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Colin Cowherd
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Colin Cowherd
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Drew Brees
Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports radio and noon.
Colin Cowherd
To 3 EAS a.m. 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.
Drew Brees
Here we are live in the Crescent City.
Colin Cowherd
Great drone shots, friends at Fox.
Drew Brees
Matt Hasselbeck will be joining us in a couple of minutes as we get ready for the super bowl, which I do believe will look little bit like that. Seahawks stacked roster against the New England Patriots. The lesser roster, but the legendary coach and quarterback. I think we're going to be here for an all time great one. I think Philadelphia's roster is the best since that Seahawk team that had everybody from Russell Wilson to Marshawn lynch to Richard Sherman to Cam Chancellor. Pete Carroll had come into the Seahawks at a college he'd hit on multiple third, fourth, fifth, sixth round picks. And that's where we stand today. J. Mac Every, every time we have a big game, I take out the yellow pad and I give you my favorite 10 players in the game, the 10 best players. And it's tough because I'll just tell you, Travis Kelce doesn't make it. It's not because he couldn't be the mvp, but I just don't see it happening. So here we go. Here's who I believe are the 10 best players in this game. And number one is not a big shock. I think it's Patrick Mahomes who was not necessarily great against Houston. But I've said this with mj. There are certain players in these big moments that are not burdened by pressure. It's almost as if Mahomes needs the playoff intensity to elevate him. Nine consecutive postseason wins. He's number one, I think number two, it's the historic Saquon Barkley. When he went to Philadelphia with that old line, we said, folks, the Giants have just made a franchise mistake that is egregious. 14 games this year with 100 plus rush yards. Now, obviously some of that is the offensive line. He's just different. He's just a different player. You know, running backs are hard to describe because all the great ones have had stylistically kind of a different bent speed, ability to make you miss. Jump over through SAQUON BARKLEY At 2, I would put Chris Jones number 3. When you're a defensive lineman and can move anywhere on the defensive line and you're unblockable on the end, you're unblockable on the interior. He was the highest graded interior defensive lineman this season, including the playoffs. You know, remember when they weren't sure if they were going to pay Chris Jones and I believe the future of the NFL, you're seeing this a lot is teams will pay one great defensive lineman but pay most of the money on offense. Chris is number three for me. Number four is, I think Jalen Carter is virtually unblockable. He's not Chris Jones in terms of consistency yet, but he led the team in pressures, tackles for loss, quarterback hits and he's got an Aaron Donald vibe which you have to start your offensive game plan with. Okay, how do we get Jalen Carter out of the picture? I'd put him at four. Jordan Malata, the highest graded offensive tackle. I would put him at five. We'll get to tuning in a second. I would put Jordan Melodic, who was the highest graded tackle in the regular season. Now listen, Philadelphia's offensive line, they do offensive lines really, really well. And so you could do multiple players on this, including Lane Johnson, but I think, you know, only two sacks allowed this year and only one during the regular season in 500 opportunities to pass block.
Colin Cowherd
So.
Drew Brees
And you remember you're blocking the best athlete, some would say on the defense. Number six, Joe Tunney. He's the best pass blocking left guard in football. Again, when Kansas City went and spent that money in New England, right, and they went and bought him, everybody said, whoa, that is a lot for a guard. Well, they move this guy due to injuries out to left tackle. He's elite at left tackle as well. And I do believe that Tuney and the ability to protect Mahomes. Mahomes only lost one game ugly in his life in the playoffs when he didn't get protection against Tom Brady in Tampa. I think number seven is A.J. brown. Again you, you sometimes forget how good Phillies wide receivers are because they're such a power run game. But he was top 10 in missed tackles. And I think his physicality is really important because I think Kansas City is the best tackling team in the league. That's just an eye test. I don't have data to back that up. But A.J. brown is number seven. Eight, Trent McDuffie, Kansas City, tremendous corner, second highest graded cornerback during the regular season. Again, they're going to put him, they're going to put him on A.J. brown and say, I mean I think you have to with Devontae Smith, AJ Brown, Dallas Goddard, you'd have to have some one on one matchups and that's one Kansas City has to win. I would put ZACH Bond at 9. The guy's unbelievable. He was a special teams player. He's tremendous in coverage. I think he's one of the surprise players of the year in pass coverage this year. This is such a great stat. He's allowed a 69 passer rating. That's about as good as a linebacker can do. And number 10, Jalen hurts again. When you put pressure on Jalen hurts, he regresses significantly. But here's the thing. It's hard to get pressure on. Jalen hurts because of the O line in the run game. So there you have my top 10. I think it comes out to four Chiefs and six Philadelphia Eagles. Dallas Goddard. I mean, there's a lot of people. I'm leaving out unbelievable corners for Philadelphia Mitchell. I mean, again, there's 16 guys here who should make the list. But a couple years ago, I did this with San Francisco and Kansas City, and I got the same dilemma. There's hall of Famers that may not make the list. Travis Kelsey could be the MVP of the game, or we could have two cats. So I know. I love my offensive lineman. Matt Hasselbeck's looking at me like, you went cray anything. 18 years in the league, you've been in these Super Bowls. Your thoughts on the list, it's.
Matt Hasselbeck
It's heresy, man. What the heck? I mean, I know we're near Bourbon street here. Have you been drinking this morning? You had some of those Colin Cowherd old fashions, I think. No, I mean, shoot, man, this is disrespectful to the Chiefs. It's disrespectful to the tight end position. It's an impossible ask, though, like, what you're asking to do, like, make this list. It's an impossible ask. But, no, you. You're leaving off, I mean, literally a handful of guys that could be Super Bowl MVP Dallas Goddard. We talked about Dallas. That's the. That's the. The hate, you know, the tight end.
Drew Brees
You.
Matt Hasselbeck
People are going to be very upset with you. So if you see them on Bourbon street, you know, hide yourself because Dallas got.
Drew Brees
You know what's interesting about tight end is as a kid growing up, it really wasn't. I mean, there's players out there like Kellen Winslow, who jumped off your TV set.
Matt Hasselbeck
Yeah.
Drew Brees
But for years and years, tight ends have been arguing. We're getting used like wide receivers, and we're forced to block. Pay us.
Matt Hasselbeck
Yeah.
Drew Brees
So when people lament what running backs make, I always say tight ends are asked to block. And I think in this game, I think there'll be huge components because I think the cornerback play, Matt, is so good in this game that it may be a Goddard that gets free or Travis Kelce, no doubt.
Matt Hasselbeck
And it used to even be when you would put a coaching staff together in the NFL or college football, you would almost take the weak link of your coaching staff. Like a guy that's like, maybe someday could be a. The O line coach, or maybe he'd make him the tight ends coach. Now, other people didn't do that. They did the total opposite. They said, no, this is like the most important position coach you could have, because he's got to be an expert in everything blocking, and he's got to see everything in the. In the passing game, like a quarterback. I just got done doing an interview about Andy Reid, you know, and I talked about, like, well, tell me. Tell me what he was like as a quarterback coach, because that was. He was my position coach my first year in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers. And it's funny, he had been previously, for two years, to groom him to be the quarterback coach for Brett Favre. What did Mike Holmgren hire him to do? He hired him to be the tight ends coach. You know, he was the guy whether it was Keith Jackson or Mark Chamura in, like, in the nuances of teaching Brett Favre how to get us into the perfect run and also teaching these guys how to, like, unlock the passing game. And that's what I think the new NFL is. Nickel defense, dime defense. The way that people have really counteracted that is these Travis Kelce, Dallas Goddard types. We're not a liability in the run game, and we are absolutely a threat and a weapon in the passing game. And I think this is one of the great tight end matchups that we've ever had, actually. So it's one of the reasons why you don't even notice the disrespect that you have. Jalen hurts at number 10.
Drew Brees
Anyway, so you were in the 2005 Super bowl with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Remember it? Well, it was not a. It was probably the only super bowl where I thought officiating really hurt you guys. In fact, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, I think I've told you this. They ran a poll in Pittsburgh, and even Pittsburgh's theater fans were like, yeah, the Seahawks kind of got hosed. Let's go back to it, though. The prep, the extra time, the pressure, did it affect you? Did you get into your head? Is it too much time off?
Matt Hasselbeck
No, but you're. You're a creature of habit, right? It's like Pavlov's dog. Like, you, like, seven days, you're like, I'm ready to go. Like, you're, like, ready to play a game. And I think you've seen coaches talk about the danger of doing too much. You put the game plan in that first week, and then you practice it. And like, I thought Mike Holmgren did an amazing job in our Super Bowl. He had been coach. He coached in San Francisco. Joe Montana, Steve Young coached in Super Bowls with Brett Favre. He made a rule for the coaches. We're not going to put. If we're going to put extra stuff in, something's got to come out. So if there's 242 plays in the game plan, then you want to. You go, oh, we got a great play. That's going to work fine. Something's got to come out. And so, like, I think you heard Sean McVay talk about his first super bowl up against the Patriots. He. I think he used that extra week in a way that he learned from the second time around. So, yeah, I think there's. There's. There's certainly that's a thing with that, that extra week. You got to be careful not to do too much.
Drew Brees
Yeah. Because if you add too much to a player, players play faster when they have to think less. If you add more, the moment's already pressurized. These guys are already a little nervous, a little tentative. And Pete Carroll used to always say, usc, like, the less I put on them, the faster my players get. And I think that's important in games. I mean, I've talked to players who play in the super bowl, and they're like, I remember the anthem. The first series is kind of blurry to me. Is it like that to you? Like, it's just cameras and flashing lights.
Matt Hasselbeck
And the way that I would describe it in this matchup, because both teams have kind of been here, right. Everyone talks about Andy Reid off of the buy. Right. In the regular season, there's a lot of teams that they don't play well off of a buy. Like, what is it like? They look rusty. They look like they did too much. Something's off. Sometimes you can do too much in the. In the weight room. You've got a strength and conditioning staff that says, oh, you didn't play a game this week, so we're going to work a little extra hard in the weight room, do some new exercises. Then all of a sudden, like, my glutes are sore in places I didn't even know I had muscles. And like, dude, I don't feel good off of the buy. Why don't I feel good off of the buy? But Andy Reid, he's got a. He's Got a template. It's that old Bill Walsh, Mike Holmgren, he's tweaked it and made it his own. And his team is always ready to play whether they played a game seven days before or not. And so I just think again, like, you know, this super bowl schedule, that is a thing. You know, the halftime's longer, the pregame's different, the week is different, your family's with you. He's on it. Like, this is just like, he could probably recite it from memory kind of thing. Like, they're so used to it, you.
Drew Brees
Know, I was talking about Mahomes. I can remember watching MJ when he played, and it was the sun series and I was talking to a friend and I said, you know, he's not the best shooter, he's not the strongest player, he's not the best ball handler, not the best passer. But he was just six'six a burlepus. Like, he played so hard. He was so aggressive and so physical. And Mahomes doesn't have the natural gift of sometimes like a Marino. He doesn't run like Lamar. He's not as big as Josh Allen. He's got the dad bod. There is something though, when I watch him in these big games, like Suddenly in the AFC Championship, he rushed 11 times. How long did it take you to watch him before you went from all this kid's talented to wow, this is, this is historic stuff because you've played with guys, you know, far far was ridiculous. I mean, Brett was throwing stuff back foot that didn't make sense. I mean, when did you hit on Mahomes? You're like, okay, this is better than just a Pro bowl player.
Matt Hasselbeck
Well, first off, I'd like to just as to stand up for all the dad bods out there. I'd like to use the phrase father figure. Just first off, because quarterbacks, there is some truth to like taking a beating and kind of the protection that you need. But. But no, I think for me, there's two things that really I feel like have taken Patrick Mahomes from who he was in college. And then he had a year, he had like 17 games where Alex Smith was the starter and taking him to where he, you know, how he became Patrick Mahomes. And it's two things. It's his intelligence. Number one, like he recognizes things pre snap that matter. Like his eyes are in the right spot. Spot. He's, you hear him like all these, all these offensive linemen are miked up now with natural sound. So you, I mean, Literally, I would enjoy. Watch. I would enjoy listening to Patrick Mahomes play a game. I don't even need to watch it. Hearing him like, hey, rip Liz, rip Liz. You know, sword sift, sword sift. Hey, safety's coming. Like, all that kind of stuff. That is the next level stuff for, for me, you know, people are going to say, oh, he's a great runner, he's got a great arm, all that stuff. I. I think he. I think he beats you with his mind also. The other thing is his cadence. Like, cadence is a weapon. It's like one of the very first things you learn as a quarterback. You need to use your cadence as.
Drew Brees
A weapon to manipulate, like.
Matt Hasselbeck
Well, it's two things. Number one, it's protecting your offensive line. So if they got to go against Jalen Carter, and you're always going to go on one every time. Wide 80. Why did he said hut? After a while, he's getting a jump. We no longer have the advantage as an offense. All right? And so they got to watch the ball. They can't be listening to your cadence. And then number two, using it to use. To figure out what the. What the safeties are doing. There was a lot of talk last, you know, in the championship game about Josh Allen said, I didn't know the corner was coming, right. Like, he didn't see that corner blitz on that last play. He used a longer cadence, and it's hard to do on the road. But I think this is one of the areas where Patrick Mahomes, he doesn't get enough credit. He is unbelievable between the ears before the ball is even snapped. And for me, that's way more important than what he is as a thrower.
Drew Brees
You know, I was saying, I. I feel I sort of know what Kansas City has to do defensively, of all the elements of the game, is that Jalen hurts under pressure, is not close to the same quarterback as comfortable. Jalen hurts. So Spags is going to put up some exotics. He's going to dial some stuff up. You want to get Jalen hurts off his spot. He's just not the same player. You can't do that with Mahomes. To your point, it's like. It's like blitzing Brady in his prime. You're just asking to get burned. So I kind of feel like I know Spags is going to be aggressive. That's the one thing I know, the one thing I do think about. I know the Eagles corners are exceptional, but they're rookies. And I do feel like the super bowl is a little different that you may. Whether it's bite on something to not want to get burned. That I could see Mahomes saying, okay, prove it. That. That would you think about. Even if they're pro, even if they've had great years, just the fact that they're rookies in a Super bowl, there's nothing to compare that to in college.
Matt Hasselbeck
No doubt, no doubt. But I think this is an Eagles defense that's playing with a ton of confidence. And sometimes it's okay that you're so confident you don't know really what you're up against. I mean, they are up. They are up against a. In my mind, like a serious. Like. Like, this offense is legit. We don't Even talk about DeAndre Hopkins, one of the best receivers that's ever played. Like, the speed of Xavier worthy. Like, all of these guys could break out. So double moves, creative offense. But there's something that you fear as a quarterback. One of the things I feel like I feared sometimes as a quarterback was a corner that doesn't know, hey, you shouldn't be jumping that. Like, you shouldn't be sitting on this route. Like, hey, you know, I could go over the top. But, like, usually you're not going over the top. So you're like, okay, if I have an out route here or if I have an in route here, you should be playing deep. It's three deep, you know, or two deep. You're. You're one of the two guys. Stay deep. But sometimes those guys that feel confident and they just want to go make a play and their coaches have empowered them. No, that, you know, hey, anything can happen. And that's not a great feeling for a quarterback.
Drew Brees
So Tom Brady came on my show about a week ago, and he said, one of my great super bowl memories was we put in three plays, he goes, we face the Seahawks. And I've compared this to the New England Seahawk game, where Mahomes is probably looking at this defense and thinking they're not a lot of soft spots. So I could see Andy putting in something. Saturday night, did you have in your super bowl against a very good Steelers team and the defense, remember that was a defensive team. Was there anything that a homegrown is saying, like, listen, Matt, I'm gonna. We're gonna throw it. How much can you change on a Saturday night?
Matt Hasselbeck
Well, I think, you know, my super bowl, both teams changed right away. I completed the first five passes of the game to Daryl Jackson. He was our wide receiver on the same side as the tight end. I only did that because I was trying to get D. Jack the MVP of the game. I had made a deal with him earlier in the year. He was coming back from an injury. He was like, hey, man, I'm trying to come back for the Super Bowl. I'm trying. I want to be Super Bowl MVP. He made it back before that. I go, D.J. i will make it my mission to help you get the mvp. I just want to start him out, get him going. Okay. That was important to me. Dick LeBeau, he probably thought, oh, shoot, they see a weakness over. He clouded that side the whole time. Screwed up my own game plan, really. And so we had to put in plays on the fly to counteract that. So, I mean, yes. Are halftime adjustments and even first quarter or series adjustments going to happen in this game? No doubt about that. Here's my. Here's my biggest thing, though. Like this Saquon. This stopping Saquon is really the head scratcher, because it's not about. It's about scheme, but it's about angles and just like tackling. That's really the deal.
Drew Brees
Chiefs are a good tackling team.
Matt Hasselbeck
You need to be a great tackling team. And it can't be like what a lot of teams have tried to do against Philly where they just stack the box. You stack the box and he gets through that first level. It's him on a safety in space, and we've seen what he does. He takes an eight yard run to a 68 yard run. That's the game. Like, that is literally the game. So I don't know, like, yes, aggressive, but, like, I just think this is going to be even more than aggressive. It's going to be an intelligent game plan that wins and also a complimentary football game that wins. So. Meaning when I'm on offense, I need to think about the fact that if Philly goes in to, you know, shove it down your throat, run it down on a long drive, maybe we got to. We can play like we want to play. We might have to be a little time, more time of possession, understanding what our defense is going up against on the other side of the ball in.
Drew Brees
The run game, as a player, are you rooting for history or do you kind of like. Like as a former player in a game like this? I don't remember if you were an underdog or a favorite against Pittsburgh. Probably an underdog. Were you?
Matt Hasselbeck
Well, knowing how gambling goes, we might have been an underdog, but we were the one seed and they were the wild cards.
Drew Brees
Okay.
Matt Hasselbeck
Wildcard team.
Drew Brees
So, yeah, I don't.
Matt Hasselbeck
So I do know there were more Pittsburgh fans that day in the stadium. I do know that.
Drew Brees
So when you look at this, is there part of you that is pulling for something, or do you just look at it as. I want to see a great game.
Matt Hasselbeck
You know what? I'm having a hard time letting go, and I just need to let it go. I wish Saquon would have gone for the record. Like, I wish he would have gone for the Eric Dickerson record. And, you know, we talked about it at the time. Like, what do you want to do? Should we, you know, let him stay healthy? And, like, our goal is to hoist Lombardi. Like, I get that, but we live that a little bit. In 05, when we went to the super bowl, we had the one seed locked up. Sean Alexander was going for the touchdown record. We were trying to get him the NFL mvp. And Mike Holmgren did just such a good job of making that award. Yes, it's an. It's an individual award. It's Sean's award. But he. He did such a good job of, I think, like, just gassing up our O line in our fullback, Max Strong, and our wide receivers in the blocking, you know, blocking downfield, that I really think it meant something. It was like a feather in the cap to everybody. And so I just. The year that Philly had with this offensive line and they're just. All of it, the ski. All of it. Jalen Hurts gets credit for this, too. I just. I wish they were getting the opportunity to leave here with a Lombardi and also with that record. That would have been, you know, I got to let it go, but I wish they would have done that.
Drew Brees
It was great seeing you at the Volume party last night. I, recovering from a slight illness, had to. Had to drink ginger ale. You were needing.
Matt Hasselbeck
I was really hoping last week, I was hoping for a. A Michael Jordan flu game out of you, but. Little soft, coward.
Drew Brees
A little soft Mahomes is mj. I'm not. I'll tell you right now. Great seeing you, buddy. As always. Matt Hasselbeck on Bourbon Street. Drew breeze this hour to Mark Sanchez live in New Orleans. It's.
Colin Cowherd
Want 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.
Drew Brees
Ah.
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Drew Brees
We're in.
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Drew Brees
Open up Reservation for two Save the.
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Colin Cowherd
About Amazon prime for a minute. I've got mine. Do you have yours? Not just about one thing. It's a whole collection of services that help you get the most out of whatever you're into. If you're passionate about a hobby, a sport, or all sports in my case. Or you just need to get things done fast. Prime Amazon Prime's got your back. You can watch content, order supplies, listen on Amazon Music. It's all included under one prime membership. Of course we can all agree one of the best things about prime is the fast free delivery. With prime, you can have what you need delivered the same day. But it's more than that. Prime is a collection of excellent services. I love it. Amazon Music Listen to the tunes that keep you in the zone. Or this podcast. Whatever you're doing working out on the road, prime doesn't just help you get closer to the things you care about, it helps you discover new things too. Prime's always there to fuel your passion, make it just a little bit easier. So whatever you're into, it's on Prime. Visit Amazon.comprime now you can count on t mobile to help keep you connected from big cities big 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. Whether you're ordering wings for the game, whipping up a seven layer dip, or ordering pizza, there's something about football that makes me want to eat. And this football season, Uber Eats has the best deals for me on game day food no matter what I'm craving from two for one pizza to buy one get one wings. Uber Eats will be dropping new deals each week. All season long. I'm in Uber Eats, the official on demand delivery partner of the NFL. Order now for game day. Terms and conditions apply. See app for details, food cities and.
Drew Brees
Maybe the Best service of any city in North America I've ever been to. So when you go out, you are treated like kings and queens by the wonderful people of this city. And with that, J. Mac has the news.
Mark Sanchez
No, no, no, Turn on the news.
Colin Cowherd
This is the herd line news.
J. Mac
All right, let's go to the Chiefs wide receiving corps. They haven't had a true number one this year. Rasheed Rice went down in week four. They brought in DeAndre Hopkins alongside Juju Smith Schuster, Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, but really they don't have a top target. Colin and juju Smith. Schuster believes that defines their selfless wide receiver room. We'll look at the bigger picture of the goal in mind. Raising up that trophy is always better than being a number one guy on the team. Interesting new way to look at the wide receiver position. Hey, we don't want to star. We don't want to pay him a ton. We're just going to do it by committee and it seems to be working for well.
Drew Brees
I also think there is less reluctance to pay offensive linemen because the better teams are doing it. And I and I think if you look at Philadelphia, they're paying their own line. I think Kansas City, Joe Tuney, they went all in on the guard. I think the Rams have paid guards, Detroit Lions, I'll pay anything that rewards and protects the quarterback. And wide receivers don't do that. I think. I also think there's a reality, a weather reality is that offensive lineman and running backs are more valuable in January than a deep threat. And I and I also think sometimes when you get a number one receiver. I remember Dak with dez. Dak felt sort of beholden, right? He's on that. DEZ is like, I want the ball. And I think Josh Allen got tired of that in Buffalo. He's like, I. I don't. I want to just go into a play with the ability to be free. What's scary about the Chiefs, Xavier Worthy appears to be becoming a one. Rasheed Rice became a one before he got hurt. So this void receiver is officially over starting next September. Where Worthy and Rice, if not dominant ones, have the volume capability to be ones and they'll have two of them.
J. Mac
I just submitted my prop bet picks for foxsports.com and I have Worthy as the guy to watch for over receptions because they line him up everywhere. Right backfield slot out wide. I think he's the guy who's a bit of a problem. Matchup for the Eagles. Let's move. Move on to the Patriots. Your team of Destiny next year. Mike Vrabel in his first year back in New England. Everybody's excited in Foxborough, especially cornerback Christian Gonzalez. He talked about the culture change saying, I've heard it's going back to what they call the Patriot way. For me, I'm ready. Colin. Patriot way. Do we think this is good?
Drew Brees
I have no trepidation saying the most improved team in the NFL next year will be New England. You made fun of me on my Washington Broncos picks. This is a 10 win team next year.
J. Mac
We'll have to do a steak wager on that one. There's no way they're sniffing 10 wins. They have the fourth pick in the draft.
Drew Brees
Right.
J. Mac
We got Drake May as the foundational.
Drew Brees
Piece and the most salary cap they do have cap. They can go buy four elite players.
J. Mac
And you think Vrabel can turn them from 4 wins last year to 10 a 6?
Drew Brees
Yeah, because I think the jets, we don't know if Aaron Glenn is going to work Miami. I think we've seen the best of them. I think we both agree with Buffalo. It's hard to keep being a 12 or a 13 win regular season team. You know, it's one of those things, you see it in the NBA. Sometimes you get these young teams and they're really motivated in the regular season. They get a title and they pull back. Buffalo doesn't. But I kind of look at Buffalo as okay, we've been a dominant regular season team. We have to build this thing for January. So I can see a little bit of a different looking Bills team. Kind of like. Like Kansas City. Kansas City feels like they experiment a little in September, October, early November and then they get it right post Thanksgiving. So I think that, I think it's wide open in that division for New England to surprise people again. They have to spend the money wisely. They need more tight end, another running back. They need the left tackle. I'd put the money on offense and draft the defense.
J. Mac
So we know the jets are a mess. But what do you make of the can they pass the Dolphins? Because remember Tyreek Hill said he wants out. Doesn't seem like that's going to happen. McDaniel maybe on the hot seat.
Colin Cowherd
Colin.
Drew Brees
Yeah, think we've seen the best of Miami. I think this was a media creation more than a reality. And I think Miami pulls back.
J. Mac
Boy, shots fired. All right, final story is over to the NBA. Trade deadline is today and a lot of chatter about Kevin Durant possibly being on the move, perhaps to the Warriors. However, Jimmy Butler ended up in Golden State last night. And according to Shams, NBA reporter KD has zero interest in returning to the Bay. That is a bit of a surprise to me. Like that Kevin Durant says, I don't want to go back there. Were you surprised by that? Because it may. Like, who would you rather play with, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal or Steph Curry?
Drew Brees
Well, I think he's been there, done that, and a lot of people I don't know, I just feel like that was a chapter in KD's life, and I don't think it's that redeemable as a second chapter. I also think Steph's an older Steph. Draymond's an older Draymond. There are rumors out there. I saw one of the trade speculation stories this morning when I got up that Draymond could have been traded. So, I mean, I think it's Steph and everybody else. They're looking. I think. I think the warriors now are as good as they can be, which is, you know, Steph's going to give you offensive wizardry. Butler, when he's healthy, is going to give you incredible effort. I think they still have some offensive limitations. Butler's not a great natural score. And I. I get the KD thing. I. I don't know. I mean, listen, the Beal piece is the one for Phoenix. That's more problematic. That hasn't worked. KD to Phoenix. KD is fine in Phoenix.
J. Mac
Is he? They got swept last year by Minnesota. Swept in the first round. He got swept in Brooklyn by the Celtics. Like, we talk about him as a top 10, 15 player all time. He can't win a playoff game at this stage in his career.
Drew Brees
He's.
J. Mac
With Devin Booker and Beal, Colin. There's a chance they don't even make the playoffs this year. Kevin Durant, that would be awful.
Drew Brees
Who is giving up? I mean, I love kd, but who's giving up a ton for kd?
J. Mac
I mean, you don't think renting KD to be your number two or number three would be amazing?
Drew Brees
Well, he'd be your number one on 90% of the team. I don't know. There's not many teams. He's the two. I mean, he's the one on everything except the Lakers.
Matt Hasselbeck
Who's a.
J. Mac
Who's the one in Phoenix?
Drew Brees
He is.
J. Mac
He sure doesn't act like it in the huddle. He's not a leader.
Drew Brees
That's not. He, That's. He's never been that guy.
J. Mac
Can you be a one if you're not a leader.
Drew Brees
Well, I mean, Luke is a one and was in bad shape and doesn't play defense. Yeah.
J. Mac
But on the court, he's.
Drew Brees
He's the man.
J. Mac
You know, we know that. I'm excited, by the way. Luca lebron. We got to go to a Lakers game.
Drew Brees
Oh, no. Now it's fun. Now I'm interested. Jmac with the news.
Colin Cowherd
Well, that's the news.
Drew Brees
And thanks for stopping by.
Colin Cowherd
The Herd lie news.
Drew Brees
We're in Mason Bourbon, dedicated to the preservation of jazz in New Orleans. The Crescent City Drew Brees, obviously iconic and Drew Brees, the centerpiece of this franchise for over a decade. We'll take a break.
Colin Cowherd
Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific, on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the iHeartRadio app.
Bobby Bones
Hey, 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 Pacific, on Fox Sports Radio. And of course, the iHeartRadio app. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich? We talk about everything. Life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture. Stories that, well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We like to get you involved, too. Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino and Rich live on Fox Sports radio and the iHeartradio app from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcasts. And of course, on social media, that's Covino and Rich.
Drew Brees
Ah.
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Drew Brees
We're in.
Matt Hasselbeck
We got the table.
Drew Brees
Yep.
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Reservation for two. Save the best for last.
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Colin Cowherd
About Amazon prime for a minute. I've got mine. Do you have yours? Not just about one thing. It's a whole collection of services that help you get the most out of whatever you're into. If you're passionate about a hobby, a sport, or all sports in my case, or you just need to get things done fast. Prime. Amazon Prime's got your back. You can watch content, order supplies, listen on Amazon Music. It's all included under one prime membership. Of course, we can all agree one of the best things about prime is the fast, free delivery. With prime, you can have what you need delivered the same day. But it's more than that. Prime is a collection of excellent services. I love it. Amazon Music. Listen to the tunes that keep you in the zone. Or this podcast. Whatever you're doing, working out on the road, prime doesn't just help you get closer to the things you care about. It helps you discover new things, too. Prime's always there to fuel your passion, make it just a little bit easier. So whatever you're into, it's on Prime. Visit Amazon.comprime now you can count on T Mobile to help keep you connected from big cities, big 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. Whether you're ordering wings for the game, whipping up a seven layer dip, or ordering pizza, there's something about football that makes me want to eat. And this football season, Uber Eats has the best deals for me on game day food, no matter what I'm craving. From two for one pizza. To buy one, get one wings. Uber Eats will be dropping new deals each week all season long. I'm in Uber Eats, the official on demand delivery partner of the NFL. Order now for game day. Terms and conditions apply. See app for details.
Drew Brees
All right, welcome back. Mason Bourbon is the site. We're on Bourbon Street. J Mac. You've never been in New Orleans before yesterday?
J. Mac
First time?
Drew Brees
Yeah.
J. Mac
So far so good.
Drew Brees
There's a lot of good walkable city.
J. Mac
Love it.
Drew Brees
Matt Hasselbeck stopped by, by the way. He was in a Super bowl against the Pittsburgh Steelers. That Pittsburgh team won the game. Big Ben. Kind of a Conservative offensive effort. Seattle had a great O line, great run game. Matt Hasselbeck, he talked about preparing for the super bowl in the extra time.
Matt Hasselbeck
With the game plan in that first week and then you practice it. And like I thought, Mike Holmgren did an amazing job in our Super Bowl. He had been coach, he coached in San Francisco, Joe Montana, Steve Young coached in Super Bowls with Brett Favre. He made a rule for the coaches. We're not going to put, if we're going to put extra stuff in, something's got to come out. So if there's 242 plays in the game plan, then you want to, you got, oh, we got a great play. That's going to work fine. Something's got to come out.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
Drew Brees
And I think it's such, it's such a pressurized moment that, you know, these are young athletes and you would understand if they were a little anxious, a little nervous, maybe they forget something. The game, the lights, the flashes, it's in their head. So I like the idea, Mike Holmgren saying, listen, you can put plays in, but we're taking stuff out. Drew Brees, 20 years in the NFL, 15 years here in New Orleans. That is interesting. You have an encyclopedic memory and knowledge of this stuff. But go back to your super bowl week. You obviously, you have extra time, you have Sean Payton, you put stuff in. Did you take stuff out or did you go into your super bowl drew with just more plays than you'd ever had in your life?
Mark Sanchez
No, I don't remember the volume being an issue of that week because, you know, quite honestly, the Colts, the Colts defense, which wasn't that complicated, you know, that was, that was back in, at the time when they were very much like Tampa 2. And we're just going to allow our pass rushers, Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis to get after you, right? And man, we've got, we've got good players in the secondary that are just going to keep it in front of them and we're just going to kind of manage the game because we know we have a high scoring offense, you know, on the other side. So I don't remember the volume being an issue necessarily as far as the volume of plays in the game plan. It was more so I think for us, like our success, we knew was number one, we need to steal a possession in this game, right. Which we did at the start of the, of the second half, right, with that onside kick that we called ambush. But it was, it was really more so like, how do we create a rhythm, you know, with our offense against these guys and, and a level of patience because, look, we were a big play offense too. We were used to, you know, kind of those, you know, big play shots down the field. And I think we just recognized, hey, these guys don't really give that to us. So we're going to have to run the ball effectively. We're going to hit him with the screen game to try to slow down the pass rush and then we're just going to be methodical with the passing game, which we were super efficient, the passing game. And oh, by the way, what that does is it also chews up the clock and it keeps one of the best players in the world off the field on the other side.
Matt Hasselbeck
And Peyton Manning.
Mark Sanchez
So quite honestly, like, I see that very much like what Philadelphia's game plan should be against the Chiefs this week, which is run the ball, possess the ball, chew up the clock, wear down that defense and keep the best player in the world, Patrick Mahomes, off the field on the other side.
Drew Brees
You know, it's interesting because I would think a guy like you, and you mentioned Peyton Manning, both of you, very cerebral. I would think short weeks would drive you crazy and you would love an extra day or a buy or super bowl because you could just fill your brain with more information. So to you, extra time, like to you, was it a kid in a candy store? It's like, hey, I got more time to like exercise efficiency. How did you look at it?
Mark Sanchez
Well, sometimes too much time results in over analysis. Right, right. And then it's an. And then it's paralysis by over analysis. Right. So, like, honestly, I, I felt like we had a great plan which was, hey, two weeks prior to the Super Bowl. So the first week, honestly, was a lot of just good on, good competition with our team. Like, we really didn't get into a lot of the game planning for the Indianapolis Colts. Yes, we were watching film and yes, we were starting to have an idea of, you know, how we were going to attack them. But we did not install our game plan against the Colts in the week prior to the Super Bowl. We waited until we actually got to Miami, which is where we played it. And we, because we wanted to, we wanted to have as normal a work week as possible.
Drew Brees
Right?
Mark Sanchez
Like, that's the, that's the toughest thing about the super bowl is how do you make the Super Bowl a normal work week? You're in a foreign place, practicing in a different facility that you have to bus to. You're in A hotel where there's all kinds of chaos going on. Like, how do you order the chaos? How do you create some normalcy in a routine? And so we did like, good on, good competitive man, weight room. That was like our first week, right? And then the minute we arrived in Miami, it was like, all right, here we go. Flip the switch. Game plan. Wednesday's base, Thursday's third down. Friday's red zone, short yardage, goal line. Saturday, Hayes in the barn, man, quick walkthrough, jog through.
Matt Hasselbeck
Boom.
Mark Sanchez
We got it in our mind. Let's go win a football game.
Drew Brees
You know, it's interesting. Brady and Hasselbeck both talked about this on the show. And this is what has always been fascinating, is that you guys watch so much film. And Hasselbeck talked about Holmgren adding something late in the week. Brady came on and said, we added, we placed that Seahawk team that had no weaknesses. We came up with three new plays the night before just because he goes, I didn't trust our red zone packages. Did Sean with you Drew say, listen, I found something on tape? Or did you say, you know, Sean, we got to clean something up. Anything Saturday night happen?
Mark Sanchez
Yeah, it would from time to time. And a lot of that was just, you know, Sean. And in my routine of I would always go back on Saturday morning, which was again, our just kind of walk through day, you know, walk through the game plan, the first 15 plays of the game, you know, kind of hit some red zone, third down. Thoughts. I would watch a couple games on Saturday morning more so just to kind of go back and just like feel the flow and the rhythm of a game and maybe how some other teams that attacked them. And again, it was just, it was very relaxed, but it was. And, and, and in that moment, you would just kind of be looking at it through a different lens at that point because you were kind of, you know, past what you thought was the game planning thing. But all of a sudden you would see something like just a little like, oh, wow, I feel like, you know, this may be a good opportunity or off of this look, may be a great opportunity to run a little stutter and go on that corner or a double move on this linebacker with the running back or, you know, just something. And it, at that point though, it had to be like a game changing thing. Like we didn't need another play that was going to get us a 5 to 10 yard completion. We wanted to play that was like, oh, no, this is a shot opportunity. This is a big play opportunity. A game winner opportunity so, yeah, we, we had a couple of those. In fact, we're playing Monday Night Football against The Miami Dolphins 2013. Night before the game, we had this little H choice with Darren Sprols where he's just going to kind of run up five yards. He's got a three way go, but I'm like, man, this backer is just so aggressive like on film, time after time. And he's going to see that and he's just going to be sitting all over it. It's like, hey, Sean, what if we just double move this guy like right off the bat, you know, and just like set the tone early? Sure enough, second play of the game, we run this, we put it in literally the night before and man, it works like a charm. 40 yard completion. And that's when you're kind of, that's when you're kind of looking to the sideline like, yeah, we got, you know.
Drew Brees
I read a survey, it must have been 15 years ago, and they were talking about the most unique cities in the country, and New Orleans was number one. They said the vibe, the food, the people. To be the Saints quarterback here for 15 years, it's not like being a quarterback. Nothing against Seattle or Baltimore, but I mean, what is it like? This is such a simple question, but in one of the most unique American cities, what is it like? What do you remember about being the Saints quarterback for 15 years? What, what, what sticks to you?
Mark Sanchez
Well, I think, I think the thing that sticks out most to me is that the, the community of New Orleans, they were more fans of New Orleans than they, they even were or they were first fans of New Orleans than they were fans of the Saints. Like, in other words, when you walked around town, it wasn't like, go Saints or thanks for what you do for the team. It was like, man, thanks for loving this city. So it just, it just gave you this feeling that, man, we were all in this whole effort together. And like, people appreciate the fact that my wife Brittany and I lived right in the heart of the city, like right in uptown New Orleans, and that we'd be walking the dog in the park just like everybody else, but we'd be, you know, having gumbo down at, you know, the, the local spot. You're just like everybody else, right? Like, there was just this feeling of, man, they're just, they're just like us, you know, and they want to be just like us and they're just part of this community and part of this society. And like, that was what was so unique about, about this Place.
Drew Brees
Finally. Where do I get one of those sweet Crown Royal jackets you're wearing? Can you get me one of those, Drew?
Mark Sanchez
You know what? I'm glad you asked, Colin.
Drew Brees
Really, buddy?
Mark Sanchez
I got one here. I got one here, right? But, man, look at this. Sat a satin starter jacket. We got NFL Crown Royal. And this is incredible partnership with Crown Royal. They've been a huge benefactor to our foundation, helping us with all of our efforts here in New Orleans, helping to build affordable housing, job skills training, build healthcare facilities around. Around the the state. And they're doing a ton of things here during super bowl week, donating a lot of money to the foundation for Louisiana. They've got a pop up down in the quarter selling the jackets. All the proceeds going to the foundation. They got the Crown Royal rig in town. They. That people can go check out and pack bags for. For military to be able to send overseas. So Crown Roy is doing a ton of great stuff. They've been, what, four years, the official whiskey of the NFL. So really appreciate their support of the foundation, support of New Orleans.
Drew Brees
And I really appreciate that jacket, buddy. I really, you know, one for the team.
Mark Sanchez
It's a sharp. It's a sharp jacket. It's got The Super Bowl 59 logo on the back. So have you looking clean.
Drew Brees
All right, Drew, great seeing you as always, man. I really appreciate your insight this year, bud.
Mark Sanchez
Yeah, yeah. Love this year spending time with you. Thanks, Colin.
Drew Brees
All right, Drew Brees. That's a great story that people came up to him and thanks for loving New Orleans. And that really is. I remember reading the survey years ago, and they said, there's no city quite like it. And I had a friend who played in that division at Tampa for years, and he said, going to New Orleans, whether the Saints were good. And that was pre Drew Breeze. He said it was always different. It was always a little louder. The crowd was a little more lubricated. If it was a late afternoon game, it was. It was a completely different environment. I went to an LSU game years ago when Nick Saban coached lsu and they played Oregon State, and lightning, like, hit right next to the stadium, and it was crazy weather. And Oregon State almost beat Nick Saban. It was Jamarcus Russell, I think was LSU's quarterback. And I can remember, and I'm serious, I can remember smelling bourbon in the tailgate. I never experienced anything quite like an LSU tailgate. And it was a wild game. And young Nick Saban was at LSU in Oregon State for about a half. Almost pulled off the upset. Matt Hasselbeck and Drew Brees both stopped by today. We appreciate that Mark Sanchez is joining us on set as we take some views. Oh yes, there we go. The Crescent City. Nothing else like it in North America. The Big Easy. Best food and service, some would say in the country. You know those beads, J Mac, you put a couple of those beads on and 10 o'clock becomes midnight very quickly.
J. Mac
Okay?
Drew Brees
Those beads do magical things.
J. Mac
Good to know.
Colin Cowherd
All right, let's talk about Amazon Prime. It's not just one thing. It's a collection of services that help you get the most out of whatever you're into. Whether it's a hobby, sport, or getting things done fast. Prime's got you covered. Like my hobby for all things sports. You can order sports supplies, listen to content like this podcast on Amazon music or watch content. You can do it all with Prime. Everybody loves the fast, free same day shipping, especially as we kick off the year. But. But what about all the content you can listen to on Amazon music, music to podcast, fast shipping? What is not to love about this membership I'm in? Prime fuels your passions, makes everything easier. So whatever you're into, it's on Prime. Visit Amazon.com prime now. Whether you're ordering wings for the game, whipping up a seven layer dip, or ordering pizza, there's something about football that makes me want to eat. And this football season, Uber Eats has the best deals for me on game day food no matter what. I'm crav from two for one pizza to buy one get one wings. Uber Eats. We'll be dropping new deals each week. All season long, I'm in Uber Eats, the official on demand delivery partner of the NFL. Order now for game day. Terms and conditions apply. See app for details.
Bobby Bones
Hey, it's Bobby Bones.
Matt Hasselbeck
Join me and former NFL quarterback Matt Castle every Wednesday for our new podcast, Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle. Between us, we have over 17,500 passing yards, yards, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and one mirrorball trophy from Dancing with a Star. So where else you can find a show with that much athleticism and football insight? We talk sports, but we talk pop culture and music and a little bit of everything. Listen to Lots to say with Bobby Bones and Matt Castle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Drew Brees
The forces shaping markets and the economy.
Colin Cowherd
Are often hiding behind a blur of numbers.
Matt Hasselbeck
So that's why we created the Big.
Drew Brees
Take from Bloomberg podcast to give you the context you need to make sense of it all. Every day in just 15 minutes, we.
Colin Cowherd
Dive into one global business story that matters.
Drew Brees
You'll hear from Bloomberg journalists like Matt Levine. A lot of this Meme stock stuff.
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Drew Brees
Follow the Big Take podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen.
Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 2: Getting Prepared for the Big Game
Release Date: February 6, 2025
Host/Authors: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
In the second hour of "The Herd with Colin Cowherd," host Colin Cowherd teams up with notable guests Drew Brees, Matt Hasselbeck, J. Mac, and Mark Sanchez to delve deep into preparations for the upcoming Super Bowl. The discussion centers around team strategies, player evaluations, game planning, and personal experiences from former NFL players.
Drew Brees initiates the conversation by introducing their analysis of the upcoming Super Bowl matchup, highlighting the contrast between the Kansas City Chiefs' stacked roster and the New England Patriots' legacy of experienced coaching and quarterbacking.
Matt Hasselbeck concurs, emphasizing the anticipation for the game, labeling it as potentially one of the all-time great Super Bowls.
Drew Brees presents his ranking of the top 10 players expected to make a significant impact in the Super Bowl:
Patrick Mahomes (#1) – Brees praises Mahomes' ability to perform under pressure, noting his "nine consecutive postseason wins" and his knack for elevating his game during playoff intensity.
Saquon Barkley (#2) – Highlighted as a historic talent with over 100 rushing yards in 14 games, Brees underscores Barkley's unique running style.
Chris Jones (#3) – Recognized for his versatility and dominance on the defensive line, Brees commends Jones as "unblockable" both on the end and interior.
Jalen Carter (#4) – Brees draws parallels between Carter and Aaron Donald, citing his leadership in pressures and tackles for loss.
Jordan Malata (#5) – Praised as the highest-graded offensive tackle, Malata's performance is lauded for minimal sacks allowed.
Joe Tunney (#6) – Described as the best pass-blocking left guard, Tunney's versatility in protecting the quarterback is highlighted.
A.J. Brown (#7) – Brees appreciates Brown's physicality and missed tackles, emphasizing his importance against Kansas City's top-tier tackling.
Trent McDuffie (#8) – Acknowledged as Kansas City's second-highest graded cornerback, McDuffie's coverage skills are deemed crucial.
Zach Bond (#9) – Celebrated for his special teams prowess and coverage abilities, Bond is identified as a surprising standout.
Jalen Hurts (#10) – While Hurts is acknowledged for his overall performance, Brees notes his regression under pressure compared to Mahomes.
Matt Hasselbeck reacts to the rankings, particularly questioning the exclusion of tight end Dallas Goedert and praising the offensive linemen, calling the list "heresy" and expressing concerns about the underrepresentation of key players.
The discussion shifts towards game planning, with Matt Hasselbeck drawing from his Super Bowl experience against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He emphasizes the importance of simplicity and avoiding overcomplication in the game plan.
Mark Sanchez adds insights from his own Super Bowl preparation, highlighting the balance between extensive planning and maintaining a streamlined approach to prevent "paralysis by overanalysis."
Both Hasselbeck and Sanchez stress the significance of adaptability, allowing for late-game adjustments without overwhelming players with excessive options.
Matt Hasselbeck delves into the pivotal role of offensive linemen and tight ends, arguing for their critical importance in modern NFL strategies. He critiques the undervaluation of tight ends and lauds Andy Reid's approach to coaching these positions.
Mark Sanchez reflects on his time with the New Orleans Saints, emphasizing the unique community support and the profound connection between the team and the city.
Their combined experiences provide a comprehensive view of the intricate balance between individual talent, team dynamics, and strategic planning essential for reaching and excelling in the Super Bowl.
The conversation navigates through the current state of key teams:
Kansas City Chiefs: Highlighted for their offensive versatility and the evolving role of wide receivers like Juju Smith-Schuster and Xavier Worthy. J. Mac notes the lack of a singular number one receiver, attributing success to a committee approach.
New England Patriots: With Mark Sanchez forecasting significant improvements under head coach Mike Vrabel, he predicts the Patriots as the "most improved team in the NFL next year."
Philadelphia Eagles: Emphasized for their strong offensive line and the dynamic performance of Jalen Hurts, although concerns are raised about Hurts' vulnerability under pressure relative to Mahomes.
Mark Sanchez shares his heartfelt connection to New Orleans, underscoring the city's unparalleled support and the deep bonds between the Saints and their fans.
Drew Brees echoes similar sentiments, reminiscing about the unique atmosphere of playing in New Orleans and the camaraderie within the community.
The episode wraps up with final thoughts on team strategies, player performances, and the indispensable role of community support in achieving Super Bowl success. The guests collectively emphasize the importance of intelligent game planning, valuing key positions like offensive linemen and tight ends, and maintaining strong team dynamics to navigate the high-stakes environment of the Super Bowl.
Notable Quotes:
This comprehensive discussion provides listeners with an in-depth understanding of the factors shaping the upcoming Super Bowl, enriched by the expertise and firsthand experiences of former NFL players and coaches.