The Herd with Colin Cowherd – "What's Wright - Best Of" (Jan 25, 2026)

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode, featuring Nick Wright, goes "scorched earth" on the media's coverage of Josh Allen after the Bills' playoff exit; examines radical trade rumors surrounding Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens; and dives into the latest drama between LeBron James and the Lakers' front office per Baxter Holmes' reporting. Wright's trademark candor, strong opinions, and storytelling create a fiery and insightful debate over how stars are covered and constructed in American sports.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Josh Allen’s Playoff Meltdown & “Media Protection”

• Context: The Buffalo Bills season ended with a devastating playoff loss to the Denver Broncos, featuring four Josh Allen turnovers and the firing of head coach Sean McDermott.
• Nick Wright unleashes on the media’s double standard: Wright argues that Allen receives far more latitude for playoff collapses than other QBs, with analysts constantly deflecting blame despite obvious failures.
  • "(Allen) had four turnovers in a playoff game, including one of the most cartoonish fumbles in the history of the league. That happened." (03:29)
  • "It's one thing to say this guy, this team, that I have always doubted, with his play proved me wrong... But folks have trouble doing it in the other direction when a player they've elevated proves them wrong." (08:58)

Breakdown of Allen’s Four Turnovers (11:24)

• 1st: "The worst fumble of the NFL season" right before half.
• 2nd: Blindside fumble after halftime—"give him a slight pass, but still not great."
• 3rd: Bad interception right after Bo Nix's mistake, forced instead of settling.
• 4th: Final interception; plus two missed throws that "would have won the game."

On the Media’s “Josh Allen Exemption” (15:35, 18:55)

• "If the standard for criticism is 'would they have been there without him?' Then you can't ever criticize any NBA superstar in the playoffs."
• "He's the only guy in the league that when they win, he's an all-time legend, and when they lose—even when it's because of his mistakes—it's gotta be someone else's fault." (17:52)
• Nick singles out Colin Cowherd and Mike Greenberg, among others, for hyperbolic praise ("the most talented QB ever").
  • "Call him the most talented player ever. Greaney said 'No one has ever played the position better.' Are you fucking kidding me? Take Mahomes out of it, I think Tom Brady played the position better than Josh Allen." (19:02)

Holding Allen Accountable – And Why He Still Gets a Pass (21:00)

• "Part of being an all-time great is harnessing your greatest attributes while minimizing the risk associated with them... He has not shown the ability to have the type of season with gaudy numbers and no crazy turnovers."
• Quote: "He knew he blew it. And he's more of a realist about what happened than his media sycophants." (18:55)
• Emotional aftermath: "Allen, Dawkins, and Cooks were all crying after the game. … This is a scarred team." (23:13)

Why This Loss Hurt Buffalo So Much (24:19)

• "They clearly viewed it as—the Chiefs aren't there—this is our moment. ... It's the path is clear because Patrick's not there and they didn't get there." (24:19)
• Noted hypocrisy in one-sided coverage and empathy ("My heart breaks for Josh Allen") that many other stars, especially non-QBs, never get. (20:01, 20:42)

2. Lamar Jackson Trade Rumors: Would the Ravens Deal Him to the Raiders?

• Topic: A bold offseason trade scenario: Lamar Jackson to the Raiders for Maxx Crosby and the #1 overall pick (Fernando Mendoza).

  • "This is the equivalent in value of five first round picks... You'd be getting Maxx Crosby (worth two firsts) and the #1 pick (worth three firsts)." (33:01–41:24)

• Wright frames the trade as logical for both sides:

  • For the Ravens: "Is a better path to a title a young QB on a rookie contract, plus Crosby and $40M extra cap space, or Lamar at $60M+ a year?"
  • Points out Ravens won both Super Bowls (2000, 2012) with "cheap QBs and stacked rosters."
  • For the Raiders: Only three QBs he'd spend this package on—Lamar, Allen, Mahomes. Not even Burrow, due to injuries and inconsistency. (38:25)

• Damani pushes back: "If we're getting rid of Lamar, we need more retooling. That's not enough."

• Discussion on rookie QB models, contract leverage, and the philosophical split between star QB contracts and overall roster construction.

3. Lakers, LeBron, and the Jeanie Buss Drama (Baxter Holmes/ESPN Report)

• Context: Baxter Holmes’s ESPN exposé revealed Lakers owner Jeanie Buss’s private misgivings about LeBron, even allegedly considering trading him rather than extend his contract.

  • "Jeanie privately grumbled... about what she felt was James’s outsized ego and the control he and Klutch Sports exerted over the organization." (From story, read at 47:07)
  • "She didn’t like that James was considered a savior for a floundering franchise…"

• Nick Wright unfiltered:

  • "The reason LeBron James considered himself a savior for a floundering franchise is because he was a savior for a floundering franchise. It’s not complicated. … They were arguably the worst team in basketball for a half decade. That is a floundering franchise that was saved." (49:05–53:20)
  • Provides historical Lakers context: 5 straight years missing the playoffs, never before seen in the franchise up to that point.
  • Defends LeBron’s overall impact: "Within two years of getting there, they won the championship."
  • Points out hypocrisy: "Did LeBron want Russell Westbrook? Yes. Did that work out? No. But there was plenty LeBron wanted that they didn't do." (54:47)

• On the "begrudging" extension:

  • "Complaining to people a year after the guy wins Finals MVP for you and you win a championship, that you don’t want to give him a contract extension and you might actually trade him—only to give him a two-year max extension—is laughable." (55:42)

• Critique of Lakers ownership:

  • "Dr. Jerry Buss was one of the greatest owners... Jeanie Buss is an incredibly nice person who has a lot of friends in the media... The new owners of the Lakers are going to get the team back on track…" (57:00)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Allen’s Media Treatment:
  • "He’s the only guy in the league that when they win, he’s an all-time legend and when they lose—even when it’s because of his mistakes—it’s gotta be someone else’s fault." — Nick Wright (17:52)
• On LeBron’s “Savior” Narrative:
  • "The reason LeBron James considered himself a savior for a floundering franchise is because he was a savior for a floundering franchise. It’s not complicated." — Nick Wright (49:07)
• On the Josh Allen Double Standard:
  • "If the standard for criticism is 'would they have been there without him?' ... then you can't ever criticize any NBA superstar in the playoffs." — Nick Wright (15:30)
• On “Team-Building in the Modern NFL”:
  • "What is a better path to winning a championship? Young quarterback on a rookie scale plus Max Crosby, plus extra 40 million dollars cap room, or Lamar at $60 million a year?" — Nick Wright (35:40)
• On Lakers Ownership Dysfunction:
  • "Complaining to people a year after the guy wins Finals MVP for you and wins you a championship that you don’t want to give him a contract extension… is laughable." — Nick Wright (55:45)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------------------|-------------| | Broncos defeat Bills, Allen’s turnovers analyzed | 03:07–11:24 | | Media’s double standard on Josh Allen | 11:24–21:00 | | Players’ emotional postgame; McDermott firing | 23:13–24:19 | | Why this loss stung for Buffalo | 24:19–28:00 | | Lamar Jackson–Raiders trade proposal discussion | 32:13–42:07 | | Baxter Holmes’ Lakers/Buss/LeBron story reaction | 46:50–58:16 |

Tone & Language

• Nick Wright: Passionate, incisive, sometimes exasperated, always opinionated (“Are you fucking kidding me?”). Emphasizes hypocrisy in media coverage and the importance of calling it straight.
• Damani: Acts as a sounding board, framing questions and occasionally pushing back, prompting deeper explanations.

Takeaways for Listeners

• Wright exposes the inconsistencies in “star” coverage, specifically how Josh Allen receives excuses after big mistakes that others do not.
• The episode illustrates the transactional nature of modern pro sports, citing trade speculation and front office-player drama.
• Sports legacies are shaped by both on-field results and off-field narratives—Wright urges fans and media alike to “call a spade a spade,” especially regarding high-profile figures like Allen and LeBron.