Hour 1 - The Bears have their man

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Episode: Hour 1 - The Bears Have Their Man
Release Date: January 21, 2025

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Introduction to the Episode

In the inaugural hour of "The Herd with Colin Cowherd," hosts Colin Cowherd and Jason McIntyre delve deep into the current state of the Chicago Bears, the shifting dynamics of college football, and the broader implications for the NFL. The episode provides a comprehensive analysis of coaching decisions, team performances, and the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics.

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Chicago Bears' Coaching Conundrum

Assessment of Coaching Candidates
The episode opens with a heated discussion about the Chicago Bears' search for a new head coach. Colin expresses his viewpoint on the potential candidates, emphasizing his preference for Mike Vrabel over others.

• Colin Cowherd [05:00]:
  "Vrabel was the best candidate in my opinion. He goes to New England, a place he knows well."

Ben Johnson vs. Other Contenders
Jason McIntyre brings up Ben Johnson as a dark horse candidate, questioning whether he can match the prowess of coaches like Sean McVay or Matt LaFleur.

• Jason McIntyre [04:45]:
  "Ben Johnson is smart, he's clever, he takes risks. He just watched an organization get built up and smart people by proximity."

Challenges Ahead for the Bears
The duo discusses the intricate challenges the Bears face, including political obstacles and the difficulty in securing a transformational quarterback.

• Colin Cowherd [07:25]:
  "This is an organization that cannot get quarterback right. They've never had a quarterback throw for over 30 touchdowns."

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The Big Ten’s Ascendancy in College Football

Ohio State’s Dominance
A significant portion of the conversation centers on Ohio State’s recent victory and their projected dominance in the upcoming seasons. Colin argues that the Big Ten has emerged as the new powerhouse, overshadowing traditional strongholds like the SEC.

• Colin Cowherd [10:15]:
  "College football now has a new king, and it's called the Big Ten. Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon, USC are wealthy, well-heeled programs."

Impact of NIL and Collectives
The discussion highlights how Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and athletic collectives have reshaped the financial and competitive landscape of college football, benefiting Big Ten schools.

• Jason McIntyre [12:00]:
  "Alabama's Nick Saban saw this coming years ago. They have big boy money now, Texas may have more than anybody except Phil Knight in Oregon."

Future Projections
Colin predicts that Ohio State will not only repeat as champions but also attract top NFL talent, solidifying their position as a dominant force.

• Colin Cowherd [14:36]:
  "I think Ohio State's going to repeat next year. Texas will be good. But Texas wasn't even part of the SEC a year ago."

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NFL Quarterback Analysis

Comparing Lamar Jackson and Peyton Manning
The hosts engage in a comparative analysis of quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Peyton Manning, questioning their transformations and impacts on their respective teams.

• Colin Cowherd [18:25]:
  "Peyton Manning didn't win a Super Bowl until he was in his 30s. Lamar Jackson just turned 28."

Concerns About Joe Burrow
A segment is dedicated to quarterback Joe Burrow, with Colin expressing concerns over his team's management and support structure.

• Colin Cowherd [24:05]:
  "Joe Burrow is the one I worry about because it does take, let's be honest, as great as Matt Stafford is, you don't have the right owner, the right coach."

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Detroit Lions’ Future Prospects

Potential Coaching Changes
The conversation shifts to the Detroit Lions, where Jason speculates on defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn possibly joining the New York Jets, raising questions about the Lions' Super Bowl window.

• Jason McIntyre [24:09]:
  "Is Detroit Super Bowl window closing? Don't tell that to Dan Campbell."

Colin’s Optimism
Despite the uncertainty, Colin remains optimistic about the Lions' core group and their strategic direction under Dan Campbell.

• Colin Cowherd [24:34]:
  "We have our culture, we have our identity, and we have players that fit into that. Our window is open now."

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Dallas Cowboys’ Struggles

Coaching Search Critique
A critical analysis is presented on the Dallas Cowboys’ unsuccessful coaching search, highlighting the potential hire of Brian Schottenheimer and its implications.

• Jason McIntyre [27:36]:
  "The Dallas Cowboys... it's like an intervention. Somebody has to take away the helicopter keys from grandpa."

Colin’s Take on Ownership Issues
Colin elaborates on the Cowboys' internal challenges, questioning the alignment between ownership, front office, and coaching.

• Colin Cowherd [35:02]:
  "The Dallas Cowboys... Ownership, front office, head coach, quarterback—where are they? Elite? Like, even Cleveland."

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Broader NFL and College Football Insights

Defensive Strategies and Team Building
The hosts discuss successful defensive strategies employed by teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and the importance of balancing offense and defense in team building.

• Colin Cowherd [26:23]:
  "Kansas City is a theory in the league right now that you pay... a defensive player huge money, and he has to be up front."

College vs. Professional Systems
A debate ensues about the similarities and differences between college football systems and the NFL, advocating for a model that allows for more flexibility akin to the NFL's playoff system.

• Colin Cowherd [35:24]:
  "I am 100% for a sport that follows more closely the model of the NFL. College football is going to tweak. The NFL is constantly tweaking."

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Closing Thoughts

Reflection on Sports Imperfections
In his closing remarks, Colin reflects on the inherent imperfections in sports, emphasizing the importance of resilience and growth through challenges, much like Ohio State's journey to the championship despite setbacks.

• Colin Cowherd [37:19]:
  "Sports isn't perfect... But that's nothing new at Ohio State. They grew, they built, and they responded to tough times."

Future Outlook
The episode concludes with an optimistic view of the future, anticipating continued success for Big Ten teams and the evolving strategies within the NFL.

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Notable Quotes

• Colin Cowherd [05:00]:
  "Vrabel was the best candidate in my opinion. He goes to New England, a place he knows well."

• Jason McIntyre [04:45]:
  "Ben Johnson is smart, he's clever, he takes risks."

• Colin Cowherd [10:15]:
  "College football now has a new king, and it's called the Big Ten."

• Jason McIntyre [12:00]:
  "Alabama's Nick Saban saw this coming years ago."

• Colin Cowherd [24:05]:
  "Joe Burrow is the one I worry about because it does take... you don't have the right owner, the right coach."

• Jason McIntyre [27:36]:
  "The Dallas Cowboys... Somebody has to take away the helicopter keys from grandpa."

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Conclusion

This episode of "The Herd" offers listeners a thorough exploration of current sports dynamics, particularly focusing on the Chicago Bears' coaching search, the Big Ten’s rise in college football, and the strategic maneuvers within the NFL. Colin Cowherd and Jason McIntyre provide insightful commentary, backed by statistics and personal opinions, making it a must-listen for sports enthusiasts seeking in-depth analysis.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

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[Katie Couric]

Treat, cure or prevent any disease.

[Colin Cowherd]

Lately, on the NPR Politics podcast, we're talking about a big question. How much can one guy change?

[Jason McIntyre]

They want change.

[Colin Cowherd]

What will change look like for energy?

[Jason McIntyre]

Drill baby, Drill schools. Take the Department of Education.

[Colin Cowherd]

Close it. Health care better and less expensive. Follow coverage of a changing country. Promises made, promises kept. We're going to keep our promises on the NPR Politics Podcast. Listen on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Katie Couric]

Hey everyone, it's Katie Couric. Well, the election is in the home stretch right in time for a new season of my podcast. Next question. I'm bringing in some foks friends of Katie's to help me out like Ezra Klein, Jen Psaki, Asted Herndon. But we're also going to have some fun thanks to some of my friends like Samantha Bee and Charlamagne Tha God. We're going to take some viewer questions as well. I mean, isn't that what democracy is all about? Check out our new season of Next Question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

Thanks for listening to the Heard Podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports radio at 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.

[Jason McIntyre]

Now let's get this party started.

[Colin Cowherd]

You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Here we go 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 on a Tuesday. We got a new national champion in college football. It's more than just Ohio State, it's the Big Ten. We'll get to that in about five minutes. And J. Mac. All right. Vrabel was the best candidate in my opinion. He goes to New England, a place he knows well. The Chicago Bears, this big iconic brand, have interviewed 17 people. And so, I mean, they were interviewing baristas, local chefs. They settled on Ben Johnson. But is it a settler or a note? I. So here's my take is there were two coaches I thought needed to be considered in Chicago. Mike McCarthy, who's had no owner and a meddling owner. I thought he was uniquely qualified for it. Or Ben Johnson. Is he going to be Sean McVeigh or Matt LaFleur or is he going to be Adam Gase and Brandon Staley? I don't know. Like young quarterbacks. A lot of it is, where do you land? Jaden Daniels got a really good OC veteran coach Caleb Williams got the Bears. It is a pave. I'm going to tell you, it's a gravel road in Chicago full of potholes. Throw in some politics. And I thought vrabel and Mike McCarthy were qualified for it. They have dealt with that nonsense before. They've gone off road before. Ben Johnson, well, he knows offense. He's not taking that Lions O line with him or that incredible Lions running back room with him or the great culture builder Dan Campbell with him. Chicago is going to be tough to navigate. Matt Nagy got to the playoffs twice with Mitch Trubisky and they ran him out of town. It's a noisy city. They run managers out of town. They go after players. It's Boston, it's Philly, it's Chicago. Maybe they're Midwest nice, but they're noisy. Now, there's two real positives here. Number one is Caleb Williams wanted an offensive coach. And I think generationally, age wise, Caleb Williams was saying without saying it out loud, I kind of like this Ben Johnson guy. Here's Caleb Williams a week ago. Selfishly, I want an office of minded guy so I can build with him and, you know, be with, be with that coach for the next, yeah, 19, 17, 15 years. Yeah. So there you go. Ben Johnson is smart, he's clever, he takes risks. He just watched an organization get built up and smart people by proximity. He looked around and okay, I'm going to steal some of the things Dan Campbell did. So Caleb got an offensive guy. And the other thing to think about is you definitely weakened Detroit is that Dan Campbell's not known as a scheme guru or a scheme wizard. He's a walk around guy. He's a culture creator. And Ben Johnson was the scheme to that stacked offensive building. Now Detroit, because the O line, Goff and the running backs, they're going to score. It's going to be a good offense for years, like Philadelphia, there's just too many good players, too good of an offensive line. Even Sirianni can't screw it up. But in the end, they won't be as clever or creative. And Ben Johnson is the reason for that. So the question becomes, is he going to be Brandon Staley, Is it going to be Adam Gase? He's got a little bit of a quirky personality. He doesn't feel like he's got that culture thing, that gravitas of McVeigh. But when Matt LaFleur got to green Bay, he was kind of quiet, kind of reticent. Wasn't a big, you know, big alpha guy. And he's developed, I think Matt LaFleur has developed into a great coach. So I don't know exactly what you get. I always root, I always root for great athletes to find their Svengali, their guru, their wizard Chicago. I'm not only hoping it happens, I think we could all say a little prayer that it happens. This is an organization that cannot get quarterback right. I mean, can't get it right at all. They've never had a quarterback throw for over 30 touchdowns. And even if Ben Johnson works, even if he works, because Matt Nagy by and large worked, he left with a winning record. Even if he works, will he be as good as Matt LaFleur, a top five coach? Will he be as creative as Kevin O'Connell in Minnesota? Will he be able to build a culture like Dan Campbell, even if he's successful? And Matt Nagy had a winning record this division, the brain power, the cultures in this division or something else. So I'm hoping it works. All these young quarterbacks, where you land matters. And this is a gravel road with politics and potholes. It can work. I'm just not sure if it will. All right, so you watched the game last night. Notre Dame, dignified, fighting to the end. But Ohio State, clearly the better team. And you know, I was thinking about this, I've been talking about this last couple weeks with my buddy John Middletoff, who's on my podcast. And college football not only has a new champion in Ohio State, and they were absolutely the best version of Ohio State. I've seen it a long time. But college football also has a new king and it's called the Big Ten. Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon, USC are wealthy, well heeled programs. And the Big Ten is in the footprint of la, New York and Chicago, our three biggest cities in Philadelphia. Philadelphia is full of Penn State grads. The SEC is big in Atlanta. But the game has changed now. The game now in college football is all about nil and collectives. Alabama, their athletic director came out three weeks ago. Nick Saban saw this coming years ago. He, he got out of there. Saban's a smart guy. He got out of there. He saw the Texas money, he saw the Michigan money. Brian Kelly lost a five star quarterback recruit to Northern Michigan. And Brian Kelly said, I'll give some of my salary. You don't have to do that at Penn State, Ohio State, usc, Oregon, with Phil Knight money. This is not just a one off. Michigan won last year, Ohio State won this year. And I'd put big money that Ohio State's going to repeat next year. Texas will be good. But Texas wasn't even part of the SEC a year ago. Remember all the SEC fans? Oh, Texas, they are now your life preserver in the nil. They got big boy money. Texas may in fact have more than anybody except Phil Knight in Oregon. And so this year it changed. We have a new king of college football and it's the Big Ten. They were 5 and 1 against the SEC this year. Notre Dame is not part of the SEC, but they were clearly better. I watched when they played Georgia. So you start looking around. College football has never looked and felt more like the NFL. And we know what the NFL is about. Billionaires. And the money, historically in the south stays in the South. SEC grads, they may go to New York, but a lot of them stay in the South. Big Ten grads from these enormous schools. Ohio State has 66,000 students. They, they leave. They go to the west Coast, San Francisco, Louisiana, they go to the east coast, dc, Boston, New York. And then they come back and they got money and they spend it on the teams they love. I mean, you go look at Michigan State, I have not. In the Big Ten, they're two biggest boosters. One owns the Phoenix Suns, one owns the Cleveland Cavaliers. So I think it's changed. I think the SEC looks a little more boutique and the Big Ten now feels a little more bougie. I think the SEC has gone from intimidating to kind of charming. There is a new king in college football and it's not going away. Michigan last year, Ohio State this year. Massive universities with massive enrollments. Students flee to the coast for high paying jobs and then they come back and give to their schools. And this is not to say that the SEC doesn't have talent and doesn't have good coaches and doesn't have that parochial tribal passion that all of us love. But it's different now. The biggest challenges for Ohio State this year were Penn State, Oregon and Michigan. They steamrolled Tennessee, steamrolled them. In Texas, the big dog now in the sec, they weren't, they didn't look, they didn't look as good as Ohio State. And Ohio State's two best players are coming back and they will be the two best players in my opinion. Jeremiah Smith and Caleb Downs will be the two best players easily in college football next year. And I mean, and I talked to an NFL GM this week, he said if those guys were eligible for the draft today and one's a freshman, Jeremiah Smith, he goes, they may go one and two. This is not just about Ohio State. The Big Ten officially is the big dog in college football. Hey, the sec, it was a nice run. I mean, you still go beat up on the mountain west of the Big 12. Okay, I was just being obnoxious there. I admit, I was being a little obnoxious. And the SEC is still great. I'm not saying that. But the last two years you've watched the same games I've watched. Ohio State has better players. Michigan last year had better players. Penn State, now they lose a defensive end and a tight end. They're bringing almost everybody back, including a guy that will be a quarterback that gets drafted high next year. Washington in a rebuild. USC in a rebuild. Michigan not going to look like Michigan this year. Much better. It's all changed. It's a collective. It's the nil. It's more like the NFL. Here's Ryan Day after the big win. I just can't say enough about our guys. And you know what they've overcome to get to this point and they now have something to show for it. The number one goal is to win. You know, that's where it started for on offense. Defensive special teams find a way to win the game. And that's what we did here in the playoffs. And now the stories of these guys will be told because they've cemented themselves in Ohio State history. And you know what I Love, once you come to terms with sports, isn't perfect. What I love about college football this year is that Ohio State was allowed to make mistakes just like the NFL was allowed to lose a late season home game. Is that not everybody grows at the same speed. This Ohio State team had to get punched in the forehead by Michigan at home to really galvanize the locker room and become a force that, that looked like they were somewhere between college and pro. I mean, Notre Dame is a really good defense and there were times they felt helpless last night. So listen, everybody has their run. LeBron used to dominate the NBA, so did Michael, so did the SEC. This idea though, hey, this is just a couple. This is just a blip on the radar. No, it's not. No, it is not. Jmac. Well, the good news is our network's got a relationship with the Big Ten. So like we're in the winning camp.

[Jason McIntyre]

Look at you doling out jabs early in the show, just prodding.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, I mean, listen, you're not right, you're not wrong. We're watching the same games. I watched, I watched the last couple years I've watched these games. And Michigan last year had more good NFL players. And look at the top of the draft this year. You could argue Mason Graham and Will Johnson are two of the four best players. And then there's two Colorado guys. I mean, look at the top players in college football this year. It's two Colorado guys, it's two Michigan guys. I mean, there'll be a lot of Alabama, Georgia guys taken. But you have to be honest about this. The northern universities are massive and incredibly well heeled, well capitalized organizations. And now you bring the LA market in, you bring the Seattle market in. You already have Philadelphia, you already have Chicago. It feels like it is. The tide has turned.

[Jason McIntyre]

Yeah, stuff is cyclical. I saw a report that there could be like 15 Buckeyes drafted, which could rival the number that Georgia set. The record, like Ohio State's roster is insane.

[Colin Cowherd]

Listen, so Stack, here's what you should be worried about. Ohio State suffered multiple O line injuries this year. They were to the very end. You know, they were moving pieces all up and down that old line. And Will Howard's a good quarterback, but he's not like transformational. I mean, they, they, their perimeter players are frighteningly good. But this was not an Ohio State team that didn't have some holes and they still dismantled everybody.

[Jason McIntyre]

It's funny, I'm curious. This Will Howard stuff. A lot of people excited him in the draft. Suddenly you watch a couple playoff games as they roll, people. Oh, is he a first round pick?

[Colin Cowherd]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no.

[Jason McIntyre]

Let's slow down.

[Colin Cowherd]

I mean, he can get drafted.

[Jason McIntyre]

Yeah, yeah, he'll be drafted.

[Colin Cowherd]

Riley Leonard. Keep your eye on old Riley Leonard.

[Jason McIntyre]

Put up some good stats at garbage time last night. Down 317.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, listen, sometimes that's the only time you can move the ball in Ohio State's garbage time.

[Jason McIntyre]

How about him vomiting after one drive on the sideline?

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, yeah, that's, that's what the Buckeyes do to you. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app. Omaha Steaks is America's original butcher and has been bringing people together with the world's best steak experience for more than 100 years of family owned experience. From handcrafted steaks to hearty roasts, family style sides and quick, convenient comfort meals, Omaha Steaks delivers everything you crave to reset and relax after the holidays. And now during their end of season sale, you can taste the difference and get 50% off site wide at Omaha steaks.com plus our listeners get an extra 20 bucks off with a promo code Herd at checkout. Omaha Steaks offers unrivaled quality and variety and every bite is backed by their 100% guarantee. They also carry mouth watering burgers, chicken, pork, seafood, dessert and easy to prepare comfort food. Bring home the world's best steak experience with Omaha steaks. Visit Omaha steaks.com for 50% off site wide during their end of season sale and for an extra 20 bucks off with a promo code Herd at checkout. That's 50% [e-mail] and for an extra $20 off with a promo code Herd at checkout. If you love iPhone, you'll love Apple Card. It comes with the privacy and security.

[Katie Couric]

You expect from Apple.

[Colin Cowherd]

Plus you earn up to 3% daily cash back on every purchase which can automatically earn interest when you open a High Yield Savings account through Apple Card. Apply for Apple Card in the Wallet app subject to credit approval. Savings is available to Apple Card owners subject to eligibility. Apple Card and Savings by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Salt Lake City Branch Member, FDIC Member Terms and [e-mail] youm can count on T Mobile to help keep you connected from big cities to small towns on America's largest 5G network. Switch the T Mobile, keep your phone and they'll pay it off up to 800 bucks per line via prepaid card. Learn more@t mobile.com Keep and switch up to four lines via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device credit service port in 90 plus days with device and eligible carrier and timely redemption required. Card has no cash access and expires in six months. Lately on the NPR Politics podcast, we're talking about a big question. How much can one guy change?

[Jason McIntyre]

They want change.

[Colin Cowherd]

What will change look like for energy?

[Jason McIntyre]

Drill baby, drill schools. Take the Department of Education, close it.

[Colin Cowherd]

Health care better and less expensive. Follow coverage of a changing country. Promises made, promises kept. We're going to keep our promise on the NPR Politics podcast. Listen on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. You know, I was perusing the Internet today and I saw this for the radio audience. It won't land as well. Basically, they put Peyton Manning and Lamar Jackson after Lamar had a disappointing weekend and they compared them through seven years in the playoffs and what you have is identical quarterbacks. They played eight games, both were three and five. They both completed 60% of their throws. Passer rating, Peyton's a little higher. Touchdown interceptions, very similar. It's a very fair comparison. But we just, and it's maybe it's the iPhone, it's our society, the volume of media. We don't let anything marinate or bake anymore. Tom Brady did not beat, just beat Tom Br. Peyton Manning did not beat Tom Brady in the playoffs until he was in his 30s. Peyton Manning didn't win a Super bowl until he was in his 30s. Lamar Jackson just turned 28. John Elway did not win a Super Bowl. The legend of John Elway did not win a Super Bowl. Think about this. Until he was 37. Matt Stafford did not win a playoff game until year 13. LeBron the best overall basketball player of all time. LeBron James, in a sport driven by one or two stars, did not win a title for nine years. Where do you land? What help do you have? You know, I was thinking two things. Lamar Jackson and Peyton Manning, obviously, they're both transformational players. But here's the second thing is Lamar's never really given credit for this. The Ravens don't do receivers particularly well. They do everything else well. Their own, their run, their quarterbacks, the O line, the D line, the pass rushers, the linebackers, the running backs. They don't do receivers well. Even this weekend. Mark Andrews, worst game as a pro. Zay Flowers, not available. He was using Bateman and his go to guy and a tight end. He never has great weapons. But I've always felt this. Eventually the Elways and the Favre's and the Aaron Rodgers and the Peyton Mannings and the Lamar Jacksons and I would even throw in Matt Stafford. They're just too damn talented not to break through. The one quarterback I worry about is Joe Burrow. Because Joe Burrow has one of the poorest owners, if not the poorest owner. They had to sell the naming rights to the stadium to pay for his contract. The general manager in Cincinnati, it's run by the Brown family. He's virtually powerless. They're the opposite of the Eagles. They take no big swings, no big risks. It's like the Eagles and the Bengals are using two separate salary caps and banks. Joe Burrows the guy I worry about, I mean because every great quarterback outside of Dan Marino and Dan got to one. But outside of Dan they all break through, they all get one. So I don't worry about, I don't worry about him. And I also think is there's too many boxes that he checks. Commitment, passion, leadership, work ethic. Maybe I'm a Lamar Jackson apologist but. But the kid is an all time talent. Joe Burrow is the one I worry about because it does take, let's be honest, as great as Matt Stafford is, you don't have the right owner, the right coach. You will eventually hit your head on that low ceiling. And here's one of Lamar's teammates, Patrick Ricard on Lamar. He thinks he'll eventually break through. It's inevitable. He's going to win a Super bowl and I want to be a part of it. And it just sucks as it happened yet, you know, but you know I feel, I, I personally feel bad for him because he deserves it just because of how great of a player he is. Like he deserves to be considered one of the best quarterbacks. He already is. But I know everyone considers championships as the stand standard and you know he'll, he'll get it one day. He will. For some Jaden Daniels, everything falls in place really early. For some Joe Flacco you gotta for some Lamar Jackson you wait for Joe Flacco and you're in your prime. As Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen are not only in their prime, they're in your conference. Where do you land? Who is your coach, who's the ownership group? Who's your primary rival? I've argued for years. Phil Mickelson has another six majors without Tiger woods. But he won a lot of tournaments and Lamar wins a lot of games and he'll eventually break through J. Mac with the news. No, no, no.

[Jason McIntyre]

Turn on the news.

[Colin Cowherd]

This is the Herd line news.

[Jason McIntyre]

You know who may not break through is the Detroit Lions. Colin. They lose Ben Johnson to Chicago. And multiple reports this morning claim that Aaron Glenn, the defensive coordinator who could not stop Jaden Daniels on Saturday night, may be on his way to my New York Jets. And a lot of people, including myself, are wondering, is Detroit super bowl window closing? Don't tell that to Dan Campbell.

[Colin Cowherd]

That core group is still intact. And some of these guys are now, you know, we've signed some back, some are up on contracts, and that'll be ongoing. But, yeah, we absolutely do. You know, and I think the most important thing is you want to know. You've got your culture, you got your identity, and you got players that fit into that. And we've got that. Like, we got players in every pivotal position you can ask for to have success. And those guys are made the right way. So, absolutely, our window is open now. I have a belief that the Rams and the Chiefs are doing it the right way. Spend your money on offense, keep drafting defense, and keep it cheap as the league is pivoted. So if you look at Kansas City, there is a theory in the league right now that you pay. I think the smart teams are doing this. You pay one defensive player huge money, and he has to be up front. The Rams will pay Jared Verse. They already know that. Guys are Lawrence Taylor, Chris Jones in Kansas City. Philadelphia will pay Jalen Carter. Then you pay your quarterback. You pay your left tackle, you pay a weapon, you may have to pay your center. Defense, you keep at Kansas City. You let go of good corners, you let go of an occasional pass rusher. You keep drafting defense. Keep it young and cheap because defensive players get hurt more than offensive guys. So Detroit is paying Amaran Saint Brown, Jared Goff, Panay Sewell. They're doing it the right way. They're going to have to pay Hutch. But I think what Detroit has to realize, you have to make choices in this league. And I think if I was the Lions this draft, I would go all defense for depth and frugality.

[Jason McIntyre]

Yeah, easier said than done. I mean, you know, Aaron Glenn's doing multiple job interviews. Nobody's interviewing Spagnolo.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right.

[Jason McIntyre]

Like, he's not, like, in demand because he's an old guy. And so not only have the Chiefs hit on everything, but they've retained much of their staff. I know they lost the enemy, but many people didn't think.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, some. I mean, let's be honest. Andy Reid has lost Multiple offensive coordinators. McVeigh has run through coordinators, Shanahan, some coaches, but he's offensive well and also what is interesting is Andy Reid, Shanahan and McVeigh are scheme guys. Dan Campbell. Yeah, Dan Campbell's a culture guy. So he is a little more beholden. So is Ceriani's the face of the Eagles. He's not the scheme of it. Campbell's the face of the Lions, he's not the scheme of it. So losing a really clever offensive coordinator and a sharp defensive coordinator. Remember when Philadelphia with his stack roster, when Sirianni, a walk around culture guy, lost his two best coordinators, they went into the tank. So these hires by the Lions are crucial.

[Jason McIntyre]

Let's just start here. They're not winning 15 games.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's exactly right.

[Jason McIntyre]

Sniffing that, you know, the division just got tougher with Ben Johnson going, plus Caleb Williams, like they're going to be tough. Packers probably going to be very good again. And I think the Vikings, if you had to ask me who's winning the division next year, I'd say J.J. mcCarthy and Kevin O'Connell are going to win that division next year. That would be my guess. I don't think the Lions pull back that much. They're still 10, 11 wins.

[Colin Cowherd]

I think they're an 11 win team. They're not a 15 win team. I don't think you can lose arguably the two best coordinators in the sport. Philadelphia did and they were. And Philadelphia is Ross of the best course.

[Jason McIntyre]

Aaron Glenn's not the best defensive coordinator.

[Colin Cowherd]

Wait, no, no. But I mean young hireable defensive coordinator. He's way up there.

[Jason McIntyre]

Yeah, I mean it's not super inspiring for jets fans, but anyways, how about this stat that I saw? So the NFC north was the best division of football this season, right? The three playoff teams, I saw some insane numbers. They steamrolled non division teams. They went 0:3 in the playoffs. That was a bit of a shocker. Love, Goff and Darnold. All were kind of poopy.

[Colin Cowherd]

But weren't those teams known for more offense? And who advanced Eagles defense, Chiefs defense. I mean I would say the NFC north was very clever and very offensive oriented. But no great defense. Bears have the best defense in my opinion in that division.

[Jason McIntyre]

Well, Viking, Vikings, with Flores, it's funny if, if I told you, hey, the Lakers are going to make 23s and the Clippers are going to make 10. I'll tell you, the Lakers are going to win. Whoever makes more threes in the NBA is going to win whoever Turned the ball over this weekend. They just lost the game.

[Colin Cowherd]

Last two weeks.

[Jason McIntyre]

It's that easy to break down NFL games. Just tell me who's going to turn the ball over more. Right. Next up, Colin, is Aaron Glenn. And you know, multiple reports claim he's got his second interview with the jets today. And according to Ian Rapaport, they hope to not let Aaron Glenn leave the building. Now, I will say Aaron Glenn, for Jets fans, was a stud cornerback, I believe in like the 90s with the Jets.

[Colin Cowherd]

Now, who's his offensive coordinator?

[Jason McIntyre]

TBD. Now, his GM allegedly is going to be this fella Newmark who was going to go with Ben Johnson. Newmark spent like 26 years into or 26 seasons in Detroit than he was with the Commanders. But it seems like he may be going to the jets with Aaron Glenn. No word on the offensive coordinator yet. Defensive guy, Another one for the Jets.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, let me spin it positively. Go.

[Jason McIntyre]

Please do, please.

[Colin Cowherd]

I think Aaron's very respected.

[Jason McIntyre]

Yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

I think their best personnel is on defense. I think when they had Robert Sala on defense, this team was in every game. When they lost Salah, they got blown out. So I think their defense will rebound and get like Salah. Like, I think it'll be a very forceful team defensively. I like. Honestly, if they had a younger, cheaper quarterback, I'd like him. This is not a shot at Aaron. But there you watch Jaden Daniels play. I mean, watch the quarterbacks this weekend. Even C.J. stroud. You know, it's a young quarterback league now. Mobile. Yeah. And so I think. But I. I'm not going to write this off as a bad hire. I think you don't like it.

[Jason McIntyre]

No, no, wait, hold on. It's just uninspiring. Let's see what it transpires next. Let's see what goes down next. Maybe he runs off Aaron Rodgers. And I'm now the biggest Aaron Glenn fan in the world. I will be rooting for him. I don't want.

[Colin Cowherd]

I don't worry about Aaron Glenn. I worry about those surrounding Aaron Glenn. Because for the record, Robert Sala is now interviewing for several jobs around the league. The Niners are like, we'll take him back. The Jags might hire smart people in the league. The Niners want him back. He's interviewed for two or three jobs. It wasn't a solid issue. As much as everybody on New York media wanted to preach the jets issue.

[Jason McIntyre]

Solid. They were 7 and 10 with Zach Wilson two years ago.

[Colin Cowherd]

So I think Aaron Glenn's interesting. I'm not going to just label this as is uninspiring. I think it's an interesting hire. I like the Jets. I've said of all the teams looking for a coach, the best roster is the Jets. I like the roster. I really do.

[Jason McIntyre]

We'll see how the off season goes. Final story. Another lion story, and that's kind of pegged to this idea that Ben Johnson was going to the Raiders. A lot of people thought that, including me. And then he goes to the Bears, which is a surprise. Leaving Las Vegas, kind of, oh, boy, what are the Raiders going to do? And the Athletic is now reporting that Pete Carroll is the top option for the Las Vegas Raiders.

[Colin Cowherd]

I don't have a problem with that. I really don't. I have. I do not have a problem with that. Pete Carroll. I have talked to several players, including Greg Olson, who say Pete is organ, organizationally elite. He's an inspiring guy. He's got great energy. He's wanted college and pro. I mean, if you go look at the Patriots situation, wasn't like he was a losing coach. He followed Parcells, arguably a top three coach. He won a lot of games there. He's also done, if you look at his career, he's done very well with young quarterbacks. He did great with college quarterbacks. He did well with Russell Wilson. I have no problem Pete Carroll getting the Raiders job at all.

[Jason McIntyre]

And he ran off Russell.

[Colin Cowherd]

And by the way, you got it. You got a division full of offensive guys. Throw a defensive guy in there. I do think my knock on Pete. He tends to be loyal to average coaches, his staffs. He'll be really loyal, and I guess it's a good quality to have. He tends to be a little loyal to some coaches I haven't loved. But in terms of knowing what he's doing, building a culture, inspiring players. I think Pete's a good choice.

[Jason McIntyre]

What if I told you that, and this is. I'm just throwing a name out there, all of a sudden, the Raiders call up Kenny Dillingham from Arizona State and wanted to interview him when that kind of. Oh, okay, Kenny. I don't know what he. He was good with Arizona State this year. They were picked to finish last.

[Colin Cowherd]

I think they rise up.

[Jason McIntyre]

Like, that's the kind of inspiring stuff I'm talking about. New Fresh Face. No disrespect to Pete Carroll. The guy's 73. He's been around the year.

[Colin Cowherd]

It's 73. Today isn't 7315 years ago. It's just not people. I mean, I'm Watching Nick Saban on TV. If I would guess, I'd say it's 58 years old on TV.

[Jason McIntyre]

Well, I mean, he's coming up with game plans.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, I mean, you don't think if Nick was in college football today, tomorrow, he just decided, you know, I want a big time job. You don't think Nick Saban would win?

[Jason McIntyre]

He would do what he did at Alabama, hire smart people around him and have 27 staff members.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, I mean, Pete Carroll knows everybody. He'll hire a smart staff. He what? He wants to hire the Rams tight end coach. And he may hire Scott Turner as his oc.

[Jason McIntyre]

A tight end coach?

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, he's already building his staff. He's already got. He's poaching McVeigh already. That's what.

[Jason McIntyre]

That's what they need a tight end coach for. Brock Bowers. I'm just telling you, man, this is very cynical. Well, also, one of our producers is a big Raiders guy and he's just like, oh, geez. I mean, listen, I don't know. We'll see. Be Carol, Aaron Glenn. I don't know. Give me. Where's Marcus Freeman now? I don't know. Why? Marcus Freeman tried to kick a field goal last night. Down six, 16.

[Colin Cowherd]

You guys, what are you doing, man? You guys, you're down 16. All this people that sit and watch these coaches. He may have been thinking, listen, I gotta have a good vibe in this game. My team's getting a, you know what kicked out of him. Let's just get points. Let our players walk off the field producing points.

[Jason McIntyre]

16 with like 9, 10 minutes left. Maybe it was like 10 minutes left.

[Colin Cowherd]

Get a 13.

[Jason McIntyre]

Let's make a two score game. A two score game. Like Colin, that was the only knock on Marcus Freeman all the season. I love him. If he's a Jets coach tomorrow, I'm doing cartwheels on this show.

[Colin Cowherd]

He's not going anywhere. He's gonna get a big extension.

[Jason McIntyre]

Another one.

[Colin Cowherd]

J. Mac with the news. Well, that's the news, and thanks for stopping by the Herd line. All right, top of the hour, Nick Wright and our final Herd hierarchy of the year coming up next. Folks, there's a story out there this morning and I can't believe it's true. We have double and triple checked it. Things are worse for the Cowboys than people think. Holy crow, talk about that coming up. 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, 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 Kobe, no Rich, wherever you get your podcast. And of course on social media, that's Covino and Rich. You can count on T Mobile to help keep you connected from big cities to small towns on America's largest 5G network. Switch the T Mobile, keep your phone and they'll pay it off up to 800 bucks per line via prepaid card. Learn more@t mobile.com Keep and switch up to four lines via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device credit service port in 90 plus days with device and eligible carrier and timely redemption required. Card has no cash access and expires in six months. Lately on the NPR Politics podcast, we're talking about a big question. How much can one guy change?

[Jason McIntyre]

They want change.

[Colin Cowherd]

What will change look like for energy?

[Jason McIntyre]

Drill baby Drill schools. Take the Department of Education.

[Colin Cowherd]

Close it. Health care better and less expensive. Follow coverage of a changing country. Promises made, promises kept. We're going to keep our promises on the NPR Point Politics podcast. Listen on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Katie Couric]

Hey everyone, it's Katie Couric. Well, the election is in the home stretch and I'm exhausted, but turns out the end is near. Right in time for a new season of my podcast. Next question. This podcast is for people like me who need a little perspective and insight. I'm bringing in some foks, friends of Katie's to help me out like Ezra Klein, Van Jones, Jen Psaki, Asted Herndon. But we're also gonna have some fun, even though these days Fun and politics seems like an oxymoron, but we'll do that thanks to some of my friends like Samantha bee, Roy Wood Jr. And Charlamagne. Tha God. We're gonna take some viewer questions as well. I mean, isn't that what democracy is all about? Power to the podcast for the people. So whether you're obsessed with the news or just trying to figure out what's going on, this season of Next Question is for you. Check out our new season of Next Question with me, Katie couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

2025 is bound to be a fascinating year. It's gonna be filled with money, challenges, and opportunities. I'm Joel. Ooh. And I am Matt. And we're the hosts of how to Money. We want to be with you every step of the way in your financial journey this year, offering the information and insights you need. Need to thrive financially. Yeah. Whether you find yourself up to your eyeballs in student loan debt or you've got a sky high credit card balance because you went a little overboard with the holiday spending, or maybe you're looking to optimize your retirement accounts so you can retire early. Well, how to Money will help you to change your relationship with money so you can stress less and grow your net worth. That's right. How to Money comes out three times a week. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Friday, Fridays. For money advice without the judgment and jargon, listen to how to Money on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. So now that the formerly sad sack Detroit Lions have risen from the ashes, now that the regrettable ownership of Dan Snyder has ended and the commanders are in the NFC Championship, when you look at the NFC now, well, it's the Dallas Cowboys that are getting sad. They have not made the NFC championship since 1995. That is a long time ago. I saw a story this morning and I thought it was a fake account. Ian Rapoport is reporting that Brian Schottenheimer is the lead candidate. Forget about the Cowboys. Window closing. It's getting boarded up. I got nothing against Brian Schottenheimer. He's never been a head coach. This is a hard job. It's not very talented. And his last two jobs, Seattle and Jacksonville, he got pushed out the door. So is this another case of Jerry Jones hiring somebody that needs him again? His dad was a great coach. I got nothing against him, but it feels DEFCON 1 to me. I mean, you had Dan Quinn in the building he's now crushing it in Washington, yet Kellen Moore in the building. He's now crushing it in Philadelphia. So the Chicago Bears, I don't believe, interviewed Brian Schottenheimer. And again, they were interviewing local movie critics and baristas. They interviewed everybody. So I. The Dallas Cowboys, I'm. I'm serious. It's like an intervention. Like, somebody has to take away the helicopter keys from grandpa. This is weird. Like. Like, they messed up on the coaching search, so they couldn't even. Weren't even allowed to interview Aaron Glenn and Ben Johnson. They didn't interview Mike Vrabel. This. This is. I mean, I'm looking at the Cowboy head coaching search right now. Wow. Is all I can say at the odds. This is crazy. I mean, you can say what you want about the Bears, but Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson and that defensive personnel is pretty promising. You start looking at the nfc, you know, there's always two or three franchises at the bottom of the league. Like, for years, it was Carolina, and now you're watching Bryce Young with that good offensive coach, and you're like, oh, they're. They're gonna be kind of interesting in that wonky division next year. For years, it was the Houston Texans. Oh, D'Ameco and C.J. stroud are pretty special. You say what you want about Cleveland, they're just Cleveland. They'll always be near the bottom, but at least they have the right head coach and gm. But right now with Dallas, honest question. Ownership, front office, head coach, quarterback, where are they? Elite. Like, even Cleveland. I love Stefanski, and I think they draft really well Carolina. Bryce Young still doesn't cost you anything. And that offensive head coach seemed to fix him by the end of this year. There were Sundays Bryce Young looked better than CJ Stroud. He may not be, but he looked better in a couple Sundays. So, I mean, again, you can say what you want about Chicago, but Caleb and Ben Johnson and those D.J. moore, Keenan Allen, Roma, Dunz Swift out of the backfield like, there's some dudes there. Chicago's got dudes. It's not a great defensive division. Wow. So I was thinking about this Nick Wright, top of the hour, hurt hierarchy, that college football. You know, in the media, we tend to be cynical and negative. It wasn't perfect. The playoff wasn't perfect, but it netted out what we really wanted. The top eight or nine teams, Notre Dame, Georgia, Texas, Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon, fought to the end. And then we got a couple really cool stories, like smu, Arizona State was awesome. Almost beat Texas and Boise State. And then Ohio State was our perfect champion. The most talented team, crazy talented, but had a horrible loss at home was a three touchdown favorite to Michigan. So that added a layer of pressure and drama. And they also, Ohio State, let's be fair, they got the toughest draw, Tennessee, Oregon, right out, then Texas. And yet they went on to clobber four teams in a row. And last night, the score is not indicative of what it was. I mean, at one point, what was it, like 24 to 7 or something like that? In the third, it was, they ran rough shot over Notre Dame. So here's the things we have to understand and be cool with. Sports isn't perfect perfect. It's not perfect. So you got to get over that. And the playoff can be better and they'll tweak it. But right now in Major League Baseball, everybody's furious because Rob Manfred is allowing deferred payments by the Dodgers. By the way, your billionaire can afford those players, too. It's not a cheat code. Anybody could use it right now. I mean that NHL fans have been complaining about Gary Bettman's lack of marketing ideas forever. In the NFL this weekend, we complained about officiating. And the NBA's got a host of problems. The players are rich, but they don't often want to play in the biggest games. There are no perfect sports, okay? And I think Ryan Day put it perfectly on what this playoff now allows. And I think that this playoff system allowed our team to learn and grow and build. And there was a lot of pressure put on our players. And, you know, but that's, that's nothing new at Ohio State. I think the difference is that, you know, we finished the season the right way and we grew, we built, and we responded to tough times. And, man, isn't that what life's all about? Yeah. And I also think in the history of college football, a team finishing third, like Ohio State in their conference would have never been given a chance before. But in the NFL, wild card teams can win a Super bowl, so why can't they in College? I am 100% for a sport that follows more closely the model of the NFL. You know, by far and away the most popular sport in America and a great model that's always tweaking. College football is going to tweak. The NFL is constantly tweaking. If you have to follow one model in America for sports, I'm going to go with the NFL is a good one. And also next year in Columbus, Ohio, the opening game, Texas Longhorns against the Ohio State Buckeyes and the winner will be on top of the world and the loser will still have a chance to host a 12 or 14 team playoff game at home. That's the way it should be. It shouldn't be about when on the calendar you lose. It won't be Texas and Ohio State. One of those teams could get blown out and they'll be disappointed and like Notre Dame, they'll have to find their way. Or like Ohio State that lost by three touchdown, lost to Michigan three touchdown favorite. You'll have to find your way and navigate it and that'll create strength and and resilience and but I don't want my calendar deciding my national champion. I don't want that. Great teams lose big games in December. It should not automatically disqualify them from playing for a national champion. And I also believe and I said this for years, college football has always had one shortage, a great game shortage. On any given weekend, any given Saturday, there's like two big games because teams have always been terrified to schedule a Texas, Ohio State, Georgia, Alabama, lsu. Because if you get rolled, you're out. Ohio State, first year of the playoff, proving you can not only lose, you can lose as a three touchdown favorite at home at the very end of the year and will still let you in if you had marquee wins. And they did like Penn State throughout the season. So I'm all fired up. I thought Ohio State was the perfect first year of the playoff champion. Horrible loss, impressive team, stumbled, questioned, layered drama. But in the end, best players, great coaching staff. Yes, I said it. Ryan Day, Chip Kelly. That's a really good coaching staff. I thought that game plan last night had Chip Kelly written all over it. Get the ball to the playmakers early, get confidence in Will Howard, some easy throws. I thought it had Chip Kelly and Ryan Day all over it. Way to go Buckeyes. Nick Wright Herd Hierarchy Our final hierarchy of the year in hour two live in la, it's the Herd. Whether you're ordering wings for the game, whipping up a seven layer dip, or ordering pizza, there's something about football that makes me want to eat. And this football season, Uber Eats has the best deals for me on game day food. No matter what I'm craving from two for one Pizza to buy one get one Wings. Uber Eats will be dropping new deals each week all season long. I'm in Uber Eats, the official on demand delivery partner of the NFL. Order now for game day. Terms and conditions apply. See app for details Lately on the NPR Politics Podcast. We're talking about a big question. How much can one guy change?

[Jason McIntyre]

They want change.

[Colin Cowherd]

What will change look like for entertainment?

[Jason McIntyre]

Drill baby, drill schools. Take the Department of Education.

[Colin Cowherd]

Close it. Health care better and less expensive. Follow coverage of a changing country. Promises made, promises kept. We're going to keep our promises on the NPR Politics Podcast. Listen on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Katie Couric]

Hey, everyone, it's Katie Couric. Well, the election is in the home stretch right in time for a new season of my podcast Next Question. I'm bringing in some foks friends of Katie's to help me out, like Ezra Klein, Jen Psaki, Asted Herndon. But we're also going to have some fun thanks to some of my friends like Samantha Bee and Charlamagne the God. We're going to take some viewer questions as well. I mean, isn't that what democracy is all about? Check out our new season of Next Question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

Joel, the holidays are a blast, but the financial hangover? That can be a huge bummer. If you are out there and you're dreading the new statement email that reveals the massive balance that you may have racked up, well, you could use our help. That's right. I'm Joel. And I am Matt and we're from the how to Money podcast. Our show is all about helping you make sense of your personal finances so you can ditch your pesky credit card debt once and for all, make real progress on other crucial financial goals that you've got, and just feel more in control of your money in general. You know it. For money advice without the judgment and jargon, listen to how to Money on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.