Hour 1 - Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: Hour 1 - Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson
Release Date: August 4, 2025
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Description: A thought-provoking, opinionated journey through the top sports stories of the day, focusing on young quarterbacks, coaching dynamics, and key NFL narratives.

---

1. Introduction to Young Quarterbacks

Timestamp: [01:03] - [07:07]

Colin Cowherd kicks off the discussion by highlighting the surge in media attention surrounding young quarterbacks during August workouts. He emphasizes the critical nature of training camps for unproven quarterbacks, using Caleb Williams and J.J. McCarthy as primary examples.

Caleb Williams:

• Performance Concerns: Colin references a viral video where Caleb Williams misses a crucial throw, leading to his ejection from the drill. “Caleb Williams had the most notable. He's thrown at a net. He goes, oh for three. And the last throw is so bad, he misses the net completely. And then he gets kicked off” ([02:15]).
• Impact on Confidence: Colin discusses how such performances not only affect the player’s confidence but also the coaching staff's trust in their playbook. “When a quarterback is unproven, like Caleb Williams... camp matters more. It’s not just your confidence. It’s your staff's confidence with you” ([05:50]).

J.J. McCarthy:

• Red Zone Struggles: The conversation shifts to J.J. McCarthy's difficulties in the red zone, leading to concerns about his touch and decision-making. Colin remarks, “He's working on his touch because everything’s a fastball” ([04:30]).
• Coaching Challenges: He points out the dilemma coaches face when a quarterback starts making errors in practice, potentially limiting the playbook. “You can use the whole playbook all over the field... but when you start throwing red zone picks in practice, you're closing parts of the playbook” ([06:45]).

Comparative Analysis:

• Colin draws parallels between young quarterbacks and chefs starting new restaurants, emphasizing that early performances can make or break their careers. “If you’re a new chef, you have to get a good write-up. That can ruin a young restaurant or a young chef. That’s how I look at quarterbacks” ([07:00]).

---

2. Chargers vs. Lions: A Microcosm of Coaching and Coordination

Timestamp: [07:07] - [16:30]

Game Analysis: Colin delves into the recent Chargers vs. Lions game, using it as a case study to illustrate how every small detail matters in football.

• Team Performance: “They were sloppy. Five turnovers, yet didn't create any” ([08:15]).
• Coaching Impact: The loss of offensive coordinators Ben Johnson (Bears) and Aaron Glenn (Lions) is scrutinized. Colin states, “They didn't just lose two coordinators... They chose comfort over the top candidate” ([10:45]).
• Comparative Coaching Styles: He contrasts scheme-dependent coaches like McVeigh or Shanahan with culture builders like Nick Sirianni and Dan Campbell, highlighting how the latter are more sensitive to losing key coordinators.

Philippine Coaching Insights:

• Colin emphasizes the importance of coordinators for maintaining offensive schemes and their influence on team performance. “With a scheme guy, you got to get the coordinators right or you get in trouble” ([12:30]).
• He praises successful scheme coaches like Andy Reid and Pete Carroll, noting their ability to integrate while maintaining a consistent offensive philosophy.

---

3. NFL Contract Holdouts: Micah Parsons vs. Terry McLaurin

Timestamp: [16:30] - [25:34]

Micah Parsons:

• Valuation and Performance: Colin defends Micah Parsons, arguing that his current contract is appropriate given his performance and draft position. “He's a good player, but I'm not making him the highest paid defensive end” ([17:45]).
• Market Comparison: He compares Parsons to other edge rushers like Miles Garrett and Nick Bosa, suggesting a proportional valuation. “He's got a year left on the deal. They can still, you know, they can still two times franchise tag him if they wanted to” ([19:10]).
• Contract Justification: Colin asserts, “His contract going into this year without a new contract would make him the fifth highest edge rusher cap hit. That's a totally appropriate contract” ([20:05]).

Terry McLaurin:

• Undervalued Talent: In stark contrast, Terry McLaurin is highlighted as a player who has significantly outperformed his contract. “Terry McLaurin has been a dog in the playoffs. He's unbelievably productive and he is a third-round pick” ([22:50]).
• Performance Metrics: Colin cites McLaurin’s impressive statistics, noting, “He had 82 catches, 14 in the postseason. He had three postseason touchdowns which was tied for the league lead” ([23:25]).
• Contract Discrepancy: He criticizes the disparity between McLaurin and higher-paid teammates like Deebo Samuel. “You can’t have Deebo making significantly more than Terry McLaurin” ([24:00]).

Conclusion on Holdouts:

• Colin concludes that not all holdouts are created equal, defending Micah Parsons' stance while advocating for better compensation for players like Terry McLaurin. “Not all contract holdouts are the same. Terry McLaurin has wildly outperformed his contract... but Micah feels a little egocentric” ([25:00]).

---

4. Matt Stafford and the Rams’ Injury Woes

Timestamp: [25:34] - [36:17]

Stafford’s Health Concerns:

• Injury Update: Colin discusses the recent injury report for Matt Stafford, noting, “Stafford is going to see a back specialist... Things do not look good for him playing at all in the preseason” ([26:00]).
• Career Longevity: He reflects on Stafford's playing style and age, comparing him to other aging quarterbacks like Tom Brady. “Matt doesn't want to throw the ball away. And so I think this is the reality now” ([27:00]).

Impact on Rams’ Season:

• Draft Strategy: Colin speculates that the Rams may prioritize drafting a new quarterback, potentially even if Stafford remains injured. “They want to draft a quarterback even if he doesn't play for a year” ([28:00]).
• Schedule Challenges: He highlights the difficulty of the Rams' upcoming schedule, especially against strong pass rush teams like the Houston Texans. “They got a Week 1 game against the Houston Texans... They’re the fifth in sacks” ([28:15]).

Performance Predictions:

• Colin expresses skepticism about Stafford’s ability to lead the Rams to a competitive season if he remains injured. “If Stafford’s not even close to 100%, they're not going to have any chance to compete” ([28:50]).

---

5. Denver Broncos: A Resurgent Team or Another Rebuild?

Timestamp: [36:17] - [41:47]

Coaching and Roster Strength:

• Sean Payton’s Impact: Colin praises Sean Payton, expressing surprise at the Broncos’ rapid improvement under his leadership. “I didn’t think they’d be this good this fast” ([37:00]).
• Quarterback Concerns: He notes the team's lack of quarterback experience as a potential hurdle. “I think they’re a team that lacks experience at quarterback” ([38:20]).

Bo Nix's Development:

• Performance Outlook: Discussion centers on Bo Nix’s potential growth and the Broncos’ expectations for him. “He’s ready to make the next step... but his feels a little egocentric” ([39:10]).
• Defensive Strength: Colin highlights the contributions of defensive players like Hu Fongwa, asserting his elite status when healthy. “He is a huge talent. People forgot about him. He was a Pro Bowler” ([40:25]).

Season Predictions:

• Colin remains cautiously optimistic, suggesting that if the Broncos can capitalize on their strengths and mitigate quarterback inexperience, they could be a formidable team. “They have elite players and if they can execute, they’re a top contender” ([41:00]).

---

6. Minnesota Vikings and J.J. McCarthy’s Progress

Timestamp: [41:47] - [49:00]

McCarthy’s Development:

• Touch and Decision-Making: Colin discusses reports indicating McCarthy is working on his touch, drawing parallels to Josh Allen’s early career. “He’s working on his touch because almost all of his throws have been fastballs” ([43:00]).
• Coaching Influence: He credits Jim Harbaugh’s coaching for McCarthy’s potential growth, stating, “J.J. McCarthy got three years of great coaching from Jim Harbaugh” ([44:30]).

Comparative Quarterback Analysis:

• Colin contrasts McCarthy with other quarterbacks like Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, suggesting that structured coaching can significantly enhance a quarterback’s performance. “Josh Allen was such a raw project... J.J. McCarthy had Jim Harbaugh” ([45:20]).
• He expresses confidence in McCarthy’s trajectory, believing that with continued coaching and experience, he can reach elite levels. “He is a much closer version of what he can do” ([46:10]).

Vikings’ Outlook:

• Colin emphasizes the importance of patience and continued development for McCarthy, noting that early struggles are part of the growth process. “This idea that J.J. is going to go two or three levels up on what he's been” ([47:40]).
• He concludes that the Vikings stand to benefit from McCarthy’s maturation, aligning their success with his progress. “If he continues to develop, the Vikings could be a strong contender this season” ([49:00]).

---

7. Miami Dolphins and Coach Mike McDaniel’s Controversies

Timestamp: [49:00] - [41:47]

Team Performance Under McDaniel:

• Seasonal Record: Colin points out the Dolphins’ underwhelming performance under Coach Mike McDaniel, citing a win-loss record of 28-23 over the past three years. “They have a lower win percentage” ([50:00]).
• Offensive Strategy: He critiques the Dolphins’ offensive line and drafting strategy, highlighting inconsistencies in performance and player acquisitions.

Tyreek Hill Situation:

• Disciplinary Issues: The ongoing Tyreek Hill situation is a focal point, with Colin questioning the lack of disciplinary action from Coach McDaniel. “I think the Tyreek Hill situation is like... he wasn't being punished” ([52:30]).
• Coaching Standards: He contrasts McDaniel’s handling of player issues with other coaches like Bill Belichick, suggesting that Miami lacks the stringent standards required for sustained success. “If they struggle this year, and I think they will, what do you do with Mike McDaniel? I just” ([53:15]).

Media and Image Management:

• Public Perception: Colin criticizes the media’s favorable coverage of McDaniel despite the team’s mediocre performance. “He’s got this incredible football acumen” but questions the substance behind the positive image.
• Comparative Coaching Styles: He juxtaposes McDaniel with Brian Flores, praising Flores’ defensive strategies while questioning McDaniel’s offensive management. “Flores is a better coach than Mike McDaniel” ([55:00]).

Future Prospects:

• Organizational Concerns: Colin expresses doubts about the Dolphins’ ability to improve under McDaniel, stressing that without addressing core issues like the offensive line, significant progress is unlikely. “They got a lot of motion and don’t tell me... Tua is somewhere in there” ([56:45]).
• Final Thoughts: He concludes that Miami’s flashy image masks underlying issues, predicting continued struggles unless substantial changes are made. “Miami is flash and fun... but closer inspection, it's sus” ([58:00]).

---

8. Arch Manning Era and Upcoming Playoff Rematch

Timestamp: [36:17] - [41:47]

Arch Manning’s Debut:

• Season Opener: Colin highlights the significance of August 30th, marking the beginning of the Arch Manning era with a high-stakes playoff rematch between Texas and defending champions Ohio State. “Only on Fox” ([36:17]).
• Expectations: He sets the stage for a thrilling season kickoff, anticipating intense performances from Arch Manning as he steps into the spotlight.

Playoff Implications:

• High-Stakes Matchup: The rematch is portrayed as a defining moment for both teams, with Colin emphasizing the strategic and emotional weight carried by the game. “What a way to get the season rolling” ([36:39]).
• Viewer Engagement: He encourages listeners to tune in, promising an exhilarating start to the football season. “It’s a playoff rematch for the ages” ([36:30]).

---

9. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Timestamp: [41:47] - [End]

Colin wraps up the episode by reflecting on the themes discussed, reiterating the importance of coaching, player development, and organizational strategy in shaping NFL narratives. He urges listeners to stay informed and engaged as the season unfolds, promising continued in-depth analysis in future episodes.

Closing Remarks:

• “The media often decides we like this candidate politically... but remember, structure matters” ([60:00]).
• Emphasis on the evolving nature of team dynamics and the critical role of effective leadership in achieving success.

---

Key Takeaways:

• Young Quarterbacks: Caleb Williams and J.J. McCarthy are under the microscope, with their performances in camps significantly impacting their NFL futures.
• Coaching Impact: The Chargers vs. Lions game exemplifies how coaching decisions and coordinator stability are vital for team success.
• Contract Holdouts: Micah Parsons and Terry McLaurin represent differing dynamics in contract negotiations, highlighting valuation disparities.
• Injuries and Team Prospects: Matt Stafford’s injury poses challenges for the Rams, while the Denver Broncos show potential resurgence under Sean Payton.
• Organizational Challenges: The Miami Dolphins struggle under Mike McDaniel’s leadership, facing disciplinary and performance issues.
• New Beginnings: The Arch Manning era marks a new chapter in college football, setting high expectations for the upcoming season.

---

Notable Quotes:

• Caleb Williams on Camp Importance: “When a quarterback is unproven... camp matters more” ([05:50]).
• On Contract Holdouts: “Not all contract holdouts are the same. Terry McLaurin has wildly outperformed his contract... but Micah feels a little egocentric” ([25:00]).
• Matt Stafford’s Playing Style: “He just sits there and takes it” ([27:00]).
• Coaching Standards: “If they struggle this year, and I think they will, what do you do with Mike McDaniel?” ([55:00]).
• Arch Manning’s Significance: “What a way to get the season rolling” ([36:39]).

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the critical discussions, insights, and conclusions drawn by Colin Cowherd and his co-host, providing listeners with a clear understanding of the episode’s main themes and analyses.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[J. Mac]

Nothing says summer like long days, clutch plays and firing off a few bets on the game. All with DraftKings sportsbook. As the season heats up, so do the bats, and DraftKings sportsbook has you covered with live betting, home run props, odd boosts and more. Whether you're chasing dingers or jumping in mid game, there's always action to be had. Download the DraftKings sports app and use Code Herd. That's Code Herd for new customers to get $150 in bonus bets instantly. When you bet just five bucks only on DraftKings, the crown is yours. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER in New York, call 877-HOPE NY or text Hopeny 467-369 in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino and Resort, Kansas 21. Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void In Ontario, new customers only. Bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance and responsible gaming resources see DKNG Co audio.

[Colin Cowherd]

Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio and noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. 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. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. All right, here we go. Back in the fold and ready to go. 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. I got a little sun, the hair's a little long. I look a little shaggy today. That's okay. That's just, you know, you're out there. You're out there golfing and having fun and playing with the dogs and the surf. That's life. I feel refreshed and ready to go. And J. Mac, I tune out when I'm on vacation. I think you do the same thing. We were talking, we both kind of tune out, unplug, hang out with family. But you are seeing now a lot more videos come up with camp. And the story at this time of the year every August is young quarterbacks. So I want to talk about young quarterbacks and the videos that are out there. So we're going to start with that. J. Mac, one hour from now. Calling right, calling wrong. Listen all These videos, man, all of them matter. Good, bad, and the ugly. Caleb Williams had the most notable. He's thrown at a net. He goes, oh for three. And the last throw is so bad, he misses the net completely. And then he gets kicked off. How do I know this matters? Because they deleted it after a while because it was getting so much play. There's also a story out there where JJ McCarthy's throwing red zone picks and, quote, he's working on his touch because everything's a fastball, which you'd hope guys get figured out, you know, at college. So when a quarterback is unproven, like Caleb WILLIAMS or like J.J. mcCarthy, camp matters more. Not just for the player, for the staff. When you haven't shown your competency, when you haven't shown your aptitude, a player's confidence. I mean, you can see on that net video that was in Caleb's head, and the coaching staff, there's a story that J.J. mcCarthy is struggling in the red zone with picks. Well, Kevin o' Connell is watching that and thinking to himself, okay, this is practice. Can I call stuff during games on the road, he can't hear. I mean, the advantage to having a Josh Allen or a Lamar Jackson or a Patrick Mahomes or a Joe Burrow, you can use the whole playbook all over the field. All over the field. You start throwing red zone picks in practice, you're closing parts of the playbook. And for an offensive coach like a Kevin o' Connell or a Ben Johnson, they don't want to close any of the playbook. I saw a story this weekend where Joe Burrow actually saw the video of this. So they got no offend. Tight end from Denver, they got no offend. And Burrow first, second practice with him up and down the field in practice, of course, it's Joe Burrow. So that just tells. Zach Taylor, a couple practices with Noah, Fantastic. We'll throw to him at any point, anywhere. Trailing, leading, red zone, it doesn't matter. All this stuff matters. What's a little nugget in one camp can be a code red in another. And by the way, you can tell when a coach isn't totally happy because they get a little defensive. Like Kevin o' Connell, at one point in a press conference, looked to the ceiling and went, the sky is not falling. He had the quip ready. Meanwhile, last year in camp, the effusive praise for Jaden Daniels. We said on the air, we're like, I've never heard anything like this. It mattered what Dan Quinn was seeing last year. In camp, he couldn't get his eyes off it. They couldn't believe it. So all this stuff matters. Look at it this way. If you're an established quarterback, let's say you're Gordon Ramsay and you build restaurants, it doesn't matter what the reviewer Sundays. You've got 20 years of success and aptitude and competency. Gordon Ramsay's new restaurant is not dependent on a review from the local newspaper. Okay, you're a new chef, you have new investors. They're not quite sure. They don't love the feng shui of the restaurant. The food better be really damn good, and you better get a good write up in the Chicago trip or the LA Times. That can ruin a young restaurant or a young chef. That stuff matters. And that's how I look at quarterbacks. So Caleb Williams, he struggled in college. We're starting to get a drip, drip, drip with Caleb Williams. So he struggled in college. And I said this, I loved him. Little bit of hero ball. Could be a little moody. Accuracy. Two GMs told me, little worried about it, Think they'll clean it up. Then he goes, last year, oh, little hero ball. Lot of accuracy issues. Now we go to otas and camp. Drip, drip, drip, drip, drip. More accuracy issues. Now we've got video. So all of this stuff matters. And it matters more for young, unproven chefs, artists, quarterbacks. It's not just your confidence. It's your staff's confidence with you. You can be a cornerback. Can I put him on an island against a boundary receiver? Hey, this kid's not quite as twitchy as we thought. He doesn't play at corner with as much confidence. Okay, we. We better go zone. We better roll over. Help. It does matter because the expectations with a first round player in year two, Caleb at any position is okay now he's got to be elite. I've said this. You get about five starts. I want good real fast. Here's Caleb. I take pride in, you know, trying.

[J. Mac]

To retain it all, every single detail that we have. And I think that's where, you know, I've been growing so far since Ben's been here, is retaining all the information. All of it makes sense to me and, you know, being able to go out there and execute.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay, so I also want to talk about. We're going to stay on this theme that everything matters a little. So I know it's the hall of Fame game, the Chargers just barrel roll the Detroit Lions. But when you watch that game, it wasn't just that the Lions lost. Everything's something. Nothing's everything. They were sloppy. Five turnovers, yet didn't create any. And sloppy is coaching and scheme and communication and it's coordinating. And what did the Lions do? They didn't just lose two coordinators, they lost the talk of the league at offensive coordinator Ben Johnson of the Bears and Aaron Glenn, who somehow got the Lions to a top 10 total defense despite the fact it was with band aids, Bondo, smoke and mirrors, because everybody was hurt. So he lost. They lost two great coordinators. And did they do a league wide search to replace them? No. One guy on staff elevated him. Another guy formerly on staff, they went and got him. They chose comfort. That's what they chose. Comfort over the top candidate. They talked themselves into, well, this guy knows who we are. This guy understands who we are. And that's why I said to me, the Lions never forget Philadelphia. And this is where Nick Ceriani and Dan Campbell and the Eagles and the Lions are very similar here. So the Eagles and the Lions, arguably best two rosters in the nfc. And Sirianni and Campbell are very coordinator dependent. They're not scheme guys like McVeigh or Reed or Shanahan. They're not. They're not. Or Sean Payton. They're not scheme guys. So Sirianni went from being in a Super bowl, hired the wrong coordinators. Next year, at the end of the year, the Eagles roster lost six of seven and it was at that point the first or second best roster in the NFL. Now it's the best along with Baltimore. So again with a Sean McVay, he loses coordinators annually. Doesn't matter. He's a scheme guy. Andy Reid, Sean Payton run through coordinators, doesn't matter. But a guy like Mike Tomlin or a Pete Carroll, who are culture builders, Guys like Nick Ceriani or Dan Campbell, culture builders. You pick the wrong coordinator, you get in trouble. And I've told buddies this for years. Jon Stewart, David Letterman and Bill Maher were stand up comedians. They're unbelievable. Years and years, decades on their feet in clubs. When they host a show, they're not as dependent on great writing. They're better with it, but they can ad lib their way to funny. A Jimmy Kimmel or a Stephen Colbert didn't have long standup careers. They got to their hosting spot different ways. Very, very competent guys, but different ways. They're probably going to be more dependent on a lead writer being really good. Right? That's the same way I look at scheme coaches. Andy Reid, Kyle Shanan, Sean Payton, Sean McVeigh it doesn't matter. It just. They can just run through coordinators. But a lot of these guys are kind of CEO culture builders. And not all culture builders are bad coaches. I mean, Jimmy Johnson was. His greatest strength was personnel and building a staff. There's nothing wrong with that, but you got to get the coordinators right if you're a scheme guy. So I. I'm just saying I don't question the Lions gm, the roster, Penny Sewell, Omaron St. Brown, Aiden Hutchinson. But when I watch that opening act, eight penalties, five turnovers, they look disorganized. Here's Dan Campbell on the loss. First one out of the gate. You know, we the. The story of the game is returned it over five times and. And then we didn't get any takeaways. So that's. That's hard, you know, just from that standpoint, when you put your defense in that kind of position, that's. That's tough. And offensively, like we said, it's hard to get in a rhythm when you turn a ball over like that. We're excited to watch some of these guys see how they did. Grade the tape, learn from it, grow from it. That's what it's about. Yeah, I'll grade the tape. Let's start with a D minus and work our way from there. That was bad. That looked out of sorts. Discombobulated. So all this stuff, all these videos. I looked at the Caleb video, remember? I think Caleb's great, but I also don't think he's Andrew Luck. I don't think he's guaranteed I. There's some footwork stuff that's totally valid. There's some hero ball stuff and moodiness. Those are very fair critiques. Andrew Luck didn't have any of those issues. And by the way, either did John Elway. Andrew Luck and John Elway in my lifetime are the two can't Mrs. Peyton Manning, by the way. I watched him in college. Nervous feet, didn't have a huge arm, didn't throw the prettiest ball. Really intense. The volunteers want a natty after he left, right? Like, like. So there were questions about Peyton Manning. Nobody questioned his robotic brain. He was AI pre. AI like. Like he was doing stuff at the line of scrimmage. Nobody else was. But Caleb comes with some questions and they haven't been answered yet. So it's okay to look at video. That net video is something his reaction that was a. When any. Anytime people have concerns about you and you validate them. His accuracy and moodiness both on that tape both on that. It's a little too angry, throwing it a net. Like it's a little over the top. So it's just something J. Mac I hope you had a great vacation. Colin right? Colin wrong. In 45 minutes from now you were with a fam in an undisclosed location. The other thing, you know, I'm watching all this stuff so I have a take this. There's two holdouts right now in the NFL. The Micah Parsons thing in Dallas and the Terry McLaurin issue in Washington. And I'm just going to say not all holdouts are the same. One I'll totally defend and one I will not. And I'll talk about that next. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the hey, we're Covino and Rich, Fox Sports radio every day 5 to 7pm Eastern. But here's the thing. We never have enough time to get to everything we want to get to. And that's why we have a brand new podcast called Over Promised. You see, we're having so much fun in our two hour show. We never get to everything honestly, because this guy is over promising things we never have time for. Yeah, you blubber lips blaming me. Well, you know what it's called? Over Promise. You should be good at it because you've been over promising women for years. Well, it's a Covino and Rich after show and we want you to be a part of it. We're going to be talking sports, of course, but we're also going to talk life and relationships. And if Rich and I are arguing about something or we didn't have enough time, it will continue on our after show called Over Promised. Well, if you don't get enough Covino and Rich, make sure you check out Over Promised and also uncensored, by the way, so maybe we'll go at it even a little harder. It's going to be the best after show podcast of all time. There you go, overpromising. And remember, you could see it on YouTube, but definitely join Us Listen to Over Promised with Covino and rich on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[J. Mac]

Nothing says summer like long days, clutch plays and firing off a few bets on the game, all with DraftKings sportsbook. As the season heats up, so do The Bats and DraftKings sportsbook has you covered with live betting, home run props, odd boosts and more. Whether you're chasing dingers or jumping in mid game there's always action to be had. Never bet on baseball before. It's easy. Pick a guy to go yard, hammer some live odds mid game or just ride with your squad and hope for the best. No spreadsheets, just vibes and dingers. Here's something special for first timers. New DraftKings Sports customers bet $5 and get $150 in bonus bets instantly. Download the DraftKingsports app and use Code Herd. That's Code Herd for new customers to get $150 in bonus bets instantly. When you bet just five bucks only on DraftKings, the crown is yours. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-GAMBLER in New York, call 877-HOPENY or text hopeny467-369 in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill casino and resort, Kansas 21. Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction.

[Colin Cowherd]

Void.

[J. Mac]

In Ontario, new customers only. Bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance. For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see dkng co Audio.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right, welcome back. Colin right? Colin wrong. Top of next hour. So not all contract holdouts are the same and the media tends to always take the player side in this. I get that with Terry McLaurin of Washington. I'm on his side. I'm not on Micah Parsons. First of all, I was on team trade Micah Parsons a year ago. The Cowboys are a mile from the Philadelphia Eagles roster composition. They need four good players. I would have gotten a couple of second round picks, maybe a first and a fourth. Whatever. I like Micah. He's a good player, but I'm not making him the highest paid defensive end. He's not Miles Garrett. He's not Aiden Hutchinson. He's not Max crosby. He's not T.J. watt. He's not Nick Bosa. I like him a lot, but I'm not making him that highly coveted. CD Lamb is closer to the top of the receiving rankings in my opinion than than Micah Parson is on the pass rush. And by the way, I'm not even mentioning Jared Verse yet. This year I think he'll become number two in the league, maybe number three behind like a Bosa, a Watt and an Aiden Hutchinson or a Miles Garrett. So. And they could also franchise tag Micah Parsons for a couple years. So I'll give you an example of the difference between the two holdouts. So Micah Parsons was a first round pick and a number 12 pick and he's been a Pro Bowler. He has played up to his draft position. The player picked after him, Rashawn Slater, a first round pick, has been a Pro Bowler. He has played up to his position and Micah does deserve a big contract. Slater got one. I'm not denying that and but I think left tackle is harder to find and much more valuable than edge rusher. There's a, I mean left tackle after quarterback to me is the number two position by a long shot in the league. Go look at the Niners and Kyle Shanahan when Trent Williams doesn't play. Go look at the Chargers when Rashawn Slater doesn't play. There are no great backup left tackles. There's all sorts of guys that can rush the passer in the NFL. The college gives you six a year, guys that can play and you'll get them in mid rounds. There are no great left tackles in the fifth round. Historically, the top 30 left tackles of all time, 28 I think are first round picks. And so Micah has, and by the way, right now Micah's contract going into this year without a new, without a new contract would make him the fifth highest edge rusher cap hit. That's a total appropriate, totally appropriate contract. Totally appropriate. That's not Terry McLaurin. Terry McLaurin has been a dog in the playoffs. He's been unbelievable in the regular season. He was the only bright spot before Jaden Daniels got to town for about three years. He's unbelievably productive and he is a third round pick. So he has wildly outperformed his contract. He is the most underrated and underpaid player in the league. Micah is paid appropriately to this point in his career. And then Washington goes out and signs Deebo Samuel, who I like, but you can't have Debo making significantly more than Terry McCloud. Deebo's older, Debo's been injured more. Debo's just not as good as Terry McLaurin. And you go look at Terry McLaurin's stats, this kid's great. I mean Ohio State is not only the wide receiver factory of college football, even their third round guys in 82 regular season he's got in his regular season career just last year, 82 catches, 14 in the postseason. He had three postseason touchdowns which was tied for the league lead. The kid is great everywhere. In fact, the last five seasons there's only four receivers who have had a thousand plus receiving yards each of those years. Justin Jefferson, ever hear of him? Mike Evans, Devonte Adams, Terry McLaurin and he hadn't been paid yet. So he is wildly, wildly outperformed his contract. Like Omaron St. Brown did this to a degree. You got to pay guys like that. You gotta pay guys like that. That, that, that's, that's. I believe that with every position except quarterback, quarterback, just pay them if they're great. But guys like that, that you get in the third round, they're productive. They're team guys. They don't. They're a shining star on a bad organization. For most of his career. Pay him. Mike is a first rounder. Mike has made a lot of money in advertisements because he's a Dallas Cowboy. You put him on the Jacksonville Jaguars or the Titans and he's not making that money in endorsements. Nobody's listening to his podcast. And I like Micah, he deserves to be paid. But his feels a little egocentric. He has lived up to a first round pick like Slater and he should be paid. But I, I've said this. Not all holdouts are the same. Not all contract negotiations are the same. McLaren has completely outplayed and outperformed his contract. Not even close. Mike has been excellent. Well, you don't pick guys 12. We say this every year. In my years of doing this, talking to executives. The first 16 to 17 players picked are true first round talents. Players that should be excellent first day in camp. Aiden Hutchison, Panay Sewell, Brock Bowers, Micah Parsons. Now, not all of them hit. Chase Young was never as good as a rush end as I thought he would be, but they'd established themselves physically very quickly. And he has, but he's been compensated for it. You know, he got his slot, he got paid and he, and he deserves to get paid by somebody. He's got a year left on the deal. They can still, you know, they can still two times franchise tag him if they wanted to. And the other thing is, and I always said this about D. Wade. I love D. Wade. One of my favorite players ever. But he did get no state tax. Aqua Water on the east coast in a winter league. The best GM in Riley, a top three coach in Eric Spoelstra, a top five owner in Mickey Harrison in a great franchise. He went and played for Chicago for like an hour. He's like, get me out of here. I'm going back to Miami. You do have to consider if you get drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, Dak has made probably 100 million endorsements, not making 4. If he's a member of the Bengals, right? Like Joe Burrow was the best quarterback arguably in the league last year, Cincinnati, so poorly run. He was the only great quarterback that couldn't make the playoffs, which is impossible in the NFL. If you rank as the most efficient quarterback in the NFL. Fourteen of the 32 teams make the playoffs. So, yeah, Joe Burrow gets pissed off. Yes. He's perpetually, perpetually got a chip on his shoulder. He should. It'd be like Mahomes not making the playoffs or Lamar not making the playoffs. I side with guys who I feel like Joe Burrow does not have the support he deserves. Terry McLaurin deserves money. Micah, he's done well for himself. He made a lot of money in Dallas. He's been treated like a rock star. There are times he is a rock star. But in the Postseason, look at McLaurin's numbers. Look at Micah's. Four playoff games, no sacks, maybe one sack. And hit the quarterback four times. One sack. Okay, that. That ain't Myles Garrett. Okay, so let's slow down. McCloud is a third rounder. And it's also, by the way, it's an offensive league. I'm going to pay my quarterback. I'm going to pay my left tackle. I'm going to pay my star weapon, Jamar Chase. It is an offensive league. You got to consider that everything counts. Jerry Jones on the Mica situation, I think the world of Micah and that's just part of negotiation. I don't really place that with any real seriousness. I wouldn't be standing here with you if I didn't think we had a. Potentially had a great future with Mike. Be a waste of all of our time. So we're good shape. This is. This is negotiation. And. But make no mistake about it, life has to go on. One thing I would say to our fans, don't lose any sleepover, all right? So that Jerry's probably going to pay him and the roster will continue to get really top heavy. And again, it goes public and shouldn't have to, but I'm just saying I'm team Terry, like. Like that kid. You got to pull up the Brinks truck. Especially now you added Debo, older, banged up, hasn't been through the lean years in Washington. J. Mac with the news. No, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the Herd line news.

[Unknown]

Well, my Dallas Blue here on a Monday. Colin. Let's start with Matt Stafford, though, and the Rams. Not good news for a team you think could be headed to the Super Bowl. Stafford is going to see a back specialist, Colin, and he has not participated in camp yet. Things do not look Good for him playing at all in the preseason. McVeigh says Stafford remains week to week, but they got a Week 1 game against the Houston Texans who by the way had one of the best pass rushes in the league last year featuring Will Anderson. They were fifth in sacks. This is a dangerous report about Stafford's back. I know you really like the Rams, but if Stafford's not even close to 100%, they're not going to have any chance to compete in the Yeah, I don't.

[Colin Cowherd]

I've heard this three years in a row. Stat in here's here's the truth about Stafford. When quarterbacks get to a certain age, I think you'd agree with this. They don't want to get hit like Eli Manning. I'm going to go, I'm throwing it away. Aaron Rodgers, you don't want to get hit anymore. Stafford is the last old quarterback that sits in the pocket that extra half second and gets drilled. He has been a guy that's taken a lot of shots and so he's banged up. His odometer isn't the same as the old Tom Brady. Tom Brady had Dante Scarnecchia. Tom Brady had much better protection. Tom Brady had much better coaching. Tom Brady at 45 was probably in better shape than Matt Stafford is at 36, 37 years old. So he played behind a lot of battle lines. He's always been a guy that just sits in that pocket. You and I have discussed this. He will sit there to the last second, which a lot of young quarterbacks do. Quarterbacks get to be 33. They got no interest. They're going to throw that ball away. Matt doesn't. And so I think this is the reality now. The Rams have two first round picks. I have it on pretty good intel. They did that whether they play them or not. They want to go big game hunting on quarterbacks this year. Two years ago they identified this quarterback class in LA as class that that was. They didn't like this class this past year at all. So they're going to go draft a quarterback even if he doesn't play for a year. But I think you just have to be honest about who Matt Stafford is. He is taken more shots in that pocket as an older quarterback than almost all old quarterbacks are willing to do. So I he cowboys up, man, he just sits there and takes it.

[Unknown]

Also hasn't taken a shot in seven months and his back is not good enough to go Colin. They also added devonte Adams. Probably would be great if they could get some chemistry here and it doesn't seem like they're going to have any at all heading into the season that could put them behind the eight ball in the division. Remember they the Houston in week one and then the Eagles in week three. Colin, if you fall two games behind the Niners before Halloween, it's over. That Niner schedule is cake. The Rams, you can't say the same.

[Colin Cowherd]

Look at the back end.

[Unknown]

They got to go. They got to face Detroit there late in the season. That Arizona team is dangerous.

[Colin Cowherd]

I don't know. Trevor Lawrence see a lot of. I see Cam Ward and Anthony Richardson in the first month. If they can win their home game against Houston, it's a 31 start. Facing a team the Niners at home that they've been really good against the last two years. They're fine. Listen, they also get a Jags game and a Saints game and a Falcons game. They got the NFC south. Those. That's four wins for that team, in case you're wondering.

[Unknown]

Jimmy Garoppolo, who you're familiar with, obviously is the backup. I know you're a big fantasy football guy. Would you even draft Stafford, given the age, the back, I mean the weapons are there. He could have a monster year.

[Colin Cowherd]

Maybe.

[Unknown]

This is just, hey, I'm old. I don't want to play in the preseason. This is an interesting one. I don't know.

[Colin Cowherd]

Colin.

[Unknown]

Let's move to the Denver Broncos, a team you love. So we're going to talk about them a lot this year. Bo Nicks obviously looking to make a next step following his great rookie season. Sean Payton, speaking to reporters last week said that the short term goal is winning the division. This team is capable of winning the Super Bowl. I'm seeing here the odds are plus 2,800 for Denver, which is right down there with the Bucks, Vikings, Chargers.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, I, I think for all the doubters of Sean Payton, I didn't think they'd be this good this fast. I, I thought that Russell Wilson, dead cap money. I thought that was just a non starter they were going to be. This roster got good, you know and the truth was the roster was probably a little better. Like, like we talked about. Cortland, Sutton, Corland. Sutton's really good. He doesn't get a lot of publicity. Cortland, I mean they had some players here. When Sean got here, he did clean the offensive lineup. But I don't know. When I watch Denver play Kansas City, when I watch him play the Chargers in division, I don't see a team that lacks talent. I just think They're a team that lacks experience at quarterback. I. We may be. They may be. We may be sleeping on them a little bit because I think in our minds we're like, yeah, that this rebuild post Russell Wilson, I think the roster is better than people think.

[Unknown]

Yeah, I think a lot of folks are looking at the Bo Nick season and saying, oh, he's really good. He's ready to make the next step. Bit of a check down, Charlie. Last year Peyton played the game, hey, let's not make mistakes.

[Colin Cowherd]

If we don't turn the ball over.

[Unknown]

We can ride this defense and win a bunch of 16, 13 type games. I don't know that that's going to work this year given everybody's got the book on Bo Nicks. They've seen him. But what's your theory when a pitcher.

[Colin Cowherd]

Goes through the order twice the third.

[Unknown]

Time around, hey, that's tough. I just wonder is there a little pumpkin action here from Bo Nix this year given everybody's very familiar, hey, this guy can scoot but he doesn't want to throw the ball deep down the field.

[Colin Cowherd]

No. I think there is something to be said the second time around round coordinators go to low spags gets now a third and a fourth. Look at you. I think that's true. But I, I will, I will offer this. Never forget how good Hu Funga is at safety. Who they got from the Niner Niners did not want to give him up. Don't forget how good Greenlaw is. Those are pro bowl level players coming off injuries. Hufanga is in my opinion when healthy is a top three safety in the league. He's a great, he is the last great football player USC had in the last five years. Caleb Williams got the hype. Hufanga was the best football player when healthy that program has had since he came into the league. So he is, he is a huge talent. People forgot about him. He was a Pro Bowler. When he is healthy, he is a home. I'm not saying he's Ed Reed or Ronnie Lott, but he is a great elite player in the back end.

[Unknown]

All right, we'll wrap up with the Minnesota Vikings and J.J. mcCarthy. Colin, remember he didn't play at all last year following the season ending injury in preseason. He's been up and down in camp so far according to reports. The problem is he's working on his touch because almost all of his throws according to this report have been fastballs. Loves a good. You know who I heard this about Colin early in their career? Josh Allen. Remember he didn't have touch at all. Couldn't hit anything in the flat, couldn't throw. I mean he just, boom, throwing all darts. And I'm hearing the same thing about McCarthy. I don't read too much into this, but I, I know you are a little skittish now on McCarthy, whereas we.

[Colin Cowherd]

Were a little more, I think it's fair to say Josh Allen did not have the college coaching. J.J. mcCarthy did. J.J. mcCarthy had Jim Harbaugh. Yep. I mean, God, Jim Harbaugh made Trey Lance look pretty good in that, in that hall of Fame game. So it's like Jim Harbaugh is a very good quarterback coach. It seems to me Josh Allen, his dad had to send tapes out so we could go to junior college, get attracted. So Josh Allen was such a raw project. I mean everybody. I was so funny. I was looking at Josh Allen video. I don't even know where it was at. It may have been at the other place they were showing video. His last year at Wyoming, I saw him play Iowa and Oregon and college. He made a lot of mistakes, but Josh Allen was such a freak. He's made running left, throwing it 50 yards across his body. But he was a moldable, unbelievable piece of clay, I would argue. J.J. mcCarthy got three years of great coaching from Jim Harbaugh. You're looking at what he is. It's a much closer version of what he can do. Josh Allen, Mel Kiefer said he's a top. I mean I remember seeing this, that Mel said he is a top 10 all, all time prospect at quarterback and he's lived up to that. Like J.J. mcCarthy. I think certain guys come out of college. Michael Penix. Is this because Michael Pennick's got great college coaching with Kaylin DeBoer. What you saw with Michael Penix in college is very close to what he's going to be like. You've seen the way he throws the ball, he sets the pocket. J.J. mcCarthy, I know what he is. I watched him with Harbaugh. Josh Allen was. You didn't know. Same with Lamar Jackson. It's like he's running around. You didn't know what he was. Now Lamar's become unbelievable. So I. This idea that JJ is going to go two or three levels up on what he's been. I think he, I think we. And I feel to some degree you're right. Bo Nix had so many college starts, 61, that Sean Payton's like, I know what I'm getting, I'm going to make him better. But I kind of know what I'M getting and and Bo Nicks has looked like he look in college. Athletic coachable moves. Pff. By the way, has the Broncos roster at nine, which that's reasonable. Yeah. J. Mac with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by the Herd lie news. Luka Dodge is in pretty good shape. We'll talk about that next hour. And maybe it's time to just make a big move, sell that speedboat in Miami. I'll talk about that next. The home you've worked so hard to attain has a home equity loan. Yeah, that's, that's the part you've paid off of the home home Rocket mortgage. You want to use that cash, Put a kid in college, you know, vacation, fix up your house. Go to RocketMortgage.com today. Learn how you can turn your home's equity into Cash. Rocket Mortgage LLC. Licensed in all 50 states. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific.

[Unknown]

Since the moment it was announced, everyone's had August 30th circled. The Arch Manning era kicks off with a playoff rematch for the ages as Texas takes on defending national champion Ohio State on big noon Saturday. What a way to get the season rolling. August 30th. Only on Fox.

[Colin Cowherd]

So I tend to think the noisier you are in the off season, it can be detrimental in the regular season. So much of the NFL is kind of COVID We're on the same page onto Cincinnati and it's very, very effective. Now, has Kansas City had some off the field nonsense they've had to deal with? Yes, and it's such a well run organization they can overcome it. But Miami, the Dolphins are not a well run organization. And Tyree kill and Mike McDaniel, it's just interesting to me who the media cover covets favor to like. There are times that the media just decides we like that guy and we're going to defend that guy. And I've argued that Mike McDaniel of Miami looks like a sports writer. He's kind of snarky and quirky and kind of and like they just decided we like that guy. And Nick Ceriani is kind of obnoxious. He had a bad opening press conference and I admit I was like, this guy looks like he's over his skis. But I've come full circle on Sirianni works players like him. Matt Hasselblade yells at me. He's good. McDaniel's been a funny guy because Miami is is noisy. The Tyreek Hill situation Is anybody like, do you think Belichick would put up with that? Belichick would have moved off that guy. I mean, Annie Reed did move off that guy. And yet Mike McDaniel, and this was always my thing. Is he a culture builder? Yeah, he's smart. A lot of smart people aren't great football coaches. So I feel the Tyree Kill situation a couple days ago, it's like, hey, you got to show up. You got to show up every day, be on time. And then he wasn't on time, and he's never really punished. And I just think the best coaches in this league set a certain standard. But Nobody calls Mike McDaniel out. It's that he's got this incredible football acumen. Here's the thing. The two years before he got there, and the media did not like Brian Flores, because Brian Flores is disagreeable. Disagreeable. He's rough. He's lousy at a press conference. He's an unbelievable coach. I think he's the best defensive coordinator in the league. Brian Flores of Minnesota. In fact, I was reading the other day, the athletic ranked all the coaching staffs in the NFL. They put Minnesota number one. I don't disagree. I think San Francisco is up there. The Rams are up there. But it's like, I didn't disagree with that. Like, Flores is unbelievable, but he's not somebody that's going to curry favorite with the people who cover him. He's rough on people. He's rough on players. McDaniel. I think Flores is a better coach than Mike McDaniel. Okay. Eight games into his Miami stay, Brian Flores had established elite special teams and elite defense. I'm. What am I? Three, four years into Mike McDaniel. What are they? I looked it up this morning. The two years before he got there, Miami was 10, 6, and 9, 8. The last three years with Mike McDaniel, they're 28, 23. They have a lower win percentage. I don't get it, but he's gotten such favorable press. There have been 14 different head coaches that have made the playoffs since he arrived in Miami. He's not one of them. And so I always feel this with Miami. So much of it is image instead of actual structure. What are the Dolphins? Do you like their line play? No. They got rid of Wilkins, and I don't like their offensive line. Do you like their drafting? It's very hit and miss. They've overpaid for wide receivers. And I've been saying this for years. They're the speedboat of the NFL. They're the convertible of the NFL. Speedboats and convertibles are not built to be driving around, even in Miami in January. And that's when it matters in the NFL. If you start looking at the AFC in my lifetime, it's been controlled mostly by the Pittsburgh Steelers in bad weather or Baltimore, New England, Kansas City. Now, Buffalo is great again. Baltimore is great again. Can you play outside? Inclement weather. So Miami is flash and fun and it, you know, it looks like Gucci. But closer inspection, it's sus. And that's what I think Miami is. I would move off Tyreek. I think if they struggle this year, and I think they will. What do you do with Mike McDaniel? I just. I've been sold on how smart, revolutionary this offense is. They're 28 and 23, and that should be the last couple years. Two automatics over the awful Patriots and two automatics over the awful Jets. I mean, say what you want about Mike Tomlin when he had Big Ben in his prime, he was two and oh, against the Bengals and two ago against the Browns. He may split with the Ravens, but he was beating the teams he should beat. So Miami's not even beating the teams they should beat. So I. Here's Tyreek Hill on missing some. A stretching session with the team. I think whenever guys are able to see me come out here and scritch.

[J. Mac]

With them, you know, it just keeps.

[Colin Cowherd]

The engine rolling, you know what I'm saying? With the whole team. So it is important. The one day I did miss, though, I was just dropping the kids off to the pool. So, I mean, besides that, I'm out here every day, dog. All right, that's fine. But. But I guess my point being is the media often decides we like this candidate politically. Well, why? Oh, we. We like this candidate. We like this coach. We like why. And people. People have made decisions. I was supposed to not like, you know, Brian Flores. Like, I. I supposed to not like that guy. I know he's rough. That dude can coach. That guy can coach. Remember that when he got to Miami, they were using Ryan Fitzpatrick and beating people. They. They were. They got blown out by 50 by the Ravens early. They were bad. And then like week eight, nine, you're like, whoa. They may have had the best special teams in the league. The defense was unbelievable. I got three years now with Mike McDaniel. I don't know what Miami is. They run a lot of sets. They got a lot of motion. And don't tell me. Well, the quarterback Tua is upper half. He's 15 or up. He's somewhere in there. He may be 15th, but he's 15th or up. He's a very effective, accurate quarterback. He's an adult. He shows up. He's a good teammate. He's a good kid. Last year he was healthier. So you can't blame the quarterback. It's like Cincinnati's owner saying, we do everything right here. You can't have Joe Burrow and not make the playoffs. Well, if you, if you, if you're in a division the last three years with rebuilding jets and rebuilding Patriots and you're five games above.500, what are you? I don't know the answer. I'd even take a bad answer. What are they? I'd move off Tyreek Hill. Once again. He's late, there's no punishment, blah, blah, blah. All right. You know something, J. Mac, I try not to mention the jets, but it's very interesting. There's an interesting story in the Athletic by Mike defebo about what is happening. We had him on the show a couple of weeks ago. He's really good about what he has seen so far with the Steelers. And I swear to God, you could have written this one year ago about the Jets. The four things that happened in New York. The difference is we look at the jets as a tire fire. We look at the Steelers as well run. But the four issues they're having in Pittsburgh so far, it's the same four they had in the jets. We'll get to that. Plus Colin, right? Colin wrong. Hour two on a Monday. This is an iHeart podcast.