HOUR 1 – 49ers are overusing their stars, USC is right to ditch Notre Dame

Summary

The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode Title: 49ers are Overusing Their Stars; USC is Right to Ditch Notre Dame
Date: December 23, 2025
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

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Overview

In this episode, Colin Cowherd delivers his signature blend of sharp NFL and college football analysis, focusing on the San Francisco 49ers' potential misuse of Christian McCaffrey and the controversy surrounding USC's decision to alter their longstanding football rivalry with Notre Dame. The show also touches on NFL quarterback trends, player discipline, playoff implications, and the evolving landscape of college football.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. San Francisco 49ers: Overuse of Christian McCaffrey

• McCaffrey's High Workload:
  • McCaffrey had 27 touches in a blowout win, marking the seventh time this season with 27+ touches—no other NFL player has done it more than three times.
  • Cowherd emphasizes McCaffrey’s injury history and the risk involved with such heavy usage, especially late in games that are already decided.
  • "Eight of McCaffrey’s touches came in the fourth quarter. What do we do? What are we doing here? Shannon’s brilliant. What are we doing?" (09:08)
• Team Trends & Playoff Impact:
  • There is a direct correlation: After every game where McCaffrey gets 27+ touches, the 49ers are 0-4 in the following week.
  • Worries about physical and tactical sustainability heading into playoff-caliber matchups—especially when upcoming games have less rest than opponents.
• Star Injuries:
  • George Kittle is now hurt, adding to Cowherd’s concerns.
  • "If you don’t think Kittle matters... they score seven points more a game when George Kittle plays." (07:30)
• Comparisons to Other Teams:
  • Rams, Bears, Patriots are distributing running back touches more sensibly—even in blowouts.

2. Brock Purdy’s Standout Performance and System Fit

• Quarterback Evaluation:
  • Cowherd credits Purdy for his recent form, noting he finally looks healthy and “was spinning it” (03:45).
  • Acknowledges the 49ers’ system is quarterback-friendly (as with Garoppolo and Mac Jones previously), but that Purdy was especially sharp.
  • "Congrats to Brock Purdy. Best game as a pro the last two games.” (04:20)

3. USC vs. Notre Dame Controversy

• The Scheduling Debate:
  • USC wants to schedule the rivalry with Notre Dame earlier in the season, citing a grueling Big Ten schedule. Notre Dame resists.
  • Cowherd strongly defends USC’s position, using the analogy of college course loads to illustrate schedule disparities.
  • “[Notre Dame’s schedule] is pathetic. If this was your class load in college, you’d be taking home ec three times, gym class twice, and wood shop four times.” (12:04)
• Notre Dame’s “Side Deals” and Lack of Conference Affiliation:
  • ND has unique playoff access as an independent and easier scheduling, which Cowherd calls out as unfair compared to SEC or Big Ten powers.
  • “Notre Dame’s got a side deal. Notre Dame has the weakest schedule of any top 10 program.” (15:00)
• "Tradition" vs. Modern Realities:
  • Cowherd urges fans to accept change and prioritize playoff positioning over tradition.
  • “All that matters in college football today… qualify for the tournament and win the tournament for the big dog programs. That’s it—not games that used to be cool.” (16:30)
• Notable Quote:
  • “It’s like a trust fund kid saying, ‘I can’t believe you have a summer job. I’ll be in Turks and Caicos.’” (13:30)

4. Rant Against “Not a True Trojan” Lincoln Riley Criticism

• Cowherd dismisses criticism that Lincoln Riley isn’t a “real Trojan,” arguing that top programs hire the best coach available.
• “Was Pete Carroll a great Trojan before the run? Was Dan Lanning an Oregon Guy in the 70s, 80s, 90s?” (16:58)

5. Quarterback Longevity and the “Old Man” Tour

• Strong Performances by Veteran QBs:
  • Philip Rivers, Kirk Cousins, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Matthew Stafford, and Aaron Rodgers are cited for veteran success—showing mental acumen is paramount at QB.
  • “About 70 to 75% of this sport for quarterbacks is above the shoulders… It is how fast do you process information and… make the right decision?” (20:38)
• Advice for Young Quarterbacks:
  • Cowherd supports early-career QBs running more as they adapt to NFL speed and processing (21:32).

6. Player Discipline: DK Metcalf Incident

• Suspension Fallout:
  • DK Metcalf faces a two-game suspension and potentially losing $45 million in guarantees due to conduct detrimental, after an altercation with a Lions fan.
  • “You just can’t put yourself in that spot. I think. I hope he doesn’t lose his money. That is brutal.” (25:26)
• Steelers' History with Wide Receiver “Red Flags”:
  • List of recent WRs with off-field issues and the team’s tolerance is discussed.

7. NFL Playoff Picture and QB Cap Hits

• Salary Cap and Playoff Success:
  • Teams leading divisions generally have lower QB cap hits (16th or lower), except for Matthew Stafford.
  • “Eight of the current eight division leaders have a quarterback cap hit of 16th or lower.” (35:53)

8. Jackson Dart & the NFL’s Book on Running QBs

• Rookie/QB Analysis:
  • Young mobile quarterbacks often see early success, but once defensive coordinators “get a book” on them, production can drop.
  • Jackson Dart’s split stats: First 6 starts—dynamic, last 4—struggling as defenses adjust (41:28).
  • “Whereas these other highly mobile QBs give you a couple years before, you know, there’s a book on them. Does the NFL have a book on him? Not saying they do. Just something when I see the headline. Has he regressed? You look at the numbers, you’d say, yeah, he has.” (44:24)
• Defensive Approach Example:
  • Dan Quinn: “This quarterback, when he’s out there… he’s a running back first.” (45:15)

9. Marcus Freeman: Notre Dame’s Hot Commodity

• Freeman is highlighted as a top-tier college coach, now a candidate for NFL openings (New York Giants).
• “I think Marcus Freeman is way at the top of the list. There’s about five guys. The look, the energy, the recruiting, the smarts, the in game changing. He’s really good.” (47:10)
• Notre Dame's easier schedule may appeal to Freeman—but coaching in the NFL or a more competitive scenario could be the next step.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Eight of McCaffrey's touches came in the fourth quarter. What do we do? What are we doing here? Kyle Shanahan’s brilliant. What are we doing?" — Colin Cowherd [09:08]
• "I will make the argument that George Kittle, because of his incredible blocking ability, is the most valuable player in this league that is not a quarterback." — Colin Cowherd [07:30]
• "Notre Dame has the weakest schedule of any top 10 program. Even their toughest game. Miami’s at home… They’ll be favored in every single game. And you’re upset at USC. Give me a break." — Colin Cowherd [15:00]
• "It’s like a trust fund kid saying, 'I can’t believe you have a summer job. I’ll be in Turks and Caicos.'" — Colin Cowherd [13:30]
• "All that matters in college football today… qualify for the tournament and win the tournament for the big dog programs. That’s it — not games that used to be cool." — Colin Cowherd [16:30]
• "I love McCaffrey. There is — I know his dad. I love him. He's one of my favorite players in league history. Walter Payton’s the best back I’ve ever seen. Second is Barry Sanders. On a short list, McCaffrey’s third in my opinion." — Colin Cowherd [10:14]
• "The untold story of the Steelers is Aaron [Rodgers] wanted to win games, not buy another house." — Colin Cowherd [36:51]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 49ers & McCaffrey workload: 03:45 - 12:00
• George Kittle’s impact: 07:30
• USC-Notre Dame scheduling feud: 12:00 - 16:58
• Tradition vs. change in college football: 16:30
• NFL old QBs & processing: 20:23 - 21:32
• DK Metcalf suspension analysis: 24:28 - 26:41
• Steelers WR “trend” discussion: 26:41 - 28:19
• NFL cap hit & playoff link: 35:53 - 36:51
• Jackson Dart & mobile QBs: 41:28 - 46:00
• Marcus Freeman as coaching candidate: 47:10 - 49:00

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Tone

Opinionated, passionate, informative, and often irreverent—characteristic of Cowherd’s direct, analytical style with plenty of humor and metaphor.

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Bottom Line

Colin Cowherd raises pointed questions about coaching decisions in the NFL (particularly San Francisco’s use of its stars), challenges the “sacred cows” of college football tradition by supporting USC over Notre Dame, and provides sharp analysis on what makes teams and players succeed—or stumble—in today’s ever-evolving football landscape.

Transcript

[Podcast Announcer]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[J Mac]

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[Colin Cowherd]

I'm Colin Coward from the Herd. Whether you're a seasoned small business owner or thinking about getting started, you'll definitely want to check out season four of Mind the Business small business success stories from iHeartMedia's Ruby Studio and Inuit QuickBooks. In the latest season, hosts Austin Hankwitz and Jenise Torres are talking to self starters about the ins and outs of entrepreneurship and how QuickBooks helps you to get more done in less time. You don't want to miss it. Listen to Mind the Business small business success Stories on the iHeart app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, it's Colin. I've been around long enough to know quality when I see it or in this case, when I taste it. Tito's Handmade Vodka. Good stuff. No flash, no gimmicks. Smooth, clean tasting, made the right way. Tito's made in Austin, Texas. Rock Real attention to detail. I like to keep it simple. Tito's Soda one lime, lot of ice. Refreshing easy summer, winter, spring. 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Find your local station for the Herd atfox sports radio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Now let's get this party started. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Ah, it is a Tuesday and it is a good, good Tuesday. Herd hierarchy one hour from now and Nick Wright joins us too. We are live or in Chicago. Seasons greetings. Perfect holiday weather here wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. J Mac that looked like a 7 on 7 summer camp drill for Brock Purdy last night. He was slinging it. The 49ers have not punted since November so they are humming we both love San Francisco last night. Let's talk about it. Here's what drives me nuts. I could spend the next five minutes saying, ah, they beat Indy. It's one of the easiest bets on the board. Christian McCaffrey had 27 touches, six catches, 21 carries. Seventh time this year he's had 27 plus touches. No other player in the league's had more than three and he's a 29 year old with an injury history. The game was out of reach. They already have two fewer days to prepare for a very good team, Chicago, and that game means something for the Niners. Christian McCaffrey Next week will blow through Saquon Barkley's touches of last year, which if you've watched Saquon this year, he feels like a bit of a shot fighter. In fact, if you look at most touches among teams in playoff positions, McCaffrey not only leads the league, he's a mile ahead of number two, James Cook. So congrats to Brock Purdy. Best game as a pro the last two games for Birdie and he deserves credit. He finally looks healthy now. Mac Jones was good, Garoppolo is good. This is a very quarterback friendly offense. But Brock last night was spinning it and he deserves credit. He can move now. The other thing is Congrats on beating 44 year old Philip Rivers. We can all laugh at that, but I love watching Philip Rivers play and I way to go. And congrats to me because I went four, oh, and one in my blazing five picks and I had the Niners as my second favorite bet. But if you noticed how the Rams now are using Blake Corum at running back with Kyron Williams, they're shuttling him back. Have you noticed the Bears using both running backs? Have you noticed the Patriots using two running backs? And yet the Niners, in a blowout, are giving the ball to Christian McCaffrey 27 times. In the Niners four losses this year, they have all been games in which the week before McCaffrey had at least 27 touches. The next week they go 04. He's the third best running back I've ever seen, but they're overusing him. Again, congrats on beating Philip Rivers, but now George Kittle is hurt. And if you don't think Kittle matters, listen to this. The last two years, Kyle Shanahan has a losing record when George Kittle doesn't play. In fact, if you take out quarterbacks in the NFL, I will make the argument that George Kittle, because of his incredible blocking ability, is the most valuable player in this league. That is not a quarterback. They score seven points more a game when George Kittle plays. That is incredible there. I don't care how good Gronk was, Tony Gonzalez, there's never been a tight end worth a touchdown except George Kittle in Kyle Shanahan's offense. So listen, the Colts were missing their top two corners. We said it yesterday on the show, the Niners were going to eat. They haven't punted since November. Brock, it was a 7 on 7 summer drill. When he moves like he's moving now, he's a handful. But this is why I'm reluctant to embrace San Francisco. This team falls apart early and late, and I look at them last night and I'm like, I love McCaffrey. There is. I know his dad. I love him. He's one of my favorite players in league history. Walter Payton's the best back I've ever seen. Second is Barry Sanders. On a short list, McCaffrey's third in, in my opinion. I think he's he could play wide receiver, slot receiver in this league. 27 touches when you're already playing late Monday on the road. Now you got to go back home. The Bears played Saturday and you're oh, and for this year, games after McCaffrey's had 27 touches. So the offense is, you know, McCaffrey's putting up huge numbers. He's a Great teammate. He's a great player. But the whole. In the second half, I'm like, eight of McCaffrey's touches came in the fourth quarter. What do we do? What are we doing here? I don't get it. Shannon's brilliant. What are we doing? Here's Christian after. When we can not punt and continue to move the ball and finish with touchdowns instead of field goals. You know, I think it's, you know, it's a big deal. And just again, I think I give all the credit to those guys up front and Brock doing his job and receivers getting open. You know, I think that's. That's really when. When that's rolling and Brock's doing his thing and the O line is doing what they're doing. It's. It's a fun offense to be a part of because we have the staff that can scheme things up. No question. Kyle Shanahan, Robert Sala. The coaching job of the year in the NFL. So when Nick Saban was dominating college football, he never got caught up in sentimentality. He didn't care about rivalries. He figured out very quickly at Alabama, greatest run in college football history, that he was not. He was not going to play out of conference games that were tough on the road. Either came to Tuscaloosa or it was neutral field. He figured that out after a couple years. He kept the thing. The thing. People are criticizing USC and Lincoln Riley because they were willing to play Notre Dame, but on their terms. So since about March on this show, I have said, to the dismay of many Trojan fans who earlier loved me, they should consider getting out of the Notre Dame gang. But play it on your terms. I said I'd keep it. Let's play September only warm weather. So you can blame USC or Notre Dame, but the reason in March. One of the reasons in March I started talking about this is because an article came out. I think Pete Tamil, great writer, New York Times College Football guy, wrote it, where it noted that Notre Dame had a side deal with a college football playoff, that if they were ranked 12th, they automatically got in. What? So Notre Dame has a side deal, get into the playoff. They're already not a full conference member, so they have a weaker schedule and can manipulate their schedule. Which SEC teams can't, which Big Ten teams can't? So they're in a weaker conference. They have not a full member. They can put buys in front of big games. And. And USC is like, okay, well, playa, but not in the middle of the Big Ten season. You think I'm crazy. Go look at Texas schedule this year. It's insane. It's harder than the Saints schedule or the Jets. So Notre Dame won't join a conference, has a side deal. I'm going to show you. They want to be high minded on this. We are Notre Dame. Look at Notre Dame schedule. I want you to look at Notre Dame schedule. One game. I. I'm not going to read all of them. It's pathetic. Basically, if this was your class load in college, you'd be taking home eck three times, gym class twice, and wood shop four times. It's brutal. Now look at USC schedule where they have to play Oregon, Washington, Ohio State at Penn State, at Indiana. Now a power and arrival at ucla. If that was your course load, that would be trigonometry, physics and chemistry twice. So USC goes to Notre Dame and says, okay, okay, okay, we'd love to play it, but since our class load, we have a trigonometry and a chemistry final. We want to play it before the class load. Since you'll be taking homec and gym for the third time, you'll have to do burpees. We have to have a trigonometry final. And Notre Dame's like, no, we stand on principle. It's like a trust fund kid saying, I can't believe you have a summer job. I'll be in Turks and Caicos. Look at Notre Dame's schedule. It's nonsense. And Marcus Freeman knows it. Notre Dame knows it. The school knows it. So Notre Dame's got side deals. USC doesn't, Alabama doesn't, Georgia doesn't, LSU doesn't, Ohio State doesn't, Michigan doesn't. Notre Dame's got a side deal. Notre Dame has the weakest schedule of any top 10 program. Even their toughest game. Miami's at home. Miami, warm weather, going to South Bend. That's a tough game. They'll be favored in every single game. And you're upset at usc. Give me a break. The SEC was always tough. Then they threw in Oklahoma and Texas and the Big Ten was always really good. Now they threw in Oregon, Washington, USC and UCLA. And USC's like, we'll play. But our class load is brutal. You're taking gym class. Remember what the Texas tech coach, Joey McGuire said when Notre Dame got left out of the playoff? Do you remember this? You hate to eliminate anybody. Um, but I do think that when you have a criteria of A where you're going to select a team, everybody should be in that same criteria.

[J Mac]

So.

[Colin Cowherd]

And I'm going to make Notre Dame mad. But be in a conference and you're in the playoffs. Maybe they're in the acc. They're in the playoffs. That's right. I'm tired of the special treatment. And I'm not anti Notre Dame. I've been pro Notre Dame forever. I love Marcus Freeman. I love the university. I wish I could have been accepted in it. It's unbelievable. But you got a side deal that nobody else has in the Big Ten or the sec. You got a side deal, you're not a full member. You have the weakest schedule. And by the way, when you play a schedule like yours, you can stay healthier. It's a little harder to be Ohio State when you're playing Oregon one week and USC the next and Michigan. You get beat up, you're missing starters. So USC is like, yeah, our class loads. Brutal. If we're going to. If we're going to play, we're going to do it before the class load in October and November. And Notre Dame said, we stand on principle. Now give me a break. The other thing is, and this is so embarrassing, so discouraging, it's hardly worth mentioning. But when I hear all these USC people say, well, Lincoln Riley is not a Trojan, that's embarrassing. Was. Was Pete Carroll a great Trojan before the run? Well, I didn't know Nick Saban was a defensive back for Bama. Was Dan Lanning an Oregon Guy in the 70s, 80s, 90s? Bob Stoops an Oklahoma guy? Hell, Dabo Sweeney at Clemson's a Bama guy. Marcus Freeman at Notre Dame's an Ohio State guy. That is so embarrassing. I don't even want to mention the people who mentioned it. And there were dozens of. Stop. You just hire the best guy available. When Lincoln got the job, it was a great high. It was overwhelmingly thought of as an upgrade. Nobody went, whoa, they missed on that. He's not a USC guy. Nobody said that. No reasonable person said that. But this idea that you got a side deal, weaker conference. I can't believe Notre Dame didn't add baking to their class schedule. God, brutal. And I'm a notary. I like Notre Dame. I really do. I think it's a great university. But, you know, stuff, folks, the world changes. When Saban ran his dynasty, two things mattered, and he knew it. He didn't get sentimental, win the SEC championship and hoist a trophy. Two things. That's it. All that matters in college football today. The only two things that matter qualify for the tournament and win the tournament for the big dog programs. That's it not games that used to be cool, games that used to be legendary. Some of you live in the rearview mirror. That's fine. You got to qualify for this puppy. And if I got Oregon, Washington, and I'm looking at Ohio State in a week, I don't need another trigonometry class. So there you go. Sorry, J. Mac. I get worked up about that. I mean, college football's always been a great movie with a weird ending, so. I mean, I love it. I think it's the first sport I'd probably baseball and that fell in love with. But, you know, all this standing on principle stuff. Yeah, it's a little much for me.

[J Mac]

I do love these college football rants out of nowhere. That was pretty passionate, Colin. I. It's funny, on social media, I put this week that college football is becoming the NBA, where the subplots and the side stories and the schedules and the transfer portal and the coaching moves, the. It all supersedes the games. The games haven't been amazing. The storylines in college football are off the hook right now. It's. It's just a sport that in chaos. I love that.

[Colin Cowherd]

Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS1 and the iHeartRadio app. Paulie Fusco here with Tony Fusco.

[J Mac]

Yo, as everybody knows, we're the host of the award winning Paulie and Tony Fusco show. Yeah, but instead of us telling you how great we are, you, here's how.

[Colin Cowherd]

Dan Patrick described us when he came on our show. Quick, knowledgeable and funny. Opinionated. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. What are you doing? You're interrupting our promo. Yeah, he wasn't talking about you. You took those clips totally out of context. Oh, yeah?

[J Mac]

Well, after this promo, I'm going to.

[Colin Cowherd]

Take you out and beat you. Let me put this into context.

[J Mac]

Shut up.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[J Mac]

Anyway, just listen to the Paulie and Tony Fusto show on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yay.

[J Mac]

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[Podcast Announcer]

Ten athletes will face the toughest job interview in fitness that will push past physical and mental breaking points. You are the fittest of the fit. Only one of you will leave here with an IFIT contract worth $250,000.

[Colin Cowherd]

This is where mindset comes in.

[Podcast Announcer]

Someone will be eliminated. Pressure is coming, coming down.

[Colin Cowherd]

Trainer Games on Prime Video January 8th watch the trailer on trainergames.com A new.

[Podcast Announcer]

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[Colin Cowherd]

Your ticket to Big Savings is that big blue envelope in your mailbox, Valpak. It's brimming with deals from big name brands and your favorite local spots. Dining services, stuff you're already buying. All for less. And you could score $100 or other instant prizes just for opening it. Or save even faster with mobile coupons you can use right [e-mail] Valpak there's definitely something in it for you. Well, the old guy quarterback tour in the league is quite something. Philip Rivers threw for 280 yards last night. Kirk Cousins had 107 passer rating A couple of Thursdays ago against Tampa. Drew Brees at 40 led the NFL and completion percentage. Tom Brady at 44 through for 5,000 yards led the NFL and touchdown passes. Matt Stafford this year has been the most efficient quarterback in the league. 42 year old Aaron Rodgers leads the Division 1 three straight and I think it's pretty instructive that about 70 to 75% of this sport for quarterbacks is above the shoulders. It is how fast do you process information and then when you get that information and process it, do you make the right decision? And these old guys are really good at it. And listen, we all want our quarterbacks to be able to move at least in the pocket. Philip Rivers was the most unathletic quarterback in the league in his prime. So that's not what he is. The deliveries not look good. And I have always been a big fan of young quarterbacks running while they're learning to read a defense. I think the Broncos should run Bo Nicks more. I honestly Caleb Williams, bro, you just keep moving. I am for young guys running like I, I, I think the strictly pocket guys for young guys is tough. But here's the thing with college. College football doesn't really ask you to develop a lot because the great coaches like a Lincoln Riley, they're telling you kind of, you know, seven on seven summer drills go out of the shotgun progression reads. I don't think there's a ton for college quarterbacks when they get like Orion Day. There's an area you're throwing it and I mean Jim Harbaugh with J.J. mcCarthy. I'm not asking you to read the entire field very often. So I think when you see Philip and Brady and Old Breeze and I think it's incredibly entertaining, I love watching it and I think he's having a blast as well. But here's Kyle Shanahan on knowing what it would be like to face Philip Rivers.

[J Mac]

I see.

[Colin Cowherd]

I mean he is a little bit older, so might not quite be as fast, might not quite be able to throw the same distance that he used to. But you don't know that for sure because you don't get to see it exactly on tape.

[J Mac]

But I see a guy who knows.

[Colin Cowherd]

How to play the position as good as anyone. He had 27 throws in that game and every ball goes to the exact right spot attack. Their coverage is great. He, he played against a very good pass rush and was able to get rid of the ball. He's one of the best quarterbacks I've ever watched. Yeah, I couple times remember when Anthony Richardson was it last year, went back to pass, did not see the oncoming blitzer and got decked. You don't see that with an old Drew Brees. Did you see J.J. mcCarthy this weekend? Similarly goes back to pass and gets hammered by Brian Burns. And I feel terrible for those quarterbacks. It hurts watching it on tv. You don't see a lot of that with old Brady, and that's knowing where the blitz is coming from, that you can play the game or you can think it. And so I am for young quarterbacks, and it usually takes two full seasons to catch up to the speed and catch up to the defenses, but it's hard even for veteran quarterbacks, for Matt Ryan in the end. But you can see the value Philip Rivers is. He's closer to an old tight end athletically than he is any other position, like old interior offensive lineman. But I love watching him play. J. Mac with the news. No, no, turn on the news.

[J Mac]

This is the Herd line news. All right, let's start with the NFL suspending DK Metcalf of the Pittsburgh Steelers for two games for this grab and shovel altercation with a Lions fan on Sunday. Obviously not a smart move by Metcalf. He will regret it. Not only because of the suspension, which he plans to appeal, but Colin, unfortunately, because he's been suspended for conduct detrimental, he's looking at getting his $45 million worth of guarantees voided.

[Colin Cowherd]

Now, that's worst case scenario. That's worst case scenario.

[J Mac]

Worst case scenario, yeah. So even if they reduce the suspension from two games to one, the Steelers can still go back and void some of those guarantees. So bottom line, this moment that he will surely regret could end up costing him 10 figures for sure. I mean, this was a dumb move by Metcalf. We agree. I don't care what this guy says. You can't do that.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, well, I mean, it's. And I think for NBA players, when fans are right on top of you, it feels hostile and, like, inappropriate when fans are barking stuff. Not if it's a slur, just inappropriately aggressive. I don't like it at all. I've sat next to people like that. I don't like it. In the NFL, you're wearing a helmet, you're removed from the fans. They're way up in the stands. Most times you can avoid doing this. You just got to. I always say, when you're running on the field and you're running off the field in the NFL, don't walk, like, get in, get out, don't let you know. The instigators have their say. Keep your helmet on, don't listen. Have some pods on in, pregame, run in, run out. So you just can't put yourself in that spot. I think. I hope he doesn't lose his money. That is brutal.

[J Mac]

Well, I'll say this. The Philadelphia Eagles, you know, they have a big, big Dom or whatever. His name is. Listen, maybe the Steelers need to go hire one of those guys to keep as a buffer between players and fans, right? Final note, Colin. I just put together a quick list of wide receivers who the Steelers have had in recent years. You tell me if there's anything in common with these guys. DK Metcalf, George Pickens, Deontay Johnson, Antonio Brown. Are you sensing a trend, the Steelers.

[Colin Cowherd]

Or even Chase Claypool? A little bit? Yeah. I mean, they tend to be doing. They tend to be very tolerant of guys that have some red flags coming out of college. Like, Pickens had red flags, but Mike Tomlin's theory is they're talented. I mean, Philadelphia rolled the dice on Jalen Carter, and there were some red flags on Jalen Carter. Some teams are very comfortable taking guys. I mean, Dallas took DEZ Bryant. There were red flags. I talked to somebody, you know, before the draft. There's always about a dozen players that are good, all conference level guys somewhere. They come with, like, character, red flags, made mistakes and. And most GMs feel like this didn't. Didn't I make mistakes at 18? And now guys have money at 18 or 19. So I think you ought to be careful about, you know, being too hard on kids that make mistakes. I make mistakes, and I'm in my 40s and 50s. If it's violence against somebody else multiple times, I'm out.

[J Mac]

Is Metcalf, by the way, a kid? I mean, he's in his late 20s, at least.

[Colin Cowherd]

Listen, see, the thing about this, there's an argument. The guy up in Seattle is the best GM personnel guy in the league. John Snyder, he moved off him and moved off him without a clear number one. Now, he probably knew, and the guys knew JSN was a one, but they moved off him. And our big question when Seattle did that was, who's their number one wide receiver? So I like dk. I mean, if the Steelers didn't have him, look at that receiving core. Yeah.

[J Mac]

Now, you did mention Jalen Carter. I'll just say, like, he helped you win a Super Bowl. I think we would agree. DK Metcalf ain't leading Pittsburgh to no Super Bowl. He's not even being.

[Colin Cowherd]

But that's not necessarily on him. There's reasons for that.

[J Mac]

Yeah, no, that is for sure. All right, let's go to the Eagles. Actually, Colin, they have been in a bit of a groove the last two weeks. Now, sure, they've destroyed the Raiders and Washington, but still, Philadelphia has been tinkering with some empty sets. If you've Noticed Jalen hurts is cooking in those empty sets. Last two games. And according to Hertz, hey, listen, they're taking things on a game by game basis.

[Colin Cowherd]

We're finding ways to win. I think we're finding ways to win, but it takes a component of complimentary football is all. And that's always the name of the game. And being able to, you know, be efficient. I'm having fishing runs, stay ahead of the sticks, be intentional about what we're doing, set up things, sequence it the way it's supposed to be sequenced, and ultimately be able to adjust. Every game is different. Yeah. Well, you know, I will say that teams have been flexing against the Dallas and the Washington defense this year, so you got to be careful about overreacting to the win over Washington. But it is a division rival and Saquon had a, a huge A game like last year. So I, I, I think Philadelphia, I've got him in my top five. I, I, I do, I, I don't know what I get with Buffalo. I was disappointed in Denver. I, I, I got Philadelphia as a top five team.

[J Mac]

Interesting. So they go to Buffalo marquee games Sunday. There's only two games in the 4pm window. One is the toilet bowl. Raiders versus.

[Colin Cowherd]

Do you, so do I. I like Philadelphia in this game.

[J Mac]

I don't know how the Bills are favored here. I'll just say this because I had, you know, some fantasy implications in that Bills Browns game after Josh Allen got hurt in the second half, he was.

[Colin Cowherd]

Not even close to, oh, the offense did nothing.

[J Mac]

I don't know how serious it is, but getting X rays at halftime means it must be serious. And one final note. It looks like Lane Johnson could return for Philadelphia this week. He is instrumental on that offensive line, as we know.

[Colin Cowherd]

Pick that up. Very, very good. Little sharp wager there.

[J Mac]

Yes. All right, final story. Colin, listen, two days in a row we're talking about the Jags. Yes, it's true, the Jags. Listen, when Liam Cohen talks trash, we got to do it. Now, remember he made the comment about, hey, a small market team coming in, which was a jab at Sean Payton, who started it. You know what I like to say when someone tells me someone talks trash to me, hey, don't start something you can't finish.

[Colin Cowherd]

Oh, that's right.

[J Mac]

So Sean Payton responded to Liam Cohen yesterday.

[Colin Cowherd]

My press conference, and it was very complimentary. And those guys are playing outstanding football. And so that topic came up strictly because, hey, not enough. The country has seen how good these guys are playing. Listen, that Was a good job by Liam. He's looking for a rallying cry, but obviously, if you were. You're listening to the press conference. The intentions were strictly, hey, quietly, these guys are sitting here right near the top of the afc. They're ready to win their division. And Look, I spent 16 years in a small market, so it was just a way for a coach to take it and use it to his advantage. Yeah. By the way, the AFC south and the NFC south are almost. College football is more popular. Popular in those regions than the NFL. I mean, you. I remember going to a Super bowl in Jacksonville, and the Friday before the game, they had the top 50 high school football players. Where are they going to college? They had some, like. Some, like, recruiting story on the front page next to the super bowl preview and like. And so. And nothing against Jacksonville. It's a great place to live, great beaches, great golf, but it's kind of a college market. It's a Florida Gator market, you know, so. And it's the same with the NFC South. When I was in Tampa, it's Gator Seminole territory. They love their box. I'm not saying that, but when I say New Orleans, as many people think LSU football as they do Saints. And so what Sean's basically saying is, you know, nobody pays attention to that division much and nobody pays attention to Jacksonville. And he's right. It's a small market. It's kind of a college market. And I didn't know that until I went there. Nice people. Biggest county in the country. I believe I. A little trivia county.

[J Mac]

Yeah, if you say so. Who's more dangerous in the AFC playoffs, Jacksonville or Denver?

[Colin Cowherd]

I'd. I'd still rather face Liam Cohen than Sean Payton in a playoff game. And Liam's great, but I.

[Podcast Announcer]

Who.

[J Mac]

Which quarterback would you rather face in a playoff game or Trevor Lawrence?

[Colin Cowherd]

I think they're both capable of winning a playoff game. I like them both. A lot of Trevor.

[J Mac]

Wide receivers. Broncos or Jags?

[Colin Cowherd]

Probably Jags right now.

[J Mac]

Better running back. Broncos or Jags?

[Colin Cowherd]

Jags.

[J Mac]

Okay. You look at the defensive front, and again, Josh Hines, Allen and company. They're getting after Trayvon Walker. Well, I mean, listen, this is a lot closer than people think. I know that. Jacksonville, Waffle House territory, whatever you want to call it, this is a dangerous team. Just. Just below that. They're going to be chucking and ducking in the playoffs.

[Colin Cowherd]

Colin, there is no nothing wrong with Waffle House.

[J Mac]

I got engaged at a Waffle House.

[Colin Cowherd]

Somebody once told me when I. I had never been to Tampa. And I said, I didn't know the Tampa area when I was younger. And I said, h, you know, how. How do you get to Tampa? He said, fly to Atlanta and just follow the waffle houses.

[J Mac]

Oh, listen, Tampa is the strip club capital of the East Coast.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, I'm aware. That's a fact.

[J Mac]

I mean, Tampa, it's a big time.

[Colin Cowherd]

The oldest people in the country live in Tampa. Their grandparents live in St. Petersburg. J. Mac, Florida jokes. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by the herd lie news. I've got my Florida jokes down pat there. So I read a this is a topic that's very mathy, but it's worth three minutes of your time. So I saw a headline today that they said, are the Bears capable of getting to a Super Bowl? I don't know. I think they're capable of getting to a conference championship. But here's the topic that's not real sexy. But Caleb Williams, for all his talent, is 26th in quarterback cap hit. Meaning what percentage of the team cap does the quarterback eat up with his salary? You want to know who else is in his range? Aaron Rodgers, Sam Darnold, Bo Nix, Drake May, brock Purdy and C.J. stroud. Yeah, a playoff quarterback so far. So it's one of the things nobody talks about. Eight of the current eight division leaders have a quarterback cap hit of 16th or lower. Look at it right now. Put it up. The division leading quarterbacks. Drake, May 29. Biggest cap hitting Aaron Rodgers, who by the way, could have been much greedier. He was holding the Steelers over a barrel. And because he didn't take more money they could afford. You know, the running back from Philadelphia and DK Metcalf. Trevor Lawrence 17th, Bo Nicks 35th, Jalen Hurt 16th, Caleb Williams 26th, Bryce Young 22nd, Sam Darnold 20th. So I love Ben Johnson and I think Caleb's unbelievable, but I've been saying this all year with the Bears. Look at their offensive roster. PFF has him as the third best offensive line. Number one rush game, excellent tight end Loveland and Cole Comet, DJ Moore. Roman Dante hasn't even been healthy. Luther Burden. So they Chicago, the story of Chicago. Yeah, we love the coach, but when you have a quarterback cap hit 16, 17 or below, the only big cap hit right now that's on a great team is Matt Stafford. Stafford's a top five cap hit. That's the only big quarterback cap hit on an elite team. And part of that is the Rams have drafted so insanely well. I mean, they've gone three years in a row and nailed every defensive draft pick in the first, second, third, fourth round that they've gotten away with it. But it's I know it's Matthew, but DK Metcalf is not a Steeler. Kenny Gainwell is not a Steeler. Perhaps if Aaron says give me 20 million more this year and he had the Steelers over a barrel. The untold story of the Steelers is Aaron wanted to win games, not buy another house. I mean, seriously, Aaron's willingness to say, you know what, this isn't about money. I'm going to go and have a blast in Pittsburgh is undervalued. That's why the Steelers roster has a couple extra guys on it. Here's Ben Johnson this week on trying to hit their goals for the season. There's never been 11 win team to to not make it. And so that was kind of we felt pretty good about that being the number going into the season. That was step one. Step two is is we want to win this division. We want to have a at least one home playoff game and then step three would be Clinton number one seed. So there's a lot of things still out there to play for. Our guys know that arguably the game of the week next week is the Chicago Bears go West, take on San Francisco. They played Saturday, okay, And the Niners played last night. And the Niners played a road game and a late road game. So it's a big advantage. McCaffrey 27 touches almost 30. They targeted him a couple times and he didn't touch the ball. So heavy workload for cmc. We'll see if it's punitive against the Bears. And to me, what is really the game of the week next week? Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app.

[J Mac]

Did you know Microsoft has officially ended Support for Windows 10? Upgrade to Windows 11 with an LG Gram laptop? Voted PCMag's Reader's Choice top laptop brand for 2025. Thin and ultra lightweight, the LG Gram keeps you productive anywhere and Windows 11 gives you access to free security updates and ongoing feature upgrades. Visit LGUSA.com iheart for great seasonal savings on LG Gram laptops with Windows 11? PCMag reader's choice used with permission. All rights reserved.

[Podcast Announcer]

Ten athletes will face the toughest job interview in fitness that will push past physical and mental breaking points. You are the fittest of the fit. Only one of you will leave here with an IFIT contract worth $250,000.

[Colin Cowherd]

This is where mindset comes in.

[Podcast Announcer]

Someone will be eliminated. Pressure is coming down.

[Colin Cowherd]

Trainer games on Prime Video January 8th. Watch the trailer on trainergames.com A new.

[Podcast Announcer]

Year is on the horizon, and your 2026 savings start here. Right now, you can access the Washington post for just $2 every four weeks. Head into the new year with six months of savings at this special intro raid. After that, it'll cost $12 every four weeks. Cancel anytime. You'll get unlimited access to trusted journalism that helps you understand the year ahead and the world around you. Now's the perfect time to subscribe because great habits and great savings start together. Go to washingtonpost.com iheart that's washingtonpost.com iheart and start your year informed with the Post. This is Sophie Cunningham from Show Me Something. Do you know the symptoms of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea, or osa, in adults with obesity? They may be happening to you without you knowing. If anyone has ever said you snored loudly, or if you spend your days fighting off excessive tiredness, irritability and concentration issues, it may be due to osa. OSA is a serious condition where your airway partially or completely collapses during sleep, which may cause breathing interruptions and oxygen deprivation. Learn more at don'tsleep on OSA.com this information is provided by Lilly a medicine company. It's the most wonderful time of the year, and Valpak is here to make it even better.

[J Mac]

This month, as you sip through holiday.

[Podcast Announcer]

Mail, don't miss the blue Valpak and envelope. From dining to holiday shopping, there's a sleigh full of savings in your mailbox.

[J Mac]

Plus a chance to instantly win $100.

[Podcast Announcer]

That's right, you can find $100 Christmas cash inside.

[Colin Cowherd]

Want to save even more money on what you love? Go to valpak.com for local coupons and offers. It pays to open Valpak.

[Podcast Announcer]

No purchase necessary. For instant Win voip, we're prohibited.

[Colin Cowherd]

Prices are randomly inserted.

[Podcast Announcer]

See specially marked Valpak envelopes for details.

[J Mac]

There's some more great football coming your way in the Trust and will Holiday Bowl Noah Fifita and Arizona take on SMU. Don't miss a perennial barn burner January 2nd at 7:30 Eastern on Fox.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay, so new information can often lead to new opinion. Not all the time, but you know, we get up, we prep for the show. We're looking for new information. So with a lot of these young quarterbacks like Jackson, Dart, Bo Nicks, Jaden Daniels, Caleb Williams, young Lamar Jackson, they, they are highly mobile and I have said for years use it until you can figure out the offense. Bo Nicks made the playoffs as a rookie. Caleb now with a real coach is, could be the number one or two seed. Jaden Daniels was greatest rookie ever and Lamar Jackson's mvp. So it takes a while for defensive coordinators to figure out who are you, like what do you do? So Jackson Hart Dart, his third start was on a Thursday night football game. Remember that? And he played the Eagles. The Eagles had no idea what he was. He ran the ball 13 times. He had a touchdown, 60 yards. He looked unbelievable and they just, they didn't know what to prepare for. It's like what is he going to do? Well if you notice something, if you look at Jackson darts, first six starts, kind of magical. 15 touchdowns, four picks, passer rating mid-90s. Whoa. Have you noticed his last four? Really one dimensional, 82 passer rating, no wins. People have a book on him. So flashy, cool, fun, new creative. Now you could say, well Lamar, Jack, Lamar Jackson this year is the first time we've said, yeah, he doesn't escape like he used to. Bo Nicks still gets yards whenever he wants to with his feet. So does Caleb. Jaden Daniels little thinner, but Jaden Daniels, his entire rookie year was magical. So my take with Jackson Dart, by his seventh start, people had a book on him and it doesn't look the same that that's what the numbers are telling me. He and Scatter Boo were a dynamic duo. Scatter Boo leaves, they still run the ball pretty well. But here's Mike Kafka, the interim coach saying, I don't see anything, I don't see that as, as a regression for Jackson. Sure maybe the numbers aren't what, what they had been in the past, but I think he's playing well. He's playing at a high level. There's certainly things that he can continue to improve on and we've talked through those and as a group too. But when I look back at it, it's really, this is 11 man operation on offense. So it's not about one person's production or it's about the whole group. We're full throttle ahead. Jackson's run the ship, that's no question about that. Okay, so HBO has this mid season, hard knocks and Dan Quinn, a defensive head coach for Washington. Did you see Dan Quinn on the most recent episode? I'll read you the quote he said the last piece, guys, this quarterback when he's out there. He's a running back first. That's what he said. He's a running back first. This hit by the Patriots, he's not looking to go down and get the slide. We got to go out there hitting, fellas. He's a running back first. So I, I think he does throw a decent ball. But it is interesting. His first six starts in his last four, it's like two different quarterbacks. So whereas these other highly mobile quarterbacks will give you a couple of years before, you know, there's a book on him. Does the NFL have a book on him? Not saying they do. And just something when I see the headline. Has he regressed? You look at the numbers, you'd say, yeah, he has now. You know, I was talking about Notre Dame earlier. Marcus Freeman is. I mean, if I had to start a college football program and I could pick any coach to start it collegiately, I think Marcus Freeman is way at the top of the list. There's about five guys. The look, the energy, the recruiting, the smarts, the in game changing. He's really good. Halftime adjustments. I like everything about him. It's not his fault. Notre Dame schedule is ridiculous. But there's a story today that he is leading on the list of New York Giant coaching candidates. And this is an interesting thing. I don't know Marcus Freeman personally. I've had him on the show a couple times. Huge fan. But what, what matters to him if he seeks control and a high winning percentage and comfort? Stan College. But I was saying this to the staff this morning. Look at Notre Dame schedule. Take out the Miami game. Take just the Miami game out. Wisconsin's now bad. Rice, Purdue, Belichick's mess. Navy, bc, smu, Syracuse, Stanford, not much of a challenge. I mean, you could do vanilla schemes and go 10 and 2. So I don't know him well enough and maybe that's my job to know him better. What matters to him? If you want to challenge yourself, this isn't it. Now you could say, well, what about Nick Saban? Nick Saban tried the NFL. He went from lsu crushed. And like, I want to try it. Jim Harbaugh, he went back to the NFL. I think a lot of these guys get bored is that if you get to a blue blood. I mean, hell, Harbaugh won at Stanford, so there's no question Notre Dame's nil is good. The recruiting's great, their roster's excellent. You know, a lot of people thought they should have been in the playoff. And Notre Dame's got the Money they're not going to get. I mean, here was Notre Dame's AD last week. He knows how great and attractive Freeman is as a candidate. Everybody has eyes on Marcus. College has eyes on Marcus. NFL has eyes on Marcus. I bet Hollywood has eyes on Marcus, right? I wouldn't be surprised if he's in the next, you know, Leo DiCaprio movie with Martin Scorsese. I view his contract, although a multi year contract, as a living, breathing document that we will revise every year as need be to make sure he's where he deserves to be. He knows he has that commitment from me and more importantly, from the university. Yeah, that's smart. That's the way it should be handled. He really is top of the food chain in terms of. I'm looking for a young, dynamic, aggressive, smart, ethical recruiter. Boy, he checks every box. But it is interesting when you look at the Notre Dame schedule and Notre Dame is not an easy job. I mean, Brian Kelly used to say that. Now Brian Kelly's wound pretty tight and he got, you know, he, he wanted to golf by the end of it, you know, and the Notre Dame and lsu. I think Brian wanted. He wanted to golf. That's been reported. Not just an opinion, but when you look at that schedule and now USC is like, we're not really interested. Well, how many games are there? How many, how many SEC and Big Ten teams? I mean, you guys all think USC bailed on Notre Dame? Well, what top team? Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Bama, Georgia, lsu. Why would you schedule Notre Dame? You're fully committed members of a conference, great conferences, the Big Ten in the sec. So I mean, that's what, that's what the schedule is mostly going to look like. Now you can talk yourself into, well, if we make the tournament. But I mean, the only game on that schedule that's super challenging personnel wise, the Miami game in South Bend.

[J Mac]

Did you know Microsoft has officially ended Support for Windows 10 upgrade to Windows 11 with an LG Gram laptop voted PCMag's reader's choice. Top laptop brand for 2025. Thin and ultra lightweight, the LG Gram keeps you productive anywhere. And Windows 11 gives you access to free security updates and ongoing feature upgrades. Visit LGUSA.com iHeart for great seasonal savings on LG Gram laptops with Windows 11. PCMag Reader's Choice. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

[Podcast Announcer]

Ten athletes will face the toughest job interview in fitness that will push past physical and mental breaking points. You are the fittest of the fit. Only one of you will leave here with an IFIT contract worth $250,000.

[Colin Cowherd]

This is where mindset comes in.

[Podcast Announcer]

Someone will be eliminated. Pressure is coming down.

[Colin Cowherd]

Trainer Games on Prime Video January 8th. Watch the trailer on trainergames.com A new.

[Podcast Announcer]

Year is on the horizon, and your 2026 savings start here. Right now. You can access the Washington post for just $2 every four weeks. Head into the new year with six months of savings at this special intro rate. After that, it'll cost $12 every four weeks. Cancel anytime. You'll get unlimited access to trusted journalism that helps you understand the year ahead and the world around you. Now's the perfect time to subscribe because great habits and great savings start together. Go to washingtonpost.com iheart that's washingtonpost.com iheart and start your year informed with the post at CVS, it matters that we're not just in your community, but that we're part of it.

[J Mac]

It matters that we're here for you.

[Podcast Announcer]

When you need us, day or night.

[J Mac]

And we want everyone to feel welcomed and rewarded.

[Podcast Announcer]

It matters that CVS is here to fill your prescriptions and here to fill your craving for a tasty and, yeah, healthy snack. At cvs, we're proud to serve your community because we believe where you get your medicine matters. So Visit [e-mail] or just come by our store. We can't wait to meet you. Store hours vary by location.

[Colin Cowherd]

Your ticket to Big Savings is that big blue envelope in your mailbox, valpack. It's brimming with deals from big name brands and your favorite local spots, dining services, stuff you're already buying, all for less. And you could score 100 or other instant prizes just for opening it. Or save even faster with mobile coupons you can use right now at valpack.com Valpak there's definitely something in it for you.

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