Hour 3 - Urban Meyer stops by The Herd

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Episode: Hour 3 - Urban Meyer Stops by The Herd
Release Date: July 1, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

---

Introduction

In the third hour of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, host Colin Cowherd engages in a dynamic conversation with notable figures from the sports world, including Urban Meyer and Tyler Adams. The episode delves deep into the evolving landscape of college football, the intricacies of NFL player evaluations, and the financial nuances of athlete contracts. Additionally, the episode features an insightful interview with Tyler Adams about his experiences and perspectives on the upcoming World Cup.

---

College Football: Big Ten vs. SEC

Timestamp: [02:18] - [20:36]

Colin Cowherd initiates a robust discussion on the shifting power dynamics between the Big Ten and the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in college football. He highlights his belief that the Big Ten has surged to rival the traditionally dominant SEC, citing the depth of talent and successful recruiting strategies.

Key Points:

• Talent Depth and Recruitment: Cowherd and guest Tyler Adams discuss the significant increase in draft picks from the Big Ten, noting that the conference produced 71 players in the past year compared to 28 a decade ago.

• Program Strengths: Emphasis on programs like Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon, and Washington, with discussions on their national championship prospects and recruiting prowess.

• Coaching Excellence: The conversation underscores the importance of elite coaching in elevating team performance, with mentions of coaches like James Franklin, Ryan Day, Dan Lanning, and the impact of recent coaching hires.

Notable Quotes:

• Colin Cowherd:
  "There was about a 15-year period that I thought outside of Ohio State, Big Ten schools just didn't have the depth of talent that the LSU's and the Alabamas had."
  [02:30]

• Tyler Adams:
  "The transition of the Big Ten has been phenomenal... In 08-09, there were 28 players drafted, this past year there were 71. That's over double."
  [05:42]

• Colin Cowherd:
  "The Big Ten now has excellent recruiting coaches. That feels like a big part of it."
  [07:00]

---

NFL Player Evaluations: Travis Hunter and Kyler Murray

Timestamp: [21:47] - [27:27]

The discussion transitions to the NFL, focusing on emerging talents like Travis Hunter and the quarterback landscape featuring Kyler Murray. The conversation critically analyzes player potential, performance metrics, and overall impact on their respective teams.

Key Points:

• Travis Hunter's Versatility: Exploration of Hunter's dual-role capabilities as a wide receiver and defensive back, assessing his athleticism and potential to influence games on both sides of the ball.

• Kyler Murray's Positioning: Debates whether Murray is underrated or overrated, with consideration of his performance stats and comparison to other quarterbacks in the league.

Notable Quotes:

• J. Mac (Guest):
  "He [Travis Hunter] has the best athlete right now Jacksonville has."
  [22:37]

• Colin Cowherd:
  "I think Kyler Murray is rated exactly where he should be... somewhere between 13 and 16 in terms of Sunday opening kickoff."
  [24:42]

• Unknown Speaker:
  "Do you consider Kyler Murray underrated?"
  [23:44]

• Colin Cowherd:
  "If you had to take Jalen Hurts or Kyler Murray, I'd take Jalen Hurts."
  [27:23]

---

Contract Nuances: The Bobby Bonilla Annuity

Timestamp: [27:28] - [29:59]

A fascinating segment explores the legendary Bobby Bonilla contract with the New York Mets, drawing comparisons to modern athlete contracts. The conversation delves into the financial wisdom of long-term annuities versus lump-sum payouts.

Key Points:

• Bonilla's Contract:
  A unique agreement where Bonilla receives $1.2 million annually until 2035, highlighting it as one of the wildest contracts in sports history.

• Investment Strategies:
  Discussion on the merits and drawbacks of taking immediate payouts versus opting for long-term financial security through annuities.

• Modern Comparisons:
  Analysis of how current young athletes could benefit from similar contract strategies, ensuring sustained financial stability.

Notable Quotes:

• Colin Cowherd:
  "If you trust yourself and have discipline, you take the money immediately and invest it."
  [28:09]

• Unknown Speaker:
  "Paul Skeens, who is like a phenom and a superstar... Bobby Bonilla is making more money than him. It's just a genius contract."
  [29:28]

---

Interview with Tyler Adams: Perspectives on the World Cup

Timestamp: [36:22] - [43:05]

In an in-depth interview, Tyler Adams shares his thoughts on participating in the World Cup, balancing professional commitments with national representation, and the future of U.S. soccer talent.

Key Points:

• National Representation vs. Professional Career:
  Adams discusses the importance of playing for one's country and how elite athletes navigate the decision to participate in international tournaments.

• Team Dynamics and Leadership:
  Insights into team chemistry, mentorship from experienced players like Christian Pulisic, and the role of leadership in high-stakes competitions.

• Future Talents:
  Highlights emerging young players within the U.S. national team, emphasizing their potential and the impact of global experiences.

Notable Quotes:

• Colin Cowherd:
  "When athletes get to that level, they should play for cash and then play for country."
  [36:22]

• Tyler Adams:
  "We have amazing analysts in the club that set up for success... confidence to step up to the spot."
  [37:29]

• Tyler Adams:
  "Christian's one of my best friends... he's a special player and we're lucky to have him."
  [41:50]

---

Closing Remarks

Colin Cowherd wraps up the episode by emphasizing the shifting tides in college football, expressing optimism for Big Ten programs like Ohio State and Penn State, and congratulating guests on their insights and contributions. The episode concludes with well-wishes for upcoming sporting events and a nod to the collaborative effort of the show's guests.

Notable Quotes:

• Colin Cowherd:
  "The Big Ten at the top is better than the SEC. If Ohio or Penn State wins this year, you can't argue it. It's over."
  [20:40]

• Colin Cowherd:
  "Tyler Adams, who has been on that team, captain of the last World Cup since 2017... All right. Good luck to you and the guys."
  [43:05]

---

Conclusion

This episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd offers a comprehensive analysis of the current sports landscape, blending expert opinions with engaging discussions. From the resurgence of the Big Ten in college football to the nuanced evaluations of NFL talents and the financial strategies of athlete contracts, listeners are provided with in-depth insights. The conversation with Tyler Adams adds a personal touch, shedding light on the dedication and mindset required to excel on both national and international stages.

---

Note: Advertisements, introductory segments, and unrelated promotional content from the transcript have been omitted to focus solely on the substantive discussions and interviews central to this episode.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

This is an iHeart podcast. Banking with Capital One helps you keep more money in your wallet with no fees or minimums on checking accounts and no overdraft fees. Just ask the Capital One Bank Guy. It's pretty much all he talks about in a good way. He'd also tell you that this podcast is his favorite podcast too. Oh really? Thanks Capital One Bank Guy. What's in your wallet? Terms apply See capital1.com Bank Capital One NA member FDIC Wasabi Technologies is purpose built to free businesses from skyrocketing storage costs and unpredictable egress fees from those old and top heavy legacy providers. You know the big guys. Wasabi is the go to provider for professional and collegiate sports teams around the world. From Wasabi's AI enabled intelligent media storage Wasabi Air to the industry's only cloud storage service with triple protection against cybercriminals, Wasabi is driving innovation in data storage, all for up to 80% less than the other guys. Triumph for [e-mail] Wasabi Hot Cloud Storage Proud partner of the Voluum Podcast Network.

[Urban Meyer]

The last thing anyone wants is to leave behind confusion, stress or worse, family conflict. That's why estate planning isn't just for the wealthy. It's for families like mine and probably like yours. With Trust and Will. I created my estate plan in minutes. From naming guardians for my kids to putting our house in a trust to avoid probate. Fast, affordable and way easier than I thought. Every plan is designed by estate planning attorneys and customized for your state. Plans start at just $199 and include essentials like health care directives and power of attorney. With Trust and Will's bank level security and built in privacy protections, your personal information and your wishes stay safe. Whether you're newly married, raising kids, caring for aging parents, or just want peace of mind, trust and will makes it easy to protect what matters Most. Go to trustandwill.com, use code RADIO at checkout and save 20% on your personalized plan because there's no better time to protect the people you love. Trust Trust in Will is an online estate planning service. See website for details.

[Colin Cowherd]

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. Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio at noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the [e-mail] 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. Welcome back. There was about a 15 year period that I thought outside of Ohio State, Big Ten schools just didn't have the depth of talent that the LSU's and the Alabamas had. Ohio State was sort of, I used to call them the SEC up north. They had the money, the facilities, the coaching. But Michigan won a Natty. Buckeyes won a Natty. The two best players in the country next year are a receiver in a corner. Caleb Downs, Jeremiah Smith are Buckeyes. And I think Penn State has the best backfield in the country. And I think I have the Nittany Lions winning a Natty. Although I think it's, it's hard to, you know, the journey through the Big Ten now is tough because Washington and USC are going to be better. Urban Meyer is now joining us. Urban, for years and years you knew and I knew and the world knew the SEC was better. And I don't know, I don't know who's better in the middle or the tail end. But I think if you took the top four teams today in the Big Ten, which would be Ohio State, Penn State, Oregon, and then we can argue over four, I think they are today as good. My lean is slightly better than the sec. Where are you at having coached in both conferences today?

[Tyler Adams]

The transition of the Big Ten has been phenomenal. On our the triple option, we had James Franklin. We talked about that because he came in the league a couple years after I did in 2012. Colin it wasn't even close. It was shocking. There were great players in the Big Ten, but the stadium atmospheres were just okay. The, the depth of talent was not there and the certainly the bottom half, the Big Ten just wasn't very good. That's changed. That's changed dramatically. The stadium atmospheres are incredible. The addition of the four teams to the PAC 12, I mean, those are four legit teams. And how about this stat? This is interesting. In 08 09, there were 28 players drafted average in the, in the Big Ten this past year there were 71. That's over double. So how do you measure conferences, championships, Big Ten the last two years. And those are two great teams, the Wolverines and the Buckeyes. Great teams. But then the second way to measure at the NFL and the SEC is I think it's 19 straight years. They've had more draft picks than everyone else. They still do, but the Big Ten is much closer.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. And I think, you know, we sometimes, because Michigan and Ohio State and Penn State are such big brands, we kind of forget about Washington and Oregon. And I've said this before about Washington. Every time in my life they've had a great coach. Don James, I mean, new Heisel, got him to a Rose Bowl. Chris Peterson, Kaylin DeBoer. Every time they have an elite coach, they end up in a playoff. And I don't think people in the, at least in the South, I think they do in the Midwest, they don't understand how good Oregon is as a football program. Whereas the SEC out of Texas and Oklahoma, I think people view those as big brands. Tell me how you view Oregon and Washington. Forget SC for a second. I don't think those schools get the national respect, but I would argue Oregon and Washington right now are. Oregon's better than Oklahoma. Washington's on the same plateau. Where are you on that?

[Tyler Adams]

I, I think nationally, Oregon's a different. It's a different Duck. But it's. Everybody looks at Oregon now. I mean, the uniforms, the stadium, the, the success they've had, I think I actually consider them a blue blood right now. Even though they've not won a national championship. The Washington. Now, I spent time at Colorado State, I spent time at Utah, recruited out West. Washington is a diamond. And like you said, they've always had, when they have Don James, they have Rick Newheisel, they have some of those coaches. Chris Peterson, you're in the national championship hunt. They were just recently in the national championship hunt with Kaylin Deborah. So you added two great brands to the sec. But I'll tell you what, you got three legits and you just went, how about this? In the sec, I count nine teams that are expected to compete and win a national championship for years are just three in the Big Ten. Now it's five. So they've added. There's been some really strength added to the Big Ten.

[Colin Cowherd]

I think a lot of. We all know the Elite NFL coaches in college. It feels like a young man's game. And I think one of the advantages the Big Ten has now, Franklin's a great recruiter. Ryan Day is a great recruiter. Michigan has always been a solid. I think Dan Lanning's a great recruiter. Also a big nil. USC now has the number one 20, 26 class. Jed Fish has always been. Even at Arizona, you got all sorts of NFL guys is that the reality is the Big Ten now has excellent recruiting coaches. That feels like a big part of it. I mean, when you were in the sec, who was beating you in the Big Ten for players? I think there's guys now in the Big Ten that go down south and pull players up.

[Tyler Adams]

I'm glad you brought that up, because this is. This is real life. I leave the SEC and I come to Ohio State and there was something called a gentleman's agreement. And the gentleman's coach Bielema got really pissed off at me when we turned a couple players. And, you know, I didn't know. Gentlemen agreement. I'm not sure what that means in the recruiting. You got to go get players. We had two kids from Ohio committed to Wisconsin, and we got them, we flipped them. And people were saying, well, you know, in this conference, you don't do that. And I was like, I don't. I'm not. Saw that anywhere in my contract. That's not against the rules. I got a job at Ohio State to go win games. So I'm going to recruit whoever the heck we want to recruit. So the. The recruiting has changed dramatically. Like you said, you think about the Big Ten coaches that are elite recruiters. I'm not saying they weren't back in 2012, but there wasn't the emphasis on it is now. And as a result, look. Look at the difference. I just told you. 71 players drafted in the Big Ten Conference last year compared to 28 just 10 years ago. 15 years ago.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. Be sure to catch live editions of.

[J. Mac]

The Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am.

[Colin Cowherd]

Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the iHeartRadio app. Hey, it's Ben, host of the Fifth Hour with Ben Maller. Would mean a lot to have you join us on our weekly auditory journey. You're asking, what in God's name is the fifth hour? I'll tell you, it's a spin off of the Ben Mather Show, a cult hit overnights on fsr. Why should you listen? Picture, if you will, a world where we chat with captains of industry in media, sports and more every week. Explore sports, some amazing facts about human nature and more. Listen to the fifth hour with Ben Mather on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcasts this.

[Ben Maller]

July 4th celebrate freedom from spills, stains and overpriced furniture with Annabe, the only machine washable sofa inside and out where designer quality meets budget friendly pricing. Sofas start at just $699, making it the perfect time to upgrade your space. Annabe's pet friendly stick, stain resistant and interchangeable slipcovers are made with high performance fabric that's built for real life. You'll love the cloud like comfort of hypoallergenic high resilience foam that never needs fluffing and a durable steel frame that stands the test of time with modular pieces you can rearrange anytime. It's a sofa that adapts to your Life. Now through July 4th, get up to 60% off site [e-mail] Every order comes with a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. If you're not in love, save, send it back for a full refund. No return shipping, no restocking fees, every penny back. Declare independence from dirty outdated furniture. Shop [e-mail] Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[Colin Cowherd]

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, creating live transitions and captions, 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 AIPC starting at $699.99 at Dell.com AIPC how those ahead, Stay ahead.

[Urban Meyer]

The last thing anyone wants is to leave behind confusion, stress or worse, family conflict. That's why estate planning isn't just for the wealthy. It's for families like mine and probably like yours. With trust and will. I created my estate plan in minutes. From naming guardians for my kids to putting our house in a trust to avoid probate. Fast, affordable and way easier than I thought. Every plan is designed by estate planning attorneys and customized for your state. Plans start at just 199and include essentials like healthcare directives and power of attorney. With Trust and Will's bank level security and built in privacy protections, your personal information and your wishes stay safe. Whether you're newly married, raising kids, caring for aging parents, or just want peace of mind, Trust and will makes it easy to protect what matters Most. Go to trustandwill.com, use code RADIO at checkout and save 20% on your personalized plan because there's no better time to protect the people you love. Trust and Will is an online estate planning service. See website for details.

[Colin Cowherd]

Hey everybody. You've heard me talk about Green River Whiskey, the official Whiskey of the Herd podcast. And if you know anything about me, I love a good metaphor. So the team at Green river challenged me to come up with a perfect metaphor to describe their incredible bourbon and rye whiskeys. And with the playoffs upon us, the answer is clear. Green River Whiskey is like a big playoff win by your favorite team, always sure to raise your spirits. So pair the thrills of this playoff season with Green River Whiskey. And with four core products in their starting lineup, there's something to suit any taste. To find Green river near you, head on over to greenriverwhisky.com here's the green River Whiskey. Raise your spirits. A product of Green River Distilling Company, Owensboro, Kentucky. Alcohol by volume varies by product. Greenriverwhiskey.com Please drink responsibly. The recruiting has changed in college football. I, you know, I don't fight new stuff. If new stuff comes in, there's new rules, there's new cultures. I'm just going to, you know, I'm going to try to figure out, like Rick Pitino said on my show recently, when the world changes, you can, you can fight it or you can figure out a way to solve the new world. If you were recruiting now, let's say you're a Buckeye and, and you're recruiting or a Gator, whatever it is, how would you attack the Nil? How would you attack it?

[Tyler Adams]

I would. You got to get players. And I would attack it the way the big schools are attacking it. I would find out. I would have distribution. I would have a gm. I think Mark Pantoni, the guy we hired three years ago, he stole at Ohio State. I still talk to them once in a while about how they do this. But you know, you have to put emphasis if they're, if everybody's abiding by the same rules, which now they are. A year ago it wasn't the case. You could go out and you spend and through the collectives as much as you can. But I would put premium on positions a lot like they do the NFL. You got to pay what you got to pay for a quarterback for defensive ends, corners and receivers, you have to do it. And I'd pay that center. So I would. I would distribute and build the best team you could possibly can. And. And that's. That's kind of what the top teams are doing right now.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, the. You know, it's funny how you perceive a coach and how the public does. I've always loved Sark, but I've said this about Sark. Great recruiter, great with quarterbacks, hustler. Sometimes on the details, I kind of feel like he lets a game flow and occasionally I'll watch him and think it gets a little away from him. But again, I'm nitpicking. How do you view Sark when you do a Texas game or you watch Texas? What do you see it? Does he have a trend? Does he have a tell? Like, how do you view Sark?

[Tyler Adams]

Well, I have friends that. Around Sark that know him well. I know him fairly well. He's always been great to me. I think he's elite offense. I mean, that's. I'm going to state the obvious first. He's an elite offensive coach. He was in the NFL. He was in college as an assistant, as a head coach. They're always going to be spectacular in offense. But a lot like Lincoln Riley is that you have to grow as a head coach. You don't get championships for offense. That's not how this game works. You get championships for great defense, not turning the ball over and efficient offense. And I think he's grown into the position. He's still relatively young, even though he's had some great jobs. So I view him as one of the top coaches in the country. And that's why I got Texas is. Well, I haven't picked him for sure yet, but I'm still studying it. But I think most people have that preseason number one with a returning quarterback.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know, a program you know well is lsu. And I like Brian Kelly, but it is a. Again, you are recruiting your own players. You're. Everything's moving. And I Brian Kelly and Lincoln Riley, I look at him and I think it doesn't quite look like I think it should look yet. And Saban got out of it. I saw in college basketball Coach K and Jay Wright are like, it's a young man's game. I'm getting out of this. Let's say LSU is okay. This year. Now I like their quarterback. I think they're going to be better than okay. But is there an argument with all the movement? There's no off season that for the guys that are post 60, it's harder now than it's ever been.

[Tyler Adams]

Well, you got to connect with players and you look at the best connecting guys and it's, it's real. Is the younger, the younger generation. And that's always been kind of the facts of coaching players. You know, you have young guys on your staff. A big part of that is what to read the locker room to let you know. The locker room. So Brian Kelly, I admire him. We're friends, we coached against each other. I visit his programs, he's visited mine. To think that he's still coaching, I, you know, I didn't see that happening. And then he saw an opportunity at lsu. And I'll tell you this about Brian Kelly. He's driven and he wants that national championship. You don't move from South Bend. He did it for one reason and that's to go get that crystal ball. So I know what's driving him and he's, he's one of those guys when he, when he pushes really hard, great things happen. So yeah, I didn't, I didn't see that one happening. I didn't see him coaching this long. But when he saw that opportunity, showed up at lsu, we actually talked about it a couple years ago. He just thinks it's spectacular and a chance he can win it all.

[Colin Cowherd]

Finally, you guys at Ohio State, you picked up Purdue's tight end again. Another exceptional class. It's Caleb Downs, it's Jeremiah Smith. Everybody loves the quarterback. If I said give me your top three teams in the country, just in personnel, I don't, I don't want to look at this schedule. If I just said like last year, by the end of the year, Ohio State had more good players than everybody. They look like those Alabama teams where they were like Tyson in their prime. People were getting intimidated. Name the three best rosters right now. Personnel in America.

[Tyler Adams]

Yeah, you said you guys at Ohio State. I'm at Fox, I'm not at Oxford.

[Colin Cowherd]

I know, I know.

[Tyler Adams]

I was just, I'm just kidding you. Texas, Texas, Ohio State and Penn State is following the lead of the Wolverines and the Buckeyes and that is, they have more seniors. Think about this, Colin. I'd never had a chance to coach fourth year players. If I did, it was very rare. And the difference between a fourth year player and a rookie or a freshman is Night and day, you're coaching. Grown ass men, you're coaching. That's a, that's a men's locker room compared to young person. So watch out for Penn State. Man, if Drew Aller can really improve as a quarterback, I agree with you. They got the best backfield. I don't think it's close in the country. They got an offensive line that they can't wait to get on the field. So, yeah, I think Penn State, Texas and Ohio State are three most talented.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. Urban Meyer. There's a golf course waiting. There's a four iron waiting for you to grab it. So I appreciate you stopping by.

[Tyler Adams]

I'll see you. Gina Georgetti's in Chicago one day.

[Colin Cowherd]

Tell me when you're in town. I'm ready for it. Yeah. So Michigan, Michigan two years ago. Ohio State last year. Penn State's my call to beat Texas in the national championship. You know, keep your eye on Oregon. Yeah, keep your eye on Oregon. But I, I think they're really good. Ohio State will obviously be good. J. Mac with the news.

[J. Mac]

No, no, no, turn on the news.

[Gina Georgetti]

This is the third line news.

[Colin Cowherd]

So fired up for college football. You know what? You know how irritating that's going to be to SEC fans if it goes Michigan, Ohio State, State. That's going to be irritating. The tide has turned, my friend. The Big Ten at the top is better than the sec. If Ohio, if Penn State wins this year, you can't argue it. It's over.

[Unknown]

This is quite a leap to Penn State winning the Natty. Yeah, I know you're a Midwest guy now, but next time you come out west, you want to hit Vegas, Put some money where your mouth is on Penn State.

[Colin Cowherd]

Come on.

[Unknown]

Really? You think they're winning the national championship?

[Colin Cowherd]

First round running back, first round quarterback. And as Urban said, very, very talented. They've always recruited the O line. They're going to be really. And Franklin is an elite recruiter. Penn State's one of those programs because it's out in the middle of nowhere. It gets, you know, it's independent for years and years. Joe Paterno and it was up there and the over the hills. Let me tell you something. Facility, fan base, revenue, athletes, it's a real deal.

[Unknown]

We got a family member going to be a freshman at Penn State next year. So I'll be something of a fan for the Nittany Lions, but can't get on board with Natty. All right, let's go to the NFL. Colin Travis Hunter, he's one of the big names to Watch this season the new Jaguars wide receiver slash db. Well, his teammate Josh Heinz Allen, the pass rusher gave his two cents on the Travis Hunter playing both ways situation during an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show.

[J. Mac]

What plagues every NFL player or any.

[Colin Cowherd]

Professional athlete is injuries.

[J. Mac]

I think if he can allow himself to stay healthy and take care of that, get in the hyperbaric machine.

[Gina Georgetti]

Yes.

[J. Mac]

I think he has a great career ahead of him.

[Tyler Adams]

Both sides of the ball.

[J. Mac]

Again, if he's the best db, is he the best wide receiver, who knows? But is he a great playmaker on both sides of the ball?

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes, he is. Wow. I mean, I can't wait to watch him.

[Unknown]

Are we getting a little too excited for a rookie? Are we putting too much pressure on this kid? Is he a great playmaker on both sides of the football? Yeah, he was at Colorado.

[Colin Cowherd]

No, I think, I think we have to be on it. The NFL is different than the NBA. Is that Micah Parsons walked into the NFL. Aiden hushes and walked in. Jared Verse walked in. I mean you can guys first round talent walk in and oh, wow, they're really great. We see it. Jaden Daniels walks in and you're like, is he a top six quarterback in the league? This is not college basketball or college baseball where you go to the minors. These guys come out with three and four years against NFL players. Brian Thomas last year, like, I mean that Harbaugh loved him. They took a tackle instead. So I think there's no. I mean, I think he'll walk on the field. I think he's the best athlete right now. Jacksonville has. And I think all the players know he's the best out. Doesn't mean to be the best player. But in terms of best athlete, I think Jacksonville players look around and go, yeah, that guy's probably our best athlete.

[Unknown]

Pretty good. All right, let's stay in the NFL. Go to Kyler Murray. We touched on him earlier. Is he going to be a flashpoint this season, Colin? We will see. He just had a rough few seasons. Last season was the first time since 2020 that Kyler started all 17 games, had over 4,000 yards and 26 touchdowns. However, his teammate Buddha Baker believes Kyler is the NFL's most underrated quarterback, adding, he's kind of been in his bag the whole off season. He's going to do it all. I don't know. I think underrated quarterbacks, I do not think Kyler Murray, I would go the opposite way. He's a little overrated. Do you consider Kyler Murray underrated?

[Colin Cowherd]

No, I think he's rated exactly where he should be. A little small, little distracted, I think, you know, I mean, I think, I think by and large in this league, quarterbacks are. I mean, we can argue. Where is Jalen hurt? Six or nine?

[Unknown]

Five.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know, I think Brock Purdy is closer to 15. You think he's closer to seven. We can argue about guys like that. But by and large, I think, I think one of the things that's absolutely fairly rated is NFL quarterbacks. I think, I think by and large we all know the top four or five and then we have a sense of the next six or seven. And I think Kyler is on the. Out of that. You know, he's like in that 13 ish. 12 to 15, 16. And I think that's. I think he's got. Hold on, hold on.

[Unknown]

Is that on talent and potential or what he's shown? Because those are two very different things.

[Colin Cowherd]

What I've seen on the field, he's somewhere between 13 and 16 in terms of Sunday opening kickoff. He's my quarterback. Here's what's going to happen. And I think, I think, I don't think there's a position in the NFL in sports. That is because we talk about it so much. It's very fairly. Again, we can argue about Brock Purdy. There's always one guy. For years and years people were critical of Lamar Jackson. The guy wins 76% of his games. He's somewhere in the top six or seven. I think he's closer to four than he is to eight. But you know, Jalen hurts to me because of their O line and run game and star talent. A little overinflated when Greg Cosell comes on for years, which he did by the way, with Russell Wilson and says he doesn't see the field. Great. I trust Greg Cosell over fans and media, so. But most quarterbacks we kind of know. What if I say a name of a quarterback and you and I put a number on it? Our number usually is going to be fairly close.

[Unknown]

Oh, well, I like Greg Cosell. Seems like a nice guy. I think I did meet him actually at the Super Bowl. But Colin, like we have a lot of data that shows Jalen Hurts is winning from the pocket. He's winning big games. He's putting up huge numbers. Just because some games he doesn't pass a lot. I think we're giving him an unfair like shake when it comes to Kyler Murray. Colin, he has the same number of playoff wins. Let me see. Justin Herbert, Tua. I Think has zero.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay, that's a great example.

[Unknown]

Kyler Murray got to the playoffs once.

[Colin Cowherd]

If Kyler Murray, Tua and Justin Herbert are on the market. Think like a gm. Your owner would fire you if you didn't take Justin Herbert, obviously. Yeah, easily. You got to contextualize playoff wins. If you're 65 with a big arm and move and you're smart with a 4:2 major in biology, you're. I'm going to take you over Tua and Jalen hurts.

[Unknown]

If I gave you Jalen hurts or Kyler Murray, who you taking?

[Colin Cowherd]

You tend to look at wins, I tend to try to look at traits. You and I just see quarterback differently. I'm traits.

[Unknown]

I'm not.

[Colin Cowherd]

You look at wins, I look at traits.

[Unknown]

Not all wins. Jalen hurts or Kyler Murray, who would you take?

[Colin Cowherd]

Jalen hurts.

[Unknown]

Yeah, he's scared there for a moment. Calhoun.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right, final story.

[Unknown]

Let's go to baseball. Colin. Today is a special day. July 1 Bobby Bonilla Day, reminding all Mets fans that they owe Bobby Bonilla Another $1.2 million. One of the wildest contracts in sports history goes all the way back to 2000. So the Mets had wanted to buy out Bobby Bonilla and instead of paying it out in full, they decided they'd make annual payments of 1.2 million for 25 years. So Colin, up until 2035, Bobby Bonilla is going to get $1.2 million. There's. It's similar to the lottery. You win like a big lottery. Do you want the instant payout or do you want the annuity where you get every year you get X amount?

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, if you trust yourself and have discipline, you take the money immediately and invest it.

[Unknown]

Invest it.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know, athletes, historically, you know, I would probably say athletes should take the money over the course of 25 years. The rule on the lottery, I've always. This is a fascinating topic to me. The rule on the lottery has always been you take the money up front, you take the big money, don't worry about the payout. But here's the downside. What if you take the money up front? Covid hits, market crashes. Whoa. If you take it over 25 years, you're not beholden to a hot market, you're not in trouble with a cool market. Is we've had market crashes about over the course of Dow Jones. Every seven years you get turbulence. It's doing very well now. But I do think there's peace of mind. Like a lot of people pay off their homes, they tell you you should not pay off your home. But a lot of people do because they want to sleep at night, they want the home. They don't want to think about it. So I've thought about this. If I, if I sold a company or if I how would I want the payouts? And my takeaway has always been I'm boring and disciplined so I take the money up front. But I think Bobby Bonilla probably thought, you know what man, I this is easy. I just 25 year annuity, million.2 a year. I don't have a problem with it.

[Unknown]

So, so it's interesting our producer put together a list of names. Bobby Bonilla is currently getting paid more than these young baseball stars. And the guy that jumps out is the Pirates pitcher Paul Skeens, who is like a phenom and a superstar. Yeah, Bobby Bonilla who's been out of the league for like 16 years is making more money than him. It's just a genius contract. Applauding Bobby Bonilla wish more athletes kind of thought like he did.

[Colin Cowherd]

J. Mack with the news.

[J. Mac]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, they're on a four game friendly losing streak. They are now in the semis. Tyler Adams of the United States Men's National Team looking forward to it. Joining us next. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific.

[Ben Maller]

This July 4th, celebrate freedom from spills, stains and overpriced furniture with Annabe, the only machine washable sofa inside and out where designer quality meets budget friendly pricing. Sofas start at just $699, making it the perfect time to upgrade your space. Annabe's pet friendly stain resistant and interchangeable slipcovers are made with high performance fabric that's built for real life. You'll love the cloud like comfort of hypoallergenic high resilience foam that never needs fluffing and a durable steel frame that stands the test of time. With modular pieces you can rearrange anytime. It's sofa that adapts to your Life. Now through July 4th, get up to 60% off site [e-mail] Every order comes with a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. If you're not in love, send it back for a full refund. No return shipping, no restocking fees. Every penny back. Declare independence from dirty outdated furniture. Shop [e-mail] Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[Colin Cowherd]

Introducing the new Dell AI PC Powered by the Intel Core Ultra process, 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, creating live transitions and captions, 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 AIPC Starting at $699.99 at Dell.com AIPC how those ahead Stay ahead.

[Urban Meyer]

The last thing anyone wants is to leave behind confusion, stress or worse, family conflict. That's why estate planning isn't just for the wealthy, it's for families like mine and probably like yours. With Trust and Will I created my estate plan in minutes. From naming guardians for my kids to putting our house in a trust to avoid probate. Fast, affordable and way easier than I thought. Every plan is designed by estate planning attorneys and customized for your state. Plans start at just $199 and include essentials like healthcare directives and power of attorney. With Trust and Will's bank level security and built in privacy protection, your personal information and your wishes stay safe. Whether you're newly married, raising kids, caring for aging parents, or just want peace of mind, trust and will makes it easy to protect what matters Most. Go to trustandwill.com, use code RADIO at checkout and save 20% on your personalized plan because there's no better time to protect the people you love. Trust and Will is an online estate planning service. See website for details.

[Colin Cowherd]

Hey everybody, you've heard me talk about Green River Whiskey, the official Whiskey of the Herd podcast. And if you know anything about me, I love a good metaphor. So the team at Green river challenged me to come up with a perfect metaphor to describe their incredible bourbon and rye whiskeys. And with the playoffs upon us, the answer is clear. Green River Whiskey is like a big playoff win by your favorite team, always sure to raise your spirits. So pair the thrills of this playoff season with Green River Whiskey. And with four core products in their starting lineup, there's something to suit any taste. To find Green river near you, head on over to greenriverwhisky.com here's the green River Whiskey Raise your spirits. A product of Green River Distilling Company Owensboro, Kentucky. Alcohol by volume varies by product. Greenriverwhiskey.com Please drink responsibly.

[Unknown]

The road to 2026 continues tomorrow on FS1 with the Gold cup semifinal as the US Men's National Team takes on Guatemala. No easy path, no second chances. Coverage begins to tomorrow, 6 Eastern on FS1.

[Colin Cowherd]

Tyler Adams was the captain of the last World cup team. So I have been on this thing where I, I, I have supported Christian Pulisic and, and a lot of it's because I've always compared international soccer stars with basketball stars and that, you know, Jokic is going to play for his country in the Olympics and in the NBA. And I've argued that. Now we have. And Tyler Adams is one of these players. He's played for Leeds and Germany. He's played, he's been playing overseas, making big money for years and years. And my take is when athletes get to that level, they should play for cash and then play for country. And then, you know, the FIBA World Basketball Championships, if you pass on that, you can play. But if you pass, I'm not going to judge you. And I feel a little bit like that. Even though Fox has it, it's a Gold cup, and I'm totally into it. I do think, have we reconnected? Oh, he's good. Ready to go. All right, let's bring him in. Tyler Adams is now joining us, who turned pro at 16. He's now 26. He's one of the old lads. He's one of the leaders. So I've been arguing, I've been defending guys like you and Pulisic, I say, listen, when you're that good, just like jokic in the NBA or LeBron James, get paid for you guys, that means go overseas. For Jokic, it means come to the NBA and then play for your country. So I call it the cash in the country. Then if you don't want to participate in, let's say, a Gold cup or a FIBA basketball World Championship, I'm okay with that because you have literally elevated yourself to another status. And so I defend that. I think, Tyler, if you chose not to play here, I'd be okay with it. I've defended Pulisic. Is my take a bad take? How do you view that, that there are certain global athletes that may pass on certain tournaments? How do you view that?

[J. Mac]

Yeah, I mean, I think everyone is in a unique situation. You know, you take Christian, for instance. He's been playing with the national team since he was 16, has 70, has been major tournaments, and he chose to take a rest to recover for his body. And for him, the amount of games he's played at the age that he is, he deserves a break. So I think everyone is in a different situation. You know, I've missed a little bit of time with injuries. I felt okay to come into the tournament, and that's why I'm here. And I'm excited to represent my country with this amazing team that we have. So everybody is in a completely different situation. But, yeah, we're building on something special here. And, you know, when we have another big tournament, a lot of more guys are going to be here.

[Colin Cowherd]

So during the penalty kicks, I'm an absolute nervous wreck. I can't. I can't even. It's like you can barely. You. You're sitting on the couch thinking, oh, what. What is going through your mind before you kick? Tyler, have you decided on a side? Are you watching the goalies instincts? When do you make a decision on what that kick is going to look like?

[J. Mac]

A little bit of everything. We have amazing analysts here in the club that set up for success. We've been practicing that every day after training for the situation that we might be in them. For myself, I walk up with confidence and know that, you know, God forbid I miss my teammates, have my. And you look at our penalty shootout, and our goalkeeper had an amazing penalty shootout, and he saved our team in a lot of situations. So, you know, you have to have confidence to be able to step up to the spot. But our team did. Unbelievable.

[Colin Cowherd]

So you are a veteran on this team right now. You're 26 years old, turned pro. You've played over in Europe. This group of young players you're playing with, give me somebody I should keep my eye on. Give me your sense of our kind of. Because it's you. A couple other guys may make the World cup team, but what do you see with the next crop that are younger than you that want to be Tyler Adams in two to three years?

[J. Mac]

There's so many good players in our group. Now, I solve a lot of these guys because for me, I came from mls. I was the first league that I played in. And a lot of our roster is built around MLS players. And you can see that it's getting better and better because if you have the opportunity to represent your national team, you're doing something right. But you know, guys like Quinn Sullivan, Diego Luna, Jack McGlynn, Paxton Aronson, a lot of these guys are making games for themselves at the highest level, and if they're not to go to Europe soon, they're going to keep developing in mls. So, yeah, there's a lot of bright prospects on our team right now.

[Colin Cowherd]

How important the World Cups in 11 months. Does winning this. Does it matter? Does it create inertia? Or is it one of those things like, listen, we're going to have a lot of different guys in the World Cup? Do you think the Gold cup matters? Does winning, does it feel different going into the next 11 months?

[J. Mac]

Playing in knockout games, I think is always an experience that everyone's going to be able to take into the World Cup. So for all these guys on our team right now, it's an experience that we might not have in the. In the next 11 months until the World Cup. So you want to have that feeling. You want to be able to go to penalties and create this winning atmosphere because you know better than anyone in covering sports, winning becomes contagious. And I think it's a mentality that a lot of these young guys need to develop. So we're continuing to build that. And I think, you know, winning this thing will give a lot of excitement to a lot of fans.

[Colin Cowherd]

If I'd never watched this team play with a new coach, Mauricio Pochettino, if I'd never seen it. Describe how it. And I like Burr Holter a lot, but describe some of the subtle changes and nuances that feel a little different with the new. With the new guy.

[J. Mac]

Yeah, the. The mentality that he's brought in for our team now is he just wants to compete. Eleven players, you know, we watch clips after games and after trainings from the commitment of our team, whether it's, you know, someone has a bad play and it's the reaction of how we react to that situation. 11 players sprinting back to defend our goal. 11 players sprinting forward to try and create chances to score. Just becoming that exciting team again with that U.S. grit that, that we've had over the years. So while maintaining that, how can we add a little bit of quality in certain situations? And obviously he's helping us develop that.

[Colin Cowherd]

Playing the World cup on US Soil, do you view it as a significant advantage, Tyler?

[J. Mac]

Yeah, it's an advantage and disadvantage, I think, because for a lot of players, if it's their first opportunity, it will be a lot of pressure. It'll be more pressure than playing a World cup abroad where the expectations maybe aren't as high. I think for us, as catalysts in the sport and as role models for. For the newer generation, we want to make sure we leave our mark in this tournament. So going out there, representing our country in the right way, winning games, because that's what people want to come and see is the most important thing. So, you know, for myself, I think the. The burden weighs a little bit heavier, but I think that's exciting. I think pressure is a privilege.

[Colin Cowherd]

What is the best part about playing with Christian Pulisic? What does he do that? I mean, even if you look at Leeds in your European experience, what does Christian provide that even excellent European players, the best players, even on the national team since, I think, 2017. What does Christian provide that even other good players don't?

[J. Mac]

Yeah. Listen, Christian's one of my best friends, so it's easy for me to say. We grew up together from a young age. We went to residency together. And for me, he was a role model from a young age because watching him play, there was always something special that he had that no other player on the field has. For me, I'm pretty good in defensive situations and reading players and defending players, but there was something about him that just made it look so easy dribbling by players. It was just always gliding. So, yeah, he's a special player. He's a creative player and he just always shows up in big moments. He leads by example, that's for sure. So, yeah, he's a special player and we're lucky to have him.

[Colin Cowherd]

Finally, Matt freeze in goal during the penalty kicks. All your years playing soccer, have you ever seen a goalie stop three get his hands on two others? What were you thinking watching Matt?

[J. Mac]

Well, I mean, I practiced PKs on him in training, so I was pretty confident in our chances going into that situation. He said he used to write papers. If you're mad, you're probably going to set yourself up for success.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. Hey, Tyler, appreciate you stopping by our show. Good luck to you and the guys.

[J. Mac]

Thank you.

[Colin Cowherd]

You bet. Tyler Adams, who has been on that team, captain of the last World cup since 2017. He's been a pro now for 10 years. Played in Leeds, over in Germany, Bournemouth in the English Premier League. So he's got a ton of international experience. And I just think you get to a point where if you're elite, you're making money overseas, you play in the World Cup. If you want to plan this, great. If not, I'm okay with it. All right. J. Mac. Well, you're going to be taking over for you for a few days. Got a minute left in the show. I appreciate it you taken over the reins of the show. I want to thank Tyler Adams, Urban Meyer, Albert Breer, all stopped by today. Anything? What do we got. Before we go.

[Unknown]

Nothing. I just. What are you going to do for July 4th? Are you a firework guy or are you more like I'm going to watch from a safe distance?

[Colin Cowherd]

No, I'm, I like explosives. I'm a fireworks guy. I've said this before. My favorite holiday is fourth of July.

[Unknown]

Really?

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. Like, like Christmas. I, I Mike, when my kids were young, Christmas was great. Thanksgiving, it's too hot in the house. I, I'm wearing a sweater in November. I know, I know. I'm a fireworks guy. I mean, let's, let's face it. I'm gonna have a beer in my hand. Fireworks. Maybe a cigar. That's America, baby.

[Unknown]

All right. Be band.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right, you too. Thanks, everybody, for stopping by. I'll be off for a while. J Mack takes the controls. It's the hurt. 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 listens? 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 any perspective. 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.

[Gina Georgetti]

Let's talk photos. Not just storing them, showcasing them. You've got images that matter. Whether you're a photographer, a business updating your followers, or just someone who wants to share life's moments the right way. So why hand them over to Big Tech's one size fits all Cloud? Big tech companies are the fast food of photo sharing. Quick, easy, but not exactly gourmet. And what about your data integrity? Jalbum.net is the photo sharing solution that puts you in control. Want to host images on your own server? You can want a layout that actually reflects your brand or style. Jalbum's customizability is unmatched. And if you're a business sharing regular photo updates with your audience, this tool was built with you in mind. But don't just take our word for it. Over 230 million web pages have been created with J Album, and it's got stellar reviews on Trustpilot to prove it. So head to jalbum.net to download your free software and try it out when you're ready to upgrade, use the code podcast for 20% off your photos, your layout, your rules.

[Ben Maller]

Jalbum.net Just like great shoes, great books take you places through unforgettable love stories and into conversations with characters you'll never forget.

[Urban Meyer]

I think any good romance, it gives me this feeling of like butterflies.

[Ben Maller]

I'm Danielle Robaix and this is Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club, the new podcast from hello Sunshine and I Heart Podcasts, where we dive into the stories that shape us on the page and off. Each week I'm joined by authors, celebs, book talk stars, and more for conversations that will make you laugh, cry, and add way too many books to your TBR pile. Listen to Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the latest episode of Next Question with me, Katie Couric, I sat down with Jasmine Crockett, Democratic representative of Texas. She's holding down the fort for her party in one of the most conservative states in the union. I think that ultimately who will become.

[Colin Cowherd]

The Democratic nominee for president will be.

[Ben Maller]

Someone that has been out there and has shown that they won't allow themselves to be punched and just say thank you like they will punch back. Listen to Next Question with me, Katie Couric on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

This is an iHeart podcast.