THE HERD - Hour 1 - LeBron should stick with the Lakers, the Dodgers have passed the Yankees, the next coach for UNC

Summary

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The Herd with Colin Cowherd (Hour 1) – March 25, 2026

Episode Focus:

• Why LeBron James should remain with the Lakers and accept a new, less central role
• Dodgers now surpassing the Yankees as MLB's premier franchise
• UNC basketball's coaching vacancy and who should fill it
• Extended discussions on the NBA, NFL, MLB, and college basketball, with key analyst insights

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Episode Overview

Colin Cowherd examines pivotal shifts across top sports leagues: LeBron’s evolving career arc with the Lakers and future in the NBA, the Los Angeles Dodgers overtaking the Yankees in MLB’s power hierarchy, and the high-stakes opening for North Carolina’s next basketball coach. Joined by key guests and analysts, Cowherd dissects decision-making, team management, and what’s next for legendary names in sports.

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Main Topics and Highlights

LeBron James' Future with the Lakers

Theme: Should LeBron accept a supporting role and reduced salary to stay in LA?

• LeBron’s Changing Role:

  • LeBron is transitioning from leading man to a supporting actor role, similar to Robert Downey Jr. moving from star to supporting roles.
  • “He's never, ever been asked to be a supporting actor. 20 some years in the league, he was not only leading man, he was number one at the box office for two decades.” (Colin, 07:18)
  • Now Austin Reaves is emerging as a legitimate second option, and Luka (presumably Doncic) could be an MVP contender alongside LeBron as the third option.

• LA vs. Cleveland San Francisco

  • LeBron’s family and personal preference roots him in LA—the city is friendly for celebrities and offers privacy.
  • “You can hide in LA. A lot of gates, a lot of enclaves, a lot of topography. Hide in the hills. Can't do that in tiny Cleveland.” (Colin, 07:51)

• Financial Sacrifice & Role Adjustment:

  • To make it all work, LeBron must accept a sizeable pay cut and a background role—an unprecedented career adjustment.

• Supporting Quotes:

  • “If he's not willing to take a significant pay cut, the discussion's over, right? We're talking about like $50 million down to $15 million a year...then you've got to have a real brass tacks conversation about role.” (Rachel Nichols, 08:36)
  • “That is a real hard choice. Pay cut. And you are a season-long number three. LeBron's always made the right shot and made the smart decisions. But those are two big asks.” (Colin, 09:17)

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Dodgers Have Surpassed the Yankees

Theme: The Dodgers are now MLB’s top franchise in spending, aggression, and management.

• Dodgers vs. Yankees:

  • Whereas the Yankees have become cautious “investing in bonds,” the Dodgers continue to take big swings, analogous to investing in emerging markets and new tech.
  • Dodgers ownership is richer; the front office is potentially the best in baseball.
  • “The Dodgers have replaced [the Yankees] as baseball's premier franchise and big game hunters. And that's absolutely true.” (Colin, 10:22)

• Key Organizational Differences:

  • The Yankees, despite resource advantages (attendance, network, revenue), are not addressing athleticism or defense, and only added a modest pitcher (Ryan Weathers).
  • LA brought in MLB’s best closer and hitter (Kyle Tucker); after a shaky bullpen cost them 26 saves the previous year, they solved their biggest weakness.

• On Pressure & Expectations:

  • Pressure mounts for Yankees manager Aaron Boone and star Aaron Judge—cultural complacency is flagged as a key problem.
  • “It puts a lot of heat on Aaron Judge…he can feel the pressure.” (Colin, 12:39)

• Player Perspective:

  • “He's a great player…People are frustrated a lot of the time that he hasn't come through. I was in that situation too… sooner or later it’s going to click.” (Albert Pujols on Judge, 13:02)

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UNC Basketball's Coaching Search

Theme: North Carolina’s opening is prime, but luring top candidates may be complicated.

• UNC’s Elite Status:

  • “There's an argument it's the number one college basketball program, and right now they don't have a coach…you have to get on it fast.” (Colin, 14:14)

• Top Contender: Billy Donovan

  • Donovan is discussed as a strong candidate, given his championship pedigree and proven ability to build programs.
  • “I think Donovan—don't worry about age. I mean, look at the guy. He looks like…an intense, competitive workout guy.” (Colin, 21:29)
  • The NBA’s lifestyle is a big draw/obstacle for coaches—fewer headaches, better resources, no NCAA interference, compared to the admin-heavy, donor-focused college ecosystem.

• Shifting Coaching Trends:

  • College basketball is moving towards older, more administrative coaches (Izzo, Calipari, Patino, Barnes thriving). The NBA actually favors younger, player-relatable coaches now.
  • “Old guys are crushing. In college, young coaches are crushing in the NBA.” (Colin, 24:07)

• Will Donovan Leave the NBA?

  • Insiders claim people close to Donovan are urging him, “Get the hell out of there. Go to Carolina and have a chance to win the whole thing again and change your legacy a little bit.” (Analyst, 25:56)
  • Bulls’ ownership and lack of direction are seen as obstacles—Donovan’s career narrative could tilt to UNC.

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Additional Key Discussion Points

NBA: Giannis and the Bucks’ Tenuous Relationship

• The Bucks’ handling of Giannis is unraveling; lack of communication and poor decision-making signal a likely ugly ending.
  • “It always ends poorly…This is one of those where they should have moved him. I've been on this for three years.” (Colin, 27:57)
• International stars tend to be loyal and reluctant to leave, making it harder for teams to act decisively.

Cowboys’ Roster Moves and Edge Rusher Drama

• Dallas's failure to keep Micah Parsons and desperate attempt to trade for Maxx Crosby reflect short-term, reactionary thinking.
  • “There's not a lot of long-range planning. It's more, ‘How do I feel now? Who's the last guy I talked to?’” (Colin, 31:31)

Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers, and World Series Aspirations

• Ohtani remains MVP-caliber, but his postseason hitting is questioned; new signings and a rebuilt bullpen make the Dodgers World Series favorites.
  • “If you look right now, adding Kyle Tucker...solving their bullpen makes them a prohibitive favorite.” (Colin, 34:16)

NBA Legacy Talk: LeBron vs. Kobe in the Clutch

• Darren Williams says he’d give the ball to Kobe for the final shot, citing mentality differences.
• Cowherd defends LeBron as the greater all-around and “clutch” player, just with a different style—prioritizing the best basketball play rather than only taking the shot.
  • “LeBron's always had this weird rep that he's not a clutch player. And it just. His clutch looks different.” (Colin, 36:53)

NFL Draft & Player Fit: Simpson vs. Mendoza, Arvell Reese Debate

• Ty Simpson and Fernando Mendoza compared as NFL QB prospects. Simpson’s NFL-ready tools vs. Mendoza’s durability and big-game achievements.
• Draft philosophy explored: should teams prioritize sure-bet players even if positional "fit" is less than ideal?
  • “If you're drafting Arvell Reese, you better have a very clear plan of how you're going to utilize him.” (Todd McShay, 50:34)
• On trusting organizations to maximize unique talents: “I don't trust the Jets as poker players. If it was the Rams, they'd figure it out.” (Colin, 51:36)

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On LeBron Adjusting to New Role:
  “He's never been asked to be a supporting actor…Now it's like, bro, we look at, we look at all the numbers. They're all career lows. And now Austin Reaves is a legit too.” (Colin Cowherd, 06:56)
• Rachel Nichols on LeBron’s Decision:
  “If he's not willing to take a significant pay cut, the discussion's over…If he is, then you've got to have a real brass tacks conversation about role.” (Rachel Nichols, 08:36)
• Dodgers vs. Yankees Management Styles:
  “The Yankees have moved into, we're going to put our money in bonds, and the Dodgers are investing in emerging markets and new tech companies.” (Colin Cowherd, 11:18)
• UNC Coaching Search:
  “Donovan is hyper competitive…I mean, I think he's the selection. A lot of these college guys…the guy at Arizona, you're not going to leave Florida and Arizona or UConn for Carolina. Carolina may be a better job, but by inches, not by feet.” (Colin Cowherd, 21:21)
• Billy Donovan’s Circle:
  “There are a ton of people in Billy Donovan's circle…telling him ‘get the hell out of [Chicago].’” (Analyst, 25:56)
• LeBron vs. Kobe in Crunch Time:
  “LeBron's a better player historically than Kobe…LeBron's clutch looks like a lot of different things. Kobe's clutch was Kobe taking the shot.” (Colin Cowherd, 35:39)
• Cowboys and Maxx Crosby Saga:
  “Sometimes I feel like Jerry's kind of making it up based on a whim or a discussion…Not a lot of long-range planning.” (Colin Cowherd, 31:31)
• NFL Draft on Player Fit:
  “If you're drafting Arvell Reese, you better have a very clear plan of how you're going to utilize him.” (Todd McShay, 50:34)

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Major Timestamps by Segment

• LeBron & Lakers Future – 03:59 to 09:17
• Rachel Nichols on LeBron – 08:36
• Dodgers Surpassing Yankees – 09:17 to 14:14
• Albert Pujols on Aaron Judge – 13:02
• UNC Coaching Vacancy – 14:39 to 26:06
• Billy Donovan Coaching Debate – 21:29+
• NBA: Giannis & Bucks – 27:16 to 30:34
• Cowboys Edge Rusher Moves – 30:34 to 32:39
• Dodgers/Ohtani Postseason – 32:39 to 34:45
• LeBron vs. Kobe 'Clutch' Debate – 34:55 to 38:51
• NFL Draft (Simpson, Mendoza, Arvell Reese) – 43:14 to 51:50

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Memorable Moments

• Colin's comparison of LeBron's new role to Robert Downey Jr. shifting from leading man to best supporting actor.
• Rachel Nichols calls LeBron’s next contract “a real hard choice” due to both pay cut and permanent role change.
• Albert Pujols empathizes with Aaron Judge’s pressure—“sooner or later, it's going to click.”
• Colin’s analogy: Yankees investing in bonds vs. Dodgers investing in emerging markets.
• Candid inside scoop on Billy Donovan’s career triangle between the NBA, Bulls’ lack of direction, and UNC’s legacy offer.
• Cowherd’s trademark, “I don't trust the Jets as poker players,” on drafting and player development.

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Tone & Style

Colin's signature blend of direct opinion, analogy-rich explanations, and behind-the-scenes tidbits keeps the tone energetic, conversational, and insight-driven, with contributions from trusted guests and analysts.

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For listeners: This episode delivers a nuanced look at sports icons’ career pivots, the evolution of franchise dominance, and high-stakes college basketball searches—anchored by Colin Cowherd’s trademark analysis and lively debate.

Transcript

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Relax.

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Good.

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[The Herd Show Announcer]

You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.

[Colin Cowherd]

Here we go. It is a Wednesday. We are live in balmy Chicago. It's the Herd, wherever you may be and however you may be listening. Thanks for making us part of your day. One hour from now. Nick Swisher, Yankees open up the season tonight. Nick's gonna bring his energy. We like Nick's on the show. Hooka Nakua trouble. Rams don't like that nonsense. North Carolina, maybe the best job in college basketball is now open and it's getting very interesting. So I spent some time this morning. We had Rachel Nichols on I'll play that in a few minutes. There is a growing sentiment that LeBron doesn't want to play in Cleveland and he doesn't want to go to San Francisco and his family wants him to stay here and LeBron wants to stay in Los Angeles. And he wants to be a Laker. And he's got his agent, Rich Paul, delivering salvos and texts to talk show hosts and writers to get us off that message that they're better without LeBron. Well, actually, LeBron deserves a lot of credit here because LeBron has changed this game. He's not the same player. He's still great individually in spurts, but this happened about three years ago. But he's not going to give you 40 minutes a night. Not as good back to back. He's just aging, you know, and it's, it's a very uncomfortable space for LeBron and his group to be in because they've had absolute control until now. Even last year, it was, it was not in shape Luca. It was coming off an injury in chubby Luca. But now Austin Reeves has developed into a legitimate number two. Luca could be the MVP. And LeBron's got to go. Robert Downey Jr. Right, you got to go leading man to, hey, we got a supporting actor position here with Oppenheimer. Go win best supporting actor. And I remember years ago, LeBron sent a tweet out to Kevin Love. Little passive aggressive stuff. Remember that? Where he said, hey, man, stop trying to find a way out. Just fit in, be part of something special. Just my thoughts. Well, that's what LeBron James has to do. And again, he's never been asked to be. He's never, ever been asked to be a supporting actor. 20 some years in the league, he was not only leading man, he was number one at the box office for two decades. And now it's like, bro, we look at, we look at all the numbers. They're all career lows. And now Austin Reaves is a legit too. And I've always been kind of waffling on Austin Reeves. Luka could be MVP, and LeBron's the third option. And I, I, I know LeBron doesn't want to go back to Cleveland, and I know that because I'm watching his agent fight for him through media channels. And that's coming from LeBron. His family likes LA's. Listen, LA is built for famous people. He can go into a restaurant and be the second, third most famous person. I mean, I bumped into Kim Kardashian twice at LA restaurants, and they weren't even bougie restaurants. You can go to dinner. Brad Pitt's two tables over. You can hide in la. A lot of gates, a lot of enclaves, a lot of topography. Hide in the hills. Can't do that in tiny Cleveland. Remember Last time there were all that talk when Miami, he moved off Miami, went to Cleveland, remember that? In Akron. And the video came out immediately. People started forming lines, cars in line around his house in Akron. He doesn't want that anymore. He wants to stay in Los Angeles. And his net worth, I checked this morning, is 1.4, $1.5 billion. He needs to take a massive pay cut. And that is the only way it's going to work. And that's not really he and his party's vibe. Rachel Nichols on LeBron's future. He's the new role player in town and they're winning. It's not a coincidence. He doesn't have the ball in his hands. He's setting screens, he's moving off ball. He has decided I'm going to be best supporting actor. And you know, Robert Downey's now 60, right? Like, everything changes. Here's Rachel Nichols from yesterday. Interesting thoughts, certainly.

[Rachel Nichols]

A month ago, it looked like there was no way he was coming back. Now that he's accepted this different role, it is more of a question. People are more uncertain because the question first is money. Because if he's not willing to take a significant pay cut, the discussion's over, right? We're talking about like 50 million down to 15 million a year. So if he's not willing to do that, we're not talking anymore. If he is willing to do that, then you've got to have a real brass tacks conversation about role. It's one thing for the last month of the regular season and the playoffs for LeBron to be. I'm all for the team and I'll dive on the floor for loose balls and I'm happy with my usage rate going way down. It's another thing to sign on for that for what could be your last entire season.

[Colin Cowherd]

That is a. That is a real hard choice. Pay cut. And you are a season long number three. LeBron's always made the right shot and made the smart decisions. But those are two big asks. All right. Major League Baseball opens tonight. Yankees, San Francisco on Netflix. And I'm reading an Ian o' Connor story. If he's writing it, it's. It's great about what the Yankees become. And at the end of the column, Ian writes, here's something that speaks to the essence of where the Yankees stand today. They're no longer the Yankees. The Dodgers have replaced them as baseball's premier franchise and big game hunters. And that's absolutely true. The Dodgers owners are richer and the Dodgers front office is the Best maybe by a gap in Major League Baseball. The Yankees have become a business that is so big, nobody's willing to take a huge risk. The brand is so big, they're winning, right? There's so much money and this happens a lot in business. They don't want to rock the boat. Brian Cashman 28th year GM Randy Levine Club PRESIDENT it's like self preservation, investing in bonds. We've got enough. I mean, this off season, the Yankees are still too home run reliant. Did they address it? They're still not very good athletically, defensively. Did they address it? No, but they got a number four starter, Ryan Weathers. Meanwhile, the Dodgers, who are much better than the Yankees, went and got the best closer in baseball. And Kyle Tucker, another power bat. And I always think of baseball always is similar to like big banking. Like it's the same big brands, the same big banks. There's Citigroup and Goldman Sachs and Deutsche bank and Wells Fargo and you know, just, just the, you know, the Goldman Sachs crowd, right. And they take turns being the big dog. They don't go away. Well, Lehman Brothers did but, but by and large it's the same banks, bank of America over and over and over. And then each of them, they'll have a run for four or five years where they're number one based on acquisitions and, you know, asset allocation and aggressiveness with their management. And that's where the Dodgers beat the Yankees. Aggressiveness and management, better assets, acquiring assets, taking big swings. The Yankees have moved into, we're going to put our money in bonds and the Dodgers are investing in emerging markets and new tech companies. And that's what it feels like to me. The Dodgers go big even after getting to the World Series. And the Yankees, who by the way have still have massive, massive revenue on an annual basis. Second in baseball attendance, ticket prices through the roof. The YES network still viable. They make a ton of money, but they have sort of moved into bonds and the Dodgers. Nope. Emerging markets. And that of course puts pressure on Aaron Boone, the manager who takes all the heat because he's front facing, not the guys upstairs. And it puts a lot of heat on Aaron Judge who had that brutal air in what, the fifth inning a couple World Series ago. He can feel the pressure. Albert Pujols talking about the pressure Aaron Judge faces starting tonight.

[Albert Pujols]

He's a great player and I know that probably people are frustrated a lot of the time that he hasn't come through. I was in that situation too, is just part of baseball and sooner or later it's going to click. So I think, you know, he's still one of the best in the game. I will take it in my team. And if I building a team, I'd be the first guy that I picked, you know, to having MIT be the second for me.

[Colin Cowherd]

Ohtani number one. But the point is, is that baseball doesn't have a salary cap. So in the NBA, you are limited what you can do as an owner. I mean, you can't trade players, you can't trade for Giannis unless you have matching salaries. In the NFL, it's a hard cap. In baseball, you have no salary cap. You can defer contracts. It allows you to be super creative with your money in baseball. And the Dodgers continue to be willing to take big risks. And it just doesn't feel like the Yankees are all right. J. Mack. I'll be parked in front of a TV. Watch the Yankees, San Francisco Giants. North Carolina, we got college basketball starting Friday. UConn, Michigan State is Owen, Dan Hurley, North Carolina. There's an argument, if you look at their facilities, their money, their history is. There's an argument it's the number one college basketball program, and right now they don't have a coach. And, you know, with the transfer portal, Caleb Wilson's going pro nil. You have to get on it fast. Like, you have to get on this fast.

[Colin Cowherd's Guest (possibly a sports analyst)]

I really. You think this is one of the number one jobs in the country? I, I'm surprised at that.

[Colin Cowherd]

I, I, first of all, you could say Kansas, but a lot of people think that, you know, North Carolina, it's a beautiful part of the country. It's, you know, most of these top programs, you know, I mean, Storrs, Connecticut, you know, I've been there like, like a lot of college jobs. You're in the middle of nowhere. Stillwater, Oklahoma, you know, Tuscaloosa. I mean, this is. Chapel Hill is one of the nicest. Isn't that, you know, the triangle they call. It's the, the tech triangle, the research triangle. One of the best places, best college campuses in America. Money's not an issue. I mean, Bill Belichick, you see what they're paying him and his staff. So I, I think you can have I. Kentucky, to me has always been dysfunctional. Even when Calipari is there, it's always a little dysfunctional. Arizona is a great job as well. They get a lot of money.

[Colin Cowherd's Guest (possibly a sports analyst)]

I hit up. So, you know, I spent a summer in Greensboro, North Carolina, which is near, in Chapel Hill. And every weekend we were in Chapel Hill. Yeah, because that's where the good bars are. So I made some good contacts there. And I'll just say I think this search is going to be more interesting than people think.

[Colin Cowherd]

Oh, I do, too.

[Colin Cowherd's Guest (possibly a sports analyst)]

I don't think they're just going to be able to go out and be like, oh, Dan Hurley, come on down. I think they need to readjust expectations. Not a really good job.

[Colin Cowherd]

You don't need to leave Arizona or UConn. You don't need to leave those jobs. You've got all your recruiting connections. I think they're going to consider Billy Donovan with the Bulls.

[Colin Cowherd's Guest (possibly a sports analyst)]

Yeah. Oh, okay. I mean, if you think that's a great hire. I mean, Billy Donovan, what's he done with the Bulls in the NBA? How's that going? Well, obviously you wanted Florida, somebody that has.

[Colin Cowherd]

I'm a season ticket holder for the Bulls. It's a lot deeper than that. Nobody is winning in Chicago for a lot of reasons. Ownership is number one. That that goes well beyond. Well, they don't win in Chicago. It's like the NFL. You're only going to do so much with certain owners. It's not a shock that Vrabel chose Robert Kraft. Shocking, you know, they win immediately. Be sure to catch live editions of

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[Colin Cowherd]

True on the field.

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[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

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[Colin Cowherd]

Good. If you're 40 or older, have a

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[Colin Cowherd]

me talk to the guys for a second. If you're over 40, you still work out, compete, still expect results. But your energy isn't what it used to be and the weight's harder to move. You're not imagining it. Energy drops, metabolism slows, fat sticks around. Even when your habits haven't changed that's not you losing discipline, that's your body changing and needing better support. MDrive products for years. I trust them every day. Boost and burn. One of their supplements built specifically for men over 40 struggling with energy and weight. With support for healthy T levels designed for everyday use, not extreme dieting, not crash fat burners, just smarter daily support. It combines clinically tested ingredients with measured stimulants supporting metabolism and fat burn without extremes. MDrive is the number one men's health brand at Sprouts. Support your body the smart way. Go to mdrive for men.com the code is heard. H R D for 25% off your first order. Mdrive for men.com Code H R D. So yeah, it's a short list of best college basketball jobs in the country. You know, Arizona, Duke, Carolina, dysfunctional Kentucky, Yukon, Mint. It's a short list. Syracuse will be back with Jerry McNamara. He'll, they'll be back but they're, you know, Michigan State's very, very good. Carolina's job is open and you got it. You got to go fast. So there's a lot of people out there. Billy Donovan, you got to remember a 60 year old with money. Billy Donovan's a competitive guy, a workout guy. His body is 50, he's 60, looks good, totally competitive guy. I would take him for the job. He built a powerhouse at Florida when they were absolutely known as a football school. He went back to back Natty's six time SEC regular season champ, four SEC tournament wins. He built an absolute powerhouse. He built Duke south. He is a great coach. But the NBA life, let's, let's keep it 100 here. Five star Ritz Carlton's luxury living team. Jets. It's no rinky dink small towns. It is, it is big boy living. It is luxury living. There's no parents, no boosters, no ncaa. None of the nonsense I always say, go ask Kirk, Herb street who does college games and pro games. The standard of hotels, the quality of everything in the NFL it's just better. Pro sports is different and everybody's saying, oh, Todd golden, he's got some DM issues and again Florida is a good, a good place to coach. There's no necessarily, no major reason. They just want a Natty. Why is Todd golden going to leave Billy Donovan is that. Here's the issue for Billy Donovan is that he's a hyper, hyper aggressive guy. He's super competitive. But the Bulls and it's not his fault. I'm sorry, they haven't made A, they haven't won a playoff game. They don't have a playoff win for 11 years and they sell out the arena. Bulls have led the NBA in attendance last five years. Could be 15 to the last 17. I'm a season ticket holder. 25,000 jammed every home game, so. And the owners, the Reinsdorfs, they're never going to sell the team. It's way, way too profitable. You'd be nuts to sell the Chicago Bulls. And it's not really, to be honest, a serious organization. They've got some good young talent, but they have no identity. I mean, there's no real direction with the Chicago Bulls. And Billy Donovan is hyper competitive and I mean, I think he's the selection. A lot of these college guys, the guy at Arizona, you're not going to leave Florida and Arizona or UConn for Carolina. Carolina may be a better job, but by inches, not by feet. And so I, I think Donovan don't worry about age. I mean, look at the guy. He looks like, you know what I mean? He is an intense, competitive workout guy. He barking at officials on a directionless franchise. And what's interesting, what's really interesting is that college basketball, because now it's more administrative. Donovan doesn't have to go back beating the streets at high school games and AAU tournaments. Those days are over. So I Bella checks. In college football, it's administrative. Get guys to write checks. So it's much more like the NBA. And what's happening in college basketball, it's fascinating. Old guys are crushing. Izzo's crushing, Calipari's crushing, Patino's crushing, Rick Barnes is crushing. It's the old guys because you don't have to have like crazy 41 year old energy. It's administrative. It's check writing. And meanwhile, in the NBA, a lot of the best teams have young coaches because you have to relate to rich younger players. So it's really, it's, it's strange what's happened in basketball culturally. Old guys are crushing. In college, young coaches are crushing. Steve Kerr and Eric Spoelstra. They're not crushing, you know, like the young guys are doing well. Jeff Goodman on Donovan this morning on a show this morning about Billy Donovan, potentially the Carolina, you know, the Bulls stink.

[Sports Analyst or Insider]

We know that he's got a lucrative contact with the Bulls right now. Reinsdorf has been very loyal to him. I think in turn he will be loyal to Reinsdorf. But however, there are a ton of people in Billy Donovan's circle right now that have told Billy Donovan get the

[Podcast Advertiser/Voiceover]

hell out of there.

[Sports Analyst or Insider]

Go to Carolina and have a chance to win the whole thing again and, and change your legacy a little bit.

[Colin Cowherd]

When he was at Florida. Now, now you view Florida as a great basketball school. He made it. Kentucky. They were winning the regular season. They were one of the tournament. He was a dominant coach, and he was a younger guy. He was a great recruiter. He had amazing energy. Before UConn, you know, and Hurley arrived, they were the. They were the last kind of dynasty in college basketball. They had NBA guys everywhere. So, I mean, I. I go to Bulls games. I always feel bad for Billy Donovan. I almost like this dude has seven more years of coaching somewhere. But do I think part of him thinks, man, it's the NBA. NBA is a good life. 25,000. No parents, no boosters, no NCAA nonsense, no school presidents. Reinsdorf likes him. I think that's a big part of it. And travel, folks, pro travel is different than college travel. It's just a whole. Even at the nicest school, it's a whole different ballgame. You know, it's caviar omelets in the NBA. Circle J. Mac with the news. No, no, no. Heard on the news.

[The Herd Show Announcer]

This is the Herd line news.

[Colin Cowherd's Guest (possibly a sports analyst)]

It's funny to hear you say the NBA is kind of a good life compared to college, but you're not wrong. Like, I know it's a lot of NBA travel, but that college game is wild. Colin. But let's start in the NBA. Big, big story continuing to get ugly in Milwaukee. Giannis versus the Bucs. The latest is that the Players association is rebuking the Bucs. Put out a statement implying the team is tanking and damaging the NBA's integrity. Colin, I'm floored. I have an analogy for you, but I'm just curious. Your initial thoughts, like, endings are often ugly, and this one is really on the verge of getting nasty.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. And, you know, I was told this 20 years ago, move quickly with this stuff. It always ends poorly. I mean, even. I mean, when LeBron surprised everybody and. And went to Cleveland, people were like, well, that didn't end poorly. Well, Miami wasn't happy. You know, Carmelo leaving Denver to the Knicks. Knicks never won because they had to give up so much to get him and Dwight Howard leaving Orlando. It's never easy, so if you can sniff it, you know, Lu Al Cinder back in 71, won a title with the Bucks. He had told the front office a year earlier, trade me to la. I won't tell anybody. And they got a haul. They got. They Got as good a haul Milwaukee in the early 70s as any team's ever gotten for a player. Draft picks and like all star level guys, and they still never won again until Giannis arrived. So I think this is one of those where they should have moved him. I've been on this for three years. Should have moved him three years ago. Once there's smoke, there's fire, where there's rumors. You know, it's the old saying in pro football. Once you talk retirement, you're retired, you're not working as hard. You know, Aaron Rodgers has talked retirement three, four years ago. He kind of disappears in the off season. You start talking about it, you're thinking about it, you start making little marginal moves toward it. And I think this has been on everybody's mind in Milwaukee for three years.

[Colin Cowherd's Guest (possibly a sports analyst)]

Yeah, I totally agree, Colin. You know, communication is the foundation of every relationship. And I'm of the belief that something went down with LeBron Redick and Lakers new ownership because LeBron looks like a new person, new player out there. Something went down that we're not aware of. Hell, in our. In our relationships. You're married, I'm married. I got the kids. If me and the wife don't communicate about what we're having for dinner, dinner will slip through the cracks. And then we end up with pizza. And I'm ticked off because I'm like, I don't want Chick Fil A and pizza. Like, you have to communicate. The Bucs have done nothing with Giannis. They knew this was coming a year ago when they made that dumb move to get Miles Turner. I don't know that they consulted Giannis on that. The communication between the Bucs and Giannis is, like, null, and I don't see how they salvage this. And Giannis's game, he didn't want to look like the bad guy. You know, he was, like, afraid of that.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, it seems to be working. International players tend to be more loyal.

[Podcast Advertiser/Voiceover]

Yeah, you know, they're.

[Colin Cowherd]

They feel a little bit like visitors. They're going to be loyal to their team. Luka did not want to be traded. He did not. Luka was devastated. Even being traded to the Lakers with LeBron. Luca was devastated. So this is one of those things. The Bucks have to take the initiative. You can't. The international players. And they're loyal. They don't want to be traded. They don't want to take people off. This is. I. I think the Bucks have to make the moves on this.

[Colin Cowherd's Guest (possibly a sports analyst)]

They're doing a terrible job. Let's move to the NFL. Colin. Like, nothing surprises me with Jerry Jones and the Dallas Cowboys, but this, I mean, my eyes popped out of my head. So there is now a report that even though Max Crosby staying with the Raiders, the Cowboys tried so hard to land him. They made three different offers to the Raiders. Reminder. The Cowboys traded Micah Parsons. They didn't want to pay him. So a year later, there are less than a year, maybe eight months, they tried to get Max Crosby. Here are the reported offers. The Cowboys said, we'll give you the 20th pick. And Osa Uganwanza. I butchered his name. 12th pick and the third, third round pick, 12th overall pick and a second. And the Raiders said, no, we want two firsts, Colin. Jerry Jones had Micah Parsons. Now he realized, oh, we need an edge rusher. You can't make this stuff up at this point. Colin, come on.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, they got Rashawn Gary, who's not Max Crosby. But yeah, I, I'm surprised Dallas offered that. I mean, I think it's a great edge rusher draft and Dallas is prized. You know, they have an opportunity to get one of the good edge rushers and their defensive tackles are excellent. So I'm, I'm a little surprised by the story. Sometimes I feel like Jerry's kind of making it up based on a whim or a discussion. You know, I kind of feel like he's kind of making it up. There's not a long, not a lot of long range planning. Yeah, it's more. How do I feel now? Who's the last guy I talked to? That's what it feels like to me.

[Colin Cowherd's Guest (possibly a sports analyst)]

And by the way, do you think Max Crosby would have thrilled. Would been thrilled to go to Dallas because he wanted a contender? And last I checked, Dallas is not anything close to a contender. Now, you could argue Baltimore didn't make the playoffs, but they have Lamar Jackson. They're in the playoffs every year, practically. Would he have been thrilled to go to Dallas?

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, it's a huge brand and Max is a likable guy, relatable guy. I think it would have been great for him, actually. I think he would have done really well there.

[Colin Cowherd's Guest (possibly a sports analyst)]

Interesting. All right, let's go to baseball. Colin, final story. Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers wrapped up spring training last night against the Angels. Ohtani pitched and struck out 11, did give up three earned runs over four innings in his second pitching start of the preseason. Here's Dave Roberts on Ohtani's final start.

[Colin Cowherd]

He was ready to go. I felt the two albums, every song

[Todd McShay]

in games, you know, the intensity was

[Colin Cowherd]

there, focus was there, and the execution, all that stuff. So a lot of punch outs tonight.

[Todd McShay]

Really efficient. Not efficient, but just kind of good rhythm and efficient.

[Colin Cowherd]

So I thought it was another good one for him and he'll be ready to go. Yeah, they're going to be good.

[Colin Cowherd's Guest (possibly a sports analyst)]

So he's won the NL MVP twice in a row.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd's Guest (possibly a sports analyst)]

Is there a world where Ohtani wins the Cy Young? I mean, I can't wrap my brain around that. He could have win the Cy Young this year.

[Colin Cowherd]

It's interesting, though, he didn't hit in the postseason, so, you know, baseball's got a randomness to it. You know, it's, it's hard. He didn't hit much in the postseason, and they still won. That's what. If you look right now, adding Kyle Tucker, the big issue the Dodgers had was their bullpen. So shoring up their bullpen makes them a prohibitive favorite. That was the. They blew 26 saves last year. I mean, you know, at the time, I was living in la, and the Dodgers are always on in your car. They're on tv. They were bad at the end of games in the regular season. They solved it. I mean, remember they, they went to a Game 7 and Toronto. Toronto really outplayed them for most of the World Series. I thought they had a remarkable late innings, you know, rally Game seven. They were insane. All the right levers were pulled by Dave Roberts. But if Ohtani didn't hit very well in the postseason, their bullpen was shaky until, you know, the postseason. And I don't think those two things are going to happen again. So they should be a prohibited favorite.

[Colin Cowherd's Guest (possibly a sports analyst)]

I would totally agree.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yep. By J. Mac on the news.

[The Herd Show Announcer]

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

[Colin Cowherd]

Darren Williams played in the NBA for a long time, and he was, he was talking about, people were asking him about on a podcast about LeBron and Kobe and who do you want to take the final shot? One of the questions he asked, and here was his response.

[Darren Williams]

Both of them's work ethic was, was crazy. Like, they both work hard. They both, they're just different, man. Just Kobe had just had that mentality where he's just on his own, locked in, doing his thing. LeBron's more silly, you know, keeping things light. I play with both of them, so I'm, yeah, if I got to get a ball to somebody to get a bucket, I'm going, I'm going cold.

[Colin Cowherd]

I, I, I always, I'll defend LeBron here. LeBron's a better player historically than Kobe.

[Todd McShay]

He is.

[Colin Cowherd]

Kobe's great. You can argue Michael Jordan and LeBron. You can't argue LeBron and Kobe. LeBron's the better career. You know, across the board, LeBron has this weird reputation that he wasn't clutch. But my argument's always been his clutch looks different. It comes in many forms. A great pass to Chris Bosh or Ray Allen in Miami, closing with the left hand, beating a guy off the dribble. A chase down block in the finals against the Warriors. His, his clutch looks like a lot of different things. Kobe's clutch was Kobe taking the shot. That's how he affected the outcomes of games. Kobe was shooting. And I mean, listen, it was a problem. Phil Jackson called him a selfish player. Mike Shefsky in the Olympics, the story is pretty legendary. Had to set him aside. And it's like, dude, you're not playing with the Lakers. You're playing with the world's best players. You got a pass, you're taking bad shots. Kobe took a lot of bad shots. He was selfish. And, and, and, but, but Kobe kind of sold that mamba mentality, that alpha self reliance. And that is very attractive to young people. It's very attractive to sports fans, is do it yourself, don't depend on others. And the truth is, when Michael Jordan started trusting others is when Michael started winning titles. And that's always been the secret sauce of LeBron is that he could take the final shot. But LeBron's always taken the best basketball play. And if you go to Kobe's career, statistically, he's actually not a great clutch shooter. You know, the Lakers this year are a great clutch team because LeBron, not just LeBron. LeBron often takes the shot or gets it to Austin and Luka. So, and this is where it's, it's not a shot at Kobe. It's more of a support of LeBron. LeBron's a tremendous clutch player. I don't love him at the free throw line late. I'd much prefer Steph or MJ Durant at the free throw line, but a lot of bigger guys aren't great free throw shooters. But LeBron's always had this weird rep that he's not a clutch player. And it just. His clutch looks different. He's not always going to take the shot, you know, and he also, I always think kind of LeBron rolls his eyes at the critics who talk about everybody else's mentality and killer instinct. And I think LeBron looks at that and goes, Bro, yeah, been to nine finals. I'm fine. So just this is not a shot at anybody. But it is defending LeBron LeBron's a great clutch player. I love the ball in LeBron's hands with a minute left. I in his prime for 15 years, I loved him defending the ball or with the ball with 40 seconds left. Todd McShay around the corner. Nick Swisher, too. Is it possible Ty Simpson is the best quarterback? Next? Be sure to catch live editions of

[The Herd Show Announcer]

the Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific.

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[Colin Cowherd]

well, in sports and in life, timing

[Podcast Advertiser/Voiceover]

is just about everything. You can have all the right talent, right mindset, even have the right team. But if you don't act at the right moment, opportunity slips away.

[Colin Cowherd]

True on the field.

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And it's true when it comes to your health. Two words for you right now. Prostate exam. I did mine a year ago. Yeah, are you imagining that finger right now?

[Colin Cowherd]

Relax.

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[Colin Cowherd]

Good.

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[Colin Cowherd]

and discuss screening options and the next steps. It's easy. Most people think their insurance will cover them if disaster strikes. But here's the truth. Many are wrong. You pay your premiums, you assume you're protected. Then the fine print hits. Exclusions, loopholes, limits. Suddenly that coverage you counted on isn't really coverage at all. That's why I like my policy advocate. They take your actual policies home. Life auto Break them down in plain English. They show you what's really covered and what isn't. Cost 27 cents a day. That's it. Less than a cup of coffee. Before you assume you're covered, go to mypolicyadvocate.com let them review your policy. You might be shocked at what you'll find. MyPolicyAdvocate.com Every sports fan knows Step away

[The Herd Show Announcer]

during a close basketball game, a gold medal moment, or a win or go home matchup. And that's when everything happens. Unless you've got Sonos. With Sonos, you can group your sound bar with the kitchen so the game follows you while you grab a snack. Head outside during a break, add a portable speaker, and the game comes with you. Big moments deserve big sound everywhere you are. Explore Sonos sound bars and [e-mail] let

[Colin Cowherd]

me talk to the guys for a second. If you're over 40, you still work out, compete, still expect results. But your energy isn't what it used to be, and the weight's harder to move. You're not imagining it. Energy drops, metabolism slows. Fat sticks around. Even when your habits haven't changed. That's not you losing discipline. That's your body changing and needing better support. MDrive products for years. I trust them every day. Boost and burn, one of their supplements built specifically for men over 40 struggling with energy and weight, with support for healthy T levels. Designed for everyday use. Not extreme dieting, not crash fat burners, just smarter daily support. It combines clinically tested ingredients with measured stimulants, supporting metabolism and fat burn without extremes. MDrive is the number one men's health brand at Sprouts. Support your body the smart way. Go to mdrive for men.com the code is heard. H R D for 25% off your first order. Mdrive for men.com Code H R D Nick Swisher Major League Baseball Top of the hour Yankees, San Francisco Giants on Netflix. All right, so one of the guys at the Other Place, one of their popular personalities said Ty Simpson film says he is better than Fernando Mendoz. So listen, I'm not a former scout, although frankly, probably pretty good at it. Anywho, Todd McShay at the Ringer. Been doing this stuff since 1998, evaluating prospects. Hey, I never bailed on Santa.

[Todd McShay]

I love the. I love the frankly. And the pause. I knew exactly where you were going.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay, listen, Ty Stimpson's got his pro day. I've said before, when I watched him play, he's got a good arm. He moves better than Fernando. He's a pro. He's. He's don't. If he gets drafted late first round, he's a hell of a lot better than Kenny Pickett. Like I'm not saying I think he is a franchise quarterback. I didn't like J.J. mcCarthy. He's better than that. I, I was not a fan of Pickett. He's better than that. I'm not. He's a, he's. I think he's more in the class of Jackson Dart where get the right coach, he can spin it. You tell me what is the gap? You do this for a living. You do. What is the gap? Mendoza, the bigger athlete and, and Simpson, how big is the gap to you?

[Todd McShay]

Here's the, here's the hard part, Colin. Like November 1st, Ty Simpson was the guy and maybe it was late October around that range. Ty Simpson's tape was better. It just was. And here's what you have for Ty Simpson. If you're, if you're having this discussion, right? It's, it's transferable. It's NFL stuff. You know Ryan Grubbs there and they're doing the pre snap motion, deciphering what the coverage is. He's on schedule. He's like everything's clockwork, the decision making, it's precise and it's not precise in the scheme with rpo heavy offense and two by two receiver sets and a one cornerback read. If the corner goes this way I go here. If the corner goes that way, I go there. And that's what you get a lot of with Mendoza and Mendoza like the moments were spectacular. The fourth quarter, Iowa, Oregon, Penn State, the late drives when the game was on the line, absolutely spectacular, right. And Simpson didn't really have that as much. But you watch the other three quarters and like all of those games I just talked about, there was a bad interception, there was a pick six, you think against Oregon there was a bad pick against Iowa there was a bad pick against Penn State. And so. And the rest of the game was just nah. You know, you watch the Ohio State tape for Mendoza and you say oh my gosh. And yeah, you can say six points through three quarters. And I heard the other guy from the other network say that the other day, but that tape was awesome, man. It started with Kaden Curry knocking his ass to the ground and him bouncing back a couple plays later and Kaden Curry tried to get him again in his own end zone. No one talks about that. Players helmet hits the ground and Never affected throwing on the move against pressure, tight windows. He was awesome in that game. If you give me that Mendoza and tells me, tell me that's what I'm going to get. He's clearly the best quarterback in the, in the, in the draft, but it wasn't what we saw all season long. Now back to Simpson. I know what I know he has the mind. I know he's got a dad who was a, who's been a coach, a head coach in college football for 20 years. He grew up with a football in his hand. He's been around ball and you see it in his play. And so for every negative you talk about the 15 starts and that's a big deal for me, man. But he grew up around ball. He played the, you know, went up against Alabama's defense for four years. He's in a pro system. All of those things counter that. But here's the jumping off point that I struggle with. You got Mendoza that just everything screams what it takes to be in the NFL. Six, four and a half, 236 at the combine, 35 starts. Then you got Ty Simpson, whose tape is better and more relatable to NFL coaches, right? But six 1, 211 pounds injured, you know, battled injuries during the year as the hit started to pile up. And granted you can excuse that with 126 ranked run rushing attack pass protection broke down. Number one wide receiver Ryan Williams just disappears late in the season. So. But he still got injured. He didn't last the whole season and 15 starts. So if I, if I had to take a quarterback number one overall, I am taking Mendoza because it looks like, and the experience is that of what quarterbacks in the league. Everyone in the league is 30 plus starts that you would consider a good starter except for the two guys who are superhuman, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes. So you get fewer than 20 starts and that list is littered with first round quarterbacks who are drafted and robust in the league. So it's a tough call but when Orlovsky says it, I understand. And I was texting with Dan during when he was watching the tape and I've texted with people in the league who think that Simpson's better, but the majority in the league think that Mendoza is better. And I think where, where you get in trouble is you overlook if you're a purist, Colin, and you are a quarterback aficionado, it is, it's like Beethoven, right? It's like Picasso watching Ty Simpson. But then as a gm you have to sit back and Say what has worked, what has not worked. And there's a risk evaluation has to go on with Mendoza, with Mendoza versus Simpson and that tilts Mendoza.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right, one other question because the two things I wanted to talk to you about. So a few years ago the Cardinals drafted Isaiah Simmons from Clemson and he, you know, it's the old man without a country. He didn't really have a classic position and so he came in and they could never quite make it work. Although he was a super athlete, I would take, if I was the Jets, I would take David Bailey, plug and play. Know what he is. Ceilings lower. Arvell Reese. It's a lot of, well, what if it could be. And I'm like, okay, I, I don't think the Jets, I don't trust the jets to figure out the Rubik's Cube of a really talented guy. If it was the Rams take him, they'd figure it out. If it's the Eagles, they'd figure it out. So Arvell Reese I think is going to go to, to the Jets. Should I be worried if I'm a Jets fan? It's not defined yet what he actually is going to be as a pro.

[Todd McShay]

It's, it's interesting. I talked to an executive, high ranking executive in the league when I was at the Cobb mine and, and he's with a team that is drafting in the top five and he's like, here's the challenge, man. We've got the probably, you know, three of the best players in this draft are at positions that, that we just don't want to draft, but they're the best players. And you kind of grow up in this business thinking, don't pass up on hall of Famers, don't pass up on guys that you know are just going to be great players. But it's, it's Jeremiah Love at running back, it's Caleb Downs at safety, it's Sonny Stiles at off ball linebacker, right? Then you get to the edges and here's what he was saying and I agree with this. He's like, we got David Bailey, who's by far the best, most proven pass rusher. You can't play the run, you can't play the run for in the NFL right now. So that, so, so what are we getting a designated pass rusher? Then you get Arvell Reese. He's like, he's a cyborg. You know, he's like, but you better have a plan because if you, if now, if it doesn't work out at edge, he's an off ball linebacker, who by the way, is, he's okay in coverage, but he's not sunny style. So if you're, if you're going to get stuck with an off ball linebacker during the top five, take Sonny Styles, because he can be that overhang. He can match up. He actually rushed the passer pretty well when he was turned loose. So that's the debate going on. And I look at Styles and then you look at Reese and Styles is the off ball linebacker. He's the former safety. He's the COVID guy. Reese is smaller, you know, but he's explosive. He's long, he's fast. So it is a projection. And the thing that we wrapped up our conversation with, and I completely agree with this, is you better be lockstep with your defensive coordinator if you're drafting or Val Reese, you better have a very clear plan of how you're going to utilize him. And like Matt Patricia was brilliant with that at Ohio State. Matt Patricia's. Patricia is considered one of the smartest guys out there and also one of the best teachers out there. And so they were able to get a lot out of, out of Arvell Reese. But what we saw is not what you're expecting from a top three pick. You need growth as an edge rusher and you're hoping that it's going to be a Micah Parsons type growth. I think people forget he was an off ball linebacker when he came in as rookie. There were some injuries and then they moved him to edge and he became what we all know Micah Parsons to be. That's what you're betting on?

[Colin Cowherd]

That's right.

[Arby's Promoter]

And.

[Todd McShay]

But it is, it is a bet, Colin.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yep. Yeah. And I don't like, I don't trust the jets as poker players. I just don't. It's not an organization. Okay. Todd McShay. Hope they're treating you well. If not, give me a call. You do great work, buddy. Say hi to Bill and all.

[Todd McShay]

I appreciate you, brother. Always have. I'll talk to you soon.

[Colin Cowherd]

Todd McShay. Yeah. Michael Parsons. People forget this about Micah Parsons. They tried him at linebacker, wasn't good enough in coverage. He's, you know, Mike is more of a. The term used in the NFL is C ball, get ball, like see it, chase it, go. I can remember Hassan Reddick came in, in Arizona for a couple years, couldn't figure out what to do with them. And they're finally like, dude, just rush the passer. You're great at it. So with Arvell Reese, is he going to be great in coverage. No styles is better there, but he could end up being just a wildly explosive pass rusher. Cyborg is what he said, and I think that's possible, but I just don't trust the jets to unleash the potential again. Again, if he was getting drafted by Baltimore Philadelphia, I'd say take him. Whether you want to maximize your performance or form healthier habits this year, knowing what your body needs can help put you on the right path. With Quest, you can buy your own lab tests online@quest health.com no doctor visit required for purchase. Quest has a huge selection of tests, including the new Elite Health Profile, a panel made for men and Women, and tracks 85 plus health markers affecting the heart, liver, kidneys, hormones, metabolism and immune system, delivering a ton of insights in one snapshot. For a limited time, save on select lab [e-mail] with code herd10. That's herd10 at checkout. Terms apply. I'll say it up front. I don't usually endorse supplements. Most promise shortcuts. Anybody who's done real work knows shortcuts fail. But I like EM drives. Every morning I put that protein powder in my coffee. It's practical. As you get older, energy dips and weight comes easier. That's biology. EmDrive boost and burn support steady energy metabolism and fat burning, so effort actually counts. Clinically tested ingredients find that it sprouts. Amazon or mdrive for men.com mdrive for men who still show up. Here's something that'll freak you out. Most people think their insurance will cover them if disaster strikes. But here's the truth. Many are wrong. You pay your premiums. You assume you're protected. Then the fine print hits. Exclusions, loopholes, limits. Suddenly that coverage you counted on isn't really coverage at all. It's not your agent's fault. Their job is to sell policies. You need somebody in your corner who protects you, not the insurance company. That's why I like my policy advocate. I like what they're doing. They take your actual policies Home, life, auto, break them down in plain English. They show you what's really covered and what isn't. Here's the best part. Cost 27 cents a day. That's it. Less than a cup of coffee for peace of mind to make sure your family's protected when it matters most. When disaster hits, you don't want surprises. You want certainty. Before you assume you're covered, go tomy policy advocate.com. let them review your policy. You might be shocked at what you'll find. My policy advocate.com hey, it's Ryan Seacrest

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Colin Cowherd]

With hundreds of new and used EV models available today, there's an EV to

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Colin Cowherd]

The way forward is electric. Learn more at Electric for all. Org.

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This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.