THE HERD - Hour 2 - The message Bears HC Ben Johnson is sending, players who fell in the draft, Nick Wright

Summary

The Herd with Colin Cowherd Podcast Summary
Episode: THE HERD - Hour 2
Title: The Message Bears HC Ben Johnson is Sending, Players Who Fell in the Draft, Nick Wright
Release Date: August 12, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this engaging second hour of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, hosts Colin Cowherd and Jay Mac dive deep into the latest NFL developments. The episode covers a range of topics, including the strategic messages from Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson, analysis of NFL draft surprises, and a detailed discussion about quarterback prospects like Shador Sanders. The conversation is enriched with insights on team management, player performances, and the intricate dynamics of team ownership.

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1. Reflections on Team Management and Ownership

Colin Cowherd opens the discussion by sharing his personal experiences with management, highlighting the stark contrast between positive mentorship and challenging leadership.

"I've been very, very lucky. I've had really good management around me for my entire life... when you get bad management, you really notice and really appreciate good bosses." ([03:00])

He emphasizes the critical role of effective management in fostering successful sports franchises, drawing parallels between his experiences in Tampa and other organizations like ESPN and Fox. The conversation touches upon the significance of mentorship and good leadership in shaping team dynamics and performance.

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2. Analyzing the Cincinnati Bengals’ Performance

A significant portion of the episode focuses on the Cincinnati Bengals, particularly scrutinizing their recent performance under Head Coach Zach Taylor and quarterback Joe Burrow. Colin critiques the team's consistent slow starts and attributes some of their struggles to shaky ownership rather than coaching deficiencies.

"What do they all have in common? Shaky ownership." ([04:24])

He argues that organizations like the Bengals suffer not just from on-field challenges but also from behind-the-scenes issues, such as inadequate support structures and inconsistent management strategies. The discussion extends to the team's scouting capabilities, suggesting that limited resources may be hindering their long-term success.

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3. Evaluating Quarterback Prospects and Draft Steals

The conversation shifts to quarterback evaluations, with a spotlight on Shador Sanders—a rising prospect whose draft position has sparked debate. Colin initially expresses reservations about Sanders' maturity but acknowledges his athletic prowess.

"He is more athletic than all but about 10 guys nearly. He is fine." ([07:26])

Jay Mac adds that while Sanders shows promise, concerns about his fit within the current quarterback lineup persist. The hosts explore the complexities of assessing quarterback talent, considering both physical abilities and psychological readiness. They also touch upon other quarterbacks like Brock Purdy, discussing their potential impact despite draft positions that may not fully reflect their abilities.

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4. Deep Dive into the NFL Draft Class and Quarterback Rankings

Colin and Jay Mac delve into the nuances of the current NFL draft class, particularly focusing on quarterback rankings. They critique the existing ranking systems, pointing out discrepancies between player performance metrics and their perceived value among team decision-makers.

"The 2020 NFL Draft class was amazing for quarterbacks... Jalen Hurts has six, Burrow five. Jordan Love one. Herbert zero." ([47:57])

They argue that certain quarterbacks, such as Jalen Hurts and Joe Burrow, are underrated despite their impressive playoff performances. The discussion highlights the challenges of awarding MVP honors when quarterbacks are part of teams with varying levels of organizational support and success.

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5. Running Back Talents and Draft Outcomes

The focus then shifts to running backs, with particular attention to James Cook from Buffalo. Colin lauds Cook's exceptional performance and potential, positioning him as a top-five back in the league.

"James Cook is a game changer for Buffalo. He and Josh Allen is just who are the best." ([36:37])

He contrasts Cook with other running backs like Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey, emphasizing Cook's versatility and impact on the field. The hosts discuss the implications of draft decisions on team dynamics and future performance, underscoring the importance of selecting players who can deliver consistent, high-level performances.

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6. Notable Player Interactions and Team Dynamics

The episode also touches upon specific player interactions with the media, particularly Shador Sanders' confrontation with a local radio host. Colin assesses how such interactions can influence a player's public image and their relationship with the team.

"He is more athletic than all but about 10 guys nearly. He is fine." ([07:26])

The hosts debate the fine line between maintaining a competitive edge and fostering positive media relationships, considering how player behavior off the field can impact team cohesion and fan perceptions.

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Key Takeaways

• Effective Management: Strong leadership and good mentorship are pivotal for the success of sports franchises, as evidenced by Colin's reflections on his career.

• Team Ownership Issues: Shaky ownership can significantly hinder a team's performance, more so than coaching shortcomings, as seen with the Cincinnati Bengals.

• Quarterback Evaluations: Assessing quarterback talent requires a balanced view of athletic ability and psychological readiness, with players like Shador Sanders showing promising potential despite initial reservations.

• Draft Strategy: NFL draft outcomes are complex, with some players falling or rising unexpectedly based on team needs and player evaluations, highlighting the unpredictability of draft strategies.

• Running Back Prospects: Players like James Cook are emerging as key assets for their teams, demonstrating the importance of versatile and high-impact running backs in modern football.

• Media Interactions: Player interactions with the media can influence public perception and team dynamics, necessitating a balance between competitiveness and professionalism.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• On Good Management:

  "I've been very, very lucky... when you get bad management, you really notice and really appreciate good bosses."
  ([03:00]) – Colin Cowherd

• On Shador Sanders' Athleticism:

  "He is more athletic than all but about 10 guys nearly. He is fine."
  ([07:26]) – Colin Cowherd

• On James Cook's Potential:

  "James Cook is a game changer for Buffalo. He and Josh Allen is just who are the best."
  ([36:37]) – Colin Cowherd

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This episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd offers a comprehensive analysis of current NFL dynamics, providing listeners with thoughtful insights into team management, player evaluations, and the ever-evolving landscape of the league's draft strategies. Whether you're a seasoned NFL fan or new to the sport, this discussion sheds light on the complex factors that influence team success and player careers.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Nick Wright]

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[Colin Cowherd]

Hi, it's Colin.

[Nick Wright]

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[Colin Cowherd]

Listen, Baseball season's here.

[Nick Wright]

Perfect time to kick back with some Tito's. It's what I pour. You should too. Distilled and bottled by 5th Generation Inc. Austin, Texas. 40% alcohol by volume. Savor responsibly.

[Colin Cowherd]

Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every.

[Nick Wright]

Weekday on Fox Sports radio and noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific.

[Colin Cowherd]

Find your local station for the [e-mail].

[Nick Wright]

Or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.

[Colin Cowherd]

Now let's get this party started. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Here we go. It's hour two. It is a Tuesday. It's great to be here today. I've said this before. I've been very, very lucky. I've had really good management around me for my entire life. For about a year and a half, two years in Tampa. I, not, it was a circus. And that was the worst two years of my career. So I've always, and I probably took it for granted in Vegas or Portland. But, but, but I, you know, at the espn I had good radio bosses. At Fox has been great. I heart. So I've been very, very fortunate. But when you get bad management, which I had for about two years in Tampa, where, and I've told the stories a couple times, there's a couple of them that are just absurd, you really notice and really appreciate good bosses. And so I had very good teachers in high school. I had a couple great college professors. I've been lucky. I've had a lot of good mentors, surrogate, like almost dads in my life, my coaches. So that's a big part of it. And it's funny. So Netflix has this new show called America's Team and Emmett Smith is saying, yeah, we've had a real drought in Dallas. And he kind of lets Jerry Jones off the hook. Here's the bite. Well, Jerry never caught a pass. Okay. He never ran a ball right. And he damn sure didn't throw one. Right. So at some point, players got to take on ownership of what they've been.

[Jay Mac]

Trained and what they've been taught to do.

[Colin Cowherd]

We had to do it ourselves. We went back to back Super Bowls and then we lost our leader and we was in disarray for, for a year. Okay? So I totally disagree if I said to you here, here's seven or eight teams that are just losing franchises. The jets, the Raiders, Cleveland, Carolina, Chicago and Washington with Dan Snyder. What do they all have in common? Do they all always have bad coaches? No, no, it's, it's shaky ownership. I mean, the Bengals, it's almost impossible in the NFL to have a top five quarterback and not make the playoffs. The Bengals did that last year. It wasn't on Zach Taylor. It's why I always support Zach Taylor. He's not Andy Reid. He's not Jim Harbaugh. I'm going to support him. They have the smallest scouting department. They may still in the NFL. So to me, it's, I mean, think about this. The Angels had Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani and could not make the playoffs. Hmm. That's because the baseball franchise up i5 called the Dodgers is much, much better run. It's not all about money, research and development, scouting. It's just a better organization. So when Jerry Jones empowered two coaches, Bill Parcells early, Jimmy Johnson early, they won Super Bowls. I mean, think about this. In a passing league, the Bengals had a quarterback that led the league in passing, a receiver that led the league in receiving, an Ed Rusher that led the league in sacks, and they missed the playoffs. It's impossible when 14 of 32 teams make the playoffs. So, you know, again, you could say Zach. Zach Taylor. Okay, go ahead. He got to a Super Bowl. He did something right. All right. With that, Nick Wright. First things first. Weekdays at 3 Eastern on FS1. So I'm in a weird space with Shador Sanders. So, you know, so it'd be very easy to be a troll and marginalize me. But I liked him coming out of college. Then I thought he was way too immature with legendary in the speeding tickets. Unserious really bothered me. And then I watched him Friday and I'm like, stop saying he's not athletic enough. He is more athletic than all but about 10 guys nearly. He is fine. And so now I'm stuck. I did not like I I'm really, I like the traits. But I said yesterday, if your traits aren't Mahomes, Allen, Lamar, then you better be good at the other stuff. The other 30, 35% years ago you said something very smart. You said the NBA. You don't have to be a great defensive player because offense is 70% of the league. You shouldn't be hardened and be atrocious. Same thing here. Traits are 70% of the league, but you have to do some film study. Like, it can't be like so I am back and forth on Chador, but I loved how he played Friday. And then he drove me crazy because he goes after a local radio guy.

[Jay Mac]

And I'm like, oh, see, so I didn't I so here's the deal. I actually think you and I were in a similar spot on Shador and the Browns have given us an out. And then I'll get to the radio guy. Okay, So I think you and I both before the draft said there's a very real chance he's like, people were talking about Shador versus Cam Ward at one. And then it moved to will the Giants take him in the top five? And then it moved to should Pittsburgh trade up to 10 or 11 if he's there and I think you and I were two of the few people that said he might be there for Pittsburgh if they don't move at all, if they just stay where they are at the in the 20s in round one that we thought as a prospect he was a late round one, round two player and so we weren't as high on him as some. But I don't think any of us thought he was going to fall the way he did. So there's that part of it. Then I don't think you or I loved him as a starting quarterback his rookie year in the NFL. But when he ends up on a team that with the oldest quarterback in the league in Joe Flacco, with Kenny Pickett who is not an NFL quarterback and in fact when you have Mike Sando on in an hour, ask him about Kenny Pickett maybe being the first player in the history of his tears to be in his own tier. Tier 5 this year for Sando was just Kenny Pickett. It's the saddest thing I've ever seen. He has no friends, he has no roommates, he has nothing. You, he's out there all by himself. And then Dylan Gabriel who you know looks eye to eye with Kyler Murray literally. Then all of a sudden it's like well she door might be a good option in this specific quarterback room because Flacco is not playing all 17, Pickett's not a starter and you watch as much college football as anybody. Nobody watched Oregon last year and was like that kid that's a franchise NFL quarterback. So you then add to it that I think Shedor played quite well under somewhat adverse circumstances in Week 1 of the preseason and you have the recipe for a fifth round pick starting the season as the backup quarterback for the quarterback most likely to be benched of anyone in the league. So that part of it, I don't think that's in, in conflict with your previous opinions. There's 28 teams in the league where Shedeur would not be in a quarterback battle. He's on one of the three or four where he is and where he might end up moving up enough to where he's the eventual starter. There's that now the Tony Grossi thing. Colin, listen, I know it has been years since you had to go in locker rooms and it's been some time since I went in locker rooms. But we know that is not uncommon. The athlete going up to the loud mouth radio guy and being like hey what I do to you. I remember 12 years ago I don't know. I guess 15 years ago, being in the chief's locker room and Matt Castle saying to anyone who would listen in my vicinity, hey, does anybody like this guy?

[Colin Cowherd]

He.

[Jay Mac]

He sure seems to talk a lot of S to everyone, doesn't he? Like, that's pretty common. And so, and I let me add one other thing about the end of that. And this is just a reality of life. Never underestimate the power of charisma or a great smile like that. Tony Grossi shedor interaction reads not great, but when you watch it and Shador hits you with the 5000 watts smile and the laugh at the end, it seems like it's okay. So I had no problem with that. The walk in with the boombox and the staff, I maybe could have done without. But I also did just turn 40, so I'm becoming a curmudgeonly old man like you. But I thought he played well.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, he was fun to watch. So I said, almost everybody played this weekend. Mahomes, Burrow Tua. Everybody but Tom Brady played this weekend and Caleb Williams didn't. And my take was standalone Bears, Dolphins. Ben Johnson's like, you know, it's like when tech companies come out with a new product and they say, you know what, we're going to delay it. It's going to be revolutionary. But, you know, we just want to tighten it up. It means the engineering staff's a little behind. My take is Caleb is creating a little bit of drama where it's like, listen, do we want another nine days or seven days getting crushed? He's not quite there. We're asking him to do stuff under center, and it was strategic in not playing him. Not that he got a bunch of good snaps against the Dolphins. What's your take on that?

[Jay Mac]

I think you have gone swung the pendulum a little too far on the Caleb stuff, if I'm being honest. I think you have are a little too pessimistic at this point. Admittedly, you and I were both probably a little too optimistic last year.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right.

[Jay Mac]

But I listen, I would. If I were running an NFL team, I would simply say, hey, what does Andy Reid do in preseason and training camp? Yeah, I'll do that. Because the Chiefs start every year off sharp and ready and he plays his guys and Mahomes is out there, first preseason game and they have tough practices. But the second best, in my opinion, coach in football, Sean McVay does the opposite. So there clearly isn't just one way to go about it. I would be more critical of this if it weren't for the fact it also should be noted the entirety of the Bears starting offensive line sat. Their starting running back, tight end and their top three wide receivers sat. So of course Caleb is going to sit now. He does need to play probably more snaps now in week two than it otherwise would have. And is this Ben Johnson protecting Caleb? Is this Ben Johnson protecting himself? Is this Ben Johnson simply saying, yeah, we're not exactly where I want us to be yet, but I think there's no harm in waiting an extra week. I'll tell you this much like everybody loves Drake May, even though you can't find the stat, the number, the game where Drake May was better than Caleb last year. Drake May got five through five passes in week one. One of them was backwards over his head to the other team. Nobody cares. And so like, is it good or bad that Caleb didn't have that moment? I'm not sure, but I think I am. I do think it will be a little rocky early as this transition takes place, but I think by the by Thanksgiving, Colin, Caleb, I believe is going to look like the player that you and I both believed he would be.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, I hope so. So the quarterback, Mike Sandoz on in an hour and it's. I love it. It's an annual survey. I said yesterday I, I woke up and I saw it. It was like, oh, it was like Christmas present in August. It's great. I love it. Did you have anything, anything in the tears because you do your own tears, Anything that jumped out to you as a revelation or. I thought Bo Nix was a little low. I thought Aaron was a little high at this point. I think if you asked GMs, who would you take today, Aaron or Bo Nixon? They would take Bo Nix for a lot of reasons. One, he's just in his athletic prime. But it was, it didn't bother me. But it was there anything here that, that jumped out to you?

[Jay Mac]

Well, first of all, just because you, you opened the door there, I heard you tease in the previous segment that there's going to be an adjustment tomorrow. Is it?

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes.

[Jay Mac]

Your preseason prediction.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes.

[Jay Mac]

And then you revealed that a charger injury, Rashawn Slater. And so when I was like, and at first I was like, okay, good. Colin, who had every single defending division champion repeating except for the Chiefs, is now going to use the Rashawn Slater injury as a reason to elevate the Chiefs. Why do I have a terrible sinking feeling that somehow the Rashawn Slater injury is going to lead to Bo Nix and your beloved Sean Baten going from third to first in the AFC West.

[Colin Cowherd]

It is.

[Jay Mac]

Somehow Sean Slater gets hurt and the Broncos go to first place. I could. I saw that train storming down the tracks. I was like, that's what's happening here. All right. So sorry, no spoiler alert. I haven't seen the list, but I know that's what's happening. I just know it. All right. Now to the list. I thought the list was really good. Now I am higher on Stafford than most, but not the NFL GMs and front office people because I think he's the fifth best quarterback in football. Obviously, the three or four people that had Josh Allen or Lamar as tier two are just out of their mind like that. That to me is not a viable opinion unless people are arguing Mahomes is in a tear by himself, which they should, but they're not. Then Allen and Lamar have to be there with Burrow in Tier one. Yeah, I know there was a lot of consternation about Jalen hurts his ranking. I listen, I would have Jalen hurts ahead of Justin Herbert. I would rather have Jalen hurts than Jared Goff. But aside from that, like, I don't have a problem with Jalen hurts being high tier 2. I also think it should be noted people are awful quiet these days. You know, we don't hear from so much anymore these days, Colin, the Brock Purdy truthers, they were chirping at you and me for quite a while and now he's hanging on for dear Life in Tier 2, about to drop to Tier 3 when this thing comes out next year and you don't hear from as much anymore. I thought this quarterback tears was. I. I thought they were really well done as they typically are. I think Josh Allen's the second best quarterback in football. But, you know, 47 people voted him tier one, 50 voted Joe Burrow. It's such a small margin. I don't really have a problem with it. I think this is a pretty fair reading of the league. I agreed with you. I think Aaron was a touch high. I also thought Kyler, I thought the top of tier three are two quarterbacks that I just don't really believe in in Kyler and Aaron. So I wouldn't have them quite as high. I think Gino's a little disrespected. And listen, I understand nobody's ready for Mac Jones 2.0 bo nix to take the league by storm. I'm very excited to see it.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. You know, by the way, the Brock Purdy thing, and it's going to really bother J. Mac. But I said when Dak is a fourth rounder came in and the Cowboys had Zeke who was the best back in the league, the best offensive line, an offensive coach. The division was kind of wonky and they could spend money because they're paying Dakota. Yeah, they were three and then the more they relied on him. Well, if you go to Brock Purdy's first year as a full time starter, he had four Pro Bowlers on offense. Now their receiving core in this camp is a mess. And in his last 15 games as the team got old, Brittle is losing defensive players meaning they're in more shootouts. Do you know what Brock Purdy is in his last 15 games? He's 6 and 9 and they just paid him. So my take is what Brock Purdy is going through not only the last 15 games but in this camp where all his receivers are gone or hurt is that's the real NFL. Not of Dax rookie year or Brock's first two years of course.

[Jay Mac]

And by the way, listen, some of these the Brock Purdy folks are not going to be reasoned with. And I've said this before but I will say it again, this is a essentially a six year long. How do you view football war that started with Jimmy Garoppolo? Jimmy Garoppolo won, but objectively was not that good. And some people were like nope, he's a winner, he's got it. And there were those of us who were like, I actually think with that coaching and that talent and that scheme, you could throw almost anyone in there and and they would be successful. And those folks were like no you can't. And by the way, how would you ever prove that? And then they put in literally the last player picked in the draft and added Christian McCaffrey. And instead of those folks being like oh yeah, the talent, the scheme and the coaching, they're like nope, that guy's a superstar. And then those of us were like no, he has this amazing team around him. And they said, well how do you know he wouldn't do it if he didn't have that team around him? And then last year he didn't have it around him. They won six games and they're like no, Brock Purdy's still great. Like he's fine. He's overachieved for his draft status. I'm happy for him and his family. He got paid. But anybody that watches the NFL and thinks he is a force multiplier or he is a substantially, you know that he is unfairly ranked and the 14, 15, 16 range, there's just. They're not going to, they are not open to the evidence that keeps pouring in year after year or game after game.

[Colin Cowherd]

I will give you credit though, the fact that you were able to sniff.

[Jay Mac]

Out Bonix going, I saw it, I know it. Of course I was shocked when I saw you didn't have the Broncos in the playoffs. I'm like, that's. Listen, I know, I know Uncle Colin really well and one of the things I know is around this time of year, he loves, he love, he loves him some. Sean Payton loves him some. Ah, you know, how impressive is it really to go to seven straight conference title games and win three and go to three straight Super Bowls. Like we see that all the time. And now do I wish you had this type of energy for JP Lawsman in the bills circa 2009? Sure I do. But listen, everybody, everybody can't be the 2024 Denver Broncos who went.07 against AFC playoff teams. But now they're a real threat because have you seen Cortland Sutton? I mean, it's the silliest thing I've ever heard. But I'm glad you're now going to join the chorus on it. And I still. Please explain tomorrow how Rashawn Slater's injury moves the Broncos up two spots and the Chiefs stay where they're at. I don't see it, but I'm sure you will explain it.

[Colin Cowherd]

I will. First things first, my buddy Nick Wright, as always, good seeing you.

[Jay Mac]

See you, Colin.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, Two major moves tomorrow. I do. You know, it's. It's a couple years ago, nobody was playing. I can remember the year that Kenny Pickett came out. That was the only real August topic because Sean McVay decided when he broke into this league, I'm not playing starters in the preseason, everybody criticized him. He went eight. No. To start the season. And so a lot of people scaled back. And the NFL realizes joint practice is probably better for health and games. Anywho, this year it's everything cyclical in sports. Everybody's shooting nothing but threes. Everybody wants this. And then Oklahoma City, you know, has a great two shooter and, and Chad Holmgren's doing twos and SGA is doing twos. And all of a sudden you look up and you're like, oh, they're the NBA champs. Defense. So in the NFL now, like everybody's playing in the preseason. So everything in sports, I mean, the political media overreacts to everything in sports. We overreact to some stuff. But the truth is in sports everything comes around. Everything. Like three point shot. You got to take 73 point shots and then you start watching the Celtics and you're like the downside to shooting all those three point shots is you have bad nights shooting three point shots. You really don't with mid range, those Michael Jordan's teams, mid range you kind of got the same team every night and you say, well what about the Warriors? Well, they had kd, Clay and Steph, the three best three point shooters in the league, arguably on the same team. That was different. But I just look at the preseason this year and it's been fun. I'm watching starting quarterbacks, I'm watching starting players and I don't want my quarterbacks to get hurt. I don't believe in preseason I would eliminate it. I don't think you need it. College football doesn't have it, but it's been a good watch. 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.

[Producer]

Demand whenever you'd like.

[Jay Mac]

Hi, this is Jay.

[Nick Wright]

I'm the producer of the Paulie and Tony Fusco show. Usually in these promos they ask you.

[Colin Cowherd]

To listen to the show. I'm here to ask you please don't listen to the show. The hosts are two absolute morons who have the dumbest takes on sports imaginable. Don't listen to the show so it can get canceled. Whoa whoa, whoa.

[Jay Mac]

What the hell are you doing in our studio?

[Producer]

Get him Paulie. Ignore that fool. Listen to the Paulie and Tony Fusco.

[Colin Cowherd]

Show on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast. He's still moving.

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[Colin Cowherd]

Cheers to that.

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[Colin Cowherd]

Have we already discovered who got the steal in the NFL draft? I think there's an argument we did. We'll get to that before the end of the hour. First J. Mac with the news. No, no, no. Turn on the news.

[Producer]

This is the Herd line news.

[Colin Cowherd]

Ah, yes.

[Producer]

It's time, Colin, for the Cincinnati Bungles. Let's update them. Listen, the historically slow starts in the Zach Taylor, Joe Burrow era, you cannot deny them, it is really bad. But T. Higgins, he doesn't want to hear about it. In a recent interview, Higgins said that he rejects the narrative that the team gets off to slow starts and says the biggest thing is just the team executing in all three phases of football. Well, you know, T, men lie, women lie. The numbers, they don't lie. Let's get them on the screen. Joe Burrow in the last two seasons starting slow, period, like there's no denying it. Look at this. In September, he has been wretched. The offense has been putrid. The rest of the way, the numbers go significantly up. So I know T. Higgins doesn't want to hear it, but Colin, that's a fact. The Bengals slow starts have really hurt them.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. And when you. Boy, when you put those numbers on the screen, I'm not going to read all of them for our radio audience. But it is like a backup against a superstar quarterback. Like, he is so good. October 1st on, I mean, his completion percentage is 71%, 49 touchdowns, 12 picks and really mediocre early. And again, I always think it's something to do with injuries. Joe doesn't want to get banged up. I don't really have an answer for usually offensive coaches. I mean, Andy Reid's best month was September for years and years. I always feel like offensive coaches spend the off season drawn up new stuff. Right. Defensive coaches don't.

[Jay Mac]

Right.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's not what they do. Belichick's worst month was always September. He's experimenting with personnel. So it is odd to me that Zach Taylor, who is a disciple of Sean McVay, McVeigh's a good September coach. Shanahan, Andy Reid, Sean Payton, historically good September coaches. So, I mean, and so you can bang on Zach Taylor. But October 1st on Zach Taylor wins a lot of games. So it's. I don't have an answer for it.

[Producer]

Yeah, I like to chalk it up to being unprepared. I just don't think Taylor puts in the work necessary to get his team prepared. And he's out. Game planned by opponents. Now, Colin, I will just say this. If you want to bet Joe Burrow to win the mvp, I don't think that's a terrible bet. He is going to be slinging it because the defense is going to remain putrid, he's going to have to be playing catch up. He's got great receivers.

[Colin Cowherd]

No, this good. That's a good call.

[Producer]

Now. Now here's the thing though. Will NFL voters, you know the voters are dopey. Will they back a guy who ain't going to be a number one, two or three seed. They usually just take the quarterback from the best team in the league. But I don't know if they win 10 games and are the six succeed. Can Burrow be the MVP with massive number 50 touchdowns and 5,000?

[Colin Cowherd]

I think one of the more interesting stories is that Joe Burrow last year was completely authentic. He did not hide his disappointment in the organization. Remember when we there was video of him talking to Zach Taylor after a loss. Burrow is hyper competitive. This is one of my arguments why he separates. He gets out of Cincinnati in the off season. He like needs to clear his head because he's the only great quarterback in the league right now. If you look at the great quarterbacks in the league, look at their support. Stafford, Sean McVay, Stan Kroenke, Lesnie. I mean I would say Goff. By the way, that front office is unbelievable. Good personnel. Dan Campbell is above average coach. Lamar has the Ravens. Herbert now has Harbaugh. So you start looking around at the best quarterbacks in the league. Say what you want about Sean McDermott. Sean McDermott is a good football coach. He may like Mickelson not being able to beat Tiger. He may not be able to beat Andy Reid and Mahomes. McDermott's a good coach. But I get Burrow looking and thinking I have the cheapest owner. Every off season is contract disputes with our sack leader and our star receiver. I think a fascinating storyline. What if Burrow, and I suspect this is going to be true is great again this year. But an injury, a holdout squabbles and it feels like he is the one great quarterback in the league. Jalen Hurts has a great support system. Herbert now does. He'll be the one guy that doesn't. That's where I think pro athletes have a right to be upset is when you are elite it is obvious you're elite and they can't get you help and won't spend money. That's where I think Burrow last year said enough of this. He was. He didn't even hide his animosity toward the organization. Nor should he. Andrew Luck was always too everything's great here. No it wasn't. Be honest. That's part of leadership.

[Producer]

I like how you said, and I'm sure the audience heard you closely, Burrow likes to get out of Cincinnati in the off season. Yeah, fashion shows in Paris or Cincinnati, the Amalfi coast, where Burrow is hanging out with the, you know, the new celebrity girlfriend or Cincinnati. It's a no brainer. Let's move to Cam Hayward. Colin, this is not great. The veteran has had some issues with the Pittsburgh front office in recent weeks wanting a new deal. There are reports claiming Hayward wants an extension and he may be willing to sit out the season if he doesn't get his new deal. Now he is getting up there in.

[Colin Cowherd]

Age.

[Producer]

It feels unlikely that he's going to sit out. He was first team all pro last season, only only missed one game due to injuries.

[Colin Cowherd]

He's a great, highly productive, great academic. I mean, he's a. There are not many Cam Haywards, but he's 36. I. No, I'm not, I'm not denying that he may not get the contract he wants, but he was highly productive last year. So I think, and by the way, TJ Watts on the edge, you can find edge rushers. It is really hard to find guys as big as Cam Hayward that are that productive, that healthy. Like there's just not, I've said before, quarterbacks, number one, left tackle, number two. I'd argue interior defensive lineman. There aren't many Cam Haywards in the league. They're just, they're just not that many guys that are that size, that fast, that smart, that instinctive. He is a great, and I know he's old, but I feel much better trying to find another. Aaron Donald, Jalen Carter, Chris Jones, Cam Hayward. You may get two of those, you may get one of them a draft, what you get four edge rushers, six edge rushers, 12 receivers, a draft that can play.

[Producer]

Imagine the chances they, they could have decided, we'll trade Cam Hayward, get something max value, he's all pro and we'll trade TJ Watt. And they could have picked up multiple picks to make a run at Arch Manning. Instead they're gonna just go back with a loaded defense.

[Colin Cowherd]

Look at that, look at that, look at that though. Look at some of those highlights. Like he is still elite. And I know I get the age thing. I totally get it. You can't give him everything he wants. But folks, outside of quarterback, you can find corners, receivers, linebackers, tight ends, all. I mean, go look at how many tight ends Gronk, George, Kittle are not. They're not first or second round guys. They're receivers sixth and seventh round guys that can play and not a lot of Cam Hayward body types in the league that are that quick and that twitchy for that size.

[Producer]

A final story Some good news out of Buffalo. James Cook, the running back who was a monster for my fantasy football team last year and also the Buffalo Bills. He returned to practice today after McDermott said conversations about Cook's new contract in the team have been progressing. McDermott didn't say whether or not Cook's hold in is over, but again he's practicing with the team today, which is just great news. This kid is electric. I have him as a top five back in the league. He is a game changer for Buffalo. He and Josh Allen is just who are the best.

[Colin Cowherd]

The best five backs are Saquon when healthy Christian McAffrey, although he wasn't last year.

[Producer]

Who's three Dijon Robinson's up there. Jameer Gibbs is up there.

[Colin Cowherd]

Jameer Gibbs and I think you got.

[Producer]

To put Cook in that class. I know people will say Josh Jacobs, Derrick Henry, but Cook is like entering his prime. I mean that guy is and he's a dual.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well people are putting on my screen staff says Derek Henry. I I think he's, I think he's very good.

[Producer]

You could ask around the league. I bet you GMs would take Cook over Derrick Henry for this year. Given the tread on the tires of Henry. He you can't give Henry 2020 carries for like seven games this year and expect him to show up in January.

[Colin Cowherd]

Come on, we don't have a ton of great running backs. There's Kyron Williams is there's a lot of very good running. But Jay, I think you're I think you're probably right. I think James Cooks top five. Yeah, I think you're right. J. Mac with the News well, that's the news and thanks for stopping by the Herd Lie News. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and.

[Producer]

The iHeartRadio app Tired of spills and.

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[Nick Wright]

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Nick Wright]

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[Colin Cowherd]

Cheers to that.

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[Producer]

Rom, Phil and D.J. some of the biggest names in golf are teeing it up in Indy for Liv Golf Indianapolis Catch coverage of round one Friday at 2pm Eastern with coverage on the weekend of round two and the final round starting at noon Eastern.

[Colin Cowherd]

Only on Fox, by the way, for those in Indianapolis. I went to this last week in Chicago with my buddy John Middelkoff. We had a blast. The music, the merch, the access to the golfers is great. So it's really fun. You know, they don't have that many domestic events. They've got a Michigan one coming up. Indy, Chicago, they do a lot of stuff globally there. In person, it's a scene. It was really fun. So it's interesting about every year in the draft there's one or two players that fall in the draft. That was Shador Sanders and Aaron Rodgers fell late first round or a Dan Marino falls. There's a rumor this and that Shador really fell. And then there's also there's a steal of the draft. Brock Purdy, seventh round. That's the steal of the draft. Actually the Niners got Joanne Jennings years ago in the seventh round. That, that was a steal of the draft. George Kittle was a fifth round pick. So it's hard to, it's hard to call somebody in the second round a steal of the draft. But it is interesting. Like you, I watched about eight to nine Ohio State games this year and they had two running backs, Travion Henderson and Quinshawn Judkins. There was never a point, although in the Natty Judgkins had a big run and he had a good game. I thought Travian Henderson was just bigger, stronger, faster and yards per carry. Henderson much greater, better receiver, better blocker. Also he was like leading prayer groups for Ohio State. He's just a great, great kid. So this week Josh McDaniels came out and said this is the fastest running back I've ever had. And in his first NFL preseason game, first time he touched the ball, he went 100 yards for a touchdown. So it is interesting he was also a higher rated college or high school recruit. He was a five star recruit and I watched eight Ohio State games and I never thought he was the second best of the running backs. Yet he got drafted after Quinshon Judkins. Judkins was a three star recruit and Judkins now is sadly in some trouble off the field. So it's just interesting and I know he's a second round pick, but I watched all These Ohio State games, he was faster with the combine. He's a better receiver, he's a better blocker. I just thought he was an unbelievable player. And I was. It reminded me of when Sony Michelle and Nick Chubb played for Georgia and New England in the first round took Sony Michelle and Cleveland in the second round took Nick Chubb. And Chubb was a much better bro. It's hard because they're both getting carries. I thought, I thought Michelle would have a better career, but Chubb was a bigger, stronger, could be more of a pounding running back. So I don't know, it looks like to me, sometimes you need breaks. Cleveland takes the Ohio State running back, who every time I watched outside of the Natty game, I thought, well, Travion Henderson, I think we said it multiple times, that guy is going to be a great pro. And he was speed, size, receiving, blocking. And then I found out this morning when I went and looked it up, he's like leading prayer groups for the team. So he's a pretty exceptional kid. The other thing we were talking about, oh, by the way, here's Josh McDaniels, the coat, the coordinator for New England on the Buckeye rookie.

[Jay Mac]

He's a tremendous kid, awesome individual, really hard worker, smart kid. Can process a lot of information. We've had some really good players with skill sets that are somewhat like his. Maybe nobody quite as fast as, you know, Vereen was probably the fast. Him and Danny Woodhead were fast. But Travion's fast, fast.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. I think New England may have found themselves a really game breaking star. Second guy drafted out of his backfield at Ohio State. I was saying that I do question and I said it's with Cam Newton and Johnny Manziel and Baker, I see the traits, I question the maturity. And in all those cases, I think the lack of maturity did hurt Baker, although he's rebounded nicely. Manzel, it crushed Cam. It didn't help. And I think with Shador Sanders, it's not ideal, but. And I did not like after the game in which I thought he played really well. And I think it's kind of ridiculous. He's fourth on the. He's fourth on the depth chart. Dylan Gabriel hasn't been as good in camp and can't stay healthy. And staying healthy is like a skill. Brett Favre, Eli Manning, Tom Brady, when they, you know, Tom Brady practice, getting sacked, it's a skill. You know, Lamar Jackson got hit too much early, started practicing getting out of the way. That's a skill. But Nick Wright did Make an interesting point about Shador Sanders confronting the very popular local Cleveland radio host.

[Jay Mac]

That is not uncommon. The athlete going up to the loudmouth radio guy and being like, hey, what I do to you? Like that Tony Grossi. Shador interaction reads not great, but when you watch it and Shador hits you with the 5000 watts smile and the laugh at the end, it seems like it's okay. So I had no problem with that. The walk in with the boombox and the staff, I maybe could have done without.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, so we'll see. I, I do think it's kind of ridiculous at this point though. And I know it's hard to admit everybody, guys don't like to admit they're wrong. Yeah, I don't love this stuff either. We're showing, you know, you know, all the pregame stuff. I, I'm coming into the stadium. I don't love that stuff. I, it'd be one thing if you were a four time all pro. I, I don't like it now as a rookie, a fifth round pick with two speeding tickets. But I do think you have to admit now if, even if you're a critic, he made some really nice throws. He was excellent 10 plus downfield in the face of pressure. The other thing is. Stop telling me he's not athletic. I don't want to. I mean like right there, he. This run right there, he is more than athletic. He's not Lamar Josh Mahomes Herz. I'm not saying that. He's not Kyler Murray. Now watch this. And again, it's a really nice throw with a guy in his face. You know, we got to be honest about this. He is more than accurate and more than athletic enough. You know, your dad, you grow up. He's Deion Sanders. There's. He's a little into himself. That part I don't love. J. Mac, you're looking at me. You've got some condemning. Say it again. I can't hear you. Hold on, buddy. Say it again. I'm sorry.

[Producer]

I'm excited for Mike Sando coming up. I'm surprised Shador didn't crack the quarterback tears. But interesting. I do have one note. Colin. This is one of the cooler NFL stats I've seen. Okay? The 2020 NFL Draft class was amazing for quarterbacks. You remember that, right? Burrow, Herbert Tua hurts, Hertz and Jordan love.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Producer]

Playoff wins. From the 2020 NFL quarterback class, Jalen Hurts has six, Burrow five. Jordan Love one. Herbert zero to a zero. So Jalen Hurts has as many playoff wins as every other quarterback in his 2020 draft class, which is a historic draft class. Yet Jalen Hurts somehow is still only ninth among decision makers and front office people.

[Colin Cowherd]

Again, you're, you're, that's, that's how fans see it. Fans are like they win games. Well, Dan Marino didn't win a Super bowl and Brad Johnson did. So you have to contextualize this stuff. General managers have to not just go quarterback. Equals wins. Brock Purdy, when he's had a team that's all beat up, he's 6 and 9 in his last 15 and they just gave him 270 million. Dak Prescott and Brock, when they came in with four all pros on offense, both did first year. It's amazing how good they look. They also didn't make any money and you could go free agent hunting. So now Brock starting next year, a little bit of a cap hit. So it's, it can't just be wins cuz Dan Marino no Super Bowls and only got there once. Hi, it's Colin.

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[Colin Cowherd]

Listen, baseball season's here.

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[Colin Cowherd]

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[Nick Wright]

From single barrel bourbons to straight rye, Green river is the perfect combo of rich flavor and richer history. Visit greenriverwhiskey.com to discover a legend in a bottle. A product of Green River Distilling Company Owensboro, Kentucky. Alcohol by volume varies by product. Greenriverwhiskey.com, please drink responsibly. American Public University is the number one provider of education to our military and veterans in this country. They offer something truly unique. Special rates and grants for the entire family, making education affordable not just for those who serve, but also for their loved ones. If you have a military or veteran family member and are looking for affordable, high quality education. APU is the place for you. Visit APU APUS. Edu Military to learn more. That's APU APUS Edu Military. Imagine never buying gas again. EVs are as easy to charge as your phone and perfect for everyday life. Drive daily with confidence everywhere you go. Most Americans drive 40 miles a day. Most EVs are equipped with 200 to 400 miles of range. They've got fewer parts, fewer repairs, and fewer headaches. With hundreds of new and used EV models available today, there's an EV to fit every lifestyle and every budget. I love my electric vehicle. It's easy. No more gas stations. The way forward is electric. Learn [e-mail] this is an iHeart podcast.