The Best of The Herd

Summary

The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Episode: The Best of The Herd Release Date: December 23, 2024
Host: Colin Cowherd
Guest: Matt Hasselbeck (Former NFL Quarterback)

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Introduction

In this special episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, host Colin Cowherd teams up with former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck to delve into some of the most compelling stories and performances in the current sports landscape. Skipping over the usual advertisements and introductory segments, this summary focuses on their in-depth discussions about quarterback performances, team dynamics, and broader sports trends.

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Quarterback Performances

1. Sam Darnold’s Evolution with the Minnesota Vikings

   Colin begins by addressing the skepticism surrounding Sam Darnold’s potential, highlighting his transformation into a pivotal player for the Vikings. Matt emphatically supports this view:

   "Sam Darnold was supposed to be like a one-year thing, but he is so good with Justin Jefferson. He is so clutch in the fourth quarter. This is no longer just a good story. This is an excellent team and he is an excellent quarterback."
   [08:15] Colin Cowherd

   They discuss how Darnold has become the driving force behind the Vikings, likening him to a "truck" that pulls the team forward despite losing key players like their left tackle.

2. Jaden Daniels’ Stellar Rookie Season

   The conversation shifts to Jaden Daniels, whose performance as a rookie quarterback has exceeded expectations. Matt praises Daniels’ ability to maintain high passer ratings, especially when trailing:

   "Jaden Daniels has a 106 passer rating while trailing. That's like goat stuff. That's Mahomes early. Mahomes was better trailing."
   [15:00] Colin Cowherd

   They explore Daniels' leadership qualities and his knack for making pivotal plays in high-pressure situations, positioning him as a standout among his rookie peers.

3. Kyler Murray’s Struggles and Future

   Colin expresses disappointment over Kyler Murray’s inconsistent performances, particularly his tendency to throw interceptions under pressure:

   "Kyler Murray has got four TDs and six picks. His lack of size hurts him in the pocket, and his leadership is questionable."
   [20:30] Colin Cowherd

   Matt concurs, suggesting that Murray’s performance issues have led to a reevaluation of his value within his current team framework.

4. Brock Purdy’s Inconsistent Play

   Brock Purdy is critiqued for his lack of consistency, especially in critical game moments. Colin voices concerns over Purdy's performance when the team is not performing optimally:

   "When it's less than perfect in big spots, that late game interception... that's a problem."
   [36:00] Colin Cowherd

   Matt adds that Purdy’s inability to avoid mistakes under pressure makes him less reliable compared to other quarterbacks like Jaden Daniels.

5. Caleb’s Development and Leadership Issues

   Caleb is acknowledged for not throwing interceptions, but Colin and Matt highlight his deficiencies in anticipatory passing and leadership:

   "I don't see the emblem on the helmet. I don't see the name on the jersey. Caleb isn't showing the leadership needed for sustained success."
   [41:00] Colin Cowherd

   Matt echoes these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of anticipatory skills and effective decision-making for long-term quarterback success.

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Team Performances

1. Detroit Lions’ Resilience and Coaching

   Colin and Matt analyze the Detroit Lions' recent performances, praising head coach Dan Campbell for fostering a culture of toughness and creativity:

   "Dan Campbell is learning and being transparent about his mistakes. The Lions are evolving and showing the toughness needed for sustained success."
   [33:20] Matt Hasselbeck

   They discuss how the Lions' ability to compete despite injuries showcases their depth and resilience.

2. Washington Commanders as a Dark Horse Playoff Team

   The Washington Commanders are spotlighted as a potential dark horse in the playoffs, largely due to Jaden Daniels’ breakout performance:

   "I had the Washington Commanders as a dark horse playoff team because changing the coaching staff was the right move. Jaden Daniels is just amazing."
   [14:50] Colin Cowherd

   Matt highlights the historical significance of Washington’s resurgence, comparing it to legendary teams of the past and expressing optimism for their playoff potential.

3. Chargers’ Path to the Playoffs

   The discussion moves to the Chargers, with Colin expressing strong confidence in coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback Justin Herbert:

   "Jim Harbaugh is a top-five football coach, and Justin Herbert just needs the right coach and culture to thrive."
   [27:30] Colin Cowherd

   Matt agrees, noting that the Chargers are well-positioned to secure a playoff spot given their solid coaching and Herbert's proven talent.

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NBA Ratings Decline

Beyond football, Colin and Matt touch upon the declining ratings in the NBA, critiquing the over-reliance on three-point shooting and lack of traditional gameplay:

"LeBron James and Celtics’ coach Joe Mazzulla criticized the NBA's shift to being a three-point contest. The game needs to make changes to restore entertainment value."
[43:10] Colin Cowherd

Matt concurs, suggesting that the NBA can learn from other sports like baseball, which have seen improved attendance and ratings through strategic changes.

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Notable Quotes

• Colin Cowherd:

  "Outline your life in pencil, not pen. Plans change, opportunities arise. Don't be rigid."
  [06:30] Colin Cowherd

• Matt Hasselbeck:

  "Jaden Daniels is the most impressive quarterback in this rookie class by far. What he has done this season is just absolutely mind-blowing."
  [39:20] Matt Hasselbeck

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Concluding Thoughts

As the episode wraps up, Colin and Matt reflect on the importance of adaptability and recognizing talent beyond superficial metrics. They emphasize the evolving nature of sports teams and the critical role of leadership, both on and off the field. The conversation underscores the dynamic interplay between player performance, coaching strategies, and organizational culture in determining a team’s success.

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Final Remarks

This episode of The Herd offers listeners a comprehensive analysis of current sports narratives, particularly focusing on quarterback performances and team strategies in the NFL. Colin Cowherd and Matt Hasselbeck provide insightful commentary, enriched with firsthand experiences and expert perspectives, making it a valuable listen for sports enthusiasts seeking deeper understanding of the game’s intricacies.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

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Cards issued by JPMorgan Chase Bank NA member FDIC it's the most wonderful time of the year for getting in on all the hoops, football and hockey action at DraftKings sportsbook download the DraftKings sportsbook app. The code is heard H E R D new customers get $150 in bonus bets if your bet wins when you bet just five bucks. Happy holidays from DraftKings. The crown is yours. Gambling problem call 1-800- gambler in New York, call 877-8-Hopeny or text hopeny 467-369 in Connecticut. Help available for problem gambling, call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boot Hill Casino and Resort in Kansas. 21. Age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction. Void in Ontario, bet must win to receive reward. Bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance. For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see DKNG co bball the human soul has a minimum daily requirement of entertainment, but listening to a podcast like you're doing right now? Yeah, that doesn't count. Welcome to the world of MGM Rewards, where they have the greatest live shows on earth, the biggest names in sports, the best chefs on the planet, and the most unforgettable nights of your life. This is all the entertainment you can handle and more. So book now and make the most of your vegas [e-mail] mgmrewards.com welcome to the show. 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 thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every 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. Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Oh, we got a Monday. What a weekend of football started Friday. It'll be done tonight with the Packers, Hammer and the Saints. That's gonna happen live in Los Angeles. It's the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, thanks for making us part of your day. J. Mac one hour from now Where Colin was right. Where Colin was wrong. Okay, the car. College football fans are all freaking out. Don't overreact. We'll get to that in about a half hour. It's all good. Next week's neutral sites games are going to be great. But you know, years ago as I told New York, Zach Wilson and Daniel Jones were not going to work. Before that I told him Sam Darnold was going to work. And sometimes J. Mac, it takes a while to be right. So there's an old saying and it's one of my favorites, outline your life in pencil not pen. Things change. Opportunities arise. Don't be rigid. Keep your eyes open. And I know Sam Darnold was supposed to be like a one year thing but he is so good with Justin Jefferson. He is so clutch in the fourth quarter. This is no longer just a good story. This is an excellent team and he is an excellent quarterback. This isn't the 27 Vikings. Remember that. Pre Kirk Cousins, Case Keenum 13 wins. Case had 22 touchdowns. Sam's got 32 and counting and he's 8 and 1 in one score games. He has just been so good. And quarterbacks are either trucks where they're pulling the team or they're trailers where they're being pulled. Sam's a truck. He's pulling this Team, they lost their excellent left tackle. One of the best in the game. Maybe the best in the game. They lost him. Sam's like we good eight. No, without him. That fourth quarter game winning drive encapsulates all of Sam Darnold. The athletic ability, the toughness, making big throws in big moments. There is no denying he is helping pull this team. I'm not denying the receiving core is good. Kevin O'Connell is an amazing. They call him the tall Sean McVay. But this is not the case. Keenum team, this is not just a guy that comes in and we all kind of fall in love with the story. Vegas had these guys at six wins. That's what Vegas had them at six wins. This is not a great roster. Detroit, when healthy, great roster. Philadelphia, great roster. Buffalo, really, really good roster. Baltimore, excellent roster. This roster's pretty good. But Darnold's toughness, his coachability, his playmaking, that last drive, man, that's something else. And again, lost their left tackle wasn't perfect. This team could still be the number one seed. Number one seed. And I know you drafted J.J. mcCarthy. I get it. And I know you brought in Daniel Jones. Understood. But to me, you got a franchise. Tag him at minimum. You can't let him go. What if he ends up somewhere along the way and comes back to beat you? And maybe this is the best Sam could ever be. And, and I'm not going to deny that Justin Jefferson, there's one in the league. And Kevin O'Connell is an excellent young coach and Minnesota's always been a pretty well run franchise. I'm not denying that. But outline your life in pencil. Plans change, opportunities arise. Employees are better than you think. And I'm not saying it's just Sam. This offense got real players, but they lost their left tackle. I've seen other quarterbacks, rhymes with Brock Purdy, lose a left tackle or a running back and shrink. Not slinging Sammy Darnold, another win. Still, a number one seed is viable. And here's the coach after. There wasn't really one guy and I.

[Matt Hasselbeck]

Know I'm not speaking for myself, I.

[Colin Cowherd]

Thought we were going to go down.

[Matt Hasselbeck]

And we're going to get a touchdown.

[Colin Cowherd]

And I think the level of confidence that that group has in their quarterback.

[Matt Hasselbeck]

And the level of confidence the quarterback.

[Colin Cowherd]

Has in the 10 guys in the huddle is significant. And that's how you're able to go do that in that moment on the road at this place, you know, you can't hear yourself think. It's pretty fantastic. You Know, performance in that moment by, you know, not just our quarterback, but also 11 of those guys out there slinging Sammy Darnold. It took a while, but he's special. So I don't want to overreact. You know, Mondays off a crazy football weekend, it becomes overreaction Monday. I don't want to overreact to the Eagles losing to Washington. Okay, Jalen hurts very early, got a concussion. It's not the same team. It's a great roster, but it is a quarterback league. And I'm not going to overreact because Jaden Daniels as a rookie threw five touchdown passes. The bigger story is why the NFL is king. Because you get the right coach and the right rookie quarterback, you draft the right guy and you can go from an NFL embarrassment for over a decade to the playoffs in three months, and that's what you're seeing. Jaden Daniels does not have a great roster. He's got one big time weapon, but you can see some Lamar Jackson. You can see the poise. You could see 10 to 15 years of playoffs. I mean, I, I grew up and they had a different name, but this was a great franchise. I've said before that the Washington football franchise reminds me of the Golden State Warriors. I grew up in the 70s and Washington, the football team and Golden State, the basketball team had legendary players and you could argue they had the best fan bases. But mismanagement or bad ownership and the warriors just sort of regress into irrelevant, even on the West Coast. And then it all turns around with Steph Curry in Washington, the George Allen Washington team, 1972 Super bowl, this Joe Gibbs, I mean, this was for a long time, this was, this was tough and physical. And the Hogs and then Dan Snyder and as we always say on this show, ownership, bad teams all have one thing in common. And it's not a bad coach and it's not a bad quarterback. Cincinnati, I think, has a good coach and a great quarterback. It's usually upstairs, but all you need is the right coach and the right quarterback. And finally they got a bad owner out and a great owner in, and you're looking at playoffs. That final drive, what was great about that? Not just the 34 quarter touchdowns by Jaden Daniels. He threw a pick on the previous drive. So what? Unfazed, Cut it loose, didn't care. Very Andrew Luck, very short memory. And this rookie quarterback class, by the way, we may have 5 for 5. I watched Pennocks this weekend. That dude's good. So obviously the Jalen hurts. Concussion can change the Outcome. But here's what's amazing about this kid, and I've said this before, the difference between the haves and the have nots at quarterbacks. When are you good? Okay, when are you good? Do you lose a left tackle? Sam Darnold, you go eight. No, it can't just be when everything's great. When are you good? This kid has a 106 passer rating while trailing. That's like goat stuff. Okay, that's, that's Mahomes early. Mahomes was better trailing. You could never tell if Mahomes was leading or trailing. You could never tell. A lot of quarterbacks in this league with protection, they're leading, they all look great. Thrown on second and two. Jaden Daniels has a good O line. It's better. They got Cliff Kingsbury and the offensive staff have done a nice job. It's a better O line top seven or eight. It's not Detroit, it's not Philly, it's probably not Atlanta, but it's good. But he's got a great passer rating trailing and 115 passer rating in the fourth quarter. That is unheard of for a rookie. That those numbers. This is not September. We're not early October, we're now late December. Like that's who the kid is. And this is probably the worst roster he plays with at least while he's on his rookie contract, right? Once they pay him the big money, you got to make concessions. But for the next two to three years, he's not making any money. So this roster is only going to get better. This kid is nails fourth quarter trailing. And I know, I know Jalen Hurts was out. But if you're doing things now in late December in chilly weather against the number one defense in the league. And driving down that, that last drive was art, baby. That's what the great ones look like. That is goat stuff. And we said we bought way everybody on their show loved him. J Mac loved him. I loved him coming out of college. But he is better than I thought early and here he is after. I always believe that we can win the game no matter what. Game's never over. To clock eight zero. I think you live for these type of moments. You know, you got those guys that came in on the win streak, they.

[Matt Hasselbeck]

Were on, they were hot and they're.

[Colin Cowherd]

A very good team, rightfully so. Good offense, good defense all around, well prepared team.

[Matt Hasselbeck]

And you want to go out there.

[Colin Cowherd]

See where you match and you match up against those type of guys. Gotta tell you, sometimes I Feel so lucky to do this for a living. I'm watching all these young quarterbacks. Panics looks poised. Jaden his money. Caleb hasn't thrown a pick in forever since like Halloween. Bo Nix, I think he and Sean Payton work. I don't know about J.J. mcCarthy, but Drake may yesterday I'm like, oh, oh, dude can play. I mean, I think we did a five for five. I mean Penix, even when Penix was throwing the ball away yesterday, he was good. But none of them have been consistently as good. Trailing and in the fourth quarter as Jaden Daniels. This is an exciting time, I mean for a Washington franchise. I'm telling you, it was the warriors for a long time. They were great in the 70s. Talk about the 80s and all of a sudden you're like post Joe Gibbs, it's like, what's going on here? Bad ownership. I'd love to see Washington 15 year run with this kid. Can you imagine having Lamar Jackson and the Ravens and right around the Cor, having Jaden Daniels basically kind of like the duplicate. He's a little better in the pocket than early Lamar. Maybe not as electric running quite as Lamar. What a rivalry this could be. Even though one's NFC wants AFC that just be fantastic for the league because we know the New York teams. You can't trust them as big east coast markets to do anything. So why not get Baltimore and Washington? J. Mac When I was a kid, my favorite team was Washington 1972. George I can name the whole team. Pat Fisher, Chris Hamburger, Daron Talbert, Larry Brown, Billy Kilmer, it's my favorite team. And they were great. And they had a big rivalry with the Cowboys and weren't very good for a while. And here comes Joe Gibbs and they were great. Right, right. And so for you growing up, you're younger than me, you probably remember the Joe Gibbs. Yeah, unfortunately I was living in Northern Virginia at the time and I was not a Washington at the time. Redskins fan, I was a Jets guy. Of course, keep true to my New York. But people often forget if you're in your 20s, how great this franchise's history was. 80s and 90s, there was a time dominant, there was a time in the 70s, I remember them used to 70s and the 80s, they had like a 30 year waiting list for season tickets. That's right. They would talk about that on TV all the time, the waiting list for tickets. But bad ownership, corrosive ownership, it can sink even the greatest fans. So I just, as I watch Washington, it just brings back all these 70s, 80s and some 90s stuff, how great this franchise was. That was a great game yesterday and there'll be likely a rematch in the.

[Matt Hasselbeck]

First round of the playoffs between these two.

[Colin Cowherd]

We shall see. Yeah. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app. Hey, it's Steve Covino and I'm Rich Davis and together we're Covino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. And of course, the iHeartRadio Apple. Why should you listen to Covino and Rich? We talk about everything. Life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world. We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture. Stories that, well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out. We like to get you involved too. Take your phone calls, chop it up, as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio, maybe the most interactive show on planet Earth. Be sure to check out Kavino and Rich live on Fox Sports radio and the iHeartradio app from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Kovino and Rich wherever you get your podcast. And of course on social media, that's Kavino and Rich. This podcast is sponsored by PayPal. We've partnered with them to make this holiday season even better. With all the shopping, gifting and holiday prep, my PayPal debit card is my go to for getting more out of my purchases. Here's how it works. I choose my monthly category. Gas, restaurants, apparel, groceries, health and beauty, or just for the holiday season, tech. And I earn 5% cash back on up to a thousand bucks in the purchases in those categories. Yeah, 5% cash back this month I'm gonna go with tech. It's my category. It's a no brainer, right? Everybody loves the latest tech gifts. So whether it's stuff for the fam or adding new gadgets to my personal collection, that cash back adds up fast. 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Welcome to the world of MGM Rewards, where they have the greatest live shows on earth, the biggest names in sports, the best chefs on the planet, and the most unforgettable nights of your life. This is all the entertainment you can handle and more. So book now and make the most of your Vegas [e-mail] Mgmrewards.com welcome to the show. Hi, it's the Herd. It's the most wonderful time of the year for getting in on all the hoops, football and hockey action at DraftKings Sportsbook. In a season of giving, we're being gifted. College football and basketball, pro football and basketball. And pro hockey, too. Almost 24 7. So many games every day. So many opportunities to place your first bet. Try betting on something simple. Pick a team to win. Go to DraftKings Sportsbook's app. Place your bet and here's the gift for all new customers. If you bet just $5, you can get $150 in bonus bets. If your bet wins Again, download the DraftKings sportsbook app. The code is heard. H E R D new customers get $150 in bonus bets. If your bet wins when you bet just five bucks. Happy holidays from DraftKings. The crown is yours. Gambling problem. Call 1-800-Gambler in New York, call 877-8-Hopeny or text hopeny 467-369 in Connecticut. Help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org Please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino and resort in Kansas. 21 plus age and eligibility. Jurisdiction void in Ontario. Bet must win to receive reward. Bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance. For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see DKNG co B Ball. Here we go. It's hour two. Hour two. So was great on a Monday because Matt Hasselbeck shares his wisdom with us and Colin, right? Colin. Wrong. What a fun weekend. I know all you college fans are freaking out. Don't worry. Take a deep breath. I'll tell you. I'll get to this later in the hour. The Cowboys win over Baker Mayfield. I just. The whole game, I kept waiting for Tampa to win. Like, Tampa's better. Tampa's going to win. Cowboys made a couple of great plays, the interception. But I kind of feel like. Did the Buccaneers give away the playoffs? Because remember, Atlanta beat him twice and now Atlanta's got Michael Penix at quarterback, so they look like a better version of themselves. Now they're tied for first, but they get the tiebreaker. So that game means a lot. It meant a lot to Tampa and Atlanta. I don't think it meant that much to Dallas. Just got him a worse draft pick. But J. Mack, it is a Monday day. I was right on some stuff and wrong on some stuff. So let's call me out. Here we go where Colin was right. Sam Darnold. I can't quit Sammy. I know, I know. For years, cow herd, you don't know what you're talking about. And I always said I don't want to argue about the talent. He was under coached at USC and he was under coached in Carolina, New York. The kid has it. He's a playmaker. He's got a big arm, he's tough, he's coachable. Now, can he be a little reckless? Yeah. Yeah. I think sometimes talented people can be a little reckless at the position. But I could never quit Sammy and couldn't be happier for where Colin was wrong. I may have to sell some of my Kyler Murray stock. They're officially out of the playoffs and they've lost four or five and in that stretch he's got four TDs and six picks. Listen, I always liked his talent. There's no. There's no question that his lack of size hurts him in the pocket. I don't know if he's a great leader. I think he makes some really bad picks, especially on the move. And often quarterbacks that are mobile make some of their better throws on the move. He makes some of his worst as a mobile quarterback. So I got to take an L on Kyler Murray and that support where Colin was right. Listen, I had the Washington Commanders as my surprise pick. Guys, I think. Let's do Commanders on this story. Yeah. I had the Washington Commanders as my dark horse playoff team. And I said Dan Snyder, the coaching staff and the front office was so bad that literally changing everybody out was actually the right move to make. So I had the Commanders as a dark horse playoff team. I did not know Jaden Daniels. I liked him. I did not know he would be that good, but he is. And congratulations. Where Colin was wrong. Ohio State. Wow. I thought Tennessee would keep it close. I thought this would be a really good game. I watched Tennessee's defensive line all year and they got housed. That was 21 nothing with three minutes left in the first quarter. Will Howard, who struggled on the easy stuff against Michigan was on it. I mean, Will Howard looked great. And so they finally realized at Ohio State, hey, we have NFL receivers in college. Nobody can guard them. But it was the way they hit, the way they defended. It was the pass rush. I thought that was going to be a classic, an epic one for the ages. And it was over in eight minutes. Where Colin was right. Chargers, Harbaugh. I said, I know they're a five win team. I'm going to pick the Chargers to make the playoffs because I think Jim Harbaugh is a top five football coach, coach, college or pro in America. So right now they're a 98% bet to make the playoffs. I loved how they took advantage of an old school rule to kick a field goal against Denver. But right before half and they use that as inertia for the rest of the game to take it over. All Justin Herbert has ever needed is the right coach and the culture culture to separate and be an elite quarterback. We predicted it and it happened where Colin was right. Well, I'll accept your apologies on Brock Purdy. He's okay. He's fine if everything's right. But once again, when it's less than perfect in big spots, that late game interception in four of his last five starts, passer ratings under 100. Listen, I like him, he's solid. But I'm not paying a quarterback anything close to 50 million if you only win when everything is perfect. If you go to his last 20 starts and yes, they've had injuries, he's 10 and 10 again. Quarterbacks are trucks, they're pulling a team. Or tractors, they're getting pulled. I think he's the latter which is why I'd pay him 32, 34, 35 million and nothing starting with a 5 where Colin was wrong. No, I think I'm done with it. I got one more right and that is the NBA cup was down 35% last week and LeBron James agreed with me and Joe Missoula, the Celtics head coach agreed with me. The game has gotten increasingly monotonous. You have NBA teams now shooting 45 threes a game. There's no layering, it's just a three point shooting contest. And again LeBron came out and criticized the league. Joe Missoula, the Celtics coach said, I don't watch a lot of NBA beyond my own team. Nobody's picking on the NBA. I do not want to see Wemby at 74 pulling up up 11 times for threes. I don't want to see the most dynamic athlete in the league and Edwards shooting 10 to 11 threes. I don't care about analytics. Math does not necessarily make great entertainment. Baseball made changes. The game's gone up in ratings and attendance. The NBA needs to make changes. The NBA cup and the overall ratings right now are headed in the wrong direction. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app. This podcast is sponsored by PayPal. We partnered with them to make this holiday season even better. With all the shopping, gifting and holiday prep, my PayPal debit card is my go to for getting more out of my purchases. Here's how it works. I choose my monthly category Gas, restaurants, apparel, groceries, health and beauty or just for the holiday season, tech. And I earn 5% cash back on up to 1,000 bucks in the purchases in those categories. Yeah, 5% cash back this month I'm gonna go with tech. 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Welcome to the world of MGM Rewards where they have the greatest live shows on earth, the biggest names in sports, the best chefs on the planet, and the most unforgettable nights of your life. This is all the entertainment you can handle and more. So book now and make the most of your vegas [e-mail] mgmrewards.com welcome to the show. Apple Card is the perfect card for your holiday shopping. You can apply on your iPhone in minutes and start using it right away. You'll earn up to 3% daily cash back on every purchase, including products at Apple like a new iPhone 16 or Apple Watch Ultra. Start holiday shopping for your friends and family today with Apple Card subject to credit approval. Apple Card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Salt Lake City Branch terms and more at applecard.com anywhere worth going is worth going in Good boots Find your perfect pair with Tacovas Tacova's crafts quality Western boots for everybody from generational ranchers and lifelong cowboys to first time boot buyers. Well, born in Texas in 2015, Dekovas made it easy for anybody to find their perfect boot. Every one of their boots are handcrafted with over 200 meticulous steps for broken in comfort. What's so special about to Kovas is they feel right, right out of the box with every stitch on point. Dacovis boots are made for a good time and a long time. So right now get 10% [e-mail] herd that's the key when you sign up for emails and text. 10% off at tec o v a s.com herd check out their site for details. To Covis Point your toes West. With that we bring in Matt Hasselbeck on a Monday. Eighteen years in the league. So it's interesting when you get to this point in the season. Detroit's a great example. We know they're good and I will give them credit. That was a classic trap game. They could have gone on the road, they could have played poorly. They just lost to Buffal. Where are you this morning on Detroit going forward dealing with all these injuries?

[Matt Hasselbeck]

Well, that'd be a big trap losing to Chicago, Colin. I mean that's hard to do right now. Listen, I like Detroit. I like Detroit. You know, they've been the, they've kind of been the hunter, now they're the hunted. And I think that you're seeing kind of the evolution of Dan Campbell as a head coach. I think he's learning. I think he's been pretty transparent about where he's made mistakes. I think it's one of the reasons guys like him. And this is kind of, I think, the big thing I think of when I talk about Detroit, like, we think about their toughness and their creativity. I like that. But you got to think now as a team, like you used to be thinking back in the day, hey, we're playing a 16 game season now. Detroit's up there with the big boys and they got to be thinking they're playing 20 something games because they're super bowl contenders now. And so I think maybe that toughness, there's limits on how tough you can be if you don't want to end the season with a bunch of guys on ir. And so, like, I just go back to my, my first year in the NFL. The Green Bay packers were coming off of two consecutive Super Bowls. That offseason wasn't at all what I thought it was going to be like. They were learning to play not in pads. There were guys like Reggie White and Brett Favre and Antonio Freeman and Dorsey Levins and, you know, Gilbert Brown, they learned how to play tough without always being in pads. And that might be one of the lessons that Detroit needs to learn going forward if they want to have sustained success.

[Colin Cowherd]

So we talk on this show all the time. There are great stories and then there are great teams. And I thought Minnesota early in the year was Sam Darnold. Now. It's a great story. Redemption for Darnold. He had a turbulent career. He's a great kid. Kevin O'Connell, the tall Sean McVeigh. Great story. Detroit's got better players. Philadelphia, Buffalo, Baltimore. Great story. You start going, you start winning all these close games. I don't know, man. I'm like, this is. It's like Kansas City winning close games after a while. That's who you are. I don't want to hear luck. I look at Minnesota and I'm like, detroit, speed up. Philadelphia's got drama. I don't know. What do you see with Minnesota? I think it's a pretty good team.

[Matt Hasselbeck]

See a few things with Minnesota. Number one, Brian Flores is unbelievably underrated. Like, I think everyone kind of gives him his credit. Like, like, oh, yeah. Like, yeah, he's great. Like, no, no, no. He is legitimate. And then on the flip side, Sam Darnold is playing outstanding. Like that throw that he had kind of that cover two hole shot. Here it is on the scre now that throw was ridiculous. That's a game winning throw. That's a jaw dropping throw. And really the receiver wasn't that open. He made him open. I think Sam Darnold's playing great football. He's going to get paid whether in Minnesota or somewhere else this year. He has definitely, definitely earned it.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. So, you know, I, I don't want to pick on Brock Purdy, but you start talking 50 million like that. To me a great example is Burrow. O line's not good. Defense isn't so he's always in a shootout. I think the coach is fine. But I look at Burrow and I'm like, okay, that's what 55 million looks like. And I look at Purdy and I'm like, okay, he didn't have Christian McCaffrey. Well, Darnold doesn't have his left tackle. You gotta win when it's not perfect. And I'm watching Purdy and I'm sitting there thinking, am I missing something here? Where's the wow, what do you make of him?

[Matt Hasselbeck]

Well, I'll just say this like, I'm a huge Brock Purdy fan. I think he's a really good player. But when I was going through contract negotiations, we never really talked at dollars. We talked comps. And so like whether it was you talking to your agent, your agent talking to the team, you're usually talking comparables, much like selling or buying a house. And so like I remember one year, you know, the team was trying to say that, hey you, to us, contract wise, you're Chad Pennington. And I was trying to say, no, I'm Steve McNair or like whoever the latest, whoever the latest contracts were. And then ultimately you probably slide in there somewhere in between what you want the comp to be and what they want the comp to be. So it's not necessarily like they come into a negotiation and they say, hey, it's got to start with a five. You know, usually they'll look around, they'll talk about what the other options are. This offseason, ironically, Sam Darnold could be one of the other options. Or you talk about what contracts were done last year that you think are a good comp for you, who you are as a player. And that's really where the negotiations happen. And that's a lot of times where you see guys get offended. Like, wait, what, you think I'm the same player as that guy. And so like sometimes negotiations go south. You see it more often at wide receiver negotiations because, you know, I think they like, they, they comp themselves to the other guys more than quarterbacks do. Quarterbacks, I think, realize that there's a lot that goes into my success or my failures, but that's how this negotiation will probably go or at least how it'll start out.

[Colin Cowherd]

I want you to explain to the audience one of first things from Mahomes that always struck me wasn't just that he was talented. It was that I couldn't tell if he was leading or trailing. It didn't affect him. It didn't matter. I watched Jaden Daniels, his fourth quarter passer rating this year, his passer rating while trailing. It's like in the Lamar in the Mahomes category. Take my audience to how tough that is. Forget ever when you're young and how much tougher quarterback play is on final drives and trail. Because I look at Jaden Daniels, it just doesn't seem like stuff rookies normally do.

[Matt Hasselbeck]

Yeah, I don't know if it's tougher. I actually sort of always liked it. I think he likes it too. There's a difference between liking it and being able to like actually go out and do it at the moment of truth. Jaden Daniels is the most impressive quarterback in this rookie class by far. I mean, what he has done this season and what he did yesterday is just absolutely mind blowing. Mind blowing. Like he, he is everything you would hope to have in a rookie quarterback and more, both as a thrower, as a runner, even as a leader. I don't think he even understands like how difficult some of the things are that he's doing. He just does it with a smile on his face. And he repeats the same things that kids say in like high school and in college. Like, oh, no, I just want the ball in my hands at the end of the game. Like really in that moment on 4th and 11, you want to be running the ball against Philly's defense.

[Colin Cowherd]

Really?

[Matt Hasselbeck]

Like, this isn't flag football. This is the Eagles defense, one of the most talent defenses in the game. So, you know, I just think that he has been remarkable this year. He is a lot of fun to watch. I think Cliff Kingsbury deserves a lot more credit than he's getting. And I think that Jaden Daniels, I know, rookie quarterback, we talked about it. I've heard it. Rookie quarterbacks never started a Super Bowl. It could happen with this guy. It legitimately could. They're a real contender. This Year, not next year, this year. And so like that game, it was the game of the week. He had the throw of the week. It was incredible.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right, Michael Penix, Washington, Indiana, a lot of college starts, played with a lot of NFL receivers. What'd you make of his debut?

[Matt Hasselbeck]

Yeah, I thought it was good. I think it was very encouraging. I mean, it was against the Giants, so, you know, that's what it is. They're not a very good team, to put it nicely. The defense scored twice. You know, it was some of that. But I think if you're looking. Does this kid belong? Yeah, he belongs. He's got major zip on his pass passes, which is basically the biggest critique that people have had on Kirk Cousins this year coming off of injury. Penix has a wow arm. He's a wow factor arm. And then when you watch him in that Ryan Grubb offense in college at uw, he had wow, accuracy. So this is not your typical rookie. He's a guy that started a bunch of games, he's played a lot of football, he's very mature. And I actually think it's going to be a great thing for his career to have been there with Kirk Cousins. You see Kirk kind of cheerleading him on now, being unselfish. So you marry up the weapons that they have have offensively and then the potential that Penix has. Think it's great. My question would be, is this really what you want to do? Kind of be developing, learning on the fly as you have a chance to win your division. And I think that's the tough decision. I think that's why Atlanta waited so long to put him in as the starter.

[Colin Cowherd]

Let's go back to somebody you've been critical of. But in fairness, despite the drama around him, Caleb's not throwing picks. I know it's not everything, but usually if a quarterback's overwhelmed a rookie, he makes a lot of mistakes. Will Levis Bryce Young. Okay, let's go down to what Caleb is. They're not winning. Have you changed your opinion on what you see with him?

[Matt Hasselbeck]

No, and listen, I listen. I know he's a young quarterback and so I always feel badly being critical at all of any young quarterback because, you know, if someone looked at me when I was a rookie, it would have been a disaster. Okay. But this is a very strong rookie class of quarterbacks. And I just. I just think that, like, Caleb is the one guy to me that I don't see the things that I believe are really important, that I believe matter for sustained success for a long Career, I haven't seen that so much. So, yeah, no interceptions. Like, great. That's awesome. But like, you also have to learn to be an anticipator as a passer. Jaden Daniels do such an amazing job. He's a wait and see thrower. You can't take sacks. That hurts your team. You're in field goal range now. You take an unnecessary sack, now we're punting. Like, you got to learn to throw the ball away. You got to know where your hots are. You got to move protection so that you know you're not hurting your team. Body language is a huge thing to me. I don't. I don't love what I see out of him, you know, so are there wow plays? Are there splash plays? Yeah. That's awesome. That's why you were drafted so high. But if you're going to compare him and if I was just going to like nameless faces, I don't see the emblem on the helmet. I don't see the name on the jersey. I don't know who was picked first, second, third, whatever, ever. I'm putting all those other rookie quarterbacks, Jaden Daniels, Drake, May, Bo Nix in a week. I might put panicks up there above Caleb. That that's just the film is the film and my opinion is my opinion. But we'll see if I'm being real that that's what I would say.

[Colin Cowherd]

No, no, I love it. And you're more right than I am on that stuff. So finally I feel like I've been defending Lamar Jackson for six years, that he's just. And I will say this. No, I mean, Elway felt perfect, right? Like you had size, you had arm running. He went to Stanford. Some players are developing as pros and I think Lamar has become a very nice. They finally got him a number one in Zay Flowers. They always had a run game. I don't like to root, but I want to see Lamar succeed in the postseason. And I know he got tight last year. Year. Where are. I thought he was so good against Pittsburgh. Where are you now on Lamar? Baltimore today. Do you feel good or is the anxiety creeping up for playoff? Lamar for you?

[Matt Hasselbeck]

No, no, I'm buying. I'm buying Baltimore. I love Lamar. I think Lamar's in some weird way underrated because he's an MVP winner. I mean, he's. He's probably the guy that is got the best chance to unseat Josh Allen as the MVP this year. I think Baltimore's exactly where they need to in terms of Winning this division. I thought he was outstanding against Pittsburgh. I thought he was the difference maker. And that was a big matchup. You know, Lamar and the Ravens or Russell and the Steelers. It was clear it was Lamar and the Ravens. And so I think you're going to see more of that. I think he's an outstanding player. And, you know, when you talk about the type, you know, the quarterbacks that could go toe to toe with Josh Allen, toe to toe with Mahomes, like, who's that difference maker that makes everybody around him them better? Who's the guy that intimidates defensive coordinators? Lamar Jackson's got to be at the top of that list.

[Colin Cowherd]

Oh, I got to ask you one more thing. When Detroit did the trick play, I thought Ben Johnson, the oc was showing off to the Chicago brass. I'm like, why would you run that play? Am I reaching there? Is that possible?

[Matt Hasselbeck]

No, you're 100% right about that. And not only just a game like this, but, you know, coordinators and play callers do that on, like, a nationally televised game. Monday Night Football, Sunday Night Football, they save it. The funny thing is, is most guys don't have the cour. They don't have the stones to call it in that game. You put a game, you put a. You put a trick play in for the Bears, you end up calling it like, seven weeks later. You know, I think, like, to the Philly Special against New England, you know, they probably didn't put it in for New England. They probably were practicing it like, for 11 weeks, and then they were like, you know, I think it was Foles and Doug Peterson. They were like, you want to just run Philly Special? We've been running it in practice the whole season. It's ready to roll. You know, so now listen, I think Ben Johnson's been one of the most impressive play callers and kind of creative guys, but, yeah, that was a little bit of a show off, a little bit of an audition, no doubt.

[Colin Cowherd]

Great seeing you as always, man. You're always money. Love your stuff. Matt Hasselbeck. Thanks, bud.

[Matt Hasselbeck]

Thank you, Colin.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. Peter Schrager also noted that on Twitter. I'm watching it, and as I watch the play, I'm like, first of all, we all like new stuff. We love trick plays. So I'm like, that's a weird time to call that play against a division team you're routing because you're going to face those guys two times a year, right? Like, you don't want to rub it in. See, you know, if you're. If you're the Ravens and you're beating the Steelers, you may want to hold back on rubbing it in with a trick play. Now, I know Detroit's better than Chicago, but I thought that's kind of a weird way. And then all of a sudden it's like, oh, yeah, yeah, a little show off time. Little audition for Ben Johnson.

[Matt Hasselbeck]

Did.

[Colin Cowherd]

Did you see people saying, why don't you save that for a playoff game? My instant response is the smart, good teams, they're not falling for that, that crap. The Bears are a bad team, poorly coached. Eber Flutes is not there. All the guys are yelling fumble. I don't know if you heard the fumble. Fumble and nobody's paying attention.

[Matt Hasselbeck]

I would say there's no chance Ben.

[Colin Cowherd]

Johnson goes to Chicago. None. Why is he going there? Well, I mean, if you're a coordinator and somebody triples your pay and it's a beautiful city. Washington offered a triple his pay and he said no, like on the private jet over there. Like I, he didn't, he didn't quite know. Know what Jaden Daniels would be. Yeah, I mean we, we both like Jaden Daniels. We didn't think he'd be this. No. I like Drake May more and Jaden's been way better. But Drake May's coming on strong. Drake May. But I still can't believe that game. I mean, New England jumped right on top of it. Buffalo sleepy. Yeah. Josh Allen worse. Worst game since that Texans disaster. You really think Ben Johnson's leaving Detroit for Chicago? He would do that. I just think Chicago Bears in the division. It's a blue blood franchise. They got some good players. This is not, this is not a bad roster. It's a talented. It's a little bit like the Chargers job where you've got pieces now. I think Herbert was more proven than Caleb. Caleb's still in the ascension stage, whereas everybody kind of knew Herbert was already good. But it's, you know, they got pass rushers, they had like 350 yards of offense. Now it was, they're playing catch up the whole time. But that's. They got dudes. Chicago's got dudes.

[Matt Hasselbeck]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

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