The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: Hour 1 - What They Are Saying About Fernando Mendoza, the Lakers Have Problems
Date: February 11, 2026
Host: Colin Cowherd
Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode Overview

In this episode, Colin Cowherd dives deep into two major topics dominating the sports headlines:

1. The polarizing debate within the NFL community over Indiana quarterback prospect Fernando Mendoza and the impact of coaching vs. quarterback play.
2. The LA Lakers' glaring issues exposed in back-to-back games, particularly their roster’s shortcomings compared to the surging Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs.

Supporting discussions include insightful soundbites, a heated debate on NFL MVP odds for rookie QB Caleb Williams, coach hiring surveys, the future of star pass rusher Max Crosby, and the shifting team-building landscape across pro sports.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Fernando Mendoza NFL Draft Debate

[02:40-22:20]

• Colin’s Stance:
  Cowherd is adamant about Fernando Mendoza’s value as a quarterback prospect, expressing confusion and frustration at substantial league-wide pushback.

  • “Clint, I’ve seen the tape. Draft Fernando Mendoza.”
  • Recalls similar skepticism around Sam Darnold, drawing parallels between the two.

• Pushback from NFL Insiders:
  Colin notes,

  • “The majority opinion I am hearing in the league is he is a good prospect, but not special.”
  • Indiana’s dramatic improvement is dubbed a product of both Mendoza and head coach Kurt Signetti, but Colin insists the quarterback's arrival was transformative.

• Debunking Indiana Football Arrogance:

  • Calls out Indiana fans for overrating prior success built on "cotton candy scheduling."
  • Explains, “Last year a lot of that stuff with Indiana was cotton candy scheduling. When they faced the big boys, it was like, yeah, yeah, yeah.”
  • Lists stats: blowouts against non-majors vs. struggles against major programs before Mendoza.

• Impact of a Quarterback vs. Coaching:

  • “If quarterback doesn’t matter, and it’s all Signetti, then he’s the only coach in football history where the QB doesn’t drive results.”
  • Mentions NFL and college examples (Belichick-without-Brady, Bruce Arians) to reinforce that coaching success is always tied to quarterback play.

• Colin’s Mendoza Scouting Report:

  • Attributes: “Big, accurate, moves, humble, gratitude. I don’t get it.”
  • Contrasts him physically to recent QB prospects but highlights intangibles and results.

Notable Quote [15:20]:

“You people are taking crazy pills. I’m not saying he’s Andrew Luck. I’m not saying he’s John Elway...But Kurt Signetti had a BB gun offense the year before Mendoza arrived. It was a water pistol. This year, they were kicking Alabama's butt.”
—Colin Cowherd

2. Lakers' Roster Problems & NBA Team-Building Trends

[22:25-37:10]

• Missing Star Power, Weak Product:

  • Complains about NBA’s resting stars: “NBA, fix your product. Luka, LeBron, and Austin Reaves were not available. What a crappy product.”
  • Fans miss out: “In the NFL, you always get the stars.”

• Lakers Exposed vs. Thunder and Spurs:

  • “Those new wealthy Laker owners...have watched OKC and the Spurs come into town—and [their] rosters compared to the Lakers...Depth, length, defenders, multiple scorers...The Lakers look a mile away.”
  • Praises Spurs and OKC as the league's premier examples of the “draft and develop” model.

• Wembanyama’s Dominance:

  • “Wemby had 37 at half. Could have done whatever he wanted.”
  • Praises the Spurs’ roster: “Who’s ascending on the Lakers?...It’s not Luka.”
  • Contrasts young, healthy rosters (OKC, Spurs) with the aging, brittle Lakers squad.

Notable Quote [26:45]:

“Crypto is a perfect sponsor for the Lakers facility. Bloated valuation. Fools gold. Buying into gold and purple...In crypto, they call it a rug pull. The Lakers need a rug pull. Their GM rug—Pelinka—he may need to get pulled.”
—Colin Cowherd

• NBA is a 'Draft and Develop' League:

  • “It’s not a transactional league anymore. Look at the Pistons, Spurs, OKC—the sharp, young GMs are crushing.”

• Health & Aging Stars:

  • “LeBron can’t play back-to-backs. Luka’s always dinged up. Anthony Davis can’t stay healthy...It’s not just coincidence.”
  • “Guys that get dinged up a lot...not in LeBron or D. Wade shape.”

NBA Segue with Guest J. Mac [30:30]:

• J. Mac shares in-game experience: “Spurs minus 7.5 at half was easy money. They were up 30 at halftime. Bloodbath. The Lakers, not competitive.”

• On Spurs: “Spurs are loaded. They're my pick to win the NBA title.”

Colin Sums Up:

• “When you have young players in their prime who are in great shape, they don’t get hurt as much. It’s great. Lakers just aren’t there.”

3. Caleb Williams and the 2026 NFL MVP Race

[44:00-49:10]

• Caleb Williams as MVP Favorite:

  • “Bears QB Caleb Williams is the betting favorite to win MVP next year...He’s got two big advantages: a great offensive coach and his game is fun.”
  • “This is not voted on by an algorithm—people vote on MVP, and Caleb does stuff nobody else does except Josh Allen.”

• Freelancer Genius Archetype:

  • Draws parallels to Lawrence Taylor and Deion Sanders: “You just kind of let him do his own thing.”
  • On completion percentage concerns: “I don’t get too caught up. If he freelances six times a game, I’m comfortable with it.”

• Coaching Matters:

  • “Ben Johnson, we may have another McVay.”
  • Caleb Williams #1, Josh Allen #2 for MVP: “I think Caleb has the better head coach.”

Notable Quote [45:50]:

“If you told me who should win the MVP next year, who I’d put my crypto on, I'd go Caleb one and Josh Allen two.”
—Colin Cowherd

4. Max Crosby’s Future in Las Vegas

[57:35-1:06:50]

• Clint Kubiak on Crosby:

  • Raiders’ new coach praises Crosby’s leadership & importance:

    "Love talking ball with him...We want him to be a part of our success going forward. He’s one of the best players in the NFL."
    —Clint Kubiak [59:35]

• Debate: Should Raiders Trade Crosby for Draft Picks?

  • Colin floats possibility: “Part of me wants Max Crosby to play in a Super Bowl...If he gets traded to Buffalo, I’d love it. I root for my guys.”

  • Buffalo’s need for a Pro Bowl pass rusher: “No Pro Bowlers on defense...Give up two firsts for Crosby in a heartbeat.”

  • Weighing draft capital vs. known impact—emphasizes top pass rushers rarely found late in draft.

5. NFL, Team Windows & Building Philosophies

[1:02:30-1:07:00 & 1:15:10-1:18:20]

• "Draft and Develop" vs. "Buy and Assemble":
  • Rams, Seahawks, and other examples cited.
  • Urges teams with QBs on rookie deals (Bears, Patriots) to trade picks for a premium veteran like Crosby.
  • “There’s nobody in the first round for the next two years, maybe next three, that’s going to be as good as Max Crosby.”

6. Additional Segments

NFL MVP Soundbite:

• Brian Urlacher on Caleb Williams [47:39]:

  “The clutch throws he makes...Cannon arm...When things break down, that’s when he’s really good. I feel like he gets at his best.”

Mike McDonald (Seahawks Coach) on Super Bowl Fanbase Impact [51:50]:

• “It must have been 75-25. It was like playing a home game for Seattle.”
• Discusses stadium advantages and comfortable settings leading to better play.

NBA/Knicks & 40-20 Theory [1:09:20]:

• Knicks suffer 20th loss before their 40th win, referencing Phil Jackson's theory about contention.
• J. Mac: “Not selling my Knicks stock...cream of the crop in the East.”

Notable Quotes, Moments, & Timestamps

• On Mendoza's NFL Prospect Status:
  “The last time I got this much pushback on a quarterback I loved and a lot of people in the league were a little cool on him...Sam Darnold.” —Colin [04:10]
• On Indiana Football’s Evolution:
  “This year...you’re crushing Alabama, you’re rolling people, you’re beating Ohio State. You were totally legitimate. That’s not Signetti alone.” —Colin [09:20]
• On Lakers' Roster State:
  “Crypto is a perfect sponsor for the Lakers facility. Bloated valuation. Fools gold.” —Colin [26:45]
• On Team-Building Trends:
  “It is a draft and develop league. The sharp, young GMs are crushing.” —Colin [28:00]
• On Trading Picks for Crosby:
  “Nobody in this draft for the next two years is going to have the immediate impact of Max Crosby.” —Colin [1:17:10]
• J. Mac on the Spurs Game:
  “It was a bloodbath. The Lakers, not competitive...Spurs are loaded. My pick to win the NBA title.” —J. Mac [34:30]
• Mike McDonald on Home-Advantage in Super Bowl:
  “It was like playing a home game for Seattle.” [51:50]
• Urlacher on Caleb Williams:
  “The clutch throws he makes...When things break down, that’s when he’s really good.” —Brian Urlacher [47:39]

Segment Timestamps

• Fernando Mendoza/NFL Draft Debate: 02:40 – 22:20
• NBA/Lakers Problems & Young Teams: 22:25 – 37:10
• Caleb Williams MVP Odds: 44:00 – 49:10
• Max Crosby Future/Trade Value: 57:35 – 1:06:50
• NFL Team-Building Strategies: 1:02:30 – 1:07:00, 1:15:10 – 1:18:20
• Knicks, NBA 40-20 Theory: 1:09:20
• Soundbites: Mike McDonald, Urlacher, Kubiak: 47:39, 51:50, 59:35

Tone and Style

Colin Cowherd is brash, opinionated, and unfiltered—combining analytical takes, statistical support, and personal anecdotes with biting humor and direct challenges to prevailing industry thinking.
J. Mac is insightful, measured, and brings an informed fandom perspective, often complementing or sharpening Colin’s rants.

Summary Takeaway

This episode is a quintessential Colin Cowherd performance—poking holes in consensus thinking, warning against groupthink (especially relating to Fernando Mendoza), and diagnosing both NFL and NBA team-building realities, all with trademark wit and cutting sarcasm. The debates about quarterback impact, the Lakers’ deficiencies, and player valuation (like Max Crosby’s trade worth) are must-listen segments for any sports fan seeking more than surface-level narratives.