THE HERD - Hour 3 - Super Bowl Champion Phil Simms stops by The Herd

Summary

---

The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: Super Bowl Champion Phil Simms stops by The Herd (Hour 3)
Date: October 9, 2025
Podcast: The Herd with Colin Cowherd | iHeartPodcasts and The Volume

---

Main Theme

Colin Cowherd is joined by Super Bowl champion Phil Simms for an engaging discussion on modern quarterback play, the evolution of NFL offenses, coaching philosophies, the struggles of teams like the Giants, the pressures of high-profile college QB gigs, and notable NFL storylines. The conversation is candid, analytic, and full of stories from Phil’s playing days and his perspective as a broadcaster and parent.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Comparing Quarterback Eras & Offensive Evolution

Passer Ratings and Scheme Changes

• Colin opens with a striking stat: 15 current NFL QBs have 100+ passer ratings, compared to 6 two years ago.
• Credits more sophisticated offensive coaching and a dominant use of zone coverage, allowing strong-armed QBs to “throw to a spot.”
• Phil elaborates that playing against zone is now the norm, and QBs “pick you apart” in today’s game.
  • “If you play zone in the NFL against these quarterbacks…they’re gonna pick you apart.” (Phil, 04:15)
• Phil believes today's QBs as a group are “remarkably different and better than what we put on the field” in his day. (04:45)

---

Team Identity & Leadership: Comparing Then and Now

The ‘Identity Crisis’ Conversation

• Colin points out Philadelphia’s current “identity crisis” and asks if teams even used that term back in Phil’s Giants era.
• Phil says “never”—the focus was always on Parcells’ leadership, not players-only meetings or identity talk.
  • “Bill Parcells, that was the players meeting...Whatever he said, we didn’t have to have a player’s meeting.” (Phil, 05:45)
• Phil prefers decisive leadership from coaches like Parcells, not internal teams sorting issues themselves.
• “Philadelphia… It’s different, that’s for sure.” (Phil, 06:33)

---

Quarterback-Coach Relationships & Kyle Shanahan’s Genius

• Colin explores successful QB-coach pairings, highlighting Andy Reid/Mahomes, Shanahan’s knack for elevating average QBs.
  • “No coach is winning with less…70% of their starters, playmakers all hurt.” (Colin, 07:40)
• Phil details how Kyle Shanahan adapts his offense to fit every passer—success with “Mike Jones,” Brock Purdy, and others.
  • “Everything they did…was right out of the book… he put in everything that’s good for him.” (Phil, 07:57)
• Phil credits Shanahan’s scheme adaptability and playcalling, not luck.

---

Reckless Quarterbacks and Baker Mayfield

• Colin says some great QBs (Elway, Peyton, Namath, Eli) were “reckless” and threw INTs.
• Baker Mayfield leads the league in “turnover-worthy plays,” but Colin argues that’s his nature and shouldn’t be coached out.
• Phil endorses how Tampa lets Baker be himself:
  • “Let me tell you, he is an elite thrower of the football...He’s just tough as hell, resilient, can really throw the football.” (Phil, 10:09)
  • Shares a Todd Bowles quote: “Baker, will you walk across the room and stick your face in the fan? He would do it.” (Phil relaying Bowles, 10:09)
  • Praises Baker’s fit with Tampa’s culture and teammates.

---

Giants’ Struggles & The State of New York Sports

What’s Wrong with the Giants?

• Colin calls this “a bit of a hazmat spill” for New York sports and particularly the Giants.
• Phil says the root is player acquisition and personnel, especially the draft—but notes some recent improvement.
  • “You gotta be physical, you gotta be tough, and you gotta be smart...maybe the personnel has not given them that chance.” (Phil, 14:30)
• Phil is optimistic about the Giants' chances in upcoming games but recognizes the slim margins: changing a couple results could shift the narrative entirely. (15:48)

---

College Football QB Pressure: Focus on Texas & Arch Manning

• Colin asserts Texas QB is among the hardest jobs in sports due to “insane pressure”—likening it to the pros.
• Phil opens up about parenting a Texas QB and the emotional toll.
  • Admits he could’ve been more proactive as a parent.
  • “They’re 18-year-olds coming out of high school. What the hell do they know?...I should have been there as a parent to give them more information.” (Phil, 17:20)
• Phil analyzes Arch Manning’s struggles:
  • “His motion looks like it’s changed from what I saw last year…I see doubt sometimes in Arch when he’s throwing the football.” (Phil, 18:28)
  • Believes more experience and relaxation will help Arch improve.

---

Quarterback Depth and College Pipeline

• Phil praises the Oregon QB and Oregon’s development:
  • “If you want to be a good quarterback, go up there and get taught. Run that offense. You’ll do well.” (Phil, 19:37)
• Predicts two straight strong draft classes for QBs; focus should be on coaching/scheming to maximize talent.
  • “There’s enough quarterbacks to go around for this whole league. The big thing is, can we get coaches to create a scheme…” (Phil, 19:50)

---

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “We were talking like two old guys…whatever I’m taking, it’s working OK because I feel good and I sleep great.” (Phil, 03:20)
• “We didn’t have to have a player’s meeting because [Parcells] was going to take care of himself and he knew when to do that.” (Phil, 05:53)
• "The draft hasn’t been great. But…they're playing and actually doing pretty well...That's how close it is, I think, in the NFL." (Phil, 15:35)
• “When you, Colin, when you throw the ball well and you know where it’s going to go, you don’t become a good decision maker. You become great, great.” (Phil, 18:34)
• “It’ll be great if you bring me back on and then pay me. I like that even better.” (Phil, 20:21)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• NFL QB Era Comparison: 03:30–04:45
• Team Identity Discussion (Parcells & Philly): 05:00–06:46
• Kyle Shanahan's Offense and QB Adaptation: 06:46–08:53
• Baker Mayfield Analysis: 09:27–11:11
• Giants’ Struggles Discussion: 13:26–16:12
• Texas QB Pressure/Parenting & Arch Manning: 16:12–19:02
• Phil Reflects on Coaching and QB Pipeline: 19:20–20:14

---

Additional Notable Segments (Post-Phil Simms)

Browns QB Situation

• Analysis of Cleveland Browns’ backup QB choice—Colin and J. Mack agree the front office isn’t sold on Shador Sanders. (21:07–24:22)

Dan Campbell & Lions Coaching Culture

• Campbell called reports about Lions complaining to league “bogus.” Colin calls Campbell one of the league’s most honest, emotionally authentic coaches. (25:13–27:01)

NFL Betting Insights

• Colin and J. Mack discuss betting “landmine” games, instincts about Broncos-Jets.

---

Tone & Language

• The conversation is open, warm, and occasionally self-deprecating—both Colin and Phil embrace storytelling, humor, and blunt honesty.
• Phil Simms uses candid, folksy phrasing: “Gosh almighty,” “Hell,” “What the hell do they know?"
• The tone with J. Mack and Dan Campbell is lighter, giving way to debate and camaraderie during news rundowns and NFL culture talk.

---

For Listeners: Why This Episode Matters

This episode offers keen insights into the modern NFL’s passing revolution, the ways coaching and scheme can make or break quarterbacks, and a veteran’s reflections on pressure, leadership, and change. Phil Simms’ anecdotes will resonate with longtime fans, while the discussion of cultural shifts and quarterback scrutiny connects directly to the current football landscape.

---

In Phil Simms’s Words (Final Quote, 20:11)

“There you go.”

---

Transcript

[Phil Simms]

This is an I Heart podcast.

[Dan Campbell]

What do you do when things get tough? You don't give up. You stand your ground. If you've been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer and have tried hormone therapy, ask your doctor About Pluvicto Lutetium Lu177Vipivatide Tetrexitan Pluvicto is not chemotherapy. It's a different treatment that targets PSMA positive cells. It's now FDA approved after one hormone therapy or before chemotherapy. Bluvicto is a prescription treatment used to treat adults with prostate specific membrane antigen positive metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer or PSMA positive MCRPC who have already been treated with hormone therapy or hormone therapy and chemotherapy. Pluvicto involves contact with radioactivity which may increase the risk for cancer and cause fetal harm. Drink plenty of fluids, urinate often, use contraception and talk to your doctor about ways to reduce the risk of exposing others to radiation. During and after treatment, Pluvicto can cause low levels of blood cell counts, kidney problems and infertility. Tell your doctor if you have weakness, pale skin, shortness of breath, bleeding or bruising more easily an infection or changes in urination. Side effects include decreased blood cell counts, tiredness, dry mouth, nausea, appetite loss, joint or back pain and constipation. Ask your doctor about Pluvicto because every day without cancer progression is a victory. Visit pluvicto.com to learn more.

[Colin Cowherd]

Today's episode brought to you by Ascent that's made a legendary comeback degree Original Cool Rush the OG is back and better than ever. Cool Cool Rush isn't just a scent, it's a movement kind of fragrance guys remember, ask for by name and rave about online. It's bold. It's fresh all day, sweat protection, cool, crisp vibe that made it legendary. So whether you're heading to the gym, the office or just trying to stay fresh all day long, Cool Rush has your back. So if you haven't tried it yet, head to your local Walmart. Grab degree Cool Rush the fan favorite scent from the world's number one antiperspirant brand.

[J. Mack]

Hear insightful, entertaining discussions on today's important health and wellness topics on the Health Discovered podcast for from WebMD. Through in depth conversations with experts, Health Discovered covers everything from tips for healthier living to the latest on therapy and mental health.

[Phil Simms]

My goal is to really destigmatize mental.

[Colin Cowherd]

Health treatment and looking at it from a whole health perspective, physical health and.

[Phil Simms]

Mental health can be intertwined.

[J. Mack]

Listen to WebMD Health discovered on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio at noon to 3 Eastern, 9am to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the [e-mail] or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. Now let's get this party started. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. We bring in Chris Simms on the show pretty regularly. And then there's Matt Sims. He's working at the other place. But you know who I relate to is Phil Sims. Because now we're both at the age where we wake up and we go to the pill close and the vitamin closet. And Phil Sims, host of Sims Complete on the Believe Network, is joining us. 15 years, we just talked about NAD magnesium and omega 3 pills during the break, and I've never felt better about my decisions. You and I do the same life. I just golf a little more than you.

[Phil Simms]

I mean, we were talking like two old guys sitting there going, hey, I take this in the morning and that and I'm gonna just tell everybody out there, whatever I'm taking, it's working okay because I feel good and I sleep great.

[Colin Cowherd]

There you go. Same thing. So 15 quarterbacks right now, right, have 100 plus passer rating. Two years ago it was six. Now, some of it, Phil, is because I think there's a lot more good offensive coaching. There's a lot of sharp young guys out there. And I also think everybody plays zone. So it's a little throw to a spot. You lived in a world where it was man to man coverage. Now it's zone and you just throw to a spot. And a lot of these young guys are strong and throw to a spot. But when you look at your era and this era of quarterback play, do you see a gap? I mean, does it, does it feel easier today with some of the rule changes?

[Phil Simms]

Well, I think, yeah. You know, the first thing you say, throw it to a spot. Everybody's playing zone and they want to keep their eyes on the quarterback in the backfield to stop the big runs down the field. And if you play zone in the NFL against the quarterbacks that we're seeing out there now, you say 15. I would probably say more. They're going to, they're going to pick you apart and that's what defenses want. We're going to let you complete the passes, but we're going to run up, tackle you, and you have to go with Long drives sustain a lot of plays to score. That's what you see. And these quarterbacks, they just keep getting better every year. And to answer your question, Colin, my era that I played in, I don't know what to say. This whole group that plays now, they're. They are remarkably different and better than what we put on the field, I think most of the time.

[Colin Cowherd]

So I love watching the old films with you and Parcells, and it's just that confrontational stuff is funny. It writes itself. But Philadelphia right now is having an identity crisis. They don't know what they are. Back with parcels. Did you guys even use the word identity? Or is that one of those words like narrative that everybody uses? Or did you just like, listen this Every week was a different game plan? Or did Bill believe in, hey, this is what we are. This is what we're always going to be. We're not going to deviate because Philadelphia right now doesn't know what the hell they are. They're a run team and they can't figure it out. Again, go back to your six years, Giants, Super Bowls, dominant team. Was identity discussed?

[Phil Simms]

Never. Never. I don't know. You know, hell, you know, these player only meetings, I will say this, we did a couple of them. I hated them. I didn't pay attention. I'm like, please get it over with. Let's get out of here. Because the guy that set the table, the guy that walked in there every day, Bill Parcells, that was the players meeting. And okay, whatever he said, we didn't have to have a player's meeting because he was going to take care of himself and he knew when to do that. And so when I see the players doing it, then I go, okay, I believe it works for them, if that's what it is. But I would prefer Nick Sirianni getting in front of the team and going, hey, all right, enough of this. Let's do this. We're going to move on. And if you don't want to be part of it, good, I'll get somebody else and let it go.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Phil Simms]

So, yeah, I mean, gosh almighty, you've won so many games. What is it, 20 out of 21? And here we are having players meetings and things like that. It's just Philadelphia, It's. It's different. That's for sure.

[Colin Cowherd]

So there are quarterbacks and coaching relationships. You know, the creative gene of Andy Reid and Mahomes is such a good fit because Mahomes is a creative type. And then there are some times it just works despite the Fact that the coach and the quarterback may not see eye to eye. I think Big Ben and Tomlin, it just worked because Big Ben was so damn talented. But I look at Shanahan and outside of Trey Lance, I mean, Kyle Schaub was a Pro Bowler. He won with Brian Hoyer. Mac Jones was done. Mac Jones now is unbelievable. So when you look at Kyle Shanahan, what did I say? Ryan, what name did I screw up? Matt Schaub.

[Phil Simms]

Yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

When. When you look at Kyle Shanahan, he virtually takes every quarterback he's had. Garoppolo has disappeared since he left. What's the secret sauce? What do you think he does? The language he speaks, the touch, the feel he has. What is it with Kyle? Because I'd argue today, Phil, no coach is winning with less. They have 60% of their starters. Their playmakers are all hurt.

[Phil Simms]

Yes. Hey, it comes down to this. You talk about Mike Jones, people ask me, hey, whatever, all this, how do you play? I said, yeah, Kyle Shanahan gave him the Mike Jones offense. That's what he did. Who's my quarterback? I'm going to adapt to him and call and design plays that fit him. And everything they did in that game against the Los Angeles Rams, it was right out of the book. Hey, Mike Jones specially, he's a big guy, can stand in there, he can get rid of the football quick. He's a good decision maker. Everything that's good for him, Kyle Shanahan put into that game plan. If it had been Brock Purdy playing that game, we'd have seen some rollouts, deeper drops moving and many more throws deep down the field, probably. But that's the one thing about Kyle. You can go through all the quarterbacks that he's had and when they get a chance to play, basically they all play well. So that's not luck. That's him designing plays and knowing how to call it.

[Colin Cowherd]

Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, Weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app.

[Phil Simms]

He's Mike Carmen. I'm Dan Byer and we have a fantasy football podcast called I want your Flex.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's right, Dan. Every week we're going to scour the waiver wire to find the pickups to turbo boost your fantasy lineup. Sits starts fantasy football players rankings to.

[J. Mack]

Get you ready to dominate the competition.

[Phil Simms]

Listen to I Want yout Flex with Mike Harmon and me, Dan Beyer on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

So I made this argument earlier that I'm okay. Many of our great quarterbacks have been a little reckless at times. Now. Now, Aaron Rodgers was one of the first where you got the upside without the interceptions. But Namath and Elway and Peyton threw a lot of picks and Eli did. Yeah, I mean, but I mean, Baker Mayfield has the most turnover worthy plays so far in the league according to pff. And my take is, well, that's Baker's style. He plays through his chest. He's a big emotion guy. I think if you try to change Baker, you lose who Baker is. What do you make of him as a quarterback?

[Phil Simms]

Well, first off, they're not trying to change him down in Tampa Bay. I watch his games because I enjoy him and because he is a fun watch. And let me tell you, he is an elite thrower of the football. He throws that damn thing exactly where he wants it to go. And his decision making is pretty good. But I like the fact that he's aggressive because he can be. I'll tell you a quick story that just personifies who Baker Mayfield is. Somebody asked Todd Bowles, how would you describe Baker Mayfield? And Todd Bowles took a quick second break and he goes, I would say, Baker, will you walk across the room there and stick your face in the fan? He would do it. And that's who he is. He's just tough as hell, resilient, can really throw the football. And he's. He's great for the team because he doesn't eat up a lot of space. About Baker, Baker, Baker, like some quarterbacks do with their teams. He's part of the group. The players love him. And Tampa Bay, whatever he's doing, I would say just keep doing it because it's going well.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right, let's get a little update. Your thoughts on Jackson Dart, the new Giants guy, he's got the look. He's kind of cool looking. He's got a decent arm. I don't. What do you make of what you've seen so far?

[Phil Simms]

Yeah, he is cool. I gotta admit, I was down at training camp a lot. I watched him every day, really close. Not every day, but almost. And he didn't have bad days. He threw the ball well. And I think the one thing that I made a mistake on until I found it late, right before the draft, I was watching is more of his tapes and everything to see what I really thought about him. And all of a sudden I went, wow, I have underestimated his mobility. And his mobility has been a big part these first Two games. And what I like about it is he's reading the defense, whatever, trying to throw it, but if the gap is open in front of him, it's straight down the middle every time. And he's been really good at that. They had a chance to beat the New Orleans Saints. I thought they were the better team. But the mistakes, that's what you're going to get with the young quarterback. You don't pull him back too much. You just kind of go, all right, settle down a little bit. But you want to keep being aggressive because being aggressive gives you a chance to be a really good quarterback, too.

[Colin Cowherd]

So when you were with the Giants, so was Bill Belichick. And I know he was on the defensive side. I never thought he was a college football guy. I think college football is a little more joyful. The bands, the alumni, the parents. Bill's a pro guy to me, you know, I never got it. Are you surprised it's been this big of a. Kind of a mess so far?

[Phil Simms]

Well, I think I was. We were together 13 years with the Giants. He came in in 79, I think the same year I did. But yeah, I listen, I'm very surprised. I thought he would go down there and kind of show college football there's a little different way to do this. Well, he did it a different way, but it's not working. And, you know, I. Hey, look, you don't spend 13 years with the guy. He did a lot of great things for me, said things to me, talked to me when I needed it and all that stuff and taught me too. But so I feel bad and I hope somehow, honestly, I just hope when the year's over, I hope he decides to do something else because, man, it's almost impossible to watch the games. It's that bad.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, it really is. You know, and I'm sure you've been asked this before because on the speaker circuit, the Giants have had a really bad 10 year run. New York Sports right now is a bit of a hazmat spell. Yeah, it's bad. And you can always point fingers. I mean, the Yankees have been very patient and they've had some success. If I pointed to you and said, okay, give me a paragraph on what's gone wrong with the giants, coaches, quarterbacks, GMs, ownership. Because, listen, when I worked at the other place, I always said they were the accounting firm of the NFL. They were quiet, they didn't make a lot of noise, they were well run. They were never flashy, but you knew the numbers were right. They Just they were smart. Something has gone haywire because I always thought the jets were squirrely, but the Giants were big Blue, they would figure it out. Phil, it has been a rough, rough stretch. Where do you point the fingers?

[Phil Simms]

Well, you know, you always start with this player acquisitions, you know, the draft, you hope it goes well. There's so much into it. And, you know, I don't know how these guys have great drafts sometimes because you just never know about players, players, even though you do all the research. But the draft hasn't been great. But these last couple years, the guys that they've been drafting, they're playing and actually doing pretty well. So I really don't have an answer for that, why it's not going well. But I do look at other teams. They're having success, and what they have is just a group of stars that are all in and they're connected to the coach, and it's hard and tough, and that's who they are. That'll never go away from football. And if you want to win, you got to be physical, you got to be tough, and you got to be smart. And I'm not saying the Giants aren't that, but maybe the personnel has not given them that chance. So I'm going to go to the game tonight, and I think they'll play the Philadelphia Eagles close, and I won't walk out of the stadium shocked if they win. But I'll be happy because I'm just going to be honest. I'm going to root for the Giants. Yeah. So, yeah, it's unbelievable. Every year I see the draft, all this, I go to training camp and I go, this might be the year. This is the year. And with Malik Neighbors and of course, the quarterback and everything, I was watching the pass rush. I said, man, they got a chance and they've had two chances. And they lost both of those games, Dallas and down in New Orleans. Yeah, that changes your year, Colin. I mean, just think if they'd have beat Dallas in overtime or beat New Orleans, all of a sudden we'd be going, hey, look, Phil, what about the Giants, man? They might be in the playoffs. That's how close it is, I think in the NFL.

[Colin Cowherd]

This just popped into my head. You're covering some college football now. Sims complete on the Believe Network. So we'll wrap it up with this. Your son played at Texas. And I. I've said this before. Of the five toughest jobs in all of sports in America, quarterback of the Texas Longhorns is near the top of that list. It is insane pressure. The donors, the coaching, the culture. It's almost got an NFL feel in terms of it's in a cool city, there's a lot of business, there's a lot of money. It's not your typical rural college where you get a friendly media and everybody's. Texas football is big. It's bigger than a lot of NFL programs. Right. It's bigger than Jaguars football in Jacksonville. Your son played there. Arch Manning is really struggling. Take me to the pressure your son felt and that it's just not another college quarterback job at Texas. It feels almost professional.

[Phil Simms]

Yeah. You know, I don't know if I, I could even answer that question about my son. We never talked about how you're feeling and all that. And you know, I always gave words of encouragement and I, not to get off target here, but I always say to like, parents of quarterbacks that are coming up through high school that are really good and in the pros, I say to them, stay with them, be in contact them as much as you can to help them through all the hardships that are going to come because if you don't, it's just not going to work out well. And I'm not sitting here going to confession, but, you know, I didn't make that connection with my kids as much as I should have. I should have been on top of it more. And you know, I always say this too. They're 18 year olds coming out of high school. What the hell do they know? They don't know much of nothing. Right. And so I should have been there as a parent to give them more information. But with Orange Manning, I'll say this, I studied him during the off season. I loved it. Everything about him and what I'm seeing now, I was like, wow. I just, I did not see any of this last year, but I would, I would boil down to this, Just try to relax, whatever it is. But his throwing is what has caught my attention. Yeah, it just hasn't been on target. He rushes, throws. His motion looks like it's changed from what I saw last year. And I think that's part of the problem. When you, Colin, when you throw the ball well and you know where it's going to go, you don't become a good decision maker. You become great, great. You see it, you believe it, you complete it, and let's move on. And right now I just see doubt sometimes in Arch Manning when he's throwing the football that he's, he's like, oh, I want to complete. You know, when you Want to complete them. Too bad it usually doesn't work. So we'll see, you know, more experience. I will say he'll kind of fix this and look a lot better as the year goes along.

[Colin Cowherd]

Phil, as always, we talk about once every couple years. I always loved chatting with you. Great wisdom. And you look fantastic. I'm not going to say your age. People can Google it. But you look. You look really good.

[Phil Simms]

Well, hell. All right. Well, my wife never tells me that.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, okay, maybe she should.

[Phil Simms]

Hey, you know, listen, I'm looking for interviews, so bring me on every once in a while, you know, I. I'd like to beat it up, you know, and. All right, let me. This would be the last thing I say. Real quick, the quarterbacks. I know you like the guy at Oregon, and you know what? You should. Yeah, he's really good.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes.

[Phil Simms]

And Oregon, if you want to be a good quarterback, go up there and get taught. Run that offense. You'll do well. But what's coming into the draft this year, it's probably going to be real. There's going to be a lot of them. But you know what's coming in the following year. Behind them is another damn group. So this quarterback situation. There's enough quarterbacks to go around for this whole league. The big thing is, can we get coaches to create a scheme to lead the team to let these quarterbacks show who they are? I mean, what happened? All of a sudden, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold are stars when we watch them and they were thrown to the sidewalk a couple years ago.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[Phil Simms]

So there you go.

[Colin Cowherd]

Phil Sims, we will bring you back on. And I mean it. We're going to bring you back. I love this. I appreciate it. Thanks, Phil.

[Phil Simms]

It'll be great if you bring me back on and then pay me. I like that even better.

[Colin Cowherd]

We do that. Fox is doing well. The stock price is up. We got plenty of cash here.

[Phil Simms]

All right, well, thank you. Thanks for having me on, Colin.

[Colin Cowherd]

You bet. Phil Sims. It feels great. All right, we take a break. We'll wrap it up with her line next. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd. Weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific. Show flying by. We've had good guests this week. A Rod stop by. Greg Cosell, Phil Sims, today. J. Mack with the news.

[Phil Simms]

No, no, no.

[Colin Cowherd]

Turn on the news.

[Phil Simms]

This is the Herd line news.

[J. Mack]

Well, Colin, let's start with the Cleveland Browns, the factory of sadness. They've got a quarterback situation. Everybody's waiting to find out who the.

[Colin Cowherd]

Backup to Dylan Gabriel will be.

[J. Mack]

Kevin Stefanski is not showing his cards. Will it be Shador Sanders or Bailey Zappi? Colin, that's the legitimate story out of Cleveland. Who's going to be the backup? And here's Stefanski talking about it.

[Phil Simms]

I always have to be mindful of our players and our players development and you know, I want to make sure that I'm always doing what's best for our players and of course our team. But you know, with young players, I'm always thinking about last week making the change to Dillon. You have to think long and hard about that because these are, these are young players that you're so invested in their developments.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah.

[J. Mack]

Colin, this is, if you listen closely, players development. Bailey Zappy ain't developing, okay. He's a veteran backup. It sounds to me like Shador ain't gonna be the backup list. That, that, that's my read from this quote. Maybe I'm reading between the lines but is it strange that he's up there answering questions about who's.

[Colin Cowherd]

It's so funny. There's this contingent in Cleveland that thinks, you know, shedeur there against Shador Sanders. You do get that Cleveland wishes he was Andrew Locke, right. So nobody's against him. I think his lack of maturity, I think he was more of a projected more as a a work than he was ready to play. But it is shocking. I, I do. I do not remember and all I've been doing this 30 years. I do not remember ever there being a quarterback that was largely understood quarterbacks drop in the draft all the time but was considered late first, early second by people I trust that not only drop to the fifth round, he's a scout team guy basically for Cleveland. I mean the way Stefanski talks. Yeah like he's a backup but won't play.

[J. Mack]

So my take and I this probably isn't going to be popular. I think this speaks to the media environment right now. Colin, I hate to be mean, but nobody cares about anything going on with the Cleveland Browns. The only way that they're getting clicks in Cleveland is something Shadour Sanders related. So is he going to be the backup coach? What's up with the develop? That's the only thing nobody cares about the Browns. Isaiah Bond, Harold Fanon, nobody cares.

[Colin Cowherd]

I think Stefanski every action from Stefanski tells you Shador is not it. So I just follow the act. Stepanski's real bright. Andrew Berry's history drafting is really good. These are smart guys. He can't play. And again, in my life I do not remember everybody saying it's a late first, mid, first, mid second quarterback. Now he drops but can't move up the rotation. Cleveland would love him to be great because they have that desean contract. They would love a free quarterback from the fifth round. You could get out from within desean Watson's mess if he could play because you don't pay. I mean, it's like Brock Purdy paying. A part of his appeal was he's as good as Garoppolo or better and he's free for four years. That's very appealing to teams.

[J. Mack]

By the way, remember we talked about this spot line starting to tick up. Everybody's noticing. Oh, Cleveland's coming off London Steelers off a buy in the desert. This is six and a half. It's five and a half for, for, for Fox here. It's heading up. This is going to be probably a touchdown.

[Colin Cowherd]

What's it. What is it right now?

[J. Mack]

I saw six and a half in the desert on the screen. We got five and a half because, you know, we put this up earlier. But I like a lot Pittsburgh here and I don't like Aaron Rodgers, you know, so I don't want to give away Friday headlines, but I like Pittsburgh here a lot. Let's move on. Colin to the Detroit Lions. This is an interesting one. So a report surfaced that the Lions complained to the league office about Aiden Hutchinson, their star defender, being blocked illegally. Okay, got story. Got a lot of attention, including Hutchinson just, you know, came back from that nasty leg injury. Well, then Dan Campbell talked about it and here we go.

[Dan Campbell]

That's a bogus report. I don't know where that came from. Nobody from here ever did that. That's bull.

[Phil Simms]

I was just.

[Colin Cowherd]

I was just curious if you saw any difference.

[Dan Campbell]

No. Okay.

[Phil Simms]

No, man.

[Dan Campbell]

Nope.

[Colin Cowherd]

Games played a certain way.

[Dan Campbell]

That's the way it goes, man. It doesn't matter whether we're doing or.

[Phil Simms]

Somebody else is doing it to our guys.

[Dan Campbell]

We know that and we play accordingly.

[J. Mack]

So you've been in the media a long time. When the number one ESPN NFL newsbreaker has this and Dan Campbell calls it bogus.

[Colin Cowherd]

What.

[J. Mack]

What's going on? Are the Lions complaining to the league office? Are they not? Is Hutches his agent doing it? Something fishy going on here. But Dan Campbell was like pointing and fired up in that video.

[Colin Cowherd]

I believe you're talking. I. I am a. Dan Campbell is authentic and I think he's incredibly emotionally honest. So is. Is. I don't. I don't think Dan Campbell's trying to manipulate the media. I don't think I think he's one of the nicest guys in the league. I think he's one of the more honest guys in the league. There are very few guys like Vrabel. What you get, you get Campbell. What you get, you get Todd Bowles. What you get, you get. Like, some of these guys, they play to the media. Those guys don't. Campbell's all. He's all facts, all honest, all raw. He just lets you see all. Yeah. I mean, he gets emotional talking about football. He comes to tears. He's. He doesn't care. He's just an honest guy.

[J. Mack]

Yeah. I will say, you know, you do the segment where Colin was right. Where Colin was wrong. I was wrong on Campbell. I remember. Remember that one time I like, he's not a top 20 coach. And you were like, oh, wait, wait a minute. All these Lions fans came after me. I was wrong. He's good.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. Dan Campbell's a coach. I still had my issues with Nick Sirianni. I have none with Dan Campbell. None.

[Dan Campbell]

He's.

[J. Mack]

He's built.

[Colin Cowherd]

He's a very, very good coach. Very good. Yeah, he just does it differently. Shanahan's the scheme guy, and I think Dan's the emotional culture builder. I mean, Detroit doesn't have to have great defenses. They are still physical. They just do it on the offensive side.

[J. Mack]

Remember, they weren't good. I think they started, like, 07 or 08. They had it, but they let it bake. And he built a culture. Which leads us to our final story, and that's the jets, who Aaron Glenn is supposedly building a culture there. I don't know. The jets are winless. They stink. And Bo Nix is not overlooking Aaron Glenn's jets this weekend.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, I think in the league, quite.

[Phil Simms]

Honestly, it's a little disrespectful to consider anybody a trap team. I think, you know, they're an NFL team, and they're gonna have some really good players on their defense, and it's not really, you know, a trap game.

[Colin Cowherd]

I think any game, you can walk.

[Phil Simms]

In and slip up and lose. That's just the league.

[Colin Cowherd]

So, you know, if you're not careful.

[Phil Simms]

In a way, all of them could be because they're that good of an opponent.

[Colin Cowherd]

Plus, you remember, I'm staying away from this game.

[J. Mack]

Smart.

[Colin Cowherd]

Because my take is the Broncos come off a huge win, the jets get humiliated. These are pro athletes. I think it's a touchdown game. I like Denver to win, but I think it's really close. I am. This is a. A couple weeks ago I stayed away from the Chargers over the Giants and the Bills over the Saints and the packers blowing out the Cowboys. Looks so obvious. This looks too obvious. Stay away.

[J. Mack]

Half the battle is dodging landmines.

[Colin Cowherd]

This is a landmine game.

[Phil Simms]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

One team off a wildly emotional win on the road in Philly. The jets get humiliated. Jets have players. Jets have good players.

[J. Mack]

Looks like some of their defenders are trending back from injury this week. I don't know that. Are you waking up at 6:30am?

[Phil Simms]

Yes.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes.

[J. Mack]

Well, actually, you'll be. Yeah. You won't have to wait. 8:30, 6:30 for my team. Might be a late Saturday night for old J. Mac boozing it up.

[Colin Cowherd]

I will be up at 8:30, Chicago time watching Sean Payton and Bo Nick.

[J. Mack]

I do like waking up to a bunch of texts about the London games. Oh, my gosh. How did I bet on this crap? You know, like bad, bad quarterback.

[Colin Cowherd]

When I was living in Vegas out of college, college football wasn't as popular. So you would get the best games in the country, like the Miami Hurricanes and the Florida State Seminoles. Bobby Bowden at 9 in the morning. And on Friday night, I would do the local sports and then I would go to the Palace Station and I would bet all those early Florida games and party all night and sleep in. And I'd wake up and I'd be like, oh, I hit a couple bets or I lost. But I was like, that was. That was my first wave of bets. It was the early morning Pacific time. Betsy.

[J. Mack]

Forget it. Right? That's what they say, bet it and forget. You know, don't stress over every down, which some of us tend to do occasionally.

[Colin Cowherd]

J. Mac with the news. Well, that's the news and thanks for.

[Phil Simms]

Stopping by the Herd lie news man.

[Colin Cowherd]

It has been a thinking of Phil Simps. It has been a bad stretch for New York sports teams. Oh, my God. Now, there's a story out there today that Giannis is leaving the Bucks and legitimate people are reporting. The league's been notified. Giannis is leaving. Now. I would have done this two years ago. New York, you're going to get a lot of New York Nick talk. Keep your eye on the Orlando Magic and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Keep your eye on Orlando and Minnesota. They got the pieces and the picks and they've got stars who need another equal star next to them. Ant and Giannis. Pablo Bancaro and Giannis Paolo Bancaro. Yeah.

[J. Mack]

Just remember Kevin Durant was traded to the Sun. That came out of nowhere a few years ago. We were at the Super Bowl.

[Colin Cowherd]

Golden State wants Giannis. They'd have to give up Pods, Kaminga, four first round picks and some expiring contracts.

[J. Mack]

One of the smart guys on staff who shares my name is floating the Minnesota Timberwolves.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, no, no, that's pairing. If you go look at their.

[Dan Campbell]

Look.

[Colin Cowherd]

At picks and yes, that's.

[J. Mack]

That's nasty. Those are two top six players in the league.

[Colin Cowherd]

Keep your eye on Houston.

[J. Mack]

Houston's good. They might win the title this year.

[Colin Cowherd]

You got to give up. You got to give up Amend Thompson, though. I don't know.

[J. Mack]

He's good.

[Colin Cowherd]

You're not. You're not getting this guy for an end table. You got to give up something to get something. See you tomorrow. Today's episode brought to you by Ascent that's made a legendary comeback. Degree Original Cool Rush the OG is back and better than ever. Cool Rush isn't just a scent, it's a movement kind of fragrance guys remember, ask for by name and rave about online. It's bold. It's fresh all day. Sweat protection, cool, crisp vibe that made it legendary. So whether you're heading to the gym, the office, or just trying to stay fresh all day long, Cool Rush has your back. So if you haven't tried it yet, head to your local Walmart. Grab Degree Cool Rush, the fan favorite scent from the world's number one antiperspirant brand.

[J. Mack]

Hear insightful, entertaining discussions on today's important health and wellness topics on the Health discovered podcast from WebMD. Through in depth conversations with experts, Health Discovered covers everything from tips for healthier living to the latest on therapy and mental health.

[Phil Simms]

My goal is to really destigmatize mental.

[Colin Cowherd]

Health treatment and looking at it from a whole health perspective, physical health and mental health can be intertwined.

[J. Mack]

Listen to WebMD Health discovered on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Phil Simms]

This is an iHeart podcast.