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Colin Cowherd
Hi, it's the Herd. NFL playoffs. We're talking about NFL playoffs. You bet we are. Get in on the action in DraftKings Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NFL. Score big during the NFL playoffs with DraftKings Sportsbook. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app now. Use the code HERDHERD. New customers can bet 5 bucks. Get 200 instantly in bonus bets only on DraftKings Sportsbook with code HEARD H E R D. The crown is yours.
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Colin Cowherd
You can count on T Mobile to help keep you connected from big cities to small towns on America's largest 5G network. Switch to T Mobile, keep your phone and they'll pay it off up to 800 bucks per line via prepaid card. Learn more@t mobile.com Keep and switch up to four lines via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device credit service port in 90 plus days with device and eligible carrier and timely redemption required. Card has no cash access and expires in six months. This message brought to you by the Official Whiskey of the Herd with Colin Coward Green River Whiskey Green River Whiskey is the 10th oldest distillery in Kentucky and was once the most expensive Whiskey purchased when 20 barrels were traded for shares in a gold mine. From single barrel bourbons to straight rye, Green River's the perfect combo of rich flavor and richer history. Visit greenriverwhisky.com to discover a legend in a Bottle. A product of Green River Distilling Co. Owensboro, KY. Alcohol by volume varies by product. Greenriverwhiskey.com, please drink responsibly.
Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart is back at the Daily show, and he's bringing his signature wit and insight straight to your ears with the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. Dive into John's unique take on the biggest topics in politics, entertainment, sports and more. Joined by the sharp voices of the show's correspondence and contributors, and with extended interviews and exclusive weekly headline roundups, this podcast gives you content you won't find anywhere else. Ready to laugh and stay Informed. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Adnan Virk
What's up, everybody? Ad Nan Ver here to tell you about a new podcast. It's NHL Unscripted with Virk and Demers.
Jason Demers
Jason Demers here. And after playing 700 NHL games, I got a lot of dirty laundry to air out.
Adnan Virk
Hey, I got a lot to say here, too, okay? Each week we'll get together to chat about the sport that we love.
Jason Demers
Tons of guests are going to join in, too. But we're not just going to be talking hockey, folks. We're talking movies, we're talking talking tv, food, and Adnan's favorite wrestling. It's all on le table.
Adnan Virk
Listen to NHL Unscripted with Virk and Demers on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Colin Cowherd
Thanks for listening to the Heard 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 herd@foxsportsradio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.
Jon Stewart
Now let's get this party started.
Colin Cowherd
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Oh, we got a Friday. We got a Friday. All right. Live in Los Angeles, it's the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, thanks for making us part of your day. One hour from now, Urban Meyer stops by Ohio State and Texas will not look like last night. It will be a fireworks show. Although I thought last night was exactly why college football is amazing. Bad officiating, nervous quarterbacks. A team that lost in Northern Illinois earlier now is rising. I thought last night was just a flawed, messy, fantastic, Newt Rockne feeling moment for Notre Dame. J. Mac and I watched it together, knocked down some waters and great food. That was a wild one.
J. Mac
Yeah, it was. I mean, I lost the under, which was feeling great for three quarters. Oh, yeah. But you know, when it's a great game like that, you can't be too upset.
Colin Cowherd
All right, so Notre Dame moves to the national championship. I think James Franklin is a good football coach, but he got out. Coached his 12th straight loss to a top five team just at Penn State. And in big games, the little things matter. There was a million excuses for Notre Dame. First of all, they had two balls intercepted. Intercepted. They were both taken away on penalties. One of them the worst calls I've ever seen in a huge game. They called a pass interference on a Wildly under thrown ball. And again, both picks that I'm showing you here got called back. Their quarterback got hurt in the first half. People thought he was concussed. Their running backs planted about 50, 60%. They've got injuries all over their offensive line. They fell behind, yet they were amazing on third down. They had very few penalties. They had very specific plans on their final drive. And in every big third down or every big down defensively, they were completely buttoned up. Marcus Freeman, to me, feels like you're watching the college version of Sean McVay. The energy, the presence, the intensity, the way his team believes in him. He's like the classic player coach like you almost wonder if they could use him at like safety. He's got that physical presence and the players love him. And this team lost in Northern Illinois at home. And you got to remember about, about Marcus Freeman. I'll get to this in a bit, but this guy, his first home game when he got the job when he was 35, he lost a Marshall. What they have done at Notre Dame is a direct correlation and reflection on Marcus Freeman. This guy is a rock star. They're all banged up and I thought it was fascinating at the end of the game. James Franklin's a good coach, but he can't learn from his mistakes. They make too many in big games. I mean, they had eight guys on the field in that final Notre Dame field goal kick. Why are you throwing the ball with 33 seconds left in that game? What are you doing? I mean, you don't trust your quarterback. He didn't complete a ball to the receivers all night. You ran before that, so you kind of wanted to get to overtime. When I watched Notre Dame's final drive, I saw, you know, seven plays, 26 seconds using timeout, using Riley Leonard. There was a absolute plan on how to use this big. I like this kid way more than everybody else, apparently. I see a little bit of Josh Allen, maybe just a little bit, but they had a specific plan. It looked like Penn State decided, hey, let's go to overtime. Wait, What? We gained 12 yards. Hey, let's go for it. That's not a plan. That's just making crap up as you go. So I thought, and again, I'm not anti James Franklin, but what you saw was a specific, buttoned up, smart team. Injuries o line injuries, running back. We thought the quarterback was concussed. Two picks taken away, one in an egregious call. If Notre Dame would have lost, you'd literally, as a Notre Dame fan, be like, man, we couldn't get a break. We're falling apart here physically. And yet they won. So what I saw in this game was two young quarterbacks with talent, both a little nervous. Two strong defenses, two huge brands, two limited passing attacks down the field, especially for Penn State. But one head coach that everybody in America with one five star recruitment one is playing in the national championship. You go to Georgia, Bama, these teams the last couple years, Ohio State, Notre Dame, it's different. The rosters are different. Texas, Notre Dame, the rosters are different. How is Notre Dame here? They're here because of the coach. And why did Penn State lose? Here's their coach. Everybody wants to pick out a specific play. There's probably eight to 12 plays in that game that if, if we could have found a way to make a few more plays in that game.
Adnan Virk
And we're that close, right?
Colin Cowherd
It's a game inches now it's a game of decisions. And there was one play. Go watch the final drives. Penn State should not have thrown that ball. They had not completed a pass to receivers. You could tell they really didn't trust their quarterback a lot. That's a long way to go against an excellent secondary and a very well coached team that was making it up as you go. And I want to talk about Marcus Freeman here because first of all, Notre Dame is doing it the right way. When he took over for Brian Kelly, I was like, he's a great recruiter, but he's 35, he's a defensive coach. I'm not sure if this is going to work. He went 9, 4, 10, 3, 141 and now he is 51 in bowl games. But what's more redeeming about it, in my opinion, he went 03 to start and he lost his first game at home at Notre Dame to Marshall. Right, right, right. Think about that. And this year they lost to Northern Illinois. And this is a great life lesson for young people and young coaches and young athletes. I've said this about Michael Jordan. I mean Michael Jordan struggled with his owner, his gm, Dennis Rodman, his first couple of coaches, the Pistons, the cel. Life is hard. You gotta believe in yourself. And if you believe in yourself, young people around you will believe in you. We talk about this all the time, about players developing. What you have watched with Marcus Freeman is a young coach developing. He probably wasn't quite ready to be Notre Dame's coach the first two months he got the job. 35 year old coach. That is a, that's not just a job. Notre Dame's got Academic umbrellas. It's a really tough job. I mean, Brian Kelly was successful into Notre Dame and Brian Kelly stumbled a lot in his first several years and he'd been a successful coach previously. This is Marcus Furman's first, Marcus Freeman's first job. Your first head coaching job is Notre Dame. You know how many guys have failed at Notre Dame that have previous winning experience? And I don't think he probably was quite ready in the first few weeks. But I'm, I'm watching a rock star here. I see Sean McVay. That's exactly what I see. Chest out, big energy, talking to the refs, motivating players. Notre Dame had every reason to lose last night. And I'm telling you that that pass interference call that took away the interception in the end zone was awful. You can't call PI if a ball is wildly overthrown or wildly under thrown. You can't call that. Here's Marcus after. But these guys are resilient and they.
Jon Stewart
Found a way to make a play.
Colin Cowherd
When it matters the most. And that's what again is to me what great teams, great organizations, they're able to at that moment that they need to do their job or make a play.
Jon Stewart
They do it and the last play doesn't matter.
Colin Cowherd
There's unpredictable things that happen all the.
Jon Stewart
Time and they find a way to make it work.
Colin Cowherd
Just to give you more context, it is harder to get into Notre Dame. And then once you're in Notre Dame, the workload for student athletes is as hard as maybe any place not called Stanford. I mean, it's hard. They can't take anybody. Think about this. Texas is going to play for the right to go to the national championship tonight. They have 11 five star athletes. Ohio State's playing Texas. They have 14. Okay, Georgia just got beat by Notre dame. They had 14 five star recruits. Notre Dame's got one. It is virtually unheard of to be playing for a national championship with one elite five star recruit. And this program also in this world of the transfer portal and nil players don't transfer out of Notre Dame. They go in, they buy in, they stay in. That was a coaching masterpiece last night on a game where you got banged up players and bad calls and you're playing a good team. And I mean, I watched that game. I'm not so sure Penn State doesn't have more good players. I mean, I watched it last night. I'm like halfway through that game, I'm like, I think I picked the wrong team. I think Penn State's got Better players. I mean, that Carter kid, you can't block him. Aller. That tight end, that kid's insane. They got him throwing passes. Coaching rock star Marcus Freeman. J. Mac. That is what college football is all about. It was flawed. It had warts. It had pimples. It had everything. It had emotion.
J. Mac
I had fun watching Marcus Freeman. You're right, man. He is the winner. If I'm the Chicago Bears or some of these other teams in the NFL, I'm just waiting until Notre Dame's done the championship.
Colin Cowherd
That was like LinkedIn on TV. That was a resume. Here's what you want as a coach.
J. Mac
I can't believe there's no camera in the locker room to find out what the halftime speech was. Because Notre Dame, after getting blitzed in the first half, they dominated.
Colin Cowherd
Well, they came out in the second half and run the ball. I mean, they just got very physical. Run the ball between the tackles. Use Riley Leonard. And they got a break. One of the breaks they got is Penn State had a couple of defensive backs fall down on a big play. I mean, you listen when you win games like that, you did get a break somewhere. They got a big break when a Penn State DB just fell down. Yeah.
J. Mac
And James Franklin stuff, though, let's. I feel like people are crushing him for this loss. I don't know that it's on him. You have three timeouts.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
J. Mac
All you need is to get in field goal range to have a shot.
Colin Cowherd
Okay.
J. Mac
But that is taking three knees there at the end.
Colin Cowherd
Timeout. That is a great secondary. They were great against Georgia. It is a great secondary. People aren't throwing the ball on Notre Dame. You don't trust your quarterback. You don't have a completion in the game to a wide receiver. Overtime is built for what Penn State does. Great tight end and I mean, Singletary, big time running back.
J. Mac
Yeah.
Colin Cowherd
So if I'm Penn State and I look at my team, I don't have a pass completed to a receiver. I'm not trying to drive the ball 45 yards, by the way, Kickers. When Jeter went up there to kick the winner, did you think he was going to make it? I was like, God, this is. I mean, this is it.
J. Mac
Just like football, coaches want to try to win. We're out here. We got timeouts. We got the ball. Let's give it a shot. I personally would have gone to Warren and drawn another flag because that's all he's doing all night, is drawn flags.
Colin Cowherd
And I said before, I think James Franklin is a good coach. But I didn't think they used their running back enough. I think the kid, I think we talked about him earlier. It's a big, it's a bad. I was just talking to an NFL GM yesterday about Penn State's run game.
J. Mac
They went for like 200 yards. Like they, I thought they had a good. And the game plan was good.
Colin Cowherd
I can't blame Franklin. I thought they were making it up on the final drive.
J. Mac
Fair. And that's been one of the knocks on him like hey, late game situations. He's just.
Colin Cowherd
And I, and I like James Franklin. This is not an indictment. He beats everybody except, you know, like Notre Dame and Ohio State and, and Harbaugh, Michigan. James Franklin is a very good football coach.
J. Mac
No breakthrough.
Colin Cowherd
Remember Harbaugh?
J. Mac
We said this about him for a few years when he was.
Colin Cowherd
That's fair.
J. Mac
We got to run.
Colin Cowherd
When you watch this game last night, I. Does Penn State have better high end talent?
J. Mac
It's at least equal. Maybe, maybe. I mean, Carter like you said.
Colin Cowherd
Well, the tight end and Carter are the two best players.
J. Mac
Carter wasn't even 100% coming off an injury.
Colin Cowherd
Like he looks like he, I mean.
J. Mac
He'S wearing Micah Parsons number. He looks like Micah Parsons. He's everywhere.
Colin Cowherd
All right, we got a lot of stuff. The College Football Playoff, by the way, is working perfectly. We'll talk about that coming up. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS1 and the iHeartRadio app. Hi, it's the Herd NFL playoffs. We're talking about NFL playoffs. You bet we are. Get in on the action in DraftKings sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NFL. Scoring touchdowns is the key to winning in the NFL playoffs. And the key to you scoring big is betting on them at DraftKings, the number one place to bet touchdowns. Just download the DraftKings sportsbook app. Super easy to do. 90 seconds and use the code herdherd. Here's another reason to watch your favorite players crush it in the playoffs. New customers bet five bucks to get 200 in bonus bets instantly. So score big during the NFL playoffs with DraftKings Sportsbook. Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app now. Use the code HERDHERD. New customers can bet 5 bucks. Get 200 instantly in bonus bets only on DraftKings Sportsbook with code HERD H E R D. The crown is yours.
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Colin Cowherd
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Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart is back in the host chair at the Daily show, which means he's also back in our ears on the Daily Show Ears Edition Podcast the Daily show podcast has everything you need to stay on top of today's news and pop culture. You get hilarious satirical takes on entertainment, politics, sports and more from John and the team of correspondents and contributors. The podcast also has content you can't get anywhere else, like extended interviews and a roundup of the weekly headlines. Listen to the Daily Show Ears edition on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Adnan Virk
What's up, everybody? Adnan Virk here to tell you about a new podcast from iHeart podcast in the National Hockey League. It's NHL unscripted with Virk and Demers.
Jason Demers
Hey, I'm Jason Demers, former 700 game NHL defenseman turned NHL Network analyst, and boy, oh, boy, does daddy have a lot to say.
Adnan Virk
I love you, by the way. On NHL Network, we're looking forward to getting together each week to chat and chirp about the sport and all the other things surrounding it that we love. Right?
Jason Demers
Yeah. I just met you today, but we're going to have a ton of guests from the colliding worlds of hockey, entertainment and pop culture. And you know what? Tons of back and forth on all things NHL.
Adnan Virk
Yeah, you're soon going to find out we're not just hockey talk. We get all kinds of random stuff in this podcast. Movies, television, food, wrestling. Even the stuff that you wear on NHL.
Jason Demers
Now you wish you could pull off my short shorts, Forky.
Adnan Virk
That's sure to cause a ruckus. Listen to NHL Unscripted with Virgin demers and the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Colin Cowherd
So tonight's game is not gonna look like last night's game. I can assure you both Ohio State and Texas will have a wide receiver that catches a ball. Last night was sparklers. Tonight, get your welder's mask. This thing is going to be a Fourth of July show. It's playmaker city. But the College Football Playoff, what I love about it, it is giving teams a chance to develop. Ohio State late in the year, a devastating loss to Michigan as a 20 point favorite. And Texas just can't beat Georgia. They lost to the same team twice. But yet college football now is like the NFL. You can lose a game late. It's not about the schedule. Oh, you lose late, it's over. The Chiefs lost to the Raiders last year late. Peyton Manning at a Super bowl trophy in Denver. They were two and two down the stretch. It's about the ability for talented teams to stumble. But our eyes don't lie. The data doesn't lie. Texas and Ohio State are fantastic. Using last year's playoff format. You know who we would have ended up this year in the playoff? Oregon boat raced by Ohio State. Penn State can't beat good teams. Georgia with a backup quarterback. And Texas. There would be no Ohio State. There would be no Notre Dame story. So the playoff has allowed teams to stumble. I mean, Notre Dame Lost in Northern Illinois in the old format. You're not getting into the national championship. It's not the way it's going to be. Texas lost twice to Georgia. You're not getting in. It's not the way it normally works. And so tonight, tonight is going to be the opposite of last night. If you have any eclipse glasses left over, grab them. There's going to be shiny objects and comets everywhere. It's going to be wild. We are now left with in college football an overachieving Notre Dame team that's brilliantly coached. An Ohio State team that if they lose they'll want the coach fired. And then a Texas team that is always mercurial, that can't beat Georgia. Their best quarterback in my opinion is their backup quarterback. And they've got an incredibly polarizing coach who I like but drives me nuts. Steve Sarkeesian, and he talks about tonight. I think in this day and age.
Adnan Virk
Of college football, to think that you're just going to go unblemished is probably not realistic.
Colin Cowherd
Especially not in our two conferences with.
Adnan Virk
The, you know, the amount of quality teams that you have to play week in and week out and the grind that it puts on your, on your team not only physically but mentally. And it's I think the ones that can be standing here January 9th and.
Colin Cowherd
10Th playing for an opportunity to play.
Adnan Virk
For a national championship. I think, you know, the credit is.
Colin Cowherd
Due to all four teams. Listen, Alabama had three losses. One of them they got housed against Vandy. Late in the year they got crushed by Oklahoma, a very average Oklahoma team. They almost got in. I like this formula. I like you're allowed. I mean we allow NFL teams to have multiple mulligans and those are 28 year old men. We can't let 19 year olds stumble and stub their toe in Columbus, Ohio against Michigan, a Michigan team that won a bowl game, didn't they beat a SEC team or something like that? Then Michigan have a really good bowl game. I forgot, you know, I haven't watched every one of the bowl games but if you look at Michigan you're like, well, I want a very good team. Well, they're not terrible. Beat Alabama. And so Ohio State lost at home. I shouldn't eliminate you from a 12 team playoff. And it didn't and I love it. This is what I've been hoping college football would be look more like the NFL playoff format. But still some quirkiness and independence like BYU and Notre Dame and a little uneven schedules and the officiating is not very good. And sometimes the coaching is regrettable. But what we have now, I mean, look at this final. You get both. Now you get the Cinderella story. But we all know Cinderella is not going to win the national championship. But now Cinderella doesn't keep the big dogs out as long as they don't have three losses. It used to be we jam a Cinderella every year into the 14 playoff and it would keep like a big dog out that should have been in. Now you get both. Now you get Boise State and Arizona State and smu and I get two loss Ohio State and Texas and Notre Dame that lost in Northern Illinois. I love the new format, the first round. It needs some tweaking, it needs some receding. It's not perfect, but it's better than the previous part that I, that we all sort of, you know, tolerated. We knew it wasn't a great formula. We tolerated it. This has been magic. And tonight, again, grab the welder's mask. Fourth of July, July, it's splash offenses, five star athletes. It'll look a lot more like Sunday. Jay McAva news.
Jon Stewart
No, no, no, no.
Colin Cowherd
Turn on the news. This is the Herdline news.
J. Mac
We got some negative news here. Colin. To open, Cleveland quarterback DeSean Watson has torn his Achilles again. I'm stunned. This news just broke literally in the last five minutes. He had surgery yesterday to repair the torn ligament. This is the second time he's torn the same Achilles in three plus months.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, this, this is probably the end of his career, wouldn't it be?
J. Mac
I think it, I, I don't see how he comes back. I mean, he's only played in 19 games since joining the Browns. Cleveland does have the second pick in the draft, so they're in position to get Cam or Shedeur. Yeah, it's obvious that's going to happen. Now. I just looked this up. Deshaun Watson is a $72.9 million cap hit next year in 25, or technically this calendar year, but next season and also in 2026. So one of your big tenants that I like, having known you for a while is, hey, when something's not working, you move on.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. Fast.
J. Mac
This is not working. I don't care about the dead cat money.
Colin Cowherd
I don't want him in the building.
J. Mac
Exactly. I think you just clean it out. You take your medicine for a couple of years, struggle, build the roster and deal with it. Because this is over.
Colin Cowherd
Denver is proven. If you have a smart offensive coach and you hit on a first round quarterback, you can literally make the playoffs six months later. So to me, if you can get Cam Ward or Shedeur, you get desean out of the building. You have an excellent offensive coach. Offensive line in run game, more than capable.
J. Mac
I was just looking into the offensive line. There could be some flux. This three of them are free agents.
Colin Cowherd
They're not going to keep all of them.
J. Mac
Yeah. So they've got some work to do. But you know what, they're going to be bad for the next couple of years and they'll turn it around. But I think this Watson experiment. Yeah, it's over.
Colin Cowherd
Career ender. No.
J. Mac
No other player.
Colin Cowherd
Well, first of all, no other team has any interest in this at all.
J. Mac
And also this idea, anytime somebody asks for a guaranteed contract, they're just going to. You see that Watson thing. We're not, we're not doing this.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. The idea. I remember listening to some of the younger media members all over the landscape when he signed that I think I.
J. Mac
Was one of them. I was, I was pro Watson and get, get your money.
Colin Cowherd
But my take was okay, Cleveland did it. But the rest of the league shouldn't be forced to do business the way the Browns do. They're a poorly run franchise. I remember when Robinson cano signed a 10 year deal with the Mariners and I'm like, I'm not signing every second baseman to a 10 year deal. It'd be one thing. It was Bryce Harper, it's Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Badnot signing Robinson cano to a 10 year contract. And that thing didn't work in Seattle. And so this idea that you have to do what poorly run franchises do, watch the good franchises, they usually have much greater discretion on key positions and what they paid them.
J. Mac
So desean Watson, that's just sad. Unbelievable. All right, let's move on. Let's talk about Sam Darnold. He's got a lot at stake this weekend. Coming off the week 18 clunker, however, maybe he plays well against the Rams. This game, by the way, has been moved to State Farm Stadium in Arizona Monday due to the fires out here in la. So Sam Darnold's got a chance. He will not be in enemy territory at SoFi. And you know, there's a chance he could get franchise tag, get a big new deal. But here's Darnold talking about the big moment in the playoffs.
Colin Cowherd
It's kind of, you know, where legacies, I guess, are made in the playoffs. Not, not just winning games, but winning, you know, those later games like afc, NFC championships, winning Super Bowls, like that's, you know, that's, that's how you're going to be remembered at the end of the day.
J. Mac
Take a deep breath.
Colin Cowherd
What do you make of the move to Arizona? Does it, I mean, I know McVeigh would rather play at home. It's kind of a wild game.
J. Mac
Spike back up a little bit. Minus two and a half. A half. It was down to one one and a half. I, I Do you see a lot of Rams fans all of a sudden adjusting their, their plans on a Monday and saying, I, I, I do think.
Colin Cowherd
I, I really do think a lot of Ram fans, honestly, so many people in Los Angeles right now are living in hotels to begin with because of these devastating fires. I can see a lot of people in LA saying, you know what, let's get out of town. Oh, let's go watch our team. I, I, I may be unrealistic, but I can see people saying, well, we're already at a hotel. Let's make the best of what has been a tragic, awful week.
J. Mac
The Minnesota fans trying to escape.
Colin Cowherd
No, Minnesota fans will travel whatever. It's oh yeah, yeah. Midwest fans travel like nothing else. Yeah, they'll be, there'll be 25, 000 Viking fans. I mean, I, I would be, I think it's going to be a purple crowd.
J. Mac
Yeah. Rams have familiarity with the stadium. We got some numbers here on Sam Darnold that our staff pulled. Colin, I did not realize so look at what Sam Darnold has done against the Rams and two against the Lions. He's been bad. Look at against everyone else, he's been outstanding. I mean, this is I, I don't. Listen, man, I know you like him. He's a us.
Colin Cowherd
You know what? I will tell you it this pick is in my blazing five.
J. Mac
I know you're rooting for him, but.
Colin Cowherd
I'm not, I'm not rooting for him. I, I, I, I listen, I'm not going to ever root against McVeigh. I think Sean McVeigh is. If Andy Reid didn't exist, Sean McVeigh and Marcus Freeman are two coaches the top of the mountain. So I think anytime you get into a key game and I get Sean McVay, I just feel good about it. No matter who the coach is, maybe even against Andy Reid, I just feel good about it.
J. Mac
Regarding Darnold and the Vikings, I know Flores is a hot name in the coaching market. How much time do you think he's spending about preparing for interviews this week versus preparing for the Rams? I think, I wonder how much of a distraction that could possibly be. Nobody on The Rams staff's interviewing anywhere?
Colin Cowherd
No, and the Rams are really healthy.
J. Mac
Coming off a by baby, basically that, you know, the rest of a lot of their guys last week.
Colin Cowherd
No, it's. It's. The more you inspect this game. There's a reason the wise guys like the Rams.
J. Mac
Final story is back to the Cowboys. We'll get them in the show here. Remember, they blocked Mike McCarthy earlier this week from interviewing with the Bears. And now there are reports Jerry Jones is planning to sit down with McCarthy today to start contract negotiations. Yeah, McCarthy's deal with Dallas expires on Tuesday. Could be some good news for Cowboys fans of the weekend.
Colin Cowherd
He's gonna. I mean, to block. If you're gonna block a coach, that means you're working on a new deal. That's not real covert. I mean, if I. If I say you can't interview this employee, that means I'm.
J. Mac
Yeah, but don't you think McCarthy's gonna come to the table with some stipulation? You won't even let me talk to the Bears. Well, this is a new thing that I want in my contract.
Colin Cowherd
I think Jerry's gonna offer him enough money. And, you know, you saw Jerry in that Landman clip where he looks like Clint Eastwood in his prime as an actor. I think Jerry will put on the old Texas draw and sell Mike on.
J. Mac
Are you watching Landman?
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, it's great.
J. Mac
That show's amazing. I just started it.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, the writing's amazing. Oh, yeah.
J. Mac
It's basically Yellowstone with oil right in Texas.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. More swearing. Yeah. Yeah, it's good.
J. Mac
Yeah.
Colin Cowherd
J. Mac with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by the herd.
J. Mac
Lie.
Colin Cowherd
So I have blazing five, top of the hour. You know, I like my picks. I'm more headed toward favorites this week, but I am on a. I am on a very small, lonely island. I think the Steelers are going to play Baltimore. Very tough this weekend. I like Baltimore to win. But I'll give you a couple reasons why I think Pittsburgh is going to go out with. With dignity. Number one, Zay Flowers is not going to play for Baltimore. They don't really have another receiver. I mean, the next best receiver on that team has 15 catches. Bateman, like Zay Flowers, is their home run hitter. Okay. Against a good pass rush, good corners, like, he's out. Second thing is, this is a rivalry game. I mean, I want you. This morning, my staff gave me a number. I could not believe it. I made them Google it. Harbaugh and Tomlin, John Harbon, Mike Tomlin let me just guess this. How many times do you think they've met, played against, coached against each other 38 times. They're having an anniversary. I don't know what to get them. It's insane. It's a fist fight in an alley. I mean, this game is nobody's fooling anybody. And so Baltimore is better missing their one home run hitter on the perimeter in a rivalry game that is so often close. And the other thing we have to acknowledge is Baltimore never looks quite as fearsome in the playoffs. And Mike Tomlin, when he's a huge underdog, the team plays over at Skis. So even when they played about a month ago, it was 34 to 17, but it was 2417 late until Russell Wilson threw a pick six. So if you look at Lamar Jackson in his career versus the Steelers, he's 2 and 4 against the Steelers and he's 2 and 4 in the playoffs. And his passer rating is amazing unless he's in the playoffs and unless he's facing the Steelers. Well, now in the first round, he's in the playoffs facing the Steelers. And so I think you're going to have a really competitive game. I think it's going to be a little ugly. It's going to look like Penn State, Notre Dame a little bit last night with the, you know, experienced quarterback play is that it's going to be played between the 30s and I feel like I'm on an island. But when I saw that number Ravens minus nine and a half, that 3417 game is misleading. No Zay Flowers, 38th time these two teams have played. I'll take Baltimore, but it feels close to me. Urban Meyer and the blazing five Top of next hour. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific. Hey, Steve Covino. And I'm Rich Davis and together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. And of course, the iHeartRadio app. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich? We talk about everything, life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture, stories that, well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We like to get you involved, to take your phone calls. Chop it up as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino and Rich Live on Fox Sports radio and the iHeartradio app from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcast. And of course on social media, that's Covino and Rich. You can count on T Mobile to help keep you connected from big cities to small towns on America's largest 5G network. Switch the T Mobile keep your phone and they'll pay it off up to 800 bucks per line via prepaid card. Learn more@t mobile.com Keep and switch up to four lines via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device, credit service port in 90 plus days with device and eligible carrier and timely redemption required. Card has no cash access and expires in six months Jon Stewart is back.
Jon Stewart
In the host chair at the Daily show, which means he's also back in our ears on the Daily Show Ears Edition Podcast the Daily show podcast has everything you need to stay on top of today's news and pop culture. You get hilarious satirical takes on entertainment, politics, sports and more from John and the team of correspondents and contributors. The podcast also has content you can't get anywhere else, like extended interviews and a roundup of the weekly headlines. Listen to the Daily Show Ears edition on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Adnan Virk
What's up everybody? Adnan Burke here to tell you about a new podcast from iHeart podcast in the National Hockey League. It's NHL Unscripted with Firkin Demers.
Jason Demers
Hey, I'm Jason Demers, former 700 game NHL defenseman turned NHL Network analyst, and boy oh boy, does Daddy have a lot to say.
Adnan Virk
I love you, by the way, on NHL Network, we're looking forward to getting together each week to chat and chirp about the sport and all the other things surrounding it that we love. Right?
Jason Demers
Yeah, I just met you today, but we're going to have a ton of guests from the colliding worlds of hockey, entertainment and pop culture. And you know what? Tons of back and forth on all things NHL.
Adnan Virk
Yeah, you're soon going to find out we're not just hockey talk. We get all kinds of random stuff on this podcast. Movies, television, food, wrestling, even the stuff that you wear on NHL.
Jason Demers
Now you wish you could pull off my short shorts, Ferkie.
Adnan Virk
That's sure to cause a ruckus. Listen to NHL Unscripted with Burke and Demers, the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
J. Mac
You can help families impacted by the California wildfires. Visit Go Fox, Backslash redcross or scan the QR code on your screen to support these efforts. Your donation enables the Red Cross to respond to and help people recover from this disaster. FOX has already donated over a million dollars, and please donate if you can, too.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, I saw a picture sentence to my phone this morning of somebody driving for two miles through that area. Everything burned down, every house, every business. Absolutely devastating. Give to the Red Cross if you can. So just to illustrate, I mean, you saw it last night when Notre Dame played Penn State. You can see the pressure. You can see how it's hard to watch as a dad, to watch some of these young college athletes and you watch their parents in the crowd. I get nervous for the kids and I don't even know them in the NFL. It's a little bit different, but the pressure is insane. So, I mean, Buffalo and Philadelphia are combined 27, 7. And we know Sean McDermott's a good coach and we know Nick Sirianni wins a lot of games. Buffalo and Philadelphia, these are two exceptional teams. They could meet in the Super Bowl. Nobody would be surprised. Except maybe Nick Wright. Nobody would be surprised. But if they lose his home favorites this weekend, Sean McDermott and Nick Ceriani are both in big trouble. 27 and 7 sustained success regardless of the coordinators. Win, win, win, win, win the division every year, Dominate the division every year. Doesn't matter. Bill Belichick and Mike Vrabel, the phone's ring. And if these two guys lose. And I think some of this is. And I've seen this, I saw Nick Saban do this in the SEC where it got a lot of coaches fired, is that Andy Reid keeps winning Super Bowls with basically patchwork offensive lines, no notable star receiver, an old distracted tight end, and sometimes Patrick Mahomes. Not at 100%. And Andy Reid keeps winning Super Bowls. And I think these other owners are like, where's his star receiver? He doesn't have an A.J. brown. He didn't have a Stefan Diggs. I mean, his offensive line isn't as good as Buffalo's, certainly not as good as Philadelphia's. I got Jalen Hurts and I got Josh Allen. I think the owners look at Andy Reid and he puts so much immense pressure on other coaches in this sport because they're winning. And what's Interesting because they pay Mahomes what they pay him and Chris Jones and Travis Kelsey is this is not one of the all time great teams in Kansas City or I should say one of the all time great rosters. They don't have a number one receiver. I mean their best receiver, Rasheed Rice got hurt this year. They're making it up as they go. Last two years, like let go of Tyreek Hill is making it up as they go. Depending on Sky Moore to make big catches in the Super Bowl. So Josh Allen is just too darn good not to get to Super Bowls. He has got to get to Super Bowls. He is now for the next six years in his prime. He got to start getting to him a lot. And there is a feeling in the NFL, I think most of us feel this way, that if Josh Allen would have inherited Andy Reid, he'd be the one hoisting trophies. It's a coach thing, fair. Not if Josh Allen had Andy Reid, Mahomes had McDermott. A lot of people think, well, Josh would have a couple trophies. At least a couple. And Nick Sirianni has the best roster in football. Now that Detroit doesn't have Hutchison and are banged up on the back end, the Eagles have the best roster in football. I don't even think anybody argues about that. So and now Jalen hurts. The good news, he's going to play. He practice, he's going to play. And can they keep playing as well as they did late in the regular season against weaker teams? Now it's the packers at home. Here's Nick Sariani. Same process, same everything. Don't let the everyone is going to tell you how much more, you know how much bigger this atmosphere is and how much bigger this is. It's really don't do anything different than what you've been doing. Like when the, when the stakes get higher, when the game gets bigger. Right. You need to lock down and do the tough detail together. I agree with him there. So yesterday this week Antonio Pierce was fired as the Raiders head coach. I wouldn't have done that. We'll see who they land. Tom Telesco talked to him yesterday. He was fired the GM after one year. So you have six job openings in the NFL. Here is the order. If I was looking for a job, this is the order. I think in quality of job. I think now the Patriots is the best job. I have stability and ownership. They do not run through coaches. They have a quarterback and a backup quarterback. They have the most cap space. 124 million in the NFL and they own the number four pick, I think. I'm not saying this is Green bay before Matt LaFleur took it or the Cowboys before Mike McCarthy took it. But for a franchise without a lot of juice, they've got a handful of good players, most on defense. They've got the quarterback and his backup. I have a lot of cap space and outside of Buffalo, there's a lot of dysfunction in this division. So you can get the wild card spot here over New York or Miami on a regular basis. I think the Patriots is the best job now Chicago, and it shows you what a weird year it is. How often do we think of Chicago as a great job opening? They got Caleb Williams. You don't have to pay him big boy money for a long time. They got the fifth most cap space in the league. They have the number seven draft pick. You know, I guess my issue, and this is one that I've. I've talked to a lot of people outside of Chicago around the league. It's just a lot of politics, ownership, front office and a feeling that the ownership is not terribly progressive. But I like some of their players. I don't think it's a great roster, especially in that division. It's a solid roster. A number one receiver, a star potential quarterback, a lot of cap space and a good draft pick. I think the Bears is the second best job. I actually think the jets, despite Woody Johnson, I mean, he kept solo around for years. It's not like it's the Raiders. I think the jets is the third best job. I like the roster now. It's an aging offensive line. They do have their left tackle for the future. They do have the number seven pick, but I like their running back. Running backs, they got a couple of receivers. I like an edge rusher. I like a top three corner in the NFL. They don't have a clear vision at quarterback for the future, but the way Aaron Rodgers has played the last two months, I could deal with it for a year. Aaron's not going to have a lot of power. The new coach is going to have the power and the new gm. So I think the jets is not a terrible job. And we can call Woody Johnson impulsive, but compared to the Raiders, he's patient. I think that's the third best job. Number four to me would be the Saints. A winnable division, stability and ownership. Mickey Loomis been in the building a long time. They draft pretty well now. They also have the number 9 pick in the draft. They do not have cap room. In fact, there's an argument. It's the worst cap situation in the room. So to me and is Derek Carr the future? You can win games with Derek Carr in that division. It's not unlike a New England where you could go buy three elite players, maybe five. And Drake made pops in year two with a smart offensive coach. This is going to be a slower build because of lack of cap space in the Derek Carr situation. But I do get ownership in a front office that has proven that they can accumulate draft and develop good young players. And it's a weak division. Saint at number four. I would put the Jags at number five. I get Trevor Lawrence. But man, you talk about lack of stability. Four different head coaches over nine season. Again, it's a winnable division with one good quarterback, C.J. stroud. I again, I think they have some players, I think they have some offensive players I like. Again, I'm saying it's the fifth best job. So I don't think they have the roster of the jets, the stability or the young free quarterback of the Patriots. I don't think they have a quarterback as talented as the Bears. So I, you know, and I, and I don't think they've got kind of the ownership or stability that the Saints have shown through the years. But I would say the Jags is five and I got to put the Raiders at six. First of all, you're in a division with Harbaugh, Sean Payton, Andy Reid, Mahomes, Bo Nixon, Herbert. I don't care who you hire as you bring Belichick in. That's brutal. You got great quarterback play and all time coach stuff there. The other thing is you got some cap space but and you got Brock Bowers and Max Crosby. Colton Miller's a solid left tackle. The roster needs upgrading quarterback in a weak draft class. You know, Mark Davis, Antonio Pierce thought he was coming back. An hour later he was fired. Tom Telescop thought he was coming back. Two hours later he was fired. I don't think the Raiders is a good spot. And again start looking at who you have to face in six games a year. Andy Reid, Mahomes, Herbert Harbaugh, Sean Payton, Bonix. Bo Nix is not getting worse, he getting better. This is the worst the roster will be for Denver. They're going to get more cap space over the next three years. So I would go Patriots, Bears, Jets. Patriots for stability. Bears for the town at quarterback, jets for the overall roster. Then Saints, Jags, Raiders are jobs I wouldn't want to take. You're looking at me like you think the Raiders job is better than that?
J. Mac
Okay, so here's what's going to give you interesting. What happens if Mike Vrabel picks the Raiders, which you rank as the sixth job? I think there's a lot of stuff at play here. Like how are the Saints ahead of the Jags? The Jags, you have your quarterback. At least you've got that. You have nothing with the Saints.
Colin Cowherd
Okay. But there are increasing concerns about the ability to stay healthy by Trevor Lawrence. Fair to beat good teams with Trevor Lawrence. We've watched in a couple back to back years. He can't stay healthy. There's been questions about, you know, is he really into it? There's kind of a, a, kind of a.
J. Mac
It's understandable.
Colin Cowherd
So I, and you know, I loved him, but he has not been as good as I thought he would be as a pro.
J. Mac
Yeah, I agreed. I totally agree. But the Raiders also, you talked about it. They have the, the left tackle set. You got Crosby coming off the edge. You got Brock Bowers who was the first team all pro.
Colin Cowherd
No, no, they have three star players.
J. Mac
So Kobe Myers, he's not a star, but he's.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, but again I have fairly decent insight into the organization.
J. Mac
It's a bit of a mess.
Colin Cowherd
We think of the jets as crazy. Salah was there. How many years did Salah get? Four or five Too many. Well, how many years did Joe Douglas get? I mean compared to the Raiders, the Jets look like IBM. They're like formidable and patient and so again, stability. Yeah, I mean they, they, the jets look incredibly stable compared to the Raiders right now.
J. Mac
I just think a guy like Vrabel is going to be like, oh my guy, Tom Brady's here. I'm going to have protection. I could shove out the GM and bring in my own GM if that's a good job for me.
Colin Cowherd
If I could get Robert Kraft, Drake May and the most cap space in the league. I'm Mike Vrabel, that's. And I know the hallway. I know, I know the skeletons.
J. Mac
I know he's never going to be Belichick. He knows that.
Colin Cowherd
That can't drive you in Kansas City when Andy retires. It's a good job. Take the job. Whether you're ordering wings for the game, whipping up a seven layer dip or ordering pizza, there's something about football that makes me want to eat. And this football season, Uber Eats has the best deals for me on game day. Food, no matter what I'm craving. From two for one pizza to buy one, get one Wings, Uber Eats. We'll be dropping new deals each week all season long. I'm in Uber Eats, the official on demand delivery partner of the NFL. Order now for game day. Terms and conditions apply. See app for details. This message brought to you by the official Whiskey of the Herd with Colin Coward Green River Whiskey Green River Whiskey is the 10th oldest distillery in Kentucky and was once the most expensive Whiskey purchased when 20 barrels were traded for shares in a gold mine. From single barrel bourbons to straight rye, Green River's the perfect combo of rich flavor and richer history. Visit greenriverwhiskey.com to discover a legend in a bottle. A product of Green River Distilling Co. Owensboro, KY. Alcohol by volume varies by product. Greenriverwhiskey.com, please Dr. Responsibly Jon Stewart is.
Jon Stewart
Back at the Daily show, and he's bringing his signature wit and insight straight to your ears with the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. Dive into John's unique take on the biggest topics in politics, entertainment, sports, and more. Joined by the sharp voices of the show's correspondence and contributors, and with extended interviews and exclusive weekly headline roundups, this podcast gives you content you won't find anywhere else. Ready to laugh and stay informed? Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Adnan Virk
What's up everybody? Adnan Burke here to tell you about a new podcast. It's NHL Unscripted with Virgin Demers.
Jason Demers
Jason Imers here, And after playing 700 NHL games, I got a lot of dirty laundry to air out.
Adnan Virk
Hey, I got a lot to say here too. Okay, easy week. We'll get together, chat about the sport that we love.
Jason Demers
Tons of guests are going to join in too, but we're not just going to be talking hockey, folks. We're talking movies, we're talking tv, food, and Adnan's favorite wrestling. It's all on le Table.
Adnan Virk
Listen to NHL Unscripted with Vir and demers, the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.
The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Episode: Hour 1 - Notre Dame Moves On
Release Date: January 10, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
In this episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, the focus is sharply on college football, especially highlighting Notre Dame's impressive journey to the national championship. Colin Cowherd delves deep into the strategies, coaching, and pivotal moments that defined Notre Dame's season, while also touching upon broader topics in the NFL and upcoming playoff scenarios.
Notre Dame's Resilience and Strategy
Colin Cowherd inaugurates the discussion by analyzing Notre Dame's recent victory over Penn State, emphasizing the myriad challenges the team overcame to secure their spot in the national championship. Despite facing penalties, injuries, and questionable officiating decisions, Notre Dame showcased remarkable resilience.
Marcus Freeman: The Defensive Maestro
A significant portion of the discussion centers around Notre Dame's defensive coordinator, Marcus Freeman. Colin lauds Freeman's coaching prowess, drawing parallels to NFL's Sean McVay in terms of energy and leadership.
Freeman's ability to motivate and strategize under pressure was highlighted as a cornerstone of Notre Dame's success, particularly in their final drive against Penn State.
James Franklin's Penn State: Struggles Under Pressure
Contrasting Notre Dame's triumph, Colin critiques Penn State's coaching under James Franklin. Despite Franklin's reputation as a competent coach, the team's performance against top-tier opponents raised questions about Franklin's adaptability and in-game decision-making.
Colin expresses approval for the current College Football Playoff structure, commending it for allowing deserving teams like Notre Dame to advance despite not having the highest number of star recruits.
Deshaun Watson's Career Implications
Transitioning to NFL news, Colin and co-host J. Mac discuss the severe injury of Cleveland Browns' quarterback Deshaun Watson, who suffered a torn Achilles for the second time in three months. The consensus leans towards this being a career-ending injury for Watson.
The conversation underscores the Browns' strategic move to pivot away from Watson, signaling a potential rebuild with young talents like Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders.
Sam Darnold's Performance and Future Prospects
The duo also touches upon Sam Darnold's fluctuating performance this season, highlighting his critical role in upcoming games and the implications for his career trajectory.
Colin provides an in-depth analysis of the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles, both boasting impressive 27-7 records. He speculates on the high stakes of their upcoming playoff encounters, emphasizing the potential for these teams to clash in the Super Bowl given their consistent performances.
In a unique segment, Colin ranks the top NFL franchises based on their desirability as job opportunities for coaches and executives. Leading the list are:
Towards the end of the episode, Colin shifts focus to a pressing humanitarian issue—the devastating California wildfires. He urges listeners to support affected families by donating to the Red Cross, highlighting Fox's substantial contributions to relief efforts.
Colin wraps up the episode by reiterating the significance of the discussed topics, from Notre Dame's strategic gameplay to the unfolding NFL playoff scenarios. He emphasizes the importance of resilience in sports and life, leaving listeners with a blend of sports insight and a call to community support.
Notable Quotes:
Colin Cowherd (04:49): "There was a million excuses for Notre Dame... They had two balls intercepted. Intercepted. They were both taken away on penalties."
Colin Cowherd (07:10): "Marcus Freeman, to me, feels like you're watching the college version of Sean McVay. The energy, the presence, the intensity..."
J. Mac (27:15): "I think it is probably the end of his career, wouldn't it?"
Colin Cowherd (28:33): "The Patriots is the best job now... Chicago is a great job opening."
This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from The Herd with Colin Cowherd episode, providing readers with a clear understanding of Notre Dame's strategic triumph, NFL playoff expectations, and broader sports management insights.