seattle. If the Rams in Seattle played in the playoff, we would take Stafford and McVeigh. Right?

[John Middlekauff]

Depends where the game was. I think you're understating the coach as being good. I think he's awesome. I mean look at, look at Baltimore since he's left. Their defense last year was historic and they fallen apart same place.

[Colin Cowherd]

They're awful now.

[John Middlekauff]

And you. And you watch Seattle as they've gotten guys back. They are much better on defense. This was my favorite bet of the weekend was them two and a half on the road. One, they've just played well in Arizona for a long time. And two, you could tell this Arizona team had been leaking oil. Now Kyler parlays his two picks down the stretch in last game, right back in the first quarter, throws two awful picks and then unraveled on him fast. And once it's 2410, it's like this is. You can tell with Arizona when they're vibing and they show up, you're like, okay, there's going to be a game when they get a little off kilter. How about, listen, he is a freak talent like you will. I don't think we'll ever see another five foot nine guy drafted number one overall.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right.

[John Middlekauff]

Now granted, Bryce went to. And Bryce has looked a lot better.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

But Kyler is truly, you know, his version of like Bo Jackson or Deion Sanders, just physical talent. It's. It's all time great. But his body language, when he plays bad early, he kind of can go in the tank.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes.

[John Middlekauff]

And your quarterback, you know, we talked about Buffalo early. They're getting their ass kicked and Josh keeps his head up and keeps swinging. Kyler just kind of gets mopey and that was a knock on him. And it felt like he had matured a little bit. And it's like he, he kind of went back in the tank today and that's. You saw Seattle, you know, that's the thing they got with Gino is like he can not play well. And it feels like for the most part his body language is pretty solid. Even when he's got.

[Colin Cowherd]

He feels terrible when Gino makes a mistake. Nobody feels worse than Gino. He's got a good heart. He is. He's got leadership qualities. You can tell his teammates in the sideline love him. Geno Smith has limitations, but it's not leadership, it's not work ethic, it's not attitude. Geno Smith busts his ass every week. He really, and he really appreciates this opportunity.

[John Middlekauff]

The one thing with Seattle, Colin, is their schedule these next two weeks. They are Packers, Vikings now they're both in Seattle. But that's going to be tough. You're getting the packers, who I would say are going to come into this. I mean, there's a big game for them. They've got to lick their wounds after that Lions game. Right. Because now they're nine and four. They feel destined for a wild card spot. That's a big moment for them in Minnesota. I don't know how they do it, but they feel like they're going to end up winning 14 games. Then they play the Bears and then they play the Rams. Now if the Rams beat the Niners this week, that game, week 18 could be the Sunday night winner, get in for the division. Right. You know, two nine win teams. Whoever wins gets 10 and wins the division. The other team might be on the outside looking in, not even get a wild card spot. So I think if Seattle wins one of these next two games, they're going to win the division. If they lose both of them and the rams beat the 49ers, I think we got, you know, a division on our hands. I take Seattle pretty seriously. I think their coaching staff, head coach to stud Ryan Grubb clearly is really good. The dude they took from DeBoer who had never coached in the pros and Geno hasn't Really, you know, he's looked exactly like he has the last couple of years, if not even he's been a little more consistent. What can they do this year is like they're a little more hammered the run. I mean, today Charbonnet, he's a backup running back, had 125 plus yards. And like you said, if they get Walker to me, if they're going to be taken, yes, like and win a playoff game and win this division, that his injuries have been a little bit of a problem. If they can keep him healthy, their offensive skill guy minus the quarterback is as good as any. Like, it's like Eagles level right with their wide receivers, the tight end, multiple running backs.

[Colin Cowherd]

Walker runs so hard. He's the kid that led college football at Michigan State. Yards after contact, he just, he runs so hard, he hurts himself. He's got a little bit of that James Conner in Arizona. He runs violently. So he's banged up a lot. Now for a segment called Making it look Easy, brought to you by Morgan and Morgan, America's largest injury law firm. Today, Sam Darnold. Boy, did he make it look easy. Five passing touchdowns, 347 yards against the Falcons. An amazing second half. Just like Sam made it look easy. Morgan and Morgan does the same. So easy to submit a claim. Has over 100 offices nationwide, more than 800 lawyers with over $15 billion recovered for their clients. Morgan and Morgan has a proven track record of fighting to get you full and fair compensation. They've been fighting for the people for over 35 years. So if you're ever injured, go to for the people.com Colin or dial pound 529. Check out America's largest injury law firm. Winning in the NFL is hard. Hiring Morgan and Morgan is easy.

[Jon Stewart]

Catch John Stewart back in action on the Daily show and in your ears with the Daily Show Ears edition podcast. From his hilarious satirical takes on today's politics and entertainment to the unique voices of correspondents and contributors, it's your perfect companion to stay on top of what's happening now. Plus, you'll get special content just for podcast listeners, like in depth interviews and a roundup of the week's top headlines. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right, last game I want to talk about before we get into the college football. Dolphins in overtime beat the Jets 32 26. Best game Aaron Rodgers played this year, 27 to 39, 340 yards. Devonte Adams and Garrett Wilson combined for 16 catches and over 220 yards. Aaron looked good first half. And second, they played much better than I thought. They had a chance to win this game. But the reason, I think it's interesting and Tua had a good afternoon. But the jets averaged six and a half yards and Aaron was on his game. So we should say that. But they still lost. And so the draft order today is Raiders, and I assume they'll take Shadow Sanders. Giants. The question is, do they go after a Darnold or is it Cam Ward? New England Panthers, Jaguars, titans, jets at 7 actually probably go and either get Kelvin Banks, the Texas tackle, or Will Campbell, the LSU tackle. That's a fairly predictable draft pick. But it's interesting because I was looking at the draft order as I watched the jets and the Dolphins and it's getting very defined now. Like the Raiders and the Giants, they're bad teams. Let's talk about the jets before we get into this. Miami's not going to make the playoffs. I mean, again, Aaron tore him apart today. He was even 2 for 2 on fourth down. They're going to get a new coach now, as I said earlier with the Bears, they need a culture coach. I think that's exactly what the jets need. And now Vrabel said he was interested this week in the jets as long as he liked the general manager. I'm just going to ask you straight out because I don't think the Dolphins are really that much of a story. I think the jets, like the Bears, are dysfunctional, but there's some really good players on both teams. Where do the jets go for a coach? Because they'll have the seventh pick, they'll be able to address one of their, I mean, I think it's a pretty good team. I think they, I think they need to get a young. You know, they have one tackle in from Penn State, right? They need another one. Jets. Your thought on coach and quarterback going forward?

[John Middlekauff]

Well, I, I, I've been saying this for a while. I, I think the next head coach of the jets is going to be Rex Ryan.

[Colin Cowherd]

I don't think you're wrong.

[John Middlekauff]

You know, he, he's been politicking for this job. You know, Mike Tanenbaum, I've known for a while, is now running the search. He was Rex Ryan's general manager when they had some success. Phil Savage, who I think you know as well as their current interim gm, worked with Rex in Baltimore. Rex has been going on every single news out like he wants this job. And from all reports, him and Woody did not have a bad relationship. When he got fired, it was. Remember, they hired Itzyk and it was one of those. He let his GM make a decision. But like, the most success the jets have had in my adult life. I'm 40. Was by far with this guy. This franchise had sucked. They had a little moment with Herm Edwards, I remember in the early 2000s. But what was that like one and done in the playoffs? Yeah, like Rex was beating Belichick in the playoffs.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

I just think he gives them a little. Can handle the media, gives them a presence. Like, obviously I would be interested in Vrabel as well. That would make a lot of sense. But this is where it gets difficult with a guy like Vrabel because he just had a situation. When they fired John Robinson and brought in the new gm, it got weird for him fast. And these guys aren't comfortable is why. And I know you talked about Kyle Shanahan getting traded to the Bears. Kyle Shanahan would do a swan dive off the Golden Gate Bridge before he answered the Ryan Pulse and Kevin Warren. You know why? Because when the 49ers hired Kyle Shanahan, it was very, very difficult for them to find a match. They were interviewing a bunch of number twos, and he's like, I don't really want to work with it. I don't know this guy. How about my guy, John Lynch? That's how John lynch became the gm. These guys, they're not addicted to power. They just want to be comfortable with the guy they spend more time with than their wife. It is. It's a. It's a weird. That's where it's like, well, Phil Savage is already your interim. He knows Rex really well. You can already see it coming. And it's kind of an easy move for the Jets. A lot of these teams don't fire coaches because I don't think their coach or their owner wants to go on a search. All these guys, they don't really know. Once you hire enough coaches, you know, it doesn't. Ben Johnson, you could have the greatest offense since Bill Walsh. That doesn't translate into them becoming a head coach. When the Eagles hired andy Reid in 1998 or nine or whatever, the reason they did it, he wasn't even technically the coordinator. With Green Bay, they had done a long study that being a coordinator does not directly tie to just guaranteed success. Right. That's why sometimes special teams coaches have got more opportunities over the years, because there is. We're dealing with human beings here. It's why the draft stats and where you, none of it means Josh Allen begged for scholarship offers from Fresno State and San Diego State. They wouldn't call him back. This is all like hit and miss left and right. You never know. And same thing with a head coach. Like it's a lot. When Ben Johnson, when Jameson Williams gets suspended or gets pulled over because they got three Glock nines in the car. That's not his problem. That's Dan and the GM deal with that. You just keep on scheming, buddy. When you're the head coach, that comes to your desk immediately, hey, we need a decision. What are we doing? And that's where to me you get guys. The jets and the Bears, both those two teams have to hire a guy who's been a head coach before. They have to because there's those markets, the pressure. The Aaron Rodgers decision is not easy. If he just doesn't retire like he's under contract, he has no trade value.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right, right.

[John Middlekauff]

So it's like, you know, if you tell me racks are valuable, I could see them just handling him for a year. Yeah, right. Because like it's just, it's, it'd probably be somewhat easy and also can't unload the contract. He might not have a draft pick high enough to get a guy you want.

[Colin Cowherd]

He'd also have power. It'd be the first year of a four year deal. Woody Johnson likes him. Salah was somewhat powerless because Aaron came in. Aaron's the star. Aaron's got the ring and Salah had a losing record. So I think that's, I think Rex Ryan would come in, he'd handle him for a year. I think, I think Vrabel to the Bears and Rex Ryan to the Jets. I said this three weeks ago on my show. It makes sense. I would have no problem hiring Rex Ryan. I think for these tire fires you need a culture changer. I mean, we just saw it in our election. You don't have to be politically correct. You can offend some people. But if you're viewed as somebody who can change, orchestrate change, you don't care about the criticism. You're big, bigger than life. You got that Captain America shield up front. It doesn't bother you? Rex Ryan's got thick skin. He can be joyful and playful and funny when you're ripping him. I think it works.

[John Middlekauff]

Yeah. I mean, I just think it's going to be the move, you know, I really do. And you know, I think this is, Listen, we can nitpick the Bills and they are judged against the Chiefs and the Ravens, but I feel pretty confident they're going to keep dominating this division for the foreseeable future.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right, let's talk College football. The 12 team playoff has come out. Listen, let's get the one thing out of the way. I think Bama is better than smu, but Bama doesn't have an argument. I watched them get completely shelled against a Oklahoma team that was 2 and 6 in conference with like a minus 79 point differential in conference. Oklahoma was a bad team and they got, I mean literally overrun by them. So I don't have any problem. Again, the regular season has to mean something. Yes, Bama's beaten more good teams. If Bama got in, I wouldn't lose any sleep if SMU did not. But I felt the same way both ways. I would have taken probably a Bama, but smu, after a really hard fought loss, kind of felt like the move. And I also think, listen, Bama's not consistent enough to be a national champion. SMU is not going to be a national champion. SMU may be a better story. It's better for the sport. Big picture. I don't think anybody on the heels of Alabama's, you know, 15 year dynasty is losing sleep because they don't get in.

[John Middlekauff]

I don't disagree. But if I was part of the sec, here's what I would say. College football, I mean based on the numbers, has never been more popular. Like more people consistently have never watched more and the SEC ratings have been insane. So we are carrying the popularity of this sport as a conference and of course carried the sport really for a long time now. And we only get three teams in. That's where you can just see them. Even if it is justified as it is in this situation. All these teams, Ole Miss lost to Kentucky. If any of these SEC teams is 10 and 2, they are easily in over SMU. We all agree, but like we want guarantees. And this is where I think college football is going to go if, like, if I'm the Big Ten who, like the SEC is carrying college football with the ratings. The ACC is simply not like I want to know, because getting into the playoffs is very financial viable for the conference.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right?

[John Middlekauff]

Right. That's the same thing with the NCAA tournament. And now we only get. We only get one difference. Like the difference of us in the SEC is in the ACC is one team. That seems crazy. Yeah, like I watch an unhealthy amount of college football. The gap between the two is Grand Canyon wide. So even if you could justify it, records and everything That's a big picture problem for me. If I'm Greg sank.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, I get it.

[John Middlekauff]

We need some assurances. And this is where like the NFL, you know, what do tiebreakers go? Conference record. It's impossible to do tiebreakers and everything in college football because the SEC goes my 8 and 4. What is that worth in the. In the ACC? Am I 10 and 2 in the accident like by Big 12? Arizona State's an incredible story. What would their record be if I put them playing lsu, Bama, Ole Miss. Oh, yeah, Arkansas, you know, so it's. It's not apples to apples. And that's the hard part. I think we all agree on that. Even if we go. Yeah, SMU deserves it, but it's like it's a little out of whack now it's first year. I'm not going to complain that much. I don't feel that bad. And I think the committee wanted Alabama because I do think Alabama. The needle moves a little more when you got Alabama playing because whose SMU is playing? Penn State. Like Alabama. Penn State's just a better television product, isn't it?

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. So here's the one that really cracked me up. So the regular season, the committee said the regular season matters. We're not going to give Bama three losses, two of which are Mulligans, Vandy and Oklahoma. But yet in Oregon has the most impressive regular season and arguably the most impressive championship game performance. George is up there as well. They get the winner of the Tennessee Ohio State game, which is a team capable of winning the national championship. Then they could face Texas, then Georgia. How did Penn State get an easier route? They lost at home to Ohio State and got hammered by Oregon. I think they have. Now they play another game. I think they have a much easier route than Oregon. I thought Oregon kind of got hosed.

[John Middlekauff]

Yeah. To me, them copying the basketball bracket where you're forced to play team instead of the NFL bracket where you reseed by the round. To me you got to change football. Wise receipt.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes. Yes.

[John Middlekauff]

Because Oregon has the only undefeated team. Clearly if you just watch the best.

[Colin Cowherd]

In the second best conference and they.

[John Middlekauff]

Get stuck with Ohio State, Tennessee, that seems pretty outrageous.

[Colin Cowherd]

I thought so.

[John Middlekauff]

Because if they could pick the opponents, I think there's a decent chance that Ohio State would be the last opponent they would want to play. Yeah, Maybe Notre Dame second and Tennessee would be high up there too. Like the sm Use the Clemsons. You got to receive. Now this is where I'm not going to freak out. Year one, same you got to figure it out. But you cannot keep this. How can Boise and ASU potentially get easier opponents than Oregon?

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, I mean, Penn State.

[John Middlekauff]

No, I think they would say Oregon's going to play the Rose Bowl. Like that's where their game's going to be, I think in like their home game. So that, you know, it's kind of regionality. But playing Ohio State potentially, that's, that's pretty difficult. Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

And Ohio State will fill half that stadium. I mean, Penn State gets SMU and Boise State, I mean, potentially, it's like, Jesus, they, they. The biggest game of the year at home. They lost to Ohio State. And I mean they, they, they got pushed around. I mean, they, they could not stop Oregon. I just thought Penn State. And I understand punishing. If you flip Penn State and Ohio State in the playoff, I'd be, I think it's more fair now Ohio State again, the Michigan loss was not only bad, not only at home, but it made you question the entire program. Like when Ohio, when Penn State lost Ohio State, you didn't question the program. You're like, well, Ohio State's better that Michigan. I mean, listen, if you want to ask yourself who's getting punished, it's Ohio State. You. I think Tennessee is the sleeper national championship pick in this thing.

[John Middlekauff]

I was, I thought Herb street had a good point during the show when they released the bracket of, you know, Ohio State maybe would rather go on the road because a couple early three and outs, maybe you're down seven, nothing, ten, nothing. That place will turn on you fast because that group's edgy. That group's already pissed off.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

Like in a weird way, at 10 and 2, hosting a playoff game is a major disappointment.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

You know, watching that game last night, I thought it was so insane that Clemson is now in the playoffs and Miami's just long gone. Even though all season Miami was like a top five or six team. And then Penn State. My takeaway with Penn State, Oregon's tough and that's their skill. Group is better top to bottom. I think Penn State has their front seven full NFL guys.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes.

[John Middlekauff]

Best tight end in the country. They have a 1, 2 running back, combination quarterback, a little all over the map, but he is extremely talented. And you saw a couple of passes where you, whoa, that's a top 10 pick. And then you saw a couple other passes. You're like, that's a six rounder.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right.

[John Middlekauff]

But you never really know what you're going to get with them. But they have a lot of talent on their Team like to me, if, if the quarterback has a B plus, a minus game, they could play with most anyone in this, in this tournament. I'm with you on Tennessee. Their defensive line is really good.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes.

[John Middlekauff]

And what's Ohio State's problem right now? Well, if their offensive. They just had a guy tear Achilles. They miss an offense. That could be a rough. I'm telling you, that place could start.

[Colin Cowherd]

Boom.

[John Middlekauff]

Listen, it's like 10 nothing in the second quarter.

[Colin Cowherd]

The weather forecast for this weekend in Columbus is 40 degrees and wet. It's not playing to a finesse down the field team. So will Howard, who's been hot and cold in big games. It's 40 degrees. The pressure's on. You'll be favored. And Tennessee D line and Ohio State O line. If you're forced to run the ball against Tennessee, that's got a 17, 13 feel to it. That's not going to be a high scoring game in my opinion.

[John Middlekauff]

One thing that's going to be, you know, for the most part in college, you get a couple. And you hammered this home when they went. When the west coast teams got in the Big Ten. There aren't as many cold weather games as you think in the NFL. There are. Why they play all through December through January. College football usually ends home games the last week of November. And then they go to warm weather bowls.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's right.

[John Middlekauff]

So that's where this changed because they don't. They're. They're playing in two weeks. Right. And it's Friday night, Saturday night at South Bend and at Ohio State, which makes sense. I mean two of the biggest brands, those going to get huge ratings, plus the NFL play Saturday. So it gets a little lost in the shuffle, you know, like Texas, the Texas game and the Penn State game are going up against like Raven Steelers. So, you know, but those two night games are going to be by themselves. It could be really cold.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yep.

[John Middlekauff]

I mean it's. So it's going to have one thing with playoff football. Even with the best teams. It's usually not 35 to 30 scores. Right. It's usually lower scoring. You can't, you can't feel your hands. I mean you could have a game in two weeks at Ohio State with it. Couldn't it be 27 degrees or Notre Dame? It could be freezing cold.

[Colin Cowherd]

Thursday night football is on. It's only on Prime Video. Best season yet. Packed with big rivalries and even bigger stars. Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreak, Kaylee Hartung. Every week, games you can't miss. Coverage begins at 7 Eastern with football's best party TNF Tonight Thursday Night Football tonight. If you're not a Prime member, no problem. Sign up 30 day free trial. Cancel any time Thursday Night Football and it's on Prime Video restrictions apply. See Amazon.com Amazon prime for details.

[Jon Stewart]

Jon Stewart is back at the Daily show and he's bringing his signature wit and insight straight to your ears with the Daily Show Ears Edition Podcast Podcast Dive into John's unique take on the biggest topics in politics, entertainment, sports and more. Joined by the sharp voices of the show's correspondents and contributors. And with extended interviews and exclusive weekly headline roundups, this podcast gives you content you won't find anywhere else. Ready to laugh and stay informed? Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[Colin Cowherd]

Let's talk Clemson at Texas. I really like Texas in that spot, but I'm watching that game against Georgia. Georgia gets their quarterback knocked out and suddenly forced to run in the second half. They found their run game. There was a when they went to overtime and the Texas series, they do, they throw the ball out of the end zone, then they do a fade pattern and then they throw it out in the flat against, you know, Georgia's linebackers in corners or NFL guy. I mean Georgia's got a first round safety, a first round corner, a first round defensive end. It's like that's you're not going to beat in the flat. You're not going to beat Georgia. For the last eight years, I thought for an offensive coach Sark, I hated the overtime Texas play calling. I thought it was awful.

[John Middlekauff]

Listen, I've been one of his biggest critics. I will defend him. I don't think he trusts his quarterback at all. And I don't blame him because I don't think he's very good. And early on in that game when actually he wasn't playing that bad and Georgia was a little shell shocked, instead of being up 17 to 3, it's 6 to 3. And then as the game went on, I thought yours became much more to who he's kind of become this season is very, very average.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes.

[John Middlekauff]

And he's just not an explosive player. He's not a good playmaker.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's a great line. He's a former scout. You're nailing it. When I watch him, he's not an explosive player.

[John Middlekauff]

No, he's just, he's not a playmaker like you watched one thing, Bryce Young, his comeback story. He's starting to make plays.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes.

[John Middlekauff]

Right. Most decent quarterbacks can make throw a slant route or an out route from the pocket. But half the plays, you're going to have to scramble, you're going to have to move, you're going to have to throw in the run, you might have to break a tackle. And you watch Quinn yours, he cannot do any of that. So as the game goes on, what does George do? They get start getting pressure on him, he starts getting sacked. He's not a very dynamic guy. Carson, Beck, like one thing, when the other guy, Gunner Stockton, what an incredible name by the way, comes in, he is so mobile that he can just keep plays alive. They don't have that. Texas does have that with Arch Manning. Now, I don't know if Sark believes he's as good of a passer right now as Quinn Ewers. Clearly, by not playing him, you've already paid Quinn the nil. But I think they have no shot to win the national championship with him at quarterback. You remove him. If every team just has the same quarterback, like whatever, every. If you put all 12 teams equal quarterback, Texas has as good of a chance to win the national championship as anybody. You watch Oregon last night. That little quarterback looked like Tua did at Alabama. I mean, some of the throws he was making, it's like this guy is playing quarterback in college better than all these guys.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, yeah, I think.

[John Middlekauff]

And that, that's a huge advantage. Obviously Oregon has really good skill guys. Better than Georgia. You watch Bowers, I mean, he's making. They miss Bowers and McConkey. But still, Dylan Gabriel right now is playing the best at quarterback for all these teams. Even though Georgia, Texas, you know what, like they have a bunch of talent, but their quarterback plays shitty.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. And it's, it's really interesting. When I watch Georgia, they have an incredible defensive lineman, Mikhail Williams, they have a great safety. When I watch Georgia, I mean, they're running backs. Last night they're bringing in second, third, fourth. They are running that second half. It was violent. They are running over guys. You know, with Texas, I know they have a bunch of good players and Kelvin Banks, who got hurt, is a really, really good tackle. But it's funny, when I watched Michigan win the Natty last year, they had Will Johnson at corner, Mason Graham, Blake Corum, J.J. mcCarthy. They had about six players that even in a game against Ohio State, you're like, wow, those are great players. Georgia's national championship teams, it can be Pickens, Brock, Bowers, Lad McConkey. It can be one of, you know, Jalen Carter.

[John Middlekauff]

Jalen Carter.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. In Bama, Ohio State has four or five guys like that many at receiver. They. Caleb Downs for Ohio State, the kid they got from Bama, he'll be the number one pick next year. He's an insane generational talent. When I watch Texas, this is weird, John. They got a bunch of good players, but I watched that offense and I'm like, they have good backs, they have good receivers. I don't see a lot of wow. And I know it's a really good roster. But if you look at national championship teams, Michigan last year, Georgia teams, you know, when Clemson was winning, you'd have like a Mike Williams, you'd have a Trevor Lawrence, you'd have a linebacker that you're like, oh, okay, that's different. Even in a game against Bama, that player's different. Atm, the running back for Clemson, you know.

[John Middlekauff]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

I look at Texas and I know this sounds crazy because their recruiting has been great, but I just don't see enough wow. I see very good everywhere. But they couldn't score against Texas A and M. They can't move the ball against George in the first half. That's with Sark and an NFL quarterback and the best left tackle in the sport.

[John Middlekauff]

Yeah, they should be able to run the ball better. Number 26. I mean, he should average like 100 yards a game. I mean, that's one element. I mean, I think sometimes the depth this gets back to. These top teams are not 10 deep. Like, they don't go, you know, back to back. Their backup offensive line are not future pros. And that's where I think when you look at these former teams, Clemson in their heyday in the late teens beating Alabama, they were going too deep with pros getting drafted. Saban's team, forever the last of Kirby, like this version of Kirby's teams, relative to the back don't even have anything in common.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right.

[John Middlekauff]

I think Michigan's team last year would easily win the national championship again this year, easily.

[Colin Cowherd]

Even Washington last year that lost in the Natty. I mean, you were looking at Roma, Dun, Michael Penck, their receiving core, up and down, their receipt. They had a. They had a right tackle and an interior offensive lineman. You were like. You could just tell. This is like eight really good players.

[John Middlekauff]

Team was real. And I think, is that a little bit why? You know, at first I thought Belichick was just interviewing with North Carolina to just, you know, it's like the guy who's trying to impress the girl and brings a girl, another girl, to the party to get people to notice Them you just want to show NFL teams like, hey, I'm talking to people. And then you start reading like, what if he realizes it actually might be a little easier in college because the, the parody is there.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

And it's not like I'm not at a huge disadvantage most of the time. And you watch in college football, like, like you said, Tennessee is a good value. You could say Notre Dame. If the quarterback just said all these teams, would it shock you? Like, in theory, Oregon is the best team, but then you look at the bracket, how hard it's going to be. Plus, like, I don't take Boise and ASU seriously. I expect both them to get knocked out. But I would say of all the SEC and the Big Ten, like Indiana, they'll be one and done. But I think, you know, Georgia could win any game, could lose any game. Same Texas could easily be like, I could see them look like shit.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

Who knows? I mean, I think it's all on the table. Which makes this tournament pretty intriguing. Maybe the transfer portal in the nil spreading out makes the 12 team bracket even that much more intriguing because back in the day, you put a Pete Carroll, usc, a Nick Saban, their heyday, they would kick the shit out of all these teams.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

Wouldn't even be fun.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. No, I think that's, that's the benefit of the transfer portal is that nobody has depth. Even the top teams. Just, you lose a left tackle at Ohio State, then you move a guard to left tackle, then your interior lineman gets hurt, you get weak, you get, you have a unit that is a liability very quickly in college football.

[John Middlekauff]

Now, do you think I haven't heard your take on the Belichick, North Carolina? Do you think that's more just trying to prove or do you think there's some real substance behind that?

[Colin Cowherd]

He wants to get his son the job. His son's at Washington. I think he wants to get his son a head coaching job. And I think Bill is so big on the east coast, people out west don't care, but people out east do. I don't think he would have to have an incredibly young collegiate staff, which I'm not sure he has the patience for. I just don't know if he has the patience. You know, Bill was always the grinder. It was always sacrifice for the team. Kids aren't sacrificing now. They'll bounce in a second. Now do I think schematically, I mean, Charlie Weiss was schematically excellent. He just couldn't recruit. He just didn't want to get out there. Bill's not gonna, you know, Bill will do some private jet stuff, but Bill, Bill's not going to be on the road. He views himself as he should, as a different level. Andy Reed again is a funnier guy, a more social guy. I don't think he'd want to be on the road recruiting.

[John Middlekauff]

Did you see Albert Brewer's report about how many homes Deion Sanders has been in the last 18 months? Zero. Because in this day and age they used to have rules. Like when I worked at Fresno State, only like six or seven of your guys were eligible to go recruit and go into someone's home. Now there are no rules. Anyone you, you could hire a recruiting staff, you know, former players that just go recruit you, you don't have to go into homes anymore. And it makes sense. Like when I, when I saw they technically had like a early recruiting signing day a couple days ago, right. And some of these kids were saying like, you know, this guy just recruited me. No, you got paid the most money. It's. The game has completely changed. And maybe Bill, who views it much more from a strategic business mindset of like, hey, if you give me 10 plus million in nil funds, I feel I have a pretty good idea. I can bring a couple of my guys from the NFL to figure out how to allocate this pie. I'll pick the players. And maybe he views it much more because it is, it has much more of an NFL feel. Now the difference is like when I sign you to a three year deal, you're under contract.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right.

[John Middlekauff]

You know, in college, these guys, as someone texts me around college, he's like, if you've noticed some of these random teams and I didn't. Did a kid just won't play the last couple weeks, you know, on a team that's like going to be 6 and 6, they'll just be sick. Yeah, well, they're transferring.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

And they'll just go to the coach on Wednesday or Thursday of like week 11 when they're, the team's not going anywhere. And like coach, I just don't feel great. I'm out. And that's happening all over the place before. I mean that guy would just keep playing. I said this before about like Kyle McCord transferring. In the history of the sport, Kyle McCord just would have been Ohio State's quarterback again. And what if he just would have taken the next step and all of a sudden Ohio State was 12, 0 in the number one seed, but instead they kick him out. Everyone's so quick to move. We're in the NFL. Sometimes you just have to keep a guy because you drafted him high and he get, he improves.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

And now in college, you know, coaches and players are just so quick to like point the finger at the other guy and bounce or basically cut him. And it reflects when you watch these teams because listen, the games are still fun, but you can feel that these teams aren't as good the high end teams as they've been.

[Colin Cowherd]

Oh, no, no, no.

[John Middlekauff]

I mean, I don't even think, like, is this the best Oregon team of the last 15 years?

[Colin Cowherd]

I don't think so.

[John Middlekauff]

I don't think so.

[Colin Cowherd]

No. I mean, the other thing is players in college are leaving now and it's not that they're not productive. USC just lost a kid, Sam Green. He was playing a ton. He was, I think he was a red shirt freshman or a freshman. He was playing a ton. Somebody offered him more money. Bottom line, somebody played USC and went, you know, could be a Penn State. The kid's from that part of the country. So kids aren't even disgruntled. They're leaving. You're getting cherry picked. Penn State could go, hey, we're losing like all of our, we're losing four really good guys up front. That Sam Green kid, we lost out to usc, let's just go buy him. So a guy doesn't even have to be disgruntled. Can you imagine in the NFL if you didn't have contracts and you're like, let's just make a bid on a great left tackle.

[John Middlekauff]

You know one thing, I was talking to a buddy that said that the top end of this draft is not very good.

[Colin Cowherd]

It's not.

[John Middlekauff]

And I said, isn't that a back to back couple years now where it's just, it doesn't feel loaded with guys. Are we concerned? Like, do we have any theories? And I started thinking, I wonder if guys now bouncing left and right, you don't develop as you used to just being in a program for three or four years, consistent practice, consistent training. Well, now guys are just mercenaries on the move.

[Colin Cowherd]

The other thing is more guys are playing baseball. Moms don't want their kids to play football. Now. It doesn't matter in the south or Texas or maybe Pennsylvania, but there is lower high school football turnout. And a lot of these great athletes are looking at these baseball contracts and going, you guys get 10 year baseball contracts. So I think it's the moment, you know, moms are like, hey, I don't want my son playing Football. And I'm not picking on moms. That's, that's just been discussed. Right. Like that's been.

[John Middlekauff]

But is the O line, D line doing that? You know, are six foot six, 300 pound guys playing baseball? Well, I still think they just don't exist.

[Colin Cowherd]

I still, I still think there's a lot of good football players. And again, for sure, I think high school football turnout has decreased. And by the way, the NFL smartly, 10 years ago I talked about this on my show, targeted moms in their ads. About 10 years ago the NFL was around that CTE stuff. Those, remember when that was getting the big payouts for cte, the NFL pivoted and said, hey, we have to make sure that both parents are into football. And by the way, it has worked. It is remarkable. The number of women who love football. It's half the league's fans. It's like 50, 50 last time I looked. So this has been a point, a real distinction. The NFL has tried to own the household, you know, not just dad. And dad loves. Nope, that's not what it is anymore. They want everybody. And I think that's part of it. And the other thing is, to your point, I think players aren't as developed. I think, listen, it's like anything else. If you're bouncing around for money and not management, you're never going to be quite as good. I don't care if it's an AI or tech or football. If you had four bosses in six years, I mean, one of the like look at you at our company, you just keep developing, getting bigger, bigger, bigger. Part of it is the salespeople know, John, it takes a year or two for the salespeople to get aligned. And we know you and then we can build your YouTube page. Everything takes growth. You know, my first couple years at iheartradio weren't as good as the last four. Everything. It's a hierarchy you have to build. It's a staff you have to build. So to your point, when some of these players are bouncing around, a lot of times they get the money and they get a worse coach. They get a worse position coach.

[John Middlekauff]

It's Brady's point that he hammers nonstop, like going through some challenges in college is a healthy thing. Like you learn a lot about yourself and improve. Because in the NFL it's really hard.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

So it's easy to get in the tank. Look at Bryce Young, who I would have bet against falling off a cliff. He was mentally prepared for the challenges. Why he had spent three years Next to Nick.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

You know, and who knows, you know, back, you know, in this modern day tua. You know, Jalen. I know Jalen transferred at the end to Oklahoma, but he was there for a couple years essentially as the backup going back and forth. That had to benefit all those guys.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yep. No question about it. All right, John. Middle cough. Former NFL scout. Three and out podcast on a stacked weekend. Good stuff. Almost an hour and a half. Thanks, buddy.

[John Middlekauff]

Talk to you soon. Colin.

[Colin Cowherd]

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[Jon Stewart]

Jon Stewart is back in the host chair at the Daily show, which means he's also back in our ears on the Daily Show Earth Edition podcast. Join late night legend Jon Stewart and the best news team for today's biggest headlines, exclusive extended interviews and more. Now, this is the second term we can all get behind. Listen to the Daily show ears edition on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

Had enough of this country? Ever dreamt about starting your own?

[John Middlekauff]

I planted the flag.

[Colin Cowherd]

This is mine.

[John Middlekauff]

I own this.

[Colin Cowherd]

It's surprisingly easy.

[John Middlekauff]

We have 55 gallons of water, 500 pounds of concrete.

[Colin Cowherd]

Or maybe not.

[John Middlekauff]

No country willingly gives up their territory. Oh, my God.

[Colin Cowherd]

What is that? Bullets.

[John Middlekauff]

Listen to escape from Zakistan.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's escape from Zaq istan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.