← The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
THE HERD - Hour 1 - Micah Parsons' return to Dallas, TNF Preview, Best NFL Front Offices
00:40:55
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- [00:00]
Jason McIntyre
This is an iHeart podcast.
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- [01:20]
Colin Cowherd
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- [02:52]
Colin Cowherd
Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio at noon.
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Sponsor/Ad Voice
To 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific.
- [03:01]
Colin Cowherd
Find your local station for the herd@foxsportsradio.com or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Now let's get this party started. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Here we go on a Thursday, one of my favorite days of the week. Greg Cosell, in one hour, we are live. It's Chicago. It is the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be watching or listening, thanks for making us part of your day. Ryan, our producer went to the Cubs game last night, watched the Mets meltdown, getting a feel for Chicago and Wrigley Field. What a great city. It is. J. Mac the Athletic is that scrimmishing business. You know, they got some really good writers there. Yeah.
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Jason McIntyre
Oh yeah.
- [03:52]
Colin Cowherd
And we've always known there's a gap between the best quarterbacks and the second third tier quarterbacks or the best coaches. That's obvious, right? But the athletic pulled 29 coaches, executives, general managers, and they pulled them on the best front offices upstairs, the guys in the nice boxes during the game the camera occasionally shows. And the top 10 might as well be the herd hierarchy. Eagles, Ravens, Rams, Bills, Chiefs, Buccaneers, Packers, Seahawks, line Niners. I mean, it's the herd hierarchy basically. And I don't buy the packers are lucky to hit on three straight quarterbacks or the Eagles coincidentally have another stacked roster. The gap between front offices is as large or larger than owners, quarterbacks and coaches. I mean, look what Jim Harbaugh has done in 20 games with the Chargers. Worst to maybe best team in the league. What's most interesting to me in this poll is Those, those top 10 teams, they've all got, you know, quarterbacks, top quarterbacks. Isn't it fascinating how each team landed the quarterback the most important position? Each took an entirely different route. Let's start with the Eagles. It's fascinating. So the Eagles, they go to the second round, a smaller quarterback, Jalen hurts an athletic quarterback. At the time they had Carson Wentz moved off him and they decided we're going to build an offense around this kid who's incredibly strong for his size and do some different things that a lot of teams aren't willing to do. We're going to go contrarian to the market. They had big, tall, rangy Carson Wentz. We're going to go smaller, strong athlete. Who's better moving initially than throwing second in this athletic poll is the Ravens. They passed on Lamar Jackson once themselves in the first round and then they decided, let's go for this hyper athletic kid from Louisville at the time, remember his mom was representing him, is very different. But. And we're not going to play him initially. We're going to wait a while, let him watch Joe Flacco. But we're going to roll the dice on this super athletic quarterback, perhaps the most athletic quarterback probably that's ever played. The Rams, Rams didn't do it that way. The Rams had a Super bowl quarterback. They're like, we're going to trade him to Detroit and get Matt Stafford, who actually has never won a playoff game. But we believe he's one of the best throwers of the football in the league. And we're actually going to pay for Stafford and Jared Goff to make it happen. The Bills bill's different. They went to a small college. They go get Josh Allen, they trade up for him. And we're going to need you to play. You're raw with a huge upside, but we're going to need you to play really quick. First year was bumpy. Second year, third year got magical. How about Kansas City? Yeah, we're going to get this quarterback from a conference, the Big 12, that most of their quarterbacks stink and don't work in the NFL. We're going to trade up for him, but unlike Buffalo, we're not going to have him play. We're going to have him sit and learn the system, get his mechanics right. Alex Smith, learn the system behind a great mentor. We do not need you to play early at all. How about the Buccaneers? They're on this list. Buccaneers said, you know what we're going to do? There's this guy, a little cocky, is this guy Baker Mayfield. We're going to give you like a one year, prove it deal and see if you got anything. And yeah, we're not really sure, but we kind of. Sean McVeigh like you, you got the Browns of the playoffs. And so the Buccaneers go, we're going to go with Baker Mayfield and now they've signed a new long term contract. Green Bay does it totally differently. We're going to draft you, Jordan Love and for the second time, sit you for three years. You won't take a meaningful snap. The Seahawks made this list. They go and we're going to go into free agency. Yeah, yeah. I mean we had Geno Smith. We're going to go a little younger, a little more athletic. We're going to bring in eventually an offensive coordinator, Clint Kubiak, who works very well with quarterbacks. We're going to Go free agent. The Lions do it differently. They're like, okay, we'll give up Matt Stafford. We'll make a trade with the Rams. The Rams will pay for it. Goff's pretty good. Not Stafford, but pretty good. And as the Rams pay for the contract, we're going to build a roster and take all those draft picks and make us into a powerhouse. And the 49ers did it totally differently. They went and gave up a ton of picks for a first round quarterback and. And very quickly said, hoops. Yeah, yeah, that's not working. And then they got lucky. They. They drafted a guy they passed on multiple times. The entire league passed on five, six, seven, eight times. And they got Brock Purdy. And this proves there's multiple routes to the mountaintop for the most important position in the National Football League and in life. It reminds me when Liv, the Liv golf tour disrupted the PGA Tour. Rory was loyal to the pga. Phil wanted to be a disruptor. He left. And Bryson DeChambeau, everybody wanted him. And he's like, you know what? I want the freedom and flexibility to build my brand and YouTube it. And the PGA, they're not going to like that. And Liv's going to allow it. And by the way, all three, none were wrong. Each chose a different path for different reasons and all are okay. The only absolute truth in the NFL when it comes to quarterback, because I just showed you the top 10 teams and they all had a different route. There's no one way to do it. The only absolute truth, if you find yourself as a GM or a coach or a left tackle or even a fan, try trying to convince yourself you have a franchise quarterback. Well, you know, he works really hard. He's a winner. I don't know. He's feisty. If he doesn't have an elite next level trait, you don't have the guy. So when Margot Robbie walks into a movie scene, you don't have to explain it. Gonna be a good scene. Good traits, Margot Robbie. So that's the only rule in the NFL. Seventh round trade, free agency, draft from a bad program, rest, sit behind Alex Smith, play him immediately. Million different ways to do it. But what you have to do to win a Super bowl is do it however it is. You gotta find a guy. The good news is there's a lot of different routes. All right, Sunday Night Football, I don't think it's going to be a close game. Green Bay is facing Dallas, and Green Bay is great and in a bad mood because they just lost to Cleveland and Dallas isn't necessarily in a bad mood. They're just in a bad spot. Weak staff, weak roster, and CD Lamb still hurt. Micah Parsons now is returning to Big D. And Micah says, hey, no hard feelings. I can't wait.
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Micah Parsons
Dallas loves me. You know, I think they're going to give me a good round of applause and, you know, there's no hard feelings there, at least for me. And I think it's going to be, like I said, it's going to be a great atmosphere. I think, you know, this is some of the best football you're going to get in Dallas when it's Sunday night against, you know, a rivalry opponent.
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Colin Cowherd
There should be no hard feelings in that athletic survey about front offices. Dallas got no votes. Of the 29 people. Green Bay got 11 of 29, right. 11 people said they're a top five organization. Saquon Barkley, Giants to the Eagles, super bowl ring, first year. Stafford to the Rams from the Lions, super bowl ring, first year. Shohei Ohtani, Angels to the Dodgers, World Series title, first year. All in the first year. Some people are just too talented to mire in dysfunction. And that's what Dallas is. There's a lot of. You hear all this altruism. I am going to go down with a ship. Be loyal. Oh, it's nonsense. You end up like Mike Trout and, and Barry Sanders. You end up surrounding yourself with second tier executives, managers, coaches, people hitting in front of you, left guards blocking for you. That's that, that's, that's why I've said with Joe Burrow, Joe, you got to talk to your agent and consider demanding a trade. Cincinnati Carson Palmer said, enough is enough. So, I mean, Kevin Garnett's biggest regret, remember when he got to the Celtics, he said, my only regret in the NBA, I didn't leave Minnesota at the time. Dysfunctional earlier. So Micah Parsons in this deal should have absolutely no regrets. It's one of those Saquon Barkley moves, Matt Stafford moves and Shohei Otani moves. He is leaving dysfunction and an average roster and an average staff, and he is upgrading across the board. And Uncle Colin, life rule number seven or eight, I forgot. Ride the wave in life. Don't fight the current. The packers, they win, they coach, they draft, they develop. You go to Green Bay, you ride that momentum, that culture and that winning wave. Sadly, in Dallas last 20 years, for the great players, it feels like you're fighting a current. All right, J. Mac, bring in the energy today. Tonight there's a fascinating game and it's. We won't spend a ton of time on it. But I will tell you, you and I are on opposite sides tonight. Yeah. On the NFL game.
- [14:01]
Jason McIntyre
Wait, why are we not spending a ton of time on it? It's a great matchup.
- [14:04]
Colin Cowherd
No, no. Seattle goes to Arizona. You like Seattle.
- [14:08]
Jason McIntyre
I do.
- [14:09]
Colin Cowherd
I think it is a trap bet. It's the biggest trap bet on the board. So Seattle in a blowout win where I mean literally just rested people. So in an insane win, the easiest win of the year perhaps short week division rival against an Arizona team that outplayed and should have beaten San Francisco but the fans fancy Seahawks blew him out. Niners beat Arizona. If you watch the Niners game, Arizona had them beat out game them more yards. Yards per play. Arizona's a tough division rival. They've always given this to division problems and now they're at home. Short week, Seahawks maybe take their gas foot off the gas after a blowout like college level win.
- [15:00]
Jason McIntyre
That's very none of that I can refute. I like it. My issue is, you know, James Conner is like the emotional center of that team and he goes down out for the season. That's a big loss. In addition, their secondary is real beat up. Will Johnson, the young kid out of Michigan who's having a game time decision. Yeah, he's injured and Sam Darnold's numbers against the play action have been amazing. I think Seattle kind of wins this one handily. I. I'm higher than market on Seattle. I think they're a legit.
- [15:27]
Colin Cowherd
Well, you know, I like to see a threat. You know I like Seattle. I think, I think when you play division rivals in loud stadiums with capable quarterbacks coming off a lollipop win against the team that played out, played the Niners and lost, to me it feels so trappy.
- [15:44]
Jason McIntyre
I have some Kyler numbers we'll talk about later. Against Seattle last year, hint they were awful.
- [15:51]
Colin Cowherd
Well, the things we build our future around are worth protecting. Greg Cosell in one hour. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app.
- [16:06]
Covino and Rich
Hey, 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 app. 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 Covino 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 Kobe Noanrich wherever you get your podcast. And of course on social media, that's Covino and rich.
- [17:02]
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- [18:48]
Colin Cowherd
He'd also tell you that this podcast is his favorite podcast too.
- [18:51]
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- [19:48]
Colin Cowherd
Major League Baseball's testing now is better than ever. And the talent in the sport is better than ever. And this is unbelievable. The Mariners clinched the American League west last night. They beat Colorado. Cal Raleigh, who squats, he's a switch hitting catcher. Mostly catchers have shorter careers because they're squatting for three and a half hours. The ability to hit 59 and 60 home runs for that position is unbelievable. He hit two last night and here's the play by play of both. Now the wind up in the one.
- [20:24]
Baseball Announcer
One swing and a drive deep to right field. Holy smokes, where is this going to land? Upper deck right field. Number 59 for Cal Raleigh. He has just tied Babe Ruth for the most home runs in a single season in American League history. The chance of mvp.
- [20:45]
Colin Cowherd
Mvp.
- [20:46]
Baseball Announcer
The stretch of the pitch. The cow swinging a drive deep to right field. There it is, number 60. The modern day Bambino has just tied Babe Ruth's record of 60 home runs for third all time in American League history. Cal Raleigh with his second home run of the ball game, 59 in the first. Number 60.
- [21:11]
Colin Cowherd
For a catcher to do that is absolutely remarkable. But you're seeing remarkable all over baseball. The playoffs start Tuesday. It's a global sport and it's never been this talent rich. There's four guys now with 50 plus jacks, none of them on cattle steroids. This sport now is incredibly tested. Shohei Ohtani is an elite pitcher, hitter, base dealer power on baseball. Every team has multiple guys throwing 100 plus miles an hour. The Cincinnati Reds used to have a great team in the 70s. One of their big tough guys with Johnny Bench. He's four inches shorter than the current Red shortstop, La De La Cruz, who is an athletic freak. Last season he had almost 70 stolen bases, 25 dingers. The bottom line here is for Cal Raleigh to do what he is doing for that position is insane. So this year he's the first catcher to hit 60. But then again, Shohei last season was the first player to go 50 50. Aaron Judge this year just passed Barra and DiMaggio for the Yankees in all time. Yankee home run list. And if you put Yogi Berra next to Aaron Judge, they don't look like the same athlete. So Major league baseball is the playoffs start Tuesday. I'll take the brewers and the Mariners in the World Series. Old timers like to say there's a way to play the game. Yes. Smarter, faster, more athletic ability, more global than ever. You watch those baseball playoffs, everybody's throwing 99 and up. Everybody can hit. Catchers have power pitchers Ohtani have it just kind of remarkable what's happening in baseball. It has exploded and baseball has smartly sped the game up, taken away the defensive shift. More runs, more runners, more stolen bases, more hits. Incredible talent. I know we like to be romantics in baseball. Incredible talent in this sport on display every night. Playoffs again start Tuesday. J. Mac with the news. No, no, no, turn on the news. This is the Herd line news.
- [23:25]
Jason McIntyre
Let's start with the struggling Kansas City Chiefs. Colin, they are not looking very super bowl ready. One and two start to the season. Whoopty damn do they beat the Giants and did not look impressive. Patrick Mahomes needs knows they need to change things up when they go against a Lamar Jackson led offense.
- [23:44]
Patrick Mahomes
I think for us we got to start faster. I think every game we've, we've kind of said that we haven't really got to do that. And we were moving the ball early in the game last week, but we weren't. We're settling with field goals and we play teams that are, that are really good and have dynamic quarterbacks like the Ravens do. You got to get the turn those into touchdowns and that that will not only put pressure on them but it unleashes Spags. They'll be able to do what he wants to do.
- [24:04]
Colin Cowherd
I kind of if it goes to three like Kansas City here if worthy plays. I know, I know.
- [24:10]
Jason McIntyre
I love this Xavier worthy savior stuff.
- [24:13]
Colin Cowherd
I mean like, I'm not saying savior. I'm just playing a legitimate number one or two receiver.
- [24:18]
Jason McIntyre
He's not a number one, he's a two.
- [24:20]
Colin Cowherd
Come on.
- [24:20]
Jason McIntyre
Listen, I'm, I'm looking at the Chief's depth chart. Okay, you tell me which one of these guys is a game breaker. Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, Hollywood Brown, Travis Kelsey, Tyquan Thornton, Noah Gray, Colin. That is like a, that's like a Carolina Panthers level offense right there. There's no studs there. I'll say Thornton has looked the best of their scope position guys.
- [24:43]
Colin Cowherd
Well, Baltimore is going to be on a short week. They've got their own injuries to deal with. Outside of Zay Flowers, they, They've got tight ends I like, and I don't think, I think they'll play a. I think this game is going to be low scoring because I think Kansas City has always done pretty well against Lamar. They've always done. They've always done pretty well against Lamar. And I, I, I think Baltimore will play an incredibly inspired defensive effort despite limitations, and Kansas City doesn't score a lot. This game feels 23, 20, 24, 21 to me. I'm taking the points in this rivalry game. Wow.
- [25:20]
Jason McIntyre
I'm floored. You think Kansas City's defense is going to contain Baltimore?
- [25:23]
Colin Cowherd
No, I think, I think Kansas City has the ability when they face Lamar. Lamar's never played well. He's always a little tight. Short week. I think Kansas City stays in game. Kansas City doesn't blow out anybody outside of Super Bowls. They don't get blown out. I think it's close. I'm taking the points.
- [25:46]
Jason McIntyre
I mean, so last week against Russ, they just basically blitzed the hell out of him. Were like, russ, you can't do anything.
- [25:51]
Colin Cowherd
Well, that's a different game.
- [25:52]
Jason McIntyre
Exactly. Right. So. So now Spags has to change it up. And again, I'm not bashing the D. It feels like McDuffie's not off to a great start. The linebackers are not super fast. We saw Justin Herbert run whenever he wanted against them for key first downs. I don't know. I'm on Ravens here. I think chiefs go to 1 and 3. And on Monday morning, we're talking about no playoffs for your Kansas City Chiefs. And everybody's gonna be talking about old J. Mac's take from the summer. All right, let's move on to what do we do? Oh, there's a good game. Eagles three and oh. Against Tampa, also three zero. Now, last season, Tampa took down Philly in week four. Really handled them, but it kind of deserves an *. No AJ Brown and I don't think Devonta Smith played either. Okay. Heading into this matchup, Nick Sirianni is traveling to Tampa Friday. The team is going early to get more acclimated to the weather in Tampa, your favorite city in America.
- [26:50]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
- [26:50]
Jason McIntyre
Speaking of Mark Sanchez on the rear view pod, Baker Mayfield says, hey, traveling early, that ain't gonna help you.
- [26:57]
Jackson Dart
We'll have a good game plan, obviously, to try and tire these guys out. Advantage for us, we're in Tampa, the heat, they're not used to that. I know there's already been the stories that broke about them coming down to Tampa a day early. I don't necessarily think that helps them. One day doesn't get you acclimated to this humidity. So I think, I think honestly, it makes them think about it more when they get down here earlier.
- [27:21]
Colin Cowherd
You know, it's funny you think the heat would be an advantage. I always thought it was. I worked in Tampa for two years. It was hottest place I've ever worked. Lightning every afternoon in the summer. But I do think when you sometimes you take these cold weather teams where it's already here in the northern areas, it's already cooled down. It's. It's September, steamier. If you don't know Tampa and Miami, it's hard to explain. You know, the Saints, it's steamy, but it's indoors. I think it's an advantage against northern teams early in September. I do.
- [27:52]
Jason McIntyre
Yeah. So I'm looking at the weather. This is courtesy of weather.com high of 91 on Sunday in Tampa.
- [28:00]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
- [28:01]
Jason McIntyre
Okay. I think a bigger story is Mike Evans not playing, Chris Godwin not playing. Essentially, it's the Abuka show, and Quinon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean can hand him off. I. I think Philly really puts a beat down on the box. This is a Tampa Bay team that's chirped. And I had a guy on my podcast who covers the Eagles this week, and he. He noted that Todd Bowles has had Jalen Hirsch's number. So. Got Baker Mayfield talking trash about the weather. We got Todd Bulls owning Jaylen Herz. I think the Philadelphia Eagles, they're hearing all the noise, Colin. They know Tampa's had our number.
- [28:38]
Colin Cowherd
Eagles by the Eagles, too. I. I do. I think. And I also think they played so poorly in the first half. That's in. When you win and play poorly for stretches. It's an. It's a great week of coaching.
- [28:48]
Jason McIntyre
Yeah. How. How long can Tampa dance between the raindrops and continue to win games at the buzzer every week? Colin, come on. They're like three, four plays from being 03. You know that, right?
- [29:00]
Colin Cowherd
Yes, absolutely. J. Mac with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by the Herd lie news. You know, I don't want to pick on this team. I really don't. I want to be Positive because tonight it's Arizona, Seattle, good game. And Greg Cosell comes on in 30 minutes and he, you know, he often has positive messaging for players. But I saw. So the athletic did this survey where they surveyed 29 people in the NFL and executives, GMs, and some coaches and first place, second place, third place, fourth place, fifth place. You had five opportunities to devote the best front offices in the NFL, not coaches, vote the best front offices. Here's the most shocking thing in the entire list of teams is somebody put the Pittsburgh Steelers as the second best run front office in the NFL. Who and how. That's unbelievable. You better hope whoever voted him The Steelers number two isn't your general manager because it's 2025 and they have not won a playoff game in eight years. They are completely tone deaf to offense. By the way, Aaron Rodgers, who is the worst quarterback in the league right now, under pressure. The problem is he's often under pressure. They can't figure out their offensive line. It's been seven years. So the Steelers offense since 2020 is 27th total offense, 23 in scoring. It is an offensive league. And in fact, I saw this, I saw this story this morning. The Browns and the Titans have more offensive touchdowns than from 2017 until today and more playoff wins than the Steelers. I'm not joking when I say this. The only thing that gives you hope is, well, Tomlin knows what he's doing and the defense is very good. It's not. The defense is not playing well. So it is a, it's an incredibly expensive defense and it's kind of slid backwards the last three years. So they've only had one Pro Bowler drafted in five seasons. That's Najee Harris. He is gone. So, I mean, I get writing in your friend, like your friend runs for mayor in your small town. You give him a write in vote. You know, nobody cares. But if it ever got out that somebody. You voted the Steelers the second best front office in the league is, you have to pray as a fan that your GM did not vote them. Your executive did not vote. And this is nothing against Tomlin. It's the whole organization. You know, Mike Tomlin doesn't control the draft. Mike Tomlin, you could argue, doesn't control the offensive line, which they can't solve. They cannot solve their offensive line. And I'm going to argue they have better than average personnel. So the defense, I don't know what to say. It's a little old in spots. There's a bunch of talented people. I think Minnesota is going to be a handful for them. I like Minnesota in that game comfortably. Mike Tomlin this week addressed what so far has been a strangely under performing.
- [32:03]
Micah Parsons
Defense getting off the field a lot or frequently enough on defense and I think it's altering our time of possession and oftentimes that dictates how the game is played and in a myriad of ways. We're somewhat limited with some of our schematics due to obvious circumstances. I expect us to continually work and get better in some of those spaces.
- [32:25]
Colin Cowherd
It is interesting. There's been this trend that I've talked about and I I've asked people in the league, but if you look at defensive coaches, they struggle with offensive line play. I mean right now Houston has the worst offensive line. The Steelers once again have a bad offensive line. We have defensive head coaches, so I don't really have an explanation for it. McVay, Andy Reid, Sean Payton have shown the ability time and time again. The Niners, by the way, have shown the ability with average personnel or in rebuilds to develop offensive lines very quickly. Great O line Dan Campbell, offensive coach Sirianni, Philadelphia and I'm not saying the GMs don't count, but five of the six top offensive lines right now, according to PFF and this, this is an annual reality. Five of the top six offensive lines have offensive coaches. The exception is Buffalo, who said Dion Dawkins anchoring at left tackle, an elite left tackle for years and years, and he moved their number up. But Buffalo is the exception. Other than that, top O lines, offensive coaches, many of the worst O lines defensive coaches. I don't have an explanation, but it feels like a trend for the last several years. By the way, Jackson Dart is starting this weekend. I'll have some thoughts on that and Aaron Rogers doing it again. We'll talk about that. Greg Cosell, Top of the hour. Can't wait. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific.
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- [35:38]
Colin Cowherd
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Colin Cowherd
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Colin Cowherd
Thanks Capital One Bank Guy.
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Colin Cowherd
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- [36:51]
Jason McIntyre
Sunday on Fox We've got two of the NFC's early season best as Saquon and the defending champion Eagles take on Baker Mayfield and the Bucs or the Jaguars battle Christian McAffrey and the Niners or other regional action. Check local listings for the game in your area.
- [37:09]
Colin Cowherd
Only on fox. Welcome back. I I have sympathy. I mean the great news when you're young, if you stumble early in your career, you know you have a lot of time to make it up. You make a big career mistake at 57, you may not get back into the workforce. You're 26, you're 17, you're 18, you're stumbled. You'll be fine. You're. But it can be disheartening and you can lose a lot of confidence if your first job is a bad one. I have sympathy for Jackson Dart. So the Giants are at home and they're facing the Chargers. And Jim Harbaugh, since he's been the Chargers coach against rookie quarterbacks, is4.0. They average 14 points a game and complete barely 60% of their throws. So Jim Harbaugh, like the great coaches, has owned rookie quarterbacks. And I was never a huge Jackson Dart believer. Felt more like a mid second round guy to me. But this is a rough one. The head coach on the hot seat. GM could follow left tackles. Great. Andrew Thomas, he's always hurt. And Monique Malik. Neighbors is gifted, but he gets banged up. So it is remarkable. I lived on the east coast for 10 years. It is remarkable how far Big Blue has fallen since Eli Manning retired and it wasn't that long ago. They have had 10 starting quarterbacks. That is tied for the most in the league with Cleveland. Man, that's unbelievable. And they convinced themselves a couple of these guys were the guy. In fact, in the last 11 seasons, they're two big years. Twice they've won six games. So they are not Cleveland. Cleveland's actually right now. They won a playoff game with Baker Mayfield not that long ago, not Cleveland. I mean, you start looking at the lowly franchises. Houston three years ago. No, Houston found its way. So Jacksonville won a playoff game. So like they're at the bottom of the league right now. So. And I think they're starting Jackson Dart. One of the reasons they're starting him is because the, the owner, Mr. Mara, does not want to have a home crowd again chanting dart. Dart. Dart. I think it's embarrassing for him. He's mentioned before that he pays attention to sports radio and he reads the papers. He's very aware of how New York fans feel about the situation. So there, there was a. And I'm. I'm not joking. There, there was a. Was it last year? There was a plane. We looked for a video, we couldn't find it, of a banner. Somebody paid for an actual banner, a Giants fan. And it flew over and it said, Mr. Mara, enough, please fix this dumpster fire. So it is. I mean, it is. It is bad. Now reportedly, Jackson Dart actually is running a plane this weekend. There's going to be a few more banners out there. And you know, one of them is get me out of here. Because Jackson Dart, this is a complete uphill struggle. I mean, honestly, how do you coach? Coach on the hot seat, haven't won. Suboptimal general manager. Your left tackle and your star receiver actually struggle to stay healthy. I don't know. Here is Jackson Dart on the start.
- [40:36]
Jackson Dart
I'm ready. So it wasn't anything extra. It was really just, you know, now I feel like I, you know, it's. You always try to say like, I'm gonna prepare each week the same but you know, in all reality you have a different, you know, responsibilities as the starter. So now I'm just locked in.
- [40:56]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, I mean, he's the junior coder who's been hired to overhaul the software at a company and he's just trying to find the break room. This is a total uphill battle. I honestly feel bad for Jackson Dart. The good news is the NFL today and this is actually great news for quarterbacks. Baker, Gino Darnold, you're going to get second, third and fourth chance. Look at Mac Jones. Mac Jones was buried in this league like people were done with Jacksonville got him. He's from that area. They moved on. So. But I, it. If you don't have sympathy for some of these young quarterbacks and some of these situations again, if Andrew Thomas and neighbors never got banged up, you'd like be. Oh, because I went into this year and I was like, actually if Jackson Dart can play, I like their weapon, I like their left tackle. They're both hurt again. So. And I, and, and I mean, again, here's the other issue. Even if Jackson darts talented, will we know with New York? Because I didn't see anything with Daniel Jones, like nothing. Daniel Jones is a field goal underdog in LA against the Rams this weekend. That's, that's a pretty good number. That tells you that the wise guys are. Daniel Jones can play. So if he's good, can they figure it out? I don't have a, I don't have an answer, but I think this is a. I think the Mara family, they just don't want to hear booing and dart for three and a half hours. And that's what you were going to hear. Okay, week four, NFL schedule. We've said this. It is hard in the NFL to hide your flaws in college. You like I've said USC could win this weekend and go five and oh, I'm not going to know if USC is any good until they face Oregon and Watson and Notre Dame and South Bend. But if we could put up the Week 4 NFL schedule. In the NFL, it is hard to hide your flaws. So Seattle, I I think tonight's a trap game. I'd stay away. J. Mac likes Seattle. They're clearly the better team. But it's a short week. Division rival on the road and Arizona outplayed the Niners. So we disagree on that one, right?
- [43:01]
Jason McIntyre
100%. Yeah.
- [43:03]
Colin Cowherd
You and I both feel strongly that Minnesota is the play in Dublin against Pittsburgh.
- [43:08]
Jason McIntyre
Yeah, I was quoting you the stats before the show. Pro Football Focus grades out quarterbacks under pressure. Dead last in the NFL is Aaron Rodgers. He is 6 for 22 passing under pressure with two picks and three turnover worthy plays. He is a nightmare. Would you know Brian Flores tendency? Colin, he loves to blitz. They are top eight in blitz percentage and I think top five in pressure rate. They're going to get after Rogers and I don't see a world where he's bailed out by Metcalf and Warren. I like the Vikings a lot in Dublin.
- [43:39]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, it's one of my stronger plays. We both like Philadelphia at Tampa. Tampa has escaped average teams. Jets and Falcons has really not played a full game yet and they don't have Mike Evans. So they're going to rely on their rookie receiver against a Philadelphia team that puts pressure on a quarterback we both like. Philly.
- [43:57]
Jason McIntyre
Yes. Detroit game. Have you seen that number? It's run up to 10. It was like eight, eight and a half. Now it's 10.
- [44:04]
Colin Cowherd
I would stay away from that game. Although I do think Cleveland's defense. I told you I watched the Packers Cleveland game again, that defense for Cleveland's legit. They get a pass. Right. It's totally legit. So they're going to, they're going to lose a lot of games, but they're going to lose close the Lions. Listen, Detroit's got an elite roster and.
- [44:26]
Jason McIntyre
At home they're really tough. Remember Cleveland on the road like was fighting with Baltimore and then next thing you know it's 41 10. So I suspect something similar happens here. They show well for a bit and then the Lions open up a can in the, in the third quarter.
- [44:39]
Colin Cowherd
All right, Carolina at New England. I don't know about the bet. I probably lean Carolina in the points, but I think, I think New England's the, the W here.
- [44:50]
Jason McIntyre
So you, you've made this point about the, the Patriots, they have like a new team.
- [44:55]
Colin Cowherd
Yes.
- [44:55]
Jason McIntyre
It takes a little while to.
- [44:56]
Colin Cowherd
That's why their penalties and turnovers have been a mess.
- [45:00]
Jason McIntyre
What is this the week it clicks against a team that, let's be real, Carolina is not good. I know they won. They won last week. But this isn't a week to week league. I mean we, we got to look big picture. Like I think Christian Gonzalez, the great cornerback returns this week. Some injuries for The Panthers. Chet McMillan, T. Mac is, is banged up. We'll see.
- [45:18]
Colin Cowherd
Tell from Mike Vrabel's body language on the sidelines, he knows he's got a young new team. He's not mad, he's not frustrated. He knows it's a process. New England's going to be pretty interesting. I still think they're going to be a wild card team, but they are one of. They have more new guys playing than any team in the league.
- [45:36]
Jason McIntyre
I'm, I'm on the Patriots, so we're opposite on that.
- [45:38]
Colin Cowherd
Okay. Washington at Atlanta. I don't bet Falcon games.
- [45:41]
Jason McIntyre
Timeout. Timeout. The staff said that I need to come up with an upset. Atlanta is an underdog at home. Is this an upset? Does that count? Can I go with the Falcons?
- [45:51]
Colin Cowherd
You know what, I strongly encourage you to bet everything you own on the Falcons, please. Seriously, not interested. So New Orleans at Buffalo, we know who the better team is. You would suspect that the Saints would play as well as they can play. And Buffalo, you know, is a team that comes off a dramatic game. I, I tend to think that's a stay away game.
- [46:13]
Jason McIntyre
So, so let me get this straight. New Orleans plays tough at home, go to Seattle, get their butts kicked, fly back and now have to fly up to play arguably the best team in the league.
- [46:25]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, Buffalo is going to win. I'm just not laying. I'm not laying.
- [46:28]
Jason McIntyre
You're not laying 17 points.
- [46:31]
Colin Cowherd
I think the Chargers at New York. I would take the Chargers to win and cover because again, the Giants key players are banged up. I think it's actually the only thing that worries me. I think it's a pretty low scoring game. I think it's, there's a lot of good defensive personnel in this game. The Chargers win, but I don't think it's pretty. I think the Giants will make it look ugly.
- [46:50]
Jason McIntyre
I know some Chargers season ticket holders and Colin, they were pointing out that Bo Nix actually had some guys open against the Chargers there. He just missed the passes. There was Cortland Sutton late. Like that was a go either way game. I like the Chargers here, but I am a little nervous, you know, new quarterback. What are we expecting from Jackson? Darth, like he's a scramble run around guy. I, I like the Chargers, but I'm a little nervous.
- [47:13]
Colin Cowherd
Okay. I'm not going to talk about Tennessee and Houston. It's boring Colts at the Rams I would probably take the Colts a sandwich game Niners next week off a Philadelphia game last week. Those are two big rivals. They have struggled against the Eagles. I tend to think. Not that they overlook them, but the energy will be low. I think the Colts have a real roster. I think they're for real. I do. I said this last year if they can get competent quarterback play, the Colts have a really good roster. An excellent O line to keep the Rams D line at bay. I think it's a close game. I'll take the Rams to win, but if I get the hook at three and a half, I'd take the Colts.
- [47:50]
Jason McIntyre
So. So you know the game roulette in Vegas where you black, red and then there's a. Okay, so you know, people will see, oh, 12 blacks have come up in a row. I'm just going to keep betting red. It's got to eventually go red. I feel like that's me with the Colts. I want to go against them every week and Daniel Jones just keeps delivering. But Colin, this week I got a good stat for you. Missed tackles is tracked as a stat. The Rams lead the NFL with the lowest number three missed tackles in three games. Okay. If Jonathan Taylor's not getting loose. Okay. And Tyler Warren's not breaking tackles and Jared Verse and company are getting after Daniel Jones, I think the Rams and again I'm this is a team that led Philly 26 to 7. Okay. Before crumbling. I like the Rams here comfortably.
- [48:33]
Colin Cowherd
Bears at the Raiders.
- [48:36]
Jason McIntyre
Raiders are pass okay now.
- [48:40]
Colin Cowherd
I don't like the Bears coming off this Caleb Williams, player of the week. It's like, folks, Caleb is an inconsistent, erratic player at this point. Don't buy the hype. The Raiders are coming home. Raiders O line has struggled.
- [48:57]
Jason McIntyre
Oh my God.
- [48:58]
Colin Cowherd
Really struggled. Green Bay at Dallas blowout. Both of us believe Green Bay wins comfortably, pulls away Monday night. I'll take the Dolphins at home and the Broncos at home.
- [49:08]
Jason McIntyre
Wait, did you see Justin Fields? If he's cleared from concussion protocol, he will start, but he has not been cleared yet. Does that matter to you or is Tyrod Taylor they're, they're, you know, flex. It doesn't really matter.
- [49:19]
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- [51:05]
Colin Cowherd
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- [51:40]
Jason McIntyre
This is an iHeart podcast.