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Colin Cowherd
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Joy Taylor
Welcome to a day in the life.
Colin Cowherd
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Joy Taylor
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Colin Cowherd
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Joy Taylor
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Colin Cowherd
What a day. That's the powerful backing of American Express Terms Apply Cap applies. Learn more@americanexpress.com withamx this message is brought to you by Apple Card. Apple Card is everything a credit card should be. It's easy to manage, built to be secure and gives users up to 3% daily cash back on every purchase. The best part about Apple Card is applying is quick and easy. Apply in the Wallet app on iPhone and see your credit limit offer in minutes. Subject to credit approval. Apple Card by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Salt Lake City Branch Member FDIC terms and more@applecard.com thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports radio and noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd@foxsportsradio.com 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 on a Friday and a good one. It's gonna be few Gonzaga coach selection weekend. Here we go, Selection Sunday. Max Crosby of the Raiders. Yesterday I made my NFC predictions. Those are the difficult ones. The AFC one hour from now. Generally a little easier because you have more star high end quarterbacks in the afc. We know it's a quarterback centric and generated league. So that will happen in one hour from now. So J. Mac. So I got three different samples. I watched first quarter of the warriors with friends. Listen to the second quarter driving and watch the second half at home by myself. And they good. This thing is getting really, really interesting.
Joy Taylor
Wow, another tomato can that the warriors beat up. Another nice victory. Yeah.
Colin Cowherd
Steph Curry was asked about retirement and a great quote. He said it's, it's not about stats or anything. It will be. Can I still dominate a game? Here's the good news. He didn't last night and they blew out another team. I want you to think about this. Think about this. So they traded, got him out of town. Andrew Wiggins, wing player, 18 points a game in his career. They brought in Jimmy Butler, wing player, career, 18 points a game. That shouldn't radically change the team, right? 18 points leaves 18 points arrives. Nope. Our hunch, my hunch was right. Totally different players. Wiggins is soft, empty calories, floats around, forgettable. And Jimmy Butler is intentional, intense, physical, impactful. There's a gravity. Analytics does not measure all this stuff. Wing players, 18 a game. No, totally different players. Butler generates double teams. He's creative. He gets guys shots. He, he is an attacking player. Every possession he creates advantages. Wiggins benefited from advantages created by other players. And that is the big difference. Jonathan Kaminga returned last night. Oh, another 20 points a game. Last night you had eight guys in double figures. Butler wasn't even one of them. Steph didn't even play well. But it shows the hole in a lot of analytics and a lot of stats. 18 a game leaves. 18 a game arrives. Totally different team. 8 guys in double figures. They got a guy from like the Netherlands, a big who has a nice shooting touch. And warriors are now 13 and one with Jimmy Butler. And again he did not play last night particularly well. But this thing is real. I know you're saying, well, it's a lot of tomato cans, but when your two best players don't play well and you blow people out, just. It's an incredible influence. We all know Steph has always had a massive influence on the history of basketball. Combine that with the influence Butler has with the warriors and here's Shaq. After the last three, four years, everybody.
Joy Taylor
Has been running three, three, three man.
Colin Cowherd
Weave at the top of the key.
Joy Taylor
Every team is shooting threes and they.
Colin Cowherd
Want to blame it on analytics. It's because everybody wanted to beat the Golden State warriors because of this guy. Yep. It's a real thing. And by the way, not only is it influencing the warriors and influencing basketball, it's influencing ratings. The ratings in the last three weeks. A big part of that, because LeBron's not playing again. And I still don't contend Luke is the TV draw. I think LeBron and Steph are the TV draws. Warriors with another dominating win last night. So I saw this. If you want to know why they keep building casinos and companies like DraftKings are doing well. The Steelers have attracted the second most Super bowl bets this week. That's the, that's the appropriate response. Laughing. This is why the house always wins. So memo to the people betting the Steelers to win the Super Bowl. Aaron Rodgers, last 30 starts, he's 11 and 19. Passer rating under 90, completing 63% of his throws and has not won a playoff game since like 2021. He'll be joining a head coach that hasn't won a playoff game since 2016. And by the way, but, but there is a, there is a lure, an allure to Aaron Rodgers, because who was the most bet team last year in 2024 to win the Super Bowl? Chiefs? No. Bills? No. Niners? No. Lions? Nope. Eagles? No. Ravens? Nope. It was the New York jets with Aaron Rodgers. So Tomlin is tone deaf to offense and Aaron's past his prime. So that's just not saying. That's not even saying playoffs. That's not saying playoffs. So. And I. Here's something that doesn't get talked about with the Steelers, and this is why I've said Aaron Rodgers should go to the Giants. Better left tackle, offensive coach, great weapon, you'll have more power. And, and the rosters aren't that different. They're really not. Pittsburgh's just better. They're not that different. Pittsburgh doesn't have a left tackle. Giants do. But have you ever noticed this? And I never hear anybody talk about this. So everybody knows in the business, Mike Tomlin's a motivator. Right? That's why his teams play well as underdogs, but not as favorites. He's. He's a great motivator. But. But when does motivating not work in the playoffs? Because Everybody's motivated, right? But for a long, tedious regular season, the guy that can bark, boy, September, October, November, it can help. But if you go to the last 12 Steeler games, they're three and nine and a lot of blowout losses. Motivation is nonsense. Screaming and yelling and getting guys fired up doesn't mean anything in the playoffs. Guys are ready to go, they got their bonuses ready, they want a trophy. Everybody's doing the same thing, focusing on that moment. Sudden death football, you don't need motivation, you need analytics. You know, you need circumstantial greatness, situational brilliance. And so, and what's doubling down on this, The RA RA becomes Ruh Roh for Pittsburgh. Every year at the end of the year. If you go back and look at a stat, the Steelers in December or later, the last two seasons have been one of the worst teams in the NFL. Five of the last seven seasons, the Steelers have lost three plus games in a row late in the year. Why is this? Because as the game has gotten smarter and more offensive, the motivating defensive coach, that stuff wears out by December. You can only give the same speeches so many times, it falls on deaf ears. So the Steelers have become one of the bad NFL teams at the end of seasons. That motivation stuff, it's great early, it's great over a long season. It's great when you're an underdog. It doesn't mean anything against the Ravens, Bills or Chiefs or Tom Brady in his prime. When it's, you know, January, it doesn't mean anything. So the Steelers, five of the last seven seasons, Russell Wilson could tell Aaron Rodgers if he goes there, it gets old. Nobody wants to hear it. It doesn't have the same impact. So, you know, they are the second most bet team. Just the idea of Aaron Rodgers and adding DK Metcalf for $150 million and DK Metcalf says, I don't even care who's quarterback here. They made me feel, felt welcome first off and then secondly, they made me feel like they had the, they had the right decision, you know, with who to be throwing me the football. And you know, I'm not making a decision in the quarterback room. So I'm just going to try to do the best of my abilities to, you know, help whoever they have out there throwing the football. So, you know, they, they make the correct decisions, you know, to bring the quarterback in here. So I'm just going to roll with that. Mid March, no idea who the quarterback is. Does that sound like a Super bowl team? We don't even know who the quarterback is. We got like four guys. We got offers out. Four guys now. It's interesting. So I've been saying this week, my hunch, he signs with the Steelers. I would sign with the New York Giants. I would sign with the Giants. I think the Giants have more pieces that work for Aaron. Offensive coach, young star receiver, excellent left tackle, and a couple of wins over the Cowboys. I think the idea of going to Pittsburgh, you got Joe Burrow twice, you got the Ravens twice. Cleveland's got a great coach and a very good roster. No, thanks. I mean, Pittsburgh doesn't have a left tackle now. Miles Garrett, probably Hendrickson coming off the edge and whoever Baltimore has this year. So it'll be interesting to watch. But. But to me, the idea, they're the second most bet team. It's just the allure of the Steelers brand, the allure of the alpha, Mike Tomlin, the allure of Aaron Rodgers. Their bet to win the super bowl more than the teams that we almost feel, it's an automatic. They win their division. It's crazy. That's the House. Almost always wins for a reason. Cowboys are fighting. The process in Philadelphia is officially over. And the Lakers once again, even with Luka and Austin Reeves playing great, are awful and get blown out. Did you notice that?
Joy Taylor
Listen, you were doing so good and then you had to throw in that jab at the Lakers. Unnecessary. It's like a flagrant foul right there.
Colin Cowherd
Come on.
Joy Taylor
They were missing three starters. Colin. But real quick to go back to the Steelers. Can you just give me the thought process what you think people are betting on the Steelers and it can't just be Aaron Rodgers and DK Metcalf?
Colin Cowherd
Oh, I think so. Here's what I think. Like when people bet bitcoin, I mean, there's no centralized bank in America that acknowledges the Warren Buffetts, who, by the way, ditched $80 billion of Apple stock and bought bonds a year ago. Looks pretty smart today. Right? They don't buy it at all. Right. Most of the top financial people, they appease the bitcoin crowd. But when you buy bitcoin coin, you're buying hope you're buying essentially, hey, I'm ahead of everybody else. Buying the Steelers is, hey, I'm going to buy them before they get Aaron Rodgers and watch them pop. But it's just why. It's why the House wins. Aaron, in the last 30 games, two conferences, two coaches, both LaFleur and Mike Tomlin, considered above average. He's 11 and 19. Passer rating in the 80s. That's what he is. That is exactly what he is. And Tomlin, between Aaron and Tomlin, they do not perform well late in the year. The numbers don't lie. Yeah, so it's, I think it's, it's the bitcoin crowd. You're betting that you're smarter than everybody else and you're getting in on something before it truly explodes.
Joy Taylor
And that would be 41 year old Aaron Rodgers. That, that's what you're betting on.
Colin Cowherd
Hope with DK Metcalf. Oh, wow.
Joy Taylor
DK Metcalf. He's going to swing the title odds right there.
Colin Cowherd
Well, again, DK Metcalf's probably worth half a point a game.
Joy Taylor
This is why the House always wins, because the general public is not that smart. Huh? Like, that's a straight up dumb bet. If one of my friends was like, hey, Steelers, to win the title, like, what are you talking about? That, that's insanity.
Colin Cowherd
So now in 45 minutes, I will give you my AFC predictions. I'll tell you, I'm looking at the AFC West. Is that the best coach division of all time?
Joy Taylor
I hope you have the Broncos in the playoffs.
Colin Cowherd
Andy Reid, Sean Payton, Jim Harbaugh, Pete Carroll. You know, like they always say when you, when you sit down at a poker table, if you can't spot the mark, it's you who's the mark. I mean, that, that, that just a Super bowl, trophies everywhere, or at least getting to them. I mean, that is a three super bowl trophies and a natty trophy and a Super bowl appearance in Jim Harbaugh. That division's hard. My guess, on the AFC west this year, nobody wins more than 12. Nobody wins fewer than eight. It is just going to be all jammed up. I think the NFC north is almost as good, but we just don't know if J.J. mcCarthy can play. I mean, I say what you want about Geno Smith, I know he can play. I don't know what J.J. mcCarthy is in Minnesota, so I have no idea. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific, on Fox Sports Radio. FS1 and the iHeartRadio. This podcast is brought to you by Pfizer. Let's talk health. You may not know about pneumococcal disease, but if you're 50 or older or 19 or older with certain medical conditions like diabetes, you're at risk. And it could turn your plans, big or small, into a hospital visit. So get vaccinated. It's one action you can take to help protect against pneumococcal pneumonia, an invasive pneumococcal disease. Keep enjoying everything you're looking forward to, even if it's just a podcast. Schedule a shot@vaxassist.com it's the last game of the season and with Amex you can save time with card member entrances.
Joy Taylor
At select venues and go straight to.
Colin Cowherd
The action so you can catch every moment. That's the powerful backing of American Express. Terms apply Learn more@american express.com With Amex, you can count on T Mobile to help keep you connected from big cities to small towns on America's largest 5G network. Switch the T Mobile keep your phone and they'll pay it off up to 800 bucks per line via prepaid card. Learn more@t mobile.com Keep and switch up to four lines via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device credit service port in 90 plus days with device and eligible carrier and timely redemption. Required card has no cash access and expires in six months. This message is brought to you by Apple Card Choosing the right credit card can be daunting. Among the countless credit card options, Apple Card stands apart. You get up to 3% daily cash back on purchases every day. That daily cash can automatically earn interest when you open a High Yield Savings account through Apple Card. Apply for Apple Card in the Wallet app on iPhone and see a credit limit offer in minutes, subject to credit approval. Savings is available to Apple Card owners subject to eligibility. Savings and Apple Card by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Salt Lake City Branch Member FDIC terms and more@applecard.com wow. So I thought last night, if you ever wondered the value of LeBron James, here's a great example. Luca goes off 45 points. Austin Reeves is excellent. For the first time in a while he's been hurt and the Lakers get shelled. Okay, so Luca can go crazy and Austin reeves can too. AD could go crazy, but if LeBron's not there, they can get blown out yet. LeBron without a co star this year is 71 and the team is everything's fine without Luka, Austin, Reeves or AD. That's the difference. LeBron is the Swiss army knife. He's the coach on the floor. Remember when they played Brooklyn and JJ Redick complained? He goes. Nobody communicated. He never complains about that when LeBron's on the floor. You could have. You could have Luca, you can have Austin, you could have Rui, you could have anybody. LeBron's not on the floor. Yeah, the communication's not as Good. There is a presence there to LeBron. And last night's a great example. Year 22, no empty stats. All his stats matter. All of them matter. This team is 7 and 1 without, without either AD or Luca. Now think about how great AD and Luke are. Arguably, Luke, after SGA, is the most gifted offensive player and AD's arguably the most gifted defensive player. They're out. Doesn't matter. We can win homer away. So he is still the most essential player on the Lakers. And there's three guys in the league, so the Celtics are 10 and two without Tatum. He's not affecting outcomes. He's not affecting points. There are three players in this league. When they're gone, fit hits the Shan. When SGA doesn't play for the Thunder, they average like, significantly. Like, what is it? Without it, they average 18 points less a game. When Jokic has gone for the Nuggets, they average 15 points less a game. And when LeBron is out for the Lakers, they're bad. So Jokic is the best player in the league. SGA is going to win MVP, and on any given night, LeBron is the second best player or arguably the second vote for the MVP. Like, those are the three guys in this league. The Nuggets without Jokic, The Thunder without SGA, and the Lakers without LeBron. They're the soul of the team. So if you Want to Vote MVP, SGA, Jokic, LeBron's not a bad place to go. As great as Tatum is, it doesn't really matter. And I'm not denying he's really, really good. It just. It is again, once again, Luke is amazing. Austin Reeves is amazing. No LeBron. And JJ Redick said, yeah, here's another ugly loss. We didn't execute at a high level. And frankly, when you're missing guys, you have to play hard, but you also have to execute. You know, the, the. Play hard, play smart. We played hard. I don't think we played smart defensively. And again, playing a lot of lineups, we haven't played all year without practicing together. It's, it's, it's going to happen. So what are the two things he's complained about when LeBron didn't play? We're not communicating and we're not smart. What is LeBron James? The great communicator and really smart. So basketball is not just hops, handles, and points. Like, that's LeBron's essence, by the way. That's Jokic's essence. It's not just the points and the rebounds. He is a Point, center. Everything goes through him. And by the way, OKC is a very good basketball team and they're still great defensively when SGA doesn't play. But one of the reasons I've said SGA should be the MVP, they're 24 years old. He's babysitting them on offense. When the babysitter leaves, I scream on the shag rug. Like it, it goes sideways. The offense for Oklahoma City with all that talent, Williams and Chet Holm, SGA's gone. He got 15, 18 points less. That's why you're an MVP. J. Mac with the news. No, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the Herd line news.
Joy Taylor
All right, Colin, let's start the day with your first favorite team out of the Northwest, the Seattle Seahawks. Sam Darnold is officially a part of the squad. I think that three year, one, two million dollars contract. Darnold was in Seattle to get introduced by the team yesterday and was asked about last season's disappointing finish in Minnesota.
Colin Cowherd
I was waiting for someone to bring that up. By the way, I appreciate, appreciate that. No, that's. It's fair, man. Like, you know, you get all the way to that point, you have the season that we had offensively as a team, and then, you know, you run into at the end of the day, like, only one team can win the super bowl. And unfortunately, we weren't that team. But I learned a ton. Yeah, I'll say this again. He was sacked nine times against the Rams. I'm not going to put that one on him. They could not block the Rams lost.
Joy Taylor
His left tackle, Derrick.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, I mean, they could not block the Rams. Now, he was awful against Detroit in the biggest game in Detroit in a long time. But the Rams, I'm not putting that on, Sammy. That. That whole line just got mauled for. For three and a half hours now.
Joy Taylor
Our great producing staff found that Darnold actually gave credit to Brock Purdy.
Colin Cowherd
I saw that. I thought you were going to bring that up.
Joy Taylor
Well, I didn't want to lead with that. I want to kind of back in.
Colin Cowherd
No, I think that's. And I've heard the same thing, is that Darnold thought he was so cognitively sharp. Is that Brock Purdy and Darnold got along great. And Darnold told people that. I know. He said, that's the smartest player I've ever played with. So I'm not doubting Brock smart, but he, to his credit, that's really why Brock's in the league. His ability to diagnose A play. We've said this before, certain guys don't see the field. Zach Wilson of the Jets, Justin Fields, you're like, are they seeing the field yet? C.J. stroud and Brock Purdy first start, you're like, oh, they see everything. Everything. Everything's clear to them.
Joy Taylor
It's kind of a negative. But the big knock on like some of these quarterbacks who don't process quickly, they have slow eyes. I don't know if you've heard that phrase. And like Brock Pie is the opposite of that. He's like a machine, a robot. And Colin, listen, Jaden Daniels was the.
Colin Cowherd
Greatest example last year. Jaden Daniels with a battle line. He, I mean it's really amazing. He saw everything instantly. We, Justin, Zach, a lot of these guys, they just don't see it.
Joy Taylor
Now listen, we're not going to be doing the show in 25 years, but I will personally guarantee the next generation listening. Brock Purdy will be an NFL coach winner. Everything that's come out of San Francisco is he's a leader in the locker room. He's a super smart X's and O's guy. Football family like this guy knows football. I, I think you missed the 49ers yesterday on your playoff teams.
Colin Cowherd
We'll see. I, I do think of all the teams drafting. I'm, I'm really interested to what the Niners do. 12 picks, a lot of compensation picks compensatory. So The Niners have 12 picks and they have to hit on six or seven of these. When you're losing Hunga Greenlaw, you're losing great defensive players. You have to hit in a linebacker, in a safety you can't use scout team guy, you have to hit. I mean I can tell you two of the positions they're drafting, linebacker and safety near the top of the draft.
Joy Taylor
They have to, I'm fairly certain they will be getting one of the top three tight ends, Warren Loveland or Fannin, the kid from the Mac who's a, who's a monster.
Colin Cowherd
Bowling Green. Yeah.
Joy Taylor
Bowling Green.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. There you go.
Joy Taylor
All right, next up, Devonte Adams was in Woodland Hills out here yesterday in California for the Rams press conference. Devonte discussed how big of A presence Sean McVay was in his recruitment to Los Angeles.
Colin Cowherd
Understanding of, you know, where I am, what game. Obviously have an opportunity to play with Matthew is a heck of opportunity and can't wait to get started with that and obviously the rest of the team to being able to be with a contender at this point in my career is something I've been waiting for, for, for a while now and been putting the work in to make it happen, but now we got it, so it's exciting. So he went well run Green Bay. Messy Raiders, Messi, jets, well run Los Angeles. So the beginning of his career and my guess, the end of his career, Green Bay and Rams. He'll get great offensive coaches, great structure because I, I. Did you read the story about what McVay did to get Devonte Adams? So McVeigh was on vacation. He said, I was on the phone with devonte Adams more than I was with my wife. This is a McVeigh move. Stafford, remember he bumped into Matt Stafford. McVeigh bumped into Stafford in Mexico on vacation. And he talked. He talked. He sold. He sold. He sold. Unless, you know, the owner said, okay, on the tarmac, let's make the move. This is a McVeigh move. He, this is the guy that he saw it fit. And by the way, the Rams, they get rid of people quick. But when they want somebody, well, when McVay wants. That's right, Stafford and Devonte, those are absolute McVay acquisitions.
Joy Taylor
He's a closer, McVeigh, that's what he is. He could be like a college football coach because he's such a good recruiter that he sells you. He's got the high energy, you know, hearing you gloss about how he wore down Devonte Adams, you know, I, I got a little McVeigh in me. I like to wear you down on some certain topics. But eventually it's like, fine, fine, Jay, whatever, fine. I don't care. Final story. Colin. Let's go to Cooper cup, the former LA Rams receiver. I hear you're hot on this. He was released by the Rams and there are odds for his new team. The Denver Broncos are at the top of the list at plus 410 followed by. And this doesn't make sense, the Dallas Cowboys. Why is he going there?
Colin Cowherd
I don't. It's funny about that. I. He does not get open anymore. Now in zone coverage, could he be a decent third down receiver? Yeah, but he, he just doesn't run the same. He's. He just does not get open. And all the, all the numbers tell you he does not.
Joy Taylor
What, Scheme him up. So he's messed up against the linebacker if he's not going to get open against corners.
Colin Cowherd
But McVeigh couldn't scheme him up.
Joy Taylor
Well, that's because he was the number two guy. If you make him the number three or four, that's a bit of an advantage.
Colin Cowherd
No, you know, I take him for free, but I don't want to pay anything. And so I think the Rams are like, for free. Well, I mean, again, I think there's some. Some value there, but he's closer to a 30 catch guy than he is an 80 catch guy. He aged very quickly. You know, knees. It happens.
Joy Taylor
I like to buy low on motivated athletes to overcome obstacles. Like, you know how hard this guy's going to be working after publicly getting.
Colin Cowherd
Well, I think you can work as hard as you want, but there are numbers and age limitations. To what? Wide receivers.
Joy Taylor
You know that.
Colin Cowherd
No, age is not just a number. Age is real for receivers and corners.
Joy Taylor
Well, there's a rumor that Cooper Cup's on a flight to Germany right now to get that Kobe treatment that.
Colin Cowherd
Who said.
Joy Taylor
I'm just making that. Okay, but listen, there's stuff you can do out there to turn back the clock a little bit. Come on.
Colin Cowherd
Well, there's stuff you can do. Like, you know, you can take stuff for your hair. You can. You can. You can get surgeries to. I mean, you know, I would say elective surgeries, but to make a wide receiver faster. That's not happening.
Joy Taylor
Slow feet don't eat. I can tell you Cooper cup is going to be grinding away all offset. I'm buying on Cooper cup guinea.
Colin Cowherd
I never heard that. Who did you steal that from?
Joy Taylor
Well, this guy I worked out. Worked out with to try to get fast.
Colin Cowherd
Slow feet don't he. You never heard that? That's.
Joy Taylor
I'm bringing the stuff on Friday.
Colin Cowherd
You know what, dude? You make T shirts on that. That merch will sell.
Joy Taylor
Slow feet.
Colin Cowherd
Slow feet don't eat.
Joy Taylor
Okay, Done deal.
Colin Cowherd
J. Mac with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by the herd lie news. It's kind of funny. Yesterday you had. DeMarcus Lawrence has played for the Dallas Cowboys for 11 years, and he thought he may resign. And then Seattle came and overpaid for him. It's free agency. And then he said, hey, I didn't think I was gonna win a Super bowl in Dallas. He'd been there 11 years. He knows the building. And Micah Parsons. Dallas is my home. Yeah. And Micah Parsons wasn't happy with it. So here's DeMarcus Lawrence with a little shot at the Seahawks or at the. Caleb is my home. I made my home there. You know, my family lives there. You know, I'm forever gonna be there, but, you know, I know for sure I'm not gonna win a Super Bowl. Yeah. Yeah. Micah Parsons called him out said. That's clown blank, you know, on social media. Well, here's the thing. DeMarcus Lawrence, 11 years, knows the Cowboys. Micah Parsons is still in the honeymoon phase. He's still a believer, worshiping at the chapel of Jerry Jones. And I was thinking about this this morning. The Cowboys, for a long time were. I mean, it was. They were a religion. They were getting a lot of stuff, right? I mean, Jerry Jones fires the legend. Tom Landry hires Jimmy Johnson. Everybody was outraged. Jimmy Johnson was better than Tom Landry, and they had a dynasty. And then Jimmy leaves, and Jerry goes, I'm gonna give it to my buddy, Barry Switzer. He actually won a Super Bowl. They found. After Aikman leaves, they find Tony Romo, undrafted. He's very good. And then Jerry, you know, he gives the job to a kid. Jason Garrett, like family, and won a lot of games. And then they find Dak in the fourth round, build the best offensive line in the game. They get Zeke. Dog can't draft the running back that high. They get Zeke. For a long time, it was like a religion. Now, to be honest with you, Dallas feels more like a culture where there's one really rich guy at the top and he's got really expensive toys, and he's making grand promises and selling a vision, and it doesn't really align with reality. So that's what it feels like. And Micah Parsons has not had the joy sucked out of him yet. Right? Like, DeMarcus Lawrence has been there 11 years. He's hurt. He's heard a lot of promises, and DeMarcus Lawrence is like, I'm over it. Plus, Micah, he's angling for a contract extension. But don't sell me on. DeMarcus Lawrence doesn't know what's going on. I mean, they do polls in Dallas annually in, like, local newspapers. Cowboy bloggers, like, cowboy fans, know the truth. DeMarcus Lawrence knows the truth. This. There was a long time you could buy into Jerry. He got the Jimmy thing right. Yeah, I mean, he got. He got the Berry thing right. Briefly. They found Romo. They found Dak. Jason Garrett was winning games. There's a lot. A lot. You buy into that church, buy into that religion, and all of a sudden, a lot of stuff that's being said kind of nonsense doesn't feel like reality. One rich guy's got these ideas. None of it's really panning out. Where did all the money go? You always see that. Well, where did the money go? Guys got a yacht. We can't buy a linebacker. What's going on here. That's what it feels like with Dallas. So I don't, I don't buy that DeMarcus Lawrence doesn't know what's going on. If you're in a relationship at a company, I was at a previous company for 10 and a half, 11 years. My first marriage was 11 years. Like 11 years, you're with somebody, you know the truth. And there's a lot of good in the truth. But you don't tell me DeMarcus Lawrence doesn't know, as they say, where the skeletons are buried. Like you can only get so many promises for 11 years. And what's really true over the last three or four. Cowboys don't feel well run. They did for a long time. I mean, when Jimmy and Jerry were there, I mean, they were the first team to make a massive trade. The Herschel Walker trade. Worked. Jimmy Johnson hiring Barry Switzer. Brief Tony Roma. Worked, worked, worked, worked, worked, work. I'd buy into it, too. Everybody was hyping the Cowboys last five years. Show me all the great draft picks, you know, Mike and C.D. congrats, first rounders. Show me all the third, fourth, fifth, sixth round draft picks that work. Not a lot of them. Waiting too long on Dax contract, having to overpay him. Don't have a second weapon. Offensively weakest running back room in the league. You can keep selling me on a vision, but at some point I got to look down on the paper and in the locker room and see Philly and see Washington and see us. What are you seeing? You're seeing the truth. Just Mike is still in the honeymoon phase, right? He. He's still buying it. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific. Hey, it's Steve Covino and I'm Rich Davis, and together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific, on Fox Sports Radio. And of course, the iHeartRadio app. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich? We talk about everything. Life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture. Stories that, well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We like to get you involved, too. Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say. I'd say, the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino and Rich Live on Fox Sports radio and the iHeartradio app from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcast and of course on social media, that's Covino and Rich. This podcast is brought to you by Pfizer. If you're 50 or older, getting sick can keep you away from where you need to be. You don't want surprises like pneumococcal pneumonia or invasive pneumococcal disease. You're 6.4 times more likely to get pneumococcal pneumonia compared with adults 18 to 49. It's recommended that people 50 or older get vaccinated. Being sick could get between you and the people who rely on you, so schedule your shot@vaxassist.com Count your way into a perfect night with Amex Gold one restaurant, two friends, three amazing dishes and four times Membership Rewards points on purchases at restaurants and US supermarkets. That's the powerful backing of American Express. Terms apply.
Joy Taylor
Cap applies.
Colin Cowherd
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Joy Taylor
Coming up tonight, the Big East Tournament semifinals tip off on Fox. First at 6:30 Eastern, St. John's takes on Marquette. Then at 9 Creighton battles Yukon. How many you watch?
Colin Cowherd
Oh, all over The I was watching warriors, but all over the country, everybody was getting fired up.
Joy Taylor
Double overtime win. They were down like 11.
Colin Cowherd
Fascinating. I couldn't turn it off. Yeah, Mark fuse on later. Right now, Oregon, Michigan State battling. So Steph Curry hit his 4,000th three point shot yesterday. And yeah, we've talked about this, is that, you know, Steph Curry's just, it's one on one, man. There's nothing else like it. And what's funny about it, all these teams, you know, remember the small ball stuff and everybody was like, hey, let's get small. In the American sport where height really matters. I mean, it's insane. It was like all this. Houston tried to duplicate it with Daryl Morey. Everybody tried to do by a small ball. No, this is a tall man's league. It would be like if the NFL had a trend because there was one superstar player, tiny football. I want smaller, less physical NFL players. That's the opposite of the league. It's tough guys and big guys. The NFL is a length and size league and small ball didn't really exist. It was just Steph Curry coupled with, you know, Clay Thompson, the best backcourt since Weston Goodrich. And so last night, you know, Steph didn't even play particularly well. But I'm watching them and it's, it's, it's really remarkable to watch this team now. And I always say, who's your fourth best player? Because we all know the best teams have a star and we can argue about stars, but now with Jimmy Butler as the Warriors 2, and then John of the Kaminga is back and now he's the Warriors 3. All guys capable of dropping 24 to 30 on any night. Now, pods or Moody, those guys can be your four year five. That feels like a team that can get to the finals. Draymond played well last night. So if Draymond Green is back to being the four, which is what he was when kd, Steph, Clay and Draymond, he now, he was a catalyst, but he was your four. Well, now with pods, if he has a good night. Is Draymond your five or your four? That's why this team matters. It's not just about your star. It's slotting Derrick White for the is the fourth best player for the Celtics. If Porzingis is healthy, there are nights he's the fifth best player. That's a great basketball team. It's not just about Tatum and Jaylen Brown because all the teams that are in the playoffs have two really good players. And if you get to a conference finals, you're going to have a Jokic and Jamal Murray, or you're going to have an SGA and a Homegren, or you're going to have a Kyrie and a Luca. Who's your fourth best player? But last night, Steph didn't play particularly well. But here's Steve kerr on his 4003. It just seems like it was not too long ago that he broke the record. And what was.
Joy Taylor
What was that?
Colin Cowherd
Less than 3,000, right? What was it? 2974. Yeah. So he just keeps going the way he keeps himself in shape and conditioned in rhythm. He's gonna, you know you're gonna make another thousand for sure. I mean, I just. That's what I would guess. Isn't it crazy? They were on a treadmill to nowhere three weeks ago. Now they're the hottest team in the league. It's just incredible. The jet fuel, the infusion of energy into Steph Curry. Here's another thing I saw yesterday. So Paul George went Clippers to Philadelphia. I kind of like the move. But Paul's older now, mid-30s, and he's falling apart, physically shutting it down. And I was thinking about this years ago because I'm not anti analytics. I like man analytics over analytics. I think in professional sports there is an alpha in the locker room that matters more than just analytics. I remember years ago when Harden and Kobe, if you take Harden's best four years and Kobe's best four, it's the same player. One of them was about winning, one of them was about Harden. The analytics are like, oh, Harden's the better player. No, he's not. Nope. Not gonna go there. So it's interesting. The process was a developmental plan by a guy named Sam Hinkey. He was a business guy that came to the NBA. Now he's back to business, really smart guy. And then there was Brian Colangelo, but then it was Daryl Morey. So Daryl Morey, who I know and like a lot, really smart guy. Sam Hinkey, really smart guy, very much about analytics, but this team always lacked analytics. So over the course of the process, which started back in 2013, here are the players, the stars. They have had Joe lmb, Jaleel Okafor, Ben Simmons, Nerlens Noel, James Harden, Jimmy Butler, Paul George, one of those guys we associate with winning, Jimmy Butler. And do you know how long he lasted in Philadelphia? Six months. He couldn't stand it because winners don't like hanging around mediocre people. Stat patters and losers. Jimmy Butler's a winner. MJ's a winner. LeBron's a winner. Duncan's a winner, Magic Bird. That's what analytics doesn't measure. Is James Harden really into winning? James is into James. Okay. Sometimes in shape. Defense optional. More of a hobby than a profession. And so the, the process, it was all about analytics. And there are just limitations to it. Just limitations to it. One guy that was with the Sixers, you look at and go, winning player. By the way, here's the two people who love Jimmy Butler, Pat Riley, Steve Kerr. Winners listen to analytics, willing to digest new information. But Steve Kerr's about winning. He knows how to build a team that wins. Pat Riley's done it over and over, winners. And so it's, it's just interesting. This thing started about 1512 years ago, the process, and it was heavy analytics, but it was flakes. Got guards that couldn't shoot, centers that don't want to play back to backs, guys who are into padding, guys who like, just wanted the ball. I, I still contend about Joel Embiid. Go watch the Olympics. He's the only star that didn't fit at all. He just didn't fit with the offense. So winning players. First day, first day, Butler hits the warriors impact. He figured out a way to make it work hard at practice, hard in game one game. Jimmy Butler's like, okay, I'm going to play off Steph. I'm going to create free throws, I'm going to create advantages. Everybody. I mean, it's the Wiggins, Jimmy Butler thing. Butler in his career averages twice as many assists as Wiggins. He creates advantages. Wiggins benefits from advantages. Two totally different players, although they're wings that average 18 a game. So if you don't, if you don't watch them, you'd think Wiggins and Jimmy Butler, if you just looked at the analytics, you'd about the same size, 18 a game. One guy's obviously more of a creator. Totally different players. That's why I always push back on analytics and stats. It just tells you there was, there were a lot of people that were arguing, the analytics people, that James Harden was better than Kobe in that five year stretch. It was like, man, Kobe's in bed, he's eating salmon broccoli. Can't get him away from practice. Literally yelling at teammates, screaming at management. Get me more winning players. A totally different, totally different guy. So, J. Mac, you know, I, I was looking at that story you talked about, Cooper Cup. I'll get into this next hour. By the way, top of the hour. I'll make my AFC predictions.
Joy Taylor
Can I real quick? I saw the graphic for the AFC prediction. I think they messed up. They only had Lamar, Josh and Pat Mahomes. No Justin Fields in the graphic. Does that mean you don't have the jets in your top seven? I, I was surprised. I was like gonna text the staff here. Yeah, not that funny. Okay.
Colin Cowherd
I'm just, I still really like your slow feet. Don't eat. If you can figure out slow hands, don't blank, whatever that is, then I'll give you a pass on that one. But you like analytics. I mean, I think we're both data guys.
Joy Taylor
I mean, if you like gambling, you gotta like it.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, no, no, we both, I like analytics, but I think you can get way too into it. And I've always said this about basketball. So it's. Baseball is a great example. Over a course of 162 games, baseball analytics work. You get into the postseason, you're gonna, you're gonna use a starter in the bullpen to win a game. You get late in a series, game six or seven, who gives a rip about starting tomorrow? You're going to use situationally. You will use Ohtani this year for the Dodgers, if he pitched as a starter three days earlier. It's the ninth inning of a game and he's your, he's your best pitcher available. You would pitch Ohtani in the ninth inning. So it's. And it's the same in basketball. Threes work over the course of a long haul. Shooting a bunch of threes work like the Celtics, but in the end, Cleveland does a better job. The Cavaliers do a better job of generating better, higher quality shots than the Celtics do. They create more good twos. The Celtics are very reliant on threes. So the fear, if you're a Celtics fan, is what happens to the three games in the series that we can't hit threes because Cleveland defends the three pretty well.
Joy Taylor
So they're boom busty.
Colin Cowherd
They're very boom busty. And so I think a lot of things with analytics work in the regular season, but in the playoffs, you know this. It's about getting a bucket. Yeah, LeBron gets a bucket. He doesn't always shoot great threes. Jimmy Butler, by the way, gets a bucket. That's why Jimmy Butler, what do they call him? Playoff Jimmy? Jimmy's not a three point shooter. He gets a stop and he gets a bucket. So analytics are, you know, I, People laugh when I said manalytics over analytics. I like it. But Jimmy Butler's the classic Manalytics guy.
Joy Taylor
Did you see the Celtics attempted 63 threes against 2k states?
Colin Cowherd
I watched the game.
Joy Taylor
63.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, I watched it.
Joy Taylor
That's a lot of threes.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, it's. It's again, it's boom or bust.
Joy Taylor
Yeah.
Colin Cowherd
This podcast is brought to you by Pfizer. If you're 50 or older, getting sick can keep you away from where you need to be. You don't want surprises like pneumococcal pneumonia or invasive pneumococcal disease. You're 6.4 times more likely to get pneumococcal pneumonia compared with adults 18 to 49. It's recommended that people 50 or older get vaccinated. Being sick could get between you and the people who rely on you. So schedule your shot@vaxassist.com this is Nikki Glaser from the Nikki Glaser Podcast. On a more serious note, I'm still thinking about that commercial with Tom Brady and Snoop Dogg hating on each other. Because when you listen to the reasons for hating someone or something, you realize just how stupid they really are. There is too much hate in this country and it's gotta stop. So join us at iHeart in standing up to it. If you see hate, speak up, call it out and you can learn more by following ot'supwithhate famous smoke has been dominating the cigar game since 1939 with the best prices on the best cigars. Need a smoke for the big game or a big win? Famous has you covered. Head to famous smoke.com with promo code Nightcap to score $20 off your order of 99 or more. Million of cigars are in stock and ready to ship, all stored in the massive humidor and guaranteed fresh. Trust the name that's been in the game for 85 years. Go to famous smoke.com use code nightcap under age sale prohibited website restricted to age 21 plus tobacco consumers. Hi everybody. This message is brought to you by the official Whiskey of the Herd with Colin Coward podcast, Green River Whiske. As you know, we've been having some fun getting to know Green River Whiskey and we just learned they've launched their first advertising campaign in more than 100 years. You see, it seems the team from Green river in reviving the whiskey have accidentally also revived its resident ghost. So if you want to see the ghost of Green river come to Life, check out greenriverwhiskey on their YouTube channel or head on over to greenriverwhiskey.com here's to green River Whiskey. Raise your spirits. Product of Green River Distilling Company, Owensboro, Kentucky. Alcohol by volume varies by product. Greenriverwhiskey.com Please drink responsibly.
Episode: Hour 1 - The Warriors Keep Winning
Release Date: March 14, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd
Co-Host: Joy Taylor
Platform: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
The episode kicks off with an in-depth analysis of the Golden State Warriors' impressive winning streak. Colin Cowherd delves into the strategic moves that have kept the team at the pinnacle of the NBA.
Trade Analysis:
Colin discusses the recent trade of Andrew Wiggins for Jimmy Butler, emphasizing the impact of this change.
Colin Cowherd [03:47]: "They traded, got him out of town. Andrew Wiggins, wing player, 18 points a game in his career. They brought in Jimmy Butler, wing player, career 18 points a game. That shouldn't radically change the team, right? 18 points leaves 18 points arrives. Nope."
Jimmy Butler’s Influence:
Highlighting Butler’s qualitative difference from Wiggins, Colin explains how Butler adds more value beyond just scoring.
Colin Cowherd [04:00]: "Butler generates double teams. He's creative. He gets guys shots. He, he is an attacking player. Every possession he creates advantages."
Steph Curry’s Leadership:
Steph Curry’s role remains pivotal. Despite not performing exceptionally in some games, his leadership and influence keep the Warriors formidable.
Colin Cowherd [03:47]: "Steph Curry was asked about retirement and a great quote. He said it's not about stats or anything. It will be. Can I still dominate a game? Here's the good news. He didn't last night and they blew out another team."
Transitioning to the NFL, Colin and Joy Taylor dissect why the Pittsburgh Steelers have become the second most bet team to win the Super Bowl, despite skepticism surrounding recent decisions.
Aaron Rodgers’ Integration:
Colin criticizes the heavy betting on the Steelers, attributing it to the allure of Aaron Rodgers joining the team, despite Rodgers' recent performance decline.
Colin Cowherd [07:00]: "Aaron Rodgers, last 30 starts, he's 11 and 19. Passer rating under 90, completing 63% of his throws and has not won a playoff game since like 2021."
Mike Tomlin’s Coaching Under Scrutiny:
The discussion highlights concerns over Coach Mike Tomlin’s ability to lead the team effectively in high-stakes situations.
Colin Cowherd [12:41]: "Mike Tomlin's a motivator. Right? That's why his teams play well as underdogs, but not as favorites."
Public Perception vs. Reality:
Colin argues that the betting public is influenced more by team legacy and star power than actual performance metrics.
Colin Cowherd [14:09]: "This is why the house always wins, because the general public is not that smart. Huh? Like, that's a straight up dumb bet."
The episode shifts focus to Cooper Kupp’s release from the LA Rams and speculation about his next destination.
Performance Concerns:
Colin critiques Kupp’s declining performance and questions the logic behind potential team signings like the Denver Broncos or Dallas Cowboys.
Colin Cowherd [27:42]: "He just doesn't get open anymore. Now in zone coverage, could he be a decent third down receiver? Yeah, but he, he just doesn't run the same."
Potential Fit Issues:
Discussing the improbability of Kupp fitting into teams heavily reliant on specific offensive schemes.
Colin Cowherd [28:13]: "I think you can work as hard as you want, but there are numbers and age limitations. To what? Wide receivers."
Colin offers a scathing critique of the Dallas Cowboys’ organizational culture under Jerry Jones, drawing parallels to a failing marriage where promises don’t align with reality.
Overpaying and Mismanagement:
He highlights instances of overpaying key players without corresponding performance improvements.
Colin Cowherd [31:00]: "Waiting too long on Dak’s contract, having to overpay him. Don't have a second weapon. Offensively weakest running back room in the league."
Fan Disillusionment:
Colin expresses the frustration of long-term players like DeMarcus Lawrence, who feel disillusioned with the lack of tangible success despite long-term commitments.
Colin Cowherd [35:20]: "If you're in a relationship at a company, I was at a previous company for 10 and a half, 11 years... there's a lot of good in the truth. But you don't tell me DeMarcus Lawrence doesn't know, as they say, where the skeletons are buried."
A significant portion of the conversation centers on the limitations of analytics in evaluating player performance and team success.
Analytics vs. Intangible Qualities:
Colin argues that analytics fail to capture critical aspects like leadership, creativity, and situational brilliance.
Colin Cowherd [14:21]: "Analytics does not measure all this stuff. Wing players, 18 a game. No, totally different players."
Case Studies:
He contrasts players like Jimmy Butler, who create in-game advantages, with others who might have similar statistics but lack impactful contributions.
Colin Cowherd [04:30]: "You'd think Wiggins and Jimmy Butler, if you just looked at the analytics, you'd about the same size, 18 a game. One guy's obviously more of a creator. Totally different players."
Playoff Performance:
Highlighting how analytics-driven strategies can falter in the playoffs where adaptability and clutch performance are paramount.
Colin Cowherd [45:20]: "Baseball is a great example. Over a course of 162 games, baseball analytics work. You get into the postseason, you're gonna, you're gonna use a starter in the bullpen to win a game."
Towards the latter part of the episode, Colin touches upon various other topics, including:
LeBron James’ Indispensable Role in the Lakers:
Emphasizing LeBron’s multifaceted contribution beyond statistics.
Colin Cowherd [30:00]: "LeBron is the Swiss army knife. He's the coach on the floor. You could have Luca, you can have Austin, you could have Rui, you could have anybody. LeBron's not on the floor."
Brock Purdy’s Leadership with the 49ers:
Predicting a successful future for Purdy based on his cognitive sharpness and leadership qualities.
Joy Taylor [23:09]: "Brock Purdy will be an NFL coach winner. Everything that's come out of San Francisco is he's a leader in the locker room."
NBA’s Small Ball Strategy Critique:
Colin criticizes the overreliance on three-point shooting, arguing that it’s ineffective in a league where height and physicality are crucial.
Colin Cowherd [37:30]: "Stephen Curry hit his 4,000th three-point shot yesterday. ... It's a tall man's league. It would be like if the NFL had a trend because there was one superstar player, tiny football. I want smaller, less physical NFL players. That's the opposite of the league."
Colin Cowherd’s episode provides a comprehensive analysis of both NBA and NFL dynamics, emphasizing the nuanced differences between raw statistics and the intangible qualities that drive team success. From the Warriors' strategic trades to the pitfalls of over-reliance on analytics in sports betting and team management, the discussion offers listeners a deeper understanding of the underlying factors that influence game outcomes and team fortunes.
Notable Quotes:
On Jimmy Butler vs. Andrew Wiggins:
"Butler generates double teams. He's creative. He gets guys shots. He, he is an attacking player. Every possession he creates advantages." [04:00]
On Steelers Betting Market:
"This is why the house always wins, because the general public is not that smart. Huh? Like, that's a straight up dumb bet." [14:09]
On the Limitations of Analytics:
"Analytics does not measure all this stuff. Wing players, 18 a game. No, totally different players." [04:30]
On LeBron James’ Impact:
"LeBron is the Swiss army knife. He's the coach on the floor." [30:00]
This episode serves as an essential listen for sports enthusiasts seeking a blend of statistical analysis and on-the-ground insights, delivered with Colin Cowherd’s characteristic blend of candor and expertise.