Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd Episode: "Stafford To Giants? Bills Should Trade For Garrett, NFL Combine Preview, Is Streaming Bad For Sports? Travis Hunter Should Play CB"
Release Date: February 24, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

1. ESPN’s Sports Broadcasting Strategy: NBA, NHL, and MLB

Timestamp: [01:56] – [06:01]

Colin Cowherd opens the episode by discussing ESPN’s recent broadcasting deals, particularly focusing on their $4.5 billion agreement to televise the NBA and NHL. He emphasizes the strengths and weaknesses of these deals, especially contrasting them with Major League Baseball (MLB).

Key Points:

• NBA's Appeal: The NBA benefits from iconic franchises like the Lakers, Celtics, and Bulls, alongside star players who are household names. Colin asserts, “Anybody that's a sports fan, even a casual, can name 12, 15 guys in the NBA right now.”

• NHL's Limitations: Despite the lucrative deal, hockey struggles in America due to the absence of widely recognized franchises and stars. Colin points out, “There is no iconic franchise in, in America. Toronto Maple Leafs aside, there's no recognizable hockey star in America that could walk into a mall and everybody would freak out.”

• MLB's Market Presence: Baseball maintains its popularity in major markets with stars spread across big cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta. Colin remarks, “In baseball, they're all in the perfect markets. You don't have all your stars in Cincinnati or Cleveland.”

Notable Quote:

“ESPN signed hockey along with TNT to a $4.5 billion deal seven years ago. There is no iconic franchise in, in America… which makes it harder to engage casual fans.”
– Colin Cowherd [04:30]

2. The NFL Combine and Matt Stafford’s Potential Trade to the Giants

Timestamp: [14:53] – [23:29]

The conversation shifts to the NFL Combine, with a particular focus on Matt Stafford’s potential trade to the New York Giants. Colin explores the implications of such a move and debates its feasibility with co-host John Middelkoff.

Key Points:

• Matt Stafford’s Situation: Colin discusses Stafford’s desire to stay with the Los Angeles Rams and criticizes the Giants for their inflexibility regarding draft picks. He muses, “Would you flip picks with the Rams? The Giants are not necessarily going to trade down. They’re just going to draft a quarterback or get Stafford.”

• Financial Considerations: Stafford’s substantial earnings make the trade complex. John highlights, “His career earnings right now are about $360 million. After taxes and agents, he will have over $200 million in net income.”

• Comparisons to Aaron Rodgers: The duo compares Stafford’s potential impact with that of Aaron Rodgers, suggesting that while Rodgers sought a fresh start, Stafford is more likely to remain loyal to a well-run organization like the Rams.

Notable Quotes:

“The value of Sean McVay for a quarterback and just the franchise and how well run they are makes me think Stafford wants to stay with the Rams.”
– Colin Cowherd [19:49]

“If I was the owner, I would not trade the number three pick for Stafford because they’re not getting Cam Ward. This is not one of those drafts.”
– Colin Cowherd [16:55]

3. Streaming Services and Their Impact on Sports Viewership

Timestamp: [28:07] – [66:59]

Colin delves into the growing influence of streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon on sports viewership, arguing that streaming is detrimental to the traditional sports landscape outside of football.

Key Points:

• Dominance of Football: Colin observes that football remains the nation's favorite sport, monopolizing viewership during its season. “Events like March Madness, college football, NFL games, World Cup, Olympics, UFC… all still get great numbers.”

• Impact on Other Sports: With football’s season dominating six months, other sports like baseball, basketball, and hockey struggle with regular-season viewership as audiences turn to streaming. “Hockey’s having a horrible regular season ratings because they're competing with Netflix streaming.”

• Streaming vs. Traditional Broadcasting: He criticizes streaming platforms for not matching the production quality of traditional broadcasters. “Amazon and NBC take big stabs at it, but it’s not as good as CBS, Fox, or ABC.”

• Future of Sports Broadcasting: Colin speculates that the NFL’s international games aim to expand the audience but may inadvertently support streaming giants’ growth. He suggests that “Netflix's audience is worldwide,” which could dilute domestic sports viewership.

Notable Quotes:

“I think the biggest off-season sport, which is Netflix streaming, has gobbled up post-football to Labor Day.”
– Colin Cowherd [52:19]

“I think Amazon does retail exceptionally well, but they have a long way to go to be as good as CBS, Fox, or ABC in sports broadcasting.”
– Colin Cowherd [57:24]

4. Travis Hunter's Versatility and NFL Draft Implications

Timestamp: [37:00] – [41:31]

The discussion returns to NFL prospects, focusing on Travis Hunter’s ability to play both cornerback (CB) and wide receiver (WR), and the potential challenges this versatility poses.

Key Points:

• Positional Challenges: Colin argues that playing both CB and WR is physically taxing and strategically challenging, making it difficult for Travis Hunter to excel as a number one receiver. “You can’t be a number one receiver if you have a young quarterback trying to get reps. It’s a timing position.”

• Comparison to Deion Sanders: They reference Deion Sanders as a historical example of a successful two-way player but acknowledge the rarity of such talents in the modern NFL.

• Future Prospects: Colin suggests that teams may prefer Travis to focus on one position to maximize his potential, either as a top WR or a lockdown CB. “I think he just needs to focus on one of the positions and I hope… he can be just a high-level corner.”

Notable Quote:

“It's difficult to spread yourself thin, especially when you're factoring in youth. He needs to focus on one position to maximize his potential.”
– Colin Cowherd [39:33]

5. Miles Garrett’s Trade Speculation and Browns’ Defensive Needs

Timestamp: [41:31] – [62:37]

Colin and John analyze the Cleveland Browns’ defensive strategies, particularly concerning Miles Garrett, and debate whether trading him would benefit the team.

Key Points:

• Garrett’s Value: Colin highlights Garrett as an elite defensive player comparable to legends like Lawrence Taylor. “He may not be there yet, but Jesus, he’s close.”

• Trade Considerations: They discuss the Browns’ dilemma of potentially trading Garrett for significant guarantees versus retaining a key defensive asset. “If someone puts $150 million guaranteed in front of Miles Garrett, would he resign with the Browns? It’s about winning.”

• Franchise Stability: The Browns’ ownership and management are scrutinized, with Colin suggesting that their decision-making is influenced by financial constraints and the desire to remain competitive. “The Browns are in a weird spot right now. They’ve got Watson’s contract anchoring the franchise. You’re drafting two overall. Your star player wants out.”

Notable Quotes:

“He is about to enter into a Donald Lawrence Taylor-like status, he may not be there yet, but he’s close.”
– Colin Cowherd [43:10]

“I would have absolutely no problem because I think they’ve got most of their offensive pieces in check and they’ve drafted well on that side.”
– Colin Cowherd [44:03]

6. Concluding Thoughts: The Intersection of Sports and Streaming

Timestamp: [62:37] – [70:05]

In the concluding segment, Colin reflects on the broader implications of streaming services on sports and shares personal anecdotes about balancing work and leisure.

Key Points:

• Personal Media Consumption: Colin discusses his own media habits, noting a shift from sports to streaming during the off-season. “I don’t watch Netflix or anything outside of sports from Labor Day weekend until the end of football.”

• NFL’s Global Strategy: He theorizes that the NFL’s international games are a strategic move to entice streaming platforms by expanding their global audience. “When they play that international morning game, sometimes 6:30 in the morning… it’s going to be a $2 billion deal.”

• Future of Sports Broadcasting: Colin remains cautious about streaming platforms’ ability to effectively manage live sports events, citing past failures like Netflix’s hypothetical football game production. “I think Amazon and NBC take big stabs at it, but it’s not as good as CBS, Fox, or ABC.”

Notable Quotes:

“Once football ends, our nation’s favorite sport for six months is Netflix, and they'll come in for an NBA final or a World Cup or the Olympics, but football and college football, mostly the NFL, it is a six-month event.”
– Colin Cowherd [52:19]

“I think Amazon does retail exceptionally well, but they have a long way to go to be as good as CBS, Fox, or ABC.”
– Colin Cowherd [57:24]

7. Additional Player Insights: Travis Hunter and Miles Garrett

Timestamp: [68:15] – [70:05]

In the final moments, Colin briefly touches upon Travis Hunter’s position and the Browns’ Miles Garrett, reiterating their significance in the current NFL landscape.

Notable Quotes:

“Travis Hunter, playing both cornerback and wide receiver, needs to focus on one to maximize his potential.”
– Colin Cowherd [38:31]

“Miles Garrett is an elite defensive player. Trading him could be a historic move if handled correctly.”
– Colin Cowherd [43:30]

Conclusion

In this episode, Colin Cowherd provides an in-depth analysis of ESPN’s sports broadcasting decisions, the complexities surrounding NFL player trades and the Combine, and the disruptive impact of streaming platforms on traditional sports viewership. Through engaging discussions with co-host John Middelkoff, Colin delivers insightful commentary on the evolving landscape of American sports, highlighting both the challenges and strategic maneuvers within major leagues.