Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd — Hour 3 Featuring Petros Papadakis

Release Date: February 19, 2025

Hosts: LeVar Arrington, Brady Quinn, Jonas Knox
Guest: Petros Papadakis

1. Introduction of Petros Papadakis

The episode kicks off with hosts LeVar Arrington, Brady Quinn, and Jonas Knox welcoming Petros Papadakis, a seasoned sports analyst and co-host of the "Petros and Money Show" on AM570 LA Sports. They reminisce about Petros's previous appearances and set the stage for an engaging discussion.

LeVar Arrington [03:11]:
"We're gonna be taking you all the way up until end of this hour... and we will be catching up here with our guy, the old P, Petros Papadakis."

2. Petros's Experiences and Anecdotes

Petros shares humorous insights from his broadcasting experiences, including his interactions with fellow hosts and memorable moments from his career. The conversation is filled with light-hearted banter, highlighting Petros's unique personality and deep knowledge of the sports world.

Petros Papadakis [05:26]:
"This is not my first time on this show. But usually it's the fill-ins that asked me to come on."

Brady Quinn [09:07]:
"You do such a good job in those scenarios... that's how entertaining it was."

3. Discussion on NFL Quarterback Trades

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the dynamics of quarterback trades in the NFL. Petros delves into the potential movement of star quarterbacks like Matt Stafford and Aaron Rodgers, analyzing team strategies and the impact on the league.

Jonas Knox [11:23]:
"Your guy, Matthew Stafford, is he to go or not to go? That is the question."

Petros Papadakis [12:56]:
"They build it the wrong way, is like, well, the sun is blaring down on you at 1:00 on the home team side, which was a big problem."

Petros speculates on Rodgers's potential move to a major media market like New York City, suggesting it could be part of a larger strategy involving media dynamics and team performance.

Petros Papadakis [13:33]:
"Maybe Aaron Rodgers gets that at SoFi. You know, that'd be pretty cool."

4. NBA All-Star Game and Ratings Decline

The hosts shift focus to the NBA All-Star Game, discussing its declining viewership numbers. Brady Quinn provides an analysis of the trend, highlighting the long-term decrease in ratings and comparing it to other sporting events.

Brady Quinn [33:06]:
"Opens up the door and people need to get comfortable with players earning some ridiculously huge numbers... Do you feel like you're overpaying him for the guys right now in the NFL, the best quarterback."

Brady Quinn [33:54]:
"If the Chiefs balked on that, there would be somebody in 10 minutes that would be willing to give him $100 million."

The conversation touches on the disparity in salaries between quarterbacks and other positions, emphasizing the market's demand for elite quarterbacks.

5. Salary Cap Increases and Player Salaries

LeVar Arrington introduces the topic of the NFL salary cap increase for the 2025 season, noting a substantial rise compared to previous years. The hosts discuss the implications of this increase on player salaries, team budgets, and overall league economics.

LeVar Arrington [31:00]:
"The NFL did send out a memo to teams on Wednesday informing them that the salary cap for the 2025 season will be somewhere between 277 and a half and 281 and a half million."

Brady Quinn [33:54]:
"I'm not gonna have the answer for you as far as what they should do, but I think if you're looking at what took place at the same time, which the Canada USA game did over 10.1 million..."

The discussion highlights how increasing salary caps enable teams to secure top talent, particularly quarterbacks, while also addressing the financial pressures on other positions.

6. Player Development and Opportunities

The hosts delve into the challenges quarterbacks face in their careers, particularly the pressure to perform immediately. Brady Quinn underscores the lack of development time compared to other positions, using examples like Brock Purdy and Sam Darnold to illustrate his points.

Brady Quinn [36:00]:
"A lot of people probably wrote off Bryce Young after his rookie year because the way it looked, it looked bad... But Brock Purdy's done a tremendous job in Kyle Shanahan's system."

Bobby Bones [30:07]:
"There was something sentimental when you..." (Note: This seems to be an erroneous timestamp and context, possibly part of an advertisement or unrelated segment.)

7. All-Star Game Ratings and Alternatives

Returning to the NBA All-Star Game, Brady provides a deeper analysis of the declining ratings, attributing it to format issues and viewer engagement. He suggests alternative formats, such as featuring international teams like the Canada-USA matchup, to potentially boost interest.

Brady Quinn [34:02]:
"The peak was, I believe in like, was it 2000, 2003, where it was 13.1 million had watched. So I think that was 2002. And since then it's literally been on a decline with a few exceptions."

LeVar Arrington [47:50]:
"If they want to fix the ratings, just put on an old NFL game. That way people will tune in..."

The conversation acknowledges the persistent trend of declining viewership and explores creative solutions to revitalize interest in the All-Star festivities.

8. American Sports Betting Industry Growth

LeVar Arrington brings attention to the booming sports betting industry, citing the American Gaming Association's report. He highlights the significant revenue increase, reflecting the growing integration of betting within sports culture.

LeVar Arrington [48:46]:
"According to the American Gaming association annual report, 6.7. That was the average. The highest was 75. The American sports betting industry posted a record $13.7 billion in revenue last year, up from 11.11 billion in 2023."

The hosts discuss the implications of this growth on sports viewership, team revenues, and fan engagement, emphasizing how betting has become an integral part of the modern sports landscape.

9. Closing Remarks and Future Coverage

As the episode concludes, the hosts tease upcoming segments, including deeper dives into NFL coverage and more engaging sports discussions. They encourage listeners to tune into future episodes for comprehensive analysis and insider perspectives.

LeVar Arrington [38:53]:
"That's the herd here on fox Sports Radio. LaVar Arrington, Brady Quinn, Jonas Knox in for Colin. Coming up next here in the Herdline news, the numbers are in, and it is not a Good look for somebody in the world of sports."

Petros Papadakis [39:07]:
"One more herd. The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the iHeartRadio app. Search herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like."

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• LeVar Arrington [03:11]:
  "We're gonna be taking you all the way up until end of this hour... and we will be catching up here with our guy, the old P, Petros Papadakis."

• Brady Quinn [09:07]:
  "You do such a good job in those scenarios... that's how entertaining it was."

• Jonas Knox [11:23]:
  "Your guy, Matthew Stafford, is he to go or not to go? That is the question."

• Petros Papadakis [12:56]:
  "They build it the wrong way, is like, well, the sun is blaring down on you at 1:00 on the home team side, which was a big problem."

• Brady Quinn [33:06]:
  "Opens up the door and people need to get comfortable with players earning some ridiculously huge numbers... Do you feel like you're overpaying him for the guys right now in the NFL, the best quarterback."

• Brady Quinn [36:00]:
  "A lot of people probably wrote off Bryce Young after his rookie year because the way it looked, it looked bad... But Brock Purdy's done a tremendous job in Kyle Shanahan's system."

• LeVar Arrington [48:46]:
  "According to the American Gaming association annual report, 6.7. That was the average. The highest was 75. The American sports betting industry posted a record $13.7 billion in revenue last year, up from 11.11 billion in 2023."

Conclusion

In this episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, the hosts engage in a dynamic and insightful discussion with Petros Papadakis, covering a broad spectrum of sports topics. From quarterback trades and salary cap implications to the declining ratings of the NBA All-Star Game and the growth of the sports betting industry, the conversation offers listeners a comprehensive analysis of current trends and future prospects in the sports world. The blend of expert opinions, humorous anecdotes, and critical evaluations ensures a captivating and informative listening experience for both regular fans and newcomers.