What's Wright - Best Of - Should Shedeur Sanders START for Browns? Nick CANNOT BELIEVE Colin Cowherd & Bill Simmons Chiefs takes

Summary

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The Herd with Colin Cowherd: What's Wright – Best Of

Episode Focus:
Should Shedeur Sanders Start for Browns? | Nick CANNOT BELIEVE Colin Cowherd & Bill Simmons’ Chiefs Takes
Date: August 16, 2025
Host: Colin Cowherd
Guests/Contributors: Devin, Nick Wright (featured via What's Wright segments)

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Episode Overview

This "Best Of" episode compiles the standout discussions and most provocative takes from Nick Wright on the sports world’s hottest topics. Chief among them:

• The escalating QB controversy in Cleveland—should Shedeur Sanders get a real shot to start for the Browns?
• Nick’s passionate rebuttal to both Colin Cowherd’s and Bill Simmons’ declarations that the Kansas City Chiefs dynasty is over, and a break-down of faulty QB pyramid rankings.

Throughout, the episode features both rigorous football analysis and classic sports talk energy, offering honest, unfiltered opinions sure to spark debate.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Shedeur Sanders and the Browns’ QB Situation

• Background: Shedeur Sanders showed promise in preseason, but his place remains fourth on the Browns’ depth chart, behind Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and Dylan Gabriel.
• Nick’s Assessment: Shedeur has outplayed expectations and, in Nick’s view, leapfrogged Gabriel among rookies:
  • “I think that Shador is now ... in pole position [among the rookies].” (06:05)
  • Nick cites Sanders’ preseason poise, noting four high-level throws and only a couple of mistakes in game action.
• On Flacco and Pickett: Joe Flacco is entrenched as QB1; Pickett is QB2, albeit injured. Nick doubts Pickett is a real factor (“I think that would be asinine” (05:07)).
• Dynamics of Roster Moves: If the Browns won’t commit to Shedeur, Nick speculates a trade might eventually be in play, even mentioning the Rams as a possible suitor. “If the Browns won't elevate him … he also wants another team to trade for him." (08:19)

Notable Moment:

• On Shedeur’s boombox/cane walk-in and postgame comments to a reporter:
  • “The smile and the laugh at the end made it okay ... charisma and charm and a great smile can really carry ... but turn down the volume on … the boombox, I guess. And also figuratively.” (07:15)

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2. Listener Q&A Lightning Round (09:47–14:07)

• Where do Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen rank in all-time QB talent?

  • Nick puts both “firmly in the top 15 … in that bottom part of the top 10” by pure talent (11:03–11:55).
  • Looks up to Mahomes, Rodgers, Favre, Manning, Marino, Steve Young, and John Elway as the upper echelon.

• Poker strategy versus sports betting:

  • Nick approaches poker analytically, optimizing every decision (“I'm trying to make the best decision at every point”), whereas in sports betting his Chiefs fandom introduces bias. “I'll never … bet against the Chiefs” (12:07–12:29).

• Is Lamar better than 'peak' Michael Vick?

  • “Yes. Love Mike, but yes. Lamar is ... a far better passer than Mike ever was.” (13:30)

• Do fantasy numbers skew QB perception?

  • Yes, “the crazy fantasy numbers impact this a hundred percent.” (13:53)

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3. The Chiefs Dynasty: Is It Actually Over? (20:12–31:19)

• Colin, Bill Simmons’ Hot Takes:

  • Both have recently suggested the Chiefs’ era of dominance is ending.
  • Nick’s disbelief: “They have been to three straight Super Bowls … the greatest three-year stretch in the history of the league … they've gone 16 months [without a Super Bowl win]!” (21:22)
  • “It’s just fundamentally ridiculous to say I’m declaring it dead.” (21:58)

• Comparative History:

  • Draws parallels to classic dynasties (Steelers, Patriots), noting how even the greatest teams had multi-year Super Bowl droughts and were still considered ongoing dynasties.

• Double Standards & Mahomes Criticism:

  • Nick lambasts the shifting standards by which Mahomes is judged:
    • “Mahomes is not judged against his peers ... If Patrick had the season they just had, and they just had the season Patrick just had, how would we view it?” (29:36)
  • If any contender’s season mirrored KC’s 2024 campaign, “it will be considered evidence that team is getting closer ... The Chiefs’ same year is considered evidence of implosion.” (24:36)
  • On Mahomes’ regular season drop in numbers: “He’s won, but he hasn’t had the crazy numbers until the playoffs.” (31:19)

Notable Quotes:

• “If you consider the Patriots one long dynasty, the Patriots went a decade without winning a Super Bowl. The chiefs have gone 16 months.” (21:35)
• “Everybody hates greatness, man.” (30:07 – Devin)

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4. Evaluating Modern QB Rankings: Bill Simmons' and Dan Orlovsky's Lists (38:55–57:43)

• Bill Simmons’ Quarterback Pyramid:

  • Simmons controversially puts Josh Allen atop his new “quarterback pyramid” over Mahomes.
  • Nick’s astonishment: “Bill Simmons ... for 15 years fought tooth and nail against Peyton over Brady ... Peyton had a far stronger case to be considered better than Brady than Josh would have right now to be considered better than Patrick [Mahomes].” (41:23)
  • “Every single football take we have heard for 20 years from Bill Simmons has valued playoff performance … If you’ve got the belt, someone’s got to come take it from you.” (44:50)

• Regular Season vs. Playoff Performance:

  • “Has Patrick played in the regular season his best ball the last couple years? No. But who are ... if you want to argue ... Jalen Hurts is the best ... at least there is a case. But for the other three guys ... the argument becomes instantly self-defeating.” (51:35)
  • Comparing Mahomes’ playoff record to Allen, Burrow, Jackson: “Once in Allen's building, once in Patrick’s ... Josh has gotten the ball late fourth quarter, down three points ... They come away with zero points.” (51:16)
  • “We have never made an argument that ... one guy beats and outplays another guy in the postseason, that the other guy’s better.” (54:44)

• Dan Orlovsky's Rankings:

  • Nick is critical of Orlovsky’s category breakdowns, especially Mahomes’ rankings in ball placement, mechanics, and pocket presence.
  • Sarcastically: “I watch Lamar play quarterback and I’m like, man, if only Patrick had as clean of mechanics as Lamar does ... I, I feel that way. I think it’s a good take.” (41:14)

• Pyramid Aesthetics:

  • Nick jokes about Simmons’ ranking structure: “If you’re going to really do it, each level has to be one player bigger than the previous … That’s not how a pyramid looks … that’s a crayon!” (57:13)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Patrick Mahomes’ Unique Scrutiny:

  • “Mahomes is not judged against his peers, I think is crystallized. Let’s pretend Patrick this year had any of their [Burrow/Lamar/Allen] seasons last year ... Does that help or does anyone be like, okay, that helped—Patrick’s back?" (27:59)

• On Andrews to Simmons:

  • “Bill, I think justifiably is still ... Tom’s better ... But every football take we have heard from Bill Simmons ... has valued playoff performance ... So when I saw the clip yesterday ... rationale for Josh Allen [over Mahomes] ... the obvious follow up being—why wasn’t Josh in the Super Bowl, Bill? Because he couldn’t beat Patrick again.” (44:50)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Shedeur Sanders, Browns QB controversy: 02:20 – 09:42
• Listener Q&A (QB all-time rankings, betting, Lamar vs Vick): 09:47 – 14:07
• Chiefs Dynasty & Mahomes scrutiny: 20:12 – 31:19
• Bill Simmons’ QB Pyramid, Orlovsky’s rankings: 38:55 – 57:43

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Episode Tone

True to Wright and Cowherd style: confident, sharp, occasionally confrontational, always opinion-driven, and laced with pointed humor and sports talk banter.

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Transcript

[Sarah Spain]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Jake Hofer]

I'm Jake Hofer and this is Back 40, a limited series show on Wire to Hunt, part of Meat Eaters Podcast Network. Each episode I'll be asking eight whitetail hunting pros a focused, thought provoking question about hunting and land management. How do I hunt the best part of the farm with less than ideal access?

[Colin Cowherd]

Should you?

[Devin]

That's what the real question is.

[Colin Cowherd]

Stand without good access is not a good stand.

[Jake Hofer]

Listen to Back 40 on iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

[John Lithgow]

Hello, I'm John Lithgow.

[Colin Cowherd]

We choose to go to the moon.

[John Lithgow]

I want to tell you about my new fiction podcast.

[Colin Cowherd]

That's One small step for man about.

[John Lithgow]

Buzz Aldrin, one of the true pioneers of space.

[Michelle Obama]

You're a great pilot, Buzz.

[John Lithgow]

That's the story you think you know. This is the story you don't. Buzz, starring me, John lithgow on the iHeartRadio app podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Sarah Spain]

Get fired up, y'. All. Season 2 of Good Game with Sarah Spain is underway. We just welcomed one of my favorite people, an incomparable soccer icon Megan Rapinoe, to the show and we had a blast. Take a listen. Sue and I were like riding the lime bikes the other day and we're like, wee people ride bikes because it's fun. We got more incredible guests like Megan in store, plus news of the day and more. So make sure you listen to Good Game with Sarah on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts, brought to you by Novartis, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports Network.

[Michelle Obama]

Tune in to all the Smoke podcast where Matt and Stack sit down with former first lady Michelle Obama.

[Sarah Spain]

Folks find it hard to hate up close and when you get to know people and you're sitting in their kitchen tables and they're talking like we're talking, you know, you hear our story, how we grew up, how Barack grew up, and you get a chance for people to unpack and get beyond all the.

[Michelle Obama]

Smoke featuring Michelle Obama. To hear this podcast and more, open your free iHeartRadio app, search all the Smoke and listen now.

[Colin Cowherd]

Welcome to the Best of the Week for what's Right with Nick Wright. The best takes and moments from this week on the show. Enjoy.

[Devin]

Shador. He looked pretty good. I mean, he didn't look fantastic, but he looked pretty good for quarterback who went there and did his thing. Head coach Kevin Stefanski still hasn't committed to Shador. So do you think that he showed everything he needed to do to get the starting job. What do you.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, he's definitely not going to be their week one starter. That is going to be Joe Flacco. I don't even think by the way if I were Shador, I I know he can't say this. I wouldn't even want to be the week one starter. Like I would the. The Browns open with the Ravens and then they play. I'm sorry the Browns open with the Bengals. So I wouldn't actually hate that because the Bengals defense but then they go Ravens, Packers, Lions, Vikings, Steelers. Like those are not defenses. I'm interested in playing right off get.

[Devin]

Beat up a bit.

[Colin Cowherd]

Exactly right. And I understand that the Browns just released their latest depth chart and Shador is still number four. They did not move him up at all. I don't believe it. I think that Shador has now if we are being fair he has take it is now Dylan Gabriel who is chasing Shador in the quarterback competition instead of vice versa. Like the the you know the old adage you don't lose your job job due to injury is total bs. Happens in sports all the time. People lose their job because of injury and because the guy who fills in for you shows something he didn't have the opportunity to show before. And so fl if Flacco is just entrenched at 1 which I think he is. Kenny picket was 2 and is 2 on the lay step chart. He's been hurt the last couple weeks of camp. Doesn't look like he's going to play at all in their. He didn't play in their first preseason game. Doesn't look like he's going to play in their second. Dylan Gabriel is three. Gabriel, according to all reports on the ground has been bad in practice and was injured for the first preseason game. Shador's four. He's practiced well and I thought made four very high level throws in that game and really only made a couple bad mistakes.

[Devin]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

And so I think that is enough to where he should have taken the lead on Gabriel. And the goal for either of these rookies flatly needed to be beat out the other rookie. So when at when Flacco inevitably gets benched I'm the guy they go to now maybe they'll go to Pickett but I think that would be asinine and so I now I also think this demons a I think Gabriel will and should start preseason game number two and then you know he can if he.

[Devin]

Plays well just get both of them a half. Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Give Both. I think that's what they'll do. I could even see him go to Monze. Quarter, quarter, quarter, quarter.

[Devin]

Okay.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know, thereabouts. Like, I could see Gabriel playing, then Shador, then Gabriel back in, then Shador. That way, you know what I mean? You get more time starting caliber players or, you know, guys that are actually going to make the team or they each get it. But I now think Gabriel, I think Shador is now amongst the rookies in pole position. And I also think that. And this is why. So I thought after the game, him saying something to Tony Gross, he was totally fine. And I think people don't recognize how common that is. That guys saying after games in locker rooms or in the tunnel to reporters like, hey, what was up with that? That has happened forever. That used to happen to me. I remember Matt Castle saying to a different media member, we're both standing there when he realized that. Media member. You know what I think it was to Mark Carmen, our friend whose birthday was actually yesterday, I think it was to Carm that he said to him, this is your buddy about me. He's like, yeah, he's like. He sure talks a lot of shit, doesn't he? Like, did not like some of the things I had said about him. That's super common. So I have no problem at all with Shador having that moment with Tony.

[Devin]

Grossi at this time, though. Like I said.

[Colin Cowherd]

Right.

[Devin]

What you need to be worried about.

[Colin Cowherd]

So here's the thing on that. I think the smile and the laugh at the end made it okay. And I think that, like, charisma and charm and a great smile can really carry pretty genuine, too. Yeah. And so, like, that, to me, was fine. I thought the walk in was a misstep. I didn't think it was a grievous error. But I thought, I'm not asking you to be someone you're not. But turn down the volume on. Literally on the boombox, I guess. And also figuratively. Now I understand those were his teammates, not his entourage. But still, you're the quarterback, the guy carrying the giant walking stick staff in the boombox. I might have been like, can we not do that? And if you really want to walk in like that, maybe I'll go in, you know, a little bit after you. Because it's. He is. If the Browns won't elevate him on their real depth chart, then he also wants another team to trade for him.

[Devin]

Yep.

[Colin Cowherd]

You know, and so I just don't think that helps. But I don't think it's a huge deal. You'd certainly rather him play well and have an awkward pre and post game than be perfect pre and post game and play poorly. Go ahead.

[Devin]

No, I mean with that take. You were saying that maybe he should show out for the Rams or maybe the Rams look at him because words like a mortal chamber are being thrown around and it's very serious. Yeah, I don't like so do you think that's more of a possibility now? Like it seems more and more serious.

[Colin Cowherd]

I think that right now he's probably worth he was drafted with a fifth. I think he's worth at least a fourth. You know what I mean? And so but I don't I think the Browns want to keep him. I think Stefanski might be coming around if he wasn't already there. And I think you had to be impressed by how he handled himself and how he played this Sunday. It was it Sunday. Saturday, Friday. It was Friday.

[Devin]

It was Thursday or Friday.

[Colin Cowherd]

All right, Demonte, let's go to the listener questions.

[Devin]

T.S. where do you think Alan Lamar rank all time right this moment just as quarterback talents? I'd say both top 15 side question are the smelling salts going to ruin your life?

[Colin Cowherd]

Smelling salts are not going to ruin my life. But you know, strong recommend if people haven't tried them yet. Especially if you're like maybe trying to kick caffeine or something. Like I I haven't read into the potential downsides of huffing ammonia occasionally, but it sure woke me up. Where do Lamar and Allen rank just as quarterback talents? What an interesting question. Top 15 sounds right. Like if I were ranking just quarter just raw talent.

[Devin]

Quarterbacks ever I that's.

[Colin Cowherd]

What yeah that's what they're saying saying all time. Mahomes Rogers are to me the top.

[Devin]

Two Mars got to be like top 10 at least same thing But I feel like both those guys, those are electric dudes as far as just talent. Like not maybe not winning Super Bowl.

[Colin Cowherd]

No. Yeah. Yeah. So I think safely t so raw talent. Mahomes Rogers Farve has to be up there. Manning has to be up there. It's a compliment to Brady that we're not even like saying him with all of his success because you know he maximized everything about his physical ability. Marino's got to be up there. I always have had a soft spot for Steve Young. John Elway's up there and now we can start talking Lamar and Josh. You know what I mean? Like so yeah the in that bottom part of the top 10. Firmly in the top 15. I think that's right. All right, let's go to Ethan.

[Devin]

Ethan asks as a poker expert who understands the principle of the plus ev. Curious if you take the same approach in the sports gambling or if you trust your own personal bias over sharp books.

[Colin Cowherd]

I don't look at, I don't look at sports betting the way I look at poker. Just for the record, like I don't, I don't. While I do try every year to give out winners and to you know, make you guys money, I, I am.

[Devin]

A little bit more conservative with poker.

[Colin Cowherd]

No, I don't know. A bit. No, I just look at it like poker. I am trying to make the best decision at every point. Sports, I have a very hard time betting against my takes. You know what I mean? I won't always bet on my takes but like I, it's why I'll never, even if I'm getting points, bet against the Chiefs, you know what I mean? So like there are just certain things that, so that's. But I also I, and I would, this is how I would recommend it for other people look at sports betting as a recreational endeavor. Not like hey, this is how I'm going to make extra money. Poker's different in that regard for me. All right, let's keep going.

[Devin]

Michael asks, is Jackson better than Prime Vic?

[Colin Cowherd]

Yes. Love Mike, but yes. Lamar is a far already a far better passer than Mike ever was. Just. You know what I mean? He just is. And I love Mike but that's, I think Mike would tell you that next Indy.

[Devin]

Nick, do you think that everyone is just so skewed by fantasy football? Josh and Lamar have been excellent fantasy quarterbacks so people assume that they are the best.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah, I think that absolutely has something to do with it. I absolutely think that the crazy fantasy numbers impact this a hundred percent. Noah? Yeah.

[Devin]

No, no asks when is the future show going to happen? It's like soon.

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. So we have a show Thursday, then we're off for a week and then the our futures and our gambling show. It'll probably be a two part thing Tuesday and Thursday next week to get us ready for football season. Right in line with predictions week on it. First things first. And Diego says has snakes enthusiast Kevin Wilds weighed in on demons Reptiles. That's a good, that's a good first things first joke and I appreciate it. UFC 319 is blowing back to the Windy City. I bet Collins going to be there, check out the fight card and get in on all the action at DraftKings Sportsbook, the official sports betting partner of UFC, Drus du Plessis puts his middleweight title up against Kamzat chamayev, who's a perfect 14 0. Who are you taking first time betting on UFC at DraftKings. Pick something simple, like a fighter to win and make your pick. It's that easy. And if you're new to DraftKings, check this out. New customers who bet $5 will get $200 in bonus bets instantly. Don't miss out on all the UFC 319 action. Download the DraftKings sportsbook app now and use code right. That's code right for new customers to get $200 in bonus bets instantly. When you bet just five bucks only on DraftKings, the crown is yours.

[Michelle Obama]

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[Manny]

Imagine that you're on an airplane and all of a sudden you hear this.

[Colin Cowherd]

Attention passengers. The pilot is having an emergency and we need someone, anyone, to land this plane.

[Manny]

Think you could do it? It turns out that nearly 50% of men think that they could land the plane with the help of air traffic control.

[Colin Cowherd]

And they're saying like, okay, pull this.

[Manny]

Until this, pull that, turn this. It's just, I can do my eyes closed. I'm Manny.

[Colin Cowherd]

I'm Noah.

[Devin]

This is Devin.

[Manny]

And on our new show, no Such Thing, we get to the bottom of questions like these. Join us as we talk to the leading expert on overconfidence.

[Colin Cowherd]

Those who lack expertise lack the expertise.

[Jake Hofer]

They need to recognize that they lack expertise.

[Manny]

And then as we try the whole thing out for real. Wait, what? Oh, that's the Runway. I'm looking at this thing.

[Colin Cowherd]

See?

[Manny]

Listen to no Such thing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[John Lithgow]

Hello, I'm John Lithgow.

[Colin Cowherd]

We choose to go to the moon.

[John Lithgow]

I want to tell you about my new fiction podcast, that's One Small Step for Man. It's about Buzz Aldrin, one of the true pioneers of space.

[Michelle Obama]

You're a great pilot, Buzz. As far as I'm concerned, the best I've seen.

[John Lithgow]

That's the. The story you think you know. This is the story you don't predisposition.

[Sarah Spain]

To depression, alcohol abuse and suicide.

[John Lithgow]

We'll see Buzz try to overcome demons.

[Colin Cowherd]

What do you say? Buzz? Another beer.

[John Lithgow]

And triumph over addiction.

[Sarah Spain]

Here's to you, Buzz Aldrin.

[John Lithgow]

Good luck to you and become a true hero.

[Colin Cowherd]

Buzz and I will proceed into the.

[John Lithgow]

Lunar module not because he conquers space, but because he conquers himself.

[Michelle Obama]

Buzz, we intercepted a Soviet radio transmission.

[John Lithgow]

Starring me, John Lithgow.

[Colin Cowherd]

Can you put it through?

[John Lithgow]

Can you Translate on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Colin Cowherd]

Columbia.

[Ken Jennings]

Hello, puzzlers. Let's start with a quick puzzle. The answer is Ken Jennings appearance on the puzzler with A.J. jacobs. The question is, what is the most entertaining listening experience in podcast land?

[Colin Cowherd]

Jeopardy.

[Ken Jennings]

Truthers who say that you were given all the answers believe in.

[Colin Cowherd]

I guess they would be conspiracy theorists.

[Ken Jennings]

That's right. Are there Jeopardy Truthers? Are there people who say that it it was rigged?

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. Ever since I was first on, people are like, they gave you the answers. Right. And then there's the other ones which are like, they give you the answers and you still blew it.

[Ken Jennings]

Don't miss Jeopardy Legend Ken Jennings on our special game show week of the Puzzler podcast. The Puzzler is the best place to get your daily word puzzle fix. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Sarah Spain]

Get fired up, y'.

[Colin Cowherd]

All.

[Sarah Spain]

Season 2 of Good Game with Sarah Spain is underway. We just welcomed one of my favorite people and an soccer icon, Megan Rapinoe to the show, and we had a blast. We talked about her recent 40th birthday celebrations, Co hosting a podcast with her fiance Sue, Bird watching former teammates retire and more. Never a dull moment with Pino. Take a listen. What do you miss the most about being a pro athlete? The final. The final. And the locker room. I really, really like you. Just you can't replicate. You can't get back showing up to the locker room every morning just to talk. We've got more incredible guests like the legendary Candace Parker and college superstar Az Fudd. I mean, seriously, y', all, the guest list is absolutely stacked for season two. And you know, we're always going to keep you up to speed on all the news and happenings around the women's sports world as well. So make sure you listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain on the iHeartRadio app Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of.

[Devin]

Iheart Women's Sports, Andy Reid downplayed all the naysayers saying that the Kansas City window is closing for the dynasty. Colin was also one of those naysayers saying that the winning is over. Do you think that the win. Do you think that the dynasty is continuable if they win the super bowl this year?

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, hold on, I don't even think that's. Obviously, if they win the super bowl this year, the dynasty is in progress. I want to focus more on. Listen, I think it's well established how much I adore and love Colin Cowherd. His Chiefs takes. Now, I mostly blame JMac. I think that like the proximity to J Max, historically bad Chiefs takes have somehow there's been an osmosis of take that has impacted Colin. But they've been to three straight Super Bowls. They, they had the best record in the NFL last year.

[Devin]

They got at least go to the last one, right?

[Colin Cowherd]

They gotta say they made it to.

[Devin]

The last Super Bowl. Like I think they have to at least not make a Super bowl for the dynasty to be over.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, I would think so, right? Yeah. And by the way, like when we talk about dynynasties in the NFL, the Pittsburgh Steelers is probably the most famous one. They won two Super Bowls. They then went two years without making the Super. Forget without winning it, without making the super bowl. And then they won two more. We look at that as one dynasty. The. The Patriots is an interesting one. I don't consider the Pats one continuous dynasty, but if you do it went like this. Won a Super bowl, missed the playoffs, then won two Super Bowls, then, gosh, I'm gonna have to do this off the top of my head. 06 going for the three Pete. Lost their first playoff game. I'm sorry, wait. Oh five going for the three Pete. It's going to be hard to do off top my head, but I'm going to try. Lost their first playoff game. Oh, six lost in round two. 07, lost the Super Bowl. Oh eight, missed the playoffs. 09 and oh and 2010, lost before the Super Bowl. 2011, lost in the Super Bowl. 2012, 2013, lost before the Super Bowl. 14 won the Super Bowl. 15 lost in conference title game. 16, won the Super Bowl. 17, lost the Super Bowl. 18 won the Super Bowl. 19, lost in round one. So if we want to do that as one long dynasty, then it's going to be impossible to say the Chiefs dynasty is over. If you consider the Patriots, one long dynasty. The Patriots went a decade without winning a Super Bowl. The chiefs have gone 16 months. And so that part's just ridiculous. It's just, it's just fundamentally ridiculous to say I'm declaring it dead. When the Chiefs are in the midst of or just completed, I guess you would say the greatest three year stretch in the history of the league. And they have been to three consecutive Super Bowls and seven straight AFC championship games. And it's now if, if your take is they're just not good enough anymore, it's a bold take. Maybe like I there's no evidence for it, but if it's just your gut feeling, then so be it. Here is, here is what I find the most demand say ridiculous about this chief's fatalism stuff and then we can move on every team in the AFC that is chasing them. If this year they have the exact season Kansas City had last year, best record in last undefeated team, best record in the NFL, beat the Chiefs in the AFC playoffs, make the super bowl, lose the super bowl, it will be considered evidence that that team is getting closer. And the best season any of those teams have had in this era. The Chiefs having that year is considered evidence of implosion. But I am here to tell you if the Baltimore Ravens are the final or the Buffalo Bills or the Cincinnati Bengals or the Los Angeles Chargers or God forbid the Denver Broncos or any of those teams, if they are the last undefeated team, if they are 15 and one with the one seed locked up, they then beat the Chiefs in the playoffs and then run into I don't care who call it Philly or no because Philly then would go back to back. That complicates things. Call it the Lions and get blown out in the super bowl. If that were to happen and then I were to go on TV and be like that's this year was the end of that team. They're done. Now it's time for a new chapter. People would say that dude, you're just a hater. And this is also an element of my a lot of my Mahomes frustration in and I'm going to talk about this on the TV show today in how he's discussed. Do you agree to Monza that all Lamar, Josh and Burrow the year they had last year elevated them even if not in their actual ranking but people elevated them their standing and and that people felt their seasons combined with the year Mahomes had narrowed the gap for best quarterback and in some people flipped it. You agree with that, right? Yeah, that's like conventional wisdom. Okay. And this is where the point that I make, that Mahomes is not judged against his peers, I think is crystallized. Let's pretend Patrick this year had any of their seasons last year. Okay, let's start with Joe. Patrick puts up insane numbers and the Chiefs miss the playoffs. Does that help or does anyone be like, okay, that helped. Patrick's back.

[Devin]

No, dynasty is definitely over.

[Colin Cowherd]

Okay, so, all right, let's do Lamar's year. Patrick puts up insane numbers. The Chiefs are the, you know, a good but not great seed. They're the three seed. And for the first time in his career, he does not make a conference championship game because he loses in round two to one of the other rival quarterbacks. Does that help or hurt Patrick standing?

[Devin]

It would hurt him.

[Colin Cowherd]

It would hurt him. All right, Stu, Josh Patrick wins league mvp, Team has a really good record. They get the two seed and then to go back to the super bowl doesn't come through at the end and Josh beats him.

[Devin]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Is anybody then being like, okay, Patrick has reclaimed. Or they're like, oh, mvpb. Damn, Josh beat him. Now do the flip side for any of those guys, all three of them. Damanze, give them Patrick's year last year. They have mediocre stats, but lead the league in game winning drives and comebacks. And he beats two of those guys en route. I'm sorry, any of the. Those guys are the one seed and beat Patrick to get to the Super Bowl.

[Devin]

Yeah.

[Colin Cowherd]

Imagine if I then went on TV and was like, yeah, but his T there, you know, Lamar's touchdown interception ratio wasn't that impressive. I'm actually dinging him. It's just insane. And so I know I'm the Kansas City guy. I know I have the tattoo that I still don't know how to show on camera. I still don't know what I'm supposed to do here. It's just a disaster. There we go. I see. I don't even know what I'm. There we go.

[Devin]

Everybody hates greatness, man.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, it's just. Here's the thing. It's just boring. It's just boring. And I, I also like just one other thing because what has become very in vogue and Bruce says it a lot and he and I talked about this not like dad like to talk about it, but discussed it on the air the other. The other day, which is because it's become very in vogue to say something along lines of like, oh, Mahomes is doing Brady's career in reverse. Where Brady in The beginning won but didn't have the stats and Mahomes and then later in his career had the crazy numbers. Mahomes are, but it's just inaccurate. And here's what I mean. Mahomes early and every year of his career except the last two first five years won and had MVP caliber stats. And the last two years he's won, but he hasn't had the crazy numbers until the playoffs.

[Sarah Spain]

Right?

[Colin Cowherd]

But this idea that Tom Brady Post 2007 was just year in year out, this statistical monster, it's just not true. So Tom Brady 2007 had what at that point, the greatest quarterback season ever. He then misses 2008 due to injury. 2009, Tom Brady's team was 10 and 6 and he had 28 touchdowns, 13 interceptions and they lost their first playoff game. Then 2010 he had one of the greatest statistical seasons ever. 36 touchdowns, four picks. And 2011 he was in line with it. 39 touchdowns, 12 picks. And then 2012 it's down to a 98 passer rating. And 2013, 25 touchdowns, 11 picks and an 87 rating. That's in 2013. And then he obviously 2014 they win the Super Bowl. 2015 he has an all time 2015, 16, 17 all time stats years where he has a combined doing the math on the fly, 96 touchdowns, 15 picks, a 108 rating over the course of three years. But then the very next year, 2018, they go 11 and five years, 29 touchdowns, 11 picks. But they win the Super Bowl. 2019, 24 touchdowns, eight picks and 88 rating and leaves the Patriots and then goes on the sick run in Tampa. The point I'm making is this even peak Brady had these season like the season where it's like oh, 29 touchdowns, 11 picks, 24 touchdowns, eight picks, 25 touchdowns, 11 picks. It was not every single year statistical excellence. It was every single year when the division make the playoffs. And it is at the tail end of his Patriots tenure. Every single year make a conference championship game. But it's just, it's. We've got to be honest about what real expectations are and we've got to be honest about what the guys who are allegedly in Patrick's league. If Patrick had the season they just had, and they just had the season Patrick just had, how would we view it? That's all I'm saying. Hey guys, talk to you about my friends at Boost Mobile ever signed up for a phone plan thinking wow, great price. And then a few months later it's like surprise. Bill's even higher. With Boost mobile, you pay $25 a month. Forever. That's unlimited talk, text and data starting at just $25 a month. No price hikes, no contract. Forever. Plus, Boost Mobile is now a legit nationwide 5G network. They've invested billions building 5G towers across the country. Visit boostmobile.com or head to your local Boost store today and get unlimited talk, text and data for $25 a month. Forever. 5G speeds not available in all areas. After 30 gigabytes, customers may experience slower speeds. Customers will pay $25 a month as long as they remain active on the Boost Unlimited plan.

[Manny]

Imagine that you're on an airplane and all of a sudden you hear this.

[Colin Cowherd]

Attention passengers. The pilot is having an emergency and we need someone, anyone, to land this plane.

[Manny]

Think you could do it? It turns out that nearly 50% of men think that they could land the plane with the help of air traffic control.

[Colin Cowherd]

And they're saying, like, okay, pull this.

[Manny]

Until this. Pull that, Turn this. It's just. I can do my eyes closed. I'm Manny.

[Colin Cowherd]

I'm Noah.

[Devin]

This is Devin.

[Manny]

And on our new show, no Such Thing, we get to the bottom of questions like these. Join us as we talk to the leading expert on overconfidence.

[Colin Cowherd]

Those who lack expertise lack the expertise.

[Jake Hofer]

They need to recognize that they lack expertise.

[Manny]

And then as we try the whole thing out for real. Wait, what? Oh, that's the Runway. I'm looking at this thing.

[Colin Cowherd]

See?

[Manny]

Listen to no Such thing on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[John Lithgow]

Hello, I'm John Lithgow.

[Colin Cowherd]

We choose to go to the moon.

[John Lithgow]

I want to tell you about my new fiction podcast that's One Small Step for Man. It's about Buzz Aldrin, one of the true pioneers of space.

[Michelle Obama]

You're a great pilot, Buzz. As far as I'm concerned, the best I've seen.

[John Lithgow]

That's the story you think you know. This is the story you don't predisposition.

[Sarah Spain]

To depression, alcohol abuse, and suicide.

[John Lithgow]

We'll see Buzz try to overcome demons.

[Colin Cowherd]

What do you say, Buzz? Another beer.

[John Lithgow]

And triumph over addiction.

[Sarah Spain]

Here's to you, Buzz Aldrin.

[John Lithgow]

Good luck to you and become a true hero.

[Colin Cowherd]

Buzz and I will proceed into the.

[John Lithgow]

Lunar module not because he conquers space, but because he conquers himself.

[Michelle Obama]

Buzz, we intercepted a Soviet radio transmission.

[John Lithgow]

Starring me, John Lithgow.

[Colin Cowherd]

Can you put it through?

[John Lithgow]

Can you Translate in the iHeartRadio Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts?

[Colin Cowherd]

Columbia.

[Ken Jennings]

Hello Puzzlers. Let's start with a quick puzzle. The answer is Ken Jennings appearance on the puzzler with A.J. jacobs. The question is, what is the most entertaining listening experience in podcast land?

[Colin Cowherd]

Jeopardy.

[Ken Jennings]

Truthers who say that you were given all the answers believe in.

[Colin Cowherd]

I guess they would be conspiracy theorists.

[Ken Jennings]

That's right. Are there Jeopardy. Truthers? Are there people who say that it. It was rigged?

[Colin Cowherd]

Yeah. Ever since I was first on, people are like, they gave you the answers. Right. And then there's the other ones, which are like they gave you the answers and you still blew it.

[Ken Jennings]

Don't miss Jeopardy. Legend Ken Jennings on our special game show week of the Puzzler podcast. The puzzler is the best place to get your daily word puzzle fix. Listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Sarah Spain]

Get fired up, y'. All. Season 2 of Good Game with Sarah Spain is underway. We just welcomed one of my favorite people and an incomparable soccer icon, Megan Rapinoe to the show, and we had a blast. We talked about her recent 40th birthday celebrations, Co hosting a podcast with her fiance, sue, bird watching former teammates retire, and more. Never a dull moment with Pino. Take a listen. What do you miss the most about being a pro athlete? The final. The final. And the locker room. I really, really like you. Just, you can't replicate. You can't get back. Showing up to the locker room every morning just to talk. We've got more incredible guests like the legendary Candice Parker and college superstar Az Fudd. I mean, seriously, y', all, the guest list is absolutely stacked for season two. And you know, we're always going to keep you up to speed on all the news and happenings around the women's sports world as well. So make sure you listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports.

[Devin]

Yeah, so a couple QB polls came out. Quarterback, quarterback rankings, whatever you want to call them. So Bill Simmons debuted his quarterback pyramid and he had Josh Allen at the top. Dan Orlovsky came out with a bunch of traits that quarterback should have is about six. And had Patrick Mahomes number one in about the same amount of categories as Daniel Jones. So which one? Yeah, yeah, zero. So which one of these is enraging you more? Which one do you want to hit?

[Colin Cowherd]

Oh, it's definitely Simmons's and we're going to deep dive on it because it is not lost on Me that my palace and I like Bill. Bill and I have a good relationship. But it is not lost to me that Bill Simmons kind of kicks off his full NFL coverage with a podcast that debuts a quarterback pyramid and whose main guest is Kevin Wilds. I'm not saying that Bill, that this was a direct shot at me and you know, trying to pull apart first things first. But I'm not saying it wasn't so I'll get to Bill in a second. But on Orlovsky's thing, I listen, I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna argue with Dan. Dan obviously knows the quarterback position better than me. I. What I am gonna say is this arm strength he has Josh Allen one, Patrick two. No problem. I actually agree with that and I actually think you could be tricky with that one. There might be you. You might be able to say Herbert could be ahead of Patrick. Hell, I don't know if Joe Milton's avail eligible. Like, he could be like the. Just the raw arm strength. Josh Allen one is totally fine. No beef whatsoever. Then it gets dumb ball placement. Patrick Mahomes five behind Joe Burrow. Again, fine. Jaden, Lamar and Josh. You know, I think it's a good take. I think a lot of people watch Lamar, Josh and Jaden and they're like, they can just put it where they want better than Patrick Mahomes.

[Devin]

I was just thinking, like, how much of Burrows is the fact that he has those crazy wide receivers. They're just going to.

[Colin Cowherd]

Well, no, I think Burrow is like, dumb accurate because he has to be because he's not very fast, right. And he doesn't have the strongest arm. So the only way he can be as successful as he is is like, I think Burrow would maybe win the contest of that net drill that Caleb failed the other day if they did that. But, like, made it harder and harder and harder. I think Burrow might be my number one pick, but call me crazy in that drill. I wouldn't take Lamar over Patrick again. Maybe I'm a hater. Next one we get to Mechanics, where you list 10 quarterbacks and Patrick's not one of them. And let me tell you again, he has Lamar 4. Yeah, I, I watch Lamar play quarterback and I'm like, man, if only Patrick had as clean of mechanics as Lamar does. I do. Like, I, I feel that way. I think it's a good take the other ones in again, like the. If Gino Dak and Golf have better mechanics than Patrick, then maybe mechanics are overrated. But mechanics didn't again, Patrick didn't make the top 10. Decision making with the football, came in stiff again. I, I, and then this is the, this is the one that really, I couldn't, I couldn't get over. Pocket presence burrow 1. Lamar 2 Patrick 3. Okay, like whatever, I'm not gonna, I don't even, I don't even know what we're doing here. But fine, that, that's Orlovsky's list. He has a more fine tuned eye for quarterback than me, I suppose. I, I think it is, I disagree with some of those, but that's not my real beef. My real beef is with Bill because Bill debuts his quarterback pyramid and has Josh Allen at the top. And the problem with that is, and here's the problem with having as long and as successful a career as Bill Simmons has had and a career that so many folks, myself included obviously, literally grew up reading every single one of your sports takes because Bill's column was must read for every sports fan of my generation for more than a decade. The problem with having that level of influence and being having that long of a career is earmuffs. Kids, we remember what you fucking wrote. And for 15 years Bill fought tooth and nail against the idea that anyone would ever under any circumstances consider Peyton Manning better than Tom Brady. Even though for the entirety of those 15 years, Peyton had a strong, a far stronger case to be considered better than Peyton Manning. I'm sorry, that, let me back that up. Peyton had a far stronger case to be considered better than Brady, than Josh would have right now, to be considered better than Patrick. And this is where all of these quarterback rankings are going to be self defeating. But let me just quickly off the top of my damn head, give you the Peyton vs. Tom first decade history, when again, a reminder, my pal Bill built part of his massive empire on the take that Tom Brady is better than Peyton Manning. If we go 2000 to 2005, Peyton has peeled MVPs, but Peyton is 02 in the playoffs against Tom. Tom has three championships, Peyton has none. Peyton has never been to a Super Bowl. So even though Peyton Manning, statistically speaking, was the far superior quarterback with MVPs, he had never beaten Tom in a big spot. The championships were three to nothing. Then in 2006, Peyton not only wins another, I'm sorry, He's already won two MVPs at that point. Plays Tom in the AFC Championship game. Tom's up, I think 21 to 3. At halftime, Peyton comes all the way back and wins the Super Bowl. Wins it, beats Tom and the playoffs are now 2:1. Peyton wins the super bowl and Bill, I think justifiably is still even though in that moment all pros Peyton has multiple time as zero, MVPs, Peyton has multiple time as zero. The playoff win loss record is 2:1, the rings are 30:1. Bill is still strident, steadfast, correct. Tom's better. Seemingly vindicated by the fact that the next year Tom finally wins his first mvp. Team goes undefeated. They look like one of the greatest teams ever until as double digigit favorites they get beat in the Super Bowl. In that moment, even though the rings were 3:1, the MVPs were 2:1, the All Pros were 2:1 or 3:1, I'm not sure and the playoff win loss record was 2:1 in Tom's direction in that moment, if anyone had debuted the take, Peyton has passed Tom. Because Tom didn't win the super bowl last year, Bill's head would have exploded. And then by the way, over the next decade, Tom never beat Peyton in the playoffs again. There was a brief time in Denver where it looked like maybe Peyton had kind of overtaken the argument. And then Tom went on that unbelievable 2014 through 2020 run to cement himself as the Goat. But every single football take we have heard for 20 years from Bill Simmons has valued playoff performance doing it in the biggest spots. And if you've got the belt, someone's got to come take it from you. So when I saw the clip yesterday where the rationale for elevating Josh Allen, who is again unlike Peyton Brady, where Peyton had the stats and Brady had the wins, Mahomes has more all pros, more MVPs, better career numbers, five trips to the Super bowl to zero, three rings to zero and is four and oh in the playoffs against him. When I hear the argument that Mahomes played so poorly in the super bowl, he falls down a peg without the obvious follow up being why wasn't Josh in the Super Bowl, Bill? Because he couldn't beat Patrick again. And that is where and again I think Josh is the second best quarterback in the league. I now that Josh has a league mvp, I'm comfortable calling him a future hall of Famer. I I think Josh eventually is going to break through. I think Josh's ability last year to cut down on the turnovers and still carry a team that wasn't all that talented at the skill position certainly on the outside was wildly impressive. But we have to stop acting like the these have been unfair fights or Josh hasn't had his chance in back to back years in the playoffs, once in Josh's building, once in Patrick's building. Josh has gotten the ball late fourth quarter, down three points the first time he can only get them to not the edge of field goal range, but not a gimme field goal. 44 yarder if I remember and that would have only gotten them the tie with a couple minutes left has a chance. Finish the game ball in your hands. Don't let Patrick come back and get it. They come away with zero points. Then last year down three conference championship game plenty of time. Can't get to midfield so do not do you cannot. And this is why the quarterback ranking stuff right now can be so frustrating for people. Has Patrick played in the regular season his best ball the last couple of years? No. But who are again and I've said it before, I will say it again if you want to argue, you know what Jalen hurts is the best quarterback in the league. I don't think anyone actually believes that except for maybe Jalen's lovely mother who dressed me down a bit the night before the Super Bowl. I don't even think Jalen believes that. But if you want to argue that, at least there is a case you can make. But for the other three guys, as I said a moment ago, the argument becomes instantly self defeating. Burrow's claim to fame is what he did in the first two po, the first postseason and a half of his career going into Arrowhead, beating Patrick, getting to the super bowl, then getting back to the AFC Championship game and then he had a pretty miserable second half with a chance to go to a second straight super bowl, got the ball, tie game, go get a field goal, got negative yards loses and has not been back to the postseason since. There is no time in the history of pro football when there have been multiple first ballot hall of Famers active in their prime where we would say a guy elevated himself to best quarterback in the league in a two year stretch where he plays zero playoff games, not eligible. Lamar, who is in the midst of arguably as good of a two year regular season stretch as any player at his position ever, when that player, to varying degrees and this past year was the most positive sign, has come up against the other two guys who he is in the debate with for who's the best and both games gotten outplayed by and lost to in the postseason. Patrick 2 years ago and Josh last year. He's not going to have it. And across all of sports, except for maybe there were some people arguing Jerry west was better than Bill Russell but With respect, as great as the Mahomes Reed Chiefs are, they are not the institutionally top to bottom more talented team like the Russell Celtics. We have never made an argument that when every single year for a half decade one guy beats and outplays another guy in the postseason, that the other guy's better. It's again for the entirety of Peyton vs Brady, when Peyton was a cult that whole decade plus they only played in the postseason three times and it was 21 tom and it was still framed correctly as if Tom held over him in the postseason. Imagine if they played four times and it was four. Oh, and so again, this is what I would ask my pal Bill. If Tom had beaten Peyton in 06 and then gone on to lose that super bowl and he was up 30 in the playoffs and the ring count was 30 and the Super bowl count was 40 and someone made the argument that Peyton Manning was better. Based on Tom playing poorly in this make believe 2006 Super bowl, what would your reaction have been? And the answer is we know. So can we please, please have a level of consistency on this? That's all. Honestly, that didn't go quite as long as I thought. And again, I'm not trying to act like I invented the pyramid style ranking of quarterbacks. What I will say is if you're going to really do it, each level has to be one player bigger than the previous. You can't go 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5, 5, 5, five. That's not the idea that. That's not how a pyramid looks either at the the. And I mean, it's just not. I mean, I don't. That's a crayon. That's how a crayon looks, not how a pyramid looks. That's first of all. Second of all, my buddy KW could have given you pointers on that when he was on the pod with you.

[Jake Hofer]

I'm Jake Hofer and this is back 40, a limited series show on Wire to Hunt, part of Meat Eaters Podcast Network. Each episode I'll be asking eight whitetail hunting pros a focused, thought provoking question about hunting and land management. How do I hunt the best part of the farm with less than ideal access?

[Colin Cowherd]

Should you?

[Devin]

That's what the real question is.

[Colin Cowherd]

Stand without good access is not a good stand.

[Jake Hofer]

Listen to Back 40 on iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you get your podcast.

[John Lithgow]

Hello, I'm John Lythgoe.

[Colin Cowherd]

We choose to go to the moon.

[John Lithgow]

I want to tell you about my new fiction podcast that's One small step for man about Buzz Aldrin, one of the true pioneers of space.

[Michelle Obama]

You're a great pilot, Buzz.

[John Lithgow]

That's the story you think you know. This is the story you don't. Buzz. Starring me, John Lithgow, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Sarah Spain]

Get fired up, y'. All. Season 2 of Good Game with Sarah Spain is underway. We just welcomed one of my fav people, an incomparable soccer icon Megan Rapinoe, to the show, and we had a blast. Take a listen. Sue and I were like, riding the lime bikes the other day, and we're like, wee people ride bikes because it's fun. We got more incredible guests like Megan in store, plus news of the day and more. So make sure you listen to Good Game with Sarah Spain on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Brought to you by Novartis, founding partner of iHeart Women's Sports Network.

[Michelle Obama]

Tune in to all the Smoke podcast where Matt and Stack sit down with former first lady Michelle Obama.

[Sarah Spain]

Folks find it hard to hate up close. And when you get to know people and you're sitting in their kitchen tables and they're talking like we're talking, you know, you hear our story, how we grew up, how Barack grew up, and you get a chance for people to unpack and get beyond race.

[Michelle Obama]

All the Smoke featuring Michelle Obama. To hear this podcast and more, open your free iHeartRadio app, search all the Smoke and listen now.

[Sarah Spain]

This is an iHeart podcast.