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Hour 2 - The Wow Factor - The Herd with Colin Cowherd | Wave AI Podcast Notes

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Hour 2 - The Wow Factor

The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Thu May 29 2025

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 2: The Wow Factor

Release Date: May 29, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

Introduction

In the second hour of "The Herd with Colin Cowherd," the discussion delves deep into the "Wow Factor" surrounding top NFL quarterbacks, transitions into NBA analyses, and explores the evolving landscape of college football. Hosted by Colin Cowherd and featuring insights from co-hosts Joel Klatt, Greg Cosell, J. Mac, and Joy Taylor, the episode provides a comprehensive look at current sports narratives.

1. The NFL Quarterback Debate

Timestamp: [02:50] – [11:26]

Colin Cowherd initiates a passionate debate about the current generation of NFL quarterbacks, emphasizing the evolving criteria that define their greatness. He challenges the traditional metrics by introducing a "Wow Factor," highlighting attributes beyond mere statistics.

Colin Cowherd asserts, "Mahomes' arm talent… Josh Allen is the wow quarterback of my life" ([03:49]).
He contrasts modern quarterbacks like Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow with legends such as Tom Brady and Joe Montana, arguing that the current era demands more versatility and athleticism.
Joel Klatt counters, pointing out that historically great quarterbacks like Brady and Montana didn't necessarily have the "Wow Factor" as defined by Colin but are still revered for their achievements. He remarks, "Tom Brady and Joe Montana… are basically considered two greatest quarterbacks in NFL history" ([05:04]).
The discussion intensifies as Colin criticizes Jalen Hurts, questioning his place among elite quarterbacks despite his athletic prowess. He states, "Jalen Hurts is not a great quarterback" and challenges his standing compared to peers like Mahomes and Burrow ([07:04]).
Greg Cosell supports Colin's viewpoint, echoing skepticism about Hurts' abilities, while Joy Taylor interjects with differing opinions, sparking further debate.

2. Evolution of Quarterback Evaluation

Timestamp: [11:26] – [16:00]

The conversation shifts to the evolution of quarterback evaluation and team dynamics.

Colin Cowherd highlights the importance of coaching and management in quarterback success, mentioning, "There are no great quarterbacks without great coaches" ([06:45]).
He discusses Philadelphia’s strategic advantages, praising Howie Roseman and the franchise's management for building a robust roster that compensates for quarterback inconsistencies ([14:21]).
The role of Pete Carroll, Bill Belichick, and other coaching legends is examined, emphasizing their influence on their quarterbacks' performances and team success.

3. NBA Insights: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Team Chemistry

Timestamp: [32:04] – [35:03]

Transitioning to the NBA, the focus centers on Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) and his impact on the league.

Colin Cowherd praises SGA's leadership and teamwork, noting, "He is such a likable personality and he is such a collaborative kid" ([33:47]).
Joel Klatt and Greg Cosell discuss the Lakers' offseason strategies and the challenges faced by other NBA teams in building competitive rosters.
Emphasis is placed on SGA's ability to balance individual excellence with team success, differentiating him from other stars like LeBron James and Michael Jordan.

4. College Football: Big 12 Media Days and Conference Dynamics

Timestamp: [39:01] – [51:24]

The discussion shifts to college football, featuring insights from Joel Klatt and Tim Tebow.

Joel Klatt previews notable Big 12 matchups, including Texas vs. Ohio State and Auburn vs. Baylor, discussing the potential impact of high-profile games on the season's outlook ([40:19]).
Tim Tebow analyzes the effects of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) regulations and the transfer portal on team rosters and competitive balance. He states, "The dispersion of talent is going to be greater because now it's legal" ([44:22]).
The conversation explores how these changes have leveled the playing field, allowing traditionally dominant conferences like the SEC to face increased competition from Big Ten and other conferences.
Colin Cowherd expresses his observations on teams like Penn State, Michigan, and Ohio State, attributing their recent successes to strategic recruiting and effective management amidst the evolving college football landscape ([43:37]).

5. Final Thoughts and Upcoming Highlights

Timestamp: [52:58] – [55:18]

As the episode nears its conclusion, the hosts recap key points and highlight upcoming sports events.

Colin Cowherd reflects on the importance of roster management in both the NFL and NBA, stressing that championships require more than just star players.
Discussion includes the Pittsburgh Steelers' struggles post-Big Ben and the impact of coaching changes on team performance.
The conversation wraps up with a preview of upcoming college football games, emphasizing matchups that could define the season's trajectory.

Notable Quotes:

Colin Cowherd: "Mahomes' arm talent… Josh Allen is the wow quarterback of my life." ([03:49])
Joel Klatt: "Tom Brady and Joe Montana… are basically considered two greatest quarterbacks in NFL history." ([05:04])
Tim Tebow: "The dispersion of talent is going to be greater because now it's legal." ([44:22])
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: "They make the NBA not feel like a job… it’s just fun." ([32:04])

Conclusion

In this hour, "The Herd with Colin Cowherd" offers a robust analysis of current sports trends, challenging traditional perspectives on quarterback greatness, celebrating emerging NBA talents, and dissecting the transformative changes in college football. Through spirited debates and expert insights, the hosts provide listeners with a nuanced understanding of the dynamic sports landscape in 2025.

Note: Advertisements, promotional segments, and non-content sections have been excluded to focus solely on the substantive discussions within the episode.

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Transcript

Colin Cowherd (0:00)

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Colin Cowherd (1:20)

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Colin Cowherd (26:40)

By the way, you know, I've been talking today about the PFF rankings, the best rosters in the NFL. The Pittsburgh Steelers are 21st, so their strength is defensive line. The X factors. Aaron Rodgers, if he signs. And the rookie to watch is running back Caleb Johnson. We'll see their weakness. A below average offense. So, you know, maybe Aaron, I mean, maybe Aaron hasn't signed with the Steelers. Because he does his own research and he went to PFF and he's seen this. So there, there are certain big brands in sports, and I'm talking like these big all time brands that because of either a loopy front office dysfunction, inability to evolve, I just don't consider championship teams. Dallas and Dallas, Chicago and the Steelers. Now I, I think Chicago's finally got the coach and the quarterback, but I would say the Steelers and the Cowboys sort of fall into this where. And the good news about the NFL, you can fix it quickly. I mean, Detroit was a laughing stock even with Matt Stafford. And then they hired the right GM and they have a stacked roster. And for the years and years, like 15 years, 20 years, Washington was a mess and they got a really cool owner, less dysfunctional owner and a great quarterback. So the NFL does allow you to very swiftly change, even in the NBA. The Knicks, they got the president, Leon Rose, they got Jalen Brunson, their star point guard slash quarterback. And you know, it doesn't take long to do it in pro sports. What's, what's concerning about the Steelers is that they have stable ownership and they have stable coaching and they have a stable front office and they still remain incredibly tone deaf to the current NFL. Like your life basically is a product of your priorities. And in the NFL, your franchise and your roster is a product of your priorities. And the Steelers once again, for the third straight year, maybe fourth in an offensive league, led the NFL in defensive spending. Now, some of it is we got to give credit where credit's due. Some of it is this stuff all got really bad when Big Ben left. And I probably never gave Big Ben kind of the love he deserved because I was so fascinated with Brady, Manning and then Mahomes is that I always felt like Big Ben was a notch below. But we have to be honest, since Big Ben left, he masked a lot of these issues. Since he left, The Steelers average 19 points a game. And by the way, their red zone touchdown percentage under half. So they're 27th, 27th, 24th, 29th last preseason, some of this, I mean, listen, Brady left New England with Belichick, tone, deft offense. Big Ben leaves Pittsburgh mess offensively, not mess as a franchise, not mess as a coach. So maybe it's as simple as this. Brady masked a very defensive first culture. And when Brady left, it was a bit of a house of cards. And Big Ben masked a lot of the problems in Pittsburgh. Offensively, he was so gifted. He leaves and you can see they don't know what they're doing offensively. So it could just be that, you know, Green Bay never gets into that situation because Green Bay drafts quarterbacks three, four years before they're going to play. But, but, but, but maybe I'm too hard on Pittsburgh and not hard enough on New England because the star hall of Fame quarterback leaves and both feel like they don't even get offense. I mean, New England, it's putting a defensive coordinator, offensive coordinator. Like, what are we doing? And Pittsburgh again is just spending all their money on defense. What are you doing? So maybe it's as simple as that. But a PFF has the Steelers at a 21st best roster. We talked about to lead the show and we'll talk about it more. Third hour. But I think one of the things in the NBA and I like Jayson Tatum a lot. He's a great player, all NBA. But I think what Jokic did a couple years ago and what he's become and what SGA is doing is really the standard that we've all been told you have to do to be a number one. And that's my criticism of Tatum, which is, okay, you keep telling me for years and years when LeBron would occasionally not take the final shot. You preached, I argued, you preach. You got to be the man, you got to want the shot. And mostly LeBron did, but not all the times. So essentially when I'm critical of Tatum, I'm just doing the standard that you have set. You got to be the MVP of the conference finals in the finals. Right, Sorry. There are exceptions, like when Durant came to the warriors and he was better than Steph. But I think what you're watching with sga, it's not just the ability to score points, but it's the ability to play well with a really deep roster. He is a very good teammate, as well as being the NBA's lead scorer. And he talks about it.

Tim Tebow (44:22)

Oh man, there's a lot of layers to this answer. And I think that you'll love all of them. I really do. Colin. The first layer is, is the layer that no one wants to talk about and no one wants to bring up, which is now everyone is paying players. And so the dispersion of talent is going to be greater because now it's legal. Nil. Now take that for what it's worth. That is a sentiment underlying in college football that some conferences were more entrenched in that style of behavior prior to when nil became legal. Then you get to some of the other layers, which is transfer portal with nil. What does that do? Well, the sec, and in particular the best programs in the SEC can no longer just stockpile talent and keep them as backups and even third stringers at time. If you look at the depth of the roster of like the 2017, 18, 19, LSU's, Bamas, Georgias, even 2020, 2021, those rosters were insanely talented and deep. But now, Colin, rather than sitting as a backup at Alabama, you can go and be a starter at some other program and make, you know, six figures. Yeah. And so the talent is not sitting there. They're going all over the country. So the depth of talent now is kind of dispersing across the country. And then what you see is that when that happens, it rewards teams that can play quality football at the line of scrimmage and can maintain the talent, get veteran, deep and veteran within their organizations. And that's what Michigan did and that's what Ohio State did. So in part, it's just kind of the overarching shift of where college football has gone, which has allowed the talent to not get really bogged down in one region. Now all those players are going all over for more opportunity, more starting spots. You're not going to make money if you don't start, so you can't sit as a backup. So those rosters got thin and then the rosters up north, I think got a lot better. And you're seeing that late in the season. Think about these games late in the season and I think five years ago you would have been shocked if you would have seen results like Notre Dame beating Georgia and handling them at the line of scrimmage. In a college football playoff game, Ohio State running Tennessee out of the building. Not even close. In a college football playoff game, Michigan beating Alabama, not only in a college football playoff game, a national semifinal, but a year later in another bowl game depleted with all of their starters not playing, beating Alabama again, Illinois beating South Carolina, who we all thought was really on a run late last Year, you start looking at this narrative that the SEC has built up over the last few years. And late last year, it started to crumble, which is why I point to that game that we announced today. Texas. Ohio State is a big game for the SEC because they haven't had a real marquee win since, you know, early last year, when. Who was it? The. Georgia. Georgia, early last year. So all of those things, I think are fascinating. That's a. It was a great question. It really was. But lots of layers to that thing.