Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd
Episode: THE HERD - Hour 3 - Julian Edelman stops by The Herd
Date: October 16, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd (with Jason McIntyre)
Guest: Julian Edelman
Episode Overview
This episode of The Herd centers on a lively, in-depth conversation with former Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman. The discussion explores the state of the New England Patriots, the Boston sports scene, culture and leadership in NFL locker rooms, Thursday night football, and broader NFL topics. Edelman’s candid insights into player mentality and chemistry, as well as the dynamics of coaching and trades, provide a behind-the-scenes look into winning franchises. Additional segments tackle NFL scheduling issues, QB controversies, and NBA trends.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Drake Maye and the Patriots’ New Hope in Boston
(02:44-03:51)
- Julian Edelman, joining from Boston, discusses excitement for rookie QB Drake Maye:
- Maye has quickly become a sensation in Boston, putting up impressive stats: "He’s what, throwing for 10 touchdowns. He’s top five in passing yards and only had two interceptions." (Julian Edelman, 03:14)
- Edelman notes improvement in Maye’s ball security: “He only had two interceptions. He’s fumbled the ball three times, which he fumbled ten times last year. So he’s getting better each week.” (03:21)
- The city’s spirits are lifted by Maye’s early success: “The excitement is definitely there and they should have it... the better they are, the more I get to talk.” (03:38)
2. Dynasty Teams, Motivation & The Current Chiefs
(03:51-06:10)
- Conversation pivots to dynasties (Patriots, Warriors) and how current powers like the Chiefs keep motivated.
- Edelman explains successful teams focus on adaptation and improvement, not just coasting:
- “The teams that really fall in love with the process of improving each week are the teams that are always there at the end.” (Julian Edelman, 05:16)
- Chiefs’ approach: Using the early season to find their identity, not worrying about “motivation” until the win column mounts.
- “As long as the team continues to improve each week, those are the teams that succeed. And that’s what the Chiefs have done for the last six, seven years.” (05:36)
3. Trade Deadline, Locker Room Chemistry & Leadership
(06:10-07:47)
- Discussion on whether bringing in new players via trades disrupts a locker room.
- Edelman recalls the Patriots acquiring Aqib Talib in 2012:
- “That all comes back to the leadership of your team... if the quarterback’s the guy in the locker room... everyone else falls in line.” (Julian Edelman, 07:22)
- Concludes a strong locker room can absorb newcomers—“I’m all for bringing guys in, especially if you have a great chemistry and a great locker room.” (07:44)
4. Culture Critique: Coaching Authority & Handling Drama
(07:47-10:04)
- Edelman contrasts the Patriots' culture of respect and handling issues privately with looser environments:
- On players publicly criticizing coaches: “We never did that. If there was ever a problem... you handle that behind closed doors with the team. We never talked about contracts. We never talked about drama, and we had drama. Okay.” (Julian Edelman, 08:36)
- He critiques the Dolphins’ structure: “I think the Dolphins are just fundamentally designed this way. You bring in guys that aren’t culture guys. When stuff’s hitting the fan, who’s going to be the serious guy?” (09:04)
- Edelman warns: Internal issues, when aired publicly, are a genuine team distraction.
5. Quarterback Personalities: Comparing Tom Brady & Baker Mayfield
(10:04-11:33)
- Examining quarterback leadership styles and personalities at the podium.
- Edelman on Baker Mayfield: “Yeah, I love his personality because he’s a dog. But the reason why it’s working is because he’s performing... Tampa, they have such a belief in Baker.” (Julian Edelman, 10:42)
- Connection to Brady: “If you believe he’s the guy, it doesn’t matter how you get them to believe, they’re believing.” (11:29)
6. Playing Thursday Night Football as a Veteran Player
(11:33-13:27)
- Edelman on short rest: “Oh yeah, without a doubt. Thursdays, your whole team key is, ‘Let's just get out with a win.’” (Julian Edelman, 11:52)
- Schemes are “vanilla,” practices are light, and the main goal is health and victory.
- Specific shoutout: “It always seems to be a division game. Whenever it’s a Thursday, I felt like we played the Jets a bunch.” (12:22)
- Edelman on Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers’ optimism: “The team believes in him... the Thursday night games, you’re definitely sore. You want to get out of there and you want to get the game done with the win because it is a baby bye afterwards.” (13:08, 13:24)
Additional Noteworthy Segments
7. NFL Scheduling Frustrations
(17:39-20:47)
- Jason and Colin criticize dual Monday Night games, arguing it dilutes marquee matchups for fans.
- “What are you doing? The Bears are one of the more fascinating teams in the league. I want more Josh Allen.” (Jason McIntyre, 17:44)
- Colin summarizes: “As a fan, they would love Sunday: six in the early window, six in the late window. Because you’re right, sometimes the late window has three games. And it’s like the Saints, the Cardinals, bad teams.” (Colin Cowherd, 20:25)
- They agree: prime players and teams belong in Sunday’s main windows.
8. Quarterback News: JJ McCarthy vs. Carson Wentz
(21:43-23:23)
- Debate over Minnesota Vikings’ QB situation following McCarthy’s injury.
- McIntyre skeptical of Carson Wentz: “I’m not inspired by Carson Wentz at all. I think the Eagles eat him up here and I think he struggles.” (Jason McIntyre, 22:56)
9. Mike Vrabel’s Impact and Patriots’ Future
(23:34-25:27)
- Revelation: Ten ex-Titans staffers followed Mike Vrabel to New England.
- Jason McIntyre: “That is incredible. Essentially they were like, we don’t trust the GM to figure it out here. We like this guy Vrabel.” (23:48)
- Colin: “Vrabel’s just one of the smartest guys... As competitive and as smart as any player, including Brady, that was ever there.” (24:31)
10. NBA Macro Trends: Big Lineups, the End of “Small Ball”
(25:30-28:50)
- Colin and Jason discuss the NBA’s shift from small lineups to large, positionless teams (ex: Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks/Houston Rockets).
- “There’s no such thing as small ball. It was Steph Curry and Clay were the best shooting backcourt ever... Size in my lifetime has always been a huge factor in the NBA. I think Dallas is so undervalued.” (Colin Cowherd, 27:07, 28:24)
11. Russell Westbrook’s Journey and Athlete Motivation
(34:21-37:38)
- Colin on Westbrook signing with struggling Sacramento: “Russell Westbrook is on his seventh team in seven years. His contract is like league minimum... He’s playing because he loves basketball.” (Colin Cowherd, 34:41)
- Jason: “I will defend Russell Westbrook in Denver... he was unbelievably productive [off the bench].” (36:08)
12. Coaching Styles & Thursday Night Football Impact
(38:38-39:38)
- Mike Tomlin's poor record on Thursday nights attributed to his “players' coach” style—doesn't embrace the short week, draining his usual motivational edge.
- Colin: “He doesn’t love Thursday Night Football. He kind of resents it, because he’s a players' coach and he thinks it’s unfair to the players and it’s a money grab by the NFL…” (Colin Cowherd, 39:11)
Notable Quotes & Moments
-
On team building and leadership:
“If the quarterback’s the guy in the locker room that’s the highest paid guy, playing the best, everyone else falls in line.”
(Julian Edelman, 07:22) -
On keeping drama in-house:
“If there was ever a problem... you handle that closed doors with the team. We never talked about contracts. We never talked about drama, and we had drama. Okay.”
(Julian Edelman, 08:36) -
On what makes a quarterback the ‘guy’:
“If you believe he’s the guy, it doesn’t matter how you get them to believe, they’re believing.”
(Julian Edelman, 11:29) -
On Thursday Night Football as a veteran:
“Thursday your whole team key is, let's just get out with a win.”
(Julian Edelman, 11:52) -
On Russell Westbrook’s motivation:
“He’s playing because he loves basketball. You got to respect guys that do this.”
(Colin Cowherd, 34:53) -
On the value of size and generational talent:
“There’s no such thing as small ball. It was Steph Curry and Clay were the best shooting backcourt ever… Size in my lifetime has always been a huge factor in the NBA.”
(Colin Cowherd, 27:07, 28:24)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Drake Maye & Patriots optimism: 02:44 – 03:51
- Chiefs dynasty & team identity: 03:51 – 06:10
- Trade deadline/locker room dynamics: 06:10 – 07:47
- Handling drama, coaching authority: 07:47 – 10:04
- QB leadership (Brady/Mayfield): 10:04 – 11:33
- Thursday Night Football & player health: 11:33 – 13:27
- NFL scheduling frustrations: 17:39 – 20:47
- Vikings QB situation: 21:43 – 23:23
- Vrabel to Patriots (staff moves): 23:34 – 25:27
- NBA macro trends (big lineups): 25:30 – 28:50
- Russell Westbrook’s journeyman passion: 34:21 – 37:38
- Mike Tomlin’s Thursday Night struggles: 38:38 – 39:38
Final Thoughts
This episode blends sharp analysis about winning sports cultures with juicy insider anecdotes, especially from Edelman. Whether you’re curious about Patriots locker room dynamics, the evolution of NFL offensive philosophy, or how NBA lineups are shifting, this hour covers wide ground while feeling intimate and authentic—true to the “thought-provoking, opinionated, and topic-driven” spirit of The Herd.