Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 1: What the Bears Need Release Date: December 17, 2024

Introduction

In the inaugural hour of "What the Bears Need," Colin Cowherd engages in a candid and in-depth discussion about the current state of the Chicago Bears franchise. Joined by co-host J. Mac, the conversation navigates through the complexities of the Bears' organizational issues, compares them with other struggling NFL franchises, and explores potential solutions to revive the team's fortunes.

1. Chicago Bears: A Broken Franchise

At the core of the episode, Colin Cowherd asserts that the Chicago Bears are a fundamentally broken franchise. He highlights numerous internal issues that have plagued the team:

• Ownership and Management: Colin criticizes the Bears' ownership, describing them as being in the "bottom three" of team ownership categories. He points out the inefficiency of the team president and the inconsistencies of a young general manager whose performance has been "hit and miss" (03:12).

• Coaching Staff: The current coaching staff, led by Brandon Staley, is deemed ineffective. Colin emphasizes that Staley has been "completely over his skis," drawing parallels between his mismanagement and the broader dysfunctional state of the franchise (07:45).

• Player Utilization: While acknowledging that the Bears possess some "decent players," Colin notes that without strong leadership and a competent coaching strategy, the talent remains underutilized (10:30).

Notable Quote:

"If you can't and you're banged up, there are excellent doctors. The league creates millionaires every day. But they do ask that if you're capable of playing, that you play." (03:10)

2. Leadership Solutions: The Mike Vrabel Proposition

Colin Cowherd proposes a bold solution to the Bears' woes: hiring Mike Vrabel as the head coach. He argues that Vrabel is the only viable candidate capable of steering the franchise toward success.

• Why Mike Vrabel? Colin believes that Vrabel's leadership style and experience make him uniquely suited to address the Bears' systemic problems. He dismisses other potential candidates, including "college guys" and "lightweight coordinators," emphasizing that the Bears require a coach with the gravitas to enact significant change (22:15).

• Potential Impact: Drawing a comparison with the Los Angeles Chargers, where a substantial investment in coaching led to positive results, Colin suggests that a similar approach with Vrabel could rejuvenate the Bears. He underscores the necessity for strong, defiant leadership, citing historical successes within Chicago sports tied to authoritative figures like Mike Ditka (25:00).

Notable Quote:

"There are no other answers. It's Mike Vrabel. That's it. No more lightweights, no more coordinators. This lift is too big." (19:50)

3. Comparative Analysis: Jets and Giants

Beyond the Bears, Colin and J. Mac delve into the struggles of the New York Jets and New York Giants, identifying these teams as the other two "broken" franchises in the league.

• New York Jets: Despite having a roster brimming with talent, the Jets falter due to lackluster management and inconsistent leadership. Colin praises the Jets for having "all sorts of good players" yet condemns their 4-10 record, attributing it to poor organizational decisions (33:00).

• New York Giants: The Giants grapple with quarterback instability, particularly with Daniel Jones. Colin discusses the potential repercussions of releasing Jones and the challenges of rebuilding the quarterback position (50:12).

Notable Quote:

"You are the coach. Chicago has a star quarterback, but they're the biggest mess." (51:02)

4. Quarterback Market: Sam Darnold and the Colts

A significant portion of the discussion centers around quarterback Sam Darnold and his potential move to the Indianapolis Colts.

• Trade Analysis: Colin assesses the Vikings' dilemma in deciding whether to retain Darnold or let him become a free agent. He favors trading Darnold to the Colts, citing Indianapolis's ample cap space and supportive roster as conducive to his success (13:51).

• Impact on Teams: The move is portrayed as mutually beneficial, with Darnold finding a stable environment to flourish and the Colts securing a promising young quarterback without significant financial strain (35:43).

Notable Quote:

"Sam Darnold's a very very high end. If quarterback. If he gets Shane Steichen in Indy, he'd win." (35:15)

5. Quarterback Performance: Josh Allen vs. Tua Tagovailoa

Colin provides a comparative analysis of top quarterbacks, focusing on Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills and Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins.

• Josh Allen: Celebrated as the "best quarterback in the NFL" this season, Allen's performance is lauded for its consistency and impact on the Bills' success. Colin underscores Allen's MVP-worthy season, noting his ability to elevate the team's offense (26:00).

• Tua Tagovailoa: In contrast, Tua is characterized as an "if quarterback," reliant on favorable conditions such as weather and offensive support to perform effectively. Colin criticizes the Dolphins' reliance on Tua, suggesting that his abilities are overly contingent on situational factors (35:34).

Notable Quote:

"Josh Allen's great. Yes. I think he's different than everybody." (26:00)

6. Mike McCarthy and the Dallas Cowboys

The episode also explores the Dallas Cowboys' coaching and team dynamics under Mike McCarthy.

• Coaching Performance: Colin acknowledges McCarthy's efforts but points out the need for strategic acquisitions to enhance the team's performance. He suggests that the Cowboys require additional running backs and offensive weapons to complement Dak Prescott's talents (30:17).

• Organizational Challenges: Despite recent wins, Colin remains skeptical about the Cowboys' trajectory, emphasizing the necessity for bold moves to secure long-term success (31:26).

Notable Quote:

"I think there's a path to success for almost everybody in the league. Not name the Chicago Bears." (30:15)

7. Additional NFL Topics

Throughout the episode, Colin and J. Mac touch upon various other NFL-related subjects:

• Jalen Carter Incident: They discuss a heated sideline confrontation involving Jalen Carter of the Eagles, highlighting issues of player conduct and coaching responses during games (26:00).

• Super Bowl Predictions: Colin reflects on the importance of timing and team consistency in securing Super Bowl victories, referencing recent expansions to the NFL season and their implications (53:47).

Notable Quote:

"In this league, these billionaire owners do not like to write 180 million dollar checks." (36:49)

8. Audience Engagement and Wrap-Up

As the episode concludes, Colin and J. Mac invite listeners to reflect on the discussed topics, emphasizing the importance of strategic leadership and cohesive team dynamics in sports. They encourage fans to engage with the show through live editions on Fox Sports Radio and various streaming platforms.

Notable Quote:

"Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd Weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio." (14:00)

Conclusion

"Hour 1 - What the Bears Need" offers a comprehensive look into the multifaceted challenges facing the Chicago Bears. Through incisive analysis and robust discussions, Colin Cowherd and J. Mac present a roadmap for potential recovery and success, not only for the Bears but also for other struggling NFL franchises. The episode underscores the critical role of effective leadership, strategic decision-making, and player management in building a championship-caliber team.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

1. "If you can't and you're banged up, there are excellent doctors. The league creates millionaires every day. But they do ask that if you're capable of playing, that you play." — Colin Cowherd [03:10]

2. "There are no other answers. It's Mike Vrabel. That's it. No more lightweights, no more coordinators. This lift is too big." — Colin Cowherd [19:50]

3. "You are the coach. Chicago has a star quarterback, but they're the biggest mess." — Colin Cowherd [51:02]

4. "Sam Darnold's a very very high end. If quarterback. If he gets Shane Steichen in Indy, he'd win." — Colin Cowherd [35:15]

5. "Josh Allen's great. Yes. I think he's different than everybody." — Colin Cowherd [26:00]

6. "I think there's a path to success for almost everybody in the league. Not name the Chicago Bears." — Colin Cowherd [30:15]

7. "In this league, these billionaire owners do not like to write 180 million dollar checks." — Colin Cowherd [36:49]

8. "Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd Weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio." — Colin Cowherd [14:00]

This summary encapsulates the critical discussions and insights from the first hour of "What the Bears Need," providing listeners and non-listeners alike with a clear understanding of the franchise's challenges and the proposed solutions.