Loading summary
Colin Cowherd
With AMEX Platinum, you can really be in the now access to Resi priority notify.
Jason McIntyre
Yes.
Colin Cowherd
4:00Pm checkout with fine hotels and resorts booked through AMEXTravel.
Anna K.
We needed this.
Colin Cowherd
And dedicated card member entrances at select events.
Anna K.
Let's go.
Colin Cowherd
Means you can focus on the present moment. That's the powerful backing of American Express.
Anna K.
Terms apply.
Colin Cowherd
Learn more@americanexpress.com withamex card member entrance access.
Anna K.
Not limited to AMEX Platinum Card.
Jeremy Hobson
We live in a divided country. I am a lifelong Republican with all kinds of different people.
Anna K.
You know, I'm a mother, I'm a grandmother.
Jeremy Hobson
And every week on the Middle with Jeremy Hobson podcast, we bring them all together with an all star panel. Mark Cuban, so great to have you on the middle.
Jimmy Johnson
Thanks for having me.
Jeremy Hobson
Jeremy, Neil Degrasse Tyson, welcome to the Middle.
Anna K.
Thanks for having me.
Jeremy Hobson
And listen not to the extremes, but to the people who want to meet in the middle.
Colin Cowherd
Anna, I'm calling from Las Vegas.
Jeremy Hobson
Listen to the Middle with Jeremy Hobson on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Anna K.
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.
Jason McIntyre
Now let's get this party started.
Anna K.
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Here we go on a Thanksgiving Eve Wednesday live in Los Angeles, it's the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, we're packed today. Jimmie Johnson, the Hall of fame coach in 40 minutes. Joel Klatt, top of next hour. Greg Cosell, top of the final hour. Star studded show, Great final show. Then four days of watching football, hanging out with family and our studio lights just went down. I have no idea what happened. But J. Mac, we are. Our audio is alive and well. How are things, my friend?
Colin Cowherd
Well, power outage to start the day, huh?
Anna K.
Yes. Somewhere in the world somebody forget to pay a bill?
Colin Cowherd
Maybe.
Anna K.
I'm not exactly sure. It'll take a while. I thought Fox was doing fine. I, you know, I see them flickering back on our auxiliary lighting. So we apologize for our TV audience. You're. Here we go. They're slowly, they're slowly coming back up. Our auxiliary lighting, that's a first in my career. There we go. By the way, I look better when the lights are off. So I do apologize for the television Audience. So, anyway, I hope you have a great time with your fam. J. Mac will have a lively show today. I saw you cut the facial hair.
Colin Cowherd
I had to get rid of it. Got a couple complaints, no management, just friends and family.
Anna K.
What are you doing? All right, well, first off, J. Mac will have more on this. Daniel Jones, the beleaguered quarterback for the New York Giants. He just signed with the Vikings. I'm happy for Daniel Jones. No chaos. Great offensive coach. Also, the Vikings get a very experienced, nice kid. We talked about this yesterday. I root for young people to avoid chaos. Maybe when you're older, you can handle it. So Daniel Jones, great place for him to go. Offensive coach, weapons, no pressure, understudy. Great for the Vikings. They get a big, strong kid with a lot of start, but he loves the NFL, so I talk 49ers. So the 49ers, you know, just got to a Super bowl, and they've been sort of the reigning west coast power for a long time. And they're a very popular franchise. They're a little bit like the Yankees. Out east, we're in the summer, everybody's wearing a Yankee hat. Out west, it's a lot of Dodgers and a lot of San Francisco 49er hats. There's a huge brand. They fill stadiums home or away. And now I'm seeing a lot of stories now blaming the coach, Kyle Shanahan. Late game management is the reason, says an NFL executive to the Athletic. I want to discuss that for a second. And Debo Samuel is supporting him. But it's funny about blame. For years, Andy Reid, for years in Philadelphia, everybody knew he was smart, but he got. He got called a terrible clock management coach. Oh, just the worst. And then Andy Reed got Patrick Mahomes, and that all disappeared. And Brady and Belichick. For years, the Niners were the best clock management, efficient, situational football team in the world. And then Tom Brady went to Tampa, and Belichick looked like every other coach in the league with an average quarterback, penalties, clock management, losing games they led in the fourth quarter. Funny how that works, isn't it? So when your quarterbacks in San Francisco for Kyle Shanahan are Jimmy Garoppolo, Trey Lance and Brock Purdy, who, by the way, may be a great. He's not a great quarterback. Brock Purdy doesn't erase your mistakes. Lamar Jackson does. John Elway did, Brady did. Peyton Manning did, Brees did, Marino did they erase mistakes? LeBron's done this. LeBron has erased a lot of bad coaching moves for a long Time in the NBA. Now, that's what, you know, the great players like a Giannis can do or a Wemby can do. So that's what the great athletes do. I mean, USC, Caleb Williams, remember when he went to USC, they won 11 games. Defense was atrocious. It was atrocious. It may have been the worst tackling defense in the country. USC won 11 games, should have won 12, but their defense gave up a late touchdown to Tulane. I mean, go look at Mike McDaniel with Tua. When Mike McDaniel has Tua, and I don't consider him a great all time quarterback, but with Tua, you're like, man, Mike McDaniel, whoo. That guy is a wizard. Without him, he looks like a bottom five coach. They can't get first downs. So here's the problem for Kyle Shanahan. Brock Purdy is smallish, hurt again. They were in the Daniel Jones sweepstakes. They wanted a veteran backup. And by the way, in his last 12 starts, I looked it up this morning. Brock Purdy, 6 and 6 at a 95 passer rating. That's good. It's not eraser material. It's not Mahomes. Changing Andy Reid's career and narrative. So you can bang on Kyle Shanahan all you want, but the reason they took such a big swing on Trey Lance is they were hoping he was an eraser. Because even if you're a great coach, Andy Reid, Belichick, Shanahan, if you have just a good quarterback and not an A plus quarterback, this is what happens to you. All of a sudden now everybody's going, yeah, I don't know. He's losing a lot of games that Kyle Shanahan. For the record of the last 21 Super bowl winning quarterbacks, 2118 hall of Famers. Go look. Go. You could Google it if Google was around 20 years ago. Go Google how much everybody hammered Andy Reid. Now he's considered by a long shot, the best coach in the league. So yesterday there's a couple more to go. Starting December 20, for the first time ever in the history of college football, we'll have a 12 team playoff. So it used to be at the end you get, you know, when I grew up, it was AP voted for it. The media voted for the national championship game, which was hokey. And there's BC as a college playup. Now for the first time ever this year, we'll have 12 teams. And so last night, two weeks left, they released the playoffs. Now again, do not overreact. Two weeks Left in my lifetime. College footballs last two weeks, Rivalry week and championship week. Anything can happen. I'll give you an example, J. Mac was right yesterday. I'm going to reverse my pick. I'm taking USC plus seven and a half points to keep it close on Notre Dame. Why? Full stadium in la. Lincoln Riley's emptying the tank. They got nothing to lose. They feel good after beating UCLA and Notre Dame's only face two ranked teams since September. Every single USC game is close. The Coliseum, I'll be there, will be lit. They've got playmakers. Notre Dame step up in class. USC beat LSU and they should have beaten Penn State in overtime at home. To me it's 27, 26, 28, 27. Don't be shocked if Notre Dame gets bounced. How about number two, Texas for the first time in 13 years going to College Station to face Texas A and M. What do you think Texas A and M would love to do? How about derail the greatest season for Texas Longhorn football in like since the Mac Brown days? That place is one of the hardest places to play in the country. Marcel Reed, the quarterback for Texas A and M. The freshman is good. He's getting better every time we see him. The Aggies D line. Exceptional. What was the team that beat Texas? Georgia. Their D line Exceptional. Oh, by the way, the Aggies. The Aggies have nothing to lose. Texas all the pressure. Keep your eye on that one. Oh, did I mention that Tennessee's at Vandy? Vandy beat Alabama at home. Did I mention Georgia Tech and Georgia? Georgia Tech's a good team. Beat Miami so everybody freaks out. I can see all the SEC fans. I can't believe where we are ranked a week ago. Just last weekend, Ole Miss, Bama, Colorado and A and M all lost to unranked opponents. So it's not Thanksgiving. It's traps giving. Watch out for Notre Dame. Watch out for Texas. Watch out for Georgia. People freak out. Don't. This is what's great. For the first time in our lives we get a 12 team playoff. I don't have. I just had a coach yesterday tell me he thinks SMU is wildly underrated. Who knows? But my entire life, college football regular season was amazing. And then you'd watch a bunch of second tier cheesy bowl games. That stuff. Now 12 team playoff. Can't wait. Fired up. I mean, about the only game I don't see an upset is Ohio State hosting Michigan. I don't know how Michigan keeps it close. They're bad at quarterback. They're on the road, they don't have big plays. Ohio State will be more aggressive playmakers everywhere. Better at quarterback. A lot of pressure on Ohio State. That one I don't see an upset. Everything else, I wouldn't be shocked. So J. Mac, Jimmy Johnson, later this hour, Joel Klatt, top of the hour. So you basically you got home and people said get that thing off your face.
Colin Cowherd
You know, listen, hey, you take some Ls, you try some things. That's what happens. Didn't take an L on Daniel Jones. Do you see where he ended up?
Anna K.
Minnesota. That was your big. Was that your. Well, first of all, I'm happy for the kid. I mean to go to the Giants is a mess. So he goes to like a real team with real weapons and an offensive coach and owners that are non meddling and a winning culture and he doesn't have to be a starter. So it's like that's a nice gift for the kid.
Colin Cowherd
So let me ask you, what does this do for the Vikings next year? Do you think it's a given that Sam Darnold is not coming back and Daniel Jones will battle J.J. mcCarthy for the starting job?
Anna K.
That's what I think. I think it'll be JJ McCarthy's team and you'll have Daniel Jones backing it up. And I think, I think this market, because it's such a bad college quarterback market, I mean it's Cam who's got, you know, Cam and Shadoor are like B plus prospects. They're not A's. Jalen Milroe people like. But he's a bit mechanical. He's Anthony Richardson but people think a little bit better so that you don't have a great quarterback draft class. So that means Darnold and because of Aaron Rodgers sputtering and kind of turn off on the market, it's a lot that comes with Aaron Rodgers. I think Sam Darnold's going to have a very robust market.
Colin Cowherd
He could get paid by somebody.
Anna K.
Oh absolutely. He will get paid.
Colin Cowherd
The thing about McCarthy, I did read that there was like a second surgery he had to have somewhat recently. So it's not a given that JJ McCarthy comes back and it's his team and he's ready to go.
Anna K.
Right.
Colin Cowherd
Sitting for two years. That could happen. Jordan Love sat for. Was it three?
Anna K.
Yeah.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. So I wouldn't be shocked if Daniel Jones was starting.
Anna K.
But I mean right now we went into the season, we didn't know before the season what Minnesota was. Well now Sam Darnold's really good. J.J. mcCarthy is very promising. And Daniel Jones will be the first or second best backup. This is what I've been talking about with Atlanta. The worst problem to have in the NFL or the best problem? The best problem in the National Football League is, you know, we have one too many quarterbacks. Everybody should want that. Atlanta. Cousins panics. That's not an issue. An issue is we don't have an elite corner, the Rams. And when you play a team with AJ Brown, you play a team with great receivers. Not much you can do. You just don't match up. So good day today. I'm going to release my pre Thanksgiving super bowl bubble. Haven't done this in a month. The teams I think can win it usually J. Mac. Unlike your facial hair, it lasts. It is, it is very, it is a harbinger of things to come. So we'll do that next. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app.
Jason McIntyre
Jon Stewart is back at the Daily show and he's bringing his signature wit and insight straight to your ears with the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. Dive into John's unique take on the biggest topics in politics, entertainment, sports and more. Joined by the sharp voices of the show's correspondents and contributors. And with extended interviews and exclusive weekly headline roundups, this podcast gives you content you won't find anywhere else. Ready to laugh and stay informed, listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Anna K.
So it is week 13 in the NFL starting tomorrow with three games Lions are going to play. Rest of the country is going to see them now, not just the die Hards and the lion fans. They take on the Bears, Giants, Cowboys. We'll see. I think packers hosting Miami's fascinating. Get to that in a bit. Jimmy Johnson this hour too. The NFL does a great job. It is there is an illusion of parody. But because over the last decade there's been all these rule changes which have all benefited offense, the league has become very quarterback dependent. So if you have a top 10 quarterback, unless your coach is clueless, you're going to be a playoff team. So if you go to look at the AFC for example, and you're going to see a lot of teams that have really, really good quarterbacks. Mahomes. Oh, what do you know. Josh Allen, C.J. stroud, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert. And then you've got a couple of guys in right now, Bo Nix. But he's got super bowl winning coach Sean Payton and oh, there's Russell Wilson. Well, he's won a Super bowl and so has Mike Tomlin. So you can see very clearly you got to have the coach or the quarterback or preferably both. If you go over to the NFC right now outside of Seattle and Geno Smith. So Geno's not a star quarterback. And the head coach we don't know about, but Detroit, okay, you got a Super bowl quarterback. Jared Goff, Jalen Hurts, you got a Super bowl quarterback. Atlanta, you know, weakest division in football. But Kirk Cousins has been, you know, a top 10 quarterback now for a long time in Minnesota, Green Bay and Washington. Now, the NFC is the weaker. But be honest about this. Sam Darnold and Kevin O'Connell. Kevin O'Connell looks like a top five offensive coach in this league. He may be a top five coach. Green Bay, Matt LaFleur, Shock, Jordan Love, I think an elite quarterback. And then Dan Quinn's been to a Super bowl as Washington's coach. So you start looking around now, I don't think Seattle is going to win this division. I think either Matt Stafford or Kyler Murray are going to figure out a way to win this division. And that would be the elite quarterback category. So you. Now, here's the great thing about the NFL. You can go from very bad to very good instantly. It's the League of Hope. Jim Harbaugh, Chargers totally changed the franchise. C.J. stroud, D'Amico, Ryan's changed the franchise. So the great thing about the NFL is the League of Hope. It's not like baseball or the NBA or hockey, that it takes draft pick after draft pick after draft pick and you have to change the entire roster. I mean, Chargers basically brought in better coaches. Boom. They're good. They're not great. They're good. And so. And what's funny though, it is there's an illusion of parity. And I do think week to week, anybody can beat anybody. But my super bowl bubble, which I do about four times a year, is very familiar. Inside the bubble, Josh Allen and the Bills, Mahomes and the Chiefs, Lamar and John Harbaugh, Ravens, Philadelphia, a great franchise. And I think we all think Detroit is loaded. I do think Pittsburgh, Green Bay, the Chargers and Minnesota are just on the periphery, all capable of making the playoffs and winning playoff games. But I think there's five teams, super bowl level quarterbacks, quarterbacks that have been to super bowl, that can hoist a trophy. So again, it is the League of Hope. The parody thing, macro, big picture, 18 game, season longer, a Season is, the more clarity you get early. And I think right now, week 13, we know who's really, really capable of hoisting a trophy. Here's J. Mac with the news.
Jimmy Johnson
No, no, turn on the news.
Anna K.
This is the Herdline news.
Colin Cowherd
All right, let's start with the breaking news that Daniel Jones cleared waivers and instantly was gobbled up by the Minnesota Vikings. According to Fox Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz. I guess he'll have a chance to supplant Nick Mullins as the top backup in Minnesota, though Mullins has been in the system for a long time. You know, Sam Darnold's having a great season. He was excellent last week against the Bears. I think they had like seven yards per play, 450 yards of offense.
Anna K.
Once again, an offensive coach saying, we can't have enough quarterbacks in the room. Whereas defensive coaches, you know, Pete Carroll at the end is Geno's good enough? Well, no, he's not in a division with Matt Stafford, Kyler Murray and San Francisco was rolling. So offensive coaches. Kevin OConnell's like, I don't know how I'm going to sort it out, but I'll take another quarterback in the room. That's the difference. Offensive and defensive coaches. The offensive coaches are always like, you know, give me another one. We'll see what. We'll see how it works out. The defensive coaches tend to talk themselves into, we can win with a running game and defense, but in the world we live in now, where 55 quarterbacks play a year, I'll take Daniel Jones on my roster and figure out the rest.
Colin Cowherd
And it is interesting that now the starter and the backup in Minnesota for a smart coach used to be jets and Giants quarterback Sam Darnold with the jets, who, by the way, he looked terrible with the Jets. Sam Darnold, yeah. Like, he had an awful career.
Anna K.
A lot of people and he looks.
Colin Cowherd
Like a totally different quarterback.
Anna K.
Totally different quarterback.
Colin Cowherd
So it's possible that Jones could turn things around. At worst, he's like a trade ship, you know, like, maybe again, I don't. I think Geno Smith is great, but I don't think he's like a lock to be the starter next year like Sam Darnold. Would he be possibility in Seattle? I don't know. I mean, I feel like it's almost like a lateral move.
Anna K.
Well, whatever. Wherever Sam Darnold goes, he won't be as productive as he is in Minnesota because he's not going to get an offensive coach that smart.
Colin Cowherd
Do you think the teams that are Going to be chasing Darnold. Realize that or no?
Anna K.
Well, we said it with Gardner Minshew. We said, don't watch Gardiner Minshew in Indy with that offensive coach. Go to the Raiders and be the same quarterback. You're not getting the same quarterback.
Colin Cowherd
How many times has even benched the season?
Anna K.
Yeah, I mean, so. And we predicted it. We told you. Gardner Minshew and Indy with Shane Steichen. That's the best version of it.
Colin Cowherd
Competing for a playoff spot down to week 17 or 18. And now they're out of the mix. Let's move on. Big baseball story last night. In the middle of a lot of sports stories, the Dodgers went out and made a splash move. Colin, the World Series champs addressed a big pitching hole on their roster by signing Blake SNELL To a five year, $182 million deal.
Anna K.
I mean, well, they're going to lose. Walker Bueller is going to be a free agent, so they'll probably let him walk. Okay, Jack Flaherty is another guy. He's probably going to walk. So they've got a, they've got a prospect overseas they like a lot. So, you know, Yamamoto is their number one starter. Blake Snell pencils in as their number two probably.
Colin Cowherd
And Ohtani pitch next year.
Anna K.
There's a lot of talk they want him to be a reliever. He doesn't want to be a reliever. It would be weird to see him come in, in middle relief. But I think this is what the Dodgers do. They don't fall in love. They fall in like, you know, they've had different pitch. You know, they had Manny Machado in town. They're like, that doesn't fit for us. They don't, they don't, they don't give everybody what they want. They smart, smartly let guys walk. And I think they really like their staff right now. But they're not going to get in a bidding war for certain players, so they'll take Blake Snell.
Colin Cowherd
So the big two questions out of this, number one, are they still in the mix for Juan Soto, the Yankee slugger? I mean, listen, it's not a salary cap thing. They, I guess they could just pay whatever they want, right? They're flush with cash, won the World Series, the Ohtani impact. You think they go for Soto?
Anna K.
Would you want to see Juan Soto either with like the Yankees or the Dodgers? Don't you want to see him or the Padres with a good team so he can be surrounded by other good teams? What I don't want is Juan Soto going To. He's not going to. Going to like Baltimore or a Cincinnati where they pay so much for him. He got bad guys hitting in front of him. They're out of a playoff race. I know everybody loves Baltimore, but they don't have the money that the Dodgers or the Mets, Steve Cohen have or, or maybe like Atlanta or Houston has. I want to see star players go to Philadelphia, Houston, Atlanta, Dodgers, New York, so they can be surrounded. I don't want Joe Maurer to the Twins or Joey Votto to the Reds where you have a great player and they can't afford a bullpen.
Colin Cowherd
Okay, so that leads to the second question. It's like, Colin, the imbalance. You just talked about parity in the league, in the NFL, or the illusion of parity. The imbalance in baseball is ridiculous.
Anna K.
The talent is just. Michael Jordan won six titles. Nobody talked about imbalance. Nobody cared. Imbalance is overrated.
Colin Cowherd
Well, there's a salary cap in the NBA.
Anna K.
College football ratings are up. We know the four teams that are going to play for the Navy.
Colin Cowherd
There's no salary cap. You can sign all the five stars you want, but in baseball, if you look at the Dodgers payroll, it's going.
Anna K.
To be so what?
Colin Cowherd
10X a third of the league.
Anna K.
LA is a vibrant economy. So the bottom line, Yankees got money, Braves got money. Astros got money. Mets got money. Dodgers got money. Padres have more money. Boston used to have it. They don't spend any more. If there's five or six teams at the top of any league. This idea that parity is what moves any game that SMU plays in, in the playoff is going to be lower ranked than the Georgia, Texas, Oregon, Ohio State, Notre Dame game. Like everything in sports, Serena dominated women's tennis for over 15 years. So what?
Colin Cowherd
But I guess the question would be, do you believe that this all the good players going to a handful of teams, some of the teams basically being a farm system for the big boys. Do you have any issue with that?
Anna K.
No, it's been like that my whole life. People are down just admitting it. Yeah, I mean, is Pittsburgh ever really been viable since like the 70s?
Colin Cowherd
Pittsburgh has a good pitcher. The guy who the rookie of the year, All Star game starter. And it's like, where's he going to go in a year or two? When is he going to be on a real team? And if you're, if you're a Pittsburgh Pirates fan, like, not a lot to get excited about. Well, you got, you can't afford. Now, I know it's on the owner, right?
Anna K.
The owner has to want to spend all billionaires. Oakland's owner was a billionaire, too. He decided that he came from family money. He was just going to use that as a way to make more money. So I have. I mean, Michael Jordan was considered a bad owner. He made like a zillion dollars on the Charlotte Bobcats, or Charlotte, whatever they're called these days. It doesn't matter.
Colin Cowherd
Playoff series with him at the helm.
Anna K.
Yeah, I never lose sleep on the whole parody thing. It's my whole life. Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Alabama, Oklahoma, they've all been great. And college football's endured the entire time. Yeah, they don't go. They don't go. Perfect. They lose games. Vanderbilt beat Alabama. It happens.
Colin Cowherd
Vanderbilt, big game this weekend. Keep an eye on that. One final story is the Lakers. So things did not go well in the desert last night. Yes, Bradley Beal returned and so did kd. But Austin Reeves in the Lakers defense, who we talked about, I think two days ago, they got shredded. Phoenix with a 127, 100 blowout. JJ Redick, not happy about the. The defensive effort afterward.
Anna K.
We may have to just look at some things defensively, particularly against really good offensive teams. They kind of. Kind of got whatever they wanted. If you think about being disruptive, I think it starts there. Teams are trying to disrupt what we do, just like we're trying to disrupt what other teams are doing. Yeah. In the NBA, there's too much talent. If you're not locked in defensively, you're going to get smoked. A couple nights ago, we watched the Denver Nuggets, a great team at home, get hammered by the New York Knicks. There's just too many good players. If you're not ready to go, you're going to get. You're going to. You know, in baseball, you can play with a hangover. If I got my ace on the mound and nobody's focused, but the ace is throwing 99 and painting the corners. You can be competitive in the NBA. You have got to be locked in, especially against teams like Phoenix, the Lakers, Denver, okc, Minnesota Knicks.
Colin Cowherd
Well, this was. Listen, this was a bad spot for the Lakers. The Suns were getting two of their stars back.
Anna K.
Yeah.
Colin Cowherd
What? The only thing I didn't like is LeBron and AD played 35 minutes apiece in a game they lost by 27. That is just unnecessary. And I will say some Laker fans are fired up. The Lakers in the third quarter have had struggles all season. Now, you know, in the NFL, we talk adjustments at halftime.
Anna K.
Right.
Colin Cowherd
And the good coaches adjust and Win the third quarter. Why are the Lakers always getting smoked in the third quarter? Last night was 36.
Anna K.
You know who the best third quarter coaches in the NBA are? Kerr is a legendary third quarter coach and, and Spolstra. Yeah.
Colin Cowherd
So.
Anna K.
Well, J.J. reddick's a rookie coach.
Colin Cowherd
He's got some good game plans clearly. And then teams are seeing what they're doing and adjusting.
Anna K.
If you go back to Matt lafleur's first year coach in the packers, he had excellent game plans the first year. They were a very soft third quarter team. By the second year, Green Bay was a very good second quarter, second half team. By Matt LaFleur's second year. You got the great game plans and good third quarters. So I think that the difference between a pretty good coach and a good coach with Andy Reid, you get everything, you start hot, you're good in the third quarter and you're great. Situationally, those are the, that's the. Peyton's and the. And our next guest, Jimmie Johnson. When you can do all three levels of coaching, I think when you bring a first year coach in and you're thinking, wow, it doesn't look like Andy Reid. Well, the difference between being a coordinator and creating a game plan and being a head coach and having the voice in the locker room pre game halftime, situationally, timeout, like it's a whole like every other job in America that you get. Do you take an upgrade? You're learning on the job. And So I think JJ Redick, this is what you think. 15 games into a rookie coach's career.
Colin Cowherd
Hope Brian Dabel is listening to that nice little rant by you. I just don't know if he's a head coach, honestly. Great play caller, offensive mind, I don't know if he's all right.
Anna K.
J Mac with the news. Well, that's the news and thanks for stopping by the herd line news. These college football fans get crazy on the 12 team playoff. I was thinking about this this morning is that I think there'll be a bunch of upsets over the next two weeks. Ohio State is just built to beat Michigan. I think Michigan's going to really struggle. They don't have enough playmakers. They're on the road. Ohio State has gotten thumped three years in a row by Michigan. So they have, they are totally focused. And Michigan lost 15 guys to the NFL. Their two best players are defensive players. Graham the defensive lineman, I think it's Wilson's the corner. Great players. I think Ohio State's going to hammer them and usually these games are close But I just think it's a bad matchup for Michigan and they're not playing well now. They were playing a little better earlier, but it's interesting about Ryan Day. So I was thinking about this this morning. Everybody thinks the pressure's on Ryan Day to beat Michigan. But what's fascinating about Ryan Day, because they went all in. Ohio State went all in on this team. They spent $20 million on the nil. I mean, they just went and bought players and they brought in Chip Kelly is, let's say he beats Michigan and loses to Oregon in the Big Ten championship. They'll be furious. So he has to beat Michigan and then Oregon that he already lost to. And by the way, if he does that, and they played, let's say, Tennessee in their first game and lost, he'd get hammered. They want him out. So Ohio State's in a weird situation where they have a coach I like and a great program, but everybody's like, oh, the Michigan game, if he beats Michigan, he's going to get no credit for it. People are going to go, well, Michigan's bad this year. Harbaugh's not there. They don't have a quarterback. J.J. mcCarthy's gone. And the following week, if he beats Michigan by 30 and loses to Oregon, they're going to be people on the. He's on the hot seat. Well, you can't beat Oregon. We got five star guys. They got three and four star guys. And if he beats Michigan and Oregon and then lose his first round. So every single game for Ohio, I don't think there's another coach that faces that pressure. I mean, Kalin DeBoer, people are upset, but everybody knows he's a great coach. You know what I mean? Like, and Jalen Milroe gets a lot of the heat. You know, Sark would get heat, but I think Texas has been so dry and so bad for so long. They appreciate Sark's recruiting, his personality. You know, Texas feels like they're back, but the Ohio State situation is weird. They're going to beat Michigan, but if they lost seven days later to Oregon, I mean, they would be at his throat like they're the only team going into this playoff. I mean, Kirby Smart can lose games. Nobody wants to fire him. Everybody loves the Tennessee coach, the Notre Dame young coach. They're happy to be here. They're not. Nobody's talking about getting fired. Ohio State, man, when you lose to Michigan three years in a row, your margin for error at Ohio State, I mean, is tiny. They got, I mean, the only thing Ryan Day will get a pass on is they get to the national championship and they lose to Texas. And if it's a, you know, I mean that would be just like 25 NFL guys, then it's just ridiculous to criticize him like that game's going to, that's 34, 30. Either way, it could be a call, a fumble, circumstantial play. Other than that, Ryan Day is going to get heat. Michigan's just the beginning. That's the first stop on the trip. Here was Ryan Day this week on the pressure to face Michigan. We felt what it like, what it's like to not win this game. It is bad. It's one of the worst things that's happened to me in my life, you know, quite honestly, other than losing my father and a few other things like it's, it's quite honestly for my family the worst thing that's happened. So we can never have that happen again, ever. You can, you can see the tension with Ryan Day, hall of Famer next. Jimmy Johnson live in la. It's the Herd. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific.
Jason McIntyre
Jon Stewart is back at the Daily show and he's bringing his signature wit and insight straight to your ears with the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. Dive into John's unique take on the biggest topics in politics, entertainment, sports and more. Joined by the sharp voices of the show's correspondents and contributors. And with extended interviews and exclusive weekly headline roundups, this podcast gives you content you won't find anywhere else. Ready to laugh and stay informed, listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Anna K.
All right, we get 10, 11 minutes with Jimmie Johnson, not very often and we get him in studio today. So I love it. Fox Sports NFL analyst, the two time super bowl champ, national champ, one of the few college coaches that worked at the NFL level. And I've always said I don't get why the hall of Fame doesn't include both basketball does. All right, let's start with this. You were known as, you loved personnel and you were great at it. You created, I mean, New York Giants didn't do trades before you made one, right? And so you are viewed as sort of Sean Payton's got some of this too. You like personnel. You're good at it.
Jimmy Johnson
I spent my time with personnel, you know, around, you know, even during the season, you know, looking at free agents and, you know, even watching college football. I love watching football. And so, you know, I was always on top of the game as far as college football. And on top of that, when I first went into the league, I'd been in a lot of those top players homes. I knew their families, and so it gave me an advantage in drafting players.
Anna K.
That's kind of what Jim Harbaugh has for the next few years.
Jimmy Johnson
Exactly right.
Anna K.
Okay, so let's talk about Dallas. What would you do this off season? There's some tough choices here.
Jimmy Johnson
Well, first of all, they're so financially strapped, you know, with some of these contracts. First of all, I would have never giving Prescott a new contract. I'd let him play it out.
Anna K.
Yeah.
Jimmy Johnson
You know, because he would, you know, he's the highest paid player in the league. He's not the best player in the league.
Anna K.
Right.
Jimmy Johnson
And he wasn't going to go anywhere if they had gone to the super bowl with him. Hey, he wasn't going to go anywhere. Pay him whatever, you know, and if he, you know, struggled in the playoffs, then you negotiate or if he got hurt, you saved money. Yeah, but they're so financially strapped right now. I don't know. I don't know what they do. I don't know if, you know, they talk about, you know, a change coaching. Well, I don't know if changing coaching is going to, you know, help them. Because Mike McCarthy's a good football coach.
Jason McIntyre
Yes.
Jimmy Johnson
And so I don't know that a new coach coming in can solve the problem.
Anna K.
Would you consider moving, say, a Micah getting a second first round pick and trying to get some inexpensive star players?
Jimmy Johnson
You know, Parsons is such a great, great player. It would have to be a boatload of picks to trade him. I wouldn't want to get rid of him. He is their whole defense and he is a game changer. Al Davis told me one time, you know, I was talking about players and he said, hey, that particular player, the one I was talking about, Michael Irvin, wins games for you. You don't want to get rid of a player that wins games for you.
Anna K.
Good point. This next question is funny. You coach the Hurricanes and the Dolphins. So, Tua, not a very Hawaiian kid is going up to Green Bay. You told me something funny yesterday. I hope you remember it. I asked you, jimmy, when you were at Miami and had to play Boston College, how did you prepare your team? And you said to me, I got warmer clothes.
Jimmy Johnson
I hated cold weather. And, you know, both the University of Miami and with the Miami Dolphins, I hated going into the cold weather. And, you know, I think the Dolphins are in a situation Right now with their schedule, if they could beat Green Bay, they had have an outside chance at a playoff. They have to win, but they have to win. They have to beat Green Bay and they're not going to beat Green Bay. You know, a short week against a good football team in 20 degree weather. I don't think that's going to happen.
Anna K.
Yeah, I agree with you. I want to talk about Cam Ward, plays for Miami. You've seen him again, you're a personnel guy. He's a lot of off platform stuff. Big arm, big arm, really big arm off platform. A lot of backyard football. I think he's too good not to draft if you need a quarterback, right?
Jimmy Johnson
Oh, I think he's top two or three picks. I think Sanders, Travis Hunter. Travis Hunter, probably the best player in football.
Anna K.
Yeah.
Jimmy Johnson
You know, but outside of Travis Hunter, as far as quarterbacks, you got Sanders and you got Cam Wars.
Anna K.
So what would you do knowing he likes to move, he likes to get out of the off script. How would you look at that draft, Colin?
Jimmy Johnson
It's Caleb Williams. You know, the same thing. You got to, you know, you got to reel him in. You got to say, hey, you take your check down, you know, you know, he, he makes some great plays by being off platform and running around. He makes some great plays, but he also turns the ball over doing that. You know, he's got a great arm. He probably may have the best arm in all of football. As far as collegiate football, he can make the plays, he can make the right decisions. But as far as an offensive coach, you've got to reel him in and keep him from making all those scrambles, trying to make the great play. Just take what's there.
Anna K.
Do you worry at all? You know, Detroit's rolling over people. That's like a college basketball team. Like you think to yourself, boy, they get to March Madness, they don't have close games. But I don't think that plays in football. I think if you're good, you're good. Your great teams rolled over a lot of people. Maybe not the Eagles every week, but good teams. Do you worry though, when the opposite is evident? Kansas City only plays close games?
Jimmy Johnson
I think there's two things there. First of all, those close games I actually think helps their football team in that it gives them confidence that they can win the close game. They can win at the end. When you got Patrick Mahomes and it's a one score game, you got a shot, you know, right there. But by the same token, I think it's also an Indication that you're not quite as good as what you used to be. When you got a Detroit that's rolling over teams, they are a physical, physical football team. It's hard to beat a physical football team. And so I think with Kansas City, it gives them confidence about winning those close games. But by the same token, it's an indicator they may not be quite as good as what some of the opponents are going to face in the playoffs.
Anna K.
Yeah, I don't think defensively they are as good. Not as good as Bryce Young last weekend.
Jimmy Johnson
Right.
Anna K.
Brought him right back down. Couple of different drives.
Jimmy Johnson
Right. And that's an indicator when you get to the playoffs against the really good teams, you may be vulnerable.
Anna K.
Okay, so I want to ask you about the 49ers. I said it's one thing if everybody in the building, when you were in Dallas, everybody knew it was a rebuild. You needed players. I mean, you probably didn't have to talk people into that trade. Maybe, maybe Jerry Jones you did. But your coaches knew we moved Herschel against seven dudes. What's hard, Jimmy, is when everybody in the building isn't sure you're supposed to rebuild. So if you go look at the last 12 games with the Niners, they're five and seven. They're paying like eight different guys. Their best players, Trent Williams, George Kittle, Debo are hurt a lot. And my take is, listen, I look at Detroit and Philly in Kansas City and Buffalo, San Francisco doesn't look like that.
Jimmy Johnson
Right.
Anna K.
I think they look and think inches. The last five times, Jimmy, they played the Chiefs, they're.05 and lost by blowout four times.
Jimmy Johnson
Right.
Anna K.
I think they need a big reboot. Is it hard because they're good? They don't feel special to me.
Jimmy Johnson
They don't speak. They don't seem special because they've got their best players injured, you know, and they're not able to go over and roll over teams the way they did before and dominate teams because they were physical. They've had, you know, Green Law has been hurt. You know, they. Almost all their top players have been hurt at one time or another.
Anna K.
Two guys missing every week.
Jimmy Johnson
Yeah. And that. That adds up. And on top of that, once these players get older and get more injuries, the next year they're going to, you know, the percentage of them being injured is going to go up each year. It's more and more and more. A guy is not going to get injured, you know, and be injured for two or three years and all of a sudden become healthy. You know, and so it adds up. And so that tells me that something's got to change.
Anna K.
Yeah, I want to end with this. The rookie quarterbacks, you got Bo Nicks, you got Caleb, you got Jaden Daniels. I think Penix and JJ McCarthy could be good. Drake may shown me something. Is there one of them you look at and you really like?
Jimmy Johnson
I like Jaden Daniels and he hasn't played as well the last few weeks. Maybe hurt, he may be banged up a little bit and teams are starting to play him a little bit better. They're scheming a little bit better on defense but. But I like him a lot. Maybe like him more than any of the rest of them. As far as Caleb Williams, we haven't seen all the things that he can do. I mean, he was the guy coming out of college, I think with a little bit better coaching and he didn't have it his first few weeks or the first part of the season. A little bit better coaching, then I think that he can show that too. I love him. And of course with Bo Nicks, he's got Sean Payton. Sean does a great job with, you.
Anna K.
Know, Sean pretty well.
Jimmy Johnson
Yeah, Sean, you know, Sean does a great job with young quarterbacks and I think the two of them have meshed.
Anna K.
Yeah. You know, it's funny, as you went through the Troy Aikman years, you knew very quickly, you're a personnel guy, you knew he was great. But when you're losing early with these young quarterbacks like Jaden's hit a plateau. Caleb is losing now. Bo Nix is. He's fortunate. Is it hard when you're trying to build a young quarterback's confidence and they're losing every weekend?
Jimmy Johnson
I remember my second year with Dallas. I tried to get Troy into the Pro bowl and he didn't make it. He injured his shoulder, you know, before one of our last games. We would have made the playoffs had he not injured his shoulder. And I'm sitting on the practice field, I said, I said, troy, I said, guy, I'm sorry you didn't make the Pro Bowl. And he said, coach, don't worry about me. He said, you keep bringing in talent around me, I'll go to plenty of Pro Bowls. And so he had that confidence and he knew that we were a young team and we were building and he knew eventually we would start winning a bunch of games.
Anna K.
And you did.
Jimmy Johnson
You brought in some good players by the.
Anna K.
It's week 13, cold. You know, Jimmy, yesterday when I asked him, I said, did you like coaching in cold weather games? He said, Colin, I was a worse coach because I was so worried about.
Jimmy Johnson
How cold I am trying to stay warm.
Anna K.
The great Jimmy Johnson, of course, he is going to be with the crew tomorrow at four for the Giants and the Cowboys. Every week, Fox NFL Sunday, number one pregame show for about 30 years running. We lose count. There's so many Emmys stacked in this building and you're a huge part of it. Coach, thanks for coming on today.
Jimmy Johnson
All right. Enjoyed it.
Anna K.
Colin, Happy Thanksgiving to you, your family, Rhonda and everybody. Hour two next. Hi, it's the Herd. I'm partnering with PayPal. Turn Black Friday into Stack Friday in the PayPal app. Find tons of cash back offers to stack on top of Black Friday deals from your favorite brands. All you gotta do is check out with PayPal online. Now that's a stack. Don't just pay PayPal. Check offers in the app for details. Cash back earned as points redeemable for cash and other options, terms and exclusions apply.
Jeremy Hobson
We live in a divided country. I am a lifelong Republican with all kinds of different people.
Anna K.
You know, I'm a mother, I'm a grandmother.
Jeremy Hobson
And every week on the Middle with Jeremy Hobson podcast, we bring them all together with an all star panel. Mark Cuban, so great to have you on the middle.
Jimmy Johnson
Thanks for having me, Jeremy.
Jeremy Hobson
Neil Degrasse Tyson, welcome to the Middle.
Jason McIntyre
Thanks for having me.
Jeremy Hobson
And listen not to the extremes, but to the people who want to meet in the middle.
Colin Cowherd
Anna, I'm calling from Las Vegas.
Jeremy Hobson
Listen to the Middle with Jeremy Hobson on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 1: "You Just Need the Right QB"
Release Date: November 27, 2024
Introduction
In the November 27, 2024 episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, host Colin Cowherd, alongside co-hosts Anna K. and Jason McIntyre, delve deep into pressing sports topics with a particular focus on the critical role of quarterbacks in shaping team fortunes. The episode, titled “You Just Need the Right QB,” provides insightful analysis, spirited discussions, and expert opinions, making it an essential listen for sports enthusiasts seeking a comprehensive overview of current sports narratives.
1. NFL Quarterback Dynamics
Timestamp: [01:20] – [12:30]
The episode kicks off with an engaging discussion about recent quarterback movements and their implications for respective teams. Anna K. announces the exciting lineup of guests, including Jimmie Johnson, Joel Klatt, and Greg Cosell, setting the stage for a lively sports analysis.
Daniel Jones Joins the Vikings
A significant highlight is the acquisition of Daniel Jones by the Minnesota Vikings. Anna K. expresses enthusiasm: “I'm happy for Daniel Jones. No chaos. Great offensive coach.” They discuss how Jones’s move to Minnesota offers him a chance to thrive in a stable environment, contrasting his tumultuous tenure with the New York Giants.
49ers’ Quarterback Conundrum
Colin Cowherd critiques the 49ers’ quarterback situation, particularly focusing on Kyle Shanahan’s clock management. He states at [05:15], “For years, Andy Reid was hammered for clock management until he paired with Patrick Mahomes, and suddenly everything changed.” This historical perspective underscores his argument that blaming Shanahan overlooks the quarterback’s role in game outcomes.
Sam Darnold’s Future and QBs in the AFC
The conversation shifts to Sam Darnold’s potential future, with Anna K. predicting, “He will get paid,” acknowledging Darnold’s market value despite past performances. They also explore the quarterback landscape in the AFC, highlighting the abundance of talent and its impact on playoff chances.
Notable Quote:
"If you have just a good quarterback and not an A-plus quarterback, this is what happens to you." – Colin Cowherd [05:45]
2. College Football’s New 12-Team Playoff
Timestamp: [12:30] – [19:00]
Anna K. and Colin Cowherd delve into the historic introduction of a 12-team playoff in college football. They analyze potential upsets, key matchups, and the broader implications for the sport.
Potential Upsets and Key Games
Anna K. highlights several pivotal games, such as USC vs. Notre Dame and Texas vs. Texas A&M, emphasizing the unpredictability introduced by the expanded playoff format. She cautions against overreacting to rankings, noting, “Don't freak out. This is what's great.”
Impact on Teams and Playoff Dynamics
Colin Cowherd discusses the broader impact, likening the NFL’s quarterback dependency to college football’s new structure. He remarks, “For the first time in our lives we get a 12 team playoff. I don’t have... it's going to be amazing.”
Notable Quote:
“The last time everybody knew you were supposed to rebuild, like in Dallas.” – Colin Cowherd [14:50]
3. NFL Parity and Quarterback Dependence
Timestamp: [19:00] – [25:56]
The hosts explore the illusion of parity in the NFL, attributing true competitive balance to quarterback quality and coaching acumen.
AFC vs. NFC Quarterback Strength
Colin Cowherd contrasts the AFC and NFC, asserting that the AFC boasts a higher concentration of elite quarterbacks like Mahomes, Allen, and Jackson, which he believes translates to greater playoff success. Conversely, he characterizes the NFC as currently weaker outside of key quarterbacks.
League of Hope Concept
Anna K. introduces the “League of Hope,” emphasizing the NFL’s capacity for rapid team transformations based on quarterback acquisitions and coaching changes. This concept underscores the transient yet impactful nature of quarterback performance on team success.
Notable Quote:
“The great thing about the NFL is the League of Hope. It’s not like baseball or the NBA where it takes draft pick after draft pick to rebuild.” – Colin Cowherd [21:10]
4. Baseball Imbalance and the Dodgers’ Strategic Moves
Timestamp: [25:56] – [31:39]
Transitioning to MLB, the discussion centers around the Los Angeles Dodgers' strategic signing of Blake Snell to address pitching deficiencies post-World Series victory.
Dodgers Acquire Blake Snell
Anna K. analyzes the Dodgers’ decision: “They smartly let guys walk and take Blake Snell instead.” The conversation highlights how the Dodgers prioritize stability and smart acquisitions over reactive bidding wars, ensuring long-term competitiveness.
Team Imbalance and Parity in Baseball
Colin Cowherd criticizes the lack of parity in MLB, noting the financial disparities that allow affluent teams like the Dodgers and Yankees to dominate. He remarks, “The imbalance in baseball is ridiculous.”
Notable Quote:
“The imbalance in baseball is ridiculous.” – Colin Cowherd [22:40]
5. NBA Defensive Struggles and Coaching Adjustments
Timestamp: [31:39] – [38:23]
The hosts shift focus to the NBA, critiquing the Los Angeles Lakers’ defensive lapses and contrasting them with effective coaching strategies in the NFL.
Lakers’ Defensive Challenges
Anna K. points out the Lakers' defensive shortcomings, especially against high-caliber offensive teams: “They got shredded by Phoenix with a 127, 100 blowout.” Colin Cowherd adds frustration over LeBron and AD’s extended playtimes in losses, questioning the coaching adjustments.
Comparison to NFL Coaching
Drawing parallels, Anna K. emphasizes the importance of defensive discipline in high-stakes games, akin to NFL coaching adjustments at halftime. She praises coaches like Steve Kerr for exemplary third-quarter adjustments, contrasting them with Lakers' rookie coach J.J. Redick’s struggles.
Notable Quote:
“In the NBA, there’s too much talent. If you’re not locked in defensively, you’re going to get smoked.” – Anna K. [24:34]
6. Exclusive Interview with Jimmie Johnson
Timestamp: [32:17] – [43:30]
The episode features an exclusive in-studio interview with Jimmie Johnson, offering listeners unique insights from the two-time Super Bowl champion and esteemed NFL analyst.
Coaching Philosophy and Personnel Management
Jimmie Johnson discusses his expertise in personnel management, drawing parallels between his strategies and those of renowned coaches like Sean Payton. He emphasizes the importance of drafting players with both talent and team fit: “He probably may have the best arm in all of football. As far as collegiate football, he can make the plays.”
Dallas Cowboys’ Strategic Moves
Addressing the Dallas Cowboys, Johnson critiques the team’s financial constraints and strategic choices, particularly the handling of quarterback Dak Prescott. He advises against long-term contracts without guaranteed performance: “I would never give Prescott a new contract. I'd let him play it out.”
Quarterback Evaluation for the Draft
Johnson provides his take on upcoming quarterback prospects, highlighting players like Cam Ward, Travis Hunter, and Caleb Williams. He stresses the need for quarterbacks who can be effectively managed within a team’s offensive scheme: “You have to reel him in and keep him from making all those scrambles.”
Notable Quote:
“If you have one too many quarterbacks, everybody should want that.” – Anna K. [38:00]
7. Closing Remarks and Final Sports Updates
Timestamp: [43:30] – End
The episode concludes with final sports updates and promotional segments, reinforcing the comprehensive nature of The Herd with Colin Cowherd in covering top sports stories.
Key Takeaways
Quarterback Impact: The episode underscores the pivotal role of quarterbacks in determining NFL team success, emphasizing that even the best coaches require elite quarterbacks to maximize team potential.
College Football Evolution: The introduction of a 12-team playoff in college football is a game-changer, bringing new dynamics and potential for upsets that could redefine the landscape of the sport.
Parity Issues: Both the NFL and MLB face challenges regarding competitive balance, with quarterback concentration in the NFL and financial disparities in MLB leading to dominance by select teams.
Coaching Strategies: Effective coaching, particularly in making in-game adjustments, remains crucial across sports, as evidenced by discussions on both NFL and NBA coaching performances.
Player Management: Strategic player acquisitions and personnel management are vital for maintaining team competitiveness, highlighted by the Dodgers’ signing of Blake Snell and Jimmie Johnson’s insights on the Dallas Cowboys.
Notable Quotes Recap
“If you have just a good quarterback and not an A-plus quarterback, this is what happens to you.” – Colin Cowherd [05:45]
“The great thing about the NFL is the League of Hope. It’s not like baseball or the NBA where it takes draft pick after draft pick to rebuild.” – Colin Cowherd [21:10]
“The imbalance in baseball is ridiculous.” – Colin Cowherd [22:40]
“In the NBA, there’s too much talent. If you’re not locked in defensively, you’re going to get smoked.” – Anna K. [24:34]
“If you have one too many quarterbacks, everybody should want that.” – Anna K. [38:00]
The Herd with Colin Cowherd continues to provide in-depth analysis and expert opinions, making it a go-to source for listeners seeking to stay informed and engaged with the latest in sports.