Hour 3 - Aaron Rodgers' last season

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 3: Aaron Rodgers' Last Season

Release Date: June 25, 2025
Host/Authors: Colin Cowherd, Julian Edelman, Jason McIntyre, and John Middlekauff
Description: This episode delves into the significant move of Aaron Rodgers to the Pittsburgh Steelers, analyzing its impact on both Rodgers' career and the Steelers' prospects for the upcoming NFL season. The discussion encompasses team dynamics, coaching strategies, quarterback performance, and broader NFL insights.

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1. Aaron Rodgers Joins the Pittsburgh Steelers

Timestamp: [02:49] – [04:41]

Colin Cowherd initiates the conversation by addressing the seismic shift of Aaron Rodgers transitioning from the Green Bay Packers to the Pittsburgh Steelers. He emphasizes the potential stability the Steelers bring to Rodgers' career while questioning the team's ability to compete for a Super Bowl title.

• Colin Cowherd states, “I think they're going to be a solid football team as they always are. I think they'll be a little better than last year. Do I think they're going to win a Super Bowl? No.” ([03:00])

Cowherd expresses admiration for Steelers’ head coach Mike Tomlin and the team's defensive culture but remains skeptical about their championship prospects. He highlights the Steelers' offensive line ranking (29th) and recent roster changes, such as the release of a productive running back, which could hinder Rodgers' performance on offense.

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2. Challenges Facing Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers

Timestamp: [04:41] – [08:20]

Julian Edelman builds on Cowherd's points by comparing Rodgers' situation to other veteran quarterbacks like Tom Brady and Matt Stafford. He notes Rodgers' history of success when surrounded by reliable receivers, drawing parallels to his tenures in Green Bay and New York.

• Julian Edelman remarks, “When did he have his most success? When he worked with the receivers. He knew Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings, you know, those took.” ([04:50])

Cowherd concurs, discussing the difficulties Rodgers may face due to unfamiliarity with his new teammates and the Steelers' existing offensive line issues. He draws comparisons to Tom Brady's transition to Tampa Bay, noting that Brady thrived once he built chemistry with his new team.

• Colin Cowherd adds, “Aaron, he's going to a team that's not terrible. If he wants to continue his football career, that's awesome. He gets an opportunity to do it.” ([05:30])

The conversation shifts to the physical toll on aging quarterbacks, with Cowherd sharing personal insights about his own retirement, emphasizing the increased caution older QBs take to preserve their health.

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3. The Impact of Aging Quarterbacks on Team Performance

Timestamp: [08:20] – [12:58]

Julian Edelman and Colin Cowherd discuss the broader implications of quarterback aging on team strategies and performance. They highlight how older quarterbacks might sacrifice aggressiveness to avoid injury, contrasting them with younger counterparts who often embrace riskier play styles.

• Colin Cowherd states, “You have to be on that edge of reckless to go out and do what you have to do. And the day where you have to think about going to reckless is the day you're done.” ([07:32])

Edelman brings up comparisons with other quarterbacks like Kirk Cousins, noting that a reluctance to take risks can hinder a team's offensive effectiveness. They discuss how the Steelers may leverage Rodgers' experience while contending with their own offensive line weaknesses.

• Julian Edelman observes, “Aaron not going to sit in there. Matt Stafford is one of the only old guys that will sit in the pocket and get drilled.” ([06:30])

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4. Coaching Strategies and Team Dynamics

Timestamp: [12:58] – [23:08]

The discussion shifts towards coaching styles, focusing on figures like Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams and Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots. Cowherd praises Vrabel's intelligence and leadership, contrasting him with other coaches who may lack effectiveness despite having strong personalities.

• Colin Cowherd comments, “He's the rare case of being a tough guy that's really smart.” ([08:55])

Edelman and Cowherd delve into the importance of effective coaching in building a cohesive team, highlighting McVay's innovative approaches such as holding team-building retreats in Hawaii. They compare this to the traditional methods of coaches like Bill Belichick, emphasizing the need for productivity and unity.

• Julian Edelman notes, “They could go play an away game in Green Bay and then as a team we would go work in San Diego for the week and stay in San Diego for the week and unify as a team.” ([11:18])

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5. Team Building and Draft Strategies

Timestamp: [23:08] – [26:27]

The panel discusses the intricacies of team building, focusing on the San Francisco 49ers' draft strategies and their impact on the team's performance. They critique the 49ers for missing key draft picks and not fully capitalizing on their resources, which has led to vulnerabilities in their defensive lineup.

• Julian Edelman questions, “What makes him [Mike Vrabel] different? Because a lot of good players don't become good coaches.” ([08:55])

Cowherd elaborates on the 49ers' issues with offensive line aging and defensive shortcomings, expressing concern over their ability to compete without significant improvements in these areas.

• Colin Cowherd asserts, “When you get older, you don't want to get hit as much because you smarten up and you realize that that one hit that you took, you've had that hit before.” ([07:43])

They also highlight the importance of hitting on draft picks, emphasizing that success in the later rounds is crucial for building a robust team.

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6. Prospects and Predictions for the Upcoming Season

Timestamp: [26:27] – [37:05]

Looking ahead, Cowherd and Edelman share their thoughts on various NFL teams' prospects, particularly focusing on the Arizona Cardinals and their quarterback Kyler Murray. They analyze Murray's potential to lead the team to a successful season, drawing comparisons to other quarterbacks in similar situations.

• Colin Cowherd states, “The scouting report is in. Experience the all electric BMW IX and witness dedication in every detail.” ([24:00])

Edelman praises the Cardinals' offensive talent but remains cautious about their consistency and ability to avoid injuries, which have historically hampered their performance.

• Julian Edelman comments, “They have to have a good backup. They have not been good at backup quarterback.” ([35:05])

Additionally, the discussion touches upon other NFL topics, including the Miami Dolphins' quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and his performance, drawing parallels to Drew Brees' playing style and highlighting the critical role of offensive line protection.

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7. Broader NFL Insights and Player Performance

Timestamp: [37:05] – [42:12]

The panel broadens the conversation to include the impact of player performance fluctuations and team dynamics on season outcomes. They discuss the importance of maintaining player health, effective coaching, and strategic team management to achieve success in the highly competitive NFL landscape.

• Julian Edelman reflects, “If it gets cold and windy and wet, I don't think about Purdy the same. That's exactly how I feel about Tua.” ([34:16])

Cowherd shares personal anecdotes about overcoming setbacks in his career, emphasizing resilience and adaptability as key traits for both players and teams striving for excellence.

• Colin Cowherd shares, “They watched that game my whole rest of my career for like seven more years, eight more years.” ([24:38])

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8. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Timestamp: [42:12] – [43:12]

As the episode wraps up, Colin Cowherd and Julian Edelman summarize their key points regarding Aaron Rodgers' move to the Steelers, the challenges ahead, and the broader implications for the NFL. They reiterate their skepticism about the Steelers' Super Bowl chances while acknowledging the positive aspects of Rodgers joining a respected franchise.

• Julian Edelman concludes, “What a pleasure. What a pleasure. Good seeing you, buddy.” ([26:27])

Colin Cowherd emphasizes the excitement surrounding the upcoming season and the intriguing dynamics introduced by Rodgers' presence on the Steelers.

• Colin Cowherd ends with, “I think this could be a good thing for them if they are the underdogs going under the radar, because they haven't been that in a long time.” ([23:52])

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Notable Quotes

• Colin Cowherd: “You have to be on that edge of reckless to go out and do what you have to do. And the day where you have to think about going to reckless is the day you're done.” ([07:32])

• Julian Edelman: “When did he have his most success? When he worked with the receivers.” ([04:50])

• Colin Cowherd: “Aaron, he's going to a team that's not terrible. If he wants to continue his football career, that's awesome.” ([05:30])

• Julian Edelman: “They can beat anybody in the league. Go to Arizona. Kyler's getting protection.” ([31:27])

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This episode provides an in-depth analysis of Aaron Rodgers' transition to the Steelers, offering valuable insights into the potential benefits and hurdles of this move. The discussion highlights the complexities of integrating a seasoned quarterback into a new team environment and underscores the critical factors that will influence the Steelers' success in the forthcoming season.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

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[Jason McIntyre]

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[Julian Edelman]

Hi, it's Colin. I've been around long enough to know.

[Jason McIntyre]

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[Julian Edelman]

Be sure to catch us live every.

[Jason McIntyre]

Weekday on Fox Sports Radio and noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the [e-mail] or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.

[Colin Cowherd]

Now, let's get this party started.

[Jason McIntyre]

You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.

[Julian Edelman]

You see Julian Edelman on Fox NFL Kickoff Sundays in the fall. He's got his podcast games with names and he is joining us. So we haven't had you on since Aaron Rodgers joined the Steelers. Aaron yesterday saying it's probably it. 20 years I've done my thing. So first of all, your take on Aaron joining a defensive culture that by the way, won 10 games last year and was fairly anemic post Thanksgiving. On offense, how's he going to do?

[Colin Cowherd]

I think they're going to be a solid football team as they always are. I think they'll be a little better than last year. Do I think they're going to win a Super Bowl? No. I love Mike Tomlin. I love the culture, I love the defense. I like Arthur Smith, but how fast can they get that machine going? Aaron doesn't know his teammates at all. Yet once again, he's going into another year behind. When he did that last time they start, they didn't have a good first eight weeks.

[Julian Edelman]

That's right.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know, and then he turned it on at the end because he started learning his teammates. So I like the move. It's the best thing for the Steelers right now. And Aaron, he's going to a team that's not terrible. If he wants to continue his football career, that's awesome. He gets an opportunity to do it. One of the pillars of the National Football League. But do I think they're going to win a Super Bowl? No, I don't. I think they'll be a little better. They, they're 29th in offensive line. Last year they didn't address it at all. They have the same offensive line. They get rid of one of their running backs that was pretty productive. But that kind of didn't hit the way they wanted with Harris, like when he was a first round draft pick five years ago and was never the guy guy Warren came in, did well. How are they going to use that running game to help Aaron? Arthur Smith does a good job at that. Are they gonna win a Super Bowl? I don't think so.

[Julian Edelman]

You know, think about this with Aaron, when did he have his most success? When he worked with the receivers. He knew Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings, you know, those took. Took years, years. When the packers receivers got young at the end in Green Bay, it wasn't good. He goes to the jets, he doesn't know the receivers. Not good. He goes to The Steelers. DK Metcalf doesn't know him. It's funny, like, Tom Brady had to build trust Tom at the end of New England, I'm out now. It did work after about 12 games in Tampa, but Chris Godwin and Mike Evans are pretty good. Right. Bruce Arians is coach.

[Colin Cowherd]

It was also a Covid year, mind you. They didn't get to prepare the way they could prepare. So you can't even put those guys in the same sentence because we didn't know it was Tom Brady's last year when it was last year.

[Julian Edelman]

Right.

[Colin Cowherd]

He didn't want the distraction of that. He wanted to go out and play his best possible football, that he could play the last year of his career without making it a distraction. Now, you know, we know it's his last year and you know, we've. We've heard that before.

[Julian Edelman]

When you were go, did you know it was your last year? Did you have a sense going into the last off season? This may be it. If I get banged up, I may not do it.

[Colin Cowherd]

No, no. It wasn't until my last year finished. That's. That last game finished. That's when I knew my career was over. Probably because it. I just wasn't. I was trying to recover from a, you know, a knee thing, a root tear and the amount of energy I was putting in, I used to get this much output. The amount of energy I was putting in was up here and I'm getting this much output. I could never recover and get my knee right. It just. It was going to be a long road for me to.

[Julian Edelman]

You just didn't want to go down that road.

[Colin Cowherd]

I didn't want to go down that road.

[Julian Edelman]

It's interesting and I saw this with Eli Manning at the end, he didn't want to get hit smartly, would throw the ball away. I. I've noticed this a little bit the last year in Green Bay and in New York. Aaron not going to sit in there. Matt Stafford is one of the only old guys that will sit in the pocket and get drilled. Yeah, most guys don't. That was my take on Aaron in New York. It's like he's going to throw the ball away early. And I. And I think that is not discussed that young quarterbacks, it's almost a badge of honor. Josh Allen, Big Ben, bring it on. I'll hold it to the end. One of the disadvantages of older quarterback, you see it with Kirk Cousins a little bit. You just don't want to get hit.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. You know, I remember when I told My dad, I was retiring, he told me you finally smartened up. And he said that because he said it's kind of like a fighter pilot. You have to be able to. You have to be willing to die doing your job.

[Julian Edelman]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

You have to be on that, that edge of reckless to go out and do what you have to do. And the day where you have to think about going to the reckless is the day you're done.

[Jason McIntyre]

Yeah.

[Julian Edelman]

You get out.

[Colin Cowherd]

So, you know, the, the. When you get older, you don't want to get hit as much because you smarten up and you realize that that one hit that you took, you've had that hit before, and it took you two weeks to get back the week the last time. And you were younger, and you were younger. So, I mean, it does take a toll. You know what? I think it's going to be an exciting season. I mean, they're bringing one of the greatest quarterbacks of our generation into a cornerstone franchise with the Steelers. I'm going to watch every game. Yeah, I can't wait to see it. It's a great move. It's great for the league. But do I think they're going to Super Bowl? No.

[Julian Edelman]

So you know Mike Frable very well. Right? Right. He's a friend. I, the last three years, I got pretty fortunate. I have picked. I pick a team every year to double their win total, and I think New England's it. So. Mangini told me last week that Mike Fraebel is the smartest football player he ever coached. He said his recall was insane. He could recall. Give me some insight that. About Vrabel that you don't maybe as a person, maybe not as a, you know, a coach or. But what makes him different? Because a lot of, A lot of good players don't become good coaches.

[Colin Cowherd]

He's the rare case of being a tough guy that's really smart.

[Julian Edelman]

That's funny.

[Colin Cowherd]

It's weird. You know, he, he, he, he can alpha you with his presence, but he can also offer you with his mouthpiece. Like, he knows how he, he, he could. Like when Mangini said he could recall anything, he, he could recall like we'd be at the Kentucky Derby and he'd pull out a play that we played against each other when he was with Tennessee. And he said, you know, that one play, you did that, and he could just bring it out. I mean, that's what I think is so special about Coach Rabel. He's got that alpha mentality, but he's also a really smart guy. So he has both of them. I'm excited to see what they do in New England. I got to go to their, their camp a couple weeks back and it looked great.

[Julian Edelman]

What jumped out to you?

[Colin Cowherd]

What jumped out to me? Drake made the question. He asked me the hunger that he had. You know, I went in and talked to the team and afterwards Drake came by and they're, they're running the same offense that we were in. He kind of asked me, hey, what do you, what do you see on this? It was a smart question that stood out to me that he didn't have an intimidation factor of being embarrassed to go out and ask a guy a question that's been in the system that he's going to try to go be in and that, you know, ask that kind of question. I thought that was big. His leadership, the leadership of the coaches, there was a good tempo, not a lot of standing around. So I'm excited to see what they do this year.

[Julian Edelman]

So we. John was joking the other day. Sean Payton took his camp to Hawaii and yeah, McVeigh and John said, doesn't feel very Belichickian. I remember when McVeigh came into the league. He's like, I'm not playing any of my starters in the preseason. It's ridiculous. And it's not a country club because you watch the Rams, they're a fit. That defense is physical. He likes to run the ball. But I do think, not that it's become the NBA, but it's, it's a more player friendly league today than five years ago. And I think McVeigh, there's a bit of a Robin Hood, like people are following McVay's lead, which is, you don't have to bark like, like when you look at them going to Hawaii. How does it land for you?

[Colin Cowherd]

I think it's a cool opportunity. Some of my favorite times as a Patriot is when we would go play an away game in Green Bay and then as a team we would go work in San Diego for the week and stay in San Diego for the week and, and unify as a team. Like those are unifying team moments.

[Julian Edelman]

Go to the zoo, though.

[Colin Cowherd]

You could go, well, regardless, you guys are, your family's there, whatever. But you guys are all together and you're working together. There's no, you're not all going home. You're all going to the hotel. You guys are all going to eat with each other, you're going to talk with each other, you're going to be around each other, you're going to Be around each other's family. That's great. I don't have a problem with that at all. As long as the time that they use to. To get ready for football in Hawaii is productive. That's. That's amazing. That's a. That's evolution to, like, workplace people. You know, you got to take care of the guys, the horses. So I. I thought that was a cool thing that McVay did, you know, And I'm sure every meeting and walkthrough or practice that they did was. Was very productive with their time, and that's. That's the difference. You know, you look at other teams that don't practice. Their guys. Cincinnati Bengals, Zach Taylor don't play the guys in the preseason. They haven't won a game in September in, like, five years. Like, you know what I mean? Like, so not everyone's Sean McVeigh.

[Julian Edelman]

Right? Right.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay. Not everyone's Bill Belichick, where it's completely different. Everyone's got their rhyming reason of how they get things going. The best coaches know how to get their players up. So whatever it takes, it takes. But Sean McVay knows with that specific team, he can do that.

[Jason McIntyre]

Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific, on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the iHeartRadio app.

[Julian Edelman]

Hi, this is Jay. I'm the producer of the Paulie and Tony Fusco show. Usually in these promos, they ask you to listen to the show. I'm here to ask you, please don't listen to the show. The hosts are two absolute morons who have the dumbest takes on sports imaginable. Don't listen to the show so it can get canceled.

[John Middlekauff]

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

[Colin Cowherd]

What the hell are you doing in our studio?

[Jason McIntyre]

Get him, Paulie.

[Julian Edelman]

Ignore that fool.

[John Middlekauff]

Listen to the Paulie and Tony Fusco.

[Julian Edelman]

Show on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast.

[Jason McIntyre]

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[Julian Edelman]

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[Julian Edelman]

So I want to end with this and take your time on this. So John and I did our AFC NFC surprise picks. The one we totally disagree with and I know their schedule is easy is the ners. So here's what worries me about the Niners is that they lost two defensive players that the staff loved. They loved Greenlaw and they loved Huanga. They couldn't afford them. So first they're both leaders, they're both tough guys. They both get injured, they play through pain. Those are leader guys. Don't love that culture guys, really good culture guy, tough guys.

[Jason McIntyre]

What all.

[Julian Edelman]

What I also don't like and I think you can talk about this with New England, they're getting old on offense, McCaffrey's injuries, Trent Williams, Kittle had a great year but. And Purdy is a good quarterback but I do think he's a bit reliant on his protection and the health of like Kittle and McCaffrey. So when a team's best players are predominantly either injured guys are old guys and now the season is 17 weeks long. Go to the oldest Patriot team you played on. Everybody's been banged up, everybody hates rehab and the guys like maybe a Gronk are really valuable. Does it seep into your head? Do you think about it like we've got to be healthy because I look at this team. Kyle Shannon's a great coach. Losing record in San Francisco. Without McCaffrey they're not the same team. So I, I look at him and I think somebody's going to get hurt. They're too old. John looks at him and goes schedule's easy. The coach is brilliant. What do you your take on the Niners now? Because I think they're, they're getting really expensive and really old.

[Colin Cowherd]

I agree with you. First off, there is no easy schedule in the National Football League. I don't, I'm so sick and tired of hearing people say that like there is no Louisiana Lafayette Tech school. Everyone is getting paid the same amount of money.

[Julian Edelman]

It's mostly McIntyre, not middle cop well.

[Colin Cowherd]

Regardless, there is no. Everyone always says that. But who's going to be the hot division this year? We don't know. It could be some scrambled division that plays really great. So that. I don't like that. What was the second thing?

[Julian Edelman]

The second thing is, hey, Shanahan's a great coach.

[Colin Cowherd]

Shanahan, yeah, he's a great coach, but, you know, he's a coach that likes to play from ahead. Whenever he plays from behind, he's not.

[Julian Edelman]

Really, you know, he, he stays to the play sheet.

[Colin Cowherd]

He stays to the play sheet. So, like, if we take a look at the 49ers, you know, when, when they don't have a lead, that the stats are terrible when they play from ahead, they play the game the way they want to play. When their team is constructed to play that way, they're a really great football team.

[Julian Edelman]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Offensive lines getting old. This, this, this reminds me a lot of the 2019 Patriots, but not even kind of close because we came off winning a Super Bowl. But the old factor.

[Julian Edelman]

But you went into the season knowing.

[Colin Cowherd]

We went into the season, you know, little banged up, Gronk retires, AB Comes in. You know, if, if you're going to sit there and you're going to say, if this guy stays healthy, we're going to be good. You're. You're, you're gone. I remember that, hearing that all the time from coaches and, and, and, you know, in that facility, in the Patriots organization, if you think that, you know, we're going to be good if this guy stays healthy, that means your team that doesn't have the depth to go out and win, you know, so, like, I don't like those, those sayings and those. I just don't like that either. So when it comes down to the 49ers, for me, I think this is going to be. They haven't hit on any of their draft picks other than Brock Purdy.

[Julian Edelman]

You know what's really interesting about this.

[Colin Cowherd]

And that's what you have to do, pretty draft.

[Julian Edelman]

You take Brock Purdy out of that draft, it is a bad draft.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know, they, they lost Ward, they lost key parts, their secondary, which they've struggled the last few years.

[Julian Edelman]

And when Bose is hurt, the defense is not the same.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know, and then you look at, you look at points allowed, they're like 20. They're like not the middle third of points allowed, which. That's the real. They can stop people because they have Bosa who can, you know, strip sack someone and get a turnover or something. But the game's ultimately about points and they haven't been able to stop teams this year. Especially when a team runs the ball, though, you know, so I'm worried about my San Francisco 49ers. I grew up loving this team. I root for this team. But, you know, we'll see how Pearsall does. You know, they had to hit on him last year. You know, the shoulder thing, that's a freak thing. He gets shot in San Francisco, which is crazy. We don't have any offensive linemen. Trent's getting kind of. Trent's old. Trent missed a few games last year.

[Julian Edelman]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know, it gets tough when you get. He's a big man.

[Julian Edelman]

Well, he. They play the Rams twice and that's.

[Colin Cowherd]

A young Rams team.

[Julian Edelman]

That defense is all.

[Colin Cowherd]

What did they do? What did the Rams do? They hit on Puka Nakua in the fifth round. They hit on. Versus. They hit on. Who was the other. Kyron Williams in the fifth round. They're hitting on draft picks. Niners, they. It's, it's. You know, I love lynch and all, but they, they've missed on a few picks.

[Julian Edelman]

You know, John's a former scout. I think sometimes the Niners at the top, the owner, York Shanahan, lynch, the quarterbacks are talked about. If you go to the fringes in the margins, I mean, you're a former scout. They have had some bad misses.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, the.

[John Middlekauff]

Trey Lance, you know, got rid of a bunch of first rounders. So they didn't have one for a couple years.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

So those, I mean, they were missing three players. Trey Lance was a zero and then two. The next first rounders didn't exist.

[Julian Edelman]

That's right.

[John Middlekauff]

So then the pressure on the second and third rounders, you miss a couple of those and Jules knows this, you start winning. You're drafting at the end of every round. So you're drafting at the end of the second round. That's your first pick. It's like pick 60.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

And you whiff on that, all of a sudden you're like, man.

[Colin Cowherd]

And that's. That's how you build your team. You got to build it through the.

[Julian Edelman]

Draft and you need cheap labor. At some point you have to hit on fourth and fifth round players. I mean, Joanne Jennings and Brock Purdy are two of their best players and.

[Colin Cowherd]

They hit them later on.

[Julian Edelman]

Those are. Where would they be without Brock Purdy and Jennings right now?

[John Middlekauff]

They'd be in trouble.

[Julian Edelman]

And they're. They're both.

[Colin Cowherd]

I will say one thing, though, about the San Francisco 49ers. There's been a lot of talk about them regressing this year, which they've been the target of the west coast for the last five years. Maybe them flowing under the radar could help them this year. Maybe the weak schedule where everyone thinks they're circling San Francisco because they're banged up, maybe they, you know, energize that fuel and put that towards when I. You never know. But I, I think this could be a good thing for them if they are the underdogs going under the radar, because they haven't been that in a long time.

[Julian Edelman]

You know, it's, it's funny because McIntyre has been on this. His whole thing is the schedule is easy and it is easier than, let's say, the Giants. But part of the reason it looks easier is Shanahan and Brock Purdy. Like, you can score points the Giants can't in your career. And I know Belichick never let you overlook anybody, but there had to be one game in your New England career when you looked at the schedule, saw a film and thought they aren't good and they either beat you.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. Cleveland Browns in 13, 12 or 13 in Cleveland. In Cleveland.

[Julian Edelman]

They housed you.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, I, I think we. I had a fumble. Rob had a fumble. We fumbled on a kickoff return. That was in like 2013.

[Julian Edelman]

Bill was bitter.

[Colin Cowherd]

We watched. Anytime we played Cleveland from there on out, we would have a 35 play cut up of that year's game of.

[Julian Edelman]

Like, I remember it.

[Colin Cowherd]

Fellas, let's not, let's not turn the ball over on special teams and lose this game. Can we, can we do that? Like, we watched that game my whole rest of my career for like seven more years, eight more years. Every time we played the Cleveland Browns.

[Julian Edelman]

Dude, Peyton Hillis playing that game.

[Colin Cowherd]

Peyton Hill has jumped over like three of us, I think. I don't know. It was that game.

[Julian Edelman]

I remember Buffalo game when Brady threw four picks up in Buffalo.

[Colin Cowherd]

What year was that?

[Julian Edelman]

It was probably before you.

[Colin Cowherd]

It could be before me because I don't. I think we won. When we got Gronk, I don't think we ever lost to Buffalo. It was crazy because Gronk would go play in Buffalo, it's his hometown. He'd have like three, two touchdowns every time.

[Julian Edelman]

Yeah, the bad Brady game in my life.

[Colin Cowherd]

And there was a Cincinnati game where he played in a rain game in, in 13, I believe, where, you know, it's raining, but it was like a torrential downpour and we had it for the last drive. They had the rocket.

[Julian Edelman]

You know what I remember about the Cleveland game. Bright blue skies.

[Colin Cowherd]

Bright blue skies. Beautiful, beautiful. Be.

[Julian Edelman]

I'm like Rain man on Little Windy. It's Cleveland.

[Colin Cowherd]

It's Cleveland.

[Julian Edelman]

But I remember Peyton Hillis is like Marshawn lynch against the Saints. He's just blowing over all you guys.

[Colin Cowherd]

It. It was.

[Julian Edelman]

It was a not a good flight home.

[Colin Cowherd]

Wasn't a good time. Anytime you played them again after that.

[Julian Edelman]

Julian Edelman. What a pleasure. What a pleasure. Good seeing you, buddy. We'll take a break. It's the Herd.

[Jason McIntyre]

Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd. Weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific.

[Julian Edelman]

Hey.

[Jason McIntyre]

So we all make mistakes, but owning up to them is the right thing to do. So you know Degree Cool Rush deodorant, right? Well, last year they changed the formula and it did not go over well with their fans. So Degree's whole thing is it turns up the sweat and odor protection when you turn up the effort. And good thing it does, because Cool Rush fans really turned up the effort to bring the original formula back. One guy even started an online petition, and degree listened. They admitted they effed up. They're bringing back the original Cool Rush scent. They're bringing it back and it's exactly how you remember it. Cool, crisp and fresh. It's back in Walmart, Target, and other stores now for under $4. There's a reason it's been the number one men's antiperspirant for the last decade. It's the same reason why people were not happy when it changed. So if you've never tried it, it might be a good time to see what the fuss is about. Head to your local Walmart, Target and try the OG degree Cool Rush for yourself. Summer is here, and you can now get almost anything you need for your sunny days delivered with Uber Eats. Now, what do we mean by almost? Well, you can't get a well groomed lawn delivered, but you can get chicken parm delivered. A day at the lake? That's a no. A Philly cheesesteak? That's a yes. A nice tan. Sorry. A box fan? Happily, yes. What about a day of sunshine? Not happening. How about a box of fine wines? Yeah, that's happening. Delivery's on its way. Okay. How about some clear skies? Nope. Well, how about some French fries? Yeah. So how about a freshly cut lawn? Can't help you there. But a barbecued prawn? Or it. And it's on its way. Even throw in some paper towels. Clean up after the feast. So while you can't get fun in the sun, delivered don't worry because you can get pork buns delivered. Uber Eats can definitely get you that. Get almost, almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol in select markets. Product availability may vary by region. See app for details. Introducing the new Dell AI PC. Powered by the Intel Core Ultra processor. It's not just an AI computer, it's a computer built for AI. That means it's built to help do your busy work for you. So you can fast forward through editing images, designing presentations, generating code, debugging code, running lots of apps without lag, summarizing meeting notes, extending battery life, finding that file you were looking for, managing your schedule, meeting your deadlines, responding to Jim's long emails, leaving all the time in the world for more you time and for the things you actually want to do. No offense Jim. Get A new Dell AI PC starting at $749.99 at Dell.com AIPC how those ahead Stay ahead. At the end of the season, there's only one team that can call themselves NBA champs. Only one player that can call themselves the number one pick in the NFL draft. Well, there's only one electric SUV worthy of the title. The ultimate. The all electric BMW ix. What I love about the IX is that it delivers legendary BMW performance while its sleek design exudes innovative sty from the inside out. Not to mention how much space and utility it provides. Over 75 cubic feet of cargo space. The IX is completely changing the game with an all electric suv. The greatest legends of sports never compromise any part of the game. So why would you settle for anything less from your suv? After all, there's only one ultimate the BMW ix. Everything you love about the ultimate driving machine.

[Julian Edelman]

Electrified Rick Patino will put him on the podcast today. He was sensational. But now we go to John Middlecock. Off with the news.

[Jason McIntyre]

No, no, no.

[Colin Cowherd]

Turn on the news. This is the Herdline news.

[John Middlekauff]

Starting the NFL. Colin, where Kyler Murray who we talked about earlier and the Cardinals were look for their first winning season since 2021 after just missing out last year at 8 9. I had Arizona moving off Kyler in our predictions earlier. Yeah, but Trey McBride has some other ideas saying that he believes that he and Kyler can form the same partnership as Mahomes and Kelsey. I don't know about that. Colin, what do you think?

[Julian Edelman]

Well, I think McBride's great awesome player. I think he's an awesome player. That's my buddy drafted him, Steve Keim. I think he's a tremendous player. I actually think From Connor to McBride to Harrison to Kyler Murray. I think their own lines, okay. I think offensively they're really interesting. And I think this year they kind of went back to defense in the draft. So I like their personnel. Like, I feel like they're a little like Seattle. They can beat anybody in the league. Anybody in the league. Go to Arizona. Kyler's getting protection. They can beat anybody. I just don't know if they can put together 12 wins. Kyler gets banged up. Kyler can get, you know, sometimes moody. But their talent, there's eight or nine guys on this roster I think are sensational players.

[John Middlekauff]

Well, he deserves credit because he's clearly mature from what was a couple of years ago. I know Jonathan Gannon living in that area. They're higher on him. The guy, the leader. But as a player, he can be frustrated because like you said, they can beat anyone in an individual game. You could put up Sunday Night Football against the Bills and Kyler could outplay Josh, no question. Then the next week he could play the jags and throw 450 yards and lose by 20.

[Julian Edelman]

They are a maddening team.

[John Middlekauff]

So I do think he's fascinating coming into this year because the talent, it oozes off the screen and it has since. I don't think he lost a game in high school. I think he went 45 his three years in high school. So he's the 12th highest paid quarterback.

[Julian Edelman]

The.

[John Middlekauff]

The team has finished either last or second to last in five of the last six years. So beside that one year with Kingsbury, remember, and they fell apart at the end of that season. It has not gone well from a wins and losses standpoint. I just. This kind of feels a little make or break just because he makes a lot of money and he still would have value to pivot. Plus the quarterback draft is good.

[Julian Edelman]

Yeah, but this is not a franchise that is. I mean, if you told me, take the packers and take Arizona, take the best seven players, I mean, I'd say McBride is arguably better than anybody on the Packers.

[John Middlekauff]

Arizona's got good players.

[Julian Edelman]

No, I mean. And they've got high end players.

[John Middlekauff]

Marvin Harrison Jr. Is a guy everyone would take. They just signed sweat from the Eagles. I think they drafted in the second round. Will Johnson, remember, he kind of fell in the draft. I mean their roster is not bad.

[Julian Edelman]

Not bad at all. Yeah, Boot is great.

[John Middlekauff]

So we'll stick with the NFL to, to Miami, where Tua he's entering his sixth season and he'll look to stay healthy and upright. He just played in 11 games last season prior to joining Miami in 2022. The now retired Taron Armstead played nine seasons with New Orleans and had an up close look at Drew Brees. In an interview on the Rich Eisen show, Armstead talked about the similarities between.

[Colin Cowherd]

TUA and breeze anticipation. The accuracy, timing of throws, the ability to knock a wing off a fly repeatedly. Those, those guys throw darts.

[Jason McIntyre]

They don't throw to areas.

[Colin Cowherd]

They are very precise.

[Jason McIntyre]

That's an elite talent.

[Julian Edelman]

It's elite.

[Colin Cowherd]

Elite trait very few people possess. He's. He's one of them and and Drew Brees another.

[Julian Edelman]

I don't disagree that he is his comp. He's a left handed Drew Brees. Now Brees again. It's unfair because Brees is an all timer. I've always liked, I've always liked Tua when he has stable protection and when the weather's good like he at home. I've always felt different home and away with him I always feel like the elements. And I've said this about Brock Purdy. If it gets cold and windy and wet, I don't think about Purdy the same. That's exactly how I feel about Tua. But if the conditions are moderate to good and he has ample protection, Tua throws a great ball.

[John Middlekauff]

Well, we say the same about Jared Goff but Jared Goff got to play in LA and down Detroit in a dome. You know, Drew Brees got to play in a dome TUA while he plays in Miami. They play the Bills.

[Julian Edelman]

Right?

[John Middlekauff]

They play in the AFC and they make the playoffs. They play the Chiefs. It is a difficult proposition when you don't have a great arm and you're in the AFC because of the teams that you're going to have to play in the playoffs also.

[Julian Edelman]

And we have to be fair. They have not done a good job on the O line and they're not ready for Armstead to move off. You cross your fingers. It's. I think there are certain players, if you have two as a quarterback, you have to have a good backup. Yeah, a stable backup. They've not been good at backup quarterback. And I also think you've got to have a top seven to eight to nine offensive line. You got to protect tua. He is smaller, he doesn't have a big arm. He needs the extra half second of protection.

[John Middlekauff]

I think we all respect the guy and his toughness. I do think we have to be critical. When he's played better teams in big spots, he's kind of crumbled. He has not played good football against the better competition in the NFL.

[Julian Edelman]

And I think Mike McDaniel is clever. I think he's smart. But sometimes I feel the organization lacks steak and there's a lot of sizzle.

[John Middlekauff]

We could argue that you're just not winning in Miami. Given the modern day economics of football and how much stuff's going on, how rich these guys are. It's kind of been a disaster for a long time there.

[Julian Edelman]

Yeah.

[John Middlekauff]

Now to the wnba where your girl Caitlin Clark has been having a tough last three games. She has, including last night where she was limited to a season low six points. Went over six from three in the grand scheme of things. It didn't matter though. With the fever winning the game and her teammate Lexi hall believes there's nothing to worry about amid Clark's shooting woes.

[Julian Edelman]

She'll be fine. I don't think we're worried. We're not worried about it. She's a great shooter. This is a great fire. This happens to every team, every player. Every great player should be fine. Yeah, I think we forget that Steph Curry and especially Klay Thompson, you know, you hear about hitting slumps. Steph Curry had shooting slumps. You were there. You're a Warriors guy.

[John Middlekauff]

Happens all the time. I mean, Steph and Clay, who are by far the greatest shooting backcourt in the history of the league, you could watch them on an individual game basis. Especially Steph a little later in his career. Clay later in his career. You have bad weeks, a bad month.

[Julian Edelman]

Clay had bad series. There was an Oklahoma City series years ago where he had like a great game.

[John Middlekauff]

Game six. Save their season.

[Julian Edelman]

Save their season. But if I recall, he struggled in the series.

[John Middlekauff]

Listen, did Ted Williams get a base hit every time he went up to bat? Tony Gwin did. Steph Curry made every three point shot he's ever attempted? Of course not. I also think there is, you know, she's coming off an injury. The road home splits a little interesting this year. I would not sell any Caitlin Clark stock moving forward.

[Julian Edelman]

We agree. John Middlekopf with the news.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, that's the news and thanks for stopping by the herd line news.

[Julian Edelman]

So tonight is the NBA draft. I don't. We had Rick Petito on for 20 minutes. He was tremendous today. I don't know if you're ever going to have a great draft again because it is such a projection draft. So many of the players, whether international or domestic, there's just a lot of young guys. It's a, it's not, you're guessing, but there's a lot of projection. I, I, I don't feel that in the NFL draft. I mean, quarterback is always going to be hard. He needs the right coach and right support system. But in the NFL, you whiff on 50% of your picks and you have three and four years of tape. You know, in college you may get 30 games of tape for a kid that plays at Kentucky and he may only go against an NBA player in six of those 30 games. That's all the tape you have. You know, it's the interview, it's the combine in Chicago. You know, you're just projecting. So I don't know if this is a great draft. I think Cooper Flag is as good and as exciting a domestic prospect as we've had in a long time. St. John's coach Rick Pattino on Flag.

[Jason McIntyre]

Well, he's physically ready, he's extremely athletic. He shoots the basketball. He's a tough young man and he's maybe one of like three players that are ready to have an impact right away for the Dallas Mavericks. He's got a good inside game, good outside game. He drives with force, knows how to play the game. He actually is young, he skipped a year of high school. So it's, he's ready for the NBA and I think he'll be an impact basketball player right away.

[Julian Edelman]

I also think we have a comp on him that's pretty accurate. It is Jason Tatum, they played in the same, you know, at Duke. So you very rarely do you get a comp and you're like, oh yeah, that's an obvious comp. I mean they both played at Duke, both same Duke culture. Cooper Flag was younger, yet his numbers were all a little better. He is absolutely a better defensive player at this point and he is absolutely a more aggressive player. Now Tatum, much like Cooper Flag, Jason Tatum ended a entered a NBA with a very solid, well run organization in Boston and had that iconic dunk as a rookie over LeBron James. So in the very first year, Jason Tatum, who went number three, I think that was the Markel Foles draft, wasn't it? The big bust. So I mean Tatum very early. We were all excited and I think that's what you'll feel. I don't know if Dallas is well run. I think they were better run with Mark Cuban, but the coach is good. You can say what you want about Nico Harrison. They've drafted well, they've got really good players. And, and, and I'll say it again, you may not like the Luca trade. If it was AD and instead of Max Christie it was Austin Reeves. I think you Might feel different about that trade and one more first round pick, but they didn't get it. But, and I know y' all, you're all, you know, how did they get Cooper flag? However, he's going to be really good. Really. I think he's going to look like Tatum as a rookie. You're going to have some iconic dunks and iconic moments and you're going to be like, oh, I can't wait till year two because you'll see some rawness. I mean, the NBA. One thing about the NBA that you noticed in the playoffs, it is physical. Like, like Jay Billis said this the other day. I thought it was a great point. In college you talk about individual possessions. In the NBA shot clock, the game is so fast that you look up and you've had three or four possessions. The NBA is just a faster league. And I think that's why I like Cooper Flag. I think he plays fast. I mean he's one of those guys, he'll take two big long strides with a ball and he's at half court. So he is not applauding player. He is long, he's athletic, he plays very fast. And that's the difference between college and the pro. The pacing is insane at the NBA level. I mean it's one of those things where rarely do you see a coach in the NBA like call a play. You trust your guard, you try to catch him in a free throw break, but it's just possession after possession after possession and I just think he's built for it.

[John Middlekauff]

I think if you're getting Jason Tatum, if you factor in the economics of the league, would you take, you know, trading Luka, getting rid of that 350 million do start with a rookie contract. Getting Jason Tatum At 18 years old, it might end up working out for Nico Harrison. That's the best case though. I mean that's a, that's a positive.

[Julian Edelman]

Much better defender, much better defender and I would argue a better athlete than Luca, not the offensive prodigy. Luke is one of the great, I mean walked into the league, he was an elite scorer. But in terms of I get a, I get right now, healthier player, better defender, better shape and free. I mean you're not paying anything for years. Yeah, and I again that Dallas front line, he doesn't have to protect the rim. He can get out in transition because their front line in Dallas is outstanding. John Middelkoff, you absolutely crushed. Loved having you.

[John Middlekauff]

I appreciate it, Colin.

[Julian Edelman]

See you tomorrow.

[Jason McIntyre]

Okay. Have you heard about this last year degree changed the formula for their Cool Rush deodorant and their fans rebelled and wanted the old scent back and degree listened. That doesn't happen often, they admitted. They effed up and they're bringing back the original Cool Rush scent. They're bringing it back and it's exactly how you remember it. Cool, crisp and fresh. There's a reason it's the number one men's antiperspirant and it's back in Walmart, Target and other stores now for under four bucks. So try and see what the fuss is about. Head to your local Walmart or Target to try the OG Degree Cool Rush for yourself. Summer is here and you can now get almost anything you need for your sunny days delivered with Uber Eats. Now what do we mean by almost? Well, you can't get a well groomed lawn delivered, but you can get chicken parm delivered. A nice tan? Sorry, A box fan? Happily, yes. A day of sunshine? No. A box of fine wines? Yes. Uber Eats can definitely get you that. Get almost almost anything delivered with Uber Eats. Order now. Alcohol in select markets. Product availability may vary by region. See app for details. BMW didn't just design an electric suv. Every detail of the BMW IX was crafted with passion and precision. With a BMW ix, you'll experience unmatched power, utility, spaciousness, versatility. My favorite feature Cloud based navigation. Monitors charge levels, locates nearby charging stations so I can drive electric with the ultimate ease. BMW lets performance do the talking and the scouting report is in. Experience the all electric BMW IX and witness dedication in every detail. Looking to transform your business through better HR and payroll? Meet PayCor, a paychecks company. The powerhouse solution that empowers leaders to drive results. From recruiting and development to payroll and analytics, paycor connects you with the people, data and expertise you need to succeed. Their innovative platform helps you make smarter decisions about your most valuable asset. Your people. Are you ready to become a Better Leader? Visit paycor.comleaders to learn more. That's paycor.com leaders this is an iHeart podcast.