The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 1

Date: February 16, 2026
Episode Theme:
Examining the impact of Victor Wembanyama on NBA culture and the All-Star Game, debates around the Dodgers’ approach to baseball, and an in-depth look at top NFL quarterback prospects—especially Fernando Mendoza’s fit with the Raiders. Includes spirited discussion about parity and tanking across major American sports.

Main Theme Overview

Colin Cowherd opens by dissecting the importance of leadership and cultural tone-setters in pro sports, highlighting how Wembanyama’s intensity re-energized a dormant NBA All-Star Game. He transitions to defending the Dodgers’ model as a class-leading organization and answers whether Fernando Mendoza is the answer for the Raiders. The episode also tackles the larger issues of team-building, tanking, and shifts in league management styles—especially contrasting the NBA’s and NFL’s approaches to creating hope and competitiveness.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Wembanyama and the Culture of the NBA All-Star Game

[03:15 – 07:00]

• Copycat vs. Follow-the-Leader Leagues:

  • The NFL is famous for copying successful schemes; the NBA is about following the star's example.
  • NBA culture is shaped by whether the superstar sets a tone for effort—especially on defense.

• International Stars and the All-Star Game:

  • Recent All-Star Games suffered from a lack of engagement by top international stars (Jokic, Luka).
  • "Jokic didn’t care. Luka didn’t care. They care about their country. Championships. Not the All-Star Game." (Colin, [03:54])

• The Wemby Factor:

  • Wembanyama (“Wemby”) played hard, blocked shots, and injected competitiveness into the event.
  • "Wemby came out in the first five minutes. He's like, yeah, I'm gonna play defense. I'm gonna block shots. I'm gonna humiliate you. I'm gonna dominate." (Colin, [05:37])
  • Anthony Edwards, MVP, credits Wemby for setting the competitive tone:
    • "They was playing real good defense. But, yeah, he set the tone, man. And it woke me up for sure." (Lavor Arrington, [06:44])

• Broader NBA Implication:

  • It's not just about acquiring stars, but getting stars who lead by example. Players like Kobe, Duncan, and LeBron changed cultures with hard work and defense.
  • "It's not about getting a star in the NBA. It's about getting the right star who practices hard, who plays hard." (Colin, [06:55])

2. The Dodgers and the Value of Building a Winning Brand

[08:00 – 13:15, 44:38 – 47:46]

• “Ruining Baseball” Narrative Debunked:

  • Critics allege Dodgers are ruining baseball by “buying” success; Colin throws cold water on that.
  • Bryce Harper & Manny Machado, rivals, praise the Dodgers’ smart spending and reinvestment:
    • "They understand how to run their team like a business, and they run it the right way... they draft, they develop. They do it the right way." (Bryce Harper, quoted by Colin, [08:18])
    • "I love it. I mean, honestly, I think every team should be doing it." (John Middelkoff, [12:34])

• Dodgers as the MLB’s “Class Standard”:

  • Dodgers pour profits back into the team—unlike the Yankees (who keep more profits).
  • Smart reinvestment raises franchise value and creates long-term loyalty—even in down cycles.
  • “All the Dodgers do is they spend a huge amount of the money they make… they just pour it back into the team.” (Colin, [09:30])

• Parallel to Business World:

  • Netflix and Amazon focused on establishing brands and long-term value—not just profits.
  • Question for other clubs/owners: Why buy a house and not upgrade it until selling? Dodgers’ steady investments keep the “house” (franchise) valuable.

• Big-Ticket Acquisitions:

  • Dodgers didn’t poach stars from small teams but took advantage of larger rivals’ unwillingness to pay (Mookie Betts from Red Sox, Freddie Freeman from Braves).

3. NFL Quarterback Prospect: Is Fernando Mendoza the Solution for the Raiders?

[19:36 – 24:16]

• Mendoza as 2026 #1 Overall Pick:

  • Colin is high on Mendoza’s college performances but pushes back against criticisms about his athleticism.
  • “I think he's really good... he was highly efficient. Nine TDs, one pick and moved very well in the Miami game." (Colin, [19:36])

• Red Flag: Pressure-to-Sack Rate

  • NFL analyst compares Mendoza’s negative plays and tendency to hold the ball to Justin Fields.
  • This stat is especially worrisome for quarterbacks joining dysfunctional teams (like the Raiders).
  • “I don't have a Mendoza issue. I have a Mendoza-to-the-Raiders issue.” (Colin, [21:04])

• Parental Analogy:

  • The organization (the “parent”) matters as much as the player (“kid”). Poor team environment ruins even the best talent.
  • “When you were a kid growing up and you had a buddy and you just knew his parents were a mess, the kid ends up being a mess." (Colin, [21:22])

• Historical Patterns:

  • Most successful QBs landed with franchises already building or close to .500 (e.g., Prescott, Mahomes, Lamar, Allen).
  • Scout comparison: Daniel Jeremiah on Mendoza: "I don't think he's as natural as Drake... a little more robotic is the way I would describe Mendoza." ([23:36])

4. News Rundown: Tyreek Hill Released, Steelers Locker Room Division, NY Giants Power Structure

[24:17 – 30:49]

• Tyreek Hill Released by Miami:

  • Major knee injury, uncertain future. Colin questions if he’s truly a winning player after KC & Miami moves.
    • "I think he's a great talent. I don't know if he's a winning player." (Colin, [24:53])
    • “When they pivoted and traded for him, they kind of proved defense wins championships.” (John Middelkoff, [25:55])

• Steelers' Locker Room Drama:

  • Joey Porter, others either defend or criticize Big Ben post-retirement; reveals team divisions that lingered under Tomlin.
  • "There was a pro-Tomlin faction and a little bit of an anti-Tomlin faction... they can't figure it out [offensively]." (Colin, [27:20])

• Giants: Coach-GM Power Struggle:

  • John Harbaugh reportedly consolidating power, sidelining GM Joe Shane; Colin warns this rarely works long-term.
  • “I do think that's when you can make some poor decisions though... when the coach has too much power.” (John Middelkoff, [29:19])
  • Cowherd points to failed power grabs (Holmgren in Seattle, Belichick’s drafting woes).

5. NBA Tanking, Parity, and League Structures

[30:51 – 39:55]

• NBA's “Tanking” Issue:

  • Harder salary cap and trade restrictions leave tanking as the only viable path to get elite talent.
  • “The only pathway to go from unwatchable to great is currently tanking.” (Colin, [36:08])
  • Spurs/Pistons as success stories: gained stars (Wemby, Castle, Cunningham) through tanking cycles.

• Contrast with NFL’s League of Hope:

  • NFL’s looser cap and more frequent trades/coaching turnover mean faster rebuild cycles and consistent league parity.
  • "In the NFL you can manipulate it and get 12 or 13 picks... in the NBA, you lose one pick and that's 50% gone." (Colin, [39:08])

• Adam Silver’s Dilemma:

  • Wrestles with unintended tanking incentives created by NBA’s new competitive-balance structure.
  • Notable Silver Quote:
    • "The fundamental theory behind a draft is to help your worst performing teams restock... if teams are manipulating their performance... then the question becomes: are they really the worst performing teams?" (Adam Silver, [37:46])

6. Modern Sports: The Value (or Danger) of Dynasties vs. Parity

[44:38 – 47:46]

• Baseball’s Renaissance:

  • Dynasties (like the Dodgers) help in a crowded, distracted “attention economy” era.
  • "In a more distracted era, dynasties are incredibly valuable." (Colin, [46:14])
  • Argues that MLB's acceptance of big-market dominance has coincided with ratings and attendance increases.

• Critique of Parity:

  • Sports with parity (e.g., NHL) are struggling to capture attention.
  • NBA’s insistence on parity (no big trades, capped spending) leads to perennial irrelevance for some franchises.

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On the NBA’s All-Star Revival:

  • "Wemby came out in the first five minutes. He's like, yeah, I'm gonna play defense. I'm gonna block shots. I'm gonna humiliate you. I'm gonna dominate." (Colin, [05:37])
  • “They was playing real good defense. But, yeah, he set the tone, man. And it woke me up for sure.” (Lavor Arrington as Ant/Anthony Edwards, MVP, [06:44])

• On Team/Franchise Building:

  • "All the Dodgers do is they spend a huge amount of the money they make... they just pour it back into the team." (Colin, [09:30])
  • "I think he's a little more robotic is the way I would describe Mendoza." (Daniel Jeremiah, quoted by Colin, [23:41])
  • "I don't have a Mendoza issue. I have a Mendoza-to-the-Raiders issue." (Colin, [21:04])

• On Parity and Tanking:

  • "The only pathway to go from unwatchable to great is currently tanking." (Colin, [36:08])
  • "In a more distracted era, dynasties are incredibly valuable. Incredibly valuable. Parity is rough." (Colin, [46:14])

Important Segment Timestamps

| Segment & Topic | Timestamp | |-------------------------------|---------------| | Wemby’s All-Star impact | 03:15–07:00 | | Dodgers’ approach defended | 08:00–13:15 | | Mendoza & the Raiders | 19:36–24:16 | | NFL/MLB/Team-building talk | 44:38–47:46 | | NBA tanking & league models | 30:51–39:55 |

Tone and Original Style

• Colin’s style: opinionated, witty, analogy-heavy, often weaving business and life lessons into sports punditry.
• Maintains a conversational and passionate delivery, with frequent industry references and pop culture/business analogies.

For Those Who Missed the Episode

This hour’s “The Herd” is a lively exploration of how leadership—from stars to franchises—sets the tone in pro sports. Cowherd breaks down why Wembanyama is transforming NBA culture, why the Dodgers’ “spend to win” strategy isn’t a problem but a selling point, and why quarterback success in the NFL isn’t just scouting—it’s also about where you land. The episode also confronts the rise and pitfalls of tanking in the NBA, urging a rethink of the league’s competitive model, all while staying true to Colin’s blend of sports and business wisdom.