The Herd with Colin Cowherd – Hour 2

Date: August 20, 2025
Main Theme:
This episode digs into the challenging Cowboys schedule, explores the vital relationship between quarterback and coach in the NFL, and features an insightful interview with former quarterback Carson Palmer. The hour covers the nuanced dynamics facing Dallas, broader quarterback and ownership dilemmas, and takes a look at player development, star power, and sports culture shifts—with all roads leading back to the lesson that great teams are built on strong coach-QB partnerships.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Cowboys’ 2025 Schedule & the Coach/QB Disadvantage

(03:15–07:38) Colin Cowherd

• Cowherd’s Premise: It’s nearly impossible to win in today's NFL if you enter any game at a “decided disadvantage” at coach and/or quarterback.
  • Even legendary coaches see their fortunes shift when they lose the elite quarterback: “Belichick regressed badly without Brady. Reid with Mahomes is unbeatable in close games.” (03:15)
  • “It’s a 70/30 split; quarterback is more important than coach, but both matter.” (03:39)
• Dallas’ Specific Problems:
  • Cowherd runs down the Cowboys’ 2025 schedule, marking out at least eight games where Dallas is at a decided disadvantage at either head coach or quarterback (vs Packers, Washington, Denver, Chiefs, Detroit, Minnesota, Chargers, and at Washington again).
  • “I would take the under” on Dallas’ win total of 7.5 set by Vegas. “That’s eight losses,” Collin claims flatly. (06:00)
• NFL Exceptions: Upsets do happen but mostly when there’s a “perfect QB game or outstanding outlier circumstances” (06:41).
• Arizona as Example: Cowherd praises Jonathan Gannon’s rapid turnaround with the Cardinals—roster improvements and a quarterback performing at the highest possible level.

2. Star Quarterbacks, Ownership, and Roster Realities

Guest: Carson Palmer – Three-time NFL Pro Bowler
(07:38–17:06)

Defending Joe Burrow and the Saga of Franchise QBs

• On Burrow and the Bengals
  • Palmer credits the Bengals for finally retaining their stars and attempting to protect Burrow. “They’ve shown the support. I think they’re still working through a number of things... but defending Joe Burrow, I’m in the same court.” (07:38)
• Importance of Support:
  • “If he can be in positions this year where he doesn’t have to score 38 points every week to win, I think they’re a playoff team.” —Carson Palmer (08:28)
• Star Holdouts & Contract Distractions:
  • Palmer, referencing Micah Parsons’ situation, notes that holdouts are not a big locker room disruption, but do affect player readiness: “He’s protecting his body because he’s not under a new contract and he’s not physically ready to play.” (09:00)

Quarterback Timelines & Coaching Impact

• Faster Judgment for QBs:
  • “The world’s changed. Now I’m like, Thanksgiving year two, I’m going to make a decision.” —Cowherd (09:53)
• Caleb Williams vs. Anthony Richardson:
  • Palmer argues for a longer leash for college-proven talents like Caleb Williams: “He deserves three years. No doubt.” (10:45)
  • On ‘coachability’: “Footwork and technique are easily fixable—it just takes reps... The things you can’t teach are being able to stand in the pocket when you’re getting hit in the face and throw the ball accurately with timing.” (12:21)
  • The “innate stuff” (poise, anticipation) is what makes or breaks pros.

On Playing Through Injury & Veteran Adjustment

• Matt Stafford’s Back Problems:
  • Palmer acknowledges most QBs play through more pain than they admit—“Absolutely, it’s happening in every locker room” (13:55)
  • On Stafford: "He probably goes through most of the season, very rarely practicing... Matt’s the guy that doesn’t need all the reps.” (14:48)

Youth Football, Transfers & NIL

• Are Players Changing?
  • Palmer, now coaching high school, says: “This game is still pure. It’s a lot for the love of the game. ... Right now, it's still pure. But I do see that changing in the next handful of years.” (16:05)
  • Palmer predicts imminent changes, with NIL money creeping into high school football soon.

Notable Quote:

• “When the sophomore running back drives a better car than the coach in high school—That’s when it gets scary.” —Carson Palmer (16:58)

3. The Elite Coach/Quarterback Pairing: Why It’s Everything

(17:06–23:38)

• Cowherd’s Principle:

  • “Almost every great quarterback in league history… had a great coach.”
  • Goes through examples: Aikman & Jimmy Johnson, Montana/Young & Bill Walsh, Brady/Belichick, Mahomes/Reid, Allen/McDermott, Lamar/Harbaugh, Brees/Payton, etc. (18:45)
  • “I worry that Burrow is going to spend his entire life in Cincinnati and never get the guy, the owner, the coach, the roster. He’s just going to be a great quarterback that sometimes makes the playoffs.” (20:15)

• Talent Eventually Needs the Right Partner:

  • Dan Beyer analogizes elite QBs to actors finally finding their great director or music stars finding their ideal manager (20:57).
  • Cowherd notes the structural limitation in the NFL—QBs can’t easily pick their coach or team and are “kind of stuck there for a minute.” (22:20)

• Potential “Inferno” Stories of 2025:

  • Burrow’s frustration if Cincy’s roster or contract situations deteriorate.
  • Cowherd jokes about, “If only Raj copied Adam Silver: get Burrow to the Cowboys or Rams and everyone would be happy” (23:38).

Notable Quotes:

• “I think Burrow’s living a very isolated NFL life where he is an all-time great quarterback and ownership, personnel, roster… it’s just, I worry...” —Colin Cowherd (20:24)
• “As a football player, the way the NFL’s set up… you don’t really get to choose [like an actor can their director].” —Colin Cowherd (22:20)

4. Quick-Hit News and Player Development Topics

Anthony Richardson’s Demotion & Trade Speculation

(29:33–32:35)

• Colts’ naming of Daniel Jones as starter signals the end for Anthony Richardson, with speculation on whether the team will look to trade their former high-upside QB. “They wanted to make it clear this wasn’t a go-either-way thing,” said Dan Beyer (30:59).
  • “I think that’s a little bit of a red flag... when he pulled himself out of a game.” (32:29)

Patriots Rookie RB Travion Henderson

(32:42–34:16)

• Julian Edelman: “Trayvon Henderson’s probably the steal of the draft... It makes the other guys in the locker room like, man, that’s why he’s doing this.” (33:10)
• Cowherd on draft steals: “Most great teams, dynasty… they found a steal somewhere in the draft.” (33:41)

Luka Doncic’s Transformation

(35:01–38:17)

• Beyer analyzes Luka’s slimmer build and how it might bring back his explosiveness (35:31).
• Cowherd muses on why European basketball stars “struggle with diet and physique early in their career” versus American players, and both hosts agree international players are now remarkably tough and skilled.

Shedeur Sanders’ Pop Culture Fascination

(44:27–51:53)

• Cowherd is mystified by Shedeur Sanders' intense popularity, citing that he doesn’t tick the usual boxes for cult QB icons (not overly dynamic, flashy, or cocky) except that his dad is Deion Sanders and "branding."
  • “His game’s not dynamic... He’s a likable kid. I don’t think he’s serious enough.” (46:14)
• The consensus: his “underdog” status after falling in the draft, combined with a famous father and personal branding, has made him a cultural phenomenon (49:51, 51:21).

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “If he can be in positions this year where he doesn’t have to score 38 points every week to win, I think they’re a playoff team.” —Carson Palmer on Joe Burrow (08:28)
• “The things you can’t teach are being able to stand in the pocket when you’re getting hit in the face and throw the ball accurately with timing.” —Carson Palmer (12:21)
• “Almost every great quarterback... had a great coach.” —Colin Cowherd (18:45)
• “He [Burrow] is just going to be a great quarterback that sometimes makes the playoffs.” —Colin Cowherd (20:24)
• “When the sophomore running back drives a better car than the coach in high school—That’s when it gets scary.” —Carson Palmer (16:58)
• “They [Cowboys] are at a decided disadvantage at coach or quarterback eight times. That’s eight losses.” —Colin Cowherd (06:30)
• “I think dropping in the draft made him [Shedeur Sanders] incredibly a populist. Now he is part of everybody who thinks they’ve been jobbed a little in life.” —Dan Beyer (51:53)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Topic | Timestamp | |----------------------------------|--------------------| | Cowboys’ schedule breakdown | 03:15–07:38 | | Carson Palmer on Burrow, Bengals | 07:38–09:53 | | Quarterback timelines & coachability | 09:53–13:16 | | Stafford’s injury; veteran QBs | 13:16–15:14 | | High School Football & NIL | 15:14–16:58 | | Elite QB/Coach Pairings | 17:06–23:38 | | Anthony Richardson demotion | 29:33–32:35 | | Patriots’ Travion Henderson | 32:42–34:16 | | Luka Doncic transformation | 35:01–38:17 | | Shedeur Sanders’ popularity | 44:27–51:53 |

Overall Takeaway

This episode drives home a central tenet of Cowherd’s NFL worldview: you cannot consistently win in the league without an elite quarterback and a high-caliber coach in tandem. The risks facing teams like Dallas are explored through this lens, while the interview with Carson Palmer adds lived insight into franchise management, the burden of being a QB, and the unteachable essence that separates the good from the transcendent. Surrounding topics—from Luka Doncic’s body transformation to Shedeur Sanders’ branding power—underscore that in all sports, success is as much about the team around you and the culture you create as it is about pure talent.