Podcast Summary: The Herd with Colin Cowherd

Episode: What's Wright - Bills INSANE press conference, Nick's Lamar Jackson Ravens-Raiders TRADE, NFL Awards | Nick Wright
Date: January 23, 2026
Guests: Nick Wright, Damon Bruce (with Damanze as co-host)

Episode Overview

The episode centers on the fallout from the Buffalo Bills' controversial press conference, major discussion around head coaching vacancies and league dynamics, a bold hypothetical Lamar Jackson trade, the inside story on a Lakers-related report about LeBron James, and a preview of NFL awards season. The hosts provide sharp commentary, humor, and in-depth takes—making this a must for sports fans keen on current NFL narratives, league drama, and a dash of NBA intrigue.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bills' Press Conference “Disaster Class”

Timestamps: 07:20 – 31:17

• Backdrop:
  The Bills held a convoluted and, in Nick’s words, “embarrassing” press conference after their playoff exit, with owner Terry Pegula offering raw commentary on the firing of head coach Sean McDermott and WR Keon Coleman’s future.

• Pegula Throws People Under the Bus:

  • Pegula blamed McDermott (and, by implication, Coleman, the WR) for the Bills’ issues, publicly stating, “that was McDermott’s guy” regarding the draft pick.
  • He cited Josh Allen's emotional reaction ("sobbing in the locker room") as the key moment demanding a coaching change.
  • Nick: “Even if that’s true, that’s a shitty thing to put on Josh Allen’s shoulders.” (12:27)

• Dysfunction & Messaging:
  The process and press conference were “haphazard.” Despite agreeing a coaching shakeup was overdue (too much “scar tissue” from painful recent playoff losses), Nick and Damon criticize the Bills' handling, especially making Coleman a scapegoat—possibly damaging his future with the club.

  • Damon: “The most obvious answer as to who would have told [ownership] that is Brandon Beane. Now, at the press conference, Beane tried to clean it up... But there was a level of ‘that wasn’t my pick, that was the coaching staff’s pick.’” (21:17–22:45)

• Unique Job Opening Dynamics:
  Nick elaborates on how rare it is for a team with a recently-MVP-caliber, under-30 QB (like Josh Allen) to be a head coach opening—drawing historic parallels to Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers.

  • Nick: “It is a seismic event in the NFL for one of these jobs to be open, much less two…” (09:55)

• Overall Dysfunction and Future:
  The public finger-pointing, contradictions regarding draft decisions, and uncertainty for Coleman (who at just 22 could go either way in response) make Buffalo’s situation unusually complex and ripe for league-wide scrutiny.

  • Memorable quote—Nick: “This is a fork in the road moment for that young man’s career… You can watch that press conference and be like, 'f--- those guys, I’m going back to bed.'” (24:00)

2. Bold Trade Talk: Ravens, Raiders, and Lamar Jackson

Timestamps: 33:57 – 43:30

• Trade Hypothetical:
  Nick proposes (inspired by an ESPN “bold offseason predictions” article) a trade: Lamar Jackson for Maxx Crosby and the #1 pick (likely Fernando Mendoza, top college QB, going to Baltimore).

• Value Discussion:

  • Nick argues this would amount to the equivalent of 5 first-round picks when accounting for the value of Crosby and the #1 overall selection; a standard rarely seen in NFL trades.

  • He questions whether Baltimore might prefer a highly-drafted rookie QB plus elite pass rusher on rookie deals and ~$40M cap space to Lamar’s looming $60M+ annual contract.

  • Nick: “It is a legitimate discussion: What is a better path to winning a championship—young quarterback on a rookie scale plus Maxx Crosby, or Lamar Jackson at $60M a year?” (36:24)

• Why It’s Not an Insult:
  Nick makes clear this isn't about doubting Lamar, noting only three veteran QBs are truly “worth” this type of package: Mahomes, Allen, and maybe Lamar—emphasizing Burrow’s injury concerns as less appealing in such a deal.

• Likelihood & Contract Nuances:

  • Lamar does have a no-trade clause but could waive it for the right situation. Nick doesn’t predict it will happen but sees it being credible enough to be discussed all offseason.

3. Lakers Drama: Jeanie Buss, LeBron, and the ESPN Report

Timestamps: 44:17 – 56:26

• Baxter Holmes Story Dissected:
  Holmes’ (ESPN) in-depth reporting on the Lakers’ potential sale includes a section on owner Jeanie Buss’s growing frustration with LeBron James and Clutch Sports’ influence. Jeanie allegedly mused about trading LeBron and was only reluctantly resigned to re-signing him in 2024.

  • Nick (quoting and reacting at length):
    “The reason LeBron James considered himself a savior for a floundering franchise was simply because he was a savior for a floundering franchise... By LeBron James wanting to move to Los Angeles, not by Rob Pelinka or Jeanie Buss’s fancy PowerPoint... that is what happened.” (51:00–53:00)

• Historical Context:

  • Nick gives a rapid-fire summary of Lakers history, showing that the five years pre-LeBron were the worst in franchise history and fully justified his “savior” reputation.

  • “In the five years before LeBron got there, [the Lakers] missed the playoffs five times ... that is a floundering franchise that was saved.”

• On Jeanie Buss:

  • Nick respects Dr. Jerry Buss’s track record and calls Jeanie “an incredibly nice person,” but asserts the Lakers only turned it around because of LeBron’s arrival, not ownership brilliance.

4. NFL Awards Discussion & Predictions

Timestamps: 56:26 – 63:16

• MVP:

  • Finalists: Stafford, May, Allen, McCaffrey, Lawrence
  • Nick’s Order: Stafford, Drake May, McCaffrey, Trevor Lawrence, Allen
  • Nick: “I’m so happy for Trevor that he’s an MVP finalist. That is sick.” (56:53)

• Coach of the Year:

  • Finalists: Ben Johnson, Liam Cohen, Mike McDonald, Kyle Shanahan, Mike Vrabel
  • Nick’s Pick: Kyle Shanahan—cites injuries, playoff run, team overcoming adversity.

• Assistant Coach of the Year:

  • Notable omission: Robert Saleh
  • Nick’s Pick: Josh McDaniels (for building system around Drake May with average skill talent, leading to big offensive production).

• Offensive Player of the Year:

  • Finalists: Puka Nacua, Bijan Robinson, Christian McCaffrey, JSN, Drake May

  • Nick leans toward McCaffrey; Damanze favors Puka Nacua.

  • Nick: “I would give it to CMC just because I thought he was the Niners offense this year.” (61:15)

• Defensive Player of the Year:

  • Nick: “Myles Garrett’s gonna win it unanimously. So it doesn’t matter. Like, Myles Garrett’s obviously the answer here.” (61:43)

• Comeback Player of the Year:

  • Nick’s Pick: Aidan Hutchinson (for recovery from major injury).

• Rookies of the Year:

  • Offensive: Tez McMillan
  • Defensive: Schwessinger (Browns)

5. Quick Listener Q&A

Timestamps: 63:16 – end

• On Justin Herbert’s Future (64:09):

  • Asked if the Chargers will move on from Herbert if their offense is subpar, Nick says: “Herbert’s not the type of quarterback you move on from ... Herbert is in a class above that. Lamar is in a class wholly above that, where it’s not so much about like, nobody’s ever like, we need to move on from Lamar Jackson. It’s oh my God, look at the offer we just got for Lamar Jackson.”

• Why is Lamar Always in Trade Rumors? (66:14):

  • Nick: “He’s the only one of those guys that’s ever demanded a trade ... Lamar Jackson demanded a trade three years ago when they weren’t giving him a contract extension, correct.” (66:26)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Buffalo’s Press Conference:

  • “It does make everything about this Bills job so interesting to me.” (24:08) – Nick Wright

• On LeBron and Lakers:

  • “The reason LeBron James considered himself a savior for a floundering franchise was simply because he was a savior for a floundering franchise.” (51:00) – Nick Wright

• On the Lamar-for-Raiders Hypothetical:

  • “It is a legitimate discussion: What is a better path to winning a championship—younger quarterback on a rookie scale plus Maxx Crosby, plus the extra 40-some million dollars of cap space ... or Lamar Jackson who will enter next year as the highest-paid player in the league at $60M a year?” (36:24) – Nick Wright

• Describing Bills Dysfunction:

  • “The whole thing seems, let’s call it haphazard ... even if the process was idiotic, even if the press conference was an embarrassment, potentially changing the head coach had to be done.” (16:58) – Nick Wright

Important Segment Timestamps (MM:SS)

• Bills Press Conference Drama: 07:20 – 31:17
• Lamar Jackson Trade Hypothetical: 33:57 – 43:30
• Lakers & LeBron/Jeanie Buss Story: 44:17 – 56:26
• NFL Awards Breakdown: 56:26 – 63:16
• Listener Q&A: 63:16 – end

Tone & Style

The episode is opinionated, fast-moving, and occasionally irreverent—true to the “What’s Wright” sub-brand. Nick Wright delivers extended, context-rich analysis, especially on league strategy and team culture, often with passionate rhetorical flourishes and humor. Damon Bruce keeps the rhythm lively, occasionally playing devil’s advocate or prompt-man. The episode mixes deep-dive, barbershop-level discourse with hot-take energy.

Summary Takeaway

This jam-packed episode offers a unique blend of league news, locker-room intrigue, and bold offseason speculation that’s both insightful and entertaining. Nick Wright’s commentary provides context even non-sports super-fans will appreciate, while regular listeners are rewarded with a trenchant look at the NFL’s most compelling storylines as the postseason races toward its climax. If you want to understand the NFL’s coaching carousel, the gravity (and dysfunction) of franchise decision-making, or the ongoing power struggles in LA basketball, this episode is essential listening.