Hour 1 - Rory Does It

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Episode: Hour 1 - Rory Does It (Released April 14, 2025)

The Herd with Colin Cowherd delivers a comprehensive and engaging exploration of the day’s top sports stories, blending insightful analysis with thought-provoking commentary. In this episode, titled "Hour 1 - Rory Does It," host Colin Cowherd delves into a variety of sports topics, with a special focus on Rory McIlroy's triumphant victory at Augusta. The episode seamlessly transitions between golf triumphs, NBA playoff dynamics, college football controversies, and NFL draft prospects, providing listeners with a rich tapestry of current sports narratives.

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Rory McIlroy's Augusta Victory: A Testament to Resilience

The episode opens with an in-depth analysis of Rory McIlroy’s long-awaited major win at Augusta, marking his first major title after 17 attempts. Colin Cowherd draws parallels between McIlroy’s journey and that of Michael Jordan, emphasizing the importance of resilience in achieving greatness.

Key Points:

• Resilience as Key to Success: Colin underscores the critical role resilience plays in athletic success, noting that "if it were easy, everyone would be successful."
• McIlroy’s Dual Nature: Rory McIlroy is highlighted for his exceptional talent and his occasional struggles under pressure, making him a relatable and compelling figure in golf.
• Emotional Victory: McIlroy’s win culminated in a dramatic playoff hole, showcasing both his skill and emotional depth.

Notable Quotes:

• “Resiliency is the key to success in life because it's really hard or everybody would be successful.” [03:45]
• “When you watch Rory in Saturday too, in some of those moments where you had doubt, he delivered.” [12:30]
• “He wasn't the chosen one at 16. He was cut by his high school coach.” [24:14]

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NBA Playoffs and Golden State Warriors Analysis

Transitioning from golf, Colin shifts focus to the NBA playoffs, particularly scrutinizing the performance and future prospects of the Golden State Warriors. The discussion centers around Jimmy Butler's impact and the Warriors' strategic challenges.

Key Points:

• Jimmy Butler’s Role: Butler is praised for his playmaking abilities but critiqued for his shooting efficiency, notably his 28% three-point shooting rate.
• Warriors' Strategic Dilemmas: Colin discusses the Warriors' reliance on veteran players versus the integration of younger talent, highlighting the potential ceiling of the team's performance.
• Coaching Decisions: The decision to bench Jonathan Kuminga is analyzed as a reflection of the Warriors' strategic direction and potential limitations.

Notable Quotes:

• “Jimmy Butler's made him relevant and he's good for staff, they've got a bigger problem.” [09:00]
• “I think the ceiling is very apparent for the Warriors.” [11:15]
• “Butcher, Stephen, Draymond, pods, they're going to have a ceiling.” [11:45]

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College Football and NCAA Governance Issues

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the ongoing debates surrounding college football, focusing on athlete compensation, the transfer portal, and the NCAA's regulatory challenges.

Key Points:

• Player Compensation: Colin advocates for paying college athletes, arguing that the current system exploits student-athletes while coaches and administrators reap substantial financial benefits.
• Transfer Portal Chaos: The lack of regulation in the transfer portal is criticized, highlighting how it undermines team stability and athlete development.
• Nico Iamaliava Case Study: The discussion uses the hypothetical case of quarterback Nico Iamaliava from Tennessee to exemplify the broader issues within college sports governance.

Notable Quotes:

• “Don't blame the kids on this stuff. But what it really shows you is that change was needed.” [22:00]
• “The NCAA has been playing catch up on this stuff for years now.” [23:30]
• “That's the reason why they are banning books like yours, George.” [35:38]

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NFL Analysis: Cleveland Browns and Draft Prospects

Colin provides a detailed analysis of the Cleveland Browns' quarterback situation, evaluating the recent acquisition of Joe Flacco and the prospects of Kenny Pickett, alongside a preview of upcoming NFL draft strategies.

Key Points:

• Joe Flacco as a Bridge: Flacco is positioned as a transitional quarterback for the Browns, capable of winning games but not seen as a long-term solution.
• Kenny Pickett’s Potential: While Pickett is confident in his role, Colin expresses skepticism about his readiness to be a franchise quarterback.
• Draft Strategy: Emphasis is placed on the importance of the upcoming draft, particularly focusing on quarterback prospects and the need for strategic drafting to alleviate long-term contractual burdens.

Notable Quotes:

• “I think he's a bridge. Obviously I don't think Kenny Pickett's the answer.” [25:36]
• “The draft is obviously by next Monday. That's draft week.” [35:02]
• “He was making 2.5 million. He goes, I want 4 million.” [24:55]

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Denver Nuggets and Nikola Jokic: A Golden Era in Jeopardy

The episode transitions to the Denver Nuggets, focusing on Nikola Jokic’s exceptional performance and the recent coaching changes affecting the team’s dynamics.

Key Points:

• Nikola Jokic’s Dominance: Jokic is lauded as one of the greatest centers of all time, with Colin praising his all-around game and statistical achievements.
• Coaching Turmoil: The firing of the Nuggets’ head coach is discussed in the context of conflicting visions between the GM and the coach, ultimately impacting team performance.
• Future Prospects: Colin speculates on the Nuggets’ future, suggesting that despite Jokic’s brilliance, the team may struggle to sustain success due to organizational instability.

Notable Quotes:

• “He's the best center I've ever seen.” [28:16]
• “It’s as old as time where the GM wants to play young guys, Malone wanted to play Russell Westbrook.” [29:10]
• “Jokic remains the world's best basketball player having his greatest season.” [31:00]

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Final Thoughts: The Legacy of Michael Jordan and Rory McIlroy

In the concluding segment, Colin reflects on the enduring legacy of Michael Jordan and how Rory McIlroy's recent victory at Augusta mirrors the struggles and triumphs that defined Jordan's career.

Key Points:

• Comparative Legacy: Colin draws comparisons between Jordan’s journey to NBA greatness and McIlroy’s path to winning his first major, highlighting the universal theme of perseverance.
• Cultural Impact: The discussion underscores how both athletes have become iconic figures not just for their athletic prowess but for their relatable struggles and ultimate achievements.
• Emotional Resonance: Colin emphasizes the emotional connection fans feel with athletes who overcome significant obstacles, reinforcing the narrative of resilience.

Notable Quotes:

• “LeBron James will never be as popular as Michael Jordan.” [38:13]
• “He shared in the pain and the journey and Michael crying when he finally won his title.” [43:00]
• “It was very easy early. Remember when it started out and DeChambeau was going to irritate Rory.” [50:09]

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Conclusion

The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 1 - Rory Does It offers a multifaceted exploration of contemporary sports, seamlessly weaving together stories of perseverance, strategic analysis, and cultural commentary. By highlighting Rory McIlroy's significant victory and drawing parallels to legendary sports figures, Colin Cowherd provides listeners with both inspiration and critical insights into the current state of various sports disciplines.

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Notable Mentions:

• Ads and Promotions: The episode includes advertisements for Capital One, T-Mobile, and promotions for other podcasts like "The Middle with Jeremy Hobson" and "40s and Free Agents." These segments are excluded from the main summary to focus on content-rich discussions.
• Guest Appearances: While primarily hosted by Colin Cowherd, the episode features interactions with Jordan Schultz and mentions of other podcast hosts such as Greg Rosenthal.

For a more immersive experience, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full episode on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or other major podcast platforms.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

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[Jeremy Hobson]

We live in a divided country and our media couldn't be more polarizing. That's why we started the Middle with Jeremy Hobson. It's about bringing voices not from the extremes, but from the vast middle into the national conversation. Each week we hear from ordinary Americans from all over the country, and when you subscribe to the Middle, you also get an episode each week called One Thing Trump did that focuses on just one item from from the avalanche of news. Listen to the Middle with Jeremy Hobson on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Greg Rosenthal]

What's up everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the King of Spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs, mock drafts to my top 101 free agents, we'll have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[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. Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. All right, here we go on a Monday back from vacay. Ready to roll. 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. Jordan Schultz filling in for J. Mac this week. Great to have you. A lot of NFL stuff, drafts a couple of weeks away. I often tell my kids, and I've said this before now, they don't listen to me. They used to kind of that the most important quality anybody can have in life is resil, even for the greatest of all time, Michael Jordan. You saw the Odyssey and the struggles of Michael Jordan. Can't get through the Celtics, can't get through the Pistons. Rory McIlroy, a golf prodigy, finally wins Augusta in his 17th trip. 17th trip. Resiliency is the key to success in life because it's really hard or everybody would be successful. And Rory McIlroy has two great qualities that make him so magnetic on television, which is how most of us watched. Number one, he is a wizard. He can make shots nobody else can. It's a combination of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Jack Nicholas. He is a wizard. Bending a ball around trees and laughing after hero shots can often look routine. And the second quality he has, he can buckle under pressure, hit a wedge into a Creek from 125 yards away. As I watched yesterday, this was not Rory against Justin Rose. It was not Rory against Bryson DeChambeau. It was Rory McIlroy against Rory McIlroy. And that has been the story of his career and why the crowd was chanting in Augusta. Ferrari, not Justin Rose. What player do you get hold a hole. Since 2014, if he won this tournament, remarkably, it would be his first major. And again, this is a kid that, like Tiger woods, who was on the Mike Douglas show when he was three or four. Rory was on Ireland TV hitting a golf ball into his mom's washer when he was 8 and 9 years old. He's their Tiger. He is a prodigy. But Tiger was so great. He was often robotic, never losing a lead on Sunday, in total command, in total control. And yet with Rory, he shares so many of those traits. Long off the tee, bending balls around trees. But there are times when he played conservative yesterday, not when he was in trouble. Oh, he was great then. But when he was conservative, he got into trouble. We remember too the collapse at the US Open a year ago, which makes him more fascinating, more vulnerable. He's not reckless. He's not battling demons. You just aren't quite sure what you get, putt to putt, wedge to wedge and off the green. Despite all his talent. But when the green was in sight, and I thought it was, it was so really, this was so much. This was a perfect way for him to win Augusta. This was a perfect way. Four double bogeys, most ever for a champion. That wedge shot into the creek. Of course, Rory McIlroy would have to go to a playoff hole. It symbolized yesterday and Saturday at the very best of his game. He pulls away and then yet blows a four shot lead early yesterday he starts a little shaky, then he's strong, back to shaky, then he buckles, then he's great. And in the end, the winning putt was an emotional waterfall. Proving once again, even for the all time greats, it is about absolutely resilience, overcoming. It was not Rory against Augusta, it was not Rory against Bryson or Justin Rose. It was Rory against Rory and the prodigy delivered and gets the jacket. Now Augusta is the first major and this could be the Roary year, or maybe it won't be. And that would be fitting too. For the record, the British Open is in Northern Ireland, one hour from where we grew up. Here's Rory on Rory and Bryson on Rory after. This is my 17th time here and.

[Greg Rosenthal]

I started to wonder if it would.

[Colin Cowherd]

Ever be my time.

[Greg Rosenthal]

And I think, you know, the last.

[Colin Cowherd]

10 years, coming here with the burden.

[Greg Rosenthal]

Of the Grand Slam on my shoulders.

[Colin Cowherd]

And trying to achieve that, there was a lot of pent up emotion that just came out on that 18th green. But, you know, I think, you know, a moment like that makes all the.

[Greg Rosenthal]

Years and all the, all the close calls worth it.

[Jordan Schultz]

I wanted to cry for him. I mean, as a professional, you just know it hit it in the middle of the green and I can't believe he went for it or must have just flared it, but I've had bad shots in my career too, so it happens. And when you're trying to win a major championship, especially out here, Sunday of Augusta, the Masters, you have to, you have to just do it and get the job done and do it right. There were times where it looked like he had full control and times I was like, well, what's going on?

[Colin Cowherd]

And that is what makes Rory McElroy as fascinating as anybody in golf. I've always said this about Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan was the best looking. He'd be easy not to like. He was the coolest. The style, the earring, the smile, handsome, great, be easy not to like. But you watched him struggle, so you were invested in the Journey with Michael. He wasn't the chosen one at 16. He was cut by his high school coach. LeBron's less likable. Jordan's incredibly likable. Tiger at times was robotic great early dominating for a decade and chasing somebody like LeBron that we loved Jack Nicklaus. But Rory is different. There's a little MJ there. We have watched the struggle. I'm hoping Augusta is the first of many, but that 10 year gap so symbolizes what makes him so incredibly embraceable. Way to go, Rory. All right, so yesterday, NBA playoffs are going to be interesting. East is set, Cavs, Celtics are great. West is all log jammed. So yesterday the warriors need to win biggest game of the year, they don't. And now they're forced tomorrow to play a play in game. So listen, I think Jimmy Butler's a playmaker. He's tough, he gets to the free throw line, he's good for Steph Curry, but the honeymoon is over. He made more free throws in Golden State than field goals since he's arrived. Okay? So let's be realistic about it. Pat Riley does not move off many players. Pat Riley's as good a personal guy as the league has had in my life outside of maybe Red Auerbach, and they moved off him and he's got a shorter contract and it's not as punitive, not as prohibitive as he wanted in Miami. But the reality is, despite the fact that Jimmy Butler's made him relevant and he's good for staff, they've got a bigger problem. Once again, a young warrior. Jonathan Kaminga did not play. Coach's decision. James Wiseman, Jordan Poole, Jonathan Kaminga, an immature D'Angelo Russell. Young guys, squirrely guys or immature guys don't fit here. If Kaminga gave you 21 a night and could play at the same time as Steph Draymond Butler, he'd be on the floor. But it tells you what Kerr thinks of Kaminga and what he thought of Wiseman and Jordan Poole and D'Angelo Russell was in and out of town quickly. If you look at the history of the dynasty, it's very much like the Patriots, Brady and Steph. One overwhelming transcendent superstar who mostly plays very, very well with older players. Andrew Bogut, Andre Iguodala, Kevin Durant. You can bring the old guys in here and it works. Now, Jimmy Butler is an additive, there's no question. But because Kaminga doesn't work when Draymond, Steph and and Butler are all on the floor, the question is, what do we get From Jimmy Butler. He's shooting about 28% from 3 point territory. And it looks like. And the Kaminga thing, we were all kind of waiting off the injury to see how it would work. And Steve Kerr made a decision yesterday. I'm not even going to play him. So it looks like the ceiling is very apparent for the Warriors. Yes, Jimmy Butler absolutely saved the regular season. He's relevant, a playmaker, gets to the free throw line tough and helps Steph. Those are all boxes that are checked for Jimmy Butler. But again, in this dynasty, like Brady just did not work with young receivers. Bring in Randy Moss, it's magic. Bringing a Deion Branch again, it works. But you draft the kid in the first round. Nikhil Harry, a Chad Jackson, it doesn't work. Brady wants to win now. He's not going to be your babysitter. He's not going to teach you how to run routes. And with the warriors offense, young guys can struggle to find their footing. And it looks like Kaminga will not be part of the future. Although it seems like the only way they could win a series a seven gamer against the Houston against the Lakers would be if OKC Houston, if Kaminga played. But yesterday not playing him, coach's decision tells you no, it's not going to work. Butler, Stephen, Draymond, pods, they're going to have a ceiling. Here was Jimmy on the playing game. We got a lot of really good basketball players around this locker room. Key in what we're trying to do. I like the confidence that he has in myself. I also have that same amount of confidence. So I know that I and we have a job to do and I know that we're capable of doing it. So play in.

[Jordan Schultz]

Here we come.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, playing game is tomorrow against the Wizards. Again, the Western Conference. Oklahoma City pulled away. Houston's a little bit ahead of the group, but then it's Lakers for the next four or five teams are all very close playing game. I'll take the warriors over Memphis. I just don't trust the Grizzlies in big spots. But quite a day yesterday watching golf, I was. I was thinking about this. There's been a handful of moments in my life I've overwhelmingly and this is why I supported the live tour. I watch for golfers, I don't watch for courses. But there is something magical about a U.S. open at Pebble Beach. There is something magical about Augusta and the undulating course and the challenges and we got all of it. Yesterday I was talking to Ryan on the staff this morning I watched every Stroke, like most of you did yesterday. I cannot remember being on pins and needles for four hours. And that was Rory. Right. Like when he pulled away early, there was no tension. No tension. And then he quickly lost that lead. Of course he did. Because that's what makes him such a wildly entertaining spectacle.

[Jordan Schultz]

Colin, what's so cool about Rory? You mentioned the resilience. How about what he said to his daughter in front of everyone else? I know we'll probably get to it in more detail later, but never give up on your dreams. That was him in many ways, talking to himself. You mentioned the decade long odyssey of trying to win another major. For him to do it and to complete it, and the manner in which he did. I personally felt guilty to. He choked. It's over. When he went to the playoff, especially Justin Rose having already lost one, I figured that's it. Just this is Justin Rose's time.

[Colin Cowherd]

I felt the same way. I felt they go to the narrowest, the narrowest grief airway. And I thought, oh boy. All right. But yet yesterday, if you watch Rory in Saturday too, in some of those moments where you had doubt, he delivered. Yeah, it was when he got conservative that he at times buckled. By the way, this just came down. Mike Budenholzer fired Phoenix Suns head coach. We didn't love the fit to start with. So he's on his way out. There's a total rebuild there. Personnel roster, coaching. Phoenix just fired their head coach. Playoffs begin in earnest. Yes, tomorrow, Memphis and Golden State. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, Weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio Apple. Hey, it's 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 too. 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 KO Vino and Rich wherever you get your podcast. And of course on social media, that's Covino and Rich.

[T-Mobile Advertiser]

T Mobile stats are as impressive as your favorite athlete's highlight reel because T Mobile helps keep you connected from the heart of Portland to right where you are on America's largest 5G network switch. Now keep your phone and T Mobile will pay it off up to $800 per line via prepaid card. Visit your local T Mobile location or learn more@t mobile.com keepandswitch up to 4 lines of your virtual prepaid card allowed 15 days. Qualify and unlock device, credit service port in 90 plus days device and eligible carrier and timely redemption required. Card has no cash access and expires in six months.

[Jeremy Hobson]

We live in a divided country.

[Colin Cowherd]

I am a lifelong Republican with all.

[Jeremy Hobson]

Kinds of different people.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know, I'm a mother, I'm a grandmother.

[Jeremy Hobson]

That's why we started the Middle with Jeremy Hobson. It's about bringing voices not from the extremes, but from the vast middle into the national conversation.

[Colin Cowherd]

Anna, I'm calling from Las Vegas.

[Jeremy Hobson]

Each week we bring together an all star panel. Mark Cuban, so great to have you on the Middle.

[Colin Cowherd]

Thanks for having me.

[Jeremy Hobson]

Jeremy Neil DeGrasse Tyson, welcome to the Middle.

[Colin Cowherd]

Thanks for having me.

[Jeremy Hobson]

And hear from ordinary Americans from all over the country on the most important issues.

[Colin Cowherd]

Hi, my name is Venkat. I'm calling you from Atlanta, Georgia.

[Jeremy Hobson]

And when you subscribe to the Middle, you also get an episode each week called One Thing Trump did that focuses on just one item from the avalanche of news.

[Jordan Schultz]

We should be examining what our government spends its money on and are these jobs necessary and what are we doing here? But that doesn't seem to be what we're doing in this situation.

[Jeremy Hobson]

Listen to the Middle with Jeremy Hobson on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Greg Rosenthal]

What's up everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the King of Spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Jordan Schultz]

In 1978, Roger Caron's first book was published. And he was unlike any first time author Canada had ever seen.

[Colin Cowherd]

Roger Caron was 16 when first convicted, has spent 24 of those years, years in jail, 12 years in solitary.

[Jordan Schultz]

He went from an ex con to a literary darling almost overnight.

[Colin Cowherd]

He was instantly a celebrity, he was an adrenaline junkie, and he was the.

[Jordan Schultz]

Star of the show.

[Colin Cowherd]

Goboy is the gritty true story of.

[Jordan Schultz]

How one man fought his way out of some of the darkest places imaginable.

[Jeremy Hobson]

I had a knife in my stomach.

[Colin Cowherd]

Puncture my spleen, break my rib.

[Greg Rosenthal]

I had my guts all in my.

[Jordan Schultz]

Hands, only to find himself back where he started.

[Greg Rosenthal]

Roger's saying is, I've never hurt anybody but myself.

[Colin Cowherd]

And I said, oh, you're so wrong. You're so wrong on that one.

[Jordan Schultz]

Rod from Campside Media and iHeart Podcasts, listen to GoBoy on the iHeartRadio app.

[Colin Cowherd]

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And Colin right? Colin wrong. Forty minutes from now, Rick Bucher, Albert Breer, Frank Reich stopping by the new Stanford head coach, former NFL head coach and quarterb. So we had our first holdout in college football and nobody's really happy about it. So Tennessee has a young quarterback. Nico Iamaliava is his name. Tall moves. Well, was the number two quarterback in the country to Arch Manning. Coming out mobile, big arm, very, very inconsistent, needs a lot of refinement. But the bottom line is he wanted a raise and he was making 2.5 million. He goes, I want 4 million. And it was inevitable. There's no guardrails or not enough of them on the transfer portal, nor the nil. We just saw these basketball coaches like Tom Izzo and Rick Pitino. They were in the tournament and the transfer portal was starting. John Calipari just laughed at it. There's not enough guardrails. So this is why the NFL has a collectively collective negotiating agreement. Rules, guidelines, folks. I don't blame the kid, I blame the NCAA. They knew 10 years ago guys were gonna get paid. Then California legislators made it happen. And they've been playing catch up for a decade. The governing body is at blame here. It's like players would do this in the NFL if you didn't have a cba, if you didn't have a players union, you didn't have a commissioner. This is what would happen in all sports. So what's happening in college sports, specifically a Football player at a key position at Tennessee. Now Tennessee, last year, just last year alone made $149 million in revenue. These SEC schools are, are banks coaches now. Kirby Smart makes 12, 13 million. Tennessee's coach probably makes somewhere between 8 and 12. And I just saw a Duke quarterback, a basketball school that transferred from tulane, he's making 4 million. So Nico's like, time out. My coach is making this average player's making a million. We're paying high school players. I'm making 2.5. I let us do a playoff. We may have been smoked by Ohio State, but I let us do a playoff in the SEC with Texas, Oklahoma, lsu, Bama, Georgia. I got us into a playoff. Now I don't think he's ready. You know, he's got leverage some. I don't like that. He's getting probably really bad advice from dad on this. I tend to be a believer. You sign a contract, you live up to it. If he has a great year, he would be a first round pick because of his athletic ability, his size. He's got a whip for an arm, though. When I watched him in the four or five big games, he was really, really inconsistent. But this was going to happen. So it's up to the governing body to get it right. Why is the UFC succeeded that boxing is died? Why Dana White, a governing body, a leader. And this is college football's issues. Of course kids with leverage are going to do this. Coaches with leverage have moved. I don't have to love it. I don't have to love the dad's advice, but you can, you can keep blaming the kids on this stuff. But what it really shows you is that change was needed. The kids need to be paid. And change is hard. And it's fraught with chaos and turbulence. I mean, this is why the PGA players, many of them went to live. They didn't like the leadership. What is the pga? It's a charity. It doesn't run the Masters. It doesn't run the British Open. Strength in leadership and governing bodies is why the UFC is flourishing and boxing feels like it's not. It's why the NFL is flourishing and college football right now is wobbling. Don't blame the kids. Don't even blame the coaches. Don't blame the administrators. Blame the governing body. The NCAA has been playing catch up on this stuff for years now. I do actually like what Josh Hyple, who's a good coach at Tennessee. I like his decision, which is, hey, listen, we're not fond of this. The kid Has a right to do it, but we're going to move on. I want to thank him for everything that he's done since he's gotten here. You know, that's as a recruit to who he was as a player and how he competed inside of the building. And so a great appreciation for that side of it. Obviously, we're moving forward as a program without him. You know, I said it to the guys today. There's no one that's. That's bigger than the power T. And that. That includes me. Yeah. Again, I think I would have done the same thing as a coach. I would have said, listen, you didn't show up for practice. It's bad messaging. I don't think that's good as the leadership position on a football team as coach and quarterback. I don't. That's like a coach not showing up for a spring practice or a spring game. Hey, I want to raise. You got to show up for the team. Quarterback is different. Football's different. So I didn't like that. I agree with Josh Hypo's move, but we can all point fingers. And I read yesterday, while the kid's not that good, he's overrated right now. He is a tad overrated. But in the SEC, where programs are making 135 to $160 million, coaches making 12, he's like Duke's quarterback's making four. I can't. It comes down to management. If you look at. If you horse racing, what's happening to it? What's the leadership? Boxing. Where's it going? Leadership college football. That's our issue, not the kid. Here's Jordan with the news.

[Jordan Schultz]

No, no, no.

[Colin Cowherd]

Turn on the news. This is the Herd line news.

[Jordan Schultz]

All right, Colin Cleveland signed quarterback Joe Flacco and have been rumored to take a quarterback in the upcoming draft. But Kenny Pickett is still confident. He said he wanted to start after the Browns traded for him and then doubled down again this weekend, saying, quote, I'm not here to hang out. I want to play. Now, Colin, the Browns would love for Kenny Pickett to win this job. They would, but they also have a tremendous amount of comfort. And Joe Flacco, you go back to two years ago, leads them to the playoffs. I know he's older, but a couple scouts told me this, and I'm not a quarterback guru, but they said even though he doesn't maybe have the same pop, the same juice, he still has one of the premier deep balls. You can still win with him. They are going to take a quarterback I'm pretty sure in the draft I don't know if it's going to be a two, but I wonder for you, if you're the head coach, if you're Kevin Stefanski, are you rolling with Joe Flacco at 40 plus?

[Colin Cowherd]

You know, I think he's a bridge. Obviously I don't think Kenny Pickett's the answer. I think he's an NFL backup. I thought he deserved to get drafted somewhere first three rounds, but I didn't think think he was a franchise build around guy. I, I'd be okay with Flacco. Flacco is a nice guy. People like him. He's good in the room, great deep ball. You know, he's a pocket guy at this point, which there's only a few left. Jared Goff, Matt Stafford, Kirk Cousins. There's not a lot of pocket guys left. But again, I think it's a bridge year. I think the DeSean Watson debacle, if you can just maintain your GM and your coach, don't fire anybody, own it as an owner, that was your big swing. Jimmy Haslam came out and acknowledged we made a big mistake, we being him. I think you have to just understand this year you're not going to be a viable franchise. Flacco can win you games, you got Miles Garrett paid. So I think you just look at it as a bridge year. You're not going to be Baltimore and I don't think you'll be Cincinnati.

[Jordan Schultz]

Maybe the bigger picture then is what should they do with two? Because to me it's Travis Hunter, Travis Hunter at two and then just move forward. He's the best player arguably in the draft.

[Colin Cowherd]

I believe to soften the landing on Deshaun Watson's contract, what I would do is trade down and try to get more picks. 12 picks. Yeah, because Sean Payton proved this. When you ha. When you inherit a really bad contract, there's only a couple of ways out of it. When you have all that dead cat money, one of them is to find a quarterback like a Bo Nix who you don't have to pay for four years. That softens the blow. The other thing is hit on a bunch of draft picks. So you have second, third, fourth, fourth, fifth, sixth round guys you're not playing for four years. So Cleveland really needs a great draft. And if I was the Browns, if I ran the franchise, I would trade down. I would try to get total of 11 or 12 picks hit on eight of them. Yeah. And again then all of a sudden you got eight guys on the team. You don't have to pay for four or five years. That's the way to do it.

[Jordan Schultz]

Yep. The Saints, speaking of teams looking for quarterback, they start off season work today but are doing so without Derek Carr. Now Carr is dealing with a shoulder injury which could threaten his availability for the season. Carr is considering surgery and that has draft analysts thinking the Saints calling could potentially take Shador Sanders ninth overall.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, I think Shedeur and I'll talk about this before the end of the hour. Should do or will be as good as the place he lands. I don't think he's transformative. I think the Derek Carr thing didn't work. We always had our questions, was it Derek Carr, the Raiders who were to blame? And now if we watch Derek Carr, New Orleans, the answer is probably a little of both.

[Jordan Schultz]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Is that it was some of the Raiders and it was some of Derek Carr. I don't think New Orleans has ever been quite what we thought it was. And I don't think, I just, I think it didn't turn out the way Derek thought. I thought it would. I thought it would be more promising, but it's just never felt right. Yeah, the fits never felt right.

[Jordan Schultz]

He was never a viable solution, at least not without the coach. Now Sean Payton goes to Denver.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's different ballgame.

[Jordan Schultz]

That's a different ball game. You mentioned Bo Nicks, but he got.

[Colin Cowherd]

A defensive coach who was over his head for the second time.

[Jordan Schultz]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

And he's not the kind of player. We see this with kids coming out of college. There are very few guys that can overcome an insufficient coaching staff, let alone a bad roster.

[Jordan Schultz]

Yeah, and that's my point. That roster is not a quarterback away. Even if you think. Unless you think Shador Sanders is truly transformative, which you don't, then don't take him at 9. You need. You are not a quarterback away. You need to get as much. It's bpa, best player available and then maybe you get a quarterback in the second or third round. But regardless of if it's Derek Carr or not moving forward for, for this season, he's not a viable solution long term. They're going to have to figure that out without Sean Payton. Colin, this is really interesting to me. We actually talked about this in the pre show meeting or just a few minutes ago, I should say. The Phoenix Suns have fired head coach Mike Bolzer. Prasham Sharanya of ESPN. The Suns went from a 49 win to team with a 13th ranked defense. They earned the 6th seed under Frank Vogel the year before. Then they missed the play in tournament completely. They finished 10 and 18 after the All Star break with the league's third worst defense. They finished this season calling in 11th place with a 36 and 46 record. We could go a lot of ways with this. I don't know where they go now, but obviously Bradley Beal is a big issue.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. And KD and Mike had their issues. KD is a bucket. Still gives you 27 a night. But I never loved the hire. I, I, this is the NBA. Listen, Matt Ishby is going to start over. I appreciated the swing. I said it when he did it. When he got KD and Bradley Beal, I mean, they weren't winning. I mean, let's be honest. When, when Booker was there by himself, they weren't winning. Then they brought in Chris Paul and he was the magic elixir to winning. Then Chris Paul leaves and they're trying to kind of restart it, reboot it and figure it out. Boozer's a really good player. I wouldn't want to give him up. I would move off kd. Listen, I always appreciate the effort in the swing and the Ishbia family is aggressive. I appreciate it. But it didn't work and they don't have a ton of draft picks. So this is the challenge of an NBA franchise. They, the Bradley Beal thing that's a mess. Was just a mess.

[Jordan Schultz]

It was a colossal miss because not only has he not played well, he's borderline unplayable.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's right.

[Jordan Schultz]

And I've watched Phoenix a fair amount. There are nights where he's either not playing or he looks completely disinterested. And for that salary and that what you thought you were getting, caliber a player, it's completely untenable.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. Jordan with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by the Herd line news. So I was off Last week Mike Malone got fired as the Denver Nuggets coach and it's really interesting situation. So right now the best basketball player in the world and I don't think it's that close. Nicola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets. The Joker. I don't think it's that close. I was looking this morning at his numbers this season. He's just unbelievable. It's. He is the second most talented center outside of Kareem in my lifetime. That includes. I didn't see Wilt in his prime, but that includes Shaq and Akeem and Russell and I mean I, you'd argue Wilt Russell, but I outside of Kareem he's the best, he's the best center I've ever seen. He's like Arvidus Sabonis in his prime on Jet Fuel. Like he does everything well. And for Malone, he's a really intense guy. So this was inevitable. He's not a 20 year personality. And what happened, and this story is as old as time is. The GM wanted the coach to play his draft picks because the GM's job isn't to win tonight, it's to build for the future. And you know, constantly being discussions with the ownership, whereas Malone's job, they want to win now. So that, that's as old as time where the GM wants to play young guys, Malone wanted to play Russell Westbrook and head coaches in all sports, they want to win. That's how they keep their job. General managers want to win too, but not sacrificing the growth of their young players. So in all of this turmoil, Jokic remains the world's best basketball player having his greatest season and one of the great seasons in the history of center. And Jokic is kind of a private personality. So in my take is he likes hiding in Denver. He's got a trophy, he's got his money. Denver's not too crowded. It's, it's a, it's a Rocky Mountain time zone, fairly invisible for a big city market like a Kansas City. And he's really happy there. He's not going to pound his fist on the table and demand to be traded. He's got his money, his legacy, his ring, and I think he likes it. He's just not the kind of personality to demand a big move. And Denver sort of trapped because they've never given him an all star. Although I would argue Gordon and Porter and Jamal Murray are very good players. I mean, they were good enough to win a championship and look like they could be a dynasty, but they're, they're now, they don't have draft capital. They're tied to three and four year contracts with good players that are great players like Jamal Murray again, Porter, Gordon, Jamal Murray, good players, but they're expensive, they're tied to contracts, they don't have draft capital. So I think, I think what Denver is, is what Milwaukee was with Kareem. They got one title and that was that. And what Milwaukee is with Giannis, they got one title and that is that. And I think Denver is going to fall into that sort of. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks they got their ring, but I just don't see a way out of their current situation. I just don't nobody to blame. They earned it. I love watching Jokic. I think he just had the greatest season arguably any center has ever had statistically. But you know, they, they, they rolled the dice. They locked in good players with big contracts and I think they're sort of trapped coming up. All right, so you know, the draft is obviously by next Monday. That's draft week. It is not a great draft. There are a lot of quarterbacks out there and I figured this morning I would just line all the quarterbacks up. I'll tell you what I perceive them. You can we'll put it on the archive. This is what I think these quarterbacks will do going forward in the NFL. There's about six guys I think worthy of a conversation and we'll talk about that next. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific.

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[Jeremy Hobson]

We live in a divided country.

[Colin Cowherd]

I am a lifelong Republican with all.

[Jeremy Hobson]

Kinds of different people.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know, I'm a mother, I'm a grandmother.

[Jeremy Hobson]

That's why we started the Middle with Jeremy Hobson. It's about bringing voices not from the extremes, but from the vast middle into the national conversation.

[Colin Cowherd]

Anna, I'm calling from Las Vegas.

[Jeremy Hobson]

Each week we bring together an all star panel. Mark Cuban, so great to have you on the Middle.

[Colin Cowherd]

Thanks for having me. Jeremy.

[Jeremy Hobson]

Neil Degrasse Tyson, welcome to the Middle.

[Colin Cowherd]

Thanks for having me.

[Jeremy Hobson]

And hear from ordinary Americans from all over the country on the most important issues.

[Colin Cowherd]

Hi, my name is Venkat. I'm calling you from Atlanta, Georgia.

[Jeremy Hobson]

And when you subscribe to the Middle, you also get an episode each week called One Thing Trump did that focuses on just one item from the avalanche of news.

[Jordan Schultz]

We should be examining what our government spends its money on and are these jobs necessary and what are we doing here? But that doesn't seem to be what we're doing in this situation.

[Jeremy Hobson]

Listen to the Middle with Jeremy Hobson on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Greg Rosenthal]

What's up everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the King of spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs, mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. We ready to fight? I'm ready to fight.

[Colin Cowherd]

Is that. I thought it was.

[Greg Rosenthal]

Oh, this is Fighting Words. Okay, I'll put the hammer back.

[Colin Cowherd]

Hi, I'm George M. Johnson, a best selling author with the second most banned book in America. Now more than ever, we need to use our voices to fight back and that's what we are doing on Fighting Words. We're not gonna let anyone silence us. That's the reason why they're banning books like yours, George. That's the reason why they're trying to stop the teaching of black history or queer history, any history that challenges the whitewashed norm or put us in a box. Black people have never ever depended on the so called mainstream to support us. That's why we are great.

[Greg Rosenthal]

We are the greatest culture makers in world history.

[Colin Cowherd]

Listen to Fighting words on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get.

[Greg Rosenthal]

Your podcast.

[Jordan Schultz]

Leads the Dodgers against Corey Seeger and the Rangers. Or Nolan Arenado in the Cardinals battle Juan Soto in the mets. Saturday at 4 Eastern on Fox. Check local list for the game in your area.

[Colin Cowherd]

Dodgers can't hit. I go on vacation for 10 days. Dodgers can't hit. Don't know what it is. Albert Brer, top of next hour. Colin, right? Colin. Wrong on a Monday. So draft week is next week. We talked a lot about Rory McElroy and, and that led our show today and probably led every sport show in the country. Just remarkable. I was sitting there on Saturday morning, I went out golfing because whenever golf is one of those sports like I can watch basketball and not want to go out and play basketball. I can watch football and not want to go out and play football. But there is something about golf is when I'm watching a great tournament, I want to go to the practice range or I want to go play with buddies. And I went out and played and it was just, you Know, it's just a topic of conversation. How remarkable Rory is, and I, and I think it really does matter is that like, you know, LeBron James will never be as popular as Michael Jordan. And there's a lot of reasons for that. And that's not necessarily a shot at him, but he was the chosen one. And you know, there's so much LeBron, there's very few secrets with Michael Jordan. He was sort of for the most popular sports figure in America. He was kind of private in his personal life. He didn't have Instagram. It wasn't TikTok. It wasn't that generation. There was no Google and YouTube and Michael Jordan. Again, people forget this, that he won as a freshman at North Carolina. He stayed at Carolina for two years and one year couldn't even beat in state rival NC State. Right. So. And then we saw the Pistons and the Celtics tackle him. So you shared in the pain and the journey and Michael crying when he finally won his title. And that's what's great about Rory. You know, there's a, there's a movie, Good Will Hunting, which almost all of you have seen. And people come out to Hollywood and they just forget how hard it is. It could be David Letterman's story, it could be Michael Keaton's story. It's Affleck and Damon. It took them over a decade to sell that script and get that movie made. And just watching at Augusta, the 17th trip for Europe's Tiger, Europe's golf prodigy took 17 trips. And it's just once again, it sort of is a reminder that success is really hard, even for the gifted. When you watch that 10 part Michael Jordan documentary, remember watching that during COVID Thank God for that or I don't know how we would have filled three hours, but I remember telling my kids he was the best looking player. He was the best player. He was in Chicago, a big city. The commissioner loved him, Nike loved him. Everything was there for Michael. But he was battling with the gm. The ownership was cheap. Rodman's going to Vegas for weekends and disappearing. He couldn't win with Stan Albrecht or enough with Doug Collins. Then it's Phil Jackson who asked him to be more of a leader and trust teammates. So he did and he finally won. But we all shared in Michael's journey. He wasn't the chosen one. He wasn't a prodigy. He was cut from high school basketball team. He was the number three pick. And so it just makes Michael more likable is that you saw him get tackled by the Pistons for years, and he couldn't beat those great Celtic teams. That's Rory. This kid has been like. He has been. I mean, it's so funny. There's been so many because Tiger was so great that, you know, we were all waiting for the next Tiger, and it's like, guys, there's not going to be a next Tiger. We were kind of lucky in basketball, where Kobe had a lot of the elements and components of Michael. Cool, good looking, stylish. But with Rory McIlroy, I think we found about as close to Tiger as you're going to get, which is an athlete, tough. But the difference is Michael was almost robotic. He would never lose a lead. And that's why a lot of people preferred Mickelson and his story, because Mickelson could be reckless and play himself out of a major. I never feel with Rory, it's reckless. He's just got the kind of personality, and it's strange, but sometimes it feels like he loses confidence. And so it was so fitting that he had to go to a playoff hole. And I didn't think he was going to win. I thought, no, it's Justin Rose. You can tell it about when Justin was on the 13th or 14th hole. You're like. And I know you're all sitting there thinking, is Justin Rose. What a buzz kill. He's gonna win this thing. It's not gonna be DeChambeau. It's not gonna be Roar. I'm gonna have to sit here for four hours, and Justin Rose is gonna win it. And that's nothing against Justin Rose. But I was like, give me a break. What a buzzkill. And so it was only fitting. And so maybe just my pessimism, I thought, oh, this. This is heartbreaking. This is just heartbreaking. And then, you know, he hits that drive, then approach shot, nails the putt. Just a remarkable four hours of golf. I. I'm interested to see the TV ratings today. Nobody cares. But I. I would guess, by the way, the Masters app is fantastic. I would guess the ratings are through the roof. It was just. Just. I couldn't take my eyes. You don't even have to be a golf fan. You don't have to be a golf fan. That was just my shoulders. I need. I need a massage. My shoulders are tight. And it was so absolutely appropriate that it went to a playoff hole. The quiet guy, Justin Rose. And then here's Rory. Had it, lost it, had it, tied it, playoff won it. And you just see that waterfall of emotion come out. And I'll tell you, just so emotional. Watching that, the Augusta patrons, they won't let you call it a gallery if you're a broadcaster. And Jim Nance and the CBS crew, tip of the cap. I thought you did a remarkable job. Such great storytelling from your crew. You know, 50 years ago, Jack Nicklaus, a great way to romanticize it. Look at the tradition, but stay current. But the gallery always has a favorite, and it was very easy early. Remember when it started out and DeChambeau was giving high five to the gallery, and he's more of a. He's a slower player and Rory, like, they're both power players, but Rory likes to get up and go and move and move, and DeChambeau has more pace, but they're both big, powerful guys. So there was a feeling like DeChambeau was going to, like, irritate Rory and take his time and go back and look at things and slow the pace. But DeChambeau, who, by the way, was great until yesterday on the greens, but his game's a bit of a mess. It unraveled multiple times. He had distance issues the whole weekend, but he was so great on the greens until yesterday, he stayed around. Rory's game was much, much better. He just had weird holes and weird shots. But early I thought the crowd was into DeChambeau, but about the third or fourth or fifth hole, they really pivoted to backing Rory. And I thought it was just great. Great. Always trust the Augusta crowd. They're giving you the vibe there. They're telling you what the energy is. They did this. Remember when Tiger won his last Masters? Or with Mickelson. Trust the patrons. They're telling you just if you watch Augusta, they'll tell you the vibe of the tournament by who they're pulling for. It was DeChambeau is. He came out. He's like a pro wrestler. He's high five and he's leaning into it. And about the third or fourth hole, everybody moved over to Rory and it was great. Okay, so I promised I was going to do this. So it is not a great quarterback draft, but there's about five or six guys that I think are worth just addressing. And I'm just going to tell you, lay it out here. Ryan says he assures me we're taping this. It will be. It's an archive, but I'm going to give you my feeling on six quarterbacks that everybody's talking about in this draft. So the first guy is Cam Ward, who I do think offensive coach, good old line, weak division. He's a playmaker, a super fluid athlete. He was a no star recruit by the way. He went to a place called Incarnate Word which sounds like a term a philosophy professor uses and you never know what it means but it's, it's a college no star recruit. I think in that division with that staff and that offensive line, he's a playmaker, he'll win games. Is he transformational? I don't know. Plays a lot of hero ball but there's something there and he should be your number one quarterback prospect. Aspect Shador Sanders I like him more than NFL general managers. He's a very smart decision maker and super composed and accurate but he's not. He doesn't have a huge arm, he doesn't have a lot of physical traits that are impressive and he got sacked a lot in college. Some of that's o line, some of it he holds it too long. My take is he will be as good as the coaching staff and his protection. So if he gets the staff, the offensive coach, it'll be fine. If not, it won't be much to write home about. Number three is Jackson Dart folks. I see Zach Wilson with the Jets. His best games were against Duke, Georgia Southern and Furman. At Zach Wilson he's impressive, good looking kid, confident under Lane Kiffin system but in big games wasn't consistently accurate, wasn't great with pressure. Also Ole Miss has big time talent so I, I this feels like Zach Wilson where he's going to blow you away with his confidence. He's got a little bit of an arm but he was inaccurate in big games. I don't think he sees the field particularly well. I don't think he's an anticipation thrower where I think Shador Sanders is. So I don't see it. But he'll get drafted in the first round enough GMs like him. Jalen Milroe, Alabama Great kid, physical specimen. He is too mechanical to ever be a great professional quarterback, but I do think he's a much better version of Anthony Richardson. Again, he's inconsistent. You know you're getting in the 50% completion percentage in on third and fourth down in the NFL. Well if you're not good in the two minute drill or on third down when everybody knows you're throwing, you're not a franchise quarterback for very long. But I do think because he's such a good kid, he's such a hard worker and he throw, he's got some unbelievable traits, somebody's going to give him a chance to start in this league. But again he's really mechanical. He's not terribly fluid and I think there's limitation. Tyler Schuck out of Louisville. Don't get it. Too many injuries in college. Big kid who can throw it. Looks the part. But remember, he's older than Trevor Lawrence right now. So the college kids that stay in college forever, you know, again, he's going to be 27 here pretty quickly are playing against 20 year olds and 21 year olds. So a little overvalued to me. And then Kyle McCourt at Syracuse, who I've been saying now for three months, I think he's the sleeper. Good in big games, anticipation, throws, moves well enough, accurate, highly productive at Ohio State, had that win against Notre Dame. I like him. I think there's an argument he's the second best quarterback in this class. Kyle McCord at Syracuse, formerly of Ohio State. He's my sleeper. Cam's the best. And Shadour will be as good as where he lands. All right, Colin right? Colin wrong on a Monday. Good to be back live in Los Angeles, it's the Herbs.

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[Jeremy Hobson]

We live in a divided country and our media couldn't be more polarizing. That's why we started the Middle with Jeremy Hobson. It's about bringing voices not from the extremes, but from the vast middle into the national conversation. Each week we hear from ordinary Americans from all over the country. And when you subscribe to the Middle, you also get an episode each week called One Thing Trump did that focuses on just one item from the avalanche of news. Listen to the Middle with Jeremy Hobson on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Greg Rosenthal]

What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the King of spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL Draft season. From DJs, mock drafts to my top 101 free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

The championship is back in the bay for the first time in 40 years. On the new limited podcast series Dub Dynasty, we hear from head Coach Steve Kerr on how Steph Curry almost never even joined the Warriors. In fact, I thought we had a draft day deal to end up getting him to Phoenix for the entire behind the scenes story of Golden State's incredible 10 year run. Listen to Dub Dynasty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.