Hour 1 - The Tush Push lives

Summary

The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Episode Summary: Hour 1 - The Tush Push Lives

Release Date: May 21, 2025

---

1. NFL’s Tush Push Play Controversy

Discussion Overview: Colin Cowherd opens the episode with a deep dive into the ongoing debate surrounding the NFL's controversial "tush push" play. Despite recommendations from both the NFL's Petitions Committee and Health and Safety Committee to ban the play, the league owners voted to retain it by a narrow margin.

Key Points:

• Committee Recommendations vs. Owner Decisions: Both the NFL's Petitions Committee and Health and Safety Committee recommended banning the tush push due to safety concerns and its impact on the game's integrity. However, the owners overruled these recommendations, keeping the play alive by a margin of 24-22 votes.

• Influence of Key Players: Jason Kelce, a respected former Eagle center, played a pivotal role in advocating for the continuation of the tush push. His influence was instrumental in swaying a couple of votes in favor of retaining the play.

• Safety and Entertainment Concerns: Critics argue that the tush push is both dangerous and visually unappealing, potentially harming the sport's image on television. Dion Dawkins echoes these sentiments, stating, “It looks dangerous and it's ugly. Optics on TV aren't good” ([03:23]).

• Owners' Control Over the League: Colin emphasizes the overarching power of NFL owners, noting, “The NFL owners are all powerful. They control everything... They can blow those TD contracts up in the middle of them and renegotiate if they want” ([04:11]).

Notable Quotes:

• Colin Cowherd [03:20]: “We got another example of that today with a tush push.”
• Dion Dawkins [07:20]: “It's a very hard play for a player... but it's so necessary in the game.”
• Colin Cowherd [04:10]: “The owners win again.”

---

2. NBA Team Performances and Player Analysis

Discussion Overview: Shifting focus to the NBA, Colin and his guests discuss the impressive regular season run of the Oklahoma City Thunder and their strategic gameplay in the playoffs, particularly against teams like Memphis and Minnesota.

Key Points:

• OKC Thunder’s Historic Season: Oklahoma City has had a remarkable regular season, surpassing historical averages with an average winning margin of 12.9 points, reminiscent of the legendary Jordan-era Bulls.

• Playoff Strategies: The Thunder dominated Memphis in the first round and Minnesota in subsequent games, leveraging their deep and flexible rosters crafted by General Managers Howie Roseman and Sam Presti.

• Defensive Prowess: Oklahoma City's defense has been a cornerstone of their success, effectively shutting down key players like Nikola Jokic by cutting down passing lanes, thereby limiting offensive threats.

• Ant Edwards’ Challenges: Analyzing Ant Edwards’ performance, Colin notes the difficulty he faces against OKC’s defense, highlighting the need for more versatile playmaking and shot opportunities ([12:29]).

Notable Quotes:

• Colin Cowherd [07:20]: “OKC like the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles are not really built on a player. They're built on a general manager.”
• Dion Dawkins [24:18]: “I would take Indiana and the points. I think it's going to be a great series.”

---

3. Quarterback Rankings and Analysis

Discussion Overview: Colin engages in a discussion with Mark Few about Pro Football Focus's (PFF) annual quarterback rankings. They assess the accuracy of these rankings and their implications for the NFL landscape.

Key Points:

• PFF’s Tiered Rankings: PFF categorizes quarterbacks into six tiers. Colin largely agrees with their tiering but suggests adjustments, particularly advocating for promoting C.J. Stroud from Tier 3 to a higher tier based on his performance and potential.

• Historical Comparisons: Reflecting on past eras, they compare the current quarterback pool to legendary groups from the Elway, Montana, Brady, and Mahomes eras, emphasizing that typically only a select few dominate consistently.

• Influence of Coaching and Team Structure: Mark Few highlights the significant role of coaching and team support in a quarterback's success, noting that environment often plays a critical role alongside individual talent.

Notable Quotes:

• Colin Cowherd [35:03]: “I think PFF got it right and don't have a problem with any of the grades.”
• Mark Few [34:04]: “There’s no injury data yet on it.”

---

4. WNBA Officiating and Caitlin Clark’s Achievements

Discussion Overview: The conversation turns to the WNBA, focusing on recent officiating controversies and the stellar performance of star player Caitlin Clark, highlighting the league's growth and increasing competitiveness.

Key Points:

• Officiating Controversies: Recent games have seen an uptick in complaints about refereeing, signaling greater viewer engagement and investment in the outcomes of games.

• Caitlin Clark’s Record-Breaking Performance: Clark has tied a WNBA record for the most career games with 20 points and 10 assists, showcasing her exceptional skill and elevating the league's competitive standards.

• League Maturity: The increasing scrutiny on officiating reflects the WNBA's maturation as a major sports league where fans are genuinely invested in the fairness and outcome of games.

Notable Quotes:

• Colin Cowherd [27:43]: “You can tell when a sport arrives because people start complaining about officiating.”
• Dion Dawkins [28:14]: “How many officiating controversies do we have in the WNBA the last, I don't know, 20 years? None. Last night, Fever.”

---

5. College Basketball's Revival and NIL Impact

Discussion Overview: Colin and Dion explore the resurgence of college basketball, attributing it to the introduction of Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) policies, the transfer portal, and the recruitment of international players, which have collectively elevated the sport's quality and viewership.

Key Points:

• Impact of NIL Policies: The ability for college athletes to profit from their NIL has encouraged top-tier players to remain in college longer, enhancing the competitiveness and skill level of college basketball.

• Shifts in Player Pathways: There's been a significant increase in international players choosing to play college basketball in the U.S., as opposed to going overseas or joining the G League, leading to higher quality play and more dynamic team rosters.

• Increased Viewership: The first two rounds of the NCAA tournament saw the highest TV ratings in 32 years, indicating a renewed national interest in college basketball.

• Comparisons to Past Eras: Previously, dominant college players often translated directly to NBA success, but recent shifts had diluted this effect. However, the current changes are revitalizing the pipeline between college and professional basketball.

Notable Quotes:

• Colin Cowherd [49:55]: “College basketball has been watered down for about 25 years.”
• Dion Dawkins [51:21]: “Now I do wonder real quick, you know, we saw the European way is thriving in the NBA. What happens when you remove the European teenagers and bring them to America and they’re no longer playing the European way?”

---

Conclusion: In this episode of "The Herd with Colin Cowherd," a comprehensive exploration of current sports controversies and triumphs is undertaken. From the NFL's contentious decisions and NBA strategies to groundbreaking achievements in the WNBA and the transformative effects of NIL in college basketball, the discussion offers insightful analysis and expert opinions. Colin Cowherd effectively navigates these multifaceted topics, providing listeners with a rich and engaging overview of the sports landscape as of May 2025.

---

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

You're listening to an iHeart podcast. Just like how true champs master both offense and defense, the BMW IX masters both ultimate performance and unbeatable space. Love mine.

[Jason McIntyre]

The greatest legends in sports never compromise.

[Colin Cowherd]

In any aspect of their game. So why would you settle for anything less from your suv? What I love about my BMW IX is that it redefines the electric vehicle experience seamlessly integrates powerful performance, its bold, daring design, a refined interior, details cutting edge technology. Basically pushes the boundaries of innovation. Thousands of details went into creating the ultimate electric suv.

[Jason McIntyre]

Compromise.

[Colin Cowherd]

Not one of Them if you own.

[Chris Simms]

A home, here's an interesting fact for you today.

[Colin Cowherd]

American homeowners are sitting on a record amount of home equity.

[Chris Simms]

That's the part of your home you own outright. Rocket Mortgage can help you turn your.

[Colin Cowherd]

Home equity into cash and that can.

[Chris Simms]

Help you fund a home renovation, pay for your kids college tuition, or pay off consolidated high interest debt. To learn more, call 804Rocket or visit Rocket.com today.

[Colin Cowherd]

Rocket Mortgage LLC. Licensed in 50 states nmlsconsumeraccess.org 3030 Summer.

[Chris Simms]

Is almost 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.

[Colin Cowherd]

A nice tan?

[Chris Simms]

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.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay, have you heard about this?

[Jason McIntyre]

Last year, Degree changed the formula for their Cool Rush deodorant and their fans.

[Colin Cowherd]

Rebelled and wanted the old scent back.

[Jason McIntyre]

And Degree listens. That doesn't happen often.

[Colin Cowherd]

They admitted they effed up and they're.

[Jason McIntyre]

Bringing back the original Cool Rush scent. They're bringing it back and it's exactly how you remember it. Cool, crisp and fresh.

[Colin Cowherd]

There's a reason it's the number one.

[Jason McIntyre]

Men'S antiperspirant and it's back in Walmart, Target and other stores now for under four bucks. So try and see what the fuss is about. Head to your local Walmart or Target to try the OG Degree Cool Rush for yourself.

[Colin Cowherd]

Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every.

[Chris Simms]

Weekday on Fox Sports Radio and noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the [e-mail].

[Colin Cowherd]

Or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Now let's get this party started. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Here we go. It is a Wednesday and there is actually a lot to talk about. It's the herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, thanks for making us part of your day. So J. Mac, we learned again today that the NFL owners run everything. Doesn't matter what committees say, doesn't matter what the commissioner says, it doesn't matter what coaches say. It is an owner run league and we got another example of that today with a tush push.

[Dion Dawkins]

I think you and I are pretty much on the same page with it, right?

[Chris Simms]

We're fine with this.

[Colin Cowherd]

I, I, I, I don't love it. But here's, here's the very latest. The NFL's petition committee said you should get rid of it. The NFL's Health and Safety commission committee said you should get rid of it. And the NFL owner said, yeah, we're going to keep it. It was close. They needed 24 votes to get rid of was 22 I think. Jason Kelce, former Eagle center podcaster, apparently spoke to owners and that in my opinion was the difference. They're not going to ban it for now. Hey, listen, clever coaches are like good accountants. They find loopholes, schemes, right, to benefit their clients and sometimes league rules. Nope, we gave it to you for three years, we're not going to give it to you for four. I've always said the NFL is a TV show and the two things they really care about are entertainment and safety. In no particular order, they care about entertainment and safety. And to me the tush push kind of violates both. It looks dangerous and it's ugly. Optics on TV aren't good. It's an ugly play and it almost failed. 22 votes needed. 24. I think Jason Kelsey, speaking on behalf of it, a very respected player who was not, you know, some five star recruitment. He was a grinder. He's classic NFL family. The Kelsey's have been great for the league. He spoke and I think he tush pushed it into not being banned. I think his ability to create that play and to keep it from being banned. The Eagles have already posted it on social media. The push stays on. I'm a little surprised. I mean we see this all the time. Remember years ago Cam Chancellor would jump over the line and block kicks for the Seahawks and the NFL felt it's a little dangerous looking now. There wasn't a ton of data that showed, you know, there was a lot of guys Getting hurt. But the NFL didn't like it, and they said, I don't think so. The horse collar tackle, they got rid of it. The kickoffs, they look all funky now. They think it's too dangerous. But I think what. What helps the Tush push. There is no current data that a bunch of guys are getting hurt with it, although I'm not sure a bunch of guys were getting hurt when Cam Chancellor was jumping over a line to block a kick either. But there's no data that shows that it's hurting people. And the second thing is, Jason Kelsey's powerful. He is respected. He made a plea to keep it, and I think it probably flipped one or two owners. So the competition committee, they and the health and safety committee recommended the league ban it. We don't like it. And usually those recommendations get something banned. But in this instance, the owners. And they control it. They control Goodell's salary. Roger Goodell is trying to get a raise here. They control that. They control the length of the schedule. It's the only sport in America where the owners control the TV networks, not vice versa. They tell them what they will pay, and then they can. They can blow those TD contracts up in the middle of them and renegotiate it if they want. The NFL owners are all powerful. You got a lot of NBA baseball owners, NBA owners, MLS owners selling stuff. You own an NFL team. Just keep it. Just keep it. And so the owners win again. Here's Dion Dawkins, great left tackle for Buffalo. His opinions are like a lot of players opinions on it. You don't love it, but it's, it's, it's Philadelphia's. What do we do with it? Here's Dion Dawkins.

[Ant Edwards]

It's a very hard play for a player. It's a very hard play for a player. You know, you're down there, your. Your head is down. You just have to kind of just drive your legs and, and hit three people at one time. Like, it's very hard thing to do. But it's so weird because we play a game of inches, right? Like, what's the best play to get an inch? The Tush push. What's the best play to get a yard, maybe a cubic sneak. And it's hard to take it out or it's hard to change it because it's so necessary in the game. Because sometimes you just need to fall forward and get the first down.

[Colin Cowherd]

And to the Philadelphia Eagles credit, they do it well. I mean, Buffalo got to the AFC championship and they looked unprepared when they had Superman Josh Allen trying to jump in the air and lean for a yard, it looked. It really looked like they didn't practice it. Philadelphia practices it. They add decoys to it. I thought when Kelsey left it wouldn't be as successful. It is. It does look a little dangerous, but so far I don't think there's any data that shows that it is. And Philadelphia does it better than anybody else. That's their best argument. We created it. We do it better than everybody else. It's available to the entire league. Why are you banning it? As of now, it survives. But it was close. And again, I think Jason Kelsey highly respected him. Speaking to owners. Probably Tush pushed it in. Okay, Game one of the Western Conference finals is in the books. And it feels like the series is in the books. So Oklahoma City rolled through the NBA's regular season historically won by an average of 12.9 points. That, like Jordan's Bulls, didn't do that. And then they rolled Memphis in the first round, and then they rolled Minnesota last night. The only team, and actually only player to give him real trouble is Jokic. Nikola Jokic, the joker gave him trouble. They even wore him down. An OKC like the super bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles are not really built on a player. They're built on a general manager. Howie Roseman, GM of the Eagles, Sam Presti, GM of the Thunder. They have built such insanely deep and flexible rosters. You think the coach is good, but is he necessary? They forced the T Wolves to only score from the outside. In fact, Minnesota only had 20 points in the paint. That's their lowest total. And they're a big team since 2015. Julius Randle kept him in the game in the first half, shot the ball well, hit a bunch of threes. Once that dried up, the offense dried up. This is a team that they're not necessarily huge, but you ever watch a football team, like, you'll watch college football when Alabama was in its prime and the defense was just crushing people. And you're like, do they have 13 players on the field? Like, it looks like they have extra players. Oklahoma City's defense looks like they're playing seven guys. So Jokic could get his, but Murray didn't get his. Porter couldn't get his. They just shut off lanes and avenues and just think about this. So Oklahoma City against a much better west was 39 and 13. So they dominated the West. They were 29 and one against the East. So you're asking yourself, are the Pacers and the Knicks which starts tonight. Are they just playing for second place? So Ant Edwards didn't have a great night, didn't get a lot of shots, sometimes invisible. I think he's going to have to have four or five games where he scores 30 plus and I'm not sure you can do this. This is just a defense where a lot of these guys are just entering their athletic prime. Long, twitchy, fast. And Jokic is a great example. They really cut Jokic his passing lanes so the Joker could score. But the passing lanes got cut down. And Jokic is a much more totally refined offensive player than Ant Edwards. Here's what's scary. Oklahoma City's average age is 25 for a team that won 68 games by an average winning total of 13 points. So it's by the second half, once Julius Randle's threes didn't drop. This looked like a total mismatch. Younger, quicker, better defensively with a lot of levers to pull. Here's Ant Edwards after I definitely got to shoot more.

[Ant Edwards]

I only took 13 shots, but I'll say probably just get off the ball a little more. Play without the ball. I think that'd be the answer. Because playing on the ball, they just don't double and sit in the gaps all day. They clog the paint. That's what they do. They don't got massage down there. So they banking us not making shots. I guess because every time I go to the rim it's like four people in the paint. So yeah, I guess they just be clogging the paint. They put like five, four bodies in the paint, make you kick it out. So just keep making the right play.

[Colin Cowherd]

Now here's the good news for Minnesota. They'll eventually go to go play at home where they're really good. Chris Finch and his staff have been excellent at shifting around to second and third gears and figuring out ways to get the most out of the offense. But if you watch the second half, they were just overwhelmed. Memphis got overwhelmed. The west got overwhelmed. The east beat him one time in 30 games. Oklahoma City look really good, led by defense, of course. SGA is excellent. He gets the whistle. But I think the core of this thing is the depth, the roster construction, the aggressiveness of the defense. You know, generally in sports, a great defense slows down a great offense. If you were the Bulls and mj, you had both. But this, this looked like a mismatch last night in the second half. It looked really, really ugly. All right, so J. Mac, something else came out this morning. I love this so pff, they do this every year. They come out with a tiers of quarterbacks and it was, it was interesting. I've got a lot of thoughts on it. In my lifetime there's always been one thing that's true with a quarterback position and once again with PFF's quarterback rankings, they ranked everybody in the league. I think once again this happened since I was a kid. It happened during the Elway years, the Montana years, the Brady years, and now during the Mahomes years. There is something that always is the case and I'll talk about that coming up. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio Apple Summer is almost here and you can now get almost anything.

[Chris Simms]

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.

[Colin Cowherd]

A day at the lake?

[Chris Simms]

That's a no. A Philly cheesesteak? That's a yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

A nice tan.

[Chris Simms]

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?

[Colin Cowherd]

Can't help you there.

[Chris Simms]

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.

[Colin Cowherd]

Guys, let's have a serious chat and then it's on you to take action. Over 30% of guys have gynecomastia. This is an actual medical condition and because of your genetics, that extra fat in your lower chest only gets worse as you age. Here's the good news. Sono Bello is the expert at removing the fat in one visit. You can't bench press and carb count your way out of this one. You need to talk to the pioneers of this simple procedure and get that sculpted chest in a single visit. Schedule your free consultation. Save even more with their summer savings event and with the CareCredit credit card, you'll enjoy flexible financing and convenient monthly payments so you can look trim for summer and pay over time visit sonobello.com Colin that's Sono B E L L O.com Colin Subject to credit approval.

[Chris Simms]

See website for details.

[Jason McIntyre]

At the end of the season, there's.

[Colin Cowherd]

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.

[Jason McIntyre]

Not to mention how much space and utility it provides. Over 75 cubic feet of cargo space.

[Chris Simms]

The IX is completely changing the game.

[Colin Cowherd]

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.

[Jason McIntyre]

Machine Electrified Interested in investing in Bitcoin but not sure how to get started? Well, with the Gemini Credit card you can dip your toes into Bitcoin without even trying. Just spend like you normally do groceries, gas or night out and instantly earn up to 4% back in Bitcoin or one of over 50 other crypto straight to your account with no annual fee. The Gemini Credit Card is pretty much a no brainer and right now you can grab a $200 bitcoin intro bonus. So go to gemini.com card to learn more and start earning today. Terms apply. Again go to gemini.com card start building your Bitcoin stash now. Terms apply. The Gemini Credit Card is issued by Web bank in order to qualify for the intro $200 crypto bonus. Your application must be approved by June 30, 2025 and spend $3,000 in your first 90 days. Terms apply. Some exclusions apply to instant rewards in which rewards are deposited when the transaction posts this content is not investment advice and trading. Crypto involves risk. For more details on rates, fees and other Gemini credit card terms, see Rates and Fees.

[Colin Cowherd]

Really interesting thing happening. I'm going to get to it about 15 minutes with college basketball. College basketball is getting some really good news and I'm going to I'm going to talk about that in 15 minutes. Chris Sims will be around the corner as well. If you have not heard it was a very close voice, very close vote. The tush push by a couple of votes has survived again. Philadelphia they created it. Their argument is it's not a loophole, it's just the quarterback sneak modified amplified and the owners did not take the recommendation of, you know, the Rules Committee or the Health and Safety Committee. They both said ban it. The NFL owners close vote said, no, we're going to keep it. We'll vote in it again next year. So this is interesting. Pff, they do this every year. They take every starting quarterback in the NFL, all 32 ahead of the season, and they rank them. They put them in tiers tier 1, 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6. I don't care about the middle bottom ones. So they're tier one, which I totally agree with, is Mahomes, Jackson, Josh Allen and Burrow. I have no problem. That's what I would do. They're tier two. I don't disagree with that. Jalen Hurts, Jaden Daniels, Matthew Stafford, Justin Herbert. Their tier three, which is Jared Goff, Geno Smith and Brock purdy. I think C.J. stroud is more talented than all those guys. Although I think it's close, I do think it's interesting. Sam Darnold's in Tier 5 and in Tier 3 is Tua and Trevor Lawrence. I disagree with that. But again, in my entire life, I've always had this thing we've talked about. There's always about seven quarterbacks, maybe eight at any one time in the NFL, in any era that you just don't pick up the phone. Somebody calls with Elway, you're not picking up the phone. If you go back to Elway in his prime, there were seven or eight guys, you're not picking up the phone. John Elway, Dan Marino, Joe Montana, Jim Kelly, Steve Young, Troy Aikman and Warren Moon. They were just really, really good players. There's no reason to get on the phone and initiate conversation. Those were the seven guys. If you go to Brady's era, it was Brady and Breeze and Peyton Manning and Big Ben. I'd say Eli Manning, Aaron Rodgers and maybe philip rivers. Their GMs love them. They won a lot of games and they were highly productive and you got them every week. I think right now, PFF got the eight. Right now I. C.J. stroud is the one. To me, I think he either has to be the number one tier two quarterback or he's darn close. I think he's really good. He did pull back last year, but his offensive line was atrocious. He lost two of his three best receivers and he still got into the playoffs and won a playoff game. So other than that, I've always felt it's about seven or eight guys at any one time in the NFL that are somebody calls about him, you're not really interested. I don't think Houston would take a call on C.J. stroud. I think he is a tier two guy, maybe barely, maybe the first guy out. We could argue that it doesn't really matter because historically the guys in tier one and occasionally Tier two win all the Super Bowls. So I think pff. Got it right and don't, don't have a problem with any of the grades. I think clearly in the league now, Mahomes, Lamar, Josh and Burrow have separated. I don't think there's any question. That's the first group. J Mac with the news. No, no, no, turn on the news.

[Ant Edwards]

This is the Herdline news.

[Dion Dawkins]

All right, Colin, Big, big game tonight in the Eastern Conference. Pacers, Knicks, game one. I know you're excited. Obviously back in the 90s, this was a phenomenal series. Back and forth memories of Reggie Miller, Spike Lee, Patrick Ewing's finger roll, a lot of stuff. Well, tonight we Get Jalen Brunson vs. Tyrese Halliburton. Brunson is praising Halliburton who's become a star.

[Mark Few]

He's done a lot, he's quieted a lot of people.

[Colin Cowherd]

He's obviously their engine and they go as he goes and he does a.

[Mark Few]

Lot for their team. So it's going to be tough task but I think as a team we.

[Colin Cowherd]

Just gotta stick together and do what.

[Mark Few]

We do and control.

[Colin Cowherd]

We can control, but happy obviously for success. But this is, like I said, this is a new challenge for us.

[Dion Dawkins]

Yeah. That Pacers team though, in the 90s, that went at the Knicks a lot, they had Reggie Miller who was kind of hated, a villain. I don't think that Halliburton's a villain yet. He's giving signs that he could be right, you know, taking bows and getting into it with Giannis and some other players. I don't, I just feel like this is going to be a good series. There isn't like the genuine hate from Knicks. Pacers.

[Colin Cowherd]

No. And I think what the most interesting part of this series is that the Pacers the last three years have the fastest pace in the league and Tibbs and the Knicks have the slowest pace in the league. So whoever gets to play at their pace wins the series. And Indiana has done a great job to force Cleveland and Milwaukee to play their style. Can they force the Knicks to play faster than the Knicks want to? Tibbs is whole style half court. I mean, Knicks have been great shot making in the fourth quarter. They're a great half court team.

[Jason McIntyre]

They're.

[Colin Cowherd]

They're the opposite of the Houston Rockets who are atrocious in the half court but good in transition. When you get to the playoffs, it's very rare that you're allowed to just be a, you know, OKC In Indiana they're up and down, up and down the floor. That's not usually the case. Usually the better teams can slow it down, get the ball to their big or their stars. They want to play half court basketball. That's what you want to do if you're the Knicks against Indiana. Not that Indiana is a bad half court team, but that's really the Knicks strength and Indiana does not allow you to do that.

[Dion Dawkins]

Yeah, I do like how the Knicks have multiple guys who are long defenders to throw at. Haliburton Bridges was not there last year. He is excellent. One of the premier wing defenders in the league. I think we'll see some Anunoby on Halliburton. I don't think we'll see Brunson on him. You know, people want to attack Brunson. He did foul out of that game in Boston. I believe it was game four. But overall I think the Knicks have the series. They're a favor by four, four and a half tonight. Who you got?

[Colin Cowherd]

I would take Indiana and the points. I think it's going to be a great series.

[Dion Dawkins]

The dog last night it did not quite work out our way.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, it was a good first half but I mean, like I said, you know, there's something to be said about styles make fights. Like sometimes you have to watch. I thought we knew what Boston was against New York and then the NFL swallowed the whistles and the series changed and the games changed. So like last night, Minnesota, Oklahoma City. My take was by the second half, Minnesota is going to have to really, really pull some levers because they're at a major disadvantage. I mean, Oklahoma City's defense is going to give Ant trouble and is not a refined offensive player. He can shoot threes and he's dynamic, but he doesn't have the layers to his game like SGA or Jokic. He doesn't. And so the bottom line is OKC has not struggled with anybody except Jokic. And even Jokic, they cut down his passing lane so he couldn't get it to Murray. So like, like Ant's going to have to do stuff vertically, horizontally. OKC just shuts down passing lanes.

[Dion Dawkins]

Well, they hit so many threes early last night. They're like, oh, we'll just keep taking threes. And they took 51, which was insane. I don't see the Knicks or Pacers falling into that trap. I like the Knicks tonight to cover and set the tone for this series. I'm very excited for it. Colin. Next up is to the NFL, where A.J. brown and the Eagles coming off a Super bowl win. He made a weird comment in. In light of the George Pickens signings in Dallas. Remember, last year, Philly destroyed Dallas by a combined 75, 13. We both don't think Dallas is very good this year, but A.J. brown on the Pickens signing is like, whoa, wait a minute, here we go.

[Ant Edwards]

We gonna have to worry about him.

[Mark Few]

For sure.

[Ant Edwards]

We're gonna have to worry about him. No, I like the trade. I. I do like the trade. I like the competition, you know, and I like, I like, I like George Pickens, I like CD Lamb and that collab, you know, and it's gonna be. It's gonna be exciting to watch, bro, because all that does is bring the best out of us.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, I think wide receivers value wide receivers more than everybody else.

[Dion Dawkins]

Were worried about the Cowboys.

[Colin Cowherd]

I thought Philadelphia is winning Super Bowls not because of coaching. They fired Doug Peterson. We don't know if Sirianni's great. Some of it is because of quarterback play. But overwhelmingly, their lines, their defensive line shredded Kansas City, and their offensive line dominated Kansas City. So, I mean, if you look at Philadelphia, the wide receivers are good, but that's not what the soul of the team is. They're not built around like Cincinnati is built around. Burrow and his sideline guys. That's not what Philly is.

[Dion Dawkins]

Yeah. How is A.J. brown not saying, like, well, actually, the Cowboys offensive line stinks and they're rebuilding it. We're going to annihilate them in the trenches. He looks at wide receivers. Just bizarre stuff. Anyways, final story is WNBA Caitlin Clark last night in the Fever. They lost at home to the Atlanta Dream. Kind of a tough loss for them. But Clark was very good. Not her fault. 27 and 11. Colin. How about this? Clark is now tied with someone named Courtney Vandersloot for the most career games of 20 points and 10 assists in WNBA history. Yeah, Vandersloot did it in 430 games. Clark's done it in 42. She's setting WNBA records in year two. We know she's setting them off the court with ratings, but now she's setting them on the court with stats. That, to me, is absolutely bonkers.

[Colin Cowherd]

You can tell when a sport arrives because people start complaining about officiating, and that shows people care. Everybody was complaining about the Officiating last night. You have arrived as a league. When we are mad at the zebras, I'm not gonna. That's what you're getting. Yeah. WNBA games. Now people are furious with the officiating. That's the greatest compliment you can give the league. People care about outcomes, not just Caitlin Clark's merch. They care about the outcomes of games.

[Dion Dawkins]

How many officiating controversies do we have in the WNBA the last, I don't know, 20 years.

[Colin Cowherd]

None.

[Dion Dawkins]

None. Last night Fever. And listen, they did kind of get jobbed. A lot of questionable calls on the interior. Clark missed a shot in the last like 20 seconds. It could have gave him the win. But overall, I'm watching Fever games. I tuned in. I'm not going to lie.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, J. Mac with the news. Well, that's the news and thanks for.

[Mark Few]

Stopping by the Herd lie news.

[Colin Cowherd]

Chris Simms played in the NFL for eight years. His Texas Longhorns are going to be playing arguably against Ohio State in the opener in the biggest college football regular season game in a long time. And Chris is now joining us live. NFL analyst. Okay, let's talk Tush push. It's very interesting. So the, the health and safety committee said ban it. The rules committee said ban it. And the NFL owner said, yeah, we're gonna keep it. To me that tells you and we've always known this. The owners run the league. Were you surprised though, they did not listen to the rules committee or the health and safety committee?

[Mark Few]

I am a little surprised. I won't lie. I really am. Because usually when we get to this point and right. You hear all things that some of the powers to be, the commissioner, everybody wants it banned. Usually when you get to that point in the NFL, everybody kind of gets the memo and goes, okay, we got to do this. This is for the best of the game. The commissioner wants that and all that. But there was some pushback here. There was and I think there's still a lot of old school people in the NFL and I know I have friends and I've interviewed Mike Vrabel and Jim John Harbaugh and they all took the the side of like, man, it seems a little odd to take the play that the best team in football has been known for the last three years. We're going to take that away from them because we can't stop it. And then also I think here's the other aspect of it too, Colin, because one, there's no injury data yet on it. So that, that's like just, it's a bunch of BS made up by the NFL just to help their argument. The other thing in this too is Colin, what is what did the Tush really have the push part of it really have to do in a lot of the plays I just watched you do it right there. And the highlights we showed on Fox Sports, there's a number of plays where the push from behind does nothing with the actual play. The play itself, if you want to even talk about the danger of it or the beauty of it, is the wedge created by the biggest offensive line we've seen in football since the cowboys of the 90s. And so it didn't really fix anything. I think some of the old school people in the NFL said ah, we're going to try to stop it before we ban it.

[Colin Cowherd]

So you know it's the Brock Purdy contract is interesting. So I was not a fan of the DAC contract and I wasn't a fan of the to a contract and I think I've been validated. I think Purdy is the nfc, is the nfc. Tua. We got injuries, arms. Okay. Not great. There have been against playoff teams sometimes he looks like he needs a lot of help either coaching or players. I don't think it's an egregious contract. Okay. It does because if you start really breaking down the numbers, it's not 58 million, it's not DAX. But I do think here's the problem though, Chris. And we all love John Lynch. They're missing on too many draft picks so they have to pay McCaffrey, Kittle and Warner. Linebacker, tight end, running back, top of the market. Those are, those are, those are usually positions. The Rams don't pay any of those positions. Right. Who won the division. So my take is the combination of missing on a lot of draft picks. Also gave up three for Trey Lance and a B quarterback paid closer to an A. I think what it makes San Francisco like Dallas is dangerously top heavy and that's my take. They'll be a good team but they're a Trent Williams knee sprain from being a bad team.

[Mark Few]

No, I hear you there and I think they're. They're in the process of transitioning away from that. Right. I think that's the big thing. That's why Javon Hargraves not there anymore. That's why they didn't sign Drake Dre Greenlaw back. There's been some other guys that they have let go, you know, throughout the years or Eric Armstead before last year because I think they realized how top heavy they Were, I mean, you're paying. You were paying Brandon Iuk. Like you said, you're paying Debo Samuel. You're paying Kittle like a top guy. McCaffrey, the top running back, the top left tackle, one of the top D tackles, the top dn, the top middle linebacker. Right. So, yeah, I think they're in the process of like listening to what you're saying and going, wait, we got to spread the wealth here. We got to build a little more depth on their football team. But yet within that, they're not ready to give up on some of these guys. Kittle's still really damn good, right, Fred. Fred Warner, still the best middle linebacker in the game. McCaffrey is good. But also I think within the Purdy contract. I agree with a lot of what you said there. Okay. I like Brock Purdy a lot. Is he the type of guy though, that I look at and go, oh, he can carry the team through injuries or a bad spot? No, I mean, we're talking about a guy that just lost eight out of his last nine games over the, the season last year was 6 and 11 as a QB starter. And, and, and, and of course, they didn't go to the playoffs. It's rare in that fact just at all that we're talking about a big contract like this off of that type of year. So that's a strange in itself. Right? I'm with you in that it's not as egregious as Dak. I mean, Dak's the highest paid quarterback in football. And I would say Dak is not one of the 10 best quarterbacks in football. So that's egregiously bad. What your point with tua? You can't be the highest paid guy on your team. And then in every big game, you're the main question about whether you can perform. Right. That to me, is a bad contract. Now, Brock Purdy doesn't quite get to that category.

[Colin Cowherd]

He does.

[Mark Few]

Yes. I, I think we wonder how much is Shanahan and how great he makes quarterbacks look all the time and how much is him. And that's where he's got to prove. I think you and me wrong in that department because I think we think it's more Shanahan right now than. Than the other way around.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right. I like tears and I like rankings. I'm a sucker for it. Pff. Annually does their six tiers of quarterbacks. I said about 20 minutes ago, in my lifetime, go to the Elway years, there were about seven quarterbacks that were Great. If you go to Brady's years. Aaron Breeze, Peyton, Ben Eli, Tom Seven. I think, pff. Got it right with their eight best quarterbacks. I think C.J. stroud is the only quarterback I look at. He's tier three and I thought, okay, he's a little lower than I would put him. Let's put it on the screen for our television audience. I haven't seen it yet. Okay, so tier one, I think is pretty indisputable. Mahomes, Lamar Burrow, Allen. Do you have a problem with that?

[Mark Few]

Not at all. They're on a. They're in a stratosphere by themselves right now. They're ball by themselves. Special group right there.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay, then it goes. Jaden Daniels. I'm comfortable with that. Jalen Hurts. Matt Stafford and Herbert. That's the one. I think I would put C.J. stroud in. But are you comfortable with Tier 2?

[Mark Few]

I'm pretty comfortable with it. I would put C.J. strouD in front of. Over there, in front of Jalen Hurts. That. That would be mine right there. Okay. I like Jalen Hurts. I would say He's a top 10 quarterback. I don't think I would put him in the top eight. I think he'd be nine or 10 for me. Again, I think with Jalen Hurts and what I look at too, we have a little bit of a revisionist history here. He won the super bowl and everybody just forgot about the 10 weeks before that. That we were like, wait, the passing game and the quarterback was the issue. He had a good NFC Championship game. I know that. But divisional game, we were like, man, the quarterback in the passing game, wild card game. We were like, man, the. The passing game and the quarterback not looking good the last seven or eight weeks of the year. His top receiver said, what's wrong with the team? The passing game. So how can now you be one of the best quarterbacks in the game? That's what I. This is what I fight with with Eagles fans all the time. I got a lot of respect, but I think I would have CJ Stroud in his place on that tier.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, by and large, you and I agree. By the way, I want to throw this at you because you're a Texas Longhorn. I have seen and read stories about Arch Manning. I thought last year he was better than Quinn Ewers. I said, I didn't think Quinn. Yours was a. Was a first three or four round quarterback. I didn't. I thought Arch Manning was the better quarterback. I thought he was classy, he was quiet, he was A team guy did not transfer. I think that plays very well in owner and NFL GM rooms and he will benefit greatly. There are stories now that he's added weight. I still think he's a bit reckless when he runs, but he does. I think my take was, is he big enough, strong enough? What are you hearing about Arch Manning? Who? Now, now, a year ago, Quinn, yours was a first round guy. What are you hearing about him?

[Mark Few]

Yeah, like it's, it's awe. They love him. I talked to enough people down there to know. I knew at the end of the college season last year how excited they were behind the scenes about the possibilities and the potential and what the team will look like with Archer Manning at the helm. You're saying it right. He's a phenomenal athlete. I mean, he's more like his granddaddy in the way he runs and does some of that stuff. The arm, the arm pops. I like his motion. It's explosive. It's a quick release. Like he's got all the traits to be a superstar. And then of course, the team around him's damn good, too. And college football is going to change the rules about this nil stuff because they know Texas and Notre Dame and Michigan and Ohio State have unlimited pockets, so they're not going to be able to compete, especially with Texas. And they're spending, what, $40 million this year? But here's my other thing. I'll just say with Arch, I think he's awesome. He's on the trajectory, the number one pick in the draft and all that. I don't know if it happens this year, though. I mean, you know as well as I do, the Mannings, they believe in school and preparing themselves and getting the reps in college. And I could see him having a really awesome year this year and staying one more year after that just to get a little more groom for the NFL.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, no, I mean, Andrew Luck did that as well. Okay, great stuff. Sims, NFL analyst It looked great, as always, buddy. I appreciate it.

[Mark Few]

Hey, you the man, Colin. I'll talk to you, buddy. Be good.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, I think a lot of times with these NFL quarterbacks in college, you just watch them. If you, if you turn the sound down, you look at it and you go, I remember when I watched C.J. stroud and I was always like, eh. And then I watched him against Georgia and he's running all over the field and I'm like, okay, okay, okay. Yeah, I get it now. Remember Justin Herbert? A lot of people didn't get it. He goes to the Rose bowl against the best Wisconsin defense in forever. He's running all over the field, making linebackers miss. And I had like two GMs that were on the field. They were like, oh, whoa, whoa, okay, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's a first round quarterback. So Arch Manning, he can run. Takes too many hits for my taste. But he's put on some weight. When you watch him play and he hasn't played a lot, I think you will say at some point, turn the sound down. Size, arm movement, accuracy. That's a first round quarterback. Coming up next. This is really a thing. There is some. If you love college basketball and I think this is good for the NBA. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific.

[Steve Covino]

Hey, it's Steve Covino and I'm Rich Davis. And together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific, on Fox Sports Radio. And of course, the iHeartRadio app. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich? We talk about everything. Life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture. Stories that, well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We like to get you involved too. Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive.

[Mark Few]

Show on planet Earth.

[Steve Covino]

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.

[Chris Simms]

Summer is almost here and you can now get almost anything you need for your sunny days delivered with 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.

[Colin Cowherd]

A day at the lake?

[Chris Simms]

That's a no. A Philly cheesesteak? That's a yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

A nice tan.

[Chris Simms]

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.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay.

[Chris Simms]

How about some clear skies? Nope. Well, how about some French fries?

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Chris Simms]

So how about a freshly cut lawn?

[Colin Cowherd]

Can't help you there.

[Chris Simms]

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.

[Colin Cowherd]

Guys, let's have a serious chat and then it's on you to take action. Over 30% of guys have gynecomastia. This is an actual medical condition and because of your genetics, that extra fat in your lower chest only gets worse as you age. Here's the good news. Sono Bello is the expert at removing the fat in one visit. You can't bench press and carb count your way out of this one. You need to talk to the pioneers of this simple procedure and get that sculpted chest in a single visit. Schedule your free consultation. Save even more with their summer savings event and with the CareCredit credit card, you'll enjoy flexible financing and convenient monthly payments so you can look trim for summer and pay over time. Visit sonobello.com Colin that's Sono B E L L O.com Colin Subject to credit approval.

[Chris Simms]

See website for details.

[Jason McIntyre]

At the end of the season, there's.

[Colin Cowherd]

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.

[Chris Simms]

The ultimate.

[Colin Cowherd]

The all electric BMW ix. What I love about the IX is that it delivers legendary BMW performance while its sleek design exudes innovative sty from.

[Jason McIntyre]

The inside out, not to mention how.

[Colin Cowherd]

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.

[Jason McIntyre]

Electrified Interested in investing in Bitcoin but not sure how to get started? Well, with the Gemini credit card you can dip your toes into Bitcoin without even trying. Just spend like you normally do, groceries, gas or a night out and instantly earn up to 4% back in Bitcoin or one of over 50 other cryptos straight to your account with no annual fee. The Gemini credit card is pretty much a no brainer and right now you can grab a $200 Bitcoin intro bonus, so go to gemini.comcard to learn more and start earning today. Terms apply. Again go to gemini.com card start building your Bitcoin stash now. Terms apply. The Gemini Credit card is issued by Web Bank. In order to qualify for the intro $200 crypto bonus, your application must be approved by June 30, 2025 and spend $3,000 in your first 90 days. Terms apply. Some exclusions apply to instant rewards, in which rewards are deposited when the transaction posts this content is not Investment Adv. Crypto involves risk. For more details on rates, fees and other Gemini credit card terms, see Rates and Fees.

[Colin Cowherd]

Knicks Pacers have the fastest pace in the NBA the last three years Knicks have the slowest in the NBA the last two years. To me, that series comes down to which team can force the other to play their style and their pace. I think Indiana is the better team, but I think the shot making by the Knicks in the fourth quarter against Boston and Detroit, it was really, really impressive. These are two point guard led teams. It's my kind of basketball. I always told you I like the Magic, the Chris Paul. I like guard play. I got nothing against centers, but I like good pace. I like analytics over analytics. I don't want a parade of three point shots. So I think the Pacers and the Knicks are not reliant on the three point shot. I think they're both capable of winning the championship or at least winning the East. I'm not sure if anybody can get through the buzzsaw known as okc, but we'll find out. This is so Stefan Castle was a great player on that UConn team two years ago that won the title and blew everybody out. It's one of the best college basketball teams in 20 years. But college basketball has had a weird thing going on for the last 25 years, which is a lot of the great players at a high school went to the G League or they went overseas or if they did go to college, it was one and done. So college basketball has been watered down for about 25 years. Where the college player of the year a Doug McDermott at Creighton, he's just a bench guy. Like you didn't know if a guy, if he was great in college, was he necessarily great When I was, when I was growing up, Tim Duncan growing up, Patrick Ewing, he was great in college. He was going to be a great NBA player. Like if you saw a guy Christian Laettner may not have Been a great NBA player. But Grant Hill, Bobby Hurley, Larry Johnson, if a guy was dominating in college, he was going to be at least a good NBA player. There were always outliers, but over the last 20 years, it could be fool's gold. I mean, Jimmer for debt is crushing college basketball. And you're like, he's an overseas player. So this is interesting. Stefan Castle was on that UConn team couple years ago. He got all rookie team. Also, Zach Edie did. And there were a lot of questions about Zach Edie. Remember we were hearing he can't play in the NBA because I think when a culture changes or a sport changes, it's hard to be on the forefront of it. So Zach Edey makes the all rookie team, and he was a very effective player. Who's. Who's just every the last four years, every time I watch him, he's better college or pro. So I think college basketball is roaring back because of the nil. The NIL is keeping more good players like Zach Edey in college basketball another year. And it's taking some G league guys. And they say, well, I can make more money in college. I'll go college. The NIL payments are now potentially affecting Europe. A story out today that Barcelona and Real Madrid are considering shutting down. Not yet, but shutting down. They're considering it. Their youth academies. Why? Because so many Spanish players are coming over to college basketball because college basketball can now pay them. So the NIL is making college basketball healthier. Zach Eady can go pro. No, just stay at Purdue. You're getting this all over the place. So that UConn team that dominated college basketball, well, are they really any good? Well, two of their guys, Donovan Clingan and Stefan Castle, made all rookie teams. Yeah, it was that good. That UConn team historically was one of the better college basketball teams in the last 30 years. Zach Eady was an NBA player, so college basketball was fool's gold. You see a guy dominate college basketball, and he's at best, he's like an overseas or a rotational guy. Not anymore. And by the way, the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament this past March, highest TV ratings in 32 years. So America catches on to quality pretty quickly. So I think this is really good. I know everybody's afraid of college at the NIL and the transfer portal, but I was looking at guys, Doug McDermott, Luca Garza, Tyler Hansborough, who were players of the year in college and really dominating. And then you watch them in the NBA and you're like, they're just rotational guys. And it felt like years and years and years ago, in the 70s, the 80s, the 90s, the early 2000s, if you dominated college basketball like Ralph Sampson, you were going to go be a good pro. Akeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley. And then there got. There was this string where so many guys went to Europe or it's one year of college or it's. Or it's the G League, where it's so watered down, you don't know who's good. A guy can score 25 a game in college. He's a rotational guy. He may play overseas. So it's official. Zach Eady can play in the NBA. And that UConn team two years ago was really, really good. I also think I saw this. And by the way, J. Mack, you are the biggest college basketball fan I know. And I. And I do think you and I talked about Zach Edie. There was an amazing pushback. And then Mark Few came on my show and said, if he can't play in the NBA, he goes, I coach the Olympic team. Right. Like, we can't stop him. We've never faced a player at Gonzaga we can't defend. And then, remember, Hurley came out and said, yeah, like, if he can't play in the NBA, the NBA's got a problem. He's a dominant player. So I really do think that's fun for the fans. It legitimizes college basketball, and that's the sport. I would say that's your second favorite sport after pro football.

[Dion Dawkins]

No, no, football. NBA, then college basketball. But, Colin, I will say shout out to the staff member who found this story. I just texted to find out. This is a great story. So think about this. Duke just had a super team, basically, of high school freshmen. Florida won the national championship almost exclusively with transfers. The new move is to go get Europeans and Illinois. Brad Underwood, I'm not sure if you have followed him. He has built up a stacked roster of, like, a bunch of talented Europe, European players. They're going to make a run at the national championship next year. I just love you and I talk about this all the time, building a team. There are so many different ways in the NBA, NFL. And what's happening now, this European trend, this is going to be a big one. I love that you're on top of this. It's a fascinating story, Colin.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, The American economy, I mean, let's face it, Ohio State spends $20 million for one year of nil and wins the Natty. There's reports Texas could spend $40 million for one year. That's the American economy. So eventually when NIL came out, the traditionalists were like, this is bad for sports. No, no. College basketball had been in like a 20 year cycle of being a diluted, watered down product where you were watching it and there would be, there would be games that were like 52 to 56 and you're like this is terrible. Nobody can make a shot when you're watching players now for Florida, for Yukon, for Houston, and they're flourishing and call it Gonzaga. Guys, these are real pros now.

[Dion Dawkins]

Now I do wonder real quick, you know, we saw the European way is thriving in the NBA. What happens when you remove the European teenagers and bring them to America and they're no longer playing the European way? Is that going to change basketball going forward? So many great layers to that story.

[Colin Cowherd]

Hour two Coming up on a Wednesday.

[Jason McIntyre]

Interested in investing in Bitcoin but not sure how to get started? Well, with the Gemini Credit Card, you can dip your toes into Bitcoin without even trying. Just spend like you normally do, groceries, gas or night out and instantly earn up to 4% back in Bitcoin or one of over 50 other cryptos straight to your account with no annual fee. The Gemini Credit Card is pretty much no brainer. And right now you can grab a $200 bitcoin intro bonus. So go to gemini.com card to learn more and start earning today. Terms apply. Again, go to gemini.com card start building your Bitcoin stash now. Terms apply. The Gemini Credit Card is issued by Web bank in order to qualify for the intro $200 crypto bonus. Your application must be approved by June 30, 2025 and spend $3,000 in your first 90 days. Terms apply. Some exclusions apply to instant rewards, in which rewards are deposited when the transaction posts. This content is not investment advice and trading Crypto involves risk. For more details on rates, fees and other Gemini Credit Card terms, see Rates and Fees.

[Chris Simms]

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 Summer is almost here.

[Colin Cowherd]

And you can now get almost anything.

[Chris Simms]

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.

[Colin Cowherd]

A nice tan?

[Chris Simms]

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.

[Colin Cowherd]

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.

[Jason McIntyre]

Charge levels, locates nearby charging stations so.

[Colin Cowherd]

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. You're listening to an iHeart podcast.