The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 2 - Mike Vrabel available to coach, Nick Wright

Episode Date: December 31, 2024

Colin and Jason discuss former Titans coach Mike Vrabel leaving his consultant role, leaving him open to coach one of the NFL team openings and coaching a young quarterback. FS1 analyst Nick Wright comments on the Herd Hierarchy and the final week of the NFL season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Here we go. Hour number two to Tuesday. Urban Meyer next hour, Nick Wright in five minutes live in Los Angeles. It's the herd. Wherever you may be, however, you may be listening. J-MAC is strong. It's amazing whenever I can get old J-MAC out of the house. You've got the kids and the pets and the family.

I think I have figured out a way to wrestle him psychologically guilt him into joining his mentor tonight for a little pop. How about one? Little pop tonight. Ann gave you a Hall Pass for tonight? I'm going to see Ann Thursday through Sunday night. So I'm going to, Ann, weekend. Have you seen the movie Hall Pass? No.

You got to see that. Owen Wilson? and a couple other guys. It's a great movie. You will laugh out loud, some really dirty, inappropriate jokes. You're going to consider maybe going out tonight? That or Hall Pass. I'll watch the movie for the 17th.

Take Uber, be safe. Okay. All right, here we do it. Every week at this time, the herd hierarchy. Let's go. Hierarchy. Time is now, let's go. The top 10 NFL teams, according to college.

Well, if they beat the Saints, they can clinch their four straight division title. it. I like their personnel. Baker Mayfield leads the NFL and touchdown passes over the last two years since he joined the Bucks. They're a big play offense with excellent running backs. Jason Leitz, a great GM. They've always got talent. When they've had good quarterback play, like Brady and Baker, they can play with anybody. Five and one over their last six games blew the Chargers out. That was a real eye-opener. I don't think they can hoist a trophy, but they could certainly host a playoff game and knock off an injury riddled Detroit. if possible, bucks at 10.

Number nine. I'm going to go Rams. Their offensive sluggishness in the first half is hard to explain, but their defense is really good and young, and it's getting better. They've held opponents under 20 points in three straight games. Matthew Stafford's having a very good year over his last seven games, a passer rating of 105. They're a little puka Nukuwa dependent,

so I don't think they're a trophy team, but I have them in a. at nine. Number eight. I would put the chargers at eight because their quarterback's younger and can run and I think that mobility is the difference between the two teams. Justin Herbert, 99 passer rating, hyper-efficient, never reckless, big with mobility. That gives them a slight edge, in my opinion, over the Rams. Also, five of their six losses have come to good teams. The chiefs a couple of times, Ravens, Buccaneers, they're losing to the right teams. I have them an eight. Number seven. The Packers. I thought the Packers could hoist a trophy, but they're 0 and 5 against the Lions, the Vikings, and the Eagles. They're 11 and 0 against everybody else. So they're a bully

against average to pretty good teams. They're not going to, they're not going to beat your Ravens. They're not going to beat your Chiefs, Bills. That's not who they are. Six straight games without a giveaway, though, and I think that's coaching in Matt LaFleur. They have taken some attempts away from Jordan Love. They don't turn it over. They're kind of a power run team. I have the Packers at seven. Number six. But, you know, Lamar Jackson's better than Jordan Love, in my opinion, so I have them at six. Second largest rushing differential in a season in league history. They remain a run. Teams, Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews allows them to pass as well, but number one scoring defense, number one, total defense since week 11. You know I love this

organization, kind of holding your breath on what they look like in the January playoffs, but the Ravens at six. Number five. I thought Sam Darnel was amazing. I've got him at five. They're tied for the most takeaways in the league this year at 31. That is the Brian Flores factor. The fact that Brian Flores isn't front and center for everybody from the Bears job to the Saints job, this defense does not have elite personnel, but they're putting up elite takeaway stats. That's a Brian

Flores factor. By the way, Sam Darnold's the first quarterback in League history to win 14 games in his first season with a new team. Even Tom Brady did not do that. Maybe Donald is better than Brady when you think about it. Number four. Number four. Detroit, stacked roster offensively, falling apart defensively. But I mean, they have five games this year with 40 or more points and no

turnovers. I mean, pretty easy for them. They're clever. They can play power run. They're getting Montgomery back. four straight games for three plus touchdown passes. I think we all know the story on them. If they were healthy, they could win the Super Bowl,

but we don't trust their defense going forward. Number three. Philadelphia, they're 11 and 0 when Jalen Hertz and A.J. Brown play. The number one total defense, they allow 4.8 yards of play. So that's pretty good in the NFL in this day and age. 4.8 yards of play. Their O-line and D-line combination is the best in the NFL. They got a great GM, and they got a roster to show for it.

Do I worry about the concussion? I would worry about it if it was in two weeks. I don't worry about it now. I have them at number three. Number two. The bills. The bills have cut down on giving the football away. They only have eight giveaways, and they've only allowed 14 sacks.

So we always liked Buffalo, but we thought, yeah, they'll beat themselves. Well, they don't beat themselves this year. They don't turn it over. They don't give you sacks. Don't have a lot of negative plays. And they do it without a single thousand-yard rusher or a thousand-yard receiver. So they are still somewhat too reliant on Josh Allen. But you know what?

I like James Cook. I like Kincaid, Dawson Knox. I like their receiving core. Coleman's getting better. I got them at two. Number one. Same old Chiefs, best coach, best defensive coordinator, best quarterback, and arguably the best defensive lineman Chris Jones.

Let's just say this. It's the same team we've seen, except I think it's a better offensive version. Since Tyreek Hill left, It's a lot of patchwork at receiver. And that's what they've been for three years now. And now they got Hollywood Brown back. They wish they had Rishi Rice, but that'll do.

And worthy's become a real player. And Travis Kelsey, this is what they do. Because they play Mahomes, what they pay him, and they lost Tyreek Hill. This is the one unit they've tried to kind of figure out and bring in a guy for a year and move this guy over there. But you know what? Third team in NFL history to go six straight games. without a turnover, so that's very rare. So you get all the upside and not a lot of the downside.

Best situational team in football, and that's not even arguable. Although I will say Detroit on third down and fourth down with Ben Johnson. You know a coach. You know a team is rolling when they go to the red zone in a congested area. Remember Andy Reid a couple years ago in the Super Bowl? In the congested area, Sky Moore is wide open. You know you have a good offensive scheme, and this is what, what Shanahan does. Does anybody guard George Kittle, or is he just opened by 20 yards on

every play? So let's bring in Nick Wright. Coho's first things first. He is now joining us live. You know, last week, you almost complimented me on the top 10. Anything bother you this week? Lions too high. Lions are going to lose to the Vikings on Sunday and after they could lose the first playoff game. Defense is just to, it's past the point of no return. And I think I like a ton of what Dan Campbell has done and has brought to that organization. He's obviously a very good head coach. I'm not taking anything away from him. However, his decision to play his guys last night was objectively a mistake. You are now in one of the highest leverage regular season games ever as far as its impact on who can win the Super Bowl. One seed or five seed

will be determined Sunday night in game 272 and you had a choice have my banged up and most important players have a buy week or have my entire team on short rest having played Monday night and he chose the latter rather than the former and I think it's a mistake. And so I have I love who they are offensively. Golf has been sensational. The running game hasn't really been hurt by Montgomery being out because Gibbs is so good. I give them full credit. But that Niners team has struggled to look like that offensively all year.

And until Purdy gave the game away, the Niners team was moving the ball up and down the field. I think Sam Darnold's going to do the same thing. And then in round one, they'll either be facing the Rams or the or the or the ball. Bucks, either of whom can move the ball. By the way, the Bucks beat them this year. The Rams took them to overtime this year, and that's when the team was whole and healthy. So I think Detroit's had an awesome season that, unfortunately, is going to end quickly because of all the defensive injuries. And I think Dan playing the players last night was a big mistake.

I tend to see myself as an ambassador of goodwill, glass half full, column, optimist every morning. I get labeled as a mean Brock Purdy guy. But to me, first half is script, second half is talent. Brock Purdy is now a bad second half quarterback. And I'm supposed to pay him early and $50 million. I don't understand it. What am I seeing that nobody else is? I mean, you and I were both very hesitant on the DAC deal and were right.

I mean, I don't think Purdy's as good as DAC. What do you make of this idea? that you have to pay him early. No, at this point it'd be insane. This was especially with him, and I understand we hope, and it looks like that injury last night is not a very significant one, but it's a reminder that this is an undersized player who has suffered, you know, one major injury in his career,

has been banged up a few other times in a relatively small career sample, and all year long last year, you and I said, listen, you can't deny the production. I do question how much of it is coaching, talent, and circumstances, and what would he look like in a league average situation? And amazingly, he got dropped into a league average situation this year, and now they're six in ten. He wants it. This is the third straight week, Colin. People act like this was season from hell. It wasn't, didn't start that way. They were four and four going into the buy. After the by, they beat Tampa, their best win of the year. They were a game out of first place. And then the last three weeks, starting with the playoffs on the line against the Rams. Down three, fourth quarter, in field goal range, late, throws the game losing pick.

Last week, when they'd already been eliminated from the playoffs, but still he's playing. Down five, two-minute warning. On the other side of the plus side of the 50, chance to go win the game. Pick. Last night, leading the game throws, after playing awesome for the first half, awesome, throws a terrible interception, and then once again, fourth quarter, down less than seven, chance to win the game or at least go take the lead, probably too early to win the game. Pick.

He is who we thought he was, and I think the Niners know it too. don't know that the Niners are going to, you know, offer your guy, Sam Darnold, a huge deal. I don't know that they're going to spend a ton of money at the quarterback position. Here's what I could see them doing, telling Brock Purdy, yet, listen, you're under contract and you did not have a good year three, so we're not going to pay you after year three. And oh, by the way, as it happens, Kyle Shanahan's long-lost-love Kurt Cousins is going to come play for a million bucks as well. Don't worry.

he's just going to back you up, we'll see. So yeah, I think the idea of Brock Purdy getting the Tua or Trevor deal, even if he has accomplished more than both of those players, went out the window this past month. So I showed this earlier. It's easy to blame Mike McCarthy. But I showed this earlier. We have a graphic.

I said, if you take the two best rosters in the NFC, I won't even count the AFC. I'll just go NFC. and I put the Lions and Eagles best players, just offense, because it's an offensive league. Even the Chiefs at some point, it's hard to make stops. And I put it on the screen there, and only two cowboys would be considered. Zach Martin is now old, injured, and very expensive. I'd pass because the two other guards are great.

And C.D. Lamb is not Amaran St. Brown as a slot or A.J. Brown is an ex-receiver. And we're blaming McCarthy. So maybe you could squeeze in C.D. Lamb. take his CD Lamb in over a Monteross St. Brown, but aside from that I agree with everything you got there. Go ahead. And that's an upstairs problem. That's a scout

problem. That's a general manager problem. Andy Reed is not beating the Eagles and Lions with that in an offensive league. Why not keep Mike McCarthy? Well, I think your points well taken, but the reason, I have

two significant reasons I wouldn't keep Mike McCarthy. One is, I think tangible and one is more kind of intangible. The tangible one is this. You have to make some type of seismic change and it's the only one you can. You just sign the quarter. There's really only three major moves a team can make. One is front office change.

Well, in Dallas, front office is ownership, so that is status quo. Another is quarterback. Well, in Dallas, they just re-signed the, the quarterback to the biggest deal in NFL history this past off season hasn't even kicked in yet. So that can't change. The other is head coach. And so even if Mike McCarthy is not the culprit here, it's the only chance they have at really shaking things up. So I would go try to get Mike Vrable, who with a quarterback worse than Dak Prescott, made a conference title game.

and then after that, they went 11 and 5, 12, and 5, and he was the one seed with Ryan Tannahill. I would go try to do that. The other reason I would move on from McCarthy is it's very weird how we kind of do the coaching math, which is, let's say Dak never got hurt, and this Cowboys team was right now a 12 and 4 team that was locked into the wild card. All right. And then they lost their first playoff game. Everyone would say you have to fire McCarthy.

And so now that was the standard going into this year was can't fall flat on your face in the playoffs. Because they were so bad, never even got a chance to see them in the playoffs. So now it's like the McCarthy expectation clock has fully reset to where next year, this year, they're sub 500 if he keeps his job. next year, if they go 10 and 7 and get the 7th the playoffs spot, we're like, hey, improvement, definitely keep his job. And we're just back to where we thought we were this year, like in 2026. So I, even if I don't think he's done a terrible job, I have to change something significant.

I can't change the front office. I can't change the quarterback, so I might have to change the coach. So you know that when you and I believe in something, like you for years believe that the Buffalo Bills would beat themselves, and America attacks you, it's hard not to when you're proven right to just not explode with joy and remind people. Especially when you're attacked for it relentlessly, called a hater, called all these things, and then you're just shown proven right. Yeah.

So go ahead. For six years, I was mocked, ridiculed, and it was hurtful. And I kept saying, Sam Darnold can play. The Panthers and the Jets are dysfunctional. And so I'm trying not to have confirmation bias, but he may be. having one of the great seasons in the last decade. Now, I'm not denying Kevin O'Connell, the receiving crew. But I think about this, Nick, the Vikings have never gotten a ring, and it matters.

If they were the Packers, you could say, hey, we know quarterbacks, we'll let him go, we're going to go with J.J. McCarthy, because they got rings, and they've proven they can do that. Vikings don't. Super Bowl losers like the bills. How do you let Sam leave? How do you let the greatest year ever for a Vikings quarterback walk out the door? So I, at this point, barring a true collapse, and by collapse, I mean they lose in week 18 and then just look awful in the first playoff game, I don't think they'll let him leave. Now, I don't know that they'll do what I'm sure he would like them to do, which is give him a real contract. and I don't think he would accept the Gino or the Baker contract,

which leaves us with the always unfair to the player, but the NFL will never get rid of it, franchise tag. To me, we are moving rapidly down that path. Now, listen, if they make the Super Bowl, which by the way, I think they can do. I think they're going to be the one seed, and they can make the Super Bowl. Then we talk long-term contract.

But if this playoff run ends the way I think Vegas thinks it will, which is in either the divisional round or the conference championship round, I think Sam Darnold gets franchise tagged one year, $42 million. And you tell J.J. McCarthy, hey, it's a good thing we drafted you at 20 years old because you're still being young when you finally get to play and we figure that out. The part that I, and I saw you do this yesterday, this is what I want to say about. Donald and a kind of a media criticism at large. I think NFL media, and I'm included in that, we do the MVP discussion really poorly, which is we start it so early that by week 10 or 11, it's almost like, hey, here are the three or four eligible parties for MVP of the league, and then it's an argument amongst them. Sam Darnold, two weeks ago had the play of his life to beat Seattle and stepped up in the pocket past Justin

Jefferson, a brilliant game to keep Minnesota alive for the one seat. Sam Darnold last week played a nearly perfect game of football, made the one mistake with the pick, responded immediately with a great drive to keep Minnesota alive for the one seat. If you put his numbers up to honestly any quarterback in the league, Lamar Jackson, They're not, it's not like it's a 10-8 round. And other than Lamar, he compares favorably to just about every quarterback that we're discussing for this. If they beat Detroit and the Vikings are 15 and two and this guy's numbers are what they are, it is a reasonable take to say Sam Darnold should be league MVP in the same vein that, hey,

I still don't know how it happened, but Rich Gannon was a league MVP. Like there are guys that don't have this, like look at those numbers. And everyone talks about that, you know, Lamar's having one of the greatest seasons ever. And by the way, he is. But those numbers are similar. And obviously his numbers are far superior to Josh's. So I just, I think it's you, if you were to all of a sudden, dude, the Sam Darnold should be MVP. people will just say, ah, Colin, you're Sam Darnold Homer, which you, by the way, are.

However, if it were a fair argument, if the Vikings win 15 games when they were projected to win six, and it's because he has 4,400 yards, 38 touchdowns, and is on a heater at the end of the year, that's got to count for something. Yeah, I think you even have to consider that Baltimore and Buffalo have better rosters than Sam Darnold. Sam Darnold has the better receiving core. But so to, I mean, Joe Burrell's got a receiving cord. That's remarkable. He may not make the playoffs, probably won't.

So, yeah, it's one of those things where I just know the bill's not beating Kansas City has been your thing. Darnold, I can't quit him. And I will say this. As I've aged, it does make me happy. I always feel like I've been lucky. I've landed with good bosses. I think it's a shame. I think it's really cool that Baker and Sam, and I like Baker.

have both landed with a great offensive mind. And it just shows that if you keep your head down, you grind, eventually you'll find your kingmaker. That's kind of my take. Yeah, I think that's very wise words, but you did just there, maybe accidentally, put into the universe. And I know you like Baker, and I know you two have, you know, come to terms after what was a rocky beginning of your relationship.

You did just put out into the sports ether, the nightmare. cowherd scenario, which is Bucks Vikings round one and Bakeshaw kickst Arnold right out of the playoffs. That is a four or five that we could see if the Vikings lose on Sunday night and Baker is planting his flag midfield at Tampa and Sam is sad. You don't want to deal with that and that is a possibility, my friend. I can hear the cough coming, the chest congestion coming. I'm a little sick for that show. Yeah, absolutely. Nick right, first things first. Good seeing you, buddy. You know, Baker Mayfield, somebody asked him recently about me, and he said, we're frenemies.

I offered him a job at my company. I said, I think he'd be a great podcaster. I told you, I think he could be one of the great college football guys of all time. I think he's really, really talented. And I am happy because I feel I've had the good fortune over 30 years of doing this, as I've not always had great bosses, but I've had a couple really good ones, and there's only so much you can do, Justin Herbert, there's only so much you can do on just sheer talent.

You eventually need a kingmaker. You eventually need somebody that can get you to a place that you can't get by yourself because none of us can get there. So it does make me happy that Baker great GM in Tampa, Mike Evans, really good running game.

I mean, they've got like three running backs I like, and it's like Baker and Sam are both proving. Keep your head down, grind at it, keep working your butt off. You will eventually get a great boss. You will eventually get one. I mean, that's crazy. So Baker basically had the option of a podcaster

or one of the top three quarterbacks in the NFC, and he decided to be like a good quarterback. I mean, honestly, you look at the NFC. He's up there. Oh, there's no question. I mean, like everybody loves Jared Gough. I get it. If we switch, Gough and Baker.

Baker goes to the lions and Gough goes to the box. Well, no, no, they're... I mean, is Jalen Hertz in the NFC, Jaden Daniels. I think golf is less reckless and a better throws a prettier deep ball. But, Baker, I said this when I was criticizing Baker. Oh, yeah, he's one of the 20 best quarterbacks in the world. Even at his low point.

Well, that's not saying much. I mean, by the way, Aaron Rogers is about 18th right now. And the Jets are going to bring him back. That seems generous, Colin. 18th. Dak or Aaron Rogers next year, who you got? Well, I don't have to pay Aaron as much. So I would take Aaron for a...

Yeah, but you're paying with the headache. Yeah, but I... All the nonsense. There's no nonsense with Dak. He's getting hurt a lot, and every time he gets hurt and comes out, he's less of a player. Hmm. Listen, I've come to terms with Aaron. Who you want Brock Purdy or Aaron Rogers next year?

You've got to think about that? Well, Brock Purdy's free, so I take Brock. I mean, if you're free, I'm going to... Not for long, my man. You know, a big year for Brock. He's in a contract year, so were you, so am I? Let's get out of that. A lot of interesting stuff happening in the year.

I'm being franchise tagged. Sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Hey, it's Steve Kavino. And I'm Rich Davis. And together we're Kavino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio. You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, and of course, the IHeart Radio app.

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just search Covino Enrich, wherever you get your podcast, and of course, on social media. That's Cabino and Rich. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news,

huge news? 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. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts.

We're starting a trend. But this one's extra special. So how did we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call. it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers

was... This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast where people could call in and say, Hey Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. 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 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 IHeart radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the

internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete

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A lot of stuff happening. Urban Meyer, one of the two best college football coaches of my life, along with Nick Sabin's going to be joining us last hour. We have our big bets. Boise State tonight getting a lot of points. Now, Boise State's not built to play from behind, but they get after the quarterback, they run the football, they don't turn it over, they can consume the clock.

Very interesting team. J-MAC with the news. No, no, no, no. Turn on the news. This is the herd line news. All right, Colin. The 49ers obviously lost last night, despite a great offensive performance.

They were pretty tremendous outside of the two picks. But it got worse afterward. Brock Purdy suffered an injury. They're saying maybe nerve damage, and then the chatter started about Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch. And I think it was overboard, but team owner Jed York felt the need to chime in. He said, they're not going anywhere.

Nor should they. Yeah, I think it's a little silly. I think they've got, they've become a little wide receiver obsessed in my opinion last couple of drafts, but I will say this, that Pearsall looks like he's good. Yeah, he can play. And, I mean, he was a late first round pick. And that's the hardest place to draft in this league is like 25th down. Because after about 18 players, they're all second round guys.

So Pearsall looks like he can play. I think I would move. I thought Devo's had a last couple of weeks. He's been pretty something. I think they're going to move one of those receipts. receivers, but they got to shore up their O-line and D-lines outside of Bosa. I don't know where the audience is on like breaking down teams in the offseason, but the Niners are utterly fascinating, Colin.

So many potential. Debo Samuel probably not going to be in Sanfran next year, because if Brock Purdy does get paid as we anticipate, whether it's 30, 40, 50, whatever, they're going to have to make some radical changes on that roster. There's some linebackers who are probably going to get run out. You can't have two expensive linebackers. And for the record, Fred Warner is the best linebacker in the league. And Greenlaw is a top five or six guy.

I mean, you know, you have Jennings, Ayuk, Pierceall, they have more than enough receivers. I would not be surprised if they were a lot of moves in San Fran this off season, right? Now they paid Debo. I would love to have Debo on my team. You have to have the right coach that understands his chess piece value. You have to have the right coordinator coach. Debo doesn't work for a lot of teams.

He would work with Andy Reed. Cliff Kingsbury and Washington. Yes. That's the one I talked about. I think he works in Washington. I think Debo in Washington is a fascinating piece. And let's, I know Brock Purdy's going to be a huge talking point, but I will just say the Kirk Cousins name is one to watch.

We know that everybody from that, Shanahan McVeatree, they've loved Kirk Cousins. You can go Google. They've given tons of interviews. Kirk Cousins is their guy because he is amazing with the play action. And that's what the Shanahan system runs on. I would not rule out a Russell Wilson type situation where Remember Russell got moved off the Broncos, and he got on the cheap to Pittsburgh and looked pretty good. Kirk Cousins, they'll be paid by Atlanta.

If he gets moved on, San Francisco, bring him on. Can you see Kirk Cousins starting for the Niners next year? If Brock Purdy comes in and says, I want to reset the market. Well, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. They're not doing that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. If you're giving me one guy for one year, I have no problem with Kirk Cousins for a year. And you draft a quarterback?

Yeah, next year's draft class is much. much better than this one. No question. Right this year, San Francisco is going to go on offensive line drafting, I've been told. They're going to go after the shore up the O line. Sounds about right. Next up, after being fired in Tennessee at the end of last season, Mike Vrable took on a job consulting with the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland just gave permission for Vable to leave his position before the end of the season with the expectation Vrable will be interviewing for head coaching openings around the league. You've linked. him to Chicago.

New Orleans has an opening. Yeah, I think I would, if I was New Orleans, I would hire Brian Flores. If I was Chicago or the Jets or New England, I would hire Vrabel, although I'm... What about New England? Well, there's a lot of talk about him in New England. I don't think Kraft is going to blow out Geron Mayo. But again, Robert Kraft's history, you know, he had Belichick forever. And I think Mayo was his choice.

So when you have to admit your choice, but there is a story that's interesting. So CBS had a game with the Patriots a couple weeks ago, and reportedly the crafts wanted to be on TV, and when they were, they were criticizing the play calling and the coaching. I heard that that story was on the interweb. So it must be true. Well, I was just, I asked somebody that covers the NFL a beat reporter, and they said they'd heard the same thing. What about Vrable going back to the AFC and the Jacksonville job opening? Oh, I think he'd be, I think he could crush in that division.

I'm going to throw this out there. It sounds crazy. Arizona moves off Kyler Murray, Jags move off Trevor Lawrence. In a terrible quarterback here, I think those guys would have a market. Wow, you're hitting me with a lot of stuff here. Kyler Murray. I think Arizona is getting tired of it. I think things catch up to you.

When you're 1 in 16 against your division. Keep Gannon and move off Murray? Oh, yeah, keep Gannon. This team's offensive pieces are too good for what the offense looks like. And Kyler Murray in a bad quarterback draft, he can play. So this would be Kyler, so he had Cliff Kingsbury. Just let me ask you, the Raiders now keep winning. So you're not going to get Cam Ward and Shadour Sanders,

and I don't believe these quarterbacks are worth giving up massive draft picks for. So what do they do at quarterback? Would Vrable go to the Raiders? Or are you saying Raiders? No, no, no, no. I'm talking. Let's get out of coaching. Let's talk quarterback.

These quarterbacks, Shador Sanders and Cam are not good enough to give up picks for. So my take is, what do you do if you're the Raiders? You overpay Sam Darnold? He gets franchised. Keep your eye on Trevor Lawrence and Kyler Murray. I'm just saying if I ran the Raiders, and I'm not giving up first round picks for Shadour, Cam. What am I going to do? And Sam gets franchised.

What am I going to do from the Raiders? Haven't you said Trevor Lawrence is keeping Jacksonville from moving to London? Well, he did when they signed him. There was a lot of discussions about that in that space. Now they're not. But my take is, I mean, they had them going to London twice a year. So would you rather have Trevor Lawrence or Cam Ward to Doors Sanders in the draft? Well, I don't, if Trevor now makes a lot of money and he's like a C-plus quarterback,

so I'd probably have their rookie. He had a C-plus season. But let's just get out of this. We're talking Raiders. Just keep it on the Raider. They're not going to move up to get Cam and Shador. I agree. What are they going to do?

Hamm and Egg get it again? No, because Antonio Pierce and the GM would get fired. If I'm the GM, I am calling Jacksonville in Arizona and saying, let's make a deal. And you swing for Kyler-Marie or Trevor Lawrence, too? What are the options? I mean, this quarterback draft we just watched is one of the greatest of all time. Aaron Rogers?

If the Jets said no? I would call on it. I think Aaron is going to have a market. I really do. Not a huge market, but a market. Wow. All right. Final story, Colin, is your Broncos and Bo Nix.

They are a win away from the playoffs. They are huge favorites against the Chiefs 13 this week. However, they could have gotten it done against the Bengals. Nick threw a touchdown pass to pull within a point, late in the fourth quarter. I think there was like seven seconds left. Yep. Bo Nix threw up the two fingers. We're going for two. We're going for two. Sean Payton said, uh-uh. So here's Peyton talking about that decision.

You go through it all the time, you know, relative to what the call would have been. Based on the outcome, you know, you always second guess. You always do that as a head coach. And so I trusted my gut at the moment. But yeah, I think it's normal to do that. You know, there's the old theory that on the road, go for the win. Isn't that the, isn't that the theory? He also had the whole, if we tie the game, we get to the playoffs. Well, here is my take. I thought about this. I would have kicked the PAT. My take was, I have the better roster. I'll play extra football. The better roster will have been,

will win over time. You think Denver's got a better roster than Cincinnati? Not even close. Cincinnati's got the worst defense in the league. I mean, first of all, time out. O line, Denver's top seven, D-line, not close. close. What outside of Jamar Chasing T. Higgins? What is Cincinnati? Like we saw with the Washington Atlanta game, if the other team wins a coin toss and they have a great quarterback, you're screwed. They're going to go down and score.

That's just how it works. Now, obviously, this one didn't work out for them, but I'm going against Burrough? If I have the better roster in a competent quarterback, I'll play another 10 minutes. The more plays a game has, the better team eventually wins. That's my take. If I have an inferior roster and my defense has been on the field and I got, lucky and tied the game in a Hail Mary, I'm going for two. I thought that was kind of a lucky touchdown.

It was, but I thought they played a good competitive game. There were times in that game. I thought Denver was going to pull away. I mean, let's be honest. Listen, it's easy to play armchair quarterback and say, oh, you got to go for two. That's right. In the moment, like you don't have a lot of time. You've got maybe 20 seconds on the sideline to maybe less than that, right, to decide after the touchdown.

What do we do? What's the play? There's a lot happening. That's a tough thing to, it's easy for us to just sit up here and bash Peyton or say, nice job. But that's really tough in the moment. Yeah, I know you've done a lot of coaching in your life. Yeah, a lot. Jay Mack with the news.

Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by. The Herd Lye News. Urban Meyer next hour, we're picking these college football games. He's on a heater next. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern 9 a.m. Pacific. Hey, it's us, the Jonas brothers. And guess what?

We have some big news. What's the news, new? Huge news. 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.

Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts. We're starting a trend. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers. This is how you guys remember it going down?

Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast, where people could call in and say, Hey, Jonas, and then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. 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 Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, S&L'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 IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast. Learn the hard way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests.

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Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions,

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Bowl game starting later today are big bets. It's time for big bets. Colin and Jemak make their favorite Big Ten bets of the week. Okay, I'm going to take Boise State plus 11 to keep it close. First of all, they have, you know, some would say after Travis Hunter, the lock to be a can't miss prospect. This is a great all-time running back. This kid's phenomenal.

they have the best sack differential. Great defense, great run game. They're not built to come from behind. They don't have much of a passing attack. But again, I think Penn State off a blowout win at home and looking down the road to a Notre Dame in Georgia, I think this Boise State has always been a giant killer. I think they can play.

Their defense has held eight straight opponents under 25 points. And Penn State, by the way, against top 10 opponents in these big spots, three and 19, they haven't always been great. I think the game is competitive. Even if Penn State wins 30, 20, I get the cover. I like it. I'm with you on that one. I'm going to get started with a bit of a shocker here. I am going to take Arizona State getting 12 and a half against Texas.

Colin, this number came down over the weekend. It was sitting at 14 much of last week. Some big sharp money came in on the Sun Devils. I don't know how much of it has to do with Cam Scatibo. Cam Scataboo, the great running back. I'm telling you, this guy's awesome. He's like Mike Ulstadt, but more athletic. If you remember the former Tampa running back.

And Colin, there is a lot of chatter around Quinn Ewers over the last 10 days. Okay, I kind of teased it on this show. And Sark started to get upset when they were asking about Quinn Ewers being his final game, blah, blah, blah. I'm just telling you, there was a lot of Quinn Ewers to Notre Dame transfer talk. A lot. And I am very curious how he handles this because the NFL reports are coming back. And apparently they're not great on Ewers. So I don't know how he's going to play.

We know Archmanning is behind him. Archmanning is the starter next year. I think Arizona keeps this close, Arizona State, and gets the cover against Texas. I'm going to take Ohio State with the number one defense in the country to win minus two and cover against Oregon. One of the worst defenses in the playoff. Oregon has struggled against good offenses. Boise State. They struggled against Penn State.

They struggled against Ohio State. Both teams have good players. One has a great defense. And say what you want about Will Howard, 36 TDs and nine picks. he had one awful game, one awful game. Ohio State's 0 and four last four years against Michigan. They're 44 and four against everybody else. I'll take the Puck guys who win in cover.

Yeah, I'm with you again. I am starting to get nervous, Colin, because you know I like to just talk to other gamblers and see what. I haven't heard one person say they're on Oregon here. Everybody's on Ohio State. Oregon is undefeated. Okay? They have the better quarterback in this matchup, right?

I don't know who the better coach is, but I would lean toward Lannning? Would you not? Lanting over day? Probably. So you got the better quarterback and the better coach. It's neutral sight here. I'm nervous for Ohio State.

I just hope they come out slinging it like they did against Tennessee, and I'm on the Buckeyes as well. Okay, I'm going to take Notre Dame plus one to beat Georgia. Georgia's a team that's got a shaky O line. It's not elite. They're on a backup quarterback. They've been out gained. I mean, they have the 100th ranked rushing offense in football this year.

And a lot of it's just a shaky O line and a backup quarterback. I don't like it. They're coming off back-to-back overtime wins. They struggle to beat Georgia. Tech, Notre Dame, Riley Leonard, 32 touchdown six picks. They can run it. They have an elite defense. Eight straight wins by 10 plus points.

They're playing with confidence. Even when Brian Kelly was there the last two times they played Georgia, they went toe to toe. I think they're going to be the shaky O line and a backup quarterback. Love it. I'm with you. I'm on the Irish here. I spent this week looking into this Gunner Stockton kid. Yeah.

So this is his third year in the program, sat behind Stetson Bennett, sat behind Carson Beck, and he's like a coach's son. So he's a gamer. He breathes football, sleeps football. So I am a little nervous that he's going to come out with some stuff that Notre Dame's not ready for. I think he's taking like 86 snaps this season. Not a lot of tape on him. But I trust Marcus Freeman coaching in this spot. And I really think, remember last year, J.J. McCarthy had a chance against Alabama through the early bad pick and then rebounded. And everybody's like, oh, JJ McCarthy's

an NFL. These guy's a prospect. Riley Leonard's going to be in the same situation. Georgia's going to stack the box, say we dare you to throw the football down the field. Riley Leonard delivers, and I think his NFL stock goes up. I'll go Notre Dame with the upset over Georgia. The SEC gets bounced here, and you know, you know, the reaction will be pretty brutal for the SEC. Does Arizona State, in your opinion, have a chance to beat Texas? Slim. I'll say slim.

Like winning. Texas has, I'm doing this mantra. Texas might have five or six guys in the first two rounds. Arizona State probably has none. Like, Texas has a massive talent advantage. But, you know, guys get tight in situations. By the way, what are you hearing on Sark and the Chicago Bears? Anything interesting there?

No, did you hear something? No. I just keep, you know, bears are going to kick the tires on everybody. Wait, if Sark loses to Arizona State, there'll be donors that want him out. Yeah, we got to move on. I mean, seriously, that. And if he wins an ad, he does he look? Like, he's a sharp offensive mind.

We like, sir. Ryan Day loses to Oregon. so he can't beat Michigan and loses twice to Oregon, and Ohio State's got more five-star guys. The idea, I mean, the pressure remains on Ohio State. They can lose in a nanny to somebody. They got a win. So Oregon, despite being the only undefeated team,

will probably be the team that's looser and half their roster is California kids. So that's to me the scary part if you're a Buckeye fan. Hey, guys, it's us. 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 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 I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This is Saigon, the story of my family and of the country that shaped us. From IHeart Podcasts, Saigon. You don't think I'm serious about a free Vietnam? One city, a divided country, and the war that tore America apart. It's for Vietnam.

They're pouring patril all over here. Freedom for Vietnam! There's a fire coming to this country and it's going to burn out everything. Listen to Saigon on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Joey Dardano, and on my new podcast, Hope from a Hippocrat, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant, recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to me. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know.

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