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Jason McIntyre
This is an iHeart podcast.
Colin Cowherd
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Jason McIntyre
Now let's get this party started. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Oh, it's a beautiful Tuesday out here in Los Angeles. It's me, Jason McIntyre, back for Tuesday. Colin Cowherd on vacation. I'm joined today by Alex Curry. Alex, it's a great week in sports. I mean, we got the NBA finals coming up. Major League Baseball had another thriller last night. That was good.
Alex Curry
Yeah, that was fun. I stayed up a little too late watching the Dodgers try to make that comeback. But it's okay.
Jason McIntyre
I woke up a little early. I was workshopping Some takes about 4:30am Just in my head, you know, I felt like yesterday's show was so good.
Alex Curry
Your takes wake you up. Sometimes I do that. I keep a little notepad by the side of the bed. Oh, and I'll like write things down. When I wake up randomly, middle of night, you look the next morning, like what?
Jason McIntyre
I made the mistake. It's like a Seinfeld episode. I made the mistake of going in my phone, in my notes section and banging out some stuff. Then the light gets in your head. Good stuff. We got a several great guests today. Obviously we're talk NBA Finals, a little NFL. I don't want to concern any Niners fans, but about seven minutes from now, I got some bad news. But let's start with the NBA Finals because you guys know I'm a big hoop head, right? I'm in multiple men's leagues. I won't talk about last night's game. It was phenomenal. I was terrific. But listen, you know, okc, Indiana, I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but I'm not that excited for these NBA Finals. You know, I joke that Colin is the elitist here on the show, but maybe it's me because, you know, if I were the NBA, I would have changed its motto to give me super teams or give me death. Because that's what I like. I like superstars in the NBA Finals. And we don't really have that. We don't have dynasties. We got debuts. And that just isn't as sexy as what we've had here in the last, I don't know, quarter century. Folks, let's be real. When the NBA had super teams this century, it was at the height of its popularity. I mean, come on, you put LeBron, Kevin Love and Kyrie in the finals. That's a lot of pop. That's juice. I mean, Kyrie Irving, he had a movie, okay? Kevin Love was ascending in Minnesota. LeBron changed teams and became the villain in Miami. But you look at those super teams in Cleveland, Miami. Hell, the greatest team ever assembled in NBA history. Yes, that's true. Steph Curry and Kevin Durant. Do you know how much excitement that was leading up to the Finals when you had all those stars gathered together? Hell, you could even go back to the Boston Celtics with our guy here, Paul Pierce, when he got Kevin Garnett gifted to him and Ray Allen going up against Kobe and Gasol in the Finals. Folks, that was star wattage. Those Finals were incredible. And I don't know about you, but I know the NBA loves. Hey, we're about to have our seventh champion in seven years. Hooray. Hooray for socialism in the NBA, folks. I'm sorry, but think back to that Denver Miami Heat series. You remember anything from that one? I had to ask the staff this morning. Hey, how many games did that go? I don't remember it. Five game series. It was not great. Even Phoenix, Milwaukee, you know, you had ascending Giannis, ascending Devin Booker. That series didn't have any pop. I think Giannis dropping 50 in the decisive game was about it. But, like, those weren't great, memorable series. Again, the super teams, they provided that. And I like Tyrese Halliburton as much as the next guy. You guys know I've been a big Indiana Pacers fan in the Finals. I. I don't. I just don't really see it. And, you know, I kind of. I'm gonna bash Adam Silver here a little bit because you're the reason we've got this. You wanted it. I know you're doing the bidding of the owners, but going away from super teams and pushing toward, hey, everybody's got a chance. I don't know that that's the answer. And you guys can push back and say no. The NBA didn't want Indiana okc. Yes, they did, because the small markets were upset that all the stars were going and joining forces. They don't want that. So what you've got is Adam Silver saying, hey, we're going to reward teams that draft a superstar number one or two or whatever it is. And hey, you know what? If you stay with the team that drafted you, you could get the supermax. Who the hell's turning down $300 million, you know, and now if you're drafted by a small market team, you're incentivized to stay there, because guess What? Everybody saw LeBron bolt from Cleveland and KD bolt from OKC, and they said, that's not fair. We need to keep our stars at home. Well, Adam Silver. I'm sorry, but, you know, fairness isn't really sexy or exciting. Exciting is player movement. That's what gives the league the pop. And super teams being created is awesome. And so, besides just the supermax and incentivizing everybody to stay, all of a sudden it's like, hey, there, we're going to institute this thing called an apron and a second apron. And, oh, by the way, if you want to get all these stars together, you're going to have to dip into the double apron and pay, I don't know, $70 million. You have to write a check for that as a penalty. And wouldn't you know it, but all of a sudden we're hearing chatter, hey, this summer, Giannis could be on the move because the super team they tried to build in Milwaukee didn't quite work out, and the super team Kevin Durant and Phoenix had didn't quite pan out. So now, all of a sudden, Giannis and KD are going to hit the market. And to me, that's exciting. Player movement, exciting stars joining forces. Yes. Give me more of that. I like this Pacer story. It's fun. OKC was built. I mean, hey, Sam Presti, tremendous job putting this team together. And all I hear is they're not going anywhere. But is anybody fired up about watching okc? Indiana, like, there's a world where. We'll talk about it tomorrow, probably. I think Indiana can maybe be competitive, but there's also a world where OKC smokes them in four, and we're. We're snoozing our way through the NBA Finals. So I don't know, guys. It seems like we're. It's time to pour some out for the super team era. My problem is I'm not going to smile because I. It happened. I'm gonna cry because it's over. I already miss it. All right, it's time to pivot to the NFL. And I got some news last night. You know, obviously, I'm texting with the staff, and Zach sends me something. Hey, I got some bad news for your guy, Brock Purdy and the Niners. And I look at the numbers, and I'm like, well, yeah, I'm a Brock Purdy guy. Listen, don't tell me what I don't want to hear. And so I say, why don't. Hey, why don't you strip out last year's numbers from Brock Purdy and then come back to me and. And I'll take a look at it. And so Zach did that. And, folks, Brock Purdy when tied or trailing in the second half. Not good. It's not just last season. There's a theme here. Now, I do want to say, you know me, I love a good underdog. Brock Purdy, last pick in the draft. I've been championing this guy for a couple years, folks, when facing a big deficit in his career. It's not just last season. He hasn't been great. Now, obviously context is needed here. Yes, I'm a Brock purdy guy. Guy goes 50 in his first season in the league. Boom. Goes right to the conference championship, gets hurt against Philly, comes back the next year, people were doubting him, not me. J. Mac all in on Brock Purdy. And what did you know when he went to the Super Bowl? Lost in overtime. Okay, Brock Purdy has shown a lot. We got Chris Sims here talking about Brock Purdy's growth and I'm going to get it positive before I get negative. So here's Chris Sims talking. Brock Purdy.
Chris Sims
I was encouraged with a lot of.
Colin Cowherd
Stuff I saw from Brock Purdy last year.
Chris Sims
I do feel like he did more off schedule, more wow plays, more wow throws, making some more happen when it.
Colin Cowherd
Wasn'T there to be had.
Chris Sims
Maybe that he had the two years previous to that.
Colin Cowherd
That's where I saw growth in his game. He can't lose the surgicality that he had and running the paw fence and.
Chris Sims
Being just an absolute machine with making the right decisions play after play after play.
Jason McIntyre
So we're seeing positive growth from Brock Purdy and I will add again, context always necessary. Go back to that super bowl run they trailed. Green Bay, came back and got the dub. Brock Purdy with the fourth quarter comeback next week in a memorable game against Detroit, they trail big, down 247 at the half. Brock Purdy engineers an awesome comeback. Yes, some of that was Dan Campbell fumbling the bag. Josh Reynolds, a brutal drop. Some luck with the face mask catch by the Niners. But San Francisco and Brock Purdy came back to get the dub. So he has had some comebacks. But by and large, Brock Purdy is great on the script and when that wears off, it don't look good. Now, you can't just kill Brock Purdy because it takes two to tango. And we know Kyle Shanahan has had some failures. Okay, Kyle Shanahan, the head coach of the niners was the OC in Atlanta when he had Matt Ryan the MVP and they gagged away a 28. 3 lead in the super bowl against the Patriots. You can't put that fully on Shanahan obviously. However, play calling has been suspect in big spots. Kyle Shanahan Fast forward to when he had Jimmy Garoppolo in the super bowl against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. I remember this vividly because I had the Niners in that one. They led 2010 in the fourth quarter and they ended up losing and not covering. Now again, can't put it all on Shanahan, but it's a pattern. Blows the lead as the OC in the fourth quarter, second half against the Patriots. Blows the lead in the fourth quarter against Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. And oh by the way, they had a double digit lead in the second quarter when they lost the super bowl to Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid just a couple years ago. So there is a pattern of Shanahan struggling late and my guy, Brock Purdy. However, I'm still positive on Brock Purdy and the Niners for this season. The schedule is extremely favorable. I joked to a buddy that me who has never coached football at any level, I could get the Niners to.500 this season. That's how easy the schedule is. And I'm not buying this whole the roster's depleted. The Niners are going to be very good folks. The quarterbacks they're facing right out of the gate, Sam Darnold in a new spot. Who the hell knows who the Saints are starting at quarterback, Kyler Murray. Come on, we're not concerned there. Trevor Lawrence and the Jags, by the way, they got some problems already with Travis Hunter. We'll talk about that later. The Rams game is going to be tough, but again, Michael Penix, whatever the Giants trot out at quarterback. Carolina, you know, I don't know if Bryce Young's going to be starting then Cleveland. If you got four quarterbacks battling, you got zero. Tennessee rookie quarterback, Colts at that stage in the game. Who, who's. I don't know what's going on there. So the schedule screams 10, 11, 12 wins, maybe 13 for the Ners and probably a number one seed. But I'm the commander in truth, as I said yesterday and I got to come clean these Brock Purdy when trailing numbers kind of sort of scare me, I'm not absolutely terrified, but the numbers should scare you because listen, the first time Brock Purdy's trailing, well, this is what he can't do. He doesn't do comebacks. Kyle Shanahan, what are you going to do? And, and I think that's the kind of thing that can seep into your head and not only as a fan, but as a coordinator, a coach, a running back, a receiver, you start to wonder, can this guy get it done when the chips are down? So, Brock Purdy, there's some pressure this season for sure. You're now a $50 million man. You got to act like one. We got a great show ahead, folks. I'm so fired up. And coming up next here on the Herd. Oh, boy. I've got a team of destiny in the NFL this season, and they're in the nfc. And I don't think you're going to agree with me, but that's what we do. J.J. mcCarthy, keep an eye out. That's next.
Colin Cowherd
Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. FS1 and the iHeartRadio app Summer is here and you can now get almost anything you need for your sunny days delivered with Uber Eats. Now, what do we mean by almost? Well, you can't get a well groomed lawn delivered, but you can get chicken parm delivered. A day at the lake? That's a no. A Philly cheesesteak? That's a yes. A nice tan? Sorry. A box fan? Happily, yes. What about a day of sunshine? Not happening. How about a box of fine wines? Yeah, that's happening. Delivery's on its way. Okay, how about some clear skies? Nope. Well, how about some French fries? Yeah. So how about a freshly cut lawn? Can't help you there. But a barbecued prawn? Order it and it's on its way. Even throw in some paper towels. Clean up after the feast. So while you can't get fun in the sun delivered, don't worry because you can get pork buns delivered. Uber Eats can definitely get you that. Get almost, almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol in select markets. Product availability may vary by region. See app for details. At the end of the season, there's only one team that can call themselves NBA champs. Only one player that can call themselves the number one pick in the NFL draft. Well, there's only one electric SUV worthy of the title. The ultimate. The all electric BMW ix. What I love about the IX is that it delivers legendary BMW performance. While its sleek design exudes innovative style from the inside out. Not to mention how much space and utility it provides. Over 75 cubic feet of cargo space, the IX is completely changing the game with an all electric suv. The greatest legends of sports never compromise any part of the game. So why would you settle for anything less from your suv? After all, there's only one ultimate the BMW ix. Everything you love about the ultimate driving machine Electrified the NBA Finals are almost here and every play could be the one that changes everything. This is the NBA playoffs. Legacies are built, heroes rise and the action never lets up with DraftKings Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NBA. You don't just watch the madness, you live it back. Your favorite team ride with your clutch time killer bet on the buzzer beaters the breakout performances, the game winning threes player props to same game parlays. This is how you take your fandom to the next level. If you're new to the game, no sweat. Just download the DraftKings sportsbook app. Takes 90 seconds. Bet just five bucks. That's it. Five bucks. If your bet wins, you'll score $300 in bonus bets. It's that easy. Download the DraftKings sportsbook app. The code is heard H E R D code herd for new customers to get 300 bucks in bonus bets. If your five dollar bet wins only on DraftKings, the crown is yours. Gambling Problem Call 1-800- gambler in New York, call 877-8-HOPENY or text hopeny467-369 in Connecticut. Help is available. For problem gambling, call 888-789-7777 or visit.
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Jason McIntyre
Back here on the herd Got Albert Brear coming up in 20 minutes. Maybe I'll ask him about the reporter on social media who yesterday yelled at Me over my Shador Sanders take from yesterday. I don't know. We got a lot to talk about. Where's my guy? We're buddies. We go way back, so stick around for that. We got Yovon Buha Lakers people. Stick and stay. Second hour. That'll be fun. All right, so part of the fun of being in sports media is, you know, you get to make predictions and then you obviously root for them, so you hope you're right. And a couple years ago on this show, I put kind of a stake in the ground, like Mel Gibson, Braveheart style for a player. And I didn't just do it out of the blue. You know, you hear things. People come through this studio. I have people on my podcast. I'm out and about trying to talk up certain people in the NFL. And I kept hearing, keep an eye on this JJ McCarthy kid. Man @ Michigan, he's got some moxie, okay? I'm like, whatever that's worth. You know? Matt Saracen from Friday Night Lights at Moxie. Where'd that get him? You know? And McCarthy just has a ho hum career. 27 one at Michigan. No big deal. But I'll never forget he had a semifinal game against Alabama, and I think it was either the first play of the game or the third. He throws an out pattern, and the Alabama DB almost picks it off. And I'm like, oh, gosh, here I am hyping up McCarthy, and he nearly screwed the pooch on the first drive. And of course, as the game progresses, JJ McCarthy has the ball with five minutes left down, a touchdown against Alabama and the Rose Bowl. If that's not pressure, I don't know what pressure is. McCarthy completes a big pass on fourth down. He has a huge scramble, ends up getting a touchdown pass. Ties the game, they win in overtime. And all of a sudden, J.J. mcCarthy. Okay, I see you, J.J. you got some pop. And he's drafted by the Minnesota Vikings. But then he gets hurt and misses the entire rookie season. He misses the season, and Sam Darnold jumps in. Sam Darnold, who was drafted by the Jets High, couldn't do anything in New York, bounces around and all of a sudden lands in Minnesota. And Sam Darnold is lights out last year, okay, until the end of the season, and national television kind of poops his pants in the regular season finale with everything on the line. Playoff game, he gets destroyed, humbled at home, and they move on from Sam Darnold. But all you hear is like, I don't know if J.J. mcCarthy is the guy there's all this noise from reporters. J.J. mcCarthy has not thrown a meaningful pass in the NFL yet. His last meaningful pass was January 8, 2024, in that Rose Bowl. I am coming out right now and telling America I'm all in on J.J. mcCarthy and the Vikings. They will play in the NFC championship this year. I'm making my prediction here in June of 2025. I am all in on this team. Now, it's a couple things at play. First, I want you to listen to somebody who played with Josh Allen and who's now seen J.J. mcCarthy up close. Harrison Phillips, here he is giving some praise to Mr. J.J. mcCarthy.
Chris Sims
Man, he's got some confidence. And he reminds me of, like, Josh.
Colin Cowherd
Allen when I was with him in Buffalo.
Jason McIntyre
Coming into his own and understanding the.
Colin Cowherd
Power he has to lead this organization.
Chris Sims
And he's doing a fantastic job doing that.
Jason McIntyre
Oh, really? He reminds you of Josh Allen? Oh, my. Okay, so I. I said earlier, I like when people come into the studio and I'm a sponge. I try to learn stuff. You guys might remember Aaron Jones, the running back? He was in Green Bay. Now he's on the Vikings came in here during the commercial. I'm peppering these guys with questions. What do you got? Without any prompting, Aaron Jones could not stop talking about J.J. mcCarthy. The leadership. The dude's got it. Sometimes you just have it. It's a quality. You know, girl walks into a bar, she's got it. That, that, that's the girl quarterback walks in and he's got command of the offense. Okay? Aaron Jones is running back raving about him. And then we got a guy here at the network who happens to know Kevin OConnell very well. Kevin O' Connor really, really likes J.J. mcCarthy. Oh, by the way, you know who else likes J.J. mcCarthy? Jim Harbaugh. Do you remember what he said on this show about JJ McCarthy? Our talent, athleticism, IT factor, winning with numbing repetition. When people get a load of JJ and what he, you know, how he can throw the ball, how he spins.
Colin Cowherd
It, his athleticism, his intelligence, you know.
Jason McIntyre
Talk about it factor, you know, he's got it. The competitiveness that he has and, and they get around him and they really start digging in and they start talking to him. So you start adding these things up. Jim Harbaugh, who knows a little bit about football, loves JJ McCarthy. Kevin OConnell is one of the brightest young minds in the league. That's undeniable. Okay, how do I know this? Well, I don't know. Caleb Williams coming out of usc. He's like on record saying I want to play for Kevin OConnell. How do I get to Minnesota? Caleb Williams wanted to go to play for Kevin o' Connell. And do you remember the pastronaut one of the great nicknames in the NFL, Josh Dobbs. Minnesota had a quarterback injury. They trade for Josh Dobbs, thrust him on the field. That week he gets a win, next week gets a win. Kevin o' Connell is freaking good guys. I'm sorry. I know there's a lot of good coaches in the league. I've got him in my top five coaches already and he. I don't think he's won a playoff game. Lost with Kirk Cousins, lost with Darnold and I've got Kevin o' Connell, fifth of my coaches in the NFL right now. That's how in high regard I have him. Okay, so you add all this up. Harbaugh loves it. J.J. mcCarthy, Kevin O' Connell, super sharp mind who everybody wants to play for. Remember by the way, Aaron Rodgers? Guys still not signed. I'm lifting my ban on Aaron Rodgers. Yesterday I refused to mention the guy's name. Today I'm mentioning it because multiple reporters have come out and said the reason Rogers hasn't signed yet with Pittsburgh is because he's waiting for the Minnesota opening. He wants Kevin o' Connell to want him. I don't think it's happening. I think it's a bad look to kind of do exactly what Brett Favre did. Jets than Vikings. That's very illusory. I digress. Bottom line is Everybody loves Kevin O' Connell. Kevin O' Connell loves JJ McCarthy. Folks, we know the Detroit Lions. Alex and I talked about this yesterday. Frank Ragnow, Detroit Center. He just retired. Detroit has a new offensive coordinator and a new center. That's not great. Green Bay, we got some questions. I think we'll be talking about the Packers. Jordan Love doesn't seem happy with some of the comments coming out. There's some some noise around Green Bay. I don't know if they're going to be good or not. The Bears schedule is brutal. Cowherd can hype them up all they want. It ain't happening. The team of destiny this year is the Minnesota vikings. They went 143 last year and didn't finish in first place. So a 143 team playing a second place schedule. Guys, I don't think they're afraid of the Bears. It's on the road. It could be a tricky spot. Then they get the Falcons at home, the no defense Bengals, the overrated Steelers and the punchless Browns who are probably going to be starting Kenny Pickett at that point. 50 in play right out of the gate. Listen, I'm not advocating bet the win total now, but I'm just telling you as long as McCarthy's healthy, I like this Vikings team a lot this coming season. Let's go to Alex Curry with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news.
Colin Cowherd
This is the third line news.
Alex Curry
I love how hot you are on a rookie QB who hasn't even seen an NFL snap yet, but no, you made some good points. There's a lot of question marks in the NFC north, which was the best I think division last year. There, there is a chance. But let's start with the defending champ. Saquon Barkley had a historic year last season that culminated in a Super bowl win. This year he's the COVID of Madden it's so sick. And says his team knows exactly what to do to achieve the same success as last year.
Jason McIntyre
The best way I can answer that question is success is not an accident. We know the recipe, we know what it takes so we can't skip any steps to get to where we want to get to. And last OTAs it was the same thing. And we already know how training camp is going to be and we know how it's going to be during the season. Like I said, we know the recipe and we just got to try to stick to it.
Chris Sims
And a little bit of luck when.
Jason McIntyre
That comes in with staying healthy, we do that with the talent that we have and the coaches that we have, we're going to be in a good position.
Alex Curry
I mean, let's be honest, every championship team thinks and believes that they can repeat, but it hasn't happened often in NFL history. Nine franchises have won back to back or most recent. Obviously the little dynasty we saw with the Chiefs winning three in five years. Little dynasty, little dynasty. We'll see if they can get back. But the difference now is they were in a let's prove everyone wrong year last year. Now they're gonna have the biggest target on their back in the league. So it's, there's a reason you don't have a bunch of repeat champions. It's hard to do, but Saquon had an insane season and huge congrats on his Madden cover. It's his iconic like back hurdle jump. Like that was the only choice like this had to be the photo and the COVID of Madden this year. So iconic. It's so sick. But it's just, I. It's tough. It's tough to repeat.
Jason McIntyre
Yeah, my.
Alex Curry
I got.
Jason McIntyre
Listen, I. I was hyping this at the draft, okay? So I looked at Saquon's carries last year. You've heard the curse of 370. If you have 370 carries, the odds are extremely high that you get injured the next year. Based on history, saquon only had 345. Remember, they sat him out the last week. Okay. But he also had 33 catches. The touches were significant. You know who else had a lot of touches two years ago? Christian McCaffre. And what happened last year? He was injured. I believe Christian McCaffrey was on the Madden cover as well. I'm not trying to wish anything into existence. I like Saquon. Eagles want me a lot of money in the Super Bowl, Alex. I would. I'm nerd. I don't think they. They're not. I don't think they're gonna repeat.
Alex Curry
I don't think it's.
Jason McIntyre
It's.
Alex Curry
It's tough.
Jason McIntyre
Yeah. Schedule is difficult. I would say the number one thing is to limit Saquon's carries. Like, we got Will Shipley in the draft. I don't want him.
Alex Curry
I don't think it's gonna happen. But they did depend on him more than. They have star receivers, too. So it's just. I think it's distributing, you know, distributing a little. A little more equally.
Jason McIntyre
I. I will say, I'm also a big Saquon fan. Right. He came out of Penn State such a good player.
Alex Curry
It's just a good guy.
Jason McIntyre
He went to the Giants. That treated him like garbage. Kind of like you. You feel bad for Saquon.
Alex Curry
Like, he. He deserved that season.
Jason McIntyre
I think you would agree with some of this. Sometimes crappy things have to happen to you in life for the great to then follow.
Alex Curry
Yeah.
Jason McIntyre
And Saquon, let's be real, he got screwed by the Giants. They were like, we want to pay Daniel Jones, not you.
Alex Curry
Which is still hilarious.
Jason McIntyre
And then he goes to the Eagles and wins a Super bowl and rushes for 2,000 yards.
Alex Curry
Yeah, like, incredible. We've seen it with a couple. Was out with Matthew Stafford with the Lions for a decade. Goes to the Rams, wins a Super Bowl. Like, it's just. It's. When you're. Again, a lot of factors have to happen. You have to have a good coach. Per seguan. He had a good quarterback. They were a great one, two punch. But it's. It's going to be interesting. It's not easy to repeat. I. Again, let's see what. What the Injury report looks like comes week one and everything else.
Jason McIntyre
But I said it a little while ago. I'll go. You Niners in the conference championship. I mean, it's way early to call it. Yeah. Obviously a lot can happen. Who you got? Go ahead. You worry Eagles group.
Alex Curry
I have, I haven't done this.
Jason McIntyre
You gotta do it.
Alex Curry
Give me, ask me, ask me. Like tomorrow or the next day. Like have a moment. Let me have a moment.
Jason McIntyre
All right.
Alex Curry
All right. You just put me on the spot. You're just. You just did like a whole. I am so high on JJ and the Vikings take that.
Jason McIntyre
They're going. It took you back. You gotta rethink things. All right, well, then I'm doing my job.
Alex Curry
All right, well, let's go to the NFC North. The Lions have had the best back to back seasons in franchise history under Dan Campbell the last two seasons, but lost both coordinators to other teams. Now, despite that, quarterback Jared Goff feels good about his offense.
Jason McIntyre
I'm sure casual fan would notice some of it. Yeah, yeah.
Chris Sims
Some of it's different.
Jason McIntyre
Some of it's the same.
Chris Sims
You know, he's got a long background of stuff.
Jason McIntyre
He's like that he's done and, and then he was here for.
Colin Cowherd
For a year of.
Jason McIntyre
Through a lot of our success. So there will be a lot of that carryover and some new. And to be honest, I don't think that would have been any different. You know, if you're returning with the same offense, you always kind of add some wrinkles. But yeah, certainly he has his flavor on the offense and has been doing a good job.
Alex Curry
But they're not returning with the same offense. Yes, they have a new offensive coordinator, but as we talked about yesterday, their hall of Fame center, future hall of Fame, we think Frank Ragnow announced his retirement. That is a big knock. That is a big knock for your offensive line. Changes both their run game and their pass game. You're going from a top two offensive line to a top ten offensive line. Like there are going to be. There are going to be a lot of hurdles. Not to mention they have one of the hardest schedules, if not the hardest schedule in the NFL.
Jason McIntyre
I don't want to, you know, I got to be positive about the Lions because Jared Goff lives kind of near us.
Alex Curry
Yeah.
Jason McIntyre
Building a ridiculous house, but we've also seen my bike.
Alex Curry
Faced a lot of adversity in his career and he's persevered from it. But this is a lot of new and a lot of changes.
Jason McIntyre
Yeah.
Alex Curry
What do you think?
Jason McIntyre
He also has the same dog that I do.
Alex Curry
What kind of dog do you have?
Jason McIntyre
English cream Golden Retriever.
Alex Curry
I have an English cream mini golden.
Jason McIntyre
So I ran into golf and his, his wife and, you know, he watches the show. So I'm gonna, I'm gonna be positive. I'm not gonna be negative on the Lions. Good luck to Detroit this season.
Alex Curry
But the division gave that.
Jason McIntyre
I gotta be.
Alex Curry
All right, I'll let you leave it there.
Jason McIntyre
I like, I like golf. He's. He's a smart guy.
Alex Curry
I also like people who overcome like the whole situation of like Detroit taking him in. It's like, we want you here. Rams didn't want you. We believe in you. We believe you can get us there. The grit that everything Dan Campbell stands for, that whole team seems like they would run through a brick wall for him. Like I, I.
Jason McIntyre
Good story.
Alex Curry
Yeah, I love the mindset. I love how he's turned this team around in his coaching tenure. So it's. Yeah, this is just, this is a lot of big changes. Two new coordinators, losing your center, it's. It's a big deal. But let's end in Washington. The Commanders were the Cinderella of last season as they took the NFC by storm. And this year, Washington won't sneak up on anybody. But head coach Dan Quinn isn't worried about his second year quarterback. Take a listen.
Jason McIntyre
The amount of work that he puts in that goes unseen here. To get ready to play, to, you.
Chris Sims
Know, to learn it, to teach others.
Jason McIntyre
To, you know, connect the guys that's going through. There is no flinch in Jaden Daniels.
Chris Sims
As focused and relentless as you could about getting better.
Jason McIntyre
And so that's why I said for, for us around here, like, man, we appreciate that.
Alex Curry
And that's the hope you have for every second year quarterback. But now everyone has a full season of tape on you. You're not taking anybody by surprise. I mean, that was the upper hand that the Commanders had last season. There was so much new within the entire organization and obviously he had a rookie of the year season, but we've seen a lot of these top tier rookie quarterbacks kind of have that sophomore slump. C.J. stroud was the most recent one. Are you expecting a little slump from Jaden?
Jason McIntyre
Yeah, I think it's. There's no way he's this clutch and dominant on fourth down. They were the best fourth down team in the league or one of them last year. I mean, look at these stats. Yeah, that was ridiculous. That's arguably the greatest rookie season ever. Right? I mean, with all those first place.
Alex Curry
All time rookie quarterback ring. Yeah, yeah. No, it was incredible. But now it's like, now you have a target on your back. Now everyone has a full season of tape on you. Now people know what to expect.
Jason McIntyre
Debo Samuel, Laramie Tunsil, new left tackle. I like the continuity. Still there.
Alex Curry
A good team that got better.
Jason McIntyre
Yeah. And I saw he added like 10 pounds of muscle. Did you read that? So everybody in the off season, you know, Alex, this summer I'm adding 10 pounds of muscle. Are you just like Jaden Daniels? Yeah.
Chris Sims
Yeah.
Alex Curry
Okay, cool. I don't see it yet.
Jason McIntyre
Oh, damn. Alex with the news.
Colin Cowherd
Well, that's the news.
Jason McIntyre
And thanks for stopping by the herd lie news. All right. Is there concern for J.J. mcCarthy? My guy in Minnesota, Albert Rear tells us next. Rocket Mortgage is lowering down payments to 1% for eligible home buyers with 1 plus. You heard that right. 1% down on a home with 1 plus from Rocket Mortgage. Learn more today at 804 Rocket or Rocket.com Rocket Mortgage, LLC, licensed in 50 states. NMLSConsumeraccess.org Number 30 30.
Colin Cowherd
Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific. Hey, Steve Covino. And I'm Rich Davis. And together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Rad. 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.
Chris Sims
For the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right?
Colin Cowherd
So check us out. We like to get you involved, to take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports radio and the iHeartradio app from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcast. And of course, on social media, that's Covino and Rich. Summer is here and you can now get almost any 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 barbequed 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're an inventory specialist in a warehouse, Grainger knows you've probably faced a situation like this before. Your forklift, your facility's workhorse, is leaking hydraulic fluid. And with a full schedule of shipments on the docket, this has the potential to cause a major delay of game. But you're not worried. You're prepared for this type of situation, and you have an ace in the hole. Grainger Grainger offers professional grade products for every industry, from hydraulic oils and hoses. So much more. Plus fast, dependable delivery. So you can be confident that you'll have the product you need on hand to fix that forklift and get it back in the game. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done. Looking to transform your business through better HR and payroll? Meet Paycor, a paychex company. The powerhouse solution that empowers leaders to drive results. From recruiting and development to payroll and analytics, paycor connects you with the people, data and expertise you need to succeed. Their innovative platform helps you make smarter decisions about your most valuable asset, your people. Are you ready to become a Better Leader? Visit paycor.com leaders to learn more. That's paycor.com leaders.
Jason McIntyre
Back here on the Herd. Let's welcome in a great guest, Albert Brady Brer, senior NFL reporter, lead content strategist at the MMQB. He covered the NFL since 2005. I've known him for a long time. Albert's getting ready for a big summer with youth sports. Yeah, baby.
Chris Sims
You too, right?
Jason McIntyre
Love it. So how has it impact all your travel? Because you got to go to 50 million camps, right?
Chris Sims
Well, that's when my travel for youth sports ends. So I got. I got like a month and a half full of lacrosse tournaments during vacation, and then, yeah, it'll be great. And then once I. Once I hit the road for, for the NFL season, which, for, as you know, starts for me at the end of July, the summer's over and we're locked in and ready to go.
Jason McIntyre
Let me guess, your first stop is going to be Cleveland just because of Shadow or Sanders. Is that accurate?
Chris Sims
I don't know. Like, last year, I started out there, actually, because there were five camps there. So LA is always a good place to start just because of the number of teams that are in that area. It's almost weird that, like, I mean, it was 10 years ago, there was no team there, and now it's become sort of a hub for training camps. I. I don't know. Like, there are a couple teams that I think are really interesting going into the year. Like, I think Buffalo has great opportunity in front of them. Like, so I look at them as being a super interesting team. Cincinnati, if the Trey Hendrickson thing is still hanging out there, you know, they got the receivers under contract, they'd be an interesting place to start. I do put some thought into. Into where the first stop is going to be, so definitely have to think a lot about that one, but those would be a couple of the places that I think I'd look at.
Jason McIntyre
All right, let's start with Cleveland because Shador Sanders is dealing with his father piping in now. And Dion went on a podcast, was kind of. He said it hurt him that his son slid in the draft even though his son admitted it was his fault. Now, listen, some people are not happy with my take yesterday, that Dion needs to kind of zip it, lock it, put it in his pocket. Just don't talk about your kid anymore. I know that's tough for people to stomach, but that's kind of the reality, isn't it?
Chris Sims
I, I agree. I mean, like, I think that's what it is. And like, look, like, I, I know a lot of people have made a big deal out of, you know, what happened 21 years ago when, when Eli Manning forced his way from the, from the, from the Chargers to the Giants. And you know, at the time, I think the, there was that, that concern out there. Is Archie going to be hovering over Eli's career? You know who we didn't hear much from after Eli Manning became A giant was R.T. manning. You know, you didn't hear much at all from him. And I think it's fine. You know, if dads want to be involved in the pre draft process, and sometimes there are some things that go into it where, you know, father's counsel can really help. But I think once they become pros, you know, it's an important thing for the parents to push away and let the kid be his own man. I mean, I still remember the Eli Apple thing getting dropped off, you know, at Giants training camp or minicamp or whatever it was, and how that stuck with him. I think this is a good opportunity for Shador Sanders to just say, hey, look like now I'm just a random football player, you know, and I'm going to carry myself like somebody who's trying to make the team, who's trying to earn a paycheck, who's trying to win a job. And it becomes harder to do that if you've got voices around him speaking out. So I love Dion. I think he's done a great job at Colorado, but I'd agree with you. Like, I think this is, this is time to let your door be his own man.
Jason McIntyre
And I know that's tough. We're both fathers. It's very difficult to not defend your kid when there's this nonsense going on. I get it. It's tough. But, you know, he's 23. Help us settle a quick argument here on the staff. Dylan Gabriel. I'm not saying he's an NFL quarterback, but. And you know him very well from following college football. The fact that he was drafted by Stefanski in the third round says something, correct? They didn't draft him.
Chris Sims
Yeah, he killed the draft process. I mean, that's what it says. And I've, I've asked people about this and I mean, I like, from what I understand, because that was higher than most People had him going, you know, when I asked around, both to people in the Browns organization and people outside the Browns organization, the way it happened is here's a kid who played six years in college, who has a historic amount of reps in college, who won at three different schools that went through and aced the pre draft process, the meetings, the combine interview, all of that stuff. So that's why you look at it and you say, okay, like here's a guy who can, you know, at the very least come in and be a functional backup probably right out of the gate. And you know, it really makes me think of Kevin Stefanski, his own history. He won with Case Keenum in Minnesota. If you remember, they went to an NFC championship game. And that sort of strikes me as what Dylan Gabriel can be like, that Case Keenum, Chase Daniel, like, I don't know if like if Dylan Gabriel will ever be a long term starter, but right now I would bet that he has a 10 to 15 year NFL career, even if it's not as a starter because of all the experience he has, because of the traits that he has as an accurate, efficient quarterback and because of his makeup, you know, and so I think that's one of those. The ceiling may be low, but the floor is pretty high. And at that position, if you can have a cheap backup for the four years that they're under, that they're on their rookie contract, it's not a bad, bad floor for a player when you're drafting someone in that range.
Jason McIntyre
This is why Albert Breer is great. The Case Keenum, Stefanski. That's damn good stuff. Hadn't heard that anywhere. Let me ask about, let's go to Frank Ragnow or retires kind of abruptly. I saw the Lions didn't draft a pure center. It sounds like the date want to convert the Georgia Guard into a center. A what if. Did the Lions anticipate this or have any clue what was coming?
Chris Sims
Well, he hadn't been around so like they had had an idea that, that, that there, there was a possibility something could happen. And they have Graham Glasgow and Tate Ratledge working at that position. You know, look like I think just as far as Frank goes, like this guy was the ultimate pro. And I think it's a good development for players overall. Look, I think for three reasons, right? J Mac. I think number one, players have better information now on what football does to their bodies and the impact it could have on them long term and what it might mean for them. Playing golf, shooting hoops with their kids. When they're in their 40s and 50s. So they have more information. They also have more money, which gives you the freedom to make decisions like this. If you feel like you're in position where you're set up for life, like you've got the flexibility to make a decision like that, you know. And then number three, I think a lot of these guys have a better idea of what they're going to do post football, which can be a really hard thing for guys to detach from a game to which they've been identified from the time they were 8, 9, 10 years old. But in a lot of cases, they have better. They have better plans for post football. So for those three reasons, I think we've seen more and more of these. You know, the front end of it was Patrick Willis, Calvin Johnson, but since then it's happened more often. And so Rag now walks away after seven years. And again, like, I think it's from a global standpoint, a good development for players having the freedom to do this sort of thing. Obviously, it's not great for the Lions, you know, so from that standpoint, I think you got to look at it and say that was the strength of the team at the foundation of their rebuild. It really. It really was. You know, what their rebuild was, was. Was. Was founded on in the first place. Ragnow and Decker were there when Dan Campbell and Brad Holmes got there. They drafted Pittsburgh Panay Sewell right away. They're the best line in football the last couple of years. So, you know, now I think the question becomes, can you maintain that as a strength? Decker's getting older. Ragnow's now gone. You know, Penny Sewell is obviously a huge building block going forward, but can they be top of the league or are they going to slip a little bit in a very important position group? We'll see.
Jason McIntyre
All right. Sticking in the NFC North, Albert, not career, but just heading into this season. Rank the quarterbacks in that division for me, and I'm going to assume J.J. mcCarthy is the starter in Minnesota.
Chris Sims
Okay, So I would say. I would say you would have to go. Jared Goff, number one. I would say Jordan Love, number two. Caleb Williams, number three. And Jared, Caleb Williams, number three. And then J.J. mcCarthy, number four. Just based on track record and kind of where they are, I think that all four of them are in really good situations, you know, so I think the baseline and JJ might be in the best one of the four, but I think all four of them are in pretty good situations. And thanks, by the way, because I'M sure that'll get aggregated everywhere.
Jason McIntyre
Michigan. Guys, you don't like Michigan. What do you have against Michigan? All right, final question. Brock Purdy and Kyle Shanahan. We got about a minute. Unbelievable stat our staff came up with. The 49ers are Owen 43 under Shanahan regular season when trailing by eight or more in the fourth quarter. What on earth is the issue with Brock Purdy and Shanahan? Why can't they rally? Obviously, some of those games were Garoppolo and so forth.
Chris Sims
Yeah, I would say, like that that's sort of been the issue with the offense in general, is that so much of the strength, that offense is based on the marriage of the run game in the past game.
Colin Cowherd
Right.
Chris Sims
Like, so much is making eight different things all look the same. And it's incredibly hard to defend because you have to defend every inch of grass out there because of the way that the offense sets up structurally. So what happens when you're in third and long, when you're in third and 14, when you're in third and 20, when the defense knows that you got to throw the ball down the field when you're playing from behind and they know you need two or three possessions to come back, what happens is that marriage breaks down, you know, like, because then the defense is going to be willing to give you more in the run game. And this is something that guys from that system have really had to kind of work through. It's one of the reasons why Sean McVay wanted Matthew Stafford so badly four years ago was because he knew that was a way to sort of break that element of being able to beat a Shanahan offense is if you get on top of them, it really. It really puts them. It takes them. I would say it makes them fish out of water to some degree, you know, So I think that's that. That that's the first thing when you ask that question kind of sticks out my head. And then the other thing is, you know, just when you've got a younger quarterback, like, generally that's what they're working through. It's what separates the great ones is, you know, how do you play on third and long? How do you play when you're playing from behind? Anybody can look great when you're in second and four, when you're in third and one, what do you look like when it's third and 14 and you're down 20? You know, obviously that's a big hurdle for most quarterbacks to clear when they're trying to go from good to great.
Jason McIntyre
Great stuff. Albert Breer Monday Morning Quarterback.
Colin Cowherd
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Release Date: June 3, 2025
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Description: The Herd with Colin Cowherd delves into the day's top sports stories with a thought-provoking and opinionated approach. In this episode, the focus shifts from the declining era of super teams in the NBA to pivotal developments in the NFL, featuring in-depth discussions and expert insights.
Timestamp: [02:44]
Jason McIntyre opens the episode from Los Angeles, noting the absence of Colin Cowherd, who is on vacation. He joins Alex Curry to discuss the current sports landscape, highlighting the upcoming NBA Finals and recent Major League Baseball excitement.
Timestamp: [03:12 - 06:30]
Jason McIntyre expresses his disappointment with the current NBA Finals, citing the lack of super teams as a diminishing factor in the league's excitement. He reminisces about past super teams, such as:
Notable Quote:
"Super teams being created is awesome. And so, besides just the supermax and incentivizing everybody to stay, all of a sudden it's like, hey, there, we're going to institute this thing called an apron and a second apron... Exciting stars joining forces. Yes. Give me more of that." – Jason McIntyre [05:15]
McIntyre criticizes NBA Commissioner Adam Silver for shifting the league's focus away from super teams, arguing that player movement and star conglomeration were major drivers of the NBA's popularity. He laments the transition towards a more balanced and competitive league, fearing it diminishes the "pop" that came from marquee matchups.
Timestamp: [07:00 - 11:03]
The conversation pivots to the NFL, specifically addressing concerns surrounding Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers. McIntyre shares mixed feelings about Purdy's performance, acknowledging his potential but highlighting inconsistencies:
Performance Under Pressure:
Purdy has demonstrated commendable comebacks, such as the fourth-quarter rally against Detroit where the 49ers overcame a significant deficit. However, his struggle when trailing in the second half raises concerns.
Coaching and Playcalling Issues:
McIntyre points fingers at Head Coach Kyle Shanahan, citing a pattern of the team blowing leads in critical moments. He references past games against the Patriots and Chiefs where similar issues were evident.
Notable Quotes:
"Brock Purdy is great on the script and when that wears off, it don't look good. When the chips are down, can this guy get it done?" – Jason McIntyre [09:45]
"Play calling has been suspect in big spots. Kyle Shanahan, what are you going to do?" – Jason McIntyre [10:30]
Despite these concerns, McIntyre remains optimistic about the 49ers' season, citing a favorable schedule and foundational strengths.
Timestamp: [15:07 - 24:00]
A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to J.J. McCarthy, the rookie quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. McIntyre passionately advocates for McCarthy, praising his potential and the support he receives from key figures:
Notable Quotes:
"Everybody loves Kevin O'Connell. Kevin O'Connell loves J.J. McCarthy." – Jason McIntyre [22:10]
"I'm all in on J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings. They will play in the NFC championship this year." – Jason McIntyre [27:50]
McIntyre outlines his prediction that the Vikings, led by McCarthy, will secure a top seed in the NFC, emphasizing the synergy between the coach and the rookie quarterback.
a. Detroit Lions
Timestamp: [32:01 - 33:42]
McIntyre and Curry discuss the Detroit Lions' recent challenges, notably the retirement of star center Frank Ragnow. They express skepticism about the Lions' ability to maintain their offensive line strength and navigate a tough schedule without their cornerstone player.
b. Washington Commanders
Timestamp: [33:34 - 36:10]
The Commanders' quarterback situation is examined, focusing on Jaden Daniels' development. While acknowledging his dedication and improvement, McIntyre predicts a potential sophomore slump as opponents become more familiar with his play style.
Timestamp: [40:57 - 51:55]
Albert Breer, a senior NFL reporter and lead content strategist at MMQB, joins the discussion to provide expert analysis on various NFL topics:
Shador Sanders' Development:
Breer emphasizes the importance of letting young players like Shador Sanders take ownership of their careers without excessive external interference, drawing parallels to past NFL figures who faced similar challenges.
NFC North Quarterback Rankings:
Breer ranks the division's quarterbacks, placing Jared Goff at the top, followed by Jordan Love, Caleb Williams, and J.J. McCarthy. He commends McCarthy's situation and potential within the Vikings organization.
Frank Ragnow's Retirement:
Breer discusses the broader trend of NFL players retiring early, highlighting Ragnow's departure as part of a movement where players prioritize long-term well-being and post-football careers over extended playing years.
Notable Quotes:
"Players have better information now on what football does to their bodies... They have more adherence plans for post football." – Chris Sims (via Breer) [46:32]
"J.J. McCarthy might be in the best one of the four quarterbacks in NFC North, but all four are in pretty good situations." – Chris Sims [49:13]
Breer's insights reinforce the earlier discussions about quarterback dynamics and team strategies, providing a comprehensive view of the NFL's current landscape.
Timestamp: [51:48 - 51:55]
McIntyre wraps up the NFL segment by reaffirming his confidence in the Minnesota Vikings and their quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, projecting them as a formidable team in the upcoming season.
The episode concludes with McIntyre expressing excitement for future discussions and teasing upcoming guest Albert Breer, who will delve deeper into NFL strategies and player developments.
Overall Insights:
NBA Super Teams: The decline of super teams is seen as a detriment to the NBA's entertainment value, with McIntyre advocating for the return of star-studded lineups to rekindle fan excitement.
NFL Quarterback Dynamics: Emphasis on the importance of quarterback performance and coaching strategies, with special attention to rookies like J.J. McCarthy who are poised to make significant impacts.
Team Stability and Challenges: Examination of how key player retirements and coaching decisions affect team performance, particularly in high-stakes divisions like the NFC North.
Final Notable Quote:
"Every play could be the one that changes everything. This is the NBA playoffs. Legacies are built, heroes rise, and the action never lets up." – Jason McIntyre [50:50]
This episode provides a comprehensive analysis of the shifting dynamics in both the NBA and NFL, blending nostalgic reflections with forward-looking predictions. For listeners who seek in-depth sports discussions and informed opinions, The Herd with Colin Cowherd delivers a rich and engaging narrative that captures the essence of current sporting trends.