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Matt Hasselbeck
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Colin Cowherd
He'd also tell you that this podcast.
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Colin Cowherd
Thanks Capital One Bank Guy.
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Colin Cowherd
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Colin Cowherd
To the Heard Podcast. Be sure to catch us live every.
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Colin Cowherd
Or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Now, let's get this party started.
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You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Colin Cowherd
All right, it is a Monday. We are live. We're in LA today, it's the Herd. Wherever you may be and however you may be listening, John Middlekop, former NFL scout. My buddy at the volume is stopping by filling in for Jason McIntyre. Colin right? Colin wrong. Today I listen. I don't know exactly what you can take from a preseason. I do think you do get to see how quarterbacks like I thought Caleb Williams yesterday under it looked like Chicago had a real game plan. He didn't have a great Friday practice. We know stylistically what Ben wants and what Caleb is are not a perfect match. But I as I watched that I thought, oh, everybody in Chicago is breathing a sigh of relief. That's my takeaway. They're like, okay, we'll score some touchdowns. Okay. It doesn't look because it's been a choppy camp, that's fair to say.
John Middlekoff
Well, especially when they turn on the jets and they see their former quarterback Justin Fields not being able to complete a ball. So I think the last 48 hours for bears fans, you can take a big, big sigh of relief.
Colin Cowherd
Okay. Colin right? Colin wrong. We do it every Monday. Here we go.
Fox Sports Radio Announcer
Where Colin was right.
Colin Cowherd
Sam Darnold and the Seahawks, yeah, they looked really, really good. I just think John Snyder, the gm they've had three straight back to back to back great drafts. They're just too good. If Jackson, Smith and Jigba, the Ohio State Buckeye, if he can become a number one and they think he is, I don't think they have a unit that's a problem. This, this Gray's able. This, this offensive lineman they got oh my God, he's moving Chris Jones around like he's a loaf of bread. So Seattle Darnold look comfortable. I think when you watch the Seahawks they are a top five or six roster.
Fox Sports Radio Announcer
I really believe that where Colin was.
Colin Cowherd
Wrong I'll give myself another wrong. On Jackson Dart he just looks really poised. I mean you put him on a field, you watch Justin Fields and you see a big, big gap. I think a lot of his coaching but I felt he was more of a mid second round guy. I've always felt the Giants talent is. I. I think they're a quarterback away, but he is better and more comfortable than I thought he would be.
Fox Sports Radio Announcer
Even in the preseason where Colin was.
Colin Cowherd
Right, I've said the Bengals ownership gets in the way of Joe Burrow. Reportedly, they're shopping outside pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, who, by the way, when he was not on the field last year for Cincinnati, they were 32nd in the league in defense. You can't ask Joe Burrow to have to win a track meet every Sunday. Value. Kansas City figured it out. They hire spags, they got a great defense, and if Mahomes is off, they can still win a game. So this is what I've been saying for years. I think this year for Burrow, if they don't make the playoffs, he's going.
Fox Sports Radio Announcer
To demand to move where Colin was raw.
Colin Cowherd
There's two things in life I know aren't good for me, but I. I can't help myself. Cigars and Joe Milton, he didn't have a very good performance. The kid's got a cannon. He is so mercurial. He is so up and down. He's. He's all over the map. And this was not good. Took a sack, took a safety. I know, I know. I've been tongue in cheek for years. But I'll tell you what, he'll have one or two preseason throws that look like Elway, and I'll take a wrong on that.
Fox Sports Radio Announcer
Where Colin was right.
Colin Cowherd
What have I said about Mike McDaniel? I know he's smart, but the Dolphins feel like a bowl of jello. Where's the meat in the culture? Where's the meat in the sandwich? Listen to Jalen Ramsey, the former Dolphin, talk about moving away from Miami.
Jalen Ramsey
I do appreciate the Dolphins and them working with me and David, you know, not just, hey, this team called and, you know, we're gonna send you here and this and that. Like, it wasn't any of that. It was very open communication. Y' all been good to us. I've been good to y'.
Matt Hasselbeck
All.
Jalen Ramsey
Like, let's do it the right way. Let's go to a team that's gonna be able to compete. Let's go to a team where there's a lot of respect for the head coach.
Colin Cowherd
Interesting. Go to a team where there's a lot of respect for the head coach. Feels like a little shade thrown at Eminem.
Fox Sports Radio Announcer
Where Colin was wrong.
Colin Cowherd
You know, I've downplayed Matt Stafford's back injury. It feels more serious. He's out at practice today, but they don't really have a contingency plan. Stetson Bennett's not the answer and you know, Jimmy Garoppolo's aged quickly. So this multiple reporting today that I trust is they're crossing their fingers on this stuff. Like there's a reason they're keeping him out of practice because when he had a practice with 30 snaps the next day he couldn't practice. So this is probably more serious than I've let on.
Fox Sports Radio Announcer
Where Colin was right.
Colin Cowherd
I've said it. The minute Taylor Swift started showing up on tv, guys, she is great for football. She's going to expand the base. Listen to this. The chief's principal owner, Clark Hunt said last week, our fan base used to be 50, 50 men and women. It's now 57 of our fans are female, probably the highest in the National Football League. So she has expanded the fan base. There was this sense that she's gonna turn a lot of guys off. Never bought into that. She is a stimulus package with a microphone. She is great for every business. She's likable, she's gifted. She seems to deeply want to learn and know a lot about football. Guys, take a deep breath. We're all going to be okay.
Fox Sports Radio Announcer
With Taylor Swift where Colin was right.
Colin Cowherd
Well, Treveon Henderson, the running back out of Ohio State, I didn't understand how you could not draft him before. Quinshon Judkins, the ever Ohio State running back, well, from what I've seen in the preseason, he may be the steel of the draft. So of the two Ohio State backs, he's a better receiver, he's a better pass blocker, he's a better runner. He was also better in high school, early in college. He was a five star running back. He has been really, really good for New England. So. And we had said this last year, like very few guys, last year was a weak draft. There were very few players in the draft that jumped off the television when you watched him. Henderson was one of them. And I think they have got, they've got themselves the steel of the draft. A home run. I would not be shocked if he's not a top five or six running back in the league because running backs age quickly in the NFL. For the record, the Browns now are officially naming Joe Flacco is their week one starting quarterback against the Bengals. Yeah, we knew that. Who's the backup? Yeah, I know that. That's not news. News is. And the number two is with that, Matt Hasselbeck, 18 years in the NFL is joining us.
Matt Hasselbeck
What you meant was who's the fourth string quarterback. That's what you really were really dying to know. Let's be honest.
Colin Cowherd
I don't care about the number one guy in the dance card here. I 2, 3 and 4 is all I care about and they didn't give me anything to work with. Okay.
Matt Hasselbeck
It feels like people don't even care about the Browns. They just care about. Care about who the fourth string quarterback is going to be, who the odd man out might be.
Colin Cowherd
It's like those Tebow teams, he became the team. It's all I cared about. I was like, well, what's the story with Tebow?
Matt Hasselbeck
Yep.
Colin Cowherd
Okay. So I thought Caleb, my favorite play with Caleb, honestly, Matt was the screen pass that he dirted. And I was like, yes. I said it's like being. If you ran a movie studio, not everything has to be Beauty and the Beast or Godfather. What you don't want is a $400 million bust which screws up your entire budget. At least give me B movies. And in the NFL, at quarterback, just avoid negative plays, keep moving forward. So I thought it was a win for him. Didn't see much of him. What'd you take out of it?
Matt Hasselbeck
Well, I don't know about your examples that you used for movies there. What was it? Beauty and the Beast and Godfather. That's quite a collection. But no, I agree with you on the football side of it. On the quarterback side, if you listen, I think the best thing a quarterback does is he makes the people around him better. And you know, you heard, you know, you heard like the word of the week was rhythm. You saw him throwing on rhythm. He never had bad pass protection because the ball was out on time. He looked great. I mean, I think it's everything you're looking for. If you're a Bears fan, you're fired up about the head coach, the play play caller. This is a division that has quarterback whisperers. And Chicago hasn't had theirs. Now they have it. It looks like a great, great start. I would just say it's preseason football, so I'm not going to criticize him because it's the preseason. This is a, this is a great start. It was a great outing. There's been some up and down reporting about him in this game against the Bills. He looked fantastic.
Colin Cowherd
You tell me. Preseason. I mean, there are some times, like let's say the Chiefs have a left tackle who's a rookie at Ohio State. Like, I want to see his sets, I want to see his reps. There are individual players I want to see. I Don't take a ton from it. I think Jackson Dart, between Lane Kiffin and Brian Dabel, he's getting really good mentorship. He's getting really good offensive coaching. Justin Fields keeps getting defensive culture. So I. I do think it matters. Do you take anything from preseason? Anything cement to you? Anything that's solid?
Matt Hasselbeck
I mean, yes and no. Listen, my second and third years in the NFL, I basically led the NFL in pass in the preseason in Green Bay. The newspaper nicknamed me Mr. August. The next year, I become a starter and I fall right on my face. Like it's a completely different thing going from preseason to regular season. That's just the reality of it. I wish it wasn't. I wish it was just super simple and super easy. But no, I do think it matters. Everything matters. Practice matters, how you play in the preseason matters. But to think that they're the same thing, they're just simply not. So I think right now, if I'm sitting there after week two of the preseason, I'm really encouraged by Caleb's performance. I'm really encouraged by what I've seen this entire preseason from Jackson Dart and there's a few other people that I would say the same thing. You know, usually I think what happens in the preseason is guys get exposed and not in a good way. Yeah, if you do a good job and you're six to ten reps, then that's just kind of what you were supposed to do. So I do think it's interesting. It's not nothing, but I lived it the hard way. It doesn't mean you've arrived.
Colin Cowherd
I'm really excited to watch New England. Here's the thing that I really like, Matt. They spent money in free agency, but it was a lot of linemen. It was tough guys, it was on ball, linebackers. It was a lot of guys that are culture guys that come in, they're great in the room. You know, it's not, you know, flying down the field, wide receiver. They spent money on tight ends and linemen, and they drafted linemen. And this Trayvon Henderson guy. Wow, that's. You can't fool me on that. Speed. Your take on New England, what do you see?
Matt Hasselbeck
Well, I thought. Yeah, I thought it was. I mean, I agree. And I thought it was really interesting what they did. They drafted with their early picks, first round, second round, third round, like all that kind of stuff on the offensive side of the ball. And, you know, they went and got a kicker as well, but, like, they were all offense to kind of grow up together with Drake, maybe. And then in free agency, they spent a ton of money on the defensive side of the ball. Milton Williams, Carlton Davis, like guys that were vets, that were pros. So they've got this like real veteran team that can maybe help carry a young quarterback till he kind of gets going. But I think they hit a home run with the left tackle, Will Campbell. I think they hit a home run with Travion Henderson. Like you mentioned, he's incredible. All you hear in New England is them talk about his speed, his work ethic, all that kind of stuff. And then I think they're hoping that Kyle Williams comes on as, like, as another, as a third round shock. Kind of like, I don't want to say a surprise, but an Elliot Elliott Wolf pick, that would remind you of a Ron Wolf pick. So I think in New England, a team that only won four games last year, I think there's a lot of excitement. What they're talking about right now is like, hey, if someone were to offer us a great player, we would give up a first round draft pick. That sounds like a team to me that thinks that they're close to and maybe even this year getting back to the playoffs.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, I'm watching a Travian Henderson kick return. That kid can move pretty awesome.
Matt Hasselbeck
And it's the first time he touched the ball too, like he scored. He took it to the house on a kickoff return. And everyone in New England, I think just, they're kind of like, yep, it's kind of what we thought we were seeing in practice every day.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, I said a lot of times in the preseason you see backups. But like, I picked Seattle to win their division and my take is they've had three state, Three straight drafts. Three drafts in succession. I loved all of them. I love college football. And they've all panned out. And now some guys have been dinged up. But then they go get Gray Zabel, this, this interior lineman, he's been a monster in the preseason. Darnold Fitz. I don't know, I, I, I do think sometimes you can say to yourself, man, we've had a good camp. Our young guys have played really well. There's a certain symmetry. Like I watch Seattle and you know them well, I see something, I think, in that division, I mean, the Niners are getting old. The Rams with Staffords. Do we trust Kyler Murray, where are you on Seattle?
Matt Hasselbeck
Well, I think the word for me in Seattle is identity. Mike McDonald finally has the identity that he's looking for on this team, and specifically offensively. They've gone and, you know, brought in Clint Kubiak from New Orleans, who's running that Kyle Shanahan style of offense with a fullback in the backfield. Run game. Everything's predicated off the run game, run action game. Even the throws are run actions for the offensive lineman. It gives great pass protection for the quarterback because you can't get a sack on a running place. When the D line feels a run, they play the run. And it just, I think this last preseason game, people are pinching themselves like, this is the best the Seahawks have looked in the preseason in a long, long while. So it is preseason. But I think you see, like, getting rid of Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf, you're scratching your head and then you're saying to yourself, like, what's the plan? Well, the plan is to be a physical, be the hammer, not the nail, kind of a run game and call more runs than passes and then play great defense. Last year, the seahorse didn't make the playoffs, but they were a top 10 defense in the NFL. And I think they're, you know, I think they're looking to and expecting to take a jump again this year.
Colin Cowherd
So Stafford's not taking snaps. He's banged up. It. I mean, they have Terence Ferguson, they have a new tight end, they have Devonte Adams, they have a new running back. Maybe it doesn't matter, does it? Does it matter that he's just not going to take any snaps of consequence in the preseason? Does it matter at all for him?
Matt Hasselbeck
No, it doesn't matter that much. But listen, I'm super concerned. Like I mentioned the last time I talked to you, Colin, like, this is a big deal. Like, he's 37 years old, he's got a back injury. The team doesn't know. Nobody knows. I don't think he knows. Even watching him go out to practice today, he's ginger, he's careful, he's measured, he's not cutting it loose. And like, I've been there, like, you don't know for sure yourself. And I would just say, like, just for myself, going through my own situation, like when it was a controlled environment, I could fake it, I could get through, I could make all the throws, I could do everything I needed to do. But then all of a sudden, like, DeMarcus Ware makes an inside pass move and then like, ah, like, now what? Like, that's a problem with tackle football. So if the rams are playing 7 on 7 this year, I wouldn't be worried about it. The fact that it's tackle football. This is a huge concern for me.
Colin Cowherd
So years ago, we'll end with this. Years ago, Bill Parcell said, don't draft the celebrity quarterback. Well, Arch Manning's a celebrity. Get over it. Cam Newton was a celebrity like that. Shit, those. That ship has sailed. A college football's got, you know, 9 million, 12 million viewers on a Saturday. They're all celebrities. They're nil. They're getting paid. But I still think this holds true. You don't want a celebrity backup quarterback. You don't want Tim Tebow, Kaepernick. Cam and the Shadour thing is starting to feel like, to me, oh, he's going to be a celebrity backup, meaning that if he's, you know, people are going to watch him and maybe unfairly on all his interviews, how he handles it, I don't know. Like. Like this weekend there was a dust up where Dylan Gabriel was not taking a shot at him. And the Shador fans were like, he's taking a shot at us. I'm like, this is not good for Shador. Like, do you think Cleveland's coaches are. Andrew Barry are thinking about, what do we have on our hands? He goes to Carolina. The stadium's got Shador jerseys everywhere. I mean, do you think the staff is actually talking about that?
Matt Hasselbeck
Yeah, I'm sure. I'm sure they're talking about everything, really. And, you know, I wouldn't be surprised if they kept four guys. You know, I think what matters to them and what would matter to me if I was a player in that locker room is just that he was one of the guys in the locker room, that he was one of us. He was a hard worker, he was unselfish, he was a great teammate. And if he's all those things, then who cares about the circus outside? You know, it's Andrew Barry's job. And I think he's very good. I think he's a very good gm, but, like, it's his job to worry about those kinds of things. And I think there's a conversation to be had there inside the building, but that's not something that they'll ever admit outside. But for sure, that's true. I think the thing that Shedeur has done nicely this year is that, you know, the Cleveland Browns, all the quarterbacks have been hurt at some point this year, and he took advantage of an opportunity and showed that, hey, I have potential. I'm a guy you can develop. I could be the quarterback of the future here. Believe in me. Give me a chance. And I Think he's, I think he's earned that chance. The distractions, that's a real thing. And I think the Cleveland Browns, they might not hate it because they're a team that we might forget about halfway through the year, this year, so they might appreciate the attention.
Colin Cowherd
I was thinking about this with Jackson Dart. He's gone Lane Kiffin into Brian Dable. And I said, when you're 18, 20, 21, 22 years old, I can remember my early broadcasting mentors or my early broadcasting bosses. I think once you're older, you know, once you're a 35 year old quarterback, Brady knows what he likes, Brady knows what he doesn't. Same with Mahomes. You get to a point where coaching is important. But I know what I am, I know what I can do. But when you're young, it matters a lot. And, and I look at Jackson Dart, Lane Kiffin, Brian Dabel, so. And I look at Justin Fields, who's had nothing but defensive guys. It was Eberfluss, it's Tomlin, it's Aaron Glenn, it's defensive culture. And I thought, Justin Fields looks lost. And I look at Jackson Dart and I'm like, oh my God, he looks better than he did at Ole Miss. You tell me, go back to your college. Go back to your first two years in the league and your last two in college. Now football has changed. Were coaches more important to you then than.
Matt Hasselbeck
I think. I think coaches are important the whole time. I think they're. I mean, Tom Coughlin was my, my first head coach in college at Boston College. He was incredible. I mean, my first head coach in, in Green Bay was Mike Holmgren and Reed was the quarterback coach. I mean, I think they're incredible. Near the end of my career, I hear what you're saying, my quarterback coach, my coordinator, they were all younger than me. Like that. That is weird. That's. But I think like, you just got to be moldable and adjustable. And I think like you saw Russell Wilson and Sean Payton, it just didn't work. Now all of a sudden, Sean Payton with a younger multiple, kind of like, yeah, yeah, coach, I'll do it however you want it. In Bo Nix. It works. So it is, it is interesting to see what will happen with some of the older guys. Russell Wilson as an example. I do think Russell Wilson will be the starting quarterback in New York. I think he should be. But. But Jackson Dart is definitely the quarterback of the future. The question is, will that be this year or will that be in a year? But no, I think I Think that the quarterback coach relationship is really, really important. I just would be careful to say it's a once size fits all type of thing. I mean, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick, clearly it worked. And it worked for a long time.
Colin Cowherd
By the way, give me one Tom Coughlin story when you're at bc, because I remember Tom Coughlin. I could be wrong on this, but at the time, didn't BC beat Notre Dame? I swear to God, they beat Notre Dame. Give me a call. Give me a story.
Matt Hasselbeck
That was my freshman year. Well, I'll just. I'll just tell you a quick one. He brought in two quarterbacks my freshman year, and he said, okay, whoever's better gets to stay at quarterback. The other guy moves to tight end. So I get moved to tight end. I get moved to tight end for two days. Tight ends coach sends me back. He's like, coach Tom, I can't do anything with this guy. And you know the guy they moved to tight end end. So they moved the other quarterback to tight end, and he got drafted before I did in the 98 draft to the New York Giants. So it kind of worked out for both of us, but that threat was real. And Tom Coughlin, I still get a little bit intimidated when I hear his name even today.
Colin Cowherd
That is so funny. Oh, I love you, Matt Hasselbeck. Great stories as always. Appreciate it, Bud. All right.
Matt Hasselbeck
See, Colin?
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. Here it is. In 1993, BC beat Notre Dame. 41, 39 at Notre Dame. I remember watching the game and. Yep, yep. And he was a freshman. Yeah, Coughlin. Coughlin's one of those coaches. When we mentioned great coaches, like, we always fight like mad. We're like, mike Shanahan should be in the hall of Fame. Like, we fought on that. Like, we fight for certain coaches. There's a couple of coaches out there that I just don't think we understand how good they are. Marty Schottenheimer was a really good football coach. Like, a really good football coach. And Tom Coughlin beat Belichick and Brady twice in Super Bowls in a game of strategy. Those weren't blowouts. Those. Those games came down to the final series. Coughlin's an all timer.
John Middlekoff
I also envision him retired right now, looking at the ocean with a frown on his face.
Colin Cowherd
Not.
John Middlekoff
Not a big smile guy.
Colin Cowherd
No, he wasn't there. There was a point where, especially when it gets chilly in the Northeast, like in November, and he's upset as a. As a nor' easter, blue blew through the stadium, and he was upset at the same time. He looked like a plum. He was just furious. He was purple.
John Middlekoff
I remember when I worked for the Eagles, he was this little old guy. Walk team was massive. I mean their offensive and defensive lines for those Eli teams were huge.
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Colin Cowherd
He's Mike Carmen I'm Dan Byard. We have a fantasy football podcast called I want your Flexed.
John Middlekoff
That's right, Dan. Every week we're going to scour the.
Colin Cowherd
Waiver wire to find the pickup to.
John Middlekoff
Turbo boost your fantasy lineup. Sits starts fantasy football players rankings to get you ready to dominate the competition.
Colin Cowherd
Listen to I Want yout Flex with Mike Harmon and me, Dan Beyer on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts and wherever.
John Middlekoff
You get your podcasts.
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Colin Cowherd
A day at the lake.
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That's a no. A Philly cheesesteak? That's a yes.
Colin Cowherd
A nice tan.
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Sorry. A box fan. Happily, yes.
Colin Cowherd
What about a day of sunshine?
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Colin Cowherd
Okay.
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Colin Cowherd
Nope.
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Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
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Colin Cowherd
Can't help you there. But a barbecued prawn, Order it and.
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Colin Cowherd
Hi. Welcome back. I'm so lucky that I can sleep on planes. I had to fly from the east coast here late last night and I always feel bad for people. Can't sleep on planes. Can you sleep on them?
John Middlekoff
Well, I was with you a couple weeks ago in Chicago and I was flying home and I was basically sitting between two Trent Williams, so it was really. I didn't have much space. Usually I can. Yes.
Colin Cowherd
Oh, I just crashed. I just. The minute they closed that door, Little ox is in deprivation. Boom. I'm out. John Middlekoff with the news.
Matt Hasselbeck
No, no, no, no.
Jalen Ramsey
Turn on the news.
Fox Sports Radio Announcer
This is the Herd line news.
John Middlekoff
Okay, Colin, the pride and joy of Boise State football. Ashton Jensen. He didn't do too much in the first preseason game. Had a few standout moments, but there was an injury scare that. That sent him to the blue tent. He did return. He punched in his first touchdown. But is it a little concerning first game injury, trying to run over defensive players. Pete Carroll called him tough as hell. Genti called the injury just a stinger. But Boise State, the Mountain west is a lot different than the national football.
Colin Cowherd
I mean, one of the things that is so clear to Me, this is where you can pick up stuff in preseason, John. His running style, he is seeking violence. He is trying to hit people. Now again, is he going to be a dinged up guy? But I mean this guy, he, he. Look at this, look at this out in the flat. He has no fear. I mean now Adrian Peterson did this, but Adrian was probably 40 pounds heavier. This kid is a incredibly physical runner.
John Middlekoff
I think anytime you're a young player, you try to impress your teammates, impress your coach, especially coming from a smaller school. No one questions his toughness. I do think they have a long career. They drafted him sixth. This is not a fourth round pick to me. You know, Frank Gore is a good example. He played for like two decades. He never took on these hits. It wasn't. Everyone knew Frank was a tough guy. You're not going to run over people in the NFL. This might not be the 90s and the 80s with 260 pound linebackers, but these 238 pound linebackers, 240 pound linebackers and these safeties, they can run really fast and hit really hard. So you got to be very careful. Raiders need them, Colin.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, and I think also like the one ball out in the fourth flat, it's like Ashton, take a better angle on that, get that ball and head to the sidelines. So you get one guy, he ran right totally toward both in the middle. It's like that is not a way to survive in this league.
John Middlekoff
Way in that team is going to be predicated. If they're going to have any success on offense, him and Brock Bowers are going to have to be huge. Yeah, okay. The Cincinnati Bengals. Trey Hendrickson went from holding out to holding in this preseason and now his contract talks have stalled. The Bengals are reportedly listening to trade calls on their star defensive end report. Ads is Cincinnati is looking to land defensive players as well as a potential first round pick. Hendrickson obviously leads the NFL with 35 sacks over the last couple of season. Here's the thing, Colin. You got the Eagles, they are trading for players and you got the Bengals. Yeah, we might trade away our third or fourth best player on our team. Is this sustainable the way the Bengals operate?
Colin Cowherd
Well, and I think it's virtually impossible to have Joe Burrow at quarterback and not make the playoffs. It's really hard in this league and they have an offensive coach and they have good weapons. So all the things, I mean if you check the boxes on what you need to make the playoffs. Star quarterback helps with an offensive coach, great pass rusher, couple of good Weapons check, check, check, check, check. Why don't they make the playoffs? Because so much work is done in this league by the better GMs and the better owners in the offseason. I mean the Eagles went and picked up like a John the receiver who by the way has had some not great circumstances. There's definitely talent there. And in Houston they drafted other players and he kind of fell down the depth chart. There's definite talent to classic Philadelphia. He may make 3, 24 catches this year, but he can play.
John Middlekoff
If you look at the odds of some teams, obviously they are open to it. If I'm a team in the nfc, the Lions and the Packers, I mean if I was the packers, would you offer your first round pick? I mean this a type player. You get them, maybe you have to overpay a little bit. Obviously you'd have to extend the contract. Same thing with the Lions. All of a sudden you add a high end talent in the NFC because you're chasing the Eagles, which I think we all agree on the best roster. But the Lions and the packers are two teams that feel like they're right there.
Colin Cowherd
Take quarterback out. The argument is left tackle and pass rusher. Now it can come from the interior, but they're just not. All you have to do is look at the defense when he doesn't, when he's not on the field. It was 32nd in the league. It's just crazy to me. I. Every time we talk Bengals, I just wonder. Joe Burrow looks at the Eagles, he looks at the Ravens, he looks at these highly aggressive teams. I mean the Rams go out and get devonte Adams and I mean he's struggling to get T. Higgins and easily their best defensive player paid. Like I, I think the story this year if Cincinnati gets off to a rocky start, you remember they do every.
John Middlekoff
Year, Colin, I mean, remember his body.
Colin Cowherd
Language last year like Burrow didn't hide the fact he's unhappy with the organization. You start off two and four, you're going to see it again.
John Middlekoff
Yeah, it's hard to think they're going to be much different than last year. Good offense, bad defense. Speaking about quarterback play, we're here in mid August and the Colts have yet to make a decision on their starting quarterback. Never a good sign, Colin. Anthony Richardson had a poor showing in his first action, including dislocating his pinky and then having to leave the game. Meanwhile, Daniel Jones experienced some highs and lows on Saturday, going 7 for 11 for 101 yards, but also lost the ball before recovering his Own fumble. Shane Steichen had this to say when discussing the quarterback position.
Colin Cowherd
Obviously you got a quarterback battle. You got two first round draft picks and when they both came in, you know, I made it very clear that, you know, this is going to be a battle and they're going to compete for the job. And like I said, I'm going to make the decision I feel is best for the football team. I'm very close. I'll say that. I'm very close. I'm gonna guess Anthony Richardson by a hair.
John Middlekoff
I'm gonna go Daniel Jones. I think if it was Anthony Richardson they drafted him, wouldn't they have just already named him the starting quarterback? Now the problem is Daniel Jones in the preseason, nine points on seven drives. So he's not exactly Tom Brady or Joe Montana back there. But I don't know if Anthony Richardson knows what he's doing three years in to playing in the NFL. There's a problem, Colin.
Colin Cowherd
Well, you also, and I think this is fair, we know it's not the coach because we know that Steichen turned Jalen Hurts into an MVP level quarterback. And Justin Herbert as a rookie broke every rookie quarterback record. We know this coach, whether he's a great head coach, but we know he knows quarterbacks. Every quarterback he's had gets better. I remember talking with the GM of the Chargers, Tom Telescope, during Justin Herbert's year and he goes, let me tell you, he goes, I don't know if we're going to be able to keep Shane Steichen. He goes, he is so good as a coach. He goes, it's unbelievable watching him at practice every day. So if he can't speed up the Anthony Richardson growth, I, I don't think he's a NFL quarterback.
John Middlekoff
Well, obviously the AFC is loaded with quarterbacks. Look at their own division. Cam Ward makes some throws in that preseason game. Easy to see why he's a top pick. You know, Trevor Lawrence, number one overall pick and obviously CJ Stroud. So let alone the Mahomes, the Burrows and Lamar Jacksons in their own division, they're the only team that does not have a stable quarterback situation. Not good.
Colin Cowherd
Not good. Not good at all. John with the news.
Fox Sports Radio Announcer
Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by the Herd lie news.
Colin Cowherd
So we showed you this earlier. Matt Hasselbeck talked about this. Matt Stafford is out there for the Rams. Matt Hasselbeck, interestingly said he felt like he was walking a little gingerly. And you can fake it in the slow drills, you can fake it, but it's a real story because the Rams defense last year Thanksgiving on was an incredible unit. Go ask Jalen Hurts who passed for like 60 yards against the Rams defense. This defense is young and it is good everywhere. It is unbelievable in the box. And they drafted another edge rusher and another interior linebacker. So they, they went with more defense in the draft than I would have. I think they need an offensive tackle. I thought they, you know, I thought they could have used more offensive line help, but. So Stafford's out there a little ginger, but this is the only team in the league that you could see playing in the super bowl and then winning four games of Stafford is an upright. So it's a real story. And the, and the Rams, I talked about this earlier. McVeigh is Belichick with a smile. They move off people. They did not give him a long contract telling all of us that this is a they love him, but it's probably a one year deal.
John Middlekoff
Backs are bad. Steve Kerr couldn't coach with a bad back. Tiger woods couldn't play golf. It's pretty difficult to play NFL quarterback when your back does not feel good.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, here, here's Hasselback 25 minutes ago on the back.
Matt Hasselbeck
This is a big deal. Like, he's 37 years old. He's got a back injury. The team doesn't know. Nobody knows. I don't think he knows. Even watching him go out to practice today, he's ginger, he's careful, he's measured, he's not cutting it loose. And like I've been there, like you, you don't know for sure yourself. That's a problem with tackle football. So if the rams are playing 7 on 7 this year, I wouldn't be worried about it. The fact that it's tackle football, this is a huge concern for me.
Colin Cowherd
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Colin Cowherd
And with 24.
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Colin Cowherd
A nice tan?
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Colin Cowherd
What about a day of sunshine?
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Colin Cowherd
Yeah.
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Colin Cowherd
Can't help you there. But a barbecued prawn?
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John Middlekoff
Thursday, the game's most historic rivalry takes center stage as Alex Bregman and the Red Sox take on Aaron Judge and the Yankees, where the Astros battle the Orioles. Check local listings for the game in your area. Thursday at 7 Eastern on Fox.
Colin Cowherd
You know, I'm watching what the Bears are doing. I spend a lot of time in Chicago and they're really copying the Detroit Lions, where Ben Johnson came from. So the first thing the Lions did was they rebuilt the offensive line. So Ben Johnson comes over to the Bears and they get Joe Tuney, Jonah Jackson and Drew Dahlman on the interior line. And then they draft a left tackle from Boston College who people like a lot. We'll see if he starts. But they, they address the offensive line. That's where it all started for Detroit. Then they got a playmaking tight end, Sam LaPorta in Detroit and Colston Loveland with the Bears. Cole Commit is not a playmaker. He's a good tight end, probably a 2, but he's a good tight end. Colston Loveland's a playmaker. The third thing is they asked their quarterback to do less. Run the play. We'll make it creative. So now it took two full years for Detroit to start winning. Remember, they went 3 and 13 with golf and then 9 and 7. Beat Green Bay and Lambeau but missed the playoffs. Next year, they're in the NFC Championship with the Niners. The difference is Chicago is way more equipped with Caleb Williams to win now because, you know, the Lions, when, when Jared Goff showed up, felt like a startup. The Bears feel like they've got funding. They've got money, they've got funding. They're fine. They bought sweat. Jalen Johnson's a star. They've gone out. And Joe Tuney, Drew Dahlman, like they have players. Detroit didn't have that many good players in the first year and a half. The Bears have players. It's just a matter of you got a coach with a style, a quarterback with a different style, and there's a marriage here. And Ben Johnson talked about last week.
Ben Johnson
He'S really been locked in. You know, it's anytime you're a young player, there's, there's usually a couple steps forward and one Step back. And. And that's really been the story of his training camp. And he and I have been really open and honest about that as we've gone through. And he's had some really good practices, and he's had a couple where it's like, that's not good enough. But the three days of practice we had this week and this game were the most. He stacked up good days in a row right now. So the challenge is going to be to keep pushing in that direction.
Colin Cowherd
I mean, here's the thing. When you watch that first drive, it is exciting. He's got a power arm, he moves well, and they've got really good pieces. They're ready to win games right now. I mean, I, you know, if this team won 11 games, I would not be shocked in the least. There are teams in this league, about half of them, who have no chance to win 11 games. The Bears may win seven, but they're built, if everything works, to win 11. You know, the Rams can, the Niners can, the Ravens. We know who they are. There's about, you know, about half the league could not win 11 games if everything went their way. And about half the league could, but they won't. But Chicago, you can. You can see the pieces. Star defensive lineman, great number one corner. Now they've got two really nice tight ends, one, a big playmaker, excellent interior offensive lineman, clever offensive coach, powerful, talented quarterback. Number one receiver in D.J. moore. They got all the boxes. Doesn't mean. Doesn't mean it's going to work, but they got all the boxes checked. The other thing is, the last couple of years, I take incredible pride, vanity, pride before the fall in trying to guess the bad team that becomes good. Last year it was Washington. So I said, washington's going to make the playoffs. And it sounded absolutely absurd. But my theory was, yes, they've got all new people, but the people they flushed out were so bad, even if the people they brought in were just solid BB plus people, they would be a much different franchise. So I think the easiest team to see and look at and go, oh, yeah, they're going to double their win total. I've done it three or four years in a row, is New England. First of all, they went from a coach who was probably more of a coordinator, was thrust into a head coaching role. And like in that Hackett, Gerard Mayo just didn't feel like he was ready. He was just not ready for the job. It happens all the time. Half the coordinators don't make it. So they go from that to A top five or six, seven coach in the league and Mike Vrabel. Secondly, if you look at a lot of their losses, it was a lot of one possession games. It was a rookie quarterback, not really at that point equipped. They didn't have a lot of weapons, didn't have great protection. So if you start looking at the money they spent, the coach they inherited and then you got Trayvon Henderson, they probably stole. They stole a. This. If this kid ends up being what he looked like at Ohio State. Still remarkable. He was not. How good was Ohio State? He was not the first Buckeye running back taken. Now that happened years ago in Georgia where Sony Michelle got drafted in the first round. Kind of disappeared after a few years. Didn't make a huge impact. Nick Chubb went in the second round and Chubb it was a student. It's the same kind of situation where Travion Henderson is. You can't teach that. Josh McDaniel said last week that's the fastest running back I've ever had. So here was Matt Hasselbeck earlier. He knows the Patriots well on what he sees with this team.
Matt Hasselbeck
I think they hit a home run with the left tackle Will Campbell. I think they hit a home run with Treveon Henderson. Like you mentioned, he's incredible. All you hear in New England is him talk about his speed, his work ethic, all that kind of stuff. And then I think they're hoping that Kyle Williams as like, as another, as a third round shock. So I think in New England, a team that only won four games last year, I think there's a lot of excitement. What they're talking about right now is like hey, if someone were to offer us a great player, we would give up a first round draft pick. That sounds like a team to me that thinks that they're close to and maybe even this year getting back to the playoffs.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah, and Drake May, whose comp is Justin Herbert last year, flashes of it. And that was with a suboptimal coaching staff and no real weapons. Kyle Williams is a guy that I watched a lot at Washington State. He is their third round pick. Watch out, he can be an electric player. So if we put the Patriots schedule up, you know, listen, let's face it, Miami right now is going through cultural changes like they're struggling in Miami. The jets don't look like offensively they're going to score much. So I mean again competency, better coaching, move the chains, a star running back. It does. It feels like to me this is the easiest prediction, the easiest 4 to 8 win team in the league. Double your win total team.
John Middlekoff
I'm total agreement. I mean Vrabel's proven he can get guys to overachieve. He was the number one overall seed with Tannehill as his quarterback. I, I think Drake May is a more talented player than Ryan Tannehill from a physical gift standpoint. The other thing is over the course of Belichick's run, especially that last iteration in the 2010s, who was their most explosive player once Randy left they had Edelman's an excellent player. Gronk was an excellent player. But they have one not, not like Travion Henderson. I played golf a couple years ago with Shane Vereen. I just look yeah he was a really exposed. He ran a 4, 5, 5. This guy almost ran like a sub 4, 4. I mean this guy can really, really that speed in the open field. I get his preseason he showed that against Michigan. Right. In Penn State. I mean that's, that's real speed.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. And the schedule is fairly workable. You get the Raiders at home to start a Miami team early that's going through some changes and it feels a bit rocky. Pittsburgh and Carolina back to back at home. We don't think they're going to be great offensive teams. Saints are in there. Titans. You start looking at that schedule. Count their first eight. I mean Atlanta at home, Carolina at home. There's, there's some if they win 10 or 11.
John Middlekoff
Rable coach of the year.
Colin Cowherd
Yeah. Probably even the end. There's double use. Pat's are back, baby.
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Colin Cowherd
A nice tan?
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Colin Cowherd
Every once in a while, you get.
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Colin Cowherd
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Matt Hasselbeck
This is an iHeart podcast.
Episode Date: August 18, 2025
Key Segments: Where Colin Was Right and Wrong, Patriots Optimism, Matt Hasselbeck Joins
This episode of The Herd is a classic Monday show structure: Colin Cowherd recaps where his predictions were right and wrong, analyzes early NFL preseason news (with a heavy focus on quarterbacks and team building), and hosts a lively, insightful discussion with former NFL QB Matt Hasselbeck. The prevailing themes are the importance of organizational culture, coaching for young QBs, how preseason results should be evaluated, and why the Patriots and Seahawks are primed to surprise in the upcoming season.
[04:24–09:00]
“When you watch the Seahawks, they are a top five or six roster.” (Colin Cowherd, 04:31)
“You can’t ask Joe Burrow to have to win a track meet every Sunday.” (Colin Cowherd, 05:36)
“The Dolphins feel like a bowl of jello. Where’s the meat in the culture?” (Colin Cowherd, 06:44)
[10:20–13:52]
“He looked great… I would just say it's preseason football, so I'm not going to criticize him… This is a great start.” (Matt Hasselbeck, 11:26)
[13:52–16:44, 41:17–51:26]
“That sounds like a team to me that thinks that they’re close and maybe even this year getting back to the playoffs.” (Matt Hasselbeck, 15:41)
[16:44–17:50]
“The best the Seahawks have looked in the preseason in a long, long while.” (Matt Hasselbeck, 17:50)
[17:50–18:10, 38:38–39:19]
“...he’s ginger, he’s careful, he’s measured, he’s not cutting it loose…if the Rams are playing 7 on 7 this year I wouldn’t be worried…this is a huge concern for me.” (Matt Hasselbeck, 18:10 & 38:51)
[19:01–20:09]
[21:19–23:33]
“I look at Jackson Dart…and I’m like, oh my God, he looks better…Justin Fields looks lost.” (Colin Cowherd, 21:19)
[23:33–25:18]
“Tom Coughlin, I still get a little bit intimidated when I hear his name even today.” (Matt Hasselbeck, 24:23)
[03:25, 30:23–37:17]
On Taylor Swift's Impact:
“She is a stimulus package with a microphone. She is great for every business. She's likable, she's gifted… She seems to deeply want to learn and know a lot about football.” — Colin Cowherd [08:09]
On Caleb Williams’ Preseason Start:
"The best thing a quarterback does is he makes the people around him better… He looked great. This is a great start. It was a great outing." — Matt Hasselbeck [11:26]
On the Patriots’ Rebuild:
"In New England, a team that only won four games last year, I think there's a lot of excitement. What they're talking about right now is, hey, if someone were to offer us a great player, we'd give up a first round draft pick." — Matt Hasselbeck [15:41]
On Seattle’s New Identity:
"The plan is to be a physical, be-the-hammer-not-the-nail kind of run game and call more runs than passes and then play great defense." — Matt Hasselbeck [16:44]
On Stafford’s Health:
“He’s not cutting it loose… That’s a problem with tackle football… This is a huge concern for me.” — Matt Hasselbeck [38:51]
This hour showcased Colin’s signature blend of self-accountability, sharp-eyed preseason analysis, and optimism for well-managed franchises (Patriots, Seahawks). The conversation with Matt Hasselbeck offered both ex-player perspective and entertaining NFL stories, grounding bold predictions with hard-won wisdom. The biggest stories: coaching and culture can make or break teams—especially young QBs; the Patriots are positioned to rebound fast; and the situation in Cincinnati and LA (Rams) may get dire if leadership and injuries aren’t addressed.