The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: THE HERD - Hour 2 - Right to Start Burrow, Shawn Merriman Stops By
Date: November 28, 2025
Host: Doug Gottlieb (in for Colin Cowherd) with Jason Stewart
Key Guest: Shawn Merriman (former NFL All-Pro linebacker)

Overview of the Episode

In this episode, Doug Gottlieb (filling in for Colin) dives deep into pressing NFL narratives following Thanksgiving Day games, with an emphasis on quarterback leadership—most notably Joe Burrow’s decision to return for the Bengals despite a lost season. Gottlieb sets up a thoughtful discourse about what true leadership looks like in sports and relates it to broader cultural conversations about expectations of athletes. Later, former NFL linebacker Shawn Merriman joins to break down the Cowboys’ defensive surge, the Packers’ transformation, and struggles from teams like the Chiefs, Ravens, and Lions. Other segments touch on the “feast week” of college hoops and notable NFL injury and rivalry updates.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Joe Burrow’s Return and Defining Leadership

• Joe Burrow’s Post-Game Reflections ([04:38]):
  Burrow admits to "knocking some rust off" but emphasizes the emotional importance of being back, saying, “It was great to be back out there… just good to be back with the guy.”

• Gottlieb on True Leadership ([05:08–10:30]):
  Doug argues that Burrow exemplifies leadership not just by playing well, but by choosing to play when he could have sat out a lost season:

  “Anyone can play when you're in the playoffs ... but you make all that money as a quarterback to lead your team and to play hard when you don’t have to play hard.”
  He draws a parallel to radio, noting,
  “They don’t pay you to do the show. They pay you to get up.”
  Gottlieb also pushes back on the idea that Burrow’s choice is “heroic,” saying it’s simply what leaders do and society’s standards have shifted.

• Leadership vs. Self-interest (Cam Newton Reference) ([12:19–13:07]):
  Doug contrasts Burrow’s commitment to Cam Newton’s more self-interested quotes:

  “Team success don’t take care of my family … there’s more players that have rings … that are struggling…” – Cam Newton ([12:21–13:07])

• Broader Reflection:
  Gottlieb laments that playing through adversity is seen as special rather than standard, referencing generational hypocrisy about “load management” ([15:14]).

2. Generational Perspective on ‘Load Management’ and Work Attitudes

• Gen Z vs. Gen X on Work Ethic ([15:14–16:12]):
  Jason Stewart and Gottlieb discuss the generational blame game for “load management” culture:

  “Our generation constantly makes fun of Gen Z for only working when they want to work… but our generation came up with many of these ideas.”
  – Doug Gottlieb

  “We as parents, our generation as parents, made Gen Z into the most entitled generation of all time.”
  – Jason Stewart

• Contradiction in Sports Discourse ([16:12]):
  Both agree there’s irony in media personalities complaining about load management while also questioning why Burrow would risk playing.

3. NFL Deep-Dive: Shawn Merriman Interview ([25:38–34:13])

a. Cowboys’ Defensive Transformation

• Merriman credits personnel moves and coaching stability:

  “Brian Schottenheimer was on the staff… I thought that they made a great decision in keeping them in house… That was a Dak Prescott key for head coach. Right. I thought it was smart.”
  – Shawn Merriman ([25:38–26:00])

• Trading Micah Parsons

  “Micah is balling out of control right now, but long term… it may be most benefit to the Cowboys with the draft picks they got… you’re building the entire team.”
  – Merriman ([26:15–26:48])

b. Packers’ Shift in Play Calling

• Conservative to Aggressive

  “When things get on the line... coaches get more strict… more conservative in play calling. And that’s not how you’re going to win.”
  – Merriman ([27:17–27:58])

c. Impact of Joe Burrow Playing on Bengals Locker Room

• Signal of Not Surrendering

  “If Joe Burrow sits the rest of the season, you’re basically telling everybody else in the locker room you’re done… What they said in the locker room is we’re not tanking.”
  – Merriman ([28:10–28:55])

d. Chiefs’ Decline & Aging Roster

• Chiefs Not Yet Out, But Different

  “They still got Mahomes, still got Kelsey… but they’re just not as dominant as they once were... Travis Kelsey included, you know, getting up there in age."
  – Merriman ([29:12–30:12])

e. Ravens’ Struggles and Lamar Jackson

• Turnovers and Lost Rhythm

  “They had four or five turnovers… When you have that, I don't care who's at quarterback… Also, they had a lot of downtime when Lamar wasn't there.”
  – Merriman ([30:16–31:03])

f. Lions Losing Their Edge

• Coordinator Departures and Windows Closing

  “When you start talking about teams running NFL in general and windows closing... those coordinators are going to go... front office people are going to leave…”
  – Merriman ([31:18–31:51])

g. Chargers vs. Raiders Preview

• Injury-Plagued Resilience

  “I think more catastrophic things than happen to one team maybe in NFL history… They were decimated and they found a way to still put themselves in position…”
  – Merriman ([32:16–32:46])

• Consistency Is Key

  “What they have to do is stay consistent... health was such a big factor with these guys…”
  – Merriman ([32:46–33:03])

h. Lights Out Extreme Fighting

• Merriman plugs his upcoming MMA event, highlighting its growth and the pathway to the UFC ([33:26–34:05]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Burrow Playing Despite Playoff Elimination:

  “It shows Joe Burrow wants Zach Taylor to be his head coach. If you don’t want that guy to be your head coach, you don’t play.”
  – Doug Gottlieb ([08:15])

• On Cam Newton and Leadership:

  “That’s how everyone knows you’re not really a leader—when you’re about yourself more than everybody else, and more than winning, everybody sees through that.”
  – Doug Gottlieb ([13:07])

• On Modern Athlete Mentality:

  "To be a leader as a quarterback… you have to play in THAT game to be a real leader."
  – Doug Gottlieb ([11:15])

• On Gen Z and Blame-shifting:

  "They’re our fault. And the current system in place right now for sports was created by coaches of our generation..."
  – Jason Stewart ([15:14–16:12])

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|---------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:12 | Doug Gottlieb opens; Joe Burrow's return as leadership topic | | 04:38 | Burrow on his emotions and performance after return | | 05:08 | Gottlieb on the higher standard for QBs and society’s shift | | 12:19 | Cam Newton’s individual vs. team success quote | | 15:14 | Gen Z and Gen X debate about work and ‘load management’ | | 25:38 | Shawn Merriman interview: Cowboys, Packers, NFL analysis | | 28:10 | Merriman on Burrow's message to Bengals' locker room | | 30:16 | Merriman on Ravens’ turnovers and Lamar Jackson | | 31:18 | Merriman on Lions’ ‘window closing’ and coordinator exodus | | 32:16 | Chargers’ injury struggles and need for consistency | | 33:26 | Lights Out Extreme Fighting, event plug |

Additional Highlights

Egg Bowl Rivalry Update and College Hoops "Feast Week"

• Egg Bowl Antics:
  Lane Kiffin accuses Mississippi State of locker room shenanigans and missing team equipment, referencing the heated rivalry atmosphere.

  “At three o'clock in the morning, they break in again and take Trinidad's jersey. So I guess you expect nothing less from these people.”
  – Lane Kiffin relay by Jason Stewart ([35:10])

• College Basketball Feast Week:
  Gottlieb reflects on the challenges of early season tournaments, turnover in rosters, and how a strong or poor performance can divide or unite a team. Cites his own experiences coaching in the Virgin Islands and talks about the mental aspect of building player confidence.

  “All it takes is a win or two and they [players] start to go like, you know, this might actually work.”
  – Doug Gottlieb ([52:47–54:30])

Episode Tone

Conversational, occasionally irreverent, but deeply invested in the core values of sport—leadership, accountability, and the evolution of athlete culture. Lots of “real talk” moments, with Doug pushing back against media and generational narratives, and guests openly dissecting key NFL teams with practical knowledge and lived experience.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode:

This hour of The Herd—helmed by Doug Gottlieb—uses Joe Burrow’s return as a springboard into a broader conversation about true leadership and commitment in modern sports. With analyst Jason Stewart and a long-form visit from Shawn Merriman, listeners get both philosophical context and expert breakdowns on the NFL’s most fascinating teams—highlighted by forthright, sometimes provocative, commentary and real locker room insights rarely heard on other sports talk platforms.