THE HERD - Hour 1 - Steelers still don't get it, Giants should bounce back, stop crying over the Dodgers

Summary

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The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Hour 1 – Steelers Still Don’t Get It, Giants Should Bounce Back, Stop Crying Over the Dodgers

Date: January 21, 2026
Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Host: Colin Cowherd (with Jason McIntyre)

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Episode Overview

In this thought-provoking Hour 1, Colin Cowherd dives into the NFL coaching carousel with a focus on the Pittsburgh Steelers’ stagnant approach, argues for optimism around the New York Giants’ future, and delivers a pointed takedown of recent outrage toward the Dodgers' MLB dominance. The episode features trademark Cowherd humor, common-sense takes, and heated debates on NFL and MLB trends, punctuated by listener-challenging opinions and sharp analysis from both Colin and Jason McIntyre.

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Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Steelers Coaching Search: Stuck in the Past

[00:25 - 08:30]

• Main Argument: Cowherd is critical of rumors linking Mike McCarthy to the Steelers as a replacement for Mike Tomlin, seeing it as the franchise failing to modernize.
  • “Mike McCarthy isn’t just older, he’s old school. That was Mike Tomlin, right? Tone deaf to one side of the ball. A lot of penalties.” – Colin Cowherd [01:10]
• Steelers’ Loyalty Problem: Colin likens the Steelers to someone who’s out of touch after a long relationship, unable to adapt to new trends in hiring or strategy.
  • “They're like the guy who was married for 35 years and now gets divorced and is single and thinks app is short for appetizer at Chili’s.” – Colin Cowherd [03:30]
• Contrast With Modern NFL: The teams with the fewest penalties—Rams (McVay), 49ers (Shanahan), Bengals (Taylor), Bucs (Canales)—are led by young, innovative coaches. Steelers refuse to pivot to the NFL’s modern direction: offense-minded, aggressive, forward-thinking staff.
• On Age vs. Mindset: Being older isn’t the issue; thinking old is. He cites older leaders who stay current (Richard Branson, Jensen Huang, Kurt Signetti) as examples of true progressive thinking.
  • “You gotta be somebody that wakes up, optimistic, not cynical, that understands offense, can appreciate defense.” – Colin Cowherd [06:10]
• Art Rooney’s Perspective: Colin plays an audio clip from Steelers owner Art Rooney, who admits the search will take time but also reveals a bias for a candidate “in the mold” of previous coaches (Knoll, Cowher, Tomlin).
  • Rooney: “…could I sign up for another Chuck Knoll or another Bill Cowher or another Mike Tomlin? Sure…But for now, we’re not going to narrow the box too much.” [07:25]
• Takeaway: Cowherd warns that repeating the same conservative hiring will only lead to stagnation, arguing without bold change, the Steelers will continue to fall behind.

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2. Giants’ Future: More Promising Than Their Record

[08:40 - 12:20]

• The Giants Are Not Like Other 4-Win Teams: Despite their 4-13 record, the Giants lost seven one-score games and held double-digit fourth-quarter leads against strong teams.
  • “Four-win teams are not all the same. Playoff losses are not all the same.” – Colin Cowherd [10:40]
• Impact of John Harbaugh’s Hiring: Harbaugh brings youthful energy despite his age; the contrast with the routine, uninspired coach is stark. Colin insists mindset trumps age.
  • “When you hire John Harbaugh in the NFC East, you immediately, first day on the job, have the best coach in the division.” – Colin Cowherd [09:50]
  • Harbaugh soundbite: “You build your team around your quarterback… More than that, I like who he is and what he’s about. To me, he’s about football.” [11:25]
• Giants’ Outlook: Just a few personnel moves (right tackle, receiver, secondary help) could make the Giants contenders. Colin argues they’re not the same as franchises like Arizona, Tennessee, or the Jets.
• Optimism Over Cynicism: Coaches who “wake up optimistic” and adapt are the future; old habits, even from established NFL franchises like the Giants and Steelers, can hold teams back.

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3. Stop Complaining About the Dodgers’ Baseball Success

[13:28 - 21:27]

• Colin’s Take on Salary Cap Outrage: Recent reports say MLB owners are furious about the Dodgers signing Kyle Tucker, fueling demands for a salary cap. Colin scoffs at this outrage as misplaced.
  • “It took a Kyle Tucker move to outrage you? Cub fans complained about him all year. They wanted him out of town.” – Colin Cowherd [13:38]
• Comparisons to the Past: Previous massive contracts (Pujols/Hamilton with the Angels, Yankees in the 2010s) never stirred such backlash. The difference: The Dodgers are “rich and exceptionally well-run.”
  • “Let’s keep it 100. They’re rich and exceptionally well run. And winning the World Series, that’s what bothers you.” – Colin Cowherd [14:23]
• The Real Issue: Fans and owners aren’t mad just about spending; they’re mad because the Dodgers win. It’s envy, not fairness, driving the discourse.
  • “If you’re rich and good looking, studies show men hate you. And that’s the Dodgers. They’re rich, good looking, driving a convertible, own a tech company, and keep being the richest guy in the sport, and it pisses you off.” – Colin Cowherd [15:04]
• Other Teams Have Opportunities: Players like Teoscar Hernandez (Dodgers’ 10th-best player, by Colin’s reckoning) were available at affordable rates, but other owners and GMs weren’t aggressive or savvy enough.
• City & Franchise Challenges: It’s not the Dodgers' fault if franchises like the Pirates or Cardinals can't keep up—those teams have city and ownership challenges predating the Dodgers’ spending spree.
• Bottom Line: Colin argues that the narrative that the Dodgers are “ruining baseball” is disproven by booming ratings and a great product on the field. If the Dodgers were losing, fans would be laughing at them instead of complaining.

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4. Buffalo Bills Dysfunction and Front-Office Power Plays

[21:27 - 26:30]

• Owner Interference: A Buffalo press conference featured owner Terry Pegula jumping in to defend GM Brandon Beane for the Keon Coleman pick, bizarrely blaming ex-coach Sean McDermott and airing internal conflicts.
  • “Why in the world would my boss come out and say ‘I wasn’t really on the Cowherd bandwagon’?” – Colin Cowherd [22:55]
• Front Office Drama: Various draft pick decisions are being revisited publicly, damaging team unity and reducing trade leverage on current roster players.
• Wide Receiver Development: Colin points out that rookie WRs often struggle (Keon Coleman had a TD last week) and it’s unfair to call him a bust. He prefers mistakes be handled privately, not publicly.
  • “I just… don’t like calling out young players publicly. Privately, ream them all you want. But I don’t like [it].” – Colin Cowherd [25:23]
• Bills’ Window Closing?: Jason McIntyre argues Buffalo’s Super Bowl window is shrinking as Josh Allen ages (turning 30), noting Allen’s physical style and comparing him to Cam Newton’s career decline.
• Colin’s Perspective: Cowherd’s outlook is more optimistic, citing Matthew Stafford’s longevity and reasoning that, with a QB like Allen, “as long as he’s breathing, they’re fine.”

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5. NFL Coaching News & Trends

[26:30 - 33:00]

• Mike McDaniel to Chargers: The former Dolphins head coach lands as OC in LA under Jim Harbaugh. Both hosts see this as a great fit for Justin Herbert and predict a Rams-like offense.
  • “He’s a very creative guy… I think both of us don’t know if he’s a head coach, but he’s a great offensive guy.” – Colin Cowherd [27:42]
  • Jason McIntyre: “This is a top three team in the AFC next year for me, Colin.” [28:52]
• Brian Daboll’s Next Step?: Rumored to be interested in Philadelphia or Tennessee OC roles but reportedly wanting the Buffalo head coaching job, signaling dysfunction or unattractiveness of some franchises (Philly, in particular).
• Eagles’ Challenges: Both criticize Nick Sirianni’s over-reliance on coordinators and question whether Sirianni would be highly sought if he were on the open market.

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6. Should Buffalo Hire Bill Belichick?

[33:20 - 41:28]

• Rex Ryan’s Suggestion: Rex Ryan says Belichick is “his guy” for the Bills, but Cowherd lists three major problems:
  1. Personnel Power: Belichick's poor track record as a GM, especially post-Brady.
     • “He thinks he’s good at it. He’s awful at it. His last seven years were brutal in New England with personnel.” – Colin Cowherd [33:45]
  2. Old Defensive Coaches Age Poorly: Colin’s thesis—offensive minds age better, bringing creativity and adaptability, while old-school defensive coaches stagnate.
     • “Creatives age better. That’s not Bill’s thing.” – Colin Cowherd [35:00]
  3. No Fresh Blood: Belichick keeps hiring retreads and family members, not innovative young coaches.
• Alternative: Brian Daboll: Both agree Brian Daboll is the better fit, given his past success with Josh Allen and offensive credentials.
  • Jason McIntyre: “That was the best years of Josh Allen. I think that’s the move—you gotta bring him back.” [43:01]
• Colin’s Outlook on Buffalo: Despite challenges, with a star QB, left tackle, edge rusher, and new stadium revenue, the Bills will be “in that playoff chase…for the next decade.”
  • “If Josh Allen is upright, they’re going to be in that playoff chase. Week 16, 17, 18 for the next decade.” – Colin Cowherd [43:26]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “They're like the guy who was married for 35 years and now gets divorced and is single and thinks app is short for appetizer at Chili’s.”
  — Colin Cowherd on the Steelers’ inability to modernize [03:30]

• “If you’re rich and good looking, studies show men hate you. And that’s the Dodgers…they’re rich, good looking, driving a convertible, own a tech company and keep being the richest guy in the sport, and it pisses you off.”
  — Colin Cowherd on Dodgers hate [15:04]

• “When you hire John Harbaugh in the NFC East, you immediately, first day on the job, have the best coach in the division.”
  — Colin Cowherd [09:50]

• “Why in the world would my boss come out and say ‘I wasn’t really on the Cowherd bandwagon’?”
  — Colin Cowherd, discussing Buffalo’s draft drama [22:55]

• “Old defensive coaches…they don’t age as well. Offensive coaches tend to be creators…creative people age better than brute force.”
  — Colin Cowherd [35:00]

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Segment Timestamps

• 00:25 – 08:30: Steelers coaching search, old vs. young thinking, trends in NFL coaching
• 08:40 – 12:20: Giants’ encouraging outlook, John Harbaugh’s energy, difference between 4-win teams
• 13:28 – 21:27: MLB salary cap discourse, Dodgers envy, franchise challenges vs. organizational excellence
• 21:27 – 26:30: Buffalo Bills’ front office dysfunction and draft drama, young players in the crosshairs
• 26:30 – 33:00: Coaching hires and rumors (McDaniel, Daboll), evaluating franchise appeal and dysfunction
• 33:20 – 41:28: Bill Belichick to Buffalo? Three reasons against, preference for Daboll, state of the Bills
• 43:26 – END: Closing thoughts: AFC East future, playoff outlook

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Tone & Style

Colin’s language is assertive, witty, and often laced with humor—and he’s unafraid to mix cultural metaphors (Chili’s, dating apps) with trenchant sports analysis. Jason McIntyre contributes direct, sharp analysis and challenges Colin with fan-centric and contrarian viewpoints. The conversation is rapid, informed, occasionally tongue-in-cheek, and always engaging.

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For listeners who missed Hour 1, this summary covers the major themes and spirited takes, providing a clear sense of the arguments and personalities at play.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio at noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the [e-mail] or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Now let's get this party started. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Here we go. Busy day. Lots and lots to talk about. We got a good one today. We're live in Chicago. It was 30. Felt like I was in San Tropez when I woke up this morning. It's the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, thanks for making us part of your day. So I saw this story. Mike McCarthy to the Steelers. Blares the headline why he'd be the right fit for Mike Tomlin. Right fit in Pittsburgh to replace Mike Tomlin. Okay, we get it. Pittsburgh, you blue collar people, you like your own. You don't have to keep reminding us. Mike McCarthy isn't just older, he's old school. That was Mike McTomlin, right? Tone deaf to one side of the ball. A lot of penalties. Five years McCarthy was in Dallas, they averaged seven penalties a game. Led the NFL. You know who has the fewest penalties in the NFL this year? Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan. In fact, the four least penalized teams. Four young offensive coaches. McVeigh, Shanahan, Zach Taylor, Dave Canales. That's the NFL. And just because you're older doesn't mean you have to be old. Kurt Signetti is 64. Just wanted natty. Have you heard about how he recruits and his view on athletes? It's very new school. Like McVeigh, his teams don't get penalized, fewest penalties, FBS. They don't drop passes like McVeigh's teams. They don't fumble. Signetti, maybe 64. He is all about quarterback playing. Details. Richard Branson, late 70s, still cool, still hip, still with it. Jensen Wang, 62, founder of Nvidia. I mean innovative, sharp, progressive. Mike Tomlin, Mike McCarthy are kind of the same guy. Their football teams are loose, a lot of penalties. What works in the NFL today is young coaches demo. Ryan McVeigh, young coaches who think young, making trades in season. Howie Roseman moving off tone deaf coaches pivoting off quarterbacks and players finding your next quarterback and putting him on a rookie deal for four or five years as you build the roster. All four things Steelers haven't Done well, Mike Tomlin before Aaron Rodgers got there. That a penalty problem? Aaron cleaned up the offensive side of that and didn't throw as many picks. Suddenly they look detailed. No, that's Aaron Rodgers. I got nothing against Mike McCarthy in Pittsburgh, but Pittsburgh doesn't do this hiring thing and they get a lot of credit for it. Pittsburgh is loyal. The problem is they're like the guy who was married for 35 years and now gets divorced and is single and thinks app is short for appetizer at Chili's. Like, he doesn't understand the dating apps. They didn't have iPhones social media when he got married. And that's Pittsburgh. Tomlin McCarthy, that's the same guy. Good coach, little light, little loose on the details. I mean, McCarthy's cowboy teams. Awful with clock management, bad with penalties. Go look at McVeigh's team this week in Chicago in horrible weather for a warm weather team. Zero drop passes, zero penalties, zero turnovers. That's what's happening in the NFL right now. It's changed. So. And the Steelers, they don't just date head coaches. They say I love you and propose after the first date. Like, whoever they hire, they're here for 15 years, 10 minimum. And I got nothing against Mike McCarthy. I wouldn't put him in the Elite seven, eight, nine top coaches, but he's in that second tier with Tomlin. Very, very good, but old school again. I'm not anti. I'm not ageist. I'm older, gray hair, lots of it. See, but you gotta be young, you know, you gotta think young. That's what's happened to GMs in this league. You gotta pivot off guys you gotta make in season trades. Cincinnati, I don't know how old the owner is, they think old. Philadelphia, I don't know how old the owner is, they think young. So I just look at McCarthy, Tomlin. Okay, I know you like Pittsburgh. Guys, one of us, I get it, that that's not working. And winning in this league right now, you can be a defensive coach. D', Amico, Ryan's, Mike McDonald, young, sharp with it, moving off people that don't work, making moves, trades. At least understand offense, have a feel for it, not tone deaf to it. So I, you know, it just. Pittsburgh's like, listen, the way we're doing things works. Let's go get the next version. Kind of an offensive version of Tomlin. That's not it. Here's Art Rooney on the Steelers coaching search. Nowadays, there are a number of protocols we have to follow that Are sort of really designed to slow the process down. And so as I say, it'll probably take at least a few weeks. Could I sign up for another Chuck Knoll or another Bill Cower or another Mike Tomlin? Sure. You know, somebody that we feel fits that mold would be great. But you know, for now we're not going to kind of narrow the box too much. So when Jim Harbaugh got hired by the Chargers. Jim Harbaugh is in his 60, but he came off and always has, is very boyish, very young. John Harbaugh similarly gets hired by the New York Giants. I mean he, he feels like he's 37 years old. He is so excited. Everything out of his mouth, he's so excited. And I've said the New York Jet. When you list the teams that won four games last year, tell me which one doesn't feel the same. Jets, Arizona, Tennessee, Vegas, New York Giants. The Giants had seven one score losses. In fact, they led three really solid teams, Denver, Chicago and Detroit by double digits in the fourth quarter. They got leads they couldn't keep them. The Giants had a better point differential than the Carolina Panthers who won a division. The New York Giants are a right tackle, probably another receiver and a couple of dudes in the secondary from being an 11 win team. They have needs. The whole league does. Outside of Seattle, everybody's got needs. But there are good losses in football. When the Bears lost to the Rams, that's a good loss. You may have lost to the best team and the best coach in football. And I mean you, you go into the off season thinking we can play with anybody. We're one point of play with anybody. The Texans losing to the Patriots is a bad loss. They don't even know if they like their quarterback anymore. So you can be a four or five win team, look at it and go, we got to get a right tackle, another receiver, probably a tight end and some secondary help. But I mean watching Jim Harbaugh get hired by the Chargers, he's boyish. And my theme today is you can be old, you gotta think young. You can be in your 60s or 70s in a coach, you can't, I'm okay with it. But you gotta, you gotta be somebody that wakes up, optimistic, not cynical, that understands offense can appreciate defense. Here's John Harbaugh sounding young and like the right choice on Jackson Dart as quarterback. You build your team around your quarterback. I mean that's, you build your team around your players and what they do well and I like, I like the way he plays I mean, I like his talent, skill set, all the things he's accomplished. But more than that, I like who he is and what he's about. To me, he's about football. I mean, this, this young guy loves football. He wants to talk football all the time. And, you know, and, and that's kind of what I like doing too. So I think we're gonna have a lot of great conversations. I can't wait to get started with him. So the other thing that's important and instructive here, when you hire John Harbaugh in the NFC east, you immediately, first day on the job today have the best coach in the division. And yet they were only a four win team. If Las Vegas hires a coach with Andy Reid, Jim Harbaugh and Sean Payton, you probably still have the fourth best coach in the division. If Arizona hires a Coach today with McVeigh, Mike McDonald and Shanahan, you probably have three. The fourth best coach in the division. Even if you get a guy that works, John Harbaugh today doesn't just feel right this morning. Best coach in the division and we don't know Jackson Dart. You can at least argue if he stays out of the blue tent because Jaden Daniel's injuries now are a concern. Do you have the best quarterback in the division? We'll know by Thanksgiving. Next Thanksgiving will have a feel for it. So it. When I've said this about the Giants. Four win teams are not all the same. Playoff losses are not all the same. I mean, Denver feels terrible, but they just watch Bo Nicks outplay Josh Allen. If you're the Denver Broncos, win or lose this week, you go into the off season thinking, we're there, we're ready to hoist a trophy. And the Giants at four wins, do not confuse them with Tennessee or an Arizona or Las Vegas or the Jets. Not the same. John Harbaugh could have taken a lot of gigs. Why did he step up really quickly, see this one and take it? Okay, we got a lot of stuff today. And generally speaking, I think whatever the country thinks, whatever you think as fans, I'm usually aligned with you. I've said there's a couple things that you love that I don't care about. The Home Run Derby. It's like batting practice. You love it. I don't get it. The Pro Bowl. Every year I see the TV rating for the Pro Bowl, I've never watched one. It's a practice football game. I'd rather watch an exhibition game from a team that I'll monitor. They're Mostly though, what you like, I like. You like March Madness, you like the Masters, you like the NFL, you like what I like. But here's where you and I totally, absolutely, inarguably disagree. There is one thing that I think and you will totally disagree. And it just so happens I'm right. And that's next. In Chicago, it's the Herd. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, not AM Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app. Hey, is Cavino and Rich from Fox Sports Radio. Now, in addition to hearing us live weekdays from 5 to 7pm Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, we're excited to announce a brand new YouTube channel for the show. Yup, that's right. You can now watch Covino enriched live on YouTube every day. All you gotta do. Search Covino Enrich FSR on YouTube again. Go to YouTube search CovinoEnrich FSR. Check us out on YouTube. Subscribe, subscribe. Hit that thumbs up icon and comment away.

[John Paulk]

I'm John Palk. For years I was the poster boy of the conversion therapy movement, the ex gay who married an ex lesbian and traveled the world, telling my story of how I changed my sexuality from gay to straight. Once upon a time I was on 60 Minutes, Oprah, the front cover of news, and you might have heard my story, but you've never heard the real story. So join me as I peel back the layers and expose what happened to me in the midst of conversion therapy to shine a light on what the ex gay movement does to people and the pain it continues to cause. I had lost £150 because if I couldn't control my sexuality, I was going.

[Colin Cowherd]

To control my weight. It sounded like, and this is the word I used, occult.

[John Paulk]

And as I look too at the harm I did from within, listen to Atonement, the John Paul story on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right, I said before the break, Diana Rossini, top of next hour. Phil Sims, through today, I said as I sent the show to break, is that you and I mostly agree on everything. I mean we do, but I mean day to day, we may disagree on a football pick. You like the home run derby more than I do in the Pro bowl, but by and large, what you like, I like. And the way you think is mostly how I think. I would say more than anything. People come up to me and go, hey, I think your show is pretty common sense. Believe it or not, that's what they say. But here's something where I just totally disagree. There's too much fear mongering out there. I saw this quote. Major League Baseball owners are enraged by Kyle Tucker to the Dodgers deal. They will push for a salary cap no matter what. It took a Kyle Tucker move to outrage you. Cub fans complained about him all year. They wanted him out of town. Did you forget about the Angels spending $380 million 15 years ago or close to it on Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton? Which if you look at what that's worth today with inflation, it's 540 million. That didn't bother anybody. Why? Because the Angels are poorly run and it didn't change outcomes. The Yankees in 2010, the four highest paid players. Check, check, check, check. Four Yankees four for four. But they're not considered well run. And even though they spent a ton every year and a half for 30 years in the last 10 to 15, it doesn't change outcomes. That doesn't bother you? The Dodgers aren't just rich. That's not it. Let's keep it 100. They're rich and exceptionally well run. And winning the World Series, that's what bothers you. Juan Soto, Yankees Mets didn't bother you because he went to the Mets. They'll gag. They're the Mets. Studies have shown you can be rich and unattractive or handsome and poor and men aren't necessarily jealous of you. But if you're rich and good looking, studies show men hate you. And that's the Dodgers. They are rich, good looking, driving a convertible, own a tech company and keep being the richest guy in the sport. And it pisses you off. It's not just about the money. Kyle Tucker outrages you. Mookie Betts was arguably the best player in the American League. Not a peep. Josh Hamilton, Albert Pujols, Angels not a peep. 2010 Yankees had all the highest paid players. I don't know. Nobody in New York was outraged. Steve Collins trying to put together an all star team. Crickets. Kyle Tucker in playoff career is a 230 hitter. Chicago complained about him all year. That's the guy that sets you off. No, what sets you off is that game seven win in back to back World Series titles last year I had Dave Roberts on the show, the Dodger manager and I asked him about it. The Dodgers, like everybody said, are ruining baseball. Baseball viewership is at an all time high. Baseball players are better than they've ever been. We are going to have more eyeballs.

[Jason McIntyre]

Watching this World Series than Ever because of the country of Canada, the US.

[Colin Cowherd]

And Japan and beyond. Right? So obviously the Dodgers are not ruining baseball. It's in a great state. And I was just kind of taking a dig at these crazy people that say that what we do, and I think we do it really well, we're ruining baseball. I don't remember a game 7 in major league Baseball, in a Division Series, whatever series, a comp, you know, NLCS, ALCS, World Series, a Game 7. I don't remember a Game 7 that riveting than last year. Glued every pitch. Kyle Tucker outrages you that that's the one this morning. I wrote down, in order, who I think are the top 10 Dodger players. I could be off on this, but I wrote a list of the top 10 Dodger players. I had Kyle Tucker at 8. Shohei Mookie, Yoshi Freeman, Edwin Diaz, the best reliever in baseball. Blake Snell when healthy. Will Smith, great catcher, Kyle Tucker, Roki and Tayosco Hernandez. By the way, Teoscar Hernandez. I had recently had dinner with Tom Ricketts, the Cubs owner. What a great guy. And I asked him about the Dodgers privately, but now I'll say it publicly. He had nothing but respect and admiration. He goes to the best run team in baseball. He goes, they happen to be the richest team in baseball right now. He goes to the best run team in baseball. He goes, I have total admiration for what they do. Andrew Friedman down. They just know what they're doing. We should not be eating and biting away at them. They got a better TV deal, better in R and D, and he was very proud. The Cubs have had a great off season. Bregman at third, got another top starting pitcher, Kyle Tucker left. Cubs will be better. But what you should be mad about, if you're a fan, isn't the Dodgers. It's teoscar Hernandez, the 10th best Dodger. Maybe it's Mack Muncie, but I think Teoscar Hernandez is a beast. He's been available twice to the sport and your billionaire owner didn't get him. And he's a great player for the Dodgers at a very reasonable number. St. Louis could afford him. The Pirates billionaire could afford him. The Mariners could afford him. Detroit could afford him. Cleveland could afford him. I'm not sure if the A's could afford me. The point being, is great player. He's been available. The Dodgers have signed him twice. Max Muncie was an A. They let him go. Ohtani was an Angel. He didn't win enough games. So it's this Idea that Kyle Tucker created the outrage. Let's be totally honest about that. If the Dodgers weren't winning, you'd be laughing at them. They're winning and you're ticked off. People do not like. Studies have also illustrated this. People do not like when they feel other people are separating from them. Guys don't like that. You can make more than me by a little. And it does feel like the Dodgers have separated. It should be noted, seventh game, beat the Blue Jays. Blue Jays for most of the series felt like the better team. The Blue Jays more consistently hit than the Dodgers did. They got some breaks. They got good managing. They got guys that step up. This idea that I'm supposed to Kyle Tucker. That's what really set a sport off. It's like, I hear this about college football constantly. Oh, it's in chaos. I just watched the best national championship game I can remember. It was in chaos. When Bama in Georgia and Clemson every year were in the national championship for about 15 years, that was trouble. Attendance down, ratings down. Baseball's in an incredible spot. Well, what about the Pirates? What about them? They couldn't compete when Steinbrenner ran the Yankees. They haven't been good since the 70s. And Willie Starzil, weren't they great in the late 70s? When I was a kid growing up in the mid-70s? I can name the whole infield. You want me to go Manny Sanguian, you know, Al Oliver, Rennie, Stennett, Tavares and Short. They were great. They haven't been great consistently, forever. It's not a Dodgers issue. Well, what about the Cardinals? Can't afford. St. Louis has been dying as a city for 20 years. They've lost 15 Fortune 500 companies in 40 years. They lost an NFL team. St. Louis is dried up as a city. It's Hartford with an architect. Don't blame the Dodgers for that or the Yankees for that or Steve Cohen for that. I feel strongly about this. You and I totally disagree on this stuff. If the Dodgers would have lost to the Blue Jays, you'd be like, yeah, keep buying those players. You laughed at the Mets. Didn't you laugh at the Mets this year? That's funny. They spent all that money. They stunk. They got the richest owner, not the Dodgers. J. Mac with the news. No, no, no. Turn on the news.

[Jason McIntyre]

This is the Herdline news. All right, let's get started with an interesting press conference that went down earlier today in Buffalo. Colin, I don't know what on earth owner Terry Pula was doing, but he was Hosting a presser with Brandon bean, the embattled GM who somehow got promoted after McDermott got fired. And regarding Keon Coleman and the drafting of the former, I don't know, can we call him a quasi star in. It was very good. Listen to the owner jump in and defend bean and bury McDermott over Keon Coleman.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, can I interrupt? I'll address the Keon situation. The coaching staff pushed to draft Keon. I'm not saying Brandon wouldn't have drafted him, but he wasn't his next choice. That was Brandon being a team player and taking advice of his coaching staff who felt strongly about the player. And you know, he's taken for some reason heat over it and not saying a word about it. But I'm here to tell you the true story. By the way, isn't that player still on the team?

[Jason McIntyre]

He is on the team. He was a healthy, no scratch. He was a healthy scratch many times this year.

[Colin Cowherd]

By the way, why would you do that when he's still on the team? Like, why in the world would it. Would my boss come out and say, you know, I wasn't really on the cowherd bandwagon. It was so. It gets worse.

[Jason McIntyre]

It gets worse. Colin.

[Colin Cowherd]

Oh, good.

[Jason McIntyre]

So somebody found a video from the NFL combine just propped on the Internet. Brandon Bean praising Keon Coleman's 40 time and the ability to get him in the draft. So I mean, listen, you know how this works, these power struggles in front offices. As soon as things get embattled, everybody cozies up to the owner. I can get his ear. I can, I can kind of push the other guy out while saving my own hide. I don't know that that's what went on here, but that's what it feels like. When was the last time you've seen an owner jump in and pick a side over a draft pick?

[Colin Cowherd]

First of all, and I. Keon Coleman's disappointment. Let's be fair to Keon Coleman, the young man, Florida to Buffalo isn't the easiest transition for any young person in America to make. Secondly, he had a touchdown last week. Third, wide receivers are first round. Wide receivers struggle in terms of bust more than any other position. So it is a lot asking a kid to go from a college offense to Josh Allen, Dion Dawkins, Brady sophisticated offense. So Coleman's got a lot of talent. He. I think he needs to grow up a little bit, mature a little bit. I think that's part of it. But I don't like this at all. Calling out an employee when he is Still a young man, an ascending player, potentially. He had a touchdown last week.

[Jason McIntyre]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Let's be fair. A lot of quarterbacks, receivers. A lot of players in the first round don't hit in year one.

[Jason McIntyre]

Yeah. Coleman actually fell right to 33 at the top of the second round. But here's how the order went. It was a wide receiver run Pierce all, who's been a disappointment, can't stay healthy. Then Leggett went to Carolina. He's been up and down. Then Keon Coleman, who's right in that group. The problem is, right after keon Coleman, Ladd McConkey, who's done some pretty damn good things.

[Colin Cowherd]

Ladd McConkey went to Harbaugh and Herbert, who were desperate for a receiver, so he got a million throws and looks. Yeah. So, I mean, I get. I think Ladd's terrific. But that's a. I. If you could say, I could go to Harbaugh and Herbert and be the number one receiver immediately in the slot, that's a pretty good place to land 100%.

[Jason McIntyre]

Yeah, I'm with you. I don't like burying a player that's still on the roster. I mean, essentially. What are you saying? We don't want this guy, like.

[Colin Cowherd]

And who.

[Jason McIntyre]

Who's. Now that everybody knows you don't like him and didn't want him. Nobody's offering anything credible for.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's. I mean, again, when you're. Maybe I'm pandering the players here, but I just. I don't like calling out young players publicly. Privately. Ream them all you want. Bring him into the office. But I. I don't like Keon. Coleman's a kid. I mean, he's. He's listening to this and, I mean, he's. What is he thinking today again? That's all I'm saying is they're. They're. This is weird. This is ugly. They got the. They got the PR announcement wrong. They waited, like, two days to finally go to their social media and give McDermott. You know, McDermott's laughing at all this. You know what Sean McDermott's doing? I told you it was a zoo. I told you it was a mess. Sean McDermott looks like he escaped from Buffalo. That's what it looks like right now. Fair enough. That's what it looks like.

[Jason McIntyre]

Yeah. I mean, this is. As a Jets fan, I love watching the Bills implode and Colin. That's what's happening. I know you don't love to listen to, like, fan bases. The fan base right now in Buffalo is so angry that McDermott got fired and Bean is still employed. Yeah, they've all, they've broken down his draft history. It's abysmal. Listen, I had to take Friday with Rachel. You were out that. I think the Buffalo Bills super bowl window with Josh Allen has shrunk and I don't know that there's much of a window left. Colin, let's be real. 30 years old, he is taking a lot of hits. The injuries started, haven't piled up yet, but he started to wear down. We saw Mahomes crack this season. Cam Newton at age 30 fell apart. I'm just saying. Josh Allen, he gets a, a turf toe injury and this is a five win Buffalo team. Okay, things are not looking good for Buffalo right now. Now let's move on to a positive story, and that's Mike McDaniel. We talked about him a lot. The sharp genius, the wizard who was fired by the Miami Dolphins. He's going to the Chargers to be the offensive coordinator, pairing with, oh my gosh, Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert. Everybody wanted McDaniel except the Lions. Apparently Tampa Bay was hot for him. The Eagles were very interested. Colin, this is a great landing spot. You know, Harbaugh's not going anywhere. You know Herbert's not going anywhere.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes.

[Jason McIntyre]

And you get to go from Miami to Los Angeles. Two great American cities. This is awesome.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, this is a really, really good fit. It's going to have a lot of mo. They'll look a lot like. Honestly, they'll look a lot like the Rams offense. A lot of motion, a lot of sets. He's a very creative guy. You know, it's interesting. I think both of, both of us don't know if he's a head coach, but he's a great offensive guy. And again, I'll say this, he got the Dolphins to the playoffs. I believe two times he made two a Pro Bowler. I didn't like getting Tyreek Hill necessarily because my take was they already had, I think Jaden Waddle. They and Tua's not a deep ball thrower. And you're not going to win Super Bowls because you have a track team. You're going to win Super Bowls because you have good O line, D line. Go to the Miami Hurricanes. There's a Miami team that's good. Why? Trenches. You know, that's what wins in cold weather trenches. Rams, defensive front, right. Like Denver, a lot of sacks. So I mean, to me, I think this is a. About if I was Justin Herbert. I get the checkbook out and I'd help like this because the, the trajectory and the opinion on Justin Herbert now is like, well, when are we gonna see watch Justin Herbert's reaction if he gets signed. This is so good for him.

[Jason McIntyre]

I know you and I are equally bullish on Herbert and the Chargers. Just remember everybody, they made the playoffs the last two years. They'll get both of their tackles back.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Jason McIntyre]

Their rookie, Omarion Hampton was injured a lot. He's going to be back with Vidal. They got the receiving core. Gadsden emerged. I mean, listen, if you want, you want hot take off season, this is a top three team in the AFC next year for me, Colin, I think the Chargers are really now they're probably going to lose Minter.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right.

[Jason McIntyre]

The defensive coordinator. He's interviewing everywhere. But I like a lot of things about the Chargers. Final story. Let's go to Brian Dabel, another offensive coordinator in high demand. According to Diana Rossini, Philadelphia is conducting their OC search with the understanding that Dable wants the Buffalo Bills job. Now, if he doesn't get that and maybe he doesn't want to go into that messy cauldron over there, he could go to Tennessee as their offensive coordinator for Robert Sala cullen. If Mike McDaniel and Brian Dabel do not want to work with Sirianni and Hertz, what does that tell you about Philadelphia right now?

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, it's. Philadelphia is a hard place to coach and it's certainly a hard place. It feels like to me Sirianni has escaped the criticism. I mean, so Sirianni sits there because he's got a trophy and when you get the job, nobody talks about Sirianni. They're not going to talk about Vic Fangio, who's great. The offensive coordinator is getting ripped for hours. Regardless of who it is, he's taken all the arrows. So to me, it's like time out. You can all see that Sirianni is totally reliant on coordinators. How about he gets the criticism, not the coordinator? So to me, I think it's a, it's probably the toughest coordinator job in the NFL. Is the Philadelphia Eagles a very loud franchise where you and I, and I've said this before is I still don't know if Sirianni, if he was available to the market today as a head coach, would people be lined up like they were for Stefanski or. I don't think they would. I could be wrong.

[Jason McIntyre]

So where does, you know, like, some people are offense, some people are defense. Harbaugh was a special teams guy, famously. I don't know what? Sirianni?

[Colin Cowherd]

He's an offensive guy. Oh, really?

[Jason McIntyre]

Really?

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes.

[Jason McIntyre]

That's why he has to change his offensive coordinator every year. And Jalen Hurts is declining, supposedly rapidly, and the Eagles offense was a massive issue all season.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay, J. Mack with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by the herd lie news we've established I don't think Mike McCarthy would be a disaster, but he feels like more of the same in Pittsburgh. Harbaugh is going to win 10 or 11 games next year. Bank it. And stop telling me Kyle Tucker to the Dodgers. That's what really ticks the owners off. They're all billionaires, by the way. Coming up next, Rex Ryan says hire Belichick in Buffalo. Nick Wright said that. On the surface, it's interesting. Three problems, though. That's next. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific.

[John Paulk]

I'm John Paulk. For years, I was the poster boy of the conversion therapy movement, the ex gay who married an ex lesbian and traveled the world, telling my story of how I changed my sexuality from gay to straight. Once upon a time, I was on 60 Minutes. Open the front cover of Newsweek and you might have heard my story, but you've never heard the real story. So join me as I peel back the layers and expose what happened to me in the midst of conversion therapy to shine a light on what the X Game movement does to people and the pain it continues to cause. I had lost £150 because if I couldn't control my sexuality, I was going.

[Colin Cowherd]

To control it sounded like, and this is the word I used, a cult.

[John Paulk]

And as I look too, at the harm I did from within. Listen to Atonement. The John Paulk story on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Jason McIntyre]

Seattle will be electric on Sunday with a trip to the super bowl on the line. Matthew Stafford and the Rams take on Saturday, Sam Darnold and The Seahawks. The NFC Championship. Presented by Intuit TurboTax Sunday at 6 Eastern, 3 Pacific on Fox.

[Colin Cowherd]

So there's a story out today that the Rex Ryan says the Bill should hire Bill Belichick. He's my guy, says Rex Ryan. Okay, three things that would worry me because Belichick knows the division and would love to beat Robert Kraft and Mike Vrabel because Frable is the only expatriate that doesn't kiss Belichick's butt. He makes he pokes him in the ribs constantly. Because Vrabel right now is a better coach than Belichick is today. So number one is you have to keep Belichick away from pro personnel. He's so arrogant. He thinks he's good at it. He's awful at it. His last seven years were brutal in New England with personnel. On draft day, I was told by two sources mid January, he said, guys, I got it from here. Awful. Nick Casario left him, went to Houston. Now Houston drafts as well as anybody in the league because Belichick had his thumb on him. And Brandon Bean is the GM of Buffalo. He's not known as a great draft guy either. He, you know, he's a, he's a great cap guy. He's a smart guy. He's a confident guy. He doesn't have the best reputation in my, in my sourcing as a great, you know, Jason Light in Tampa, John Snyder guy, Les need guy, Brett Veach guy, Howie Roseman. That's not his thing. He's not a great trade guy. He's not a great draft guy. He may be okay. He's not great. Belichick's a disaster. Indisputable disaster. Number two is old defensive coaches. This is a theory of mine. They don't age as well. I think the league's now getting younger with coaches, but I'm okay with older offensive coaches. Jim Harbaugh, Sean Payton, Andy Reid. Because offensive coaches tend to be creators. It's like Hollywood. Hollywood's got all sorts of 70 year old directors and actors and writers and entertainers. Creative people age better than brute force. And defensive guys are about toughness and volume. And there's a way to do it. An authoritarian. Remember the late Bobby Knight, how he aged? Not very well. Very restrictive, very rigid. My way of the highway, that's Belichick. Belichick has said, you know, I only want to coach certain guys, my kind of guys. I mean, literally. He made Matt Patricia an offensive coordinator. I don't think defensive coaches, old defensive coaches age as well. Brute force has a ceiling. Creativity is ageless. If you're smart and funny and creative, you could be a stand up comic in your 70s. George Burns was funny till he died. Creatives age better. That's not Bill's thing. And the other thing is, and we have to be totally honest about this Belichick, there's no new guys in his circle. He hires retreads even in, even in Carolina. He kept Freddy Kitchens. And that's another old guy, Bobby Petrino. He doesn't want a new young set of eyes unless the last name is Belichick, it's one of his kids. I know that sounds brutal, but go look at his New England hires. He hires guys that have failed elsewhere. Where's his McVeigh on the staff or his Kyle Shanahan on the staff? Where are they? Vrabel will go get it. So I'm not anti defensive guy. I'm not. I think Demiko Ryan's is great. Mike McDonald in Seattle is amazing. I prefer offensive guys, but I can live with a defense. Brian Flores, I've been saying this for two years. Somebody give that guy a job. I think he's great. But. But you can't let Bill do anything with a draft. You can't let him touch it. Brutal. Secondly, defensive. Older defensive guys, the numbers are right here. They don't age as well. Third, he hasn't put any new guys. I mean, Andy Reid's always got a new young guy in his staff. He's got plenty of young guys. I don't mind old guys on the staff. I'm not ageist. But you got to have new fresh voices and eyes on your product. Carolina feels like family and friends. Nor, you know, New England at the end, retreads. Let's bring Joe Judge back. How about not, you know, I mean, again. And I think Matt Patricia is really good. For the record, I. He could be on any staff I had. So I don't know. I mean, Silence of the lambs was 35 years ago, but we, we saw what happened to the first Buffalo Bill. It's not good. I'm not going there. Here's Brandon Bean on the Bills potentially hiring an offensive head coach. Now, we'll definitely give those guys every chance, but we, we got to be careful not to just. This is a bigger job than just a play caller and a schemer. I think we've seen where guys have been excellent play callers, but they, they got to the head coach seat and they couldn't handle the adversity, the conflict management, all the things that. It's a CEO job. That. That's for the record. That's exactly right. It is a luxury when you get Kyle Shanahan, who's a CEO and a great scheme guy. Andy Reid's that. But Andy Reid also says, I don't want to touch the draft. Andy Reid has no interest in the draft. So, you know, who would I hire? Brian Babel feels like he can handle a conflict. He's been in New York as a head coach. This is a small market, probably easier. Let's. Let's be honest. Daniel Jones with the Giants is harder than Josh Allen with the Bills. That's an easier lift. I'm sorry, he's. I mean, what are the three or four things you need in the NFL? You need a star quarterback. Check. A great left tackle. Check. An edge rusher. Bosa, check. They got a lot of checks. They really check a lot of boxes. They got a new stadium, so revenue is going to go up. It's going to be much more attractive to free agents. Got loyal fan base. I understood the McDermott dismissal. I. I did. They just kept. It was always something. But I'll tell you, since he left, it doesn't look great. I disagree with J. Mac. I think if you have Josh Allen, a great left tackle, weapons an edge rusher, you're going to be fine. This is a, this is a league in which if you have a star quarterback, as long as you keep redoing his deal so you have some space to go get a weapon, you're going to be fine. The idea that Josh Allen for seven years is done. Josh Allen had a bad game against Denver. Josh Allen, it should be noted, MVP last year in the running this year. If you have an MVP level quarterback, it's hard not to be kind of good.

[Jason McIntyre]

Well, they're going to be good. Yeah, they're going to win 7, 8, 9, 10 games. But the days of 13 wins AFC championship. Colin, they got eight free agents who are starters. Okay. Now you got a new head coach. Don't know what that transition is going to be like. It's a. Is there going to be a new offensive coordinator? Like, are they keeping Brady? A lot of questions. The thing I keep coming back to is Josh Allen. Colin turns 30 this offseason, has not really been injured. As long as he's breathing, they're fine. They'll be competitive.

[Colin Cowherd]

But remember, but win a Super bowl, remember, remember Matt Stafford got the you know what beat out of him for a dozen years in Detroit. He is going to be 38 or 39 Super bowl week. He is still elite and he doesn't have the ability to escape. He's had concussions, he's had a litany of injuries. He's 38 and humming. He's not the, he's got a great arm. He's not the athlete of Josh Allen. Also, he entered the league. You didn't have all this nutritional upgrades, the quality of these quarterbacks and you know what they, the pliability stuff they go through. Josh Allen can play as long as he wants to play because he's, he's like a great shooter in the NBA. He's going to have an arm when he's 54. Yeah, I don't worry about that stuff. What I worry about in my take on this story with Belichick is every coach has a hole. Even the great ones have a hole. Belichick doesn't think his hole is a hole. Now Belichick, with players already in the league, is very savvy and very sharp. Bill watches Sunday football. Do you think Jimmy Johnson coached in college football? Jimmy Johnson spends his Saturdays for eight hours watching college football. Jimmy Johnson was great with college personnel when he rebuilt the cow, he made that Herschel Walker trade. Nobody make trades like that. Jimmy is one of the rare guys, loved college football, loved the personnel. There's not now Jim Harbaugh because he's coached and he loves college football, too. Look at the Chargers last two drafts. They've been very, very good. Because Harbaugh loves college football. Right.

[Jason McIntyre]

So if I were a Chiefs fan, I would be pushing Bill Belichick to the Bills, too.

[Colin Cowherd]

Andy Reid doesn't. Andy Reid doesn't watch college football on Saturday. That's why he doesn't want anything to do with it. And he'll tell you, let Brett Veech do it. Some guys love college football. Jimmy Johnson did. Jimmy's arguably the best personal guy we've ever had as a head coach. And by the way, most aren't. Pete Carroll came out of USC first three years. Seahawks were stealing guys in the sixth round. Okay. So my take is that that is Belichick is not a Saturday guy. No. I mean last year was a disaster. He's smart enough to make the program better. Carolina should be better this year. But this was for the record. This is. This story what Rex Ryan is saying. This is what I was saying and I think you were saying it last year.

[Jason McIntyre]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Remember his contract had a very quick out.

[Jason McIntyre]

He did.

[Colin Cowherd]

And. And I kept saying the two jobs he would look at Eagles with Howie Roseman. Now I do. I think Bill in Philly with Howie Roseman is a gm. That tracks. Yeah. Because he. He's not going to be near the personnel. But in. But in Buffalo where Brandon Bean is not. He. I. And again, smart guy. He's known as a very sharp guy, great cap guy. He doesn't in recent years have a great record. And I understand the draft is hard. It's really. Even the great GMs whiff all the time. So I think Philly with Belichick, I would support that move today. Yeah.

[Jason McIntyre]

There's there's nothing here with Buffalo. Belichick, there's no chance. A guy like Brandon Bean who's clearly insecure, which is why he ran off McDermott, zero chance he's entertaining Belichick and you know ownership, they don't want him in there. So that's not, that's a non starter. I think the real interesting one is D because D is who made Josh Allen. That's how you win the fan base back. They loved Brian D. Offensive genius. That was the best years of Josh Allen. I think that's the move you bring. You got to bring him back then. But then you lose Joe Brady.

[Colin Cowherd]

The other thing is there's no easy fix here.

[Jason McIntyre]

Colin. This team is in trouble, man.

[Colin Cowherd]

I'm just telling you they're not as much trouble.

[Jason McIntyre]

Look around the afc.

[Colin Cowherd]

The young quarterback jet disaster Dolphins, you know, just hired a defensive guy. Vrabel and New England are going to be great and Buffalo is going to be really, really good too. Those two are going to run this division for years. That's the reality is 14 teams make the playoffs, you know, seven each conference. If Josh Allen is upright, they're going to be in that playoff chase. Week 16, 17, 18 for the next decade. Coming up next, the Herb.

[Jason McIntyre]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Colin Cowherd]

Guaranteed Human.