The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Colin Cowherd Podcast - INSTANT REACTION: The Bears Are Broken, 2024’s Fantastic Quarterback Class

Episode Date: December 17, 2024

Colin reacts to the Monday Night Football double header! He starts with the Bears, and calls them a “broken franchise” and has the perfect coach in mind to fix them (3:30). He weighs in on his rough year of picking football games in “Blazing 5” (14:00) and looks at the terrific 2024 class of rookie quarterbacks and why the quarterback talent entering the league has closed the gap between the “haves” and “have not’s” (16:00). Follow Colin and The Volume on Twitter for the latest content and updates!  #Volume #HerdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hey guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas.

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you.

you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the ice. Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva, and on my new podcast, How Hard Can It Be? I call on my Gen X squad from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate Midlife's most fantastic BS. Unfiltered conversations from night sweats to futas to scheduling sex. Wait, what sex? Is it just me, or does every woman my age want to look at Pinterest instead of having sex sometimes? They say we can't polish a turn, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with. laughs, tears, or tears of laughter.

Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Gianna Maria Riva on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast point game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season. And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was hungry.

You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis come in to you, he's like, you know I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and IHeart Podcasts presents soccer moms. So I'm Leanne. Yeah. This is my best friend, Janet. Hey. And we have been joined at the hips since high school. Absolutely. A redacted amount of years later, we're still joined at the hip.

Just a little bit bigger hips. This is a podcast. We're recording it as we tailgate our youth soccer games in the back of my Honda Odyssey. with all the snacks and drinks. Why did you get hard seltzer instead of beer? They hit a bogo. Well, then you got them. Listen to soccer moms on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Terms apply again, create an account. count. Redeemed code is Colin. 20 bucks off. Download game time today. What time is it? Game time. All right, little Monday night football reaction. Falcons beat the Raiders, not much to say. Kirk Cousins is really struggling. Not sure why

they don't put Michael Penix in. He was a highly experienced college quarterback from Indiana to Washington, played with NFL receivers and offensive linemen with an NFL level head coach, Kailin DeBore, who I think is really, really good. He'll get Alabama humming by next year.

I don't get it. Rahim Morris defensive coach. Maybe he doesn't sense the urgency. I don't know if there were promises to Kirk Cousins. But if Michael Pinnock's isn't better than Kirk Cousins, then that's a wasted or miss on a first round pick. Because right now, Kirk Cousins does not have his fastball. Let's talk about the Chicago Bears. So they lost to the Vikings. I didn't think Sam Darnold played particularly well, but he's getting the ball to T.J. Hawkinson, Jordan Addison, and Justin Jefferson. So he's, he's. getting the ball to the right people. I thought he was a little high. I missed some throws, but overall, Minnesota was picked for third or fourth. I mean, it's all gravy at this point. First, let's start with the Chicago Bears. There are a couple franchises in this league that are just broken, and I think the Chicago Bears are top of the list. It's a broken franchise. The McCaskies are arguably the worst owners in the league, oldest and among the poorest, really out of touch. Kevin Warren's the president. I've been told for years highly political.

Charles Robinson of Yahoo reporting today that somebody that seeks power and to retain power, that's a little what I was told years ago. Don't know him personally, but that's what I've been told from two sources I trust. Ryan Poles is young. You know, I'm hit and miss on polls. I love the Montez Sweat deal, the DJ Moore deal. I don't think he's the problem in the organization. I think Ryan Poles is struggling with the people above him. But a great example of the dysfunction. So Matt Ebroflus, a defensive coach, was fired.

Well, defensive coaches don't have the offensive connections that offensive coaches do. I mean, there is a reason Andy Reid, keeps hiring really good offensive coaches, right? Like their offense. Now, Reed does most of the play calling, but Doug Peterson got a head coaching job. Matt Nagy got a head coaching job. And by the way, got Mitt Tribisky to the playoffs twice. So you can say all you want about Matt Nagy, you'd die for Matt Nagy now in Chicago. And then there's a reason that, you know, Belichick had to rely on Josh McDaniels. When Josh left, you know, Bill was scrambling to find an offensive coordinator, but Sean McVey can find one every two years. So Thomas Brown was under Shane

Waldron. Well, Iber Fluse doesn't have a lot of great offensive connections clearly, because when Shane Waldron left Chicago, of Seattle, he was criticized. They rolled their eyes at him. He went to Chicago. It was a mess with Caleb Williams. Then Thomas Brown, who's a bright young guy, he coached with a Rams. But, you know, he's an interim head coach. He's had, this is this third different job this season with the Bears. I mean, HR is probably asking him to slow down so they can get his paycheck right. I'm not going to blame him. But Iber Flues selected this staff, and it's not very good. I think it's a broken franchise. And, you know, my take is if you're really honest about it, you know what they remind me of. I was thinking about it tonight. They remind me a lot.

The Bears are the Chargers last season, where they had a talented young quarterback, some really nice pieces, but major cultural issues. And what did they do? They went and got Jim Harbaugh to fix it. And that's why Mike Vrable's the hire. Vrable is Dan Campbell, but less reckless. He's Jim Harbaugh, but to this point, hasn't been as successful. He's a really smart guy. He's a culture changer. There's no bullshit with him. He's very honest and very upfront. And he got to an AFC championship. you know, with Tennessee. So I just think Vrable's the call here. Vrable, you know, and I've talked to Mike about this, Vrable is the kind of guy that will come in. And the only thing that would get in his way is a Kevin Warren level executive that was trying to retain power. If Vrable has some say in

personnel, he's pretty good at that, and has a great relationship with the general manager, who he can answer to and trust, I think Vrable could win immediately. I think, you know, again, I'll say this. The Bears have a Chargers feel. Now, the Chargers are not going to go from what they were last year to a Super Bowl. They need another draft.

They have to hit on another receiver, maybe another tight end, another running back. They need more pieces offensively. And the Bears with Vrable are not winning a Super Bowl, especially out of that division. And I think the Bears need to short a game. up the offensive line. But more than that, you know, maybe another edge rusher, more than that, I think it's just a cultural modification is what they need. But it's rough. I mean, you can say

what you want about the Jets and Woody Johnson, and I think he's one of the weaker owners, but they have a good roster. Aaron's played well in the last three to four weeks. She's had 100 plus passer rating, I think, on average over the last four weeks. The Giants have issues, but, you know, there's some pieces there of that defensive front. And the Marrists don't want to fire Brian Daibel because they've run through coaches, but the team looks like they've quit. But with Chicago, there's just, I mean, there's just not much to like. I like Montez Sweat and Jalen Johnson. I like Caleb Williams, you know, DJ Moore, Swift, the running back. There's some P. Cole command. There's some pieces I like. But I don't know what you do other than hire Mike Frable.

This is not a job for a coordinator. Give me a break. You're not going to hear you. get a Ben Johnson here, Bobby Sloick, it's not going to turn this thing around. You're a mile from that. And I'll make this argument. I think, and I talk to Mike Vrable about this, and my suggestion to him is, I'm not sure if I take a job this year. I think next year, you could have much more attractive openings. If Joe Burrow is getting really tired of Zach Taylor, the coach of Cincinnati, they won't fire him at the end of this year. But if Joe Burrow makes demands, Zach Taylor's trouble next year. For Joe Burrow to ream Zach Taylor out, knowing he's on TV the way he reamed him out, Burroughs got no time for this nonsense in Cincinnati. So that job could be open next year.

I think Mike McCarthy in Dallas, I think he's probably saved his job, right? He's probably saved it. And if Dallas can move Michael Parsons, get a couple of first round picks, hit on those, you know, who knows? But also, I think that could be open. So, you know, seven different coaches get whacked every year. I just don't like the job openings. I love Caleb Williams. Chicago to me is, it feels like quicksand for a coach. You know, Jacksonville's got an opening. There's a reason everybody fails here in Jacksonville. Like it just, since Tom Coughlin left, it's just dead coach walking. Nobody works there. So there's got to be something systemic within the organization.

And I think what you're really seeing now, and I was having this discussion this weekend with somebody I respect a lot. And he said, you know, you start looking around this league, and it's just the power of 10. There's about 10 good GMs, Ted Gunnoters, 10 good quarterbacks, 10 good left tackles. And I just don't like, if you're Mike Frable, I don't like what's out there. I love Chicago. to great city. They're good pieces. But man, anybody watching this show, watching this podcast or listening,

it does not matter how good the employees are. If ownership and management is sideways, it doesn't matter. I've said this before. I've been really fortunate. I had a really good ownership in Las Vegas, my first job. Obviously, ESPN and Fox are well-run companies. Portland, I thought we had good ownership, good management. I worked in Tampa for a couple years and really, really talented people in the newsroom, photojournalists, producers, reporters, anchors. It was not the employees. I thought management was a circus, and I'll just leave it at that. And you couldn't overcome it. And it was a real learning moment. for me is that the employee base was the best I'd ever work with at the time. I thought there

was just so many talented people. Our sports department was just really fun, clever, smart people. But you can't, like in Chicago, it doesn't matter if Rabel's the coach. And he's trying to change things eventually if people are political upstairs. I mean, it's like, look at the Jets. They fire Robert Sol, the best coach on the staff. I mean, going into a game against Buffalo, if they won it, they were in first place. I mean, they fired Joe Douglas. Well, Joe Douglas got you, Devante Adams, who's playing great now. Joe Douglas missed on a quarterback.

But Joe Douglas hit on, that Jets roster, they've got dudes. I mean, they really do. They're going to get another very good first round pick this year. They've got a left tackle for the future. They've got their corner. They've got weapons. I mean, they can really be selected. The Jets could move down in the first round and get,

four or five, you know, if they moved down and got another second round pick or a second and a fourth round pick, you could have five new starters on the team next year. And I think the Jets, I mean, they really have their weapons. They have their left tackle, the Penn State kid, a couple of good receivers, good corners, pass rushers. So, I mean, I thought Saul and Joe Douglas were capable. They're both out. So there's nothing you can do if upstairs is messed up. There's just, In my experience in life, there's nothing you can do. You know, it's, I make picks Blazing Five, and I had another terrible week. Generally, I've been doing this Blazing Five thing for like 20 years.

And on average, I hit about 56%, 55, 57%. This is my worst year easily. I don't know why. I've just struggled all year long. But actually, it's funny, because on the bigger preseason predictions for division champions, I've actually had the best year I've ever had. I had Buffalo, Kansas City, Baltimore, and the Texans winning their division. If Baltimore beats the Steelers Saturday, I'll be four for four heading the last couple of weeks.

I had Philly, the Rams, Green Bay, and the Falcons winning their divisions. Philly and the Rams do lead, Green Bay and the Falcons still have a shot, although Atlanta right now, they'll beating the Raiders tonight. They got to get quarterback sold. My two dark horse teams were Washington and Denver, they'll both make the playoffs. So I actually have in terms of predictions, I think I've had a really good year. I don't know why I'm struggling so much. I've just been out of rhythm.

You know, the weekends I take favorites. They go belly up. The weekends, I take dogs. I have the wrong ones. But I love doing it. And I always feel bad. I don't mind losing money. I don't like anybody else to lose it.

But I haven't picking football games for so long. You know, an old story when I first moved to Las Vegas, I had no money. I was out of college and I drove down to Vegas in a blue AMC pacer that later caught fire a couple of years later on Charleston and Oakey streets in Las Vegas by a Texaco station. I pulled in. My car was on fire. And I remember when I first moved to Vegas, I'd never bet football games. And so I was a huge Pac-10 fan. And so I really started hitting on a lot of Pack-10 picks because all the games weren't televised.

I knew the Pacific Northwest teams really well because I was from there. I remember one year, I think I was like 10 and 1 on Oregon State games. I just could not miss on the beavers. And I just love picking football games. But I have stunk this year. And what's interesting is that Nick Wright and Danny Parkins at FS1 have both been on fire hitting like 65%. So congrats to those guys. But, you know, my overall takeaway really on the playoffs this year,

is there's not a lot of surprises. I mean, right now I have, if Baltimore beats the Steelers Saturday, I'll have, you know, six of the eight teams I pick to win the division winning, and Green Bay and the Falcons close. What is pretty clear, and the reason I picked those teams to win the division was like head coach and quarterback. And so I think the one thing I look at this year is a real positive. I think Caleb can play. I think Jaden Daniels can play. I think Bow Nix can play. My guess is J.J. McCarthy can play. I don't know what the hell's going out with Michael Penix, because I really liked him out of college. I thought he was a bigger, stronger, better deep ball, Tua. And Tua is more than capable, but he just can't throw the ball deep down field. He's not good against pressure,

or really elite defenses or in cold weather. You have to qualify everything with Tua. I think Pennix throws a much better, sharper deep ball, stronger, longer, longer, just a bigger athlete. but I think we have a chance to go five for five with quarterbacks. And this is not a great quarterback year in college. But if the quarterbacks go four for five or five for five, this group of quarterbacks, it will be the third draft since around 2018 where you've had multiple first round quarterbacks hit. And I don't think we'll ever get to a saturation point where, you know, everybody's got their quarterback.

but I don't remember a time where there were this many good quarterbacks. I mean, even Aaron Rogers in the last month has been unbelievable. Jordan Love. Jalen Hertz this weekend was sensational. You know, Bo Nix makes mistakes, but he's clearly a franchise guy. It's toughness, his athletic ability. He's got a better arm, I think, in the pros than I thought he had in college. So I think big picture, as the leagues become more have-and-a-half-and-half-me.

knots. I think we had another bumper quarterback draft class. I only saw J.J. McCarthy in the preseason, but in the couple appearances, I thought he was really quick, really nimble. And he reminded me a little bit of Sam Darnold that he was really aggressive. And I think Kevin O'Connell's proven the Vikings head coach, he can coach a lot of that out of you. And another part of this quarterback journey is there's better quarterback coaches. I mean, this So I think the guy down in Tampa, Liam Cohen under Baker Mayfield, who was briefly in Los Angeles. I think he's going to get looks. I think the quality of offensive coaching has really improved.

That's why you're seeing Darnold and Baker Mayfield a rebirth. I think they're sensational coaching offensively. I didn't feel that 15 years ago in the NFL. I think it's everywhere. And I think the talent's everywhere. So, I mean, yesterday we had a really ugly one o'clock window. It was the first time all year I was bored watching the NFL where I thought, man, we just, this is just a bad early window. But, I mean, this weekend, the college and the pro games, this weekend starting Friday night, Indiana at Notre Dame, the next Friday, Saturday, Sunday could be the most sensational three-day stretch of football in a year.

And a lot of it is because of quarterback play and very sharp offensive coaching. The volume. Well, it's the most wonderful time of the time. the year for getting in on all the basketball, football, football, hockey action at Draft King Sportsbook. It's the season of giving, so we're being gifted college football and basketball, pro football, basketball, pro hockey, too, almost 24-7. It's an absolutely great time of the year. So a lot of games every day, so many opportunities to place your first bet. Now, if you're going to bet for the first time, just make it simple. Pick a team to win, any team. Go to Draft King's

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Hey, guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas.

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it, but, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, reader Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes.

Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and IHart Podcast presents soccer moms. So I'm Leanne. Yeah. This is my best friend, Janet. Hey. And we have been joined at the hip since high school.

Absolutely. A redacted amount of years later, we're still joined at the hip. Just a little bit bigger hips. This is a podcast. We're recording it as we tailgate. Our youth soccer games in the back of my Honda Odyssey. With all the snacks and drinks. Why did you get hard seltzer instead of beer?

They hit a bogo. Well, then you got it. Listen to soccer moms on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, I'm Deanna Maria Riva. And on my new podcast, How Hard Can It Be? I call on my Gen X squad from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate Midlife's most fantastic BS.

Unfiltered Conversations. from night sweats to futas to scheduling sex. Wait, what sex? Is it just me or does every woman my age want to look at Pinterest

instead of having sex sometimes? They say we can't polish a turd, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with laughs, tears, or tears of laughter. Listen to how hard can it be with Tiana Maria Riva on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast point game, The Playoff.

We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season. And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was hungry. You just understood. That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Marquis come in, he's like, you know I love you, dog. You know, it's all love.

This was just playoffs. This was just basketball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.