THE HERD - Hour 3 - Thoughts on who can win the National Championship, more on Shedeur Sanders, Chris Simms

Summary

Comprehensive Summary of "THE HERD - Hour 3" Podcast Episode

Title: THE HERD - Hour 3 - Thoughts on who can win the National Championship, more on Shedeur Sanders, Chris Simms
Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts and The Volume
Release Date: August 11, 2025

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Introduction

On August 11, 2025, "The Herd with Colin Cowherd," produced by iHeartPodcasts and The Volume, delivered an engaging episode titled "THE HERD - Hour 3 - Thoughts on who can win the National Championship, more on Shedeur Sanders, Chris Simms." Hosted by Colin Cowherd and featuring Chris Simms, the episode delved into a variety of hot topics in the sports world, blending insightful analysis with spirited debate.

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1. National Championship Predictions

The episode kicked off with a deep dive into the college football landscape, particularly focusing on the preseason rankings and their significance in predicting the National Championship outcomes.

• Preseason Rankings Impact:
  Chris Simms emphasized the historical importance of preseason rankings, stating, "Every national champ in the College Football Playoff era has begun the season ranked inside the preseason top six" ([13:49]). He further added, "10 of those 11 champions were inside the top five," underscoring the correlation between high preseason rankings and championship success.

• Texas Longhorns Outlook:
  Despite being the preseason number one, both hosts expressed skepticism about Texas Longhorns' chances of securing the national title. Simms predicted a matchup between Texas and Penn State in the championship game, challenging the notion that the top-ranked team would inevitably win.

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2. Matt Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams' NFC Standing

A significant portion of the discussion centered around Matt Stafford's health and its potential impact on the Los Angeles Rams' performance in the NFC.

• Injury Concerns:
  Chris Simms raised alarms about rumors regarding Stafford's possible back surgery, questioning, "Apparently some people are concerned that Matt Stafford... suggesting what about back surgery?" ([02:02]).

• Team Implications:
  Colin Cowherd commented on the Rams' standing without Stafford, noting, "The Rams is like the second best team in the NFC. They're not top eight without Matt Stafford. Like that's a game changer" ([04:52]). This highlighted the team's heavy reliance on Stafford for playoff contention.

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3. Tyreek Hill Trade Speculations

The hosts explored the swirling trade rumors surrounding star wide receiver Tyreek Hill, analyzing his potential destinations and the ramifications for involved teams.

• Potential Destinations:
  Colin Cowherd predicted, "I'm on the prediction train that Tyreek Hill will be traded sometime during the season, whenever the trade deadline is" ([04:52]). He highlighted teams like the Chargers and Commanders as frontrunners, stating, "The Chargers and Commanders lead the way at +550" ([03:42]).

• Impact Analysis:
  Chris Simms elaborated on Hill's transformative potential, asserting, "He would be a flat out game changer for the Chargers" ([03:42]). The discussion delved into how Hill's agility and speed could revolutionize the Chargers' offensive strategy, particularly their deep passing game.

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4. Evolution of the Kicker Position in the NFL

Shifting gears, the conversation turned to the dramatic changes in the role of kickers within the NFL, sparked by an impressive preseason performance.

• Record-Breaking Feats:
  The hosts discussed a Jaguars' kicker hitting a "70-yard field goal" during the preseason ([06:24]), drawing comparisons to historic records held by players like Justin Tucker.

• Specialization and Training:
  Chris Simms highlighted the increasing specialization in the kicker position, mentioning, "It's become a little cottage industry and they better kicking coaches and there's money in it" ([07:58]). This underscores the growing emphasis on training and perfecting kicking techniques to achieve longer and more accurate field goals.

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5. College Football Rankings and USC's Current Standings

The episode delved into the latest college football rankings, with particular attention to the surprising exclusion of USC from the top 25.

• USC's Performance:
  Chris Simms expressed confusion over USC's absence, questioning, "I'm not seeing your USC. Am I missing them?" ([09:14]). The hosts analyzed USC's recruitment strategies, coaching dynamics, and performance issues that might have contributed to their lower ranking despite strong preseason expectations.

• Recruitment and Coaching Challenges:
  Simms discussed USC's challenges, noting, "They’ve got to be a top 25 team. I had this discuss... USC’s got to do better than 30th" ([09:21]). The dialogue highlighted the pressures USC faces in maintaining a competitive edge amidst aggressive recruitment and coaching changes.

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6. Shedeur Sanders and the Cleveland Browns' Quarterback Situation

A focal point of the episode was the performance and future of Shedeur Sanders, quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.

• Performance Analysis:
  Tony Fusco, a guest on the show, shared his insights, stating, "He [Shedeur Sanders] does not give me pause at all. He doesn't worry me at all off the field" ([29:02]). This positive assessment pointed to Sanders' readiness and potential impact on the Browns' offensive dynamics.

• Team Strategy and Depth:
  The discussion explored the Browns' quarterback depth, contemplating whether the team should maintain a multi-quarterback roster. Colin Cowherd mused, "Will the Cleveland Browns have the courage to keep four quarterbacks?" ([28:27]), reflecting on the strategic considerations of managing quarterback talent and competition.

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7. Jackson Dart's Performance and Potential with the New York Giants

The conversation also highlighted rookie quarterback Jackson Dart's debut performance and his prospects with the New York Giants.

• Debut Performance:
  Chris Simms praised Dart's on-field performance, stating, "He looked the part. Like length, speed, twitchiness. He looks the part" ([06:10]).

• Starting Prospects:
  Colin Cowherd predicted Dart's swift ascent to a starting role, asserting, "I would not be surprised if he were starting by Halloween for the Giants" ([33:16]). This optimism was based on Dart's composure, athleticism, and the coaching staff's confidence in his abilities.

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8. Additional Discussions

• Caleb Williams and J.J. McCarthy:
  The hosts touched upon other prominent quarterbacks, analyzing their college performances and readiness for the NFL. Simms remarked on J.J. McCarthy's experience, saying, "He had to deal with that and some tough situations at Michigan" ([08:47]).

• USC's Recruitment Strategy:
  The dialogue also encompassed USC's strategic recruitment under athletic director Mark Carrier, highlighting efforts to bolster the team through acquisitions of key staff and players.

• NFL Kicker Records:
  Reflecting on the progression of kicking records, the hosts compared recent feats to legendary performances, mentioning, "Justin Tucker holds it" ([07:08]) and discussing the factors contributing to longer field goals in the modern game.

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Conclusion

The episode concluded with a synthesis of the discussed topics, reinforcing the interconnectedness of player performances, team strategies, and seasonal predictions. Colin Cowherd encapsulated the essence of the episode with a reflective note on preseason rankings and championship outcomes, emphasizing the nuanced interplay between expectations and actual performance.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Preseason Rankings Impact:
  "Every national champ in the College Football Playoff era has begun the season ranked inside the preseason top six." ([13:49])

• Tyreek Hill Trade Prediction:
  "I'm on the prediction train that Tyreek Hill will be traded sometime during the season, whenever the trade deadline is." ([04:52])

• Shedeur Sanders' Assurance:
  "He does not give me pause at all. He doesn't worry me at all off the field." — Tony Fusco ([29:02])

• Jackson Dart Starting Prediction:
  "I would not be surprised if he were starting by Halloween for the Giants." ([33:16])

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Final Thoughts

"The Herd - Hour 3" offered a comprehensive exploration of current sports narratives, blending statistical insights with expert opinions. From college football's championship outlook to the evolving dynamics of NFL quarterbacks and specialists, the episode provided listeners with a thorough understanding of the factors shaping the sports landscape in 2025.

For those keen on staying informed about the latest in sports, especially regarding team strategies and player trajectories, this episode serves as a valuable resource, delivering both depth and clarity on pressing topics.

Transcript

[Colin Cowherd]

This is an iHeart podcast.

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[Chris Simms]

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[Chris Simms]

Thanks for listening to the Herd podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio and 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.

[Producer]

Now let's get this party started.

[Fox Sports Radio Announcer]

You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. Sports Radio.

[Chris Simms]

Very interesting. Apparently some people are concerned that Matt Stafford people are suggesting what about back surgery? And Sean McVeigh said today that has not been a conversation that we've had. There's been a lot of conversations about what's the best method to approach it with there there. That hasn't been something that's come up, but just the idea that there are conversations of Matt Stafford and a back surgery. So I have the Rams is like the second best team in the nfc. They're not top eight without Matt Stafford. Like that's that's a game changer. So maybe I'll get old Brock Purdy, wedge him in as a deep wild card seed to the playoffs. We'll see. J. Mack.

[Colin Cowherd]

No, no, no, no.

[Producer]

Turn on the news.

[Fox Sports Radio Announcer]

This is the Herd line news.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right, Colin. I think Tyreek Hill is going to be a hot name to watch all season due to his trade situation. So he's been sidelined due to an oblique injury, but he continues to be in the news during these press conferences saying wacky stuff. It said his relationship with TUA is a work in progress. I mean, they're like three years in now. According to reports, other NFL teams are monitoring the trade market for Tyreek Hill. The Chargers and Commanders lead the way at +550. He would be a flat out game changer for the Chargers. Oh, my gosh. Stretching the field. McConkey underneath.

[Chris Simms]

Well, remember, they just lost their left tackle. Tyreek Hill is at his best deep down the field. Joe Alt's protecting you. You're weak at the right tackle. You're going to be doing a lot of deep throws. I mean, that's never been Harbaugh's never been a. He spent a lot of money on a wide receiver. The culture right now with the Chargers is excellent. Tyreek Hill can disrupt that. None of these, I mean, I, the Raiders is interesting to me because, well, I mean, they've got their tight end, they've got their running back. They could use an over the top in that division with Sean Payton, Reed Herbert. I could argue the Raiders could use it downfield. Game breaker.

[Colin Cowherd]

You think Vegas is a good city for Tyreek Hill right now? I, I, I don't know.

[Chris Simms]

Listen, guys who are immature, it doesn't matter where they live. You can be immature in Cleveland or Miami. It doesn't matter.

[Colin Cowherd]

You did Pete Carroll. Can, can reel him in. I, it's interesting. The other team on there is a Commanders. We know the Terry McLaren situation. They have Debo, they have a quarterback on a Rookie deal.

[Chris Simms]

Terry McLaren's the opposite of Tyreek.

[Colin Cowherd]

100% polar opposites. But Tyreek Hill with that offense with Jaden Daniels, hey, listen, that kind of sort of spic. I'm on the prediction train that that Tyree Kill will be traded sometime during the season, whenever the trade deadline is. I just don't see him lasting. Like, why would you. Everything that's coming out of his mouth is not positive for like basically the last year.

[Chris Simms]

Right. I think at some point you just have to accept what people are. I mean, it'd be one thing if you're 23 and immature. You know, people grow, obviously. But if you, if you've been in an industry for you know, seven, eight, nine years, you start looking around and it's the same stuff. Then you just have to accept that person and stop worrying about changing them. Like the person is what the person is.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right, let's move on to Travis Hunter, the electrifying rookie out of Colorado. He had his preseason debut for The Jags Saturday. 10 snaps on offense, eight snaps on defense. Is this him wrapping up in space here now? He whiffed on the tackle there. Here's what he had to say about his mis. About his performance.

[Producer]

A little nervous, but I felt great. I did pretty good. I feel like if you have more opportunities here to show them what we can really do, we could flush it right away and just get back. Get back to business and know what I got to do next for him.

[Chris Simms]

He is. He's. He's. I mean, when I turn to a game because I want to watch a DB like, he is. He is something else, man. He looks the part. Like length, speed, twitchiness. He looks the part.

[Colin Cowherd]

We got a side note here from the producer. He says that the Jags kicker hit a 70 yard field goal. Someone named Cam Little. But it does not count toward the longest kick in NFL history because it was the preseason, and it looks like he made this with a few yards to spare. That could have been good.

[Chris Simms]

From 72 forever. Tom Dempsey held the record. Who? Tom Dempsey was kind of legendary. He had half a foot, so he used a shoe, almost like it was shaped like a little bit like a hammer head. Who. Who does hold the current NFL field goal record?

[Colin Cowherd]

That's a great question for Je.

[Chris Simms]

Somebody beat somebody. Top. Oh, Justin Tucker. What? 65 was it? 66. Okay. Justin Tucker holds it.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes.

[Chris Simms]

Somebody will beat that. I don't know what happened to your. I don't know what happened. I was going to say maybe it was an Ozempic. No, that would lose weight. You would lose strength. Something happened about two years ago and people hit 57 yarders. I have no idea what happened. I mean, like two years ago, it was like 57 was like, oh, that's within range. You used to be. You wouldn't even attempt a 57 yarder if there was any win.

[Colin Cowherd]

I wonder. You talk about the 7 on 7. I wonder if specialization in the kicker position caught on like a decade ago at the youth levels. People were like, listen, I'm not gonna be a football player. I can be a kicker. And you just study it, study it. Continue to get better. And now we're seeing the. The fruits of the labor here in. I mean, you're right. 50 did not feel like a chore last year. It was like not free points, but certainly within range.

[Chris Simms]

Yeah, I don't, I don't have any great explanation. You're probably right. They've just, it's become a little cottage industry and they better kicking coaches and there's money in it and there's certainly money being a kicker, even a punter.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. The final story calls college football. The first AP pole of the season has been released. Take a look. Who's number one? The Texas Longhorns with Arch Manning. Penn State, who we both have in the national championship at 2, Ohio State, 3, Clemson. You love you some Tigers this year for Georgia. Five, Notre Dame, six. Interesting note here. Of the last 21 teams to open at number one in the preseason pol team failed to win the national championship comes via Brett McMurphy. So number one doesn't really mean anything great here. If you're thinking who's going to win. I do not think Texas wins the Natty this year.

[Chris Simms]

I, I, I, I believe, I believe you have to be in the, the last 10 of the last 11 national champions have been in the top six in the preseason poll. Look that up. 10 of the last 11 natties have come from. So that would be Texas, Penn State, Ohio State, Clemson, Georgia, Notre Dame, Oregon on the outside looking in. I think that's it.

[Colin Cowherd]

I'm not seeing your USC. Am I missing them? USC not even top 25?

[Chris Simms]

Well, yeah, I mean I, here's what I would say if you're USC. So what are we four years in now? Three and four recruiting classes, three and four transfer classes. USC's got to be a top 25 team. I had this discuss. I saw Mark Carrier yesterday. He's a great USC Trojan. I'm at the gym, I mean, throwing around massive weight and I run into Mark Carrier who is now the athletic director of a very prestigious local high school. And, and we're taught usc is at 30, by the way. And we were, we were, I asked him about Lincoln Riley and we know he's a smart guy that can coach, but in Oklahoma, he inherited Bob Stoop's culture. The culture was built. We know he could coach. I mean they won 11 games four years in a row. If he was a stiff, he would go backwards. So we know he can coach, but there is a difference. Like Mike McDaniel I know can coach. Can Mike McDaniel in Miami build a culture? And so USC has got, is spending big money in the nil. Big money. I mean, they're going buying good players, their staff. Anthony Lynn's a great defensive coordinator. They've got they stole Notre Dames like strength and conditioning coach or GM or something like that. So if you start looking at Notary, if you start looking at USC, you got to do better than 30th. Like they now that doesn't mean they can't win 10 games and end like 16th. But their schedule, they've got to go to Oregon, if I recall. They've got to go to Notre Dame. But you can lose two games and make the playoffs. Ohio State lost its last game to Michigan as a 20 point favorite and won the Natty so.

[Colin Cowherd]

But the optics Colin of USC not being top 25, not good. SMU and Indiana are in there. It's like what? That's just unfamiliar territory for the Trojans.

[Chris Simms]

J Mac with the news well, that's the news.

[Fox Sports Radio Announcer]

And thanks for stopping by the Herd LIE News. Be sure to catch live editions of the Herd, weekdays at noon Eastern, 9am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1 and the iHeartRadio app.

[Jay]

Hi, this is Jay. I'm the producer of the Paulie and Tony Fusco Show. Usually in these promos, they ask you to listen to the show. I'm here to ask you, please don't listen to the show. The hosts are two absolute morons who have the dumbest takes on sports imaginable. Don't listen to this show so it can get canceled.

[Chris Simms]

Whoa, whoa, whoa. What the hell are you doing in our studio? Get him, Paulie.

[Paulie]

Ignore that fool. Listen to the Paul and Tony Fusco.

[Tony]

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

[Chris Simms]

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[Chris Simms]

Here it is. Every national champ in the College Football Playoff era has begun the season ranked inside the preseason top six. And 10 of those 11 champions were inside the top five. The only exception was LSU in 2019, and there were six. So if you're in the top six, you're gonna win the natty. The media may not be able to pick. And I've said before the season, I think Texas plays Penn State in the national championship. By the way, Lincoln's former team, Oklahoma, is in the top 25. That stings a little. That stings a little. Chris Sims, eight years in the NFL, former Longhorn. He is joining us. Okay, so I kind of thought. I kind of thought Shador Sanders was okay. What did you make of it?

[Tony]

Oh, I think it was better than just okay. I mean, first off, I think when you just take into account the pressure surrounding the situation, right? I mean, all the talk, he's not getting enough reps, the Cleveland Browns are trying to screw him over, blah, blah, blah. Then, okay, he gets thrust into the starting position. And I don't care if it's preseason or not. When you're a rookie and you got to start the first preseason game, it ain't all that easy. But what I like about Shador Sanders, the highlights you're showing right here are perfect. He's awesome in the pocket. He's more athletic than people realize. He doesn't flinch with pressure around him. I know his idol is Tom Brady. The way he moves around the pocket and stays in throwing positions. It does remind me of that. And he's the ultimate gamer. That's one thing I knew he was. So great start for him, and he's certainly going to make that whole quarterback controversy there more Controversial.

[Chris Simms]

Okay, so I said this morning, Jackson Dart played 41 games in arguably the best conference with an NFL level coach in Lane Kiffin. A sophisticated offense. He's ready to play. Now. Maybe you give Russell snap one, but Chris, I mean, plus you didn't get this when you were young. Maybe you did, but the kids now not only get 41 starts, they get seven on seven camps, they get private coaching. And two, now your dad was an NFL quarterback, so you had some advantages. But like to me, 41 college snaps under Lane Kiffin I don't want to hear about while he's young. I mean, why not play him?

[Tony]

Yeah, no, I hear the world's change. You said it right. Seven on seven camps, passing academies, all that. And just to be clear, my dad didn't do jack diddly squat with me until I got to high school. It was like the first time we ever had a catch together. All right, just so you know, it wasn't like quarterback school, but he is NFL ready and I think that's the appeal of Jackson Dart. You said it right, the competition he played against, the coaching he got from Wayne Tiffin. He knows how to operate an NFL offense. They want to start him, you know that. But I think the bigger thing is not about him, Colin. Maybe just a little bit more about the team. I think it could be that too. They have a very tough start of the schedule at the start of the year. You maybe don't want to throw the rookie in at that, that point. Also I look at it too. Their offensive line is going to be a question mark again. They might want to wait a few weeks, make sure Andrew Thomas is totally healthy at left tackle. Get that right before they throw in their new prize possession of Jackson Dart into the starting lineup. But he did look good. Another guy is athleticism I think is better than I even thought coming out of college. And he can read the field, he can play within the pocket. His arm doesn't wow me, but he can play the position. And that's the thing that's most important. He will be the starter there eventually. And I think they're a 2 and 3 team out of the gates and I think somewhere around there you'll see Jackson Dart come in.

[Chris Simms]

Yeah. So everybody except Tom Brady played this weekend. I mean, got Burrow did, Mahomes did, everybody did. And Caleb Williams didn't. Now the coach said, listen, he took a lot of snaps at practice and I'm. May I suggest that he was like, okay, standalone game, it's going to be a big Audience. It's like when a tech company delays, you know, their new gadget and says, you know, it's going to be revolutionary. But, you know, we just want to make sure it's for. It felt like it was. It was a little strategic, not playing him. Can I be cynical a little?

[Tony]

No, no. I think you're allowed to be cynical here. I think it's realistic in a lot of ways. First off, like you talked about, everybody, almost every game had starters, right? Didn't mean both teams played starters, but just about every game this preseason except Rams, Cowboys played their starters. I think it's going to be a new fad in the NFL. You don't get to play. You don't get to hit, you don't get to play real football that much. So you got to take advantage of those opportunities. But I think you're on the right track. My brain went to the same place, Colin. They don't want to unveil anything until they feel like it's ready. They've been the most scrutinized team in all football through preseason so far. So I think between that and Caleb Williams and the scrutiny there and a pass number one pick, he's learning and getting a crash course in an offense that he has never had to deal with. He's out there. I just heard you talking about Lincoln Riley and usc. That offense, it doesn't get any more simple than that. Oh, five receivers get the shotgun. You run a slant, you run a slant and you run a slant. There's nothing to it. He's getting trigonometry lessons right now from Ben Johnson. Whoa. I'm underneath the center. We got 9 million formations. We got 50 checks for every play. I'm calling three plays in the huddle. So I think a little bit of what you're saying is right. They want to make sure everybody, offensive and defensively, I think, is comfortable before they put their. Their new team out there for everybody to scrutinize a little bit.

[Chris Simms]

You know, I said this during the Nick Saban run, is that at playing at Alabama, you may have won a lot of games, but it didn't prepare you for the NFL. You always played with a lead. You always had four NFL offensive linemen. You had the best coach and best roster that if you look at the history of the NFL, it's a lot of big. Ben Miami of Ohio, Drew Brees at Purdue, Philip Rivers, NC State. You get your butt kicked in college. So my question on J.J. mcCarthy's last two years, he threw the ball over 30 times, once. Almost always played with a lead. It was a run first team with a dominating defense. Is that I think, I think, I don't think Michigan an unbelievable coach in school. I don't think he's ready. And I think the injury then put him way, way behind. So my take is we better be patient here because he may not be close to a Bo Nix in his first year of playing a lot. Where do you think he lands this year?

[Tony]

I would be shocked if it didn't work out. Now the things you bring up I think are legitimate questions. You're right there. You'd like him to have had some more games right through the ball 30 and 40 times. But at the same time, Colin, I'd argue he did play a pro style football type of attack, you know, maybe an NFL defensive type of team. And he had to manage the game that way. And when he did get dropped back to pass, it wasn't like, oh, I throw a screen here or a little bubble screen over here. He had to throw the ball and push the ball down the field, which you're seeing him do right here. And I think he has an incredible arm. His body looks good. He definitely put on some weight. O' Connell is a quarterback whisperer. They're going to be better running the football this year, I think in Minnesota than we've seen in years past. And of course he's got the weapons around him on the outside. But I'll say this to you, Colin, the way he played quarterback in college at Michigan, that ain't always easy. You've played pickup in basketball. You go two, three games or you don't get a shot. And all of a sudden someone goes, hey, you're open. Shoot it. And you're like, whoa, I'm not in rhythm here. I haven't, I haven't seen one go through the basket yet. But he had to deal with that and some tough situations at Michigan. So I think he got asked to play like a pro and didn't get a lot of easy completions. Yeah, I'd like more reps, but I do believe in the guy and I believe in the Kevin o', Connell, his ability to coach and their ability to evaluate. I'd be more surprised than not if it doesn't work.

[Chris Simms]

You know, you're a former Texas Longhorn and I'm just going to give you the floor on this. I saw very little of Arch Manning. The most impressed I was is the fact that I think he's significantly better than Quinn Ewers and did not transfer and did not say a peep. He was a great teammate. That told me all I needed to know. He's a Manning, he's smart, he's mature. What are you hearing about the player?

[Tony]

Oh, they're excited about the player. I talked to enough people down there. They were excited about him last year. I knew before the year was over last year, I got the sense from talking to a few people down there that they were going to push Quinn Ewers out the door because they thought the potential and what Arch Manning had, what he could bring to the football team, his smarts, his physical abilities could open up the offense to a degree we haven't really seen under Steve Sarkeesian yet as a play caller. So they're pumped. You talk about the other stuff. He. I mean, leader. Everybody says the same thing. The team loves him. Doesn't matter who it is, right? He's humble, he handles himself the right way. He's got a quick release, he's got a very good arm, and he's an extremely, extremely talented athlete. So I think it's all in the up and up. And yeah, the Longhorns are back. They're real, that's for sure. And I think he has a great year. And, you know, I know his grandfather said it the other day, I'd be shocked if he leaves. They believe in getting those reps you talked about. Get those reps, get that experience, play in the pocket. It's only going to serve you well when you get to the NFL, because that's what the game's all about in the NFL. And of course, you know, he's got two older uncles that thrived in that environment, as we know.

[Chris Simms]

Chris Sims, as always, is great seeing you, my man.

[Tony]

Hey, you the man. Always good seeing you, buddy. Be good. All right, I'll talk to you soon.

[Chris Simms]

Say hi to your dad, Chris Sims, of course, the son of the great Phil Sims, who's still doing some media stuff. I. What is the line again? J. Mac is at two and a half. Texas getting two and a half at Ohio State in Columbus, I believe it.

[Colin Cowherd]

Was bumped up to three.

[Chris Simms]

Yes, I'm taking the points. All right.

[Colin Cowherd]

I'm on Ohio State for sure here. This, I hate to say, Ohio State. What is this? Two weeks and we got about 19 days to the game. I'm very excited for this game, by the way. The whole weekend it's going to be such a banger for football. College football starts good, then the NFL the next weekend. By the way, side note, I have some people Asking me, do you play fantasy football? Would you play in a league if invited by yours truly?

[Chris Simms]

No. I gamble. So DraftKings has Ohio State minus two and a half. You know what? Here, here's my thing with fantasy football players. I am for fantasy football players. But the difference between a gambler and a fantasy football player player, you go to dinner, fantasy football guys argue over the check. Gamblers pick it up.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's a good one, buddy.

[Chris Simms]

I like that. All right, wrap it up. It's the hurt.

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[Chris Simms]

For the record, Bill Belichick at home is a 3 point underdog in his first foray into college football coaching. They've got. I don't. The question is Geo Lopez is kind of a smaller athletic quarterback that runs around. He was six wins, six losses, something like that at South Alabama. We don't know. I've seen YouTube. I really have no idea. I mean Belichick's a defensive guy so you kind of get what you get. Athletic guy, runs around round. We'll see. I don't know. They added a top 10 transfer class with over 40 incoming players. So that's a lot of mentoring and teaching. Each of the last three recruiting classes with Mack Brown as he aged were not great. So they don't have that. That tells me that don't have a ton of talent. Mac was an elite recruiter early and in the prime of his career. Not as much late. So they went out and got Belichick probably perused all of his talent and said we just need more guys. Carolina boosters, that school's got a lot of money, especially for basketball. Stepped up and so it's just, it's in your. You got a guy that was 6 and 6 at South Alabama. Not bad. 18 touchdowns, five picks. Pretty accurate. 6ft 200 pounds, little undersized guy that runs around Geo Lopez. We'll see. But they're gonna have a new quarterback, a new head Coach, new coordinators, 16 new starters. So thank God, outside of Clemson, they'll never be, I would imagine, much more than a three point underdog. It's almost like remember when Dion got to Colorado and I think they were an underdog to tcu and then they clobbered him or something, didn't they? And they clobbered because DCU was an established program and had a bunch of really good players the year before and they all, they had a pretty big, if I recall like draft class. So we'll see the story of the day today. I think one of them is a Shador Sanders. Chris Sim said it. I thought he looked the part. I think everything I thought about him coming into NFL moves well enough, good size, plays comfortably, very accurate. That's what we saw. Again. Again, you better be. He doesn't have great traits. So speeding tickets, worry about local radio guys, legendary draft day room butchered his interview with the New York Giants, which I've had revalidated over the weekend. That's bad stuff. So he the, the less dynamic your traits are, the more dynamic you have to be pre snap and in the film room. So we don't know about that. But here's Matt Hasselbeck earlier on his performance.

[Paulie]

Will the Cleveland Browns have the courage to keep four quarterbacks? And courage is the word I'm using because it's like no one else does that. It doesn't make any sense. This is a team that has gone without a quarterback for so long that they might just say, hey listen, it's that important of a position. We like what we have here. The traits that he's showing, let's hold on to him and develop him on the field. He doesn't give me pause at all. He doesn't worry me at all off the field. And what he's like in the locker room, that's the part that I just don't know. There are some red flags.

[Chris Simms]

We'll see. Who's Cleveland play next? I thought it was pretty good. I, you know, I, I do think it's interesting that I wonder if Shador Shador's brother, according to J. Max Shador's brother, that tape of him talking to Tony Grossi, Shedeur's brother, this was a plan. Hey, let's. I'm gonna go and confront him and. And it goes down to again, why in the world are you worried about that? Give me a break. Oh, Browns are at the Eagles, Phillies playing none of their starters. Landon Dickerson got hurt, the old lineman. So Philly's not going to play and the Browns then face the Rams. Stafford will not play so and then it's the regular season. Did you I I watched a lot of the I sat yesterday and the day before and watched a ton Not Saturday I was busy Saturday to live tour in Chicago. Friday night I watched football yesterday. All day long I sat and watched the NFL. Tyson bent for the Chicago Bears. You shake your head that is when I watch him that is a potentially top five backup in the league. He's a backup backup. Whoa, whoa, you don't think so top.

[Colin Cowherd]

Five backup based on what?

[Chris Simms]

Based on eye tested ball. Well no, I mean I'm saying backup who are the bar is not super high but I don't know. I watched Tyson be he can run, got a 16 play drive. He's got a good arm.

[Colin Cowherd]

He had some moxy last year when he flashed but it was moxy again. Let's not read too much in a preseason with backups and no coaches want to reveal anything that they're going to actually put they don't want to put anything on tape that they're going to be using all season. A lot of vanilla stuff here. Let's pump the brakes on, on on Beijing.

[Chris Simms]

Okay so imagine Bajan Tyson Beijing. So let's ask this. What about Jackson Dart? He looked pretty good.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, well it's interesting you hyped him up. New York Giants fans are doing cartwheel over Abdul Carter. Oh he barely played and he was dominant.

[Chris Simms]

Yeah, yeah yeah. He's going up tried to block him and no, no no. Abdul Carter looked really good but that defensive line is a strength of the team. So he'll just add to Dexter Lawrence and Kevon Thibodeau. They that that'll be the strength of the. That's why I've said the Giants the Giants are not hopeless. Remember a couple years ago you're watching Bryce Young as a rookie in Carolina. You're like that that is a bad football team. The Saints. Saints are going to be bad. Cleveland's going to probably be bad. Cleveland will be interesting if Shidor Sanders plays Giants. If I, if I told you, you know Lamar Jackson played today for the New York Giants. They've got enough players that would be a really, really exceptional. I think they're just a quarterback away.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well yeah, I mean any team. Come on.

[Chris Simms]

Well but there are some teams that you know know I don't think Carolina is a quarterback away.

[Colin Cowherd]

I guarantee you Lamar could get them 9, 10 wins this year by himself.

[Chris Simms]

Okay so pff ranks the Giants defensive line third in the NFL. So I Mean, that means. That means you're going to make opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable. That means you're going to win some field possession games. Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Remember how the Steelers are winning like 16 to 10 last year? That's what they're going to do with Russ and Jackson Dart. And I'll just say this about Dart. Even after the draft, you could tell the Giants felt they got their guy and Jackson won over the media quickly. Brian Dable kind of gushing about him after this game against the Bills. Colin, you remember that story last week with Sean Payton how he has this formula for negative plays that he talked to Seth Wickersham about? Well, I punched the formula in for Jackson Dart. He beat Caleb Williams. Scott, Caleb Williams coming out of usc. Jackson Dart does not do negative plays. He sits in the pocket and processes and delivers. There's some upside here. Now. I don't know if they're going to be good enough that the coaches keep their job and he does. But yeah, I would not be surprised if he were starting by Halloween for the Giants.

[Chris Simms]

I used to have a theory before Ben Roethlisberger that quarterbacks sounded like Carson Palmer. Sounds like an NFL starting quarterback. Jackson Dart. Yeah. Okay, that sounds like an NFL starting quarterback. Shadour Sanders. That's an NFL starting quarter.

[Colin Cowherd]

Justin Fields.

[Chris Simms]

It actually sat well. Justin Fields sounds like an outside linebacker who catching a little out in the flat. Like the other day we had Philip Rivers on. His son is named Gunner Rivers. I would draft him based on name. I wouldn't even look at the tape. I'd be like Gunner Rivers. The confidence you would have coming into any athletic event named Gunner Rivers.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. You know that my parents considered that for my middle name, but they went with an Indian name instead.

[Chris Simms]

That's what you, that's what your teammates call you. Matt Hasselbeck. I think Jackson Dark should play immediately. Here's Matt Hassell back.

[Paulie]

I grew up in the era of, you know, you sit on the bench for a while. I mean, Tom Brady did that, Aaron Rodgers did that. I know that was my experience as well. I think the New York Giants have been burned and so they are really sticking to the plan. They've invested heavily in veteran quarterbacks, in leadership, in process driven guys who've been there, done it, made mistakes, had success and Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson. So I think they're going to be slow and measured and patient with Jackson Dart, who they do like a lot. But I don't think he's ready. And I do think the best plan is to start a guy like Russell Wilson and let Jackson watch.

[Chris Simms]

Can't wait to watch. We'll see you tomorrow. It's the hurt.

[Colin Cowherd]

This is an iHeart podcast.