Hour 1 - Setting The Standard

Summary

The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Episode: Hour 1 - Setting The Standard

Release Date: May 29, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd
Co-Host: Jason McIntyre
Network: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

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1. NBA Playoffs: Oklahoma City vs. Minnesota

The episode opens with a deep dive into the NBA playoffs, focusing on the Oklahoma City Thunder (OKC) and their impressive performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

• Colin Cowherd emphasizes OKC's balanced prowess: “OKC is the go-to provider for professional and collegiate sports teams around the world” (03:59).

• Discussion centers around Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) and Nikola Jokić, highlighting their leadership and impact:

  "SGA wants the ball, is always the aggressor and he plays Williams hard. He's got multiple great players around him, but he is clearly the alpha." – Colin Cowherd (04:10)

  "SGA is one of three guys in league history to have 30 points, five-plus assists, at least 10 times in the playoffs. The other two are MJ and LeBron. This kid is special.” – Colin Cowherd (06:00)

• Jason McIntyre concurs, noting the significant margin OKC has maintained: “They won by an average margin of 12.9 points per game” (07:30).

• The conversation underscores OKC's defensive strength, comparing it to historical teams like the Detroit Pistons, and praises their ability to disrupt even the most formidable offenses.

2. NFL Update: Cleveland Browns Quarterback Competition

Transitioning to the NFL, Colin and Jason discuss the quarterback dynamics within the Cleveland Browns.

• Colin Cowherd presents his analysis of the quarterbackography, favoring Shador Sanders over other contenders:

  “Shador Sanders should be starting. We are calling Ohio as the projected winner in a race that is not as close as the fake news projected.” – Colin Cowherd (10:00)

• Jason McIntyre adds skepticism about Colin’s stance, advocating for Jalen Hurts and Brock Purdy:

  “Jalen Hurts is the best dual-threat quarterback in NFL history. He’s setting more records.” – Jason McIntyre (50:26)

• The debate highlights differing perspectives on quarterback evaluation, with Colin emphasizing team dynamics and Jason focusing on individual performance metrics.

3. College Football: Big Ten vs. SEC

The discussion shifts to college football, specifically the competitive landscape between the Big Ten and SEC.

• Colin Cowherd highlights the depth and NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) benefits of Big Ten schools:

  “With all those massive student bodies, there’s a greater chance they become millionaires and successful and give back to their schools. So the NIL going forward benefits Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, USC, Phil Knight on, Oregon.” – Colin Cowherd (30:49)

• Jason McIntyre references Brian Kelly of LSU advocating for Big Ten and SEC matchups:

  “Ryan Kelly went on to say, he would love to have like a partner. The Big Ten pick someone in the SEC and they do battle every year.” – Jason McIntyre (30:33)

• The conversation underscores the strategic advantages Big Ten schools have in terms of recruiting and financial benefits from NIL deals.

4. Quarterback Performance and Team Dependencies

A significant portion of the episode critiques the reliance on quarterbacks’ performances within their team's success.

• Colin Cowherd argues that team strength often overshadows individual quarterback prowess:

  “Jalen Hurts last year with a stacked roster to me is Brock Purdy two years ago in San Francisco with a stacked roster. That doesn't make you an A plus quarterback.” – Colin Cowherd (49:34)

• Jason McIntyre counters by emphasizing the importance of elite quarterbacks in shaping team success:

  “Jalen Hurts is the best dual-threat quarterback in NFL history. He’s setting more records.” – Jason McIntyre (50:23)

• The debate highlights the ongoing tension between evaluating players based on personal statistics versus their contributions within a team's framework.

5. General Sports Insights and Commentary

Throughout the episode, Colin and Jason offer broader insights into various sports topics:

• NBA Defensive Strategies: Colin praises OKC’s defense, likening it to legendary defensive teams, and underscores the gap between star players like SGA and emerging talents like Ant.

• Player Development: Emphasis on the growth trajectory of young players, with discussions on Ant’s potential and the importance of experience and strategic playmaking.

• Historical Comparisons: References to past sports legends like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and how current players measure up in clutch situations.

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Notable Quotes

• Colin Cowherd (03:59): “OKC is the go-to provider for professional and collegiate sports teams around the world.”

• Colin Cowherd (06:00): “SGA is one of three guys in league history to have 30 points, five-plus assists, at least 10 times in the playoffs.”

• Colin Cowherd (10:00): “Shador Sanders should be starting. We are calling Ohio as the projected winner in a race that is not as close as the fake news projected.”

• Jason McIntyre (50:23): “Jalen Hurts is the best dual-threat quarterback in NFL history. He’s setting more records.”

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Conclusion

In "Hour 1 - Setting The Standard," Colin Cowherd and Jason McIntyre provide an in-depth analysis of current sports landscapes, focusing on the NBA playoffs, NFL quarterback debates, and the evolving dynamics of college football. The episode blends statistical insights with passionate opinions, offering listeners a comprehensive overview of the sports world's present state and future directions.

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Note: Timestamps are indicative based on the transcript and correspond to the points of discussion within the episode.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

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[Jason McIntyre]

A reasonable take to start the show. Colin. I like it. I like it.

[Colin Cowherd]

So let's start with that. Obviously, okc, that game was over in about seven minutes. The great thing about sga, of the many great things, what I really like is he is delivering and fulfilling everything I've been told Jason Tatum does but doesn't really. Last year, the Celtics go on their championship run. Jalen Brown's the MVP of the Eastern Conference finals. Jalen Brown's the finals MVP and Jalen Brown's the aggressor and often the initiator. SGA wants the ball, is always the aggressor and he plays Williams homegrid. He's got multiple great players around him, but he is clearly the alpha. And that's all I ever ask with Tatum and got pushed back. You know, I, I, that's, I'm holding Jayson Tatum to the standard you guys all lectured me on for years on LeBron when LeBron didn't take the shot. He's the alpha. He's the one. If he wants to be mj, he's got to always take the shot. Okay, well, that's the standard of SGA and Jokic right now. Like, like I think both Jokic and SGA can elevate teammates and clearly do elevate teammates. But there is no question in this Oklahoma City room or that Denver locker room or in the huddle or anytime there's a late possession, who's the man And I mean, we could crush the T Wolves, right? They were awful. Their effort was weak. But this series is not about the T Wolves and the Knicks Pacers, which I think will end soon. It's not really about the Knicks failures. Indiana is the best offense in the league with the best pace. OKC is easily the best defense and the greatest score. I mean, SGA is only the fourth player in 20 years to win the MVP and reach the finals. The other three, Steph, Kobe and LeBron. I don't know, that feels historic to me. So I just, I look at them and between SGA and OKC's defense, this is going to be a great final. I get the best offense, I get the best defense, I get the best point guard and I get the best score. And I know it's not catchy and I know it doesn't sound, you know, dynamic, But I think SGA's nickname should be the standard. This is the standard for a true number one. In the locker room, in the huddle, every big possession, he is a number one. Has to be dominating offensively. Understood by all, even his talented teammates. Debilitating to your defense. An adult, consistent number one. On the bus, on the plane, in the room. SG Alpha the Western Conference finals undisputed mvp. This is not about Minnesota's failures. It's about a historic player. He's one of three guys in league history to have 30 points, five plus assists at least 10 times in the playoffs. MJ and LeBron are the other two. This kid is special. Every time he talks, every time he leads, you just see what a one should be. And here he is after winning the conference finals mvp. Yeah, it's a really good feeling. Think stuff you dream about as a kid. And then of course, I want to thank my teammates.

[Jason McIntyre]

Without them, I'm nothing.

[Colin Cowherd]

Clair as day. I don't have 124 points by myself.

[Jason McIntyre]

I love these guys to death.

[Colin Cowherd]

Now, with all that being said, this is a step in the right direction, but we have a lot more work to do and we know that and that's what we're focused on. So let's buckle up and get ready. Listen, they won by an average margin of 12.9 points per game. And I understand, like veteran teams in the regular season don't give it. You know, LeBron's going to take some night offs and the older players, you know, they're dinged up a little bit. I understand their youth is a big component to it. But here's what else is. This is as good a Defensive team as I remember now, Detroit Pistons were great, but you could tackle back then. That was a little different. But given what you can do now, you can't really. You can't hand check, you can't use that forearm on your back given what you're allowed to do by NBA protocol and rules. This is the best defense I've ever seen. They hound, they confound, they're aggressive to rim protectors on the back end. Even SGA plays defense and is long like this is as good as defense gets. So we can bang on Minnesota, but they're not. They're not built to beat this team. Julius Randall's probably a three, not a two. Go Bears. Got no offense. Conley, great veteran presence, not an offensive threat. And Ant just isn't there yet to single handedly beat this offense. Way to go, okc. All right, listen, I don't want to make a big deal out of this, but some pretty interesting information trickled over my phone from the Cleveland Browns OTA yesterday. I'm not great at math, but let's put the numbers up for the television audience. It appears in the 4 quarterback derby. Again, not a mathematician, but one of them has more TDs than completions. That feels important to me. Despite the fact that Chadur Sanders had the fewest attempts, he was the most efficient and most productive with the fewest reps. So the quarterback tracker for those radio audience members. Flacco was nine for 14 and a touchdown. Pickett nine for 16, no touchdown. Dylan Gabriel 11 of 16, two touchdowns on a pick. And Sanders seven of nine, three touchdowns, no picks. This Justin. I've seen enough. I'm calling in a rap. The Herd newsroom is calling it in Ohio by a landslide. Shador Sanders should be starting. We are calling Ohio as the projected winner in a race that is not as close as the fake news projected. You can keep selling me on Pickett, you can keep selling me on Dylan Gabriel. Now Flacco, I buy. Flacco I like. He's one of my, one of my favorite guys that's ever played in the league. He's like, everybody likes Flacco and I think he's going to win the starting job. Initially, I really like Flacco, but I'm calling it, I'm calling it for Shador. And here's Flacco on Shador.

[Jason McIntyre]

Shador has been great.

[Colin Cowherd]

I mean, he's a lot of fun to be around in those meeting rooms. And I think once, I think so far there's been, you know, at least once in the media room that he's, he's made me crack a smile and that's what it's all about. You know, he's a young guy trying to learn some football and come out here and practice well and do those things. And like I said, he's been a lot of fun. Okay, you, you know, people either you're, Everybody's trying to sell you. I mean TikTok selling you, IG selling you using filters. Everybody is selling your stuff. Now people are talking about the election that wasn't for Biden and was for Trump. Everybody's selling me their takes. Y' all keep selling me. I got scouts telling me he's a fifth or a sixth round talent. All I know, with very average personnel outside of Travis Hunter against the very best teams he played, they didn't win games. But he was highly productive. And a lot of college quarterbacks against the best teams were with better teammates, weren't as productive. Size, movement, accuracy. I like it. I know I didn't love, I didn't love the legendary draft room stuff. I thought it was a. Lacked a little self awareness. But again, you're 21, you're 22. You know, we were all running around pulling fire hydrants in college. So I mean but you know, we, you know, you know the pull the lever in college dorm rooms when we were all idiots at some point we all had, you know, lack of judgment or self awareness. I'm not going to crush anybody for that. But I think he's really, I think he's really talented and I think you're seeing it. J Mac, we're calling it for Ohio.

[Jason McIntyre]

Oh boy.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know what else, you know what.

[Jason McIntyre]

Else left the station? And it's May for Shador Sanders. Okay, got it. Okay. OTA stats, that's a new one.

[Colin Cowherd]

Let me, let me just throw this at you. Back to Oklahoma City. So like when you lose a playoff series or are losing a playoff series, we've talked about this with the Knicks is like you kind of see what doesn't work against an elite team. Brunson and Cat on the floor. Indiana kind of abuses them. So you probably want to move off Cat. You could keep him if you added another catch and shoot guy. But you can see your problems when you face an elite team. Like you watch the T Wolves and you're like, oh, you know Julius Randall is. It was fun but boy, when you play OKC's defense, he is really limited and Ant isn't there yet. So you great teams are clarity. Like when Andrew Luck came into the NFL was 11 and 5 with a bad roster. You're like, oh, yeah, that's what great is. You can be 11 and 5 without a pro Bowler anywhere near the offense.

[Jason McIntyre]

And.

[Colin Cowherd]

But, but here's another takeaway and I'll get into it later. The T Wolves ran the Lakers out of the building and can't compete against okc. So for all those thinking we're inches away, the T Wolves bodied the Lakers, physically pushed them around. Dude, they could not compete in this series. They had one really good game, one of five. So I'm just saying greatness creates clarity. If you think you're close or you think you're flawless, but you don't think you have vulnerabilities, Oklahoma City, Indiana Pacers show you the truth and you have to grasp the truth. You have to embrace the truth. You can't push back and be defensive. But Laker fans, Minnesota bodied you. They got blown out of the building in this series.

[Jason McIntyre]

Colin, I love it. You know, I can't help my son with 8th grade math. He's doing like the advanced math. It's hard. I don't. I have to ask Chad. GPT. Okay. But I do remember in elementary school there were the all these math properties. If A plus B equals C. Just because Minnesota smashed the Lakers, it does not mean that the Lakers can't beat okc. They match up great with okc. That essentially the Thunder had two rounds to watch Anthony Edwards and they were like, oh, here's how we stop him. Let's put up a picket wall at the free throw line and say, you're not getting in the lane. We'll go, go ahead and have Jaden McDaniels shoot the lights out or Julius Randle. And Minnesota didn't. Nobody else showed up for them and in the series. And it was, it was a wrap. I still, I think your worst take in the NBA playoffs has been the Lakers are far off. I. I think you're way, way wrong there. But again, maybe I'm being a LeBron homer.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, maybe. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific, on Fox Sports Radio. FS1 and the iHeartRadio app. Summer is here and you can now get almost anything you need for your sunny days delivered with Uber Eats. Now, what do we mean by almost? Well, you can't get a well groomed lawn delivered, but you can get chicken parm delivered. A day at the lake. That's a no. A Philly cheesesteak. That's a yes. A nice tan. Sorry. A box fan? Happily, yes. What about a day of sunshine? Not happening. How about a box of fine wines? Yeah, that's happening. Delivery's on its way. Okay, how about some clear skies? Nope. Well, how about some french fries? Yeah. So how about a freshly cut lawn? Can't help you there. But a barbecued prawn? Order it and it's on its way. Even throw in some paper towels. Clean up after the feast. So while you can't get fun in the sun delivered, don't worry because you can get pork buns delivered. Uber Eats can definitely get you that. Get almost almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol in select markets. Product availability may vary by region. See app for details. At the end of the season, there's only one team that can call themselves NBA champs. Only one player that can call themselves the number one pick in the NFL draft. Well, there's only one electric SUV worthy of the title. The ultimate the all electric BMW ix. What I love about the IX is that it delivers legendary BMW performance while its sleek design exudes innovative style from the inside out, not to mention how much space and utility it provides. Over 75 cubic feet of cargo space. The IX is completely changing the game with an all electric suv. The greatest legends of sports never compromise any part of the game, so why would you settle for anything less from your suv? After all, there's only one ultimate the BMW ix. 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Some exclusions apply to instant rewards in which rewards are deposited when the transaction posts this content is not Investment advice and Trading Crypto involves risk for more details on rates, fees and other Gemini credit card terms. See rates and fees. Hey, so we all make mistakes, but owning up to them is the right thing to do. So you know Degree Cool Rush deodorant, right? Well, last year they changed the formula and it did not go over well with their fans. So Degree's whole thing is it turns up the sweat and odor protection when you turn up the effort. And good thing it does, because Cool Rush fans really turned up the effort to bring the original formula back. One guy even started an online petition, and Degree listened. They admitted they effed up. They're bringing back the original Cool Rush scent. They're bringing it back and it's exactly how you remember it. Cool, crisp, and fresh. It's back in Walmart, Target and other stores now for under $4. 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You know, I wanted to come here and, you know, be the guy and be a part and be a reason on why, you know, Chicago Bears turn this thing around. So that last thing that was said and all of that, I think, was the most important thing is that I wanted to be here. I love being here. I love my teammates. So my take is different. There was a radio host in New York that said he's been breathtakingly entitled, and I'll get to that in a second. But I don't think being concerned about an environment or a job before you get there at 22, 23 years old or older is entitled A Historically Chaotic business. The Chicago Bears an offense. It's like global travel for the rest of us. What's my budget? What are the safest parts? I'm new. I don't know. It Very well. I want to do my homework. It's called due diligence utilizing available information. Listen, if you, you may need a malaria shot. If you travel to certain parts of Africa, I don't think you're an entitled traveler. I just think that's the reality. And Caleb and his dad looked at the history of the Bears and thought, yeah, they've never had a 4,000 yard passer. It's probably not all on the quarterback. It could be the ownership in the front office and, you know, a Steeler like devotion to defense. And they were right. Again, I don't think that's entitled. I think it's intelligent. When you buy a house, are you entitled? If you're like, yeah, this neighborhood, I got kids. It's not walkable. I don't think it's safe. I don't like the schools. I don't think you're entitled. You can afford a better house. Go buy it. So, you know, listen, Caleb Williams and I actually have a lot in common. We just moved to Chicago. Now only one of us takes the train to work, but we both moved to Chicago. I was warned about weather. He was warned about the Bears. I think it's okay. I think when you're talking about young people, 24 year olds now, they don't go to a restaurant, they don't go to a restaurant without reading Yelp reviews. They don't do it. I mean, they just, I mean, I watch my kids, I lean on my kids for this stuff. I think it's breathtakingly out of touch or tone deaf to think a 23 year old. And historically in the NFL, you get one shot to be a number one if a team moves off you. Now, things have changed over the last four or five years with Darnold and Geno and Baker, but most of my life, first team that drafts you, that's your big shot. You'll come with baggage and a reputation everywhere else. I mean, Baker's difficult. No, he's not. Geno doesn't have it. Yes, he does. Darnold can't, can't play without being reckless. Oh, wait, he got the right coach. So maybe Caleb, if it doesn't work in Chicago, will get other opportunities. But I, I, we are in the age of information. And nobody is better at finding and accumulating and using that information than 20 and 30 year olds. So I don't have a problem with it. He decided on Chicago. The fact that it made it out isn't entitled. It's honest. He didn't have to tell Us that give the reporter credit. Seth Wickersham, who found it, and the athlete and the dad who are honest enough to admit it. There's a lot of stuff out there that like this we just don't hear about. You know, I always said this when Tiger woods got caught fooling around. You think he's the only golfer to ever do that? They all fly Gulf Streams. He's the only one on the road. All right. No, that's just the one you heard about. This is just a concern. Like the Mannings, they did a lot of this stuff. They did it behind the scenes. You just didn't know much about it. Or John Elway and Jack, his dad, you just didn't hear about it. This stuff, I mean, it's just the way we live now. We get all the information. You can't hide anything. It could be the White House or a football team. J Mac with the news.

[Jason McIntyre]

No, no, no.

[Colin Cowherd]

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

[Jason McIntyre]

All right, Colin, let's jump right into it. The Knicks and Pacers play again tonight. New York looking to save their season. Got some bad news. Karl Anthony Townes listed as questionable after bumping knees here with Niecemith. Towns went down, was limping badly the rest of the, you know, the final minute, which took like 15 minutes. Tibbs thinks it's. He's probably going to be able to play, but you can't have your number two score unless it is questionable with the season on the line. I don't know if the Knicks show up here. Colin, this is an Indiana Pacers team that just watched Oklahoma City last night just dispatch Minnesota and you know, they're chomping at the bit to get their, their shot at OKC I. For, for starters, I'm not betting this game. I don't even look at a line. I don't know that you could take the Knicks here tonight.

[Colin Cowherd]

No, I think. I also think you can't fool players and I think Knicks players. Very early in the Celtic series, the Knick players felt like we are in Boston's head even before Tatum was injured, five minutes before Tatum was injured. I felt like this could be a Knicks series. They're in Boston's head, I think. I think the Knicks realize they have some deficiencies with Cat and Brunson that Indiana keeps exposing over and over and over and over again. And I think they're well aware that Indiana is better with pace and almost as good in the half court. And I think you can't fool players. You can talk and have Hubris and confidence. But I think Knicks players know Indiana's a rough matchup for them. Just like, just like Boston, it took them a while to figure it out. But like, like the Knicks, with the NBA allowing physicality and a slow whistle, the Knicks were a real problem for Boston and Cleveland. So I just, I think Indiana is the better team.

[Jason McIntyre]

Well, in this series so far, they have been. I will point out last year The Knicks led Indy 32 and lost the series in seven. Of course, Brunson got hurt in game seven, but Colin, they've. The Knicks have lost the turnover battle in every game in this series. Yep, you can't have that. Like Josh Hart, stop being sloppy with the ball. Carlante Towns, like, you know, stop flailing in the lane. Like, they. They're just not buttoned up, as you like to say for NFL teams. And defensively, the Pacers have shot over 52% on twos in every game. It's like the Knicks just have. Maybe it's like beating Boston. They felt like, hey, we slayed the dragon team we couldn't beat the last two years. We take them down and all of a sudden they just forgot, like, oh, we've got to like, still play basketball. So kind of disappointing. I'm not expecting a win. Next up, NFL Colin Jaden Daniels incredible first year in the league. Offensive coordinator Cliff Kingsbury says the sky is the limit in year two. Here he is gassing up Jaden Daniels growth.

[Colin Cowherd]

I mean, just watching him move around, he's not thinking as much. He's playing fast and letting his natural gifts kind of take over. And that's what we want to see. So I expect him to take a big jump. Yeah, he works extremely hard. I mean, that's all he kind of thinks about is how he can get better. Watches a ton of film, watches a ton of football overall. And so that organically really takes care of itself in a way. When you have a guy who wants to be that great, he is very highly motivated to be as good as he can be. And that's always exciting for the organization.

[Jason McIntyre]

How about this? Colin Washington added a. I don't know about elite, but very good left tackle in Laramie Tunsil. And they added a formerly elite weapon in Debo Samuel. Yeah, he still is a great quarterback and a good offense and a great offensive coordinator. I Washington to the Super Bowl. Is that too exciting?

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, I think they're in the bubble. I mean, we do that super bowl bubble. I. I think they're absolutely in the bubble. I think Jaden Daniels Is, you know, people talk about a sophomore slump, but you just go back to the first month, first five, six games when he's going 28 of 31. And I think the thing about Jaden Daniels, beyond his athletic ability and his accuracy, it's really unprecedented. Even better than Andrew Luck was his poise. He was so good in the two minute drill, so good on third and fourth down with very few mistakes. I mean Andrew Luck was remarkable and. But Andrew threw picks. Andrew was really aggressive. Jaden Daniels ability to be a top three quarterback in the league late in games is something I've never. I said it. Mahomes wasn't that good. I mean Mahomes didn't play as a rookie except for week 17. Like to come out of college first year playing all those games. Lamar didn't play until week 11. I don't. I've never seen a rookie quarterback as poised as him. Completion percentage, yards per carry, rushing yards, two minute drill. I've never seen anything like it.

[Jason McIntyre]

Well, Now Washington had RG3 whose rookie year was unbelievable, if you remember that. But then he had the injury and kind of fell apart for him. Listen, C.J. stroud, we saw him regress in year two, right? He pulled back a little bit last year and they went and got Stefon Diggs for him. I don't. Is there a world where he regresses? I just like keeping Kingsbury. I think Kingsbury is maybe a top five offensive coordinator in the league, maybe top three.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, the advantage he has over C.J. stroud is that you, you get 30% more playbook if your quarterback runs like Jaden Daniels or Lamar Jackson. CJ Stroud, his comp coming out of college, which I thought was fair, was Jared Goff. And that's why I said when I was. I said I think, I think Jared Goff and C.J. stroud are a great comp. And Jared Goff's been to a Super Bowl. It wasn't a knock on him, but his comp was in the pocket throwing darts with protection. He's really good. That's not a criticism. Jared Goff comp is not a criticism. It is a reality of a lack of mobility. CJ Stroud has more than Goff, but I think when you do have hyper athleticism, it just allows you more plays.

[Jason McIntyre]

And Jaden Daniels opens with the New York Giants. That should be a win. Packers, Raiders, Falcons. Colin. I think they're going to be favored in three of those four. Could be a four. No start for Washington. Just put the super bowl futures Just consider it. This team's really good man and their coach, we know he's very good as well. Final story, Collins. The Big Ten has been running college football pretty much the last two years, right? Michigan, Ohio State went back to back with championships. Brian Kelly, the LSU coach, was asked at SEC spring meetings about scheduling the Big Ten in the regular season. Take a listen to this.

[Colin Cowherd]

We have the depth in this league from top to bottom and that we are the premier league in the country. You could do that in the playoffs though. You can do it in the playoffs too. Absolutely. No doubt. But you can also show yourself during the regular season.

[Jason McIntyre]

Ryan Kelly went on to say, Colin, he wants to. He would love to have like a, a partner. The Big Ten pick someone in the SEC and they do battle every year. He's like pushing for it now. I do believe he prob an agenda. Hey, I got dibs on Rutgers. You know, I don't want to play Ohio State in the regular season. But this is interesting. Wanting to actually play someone runs counter to what you were saying about USC and not today.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, I think you know of a lot of people. Bruce Feldman said yesterday that the Big Ten last couple years has been better at the top, but the SEC in the middle will be better. And my take is both Washington, Washington has always been a playoff team or close when they have the right coach and I think Jed Fish is the right coach. I think they're. It was a rebuild culture changing year from Kaylin Deborah. So Washington will be much better this year. And USC historically is a top 10 to 12 program. So my take is both USC and Washington were in the midst of a rebuild. Oregon, Penn State, Michigan and Ohio State are a really good top four. If, if Washington and USC just become what I think they will be with offensive coaches that's six deep, a really, really good teams. Not to mention I think Matt Rule in Nebraska is really good. So my take is right now about the big 10 sec thing. There's one advantage. Nobody's talking about this that the Big Ten has. They have bigger schools. Go look at the student body at Wisconsin, at Ohio State, SEC schools are mostly smaller. What does that mean? Well, with all those massive student bodies and those kids get flushed into the workforce, there's a greater chance they become millionaires and successful and give back to their schools. So the nil numbers, Alabama's having to hold car washes and bake sales. Okay. Ohio State can generate. Michigan can generate USC's Nils up to 18 million. Oregon's got Phil Knight, Penn State's got tons of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh money. The NIL is about the bag. How much do you have to spend on basketball and football? A lot of those southern powers are small, tiny towns, small schools that don't pour 18,000 graduates into the workforce every year. They only have 22,000 people going to the school. So I think the nil going forward. Benefits. Benefits. Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, usc, Phil Knighton, Oregon. I think it's a big. I don't think this is like just a blip. I think Penn State's gonna play for the national championship next year. Third straight Big Ten team in that game.

[Jason McIntyre]

On Mr. LA, I am LA or whatever. One last note. Do you think these SEC schools want to go to Big Ten country and say November, or would they rather go in August and September?

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, if I was a Big Ten school, I don't want to be near the SEC heat in August and September.

[Jason McIntyre]

Yes, exactly.

[Colin Cowherd]

Give me. Give me the November 8th game. J Macle the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by the Herd lie news. I saw this. J. Mac and I argue about the Brock Purdy thing all the time, but I do think you have to contextualize quarterbacks. And I saw something, I saw it actually this morning when I got up is that it's important to remember with quarterbacks, and this is a real thing. Nick Foles won a Super bowl over Brady and Belichick. Trent Dilfer won a Super Bowl. Brad Johnson won a Super Bowl. Joe Flacco won a Super Bowl. Dan Marino never did. Russell Wilson won a Super bowl in that year seven times he threw for under 200 yards. If you have a better roster, Brad Johnson's roster, Tilfer's defensive roster, Nick Foles, Philadelphia roster. It wasn't the coach. The coach got fired in two places, Jacksonville and Philly. Doug Peterson contextualize, but we tend to go, oh, quarterback's winning, quarterback's great. Slow down. So PFF this morning may have been released last night, but I saw it this morning. They ranked every NFL roster, every single one. And when they ranked Philadelphia number one, it was interesting. Their biggest strength, they said, was defense. The rookie to watch was Jihad Campbell. The X factor this year is Nolan Smith and edge. And their biggest weakness, Jalen hurts in the passing game. Right? Jalen hurts in the passing game. And PFF is right. Despite the best O line in the league, the best running back in the league, arguably after Cincinnati, the best wide receiving combo in the league, excellent tight ends and offensive head coach. Jalen Hurts can Be bad in the pocket. And that's, that's the truth. And I know it hurts. But two things can be, can be true. Jalen Hurts was incredible against the Chiefs in the super bowl. And he had fewer touchdown passes last year than Geno Smith. And the same as Kirk Cousins with much better weapons, a much better run game, a much better offensive line. So Jalen Hurts last year with a stacked roster to me is Brock Purdy 2 years ago in San Francisco with a stacked roster. That doesn't make you an A plus quarterback. Mahomes winning back to back Super Bowls with the worst receiving core arguably in the league is A plus plus. Joe Burrow getting to a Super bowl with the 18th ranked defense and an atrocious O line. That's an A plus plus Super bowl and winning two road playoff games. That's great. Jalen Hurts and Brock Purdy getting to a Super bowl winning or losing with a completely stacked roster, that doesn't make an A plus quarterback. Dak Prescott before he signed his big contract, when he had the best running back in the league, Zeke arguably absolutely the best offensive line, offensive coach, good tight end. Everybody was like, Dak is A plus plus. You know who thought that to Jerry Jones and he overpaid for him. So contextualize it. Not banging on Purdy. Purdy two years ago had Philadelphia and Jalen Hurts roster. Everybody looks great the minute last year, Christian McCaffrey's hurt, Debo's hurt, Trent Williams out. Go look at San Francisco's last 10 games. They couldn't win them and some of them were layups. So you, you have to understand in any business, what is driving your success. What is it? It's not Jalen Hurts. PFF has it right. The weakness of that team is against the Rams they threw for 65 yards. Thank God for Jalen Carter in their defense and those great corners and Saquon Barkley and those receivers and that O line. Two things can be true. You can be great in moments with a stack roster. It doesn't make you Dan Marino. Here was Chris Sims last week on Jalen Hurts with Jalen Hurts. And what I look at too, we have a little bit of a revisionist history here. He won the super bowl and everybody just forgot about the 10 weeks before that. That we were like, wait, the passing game and the quarterback was the issue. All right, he had a good NFC championship game, I know that. But divisional game, we were like, man, the quarterback in the passing game, wild card game, we were like, man, the, the passing game and the quarterback not looking good the last seven or eight weeks of the year. His top receiver said, what's wrong with the team? The passing game. Exactly. One of his receivers complained about it. I don't hate Brock Purdy. I actually love the stoic nature of both Purdy and Hurts. I actually think Hurts and Purdy may have the perfect personality to be a quarterback. Like, they just, they're not partiers. They're great at the mic. They give teammates credit. A very mature adult and stoic and they deserve to get paid. But you got to contextualize it. Brad Johnson, Super Bowl Nick Foles, super bowl for Brady, Joe Flacco, who I love Super Bowl Trent Dilfer guest on this show many times. Super Bowl Dan Marino doesn't have one. Russell Wilson has one seven times threw for under 200 yards. He was not driving the success, it turns out. Marshawn lynch and that defense and that coaching staff was Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific. 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. 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 Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcast. And of course, on social media, that's Covino and Rich. Summer is here and you can now get almost anything you need for your sunny days delivered with Uber Eats. Now, what do we mean by almost? Well, you can't get a well groomed lawn delivered, but you can get chicken parm delivered. A day at the lake, that's a no. A Philly cheesesteak? That's a yes. A nice tan. Sorry. A box fan? Happily, yes. What about a day of sunshine? Not happening. How about a box of fine wines? Yeah, that's happening. Delivery's on its way. Okay, how about some clear skies? Nope. Well, how about some french fries? Yeah. 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[Jason McIntyre]

Sunday, the fastest racing on earth hits the streets of the Motor City of the Detroit Grand Prix. The IndyCar City season continues Sunday 12:30 Eastern on Fox.

[Colin Cowherd]

So I, I really believe there's two things that I took from Minnesota getting rolled in this series. Beyond the obvious that OKC is a much better team. But number one I said earlier is that Minnesota rolled the Lakers. They could not compete against this team. And this idea that the Lakers next year can keep Austin, Reeves, LeBron and Luka who they are, what they are, they're not improving ascending players. They're just they are what they are. Whereas OKC is younger. Their players are all ascending. They're better now consistently. They've got two first round picks next year. And again LeBron is what he is at 41. Luka is what he is defensively and Austin Reaves is what he is athletically. I think it's been established what the Lakers players are. That's why I think you have to move Austin Reaves and get a big and get a wing and do the best you can. My second take is the T Wolves getting rolled really shows you and that's okay. He's only 23. It shows you the gap between SGA, Jokic and Ant and it is a Grand Canyon gap at this point. And I'm a big Ant fan but I mean Jokic took a beat up Denver team to seven games. You know, they just ran out of gas and bodies or they could have won game seven. I mean, Ant had one great game in this series. Game 3 1. Ant shot only 28% from threes. He had no double doubles. Forget triple doubles. He had no double doubles. He shot 69% from the free throw line. So you can, you can't take SGA, Steph Jokic, or LeBron in his prime. You can't take them out of their game. Can't. You can take Ant out of his game. Not everybody, but a good defensive team. Trap him, double him, throw bodies at him, make him make quick decisive reads. He's not great at that yet. And I always said what really makes the greats great, what really makes LeBron, Mahomes, Tom Brady great, their entire careers in their prime. Those 1012 years of prime basketball, maybe it's 14, football, maybe it's 10. Everybody's trying to disrupt Brady, disrupt Mahomes, disrupt LeBron. And they can't the entire game plan stop that guy. Can't. I mean, LeBron was even out of high school by year two. 30 plus 10 assists. Tireless both ends. And everybody was trying to stop him, throwing their best defenders at him. Doubles, traps, pressure, didn't matter. Everybody is designing their defenses to stop the greats. OKC did it and really shut Ant down. They couldn't shut Jokic down. Jokic ran out of gas. He didn't run out of brain power. He didn't run out of distribution or scoring. He, he just got tired. Ant needs more layers, he needs more time, he needs more experience. You can double him and he's just, he just. I've said this, it's a little bit like a quarterback in year two instead of year five. Mahomes admits year three, the lights went on. Ants just not. He's not good at pre snap quarterback play yet. He. You can double impression. He can't make those quick reject. My guess is you could be trade deadline next year. He may have it, but he's just not quite there. And it shows the gap with. With a jokic and an SGA. I said this yesterday. SGA is 26 and ants 23. Like if you're 46 and 43, there's no difference. But at 26 to 23 in the NBA, it's a different player. I mean SGA is decision makings, his ability to manipulate defenders and the officials. Like SGA, 26 with all his experience, like, oh, that's an adult. He is now starting a prime ant. Not in his prime yet. He'll probably get there end of next year. He'll probably sometime in May for about a nine year period, he'll be in his prime. So what you're seeing is what, what the NBA is, it's hard. And because these guys like Ant come out after one year of college, you know, I always said they can't even drink at the hotel bar the first several years in the league. So he just needs, he needs more snaps to be able to read that too deep and zone and that man to man coverage and rolling over cornerbacks. He just needs more snaps at the line of scrimmage. That's what he needs. Here's Ant after they was the better team. They came out and beat us, punched us in the face and we lost the game. We lost the series. Yeah, I'm gonna work my butt off this summer. Nobody's gonna work harder than me this.

[Jason McIntyre]

Summer, I tell you that much.

[Colin Cowherd]

And remember Shay, at 23 had never been an all star. So you start stacking these years and these experiences, young quarterbacks and Ant, they grow up really fast. We're probably, we're probably the all star break next year. An off season and 30 more games of him graduating to the things we're missing now. By the way, J. Mac on my contextualizing Jalen Hurts and Brock Purdy apparently is outraged. What?

[Jason McIntyre]

So it wasn't outrage, but maybe it was what they wrote on the screen. What's I called a cry on trust. Hurts to lead Philly. So I was listening closely and it's almost like you're playing the. Hey, Brock Purdy had a stack deck in San Fran. That's why he was good. Well, Jalen Hurts has the best roster. That's why he's so good. But I just, I just wanted to clarify, are you, are you questioning Hertz? Are you saying that he's not great? It's the team, not him.

[Colin Cowherd]

No, he was a second round pick for a reason. He was a better college quarterback. He's a more athletic quarterback. Yeah, I think Jalen's better than Brock.

[Jason McIntyre]

But you're an elitist. You need your quarterback to be 65 and a top five pick because Colin, I'm just digging up some stats. You, you want a hot take? Jalen Hurts is the best dual threat quarterback in NFL history. Sorry. Look at the records. He's setting more records. I know Lamar's great. I know Cam Newton had a couple good runs.

[Colin Cowherd]

Records roster. Yes, so.

[Jason McIntyre]

So that's it. You're going back to the roster. But guess who has the most rushing touchdowns in postseason history for a quarterback, guess whose dual threat ability is leading the Eagles.

[Colin Cowherd]

How do you get to the point to the postseason? You have a great roster. He didn't have to carry his franchise like Josh Allen because Buffalo didn't have personnel. That's the difference. By the way. It's not being an elitist wanting you to call it a chiron, not a cryon. That's not. Apologies you were closer saying whatever.

[Jason McIntyre]

I don't, you're, you're, you're moving the goalposts or whatever they say it is. Colin, in reality, let's be real about this. If the quarterback was taken in the top 10, you think he's the reason for the success or the first round. If he's outside the first round, it's all the roster. That seems to be where you're headed. Purdy hurts.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes. Yeah.

[Jason McIntyre]

Do you think that's fair?

[Colin Cowherd]

I think in, in this generation over the last 10 to 12 years. Lamar, first round. Mahomes, first round. Allen, first round. Herbert, first round. Joe Burrow, first round. I mean you can embrace Brock and Dak, but history shows you that in the last 10 years, when scouting's better, information's better. It the first round guys, people are always like, the NFL doesn't know how to draft quarterbacks. It'd be one thing if they're all ending up in the fourth and fifth round. The overwhelming great left tackles and quarterbacks in the league today are all first rounders. The league, the scouts, the GMs, the personnel, people like Detroit drafted a running back first round. People are like, whoa. They knew what they were doing. Jameer Gibbs is great. So I do look at you differently. If you're a first round quarterback, there is something that literally GMs went, wow. Wow. Impresses wow. Our two nets summer is here and you can now get almost anything you need for your sunny days delivered with Uber Eats. Now what do we mean by almost? Well, you can't get a well groomed lawn delivered, but you can get chicken parm delivered. A nice tan. Sorry. A box fan? Happily, yes. A day of sunshine? No. A box of fine wines. Yes. Uber Eats can definitely get you that. Get almost. Almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol in select markets. Product availability may vary by region. See app for details. Looking to transform your business through better HR and payroll? Meet Paycor, a paychecks company. The powerhouse solution that empowers leaders to drive results. From recruiting and development to payroll and analytics, paycor connects you with the people, data and expertise you need to succeed. Their innovative platform helps you make smarter decisions about your most valuable asset, your people. Are you ready to become a Better Leader? Visit paycor.com leaders to learn more. That's paycor.com leaders just like how true champs master both offense and defense, the BMW IX masters both ultimate performance and unbeatable space. Love mine. The greatest legends in sports never compromise in any aspect of their game. So why would you settle for anything less from your suv? What I love about my BMW IX is that it redefines the electric vehicle experience seamlessly integrates powerful performance. It's bold, daring design, a refined interior, details, cutting edge technology. Basically pushes the boundaries of innovation. Thousands of details went into creating the ultimate electric suv. Compromise? Not one of them. Okay, have you heard about this? Last year, Degree changed the formula for their Cool Rush deodorant and their fans rebelled and wanted the old scent back. And degree listens. That doesn't happen often. They admitted they effed up and they're bringing back the original Cool Rush scent. They're bringing it back and it's exactly how you remember it. Cool, crisp and fresh. There's a reason it's the number one men's antiperspirant. And it's back in Walmart, Target and other stores now for under four bucks. So try and see what the fuss is about. Head to your local Walmart or Target to try the OG Degree Cool Rush for yourself. This is an Iheart podcast.