Loading summary
Transcript154 lines
- [00:00]
Colin Cowherd
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. Cap applies. Learn more@American Express.com with Amex. Virgin Voyages isn't your average cruise. It's a masterclass in luxury all in. Voyage pricing includes over $1,000 in value, Wi fi, tips, entertainment, even specialty dining. No hidden fees, no surprises. The cabins are next level private terraces, virgin red hammocks, unbeatable sea views. Add in the adult only factor. No kids, that's right, just relaxation. It's no surprise they're award winning. And the destinations Caribbean this winter, Iceland, North America and the Mediterranean in 2025 and 2026. Virgin Voyages is where luxury meets travel. Book it and see what you've been missing. Learn more@virginvoyages.com or contact your travel advisor. 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 heap 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. These days it feels like everyone is talking about how the American dream of home ownership has become out of reach. Well, Rocket is trying to give more people a chance to own their homes. They're making home ownership simpler and more accessible to more people, turning renters into owners. Rocket believes that everybody deserves a shot at the American dream. So are you ready? Own the dream. Visit Rocket.com or call 800-4Rocket. Thanks for listening to the Heard podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports radio at 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. It's hour two. Is it Thursday today? J. Mac, It's Thursday. You know I have so much fun on the show. It's just they're all the same day. I can't tell Anthony Edwards at the Lakers tonight.
- [02:48]
Jason McIntyre
You going?
- [02:50]
Colin Cowherd
Finch could get me tickets. Work on you Guys, are you going?
- [02:54]
Jason McIntyre
I'm not. I can't go to T. Then we have a men's league regular season.
- [02:58]
Colin Cowherd
Oh, boy. Okay, okay. All right. Watch out. I think this is very Steve Sarkeesian, Longhorn football coach coming up in a couple of minutes. So I think this story on John lynch, the NERS are negotiating with Brock Purdy. So I, I've said this before, do not confuse great story with great player. So Brock Purdy being the last guy taken in a draft and, and getting to a Super bowl, that's a Disney movie. Don't hand him a great contract because he's a great story. And last year, Christian McCaffrey gets dinged up. Brandon Iuk is out. You know, Trent Williams is hurt. Oh, little ice on the road. And his car was spinning out of control. Suddenly he had 12 picks, fourth in the league. So last year against playoff teams, 1 and 6, 1 and 6. Nine touchdowns, 10 picks, 18.9 points a game. So again, Dak Prescott was a great story. He got a great contract and Dallas has been irrelevant since. I like Brock Purdy, but again, the minute there was a little ice on the road. Can you drive in bad weather? Can you drive on icy roads? Because that's what November, December, January, football is in the NFL. I would give him a contract. I think he's a good kid. I think his superpower. J. Mac talked about this yesterday. I think above the shoulders the kid is really quick. I think cognitively he's a really bright kid and he gets it really quick. But listen, Andy Reid and Mahomes, once they paid Patrick Mahomes, Andy Reid and Mahomes have struggled the last two years to score points. Okay? That's what happens when you pay the quarterback. You're going to have to make big time decisions and I'll just throw this out there. The NFC West. So who's your biggest rival if you're the Niners? J. Mac, it's the Rams. Okay. The Rams defense is good, bordering on excellent, young and getting better. Seattle and Arizona with defensive coaches, both their defenses moved up dramatically. Last year Arizona was bottom of the league. Now they're middle of the pack. So my take is the, the NFC west has become a very good defensive division. And if the Rams are your rival and we know Brock Purdy's not staffer of the talent, good luck against that Rams defense because it is, it is going to be the next Eagles defense. It is that good they get if they land a good corner in the first or third round, they don't have A second round pick. Watch out. They're about a corner away from being even better. So I'll just say last year was a real year for Brock Purdy. Like he didn't have all his weapons. He had some of them. Kittle was great. Kittle was outstanding. Debo Samuel was there. Shanahan's a brilliant play designer. Play caller. I'm not. You had. You had some weapons. But they were one in six against playoff teams. They ate against bad teams. They scored 28 a game against non playoff teams. They scored, you know, 19 a game against playoff teams. And not only did he have 12 picks, some of them were ugly. Like, like more than a few were. What are we doing here? Here's John lynch on the discussion on the contract. They're already talking. We have started negotiations. We're talking. I won't go into negotiations. Like always is our stance. Want Brock to be our quarterback. As long as we're here and, and beyond and, and we'll leave it at that. I think the final thing, there's no guarantees that we get something done. But my experience has been when both sides are motivated, there's ample opportunity to do so. I mean there's three quarterbacks in this league that win regardless of what's around them. Lamar, Josh and Patrick. It just doesn't matter. Herbert's good, but he needs the right coach. Right. Herbert's good, needs the right coach. Joe Burrow's great, needs a better offensive line and. And a better defense. There's three guys in this league that you can pay a ton of money to and they're still going to win 75% of their games. Lamar, Josh and Patrick. That's it. So I'm just throwing it out there. I know old J. Mac give the bag to everybody over here is just throwing them around like they're Jolly Ranchers. Just throwing those bills around, those C notes around. You got to be careful. You even you would acknowledge once you pay the quarterback, you're going to have to. You can't keep all the players.
- [07:47]
Jason McIntyre
Yeah, I mean, listen, you did some cherry picking with the stats against playoff teams. Oh, no, no. Christian McCaffrey.
- [07:53]
Colin Cowherd
No.
- [07:53]
Jason McIntyre
Brandon Ayuk. He's missing half his team. Like, yeah, he had a couple bad games. But your dislike for Purdy really is something.
- [08:01]
Colin Cowherd
It's not just, you know what it.
- [08:02]
Jason McIntyre
Comes back to Audience this is real talk that he was the dead last pick in the draft. If Brock Purdy was like the last pick in the first round, cowherd would be giving him chances. Everybody Would people are out on him because he was not an early pick. He has proven more to you as a starter, has he not?
- [08:17]
Colin Cowherd
I am.
- [08:18]
Jason McIntyre
That he's an elite quarterback.
- [08:19]
Colin Cowherd
He's not an elite quarterback. I am not out on him. I've never been out on Dak. I am out on paying Dak 60 million a year. I'm not out on Brock Purdy. I don't think you should pay him early. I'd let it. I'd let the contract run.
- [08:34]
Jason McIntyre
50. How's 50?
- [08:35]
Colin Cowherd
Nope.
- [08:37]
Jason McIntyre
45.
- [08:39]
Colin Cowherd
We can talk about that.
- [08:41]
Jason McIntyre
That's your alternative. But remember, he says no, thanks. I'm going to test the market.
- [08:44]
Colin Cowherd
Okay. Good luck. Good luck with that. All right. Good luck. Go ahead. I'm just saying this is not Saquon Barkley going from the Giants to the Eagles. If he went to Seattle with a defensive coach, it's not the same player. Okay.
- [08:58]
Jason McIntyre
Who would you rather take if you're the Colts, Brock Purdy or Sam Darnold?
- [09:02]
Colin Cowherd
If I'm the Colts, yeah. Well, you're going to have to pay, according to the agent here, more for Purdy. And Darnold's a much better athlete with a better arm.
- [09:12]
Jason McIntyre
What, you think Darnold is a better quarterback than right now, Than Brock Purdy?
- [09:16]
Colin Cowherd
He's a much better athlete with a much better arm. That's all I'm saying. I'm just talking about traits as a quarterback. Steve Sarkeesian, we get him a couple times a year. Love having him on the show. Fifth year at Texas football coach. And you know, we were talking about this, the NFLPA yesterday came out with grades on food, facilities, how you treat the players. And what I saw was 20 coaches got A's. So in the relationship that matters. Coaches and players like each other. In college football, though, sir, it's a little different. Facilities matter because the players choose you. But I've always had this theory. When usc, when you were at usc, those facilities were not good. And my. And my take was that there was an edge, a chip to the Trojans, that, that, that. That some of it was. We're not like Oregon. We don't have pretty facilities. Do you ever worry about. Listen, Texas football's got a lot of money. We want nice facilities. We don't want it to be a country club. Do you think about that?
- [10:19]
Steve Sarkisian
No, you have to think about that. I think there's got to be an edge to what you do. The way you operate, the way you develop your culture, the way you practice, the way you work out. And so you have to make sure that there's levels of hard, we like to say, and that you can overcome hard. And that's whether that's on the football field, as I said, in the weight room, things of that nature. Because if it is too nice, I hate to use the word, you can find a way to soft if it's too nice. And clearly, I think our program has shown that over time we've developed a hardness and edge about us and the way we operate.
- [10:58]
Colin Cowherd
You know, it is funny because I said that for years. I remember when Oregon had Austin Stadium and then they got a new stadium and Phil Knight gave them all that money and the following year they couldn't tackle. I saw, I said all of us at the crowd got quieter because it was so expensive for tickets. I do believe you have an edge when you say you. And I do believe that. I think you lost Ohio State. Ohio State was the best team in football last year. They, whatever, they just were. They blew Tennessee out and Oregon out. I look at you and you developed an edge. And I always said, I think USC and Texas are glamour programs. Notre Dame's in bad weather in a small town. Do you develop that edge? Is it a coach? Is it a mindset? I mean, you have five star players everywhere. How do you do it?
- [11:41]
Steve Sarkisian
I think it's everywhere, you know. You know, Colin, I was fortunate. You know, I was at sc, obviously with, with Coach Carroll in the heyday, and we were recruiting a bunch of great players at that time, and then the level of consistency of which we operated. And I think it started at the top with him, and then it permeated through the staff, the organization, the players, the training room, the equipment room. It was everybody. And then to have an opportunity to get with Coach Saban, you know, in years, I think 16 and 17 years, whatever, how many years that he had been there, that I was there for a couple of them. He clearly had instituted it in his own way, too, in recruiting the five star players, four and five star players. But yet there was a tough, a mindset, a culture that had been developed throughout that organization. And I just felt like, man, we can create that here. But it had to start for me and it had to permeate, like I said, through the staff and the players we recruited. But it had to be the training room, the weight room, academics, all parties involved had to been rowing the boat kind of in the same direction. And now with our players, the standard is a standard. And our older players who have been here understand that, but they also understand they need These young players to be as successful as we want to be. So they have to teach them the way as quickly as possible.
- [12:56]
Colin Cowherd
I really like that you cancel the spring game. And it took a little courage because people are going to push back and you and about four other programs that it. And my takeaway, I had a discussion with Jen Cohen, who's the athletic director at usc and I said, you're pro football. I mean, I said you just got to come to terms with it. You need a general manager, you're paying the players your schedule. Now it's like the NFL. You have to beat three to four good teams in a row. It's really about attrition. Do you have the depth? If you get banged up like Kansas City and lose a left tackle, you're probably not going to win a Super Bowl. So for you, when you're in a traditional program and you say, I'm going to cancel the spring game, my takeaway was it was a little bit of a delicate conversation or did everybody at Texas go, guys, we can cling on to this old stuff or come to terms with we're about 70% pro football now.
- [13:42]
Steve Sarkisian
Well, I think you're right, you know, and I don't know if we're ever going to get everybody right because for some people that might have been one of the highlights of their year. Coming to the spring game and having an opportunity to see some of the new faces, new players. But things have changed so much. You know, I think about we just played a 16 game schedule and we started August 31st, we finished January 10th playing 14 games the year before being in the CFP semifinals two years in a row. So we've played 30 games in a two year span. When you go back to when spring game started, that's really three seasons. Remember everyone used to play 10 games. Yeah. And now things have evolved. Things have changed. I've got 21 high school mid years that are already in school, that should be high school seniors that are now with us trying to develop their craft. And so the timing has changed. The amount of games we're playing has changed. The development of your young players have changed. But to your point, the depth has changed. And I'm going to need all these guys to be at their, to hopefully be at their best in December and January of next season, which is definitely an NFL type model. And when you lose a player or two, you sure hope that that backup or the backups backup can go in and give you quality reps to beat a Georgia or Ohio State or Notre Dame, whoever that is, that you're going to have to play late in those playoffs.
- [15:01]
Colin Cowherd
So I've said before, I think this about every three or four years we get a draft where we have about four elite quarterbacks. There was the Burrow Herbert draft. That's, that's a little bit of an outlier. But we're getting more and more good quarterbacks because the high school coaching is better, the camps are better. You're just seeing more high quality drafts. It used to be we said the Elway Marino draft was like an outlier. You get that about every third year now. I think this is the year of B2B plus quarterback prospects. I think shedeur. I think Quinn Ewers, riley Leonard, Kyle McCor. I think in a weird way, because they're not. Cam Ward's ready to play today. He's just the arm, the movement, he's different. But in a, in an interesting way, it may benefit Riley Leonard and Quinn Ewers. You may drop, you may go to a better team. You don't have to play immediately. So if I draft Quinn Ewers, give me the thing he needs to work on and give me the thing that is pro ready right now.
- [15:58]
Steve Sarkisian
Yeah, I'm going to go the other way. I'm going to start with the Wyatt makes him pro ready. I think one plane in our market, you know, Austin, I think we've got 1.5 million people in the city of Austin with no pro sports, right. With no NFL, no NBA, no Major League Baseball. And so the microscope you're under, the scrutiny, the media coverage, the national media coverage, the brand, the having to have to be at your best under that, I think sets you up and gets you ready for the NFL where you're not so consumed of what other people think, but rather I need to focus, I need to prepare, I need to take care of my body. I need to be in the game plan. I think those things are really helpful to go along with all the physical attributes. There's not a throw that that guy can make that he can't make. Excuse me. I think naturally all young players, when they go from college to the NFL, and I liken myself, I think about the Tom Brady's of the world, the Aaron Rodgers, these guys that play for so long in the NFL, why do they play so long? They don't get hurt, right? And they know where their issues are. They take care of their body off the field, but they take care of their body on the field. And I know the game of football in the NFL. Is evolving and I credit a lot of those coaches and I think that's why there's quarterbacks getting drafted higher and higher now, because I think the NFL is adapting to some degree of what's going on in college football. But to that point, I think his ability to maintain his body because it's not going to be about him knowing what to do or having the physical ability to do it. But, um, I think ultimately it's going to be putting himself in the best physical condition to perform week in and week out.
- [17:31]
Colin Cowherd
So I think the nil is, is rough and I don't like my coaches having to be GMs and I. GMs are now getting hired everywhere. In pro football, money isn't a real thing because everybody's a pro. Everybody's getting paid. In college football, you could have a quarterback making 2.75 million and a kicker, you know, getting lunch money is. How do you balance that? I think it's much tougher than people to balance that. Hey, there's two guys that are going to make big money. Do you talk about it? Do you discuss it? Do you pay? I don't, I don't think I love paying high school players, but if you want to get a five star left tackle, you may have to pay. A high school player and not play. A junior on your team who's an all conference guy doesn't get that much. Is it hard and murky for you coaches to dance around that payment thing?
- [18:18]
Steve Sarkisian
Well, I'm sure it's difficult for everybody. I think we're, I don't want to say we're in a different position, but the reality of it is, you know, I'm very upfront and honest with our guys and I understand not everybody gets paid the same on our roster. But what you get paid does not dictate how much you play in our organization. You know, the players that earn it on the field, the players that do the things the right way on and off the field, that put the team in the best position to be successful, are the ones that play for us. And so it's not about how much you get paid through Nils. It's ultimately about, you know, who gives us the best opportunity to be successful as a team. And I make that very clear with our players. And so I think they understand that because when we hit the grass, when we go in the weight room and we're in the classroom learning and studying, you know, I think that's what determines who plays. And now that may reshuffle the deck going into the next season. But the reality of it is nil in our program does not dictate who plays.
- [19:17]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, finally you guys are opening your seat. I have always said there's a handful of programs, USC would do this, Texas does this, Michigan has done this. And, and, and I like the idea if you just opening up with a big old dog. Ohio State, here we go.
- [19:35]
Steve Sarkisian
I'm glad you like it.
- [19:38]
Colin Cowherd
So, but, but here's the good news. The playoffs, Steve, allowed Ohio state as a 20 point favorite to deliver their worst performance in a decade. They were awful against Michigan and they still made the playoffs. So my take is, I'll argue this is actually great for your program. You'll be able to measure where you're at now. Again, it'd be nice maybe to play Miami of Ohio and have you could, you know, you could work your way into the season. When you look at that game, how do you view it? How much importance? How, I mean, does it change the way you practice going into it? Because it's the Buckeyes.
- [20:16]
Steve Sarkisian
Yeah, I think, you know, we've had some pretty good experience with this and I know they weren't all in week one. You know, obviously, you know, we played Alabama at a conference two years in a row when we were here in year two and in year three. And then last year we went to Michigan, you know, they were defending national champs in week two. And then this year we're going to Ohio State, the defending national champions in week one. And so what I'm, I love this opportunity and I know I was, I was joking with you earlier, but I love the opportunity. I think it's great for our players in summer workouts and in, in training camp to know who we're getting ready to go play and the task at hand, I think now to your point, with the expanded playoffs, as long as we don't punish those teams for going to play those games that it's great for college football, man. It's opening weekend and it's Texas at Ohio State. It's a rematch of the semifinal game in last year's playoffs. And you know, it's great for their program. It's great for our player program because that's what the players we recruit, those are the games they want to play in. They want to be in those big time games. Now granted we have other games on our schedule that hopefully we can play a lot of players to develop our players along the way. But this is a great opportunity for both programs. Somebody's going to win, somebody's going to lose. But hopefully the team that doesn't win that game doesn't get punished from the committee for playing in that game early in the season. Because I think that's the hardest part with the committee when they're trying to decide who's worthy of being one of those 12 teams. And it's always right. It's teams 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. And looking at strength of schedule, looking at who you play, rather than just staring at the record, you know, who did you play, how did you play in those games? I think is as important as anything.
- [21:57]
Colin Cowherd
Finally, Arch Manning, Texas football, massive brand, back to back semifinals. You'll be favored again. How do you avoid title or bust? Because I'm telling you, all the eyes are on you guys. With Arch Manning 2 and oh last year scoring 40. Steve, there are a lot of people. They're going to come in hard and hot early. How do you simmer that down?
- [22:22]
Steve Sarkisian
Well, I think that's why we're here, right? I mean, I, you know, Colin, you know me well enough over the years. I didn't. I had plenty of opportunities to be a head coach again. And when this job was presented to me, I didn't take this job just to say I was a head coach again. I came here because I believed we could be champions, conference champions, national champions. And that's, that's the standard here and that's what we're competing for. It was no different than the last two seasons, whether it was in the Big 12, the SEC and obviously the College Football Playoff. And I believe through all that we've recruited really good players. We've developed those players. We have 14 players at the NFL combine this week. We had 11 last year, which was a school record. 11 draft picks last season, and like I said, 14 more in this year's NFL combine. So the reality is, this is why we're here and we embrace this opportunity. We're going to look forward to it, we're going to go for it. We understand we're going to get everybody's best shot. But again, that's okay. That's why our players chose to come to Texas. That's why the coaches that are coaching here chose to be at Texas is to. Is to be on the stage and to go compete for national titles.
- [23:25]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. A Manning, Texas football meets Ohio State. It's going to be one for the ages. A lot to look forward as somebody who watches and loves college football. Sarkis always hook them. Good seeing you again.
- [23:38]
Steve Sarkisian
Thanks, man. Hook them.
- [23:40]
Colin Cowherd
There you go. Steve Sarkeesian. You know, one of the things I like about Arch Manning is that Arch Manning moves a little bit better than Quinn Ewers. A lot better. And he's a Manning. It's American football royalty. Not a peep. He's just one of the quarterbacks. That was the most impressive thing, is that it speaks really well of the Manning family. They could have come in here hot. We want to play. You get a lot of that with quarterbacks in college football. Dad played college football. Dad wants his son to play. Dad's gonna transfer. He doesn't play. Arch Manning came in as the number one player in college football. Not a peep. Head down, grinding, sitting behind Quinn Ewers, who I think he's a better athlete than Quinn Ewers. I don't know if he has the arm, but I think he's a better athlete, not a Pete. Very impressive to me. Live in Los Angeles, it's the herd. One more herd. The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the iHeartRadio app. Search herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. 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 heap 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. Cart has no cash access and expires in six months.
- [25:10]
Steph Curry
Make some noise for the greatest shooter of all time, Steph Curry. We went live from all Star weekend for a new podcast called Goat Greatest of their era and we ranked our top five shooters from the 2000s.
- [25:23]
Peja Stojaković
Peja 5 Dirk Ford.
- [25:25]
Colin Cowherd
Peja is a.
- [25:26]
Steph Curry
Okay, okay.
- [25:26]
Colin Cowherd
I'm mad him. I left him off my list, but.
- [25:28]
Steph Curry
I still like my list. You won't believe who Steph left off his list.
- [25:34]
Peja Stojaković
That's so tough. That's why we have these conversations. That's why we love it.
- [25:38]
Steph Curry
Steph talked about what separates the truly elite NBA shooters.
- [25:41]
Peja Stojaković
When you have a scouting report and you're on the list as not just a shooter, but we have specific rules for how we guard you. There's a fear factor that's associated with anytime you're wide open, like, you might as well just count that and get on back on defense.
- [25:57]
Steph Curry
Listen to Goat G o t e Greatest of their era on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [26:05]
Colin Cowherd
T. Wolves, Lakers tonight. You know, you may have just talked me into that, J. Mac. You know, you. You. You are a little bit of a ticket broker. You've got your finger on the pulse.
- [26:14]
Jason McIntyre
Of what's happening in Los Angeles, locking down Anthony Edwards.
- [26:17]
Colin Cowherd
I'm kind to watch that.
- [26:18]
Jason McIntyre
Worth the price of admission.
- [26:19]
Colin Cowherd
I'll have to sit behind the T. Wolves bench, though.
- [26:22]
Jason McIntyre
Oh, because of your boy Finch?
- [26:23]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's. I could ask J.J. redick for tickets.
- [26:26]
Jason McIntyre
Are you guys close?
- [26:27]
Colin Cowherd
I mean, I. He knows who I am. That doesn't mean he's.
- [26:33]
Jason McIntyre
Don't you know who I am? Damn it.
- [26:35]
Colin Cowherd
No, I mean, he. I. J.J. redick's got. I'm not going to ask J.J. redick. He's got. He's got a little on his hands right now, but Lucas situation, and. Yeah, that story cracks me up. Hookah. Dantich, that. That whole idea that the Mavs are now leaking it, that, you know, he likes hookah. Everybody likes hookah. I mean, unless you're, like, a social conservative, which most people in L. A. Aren't. But who doesn't like hookah if you've never been to a hookah bar in New York? Go. It's a good time. J. Mac with the news. No, no, turn on the news. This is the Herd line news.
- [27:09]
Jason McIntyre
Let's start with the Matt Stafford situation. With the Rams still up in the air, his reps did give him a chance to speak to other teams about a trade, and that's why we're hearing a lot of scuttlebutt. However, Sean McVay wants to make it clear he wants Stafford with the Rams.
- [27:27]
Peja Stojaković
There's no dispute, and let's not get.
- [27:29]
Colin Cowherd
It twisted, in regards to anybody wanting him to be our quarterback. Now, there's layers to it, and as you try to put together. Put together the puzzle for your football team, you have to be able to say, how do we continuously build? How do we support him? How do we make sure that he's getting, you know, what is his worth relative to those things? Yeah, they want him. I don't think there's any question. You know, the hard part is, is that I'll go back to this. Go back to that Philadelphia Rams game. They played him as well as anybody. They played him. Oh, come on now. That final drive, they were.
- [28:05]
Jason McIntyre
But are we paying people for what happened in the past?
- [28:06]
Colin Cowherd
No.
- [28:07]
Jason McIntyre
For the future?
- [28:08]
Colin Cowherd
Well, no, but I mean, here's the thing. I think the Rams are really Close. And you're not going to be really Super Bowl. Absolutely. Okay.
- [28:18]
Jason McIntyre
I didn't see that.
- [28:19]
Colin Cowherd
I mean, I have him in the NFC west championship next year.
- [28:21]
Jason McIntyre
Barely got into the playoffs.
- [28:22]
Colin Cowherd
Oh, boy. They, if you remember, in the first six weeks, their offensive line was in shambles.
- [28:28]
Jason McIntyre
They had injuries. It took some time.
- [28:30]
Colin Cowherd
I mean, not let's injury that. They had the dreaded cluster injuries, which basically knocks you out of the playoffs. I mean, they had like cluster injuries at wide receiver and on the offensive line for six weeks. And we're a play from the NFC Championship.
- [28:45]
Jason McIntyre
Here's my big issue. Stafford is due to make 27 million this season. Look at the numbers on the screen without him. You remove Stafford, I think there's a big mistake. Now, I'm not Mr. Let's Pay Everybody 60 Mil, but let's not act like the billionaires can't afford a little luxury tax bill.
- [29:04]
Colin Cowherd
And you know, the Rams can afford him. And the reason they can is they're not paying anybody. On defense, they're not paying.
- [29:10]
Jason McIntyre
So why aren't they paying him?
- [29:11]
Colin Cowherd
Well, again, that's like saying, well, why doesn't Blank company pay the sportscaster anything he wants? They made 700 million on the Super Bowl. There are layers to everything. You don't want to get into a situation where you don't get a good enough right tackle because you can pay him a little bit more. I mean, these, they're called negotiations. It's, it's, it's in. Rams have leverage here. They're well run in about. Oh, of course they do.
- [29:38]
Jason McIntyre
The, the Rams, the team you just said that was a contender with Stafford on the doorstep, they have leverage. If Stafford walks out the door, Colin, they're done. They're not going to the playoffs.
- [29:48]
Colin Cowherd
Aaron Rodgers walks in that door, they're a playoff team. In fact, I will say Aaron Rodgers or Stafford, they win the division. Both those quarterbacks. Rams win the division.
- [29:58]
Jason McIntyre
You're so bullish on. On Rodgers. I mean, 10 games with the jets, irrelevant games against bad teams.
- [30:04]
Colin Cowherd
Well, guess what? Half the league's bad. So you're gonna play plenty of those in la.
- [30:09]
Jason McIntyre
There's a report here added that the Rams are comfortable with Jimmy Garoppolo.
- [30:13]
Colin Cowherd
If they move off of Jimmy Garoppolo gets you close to the playoffs. I don't know if he gets you in. Their defense is so talented and so good and so young. Go look at the Rams defense from week eight to week 17. It literally was arguably the best defense in the league. The left. Look at what they did to Jalen Hurts in the playoffs. He threw for 65 yards. They had no passing offense.
- [30:38]
Jason McIntyre
They bottled up your guy Darnold. That was easy money. By the way, the Rams, that was a lock city. All right, let's move on to the next story. Con. The NFLPA recently released their annual team report card surveying 1700 players and. Bad news for my Jets. Woody Johnson was the only owner in the league to receive an F. Only one. Regarding the grade, the NFLPA said the players cite perceived top leadership issues, some describing issues as top down problems and a culture of fear. Gotta love that one. Adding, rather than addressing concerns, players believe that management responded to feedback by making conditions worse. Oh, dear. Last year, Woody and the jets got a B minus and now they fell to an F. The NFLPA said the jets cut their food budget after receiving low grades in 2023 and didn't retain their longtime dietitian, Colin.
- [31:37]
Colin Cowherd
What did Woody Johnson's kids get? What did Brick get for a grade?
- [31:41]
Jason McIntyre
This is a team I root for. It's pathetic.
- [31:44]
Colin Cowherd
It's not that hard to treat people good. I'm not saying you have to treat everybody great. It's not that hard to treat people well. Arizona. What did their owner get? Another lousy grade? Like, it's just. It's not that hard to get a B as an owner. I don't need you to be an A owner again. I don't need the world's best facilities. I think that stuff's overrated. I want my teams to have an edge. I don't need the glossy Miami. Miami apparently has great facilities.
- [32:10]
Jason McIntyre
Well, wait. You know, I didn't want to jump all over your Tyson thing, but Tyson, when he was training in these dingy gyms, was on the come up. He wasn't a heavyweight champion of the world.
- [32:19]
Colin Cowherd
Right.
- [32:19]
Jason McIntyre
He was on the rise. These are pro athletes making millions. Your quarterback's making $50 million. You can't be given in prison food. That's just. That's stupid. This is your investment. You're paying the players.
- [32:31]
Colin Cowherd
No, no, no. I would.
- [32:32]
Jason McIntyre
You're gonna fire the dietitian?
- [32:33]
Colin Cowherd
I would give my guys good food. They don't need filet mignon. I'll give you good food.
- [32:38]
Jason McIntyre
What do you want to give them? Top sirloin. Well done.
- [32:41]
Colin Cowherd
Come on.
- [32:42]
Jason McIntyre
Who are you?
- [32:43]
Colin Cowherd
Jeez, I don't. I'm not a big believer. Players get pampered as it is with their contracts, the agents. Nobody wants to offend them. They get it. It's like, we don't need another Layer of you get anything you want. If I have good facilities, if I have a good owner, we treat them well. I'm okay with it.
- [33:02]
Jason McIntyre
Let's remember this isn't 46 weeks a year like some or 48 or whatever a real job is. This is seriously July through December. January. That's it. You can't pony up for six months to hook your guys up with a great sauna and a hot tub and food.
- [33:18]
Colin Cowherd
And you're making it sound like the jets don't have a sauna and hot tubs.
- [33:22]
Jason McIntyre
The Jets. Well, we've heard stories about the Bengals, but the jets players should be going to work acting. Oh my gosh. I'm just walking into the Ritz or the Hilton or whatever awesome hotel it is. That's where you want your guys in the right mindset getting pampered so they're ready to go out and kill and maim on Sunday.
- [33:37]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, I, I want. I, I think good is fine. You think it has to be excellent. My takeaway is if you treat them well and it's good quality, that's good enough.
- [33:47]
Jason McIntyre
Yeah, you should go sit in 23e in economy on your next seat. It's a good seat.
- [33:52]
Colin Cowherd
I wish I sat in a seat that nice.
- [33:55]
Jason McIntyre
Final story is Kevin Stefanski's on the hunt for a new quarterback. Now listen to this. This is a little strange. Yesterday at the combine, Stefanski said the Browns will use every avenue to find their franchise qb, but added he's impressed with the class of quarterback, saying this is a really good class from top all the way through. That's not what we're hearing from literally everyone else. We're hearing there's two good quarterbacks. Colin. What. What's Is Stefanski doing some misdirection here? Do they not want a quarterback up top? They are hyping Travis Hunter, by the way. I. I'm starting to have second thoughts on on Cleveland nailing this pick. Well, it should be a layup. Take Cam Warder, Shador Sanders.
- [34:36]
Colin Cowherd
Mel Kuiper once told me, don't believe people at the combine or the week before the draft. You just have to be careful about. If you look at all the prospects, I would say this. I think it's a very good class in terms of depth. I think there are eight guys that can play in the NFL like Will Howard is probably. I'll give you an example. Cam Ward's a first round talent. Shadour Sanders, in my opinion, is a late first round talent. I say Jalen Milroe and Kyle McCord to me again, not where they'll get drafted. I think they're, I think they're top to mid second round talents. I think Riley Leonard Jackson Dart are third round. Quinn Ewers fourth, Will Howard fifth. Now again, I think Jalen Milroe will get drafted first round by somebody. I, I, but I what do I think he is the talent. I think he and Kyle McCord feel like middle second talents.
- [35:29]
Jason McIntyre
So will Howard before that playoff run maybe seventh round pick, maybe.
- [35:33]
Colin Cowherd
No, I think he's a and he.
- [35:34]
Jason McIntyre
Has a good couple playoff games and they annihilate everyone and it's yeah I, I round like we watched him all season. He, I didn't think he was amazing.
- [35:43]
Colin Cowherd
Well he, he's, he, he's big. He's a big kid. He's a big kid who moves well. He's an NFL athlete. He looks like he's a big strong kid so he should be an NFL athlete. I don't think he's an NFL starter but I think he's draftable in the fifth round.
- [35:57]
Jason McIntyre
So Riley Leonard or, or I think.
- [35:59]
Colin Cowherd
Riley Leonard could develop into a starting quarterback. I think Kyle McCord will develop into a starting quarterback.
- [36:06]
Jason McIntyre
Is this the same Riley Leonard they're doing for like 67 yards in a playoff game against. I don't want to whoever I have.
- [36:13]
Colin Cowherd
I have Riley Leonard as my fourth to fifth best quarterback. I like his size. I like his athletic ability. I like, I love his toughness. I think he's a tough kid on that one drive. No, he's a tough, tough kid.
- [36:26]
Jason McIntyre
What happened the rest of well, again.
- [36:28]
Colin Cowherd
This was a run first defensive led team. This was not a aerial circus. That's not what they were. You get, you get caught up into that hole, throw it around the yard. I don't think that's, you know Notre Dame's formula for winning ball control, turnover differential in turn it over much and they took the ball away very good situationally. I just think he's a big tough kid. He's a little wonky throwing it. He's in but, but in games I watched Notre Dame play when he had to make big throws, he usually made him.
- [37:03]
Jason McIntyre
Yeah, no, I like him. I, I know it sounds like I don't like him, but he's a good player. I just starting to smell like 5th.
- [37:09]
Colin Cowherd
6Th round 4J Mack with the news. Well, that's the news and thanks for stopping by the herd line. Will Blackman, who like Travis Hunter played receiver and DB in college last hour so it's, I don't know he's going to play some of both. I, I think if I was him, I'd rather play receiver. I think it's more fun than corner and having a tackle, you know, Here comes Derrick Henry around the corner. I'm not, I don't think I'd love that. Will Blackman Next hour live in la, it's the Herd. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and iHeartRadio app. 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 Coach Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcast. And of course, on social media, that's Covino and Rich. 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 heap and switch up to 4 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.
- [39:23]
Steph Curry
Make some noise for the greatest shooter of all time, Steph Curry. We went live from All Star Weekend for a new podcast called Goat Greatest of their era and we ranked our top five shooters from the 2000s.
- [39:37]
Peja Stojaković
Peja 5 Dirk Ford.
- [39:38]
Colin Cowherd
Peja is elite.
- [39:39]
Steph Curry
Okay, okay, I mad him.
- [39:40]
Colin Cowherd
I left him off my list. But. But I still like my list.
- [39:44]
Steph Curry
You won't believe who Steph left off his list.
- [39:47]
Peja Stojaković
That's so tough. That's why we have these conversations.
- [39:50]
Steph Curry
Yes, Absolutely.
- [39:51]
Peja Stojaković
Love it.
- [39:51]
Steph Curry
Steph talked about what separates the truly elite NBA shooters.
- [39:55]
Peja Stojaković
When you have a scouting report and you're on the list as not just a shooter, but we have specific rules for how we guard you, there's a fear factor that's associated with it. Anytime you're wide open, like, you might as well just count that and get on back on defense.
- [40:11]
Steph Curry
Listen to Goat G o T e greatest of their era on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [40:19]
Jason McIntyre
The fastest racing on earth is coming to Fox. The 2025 Indy car season gets underway in St. Petersburg, the first stop on the road to the Indy 500. Sunday at noon Eastern, live on Fox.
- [40:33]
Colin Cowherd
Okay, this story just came down. There's been a lot of talk about Tom Brady, Matt Stafford, Montana, skiing, tampering. It just got reported. There is no issue. The Rams gave Matt Stafford and his agent permission to speak to the Raiders. That's what the NFL is saying. So the Rams said, go, go talk to Tom, deal with Tom, and it's fine. I will tell you is that I think the Raiders are absolutely in play. I'm serious. The people I trust are telling me Raiders may be leading the Rams right now. Remember, they're willing to give him three years. Rams may be stuck at two Raiders that give him 50 million. Rams may be stuck closer to 45. And do not downplay this. 13 and a half percent tax in Cali, no state tax in Nevada playing indoors. Chip Kelly, Pete Carroll, Brock Bowers. I think they've got their left tackle and center all wrapped up. They drafted a right tackle, I think third round last year, Maryland. He's better. I think he's better than they thought. Got pressed into duty early because of an injury and played well. So I, I think the Raiders are absolutely in play here. Absolutely in play. And there's a dozen reasons, but Pete Carroll and Chip Kelly, big. And the other thing is, if you can get again, it would be one thing, I wouldn't move for an extra 9 million. But if the Raiders are willing to go to three years and give him 50 in all three years, 150 million and the Rams are like, we'll give you two and 45 a year. You got to take it. I mean, to me, that is, that is a different ballgame again. I'd stay there if it's 8 million 9, 11. That's not going to make a difference. But what if the difference over the course of three years is $42 million? Don't you have to take it? I mean, again, you're not going, you're going to Pete Carroll, Chip Kelly, Brock Bowers and a good left tackle, Colton Miller. They've got the pieces. They need a running back and it's a very, very rich running back draft. So to get Matt Stafford, they could give picks up. You could give, you could give a first or a second pick up. And I think the Rams would be very, I mean, let's just say this, the Raiders go, you get our first pick. Let's just play the scenario out because I think the Raiders, the Raiders would have to give up their first pick. Matt Stafford's worth a first pick. I think, I think the Rams would the six pick trade down because I know the Rams, I have been told Rams want to trade down in the draft. They want to get some offensive depth. They're getting, you know, a little old at tight end. They want another running back. They want maybe two tackles, two receivers. So they want to start hitting on their offensive pieces like they have their defensive pieces last couple years in the draft. So they would love to trade down, they'd love to trade that first round pick into the second and have no first round pick and get an extra third and maybe a fifth. So they're willing to listen to anybody and they like Stafford. But I'm here to tell you the rams have the 26 pick in the first round. That's no man's land. They'd rather trade out of that and go to the second round. But if you gave them a first in the top six or seven, then they can trade that down. They can get multiple picks that way because what they need I don't think is available in this draft. I don't think there's a dominant left tackle. I think Kelvin Banks for Texas, Will Campbell, LSU are good. I don't think either as good as Joe Alt and I, and I, I think they would rather trade down to middle of the first round if they could get another, if they could get a second or a third round pick. They do it so they don't have a ton of needs. They need an offensive tackle and they need a corner. That's all they really absolutely need probably another inside linebacker and it absolutely another receiver, a boundary receiver. So I'm just saying Raiders, if you're asking me today, it is a coin flip, Raiders, Rams coin flip. Because Raiders will give an extra year. And if that extra year is $45 million, how do you not take it? By the way, here is Shador Sanders yesterday walking around Indy with three different teams. Saints, Browns, Vikings, hats. You know, he doesn't know where he's going right now. Grown men chasing him to get selfies. So there is Shador Sanders yesterday. Here was Albert Breer on Shador's challenge going into this draft. I think the issue with Shador, and this is going to be a difficult thing for him to address over the next six or seven months or six or seven weeks is are you special in any one area? Do you have a superpower trait or are you an average athlete with an average arm in an NFL context? And I think that that's the way a lot of teams look at him. He's not a great athlete. He doesn't have a big arm. So, like, where is the superpower that's going to make you want to take him in the top five? Yeah, I don't think he has that, but I think he's really accurate and he can initiate offense and I think he'll create stability. I've said this before. I think J. Mac and I both believe Cam Ward's going to go number one. And there's just too many teams that need quarterbacks. So I think Shador could possibly go two or three. I don't think he's that, that good of a player. I think he's more of a mid late first round guy. But, you know, quarterbacks get overdrafted. Who cares? I mean, it's. And this idea that he's not, he's not a bad athlete, he's just not Cam Ward. But he moves well enough. He moves better than Goff, he moves better than Stafford. He moves better now than Aaron Rodgers. He moves, he moves fine. He's just, you know, it's like CJ Stroud. CJ Stroud moves good enough, but CJ Stroud would rather sit in the pocket and throw darts. I like the fact, I like the fact that Chador Sanders, I mean, the, the knock on him beyond traits is he holds the ball too long. But I don't know, man, if you are accurate at throwing the ball and you've played behind a battle line and a bad run game and had to kind of like carry a team, those are some. I, I think there's a little, the little edge to him. It's very easy if your dad's a superstar, enriched and not have an edge. I think Shador getting beat up at Colorado for two years behind a battle line and no run game. I think he developed a little bit of an edge. So I like him.
- [47:10]
Jason McIntyre
Can I go back to Stafford for a sec? So what does that do to the AFC west if he went to the Raiders? Okay, we're already calling it like the coaching division, right? You got Harbaugh, you got Reed, you got Sean Payton. Now you're going quarterbacks Herbert Mahomes, Stafford and Bo Nix who's on the come up. That's got to be the best division in football. I know it was the NFC north last year, but if Stafford goes Raiders con, that's a ridiculously tough division.
- [47:35]
Colin Cowherd
Well, three team we've seen more than once three teams can make it to the playoffs.
- [47:41]
Jason McIntyre
Also another star quarterback going to the afc. Remember Joe Burrow missed the playoffs in the AFC this year and now you're adding Stafford to the afc. Oh my God, what a brutal stretch it is. Now if you're Jaden Daniels, you probably love that. If you're the Eagles, you're like, oh, thank goodness Stafford's gone.
- [47:59]
Colin Cowherd
If you're the Raiders, would you give up your first round pick for him? I'm telling you, if it's what's fascinating about this.
- [48:10]
Jason McIntyre
So they could be looking at Mason Graham at 6, the guy you love from Michigan.
- [48:14]
Colin Cowherd
Love him.
- [48:15]
Jason McIntyre
He's gonna be there 10 years in the middle clog and run defenses or Stafford for two years.
- [48:21]
Colin Cowherd
Raiders may lead in the clubhouse right now. This is Nikki Glazer from the Nikki Glazer 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 I heart and standing up to it. If you see hate, speak up. Call it out and you can learn more by following. Hat's upwithhate.
- [48:51]
Steph Curry
Make some noise for the greatest shooter of all time, Steph Curry. We went live from all Star weekend for a new podcast called the greatest of their era and we ranked our top five shooters from the 2000s.
- [49:03]
Peja Stojaković
Asia 5. Dirk Ford.
- [49:05]
Colin Cowherd
Asia is a lie.
- [49:06]
Steph Curry
You won't believe who Steph left off his list.
- [49:08]
Peja Stojaković
That's so tough. That's why we have these conversations. That's why we love it.
- [49:13]
Steph Curry
Listen to Go T E Greatest of Their Era on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [49:20]
Colin Cowherd
I'm Mark Seal and I'm Nathan King. This is Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli.
- [49:25]
Jason McIntyre
The five families did not want us.
- [49:26]
Colin Cowherd
To shoot that picture. This podcast is based on my co.
- [49:29]
Jason McIntyre
Host Mark Seals best selling book of the same title.
- [49:32]
Colin Cowherd
Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli features new and archival interviews with Francis Ford Coppola, Robert Evans, James Caan, Talia Shire, and many others. Yes, that was a real horse's head. Listen and subscribe to Leave the Gun, Take the Cannoli on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, it's Alec Baldwin. This past season on my podcast, here's the Thing, I spoke with more actors, musicians, policymakers, and so many other fascinating people like writer and actor Dan Aykroyd. I love writing more than anything. You're left alone, you know, you do.
- [50:09]
Peja Stojaković
Three hours in the morning, you write.
- [50:11]
Colin Cowherd
Three hours in the afternoon. Go pick up a kid from school and write at night. And after nine hours you come out with seven pages and then you're moving on. Listen to here's the thing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.