The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: Hour 1 – Lakers Need to Let LeBron James Go, MLB Players Happy the Dodgers Are Spending Money
Date: February 17, 2026
Host: Colin Cowherd (with Jason McIntyre)
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

Overview

In this episode, Colin Cowherd discusses the identity crises of two iconic sports franchises: the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA and the New York Yankees in MLB. The main thrust is the Lakers’ inability to move on from LeBron James and the Yankees’ failure to honestly self-assess and evolve. The episode also touches on NFL off-season drama: the Pittsburgh Steelers’ internal rifts, Lamar Jackson’s contract saga, and the Seattle Seahawks' dilemma with Super Bowl MVP running back Kenneth Walker. Concluding with college football, Cowherd advocates for a strong commissioner akin to the NFL.

1. Lakers: Time to Move on from LeBron James?

The Lakers’ Identity Crisis

• Colin’s Opening Argument (02:10):
  • Two fatal business flaws: unclear identity, and failure to self-audit.
  • The Lakers’ current indecision about LeBron James typifies an “identity crisis.”
  • Referencing a Dave McMenamin ESPN article: The Lakers didn’t make a trade deadline move because they're waiting for a "big" move next year. If LeBron wants to stay for season 24, he’s “welcome back.”
  • Quote (04:10):

    “The Lakers are having an identity crisis… You need to significantly get younger...and have $50 million LeBron in his 40s?”
    (Colin Cowherd)

LeBron's Presence: Blessing or Burden?

• LeBron will never be a role player—if he’s there, he dominates the offense and organizational focus.
• The “LeBron retirement tour” would be a distraction and delay necessary change.

Clear Path: Pick the Timeline

• The best NBA teams pick a timeline and build accordingly (e.g., OKC Thunder, Spurs, Pistons).
• Lakers’ refusal to choose between the LeBron era and a youth movement is holding them back:
  • They need “shooters, a rim protector, and to get younger.”
  • Quote (06:18):

    “Pick a direction, pick a timeline. To me, get younger, get faster, get swifter, more shooters, rim protector.”
    (Colin Cowherd)

Guest Clip: Jason Timf on the Lakers’ Flaws

• Notable Quote (07:38):

  “This roster is utterly devoid of jump shooting talent and athleticism down the roster.”
  (Jason Timf)

2. Yankees: Stuck in the Past

Lack of Honest Self-Audit

• Yankees bring back 24 of 26 players; spent $200M but only to re-sign their own.
• Compared to rivals (Toronto, Mets), they are less aggressive and less adaptive.
• Rely almost exclusively on home runs; not athletic, not good baserunners, bullpen is mediocre.

Consequences of One-Dimensionality

• When Yankees hit multiple home runs, they win; otherwise, among the league’s worst.
• Most playoff victories have come against weaker AL Central teams — “not elite pitching.”

Player Frustration: Aaron Judge Speaks

• Quote (11:51):

  “It was brutal...I see a lot of free agents out there, I’m seeing other teams around the league get better...we kind of were sitting there for a while.”
  (Aaron Judge)

3. NFL: Team Identity, Tough Choices, and Contract Drama

The Seahawks’ Kenneth Walker Dilemma

• Should Seattle re-sign Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker?

• Data says don’t extend RBs – Walker is injury-prone and one-dimensional.

• Awkwardness at Seahawks’ parade:

  “He tried negotiating with me five minutes ago. It was really weird.” (John Schneider, Seahawks GM) (17:52)

• Some parallels drawn to the Rams/Eagles (move off emotionally popular players for team betterment).

Steelers: Locker Room Drama

• Ongoing rift between Ben Roethlisberger and other former Steelers (Joey Porter Sr. vs. James Harrison & David DeCastro).
• Quote (22:18):

  “I do not think Ben is a bad teamer. That was just a pure out attack on Ben’s character... That’s more breaking the brotherhood than what Ben said.”
  (James Harrison)

• Colin’s Take: Steelers have been a “divided house” internally for years; now it’s surfacing after Tomlin’s departure.

Lamar Jackson and the Ravens' Future

• Lamar is due a $74.5m cap hit in 2026, leading to speculation over whether he’ll force a trade for a new deal.
• Ravens lost John Harbaugh, replaced him with rookie coach Jesse Minter.
• Colin's Warning (27:15):

  “You’re completely limited...I don’t know if Jesse Minter understands how limited you become with a...huge QB contract.”

• Speculates on whether teams (e.g., Raiders) might pursue Lamar, but both hosts doubt it’s likely or wise.

Tyreek Hill’s Free Agency

• Miami Dolphins cut Hill, who is recovering from a significant knee injury.
• Potential landing spots: Buffalo (in need of speed), Chargers, possibly Vegas, but fit/off-field issues make it tricky.

4. College Football Needs an NFL-Style CEO

Embracing a Pro Football Model

• Cowherd argues that the era of NIL, transfer portal, and playoffs has made college football more professional — and ratings have surged.
• Texas A&M coach Mike Elko calls for a commissioner for college football:
  Quote (42:10):

  “It’s a $1.2 billion industry with not a singular voice. Until we get that, we’re going to continue to flounder.”
  (Mike Elko)

The NFL as a Blueprint

• NFL’s single voice/commissioner, better scheduling, free agency period, and clarity are all cited as best practices college football should emulate.

5. Draft and Quarterback Analysis

Daniel Jeremiah’s Mock Draft

• Predicts only one QB in the first round: Fernando Mendoza to the Raiders.
• Ty Simpson (Alabama) considered for the Rams — not a first round pick per Jeremiah, but Cowherd suspects some team will reach, as they always do.

Colin’s Observation (50:53):

“NFL GMs are aggressive, successful, ascending men, often now young men. Somebody’s reaching for a new...quarterback. It gives you hope.”

Jason McIntyre notes teams may be wising up about drafting QBs with limited starting experience (Simpson: only 15 starts).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “LeBron’s never going to be a role player...the prince has no power when the king is still on the throne.” (Colin, 04:46)
• “It’s very easy to re-sign players that were good in big games, but is that the best for you going forward?” (Colin on NFL roster turnover, 12:25)
• “What you don’t want to happen to you in the NFL is get trapped, and you don’t want to romanticize about the players you have.” (13:00)
• “Our stuff on the NFL is, well, I wish they’d make the officials full-time...They butcher a call every playoff run. It happens. They’re human.” (44:02)
• “If you’re trying to fix college football, take many of the things the NFL does and adopt them.” (45:23)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Lakers’ Identity Crisis: 02:10 – 08:00
• Yankees’ Self-Audit Failings & Judge Comments: 09:00 – 12:20
• Seahawks & Kenneth Walker Future: 16:19 – 18:20
• Steelers Drama (Ben/Tomlin): 21:48 – 25:33
• Lamar Jackson Contract Situation: 26:40 – 30:20
• Tyreek Hill Free Agency: 30:35 – 33:12
• College Football Needs a Commissioner: 42:10 – 45:55
• Jeremiah’s Draft, Ty Simpson Debate: 48:00 – 51:00

Conclusion

This episode is a masterclass in how high-profile sports brands can go astray without honest self-assessment or decisive leadership. Cowherd is at his sharpest dissecting where the Lakers and Yankees have gone wrong, using humor, analogy, and direct critique. The persistent theme: Success belongs to organizations that adapt — whether that means moving off beloved stars before decline, or stealing the best practices from the pros.