Hour 1 - The Steelers have a problem

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – “Hour 1 - The Steelers Have a Problem”

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
• Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
• Description: A thought-provoking, opinionated, and topic-driven journey through the top sports stories of the day.
• Episode: Hour 1 - The Steelers Have a Problem
• Release Date: June 10, 2025

---

Introduction

In this episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, host Colin Cowherd delves into the intricacies surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers, particularly focusing on their defensive spending and the implications of T.J. Watt's contract. Joined by co-hosts Urban Meyer, Nick Wright, Albert Breer, and Jason McIntyre, the discussion navigates through NFL dynamics, NBA comparisons, and broader sports industry insights.

---

The Steelers' Defensive Spending and T.J. Watt's Contract

Key Discussion Points:

• High Defensive Spending: Colin Cowherd initiates the conversation by highlighting that the Steelers lead the NFL in defensive spending, even before factoring in T.J. Watt's substantial contract.

• T.J. Watt's Impact: While acknowledging Watt as a formidable player, Cowherd expresses concerns over the return on investment, especially given Watt's limited playoff production.

Notable Quotes:

• “I know people think I'm crazy in Pittsburgh when I suggest considering moving off TJ Watt.” [03:11]
• “In four playoff games he's got one sack, no force fumbles, six tackles.” [05:55]

Analysis: Colin argues that despite the Steelers' aggressive defense spending, the actual performance in high-stakes playoff games doesn't justify the financial outlay. He points out the contradiction between owning the most expensive defense and the lack of playoff success, suggesting that the team may need to reassess its priorities.

---

Comparison with Other NFL Teams: Eagles, Rams, and Chiefs

Key Discussion Points:

• Defensive vs. Offensive Spending: The Steelers' approach is contrasted with teams like the Eagles and Rams, who have opted to invest heavily in their offenses. This strategic difference places teams like Kansas City and Philadelphia in favorable positions within the Super Bowl bubble.

Notable Quotes:

• “The Eagles and the Rams are both in the Super Bowl bubble. Kansas City, six of the top seven contracts for Kansas City and their well-run front office offense.” [04:30]

Analysis: Colin emphasizes that other successful teams are balancing their spending by bolstering their offensive units, ensuring a well-rounded team capable of competing at the highest levels. This contrasts with Pittsburgh's singular focus on defense, which may leave their offense lagging.

---

Offensive Challenges: Quarterback Situation

Key Discussion Points:

• Aging Quarterback: The Steelers are relying on a 41-year-old quarterback, a significant gamble given the quarterback's age and partial commitment to a lucrative contract.

• Alternative Options: With limited offensive talent and high spending on defense, the Steelers face a dilemma in maintaining a competitive offense.

Notable Quotes:

• “You want your defense. The Rams, the Chiefs, the Eagles, they get this. You want your offense to be experienced veterans.” [07:45]
• “Since 2019, you're 26, 28, 29th in every offensive stat.” [07:15]

Analysis: The discussion revolves around the precarious balance between maintaining a star defense and sacrificing offensive capabilities. Colin suggests that the Steelers' offensive metrics have plummeted over recent years, highlighting the need for strategic adjustments to bolster their offensive line.

---

NBA Comparison: Dallas Mavericks vs. New York Knicks

Key Discussion Points:

• Knicks' Interest in Jason Kidd: The conversation shifts to the New York Knicks potentially pursuing Jason Kidd, sparking a debate on whether this move is beneficial compared to the Dallas Mavericks' roster.

• Dallas Mavericks' Strategic Advantage: Colin defends the Mavericks, citing their young talent like Cooper Flag and Derek Lively, and contrasts this with the Knicks' more expensive and less promising lineup.

Notable Quotes:

• “I know what you are. The Knicks are guys that are expensive, and we know what they are.” [09:45]
• “Cooper Flag is going to be the best player in the league.” [10:02]

Analysis: Colin advocates for the Dallas Mavericks over the Knicks, emphasizing the depth and potential of Dallas's young roster. He argues that investing in emerging talent like Cooper Flag offers a more sustainable and promising future compared to the Knicks' reliance on high-priced veterans.

---

NFL Cornerbacks and Defensive Strategy

Key Discussion Points:

• Overpaying Cornerbacks: The discussion critiques the NFL trend of inflating cornerback salaries without corresponding team success, highlighting that many high-paid corners are on teams with mediocre records.

• Strategic Deficiencies: Colin points out that despite the financial investments, the performance of cornerbacks often doesn't translate into wins, questioning the overall defensive strategy.

Notable Quotes:

• “The highest paid corners in the NFL are on the most overrated position in football.” [38:00]
• “If you go man-to-man coverage with great corners, that is just a green light to take off and run.” [47:25]

Analysis: This segment underscores the inefficiencies in the current defensive strategies of NFL teams, particularly the overvaluation of cornerbacks. Colin argues that the evolving nature of offensive play, with more mobile quarterbacks and dynamic wide receivers, diminishes the traditional value of cornerbacks, leading to questionable financial decisions.

---

Major League Baseball Ratings and Financial Disparities

Key Discussion Points:

• Rising MLB Ratings: Contrary to expectations, baseball ratings are on the rise, driven by strategic scheduling and the presence of star players on winning teams.

• Financial Gaps: The podcast touches on the widening financial disparities between top MLB teams (e.g., Dodgers, Yankees) and the rest, affecting competitive balance.

Notable Quotes:

• “Baseball's got a huge financial gap issue. What the Dodgers and the Yankees and the Mets can spend and a handful of other teams and everybody else.” [30:44]

Analysis: Colin analyzes the resurgence in baseball viewership, attributing it to the concentration of star talent in major-market teams and strategic broadcasting decisions. He notes that while ratings are up, the financial gap poses ongoing challenges for competitive parity across the league.

---

NBA Finals Ratings and Character Development in Sports Leagues

Key Discussion Points:

• NBA Finals Ratings Decline: The conversation critiques the NBA's struggles with maintaining high ratings for the Finals, attributing it to the lack of charismatic and marketable stars.

• Importance of Character Development: Colin emphasizes the role of character-driven narratives, akin to TV shows, in engaging audiences and enhancing league popularity.

Notable Quotes:

• “It's not about small markets. It's about small stars.” [34:15]
• “Every TV show in the world, every movie needs character development.” [35:10]

Analysis: Colin argues that the NBA needs to focus more on developing and promoting player personalities to sustain and grow their fan base. Drawing parallels to television storytelling, he suggests that character development is crucial for creating engaging narratives that resonate with viewers, thereby boosting ratings.

---

Aaron Rodgers' Deal with the Steelers

Key Discussion Points:

• Negotiation Dynamics: Urban Meyer provides insights into the negotiation process between Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers, highlighting the mutual trust and strategic maneuvers involved.

• Future Implications: The deal is analyzed in terms of long-term team performance and the potential impact on the Steelers' dynamics.

Notable Quotes:

• “This was built on a foundation of trust, really.” [20:38]
• “They made it clear to Aaron, we would really like to have you here for our mandatory veteran minicamp.” [21:15]

Analysis: Urban Meyer discusses the delicate balance maintained during the negotiations, emphasizing the importance of trust and mutual understanding. The agreement with Rodgers is seen as a pivotal move that could redefine the Steelers' offensive strategies and overall competitiveness in the upcoming seasons.

---

Conclusion

In this episode, Colin Cowherd provides a critical analysis of the Pittsburgh Steelers' strategic decisions, particularly their aggressive defensive spending and reliance on veteran players like T.J. Watt. By juxtaposing the NFL dynamics with NBA and MLB insights, the discussion underscores the complexities of team management and financial investments in professional sports. The episode also touches upon broader themes such as character development in sports leagues and the evolving landscape of team valuations.

Final Notable Quotes:

• “Are you still in a mode where you're contending and you need to put the best player out there?” [48:24]
• “I am the guy that's out of touch. You just keep clinging to that T.J. Watt jersey in Pittsburgh.” [06:09]

---

Overall Assessment: This episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd offers a comprehensive examination of the Pittsburgh Steelers' current challenges, enriched with comparative analyses across different sports leagues. Colin's candid and sometimes contrarian viewpoints foster engaging discussions, making the podcast a valuable listen for sports enthusiasts seeking in-depth insights.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Jason McIntyre]

BMW didn't just design an electric SUV. Every detail of the BMW IX was crafted with passion and precision. With a BMW IX you'll experience unmatched power, utility, spaciousness, versatility. My favorite feature cloud based navigation, monitors charge levels, locates nearby charging stations so I can drive electric with the ultimate ease. BMW lets performance do the talking and the scouting report is in. Experience the all electric BMW IX and witness dedication in every detail. The Herd is brought to you by Grainger. If you work as a maintenance manager, your facility is your home turf and your home field advantage is having a partner like Grainger. They offer trusted professional grade products for every industry from lighting and electrical to safety and everything in between. Plus next day delivery. Which is why they always come through in the clutch just like you. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done. Wasabi Technologies is purpose built to free businesses from skyrocketing storage costs and unpredictable egress fees from those old and top heavy legacy providers. You know the big guys. Wasabi is the go to provider for professional and collegiate sports teams around the world. From Wasabi's AI enabled intelligent media storage Wasabi Air to the industry's only cloud storage service with triple protection against cyber criminals. Wasabi is driving innovation in data storage, all for up to 80% less than the other guys. Try them for [e-mail] Wasabi Hot Cloud.

[Colin Cowherd]

Storage Proud partner of the Voluum Podcast.

[Jason McIntyre]

Network if you own a home, here's an interesting fact for you today. American homeowners are sitting on a record amount of home equity. That's the part of your home you own outright. Rocket Mortgage can help you turn your home equity into cash and that can help you fund a home renovation, pay for your kids college tuition or pay off consolidated high interest debt. To learn more call 800-4Rocket or visit.

[Albert Breer]

Rocket.com today Rocket Mortgage LLC. Licensed in 50 states nmlsconsumeraccess.org, number 30 30.

[Jason McIntyre]

Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast.

[Colin Cowherd]

Be sure to catch us live every.

[Jason McIntyre]

Weekday on Fox Sports Radio and noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the [e-mail] or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.

[Colin Cowherd]

Now let's get this party started.

[Albert Breer]

You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.

[Colin Cowherd]

Oh it's a Tuesday. It's a good one. Today Urban Meyer and Nick Wright and Albert Brear and J. Mac and me. This is going to be a good one. Live it's the herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, thanks for making us part of your day. J. Mac. You know I wear the pink shirt when I want. When I mean, when I stand on business. And today I am standing on business today. Standing on business.

[Urban Meyer]

Okay.

[Nick Wright]

All right, I hear you.

[Colin Cowherd]

I am ready to roll. So I know people think I'm crazy in Pittsburgh when I suggest considering moving off TJ Watt. But I saw a story this morning. TJ Watt, great player by the way. Tough plays through injuries, productive. He's not at Steelers mandatory minicamp. Mandatory minicamp starts in the NFL today. That's when the veterans show up. And so there's a handful of guys that are like I'm not going to show up. So he's not going to show up. And you know why? Because he knows he owns Mike Tomlin, he owns the Steelers. He's going to get whatever he wants. Everybody in Pittsburgh owns a T.J. watt jersey. They don't want any backlash. The Rooneys, small town, they don't want any backlash. And he's going to get whatever he wants. T.J. watt. Right now the Steelers lead the NFL in defensive spending and that's pre T.J. watt contract. And he's going to get 40 to 47 million large per year. Okay, you want to know the two teams in the NFL going into this season with the lowest defensive spending? The Eagles and the Rams. Both in the super bowl bubble. Yeah, Kansas City. Six of the top seven contracts for Kansas City and their well run front office offense Eagles eight for eight of their biggest contracts offense the Steelers, all five big contracts, five biggest, all defense and that's pre T.J. watt deal. He knows he has them. Everybody in town owns a jersey. The Rooneys don't want backlash. Tomlin's a defensive guy. He's going to take them to the cleaners. So think about this. The Steelers have a 41 year old quarterback who's like partially committed on a sweet deal and they're going to back up the Brinks truck for TJ Watt. And this is not a criticism of TJ Watt but in four playoff games he's got one sack, no force, fumbles, six tackles. That's because when you get to the playoffs in the AFC or the NFC you face the best left tackles and it's hard to get past those guys. That's why Michael Parsons playoff stats, he disappears. He gets gobbled up a lot of TJ Watts numbers been against that bad Bengals O line, you know, or bad Cleveland O line. And this is not anti TJ Watt. He's a hell of a player. He's their best player. He's tough, he's physical, he plays through pain. All for four in the playoffs, one sack. So I mean the Steelers, and I've been saying this, they're your buddy who's got a Rolex but sleeps on a cheap mattress. Bro, get your priorities in order. Since 2019, you're 26, 28, 29th in every offensive stat. But hey, you got a great deal on the Aaron Rodgers contract. So I, I, you're looking for discounts at quarterback. You got a six round draft pick, Mason Rudolph again, 41 year old Aaron Rodgers. I mean nobody gets more out of less or less out of more, take your pick. Than the Steelers at quarterback. I mean they, but TJ Watt knows.

[Jason McIntyre]

They'Re going to pay him.

[Colin Cowherd]

So they have the number one defensive spending in the league. Pre, pre T.J. watt. And, and I was looking at this this morning. You think I'm the crazy person. Eight years, no playoff wins, the house is on fire, I bring a fire extinguisher and I'm the crazy person. I'm the guy that's out of touch. You just keep clinging to that T.J. watt jersey in Pittsburgh. And again, he's a really good player. His brother, older brother was a great player. That's not the question. The question is he's going to get 45 million bucks and he knows it. Everywhere he goes in Pittsburgh There's a T.J. watt jersey and it translates to nothing in the playoffs. I'm the crazy one. I saw a headline this morning. I laughed. The Aaron Rodgers contract is a major bargain for the Steelers. They never get those on defense. They, they paid top dollar for everybody on defense. And the Eagles, eight biggest contracts, eight for eight, all offense. And I've been saying this. You want your defense. The Rams, the Chiefs, the Eagles, they get this. You want your offense to be experienced veterans. It's the smart side of the. You have to choreograph the offense. I want an expensive veteran quarterback, right? I want receivers I can trust. I want a great left tackle. The most underrated position in football is center. The Bears went out and spent money on a center. The Eagles always have great centers. The Chiefs have the best center. The Ravens have the second best center. I want to spend money on offense, defense. I want them to be young, twitchy and cheap. Outside of one great pass rusher, I'll Pay for Hendrickson, Max Crosby. And you say, well, what about the Steelers? Problem with Steelers, you pay everybody. You're paying safeties and linebackers and interior defensive linemen. So. And I'm the crazy one.

[Jason McIntyre]

Okay, sure.

[Colin Cowherd]

I'm just here with a fire extinguisher. I don't know, eight years, no playoff wins. I'm just suggesting something new. Of course. T.J. watts going to get everything he wants. Okay, so the second story I saw. So I didn't like the firing of Tibbs. I just didn't like it. I thought he built culture. I think the Knicks issues are personnel and contracts. It's not coaching. I don't think he's the most creative guy. But there's a story this morning for Brian Windhorst, who's excellent. And Brian Windhorst is saying, basically, the Knicks are interested in Jason Kidd and Jason Kidd is interested in the New York Knicks. And I don't get it. There is no way I'm leaving Dallas with Cooper Flag arriving from Duke. There is no way I'm leaving. Cash. A Knicks cash cow. Cooper Flag, Dallas. Forget the state tax thing, which is obviously a huge benefit. But if you look at Dallas's young talent, Cooper Flag's the best domestic player in a decade. Plus, he's going to be 23 points next year. He's fantastic. And then Derek Lively, another Duke, he's 2171, rim protector for a decade plus, he's 21 years old. He's a kid. So Cooper flag is what, 18, 19, unlimited. I got Anthony Davis, who, in my opinion, the last three years have been the best defensive player in the league. He's 24 and 11 every night. Kyrie Irving, we're not so sure. But you got PJ Washington, you got Gafford, you got Max Christie. There's a lot to play with here. I like the knicks, but now McHale Bridges, he wants a new deal. And Brunson's got a big contract, and so does Katie and so does Mitchell. Robinson and OG Got paid. And I feel with. Listen, I can like the Knicks a lot, but I know what they are. I get two things with Dallas that the New York Knicks don't get. I get, between the two teams, the best players. Anthony Davis. Anthony Davis is better than Brunson.

[Jason McIntyre]

I'm sorry.

[Colin Cowherd]

24 and 11 offensively. Unbelievable. Defensive player and rebounder and shot blocker. Best player on the Mavericks or the Knicks is Anthony Davis. And the greatest trajectory by far is Cooper Flag. The Knicks are guys that are expensive, and we know what they are. They're good, but they got a ceiling. They're limited. I mean, Brunson is never going to be an elite defender. Cats atrocious defensively on, on, on, you know, most possessions. Robinson will never be great offensively. Bridges plays every night. That guy hasn't missed a game since seventh grade. But you know what? He is classic Villanova guys. He squeezes every ounce of talent at it. But I know what the Knicks are, and what they are is getting really expensive. You don't know what Derek Lively and Cooper Flag are going to be. One could end up being the best young rim protector in the league, and Cooper Flag could be the best player in the league. I'm not leaving that. There's no way. When you. You cannot leave that kind of trajectory that there's no way. I mean, I was. I was watching something the other day. I was. I was watching somebody talking about a young Michael Jordan, and this person was like, oh, I knew he was going to be great, but nobody knew he would be that. I mean, we all knew Tiger woods was going to be great. Nobody thought he would be that. I mean, we all knew Shohei Ohtani was special. We didn't know he was going to be that. That's what you're talking about with Cooper Flag, you could have a 28 point a game. He's, like I said, he's Jayson Tatum, but aggressive. If you took Jason Tatum's game and you said it's 8% better and it's more aggressive, you'd have the face of the league. Cooper Flag's got the aura. He's got Duke, he's got the game. The only thing he doesn't have is NBA experience. So again, you can have the cachet. I'll take the cash cow. Also, I mean, I understand the east doesn't have as many good NBA general managers as the west, so it's easier. But, I mean, Brunson and Josh Hart and Robinson and Cat and Bridges. I know there's a limitation right now. Cleveland will be better next year. Eventually, Tatum comes back. Watch out. The Pacers may never get worse over the next five years. I don't know what I get with Derek Lively and Cooper Flag. And if I have the best rim protector And Derek Lively, 7 1, 21 years old, just getting better, that. That means Cooper Flag doesn't have to worry. The Dallas Mavericks, between Anthony Davis and Derek Lively and PJ Washington, they got all sorts of rim protectors. Translation. Cooper Flagg can get out on the break. He can just say 12ft from the hole. Give me the ball. I'm up the floor leading the break. What a great. And Jason Kidd knows that. Kidd's one of the great point guard talents of all time. And Cooper Flagville, not a point guard, is a, you know, 6, 8 Wing, but he's an unbelievable transition player. So I would not take. I would not leave Dallas. I make the argument that now that Laker fans have seen Lucas lack of defensive commitment and lack of cardio commitment. Had the Dallas Mavericks stayed healthy and not falling apart physically, I think they would have gone to the Western Conference finals. I think their roster is unbelievable with or without Kyrie. All right, J. Mac, we got Albert Brear. Last hour on some inside stuff in the Aaron Contract. Nick Wright, Urban Meyer as well. Feeling it. Big night of sleep, buddy. Feeling. Taking the guys out tonight for a night on the town.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

I got Ryan playing volleyball all day yesterday. He's. I mean, this. This thing, it is cooking out here.

[Nick Wright]

You didn't tell me that. Wait, Colin. I did work it. You. You joke that Giannis should want to stay in the east, but doesn't the same apply to Jason Kidd? Shouldn't he want to go east, win with the Knicks? Let's be real. Even though Kyrie Irving may come back in, you know, the All Star break.

[Colin Cowherd]

We don't know what.

[Nick Wright]

He's not top five in the West. The Knicks open the season top three in the East.

[Colin Cowherd]

No, I totally disagree. I think AD Cooper Flag live league. I think it's an excellent team. Max Christie can even play. I think it's an excellent team. Wow. I really do. I'm. I am so high on the Dallas Mavericks and I also West. Absolutely. No question. I. Absolutely no question.

[Nick Wright]

Just do this real quick. Are they better than okc?

[Colin Cowherd]

No. Are they better than Denver by next year? Yeah. Oh, come on. Jamal Murray plays himself into shape. Denver's be. By the way, they don't want Porter anymore. They don't want to pay Murray anymore. They love Gordon Jokic and nobody else. Dallas's whole roster I like.

[Nick Wright]

Okay. Are they better than the Lakers? Absolutely not.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes. Absolutely. Yes. Absolutely.

[Nick Wright]

Come on. Really?

[Colin Cowherd]

No, I. No, I think I. I am. I am. I listen. I don't like their football team. I think the Dallas Mavericks next year healthy with Cooper Flag are the real deal. I think he's going to be so much better than people think. I trust a couple of my NBA guys. They think he's just going to excel with Jason Kidd.

[Nick Wright]

I love.

[Colin Cowherd]

He is going to totally excel with.

[Nick Wright]

That staff next year. Whoa, whoa, that's a hot take. And trade TJ Watt. What a start to the show.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know, it's funny that when you suggest you would think in Pittsburgh with a high standard that eight years of no playoff wins, the suggestion that you may want to scale back off guys in four playoff games that don't that have, you know, like one sack it would be or 45 million. By the way, have I not been trade Micah Parsons.

[Nick Wright]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

I mean again, you can get There are certain positions in football that are readily available from the draft every year. Wide receivers. There's a lot of pass rushers. There's a lot of 6 foot 3 guys that are 250 and those there's so many big great athletes. That's why there's so many good pass rushers. There's so many good tight ends. We live in a society with big, strong, fast, twitchy athletes and it's like a lot of them play tight end now. I mean tight end now is basically it's a wide receiver that blocks half these guys run four five fives at tight end. So I I to me it's I don't know, I don't think it's crazy to suggest you have the highest defensive spending in the league. Pre T.J. watt making 45 million. You got to make some tough choices here eventually.

[Albert Breer]

Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio FS1 and the iHeartRadio app.

[Unknown]

Let's be real life happens. Kids still, pets shed and accidents are inevitable. That's why you need a washable sofa that can keep up. Our sofas are fully machine washable inside and out so you can say goodbye to stains and hello to worry free lippings. Made with liquid and stain resistant fabrics, they're kid proof, pet friendly and built for everyday life. Plus, changeable fabric covers let you refresh your sofa whenever you want. Need flexibility? Our modular design lets you rearrange your sofa anytime to fit your space, whether it's a growing family room or a cozy apartment. Plus, they're earth friendly and trusted by over 200,000 happy customers. Starting at just $699. It's time to upgrade to a stress free, mess proof sofa. Visit washablesofas.com today and save that's washablesofas.com offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[Jason McIntyre]

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. Everything you love about the ultimate driving machine. Electrified if you own a home, here's an interesting fact for you today. American homeowners are sitting on a record amount of home equity. That's the part of your home you own outright. The value you can tap to fund other life goals. In fact, the average Rocket Mortgage homeowner has about $170,000 in untapped equity available now. Rocket Mortgage can help you understand what home equity is and how to use it wisely for what matters to you. They've made it easier than ever to turn your home equity into cash with Rocket Mortgage. So now the home you work so hard for can work hard for you in plenty of different ways. Home equity can help you fund a home renovation, pay for your kids college tuition, or pay off and consolidate high interest debt from credit cards. To learn more, call 804Rocket or visit Rocket.com today.

[Albert Breer]

Rocket Mortgage LLC, licensed in 50 states. NMLSConsumeraccess.org Number 3030 $178,000. Average equity is based on internal Rocket mortgage servicing data.

[Colin Cowherd]

Albert Brer A little insight on the Aaron Rodgers deal with the Steelers coming up. Urban Meyer today as well. Nick Wright in 40 minutes from now. So the Green Bay packers released Jair Alexander. They were trying to trade him and there wasn't much of a market. And I've always had this feeling like that. If the Green Bay packers are moving off somebody, including an older Aaron Rodgers, they're almost always right. They draft, they evaluate out of the building and in the building as well as any team in this league for 30 years. I really think Green Bay is good at it. So if you look at the highest paid corners in the NFL, I think it's the most overrated position in football for about eight different reasons. But if you look at the highest paid corners in the NFL, Jason not a lot of guys aren't winning teams. JC Horn, Carolina, Jalen Ramsey signed a big deal by Miami. They can't get him out of the building fast enough. Now they're trying to trade him. Jair Alexander, A.J. terrell with Atlanta, Denzel Ward, Cleveland. Not a lot of guys producing W's. Derek Stingley is great, but Will Anderson and CJ Stroud are that team. The New York Giants have had great corners for like a decade. It has zero impact. One of the reasons is you can't put your hands on receivers anymore. It limits what you can do. Also, teams play zone 85, 90% of the time and the NFL is so offensively friendly. If you go three wide plus a pass catching tight end, what is one receiver? What is one corner going to do? So and I've been on this for years also, 90 to 95% of young quarterbacks are mobile. I mean Jared Goff and Matt Stafford are like outliers that are pure pocket guys. Even CJ Stroud can move for Jaden Daniels. If you go to man to man coverage with great corners, that is just a green light to take off and run because you're turning your back to the quarterback. So I don't get it. Last nine years in a row, last nine years in succession, the NFL's had more motion than the previous year. Everybody's moving wide receivers now get a running start. You can't put your hands on anybody and you just start looking at the highest paid corners. Team sign corners. The big deals like the Dolphins and Jalen Ramsey, they want to get out of it. A year later so there's five positions in this league that I want a A plus and I'll pay for quarterback, head coach, left tackle, interior or exterior pass rusher and an offensive weapon or two. I also think center is wildly underrated. I think Chicago, great center. Kansas City, great center. Philadelphia, great center. Green Bay, good center. Why the Generally speaking, I think Chicago's getting Drew Dahlman from Atlanta was really smart. They call the audibles. Young quarterbacks especially don't want people around their feet. So if Jair Alexander, if the packers are off somebody, they're almost always right. They evaluate in and out of their building as well as anybody. J. Mack with the news no, no.

[Nick Wright]

Turn on the news.

[Albert Breer]

This is the Herd line news.

[Nick Wright]

All right, Kyle, let's start with your Chicago Bears. So Caleb Williams, very excited for the Ben Johnson era, said he wants to be challenged. Well, according to the Chicago Tribune last week you were on vacation. Caleb had some difficulty calling a play and turned to Ben Johnson for assistance. The newspaper lays out that Johnson aggravatedly pointed to the play clock and ordered Caleb to figure it the hell out instead of trying to get help to work with the issue. Ultimately the offense took a delay of game penalty and Ben Johnson was frustrated. This according to the Chicago tribute. Now I think this is a good thing.

[Colin Cowherd]

Tough love, right?

[Nick Wright]

I'm curious if you also agree and how will Caleb handle this tough coaching?

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, yeah, I felt I'll give you this is what I know. When Caleb was at USC the first year, the coaching was tougher. He could be a bit moody. In the second year, Caleb did not trust his offensive line. Lincoln Riley didn't trust his offensive line. He was allowed to ad libmore. So then he goes last year where he doesn't get a lot of help. It's a defensive led staff and again he's kind of doing his own thing. Ben Johnson is seeing what has frustrated some with the criticisms with him. Too much hero ball. He's ad libbing too much and he can be moody. So I think Ben Johnson is It's much easier for a coach to be hard on a player and then lighten up. Tom Coughlin did that. It's impossible to be soft on a player and then try to be tough. Dad, no ice cream for breakfast. So Ben Johnson is setting a standard I'm on you figure stuff out. We don't do hero ball. Make the reads and I think this is all valid. I think Ben Johnson, for my people in the league, he's going to be hard on Caleb Williams and he needs it. His Last year at USC was way too much. Do what you want, Caleb. And I think. I think Caleb got into bad habits. And I don't think the staff in Chicago last year was good enough or strong enough to get him out of the bad habits. And Ben Johnson's going to make sure he does it and he does it on his own.

[Nick Wright]

This is the time to learn. You don't want to be week four looking at the coach. What do I do? You know, I got no problem with this. I actually like it. All right, let's move to an established quarterback in the nfc. Brock Purdy. Yes. You saw what I did there. Anyways, he got his big extension this offseason. In a recent interview, Purdy was asked if he feels a heightened responsibility to be a leader for the Niners going forward. And here's what QB1 had to say.

[Brock Purdy]

I think more than anything, honestly, is the fact that, you know, we've had guys leave and then that's part of the game, man, like the free agency. We had a bunch of guys go to new spots and happy for them, but we've had new guys come in. We've had rookies that we drafted that are going to have to play and be ready for the moment. And so I feel like I understand, you know, what it takes to win here. And I have to do what I can and lean on my expertise and my, you know, my leadership that I've had the last three years.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know, that video of the staff show. Can we go back to that first piece of video?

[Nick Wright]

Let me guess.

[Colin Cowherd]

Just look at that first piece of video. This is just an observation. He looks. Has he gotten smaller?

[Nick Wright]

Oh, gosh, stop. His legs look good. They look like.

[Colin Cowherd]

No, I mean, honestly, he just. I mean, the guy that hands him the ball. Look at the guy that hands him the ball. I don't know. I'm just an observation.

[Nick Wright]

That's why we have fun on this show because, you know, you're taking a positive Brock Purdy quote. Leadership qualities.

[Colin Cowherd]

Are we sure that's not Doug Flutie?

[Nick Wright]

Oh, guys, here we go. Hey, Purdy, I got your back, bro. I think this Is a Bills vs. Niners Super bowl this year. Oh, I had Bills, Vikings, but I. I'm waffling for the record. Go ahead.

[Colin Cowherd]

I'm still not sure if I put the Niners third or fourth in division because I love what I'm hearing out of Seattle and the Rams right now.

[Nick Wright]

So when you said it was a good night of sleep last night, is that because you had like six beers or what was going on, third or fourth in the division.

[Colin Cowherd]

I have such suit. I mean, I don't know, it just looks small. Anyway, I don't want to get into it.

[Nick Wright]

So you're still going? Rams 1, Seahawks 2. Colin, I cannot wait to make some NFL bets with you. My guy final story is. Oh yeah. Besides the T.J. watt situation in Pittsburgh, how about this one? Another star, Terry McLaurin will not be attending commander's mandatory minicamp.

[Colin Cowherd]

Scary.

[Nick Wright]

Terry has asked for a new deal. There has been minimal progress made on it. Quietly. McLaurin is a top 10 receiver in the league and in the last five years, love him. You could argue, you know, he's one of the five best receivers. Look at this. Last five seasons only four guys have done this. A thousand yards. Terry McLaurin, Adams, Justin Jefferson and Mike Evans.

[Colin Cowherd]

He reminds me a lot of Omaron St. Brown. I don't get any ego. I just get yards, catches, big third down production. I love Terry McLaurin. It is, it's, it's an ego position. And he and Omaron St. Brown, I get all the production without the ego. So it's going to be hard for me not to defend him. He's a guy I would pay. I think he's unbelievable talent. You get no drama. Big third down, fourth down guy. And I also think it really does matter when you bring in a young quarterback that he's got. Merwin Dak Prescott came into the league and they had DEZ Bryant and DEZ was talented, but he was so much drama. It is so valuable when you bring in a young quarterback that you have a grown up as one of his lead targets like an adult and you don't have a high maintenance receiver. And so to me, I mean if you could have picked a wide receiver for Jaden Daniels to be connected with his first year in the pros, you would pick like Omaron St. Brown and Terry McLaurin or like, you know, Larry Fitzgerald had this, you get all the maturity and all the production without any of the drama. So I think he's, I would, I would do whatever I have to do to pay him. Because by the way, Debo, you'll get drama.

[Nick Wright]

Well, let's, let's settle down on the drum. So two things, right? Number one, quarterback on the rookie deal. Pay your guy, right? Shouldn't be a difficult problem, but McLaren turns 30 in September and we know basically very few positions age well in the NFL. Wide receiver, not one of them. I, I, you don't have to give him a huge Deal. Just front load it because Jaden's on the rookie deal. I. I don't understand. What am I missing here, Colin?

[Colin Cowherd]

I don't think. I mean, they spent some money in free agency. I think it's all posturing. There's no way in the world they're letting him out of the door. There's just absolutely no way. So. And you know, they're. They're going to have to gobble up Debo's contract and McLaren. So they want to get the best deal possible. But I don't think anybody in Washington doubts his value. It is hard. If I said to you, great wide receiver with no drama. There's not a lot of Pukinaku is out there. I mean, most top receivers in this league, you're like, okay, you're getting some. I mean, I love Devonte Adams, but it gets noisy. So I mean, Green Bay drafted another wide receiver. Why they don't trust the guys in the room. Like they're to get high production and no drama at wide receiver is kind of rare. I mean, DK Metcalf, George Pickens, I mean it's, it's. I mean, I'm just saying it's a position that historically you get noise and drama with. McLaurin gives you none of that.

[Nick Wright]

It's funny you mentioned Devonte Adams and I think of him as like a choir boy superstar. He's on like his fourth team in five or six years. Right? I mean, not great.

[Jason McIntyre]

J. Mac with the news.

[Albert Breer]

Well, that's the news and thanks for stopping by. The herd lie news.

[Colin Cowherd]

I like when we can predict stuff before it happens. That's. To me that's as much fun as anything in sports. So I said about a year to a year and a half I've been on this thing where baseball is going to go on a ten year great run. And there's a lot of different reasons for it. One is all the best players are on the right teams. And when. Remember that Fox Sports regional thing? When Fox sold that thing and it went belly up? It was at Bally's. The gap between the haves and the have nots grew because that was really an important piece financially for the Kansas City's and Cincinnati's and Pittsburgh's. And so the minute the Murdoch said, yeah, we're gonna give that to somebody else. And there were pending massive deals around the corner. And it was like Fox squeezed every last ounce of juice out of that. Those regional sports networks and you know, the valuation they got, I think 20 billion Ford or More. It's a great move. And now they're belly up. And that was important money for the middle to bottom of Major League Baseball. So baseball's got a huge financial gap issue. What the Dodgers and the Yankees and the Mets can spend and a handful of other teams and everybody else. There's never been a bigger gap bottom to the top in Major League Baseball. But again, if you're a network, you don't care. You just put on the top teams. Saturday on Fox, three plus million viewers for Yankee Red Sox. It's the most watched baseball game regular season for three years. This is what we told you, by the way. The Red Sox just called up the best minor league player. Baseball ratings are up double digits on every single network this season. So people are watching the, you know, the regional networks less, they're watching the networks more. And the stars are all in the right spot. Now here's another story with ratings which I don't know how much you care, but I want to address it because I think this story is wrong. NBA Finals ratings, not great for this series. League must learn to sell small market teams. Totally disagree. Totally disagree. It's not about small markets. It's about small stars. The highest rated NBA final, I think still today is Michael Jordan against Utah. Utah had stars. John Stockton, Dream team, Karl Malone against Michael Jordan going for a six title. When look, when LeBron was in Cleveland, nobody said, you know, it's too bad Cleveland's a small market. Nobody cared because the star was big. Listen, the NBA and all these leagues are TV shows. You need character development. My biggest criticism of Adam Silver, my single biggest criticism of this league, and I've said this time and time again, is they marginalize college basketball. One of the great strengths of the NFL is college football. That gives you name, recognizable brand. We knew who, Baker Mayfield, even guys that can't play Tim Tebow, they were stars entering the league. Cooper Flagg is an outlier. Oh, my God. Watch them in college, go into the going to the NBA. Can't wait to watch him. Instead they create the G league, the Gatorade League. Half of these things are sideways awful. Let stuff bake. Let characters. Every TV show in the world, every movie needs character development. Have you ever watched like Netflix or Hulu or you watch one of these streaming enterprises? What's the first thing they do in like a six to an eight series special? They got like eight episodes. What's the first episode all about? Character development. That's why everybody like the White Lotus, which drove me crazy. I hated the first two episodes of White Lotus because they go so over the top to develop character. So we all know who everybody is. So they show you everybody's worst quality. The arrogant guy is over the top arrogant. The floozy is over the top floozy. The crook is over the top crooked. So they have to sell it and develop the character so that you buy into it for episode 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. Well, that's what college football gives you and gives the NFL. They develop the characters, they develop the personalities. Right? Like we all can't wait to watch Caleb Williams in Chicago. What's he going to be? Bo Nix. He played 61 college games. Adam Silver marginalized college basketball. And just now the NIL is saving it. Where the best players, I mean, Auburn just got their best player back. We're cherry picking the best Euros now because of the nil. We're keeping college kids in for another year. Like a Zach Eady. So by the time Zach Eady goes to Memphis in the NBA, I'm watching him play. I'm into it. I got a visceral connection. It's not about market size. It's about the stars and character development. And the league has not done a good job of this. We don't know who these guys are when they enter the NBA. The lowest rated finals in the NBA. Golden Age in the, in the Jordan years. Do you remember the lowest rated finals? It was when the Knicks were in it. Why? Because they didn't have me, Patrick Ewing and a bunch of guys. They didn't have enough stars. The highest rated Utah Jazz and Jordan. So I think the market thing is overrated. I really do. I think you look at Jordan and Chicago. Chicago was an irrelevant NBA franchise before he got there. And after he left. They get great attendance in Chicago. They're not a relevant NBA franchise. The Bad Boy Pistons wasn't about market size. They were the villains of the league. Nobody liked them. Miami's actually not a very big market, but they've had LeBron and Wade and Shaq and Gary Payton. So Oklahoma City. The truth is, SGA is great, but he's like Alex English with better handles. He's not a wild personality. He's nice, he's adult. These international guys, they push back on media. They don't want the coverage. They don't have an interest in selling shoes. I saw a story this weekend where Wemby wants to be a monk. I mean, these international guys have no interest. Jokic, Luka, get me a beer. Get me back home. That's fine. They don't want to be stars. And then. But it's the lack of, of character development, which you would have if college kids would stay in college for two years. I'm not asking for four. I'm not even asking for three. But if you give me two March Madnesses, I'm in. Zach Eady. Okay, I'm in. I'm fascinated. The UConn team, I'm in the market stuff I think is overrated. You know, I remember the first time anybody talked about in my career, the first time we ever really talked about baseball ratings was the Subway Series, Mets, Yankees. It did terribly at the time. Everybody was like, oh, everybody wants to watch it. It did terribly. You had two New York teams. Nobody cared outside of New York. Albert Brear's around the corner in Chicago.

[Jason McIntyre]

It's the Herd.

[Albert Breer]

Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific.

[Covino]

Hey, we're Covino and Rich, FOX Sports radio every day 5 to 7pm Eastern. But here's the thing. We never have enough time to get to everything we want to get to.

[Rich]

And that's why we have a brand new podcast called Over Promised. You see, we're having so much fun in our two hour show. We never get to everything honestly because this guy is over promising things we never have time for.

[Covino]

Yeah, you blubber lips blaming me. Well, you know what it's called? Over Promise. You should be good at it because you've been over promising women for years.

[Rich]

Well, it's a Covino and Rich after show and we want you to be a part of it. We're gonna be talking sports, of course, but we're also gonna talk life and relationships and, and if Rich and I are arguing about something or we didn't have enough time, it will continue on our after show called Over Promised.

[Covino]

Well, if you don't get enough Covino and Rich, make sure you check out Over Promised and also uncensored, by the way, so maybe we'll go at it even a little harder. It's going to be the best after show podcast of all time.

[Rich]

There you go. Over Promising. And remember, you could see it on YouTube, but definitely. Join us. Listen to Over Promised with Covino and rich on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Unknown]

There's nothing like sinking into luxury. Annabe sofas combine ultimate comfort and design at an affordable price. Annabe has designed the only fully machine washable sofa from top to bottom, the stain resistant performance fabric slipcovers and cloud like frame duvet can go straight into your wash. Perfect for anyone with kids, pets or anyone who loves an easy to clean spotless sofa. With a modular design and changeable slipcovers, you can customize your sofa to fit any space and style. Whether you need a single chair, loveseat or a luxuriously large sectional, Annabe has you covered. Visit washablesofas.com to upgrade your home. Sofas start at just $699 and right now you can shop up to 60% off storewide with a 30 day money back guarantee. Shop now at washablesofas.com add a little to your life. Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[Jason McIntyre]

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, deliver. 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. Everything you love about the ultimate driving machine Electrified if you own a home, here's an interesting Fact for you today, American homeowners are sitting on a record amount of home equity. That's the part of your home you own outright, the value you can tap to fund other life goals. In fact, the average Rocket Mortgage homeowner has about $170,000 in untapped equity available now. Rocket Mortgage can help you understand what home equity is and how to use it wisely for what matters to you. They've made it easier than ever to turn your home equity into cash with Rocket Mortgage. So now the home you work so hard for can work hard for you in plenty of different ways. Home equity can help you fund a home renovation, pay for your kids college tuition, or pay off and consolidate high interest debt from credit cards. To Learn more, call 804Rocket or visit Rocket.com today.

[Albert Breer]

Rocket Mortgage LLC, licensed in 50 states. NMLSConsumeraccess.org Number 30 30, $178,000 average equity is based on internal Rocket mortgage servicing data.

[Colin Cowherd]

We're talking about baseball ratings during the break as a staff. If you give a baseball game 45 minutes on TV now, you can get three innings. If you have good pitchers, the games fly by. And people, there's. People are more precious with their time. They don't want to waste as much time. They're on their phones, they're distracted. The streaming services, the competition, there's more, more platforms. You got to give people, you got to deliver something within 45 minutes. I can't. Five years ago, 45 minutes was an inning and a half. Average game now is 2 hours and 40 minutes. You give most people, you'd be surprised when they, even when watching Monday Night Football, they give it like 55 minutes. People are busy. Got to tuck the kids into bed. You got to do stuff. You got to prepare for work. You give a baseball game 40 minutes, you got to give me several innings. I want to, I want to see the stars at bat. And it's doing it. And the ratings are going up, up, up. Highest in years. Albert Bruno joins us live Monday morning. Quarterback. Okay, let's, let's talk Aaron. They got a screaming deal on the contract because it looks like a lot of the incentives are not reachable. Mvp, Super Bowl. Right. This is not a Super bowl team. Tell me about the relationship between the Steelers and Aaron. I mean, we didn't know was, you know, where did Aaron go? Kind of take us through the journey of this thing and how it worked out.

[Urban Meyer]

Yeah, I mean, it was built on a foundation of trust, really. This goes back to February and March and his name coming up in their planning meetings. And they looked at everything, you know, like. And so they threw their hat in the ring on Matthew Stafford. I think they felt the same way the Giants and Raiders felt, which was that Stafford was never going to want to leave LA or leave Sean McVay. Then they. They looked at the idea of bringing Justin Fields back. They decided they were moving on from Russell Wilson, and they wanted to keep working with Fields, but not quite sure they were willing to say, yes, we're going to make you our starter for 2025. They wanted him in the mix, but they knew if he was going to find a place that was willing to just give him the starting job, they probably lose him as well. And that left them on Rogers. And so, you know, in mid March, they started talking with him. They quietly, at least they tried to quietly bring him in on March 21, knock them through a construction entrance in a white Chevy Malibu. And, you know, really, I think that that was sort of an illustration of the trust they were trying to build, where, I don't know if they were testing each other, but certainly there was sort of this quid pro quo, like, we are not going to talk a whole lot about what's going on here, but there was an understanding that, you know, once Aaron had his personal matters taken care of, that he was going to show up. And the Steelers had made it clear to Aaron, we would really like to have you here for our mandatory veteran minicamp. So you and I talked about this over the last few weeks, Colin, about how, you know, I think if he had signed early and just said, okay, I'm going to come back for the minicamp would have created some unnecessary noise. So, really, it just took a lot of trust on both sides for them to be able to continue to manage the relationship without a contract in place, knowing that Aaron was probably going to show up there for the minicamp. And while all that's going on, Arthur Smith and the offensive staff are doing a deep dive into all of Aaron's history, going back to Green Bay through his time with the jets and building an offense for him while they're working with Mason Rudolph and Will Howard on the field. And, you know, now everything kind of comes together, and I think because of it, they've got a stronger relationship going into the minicamp this week, and we'll see where it takes them.

[Colin Cowherd]

So, listen, it's very. I. I am. I also, I'll say this, I'm fascinated by Shadour Sanders because I believe it's true that the organization, not. Not counting Jimmy Haslam, but Stefanski and Andrew Barry, very competent guys, overdrafted Dylan Gabriel because they didn't want to get into the Shador Sanders sweepstakes. And then the owner comes down and says it's the fifth round. Draft him. I know this owner. Johnny Manziel, Baker Mayfield, Deshaun Watson, he wants a star at quarterback. And I argued this yesterday, is that Kenny Pickett's a nice kid, kind of dull. Flacco's old, Gabriel Small. And their first five or six games, Albert are Burrow and Lamar. And it's dynamic off even Aaron Rodgers. Like week six, I think Shedeur, I think that owner, if they're one in five, you start looking at Cleveland and he's going to make a phone call downstairs. I think Shador is going to get a shot in the first seven to eight weeks.

[Jason McIntyre]

Do you?

[Urban Meyer]

Well, I don't know whether or not the owner will be barking down directions from on up high in October, but I agree with you. I'd agree with you like that. The front end of the schedule screams 06. And I hate to say that because I think there are good people there. I think there's a decent team there. But it's really hard when you look at the early part of their schedule, unless they're a lot better than they were last year, for them to be coming out of that in a real position of strength. And so I do think Joe Flacco is likely going to be the week one starter. Joe Flacco has been great in the building. He's been great for that quarterback room. He's been great for the young quarterbacks. I think you'll hear Shador and Dylan Gabriel talk about him that way when the media talks them this week. So I think Joe is going to get a shot. And I think, you know, if Joe looks good in July and August, you know, then you'll see the team behind him. And then you get decent September, September. And his ability to hold onto that job won't just be about his own play, it'll be about where the team is.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Urban Meyer]

And so, you know, are you still in a mode where you're contending and you need to put the best player out there, which is the only way you can look at the rest of the players in your locker room with a straight face or this is. Or is this about developing for the future? If your team gets to 07 or 2 and 9 or 3 and 11 or whatever it is, that's when you can start to look at it and say we need to look at the rookies. We need to get an idea of what we have going into 2026. Like, that's where I think it becomes reality. But if the Browns find a way to succeed early on, if they're able to weather that very, very difficult start to the season and come out of it okay, I wouldn't see the need to make a change. So I think all of it's relative to the team's success.

[Colin Cowherd]

Finally, Jair Alexander, Green Bay is moving off him. When the packers move off people they evaluate in their building really, really well, I trust them. What, what say you on that?

[Urban Meyer]

So this is about availability, you know, as much as anything else. And, you know, I, I would say he's still a good player. Jeff Halfley, their defensive coordinator, called the defense differently last year when Alexander was in there. And it's a reflection of the difference between him and the other guys they had on the roster, the position. So there's no question they think he's still a good player. They just weren't going to pay 17 and a half million dollars for a guy who played seven games a year the last two years and who's getting a little bit older, who has some mileage on his legs. And the reality is, too, Colin, if somebody else was willing to pay him 17 and a half million dollars for this year, they would have been able to trade him. And the reason they couldn't trade him is because no one was willing to take on the contract as it stood. And he didn't want to play ball with them on taking a pay cut somewhere else to facilitate a trade. He wanted to get to free agency, so they tried to trade him. Didn't work. Tried to trade him during the draft. Didn't work. And so we're here because the packers didn't value him at seventeen and a half million dollars and no one else did either. And so now he'll get a chance to go and pick a spot. But I think above anything else, what the guy needs to prove now is that he's got the ability to stay on the field again. Missed 10 games in 2023, 10 games in 2024. That's the problem.

[Colin Cowherd]

Albert Brear, Monday morning quarterback, as always. Great seeing you.

[Urban Meyer]

All right, thanks, Colin.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yep, he's got good stuff today on the Aaron Rodgers deal with Pittsburgh. I know I'm crazy here. J. Mac, suggesting for a team that hasn't won a playoff game in eight years that you're going to have to make tough decisions in Pittsburgh eventually. And TJ Watt at $44 million that he knows he's going to get, that you are the highest paid defense in the league. Pre TJ Watt contract. When I suggest I wouldn't get discounts at quarterback, I'd try to go draft a young pass rusher. No, I'll, I'll get pushback on my. T.J. watt isn't the answer over the next six years. What's. What are you. Where are you on that?

[Nick Wright]

Well, a year ago I was filling in for you in the summer. I was like, I would move off TJ Watt now when he's got a ton of value. Colin, every year you don't trade a guy and he plays more and gets hurt, his value goes down. Like, what, Realistically, do you think anybody's giving up a first round pick for TJ Watt at this point?

[Colin Cowherd]

Oh, I think there's. There's only. I mean, yes. I mean, listen, Howie Roseman pay him.

[Nick Wright]

A lot of money.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. I think there's always a team like the Rams right now. Pay nobody defensively. If the Rams thought, you know, all of a sudden you got to the trade deadline and the Rams got an injury and they're like, listen, this team can win the Super Bowl. We need a pass, a pass record. We need somebody to blow it up. Oh, yeah. I mean, Von Miller got paid well, well beyond his prime. I think pass rushers and quarterbacks, you can't live without them. You have to have them. All right, we're done. Nick Wright's around the corner at hour number two. Urban Meyer stops by today as well. Man, summer's here, baby.

[Jason McIntyre]

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.comleaders to learn more. That's paycor.com leaders BMW didn't just design an electric SUV. Every detail of the BMW IX was crafted with passion and precision. With a BMW ix, you'll experience unmatched power, utility, spaciousness, versatility. My favorite feature cloud based navigation, monitors charge levels, locates nearby charging stations so I can drive electric with the ultimate ease. BMW lets performance do the talking and the scouting report is in. Experience the all electric BMW IX and witness dedication in every detail.

[Trust and Will Narrator]

The following heartwarming yet informative scene is brought to you by Trust and Will son.

[Albert Breer]

Your grandpa and I used to work.

[Colin Cowherd]

On this car together and when I'm.

[Trust and Will Narrator]

Gone, I want you to have it.

[Colin Cowherd]

Wow. Thanks dad.

[Trust and Will Narrator]

Doesn't count. What you need is a will. Luckily, Trust and Will makes it easy. Designed by attorneys but customized by you, you can easily create a state specific, legally valid document that actually counts. Now let's let the engine do the talking. Am I right? Start your [e-mail] use offer code, count for 20% off and make it count. Trust and Will is an online estate planning service. For details, see trustandwill.com this is an iHeart podcast.