Hour 1 - BREAKING NEWS: Steelers-Dolphins trade

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 1: BREAKING NEWS: Steelers-Dolphins Trade

Release Date: June 30, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Description: The Herd with Colin Cowherd is a thought-provoking, opinionated, and topic-driven journey through the top sports stories of the day. In this episode, Colin delves into the recent Pittsburgh Steelers-Dolphins trade, the state of Team USA in soccer, LeBron James' career decisions, critiques of the Dallas Cowboys' management, and NBA trade dynamics involving the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons.

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1. Pittsburgh Steelers’ Defense Spending and Jalen Ramsey Trade

Timestamp: 02:21 – 11:26

Colin opens the episode with a critical analysis of the Pittsburgh Steelers' recent trade with the Miami Dolphins, where the Steelers acquired cornerback Jalen Ramsey. He expresses frustration over the Steelers' continual heavy investment in their defense, which he believes is not yielding the desired results.

• Colin Cowherd: "The Steelers can't stop spending money on defense" (02:25).
• Analysis of Ramsey Trade:
  • Expense: Ramsey's $26.5 million contract is significantly higher than the player replaced, Minka Fitzpatrick, who was $7 million cheaper.
  • Performance Concerns: Ramsey, described as a "loose" player, contrasting with the dependable Fitzpatrick.
  • Defensive Spending: Steelers have led the NFL in defensive spending for three consecutive years, likely moving into a fourth.

Guest Insights:

• Damian Downs: Highlights Ramsey’s inconsistency based on the team environment and compares him to players like Randy Moss, who thrived in stable organizations.

• Colin Cowherd: Emphasizes the importance of environment for player performance, asserting that dependable players like Fitzpatrick are more valuable than high-risk, high-reward players like Ramsey.

2. Team USA’s Success in the Gold Cup and Goalkeeping Excellence

Timestamp: 11:26 – 16:02

Transitioning to soccer, Colin praises Team USA's recent performance in the Gold Cup, particularly highlighting goalkeeper Matt Freeze’s crucial role in securing victories through exceptional shootout performances.

• Colin Cowherd: "Matt Freeze had the greatest moment in the entire Gold Cup" (11:48).
• Matt Freeze's Performance: Made multiple key saves during penalty shootouts, demonstrating remarkable execution under pressure.

Guest Insights:

• Damian Downs: Notes the progression toward the semifinals and the potential for a USA-Mexico final, lauding the team’s execution and strategic lineup changes by coach Mauricio Pochettino.

• Tyler Adams: Credits Freeze’s preparation and his goalkeeper coach, Tony Jimenez, for the save-making performance.

Key Takeaway: Execution in critical moments is essential for success in major tournaments, paralleling the importance of dependable personnel in other sports like football.

3. LeBron James’ Contract and the Debate Over “Ring Culture”

Timestamp: 18:33 – 50:53

Colin defends LeBron James amidst recent criticisms regarding his contract decisions and comments on "ring culture." He contrasts LeBron's approach with that of other elite athletes, emphasizing his focus on winning and team success.

• Colin Cowherd: "Rings matter and everybody knows it" (43:02).
• LeBron’s Contract Decision: LeBron opted into a $52.6 million contract option with the Lakers, sparking debate about financial management versus team success.

Key Points:

• Ring Culture: Critics argue that LeBron downplays the importance of championship rings, but Colin counters by highlighting the undeniable value of rings in evaluating a player's legacy.

• Comparison with Other Athletes:

  • Tom Brady, Tim Duncan, Josh Allen, Shohei Ohtani: All are noted for taking pay cuts or being flexible financially to prioritize team success.
  • Colin’s Argument: LeBron’s financial decisions are influenced by his status as a billionaire with substantial income streams outside the NBA, making his situation unique.

Trivia Segment:

• Damian Downs: Engages in a trivia question about LeBron’s salary ranking, revealing that LeBron was the 14th highest-paid player last season, dispelling claims that he is excessively overpaid.

Colin Cowherd: Emphasizes LeBron’s contributions and strategic importance to the Lakers, arguing that financial constraints are hindering the team's ability to win championships.

4. Critique of the Dallas Cowboys’ Management and Strategy

Timestamp: 50:53 – 61:38

Colin shifts focus to the NFL, specifically criticizing the Dallas Cowboys for their poor management decisions, lack of strategic acquisitions, and overall execution in building a competitive team.

Key Points:

• Saquon Barkley’s Free Agency: Saquon Barkley expressed frustration over the Cowboys not pursuing him despite his status as one of the best running backs.

• Management Failures:

  • Drafting and Development: Lack of impactful draft picks and poor front-office execution.
  • Coaching Stability: Mention of weak coaching staff, inability to hire effective coordinators from outside the organization, and overall poor strategic planning.

• Colin’s Analysis: Argues that the Cowboys are underperforming despite their high-profile status, labeling them as a bottom-tier franchise in terms of postseason success.

• Future Predictions:

  • Cowboys’ Front Office: Expected to continue poor decision-making, similar to past ownership under Dan Snyder.
  • Impact on Roster: Inability to secure top talent like Derrick Henry due to mismanagement and budget constraints.

5. NBA Trade Discussions: Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons

Timestamp: 61:38 – 50:53

In the NBA segment, Colin discusses potential trade moves involving the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons, focusing on Derrick White and Mikhail Bridges.

Key Points:

• Boston Celtics’ Trade Considerations:

  • Derrick White: Valued for his defensive prowess and three-point shooting.
  • Potential Trade for Mikhail Bridges: Requires significant assets, including four unprotected first-round picks and a swap, which Colin deems unattractive.

• Detroit Pistons’ Needs:

  • Shooting and Defense: Looking to replace Malik Beasley’s departure and strengthen their wing defense.
  • Trade Feasibility: Unlikely that Detroit would part with the necessary assets for Derrick White, despite his value.

Guest Insights:

• Damian Downs: Highlights Derrick White’s versatility and defensive capabilities, arguing he’s a better fit for teams needing to upgrade their wing defense.

• Colin Cowherd: Emphasizes Derrick White’s underrated status and potential impact on a team’s defensive structure, suggesting that the Celtics undervalue his contributions.

Conclusion: The discussion underscores the complexities of NBA trades, where even valuable players like Derrick White may not secure favorable deals due to the high cost of assets required.

6. Final Thoughts and Audience Engagement

Timestamp: 50:53 – End

Colin wraps up the episode by reiterating his critiques of major sports teams’ management decisions and emphasizing the importance of strategic financial and personnel decisions in achieving success. He engages the audience with a trivia question about LeBron James’ salary, further illustrating his points regarding player compensation and value.

Notable Quotes:

• Colin Cowherd: "You can't win the west against Jokic. Because you have no size." (45:18)
• Damian Downs: "LeBron should just take less if he wants to win. That's really nonsense." (45:54)

Audience Takeaway: The episode provides a comprehensive critique of high-profile sports management decisions across the NFL and NBA, advocating for strategic investments in key areas like defense in football and player acquisition in basketball to achieve championship success.

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Conclusion

In this episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, listeners are treated to a deep dive into significant sports news and trends. Colin's candid opinions and detailed analysis offer valuable insights into the strategic decisions shaping major sports franchises. From critiquing the Steelers’ defense spending to dissecting the complexities of LeBron James’ career choices, and evaluating the missteps of the Dallas Cowboys, Colin provides a comprehensive overview that is both engaging and informative for sports enthusiasts.

Notable Quotes:

• "Rings matter and everybody knows it." – Colin Cowherd (43:02)
• "Matt Freeze had the greatest moment in the entire Gold Cup." – Colin Cowherd (11:48)
• "Derrick White may be the most underrated player in the league." – Colin Cowherd (31:21)

For More Episodes:
Stay tuned to The Herd with Colin Cowherd on Fox Sports Radio, available on the iHeartRadio app or your local radio station.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[J. Mac]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Matt Freeze]

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[Colin Cowherd]

Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports radio at noon.

[J. Mac]

To 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific.

[Colin Cowherd]

Find your local station for the [e-mail] or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Now let's get this party started.

[Matt Freeze]

Listening to Fox Sports Radio.

[Colin Cowherd]

It is a Monday, lots going on. We are live. It is the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. J. Mac I was thinking about this this morning when a Story broke is that, you know, all of us have budgets. Most of us have budgets, not everybody. But you can kind of tell what people spent their money on by the time they're 50, 60, based on the kind of financial situation they're in. You know, I tell my kids all the time, dad doesn't have a problem with you spending money, spending on the right stuff, spending on smart stuff. And there's an NFL team that has driven me crazy for about five years. The Pittsburgh Steelers. And breaking news this morning, JMac, they did it again this morning. So the Steelers can't stop spending money on defense. So this morning, what do you know? Bounce around the league guy. Jalen Ramsey, 26 and a half million dollars. The Steelers went and got him. Now, they did move off of Minka Fitzpatrick, but Minka is low maintenance, $7 million a year cheaper. A leader in the room, not a bounce around the league guy. So the Steelers can't help themselves. Now they're spending seven and a half million dollars more than they were yesterday in the secondary. And for the record, Pittsburgh has led the NFL in defensive spending three years in a row. This will guarantee it's four. The New York Giants and the Steelers spend all their money on defense. You know who spends it on offense? The Rams and the Eagles have the two cheapest defenses today. And the Chiefs spent the more most money in the league on offense. Chief Steelers, Rams, what do they have in common? Momentum. Winning. Perpetually Interesting. In the NFL, everybody's got a budget. It's called the cap. Where do you spend their money? I've told my kids my entire life, the two E's, education and experiences, that's where I'm going to spend my money. On great, memorable things when dad is gone. Great memories and to educate. All right, if you're spending on cars, a third, if you're spending it on clothes, I'm going to be able to tell over time you didn't spend it wisely. Stop spending money on defense. I thought, oh, they're moving off Minka Fitzpatrick, who didn't have a great year. I mean, he was like 52nd ranked safety, a good player, but a team leader. And by the way, they're number one in defensive spending and they don't have the TJ Watt contract finalized. That's going to be 45 million annually. So you, you have that TJ Watt issue to deal with and he's your best defensive player. And Jalen Ramsey, two things. He's a very, very loose player. That's why the Rams moved off him they wouldn't badmouth him publicly, but he's kind of an independent guy doing his own thing. He's an independent contractor. He's going to do what he wants on his terms. And the Rams, after he got burned two or three times in that playoff super bowl run, you know, they got tired of it. So he's also a player, he's very dependent on his environment. And so when he was with the loose Dolphins and the loose Jacksonville Jaguar organizations, he wasn't as good. He was loose, he made mistakes. When the Rams got him, I thought at his, he was probably the best. Jalen Ramsey. I've said this before about Randy Moss. When Randy had the Patriots, he broke NFL records. When he was with the stable Vikings, Randy Moss was great. Put him on the Raiders. Oh. So there's just a lot of people in life and a lot of professional athletes in life. They're very much a reflection of the environment they're in. And so Minka Fitzpatrick, he's going to be good anywhere. It didn't matter if the Steelers are loose. Minka Fitzpatrick is a pro, a leader, dependable. Jalen Ramsey, much more a reflection of the environment. So he goes to an organization that, remember last week, remember James Harrison last week saying the best part about Mike Tomlin, he's a players coach. The worst part about Mike Tomlin, he's really a players coach. And some players are not great with players coaches. Now, James Harrison was undrafted, totally driven, a complete grinder, absolutely laser focused. But not every Steeler, as we found out, is James Harrison. So this is a great example of how do you spend your money? Chiefs, Rams, Eagles, they spend it on offense. They win every year. The Steelers and the Giants keep doubling down on defense. It's weird. It's almost as if the Steelers, trying to solve their offensive issues, looked at last year's jets and said, let's do what they're doing. Remember what the jets did. They added Hassan Redick, didn't really need him, and then signed Aaron Rodgers. The Steelers went, give us some of that. Let's sign a guy that really isn't as productive as he used to be on defense and is not inexpensive and a 40 year old quarterback. I'm just going to say this, probably don't want to watch the New York jets ever and say I'll take two heaping tablespoons of what the New York jets are doing and that that's what the Steelers did this morning. I could have been okay getting and moving off Minka Fitzpatrick though. I liked him. But then Adding a guy that's looser as a bounce around the league guide now and there's seven and a half million dollars more you're guaranteed to pay Pre TJ Watt contract. Not good. Let's talk about something that is good. So we are one year away, I think it's 11 months, one year away from the World cup on US soil and it's a biggie because this is the best group of talent we've ever had in terms of attacking and scoring. Now many of them are not playing. This is sort of our B B team but we were on a four game skid before the Gold Cup. But our biggest issue before the Gold cup is we don't have a goalie. Before yesterday we didn't have a goalie and last night we finally found one. Matt Freeze who may have struggled to for a moment against Haiti, but against Costa Rica in the shootout he was absolutely brilliant. First of all, Matt Freeze in the shootout three different times made a save. That is remarkable. Another two times he got his hand on it. So say what you want about shootouts, I hear people, they're not real soccer. Yes they are. Yes they are. They're better than our overtimes in college and pro football and they're tension filled and they're all about execution. And that's the one thing we were worried about with Team USA without Christian Pulisic. Can we execute when we get penalty kicks, when we get corner kicks, when we have set pieces, can we execute? Because when you have Pulisic it always seems to work. So tip of the cap to Tyler Adams and Malik Tillman and Alex Freeman and Damian Downs. But we did not have a goalie. In fact, on the pregame show our guys were saying on Fox, is Matt Turner going to start? Matt Freese had, and we've had incredible goalies in my lifetime. We're a hands country. We're good when you need to use hands. Not always great with Jeff's feet. But Matt Freese after that Haiti moment where he froze, you're thinking we're not good enough to be bad in the nets. We're just not good enough. Matt Freeze yesterday, the greatest moment in the entire Gold cup, not just for us. It was tension filled. And by the way, wasn't the world last World cup decided by PK's? Yeah. So I'm not going to, I'm not going to spend some time debating whether or not shootouts matter. They're all about execution and that's what wins in the World Cup. Details goaltending and Execution. And also Mauricio Puccitino, it should be noted, made three changes to the lineup and two of the guys that were inserted in scored. So that momentum as we're on to the semis, regardless of what happens next, you have a sense of execution. We found our goalie, which is absolutely essential in the World Cup. You know, we always talk about offensive lines in the NFL. You're just not going to win a Super bowl with a battle line. Patrick Mahomes has been blown out twice in his career, like, humiliated twice in Super Bowls when the O line was a mess. You can't win a Super bowl with a battle line. And you're not winning a World cup or you're going to struggle to get out of a group stage. And maybe unless you're like a Brazil or Argentina, you're going to struggle to get out of the group stage unless you're really good in goal. And Matt Freeze yesterday talked about his remarkable performance.

[Tyler Adams]

Penalties are my thing. You know, I've been the plane ride over here to. To Minnesota. I was studying the penalties, and so, you know, I've been studying them all week and was ready for it if we needed it. And the one that I didn't, didn't move on suggestion from my goalkeeper coach, Tony Jimenez. And you know, he was. He was the reason that save was made.

[Colin Cowherd]

So I gotta tell you, J. Mac, there's very few things in sports, in America, globally, that are more riveting than when you go to PK's. I'm sitting there for 10 minutes, and I mean, the world stops and it was like a real moment. And all of a sudden, when Burhalter's son misses, I'm like, oh, no, this is going to go sideways. No, this can't happen. But our guys delivered, and it was about as good as 10 to 12 minutes of live sports can be. So tip of the cap to our guys.

[Damian Downs]

Yeah. And let's be real, they are heavy favorites in the semifinals against Guatemala.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes.

[Damian Downs]

And we're looking at a USA Mexico final, which would be incredible, obviously, for the country. For soccer fans, I will say soccer purists, colin, they hate PKs as an ending.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Damian Downs]

They're like, oh, this running around for two, you know, two hours. And we end up penalty kicks. So silly. But you're right. Thrilling television.

[Colin Cowherd]

Just gripping. Well, remember, if you run around for two hours, the last thing that's going to decide it is running around for another 15 minutes. This is soccer perhaps not at its purest form, but at its most crucial form. Of execution. I mean, when you watch the great teams that win the World cup, goal scorers and goalkeeping decide World Cups, that's what decides it. The great attacker, the great score and somebody makes a great save and you put them up front, up close and personal. This is what's going to decide this match. And again, if you go 90 minutes and you're tied often in the blazing sun, I don't need you to play longer. I want execution. And their Team USA delivered it.

[Damian Downs]

Let me quickly add, you know, we talked about, like, hey, this is the B team with some C guys. They're not going to be in the World Cup. Freeze just made a case to Pochettino. Hey, man, I know Matt Turner's a guy. I want in. I want a legitimate shot.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Damian Downs]

And Diego Luna has been playing. Incredible, incredible. Certified a spot for himself.

[Colin Cowherd]

Tyler Adams, I should make the team as well. So I, I, I did think Buchettino came out and said, I'm going to make some lineup changes. And they all worked. And he's always been a fan of change and youth and development. So that's why they brought him in and moved off Greg Berhalter. Pochettino strength is I'm going to use young guys, I'm going to develop them, I'm going to give them opportunities and they delivered.

[Damian Downs]

Yeah, we're going to beat Guatemala, that's for sure. Lock that up. And then we're in the finals. And then it's, hey, we play Mexico, hopefully in what should be another classic game between the two countries.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yep, I can't wait.

[Matt Freeze]

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

[Ben Maller]

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[J. Mac]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[J. Mac]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Colin Cowherd]

Colin. Right. Colin wrong. Top of next hour, 40 minutes away. Plus Matt Hasselbeck. It is a Monday and a lot to talk about. So listen, I have been overwhelmingly a LeBron defender my entire career. But. But there are a couple of things recently that he's done that give his critics, and there's a lot of them. MJ's always been more popular. That's not even disputable. And I would say about 75 to 80% of the people think MJ's the goat, not LeBron. But he's done something recently. I saw yesterday where he picked up his $52.6 million Laker option. And in the press release, well, LeBron wants to win titles. Well, then you can't pick up the option. You can't play for $52 million. It's a. No owner's gonna blow through it. So, first of all, he got into that silly ring debate about two weeks ago where he talked about something that he didn't truly believe, which is the ring culture. It's overemphasized. And then a piece of video emerged of LeBron saying, Everyone in Cleveland, hey, that ring, I think, make me the greatest of all time. Well, I thought. I thought the ring culture's overemphasized. Rings matter to everybody, including LeBron, and he knows it. But he's not as popular as MJ. The numbers we remember about Michael are 6 for 6. And Michael is considered the goat by a lot of people, including some notable people like a Phil Jackson. And that's just the reality of it. Okay? It is. And Michael's much more popular. His shoes, still leading sellers. They're like collector's items, and they still sell. And so the reality is that debate was silly. It was projection. And then the second thing is, you know, LeBron's always been, hey, I'm about winning, which I've always argued. He. He plays winning basketball. He elevates teammates. He's like a more athletic Magic Johnson. But then when you do this knowing the Lakers need at least two centers.

[J. Mac]

Two.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's what Oklahoma City has, you know, that's what the Knicks have. That's what, you know, the better teams in the league, they've got a couple of bigs, by the way, Denver drafted a big. He got hurt. But they'll have two next year. Like, you've got to have bigs. And the Lakers have one, and the coach, J.J. redick, doesn't want to play him. So they need two centers. Dorian Finney Smith is opting out. They need two wing defenders then. And you can't do it if you're taking maxes because they got to pay Luka this summer. And Austin Reeves just declined money. And they take. They tell everybody they love Austin Reeves. And so you're going to have to pay LeBron. And he's opting in for 52.6 million. So again, what is it? Are you about winning? Because I've seen Ohtani take pay cuts, and Josh Allen and Tom Brady and Tim Duncan and Jalen Brunson. That's about winning. Tom did it for winning. He was the best quarterback in the world, and he kept taking pay cuts. So you're going to have to pay Luca, and I'm told you're going to pay eventually. Austin Reaves. So if. If LeBron is often in. It's not a championship team, okay? And I've seen the great ones. I mean, LeBron now, and I don't envy it. There's no animosity. I don't think anybody holds it against LeBron that he's a billionaire. We don't care. There's billionaires everywhere. Everything we buy at Amazon run by a billionaire who just got married in Venice. And Venice is mad. But, you know, most Americans were capitalists. We're good with it. That's not it. But when you're telling me ring culture doesn't matter, and you're telling me winning, it's all about winning. No, it's not. You just watched OKC in Indiana that had like eight deep rotations that played eight or nine guys. The Lakers don't even trust their starting center. JJ Redick doesn't. LeBron's getting older. Luka is hopefully in shape. They're going to have to pay Austin Reeves. I'm told they love him. So you're giving your critics cannon fodder to criticize you. And for years, I've always been. LeBron's about winning. Nah, Brady was about winning. Duncan was about winning. Josh Allen's about winning. Ohtani, is about winning. That's what I'm. Jalen Brunson's about winning. That's what truly matters to them. I don't feel like they're projecting. They're actionable on not taking the maximum available. So I'm just saying, just be of your word. Do rings matter? Of course they do. And does money matter more than winning at this point? Absolutely. Yes, it does. By the way, Kobe Bryant wanted every penny to the end, but he was honest about it. He was authentic about it. He was totally upfront about it. There's multiple quotes about it. Just be honest with us. That's all we're asking. J. Mac with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news.

[Matt Freeze]

This is the Herd line news.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right, my friend.

[Damian Downs]

Let's get started with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Colin. They're hoping the old Aaron Rodgers shows up this season. I know they had the big trade today. Well, Ben Roethlisberger, who played his entire career in Pittsburgh, was talking about Rogers, and for some reason he compared him to Patrick Mahomes.

[Tyler Adams]

I would take Aaron in his prime over, over, over Patrick now. I think. I think, yeah, I think Aaron Rodgers in his prime was one of the top few to ever do it, and so is Patrick Mahomes at his prime. Patrick Mahomes is just, just like entering out of his prime. I think, I mean, Aaron ro. Yes, I think Patrick Mo Mahomes is a phenomenal. He's going to go down as a. As a, you know, another arguable goat.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay. Patrick Mahomes, like John Elway, is not only defined by getting to Super Bowls, but Elway and Patrick Mahomes are defined by playing from behind to win huge games. That has always been. And you can look it up, the weakness when Aaron gets behind, he has a bizarrely low number of come from behind fourth quarter wins. Mahomes is defined by it. That was John Elway strength in his prime. It was like Elway was never out of a game. I've said it before. If Aaron throws two picks in a game, he shuts it down. Andrew Luck didn't. Brady didn't. Elway didn't. Mahomes doesn't. And I think that's the definition. It's not. We always talk about this J. Mac quarterback is not how you play with a lead, with great protection in a run game. How do you play when you're from behind? By the way, that went over the Niners in the super bowl, they are trailing going into the fourth quarter. Mahomes has always been good when the chips are down and you need a play. I've always felt, especially in later years, Aaron is good with a lead, but he plays it safe, especially if he throws a pick. Which by the way, Brady had a pick six in a Super bowl. Like you have to be the same quarterback lead or trailing to be an all time top four or five. Great to me. Peyton Manning did not keep track of his interceptions. Brady didn't, Mahomes doesn't, Josh Allen doesn't. Aaron does keep track. He's a different quarterback if he's thrown one or two and he's trailing late.

[Damian Downs]

Yeah, no, those are valid points. It's a, it's a tough one because at his height Aaron Rodgers was I think multiple time mvp. But remember, he's comparing him to current Patrick Mahomes. Colin Mahomes is coming off his worst season pretty much as a pro. Yeah, right. No weapons. Yeah. It's one of splitting hairs. I would probably lean Rogers in his prime over current Mahomes, but Mahomes will end up with a better career that's undeniable. All right, let's stay in the NFL. Go to my Jets. Sauce Gardner angling become one of the highest paid players in the league, certainly at his position. So he's eligible for an extensive extension heading into year four. And for some reason over the weekend he decided to jump on social media and repop a Deion Sanders take from March. Now Colin, what does that mean that Sauce Gardner perhaps thinks hey man, negotiations are not going well. Let me let everybody know what coach prime said back in March.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, Sauce Gardner did not have a great year and he's a remarkably talented player. But I think you and I have talked about this. You talked about two years ago being a wide receiver bubble. You were about a year ahead of that. I've come to terms with there are so many smart offensive coaches and using so many sets and so much motion that cornerbacks now having a shutdown corner. Now I'm not saying you don't need two capable corners, but the idea of needing a shutdown corner outside of Patrick. Certain I'm not sure I'd pay big money for any corner in the league. Certain I would. He is so reliable, so low maintenance, so dependable, defends the run and pass. But I think Sauce Gardner is kind of the classic now guy in an island, very good, can sometimes be a little flash driven, making the big splash play over the dependable tackle. So I'm just again, I think he's super talented but I the world of having to have a lockdown corner. I mean, look at the teams that have locked down corners. Cleveland, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Carolina. I mean, I just. I think quarterbacks, pass rushers, left tackles and good coaches connect to the playoffs.

[Damian Downs]

Well, some of.

[Colin Cowherd]

I don't think having a great corner.

[Damian Downs]

Is quarterbacks on a rookie deal, which probably helps him. He could spend a little extra on a corner. I'm looking at Sauce Gardner. So what really hurts him, Colin, is his first year in the league, he graded out as the best cornerback in the NFL. Yep. Then he fell to third and in year three he stepped back to 31st. So he's not trending the right way heading into a contract year. And I'm assuming the jets are playing hardball as they should. But Sauce Gardner retweeting this from Deion Sanders is a sign that he's not thrilled with the direction things are going. Listen, I don't. The problem is the jets don't have a quarterback. So you can probably face off in that category of J.C. horn.

[Colin Cowherd]

Before last season, before last season when they hit on two rookies, the Eagles had below average corners. They really had a bad secondary. They kept ending up in NFC championship. The Rams, right now, probably the biggest weakness I would say is corner. And their defense is unbelievable. I think the league's gotten really smart. I think it's it. You can't press guys like you used to. You can't touch them after two or three yards. I think having a great corner, you can marginalize that position. And how many great corners want to tackle on run plays? Not that many.

[Damian Downs]

No, it's a good point. I will add the first great year he had Robert Sala's defense. Robert Salah, great defensive mastermind. Last year, he's bounced in a month and Sauce did not end up playing as great. Final story, Colin. Let's go to the NBA where the Celtics continue to flirt with trading Jaylen Brown or Derrick White. In regards to White, how about this one? Reports indicate Boston is looking for a Mikhail Bridges like return. Remember, Bridges cost four unprotected ones and a pick swap and another first. So if you want Derrick White, you're not getting him on the cheap. They think he's worth Mikhail Bridges. I don't necessarily agree with that, but White's resume is pretty good. And let's be honest, Bridges, he's not like an all NBA guy.

[Colin Cowherd]

I really like Derrick White. I think he's a varied three and D guy. I think it's an excellent three point shooter. He's also the other thing about Derrick White. J. Mac, he's played now in a lot of big games, pressurized games. The Celtics, those games. Boston's a hard place to play in the NBA, so he's played in big games. Excellent three point shooter. He has these nights where he explodes. You can get 30 points out of Derrick White and, and it doesn't shock you. Excellent defender, good locker room guy. Doesn't need the ball. He's a team guy. You never hear anything about Derrick White. He's been a grinder. He didn't come in, you know, five star athlete. I, I think he's just a really underrated NBA player.

[Damian Downs]

You know, where he fits perfect. It won't happen. But Detroit, they're losing Malik Beasley, the great shooter that they had last year. They need a shooting. A shooting. Plays defense next to Kate Cunningham. Derrick White would make all the sense.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes.

[Damian Downs]

There. I just can't. I don't see Detroit giving up like four ones for Derrick White. Like.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, they've. Well, I mean, it's a really good point. So they've got their one in Kate Cunningham. They've got their centerpiece. Derrick White would be their second best player. I'd rather him be my third. Yeah, okay, so. But again, you're developing young players. If Derek's your third, you're a very good playoff team. If he's your second, you may not be. But he's. He made all NBA defense now, I think the last two years.

[Damian Downs]

He's very.

[Colin Cowherd]

So he is an elite, long, hardworking, focused defensive player who on any night can give you 27.

[Damian Downs]

Yeah. And this I remember we talked about the Lakers maybe going after him or Austin Reeves would then be their fourth best. But the Lakers are not giving up four first round picks for Derrick White. They're just not doing well.

[Colin Cowherd]

If you gave up old Austin Reeves, you could have yourself.

[Damian Downs]

We're not parting with Austin Reeves in a Derrick White deal.

[Colin Cowherd]

What do they need?

[Damian Downs]

I would take Giannis for Austin Reed.

[Colin Cowherd]

I would give up Derrick White. I would give up Austin Reeves for Derrick White tomorrow. Because you know what? Derrick White solves your wing defensive hole. I mean that, that the Lakers need at least two bigs because they have one and the coach doesn't like it. They need two bigs. You're not getting those for free. And you absolutely have to upgrade at wing defender.

[Damian Downs]

Well, you may get one for free. A player was just released here. We'll talk about it next hour. A big man.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, I was sure. It's a key milagro, 1 level J Mack with the news.

[Matt Freeze]

Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping the herd lie news.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. You know, it's funny because. Because Austin Reeves plays for the Lakers. He's viewed up here. Derrick White's a better defender by far and a better three point shooter and the Lakers need both. So if you told me Austin, Derrick White, straight trade, I would do it in one second. And that's not a knock on Austin Reed. Derrick White may be the most underrated player in the league. He may be the most underrated player in the league. I think Boston knows it and Boston saying the league may underrate him. We don't. We want four unprotecteds. So I saw this story. Listen, here's what we do for a living. There's football season and waiting for football season. So I would be the first to admit that when I see one of these tantalizing NFL topics, I can't get my teeth off it. So Saquon Barkley had said this. Who right now, when McCaffrey is healthy, I think he's the best running back in the league. But I think Saquon has been healthy more often. So he's probably viewed as the best running back in the league. He said, yeah, I never heard a word from the Commanders or the Dallas Cowboys when I was available. So I'll give the Commanders a little bit of a pass. New ownership, a lot of moving parts, I'll give them a little pass. But the Cowboys had the worst running back room in the league and they didn't make a phone call on Derrick Henry or Saquon Barkley. And we were talking about this this morning. I've never owned a Maserati, but the Cowboys and Maseratis are that luxury brand that feel like they spend way too much time in the shop. And right now I think it's hard for people to wrap their brains around. I think Dallas is a bottom quarter, bottom fifth NFL franchise. But because they've been such a luxury brand, it's hard to wrap your brain around that. Like you think the Cowboys and you think winning. But right now I would argue weakest head coach in the sport and not a very good overall staff because the weaker the coach, the weaker the staff he can assemble. They have not had back to back hits in a draft for five years and that was the CD Lam first round, Trayvon Diggs, second round. Those were great. Those were good hits. That's the last time they did that. So in terms of drafting and development and execution, strategic execution in the front office and coaching staff you know, this has been my three year narrative. They're not well run and they were not in the Derrick Henry market. And remember, I didn't, I wasn't gravy training on this. I said, the Derrick Henry move six months before it happened. I said, you got it. They need Derrick Henry to help Dak Henry goes to Baltimore, crushes. And now we've, we've since learned they couldn't afford him. Right. Well now with this Micah Parsons thing coming, this huge contract, I just think their strategy and execution is really poor. And this is what I was on with the Lakers for seven or eight years, is that it was mom and pop. There were too many friends of the bus family in the building. You need outside eyes. When the Lions lose both their coordinators, Aaron Glenn goes to the jets, and then Ben Johnson, Bears. My take was you can't hire from within the building. These were arguably the two best coordinators in the league. The answer can't be in the building. At least one of those moves, one of those coordinators got to go outside the building. The Cowboys and the Lakers never go outside the building. It's always friends of Jason Garrett, Brian Schottenheimer. It's always friends of. So it's, it's. I mean, for years, Dan Snyder was such an awful owner in division that it kind of didn't matter if Dallas made a mistake because everybody sort of acknowledged he's not Dan Snyder. Dan's now been dismissed, basically forced out, rightfully so, by the NFL. And, and now you're seeing, now it's a different kind of dysfunction. But since 2000, not that long ago, teams that have more postseason wins than the Cowboys. When you think I'm hyperbolic here, since 2000, the Jets, Bengals, Titans, Cardinals, Panthers have more playoff wins. I'm not just saying it to say it like Saquon Barkley's like, yeah, I didn't hear from him. Wouldn't you just call him to keep him away from Philadelphia or drive the price up or something? I mean, wouldn't you just. Sometimes I've seen this in network television. You may not want a sporting event. I can remember when I was at the other place, the other place didn't really want the Olympics, but they wanted to drive the price up. So NBC would pay more for the Olympics. I can remember that very well. Sometimes you get involved in negotiations just to be annoying to your rivals, just to make them do extra paperwork. I've heard coaches say this before. They'll run a trick play in a blowout win, like if they feel comfortable and lead just to put it on film so the other team has to worry about it and practice against it, they're going to waste practice time on that. I think you get into the Derek I think you get into the Saquon Barkley market just just to make it difficult in case Philadelphia would want to sign him, which they did. Colin right? Colin wrong. Top of next hour, it's the Herd.

[Matt Freeze]

Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific.

[J. Mac]

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[Colin Cowherd]

Amount of home equity.

[J. Mac]

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[Matt Freeze]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[J. Mac]

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[Colin Cowherd]

J Mac just told me during the break he wants to play a little trivia here. So I. I just said I have defended LeBron, you know, and this could be our last LeBron topic for a while. I've defended LeBron for years that he's a winning player, he's more magic than Michael, he elevates teammates, he doesn't get in Trouble. I'm a LeBron fan. Who's the best ever? I don't really care. They're different players. Totally. Kobe was more Michael, LeBron's more Magic. I don't care. But there have been moments where I feel like LeBron's not being totally honest with us. Like the whole ring culture arguments like LeBron, it's a straw man argument. We all know Barkley's great, but the reason he isn't as good as you or Michael or Magic is you guys do have a lot of rings. Rings do matter and everybody knows it. Also, you can't tell me it's about winning when you take the max. By the way, Kobe Bryant took the max but always said I'm not given. I may love the bus family. I'm not giving them discounts. Players shouldn't give discounts. Just be honest with me. Kobe was always upfront about that. LeBron tends to be a little, you know, it's a little passive aggressive. I want to win. Well, not really, because this team needs two centers and probably now two wing defenders. That's why I would make an Austin for Derrick White trade. But. Okay, so you were going to ask me a trivia question about salary.

[Damian Downs]

Well, okay, so I brought up the salary because this idea, and I'm not saying you're saying this, but this idea, LeBron should just take less if he wants to win. That's really nonsense. Okay, Kobe demanded to be the number one paid player LeBron last year. Can you guess where he ranked in salary last season alone? And I'll get. I'll give you Steph Curry was the leader at a $55 million cap.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, remember, because a lot of people had contracts negotiated last year with the new CBA. I'd say it's probably 15th last year.

[Damian Downs]

Oh, wow, that's pretty good. LeBron was the 14th highest paid player last year after just legends such as Bradley Beal, Carl Anthony Towns, Damian Lillard. Like, LeBron's already making less than them. I just don't want to hear this. Hey, just take less, LeBron. Well, it doesn't apply to Ohtani. It doesn't apply to Tom Brady.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's the difference is salary caps. LeBron's already a billionaire, number one, and you're giving me awful contracts and saying, well, LeBron's isn't that bad. Well, yeah, they shouldn't be. LeBron is thoughtful, he's smart, he's a billionaire. He's got a production company, he's got a shoe deal. So LeBron can't be held to Cat's standard.

[Damian Downs]

Right?

[Colin Cowherd]

So if Cat. If the Knicks are also a bad franchise that had to make deals, LeBron now is in the catbird seat, I would say, for 15 years in this league. Like Brady, at the end, Brady was making money, endorsements. His wife was worth 300, $400 million at the time or more. So you couldn't compare Brady to, like, anybody else. And my take is, listen, if LeBron wants to win, by the way, if LeBron came out and just said, hey, listen, I'm not taking pay cuts, all players should get the most they can because these guys are all billionaires. I am totally okay with that, but I don't want in the press release to say, hey, it's about winning. OKC's roster. Lakers aren't close. Well, they're not. They're not. They have nine. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. They have two functional centers Nine guys they trust on the floor in the finals. Lakers do not have a trustable big guy from the coaching staff.

[Damian Downs]

Hartenstein is their highest paid player. Like, come on, they look great.

[Colin Cowherd]

But again, because they're not paying anybody else. The Lakers are different. You're like, you're looking to win the argument. Luka is guaranteed 240 this summer.

[Damian Downs]

Right?

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay. And Luka is a guy that we're hoping he's healthy and in shape. So the bottom line is the OKC has two functional centers. The Lakers have none.

[Damian Downs]

None.

[Colin Cowherd]

You. You cannot win the west against Jokic. Against okc. Size. This is what Golden State's running into. Okay? You can pay Draymond and Steph. You have no size. You have to go pay for bigs.

[Damian Downs]

Well, you can't have it all. That's just not realistic unless you look into it like the Thunder did. Building a team and struggling. But, Khan, let me just bring this up. You. You've said eloquently that LeBron really ushered in the player empowerment era. You love that. Do you know what it would look like if LeBron said, hey, I'll take 30 mil? It would be doing the opposite. That would be assigned to every veteran in the league. Hey, don't get your money. Take less. Well, LeBron took less. He's put up 24, 8 and 7. You ain't doing that. Take less. And it would be like the opposite. And it would look pretty bad for players. Would you not agree?

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, then don't. Release time and time again, the press release saying it's all about winning championships. Sports fans have always had, in my opinion, a better beat on stuff like this than actual media, which tends to protect players. Like, the fans know, the fans can see it, the ring culture stuff, silly argument. And it's all about winning. No, it's not. I mean, Austin Reeves is a better player than a lot of guys. Maybe in the league. He's not better than Derrick White. Make the deal. Give up picks if it's all about winning. In LeBron's last great year, LeBron is now saying, I got one year left. He's saying that one or two years. We've got one or two years. Austin reaves no center. LeBron at 4142. And Luka is not a championship team in the West.

[Damian Downs]

Let me ask you this. Since the report came out that LeBron is going to opt in, notice the Lakers have not said anything. It's been 24 hours. Are you surprised by that? Because everybody just assume, okay, it's A done deal. To me, it's the Lakers not really confirming it yet means maybe this isn't a done deal. I don't know. Does that, does it leave the door open for some something?

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, if you go look at the Mark Walter group, first thing they did with the Dodgers get better upstairs in the front office they got Andrew Friedman from Tampa. They're going to make a move in scouting in the executive suite. The second thing the Dodgers have done since the Mark Walter group arrived, they'll move off Manny Machado, Zach Grinke, Corey Seeger, Cody Bellinger. They will move off people. If the money and the production and the age isn't right. They've done it time and time again. So I'm telling you what the Lakers are going to do. Expand the analytics and scouting and start moving off some pieces. Mark my words. They're always. It's amazing the Dodgers have all this money yet they're always seeking the very best of the best. They will pay for the very best. So they moved off MVPs that LeBron.

[Damian Downs]

Is not with the Lakers next year and he's somewhere in the east trying to win a title. It sounds like he can't go to Cleveland. The money can't be made right. But I don't know. There's some excellent guys out there. Do you think he's not in the Lakers? Like 5%, 10?

[Colin Cowherd]

Oh, I, I'm just telling you that the Buss family needed Kobe and LeBron for merchandise sales and tickets. They were the poorest or one of the poorest ownership groups. Believe it or not, the Lakers were. Steve Ballmer's the richest. Right? Steve Ballmer makes a mil. A billion dollars a year on dividends from Microsoft. He makes a billion dollars a year on dividends from Microsoft. The Clippers owners, the richest in the NBA. The Lakers were. Bought them two or three. The Mark Walters group is going to be much more like Ballmer, where like if they wanted to build their own stadium, they would. The Lakers don't need that. Obviously they are going to operate differently.

[Damian Downs]

But right now, or do they wait.

[Colin Cowherd]

Here now, okay, everything. If I bought a business for 10 billion, you think I'm going to say, you know, I'm going to act differently. In about a year from now, everything is going to change. They're going to attack the scouting, the analytics. They're going to make the executive suite the best in the league. I mean, when is the last time the Dodgers called him a minor leaguer and they weren't exceptional? Like they just don't miss on anything.

[Damian Downs]

It feels unlikely that they would. The Lakers would move off an international global icon right now. I know Luka is, you know, a superstar in the future of the Lakers, but moving off LeBron would be a massive surprise to me. Like he's.

[Colin Cowherd]

I'm not predicting it right. I'm just saying unlike the previous owners, they could and not lose a second of sleep now. The NBA culture is different than baseball. Baseball's got like 10 year deals. Baseball tends to romanticize and lean into the past. But the Dodgers don't. The Dodgers run their operation like an NFL team. What'd you do last week? Not good enough. We're upgrading. That's not what baseball teams do. Baseball teams tend to lean into the past, understand the romance, the lore of history, all that stuff. Dodgers don't. You could be an mvp. Trading deadline off to a bad start. We're getting draft picks and a better player. They'll move off. They just. And by the way, that's how you should run a franchise that are now valued at $10 billion. I'm going to make sure we're hyper efficient and only pay for the very best.

[J. Mac]

Calling right?

[Colin Cowherd]

Wrong. Next.

[J. Mac]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[J. Mac]

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[Colin Cowherd]

Made the right way. Tito's made in Austin, Texas.

[J. Mac]

Real attention to detail.

[Colin Cowherd]

I like to keep it simple. Tito's soda, one lime, lot of ice.

[J. Mac]

Refreshing, easy. Summer, winter, spring.

[Colin Cowherd]

Totally versatile. Always works. Listen, baseball season's here. It's a perfect time to kick back with some Tito's. It's what I pour.

[J. Mac]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[J. Mac]

Every once in a while, you get the chance to make a real difference, and this is one of those moments. Folds of Honor provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of fallen or disabled military members and first responders. It's a powerful mission, honoring their sacrifice through the gift of education. But last year, about 7,000 qualified students didn't receive funding, and that number is expected to grow to nearly 10,000. Don't let financial needs stand in the way of their future. Visit foldsofhonor.org to donate. Any amount helps. Together we can close that gap one scholarship at a time.

[Colin Cowherd]

This is an iHeart podcast.