← The Herd with Colin Cowherd
The Herd with Colin Cowherd
THE HERD - Hour 2 - Cupid Cowherd plays matchmaker for some NFL teams, how the NBA can fix tanking
00:42:16
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- [00:00]
Colin Cowherd
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From unforgettable tailgate and viewing parties to world class dining, thrilling nightlife and entertainment that keeps energy going long after the final whistle. This is where fans come to celebrate, show off your team spirit, cheer with friends and earn rewards on every experience you love. Because every play is bigger and every moment feels unforgettable in Las Vegas. So what are you waiting for? Make your game day legendary with MGM Rewards. Visit mgmrewards.com for details. 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 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. Welcome in hour two. It's a Friday. We're live in Chicago. It's the Herd. Ethan Strauss, how do you fix the NBA All Star game? How do you fix tanking Kaminga warrior story in about three minutes? So LeBron last night became the oldest player to ever have a triple double. And, you know, through the years, I told the story years ago, my wife went to the doctor in Los Angeles, and she doesn't know sports or anything, so she sat down. But she used to live in Chicago, and now she does again. And then she saw this guy and she's like, ah, that's kind of familiar. He looks like a sports guy. It was Phil Jackson. And so they started talking. She said Phil was very nice and everything. And she said, phil said at the end, tell your husband he's wrong about LeBron and Michael Jordan. Because I've said before, LeBron James does more things well than any basketball player I've ever seen. I always felt he was more Magic Johnson, where he really did love initiating offense for other people. But he's a better athlete than, and a better defender than Magic Johnson. But I think his game, Kobe was more Michael. LeBron's more Magic Johnson. You know, he's got the power elements. He loves to elevate others. He's fun. His sheer size, like Magic came in at six, eight and a half. His sheer size. Nobody knew how to defend a guard that was six, eight and a half. LeBron is still. I, I, I've stood next to LeBron two or three times. He looks like a pro football player. He looks like an NFL defensive end. And last night is, he really is remarkable. But when you really, really love a player, I love Derek Jeter. I love John Elway. You know, I love certain actors. I don't want to see him in straight to, you know, rental video, the old term in their movie career. I want to see clean endings. I want to see, like, you know, Martin Scorsese, the direct director, direct every three years, have a great film. The Irishman Spielberg still feels like he's in his prime. His prime's lasted forever. Yeah, but it's like, you know, every couple years, do a great film. You don't have the energy when you get older or whatever. It's like when you really love people. I like nice, clean endings. I don't want an Elvis ending or a Marlon Brando ending. And so I think this should be LeBron's last year. He's still like a top 15, 16 player. He still has moments. I went and saw him in Chicago. He literally was the best player on the floor, and then Luka was the best player after that. And Luke ended up with like 40 some points. But here was LeBron on becoming the oldest player to ever have a triple double last night and went over the Mavs. I've never been sorry at basketball. So, yeah, I've been good ever since I started playing.
- [05:20]
Ethan Strauss
Any given night, like, if I need.
- [05:23]
Colin Cowherd
To turn it on, I can turn it. The fact that you can go out and be able to have an impact in three facets of the game, you know, rebounding, the assist, obviously, is what I love the most. Being able to get my guys involved throughout my career, I've always loved that more than anything. And, you know, being able to put the ball in the basket, obviously, that's. That's part of this game as well. Yeah. And he can still do that. And I have no idea if he's going to retire, but it does feel like it would be. I think John Elway could have played another year. Jeter probably could have. Brady certainly could have. Three years after his retirement, who knows? If LeBron plays, he'll be good. But when you really like a director, an actor, an athlete, I just like cleaner endings. So the NBA is. And I, and I don't want to overstate this, because every time the NFL season ends, we start paying more attention. Baseball hasn't started. We start paying more attention to the NBA. And I feel like there's a month. It's like mid February to mid March. All we do is crap on the NBA and the playoffs will be amazing. They always are. But when Bill Simmons comes out, and I think it's something I. Because I talk about this a lot, the business side of sports, it's like, is Adam Silver the right guy? The Tankings feels like it's really bad. The load management's almost comical. And with that, Ethan Strauss, one of the best substacks out there. House of Strauss, NBA warriors and Culture podcast is joining us. So listen, tanking's been going on forever. I said about an hour ago with David Stern, you had it. But Stern was an ominous, threatening, loud presence. And like, he would call GMs and coaches and players and, you know, he was brutal. He wouldn't apologize. He Adam Silver more pleasant. And I think at times it feels like star players take advantage of Adam Silver. Do you have a belief, Ethan, on how to fix the tanking problem?
- [07:18]
Ethan Strauss
I do. And I have to Disagree with you right off the bat. I don't think tanking has been a problem forever. I think there's a time when you were an NBA fan when it wasn't. And sometimes the old ways work better than some of these new crazy big brained ideas I'm seeing floated around out there. The NBA used to do it this way. If you miss the playoffs, you had an equal chance as every other lottery team to win the lottery. Yeah. Now some people might say that's not fair, you know, that you're the worst team and you get the 13th pick or whatever.
- [07:53]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
- [07:54]
Ethan Strauss
But guess what? I don't think we want to reward losing to such a degree. And let's just do on the one hand. On the other hand, right. On the one hand, maybe the worst team in the league the gets the 11th or 12th pick and they stay bad. On the other hand, we have what we have now, which is a third of the league intentionally losing for months. I would say that outcome is worse. And I would say go back in time. The league made a mistake in the past when they flipped out after Orlando got consecutive number one picks and they got Shaq and they got Penny Hardaway. You know the funny thing about that is the owners freaked out. That was objectively great for the NBA. That was a charismatic team. If that's the bad outcome, I mean, I think that they made a huge mistake way back when. I think return to the old days. You make the playoffs, you get a bigger playoff share to incentivize making the playoffs. You miss the playoffs, everybody's got the same long shot. Do it that way. Get rid of all this tanking the.
- [08:53]
Colin Cowherd
All Star game and further record. In fairness, the Pro bowl is unwatchable. The only All Star game that's any good is baseball. I do think we've moved into a time now. The All Star game in baseball was great because you didn't see all these players and all these games. Now that I can watch any team, anytime, even the baseball All Star game doesn't feel as big. It's good, it's the best, but it doesn't feel as great. Pro bowl is unwatchable and had was for years the NBA All Star Game. Listen, could I, could I say this? The players are so rich now, they just want time off. It's not solvable. Or do you have a way to fix the NBA All Star game?
- [09:28]
Ethan Strauss
I do have a way to fix the NBA All Star Game, but I don't think it's ever going to be implemented. And no, it's not Nick Wright's idea, our guy, Nick Wright's idea to have the black guys play the white guys. Which, that, that will never be implemented. But that would be interesting. That would be interesting. I guess the first thing I would say about it is this. The NBA's general problem with Adam Silver is doing too much. It's doing too much the NBA. It's like a celebrity that gets so many plastic surgeries. A good looking celebrity that you go, I don't even recognize this. So the first thing I do to the All Star Game is stop with all the crazy reforms. I don't even know what this thing is right now. Or there's a round robin, you know, before they had the players pick the guys, they had the Elam ending. Here's a crazy idea. You get the most popular players from the Eastern Conference and they play the most popular players in the Western Conference. It's something that makes sense to my dad. It's something I can explain to my son. Well, how do you get them to try hard? That's the thing everybody's thinking about right now. You hear about money. The All Star Game is not about money. It's about status. What I think should happen, and that Adam Silver will never do is he chooses the players. He makes the selection based on what he's seen in the popularity. And if you dog it, if you loaf, well, guess what? Maybe you're not getting invited to next season's All Star Game because the players, they might not care about trying in the All Star Game, but they care about being an All Star. They care about having that designation. And when hall of Fame voting happens, that's something that they want on their mantle. So if you have a little bit of that incentive of the commissioners choosing the guys, we're choosing the 12 best entertainers in our sport on each team. And if you're not going to be an entertainer for our sport, you're not showing up. I think that's enough incentive not to try to the point where you might get yourself hurt, but at least not to dog it. Not to loaf, not to launch from 50ft away. That's what I would do.
- [11:35]
Colin Cowherd
Always, always have great ideas. Okay, so, you know, I mean, you really covered the warriors forever. You and wrote a book about it, the Victory Machine, the Making and Unmaking of the Warriors Dynasty. I've always felt you should love your kids like your superstar players. The warriors fell in love with Steph Curry and they've tried to make everything work through that ecosystem. And the truth is, young Players can't play with current Steph Curry's offense. It hasn't worked. And now they're old and slow and small, and it's just, like, hard if he's not on the floor. It's hard to watch. So the Kaminga story is one. And I. And I talked about this two days ago. I was never. I've never been a G League fan, especially G League ignite. Scoot Henderson, Jalen Green. Jalen the kid. Yeah. Jalen Green and Kaminga are G League ignite. I would call it G League. Ignore. It was overstated. None of that. There's never been a great player from G League. You don't get the coaching, you don't get the marketing, you don't get the development. And I think college basketball shouldn't be demonized. That being said, clearly Kaminga, as he improved as a player, played less under Kerr. So, I mean, it's like you would think he starts here, but the last three years, it's like, it's fewer games, it's fewer minutes. He's in the doghouse. What do you make of it? They all say nice stuff. Kerr says nice stuff on the way out. But, like, what happened? Do you believe?
- [13:01]
Ethan Strauss
Okay, so when you started with the parenting analogy, I thought it was going to be about Kaminga, because Kaminga reminds me of something I try to tell my son all the time, which is the Roman proverb, before you can lead, you must follow. And so I'm reading these reports by Anthony Slater and other people that Kaminga's offended that Kerr wanted him to be an Aaron Gordon or a Sean Marion. Well, guess what? In the NBA, before you get to be what you want to be, you've got to build a basis of what the coach needs you to be. It's not a charity. The coach needs to win. And afterwards, you can build out your game. You can be more than useful to your coach, but it's got to start with useful to your coach. And I think a lot of these guys. Okay, so here's something I was told last time I was at summer league because I was asking, is the big money screwing these guys up? Because there's so much money in the league and somebody who's in ownership told me no. You know, it's funny. The big money's not screwing up the guys who get it, it's screwing up the guys who don't. The young guys like Kuminga, who feel, hey, I'm just as good as this guy getting crazy money. In the new CBA structure, It's haves and have nots. So if you're on the outside looking in, it creates this dynamic where I think, I'm a superstar already. I want the money already. It's right there. And a lot of guys, a lot of young guys I think are foregoing the process. And that's what that G League ignite thing was all about. It was guys who wanted to be a superstar right now as opposed to paying dues, as opposed to getting through their paces. And I would say one more thing. I'm not saying Steve Kerr is perfect, but I do think he's had a good track record on this. We can say Steve Kerr doesn't develop young talent. And I would say, well, who's the young guy who left the warriors and flourished? Who is he wrong about? Is Patrick Ma putting up any triple doubles anywhere? He's been correct about these guys for the most part. I just don't think he's had the horses.
- [15:02]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, I don't think Kaminga ever developed a three point shot. He's up and down in the interior. He's a lousy rebounder. I'm on, I'm. I think Kerr knows that he got frustrated with a player who didn't grow and develop. You know, it's. People by now know this, the, you know, the redemptive arc of Sam Darnold. And I do think every year we learn things in pro sports and we'll see it with Mendoza in with the Raiders, he's going to get beat up, he's going to lose a lot of games, he's going to throw a lot of picks. And I do think I will be and I think I try to do this all the time is let's not bail on young people. Young people's success is largely beholden to who are their bosses. Now when you get to be 40 or 50, you're established. You know Tom Brady by the end in Tampa. Guys, I'm going to run the offense. So I don't, I don't really care. Is there anything that jumped out to you on Sam Darnold that maybe hadn't been said or how did through your prism? How did you view it?
- [15:58]
Ethan Strauss
Well, I know you love Sam Darnold, so I don't want to denigrate him and say that he didn't turn into some great player. But I think Sam Darnold's average and I think that's okay. And I think that's what my lesson was on this whole thing. He played really well against the Rams. I thought he was okay in the Super Bowl. The advanced stats say that he was pretty average. And maybe the lesson is that we overrate the quarterback because this isn't the NBA. We act like it's the NBA and you're one of five guys if you're a superstar. I mean, that just means so much. I feel as though the Bills get overrated every year for their playoff chances because people act as though Josh Allen's greatness can overcome a talent deficit. And so I think the lesson with Sam Darnold is perhaps we might even make too big a deal of the surrounding weapons quarterbacks have on offense and not a big enough deal about all the other help that allows them to win. If you've got the best defense and a good running game, as the Seahawks had, that goes a long way. You can win with an average quarterback. We say, hey, this guy's not a Super bowl level quarterback. I think a Super bowl level quarterback is just a guy who's competent. I think we saw this super bowl and I think we saw it last super bowl with Jalen Hurts. When we were trying to make him out to be somebody that he wasn't, he was fine. And that's the lesson in the NFL. You can win with a quarterback who's fine. It doesn't have to be Mahomes. You just have to be great at the other stuff.
- [17:27]
Colin Cowherd
I like that take. I don't have to agree with it, but I like it. The I was saying. I was saying this. Ethan. Ethan Strauss joining us for the radio audience. Check him out. House of Strauss is probably my favorite podcast I listen to on a regular basis. The I was saying on LeBron, I don't want. I didn't like the way MJ's career ended. I love the way it ended for Jeter, Kobe's last game, John Elway. I don't want my actor to end like Marlon Brando, my musician to end like Elvis. LeBron is still very good. Two and a half, three minutes left in a game because his lack of stamina late. He's not the defensive player. I don't trust him at the free throw line in big spots. He's still a top 15, 20 player, but I wouldn't take him over like right now. Kawhi late in the game, Jokic, Wemby, SGA and all that. I think it's the perfect time to go. We have great memories. It's amazing. He doesn't need the money. How do you think the Lakers ends, Andy? Does it matter to you? It won't hurt LeBron's legacy. But. But would you prefer a clean ending? If the Lakers are like, yeah, we're not bringing you back, how do you think it ends and how do you want it to end?
- [18:40]
Ethan Strauss
I believe the story is kind of run out and you're already seeing signs of it. I know you famously talked about worrying when a guy gets really into golf. I saw it reported that LeBron got a Trackman in his house. For people who don't know what that is, that's this thing that shows you exactly how hard and where you're hitting a golf ball and how you're hitting a golf ball that's often assigned that the mind is on something other than the hard woods. So it almost seems like he's spiritually. He's spiritually removed from it. But then you've got this other thing happening, which, again, the money is so big. I'm not saying LeBron's motivated by money. He clearly has a ton of money. But it has gotten to this point column where you're walking away from, you know, 60, $70 million a year. That's. That's not nothing. So I kind of wonder with some of these older players, some of these millennial players in the NBA, if they're all going to stick around a little too long. Because it's hard to walk away from this amount of money, and it's already hard to just say goodbye to the sport that you're used to. So I think that one's tough. I'd expect him to at least do another year, get the farewell tour. LeBron likes attention. That's my expectation. I think it would be better and cleaner if he ended it now, like you said. But I think we're getting at least one more season.
- [20:00]
Colin Cowherd
Oh, I, you know, I didn't have this written down, or maybe I did. I love your macro take on this. So if the Dodgers. My take is the outrage for the Dodgers signing Kyle Tucker is based on the Dodgers winning game seven. And they start now. They're stacking trophies in succession. We don't like that. We didn't love the tush push. It was outrageous and needed to be banned. And then the Eagles went belly up this last year and nobody cares about the tush push. Right? They weren't as good at it. The team isn't as good. We don't like separation. We watch dynasties, but sometimes we resent them. And my take is the Kyle Tucker who the Cubs couldn't get rid of fast enough, drew all this outrage. The Yankees and the Mets and the Blue Jays are often outspending the Dodgers, but the Mets aren't run well, The Yankees don't care as much, and the Blue Jays don't have a title. And that a lot of this with the Dodgers isn't the spending, it's that now that they put them back to back. Kyle Tucker, who's not, but Mookie Betts, who's not. Freddie Freeman, who not close to Ohtani. We're bothered by the titles, not necessarily the acquisition. And I don't think baseball should have a salary cap. Mets, Cubs, Astros, Dodgers, Padres. They're all interesting. Small market. Seattle, Cleveland, interesting. Where do you land on this, this labor stoppage that is imminent because of the Kyle tucker signing?
- [21:36]
Ethan Strauss
I'm 100% with you on this. And it reminds me of something from my career as a beat writer. People, they almost forget about this. But do you remember when The warriors added DeMarcus Cousins one summer and how everybody flipped out? Indeed, it inspired the NBA owners to restructure the CBA to punish the warriors and prevent this stacking of talent. You know what DeMarcus Cousins did for the Warriors? Absolutely nothing. Absolutely nothing. He frustrated Steve Kerr even more than Jonathan Kaminga. It wasn't anything for them, but because of that impression that they were unbeatable and had such a massive edge, people flipped out about it. And I think it's the same with the Dodgers. I think it's been great for baseball that the Dodgers are a recognizable brand and that they've been winning. And I don't think that their victory is as assured as people think it is. Baseball still got a lot of randomness. Lot of randomness. They almost lost that Game seven, like you said. And look, I think it's better for the MLB that the Dodgers are competitive than these weird World Series like the Rangers versus the Diamondbacks, with apologies to fans of those teams. I think it's been great for the MLB and this one of these situations to bring this whole conversation full circle. Like when the NBA screwed up their whole draft lottery system, where the petty resentments of owners get in the way of the best product for everybody and for the fans.
- [23:05]
Colin Cowherd
Ethan Strauss, he does such a great job. His substack. Read that every time one's out. His podcast, the House of Strauss, covers everything. Big thinker and football season's over. We have to work a little harder. There's. There's not as much juice out there in material and content. Your stuff remains just viable and interesting and good seeing you again.
- [23:28]
Ethan Strauss
Oh, great seeing you, Colin. Love Being here.
- [23:30]
Colin Cowherd
All right, Ethan Strauss, who, if I'm going to go on a 45 minute walk, that's one of the podcasts I put in. Always makes me think. Yeah, the baseball thing. Pitchers, catchers report this week. Dodgers today is. I remember the demarcus cousin signed with the warriors. And it's all this, listen, right now, the Yankees are relevant. The Mets are relevant. The Phillies are relevant. The Cubs are relevant. The Dodgers are relevant. The Padres are relevant. The Astros, if they're healthy, will be. And small market Cleveland and small market Seattle, although I don't think of Seattle a small market, were excellent last year. And I could be wrong on this one. Baltimore really good. You know, everybody looks at. Well, what about St. Louis? Well, the economy in St. Louis has died. Is that LA's fault? You don't build leagues to protect the bottom eight teams. You should build teams for the middle class and above. And like networks, ESPN and Fox have no responsibility or NBC to air the bottom 12 teams, the television ratings are up nationally. Why? Because you're airing these really stacked, excellent teams. So for the record, Milwaukee was great last year. Seattle was great last year. Cleveland was great last year. Big market DC Wasn't the Mets underwhelmed. So it's. And there's also, as Ethan said, there's so much randomness in baseball. Dodgers couldn't keep pitchers healthy for two years. And if not for Dave Johnson, in one of the craziest games ever, ever, pulling every right lever, I mean, substituting, you know, an infielder who hadn't been hitting. Dave Roberts. Excuse me. I mean, literally, Dave Roberts pulled every stinking lever in game seven and they all just happened to work. There was a randomness to it. That's why the Dodgers won the World Series. Because, and I think, I think if Dodger fans were truly honest, the more consistent team at the plate was Toronto. I mean, for a lot of that series, I felt Toronto was the better team when they had runners on or big spots at the plate. I trusted Toronto's bats more than I did the Dodgers. And it just so happens the randomness kind of worked in the Dodgers favor one more herd. The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the iHeartRadio app. Search herd to listen live or on demand, whenever you'd like.
- [25:57]
Ethan Strauss
Stugatz here. I have a podcast empire. It continues to grow and I have brought it here to Iheartra. I'm also doing a live radio show from 3 to 5pm Eastern because my wife wanted to kick me out of the house. It's called Stegotson company Live, which is available in podcast form right when the show finishes every single day. Some of the biggest names in sports, a lot of phone calls.
- [26:22]
Colin Cowherd
I love you guys show.
- [26:23]
John Middelkoff
It's one of my favorites.
- [26:24]
Ethan Strauss
A lot of interaction, guys not taking themselves too seriously. Those are just some of the things that you can expect from Stugatson Co. And Stugots Co. Live. So listen to Stugatson Co. Live and our original podcast. Please subscribe, rate and review Stugatson Co. And God bless football. Taylor's livelihood depends on it. Do it today and you can check all of those out on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. This month, iHeartRadio is celebrating the stars of the 2026 Winter Games. A legend from Sun Valley, Idaho, Hillary Knight is the ultimate captain of Team USA. Entering her record breaking fifth Olympic Games.
- [27:10]
Colin Cowherd
The veteran forward continues to be a.
- [27:12]
Ethan Strauss
Scoring machine and physical force on the ice. With a resume already packed with gold and silver, she leads a hungry squad into Milano. Cortina Knight laces up her style skates with one goal in mind, bringing the gold medal back home. For more Winter Games gold Search olympics on the iHeartRadio app all right, two.
- [27:30]
Colin Cowherd
Truths and a Lie. Here we go. I went to college with college football coach Jim McElwain, I began my broadcasting career doing play by play for the Las Vegas Stars, and I've been a Verizon customer for 15 years. Okay, I lied. All three are true. Verizon isn't as expensive as you think. In fact, if you bring in your ATT or T Mobile bill to a Verizon store, they'll give you a better deal. That's right, a better deal on the best network with the most ways to save on plans, streaming and phone deals. So take that AT and T or T Mobile to your local Verizon store today. Get a better deal and start saving based on root metrics. Best Overall Mobile Network Performance U.S. 2nd Half 2025 All Rights Reserve must provide recent consumer mobile bill in the name of the person redeeming the deal. Additional terms, conditions and restrictions apply. Make your game day legendary with MGM Rewards. From unforgettable tailgate and viewing parties to world class dining, thrilling nightlife and entertainment that keeps energy going long after the final whistle, this is where fans come to celebrate, show off your team spirit, cheer with friends and earn rewards on every experience you love. Because every play is bigger and every moment feels unforgettable in Las Vegas. So what are you waiting for? Make your game day legendary with MGM Rewards. Visit mgmrewards.com for details. Most people think their insurance will cover them if disaster strikes. But here's the truth. Many are wrong. You pay your premiums, you assume you're protected. Then the fine print hits, exclusions, loopholes, limits. Suddenly that coverage you counted on isn't really coverage at all. That's why I like my policy advocate. They take your actual policies, home, life, auto, break them down in plain English. They show you what's really covered and what isn't. Cost 27 cents a day. That's it. Less than a cup of coffee. Before you assume you're covered, go to mypolicyadvocate.com let them review your policy. You might be shocked at what you'll find. My policyadvocate.com Let me talk to the guys for a second. If you're over 40, you still work out, compete, still expect results. But your energy isn't what it used to be in the weights heart to move. You're not imagining it. Energy drops, metabolism slows, fat sticks around. Even when your habits haven't changed. That's not you losing discipline. That's your body changing and needing better support. MDrive products for years. I trust them every day. Boost and burn one of their supplements built specifically for men over 40 struggling with energy and weight. With support for healthy T levels designed for everyday use, not extreme dieting, not crash fat burners, just smarter daily support. It combines clinically tested ingredients with measured stimulants supporting metabolism and fat burn without extremes. MDrive is the number one men's health brand at Sprouts. Support your body the smart way. Go to mdrive for men.com the code is heard. H E R D for 25% off your first order mdrive for men.com Code H E R D. All right, welcome back. Julian Edelman is going to be joining us last hour here on a Friday. It is Valentine's day tomorrow so I will have I'll play matchmaker. I'm cupid cowherd around here so I'm going to play match maker before the end of the hour on NFL teams looking for quarterbacks and the current available quarterbacks. I think the Mac Jones situation with the Niners is is fascinating. I think to myself if I'm the the Colts do I want to go after Mac Jones but the Colts gave up two first for Sauce Gardner and I don't want to give up more draft capital when I may need to get another quarterback in next year's draft. So I'm going to give you the teams looking for a quarterback and some of the quarterbacks I think would fit with the team. What would I do as the matchmaker between quarterback and team? The Steelers are an interesting one. The Vikings, the Colts, the jets, the Browns, the Cardinals, the Dolphins. I think there's a way to go about this with an eye on the future in most cases. Here is John Middlekop with the news.
- [31:38]
Ethan Strauss
No, no, no.
- [31:39]
Colin Cowherd
Turn on the news. This is the Herd line news.
- [31:43]
John Middelkoff
Okay, Colin. With free agency right around the corner, get ready to hear a lot about A.J. brown and his trade status. Yeah, he obviously let his frustration frustrations be known all season. And a recent report indicates that Philly will entertain a trade offer for the three time Pro Bowler. And Jason Kelce even spoke to Brown's frustration and how he can be a detriment to the offense.
- [32:07]
Colin Cowherd
I think there's got to be a.
- [32:08]
Ethan Strauss
Reason that AJ Is well liked in the building by coaches and players.
- [32:13]
Colin Cowherd
He's well respected.
- [32:14]
Ethan Strauss
I think part of it is that he's a great player and you know, teammates want him there and know that he can be a dominating force for them. But you know, those frustrations, he's just the unfortunate player who allows his internal.
- [32:27]
Colin Cowherd
Frustrations to manifest into his play and.
- [32:31]
Ethan Strauss
It makes him play worse, it makes the offense worse and it makes his energy worse.
- [32:38]
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, I think that's a good way to put it. Like some guys can contain it to compartmentalize it. A.J. brown's probably not that guy. You know, I. I think, I guess I would ask you this. I think there's a chance the Eagles unravel this year a little bit like last year. We didn't know they weren't going to win until they didn't win because they would have these halves of football and they kept winning a lot of close games. I kind of think it's going to unravel this year. Sirianni hurts AJ Brown and there'll be moves. Do you?
- [33:10]
John Middelkoff
Well, I mean, I don't know. Unravel because the gm so good. They'll be talented, but they got a lot of question marks.
- [33:16]
Ethan Strauss
A.J.
- [33:16]
John Middelkoff
Brown'S gone. He's going to be traded here in a couple weeks.
- [33:18]
Colin Cowherd
Right.
- [33:19]
John Middelkoff
Unofficially, AJ Brown will not be back on the team. Lane Johnson reports he might retire. Landon Dickerson, Pro Bowler might retire. Did you see the guy they hired to be their offensive coordinator? He's never called plays, so this is not one of those. You know, Kellen Moore had been a play caller For a long time in Dallas. Yeah, right. Shane Steichen was a rising star. Philip Rivers was telling everyone that would listen that years ago. You know, you go Sean Manion at this new quarterback or I mean new coordinator, you just never know. We saw it with Brian Johnson, we saw it last year with Kevin Patola, who's Sirianni's guy. I think the A.J. brown situation, to me, you know, he makes $32 million. Colin, look at the, look at the drafts. You could find a guy for a million bucks and gave you 75 catches. AJ last year had 78 catches. So I'm going to trade, you know, people, all the Patriots, Patriots are going to trade their second round pick. They just made it the super bowl for a guy making $32 million. I, I'd be stunned. You know, I, I think his value, and I'm, I'm pro. A.J. brown, he's a very talented player. I think his value though is going to shock people when who they have one of the best GMs. He's great at making trades, but I don't think it's going to be easy for him just to get like, you know, pick 40 for A.J. brown. I think those days have passed.
- [34:28]
Colin Cowherd
Interesting.
- [34:29]
John Middelkoff
You know, speaking of troubles and wide receivers, George Pickens, he obviously had a great first year in Dallas, but he.
- [34:37]
Colin Cowherd
Already could be on his way out.
- [34:38]
John Middelkoff
Reports indicate the Cowboys expected to franchise him this offseason. They could then return turnaround and trade him for a second round pick. I don't know about you, Colin. I don't see any team in the league trading they franchise $28 million and then trading Jerry a second round pick. I don't see that one happening.
- [34:57]
Colin Cowherd
Well, I think we know the one position where college players can come right in and have immediate impact as wide receiver. I think Dak has shown an ability to work with Amari Cooper and CD Lamb and tight ends. I think Dak, I think they've got. Ryan Flournoy is an interesting player. I think CD Lamb's an absolute legit number one. I think they're going to draft fairly early, a tight end. I just, I wouldn't do it. I, you know, I think what happens sometimes, Jerry, the gm, and I think this happens in all businesses. You make choices to validate earlier decisions. And they gave up a third, I think. Did they give up a third?
- [35:37]
John Middelkoff
Yeah.
- [35:37]
Colin Cowherd
And it's like, okay, now they feel like they have to sign him and, and I get that. So that's, you know, they're going to validate their earlier decision and pay him. But I've got two examples last year for a stretch in Dallas and at Pittsburgh and for the record, there were red flags out of Georgia that he can be a bit disruptive. So I, I thought he had a great year, but I would struggle to pay him big money.
- [36:04]
John Middelkoff
Yeah, I think the Cowboys are committed on this. Jerry's proven, you know, Micah Parsons is kind of the outlier situation where he pivoted. I think they'll go all in. You know, they're paying Dak big money. Listen, if they can keep him on the straight and arrow. There is no. It'd be hard to argue that their offense wouldn't have a chance to be one of the best in the league if George is playing well. Okay, Colin. Last but not least, the Rams and the Seahawks. They went head to head three times last season, played some great games and the Seahawks obviously went on to win it all. But Jared Verse spoke to how he feels about their rivals up north.
- [36:43]
Colin Cowherd
I genuinely like, I don't like them. Like I like. I got like a disdain in my heart for them. Like I hate them. Like I don't like the Seahawks like at all. Like there's nothing I like about them.
- [36:51]
Ethan Strauss
I don't like their players.
- [36:52]
Colin Cowherd
There's nobody I like about their style. Like I don't like. I think that's incredibly realistic and healthy and I'm glad that he, I'm glad he went out there and I think that's, I think that for the next year or two will probably be the best rivalry in the sport.
- [37:07]
John Middelkoff
Well, you know what's funny, Colin is forever was the Steelers against the Ravens.
- [37:11]
Ethan Strauss
Yes.
- [37:11]
John Middelkoff
And then some of the NFC east, you know, with the Eagles and the Giants and the Cowboys over the years you could argue the three teams in the NFC West. I mean the Niners in Seattle been rival since Harbaugh and Pete got there. Now Seattle with Mike McDonald going at this defensive mind going up against McVeigh and Shanahan, you kind of have a three way rivalry because the Niners don't like Seattle or LA. LA doesn't like San Francisco. And now them and Seattle are at each other odds. It doesn't even matter that the Cardinals aren't that good. You got those three teams that are three of the better teams in the league.
- [37:42]
Colin Cowherd
It is, it's interesting about, I mean you just go to like a replay here or a replay there and the Rams were in the super bowl and they would have beaten New England or the Seahawks. Like the Seahawks Super Bowl. It's A really, really good team. But you go back to those Ram games and Matt Stafford multiple times walked up and down the field against the Seahawks defense. And so I kind of feel like, like everybody else did that. As great as the Seahawks team is and the story is, the reality is it could have just as easily. If you don't get this replay overturned or this call, it could have been a Ram Super Bowl. There is such a thin line between what Seattle and the Rams and the Niners produced. Niners had really unforeseen injuries. But I mean I would argue that the Rasheed Shahid, the special teams for Seattle eventually sort of catapults them slightly ahead of the Rams. That's about it.
- [38:36]
John Middelkoff
Colin. Even the Rams winning the super bowl this year, which was on the table. What about last year when they were a couple plays away from being the Eagles, then they would have played the commanders who they would have killed. They would had a one game situation against a pretty flawed Chiefs team. So McVeigh's probably lost some sleep the last couple years knowing he could have a couple more rings.
- [38:52]
Colin Cowherd
Yep. John Middelkoff with the news. Well, that's the news and thanks for stopping by the herd lie news. Yeah, the Julian Edelman last hour. Ethan Strauss this hour. It's, it's. This has always been an interesting week. This week and next week have always been really interesting weeks to be a talk show host because this wildly popular sport, it's probably like the week after the Stanley cup in Canada or the week after, like the English Premier League. You know, the championship's been settled. You get this sort of, oh, everybody takes a deep breath and we all kind of beat up on the NBA here for about a week before it goes into the All Star game. Ethan Strauss I thought was really good on it is I do think the playoffs will be excellent. I mean and the money the NBA made with their last deal is substantial. But I think the NBA should not look at the NFL. I think the NBA should look at baseball. And baseball's had a two and a half, three year renaissance because of tweaks. And I contend it's too repetitive. There's too many threes. You know my feeling on that I would take the three point arc and move it into the bench. I would not allow these corner threes. It would force players to defend the three ball more from the arc. Centers would still be, would, would not have to leave the circle. Therefore there'd be more collisions at the rim, more physicality. It would be harder to get open threes on the arc and it would become more of a situational get a bucket, get a stop league, which I think the playoffs become. And it's much better to watch playoff basketball than regular season three point shooting contests. I also, I don't know what exactly to do with the tanking. Ethan Strauss had his opinion, but I, but I do think the NBA is making a lot of money and the playoffs are really, really exciting. I don't know about shortening the league. I mean, they're playing two games a week. I think it's fine. Oh, what about all the injuries? I think they could play through a lot of these injuries. I do, I really do. I think a lot of this stuff is sort of managing for the postseason where the game gets more physical. But I think the NBA, between the money, between their social relevance and between playoff basketball, I think it's fine. I don't think the trajectory though, going forward is as promising as baseball. It's not as popular as the NFL. And I just read a Pete Tamil story this morning about college football, potentially expanding the playoff in college football to 24 teams, which would make the committee much less relevant, which I would like. I don't know if I like 24 teams, but I feel like baseball is moving up. NFL's moving up. College basketball ratings have been great. College football ratings were great. I don't know if the NBA's in that space. They got their money, they got their bag. Doesn't feel like it's as tight as it needs to be. There's just too many lingering issues here. Cupid cowherd. I'll be a matchmaker. Quarterbacks that are available and teams that need them. That is next. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app. All right, two truths and a lie. Here we go. I went to college with college football coach Jim McElwine. I began my broadcasting career doing play by play for the Las Vegas Stars. And I've been a Verizon customer for 15 years. Okay, I lied. All three are true. Verizon isn't as expensive as you think. In fact, if you bring in your AT&T or T Mobile bill to a Verizon store, they'll give you a better deal. That's right, a better deal on the best network with the most ways to save on plans, streaming and phone deals. So take that AT and T or T Mobile, build to your local Verizon store today, get a better deal and start saving based on root metrics Best Overall Mobile Network Performance U.S. 2nd Half 2025 All Rights Reserve must provide recent Consumer Mobile Bill in the name of the person redeeming the deal. Additional terms, conditions and restrictions apply. Make your game day legendary with MGM Rewards. From unforgettable tailgate and viewing parties to world class dining, thrilling nightlife and entertainment that keeps energy going long after the final whistle, this is where fans come to celebrate. Show off your team spirit, cheer with friends and earn rewards on every experience you love. Because every play is bigger and every moment feels unforgettable in Las Vegas. So what are you waiting for? Make your game day legendary with MGM Rewards. Visit mgmrewards.com for details. Most people think their insurance will cover them if disaster strikes. But here's the truth. Many are wrong. You pay your premiums, you assume you're protected. Then the fine print hits exclusions, loopholes, limits. Suddenly that coverage you counted on isn't really coverage at all. That's why I like my policy advocate. They take your actual policies. Home, life, auto, break them down in plain English. They show you what's really covered and what isn't. Cost 27 cents a day. That's it. Less than a cup of coffee. Before you assume you're covered, go to mypolicyadvocate.com let them review your policy. You might be shocked at what you'll find. My policyadvocate.com Let me talk to the guys for a second. If you're over 40, you still work out, compete, still expect results. But your energy isn't what it used to be. In the weights. Harder, harder to move. You're not imagining it. Energy drops. Metabolism slows. Fat sticks around. Even when your habits haven't changed. That's not you losing discipline. That's your body changing and needing better support. MDrive products for years. 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- [45:15]
John Middelkoff
Start shopping for your next car but don't know where to begin? Start at CarMax, where you can shop.
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Ethan Strauss
Your way from start to finish.
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John Middelkoff
Whether you're shopping for something practical, adventurous or luxurious, CarMax puts you in the driver's seat.
- [45:28]
Colin Cowherd
And if you want to shop cars.
- [45:30]
John Middelkoff
That fit your budget, CarMax has your.
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Colin Cowherd
Back all the way.
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John Middelkoff
Simply grab your phone and get pre.
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Colin Cowherd
Qualified from your couch, the dog park.
- [45:37]
John Middelkoff
Or even on a coffee break. It's quick, easy, and has zero impact.
- [45:41]
Colin Cowherd
On your credit score.
- [45:43]
John Middelkoff
Want to Explore your options? CarMax has plenty of options. In fact, with over 45,000 cars to choose from, CarMax has rides for almost every budget, including more than 25,000 cars priced under $25,000. From browsing online to checking out cars on the lot, you can shop your way at CarMax. Want to get started on the search for your next car? Start@carmax.com for details and get pre qualified today. Want to drive Carmax Fox College hoops Friday as Tom Izzo's 10th ranked Michigan State squad taking on Nick Boyd in Wisconsin tonight at 8 Eastern on Fox.
- [46:26]
Colin Cowherd
Well, as many of you know, I am a hopeless romantic. I'm going to play. Valentine's Day is tomorrow. I'm going to play matchmaker. Teams that need a quarterback and quarterbacks who are available. John, set me up. Here we go. On the eve of Valentine's Day.
- [46:43]
John Middelkoff
Okay, Colin, who are you pairing with? Kevin o' Connell and the Minnesota Vikings.
- [46:48]
Colin Cowherd
Well, the Vikings are ready to win now with their personnel, I would go get Aaron Rodgers. Aaron, will you be my schoolmate? I think it works. First of all, JJ McCarthy is going into year three. It is beyond durability issues. It's little stuff. It's big stuff. You can't depend on him. You got Justin Jefferson, an elite left tackle. Minnesota's got good players, an excellent head coach. Minnesota's got an elite defensive coordinator. By the way. Chicago's getting better. Green Bay's better. The Lions solve their offensive coordinator issues. You could be in fourth place very quickly with another J.J. mcCarthy injury. I'd go get Aaron.
- [47:28]
John Middelkoff
Okay, Colin, new GM, new coach. Who are we pairing with? The Dolphins.
- [47:33]
Colin Cowherd
I would retain. I would stay with TUA for one more year. He's under contract. Nobody's going to buy it out. It's sort of fantastic, right? For a year. He's got, he's got an out. After next season, the Dolphins can go big game hunting. Hunting in a year. But John, he's good enough to win games. Now there's limitations on the market. He has, there's a new gm, there's no reason to commit unless you could get a Fernando Mendoza. There's no real reason that Steven Ross in this organization could commit. They have some roster rebuilding to do before they worry about the quarterback. Two is expensive. He doesn't have a market. I'd stay with him.
- [48:15]
John Middelkoff
Okay, we have a new sheriff in town. Who are we pairing with? The Steelers.
- [48:20]
Colin Cowherd
Okay. This one makes sense to me. I would go get malik willis. Okay. McCarthy has a connection to Green Bay. He's going to have intel. Also, the Steelers need to get younger and more athletic. Malik Willis. I mean, there are people in the building and people out of the building that are saying he's better than Jordan Love. I don't think so. But he is electric. He played very well in Green Bay. McCarthy has a history of getting the best out of quarterbacks despite the criticism he gets. He's got that connection. I mean, let's. Let's face it with Aaron. Aaron did the best job possible, but do you really think Aaron and Mike McCarthy. I mean, McCarthy's went and hired a new staff. One of them doesn't really see eye to eye with Aaron. It doesn't feel like an ideal fit. I think Malik Willis works for me.
- [49:06]
John Middelkoff
Okay. Colin. This could be a team fresh off a divorce, looking for Love. Who are we pairing with? The Cardinals.
- [49:12]
Colin Cowherd
Okay. I think Kyler Murray has served his time. There's not a good vibe with ownership. And Kyler Murray. I like him. I'm in the minority. I would move him out and eat his contract. I would go do what Sean Payton of the Denver Broncos did. I would eat the contract. They just wanted Russell Wilson out of the building. We're going to reach a little bit on Bo Nix. It was viewed as a reach by many in the league. I would not take Ty Simpson from Bama at 3. I would trade down to 10, 11, 12. I'm much more comfortable if I can accumulate more picks. Okay. If I can get a fourth or a fifth and move down from three to 10 or 12, then I'll reach on Ty Simpson. And for the record, you got a young offensive coach, Jacoby Brissette. He may not be able to beat him out, but you'll know in a year from practice and some play whether you should go for another quarterback or keep the kid. But if you think he's got the ability to be your starter, get him in house. Former Rams assistant Work on him for a year. Listen, this is not. It's not a great situation, but I do think occasionally with Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray, and this has happened before. I think it's just time. The locker room needs to be cleared. You eat the contract to Kyler for a year.
- [50:29]
John Middelkoff
Well, this is a team that once got famously left at the altar right before the start of the season. They've been looking for love ever since. Colin, who are you pairing with? The Colts.
- [50:38]
Colin Cowherd
I think Riley Leonard let him play for a year. I liked him more than most people out of Notre Dame. He had one start last year. The Texans wrestled a lot of starters. Shane Steichen will get the most out of anybody now. They gave up first round picks for Sauce Gardner. So I wouldn't be giving up picks to move up play the kid. I don't want to commit long term to Daniel Jones.
- [50:57]
John Middelkoff
Who are we pairing with? The Jets.
- [50:59]
Colin Cowherd
I would take Greg Nussmeier, LSU quarterback in the second round. Not because I think he's going to be amazing, but Justin Fields gets hurt. This is going to be a terrible team. Whether he's a starter or a backup. I think he's absolutely at some point at least a spot starter or a bridge starter. I'd get him in the building.
- [51:16]
John Middelkoff
Will Cleveland ever find a quarterback?
- [51:19]
Colin Cowherd
Well, I'm going to be a matchmaker here. I should do or do love having you as a friend. I would keep Shador Sanders. Why not? They they're still stuck with the Sean Watson's contract. I think he's entertaining merch, sales interest. I like watching him play. I'd give him another year. You're not a title team anyway. Strongest opinion on my matchmaking.
- [51:41]
John Middelkoff
You know, I think you left out a name. Derek Carr. Rumors have been circulating about him making comeback. I think he makes sense. Minnesota, Indianapolis, two dome teams. I mean Aaron Rodgers. There's no guarantee he might just stay in Malibu. Colin, work the beaches. Derek Carr, Shane Steich and Kevin o'. Connell. I think he'd be an upgrade for both franchises inside makes some sense to me.
- [52:02]
Colin Cowherd
Good stuff. John Middelkoff. We head to hour number three on a Friday. Julian Edelman, the three time super bowl champ will stop by. Chicago's where we're at. It's the Herd. Think Verizon is expensive? Think again. Anyone can bring their AT&T or T mobile bill to a Verizon store today and we'll give you a better deal. So bring us your bill, walk in, runnin pogo stickin' teleport if you you can ride on the back of a rollerblading yak or flying on the wings of a majestic falcon. Any way you can bring your AT&T or T mobile bill to a Verizon store today and we'll give you a better deal on the best network based on RootMetric's best overall mobile network performance. US second half 2025. All rights reserved. Must provide a very recent postpaid consumer mobile bill in the name of the person redeeming the deal. Additional terms, conditions and restrictions apply. Whether you want to maximize your performance or form healthier habits this year, knowing what your body needs can help put you on the right path. With Quest, you can buy your own lab tests online@questhealth.com no doctor visit required for purchase. Quest has a huge selection of tests, including the new Elite Health Profile, a panel made for men and women and tracks 85 plus health markers affecting the heart, liver, kidneys, hormones, metabolism and immune system, delivering a ton of insights in one snapshot. For a limited time, save on select lab tests@questhealth.com with code herd10. That's herd10 at checkout. Terms apply. Make your game day legendary with MGM Rewards. From unforgettable tailgate and viewing parties to world class dining, thrilling nightlife and entertainment that keeps energy going long after the final whistle, this is where fans come to celebrate, show off your team spirit, cheer with friends and earn rewards on every experience you love. Because every play is bigger and every moment feels unforgettable in Loss Vegas. So what are you waiting for? Make your game day legendary with MGM Rewards. Visit mgmrewards.com for details. I'll say it up front, I don't usually endorse supplements. Most promise shortcuts. Anybody who's done real work knows shortcuts fail. But I like M drives. Every morning I put that protein powder in my coffee. It's practical. As you get older, energy dips and weight comes easier. That's biology. EmDrive boost and burn support steady energy metabolism and fat burning so effort actually counts. Clinically tested ingredients find that it sprouts. Amazon or mdrive for men.com mdrive for men who still show up.
- [54:29]
Ethan Strauss
This is an I Heart podcast.
- [54:32]
Colin Cowherd
Guaranteed human.